Rangers

Just out a couple of times this month. One day I picked up more litter on Black Down itself than I did from car parks up the Coombe. Lovely walking in the milder weather, white violets, daffodils, celandine, pussy willow, … Continue reading →

The hills seem to be recovering from the floods of previous months. March has been bitterly cold. One of the good things about this is that the ground has been hard enough for the trailers, that have been up on … Continue reading →

A cold sunny start to the month, at Blackmoor Reserve, honeysuckle, Coots, a Heron, a Kestrel also the sound of the trees as they sway and the branches tap against each other, a strange sound I hadn’t noticed before. Deer … Continue reading →

Quite brief this month. Sunny morning at Blackmoor Reserve at the beginning of the month, where I met a couple from Nailsea, walking from Blagdon trying to find least muddy paths, not doing too badly!  Had a good morning at … Continue reading →

It has been quiet and pleasant this month though I have only been out a couple of times. Both times I have had a coffee and chocolate or a sandwich outside, as opposed to sitting in the car listening to … Continue reading →

I have been out and about quite a lot this month. It’s been mainly cloudy and dry with temperatures ranging between 7°C and 0°C. Black Down has been really quiet, I met three people on the two days I have … Continue reading →

I have been to all sites this month, which makes a change. The ditch round the picnic area has been cleared up at Deer Leap and looks good, my mushrooming hasn’t been very plentiful this year, not out early enough … Continue reading →

It was the Cheddar Gorge Marathon and half Marathon early in the month, a lovely day, quite hot for running, well I thought so, as a dedicated non-runner! People were friendly and I had good conversations with marshals at various … Continue reading →

It was quite a busy AONB month but now realise that I did only two ranger duties! I am not going to go on about the weather…sunny, wet, cloudy but mostly mild and lots of wildflowers. I have had my … Continue reading →

Still wet, but with the correct kit we can still have good days out on these hills. The smell of wet bracken and earth, warm and woody, the desolation of the hills is very evocative.  The foxgloves have been wonderful … Continue reading →

Again it has been the rain that has dominated this month. For the first time I cancelled a session as it was just too ridiculous to go out, but mainly I have had good walks in spite of the weather. … Continue reading →

It rained and it rained. The dry stone-walling and volunteer meeting, with a walk at Velvet Bottom, were cancelled due to severe flood warnings. A week later the skies had cleared and there were more cars in the car parks … Continue reading →

After a warm March, which did indeed go out like a lion, April started, for me, with a cold, wet and sharp wind at Deer Leap at the beginning of the month to a very benign sit in the sun … Continue reading →

Spring is here! March seems to have come in like a lamb, will it be out like a lion, or stay lamb like? There are profusions of primroses and lesser celandine on banks, bright green buds are also beginning to … Continue reading →

I have been asked by Andy to write a short report each month for the newsletter. I started volunteering about May last year so this is my first winter. It is interesting to see the same places change throughout the … Continue reading →

Friday December 2nd Burrington Ham It was a bright start as we arrived at the Burrington car park with the first significant air frost of the winter leaving a light covering on the car wind-screen. There were two vehicles from … Continue reading →

Ranger Report September/October 2011 Monday September 5th – Burrington The poor summer weather continues and the car park is awash! There were some climbers and cavers preparing to enjoy their day despite the weather. We found the usual amount of … Continue reading →

Sunday August 7th Deer Leap   There were people sitting in their cars when we arrived at Deer Leap watching the approaching squalls of rain tracking across from Bridgwater Bay to Glastonbury Tor. The picnic site was fairly devoid of … Continue reading →

Sunday July 12th Deer Leap   The summer holidays are here and everyone is out and about! We found Deer Leap as busy as the rest of Mendip this morning. Cars coming and going, walkers, photographers, those just admiring the … Continue reading →

Monday May 2nd North Somerset Show Dry, warm and busy! A successful day spent on the AONB stand talking to members of the public about Mendip. There was a lot of interest in a variety of subjects and many enjoyed … Continue reading →

Lime-Mortar Walling Sunday April 10th   A fascinating insight into a traditional skill was enjoyed by a group of us in temperatures of 22-23 degrees C! The perimeter walls of the Rodney Stoke village pound needed restoration. Thanks to Zackery … Continue reading →

Friday March 4th – Deer Leap Two cars occupied the car park when we arrived at Deer Leap. One occupant was reading and the other returned from a walk across the site with his dog. Pockets of frost were still … Continue reading →

February 2011 Blackdown Wednesday February 9th  As we parked in the car park at the top of Burrington Combe. We could see a heap of broken paving slabs that had been tipped out onto the grass. A bit beyond our … Continue reading →

January 2011 Blackdown Thursday January 6th The festive season had certainly brought out the revellers we thought, as we cleared away the copious amounts of Christmas wrapping paper plus lemons and onions from the car park at the top of … Continue reading →