Quantock Hills Blog
Have your say…
Follow the blog of Rangers Andy Harris and Tim Russell as they roam the Quantocks, working to enrich the wildlife and helping keep the Quantocks outstandingly beautiful for everyone to enjoy. Sign up and let them know your thoughts on whats happening day to day on the hills.
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What a hoot! - Owen Jones joined owl specialist Chris Sperring raising awareness for Birds of Prey
21 Feb
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There’s times at work when you realise what you do is worthwhile! Recently we’ve been working with the HOT (Hawk and Owl Trust) helping to raise awareness of the fragility of Birds of Prey by visiting local primary Schools.
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Volunteer Ranger Dave - Our fantastic and hard working Dave Pusill's been braving the cold , working on Cothelstone Hill
07 Feb
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It’s cold, very cold, and the ground is covered with a blanket of snow. I’ve just returned to the Fyne Court AONB Office with Andy Harris and Tim Russell, who are the full time Quantock Rangers, after working on Cothelstone Hill all morning.
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Don’t feed the ponies - New signs to be put up in hilltop car parks
24 Jan
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Perhaps not quite as exciting as ‘Don’t Feed the Bears’ in Jellystone National Park … but a very important message none the less.
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Sheep worrying can be deadly - Andy highlights the importance of keeping your dog under close control
09 Jan
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Just before New Year a young ram was severely mauled by a dog somewhere near Staple Plain. Its injuries were so extreme that it had to be put down. Over the years I’ve dealt with many cases of sheep worrying and it’s extremely frustrating as every single case is avoidable.
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Tiiiiimber! - Ranger Andy's got his (foxy) gloves on
20 Dec
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I have begun mountain bike trail inspections at Great Wood, the 5 yearly thin of the forest is just beginning, and a confused foxglove has some serious timing issues.
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If you go down to the woods today…. - It's National Tree Week, so lets hear it for our beautiful Quantock woodland.
28 Nov
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As the weather turns colder (about time) it’s a great time to appreciate our woods with a walk or ride through them as they offer protection against the wintery weather for us and our wildlife.
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“Tidy” - Tim and the volunteers clear up yet more rubbish.
28 Nov
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You may remember a recent blog of mine showing a deep freeze dumped amongst the trees … well, we removed it and it was replaced a couple of days later by even more rubbish.
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Busy Weekend - AWOL ponies and a burnt out car
21 Nov
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It’s been a busy weekend. Thank you to everyone who reported seeing the Exmoor Ponies on the road around Cothelstone Hill. They were not the ponies that are resident on the hill but three ponies from Lydeard Hill that wondered off because a gate had been left open.
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Autumn Glory - Into late November and there are still some wonderful autumn colours
21 Nov
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This time last year we were just entering a period of hard frost which lasted well into the New Year. We even had a period of snow cover and I remember one day recording a wind chill of -21oc.
The climate is certainly different at the moment as day time temperatures have been hitting 18oc.
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Let us not forget. - Remembrance Service on Cothelstone Hill
14 Nov
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Last Friday was Armistice Day and the AONB Service was very pleased to assist 40 Commando Royal Marines to put on a Remembrance Service on Cothelstone Hill.
Stay in the loop
Annual Reports
View Annual reports from the Quantock AONB Service
AONB Planning Consultation Comments 2011
Please click below to read responses made by the AONB on behalf of the Quantock Hills Joint Advisory Committee
Information leaflets
Find out more about 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 Guidance and Position Statements
Find our guidance documents and position statements here.
PREPARING FOR CHANGE
Climate-proof your tourism business
Quantock Deer Count Results 7 March 2010
The results of the annual Quantock Deer Count held on 7 March 2010.
QUANTOCK ECO EVENTS PROGRAMME
Building Resilient Villages
Quantock Hills Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) Papers
Papers from the partnership committee the Joint Advisory Committeeqhjac_papers_22nd_july_11.pdf
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 SDF for 20011/12 has £45,000 to allocate. This will provide 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.
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.
Wild Places competition
Win a chance to create your own 'wild place'.
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
