Take a look in our Gallery for a sneak peek of our new notice boards taking shape thanks to the great support of John and the team at the men’s shed!
- August 2025
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A HUGE thanks to the team of 12 Broken Bridges Nature Reserve volunteers who recently surveyed Broken Bridges in advance of work by Wessex Working Horses in the fields.
This from one of our task leaders, Dudley Horn…
“I am pleased to report that the task (search of designated area for obstacles & debris was completed by 1145 this morning. Everyone pitched on time. This was followed by a safety briefing and task detailing. The volunteers were split into two teams equally assigned to Rob and Dudley. Teams all formed a line with about 2-3 meters in between and we did systematic sweeps across our assigned areas. Our poles and sticks were used to probe the ground to unearth any obstacles or material unevenness in the ground. We searched right to the hedge/treelines and searched therein and could find no signs of discarded fencing or barbed wire. None of the volunteers reported any finds or obstacles. After we cleared our respective areas, we cleared the gate of all foliage so that it can be accessed by the horses.”
Thank you to all our volunteers on the day for helping!
Interested in helping future work? Email info@mybrokenbridges.org.uk to be added to our volunteer database.
- August 2025
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The western meadows on Broken Bridges will shortly be cut by heavy horses. This will be the first step towards the restoration of the meadows to increase biodiversity, prior to the re-introduction of grazing next year.
Why not come along and watch the horses at work?
Monday 1st & Tuesday 2nd September – Mowing.
Monday 8th, Tuesday 9th & Wednesday 10th – Baling.
We are using horses rather than a tractor for this work as they cause less compaction of the ground and create slots with their hooves for the germination of wildflower seed.
Learn more about this fantastic team helping us at www.wessexworkinghorses.co.uk.
- August 2025
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We have had over 70 people sign up to be volunteers on the new Nature Reserve for which we are extremely grateful!
In early September we will be having the western fields cut using heavy horses. Before that, we need to ascertain if there are any obstacles in the ground which might be a hazard for both the horses, and the machinery. As these are old water meadows there may be hidden structures beneath the vegetation such as concrete, old bits of metal or fence posts and barbed wire and the original raised channels like those on the Harnham Water Meadows. We would like a team of about 10-12 people to walk these 9 acres, which are partly divided into 2 sections by a hedge. The group would spread out across the field each with a stick to locate and identify any hazards and mark these on the supplied map.
Interested in helping this or future work? Email info@mybrokenbridges.org.uk to be added to our volunteer database!
- July 2025
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On 27 June 2025, Broken Bridges Nature Reserve (BBNR) acquired 34 acres of land, formerly known as Fitzgerald Farm. The charity's immediate priority is to address the potential risk to the public caused by diseased or hazardous trees along public rights-of-way within the reserve.
Work is scheduled to begin on or about the 21 July 2025 and we hope will take just over a week.
The reserve contains an estimated 11,000 trees. Our initial examination of the estate identified 44 trees requiring closer inspection. Of those 44 trees inspected, 20 trees represent a potential significant threat to the public and require work as a matter of urgency, with 13 of them suffering from Ash Dieback. The planned works are as follows:
Tree surgeons will ensure minimal disturbance to wildlife, if conflicts arise, they will halt work to allow for us to reassess the risk to the public against the risk to wildlife. Removed wood will be repurposed to create local biodiverse habitats.
The recent tragic incident in Southend-on-Sea, where a falling tree caused the death of a 7-year-old girl and injured three others, underscores the importance of this work.
We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your support as we complete this urgent work to keep the public right of way safe.
Broken Bridges Nature Reserve Trustees
- July 2025
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Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy's Community Fund exists to support local projects whose aims align with our own - mitigating climate change, reducing carbon, and protecting wildlife in Wiltshire.
"The Broken Bridges Nature Reserve scheme will address all this and more, so I am delighted that we were able to support the scheme with a £5,000 grant. We look forward to seeing the rich biodiversity of the area restored and the Reserve once again made accessible to the local community who will benefit enormously from having this space on their doorstep."
Julian Barlow, Chair of Wiltshire Community Eneegy
- July 2025
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Broken Bridges Nature Reserve has become a reality!
Following an amazing community effort to raise the money, the 34 acres known as Fitzgerald Farm, has been secured to create a new Nature Reserve for the people of Salisbury and Netherhampton.
Recently transitioning from a Community Interest Company to a Registered Charity, the Trustees of Broken Bridges Nature Reserve Charitable Incorporated Organisation are delighted to announce the purchase of the land was finally completed on Friday June 27 2025.
“It has been a really hard slog for our small group to get us to this point” said Chair, Jeremy Nettle, “but with the magnificent support of so many people we now have this land in our ownership, and we have also become a charity to look after it for the people of Salisbury.”
“We want to say a huge thank you to the generous donors and supporters who made it possible; Wiltshire Council, Salisbury City Council, Lord Marland Trust, On Foot Holidays, Netherhampton Parish Council, Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy's Community Fund, Salisbury Transition City, CPRE, and Fawcetts, along with the very many individuals who made donations large and small” said fundraising lead Anne Trevett, “When the large Government grant we had hoped for was discontinued, we thought we might have to give up, but the enthusiast support of so many local people encouraged us to go on”
“This has been a long time in coming, starting in 2008 when the land first went on the market and sadly, some of those who started the project are no longer with us.” said environmental lead, Pam Rouquette.
“The charity now looks forward starting the vital work to restore the wildlife interest of the overgrown meadows and improve access along the footpath. We will have to raise more money to fund our restoration work, but we are spurred on by the over 70 people who have already signed up as volunteers to help us, offering a wide range of skills that will be absolutely invaluable.”
Finally, we wish to thank our solicitors Batt Broadbent for their professional services.
A launch event is being planned later this summer, where more details will be available.
- June 2025
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Broken Bridges Nature Reserve Community Interest Company (CIC) (Company Number 06726124) is now Broken Bridges Nature Reserve Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) (Registered Charity Number 1213230). Our New bank details are:
Name: Broken Bridges Nature Reserve CIO
Sort code: 82 12 08
Account: 70036255
- June 2025
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After a very successful meeting attended by over 60 people recently in the Harnham Parish Hall, the Broken Bridges Nature Reserve team have organised another open event, to be held in Lower Bemerton on Saturday 22nd March 2025 in St John’s Place from 10.30am to 12.30pm.
This is a great opportunity to discuss the latest updates and plans, hear more details about our ideas for improving biodiversity and enhancing public access, to put forward your own ideas and sign up to future volunteering opportunities. Coffee and biscuits available while you chat and ask your questions!
We look forward to seeing you there!
- March 2025
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Due to ongoing work at the Old Mill Hotel, there is a change of venue for the open event on Saturday 22nd February 2025 from 10.30 am - 12.30 pm. The NEW venue is the Harnham Parish Hall, Lower St, West Harnham, SP2 8EY. Parking is available onsite.
- February 2025
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An open event will be held on Saturday 22nd February 2025 from 10.30 am - 12.30 pm in the restaurant at the Old Mill Hotel, Town Path, West Harnham, Salisbury SP2 8EU. Refreshments available.
An opportunity to receive latest updates, discuss plans, put forward your ideas and sign up to future volunteering opportunities.
A similar event will be held in Lower Bemerton at St Johns Place on Saturday 22nd March 2025.
For more information, or to get in touch with the team visit mybrokenbridges.org.uk. We look forward to seeing you there!
- February 2025
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Catch up on more news? Check out the Downloads page for stories and updates from 2024 in our archive.
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