Press Releases

Revised – Guidelines for Horse Related Development in the Mendip Hills AONB – Supplementary Planning Guidance Riding and keeping horses for both business and personal purpose brings pleasure to many people and contributes to the local economy. As horse related … Continue reading →

Familiarisation Day for Tourism Businesses – Thursday May 24th 2012 The Mendip Hills AONB Unit invites all tourism businesses based in or near the AONB to a free familiarisation day in the Mendip Hills to find out what the area … Continue reading →

Practical Volunteering in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) The new Mendip Hills AONB volunteer programme is now available with a variety of practical tasks to help care for sites in the AONB.  The work programme is … Continue reading →

The Mendip Hills AONB Partnership is celebrating after being given the green light by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to fully develop its plans to safeguard the future of the Black Down and Burrington commons. Discovering Black Down is a … Continue reading →

A Mendip Hills programme of events is being coordinated as part of the Council for British Archaeology Festival of British Archaeology  -14th – 29th July 2012.    Each year the national Festival showcases British archaeology, by presenting hundreds of special … Continue reading →

Following a recent public appeal for new Panel members for the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) SDF Panel, 3 new people have been recruited from Cheddar, Westbury Sub Mendip and National Trust, with experience of community arts … Continue reading →

Volunteer practical tasks in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) If you are looking for ways to get fit and get some fresh air after the indulgences of Christmas and New Year you could join in with … Continue reading →

Mendip Hills AONB Sustainable Development Fund grants available Funding is available to support projects that bring environmental, social, economic benefits to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Sustainable Development Fund grant scheme has this year awarded grants to … Continue reading →

BBC Countryfile is to include a feature on ‘fracking’ on Sunday 4th December and will be filming in the Mendip Hills next week for the programme. ‘Fracking’ is the term used for a process for extracting shale gas and coal … Continue reading →

Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – Annual Forum 2011 Greater business networking, promotion of trails and local produce were amongst ideas highlighted at the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership annual forum. The event … Continue reading →

Mendip Hills AONB Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) – seeks new panel members The Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is seeking two new people for their SDF Panel. The SDF is funded by Defra to provide grants for … Continue reading →

The Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership is holding its annual forum on Thursday 10th November 2011 at Folly Farm (Avon Wildlife Trust), Near Bishop Sutton. The event is open to anyone with an interest in the … Continue reading →

National Grid’s proposed overhead power lines Following the announcement by National Grid of its preferred route for a power line from Hinkley Point through the Mendip Hills AONB the Mendip Hills AONB Unit have met with the company to discuss … Continue reading →

On Thursday 27th October (as usual we’re in Westbury Village Hall, the cost is £2 each, we start at 7.30pm) Austin Little and Nick Mayor will be talking about the Westbury Society’s new series of walk leaflets, concentrating on the forthcoming … Continue reading →

Mendip Rocks! is taking place between August 25th 2011 and October 12th 2011 supported by the Mendip Hills AONB Sustainable Development Fund in collaboration with Wells & Mendip Museum and the Somerset Wildlife Trust. The Mendip Rocks! Events Listing is ready to download now … Continue reading →

The Mendip Hills AONB Partnership and The Natural Environment White Paper  The Governments vision for the natural environment over the next 50 years is set out in the Natural Environment White Paper published last week. The Natural Environment White Paper … Continue reading →

Severe Fire Risk for Somerset’s Wildlife After Hottest April on Record Somerset Wildlife Trust is warning of a severe fire risk to wildlife following the hottest April on record. The county’s leading environmental charity is urging all visitors to its … Continue reading →

Mendip Hills AONB Sustainable Development Fund grants available Funding is available to support projects that bring environmental, social, economic benefits to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Sustainable Development Fund grant scheme, now in its 7th year, has … Continue reading →

Environmental Impact Assessment advised for Solar park proposal near Bleadon The Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Unit having been consulted by North Somerset Council on a new solar park, near Bleadon has advised that a full Environmental … Continue reading →