WHATis the current state of the Mendip Hills? An important new report from the Mendip AONB service looks at a whole range of issues, including pollution in some lakes and rivers.
The role that farmers can play in safeguarding the environment is discussed by Nick Green, while Chris Sperring continues to look at how barn owls are faring.
Look out for life-size sculptures of miners around the area – they mark the 50th anniversary of the closure of the last Somerset pits in Haydon and Kilmersdon.
We have pictures from the Royal Bath and West Show and a whole range of fetes, festivals and village days, including Westbury-sub-Mendip, where they’ve opened a new community garden.
Winscombe RFC have held a 60th anniversary celebration and there have also been anniversary events for village halls in Timsbury and Chew Magna.
Our Garden Food expert, Jake Whitson, is off to pastures new, so we’re pleased to welcome Charles Dowding of “No Dig” fame.
With all of our regular features and contributors, enjoy another slice of Mendip life!
August 2023 deadline: Friday 14th July
Published: Tuesday 25th July
Editorial: Steve Egginton steve@mendiptimes.co.uk
Mark Adler mark@mendiptimes.co.uk
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Lisa Daniels lisa@mendiptimes.co.uk
What’s On listings: Annie Egginton annie@mendiptimes.co.uk
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Publisher: Mendip Times Limited Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset BS40 7RG
Contacts: For all enquiries, telephone: 01761 463888 or email: news@mendiptimes.co.uk www.mendiptimes.co.uk
Design and origination by: Steve Henderson
THE riches of the East attract people from all parts of the country to what may seem an unlikely place – a farm in Bishop Sutton.
There’s a barn there full of treasures, with a range of quality rugs and kilims to match any found anywhere.
Silk Road Rugs collect them from Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, India, Pakistan and elsewhere. There are hundreds to choose from, all hand-made, in a huge range of sizes and distinctive designs – and at competitive prices.
Who thought the Silk Road only led to China? Silk Road Rugs also undertake cleaning and repairs, an interior design
service and they have a wide range of bespoke furniture, cushions, throws, lamps and other Eastern delights!
A LIFESIZE sculpture of three miners has been unveiled in Radstock to mark the 50th anniversary of the closure of the last Somerset pits at Haydon and Kilmersdon.
Glastonbury Festival’s Michael Eavis – president of the Somerset Miners Welfare Trust – performed the ceremony in front of a large crowd by the miner’s wheel in the centre of the town.
The sculpture –by Shepton Malletbased metalworker Dave Speed – is the biggest in a series of works funded by the trust and being installed close to the sites of many of the closed mines as a lasting memory of the industry and the mining communities.
The trust worked closely with Radstock Town Council on the location of the latest statute and others within the area.
CHELWOODBridge Rotary has sent 200 Water Survival Boxes and 360 Grifaid Family Water Filters to Ukraine to help families displaced by the destruction of the Khakovha Dam.
Rotary member, Colin Robinson, said: “A big thank you to our partners and those who have given so generously to Water Survival Boxes, helping us make this aid a reality.”
The boxes provide a means of purifying water in the wake of natural or man-made disasters. It was developed out of work undertaken at the time of the Asian Tsunami in 2004 and a charitable trust in the form of a limited company was established in 2006.
THE new-look Avalon Marshes Visitor Centre at Shapwick has been opened officially with a day-long family-friendly event.
Led by Natural England, the centre is the result of a partnership involving the Somerset Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency, the Hawk and Owl Trust and the South West Heritage Trust.
Plans for the refurbishment first began ten years ago and former senior reserves managers Phil Holms and Simon Clarke – whose vision was to create the Avalon Marshes Partnership –were guests of honour at the opening.
The centre is unique in Natural England’s portfolio and sits at the heart of the newly declared Somerset Wetlands National Nature Reserve. It hosts workbases, office space and meeting rooms for collaborative working, as well as high-quality visitor facilities including café, wildlife garden, visitor information hub, local crafts gallery and the newly opened Avalon Archaeology Park, all in walking distance of Somerset Wetland’s flagship Shapwick Heath.
During the day, Somerset Wetlands partners ran information stalls providing environmental games and activities for families, craft demonstrations by local artists, historical re-enactors at Avalon Archaeology and tractor rides across the reserve.
THE Mendip AONB Service has brought together a wide variety of facts, figures and statistics for a State of the AONB 2022 report.
It shows everything from the condition of the nature reserves, how many people use certain paths, how much development pressure there is and what the population is.
The report has information, maps, charts and tables to reveal what's changing and what's staying the same. The last time a similar report was done was in 2018 and before that in 2009 so the data has been compared wherever possible.
One of the most interesting things is that it captures the effect of the pandemic on the Mendip Hills in relation to visitor numbers and volunteer hours.
Another interesting headline reveals the rise in people employed in agriculture, notably part-time farmers. There has also been a growth in smallholdings in the AONB.
Jim Hardcastle, Mendip Hills AONB manager, said: “This is a really important report that shows how this nationally important landscape is coping with modern life, it’s also a great snapshot for researchers of the future to use.
“We’ve produced the report as we’re starting to review the Mendip Hills AONB Management Plan that will last for the next five years. The report will help the consultation process and the subsequent policies in it.”
The assessment of both the Chew and Blagdon Lakes is that they have a poor overall ecological quality, as is the Chew River. The overall ecological quality of the Congresbury Yeo, Lox Yeo, Cheddar Yeo and River Axe is moderate.
The build-up of high levels of nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, from sewage and animal waste, can choke rivers with algal blooms that reduce oxygen levels, suffocating fish, plants and invertebrates.
Along with the stresses of plastic and synthetic chemical pollution and climate change, this creates multiple pressures undermining the health and resilience of freshwater ecosystems.
Because of measures in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, PM2.5 emissions from road transport, aviation and railways in 2020 were 23%, 61% and 28% lower than they had been in 2019
respectively. There are now increasing levels generally, due to increased use of wood as a fuel for homes.
Industrial use of biomass fuels is also increasing and has become a more significant contributor to UK emissions.
The trend line shows a decline in annual rainfall from approximately 110 mm in 2012 to approximately 84 mm in 2020 (26 millimetres).
The trend line shows a steady rise in annual temperature from approximately 13.8ºC in 1965 to approximately 15.3ºC in 2021.
Visitors
There has been a 7% rise in May-day bank holiday visitor numbers since 2019. The busiest sites, by a wide margin, were the Cheddar Gorge and the Chew Valley. However, Ebbor Gorge saw the greatest growth in visits between 2019 and 2022 (70%), closely followed by Rowberrow Forest and Deer Leap.
Development
Planned development within the AONB is very limited but development in the buffer zones may affect the setting of the AONB.
Since 2017 there has been approval for 310 housing units all on greenfield sites. In the previous period there were 18 on brownfield sites.
The report says the AONB has 206 listed buildings and 173 scheduled monuments, seven of which are at risk.
Details: State of the AONB Report 2022 (mendiphillsaonb.org.uk)
THEBristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) will hold its annual RiverBlitz from July 7th-14th and is hoping that enthusiastic citizen scientists will sign up in record
numbers to help gather important data on the health of rivers and streams across the Avon catchment.
Volunteers will collect water samples
from their local rivers, including the River Chew, Land Yeo at Wraxall and Wellow Brook and test nitrate and phosphate levels with easy-to-use water testing kits.
Details: www.bristolavonriverstrust.org/riverblitz/register
ELMHURSTJunior School in Street has transformed a copse into a forest school – complete with a full-size teepee.
It was opened by the chair of Street Parish Council, Cllr Bryan Knickerbocker, who is Canadian. He unveiled two plaques.
One displays the school’ s values while the other shows the values of the Blackfeet/Blackfoot nation in North America.
Reminiscing from his own childhood experiences he related a story that he was told growing up, the parable of “The two Wolves”.
“One evening, an elderly old Cherokee brave told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said: My son the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is evil – it is anger, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, ‘Which wolf will win?’
The old Cherokee simply replied: “The one you feed.”
Louise Bulmer, The forest school lead and Andy Leafe, the Parent and Family Support Advisor at the School, both fundraised with the support of the school’s PTA to buy the teepee.
They have secured further funding to open the forest School for free to families to enable them to enjoy this outdoor experience.
Andy undertook a joint initiative with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police when he was a serving police officer in Avon and Somerset.
MENDIP Times contributor Les Davies has stood down as chairman of the Royal Bath & West Society’s Environmental Youth Award scheme after six years in charge.
The award is presented each year at the Royal Bath & West Show to the winning school or youth group from across Somerset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Dorset for a project in either a rural or urban area.
Judges look for entries which have made a “significant contribution” to conservation and/or environmental management. This year’s winners came from Crewkerne.
See Outdoors, page 53
SUMMERis in full bloom and after all the dry weather we've been having we need to start changing our behaviour. We need to be more prepared when we visit the great outdoors now and prepare the great outdoors for change.
Have you seen the new Shaun the Sheep animations for the Countryside Code? www.nationaltrail.co.uk/countrysidecode
We'd like to add a few more thoughts to the code;
• You can’t start a fire with a sandwich. Please save BBQs for your back garden.
• Animals have a bitey end, please avoid that. When walking, horse flies go for the easy pickings; bring a slow friend.
• Dogs have a bitey end; please make sure sheep and wildlife avoid it.
• To avoid crowds, visit areas that are less crowded. Check out the Mendip Hills AONB Service website for less crowded spots.
• Trails often look more flat on the map. Especially the Cheddar Gorge Loop.
As you walk across the Mendip Hills you may have noticed that things are looking pretty dry. One of the ways that landscapes can become more resilient to extremes in weather is through regenerative
farming practices. Growing a diverse mix of flowering plants in fields for animals to graze as well as grass, while letting them grow longer may look less tidy than what we're used to but has many benefits for nature, the climate and grazing animals. Diverse food is healthier for the cattle and sheep, producing nutrient rich and tasty food without fertilisers all while improving soil to make it more drought resistant and with more life! Support the farmers in your area working to produce delicious food and looking after the countryside by buying good quality local products that are perfect for your BBQ (in your garden)!
If you're a farmer who would like help and funding to develop projects, get in contact: mendip@mendiphillsaonb.org.uk 01761 462338
OVER the last few months, I have had the pleasure of attending various farming events around the country. These events are no different to any other industry when it comes to knowledge exchange. More often than not, we don’t sit in a meeting room, our meeting rooms are farm buildings or an outside area of particular interest. Much better than a lecture theatre watching a power point presentation.
Often, it might seem that farmers are perceived to be driving their tractor on their farm or just looking after their livestock and not being concerned about anyone else. But a lot is being done by many farmers and their representatives targeting MPs and others about our precious planet and the environment.
The main topics of discussion over the last few months have been about carbon, ground source energy, developing a vaccination to control Bovine Tuberculosis, ground mounted solar photo voltaic (PV) farms and, most importantly, how we can address all of these issues at the same time as feeding our nation efficiently, in an environmentally sensitive way, profitably and in a
way, everyone will be happy with.
The British farming industry should be something we are proud of and not continually criticise. The landscape of Mendip is part of our green and pleasant land, but it doesn’t happen by accident. It is a managed environment managed not just by farmers but others they work with. The Mendip wardens, parish councils, Somerset County Council and many others appreciate what needs to be done to produce wholesome food in tandem with protecting the Mendip environment and beyond. What farmers are being challenged with is how they can produce energy and other things as well.
Farmers are taking a broad view on these challenges. I’ve seen a new-build extension with a solar roof rather than solar panels to generate energy. It looked just like a traditional roof and would not be out of place on Mendip.
I’ve seen six-metre grass margins with wild flowers planted around thousands of arable acres to sequester carbon, encourage bees and butterflies and provide habitat. I’ve seen farms that don’t plough their land to maintain a bigger carbon bank.
And amongst all this I’ve seen some fantastic food being produced. Let’s hope Mendip can do the same.
DIY or Trade customers welcome, to our new purpose designed showroom and stock yard.
Specialists in hard landscape supplies, providing:
Porcelain tiles
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Landscape accessories and bespoke products
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All our sales team are ex-installers, allowing us to provide you with experience and knowledge to help you create your perfect paved area.
Local service at online prices, next day nationwide delivery also available.
“Passionate and professional about paving”
THOUSANDS of visitors basked in the sunshine at this year’s Royal Bath & West Show which enjoyed record entries in many livestock classes and an impressive number of trade stands.
Some of the main arena team volunteers
MOST modern cars manufactured since 2015 have a screen as part of the dashboard providing many useful features on board for entertainment, navigation, and communication.
The latest have the ability to link with a mobile phone using Android Auto or Apple Carplay, allowing the operation of apps modified for in-car use, to be displayed and voice controlled.
Using the phone’s link to the internet GPS navigation takes on another dimension with up-to-date traffic warnings of hold ups, alternative routes, speed limits etc. The voice control allows for hands-free use of the telephone for calls, using the appointments apps and sending messages.
Using a phone held in your hand whilst driving is illegal in the UK and great care should be taken when using any other ancillary equipment while driving.
If you have an older vehicle there may not be a screen built in, let alone the possibility of one able to link to your phone and provide hands-free usage.
However, there are a couple of options to overcome this if you would like these features available in your car. You can replace your existing car radio with the latest model if there is a suitable location in the dashboard. DIY installation can be complicated, but you can get the work done by a professional service, but this may be somewhat expensive. Alternatively, you can opt for a screen that can be mounted to the dashboard or windscreen by an articulated arm. These can be connected wirelessly to your mobile phone by Bluetooth and to the in-built existing radio via FM for music podcasts etc. Some models have the option for Dash and or Reversing cameras.
If you are interested search for Android Auto screens or Apple Carplay screens. Prices vary from around £55 to several hundred pounds depending on the capabilities on offer so a bit of research may be required to get what you want.
ACROSS
1 The Tradename of Citizen Kane’s toy sled (7)
5 New cider maker from Stone Allerton who won Gold at the Bath & West Show (2,5)
9 In American Football the area of play behind the scrimmage (9)
11 Hero ostensibly covers a place to sleep (5)
12 Young lady descends from an endless noosed rope (4)
13 Three-sided obelisk in the Blackdown Hills. At 175ft the tallest of its kind in the world. But to who is it a memorial? (10)
15 Shocking weather! (8,5)
19 Structure for children to play on (8,5)
23 The end of June sees Somerton hosting this 'music and arts’ festival (10)
25 In tropical regions an unbranched evergreen tree (4)
28 Step into, enlist (5)
29 William Dampier piloted the ship that brought Robinson Crusoe home. When he was not sailing the world what village was home? (4,5)
30 The study of an art or arts (7)
31 Measure of the lack of illumination (7)
1 Concrete and housebrick debris (6)
2 Cults, religious groups (5)
3 A punch from Desperate Dan! (4)
4 Surname of Robert, the latest High Sheriff of Somerset (7)
6 Protective overgarment for the kitchen (5)
7 An internal combustion engine that's power cycle is one upand-down movement (3-6)
8 Self-government, independence (8)
10 City of India with Uttar Pradesh to the east (5)
14 Rosemary or Basil (4)
15 Another word maybe for the clues in italics (9)
16 A small carpet laid on top of a larger one (3)
17 Kill for a Malt Whisky with no initial start (4)
18 Frozen water over an extensive area for a long period (3,5)
20 Saltpetre (5)
21 Paying attention to, centred on (7)
22 Simper or snigger (6)
24 Repeat of a performance (5)
26 Lower leg joint (5)
27 Part of his campaign was held to be a racket (4)
By greendandelionClues in italics are cryptic
This month’s solution can be found on page 82
RHIANNONAllenHouse, aged 15, has won Rotary South West’s poetry competition, having been nominated by Wrington Vale Rotary, and now goes forward to the national final.
She lives with her mum, Debbie, and brother, Nathaniel, aged ten, at Cowslip Green, near Wrington. Debbie runs a campsite and has 15 acres near Blagdon Lake, which she treats as a nature reserve.
Rhiannon wrote the poem while she was ill. She attends Churchill Academy, where she was previously named Music Maestro of the Year.
She said: “My grandma used to write poetry with me when I was four years old, so I think my interest started there.”
UKRAINIANrefugee, Sergiy, is raising funds for projects back in his home city of Kharkiv. He left Ukraine to accompany a sick relative and is working hard to support people back home.
He has a place in the London Triathlon on August 6th. And he hopes to auction this signed Ukrainian flag sent to him by friends who are frontline members of Ukraine’s special forces. He’s in touch with volunteers back home who are distributing aid and searching for missing people. He ran the Bristol half marathon to raise money last year and has organised other fundraising events.
He’s taking a course at the City of Bristol College to be a personal fitness trainer - and has become a star striker
A THANKSGIVINGservice was held at St Andrew’s Church in Chew Magna for Colonel Edward Gardner, former colonel of the Parachute Regiment and founder of its Red Devils parachute team, who has died at the age of 84.
After a long and distinguished service career, he and his wife Janet retired to Dundry in 1993 and later moved to Chew Magna.
He became membership secretary of Mendip Gliding Club and was for many years a guide on the SS Great Britain. He also helped with the restoration of the Flying Scotsman.
He founded the regiment’s free-fall parachute team in 1964.
for Chew Valley Vets football team.
He said: “We know that it is a hard time for everyone but If you can help me fundraise to help Ukrainians we would be grateful.”
One of his friends in Kharkiv wrote:
“From the bottom of our hearts, we thank our English friends for providing financial assistance for the purchase of the necessary dishes for the children's hospice! A huge thank you for supporting special children!"
Details: gofund.me Help Sergiy Help His People
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HUNDREDSof people supported the event, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Conygre Hall.
This is a lovely colourful dish, that can be cooked in one tray. My tray was too small, so I crisped up the potatoes separately.
METHOD
Mix all your sauce ingredients together and spoon over your duck portions in a large roasting tray. Bake in a 180°C oven for 25 minutes, basting the duck once.
Take out of the oven and add all the vegetables including the boiled potatoes. Lay two halves of clementine on each duck portion and bake for a
INGREDIENTS
(serves two)
2 x duck portions
One chopped courgette
Bunch spring onions chopped into one-inch pieces
1 red pepper chopped into bitesized pieces
12 small new potatoes
These are simplicity themselves to make but so delicious. My son made these with some dahl he had made, but you could use leftovers from the Indian takeaway or some readymade dahl in a pouch, which I did.
METHOD
Mix everything together and fry off tablespoons gently, in a little olive oil, for about three minutes each side. Serve with yoghurt or chutney.
further half an hour until everything is cooked. NB: when you’ve cooked your potatoes, crush each one with the bottom of a glass and make sure everything is basted with clementine-y duck juices before baking.
