First steps on renewing the Broken Bridge footpath
We are pleased to report that Salisbury City Council Communities Committee has approved the first stage of our application for funding to replace the surface of the Rights of Way footpath from Bemerton to Harnham. Those using the footpath will know that some work has already been done with the aid of a grant from the Ramblers Association. There is a long way to go to make the path fully accessible to everyone, but we are on our way!
Mowing the meadows
You will know that mowing and re-establishing grazing is vital for restoring the biodiversity of the meadows. The presence of poisonous Hemlock Water Dropwort has been a particular challenge and because of this we had been rather gloomy about our prospect of getting all the meadows cut and the hay removed this year. However, we have been able to find a local contractor who was able to cut, bale and take the rough hay away. This will help soil fertility, benefiting our less common plant species.
Volunteering
Recently our Wednesday volunteers have begun digging out Hemlock Water Dropwort by hand in South Meadow. The main work this autumn has been preparing for new fencing for this meadow, which we will be installing in order to have animals grazing on the meadows. This in turn will increase biodiversity. You will notice coppicing and layering of hazel on the old bank earthwork along Gypsy Lane, and much of the old barbed wire is now gone.
The strip of meadow that has been opened up for public access alongside the lane, which we are calling the Green Corridor, is being cleared using scythes. Scything is a meditative and satisfying way of clearing vegetation, completely different from mechanical strimming - you might like to search for online videos that compare the rate and quality of the two methods - scythes compare very well! Seven volunteers joined our training day and we now have a small range of scythes for their use alongside rakes, forks and other quality new tools that we had been able to buy with the help of a grant.
Here’s Sarah’s report on the first volunteer session after the training:
The soft swish-swish sound of people scything is so much more pleasant than the strimmer, and also much kinder on the small creatures living in the meadow. We now have three beautiful light Austrian scythes and a small team of people who learned to use them on Monday then returned with enthusiasm on Wednesday. We enjoyed the mowing, raking and haystack-making so much that the Green Corridor (the area between the path and East Meadow) is almost done, and we'll finish it next week.
Please feel welcome to be part of our Wednesday group whether or not you've joined us to date - there are all sorts of different tasks such as raking, snipping branches, litter picking - it's not necessarily Green Gym or vigorous exercise, unless that's what you want! We meet at 10, have a break at 11, stop for lunch at 1, and finish at 3. In addition to these breaks, you'll notice, if you join us, how frequently someone stops to peer at something on the ground, in the scrub or in the air and then shares their pleasure in identifying another living thing. Much of this ID involves using iNaturalist, which automatically records the sighting to the database for our nature reserve.
Want to know more?
We have been out and about in the City talking about the project: exploring the history at Salisbury Methodist Church, and with stalls at the Wiltshire Biodiversity & Regenerative Food Festival in the Guildhall Square on 4th October and at Men Matters in City Hall on 10th. It has been a delight to feel the enthusiasm for Broken Bridges on all sides.
There will be a public meeting in the Parish Hall in Harnham from 10.30-12.30 on Saturday 14th November; you will be able to get a coffee and chat to the team from 10.30am. We expect the programme to include introductions to the team, a brief overview of our management plan for the reserve, our plans for the footpath and green corridor and suggestions of ways to get involved. All are welcome.
And save the date!
Thanks to our friends in the Maerefolk folk music group we have managed to reschedule our fundraising concert in St John’s Place to Saturday 20th February. Please mark this up in your brand new 2027 diaries and tell your friends.
- November 2026
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The autumn / winter volunteer work programme has begun. Sarah, who has volunteered to organise volunteering on the Nature Reserve, reports:
“On our first Wednesday work day, we assisted volunteers from the Men's Shed in moving the Northern notice board to make room for the base for a bench and removed some unstable willow branches overhanging the path. The main job for the day was removing barbed wire, the first stage of a job that will continue into the winter alongside hedge laying. I hadn't done this before and found I really enjoyed it - it's a matter of putting on some thick gloves and then using a hammer and some fencing pliers to remove staples from the posts, then rolling up the wire. We took breaks to spot butterflies and fungi using iNaturalist, as well as stopping for elevenses and lunch”.
