Ham Hill Country Park

Fantastic starling murmuration on Shapwick Heath

Simon's Blog What a gorgeous weekend. On Saturday morning I walked through the woods on the northern edge of the Flat Fields. Spring is definitely on the way and the birds are getting frisky. Crows dive bombing the magpies just for the heck of it and skylarks, tits and jackdaws were getting to know each other in the treetops. I came across a number of fungi – Turkey tail and elf cup fungus which, in particular a very striking contrast to the winter colours and the plants are... coming back to life with celandine and blackthorn in flower.
Sunday, and another glorious walk, around Butchers Hill this time with the mist still in the valley, a male kestrel waiting for breakfast to happen by, and so many skylarks! In the trees, below in the valley, in the sky and along the fences - such a beautiful song - and who knew just how irritating they can find goldfinches! I noticed two or three pairs of goldfinches checking the old thistle-heads along the edge of the hill and every so often in comes a skylark, all feathers and fluster to chase them along. I'm guessing it's about territory. Both walks this weekend were as much about what there is to hear as there is to see. Not just the skylarks but the blackbirds, magpies and all the smaller birds waking up their vocal chords.
The only sour note to the walk was the litter I came across, with empty cans, drinks bottles, and sweet wrappers just thrown into the undergrowth. I can never understand how people can be bothered to carry a full can but not the empty one! It’s such a shame as it takes the gloss off visiting this beautiful place…
See More

If you see any ‘mysterious white markings’ on the hill on Tuesday & later this week, please don’t be alarmed-it’s just a running group who have laid a trail of flour for their running group to follow.
Google ‘Hash House Harriers’ if you want to find out more!

Hedge trimming is taking place today on the Ham Hill road as the highway is in need of a haircut. Please give the hedge-cutters plenty of room and allow a few extra minutes for your journey

Simon’s Blog 10th February I managed to get out on Sunday afternoon. I took a slow walk through the bottom of the woods in Witcombe valley and saw lots of activity..... A pair of tree creepers, all the usual tits; great tits being very active. It looks like the long tailed tits have separated from their flocks as I saw several single individuals going about their business. I also saw two Green woodpeckers - unclear if it was a breeding pair though and I've attached a photo ...of their "drill" holes on a mound – The mounds are ant hills and green woodpeckers can often be seen drilling into/feeding off them to feed on the ants.
I also witnessed a crow giving a pair of ravens a hard time, harrying them down the line of boundary trees at the bottom edge of the valley field. I heard the ravens a few minutes later calling on the top side of the wood. Not sure if they have found a nest site yet but they are clearly not popular with their cousins! Jackdaws are very active in the tree-tops here too and clearly in pairs. There was also a single greater spotted woodpecker flitting about in the trees.
There is also a photo of a turkey tail fungus, a small plant called speedwell and some badger tracks that I saw in the snow last week.
See More

Grazing Update Friday 8 February Cattle in Witcombe Valley and Northern Spur No Sheep

There are cows on the Northern Spur so please keep your dog on a lead throughout your walk in this area.
The rangers have been out in this area today and have seen & spoken to many people whose dogs have not been on a lead.
The cattle and sheep are an essential workforce to help keep the country park open and accessible for people to enjoy walking around the hillfort. Without them the bramble & nettles would take over and the paths would be overgrown. They also help all of t...he precious wildflowers to grow on Ham Hill by keeping the grasses down allowing the wildflowers to grow up.
Please respect the cattle & help us to keep them safe while they work by keeping your dog on a lead in the areas they graze.
There are many more places on Ham Hill you can walk without having to keep your dog on a lead. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for grazing updates.
Thank you
See More

Dog has been reunited with his owner

Simon’s Blog: What a glorious weekend. Families out enjoying some time together in the snow. Stunning views across the Levels, Blackdown hills and the Mendips – Everything looks like it’s had a dusting of icing sugar (see photos). Magical.
The white background has helped with bird spotting and I’ve seen bullfinches, tree creepers, woodcock and snipe as I walk down to Witcombe valley. It was that cold that I even spotted a woolly mammoth (See photo)! I listen for ravens as... I walk close to Horse’s wood but only hear rooks and jackdaws as they call to each other searching for potential nesting sites. Much maligned, they are extremely intelligent and fantastic puzzle solvers.
The snow is also great for animal tracking (see photos) as animal tracks really stand out and today I saw deer, rabbit and bird tracks too. Animals tend to use the same tracks which, after time get worn so lookout for ones that go across the path and check for prints there. You may be able to spot which animal is using it.
See More

Enjoy the snow out there today! ⛄️❄️🛷 We’d love to see your photos!
Please remember to take your sledges home-especially the broken ones & help keep the country park looking beautiful 🙏🏻 Thank you!

Simon’s Blog: The weather was kinder today and I saw lots of small birds; bullfinches (male), wrens, blackbirds, robins, and tits (blue, long tail, and coal). In an oak along Norton Holloway were 2 greater spotted woodpeckers resting above a potential nesting hole (See photo). There are lots of different fungi to be found in the woodland even through the winter and today I found a small clump of candlesnuff fungus (photo) as well as, sulphur tuft and jelly ear. Black bryon...y (photo) grows up to 4 metres long here climbing through bushes alongside paths like a beanstalk. You will see them in winter as a string of red berries hanging in mid-air; a welcome splash of colour but poisonous! I also saw this fiery bramble leaf (photo) – Leaves turn red in the autumn so trees can store up as much goodness as possible from leaves and soil before it settles down for the winter. Snowdrops are out in force too (photo). Why not come for a walk here this weekend and see what you can spot…
See More

Hi, I'm Simon and the ranger's have asked me to do a little blog of what I see across the site when i'm out bird-watching. Hopefully, it will encourage some of you to take some photos of your own and send them in to the rangers to put on Facebook too. The hill is such an amazing place and I never tire of seeing the subtle changes through the seasons. There is always something to see and something to photograph. Today, I didn't get out till late morning but still managed to see ravens, long-tailed tits and a buzzard. There are still berries on some of the trees but I'm noticing some signs of spring; an Elder bush coming into leaf and the snowdrops are out in Norton church yard.

This lovely fresh air & sunny skies makes for good walking weather!
Pop into the rangers office or Cartgate TIC to pick up a walking leaflet pack to discover more of the country park

Grazing Update 24/12 Cattle below the monument Cattle in Witcombe Valley No sheep 🐑🐑🐑

This video reminds me why I started a career in conservation.

GRAZING UPDATE 15/12 Cattle in Pit Wood 🐂 Cattle on Northern Spur 🐂 No sheep 🐑 🐑🐑