The Wheel - Summer 2024

PAULTON DENTAL & IMPLANT CENTRE

Smile Transformations in Paulton

Bespoke dental care delivered with a gentle approach, in a relaxed, friendly and professional atmosphere.

www.paultondental.co.uk

Tel: 01761 416057

reception@paultondental.co.uk

Ivy Cottage, High Street, Paulton BS39 7QA

New patients welcome • Check up from £59 • Hygienist from £59 Monthly dental plans • Finance available

RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY

Give your dental health and smile a boost with our wide range of treatments to maintain healthy teeth and help you smile again.

ENDODONTICS

No matter how complicated the case may be, we have professional and highly skilled clinicians at our practice to help our patients.

COSMETIC DENTISTRY

We have an array of treatments available to help you smile again and you’ll be surprised at how many options we have for you.

CHILDREN

We provide dental care for all the family. With specialists on hand you can rest assured that your child’s dental health is in good hands.

DENTAL IMPLANTS

Dental implants offer a life changing fixed and long term solution to replacing single or multiple missing teeth.

DENTAL HYGIENE

We aim to achieve a healthier mouth for all our patients. Get in touch to see how our dental hygiene services can help you with dental hygiene.

Bringing together Clandown, Haydon, Radstock and Writhlington.

Summer is here and hopefully, so is the better weather!

As ever, with the summer months, that means lots to keep us entertained. You can find details of upcoming events and activities throughout the summer in these pages. It also means colourful flowers sprouting around town thanks to the hard work of Radstock in Bloom!

Whatever you’re up to over the next few months, we hope you have an enjoyable summer and we’ll see you in our autumn issue.

Want to feature in the next edition of The Wheel? get in touch with the team at the council or email us at news@ignyte-uk.co.uk

MaYoR’S MESSaGE

RadStocK MUSEUM

talES oF wRItHlInGton

YoUtH connEct

tHE actIvE waY

BIG local

BRandInG PRoJEct

FolK MUSIc PRoJEct

ScoUtS and BE avERS

oUR BlUE SPacES PRoJEct

Swallow cHaRItY

aIR aMBUlancE cHaRItY

Swan tRanSPoRt

HERItaGE BoaRd

toM HUYton PlaY daY

RadStocK FaYRE

FEStIval oF natURE

clERK’S MESSaGE

The next edition of The Wheel will be in August 2024. If you would like your group to be included in the next edition, please contact us on 01761 437962 before the deadline of 5th August 2024.

If you have difficulty reading the print, please contact the Town Clerk for a large print copy. You can also view The Wheel on the council’s website at www.radstock-tc.gov.uk.

The Wheel is produced by Ignyte Media Ltd, Bathway Farm, Bathway, Chewton Mendip, BA3 4LN. Tel 01761 410141. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

Welcome to this Summer edition of The Wheel.

As the weather gets warmer and we can hopefully look forward to long summer evenings ahead, it is good to be able to report on some new things that residents will get to enjoy in the months ahead.

The Town Council has been successful in a grant application to the West of England Combined Authority Rural Fund for a ‘Wayfinding’ project.

Originally envisaged as part of the Radstock Regeneration Plan and supported by both the Town Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council, it is the first step to improve the connectivity of the Town centre with wider cycle and walking routes.

Radstock was once served by two railway lines and is now connected to Bath and Frome by National Cycle Network 24 and to Midsomer Norton by the Greenway. But new visitors often find it confusing to connect between these routes and want to find local amenities when they arrive in our Town.

This award of around £40,000 will provide new finger post direction signs to key amenities and information boards together with maps of key bus, cycle and walking routes to assist visitors and residents find their way around the Town and wider area.

Maps and walking leaflets will also be produced to support greater access to local landmarks and historic features and encourage exploration beyond the Town centre. Existing heritage and nature walks will be updated and included in this package.

Our Tom Huyton play park, which has recently been upgraded, will receive new planters, seating, and benches together with a new canopy to enable use in all seasons.

Information boards will also help explain the various flora and fauna present within our town that make Radstock such a pleasant place to live and work.

The package will shortly be going out to tender, with a view to the works being completed over the summer.

There will also be several cultural events over the summer, including the return of the very successful Radstock Fayre and the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. We know that many units who took part in those landings were based in and around the Town, so it will be a good opportunity to mark their contribution to this historic undertaking.

Have a great summer.

Chris Dando - Mayor of Radstock

nEwS FRoM RAdStOck MuSEuM

On 10th July 1999 the Museum opened its doors at its new home in the former Market Hall in Radstock, having moved from its previous home at Barton Meade in Haydon. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of this move, the Museum will be mounting a temporary display looking back at the history of the Market Hall, the project that saw its conversion to a Museum and some of the highlights of those 25 years.

The display will open on 11th June and will be in place throughout the summer as a tribute to the efforts of the volunteers who got the project off the ground and have continued to make the Museum such a success.

If you have any memories or stories to tell relating to this topic that you would like to share with us, please contact the manager via email on manager@ radstockmuseum.co.uk

If the arrival of warmer weather has got you thinking of spending more time outdoors, our shop stocks a selection of books of walks of the local area that might tempt you to explore some new routes.

