Volunteers Return to Rebuild Drystone Walls

Volunteers with the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Unit are back out rebuilding drystone walls. The volunteers were rebuilding walls that form part of the Deer Leap nature reserve above Westbury-sub-Mendip.

As Covid-19 related restrictions are lifted the AONB Unit have been able to start these practical sessions that comply with current legislation to keep the volunteers safe. Apart from a few practical tasks in the autumn the AONB Unit has not been able to run practical volunteering tasks since March 2020.

Drystone walls are one of the defining special qualities of the area. There are over 400km of drystone walls, they are an important visual feature in the landscape but are also vital for wildlife as creatures use them to move along. The AONB Unit are targeting walls for rebuilding that connect nature reserves to help wildlife recover. Volunteers with the AONB Unit undergo training in how to rebuild the walls.

Lauren Holt said, ‘It’s been a special day on the Mendip Hills, and not just because the sun was shining! We welcomed back our first drystone walling volunteer group in just over a year. We’re limiting our group sizes, keeping lots of space between us and getting plenty of fresh Mendip air. Thank you to our wallers for their spirit and commitment to the cause of caring for the drystone walls of Mendip.’

More details on the drystone walls of the Mendip Hills AONB can be found here Special Qualities – Mendip Hills AONB