Mendip Times by Media Fabrica

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Mendip Times VOLUME 4 ISSUE 12

FREE Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas MAY 2009

NOW PRINTING

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COPIES EVERY MONTH

IN THIS ISSUE: FARMING FOCUS MUSIC ON MENDIP HOMES & INTERIORS CELIA GADD ON RIDING Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news

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St.Monica

T R U S T

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MENDIP TIMES

CONTENTS

Welcome THIS month we have a whole series of welcomes as we add new features to the magazine: Welcome to Celia Gadd, our new equestrian editor, who previously launched two of the region’s most successful riding magazines. Welcome to Colston Gay who writes in our new Farming Feature – his family have farmed in the area for 400 years. Welcome to Nicki Davey who will keep us in touch with the local acoustic music scene – she organises the Wookey Folk Festival. They join our expert team of local contributors, who have helped us to build Mendip Times into the most popular local magazine in Somerset – this month we also welcome new readers in Bruton and Castle Cary. Finally a warm welcome – and thanks – to our new and existing advertisers – without them the magazine could not have grown as it has now reaching an estimated 100,000 readers in and around the glorious Mendip Hills. We will celebrate our fourth anniversary next month and with it a new, free online directory of local businesses featured in the magazine. Look out for our stand at the North Somerset Show at Wraxall on May 4th and do come and say hello! June deadline: Wednesday, 13th May 2009. Published: Tuesday, 26th May 2009. Editorial: Steve Egginton steve@mendiptimes.co.uk Mark Adler mark@mendiptimes.co.uk Advertising: Carrie Sale carrie@mendiptimes.co.uk Marjorie Rowson marjorie@mendiptimes.co.uk Production Assistant: Ros Anstey ros@mendiptimes.co.uk Publisher: Mendip Times Limited Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset BS40 7RG Contacts: For all enquiries, telephone:

01761 463888 or: email news@mendiptimes.co.uk or: letters@mendiptimes.co.uk www.mendiptimes.co.uk Design and origination by: Steve Henderson Printed by: Precision Colour Printing, Haldane, Halesfield 1, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ Copyright of editorial content held by Mendip Times Ltd. and its contributors. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the Publisher. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the publisher or its associates.

Front cover photograph: Bluebells in Beacon Wood, Shepton Mallet by Mark Adler

7 Learning is fun – in the great outdoors

9 Beauty of the beast – previewing local farming shows

39 Absolutely stunning – our guide to Mendip gardens

60 Riding high – welcome to our new equestrian section

Plus all our regular features Environment........................6 Comment Maisie Goode .........17 Food & Drink ....................21 Internet .............................32 Mendip Mindbender .........32 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .....33 Walking Sue Gearing ..............34 Outdoors Les Davies MBE.......36

Gardening Mary Payne MBE ...37 Property Matthew McKaig .......42 Community Simon Selby ........44 Health Dr Phil Hammond..........54 Family with Mendip Mum .........55 Sport .................................57 Caving Phil Hendy .................61 What’s On .........................63 MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 3

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MENDIP TIMES

NEWS

Liz Tu

New centre THE first residents have moved in to the Russets, part of the multimillion pound retirement village at Sandford, being built by the St. Monica Trust. The Russets offers a unique environment and specialist care for up to 71 people living with dementia. Mary Sansbury, aged 87, a founder member of BRACE, the Bristol charity that focuses on financing research into dementia and conditions affecting the elderly, planted an apple tree to commemorate the opening with Trevor Smallwood, a trustee of St Monica’s. She said: “This is a very special establishment which will be appreciated by countless families and friends as well as those who come to live here.” Trust president, Robert Bernays, said the aim was to make it “the best care home in the world”. The Russets is adjacent but separate from the St Monica Trust Sandford Station retirement village which will have 108 individual, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, a restaurant, gym, swimming pool, croquet lawns and a pavilion. It is due to open this autumn.

Choosing a wild card THESE wonderful images of big cats in Africa are helping to raise money for a charity close to the heart of photographer Christine Button. Christine, of Midsomer Norton, is using her talent to raise money for the charity she founded which funds educational and health projects in the continent. The Norton Down Africa Trust was formed by Christine and other people in the Midsomer Norton area after she had witnessed the poverty on a trips to Uganda and Kenya. Ten of her wildife images – including some taken in the Masai Mara – are now on sale. Christine is returning to Kenya in May to visit a nursery school founded by the charity in Kissumu District. The cards, printed in colour by clickclick.com, a division of the CFH printing company in Midsomer Norton, are available from Christine and husband Colin by telephoning: 01761 414067, vice-chairman Archie Rowe (01761 436736) or from any other trustee. The cards – which are blank inside – cost £1 each or £5 for six.

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 5

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MENDIP TIMES

GLE(E) in Glastonbury

Our Mendip By Mark Adler

(Left-right): Patrick Blandford, from Riverford Organics; Enid Beech, from Glastonbury Country Market; Paul Lund from SEC; Keith Hall, from Specialised Nestboxes and Rupert Farthing, from SWAP, outside Glastonbury Town Hall

SCHOOLCHILDREN from across Mendip are taking part in a special project to encourage them to learn more about the Mendip Hills. My Mendip Hills is a Heritage Lottery-funded project which is being run by Somerset Wildlife Trust. The two-year-long project aims to link up 14 primary schools to local nature reserves. Project officer Jessy Harris visits classrooms to talk about the project, the Mendips and the Wildlife Trust with pupils then leads visits to the reserves to explore and study them from a variety of angles. Each school is approaching the project in a different way and covering a wide variety of topics. I joined pupils from Axbridge First School as they explored Black Rock and Long Wood near Cheddar. The pupils have been

MENDIP

W E AT H E R

SCENE

GREEN products, local food, services and advice were on offer at the second Greener Lifestyles Exhibition in Glastonbury. Organisers of the fair – known as GLE2 – hope it will now become an annual event but are appealing for sponsorship to help them. This year’s exhibition went ahead without any money or a sponsor, but the organisers – the community-run Sustainable Environment Company and Somerset Waste Action Programme – said they enjoyed great support from the Glastonbury community, including staff at the Town Hall, where the event was held.

The merry month of May THE letter ‘M’ has featured prominently in the headlines on the sports pages of the press recently. Looking through with DAVID the pages you may MAINE well have seen ‘Macheda Magic for Man United’ or perhaps ‘Masterful Murray in Miami’. My headline follows the trend and is a very popular saying for this time of the year. May is indeed one of the loveliest months of the year, and it’s easy to see why. The days are long and getting longer throughout the month – it is the only month in the year when both statements are true. Everything is coming out into leaf and flower and the early morning

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birdsong is at its height. There is also a sound meteorological reason why this time of the year makes everyone feel better. The Jet Stream which controls the direction, intensity and frequency of Atlantic low pressure systems approaching the British Isles, is formed on the boundary between warm air from the Tropics and cold air from the Polar regions. The greater the temperature contrast between the two the more powerful is the jet stream. At this time of the year the Arctic is warming up very quickly with the long hours of daylight and sunshine, whilst the change in tropical regions is only very minimal. So as the temperature contrast across the jet stream decreases, the jet

stream itself weakens and so any Atlantic systems reaching the UK become less intense and less frequent, allowing more time for some pleasant spring sunshine to enjoy. Deckchair weather? Well, not quite yet. Maybe it’ll be a subject for the August issue when we are all on the beach!

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ENVIRONMENT

dip hills working on a number of school projects linked to the environment. Their task on their visit was to compare the wildlife in the reserves and to examine some of the invertebrates in Long Wood. Clutching little plastic pots with special magnifying tops, the youngsters gingerly picked up everything from worms to snails with plastic spoons before writing down their findings and gently releasing the creatures. It was hardly surprising that some of the invertebrates were examined several times by different pairs of pupils! Their teacher, Kellie Nash, said: “We held an environment week last year and are trying to do more of that sort of thing. We hope to have a special environmental

campaign this year.” My Mendip Hills is part of the Living Landscape project. Jessy said: “Our aim is to connect local people with the wealth of wildlife on their doorstep. We’re using nature reserves and some private land for the project and we hope the children will be encouraged to explore the countryside with their families at weekends and in the

school holidays.” Schools will visit their adopted reserve once or twice a year depending on how it fits in with the curriculum and other commitments. Jessy said there were plans to produce displays of each school’s findings and a teacher’s resource pack so the information could be shared.

Nature is fun! HERE are some of the pupils’ thoughts about their day: “We learnt a lot about different creatures and habitats” “We learnt new things about nature” “The trip was really exciting and lots of fun. I didn’t realise how much you could find out by looking for clues” “It was amazing looking for all the different creatures and finding clues like footprints and fur” “I found out lots about different types of snails” “It was interesting sitting in silence and listening for all the animals around us” “I really enjoyed looking at the different creatures in a tub and seeing how they moved” “It was fun looking in the moss and under logs to find creatures” MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 7

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MENDIP TIMES

ENVIRONMENT Wedmore’s new community woodland

Green fair WEDMORE Green Group is holding the first Green Fair in the village on May 16th, promising to show how you can help your community and save money by adopting a greener lifestyle. There will be information on recycling, insulation, renewable energy, local food, green transport and community groups followed by a bop in the evening with Somerset band Seize the Day. Wedmore Green Group was established in 2006 as an umbrella organisation to co-ordinate, explore and encourage sustainable living as it applies to the Isle of Wedmore and has always focused on action over debate, working within the community, advising and helping rather than preaching. Since it was formed, the group has supported a wide range of initiatives including the Is It Local cookbook, a community woodland project, a campaign to make Wedmore a plastic bag free village as well as schemes promoting recycling and renewable energy.

Details: www.wedmoregreengroup.co.uk

Orchard wall is proof against sheep RICKFORD Community Association has celebrated the culmination of five years work by making the village’s community orchard stock-proof, so that sheep can help make it self-sustaining. Over Easter they rebuilt the last boundary wall next to the ancient village trackway of Frog Lane. Supported by the Mendip Hills Sustainable Development Fund, they learnt how to mix and use lime mortar; how to find the right stones to build up the two outer skins of the wall; how to fill the centre with rubble and how to put the heavy topping stones back in place in the traditional local style of ‘cocks and hens’.

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They were joined by members of other environment volunteer groups, such as the Mendip Society, the Weston Woodlanders Green Gym and also several individual volunteers seeking to acquire this skill, which is in increasing demand in the Mendip Hills area but in very short supply. The association said it is grateful to retired stonemason Adam McKenzie of Backwell who gave his tuitional services completely free of charge and to Tina Bath, ex-Mendip Warden, for her much valued help.

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MENDIP TIMES

FARMING

It’s show time! THE North Somerset Show will celebrate its 150th anniversary on May 4th - and it promises to be a memorable occasion! Forget the recession – cattle entries are 20 per cent up, the sale of pre-show tickets is bouyant and there will be just as many trade stands as last year. So the hope is that the society’s Wraxall show site will see more than last year’s 18,000 visitors - and they will have more to see. The Main Ring will make a come-back for the first time since the society moved to the site from Ashton Court in 2002, with the emphasis firmly on family attractions. Sheep racing, pony club games, gun dogs, a hawk display, a bale-stacking competition, hot air balloons, new and old machinery – are just some of the attractions taking centre stage. And the Countryside Alliance will have its own arena displaying fly fishing, foxhounds and other country pursuits. Tractor pulling is back, but so are fine displays of sheep, pigs and llamas – the North Somerset is still very much a country event. Show President Stella Clarke will be presiding over her third show. Tickets: £10 for adults; £9 for senior citizens; £4 children aged 5 – 16; £23 family ticket for two adults and three children.

Counting sheep Ashworth Farm Machinery Ltd

SHEEP breeder Patricia Laws is celebrating even before the Royal Bath and West Show, where her Black Welsh Mountain Sheep have won their Breed Championship for the last two years. Her oldest ewe produced quadruplets this spring – rare for any sheep and even rarer for a mountain sheep. Patricia, who has a 35-acre smallholding at Regil, where she lives with her husband Charles, a retired Bristol stockbroker, said: “I’ve been breeding sheep since 1993 and these are the first quads to all survive.” She’s pictured with shepherd, Michael Hackling, who has also been busy with her flock of Poll Dorsets and his own Oxford Down sheep. MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 9

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From the Alps to Alpacas WE were enjoying the cool, evening mountain air, somewhere high in the Swiss Alps, and raising a glass of wine to a good day’s flying. We were with some handicapped pilots with an undiminished passion for flying and a special ‘joie de vivre’. They were taking part in an event to help ‘open doors’ to flying for the disabled in Switzerland. What they didn’t know about, however, were alpacas. “Alpaggas?” one pilot repeated in a lovely French accent, a quizzical look on his face and a question mark in his voice. Clearly I had some explaining to do. Five minutes of broken French and lots of hand gestures later and I could see complete understanding in his cool, blue eyes: “Ah, Alpaggas,” he reiterated. Must have been my accent! Like many other alpaca owners/breeders, my own ‘discovery’ of these creatures happened accidentally, long before I ever contemplated having the space, time or money to consider any large animal ownership. Again, like many though, it was love at first sight. My first encounter was in a magazine article peppered with photographs of the most alluring alpaca. The story and the imagery stayed with me and when, some four years later, my husband Brian and I moved into a house which had a couple of paddocks, I recalled the article and the rest, as they say, is history. Since then we have had four successful breeding years, increasing our initial small herd and improving the quality year-on-year. This confirmed our original belief that buying the very best pedigree animals we could afford and matching our females to top awardwinning stud males was the way forward. Assuming that we wished to continue with our breeding programme and given that we were approaching the maximum

by Joanna Sainsbury

number of animals for our land, the obvious move was to sell a few animals. There were two ways to proceed – go-it-alone or join forces with a group of likeminded local small breeders? We followed the second option and after a get together around a kitchen table we formed the Avalon Alpaca Group, a collective with a combined experience in excess of 18 years. Our first group venture was in March of last year at the South West Alpaca Event in Bristol. Opportunities for people to ‘discover’ alpacas are important as there are many ‘urban myths’ about their nature. Yes, of course, they have defence mechanisms and like us need ‘personal space’, but you would be surprised at how calm, curious, gentle, and intuitive they are when handled respectfully. We spend time with our alpacas and get to know their individual personalities. This is vital, as we believe that it is important to have a good ‘marriage’ between our animals and their new owners. It enables us to suggest the most appropriate alpaca, provided that the new owners have a clear idea of their reasons for buying. There are many reasons for owning alpacas which are best decided before selecting stock: Is it to start a breeding programme of your own; to have ‘posh’ lawnmowers; the need of flock protectors for sheep or hens; or to own animals with fine fleeces for spinning and craft work? Or, simply, to have some pets, because, like the rest of us you just fell in love with them? So now I hope you and the Frenchman know a little about ‘Alpaggas’. If you would like to know more, our advice is to explore and visit the many events and shows in your local area throughout this year.

Joanna, who lives at Lydford-on-Fosse, will be taking part in her first competition this month. She will be showing three, 11-month-old alpacas in the junior section at the Royal Bath and West Show. She keeps Huacaya alpacas. For further information, visit: www.fairplacealpacas.co.uk Joanna’s husband is the round-the-world balloonist Brian Jones – this year marks the 10th anniversary of his recordbreaking flight in the Breitling Orbiter 3, which he is celebrating with a world tour in a replica balloon to raise money for his charity Winds of Hope. PAGE 10 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

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FARMING

Fun for all the family at the Royal Bath & West Show book about cider – The Somerset Cider Handbook – by Shepton Mallet historian Alan Stone. The celebrity judge for the cider classes will be Mark Hix, one of the country’s most respected chefs. Mark, who owns the Hix Oyster and Fish House in Lyme Regis has recently written a book entitled British Seasonal Food which he will be signing on the Thursday afternoon before the Supreme Champion is announced. Mark said: “Cider is back in vogue, not just for supping at the bar but for complementing food. It can and should be ordered like wine, to match anything from a light summer salad to a hearty winter stew. We have such a history of cider making, so let’s flaunt it on menus a bit more.” Amongst the developments over the past few years has been the emergence of niche, single variety and branded regional ciders, each with their distinctive taste and texture. John Thatcher, with support from other cidermakers, is building on this to mount a display where individual food courses are matched with appropriate ciders. This year’s show takes place from Wednesday, May 27th to Saturday, May 30th at the showground near Shepton Mallet. Tickets booked in advance qualify for a 15% discount and children go free. Telephone 01749 822222 for further details or visit: www.bathandwest.co.uk

Charity Reg No.1039397

MAY 27TH - 30TH 2009

k ce % r oo n 5 u ! B d v a e 1 y o EE a av ng R in d s bri in F an US ren PL ild ch

THE Farming for the Family area is sure to be one of the star attractions at this year’s Royal Bath & West Show. A large section of the showground has been dedicated to the area which is designed to educate visitors about the processes and techniques involved in a wide range of animal and arable farming, with the emphasis on where food comes from. Among the displays in the specially-created farmyard will be local sheep farmer Bob Blundon, who will be scanning pregnant ewes to show visitors how a lamb develops in the womb. Visitors will also be challenged to try their hand at lambing using a realistic simulator. The farmyard will also house a sow with her litter, calves, lambs, and dairy and beef cows. Fishing enthusiasts will also be able to learn about fish farming from a pool of carp which will be brought in especially for the show. Children and adults alike will be able to get up close to some high-tech farm machinery to show how the modern-day farmer introduces seed into the soil and then harvests the crops. Children will be able to get actively involved at each stage and learning how to get an egg onto the breakfast table will be the first step! They will have the chance to collect a handful of grain from a combine harvester and walk across the farmyard to feed it to hens in the hen house. They can then collect an egg and take it into the on-site Farmhouse Kitchen where a trained chef will show them how to cook and eat it. The Farmhouse Kitchen is a brand new and exciting feature of Farming for the Family where visitors can watch chefs cooking traditional farmhouse fare on an Aga or range. Children will also be able to try their hand at cooking in a dedicated demonstration area. Mendip Times food and drink contributor Paul Hartley will be performing a demonstration each morning, showing how to create nutritious and delicious breakfast and brunch menus that the whole family will enjoy. There’s more fun for all the family in the Cider and Orchards section with book signings, including the publication of a new

The Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset.

The Royal Bath & West Show: Animals and Action, Education and Entertainment, Picnics and Pimms.... a unique combination of quality and quantity!

Main Ring Highlights: The Cannonball Man, The Goose Man and The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas. Animals Galore: Horses, Pigs, Cattle, Sheep, Alpaca’s, Goats, Poultry, Rabbits, Cavies and lots more. Food & Drink: An enormous variety of the very best of British Food & Drink to sample and buy. Adventure Activities: Xtreme Off-Roading, Canoeing, Zorbing, Scuba Diving to name but a few! Lots More: Fashion, Flowers, Art, Woodlands & Wildlife, Imagineering, Countryside Living, Rural Pursuits, Shopping and Socialising! For more information visit our brand new website at www.bathandwest.com or call 01749 822 200.

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 11

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MENDIP TIMES Call The Wells Office on 01749 673786. Visit NFU Mutual Office, 1 Sadler Street, Wells, Somerset BA5 2RR

For a more personal approach to home, motor and business insurance. T F Stearn, A S Mitchell & G K Heal Agent of The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited.

