Art & Design

The final day of the challenge! Think about what Mendip means to you and what makes it special.

Draw, paint or create an image of a place on Mendip Hills that is special or important to you. We have lots of special qualities, but it wouldn't be special without people like you who share special love for Mendip too.

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.

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 classroom in the countryside.
FarmLink provides fun and learning through an informative “hands-on” approach to education in a countryside setting.

A guide to forest-based activities for use by schools and groups.

Discover how the dramatic landscape of Burrington and Black Down has inspired artists, poets and writers.

The Children of Blagdon Primary school with some help from Ruth Coleman (Starfish Producer) and Biggerhouse Film, visited Black Down and researched the story of Starfish to produce a short film. A mixture of live drama and animated sequences tell the fascinating story behind the Decoy town on Black Down during World War II.

Quarry Faces community heritage project has told the story of quarrying in the Mendips, and created an archive of oral history recordings and over 1,000 historic images.