IT never ceases to amaze us the lengths that people will go to when raising money for charity. This month we feature a sky diver, a firefighter, two women walking across the Sahara and four men who are planning to row the Atlantic.
In Wedmore hundreds of people supported Awareness Fest in memory of Adam Stimpson, raising money for the Brain Tumour Charity. As usual, we have many pages devoted to charities and community groups.
The 80th anniversary of D-Day was commemorated across the area – we have pages on that, as well as photos from the Royal Bath and West show and numerous other events.
We feature a new wildlife corridor between Shepton Mallet and Cranmore and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the East Somerset Railway.
As usual our What’s On listings are packed with information and we preview some of the big events coming up.
In sport, there was a new women’s record set at the Chew Valley 10k – and we meet the WI skittle champions.
With all of our regular features and contributors, here’s hoping we get some decent summer sun.
August 2024 deadline:
Friday 12th July
Published: Tuesday 23rd July
Editorial:
Steve Egginton steve@mendiptimes.co.uk
Mark Adler mark@mendiptimes.co.uk
Advertising: advertising@mendiptimes.co.uk
Lisa Daniels lisa@mendiptimes.co.uk
What’s On listings:
Annie Egginton annie@mendiptimes.co.uk
Accounts: accounts@mendiptimes.co.uk
Publisher: Mendip Times Limited
Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset BS40 7RG
Contacts: For all enquiries, telephone: 01761 463888 or email: news@mendiptimes.co.uk www.mendiptimes.co.uk
Design and origination by: Steve Henderson
Haldane, Halesfield 1, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ
The High Sheriff of Somerset, Rob Beckley (fourth from left) was the guest of honour at the official opening
THE 15th Century Glastonbury Tribunal has been re-opened for the 2024 summer season as the town’s museum, thanks to a pioneering partnership between Glastonbury Town Council, the Glastonbury Antiquarian Society and English Heritage.
The museum, in the High Street, features the Lake Village Collection, artefacts from the Bronze Age settlements on the Somerset Levels, internationally important for their dating throughout the first millennium BCE, as well as the Godney Anglo-Saxon canoe, used for transport and carbon dated to between the early 6th and early 7th centuries CE.
Mary-Elizabeth O’Neill, Visitor Experience Manager for Glastonbury Town, as well as the Tribunal’s manager, said: “I’m so pleased that we’ve been able to reopen the Tribunal for this summer season.”
For details, visit: www.glastonburyinformationcentre.co.uk
TWO boys from Burrington have won a prestigious primary schools engineering challenge, beating 15 primary schools in the final held at Badminton School in Bristol.
Noah Attwood and Thom Davey, two Year 6 boys from Burrington Church of England Primary school, had to design and build a working crane with the aim of successfully installing a model wind turbine, winning the 2024 Bristol Primary STEM challenge final.
After collecting the Bristol Blue Glass trophy, Noah said: “This was a great opportunity for young people to experience engineering and to have fun at the same time. I learnt that trial and error really pays off – we had to change our model several times before we found the perfect combination.”
https://www.stemworks.co.uk/
INa world where spending your working life at a single company is increasingly rare, George Barber stands out, after celebrating his retirement at the same time as his 50th anniversary with Tincknells.
On May 31st they bade farewell to George. His last day at Tincknell Country Store in Wells, saw colleagues past and present, suppliers and customers, all calling in to wish him well and to help him celebrate.
George began his career with Tincknells at 16, straight out of school. After starting in the parts department in Wells, George became parts manager in Galhampton, then moved to their Congresbury store for a while before eventually returning to Wells.
George saw many changes through his time with Tincknells and found his niche as the Stihl specialist, a role that had customers seeking him out for his knowledge and helpful, cheerful demeanour.
Tincknells said they are proud to have had George as part of the family for 50 years and wish him a long and happy retirement.
THEnew Chew Valley Nature Recovery Network (CVNRN) is already making significant strides in promoting biodiversity and ecological health across the Chew River catchment area.
It says one of the aims of this community-based network of volunteers is to support and enhance nature-based projects by leveraging local expertise and fostering collaboration.
Recent examples include botanical mapping at Holy Trinity Church, in Norton Malreward, which identified 60 different species of wildflowers and grasses, and tackling pondweed in Compton Martin.
Volunteers from Chew Magna’s Rewild Chew Garden by Garden group joined forces with colleagues from East Harptreeto learn the intricacies of conducting hedgerow surveys.
Armed with newfound knowledge, the volunteers have begun mapping hedgerows in Chew Magna, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive Local Nature Action Plan.
The group says: “Chew Valley Nature Recovery Network is fostering a deeper connection between people and nature and demonstrating that grassroot initiatives can lead to meaningful and lasting environmental change.”
Details: www.cvnrn.org
BRYONYHuntley is on a mission to rewild her small part of the Chew Valley. When she and her late husband, Duncan, bought 30acre Westfield Farm on Limeburn Hill 30 years ago, there was a derelict orchard and empty fields, as well as a farmhouse to renovate.
Now there are woods and wildlife rich grasslands, ponds, ducks and bees as well as fruit and nut trees and shrubs. She's created an environment where people can appreciate, and enjoy, a harvest, from the natural world.
The site also includes Limeburn Hill Biodynamic Vineyard, run by Robin Snowdon and Georgina Harvey, and organic Wilding Cider which is run by Sam and Beccy Leach.
Bryony, former headmistress of Sacred Heart School in Chew Magna, said: “We started with the orchard and planted 12 trees a year for ten years and eventually we were able to sell annual cider-apple harvests to Thatchers.
“Then came the bee garden and following that the forest garden.”
People from all over the world have arrived to help through an organisation called WWOOF – Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms.
Their website says it “links visitors with organic farmers, promotes an educational and cultural exchange and builds a global community conscious of ecological farming practices.” Some new recruits are due at Westfield Farm this summer.
Bryony was one of the founders of Chew Valley Plants Trees. She is about to embark on a course in Eco-psychology and explained that: “It’s about understanding how the natural world can help to heal people.
“I would love people to come and share this space. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone, young and old, had the opportunity to experience the outdoors and learn from the natural world?”
She welcomes visitors and volunteers who are interested.
Details: bryonyhuntley2019@gmail.com
SCHOOLS, community groups and individuals have been working to promote a wildlife corridor between Shepton Mallet and Cranmore featuring a range of larger-than-life creatures made out of recycled materials.
With workshops at the community arts venue, Create#8, in schools and at the town’s Collett Park Festival, the 60 works celebrate the diamond anniversary of Somerset Wildlife Trust.
Called the Bugs and Grubs trail, the “critters” will take pride of place along the route from July 27th to August 10th.
Meanwhile, volunteers have
been working in stages to restore the Carymoor Environmental Centre’s chalk bank dragon in an effort to encourage more butterflies to the reserve.
The dragon, using waste chalk, was designed by Andrew George to specifically attract butterflies and the careful clearance work appears to have reaped rewards already, with sighting of two marsh fritillaries close-by.
SOMERSETWildlife Trust will relaunch its Private & Community Nature Reserves (PCNR) Network at a meeting on July 6th at Chancellor’s Farm, Priddy.
The network was first set up in the 1990s, with members supporting each other over the decades to manage their land for nature. The Covid pandemic stopped its activities.
It’s inviting pre-existing members and anyone else interested to attend.
Hannah Paddison, Volunteering & Community Support Officer at Somerset Wildlife Trust, said: “The PCNR Network really has been a valuable resource for previous members, and we see the huge potential to support even more land managers to take action for nature and collectively play a vital role in connecting up habitats.
“This relaunch event is the perfect opportunity to find out more about what the PCNR Network might be able to offer landowners that manage their land to deliver for nature at this critical time.”
Details: www.somersetwildlife.org/events/2024-07-06-pcnr-network-re-launch
BRISTOL Avon Rivers Trust (BART) has announced the dates for its annual Bristol Avon RiverBlitz. From July 5th to July 12th, they invite volunteers to participate in sampling local rivers, streams, and ditches.
This will include samples from the River Chew, Land Yeo at Wraxall and Wellow Brook which can be tested for nitrate and phosphate levels with easy-to-use water testing kits.
It says the information collected will help them provide a comprehensive overview of water quality and river health.
Details: www.bristolavonriverstrust.org
MOSSES look simple but I now realise that their lives are very complex. I am not a scientist so find it hard to understand all that is going on particularly with reproduction. Perhaps I have grasped some of the more basic facts. Please forgive me! I have concentrated more on the environmental aspects of moss.
We tend to take moss for granted. Most people recognise it and see it growing in a wide variety of habitats – on exposed tree roots, on bark, in and on soil, on bare rocks, on concrete or Tarmac paths and on roof tiles and in gutters. How does it do that?
Despite its ubiquity there are very few common names for moss as there are for other plants just the formal Latin name used throughout the world. Moss is a plant even so. It prefers to grow in damp, shady places. Together with ferns and lichens it belongs to the plant order Bryophytes.
Moss has no flowers, no seeds and no proper roots, only modified hair-like structures called rhizoids that anchor the plant to bare surfaces. Neither does it have a vascular system to carry water and nutrients to all parts of the plant especially from the soil.
However, being green, moss can photosynthesise by absorbing water, carbon dioxide and nutrients from the air and transforming them into sugars and oxygen. These products are absorbed directly into the leaves when they are wet. This is a process increasingly being used by scientists. (See later).
Moss can attract strong feelings particularly by those who foster a pristine lawn that under wet conditions may be invaded by moss. Those who care for golfing greens may not be too pleased either. Conversely florists love to use moss to enhance various arrangements.
They are the oldest plants in the world dating back over 450 million years. They are the amphibians of the plant world, being the evolutionary link between creatures like algae that lived solely in water and those that moved onto the land. Mosses still need water amongst their leaves to breed.
To many of us, all mosses look similar but try using a hand lens to look at them
and a new wondrous world is revealed. There are over a 1000 species of moss just in the UK.
Mosses can breed asexually and sexually, the latter being complicated. Some produce structures called gemmae on leaves which can break off and form new plants without the need for fertilisation provided that optimal growing conditions of sunlight and water are there. This is called fragmentation.
Sexual reproduction in mosses depends on exposure to moisture. After maturation, the male sperms, not seeds, swim across to fertilize the egg to produce brown capsules. More processes follow but as stated a biologist is needed to fully understand the processes.
Are mosses beneficial to the environment including us?
Yes certainly. Everything has a role to play in creating a healthy environment both animate and inanimate. Here are some benefits.
l They are colonisers that can establish themselves on bare surfaces thus beginning a simple soil in which other plants may grow.
l Being low-growing they can grow in places where other plants are excluded.
l They can soak up rain in their leaves and collect water between them so creating humid conditions in which other plants may grow.
l Myriad small insects such as beetles, other invertebrates some of which may be microscopic such as mites, springtails and nematodes live in the moss where they reproduce so providing more living creatures.
l This in turn attracts small mammals, birds and amphibians in search of food.
l Mosses do no harm. Plants can easily live with them especially if water is short. It is perhaps an aesthetic concept that plants and moss should not grow together in gardens.
l Moss gardens are increasingly popular especially on roofs. They require no mowing, no pesticides, weed killers or even fertilisers. Low maintenance indeed and attractive.
l Certain mosses have medical properties
because they are antibacterial. Sphagnum moss for example was used extensively by soldiers during WW1 to cleanse and heal wounds.
l Indigenous groups use moss more than we do. For example, I read that North American Indian mothers used moss as nappies and sanitary wear because of its ability to soak up and absorb liquids. This was also common in medieval Britain.
l Since moss gathers all its needs from the atmosphere because there are no roots, it helps to absorb pollutants such as CO2, dust, even heavy metals.
l It helps to slow down flooding by absorbing water in the upper reaches of river valleys. Mainly sphagnum.
To attract more diversity in the garden, log and stone piles are useful. Gradually attractive mosses will grow on them – and lichens – whilst attracting small creatures, then birds, mammals such as hedgehogs and amphibians that are on the hunt for a mini-feast from the moss itself or from amongst the structure.
Moss filters are already being used in Europe and in other parts of the UK including London and Newcastle.
Hereford Town Council is being very serious about using moss to reduce pollution by using air filters to naturally clean the air. They are about the size of a small tree but more efficient. The moss filters are part of a range of measures to enhance the city centre environment.
Moss mats clean about 80% of fine dust and particles from the air and using ventilation filters can clean air for up to 7,000 people per hour. The moss filters are in busy traffic areas, where they will use specially selected mosses to help naturally absorb pollution from the air.
Moss mats for the home are available online. Just see the variety and uses! DIANA
ASKa farmer or those working in the industry why they do it and the answer from the majority is “because I enjoy it”. That’s not to say they don’t do it to make money, either by salary or the benefit of running a business. But essentially, we are involved in the industry because we enjoy it. The expectation of spring, fantastic sunrises and late sunsets in summer and the crispness of autumn means there is no better place than the British countryside to call your workplace.
Working with nature to breed livestock, grow crops and care for the environment and you soon realise why those of us in the industry are involved. That said, there are times when things aren’t quite as rosy. The weather over the last nine months has got to some people because they haven’t been able to do the work they need to do. The cost of producing stock and crops sometimes exceeds the income derived from whatever is being sold. A negative outcome to work that may have taken up to two years to do is hard to stomach.
Too many instances of this sort of thing puts serious pressure on some and they need someone to turn to for advice. Being able to talk to someone in the family is a start but when there are just two and they are both involved in the business it is difficult to rationalise what is going on and what might be done to rectify the situation.
An organisation called the Farm Community Network (FCN) provides a sounding board and support for farmers and farm workers in this and other situations which may affect them.
Their work covers stress, depression, isolation, long term illness, accidents and drug or alcohol dependency. There is a phone number on the FCN website which is answered from 7am to 11pm every day of the year. Those answering are sympathetic and have an understanding of farming and rural life.
Things are difficult in British farming and there are people who are suffering. It is incumbent on all of us to keep an eye out for our industry colleagues who might be in this situation and let them know about the FCN. It could be a lifeline for some. The FCN number is 03000 111 999.
With NICK GREEN
Judging underway in the cider competitions
1 Cidermaker (8)
5 Used with daub (6)
9 Disadvantage of religious institution (8)
10 Fellows meet pickpocket in these hills (6)
12 Lines leading to Glastonbury (4)
13 Chinese cooking method (3,3,4)
15 A conceited person (3,4)
17 Tag (5)
19 Depart (5)
20 Woman’s undergarment (7)
23 Run away on holiday from Lulsgate (4,6)
25 Devon village twinned with 1, 2 & 3 D (4)
28 Woodwind instrumentalist (6)
29 Deleted (8)
30 Rich and tasty (6)
31 Insects wish for aerosol (8)
DOWN
1 Tiny bit drunk . . . (6)
2 . . . moving side to side (5)
3 About to enquire for container (4)
4 Rubber-stamp (7)
6 Alter last word on deceased (5)
7 Where to find springs and neaps (4,5)
8 Skilfully (8)
11 Difficult if vegetable is not cooked initially (4)
14 Monster (4)
15 Local hill covered in dirty feathers (9)
16 Tree burnt to cinders (3)
17 Liar’s wild den (4)
18 Island not as steep (8)
20 Complain at brief card game (4)
21 Moralistic (7)
22 A fair situation (6)
24 An ancient way through Somerset (5)
26 Gorgeously like Cheddar (5)
27 Swear (4)
This month’s solution can be found on page 85 ACROSS
THEyoung rangers from the Mendip Hills National Landscape are delighted to have won two awards recently! They received this year's Environmental Youth Award from the Royal Bath & West Society and received their trophy at the showground. And a film they produced was “Highly commended” at the Frome International Climate Film Festival.
The young rangers have produced a very personal film, called Earth in Focus, that shows their concerns for the future of the Mendip Hills and how everyone can help this nationally important landscape. The film was written and directed entirely by the young people, who also star in it, with technical support by Somerset Film.
The aim of the Environmental Youth Award recognises schemes that promote a greater awareness and understanding of conservation and environmental matters by encouraging and recognising the contribution made by young people.
Andy Chamberlain, Ranger Volunteer Coordinator, said:
“The young rangers are so proud to have won these awards. We make a big effort to give the young rangers a range of experiences across the Mendip Hills but film was a first.
“We love the film and it's remarkable the amount of effort
they all put in to making it, everyone played their part in bringing it together. We think it's really powerful and important that the young rangers get their chance to say what worries them about the future of their countryside and the places they love. Huge thanks from us all to Les Davies MBE for nominating us.”
The film is available to watch on the Mendip Hills National Landscape YouTube channel.
THE featured artist at Swan Artworks Picture Framers at Paulton for July will be Karen George, from High Littleton.
Swan Artworks is showcasing a number of artists at the workshop over the summer and Karen will be displaying her uplifting and atmospheric landscape paintings in acrylic and mixed media. She said: "My paintings are semi-abstract landscapes and seascapes inspired by those wild places that make me feel really alive.
“The natural environment is a huge inspiration for me; it's that ever changing light that dances, the movement of clouds and that feeling of being such a small part of the landscape that speaks to me."
Karen's artwork will be on show at Swan Artworks from July 1st to July 31s from 9.30am-3.30pm Mondays-Fridays, or Saturdays by appointment.
AFTER another busy and successful year full of exhibitions in the UK and Europe, sculptor Ian Marlow’s thoughts have turned closer to home.
He has been getting ready to open his studio and garden in Buckland Dinham for the annual Frome Festival and says he always likes to make sure there are a variety of new sculptures for visitors to see, both in the garden and studio. But it’s not just making the sculptures that is involved when doing an open studio event; how they are displayed is also important during the event, which runs from July 6th until July 14th.
Ian said: “The great thing about the Open Studios is that it provides an opportunity for people to meet the artist in an informal setting to talk about the sculptures and the processes involved in creating them. But it also is good from the artist’s perspective to be able to engage with visitors and discuss the work.”