FOR THE SAUCE
15mls olive oil
Juice and zest of one clementine
Tsp garlic granules
Tbs marmalade
Salt and pepper
2 clementines, peeled, cut in half horizontally
These are so simple to make, yet they look beautiful and taste delicious.
METHOD
You could make these in any shape using a cutter but it’s more economical to cut up the whole sheet into squares.
Cut the pastry into 24 squares. Place on a a baking tray and bake for 10 minutes until puffed and golden. Mix the mascarpone and lemon curd together. When the pastry is cool, sandwich two squares of pastry with the mixture and berries and decorate with a shower of icing sugar!
INGREDIENTS
(makes 12 puffs)
1 pack of ready rolled puff pastry
INGREDIENTS
250g lentil dahl
40g selfraising flour
1 egg
Juice and zest of one lemon
20g chopped fresh coriander
250g mascarpone cheese
100g lemon curd
Fruit of your choice (I used raspberries, strawberries and blueberries) Icing sugar
(optional)
I’ll be recovering from my catering duties at Glastonbury as this issue is published and will be yearning for simple – yet delicious and colourful – food as a pick-me-up, probably accompanied by a restorative gin … or two.
STANTONDrew Community
Café, set up in 2015 in the village church, is still as popular as ever and is held every second Saturday of the month. Lynn Singer and Mary Whitcher are pictured serving bacon and sausage baps.
TELEPHONE: 01934 244362
THE Frankie
Community
in
is the subject of the first pictures you see in the second little book of watercolour paintings of cyclists and cafes, I’m Out for Coffee, by local artist Steve Kinsella.
Dame Joanna Lumley, president of The Frankie Howerd OBE Trust, was presented with a copy of the book and said: “This is such a charming book and a huge thrill to see The Hub right at the start.”
Steve’s books are available in a selection of cafes, including Loxton, with a cover price of £9.
Details: www.SteveKinsellaArt.etsy.com
THE Lane family have taken over the Crown at Regil and reopened it after extensive redecoration and repairs.
Mum Nicola and daughter Sophia are looking after the cooking, while dad Andrew and son Louis are behind the bar.
They previously ran the Wellsway at West Harptree and still have the Airport Tavern at Lulsgate, but that’s due to close with the expansion of Bristol Airport.
Nicola said: “Because we do airport parking there, there was some talk we would be doing that here. That’s definitely not the case. We want to keep it as a traditional country pub.”
That includes keeping darts, table skittles and the skittle alley, which is also used for functions.
AS a forager I really love plants that have a long growing season and are useful throughout a good portion of the year. Common mallow is one of these great plants with leaves available in spring and summer, and the seeds in late summer – all of which are edible. However, common mallow is most well-known for its medicinal properties, especially poulticing and taken as a purgative.
Whilst I like a little experimentation, I have no idea of its efficacy in this particular area and I’m certainly in no rush to find out.
In Somerset it was also known by many local names including Billy Buttons, Bread and Cheese and Cider (a favourite combination of mine) Cheese Flower, Fairy Cheeses and Round Dock. The buttons and cheese descriptions refer to the leaves and seeds.
Round Dock is an interesting one as it’s believed to be the original treatment for nettle stings due to its drawing and cooling mucilaginous properties, not the weed we call common dock. We’ve been using the wrong dock all these years . . .
Common mallow (Malva sylvestris) is an annual/perennial plant growing up to 1.5 metres, with pink, purple or lilac flowers, 2-4cm across. The five petals are deeply notched with darker veins radiating out from the centre.
The leaves, covered in soft downy hairs, are large kidney or heart shaped on long stalks. The lower leaves are more rounded with a central dark spot. It’s found most frequently on the coast but also extensively on waste grounds, roadsides and field edges.
Unsurprisingly, the leaves can be cooked like spinach and it was traditionally made into a soup popular in the Mediterranean region. The seeds are an interesting snack in their own right, mildly nutty, great sprinkled over a salad or even pickled. Unfortunately, I cannot report success in making the sweet “marshmallows” from common mallow, the resulting unctuous mass would be far too “green” which is rather off-putting so I’d stick with the soup.
Adrian Boots is a Landscape Ecologist and expert forager running wild food forays, events and activities. Please visit: www.hedgerowcottage.co.uk for more information or email him at: hello@hedgerowcottage.co.uk
USEevery moment you can of this busiest month of the whole year. Everywhere you look there are jobs waiting, questions arising, and here are common ones for midsummer.
Do I need to spread more compost before new summer plantings?
Generally no and most of us can mulch just once a year, say in autumn, for two plantings through a whole year. This saves time now!
The organic matter and nutrients in compost you applied last winter are still enriching soil, with two exceptions. One is if your soil was previously low in organic matter and you did not have much compost/organic matter to apply last winter.
Another is if your soil is light and sandy and your winter mulch was light. It has probably “disappeared” into the soil by now, eaten by soil life. In those cases, it's a good idea to spread some more organic matter now, and it need not be perfectly fine compost.
Is no dig good for growing flowers?
Yes for sure, and in the UK there are now huge numbers of no dig flower growers. Sometimes it’s claimed that “compost is too rich for flower growing”, but that is a myth, the same as for herbs.
Can I add roots of perennial weeds to my compost heap?
Yes you can. Even in a cool compost heap, as long as new ingredients are being added before new shoots can find light, the roots run out of energy and expire. In a heap with some heat, they die more quickly.
The result is a big saving of time, because it's so much quicker just to throw everything in a heap, without sorting. Another great benefit is that there are more nutrients in the compost.
Likewise you can add diseased leaves to compost heaps. I add leaves, fruits and tubers of blighted potatoes and tomatoes, and mildewed squash leaves. The disease spores die when the leaves die.
Charles Dowding has made no dig popular with millions of readers and viewers. Currently he grows vegetables on 0.35 acres/1300 metres2 in Somerset. He has written 14 books and gives talks plus courses at home and abroad.
THERE’S a new team in charge of the busy fast food van at the Tucker’s Grave Inn at Faulkland.
Lynn, Rachel and Rachel are now behind the counter of the renamed Fryer Tuck’s, situated overlooking the garden by the Old Parlour Café.
Open Friday and Saturday evenings and Saturday and Sunday mornings, their aim is to offer good honest food such as burgers and chips to drinkers, campers and anyone passing by who fancies a great value takeaway.
The opening weekend of Fryer Tuck’s coincided with a
display of hot air balloons – including some small-scale balloons where the burners are operated by remote control.
Friday 30th June – Man About A Dog
Friday 7th July – The Pecadillos
Saturday 8th July – Dysfunctional Band
Friday 14th July – Be Like Will
Saturday 22nd July – Somerset Velvet
Saturday 29th July – The Usual Suspects * Bands 8pm-close
Tucker’s Grave Inn, Faukland, Radstock, BA3 5XF.
T: 01225 962669
THE White Hart at Cross is proud to be at the heart of the community – and many from that community will be at its Sunday Fun Day on August 6th!
Hundreds of people were there last year soaking up the atmosphere in the pub’s pretty sloping garden.
Landlords Gina Pike and Mike Devaney took over in 2019 and survived the Covid shutdown to build trade back.
The huge garden has been part of that – with a play area for kids and a Bottle Bar, which opens on busy days – like the fun day.
It’s an ancient coaching inn, which has a wide range of beers
and ciders and only offers “proper home-cooked” food at lunchtimes, apart from pizza night on Fridays, when booking is advised.
The lunch menu ranges from soup at £5.95, chunky sandwiches, £8.50, chilli £9.50 and mains like beef stew at £12.50. One vegetarian option is cauliflower cheese and garlic bread at £8.95. Skittles is popular at the pub and the alley is available free of charge in the summer, though not for younger children.
The pub has a sports bar, with darts and pool table, and a beautiful, beamed lounge.
AUGUST 6th
Live music in the garden from 1pm THE LIPINSKI BROTHERS XANDER WILD
STRUM AND BASS
Barbecue • Stalls • Face painting FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY!
Tickets £4 U-18s free
Serving fresh, homemade food at lunchtime –12pm until 2.30pm
THE annual Mendip Tour, organised by the Classic and Historic Motor Club, attracted another full house of entries and some of the biggest crowds for years to the finish on Wells Cathedral Green.
This year’s tour, which began at Puxton Park, raised money for the British Heart Foundation.
Arriving at Cathedral Green after a tour of the Mendip countryside
Geoff and Val Pringle, of Long Sutton, with their 1955 Triumph TR2
Family-run, rural country store on A359 between Castle Cary and Sparkford
Fir Tree Business Park, High Road, Galhampton, Somerset, BA22 7BH sales@galhamptoncountrystore.co.uk
STREET artists gathered at a new community arts space near Shepton Mallet for a “paint jam” decorating vehicles and storage units over the space of a weekend. The event, at Whitelake Park at Pylle, was organised by Styles of Somerset, which usually holds free paint jam and music events at Glastonbury Skate Park.
Probate | Insurance | Auction Family & Matrimonial | CGT | General Inventory
CLEVEDONSalerooms enjoyed one of its most successful auctions in recent years with the sale of the contents of Barrow Court, Barrow Gurney on Thursday, June 1st at the Kenn Road Auction Centre.
The outstanding single owner collection had been amassed over a 30-year period by the late technology entrepreneur Iann Barron CBE.
Collections of such provenance and quality are always guaranteed to create a stir when they appear on the market and Clevedon Salerooms maximised the opportunity with a dedicated printed catalogue and a co-ordinated publicity campaign in the regional and national press.
This certainly proved effective, generating an unprecedented level of interest – with one keen bidder making the journey to the auction by helicopter – and strong and sustained bidding throughout the sale. Leading the way, an outstanding carved oak and marquetry-inlaid tester bed, in the early 17th century manner which took the day’s top price, selling for £14,000.
Also scoring highly, a very attractive Queen Anne walnut cabinet
on chest, circa 1710, the upper section with ogee-arched bevelled and star-etched mirror doors, which sold for £8,000.
It wasn’t just amongst the furniture that the high notes were hit. A mid-18th century oil on canvas from the Circle of Arthur Pond, of Henry and Susanna Hoare of Stourhead was the focus of a hotly fought bidding battle which saw the hammer fall well above estimate at £8,200.
A fine walnut and seaweed marquetry eight-day brass dial longcase clock by the esteemed maker John Norcot of London also performed well, selling for £6,200 whilst a brass lantern clock signed by local Chew Valley maker Thomas Veale, dated 1689 sold for £3,100.
Finally, what stately home would be complete without a suit of armour? The one offered here was in fact a modern reproduction and had been bought on holiday in Spain. Bidders clearly weren’t deterred by the lack of antiquity and our helmeted friend quickly outshone its estimate to sell for a very respectable £2,400.
With a highly impressive 98% sold and a total well above expectations, the Barrow Court sale was another resounding success for a saleroom going from strength to strength.
AS well as working on commissions and other exhibition work, for the last few months artist Ian Marlow has been creating a site-specific installation sculpture for the Wells Art Contemporary at Wells Cathedral, which opens in August. Choral Harmony is a large hanging sculpture in stainless steel and coloured acrylic rods that Ian, whose studio is in Buckland Dinham, near Frome, has designed specifically for the exhibition at the cathedral.
It will be suspended in the pilgrim arch next to the information desk at the cathedral entrance. Inspired by both the music and the colourful stained glass windows, it will sweep under the stone arch and flow into the white-walled corridor, rising and falling like the sound of choral singing above the heads of those entering the cathedral.
Ian said: “This one is a double-first for me: I’ve not made an installation sculpture before or exhibited at WAC.”
Ian says it’s been a real labour of love to get the sculpture completed. The biggest part of any sculpture is the process of making it, but site-specific sculptures have added problems to overcome.
He added: “There are so many issues to be considered when installing a work of art in a Grade I listed building, especially one that is in constant use by staff and visitors. It was important not to disrupt the function of the cathedral, but the main problem to overcome was how to support the sculpture without putting fixings into the walls of the ancient building.”
Ian’s sculpture will be installed in early July ready for the exhibition which opens to the public in August. l Wells Art Contemporary runs from Saturday, August 5th to Saturday, September 2nd.
ATtheir latest sale of silver and jewellery, Killens saw strong demand for the jewellery on offer.
A very impressive mid-20th century platinum, diamond and sapphire cluster ring in the Art Deco manner was met with strong interest selling for £3600 whilst a stylish Italian diamond-set curb link bracelet and a matching necklace realised £2400.
A Danish Ole Lynggaard “Shooting Stars” diamond collar necklace made £2200. Charm bracelets always meet with keen interest and a 1940s French platinum bracelet in the manner of Boucheron hung with 21 various charms was no exception eventually achieving a hammer price of £1850.
There was an impressive entry of watches with an Omega, Constellation, gentleman's 18ct gold automatic
wristwatch making £1300 and a Cartier, Tank Francaise, lady's stainless steel bracelet watch £1850.
Killens handle a broad range of antique, period and modern jewellery. Live online bidding, social media marketing, targeted advertising and mailing lists ensure that they attract buyers from across the globe. Selling at auction is nearly always better than selling to a private dealer. Remember that a dealer will be seeking to make a profit in agreeing a purchase price and this will often exceed what an auction house charges for selling your items. When selling to a dealer, you are also putting your trust in him or her on what the selling price should be whereas auction ensures that you achieve the best price.
So, if you have silver or jewellery to sell, we want to hear from you. Call into
your local auction house at the Mendip Auction Rooms for a free valuation and to consign your items. Our jewellery experts are present each Monday and Wednesday.
We can place your items into one of our specialist silver and jewellery auctions and advise you on the straight-forward selling process.
A FANTASTIC day was had at Cooper & Tanner’s third Jewellery, Silver and Watch Sale on May 24th and, with more than 550 lots, there was something for everyone, although there were several lots that were highly sought after by many.
Both viewing days were very busy with potential buyers coming from all over the country and on the sale day itself, there were more than 400 online buyers registered, as well as room bidders and a number of buyers on the telephones. Whilst the majority of lots were sold to UK bidders, various pieces were sold internationally.
Selling online after much competition from both the telephone and the room was a large emerald and diamond ring in an Art Deco style setting, the hammer fell at £6,700. Other highlights of the sale included an unusual early 20th century diamond ring selling at £3,500; a beautiful Victorian sapphire and diamond cluster
ring selling for £3,100 and an 18ct white gold diamond set bangle, finally selling at £2,500. Mid-20th century Scandinavian silver pieces were much contested, as were the several Rolex watches in the watch and clock section.
A more unusual lot, which appealed to collectors of oriental pieces as well as collectors of jewellery, was a 1920’s/30’s carved jadeite clip set with diamonds that was in a fitted case with a jadeite bracelet. After much contest it sold on the hammer at £3,100 to an online bidder.
The next Specialist Jewellery, Silver & Watches sale takes place on Wednesday, November 29th and valuation days will be held at Cooper and Tanner offices on the below dates, 9am to 4.30pm:
Frome, Friday, July 14th; Midsomer Norton, Friday, July 21st; Shepton Mallet, Friday, July 28th; Warminster, Friday, August, 11th; Wedmore, Friday, August 18th; Street, Thursday, September 7th;
Castle Cary, Friday, September 8th; Cheddar, Friday, September 15th; Wells, Wednesday September 27th and Glastonbury, Friday October 3rd.
l Please call the office on 01373 852419 to book an appointment; alternatively, free home visits are available. Don’t forget that we hold free valuation days for all antiques and collectables on Mondays and Thursdays (10am to 4pm) at our Standerwick office as well.
A pair of stunning sapphire and diamond drop earrings in the Victorian style (cased) sold for £5,600 plus buyer’s premium
THE team at Dore & Rees in Frome is looking forward to holding its second Curious and Collectable auction, building on the success of the last sale in September 2022.
Curated by Marc Allum, well know to many from BBC Antiques Roadshow, the auction includes coins, antiquities, tribal art, film posters, music and film ephemera, militaria and mechanical models and more.
The highlight is the Lord Lew Grade Collection which features personal items from the media mogul’s office and home. Grade first became widely known as an entertainer who danced his way to fame, working with the likes of Fred Astaire. He was a successful talent agent in the 1930s and by the mid1940s, Lew had formed a partnership with his brother, travelling to the US and building connections with the bestknown performers of the day such as Bob Hope and Judy Garland.
They became the main bookers of artists for the London Palladium. Roll forward a decade and Grade had become the driving force behind Associated Television’s Sunday Night at the London Palladium. He went on to invest in trans-Atlantic media projects, bringing a particularly British flavour of drama to the American market and found great triumphs with series such as The Persuaders and The Prisoner.
He was also the driving force behind Gerry Anderson, bringing us all the cult classics such as Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet. Grade’s films were often underrated at the time but have since acquired highly acclaimed status. On Golden Pond is one such film, but the Pink Panther franchise, The Boys from Brazil and the Muppet movies were all highly successful. It is an honour to handle such a collection and to share it with collectors around the world. We look forward to an entertaining and exciting auction day.
JULY EVENTS AND AUCTIONS
FROME FESTIVAL EVENT: EVER WONDERED WHAT IT’S WORTH?
Thursday 13 July 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Meet Marc Allum, Lee Young, Susan Rumfitt and Duncan Campbell, well-known faces from BBC Antiques Roadshow. Hear tales from behind the scenes and bring along up to five items to be valued. All proceeds to support The Bennett Centre. Contact the Cheese & Grain box office to book your £5 ticket: cheeseandgrain.com / 01373 455 420
CURIOUS AND COLLECTABLE AUCTION
Wednesday 19 July at 10:30am
Check doreandrees.com to see the online catalogues and viewing details
19 JULY 2023
10:30AM
VIEWING
Saturday 16 July 11am to 3pm
Monday 17 July 10am to 4pm
Tuesday 18 July 10am to 4pm
www.doreandrees.com
enquiries@doreandrees.com
01373 462 257
Dore & Rees
Auction Salerooms
Vicarage Street
Frome BA11 1PU
AROUND 3,000 people enjoyed Midsomer Norton’s Music and Arts Festival in the Town Park.
Television presenter Sarah Beeny was amongst the crowd to watch The Entitled Sons, led by husband Graham Swift and featuring their sons, headline the music.
MORE and more families are now predicted to be caught up in the inheritance tax (IHT) trap as the value of property has soared – pushing many estates over the threshold. However, there are steps you can take to limit your tax liability.