If you'd like to join our volunteer email list please send a message to our new volunteers email address: volunteers@mybrokenbridges.org.uk (and add the email address to your contacts to prevent emails going into spam). You'll get one email about volunteering per week plus occasional updates.
Footpath
We are waiting eagerly to hear if we have succeeded in our bid for CIL (Developers) money to help upgrade the footpath. The City Council Committee meets on October 12th and the Broken Bridges footpath will be considered amongst other projects from across the City. Thanks so much to those who have signed in support of Broken Bridges.
One or two people have expressed the wish that we leave the path as it is – wild and natural - and we do understand their passion but think that it is really important that everyone, including those with mobility issues, has the chance to have access to Nature. But we are absolutely committed to keeping this as a lovely rural space and working with the Rights of Way Officer will do our very best to get it right. Fingers crossed we get the funding.
Our priorities and progress
Getting grazing cattle back on to the meadows has always been our first priority as this is the way to restore biodiversity. So as well as cutting the hay in the meadows we have been undertaking all sorts of baseline surveys of flora and fauna, and soil sampling as well as detailed discussion around the Broken Bridges fencing lines. All of this has been careful preparation for our long-term plan for reintroducing grazing. However, progress is being seriously delayed because of our problem with Hemlock Water Dropwort which is potentially poisonous to cattle.
Discovering just how much is on our land has been a bit of a nightmare for us: it is widespread, distributed right across our meadows. Advice as to how to eliminate it is conflicting and sadly its presence means that the hay cut in the meadows cannot be used by farmers for livestock and we need to pay for it to be removed. So please bear with us as we try to work out what is the best thing to do. It isn’t just our problem – Hemlock Water Dropwort is widespread locally.
We are also working on our green corridor, with Pam Rouquette drawing together a small group to formulate plans for making it into the space that allows people to enjoy views out over the site, and to take part in nature-based activities or just sit and enjoy. Pam is excited that the barbed wire under Spring Bridge has been removed, bringing access to pond dipping a step closer.
Did you know?
Most people know that Broken Bridges Nature Reserve is a charity but, you may not realise just how tiny we are. Just 5 five people form the Board of Trustees, working together on everything from conservation to fundraising and community engagement as well the many onerous legal requirements of the Charity Commission.
We do have a small grant from the National Lottery that allows us to pay for the services of the wonderfully expert Alex Rose for one day a week as a Ranger.
We really need some new trustees, especially young people, to join us and share the workload. Do think about offering YOUR skills (see more information in the post below).
Finally, our picture below shows a speckled wood butterfly inspecting our Chairman’s trouser pocket on a beautiful autumn day on Broken Bridges!
- September 2026
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Join Our Board of Trustees
Broken Bridges Nature Reserve CIO is seeking up to 3 additional Trustees to help guide and support our growing charity as we enter our second year.
Since becoming a registered charity one year ago, we have built a dedicated team of 4 Trustees and 1 Co-opted Trustee, working together to protect and enhance our local nature reserve for wildlife and the community. We are now looking for enthusiastic individuals who share our passion for nature and
can bring skills and experience in one or more of the following areas:
Who We're Looking For
You don't need previous Trustee experience – support and guidance will be provided. We welcome applications from people who:
What You'll Gain
As a Trustee, you'll have the opportunity to:
Time Commitment
Trustees are expected to attend board meetings (currently 6-8 per year) and contribute to the charity's development and decision-making. The role is voluntary but highly rewarding.
If you would like to find out more or discuss the role informally, please email a short resume to Anne Trevett, email anneinbemerton@gmail.com
- September 2026
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Residents across Salisbury and the surrounding area are being invited to start their day in a truly unique way on Sunday 3rd May 2026, as Broken Bridges Nature Reserve launches its first community event of the year - A Dawn Chorus Discovery – on International Dawn Chorus Day.
The early morning event, organised by Charley Miller in conjunction with Ranger Alex Rose, offers participants the opportunity to witness the remarkable dawn chorus. This phenomenon features birdsong at sunrise and stands as one of nature’s most impressive seasonal events.
Starting at either Bemerton or Harnham end of the Broken Bridges Nature Reserve, the guided sessions will help participants learn to recognise different bird calls, discover more about local wildlife, and enjoy the peaceful beauty of the Reserve at its most active time of day.
