Local Climate and Nature Action Plan
Bradley Stoke Town Council in partnership with South Gloucestershire Council and local community groups has recognised the importance of taking steps to address the ecological crisis our world is facing. A Local Climate and Nature Action Plan has been drawn up in order for us to take the necessary steps to stop the decline of biodiversity.
Please click the following link to download the updated Local Climate and Nature Action Plan (Word) which was originally adopted at the Full Council meeting on 16th November 2022.
At the Bradley Stoke Town Council Planning & Environment Committee meeting on 25th June 2025, councillors resolved to add the word 'climate' to the title of the action plan to reflect the current climate emergency.
Visit the South Gloucestershire Council website for further details about Climate and nature emergency community engagement.
Community Planting Day
The Community Planting Day took place at Brook Way Activity Centre on Sunday 12th April 2026 and was a truly collaborative event working with One Planet Matters, Town Council staff and councillors and members of the local community.
Despite the occasional shower and inclement weather, all the community garden planters were completed and filled with soil and compost. Two planters were then planted up with flowers and herbs.
The knowledgeable team from One Planet Matters were invauable and everyone learnt a lot about plants and wildlife.
Only Rain Down the Drain Campaign by Bristol Avon Rivers Trust
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) have been painting pavements in Bradley Stoke! On Thursday 5th March 2026. They were working with local artist Alicia Hayden Wildlife spreading the message that only rain should go down the drain. Surface drains often lead directly to rivers and any pollutants that go down these drains can harm river wildlife.
The artist painted a drain at each school, and BART staff also added 2 whole stencil pieces at each school plus a few smaller stencils with words and small pictures. They used non-toxic chalk based paints and food colouring to create the artwork.
Look out for the artworks outside Meadowbrook, Holy Trinity and Bowsland Green Primary schools. Quick before the chalk washes away!
Find out more about Alicia Hayden.
Find out more about Yellow Fish.
We're working to make Bradley Stoke a Watermark Town
Join the new network of towns working to save water, manage rainwater, reduce runoff and improve the local environment.
Bradley Stoke Town Council is working with Wessex Water to become a Watermark Town.
The Watermark Town initiative aims to help communities use water more efficiently, protect the natural environment, and improve local water services. Safe water and wastewater services are essential for our daily lives, wellbeing, and the health of the natural world.
STEP 1 – Watermark Town Initiative workshop poster (Word)
The Town Council hosted the first Watermark Town Initiative workshop at the Jubilee Centre on Saturday 21st March 2026. This was a very productive workshop with lots of ideas and suggestions discussed. Watch this space for the next steps.
The Town Council is also hoping to be able to apply for external grant funding towards ongoing projects linked to the successful approved, Bradley Stoke Town Council can may receive grant funding to support community projects that promote better water use and reduce wastewater.
Free Garden Trees/Hedges & Wildflower Seeds Event
Following on from the successful events in January 2023, 2024 and 2025, the 2026 event took place on Saturday 24th January 2026 at the Jubilee Centre and was once again a successful event with much positive feedback received.
As in previous years, we produced tree planting information sheets which proved very popular as reference points for people who did not know which tree/shrub to choose.
Tree Planting Information (Word)
In excess of 60 local residents collected trees/shrubs/hedges and marked their planting locations on the map (see below).
Once again this year, we also gave away free packets of wildflower seeds to be planted in residents gardens.
We also used this event to heighten awareness and recruit volunteers to assist with the development of Nature & Wellbeing Hub at Brook Way Activity Centre
Volunteers Needed for Nature & Wellbeing Hub at Brook Way Activity Centre
Help build our wooden planters. We're looking for a small group of people to help for a few hours at a time. People who can carry heavy wood and enjoy building. Be a part of a new growing project.
More information on our Instagram page.
Would you like to get involved or want to keep up to date with this growing project? Contact Ivy Brown.
Collaborating with One Planet Matters - South Glos Nature, Health & Wellbeing Network
A big thank you One Planet Matters, for supporting and supplying us with the tools, advice, hands and funding towards making this project happen.
Photos taken at the Free Tree Event
Planting of Community Orchard
The planting of the Community Orchard at Brook Way Activity Centre took place on 20th and 21st February 2025.
Thursday 20th February (preparation day) which involved digging 40 holes in which to plant the trees. This was carried out by BSTC councillors and staff; Bradley Stoke Green Gym and members of the Bristol Pitbulls Ice Hockey Team.
The main tree planting event was on Friday 21st February and involved BSTC councillors and staff, Bradley Stoke Green Gym, Willow Brook Centre and a number of members of the public/local residents.
Costs of Community Orchard
The Town Council originally allocated £650 towards the project (as part of our Local Nature Action Plan) and we successfully applied for grant funding through The Tree Council Branching Out Fund (in region of £700). We have also received sponsorship from several local businesses (currently £550). We also had 20 trees donated through The Forest of Avon/One Planet Matters. The 20 fruit trees we purchased cost us £981.00.
