Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Mendips picked as new ‘super’ Nature Reserve
AVAST stretch of the Mendip Hills has been declared a new “super” National Nature Reserve.
It is the second part of the county to get the new designation as part of an initiative championed by King Charles.
The King’s Series of National Nature Reserves (NNR) will see five areas each year declared nature reserves by Natural England for the next five years.
The first such reserve was in Lincolnshire and now a large part of spectacular countryside in Somerset has received the same designation.
The site joins up pre-existing smaller nature reserves and naturerich sites, connecting 1,413 hectares of land from Brean Down to East Mendip, including Cheddar Gorge.
This is the second “super” NNR in Somerset, following on from the announcement of the Somerset Wetlands “super” NNR back in May 2022.
It bridges together the existing Ebbor Gorge and Rodney Stoke NNRs, along with 29 nature-rich sites, many of which are Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
It will stretch from woodlands in Wells to across the southern Mendip slopes and Brean Down in the Severn estuary.
Nine organisations will be working together in partnership on the new site: Natural England, Somerset Wildlife Trust, Avon Wildlife Trust, Mendip Hills AONB, the National Trust, Longleat and Cheddar Gorge Caves, Butterfly Conservation, the Woodland Trust and the South West Heritage Trust.
This partnership will be at the heart of nature recovery in the Mendip
Hills and will enable land managers to work together to maximise the benefits for nature, science, and people.
Rachael Fickweiler, head of Nature Reserves and Land Management at Somerset Wildlife Trust, said: “Bringing together landowners and land managers to collaborate on a landscape-scale approach across the sites included in the new Mendip ‘super’ NNR is the best way to achieve nature’s recovery.
“This is essential if we are to tackle the challenges we face, including climate change and the adaptation needed to respond to this threat to key Mendip species such as the adder and greater horseshoe bat, and issues such as the devastating impact that ash dieback disease has had on our Mendip trees and woodlands.”
Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England, said: “The declaration of the new Mendip National Nature Reserve is a huge step for nature recovery, not just in Somerset but the country as a whole.”
Lord Bath of Longleat Estate said: “Cheddar Gorge is one of Britain’s most spectacular natural landmarks, comprising a large and significant part of the Mendip Hills’ footprint and bio-connectivity. As a private landowner of part of this special piece of Britain, we take our responsibility as custodians extremely seriously.
“The formation of the new National Nature Reserve is a ground-breaking opportunity for conservation and land management.
“We look forward to making a real impact together with the other partners, not least for the species that are native to these habitats, from greater crested newts to dormice, and the extremely rare plants that flourish in abundance in our unique pocket of land.”