Frenchay Nature Walk

Please note: This nature trail is approximately one mile, starting at Frenchay Museum (where there is parking available and bus stops nearby). The route takes in Frenchay Parklands and Lime Tree Avenue, Frenchay Park House, The Community Nature Reserve, Tuckett Field and Tuckett Pond. Part of the route can be slippery when wet and the part down to the pond from the field is steep.

1) We start this walk at Frenchay Museum, a totally independent museum run by volunteers.

2) We then walk up across the start of the voluntary village green, now known as Frenchay Parklands with the glorious lime tree avenue to your left.

Cross the road after the boules pitches and walk through the trees until you can see Frenchay Common and the parish church to your right.

3) In front of you as you reach the end is the glorious Frenchay Park House, turn left and follow the path to the road. Follow the path and road to your right until you reach the new Primary School and take the path to your right going down beside the red brick bungalows that used to be the hospital radiotherapy observation wards.

4) As you reach the end of the school fence on the path turn left across the grass and follow the woodchip path into the nature reserve and stop to observe the beautifully restored pond using natural puddle clay and indigenous aquatic plants.

Continue along the main path until you reach some hazel coppicing and fence work on your left then turn sharp right into the woodland following a trail that goes through two very high pennant stone walls.

You then come into a circular glade with more coppicing; bear right and go out along a narrow trail that goes to your left alongside the walls to Cedar Hall flats and grounds.

You then come out opposite Frenchay allotments behind a walled garden, take the new tarmac path to your left along the new fruit tree avenue and go through the gap in the large stone wall.

5) Cross the road going 45 degrees left over a small narrow common and head for a black iron gate under a tree that takes you into Tuckett Field meadow. To your left is a copse of pine trees with a large smooth stone in the middle, walk down and round that going back up towards the hedge at the top of the slope. Stay right and follow the trail all the way to the end, passing a wooden gate on your left. Continue along bearing right on a narrow track going down through a wooden stile type gate and follow the steep track down to Tuckett Pond which is in a glade contained by a large stone wall.

6) Stand and admire the vista back up into Tuckett Field in the lovely 'window' where meadow and sky meet. If you are here in the evening you may even be able to see the bats coming in to catch insects above the pond.

Leave by the gate on your left and wind your way up the trail through large wild bramble and flower filled mounds until you come out at the top left of Tuckett Field where there is a gate. Wander left then right over the commons next to and opposite the church, you are now back in the heart of Frenchay.