Located in north Bristol close to Southmead and Henleaze, Badock’s Wood Local Nature Reserve’s woodland is at least 400 years old.
Local industrialist and landowner Sir Stanley Badock gave part of his Holmwood estate to Bristol Corporation in 1937 so that the citizens of Bristol could enjoy the Woods as a public open space and included specifically the exclusion of buildings being erected on the gifted land.
Badock’s Wood is a haven for wildlife and includes a pond and wildflower meadows as well as an ancient woodland and the River Trym flows through the valley floor.
Beautiful wood carvings made by the chainsaw sculptor Andy O'Neill are scattered around the nature reserve.
The nature reserve is owned and maintained by Bristol Parks with support from the Friends of Badock’s Wood.
Here are 32 images from our visit to Badock's Wood:
1. Bridges
Many wooden bridges help visitors cross to the other side of the stream. The bridges complement the colours of the nature reserve.
2. Northern Gateway entrance
The Northern Gateway leads to a small square with decorative tiles and benches. If travelling from the centre, the 76 leaves visitors about a three-minute walk away, the Y6 South Glos Lynx and 13 a seven-minute walk away, the 2a Citylines an eight-minute walk away and the 2 Citylines a two-minute walk away.
3. Open fields
Visitors can enjoy a selection of open fields which are perfect for a picnic on a sunny day or to walk the dog.
4. Pond
The pond was erected in 2012 on the depression in the landscape left by one of the prefabs built during WWII and removed in the early 1980s. The pond is home to invertebrates including water beetles, pond skaters, pond snails and leeches as is frequented by birds, butterflies, moths, bats, dragonflies and damselflies.