The event was two-fold – to mark our purchase of the quarry earlier this year from Somerset Council and introduce ourselves to the local community (huge thanks if you braved the deluge to join us!). And we launched the pre-publication offer on our upcoming book ‘The Nature of the Quantocks’, written by Nigel Phillips and due to be published in spring 2025.

The fantastic team from local distilling company Dryad Gin kept us well-hydrated with their distinctive oak gins, local beers and some very special cocktails (see below for the recipes).

Of sheep and men

Robin Stamp set out our plans to make the quarry area safe for everyone to enjoy and deal with over-adventurous sheep that get stuck on the wrong side of the fencing. We’re getting quotes for more secure fencing and we’ll be looking for volunteers to help us keep an eye on the site in the long-term.

Apparently, it wasn’t only the sheep who used to get into trouble. From a member of the audience, we heard about a not-so-long-ago tradition of local men racing up and around the edge of the quarry, leading to plenty of unfortunate accidents.

We’d love to hear more tales from you about how the quarry has fitted into village life over the years. Get in touch – projectofficer@friendsofthequantocks.org

Woolly mammoths and other creatures

Nigel Phillips gave us a brilliantly entertaining ice-age perspective on the Quantock Hills in his illustrated talk. His new book ‘The Nature of the Quantocks’ will be published next year and we’re offering it at a special pre-publication price until the end of March.

Nigel has donated all his time and expertise to writing the book (huge thanks Nigel!) and all the profits will come to the Friends of the Quantocks to put towards our charitable aims.

So please reserve your copy now and share the link with family and friends who love the Quantocks. Help us to spread the word about the nature of this fabulous place and to carry on with the work that makes such a difference!

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY HERE! – The Nature of the Quantocks naturebureau.co.uk

Cricketers and cocktails

The event couldn’t have happened without the fantastic team Dryad Gin, Becky and Alex, who brought their pop-up pub to the village hall, along with plenty of gin, great music and lots of fairy lights. Dryad Gin is a multi-award winning, small-batch gin made with oak trees and other botanicals and distilled on the Quantocks.

Chief-distiller Becky created two special cocktails for our celebration, the ‘Bicknoller Quarry’ and the ‘Trendle Gin Gimlet’ (with an intriguing local cricketing connection) which both went down a treat. Her recipes are shared below (thanks Becky!) and you can read more about the story behind this unique local company on their website – About Us – Dryad Gin

The Bicknoller Quarry

Place ice in a glass with a sprig of Rosemary

Add to a shaker – double Dryad Gin, muddled with more rosemary, honey, Tabasco, and shake.

Strain and top with Ginger Ale

The Trendle Gin Gimlet

Chosen to honour Bicknoller being the birthplace of Somerset and England cricketer Harold Gimblett. His surname is related to Surgeon Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette who gave his name to the gin-based cocktail the Gin Gimlet.

Into a shaker – double Dryad Gin, 15ml of Rose Lime Cordial and 15ml of sugar syrup

Place one large ice cube and a lime slice into a small, flat-bottomed glass and pour in the cocktail

Top up with soda (optional)

Join us today to help support our work   

Friends of the Quantocks has taken ownership of Bicknoller Quarry, adding this to our current 400 acres of landholdings (including Halsway Hill and Dead Woman’s Ditch).

To celebrate this as part of our 75th Anniversary year, we’re inviting Bicknoller residents to join us in the village hall on Saturday 23rd November.

~ ~ ~

Come and find out how the charity conserves and protects the habitats and wildlife of the Quantock Hills and hear about our new book ‘Nature of the Quantocks’ from its author Nigel Phillips.

• Come and tell us what you know about the quarry and its history
• Join our Quantock Wildlife Watch Project and help plan future Bioblitz events
• Find out about volunteering in restoration and conservation work
• And how to become a Friend of the Quantocks.

With a bar run by local distillers Dryad Gin.

Tickets are free to residents and BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL – book here.

~ ~ ~

Bar opens at 7pm

7.30pm – Welcome and introduction to the work of Friends of the Quantocks, our current projects and future plans

8pm – Ecologist Nigel Phillips gives an illustrated talk about his new book ‘Nature of the Quantocks’

An interval to enjoy a drink and chat with members of the charity

Followed by Q&A and a chance to buy your pre-publication copy of ‘Nature of the Quantocks’

We look forward to meeting you!

Any questions – please contact info@friendsofthequantocks.org

Booking is essential – reserve your ticket here – Bicknoller Celebration

More about the Quarry purchase

The former stone quarry has until last week been in the ownership of Somerset Council. Friends of the Quantocks agreed to take on the responsibility of looking after it with the aim of protecting its biodiversity and safeguarding it from commercial development.

Chair of Friends of the Quantocks, Robin Stamp: “Our primary charitable purpose is the conservation and protection of the Quantock habitats, and this is a significant new asset but also a financial liability for us with capital expenditure needed to improve the safety at the site.  As a small charity we are dependent on income from annual memberships and one-off gifts. Please join us and help us to protect the Quantocks”.

In due course we will run Bioblitz events, inviting the public to help us survey the area using the iNaturalist app, adding data to our ongoing Quantock Wildlife Watch Project, the site promises some interesting and unusual species. Come and join us to find even more.

As the charity increases its landholdings, there is more need for active volunteers to help monitor habitats, undertake restoration and conservation work and help us to share information more widely about these special places. Come along if you’d like to know more or would be interested in joining Friends of the Quantocks.

