Map sources for Mendip Hills at grid reference ST481550

The Mendip Hills (commonly called The Mendips) are a range of limestone hills (karst) situated to the south of Bristol and Bath in north Somerset, England. The hills are bounded by the Somerset Levels in the south and west, and the River Avon and Chew Valley Lake in the north. The hills give their name to the roughly analogous local government district of Mendip, but some of the northern slopes are located in the bordering Unitary Authorities of North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset, part of the former County of Avon which was dissolved in 1996. Image File history File links Dot4gb. ... Image File history File links Gb4dot. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... Limey shale overlaid by limestone. ... The panoramic view from Connors Hill, near Swifts Creek, Victoria A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain, in a limited area. ... Karst topography occurs when a landscape is marked by underground drainage patterns. ... Bristol (IPA: ) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, 115 miles (185 km) west of London and between the cities of Bath, Gloucester and the borough of Swindon. ... Statistics Population: 84,000 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: ST745645 Administration District: Bath and North East Somerset Region: South West England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Somerset Historic county: Somerset Services Police force: Avon and Somerset Fire and rescue: Avon Ambulance: South Western Post office... Somerset is a county in the south-west of England. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... The view towards Brent Knoll from Glastonbury Tor. ... The Avon Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge The River Avon is a river in the south west of England. ... Chew Valley Lake (Grid reference ST5659) is a large reservoir in the Chew Valley, Somerset, England, and the largest artificial lake in south-west England with an area of 1,200 acres (4. ... Categories: Stub | Somerset ... North Somerset is a unitary authority in England, historically part of the county of Somerset but now administered independently. ... Bath and North East Somerset (commonly referred to as BANES or B&NES) is a unitary authority that was created on April 1, 1996 following the abolition of the County of Avon. ... Northavon Bristol Kingswood Woodspring Wansdyke Bath The County of Avon was a short-lived administrative county in the west of England, named after the River Avon which ran through it. ...

200 km² of the Mendips are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a designation which gives the area the same level of protection as a national park. The Mendip Hills AONB Service and visitor centre is at the Charterhouse Centre near Blagdon. The Mendips are home to a wide range of outdoor sports and leisure activities. The particular geology makes it a national centre for caving and cave diving. In addition to climbing and abseiling, the area is a centre for Hillwalking and those interested in natural history. An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is an area of countryside with significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government. ... Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales, UK A national park is a reserve of land, usually declared and owned by a national government, protected from most human development and pollution. ... Charterhouse (grid reference ST500557) is a small hamlet in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty(AONB), Somerset, England. ... Blagdon is a village and civil parish in the North Somerset unitary authority in England. ... Inside the cave at Cave Stream, New Zealand Caving is the recreational sport of exploring caves. ... Inside the cave at Cave Stream, New Zealand Caving is the recreational sport of exploring caves. ... Climbers on Valkyrie at The Roaches in Staffordshire, England. ... Australian rappel demonstrated at a dam in Norway In British English, abseiling (from the German abseilen, to rope down) is the process of descending on a fixed rope. ... Hillwalking or fellwalking is the recreational practice of hiking in mountainous terrain. ... Table of natural history, 1728 Cyclopaedia Natural history is an umbrella term for what are now usually viewed as several distinct scientific disciplines. ...

Etymology

Cheddar Gorge

The name Mendips is probably derived from the mediaeval term "Myne-deepes".^[1] Download high resolution version (750x1121, 114 KB)The cliffs and gorge at Cheddar. ... Download high resolution version (750x1121, 114 KB)The cliffs and gorge at Cheddar. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ...

An alternative explanation is that the name is cognate with Mened (Welsh mynydd), a Brythonic term for upland moorland. The suffix may be a contraction of the Anglo-Saxon hop meaning a valley. Brythonic is one of two major divisions of Insular Celtic languages (the other being Goidelic). ... Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon) is an early form of the English language that was spoken in parts of what is now England and southern Scotland between the mid-fifth century and the mid-twelfth century. ...

Government and politics

Many of the villages in the valley have their own parish councils which have some responsibility for local issues. They also elect councillors to district councils e.g. Mendip or Sedgemoor and Somerset County Council or unitary authorities e.g. Bath and North East Somerset, or North Somerset, which have wider responsibilities for services such as education, refuse, tourism etc. A parish council is a council of members of a particular parish or religious community who have a responsibility to administrate the affairs of that community. ... Categories: Stub | Somerset ... Sedgemoor is a local government district of Somerset in England. ... Somerset is a county in the south-west of England. ... Bath and North East Somerset (commonly referred to as BANES or B&NES) is a unitary authority that was created on April 1, 1996 following the abolition of the County of Avon. ... North Somerset is a unitary authority in England, historically part of the county of Somerset but now administered independently. ...

