20 minute read
Coronavirus
Snow-cially distanced fun
TheRe was no hiding the fact that waking up to snowfall on a Sunday morning in January brought smiles to the faces of many lockdown families on Mendip.
Whilst travelling on the roads had brought challenges overnight and into the morning, it was certainly a day for sledges, snowball fights and snowmen –all socially-distanced.
A wintry scene in Shepton Mallet’s Collett Park
Teresa and fouryear-old son Rufus Life goes on, despite the weather. The snowman is holding an antivaccine protest slogan Fun near Doulting
Reaching the bottom of the slope
Village answers laptop appeal
PeOPlein Temple Cloud have answered a call to help local children with home schooling by donating tablets, laptops or iPads. local councillor, David Wood (pictured) put out an appeal on Facebook and the first devices have gone to Cameley School.
Cllr Wood said: “I’m schooling my four-year-old at home and know how we would struggle without a tablet to attend online classes and access the other amazing resources.”
School head, hannah Maggs, said: “During lockdown, children are required to undertake remote learning from home. Without access to these devices this can be challenging so the donations have made a huge difference to the families who have received them.”
Cllr Wood is still appealing for more.
Details: humphrestonhouse@gmail.com
Club steps in to point the way
Rotary club members in the Somer Centre car park
MeMBeRS of the Rotary Club of Midsomer Norton and Radstock swung into action when an appeal went out for signposts to direct people to the new Somer Centre Covid vaccination centre just off Midsomer Norton town centre. Within 24 hours, the club had arranged for 12 signs to be printed and put up around town as a steady flow of visitors began to arrive for their jabs. The club has now volunteered to help greet visitors at the centre.
Rotary boost for Paulton
Club president Jackie Partridge (left) presents a cheque to the larder’s Kayleigh Paul watched by (l:r) club treasurer Phil Edmonds (a Paulton resident), and parish councillors Liz Hardman and Grant Johnson
SOMeR Valley Rotary Club has stepped in to support Paulton’s village larder and its swimming pool with muchneeded donations.
After an initial £200 donation to the larder – set up in the porch of Paulton Methodist Church by Kayleigh Paul after the closure of the village’s food bank – made before Christmas, the club has pledged to donate £50 per month for the rest of the year.
Jackie Partridge, club president, said: “This is an excellent project helping many people to survive this terrible pandemic and I am pleased we are able to make a substantial contribution.”
Meanwhile, the club has donated £500 to Paulton Pool to help cover the cost of overheads whilst it is closed due to the lockdown. The donation was made in memory of Kelvin Juba, a past president of the club, who championed the pool as a community asset. Kelvin passed away in October last year.
The swimming pool team has been forced to put its fundraising efforts to help build disabled changing rooms and a multi-function room on hold.
Back to nature during lockdown
IT was time to wrap up warm and get outdoors when Chew Stoke Church School ran its first ever forest school sessions.
They were for the children of key workers in reception and years 1 and 2, led by ellie Milton, a higher level teaching assistant, who completed her forest schools accredited training during the autumn term. head teacher, Ben hewett, said: “It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting. Over the coming months all of the children in the school will have the opportunity to experience forest school.”
Annie in Year 1 said: “It is the best part of my week, I enjoy getting muddy and loved it when we made bird feeders.”
In the future the school is hoping to run some sessions for the Chew Stoke toddler group who meet at the school once a week.
Grant launches appeal
lABOUR councillor for Paulton, Grant Johnson, has launched a lockdown laptops campaign targeted at getting disused laptops into the hands of “struggling” families. he said: “We all want our children to grow up with a decent education and we cannot allow anyone to miss out because they haven’t got the equipment available to make that a reality.”
Richard Stelling, the tech guru behind the project said: “Thousands of ageing laptops and tablets are gathering dust in drawers all across Somerset. If just a fraction could be repurposed and given a new life as a home learning machine, we could help hundreds of families in our community.”
Once sanitised and prepared, the laptops will be offered to local schools and delivered to children who need them.
Details: 07866 769506 or email lockdown.laptops.nes@gmail.com
Hall trustees welcome rugby club’s family help scheme
BATh Rugby Foundation is using Camerton Community hall as its base for a project to help families suffering from the economic impact of lockdown.
Its Family Activity Box is aimed at helping to reduce anxiety for families during the current difficult time by providing weekly food provisions, activity ideas, resources and consistent support.
The foundation team and volunteers have been busy making up food parcels, then taking them out and about in the community. All the pre-packed meals are cooked at the Camerton hall by Sara of “live learn Cook”, who also organises children and adult cooking classes at the venue.