Along with the sculptures in stainless steel that Ian is known for, will be more glass sculptures and a recent carving of a male head in stone called, A Moment of Calm. Ian said: “This last piece is a return to my roots. I started my sculpting career carving stone. When I came to Buckland Dinham I began working in stainless steel and the current body of work evolved from that. In art, as in life, things evolve and change.”
l Ian’s garden and studio is open each day throughout the festival from 11am –5pm at the Sculpture Garden, Ebenezer Chapel, Buckland Dinham, Frome, BA11 2QT. Tel: 01373 471711
Auction Preview: (l to r): Marc Allum, consultant, Dore & Rees, alongside Wendy Nicholls, chairman and Philip Hooper, managing director, Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler
DORE & Rees are proud to offer over 300 lots from Turville Grange and Eaton Square, the British residences of the Ford family.
Featuring high quality furnishings and furniture procured and styled by Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler, the sale also encompasses decorative arts, paintings, homewares and the late Kathleen DuRoss Ford’s personal effects, which includes a collection of handbags. Armchairs by renowned furniture makers Howard & Sons feature, including an armchair designed by Lenygon and Morant, offered at £400 - £600.
Kathleen DuRoss Ford was part of an affluent American elite who enjoyed bringing English country house style to their homes. Married to Henry T. Ford II in 1980, they both enjoyed collecting and furnished their homes with statement artworks and homewares befitting members of one the America’s most famous families.
Henry T. Ford II purchased Turville Grange from Lee Radziwill, the younger sister of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and her husband Prince Stanislas. Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler were engaged to create the warm, welcoming interiors that characterised Turville Grange and Eaton Square properties. The current chairman, Wendy Nicholls, worked directly with the couple as a young designer on the interior decoration of both residences.
It has been our pleasure at Dore & Rees to work with Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler in the curation and sale of this wonderful collection that they tailored for the Ford family over 30 years ago.
An exciting programme of auctions are planned for the second half of the year, offering a variety of opportunities for sellers. The team at Dore & Rees can help you understand the value of items in your collection by arranging a valuation appointment at your home or at Dore & Rees auction salerooms in Frome. Contact the team on 01373 462 257 or by email enquiries@doreandrees.com to arrange an appointment.
3 July: Curated Interiors including The Collection of the Late Mrs. Henry T. Ford II 21 September: Castle Combe Autumn Classic –Classic Cars 11 November: Fine Asian Art Visit www.doreandrees.com for more details
WEDNESDAY 3 JULY AT 9.30AM VIEWING 29 June – 2 July 10:00am – 4:00pm
www.doreandrees.com enquiries@doreandrees.com 01373 462 257 Dore & Rees Auction Salerooms Vicarage Street Frome BA11 1PU
JULIE Romeo opened her first shop in Wells in 1979 almost by accident – but it has proved an enduring landmark in the city’s retail sector.
Earthcraft is nestled next to the Good Earth Café on Priory Road and it was actually in part of there that Julie began trading in 1979, moving to her current home a year later.
Earthcraft is a unique part of the city scene, offering gifts, incense stick and aromatherapy oils and an unusual range of greetings cards alongside just about everything a crafter could desire.
Julie said: “Opening the shop was almost a mistake; I’d come home from the Caribbean and thought there was a market in ethnic gifts. But my family and
me soon realised there was a demand for practical goods as well.”
H Selling Fairtrade gifts and crafts H An eclectic range of greetings cards H Aromatherapy and incense oils H Craft supplies and beads H Jewellery H Call in to browse: you will be surprised by the range we sell We’re open Tuesday – Saturday, 10am-4pm
Earthcraft, 8 Priory Road, Wells, Somerset, BA5 1SY. | Tel: 01749 674728 | Email: info@earthcraft.co.uk | Web: www.earthcraft.co.uk
For sale is my huge and much-loved 65-year collection of barographs and other types of weather recording instruments of virtually every format and style, dating from the mid-Victorian era to the present day.
Barographs make lovely gifts – for birthdays, retirements, anniversaries, awards, presentations or simply because you ’ ve always wanted one!
See my website: www.barographsforsale.co.uk for full details of these lovely instruments.
Email me at: rtwort@hotmail.com or call Richard on 07711 939789 for more information or to arrange to visit me in Weston-super-Mare
I’M quite sure that by the time you read this you will have had quite enough of opinion polls, so I’ll keep it brief. A few years ago, for reasons best known to itself, English Heritage conducted a poll to find “Britain's Most Useless Monarch”.
Shakespeare’s great bogeyman, Richard III, scored highly but top of the rubbish heap came George IV AKA the Prince Regent. To my mind this was a complete travesty.
Okay, he was extravagantly selfindulgent, greedy, lazy and irresponsible, preferring a life of luxury over the tedious business of governing but (as the joke goes)
he had his bad points as well. Personally, I’m happy to overlook Georgie Porgie’s shortcomings for one good reason: without a doubt, George’s crowning achievement was to give his name to the style of decorative art known as Regency.
In the decorative arts it’s customary for a stylistic epoch to take the name of the current ruling figure; we think of Victorian or Elizabethan in England, or any number of Louis in France. Yet few played such an active role as George IV.
He was arguably the best patron and collector of art ever to sit on the English throne. In a time when wealth and privilege counted for everything, George was the undisputed leader of fashion and he defined the taste of a generation.
His appetite for collecting art and
antiques was prodigious. In three years, he spent the vast sum of £160,000 on furniture alone.
Those of us in search of Regency elegance need not have to part with such sums. At Clevedon Salerooms’ latest Fine Art auction, a very stylish library armchair sold for £680 proving that good, well-made and wellproportioned examples of Regency furniture can add style and elegance without breaking the bank.
Fein’s not just a museum owner, but a passionate owner of a wide range of art. Her Fein Collections gallery in Bruton is testament to the fact that New York-raised Danielle is nothing but passionate about what goes on show – and, indeed, what goes on display at her home in the town.
With a family background in the music and arts, Danielle – a former ballet dancer – believes that everyone should have the opportunity to explore new works. Danielle said: “Bruton is an absolutely ideal location for the gallery; I’m entirely passionate about very piece of work that goes on show here.”
WELLS resident Geoff Spinks has just published his first book – a futuristic novel posing questions about technology and artificial intelligence. Geoff retired after a lengthy career in the food industry, including several years in the United States, where he became friends with a senior NASA scientist. The book, 2084, is set in the year 2062 and follows the fortunes of two families as they navigate world-changing events but which throw up some unlikely bonds with aliens.
THE second Vintage Transport Rally was held at Yatton Station car park, raising about £3,000 for the Strawberry Line Café, which is based in the old station building.
It featured vintage, classic to neo classic cars, buses, coaches, fire engine, tractor and motorcycles.
ENTHUSIASTS opened the miniature line which runs alongside part of the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore for visitors to enjoy rides behind their collection of locomotives.
Owners brought locos and waggons from Surrey, Devon and Wiltshire to take part in the 7 ¼” festival.
Whilst some of the trains were powered by steam, others concealed ingenious adaptations of lawn mower engines.
Jason Taylor, from Wanstrow and one of the leading members of the group at Cranmore, is working to slowly extend the line to eventually become half a mile long; the team is also proud of their work to restore a permanent way store and shelter alongside.
As well as various stalls and other attractions, there were free vintage, electric and open top bus rides throughout the day on five different routes.
The café offers employment and training to local people with learning disabilities.
With KATY BEAUCHAMP
This month I’m suggesting three different breakfast-style recipes. Two of them can be prepared the night before, kept in the fridge and baked fresh the next morning. What better and easier way to start the day?
HEARTY ONE DISH BRUNCH
Brunch is served – at any time of the day
METHOD
Wrap each sausage in a piece of bacon, and bake for 15 mins at 180˚C. In the dish you are going to serve this (in hindsight, I would choose a bigger flatter tray than I did), whisk the eggs, milk and half the cheese, season with salt and pepper and add the bread cubes.
Toss them around so they soak up the mixture. Lay the part-cooked sausages on the top and scatter over the tomatoes. Top with grated cheese and cover with foil. You can cook this straight away or put in the fridge until you’re ready. Cook for 15 mins at 200˚C, then remove the foil and bake for a further 10 mins.
INGREDIENTS
(Serves three)
6 sausages
6 rashers streaky bacon
4 eggs
20ml milk
3 thick slices of bread cut into
2cm chunks
100g grated cheese
9 cherry tomatoes
These banana bakes are more-ish
METHOD
Mash the banana in a bowl until smoothish, pour all the other ingredients in and mix well. Place tablespoons of the mixture onto a non-stick baking tray, flatten slightly with the back of a spoon and bake at 170˚C for 12 minutes. Enjoy with a cup of tea. You can keep these in an airtight tin for a week.
(Makes 10 little biscuits)
1 banana
75g porridge oats
75g peanut butter
1tbs of maple syrup or honey
Everyone’s nuts about fruit and nuts
These use my favourite ingredient, ready rolled puff pastry! They make a lovely sweet treat that you could enjoy any time of the day!
METHOD
Place a sheet of baking parchment on a baking tray and spread with the butter. Scatter over 30g sugar and the nuts (if using, spread the mascarpone over next). Lay the peaches cut side up and sprinkle the rest of the sugar over them. Lay the pastry over the top, pressing the edges down with a fork. You can put this in the fridge now until you need it.
Bake at 170˚C for 20 mins until the pastry is risen and golden. Flip over onto a serving board, so the pastry is on the bottom. Scatter the raspberries over the top.
(Makes six slices)
One sheet ready-rolled puff pastry
30g soft brown sugar
100g mascarpone cheese (optional)
50g of your favourite nuts (I used almonds and hazelnuts)
3 peaches, halved
A scatter of raspberries (about 20)
Scrape of butter
MOREthan 700 young people aged six to 18 from Scout groups and Explorer units in Wansdyke district gathered for “WanJam”, a weekend of various outdoor activities.
The event is usually held every four years at Scouting’s Woodhouse Park Activity Centre north of Bristol but was delayed by Covid.
The official badge for the weekend, which was issued to all who attended, was designed by Eva from High Littleton Scout Group.
District Commissioner, James Swallow, said: “It was fantastic to see our young people enjoying so many activities, trying new things and making new friends at WanJam 2024.
“A huge thanks to volunteers Will Holmes and Will Summerill and their team for organising an amazing weekend, as well as to all the leaders and parents who helped out.”
Wansdyke Scout District has groups across North East Somerset.
ISit me or have we yet to have even the slightest glimmer of summer? Air temperatures have felt quite low for this time of year and the sun has only been seen on rare occasions. Of course, this might just be me and/or where I live, everywhere else might be fabulous and I’m missing out due to some local microclimate. Normally around this time of year, I start to look out for the tell-tale signs of one of our most hard to find and fascinating fungi: summer truffle.
This might seem a little early to begin the search but there is method in the madness. Historically, I have collected them as early as June, but I suspect this is due to favourable spring and early summer conditions which sadly we have not had this year.
It is worth noting that this fungi is solely a dweller of the soil; unlike other fungi that have aerial fruiting bodies this species prefers the embrace of the earth.
Conveniently for the forager, summer truffles are nearly always near the surface and as they grow larger, begin to poke out of the ground – look out for the tell-tale signs of broken and heaving soil. With any luck you won’t have found a small rock.
Summer truffle (Tuber aestivum) is 3 to 9cm across in diameter, irregularly rounded sometimes convoluted with hollow areas. The surface is covered in blackish pyramidal warts. The flesh is marbled off white/yellow becoming grey/brown.
When washed and cleaned it should smell mildly of truffle with a delicate flavour. It can be found in calcareous soils under beech, hazel and oak trees. Look for them in summer to early winter.
Do you want the good news or the bad news first? Let’s go with the good news shall we. The summer truffle is one of about 15 species of British truffle and the good news is they are all edible. Yes!
The bad news is that all the other species are either too small or buried too deeply to be worth bothering with. Boo! To further compound the bad news, so far this year there has been not a single sign of this subterranean denizen.
However, all is not lost and we should all live in hope for summer and in the search for these elusive members of the fungal family.
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
I HOPE that you've not been discouraged by the wet spring. And even if so, there is still a lot you can do. One fallacy of old teaching is that “soil needs a rest”. No, it needs healthy roots to bring in carbon and feed microbes. And with no dig, your soil is healthy, fertile and can grow a second crop each year easily, without addition of extra organic matter.
Looking on the bright side, after all the rain this spring and early summer, there is a lot of material for compost heaps. We add large amounts of hedge prunings. Cutting is quick with an electric Stihl, and then use a rotary lawnmower to chop prunings while collecting them.
They are a perfect mix of green and brown, thanks to the wood at this time of year still being green and moist, so it’s quick to decompose.
July and August are important months for sowing and planting. As well as offering many harvests, they have THE best dates to sow and plant many more vegetables. Aim to fill all gaps arising from summer harvests.
In July’s first week sow beetroot and carrots (direct only).
Before mid-month sow chicory for radicchio.
At any time sow salad onions, lettuce and endive.
After mid-month sow Florence fennel, coriander, chervil and Chinese cabbage.
In early August, when there are fewer flea beetles, sow salad brassicas such as salad rocket and mustard, also pak choi.
Sow true spinach (rather than “perpetual” leaf beet) in the first half of August. These plants can overwinter, and crop until next May.
Weed thoroughly before any new planting. Consider a slug patrol at dusk to collect slugs and snails. Maybe also lay a plank of wood on a bed or path, to check every morning and then remove what you find. Set out new plants as soon as they are ready. The soil is warm and they will grow better from being in their final location as soon as possible. Keep pulling all new weeds when small. They can all go on your compost heap, even when it’s not hot.
Charles Dowding has made no dig popular with millions of readers and viewers. Currently he grows vegetables in Somerset. He has written 14 books and gives talks plus courses at home and abroad.
With ADRIAN BOOTSDRINK, dine or stay are very much the messages emanating from a revitalised and reinvigorated Redan Inn at Chilcompton. Under the expert guidance of James Pounds and chef Matt Nicol, the Redan is a friendly, welcoming venue with a relaxed “country inn” feel. The emphasis is on relaxed dining with a great selections of drinks.
As well as the bar and dining areas inside, the gardens offer several options, including a generous covered seating area, with pride of place being an al fresco eatery, The Carriage – a restored railway carriage giving a nod to Chilcompton’s railway heritage – which serves pizzas.
As well as pub “classics” on the menu such as burgers and fish and chips, main dishes might include a ribeye steak or Cornish sea bass with sharing plates and sides. Roasts are on offer on Sundays.
Chilcompton is convenient for Wells, Bath and Bristol and the Redan’s bed and breakfast rooms are ideal for people touring the area or visiting friends.
The Redan is also ideal as a venue for a function, from a bespoke wedding to smaller family gatherings and celebrations, with a private dining room or larger dining room for larger events.
But, as James, says, first and foremost the Redan is a country pub, promising a
warm welcome whether it’s for a refreshing pint after work, a coffee and catch-up or a relaxed lunch or dinner with friends.
He added: “Matt and I very much think along the same lines; we have a very clear vision for the Redan but being a country inn is at our core.”
MIKE Gough spent 43 years in financial services hoping that one day he would realise his dream of pursuing his love of wine.
It nearly happened 21 years ago when he took his wine exams to advanced level under the guidance of legendary wine expert, David Avery.
He said: “I had one of those moments, after various roles and directorships, where I thought there must be more to life than this. It’s taken another 20 years, but I’m now doing something I’ve always had an affection for.”
He’s opened the Wine Rooms in the centre of Chew Magna – after taking his wine exams again. The building, dating from the 1820s is a former chapel, which later became a saddlery and carpenter’s workshop, and latterly an estate agents.
Now there’s a beautifully appointed wine shop and tasting area downstairs with a function room above for wine tasting and other events. It is also available for private hire. He’s teamed up with various agencies to ensure a stock of fine wines at very good prices.
Mike and his wife, Zoe, have lived in Chew Magna for many years. He has been an active committee member of the Chew Magna Society for around 20 years and compered at their recent duck race and provided commentary at the Chew Valley 10k.
He said: “I’m also pleased that we have breathed new life into a lovely building. It’s crucial that we maintain businesses and
business spaces in our villages.” l The Wine Rooms will be supporting local events like Chew Stoke Harvest Home and Chew Magna’s Party in the Paddock.
PAUL Rolfe’s progress in the world of cider has been nothing short of spectacular. Last year we reported how he and his wife, Suzanne, had launched Ad Astra Cider after buying Orchardleigh Farm and its 2,100 apple trees at Stone Allerton.
Since then, their ciders have won 22 awards at various shows, including bronze, gold and silver, reserve champion and people’s choice at last year’s Bath and West Show.
This year the show invited Paul to help judge ciders in the newcomers’ category
and he will also be judging at the MidSomerset Show.
The business continues to grow, with new ciders Typhoon Keg and Harrier Still now added and Shackleton ice cider on its way.
The names and the title of the business not only reflect Paul’s former role in the RAF. The orchards supplied cider for Sir Ernest Shackleton’s expedition to the Antarctic and the cider barn was used to make Hurricane wings in WW2.
Production has also increased. In the first
year they harvested 45 tons of apples and produced 8,000 litres. Last year they introduced bees which helped boost the harvest to 85 tons, producing 15,000 litres.
Their fame is spreading – CAMRA’s top cider pub in Devon now stocks it and a craft brewhouse in Hereford has asked for it. There have even been discussions about exporting it to Switzerland!
They not only make cider – Suzanne’s food is earning a great reputation, with weekly specials, and their monthly quiz nights attract up to 120 people. The cider barn is also busy with weddings and other functions.
Award-winning ciders, beers and other drinks
Food –you have to try Suzanne’s specials!
