Management Plan 2026 - 2031
Delivering the Management Plan
This section explores how the Partnership envisages the objectives of the Management Plan being delivered and what monitoring will be undertaken to assess direction of travel. More in-depth actions are captured in the Delivery Plan which is a separate ‘live’ document that is produced and regularly reviewed by the Partnership.​
7.1 Delivering the Plan
The Management Plan is the product of a review of the 2019-24 Quantock Hills Management Plan. All those that have an active interest and role in the management of the Quantock Hills landscape and in supporting communities that live and work within it have a role in the delivery of the Management Plan, through individual actions as well as partnership working. Many organisations and agencies such as landowners and managers, local authorities, statutory agencies, governmental departments, voluntary organisations and interest groups are directly implicated in delivering the Management Plan, through policies affecting land management, heritage protection and public access. There is an increasing need for more diverse partnerships working across sectors and communities, creating new and innovative relationships that will deliver the priorities of the Management Plan unlocking new funding opportunities when they arise.
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The Partnership will oversee implementation of the Management Plan. However, by helping to implement this plan, government, local authorities and other “relevant authorities” will be delivering on their Countryside and Rights of Way Act Section 85 duty to seek to further the purposes of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the Quantock Hills National Landscape.
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The Management Plan will be implemented through a five-year delivery plan, which will identify actions that will deliver the priorities by the many partners and individuals, organisations, groups and agencies whose work involves or impact the Quantock Hills National Landscape. The Quantock Hills National Landscape Partnership will produce an annual business plan which plans beyond the year of the plan to ensure multi-year workstreams are supported. While the annual business plan will be primarily for those resources that sit within the director control of the National Landscape Partnership, it will enable partners to assess their own contributions and facilitate greater collaboration and partnership working. ​​
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7.2 Monitoring
A role of the Quantock Hills National Landscape Partnership is to monitor and evaluate the actions that happen through the implementation of the Management Plan. Through monitoring the effects of implementation of the Management Plan and the background trends, management will be able to be adapted in terms of geographical targeting and thematic approaches. It is also important that the impact of the work of the National Landscape Partnership and others is reported to responsible authorities such as the local authorities and government providing information to allow them to make informed decisions regarding the targeting of funding and support.
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7.2.1 Protected Landscape Targets and Outcomes Framework
Set by Government in January 2024, these are key Environmental Improvement Plan targets “to motivate more activity [within protected landscape] on the components needed to ensure wildlife can thrive”. These targets are for everyone engaged in activity in protected landscapes, not solely for the Protected Landscape organisations. Appendix 1 [pdf] describes the ten targets attributed to protected landscapes and the Partnerships response and aspirations towards meeting these.
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7.2.2 Local indicators
The Quantock Hills National Landscape Partnership collates and collects other data that are used to monitor the state of the National Landscape. These include locally derived / source data such as local wildlife monitoring schemes or fixed-point photography to assess changes in landscape character strength and condition. Some of these are included in the State of the Quantock Hills National Landscape report while others inform the delivery and action plans.
7.2.3 Reporting
Reporting of progress of implementation of the Management Plan will be through the existing Partnership structure with reports prepared and presented for the Joint Advisory Committee (the legal structure of the Partnership). These reports will be available to the wider public via the Quantock Hills National Landscape website. The progress of the implementation of the Management Plan will also be publicised, in summary form, in the Partnership’s Annual Reports, which again will be available on the Team’s website.
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Reporting on progress against the Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcome Framework will be undertaken at a national level by Defra, however it may be appropriate to provide reporting on progress at a local level, which will be undertaken by the National Landscape Team.
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During the implementation phase data and monitoring will also be captured that allows for the updating of the State of the National Landscape report. While these reports are not envisaged to be updated on a regular basis it will allow for that data to feed into the next State of the National Landscape report, which is used to inform future reviews of the Management Plan.
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7.3 The Quantock Hills National Landscape Partnership
The Quantock Hills National Landscape Partnership is constituted as a Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) under Somerset Council. The JAC was created in 1974 under Somerset County Council and has adapted its membership and terms of reference regularly to ensure it is fit for purpose.
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The current Partnership members, as of October 2025, are:
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Somerset Council (6 representatives)
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Country Land and Business Association
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Natural England
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Forestry England
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South West Heritage Trust
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Quantock Commoners Association
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Somerset Local Access Forum
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National Trust
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Friends of the Quantocks
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Parish representatives (4 representatives)
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Co-opted Member (1 representative)
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The Partnership directs a small, dedicated team, who are responsible for enabling and supporting delivery by others and delivering actions themselves that will achieve the objectives in the Management Plan. The team is supported by an essential and highly valued group of volunteers, undertaking a diverse range of activities from volunteer rangers, community engagement, wildlife and heritage surveying as well as practical land management.
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A broader partnership of over 100 organisations and individuals with a particular interest in the Quantock Hills is consulted and engaged regularly through invitation to partnership meetings and receiving partnership papers and consultations.
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Photos: opportunities to engage and benefit from the natural environment in the Quantock Hills.​