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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Heart of the Hills - Tim's walk into the heart of the Quantocks
18 Jul
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Yesterday’s guided walk described in the events programme as a ‘Quantock classic’ lived up to its title.
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Bridgwater Baywatch - On patrol and scoping out Somerset's Jurassic coastline
11 Jul
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Last Sunday I spent the morning with PCSO Louise Fyne patrolling the main hilltop car parks and putting up warning signs for the public about leaving valuables in their cars. It has been noticed that a couple of vehicles had recently been targeted at Lydeard Hill car park. As always the joint presence of Police and Ranger helps to highlight the issues of rural crime and hopefully get important messages across.
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Fetetastic … - The AONB Service is out and about at local fetes this summer
13 Jun
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The AONB Service attended its first village fete of the summer on Saturday at Nether Stowey and were able to try out their new gazebo. Being in Nether Stowey was a bit like ‘coming home’ and we were able to catch up with old friends.
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What a load of rubbish! - Our invaluable volunteers help keep the Quantocks beautiful
06 Jun
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Quantock Conservation Volunteers once again ‘earned their stripes’ picking up bags of litter from the hills.
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What is it? - If think you know what it is please respond by placing your answer in the comment box.
23 May
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As you will notice from previous Blogs I’m busy fitting in bird ringing around my day job of normal Ranger duties. We have particular interest in the migratory Pied Flycatcher which soon we shall begin to ring once the chicks have hatch and are big enough.
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Please ring me. - Andy's been finding out about the birds and the bees
23 May
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I knew last Tuesday was going to be special when I followed a Peacock down the track that goes past Triscombe Quarry, not something you see everyday.
Jen and I have been monitoring our nest boxes for over a month now and have begun to crunch a few figures. The first Blue Tit egg was laid on 12th April in Holford Combe and the first Pied Flycatcher egg was laid on 27th April in both Holford and Hodders Combe. The trend within the regional study area is that egg laying seems to be anything up to a fortnight early, probably as a result of the very favourable spring weather.
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Anyone for tennis! - bird nest building and one sleepy dormouse
10 May
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So far the monitoring of our nest boxes is going well and the resident great tits and blue tits seem to be plentiful. The nest is made predominately from moss, grass, hair (from deer and ponies) and feathers. One or two have been most striking making use of pheasant feathers and believe it or not the some have even been lined with the nylon from tennis balls probably lost by dog walkers throwing them for their dogs!
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A view to the Severn Sea - A new bench for enjoying the views from Cothelstone Hill
09 May
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A few weeks ago volunteer Chris Tilley helped me put up a bench on Cothelstone Hill, something we’ve wanted to do for some time! The bench is at the top of the easy-access trail and is positioned to have wonderful views down the Merridge valley and beyond to the Somerset coast.
It was great to see people making use of it during this wonderful Easter weather!
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Bank Holiday hot spots - Patrols over the May bank holiday proved to be most valuable as the hills were pretty busy and conditions were very dry.
09 May
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I hooked up with National Trust Ranger Paul Camp for a joint patrol. He is more used to the windswept wilds of Exmoor and was rather ‘blown away’ by the number of visitors making use of the Ramscombe site! We managed to speak to a number of people about sensible use of their BBQs in such dry conditions … Ramscombe is the perfect location for this and indeed, our only official BBQ site in the hills.
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Add another Adder - Searching for this elusive reptile
28 Apr
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Today managed to catch up with Kevin Palmer on the main common looking for the elusive Adder. The AONB Service has been working with Kevin for the past 5 years looking at the adder populations on the Quantock Hills but this year is the first time Kevin and the Somerset Reptile & Amphibian Group has been able to survey a large area of the main common. It has been great to see the enthusiasm of the volunteers who have put in a massive number of hours with their heads down looking for these elusive snakes.
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
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
