The Friends of Garthorne Road held a very successful Bake Off. It was all in the aid of the reserve and the Friends will be buying some bat and bird boxes to enhance the biodiversity of the reserve. Two local businesses helped by providing taster, Sebastian Roche and The Honor Oak Provender. Sebastian Roche also kindly provided 2 trophies for the winners, one best bake and one best bake under 16.
There were a lot of delicious cakes on display!
A big thank you to the Friends who did some great work organising the event and being there on the day to make sure all went well.
Of course, thanks to everyone that baked a cake or came along to buy and taste. We made enough money to buy a few/bird and bat boxes and hopefully someone will take up residence soon!
The first Open Day of the year was a huge success with over 40 people coming to visit. The Friends are really happy that so many people are keen to be involved in this wonderful site.
Garthorne Road Nature Reserve will be open on Saturday 18th May between 2pm-4pm. A member of the Friends Group will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. If you are keen to become a member of the Friends, please let them know or contact them using one of the many ways listed here.
They are keen for new members to join to help them keep this site as a great haven for nature and to help them have regular open days so lots of people can experience the site in all its glory.
Garthorne Road Nature Reserve will be open this Saturday 20th April between 2pm-4pm. A member of the Friends Group will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. If you are keen to become a member of the Friends, please let them know or contact them using one of the many ways listed here.
They are keen for new members to join to help them keep this site as a great haven for nature and to help them have regular open days so lots of people can experience the site in all its glory.
The Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve are please to announce that we are reintroducing our monthly conservation workdays which will be on a second Saturday of the month from August to October. There will be some changes to the way we operate them to keep everyone safe and will be maintaining the following precautions. Please book your place using the Eventbrite booking below:
Please do not attend if you have symptoms of COVID-19
Hand sanitiser will be available
We have limited amount of gloves please bring your own if you have them
We won’t be providing hot drinks or biscuits so please bring your own if you would like
We will be maintaining a 2m distance at all times
We will be limiting volunteer numbers to 6 per session
Tools will be disinfected after each session
Please wash clothes that you wear to the sessions regularly
Please bring lunch and drinking water and wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and sturdy shoes (preferably steel toe cap boots).
Please note there are no toilets on the site but you are welcome to find a bush
Please meet at the main gate at 11:00am as the gate will be locked to prevent unauthorised access.
Tasks to be formed
Installing path edging
Removal of regrowth of invasive species such as holm oak
Extend and top up dead hedging
Butterfly transect
Tickets will be offered on a first come first serve basis. We ask that you don’t book on to two consecutive sessions so that everyone gets a chance to volunteer. There will be a waiting list so if you book a ticket but something comes up and you can no longer attend please cancel your ticket on Eventbrite so that it will become available for someone else.
Please Note: All Friends Volunteer Taskdays has been cancelled due to the CO-VID 19 Virus please see Eventspage for further details.
Saturday 8th February
Clearing invasive species to allow native species to flourish and creating dead hedging to create habitats for hedgehogs and invertebrates.
Saturday 7th March
Installing path edging to stop visitors trampling the flowers and making the steps safer.
What you need to know
All workdays run 11am-3:30pm. Please let us know which sessions you would like to come to so that we can provide sufficient tools and for the number of volunteers we are expecting and please note the gate will be locked to stop unauthorised access, please contact me by text or phone on 07707023359 so we can let you in. If you are letting us know at the last minute please text Ernie (Chair and task days organiser) on the above number.
We have gloves in limited supply, please bring gardening gloves if you have them and wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the weather and safety. Please bring food and drinks if required.
This program workdays is subject to change or cancellation at short notice due to weather conditions such as rain or high winds and other matters out of the control of the friends group. Tasks maybe swapped between workdays as necessary.
If you require more information please contact the
The next Friends of Garthorne Road meeting will be held on 2nd April at 8pm in the Honor Oak Pub. We will be discussing the upcoming ‘Open Days’, funding and ways in which we can encourage more people to join the group. If you think you can help or you would like to take part, please contact the Friends and come along to the meeting.
The reserve is unfortunately now closed for the winter season and we will reopen on:
Saturday 16th April 2022
2 – 5 pm
But will still continue to have monthly Conservation workday throughout the year if you are interested in joining us to maintain the reserve please go to the Volunteer conservation workday page to book a place.
The Friends will be opening the reserve come and explore this green oasis and bring a picnic and get closer to nature. The spring flowers have sprung and the birds are singing and the butterflies are fluttering.
For further information contact or to join our events , volunteers and newsletter mailing list, please contact the Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve.
After a lot of hard work, the new sign for Garthorne Road is on its way. This sign is similar in style to the ones at some of the Council’s other reserves such as Devonshire Road, Burnt Ash Pond and Grove Park. It will now feel more part of the ‘family’ and it is very welcome. A huge thank you to all of the friends, the children of Dalmain Primary School who did the designs and of course Rebecca Woodall, who put the whole thing together.
The sign itself, was made possible thanks to the Kenneth White legacy Award.
Garthorne Road Nature Reserve 