The Town Council will now be looking at the development of accessibility paths, flower beds and wellness space within the orchard area.
Kindly supported by:
- The Tree Council
- Hamberley Care Homes
- Willow Brook Centre
- Forest of Avon Trust
Borrow a Wildlife Camera!
Free to borrow
1 week loan period
Available from Bradley Stoke Library
Bradley Stoke Community School, Willow Brook and Bradley Stoke Town Council
Community & Biodiversity Initiative – Bug Hotels
Download: Bug Hotel Case Study (PDF)
Become a Hedgehog Hero
Help make Bradley Stoke a Hedgehog friendly town by creating hedgehog highways in the town.
At the Hedgehog Heroes event on Saturday 17th June (organised by Bradley Stoke Town Council, Bradley Stoke in Bloom and Bradley Stoke Zero Carbon Community Group), hedgehog archways were given to residents of Bradley Stoke who will be installing them in their gardens to create holes in their own fence or gates to enable hedgehog to access their gardens. Hedgehog holes are typically 13cm holes and are installed in garden fences, walls and gates to enable hedgehogs to safely access gardens. These hedgehog holes or 'highways' will help form a garden network of places for hedgehogs to find food, shelter and even other prickly pals, ensuring that they do not have to cross busy roads. Once the archway is installed, the residents then plot the location at the BIG Hedgehog Map website.
The Hedgehog Heroes initiative is being led by South Gloucestershire Council in an effort to help halt the severe decline in the species over the last 20 years, and will enable South Gloucestershire to become a hedgehog friendly zone. It is working with more than 15 town and parish councils in South Gloucestershire to encourage people in the area to create a target of 3000 'hedgehog holes'. There are both urban and rural hedgehogs, those in built up areas seem to be showing signs of stabilising and it is hoped this project will mean the more rural populations can recover. In the past, Bradley Stoke Town Council has given grant funding to Hedgehog Rescue in Yate who help care for injured hedgehogs and have worked in the community for more than 20 years raising awareness of hedgehog welfare. Hedgehog rescue often take in injured or underweight hedgehogs found in Bradley Stoke.
The Hedgehog Walk
How does it work
Sign-up: Head over to our website and sign-up for the Timmy Time Hedgehog Walk. It's as easy as a walk in the park, promise!
Pick a character: Your students can choose their character from Aardman Animation's Timmy Time to complete the walk with. Hopefully, it's not too hard to choose!
Pledge your classroom: Set a goal with your students to complete the 3-mile Hedgehog Walk.
Spread the word: Invite other classes or even ask parents to get involved. The more, the merrier!
Fundraise: Before you begin your epic adventure, invite your school's community to donate to help nature everywhere. (Remember our Wild Fundraising Pack to help you achieve your goal target.)
Time to start: On the 16th of October, lace up your shoes, gather your little nature enthusiasts and embark on a wild adventure.
Celebrate: After your achievement, share your story, snapshots of breathtaking views, and maybe even a celebratory dance move or two on social media using #BigWildWalk.
So, what are you waiting for? Sign up and help us save 30% of land and sea by 2030.
What to do if you find a sick or injured hedgehog?
If you have found a sick, injured or distressed hedgehog in our area and need help or advice please call a local hedgehog rescue or a local vet.
Hedgehog Rescue Yate: 07971 663009
Chipping Sodbury Hedgehog Rescue: 07476216158
Download the attached poster (Word) for handy tips on what to do if you've found a hedgehog that you feel may need a helping hand.
Colouring Competition
To celebrate Bradley Stoke Town Council's Hedgehog Heroes initiative, we held a colouring competition. Thank you to Pets at Home for the prizes. All participants received a certificate and the First Place prize in both categories was a hedgehog house and bag of hedgehog food (donated by Pets at Home) plus a colourful knitted Hedgehog. Second place received a bag of hedgehog food and a knitted hedgehog.
Hedgehog Heroes Initiative for Schools
Bradley Stoke Town Council is donating a Hedgehog Heroes sign to each school in the town and hope that it will be placed in a prominent location so that the local community can see that your school is playing their part in becoming a Hedgehog Hero. Your school might like to construct a hedgehog hotel or feeding station on the school grounds as well as finding out what hedgehogs like to eat and drink.
Hedgehog Heroes
Hedgehog Awareness Week 2023 Tuesday 2 – Monday 8 May
Hedgehog Awareness Week is a national campaign where people across the country are encouraged to make space for our favourite prickly pal, hedgehogs, in their gardens. Hedgehog Awareness Week is supported by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) and Peoples Trust for Endangered Species (PTES). These organisations are working nationally to help one of our favourite mammals survive into the future.
Download: Social media toolkit for Hedgehog Awareness Week 2023 (PDF)
