THIS week is 'Outstanding Week', a national week celebrating our 46 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) across Britain, with a week of great events run across the country.

To celebrate the AONB Family has worked together to organise a week (and a bit) long programme of events to help people enjoy and be inspired by Britain’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty from Saturday, September 17 and continuing through to Sunday, September 25, the events can be found on www.landscapesforlifeevents.org.uk

The Quantock Hills AONB is celebrating with a Bat Walk on Friday, September 23, 7pm at Ramscombe, Great Wood. It costs £5 per person, to book on to this event go to www.quantockhills.com/events/view.

The Quantocks are a fabulous place to see and hear bats in the south west, with common species such as Serotine, as well as rarer specialities.

In addition to looking out for these furry flying mammals with Iain Porter (the AONB’s bat expert), owls are also aplenty in Great Wood.

Silent in flight but noisy when they are calling to one another, Andy Harris from the Forestry Commission will be on hand with information all about the UK owl species and how to identify what you can hear.

Bring warm/waterproof clothing, sensible footwear and a small torch.

There is also a Quantock Jurassic Coast walk as part of the Outstanding week, but this event is already sold out.

Quantock Hills AONB manager Chris Edwards said: “It can sometimes be underestimated how important getting out and experiencing natural beauty is to our personal sense of well-being.

"I would say that having the ability to immerse yourself in a landscape that is cared for because of its rich wildlife, its rare and important habitats and its fascinating geology is one of the greatest pleasures in life.

"We are celebrating our natural landscapes across the country this week because these landscapes are crucial for biodiversity and for ecological health but also because they are crucial for our human happiness. So come and celebrate with us in the outstanding Quantock Hills during this special week.”