Bryn hawkins, one of the hall trustees, said: “So far, the feedback has been amazing from the families, which really shows the importance of the campaign and impact it's having on families.”
One said: “It is helping us so much we have lost more than half of our household income over the last year and the food packs are ensuring we always go to sleep with full tummies and taking care of a worry that is looming over us.”
Bath Rugby Foundation CeO, lynne Fernquest, said: "During a year when we’ve been forced apart, Bath Rugby Foundation’s focus has been to connect people. We know many families are struggling financially and our FAB campaign has two main objectives, to connect people and provide nutritious food to support a whole family’s physical and mental wellbeing. A wonderful extra is to add a huge dollop of fun to the mix!”
Villagers spread the love in Stoke St Michael
lOVe is in the air in Stoke St Michael after members of the village school’s Parent Teacher Association decided to bring a little cheer to lockdown in February.
First, the PTA sourced 66 identical teddy bears – with T-shirts saying “Stoke St Michael Primary School lockdown hero 2020-2021” – which were delivered to the homes of every child in the pre-school and primary school. Then the PTA came up with a plan to brighten up people’s walks around the village.
Families were encouraged to display hearts in the windows of their homes or in their gardens and driveways for others to spot on their daily exercise. The idea followed the success of previous trails around the village, Covidcompliant Ve Day celebrations and even Glastonbury Festival-themed street gatherings.
PTA member Charlotte Corbett said: “The hearts give people something to look out for and to bring a smile to their faces.”
Fellow member lucy Stott added: “The children were delighted with their teddy bears and we’ve received some wonderful thank you messages.”
Alun Stewart, who put up Spread the love bunting along with hearts in his garden, added: “As it was February, hearts seemed the appropriate symbol to use. It’s been great fun.”
An upstairs window of one house Just one of the many “Spread the Love” displays around Stoke St Michael
Loving it! Youngsters Lily, Lily and Willow with mums Lucy Stott and Charlotte Corbett and Alun Stewart outside his house
The treats are on us!
MeMBeRS of Midsomer Norton and Radstock Inner Wheel Club decided to give users of the Somer Valley Foodbank something to smile about.
The club’s monthly contributions to the foodbank have formed an important part of its focus on local charities and, after reviewing the pressures brought by both Covid-19 restrictions and Christmas, members decided an enhanced contribution would help.
Club funds were allocated to buy not only the basic essentials but also more cheerful produce such as sweets and biscuits.
Ex-president Sue Hopkins (right) and committee member Elaine Muir worked together to purchase the extras and are seen here before delivering them to the foodbank
AlMOST2000 businesses across Bath and North east Somerset, which were forced to close as a result of the third national lockdown, have received more than £12m in support grants.
As of February 10th, Bath & North east Somerset Council had processed 1,825 applications and paid out a total of £11m in support grants and £1.4m in discretionary awards to local businesses forced to close on January 5th.
The council has written to a further 115 companies asking for further details to support their claim. New claims are being received daily and the council is working to process these as quickly as possible while ensuring they
meet eligibility criteria.
Councillor Richard Samuel, deputy leader and cabinet member for Resources, said: “We know these grants are a lifeline to many businesses forced to close as a result of lockdown and we are processing the applications as quickly as possible.
“last month we emailed 1,600 businesses who’d previously received a local Restrictions Support Grant to let them know them know that they could reapply for more financial assistance. If you have not applied for a grant before and you think you may be eligible, please apply as soon as possible. If you would like some help and advice with your application, then contact Our Invest in Bath team.”
Details: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19latest-information-and-advice/help-businesses
Network helps kids to get online
MeMBeRS of Wells Coronavirus Network have helped to collect 35 unwanted laptops in the space of just a few days to help local children with home schooling.
The laptops for junior schools initiative is a partnership between the WCN and the City of Wells lions Club.
The first repurposed laptops have been delivered to St Cuthbert’s Junior and Stoberry Park schools. helen Mullinger, head of St Cuthbert’s Junior School, said: “This is the Wells community working at its best. May I give a big thank you to the Wells Coronavirus Network, the lions and of course the laptop’s donor.”
Michael hawkins, head teacher at Stoberry said: “This is absolutely brilliant. Thank you for your support. About half of our 300 pupils are in school. We received some laptops from the government but needed 30 more.”
The volunteers are collecting laptops from donors and taking them to Microbitz and Wellscope where they are being repurposed for use by the school children.
