WHAT’S ON
01935 850541, email sherborne. dorchester@monkeymusic.co.uk, or book online at monkeymusic. co.uk. YEOVIL Every Thursday from 2.00pm at Birchfield Community Centre, Yeovil, go along to a Health and Wellbeing Circuits session, led by exercise specialist Marion Cooper. Ideal as a continuation of an NHS,
A NEW DECADE AND A NEW SEASON
By Paul Birbeck, Blue Badge Tour Guide. Sometimes we are asked: why bother using a qualified local guide? Anyone can visit and create their own self-guided route and follow a map or guidebook. In my view, there are a number of advantages to a guided tour. For new visitors to a town, having a guide saves time. Most visitors probably only have limited time to explore, so there is an obvious advantage to having an expert with local knowledge. Blue Badge Tour guides are amazing sources of information on local culture and heritage. However……… no matter how much we love buildings, it’s a fact that people connect with people. Cindy & I have a few fun and compelling stories to tell about the buildings and sites you’re looking at. We try to engage with the audience, rather than list instantly forgettable dates and names. This means you can have a more memorable tour. Look at our Trip Advisor reviews to see what visitors say about our 5 star rated service. Particularly important to Sherborne Walks is helping to support local businesses to sustain a vibrant community by promoting local produce, venues and activities. And of course, for
some of you, having someone to take photos of you at special places is always useful. Our programme is flexible and ranges from a standard historic tour visiting key sites to themed tours such as ‘Sherborne at War’, ‘Off the Beaten Track’ or ‘Infectious Sherborne’ (not what it first appears!). We also promote special walks including our Valentine Romantic Sherborne walk, Bank holiday walks and the Poppy Trail around Dorchester. Check out our Facebook page, local posters, Visit Dorset and website for details. For people who want to go further afield, on request, we can organise walks around local towns (Shaftsbury, Beaminster, Sturminster Newton & Dorchester), villages (Yetminster, Cerne Abbas) and countryside walks, including the Jurassic Coast. These must be prebooked. So, a guided tour is not simply a healthy activity, it can be a very positive and pleasurable experience. Our New Year’s Day walk to ‘Clear the Cobwebs’ was well supported – so thank you to everyone who has joined us and for those of you who didn’t, there’s time in the coming year!
SUNDAY 8TH MARCH 1 1 .1 5am - 1 2 .1 5 pm Slide-talk sho w explo ring the links betw een Sherbo rne and the Ju rassic Co ast.The B u tterfly Ro o m , W alled Garden Restau rantin The Castle Garden Centre, New Ro ad.Just £5 each 14
Celebrate the countryside with the West of England Game Fair
COPD Respiratory or Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme. Suitable for those diagnosed with diabetes, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis or as part of health recovery. The session offers support, guidance and motivation in a safe, comfortable and friend environment. For more information phone 07814 826951 or marioncooper@ hotmail.co.uk.
The West of England Game Fair takes place at the Bath & west Showground on Saturday 21 & 22 March, and is celebrating 25 years of championing field sports. The organisers are looking forward to welcoming you to the show and here’s a few reasons why….
