January newsletter and important dates for your diary!
Hello friends! January is finally almost over, after what feels like a 17-week month.
Firstly, the great news: on Wednesday 4th February from 7-9pm in the cafe at St Anne’s House, FoBB is holding our Yearly Planning Meeting. Let’s be honest, none of us like meetings, so we aim to make it as interactive and enjoyable as can be! Bring your ideas along on how we can improve the St Anne’s Valleys. This is your opportunity to contribute to FoBB’s Woodland Management Plan, which is being drawn up by Avon Wildlife Trust later this year. Everyone is welcome! Refreshments will be provided.
We’re especially keen to explore ideas around events we can do this year, and volunteer Chandon might just have some inspiration…
Jackie Friel
Vice Chair
Tree Planting Update
On January 22nd the rain was kind enough to ease for a productive hour and a half as FOBB and BCC joined up to survey NGV for potential tree planting spots for later in the year. We were delighted to be joined by both the kingfisher and Joe Cusworth who will be writing the new woodland management plan for us and BCC. We found 6 sites across NGV suitable for tree planting.
Of especial note is a large area (approx. 200m2) by the boat screen traditionally colonised by Himalayan balsam, the plan is to plant willow and alder which will stabilise the ground in flood and crowd out the balsam over time. It’s a similar approach to that we’ve already planned in St Anne’s Wood on the historic flood plain but first, some brambles need clearing…
Work Parties
For our first work party of 2026 a group of 17 volunteers turned out to Nightingale Valley. It was a beautiful, frosty morning and we worked to clear overgrown brambles from the meadow area, pop out sycamore saplings and remove some larger items of rubbish. Luckily one of the items, a shopping trolly was employed transporting the other trash to the bins for collection. It was fantastic to see so many fresh faces to help with these essential winter tasks.
Our next work party will be 10am on SUNDAY 8th January meeting at the Co-op Car Park for access to SAW. Please note the change to SUNDAY and to the usual meeting point at the CO-OP CAR PARK.
For anyone feeling inspired or especially organised, here’s a list of all work parties and planning meetings for the year! We’ve moved work parties to Sunday following requests and it will allow volunteers to also join with Friends of Eastwood Farm – who meet on Saturdays.
| Planning Meeting First Wednesday of month 7pm start | Work Party First Sunday of the Month 10am start | |
| Feb | Wednesday 4th | Sunday 8th |
| March | 4th | 8th |
| April | 1st | 5th |
| May | 6th | 10th |
| June | 3rd | 7th |
| July | 1st | 5th |
| August | 5th | 9th |
| September | 2nd | 6th |
| October | 7th | 11th |
| November | 4th | 8th |
| December | 2nd | 6th |