Each of the villages is also part of a constituency: Wells, Weston-super-Mare, or Wansdyke (which will become North East Somerset). The area is also part of the South West England (European Parliament constituency) of the European Parliament. Avon and Somerset Constabulary provides police services to the area. Wells is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Weston-Super-Mare is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Wansdyke is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... North East Somerset is a constituency created by the Boundary Commission for England as the successor seat to the Wansdyke Parliamentary Seat. ... South West England is a constituency of the European Parliament. ... Avon & Somerset Constabulary is a police force in England covering the county of Somerset and the districts of South Gloucestershire, Bristol, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset; these districts were the now defunct county of Avon hence the forces name. ...

Geology

The Mendip hills

The Mendip Hills are the most southerly Carboniferous Limestone Upland in Britain and are comprised of three major anticlinal structures, each with a core of older Devonian sandstone and Silurian volcanic rocks. The latter are quarried for use in road construction and as a concrete aggregate. Image File history File links Mendip_hills. ... Image File history File links Mendip_hills. ... Disambiguation: Devonian is sometimes used to refer to the Southwestern Brythonic language, and the people of the county of Devon are sometimes referred to as Devonians The Devonian is a geologic period of the Paleozoic era. ... Red sandstone interior of Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona, worn smooth due to erosion by flash flooding over millions of years Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-size mineral or rock grains. ... The Silurian is a major division of the geologic timescale that extends from the end of the Ordovician period, about 443. ... This article is about volcanoes in geology. ... Concrete being poured, raked and vibrated into place in residential construction in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ...

The response of the limestone to weathering has resulted in a range of surface features, including gorges, dry valleys, screes and swallets. These are complemented underground by a large number of caves, including Wookey Hole both beneath the plateau and at the base of the southern escarpment. There are also limestone pavements, and a number of gorges, most famously Cheddar Gorge and Burrington Combe. Springs, a number of which deposit tufa, are a particular feature of the eastern part of the hills.^[2] Grand Canyon, Arizona A canyon or gorge is a deep valley between cliffs often carved from the Earth by a river. ... Scree or detritic cone is a term given to broken rock that appears at the bottom of crags, mountain cliffs or valley shoulders. ... Devils Hole near Hawthorne, Florida Sinkholes, also known as sinks, shakeholes or dolina (in the Slovene language dolina means valleys), and cenotes, are formed by the collapse of cave roofs and are a feature of landscapes that are based on limestone bedrock. ... Stalagmites and Stalactites in Goughs cave Entrance to Swildons Hole The Caves of the Mendip Hills are formed by the particular geology of the Mendip Hills, with large areas of limestone worn away by water makes it a national centre for caving. ... The entrance to Wookey Hole. ... Monte Roraima In geology and earth science, a plateau, also called a high plateau or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat open country. ... In geology, an escarpment is a transition zone between different physiogeographic provinces that involves an elevation differential, often involving high cliffs. ... Limestone pavement above Malham Cove A limestone pavement is a landform consisting of a horizontal surface of exposed limestone showing the effects of weathering. ... A gorge is a narrow passage between steep mountains or hills. ... Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the United Kingdom Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the United Kingdom, near the village of Cheddar in the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England. ... Burrington Combe is a gorge on the north side of the Mendip hills, in Somerset, England. ... A natural spring on Mackinac Island in Michigan. ... Tufa is the name for an unusual geological formation. ...

A combination of the rainfall and geology leads to an estimated average daily runoff from springs and boreholes of some 72 million gallons (272549 m3). Bristol Water recognised the value of this resource and between 1846 and 1853 created a series of underground tunnels, pipes and aqueducts called the "Line of Works" which still carry aproximately 4 million gallons (15141 m3) of water a day to Barrow Gurney Reservoirs for filtration and then onto Bristol and the surrounding areas. All this is done by gravity as it collects and conveys water from the Chewton Mendip and East and West Harptree areas.^[3] Bristol Water supplies 300 million litres of drinking water to over 1 million customers in a 1000 square mile area centered on Bristol. ... Barrow Gurney Reservoirs (Grid reference ST5468) (also known as Barrow Gurney Tanks or Barrow Tanks) are three artificial reservoirs near the village of Barrow Gurney, which lies southwest of Bristol, England. ... Chewton Mendip is a village in the Mendip District of Somerset, England. ... East Harptree is in the catchment area of Chew Valley Secondary School. ... West Harptree (Grid reference ST561568)is a small village within the Chew Valley in Bath and North East Somerset about 8 miles south of Bristol and 10 miles from Bath. ...

