Mendiptimes - Volume 10 - Issue 10

Mendip Times

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 10

FREE

Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas

MARCH 2015

IN THIS ISSUE: POINT-TO-POINT PREVIEW SPRING GARDENING ARTS & ANTIQUES PANCAKE RACES E N V IR O N M E N T MUSIC

Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news

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MENDIP TIMES

CONTENTS

Welcome

WITH the warmer weather comes the urge to get outdoors and the garden is high on most people’s agenda. We’ve a bumper gardening section this month, with a guide from Mary Payne to creating a woodland garden.

We feature plenty of other outdoor activities, including news of a sculpture trail around some of our local quarries, a walk around Wrington with Sue Gearing, and a new walk around the wartime decoy town on Black Down.

Our caving expert Phil Hendy goes deep underground beneath Priddy.

Our What’s On section grows month by month and we also have news from the local music scene, including a tribute to Adge Cutler. He’d be interested to learn you can now buy old combine harvesters online, as revealed in our farming pages.

We’ve lost two other well-known local characters recently and pay tribute to them: dairy farmer and horseman, Norman Crouch, and Cathy Pegler who helped set up Midsomer Norton Farmers’ Market.

We also bid a fond farewell to Lady Gass, who is retiring as Lord Lieutenant of Somerset.

Elsewhere we hear they have more than bats in the belfry at Nunney and how electric cars are being encouraged in Frome. With all of our regular features and contributors Mendip Times is your perfect guide to March on Mendip.

April 2015 deadline: Friday, 13th March 2015.

Published: Tuesday, 24th March 2015.

Editorial: Steve Egginton steve@mendiptimes.co.uk Mark Adler mark@mendiptimes.co.uk Advertising: Ann Quinn advertising@mendiptimes.co.uk Rachael Abbott rachael@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 or: letters@mendiptimes.co.uk www.mendiptimes.co.uk Design and origination by: Steve Henderson Printed by: Precision Colour Printing, Haldane, Halesfield 1, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ Copyright of editorial content held by Mendip Times Ltd. and its contributors. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the Publisher. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the publisher or its associates.

Front cover: Southfield Vic winning at Wincanton.

Photograph by Mark Adler (see page 78).

Switched on – Frome’s green fleet goes live

7

41

Going quackers – in praise of the humble duck

71

Tribute to Adge – actors raise a glass to Wurzels’ founder

74

See you again – club organises reunion

Plus all our regular features Environment...................................6 Farming Mary James MBE..........10 Arts & Antiques ...........................14 Internet and Crossword..............22 Food & Drink...............................24 Business ........................................33 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......41 Walking Sue Gearing....................42 Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........44 Gardening Mary Payne MBE ......46

Charities .......................................52 Community...................................56 Health Dr Phil Hammond.............58 Caving Phil Hendy........................60 Motoring .......................................61 Homes and Interiors....................64 Music.............................................70 Sport..............................................74 Riding Celia Gadd ........................76 What’s On ....................................79 MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 3

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MENDIP TIMES

Cathedral celebration for Lord Lieutenant HUNDREDS of well-wishers packed Wells Cathedral for a special service to mark the retirement of Lady Elizabeth Gass as Lord Lieutenant of Somerset.

Lady Gass retires in March after more than 16 years’ service to the county. Appointed by the Queen, lord lieutenants are the permanent representatives of the Crown in a particular county. The Somerset lieutenancy covers the historic county of Somerset; including Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and Somerset County Councils.

Lady Gass has served as Lord Lieutenant of Somerset since 1998 and was appointed Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by The Queen in the New Year’s Honours 2014.

She was High Sheriff of Somerset in 1994, has served on

Lady Gass after the service. Pianist Innes Yellowlees played at the reception

Cathy Pegler

Somerset County Council and as chairman of the Exmoor National Park Committee and was an English Heritage commissioner for six years.

She is involved with a variety of charitable and voluntary organisations across the county, as well as the armed forces and emergency services and has welcomed the chance to meet so many of those involved.

David Medlock, the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, said: “Our Lord Lieutenant, Lady Gass, has worked tirelessly for the benefit of the Somerset community for over 16 years. Her hard work and dedication to duty has won the respect, admiration and love from all those who have had the privilege to know her. Her tremendous knowledge of the county will be sorely missed.”

Paul Myers, the mayor of Midsomer Norton, with his consort Patricia Flagg

CATHY Pegler, who helped to set up Midsomer Norton Farmers’ Market nearly 11 years ago and was day manager for the first couple of years, has passed away.

Several years ago, Cathy moved to Portugal where she and her partner Richard tended an ancient olive grove and created an off-grid, organic smallholding at Pego Ferreiro.

But Cathy made return visits to the market where she was given special permission to sell their olive oil. She last visited, and was guest of honour, at the market’s 10th anniversary celebration last April.

Louise Hall, Somerset Farmers’ Markets coordinator, said: “Cathy threw herself into the celebrations with the customary enthusiasm and good humour that we will remember her for.”

Last summer, Cathy was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour and finally passed away on Monday, January 5th. She died at home with friends.

For those who would like to remember her, donations are invited to Brain Tumour Charity: http://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/raising-funds/make-adonation/donate-online-now or The Green Party:

NEWS

The Very Revd John Clarke, Dean of Wells, presents Lady Gass with a photograph of the Jesse window. Lady Gass was an enthusiastic supporter of the appeal to restore the window

Cathy (second right) at the 10th anniversary celebrations for Midsomer Norton Farmers’ Market

https://my.greenparty.org.uk/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset =1&id=8 MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 5

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MENDIP TIMES

(Photograph courtesy of Duncan Simey)

Quarries inspire artists

A THREE-year-long project to create an art trail through some of Mendip’s quarries will be realised this summer when “step in stone” opens to the public.

Artist Fiona Campbell, from Cranmore, was inspired to explore the idea for the trail whilst walking her dog. Planning for the trail has brought together groups of likeminded artists, scientists and educators.

The team has achieved its full funding target for the project thanks to Arts Council England, National Lottery, Mendip Hills AONB, Ganes Trust, Somerset Art Works, Somerset Wildlife Trust, a local trust fund and numerous individual supporters via IdeasTap crowdfunding.

The step in stone project has identified three quarries on East Mendip for the trail: Westdown/Asham is disused with Asham Woods SSSI next door. Halecombe is a working quarry with a circular public pathway overlooking the site, whilst Fairy Cave Quarry has stunning limestone rock formations and renowned caves.

In all, 14 artists, all with connections to South West England but from as far afield as Norway and Australia, will develop and create a series of research-led, site-specific temporary artworks for a curated trail in response to the nature of quarries.

Contemporary sculpture, land art, photography, textiles, painting, drawing, sound, spatial poetry and printmaking will be installed which the team says will aim to surprise, delight, challenge, fascinate and inform.

A free event open to the public, step in

stone will increase awareness of the spaces and issues surrounding them. Guided walks will be run in collaboration with Somerset Wildlife Trust; artist-led talks and art workshops will also engage the wider community. Workshops specifically to give school children an opportunity to experience a creative, educational resource will be held along with exhibitions in the Black Swan arts centre in Frome, the Somerset Earth Science Centre, at Stoke St Michael, and Frome Museum.

Young artists will have an opportunity to get involved and exhibit their own work alongside international artists. A sculpture design competition will be held in May in collaboration with the Black Swan, for under 20-year-olds. Up to 20 of the best entries will be on show during Somerset Art Weeks Festival at the Black Swan gallery. The winning designer will work

Detail of Fairy Cave Quarry

Fiona’s sketch for an installation at Westdown quarry

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Some of the artists gather for a walk around the chosen quarries

with a step in stone artist to create their work in 3D, which will be exhibited as part of the trail.

Fiona, the curator and lead artist, said: “So many quarries in the Mendips are now disused, enigmatic environments, taken over by wildlife, some designated as ‘Sites of Special Scientific Interest’. Others are desolate underworlds of canyons, lakes, huge ruins, and rusting machinery – fossils of both ancient and modern eras.

“Scoop out a hundred tons of rock a day – carboniferous limestone for example – for 120 years and you have a gargantuan cavity of time, reflecting life dating back over 350 million years. All this provides an extraordinary backdrop and inspiration for artwork.”

G step in stone will be installed in stages from July-October. A film documenting the event will be shown at the finale.

