– Pete Gotto
We have a small team of ‘Observers’ who regularly walk parts of the land which Friends of the Quantocks acquired a decade ago. Each member of the team covers a specific area and reports back to me, as the organiser, if there are any changes to their areas. This could be a dead sheep, fallen tree or evidence of vehicles wrongly being driven over the ground in question. Fortunately these events are incredibly rare. Nonetheless it is very important to ensure these regular visits continue and to report any issues.
It is always a pleasure to be out walking on the hills and valleys which make up the area and it is always surprising how few people actually get out and about. One hundred years ago there would have been crowds at weekends and holidays but the chance of foreign travel put paid to the railway outings! You can hear cuckoos in spring and larks are singing their quicksilver song all summer. Deer are here but can usually avoid being seen. Ravens have made a comeback and the cry of the buzzard is omnipresent.
The future of the Quantocks seems secure despite climate change – the heather is retreating but maybe more trees will follow. Once the hills were covered in trees. The Neolithic evidence of farming use right on top of the hills shows that nothing stays the same – you would struggle to make a living on top these days.
If you want to more more about the land we own and how we came to be its custodians, have a read here.
In the coming years some Observers will move away or retire so if anyone reading this is interested in joining the team please get in touch: [email protected]
Pete Gotto – Observer team organiser