By getting married you can pass on assets of unlimited value to a spouse or civil partner without any IHT liability and spouses are also able to inherit their partner’s unused nil-rate band when they die. This means the surviving spouse could see their tax-free allowance grow to £650,000.
Homeowners also get an additional £175,000 allowance – called the “residence nil-rate band” if they pass their main property on to family members. And because spouses and civil partners can combine their allowances, they can pass on a total of £1m wealth without incurring a tax bill.
But it pays to be aware of some restrictions. The property must be a residence of the deceased and it must be left to children or grandchildren (not nephews, nieces, brothers or sisters).
For estates worth more than £2m, the residence nil-rate band allowance is reduced at a rate of £1 for every £2 over the threshold. If the residence nil-rate band is not enough to protect your wealth, then you should make the most of gift allowances.
An often overlooked but highly taxefficient method is to give money out of surplus income. This must be money you can give away regularly without significantly changing your lifestyle; it cannot be money that comes from a house sale, for example.
The gifts don’t need to be of equal size – they just need to be part of a pattern. You should also keep detailed records of the gifts made, in case HMRC asks for evidence of the gifts after death.
On top of gifts out of surplus income, every individual gets a £3,000 annual exemption. Not many realise this can be carried forward for one tax year – so you could give away £6,000 if your allowance was unused in the previous year.
There are additional allowances for weddings or civil partnerships, although how much you can give varies depending on your relationship to the bride or groom.
Then there is the the seven-year inheritance tax rule. Large gifts in excess of £3,000 can be made without incurring IHT – but only if you survive the gift by seven years. During this window, the gifts are called “potentially exempt transfers”.
Gifts made within three years of death are taxed at the full rate of 40 per cent –after that, taper relief will apply.
You can also pass on your pension. Regardless of whether you have touched your pension savings, you can pass on the
entire pot to your beneficiaries inheritance tax-free. So even if you had used up your nil-rate band and residence nil-rate band, you could still give away £200,000 in pension wealth, thereby saving £80,000 in IHT.
However be aware that the beneficiary will have to pay income tax as they draw down on the pension, but only if the original pension holder dies after age of 75. Another advantage of incorporating pensions into your estate planning is you can still access these funds if you ever do need to draw on them to pay for care.
It is always prudent to seek professional advice on these issues before deciding on the most tax efficient way forward.
EDWARD LYONS
THEsummer is here and so is wedding season, but getting protection in place in case things don’t go to plan isn’t always at the forefront of your mind when you’re about to get married or a newlywed.
However, you might be coming into the marriage with assets that you would want to protect if the marriage didn’t last. That’s where a pre-nuptial or postnuptial agreements can play an important role in your wedding preparations.
What is a prenuptial agreement?
A prenuptial agreement is an agreement signed before the wedding ceremony. Ideally, at least 21 days prior to the wedding but can be done at any time. It defines who owns what while the parties are married. It also usually sets out a plan for what will happen if a couple gets divorced.
What is a postnuptial agreement?
A postnuptial agreement sets out the same protection as a prenuptial agreement, but is signed after the wedding ceremony (at a point when the couple still plans on staying together). It is always advisable to put a prenuptial agreement in place if you can, but if this is not possible a postnuptial agreement is advisable.
In the best case scenario the agreement will never be needed, but in the worst case scenario it may save you the emotional and financial drain of contested Court proceedings. The civil partnership equivalents serve the same purpose and are referred to as ‘pre-civil partnership agreements’ and ‘post-civil partnership agreements’.
It is a common misconception that only A listers and
millionaire’s need pre-nups. But anyone can get a pre-nup and there are several reasons why you might consider signing one before marrying particularly if you have children from a previous marriage.
Why might I need one?
Once you are married, any assets owned by you such as a property or savings may become matrimonial assets (assets of the marriage) which on divorce a court could share between you and your partner, even if you had them before the marriage.
A pre-nup allows partners to ring-fence certain assets to protect them in the event of divorce. Pre-nups are particularly useful for couples getting married for a second time and where a couple may want to protect assets they brought into the marriage for the benefit of their children from their first marriage.
Here are a few reasons why you and your partner may wish to enter a pre-nup:
• To protect your pre-marriage assets (such as your home, business, pension plan, assets of sentimental value)
• To protect gifts and inheritance you receive
• To ensure children from a prior marriage do not lose their intended inheritance to a new spouse
• To establish the value of non-monetary contributions to a marriage, such as being a stay-at-home spouse, or making career sacrifices for the sake of the marriage
If you are planning a wedding and want to speak to our experts about how a pre-nup could benefit you and your family please contact Rebecca Silcock on 0800 533 5349or email rebecca.silcock@mogersdrewett.com. We are here to help.
Treat yourself to a stay on a farm near the spectacular scenery of The Dartmoor National Park
Close to the market towns of Okehampton and Tavistock, Northwood Barn is a two-bedroom barn conversion nestled in rolling countryside and woodland, suitable for walking, cycling and riding breaks (DIY horse livery and bike storage is available).
For those who prefer more sedate activities, the property is close to the cities of Exeter and Plymouth, accessible by train from Okehampton. The coastal resorts of North Cornwall and South Devon are also just a short drive away.
For further details and rates please contact: linda.lippiatt@btinernet.com or 07388 124884.
THEWedmore 40/30 cycle ride will be held on Sunday, September 10th, raising funds for Weston Hospicecare and Wedmore’s St Mary’s Church.
The challenge sees bike enthusiasts take on the familyfriendly fun 12-mile route or the breathtaking 30, 40 or 70mile courses across the Mendips, Levels and Poldens.
Details: westonhospicecare.org.uk/event/wedmore-40-30/
SOMEmay already be aware that Alan Hector has been missing from Hectors in Wedmore! Alan has officially retired from working in the shop and has handed the reins over to his son, James, and Mike Shaw to take the business forward.
They said: “We are confident that Alan will continues to offer his guidance and valuable advice, for which we are always grateful. He will be missed by the customers at Hectors, but we strive to continue his long-standing reputation.”
James alongside Alan started Hectors Farm Shop in 2006 and Mike joined them in 2013. James and Mike will continue to source beef, lamb, pork and turkeys from the family farm in Cocklake, when available. At other times, they will continue to use Red Devon beef from Ian Durston at Peacock Farm, Westhay and other locally sourced products.
WEDMORE’S Turnip Prize, the spoof art award inspired by the Turner Prize, will celebrate 25 years this year.
Entries will be accepted from Wednesday, November 1st and should take the least amount of effort possible to create. The winner will be announced on December 5th.
Details: New Inn, Wedmore Trevor Prideaux 07812 848011
Starts on Friday 7th July at 10 a.m.
LIMEspecialises in labels not found on the High Street and aimed at the discerning lady who prefers to create her own style while aiming to look very fashionable as the years progress.
We offer a variety of accessories to complete the look or to add to the existing wardrobe. If you have not had the “Lime” experience make it a date in the diary to pop in to see our lovely emporium and combine it with coffee/lunch in one of our several great eateries in Wedmore!
We hope to see you soon and you will receive a very warm welcome.
Claire BidwellGREEN Wedmore organised a three-day festival of nature, including walks, talks, workshops and stands. It was supported by several wildlife groups and local schools.
Members of Wedmore Men’s Shed showed off some of the bug hotels they had made.
WEDMORE is preparing for two big events – the Street Fair and Harvest Home, which has been running for over 100 years.
The street fair will be held on Saturday, July 1st, when the Borough will be closed to accommodate stalls, musicians, with food and drink, and a chance to browse the village shops.
It’s a free event, which normally attracts large crowds.
The team behind Wedmore Harvest Home now also help organise the street fair. The Harvest Home takes place on August 19th.
The parade in Church Street with floats, classic cars and pedestrians starts with the vicar leading the church service with thanks to the farmers.
The lunch will include two guest speakers, Kate Isgar and Alan Hector, with tea and entertainment for children in the afternoon and live music in the evening.
Organisers say: “The committee is small and many of the team do multiple jobs and so could always do with some extra help!”
The Borough Mall provides a variety of quality shops and boutiques as well as a café, with free on-site parking for all our customers.
LIVE LOCALLY l SHOP L OCALLY l WORK LOCALLY boroughmall@btc onnect.com
PISCESwill be open as normal during the Wedmore Street Fair and are pleased to be supporting the Friends of St Mary’s who are again bringing the “Human Fruit Machine” for your entertainment.
Tickets are now available from Rach 07807156069 or from Wedmore Village Stores 100,000 potential customers within a short distance of your business
Come and enjoy the fun of the fair!
THEPet Boutique Wedmore opened its doors in October 2020. We stock feed, treats, toys and accessories for dogs, cats, wild birds and small animals. We also handmake our own dog collars in store. We are happy to take custom orders so you can design one that's unique for your dog!
We specialise in natural food and treats where we can and have a great range of natural dog treats including our delicious treat boxes. We are able to order in products we may not have in stock so please do pop in and ask and we will do our best to help you.
Hayley SpreagDirect supply of Cornish Sea Food. Loch Fyne Smokehouse stockist. Fruit and vegetables personally selected at market, exotics and the unusual, fresh herbs and the best local produce. Selection of culinary ingredients. Open all day Tuesday to Friday plus Monday and Saturday mornings.
Our reputation for personalised patient care means that we continue to welcome a steady stream of new patients to the practice. We provide routine dentistry as well as cosmetic treatments such as whitening, veneers, antiwrinkle treatment and fillers. Do get in touch if you want to discuss how to make your smile healthy and beautiful.
Did you know?
• At a dental examination we check for neck lumps and assess moles, freckles and crusting areas on the face.
• We take a detailed medical history so that your dental treatment can be tailored appropriately. If you have a complex medical history, with your consent, we liaise with your hospital consultant on your behalf. This reduces the need for dental hospital referrals and enables your treatment to be carried out safely in practice.
• All patients have the option to join Denplan, helping to spread the cost of treatment.
• Denplan dentists have access to world-class speakers and hands-on training.
• Private dental care is worth the investment – we use premium dental materials and laboratories.
Email: appointments@wedmoredental.co.uk Telephone: 01934 713013
WEDMOREReal Ale Festival will be held from Friday, September 15th to Sunday, September 17th in the Glebe Field in Manor Lane.
Last year’s record-breaking £20,500 brings the total amount raised for local good causes to £246,820.
Organisers say: “This would not have been possible without our sponsors and friends at the festival, so a huge thank you again for their ongoing support.”
The festival will have over 100 barrels of ale and cider, as well as a selection of craft beers, a gin bar, food and music.
Microlight will be performing on Friday evening and The Brightside Killers (a brilliant Killers tribute band) on Saturday evening. There will local musical acts from 1.30pm on Saturday afternoon and a silent disco for younger guests from 1.30–3pm.
Details: www.wraf@wedmorerealale.co.uk
OBSCURA has been trading for nearly three years in the lovely village of Wedmore, including our Obscura house clearance services.
We are not your normal antique shop. We have a wide range of antiques, collectables, oddities and some outright strange items! We offer valuation services on all of your antiques and collectables, pop in and pay a visit. Our prices for house clearances will not be beaten, we are fully licenced and insured.
Stuart Moore
WESSEXLearning Trust schools, Wedmore First School, Hugh Sexey Middle School and Weare Academy, have all taken delivery of tanks of baby eels to look after for the next three to six weeks before being released into a river. Once abundant in the wetlands of the Somerset Levels and Moors, wildlife groups are working to restore their numbers.
CHILDREN at Bishop Sutton and Stanton Drew Primary schools enjoyed a few days away at Charterhouse Residential Camp where caving was one of the activities offered. School office manager, Paula Ware, said: “They did several activities to build teamwork, fitness and resilience skills.”
LYMPSHAMFirst School’s executive headteacher, Katie Whiting and her team, are fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support by taking part in the Gower Peninsula Mighty Hike! Taking in the dramatic coastline views over Rhossili Bay and Worms Head, the team will be hiking for the FULL marathon distance of 26.2 miles on July 8th.
Details: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/katielympsham
WESTONHospicecare has been named Charity of the Year in the Great British Business and Community Awards.
The national honour follows the hospice being awarded Charity of the Year at the South West of England Business and Community awards in December.
Chief Executive, Paul Winspear, said: “Winning this award speaks volumes about the outstanding dedication and devotion of our supporters, volunteers and staff in providing care, love and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
“This award is recognition and celebration of all the incredible work they do for this wonderful hospice and all the people from across North Somerset which it serves.”
The hospice relies on financial support from its supporters within the community to fund 80% of its total annual operating costs and has more than 600 volunteers who provide vital support in many different spheres of their work.
Details: www.westonhospicecare.org.uk
LANGPORTRed Cross are approaching their 300th outing to the Bristol Hippodrome, booking now for the hit musical “Hamilton” next spring.
There are various pick-up points on the way to Bristol. All proceeds from the trips go to the British Red Cross.
Details: www.charitytheatretrips.com
THE daughter of Harriet Farquhar, the president of the Inner Wheel Club of Shepton Mallet, enjoyed an extra special birthday present after the end of a charity picnic organised by the club’s district body.
This year’s indoor event was in aid of The Book Bus, a children’s reading charity which is planning to send
a bus equipped as a library to Zambia to help with literacy projects. The giant rabbit – now named Benjamin – was one of the prizes in the raffle.
Meanwhile, several members of the Shepton Mallet club supported District 20’s cake and refreshment tent at Home Farm Fest in Chilthorne Domer. The festival was raising money for the School in a Bag charity.
A GROUP of friends from Stoke St Michael have completed an almost 50-mile circular walk passing Cranmore Tower and Alfred’s Tower and climbing Glastonbury Tor.
One of the walkers, Sarah Jenkins, raised £361 for Cancer
THE20-mile Circuit of Bath Walk, now in its 22nd year, will be held on Sunday, September 24th, raising funds for the Julian House homeless charity.
The walk across the outskirts of Bath has seen thousands of people explore the most stunning countryside and experiencing the city in a whole new way.
While the charity is encouraging people to tackle the full 20mile route, participants can choose their own distance and start point, thanks to the five checkpoints along the route and a free taxi service between each.
Hema Kariyappa, who took on the challenge last year said “It’s a route that makes one proud of Bath and I can’t wait for it to become a national event that’ll see many tourists flock to participate.
“I’ve done Kilimanjaro, Machu Picchu and more, but the Circuit of Bath Walk is unique because there’s so much drama along the route.”
Community and Events Fundraiser Gavin Osborn said: “By taking part, you are enabling us to support at-risk people in our emergency hostel and domestic abuse refuge. You will be helping to save lives”.
Early Bird tickets are on sale now, £10 adult, £5 Child, £22 Family. Dogs are welcome and for younger families there are also buggy-friendly sections of the walk.
Details: www.circuitofbathwalk.co.uk
CHILDRENat Stanton Drew primary school raised £70.80 for charity by taking part in the Dance for Dementia Day.
Chinchillas class are taking part in The Archie Project which helps them to understand dementia and connect with people in their community.
THREEweeks after completing her third London marathon and raising more than £200 for the Obsidian Cheer & Dance charity in Bath, Sara Box from Temple Cloud took part in an inaugural run for the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon. She said: “It was brutal, it was hot and it was
extremely hilly. But I got round!”
This new marathon has been launched to honour rugby league legend Rob Burrow. The former Leeds Rhinos player was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019 and has gone on to raise millions of pounds for charity.
MOREthan 240 people stepped out along the Kennet & Avon canal for RUHX, the official charity of the RUH in Bath, raising more than £26,000.
Walkers completed either a 26.2 mile marathon challenge from Bishops Cannings or ten-mile challenge from Bradford-on-Avon along the scenic canal tow path.
Laura Snell, events and community manager at RUHX, said: “Thank you so much to everyone who took part in the Walk of Life. You really have gone the extra mile for your local hospital. You are all superstars!”
fundraising@ruhx.org.uk
A NORTHSomerset charity that supports families through tough times is looking to recruit more volunteers to join their team.
Home-Start North Somerset is seeking people who can spare just two hours a week to help deliver their services to families. Their home-visiting volunteers offer support, friendship and practical help to parents with at least one child under the age of five.
Senior organiser, Julie Parsons, said: “Our volunteers support around 60 North Somerset families each year. We are here for parents when they need us most – but we need more amazing volunteers to help us do that.”
As part of the Home-Visiting service, volunteers complete an in-depth training programme after which they are carefully matched to a family who they visit once a week.
Details: 07771 179007 www.homestartnorthsomerset.org.uk
A GROUPof supporters of Frome-based cancer counselling charity We Hear You (WHY) raised £18,000 for the charity with a three-day trek around the Cornish coast. Volunteer coordinator Lottie Ardeshir (pictured) said: "It was a fantastic experience, but definitely not an easy one!”
HUNDREDSof people took part in Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance’s new ultra-cycling challenge, Race from the Base, starting from Henstridge Airfield, with 30km, 60km and 100km routes.
Emma Jones, the charity’s fundraising manager said: “This was our first ever Race from the Base event and wow, what a truly fabulous day it was.”
BATHCats and Dogs Home will host its Wag Walk on Sunday, September 3rd, hoping to raise £8k towards the care of unwanted or mistreated rescue animals.
Starting from the rescue centre in Claverton, 90 dogs took part last year. The two walking routes feature beautiful countryside with a choice of a two-mile flat route staying close to the home or a five-mile route along the National Trust Bath Skyline.
Details: www.bathcatsanddogshome.org.uk/ events/wag-walk
THEGreat Western Air Ambulance charity experienced their joint busiest week on record with 52 call-outs at the end of May. The crew responded to around half of these in the helicopter and half in a critical care car.
Both now have new bespoke kit bags, which were funded by the County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal — the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads.
Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Critical Care, Vicki Brown, said: “The new bags are speeding up processes, especially setting up kit for pre-hospital emergency anaesthesia (PHEA); they are helping to improve the care we provide to people in our communities in urgent need of our help.”
IT’S still early days in the barn owl nesting season but looking back at spring it certainly feels like the insect apocalypse (as it’s called), is in full swing with its massive repercussions on other species (particularly fledgling birds) starting to play out.
By the time this issue is published, my annual barn owl monitoring season will be in full swing, where I will be visiting many farms across the area counting and ringing the new class of owlets produced in 2023.
By CHRIS SPERRING
What’s starting to emerge is a difference between areas that seem linked very much to the weather issues we had during the previous winter and of course this spring. Watching owl webcams can give an insight into how the season is playing out, but it’s not the whole story, which is where the monitoring visits become essential.