You can follow step in stone on Twitter and Facebook

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We’ve got the power

Pierre Fox, from the Frome car share project, with Tricia Golinski, the town’s deputy mayor and Kevin Sharpe, from Zero Carbon World

A COMMUNITY electric car share scheme has been launched in Frome as part of the town council’s efforts to encourage more people to become environmentally-friendly.

Thanks to a charity which campaigns for zero carbon emissions, two charging points for electric-powered vehicles have been installed outside the Cheese and Grain. Two electric cars and one hybrid vehicle will be available for use from Frome Medical Centre, the Cheese and Grain and St. John’s Church.

Zero Carbon World has donated more than 600 similar charging stations to destination venues in the hotel, tourist and leisure industries, creating a free-to-use charging network called ZeroNet. They estimate it will take around three hours to fully charge an electric car through one of the points.

On Sunday, March 29th, the charity will be hosting a convention in Frome to showcase ways in which former fossilfuelled vehicles can be transformed into zero emission electric ones. They are expected to include a speedboat which was due to make an attempt to cross the English Channel in the fastest time for an electric vehicle as Mendip Times went to press.

An American-built Tesla electric sports car. The roadster can accelerate from 0-60 in just under four seconds and run for around 200 miles on a single charge. Sadly, it’s not part of the Frome car share scheme

For information visit: www.co-wheels.org.uk/frome

Bats in by smell

ENVIRONMENT

A NEW bat roost has been created inside Nunney Church to allow work to begin to restore its historic nave roof.

Ecologists hope that the smell of the new roost will attract the colony of Lesser Horseshoe bats, a protected species, when it returns in the spring for the breeding season.

The beautiful barrelvaulted ceiling in the church rotted away in the 1950s and was given a “temporary” repair of steel trusses which were hidden from view by plastic ceiling tiles. Not only were these unsightly, The nave roof is exposed but they provided the perfect roosting environment for the bat colony. As part of the move to restore the roof, a new home had to be constructed above the vestry.

Under licence from Natural England the new, insulated roost was made by Roy and Lee Pearce.

Now the ceiling tiles have been removed and the nave ceiling saw the light of day for the first time in nearly 50 years. The next move is to bring back the four dormer windows that previously flooded the church with light.

A new series of G As part of the Raise the Roof fundraising campaign concerts is a series of concerts being held called Raise the Roof have been held. They continue with a concert by Kings School Bruton’s Big Band on Monday, March 2nd and The Tom Connors Memphis Jazz Band will be playing on Saturday, March 28th in Nunney Village Hall.

The “temporary” ceiling

For details contact Hilary Allom on 01749 85085 or hilary.allom@gmail.com

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 7

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Money floods in for water management plan

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AN environmental partnership set up to tackle the natural land management element of the Somerset Flood Action Plan has been awarded £750,000 by the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Taming the Floods is led by the Royal Bath and West Society with the Somerset Wildlife Trust and the South West Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group. The award will go towards work in the upper catchment area of the Levels to slow the flow of water as well as measures in the lower catchment to allow the floodplains to contribute to the reduction of flood risk to homes and key infrastructure. At the heart of the scheme are plans to improve biodiversity on the Levels.

Edwin White, chairman of the

Weather contrasts

Somerset Levels Development Fund, said: “Our Somerset Levels Dream Fund project will help reduce the extent of damaging flooding such as we have seen in recent years by reducing water flowing from the upper to the lower catchments on the Somerset Levels and helping support a thriving, resilient wetland landscape. This will help protect this unique environment as well as the homes and livelihoods of the communities who live and work on the Levels.”

David Leach, SWT’s Brue Valley Living Landscape Manager, said: “Last winter’s floods were a dark time for the people of the Levels. But the process of preparing this grant application has already helped people to come together

ONE of the favourite ways for television weather presenters to describe conditions in the UK is to highlight with DAVID differences MAINE between one part of the country and another.

It is often two places not too far from each other, or they compare one day to a previous one where there has been, for example, a sudden change in temperature.

During the recent spell of anticyclonic weather there have been cases where places on the east coast were in sunshine with temperatures up to 10 to 12 degrees Celsius whilst in the west it remained foggy and temperatures stayed not far from 0˚ all day. The same thing happens around here in a much smaller geographical area, of course, with places on top of Mendip basking in sunshine whilst it stays cold and foggy down by Chew Valley Lake.

The opposite can also be true as we saw last month with that one fall of snow affecting the south of Mendip around Shepton Mallet.

Contrasts in the weather don’t only happen from place-to-place of course. They can occur in the same place from one day to the next, or

PAGE 8 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

ENVIRONMENT

and dream a brighter, safer and more prosperous future. Now, with this funding, our Somerset Levels Dream Fund project can make this future a reality.”

John Osman, chairman of the Flood Action Plan’s Leaders Implementation Group and Leader of Somerset County Council, said: “This is excellent news – we heartily congratulate the Bath and West for all their efforts in winning this award, which will give a huge boost to the Flood Action Plan work.

“It means a vital programme of land management work with farmers on the upper and lower catchment of the Levels and Moors can now be developed and delivered over a number of years. This is great news.”

Daffodil and snowdrops in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey

even one year to the next. As I write we are in the middle of a dry spell with a lot of high pressure which has been going on since the beginning of February.

What a contrast to this time exactly one year ago when we were coming towards the end of a long, very wet spell which had been going on since mid-December and people down on

the Somerset Levels were in despair.

I hear some villagers were planning a special Valentine’s Day party as this issue of Mendip Times went to press.

Last year, they were tackling the very worst of the floods when love was the last thing on their minds!

G Don’t forget that British Summertime begins on Sunday, March 29th – spring forward!

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Much is being made this year of the Magna Carta which all our readers will probably know by now was signed at Runnymede on 15 June 1215 by King John and a group of “rebel” barons.

As much as anything it was intended as a peace treaty at that time and in that respect it was not particularly successful. However, included within it is a clause giving all free men the right to justice and a fair trial. Of course, the phrase “free men” meant something different in 1215 than it does today when we all consider ourselves to be free men. At that time the majority of the people were peasants who could only seek justice through the courts set up by their own lords.

Over the last 800 years, this particular clause more than any other contained within the Magna Carta has gained increasing importance not only in Britain but around the World. Obviously the clauses of the Magna Carta have been amended, repealed or superseded over the years but many of the principles remain and form a cornerstone of free countries everywhere.

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Focus on Alvis Brothers

THIS month I am looking at how a big farm enterprise operates in our area and next month it will be a small farm enterprise.

With MARY Lye Cross Farm at JAMES MBE Redhill is run by the Alvis family. Nick Green MBA, Farm Operations Director, gave me an insight into his job. Working with the family board to create and develop a strategy Nick oversees the implementation of the business plan with the farm managers.

The board meets every quarter and he meets the farm managers every week.

There are three dairy farms supplying the Farmhouse Cheese making business plus milk bought in from 33 other local farms.

The pig unit uses the whey produced by the cheese making.

The key issue for this farm is managing it around TB as it is in a TB hotspot.

Hundreds of cows have been lost and the cost has been enormous. Nick declares that the drop in milk price is like a “perfect storm”, so many factors have contributed.

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The world market has contracted because of the actions of China and Russia so it is a grim time waiting until they start buying again when inevitably the price will rise.

With such a wealth of knowledge on agriculture I asked Nick his views on current farming issues, particularly looking to the future. We have to remember, he says, that farming is not just here on the Mendips. It is a global market and production in other countries affects us.

Soya is not grown here but has huge influence on the price of cattle feed in this country. He says the beef industry in this country will have to strive for more consistency to compete with beef coming in from America and Argentina.

Agriculture is brilliant at mentoring younger people if the young person is willing. The industry is full of wise, knowledgeable people who are always willing to help young people. Lye Cross Farm has been able to do just that having had many students who moved on to college and an exciting career in agriculture. Educating children about farming is equally important and it was John Alvis who started FarmLink (a

classroom in the countryside) with Nick Green heavily involved.

A final word from Nick: “I have put a fair bit of effort into encouraging young people into the industry – more specifically Alvis Bros. After putting a placement programme together for Future Farming Academy student Claire Flower for summer 2014, I was invited to Bridgwater College’s Agricultural Innovation at Cannington to hear her presentation and discuss with others in industry how the programme might evolve. Not a big part of my job but it’s for ABL and the wider industry.”

Finally after listening to Nick I agree with him that farming has to weather the storm because the signs are that things will come right.

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FARMING

Mendip Rural Services Ltd.

