What’s On

Half term fun for children and adults alike

FROM a medieval banquet to storytelling and family-friendly activities, there will be plenty for youngsters – and grown-ups –to enjoy at the Bishop’s Palace in February.

Families are encouraged to explore the gardens of the Palace with a “Signs of Spring” Family Trail from February 11th-19th. Trails can be collected on arrival and a small prize is available on completion! On Tuesday, February 14th, the ever-popular family storytelling sessions will take place in the Undercroft between 11am and 1.30pm. On Thursday, February 16th little ones will be encouraged to join in with a family fun activity event between 11am-3pm.

There’s also the fabulous Dragon’s Lair where families can let off steam on the natural play equipment, whilst exploring the themes of the palace. The Bishop’s Table café also has a great range of children’s meals and snacks, along with plenty to keep the grown-ups happy too.

Meanwhile, a medieval host will be welcoming guests to the Undercroft on Saturday, February 11th for a Medieval Banquet Night in the atmospheric candlelit and vaulted Undercroft.

A short insight into the history of the palace will pre-empt the delicious, three-course medieval-themed banquet during which a medieval host/storyteller will provide entertainment. Medieval music will also be performed throughout the meal and guests are being encourage to wear costume dress. l Family activities are included in standard admission (valid for 12 months from purchase on any normal sightseeing day) and under 5’s are always free. Tickets for the banquet are £55 per person.

Signs of spring at the Bishop’s Palace

For details, visit: www.bishopspalace.org.uk

T HE M ENDIP T IMES W HAT ’ S O

Covid is still causing problems so please check before travelling that events will take place. We’re happy to list entries for non-profit community groups and charity fundraisers free of charge, but please send them as a succinct single paragraph, in the format below, to annie@mendiptimes.co.uk Entries that take time to re-write may have to be charged for at the commercial rate, £25.

Black Swan Arts Young Open Competition:

enter before Feb 3rd. All forms of art & craft welcome for exhibition March/April: www.blackswanarts.org.uk

Wednesday January 25th Backwell & Nailsea Macular Support

meeting 1.30 pm Backwell WI Hall. Details: Sheila 01275 462107. Burns’ Night Folk Session 8.45pm City Arms, Wells BA5 2AG. Sing, play a tune, or just listen. Free admission, all welcome. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com

Thursday January 26th

Chew Valley Group AWT talk “Beyond the bees: what about other insects?” Chew Magna Old School Room 7.45pm. £2.50 incl. refreshments.

Thursday January 26th to Sun Jan 29th

Hutton Drama Club’s Rapunzel 7.30pm village hall, with matinees 2.30pm Sat & Sun. Details: 01934 519122 or www.ticketsource.co.uk/hutton-drama-club

Friday January 27th

Save the Children lunch 12.30pm Shipham village hall, £5. Come and join us! Mendip Society Fun Quiz 7.30pm The Wellsway, Harptree Hill. £10 incl. supper –please book asap: www.themendipsociety.org.uk/events

Saturday January 28th

Congresbury LIVE! The Model Folk + support, 7.30pm War Memorial Hall, £7 on door. Charity Quiz Night, 7.30pm Wells Town Hall. Teams up to six, £5pp. Booking essential: 01749 672342 or email terryricketts1948@gmail.com Raffle prizes welcomed.

Saturday January 28th and Sun Jan 29th Somerset Vintage & Classic Tractor show,

Bath & West Showground: www.somersettractorshow.com

Monday January 30th Congresbury Memorial Hall Club

Friendship evening with bingo, 8pm, War Memorial Hall. All welcome. Wessex Stationary Engine Club meeting 8pm Old Down Inn, Emborough. Mendip Folk Dance Club, 8pm St James Church Centre, Winscombe BS25 1AQ. No experience needed. Details Pat 01934 742853.

Tuesday January 31st

Wells & District Wildlife Group: Long Legged Beauties of the Somerset Levels, talk by Damon Bridge of the RSPB, 7.30pm, Wells Museum. Details: www.wdwg.org.uk

Tuesday January 31st to Thurs Feb 2nd

Keyford Local History Group ‘The Last Matron: Frome’s Keyford Asylum’ 8pm Rook Lane Chapel, BA11 1DN. £8: www.dramakarma.co.uk/lastmatron

Wednesday February 1st to Tues Feb 28th

East Lambrook Snowdrop Festival Tues to Sun 10am to 5pm. See: www.eastlambrook.com

Wednesday February 1st-4th

Wrington Drama Club presents The Wizard of Oz. Details: wdctickets@gmail.com Julie 07535 582694.

