Backwell Environment Trust

Backwell Environment Trust

BET was founded in 2004 to protect and preserve the beautiful countryside surrounding the historic village of Backwell, North Somerset. We presently own and manage two nature reserves comprising nearly 22 acres in area. Both reserves contain many rare and endangered species and have a fascinating history dating back at least 5,000 years.

Constitutional Objectives

• To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by promoting biodiversity and the understanding of past and present human activity and its impact on the environment. 

• To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection, improvement and history of the physical and natural environment.

BET's Nature Reserves

Our two reserves are the 10-acre Jubilee Stone Wood and the 12-acre Badgers Wood. Both reserves are located to the south-east of Backwell, high up on Backwell Hill and offer free access to the whole community. There are sections of level, wheel-chair friendly paths in both reserves leading to magnificent viewpoints taking in the Bristol Channel, Wales and Exmoor on clear days.

OS Explorer Map - Grid Ref (ST496679)

They serve as public amenity woodlands, an educational resource as well as being a superb location for wildlife. Together the two nature reserves cover almost 22 acres in area and are a mixture of broadleaf woodland interspaced with open areas of calcarious grassland. Its many rare species include the Hazel Dormouse, Greater Horseshoe Bat and the Yellow Bird's-nest plant.

The reserves have an amazing archaeological history and contain the ruins of a 14th century rabbit warren and cottage, 17th century lead mines and a (now restored) 19th century limekiln.

Explore the menus for further information and guides to the BET Reserves.

BET is recognised with the prestigious Queen's Award

Backwell Environment Trust was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for voluntary groups, in June 2010. 

Presentation Day, 11th Sept 2010

Brian Tanner representing the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Lady Gass, presenting the prestigious award to Bill Charnock, Chairman of Backwell Environment Trust.

On Saturday, 11th Sept 2010, about 60 people attended the presentation by the Jubilee Stone.

We were blessed with excellent weather and the event was made all the more enjoyable by lashings of tea and cakes!  Our thanks to all those who participated in making the event so enjoyable.

On July 20th 2010, four trustees also attended a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace with The Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.