Farming diary SPRING is knocking on the door! One only has to look outside to see lambs leaping about and doing their characteristic jig in the fields. We have been busy at home with our Suffolks this season, although our numbers are less than previous years they still present us with their difficulties. Suffolks are a good strong lamb, they are the white fleeced ones with black heads and legs, but are notorious for tricky lambings and quite often need a little assistance. These lambs are often a bit sleepy when they are first born and always need an extra spot of TLC. Once these lambs are through the first 24 hours they soon pick up and are well on their way to leading the life of a lively lamb! You may have noticed a few cows out and about as well now, the dairy ones shuffling across the roads to get them back in the afternoons for their milking. Cows are such a sight when they first go out after winter housing. They charge out of the cattle box and generally run from one end of the field to the other and back again, checking the views out along their way!! This week we have had twin calves at home, two Hereford cross black with white faces heifer calves. Unlike with sheep, when twins are a regular occurrence, twins in cows are not so common, but Alma is doing a good job looking after her offspring and Alma 33 and Alma 34 are doing well! The recent beams of sunshine have warmed the ground up and the grass is definitely greening up, however most farmers are waiting for a good splash of rain to help it along the way for the first cut of silage to happen in May or June. This cut is very important as it is nutritionally the best for the cows to feed on next winter. Back at the end of February we had three sows farrow with a total of 24 piglets between them. These are almost ready for weaning now when we will take the sows away and the piglets will depend totally on solid foods. The sows will then revisit the boar and hopefully four months down the line we will have some more piglets running around!! This weekend we have a broody hen due to hatch her eggs out, she is sitting on twelve duck eggs! So it could be a busy weekend ensuring they all hatch out healthily and that the last couple of sheep lamb with no difficulties. Until next time, keep your eyes peeled for those lambs playing their games in the fields! COLSTON GAY

Colston Gay runs a traditional, organic, family-run farm at North Widcombe, near Chew Valley Lake. The family have been farming for over 400 years at North Widcombe on the Duchy of Cornwall farm. The farm is home for dairy cows, beef cattle, pigs, sheep and a few chickens and ducks. PAGE 12 â&#x20AC;˘ MENDIP TIMES â&#x20AC;˘ MAY 2009

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FARMING

Tribute to John

MEMBERS of the Royal Bath and West Society have paid tribute to former Secretary John Davis MBE, who died at his home in Bath, aged 87. Apart from his wartime service in the RAF from 1941 to 1946 when he served as a ground crewman signals operator both in UK and in India, John – known as JWD – was on Society staff from the day he joined in 1936 until his retirement 50 years later. Colonel Tony Uloth, a former chief executive of the Society, said: “Although the Bath and West – founded in 1777 – is the oldest agricultural show society in the land, John was part of it for nearly a quarter of the time it has been in existence. He saw it through from the days when it was a travelling show to the purchase of the permanent site and its development into the many-faceted organisation it is today. “After he retired as Secretary and was made a Vice President he not only chaired the Library Committee for eight years but he would also regularly and until very recently, attend Council Meetings where his commonsense and wise contributions were listened to with great respect. This extended his involvement with the Society to a total of 72 years.” Society administrator Paul Hooper added: “I felt very honoured to work alongside JWD and to learn so much about the intricacies of the show, not being either a show person or one with agricultural knowledge. “Between the 1984 and 1985 show I was made Secretary’s Assistant and was given the task of getting down next door to JWD to find out as much as I could from him about the show, all those things that were not written down but that JWD just knew. “We were all so grateful that when he did retire, that he stayed so involved with the Society both with sheep shearing and the library and archives.”

Built in Britain for British Farmers Now available from

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MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 13

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MENDIP TIMES celia gadd BHS II BHS SM

FARMING

The Big Cheese

equestrian consultant Is now available for teaching all standards from novice to advanced. Advice can be given on all equestrian subjects and instruction in flatwork or jumping. Experienced competitor in eventing, show jumping and dressage. Excellent facilities at The Mendip Stud, Badgworth or will travel to you. Individuals or groups welcome.

07779 716826 celia@celiagadd.co.uk www.celiagadd.co.uk

Your local farm shop – open 7 days a week milk, cheese, meat, poultry, bread, fruit & veg, plus lots more

FARM SHOP G Large range of Organic products, cheese, yogurts, milk, juices and more G Extensive cheese and delicatessen counters with up to 100 varieties of cheese available at any time G Full butchery service for our extensive range of home and locally produced meat G Large range of fresh fruit and vegetables G Freshly baked bread G Speciality foods – ideal for gifts

Geoffrey Barber (left) with Society chairman Jim Salmon.

DAIRY farmer and cheesemaker Geoffrey Barber is the new President of the Frome and District Agricultural Society which stages the annual Frome Cheese Show. Mr Barber’s first, direct involvement with the show was as a steward in the small Cheese Tent some 40 years ago. He succeeds Mrs Angela Yeoman. This year’s show takes place on Saturday, September 12th at the West Woodlands showground.

Show stalwarts READ Agriservices, established in 1972, is situated in the heart of the country, on the outskirts of the village of Wanstrow, surrounded by the agricultural community. As well as fulfilling the needs of local farms, it offers a comprehensive selection of goods and services for everyone living in a rural area. It’s been attending the Royal Bath and West Show since the early 1990s and its stand has moved from humble beginnings in a side avenue to its prestigious location adjacent to the grandstand, showing many of their products, ranging from the VALTRA Tractor, YAMAHA quads, (always a favourite) to the VALTRA toy model. See them on stand No 199. You can also see them at other shows: North Somerset May 4th; Gillingham and Shaftesbury August 19th; Frome Cheese Show September 12th; the Dairy Show at Shepton Mallet October 7th. The store at Wanstrow offers a selection of plumbing and drainage fittings second to none. In addition there is a variety of items from mouse traps and pet foods to cattle crushes and gates, country footwear and clothing, not to mention a range of farming toys for the little adults.

Switch and Credit Cards accepted

OPENING HOURS Mon–Fri 8am–6pm Saturday 8am–5pm Sunday 10am–4pm Sunday ALVIS BROS LTD, LYE CROSS FARM, REDHILL, NORTH SOMERSET BS40 5RH

TEL: 01934 864613 PAGE 14 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

Visit us at The Royal Bath & West Show STAND NO. 199

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MENDIP TIMES Dear Mendip Times, The photo of the children ready for evacuation (April issue) brought back memories. Our label tags had the surname first, then the Christian name. This caused great hilarity as two boys – Raymond King and Ernie Prince – became King Raymond and Prince Ernie! I returned home to Manchester after 16 months away just in time for the Blitz! Denys Richardson Felton, North Somerset Dear Mendip Times, The “Queen Vic” at Priddy was a popular cavers’ pub long before the 1970s as suggested by Philip Hendy (Mendip Times, April 2009, page 45). I caved when at Sidcot School from 1939 and again after 1946 when I brought friends down from college. In retrospect I am surprised at what we were allowed to do, but it taught us to take good care and look after each other. In 1946 the Queen Vic was widely known and used by cavers although little more than a beer house with a large cheerful fire. It was a very popular meeting and resting place, where cavers had great parties. I do not recall the landlord except that we were always welcome. I do not know how long before 1946 that cavers became regular customers, but it was clearly already a long tradition. It was all great fun, but my caving days ceased long ago. Olaf Swarbrick Arundel, Sussex Dear Mendip Times, I like Alan Goode’s remarks about the Mendip council. District councils in Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Cornwall, Durham, Northumberland, Shropshire and Wiltshire have all been abolished and those counties are new Unitary Authorities. The residents in those counties can now look forward to millions of pounds being saved and reductions in council tax. The same could have happened here in Somerset when the County Council produced a plan to take over all the services presently undertaken by the district councils, but it was scotched by the apathy of voters. Apathy is understandable in this age of political sleaze but the opportunity was there when the district councils produced their cunning plan to “consult the people”. They arranged a ballot, at great expense, to give the residents a vote, but only on the County council plan. The question on the ballot was merely “Do you agree with the County council plan”, and the box to be ticked was merely a Yes or No. The number of ballots returned was pathetic. The No votes were greater than the Yes votes, possibly because the Noes contained votes from councillors and staff of the district councils, who could not be expected to vote for their own demise The result of the ballot was taken as a vote for “no change”, but this was not an option on the ballot paper. The options should have been whether the district councils or the county council should be abolished. This could have resulted in the district councils becoming Unitary Authorities and the abolition of the county council. This would have been a much fairer way of deciding the matter, with savings either way. Some district councils would find difficulty in acting as a PAGE 16 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

LETTERS sole authority, particularly Mendip, which has had adverse reports from the Audit Commission on various aspects of its service over the past 10 or 12 years. The Local Government Commission in the 1990s produced a report on Somerset, recommending that the district councils should become the Unitary Authorities, except Mendip which was to be apportioned to neighbouring districts. Up to that point, both the county council and Mendip were all in favour of Unitary Authorities, provided that they were to be IT. When the report recommended the abolition of both, they produced a plan, again at great expense, to keep the status quo. Thousands of leaflets were printed for people to sign to achieve this. Threats were made that council taxes would rise and libraries would close, as well as other services being at risk. The forms were used as evidence that the people of Somerset did not want change, so the Commission Report was effectively scotched. History has repeated itself and we are now stuck with the status quo once again, and we have seen the biggest rises ever in council tax over the last 12 years. I enjoy your magazine very much, especially the Mindbender crossword. I think it is a most excellent publication with a very high standard of content. You must have some very good proof-readers. Harry Fellows Shepton Mallet

Dear Mendip Times, We are beginning to carry out an historical and archaeological survey of Winscombe parish in North Somerset and we have come across “Old Auster” as a type of tenancy for many of the properties in the village. This is recorded from the 16th century onwards and seems to give tenants very extensive pasture rights. I would be very interested to hear how far this type of tenure extended in Somerset and wondered whether any of your readers could let me know about such tenure applied to their homes or farms. It may be on their deeds or there may be local knowledge. I can be contacted by writing c/o Churchill Post Office, North Somerset. I will let you know how we get on and what else we find out about the area. Mick Aston University of Bristol

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COMMENT

It’s a dog’s life . . . With MAISIE GOODE

NOW just a doggone minute, it doesn’t mean that because I come running every time he blows his whistle a girl doesn’t have feelings, can’t be shaken to the core of her very existence, doesn’t want to get

her views across. After all, as the full-time carer for my Aged Assistant Alan, I reckon I’m as fully entitled to air my grievances as he is and so this time I had to tell him: “Move over in the kennel, mate. It’s my turn on the lap top.” The reason for this bone-gnawing bout of canine confutability was the article I had just read on the page of the Daily Telegraph placed under my dinner bowl which said Tesco had banned the use of dogs in rounding up sheep in New Zealand. And the report included some deskbound sanctimonious city-slicker of a Tesco Tosser as saying: “We don’t have a problem with sheepdogs but we need to make sure they move sheep in a considerate manner so they don’t stress the sheep out.” Come on, what the hell are they on about? What do they think Border Collies like myself have been doing over the centuries while they have been evolving into thick, uncomprehending morons working as unthinking automatons to the diktats of the supermarket shysters at headquarters? For goodness sake, let’s get real. When you talk of sheep dogs, you’re talking about specialists, you’re talking about a level of top flight breeding that makes your average aristocrat with a family tree going back to 1066 look like a particularly mixed-up mongrel. You’re talking about one of the top-most intelligent of the species. It’s all in the genes; it’s what’s called doing what comes naturally. I can tell you that when there’s a barbecue at our place and the Aged Assistant isn’t looking I can herd the guests into a huddle in the middle of the lawn in no

time at all, and keep them there. You see, it’s a badge of honour that we round up, not stampede; that we nudge and push so as not to scare witless; that by sheer force of personality and patience we stare out the odd dissenter ’til it comes into line? But what is really laughable, what is the final damning indictment of their

understanding of country life is: they want the farmers to round up the sheep instead! Well, crikey, what a belly-burster of a joke that is, if you don’t mind me saying so. A farmer on his two legs walking is a sight rarely glimpsed these days. Instead these agrarians of the 21st century spend all their time on monstrous tractors, Land Rovers or quad bikes and with mobile phones stuck to their ears. For as the sheep and even anyone who ventures from the brick-box streets of suburbia knows, farming is now one of the most sedentary of all occupations probably coming second only to train spotting. I mean, get real, if anything is likely to give sheep stress it’s the sight of a farmer running around a field waving his arms and swearing like a trooper. Let’s face it, the sheep would die laughing. Mind you, being a canine these days is nothing short of a dog’s life. Talk about not being welcome, not being wanted in most places is more like it.

Even in times like these with one in four pubs closing down through lack of custom you’re hard pressed to find one where I can go in with the Aged Assistant when he stops for a pie and a pint. Even the Three Counties Showground, whose very existence is based on the farming and the rural community, bans dogs from its events whilst most National Trust properties are pooch protected. Still, hope sprung eternal in my maiden’s breast as I was taken to Port Eliot in Cornwall, the stately pile of the Earl of St Germans with its beautiful gardens and parkland nestling alongside the Lhyner River. After all, the advertisements said that on all the days that the property was open dogs were welcomed on leads and implied on Wednesdays the dogs could run around lead free. Was it too good to be true? You bet. We’d hardly been there ten minutes when I was back on the lead after a sharp-eyed steward came over claiming that, even on Wednesdays, dogs could only be off the lead alongside the river and in the parkland. Of course, as you might guess, the Earl’s dogs, of some poncy, useless posh breed, were running and crashing everywhere with their superior noses in the air. Mind you, all that pales into insignificance compared to the response of a hotel which claimed it welcomed dogs when we were looking for somewhere to stay overnight during a brief visit to Cheshire. They wanted £100 for me for one night and £100 a time for any further nights! Some welcome, eh? Some extortion more like. So what I say in face of all this adversity is: Build the barricades. Fight the good fight for doggy rights; the right to roam, the right to use our skills and our brains; the right to be seen once again as man’s best friend. . Because unless things change, I think I shall go barking mad. Woof, woof for now!

Alan Goode has spent his life working in newspapers and is now very active in the local agricultural community. Do you agree, or disagree with him? You can have your say by writing to Mendip Times, Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, BS40 7RG or e-mail news@mendiptimes.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you on this or any other issue.

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 17

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Mells celebrates

Dozens of villagers turned out for the official opening of Mells village shop and post office.

THERE were two good reasons for extra special celebrations at this year’s Daffodil Festival in Mells. The event celebrated its 30th anniversary with record numbers of visitors and the weekend also saw the opening of the community-run village shop and post office. Villagers turned out in force for the opening. The Daffodil Festival raises money for the maintenance fund for the village’s St. Andrew’s Church and other village projects. Television presenter Kevin McCloud is due to formally open the village shop on Saturday, May 9th. More than 200 people are now members of Mells Village Shop Ltd.

Shop manager and sub postmaster Michael Phypers and Claire Asquith, vice-chairman of the village shop committee, celebrate the opening with mugs made especially for the shop.

Simon Fordham, the original chairman of the village shop committee, cuts the ribbon.

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In Martha’s memory

NEWS

Picture this GLASTONBURY Abbey is challenging photographers to capture the spirit of the ruins and its grounds by entering its second photographic competition. The competition is open to both professional and amateur photographers. Entry forms can either be collected from the ticket office at Glasdtonbury Abbey or can be downloaded from its website at www.glastonburyabbey.com. The deadline for entries is September 9th and the best of the photographs will be exhibited at a special exhibition in the Museum at Glastonbury Abbey from October 9th to October 25th. The winner from the last competition in 2007 was Sandra Howe from Pilton, whose image was used on the cover of last year’s Abbey brochure.

HUNDREDS of yellow balloons were released into the air at the end of a special fundraising day in Glastonbury. The event was organised by the Martha Care Trust, a charity helping families whose children are in hospital. It was set up by Maggie Mickshick in memory of her daughter Martha who died in 2006 after seven years of treatment for a malignant brain tumour. More than £1,400 was raised during the Martha Care Yellow Day which will go towards the cost of employing a hospitalbased social worker. Pupils from Martha’s former school, St John’s, were amongst those who took part in fundraising events. Maggie said: “I was overwhelmed by the support the people of Glastonbury showed us and it’s reflected in the money we raised on the day. So many people said they loved the ribbons and balloons, and are behind what Martha Care is trying to achieve.” Maggie is planning another Yellow Day again next year, provisionally on April 1st, which is the last day of the Spring term. She hopes to have more events, a much higher profile and lots more activities. The charity still need volunteers and if anyone would like to become more involved please contact Maggie on 07761 104019 or through the website at www.marthacaretrust.btik.com

Charities benefit from film preview Photo courtesy of Martin Bax

TWO children’s charities in Frome have benefited from a preview screening of the Oscar-winning film WALL-E. The film was shown during last year’s Frome Festival and the money raised has been presented to a support group for young carers and a gardening project. Frome Young Carers Group and The Key Centre each received £483. The carers group plans to take a group of youngsters to Cadbury World in the autumn, whilst The Key Centre has used the money to establish a scheme to encourage children to grow flowers, fruit and vegetables. This year’s Frome Festival runs from Friday, July 3rd to Sunday, July 12th when another charity screening will be held. PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

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FOOD & DRINK

May Day, May Day – it’s asparagus season I WAS asked, the other day, what would be on the menu for my last meal? A strange question, as we seem (hopefully) on Mendip to have given up hanging foodies from the old, oak tree, but I get asked a whole raft of strange questions. Before constructing my taste buddemanding answer I said it would depend on the time of day and the time of year. Right now, today came the retort. My friend, however, allowed me to be hanged after April 20th, which was kind, especially as it meant that we would be into the official asparagus season. These sensuous green spears, with such a delicate taste, are an absolute favourite. I would have my asparagus wrapped with thin slithers of smoked salmon and drenched with Hollandaise sauce made from local free-range eggs with sunshine yellow yolks. The asparagus season is far too short and lasts only until June 21st – Mid Summer’s Day. Asparagus has been long established as an aphrodisiac and maybe, just maybe, Shakespeare envisaged Oberon and Titania sucking spears of this fantastic vegetable as the sun went down gently on Mid Summer’s Eve. There I go again, romancing food. There is an easy dish I make using asparagus and it goes like this: take a sheet of pre-made puff pastry and roll it out to about as thick as a pound coin. Cut it into a rectangle 30cm by 20cm. Now double the thickness around the edge to form a sort of tray. Inside, spread some garlic butter, criss-cross the whole area with blanched asparagus leaving gaps of no more than 4cm and into each gap place half a cherry tomato. Scatter the dish with your favourite crumbled blue cheese and bake in a very hot oven (220C) for 15 minutes. Great served hot and scrummy cold for the perfect picnic treat! Lots of asparagus is grown on and around Mendip and those who travel the winding road from Wells to Cheddar will be familiar with the organic

asparagus sold from beside the road at Rodney Stoke. So here is my last supper: simple local seasonal food, simply prepared. A chilled bottle of the finest Somerset dry cider, a plate of steamed asparagus and the first Cheddar strawberries – great bedfellows found only a couple of miles apart. Almost worth being hanged! If you are a big fan of strawberries and chocolate, I have a delicious suggestion for you: firstly, melt some dark chocolate in a bowl over a pan of boiling water; when it’s runny, dip the bottom half of a dozen strawberries in to the chocolate about half way up. Lay them on greaseproof paper and chill them. Here is the clever bit: now repeat with some white chocolate dipping the strawberries only a quarter of the way in. When the chocolate has set, arrange them on a plate with leaves of wonderfully pungent fresh mint for a stunning sweet canapé or dessert. May sees the beginning of the new season’s vegetables like broad beans, young beetroot, bunched carrots, courgettes and, of course, delicious new potatoes. We also have a plentiful stock of mackerel and the sea vegetable ‘samphire’ which grows abundantly on our shorelines. Most fishmongers will have a tray of samphire alongside their fish. It has a crisp texture, a salty flavour and tastes of the sea. If you haven’t tried this and like fish you must, it’s the perfect accompaniment when pre-cooked in boiling water and served with butter. So having already described my last supper I have had another idea. Gently grill some well-seasoned mackerel with fresh lemon slices and chopped fresh thyme inside the fish. Serve the fish on a bed of samphire with just in season vegetables and buttercrisp new potatoes. To prepare the potatoes, melt a good knob of butter in a frying pan wide enough to take all the potatoes in one layer. Add the potatoes and stir them to coat well with the butter. Cover with a lid and cook gently over a low heat for 20-30 minutes, shaking the pan

Paul Hartley, a food writer and broadcaster, runs www.breakfastandbrunch.com with wife Lynda. occasionally, until they are crisp and golden on the outside and soft in the centre. This is a dish packed with the fresh flavours of the season, which I know you will enjoy. It must be a surprise that so far I haven’t mentioned either Marmite or breakfast – my two favourite subjects. Recently, when I visited our local pub (well lots of people support us at Hartley’s Kitchen so its only right that we support the village pub!), the usual crowd engaged me in conversation and after five minutes, one chap exclaimed that he had won. What had he won? They had bet that I couldn’t last five minutes without mentioning breakfast or Marmite. So you may just be pleased to know that I am cooking breakfast every morning at the Royal Bath and West Show at the end of the month (see page 11). I’ll be using a whole raft of ingredients to cook for you: G A classic Eggs Benedict and a scrambled egg and crab parcel with coriander and peach chutney. G A full English breakfast in a stack through to honeyed mascarpone filled croissants with Cheddar strawberries. G Sausage and bacon kebabs with sweet apple sauce and watercress, and those gorgeous big open ‘beefy’ mushrooms with wilted spinach and sizzling Cheddar cheese. So please come and join in the fun and taste the dishes.

