If you would like this information directly to your inbox with early access to Friends of the Quantocks events, a quarterly newsletter and annual publication about all things Quantock, why not become a member? There is also the opportunity to get involved with various projects and meet others who share your love of the Quantocks, whilst knowing you are helping up conserve and protect them.
FULLY BOOKED ‘Dead Woman’s Ditch – What’s the Story?’ Saturday 4th March.
Annual General Meeting & Quantock Butterfly Talk, 7pm 22nd March, Spaxton Village Hall
Do please join us for our AGM when our Chairman John Andrews will also give a talk on Quantock butterflies. We would love to see you there.
Thanks to a lot of monitoring work by just three people over a lot of years plus casual records from others who walk the hills we know that thirty butterfly species live on and around the Quantocks. Climate change and habitat change are affecting butterflies strongly. Some are increasing but several are in steep decline; we know that we have lost some and others are now rare with us here. Can we do anything about this?
Other events we think you might be interested in:
iNaturalist Training Event, Minehead 10am Saturday 4th March.
Hosted by Somerset Wildlife Trust. An opportunity to learn more about using iNaturalist to be able to identify and record the wildlife you see and contribute to both the Quantock Wildlife Watch project, Somerset Wildlife Trusts Wild Ways project and is used by Exmoor National Park too. More information & booking.
Quantock Hills Night Walk, Tuesday 7th March 7pm, Crowcombe Park Gate.
Hosted by QLPS. Enjoy a full moon walk from Crowcombe Park Gate on the Quantock Hills, for an experiential 2 mile walk without torches. More information & booking
March Photo Walk: Short Route, 10am Wednesday 8th March, Gothelney.
Hosted by QLPS. A flat, circular walk, from Gothelney Farm, including a meet and greet from the Gothelney Farmer, and a tour of The Walled Garden of Cannington. Booking includes entry to The Walled Garden of Cannington. More information & booking
Introduction to Dormice, Sat 11th March, Broomfield Village Hall
Join the QLPS and Quantocks Hills AONB team to learn about Dormouse ecology and get involved in some practical dormouse conservation. Guest speakers will talk through Dormouse ecology, how dormice influence the way we manage the land and offer the opportunity to get involved in our footprint tunnel project. More information & booking
Shore Search March 2023 Survey, Saturday 11th March, 1am-3pm St Audries Bay.
Hosted by SWT. Join local volunteers to carry out a seashore survey as part of an ongoing survey of intertidal habitats along the Somerset coast. Both complete beginners and people already trained in the ShoreSearch methods are very welcome. More information & booking
Sparks at Fyne Court, a talk on the history of the Lovelace family. 7pm Friday 17th March, Fyne Court.
Hosted by the National Trust. This talk brings Ada Lovelace to life, discussing her colourful life, her loves and her connections with Fyne Court and the Crosse family who lived there in the 19th century. More information & booking
Adder Identification & Survey Training Day, Sunday 26th March, Quantock Hills.
Hosted by QLPS & Quantock Hills AONB. With help from our adder specialist John Dickson from The Reptile and Amphibian Group for Somerset, you can learn all about the amazing adders as well as heading out to see if we can find some. This is a great opportunity to learn a new skill, meet like-minded wildlife lovers, and explore the Quantocks in a unique way. This course is the launch of the adder survey season and will provide the opportunity to get involved with surveys across the Quantock Hills. More information & booking
‘Our precious countryside – bad news or good?’ An illustrated talk on the Somerset countryside by Dr Chris Smith. Tue 28th March, 2pm. Hestercombe Gardens, Cheddon Fitzpaine.
A free illustrated talk on the Somerset countryside by Dr Chris Smith followed by the sale and signing of his book, Rural Reflections. More information & booking.