Wednesday February 1st Bereavement Support Keynsham drop-in

first Wed every month, 5.30pm-7pm, Baptist Church Hall, High St. A safe place to meet others who are bereaved. Free, with refreshments. Details: 07776 493221 or bereavementkeynsham@gmail.com “Art Bank Tales” a free family event with Mendip storyteller Janet North, 3-4pm Art Bank Cafe, Shepton BA4 5AA. Details: www.artbank.org.uk

Backwell & Nailsea Support Group for

Carers: Grassy Knoll Ukulele Ensemble, 2pm3.30, Backwell WI Hall.

Thursday February 2nd

Folk Session 8.30pm The Red Lion, Paulton BS39 7NW. Sing, play a tune or just listen. Free. All welcome. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com Congresbury Gardening Club talk by James Cross “The Bishops Palace Past and Present” 7.30pm, Congresbury Methodist Hall. Visitors welcome www.congresburygardeningclub.com Cheddar u3a '‘Don’t Look Up’ a talk by Jo Richardson, Fellow of Royal Astronomical Society, about the Sun. Cheddar Village Hall BS27 3RF.

Friday February 3rd

The Mendip Society Wassail 6.30pm Burrington village hall, with refreshments. Free/donations. Details: 01275 874284. See: www.themendipsociety.org.uk/events

Saturday February 4th

Frome Society for Local Study ‘The Roman Experience at The Newt in Somerset’ talk by Ric Weeks, 2.30pm Assembly Rooms BA11 1EB. Non-members welcome, £5. Details www.fsls.org.uk Family storytelling sessions at The Bishops Palace, Wells. 2pm-2.40pm and 3pm–3.40pm. Folk tales, tall tales and true tales for national storytelling week. Free with entrance tickets to Palace. Chew Valley Rugby Club fundraising gig by Stiff Upper Lips for Stand Up to Cancer. 7pm at the club. Tickets £15 from www.justgiving.com/page/chewvalley1666867742909

Sunday February 5th ‘Tistou, the boy with the Green Thumbs of

Peace’ storyteller Janet North with a story of hope. Ages 8 to 80. 3pm-4pm, Ammerdown Centre, Radstock, BA3 5SW. Tickets £5 from www.ammerdown.org “Winter birds at Ham Wall” walk led by Don Hurrell. Meet 10am RSPB Ham Wall. Details: www.somersetwildlife.org/events

Monday February 6th

RAFA Mid-Somerset branch meeting 11am, Street Inn, BA16 0DR. Review 2022 and plan for the AGM. Optional pub lunch. Details: rafa.midsomerset@gmail.com 01458 224057.

Tuesday February 7th ‘The collections of Napoleon and Josephine

in Chateau Malmaison’ The Arts Society Mendip, 11am Croscombe village hall & Zoom. Guests welcome £6. Details: www.theartssocietymendip.org.uk Yatton Local History Society: talk by Arthur Langley on the work of YCCCART, the local voluntary archaeological team. All welcome, 7.30pm Methodist Church.

Wednesday February 8th

Mendip Storytelling Circle 7.30pm-9.30 Ston Easton village hall, BA3 4DA. £5. For National Storytelling Week this session may be recorded for a talking magazine project (tbc) Details: 01275 332735 or email: mendipstory@gmail.com Weston-s-Mare Family History Group talk by Mandy Webb: “Richard Herrick, Richard III and my DNA” 2.30pm Lady of Lourdes Church Hall, Baytree Rd, BS22 8HQ. Kilmersdon Gardeners AGM 7.30pm village hall. See: www.kilmersdongardeners.org

Friday February 10th

Avon Wildlife Trust ‘Reading the Signs! (Bug life and our changing world) with Ray Barnett, 7.30pm Baptist Church Hall, High St, Keynsham. Members £3, visitors £4. Save the Children lunch 12.30pm Shipham village hall, £5. Come and join us!

Saturday February 11th

Cheddar u3a Valentine’s Concert with the Rock Band 7.30pm Cheddar Village Hall, BS27 3RF. Tickets available at meetings.