Combines go online

Some of the collection at work between Holcombe and Stratton-on-the-Fosse. The team would love to make more use of the machines

COLLECTORS on Mendip of old farm machinery have launched a new website dedicated to their passion for historic combine harvesters.

The site – which features Massey Ferguson machinery – is thought to be the first of its kind in the United Kingdom and showcases the collectors’ work, from restoration to harvesting.

The collection is based near Stratton-on-the-Fosse and is owned and maintained by Colin Cloude, Howard Coles, Hillary Pugsley, George Greer and Frank Malloney. As well as Massey Ferguson combines, they own other makes along with tractors and other machinery.

Their latest acquisition is a 1987-registered 860 MF combine fitted with 16ft power flow table purchased in 2013 from Lincolnshire. Research by the team has shown the combine was the second one to be built on the Brantford production line in January 1985 and was the very last 860 to be sold in the UK in 1987.

The team’s aim is to use the machines as much as possible – they have three commercial customers – but are keen to find some more land. Colin said: “Of all the challenges we have faced building up this collection securing additional acreage locally seems to be a bridge too far.

“We believe our equipment can and should be used for what it was intended for and not simply left in sheds just to look at.”

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Mendip Rural Services, Springfield, Haydon Drove, Haydon, Wells, Somerset BA5 3EH. E-mail: aaroncole80@hotmail.com Website: www.mendipruralservices.co.uk

Masseys at the movies?

A video production company may make a documentary about the collection

For information, visit: www.yellowswirl.info If you can offer the team some land, contact Colin at: cloudejake@aol.com MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 11

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Norman Crouch – a tribute

NORMAN Crouch of Witham Friary was a legendary West Country horseman as well as a dairy farmer.

Horses rather than Holsteins became his passion and such was his love of all things equestrian that he continued to take to the saddle, and even hunt, almost up to the day of his death.

Norman, who farmed at Grazemoor Farm, was renowned for his courage in the hunting field, as well as in point-to-point races. He would often race his home-bred horses. One of these, General Blackthorn, by General Gambul, which Norman had qualified for point-to-pointing in the hunting field when he was aged 80, went on to hold his own on National Hunt courses, albeit with another jockey in the saddle.

Norman was hugely proud of the trophies the white-faced bay gelding won on point-to-point tracks and these were proudly displayed in the sitting room at Grazemoor.

For several decades a stallion occupied the paddock opposite his farmhouse. In the early years there was the shiny bay Dark Cobbler, the sire of Alexandra Morley’s Badminton Horse Trials ride Double Trouble IV and other successful eventers, and more recently General Gambul, who had been a prolific in-hand winner in the show ring as a youngster.

Norman died aged 89 and his funeral was held at Upton Noble Church in January, so many mourners attending that there was standing room only.

He had married Josephine (née Dyer) on Hallowe’en day in 1944. Josephine died from cancer in 2005. Although heated discussions between the Crouches did take place, the straight talking Norman confessed that he “missed the wife when I lost her. She used to keep the place so spick and span.”

Julie Harding

Rotary winners

Norman with the Channer Memorial Challenge Cup he won with General Blackthorn in the Men’s Open Race at Taunton Vale Foxhounds point-to-point meeting on Easter Monday, 2008.

It all adds up

Year 8 pupils with their certificates

THE grand final of Somervale School’s The Big Pitch contest took place at the Centurion Hotel. The winners were “Make’n’Do Kits” who are shown receiving the first prize of a shield and £100 from club president Steve Scott and Patrick Simpson of Mendip Rotary Club.

PAGE 12 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

SOMERVALE School in Midsomer Norton once again welcomed mathematics students from Bristol University who led an afternoon of investigative challenges for Year 8 pupils.

Pupils worked in pairs answering problems that required thinking skills and team work. Challenges included completing magic squares, finding the “shortest” route and breaking codes. Pupils were awarded certificates in recognition of their efforts, enthusiasm and success at completing the tasks. The school hopes to welcome Bristol University students again next year.

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NEWS

Kids get creative

Rotary’s guest

Youngsters at Priddy are helped with the raised beds by Jack Parkin, from Cheddar Garden Centre

A RECENT speaker to the Wrington Vale Rotary Club was Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner, Sue Mountstevens. She’s pictured with club officers John Alvis (left) and Tony Thurling.

SPRING was in the air at Priddy and Westbury-sub-Mendip primary schools when pupils took part in a week of creative events.

Children from Key Stage One and Two classes enjoyed activities ranging from singing lessons to sculpture classes with local artists and performers.

At Priddy, they also helped to reinstate the school’s ecofriendly raised beds in the grounds, where they plan to grow edible and specimen plants.

All their efforts during the week will culminate in an event for parents at the Blue School in Wells in June where they will showcase their new-found skills.

Ansford miss out on final The seven teams

Lessons outdoors

Nice and toasty – pupils from Leigh on Mendip First School

CHILDREN from Leigh on Mendip First School enjoyed a visit to their forest school site to gather material for a writing lesson.

The wintry walk to the site at nearby Halecombe Quarry – given to the school by operators Tarmac Lafarge – ended with a chance to toast marshmallows over an open fire.

Along the way the children stopped to note down ideas of the sounds, sights and smells which they later used back in the classroom.

A TEAM of students from Ansford Academy in Castle Cary were runners-up in the semi-finals of a public speaking competition organised by the Rotary Clubs of Shepton Mallet and Brue Valley.

Erin Lee, Niamh Dyson and Rosie Harrison gave an amusing insight to the adults in the audience of what thoughts go through the mind of a “Typical Teenager”. They were amongst seven teams competing in the annual event; this year’s judges were retired Ted Allen, a Deputy Lieutenant of Somerset, Nigel Allen, a stage and TV actor and Rachel Scully, an English teacher and chair-designate of the Cary-Mufulira Community Partnership Trust.

The winners – from the Park School in Yeovil with their assessment of male and female humour entitled “We are Just as Funny as You” – will compete in the Rotary District 1200 Intermediate Final to be held at Kings of Wessex Academy in Cheddar on Saturday, February 28th.

Ansford were named runners-up MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 13

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Hospital mural

TALENTED degree students from Weston College have transformed the children’s waiting room at Weston General Accident and Emergency (A&E) department with their lively mural.

Relocation, relocation, relocation!

Open for business: Tony and Carrie in their new workshop on the Old Mills Trading Estate

IF location is everything then Swan Artworks is onto a winner with its new home on the outskirts of Midsomer Norton.

Carrie and Tony Osborne have moved their bespoke picture framing business out of the town centre to the Old Mills Trading Estate, just down the road from Tesco.

Their new base is more spacious – the couple have installed a mezzanine – there’s plenty of parking outside and it means they can concentrate on the framing side of the business.

Carrie and Tony are never afraid to accept a challenge. As well as earning a reputation for their skills in framing everything from treasured WWI medals to a collection of flint tools – they recently built a frame for the headstock of a guitar (a souvenir from a music concert) as well as one for an Olympic torch – the new premises mean they can also tackle larger projects which would have stretched their resourcefulness at the town centre shop to its limits.

Tony said: “It’s so much easier to work in here and more convenient for customers. One of the things we’re looking at for the future is to offer local deliveries.”

Carrie said: “We love framing paintings, photos and prints but we also like to look round corners. People own treasured objects and may have never thought about framing them or have asked ‘how can we do that’ and we like that challenge.”

PAGE 14 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

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ARTS AND ANTIQUES

Diverse collection at Mendip Auction Rooms ABOUT 450 lots went under the hammer at Mendip Auction Rooms on February 7th with a diverse entry of items including furniture, pictures, silver, jewellery, ceramics and collectables.

A hand-coloured lithograph of Jaffa by Konstantin Ivanovich Gorbatov (1876 – 1945) achieved £1,200 to an internet bidder.

With regular buyers for taxidermy seen at the Mendip Auction Rooms, two good examples sold well. A threeheaded duckling achieved £200 with a tawny owl realising £160.

A good collection of 16 early 20th century bronze figures of animals met strong bidding and sold for £900.

Collectables selling to advantage included a Bowman ‘O’ Gauge steam locomotive and Tender – LNER 234a (£200), a collection of vintage enamel kitchen items (£130), a Beswick Gamecock (£270), a retro metal coat stand (£170) and two vintage enamel signs including the

Anglo American Oil Company (£240).

The sale of Victorian and later effects on February 17th saw a very large crowd with very strong bidding for the 500 lots on offer.