The Devonian and Silurian rocks are generally more resistant to weathering and form some of the highest points on the hills. The highest point of the Mendip Hills is Beacon Batch on Black Down at 325 metres (1068 feet) above sea level. Black Down is of a moorland characteristic, with its steeper slopes covered in bracken and its flatter summit in heather and grasses rather than the pasture land which covers much of the plateau. The main body of the range is an extended plateau, four or five miles wide and generally about 244 metres (800 feet) above sea level. In some areas the Carboniferous Limestone and the Dolomitic Conglomerate have been mineralised with lead and zinc ores. From the time of the Romans until the late Victorian era, the hills were an important source of lead. These areas have been the subject of a major mining industry in the past and this is reflected in areas of contaminated rough ground known locally as "gruffy". The word "gruffy" is thought to derive from the grooves that were formed where the lead ore was extracted from veins near the surface. Other minerals obtained from mines on the Mendips included calamine, manganese, iron, copper and barytes.^[4] The eastern parts of the area reach into parts of the Somerset coalfield. Beacon Batch is the highest point in the Mendip Hills, Somerset, south-western England. ... Black Down is an area of Open Access common on the Mendip Hills, Somerset, England. ... The metre, or meter (U.S.), is a measure of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... Species Pteridium aquilinum Pteridium caudatum Pteridium latiusculum and about 7-8 other species Brackens (Pteridium) are a genus of about ten species of large, coarse ferns, in the family Hypolepidaceae. ... The metre, or meter (U.S.), is a measure of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... For PB or pb as an abbreviation, see PB. General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish white Atomic mass 207. ... General Name, Symbol, Number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Atomic mass 65. ... Principal sites in Roman Britain Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between 43 and 410. ... hhi comm arts fiends!!! said ronnie and phil Queen Victoria (shown here on the morning of her Ascension to the Throne, 20 June 1837) gave her name to the historic era The Victorian Era of Great Britain marked the height of the British industrial revolution and the apex of the... For PB or pb as an abbreviation, see PB. General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish white Atomic mass 207. ... This article is about mineral extraction. ... Calamine is a historic name for an ore of zinc. ... General Name, Symbol, Number manganese, Mn, 25 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 7, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Atomic mass 54. ... General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Atomic mass 55. ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic pinkish red Atomic mass 63. ... Barium sulfate (or barium sulphate, BaSO4) is a compound (a type of salt made from barium and sulphur) frequently used clinically as a radiocontrast agent for X-ray imaging and other diagnostic procedures. ... The old coal mining wheel, now featured in the centre of Radstock, in front of the Radstock museum The Somerset coalfield included pits in the north Somerset area where coal was mined from the 15th century until 1973. ...

Ecology

There are three nationally important semi-natural habitats which are characteristic of the area: Ash-Maple woodland (often with abundant small-leafed lime), Calcareous grassland and Mesotrophic grassland.^[5] Species About 30; see text Tilia is a genus of about 30 species of trees, native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere, in Asia (where the greatest species diversity is found), Europe and eastern North America; it is absent from western North America. ... Calcareous grassland (or alkaline grassland) is an ecosystem associated with thin basic soil, such as that on chalk and limestone downland. ...

Much of the Mendip Hills is open calcareous grassland which supports a large variety of wild flowering plants and insects. Grazing by rabbits, sheep and cattle maintains the grassland habitat. Some of the area is native deciduous woodland. Calcareous grassland (or alkaline grassland) is an ecosystem associated with thin basic soil, such as that on chalk and limestone downland. ... Rainforests are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth Biodiversity or biological diversity is the diversity of life. ... It has been suggested that Angiospermae, and Anthophyta be merged into this article or section. ... Orders Subclass Apterygota Symphypleona - globular springtails Subclass Archaeognatha (jumping bristletails) Subclass Dicondylia Monura - extinct Thysanura (common bristletails) Subclass Pterygota Diaphanopteroidea - extinct Palaeodictyoptera - extinct Megasecoptera - extinct Archodonata - extinct Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Blattodea (cockroaches) Mantodea (mantids) Isoptera (termites) Zoraptera Grylloblattodea Dermaptera (earwigs) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets... Genera Pentalagus Bunolagus Nesolagus Romerolagus Brachylagus Sylvilagus Oryctolagus Poelagus Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in many parts of the world. ... Species See text. ... Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle (often called cows in vernacular and contemporary usage, or kye as the Scots plural of cou) are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ... Deciduous means temporary or tending to fall off (deriving from the Latin word decidere, to fall off). ...