Paul and Lynda own Hartley’s Kitchen at Rookery Farm, Binegar, a café, a foodie shop and a cookery school. MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 21

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Teashop award for family service THE Tea and Trade Centre in Radstock has won joint first prize for the most family-friendly business in Bath and North East Somerset. Its owners have received a cheque from B&NES chairman David Bellotti for £250 to donate to a charity of their choice. They have chosen to give the money to The Leonard Cheshire Home in Timsbury. Tea and Trade, in Church Street, specialises in Fair Trade products.

winford manor NEW LABYRINTH RESTAURANT Now open, Winford Manor Hotel’s new restaurant – The Labyrinth. Located within the old manor house, The Labyrinth combines original structural features with modern furnishings and its far-reaching views of the stunning Chew Valley. “All our food is created here at Winford Manor by myself and my talented team. Serving traditional British food, we try to source as locally as possible with the emphasis on quality produce,” enthuses Head Chef Matt Woods. “We look forward to welcoming you” . . . weddings • conferencing • airport accommodation

PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

Art of bread BLAGDON artist Martin Bentham was commissioned to paint this picture to support a national campaign for “real” bread. The painting itself is being raffled on May 10th and the original will be exhibited during North Somerset Arts Week, so local people will get the opportunity to own it for just a £1 raffle ticket. Several local people are involved in the Slow Bread project which aims to raise awareness of the taste and health benefits of traditional slowly fermented bread, using

only flour, water, yeast and salt. Although there’s been a marked increase in artisan bakers in recent months, the campaign says only 1% of our bread is currently made in this way.

Details: www.slowbread.org.uk

Hotel celebrates first year THERE was a distinct showbiz feel to Winford Manor’s first anniversary celebrations – playwright Catherine Johnson of Mama Mia show and film fame joined them to celebrate her own tenth anniversary of writing the Mama Mia script. She was accompanied by Sheila Hanon and Gill Loats, from the Bristol Show of Strength Theatre Company, which Winford Manor sponsors. Catherine’s most recent play Suspension was unveiled at the Bristol Old Vic in February. As well as its first anniversary, Winford Manor itself is also celebrating the opening of its new restaurant, The Labyrinth. The hotel has gone from strength to strength in the last year, now not only offering accommodation but weddings, conferencing – and simply delicious food too!

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FOOD & DRINK WILD FOOD

GARDEN FOOD

Alexandria’s herbs Rhubarb, rhubarb THIS plant was introduced to Britain by the Romans from the Mediterranean. It was formally cultivated as a pot herb and had the wonderful name of ‘parsley Alexandria’. Whilst it is not native to Northern Europe, it has become completely naturalised and was popular in 18th century kitchen gardens. With ADRIAN Also known as Megweed, in the 1600s this BOOTS plant was noted to be common along the Bristol Channel and particularly on Steep Holm – an escapee from the garden of monks that once lived there. It appears that the plant was blanched (sunlight excluded) by earthing up around the stem, much as a gardener would do today with celery, to improve the flavour. Alexanders (Smyrnum olustratum) is a hairless biennial plant with dark, shiny, toothed leaves in groups of three, on stalks. It has a strong but hollow stem which is furrowed and grows up to 1.2m in height. The flowers are a profusion of crowded yellow umbels, occurring April to June. Widespread and often locally abundant, they can be found in waste areas, hedge banks and roadside verges. This distinctive member of the carrot and hemlock family is normally associated with sea-side areas, although I have found it quite a way inland, particularly on south facing slopes with open aspects to the coast and a sea breeze. Care must be taken with this family of plants, as there are edible and poisonous members, so correct identification is crucial. The young leaves and buds are good in salads, flowers can be made into fritters and the root has a parsnip-like flavour. The best part of the plant is the lower stem, ideally picked when young or blanched by surrounding vegetation. Boil or steam for 10 minutes and then eat as you would asparagus – plenty of butter and seasoning to taste. Alternatively, try as an additional ingredient in soups and stews. Avoid poisonous plants or those causing allergic reactions; make sure you are 100% sure of your identification before eating any plant; avoid plants near busy roadsides, dog walking areas, or places where chemicals may have been used. It is illegal to uproot or destroy any wild plant, but you can pick small quantities of leaves, nuts, and fruit from plants on public rights of way.

Adrian Boots is a Landscape Ecologist, researcher and farm conservation advisor. You can visit his website www.walkthemendips.com to learn more about the Mendips and his Wild Food Walks.

MY rhubarb patch is one of the most commonly plundered parts of my garden in April and May, providing as it does one of the only garden foods suitable for dessert-making during these months after last year’s apples have run out and before the gooseberries and strawberries start to With JAKE come into their own in June. WHITSON The plants themselves seem to thrive with relatively little attention from me, though at least once a year I will fork in a few good bucketfuls of well composted manure (or preferably some of my home-made mushroom compost) around them, to help keep the plants in good shape. The use of rhubarb as a foodstuff is relatively recent, becoming popular in Britain only after sugar became widely affordable in the 17th century. It’s not hard to see why: even the daintiest forced pink stems are far too sour to eat in any quantity without sweetening. But once sugar (or indeed honey) is added, all of rhubarb’s most distinctive and delicious characteristics come to the fore. I usually cut my rhubarb into short batons and gently bake these sprinkled with a few drops of orange juice and a generous amount of vanilla or ginger-flavoured sugar on a tray covered with foil until they are just cooked, yet still retaining their shape. Then, more often than not, I’ll serve with some good vanilla custard, whether it be hot, cold, or churned and frozen into ice cream. However if you are looking for a more unusual accompaniment, I would suggest this easy to make Indianstyle ice cream, which utilises another member of the ginger family which goes well with rhubarb: cardamom. To make it bring 300ml milk to the boil along with 8 lightly crushed cardamom pods, 3-4 slices of ginger and a few strands of saffron (optional), then leave to cool and infuse. Remove the ginger and cardamom, whisk in a can of condensed milk, and freeze overnight – it will then be a perfect sweet accompaniment to rhubarb cooked in the above manner. Jacob Whitson is a chef and food writer who has worked in many of the West Country’s most prestigious restaurants. He is currently working on his first book, a travelogue detailing the regional foods of Japan. MM ENDIP M ENDIP ENDIP TIMES TT IMES IMES •M • •AARCH M PRIL AY 2009 2008 • PAGE 23 31

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The Natterjack Inn at Evercreech Junction A warm welcome in the heart of Somerset. Adrian and Kate offer fine food, excellent real ales and an extensive wine list. Intimate wedding receptions and other celebrations catered for in our Lower Dining Room. Gift vouchers available to celebrate that special occasion. Live music on May 8th with The Mangledwurzels and on 15th May with Kayleigh - superb female vocalist. Quiz night on the second Monday of every month The Natterjack Inn, Evercreech Junction, Somerset BA4 6NA. Tel: 01749 860253. Fax: 01749 860757. Website: www.thenatterjackinn.com

At the Horseshoe Inn, Bowlish

A CELEBRATION of CIDER and CHEESE Friday May 1st to Sunday May 3rd Live Music Friday Night Acoustic Session Sunday Afternoon The Horseshoe Inn, Bowlish, Shepton Mallet BA4 5JG Telephone: 01749 345931 PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

The ’Shoe fits! THE Horseshoe Inn at Bowlish, near Shepton Mallet, is enjoying a new lease of life thanks to owners Stephanie and Ken Turner. They have transformed the historic pub into a vibrant focal point since buying the run-down property last year. The Horseshoe – know as The ’Shoe – was one of the Cinderella pubs of the area, badly neglected and in need of major refurbishment. Ken and Stephanie have stamped their own style on the pub, where the emphasis is on top-quality real ales, wines and ciders rather than food. However, they are earning an enviable reputation for their home-cooked, traditional Sunday lunches. The Horseshoe can cater for functions in the bigger of the two bars, which also serves as a skittle alley. Live music is also staged in the bar, with regular sessions every second Sunday of the month. Paintings, sculpture and jewellery by local artists are also on show and, with summer on its way, why not visit The Horseshoe’s hidden gem – a sunny walled garden? May would be an ideal time to visit the pub as it is hosting a festival of cider and cheese. A Celebration of Cider and Cheese, from Friday, May 1st to Sunday, May 3rd, will feature at least six Somerset-sourced ciders and a selection of premium West Country Cheese. There’ll be live music from Poteen on Friday and an acoustic session on the Sunday afternoon. Stephanie said: “We have tried to create a traditional pub, which is a meeting place for people. We have had great support from the local community in Bowlish and hope The Horseshoe will appeal to people from further afield.”

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FOOD & DRINK

A little ray of sunshine

Photograph by Lynn Keddie

FARMER Andy Fussell brought some sunshine to Rode near Frome last year when he decided to plant a trial crop of sunflowers to produce oil. Andy was inspired by the positive reaction to the bottled rapeseed oil he launched two years ago. The Extra Virgin sunflower oil joins the growing line-up of products in the Fussels Fine Foods range.

Malt Shovel Blackmore Lane, Cannington, Bridgwater TA5 2NE

PUB OF THE MONTH Set in a quiet country lane between Bridgwater and the Quantock Hills, this distinctive country inn is like stepping into Dr Who’s Tardis. Originally four cottages, including a cider house, with one of the lowest beams you will ever see, the front of

01278 653432

the pub is a succession of small hideyholes, clustered around the bar. But beyond that there is a new spacious and stylish dining area, while outside the old skittle alley has recently made way for eight en-suite letting rooms. Butcombe started the redevelopment nine months ago adding a new patio area at the front and new landscaped gardens at the back. Hannah Lovell and Mark Warrener took over a month later and have quickly established the pub as one of the most popular in the area, regularly serving 300 Sunday lunches, for example, and now employing about 20 local people. Hannah said: “We are very much a food pub, serving fresh local produce, with a carvery seven days a week offering a choice of meat. We also have daily specials including fresh fish, and game, which the locals bring in. But we

offer value for money as well as quality. The carvery is £7.95 and now that we have opened up the lettings side we are doing breakfast for £3.50 upwards.” The rooms cost £80 per night for a double and £46 for a single (including breakfast); one of them has disabled access. The pub also has the full range of Butcombe ales, as well as guest

beers like Bombardier and serves local Richs cider alongside Ashton Press. Mark said: “We are a very busy pub. Apart from our local trade, in summer we get visitors coming off the A39 and from local campsites. The new rooms are also proving popular with people working down here at places like Hinkley Point, as well as visitors.”

G The Lamb – Axbridge G Queens Arms – Bleadon G Colston Yard – Bristol G Malt Shovel – Cannington, nr. Bridgwater G Ring O’ Bells – Compton Martin G Ring O’ Bells – Hinton Blewett G The Rose & Crown – Hinton Charterhouse, nr. Bath G The Old Crown – Kelston, nr. Bath G Queen Victoria – Priddy G The Cross Keys – Rode, nr. Frome G The Swan – Rowberrow G Bell – Stokes Croft, Bristol G Prince of Wales – Westbury on Trym, Bristol G Woolpack – Worle, Weston-super-Mare

BUTCOMBE BREWERY LTD, COX’S GREEN, WRINGTON, BRISTOL BS40 5PA. Tel: 01934 863963 G www.butcombe.com

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 25

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MENDIP TIMES Poppy, Keith and Sam welcome you to the Poachers Pocket at Chelynch; a family-run, traditional pub in the heart of Mendip. Excellent home cooking available lunchtime and evening sevendays-a-week. Make sure you read our Specials Board. An excellent selection of Wadworth real ales and Butcombe Bitter too! Skittle Alley available for weddings and other functions or reserve our Conservatory. Summer’s on its way – our garden and patio are well worth a visit! Live music this month: Idle Feet – Saturday 2nd May from 8.30pm

The Poachers Pocket, Chelynch, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 4PY. Tel: 01749 880220.

Finding Cup of Tea on the web AN online tea merchant based on Mendip is reminding customers – and potential customers – about its website address. People wanting to find Cup of Tea, based at Stoke St Michael, should visit: www.cupoftea.uk.com The company provides the German brand Ronnefeldt tea for hotels and restaurants as well as private customers, along with a range of other German products. In a new move, Cup of Tea owners Christine and Simon Collins have joined forces with chef Lisa Clarke, who runs The Chocolate Tart chocolate workshops in Congresbury, to offer tutored chocolate and tea tastings for private groups or for corporate events.

Riverford wins RIVERFORD has been named Best Organic Retailer in the Natural and Organic Awards, sponsored by the Soil Association. The public voted on a shortlist of six retailers to choose their favourite organic shop or delivery service. Riverford started growing and selling organic vegetables from a farm in Devon in 1987 and now has five regional farms across the UK, growing and delivering locally to over 45,000 customers each week. Riverford founder Guy Watson attended the ceremony at Olympia in London to pick up the award and commented: “This is a fantastic acknowledgement from the public of the hard work our team – from the field workers picking to the local distributors delivering – puts into growing the best tasting veg and getting it out to customers as quickly as possible. “Our vegboxes are consistently around 20% cheaper than the major supermarkets, so we hope more people realise that you can shop organically and eat great-tasting fresh food without paying a fortune.” Patrick Blandford, who delivers Riverford boxes in the Mendip area, said: “We’re really excited to win this award and would like to thank our customers for their support and votes.”

MAY DATES Wells: every Wednesday 9am-2.30pm All other markets 9am-1pm Fri 1st – Wincanton Sat 2nd – Midsomer Norton & Axbridge Fri 8th – Burnham on Sea Sat 9th – Frome & Keynsham Sat 16th – Crewkerne Tues 19th – Castle Cary (9am-1.30pm) Sat 23rd – Frome & Glastonbury Fri 29th – Burnham-on-Sea

Tel: 01373 812757 www.somersetfarmersmarkets.co.uk

PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

Fine Teas from around the world Tea Tasting Workshops www.cupoftea.uk.com

01761 239162

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FOOD & DRINK

Family friendly WITH the longer nights and the warmer weather, it is the perfect time to get out and about as a family â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but keeping the entire family happy is rarely easy! The Riverside Inn, Cheddar, and The Sherston Inn, Wells, have discovered the answer. Here you will find a unique combination: lounge bars with comfortable leather seating and relaxing decor run happily alongside sports bar areas, with their plasma screens showing regular live sport. Both venues have a light and spacious restaurant where you can enjoy a varied and exciting menu, created with the whole family in mind. Prefer the outdoors? Step outside . . . with modern decked areas providing an ideal location for alfresco dining, spacious beer gardens, and fantastic play areas for the children, they provide the perfect locations to relax in the Somerset sunshine! The Riverside and The Sherston really do cater for all the family and, with this in mind, will be encouraging families to go out and eat together during the first ever National Family Week which will be running from May 25th â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 31st. National Family Week aims to bring families together, and an excellent way of doing this is by eating together. Experts say that families that sit down together regularly to eat are not only healthier and happier, but have healthier and happier relationships too. During National Family Week both venues will be offering a special â&#x20AC;&#x153;Family Favouritesâ&#x20AC;? menu, encouraging families to sit down and enjoy great food together, in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Let the Riverside and the Sherston take care of the hard work, while you enjoy some quality family time!

Come and visit us at Pickwicks Caffe â&#x20AC;&#x201C; where the only premium we place is on the quality we offer. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve enjoyed our premium coffees, why not try our new range of premium Ronnefeldt teas from Cup of Tea? We now also offer an interesting selection of quality wines and ciders from local suppliers to complement your meal. Our upstairs lounge is available for business meetings, product launches and other events.

SEASONS RESTAURANT & LOUNGE BAR

AT THE WHISTLING DUCK

You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t judge a book by its cover! Beat the credit crunch blues at one of Somersetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest eating venues!! â&#x20AC;&#x153;Possibly the best menu seen in many a year.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as quoted in Home & Local Magazine A dining experience not to be missed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Cuisine Italiano Lunch Menu from ÂŁ5.95 â&#x20AC;˘ Daily Specials from ÂŁ7.95 2 & 3 Course fixed price menus from ÂŁ10.95 â&#x20AC;˘ Sunday Lunch from ÂŁ6.95 Takeaway menu now available Private dining facility available

MAY SPECIAL OFFER â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ANY PIZZA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ÂŁ5.50

Telephone 01934 823127 44 Knightcott Road, Banwell See our website at: www.pubrestaurantbanwell.co.uk or surf the net for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;seasons banwellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

2YHU 'Lá&#x2026;ťHUHQW 6RXWK :HVW %RWWOHG %HHUV *LIW 3DFNV &DVH 'LVFRXQWV &$05$ 'LVFRXQWV 6DPSOLQJ (YHU\ :HHNHQG %UHZHU\ RI WKH 0RQWK

Open every day Pickwicks Caffe, 25-27 Broad Street, Wells, Somerset BA5 2DJ. Tel: 01749 676697 â&#x20AC;˘ E-mail: pickwickswells@btconnect.com

:HVW &RXQWU\ $OHV 7KH &OLá&#x2026;ťV &KHGGDU %6 4$ 7 ( IUHGZLOGH#\DKRR FR XN

MENDIP TIMES â&#x20AC;˘ MAY 2009 â&#x20AC;˘ PAGE 27

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MENDIP TIMES

FOOD & DRINK

Eat local food and protect wildlife SOMERSET Wildlife Trust is backing a scheme which delivers local food to residents’ doorsteps. The environmental charity is working with Somerset Local Food Direct – a web-based “local supermarket” based in Glastonbury – which sources produce from local farmers’ markets and suppliers to deliver direct across the county and into the Bath area. Every new customer spending more than £30 and who ticks the Trust box on the organisation’s website, or mentions the Trust over the phone, will generate a £10 donation for the charity. Simon Nash, chief executive of the Trust, said: “We take any support of commercial business very seriously, but what Somerset Local Food Direct delivers is fresh local produce from farmers on our doorstep and it is because of this that we are proud to back this sustainable venture. “Local food which comes from Somerset farms is a sustainable way of life not only for farmers and local people, but for wildlife too. Wildlife benefits from some land management and we are keen to work with even more farmers to show how farming with wildlife in mind can bring an abundance of benefits.” To learn more about Somerset Wildlife Trust visit the website: www.somersetwildlife.org. To register with Somerset Local Food Direct go to: www.localfooddirect.co.uk The deal comes at a good time – for the past decade, the Trust has been working hard to ensure that water voles survive, by

improving wetland habitats and working to protect water voles from mink predation. Voles can be seen on a number of nature reserves, particularly on the Somerset Levels and Moors. The nature reserves here make a good home for these furry creatures because they are managed with the welfare of water voles and other wildlife in mind.

Competition winner CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of a delicious Easter hamper of cheese and chocolate in our everpopular Spot the Rabbit competition, organised with the kind support of Ford Farm and Wookey Hole Caves. We were inundated with entries and well done to everyone who spotted where the rabbits were hidden: on the back page, in the middle of the Mendip Mindbender crossword and in the middle of the photograph on the Caving page. The winner was Mrs Mary Chivers of Temple Cloud, who also received tickets to the Wookey Hole Caves tourist attraction, where Cave Aged Cheddar is matured.

BEAH

English & Mediterranean Restaurant

Wells Open from 10am Monday – Sunday Morning coffee and cakes, English Breakfasts New lunch menu served from 12 noon – 2pm (all day Saturday) Traditional Sunday Lunches New a la carte menu served from 6pm including Traditional Moroccan dishes Booking advisable

Tel 01749 678111 or email info@beah.co.uk

Call us or email for information on our Moroccan Night!

