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37. Weston Big Wood
Grid ref: 456 750 / Area: 38 hectares
Weston Big Wood is one of the most
wildlife-rich woodlands in the south-west of England
and is home to many rare species. Evidence of man's
historical activities also can be found with several
woodbanks and historic boundary stones within the wood.
To find out more about the wood take a virtual
tour.
Old
Black Rock Quarry
Part of the wood lies over carboniferous
limestone and both southern and western areas of the
wood were quarried away during the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Trust's purchase of the wood in 1997 was partly
to safeguard the wood from future quarrying. Select
the quarry on the virtual
tour to learn more.
Education
in the wood
Special sculpted waymarks have been
installed around the wood and provide the basis for
a fascinating educational visit supported by worksheets.
Select the waymarks on the virtual
tour to learn more.
Downloads
A guide to the reserve, educational worksheets and details of the woodland
status and management are available as downloadable files.
Noticeboard
Tell us about what you see and give
us any feedback about the wood: mail@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
How to get there
The wood is situated on Valley Road
at the western end of Portishead and has entrances
at Valley Road, off the B3124 at Black Rock Villas,
at Underwood Road, and off The Downs. (see map).
The X25 Weston - Portishead - Cribbs
Causeway bus stops on Valley Road close to the junction
with the B3124 Portishead - Clevedon Road. The entrance
to the reserve is 670m from the junction.
The 357 Portishead to Bristol service
stops at the top of Valley Road close to the Police
HQ. The entrance is just over 500m down the hill. There
is a footpath along the right hand side of the road.
The 357, 358, 359 and X25 services
all pass along Down Road. Alight outside High Down
School, walk down The Downs and there is a stile into
a field on the right about 200m from Down R oad. Follow
the footpath to the wood.
Car parking can be found in the large
lay-by south of the Recycling Centre (GR 452 745) and
opposite the Valley Road entrance (GR 452 750).
Most of
our reserves are easily accessible by bicycle, with
many close to the National Cycle Network. Click
here to view a location map of the reserve on the
National Cycle Network website.
Further
information
The Trust has been managing Weston
Big Wood since 1984. The reserve was purchased in 2000
with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Countryside
Agency (now natural England), and donations from members
and local people. Prior to this the wood was jointly
owned by Bristol City Council and Amey Roadstone Company,
the managers of Black Rock Quarry.
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