Reserve your free event ticket here – Bicknoller Celebration

The former stone quarry has until this week been in the ownership of Somerset Council. Friends of the Quantocks agreed to take on the responsibility of looking after it with the aim of protecting its biodiversity and safeguarding it from commercial development.

Chair of Friends of the Quantocks, Robin Stamp: “Our primary charitable purpose is the conservation and protection of the Quantock habitats, and this is a significant new asset but also a financial liability for us with capital expenditure needed to improve the safety at the site.  As a small charity we are dependent on income from annual memberships and one-off gifts. Please join us and help us to protect the Quantocks”.

In due course we will run Bioblitz events, inviting the public to help us survey the area using the iNaturalist app, adding data to our ongoing Quantock Wildlife Watch Project, the site promises some interesting and unusual species. Come and join us to find even more.

To celebrate the Quarry transfer and as part of our 75^th Anniversary year celebrations, we will be holding an opening evening in Bicknoller Village Hall on Saturday 23^rd November. Please do come along to hear about the quarry site, our new ‘Nature of the Quantocks’ book and other exciting projects. We would also love to hear what you know about the quarry and its history and would welcome your help as we formulate plans for the future.

As the charity increases its landholdings, there is more need for active volunteers to help monitor habitats, undertake restoration and conservation work and help us to share information more widely about these special places. Come along if you’d like to know more or would be interested in joining Friends of the Quantocks.

We’ll post details of the event here soon!

A talk by author Charles Foster at Stogursey Victory Hall on Monday 23rd September 7.30pm

This is our next special event celebrating 75 years of the Friends of the Quantocks and we have a treat for you!

Charles Foster’s books Being A Beast, The Screaming Sky and Cry Of The Wild depict, in detail, the lives of wild animals, from Swifts to Orcas, and how we humans have severely impacted upon them all. In his talk Charles will draw on material from these three books and look at what sort of actions we humans need to take to help keep the world full of wildlife.

Charles is a writer, traveller, veterinarian, barrister and philosopher. He’s known for books on a wide range of subjects from natural history and evolutionary biology to philosophy and ethics.

The talk will cover themes from Being a Beast – about animal senses; The Screaming Sky – swift conservation and ecology; and Cry of the Wild – the need for conservation of the animals under threat from human impact across the globe.

The talk will be followed by Q&A and a chance to buy signed copies of Charles’s books.

This event is part of the Friends of the Quantocks 75th anniversary year. Come and help us celebrate!

Tickets £8 (£6 for Friends) available in ADVANCE only from HERE.

Join us at Crowcombe hall on Saturday 6th July to find out. LAST FEW TICKETS available here!!!

Somerset author, naturalist and co-creator of BBC’s Springwatch, Stephen Moss is coming to the Quantocks to share his insights on Britain’s most beloved birds in a lively illustrated talk.

Stephen is one of Britain’s leading nature writers and broadcasters. Now based in Somerset, he was born in London, and read English at Cambridge before joining the BBC. His TV credits include the BAFTA award-winning Springwatch, The Nature of Britain and Birds Britannia, while his books include ‘biographies’ of the Robin, Wren, Swallow, Swan and Owl, and Ten Birds that Changed the World. He writes a monthly ‘Birdwatch’ column for the Guardian, and is President of the Somerset Wildlife Trust. After leading the MA Nature & Travel Writing at Bath Spa University, he is now a Visiting Research Fellow there, and also a Special Visiting Professor at the University of Nottingham. A lifelong naturalist, Stephen has travelled to all seven of the world’s continents in search of wildlife.

We’re delighted to welcome Stephen to talk to us about his passion for the birdlife in our home county and beyond.

This event is part of the Friends of the Quantocks 75th anniversary year. Come and help us celebrate!

Tickets can be purchased HERE (in advance only).

This walk will take you on a journey through the diverse habitats of the area, where you’ll have the chance to spot a variety of wildlife species. From birds to plants, Nigel will share fascinating insights and knowledge about the local ecosystem. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with nature and learn from a seasoned expert. Wear sturdy walking boots (this mostly flat route can be very muddy) and bring your binoculars!

This is a FREE event to celebrate 75 Years of the Friends of the Quantocks

~ For the Love of the Land ~

Book your place here – Quantock Coast Wildlife Walk

No matter who we are and what our connection is to the Quantock Hills, it’s the love of the land that unites us all. In our 75th anniversary year, Friends of the Quantocks invites you to join us in celebrating what’s special about this area in a series of walks and talks.

Come join us at Crowcombe Village Hall for a special event with Anna Jones, journalist and broadcaster and the brilliant mind behind the book ‘Divide’. Anna will explore her take on healing the relationship crisis between town and country, offering insights and perspectives that will leave you pondering long after the event. Book your tickets…

Growing up in a fifth-generation upland farming family and moving to work in the city, Anna brings her personal experiences to a wide-ranging cultural debate. “This book will start conversations”.

You might know Anna from listening to BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today, On Your Farm, Costing the Earth and the BBC World Service. She worked on BBC One’s Countryfile for more than a decade and still occasionally produces programmes.

This is a fantastic opportunity to meet the author in person and to hear the local perspective from regenerative farmer and chair of the Quantock Hills National Landscape Joint Advisory Committee Hugh Warmington. Don’t miss out on this unique event!

Crowcombe Village Hall, Saturday 11th May, beginning at 2pm and including refreshments. 

£10 standard admission. £8 for members of the Friends of the Quantocks.

Book your tickets…

Find out more in our Anniversary hub…