THE MEAD 21
‘ROYAL’ BADOCK’S WOOD! B�: F������ R��������
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he Friends of Badock’s Wood are delighted that Badock’s Wood has been chosen as part of a na�onwide network of 70 Ancient Woodlands to be dedicated to The Queen in celebra�on of her Pla�num Jubilee The Queen’s Green Canopy recently announced the network of 70 Ancient Woodlands and 70 Ancient Trees across the United Kingdom which will form part of the Ancient Canopy to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service. The ini�a�ve was launched by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, who is Patron of The Queen’s Green Canopy, under one of the Ancient Tree dedica�ons - the old Sycamore located at Dumfries House in Scotland. Badock’s Wood has been woodland con�nuously for the last 500 years. The woodland area has been home to humans since the Bronze Age and was used for postwar prefabs built in the 1940s un�l the 1980s. Badock’s Wood has played a huge part in local people’s lives. It has been used as a resource in past �mes and more recently as a place of solace and of great importance during the recent pandemic. The Queen’s representa�ve in Bristol, Peaches Golding, Lord Lieutenant of the County and City of Bristol, is delighted that Bristol’s natural environment has been recognised in this way. She said, “Badock’s Wood is such a valuable place for the people of Southmead and surrounding neighbourhoods, as well as a natural asset for the city as a whole. As a designated Local Nature Reserve since 2008, we in Bristol have already recognised its worth, but it is wonderful that it is one of just 70 ancient woodlands across the country to be given the accolade of forming part of the na�onal Queen’s Green Canopy. This
is a posi�ve celebra�on of Her Majesty’s 70 years as Monarch.” Badock’s Wood is a hidden haven for wildlife. Our Friends group, along with other local organisa�ons and community members, have worked together for over 20 years to keep Badock’s Wood a lovely place for everyone. We are going to celebrate this award and the Queen’s Pla�num Jubilee by plan�ng a Jubilee Copse of 70 trees, commissioning a sculpted Jubilee Bench and plan�ng an oak tree near the bench in the Autumn during tree plan�ng season. We are also hoping to work with the Southmead Meadows to Meaders community project to have a roaming performance about the history of the woodland and the people who lived there. For example, many of the children of the families who moved into the prefabs post war, now somewhat older, remember living in the area around the Bronze Age Burial Mound with this fabulous woodland as their
garden. We look forward to a fantas�c year of celebra�on and community fun. More details will be published on our website www.fobw.org.uk or in The Mead in due course. By sharing the stories behind the ancient woodlands and trees, as well as the incredible efforts that are made to protect them, The Queen’s Green Canopy aims to raise awareness of these treasured habitats and the importance of conserving them for future genera�ons.
