Badock's Wood Local Nature Reserve

Badock’s Wood is a wildlife haven in the north west of Bristol. It is made up of ancient woodland situated in a limestone valley, with adjacent areas of meadow. The River Trym flows through the valley floor.

Visitor information

Location Badock's Wood is in Southmead, north Bristol, and can be accessed from Lakewood Road or Doncaster Road (BS10 5XX).

Accessibility

Parking is available at adjacent roads. Visitors with small wheelchairs and pushchairs should use the Doncaster Road entrance, as other entrances have narrow kissing gates or stiles. Tarmac paths throughout the site provide very good access and are wheelchair friendly.

Opening hours

Badock's Wood is open all year round.

Toilets

There are no public toilet facilities at Badock's Wood Local Nature Reserve. The nearest public toilets are at Greystoke Avenue and at the Southmead Customer Service Point.

What to see and when

Spring

• Bluebells bringing the woodland to life
• Experience the smell of wild garlic and enjoy its carpet of beautiful white flowers.
• Listen to the dawn chorus - the woodland is alive with birdsong at this time of year.
• Enjoy the bright green and fresh white of wood anemone.

Summer

• Look out for the wildflowers as the meadows burst into life.
• Keep watching for meadow butterflies such as common blue and large skipper.
• Bats feeding at dusk.

Autumn

• Beech trees turn Badock's Wood into red and orange.
• Look out for fungi on the woodland floor.
• Red admiral butterflies still patrol on warmer days.
• Foxes and badgers move stealthily through the woodland at night.

Winter

• Keep watching for winter migrants such as redwings and fieldfares feasting on berries.

• Snow outlining stark branches of trees in the woods.

History

The woodland is probably at least 400 years old. Local industrialist and landowner, Sir Stanley Badock, acquired the woods and surrounding parklands when he bought the Holmwood estate in 1905. In 1937, he gifted part of the wood to the City of Bristol for the enjoyment of local people. It then became known as 'Badock's Wood'. A Bronze Age burial mound, the Southmead Round Barrow, can be seen in the meadow area. This feature is thought to have been constructed in the Early Bronze Age, about 3,500 years ago.

Special designations/awards

Site of Nature Conservation Interest - a designation used in many parts of the United Kingdom to protect areas of importance for wildlife at a county scale. Scheduled ancient monument - Round Barrow (Bronze Age burial mound).

Community engagement

The Friends of Badock's Wood is a group of local residents interested in protecting and enhancing the local nature reserve. The group has regular meetings and organises work days and events. For further information please email badockswood@tiscali.co.uk or visit www.fobw.co.uk