Some of the area has been used intensively for arable agriculture, particularly since World War I. Some of this land is now being returned to grassland as the demand for arable land in Britain declines, but the use of fertilisers and herbicides have reduced the biodiversity in these areas. In geography, arable land is a form of agricultural land use, meaning land that can be (and is) used for growing crops. ... Combatants Allied Powers: Russian Empire France British Empire Italy United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary German Empire Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Ferdinand Foch Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Franz...

Peregrine Falcon

Many bird species can also be found. Of particular significance is the Peregrine Falcon which has gradually recolonised the Mendips over the last 20 years. It breeds on sea and inland cliffs and also on the faces of both active and disused quarries. The upland heaths of the west Mendips have recently increased in ornithological importance, due to colonisation by the Dartford Warbler, which can be found for example at Black Down and Crook Peak. In Britain, this species is usually associated with lowland heath. The woodlands at Stock Hill are a breeding site for Nightjar and Long-eared Owl. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (800x983, 165 KB) Summary From the Pennsylvania Game Commission. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (800x983, 165 KB) Summary From the Pennsylvania Game Commission. ... Binomial name Falco peregrinus Tunstall, 1771 The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), sometimes formerly known in North America as Duck Hawk, is a medium-sized falcon about the size of a large crow: 38-53 cm (15 to 21 inches) long. ... Binomial name Sylvia undata (Boddaert, 1783) The Dartford Warbler, Sylvia undata, is an Old World warbler which breeds in the warmer parts of south west Europe and northwest Africa. ... View of Blackdown, painted by Helen Allingham, 1902. ... Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill (Grid reference ST385555) to (Grid reference ST430560) is a 332. ... Stock Hill (Grid reference ST5551) is a forestry plantation on the Mendip Hills, Somerset, England. ... Binomial name Caprimulgus europaeus Linnaeus, 1758 The European Nightjar, or just Nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus, is the only representative of the nightjar family of birds in most of Europe and temperate Asia. ... Binomial name Asio otus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) is a species of owl which breeds in Europe, Asia, and North America. ...

The Waldegrave Pool, part of Priddy Mineries is an important site for dragonflies, including Downy Emerald (the only Mendip breeding site for this species) and Four-spotted Chaser. Priddy Mineries Priddy Mineries (grid reference ST547515) is a nature reserve run by the Somerset Wildlife Trust. ... Binomial name Cordulia aenea (Linnaeus, 1758) The downy emerald (Cordulia aenea) is a species of dragonfly. ... Binomial name Libellula quadrimaculata (Linnaeus, 1758) The Four-spotted Chaser, Libellula quadrimaculata, is a European dragonfly. ...

A range of important small mammals are found in the area including the Dormouse which is restricted largely to coppice woodland and scrub, Bats including the nationally rare lesser and Greater Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) which have a number of colonies in buildings, caves and mines in the area.. A rare and endangered species, the greater horseshoe bat is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and is listed in Annex II of the 1992 European Community Habitats Directive.^[6] Orders Subclass Monotremata Monotremata Subclass Marsupialia Didelphimorphia Paucituberculata Microbiotheria Dasyuromorphia Peramelemorphia Notoryctemorphia Diprotodontia Subclass Placentalia Xenarthra Dermoptera Desmostylia Scandentia Primates Rodentia Lagomorpha Insectivora Chiroptera Pholidota Carnivora Perissodactyla Artiodactyla Cetacea Afrosoricida Macroscelidea Tubulidentata Hyracoidea Proboscidea Sirenia The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals primarily characterized by the presence of mammary... Subfamilies and Genera Graphiurinae Graphiurus Leithiinae Dryomys Eliomys Hypnomys Myomimus Selevinia Myoxinae Glirulus Muscardinus Glis Dormice are Old World mammals in the family Gliridae, part of the rodent (Rodentia) order. ... Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management, by which young tree stems are cut down to a foot or less from ground level. ... For the flying mammal see bat. ... This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, tone, style, and voice). ... Binomial name Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Schreber, 1774) The Greater Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum is a European bat with a wingspan of 34-39cm. ... The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom which aims to protect the wildlife and countryside of the United Kingdom. ... The European Commission Habitats Directive (more formally known as Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora) is a European Community directive adopted in 1992. ...

Amphibians such as the Great crested newt have a wide distribution across Mendip and is often found in flooded disused quarries. Binomial name Triturus cristatus (Laurenti, 1768) The Great Crested Newt or Northern Crested Newt, Triturus cristatus, is a newt in the family Salamandridae. ...