Our opening hours are the usual: 2pm to 5pm Tuesday to Friday and Sunday, 11am to 5pm on Saturday, last admission at 4.30pm. We also open on Bank Holiday Mondays, 2pm to 5pm. The Tea Room also closes at 4.30pm.

tAlES Of WRithlinGtOn

Tales of Writhlington is an exciting new social history project being delivered in partnership with Radstock Museum, as part of the Radstock Cultural Programme. Once a thriving mining village, many of the residents of Writhlington have a connection to the area that goes back multiple generations. Tales of Writhlington aims to celebrate Writhlington’s unique identity and to capture and preserve precious local memories.

Rowan Fae, Radstock Cultural Programme coordinator, has been working closely with local resident and artist Roger Wiltshire to gather these stories from the residents of Writhlington past and present. Not the big stories, but the little things, personal memories, anecdotes, and sentiments. These audio interviews have been further developed by Southwestbased emerging artist and composer Bethany Ley into four musical ‘movements’ each slightly different in theme.

These movements, as well as interview transcripts and images from the project will come together to form the Tales of Writhlington exhibition which will be accessible in Radstock Museum during the months of July & August.

The project has also engaged two Somerset based photographers to capture images of Writhlington village and portraits of the project’s participants. We are also working towards producing a book.

This project is made possible by generous support from the UK shared prosperity fund part of the UK Government’s levelling up initiative. we would love to hear from you.

YOuth

cOnnEct SOuth WESt

Radstock Youth Hub is always a hive of activity including our Alternative Education Programme, which provides education to around 30 young people who cannot access mainstream school or college. We run a weekly youth club for those aged 13-19 on Wednesdays 7pm - 9pm and on Saturdays, we run various projects. YCSW also offer support to unemployed young people and those who need additional support through 1:1 work with Off the Record, who also offer listening support. As well as this, we have several other organisations using the space due to its perfect location within the community.

Bushcraft workshops

We don’t only stay inside! Our bushcraft workshops were run in Waterside Valley, Westfield. The group aimed to provide the opportunity to explore the great outdoors, learn essential bushcraft skills, and connect with nature. We are so fortunate to have beautiful outdoor spaces within our community and young people must know what is available, as well as how to respect these green spaces. These sessions were kindly funded by Radstock Town Council and Westfield Parish Council.

Photography workshops

Our first Saturday group was a series of photography workshops running over 6 weeks. From mastering the fundamentals in week one to capturing plenty of wildlife during a nature walk in week six, participants explored a range of photography styles. The project was made possible through the generous support of Radstock Town Council and Big Local Radstock & Westfield. The participants were able to use both professional photo equipment and their own phones.

Filmmaking Workshops

One of our latest sessions has been a 6-week filmmaking workshop running on Saturdays. These workshops provide young people the opportunity to dive into the exciting world of professional video production with TV and Video Producer Alastair Rzeznick. As part of the workshops, the group is crafting a video for Somer Valley Rediscovered. We look forward to sharing the finished product soon, so be sure to follow our social media channels to spot when it goes live.

How Can I Find Out More?

To find out more about the services we offer, visit youthconnectsouthwest.org.uk and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on upcoming sessions. If you are interested in working with young people, we have paid employment and volunteering opportunities, get in touch for details.

GEt RE adY FoR SUMMER wItH thE ActiVE WAY

Wih summer upon us, we are excited to tell you about our latest cycling and walking activities, designed to help you get active outdoors while making the most of the season.

In our previous feature in The Wheel, we introduced The Active Way, an exciting project dedicated to social prescribing and active travel in the Somer Valley. We have been busy developing even more free activities to help you get active outdoors this summer, from Nordic Walking to a bespoke wellbeing taxi service on a side-by-side tandem bike. There’s so much to do this summer with The Active Way; we think you will love what we have in store! But don’t just take our word for it—hear firsthand from our participants as they share their stories and experiences, giving you a glimpse into the magic of The Active Way.

What is in store this Summer?

Go Jauntly

We are delighted to launch 30 miles of new walking routes across the Somer Valley in collaboration with Go Jauntly, a free walking, wayfinding and nature connection app. Our Go Jauntly walking routes offer diverse trails in areas like Timsbury, Westfield, and Radstock. From quick 15-minute strolls to leisurely 30-minute walks, there is something for everyone! These routes have been designed for everyone to enjoy, with many of the routes starting from local GP surgeries. The walks have an emphasis on accessibility; at least half of the walks are designed to be flat without steps or stiles. The walks highlight local heritage, nature, and points of interest while incorporating stop points for convenience. If you would like to learn more about the Go Jauntly walks, or how to access them via the free Go Jauntly app, then the Active Way team would be happy to help you. Read on to the end to find out how to contact us.

Wellbeing Buggy Walks

Since February this year, we have been working with The Children’s Centre in Radstock to deliver Wellbeing Buggy Walks on Monday mornings. These fun and friendly walks are an excellent way to start the week. The free buggy walks are open to all parents and caregivers of babies and young children, (prams, buggies and carrier’s welcome!) There are new routes each month in different locations across the Somer Valley, which are open to everyone, regardless of fitness level.

The walks aim to help parents and caregivers connect with others, become more active, feel fitter and energised, and enjoy the fresh air in a supportive and social environment. For more information, see our events calendar on our website.

Nordic Walking

We are excited to announce that we’re teaming up with Maxin Denham to offer Nordic Walking across the Somer Valley. “If you can walk, you can Nordic Walk”, Maxine explains, who is offering 6 weeks courses ranging from; gentle routes for people with health concerns, to more demanding walks, which are a great way to improve fitness, lose weight and tone the whole body. All classes are free and run in a sociable atmosphere, ensuring no one gets left behind!