Functions and parties
Charity quiz night first Thursday of the month
29th
Streaming the festival followed by a live band –Man About a Dog
OPEN:
Noon-11pm (Mon-Sat) • Noon-10pm (Sun)
Tucker’s Grave Inn, Faukland, Radstock, BA3 5XF.
T: 01225 962669
E: info@tuckersgraveinn.co.uk
W: www.tuckersgraveinn.co.uk
Sat, June 29th The Cleyhill Stompers: 8.30pm
Sat, July 6th The Tanoys: 8.30pm
Sat, July 13th The Usual Suspects: 8.30pm Sat, July 20th Open Road Somerset: 8.30pm Sat, July 27th The Groove Jacks: 8.30pm
PLUS we will be showing all the Euro games live in the Parlour or Barn!
Parlour/Café: Baguettes, locally produced pasties and sausage rolls available Friday 8am to Sunday 5pm Breakfasts Saturday and Sunday 8.15-11.30am
Friday/Saturday evenings 6-9pm – Fish and chips, gourmet burgers, freshly made pizzas and more. Look out for the specials board!
THE Wessex Beer and Cider Festival has made a triumphant return to the calendar, raising £16,000 for good causes.
Organised for the first time by the Rotary Club of Midsomer Norton and Radstock, the two-day event , at Chilcompton Sports Club, featured a huge range of real ales and ciders along with a gin and prosecco bar. It raised money for Dorothy House Hospice. Dementia Care UK and the Rotary Charity Fund.
Kevin Chard, club president,
thanking sponsors for their generous support, said: “The festival exceeded all of our expectations on so many levels and brought so much enjoyment for all involved. The Rotary club members are to be applauded for all the organisation that went into the festival over the last year, and all those that worked so hard over the entire weekend and more.”
THESheep & Penguin in Wells has won a national award from CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, with a commendation in its refurbishment category, which is awarded for the best renovation of an existing pub building.
The award says: “Having been closed for years in a nearderelict condition, the pub (previously known as the Mermaid) appeared highly unlikely to ever reopen.
“A complete restoration has breathed new life into the pub, transforming it from an eyesore into a building that makes a positive contribution to the city’s streetscape.”
The judges described it as “a bright and welcoming place for a drink or a meal”.
The pub was renovated by Nick James and his son, Sam, who also run the Queens in Chew Magna.
THERotary Club of Wrington Vale will be holding a jazz lunch with The Severn Jazzmen on Sunday, July 14th, 12-3.30pm, at The Orchard, Sandmead Road, Sandford. All profits will go to local charities.
Tickets, £15 adult, £6 children, are available from Thatchers cider shop and Lye Cross farm shop.
ON June 14th Tibbs & Simmons Farm Vets celebrated with a party for its clients. The torrential rain didn’t dampen the spirits as close to 400 guests huddled under a marquee to enjoy a hog roast, live music and even a bucking bronco!
Tibbs & Simmons was formed by Clare Tibbs and Ed Simmons in January 2004. Clare had worked locally prior to this making a name for herself among the farming community, whilst living and working with her husband on their family farm.
She teamed up with Ed who was working in Cheshire as a farm vet but had his sights on a return to his farming roots in Kingston Seymour.
The practice has steadily grown, originally working out of their base in Redhill, before outgrowing it and moving to a new facility on Nates Lane, Wrington. The practice now accommodates ten farm vets, three vet techs and five admin staff.
Clare and Ed were joined by Edna Bennett and Lucy Searle as practice directors in 2020. Independence is at the heart of the business, with a familiar face to talk to at all times.
Tibbs and Simmons have a visiting small animal vet; Ali Webber. She offers both consults and surgery on Mondays and Fridays, with care outside of these times being catered for by arrangements with other local practices.
BUYING a home unfortunately means coming face to face with stamp duty, one of Britain’s most despised taxes. What you pay depends on whether you’re a first-time buyer, a home-mover or purchasing a second-home or buy-to-let property, and the value of the property you’re buying. What is stamp duty?
Stamp duty is the tax paid when you buy a property. The levy is paid in banded thresholds based on a property’s value. You have to pay stamp duty regardless of whether your property is freehold or leasehold or if you are buying through a shared ownership scheme. You will pay a surcharge if you already own another residential property.
Property valueStandard rateStandard rate on buy-tolets & second homes
Up to £250,0000pc3pc
£250,001 - £925,0005pc8pc
Stamp duty for first-time buyers
If you are buying your first home, the nil-rate extends up to £425,000, giving younger buyers a chance of getting on to the property ladder without a significant tax charge. From £425,001 to £625,000, first-time buyers pay 5pc of the value of their home over £425,001. First-time buyers purchasing properties over £625,000 won’t receive the relief and will pay the same stamp duty rates as home movers. For properties under £625,000, this breaks down as below:
• £0-£425,000 – 0pc
• £425,001-£625,000 – 5pc
Stamp duty for shared ownership properties
Anyone buying a shared ownership property can choose to either pay stamp duty in one go, based on the property’s market value, or pay the tax in stages.
Stamp duty for home movers
If you are simply moving from one home to another, and don’t own two properties at the same time at any point, stamp duty costs
will work as below:
• £0-£250,000 –0pc
• £250,001-£925,000 – 5pc
• £925,001-£1.5m – 10pc
• More than £1.5m – 12pc
This is also what you will pay as a first-time buyer purchasing a property with a value of more than £625,000.
Buying a second home or buy-to-let property will mean handing over more cash to the taxman as you pay an additional 3pc in stamp duty, on top of the existing bands. This includes where other homebuyers would pay 0pc – the smallest amount of tax you’ll be charged for a second property is 3pc, as below:
• £0-£250,000 – 3pc
• £250,001-£925,000 –8pc
• £925,001-£1.5m – 13pc
• More than £1.5m – 15pc
The additional levy does not apply if the home you are buying is your primary residence and your old home has already been sold at the time of purchase. Furthermore, even if you still own your old home when you buy the new one, selling it within 36 months entitles you to a stamp duty refund. This deadline may be extended if extenuating circumstances mean you could not claim the refund within this timeframe.
Any non-residential or mixed-use property bought for over £150,000 is subject to stamp duty. You also pay stamp duty on agricultural land, even if it comes as part of a residential property, for example a cottage with fields. You may pay a higher rate of duty for multiple purchases, or transfers from the same seller.
Stamp duty can be a complex issue so there will be occasions when independent advice from a tax specialist should be sought before proceeding with a transaction.
Email: enquiries@lyonslaw.co.uk Website: www.lyonslaw.co.uk • Telephone: 01275 332168
An established and progressive law firm providing a personal and costeffective legal service for commercial and individual clients.
l Family & Divorce Law l Co-habitation disputes l Inheritance disputes l Wills and Living Wills l Powers of Attorney l Administration of Trusts l Property – sales and purchases l Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence claims
MASSEY Wilcox Transport, based at Chilcomton, is proudly celebrating its 70th anniversary of putting the customer first every time.
Run by Rob Wilcox, the son of one of the founders, Massey Wilcox has become one of the leading transport, storage and distribution companies in the South West.
To celebrate, Rob commissioned a jubilee cab in platinum and red – the company’s 50th anniversary colours were gold and red, with silver to mark the 60th.
Massey Wilcox began in a workshop and yard just off the A37 in Gurney Slade and Rob knew from the start that his future lay in the industry. Rob left the Blue School in Wells aged 16 and has never looked back.
With its head office in Chilcompton, a major warehousing and distribution centre in Avonmouth and another site at Emborough, Massey Wilcox was one of the early adopters of palletised distribution, known as groupage, with
Rob Wilcox – proud to be celebrating the company’s 70th anniversary
goods being delivered to a central depot –cutting down on fuel costs and increasing efficiency. Rob said: “We transport anything and everything!”
The fleet now consists of Mercedez Benz trucks – they have an on-site maintenance and servicing facility – but pride of place is still a restored company 1971 ERF truck,
for which Rob paid £4,588.50 – the exact price when it was new.
Massey Wilcox is a proud supporter of local events and good causes – Rob was one of the main sponsors of the recent charity Wessex Beer and Cider Festival in Chilcompton – and equally proud of their Somerset heritage.
NANCEKIVELL and partners have their third collective rural property auction on Tuesday, July 30th. It includes 2.3 acres of investment land, strategically located at junction 19 on the M5. Previously used by motorway contractors, it makes a perfect little investment opportunity. The two building plots available as a whole or individually again offer a rare opportunity to buy at £100,000 each. Sadly, the late Francis Bell’s estate are selling 36 acres including a three-acre woodland quarry and some pony paddocks.
Buyers can contact Richard Nancekivell 07770 966372 or Chloe Brown at Nancekivell and partners.
hosted a fish and chip
the
as part of the
A lone paratrooper lands in front of the Radstock War Memorial, a D-Day tribute crafted by Martin Feeney, chairman of the Radstock and Midsomer Norton RBL branch and British Army veteran, who served as a blacksmith in the REME
A GARDENparty at Stowey in the Chew Valley took on a new poignancy this year because of the war in Gaza.
Janet Parsons holds the event each year raising funds for the charity Safe Haven for Donkeys, supporting working donkeys still widely used in the Middle East.
This year’s event was opened by one of the charity’s trustees, George Russell, who said the charity is now working in Gaza
He said: “In the Middle East every working donkey supports about seven people and you can see on TV it is probably much higher in Gaza. So helping donkeys also helps poor and desperate people struggling just to survive.”
The event raised more than £2,000.
The presentation of the cheque to the RNLI
THE Inner Wheel Club of Mendip has presented RNLI Winscombe with a cheque for £1,350 following collections at local supermarkets and a concert at St James’s Church in Cheddar.
Steve Punter, treasurer of RNLI Winscombe and Kayley Harding, a crew member at Burnham-on-Sea Lifeboat Station, gave talks to members of the club following their AGM.
FROME-based ukelele band The Frukes played a charity gig at The Silk Mill in Frome raising money for two local charities, Somerset Sight and Purple Elephant.
The idea came from band member Sue Marshall who volunteers with Somerset Sight. The photo shows the presentation of £500 to Cath Lyn-Jones from the charity.
WESTONHospicecare’s annual summer fayre will be taking place on Saturday, July 27th, 10.30am-3.30pm at Hornets Rugby Club in Weston.
Details: safehaven4donkeys.org
Prepare for lively music, amazing entertainment, and an array of stalls that'll leave you speechless. It's the perfect way to kickstart the school holidays with your little ones while supporting the hospice.
LISA Coles, formerly from Pensford, has undertaken a tandem skydive to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. She raised more than £2,500. Her daughter, Siobhan Coles, who is an ambassador for the trust, has had Cystic Fibrosis for 25 years.
Siobhan, pictured with her mum, said: “My mum is superwoman. My mum literally jumped out of a plane for me and all of those who live with the cruel disease that is Cystic Fibrosis. I am so beyond proud of her!”
WELLS rugby player and charity fundraiser Thomas Palacio is in training for his toughest challenge yet – a 126-mile run from Plymouth to his home city, again in memory of a close friend. Thomas – aka Marathon Man because of his previous efforts – will be joined by club mates including Tom Corns, Lewis Smith and Jake Smith, on the challenge, running 126 miles for Brain Cancer Research in memory of former Wells RFC player James Pullen.
Fundraising efforts have begun ahead of the run, starting on Friday, October 11th from Plymouth Research Centre and ending in Wells on Sunday, October 13th.
CHEWValley Rugby Club stalwart Dan Wooler is planning to row across the Atlantic with three lifelong friends to raise money for two charities.
One of these is Star – support, transform and achieve through rugby – which aims to help youngsters from difficult backgrounds. The other is the Mustard Tree Cancer Support Centre in Plymouth, where Dan and his friends grew up.
Dan pioneered the Star scheme at Chew Valley. It now has 600 children enrolled across the country and will be launching in Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and Australia in the near future.
Dan and the Mayflower crew will start the 3,000-mile crossing on December 12th, expecting it to take 40 to 50 days, carrying all their provisions with them. They expect to row over 1.5 million oar strokes, pairing up to row for two hours and then
rest for two hours, continuously, day and night.
They hope to raise £200,000. One supporter said: “This challenge is considered more daunting than summiting Mount Everest, with fewer people having successfully crossed the Atlantic.
“The immense physical and mental demands of this expedition underscore the team's dedication to their cause.”
During the recent Bristol 10K, the Star scheme had 94 runners, many from the Chew Valley area, raising £12,000 for the scheme.
The next Star event is the annual dinner on November 21st at Aerospace Bristol.
Details: https://www.themayflower.co.uk/ • GivenGain https://www.givengain.com/event/the-mayflower-takes-on-theworlds-toughest-row-2024 • rosie@starscheme.co.uk
FIREFIGHTER, Alexia Grant, from Wells, who is a weightlifter and body builder, has recently won two silver medals.
She was second in the U-29 category in the Welsh Firefighters Challenge, which raises funds for the firefighters’ charity. Her colleague, Ricky Horsey, also from Bristol Airport’s fire team, completed the course in less than four minutes.
Alexia also won silver in a recent bikini body contest. And she took part in the Wells Fun Run.
HAVE you got old tools you no longer need? Chelwood Bridge Rotary Club has chosen the “Tools For Self Reliance Cymru” (TFSR) charity as one of its international projects.
This charity aims to improve the lives of African artisans and families by providing them with quality refurbished, recycled tools and training.
The first of three scheduled collections of old tools and sewing machines recently took place at Farrington Gurney Social Club. All tools are welcome.
They also collect tools made of brass and copper and brass items, as they sell well in the UK at events and help fund the cost of sending the other tools to Africa.
The next collection dates are Saturday, July 27th, 11.30am2pm at Chew Valley Rugby Club and Saturday, August 3rd, 11.30am-2pm at Farrington Gurney social club.
Details: www.chelwoodbridgerotary.com
AMY White, from High Littleton, is taking on the Sahara Desert Challenge, raising funds for St Peter’s Hospice, where she is commercial manager. She will be trekking with her colleague, Katie Turton, who lives in Temple Cloud.
The trek, next February, will see them covering 40 miles in four days, camping in the desert, with temperatures of over 30 degrees in the day and near freezing at night!
Before then they will be fundraising and having a stall at High Littleton
village day on August 24th and at Chew Stoke Harvest Home on September 7th. They will be hosting a quiz night at Lansdown golf club on November 16th and are looking for teams and raffle prizes.
Amy said: “I have always valued the support the hospice provides to the local Bristol and surrounding areas community, but it wasn’t until last year that I truly valued the hospice and experienced their hands-on care and support when they cared for my late father in law, Rob, and our family.”
Details: www.justgiving.com/page/amestreksthesahara
Human fruit machine (l to r) Matt Hartley, Ben Bagnall, Johnny Alvis and Pat O'Dennell
Barry Smith was busy making Pimms
The tombola stall was popular
Buying tickets for the duck race
The obstacle race
TIMSBURY’S need of a village hall was raised at its annual parish meeting in 1966 and again the following year. By this time, the parish council had been asked to accept responsibility for the local Miners’ Welfare Scheme which had been operating since the 1920s.
A levy of a penny on every ton of coal produced had been authorised by legislation in 1920 in order to finance welfare and recreational facilities for miners. Thanks to this levy a field for football was purchased in Timsbury together with a hut large enough to accommodate a snooker table and players.
Following discussion between all parties this land was transferred in 1969 to “the inhabitants of Timsbury” with the parish council acting as a management committee. The suggestion that a village hall should be built on the field was supported in April 1970 by the parish council who also made an immediate grant of £200 to establish a children’s play area.
Over the next three years, despite difficulties such as the withdrawal of government grants for new village halls, inflation and rising costs, funds were raised and the hall was built. The Conygre Hall was opened in May 1973, taking its name from the coal mine which had once existed just across the road.
Details: www.conygre-hall-timsbury.co.uk
The names of two other local pits, Grove and Tyning, were given to two small rooms in the building. All these names were chosen in order to recognise and commemorate the importance of the legacy of the mining industry to the village.
For the past 50 years both football and cricket have continued to be played on the recreation field. There are also facilities for netball and tennis and the children’s play area has been updated and expanded.
The hall provides a meeting place for a broad range of clubs, societies and events in the village. It is a popular venue for parties, wedding receptions, village amateur dramatic productions, fetes, horticultural shows, wakes to table-top and jumble sales.
There are regular dance classes, keep fit and provision for badminton, bocca, snooker and indoor bowls court to name but a few.
From the ashes of a humble shed has risen a magnificent village hall which together with the outdoor recreation facilities can be enjoyed by grateful villagers and visitors alike. The hall is administered by a body of trustees and cared for on a full-time basis by a manager.
FAMILIES enjoyed a day of activities and talks, music and walks which celebrated the River Frome which runs through the town.
River Monsters television show presenter Jeremy Wade was amongst those who gave talks during the day, focussed on Rodden Meadow.
The celebration, organised by Frome Families for the Future and Friends of the River Frome, also featured river dipping and creature identification, nature-based storytelling and live music by Martin Sheills and The Ripple Effect. Examings finds from a river dip
Jeremy Wade gave an impassioned talk about the vital role rivers play in our lives
For details and to get involved, visit: https://www.fromefamiliesforthefuture.co.uk/rivervision and https://friendsoftheriverfrome.co.uk/
By CHRIS SPERRING MBE
I HAVE been struck –as I’m sure all of us have been struck by how, for what now seems, a month it’s been so cold.
I’ve seen social media reports about people around here lighting log burners and the like to keep out the evening chills. But the worrying part is this: my garden, with 19 trees, good, dense native shrubs, and not forgetting the wildflowers which abound, is all seemingly insect-less. Since I moved here I cannot remember another spring and early summer like it.