Large Blue Butterfly

Several rare butterflies are also indigenousto the area. The Large blue butterfly became extinct in the late 1970s since when a research project has been undertaken into its ecology and reintroduction. A successful reintroduction has been made to a calcareous grassland in the Mendips. Other species include the nationally scarce Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Duke of Burgandy and White-letter Hairstreak. Image File history File links Maculinea_arion_by_Paolo_Mazzei_01. ... Image File history File links Maculinea_arion_by_Paolo_Mazzei_01. ... Binomial name Maculinea arion (Linnaeus, 1758) The Large Blue (Maculinea arion) is a blue butterfly. ... Binomial name Boloria euphrosyne Linnaeus, 1758 The Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. ... Binomial name Hamearis lucina (Linnaeus, 1758) The Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina) is a butterfly in the family Riodinidae. ... Binomial name Satyrium w-album (Knoch, 1782) The White-Letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album) is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. ...

The White-clawed crayfish is also nationally rare and a declining species with a small population in a tributary of the Mells river. Binomial name Austropotamobius pallipes (Lereboullet, 1858) Austropotamobius pallipes is an endangered [1] European freshwater crayfish, and the only species of crayfish native to the British Isles [2]. Its common names include white-clawed crayfish and Atlantic stream crayfish. ...

A well known Mendip feature is the dry stone walls which fragment the pasture into fields. Constructed from local limestone and in an "A frame" design, the walls are strong yet contain no mortar. Unfortunately years of neglect are allowing many walls to disintegrate, being replaced or contained by a mix of barbed wire and sheep fencing. These dry-stone walls are of botanical importance, supporting important populations of the nationally scarce Wall Whitlow-grass. Amongst the plants which occur in the area are the Cheddar pink, Purple gromwell, White rock-rose, Somerset hair-grass and Starved wood-sedge. Species About 300 species; see text Dianthus is a [genus]] of about 300 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native mainly to Europe and Asia, with a few species extending south to north Africa, and one species () in arctic North America. ... Binomial name Lithospermum purpurocaeruleum L. Lithospermum purpurocaeruleum or Purple Gromwell is a plant species of the genus Lithospermum. ... Binomial name Helianthemum apenninum (L.) Mill. ...

Climate

Along with the rest of South West England, the Mendip Hills has a temperate climate which is generally wetter and milder than the rest of England. The annual mean temperature is approximately 10^oC and shows a seasonal and a diurnal variation, but due to the modifying effect of the sea the range is less than in most other parts of the UK. January is the coldest month with mean minimum temperatures between 1 °C and 2 °C. July and August are the warmest months in the region with mean daily maxima around 21 °C. The number of hours of bright sunshine is controlled by the length of day and by cloudiness. In general December is the dullest month and June the sunniest. The south-west of England has a favoured location with respect to the Azores high pressure when it extends its influence north-eastwards towards the UK, particularly in summer. Convective cloud often forms inland, especially near hills, and acts to reduce sunshine amounts. The average annual sunshine totals around 1600 hours. Rainfall tends to be associated with Atlantic depressions or with convection. The Atlantic depressions are more vigorous in autumn and winter and most of the rain which falls in those seasons in the south-west is from this source. In summer, convection caused by solar surface heating sometimes forms shower clouds and a large proportion of rainfall falls from showers and thunderstorms at this time of year. Average rainfall is around 800-900 mm. About 8-15 days of snowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, with June to August having the lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the South West.^[7] South West England is one of the regions of England. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... This article is about divisions of a year. ... Diurnal motion is an astronomical term referring to the apparent daily motion of stars in orbit around the Earth, caused by the Earths rotation around its axis. ... Sunshine may refer to: Sunlight Sunshine (1999 film), an award-winning post World War II film directed by István Szabó Sunshine (2007 film), an upcoming science fiction film directed by Danny Boyle Sunshine Daydream, a 1972 film about a Grateful Dead concert Sunshine Nee, a Thai porn star Stack... Motto: Antes morrer livres que em paz sujeitos (Rather die free than in peace subjugated) Anthem: A Portuguesa (national) Hino dos Açores (local) Capital Ponta Delgada (Presidency of the Regional Government) Angra do Heroísmo (Supreme Court)1 Horta (Legislative Assembly)2 Largest city Ponta Delgada Portuguese Government Autonomous... Convection is the transfer of heat by the motion of or within a fluid. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ... A large low-pressure system swirls off the southwestern coast of Iceland, illustrating the maxim that nature abhors a vacuum. ... Cumulonimbus capillatus incus floating over Swifts Creek, Victoria in Australia A cloud is a visible mass of condensed droplets or frozen crystals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of the Earth or another planetary body. ... A rolling thundercloud over Enschede, The Netherlands. ... This page is about the form of precipitation. ... Wind is the rough horizontal movement of air (as opposed to an air current) caused by uneven heating of the Earths surface. ...