Charley Miller said “We’re delighted to be launching our first event for the community. The dawn chorus is something really special, it’s a chance to slow down, listen, and connect with nature in a way that many people don’t often experience.”
Ranger Alex Rose added “This event is open to everyone you don’t need any prior knowledge. Whether you’re curious about birds or just want to enjoy a calm and inspiring start to your day, we’d love to welcome you.”
The event marks the beginning of a wider programme of activities at Broken Bridges Nature Reserve, aimed at encouraging local people to explore, enjoy, and support this valuable natural space. Jeremy Nettle Chair of BBNR said he was delighted that a programme of events “Nurturing Nature” was now coming together and hoped that they would appeal to all ages.
Spaces are limited, and early booking is advised.
- April 2026
We're delighted to welcome our new Rangers onboard as they start work with us in Broken Bridges.
Thanks to a National Lottery 'Awards for All' grant, Charley Miller and Alex Rose, young people with a passion for the environment, have been appointed as Rangers, to help us with organising conservation activities and supporting the many local people who want to volunteer with us.
Charley and Alex are members of the Wildlife and Wellbeing Community Interest Company based in Salisbury. Charley says “Wildlife and Wellbeing was set up in 2024 in response to the growing climate, biodiversity and human mental health crises. Our aim is to connect people with their local wildlife, for the benefit of their health and wellbeing."
Alex and I have a combined 20 years' experience in practical habitat management, including at Hazel Hill Wood near Salisbury. Alex added "I'm looking forward to this partnership, excited to build strong relationships for Broken Bridges Nature Reserve, and honoured to establish a rapport with the land.”
Welcome Charley and Alex!
- February 2026
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Over 80 people gathered in the lovely setting of St John’s Place in Lower Bemerton on January 17th 2026 to hear about progress, ask questions and meet the team.
Fascinating glimpses into the past of this historic site, where the papermill on the river is recorded in the Domesday Book, were provided by his personal knowledge and research by John Abbott and by Angie Watts who had worked on the farm in the period before its more recent neglect.
Thank you to all who attended. If you missed the day or want to catch up on progress, you can view Trustee, David Riddle's presentation here.
- January 2026
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Visiting Broken Bridges? A new detailed map is now available to view in the Downloads page.
- October 2025
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Thinking about leaving a legacy donation? Please visit our Downloads page for more information on donating to Broken Bridges Nature Reserve in your will.
- October 2025
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The trustees of Broken Bridges Nature Reserve are delighted to have completed the first cut of the meadows in years.
Trustee David Riddle says: “Our meadows used to be very rich in wild flowers - we have survey information from 12 years ago recording some very special species. Sadly, the lack of grazing and cutting in recent years has allowed coarse sedges to overwhelm the meadows, smothering the rare plants and we desperately needed to get it all cut.”
David went on: “In an ideal world we would mow and then remove the grass in bales, as this helps to reduce fertility which benefits the wild flowers. We tried with a horse drawn mower but were thwarted by machinery breakdown. This left us with a dilemma: should we just leave the vegetation to stand over winter and die down; or should we try to get it cut and leave the cuttings to rot down in situ? Neither option was ideal because we were leaving the nutrients from the mowings on the land either way. BUT because leaving it all standing would have made it even harder to mow next year, we decided we should try to get it cut now before the land gets too wet.”
Fortunately the Trustees were able to enter into a contract with the City Council’s Grounds Team with their extensive local knowledge of the meadows and they have now been cut for the first time in many years.
The aim is to re-introduce grazing as soon as the necessary fencing has been reinstated. Combined with annual hay cuts in years to come this will restore the rare floodplain meadow habitat along with its rich variety of plants and animals. The mowing just completed is the first step in the restoration process.
- October 2025
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Broken Bridges Nature Reserve has launched a new Facebook page to share latest updates, photos, upcoming events, and other content.
Simply search 'Broken Bridges Nature Reserve' on Facebook and follow our page! There's lots of new material posted, including news of an upcoming community event and updates on the summer mowing programme.
Do you have photos or stories to share? Tag Broken Bridges Nature Reserve in your Facebook post to share with others.
- October 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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Catch up on more news? Check out the Downloads page for stories and updates from 2024 and 2025 in our archive.
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