Friends of Quantock

Friends of Quantock is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with the object of the “conservation, protection and improvement of the landscape and natural environment of the Quantock Hills”. They are a totally independent charity, funded and governed by their own membership as “guardians of the Quantock Hills on behalf of the public”.[1]

Friends of Quantock logo

Quantock Hills
The Quantock Hills
The Quantock Hills (Somerset)

The Quantock Hills is an area of Somerset in the UK, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), much of it also Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) of great natural beauty, historical, literary and scientific importance, a haven for wildlife and rare species containing upland heath, forest and coastline open for public access.

History

Friends of Quantock was first formed in 1949 in response to proposals to fell ancient woodland in Hodders Combe and to turn over a large area of heathland to commercial conifer plantation.[2][3] The first president was the Bishop of Bath and Wells.[4] After gathering public support to successfully defeat those proposals The Friends of Quantock subsequently campaigned for proper management and protection of the Hills leading to the Quantocks becoming an AONB in 1956 and to the setting up of the Quantock Hills Joint Advisory Committee in 1973.[5]

They opposed plans to build an 18 hole Golf Course on top of the hills in the 1970s.

In 2013 they acquired two tracts of land from Somerset County Council and were incorporated as a CIO.[6]

Activities

Over the years Friends of Quantock has commissioned reports and surveys of Quantock plants and wildlife, made grants for restoration projects of landscape features, published books and leaflets, commented on planning applications and served on the Joint Advisory Committee. They have campaigned over litter, vehicle use, deer poaching, quarries, overhead power lines, and public rights of way.[7]

Land acquisition
Pony on Quantocks

In 2012 Somerset County Council declared their land holdings on the Quantocks to be 'Surplus' and announced their intention to sell them.[8] Friends of Quantock opposed in principle the transfer of Quantock land out of public ownership but was successful in negotiating the acquisition of 400 acres (160 ha) of heathland and forest under a Community Asset Transfer Scheme for the sum of £2. Over Stowey Customs Common and Thorncombe Hill are therefore owned and held by Friends of Quantock for the benefit of the public.[9] As a result of this purchase the Charity was dissolved and reincorporated as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation to protect its trustees from the liabilities of property ownership.

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See also

References
  1. "Friends of Quantock Constitution" (PDF). Friends of Quantock. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  2. "Friends of Quantock". Western Daily Press. 9 September 1949. Retrieved 30 August 2014 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. "Friends of Quantock". Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser. 23 July 1949. Retrieved 30 August 2014 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "The Friends of Quantock". Western Daily Press. 3 September 1949. Retrieved 30 August 2014 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "About Us". Friends of Quantock. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  6. "Quantock Hills charity takes over 400 acres of land". BBC Somerset. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  7. "Friends of Quantock". Friends of Quantock.
  8. "Report for decision to declare three Somerset County Council (SCC) owned amenity land sites as surplus to requirements" (PDF). Somerset County Council.
  9. "STANLEY JOHNSON CELEBRATES WITH FRIENDS OF QUANTOCK". Exmoor Magazine. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
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