Unique opportunities for ecological research & education
in an urban setting

Friends of Troopers Hill are keen to encourage the use of the Local Nature Reserve and adjacent areas for academic research and educational visits.

Educational Visits

Pupils from local primary schools frequently visit Troopers Hill for a range of activities.

Friends of Troopers Hill welcome these visits and have also visited schools to talk about the importance of the site.

However, Troopers Hill can also provide opportunities for more structured study for older pupils, indeed it was featured as a case study in an AQA Geography AS level textbook (extract shown here).

We have had frequent visits from year 2 AS Geography students from Bridgwater & Taunton College to show them conservation management work on Troopers Hill, including in 2015 & 2017.

Students from the City of Bristol College doing an Access Environmental Science course visited in 2016 & 2017. The Royal Agricultural University also visited in 2016.

Please contact us if you are interested in visiting the site.

Below is a paper on Troopers Hill produced by one of the City of Bristol College following the visit in 2016:

 Managing the Natural Environment by Grey-Winter Jones - Nov 2017

Academic Research

In addition to educational visits, the Local Nature Reserve also provides opportunities for academic research.

University of Bristol students have often visited to carry out ecological surveys, and students from the UoB School of Geographical Sciences have worked with us in both 2024 & 2025 (see below).

There is a lot of background information about Troopers Hill available on this website and in particular our information page has links to all the past surveys and reports that we have access to.

Below are studies produced by students as part of their studies. We would be pleased to add any other papers.

Listing of Academic Research Papers & Notes

Contact Us if you know of any papers we should add to this page.

An assessment of plant-pollinator networks
Kieran Masters (July 2025)
University of the West of England | Applied Wildlife Conservation MSc

Troopers Hill Local Nature Reserve in Bristol contains two UK priority habitats: acid grassland and lowland heathland. This study surveyed their plant-pollinator networks using the Flower-Insect Timed count survey method.

 Full Report

Soil Scrape? - Avon Project 2025
University of Bristol, School of Geographical Sciences

Would a soil scrape be an appropriate form of management to prevent natural succession and re-establish heathland vegetation at a site on Troopers Hill?

"This paper assesses the viability of a soil scrape as a form of heathland management at Troopers Hill, Bristol and examines impacts of industrial activity and evidence for succession processes."

"Ultimately, a soil scrape would not be an appropriate form of management at Compartment 6 on Troopers Hill and this study instead proposes topsoil acidification and further research into coal spoil influences."

 Full Report

Troopers Hill - An analysis of soil pH variations - Avon Project 2024
University of Bristol, School of Geographical Sciences

"Soil pH has historically been a point of contention on Troopers Hill, showing a more acidic profile than generally found on the pennant. The variation of soil pH and appropriate characteristics were investigated using soil samples at six sites. The interaction of coal spoils with soil may explain the acidity in places, while the construction of two limestone paths may give reason for the alkaline indicators present."

 Full Report
 Video of Field Work

Habitat Survey Report - Troopers Hill - MSc Assignment, UWE
Nick Trapp - July 2023

 Full Report

Troopers Hill Field - Investigating the presence of standing water - Feb 2020
University of Bristol, School of Geographical Sciences

 Executive Summary
 Full Report

Troopers Hill Soils Investigation - Dissertation in Geography
Rebecca Beighton BSc Hons - Feb 2013

 Full Report

Small Mammals Survey
Ivan Packer - Jan 2008

 Survey Results

Troopers Hill and Crews Hole
J.M.Carter - 1994/95
- a general study of Troopers Hill and the adjacent woodland, with photos from Spring 1994 showing the different habitats, handed to Friends of Troopers Hill in 2021.

 Full Report

Information needed if you want to make a survey on Troopers Hill

If you would like to carry out some research or surveys on Troopers Hill, please Contact Us with the following information and we will pass it on to Bristol City Council’s Conservation Officer with your details so that they can grant permission.

• Methodology and area of survey

• Risk Assessment

• Public Liability Insurance cover

• Survey results at the end of the study.

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