History

Roman lead mines at Charterhouse.

The area contains many Neolithic, Iron Age and Bronze Age remains, including barrows and forts. There is good evidence for 286 definite examples of round barrows within the AONB.^[8] The caves of Cheddar Gorge in particular have preserved much archaeology as flood waters have washed artefacts into the caves and preserved them in silt. The Cheddar Man was found here. Image File history File links Charterhouseleadmines. ... Image File history File links Charterhouseleadmines. ... Charterhouse is a Carthusian monastery founded in 1371 by Walter de Manny, in Smithfield in the City of London. ... An array of Neolithic artifacts, including bracelets, axe heads, chisels, and polishing tools Excavated dwellings at Skara Brae Scotland, Europes most complete Neolithic village. ... Iron Age Axe found on Gotland This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age, for the mythological Iron Age see Iron Age (mythology). ... The Bronze Age is a period in a civilizations development when the most advanced metalworking has developed the techniques of smelting copper from natural outcroppings and alloys it to cast bronze. ... Burial of Oleg of Novgorod in a tumulus in 912. ... Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. ... Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico This article is about natural caves; for artificial caves used as dwellings, such as those in north China, see yaodong. ... Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from the Greek words αρχαίος = ancient and λόγος = word/speech/discourse) is the study of human cultures through the recovery, documentation and analysis of material remains and environmental data, including architecture, artifacts, biofacts, human remains, and landscapes. ... Cheddar Man is the name given to the remains of a human male found in Gough’s Cave in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, England. ...

Throughout history settlement on the Mendip Hills appears to fall into two types. The first, apparent in the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods and repeated on a small scale in the medieval and post-medieval farms, comprised occupation by self-sufficient groups in small communities or isolated farms. The second was represented in the Iron Age and roman periods by large sites with specialist functions, existing by virtue of their ability to exert power over lowland producers. From the Iron Age onward the ownership of land would have been of increasing importance with large landholdings based on the mines or on stock grazing, denying settlers access to the plateau or perhaps, at times, forcing them off the hills.^[9] The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... The Roman Empire is the name given to both the domain obtained by the city-state of Rome and also the corresponding phase of that civilization, characterized by an autocratic form of government. ...

There is evidence of mining on the Mendips back into the late Bronze Age when there were technological changes in metal working indicating the use of lead. The roman invasion, and possibly the preceding period of involvement in the internal affairs of the south of England, was inspired in part by the potential of the Mendips. A great deal of the attraction of the lead mines may have been the potential for the extraction of silver.^[10] The EX ARG VEB stamps on the Mendip lead pigs specify a de-silvering process and cast silver ingots have been found. The silver coinage of the Dobunni and Durotriges is likely to reflect the availability of silver from the mines. The earliest documented reference is for the Charterhouse mines in 1189. By the end of the medieval period a complex body of customary law had come into existence dealing with the four "Mendip mineries". That medieval control was in the hands of the monastic foundations may indicate some continuity of tenure of large scale holdings, focused on the mines, from the Roman period.^[11] For PB or pb as an abbreviation, see PB. General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish white Atomic mass 207. ... General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Atomic mass 107. ... A coin is usually a piece of hard material, generally metal, usually in the shape of a disc, and most often issued by a government, to be used as a form of money in transactions. ... The Dobunni were one of the Celtic tribes living in the British Islands prior to the Roman invasion of Britain. ... The Durotriges were one of the Celtic tribes living in the British Islands prior to the Roman invasion of Britain. ... Charterhouse (grid reference ST500557) is a small hamlet in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty(AONB), Somerset, England. ... Monasticism (from Greek: monachos—a solitary person) is the religious practice of renouncing all worldly pursuits in order to fully devote ones life to spiritual work. ...

In recent centuries the hills, like the Cotswolds to the north, have been quarried for stone to build the cities of Bath and Bristol, as well as smaller towns in Somerset. Whatley Quarry and Torr Works approximately mark the eastern end of the Mendips and are major suppliers of road stone to south-east England. A large proportion of the stone is moved by rail company Mendip Rail. The Cotswolds is the name given to a range of hills in central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, a hilly area reaching over 300 m or 1000 feet. ... Introduction Mendip Rail is an independent freight operating railway company in the Great Britain. ...

In the Second World War, a bombing decoy was constructed on top of Black Down, and piles of stones (known as a cairn) were created to prevent enemy aircraft using the hilltop as a landing site. Other high points include Bleadon Hill and North Hill near Priddy. Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom France Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Charles de Gaulle Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian... For the magazine see Cairn Magazine. ... Bleadon Hill (grid reference ST351574) is a 13. ... If looking for other uses for Priddy see the Priddy_(disambiguation) Priddy Green Priddy is a village in Somerset, England in the Mendip Hills, close to East Harptree and 5 miles north west of Wells. ...