The next sale will be of antiques, fine art and collectables followed by the sporting sale on March 7th, starting at 10am.

The auction rooms can be contacted on 01749 840770 or log onto www.mendipauctionrooms.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 15

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MENDIP TIMES

T i m e l e s s s t y l e – p i o ne e r i n g d e s i g n PART of Pylle Emporium and Gallery at Pylle, south of Shepton Mallet, has been transformed into a celebration of some of the most iconic periods of 20th Century design and innovation.

Owner Tony Hopkins has dedicated the area next to the main showroom to furniture, prints, pottery and bronzes from early Art Nouveau through Art Deco to retro-1940s.

Enthusiasm for the seemingly simple, yet technologically highly advanced designs shows no signs of diminishing, said

Timeless elegance at Pylle Emporium and Gallery

This impressive wireless cabinet is empty and would be ideal for housing a modern music system or as a drinks cabinet!

ANTIQUES & ART PYLLE EMPORIUM

BUY

SELL

Based in Pylle, Somerset on the A37, 5 mins south of Shepton Mallet

RESTORE

• Five large showrooms • Antiques • Vintage Items • Oriental Collectables • Art Deco Room Web: www.pylleemporium.co.uk Email: antiques@pylleemporium.co.uk

Pylle Emporium, Stockwood Business Park, Shepton Mallet, BA4 6TA Open Mon-Sat 10 - 5, and Sun by appt. • Tel: 01749 838783 PAGE 16 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

Tony whose own appreciation is growing.

He said: “Their use of colour and design is incredibly fashionable and you can see how it evolved over time right to the point where post-World War Two designers were adapting their ideas to cope with the austerity of the period yet meet the demand for utility furniture and furnishings using simpler materials and techniques.”

Hot off the press!

ERICA Sharpe is absolutely thrilled to have been shortlisted for not one, but two prestigious awards celebrating ethical businesses. Erica has just been invited to attend the 2015 South West Fairtrade Business Awards, to be presented in Bristol on March 6th, and is a finalist for the 2015 Ethical Jeweller of the Year, to be announced in June.

The timing could not be more perfect: Erica has been working on 14 new pieces of Fairtrade silver and amber jewellery to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs from February 23rd – March 8th. These distinctive and individual pieces will be available from February 23rd.

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ARTS & ANTIQUES

A decade of glass design

LOCAL craftsman AP Stained Glass recently celebrated ten years of creating and restoring pieces in the South West, and to mark the occasion has launched a brand new website, apstainedglass.co.uk, which features images and information about the types of projects they take on, a newsletter sign up and blog.

The specialist company also offers a free quotation service so it’s worth getting in touch to see if your vision can become a reality. The website hopes to showcase the wide range of products and services available, from restoring church windows, barn conversions, to creating garden ornaments, leaded lights, mirrors and bay windows.

With 10 years’ experience in stained glass and 30 years’ experience in design and illustration, almost any vision (no matter how wacky!) can be achieved. AP Stained Glass hopes their new website will give an opportunity for people to take a look at what can be achieved with the craft and give them some inspiration for their own home.

Most work that is commissioned comes directly from the inspiration or an interest of the customer. Pieces which feature birds, boats and flowers have been created to illustrate hobbies and memories, creating a really personal piece of art for a home.

Business owner Andrew Patch said: “A wide range of pieces can be created for any property with stained glass and it is an

easy, cost effective way to transform a building. I am pleased to have launched a new website which hopefully will inspire those interested in having a piece created or restored.”

Work can be carried out anywhere in the UK.

Details: For a free quote call 01761 471301 or 07450 371122

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 17

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Roaring success

TANITH, Robin and the team at Wells Trading Post are rarely taken aback by some of the items brought into them to be sold.

But even they were amazed when a customer struggled into the emporium with a huge lion skin. Thought to be more than 100 years old – Robin said the style of the cloth backing was a sign of its age – the skin measured around ten feet by eight feet and a hole in its side, thought to have been caused by a spear, was visible.

Robin said: “It was so heavy we were struggling to find ways we could display it.”

But they need not have worried; Tanith posted a photo on the Wells Trading Post Facebook page and it sold almost instantly to a customer from Devon.

The sheer variety of items on sale at Wells Trading Post is one of the reasons why production teams from antiques and collectables-themed television programmes have been beating an increasingly frequent path to their door. One recent researcher was working for a programme broadcast in the United States!

Tanith said: “That’s the beauty of working here; you never know what’s going to happen next!”

The lion sleeps tonight

Old Priory Mill, West St, Wells, BA5 2HG. Tel: 01749 671454 www.wellstradingpost.co.uk • email:tanithtradingpost@gmail.com

PAGE 18 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

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An eclectic mix at forthcoming sale A GARGANTUAN longcase clock is to be sold in Tamlyns’ antiques auction on March 24th – at nine feet tall you will need high ceilings and a large room as it also chimes and strikes on the quarters.

The sale also includes two other more provincial longcase clocks, mantel clocks, wrist and pocket watches and a Black Forest mantel cuckoo clock in ornately carved case.

If your tastes are for the natural world then there is a Palissy-style plate with the usual large number of

Palissy style plate

ARTS & ANTIQUES

creepy crawlies all over it, a Majolica mussels plate centred with a very realistic spider crab and a Chinese silver punch bowl with a naturalistic scaly dragon chasing a flaming pearl applied to the outside.

Also included in the sale are the contents of a large farmhouse – large carved oak pieces, magnificent oak sideboard, Victorian mahogany extending dining tables, marble topped walnut credenza, Victorian satinwood compactum/linen press, kitchen tables, chairs, early dough platters, extensive collection of cheese dishes and many other numerous items.

Other sections include jewellery, silver, pictures, books, furniture, glass, decorative items and a beautiful Steinway boudoir grand piano – something for every taste and size of property! The sale will go online with live bidding on the sale day.

Entries close on February 27th although furniture entries are already closed due to the large quantity in from the farmhouse, though smaller items of jewellery, silver, ceramics and glass can still be accepted.

Tamlyns can be contacted on 01278 445251.

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 19

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True love will never fade

By Mark Adler

LEADING tattoo artists from across the United Kingdom gathered at the Cheese and Grain in Frome for the town’s first tattoo convention.

There was no shortage of people wanting to have their own tattoos inscribed during the two-day event when the artists were able to demonstrate their extraordinary skills and their clients display their eclectic choice of designs.

Some of the designs were so complex that they would take several sessions to complete.

The Frome Tattoo Convention had a strong feel of burlesque and also saw the regional heats of the Lady Ink’d UK competition where entrants were quizzed by a panel of judges about the reasoning behind their tattoos.

Tattoo artist Celi Hampton at work

Mz Bones, from Bath, one of the contestants in Lady Ink’d competition

An artist works from a photo of an old film camera to complement the tattoo of Charlie Chaplin Vicky Le Guilcher, from Bath, works on a design on a visitor’s back

Oceania Pearl talks to the audience at the Lady Ink’d competition about her taste in tattoos PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

Bones the barber at work in front of the stage. The “shop” was kept busy all weekend

Dave, from Trowbridge

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ARTS AND ANTIQUES

From Como to Clevedon

CLEVEDON Salerooms quarterly specialist sale on March 12th will have an air of spring about it helped by this expansive oil on canvas of Lake Como.

One can almost hear the bell striking

the hour in the Bellagio Bell Tower depicted in the image. Time for one more cappuccino?

Measuring 96cm x 140cm and in a handsome gilt frame, this work painted

by Alois Arnegger (Austrian 18791967) must rate as one of his finest and carries a pre-sale estimate of £3,000 £4000. If you fancy a room with a view, make a date for the March 12th.

For further details contact the Salerooms on 01934 830111 or look at the online catalogue at www.clevedon-salerooms.com

If you go down to the Salerooms today . . .

Black Forest Carved Hall stand

£1,000 - £1,500 Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

FREE ANTIQUE VALUATION DAYS 16 17 18 March 9.30am–1pm and 2pm–5pm Held at the salerooms – no appointment necessary

Vintage enamel sign

£150 - £250

Arthur J Elsley Oil on canvas ‘Sweet Bobs’

£4,000 - £6,000

Tel: 01934 830111 or 0117 325 6789 The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Kenn, Clevedon, Bristol BS21 6TT www.clevedon-salerooms.com

Quarterly Specialist Sale At the Salerooms Thursday 12th March at 10.30am VIEWING: Tues 10th March 2pm – 5.30pm Wed 11th March 10am – 7.30pm MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 21

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INTERNET

A new Window

THE next version of Windows is on the horizon, and it’s called Windows 10. Not sure what happened to Windows 9 – perhaps Microsoft lost it somewhere?

