One of our most exciting pieces of work at the moment is supporting our resident action group around Horfield Brook “Let the Brook Breathe.” The group started last year with two local residents who were keen to take action for Horfield Brook. Horfield Brook is a forgotten waterway that runs through Lockleaze- read more here. The group are aiming to improve its biodiversity, improve its water quality, and to reconnect it with Lockleaze residents.
We are supporting them to expand their group, starting with a well attended community meeting in March.
We have also been helping them get trained to monitor water quality. They took part in Earth Watch’s Great UK Waterblitz for the third time in April, finding unacceptable levels of Nitrates and Phosphates, indicative of runoff and sewage in the water. We have found this at all three of our yearly surveys.
In May, 2 residents and our project coordinator trained with Bristol Avon Rivers Trust to monitor Riverfly (laval stage insects and crustaceans) which are good indicators of pollution. We have also been talking to the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust about being part of their exciting Wetland City Project. which would see Bristol become the first Wetland City in the UK.
In June, the group held their first public action event, with 25 residents taking to the slopes around the brook near Aldi on Muller Road, litter picking 30 large black binbags, & 4 tonne sacks of rubbish that had been dropped and flytipped, as well as 7 trolleys.
The group is always looking for new members with time to help improve the brook – please email horfieldbrook@gmail.com if you want to get involved, or to receive their email newsletter.
Supporting ‘Let the Brook Breathe’ is part of our work for Bristol City Council’s Nature Together Project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Nature Towns and Cities project.
