Wildbus Podcast

Have you ever been sat on a bus bored with the same old route? Would you like to know more about the City Centre wildlife, listen to Simon King's memories of exploring Blaise woods as a boy or hear about life in Bristol during the war?

Launched this July to accompany the number 40 bus on its outward and return journey from the City Centre to Cribbs Causeway, the Wildbus Podcast is full of fascinating social history stories, great wildlife information and natural places to explore.

Embark on an adventure around the city or merely liven up your trip to the shops. You will hear about where to look for otters, where to find unusual plants such as the itchy 'beggarticks', why the pigeons are good for Bristol and when to spot the arrival of chiff chaffs on Brandon Hill...

Preview the podcast :

TICKETS
The FirstDay ticket allows you to hop on and off the bus. It's £4 for adults, and £3.10 for children (up to 16 years). There is also a child weekend ticket for £2.15, or family ticket for £7.50 which offers unlimited travel for up to five people (max two adults). Children under five travel free.
Complete details here.

TIMETABLE
Timetable details for the number 40 bus are available here.

The journey (bus Number 40)

Wildbus map

Where to catch the bus? The number 40 bus stop in the city centre is opposite Colston street and across the road from the Hippodrome.

Download a pdf of the map

Worth hopping off the bus for:

The Trust pioneered urban conservation in Bristol in 1980, by turning an area of Brandon Hill Park into a haven for wildlife in the heart of the city. Read more...

Brandon Hill
Just two miles from Bristol City Centre this dramatic landscape is home to an astonishing diversity of plants and animals.
Read more...

Lawrence Weston City Farm
Lawrence Weston Community Farm is a community-managed project that aims to improve the quality of life for local people and its service-users. Read more...

An extensive network of wet meadows and reedbeds, Lawrence Weston Moor is a remnant of the North Somerset Levels on the edge of the city, and is extremely rich in wildlife. Read more...

Blaise Castle Estate is a magnificent 650 acre Grade II listed parkland and, with over 5000 years of history, one of Bristol’s gems. Read more...

The speakers


Julie Doherty created this podcast. She is our Learning Development Officer	Wildlife photographer, presenter and writer Simon King	Mary Wood is the Senior Ecologist in our Consultancy Team	Steve Micklewright is our Director of Community Programmes

Kelly Bray is our Community Action Officer for People and Wildlife	Sian Parry is our Planning and Policy Officer	Joe McSorley is our Community Action Officer for People and Wildlife	Mandy Leivers is the Avon Gorge & Downs Biodiversity Education Officer

Robin Leach grew up in Sneyd Park from 1947 - 1969	Tim Curley is our Senior Reserves Manager	Kerry Rowe is the Education Co-ordinator at Lawrence Weston City Farm	Denis Alloway grew up in Southmead and spent his childhood playing in Blaise Castle estate and the surrounding area

Instructions for use

1. Download the podcast here: right-click on your preferred choice and "Save target as". We give you several options: either download the complete bus journey, or select episodes only.

2. Transfer the podcast from your computer onto your mp3 player. The complete journeys are zip-compressed folders, so make sure they are decompressed first (Windows should do it automatically, but if not - Right-click "Open" on the folder).

3. Enjoy the journey! The podcast is divided in sections of the journey (5 tracks each way). They should be timed with the bus ride, so you can play them uninterruptedly. If you like to know where you are, you can also download the map here and take it with you.