Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve
Three Brooks Lake, a man-made lake and nature reserve between Bradley Stoke and the M4 motorway
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Location	Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire
OS grid	ST625820
Area	60 hectares (150 acres)

The Three Brooks Nature Reserve is a special protected area in Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire, England. It covers about 44 hectares (which is like 44 football fields!). This reserve gets its name from three small rivers, called brooks: Hortham, Patchway, and Stoke Brooks.

These three brooks meet at a place called Three Brooks Lake. From there, the water flows east under the M4 motorway and becomes the Bradley Brook. The town of Bradley Stoke was built in the 1980s. When it was built, some natural areas like Savage's Wood, Webb's Wood, and Sherbourne's Brake were kept safe. These areas now form the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve.

This peaceful place is right in the middle of the busy town of Bradley Stoke. It includes the three woods, which are famous for their bluebell woods. These woods are connected by important areas where animals and plants can move around safely. These areas include the brooks, ponds, grassy fields, and hedgerows. The lake is also part of the Frome Valley Relief Sewer system. The South Gloucestershire Council owns and looks after this amazing nature reserve.

History of the Reserve

The woods in the nature reserve were mostly used for getting timber (wood). For example, Webb's Wood provided wood that was cut using a method called coppicing. This means trees were cut back to the ground to encourage new growth. Savage's Wood provided hornbeam and oak trees.

Savage's Wood was protected as a nature reserve in the 1940s and 1950s. This was done by Howard Davis, who owned Little Stoke Farm. He was the biggest farmer in the area and owned the land, including the wood. Howard Davis also helped start the Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge, which is a famous place for birds.

Later, when Bradley Stoke Way was built, it cut through Savage's Wood. This left a small part of the wood on the other side of the road, near Tesco's car park. Many new ash trees were planted nearby to make up for the trees that were lost when the road was built.

Amazing Habitats

The Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve has a great mix of different natural homes for wildlife. These are called habitats. The reserve includes three bluebell woodlands: Webb's Wood, Savage's Wood, and Sherbourne's Brake. New trees have been planted here with money from the Woodland Grant Scheme. This helps to grow the Forest of Avon in South Gloucestershire.

This rich mix of habitats is a valuable home for many different animals. You might see reed buntings, skylarks, and great crested newts. You might also spot slowworms, which are legless lizards that look like snakes.

The Three Brooks Lake is a popular spot for ducks all year round. It's also a breeding place for birds like little grebes, reed warblers, sedge warblers, and mute swans.

There's a special hill called "the tump" in the reserve. It was made from extra soil from the Second Severn Crossing project. This hill is a good home for skylarks and other birds, which are thought to have nested there.

A community orchard was also planted in the reserve. It has different fruit trees, bushes, and wild flowers. These plants provide pollen and nectar for insects. They also offer natural resources like fruit for people in the local community to enjoy.

Conservation Efforts

Local people help take care of the nature reserve. They have formed a group called the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group. Anyone can join this group! They meet on the first Saturday of every month to help manage the reserve.

The group organizes many events and workdays. These activities help people learn more about the nature reserve. They also help to make the reserve a better place for all its plants and animals. Some activities include bat walks and traditional woodland management like coppicing (cutting trees to help them regrow) and clearing ditches. The BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) also has a 'green gym' at the nature reserve. This means people can get exercise while helping the environment.

Wildlife in the Reserve

The different habitats in the reserve provide food and shelter for many kinds of wildlife. You can find reed buntings, skylarks, great crested newts, and slowworms here.

In 2014, a special event called a Bio Blitz was held. Over 36 hours, experts and volunteers found 617 different species of plants and animals living in the reserve! This shows how rich and diverse the wildlife is here.

Getting Around the Reserve

There are several main ways to enter the reserve. All the paths are well-surfaced, making it easy to walk or cycle. There's a network of sign-posted cycle paths throughout the reserve. These paths let you explore and see all the different habitats.

In 2019, over 500 meters of woodland paths were improved. These were at the northern end of the reserve, in Savages and Primrose woods. These new paths connect to older, surfaced paths, creating nice circular walks. The path improvements used a special method that is good for the environment. It helps protect the plants on the ground and the tree roots from being squashed.

Behind the Leisure Centre, a special gate was put in for people using mobility scooters. This gives them better access to Savages Wood. The gate is open for walkers, but you need a special Radar key to open it fully for scooters. In 2020, even more path improvements were made between Savages Wood and Bowsland meadow.