Wellbeing Walks

Our walking adventure is only just starting! From May, we have teamed up with our good friends at Somer Valley Rediscovered to offer a range of wellbeing walks. These gentle, mindful walks will encourage you to slow down and tune in to your senses. Each walk will be provided across different days and times throughout May and July to ensure everyone can participate. For more information, head over to the event calendar on our website.

Chat-E-Cycle

And to top it all off, our Willson Grant fund, which is supporting Somer Valley organisations, is launching Chat-E-Cycle, a bespoke wellbeing taxi service on a side-by-side electric tandem trike. Chat-E-Cycle is a free and alternative taxi service for older adults looking to enjoy the benefits of getting outdoors on a bike without doing any of the hard work, making your everyday journeys an adventure. To find out more and book your ride, head over to our website or contact chatecycle@gmail.com or call 07394898911.

What The Active Way participants are saying...

We are thrilled to share some recent feedback from some participants who have already taken part in activities we have provided:

KiActiv is a digital physical activity behaviour change intervention that offers a 12-week supported program. Ed was prescribed KiActiv by his GP, having been on strong pain medications for over 10

years and having been through five operations due to Osteoarthritis in most of his joints:

“I was sceptical whether it would be of any benefit, but I decided that I had nothing to lose from giving it a go. As someone who went from being very fit to being disabled, I had put on more weight than was healthy for a man of 62. The data has helped me make adjustments to my daily life, which in turn is helping me manage my health better. I know it may sound stupid, but seeing your activities on a simple platform has really helped me to manage what I do, and it has helped me to change for the better.”

A parent from our Wellbeing Buggy Walker shares her experience:

“I absolutely loved the Buggy Walks, and I am so, so glad I joined them! Great leaders in Hayley and Becky; lovely to get to know them both and to meet some other mums! I also really enjoyed getting to know a few walks in Radstock and being out in nature and fresh air. The buggy walks really changed the way I felt as the week started - I went home each week feeling energised, more positive and more productive!”

How to get signed up to The Active Way

The easiest way is via our website, where you can fill in our referral form at www.theactivewaybathnes.co.uk (through join an activity). There are links and information to all our activities. A member of our team will be in contact with you once your form is received.

You can also pop into visit us at Hope House Surgery, Waterloo Road, in Radstock on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays (10am-3pm) for a chat. We are also always here on email at info@theactivewaybathnes.co.uk if you have any questions.

Website: www.theactivewaybathnes.co.uk

Email: info@theactivewaybathnes.co.uk Phone: 01225 477590

Location: Hope House Surgery, 10 Waterloo Road, Radstock, BA3 3EP

RAdStOck & WEStfiEld BiG lOcAl

Our vision is for a community that is creating its own future and working together to make good things happen.

We are a group of local residents who work together to invest a £1.15m grant from the Community Fund (the National Lottery’s charitable organisation). We’re getting towards the final 18 months and have around £200k left to invest in making our area an even better place to live. We’re always on the lookout for more people to help us allocate the funds and keep it resident-led, please do consider joining us.

We make grants of up to £1,000 via our Small Fund and annual Dragons’ Dens, and also support

larger projects that can make lasting change in our area. We are particularly focused on opportunities

Mark Bishop makes the case for Natural Theatre Company.

that support our health and wellbeing, and give grants for projects that bring people together to connect, share and learn skills. Please visit our website to see how you can apply for funds.

We would like to give our thanks to everyone who made it to our tenth Dragons’ Den event and supported us to grant £5,000 across ten community projects. It was such a fun evening, with around 70 people in attendance helping us to celebrate reaching this amazing milestone! Special thanks to Somer Valley Rotary for their contribution of £500 towards the winnings. Our twist on the normal Dragons’ Den is that it’s the community members in the audience who decide which projects receive the money! You can read all about it on our website and Facebook page.

We’ve been going for over nine years, and have had such a great time supporting the community to make positive things happen – we’ll soon be telling our story about the impact we’ve had and the legacy we’re creating, please keep an eye out for us in the news!

If you’d like to join us, or want to find out more, please get in touch with our worker:

Rob Wicke, robwicke@radstockwestfield.org.uk / 07901950114 / www.RadstockWestfield.org.uk / @RandWBigLocal

 High Sheriff of Somerset (and dragon), Rob Beckley, explains his new role

 Angela Emms (Quartet Community Foundation

congratulates SWALLOW Charity on another winning pitch

 Midsomer Norton & Radstock Silver Band make their pitch

 Phil Edmonds (Somer Valley Rotary dragon) presents winners’ certificate to James and Andros from Off The Record

dragon)

nO Pl AYGROund fOR YOunG MEn

Residents will be aware that there have been two Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs) in recent weeks. Both cases involved young men who were not insured. One had no MOT and was disqualified from driving and the other only held a provisional licence. Thankfully, these collisions involved no other moving vehicles, though property was damaged..

The driver of the first crash sustained serious injuries, which may well be life-changing in the long term: fractures to his femur, pelvis, tibia and wrist and lacerations to his head.

The second incident had no casaulties, but we were very lucky that there we no fatalities in either. One of the incidents involved a vehicle colliding with a garden wall, which sent bricks flying everywhere, including into a home.

These drivers should not have been on the road and while some might express the view that ‘boys will be boys’ we disagree.

These collisions were not ‘accidents’. They were entirely preventable.

