n NEWS FROM S us WoT

SusWoT as part of the Trout in the Trym, group commissioned Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) to survey the Trym looking for water voles. Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership kindly provided the funding.

In May an ecologist from BART came looking for signs of voles living in the Trym. Sightings have been reported and they were once common, they are now rare (red listed) in the UK. Spring is the ideal time to survey as the number of voles increases and they will be feeding hard and leaving signs of eating plants and leaving poo in latrine areas.

The riverbanks were thoroughly surveyed in the Sea Mills area and Badock's Wood. No sign of water voles was found. There was evidence of bank voles and brown rats. People may have seen the odd individual water vole passing through looking to find a new territory, but none have settled as the habitat is not quite right.

Good news, there was evidence of otters. These will be individuals passing through. They have big territories and visit different areas before moving on. We may never see them (they're careful to avoid people and dogs) but it's amazing to know they have been here. The trout, eels and roach in the Trym will know that too - and in fact this year there seem to be fewer trout and they are more wary than ever, possibly down to otter activity.

Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam are both found along the Trym and Hazel Brook. SusWoT can do nothing about Japanese Knotweed as it spreads so easily except report it to the council. The Balsam is now in flower, and it is important to stop it setting seed. Every Sunday through the summer members of SusWoT work to prevent the balsam setting seed by pulling it up by the very shallow roots, breaking the stem of the plant and stamping on it to prevent it re-rooting. The amount of balsam is now vastly reduced, and it is hoped that all the balsam can be ‘bashed’ this year.

Air Source Heat Pumps and Home Insulation

SusWoT are working with the Bristol City Council, the Centre for Sustainable Energy and the Bristol Energy Network and others to help people improve their home insulation and install Air Source Heat Pumps. SusWoT will work to identify households suitable for the installation of ASHPs.

The Westbury-om-Trym Village Show is on Saturday September 2 and SusWoT will have a stall. There are three SusWoT classes: A plant or produce grown from SusWoT seeds or plants, a vegetarian dish where the main ingredient is home grown and a video maximum duration 90s on the theme of harvest.

To get involved with SusWoT, email suswot2050@gmail.com