It should be a free upgrade for Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 users during the first year. If you don’t upgrade in the first year, you will then have to pay the cost, which hasn’t been announced but Windows 8 is currently around £60-£80 depending on version and where you buy it.

Although Microsoft are referring to it as a Licence, there should be no additional subscription fees attached to Windows 10, whenever you buy it. It is scheduled for release in late 2015, but cynics might well expect it to be early 2016!

The general layout and usage will be very similar to Windows 8 and although mostly targeted at touchscreens, it will be suitable for laptops, desktops etc., as well as tablets, hybrids (tablets you can dock to a keyboard) and phones.

There are still tweaks to be made, no doubt, but the task bar appears streamlined on Windows 10, and the Start Menu can be made full screen with a touch/click. Settings has also reverted back to look like the traditional Control Panel of old.

The Charms Bar (bit that appears on the right when you move your mouse over or swipe from the right) also has a new look, with users able to swipe from the right to find a notifications panel. Swiping down will close all apps.

When the keyboard is removed from a device which can be undocked from a keyboard, the user will be asked whether they want to enter tablet mode, after which apps switch to full screen.

There will also be Windows 10 for Phones.

This will be best for screens that are 8in or below.

Devices with screens below 8in will have to do without the traditional desktop view, however, and will instead, have the phone version of the operating system.

(Mainstream support for Vista has already ended, and extended support will end on April 11, 2017, with obvious implications for security.)

Submitted by IT for the Terrified : The Old Cowshed, Station Road, Cheddar BS27 3AG 01934 741751 • www.itfortheterrified.co.uk itfortheterrified@btconnect.com This article is for guidance only, and the opinion of the writer. For more in depth information, please contact us.

We offer individual training, at a pace to suit you; a session lasts 2 hours and costs £10. We can cover a range of subjects – including absolute basics; photo management; shopping online; emailing; Word processing, spreadsheets; basic web design; etc. on a range of devices, including Windows Vista/W7/W8: Macs: Tablets: iPads: smartphones. We also run a COMPUTER DROP IN session 1.30-3.00 Thursday afternoons, but split into half-hour segments – 1st one for general advice, 2nd for Windows 8, 3rd for Tablets help and 4th for iPad queries. Call in for a quick word of advice/help/info.

See our website or contact us for further details.

Or if you can spare two hours a week and have skills on any level with any type of computer that you would like to share with others, please get in touch.

PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

CROSSWORD

The Mendip Mindbender

ACROSS 1. Lumber support gets a pass (10) 6. Damage lift (4) 9. Headgear without dress leads to nudity hazard!

(6,4) 10. Rattle snake makes harsh noise (4) 12. Comet realigned old earth (4) 13. Yo Baron! Be merrily of much good cheer! (9) 15. Estate made smaller when reorganised to include zoo (8) 16. Charity, uncharacteristically in anger: BLANK! (6) 18. I’m lean, out of sorts and lowly (6) 20. Told off but without a care went on at the double (8) 23. Glaciers melt after a warmer location is reached (9) 24. Medication does the trick!

(4) 26. Head starter (4) 27. For instance, about fly in bud finding sweet sticky substance (7,3) 28. Dyed imaginatively for swirl effect (4) 29. Guarantors rarely pay disputed champion (4,6)

DOWN 1. Connection re-established after six replacements! (4) 2. Len, back in where he can dry out, warily starts deciphering an old set of rules (7) 3. Stanley and Diana meet at church, but first yearn from afar (4,8) 4. Meddler redacted by US corps (8) 5 and 17. Almost anything goes where yuccas wear bibs jauntily! (6,8) 7. Push or pull? (5,2) 8. Spy embroiled in head of state schism sides with journalists to create new beginnings (5,5) 11. Not dug in, all I contemplated is, at length, considered (12) 14. Block drain in desperate bid to create protrusion (5,5) 19. What is normally extremely secure is undone (7) 21. Look! Bright flowers! (7) 22. Creator trains a clumsy amateur (6) 25. Ruler in uncontrollable mirth! (4) Compiled by Felkov

Answers on Page 82

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MENDIP TIMES

Food for the saints

SUNDAY, March 1st is St David’s Day, patron saint of our neighbours in Wales and Tuesday, March 17th is Ireland’s St Patrick’s Day, when even the Guinness can be green!

The traditional foods of both countries are surprisingly similar. Bara Brith from With JUNE Wales becomes Barnbrach in Ireland, Cawl MACFARLANE in Wales becomes Irish Stew in Ireland.

An open fire would have provided the heat source long before Agas and slow cookers and the pot of choice would have been the cauldron – an amazing vessel that, with flat wooden inserts, allows several dishes to be cooked at the same time, the liquid in the bottom steaming what was above.

WELSH CAWL

This very simple dish with a minimum number of ingredients asks only one thing of the cook – long slow gentle cooking. To be correct, the broth and the meat and veg should be served separately. You will be rewarded with a warming plate of food that is surprisingly delicate.

IRISH CHAMP

500g potatoes (Maris Piper, King Edward), peeled butter 200ml milk 1 bunch spring onions, washed and sliced

INGREDIENTS

PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

Bara Brith

INGREDIENTS METHOD

Put the lamb into a roomy pot, cover with water or stock and simmer for one hour. Add all the vegetables, herbs and seasoning and simmer for a further hour. Check for tenderness and seasoning. Serve.

Miss out the potatoes in the Cawl recipe and serve instead with Champ – thereby honouring two saints on one plate! Champ is also great with weekday sausages and gravy.

METHOD

Quarter the potatoes and boil until tender.

Meanwhile put the spring onions and the milk in a pot, scald, turn off heat and allow to infuse. Drain the potatoes well.

Mash well and beat with a knob of butter.

Add the milk infusion and beat until creamy.

Pile into a dish, make a well in the centre and add a knob of butter. Serve as the butter melts.

500g neck of lamb, cut into chunks 2 large carrots, cut into chunks 2 medium onions, chopped 1 leek, sliced, including some green 1 small swede, peeled and cut into chunks 500g potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks 1 bay leaf 2 sprigs rosemary 10 black peppercorns big pinch salt

BARA BRITH

You can make this Welsh tea bread with yeast, or, as here, with self-raising flour.

After the overnight soaking of the fruit it is very quick and very, very delicious.

METHOD

Soak the fruit and sugar in the tea overnight in a big bowl. Next day preheat INGREDIENTS the oven to (for a 2lb loaf tin) 170˚C. 500g dried mixed fruit Grease the 250g brown sugar tin. Add 300ml hot black tea the spice, 2 tsp mixed spice flour and 500g self-raising flour egg to the 1 free range egg, beaten fruit and stir well.

Put the mixture into the tin and bake in the centre of the oven for 1½ hrs or until a skewer comes out clean. If top is browning too much cover with tinfoil. Allow to cool in tin for 10 mins before turning out. Serve with good butter.

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FOOD & DRINK Lunches at

The Den gears up for dinner

THERE’S a new place in town to enjoy an evening meal. The Coffee Den at Jon Thorner’s at Pylle will be opening on Friday and Saturday nights from the middle of March – and will simply be known as The Den. This follows the success of their Thursday evening Speciality Steak Night. The team have welcomed a new chef and will be bringing out a new evening menu. On Fridays the focus will be on seafood, with delicious fish dishes, and Saturday nights will have a full à-la-carte menu.

The licensed café-style-bistro will be transformed of an evening. Using quality ingredients, including meat from Jon Thorner’s and sourced locally whenever possible, The Den offers food which is freshly-made by their team of chefs.

The Den serves delicious meals, homemade desserts, hearty cooked breakfasts and Sunday lunches. So the name change better reflects what this place has to offer. Don’t forget Mothering Sunday – The Den offer a fantastic one, two or three-course Sunday lunch, as well their whole menu and daily specials, with two sittings available on March 15th.

1 Course £9.50 2 Courses £13.50 3 Courses £17.50 OLD HILL, WINFORD, BRISTOL BS40 8DW TEL: 01275 472292 reservations@winfordmanor.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 25

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MENDIP TIMES

Extra style at the Holcombe Inn

THE Holcombe Inn has always offered visitors that little bit extra when it comes to style and service and the latest developments promise to raise the bar even higher.

