Quantock Hills. An Area of Outstanding Beauty

A new survey shows the adder count on the Quantock Hills, and visitor counters are installed around the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to find out more about favourite spots in the area.

A new adder survey commissioned by the Quantock Hills AONB Service has revealed that numbers of adders living in the heathland of the Quantock Hills are greater than expected.  This is great news as it shows not only that the adder populations are thriving but also that the heathland is in good condition.

The survey was a pilot with numbers counted in 2 areas of the Quantock Common during March to June 2009, the success of the pilot means that more surveys will be carried out, providing further knowledge about these reclusive animals and helping the AONB Service and its partners to make informed decisions about how the Quantock heathland is managed in the future.

The adder is Britain’s only venomous reptile and although it is our most widespread snake it is in national decline.  Adders are not aggressive and will only use their venom as a last defence.  Their cautious nature means that they will move away if they detect large animals moving towards them.  If you spot an adder or snake of any type on the Quantocks we would love to hear from you, call the office on Tel: 01823 451884

The AONB Service is also using new technology to count another important animal, us! A number of visitor counters have been installed on the Quantock Hills to find out how many people are visiting the Quantocks.  The counters will provide accurate information about favoured spots and times of greater visitor pressure on the hills.  This information can then be used on projects which protect the sensitive hilltops and enhance the open access land for the people who use them.  This project was funded by Natural England.

Iain Porter, Development Officer for the Quantock Hills AONB Service says:

“Both these two surveys are important in terms of providing information and increasing our knowledge, but they also play a crucial role in working out how we can enhance the Quantocks both for wildlife and people in the years to come.”