THE PLANTSMAN’S PLANT FAIR RETURNS TO EAST LAMBROOK MANOR GARDENS Twenty two top independent nurseries from all over the South West and beyond will once again be at East Lambrook Manor Gardens in Somerset on Saturday 28 March for the ninth Early Spring Plant Fair, organised in partnership with the Hardy Plant Society, Somerset Group. The venue for this very popular event is the former home of the queen of cottage gardening, Margery Fish, and it is a wonderful opportunity to source unusual and often quite rare plants of the kind seldom found in garden centres. Current owner Mike Werkmeister comments, “There’s always a buzz at this event, described by one nurseryman who comes each year as ‘his favourite plant fair’. Asked why, he said it was ‘because the people who attend come to buy plants, not just to have a day out’, and he says he always brings his best stock and sells more plants at our event than he does at some of the bigger fairs.” Mike also calls it a ‘boutique plant fair’ because its size is limited by the size of the garden, and there’s none of the bric-a-brac so often found at bigger fairs, just plants of the highest quality. There’s always a queue at the gate by 10 o’clock waiting for it to open! Sally Gregson of HPS Somerset Group says, “The line up this year again includes two Chelsea Gold Medal winners with something for every gardener, from alpines and apple trees to Zantadeschia and organic zuccini seeds. The real benefit for visitors coming to this event is the expert advice, freely given by growers keen to share their knowledge - from what to plant where to how to care for the plants they are selling.” The end of March is a wonderful time in the garden at East Lambrook with everything simply bursting into growth. Among the plants in bloom are daphne, primula, hellebore and pulmonaria plus spring bulbs including the seldom-sold blue Scilla bithynica, which carpets the Ditch after the snowdrops go over. For avid gardeners keen to shake off the winter blues the garden and plant fair is a wonderful way of getting inspiration. Hot soup, tea, coffee and excellent cakes will be available in the Malthouse café. Alternatively book a table for lunch across the road at the recently refurbished 17th century Rose & Crown inn. The plant fair runs from 10am to 4pm with the £4.00 per head entry price including reduced price entry to the famous cottage garden. RHS and HPS members need only pay £3.50. East Lambrook Manor Gardens, Silver Street, East Lambrook, South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5HH
T: 01460 240328 E:enquiries@eastlambrook.com W: www.eastlambrook.com
Amazing Countryside displays Two arenas (one indoor and one outdoor) will feature a wide range of displays from top experts including fly casting; wildfowling; gun dog training; ferreting – be inspired and entertained Nothing but the best for your dogs Has your dog got what it takes? If it has, try the gundogs scurries with BASC – four scurries will be available, together with two tests with M&M Gundogs (one test for Labradors and one for Spaniels). There will also be Gundog training demonstrations with Duchy Gundog Group and the Ladies Working Dog Group. In addition, the popular Coursing Crew return with the Terrier & Lurcher Shows; Family Dog Show; Terrier and Lurcher racing and whippet racing. Check out the shopping village with a selection of gundog equipment and accessories, dog food and more. A dog crèche with Samsalin is also available. Fantastic shopping and advice areas Countryside shopping under cover - Over 300 companies in five halls; top brand names, quality products and services, shooting and fishing equipment, clothing, gundog accessories, smallholders equipment…
WHAT’S ON
A selection of great music to shop by…The Mangledwurzels (a three-piece Scrumpy & Western band based in Somerset) and The Arquebus Trio (who perform a mixture of traditional folk songs and tunes as well as self-written songs performed in an upbeat contemporary style) will join us this year The West of England Game Fair is a value for money event – entertainment, education, advice, free to enter competitions and show offers. Be part of the West of England Game Fair social scene. Fantastic savings on advanced tickets and free parking: group discounts available in advance). There are also savings if you wish to attend on both days. For further information and to book tickets visit www.westofenglandgamefair.co.uk
WIN:
Three pairs of Adult Tickets to the West of England Game Fair at the Bath & West Showground To enter just answer the following question: How many years has the West of England Game Fair been championing field sports? Send your answer by Thursday 12 March, marking your subject heading “West of England Game Fair” to info@ theconduitmagazine.co.uk and include your name, address, phone number. Or post to the address on p3. Good Luck!
Get up-to-date advice from a variety of countryside associations including British Association for Shooting & Conservation (BASC); Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust; National Gamekeepers Association (NGO) and Pass it on Young Sports The Sedgemoor Hall will host the West of England Game Fairs’ fishing area with organisations offering advice, a wide selection of rods and fishing accessories, flies, fly tying demonstrations and have-a-go, fly casting competitions in the fishing arena with Pass it on Young Sports; clothing, books … Come and have-a-go A great selection of have-a-go activities and demonstrations including – Archery; longbows; clay shooting with Bristol Clay Shoot; fly casting & fly tying; net making; BASC gundog scurries; air rifles; NTSA Rifle Range; Terrier & Lurcher Shows; the Family Dog show; copper works; blacksmithing; Iron age cooking; BASC Shotgun Coaching and a horn blowing competition on the Sunday of the show! Tempt your taste buds in the food hall Come and spend the day and enjoy some great food and drink: Game burgers, sausages and pies and so much more in the Westcountry Food hall (Mendip building); outside catering – traditional and exotic, plus an indoor restaurant. The Game Cookery Theatre will host some great game chefs with mouthwatering, easy to follow recipes plus an informative butchery display Get Social! This is a great social event – meet up with friends and family at the ultimate countryside experience.
Bringing all the fun and excitement of field sports to the Bath & West Showground. A great day out for all the family. Amazing have-a-go activities, countryside displays and shopping.
TICKETS: 01392 421500 – WESTOFENGLANDGAMEFAIR.CO.UK
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