Jules Berry and the team at the 17th Century inn have recently opened a dedicated coffee bar, offering a range of eight speciality coffees, along with teas, hot chocolate and delicious homemade cakes!

Coffee is served from 8am every day and takeaways are available, making the Holcombe Inn the ideal stop-off on the way to work or having dropped the children off at school. The inn is already well-known for its breakfasts – the AA recently described them as “outstanding” – and Jules said it was a logical extension to create the coffee bar.

Also proving very popular are the inn’s £6.95 “small plates” at lunchtimes on weekdays, offering the same quality of cooking, but in smaller portions. Jules said: “We never compromise on the quality of

The coffee bar at the Holcombe Inn is open from 8am

our food but some people prefer a lighter option at lunchtimes.”

In recent years, all the bedrooms at the inn have been refurbished to a luxurious standard but guests have not been allowed to have their dogs in them (dogs have always been very welcome in the bar area and the snug).

Because the inn is set in glorious Mendip countryside with miles of walks all around, Jules is currently converting one of the outbuildings into two, log-cabin style

“lodges” where dogs will be more than welcome.

Jules said: “The plan is to have them ready by the summer and they’ll both be able to accommodate a family of four.

They’ll both have log burners and will ooze country charm.”

G Sam Evans and his band return on the evening of Thursday, March 5th, fusing jazz, blues, soul and reggae into an intriguing acoustic combination. Why not book a table for dinner?

Indulge in our award winning food Michelin Pub Guide 2014/15 We offer a wide choice of restaurant dishes and ‘pub classics’ including The Holcombe Inn’s famous pie. We also serve fantastic Sunday roasts. NEW on weekdays – “small plate lunches” – all £6.95!

Enjoy a drink from our extensive list of beverages Prepare to be spoilt for choice with our superb selection of wines, real ales, local ciders, organic English lagers, our ‘Top Shelf’ Whisky collection and alcohol free drinks.

Now serving delicious coffees, teas, hot chocolate and homemade cakes from our new coffee bar. Open from 8am (takeaways available)

Relax in one of our eight AA 5* individually designed rooms All of our rooms are very different in style with luxury bathrooms, most with feature baths. We are also converting one of our outbuildings overlooking surrounding fields into two, dog-friendly boutique lodges with wood burners, for guests and their pooches to take advantage of all the beautiful walks around here.

PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

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GARDEN FOOD

Sweet as honey

THIS unusual little fruit, Lonicera caerulea, also known as the honey berry or Siberian honeysuckle, is a close relative of our native honeysuckle and is found in its wild form in Siberia, China and Northern Japan.

I first encountered it on a trip to With JAKE Poland, where it seemed quite popular WHITSON among allotment gardeners. This may be partly a legacy of Soviet occupation, as the Soviets were very keen on this fruit and put a lot of effort into breeding better fruiting forms in an attempt to become more selfsufficient.

Subsequently Canadian plant breeders bred their own varieties from the Russian forms and this has resulted in a large variety of cultivars on the market. I have yet to try one that wasn’t good, so I would recommend just getting whatever varieties take your fancy – not all forms are self-fertile so it’s worth getting more than one.

It is a very tough little plant, grows as a selfsupporting bush rather than as a climber, and can tolerate a very wide range of soils and climates.

It can be a little slow to establish in Britain (perhaps because of our comparatively cool summers) but once established it is very prolific.

Honey berries fruit from May to August, depending on the cultivar and position – the fruits turn frosted blue (like a blueberry) a few days before they are ripe. At this point you really must wait until they are fully ripe otherwise they can be bitter. Once ripe, they are sweet and delicious, not unlike little sausage shaped blueberries, but with a flavour all their own.

I bought a few bushes about a year ago and have been growing them on in pots ready for planting out this winter, so have not had huge amounts of fruit to play with yet. I suspect, however, that they would make an excellent substitute for blueberries in fluffy, American style pancakes.

Jacob Whitson is a chef and food writer who has worked in many of the West Country’s most prestigious restaurants. He is currently working on his first book, a travelogue detailing the regional foods of Japan.

FOOD & DRINK

WILD FOOD

A hearty springtime dish

I WAS sat looking out of the window the other day watching the rabbits eating in the field next door. One or two were nibbling whilst another was up on its hind legs, clearly on sentry duty. Then I had an ‘ahha!’ moment, so guess what this month’s topic is? Answers on a postcard please...

With ADRIAN I’m an advocate of eating abundant wild BOOTS game particularly rabbit, deer, pigeon and squirrel as they can cause tremendous damage to crops and natural vegetation. So eating them would be doing landowners a favour whilst making a great addition to our culinary repertoire.

European rabbit (Oryctolagus cunniculus) is a medium-sized mammal, with brown fur (white underneath), long ears and a body length of 35-40cm. They live socially in extended warrens yet when first introduced by the Normans (who made it an offence to poach them as they were highly valued) people actually dug the warrens for them.

But now they have naturalised and are more than capable of digging their own thanks very much. They are very common and conspicuous on grassland and roadside verges.

In an effort to control numbers the disease myxomatosis was introduced in the 1950s. Ironically rabbit numbers are now increasing suggesting genetic resistance. It’s not harmful to us, just make sure you have a healthy specimen. I get my rabbits from a local farmer which is mutually beneficial; he reduces his rabbit burden and I get a bargain source of protein and my favourite dish is a classic rabbit and smoked bacon stew.

Heat oil in a pan and gently fry the bacon. Then roll diced rabbit in plenty of seasoned flour and add to pan until golden.

Add whole shallots, diced carrots and celery and fry until the veg softens. Add a couple of splashes of balsamic vinegar and simmer for five minutes.

Add a glass of good red wine (not too much or it makes the end result amusingly pink) and simmer for a further five minutes, then pop in a couple of bay leaves, a few crushed juniper berries, 200ml of stock and simmer for 40mins until meat is tender and the stew is rich and thick.

Garnish with a sprig of thyme and serve with large, fluffy potatoes and if you really want to carb load some thick sliced buttered bread too. This really is a hearty springtime dish!

Adrian Boots is a Landscape Ecologist, Wild Food Forager and Adventure Activity provider. You can visit his web site www.gowildactivities.co.uk to learn more about wild food foraging and activities you can do with him on the Mendip Hills.

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 27

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MENDIP TIMES

THE QUEEN ADELAIDE BLAGDON

01761 463926

FOOD & DRINK

Travelling through, walking local trails, or living in the village, if

the doors are open – come in and enjoy what Blagdon’s little country pub has to offer.

Booking highly recommended

BOOKING NOW FOR MOTHERS’ DAY

GOOD FOOD, LAGER, ALES AND LOCAL CIDER

Mendip Times reduces travel costs

THE RED LION VILLAGE PUB & RESTAURANT Sutton Hill Road, Bishop Sutton BS39 5UT

01275 333042

100,000 potential customers within a short distance of your business

GLUTEN-FREE ON WEDNESDAYS

Barrow Gurney BS48 3RY

01275 472282

No Michelin Star, just 11 Good Years!

Sunday roasts a speciality – Sweets just £2.75 Open 10.30am till late 7 days a week

e-mail: katedinham@ymail.com

BEAH

English & Mediterranean Restaurant, Wells

Enjoy Mother’s Day with us

Selection of Sunday Roasts, fish and Vegetarian dishes: One course – £11.95 • Two courses – £14.95 Three courses – £17.95 Please see our website www.redlionbishopsutton.co.uk to view our menus

Restaurant food at pub prices, in a warm and friendly environment, created by award winning chef Scott Lucas.

Lunch and dinner service Mon-Sat – Sunday food served all day

The Red Lion – the pub at the heart of the community EXTENDED OPENING HOURS! Friday, Saturday And Sunday – Open All Day • Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs 12noon ’til 3.00pm. 4.30pm ’til Close.

PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

BOOK YOUR TABLE NOW FOR Mother’s Day Lunch Sunday March 15th And Easter Sunday lunch April 5th Special 2 or 3 course menus available on line at www.beah.co.uk or pop info the restaurant at Union Street and pick up a copy Bookings taken from 12 noon - 2pm Don't forget we are open for lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday with daily specials and £12 prix fixe dinner menu (available Monday - Thursday evenings only)

Reserve your table now to avoid disappointment

01749 678111 or email: info@beah.co.uk 2, Union Street, Wells, Somerset BA5 2PU

Relaxed & friendly dining in the heart of Wells

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Whatʼs new from Myrtle Farm

THATCHERS

Thatchers Then and Now

A round-up of events from Thatchers Cider in Sandford

Village pub development on track

WORK is continuing apace on our redevelopment of Myrtle Farm’s local, The Railway Inn in Sandford.

