A PROJECT to save rare collections of photographs, postcards, and paintings of the Quantock Hills from being lost to the community, has received a new lease of life with the launch of a new website.

The volunteer-led Quantock Views project was initiated in 2017 and led by Keith Edwards, a volunteer with the National Landscape Team.

Since then, more than 1,000 historic images of the Quantock Hills, its communities, and landscapes have been discovered and collected.

The scheme is a community-focused initiative within the Quantock Landscape Partnership which is deigned to explore, understand, and protect the significance of views of the Quantocks from neighbouring parishes.

It is also hoped the project will connect local people to their landscape, help to manage visitor pressure, and enhance the area’s unique history and character by bringing to light rare material often long forgotten.

Quantock Hills National Landscape team manager Iain Porter said: “It is great to see this volunteer led project with its new website, allowing people to explore the archive and see the Quantock Hills as it was 100 years ago.

“Completing this new website coincides with our management plan review and it has been great to see the historic changes across the Quantock Hills as we plan for the future.

“Anybody interested in the archive can view it online.

“We will shortly be looking to start collecting further images and anybody interested in volunteering to become involved in the project by helping to collect and archive pictures, should contact the team at [email protected].”

Consultation on a draft Quantock Hills management plan is open until December 31 and further information can be found on the Quantock Hills National Landscape Team’s website.

The management plan intends to set out a vision for the Quantock Hills people want to see in 30 years’ time and how to achieve it.