The owls currently featured at https://hawkandowltrust.org/live-cameras/barn-owl-cam-livesomerset laid a clutch of five eggs in April and hatched four of those eggs in May. But what becomes apparent is that, during the incubation stage, there was a long gap in prey delivery that the male provides to the incubating female; indeed, at one point, the female goes off hunting herself which is unusual during incubation.
The location of this nest is in the prime barn owl stronghold of the Somerset Levels. They should be superb habitats offering the owls' favourite prey in abundance (short-tailed vole), yet something had gone quite dramatically wrong. This all points towards a major weather event and looking back at the winter 22/23 we find not just raised water levels but a flooding event that left some fields at a depth
of water up to an adult’s waist height.
Obviously, the floods finally abated and, by early spring, grass began to recover. The grass story here becomes essential not just for the farmers, but also for the owls, as the voles that live in the grass need a certain length of grass to establish preyable populations and they eat grass.
After that much flooding, the grass takes time to recover but, as spring rolled in, we had another long period of cold northeasterly winds, further slowing grass development and therefore holding back the normal availability of prey for the nesting owls.
I had hoped by now that the voles would have begun responding, but it’s not happening. Our Somerset webcam owls have responded to this lack of food by reducing their brood size from four hatched owlets to now two survivors. As many of those people watching the webcam have stated: “Nature can be cruel.” Obviously, this is the owls functioning to their best abilities to at least fledge some owlets this year; they are simply being practical.
As I said, it's early in the season, so whether this scenario is repeated throughout the Somerset Levels is yet to be revealed, but I do have some good news.
I checked some farms on Exmoor and found a completely different result; here barn owlets in the nest were older and much larger broods of four or five, with prey stored around the owlets, meaning there’s surplus food.
We've looked at this as an owl issue, yet we know it’s not been a good spring for so many species; there are of course exceptions. The more I think about this, the more the word resilience keeps coming up. So, accepting that some species have a bad time is fine, but the question must be: have species got habitats in good enough condition to build back from? If not, then one bad year will start to become the norm.
I have now started looking at the Mendip sites and visiting some great farmers and landowners. It will be interesting to see what happens.
ONthis picturesque circle follow the River Chew out and back from Compton Dando and not only enjoy the peaceful valley but then head up and experience the views from the hills around Pensford. En-route drop down through a wooded nature reserve and go under the famous muchphotographed viaduct to interesting Pensford. We follow some of the lesserknown routes and there may well be muddy sections. Ideally, take a stick. There are pubs in Pensford but also the chance for walking groups to book a light lunch or tea provided by volunteers at the renovated Old Schoolrooms by the island church. There is also the Compton Inn near where you started out.
PARK: On the road in Compton Dando near the village hall and the Compton Inn. The village is south of Keynsham.
START: Go down Church Lane opposite
the village hall and pub. Go through the lychgate and through the churchyard to the right of the church following the Two Rivers Way. Then round the back. Cross a stone slab stile and bear down right passing the old mill.
The river, 17 miles long, runs rises in Chewton Mendip and joins the Avon in Keynsham. Before the advent of Chew Valley Lake, in 1957, it was a powerful river and navigable from Chew Magna to Keynsham with horse-drawn coal barges. At one time it served around 40 water mills, including this one and those at Pensford, Publow and Woollard which we visit later.
Bend left past the pond in this beautiful spot and go through a gate onto a path straight on with the river over right. There’s a footbridge over the Chew and now head across the field towards the wooded hill.
Climb steeply up through the woods where in spring it is a riot of bluebells, wild garlic and wood anemones. A gate at the top takes you into a field and now just head straight on along the grassy track and through fields following the Community Forest Path. Then, after a gate, drop down passing a field of alpacas and an information board about the wetland here
Go straight over and onto a track opposite passing cottages. At the end, to the right of a cottage, a kissing gate (KG) leads into a field. It’s straight on and through another KG and maintain direction along by the river on a grassy track. Go across a board walk and through a Bristol Gate by a potentially muddy patch and keep on paralleling the River Chew over left.
You are approaching the edge of Publow hamlet. Just before a field gate ahead, go left over a footbridge across the Chew. Then bear across right to a gate. Once through, head on through fields and gates, passing a farm over right and eventually come alongside Publow Church. Exit onto Publow Lane.
On the left is Publow bridge, medieval in origin, sited by the old Publow Mill. We are, however, turning right on the lane.
4.
If you wish, visit the 14th century church of All Saints which serves Pensford as well as Publow. We follow this lane for about 0.6 miles. You are about an hour into the walk. Take the first turning left, Parsonage Lane and continue uphill. It should be pretty quiet along here. At the next junction follow Parsonage Lane to the left, still climbing along this steep-sided
1. RIVER 2. WOODS at Bell Farm. Keep on along a track and come out to a lane in Woollard. 3. WOOLLARD PUBLOWlane. It flattens out and leads to the main A37 on the hill above Pensford.
foot of the striking and much photographed Victorian viaduct.
Cross with care and go through onto a slip road by houses. At the end between a house and garages enter a field through a gate. Head straight on across, through a kissing gate and on until you come to a kissing gate on the left. Go through and along a path, with a garden on the right. Keep on in this direction, soon getting a fine view down over the viaduct in Pensford village.
Enter Culvery Wood, in the care of the Woodland Trust and part of the Forest of Avon.
It is an important habitat for nesting birds, invertebrates and plants. Stay up in the wood and keep straight on. Drop down and go down steps to the
Dating back to 1874 it carried the Bristol and North Somerset Railway over the Chew Valley here. At its highest point it is 95ft (29m) high and has 16 arches. Although it was offered for sale in 1984 for just £1, there were no buyers!
Go left under the viaduct and on into Pensford village. Turn right past the traditional village pub, the Rising Sun which has an impressively sited garden looking across to the viaduct. Then reach on the right the Old Schoolroom, which used to be a charity school and then a National School. Notice the plaque on the wall registering the height of the destructive flood in 1968.
The Old Schoolroom fell into disrepair but thanks to the sterling efforts of volunteers it has been restored into a
comfortable and welcoming centre for the village. I had the privilege of cutting the ribbon to mark its reopening in April. If any group of walkers would like some refreshment they should contact Jane Flower in advance of the walk (see below) and it will be provided. Next to the Old Schoolroom is the beautiful church, one of few churches built on an island. It is now lived in by a family, but the tower can be visited. Both the church and the viaduct were damaged by the flood and fell into disuse.
Continue on, crossing the restored medieval bridge and reach the A37 again. Cross into the High Street. Many of the cottages here were originally shops.
Reach a triangle of grass – the last vestige of the original village green.
It was the site of one of the most important regular markets in the county from the 14th century specialising in the West Country’s famous broadcloth. On the other side is the old lock-up. One of its uses was for housing drunks overnight and for the safekeeping of prisoners being transported by stagecoach or awaiting trial by the magistrates who sat at the nearby George & Dragon. It was last used in 1885 for a 14-year-old boy found stealing mangelwurzels from a farmer’s field.
Next to the lock-up is a plaque to Acker Bilk, the famous clarinet player born here and where he returned in later life and died
5. MAIN ROAD 6. CULVERY WOOD 7. VIADUCTin 2014. He is buried in the churchyard of the church at Publow. Turn right up the High Street past the pub. Not far up this hill find a footpath sign on the left just past the wall postbox. This narrow, hedged path leads into a field on the hill.
9. HILL
Bend steeply up left and then bear up to the right, still climbing onto the hill with great views. Pass a solitary oak by a crossing of tracks and keep straight on. The path is not very clear. Continue to a fence and turn left down to a KG and footbridge and another KG. This could be another muddy spot. Bear up right. Keep on until you reach a fence corner on your right. Here head left up across to the brow of the hill (again, it is not a clear path) and then bear down right and go through a gate in the fence and come to a lovely pond with a seat.
10. POND
Go left round the pond to the far side (ignoring the path down left) and then go down and through a gate. Your direction now is across the field coming closer to the Chew again. Go through a Bristol Gate near the river and straight on. Just past a footbridge on the
left, turn right across the field away from the river. Cross a small footbridge to come onto Birchwood Lane.
This was the principal route between Keynsham Abbey and Wells Cathedral for pilgrims and for goods traffic.
Turn up right and then left through a KG. In the field go right and over a bridge. The path bends right and climbs up the bank.
11. LANE
Come onto a lane. Turn right and shortly go left down steps to a lower lane. Go to the right and just past a house on the left go through a KG on the left.
12. PATH
This is a small path. Stay with this, through a gate, and up along the side of a wood. Just keep on now, coming closer to the River Chew. Eventually a gate leads into a field. Head straight on up into the field and on with the Chew down left in the valley. Then see ahead Compton Dando church. Head for this, through fields. Cross a footbridge and go along to a gate onto the entrance drive/lane to the old mill in the village. Turn up right all the way to the principal road in Compton Dando and turn left to the start.
what a month it’s been! There can be little doubt that we needed this spell of fine dry weather, but some rain would be welcome now. Having said that we will all turn around and issue those familiar words of “typical English summer weather” as our short memories forget the hot dry weather previously. Just like Goldilocks’s porridge it will never be just right!
I cannot help but compare this to 1976 and ’77 when prolonged periods of hot dry weather led to a rash of wild fires in the countryside. Black Down went up in flames with the hot weather of ’76 taking just about every fire pump the County of Avon had.
It’s still time for caution, but some do not seem to understand the serious nature of wild camping and barbecues. A recent incident at Stockhill Forest was averted thanks to the quick thinking of a local resident. An overnight fire wasn’t properly extinguished and the fire service had to attend.
Many of you may have noticed two dung spreaders placed across the entrance barriers. Thank to local farmer Jon King and myself the intended “rave” did not take place and an even higher fire risk was averted.
So much doom and gloom, so let’s talk about some good stuff! Family days out have been very much the order of the month and top of the list would have been the Royal Bath & West show. I’m pleased to see this iconic event has a more countryside flavour to it again and the fine weather with a little bit a breeze was just what everyone needed.
Conditions for the livestock were good and it was encouraging when speaking to those on their day out just how many wanted to go and see the animals. Food and drink naturally played a large part of the day, including my Emily Elizabeth’s apple juice that was available at the recently featured Ad Astra Cider stand.
It was good to see lots of family groups relaxing on the grass areas and taking their picnic lunch to the accompaniment of the music and sunshine . . . how very English.
For me this was the last show as Chief Steward and Chairman of the Environmental Youth Awards, (EYA). I am handing over to Major Gerry Webb after six years. I’m a firm believer in fresh thinking and new ideas, knowing that Gerry will bring that to EYA.
Can I also encourage those of you who are involved with youth groups of any sort (this not just for schools) to get in touch and let us know what you’re doing to improve your local environment. There is a contact form on the Royal Bath & West Show web page. You don’t have to be a big organisation to make a big difference. This year’s winner was a small school from Crewkerne way down south.
Was it me, or did the 79th anniversary of the D-Day landing go by with little or minimal media coverage? Each year that passes means there are less of the veterans from that turning point of WW2. British, Canadian, American and other allied nations gave their young people in the name of freedom and that should never be forgotten.
The last few monuments to that time hang onto the Mendip landscape by their fingernails. The storm damaged Nissan hut on the crossroads of the B3134 and B3371 near Yoxter, the decoy on Black Down and defensive pill boxes around Wells all bear silent witness to darker days and the courage and determination of a nation united by a single cause and not divided by political wrangling . . . Here endeth the lesson!
The wildlife is making the most of the good weather. I’m looking out of the window at a female blackbird gathering more nesting materials, no doubt for repairs and a pending new brood. If so, that must be the third this year.
Even the pigeons are in on the act whilst the magpies stalk the shed roof looking for an opportunity to steal some eggs. Herbie my garden hedgehog sleeps soundly in the shelter of its hedgerow house and emerges at night to forage for food. I make sure that biscuits and water are on hand to help out.
By the time you read this column, mid-summer, June 21st, will have been and gone. We long for the summer all the way through winter and then in a flash the spring comes and goes and the days begin to shorten. There will be plenty of sunny days to come and trips out onto the hill, field and moor to be had. Enjoy life and the world around you.
Finally, thank you to everyone who made contact about the photograph in my last column. Yes they were primroses. They tried to tell me they were cowslips and I believed them, but you know what devious so-and-so’s these primroses can be! So, this month here are the real cowslips at St Hugh’s Church, Charterhouse.
It heartens me to find out how many people read my column, even if it’s just to see what I get wrong. I’ve had comments in the past such as “Well that was a load of rubbish” to which my reply is always “Well you’ve obviously read it then”.
Thank you everyone for your kind words and support.
God save the King!
CHELSEAFlower Show has come and gone for another year. Yet to come are the many local village flower shows, which everyone can take part in. During lockdown so many folks took to gardening, partly to pass the time of day, partly to feed themselves and their families with fresh vegetables and for the wellbeing factor.
The feeling of success when you eat your first tomato, potato or lettuce is huge, even if you have battled with the weather and the beasties that also want to sample your produce.
The demand for allotments is still huge, as many will have noticed by the large site at Newbridge on the way to Bath. The village flower show has been an essential part of village life for many years.
Often held in a marquee on the village green, or in a property with a large lawn, I well remember the annual flower shows in my childhood village, with my mother winning the specimen rose class on many occasions.
Having been involved with exhibiting at Chelsea, the most prestigious flower show in the world, Hampton Court, The Bath and West, and as an exhibitor and judge for village shows, I can offer a few tips on how to present your produce to catch the judge’s eye and perhaps a prize.
Do not be put off when staging your exhibit by the arrival of someone with larger potatoes or beans than yours – the biggest is not always best!
Read the schedule of classes carefully and decide what you might be able to exhibit. At the Stanton Drew show we try to create classes that are very inclusive.
“My garden in a Vase” encourages all to enter and a special rosette is awarded to an exhibitor whose entry “Made Me Smile”!
Check the numbers required for each class and count carefully. This is the first thing a judge does. You do not want to be disqualified for having too many, or too few sweet peas, for example.
As a judge at village shows I try hard to
be lenient and have been known to eat the occasional raspberry if too may were presented! Where multiple items are requested try to select for uniformity of shape and size.
Vegetables are best picked fresh on the morning of the show, bendy runner beans are not going to “cut the mustard”! Potatoes should be washed, but not over scrubbed. Likewise, onions should not be “over peeled”.
Tomatoes should have the calyx and stalk intact. Root vegetables should have the foliage trimmed and raspberries should be shown with the stalk attached. Flowers are best picked the evening before and conditioned overnight in water. It is permissible to pull off the occasional blemished petal as long as it does not show.
Think about how you are going to display each exhibit to catch the judge’s eye. For example, an arrangement of blackcurrant leaves will show off your strings of fruits on a plate. Take some spares in case of disasters. Allow yourself plenty of time to check in and stage your exhibits noting the deadline for entries.
It is more interesting for visitors if the varieties of produce are named, although not essential, unless requested in the schedule and comments from judges are also appreciated. Larger shows have separate classes for professionals and amateurs, or classes specifically for village residents.
Classes for children often include the classic “miniature garden in a seed tray”, “a creature made from vegetables” and “decorated fairy cakes”. Parents need to encourage youngsters to enter in classes appropriate to their age group, usually designated by their Key Stage 1 or 2.
It is a shame that secondary school age youngsters appear to think it is no longer “cool” to get involved, even with classes involving computer skills.
Some shows charge a modest entry fee for each exhibit to be able to offer prize money. My own village show is free for all to enter and prize winners get a colourful bespoke printed certificate. Winners accumulate points to decide the overall winners of the various cups.
Our village allotments are judged in the week prior to the show, looking for environmental awareness and sustainability as well as good cultivation skills.
Flower shows offer something for everyone with other classes such as cookery, floral art, photography, art and craft classes and more. Classes for alcoholic homemade drinks are popular, but make sure they are judged last, or the judge may be biased!
For those wishing to get to the “nittygritty” of showing then RHS “The Horticultural Show Handbook” is full of the “dos and don’ts” of exhibiting and is equally of value for show organisers and those writing the schedule of classes.
There is something about the smell of a marquee on grass, filled with exhibits which is more nostalgic than a show held in a hall, but it is the taking part that is important and getting involved with your show organising committee will help ensure that the summer delights of the Village Fete and Flower Show continue for many years to come.
It is the taking part that counts, with a bonus if you win a certificate to clutter up the fridge door!
LOCAL SHOW DATES INCLUDE:
Clutton Flower Show – Saturday, August 12th – www.cluttongardening.org
Stanton Drew Flower Show – Saturday, September 2nd – www.stantondrew.org
Chew Stoke Harvest Home – Saturday, September 9th –www.chewstokeharvesthome.org.uk
• Feed rose bushes. Spread fertiliser around the plants and lightly hoe it in. Remove dead flowers and the tip of each shoot to encourage a strong new shoot.
• Vigorous climbers such as clematis, honeysuckle and perennial sweet peas will need tying up. Support them well and they will repay you well with more blooms.
• If greenhouses are getting too hot, paint the outside to reflect the sun’s heat. This is easily wiped off in autumn. Wetting the floor regularly will also lower the temperature but don’t do it late in the day.
• Plant winter cauliflower, purple sprouting and leeks in the space created by digging early potatoes. It is also time to sow winter flowering pansies, primrose and polyanthus.
• Check your fruit trees for the weight of crop they have. If there is a heavy fruit set then it is wise to thin the fruit out now.
• Trim herbs back. Remove flowers. Give them a good soaking with liquid feed to encourage new shoots. These are always the tastiest.
• Loosen onions and shallots and lay them out in the sun to ripen. If you don’t do this they may not store so well.
• Stop harvesting rhubarb and asparagus now. This will give it a chance to build up strength for next year. Check asparagus for weevils.
LIVING and working in Somerset has many benefits, and we are very lucky to have a wealth of amazing gardens on our doorstep. From the more traditional Hestercombe Gardens or The Newt, through to the contemporary perennial planting at Hauser and Wirth we are spoilt for choice.
Visiting a wide range of gardens can give inspiration to all levels of gardener – as a designer, I always like to look at ideas for layout, landscaping and the different planting combinations, seeing how they look throughout the year.
Aside from these large commercial gardens, there are a number of stunning private gardens open to the public throughout the year which are well worth visiting. The opportunity to see ‘real’ gardens is not to be missed.
Visit ngs.org.uk to see which gardens are opening nearby and take the opportunity to be inspired – and to have some delicious homemade cake!