Over recent months we’ve undertaken extensive restoration and essential structural work on the building, all the while conserving as much of the existing character of the building as we can.

The Railway Inn will be the perfect venue to showcase not only our range of Somerset ciders, but also a selection of excellent crafted local beers and ales.

The menu will feature the very best quality regional produce.

We’ve worked hard to incorporate the feedback we’ve received from Sandford residents to date, to make sure the community gets a new, homely and welcoming pub at the heart of the village.

We’ve already recruited a general manager, other bar and restaurant positions will be posted on the Thatchers website, when available.

An open fireplace will be part of the welcoming bar area

Artist’s impression of the new restaurant

Our cidermakers have been busy!

WE couldn’t have had a more exciting start to 2015 here at Myrtle Farm, as we’ve launched not one but two new Thatchers ciders, each a modern twist on a classic style of cider.

Thatchers Red is a red apple cider. Mellow, refreshing and fruity, with an abv of 4%, it has a subtle, sweet dessert apple flavour.

Thatchers Somerset Haze is a premium crafted cloudy cider with an abv of 4.5%, perfect for laid-back, relaxed and sociable drinking occasions.

Both Somerset Haze and Thatchers Red are available in Thatchers Cider Shop at Myrtle Farm, as well as from selected retailers.

Cheers!

Thatchers Cider

Stan Thatcher with Martin (right) and his brother Robert on the barrel

AS a family run company that goes back over four generations, we love our history as much as we love our cider.

Over the last few years we’ve unearthed some fascinating insight into previous generations of the Thatcher family, and what life has been like for us through the decades as Somerset farmers.

Now, with help and research from our publishers Bristol Books, author James Russell and local historian Maria Forbes, we’ve been able to gather all this fascinating information together for the first time into a beautiful hard backed book. With the addition of atmospheric photos from Neil Phillips, captured throughout the seasons, we’re really proud of it.

It’s available to purchase from our Cider Shop at Myrtle Farm, and also online from www.bristolbooks.org www.tangentbooks.co.uk and Amazon.

www.thatcherscider.co.uk • Thatchers Cider, Myrtle Farm, Sandford, Somerset, BS25 5RA • Tel: 01934 822862 MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 29

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MENDIP TIMES EARLY DINER MAIN COURSES £6.95 EVERY DAY 5PM TO 7PM LIGHTER LUNCHES £6.95 EXCELLENT SELECTION OF MAIN COURSES STEAK NIGHT EVERY WEDNESDAY STEAK & A LARGE GLASS OF WINE £14.95 SUNDAY LUNCH 12 TO 3PM THE FINEST SUCCULENT ROAST JOINTS ABSOLUTE QUALITY! FULL XL BREAKFAST & HOT DRINK £9.95 EVERY DAY 8AM TO 11AM Cheddar BS27 3AA info@batharms.com www.batharms.com 01934 742425

FANTASTIC NEW MENU NOW LAUNCHED

Trade for free at food and drink festival

ORGANISERS of the 2015 Burnham-on-Sea Food and Drink Festival have launched their festival bursary scheme offering up to five free trading pitches at their event in May. The bursary is aimed at food and drink producers who have not engaged in retail trade before. They One of last year’s bursary winners: may have been Berrow Beef owners Sarah and Richard Welland with eldest son Oscar producing and selling to restaurants or other businesses but not direct to the public.

Festival director Beverley Milner Simonds said: “The scheme is designed to encourage business start-up and self-employment within Somerset. We are providing up to five discretionary bursary awards for pitches at the May Food and Drink festival.

We had a great footfall (over 7000) at each of the 2014 festivals and we hope that opportunity will be seized on by new traders.”

G The festival takes place on Saturday, May 23rd. Applications need to be in before Saturday, March 14th and can be downloaded at: www.burnhamonseafoodfestival.org

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G Bed & Breakfast en suite bedrooms in the attached refurbished Cider House always available to book on any night. Ideal location close to the Bath & West Showground and other local attractions. There are also some lovely walks in the vicinity.

G Cask Marque Ales G Somerset Ciders G Check the website for details of all our upcoming events

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PAGE 30 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

Book now quoting ‘Mendip Times’ two or three-course menu including: traditional Sunday roasts made with locally sourced produce, fresh catch-of-theday fish and sea food dishes as well as homemade puddings, cheeseboards and coffee – all for £19.95 for two courses or £22.50 for three (including coffee or tea).

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Fashion and food

Page 31

ENCORE Fashions started at Winscombe Market in December 2012 and moved to their current location, above Charlotte’s Tea Room, in Winscombe last October.

They offer quality nearly new clothes, giving their customers half the selling price and the rest goes to a designated charity. So far they have supported Brace, BAKPA, The Memory Cafe at Weston Hospital, Young Carers, Jessie May, Fragile X, Samaritans, Winscombe Community Centre, Sandford Playgroup, Iris May, Cots for Tots, Friends for Mutts and Weston Hospicecare.

On May 7th Encore Fashions will team up with Charlotte’s Tea Room to hold a fashion show at Charlotte’s in aid of Freewheelers, the voluntary emergency service that provides motorcycles and riders to courier essential material and equipment for the NHS. You will find them open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am – 4pm and Saturdays from 10am – 1pm.

Details: 07502 337941

FOOD & DRINK

Jay’s a winner in college competition

A TALENTED student chef from Weston College has created a winning healthy dish that is now being featured on the menu at the college’s training restaurant, The Grove.

Jay Dudbridge, 18, won a competition held at the college after producing a dish called BBQ Bunny Chow, using Quorn steak strips, spicy sweet potato wedges and dipping sauces.

Jay is pictured (centre) with his trophy, with other finalists (left to right) Kayleigh Fisher, Jacob Cooke, Joe Hitchman and Harvey Lane.

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 31

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MENDIP TIMES

PANCAKE DAY

WINSCOMBE

BLAGDON

EAST HARPTREE

PAGE 32 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

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BUSINESS

FOLLOWING a huge investment, the Dickies factory shop on Second Avenue, Westfield Trading Estate continues to go from strength to strength.

The design of the £100,000 refit reflects the evolution of the Dickies brand through workwear to streetwear, inspired by industrial materials synonymous with the trades, including scaffolding, concrete, pallets and panelling, and reflective of hardworking, hardwearing apparel.

Wayne Rawlins, manager at the Dickies factory shop commented: “The rejuvenated store also has newly merchandised solutions to health and safety at work accessories. A wide range of PPE, including head and hand protection, waterproof gear, high visibility garments and safety footwear enables the customer to browse and identify their work place needs.

“Alongside our monthly promotions and offers in store, we also offer a quality embroidery service on Dickies garments, which proves popular.”

Photo by Ignyte Limited Radstock

Dickies invests in new products

The new Farm and Country is a brand new range for Dickies for 2015. The range is functional, yet in keeping with the traditional look and feel to be expected from an agricultural range.

Dickies have added a new range of shirts into the collection to enhance its current Tattersall collection, as well as a new range of jackets and trousers. Each is suited to specific country pursuits but all are versatile and comfortable enough to be worn at any time.

There is a new colour for the popular

Landmaster safety Wellington boot, in navy with an orange sole. The Landmaster Wellingtons both safety and non-safety are one of the lightest and most comfortable Wellington boots on the market.

Polyurethane is extremely light (40% less than PVC or rubber), the boots are especially suited for farmers who need to wear Wellingtons all day, whether it’s driving around the farm or off to market, feeding the sheep or walking cattle from the fields to the parlour.

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 33

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MENDIP TIMES

Tackling obesity in pets

THE overweight cat and dog is becoming an epidemic in the western world. Weight gain leading to obesity has serious health implications and can be deemed a form of malnutrition.

Langford Small Animal Practice provides a Slim4Life nurse led clinic, run by qualified experienced registered veterinary nurses. The clinic provides patient evaluation and condition scoring, weight and exercise plans tailored to your pet and lifestyle, realistic targets set and supported, weight progress charts for you to take home and telephone and email support as required.

The practice also provides a number of nurse clinics to ensure you have help and support with all aspects of your pet's care, from weight loss advice to tooth brushing! Their nurses also provide simple procedures such as nail clipping, microchipping and bandage checks at a reduced rate to that of the vet.