Find us at 2, Union Street, Wells • www.beah.co.uk PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

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MENDIP HILLS AONB

Diamonds in the landscape This year we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, which led to the creation of today’s 14 UK National Parks and 49 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). AONBs cover 15.6% of the land in England and Wales and 38% of the land in the South West. The anniversary provides the opportunity to encourage interest in current issues facing protected landscapes and what is needed over the next 60 years in order to protect our ‘Diamonds in the Landscape’ – after all ‘Diamonds are Forever’. The Mendip Hills AONB Management Plan 2009-2014 sets out a vision for the future of the Mendip Hills and what needs to take place to conserve and enhance it for future generations. To monitor if the Plan is making a difference, the State of the AONB Report (on the AONB website) provides maps and statistics that will be updated with each review of the Plan. To the right is an example map contained within the report; this one shows Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in the AONB. As part of the 60th anniversary celebrations every protected landscape has contributed to ‘60 walks for 60

years’ with a downloadable walk for their area on the specially designed website www.diamondsinthelandscape.org.uk. Other South West AONBs include the Tamar Valley, Cotswolds, Isle of Scilly, Quantock Hills and the Blackdown Hills, which together offer a huge range of landscapes from coast to moorland. The Mendip Hills AONB is also launching its new publication ‘8 Wild Walks’ to inspire you to explore your local AONB.

Wild walking The full colour, spiral bound walking guide ‘8 Wild Walks’ offers a wonderful variety of circular walking routes within the AONB, showcasing some of the best landscapes on offer – woodland, heathland, lakeside and grassland. The walks, devised by local landscape ecologist Adrian Boots, range from 2½ miles (4km) to 7½ miles (12km) take you through a wide variety of landscape types including steep scarp slopes with impressive views across the Levels, windswept plateau criss-crossed with dry stone walls, valley village to lakeside and all with the opportunity to see a wide variety of wildlife that will change according to the seasons. There is a written description and map for each route. As with any walking guide, walkers are also encouraged to carry a copy of the relevant OS map as well! In addition to the essential information to get you from A-B, the book includes local information and fascinating background facts on the landscape along with colour illustrations of plants and animals that can be seen in the area. 8 Wild Walks is available for £5.00 from The Gorge Outdoors shop in Cheddar Gorge. For other suppliers see the AONB website (www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk) or contact the AONB Service (01761 462338). If you are a business and are interested in stocking them please contact us. For further information on the 60th anniversary and other AONBS, see the National Association of AONBs – www.aonb.org.uk and the South West Protected Landscapes Forum www.swplf.org.uk MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 29

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Memories of Wo I WAS 12 years old when war was declared in September 1939. I lived with my parents in North London but always spent every school holiday with my grandparents and aunt and uncle on a farm a few miles north of Banbury, Oxfordshire. On that weekend of September 3 my parents had come to take me back to London for the new school year. Saturday had been a wonderful sunny autumn day and we had been out gathering blackberries; but on Sunday morning we all gathered around the kitchen table to listen to the broadcast by Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister. We had no electricity at that time, so our radio was powered by accumulator batteries which were changed and taken away to be recharged once a fortnight by

CONGRATULATIONS on an excellent publication. It is a joy to read. You invited memories of the year that the Second World War was declared and I offer my story. In 1939 I was a boy of eight years old, living in Exeter and attending John Stocker Junior School in Dunsford Hill. The school had been requested to seek boys to join the St. Thomas Church Choir. The pay was good at 2/6 a quarter and 1/- for all weddings attended. I needed the money to supplement my two pence a week pocket money so I volunteered. At first I was turned down as being too young at eight but later as I was tall for my age they let me join the choir. Practice nights were every Tuesday and Thursday. After two weeks I was allowed to don the black cassock and sit in the choir stalls on Sundays for the 11am and 6pm services. Another boy joined at the same time as me and we had to walk up the aisle at the rear of a dozen or so other choirboys. Later on we were sort of sworn in and allowed to wear the white surplice. I soon felt at ease and hoped that my PAGE 30 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

singing was all right. As with all boys, and I was no exception, we would sometimes misbehave during the long sermons and pass around sticky sweets. We would get a fit of the giggles and a stern warning would come from the choir men who sat behind us. Sunday September 3rd 1939 is very vivid in my mind. The morning service had just sung the first hymn when the verger wearing his black cloak walked quickly up the aisle and whispered in the

an elderly gentleman called Mr Tarver, who travelled around in a little old twoseater Austin. I was old enough to realise the severity of the situation having seen, a year earlier, cinema newsreel pictures of Mr. Chamberlain proclaiming “Peace in our time” as he returned from trying to negotiate with the Nazi powers. Now we were listening to a tired, sad old man, announcing that from 11am we were at war. Almost immediately the air raid sirens sounded their wailing warning, followed quickly by the eerie “allclear”. My dad looked at me and said: “Well that’s it love, you will not be coming back to London with us, you will be staying here with Grandma and Auntie.” This didn’t worry me too much because I much

vicar’s ear. The vicar, Rev. Price, asked us all to sit down. He went up into the pulpit and announced that War had been declared between Great Britain and Germany. He said that anyone who wished to leave the church may do so. Of the hundred or so people only about eight left the congregation. The vicar said a prayer and we all knelt in silence for a long time. As a boy of nearly nine I did not really know what was happening. This terrible gut feeling overtook me to think that Exeter and the whole World would never be the same again. I knew a war was possible because we had been issued with gas masks and the previous week I had been up Dunsford Hill helping to fill sandbags. I did not know what they were to be used for but guessed it must be important because everyone, including women, were working so hard at this task. The vicar cancelled his sermon; we sang God Our Help in Ages Past and the service was terminated. By Francis J. Disney BEM Hyatt Place, Shepton Mallet

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WORLD WAR II

World War II preferred life in the country – back in 1938 my father had been making enquiries about sending me to America in the event of war. That I would not have liked. Although I am now 82, like many other old people I have total recall of many things from black-out problems, knitting sea boot stockings for the navy, food shortages – to the arrival of American troops in Banbury where most people had never seen a black man and were quite upset seeing them along with the largely frightened, unhappy white lads who really didn’t know why they were here. We used to have a couple out every Sunday for a taste of home life. Some of the boys who came from farms were only too pleased to give us a hand with feeding, milking, hay-making etc.

Ase you see, dear editor, once started it is difficult for me to stop. I love Mendip Times and send it on to my son who was a Priddy caver and is now managing a gold mine in Northern Ireland. June Hardie Farmborough

Writhlington remembers

Ron Cottle (centre) with Becky Fry, from Somerset Red Cross and Emma Gulliford, also from Writhlington, both in 1940s costume.

RESIDENTS of Writhlington near Radstock packed their village hall for a wartime memories fundraising event. The display of memorabilia was opened by villager Ron Cottle, who helped rescue injured troops from Dunkirk aboard a medical ship. Ron brought along some of his own photos and memorabilia from his time aboard the Isle of Guernsey, which came under attack. The event was held to raise funds for Writhlington Flower Show, being held in July. The show has its origins in a Comfort Fund which raised money to provide servicemen and women with some home comforts.

Farming in wartime

What are your memories of the outbreak of World War II 70 years ago? Write to: Mendip Times, Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset BS40 7RG.

A CHARITY is appealing for people to contact them with their memories about farming during World War II as part of a project which will culminate in a party in Pilton. Trilith specialises in collecting and restoring old film footage and also records people’s memories for a series of audio projects. The aim of Farming in Wartime is to get young people living and working on farms today to interview people who remember farming life during the war. The interviews will be made available via the internet so that the vital role that farmers and farming played is remembered for generations to come. Trilith, based in Wincanton, is also looking for anyone aged 25 or under who works on farm and who might be interested in taking part. A Farming in Wartime event will be held on Saturday July 25th, at the Tithe Barn in Pilton. Project organiser Ali Grant said: “I am hoping to get lots of people there with wartime memories of working and living on farms, and hope to get lots of recordings done and help bring back memories for people, as well as have a good party, with WWII style food, music and memorabilia.” You can contact Ali by telephone: 01173 308494 or 07799 665001 or by e-mail: alighome2000@yahoo.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 31

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INTERNET

Digital camera – tips All digital cameras have an Auto setting, which is pre-set by the camera manufacturer, and the settings can be changed via the menu. However, there are useful changes which can be made temporarily according to the local conditions. As cameras vary, the following are generic instructions, and you may need to refer to your ‘Get Started’ Camera Manual. The table on the right shows the icons referred to in this article. When you turn the camera on, you may see icons on the screen which show the default settings. If not, click on the Display button. There may be occasions when you would like to take a photo, but use of the flash is forbidden, or you feel that the effect would be better without flash. Before taking the photo, press the shutter button gently half-way down, and the settings will appear on the screen. If you see the Flash On icon, this indicates that the flash will operate on taking the photo. On the back of the camera there is usually a circular button, or a circle divided into four sections, and you will see one of the sections marked with the Flash Icon. Press this one or more times until you see the No Flash icon on the screen. This setting will remain until you switch the camera off, but when you switch it on again, the flash will be back to its normal setting. If you like to take close up photos, particularly of plants, the macro setting gives an excellent result; you should use the monitor to frame the photo, and turn off the flash. The button to change this, again, on the back of the camera, looks like a flower. Press this button until you see the icon on the screen. Again, the setting will stay until you turn the camera off, then revert to the original landscape setting. When you have taken a photo, you can switch to View mode to check it. Alternatively, on some cameras, it is quicker to keep the shutter held down after you have taken the photo so that the screen continues to display the photo until you release the shutter. On others, pressing the Function Set button immediately after taking the photo does the same thing, although you will need to press the shutter button gently to revert to shooting mode. The majority of digital cameras have a video setting, with which you can take several minutes of video. To access this, turn the setting on the back of the camera to the icon which looks like an old fashioned cine camera. It is not always possible to use the zoom function when videoing, in which case you will need to set this before pressing the shutter. Press the shutter to start recording (a red dot will appear on the screen) and press it again to stop recording. Would you like to use your camera more effectively? Why not book a one-to-one session with one of our trainers to look in detail at the various functions and settings. Contributed by I.T. for the Terrified We run group courses including basic computer use, internet and e-mail, e-Bay, digital photography, genealogy, which vary in length from 3 sessions to 10. We also offer individual training, either one-off sessions or a series, at a pace to suit you; each session lasts two hours and costs £6. Why not phone for further details, 01934 713907, or call into “The Hayloft”, The George Hotel, Church Street, Wedmore. BS28 4AB. PAGE 32 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

CROSSWORD

The Mendip mindbender

ACROSS 1 Needs firm ramp to mix with the hunting community (6,7) 9 Experience . . . like going caving . . ? (7) 10 . . . invade . . . crosscountry? (7) 11 Swingeing blow delivered particularly in hot weather? (8) 12 Corporal on guard found moving forward (5) 14 Spencer’s oppo to cover spot on the A39 (9) 17 Blackfriar attracts no flack for having a pipe (5) 18 See 18 Down 20 Lambs on active service? Sounds risky (9) 23 Give example in diagram form of large country (5) 24 Back each way – and come to grief (8) 28 Drew a bead on the oak I’m to trim (4,3) 29 Some serials just take my breath away (7) 30 Plan speed trap . . . according to the season? (43-6) DOWN 1 Writer, not as you might think, a Somerset man (7) 2 Blyton character . . . whose

pal had exceptional hearing? (5) 3 Impositions on those arriving? (7) 4 Loud sounding flower became extremely cold (5) 5 Take the bird for a ride? (4) 6 We amble about, sorting out the flock (3,4) 7 Trails oar in the manner of a snappy 22 (9) 8 Make bearing to 51° 14N, 2° 33W. Aye, aye sir. (7) 13 Cheshire parish where it’s said to cost an arm and a leg to live? (4) 15 Decline in showers – but keep your hat on (9) 16 Colour generally produces strong desire (4) 18/18A Decimal indicator enjoyed by 1ac. (5,2,5) 19 Putting rival at a disadvantage is hard work (7) 21 Where the heart is, the family is also (3,4) 22 Prepare her majesty to receive furniture (7) 25 Return to sketch a mark of distinction (5) 26 Allegedly nasty bird song (5) 27 Mother follows me back to read one of Miss Austen’s books (4)

Answers on Page 66

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MENDIP TIMES

WILDLIFE

Photography by Chris Sperring

Young birds and mammals

By CHRIS SPERRING MBE

FIRSTLY, a big thank you to everyone that contacted me over last month’s “Reasons to be cheerful” article. If I have not got back to you it’s simply down to the massive response I have had and not having enough

hours in the day. This month is once again inspired by you, the readers, and is very apt for May: wildlife rehabilitation. During the month of May most of our native birds will now have young; many that are just fledging for example, blackbird or song thrush, will be very vulnerable when they leave the nest. True flight is still perhaps a further week away and it will seem that around every corner is a predator waiting for that easy meal. However, one problem for them will be to be mistaken for an abandoned fledging when in fact their parents are close by ready to feed them. This direct human interference is done by very well-meaning people; indeed I would strongly argue that most of the pros find it difficult to decipher which fledgling is truly in trouble and which is just looking in trouble. There is only one way you can find

out and that is to watch and observe from a safe distance. This distance needs to be far enough away that you are not disturbing any potential interaction between parent and fledgling, but obviously close enough that you can see what is going on. An example of when intervention was really needed came in May last year, when a couple found a recently fledged little owl in the gutter of a fast dual carriageway; it was too late for one of its brothers or sisters, but this owlet was rescued and needed it. It seemed the parents had thought a great place to nest was in the kerb side drain. An example of where intervention was not needed happened just a couple of days ago. I was brought a fledging blackbird unable to fly and just out of the nest. I simply asked where it was found, and the two rescuers and I went back to the location and watched the young blackbird parents feeding it, this after a well-worth wait of around 15 minutes. Wildlife rescue centres all over the UK at this time of the year will be inundated with young mammals and birds. The British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council has its own website: http://www.bwrc.org.uk. Here, many questions are answered into the rights and wrongs; indeed you can even ask a

question yourself via the online forms. The website also contains easy-to-follow guides on how you can help. If you are on a local walk and come across wildlife that may be in trouble, then a good number to keep in your mobile phone address book is that of Secret World (01278 783250), (website: http://www.secretworld.org) which is our local wildlife rehabilitation centre based at Highbridge. They have their own response drivers who come out and rescue wild animals in trouble and can give you advice over the phone. Indeed, Secret World is looking for response driver volunteers, so if you fancy helping out and getting involved give them a call. Lastly, can I thank all those of you who turned out for the five long-eared owl survey evenings during late winter? And, of course, big thanks to the Mendip Hills AONB team through its Sustainable Development Fund for sponsoring the project and to Mendip Times for publicising it. The survey team is next due to meet in the summer (so at least I can promise no snow). See you all again in June and anyone else who wishes to get involved with this project please let me know by heading any e-mails with: “long-eared owl”.

Chris Sperring MBE is Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust. Contact him on 01275 849287 or chris.sperring@btinternet.com. Visit: http://chrissperring.blogspot.com, www.chrissperring.com or www.hawkandowl.org for further information MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 33

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MENDIP TIMES

Highs and lows

EXPECT to enjoy unparalleled views, hear the skylarks’ song, feel the wind, enjoy any sun that is going, and smell and see bluebells in season on this circle. It explores the western end of the Mendip plateau from Hutton village near Weston-super-Mare. Choose a clear, sunny day if you can for the best views. Go through the Millennium green and climb fairly gently up Windmill Hill. The views improve all the time and then on Bleadon Hill you can enjoy a 360 degree panorama. Drop down Shiplate Slait and follow the foot of the hill to cross and follow the River Axe. In Bleadon there is a good pub for a stop before a fairly stiff climb up through a wildlife area on Hellenge Hill and then along Hutton Hill and through woods before dropping down Canada Coombe. There is a balance of hills, flat and downhill stretches. The walk should keep the dog happy with a lot of kissing gates and most stiles having dog gates.

PARK: On the edge of Hutton village which lies about two miles east of Weston hospital. At the very far eastern end of the village, on the way to Locking, turn up Windmill Hill (next to Canada Combe). Park a little way up on the right in a parking lay-by for the Millennium Walk. Put your car in nose first at an angle to maximise the space. If it is full, drive on up Windmill Hill and park at the side of the road, near the top after the houses. The walk goes up here, so you lose nothing. Just continue on along to the end of Windmill Hill and follow details from TRACK.

now a rocky route. At a junction at the top, turn up right, still ascending. At a signpost, keep straight on in the Loxton direction.

START: Go into the village green on Hutton Millennium Walk, a very beautiful area maintained by the village. This is another example of the work of this active community which in the past has won it various awards including Best Kept Large Village and Gold for its magnificent floral displays as part of the South West Britain in Bloom competition. Bear right, then bend up left where there are seats and great views over Weston and the Channel. In spring expect to enjoy the wildflowers here including cowslips. Go up to the top and out onto Windmill Hill. Turn right. Continue to climb getting good views the higher you go.

4. SHIPLATE SLAIT Go through and downhill, down Shiplate Slait. It would be appropriate if you saw sheep grazing down here, as it was described as ‘one of the finest sheep slaits (pastures) in England’ at the end of the18th century. The name ‘shiplade, meaning ‘sheep path’ appears to go right back to the 10th century. Go through a couple of gates on the way and then join a lane which takes you down, round bends, to the Loxton-Bleadon road at the foot. Cross with care.

1.TRACK At the end, continue on along a track. Turn right at the first junction and pass on your left woodland where you may well see bluebells.

With Sue Gearing PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

2. COTTAGE At a cottage, fork left. Ignore a right track, bend and climb more steeply up what is

3. BLEADON HILL The track leads to a gate leading onto Bleadon Hill where you really are on top of the world with views all round. It can also be mighty windy up here! There are particularly magnificent views across the channel to Lavernock Point. Imagine what it might look like in say 20 years time if a barrage is built. Go straight across the hill and find a wooden hunting gate just to the left of woodland.

5. FARM DRIVE Take the stile on the right at the start of the farm drive. Go down the field parallel with the drive and bear gradually right to reach a stile and small footbridge in the far right corner by a telegraph pole. Cross the bridge and follow a hedge on the right along the line of telegraph poles. You have reached the edge of the Levels, criss-crossed by rhynes and irrigated by the River Axe and the backdrop is the sunny southern slope of Mendip ablaze

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WALKING with gorse in spring. At the end of the field, do a bit of a dog leg but continue to follow the power lines. Maintain direction on the flat through fields following footpath arrows until you reach South Hill Farm.

HUTTON

START

da na Ca e mb Co

Hutton Woods

6. FARM Don’t go into the farmyard, but instead turn left in the field passing alongside the farm on your right. In the corner go right through a gate and reach the River Axe. Follow it along on your left, and go through another gate.

ind

ll H

ill

14 Upper Canada 1

Woods

Track

13 12 Gully

11 Road

Bleadon Hill

4 7. FOOTBRIDGE Reach a large metal footbridge over the Axe. Cross and then turn right. Follow the river on your right through several fields and reach the main A370. Go right along the pavement.

Pub

Bleadon

8 A370

9. BLEADON The noble tower of this church is a landmark for miles. Bleadon village has had its share of interesting rectors. One, Edward Powell, refused to take Henry VII’s Oath of Succession and so was hanged, drawn and quartered at Smithfield in 1540. He has since been recognised as a martyr by the Roman Catholic Church. Turn left passing the church door and go out the main gate. Pass the old stone village cross, part of which dates back to the late 14th century. Turn right on the village road. Up ahead on the left is the welcoming Queen’s Arms, open every day. To continue our round, go along Shiplate Road towards Loxton and Cross. After two

Shiplate Slait

Hellenge Hill

Farm

5 8. BLEADON BRIDGE Cross Bleadon Bridge and view the large tide gates and sluice. The Axe rises 20 miles away in Wookey Hole, and before the construction of the doors here in 1802, the river was navigable for coal vessels and small craft as far as Cheddar. It also had important fisheries but for a long time these were ruined by poisoned water from lead works at Charterhouse and by chemical refuse from paper mills. Today, it is once again favoured by anglers. Go through a parking lay-by at the side of the road and then turn right. Almost immediately turn right again with a quarry on your left up a metalled track. Follow the footpath sign up to the left. Go up the hill, through a gate and on to reach a footpath marker. Go straight up and follow the quarry fence on your left. Continue on to an iron gate taking you through onto a path which drops downhill all the way to the church in Bleadon.