Parkinson’s NW Somerset Support Group

meeting 10.30-12.15 St Francis Church, Nailsea. Coffee, chat and a talk by Caroline Pike on Walking Football. Brent Knoll Bazaar, Farmer’s Market & Café 10-12noon in Brent Knoll Parish Hall. 2nd Saturday each month.

Monday February 13th Nailsea & District Local History Society talk:

“The archaeology of Bath Abbey” 7.45pm Nailsea School. Details: www.ndlhs.org.uk Mendip Folk Dance Club, 8pm-10, St James Church Centre Winscombe BS25 1AQ. No experience necessary, Details Pat 01934 742853. Folk Session 9pm Queen Victoria, Priddy BA5 3BA. Sing, play a tune or just listen. Free. All welcome. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com

Wednesday February 15th Henton & District Gardening Club:

“Granny’s Garden” a talk by Yvonne Bell, 7.30pm Henton Village Hall, BA5 1PD. Visitors welcome, £5. Details: www.hentongardenclub.weebly.com Mendip Hills group of SWT, talk by Joe Hampson about the new reserve at Honeygar Farm Westhay. 7.30pm Cheddar Pavilion. Details: www.somersetwildlife.org/events

Thursday February 16th

Cheddar u3a Coffee Morning 10am Village

O N G UIDE FOR F EBRUARY 2023

Hall, BS27 3RF. Shipham & District Gardening Club, a talk on Orchids by Jonny Hartnell, 7.30pm Shipham Village Hall, BS25 1SG. All welcome.

Thursday February 16th to Sat Feb 18th

Croscombe Frolics “Aladdin” 7.30pm village hall. Tickets: Adults £10, U18s or low income £6, from: www.croscombevillagehall.org.uk or richard.cronin567@btinternet.com 01749 939485.

Friday February 17th

Wells & Mendip Museum: free half term family activity for ages 6+. Drop in 10am3.30pm. Details: www.wellsmuseum.org.uk/search-and-learnproject

Fundraising Gig for cancer charity We Hear

You, 7pm The Tree House, Frome. Details: www.bit.ly/musicthatswhy

Saturday February 18th

Claverham village market 10am-12, village hall Bishops Rd. Meat, fish, veg, preserves, books, jigsaws, cards & crafts. To book a table: 01934 876692. People First Fundraiser, with The Lipinski Band, 7.30pm The Royal Hotel, Weston-s-Mare. Details: www.nspf.co.uk

Sunday February 19th

Hedging Match, Vintage Tractor run & Land Rover meet, Launcherley nr Wells. Coffee morning 10am-12 Tunley Rec Centre BA2 0DZ (track adj. to red telephone box). Fund raising for Village Hall.

Monday February 20th

Timsbury Natural History Group talk about Barn Owls by Gary Kingman, 7.30pm Conygre Hall, BA2 0JQ. Visitors welcome £3. Chew Valley U3A talk by Brian Butler “Updated legislation on tax, care and toy boys” 10am Ubley Parish Hall. All welcome.

Wednesday Feb 22nd

Folk Session 8.45pm City Arms, Wells. Sing, play a tune or just listen. Free. All welcome. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com

Backwell & Nailsea Macular Support

meeting 1.30 pm Backwell WI Hall. Details: Sheila, 01275 462107. Harptrees History Society: Honiton Lace Industry with Heather Toomer, 7.30pm West Harptree Memorial Hall BS40 6EG. Visitors welcome £3. Booking essential: info@harptreeshistorysociety.org

Thursday February 23rd

Avon Wildlife Trust: Mike Bailey talking about moths and their struggle to survive, 7.45pm Chew Magna Old School Room, £2.50.

Friday February 24th

Save the Children lunch 12.30pm Shipham village hall, £5. Come and join us!

Saturday February 25th

Bristol Brass Consort 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church, Yatton. Tickets £10: www.yms.org.uk

Monday February 27th

Mendip Folk Dance Club, 8pm-10, St James Church Centre Winscombe BS25 1AQ. No experience necessary, Details Pat 01934 742853. Wessex Stationary Engine Club meeting 8pm Old Down Inn, Emborough.

