My Bristol Favourites: George Cook

George Cook is people & wildlife officer at Avon Wildlife Trust.

From its Bristol headquarters in a former police station on Jacob’s Wells Road next to Brandon Hill, Avon Wildlife Trust works to protect wildlife and inspire people across the old county of Avon.

The charity cares for more than 30 nature reserves, as well as running numerous educational and community programmes that help people of all ages connect with and benefit from the natural world around them.

“We are lucky in Bristol to have some brilliant nature spots on our doorstep from Chew Valley, the Mendips and the Cotswolds,” says George.

“But when I want to find wildlife closer to home, these are my top-five places to go enjoy nature and wildlife closer to the city.”

Blaise Castle

This rocky outcrop at Blaise Castle is known as Goram’s Chair

“Having recently moved to north Bristol, Blaise Castle is now on my local path and it’s a fantastic place to go for an autumnal walk looking for birds and mushrooms. If you like trees, then you’ll love it here with some jaw dropping giant cedar trees and the locally named ‘beech cathedral’: a corridor of magnificent beech trees with spectacularly knobbly roots. Sat on Goram’s Chair over looking the valley, you can completely forget your are just a few miles from the city.”

Eastville Park

“The lakes in Eastville Park always have some birds on them despite the heavy flow of dog walkers and people enjoying the park. Mallards, Canada geese, swans and black headed gulls are a permanent feature but I have also enjoyed some more uncommon visitors in the park such as a graylag goose, a goosander, grey wagtails, dippers and even a tawny owl.

A kingfisher in Eastville Park

“However, the most famous – and well photographed – birds in the park are the kingfishers, the cyan jewels of the British riverside. Kingfishers usually just fly by in a blur of electric blue but at Eastville Park they seem perfectly happy to pose, letting you take a good look as they perch over the river.”

Follow @georgecuckoo on Instagram for more excellent bird photos.

Yew Tree Farm

A roe deer at Yew Tree Farm

“Yew Tree Farm is the last working farm within the Bristol boundary. It’s an organic and nature-friendly farm off Bridgewater road and is a nature haven on the edge of the city. The mix of habitats on the farm including meadows, woodland and Colliters Brook (the stream which runs along the bottom of the farm) attracts all sorts of wildlife including badgers, kestrels, foxes, dippers, kingfishers, barn owls and even otters. Despite being a brilliant place for wildlife, an exciting farm and a great example of how we can look after nature and feed people, Yew Tree Farm is facing threats from development. So please do visit and support them if you can.”

Pilning Wetlands

A flock of geese at Pilning Wetlands

“Despite being a bit more of a travel out of the city (around an hour by bicycle), Pilning Wetlands just outside Severn Beach is a great spot to enjoy views of the estuary and do some bird watching. More ducks and wading birds come to the UK to enjoy our milder winters and Pilning Wetlands is a good place to go and see some of these feathered winter visitors! If you are lucky you might also see some hunting barn and short eared owls in the evening after enjoying a winter sunset over the estuary.”

Conham River Park

Conham River Park follows the winding route of the River Avon

“Conham River Park is another spot that really lets you feel you have really escaped the city as you follow the curving route of the Avon. Home to kingfishers, buzzards, bats, otters and even a seal was reported over lockdown! It’s also a great place to go for a swim with an ongoing campaign to get the spot designated bathing status, which you can support here.”

All photos: George Cook

Read next:

• Farmer left ‘feeling vulnerable’ after arson attack
• Council blocks hopes of securing ‘special bathing water status for Bristol beauty spot
• New lido could be built in Eastville Park
• Avon Wildlife Trust backs campaign to save south Bristol green space

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