Slimbridge

The canal at Patch Bridge, near the Wildfowl Reserve.

Slimbridge is a village near Dursley in Gloucestershire, England.

It is best known as the home of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's Slimbridge Reserve which was started by Sir Peter Scott. The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal runs through the village, and under Patch Bridge which must be crossed to reach the Wildfowl Trust. Damage to the decking of Patch Bridge in October 2007 resulted in a temporary repair being made using steel plates. Unfortunately this had the effect of unbalancing the bridge, which warped and jammed on October 23 2007. The swing bridge was to be replaced in early 2009. Nearby there is a caravan park and pub. The name of the bridge is echoed by the locals abandoning the "Tudor Arms" name and merely referring to the pub as "The Patch." On the canal towpath, next the bridge, is the Slimbridge Boat Station, which is a cafe, general store and boating resource centre.

The village church of St John the Evangelist dates from the early 13th century and is a grade I listed building.

Slimbridge Football Club will play the 2008-2009 season in the Gloucestershire County League. 'The Swans' or 'The Bridge' play their home matches at their ground located in Wisloe Road, Cambridge, just across the A38 from Slimbridge village.

Slimbridge is home to one primary school that takes pupils from Slimbridge and the surrounding village of Cambridge, Gloucestershire. The school is fairly small consisting of only 4 classes and around 100 pupils. There is also a recreational field in Slimbridge that the Playing Field Committee raised money through the aid of National Lottery funding to build a brand new pavilion.

External links

• Slimbridge Parish Council
• Slimbridge AFC
• The Slimbridge Estate and the Ernest Cook Trust