Helping to preserve the green spaces of Quedgeley for its people and wildlife.
QACA
QACA
Copyright © 2007 by QACA · · E-Mail: qaca2006@aol.com
Local Nature Reserve
Quedgeley Nature Reserve is off Curtis Hayward Drive andis part of the original gardens and site of Quedgeley House.
Quedgeley House was demolished in the 1970's, to make way for the new developments. The rear of 'the house' is now built up as Tirley Close, Apperley Drive, Deerhurst Close, Hilcot Close and Redding Close but the main part of the gardens still remain, in fact part of the foundations of the house are still visible within the Nature Reserve. The old barns, originally belonging to the house, were still intact and home to a Badger Sett and Long Eared Bats. This was demolished in 2002 due to persistent vandalism. Very little is known or recorded about the house although we know it belonged to the Curtis-Hayward family.
In 1992 the then derelict site was handed over to the City Council, as an area of open space land. With the help of QACA the land soon became a designated local nature reserve. With the continued building programme along Curtis Hayward Drive, in 1993, two members of QACA actually stopped bulldozers from entering the nature reserve in an attempt to start removing trees. The QACA members explained that it was a designated Nature Reserve and a stand off started. After confirmation with the architects, the bulldozers retreated..
Quedgeley Nature Reserve holds a diversity of fauna and flora including an 80 ft Cedar Tree. Others include:- Ash, Oak, Elm, Lime, Yew, Hornbeam Elder, bluebells, snowdrops, primroses and rhododendrons. If you look carefully you may even see parts of the original hedges and paving stones..
In 1993 Gloucester City Council built a pond within the Nature Reserve. The first attempt failed because the clay lining was porous, which resulted in all the water draining away. The second attempt (with a liner) was successful. Great Crested Newts were transferred from Robinswood hill to the new pond. And, in the first couple of years the pond was teeming with wildlife, including frogs and toads. However vandals struck again and the pond became the target for Tesco shopping trolleys, abandoned pushbikes and anything else they could throw in to it. Today with the help of QACA members the pond looks overgrown but free of such objects.
An artificial Badger sett has been constructed within the Nature Reserve to give badgers, a safe haven. We have witnessed the Badgers using the sett, but alas they have since moved on.
Foxes and hedgehogs have also been seen in the Nature Reserve, as well as squirrels, and numerous birds including a lesser spotted woodpecker. In the tall grass area slow worms and lizards have been spotted.
The Nature Reserve is a lovely place to walk through and relax in peaceful surroundings. Despite being in the middle of a housing estate, it is a place to escape and find solitude.
Quedgeley House was demolished in the 1970's, to make way for the new developments. The rear of 'the house' is now built up as Tirley Close, Apperley Drive, Deerhurst Close, Hilcot Close and Redding Close but the main part of the gardens still remain, in fact part of the foundations of the house are still visible within the Nature Reserve. The old barns, originally belonging to the house, were still intact and home to a Badger Sett and Long Eared Bats. This was demolished in 2002 due to persistent vandalism. Very little is known or recorded about the house although we know it belonged to the Curtis-Hayward family.
In 1992 the then derelict site was handed over to the City Council, as an area of open space land. With the help of QACA the land soon became a designated local nature reserve. With the continued building programme along Curtis Hayward Drive, in 1993, two members of QACA actually stopped bulldozers from entering the nature reserve in an attempt to start removing trees. The QACA members explained that it was a designated Nature Reserve and a stand off started. After confirmation with the architects, the bulldozers retreated..
Quedgeley Nature Reserve holds a diversity of fauna and flora including an 80 ft Cedar Tree. Others include:- Ash, Oak, Elm, Lime, Yew, Hornbeam Elder, bluebells, snowdrops, primroses and rhododendrons. If you look carefully you may even see parts of the original hedges and paving stones..
In 1993 Gloucester City Council built a pond within the Nature Reserve. The first attempt failed because the clay lining was porous, which resulted in all the water draining away. The second attempt (with a liner) was successful. Great Crested Newts were transferred from Robinswood hill to the new pond. And, in the first couple of years the pond was teeming with wildlife, including frogs and toads. However vandals struck again and the pond became the target for Tesco shopping trolleys, abandoned pushbikes and anything else they could throw in to it. Today with the help of QACA members the pond looks overgrown but free of such objects.
An artificial Badger sett has been constructed within the Nature Reserve to give badgers, a safe haven. We have witnessed the Badgers using the sett, but alas they have since moved on.
Foxes and hedgehogs have also been seen in the Nature Reserve, as well as squirrels, and numerous birds including a lesser spotted woodpecker. In the tall grass area slow worms and lizards have been spotted.
The Nature Reserve is a lovely place to walk through and relax in peaceful surroundings. Despite being in the middle of a housing estate, it is a place to escape and find solitude.