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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April Showers! Hmmm… - Ranger Tim's been on rain patrol
30 Apr
0 Comments
It was quite an experience being out on patrol this Sunday! I don’t think that I can remember quite such a wild and wet April day.
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Signs of Spring - AONB heritage road signs get a spring clean
17 Apr
2 Comments
Everything’s bursting into colour at the moment … the skies are blue, the clouds are fluffy, the hedgerows are bursting into colour and even our traditional road signs are getting a spring clean!
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Deer Count results 2012 - Results are in from the Quantock Deer Group
10 Apr
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You might remember that last month I wrote about our two attempts to count deer on the Quantocks. Twice the weather got the better of us, but our volunteers are hardy folk and valiantly went on to search for deer in the thick fog!
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Easter Break - Tim offers a few timely reminders this holiday
02 Apr
2 Comments
With the Easter Holidays upon us it’s a good opportunity to highlight a couple of important seasonal issues.
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Some unwanted wildlife - It's tick bite prevention week - don't get caught out
27 Mar
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The Quantocks are really coming alive with this recent spell of good weather. It is glorious on the hills right now, and it is a great opportunity to see the birds getting ready for the breeding season and the frogs and newts heading back to the ponds and streams.
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The weather strikes again - Counting deer in the fog is a tricky business
13 Mar
3 Comments
Since 1991 we have been assisting the Quantock Deer Management and Conservation Group to co-ordinate the annual deer count which relies on volunteers giving up a Sunday lie in to be on the hills before day break. Thank you once again to everyone who turned out.
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Romancing the Stone - The Quantock Hills make up an important historic landscape with a wide variety of significant archaeological features.
05 Mar
1 Comments
For many years we have wanted to protect Triscombe Stone from potential vehicle damage and to make more of its setting. One of my first ever jobs being a Ranger here was to upright the stone after it had been driven into! Only last year it was again driven into by a 4X4 … which actually came off worse.
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Where there’s smoke…. - It’s March, we have some high pressure and relatively settled weather so that can only mean one thing...
03 Mar
4 Comments
swaling has made a start.
The traditional practice of burning patches of heather in a controlled way until the end of March is undertaken by Rangers and specially trained volunteers who give up a lot of hours over the coming month.
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What a hoot! - Owen Jones joined owl specialist Chris Sperring raising awareness for Birds of Prey
21 Feb
1 Comments
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
0 Comments
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.
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 Application Comments 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, 2011and 2012
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