One great barometer is the goat willow tree. This tree has normal flowers during April and once flowering commences, insects can at times be heard from a distance feeding upon it. Amongst these will be the normal bee species such as the smaller solitary bees, large bumblebees and the European honeybee; however this year I have hardly recorded any bees, let alone many other insects. And this is the first year since 1993 that I have had no cockchafers or rose chafers, banging on my windows at night, attracted by the lights.
This, sadly, has had a knock-on effect to the bird breeding season in the garden and my one big hope was for the blackbirds;
Can I have a worm, please?
A European honeybee on goat willow tree flower, but not this year
we have two pairs which nest in the dense shrubs and, with all the wet weather and what seemed good earthworm numbers, this has not been enough as both pairs for the first time since 1993 have failed to rear a single chick.
Our robins fared better. They managed to get three of their chicks to fledge but needed help. I know this will sound strange but, during the chick-rearing stage, the male robin started following us round the garden, coming really close to us on many occasions. A good friend of mine supplied us some live mealworms and so we started to offer them to the male robin as the female would not come anywhere near us. He took them straightaway, collecting several in his beak to take back for the young in the nest.
Interesting that it seemed an act of desperation on his part to forego the fear factor and literally ask for help. As soon as the young robins left the garden for pastures new, the male robin went back to normal and did not come anywhere near us.
Blue and great tits nest in the garden and both are reliant on a good number of insects to feed their young, Both species this year have got their chicks to around half-grown in the nest, but then have failed to get them to fledge; maybe they should have learnt from the robins.
We have a great wildlife garden that should be producing a good diversity of species and indeed it does; however, the number of individual species is declining rapidly. If only the garden was bigger or maybe I could persuade others to create more wilderness within their gardens? Or, of course, is my garden an isolated case; how have you found the spring and early summer in your garden? Please do let me know.
Now is the time of the year when I visit many farmers and landowners monitoring owl nests. Early indications are that, so far, tawny owls have had a much better season, with many new nests being recorded.
Barn owls, even in those areas that were affected by the floods or raised water, are also doing well, so far. It’s early days and I expect to be monitoring right through July and August. So, if you're a landowner or farmer with known owl nests and you wish to make contact, please just follow the links below.
*If you wish to watch a barn owl’s nest live on the internet, visit: https://hawkandowltrust.org/livecameras/barn-owl-cam-live-somerset –there is quite an ongoing drama! And if you pick up a copy of the magazine on Tuesday, June 25th, I’ll be doing a live show from there that evening. Happy watching!
Chris Sperring is Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust Contact him on 07799 413 918 or chris.sperring@btinternet.com
THISis a summer circle and one that takes in fishing lakes, beautiful moorland habitat alongside a small river, the glorious Cadbury Camp hillfort as well as the lane of “multi-million-pound mansions”. There is a steep climb up to the camp with a panoramic view as reward, but apart from that the going is fairly much on the flat. There are stiles.
PARK: On the northern edge of Nailsea, opposite Wraxall House, in a lay-by at the bottom of Tower House Lane. It’s the lay-by on the left if you are heading towards Wraxall and may have a refreshment van there.
START: Exit the lay-by and turn back along the road for a few yards in the Nailsea direction, crossing the side road. Follow the footpath sign up a stony track on the right and immediately fork left
With Sue Gearing
across the field, which may be quite overgrown, and go towards the corner behind a water monitoring installation. Once through a gate, follow the Land Yeo stream on your left. When you can, it is easiest to walk on the bank alongside the stream. Go through a kissing gate, across a track and another gate and maintain direction. Continue to follow the stream, ignoring side paths. The path can be quite uneven and after wet weather could be muddy.
Reach a Bristol Gate ahead and enter Jacklands Fishing Lakes area. Keep straight on. At a footbridge, turn away from it to the right. Go over a bridge and past a lake where fly fishing may well be in progress. Reach the drive and a few yards to the right is Jacklands farm shop and café. Is it too early for a coffee? To continue our round, go straight over the drive and onto the Sculpture Trail over a stone slab stile.
This trail provides a great exploration for children, created in memory of a young man who lived by and loved the woods.
The path climbs and then enters woodland. Bend right on the path and carry on, to reach a fork. Choose the left path which climbs and then goes up steps. Reach a crossing track. Go left and at the end by gates, turn left on a path round the side and bottom of a property (there may be barking dogs). Pass a cottage and follow the drive down to the main road.
Turn right up the pavement and then when that runs out, cross with care and stay close to the edge watching out for traffic. It only lasts a few minutes. Make sure you can see and be seen. As you approach the junction of Stone-Edge Batch, get to the left of the road at the side of Lavender Cottage and turn left down the drive leading to a footpath. A Bristol Gate leads into a field. Follow the left wall and then fork across down right, and through a gate. Continue on down with the immense Hinkley Point pylons stretching ahead across country.
3.
Cross the Blind Yeo and turn right.
The stream at this point was raised and walled so that the water could flow down into Tickenham Mill.
Walk along the raised bank and stay with the stream and bend right. Reach Church Road and turn left. At a junction, go straight over with great care and onto the path through the churchyard.
You may wish to visit the beautiful church of St Quiricus & St Julietta often kept open for visitors. Behind it is Tickenham Court. Together the two form a rare unspoilt medieval pairing with sensitive restoration. The court was basically a medieval hall that dates to c1400. It is a good and complete example. Tickenham Court is included in the Domesday Book as one of two manors within the parish. From 1100-
1463 it belonged to a branch of the Berkeley family.
Go out the other side and down steps and pay attention to traffic as you turn right along the road for a short way to the bend and bridge. Immediately take the footpath on the right through a kissing gate and walk on parallel with the right edge and the stream. Stay with it to a Bristol Gate and head across to a hump bridge and through a Bristol Gate. Maintain direction in the next field. The path goes alongside reeds so it may be a little wet at times. Go up to the hedge ahead, over the stream and straight on through a metal gate (don’t turn right or left). Follow the path through a gate, alongside a garden and up to the road in Tickenham.
Cross and turn left and very soon take the first footpath right (signed as The Loop).
This is the start of the climb up to Cadbury Camp. After a kissing gate, go up steps at the side of the right fence. It becomes steeper and in high summer the path may be a little overgrown.
Reach a National Trust Cadbury Camp board and stile. Once over, choose the left path and stay with this to complete the climb to the ancient hillfort. There is a welcoming seat on the right near the top.
It was once part of the Clevedon Court estate belonging to the Elton family. This wonderfully sited hill fort dates back to the Iron Age and was occupied from the sixth century BC to the mid-first century AD.
It’s up a bit more to the camp itself, through two ditches and on the second bank you can choose to go straight ahead across the centre of the camp or follow the left edge round.
Stay awhile to enjoy peace and tranquillity with great views south to the Mendips and beyond to the Quantocks, Exmoor and Flat and Steep Holm in the Severn Estuary. To the west you can see south Wales and the Brecon Beacons and follow the Severn Estuary up to the two bridges.
The limestone grassland has never been affected by modern farming methods, making it a good spot to see a variety of wild flowers. It’s up a bit more to the outer ditch. Whatever you do, the exit is on the northern side by an information board.
7. LANE
Turn right onto Cadbury Camp Lane, rough at first and then it becomes better surfaced. For a short while you have some noise from the parallel M5. Start to pass some of the amazing multi-millionpound properties along the lane. Stay with it for a total of nearly 1.5 miles.
8. FOOTPATH
At the side of a very modern house Spindlewood, turn right on the marked footpath. Over a distance of 0.6miles it takes you along, over the crossing line of Hinkley pylons and on down through woodland.
9. TOWERHOUSE LANE
Arrive at Clevedon Road and cross onto Towerhouse Lane. It is a pretty quiet single-track lane for much of the way. After half a mile, bend down right, ignoring Ham Lane and continue down to the starting lay-by.
THElongest day is approaching and I feel that if life were a playground carousel, I would be thrown off by centrifugal force as it seems to be going around so fast. Still the rest of summer to go and I hope that we will get some kind weather. I am not a holiday person, but I think that such things are important for those with real jobs who need a break from the hectic and stressful lives which is the modern world. After all every day is a holiday when you live in “Les Land”.
As a boy my holiday was a day out to the beach at Weston-super-Mare. I have spoken about these excursions before, but still like to wander back down memory lane. Perhaps it’s a sign of getting older when I can remember what happened over 60 years ago as if it were yesterday, yet I can’t remember what I came upstairs for.
I’ve had a busy end of May and early June. The Priddy Friendly Society held their annual church service and lunch on the late Bank Holiday Monday. There cannot be many of these institutions still going. They were the original social welfare support for villages in the 17th and 18th centuries when the parish had to look after its own.
There was also a mini-holiday for those in the society when a local charabanc (bus or coach would be the modern term) was hired for a trip to the seaside. For the children it would have been onto the beach for sandcastles much as it was with my days out in the 1950s.
Such excursions would have been funded
by the Friendly Society, whose members paid into a fund each year as they still do today in Priddy. Now, however, there is no trip to the seaside, but instead entertainment is laid on for the children whilst the adults enjoy a splendid lunch. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed such a simple day out. Thank you Priddy for maintaining the tradition!
My comment in last month’s column about a bird’s nest within a parking cone has been “trumped” by local photographer Jason Bryant. In a post on his Facebook page, Jason has a photo of a blue tit leaving the nest. Not unusual you may think, but this nest was in a cigarette butt holder screwed to a wall.
Thankfully someone had realised the birds were nesting within and had put a notice on the front warning people not to use it. Thank you, Jason for being ever observant and bringing us those unusual pictures from everyday life.
Thank you also for my new column photo taken at this year’s Royal Bath and West Show. Perhaps there’s a theme here for other unusual nesting sites Mendip Times readers have found. If you have one, send it to me at les.davies@westcountryman.co.uk
I’m always aware of the changing nature of the countryside. I’ve been in it for quite a while and witnessed the march of time. There are in my view two major areas of change. Firstly, land use. This has changed dramatically since the end of WW2, which will be 80 years ago next year.
The countryside was principally used for farming – food production that fed a beleaguered nation during the war years and after as it struggled to recover from the privation that yet another war had cost this country in more ways than we care to consider.
The second and possibly more dramatic change has been access. The 1949 National Parks and Countryside Access created National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). These AONBs have recently been re-designated National Landscapes.
Access and protection were the aims of these designations and both are very important if we are to have green places in the future. A lot has changed since I was Mendip Hills’ warden and the balancing act
between all the interested parties can at times be a difficult one and one that I don’t envy having.
I was able to glimpse a potential new player in countryside access recently. I witnessed what I could only describe as a scene from “Star Wars”. Rounding the corner below St Hugh’s at Charterhouse were a group of Segways, those self-balancing twowheeled electrically powered transporters.
On each was a man wearing protective clothing and a motorcycle helmet. Some appeared to be dragged along by a camera on a long stick that was held out in front as they filmed themselves on this unusual journey. It struck me that I was looking at the next addition to countryside access that would take over from the mountain bike.
Remember, you heard it here first.
Finally, two photos for you this month. Firstly, my grandfather, Charlie Tavener, who has featured in my column before. Secondly, his youngest son and my uncle Len Tavener. What links the two is not only the bloodline, but the old Victoria 7hp stationary engine that Len stands in front of.
It’s now at a rural museum in Portbury near Bristol and was built around 1913 by Bristol Wagon and Carriage Works on their site of what is now the Bristol Bus Station. It ran the mill machinery in the barn on Hales Farm behind my grandfather.
Very few of these 7hp engines were made and this one had a flat-out speed of some 450 revs/minute. That’s somewhat slower than the previously mentioned Segways, but will they still be around in 111 years time?
The countryside is not only shaped by natural forces, but also by those who have worked the land and left us a legacy. Both these men have done that – and “Vicky” has been a link.
We have no time to stand and stare . . .
WHATis this life if, full of care. We have no time to stand and stare. No time to stand beneath the boughs... (William H. Davies).
Just when you thought you had caught up with all the garden jobs, it is time to start again. The summer bedding plants are now in full swing, so it is time to think about next year’s display. Several are easy to raise from seed, without the need for sophisticated conditions.
Simply a bare patch of soil, in a reasonably sunny position, but do not delay – do it today! Many of these are biennials – plants that are sown one year, flower the next and then die.
Wallflowers are treated as biennials, even though they can go on for another year. They are easy and reliable and are an ideal to partner with tulips for a spring display in containers, or can be dotted or grouped into borders, continuing to flower until late May.
Rake the soil to a fine tilth, as if for sowing a lawn. Scratch a shallow drill with a hoe, or bit of stick. Water the drill and then sow the seed thinly. Cover lightly and keep moist. Germination takes about 10 –14 days, as the soil is warm at this time of year.
When the seedlings are about four inches high, they should ideally be transplanted into another patch, spacing them six inches apart. This action breaks the tap root that they develop, and encourages lots of lateral roots, which makes them easier to transplant.
It also reduces the vigour of the tip of the plant, encouraging branching to make better plants. They can be moved to their flowering position in early autumn as soon as the spaces are available once the summer bedding plants are removed. A sunny, well-drained spot is ideal for flowering and will encourage the scent to linger.
Foxgloves can also be grown from seed in the same way, but there is no need to
transplant the young seedlings, just thin them out in the row. Plant out in their flowering positions in the early autumn and they will flower the following June.
The white form of our native foxglove Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora is a delightful addition to a border, or to scatter through light woodland. If happy, they will self-sow, but any stray purple forms need to be culled to keep the strain white.
These are basically biennials, but there are many excellent foxgloves that are perennial. Digitalis lutea has elegant slender stems of creamy yellow flower, while D. ferruginea, the rusty foxglove, has tall spikes of yellow/brown flowers.
Honesty, well known for its translucent, papery seed heads is well worth establishing. It is a biennial, but like foxgloves, will readily self-seed. The
seedlings do not transplant readily, so just thin out the ones you don’t want.
The foliage is the food plant for the orange tip butterfly. Several colour forms are available from seed. ‘Chedglow’ is unusual in having purple stained foliage topped by deep purple flowers, and there is a variety with white variegated leaves and purple flowers – if you like that sort of thing!
Canterbury Bells (Campanula media) seem to have gone out of fashion but are a super “gap filler” between the spring bedding finishing and the summer annuals taking over. Once again easily grown from seed, either by sowing in trays, or sown direct in a seed bed in early summer, as for wallflowers.
Bearded irises are coming to the end of their flowering season and now is the
perfect time to divide and propagate them. Dig up the clump and discard the pieces of rhizome that have flowered. The younger pieces can be separated off.
Reduce the foliage by half and replant such that the rhizome is only half buried, ideally position so that the foliage does not shade the rhizomes. They need the sun to develop good flowers for the following year. Surplus pieces can be potted in a well-drained compost and given to friends or local plant sales once established in pots.
Keep dead-heading perennials, roses, and annuals to encourage a continuous supply of flowers. Towards the end of July, it is worth starting to liquid feed pots and baskets if you used the three-month slowrelease fertiliser pellets when planting. This helps to keep the display going right through the summer months. A tomato feed is ideal, as it is high in potash.
June flowering shrubs such as Deutzia, Spiraea and Weigela can be pruned as soon as flowering has finished. After removing any dead, damaged or diseased wood, aim to remove approximately one third of the old wood from the base of the plant, allowing new wood to grow and ripen to produce flowers next year.
Rambling roses, such as ‘Paul’s Himalayan Musk’ or ‘Rambling Rector’ will be producing long non-floral shoots which need to be tied in. Once flowering has finished the floral shoots can be removed completely if you have plenty of new growth to flower the following year.
If you have any box bushes left, then keep an eye out for the box bush caterpillar. Washing them off with a hose onto a sheet of plastic may be sufficient for a small infestation, but for larger ones a prompt spray with the biological control, ZenTari is highly effective, and does not affect birds that may feast on the caterpillars.
If you forgot to do the Chelsea Chop on your taller perennials, then you still have time to do the Hampton Hack, but only on late flowering plants such as Aster ‘Little Carlow.’ Reduce the height of the new growth by roughly one third.
• It is time to sow winter flowering pansies, primrose and polyanthus. All are best sown in seed compost in seed trays.
• It is also time to sow your wallflowers; these are sown thinly into a prepared seedbed outside, prior to lifting and planting out in the autumn.
• Stake sunflowers and other tall plants.
• Trim back lady’s mantle, catmint and hardy geraniums if they are getting scruffy. Within a very short time they will produce new fresh looking leaves and perhaps some flowers too.
• Vigorous climbers such as clematis, honeysuckle and perennial sweet peas will need tying up and pruning; support them well and they will repay you well with more blooms.
• Feed rose bushes. Remove dead flowers and the tip of each shoot to encourage a strong new shoot to grow. This will give you a good show later.
• If greenhouses are getting too hot, paint Cool Glass on 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.
• Apple and pear trained as cordons or espaliers need summer pruning now. Shorten main stems and laterals when longer than 9” back to the third leaf and lateral side shoots pruned to leave the basal cluster.
FOUR gardens at Stowey in the Chew Valley, Dormers, Stowey Mead, Vicarage Cottage and Manor Farm. Vicarage Cottage is a welcome addition to the group, not having been part of it for some years.
They have many features, including wildlife ponds, vegetable gardens, orchards, exuberant flower-packed borders, a wonderful rockery bank, interesting trees and shrubs and seating with wonderful views.
Address: Stowey Bottom BS39 5TL.
Contact: Jill and Graham Nicol 01275 333456.
Opening date and time: Sunday, July 21st, 2-6pm.
Admission: £7, children U-16 free.
FOUR very different gardens in the picturesque village of Goathurst on the edge of the Quantock Hills, The Lodge and Old Orchard are beautiful English cottage gardens. The gardens at Halswell Park are a history of garden design in England while the garden of The Temple of Pan is centred on an 18th century baroque folly.
