Limited mobility
Culvery Woods are hilly but can be explored at a gentle pace.
There are two benches from which to enjoy the views.
Gentle stroll
Walk the 11/2 mile circuit for a gentle pleasant stroll.
Extend your walk
OS map 155 ST 620 638
The circuit includes part of the long distance Community Forest
Path and the Three Peak Trail.
The trail can be extended east to Publow and Woolard along flat
footpaths and will add a circular 31/2 miles onto your walk.
The trail can be extended west to the village of Stanton Drew
with a pub and historic standing stones. This will add 31/2 miles
of footpaths and quiet lanes onto your walk.
You could try adding both loops to the trail to create a walk of
about 8 miles.
Features
- 11/2 miles (2.5km) with no stiles. Allow 1 hour gentle
walking.
- Gentle slopes and one short hill in Culvery Wood.
- Sorry not suitable for bikes, prams or wheelchairs.
- Wildlife
- Rich in local heritage
- Boots or wellies advisable in wet weather.
- Good views
Start the walk
Pensford is 10 miles south of Bristol on the A37. It is on the
Avon Cycle Network
(10) and the 376 Wells- Bristol and 379 Radstock- Bristol bus
routes. Parking in the village is limited but cars can be left at
owners risk in the Memorial Hall car park (see map).
This leaflet is available in Braille or large print.
A limited number of interactive packs with quizzes and wildlife
guides are available. For a pack or for more information please
call 01225 477652
Heritage
Many of the hedgerows are hundreds of years old. ‘Hoopers
Hedgerow Rule’ states that if you count the number of tree and
shrub species in a hedge and
multiply by 100 you can estimate the age of the hedge. Use the
sculpture to work out how old the hedge along Culvery Woods could
be. How does this compare with the other hedges on the trail?
Throughout history hedges have always been important. They
provide firewood,
food, medicine and building materials. Historically hedges were
carefully managed to keep in livestock. They were laid by cutting
stems most of the way through and laying flat to encourage dense
new bushy growth. You can see a hedge that was laid in March 2004
along the trail.
The railway viaduct was built in 1873. Pensford was the only
place in the Chew Valley, apart from Keynsham, which had a railway
station, but nothing remains of this now. The last passenger train
only ran until 1959. The massive floods of
1968 (see marker next to the Rising Sun Pub) were thought to
weaken the structure of the viaduct making it unsafe and it was
closed.
Wildlife
Hedgerows are rich in all sorts of wildlife.The hedges on this
trail are home to hundreds of plants including beautiful spring
flowers such as primroses. Why not look out for all the different
hedgerow shrubs along the edge of Culvery Woods? Use the wooden
sculpture and the images on the right to help identify the
different species. Birds, insects, butterflies and mammals use the
hedgerows for food or shelter. Hedgerows also acts as wildlife
‘corridors’ linking habitats like Culvery Woods with the River
Chew.
While walking please keep within the Countryside Code,
remembering to:
- leave gates as you find them
- keep dogs on leads (especially important on this trail)
- take litter home
Produced by Sally Pattison as part of the Field Boundaries
Project
Thanks to Forest of Avon
Printed on recycled paper
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