The Mendip Hills is home to the Mendip UHF television transmitter installed in the 1960s, the tallest mast in the region situated on Pen Hill near Wells. The Mendip TV Mast The Mendip TV Mast The Mendip TV Mast is a 922-foot (281 m) tall television broadcasting mast. ... Pen Hill and the Mendip TV Mast Pen Hill forms part of the Mendip Hills plateu in Somerset, England. ... For other uses, see Wells (disambiguation). ...

Since 2003 arguments have raged over plans to erect a 300-foot Wind Turbine on the Mendip Hills near Chewton Mendip. After months of debate, the proposal was rejected by Mendip District Council supported by a range of local groups and organisations. The key arguments for rejection was that the proposed location for the turbine was on the edge of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, that the environmental impact and amount electricity generated would be nominal and that it would be a terrible eyesore in such a stunning environment. In April 2006 a planning enquiry gave Ecotricity permission to build a 335-foot (102 m) turbine during the next year.^[12] Wind turbine in Luxembourg Horizontal axis wind turbine, the Enercon model E-66 wind energy converter, in Germany. ... Chewton Mendip is a village in the Mendip District of Somerset, England. ... Categories: Stub | Somerset ...

Sport, leisure and tourism

Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the United Kingdom.

The Mendips are home to a wide range of outdoor sports and leisure activities, including caving, climbing and abseiling. The rich variety of fauna and flora also makes it attractive for Hillwalking and those interested in natural history. There has a range of tourist attractions including Cheddar Gorge and Caves and Wookey Hole. Download high resolution version (750x1121, 114 KB)The cliffs and gorge at Cheddar. ... Download high resolution version (750x1121, 114 KB)The cliffs and gorge at Cheddar. ... Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the United Kingdom Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the United Kingdom, near the village of Cheddar in the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England. ... A gorge is a narrow passage between steep mountains or hills. ... Inside the cave at Cave Stream, New Zealand Caving is the recreational sport of exploring caves. ... Climbers on Valkyrie at The Roaches in Staffordshire, England. ... Australian rappel demonstrated at a dam in Norway In British English, abseiling (from the German abseilen, to rope down) is the process of descending on a fixed rope. ... Fauna is a collective term for animal life of any particular region or time. ... Simplified schematic of an islands flora - all its plant species, highlighted in boxes. ... Hillwalking or fellwalking is the recreational practice of hiking in mountainous terrain. ... Table of natural history, 1728 Cyclopaedia Natural history is an umbrella term for what are now usually viewed as several distinct scientific disciplines. ... Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the United Kingdom Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the United Kingdom, near the village of Cheddar in the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England. ... The entrance to Wookey Hole. ...

The Mendip Gliding Club is based at Halesland Airfield near Priddy and Mendips Raceway is a popular venue for stock-car racing near Shipham. The Mendips are also home to several festivals including the Big Green Gathering, folk festival and sheep fair in Priddy and a proposed music festival at Chewton Mendip. If looking for other uses for Priddy see the Priddy_(disambiguation) Priddy Green Priddy is a village in Somerset, England in the Mendip Hills, close to East Harptree and 5 miles north west of Wells. ... This article is about the sport of stock car racing. ... Shipham is a village in Somerset, England on the western edge of the Mendip Hills. ... The Big Green Gathering is an annual festival held in Somerset, UK every summer. ... If looking for other uses for Priddy see the Priddy_(disambiguation) Priddy Green Priddy is a village in Somerset, England in the Mendip Hills, close to East Harptree and 5 miles north west of Wells. ...

Caving and cave diving

Main article: Caves of the Mendip Hills

The particular geology, with large areas of limestone worn away by water makes it a national centre for caving. The caves which are easily accessible to the public are at Cheddar Gorge and Caves and Wookey Hole, but the vast majority of the caves require specialist equipment and knowledge. The active Mendip Caving Group organises trips and continues to discover new caverns. Stalagmites and Stalactites in Goughs cave Entrance to Swildons Hole The Caves of the Mendip Hills are formed by the particular geology of the Mendip Hills, with large areas of limestone worn away by water makes it a national centre for caving. ... Inside the cave at Cave Stream, New Zealand Caving is the recreational sport of exploring caves. ... Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the United Kingdom Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the United Kingdom, near the village of Cheddar in the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England. ... The entrance to Wookey Hole. ...

