99 dormouse tubes were placed in hedgerows and around woodland on Penn Hill in May 2008 as part of a monitoring programme to find out if dormice are present. We need your help to survey the tubes on Friday 21st November. This is the third survey of the tubes since they were put up, and we found a dormouse nest in July. The survey will start at 9:30am at Chancellor’s Farm as parking is limited near the survey site and will run to around 4:00pm (depending on how fast we carry out the survey).
If you would like to take part in both surveys, please specify your preferred day when booking. This is a very popular activity so, while every effort will be made to accommodate everyone, places are limited and it may only be possible to take part in one survey.
Email Catharine Shellswell or telephone her on 01749 871248 at the Mendip Hills Living Landscape Project, Somerset Wildlife Trust.
New Volunteering Partnership
A new partnership is to set to take volunteering opportunities on the Mendip Hills to a new level with the People & Places Project. The Somerset Wildlife Trust, The National Trust, the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Natural England are working together to help everybody get involved.
The sites managed by these organisations are some of the most fantastic in an area that is already "Outstanding" including Deer Leap, Cheddar Gorge and Draycott Sleights. The wildlife of many of these special places is managed so that unusual species are not lost and these locations remain as picturesque as they are today.
All the organisations currently have their own dedicated volunteers, some of them may volunteer for more than one of the partners already, but for many who are keen to enhance their countryside skills, or just enjoy working in the fantastic setting of the Mendip Hills the opportunity to do more doesn't come round often enough!
Natural England & Somerset County Council are supporting the partnership and a volunteer programme is currently being developed in conjunction with some training opportunities. The new partnership aims to enhance the environment for wildlife in a traditional and rewarding way. The kind of opportunities that will be on offer are; hedge laying, dry stone walling, coppicing, scrub clearance, footpath repairs, ragwort removal, survey and transect work or guided walking.
The volunteer programme is now in place and everyone is welcome to come along and join in with activities whether you are an existing volunteer or keen to try something new. You will find the programme of activities taking you through to 2009 here.
You and the countryside can benefit greatly from volunteering activities that enhance the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
We hope that there is something of interest here for you but if not please visit again. We will be continually updating this page as new opportunities come on line.
Across the Mendip Hills AONB there are many groups and individuals volunteering their time on sites and projects that conserve and enhance the area. Mendip Society, Hawk and Owl Trust, Charterhouse Environs Research Team (CHERT), village groups, National Trust, Avon and Somerset Wildlife Trusts to name just a few. Visit the links page to contact them.
The Mendip Hills AONB Service has a long history of working with volunteers through the Volunteer Rangers, specific projects like Lifelines and work experience. The AONB Partnership Committeeand sub groups include volunteers who assist with ideas and feedback on the future of the area.
Volunteer Rangers
The work of the AONB Service has been supported by Volunteer Rangers since 1987. Currently sixty rangers help with a wide range of jobs in support of the conservation and enhancement of the AONB. The Rangers all come with different interests and knowledge that they contribute while learning new skills themselves.
Volunteer Rangers help with general patrolling, undertaking surveys, guided walks with visitors to Charterhouse Centre, assisting the Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue Team, litter picking and helping on the information trailer at country fairs and shows. The Rangers add a huge amount of value to the Mendip Hills AONB Service, contributing some 3000 hours each year equating to 2 full time posts.
Future volunteering opportunities - Mendip Hills People and Places Projects
We want to make it easier for people to get involved in looking after the Mendip Hills. Thanks to a grant from Natural England the AONB Service is working with the National Trust and Somerset Wildlife Trust to coordinate current volunteering opportunities, and this web page is just the start.
We know people want to get involved in practical conservation tasks, research and monitoring, recreation and events, helping visitors, and doing guided walks and talks. We want to make all this available in a simple way that benefits you and the Mendip Hills AONB.
The Mendip Hills AONB People and Places Project began on 1st April 2008 - Merryn Nisbet who was appointed as the People and Places Officer is now away until March 2009 and Kate Avery will take over with effect from September 1st for six months. The two year pilot project will develop a programme of volunteering opportunities focusing on practical tasks on land owned by the three key partners.
You will find the programme of activities taking you through to 2009 here.
