The railway embankment creates a varied local topography with long and short, steep and gentle slopes. The habitats on the site range from limestone flora on the embankment top, to flower rich grassland, developing woodland and scrub on the embankment sides. Species such as ox-eyed daisy, mouse eared chickweed and bee orchid have been recorded at the site.
Hedgerows, a stream and an old orchard are also present within the reserve boundary.
The embankments were constructed in the early 1870's to form part of the Clifton Extension Railway. They span 450 metres in a shallow curve from Edward Street in the north west, to Clay Bottom to the east, crossing Royate Hill and the Coombe Brook at their centre.
The site was compulsorily purchased by the former Avon County Council in 1996, following a five-year high profile campaign by local people to save it from development.
30 GoodGymers have supported Royate Hill with 21 tasks.
Saturday 1st November
Written by Bristol runner
You put your trowel in, your trowel out.
Pull, out, pull, out, you shake it all about.
You do the Oaky Pokey and you turn around (and have tea and biscuits).
That's what it's all about.  
Whoa-o the Oaky Pokey.
Whoa-o the Oaky Pokey.
Whoa-o the Oaky Pokey.
Knees bent, arms stretched.
Rah! Rah! Rah!
(pictures as evidence of holm oak extraction - 13 in total, unlucky for them)
Until next time…
Sunday 5th October
Written by Bristol runner
A simple one today. Clear a path along the bottom of the embankment that we have previously climbed like mountain goats. More work to do clear brambles but we made a good start. Short report today as I’m going on a plant hunt.
Until next time…
Sunday 3rd August
Written by Bristol runner
A mixture of balsam bashing (pink things along the stream), litter picking and chopping back from the paths today. There was also some fruit sampling along the way (the plum still hasn’t poisoned me…). and a sneak attack from a nettle, which despite best efforts got through! (hope its not too bad)
Forgot to take any pictures today and like Natalie Imbruglia my inspiration has run dry now. That's what's goin' on. A reminder that there is tea/coffee and biscuits at the end if you can stay.
Until next time..
Saturday 5th July
Written by Bristol runner
Lots of stuff to cut back from the path on the viaduct today. By now veterans of the path we made our way along snipping overhanging brambles and anything we just didn’t like. There is now a clear path to the moon temple and we made a pavement at the far end more passable. The false strawberries were still there as well as the cherry (we think). There was also a (greengage?) plum tree, which we made a note of the location so we could revisit (whether we are brave enough to try them…).
We also learnt about old man Jason, who definitely doesn’t smell 62 as folklore would have you believe!
Until next time…
Sunday 1st June
Written by Bristol runner
Mmmchop, ba duba chop.
Ba du chop, ba duba chop.
Ba du chop, ba duba chop.
Ba du, oh yeah.
Mmmchop, ba duba chop.
Ba du chop, ba du chop.
Ba du chop, ba du chop.
Can you tell me? Oh.
No, you can't 'cause you don't know.
Can you tell me?.
You say you can but you don't know.  
At this point I’m pretty sure you can’t tell me but I think it sums up the task well with the snipping of rogue plants from the path on the viaduct. There was also some investigation of the Moon Temple and general tidying. Plus, the cherry has berries on!
Also,
Johnny - no.
George - yes.
Football - yes.
Rugby - yes but soap.
Brad - no.  
and I think we are finished.
Until next time…
Saturday 3rd May
Written by Bristol runner
Short report today as I write these on the walk back and I had to eat an ikea hotdog and enjoy being outside. Soo…
Today’s task was to make our way along the path on the viaduct cutting back anything encroaching onto the path. Some artistic license was taken but overall we made the path more usable (no pictures as evidence as I forgot though some pictures of the day thanks to Frances). Today’s top questions, is that a strawberry and would you eat those mushrooms? I’m going maybe and hell no! The perfect weather to be out with the dappled shade and great company.
Until next time…
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