Junction

Bleadon Bridge

Farm Drive

7 Footbridge River Axe

7 miles about 3.5 hours walking OS Explorer map 153, Weston-super-Mare, grid ref: 358 589 or three minutes reach a footpath marker on the grass verge. It directs you left up a tarmac drive. 10. HELLENGE HILL At the top go through on to Hellenge Hill following the West Mendip Way. This area of grassland, designated a Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI), is in the care of Avon Wildlife Trust and is home to several rare plants such as honewort and Somerset hair-grass. Other notable species include pale flax, green-winged orchid, common broomrape, yellow-wort, carline thistle and autumn lady’s tresses. Extensive gorse and hawthorn scrub provide good habitat for birds, invertebrates and adders. Go straight on up, and at the next marker, continue in the same direction (not right), climbing now quite steeply up through gorse and out onto the open hilltop. Keep on to a stile on the left. Once over, maintain direction along the right fence up to a line of houses on Bleadon Hill. 11. ROAD Turn left on the road and shortly go right up a track following the footpath sign. Cross a stile at the end into a field and bear diagonally right across and on to the crest of the hill. Carry on in the same direction and reach the corner of a wall. Go ahead and drop down into a gully.

12. GULLY Cross the stile and go up the other side into another field. Maintain direction and on the far side cross a stile and continue on, coming alongside woodland on your left. Follow it along and in the corner cross a stile into Hutton Woods. 13. WOODS Go on through. The hollows you can see through here are pits from earlier mining for yellow ochre widely used in the paint industry. The miners discovered a cave system and in the mid-18th century remarkable fossils of wolf, tiger, cave bear, ox horse and elephant were discovered. Once out of the woods continue on down a track. 14. UPPER CANADA Eventually reach a lane at Upper Canada. Turn left and go on down Canada Combe, a very beautiful valley. There may be some traffic along here. 15. HUTTON Reach the main road in Hutton and turn right and right again up Windmill Hill to the Millennium Walk. If you had to park further up the hill, go right through the gate to the village green and follow the directions from START. The Queen’s Arms, Bleadon, 01934 812080 MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 35

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MENDIP TIMES

OUTDOORS

West Countryman’s diary

MANY have said that my attempts to keep any sort of records over the years have left a lot to be desired! I would tend to agree with that but I have With LES always found DAVIES MBE inspiration through the accounts and recollections of others and many of you will know my passion for quoting from some of William Cobbett’s rural rides of the mid 1800s. There will be without doubt some reference to him again in the coming issues, but it is with a new determination that I now set my mind and best endeavours to produce a monthly article for the Mendip Times that will capture some of my recollections, views, and observations of the Mendip Hills and its surrounding countryside. Here then is my first offering of West Countryman’s Diary. Spring really does seem to be here and with the changing of the clocks there seems to be a change of feeling amongst everyone. We all feel brighter, lighter and happier with the onset of longer days and the hope that maybe this summer will be different to last year. Perhaps we can have those barbeques we so miss and go onto the hill for those picnics, which bring back so many happy memories when summer days were always long and hot. We might even be able to turn the heating off in mid-July! There are plenty of sayings and countryside lore is full of the signs for good summers or hard winters. I am carefully watching the oak and ash trees to see which is going to be first into leaf. Oak before the

ash is going to be a splash but ash before the oak will surely be a soak! The truth of the matter is, we will have to wait and see, but for my part I am rather hoping that the hard weather of February will herald a good summer. Looking at the hedgerows in the early part of April really does show what a difference altitude has upon plant growth. Below the 600 foot contour, (around 200 metres in modern money) the hawthorn hedges are springing into life, whilst on Mendip top things are barely starting to move. This is a graphic example of why Mendip farmers are always struggling for the early bite of grass, when the valley farmer and those on the moors and levels are up and running. It is the hedgerow that attracts a lot of my attention at this time of year. The hedge bottom is filling with primrose and celandine, whilst in the damper parts of the road verge and field edge the light purple of Lady Smock is displayed in clumps. The woodland floor is now covered in the leaves of wild garlic and the bluebells are waiting to get in on the act as well. Nature is coming out of the winter and in doing so is determined to make us all feel a little better! I always like to see the land being prepared at this time of year. The ground being worked down from spring or winter ploughing ready for the seed drill, the dust that rises as the tractor turns on the headland and the alternate light and dark stripes of the roller and harrow on the grass. This is all part of the working landscape of our countryside, a countryside that has provided for us in the past, and must continue to do so into the future.

I hear that the swallows are back on the Levels, so that is also a good news story. How many, I wonder are back from last year? It’s incredible to think that these, and other migrant birds, will travel thousands of miles to return to us each year. Before the process of migration was understood, people used to think that these birds spent their winter in mud at the bottom of ponds, for how else could the sudden disappearance of all these birds be explained? I often watch the swifts on a warm summer’s night, twisting and turning in the evening sky, like fighter aircraft engaged in aerial combat, as they scream encouragement to one another. For them and the rest of our wildlife, it’s all about survival. No relaxation, not even a peaceful meal, for that is when most will be at risk from becoming part of the food chain themselves. I watched some starling feeding and every jerky movement during their search for food was punctuated with a desperate need to keep watch for predators, both terrestrial and airborne! Here in God’s own West Country we can I’m sure be forgiven for being just a little familiar when it comes to sunset! In truth, we probably have some of the finest views of the dying day as anyone could wish for. All that is needed is a moment’s relaxation, a glass of good wine and the closing thoughts of your day can be filed away ready for a fresh start tomorrow – after all tomorrow is still in its wrapper, pristine and unspoilt by anyone at the moment! Until the next time my best wishes and thanks to you all for your support, both now and in the past. Be safe and enjoy your life.

I am always happy to hear from you, so drop a line to: Les.Davies@westcountryman.org.uk PAGE 36 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

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GARDENING

MENDIP TIMES

Let’s grow together I VISIT many garden clubs to give talks and what is clearly evident is that the membership of these clubs is ageing fast. I can appreciate that With MARY there are many PAYNE MBE demands on our time these days and the younger generation may not see gardening as a priority in their lives. However there is genuine concern within the horticultural industry as to where the next generation of gardeners is going to come from. This also links in to the concern that some children are not aware of where their food comes from. Much of our food production cannot be done by robots or machines and needs human intervention to monitor pests and diseases and the general health of the plants. Who will also keep our parks and gardens from becoming derelict vandal-infested sites? We need intelligent, enthusiastic human beings to take on these roles for the future and we look to our youngsters to start developing that enthusiasm now. I am delighted to say that all is not doom and gloom. The school garden is returning with gusto. Teachers and parents are combining forces to get youngsters involved and it is gathering steam at an encouraging pace. Schools are finding ways of creating school gardens in their playgrounds. I am delighted to hear that Stanton Drew PreSchool are looking to create a small garden in the car park of the Village Hall and Stanton Drew Primary School has a Garden Club, mentored by Judith ChubbWhittle, that has adopted a piece of land in the local nursing home. Show gardens at the major gardening shows occasionally reflect this trend and Jon Wheatley and I are involved with Peter Seabrook and Ranelagh Secondary School in Bracknell, creating a school garden exhibit for Chelsea Flower Show.

We have taken on board the fact that many schools, be they primary or secondary, do not have any land other than a tarmac playground and so have designed the garden to take account of this. Everything will be growing in containers, made by the children, out of recycled wooden pallets. Growing in containers raises the problem of watering at weekends and during school holidays. However, Hozelock have introduced the Aquapod, a device that distributes water to a number of containers via a mains tap using a computer controlled valve. We have involved not only the school woodworking department but also the art department who are creating a collage of recycled materials for the wall and artwork of the various vegetables to be attached to the containers. The English department have the task of creating a leaflet describing the various elements of the garden. The school garden club are growing some of the flowers and vegetables to be used. This is a real team effort which has captured the imagination of the pupils. Nearer to home, Writhlington School, near Radstock have a world renowned orchid project which has enthused many pupils into the “growing” habit. Parents can do much at home by encouraging their offspring to sow seeds. The magic of a dry bit of “dust” from a packet germinating to a seedling still amazes me. Parents, please give you’re your children’s efforts every chance to succeed by checking the watering and making sure the young plants get adequate light, space and protection from slugs. If growing from seed seems too complex, then get some young vegetable or flower plants from your local garden centre. They are available in abundance now and can be grown on in pots, or in the garden. Vegetables are great, because there is the promise of being able to eat what you

have grown, and this may well encourage youngsters to try something new. Quick growing crops are ideal such as lettuce or radishes. If flowers are preferred then try nasturtiums or pot marigolds (Calendula). These are quick, colourful and what’s more – the petals can be eaten adding a dash of colour to a salad. Another group of plants that always fascinate children are the insect eaters. Many are available in garden centres, but I do advise against opting for the popular Venus Fly Trap as this is one of the least successful. Opt instead for a pitcher plant (Sarracenia) and make sure you DO NOT feed it with steak and only give it rain water to drink, indeed stand the pot in a quarter of an inch of water. Local flower shows rely on exhibitors to create a show so try to get all the family entering their home grown produce, even though it may not be perfect. Stanton Drew Flower Show is on Saturday 18th July this year. The demand for allotments has soared, which is excellent news, and the seed companies are reporting record sales of vegetable seeds this year. Jon and I have been asked by the Royal Horticultural Society to create a traditional allotment at this year’s Hampton Court Flower Show. Terry Porter is growing the vegetables and the exhibit will include a children’s garden, a cutting garden and also the prize winning scarecrow from the competition organised by Cleeve Nursery for local primary schools. Sally the Scarecrow was created by the Reception Class at Wrington Primary School and will take pride of place on the allotment. If your child’s school is interested, then encourage them to sign up for the Royal Horticultural Society’s Campaign for School Gardening, supported by Waitrose. The RHS is aiming to encourage and support schools to develop and actively use a school garden and a wide range of teaching resources are available. (www.rhs.org).

Britain in Bloom Neighbourhood Awards SOUTH West in Bloom is running its 2009 competition and entries need to be in by June 1st so why not join villages like Wedmore and towns and cities like Wells in this great initiative to make the South West the best region in Europe. This competition run by the RHS and sponsored by Viridor “Revive Organic Compost” is part of

the largest voluntary community horticultural and environment project in the UK. Why not enter the free non-competitive Neighbourhood Awards section and join us in celebrating your local heritage. Contact Jo Jukes 01275 333007 or Jon Wheatley on jonswheatley@aol.com

MENDIP TIMES MAY 2009 • PAGE 37 MENDIP TIMES • M•ARCH 29

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MENDIP TIMES Lowarth Garden and Landscape Design Chelsea Flower Show Silver Gilt medal winner

Easter fun

= Individually Tailored Gardens = Beautiful Planting = All Types of Hard Landscaping = Lighting and Irrigation Please contact us to arrange a free consultation

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SOMERLAP held a very successful family Easter Eggstravaganza raising funds for the RSPCA. Somerlap staff were joined by Sharon Harrison from Good Gardens who gave advice and tips on garden landscaping, and Andy Chalmers from Melcourt, the leading manufacturer of Compost and Bark products. Children’s activities ran throughout the morning including facepainting, colouring competitions, hunt the Easter message and making seasonal greetings cards. Winners included William Barham, aged eight, from North Petherton and Adam Harris from Yatton. Pictured are Abi Millburn, aged seven, Evie Milburn, aged five, and Sophie Spurrell, aged nine, who took part in the face-painting on the theme of chicks and Easter eggs.

Rare bloom

GARDEN TIPS G Cut Aubretia back hard when it has finished flowering and give it a feed. They will produce new growth soon and remain more compact if this is done each year. G Plant out Cannas and Cosmos [chocolate plant], Dahlias and Begonias. G Trim foliage off early flowering perennials to encourage fresh new leaves. Lungwort [Pulmonaria] responds particularly well. G Regularly tie in sweet peas and remove unwanted side shoots. G Hostas divide well this month. Lift clumps and split them up making certain that each shoot has plenty of root attached. G Wait until spring flowering bulb leaves die back naturally before removing them. G Watch out for scarlet lily beetles. This pest can eat your lily leaves in a few days! Control with Provado Ultimate Bug Killer. Courtesy of Cleeve Nursery

38 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH AY 2009 PAGE 30 2009

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GARDENING

Rare bloom HORTICULTURE staff at Norton Radstock College have witnessed a rare UK event in a campus glasshouse – the flowering of a Swiss cheese plant. Technician instructor and NVQ assessor Dave Vallance said: “You don’t hear about this happening in the UK very often because the plant will flower only if it has perfect conditions.” The decorative climbing vine is a familiar house plant in the UK and derives its popular “Swiss cheese plant” name from the fact that its leaves, like many Swiss cheeses, are full of holes. The correct horticultural name is Monstera deliciosa. The plant at Radstock, which produced a flower, has been occupying a corner of a college glasshouse for several years. The flower was discovered by Jamie Chant (pictured), who has been working at the College as a horticultural technician for the past two and a half years after

studying there for his NVQ qualifications. He said: “I was going about my usual chores when I noticed it. What makes this a special thing is that it is something that

just happened. We didn’t set out to grow a cheese plant flower. It was all a bit of a surprise when we realised what had happened.”

Wedmore prepares CHAMPION village Wedmore is preparing to do battle in the national Britain in Bloom awards by invitation of the Royal Horticultural Society after winning the large village category in the South West awards last year. The Wedmore in Bloom group is about to start summer planting on the theme of Somerset Sunshine, once the bulbs and early blooms have finished, and has an ambitious new project lined up for next year. It’s planning a Ribbon of Wildflowers, like the bank of primroses pictured, to encourage insect activity, and floral diversity and colour through the village, using public land and by encouraging local gardeners to take part, under the guidance of local botanist Liz McDonnell. The group will also enter the South West in Bloom competition, with Wedmore First School and Wedmore Green Group entering the Neighbourhood Award Scheme category.

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Tel: 01934 742625 Mob: 07971 445040 MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 39

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Wellfield Barn THESE gardens of one and a half acres have been developed by the present owners since 1996 from an area of concrete farmyard. The site is spectacular with expansive views to Glastonbury Tor and beyond, across a ha-ha. The garden has a more formal area around a lawn with plantings of mixed perennials bulbs, shrubs and trees in a losely cottage style. There is a pond and a sunken garden. The design is very

structured, linking the house to its landscape setting. The garden style is relaxed and plants are allowed to self seed freely. The main interest plant is the hardy geranium, of which there are many. Apart from the more formal part the garden consists of cut grass areas in various shapes connected by mown grass paths through longer grass with interesting trees and a gradually thickening planting of shrubs.

NGS

GARDEN

THE

MONTH

Gardening pages:Layout 1

Information regarding all garden openings in Somerset can be found at ngs.org.uk or in copies of the Yellow Book.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NURSERY MASBURY, NR. WELLS, SOMERSET BA5 3HA TEL: 01749 841014 FAX: 01749 841055 www.rockymountainnursery.co.uk COME AND SEE OUR FINE RANGE OF HOME GROWN TREES (ROOTBALL AND CONTAINERISED), SHRUBS, PERENNIALS, CLIMBERS AND GRASSES Enjoy a meal or drink in our Coffee Shop and browse around James Store for a new range of cleaning products and many great bargains. ALSO A LARGE SELECTION OF PLANTERS, POTS, SCREENING TRELLIS, BAMBOO PANELS AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.

ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS – SET IN 12 WONDERFUL ACRES – PAGE 40 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

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GARDENING

Stoberry open FOLLY & GARDEN

ON Bank Holiday Monday May 25th, Stoberry Park will host a special plant sale in aid of St John Ambulance, at which Stoberry House gardens will be open, admission £3 adults, children free, which includes entry to the plant sale and Stoberry House gardens. With breathtaking views over the City of Wells and the Vale of Avalon, this six-acre family garden planted sympathetically within its landscape, provides a stunning combination of vistas accented with wildlife ponds, water features, sculpture, and a 1½ acre walled garden, sunken garden, gazebo, potager, lime walk and with borders planted to give colour and interest in every season, spring bulbs, irises, roses, acer glade, and several seated areas to relax and enjoy the views and garden.

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 41

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MENDIP TIMES

It’s a generation thing THE marketing manager of a Somerset construction company has a special interest in a redevelopment project at Glastonbury. By MATTHEW Melissa Barber’s McKAIG grandfather, Keith Barber, lived for a while in 1952 in one of the cottages in Beckery Road, which are being completely refurbished as part of a project to provide much-needed affordable housing for local people. Keith, who lives in Street, was on hand

Work underway at Beckery Cottages

(Pictured L-R): Caroline Howlett, Aster's Senior Project Manager; Keith Barber, former resident and Mike Hooper, Site Manager for Gadd Construction as work begins on the cottages.

to see work begin on the redevelopment – by Gadd Construction – of the row of 1930s cottages into eight, two-bedroom houses and four, three-bedroom houses for Mendip Housing, a non-profit making housing association. He said: “This was my first marital home; we stayed here for about a year. I’m so pleased that they are having all of this work done to bring them back to their former glory. I can’t wait to come back and see them finished.” The redevelopment, next to the Morlands Enterprise Park, will cost £730,000 using finance raised by the Aster Group, of which Mendip Housing

is a member. A further £71,500 of funding was provided by Mendip District Council for the purchase of the site. Aster Group’s Caroline Howlett, who is managing the project on behalf of Mendip Housing, said: “Bringing back some of the original residents today has been so interesting. These cottages have a lot of history attached to them, they are more like a land mark to the local area. “We’re really pleased that Gadd’s work to breathe life back into these properties has now started. We’re all looking forward to handing these properties to Mendip Housing for the new tenants to move in.”

‘Strong contenders’ for top awards THE South West’s most innovative building projects will once again be celebrated at the 5th annual South West final of the RICS Awards during May. Following a record number of projects being submitted nationally for the awards, a shortlist has been drawn up from the regional entries in four categories – building conservation; community benefit; regeneration and sustainability. Entrants range from small schemes built by the vision and persistence of one person, to multi-million budget developments. It goes without saying that the judges really had their work cut out this year. A total of 30 projects have been shortlisted in the South West and I’m pleased to say we have some finalists from Mendip. In the building conservation category is The Merchants

House, a restoration project carried out in Shepton Mallet by Jon Maine. The Camery Building, a music education and choir practice facility next to Wells Cathedral, has been shortlisted in the Regeneration category, whilst the new Sidcot Arts Centre, at Sidcot School in Winscombe, competes for the Sustainability award. Past winners in the South West include prestigious projects such Great Bow Wharf and Yard eco homes in Langport, Clerks Cottage in Spaxton near Bridgwater and The Campus at Locking Castle near Weston Super Mare. The South West winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 20th at the Bishop’s Palace in Wells, with winners from each RICS region forming the shortlist for the grand final awards in October. The RICS Awards South West 2009 are kindly sponsored by the Homes and Communities Agency.

Matthew McKaig is Director RICS England – West; covering the West Midlands and South West, and is based in Wells. PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

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PROPERTY

Mendip Times Now the most popular local magazine in Somerset and the only publication covering the whole of the Mendip area. With more than 600 outlets from the south of Bristol to Castle Cary and from Uphill to Frome we estimate we now have 100,000 readers each month. For advertising that works, Mendip Times reaches a huge potential market within a few miles of your business.