To donate, call 0345 833 6736 and ask for the Lions, email cityofwellslions@gmail.com or call the Wells Coronavirus Network helpline on 01749 467079
Covid affects poorer producers
A COUPlefrom Chew Stoke are concerned that Covid-19 has badly affected Fairtrade companies like Traidcraft, which rely on goods being sold by contacts at fundraising events in the UK.
Jonathan and Judith longhurst have been selling Traidcraft goods for well over 20 years, usually at Chew
Stoke’s monthly soup lunches.
Mr longhurst said: “In these difficult Covid-19 times soup lunches and coffee mornings, where we used to sell, have stopped. Many people have turned to buying more things online and Fairtrade is no exception, so may we encourage you to have a look at the wide range of items at www.traidcraftshop.co.uk as well as looking out for the Fairtrade mark on goods in local stores and in supermarkets.”
The couple are pictured selling Traidcraft goods at one of Chew Stoke’s monthly soup lunches last March, just before lockdown.
Funding boost for children’s charity
GlASTONBURY charity Children’s World has been awarded £45,000 from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, distributed by The National lottery Community Fund, which they will use to run a new project called Creative Community.
The project has also received £4,000 from Comic Relief Covid19 Community Fund (england) via Groundwork UK and £2,500 from the Wessex Water Recovery Fund via the Somerset Community Foundation.
Charity director, Kristen lindop, said: “We are thrilled to have received these generous grants and can’t wait to start working alongside our community of Somerset families and organisations and children and young people to design, develop and deliver new types of the performance-based activities that Children’s World is famous for.
“Our community is likely to face issues due to the pandemic for some time, so it is brilliant news that we will be able to work alongside the people we support, to make sure we provide the fun and educational activities that they will get the most out of.”
Children’s World will be asking families and young people across Somerset to take part in the project at every step of the way and will start consulting with them this month, using questionnaires, social media and meetings.
What was history –still is the present
THISmonth marks a change for the society, apart from winter turning into spring that is: at our AGM in March we say goodbye to our chairman of the past five years, Richard Frost. He feels that it is time for some new hands to take up the reins, but we will be sad to see him leave the role he has carried out so ably.
He, like us all, is well locked down and feeling the lack of our popular walking programme, of which he is a regular leader. Right now his uppermost thought is: “I can’t wait to get out and tackle Sue Gearing’s new countryside walks in Mendipity.”
The subject of our countryside is uppermost in our minds; we are after all committed to the protection and preservation of the Mendip area by our constitution. Since our founding as The Mendip Preservation Society in 1965, we have always been vocal against the encroachment of us humans, with all our paraphernalia, into the green areas of the Mendip Hills.
In our very first newsletter in 1967 we recorded that our efforts, together with many other bodies in the halting of quarrying on Crook Peak, were “crowned with success”. As one member, Mr Hunter, told the inquiry: “We have got to get away from this sacred Victorian idea that everything done in the name of big business is all right.
“Beauty is worth paying for and we have to put our hands in our pockets; if this (quarry expansion) happens we shall have sold our birthright for a mess of pottage.”
Years later, in April 1974, an article on planning appeared. It opened with: “The society continues to express its concern to the local planning authority on all applications it feels may be detrimental. This involves development within villages, where our particular concern is architectural style and increased density of building and also development outside villages ...”
Now, in spite of numerous White and Green Papers, reports, statements, expert advice, Parliamentary Acts and speeches by prime ministers (the latest one stating there are plenty of brownfield sites throughout the country to meet all housing needs and that there is therefore no need to destroy any of our precious countryside), planning applications to build thousands of urban style housing estates, mostly in the countryside on green field sites located outside development boundaries, are continuing to be submitted and approved.
The mistakes of the last 60 years are being constantly replicated. Do we not appreciate that once our valuable agricultural land is built on, then it's lost forever? How are future generations – and this applies the whole world over with populations being now so entwined – going to feed themselves? And did you notice that there were no less than five articles in the last month’s Mendip
Times pointing this out? In these circumstances, The Mendip Society, all likeminded bodies and all who care about the preservation of our countryside, architectural heritage and indeed our planet earth, must remain actively vigilant. We urge everyone to submit objections to your local planning authority, explaining clearly why you do not agree with damaging planning applications. Describe the damage large, poorly designed developments cause to the Mendip Hills AONB, our countryside and the character of our towns and villages. Highlight how the infrastructure is insufficiently robust to cope with large increases in population and traffic.
Don’t let history go on repeating itself until there is nothing left to protect.
