About the Mendip Hills
The Mendip Hills are a rich and distinctive part of Somerset’s varied landscapes, with dramatic limestone hills rising up from the Levels to give outstanding views and some fantastic sites for wildlife. The unique geology of the area is visible not only in stone outcrops, gorges and characteristic dry-stone walls, but in the variety of species-rich wildflower meadows, calcareous grasslands, acidic heaths and ancient woodlands that the area supports.
Stretching between Frome and Western-Super-Mare, the predominantly limestone Mendip Hills have been an important area for our work for many decades. Half of our nature reserve landholdings are in Mendip, reflecting the value of habitats in the area, which in turn support a rich diversity of species. This includes important populations of nationally rare species such as the hazel dormice. Over 26 species of butterfly have been recorded at our Draycott Sleights Nature Reserve alone, whilst the Mells valley supports 12% of the UK population of greater horseshoe bat.
Our grassland and woodland reserves in Mendip form core areas in Somerset’s Nature Recovery Network. It's vital that we secure biodiversity here and prevent further habitat fragmentation through restoration and habitat creation programmes.
Explore our current work in Mendip and how to get involved
Action for a Wilder Mendip
We provide training, advice and support to communities and land managers in Mendip to take action for nature, Key to this is enabling people to share skills and work together to conserve, connect and restore wildlife habitats.
Mendip Hills Farm Cluster
We facilitate the Mendip Hills Farm Cluster - a group of farmers and other land managers that are working collaboratively to enhance the landscape for nature. Group members share skills and deliver benefits across their varied landholdings that go far beyond what could be achieved if they each worked alone. Through this the members are helping to connect fragmented habitats and provide the network of habitats needed for species to thrive and move through the landscape...
Previous projects in Mendip
Mendip Habitats Fit for the Future
This project ran from 2020- 2022 with funding from The Wildlife Trusts and Aggregate Industries Local Partnership Fund. Work included critical woodland management at our Cheddar Wood Nature Reserve, increasing habitat quality for dormice, wildflowers and many species of butterfly. The funding also supported work on AI-managed land in East Mendip, to help restore valuable calcareous and neutral grassland habitats. The project also included opportunities for local people to get involved, through provision of training to volunteers to undertake hedgelaying.
Mendip Woodlands and Wildflowers
This project ran from 2019- 2022 with funding from The Wildlife Trusts and Aggregate Industries Local Partnership Fund. This project focused on work to create, enhance and restore species-rich grasslands and woodlands in the Mendip area.
Making Space for Butterflies in Mendip
The Making Space for Butterflies in Mendip project enabled Somerset Wildlife Trust to work in partnership with Aggregate Industries to restore and enhance habitats on sites that they own.
With support from local volunteers, Somerset Wildlife Trust completed woodland enhancement works at Cheddar Wood Nature Reserve, as well as grassland and hedgerow restoration works on sites in East Mendip. This work increased the quality of habitats for butterflies, providing places for them to live, breed and feed at the different stages of their life cycle.
Save our Magnificent Meadows
Our Save our Magnificent Meadows project ran from 2014-2017 as part of a national partnership to conserve, restore and celebrate wildflower grasslands in nine strategic landscapes, including the Mendip Hills.
However, you can still get involved by volunteering with the Magnificent Meadows Conservation Volunteers who are continuing to work on grassland reserves throughout Mendip on the first Thursday of each month:
Explore Mendip reserves
Explore wonderful woodlands and flower-filled grasslands within these inspirational hills.
Surveying for Reptiles and Amphibians
John Dickson will talk to us about how reptile and amphibian populations are monitored.
Cheddar Reservoir
Vic Matthews and Sarah Aying will lead this walk highlighting the history and natural history of Cheddar reservoir.
Bristol Water and Conservation
Natasha Clarke and Kirsty Dunford from Bristol Water will talk to us about how Bristol Water manage their land, with particular…
Contact our Mendip Hills team
Lila Morris, Mendip Conservation Officer
Lila is an ecologist, land management adviser and wildlife surveyor, who works with volunteers and landowners to restore wildlife habitats, and has mapped habitats across Mendip to understand how well they interconnect as ecological networks. She is passionate about giving people opportunities to learn traditional skills such as coppicing and hedgelaying, as well as survey skills.
Contact: email lila.morris@somersetwildlife.org or call 01823 652474
Jemima Western, Mendip Hills Farm Cluster Facilitator
Jemima is a zoologist with a passion about the intersection of landscape-scale ecology and farming. Jemima works with farmers, partners, and other land managers across the Mendip Hills National Character Area to deliver landscape-scale restoration of habitats through collaborative working.
Contact: Email: jemima.western@somersetwildlife.org or call 07840 840704
Pippa Rayner, Wilder Projects Coordinator
Pippa is a grassland ecologist, community empowerment facilitator and project manager, with many years experience in creation, restoration and enhancement of wildflower meadows, as well as working to support communities to support nature in their local area. She has a passion for working collaboratively to help partners, land managers, individuals and communities join forces to increase the impact and visibility of their action for nature. Pippa also develops and coordinates projects at the Trust, with some of her time focused on work in the Mendip Hills.
Contact: email pippa.rayner@somersetwildlife.org
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