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LOT NO. ACREAGE GUIDE PRICE 12 WEST HUNTSPILL, SOMERSET Land off the A38 Pawlett Road 1.35 (0.55ha) £20,000 11 CONGRESBURY, NORTH SOMERSET Land at Stock Lane 5.37 (2.17ha) £40,000 10 BURRINGTON COMBE, NORTH SOMERSET Site of former garden centre with small cottage, retail and display area, yard and storage totalling 37,746 sq ft (3506 sq m) set in approx 3.49 acres. As a whole 3.49 (1.41ha) £325,000 Or in 2 lots 10a Cottage, units, car parking & yard £200,000 10b Units, yard area, car parking & land £125,000 9 NEMPNETT THRUBWELL, N E SOMERSET Paddock at Dew Down Lane with planning for 3 loose boxes, feed store/tack room 3.59 (1.45ha) £45,000 8 NEMPNETT THRUBWELL, N E SOMERSET A 19th Century Farm complete with farmhouse and both traditional and modern farmbuildings set in approx. To be offered as a whole or in up to 5 lots As a whole: 84.13 (34.04 ha) £1,070,000 7 BUTCOMBE, NORTH SOMERSET Smallholding with stone built bungalow, range of agricultural buildings, garden and approx. 4.67 (1.89ha) £375,000 6 NAILSEA, NORTH SOMERSET Land betwixt West End Drove and North Drove As a whole or in 6 lots. As a whole: 61.37 (24.83) £200,000 5 Withdrawn 4 BACKWELL, NORTH SOMERSET Investment Yard at Cook’s Bridle Path 0.55 (0.22ha) £50,000 3 WINFORD, NORTH SOMERSET Paddock opposite ‘Winford Market’ 3.42 (1.38ha) £25,000+ 2 WINFORD, NORTH SOMERSET Paddock opposite ‘Winford Market’ 1.58 (0.64ha) £15,000+ 1 WRINGTON, NORTH SOMERSET Former Telecom site at A38 Nates Lane 2476 sq ft £10,000+ FULL DETAILS OF ALL LOTS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE

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MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 43

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COMMUNITY

First Aid to cut crime I PROMISED last month to tell you about a rather novel partnership project I’ve been working on to promote safety in the community. It’s By SIMON all about first aid, SELBY centred on schools, encouraging young people to think about community safety and the dangers surrounding knife crime. The project involves St John Ambulance, the police, schools and the Community Safety Team and, most importantly, the young people living in the Bath and North East Somerset Council area. Knife crime is something we read about or hear mentioned on the TV and radio from time to time. In this area, fortunately, we have very little in the way of a problem. I certainly didn’t want to cause a fear of crime among our young people, so the issue had to be tackled carefully and that is why the idea of the radical partnership developed. St John Ambulance are visiting schools, teaching first aid and showing the young people the realities and dangers inherent in knives. This small addition to the course shows young people the reality of just how dangerous these things can be and just how vulnerable the human body really is. Through this simple extra step they think about and see the realities associated with knives rather than the misinformation some may have come to believe. Often they simply haven’t thought about potential consequences and through this the information is given as part of an overall lesson in first aid skills. In BANES, the local Community and Drugs Safety Partnership has funded these first aid lessons. The young people have been really keen to learn first aid skills, which will benefit them and the whole community throughout their entire lives. Many of the young people taking part have said that they really felt far more confident about first aid and would be able and prepared to help others if needed. They also confirmed the deterrent value of learning the realities of the

human body and the potential for injury from knives. The exciting bit of news is that we were so pleased with the enthusiasm and apparent success of this partnership initiative that we submitted the project details to the 2009 Health for Kids Awards under the Citizenship Category – and we got through to the last 12 out of many hundreds of entries. Unfortunately, because we haven’t had the chance to formally evaluate the project, we didn’t progress any further, but we will be resubmitting it next year with the necessary evaluation, so fingers crossed. I also hope to spread this initiative to other areas that want to benefit and it

prompts the question of just how effective this novel approach would be in areas which really do have a significant knife culture problem, or even guns? On an altogether lighter note, Battle of the Bands is now underway with a good number of bands entering from around these parts with the main prize being the chance to play at this year’s Glastonbury Festival. Best of luck to the local entries and well done Michael Eavis and the festival crew for offering such an excellent prize! Colin Port, the Chief Constable, Michael and Grant Marshal from Massive Attack will be judging the final at Bristol’s Colston Hall on Saturday, May 23rd, so watch this space.

Simon Selby is Director of the Crimebeat Awards Scheme. PAGE 44 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

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Domani – still winning awards Domani Kitchens of Wells have (yet again) won the prestigious Second Nature Dealer of the Year award for the South West and are now a strong contender for the National award. The awards, presented by Domani’s main supplier, Second Nature Kitchens, recognise a variety of aspects from the retailer’s quality and variety of displayed products to product knowledge, from

customer support and after sales service to design and fitting. Domani scored an impressive 94% and go into the national finals in the strongest position with a £2000 holiday voucher up for grabs, as well as the prestige of being the National winner. Martin Chant, managing director, said “It is tough for everyone out there at present, with no sign of an immediate let up, but we

Clean air AIR conditioning isn’t just about cool air. Expert Ian Hobbs points out that apart from treating the temperature, humidity, cleanliness and distribution of the air, filters in modern units remove dust, pollen, pollution and bacteria from the air and provide a clean, fresh working atmosphere. The health benefits of this are considerable. It can help relieve the symptoms of hay fever and asthma, and reduce the spread of air-borne viruses. Ian says: “Staff welfare is so important for productivity and making your business a happy and successful place to work. The working environment plays a major part in staff motivation and morale. “A fresh, cool office or workshop reduces stress, helps people to concentrate and work at their best. They are also one of the most energy efficient systems for heating and cooling your property.”

Richard Chant, director of Domani Kitchens, in their showroom in Wells.

continue to have a strong order book because, as this award shows, we care about what we do, and we put our customers first. Without them, we have no business. We are all thrilled to have won this award again, and are hoping to do well in the finals”. Contact Domani now, or call into their award-winning showroom for special tailor made discounts on your kitchen, bedroom or bathroom, and let Domani help you during the credit crunch.

Visit our Showroom at Wells

Style and choice from top to bottom From initial consultation through to your perfect ﬁnished room, Domani does it all. Visit our stunning showroom to discover the very best in kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms. Traditional quality, the latest styles and technology - all under one roof.

Kitchens • Bedrooms • Bathrooms Mon - Fri: 8.30am - 5.30pm Sat: 9.00am - 1.00pm Showroom at Keward Mill, Jocelyn Drive, Wells (off the Wells to Glastonbury road).

Freephone: 0800 163728 www.domani-kitchens.co.uk

For a free no-obligation survey call Ian Hobbs Technical Services Ltd on

01761 414356 or info@ianhobbs.com

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 45

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Traditional oak BATH Oak are traditional joiners manufacturing and fitting the finest timber windows, doors, staircases and furniture. The company’s founder, Daniel Rutland, stresses how important it is to choose the right joinery supplier: “A great deal of doors and windows, for example, are manufactured in places like Poland and China these days and, whilst prices are low, often quality and ecology are compromised. Bath Oak is a family business

committed to sustainable forestation, buying and using local products and craftsmen to reduce carbon emissions. “We do everything we can to save our planet – even our website is solar powered. Having production facilities on our doorstep means we have finite control over deliveries and quality, we even offer a unique five year guarantee. Bath Oak’s design team can really help to choose the right products to compliment your home.”

Details: 01225 446834

Shepton Mallet Antiques & Collectors Fair

8th - 10th May Entry: Friday 1pm - 5pm £10 Saturday 8.30am - 5pm £5 Sunday 10am - 4pm £5

For more information: call 01636 702326 or visit

www.dmgantiquefairs.com

Home generation IT’S now easier than ever to have your own home power generation system using solar photovoltaic panels. Modern panels now come with a 25-year written guarantee, have no moving parts and with the recent rise in renewable energy value you can export your generated power back down the grid at twice the standard rate charged, giving a tax-free return on investment of 4-6%. Steve Barrett of Solarsense says this will be rising again next year with the introduction here of the European “feed in tariff” already adopted by 16 counties across Europe. This guarantees a fixed premium rate for solar power for 10-15 years. So this year is the ideal time to have solar installed whilst the government is still giving an automatic £2,500 pounds grant to all homeowners.

Join in the Solar Revolution • Solarsense – the South West’s leading solar company since 1994 • Installers of solar thermal and PV systems • Automatic grant for all housesholders up to £2,500 with 50% grants for schools, village halls and charities • Now sell surplus power at premium rates and from April 2010 the new “feed in tarriff” starts in the UK • Recent projects include Chew Magna School, Clifton Lido, UWE and over 1000 domestic solar systems installed throughout Somerset • Just installed – PV at Chewton Mendip School

Tel: 01225 446834 PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

SOLARSENSE-UK LTD Long Ashton Bristol BS41 9LB

Tel: 01275 394139 email:info@solarsense-uk.com www.solarsense-uk.com

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If in doubt, ask! FRIENDLY advice is all part of the service at the familyrun Thomsons Mica Hardware store in Radstock and, in the current economic climate, it’s something more and more people are seeking. Thomas Thomson, who will celebrate his 83rd birthday in August, says there has been a big increase in customers asking for help as they try to save money by turning to DIY or other home crafts. The Thomson family took over the shop in Fortescue Road in 1972; since it first opened in 1898 just three families have run the business! Mr Thomson still works six days a week in the store, which offers everything from a single screw and loose grass seed to Fairtrade and eco-friendly goods (including paint), cookware, china, glass and gifts. Many of the more contemporary products are due to the influence of Mr Thomson’s daughter Jo Milling. Mr Thomson said: “People often come in to ask us for advice, whether it’s about tackling the garden or jam making.” Jo said: “People say that if you can’t find it at Thomsons, then it’s not made.” Mr Thomson says he has no intention of retiring: “I must be one of the oldest ironmongers in the country, although we understand that there is a gentleman in Scotland who is still working at 100.”

LETTERS IN STONE Period and modern designs hand-carved in slate and stone by David Zienkiewicz at Wookey Hole and Glastonbury. David will work with you to create a personalised and unique design and a work of art that will last forever.

Thomsons Mica Hardware 5 Fortescue Road, Radstock www.thomsonshardware.talktalkbusiness.net 01761 434613 Friendly advice is part of the service!

House plaques from £150 and traditional memorial headstones from £1,500.

www.lettersmadeinstone.co.uk

Tel: 01458 832699 & 07717 165299

Traditional hardware Cook shop Fair trade and eco products Nutshell natural paints Organic gardening Loose ironmongery Old fashioned values, new ideas!

MENDIP TIMES •MAY 2009 • PAGE 47

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MENDIP TIMES Renovation, Extensions, Roofing, Loft Extensions, New Build THE COMPLETE BUILDING SERVICE

John Paul Shallcross High View, The Street, Compton Martin, Bristol BS40 6JQ Tel: 01761 220152 Mob: 07554 321105

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Traditional, British-made Carpets to suit all tastes with optional borders for that individual look Commercial & Domestic CARPETS VINYL WOOD INSURANCE APPROVED RETAILER

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Tel/Fax 01749 679411 www.creativecarpets.co.uk PAGE 48 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

CREATIVE Carpets is tucked away at the bottom of Wells High Street by St. Cuthbert’s church, a spot it has occupied for over 20 years. It has been through several recessions in that time but Bill, a fitter who has been with the business since it started in Frome 30 years ago, said he had never known a time when there were so many big jobs. Almost every customer is ordering half and full rolls of carpet and the manufacturers are responding by offering good discounts for large quantities. “We are definitely busier than this time last year,” said the owner, Jo Roseff. “It seems that many people are following the advice that if you can’t move – improve!”

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Heating experts for 20 years J S TAMS Ltd, based in Midsomer Norton, has over 20 years of experience in providing practical and efficient gas, oil and renewable heating solutions. Its technicians are Gas Safe and oftec registered – the Gas Safe Register replaced CORGI gas registration on April 1st and is now the official industry stamp for gas safety. The company covers the Bath, Bristol, Wells, Frome, Midsomer Norton, Shepton Mallet and surrounding areas and takes a proactive approach in tailoring systems to individual requirements and is qualified to work on all types of unvented and vented hot water and heating systems, combination boilers, high efficiency condensing boilers and renewable installations. It specialises in boiler changes, system upgrades and renewals, systems for new builds and extensions, under-floor heating, power flushing, gas safety certificates and renewables e.g. air to heat pumps which represent a flexible and cost-effective alternative to a fossil fuel boiler, with a cooling option. Its energy efficiency characteristics make it an ideal solution to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

GAS OIL SOLAR & RENEWABLES Commercial & Domestic

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For a

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MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 49

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Quality assured JON Maine has featured in Mendip Times because of his restoration and conservation work to the Merchants House in Shepton Mallet. During that time he has had it featured on BBC gaining quotes like “the perfect philosophy of conservation” and “all the right materials and all the right tradesmen”. Recently he has won the highly prized William Stansell Award for his work. He has now finished the project and will be entering it into a series of awards this year and is now actively seeking work for his team. Jon is able to undertake any type of building or scaffolding work to a high standard whether it is on a historic property or a newer one – especially roofing work.

Continuing success LOCATED in the heart of Somerset, D B Joinery is a family run company that has been producing top quality joinery since 1982, building up an enviable reputation as one of the South West’s leading joinery businesses, with a very diverse customer base ranging from individual home owners and local builders to some of the country’s leading housebuilders. Versatility and experience are the key to their success with the ability to understand all the technical details involved in the site work, new builds, extensions, renovations and conversions giving their customers a first class comprehensive service. One recently satisfied customer says: “When choosing a company to measure, design and fit our staircases, D B Joinery and its staff were second to none. The quality of attention and support was first class. Guidance on design was pitched at just the right level for us as selfbuilders and a superb product was created exactly to our budget. I would have no hesitation in recommending them.” Staircases, windows and doors are a speciality and all are built to specification ensuring they blend in with existing joinery and decor. For more information or to arrange a site survey 01761 451123 or visit www.dbjoinerytimsbury.co.uk

JON MAINE RENOVATIONS

HISTORIC PROPERTY REPAIRS

EST. 1988

Specialists in the use of all types of lime for building, pointing and plastering Somerset Building Preservation Trust Winner of the William Stansell Award 2008 All work to period homes undertaken and advised upon • Masonry repairs • Underfloor heating and oak flooring • Repairs to vaults and arches • Roofing and leadwork • Period glazing • Conservation work • Ground-source heat pumps • Quality work undertaken

J M RENOVATIONS The Merchants House, 8 Market Place, Shepton Mallet BA4 5AZ

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01749 345850

jon@merchants-house.co.uk

www.merchants-house.co.uk

PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

D B Joinery have an enviable reputation as one of the South West’s leading joinery businesses with specialities including: N Staircases N Doors N Windows

N Porches N Decorative timbers N Bespoke joinery

Please call for more information or a site visit.

DBJOINERY Tel: 01761 451123 Fax: 01761 452123 Email: info@dbjoinerytimsbury.co.uk www.dbjoinerytimsbury.co.uk

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Best in Mendip

RH Windows JON Maine’s achievements in restoring Merchant’s House in Shepton Mallet have been recognised by a special award from Mendip District Council. The authority’s Built in quality Awards recognises and rewards projects built to the highest standards of design, workmanship and project management, during the past year. Glastonbury Festival organiser Michael Eavis was also honoured for the Best Single New House, on land next to the Tithe Barn at Pilton. Architects, builders, developers and private individuals received prizes in eleven categories for: administration, single new house, multiple housing site, conversions, private extensions/ alterations, commercial new build, business extension/alteration and accessible building.

COOKWARE @98

A brand-new cookware shop stocking: G Emma Bridgewater G Typhoon G Matthew Rice G Schott Zweisel Glassware G Sabatier G Joseph Joseph and many more Open Monday–Saturday 9–5.30 NEW EMMA BRIDGEWATER RANGE INCLUDING COLLECTORS SETS

Lots of lovely things to make your kitchen even nicer 98 HIGH STREET, MIDSOMER NORTON

01761 411031

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THE CHEW VALLEY’S LONGEST ESTABLISHED WINDOW COMPANY WITH A REPUTATION BUILT ON QUALITY AND SERVICE FOR CONSERVATORIES, WINDOWS AND DOORS IN HARDWOOD OR UPVC

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Telephone: 01761 452171 Fax: 01761 453342

Planning & Design Service

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Kitchens of Character. Character.... . “At John Franklin kitchens we pride ourselves on our personal service. We are a small family company who manufacture our own kitchens to almost any design, shape and size to suit your requirements. We offer a professional friendly service from the initial planning WR WKH ¿ QDO LQVWDOODWLRQ Call in to our showroom and workshops in Glastonbury to discuss your requirements-from the simplest kitchen to the most luxurious...always the highest quality at an affordable price.

John Franklin - The personal touch makes all the difference”

John Franklin www.johnfranklinkitchens.co.uk T:(01458)834435 The Beckery, Glastonbury MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 51

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NEWS

Healthy ways to use open spaces BACKWELL’S first “open-air gym” has opened officially following a donation from the Avon and Somerset Police Community Trust. The Backwell Playing Fields Charity had been fundraising to enable them to continue developing the 17-acre space by installing a 5 piece Fresh-Air Fitness Gym following research in local schools about the kind of activities and equipment that would encourage teenagers and young people in to the park. The Charity applied to the Police Community Trust for a grant, which has allowed them to reach their funding target and install the equipment which includes a Double air walker, Air skier, Parallel bars, Double Seated Chest Press and a Leg Curl. The Playing Fields Charity, set up in 1929, has been undertaking improvements to the park over a number of years, including improvements to the children’s play areas, the

installation of footpaths to increase accessibility for elderly and disabled users and the gym equipment sees the latest addition to the park’s facilities. Designed to be used unsupervised by teenagers and young people it aims to encourage exercise and the use of the park space. Meanwhile, talks have begun in Clandown, near Radstock, over the future of its Recreation Ground. Bath & North East Somerset Council has plans to invest in the Recreation Ground as part of a £2.5 million investment across the area to encourage more children and young people to play outside safely in their own communities. B&NES was one of 20 councils from across the UK to receive funding from the Government’s Play Pathfinder programme, which seeks to improve play opportunities for children and young people, including disabled children.

Sunlight near Castle Cary

New arrival

A COOKING apple tree known as “Sunlight” has been planted at the Carymoor Environmental Centre near Castle Cary in recognition of Somerset’s achievements in recycling aluminium cans. The Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation donated the tree because, since July 2007, 490 tonnes of aluminium has been collected and recycled from Somerset households. To recognise this, Alupro has supported the British environmental charity Ripple Africa by enabling them to plant 490 trees on the shores of Lake Malawi. Rupert Farthing, Programme Manager for the Somerset Waste Action Programme, said: “The eco-centre is located on 100 acres of reclaimed landfill and has a small orchard planted up with native trees. “To complement the orchard we chose a type of cooking apple tree, Malus Domestica, commonly known as “Sunlight”; this was planted by children who attend the RSPB Young Explorers group based on site. It is a small contribution but an important reminder of the importance of recycling.”

NOAH’S Ark Zoo Farm at Wraxall has been celebrating its newest arrival, a baby Meerkat, pictured getting the most out of the glorious sunshine, sunbathing with mum. The new arrival measures just 10cm and deputy head keeper, Sadie Garland, said: “This is our first baby Meerkat and we are delighted that both mother and baby are doing well. The baby has just started venturing outside and is digging anything and everything, all under the watchful gaze of Mum.”

Tracks of my teas! RAISING a cuppa – members of the self-styled Monday Gang celebrate the news that the Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust has won permission to extend the heritage line at Midsomer Norton. Bath and North East Somerset Council has granted permission for several hundred yards of new track to be laid along the route from the famous Midsomer Norton South railway station. Work to prepare the trackbed and clear undergrowth is now underway as are negotiations to create new footpaths along the route. Shirley Steel, Events and Marketing, is pictured with the volunteers – who devote their time to restoring the locomotives and rolling stock, along with general maintenance. She said: “The granting of planning permission is wonderful news.” PAGE 52 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

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MOTORING Mendip Motor Club members put on a stunning display at this year’s Mells Daffodil Festival.

