LANDOWNERS and people living on the Quantock Hills are being offered the chance to widen their skills in how to manage the special and protected landscape.

A series of workshops is being arranged this autumn and winter focused on how to manage the land – the hills and surrounding vales - while retaining its distinct character.

The funding has come from West Somerset Council while the project is delivered by the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Service.

The workshops will look at crops in arable farming, orchard planning, planting and management and managing woodland. The sessions are open to land owners, farmers, students and local communities within the Quantock Hills and surrounding vales of Sedgemoor and West Somerset.

Iain Porter, Quantock Hills AONB Service said: “This is a great opportunity for land managers and communities to learn additional skills that will protect this distinctive landscape into the future.

Cllr Karen Mills, Economic Regeneration Lead at West Somerset Council said: “The workshops cover a range of quite technical subjects in farming and land management.

"Whilst those already working within the landscape will find them useful to brush up on their know-how, local communities and those thinking of starting a career in a land based industry will also find them of interest.

“As well as being part of the local farming industry, our landscapes are an economic driver for tourism.

"It is essential therefore that local people are able to gain access to the appropriate training to manage their businesses whilst protecting the environment that we all cherish.”

The next workshops available are:

n Farm Resilience – Cover Crops Event - November 7, free, 10am-2pm at Rhode Farm, Rhode.

n Farm Resilience – animal health - date to be confirmed

n Woodlands & Forestry – resilience and management February 7

n Orchards – planning, planting & maintenance February 25