Eliza Gray
Details: www.elizagraygardens.co.uk
A BROADspectrum of interest and styles develops year on year in these gardens. Each has its own very different style and planting. These range from the tranquil calm of Stowey Mead, with its mature trees and topiary; to Manor Farm's extensive views from its lavender edged lawns to the exuberant, Christopher Lloyd inspired, exotic beds at Dormers.
Address: Stowey, Bishop Sutton, Bristol BS39 5TL.
Contact: Dormers, Mr & Mrs G. Nicol; Manor Farm, Richard Baines & Alison Fawcett 01275 332297; Stowey Mead: Victor Pritchard.
Opening dates and time: Sunday, July 23rd, 2-6pm.
OTHER GARDENS OPEN FOR THE NGS
Saturday July 1st and Sunday July 2nd
165, Newbridge Hill Bath, BA1 3PX. Admission £5, children free, 10am-5pm.
Sunday July 2nd and Monday July 3rd.
Honeyhurst Farm, Rodney Stoke, BS27 3UJ, 2-5pm, adults £4, children free. Cream teas, cakes and plants available.
Monday July 3rd and Tuesday July 4th
The Royal Crescent Hotel 16, Royal Crescent, Bath, BA1 2LS. Admission adult £5 children free, 9.30am-4pm.
To see more gardens open for the NGS, see The Yellow Book, or Local County Leaflet, available from local Garden Centres, or go to: https://www.ngs.org.uk
BISHOPSutton and Stowey WI raised £45 with a plant sale at the village library. Young Seby was pleased with this strawberry plant, bought from WI president, Jenny Harris. Meanwhile, aplant sale in Stanton Drew raised £600 to help with essential repairs to St Mary the Virgin Church in the village.
Enjoying the sunshine
NEARLY3,000 people enjoyed an afternoon of music and fun at Peasedown St John’s annual party.
HUNDREDS joined the big parade. Following the recent fire which destroyed the infants’ school, the fete afterwards was held at Hangstones rather than the school playing field.
The Original Barn Finds
RNLI Winscombe & District Branch raised more than £3,000 with its annual plant and garden equipment sale at Winscombe Community Centre, which saw its biggest attendance ever. Stalls included a full range of greenhouse plants, runner and French beans and courgettes, bedding plants and garden fillers
all grown by their “Head Gardener” Christa Loughrey. There were also shrubs, garden jumble, including patio items and tubs, and garden and domestic tools. Organisers said: “Thanks to everyone that attended and contributed to this result.”
THEChurch Hall in Chew Magna is 100 years old and the committee celebrated with an open day with period entertainment in the evening. They are also launching a big fundraising campaign to extend it.
During the day visitors could see displays of both the hall and village history as well as the ambitious plans to refurbish and extend the hall, making it an even greater asset for the area.
To mark the occasion Peter Brownlee of Chew Valley Films made a new film about the hall which was shown throughout the open day and will remain available on YouTube.
Peter said: "It was interesting meeting some of the people who use the hall as well as those who run it. I managed to include a lot of its wonderful history and show how it is still a great space for many events today."
Despite being one of the few halls in the valley with a large stage and the perfect design for badminton, it struggles to make ends meet as it constantly needs running repairs. The kitchen has been condemned and the roof needs replacing.
But the hall committee not only want to refurbish it, they have employed an architect to draw up radical plans for a new large extension.
This would have a foyer leading into a new kitchen and a bar, both with serving hatches into the hall. The cost of all this work is going to be in the region of £500,000 so they are about to seek grants and are launching a major fundraising campaign soon.
If all goes well this historic hall will be good for another 100 years.
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Come
CHEDDARGorge echoed to the sound of nearly 300 classic
The riders, all suitably attired, raise money to support prostate cancer research and men’s mental health.
The ride was founded in Sydney, Australia, inspired by a photo of TV Show Mad Men’s Don Draper astride a classic bike and wearing his finest suit. The rides now take place all over the world.
CAVESand their beautiful formations are often regarded as being timeless. They formed countless millennia ago, in even older rocks. Obviously, the stalactites and stalagmites grew after the cave had formed, but even these, as we know from scientific dating studies, are often thousands of years old. Many of us who have explored certain caves several times, have not been aware of any changes that have taken place between visits.
Yet caves, like the rest of the natural environment, are dynamic systems. Only in caves where no water has recently flowed or permeated, which are known as fossil systems, does no change take place. That is to say no detectable change.
Air currents and the presence of bats can bring in dust and guano, which in turn can be disturbed by burrowing animals or, in the past, by prehistoric dwelling or burials.
Our caves formed over periods of geological time and so, in general, change occurs equally slowly. Acidic rainwater slowly dissolves the limestone, which in time can lead to the collapse of walls or roof. Streams carry debris both into the cave and also move the finer particles of mud or sand which are the products of erosion.
If water laden with dissolved calcium salts permeates through the cave walls and roof, formations grow and continue to grow, though at a such a slow rate that it is undetectable to the eye.
Occasionally, however, some cataclysmic change will occur, though cavers are generally lucky enough not to be present when it happens. The main causes of such changes are ice, earthquakes and flood. Several of our caves show broken or displaced formations, some of which have been re-cemented, so cannot be blamed on careless cavers.
The generally accepted theory is that during ice ages, the last in particular, which took place between 25,000 to 13,000 years ago, water entered some caves and then froze. As water freezes it expands and the pressure on some formations caused them to crack and topple or be displaced.
Evidence for this exists in many Mendip caves, notably Wookey Hole, where the ice reached Chamber Twenty, and in Shatter Cave at Stoke St. Michael. Hallowe’en Rift is a cave close to Wookey Hole (it is being actively dug and may connect eventually with the larger cave). Deep in the inner recesses there is a lot of cryogenic damage and here it has been intensively studied.
Earthquakes are, fortunately, rare in Britain, although cavers have experienced tremors while caving in Europe. The last notable earthquake to hit Somerset was on September 11th, 1275 – our own 9/11. This quake was powerful enough to topple the original church on Glastonbury Tor.
When Richard Gough and his sons finally dug through to enter Diamond Chamber in Gough’s Cave in 1898 they found extensive
damage to some of the formations. A large slab of calcite in the wall of the Frozen River had cracked and slid a little downhill, while in the Black Cat Chamber a large calcite floor overlaying mud had shattered into many pieces. This can probably be attributed to that 1275 earthquake.
The destructive power of water is well known and a major flood can cause a lot of damage. This was well illustrated by the storm of July 10th, 1968, which dumped a lot of water on Mendip, causing flooding as far north as Bristol.
On Mendip itself, several unknown cave entrances opened up, including Manor Farm Swallet, Grebe Swallet and Waterwheel Swallet, all in the Charterhouse area. The effects were most notable in Swildon’s Hole at Priddy, where the swallet depression filled with water.
Underground, the famous Forty Foot Pot was bypassed, leaving just an eight-foot drop, and boulders were swept down the streamway. The Double Pots, normally only chest deep were scoured to twice that depth, and Sump One, which was usually passed by hauling flat-out on a line, was deepened to a walking size passage.
Over the years, the Double Pots and Sump One have regained their original configuration, but destabilisation at the Water Chamber has gradually worked its way upstream to the entrance, so the route in the upper part of the cave has changed beyond all recognition.
The constant flow of smaller volumes of water can also have an effect on a cave. At the end of Main Chamber in G.B. Cave at Charterhouse the stream flows over a 12-metre waterfall, which in all but the highest of water conditions was a fine sporting climb.
As recently as 2021 cavers reported that the side of the waterfall, which was the usual climbing route had collapsed, leaving a mass of unstable boulders. Fortunately there is another route to the end of the cave, but it shows that even boulder piles passed safely many times should be treated with respect.
The much-publicised rescue in Ogof FFynnon Ddu in South Wales two years ago, where a “safe” boulder suddenly gave way, is a case in point.
Our caves are timeless only from a certain point of view. The small changes may not be immediately apparent, and the large ones occur very rarely, but their features are now, as it were, set in stone.
With PHILIP HENDY
TOmark 75 years of the NHS, BBC Radio 4 invited me to reflect on my brilliant career and I’ve decided to call the programme “How I Ruined Medicine”.
By DrPHIL HAMMOND
When I qualified as a doctor in 1987, I was horrified at how unsafe and unkind healthcare could be and decided my profession should be shocked into action with aggressive transparency. There was so much cruelty, harm, denial and cover-up, it all needed to be blown out of the water.
My campaign started with a comedy double act called Struck Off and Die, with Tony Gardner, progressed to a pseudonymous column in Private Eye (which I’m still writing) and climaxed as presenter of Trust Me, I’m a Doctor – an ironic title on BBC2.
These three threads catalysed each other. In 1992, Struck Off and Die childishly tricked audiences into laughing at a surgical unit in the south of England where the death rates were so high, the staff dubbed it “the Killing Fields” and “the Departure Lounge.”
When I got the data to back up the black humour, I wrote about it repeatedly in Private Eye, but no-one took much notice of pseudonymous author MD.
I outed myself and used Trust Me I’m a Doctor to expose other appalling variations and cover-ups in a British healthcare system built on blind trust, secrecy and deference to experts. Over the course of five series, we uncovered all manner of scandals, chipping away at trust in doctors in the process.
We highlighted the appalling results that dabbler surgeons got for surgery of the breast, bowel, liver, palate and penis, how there were 60 different hip prostheses, many of them useless, and how 15,000 patients were dying avoidably each year because they weren’t getting specialist cancer care.
We found GPs who were making wildly variable diagnoses of the same patients. We found doctors doing electroconvulsive
therapy for the first time unsupervised and others doing amniocentesis without using ultrasound guidance and putting the needle into the baby’s brain.
In 1995, a brave anaesthetist called Steve Bolsin went public with his concerns about the number of babies dying after heart surgery in Bristol – the story I had broken in Private Eye
It became what was then the largest public inquiry in British history and I was summoned to appear. I gathered all my evidence into an angry book – Trust Me, I’m a Doctor – and argued we needed an inquiry into unacceptable culture, practices and outcomes across the NHS. My profession couldn’t be trusted to regulate itself in secret.
All doctors’ outcomes should be publicly available. In 2001, the inquiry made 195 recommendations to make medicine accountable.
Twenty-two years and many scandals later, I worry I may have done more harm than good. Aggressive scrutiny has meant that many UK doctors are avoiding specialties such as heart surgery and many won’t take on high risk procedures on sicker patients in case they top the death league table and get hung out to dry in the press.
Fear of exposure drives more cover-ups and the scandals haven’t stopped. Junior doctors complain they can’t get the training they need because their consultants don’t want to be blamed or sued for errors.
The name and shame culture is alive and kicking, doctors are hideously over-regulated and have lost autonomy, respect and job satisfaction. Mistakes are inevitable in an overstretched service but the General Medical Council and negligence lawyers try to pin responsibility for multi-factorial medical harm on named individuals.
Rooting out poor care is clearly important but the way we raise and act on concerns is as important as the concerns we raise. Time to ease off on the blame and up the understanding. Or we’ll lose even more of our bright young doctors, as well as the wise old ones.
I KNOWyou human beans like talking about the weather – and so do water droplets like me. Lately we just don’t know if we are coming or going.
One minute it’s so hot we keep evaporating into thin air, the next we’re hammering down in sheets of rain like a waterfall.
It makes it very hard to plan your diary when the weather is so unpredictable. Normally at this time of year I’d sometimes be part of a monsoon somewhere or relaxing in a swimming pool in Spain.
As it is, I got stuck at the Glastonbury Festival on a stall making fajitas, whatever they are. I’d got there as a bead of sweat on someone’s forehead and then got evaporated to the roof of their van as soon as they started cooking. It was hot and smelly in there and the noise from the Pyramid Stage was appalling. How do you put up with it? The last time I heard anything so discordant was when a mammoth accidentally trod on an early form of hedgehog.
Of course, I’ve seen strange weather patterns before. When I first arrived, the whole earth was bubbling away like some demented witch’s cauldron.
It was dark with the dust from hundreds of volcanoes and some of the seas were boiling hot. I seemed to hang around for years as a single speck of steam.
I was quite relieved when the earth cooled down and the polar ice caps developed. Much nicer to live in a glacier for a few thousand years. Back then natural phenomena dictated the weather – now it seems to be you human beans causing climate change. I can only say it’s very inconvenient!
MENDIP GRANDAD
THEPatient Participation Group (PPG) of Oakhill Surgery hosted a celebration afternoon tea for unpaid carers in recognition of the invaluable support they provide to their loved ones on a daily basis.
The group worked with the surgery and local healthcare providers to hold this social event, during national carers week, at Oakhill village hall.
The event brought together healthcare professionals who could offer “a one stop shop” of information and to give carers a lovely afternoon enjoying a piece of cake and a cuppa, socialising and sharing experiences.
Organisers say the afternoon was very successful, with the help of Somerset Carers, who funded the event and provided information and relaxation treatments on the day.
Mendip Health Connections were on hand to offer support and advice to patients and will be working with the caring community to set up a regular talking café in Oakhill Village Hall.
The surgery said: “Carers do not often put their own healthcare needs first, prioritising the support of those closest to them and their health. This is why it was important to show our carers that we are also here to support them and those they are caring for.”
HEADS Up, the mental health and wellbeing charity based on the edge of Wells, has been presented with a minibus by Wells Rotary Club to extend its outreach work to neighbouring towns and villages.
Rotarians won the support from a number of local businesses to buy the minibus, which has room for ten clients, with Charlie Bigham’s and the Community Practicing Nursing Association charity taking the lead role.
Bridget Harvey, service director of Heads Up, based at South Horrington, said: “Our ambition is to provide transport for clients who otherwise cannot get to our centre. There is no community transport, bus services are being cut, and some people, who would like to get to Heads Up for its therapeutic workshops and dementia services, are unable to do so. Our thanks and appreciation for the efforts of Wells Rotary go to all of the individuals involved in making the project such a success.”
Alan Webb, president of Webb Wells Rotary Club, said: “Led by Wells Rotary Club, this project has been a tremendous effort from across the community. The level of sponsorship and support we received at the various fundraising events we organised was truly amazing. Together we can be proud of having made a real difference to the lives of others in our community.”
Other businesses involved in supporting the project included Burns the Bread, Chubb Bulleid, CBS Precast, Harris & Harris, The Crown at Wells, D B Paul, Wolf
Barbers, Brownes Garden Centre, Old Mill Accountants, Wells Chiropractic, Stuarts Residential and Cooper and Tanner.
When the outreach service is fully running it is hoped that the route covered will extend from Wells to the Glastonbury, Street, Shepton Mallet, Evercreech, Cheddar and Axbridge areas. The minibus will be able to hold 12 people – a volunteer driver, a helper, and ten clients.
Meanwhile, the club has unveiled its latest defibrillator, at the entrance to Heads Up, as part of its fundraising efforts to ensure no-one in central Wells is more than one mile from a machine. The defibrillator is unlocked, so no access code is needed.
Members of Oakhill patient participation groupCOURT House is a beautiful retirement home situated in the heart of the lovely village of Cheddar. It offers a wide range of care options from supported retirement living to full help with personal care.
Its location ensures that residents can continue to be part of the local community; there are many shops, hairdressers and a post office within level walking distance.
Court House has been run by the Dando family since 1986. They have always maintained a friendly, homely and comfortable setting. Residents can bring their own furniture and staff do not wear uniforms.
There are 26 en-suite rooms in three different areas of accommodation. The impressive main Georgian House has 12 residents’ rooms plus a grand entrance hall, dining room and drawing room.
The Mediterranean style Courtyard has six rooms, with an optional use kitchenette. The peaceful Cottage has eight rooms, all of which have bags of character. All the rooms have TV and call bell points as well as full wi-fi throughout the site.
The friendly well-trained staff are on hand 24 hours a day to offer help with all aspects of their resident’s life when
needed.
They have a good variety of activities for residents to choose from if they so wish. Recently they had a day celebrating Cheddar Valley strawberries, with Andrew Seager who has grown and sold strawberries for over 60 years.
WELLS Funeral Services are often asked unusual questions but this was one that isn’t asked every day – and the answer was: yes!
Its priority when it comes to funeral planning is to deliver what a family wants, not what tradition states. They say that gone are the days when the choices are church or crematorium but, sadly, these are the only options given to the majority of grieving families, and they have no idea that other options and possibilities are available to them.
The family of D wanted something to match his personality and character. A quirky, unconventional man, always looking for a new adventure and who loved the outdoors and nature. Religion never played a part in his life, he requested there was none included at his funeral. Not a problem, this is becoming a more regular request. “Can we have the ceremony in a field, with the coffin there?” “Of course, you can, let’s discuss what you would like and how we can make it work for you.”
The arrangements were made, the field was chosen, and the family started in their quest to turn the field, in the middle of nowhere on the Somerset Levels, into a festival-type venue.
A huge stretch tent was erected, adorned with bunting,
garlands and fairly lights. A sound system was set up with a microphone for the ceremony and D’s playlist blasting through the speakers.
The ceremony ended and it was time to head to the crematorium for a private family committal. Hearse, limo and back-up vehicle left the field and D was bid a final farewell. His family later returned to the field where they continued the celebration of his life with extended family and friends.
For details, visit: www.wellsfuneralservices.co.uk call Rod Major on 01749 67100 or email rod@wfs.me.uk
A NEWdisplay entitled Cheddar Gorge through the ages has been officially unveiled at Cheddar Gorge Visitor Information Centre (VIC).
The free display explains how the gorge was formed during successive ice ages and then describes the significant historical periods in the past 10,000 years, between the arrival of cavemen and cream teas today.
The display has largely been funded with grants from the Mendip Hills AONB service and Holt Farms Ltd (Yeo Valley).
Jim Hardcastle, manager of Mendip Hills AONB, cut the ribbon and paid tribute to the way different organisations and community groups have come together to open it to the public.
A number of local people helped the creative team at the VIC, including Steve Halls for providing the main gorge photograph, Susan Shaw for advice on historical detail, Jackie Skidmore for lending Roman artefacts and Cheddar Caves and the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company for the photograph of cheese maturing in Gough’s Cave.
The visitor information centre, occupying the former National Trust building in the heart of Cheddar Gorge, has been managed and run entirely by local community volunteers since it opened in late 2021. New volunteers are welcome.
Details: cheddargorgevic@gmail.com
THE Winford Community Orchard Action Group is holding a special village meeting on July 5th to try to save a former village orchard from development.
Since 2022 there have been three failed attempts by the various owners to seek planning permission for building. The last application was for 18 self-build houses, a communal office building and a mini-roundabout to give site access.
