Shiny Welcome to the Mendip Hills

At nine locations across the Mendip Hills National Landscape there are shiny new plates on the boundary markers to let people know they are entering an area that has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

These were originally installed more than 20 years ago and designed to look like drystone walls, with the intention that mosses and lichens would start to grow on them. To celebrate the rebrand to a National Landscape, these mini-monuments have been brought up-to-date with new brushed steel plates containing the logo.

Jim Hardcastle, manager of the Mendip Hills National Landscape led the project to create the boundary markers at their inception and he was delighted to see them brought into line with the new branding, “The signs use the new name and logo to reflect the national importance of the Mendip Hills. As they are at entry points to the National Landscape, they are quite often the first sign to people that they are entering a really special area.”

“The installation was done by Ranger Volunteer Coordinator, Andy Chamberlain, and volunteer Andy Palmer. They made a brilliant team and were able to restore the stonework where it was needed and attach the new brushed steel plate. This pair have done a great job and we appreciate the effort the extra support from one of our volunteers to bring these important signs up-to-date.”

The change of brand to ‘National Landscape’ was part of a broader package from Defra who awarded National Landscapes additional funding for capital projects across the area, part of which was used for the production of the signs, and the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme that awards £250,000 each year to local farmers.