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| for
orchids and ox-eye daisy |
Two disused railway embankments are
linked by a seven span brick viaduct to make a city centre
nature reserve, which lies at the heart of the local
community.
What
to look out for
The railway embankment creates a varied local topography
with long and short, steep and gentle slopes. The habitats
on the site range from limestone flora on the embankment
top, to flower rich grassland, developing woodland
and scrub on the embankment sides. Species such as
ox-eyed daisy, mouse eared chickweed and bee orchid
have been recorded at the site.
Hedgerows, a stream and an old orchard are also present
within the reserve boundary.
The embankments were constructed in the early 1870's
to form part of the Clifton Extension Railway. They
span 450 metres in a shallow curve from Edward Street
in the north west, to Clay Bottom to the east, crossing
Royate Hill and the Coombe Brook at their centre.
Further information
The site was compulsorily purchased
by the former Avon County Council in 1996, following
a five-year high profile campaign by local people to
save it from development.
Access
Fairly steep steps lead up to an embankment
footpath.
| Bike |
View a location map of the
reserve on the National
Cycle Network website. |
| Public transport |
Go to www.traveline.org.uk |
| Car |
Travel to Eastville in Bristol on the A432 Fishponds Road. Turn onto Royate Hill Road by the Queen's Head pub. Immediately turn right onto Edward Street and park on the left by the entrance to Greenbank Cemetery. The entrance to the reserve is next to this.
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