If you know of a person who is driving without the proper licence, training, insurance or a properly MOT’d vehicle, help us get them off the road. You can share information with us entirely confidentially in a variety of ways:

• Call Crime stoppers on 0800 555 111 or

• go on-line at www.crimestoppers-uk.org where you can report matters confidentially

• text your local PCSO on 07889 659 028 with the details you wish to report

• email your information to Jonathan.Hardy@avonandsomerset. police.uk

• or drop in at one of our many beat surgeries.

You might just save the life of a young person, or prevent them killing an innocent bystander.

SiGht SuPPORt WESt Of EnGl And

Sight Support West of England is dedicated to enhancing the lives of visually impaired people living across Bristol, B&NES and South Gloucestershire, ensuring that sight loss doesn’t hinder their potential. We offer both practical and emotional support, empowering individuals to live independently by providing necessary tools and fostering social connections to combat isolation.

We are the sole charity in the region offering localised, face-to-face assistance and thanks to the grant from Radstock Town Council, we can continue our vital support in the area.

Our Community Sight Loss Advisor covering the area of Radstock can provide comprehensive support and information on navigating life with sight loss. Monthly hubs, like the one in Midsomer Norton, not only offer guidance, but also have a selection of equipment to trial and many have trained volunteer technical advisors on hand to offer personalised assistance.

Details of our Midsomer Norton Hub:

Venue: Midsomer Norton Methodist Church, High St, BA3 2DR.

Day and time: 2nd Friday of each month. Drop by between 10 and 11am for advisor consultations or contact us to book an appointment.

Social Group: A friendly social group meets at this

hub on the 2nd and 4th Friday each month between 10am and 12pm (please note: no advisor is present on the 4th Friday).

For those in Bath, Chew Valley, and Keynsham, we offer similar hubs. Visit our website for details sightsupportwest.org.uk

We offer various other services catering to the needs of the people living with sight loss, including a monthly e-newsletter, biannual magazine “Visible” a free audio-book library, technology training, and Eye Can Exhibitions, showcasing the latest technology and services. The next Eye Can Exhibition will be in Bristol on October 9, 2024, with one planned for Bath in 2025.

For further information on our services, contact us at info@sightsupportwest.org.uk or call 0117 322 4885.

RAdStOck BRAndinG PROjEct

Radstock Town Council recently engaged Jenny Dack from Overt Design to work with us on creating new brand products for both the Town Council and the community hub and library. To start the process, Jenny visited Radstock where she was introduced to all the places, stories and objects iconic to the town. We then worked with Jenny through various stages of the design process, offering guidance while opening the process to feedback from the public and of course, our councillors along the way. We are very pleased with the results and hope that you too will enjoy this new colourful branding in celebration of our town. This project was delivered as part of the Radstock Cultural Programme and made possible with funding from the UK shared prosperity fund, which is part of the UK Government’s levelling up initiative.

A note from the designer, Jenny Dack of Overt Design:

“For many years I have enjoyed visiting Radstock Museum with my family, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to delve a little deeper into what makes Radstock so unique and to bring this into my designs.

“It was great to work with the brilliant team at the Council to bring a new look and a splash of colour to

their brand. We identified iconic Radstock sights which then formed the basis for the rounded illustration in the council logo and a series of graphic ‘tiles’ that can be used across multiple media. We then developed the new Community Hub and library logo using the same bright palette. The five shapes within this logo are inspired by the 5 hills surrounding the town.”

nEW RAdStOck BAnd fOlk MuSic SESSiOnS

As I am writing, we are a few days from our new Sunday afternoon New Radstock Band folk music sessions at the Old Printworks Arts Centre on Bath Old Road. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to develop this project with my community and with the freedom of not knowing exactly what it will become. A band? A weekly jam session? A podcast...? I’m not sure, but I do know that I’m hugely excited to share the joy and fellowship of playing music in a group.

Now, I’ve been teaching music for a while, and I’ve heard it all: you think you’re ‘tone deaf’, ‘have no talent for it’, ‘no sense of rhythm.’ I don’t believe you. We can all do music. It’s just humans making noise, and I want to you to come see how it makes you feel.

If you’re really new, come at the start, around 2pm, and I’ll work with you on individual tunes, show you where to put your fingers, whatever you need. No instrument? We’re collecting unused instruments from within the community to repurpose. Email me, we’ll find you something.

If you’re more familiar, email me and I’ll send you

tune sheets.Whatever, the important thing is that you’re there, with other people, making a noise.

Liam

RAdStOck ScOutS And BEAVERS HavE BEEn BUSY!

The continuing bad weather has not dampened our Scouting spirits!

The Beavers have been working towards various badges, including Health and Fitness and Camp Craft. They have enjoyed making and eating fruit kebabs, and participating in traditional camp crafts, such as fire lighting and pioneering. A recent St George’s Day camp was very successful with various activities including soft axe throwing, trebuchet building, a hike and cooking their own dinner on an open fire. Five Beavers have been awarded the Chief Scout Bronze Award, which is the highest award available in the Beaver section.

