wildlife

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?

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.

Discover how the natural history and character of Burrington ham have changed over the years.

Discover the semi-natural habitats of the Mendip Hills that have developed as a consequence of a complex interaction of underlying geology, soils, aspect, climate, and a range of other factors.