Common Connections

Common Connections is a 4 year project to restore, improve and connect green spaces along the border of South Gloucestershire and East Bristol to benefit both nature and people.

About the project

We are working with local communities, volunteers, businesses and schools to restore and join up local green spaces, rivers and ponds across 87 sites covering 375 hectares.

These spaces are valuable habitats for nature, but over time many of the routes that allowed wildlife to move freely between them have been lost to development. It means these habitats have become increasingly fragmented.

This is bad for wildlife populations in a number of ways:

• the area they live is smaller and cut off from other colonies, leading to inbreeding and a loss of genetic diversity
• animals have less space to find everything they need to survive

Restoring and reconnecting these spaces will help the species that depend on them to thrive.

This project supports the national 25 Year Environment Plan and regional West of England Partnership Strategy to create a Nature Recovery Network across the country.

What it means

The project aims to reverse biodiversity decline by improving, expanding and connecting important habitats.

Habitat improvements include:

• wildflower seeding and plug and bulb planting to create pollinator-friendly and flower rich meadows
• increasing the amount of grass we manage for nature
• planting over 6,500 native trees
• creating 14 new community orchards
• restoring and planting hedges
• improving existing ponds and creating new ones
• setting up hundreds of nesting boxes and shelters for owls, birds, bats and hedgehogs
• reintroducing grazing animals to conserve and improve woodland pasture*

*Permission has been granted to reintroduce conservation grazing to part of Siston Common. It was approved by the Secretary of State and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) under Section 38 of the Commons Act 2006, following public consultation.

Where we are working

We are concentrating our efforts on the historic registered commons and nearby land that can help better connect these culturally and ecologically significant sites in:

• Bridgeyate
• Wick
• Lyde Green
• Mangotsfield
• Webbs Heath
• Siston

Conservation grazing on part of Siston Common

Siston Common has been shaped by centuries of livestock grazing. Without it, bramble and scrub can quickly take over, reducing biodiversity and changing the character of the landscape.

Conservation grazing is a natural and sustainable way to manage the land, helping to restore habitats for plants, insects and birds while keeping the common open and accessible for everyone to enjoy.

Fencing and infrastructure work began in December 2025, with grazing animals expected from spring 2026.

Please note that:

• public access will continue across the whole common
• dogs must be kept on a lead when grazing animals are present
• fencing repairs and small new sections will be added (around 7.5% of the boundary will have new fencing, with 92.5% already enclosed or secure)
• barbed wire protects cattle, and deer can still jump the fence
• GPS ‘no-fence’ collars are being explored to keep the cattle within agreed areas
• up to 15 cattle will graze about one-third of the common at a time
• signs will show which areas are being grazed and when

Community sessions will take place in spring 2026 – meet the grazier and find out how to help care for the animals.

If you prefer to visit areas without grazing, nearby alternatives include Felicity Park, Siston Common North and Warmley Forest Park.

Who we are working with

Common Connections is a partnership project between South Gloucestershire Council and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

Other organisations involved in the project include Avon Wildlife Trust, The Conservation Volunteers, Buglife, West of England Nature Partnership, town and parish councils and friends groups.

This project is a key action in our Green Infrastructure Strategy, the West of England Climate and Ecological Strategy and Action Plan and Joint Green Infrastructure Strategy.

Stay up to date

Sign up to the Common Connections newsletter.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor for more updates.

To find out more email commonconnections@southglos.gov.uk.