Address: Goathurst, Bridgwater TA5 2DF.
Contact: The Temple Of Pan: Peter Strivens.
Opening dates and time: Saturday, July 20th and Sunday, July 21st, 2-5pm.
Combined admission: £7.50, children free. Please pay using cash only.
Saturday July 13th
Babbs Farm, Bason Bridge, Highbridge TA9 4RF 2-5pm Adults £8, children free.
Sunday, July 14th
Milton Lodge, Old Bristol Road Wells, BA5 3AQ 2-5pm Adults £5, children free
Other Gardens Open for the NGS to see more gardens open for the NGS, see The Garden Visitors Handbook, or the Somerset County Leaflet, available from local garden centres, or go to: https://ngs.org.uk/
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The Showroom, Tarnock, near Axbridge, BS26 2SL
Call us on 01934 740163 Email info@perfectpave.com
Showroom open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-12noon Sat
SOMETIMESpeople imagine that a garden designer will look at creating “trendy” gardens – all hard materials and swathes of identical planting. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Each client I work with has a totally different requirement –some people want an English Country garden, full of rambling roses and blousy blooms; others want a simple palette of low maintenance green and white planting and some people want a robust yet pretty garden for a young family to let off steam.
The best place to start if you are planning to update your garden is to look at how you want to use your space. A garden with a large terrace for sunny entertaining is a very different space to a relaxed garden for pottering around, with hidden benches and shady nooks. Start to think how you want to use your garden and the backbone for a garden with longevity is created. Add into the mix materials that are complementary to your house and surroundings and you are almost there! The cherry on the cake is always the planting, and this should be put together with an eye to the site conditions, the style and colour of planting that you like. If this all sounds too complicated – help is out there – feel free to get in touch!
Eliza Gray
THETemple
Cloud in Bloom group are going potty about celebrating their tenth anniversary –they are planning a sculpture trail using recycled plant pots.
It will be from Sunday, July 28th until Saturday, August 17th, raising money for the group and for Cameley School.
Pots are available from the school for those who want to make sculptures. Maps will be available from July 29th at £2 each from Temple Cloud Garage or the Temple Inn.
Pictured with the pots are (l to r) Dami Howard, Beccy Angell and Doris Gentle.
COMPTONDando’s Blooms and Beyond open gardens event in June was a huge success, raising £3,400 for Compton Dando Community Association and the local church of St. Mary’s.
One of the organisers, Sarah Wilson, said: “Visitors enjoyed exploring the 14 gardens which were open. They were all shapes and sizes, ranging from interesting borders for pollinators, wildlife meadows, wildlife ponds, formal gardens, cottage gardens and a flower farm.
“Locals had been baking for a couple of days and the tea and cakes offered in the village hall were extremely popular.
“A huge thank you goes to everyone in Compton Dando who volunteered to help, baked cakes, opened gardens – and most important of all thanks to those visitors who took the time to come and visit our gardens.”
THEfuture of the much-loved and quintessentially English cottage garden at East Lambrook Manor hangs in the balance as a buyer continues to be sought for the property.
The gardens were created by the famous plantswoman and gardening writer Margery Fish. Current owner Mike Werkmeister and his late wife Gail bought the property in 2008 and, like the two previous independent owners, continued to restore and nurture the gardens.
Mike said: “I love the garden, but I’m now 74 and I want to spend more time with my family. However, finding a likeminded buyer is not easy in these difficult times and I worry that the gardens may soon have to close.”
For the present the garden and nursery remain open and it looks fabulous in July.
CHEDDAR
Flower Show is on Saturday, August 17th at Cheddar Village Hall, 2pm. This is an open show and all exhibitors are welcome.
As well as classic classes for vegetables, fruit and flowers there are sections for floral art, cookery, preserves, art, photography and craft. There are ten classes for children.
Printed copies of the Cheddar Flower Show schedule are available from Cheddar Library, Katie Boo, Woodbury Insurance, Time Out, Hansford's Deli and W.C. Maunders, all in Cheddar.
Details: cheddar.flowershow@yahoo.com or Facebook
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FANTASTIC SELECTION OF HERBACEOUS PERENNIAL PLANTS AVAILABLE NOW! WILL BRIGHTEN UP THE GARDEN BORDER & ATTRACT WILDLIFE TO THE GARDEN ALL SUMMER LONG!
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WINDROSERural Media Trust has completed a groundbreaking project in seven local museums across Dorset, Somerset, and Wiltshire.
The project involves the creation and installation of bespoke archive film displays, showcasing the region's unique history and culture.
The museums include Sturminster Newton, Langton Matravers
WHITCHURCHLocal History Society has produced new editions of the two volumes of Studies on the History of Whitchurch which were originally published in the 1990s.
The two volumes contain collections of
and Corfe Castle in Dorset; Wells & Mendip and Westonzoyland Pumping Station in Somerset; and Mere and Crofton Pumping Station in Dorset.
Windrose director, Trevor Bailey, said: “These cinematic treasures not only enhance the museums' internal exhibits but also provide substantial back-up material for talks and presentations delivered by museum staff at various locations.”
essays on various aspects of the historic parish’s long history, also covering the area now within the boundary of Bristol.
The books are both A4 size and are printed on quality gloss paper. Both volumes can be bought together for £12 or
separately for £6 (Part 1) or £8 (Part 2). These are available from The Music Box Shop on the main road in Whitchurch village or by contacting the secretary, Geoff Gardiner.
DURINGthe summer months, the Harptrees History Society organises a series of visits. In May, the group met at the standing stones at Stanton Drew, where group members Colin Budge and Nick Roberts led an informative walk.
Although relatively little visited, Stanton Drew stone circles are one of the most important prehistoric sites in the country.
The Great Circle, 113 metres in diameter, has 26 surviving upright stones. Recent surveys have revealed that this and the smaller circles at the site were part of an important ritual site.
THREE historic collage panels, which were made by Shipham, Rowberrow and Star Women's Institute in the 1970s, have been unveiled at Shipham Village Hall.
The panels, which show views of Shipham, its main buildings and the surrounding countryside, also contain a mystery.
The only named animal on the panels is a white donkey which goes by the name of Annabel. Who knows what the significance of Annabel was to the Shipham Women’s Institute in 1970?
There are no survivors from the group who created the panels. Previously they were not on public display due to concerns about light damage, but they have been protectively re-glazed and had their edges replaced by Sarah Harris of Folly Framing within the village.
They are now displayed in the GT room of Shipham Village Hall.
THEculmination of three years’ work by the Writhlington History Group has resulted in the installation of the Writhlington Heritage Board. It encompasses the span of history from the Bronze Age – some 5000 years ago – to WW2.
The sites chosen to illustrate this broad time span are the Bronze Age Standing Stone, the medieval church, The Old School House, Lower Writhlington Colliery, The Fir Tree Inn, the Methodist Church and the WW2 tank traps.
In addition to the sites featured on the board, Writhlington can boast the discovery of the 300-millionyear-old dragonfly fossil in 1912 (currently in the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences in Cambridge and believed to be the largest fossil insect ever found), a further three Grade II listed buildings, cast iron parish footpath stiles and a Victorian post box.
Radstock Town Council provided funding for the board which has been installed next to Writhlington Village Hall.
The group said: “Many thanks go to everyone who assisted us; especial thanks go to Dennis Chedgy, local historian, who loaned us the use of his research material, Radstock Museum who provided access to their photograph library and gave permission to use three of their photographs and to Jeff Evans who drew the sketch of the WWII tank traps situated next to Ivy Cottage.”
Pictured are Writhlington History Group members Lavinia Corrick, Jane Evans, Jo McCameron-Gleeson and Jill Shaw with local historian Dennis Chedgy.
NEW excavations are being undertaken at the Roman Villa Rustica at Westbury-sub-Mendip, by Andrew Buchanan and the Wells Natural History and Archaeological Society. Previous finds in the area have included Roman coins and lead ingots, showing its importance as a settlement in Roman times.
By DrPHIL HAMMOND
LAST month saw the tragic death of one of our health champions, Dr Michael Mosley. We knew each other well at the start of our careers, as he chose me to present the first five series of Trust Me, I’m a Doctor on BBC2, which he produced. I was passionate about exposing variable quality care across the NHS, he was passionate about teaching people how not to get sick in the first place.
The combination worked well and remains the best TV I’ve ever made. As one critic put it: “It should be called ‘don’t trust them just because they’re doctors’ – find out the facts for yourself, ask awkward questions and hold doctors to account.”
The programme went out against the backdrop of the Bristol heart scandal, a story I exposed in Private Eye after a brave whistleblowing anaesthetist, Steve Bolsin, had raised concerns that far too many babies were dying after heart surgery.
I gave evidence to the public inquiry in 2000, as the fifth series of Trust Me went out, and it made 198 recommendations to make the NHS safer for patients. My work as a TV doctor was done and I switched back to comedy.
Michael, however, had barely started. As an enthusiastic workaholic with an encyclopaedic mind, he switched from producer to presenter and dedicated his career to teaching people simple strategies to improve their health, focusing on weight loss, exercise and sleep. He was never party-political but recognised that getting healthy was heavily influenced by circumstances and came up with the idea of the “Just One Thing” podcast. Your life may be tough and messy, but here is “just one thing” you can do this week to improve your health. These incremental changes could have a big effect over time, as witnessed by the listening figures and the people lining up to thank him for improving their health after his death. I was always a bit sceptical of Michael’s advice, a little coloured by jealousy at his success and popularity.
My view of “health for all” has always been
more political. Health is very strongly linked to wealth, and if we want to improve it, we need to reduce inequality, give everyone decent homes and jobs, clean air and water, and safe, happy communities to live in where they are surrounded by friends.
Yes, fasting for two days a week – as Michael advocated – can really help some people lose weight but health and happiness are a lot more complicated than that.
So where are we now, going into the election?
When the government came to power in 2010, there were 2.5 million people on the NHS waiting list. Now there are 7.6 million. The NHS target for 85 percent of people to start treatment for cancer within 62 days was last met almost a decade ago; 380,000 cancer patients have faced severe treatment delays since 2015.
Increases in life expectancy have been reversed for both men and women. A person born in the poorest parts of the UK can expect to live to 75, with 50 years in reasonable health and 25 in poor health, highly reliant on health and care services.
A person born in the richest areas can expect to live to 90, (global warming and Putin permitting), with 75 years in good health and 15 years in poorer health. We need a combination of political will, public services and personal responsibility to improve the nation’s health, otherwise our health service will sink.
So celebrate the work of Michael Mosley, follow his advice if you can and heed his poignant final warning (respect the heat). But equally important, vote for health. I think we need a change. Labour, LibDems and Greens all have manifestos promising better health and a focus on prevention, but don’t expect miracles.
I’ve been campaigning tactically, helping Tessa Munt in my own constituency, and Dan Norris in my previous constituency. Both would be excellent MPs (again).
However you vote, try to be a community champion and build up supportive relationships with those most in need around you. The secret of health has always been kindness. It’s free, it works for everyone and it’s very hard to get the dose wrong.
Phil is performing his Edinburgh Fringe shows in Bath, Bristol and Bridgwater on July 17,18,19. Details www.drphilhammond.com
I NORMALLY like to spend summer in a swimming pool, preferably somewhere hot like Spain or Greece.
From all the rain we have been having, you can see that hasn’t happened yet this year. We water droplets have got stuck here. We are as puzzled about it as you are. Why aren’t clouds heading south?
I did hear talk of there being changes to the Jet Stream, whatever that is. Maybe it’s air turbulence caused by all of your aeroplanes. Perhaps you can look it up. So instead of being in scorching Corfu or somewhere similar I’ve had an interesting trip down the River Somer.
The river starts in Chilcompton and goes bubbling away all the way down to the River Avon. It’s the river that runs right through the middle of Midsomer Norton. If you look closely, you can see there are fish in it. Not something you would normally see in the middle of a town.
Having said that, you do find rivers like the Thames that now have sprawling great cities that have grown around them.
Small streams are much nicer, meandering their way through the countryside with just the buzz of insects and birdsong to accompany the tinkling sound of water.
My reverie didn’t last of course. I got swallowed by a minnow that was then speared with extraordinary accuracy by a kingfisher. From the River Somer she flew to the Wellow Broo and dropped me in.
Now I’m waiting for better weather.
MENDIP GRANDAD
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A SOFTWARE engineer has praised the private wing of a Somerset hospital that turned her life around when she was beginning to wonder if she’d ever be well again.
Laetitia Adkins said she felt more like an 80-year-old when, aged 30, she’d had become so tired she could barely walk or stay awake. She was breathless, had pains in her chest and had to stop working.
She was told she was probably suffering from post-viral fatigue, as she’d just recovered from two separate viruses. But her symptoms worsened over the course of a year. What she actually had was a serious iron deficiency. Now, after seeking help from the Iron Clinic at Yeovil Hospital, she says she feels like a new person.
Laetitia, now 31, underwent an iron infusion at the Kingston Wing, the private wing of Yeovil Hospital. Patients pay for this service, but any money raised goes straight back into the hospital, which means that every patient treated supports the wider local health economy.
Laetitia, of Clevedon, said: “I can’t tell you the difference I feel. Now I can consistently breathe, stand up, walk and talk and think. I can even dance!”
Hannah Pitman, Head of Private Patient Services at Yeovil Hospital, said: “This is a service we are extremely proud of. We consistently receive such positive feedback about how life changing this treatment has
been for our patients.”
Alison Hill, Transfusion & Anaemia Clinical Nurse Specialist, said: “Iron deficiency is extremely common. Both men and women of all ages may be struggling with the condition for a variety of reasons. Not only does it cause symptoms such as fatigue and depression, but breathlessness, thinning hair and restless legs to name but a few. It also has a profound impact on other health problems and often goes undiagnosed.
“If patients contact us, we normally arrange an appointment within a few days to identify if they are suffering from an iron deficiency. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, we are usually able to arrange an infusion within a week.”
Laetitia says she is still not fully fit, but the difference in her life really is dramatic. And she is now back at work, almost full time. She added: “I am extremely glad that I did not stay on the treatment plan that had been suggested for me, including supplements. I might have been convinced that my disability was much more permanent or difficult to treat than it actually turned out to be.”
The Kingston Wing provides private patient benefits in the safety of an NHS hospital. In addition to this, your consultant and the team remain consistent throughout. They also have added benefits of single room accommodation with en-suite
facilities, with a dedicated private patient menu. This ensures that your treatment journey from the minute you enter the hospital is comfortable and you can feel confident in the team caring for you.
Patients often choose the Kingston Wing for their care due to the proximity to NHS facilities should they be needed in an emergency. With more complex surgery and with the complex needs of patients, this offers an extra level of reassurance for both patients and their relatives.
Put simply, if patients feel more assured and comfortable during their treatment, then their recovery is likely to be more successful.
l The Kingston Wing is the Private Patient Service at Yeovil Hospital, part of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
l Offering a Private Experience with NHS Peace of Mind
l Profits from the Kingston Wing are re-invested into NHS services at our hospital to support all patient care. By receiving private care with us, you’re directly helping to support the NHS services at this hospital
l We offer fixed price packages for self-funding patients and work with all health insurance companies
l Reduced waiting times
We offer a range of specialist private health services which include:
l Orthopaedics, including hip and knee replacements (self-referrals accepted)
l Ophthalmology, including cataracts
l General Surgery, including hernia repairs and gall bladder removal
l Gynaecology
l Private GP service, including Well Man & Well Woman clinic
l Outpatient services across all specialities, including iron clinic, radiology and cardiology
A more comprehensive list of the services we provide is available on our website: www.kingstonwing.co.uk
To find out more about our services, please telephone 01935 384234 or e-mail kingston.wing@somersetft.nhs.uk
THE 12-hour Wells Spinathon takes place on Saturday, July 20th raising funds for Poppy Garton, who is disabled. Organisers hope it will be the culmination of five years’ fundraising to buy her an Innowalk, an innovative standing device which enables independent exercise. It will give her the opportunity to keep
fit and healthy despite a significant physical disability.
Poppy had a stroke at 23 months after an acute and sudden illness, which has left her with a form of cerebral palsy, focal epilepsy and specific learning difficulties.
Poppy said “I can get very down about what I cannot do. So, it is very important that I can use the Innowalk and I plan to use it several times a week to maintain my fitness.”
Her family and dedicated volunteers have planned a day of spinning and fun starting at 7am with 20 bikes, on the forecourt of Kingdom Training Gym on the Keward Estate in Wells.
Each one-hour session will be facilitated by local fitness instructor, Rachel Rostron, who is planning a different routine for each of the 12 spin sessions.
She said “I still need spinners to come
forward and book an hour’s slot at £10. I’ve had several group bookings, including the local fire station, who have entered a team for the entire 12-hour duration.”
Poppy herself will be manning the cake stall from 10am to 4pm and Poppy’s dad will be manning the BBQ from 6pm.
Over the same weekend, there will be an online auction featuring a wide range of gifts, treats and family activities.
AXBRIDGERotary held a very successful quiz night, its first major community event since becoming a chartered Rotary Club at the end of February. It raised more than £600 for this year’s chosen charity, Freewheelers EVS (“Blood Bikes”).
President Lesley Watts is pictured with the winners “Stand & Deliver”. The club meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month at The Lamb, Weare, at 7.30pm.
Details: Lesley 07828 153390 axbridge.rotary@outlook.com https://axbridgedistrictrotary.org.uk/
THE Rotary Club of Burnham-on-Sea hosted a Rotary Kids’ Day out at Puxton Park for 45 children and their families. They were children from local home
education groups and The King Alfred School in Burnham who might not otherwise get the chance of such a treat. A spokesperson said it was wonderful
ST ANDREW’S Church in Compton Dundon celebrated life in the village through its fundraising flower festival. Held every two years, the displays covered organisations ranging from the cricket club and golf society and short mat bowls, and from the church bells appeal to the craft club. The
to see the children being together and enjoying the activities so much. This was the event’s second year and they hope to repeat it next year.
weekend raised money towards the upkeep of St Andrew’s. Julie Gordon, the organiser, said: “We always choose a theme for the festival; the last one was the Jubilee, but I thought this year should showcase just how much goes on in Compton Dundon.”