The Cub section has been learning about other cultures this term and one of the main highlights was making Japanese windsocks. With Founders Day in February, we took the opportunity to learn about, and try out, some of the very first Scouting activities and how Cubs began. Did you know that Wolf Cubs, as Cubs were originally known, are based on The Jungle Book, as Robert Baden-Powell and Rudyard

Kipling were very good friends? We celebrated our own traditions too by cooking mini pancakes on top of bean cans. We were joined by Josh, one of the Mercury Explorer Scouts, who ran a St George themed evening for us as part of his King Scout Award and we have also looked into the story of Loch Ness. With the lighter nights and hopefully warmer

weather coming on, we will be looking to be outside. Congratulations go to Finlay, Fynn, Connie and Ada who have all earned their highest award in Cubs, The Chief Scout’s Silver Challenge badge. We have a few spaces in the Cub section currently, so if you are interested in finding out more about this section, please email radstockscouts@btinternet.com.

The Scouts have attended several district events recently; they have designed, built and decorated soap boxes to take part in a District Soap Box Derby and Promise Renewal and brushed up on their map reading in preparation for the District Hike, which took place in March. They have also enjoyed an evening of fencing and held a very enjoyable Taskmaster session. Finally, after our very successful Easter Fayre, our next big event is our Summer Fayre on 14th September, we hope the community will come along and join us.

Local Electrician & Plumber

If you would like to join the team of volunteers at 1st Radstock in any capacity, please do let us know via radstockscouts@btinternet.com. If you enjoy a bit of gardening or DIY, you could really help the leadership team by taking these jobs off of them. Hopefully someone will feel they would like to offer some voluntary practical help and this would really be appreciated.

School Uniforms

Norton Hill • Somervale

Welton Primary

Shoscombe Primary

St Benedict’s Primary

Fosse Way School • Westfield Primary

Midsomer Norton Primary

St John’s Primary

High Littleton Primary

St Nicholas Church School

Leigh On Mendip Primary

Clutton Primary

St Julian’s Church School

Farrington Gurney Primary School

BUY NOW AND SPREAD YOUR PAYMENTS

BRiStOl And AVOn RiVERS tRuSt: oUR BlUE SPacES PRoJEct

The Bristol Avon Rivers Trust’s (BART) ‘Our Blue Spaces’ project was created to encourage communities to reconnect with their blue spaces, such as rivers, streams, and ponds. People were given opportunities to learn more about freshwater environments, gain new skills, improve their mental health, and meet new people in their community.

The project aimed to instil a new appreciation and devotion for the natural environment in the Somer Valley Rediscovered (SVR) area around Midsomer Norton and Radstock, highlighting the important role that the Cam and Wellow Brook can play in providing opportunities to enhance nature, public wellbeing, and the local economy. BART provided new and exciting ways for the local community to enjoy their local blue and green spaces.

As part of the programme, BART hosted a Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) event in Radstock, which included the installation of a coal truck rainwater harvesting planter at Radstock Town Football Club. Sustainable drainage aims to slow down water using nature-friendly methods to help

protect our rivers, and includes such things as water butts, rain gardens and permeable surfacing. BART, alongside members of the Radstock in Bloom group installed and planted up the planter and will continue to maintain it. The SuDS rain planter will help slow the flow of water in this urban area, helping to alleviate local flooding and possibly sewage overflow. During the event, the BART team educated the participants on SuDS and the numerous benefits they provide. It is hoped that this will encourage and inspire people to install their own sustainable drainage systems in their own homes and gardens!

A huge thank you to the Radstock in Bloom group for all their help and support, Radstock Town Council and B&NES for funding and supporting this project.

SWAllOW chARitY GaRdEnInG In tHE coMMUnItY

Swallow, the local charity supporting teenagers and adults with learning disabilities, is focused on creating more employment opportunities for its members. Alongside the two community cafés, SWALLOW also runs a successful Gardening in the Community project.

This gardening project enables people with learning disabilities to go out into the community to help maintain older or disabled people’s gardens, and crucially, to get paid for their work. With spring in full swing, the team have been very busy meeting new clients and helping to tidy up their green spaces, from mowing, to hedge trimming and planting.

It is a fantastic project that not only benefits people with learning disabilities and older people, but also helps to keep biodiversity thriving locally.

Clients also enjoy the company that the SWALLOW charity gardeners give during their visits, one recent client said: “My life changed when SWALLOW came to do my garden and my garden came back to life. The team were a joy to see, I am so grateful that they are there for people like me.”

This year we have a waiting list of people wanting this service. SWALLOW relies on voluntary income to run projects like these. If you can help by making a donation, please visit SWALLOW’s website –www.swallowcharity.org/support or get in touch with the charity by emailing nickyt@swallowcharity.org or calling 01761 414034.

GREAt WEStERn

AiR AMBul AncE chARitY

Did you know that Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) is your local air ambulance?

GWAAC respond to the most critically ill or injured people in B&NES, bringing advanced pre-hospital medicine to the patient, before transporting them to the hospital best suited to their needs. 2023 was GWAAC’s second busiest year on record, totalling 1,979 taskings, including 101 call-outs to B&NES. Over the last two years (2022–23), your local air ambulance was called to help someone in the BA3 area, 18 times.

Did you know that GWAAC receives no regular government funding?

GWAAC is a charity, which means we must rely on our wonderful community of supporters to raise roughly £4 million yearly in running costs. Radstock Town Council recently awarded us an incredible £686 grant, which will help fund one potentially lifesaving mission in our community!

What impact will your support have in our community?

Your support will ensure that we can continue to be there for children like Hamish, who in 2019, broke his arm at his friend’s house. It was such a bad injury, that it required the specialist skills of GWAAC’s Critical Care Team.

