Geography

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!

The Mendip Hills is one of the best areas in the country to appreciate the relationships between geology, landscape and natural history. 300 million years of geological history are exposed in natural outcrops and quarries. Quarrying has for more than a century been the single most important industry in the Mendip Hills, affecting the lives of those who live and work in the area. Take a trip back in time to see the quarries and the people that worked in them (Quarry Faces link below). Rocks don't have to be boring.

Todays challenge is to collect some rocks, decorate them and make a story about them.

One of the biggest draws to beautiful landscapes such as the Mendip Hills are views. Climbing to the top of Crook Peak to get a view out over the Severn Estuary or looking towards from the Somerset Levels, views are an important part of how we see beautiful landscapes.

For today, share with us your favourite local view whether that's something you can see from your home or a place in your local area. Use the link below for hints on taking landscape images in your garden or on your local walk.

The Mendip Hills provides a unique landscape perfect for adventures such as climbing, caving, mountain biking and walking.

Why not have your own mini adventure at home and do some wild cooking or camping activities in the garden? Whether it’s a BBQ or setting up a tent or even building your own blanket fort in the living room!

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 Mendip Plateau is very sparsely populated and as a result the dark skies give you an incredible view of the stars at night and a sense of tranquillity.

Share with us your star gazing experiences and let us know what you managed to spy in the sky!

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.

An exploration of geological time through the rocks and landscapes of the eastern Mendip Hills. A summary of a presentation by Dr Martin Whiteley at the finale of the Mendip Rocks! Festival 2017.