Wildlife
Birdlife on the Mendip Hills
Keep your eyes peeled for stonechats on the Mendips
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Birdlife is diverse in Kings Wood: look out for nuthatches, willow warblers and green woodpeckers during your visit. In the limestone grassland areas on Wavering Down, keep your eyes peeled for the skylarks, meadow pipits and stonechats.
Butterflies
The Mendip's diverse habitats are home to many species of insect, including the Dark Green and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterflies. Their larvae lives on leaves of dog violet and takes nectar from brambles.
Limestone
The Mendips are home to the rare habitat of limestone grassland and limestone heath. Plants such as Ling, Bell Heather and Western Gorse thrive in these conditions.
Grazing
The hills are grazed by sheep and cattle, as well as by horses. The animals act as large lawn mowers and help to keep the grass short. This maintains the open nature of the landscape.
Bats
The spectacular caves in the Mendips are perfect natural homes for bats. They're used as winter roosts by Lesser Horseshoe and Greater Horseshoe bats. If you wait around at dusk, you may be able to see them.