After landing in a local park, the crew rushed to help. Hamish had an open fracture; it was broken in three places. Critical Care Doctor Matt inserted a thin tube

into his arm, administering morphine to control the pain.

Mum, Eleanor, said: “The crew were very reassuring. Hamish’s arm was really quite bent with the bone sticking out. The crew were telling him jokes to help him relax.”

At Bristol Children’s hospital, Hamish had an operation to insert rods into his arm. The family learned that it would take eight weeks to heal.

Eleanor said: “We will keep supporting GWAAC. Matilda (Hamish’s younger sister) has been saving all her pennies to give to GWAAC.”

How can you support GWAAC?

While one-off and regular donations are great avenues of support, there are other ways in which you can help.

Attend or volunteer at a community event: Bristol Volksfest, 7-9 June; Bath Festival of Motoring, 15-16 June; Keynsham Emergency Services Day, 20 July.

Donate to a nearby GWAAC Textile Recycling Bank: West Clewes Recreation Ground, 7 The Island, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, BA3 2HQ. Know of a good location for a GWAAC Textile Recycling Bank? Get in touch!

Involve your organisation or group: Raise awareness by booking a talk presentation by one of GWAAC’s volunteer speakers.

Contact GWAAC: info@gwaac.com, 0303 4444 999, www.gwaac.com, @gwaac.

I SUPPORT INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES

DEMENTIA SAFEGUARDING SCHEME

The Dementia Safeguarding Scheme (Herbert Protocol) is a national scheme encouraging carers, family and friends to provide useful information which can be used in the event of a person living with dementia going missing or who is in need of assistance. The information is captured in a form and is used by the police to help locate vulnerable individuals living with dementia.

Register for the scheme now and request a FREE wristband, hangtag and lanyard which help safeguard people with dementia.

How to register and request a suitable device

You can register for the Dementia Safeguarding Scheme via the Avon and Somerset Police website. Simply scan the flower QR code below or search ‘Avon and Somerset Dementia’ in your web browser.

When you register, you can request a wearable wristband, hangtag and lanyard device which stores electronic information about the wearer, such as their name and next of kin. The device can be scanned by emergency services, or a person assisting them, if the individual is found lost or in distress.

Bulk orders for care homes or support groups can be requested by emailing our Dementia Safeguarding Scheme lead, Police Officer Stuart King: stuart.king@avonandsomerset.police.uk

Follow ‘Avon and Somerset Dementia Forum’ on Facebook

SWAn tRAnSPORt

volUntEER dRIvERS nEEdEd

Swan Transport depends on our network of dedicated volunteers who are an essential part of what we do, and the charity simply could not function without people like you.

Our volunteers contribute to our work in a variety of ways, ranging from taking passengers to one-off events, regular weekly journeys and ad hoc trips using their own vehicle. Volunteering with Swan can make you feel part of something bigger than yourself, part of a community and gives a real sense of achievement and purpose.

As a Swan volunteer driver, you will be part of a passionate team of like-minded individuals who want to help people in need. Whatever time you can give is valued, you can take regular journeys or just do now and then whatever suits you.

8 wEEK tAi chi cOuRSE

Starting on Friday 7th June, 11:00 - 12:30

An 8-week beginner’s Tai Chi course for people interested in trying something new! Taking place outside on Haydon Batch, Radstock. You’ll learn in a group setting with Bruce, a qualified Tai Chi Instructor.

Book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tai-chi-8-weekcourse-tickets-890220321947

There are various activities that our passengers get involved with, you decide what you want to offer. If you want to change lives positively and help people access the community, contact Swan at office@swan-transport.co.uk or ring us 01761 439548. Inland revenue rates are paid for mileage and ongoing support is provided. Look at our website: swan-transport.com.

WRithlinGtOn hERitAGE BOARd

The culmination of 3 years work by the Writhlington History Group has resulted in the installation of the Writhlington Heritage Board. It encompasses the span of history from the Bronze Age – some 5000 years ago – to the Second World War (1939 to 1945). The Group’s research revealed how rich the area is in both its geological and more modern day history.

One challenge faced by the History Group was to determine what should be included and what could be left out. It was decided to focus on what life would have been like for Writhlington residents and how the village was affected by national events and changes in religion, social standing, education, employment and transport. The sites chosen to illustrate this broad time span are the Bronze Age Standing Stone, the Medieval Church, The Old School House, Lower Writhlington Colliery, The Fir Tree Inn, the Methodist Church and the Second World War (WWII) tank traps.

In addition to the sites featured on the Board, Writhlington can boast the discovery of the 300

million year old dragonfly fossil in 1912 (currently in the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences in Cambridge and believed to be the largest insect fossil ever found), a further 3 Grade II listed buildings, cast iron parish footpath stiles and a Victorian post box.

Radstock Town Council was approached to obtain funding for the project and Council staff provided support in obtaining the services of a graphic artist and a company to manufacture the Board. The Heritage Board was installed next to Writhlington Village Hall by the Radstock Town Council Head Ranger Sean Fletcher. Many thanks go to everyone who assisted us; special thanks go to Dennis Chedgy, local historian, who loaned us the use of his research material, Radstock Museum who provided access to their photograph library and gave permission to use 3 of their photographs and to Jeff Evans who drew the sketch of the WWII tank traps situated next to Ivy Cottage.

Writhlington History Group members Lavinia Corrick, Jane Evans, Jo McCameron-Gleeson and Jill Shaw are pictured with local historian, Dennis Chedgy.