On another saddening topic – the ongoing work continues to clear ash trees which have been felled after they have succumbed to Chalara or ash dieback, because they are now a danger to people. This shows up the pressure our hills are under when the very environment has its own epidemic to contend with.
We remain thankful to the AONB, Somerset Wildlife Trust and others for the valuable works they are doing and we are working with the partnership they have formed to replace the denuded areas with new planting; this is alongside the government scheme to plant millions of new trees to combat the climate crisis.
Funds from our Heritage Grant Scheme are available for this valuable work. We are also planning to collaborate with the Ramblers Association’s latest initiative to save The Lost Ways of the UK, including those here on Mendip; those not registered as Rights of Way by 2026 will disappear forever.
In spite of all this “doom and gloom” which has surrounded us for such a long time, people are resilient, finding many ways to dispel the darkness and dread which grips us sometimes – one such way is to put your thoughts down on paper, perhaps in a poem such as this one, which was sent to us by Alan Litten.
Another way is to enjoy the flowers which still appear for us in spite of everything; pictured above are early primroses in Slader’s Leigh Meadow, a favourite spring flower for us and many of our visitors.
Richard Frost & Judith Tranter
COLD COMFORT
This old world has seen it all before, As frosted are white trees with rime and hoar, When knowledge of disease was vague, It came, in fear they’d say the plague. Experience shows that it will pass, Snow will melt that slowly falls on grass, In ancient times they had no rest, For them, it was survival of the best. Let’s thank the Lord we’re born so late, We’re not left to their painful fate, While winter’s here with frosts that bite, Our lockdown brings relief into sight. We’ll be singing, bells will peal, The truth is always, time will heal, It’s living through it that’s been hell, With fingers crossed, we’ll all stay well.
Primroses –many visitors' favourite flower in our reserve
Small space rewilding
The toad – in a hole without the help of volunteer crossing patrols
IT is always lovely to receive them. Every nest that produces chicks should be considered a correspondence from readers about articles. celebration. In the last couple of months I’ve also been Maybe now is the time, if you really want to help with the told about individuals who have been nature recovery effort, to look at your own garden again with a inspired by those in which I’ve mentioned view to allowing some of it to rewild. There’s an amazing new community wildlife groups. amount of information on the internet about small space By CHRIS SPERRING I now know of two new such groups and all my hopes and best wishes go out to rewilding. This article from the Guardian has some ideas: MBE them. Never forget that help is always https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/30/ close-by if you need it! “How to rewild your garden: ditch chemicals and decorate the
The group that I set up in my home area is really going from concrete”. strength to strength and genuinely making a difference, already One easy thing we can do is not to weed out the dandelions! influencing decision-makers and achieving action on the Dandelions are such a valued food source for so many species. ground. The Victorians used to value the dandelion, too, often allowing
We’re all still locked in, so-to-speak, but spring is really on it to grow on lawns. That may be because they ate it, and made the way and it’s quite noticeable between the cold snaps that the some lovely wine with it, but at least they were that bit closer to birds are finally starting to sing for real now, as opposed to just nature than we are. warming up their songs. We can, of course, regain that close relationship with nature
Wild garlic is pushing through the leaf littered woodland floor very quickly with each little bit we do for it. That could make and some purple violets and primrose are out. Depending on the us far healthier in mind and body, and more ready to face the temperature, insects should soon become more noticeable with challenges of a post pandemic Britain. increasing sightings of bumblebees and maybe even the odd Lastly, another big thing happening outside at the moment is brimstone butterfly by the end of March. the annual migration of amphibians back to their traditional
If you have small bird boxes in your gardens or on your breeding places. Frogs, toads and newts are all making their walks, watch for the first bird inspections taking place. As I way back to their ponds via old-established routes, many of write this (on February the 13th), great tits are already exploring which have to cross busy roads. Sadly many are squashed every a box in our garden, which luckily was cleaned out over a week year on their way back to their ponds to breed. ago (phew!). But there are bands of people who give up their spare time at
Also depending on the temperature, as February turns into this time of year to save the amphibians’ lives by patrolling the March, many of the birds that nest in hedges or scrub may have roadsides just after dark and literally collecting the animals in already begun nest building. So if you’re contemplating cutting buckets to give them a safe crossing. or trimming hedges then please spare a thought for these birds So please, if you’re driving at these times and see toad or frog and get the job done before they start. patrol crossing signs, slow down and give these heroes a chance
Some species of bird only get one go at nesting each year so to help our amphibians recover their numbers. Well done to all successfully raising their offspring could be make or break for that take part in this work.
