Dundon Beacon Nature Reserve

Dundon Beacon is an area of grass downland, scrub thickets and ancient oak woodland. It contains a small, flat-topped hill rising steeply from the surrounding wetlands with an early iron age hill fort at the top. Dundon Beacon is a special and species-rich nature reserve, which is managed by Somerset Wildlife Trust and is now being returned to a careful balance of ancient oak woodland combined with managed coppice and restored grass downland. The hilltop is an Ancient Monument, which was once occupied by an iron age (Celtic) fort and hilltop settlement. In the spring bluebells are abundant on the slopes, and it is also home to badgers, shrews, hedgehogs, weasels, and brown hare, as well as the inevitable grey squirrel and roe deer. Nightingale and Whitethroat have been recorded from the thickets while woodcock can be seen as a winter visitor and barn owl and turtle dove may also be spotted.