Sales – Service – Parts – Repairs ALL MAKES SERVICING, VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS, MECHANICAL & BODY REPAIRS Collection/Loan Car by arrangement

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QUALITY USED CARS Your peace of mind is our priority

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Andrew Bath Car Sales specialists in 4x4 vehicles A full range of vehicles including Land Rover, Mitsubishi, Nissan, as well as other makes Prices range from as little as £2000 up to £20,000 View our latest selection of used vehicles in our virtual showroom which is updated constantly with images and details www.andrewbathcarsales.co.uk

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All vehicles supplied come with: # HPI check # Full or long MOT # Pre delivery inspection and service # 3 months parts and labour warranty that can be extended up to 2 years # Fully equipped workshop available on site # MOT testing # Part exchange welcome # Financial packages available (subject to status) We look forward to receiving your enquiries. Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm, Sat: 9am-4.30pm, Sun: by appointment Mendip House, Bristol Road, Green Ore, Wells BA5 3ER (A39/B3135 crossroads opposite the Ploughboy Inn) 01761 241153 / 07976 272097

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N Exhausts N Batteries Brakes N Four-wheel Alignment

0 1 9 3 4 THE DEPOT, GREENHILL ROAD, SANDFORD Winscombe, Somerset BS25 5PH MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 53

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Medicinal mysteries – your questions answered Why do some doctors buzz you while others fetch you in person? Ever since the invention of electricity, buzzing has been the norm for doctors who considered it far too secretarial to fetch and carry their patients to and from the waiting room. Early intercoms were not known for their voice By Dr PHIL quality and patients were left to guess if they HAMMOND were being summoned, based on a rough crackle and a few syllables of Dalek. So why hasn’t it been replaced? Because doctors rarely ask patients for feedback, and patients were until recently much too respectful to volunteer it. So most of us are blissfully ignorant of our communication failings. To be fair, modern intercoms tend to go through the practice telephone network and are of much better sound quality, the only drawback being that if you consult with the receiver slightly off the hook then the whole waiting room gets to hear about Mrs Miggin’s warty growth. Lovely. And what about fetching in person? FIPing has always been popular with those doctors who are into the personal touch. The early eye contact and reassuring smile can do much to assuage the anxiety of an embarrassing itch. FIPing also allows the doctor to loiter outside the waiting room door and stare through the crack to survey his next patient. Mr Bishop is doing “unobserved” handstands in the toy-corner but assumes a look of chronic world-weariness the moment a doctor appears. Why? Why? I don’t know, I’d need to gather more information. But the beauty of FIPing is that you start observing patients immediately, from the moment they try to get out of those ludicrously low bucket seats to the moment they set foot in your consulting room. Do they look sick? Can they walk properly? How will they fit that double buggy through the door without chipping the paintwork? Should the doctor walk in front or behind? I usually see if the patients can pass me on the corridor – as much to suss out my level of fitness as theirs – but a colleague of mine is convinced he can dictate the pace and style of his consultations by the manner in which he leads the patients to his room. A leisurely stroll if he’s not too pushed for time, a brisk trot if he is. I’ve seen a video of this and the brisk trot looks a lot like he’s concealing a tuberous vegetable about him, but there might be something in it. So FIPing gets your vote?

What bliss! An empty waiting room

On the whole, yes. It’s particularly useful if someone’s left an unfriendly aroma in your room and you need a few moments to clear your head. But also, patients seem to like it. If they’re seeing a familiar doctor, they can pack in an extra minute by addressing the bunions on the stairs. And if it’s a new doctor, they can decide whether they want to bring up psychological issues (e.g. the impending trauma of a visit from the in-laws) or stick to the tennis elbow. And it cuts down on mistaken identity? Yes and no. If the doctor is minimally articulate, then FIPing is more reliable than an intercom. But for new and amnesiac doctors, it’s a source of constant embarrassment. Say your next patient is Mrs Thomas, aged 50. When you get to the waiting room, there are four women fitting that description. So who do you bestow the all important early eye-contact on? And what if you saw her only last week and haven’t the faintest recollection what she looks like? Your only option then is to stare at the linoleum which makes Mrs Thomas think you’re not in the least bit interested in her. Also, if none of the women are Mrs Thomas, you can spend a long time staring at the lino. Ten minutes is my record. Any other drawbacks? Successful FIPing depends as much on the geography of the surgery as the style of the doctor. If the waiting room’s on the ground floor and Dr Dick is on level six, you can’t expect the poor man to rush up and down the stairs every six and a half minutes. When I worked in such a surgery, I could never get down the stairs anyway because they were blocked with patients who’d collapsed on the way up or were just taking a breather. I ended up examining patients over the banister on Level 3. The other problem with FIPing is that it leaves you no time to do anything in-between patients. And what exactly do doctors do in-between patients? See next month.

Telehealth is here POPULATION growth in the over 65s will be 5% by 2020. Costs of care are rising exponentially. Nurses and doctors will not cope with the current model of service delivery. Telehealth is the remote exchange of physiological data between a patient at home and medical staff PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

using phone lines to assist in diagnosis and monitoring and can help to prevent unplanned admissions. It is also a learning tool, reducing anxiety and empowers the patient in managing their condition, keeping independence and dignity

for an aging population. Many complain they do not receive the respect they deserve (see Selina Scott in Daily Mail 13.04.09) and by empowering them in this way patients regain some control of their lives. DR. LANCE FORBAT

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The Goblin of Glastonbury A FRIEND came to visit from the “Big Smoke” the other week. We decided to climb Glastonbury Tor to show her Somerset from one of its best vantage points. The three-year-old has developed an aversion to walking which is rather unfortunate but I decided to ignore this fact when we chose a steep climb in howling wind for our day out. The moaning began shortly after we set off. “I’m bored of this now,” the three-year-old announced. We hadn’t even reached the foot of the Tor. I realised that this was going to require more than just physical effort on my part. “We’re going to see a knight’s tower,” I said. “Pretend you have your sword and shield.” His face lit up and his pace quickened. I proceeded to give him a brief synopsis of King Arthur, the Round Table and the Holy Grail, based on my limited knowledge. By then he was into his stride and we made it to the top without any more complaining. On reaching the summit the view was obscured by cloud and the tower was a wind tunnel. This sent all the children wild (wind has this effect on children and horses) and they enjoyed running circuits round the tower. A short time later we were on Glastonbury High Street. This is a great place for children to see grown-ups in dressing-up outfits. Several medieval peasants and princesses were doing their weekend shopping. The three-year-old was entranced. Our favourite café was full and we ventured further into town. This gave me time to contemplate whether Glastonbury could continue to support over a dozen crystal shops despite the economic downturn. I then became aware of the three-year-old gazing into one of the crystal shop’s windows. “It’s ‘Goblin Man’!” said the ten-year-old. ‘Goblin Man’ had entered our family folklore some months earlier, conjured up by two older sisters trying to persuade their younger brother to tow the line. “’Goblin Man’ will get you,” they’d say and then he’d jump into bed, eat his dinner, stop shouting and generally do as he was told. The ‘Goblin Man’ in the window was as realistic as a wooden goblin could be and thanks to some inner mechanics, he could move too. However, the three-year-old was not convinced. “No, that’s not ‘Goblin Man’,“ he said and pointed up the street. “I saw ‘Goblin Man’ walk down there earlier.” MENDIP MUM

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Coronation House, The Borough, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EG Tel: 01934 713013 www.wedmoredental.co.uk email: enquiries@wedmoredental.freeserve.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 55

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MENDIP TIMES

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Pamper dad

The Strand celebrates

ON June 21st it will be Fathers Day; we often think of pampering mum, but what about dad? At Body and Soul in Blagdon they have many ideas to help you say “Thank You Dad” at prices to suit any budget, ranging from toiletries to beautiful boxed pens or comical jotter pads, plus some lovely Fathers day cards. And what about thinking about his health and wellbeing and buying him a gift voucher for a relaxing Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage, Indian Head Massage or a Reflexology Treatment to help ease away the stresses and strains of everyday life, or perhaps try a Facial Treatment which will cleanse not only the skin but also the mind. Many men can be very sceptical of these treatments, but are then totally converted once they try, so why not treat him at Body and Soul.

THE Strand, near Chew Magna, is celebrating its first anniversary, with the appointment of two new members of staff. Hayley Rogers is their new part-time hair stylist, specialising in weddings and hair put-ups and has been qualified for three years. Kelly Vickers has joined full-time as a hair stylist and has been qualified for seven years. She specialises in hair design and colour and has competed in many national competitions – reaching the finals of the Paul Mitchell colour trophy. It’s been a hectic first year for The Strand, which offers a full range of hair design, beauty and wellbeing therapy treatments at its stunning country hideaway beneath Knowle Hill, just outside Chew Magna. Hayley Rogers

Kelly Vickers

Celebrating 1 Year in Business Why not come and celebrate our 1st Anniversary with us and spoil yourself by taking advantage of one of our fabulous offers below:

MAY OFFERS G Female Cut + Blowdry £30 (with Hayley or Kelly) G Male Wet Cut £10 (with Hayley or Kelly) G Book a Facial (excluding Express), receive a Blowdry free (with Hayley or Kelly) G Book a Eyelash Perm and receive an Eyelash Tint free G Book a Pedicure and receive a Manicure at half price G Conditioning Treatment and Blowdry for £20 (with Hayley or Kelly) G Book a Massage and receive a Facial for half price

THE STRAND Swallows Lodge, Knowle Hill Farm, Knowle Hill, Chew Magna BS40 8TE Tel: 01275 333727 Email: thestrandspa@googlemail.com • Website: www.thestrandspa.co.uk

A Complete Centre for Natural Health PAGE 56 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

Y & SOUL D O B HEALTH & BEAUTY WITH GIFT SHOP

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Please pop in for a full range of Beauty and Holistic treatments Open Tuesday–Friday 9.30–5.30pm, late night Thursday until 7.30pm Saturday 9am–3.30pm

HIGH STREET, BLAGDON, BS40 7RA • 01761 462078 Free village car park opposite, behind village club

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SWIMMING

On the medal trail By Mark Adler DETERMINATION is possibly the one word which adequately describes swimmer Jo Frith’s attitude – and she has the medals to prove it. The former book keeper was forced to give up her business after she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis aged 31. The onset had been so rapid that Jo was using a wheelchair before doctors had even confirmed she had the disease. Today, 17 years later, Jo has built a new life – and a career – which she puts down to her love of swimming. Even the wheelchair has gone. Jo, who lives in Glastonbury, will be heading to Sydney in Australia this October to compete in the World Masters Games, a multi-sport event for athletes disadvantaged due to age or disability. She returned from the last Games held in Canada four years ago clutching four gold and one silver medal. World Masters Games organisers expect 25,000 people from upwards of 100 countries to compete across 28 sports at more than 70 venues throughout Sydney - three times more competitors than the Olympic Games.

Events in the Masters are designed in a way to allow people of different ages and abilities to compete in proper races. Jo also competes in other events for people with disabilities and holds six world titles and three British records. Jo said: “Until my physiotherapist suggested I try swimming to help my mobility, I had never been near a swimming pool but I discovered I was quite good at it.” Jo’s new career is as a woodturner,

making pens which she sells at the popular Glastonbury Country Market and elsewhere. She said: “I was looking for something to do to help pay towards the costs of the competitions. I had never tried making pens before but I am very good at problem solving and taught myself how to do it.” Jo must pay for the 10-day trip to Australia herself but friends and fellow stall holders are trying to raise money to help her.

You can find Jo most Tuesdays at the market, which is held in the Town Hall. To find out more about the World Masters Games, visit: www.2009worldmasters.com MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 57

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MENDIP TIMES

Read more about riding on the M THIS month we are delighted to launch our bigger, regular equestrian section, welcoming Celia Gadd as our new equestrian editor, alongside our regular riding columnist Ingrid Sofrin. The Mendips is such a huge rural area and is home to literally thousands of horses and equestrian fans and so it makes sense to report more on what is happening on the riding scene.

Celia with Denman

CELIA will be no stranger to many of you as she has worked as editor for over 12 years for two other popular regional magazines before joining us at the Mendip Times, as well as having taught hundreds of people to ride. She has always lived and worked in the Mendip area and has followed an interesting career covering many different aspects of the equestrian industry. Having ridden from a small child she couldn’t wait to leave school at 16 in order to embark on her British Horse Society training in order to teach and compete. Her first job was a year at Urchinwood Manor in Congresbury on the Youth Training Scheme and during

PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

this time he made it her mission to ride every single one of the 70 plus horses at the stables. This was often achieved by riding before work, and in her lunch hour, and she also passed her B.H.S stages I, II and III while working there. She began teaching some of their regular clients before her 17th birthday and on leaving Urchinwood Manor at the end of the scheme took a job working for the well known horse dealer and show jumping rider Eric Winter at the Riverside Equestrian Centre in Kingston Seymour. During this time she passed her B.H.S.A.I as soon as she was old enough to take the exam, after spending two days each week training under Mrs Molly Sivewright of the Talland School of Equitation and also a period of work experience for event rider Rodney Powell. She helped develop Riverside Equestrian Centre from a dealing/livery yard into an extremely busy BHS Approved riding school and also helped fuel Eric’s passion for eventing as this was where her main interest lay. She also continued her quest to ride a large variety of horses and this was a fabulous opportunity to compete and train numerous horses, as well as get involved in the process of starting off many young horses from scratch, and grooming for Eric at BHS Horse Trials and top show jumping competitions. The first horse she bought of her own cost just over £900 and was a failed racehorse with dubious paces. Her beloved ‘Rocky’ however proved what work and persistence can do and competed successfully in all disciplines being placed 4th at Lulworth Castle in a competitive Intermediate section, and

Daughter Roxie

winning many show jumping competitions as well as being the lead horse of the winning team chase team ‘the Whingeing Women’ making his way into the Horse and Hound for several weeks on the trot. After being sold to Rod and Jane Billing he continued his successful team chasing career and also went back to eventing at the age of 21 to give Jane some very memorable rounds of cross country! Unfortunately he died last year aged 27 but had lived a very full and active life. After two years at Eric’s Celia left to pursue her own competitive career and after helping to set up Woodspring Equestrian Centre (now The Hand) she rented her own yard and set up the BHS Approved Swiss Valley Equestrian Centre on Nortons Wood lane in Clevedon. During this time she also went on to pass her BHS Intermediate Instructors certificate and become one of the youngest BHS Stable Managers in the country. Eventing three horses and teaching numerous pupils from novice to advanced kept her very busy but unfortunately increasing rents and rate charges caused her to close the yard down. After several years of freelancing and a period of working in Switzerland with dressage horses, she eventually found her own yard again and ran Shrub Farm livery yard and the Brent and Berrow Riding Club from Brent Knoll for eight years.

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RIDING

he Mendips

New classes for X Factor THE ever popular X Factor Dressage to Music championships is to run again this year on Friday November 13th at The Hand Equestrian Cente, Clevedon. This year it is in memory of Matthew Billing who tragically died last year with Teenage Sudden Death Syndrome and so the event is to raise funds for CRY, the charity that supports families involved with this devastating condition, and BBC Children In Need. Over the last four years organisers Helen Griffiths and Celia Gadd have raised over £20,000 for charities and this year have opened up the competition to more levels. For the first year there will be a class for competitors at Novice and Elementary level, one for under 16s and the usual open class for Medium level and above and there is £500 to the winner. All the riders will perform their dressage to music tests during the day and then the top few will be selected to ride at the Gala evening performance when the audience will vote their favourite to take the title. Entries are now open and tickets can be booked so for further details visit www.xfactordressage.co.uk. celia@celiagadd.co.uk 07779 716826

Jo’s Badminton vision Celia Gadd has been to talk to Joanna May about her preparations and hopes for this year’s big event.

It was during this time that she set up the first magazine, Somerset Riders, along with her friend Anna Gallie, which then became West Country Riders after being bought by the Western Daily Press. She worked on this title for eight years leaving to take time out to have her beautiful daughter Roxie. However, demand was high for another equestrian title after West Country Riders as a stand alone magazine disappeared and so along with her sister Liz Snell (a recruitment specialist) she launched Equine Canine and Country Life which has proved to be a very popular regional magazine. However, with the recruitment business becoming increasingly busy and wanting to spend more time with Roxie, the magazine was sold at the end of last year which has enabled Celia to spend some time now developing the equestrian section in Mendip Times. She is also still helping with the recruitment business, teaching, judging and riding, and has also just set up another part time business with the Utility Warehouse Discount club helping people save money on their utility bills – there is never a dull moment in Celia’s life. If you would like to get in touch, or have a horsy story to tell, event you would like help promoting or someone you think deserves a mention then please email celia@celiagadd.co.uk

Photo courtesy of Kit Houghton

First horse Rocky

THE Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials is still the pinnacle of the sport and for many it is their ultimate dream to take place in the competition. This year the event takes place between May 7th and 10th. Local rider Joanna May from Wedmore is to compete at Badminton for the second time after her debut performance last year. Jo, aged 39, has owned Faere Vision for 12 years now since he was three years old and has produced him herself from scratch. Jo teaches riding, and runs a livery yard but at present he is the only horse that she has to event and she would dearly like a few more rides for local owners. It is a great achievement to get a horse to this level but Jo is very modest in her description of their successes. “He is a very soft and soppy horse,” she explains. “He is actually very easy to ride in a ‘big’ occasion as he doesn’t tend to get tense. In fact he is so laid back that you do need to work at getting him revved up for the cross country phase.” Last year the combination unfortunately retired on the XC and Jo explains what happened: “To be honest I think we were both a bit stage struck by the big event. Competing at Badminton is completely different from anywhere else and being a local competitor meant that I had a huge amount of supporters present. “This was great but did add to my nerves and tension and after we had a slight ‘change of plan’ in the water I basically forgot to ride! He is usually a good jumper and the fences are not really a problem to him so this year I am determined to be more positive to help him out.” Their preparation for the big event has gone to plan this year with three successful outings so fingers crossed that all goes well in the final few weeks and that we can report back next month on a very happy and successful occasion for this hard working rider. MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 59

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MENDIP TIMES

RIDING

Riding Calendar Celia Gadd starts with her regular column and would be delighted to hear from any of you with stories, reports or show dates for our pages. MAY is a wonderful time for every level of horse rider as the longer days and warmer weather gets even the most fair-weather riders back into the saddle. For the more competitive riders, the eventing season is already in full swing but as the ground improves and the horses get fitter the general competition hots up and riders start to make plans for the rest of the season. We have a wonderful selection of events, fun rides and other riding club activities within the Mendips. Below is a short list of some of them but please do let us know about your riding club competitions so that we can help to promote them for you. It is a great time to start back with the lessons and dust away the winter cobwebs and all the local instructors will be looking forward to filling their diaries up for the summer months. Although the credit crunch is apparent in many areas already, it does seem like the equestrian scene on the whole is standing up well and the numbers of competitors at the indoor show centres over the winter have not shown an obvious decline on previous years. Saturday 2nd – Senior BSJA at Badgworth Arena, Badgworth Wednesday 6th – Senior BSJA at The Hand Equestrian Centre, Clevedon Thursday 7th – Unaffiliated show jumping at The Hand Equestrian Centre, Clevedon Saturday 9th – British Reining Clinic at The Mendip Stud, Badgworth Sunday 10th – Brent Knoll Riding Club Open Show The Mendip Stud Club Open Show at The Mendip Stud, Badgworth Thursday 14th – Sunday 20th – Senior BSJA at The Hand Equestrian Centre, Clevedon Friday 15th – Unaffiliated Dressage at Urchinwood Manor, Congresbury Tuesday 19th – The Mendip Stud Club Surgery at The Mendip Stud, Badgworth Saturday 23rd – Affiliated Dressage at Badgworth Arena, Badgworth Brent Knoll Riding Club fun ride at Roman Road, Bleadon. PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

Arron ready to go it alone A BUSY season lies ahead for show jumper Arron Butterfield, already a veteran of the competition circuit at the age of five! With INGRID He and his pony SOFRIN Pickles have been beating children several times his age at mini show jumping events since he was three and this summer he will be off the lead rein and going it alone. His parents Alex and Claire first sat Arron on a pony when he was 18 months old and since then he has never looked back. His story has featured in the national press and on television and the endearing sight of such a tiny rider on his 11.2hh pony has led to generous sponsorship from a number of local equestrian businesses. Arron and his family live in the centre of Frome but father and son make a daily trip to Brookover Farm in Lullington, where Pickles is kept at livery. Alex said: “He can’t wait to get out here and see Pickles, so as soon as I get home from work we come over to the stables. We don’t push him at all, but he just loves it,

and loves riding his pony.” Horses have been a part of the Butterfield family for generations; Alex was a former jockey who worked in the racing world with Jenny Pitman and Nicky Henderson. His father was in the Royal Horse Guards at Buckingham Palace and his grandfather and great-grandfather were all keen horsemen. Pickles was a lucky find for the Butterfield family, who spotted him for sale on the internet just as they were off on holiday a couple of years ago. They were due to spend ten days in Devon, but Arron was so thrilled about his new pony that they cut their holiday short and came home after four days to go and collect the Welsh Section A pony from Clutton. Small though Pickles is, he will be the right size for Arron for several years to come. Arron’s little sister, Chloe, is also a regular visitor to the stable yard, so when Arron finally outgrows his beloved Pickles, he might find that his sister will be ready to take him on. In later life Arron is hoping he can turn his hobby into a career, and would like to follow his father into the racing world and become a jockey.

