Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project

The shining, muddy waters of the River Avon flowing almost 250 ft below the bridge are a defining feature of Bristol. Since the 12th century, trading boats have sailed between these banks to make Bristol the most prosperous city in the South West.

The Gorge itself has a much longer history. 340 million years ago the gorge lay under a shallow tropical sea. During the ice ages the melting glacial water, home to woolly mammoths, rhinoceroses, wolves and bears, carved out the deep cliffs you see now.

Today there are very different creatures living in the craggy rock ledges.

Nick Dixon

The Gorge and Downs are used by over 65 species of bird. Perhaps most exciting are the peregrine falcons flying at speeds up to 180 miles per hour. You can see other birds of prey like buzzards, sparrowhawks, goshawks, kites and kestrels. Of course the gulls and crows are frequent visitors, but you can also spot green woodpeckers, bullfinches, herons and cormorants.

The Gorge is equally rich in plant life. Nestled in the rocks on the Clifton side of the Bridge, lies a small wild plant display showcasing the rare plants that can be found all across the Avon Gorge. These include the bristol onion and rock-cress, which in the UK can only be found in the gorge, and the beautiful little Autumn Squill.

Leigh woods, on the South side, grows many trees with large numbers of oak and lime trees but look out for the Wilmott and Bristol Whitebeam trees, these are two species that naturally grow wild in the Gorge and nowhere else in the world.

Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project

This plant life is home to many bugs and insects including the rare silky wave moth which is only found in two other places in the UK.

This rich wildlife has made the Gorge so special it is now designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest ensuring it is protected for future generations to enjoy.