Broken Bridges Nature Reserve takes important steps towards a more accessible future

Salisbury residents are invited to a public meeting on 14th November to discover the city's hidden natural gem and help shape its future.

The much-loved stretch of Salisbury's natural landscape is taking important steps toward a more accessible future, as Broken Bridges Nature Reserve and the team work to improve footpaths, restore meadows, and engage the community.

The charity behind the Reserve invites local people to learn more at a public meeting on Saturday 14 November, from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Harnham Parish Hall. The Harnham Coffee and Chat team will provide coffee from 10 am.

Through a series of presentations, the meeting will introduce the team behind Broken Bridges, explain the Reserve's management plan, and outline plans to improve the public footpath and accessibility along this Green Corridor. There will also be opportunities to discover how local people can get involved.

The event comes at an exciting time for the charity. Salisbury City Council's Communities Committee has approved the initial stages of its funding application to improve the surface of the public footpath from Bemerton to Harnham.

Some improvements have already been made with support from a Ramblers Association grant, but more work is needed to make the route accessible to a wider range of the public, including wheelchair users, mobility scooter users and pushchair users.

The charity hopes further investment will open this special natural space to more people while retaining its rural character and protecting its wildlife.

A reserve for Salisbury

Broken Bridges encompasses rivers, meadows and woodland, providing a valuable green corridor for wildlife and a place for people to enjoy nature, local history and the outdoors.

Recent public engagement suggests there is considerable enthusiasm for the reserve. On 30 September, the charity hosted Memories of Broken Bridges, featuring local historian John Abbot. The response on Facebook far exceeded expectations, and many people turned out to hear stories about the area's past.

The charity has also taken its message into the city, with opportunities to talk about the project at Salisbury Methodist Church, the RegenFood event in Guildhall Square, and the Men Matters event at City Hall.

Trustees and volunteers want to build on this interest, helping more Salisbury residents discover the reserve and understand the role it can play in the city's future.

Restoring meadows and encouraging wildlife

Alongside improving footpath accessibility for all, the charity is working to restore the reserve's biodiversity.

This year, a local contractor has helped the team cut the meadows and remove the hay, an important step towards restoring their ecological value and re-establishing grazing.

Volunteers have also been tackling invasive growth by digging out hemlock water-dropwort by hand in South Meadow, while continuing traditional woodland management work, including coppicing and laying hazel along the old bank earthwork beside Gypsy Lane.

Other activities include removing old barbed wire, preparing hazel stakes and recording wildlife observations, including fungi, through the iNaturalist platform.

New tools purchased with grant support are helping volunteers develop their skills, with scything training opening up further possibilities for managing the Green Corridor.

A community effort

As a registered charitable incorporated organisation, Broken Bridges relies on the enthusiasm, skills and generosity of people who want to protect and improve this special place.

The public meeting on 14th November gives residents an opportunity to learn more about the charity's plans, ask questions and explore ways to contribute, whether through practical volunteering, sharing knowledge, supporting fundraising or simply spreading the word.

Anne Trevett, Trustee, says “Broken Bridges is a wonderful natural asset for Salisbury. We're making real progress, but we want local people to feel part of its future. Improving access for everyone and restoring the meadows go hand in hand with protecting the character and wildlife that make this place so special. We'd love people to come along on 14 November, find out what we're doing and help us take the next steps.”

Public meeting details

Date: Saturday 14 November 2026
Time: 10.30 am–12.30 pm (coffee available from 10 am)
Venue: Harnham Parish Hall, Lower Street, Harnham

To find out more about Broken Bridges Nature Reserve, its activities and opportunities to get involved, visit Broken Bridges Nature Reserve