The field has now been put up for sale by Killen’s by informal tender on August 4th at midday at a guide price of £75,000.
The group hopes to buy the field by crowd funding, subscription or by obtaining grants and turn it into a community asset.
Details: Simon Martin tachoremovalman@gmail.com
COMMUNITY arts company Make the Sunshine CIC staged its first show in Frome – when the sun really did shine.
St John’s First School was the venue for an afternoon of family-friendly circus and theatre performances organised by the Shepton Mallet-based organisation with funding from Frome Town Council and the Mendip Community Fund.
Paris,
Ducks in a row in the King’s Head
FAMILIES gathered in the late May sunshine for Coleford’s now traditional duck race on a stretch of the Mells River. The event raised funds for the 1st Coleford Scout Group.
CHEWStoke Church School is taking part in Bristol’s Unicornfest Sculpture Trail, which aims to showcase the history of Bristol in its 650th year and raise awareness and vital funds for the charity Leukaemia Care. Head teacher, Ben Hewett, said: “‘We are thrilled to be part of this event. We hope the children will explore the trail in Bristol this summer and that lots of money will be raised for the charity.”
WESTBURY-sub-Mendip has a new community garden, launched in style with a garden party! It’s on an area of garden that was largely unused next to the community owned shop and post office.
It has been transformed into a lovely space with the help of a grant from Somerset County Council and a smaller grant from Westbury Friendly Society.
The money has been used to make the garden more accessible and attractive to villagers and visitors, with ramps, signage, sails, seating and of course plants.
The committee behind the project, who did most of the work themselves, included Paul Hamilton, Paul Wiseman, Angus Henderson and Axel Goodbody.
Joyce Henderson organised the event with lots of help from Liza Lovell and Kate Camp, the shop managers, as well as lots of shop volunteers.
Year 2 pupil, Amber Rees Warren, won the competition to design a poster for the garden.
The garden has teamed up with the charity Ripple Effect, formerly Send a Cow organised by Jackie Laws, and is twinned with a garden in Kenya.
Their next event is a sausage sizzle.
THE Longfellow’s teaching café – part of Fosse Way School – in Radstock is the proud owner of ten new tablecloths donated equally by Somer Valley Rotary Club and a customer.
Longfellow’s offers many educational and training opportunities for students and is open to the public.
THEATRE, walkabouts, live music and community stalls all helped make the Radstock Fayre, hosted by the Natural Theatre Company, a great success.
The day also saw the launch of two new healthy lifestyle initiatives for people living in the Radstock area. Sustrans volunteers were promoting Active Steps, an ongoing free ten-week guided programme to promote increased physical activity through cycling and walking.
Chat-e-Cycle invited people to have a go on a side-by-side electric trike designed for community use by older people. Both people can pedal or chat whilst the electric motor does the work. Chat-e-Cycle is recruiting volunteers to support the scheme.
For details about Active Steps, email ActiveSteps@sustrans.org.uk
To find out more about Chat-e-Cycle, visit: www.chatecycle.com
ON June 14th, 1814 the last victim of a highwayman in England was killed on Dundry Hill. William Fowler was from Chew Magna and he is buried in the village’s St Andrew’s churchyard.
To mark the anniversary of his death, Pete Brownlee of Chew Valley Films has made a short film depicting the incident, now available on YouTube.
Local farrier Rory Everett with his horse Sally plays William and his friend’s daughter Rosina plays William's niece who was also on the cart. Andy Leeder plays the part of the highwayman.
Back in 2002 a jumble sale was held by Annie Sewart and her friends, which raised £547 towards restoration of the gravestone, which is now difficult to read.
A recent handbell and recorder concert in the Millennium Hall in Chew Magna raised a further £435 towards the work.
Details: https://youtu.be/CyHWsyQDXzg
A PUPILat Cameley Primary School has so far raised £197 for the Friends of Cameley Primary School after completing a triathlon. Lizzie, aged ten, took part in the Oldbury White Horse Children’s Triathlon in Calne. She said: “This was my second time entering this event and I couldn’t wait to race and raise money for my fantastic school.”
Head teacher, Hannah Maggs, said: “Lizzie decided to raise this money after hearing about budget cuts and financial implications in schools across the country. ”
Details: Laura Palmer is fundraising for Friends of Cameley Primary School (justgiving.com)
GLASTONBURY’S famous Dragon Drummers were amongst the performers at Frome Carnival’s family fun day and dog show.
The event, in Frome’s Victoria Park, is the main annual fundraiser for carnival organisers who donate thousands of pounds to charity each year.
This year’s children’s afternoon procession and the main evening procession takes place on Saturday, September 23rd.
COMMUNITY groups and other organisations took centre stage at this year’s Collett Park Day in Shepton Mallet.
The annual event offers a showcase for the town’s many clubs and societies as well as featuring live music and main arena entertainment. The festival celebrates the life of Victorian benefactor John Kyte Collett who donated the land to the town in 1906.
For details, visit: www.fromecarnival.org.uk
WILLIAM Mellersh, of Stanton Drew, has been presented with the British Empire Medal for services to his local community for setting up and leading the Chew Valley Junior Badminton Club since 2010.
The club currently has around 150 members, many now playing at county or league level. William has now expanded the club’s remit to offer opportunities to both men and women, enabling families to participate together.
He was presented with his medal by Mohammed Saddiq, the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, at a ceremony in Taunton alongside two other recipients, David Scott and Andrew Samuel.
YEOVale Trefoil Guild is having a busy year and raised £100 for Blagdon Rainbows with stalls at Blagdon village fete.
As well as supporting Girl Guiding, they meet socially once a month. Recent activities have included learning how to ice a cake, celebrating the coronation, visiting Bristol Blue Glass, a cupcake beetle drive and book club meetings.
Later this year they will have a weekend on Dartmoor, a summer BBQ, a Morris dancing workshop, seated Tai Chi, a talk from the Trussell Trust about their food banks and a visit from hearing dogs for the deaf.
Details: 07771 632774 or Yeovaletrefoilguild@hotmail.com
BRIAN and Vera Pike have retired from their roles managing Cranmore Memorial Hall after more than 45 years as caretaker and bookings secretary. They had wished to retire quietly, but local residents were very keen to express their appreciation and gratitude for all of the couple’s hard work.
So, chair of the hall Trustees, John Reakes (pictured left), surprised them with gifts of flowers and a collection and an enormous card bearing thank you messages and good wishes from local residents in West Cranmore, East Cranmore, Tansey, Waterlip and Dean. Octogenarians Brian and Vera still have no plans to finally take life easy!
MEMBERS of Burnham and Highbridge Gateway Club, for adults with learning difficulties, are pictured leaving their base at the BAY centre in Burnham for their annual holiday at Butlins in Minehead. One of the highlights of their five-day stay was a cream tea sponsored by their local Lions club.
Amongst their many interests, keen gardener Brian will continue looking after the hall’s window boxes and flowers; both he and Vera are very active volunteers at the nearby East Somerset Heritage Steam Railway; and they will also continue overseeing delivery of a monthly community newsletter, Cranmore Grapevine, to every household!
SANDERSONS UK Somerset has again been named the best estate agent in the Wells area in the British Property Awards 2023.
It follows their success in last year’s competition and is being seen as a tribute to their firm commitment to spend as much time on a project as their clients require.
Their expertise and success in residential sales and lettings has enabled the Wells partnership of Alex Relf and Kate Lewis to take on another new member of staff to enhance their strategic work with all the major property portals.
Rather than being on the High Street, the Wells team are very much at home in their office in Guards House Lane where they continue to receive inquiries from clients looking to relocate to the Somerset countryside while still having good access to the UK’s major cities.
They also report seeing a big rise in enquiries about properties with an annexe, barn or other outside building to serve as a home office or extra income potential; they are also seeing a notable increase in demand for short lets – of perhaps two-five months – from people working away from their main base but not wanting the restrictions of living in a hotel room.
It’s an area of special interest to Kate with her expertise in the rental sector, especially given the Government’s Rental
Reform Bill introduced in Parliament in May which it says will demonstrate its commitment to “bring in a better deal for renters”.
They say: “We’re delighted to have won gold in the property awards for the second year in a row – we now go through to the South West finals. It’s a testament to our commitment to putting our client’s interest first and really understanding what they want to achieve with their move.”
WHEN you read the national press, you could be forgiven for thinking the housing market is in meltdown with prices collapsing and buyers disappearing. Those tend to be broad brush stories describing a general picture which may be true in some parts of the country.
But I have said it before and I will say it again, we live in a property micro climate which means we quite often buck the trends that apply elsewhere and we are protected from some of the stormiest impacts.
There are two main reasons for that which will not change. First is that we live in a stunning environment, with picturesque villages in a rural setting spread around the central focus of our lakes. Just look at how many people come to visit the area, especially in the lovely early summer weather.
It’s no wonder people want to buy homes here to share in our lifestyle and to join our thriving communities. The second
reason is that the Chew Valley is well situated, close to Bristol and Bath, with good transport links to London and with an international airport nearby. Those elements are an exceptional combination which continues to produce high levels of interest. That is making for a very busy time for us with lots of viewings and plenty of sales when sellers are realistic about the value of their property.
I talked last month about the risks of being seduced by an agent putting an overly high value on your house and I think that message is worth repeating because we are finding that realistic prices are holding up very well and the market seems to be settling into what is a new normal.
It means your agent needs to work hard and I can assure you that my team are at the top of their game, enthusiastically and energetically applying themselves with the dedication, imagination and delivery for
which we are so well known.
Our performance as the leading estate agent in the area continues to generate brilliant reviews from both buyers and sellers and we are really grateful for each and every one.
So, my message to you, if you are thinking of selling your home and are looking to buy another house in the Valley, is not to be put off by what you read in the national papers since we live in a special place which is still in great demand. Come and talk to us and we will use our trusted expertise to get you moving.
JOANNA TILEY
SUSTAINABLE credentials, energy efficiency, minimum impact on the environment and enviable interior spaces are just some of the reasons why new build homes are being chosen by buyers.
Lodestone Property is currently marketing a new build community in a rural area which meets all the above criteria –St Dunstan’s Mede, in Baltonsborough.
Sue Macey, Managing Partner of Lodestone Property, said: “We meet many people who are looking to be part of a rural village with an active community, local services and good transport links.
“And they wish to combine that with an energy-efficient, lowmaintenance, high-quality home. St Dunstan’s Mede in Baltonsborough provides all of that.”
Victoria Creber, of B-Corp certified Galion Homes, maintains their properties at St Dunstan’s are some of the very few currently being built with the future costs of running your home in mind: “Instead of installing gas fired central heating systems, we have invested heavily in state-of-the-art Ground Source Heat Pump or Air Source systems for every home.
“This is an innovative way of heating a property and that, coupled with the levels of insulation, double glazed windows and EV charging cabling installed to every home – makes them truly future proofed.”
Galion are also offering to help pay up to 12 months of electricity for those that commit to a new home* –an opportunity that could really help with the current cost of living and ease of moving house.
St Dunstan’s Mede is currently being marketed by Lodestone Property.
* Promotions subject to terms and conditions
LASTmonth we were all wondering if the rain and mud would ever go away and now we are concerned about the hard ground and heat. Just over five weeks ago riders were struggling with horrible wet conditions, yet now they are doing the rain dance, desperate for a good soaking to soften the going not just for competitions, but also to get some good grass for grazing. Fields everywhere are parched.
Hey ho, we Brits love a good moan about the weather don’t we? However, the upside of the current Mediterranean conditions means that our horses are going to be munching on some top quality hay and haylage this winter.
Farmers have mowed, turned and baled good crops in glorious sunshine and record time, so anyone with a good storage facility is squirrelling as much as possible away for later on. Competitions are coming thick and fast now.
It’s a job to keep up with all the successes of some very talented local riders in the area who are reaping well-earned rewards for the dedication and hard work they put into achieving great results. As I’ve said before, when you see them on the podium all smiles and looking so smart, it can be easy to forget how much slog and sacrifice it took to get there.
Holley Lasbury from Paulton made her dream come true when she won her Royal International Qualifier on 12-hands tall Little Bob, and they will now go to Hickstead in July for the Longines Royal International Horse Show where she will compete in the NPS/Supreme Products Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter Pony class.
Her very proud mum, Emma, said it was a superb day to remember, not least because Holley not only won her class, but she went on to take the Reserve Champion as well, knocking out adults along the way. Huge congratulations Holley, and Good Luck for Hickstead.
In the Eventing world there has also been a great triumph for Selina Milnes who is based near Yatton. Selina won her CCI-S 4*
class at Bramham Horse Trials on June 10th riding nine-year-old Cooley Snapchat.
They lay in eighth position after dressage, rising to fifth after a faultless show jumping round, and then clinched it for a convincing win after finishing clear in the cross country just a few seconds over the optimum time.
Cooley Snapchat looks to be a very exciting horse to watch for the future, so fingers crossed for Selina and her team for the rest of the season with all her horses. Quite a few riders had problems in the cross country at Fence 7, which was a real challenge and influenced the scores considerably, but Cooley Snapchat jumped it well with no hesitation.
He is clearly very bold across the country, which will stand him in good stead in the years to come. Not allowing themselves to be kept out of the limelight, the Mendip Farmers Pony Club had great success in the Area 14 Pony Club Dressage Competitions at Stonar School at Half term.
In the PC70 class Mendip entered two teams. Out of 11 teams in total, Mendip came Team 1st and Team 2nd. It was a first time in a dressage competition for all eight riders, with an amazing result.
Ollie Lambie won individual 1st, Charlotte Smith 2nd and Lily Claire 4th. Fantastic! In the PC80 there were 16 teams, all very high standard. Mendip Farmers entered one team and came 2nd.
Congratulations to Bella Hooton who won individual 1st and Libby Matthews individual 5th. Finally in the tough Novice class, a Mendip team of three riders came a respectable tenth out of 18 teams.
Amazing results all round, and grateful thanks from all who took part, to the organisers, the parents, and especially the exceptional coaching from international trainer, Clive Wilkins, and also Ellie Maguire. Both gave so much confidence and made a real difference.
Pony Club members from Mendip Farmers are now looking forward to their residential camp at Stockland Lovell Manor in July once the school holidays start. That’s usually enough to make it rain. Along with Wimbledon and Glastonbury before that, a deluge is almost guaranteed!
I READ today that most dog trainers consider the Shui Tzu untrainable – I noticed the article as I have one. Apparently, most dogs learn something after 20 repetitions – not the Shui Tzu, for them 30–50 repetitions are required and then they will only do as bid 25% of the time. I don’t know if this was a particularly scientific study, but it certainly made sense to me as an owner.
It got me thinking about how humans learn. As a riding coach, this subject holds a great deal of fascination for me. A few years ago, at a British Horse Society conference, there was a talk by a colleague of Prof. Steve Peters, author of the highly acclaimed book, The Chimp Paradox.
The book focuses on the human brain and its way of working and how that impacts on our lives (that is a very simplistic synopsis). I recommend it to lots of people, it has helped me a lot, it helps me know myself and recognise when I am burning out and need a break.
Over the course of the last 13 years, nearly 4,000 people have ridden at Divoky, some just passing through, some now and again for fun, some to take up a hobby or career and this has given me a wealth of experience of people and how they learn. For me, I find the majority of riders do better when they understand the theory of what they need to do as well as performing the practical skills.
Coaches now get taught to structure their lessons to accommodate all learning styles and the BHS has gone even further with an enhanced qualification for coaches (called Coaching4All) so that they can also be supported to work effectively with neurodivergent riders, those with poor mental health, and to sensitively support riders from the LGBTQ+ communities, with their learning journey in equestrian sports.
Horses give us so much more than the sport of riding; we learn empathy for another creature. While we are caring for our horses, we are thinking of their needs, not our own. As coaches we teach students to care for horses and to put their needs first: healing ourselves, our self-esteem, our self-belief and our feeling of self-worth.
Pat Bishop, Divoky Riding School
WHATmakes a good bike ride and route?
That is the thought that crossed my mind recently when I was spinning along the lanes of Chew Valley. There was a time when going faster and further mattered a lot to me. Everything seemed incremental – the further I pushed myself in the present the further and faster I would be able to go in the future.
Improvement seemed to be important at the time. I would compare my ride with previous ones and compare distances and times. I’m not sure whether that really helped.
If I went faster, it would make me feel good, but if I went slower, I would put it down to other factors such as the direction of the wind.
But that didn’t really matter. The most important thing was that there was a good reason to go out on my bike.
Nowadays, cycle computers and phone apps also compare data against other riders on a dashboard so even more information is available. However, more and more I think it’s about time to ignore the data and get back to cycling just for the pleasure and to see beautiful places.
A bike can mean different things to different people at different times in their life. It mirrors our evolution through life.
A bike gave me my first taste of independence. Then the bike allowed me to go on cycle tours and explore different parts of the UK. The joy of cycle touring for me was the freedom it gave. I could travel at my own pace to explore new and interesting places.
In those days that meant using OS maps to navigate and following road
signs. Inevitably, that would mean getting lost occasionally and having to work out where I was and how to get back on route. Although annoying, fixing problems is a good attribute to pick up in life.
Then cycling became linked to my job and whenever possible I would commute to work. This is one of the most straightforward reasons for cycling. You know the start point and you know the finish, it’s just a matter of working out the route in-between.
That can involve a bit of trial and error, but once in place it makes going out for a bike ride easy in that you don’t need to think about where to go. I also always had a few alternative routes to vary the journey. Commuting has a purpose and was an easy way to rack up the mileage each week.
I’ve taken part in sportives and charity rides. These are fun compared to cycle races. There may be someone faster than me but also someone slower, I just like taking part.
Local sportives tend to use the roads, lanes and hills that I have done to death so now I tend to look further afield. Ride London is one I’ve done several times
simply because of the iconic landmarks along its route and the chance to cycle along traffic-free roads in the centre of London.
Further afield I have cycled in the Alps and Pyrenees. These are amongst the most memorable days on a bike for me. The scale of the mountains and the beauty of the passes across them are awe inspiring.
It’s hard to say which mountain climb was the best. Alpe d’Huez and its 21 hairpin bends, steeped deep into the history of the Tour de France, are tough but beautiful. But the one climb that I would put at the top of the list is Mt Ventoux.
Post retirement cycling has become a way of maintaining fitness and finding new ways to enjoy life on two wheels. I prefer cycling where there is low traffic and still get a lot of pleasure from cycling along traffic free routes like the Strawberry Line.
