Prestow Wood - Improving Biodiversity and Access, Wrington Parish Council, North Somerset

This project will build a new path with signage, a viewpoint with bench and carry out tree work at Prestow Wood. It has taken three years hard work to establish Prestow Wood as a place to visit, including the restoration/conservation of two early 19th century limekilns. This project will:

• enhance biodiversity by creating different habitats through native woods with sunny glades, habitats for small mammals including dormice and bats, insects, and birds
• create a greater amount of safe access to the nature reserve for the general public
For the last two years a group of volunteers have been working to protect and improve biodiversity and access in the woods. So far, they have preserved the lime kilns, created clearings, installed benches, felled dying ash and non-native holm oak, planted native trees, plants and grasses, installed paths with steps, provided new viewpoints, added a parking space on Wrington Hill, installed a cycle rack, and constructed a more accessible path and picnic bench at the Old Hill end of the reserve.

This project will benefit the area and local community by:
• Increasing access to and awareness of the industrial and natural history through continuing to develop a sense of “ownership” of a sustainable public amenity
• Improving mental and physical fitness and general well-being through access to nature and “wild” space with onward connections to other paths
• Increasing skills and knowledge through volunteering, training, plant identification workshops and work with schools
• Building community cohesion between generations and local groups in the community
• Increasing biodiversity leading to more plants and animals in the area
• Improving access to the historic lime kilns.