The
NAILSEAstar Mollie Pearce will lead the town’s carnival procession on Saturday, July 6th. She will also judge the entries and present the prizes.
Mollie, a model and disability champion, sprang to fame following her appearances in the BBC series Traitors.
AFTERstanding empty since the site was redeveloped, Chew Stoke’s new shop is open for business. Residents gave the tenant, Thaya Nithy, a warm welcome.
The shop was officially opened by the Rev Dr Ian Mills, who cut a ribbon, watched by his predecessor, the Rev Dr Victor Barley.
One resident, Val Anthony, said: “It’s a delight having a shop back in the village. The staff there have been very obliging, helping to load my shopping onto my mobility scooter. It means I can get out to a shop independently.”
She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis aged 11 and aged 18 she underwent "massive" surgery to have her colon removed and her small intestine diverted out of an opening in her abdomen to a stoma bag.
She said: "I would never have been able to do the missions in the middle of a field or the middle of a loch. So actually having a stoma bag is the best thing I've ever done."
The carnival procession will start from Clevedon Road car park at 1pm and arrive at Millennium Park with a stage, stalls, car boot sale and food at about 2pm. The events is in aid of Crohn’s and Colitis UK, a charity supported by Mollie.
MIDSOMER Norton Men’s Shed no longer have a small lake between their workshop and the wood store thanks to the generosity of Aggregate Industries and Farrington’s Farm, who have provided a new surface.
Members are pictured with some of the products made at the shed which will be offered for sale at Midsomer Norton Summer Fayre on July 13th.
THEannual pavement sale outside St Mary’s Church in West Harptree, managed to raise £372.50 for ongoing maintenance to the church,
The churchwardens said they would like to thank everyone who contributed in any way to the success of the sale.
WALKABOUT performances by the Bath Natural Theatre Company, shows, live music and community stalls filled St Nicholas Church Field in Radstock for the second Radstock Fayre.
The free, family-friendly event – produced by The Naturals –built upon the success of last year’s fayre and the Radstock Cooperative stage offered a platform for local musical talent.
DOZENS of community organisations from the Shepton Mallet area were featured at the town’s annual Collett Park Festival.
THEPensford, Publow and Stantons Community Trust is now in its 11th year and continues to grow from strength to strength. Its aim is to support charitable causes that benefit the residents living in the villages of the member parishes.
Chairman, Andrew Hillman, said achievements during the year included giving significant funds to both schools in their villages; the “rewilding” of Stanton Wick village green and grants to help refurbish the Old School Room, which is seeing increasing use.
He said: “This is exactly the type of ‘enabling’ the trust is proud to support, helping to bring a facility back to life for the benefit of the community.”
One of the outstanding events of the year was the Stukeley tricentenary weekend where a huge number of villagers and
visitors celebrated the work of the Rev William Stukeley in making widely known the prehistoric Stanton Drew Stone Circles.
Sue Osborne and Liz Richardson were thanked for their work in writing and creating the Community Trust Times, a revisit of all that had been achieved over the years.
Their Community Trust “roadshow” boards successfully toured the opening of the new Pensford Tennis club pavilion, which the trust part-funded, Publow church market and Stanton Drew flower show.
This led to several new members joining the 100 club, the trust’s main fundraiser, which now has more than 100 members. Various future projects are being considered.
Details: Text 07989977992 email via the website www.ppsct.org.uk
OVER 2,500 people packed out Peasedown’s Party in the Park summer festival – the 15th to be held.
The annual civic award was presented to local PSCOs Louise Jones and Tony McKintosh from Avon and Somerset Police.
It read: “These two have shown selfless service and
dedication to making Peasedown St John a better place.” They are pictured with the event’s organisers Cllrs Karen Walker and Gavin Heathcote and Simon Sandall from The Red Post Inn – who was also congratulated and thanked for 15 years of service to Party in the Park.
THE summer sunshine brought smiles and cheers to Chew Stoke Church School as the annual PTA Duck Race splashed into action. Congratulations went to Louie, Harry and Kit who were the proud owners of the winning ducks.
FAIRIESarrived in Clutton for one weekend raising funds for Clutton playgroup, which created an enchanted woodland trail. The event raised £317.44.
TONY Chapman, immediate past master of the Sir Thomas de Cheddre Lodge from the Masonic Hall in Wedmore, is pictured presenting a cheque for £600 to Maria Gregg (treasurer) and Aaron Cooper-Collett (chairman) of Wells Royal British Legion in support of their 80th anniversary D-Day event held at Wells Town Hall on June 8th.
WEDMOREStreet Fair won’t be held this year. Organisers had appealed for more support, without success, and also blame rising costs, including getting a street closure order.
But other big events will be going ahead. Wedmore Harvest Home will be on August 17th and Wedmore Real Ale Festival will be back from September 13th-15th.
Breakfast; Cakes & Coffee, Lunch and Cream Teas; Speciality Deli & Shop: Local Cheese, Chutneys, Jams & Marmalades; Homemade Cakes, Salads and Quiches . . . and much more! Reservations for lunch 12-2pm by phone only
Open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm Outside Catering also provided www.pumpkinwedmore.co.uk e Borough Mall, e Borough, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EB Tel: 01934 713289
WEDMOREjeweller, Erica Sharpe, is spending the summer creating a new body of work inspired by all things Anglo Saxon. Recently she has been studying the Cheddar brooch - a rare silver brooch dating from King Alfred’s time, discovered on the edge of the Mendip Hills in 2020.
Over many years she has researched and learnt some of the ancient techniques used by Anglo Saxon goldsmiths, including gold granulation and fine gold wire work. Erica’s versions of the “Wedmore Ring”, an Anglo Saxon knot ring found in the village, continue to be best sellers.
Erica’s work can be seen on her website and she designs and crafts bespoke pieces from her Wedmore studio. Contact her via her website to make an appointment or join the mailing list for updates on her work.
THE Wedmore 40/30 charity cycle event returns on Sunday, September 1st and registrations are now open.
100,000 potential customers within a short distance of your business
The annual cycle challenge sees cycling enthusiasts take on a breathtaking 30, 40 or 70-mile course across the spectacular Mendip Hills and Somerset levels, with a fun, family-friendly 12-mile course also available.
Organised by a group of cyclists from Wedmore together with Weston Hospicecare, the event raises funds for the hospice with a share of the registration fee also going to St Mary’s Church in Wedmore.
Details: www.westonhospicecare.org.uk/events/
BLUECedar Homes, the developer behind Holden Gardens located in Wedmore, has raised almost £4,000 for six charities by auctioning off ex-showhome furniture to staff as well as donating furniture to charities to sell.
The funds raised by staff from the sale of showhome furniture across various Blue Cedar Homes’ sites, exclusively for those aged 55 and over, will be shared between the British Heart Foundation, Parkinson’s UK and Alzheimer’s Society.
These funds are in addition to the £5,000 Holden Gardens Project Community Fund that benefited eight locally focussed good causes in and around Wedmore including The 3’s, Wedmore Harvest Home, Green Wedmore, Wedmore Festival, Wedmore First School, Wedmore in Bloom and Wedmore Men’s Shed.
Furthermore, Blue Cedar Homes has also donated furniture items directly to charities for them to sell and use. Furniture beneficiaries include British Heart Foundation, who sold items raising £1262.15, FORCE Cancer Charity, which raised £317.53 from furniture items, and Hospiscare, which raised £245.51.
Exeter Guide Dogs has also received a furniture donation from Blue Cedar Homes which has been used to transform a room into a more homely place for their dogs to use.
With a surplus of over 100 luxury furniture items from their various developments, including everything from beds, sofas, and dining tables, to lighting, home accessories and soft furnishings, Blue Cedar Homes was pleased to offer up the furniture items to their staff in exchange for a charitable donation and directly to the charities for them to sell on to those who need it.
The monies raised will help the charities to continue their vital work. Notably, this will help to fund more groundbreaking research against heart and circulatory diseases, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s; diseases and neurological conditions which all greatly affect the over 55s.
Lauren England-Shepherd, Sales and Marketing Manager at Blue Cedar Homes, said: “All of the furniture within our showhomes is new and unused and often in perfect condition. So, when we couldn’t use it again to dress another showhome it made perfect sense to sell these items for donations or as furniture donations for the charities to sell on to increase their funds.”
Blue Cedar Homes offers a bespoke collection of age-exclusive and beautifully designed homes for the over 55s. For more information about the final properties at Holden Gardens, Wedmore, contact the Blue Cedar Homes team on 01392 441909.
Lime is full of colour, life and vitality.
Please pop in and be tempted with fabulous clothing, accessories and footwear from around Europe.
A warm friendly atmosphere will greet you!
CLINICAL reflexology specialist
Wendy Rider has moved into exciting new premises at Chapel House in Combe Batch, Wedmore. This has allowed her to increase the range of services
she can now offer, such as wet treatments, exfoliation and body wraps, in addition to Indian head massage and other holistic therapies. Home visits are also available.
Wendy has been running her practice in Wedmore for five years and previously worked at the pharmacy – at one time running Covid clinics – so almost everyone in the village knows her.
The newly-restored building is intriguing – it is a former chapel which she has sympathetically brought up to date. This gives her more space, including a clients’ shower room, which has enabled her to offer the new and innovative treatments.
There is another advantage – a parking space for clients – a rare privilege in Wedmore!
WEDMOREcame together to remember Adam Stimpson, a year after he died from a brain tumour, aged 20.
Awareness Fest at The George Hotel saw crowds of people supporting the fundraising efforts of Adam’s mother, Annette, who had raised £42,000 before this event, with support from family, Adam’s friends and Target Fitness.
Adam died less than six months after diagnosis and just after his birthday. He was a former pupil of Kings of Wessex in Cheddar and was in his second year at Swansea university studying aerospace engineering when he complained of changes to his vision, headaches and vomiting.
Brain tumours are the biggest killer from cancer of people aged under 40. Survival rates have not improved significantly over the last 50 years, with life expectancy for people diagnosed with high-grade tumours typically only six to 18 months.
The Brain Tumour Charity is leading the way in changing this by fighting brain tumours on all fronts. The Adam Stimpson Fund has been set up in memory of Adam to help raise awareness of symptoms as many young people are initially either mis-diagnosed or undiagnosed for months sometimes years.
The owners of The George, Ben Manzi and Stuart Kerley, offered to host the festival after a celebration of Adam’s life was held there after his funeral at St Mary’s Church next door.
Two fairly recent Wedmore residents, Catherine Warner and Stephen Vaughan, who have years of experience of events management, were part of a large team which organised the festival.
Anoushka Baker from the Brain Tumour Charity, said: “We are so grateful for the support we get from events like this.”
One of Adam’s friends, Ben Hemingway-Arnold, raised £5,655 by undertaking Weston Hospicecare’s Mendip Challenge.
Annette said: “The whole village has been incredible, it makes you realise how important community is.”
The event raised more than £16,000.
WEDMORE’Snewlyestablished Village Farm is getting plenty of community support, exemplified by the recent restoration of a vintage Planet Jr. wheel hoe (for weeding beds). It was brought back from the graveyard by local volunteer, Merry. The tool had been donated by a local resident after seeing on the Facebook group Wedmore Matters that the farm was looking for second-hand tools.
Merry is a keen woodworker and made two fresh handles out of recycled timber, before removing the rust and applying a lick of paint.
As well as welcoming volunteers in the garden, the farm is also home to the local Men’s Shed and the Food Forest Project, which has been growing fresh, chemical-free vegetables for a number of food banks and schools throughout the Mendips.
Details: www.wedmorevillagefarm.co.uk
Pictured (l to r) Catherine Vaughan, Annette Stimpson, Steve Warner and Anoushka Baker
Adam Stimpson
THEother day I was reflecting on the number of instructions we have received from people who are trusting us with selling their homes, the most valuable asset they possess. The statistics reveal we are handling a third of the whole market, proving beyond doubt that we are the agent of choice in the Chew Valley.
There is a great sense of satisfaction in achieving that reputation and it is the result of a lot of hard work that has been put in over the last few years. But don’t think for a minute that we’ll be taking things for granted and putting our feet up.
I know there’s always room for improvement in even the most successful of businesses so you can be certain that my team will continue to follow our mantra of “Dedication, Imagination and Delivery” as we strive to ensure you get the very best service when it comes to buying or selling a property, using top notch photography and providing a state of the art website. You can take a look at
When you come to us you will also benefit from our unrivalled knowledge and years of experience of the local market. That means we can give the best and most realistic advice when it comes to pricing your property, so that it attracts the attention of the many serious buyers we have, who are hungry to come and share in our lifestyle.
They are currently enjoying seeing a fantastic array of properties which are sure to excite purchasers and we are seeing a steady flow of offers come in.
You will also be served by an agent who doesn’t just sell houses but which has well established roots in the Chew Valley, living and breathing the place. For example, this year we will be continuing to support the Flower Shows in Clutton and Stanton Drew, the Compton Martin Fete, Chew Stoke Harvest Home, Ubley Beer Festival and Valley Arts.
And as well as providing you with top
class service, we also regularly make the point that we should all do our bit to support all local businesses. If you need goods or services, please make sure you check out who can provide them nearby.
You might be surprised at the range of companies available within a few miles, and don’t forget the old adage – “if you don’t use them, you’ll lose them”.
JOANNA TILEY
Dear Homeowner,
Due
For Example:
10 tiles replaced, chimney re-pointed and ridge and hips guttering cleaned
New Flat Roofs
Single garage from £1,650
New Roofs
Terraced from £2,650, Re-guttering from £975
Terrace excluding down pipes Plastic
Fascia –Soffits and Guttering –Three-bed semi from £1,475
FAMILY
CYCLING can divide opinions easily and irrationally. There is no other sport or hobby where someone who does not participate in it can get so annoyed by those who do. I have friends who will say “I hate them” when they are driving and see a group of cyclists ahead. Fortunately, I don’t take it personally!
While I am looking at the bikes and judging the rider’s cadence, they seem to get annoyed that the journey will be just a few seconds longer.
I once had to do a speed awareness course many years ago (note – it was very illuminating, and I learnt a lot). At the start of the course the leaders asked the group what most annoyed them when they were driving. One or two mentioned cyclists and within seconds the rest had quickly jumped on that bandwagon.
Within minutes the course leaders were having to really try and control the emotion in the room and put right many misconceptions about cyclists. The main one was “they don’t pay road tax like we have to”. Then the leaders pointed out there is no road tax, it is a vehicle tax!
Another was that cyclists jump traffic lights. That might be true of a small minority, but it does not apply to all cyclists. However, the consequence of a cyclist going through red lights is nowhere near as drastic as a car doing the same. In fact, the cyclists are exposing themselves to more risk of serious injury and will come off worse from any collision.
his career winning races to prove something to his father, who had abandoned him when he was a child.
When he met his father (a professional cyclist) at the age of 19 years, his father goaded him. His father told the young Wiggins that he would never be as good on the bike as he was. That had a profound effect on him and spurred him on for years as he tried to prove himself.
The success came but the love of the sport or his father never did. Nowadays, Wiggins says: “I don’t pay any interest to cycling, I couldn’t care less.”
My wife also couldn’t care less about cycling, but she has a good reason. Years ago, we were cycling towards a small village in the Black Forest of Germany when she tried to mount the pavement. Unfortunately, the angle of approach was too narrow, and she fell. She sustained cuts and bruises for the rest of that holiday which, as she often tells me, was my fault!
These negative emotions and divisions play into the hands of desperate politicians aiming to be popular and gain votes at any cost. Increasing and promoting active travel improves people’s health, prolongs lives and reduces the demand on NHS services.
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, 20mph zones and more cycle lanes are part of the solution and something the next government should push forward in a positive way.
Cycling isn’t for everybody though, and people can also go off cycling. Bradley Wiggins who won the Tour de France and five Olympic medals said that he has lost all interest in cycling and never watches the sport anymore. He said he went about
I think I have been fortunate and only ever encountered one minor collision with a car, many years ago. As I was going up Dundry Hill towards Bristol on a long-left hand bend, a car attempted to overtake.
Almost immediately a truck came round the bend heading downhill. The car moved back into lane, but its wing mirror touched my handlebars and knocked me into the hedge.
Fortunately, there was no other traffic behind and so I picked myself up and made my way to a safe place where the car had pulled over. The female driver was most apologetic and looked as shaken as I was.
She kept asking if I was okay and I re-assured her that I was fine. She said that her brother had been hit by a car and hospitalised only a month earlier and that she should have been more careful.
I told her that my bike and I were fine. It was an accident, not deliberate or fuelled by anger towards cyclists. In one final attempt to make amends she said, “I will give you something” and looked through her bag. “This is all I have” she said and pulled out a green apple!
We went our separate ways, but the sincerity in the offer of that simple apple always comes to mind when I hear someone start that phrase “I hate cyclists”.
TIMSBURYTrotters are pictured with two items of outdoor fitness equipment which are now available for use on the Conygre Field, in Timsbury. Built from radiata pine, they are a dip station and a monkey bar log.
The installation, by Trim Trail Ltd. from Congleton in Cheshire, was made possible with a contribution of £6,200 from the Willson Grant, a project to promote physical activity in the Somer Valley area.
The project is led by B&NES Council and funded through Active Travel England and the West of England Combined Authority.
Timsbury resident Paul Carroll, who made the grant application on behalf of the parish council and the Conygre Trust, said: “I have used this type of equipment before to good effect.