Tuesday February 28th

Wells & District Wildlife Group talk by Prickles Hedgehog Rescue on how to support hedgehogs, 7.30pm Wells Museum. Details: www.wdwg.org.uk

Wednesday March 1st Bereavement Support Keynsham drop-in

first Wed every month, 5.30pm-7pm, Baptist Church Hall, High St. A safe place to meet others who are bereaved. Free, with refreshments. Details: 07776 493221 or bereavementkeynsham@gmail.com

Thursday March 2nd

Folk Session 8.30pm The Red Lion, Paulton BS39 7NW. Sing, play a tune or just listen. Free. All welcome. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com Congresbury Gardening Club talk by Christopher Bond “Satisfying all five senses in the garden” 7.30pm Congresbury Methodist Hall. Visitors welcome. www.congresburygardeningclub.com Cheddar u3a “Musical Memories” a talk by James Vincent about his career as an entertainer in holiday camps and cruise liners. 2pm Cheddar village hall, BS27 3RF.

Sunday March 5th

Bruton Choral Society concert of French music, 7pm St Mary’s Church. Tickets £10 in advance, £12 on door (children free) from Bruton Convenience Store or 01749 813161. See: www.brutonchoralsociety.org.uk

Anticipation building for Snowdrops Festival

THIS year’s Shepton Snowdrops Festival has a more extensive programme than ever and promises something for everyone from serious snowdrop collectors (galanthophiles) to families.

Amanda Hirst, one of the directors of Shepton Snowdrops, said: “We’re proud of the variety and diversity of the programme this year. There’s something to appeal to everyone and we’ve worked hard to keep a good balance between a local community event and one that reaches out to a much wider audience.

“This year we’re expecting groups of visitors from Austria and the Netherlands. One of our aims has always been to bring people to the town to enjoy the history, our heritage and the warm welcome that Shepton Mallet has to offer. And, of course, the

‘Snowdrop King’, James Allen, was born and lived his entire life here.”

This year the festival spans almost a full week – from Monday, February 13th to Sunday, February 19th – with special events to occupy children and families during half-term and some exciting new additions for the grown-ups including a visit to a private garden – Compton Court on the edge of Shepton Mallet – with its own bespoke snowdrop; the garden has never previously opened to visitors.

Half-term events during the week include storytelling and art sessions, snowdrop walks at Downside Abbey and a Sunday Snowdrop Ramble with Shepton Walks.

The main festival weekend boasts specialist snowdrop and plant sales, a seed swap, arts and craft, poetry and photography competitions and a special snowdrop opening of the organic garden at Yeo Valley in Blagdon.

Snowdrops at Compton Court

Show will offer old favourites and new delights

THE Royal Bath & West Show returns at the beginning of June and visitors will see exciting new attractions alongside old favourites.

The Imps Motorcycle Display Team are this year’s main ring attraction, with their unmissable performances. The main ring will also feature daily displays from Pawsability Dog Agility, the Pony Club Games finals, and a spectacular vintage vehicle parade. The Royal Bath & West Show runs from Thursday, June 1st to Saturday, June 3rd.

The hugely popular Pilton Tent, Woodland & Countryside Arena, Great British Dogs and Heavy Horses make a welcome return, and the enhanced Sports Village has support from Bristol City Football Club’s Robins Foundation and Bath Rugby Foundation.

Food and drink are at the heart of the show and, after its successful 2022 debut, the Great British Kitchen returns, with another exciting line-up of chefs providing free-to-attend cooking demonstrations. Following visitor feedback, the organisers are also excited to be introducing a brand-new Cheese Marquee along with the Regional Food & Drink Marquee.

Jess Chiplen, Head of Shows, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming visitors back to the Royal Bath & West Show and look forward to sharing our plans. We’ve used visitor feedback to enhance existing areas that we all know and love, as well as introducing exciting new elements.”

Ticket prices have been frozen for the third show in a row. An Advance Saver Ticket costs just £22 per adult and allows free admission for two children.

Pony Club Games in the main arena

For details and to book tickets, visit: www.bathandwest.com/tickets

Popular stories

MENDIPStorytelling Circle has a busy month, supporting National Storytelling Week in early February.

There will be extra events, as well as their regular meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at Ston Easton village hall. On Wednesday, February 1st they will have family stories at The Artbank Cafe in Shepton Mallet, then at The Bishop’s Palace in Wells on February 4th and at the Ammerdown Centre near Radstock on February 5th. On February 8th their regular meeting in Ston Easton may be recorded for a talking magazine project.

Details: See What’s On or contact Colin Emmett mendipstorycircle@gmail.com or 01275 332735