Attempts to move from one cave to another through the underground rivers led to the development of cave diving, with Swildon's Hole being the site of the first cave dive attempt in Britain, in 1934 and the first successful cave dive in Britain, being achieved the following year at Wookey Hole where the last sump is currently the deepest sump in Britain at 76 m. Inside the cave at Cave Stream, New Zealand Caving is the recreational sport of exploring caves. ... Swildons Hole is an extensive cave in Priddy, Somerset. ... The entrance to Wookey Hole. ...

The cave complexes at St. Dunstan's Well Catchment, Lamb Leer and Priddy Caves have been identified as geological Site of Special Scientific Interest. St. ... Lamb Leer (Grid reference ST544550) is a 14. ... Priddy Caves (grid reference ST540505) is a Area: 67. ... A Site of Special Scientific Interest or SSSI is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. ...

Walking

Several sites on the Mendips are designated as open access land and there are a myriad of footpaths and bridleways which are generally clearly marked.

Several long distance trails cross the area including;

• Mendip Way - 50 miles (80km) long. From Weston super Mare to Frome. The western section runs from the Bristol Channel at Uphill affording views over the Somerset Levels. It crosses the central Mendip plateau leading down to Cheddar Gorge and then to Wells and Frome.
• Monarch's Way - 610 miles (984km) long. From Worcester to Shoreham-by-Sea in East Sussex. It closely follows the route taken by Charles II after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. The route enters Somerset near Chewton Mendip and crosses the Mendip Hills heading for Wells.

Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the United Kingdom Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the United Kingdom, near the village of Cheddar in the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England. ... For other uses, see Wells (disambiguation). ... Statistics Population: 24,510 (2001 census) Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: ST775477 Administration District: Mendip Shire county: Somerset Region: South West England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Somerset Historic county: Somerset Services Police force: Avon and Somerset Police Fire and rescue: Somerset Ambulance: South Western... Waymark on a Public Footpath Waymark on a Public Bridleway The Monarchs Way is a 615 mile [1] long-distance footpath in England that approximates the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester. ... The city of Worcester (pronounced ) is a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England, situated some 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Birmingham and 29 miles (47 km) north of Gloucester. ... Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, England, is bordered on the north by the South Downs, on the west by the Adur valley and on the south by the River Adur and Shoreham Beach. ... East Sussex is a county in South East England. ... Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was the King of England, King of Scots, and King of Ireland from 30 January 1649 (de jure) or 29 May 1660 (de facto) until his death. ... The Battle of Worcester was the final battle of the English Civil War. ... // Events January 1 - Charles II crowned King of Scotland in Scone. ... Chewton Mendip is a village in the Mendip District of Somerset, England. ...

Notable towns

• Cheddar
• Shepton Mallet
• Wells

Statistics Population: 5724 (as of 2002) Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: ST458535 Administration District: Sedgemoor Region: South West England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Somerset Historic county: Somerset Services Police force: Avon and Somerset Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}} Ambulance: South Western Post office and telephone... Statistics Population: 8,441 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: ST619438 Administration District: Mendip Shire county: Somerset Region: South West England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Somerset Historic county: Somerset Services Police force: Avon and Somerset Fire and rescue: Somerset Ambulance: South Western Post office and... For other uses, see Wells (disambiguation). ...

See also

• Geology of the United Kingdom
• List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Somerset

Geological map of Great Britain. ... A view of the Cheddar Gorge, designated as an SSSI for both its biological and its geological interest. ...

References

1. ^ Mendip Hills Natural Area profile from English Nature. Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
2. ^ Mendip Hills Natural Area profile from English Nature. Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
3. ^ Barrington, Nicholas; Stanton, William (1977). Mendip: The Complete Caves and a View of the Hills. Cheddar Valley P. ISBN 0950145920. 
4. ^ Gough, J.W. (1967). The mines of Mendip. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. http://www.amazon.co.uk/o/ASIN/B0000CNKWB. 
5. ^ Mendip Hills Natural Area profile from English Nature. Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
6. ^ Compton Martin Ochre Mine. English Nature. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
7. ^ About south-west England. Met Office. Retrieved on 2006-05-21.
8. ^ Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Somerset County Council Archeological Projects. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
9. ^ Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Somerset County Council Archeological Projects. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
10. ^ Romano-British Somerset. Somerset County Council: History of Somerset. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
11. ^ Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Somerset County Council Archeological Projects. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
12. ^ Wind Turbine granted. Retrieved on 2006-05-28.

2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (130th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 21 is the 141st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (142nd in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 28 is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 64 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 28 is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 64 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 29 is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 28 is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 64 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ...

External links

• Mendip Hills website
• The Mendip Society website
• Mendip Times
• Active Mendip