A 20-year dream of turning the historic farm buildings of Folly Farm into a place where people of all ages can learn about wildlife and environmental living finally came true on Thursday 1 May with the official opening of the Folly Farm Centre, on the outskirts of Bristol and Bath. The opening ceremony was performed by wildlife film-maker, presenter and photographerSimon King, who is also the president of Avon Wildlife Trust. Simon King said: "The South West is famous for its rural nature and beautiful landscapes but around half-a-million of the people who live within 10 miles or so of Folly Farm are in built-up, urban, areas. For them, it isn’t always easy to get close to nature, to find safe, green, spaces, to exercise, run off steam, or bust stress, or to take up environmentally-friendly leisure interests. Avon Wildlife Trust’s new Folly Farm Centre will change all that – for children, adults, families and businesses.” More details Folly Farm provides opportunities for the wider community to engage with their environment and enjoy the countryside in a variety of ways: The nature reserve at Folly Farm is open all year round - please park in the visitors car park. See here for details of walks at Folly Farm. The Folly Farm Centre is residential and conference accommodation which is not open to the general public on a day to day basis but a wide range of bookable courses can be found here. See the course brochure for details of future events at Folly Farm. |
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Seasonal
stroll at Walborough and Purn Hill |
Clapton
Circuit The first of a new series of walks in and around our nature reserves. Take a virtual tour of the Gordano Valley and download a circuit guide to find your way into the wildlife (and history) of this fascinating corner of the Gordano Valley. |
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Thinking big |
The
Severn Barrage - update
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Willsbridge
Mill comes of age |
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A
year at Willsbridge |
The
variety of life - a rare treat |
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| Avon Wildlife Trust is the largest local membership organisation dedicated to promoting and protecting wildlife by creating wildlife havens, acting as a wildlife champion, inspiring people and encouraging sustainable ways of living. The Trust is supported by almost 16,000 local members and manages 38 sites as nature reserves. |
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| Folly Farm: a place to inspire a full range of courses will take place from 4th May. Our courses are for everyone - from the wildlife enthusiast to parents, teachers, students and professionals. We have an amazing choice of 1 day to 3 day courses aimed at engaging the wider community with our passion - wildlife. |
| Avon Wildlife Trust welcomes brighter future for water voles! The Wildlife Trusts celebrate as the water vole becomes a protected species. A century after the publication of The Wind in the Willows, and six years after a change in the law was first recommended, ‘Ratty’ is finally to receive full protection from the law... |
Help stop planning bill changes! Government changes to the Planning Bill aim to ‘fast-track’ planning applications, particularly for large infrastructure projects (Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects) such as the expansion of Bristol International Airport, where proposed plans would see annual passenger numbers increasing from 5.2 million to 9 million by 2015... |
The
Wildlife Trusts welcome the Severn feasibility study but
will the study go far enough? |
Wildlife
charity captures Simon King! |
| Can
we help? The Trust has recently established a Consultancy Team to manage and deliver a wide range of projects liasing with other Trust Teams and staff as necessary... |
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with the Trust Looking for an opening in front line hands on environmental work? Join a small motivated team of volunteers carrying out day to day conservation work on the Trusts 38 reserves... |
| Projects |
| The
School Ground Project The Trust can provide practical help and advice to schools wanting to improve their grounds for wildlife and people, for example through habitat creation and management... |
| Offers |
| Really
Wild Birthdays We offer a range of fun activities for children's birthday parties at our main education sites. Tailor-made for any wildlife theme you fancy... |
Last update: 7/5/08 |