Blackdown & Neroche

Blackdown & Neroche ward encompasses a largely rural area in the Somerset district of South Somerset. It is named after the Blackdown Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the Neroche Forest, a historic royal hunting forest. The landscape is characterised by rolling hills, woodland, and scattered farms and villages. The ward includes settlements like Buckland St Mary, Combe St Nicholas, and smaller hamlets.

The area is defined by its quiet, agricultural character and significant areas of managed woodland. A specific local feature is the Neroche Scheme, a long-term landscape project restoring forestry and heathland for public access and biodiversity. Walking trails and quiet country lanes are common, with the landscape offering expansive views across the Taunton Vale. The local economy remains closely tied to farming and forestry.