Community Nature Reserve

Thornbury Town Council is excited to launch a Community Nature Reserve (CNR) in Thornbury, and we want YOU to be part of it!

A Community Nature Reserve (CNR) is a local project where neighbours come together to support wildlife and improve green spaces. Instead of one person managing a nature reserve, each resident contributes a part of their garden or outdoor space to create connected habitats.

Whether you have a garden, an allotment, or even just a window box, you can take part by registering your space to help build a CNR in Thornbury. All you need to do is tell us what you’ve been doing to help nature thrive. From planting wildflowers to putting up a bird box, simple actions can have a BIG impact on nature right on your doorstep.

Joining also gives you the chance to share your tips and experiences to inspire others or learn new ways to make your space work harder for nature. You’re also encouraged to record wildlife sightings, including birds, insects, and mammals.

Help Build the Community Nature Reserve

Register your space to help build the Community Nature Reserve

Share your tips and experiences to inspire others.

Connect with like-minded people.

Learn new ways to enhance your space.

Your space can be a garden, allotment or even just a window box – all are welcome.

We now have a Facebook group!

Join the Facebook group to see news and updates, connect with other members and get more out of your community network.

How to register

Complete the online form or download and print the form (link below) and return it to us by email, post or in-person.

Visit us in Town Hall, High Street, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 2AR (during office hours). Hard copies will also be available at the library and Thornbury Town Hall reception.

Registration Form - Community Nature Reserve.pdf

What to See and Do in the Wildlife-friendly Garden - November

As autumn gets fully underway, many of the trees will be shedding their leaves. Leaf litter is a valuable commodity, providing shelter to invertebrates, protecting the soil and plant roots from harsh weather and feeding the worms. Worms are one of nature's recyclers, returning the nutrients from the leaves back to the soil and ensuring good soil health. Wildlife-friendly gardeners should resist the urge to rake or leaf blow and clear, instead leaving beds and borders with a leafy-mulch over the winter. Leaves on lawns or grass can be gathered and stashed in a corner or raked onto beds.

On mild days, late pollinators will still be about and may be hungry as summer's flowers come to an end. Plants such as autumn heathers, later-flowering clematis, or viburnum tinus are good sources of pollen for insects at this time of the year.

Now is also a good time to get planting trees, hedges and shrubs. November is the start of the tree planting season, so if you are considering a native hedge, some bare root shrubs, or planting a tree or two, now is the time to get started.

Another great job to warm you up on chilly days is to dig a pond or start a bog garden. If all that sounds like a little bit too much work, why not install a bug hotel or a toad abode to help invertebrates and amphibians get through the winter?

Finally, as preparations for the end of year celebrations start to draw nearer, this month is a great time to get outside in your wildlife-friendly garden, breathe some fresh air and take a calm moment to reconnect with nature.