“It has proved its worth with experienced and casual users and could appeal to anyone aged 16 to 60. Hopefully these units will be well used. They are placed at the north west corner of the field and there is space for a further installation when the opportunity arises.”
CHEWValley U-11s were at the Premiership Final at Twickenham between Bath and Northampton.
The team got tickets to the game and also had the brilliant experience of taking part in a pitch parade at halftime.
RODNEYStoke and Draycott WI have won the county-wide Somerset WI Federation skittles tournament. They played North Curry at The Globe pub on Tuesday, June 4th.
The team of Jan, Judy, Michele, Fiona, Claire, Brenda and Nataliya had played several rounds to get to the final. It was a close-fought match, but they won by 17 in the end.
The tournament has been played since 1982 and has been played every year, except for the Covid years. They will be formally presented with the trophy at the Somerset Federation’s annual meeting in October.
THE Rotary Club of Mendip raised £2,200 at its golf day towards its prostate cancer testing day on September 28th in Cheddar, which is being organised in conjunction with Somerset Prostate Support Association.
Eighteen teams of golfers took part and the winners were The Dream Team (pictured) with 84 Stableford points.
Rotary president, Mike Sartain, said: “I am delighted that our largest fundraising event was a real team effort, showing Mendip Rotary at its best. It was a fun day, there were plenty of laughs, and we raised some serious money towards our project.”
Details: https://spsa.mypsatests.org.uk/Events/
SOME600 runners took part in the Chew Valley 10k starting from Bishop Sutton.
Reading AC’s Rohan Brooks beat the pack to win the race in a competitive 33:41 (just missing the 2014 record of 33:05).
Westbury Harriers’ Rosie Hamilton-James was the fastest female, setting a new women’s record of 36:30. She also took a minute off her winning 2023 time of 37:40.
Her 17-year-old sister Steph Hamilton-James was hot on her heels, winning the female juniors’ category with 42:28. Fastest male junior was Max Booth, in 39:19.
Denise Mellersh, race director, said: “Our fantastic community gets behind this event year in, year out. Their support for us as organisers and also for the runners, is hugely appreciated. Thanks also to all the local businesses that play a part or sponsor us.”
AS I write, it’s 11 degrees outside, blowing a hooley, and we’ve just had a deluge of hail. The good news is that there has been some lovely hay and silage made already, with more to come once we get through this blip in the weather. I tell myself it’s only a blip and that the real summer is just around the corner… but Flaming June it is not!
Nunney International Horse Trials welcomed some of the top names in eventing, among local riders who will have enjoyed competing at this fabulous venue hosted once again by kind permission of Mrs Angela Yeoman.
Run over three days, they will have seen all the weather conditions you could imagine by the time they finished on Sunday evening and if what we have seen today continues, the tractors will be busy towing vehicles out so that everyone can get home safely.
Local riders who did well in the placings on the first day included Lucy Counsell from Bleadon who has bounced back spectacularly from recent illness to full strength and Dani Evans who events full time.
Nunney was particularly important this year, as it was one of the last opportunities for our Olympic hopefuls in the top star classes to impress the selectors who will be gearing up to choose the four horses and rider combinations who will go to Paris later in July. Three combinations will compete, with the fourth standing by in reserve in case of injury or illness.
There are 12 combinations who have been waiting to get the call up and even if they are not picked, will need to keep fit and ready in case last minute replacements are needed. The same pressure is on the dressage and show jumping teams who will be in the same position, just hoping for that call.
We should know any day who will be representing Britain in each of the disciplines and to watch all the action on TV, viewers will need a subscription to Discovery + which is the streaming arm of Eurosport. The BBC will be showing some of the action, but not all, on BBC Sport and iPlayer.
The days for equestrian sport for the Olympics are from July 27th through to August 6th, with eventing starting first, then dressage and showjumping. If you are on holiday abroad you can still watch it on any device through a VPN (Virtual Private
Network). I have no idea how you get that, but as with all things technical, ask a teenager . . . they will know!
Meanwhile back at base here in the Mendip area there is plenty of action keeping riders busy. Making the most of the longer days means it’s much easier to get out for a hack after school or work and to do all the chores connected with keeping horses is so much better without being dressed in woolly hats and head torches.
Cherish these days and feast on the memory when the inevitable happens again all too quickly.
Success was sweet for a young British Showjumping Junior Academy Somerset team, taken to the Royal Devon County Show near Exeter by trainer Jayne Smart from Banwell. Long winter evening training sessions paid off when they beat their rivals Devon and Cornwall and came away with first prize, new rugs, goody bags and stunning rosettes.
Proud riders enjoyed a lap of honour on excited ponies afterwards, with smiles all round. Well done everyone.
If anyone knows of local gymkhanas or shows being planned for the summer holidays, please do let me know via Mendip Times. The smaller riders love a gymkhana, but for lots of reasons they just don’t seem to happen very often these days, which is sad.
Another activity seems to be threatened too. The Countryside Alliance warns that trail hunting is on the agenda again with the general election coming up. The very party who introduced it after banning fox hunting saying it was the right thing to do, are now saying they want to ban it altogether, throwing the future of the hunting community as well as all the country’s hounds into chaos. It seems you can’t trust anyone. Just saying . . .
Next month I will be reporting on a visit to the Glenda Spooner Farm near Somerton. Part of the World Horse Rescue organisation, it is very well worth a day out this summer. See their website for opening times and enjoy all that is coming up to keep everyone busy.
Alfie our youngster is doing well, getting out and about on Black Down and getting very much more surefooted. He is developing a more balanced canter and is learning to hack out alone and in company.
All the hill work makes him tired, and he loves a sleep in his stable or the field. Anyone who thinks horses don’t really sleep should come and listen to him snoring!
TWO young Mendip riders, Ferris Lovell and Megan Tasker, who live in Shipham and Tarnock, were selected to represent their Pony Clubs at the Junior International Tetrathlon at Moreton Morrell which is a huge accolade. Tetrathlon comprises shooting,
swimming, running and riding and was historically a major recruiting ground for the Olympic sport Modern Pentathlon. Representing the Southern region, Megan, a member of Mendip Farmers Pony Club, achieved a personal best in the swim and was within touching distance of the winner! She shot and ran well and finished Day 2 with a solid ride performance on Flicka, a horse she's had for only seven weeks.
Ferris is a member of Weston Harriers PC so represented the South West region and was selected for the England team. He gained consistent results in all disciplines, a great run over bumpy ground and maximum points in the XC ride with no jump penalties to finish well within the time. He and his horse "Sam"
have been together for a year. At the end of the two-day competition, Ferris achieved individual 3rd place, made part of the Boys’ team in fourth place and was part of the International Team for England that earned second place.
FILM and music video director and artist Sam Taylor-Johnson and her actor husband Aaron were the special guests at the official opening of a new play area in Leigh-on-Mendip.
A large crowd of families gathered in the £100,000 Coronation Park, next to the recreation field to meet the couple, who live on the edge of the village.
Aaron and Sam
Sam is best known for directing Fifty Shades of Grey and Nowhere Boy, a biopic about John Lennon, which earned her a BAFTA nomination, and Back to Black, about Amy Winehouse.
Aaron, who played John Lennon in Nowhere Boy, won a Golden Globe award for best supporting actor in the film Nocturnal Animals. He also appeared in several action films and has been hotly tipped to become the next James Bond.
Much of the money for the £100,000 Coronation Park project came from the National Lottery Community Fund. Other funders included the Somerset Association of Local Councils, local quarry companies, Leigh on Mendip Parish Council, Mike Bloxham, the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Sperring Charity.
VILLAGERSin East Harptree have succeeded in buying the village pub, The Waldegrave Arms, to save it from closure. They paid £425,000 for it.
They are now advertising for a tenant and volunteers are working on it in the hope that it can reopen this summer.
The Save the Waldy campaign has so far raised £251,925 from 331 shareholders Including some in Luxembourg, Hong Kong, Texas, Australia and Toronto.
That campaign will continue until November 19th to raise funds for further refurbishment. The group were awarded a Government grant of £298,000.
Campaigners said: “Without the Waldy the character of the village will be fundamentally changed.”
Details: www.waldegravearms.com
The sale was confirmed at 2pm on May 24th and at 6pm villagers held a party in the pub garden.
MAGENTA, one of the West Country’s most enduring folk/acoustic bands, are playing two charity concerts this summer.
The first is at St. Mary’s Church, Berrow, near Burnhamon-Sea on Saturday, July 6th, where proceeds will go to the church fabric fund. The second is at Hutton village hall, on Friday, July 19th, in aid of village hall funds.
The current three-man line-up will be joined by Jan Macauley at Berrow and by Chris Parfitt at Hutton. Start times are 7.30pm and admission is £10.
Details: Arthur Brown 07970 525826
PETE Brownlee, who set up and runs Chew Valley Films, has revealed a new string to his bow. He has been writing music for the last decade and has now released three albums.
He says his latest is a reaction to the lack of action on the climate crisis which he feels is the biggest problem facing us and our children today.
He said: “As the election looms, I am shocked, but not surprised by the lack of attention to the climate crisis from the main parties and the lack of important policy changes needed to ease an increasingly worrying situation.”
He said his new album, Songs For a Better Planet, addresses some of those issues but also celebrates this beautiful world that we are fortunate enough to share. Pete’s grandson calls him Old Pops and he’s taken that as his stage name.
Details: Find Old Pops on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music and Instagram
FAIRFIELDSchool’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest had a sell-out audience at the Spielman Theatre at Bristol’s Tobacco Factory.
The performance was given by 13 of the Backwell independent school’s Year 6 pupils, from a script edited by Year 6 teacher Alexandra Plumb, with music and songs directed by music teacher, Clara Jeffery.
Headteacher, Lesley Barton, said: “This has been a fantastic opportunity for our Year 6 children and has provided a fun and interesting introduction to Shakespeare.
“The whole experience helps to foster confidence in public speaking, teamwork and an appreciation of classic literature.”
Details: https://fairfield.school
SOMERSETChamber Choir will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a concert at Wells Cathedral on Saturday, July 27th. It will be directed by their new musical director, Andrea Brown. It will feature works by Tallis, JS Bach, Purcell, H. Praetorius and Handel. The choir will be joined by Florilegium, an outstanding period instrument ensemble.
Details: https://fairfield.school
ILLYRIAis back! With an enchanting rendition of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic that promises an evening of laughter, music, and pure entertainment on Saturday, July 27th.
Set in picturesque Venice, this light-hearted operetta whisks audiences away to a world of romance, mistaken identities, and comedic chaos. The story revolves around two charming gondoliers, Marco and Giuseppe, who suddenly find themselves elevated to the status of royalty.
Tasked with choosing their queen from a bevy of beautiful women, hilarity ensues as the true identity of the rightful queen becomes entangled.
With catchy melodies and witty lyrics, Illyria brings the vivacious characters to life, captivating audiences with their impeccable comedic timing and exuberant performances. As the plot thickens and the absurdity reaches its peak, love triumphs, and the gondoliers discover that happiness lies not in noble titles but in the simplicity of true love.
Join us for another family favourite in the beautiful, historic grounds of Manor Farm, Corsley in Wiltshire.
Proceeds from the event go to local charities. The recipients this year will be Youth Adventure Training and the food banks in Warminster and Frome.
CELEBRATE farming, steam-powered vehicles and more from the past at this year’s Somerset Steam and Country Show.
The two-day event, on July 20th and 21st, on farmland at Low Ham, near Langport, is a family-friendly event which explores the heritage of the countryside.
As well as heavy horses, there will be a huge range of vintage steam machines and one of the largest displays of vintage tractors to be found anywhere. There will also be five different displays of vintage steam ploughing.
But the volunteer-run show also offers plenty of high-intensity entertainment ranging from the Rockets children’s motorcycle display team to tractor pulling and a have-a-go off-road course. There will also be plenty of food and drink available onsite along with a free children’s activity area.
Keith Reynolds, one of the organisers, said: “Running the show on farmland really helps people to be able to look back and imagine exactly how farming was done through the ages. The show is run completely by volunteers, so this is a really friendly day out, not some commercial festival.”
Discount advance tickets are now available and children go free. For details, visit: www.somersettractionengineclub.com
THIS year marks the 50th year of the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore being open as a heritage railway!
Due to the hard work of railway enthusiast and wildlife artist David Shepherd and several hardworking founding members, the line has gone from strength to strength in its 50 years and is excited to mark this summer with fun and excitement for the whole family.
To commemorate this anniversary a new exhibition carriage will be opening over the summer celebrating the life of David Shepherd exploring his work as an artist and his passion for railway heritage.
Throughout the summer holidays there will also be a teddy bear hunt for families around the site with the opportunity for those who successfully complete the trail to win a Family Day Rover gift voucher. They will also be welcoming storyteller Beth Webb every Wednesday throughout the summer at 1.15pm who will be telling tales of Footplate Jake – a dragon who drives a steam train.
On August bank holiday there will a celebratory Teddy Bear’s Picnic where families are encouraged to enjoy a picnic at the railway with their trusted teddies and there will be family entertainment across the three days.
Meanwhile, a new children’s book is set for release shortly by popular author Simon Hall. “A Portal in Time and the Strawberry Line” is the latest in Hall’s series which celebrates Britain’s railway heritage. This time around Holly, Tom, Pip the cat and Boo the toy giraffe (along with their ever-patient mum and dad) are off on an adventure on the Strawberry Line starting at the East Somerset Railway. The book will be launched with a series of “meet the author” events throughout the summer, including at the railway from August 8th-11th.
For details, visit: www.eastsomersetrailway.com
SATURDAY 6thJULY
Starting at 5pm. Great family fun evening with a local band playing, best dressed duck competition, duck racing, BBQ, pig roast, face painting, ice cream stall, 3 bars open. Come and get your ducks from the Plume, decorate at home or at the Plume from 5pm and enter them before 6pm.
Rickford, Somerset BS40 7AH 01761 462682
A SPECIAL exhibition is to open at the Wells & Mendip Museum celebrating the city’s incredible friendships forged between Italian prisoners of war and residents during – and in the aftermath –of the Second World War.
Being curated by Wells resident and museum volunteer Mark Wakelin-Gilden and Julie Bollini, the daughter of a POW, Italians of Wells will feature artefacts from Penhill Camp, identification documents, camp currrency and crafts.
There will also be treasured items on show – such as cooking potsbrought from Italy when the families of prisoners came to Britain to join their menfolk, many of whom went to work on local farms and who decided life here was better than at home.
The exhibition will coincide with the Romulus and Remus Italian Fiesta,
Mark and Julie with some of the treasured items
taking place at Palace Farm on Sunday, July 14th, a guaranteed party to remember.
Mark and Julie began preparing for the
exhibition six months ago and will also feature a number of large interpretation boards, explaining how the families settled in Somerset.
The exhibition runs from July 10th to the end of the month
Buffet open 10.30 to 15.30 every Sunday in the season
Saturday, July 6th and Sunday, July 7th –Wickham Weekender
Sunday, July 20th –Midsomer Norton 150 Years Anniversary Gala
Forthcoming highlights:
* Wickham trolley running every Wednesday from July 24th throughout the school holidays
Check out operating days, future events and booking at www.sdjr.co.uk
WITH the 150th anniversary of the opening on Midsomer Norton South railway station coming up in July, now is the perfect time to think about joining the team as a volunteer.
The heritage line is always looking for more volunteers and there are lots of opportunities in different departments, including engineering, general maintenance, administration, retail, catering and gardening.
The team are currently in full swing for a busy summer schedule, the highlight of which will be the 150th gala celebration on Saturday, July 20th, the exact date on which the station first opened. Daytime and evening trains will be running and there will be plenty more for the whole family to enjoy.
The ever-popular Wickham Weekender will take place on July 6th and 7th and regular Wickham Wednesdays will commence on July 24th and run into September.
SDJR chairman Matt Cornborough said: “A very successful Father’s Day event was held on June 16th where the driver experience sessions proved so popular they sold out before the day. It is always lovely to see people coming away from the station having really enjoyed their chance to drive a train!”
People interested in volunteering are welcome to call into the station on Sundays, Mondays or Thursdays for a chat. Alternatively, email general@sdjr.co.uk or call 01761 411221.
For details, visit: www.sdjr.co.uk
FOR many visitors, attending the MidSomerset Agricultural Show in Shepton Mallet in August is all about sitting back and watching the day’s events unfold, hopefully bathed in sunshine.
But the one-day celebration of rural life also offers plenty of opportunities to take a more hands-on approach from a have-a-go gundog scurry to helping decide the champion in the people’s choice for cider.
This year’s show takes place on Sunday, August 18th. Discounted early bird car parking tickets are on offer until August 2nd, but the Mid-Somerset remains the biggest free-to-enter one-day agricultural show for pedestrians.
The cheese classes are always highly competitive and this year will surely be no exception with this year’s show president being cheesemaker Richard Clothier.
As well as the grand parade of livestock, the main arena will feature events ranging from scurry driving to Meirion Owen’s Quack Pack sheepdog and duck display.
There’ll even be hobby horse riding for youngsters, thanks to manufacturer Le Mieux.
The popular shopping marquee returns this year and other attractions include donkey rides, new working hunter classes and even a display of much-loved Ford
Fiestas in the vintage vehicle arena. Trade stand space in the Food Hall is sold out, but outside trade stands are still available.
Show secretary Christine Barham said: “There’s a real buzz building around this year’s show; it’s all rather exciting!”
We’re happy to list entries for non-profit community group meetings and charity fundraisers free of charge. Commercial listings are £25. Please send your entries as a succinct single paragraph, in a format that can be copied and pasted (not as a pdf) to: annie@mendiptimes.co.uk
Wednesday June 26th
Backwell & Nailsea Macular Support meeting 1.30pm Backwell WI Hall. Details: Sheila 01275 462107.