The reasons we ride a bike change. The beautiful thing about cycling is that it can give you whatever you need at any time in your life. The bicycle is just an enabling tool: you can use it however or wherever you want!
DAVE Eagon from Bishop Sutton won his local 10k for the third time in a row heading a field of 595 runners in a time of 35.26.
The first woman home was Rosie Hamilton-James (Westbury Harriers) in 37.40, who almost smashed the 2014 women’s course record of 37.28.
Organisers were delighted by a slew of junior entries this year – 24 runners were under 18. Fastest under 18s were Hazel Chambers, 44. 44 and Alfie Lismore Pope, 45.28.
There were also runners at the other end of the age spectrum with two in the 80-90 category. Christopher Harrison won this group in 1.13.25.
Somerset High Sheriff, Robert Drewett, presented a Sheriff’s Award, praising the organisers for their fundraising for local good causes.
KNOWLE Angling Association, which provides fly fishing in the Chew Valley area, is celebrating its centenary – and is welcoming new members.
It was formed at the Knowle Hotel, Bristol in 1923, and has four well-stocked lakes as well as fishing on the River Chew and Upper Yeo.
Details: www.knowleangling.co.uk
Ray Tomlin 07747 86429
ALLERTONCricket Club are hosting and playing a T20 game against the Lashings World XI on Friday, July 21st, with Henry Blofeld acting as commentator.
The Lashings are a team of former international players including Devon Malcolm, Chris Lewis, Ryan Sidebottom and John Emburey.
They played each other to a sell-out crowd of 600 people on a glorious English summer’s day in September 2021, when the Lashings XI legends out-muscled village team Allerton CC.
Since then Allerton have been training hard, some batters have bought bigger bats and after winning 8O% of their games in 2022, they fancy their chances of winning second time around!
Before the game there is a pre-match three-course lunch surrounded by the Lashings’ players at £75 each. Entry to the game itself is £7.50 in advance or £10 on the day.
The event raises money for the NHS, mental health in cricket and to upgrade Allerton’s dilapidated pavilion.
Details: allertonlashings2020@gmail.com
PENSFORD Primary School U-11s are pictured collecting their medals after taking part in the National Finals Small Schools competition held at Leicester City’s ground. They came fifth in the country.
Head teacher, Warrick Barton, said: “The children thoroughly enjoyed the trip and had a great opportunity to see, and play at, a Premier League ground.
“Not only that, but the matches were screened lived, with commentary, on the ESFA’s YouTube channel.”
TWO cricket clubs who merged before the start of the season held a fun day which raised more than £2,200 to develop the sport in their communities.
Wells CC joined forced with close neighbours Horrington CC in March to form Wells and Horrington CC but they continue to play at both grounds at Old School Lane, at South Horrington, and Chapel Piece, at East Horrington. Between them, the clubs boast almost 300 years of combined history.
They run three senior XIs as well as developing the previous Wells junior, girls’ and women’s programmes and social cricket.
For details, visit: www.wellsandhorringtoncc.co.uk
The fun day was held at the Old School Lane groundWINSCOMBERugby Football Club held their “Diamond Anniversary Ball” at the Webbington Hotel celebrating their 60th season. Founded in 1962 this club has grown from humble beginnings to now be competing at a level that far belies their village status.
Next season the senior men’s 1st XV will once again compete at Level 6 in the Regional 2 Severn League, battling against the likes of Chippenham, Trowbridge, Swindon and Keynsham.
The 2nd XV will compete in the Somerset 3 North Division while the 3rd XV will have a series of friendly, social fixtures that uphold the club motto of “Friendship Through Rugby”.
The club is proud to boast a very successful Minis and Juniors section that originated in 1987. This was bolstered by the addition of the girls’ section 11 years ago. Several have achieved international honours. The ladies’ team is about to be relaunched.
At the ball, the club honoured several great clubmen in awarding them Winscombe RFC’s highest accolade of Life Membership; club treasurer Mark Jelbert, former coach, director of rugby and chairman Graham Buller, plus former player, coach and president Andy Gunningham.
The club says the dedication shown by these men over the years has helped to drive the club to its current position. Also honoured with Diamond Contribution Awards were Geoff George and Terry Poole for 60 years of outstanding commitment to Winscombe RFC.
The inaugural “Bridges & Richmond Award” for Team of the Year went to the U-16s girls who had a fantastic season, reaching the semi-finals of the National Cup and Clubman of the year was awarded to Paul Statton.
Retiring coach, Owen Howell, received the President's
Shield. This man is the first to have played all the way through the minis, junior and senior sections and gone on to hold the positions of club captain and head coach.
Tom Broom rounded off a solid season and was awarded the Player of the Year award and Stuart Warren once again had the backing of his peers and scooped the Players’ Player award.
The night continued with dancing and revelry with Big Macs Wholly Soul Band. A wonderfully fitting tribute to 60 years of Winscombe RFC. The club expressed huge thanks to Lorraine and Daryl Brean and CV Gower Funeral Directors for sponsoring the event.
Winscombe has teams from U-6s all the way up to senior level, boys and girls, men and ladies. Should you be interested in joining a great club with community and friendship at its core, it says please get in touch.
A CROSS-country trail race took place around Shepton Mallet to celebrate the opening of the Windsor Hill Tunnel path to the north west of the town.
The Runaway Train event took in part of the former Somerset and Dorset railway line which is gradually being restored as a multi-user path by volunteers.
For the first time in some 30 years, people were also allowed to cross the Bath Road viaduct to enjoy the views. It since been closed again.
The full Runaway Train trail race was around 8½ miles long, with a total climb of 1,200ft and included open fields, grass trails, rough tracks and some tarmac footpath. There was also a less challenging three-mile option with less climb and easier terrain. Walkers were also welcome to take part.
Runaway Train was organised by the Mendip Hills Hash House Harriers, Windsor Hill Woodland Volunteers and Pilton Cider and attracted runners and walkers from across Somerset and further afield. It ended with a lunchtime feast and DJ in Shepton Mallet’s Market Place.
The Cherub 7s men’s and women’s sides – the men’s team took the cup in the Super Social section
MORE than 50 teams, across five levels of competition, took part in the 2023 Frome 7s rugby tournament.
The teams came from across the UK and further afield with the highest level of rugby being played in both the Women's Open and Men’s Open, with Hammerhead 7s winning the women’s competition whilst Apache 7s took home the men’s trophy.
Elsewhere, teams competed in the Men's Super-Social, Men’s Social and Women’s Social. Organiser Mike Rutt, from Frome RFC, said: "It was great to see how excited everyone was about coming back to the Frome 7s, it’s really become one of the ‘go to’ competitions and it’s a credit to all the team who put the effort in behind the scenes.
“With the 50+ teams taking part it was one of the biggest festivals we've held, with the popularity of the Frome 7s being clear to see. I must say thank you to everyone who attended, we’ve been lucky to have some fantastic teams come and take part from all across the UK and further afield.”
THEREwill be a special concert in St. Andrew’s Church, Cheddar at 4pm on Sunday, July 9th in aid of the St. Andrew’s fabric fund and The Amber Trust, featuring talented local violinist
Poppy McGhee performing “The Lark Ascending” with piano accompanist.
Poppy is a star fundraiser for The Amber Trust which brings music into the lives of children who are blind and/or autistic.
Also taking part in the concert will be young pianist Ashleigh Turley, who, like Lucy Illingworth (who played at the King's Coronation Concert) is supported by the trust. Other contributions will include the male singing ensemble The Somernotes.
Entrance is £12, students £5, children aged ten and under free.
LOCAL residents headed for Cheddar playing fields to enjoy a free afternoon of live music, hosted by the local community and supported by Seed Sedgemoor.
This was just one of nine locations in the 2023 Front Garden Music Festival, which also saw musicians playing in Highbridge, Edington, Bridgwater and at Fyne Court.
Five acts took their turn on the open-air stage. Local duo Strum & Bass opened the line-up, followed by Pete Burns, Spencer Flay, the Andy Novak Trio and Daft Folk. The Front Garden Music Festival offers opportunities to amateur, semi-professional and professional musicians a platform to perform.
Andrew Buchanan, Seed Sedgemoor trustee, said: “It was great to see people relaxing on the grass and listening to excellent live music with their families, friends and pets. Events like this are an important part of Seed’s work, as they bring communities together to share in creative activities.”
Ibni busking in Penniless Porch in Wells to raise money for his trip to Austria
AT just eight-years-old, Ibni Rocks is already doing what he loves most – being a musician.
Completely self-taught, the Evercreech youngster is already highly proficient on the handpan and drums.
When asked if he wants to be a musician when he is older, Ibni says: “I"m already a musician."
Based at the Christopher Bullzini Circus Yard where he has a studio and teaches, Ibni – who is home schooled – has now set his sights on raising money to attend a handpan summer school in July in Austria by busking – he also played the Pilton Tent at the Royal Bath & West Show.
In Austria, at the Wild Naya Handpan Summer Academy, Ibni will be among the best handpan players from around the world.
For details, visit: www.ibnirocks.com
SOUNDof the Streets Day comes to Axbridge on July 2nd, 2-5pm, with a free afternoon of inspiring music and a workshop so that everyone can join in.
Two great bands will be playing, Jamma de Samba and The Little Big Horns, with music ranging from Brazilian rhythms to hymns, street funk to Beatle songs.
The afternoon follows last year's event that saw everyone dancing and is again organised by The Sound of the Streets, the organisation that promotes street music in Somerset, commissioned by Seed Sedgemoor.
Details: www.thesoundofthestreets.com
FORits second year, sunshine greeted campers and locals to the Cheddar Vale Lions’ Club’s second Country Music & Campout Festival at Petruth Paddocks, Cheddar.
Club members set up and organised the event, raising funds for local good causes, with attendance up on last year.
Artists performing were Cliff Weston, Chris Harris, Chris James, Annalee West, Streamline, Spread Your Wings and local band, Strum & Bass. Displays were held by the Westerners Authentic Campout & Quick Draw Shootouts.
The club says it all bodes well for next year’s event on the third weekend of May, when it will be bigger, with more stalls and displays.
Details: www.cheddarvalelions.org.uk or email information@cheddarvalelions.org.uk
AT a time when most parish church choirs are a distant memory, St John’s, Glastonbury has a choir of 25 or more singers every Sunday and sings Choral Evensong every month.
Its reputation for high quality music means that the choir is invited to sing at Wells Cathedral several times a year, as well as standing in for cathedral choirs around the South West of England. Very recently, it was recorded for Radio 4’s Morning Service.
Music at St John’s is flourishing; led by its Director of Music, Matthew Redman, the choir sings a wide repertoire of music spanning over 400 years. The choir is giving a concert at St John’s on Friday, July 14th, 7.30pm, which will feature some well-known choral favourites as well as some newly written pieces.
In addition, St John’s has a vibrant concert series as diverse as the town itself. Every Thursday lunchtime it puts on a free concert (1pm), featuring folk music, organ music, a variety of instrumentalists, singers and much more. On August 31st the church celebrates the 100th lunchtime concert.
Matthew said: “We are so delighted that these concerts draw so many performers and listeners so the 100th concert will be a bit special with several performers taking part; do join us and enjoy.”
The church also has evening concerts with music from India, Japan and beyond.
Details: www.stjohns-glastonbury.uk
WELLSTheatre Festival’s community show has a new home, moving from Cathedral Green in front of the cathedral to the Bishop’s Palace.
Over a weekend in July, it has presented a series of muchacclaimed performances of the works of Shakespeare to packed audiences. This year As You Like It will be performed on the South Lawn of the Bishop’s Palace Gardens.
Along with this production, the festival will be presenting an exciting programme of theatre, including children’s theatre, opera and dance over the weekend of July 6th-9th.
Highlights of this year’s festival include And Then They Came for Me a fascinating educational show about Auschwitz survivor and friend to Anne Frank, Eva Schloss.
Ros Johnson, artistic director of the festival said: “There is something for everyone at this year’s festival, theatre, dance and shows for children and all the family.”
Details: https://bishopspalace.org.uk/event/wellstheatre-festival/www.wellstheatrefestival.org.uk
THETabor Ringers based at Tabor Church in North Road, Timsbury, will hold a 30th anniversary concert at Tabor on July 16th at 3pm.
They were formed in 1993 by Joan Chivers, the wife of the then pastor, John Chivers. Since then, the group have entertained at many events/groups, including care homes. The concert will be followed by refreshments and the cutting of an anniversary cake.
Details: Barb Spalding 01761 752177
THE Mid-Somerset Agricultural Society has announced that its showground at Shepton Mallet is now available to hire for outside events.
The site – boasting three grassland fields covering 23 acres –has two, permanent fenced rings, both in the Bigham’s Field, which covers 11 acres. The five-acre Society Field is also available. The seven-acre Shepton Vets Field can be hired only as part of the whole site or alongside the Bigham’s Field.
Also available is the Yeoman Suite inside the society’s showground office; it can accommodate up to 30 people.
Preparations are in full swing for this year’s Mid-Somerset Show, on Sunday, August 20th, but the society is keen to see the site used throughout the rest of the year with all-weather access tracks and a short walk from Shepton Mallet town centre.
The society held the first show on its new site in 2021 and its layout has won high praise from exhibitors, trade stands – and visitors – and this year’s show promises to be even better.
Show secretary Christine Barham said: “We are on target for record entries in the livestock and equine classes. We’re getting a great response to our new Shetland Pony classes and new sheep breed classes. We are also very excited to see the different
breeds of cattle we have entered.
“Also our favourites such as the fancy dress pig and best dressed sheep and handler competitions will be making their return.”
Main ring attractions include the Dinky Derby (Shetland Racing with Shetland Performance Display Team), Paws for Thought dog agility, heavy horse harness, the grand parade of livestock and a parade of vintage tractors.
Last year’s supreme beef champion ahead of the grand parade
For details, visit: www.midsomersetshow.org.uk
THEQuaker-led Loving Earth textile exhibition about the threat to our natural world from environmental change will be on show at Street Quaker Meeting House from July 15th-23rd. This international touring exhibition visited Somerset last autumn and was so well received, that it is being hosted here again in its final year of touring. It travels on to Castle Cary, Sherborne and Ilminster.
The exhibition of around 60 textile panels first went on display in 2019 and has achieved outstanding success. It was exhibited earlier this year at the Houses of Parliament, having been spotted in his own constituency by the Speaker of the House, Lindsay Hoyle.
The panels have been shown all over the UK and internationally in Ireland, France, Slovenia and the USA. The exhibition at the Scottish Maritime Museum was lauded as one of the best cultural events in Scotland for COP 26.
The exhibition will be open in Street Monday-Saturday 10am4pm and on Sunday 12-4pm.
FARRINGTONGurney Climate Action Group is taking action to help restore biodiversity. They are networking with other villages to try new initiatives and share best practice. They are hoping to get some funding from the Bee Pollinator Fund run by the West of England Combined Authority.
They are holding a Pollinator Party Family Fun Day at Farrington Gurney Village Hall on Saturday, July 15th, with a range of activities and speakers.
The poster was created by Josh from, Farrington Primary School, as part of a poster competition to help promote the event.
CHEDDARFlower Show held its first scarecrow trail in 2021, because the flower show could not be held for two years in the aftermath of Covid.
The trail proved so popular as a community event that they repeated it last year. It was so successful, they are going for the triple this year!
The trail runs from Saturday, August 5th to Tuesday, August 29th. Entries are free and registrations for the trail map need to be submitted by midnight on Sunday, July 30th. Forms are available from Cheddar Library, Katie Boo, Woodbury Insurance, Time Out, Hansford’s Deli and Maunders or online. Cheddar Flower Show will be on Saturday, August 19th and show schedules are available from the same places.
Details: Sue Bathe 01934 743812 cheddar.flowershow@yahoo.com or Facebook
ELIZABETHAN,Manor Farm in Corsley, Wiltshire will host its Elizabethan evening on July 30th raising funds for local charities and good causes. The first was held in 2003. Illyria are back with a swashbuckling tale of Robin Hood, which promises to be a treat for the whole family. Pack a picnic and join them!
Details: www.theelizabethanevening.com
AFTERthe success of the resurrected Pensford music festival in 2019, Pensfest returns with an even bigger line-up on Saturday, July 8th at Pensford village hall and playing fields.
The first music festival was held in Pensford in 1963. Keith Yeates, who was the organiser back then, said: “The hope was to sell 500 tickets at five shillings and the music to run from 8pm to 2am. The bands were The Blue Note Jazz Band and Andy Gray and the Strangers.”
Sixty years on and present organiser Dom Lowe is putting the event together for the second time with help from friends Jamie Moore, Brett Wiltshire and Charlotte Mattock.
He said: “The old annual events became massively popular with locals and people throughout Chew Valley and south Bristol. Pensford legend Acker Bilk regularly entertained the crowds but they fizzled out about 15 years ago so we’re trying to rekindle the spirit and bring the festival back as an annual event.”
Back in 2018 a handful of friends decided to organise an event in memory of Bruce Matthews and Emma Leader. A year later that had snowballed into a festival with 16 bands which attracted 2,500 people and raised £9,000. The money went to charities and on projects reflecting the village’s rich
history.
Dom said: “It’s being billed as a ‘family fun day and music festival’ with something for everyone and we’ll be raising money for four nominated charities, some local good causes and the hall itself.”
Tickets are available from Pensford Post Office and local pubs.
Details: www.pensfest.co.uk
SOMERSET Steam and Country Show is back on July 22nd and 23rd at Low Ham, near Langport, promising a great weekend for all the family. With the sad news that the Great Dorset Steam Fair will not be taking place this year, organisers are really pushing the boat out with their working steam entries, including heavy haulage with vintage trailers, timber carriage log loading, a full steam road making area, steam ploughing (both direct and cable), steam sawing and thrashing. With 26 full-size steam engines working all over the site and 23 miniatures this will really give a glimpse into the past.
Steam will also be on the move around the site with an opportunity to grab a ride behind a minature or full-size steam engine, all for free. The weekend is not just about steam. In the main ring will be parades of cars, tractors, military and commercial vehicles, bikes and then, performing twice a day, will be stunt rider Flyin’ Ryan.
Keith Reynolds, one of the organisers, said: “You will find loads going on with our new Small Ring, which will have a fun dog show which your very own hounds are welcome to enter.
“Then, if you have younger guests with you, stop off at the children’s area which has things like a sandpit and tractors for the younger ones and circus skills for those a little older. Whilst they have a play, why not enjoy a tea and cake in our new for 2023 STEC Tearoom?
