What to See

Buzzard

Green Woodpecker

Peregrine

Common Rock-rose

 
Listen out for the distinctive drumming of the green woodpecker, the chiffchaff sound from which the bird takes it name, and other warblers including blackcap and whitethroat. Sparrowhawks also breed in the woodland which is mostly areas of planted conifers and beech. 

Rock rose and greater butterfly orchids can be seen in areas improved by the restoration project and visitors can look forward to seeing more important flora and fauna flourish thanks to this work.

In the late summer listen out for the sounds of crickets and grasshoppers and keep your eyes peeled for the silver washed fritillary butterflies. Of the butterflies re-colonising the reserve, the large blue occurs in small numbers.

About

The Polden Hills in Somerset are a low narrow ridge of Blue Lias stretching from Puriton, near Bridgwater, in the west, to Street, in the east. Immediately to the north of New Hill and Tannager is our Gilling Down reserve, Great Breach Wood reserve is immediately to the east and Dundon Beacon reserve half a mile to the west.

Large areas of New Hill and Tannager that were planted with conifers and beech in the 1950s have been felled as part of the East Polden’s Downland Restoration Project in the mid 1990s.

Extensive areas of woodland remain, with a large area in the eastern half of New Hill, and along sections of the lower western margins of both New Hill and Tannager.

New Hill and Tannager comprises two blocks of former limestone downland and woodland on the western escarpment of the Polden Hills.

52.6 acres (21.3 ha.)

Health & Safety: Some steep, slippery sections of path; watch our for site management activities.

Location & Access

Map

Download a map of New Hill and Tannager (PDF Size: 624kb)

Parking

Parking is difficult and access is best on foot from Great Breach Wood (ST 507 325)

Alternatively, park at Combe Hill Wood car park (Grid reference ST503329, co-ordinates 51.093088, -2.709066) and follow the Polden Way (blue butterfly waymarkers) due south (footpath to the left of the car park if you stand with your back to the entrance). After approximately 20 minutes walking you will emerge from the woods at the top of Gilling Down. Continue along the Polden Way to Great Breach Wood and Tannager.

Opening

Open access, all year round.

Grid Reference: ST 498 317

Events Nearby

Click the following link for a full list of our Somerset wildlife events