Bracken has been removed and fallen walls rebuilt by the Mendip Hills Conservation Volunteers at Black Rock, the nature reserve managed by Somerset Wildlife Trust for the National Trust.
The persistent spread of bracken restricts the growth of grasses and wildflowers to the grassland part of the reserve. “It is a good time of year to clear the bracken as it has grown up enough for you to be able to heave it out of the ground but hasn’t yet got too much of a strong hold” said volunteers for the group earlier this month.
Many of the walls on Mendip were badly affected by the cold winter, the freezing weather caused rocks to crack and fall out of the walls which then causes the walls to fall down. Some members of the voluntary group led by Chris Billinghurst were repairing sections of a wall to make it stockproof again and prevent further deterioration.
Black Rock reserve is home to nationally scarce species of both plants and animals and is managed by Voluntary Reserve Manager Ray Voaden. For more information on the volunteering opportunities in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty please contact the Peoples Places Project 01761 462338 or email People and Places Project
Future volunteering opportunities - Mendip Hills People and Places Project
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 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.
The Mendip Hills AONB People and Places Project began on 1st April 2008 and is a two year pilot project. 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 most recent programme of activities 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 has a long history of working with volunteers including Rangers and through 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.
AONB Volunteers
Volunteers, including rangers, support the Mendip Hills AONB unit by carrying out a range of activities including patrols and providing information at events.
