Quantock Hills Blog
Welcome to the blog of AONB Rangers Owen and Tim
Follow the blog of Rangers Owen Jones and Tim Russell as they roam the Quantocks, working to help keep the Quantocks outstandingly beautiful for everyone to enjoy.
-
New Quantock home for Bees - Quantock Beekeepers Association launch their new apiary
20 May
0 Comments
On Saturday I was privileged to attend the launch of a new state of the art apiary (a place where beehives are kept) near Spaxton. The new facility has been created by the Quantock Beekeepers Association.
-
Introducing Nichola - A BIG Quantock welcome to our new Volunteer Co-ordinator
13 May
0 Comments
Hello, I am Nichola and I have just started with the Quantock Hills AONB Service as the Volunteer Co-ordinator! My role with the Quantocks is in partnership with the Mendip Hills AONB too, so I spread my time equallly between both sets of hills.
-
The Quantocks through Katy’s eyes - Meet our Support Assistant Katy
29 Apr
1 Comments
If you’ve ever called the AONB office you will probably have spoken to her; she is a mine of information, and if you have a query Katy will always be able to help. Her calm, practical and friendly nature means life is always easier when she is around, so meet Katy and find out what the Quantocks mean to her.
-
Meet the buyer Success - Great to see so many local buyers and producers at Dunster Tithe Barn today
24 Apr
0 Comments
This afternoon I attended the Meet the Buyer event at Dunster Tithe Barn. The event was an opportunity for local producer suppliers and buyers to meet and network with the aim of improving business and collaboration.
-
The joys of forgetting my office keys - The orchestral joys of the Dawn Chorus
24 Apr
0 Comments
My 6.30 arrival into the office got off to a bad start when I realised (at the office door) that I had left my keys inside when hurrying out yesterday. However this did give me an excellent opportunity to explore Fyne Court listening to the wonderful Dawn Chorus, where lots of song birds are singing to impress the females and claim a territory.
-
Spring Clean - A big thank you to all those volunteers who helped
22 Apr
1 Comments
Sometimes it is the not so fun, boring work that does so much to help keep the Quantocks so outstandingly beautiful.
-
New post for Dowsborough - Our invaluable volunteers help install an information post at Dowsborough
16 Apr
0 Comments
Recent work with the Quantock Hills volunteers has included installing heavy duty timber posts at possible vehicle access points onto Dowsborough Iron Age Hill Fort (an important Scheduled Ancient Monument). The posts indicate the Public Bridleway but also highlight No Unauthorised Vehicle access.
-
Hot Stuff - Rangers and Volunteers managed to achieve two excellent ecological burns on the Quantocks this week.
12 Mar
0 Comments
Tied in with a Swaling Training session volunteers, National Trust and AONB Rangers managed to kick off the swaling season on a beautiful sunny day. I will be hoping to achieve more swaling on the hills should the weather pick up again.
-
What a load of rubbish! - Tim and volunteers Chris and Nick help keep the Quantocks beautiful
19 Feb
1 Comments
This photo shows the amount of litter volunteers Chris Tilley and Nick Howell collected with me on Tuesday. We managed to completely fill a trailer with rubbish from between The Pines, Lydeard Hill and Cothelstone. About 80% of the rubbish consisted of plastic drink bottles .... what’s wrong with taking them home and re-cycling them?
-
Winter Wonderland - Tim reports on the aftermath of all that snow.
05 Feb
0 Comments
The recent snow fall was pretty spectacular on the hills. In some places the snow was almost a foot deep. Cothelstone Hill looked absolutely stunning when Owen and I went up to check on the Exmoor Ponies (who seem to love the snowy conditions by the way).
Stay in the loop
Annual Reports
View Annual reports from the Quantock AONB Service
Information leaflets
Find out more about the geology of the Quantock Hills AONB, why the heathland is so important for birds, the red deer on the Quantocks and why the history of the landscape is so special.
Management Plan
The Quantock Hills AONB Management Plan 2009-2014 and Management Plan Summary
Newsletters
If you would like to subscribe to the Quantock Hills e-newsletter please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and we will put you on our mailing list
Other organisations and activities in the Quantocks
A few things you might find interesting from organisations we work with in the Quantocks
Planning Application Comments 2011
Please click below to read responses made by the AONB on behalf of the Quantock Hills Joint Advisory Committee
Planning Application Comments Aug to Dec 2012
Find out how the Quantock Hills AONB Service commented on planning applications in 2012
Planning application comments Jan 2013 onwards
click here to read responses made by the AONB on behalf of the Quantock Hills Joint Advisory Committee
Planning Application Comments Jan to July 2012
Find out how the Quantock Hills AONB Service commented on planning applications in 2012
Planning Guidance and Position Statements
Find our guidance documents and position statements here.
PREPARING FOR CHANGE
Climate-proof your tourism business
Quantock Deer Count Results
Annual deer count results for 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013
QUANTOCK ECO EVENTS PROGRAMME
Building Resilient Villages
Quantock Hills Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) Papers 2009 to 2012
Papers from the partnership committee the Joint Advisory Committeeqhjac_papers_22nd_july_11.pdf
Quantock Hills Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) Papers from 2013
Papers from the partnership committee the Joint Advisory Committee
Quantock Hills Visitor Guide
Quantock Hills Visitor Guide
Recreation Leaflets
a full range of leaflets from circular walks to event guides and leaflets to allow you to enjoy the best of the hills
SCC disposal of land
Find out the Quantock Hills AONB Service position, and our response to SCC
Sustainable Development Fund forms
The Sustainable Development Fund provides grants to organisations, businesses, community groups and individuals who wish to explore and develop practical projects that enhance, conserve and develop the environment, economy and way of life.
Terms and Conditions for Quantock Hills Facebook page
Terms and Conditions for http://www.facebook.com/Quantock.hills
Tick Leaflet
Ticks are becoming more common and a bite from this spider-like parasite could lead to Lyme Disease. This is a treatable infection caused by bacterium transmitted by ticks when they bite. Not every tick carries Lyme Disease and it is important to realise that the disease is relatively rare.
Information
Useful Contacts
Quantock AONB Service
Tel: 01823 451 884
Somerset Wildlife Trust
Tel: 01823 652 400
www.somersetwildlife.org
National Trust
Tel: 01823 451 814
www.nationaltrust.org
Forestry Commission
Tel: 01278 732 319