MaKE SoMEtHInG MaRvElloUS at RAdStOck cOMMunitY huB & liBRARY

Radstock Library will be running free Marvellous Making sessions over the summer holidays. There will be a selection of junk modelling, drawing, painting, making and mucky sessions to choose from – see the posters at the Library or keep an eye on our Facebook pages for full details.

It’s all to do with the Summer Reading Challenge that helps to stop words and numbers disappearing from youngsters’ brains over the summer holidays – as well as challenging them to Make Something Marvellous with their hands.

Anyone between the ages of 4-11 years old can collect a free record card from Radstock Library to record the six books that need to be read to win a medal and a certificate. The choice of books is completely up to you, stories or real-life books, pictures or words, large or small, long or short.

The Challenge starts on 13th July and runs until 14th September.

This year also see the 100th year of Libraries in Bath & North East Somerset and Radstock Library is joining in collecting Centenary memories. If you have any special memories of any Library, please let us know and we’ll add it to the collection which will be made into a large public exhibition at the end of the year. Memories, stories and photographs can be emailed to library_events@bathnes.gov.uk

Radstock Library cost £25,000 when it opened in its present building. Councillor Tom Huyton, Chairman of the Norton Radstock Urban District Council at the time, opened it on 28th February 1972. The first lending library available to the public in Radstock was in the Radstock Working Men’s Institute in a building on the site of the Victoria Hall extension in 1902.

tOM huYtOn

Pl AY dAY

As part of Love Parks week and to celebrate the new play equipment at Tom Huyton park, we are planning a fun filled day!

Bring a picnic blanket, folding chairs, snacks and refreshments and join us on Saturday, 27th July, for a day of free activities.

We will have hula hoop and circus workshops throughout the day led by professional circus performers. Catch performances from Ms Merlin with her wonderwoman hula show or Truan J Mathias performing contact juggling and unicycle.

Somer Valley Rediscovered will be hosting a crafting area and offering a guided walk, while Active Way will be set up at the containers running a Dr Bike workshop, plus tandem rides along the greenway.

An ice cream van will be available for refreshments, plus the high street with cafés and shops is just around the corner. Here’s hoping for the sunshine!

EntEntE cORdiAlE: lAnçOn-PROVEncE RadStocK ’S FREncH t wIn

For some years now, Radstock has enjoyed a pleasant relationship with the town of LançonProvence.

Situated in Southern France, some 8 km from Marseilles, it is a charming mediaeval town with winding streets and set amongst the olive groves and vineyards which characterise this part of Provence. Nearby there are beautiful towns like Aix-en-Provence (twinned with Bath), Nîmes, Salon-de-Provence, Avignon and Arles.

Before Covid, we had a fruitful relationship with Lançon and were planning sports fixtures and cultural exchanges. Now the new Mayor wants to renew the friendship with Radstock and this will culminate in an

official signing of twinning status.

A unique opportunity for our town: it would be good to form a twinning committee so that arrangements can be made for a visit. The only expense will be the air-fare from Bristol to Montepelier.

If you are interested, please contact Cllr Rupert Bevan: rupert.s.bevan@gmail com to receive further details.

RAdStOck fAYRE

SUndaY JUnE 2nd 11.00-4.00

A free outdoor arts event with a family friendly atmosphere at St Nicholas Church Field

What better way to spend the last Sunday of half term than at the glorious Radstock Fayre?!

This is a free outdoor arts event with a family friendly atmosphere, held on St Nicholas Church Field.

Following last year’s hugely successful Fayre, another fantastic event is planned this June. There will be plenty of theatre shows and live music, as well as have a-go creative workshops and stalls from local businesses and organisations. The Radstock Co-operative sponsored Community Stage will also be showcasing the very best of our local talent and the wonderful Swallows Café will be open all day serving delicious food and drink.

Radstock resident and Creative Producer of the event, Mark Bishop said: “It’s going to be another great day. We had such a great day last year with such positive feedback that we have made it an annual event. It will be a perfect mix of local and

national talent with some wonderful theatre shows and loads for young people to do. There are performances from the world famous Fraser Hooper, possibly the funniest man on the planet, Kevin Tickle’s Dog Show by Dizzy O’Dare, as well as our very own Natural Theatre.

“Come along for a great free family day out!”

There are even ways that you can perform at the festival! The Natural Theatre will be running a series of free workshops leading up the event, with the world famous company running groups for both young people aged 11+ and adults. For more information on these workshops, please email mark@naturaltheatre.co.uk.

See you there!

SOMER VAllEY REdiScOVEREd

FEStIval oF natURE EvEntS 2024

Festival of Nature, the UK’s largest celebration of the natural world, returns to Bristol and Bath this summer from Saturday 1st - Sunday 9th June.

Celebrate local nature at the 70 events taking place across the week, including vibrant city-centre takeovers, wildlife workshops, walks and talks, film screenings,

special guest appearances, music and performances, online events, community action days and more.

Find the full programme of events at festivalofnature. org.uk with regular updates via @festofnature

Our Somer Valley Rediscovered mid-week programme (Monday 3rd – Friday 7th June) offers

free events including: wildlife walks and talks, nature workshops, family activities, arts and crafts, music, and much more.

Summertime Crafting & Story Telling with Michael Loader

Tuesday 4th June, 15:30 - 18:30

Join us for a nature puppet crafting workshop in Radstock Town Library, followed by a children’s storytelling session in Radstock Orchard led by Michael Loader!

