Ubley Warren Nature Reserve - Matt Sweeting
Mendip Hills
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 Weston-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.
Explore our current work in Mendip
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.
Previous projects in Mendip
Mendip Habitats Fit for the Future
Mendip Woodlands and Wildflowers
Making Space for Butterflies in Mendip
Contact our Mendip Hills team
Lila Morris, Mendip Nature Recovery Officer
Image: Matt Sweeting
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
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
Image: Matt Sweeting
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
Explore Mendip reserves
Explore wonderful woodlands and flower-filled grasslands within these inspirational hills.
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