Pensford Ploughman’s Lunch 12 to 2pm, Old School Room (the old Church Room) All welcome. Details: Jane 07780 677253. Chew Valley Festival of Nature Photography, talk by Justin Morris, CEO of Bristol Zoological Society, 7pm St Andrew’s Church, Chew Magna. Details: chewvalleynpf@gmail.com
Thursday June 27th
Mendip Morris with Somerset Morris, 8pm Red Lion, Bishop Sutton.
Draycott Art Club meets 10am-1pm and 24pm every Thursday, except school holiday, Draycott Memorial Hall BS27 3UE. All welcome:
draycottartclub.mendip@gmail.com
Wellow Outdoor Theatre: “Love Riot” picnic 6.30pm, show 7.30. Tickets: Wellow shop or Bath Box Office.
Friday June 28th
Radstock Folk Dance Club, every Friday in July then not until October, 8-10pm, St Peter's Church Hall, Westfield. Beginners welcome, partners not essential. £3 incl refreshments. Details: heather.m.leverton@gmail.com
Friday June 28th and Sat June 29th Yeo Valley Lions Beer Festival, Claverham village hall: www.yeovalleylions.org.uk
Saturday June 29th
Timsbury Village Market 9.30-11.30am Conygre field BA2 0JQ. Details: Facebook or www.growtimsbury.org.uk
The Handlebards’ Comedy of Errors, 7pm Holt Farm, Blagdon. Details: www.valleyarts.co.uk
Mendip Male Voice choir with Chippenham MVC 7pm St Stephens Church, Lansdown, Bath. Details: www.mendipmen.co.uk Congresbury Gardening Club Show & Village Fete 1.30pm St Andrew’s Church paddock. Details: www.congresburygardening.org.uk
Sunday June 30th
Backwell Walking Carnival: walk together towards a more sustainable future, 2pm to arrive at the Scout Hut at 3.30, until 5pm. Details: backwellclimateactiongroup@gmail.com
Chew Valley Nature Fest 10.30am-3pm, Chew Valley School, BS40 8QB. Details: www.cvnrn.org/chew-valley-naturefest/ Wells Boules Tournament, Bishop’s Palace. Details: rotary.boules@outlook.com Pensford Church cream teas and plants, 2pm-5pm in the churchyard and old school room. Details: sarahb4077@gmail.com
Compton Dando Church summer teas
2.30pm-5pm every Sunday. Details: Jenny 01761 490727.
St Hugh’s Church, Charterhouse, open for teas every summer Sunday.
Monday July 1st
Cheddar Valley Singers: Mondays 7pm8.15pm Cheddar Catholic Community Hall. Contact cheddarvalleysingers@gmail.com Facebook @cheddarvalleysingers
Tuesday July 2nd
Joyful Voices: Fill your afternoon with song! Tuesdays 1.30- 3pm Cheddar Catholic Community Hall. Contact joyfulvoicesafternoon@gmail.com
Wednesday July 3rd
Backwell & Nailsea Support Group for Carers: Cath Prideaux “Crafting with Cath” 2pm to 3.30 WI Hall, Backwell. Sing2breathe for breathlessness –learn techniques for breathing control and improved posture. 1.45-3pm every Wednesday, Cheddar Catholic Community Hall. Details: Kate: vocalkate@gmail.com 07595 745884.
Thursday July 4th
Chew Valley Death Café 12 to 1.30pm
Community Library Bishop Sutton. A safe space to talk about life, death and loss over tea and cake. All welcome. Contact: bryonyhuntley2019@gmail.com
Irish Set Dancing 8pm-10 every Thurs, Dinder village hall BA5 3PF. £3 incl refreshments. Fun, friendly, no need to book. Details 01458 210051 paulrharper@btopenworld.com
Claverham Ladies’ Guild “My career as a fashion designer” by Jonquil Brooks, 2pm village hall BS49 4GG. Visitors welcome, £3. Details: 01934 838017.
Paulton Folk Night: sing a song, play a tune, or just listen. All welcome, 8.30pm Red Lion, BS39 7NW. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com
Gig in the Garden, Beth Rowley, 7pm Holt Farm, Blagdon. Details: www.valleyarts.co.uk
West Mendip Walkers mod to strenuous 11.5m circular walk starting 9.30am from Churchinford Village Hall, TA3 7QY. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk
Saturday July 6th
Whitchurch Gardens Open, teas & cakes. For butterfly conservation. 11am to 4pm Whitewood Lodge, Norton Lane BS14 0BU. Plume of Feathers Duck Race, Rickford, 5pm Compton Dando Village Fete 2-5pm: BBQ, teas, duck race and more! Free entry. Details: http://compton-dando.org/
Chewton Mendip’s Olympic Fete! 3-6pm. Adults £2, kids free. Brass band, dancing,
teas, bar. Details: anna_jenkins@mac.com Nailsea Carnival. Details: www.nailseacarnival.org.uk
Winscombe Jazz in the Paddock 6.30pm St James’ Church, Winscombe Hill BS25 1DE. Tickets £12 from PO or on gate. BYO picnic, drinks, chairs. Details: text 07776 235435. RAFA mid-Somerset Branch Summer Lunch, 12:15pm Wells Golf Club. BA5 3DS. Two or three course formal lunch. Details: rafa.midsomerset@gmail.com or 01458 224057.
Magenta 7.30pm Berrow Church, TA8 2NF. Proceeds to church fund. Tickets £10, details: Arthur 07970 525826.
Sunday July 7th
Shepton Mallet Dementia Action Allliance meeting: 12 organisations offering help and support for people with dementia, carers and family. 10.30-1.30pm Somerset Council Offices, Cannards Grave Rd, Shepton Mallet. Monday July 8th
Priddy Folk Night: sing a song, play a tune or just listen. All welcome, 8.30pm Queen Vic Inn, Priddy, BA5 3BA. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com
Tuesday July 9th – Saturday September 7th
Wells & Mendip Museum exhibition. Out of Time: Underground Mendip. Herbert E Balch, John Hassall, Ben Rivers, Harry Savory and Emma Stibbon. https://www.wellsmuseum.org.uk
Wednesday July 10th
Pensford Ploughman’s Lunch 12 to 2pm, Old School Room. All welcome. Details: Jane 07780 677253.
Wells Folk & Barn Dance Club 7.309.30pm St Thomas's Church Hall, BA5 2UZ. All welcome. Details: 01749 674920. Mendip Storytelling Circle: stories for a grown-up audience 7.30 to 9.30pm Ston Easton Village Hall, BA3 4DA. Details: www.mendipstorycircle.com
Blagdon Local History Society talk by Jeff Lucas “Brycgstow to Bristol in 45 bridges” 7.30pm Court Lodge BS40 7TQ. Visitors welcome. Details: www.blagdonlhs.com
Kilmersdon Gardeners talk by Brian Jacques “Exotics outdoors” 7.30pm village hall, BA3 5TD. Visitors welcome £3. Free refreshments. www.kilmersdongardeners.org
Thursday July 11th
Chew Valley Gardening Club: “Climbers & wall shrubs” by Alan Eason, 8pm Stanton Drew Village Hall.
Jazz Jam – join local musicians. All welcome, 8pm Bear & Swan, Chew Magna. Details: www.valley-arts.co.uk
West Mendip Walkers easy 8.5m circular walk starting 9.30am from Witham Friary,
BA11 5HF. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk
Mendip Morris dancing in Priddy 8pm at the Queen Vic.
The Friends of Street Library: free talk by author Sam Earner, 5.30pm Street Community Library, Leigh Rd, BA16 0HA. Please book: email strlib@somerset.gov.uk.
Friday July 12th-14th
Priddy Folk Festival. Details: www.priddyfolk.org
Friday July 12th
Opera in a Box: Hansel & Gretel, 7pm Holt Farm, Blagdon. Details: www.valleyarts.co.uk
Saturday July 13th
East Harptree Village Fete, 2pm to 5pm Mendip Male Voice Choir with Swallow 4.30pm St Nicholas Church Radstock. Details: www.mendipmen.co.uk
North Somerset Philharmonia: classic film music, 7.30pm the Auditorium, Nailsea School. Tickets on door or Nailsea Music Shop. Collection for Talk Club. Details: www.nsphilharmonia.org.uk
Parkinson’s NW Somerset Support Group 10.30am-12.15, St Francis Church, Nailsea. Coffee, chat and music by Tim Lewis and Sheila Furneaux.
Plough Fest, The Plough, Wrington, 12 until late. Details: www.theploughwrington.co.uk
Saturday July 13th and Sun July 14th
Rising Waters: magical outdoor community play at Holt Farm, Blagdon, 7pm both days and 3pm on Sunday. Details: www.valleyarts.co.uk
Sunday July 14th
Wells Italian Festival, Palace Farm, 12.30. Details: www.wellsitalianfestival.co.uk
Monday July 15th
Winscombe District U3A talk by Hugh Roberts “Early English Church woodwork” 2.30pm Winscombe Community Centre, BS25 1HP. £2.50, Visitors welcome.
Tuesday July 16th
Wrington Local History Society: talk by Eugene Byrne “Unbuilt Bristol 1750 -2050 –the city that might have been” 8pm, Wrington URC Chapel, Roper’s Lane, BS40 5NF. All welcome, visitors £2.50. Details: osmansteve@yahoo.co.uk
Open Mic Night 7.45pm The Pony, Chew Magna. Details: www.valley-arts.co.uk
Wednesday July 17th
Mendip Gardening Club talk by Sally Morgan “Gardening for biodiversity” 7.30pm Ston Easton village hall BA3 4DA. Visitors welcome £5 incl refreshments. Details 01761 402445.
Thursday July 18th
Wells & District Wildlife Group: “Glow Worm Walk” in the lanes of Westbury-subMendip, after dark, with Peter Bright. Details: 07415 350062 or www.wdwg.org.uk
West Mendip Walkers strenuous 15m circular walk starting 9.30am from Chepstow Leisure Centre, NP16 5LX. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk
Friday July 19th
Mendip Male Voice Choir Summer Concert 7.30pm Midsomer Norton Methodist Church. Details: www.mendipmen.co.uk
Magenta 7.30pm Hutton Village Hall, BS24 9SN. Admission £10, for hall funds. Details: mikemo56@gmail.com or 07843 806115.
Saturday July 20th
Bleadon Village Market: 30+ stalls, 9.30-12 Coronation Halls, BS24 0PG. Details: 01934 812370.
Mendip Society walk: Milton Hill, Wookey Hole, Upper Milton, approx. 3½ miles with some ascent. Meet 2pm Bristol Rd end of Ash Lane, Wells: ST 549464. No need to book. Contact: Richard 07745 834513.
Sunday July 21st
Stowey Open Gardens, 2pm-6pm. See gardening.
Tuesday July 23rd
Wells & District Wildlife Group walk, 2pm-4pm, looking for butterflies at the Mineries. Booking essential – details: www.wdwg.org.uk or 07415 350062. Chilcompton Garden Club “Organic gardening” by Olly Jones, Head Gardener at Ammerdown, 7.30pm village Hall, BA3 4EX. All welcome.
Wednesday July 24th
Pensford Ploughman’s Lunch 12 to 2pm, Old School Room. All welcome. Details: Jane 07780 677253.
Wells Folk Night: sing a song, play a tune or just listen. All welcome, 8.30pm City Arms, BA5 2 AG. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com
Thursday July 25th
West Mendip Walkers moderate 11m circular walk starting 9.30am from NT Quarts Moor Car Park, TA21 9NZ. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk
Friday July 26th
TOUT’S Food Fest 12-4pm in their orchard at Cleeve, BS49 4NR. Free entry, food samples and kids’ activities! Local food suppliers’ stalls, bar, live music. Details: www.touts.co.uk
Friday July 26th to Sun July 28th
Weston Lions’ Real Ale & Cider Festival, Beach Lawns, Weston. Details: www.westonlionsrealalefestival.co.uk
Saturday July 27th
Yatton & District Horticultural Society Summer Show, 2pm Yatton Village Hall and Glebelands, BS49 4HL
www.yattonhorticulturalsociety.co.uk
Timsbury Village Market 9.30-11.30am Conygre field BA2 0JQ. Details: Facebook or www.growtimsbury.org.uk
Weston Hospicecare’s Summer Fayre, 10.30am-3.30pm, Hornets Rugby Club, Weston.
Elizabethan Evening, Manor Farm, Corsley, Wiltshire, Illyria presents The Gondoliers. Details: claire@manorfarmcorsley.com
Somerset Chamber Choir 40th
anniversary concert at Wells Cathedral with new musical director, Andrea Brown. Details: www.somersetchamberchoir.org#
Sunday July 28th
Compton Dando Church Summer Teas 2.30pm-5pm every Sunday until August 26th.Details: Jenny 01761 490727. St Hugh’s Church, Charterhouse, open for teas every summer Sunday.
Monday July 29th to Sat August 17th
Temple Cloud in Bloom Plant Pot Sculpture Trail! Details: Facebook or email tcibinfo@yahoo.com
Wednesday July 31st
Backwell & Nailsea Macular Support meeting 1.30pm Backwell WI Hall. Details: Sheila 01275 462107.
Thursday August 1st
Chew Valley Death Café meets 12 to 1.30pm in the Community Library Bishop Sutton, first Thurs every month. A safe space to talk about life, death and loss over tea and cake. All welcome. Please contact: bryonyhuntley2019@gmail.com
Wells & District Wildlife Group: “Glow Worm Walk” in the lanes of Westbury-subMendip, after dark, with Peter Bright. Details: 07415 350062 or www.wdwg.org.uk
Claverham Ladies’ Guild trip to Hillier Garden Centre. Details: 01934 838017.
North Somerset Play Forum Free Family Fun Day 11am to 3pm Clarence Road North, Weston, BS23 4AT. Nutty Noah, Punch & Judy & lots of games! Details on Facebook or Quita: 01934 844353.
Friday August 2nd
Stacey Charles ‘Soul & Motown’ 7.45pm Camerton Community Hall. £10 by BACS. Tables, BYO food, licensed bar from 4pm. Details: 07866 112689.
Thursday August 8th
Chew Valley Gardening Club talk by Bett Partridge 'Along the Lanes of Somersetherbs, fruits & seeds' 8pm Stanton Drew Village Hall.
Saturday August 10th
Vox in Frox Concert 7pm Holy Trinity Church, Bishop Sutton. Tickets £15 incl refreshments. Details: Janet 01275 332321. Clutton Horticultural Society Flower Show & Village Fete, from 12noon, BS39 5SJ. Details: cluttongardening.org.uk
WEEKEND tickets are still available for this year’s Priddy Folk Festival in July – billed as one of the friendliest festivals around.
The festival takes place from Friday, July 12th to Sunday, July 14th across seven stages in the village.
Tickets allow access to venues where top name international acts such as Sheelanagig, Breabach, Gnoss, The Fugitives and Reg Meuross, will be performing.
There are also lots of events on the Saturday and Sunday which are free to enjoy and take part in as part of the children’s dance and fringe banner. Watch a dance side in the Market Field or join a workshop with Zimbabwe’s Black Umfolosi. Or maybe try your hand at maypole dancing, or sing shanties with your family?
There will also be an hour of new folk music written and performed by Wells Blue School students under the “Priddy Rising” banner, which is supported by Priddy Folk Festival funds.
The festival is run by entirely by volunteers with proceeds going to local causes. For details, visit: www.priddyfolk.org
VIKINGS will be introducing the forgotten skills of their craftspeople to visitors at The Bishop’s Palace in Wells this July, whilst more fierce warriors will amaze with the combat skills and weaponry that made the invading hoards so feared!
Draca Beordor Viking Age Re-enactment is an award-winning living history and combat display group based in Somerset who pride themselves on educating people about life in the 9th and 10th Centuries, portraying people from across the Viking world.
The invasion is due to take place on Saturday, July 27th, when they’ll be joined by Wells City Archers, who will also be demonstrating their skills with different types of bows and some friendly intra-club rivalry as they see who can get the highest score.
The competition has been titled the Maria Eden shoot after the daughter of former Bishop of Bath & Wells, Lord Auckland (1854 – 1869), who was recorded as being a keen longbow enthusiast.
Alongside the Wells City Archers will be Indigo Archery who will be running “have a go” sessions where you can try your hand at archery (for an additional fee).
The 14 acres of Palace gardens will be open and the Dragon’s Lair Play Area is the perfect place to exercise little legs – climb the Dragon’s Wings, explore the Tree Pods, crawl through the Dragon’s belly or pump the water to spill the bucket and send the Dragon to sleep – the choice is yours!
The newly refurbished Bishop’s Table café will also be open serving a range of drinks, snacks, lunches and hot food.
l There’s no additional charge for this family-friendly event which runs from 9.30am to 5pm and is included with any standard admission ticket.
ENTRIES are now open for this year’s Wells Moat Boat Races, taking place on the Bishop’s Palace Moat on August Bank Holiday Monday.
Why not, with your friends and mates, build your own raft and take part in the afternoon of fun-filled – and possibly water-filled races? It is not so difficult and the Mendip Activity Centre run two- hour courses in raft building.
There are races for juniors and adults, fun races and special awards e.g. best dressed crew! Lots of watery fun for everyone “messing about in boats” and all proceeds will be donated to local charitable organisations by City of Wells Lions.
The minimum age to take part is 13 years old by Monday 26th August 2024, the day of the races. The number of entries for each race is limited so it will be “first come first served”.
l Application packs with regulations and raft specification are available at: https://www.wellsmoatboatrace.com/ or from City of Wells Lions, email cityofwellslions@gmail.com
To volunteer to help on the day, email cityofwellslions@gmail.com or call 0345 833 6736
