South Gloucestershire Community Nature Reserve Programme
Welcome to the Community Nature Reserve Programme
The Community Nature Reserve Programme is exploring the potential for increasing community nature reserves across South Gloucestershire, bringing communities together and boosting local biodiversity.
Avon Wildlife Trust will work with South Gloucestershire Council, residents, community groups, and Town and Parish Councils to raise awareness, confidence and knowledge.
This means working across a cluster of streets and shared greenspaces to create a joined-up network of wildlife-friendly habitats—linking gardens, verges, parks, school grounds and other community land so nature can move through the area.
The creation of a peer learning network will be at the heart of the programme, providing the platform for community members from different neighbourhoods to share practical experience, work through challenges, and build confidence.
What to expect
Avon Wildlife Trust will be offering a programme of support designed to help people establish, expand and celebrate community nature reserves. This will include the creation of a peer learning network of like-minded individuals, site-specific ecological advice, workshops, and community engagement advice.
About the Community Nature Reserve programme
Who is it for?
People who are already on the community nature reserve journey, or are aspiring to set one up.
People who want to be part of something meaningful and inspire their communities.
Parish or Town Councils wishing to understand how community nature reserves can support their Local Nature and Climate Action Plans
What is provided?
Free training on topics such as species monitoring, how to engage your community, and practical habitat workshops.
Ecological advice from our Urban Ecologist.
Bespoke mentoring to support the development of your ideas.
What is the commitment?
Able to attend training sessions and learning events.
A willingness to learn and share learning across the network.
A deliverable action that engages your community and benefits nature.
Paul Walker
Want to know more?
Whether you are an individual, community group, Parish or Town Council, we want to hear from you!
Register your interest by completing the expression of interest form below
Existing Community Nature Reserves
There is already a growing movement of Community Nature Reserves.
If you live in one of these areas click the link below, register your garden, and join in with meaningful action for wildlife. Don’t forget to tell your neighbours and friends to sign up too.
Other fledgling groups to support
If you live in one of the following areas and would like to help set up a new Community Nature Reserve, please get in touch and we’ll connect you with others locally.
Willsbridge and Longwell Green
(Supported by Common Connections, the Willsbridge and Longwell Green group now has a Facebook page where local residents can share their wildlife sightings.)
Downend and Bromley Heath
Piling and Severn Beach
Olveston
Hortham Village, Almondsbury
Staple Hill
Bristol and South Glos Dioceses
Get involved
Let’s watch Community Nature Reserves grow across South Gloucestershire — one garden, street and green space at a time.
Together, we can create a living network of hope for wildlife, connecting neighbours, inspiring action and helping nature thrive on our doorsteps.
What is a community nature reserve?
Need more information before getting involved with community nature reserves? Click the link below to find out everything you need to know, from how to get started to how to look for funding for your projects.
Lou's story
Star of David Attenborough's Secret World, Lou and her wonderful wildlife garden, brought an entire community together to create a haven for hedgehogs in north Bristol. Read all about how she did it below.
Kingsway park meadow (C) Kelly Bray
A Warmley wildlife haven
Discover Madeleine's garden in Warmley, full of colour, movement, and life.
The Community Nature Reserve Programme is funded by South Gloucestershire Council.