Friends of Victory Park weekend work parties in February 2026

Come along to tree pop / cut down the small trees growing in the flower-rich meadow before it is lost. Taking action this winter will give the meadow a chance to regain its buzz this summer.

When?

Sunday 1^st February 2026 10am – 12.30pm

Saturday 7^h February 2026 10am – 12.30pm

Where?

Meet next to the children’s playground.

What’s involved?

Tree-pop or cut down-saw self-seeded trees (up to 8cm diameter).
Create habitat piles in the woodland edges with the wood
Prune the fruit trees

How do I get involved?

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What do I need to bring?

Gloves, all tools and an intro on how to use them will be provided. Bring a snack, water and suitable warm layers/waterproofs and sturdy footwear.

Both sessions will be led by Nicky Hodges, a Bristol city council ranger. Nicky leads weekly Nature Nurture Group sessions at sites in South & East Bristol. She will invite regular volunteers along to help.

More about the meadow

The South-facing slope above the children’s playground in Victory Park is a tiny piece of old flower-rich meadow left over from when the park was farmland. Its sunny situation is attractive for butterflies, bees, hoverflies and other pollinating insects. The slope is a rich feeding ground for green woodpeckers, bats and owls and a wonderful habitat for mice and voles.

Many such flower-rich grasslands have been lost in England. In the last few years, the slope has not been cut. Without grazing or cutting, trees have begun to grow on the slope, a mix of English oaks, blackthorn, wild cherry and non-native Turkey oak and holm oak. As these grow, they cast shade on the grassland and if left, will turn the meadow to woodland.

Why remove the trees?

We propose to remove the smaller young oak trees using tree poppers. These are tools that pull the tree out along with its root. Larger ones will be cut with saws. The wood will be used to create habitat piles in the woody edges of the park.

You may say, why not leave it to become woodland with different widlife? The park is already edged by woodland with magnificent mature oaks. Restoring the meadow will maintain a mosaic of habitats in the park to support a greater diversity of wildlife in the park. Many hundreds of new trees are being planted nearby at Eastwood Farm, Dundridge Farm playing fields and Minerva primary school. There is an opportunity to replant some of the smaller trees elsewhere around the park.

In 2014, children from Holymead Infant and Junior Schools planted 8 fruit trees on the slope. Removing the oak trees will enable the fruit trees to thrive. These smaller trees cast less shade, allowing the grassland beneath to continue to offer valuable grassland habitat.

What happens afterwards?

Once the slope has fewer trees, it can be cut annually, with the grass or hay removed. This traditional method of management supports a variety of flowers to grow, providing a home and feeding ground for a variety of insects, birds and animals. Maintaining the slope as a meadow will protect the sunset views from the top,

Meadow scything / strimming sessions will be arranged for March/April and mid-July-September 2026.