Caterpillars found!

Caterpillars found!

Exciting news for the Elms & Hairstreaks project, with our first two confirmed White-letter Hairstreak (caterpillar) sightings and a significant donation received meaning that he project will continue, with more trees due to be planted in the winter It is …

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Bertie and Betty

Bertie and Betty

Ethelbert (known to all as Bertie) White was a talented artist in watercolours and learned the old craft of wood engraving to illustrate many books about the English Countryside and the natural world. He married Elizabeth (known as Betty) who …

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You can make a difference

You can make a difference

Citizen Science projects are a great way of helping our wildlife here on the Quantocks, as well as contributing to important national data collections. Here are just a few of the projects happening now and over the summer months, that …

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Bigger, Better, and Joined Up

Bigger, Better, and Joined Up

New committee member and lifelong countryside and wildlife advocate, Paul Rutter, explains the reasons behind his mission to reconnect the habitats of the Quantocks to the surrounding landscapes. ~ ~ ~ I began my career in countryside management and wildlife …

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A generous donation

A generous donation

Most of our day to day campaigning and conservation work is done by volunteer committee members and funded by your membership fees. Occasionally we receive a larger donation from a Friend which means we can invest in longer term projects, …

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A Georgian View

A Georgian View

Thomas Rowlandson was a remarkably prolific jobbing illustrator of the Georgian era. He drew book illustrations, caricatures, political cartoons, comic scenes, bawdy episodes and erotic tableaux, always with a keen eye for the ridiculous and absurd in Georgian society and …

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Hedgerows: The Final word?

Hedgerows: The Final word?

In previous newsletters we have described our struggle to convince Somerset Council that an official response was required to the unauthorised removal of hundreds of metres of hedgerow within the Quantock Hills “protected” area.  It seemed clear to us that …

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Knowing where you are

Knowing where you are

These striking new signs will be appearing across our land soon. Placed at entry points and boundary lines, it will be clear that you are entering land owned by Friends of the Quantocks. We hope it will help raise our …

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Somerset Geology Group

Somerset Geology Group

Friends of the Quantocks were approached by Garry Dawson back in the autumn when we celebrated taking ownership of Bicknoller Quarry. Garry and his fellow volunteers at the Somerset Geology Group (SGG) have offered to help develop interpretation material for …

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Bicknoller Quarry Geology

Bicknoller Quarry Geology

In May, committee member Vernon Hughes met with Garry Dawson of the Somerset Geology Group at Bicknoller Quarry.  The aim was to work out how Friends of the Quantocks can best show off the geology of our recently acquired quarry.  …

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