With autumn approaching, the council have set to clearing the young growth around the ponds. And they have a new machine! We are all beginning to hear about driverless technology, but our council seems to be setting the pace with this beastie, which is able to manage the very steep slopes around the watercourse.

I was also pleased to bump into Thorsten this week, who is behind the art installations in the formal area of the park. I think many people were impressed by this wooden sculpture of the life cycle of a butterfly. Thorsten tells me that there are plans for more work including a central feature with benches and quarried stones.

This Wednesday there was a gathering of Friends groups from across South Glos. The venue was the splendid and just-opened cafe in the middle of Page Park, pictured here.

I was pleased to meet with many others who are caring for their patch of land and plan to go and see some of these projects and swap notes. There is also news of an initiative about pollinators which our park could be involved in. More to follow on this.

The ugly prize went to this bat which was shown by the Avon Bat group, who care for orphaned and disabled bats. It is a Serotine bat one of our larger and less common species.

Finally, for those who would like to join us, our next orchard workday is on Saturday October 7th 10 – 12 as usual. I hope you can join us.