LIVE music, real ale and cider and delicious food are all on offer alongside train rides through glorious summer countryside at the Somerset and Dorset Railway at Midsomer Norton this July and August.
July sees firstly the heritage line’s “Wickham Weekender” when there’s an opportunity to ride on its resident Wickham trolley and a visitor; they make for an unforgettable experience on an unusual form of rail transport, taking place on Saturday, July 8th and Sunday, July 9th.
The line’s always-popular real and cider festival, on Saturday, July 22nd and Sunday, July 23rd offers a chance to enjoy a range of local ales and ciders with food and entertainment on the Saturday.
In August, don’t miss the chance to enjoy live music and train rides with its Midsomer Nights. The first, on Saturday, August 5th will feature the Blue Moon Band with the On The Edge Swing Band playing on Saturday, August 19th.
The Blue Moon Band play a mixture of rock n’ roll, soul, funk and pop, whilst On The Edge Swing Band play a repertoire of swing favourites and well as show music, Latin and some rock and pop.
Both sessions run from 6-9.30pm with refreshments and bar.
For full details and tickets, visit: www.sdjr.co.uk
We’re happy to list entries for non-profit community groups and charity fundraisers free of charge. Please send them written as a succinct single paragraph, in the format below, to annie@mendiptimes.co.uk Entries sent in as posters or which take time to re-write may be charged for at the commercial rate, £25.
Wednesday June 28th
Folk Session 8pm 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: 01275 462107.
Thursday June 29th
West Mendip Walkers 8.75m circular walk, 10am from Lob Gate car park Bridport DT6 on B3164. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk
Mendip Morris with Somerset Morris, 8pm at the Red Lion, Bishop Sutton.
Irish Set Dancing 8pm-10 Dinder Village Hall BA5 3PF. Last weekly session until September! £3 incl refreshments. No need to book. Details: 01458 210051 or paulrharper@btopenworld.com
Friday June 30th
Bingo Draycott Memorial Hall, 7.30pm. Free entry, children welcome. Cash only. Details: 07851 410459
www.draycottmemorialhall.org.uk
West Mendip Orchestra Concert 7.45pm St Nicholas Church, BS23 4SD. £10 on door. Details: www.west-mendip-orchestra.org.uk
Sunday June 30th to Wednesday July 2nd Medicine Woman Gathering, near Glastonbury. Details: www.medicinewomangathering.com
Saturday July 1st
Paulton Party in the Park, 2-9pm in the Memorial Park.
Henton Fete, a family fun day, 2pm, village hall.
Congresbury Singers 7.30pm War Memorial Hall. Tickets £10 (inc refreshments) from PO & Re-Store Congresbury.
Wedmore Street Fair, 11am-4pm.
Nailsea Concert Orchestra 7.30pm Nailsea School. Details: www.nailseaconcertorchestra.org
Chewton Mendip village fete starts 3pm, field by the church.
Kingston Seymour Market 10am-12pm Village Hall. Butcher, veg. cakes etc. 07525 040472.
Compton Dando village fete, 2-5pm
Jenny Peplow Singers in the garden, 2-4 pm
Norton Down Methodist Church, Stratton-onthe Fosse BA3 4QA. Tea and cakes. All Welcome.
Compton Martin Fete 2-5pm Ring O’ Bells. Mendip Male Voice Choir 7.30pm St Andrews, Chippenham. Details: www.mendipmen.co.uk
Private Nature Reserve Open, 11am-4pm Greenbush, Doctors Hill, Wookey. Four acres planted since 2014. Plants, refreshments, guided walks, advice. Help welcome: susanmbates@hotmail.co.uk
Swan Singers & Consort of Players 7.30pm St Cuthbert’s Church Wells. £12 on door. Details: info@swansingers.gmail.com
Jazz in the Garden 4.30pm Churchill Court
Lodge, Church Lane, BS25 5QW. Free pizza,Tickets: holly@churchillmusic.org.uk
Sunday July 2nd
Afternoon Tea every Sunday in July with Marston Music, nr Frome, 2.30-4.30pm. Free entry, home-made cake. Details www.marstonmusic.co.uk
Classic Car & Bike meet, 10-2pm Petruth Paddocks Cheddar, BS27 3FS. Free. No min/max stay. Food available. Details 07831 336444 or Facebook: Chew Valley Classic Car and Bike Meet.
Keynsham Music Festival, Memorial Park, BS31 1HL.
The Sound of the Streets, Axbridge. Details: www.thesoundofthestreets.com
Leigh on Mendip Open Gardens & Heritage Trail 11am-4.30pm. Tickets/maps £5. Light lunches. Details: caroline@dove5.plus.com
Monday July 3rd
RAFA Mid-Somerset 11am the Bell Inn, Bruton Road, Evercreech, BA4 6HY. Branch Meeting followed by pub games & lunch. Details: 01458 224057 or email: Lunchrafa.midsomerset@gmail.com
Tuesday July 4th
Backwell Sequence Dance Club: 7.15-9pm every Tuesday, Backwell WI Hall, BS48 3QW. Dancing couples welcome. Details: 07710 460550 email backwellsequencedance@gmail.com
Wednesday July 5th
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
Backwell & Nailsea Support Group for Carers talk by Grete Howard, “The Joy of an African Safari” 2pm-3.30 Backwell WI Hall. All welcome. Frome Carers Support Group 10.30am12.30 Cricket Ground BA11 2AH. Details: 07951 944420 www.somersetcarers.org/carers-groups/
Thursday July 6th
Folk Session 8.30pm Red Lion, Paulton BS39 7NW. Sing, play a tune or just listen. Free. All welcome. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com
Mendip Morris dancing 8pm at the Queen Victoria, Priddy. West Mendip Walkers 9m circular walk. Start 10am from Brent Knoll TA9 4EH. Details www.mendipramblers.co.uk
Friday July 7th
Wells & District Wildlife Group: 7pm-9pm wild flower walk at Ubley Warren, where the soil after lead mining supports many rare plants. Details: www.wdwg.org.uk or 01749 677600.
Valley Arts: Pokkisham: extraordinary British/Sri Lankan jazz harmony soul music. £10pp + booking. 8pm, Old School Room, Chew Magna, BS40 8SH. www.valleyartscentre.co.uk
Wedmore Dementia Carers Group 10am-12 Bagley Church BS28 4TG. Supported by Heads Up: 01749 670667. First Friday monthly.
Friday July 7th and Saturday July 8th
Somerton Music and Arts Festival. Details: www.somerstock.co.uk
Friday July 7th to Sun July 9th
The 30th Priddy Folk Festival! Details: www.priddyfolk.org
Nailsea & Backwell Beer and Cider Festival. Details: www.nailseabeerandciderfestival.co.uk
Saturday July 8th
Kenn Village Market 10-12 village hall. Brent Knoll Bazaar, farmer's market & café 10-12 Brent Knoll Parish Hall.
Temple Cloud Fun Day 12-8pm village hall and fields.
Redstock! Community festival at Redhill village hall. Details: www.redhill.live
Rickford Duck Race 5pm, Plume of Feathers. Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War Memorial Hall. Good quality books etc.
Jonathan Vaughn Organ Recital 7.30pm St John’s, Glastonbury. Tickets £10.
West Gallery Choir tour of Chew Valley churches: Norton Malreward 10.30am, Stowey 12 noon, Chewton Mendip 3.30pm. Joyous music from Georgian times. No charge. Pensford music festival and family fun day. Details: www.pensfest.co.uk
Parkinson’s NW Somerset Support Group meeting, 10.30-12.15, St Francis Church Nailsea. Coffee, chat and talk by Woodspring’s Community Development Officer.
Saturday July 8th and Sunday July 9th Sedgemoor Vintage Show, 10am-5pm. Details: sedgemoorvintageclublts.co.uk
Sunday July 9th
Frome Festival Open House Open Mic 1pm5, Marston Music nr Frome. Free Entry. Perform or listen. Details www.marstonmusic.co.uk
Frome Symphony Orchestra Concert at the Cheese & Grain. Details: www.fromesymphony.org.uk
Compton Dundon Open Gardens 1-6pm, Adults £5 U-16s free. For the Bell appeal. Summer Concert with Poppy McGhee, 4pm St Andrew’s Church Cheddar. Adults £12, students £5, children free. Details: 01934 743834 or email rogerkfburdock@gmail.co
Monday July 10th
Mendip Folk Dance Club, 8pm-10, St James Church Centre Winscombe BS25 1AQ. No experience necessary, Details Pat 01934 742853.
Folk Session 8.30pm Queen Victoria, Priddy BA5 3BA. Sing, play a tune or just listen. Free. All welcome. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com
Street Carers Support Group 10.30am Crispin Centre BA160HP. Details: 07951 944420 or www.somersetcarers.org/carersgroups/
Tuesday July 11th
Frome Selwood Horticultural Society Talk. “Illegal Immigrants” by Dr E F Burroughes. Critchill School, Frome, BA11 4LD. 7.15pm for 7.25pm. Details: Jane 0777 6208531 or jane.norris9@gmail.com
Wednesday July 12th
Weston-s-Mare Family History Group talk by Honey Langcaster-James: “Meet my ancestors – early founders of Weston-s-Mare” 2.30pm Lady of Lourdes Church Hall, Baytree Rd, BS22 8HQ.
Ninebarrow Folk Duo 7.30pm nr Frome. Details www.marstonmusic.co.uk
Kilmersdon Gardeners talk by Oliver Jones on Organic Gardening 7.30pm village hall BA3 5TD. Visitors welcome £3 inc tea/coffee www.kilmersdongardeners.org
Mendip Storytelling Circle – folk tales and more . . . £5. 7.30pm Ston Easton Village Hall, BA3 4DA. Details: mendipstorycircle@gmail.com or Facebook. Shepton Mallet Carers Support group and gentle activity for the person you care for, 2pm-3.30 Shepton Brasserie BA4 5AS. Details: 07951 944420 www. somersetcarers.org/carers-groups
Thursday July 13th
Chew Valley Gardening Society, 8pm Stanton Drew Village Hall, Brian Jacques: ‘Outdoor Exotic Gardening’ Details: 01275 333456. Visitors welcome.
West Mendip Walkers 7m circular walk starting 10am from Willow BA2 8QB. Details www.mendipramblers.co.uk
Thursday July 13th-15th
Timsbury Theatre Group 50th anniversary show, adults £15, children £10, family £45, inc two course supper. Details: www.ttg.org timsburytheatre@gmail.com
Friday July 14th
Choir of St John’s Glastonbury in Concert, 7.30pm.
Frome Third Age talk by Francis Burroughs
“The Wonderful World of Glass” 2pm The Assembly Rooms, BA11 1EB. Details: www.fromethirdage.com
Saturday July 15th
Bleadon Village Market 9.30-12, Coronation Halls BS24 0PG. 30+ stalls, details: 01934 812370.
Claverham Market 10am-12pm Village Hall. Butcher, veg. crafts etc. 01934 830553. Sons of Pitches, winners of BBC2’s Naked Choir, 8pm Meadway Hall Compton Dundon, TA1 16PQ. Tickets £20: wegottickets.com/event/573039
Saturday July 15th to Sunday July 23rd
Loving Earth textile exhibition, Quaker Meeting House Street, Mon-Sat 10am-4pm, Sunday, 12-4pm. Details: www.lovingearthsomerset.co.uk
Sunday July 16th
Classic Car & Bike meet, 10-2pm Petruth Paddocks Cheddar, BS27 3FS. Free. No min/max stay. Food available. Details 07831 336444 or Facebook: Chew Valley Classic Car and Bike Meet.
Tunley Coffee Morning 10am-12 Recreation Centre, BA2 0DZ. For Hall funds. Details 07849 618221.
Monday July 17th
Glastonbury Carers Support Group
10.30am-12, St John the Baptist Church BA6 9DR. Details: 07951 944420
www.somersetcarers.org/carers-groups/
Tuesday July 18th
Wells & District Wildlife Group: 2pm-4, looking for butterflies at the Mineries. We may see fritillaries, marbled whites, ringlets, small coppers. Details: 01749 677600 or www.wdwg.org.uk
Thursday July 20th
Wells & District Wildlife Group: Glow Worm Walk through Westbury-sub-Mendip after dark, with Peter Bright. Details: 01749 677600 or www.wdwg.org.uk Shipham & District Gardening Club, Chairman's Garden Party. Venue TBA. Cheddar U3A Garden Party 12.30 Old Vicarage Garden. Tickets £2 include lunch, from: membership@cheddarvalleyu3a.org.uk Valley Arts: Gabriel Moreno, stunning Mediterranean folk music. £10pp + booking. 8pm, Old School Room, Chew Magna, BS40 8SH. www.valleyartscentre.co.uk
West Mendip Walkers 10.5m circular walk starting 10am from Buckland Dinham BA11 2QT. Details www.mendipramblers.co.uk
Saturday July 22nd
Mendip Male Voice Choir Summer Concert
7.30pm Midsomer Norton Methodist Church. Details: www.mendipmen.co.uk
Congresbury Book Sale 9am-1pm War Memorial Hall. Good quality books etc. Summer Show Yatton & District Horticultural Society, 2pm-4.30 village hall and Glebeland gardens BS49 4HL. Adults £1. Details: 01934 832790
www.yattonhorticulturalsociety.co.uk
Brent Knoll Music on the Green: the Lipinski Band, 7.30pm. Bar, BBQ. Tickets £12.50, accompanied U14s free, from community shop or phone 01278 760308 / 760760 or email bob@flockman.com
Monday July 24th
Congresbury Memorial Hall Club Friendship evening with bingo, 8pm War Memorial Hall. Visitors welcome. Axbridge Carers Support Group, 2pm Town Hall. Details: 07951 944420 or www.somersetcarers.org/carers-groups/
Tuesday July 25th
Chilcompton Gardening Club talk 7.30pm village hall BA3 4EX.
Winscombe Folk Club 7.30pm-10.30pm
Winscombe Club BS25 1HD. All acoustic, performers & audience welcome, £2. Details: 07551 197685, winscombefolkclub@gmail.com
Wednesday July 26th
Folk Session 8pm 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.
Thursday 27th July
Mendip Morris dancing in Pensford at the Rising Sun, with Mr Wilkin’s Shilling dancers.
Valley Arts: Pandora’s Box, comedy by Last Baguette Theatre Co. £10pp + booking. 6.30pm, Yeo Valley Organic Garden, BS40 7SQ www.valleyartscentre.co.uk
West Mendip Walkers 8.6m circular walk starting 10am from Stockhill Woods BA5 3AS. Details www.mendipramblers.co.uk
Friday July 28th to Sunday July 30th
Weston Lions charity Real Ale and Cider Festival, Beach Lawns. Details: www.westonlionsrealalefestival.co.uk
Saturday July 29th
Timsbury Conygre Hall mini-market, 9.30-11.30am. Last Saturday each month. Details: www.growtimsbury.org.uk
Somerset Chamber Choir Concert featuring Fauré Requiem, Poulenc Organ Concerto, 7pm Wells Cathedral. Details: www.somersetchamberchoir.org
Sunday July 30th
Shepton Mallet monthly Sunday Market 10am-3pm Market Place, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5AZ. Live music, street food, parking free!
Classic Car & Bike meet, 10-2pm Petruth Paddocks Cheddar, BS27 3FS. Free. No min/max stay. Food available. Details 07831 336444 or Facebook: Chew Valley Classic Car and Bike Meet.
Monday July 31st
Wessex Stationary Engine Club meeting 8pm Old Down Inn, Emborough.
Tuesday August 1st
Backwell Sequence Dance Club: 7.15-9pm every Tuesday, Backwell WI Hall, BS48 3QW. Dancing couples always welcome. Details: 07710 460550 or backwellsequencedance@gmail.com
Wednesday August 2nd
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
Backwell & Nailsea Support Group for Carers: celebrate the Great British Summer! 2pm-3.30 Backwell WI Hall.
Thursday August 3rd
Wells & District Wildlife Group: Glow Worm Walk through Westbury-sub-Mendip after dark, with Peter Bright. Details: 01749 677600 or www.wdwg.org.uk
Saturday August 5th
North Barrow Community Hall 25th Anniversary – an afternoon of celebration with stalls, games, BBQ, licensed bar and much more! www.northbarrow.org.uk
Sunday August 6th
Afternoon Tea every Sunday in August with Marston Music 2.30-4.30pm. Free entry, home-made cake. Details www.marstonmusic.co.uk
SET across seven stages around the village, the Priddy Folk Festival really does offer something for all tastes and ages.
Taking place from Friday, July 7th to Sunday, July 9th, there is a brilliant line-up of bands, dance sides and workshops. Some weekend tickets are still available, giving access to the ticketed venues where you can see folk musicians at the top of their game from across all genres of folk such as Dervish and The Jeremiahs (both from Ireland), Fara (from Orkney), Kris Drever, Tim Edey and Kabantu.
The Children’s, Dance and Fringe Festivals are all free, so come and enjoy the sun, have some drinks from the festival bars and eat some lovely food provided by their selected food traders.
The festival is run by volunteers and is a not-for-profit event with proceeds going to local causes. In particular, funds go towards music tuition for local young people. This year, the Priddy and St Lawrence Primary School brass band will be playing for the first time at the festival, having received money this year towards each child learning an instrument.
There will also be an hour of new folk music written and performed by students from Wells Blue School under the “Priddy Rising” banner, which is supported by Priddy Folk Festival funds. Come and give your support to the musical stars of the future!
For details and tickets, visit: www.priddyfolk.org
THE Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza concert will return on Saturday, August 5th with a headline performance from Scottish rockers Texas.
Also performing in the abbey’s historic surroundings will be the Lightning Seeds. Wells City Band will open the evening – the 25th Extravaganza – which will conclude with the traditional spectacular fireworks finale.
Tickets are on sale now, costing £45 for adults and £25 for children aged up to 16. Any remaining tickets will cost £50/£30 on the gate.
As always, overnight options are also available in the campsite at the foot of Glastonbury Tor, which is also open for bookings now. A shuttle bus service will operate on the night.
Founded in 1986 by Johnny McElhone and Sharleen Spiteri on lead vocals, in June the headliners released Texas – The Very Best Of 1989-2023.
The Lightning Seeds were founded in Liverpool in 1989. Last year, they released See You In The Stars, their first album in 13 years.
Wells City Band was formed in 1839 and is considered one of the oldest brass bands in the country.
For tickets, visit: www.glastonburyabbey.com
