Environment

Greenways are go!

A COALITION of Somerset based and national organisations has come together to launch the Somerset Greenways Vision.

They plan to use existing and proposed routes to link local communities using a combination of traffic free paths, former railway lines and quiet lanes to enable people of all abilities to make journeys by foot, cycle, mobility scooter and horses.

There’s been good progress during the pandemic. The Frome Missing Links Group is heading north out of the town while the Strawberry Line volunteers have opened a path from Wells to Dulcote and plan to push on towards Shepton Mallet.

Around Shepton it’s hoped to open up the viaducts and tunnels on the old Somerset and Dorset Line.

Andrew Combes from the Somerset Rail to Trail Project said: “The idea of using disused railway lines has been rattling around for 30 years, with everyone saying what a great idea.

“The climate emergency and Covid have given it more urgency now and local volunteers are doing an amazing job.

“Local councils are very much behind the project as well as community groups and companies like Foster Yeoman who are for some sections providing stone for surfacing free of charge.”

Various groups have now come together to form the Somerset Active Travel Forum to collaborate with each other and local authorities.

The forum includes the Somerset Rail to Trail Project, Frome’s Missing Links, The Strawberry Line, The Steam Coast Trail, The Trails Trust, Greenways & Cycleroutes, Isle of Wedmore Access Group, Somerset Ramblers, Disabled Ramblers, Mendip Bridleways Association, South Somerset Bridleways Association, The British Horse Society, Cycling UK and Sustrans.

The Rail to Trail Project says: “We challenge the notion that these routes will be used purely for leisure. With the advent of electric bikes and electric cargo bikes, the distances which our communities are able and willing to travel by sustainable means has increased significantly, especially given the overarching concerns of climate change and of improving public health, which we are all facing together.”

It believes that when good quality infrastructure is provided, these routes will be used for “utility journeys” –commuting, shopping, accessing vital amenities as well as for exercise and leisure, with benefits to economic development, carbon reduction and habitat creation.

The forum is encouraging local authorities, parishes and community groups to join in with their plans and fill in any gaps in their map.

Finishing the path to Dulcote

Frome Missing Links building path north from the centre of Frome towards Selwood Manor

The Strawberry Line team's original plan The expanded network

Repair –don’t despair

Phil Gray repairing a vacuum cleaner

A MONTHLYRepair and Share café has sprung up in Farmborough, the brainchild of Sam Ross, who was behind Seedy Saturday, which she started in the village back in 2010.

The café is being held every second Saturday of the month at Farmborough Memorial Hall, 10am-1pm.

Their volunteers can manage electrical, mechanical and sewing, but they would welcome more.

They can repair most things –so far they have repaired sewing machines, dolls, radios, vacuum cleaners, clocks, kettles, lawn mowers, lamps, fans, soft toys, chairs, cushion covers, clothes plus lots more.

The café, which is organised by Farmborough Community Shop, serves bacon baps, homemade cake and hot drinks for you while you wait for repairs to be done.

Sam said: “Our repair café has had a success rate of over 70%, keeping many items in use which would otherwise have been sent to landfill. On average the repair and share café has seen between 11-14 visitors for the first three months, but we had 25 visitors in October!

“Every successful repair brings a spark of happiness to the person who thought that their item was no longer useful. Sometimes the item is so sentimental, that fixing it brings them to tears of joy.

“We welcome people to come along with items, or just to take a look and see what goes on, and meet with friends and neighbours for a drink and some cake, or a bacon bap.”

Other repair cafés are held in High Littleton and Peasedown St John. Let us know of others in our area.

Birgit Plucknet working on a radio

Art supports river group

DAVIDRobinson, a member of local volunteer group The Land Yeo Friends, has recently painted the river as it runs through Nailsea on its way to Clevedon, eventually running into the Severn Estuary at Clevedon Pill.

It is hoped that selling the painting will go some way to financing the group who have tirelessly worked throughout the pandemic to keep the river flowing freely and carefully measuring pollutants and removing rubbish.

Apart from buying David’s painting, the group say companies and individuals can also support their work with donations.

Details: www.landyeofriends.org www.robinsonart.co.uk • www.artgallerysw.co.uk

Surviving winter

PRICKLES Hedgehog Rescue in Cheddar says it would be grateful to receive tins of cat meat in jelly to support overwintering hedgehogs who are either unwell or too small to survive hibernation. If you should find a hedgehog out in the daytime, they ask you to contact them on 07806 744772 for help and advice.

A lasting legacy as history is made in Wells

CHILDREN at a junior school in Wells planted a very special tree as part of a national initiative to mark next year’s 70th anniversary of the Queen’s ascension to the throne.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, Mrs Annie Maw, along with three Deputy Lieutenants and the Mayor of Wells, joined pupils at St Cuthbert’s CofE Junior School for the ceremony as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy project.

Mrs Maw said: “I am proud and delighted to gift this beautiful celebration tree on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen to St

Cuthbert’s CofE Junior School as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. Today’s occasion marks the beginning of this year’s tree planting season and as someone who is absolutely committed to the project, I very much hope that schools all around Somerset will follow suit enthusiastically and plant their own tree.”

The tree – a Pyrus Chanticleer – was one of 70 to be gifted nationally by the Queen’s Green Canopy. Mrs Maw told members of the school council, who helped with the planting: “When you are all grown-up I hope you will all return to this school in years to come to see how much the tree has grown. This is a very special day.”

Helen Mullinger, headteacher at St Cuthbert’s, said: “We feel very privileged that St Cuthbert’s Junior School has been chosen to have a tree gifted to us by the Queen’s Green Canopy to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Our children are very environmentally aware and wholeheartedly support this important initiative which promotes the planting of trees across the country.“

The QGC is encouraging all schools to get involved in planting Jubilee trees, with free tree packs available through the Woodland Trust and The Conservation Volunteers. l All Jubilee trees can to be added to the QGC Map, which will create a digital record of the green canopy of tree planting projects across the country: https://queensgreencanopy.org/mapeducation-hub/qgc-map/#/

Members of the school council Guests at the tree planting ceremony

Mrs Maw presented a gift of books for the school to head boy Austin Hoey and head girl Keevah Grantham

Tackling climate change

GRANTS are available to tackle carbon emissions and fuel poverty in Bath and North East Somerset.

The Bath and West Community Energy (BWCE) Fund grant programme is back for a ninth year. Applications for grants of up to £5,000 are invited before November 5th. BWCE was set up in 2010 to develop and own renewable energy projects and has since become one of the largest community-owned energy companies in the UK.

As a Community Benefit Society it gives surplus income to the BWCE Fund, which has asked Quartet Community Foundation to administer the funding programme, giving grants to community groups and local environmental organisations.

Since 2015, the BWCE Fund has awarded 69 grants worth almost £207,000 through this grant programme.

Sophie Hooper Lea, chair of trustees for BWCE Fund, said: “This is a decisive decade for climate action and our fund is here to help charities and community organisations to play an important and much-needed role in reducing carbon emissions and tackling fuel poverty.”

Angela Emms, from Quartet Community Foundation, said: “As the government warns of a difficult winter ahead due to rising fuel costs, this grant programme has the double benefit of supporting projects which reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty.

“This year we would particularly welcome applications relating to fuel poverty/affordable warmth, ensuring that everyone can access and afford energy this winter.”