"This walk will take you through some of the more important wildlife habitats of Bradley Stoke. The brooks and hedges form green corridors where plants and animals can dwell in seclusion. Some of the woodland we shall pass through is believed to be ancient.

We begin and end at THREE BROOKS LAKE (1 on map). This popular and attractive area is worth visiting regularly. There always seem to be new birds to see, and it is pleasant to watch the water change in appearance from minute to minute as it reflects the sky and is ruffled by the wind.

The lake is of recent origin. Several years ago, a huge relief sewer was constructed in this area. The centre of this operation was situated just east of Webbs Wood, and formed a vast crater with its own huts and tramlines. When the work had been completed the contractors created the lake to benefit the people of Bradley Stoke.

The water was acquired by damming the confluence of Patchway, Hortham and Stoke Brooks. Where they merge, they assume a new name - Bradley Brook. From this point they flow underneath the motorway towards Winterbourne, eventually joining the River Frome.

The lake slows the movement of water in the brooks so that fluctuations in its level are minimised. This creates a much more stable environment for the plants and animals that inhabit the brooks and their banks.

Crossing the western end of the lake, is a bridge which is older than it looks. Until a few years ago, Manor Farm stood on Patchway Common. When it was demolished, the stone was used to build this structure.

This is a good place for ducks, geese, swans and reed buntings. Look out for attractive water plants and dragonflies as you walk by the lake in the summer.

Now follow STOKE BROOK. You may take a detour through WEBBS WOOD but please keep to the footpath as the ground flora is very fragile. In spring, the woodland floor is a colourful carpet of bluebells, wood anenomes, yellow archangels, stitchworts,campions and celandines. Autumn is also beautiful when the leaves change colour. The field maple is especially lovely then.

Webbs Wood is believed to be ancient. Look for the dense clumps of hazel coppice. For centuries, the hazel would have been cut to ground level and the poles used for fencing, firewood etc. A different part of the wood would be cut each year - at least 7 years would pass before the first crop was cut again. By then, each stump would have produced a harvest of new poles for coppicing. Coppicing allows more light into the wood, stimulating the growth of woodland flowers. When the new wood develops, the resulting dense thickets are attractive to some species of birds. Several years ago, part of the wood was coppiced again and the results were very encouraging.

Pass beneath the bridge that carries BRADLEY STOKE WAY and continue along the footpath. After you have walked a few metres, you will notice on your right, a small linear wood (2 on map) flanked by a path that meets our footpath at right angles. The trees overshadow a gully that once carried a considerable volume of water. This was diverted but you can still hear It rushing underneath the manhole cover close to the path you are following.

This wood is acknowledged as an important landscape feature and is believed to be very old. It follows the route of a footpath that once linked Stoke Gifford to Patchway Common. Much of this path is associated with interesting old hedges, some of which may date back to Saxon times. One good section runs from Winterbourne Road to Baileys Court Road alongside Purser Drive.

You can either follow the path to BROOK WAY or you can take a detour through SHERBOURNE'S BRAKE. Cross the footbridge over the brook and follow the path into the wood. When you emerge you will cross more open ground beside the brook and eventually join BAILEYS COURT ROAD.

Note the felled black poplar in SHERBOURNE'S BRAKE by the brook, which serves as a fairly comfortable bird-watching seat. Here you may see jays, woodpeckers and long tailed tits. Grey squirrels are abundant. Black poplars are quite rare. They do not usually grow in woods, preferring the sides of rivers and brooks. It is possible that Sherboume's Brake was planted around the poplar which may have been already established by the water. Note the tree's rugged bark. The stump is still alive - note the new growth sprouting from It. Younger poplars - possibly suckers - are established amongst the other trees. One already has the leaning trunk so characteristic of this species. The leaves glitter in the sunlight.

SHERBOURNE'S BRAKE is completely protected by a Tree Preservation Order. Like Webbs Wood, it possesses a fragile and beautiful ground flora - please protect it by keeping to the paths.

If you decide to follow the original footpath instead of walking through the Brake, note how Stoke Brook curves to flow along the edge of the wood. A tributary of this brook, bordered by willow trees, runs beside this path. Turn right at the bottom of Baileys Court Road, and right again. Walk along Brook Way, with Sherbourne's Brake on your right-hand side.

Note the reed bed in front of the wood. In winter, the reed mace bullrush is covered with fluffy seeds so that it resembles sticks of candyfloss.

Just above the roundabout, you will encounter the original footpath on your right as it passes through a wooden gate.

SHERBOURNE'S BRAKE is about 200 years old. The tall Turkey oaks on the wood's eastern slope can be seen from quite a distance away.

When the footpath reaches BROOK WAY, cross the road and follow its continuation which runs parallel with BRAYDON AVENUE. The tributary brook flows beside this path, where it is edged with mature hedgerow.

Note the large, old ivy-covered oak at the start of this path. You will see several other large oak and ash trees as you walk along, together with a number of pollarded willows. Amongst the smaller trees, look out for hazel, hawthorn and blackthorn. The latter forms a dense thicket close to the start of the route. The white spring blossom, known as "blackthorn winter" is very beautiful.

New shrubs have been planted, particularly along the right hand side of the path - these bring colour and variety to the walk. You will see alder, pussy willow and guelder rose amongst other species. Ornamental dogwood and willow have also been planted. These are coppiced regularly to encourage thickets of vivid crimson and amber stems - they are particularly attractive when their leaves have fallen.

This path is an excellent place for bird-watching. Look out for the shocking pink of the cock bullfinches.

Towards the northern end of Braydon Avenue, the path is crossed by SAVAGES WOOD ROAD, which, at this point, is a footpath and cycle path. Walk across this road, and follow the path again as it follows the edge of the playing field. It is clearly marked and will take you behind the Blue Hut.