Less Walk, More Talk - A Gentle Foraging Walk with Steve England

Wednesday 5th June, 10:30 - 12:30

Join us for a gentle foraging walk at a slower pace in Midsomer Norton, perfect for beginners and a great way to get outside.

Family Insect Collaging Workshop with Marian Hill

Wednesday 5th June, 16:00 - 17:30

Get crafty with illustrator Marian Hill in Midsomer Norton! Create your own beautiful collaged bee, beetle, butterfly or moth. A fun activity suitable for all the family.

Summer Family Nature Walk & Sing-a-Ling Music Workshop

Thursday 6th June, 10:00 - 13:00

Come and join the Somer Valley Rediscovered team at Midsomer Norton Town Park for a Family Nature Walk & Music Workshop! Bring a picnic and join us for the Music Workshop after a lovely nature walk.

Beginners Plant Identification Walk

Thursday 6th June, 16:00 - 17:30

A walk in Midsomer Norton Town Park, with local botanist Dr Helena Crouch to learn about the wildflowers and plants that grow in the valley. Perfect for beginners and budding ecologists!

Festival of Nature’s Bath Takeover on Milsom Street

Saturday 8th June, 11:00 - 17:00

Festival of Nature is returning to Bath’s City Centre and greening up Milsom Street!

Come to Bath for an exciting day of free family-friendly nature stalls, special guest talks and shows, drop-in interactive activities, storytelling, crafts and more!

Family Woodland Adventure

Sunday 9th June, 10:30 - 12:30

Join us for a fun-filled day exploring the great outdoors in Westfield with your family in our Family Woodland Adventure with Steve England!

This year’s festival includes a Community Day on Sunday 9th June at sites across the West of England, supported by Avon Wildlife Trust. Residents can take action for nature during free activities led by community groups and local organisations, including wildflower planting, litter picking, wildlife recording, and more.

Find the full programme at festivalofnature.org.uk or get in touch at festival@bnhc.org.uk

Festival of Nature has been running since 2003, organised by The Natural History Consortium.

clERk ’S MESSAGE

Hello

all.

Well, last time I feel I tempted fate with thoughts that spring was coming. I really hope the summer brings with it better weather and brighter days especially as we have lots of outside events to look forward to.

This quarter I can report that the town council has completed its final piece of recruitment and I am very pleased to welcome George O (it’s a good name hey?!) to our team as Grounds Ranger. George brings with him a wealth of experience in horticulture and grounds maintenance. Sean is ecstatic to have the support. The grounds operation has been under hours for a long time, and I very much look forward to seeing the newly formed teams combined ideas and vision for our outside spaces.

For Me, May is about the auditing, accounts, and finance. A vital task (and something I actually quite enjoy). The finances always make me reflect on the last year, I always think the aim is try to achieve bigger and better than the year before. When I sat here last year and I looked back at the previous year, I thought to myself can we top this? I can safely say there are more than a few things that make me smile:

• A strong staff team of 7.

• 11 councillors who are very keen to work together to make Radstock great, many with new ideas and visions.

• Partnership working with local groups and organisations.

• Grant funding of over £250,000

• Tom Huyton Park relaunch with new changing places toilet (£54,000), new play equipment (£60,000)

• Events with sparkle – thanks to Rowan. Our biggest participation of the Christmas lights switch on. Arts and Cultural programme to see us through to next year.

• Continuing increases in Library figures and community engagement (Lego Club, Knit and Natter)

• A growing group of amazing volunteers who continue to grow and support us in so many ways.

I very much look forward to the next issue to update you on some of this years’ projects including…

• More Cultural events and activities

• Wayfinding project and assets.

• Even better outside spaces.

Have a great summer.

George

YoUR town COUNCILLORS

Cllr Simon de Beer

Radstock Haydon Ward

E: cllrsimon@radstock-tc.gov.uk

Cllr Adrian Dodgson

Radstock Clandown Ward

M: 07812 046091

E: cllradrian@radstock-tc.gov.uk

Cllr Matthew Shearn

Radstock Writhlington Ward

M: 07710 263998

E: m.shearn3198@googlemail.com

Cllr Rupert Bevan

Radstock Centre Ward

M: 07980 607127

E: rupert.s.bevan@gmail.com

Cllr Liam Kirby

Radstock Centre Ward

E: cllrliam@radstock-tc.gov.uk

Cllr Nick Toogood

Radstock Writhlington Ward

M: 07715 939804

E: cllrnick@radstock-tc.gov.uk

Cllr Lavinia Corrick

Radstock Writhlington Ward

T: 07565 921845

E: cllrlavinia@radstock-tc.gov.uk

Cllr Lesley Mansell

Radstock Haydon Ward

T: 01761 439119

E: cllrlesleyamansell@yahoo.co.uk

Cllr Dominic Tristram

Radstock Centre Ward

T: 01225 946946

E: cllrdom@radstock-tc.gov.uk

Cllr Chris Dando - Mayor

Radstock Centre Ward

M: 0771 3103380

E: chrisdando3@gmail.com

Cllr Bruce Shearn

Radstock Clandown Ward

T: 01761 751117

E: bruceshearn@yahoo.co.uk

Radstock Community Hub

The Street

Radstock

Somerset, BA3 3PR

T: 01761 437962

E: council@radstock-tc. gov.uk

www.radstock-tc.gov.uk

PROLONGS