Royate Hill

Two disused railway embankments linked by a brick viaduct to make a city centre nature reserve

The railway embankment creates a varied local topography with long and short, steep and gentle slopes. The habitats on the site range from limestone flora on the embankment top, to flower rich grassland, developing woodland and scrub on the embankment sides. Species such as ox-eyed daisy, mouse eared chickweed and bee orchid have been recorded at the site.

Hedgerows, a stream and an old orchard are also present within the reserve boundary.

The embankments were constructed in the early 1870's to form part of the Clifton Extension Railway. They span 450 metres in a shallow curve from Edward Street in the north west, to Clay Bottom to the east, crossing Royate Hill and the Coombe Brook at their centre.

The site was compulsorily purchased by the former Avon County Council in 1996, following a five-year high profile campaign by local people to save it from development.

28 GoodGymers have supported Royate Hill with 15 tasks.


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Bristol runner
Bristol runner
Melanie Young
Melanie Young (she/her)

Previous sessions
BristolCommunity mission

The trimmer takes it all

Saturday 5th July

Written by Bristol runner

Lots of stuff to cut back from the path on the viaduct today. By now veterans of the path we made our way along snipping overhanging brambles and anything we just didn’t like. There is now a clear path to the moon temple and we made a pavement at the far end more passable. The false strawberries were still there as well as the cherry (we think). There was also a (greengage?) plum tree, which we made a note of the location so we could revisit (whether we are brave enough to try them…).

We also learnt about old man Jason, who definitely doesn’t smell 62 as folklore would have you believe!

Until next time…

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BristolCommunity mission
David Head

MMMChop

Sunday 1st June

Written by Bristol runner

Mmmchop, ba duba chop.
Ba du chop, ba duba chop.
Ba du chop, ba duba chop.
Ba du, oh yeah.
Mmmchop, ba duba chop.
Ba du chop, ba du chop.
Ba du chop, ba du chop.
Can you tell me? Oh.
No, you can't 'cause you don't know.
Can you tell me?.
You say you can but you don't know.

At this point I’m pretty sure you can’t tell me but I think it sums up the task well with the snipping of rogue plants from the path on the viaduct. There was also some investigation of the Moon Temple and general tidying. Plus, the cherry has berries on!

Also,

Johnny - no.
George - yes.
Football - yes.
Rugby - yes but soap.
Brad - no.

and I think we are finished.

Until next time…

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BristolCommunity mission
David HeadJanka

A cut above (and to the sides)

Saturday 3rd May

Written by Bristol runner

Short report today as I write these on the walk back and I had to eat an ikea hotdog and enjoy being outside. Soo…

Today’s task was to make our way along the path on the viaduct cutting back anything encroaching onto the path. Some artistic license was taken but overall we made the path more usable (no pictures as evidence as I forgot though some pictures of the day thanks to Frances). Today’s top questions, is that a strawberry and would you eat those mushrooms? I’m going maybe and hell no! The perfect weather to be out with the dappled shade and great company.

Until next time…

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BristolCommunity mission
David Head
Melanie YoungJanka

Popper job

Sunday 6th April

Written by Bristol runner

Armed with small snips. big snips and panthers (and later a tree popper) one team headed up onto the viaduct. The main task was to remove sycamore but we also got some ash and there was some rogue nettle head removal! We also popped sycamore and the odd cherry while we were up there (👀). Surprisingly breathtaking. A highlight was seeing some ladybirds emerging from hibernation and some robins and chifchaffs (apparently one bird says chiff chaff and it isn’t a call and answer type of thing where one goes chiff and the other goes chaff).

Team spruce made what can only be described as light work of tidying the mosaic area where we started. The amount of work looked like it took more than an hour but apparently was really quick! (Will leave Mel to fill in more detail here…)

All that was left was to have the customary tea, biscuit and chat before heading off into the glorious sunshine.

Until next time…

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BristolCommunity mission
Melanie YoungSaraJanka

Little Chop of Horrors

Saturday 1st March

Written by Bristol runner

Those brambles are horrors!

Hi everyone reading this. I'll keep this brief as its lovely and sunny outisde today. Almost feels like spring!

Todays task was three-fold. The first was continuing the chopping up on the slope we started last time. Once again we were supervised by the fox who by now we count as a part of the group (just needs the tshirt). The second task was to give the Moon Temple a haircut to prevent nefarious activity. Lastly a clear of the undergrowth overhanging the pavement. Phew.

What a lovely morning to be outside. The customary tea, biscuit and chat at the end and we said adieu.

Until next time...

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BristolCommunity mission
JankaHarsheh Raj

Ample ramble pre-amble to the uphill bramble scramble gamble

Sunday 2nd February

Written by Bristol runner

Are you a mountain goat? How fire retardant are you? Two very different conversations.

Today’s task was hill-areas. We had to scramble up the hillside cutting away brambles to allow other wildlife to flourish. All of this while a fox looked up at us from a garden where it was basking in the sunshine. You wonder what it was thinking. Footholds were like gold dust and once you found a good one you were reluctant to give it up. The feeling of finding a new one though is hard to put into words.

After an hour-ish of developing our ankle and foot muscles we called time. Time for some tea and sweet treats before heading on our way. As a group I think we came up with enough words that rhyme for the title?

Until next time…

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