Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife

The Avon Gorge, Clifton Down, Durdham Down and Leigh Woods are just a few miles from Bristol City Centre and yet they’re home to a wealth of wildlife. With stunning views, rare plants, ancient woodland, nesting peregrine falcons and awe-inspiring geology this is one of the most exciting places to see wildlife in Bristol.

Our autumn events are open for booking – exciting activities and sessions to discover for all the family!

Following our summer invertebrate & moth sessions – we look forward to our autumn events!
  • Our popular historical heritage discovery ‘storywalk’ featuring author Clare Reddaway is back on Sunday 18th October in ‘Promenades & Panoramas‘. Join us as Clare weaves stories from the land beneath your feet based on real fascinating historical realities.
  • “Clare’s stories are wonderfully captivating”; “I was surprised by how much the stories engaged and
    moved me.” (May 2026)
  • Our 3rd children’s holiday club of the year takes place on Monday 26th October for half term fun called ‘Autumn Antics‘ at the Botanic Gardens and on the Downs. Join other children and the crew from the engagement team to explore and have fun discovering how animals prepare for winter, and get creative too!
  • “Loved the craft in the afternoon, but having a walk up to the downs in the morning was also
    great!” (February 2026)
  • What goes on with the birds on the Downs in the winter months? Come and find out with Ed Drewitt, well-known naturalist and author as he runs another fabulous winter bird workshop for us – ‘Birds of a feather‘ on Sunday 22nd November. The workshop runs on the Downs and inside at the Botanic Gardens.
  • “My partner said it was his best morning of the year! The passion and knowledge of the talk leader
    was great.” (June 2026)

Ed Drewitt points out species

Exciting news for the threatened wildlife of the Downs and Avon Gorge! 

Funded by UK Govt: Wild againIntroducing the 'Living Limestones in Bristol's Avon Gorge'

Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife, along with its partner organisations Bristol City Council, the National Trust, and the University of Bristol Botanic Garden, won a bid funded by Natural England and entitled ‘Living Limestones in Bristol’s Avon Gorge’. This project will work to protect some of the UK’s most threatened species and their habitats in the UK.

There are nine focus species in this project, found on the Downs and in the Avon Gorge. These include: silky wave moth, small blue butterfly, chalk carpet moth, White’s whitebeam, Bristol onion, Bristol rock-cress, basil thyme, fly orchid, and green-winged orchid. We are also working in collaboration with Somerset Wildlife Trust to help the threatened autumn lady’s-tresses.

Learn more about the project here!

Small blue butterfly (C. Hugh Welford)Bristol-whitebeam-Sorbus-bristoliensisBristol-Onion-Allium-sphaerocephalon-(credit-Phil-Jearey).

Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife is a partnership of the Society of Merchant Venturers, Bristol Zoological Society, Downs Committee, University of Bristol Botanic Gardens, Natural England, Bristol City Council, Forestry England and National Trust.

Photographs: View of Avon Gorge (© Pip Brunt), (Juvenile peregrine facing forward (© Sam Coppard), Buttercups on the Downs (© Simon Muir), Spiked speedwell (© Libby Houston), Meadow on the Downs, Bristol rock-cress (© Denice Stout), Adult peregrine falcon (© Helen Hall), Bullfinch (© Kathi Held), Goats (© Derek Caterall), brown long-eared bat (©Hugh Clark), flying peregrine falcon (©Sam Coppard), promenade of autumn beeches (©Adrian Wyatt), small blue butterfly (© Hugh Welford), White’s whitebeam (© Denice Stout), Bristol onion (© Denice Stout). All other photos © Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project and © Phil Jearey.