Wildlife

There are over 400km of drystone walls on the Mendip Hills AONB. The walls are a key reason for the designation of the Mendip Hills as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, they are one of the Special Qualities that define Mendip, not to mention a vital lifeline for wildlife such as adders and lizards. Last year our volunteers repaired over 200M of drystone walls on Mendip. Constructing a project is a great way to gain a sense of accomplishment.

So today we are challenging you to create your own mini habitat project for wildlife! The possibilities are endless, you can create a hedgehog home, an insect wood pile or even a bug hotel.

Trees are a hot topic now with the climate emergency. The ancient wooded coombes of the Mendip Hills offer varied rich habitats of national and international importance for a wide diversity of wildlife. But how good are your tree ID skills?

Take a tree walk and practice your identification. You can download the Woodland Trust ID App or use one of the Tree Guide Spotter sheet, links below.

The Mendip Cave Registry shows there are over 2000 registered caves on the Mendip Hills. Caves are linked to many of the 12 ‘special qualities’ of the Mendip Hills AONB; visible geology, evidence of human settlements, archaeology, the limestone aquifer, adventure, so they’re a great way of experiencing Mendip. They also provide a breeding site for the Lesser and Greater Horseshoe bats.

For today's challenge take a garden night walk and explore the wildlife that comes alive at night; from moths, minibeasts, insects to bats and other mammals. Take a torch and see what you discover!

On the Mendip Hills grasslands come to life in the summer and are vital for supporting a variety of butterflies and wildflowers.

On your next local walk or even in your garden use the spotter sheets to identify as many different butterflies and flowers as you can. Lots of wildflowers grow in urban areas so you don't need to travel far to see wildlife!

The Chew Valley is the sheltered, farmed landscape with fields divided with hedges, that contrasts the windswept plateau. The Chew Valley lake is an excellent site for birds and one of the most important water-fowl sites in the South West.

Can you sit by a window or outside in the garden for a minimum of 30 minutes and carry out a bird survey?

This pilot study was undertaken by members of CHERT (Charterhouse Environs Research Team) from September 2007 to March 2008 to establish whether it was possible to identify different styles of stone walls through the historical period. A combination of fieldwork, drawing and documentary research was used to try to establish a wall typology that could be tested in the field and used in other parts of the Mendip Hills AONB.

A report on the findings of research to consider the role dry stone walls play in the
ecological habitat of the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Burrington ham is a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) which means it is a really important place for wildlife. This book is packed with activities to help you explore Burrington Ham through the seasons.

Charterhouse is a residential centre located in the heart of the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is ideally situated for groups wanting to take advantage of the fantastic walks, local caves and climbing venues the area has to offer.

A guide to fishing at Chew Valley, Blagdon and Litton Lakes and Barrow Tanks.