Note the tall metal pipe on your right. This marks the route of the huge relief sewer already mentioned.

At this point, the route joins the PATCHWAY/BRADLEY STOKE GREENWAY.

The hedge that borders Stoke Lodge School once marked the parish boundary between Patchway and Stoke Gifford - these boundary hedges are usually very old.

DAVIES' POND (6 on map) is named after the family who owned Little Stoke Farm from 1914 until its demise in the '50s. It was situated at the bottom of Clay Lane. Much of the land that we cross on this walk once belonged to this farm. It was Farmer Davies who introduced Peter Scott to the bird life of Slimbridge, thus inspiring the formation of the Wildfowl (now the Wildfowl and Wetlands) Trust. Davies' Pond is frequently the victim of vandalism and tipping. Patchway Conservation Group works hard to protect this site, but without the co-operation of other users, its efforts are largely in vain.

Walk past the oak to the tarmac footpath. Just beyond it you will find it clearly marked. Follow this path to its end and turn right. Follow the next footpath to BROOK WAY.

Note the hedge and ditch that follow this path. Like the previous hedgerow, this one also follows the old parish boundary. As you can see, the boundary forms an irregular line across the landscape.

Cross Brook Way, turn left and walk along it for a few metres, before turning right into Dewfall's Drive. Incidentally, the Dewfalls were another local farming family.

Follow Dewfalls Drive until you reach a footpath sign on your left. Follow this sign, which will eventually pass through a hedgerow into WHEATFIELD DRIVE.

Cross Wheatfield Drive and continue to follow the footpath into CORNFIELD DRIVE. Cross this road and follow the footpath again as it passes through a wooden gate into a lane bordered on each side by elm hedges. This path will take you on to Patchway Common.

The footpath you have been following is the northern section of the track already mentioned, connecting Patchway Common to Stoke Gifford. This was the original Patchway, and it is believed to be very ancient. It is now managed by Patchway Conservation Group. If you wish to explore it more thoroughly, turn left and follow it to Brook Way. Here, you will find an interpretation board which gives more information about the Common, if you cross Brook Way, you can follow the western section of the Common to the A38. Along this stretch, you will see a number of cottages, the old chapel and Pond Farm.

However, for the purposes of this walk, you will need to turn right. After a few metres, you will reach MANOR POND (3 on map). Manor Farm stood roughly opposite - the stone from this building was used to construct the bridge across Three Brooks Lake.

Continue to walk along the Common, noting the old cottages that still stand there.

Ascend PRIMROSE FOOTBRIDGE (4 on map) and then pause to admire the view. Looking southeast, you will see Savages Wood in the foreground, with the Cotswold Edge forming a backdrop.

Before Bradley Stoke Way was constructed, the Common continued along this route until it reached Bowsland Farm. The bridge is named after Primrose Cottage which once stood on this site.

On the far side of Primrose Footbridge, the route turns right and follows PATCHWAY BROOK. Pleasant paths run along either side of this brook the northern path is an all-weather track, whilst the southern route passes through fields and can become muddy.

However, the southern alternative path should be followed if you wish to enter Savages Wood without taking a detour.

Note the old apple trees on the western side of the brook - possibly the remains of an orchard. Wych elm grows by the brook - the leaves have the rough, scratchy texture typical of elm, but are large and rather oval in shape.

The fields here have been planted with trees, and this extension of Savages Wood is known as Bowsland Wood. It was created to compensate for the loss of a corner of Savages Wood following the construction of Bradley Stoke Way. Several fine old hedges containing many tree species also criss-cross this area.

About half-way along the path, you will encounter a clump of non-native trees - Leylandii, laurel and other ornamentals. These are remnants of the garden that once lay behind Bowsland Farm. A little further along, you can enjoy the sight of a small waterfall tumbling into a tiny pool along the line of the brook. The hedge that follows the brook possesses a number of large ash and oak trees.

If you are on the southern path: When you enter Savages Wood, you will walk over a bridge that crosses a deep ditch. This ditch again follows the parish boundary. Woods and hedgerows that follow parish boundaries are likely to be very old. Incidentally, Savages Wood appears on old maps as "Savers Wood". There are plenty of bluebells here in the spring - again, if you keep to the path, you will avoid damaging them. During the autumn, the southern end of the wood is worth visiting to see the golden foliage of the beech and hornbeam.

If you have followed the northern path, you will be able to see the wood from the other side of Patchway Brook. To explore it, you will need to cross the bridge just south of the wood and double back. However, if you have followed the southern path, you can stay on the same side of the brook as you leave the wood and continue eastwards.

Note the fallen tree that straddles the brook just north of the more official bridge!

As you follow the brook, you will eventually pass through a gap in a hedge. This part of Bradley Stoke possesses a network of tall, mature hedgerows, rich in tree species. New tree plantations are now maturing between them, creating a marvelous wildlife habitat. One huge elm hedge widens into a copse that overhangs a rather large pond that smells of rotten eggs (7 on map).

At some time in the future, much of this area will be incorporated into the grounds of a secondary school.

Along this part of the walk, Hortham Brook flows from the east and travels beneath the motorway to join Patchway Brook. Here, the banks of the waterway are thickly clothed with trees - and here again, you can enjoy the glory of the blackthorn blossom.

You will notice a small wood covering the eastern slope of the brook (8 on map). A little further along, a ring of willow trees shrouds the ghost of an old pond (5 on map).

You have now arrived back at Three Brooks Lake.

Relax, rest your weary limbs and feed the ducks!"

If you want a copy of the leaflet which includes detailed maps and photos write to South Gloucestershire Council, The Council Offices, Castle Street, Thornbury, South Glos BS35 1HF or email the council at mailbox@southglos.gov.uk giving your name and address and they will sent it to you for free.