Quantock Hills. An Area of Outstanding Beauty

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Somerset wildlife threatened with extinction

Wildlife under threat of local extinction, including the white clawed crayfish, tiny fern-moss and high brown fritillary butterfly, is being given a fighting chance of survival thanks to the Somerset Biodiversity Partnership.

The Somerset Priority Species List has been produced by the Partnership to highlight those plants and animals most in danger of disappearing in Somerset. It will be used to protect wildlife as part of the planning process and guide conservation efforts across the county.

There are 840 species on the priority list including the brown hare, short haired bumble bee, hairy click beetle and long-eared owl. Pearl bordered fritillary butterflies are amongst the species already thought to have become extinct in Somerset in recent years.

More than 13,000 species have been recorded in the county by
Somerset Environmental Records Centre (SERC), part of Somerset Wildlife Trust. Based on this data, the Partnership has identified wildlife most at risk, and Action Plans have been developed to protect the main places these plants and animals can be found.

The Priority Species List is available from Alison Slade, the Somerset Biodiversity Partnership Officer, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or can be downloaded from http://www.somerc.com/downloads.php and the Action Plans can be downloaded by searching Somerset Biodiversity Partnership at http://www.somerset.gov.uk.

Photo taken by Chris Sperring MBE

Georgie Grant - December 2009

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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

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.