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CAVING

The Main Chamber

READ’S Cavern is the most westerly of a line of swallets formed by water flowing off the north slope of Blackdown. It is also the only one With PHILIP with a more-or-less HENDY constant stream, the Hunter’s Brook, which sinks under a cliff below the path between Burrington and Dolebury. Unusually, the water resurges from not one but two springs, the Risings at Rickford and Langford. At the inaugural meeting of the University of Bristol Speleological Society (UBSS) in March 1919, there was speculation that a cave should exist beyond the sink, and plans were made for an excavation. At their first summer camp that year, the students dug where the water sank underground, removing twenty tons of rock to form a vertical shaft some 20 metres deep, but nothing was found. Then in September another dig was started at the other end of the cliff, and within a few hours a ton of rock had been taken out, to reveal a steep shaft leading into the Main Chamber. This chamber runs parallel with the cliff face, and is 53 metres long, 10 metres wide, and 8 metres high. The stream sank amongst

boulders at the western end. The floor was strewn with relics of ancient human habitation. Over the next five years, the University conducted a detailed archaeological dig in the chamber and the painted gridlines used in surveying are still to be seen on the walls today. They proved that the cave had been used during the Early Iron Age, before the Roman occupation, and that a massive rockfall had killed at least four inhabitants and sealed the cave for nearly 2,000 years. Almost a hundred pottery vessels, all broken, were identified, as well as tools and other items made of bone and antler. There was also part of an iron shovel and a saw, latch lifters (a type of key), nails and shackles. Bronze wheel hubs and a ring were also found. The discoverers wanted to name the cave the Keltic Cavern, but the Ordnance Survey refused to acknowledge the name, so instead it was called Read’s Cavern after Reginald Read of the UBSS who was the prime mover in the successful dig. Investigation led to other discoveries, including a well-decorated grotto, which was kept secret for several years. Gaps between the boulders at either end of the Main Chamber were investigated. Some constricted routes proved impassable, but in 1937 a way down at the west end was followed for some distance. This was

named Zed Alley, after the narrow lane in central Bristol. Ten years later, in 1947, the Mendip Nature Research Committee dug at the other end of the chamber, to discover the Browne-Stewart Series. This was found to rejoin the stream which was last seen far above, but it sank again, in a pebble choke. Later, in the early 1980s, another group risked life and limb to push this series through more unstable squeezes. They named it LADS Luck (after the name the diggers gave themselves), but it has now collapsed. Entry to the Main Chamber can be made by the original steep shaft, where a lifeline is recommended as the lower part of the climb is very exposed, or by following the stream down under the cliff. The long inclined void with its folded rock strata is an impressive sight; indeed it is the largest chamber in any Burrington cave. The adventurous can spend a long time investigating the various crawls and squeezes under the floor. There is, however, an air of instability in these lower passages, and routes have been known to change, or even become lost. There is often a smell of newly-crushed limestone, so the cave must be treated with respect, although it is a popular place with Burrington cavers.

Phil is a member of Wessex Cave Club and has been caving for the last 42 years. Still active, his main interest is in digging to try to find new caves. He has published a caving cartoon book and collaborated on the recently-published Swildon’s Hole – 100 Years of Exploration. MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 61

Photograph by Phil Hendy

The Keltic Cavern

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MENDIP TIMES

ACTIVE MENDIP

Happy dust I RODE Burrington Ham the other day and got Happy Dust on my bike. This is a welcome, refreshing and heart-lifting change from the usual Sad Mud I get. It’s a sign that the trails are drying out thanks to warm winds, longer days and that rare commodity on Mendip, sunlight. Happy Dust means the trails are hard and fast. You can whip across the heathland and limestone grasslands (always mindful of other users enjoying themselves, the Exmoor ponies and the Devon Red cattle who seem to congregate on path junctions) with the dust misting the front of your frame. This is in direct contrast to the months of gopping mud weighing you down, where you finish each ride looking like Swamp Thing. Now is the time for sampling Happy Dust. You should try it. I bet you’ve got a bike of some variety. You can start off on the Strawberry Line or go to Stockhill Forest where the trails are wide and smooth with gentle slopes. Try it. You’ll love the Happy Dust. In Active Mendip we want more people to try different outdoor adventures. Especially young adults. The drop-off rates in young people taking part in organised sport after they’ve left school is dramatic. I for one didn’t like the ‘team’ mentality of the football or rugby clubs but still wanted to be outdoors doing physical activity. Mountain biking, caving, climbing, canoeing are great activities for young people (and everyone else) to stay active. One of the recognised issues with these type of activities is the initial hurdles to get over, like learning some basic skills and needing kit when you’re not sure whether you’re going to like it or not. With this in mind we’re launching the individual membership scheme for Active Mendip. This will be a great opportunity for people to try

We’ve got it covered

different activities across Mendip at a reduced rate and get discounts from the Active Mendip members. Individual membership will be at the following rates for a year: £20 per individual, £15 per U16 and £30 per family. You will get your own Active Mendip card that you can use for example to try caving for £10, archery for only £13 or an evening with the Search and Rescue Team for £10 (having spent some time with this bunch this will be an evening to remember!). There are loads of taster activities for people to come along and give it a go. There are a huge amount of activities on offer from the members. To see all the details and apply for your Active Mendip Card go to www.activemendip.co.uk It’s worth pointing out that Active Mendip is a Community Interest Company, so apart from a small admin fee all the profits of this scheme will go towards the sustainable development of Mendip; supporting the landscape, community and economy of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. I’m off to find some more Happy Dust. JIM HARDCASTLE

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MUSIC

Liz Tu

Mendip music DURING these times of financial uncertainty, what could cheer you up more than a night out listening to great live music for next to nothing? Forget expensive gig tickets – you can hear a fantastic variety of local musicians on your doorstep for just a pound or two, which is the usual entry fee for a local with NICKI acoustic club. DAVEY Acoustic clubs are regular events which are open to anyone who wants to either listen to or perform music. They offer a warm and supportive environment for performers and a wonderful evening of fun and entertainment for the audience. Whether you enjoy classic blues, traditional folk music, quirky renditions of pop songs, or anything in between, the joy of the acoustic clubs is that you never know who will turn up or what they will perform. Each club has its own unique character and every session is guaranteed to be highly enjoyable. Mendip has a wealth of musical talent and we are lucky to have plenty of acoustic clubs in the area which welcome new performers and audience members alike. Details can be found in our what’s on section. The acoustic clubs also organise regular concerts. Two highlights for May are: Ember – “Meltingly fine harmony lines . . . a red hot duo” play on Thursday 7th May at Compton Martin Village Hall. Tickets £5 from Spotlight Acoustic on 01761 241235. Walter Strauss – “A many-layered, multi-textural, one-man folk festival” from the United States is on his UK tour and plays on Friday 8th May at East Harptree Theatre. Tickets £10 from Open Door Acoustic on 01761 221448. James Slater and Danny Ward, two of the most well-known and

popular performers from the acoustic club circuit will be supporting Walter Strauss on the 8th with their own special brand of ragtime/blues/country, so do check them out – it’ll be worth it! When I set up Wookey Hole Acoustic Club in 2006 to help raise funds for the village music festival, little did I know where it would lead! Since then I have been drawn in to a wonderful world of fascinating people and fabulous music. In February, after over 20 years of full time employment, I took a leap to give up working as a senior manager in a national charity to set up my own company – Saltbox Training and Events. This decision means I can be my own boss and have more time for my family, but it also enables me to be much more active in organising and promoting local music events, such as Wookey Hole’s annual music festival, which grows bigger and better every year. I also hope to write regularly for Mendip Times and look forward to keeping people informed about and inspired by the wealth and variety of music which takes place in these beautiful Mendip hills.

Opera treat at Ston Easton STON Easton Park in Somerset will provide the stunning setting for two concerts on July 24th and 25th by Opera Brava, Britain’s principal touring opera company. Visitors to ‘Opera in the Park’ will experience Puccini’s finest score, La Bohème and Mozart’s “perfect” opera, The Marriage of Figaro, conducted by Jeremy Silver,

who has conducted English National Opera, and directed by Bronek Pomorski. The 18th century Palliadian mansion itself will provide the backdrop with guests invited to bring

chairs, rugs and picnics to enjoy on the splendid front lawn. Tickets are £25 in advance (children £10) or £30 on the night subject to availability. The hotel is offering a number of dining options –

from picnic basket to gourmet dinner – from Head Chef Matthew Butcher as well as accommodation packages, suggesting: “Why not holiday at home this summer and bring your party to ours?”

Tickets 01444 443000 or from Tourist Information Centres. Full details including ticket options: Ston Easton Park. 01761 241631 www.stoneaston.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009 • PAGE 63

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MENDIP TIMES

MUSIC

Banding together MUSICIANS South West is a new co-operative of professional musicians whose aim is to allow the public direct access to all types of music, without going through an agency. Currently it consists of the Maggio String Quartet, Ensemble Paradis (trio of flute, cello and piano), Sunny Skies (jazz duo) and Idle Feet (folk and easy popular music). In time, it hopes to expand into all genres of music. Two of the groups – Maggio String Quartet and Ensemble Paradis – recently gave midday lunchtime concerts in Wells Cathedral. Idle Feet will be playing at the Poachers Pocket at Chelynch, near Shepton Mallet, on Saturday, May 2nd.

Choir celebrates

IT was back in 1984 that this group of friends from the Somerset Youth Choir found they no longer qualified as “youths” and left to form the Somerset Chamber Choir, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a spectacular concert at Wells Cathedral on July 25th. They still form the core of the 60-strong choir gathering from all parts of the country to rehearse for two concerts each year. Conductor Graham Caldbeck will direct a programme of baroque classics, featuring soloists Dame Emma Kirkby, Sophie Bevan, Tim Mead, Thomas Hobbs and Derek Walton with the baroque orchestra Canzona.

Details: 01275 349010 or at www.somersetchamberchoir.org.uk

PAGE 64 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

Festival director to stay on THE Creative Director of the Frome Festival has accepted an offer to stay in the post until the event celebrates its 10th anniversary next year. Martin Dimery is currently finalising plans for this year’s event. He said: “The generous support of volunteers and the town’s business community made it an easy decision for me to continue. “The festival has come a long way in a short space of time. Famous names now approach us to appear and audiences grow every year.” This year’s festival will be held from Friday, July 3rd to Sunday, July 12th and will feature classical, jazz and folk music, drama film and literary events.

On a high note

MEMBERS of the training section of Wells City brass band have a smart new look thanks to a donation from a local company. Wells Tyre Service provided funding for the band to buy logoed sweatshirts for 20 budding musicians. Wells City Band is a group of amateur brass musicians serving the Somerset area by providing concerts, marches and live brass band music for indoor and outdoor events. Its Training Section is open to aspiring brass musicians of all ages and abilities. Members will join the main band but it takes an average of two to three years to progress.

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BUSINESS

Connecting Somerset WITH two actors, a script by playwright Richard Conlon, seven technology experts on video and a look into what the future holds for business online with IBM, an evening presentation in Taunton on Wednesday, May 20th is sure to capture the imagination of businesses in Somerset. The multimedia event is the brainchild of the team behind Connecting Somerset; it’s being billed as a business get together with a difference. Nicky Robertson, Director of Mendip Media, and one of the seven Technology Partners who have been working with Connecting Somerset for the past two years, said: “When the going gets tough we’ve got to reach out to all businesses in the county and share expertise in how to get the best out of online communication. And we’ve got to do it in a smart and fun way!

“It’s no longer enough just to have a website or work from an office. That’s why we are pleased to be involved with Technology – a 21st Century Approach to Business.” The event, which is free and being held

at the Tacchi Morris Arts Centre, will put much of the theory of its exponents into practice by exploiting performance and story telling to grab the audience’s interest and by being filmed for the Internet.

For more information visit www.connectingsomerset.co.uk

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MENDIP TIMES

What’s On

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To publish a classified advert of up to 20 words to promote your forthcoming event to our 80,000 readers, for just £21.00 (inc. VAT), please call 01761 463888 with your entry – date, time, venue, entrance fee, contact number and credit card payment.

MENDIP SOCIETY WALKS Sat May 2nd - East Harptree Woods Sat May 9th - Cheddar Wed May 13th - Cheddar.bluebells Sat May 16th - To be advised Sat May 23rd – Blagdon Lake Sat May 30th - Wells

PAGE 66 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2009

Banwell Flower Festival takes place from May 2nd-4th

Summer Ball HAPPY Landings Animal Shelter near Shepton Mallet is hosting its first fundraising Summer Masked Ball in June. There are no prizes for guessing its theme - but there will be a prize for the wearer of the best animal mask! The ball is being held on Friday, June 19th at Bowlish House Hotel in Shepton Mallet. Tickets are £50. The evening will begin with a champagne reception followed by buffet supper and dancing. Pen Farthing, a Royal Marine who rescued stray dogs from Afghanistan, will be the guest speaker. His book “One Dog at a time” is described as a “must read”. The ball has been organised by Probusiness, business accountants and advisers based in Chamberlain Street, Wells. Animal rescue is close to the hearts of company owners Jane and Martin Bowe, who’ve provided homes over the years for everything from cats and dogs to guinea pigs, rabbits, rats and chickens. Based on a 5 acre site at Pylle on the A37, Happy Landings first opened in May 1995. A former boarding kennels, the shelter can house around 100 domestic animals and a further 200 farm animals. In recent years it has found new homes for more than 450 animals per year. It works alongside authorities such as councils, dog wardens, social services and the police as well as vets and other sanctuaries and the demand for animal welfare is constant and busy. For further information about the ball and to purchase tickets, please call Jane Bowe at Probusiness on 01749 677989. The find out more about Happy Landings, please visit: www.happy-landings.org.uk

ACROSS: 1 Mendip Farmers, 9 Undergo, 10 Overrun, 11 Haymaker, 12 Along, 14 Marksbury, 17 Briar, 20 Gambolled, 23 India, 24 Backache, 28 Took aim, 29 Airless, 30 Salt-and-pepper. DOWN: 1 Maugham, 2 Noddy, 3 Inroads, 4 Froze, 5 Rook, 6 Ewe lamb, 7 Sartorial, 8 Binegar, 13 Lymm, 15 Raindrops, 16 Urge, 18/18A Point to point, 19 Travail, 21 Oak tree, 22 Dresser, 25 Award, 26 Cheap, 27 Emma.

Friday May 1st-Sunday May 10th North Somerset Arts Week at 118 venues across the area. Details: www.northsomersetarts.org.uk 01934 627809 or info@northsomersetarts.org.uk Sunday May 2nd – Monday May 4th Flower Festival at St. Andrew’s Church Banwell, plus various events. Details www.banwellflowerfestival.co.uk or e-mail contact@banwellflowerfestival.co.uk Sunday May 3rd Exceptional Concert, Kilmersdon Church, 7pm by East of England Singers. Tickets £6 from Ammerdown Centre. Tel 01761 433709. Monday May 4th North Somerset Show, Wraxall. See Farming section for details. Open gardens at Ammerdown House, near Radstock. 11am to 5pm. The Ammerdown Retreat and Conference Centre will be offering visitors morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon tea. Entrance to the Gardens is £4 for adults and £3 for senior citizens. Children are admitted free of charge. Gardens also open May 25th. For more information, visit: www.ammerdown.org or tel: 01761 433709. Saturday May 9th May Fair on the Green. Old Station Millennium Green, Winscombe. The local community gets together to celebrate Spring at this event for all to be opened at 2pm by local MP John Penrose with Town Crier ‘Pluto’ Venn. Includes Maypole dancing by local schoolchildren followed by a circus skills demonstration by Firestar Circus. Enquiries: Tel: 01934 843868. Organised by the Winscombe & Sandford Millennium Green Trust. Charity concert New Inn, Blagdon 7pm, featuring Rhythm Republic. Details 01761 462475. Aquinas Piano Trio. Haydn, Debussy and Schubert at St John the Baptist Church, Churchill. Details: Jan Murray 01934 852245 or Ursula Dornton 01934 852919. Sunday May 10th Corsley Festival Choir, accompanied by the Rococo Sinfonietta, a new orchestra from Bath, with three of Mozart’s liveliest choral pieces. St Margaret’s Church, Corsley, 7.30pm. Details: 01373 832511. Tuesday May 12th Tasting Day, Glastonbury Country Market, Glastonbury Town Hall. 9.30am–1pm. Thursday May 14th Arts Trail by Old Bakery Artists. Affordable, beautiful art in Radstock, Paulton and Midsomer Norton. 10.30am-6pm, Thursday, May 14- Sunday, May 17th. For information, contact Keith Wisbey: 01761 418956. www.oldbakeryartists.co.uk Saturday May 16th Bacchus Wind Band, conductor Brynly Clarke, presents a concert of classical and light music at Wells Town Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £8 (concessions £5) available from Tourist Information Centre, Wells. Details: Pat Pelmore 01732 850739. Croscombe Village Orchestra presents ‘An Evening of Classical Favourites from Vivaldi to Thunderbirds’ 7pm in Croscombe village hall. Soloists: Agnes Bevan and Eleanor Hudson. Tickets £3; concessions £1 available at the door. Details: Ruth Hudson 01749 673648. Wedmore Green Fair 10am-4pm Wedmore Village Hall. Stalls, information, movie showings, chat and refreshments, free entry. 8pm -11pm music from Seize the Day £8 in advance £10 on the night. Monday May 25th Kilmersdon Village Day – street fair, pet show, music, Morris, funfair, car boot sale, hog roast, grand draw and egg-throwing contest! Details: Jess 01761 434750. Saturday June 27th Henton Village Fete – “The Best in the West”. A lovely traditional summer fete with many stalls, attractions and refreshments. In the village hall and field adjoining; three miles from Wells. From 2.30pm.

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Technology – A 21st Century Approach to Business

BLAGDON HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES

Would you like to try this? FOR A GIFT WITH A DIFFERENCE

Wednesday 20th May – 6pm onwards at Tacchi Morris Arts Centre, Taunton GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

Please contact Nicky & Mike Lyons

01761 462250/07889 976498 www.blagdonhorsedrawncarriages.co.uk

For more information and to reserve a FREE place click on www.connectingsomerset.co.uk

A Multimedia Presentation by Connecting Somerset Using video, actors and experts the event will give businesses tips on how web technology can improve performance. To be followed by a networking buffet. Subjects covered: • Website Design and Ecommerce • New Media • Search Engine Optimisation • Online Communication • Mobile Working • Web Security and Legal Know-How

CHEDDAR GALLERY

for 3 day photo course with FREE Tony Howell plus more DRAW Please call or pop in for details

OPERA

I N T H E PA R K

ProBUSINESS LTD Business accountants and advisers, based in Wells

is proud to be organising a Summer Masked Ball in aid of

in the stunning grounds of

La Boheme 8pm Friday 24th July

The Marriage of Figaro 7.30pm Saturday 25th July

Gates open at 5.30pm Tickets £25.00 in advance or £30.00 on the door. Children £10.00. Call the Opera Ticket Line on 01444 443000.

ANIMAL SANCTUARY The theme for masks will be Animals!

Friday 19th June 2009 7.00pm – Carriages at 12.30am!

Bowlish House Hotel, Shepton Mallet Dress: Black tie Champagne Reception • Buffet Supper • Auction of Promises Dancing to the Colley River Jazz Band • A prize for best mask

Price: £50 per individual ticket Special dining options are available, including luxury picnic boxes, gourmet menus in the restaurant and al fresco dining under the stars! Call 01761 241631 or visit

www.stoneaston.co.uk

(proceeds to Happy Landings) If you wish to attend or to sponsor the event or if you have a ‘promise’ to auction, please contact Jame Bowe on

01749 677989

or mail@probusinessuk.com for full details

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