If you are concerned about your pet’s weight, the practice is running an owner education evening to mark the re-launch of the Slim4Life clinic. During the evening there will be talks on tips to keep your pet healthy, how to improve your pet’s diet and the diseases associated with being overweight.

Details: 01934 852422 or visit www.langfordvets.co.uk

Chamber grows in strength

Pictured (l to r)( Graham Knight, Helen Lacey, Michael Eavis and Charles Olney

SOMERSET Chamber of Commerce has appointed two new directors, Helen Lacey from Red Berry Recruitment and Charles Olney from Albert Goodman.

Helen, who has offices in Shepton Mallet, Yeovil and Bridgwater said: “Over the years I have seen the Somerset Chamber grow and when asked if I would put myself forward, I thought this would be a great opportunity to share my knowledge, passion for business, love for marketing and general enthusiasm for life, developing people and businesses.”

As part of a 12-strong board of directors led by chairman Graham Knight, the Somerset chamber is in its strongest position since it was established almost 20 years ago, now with around 550 members and is recognised as being the fastest growing chamber in the British Chambers of Commerce network.

Head to Everest WOULD you like to join a trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal? Nep-in-Sri Travel have two trips departing from Kathmandu on 30/3/15 to 15/4/15 and 17/5/15 to 2/6/15.

For more details visit the website, www.nepinsritravel.co.uk - "In the footsteps

of Hillary – Everest Base Camp" itinerary or call 07909 411 450.

CAMELEY LODGE LAUNDRY

Duvets & Bedspreads washed & dried Sheets and Duvet covers washed and pressed Professional efficient service Collection & delivery service in the Chew Valley

Tel 01761 451787

www.cameleylodgelaundry.co.uk PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

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Antiques and curios

GEORGE House, The Square, Axbridge will re-open for the sale of antiques, curios and collectables on March 13th, having been closed for refurbishment of the building (which over-ran by a few months!).

They also have a superb selection of glass, ceramics, silver, crockery, pottery and cutlery. If you collect stamps, coins, cigarette cards, butterflies or ostrich eggs they have something for you, as well as militaria, table lamps, chairs, tables and other items of furniture, plus paintings and prints.

Back to business in Axbridge

LAVENDER & Co Single Estate Lavender is grown on the Mendips above the medieval town of Axbridge. Over time they have perfected the art of making pure lavender oil and their different varieties of lavender are also used for drying and cooking.

They grow fresh lavender for weddings and are always happy to discuss requirements and choose the variety of lavender straight from the field.

The Lavender Gift and Craft shop is to be found in Axbridge Square and will reopen on March 13th after being closed for a year for refurbishment.

A hidden gem no more

A NEW name, a new owner and a new outlook: welcome to Cafe Nouveau in Tytherington, near Frome.

Set within the Lighthouse, a beautiful manor house with 4 star bed and breakfast accommodation and event facilities, Cafe Nouveau offers an inviting, warm and relaxed space for everyone; from locals, families and friends, resident guests and holiday makers to small businesses.

Open daily from 7am, it serves freshly brewed speciality coffee, a variety of teas including artisan, loose-leaf herbal teas and freshly blended smoothies in the summer. The menu consists of delicious home made creations, fresh quality produce, locally sourced wherever possible, using seasonal ingredients and free range eggs and chicken. Food intolerances are well catered for. On sunny days, enjoy the south facing sun terrace surrounded by a tranquil Japanese garden and stunning lake-side views. Susan said: “The cafe has always been something of a hidden gem but it deserves to be more than that.

We’re set in the most beautiful countryside and everyone – including well-behaved dogs – is welcome.”

Cafe Nouveau is an ideal venue for small parties and families are welcome to book the space for birthday parties and small celebrations after the cafe has closed to the public on Saturdays and Sundays. Susan added: “Families often visit after school and so we offer healthy light snacks which won’t ruin a child’s appetite or parents’ pockets and there is plenty of parking and wide open space outside to enjoy.”

BUSINESS

George

House

Antiques, curios and collectables George House, The Square, Axbridge BS26 2AP Tel: 01934 733939 Mob: 07979 994126 email: b.hamblin2@btinternet.com

Lavender Gift Shop

SINGLE ESTATE LAVENDER FIELD

OPENS FRIDAY MARCH 13th 2015

George House, The Square, Axbridge Email:info@lavenderandco.co.uk Tel: 01934 733939/0781 866 5729 www.lavenderandco.co.uk

The Lighthouse: a great venue for business meetings, training courses and community events. Contact our Reception team to arrange a tour of the facilities or to receive our Events Courtesy Pack.

First time event booking discount: for local businesses only, we are offering a 25% discount on first time venue hire bookings. Offer valid through to the end of April 2015. Please quote ref: SCD2015 when making an enquiry.

For further details please visit our website: www.lighthouse-uk.com or contact Reception on 01373 453585, reception@lighthouse-uk.com.

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 35

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MENDIP TIMES ECATCHER MOL

NO MOLE NO FEE Telephone 01275 332966

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Suzanne’s successful year A “FANTASTIC” year – that’s how Suzanne Brodrick describes the forthcoming first anniversary of the opening of

her hair salon in Faulkland.

Suzanne opened Hair by Suzanne Elizabeth to new and regular clients on March 15th

From a cable free home, to home automa on, Wedmore Home Technology Solu ons can provide you with a professional service with solu ons designed around you, and for you.

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Baby room - Nursery - Pre-school - Forest School

Highly qualified team. Excellent secure rural location.

Funding available for 2-3-4 year olds Gardening, Yoga, Music & Dance, Cookery

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The Royal Bath & West Showground Shepton Mallet BA4 6QL 2015 Ofsted inspection rated our "Contribution of the Early Years Provision to the well-being of the children" as Outstanding

An exclusive Children’s Day Nursery delivering exceptional care & education in an award winning environment Babyroom

Preschool

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Providing wifi availability all around the home or family safe connec vity with different levels of access

TV WALL MOUNTING

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HOME NETWORKING

From addi onal data storage and shared drive access to streaming music and video around the house.

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One light switch to an en re house, we can make your home an extension of your smartphone, whilst retaining exis ng func onality (suitable for anybody to use!)

We’d love to hear from you to discuss what services we can provide for you. Call us on 01934 713657 or 07545 551417 • www.wedmorehometechnologysolu#ons.com

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Suzanne Elizabeth • bridal hair • extensions • unisex/children • colouring T: 01373 834671

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Ofsted 2010 “Children have developed good language and number skills and show a passion for exploring and investigating their world.”

“These skills will help support their future learning”

Funding now available for 2-3-4 year olds

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01934 713527

www.littleowlschildcare.com

PAGE 36 • MENDIP TIMES • MSRCH 2015

High Street Faulkland Radstock BA3 5UX www.suzanneelizabeth.co.uk hair@suzanneelizabeth.co.uk

last year and has enjoyed every minute, winning a Somerset Hairdresser of the Year competition run by a local newspaper series and meeting lots of new people.

The salon – in the former village post office and shop – has become so busy that Suzanne is now recruiting a hair stylist and a nail technician, both on a selfemployed basis.

Suzanne said: “They’ve got to be passionate about their work and offer fantastic customer service.”

G Anyone interested in joining the salon should email Suzanne at: hair@suzanneelizabeth.co.uk or call into the salon with a CV.

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Who . . . and why?

THE business networking events at the Mendip Hub bring in a wide range of people, some wanting to explore the facilities on offer, others to use the opportunity to make new contacts and expand their network of suppliers.

What sort of people? Well, of the 150 or so who have participated in the last year, we have seen pretty much every variety of business and profession, including, but not exclusively: Accountants, alternative therapy providers, architects, auctioneers, bakers, bookkeepers, builders, business coaches, carpenters, civil engineering contractors, computer engineers, copywriters, digital marketing specialists, e-bay distributors, energy conservation specialists, fitness instructors, hoteliers, house clearance specialists, independent financial advisers, innkeepers, IT companies, LED lighting specialists, management consultants, marketing specialists, pilates teachers, PR specialists, refrigeration specialists, retailers, risk managers, sales specialists, shop fitters, skincare specialists, social media specialists, software companies, software engineers, solicitors, surveyors, telephony specialists, telephone

BUSINESS

answering companies, virtual assistants, web developers, water engineering specialists...

Many useful connections have been made and some business critical strategic alliances formed. So why not come along, whatever your profession or trade, and see if other people in the room can help your business expand its horizons?

And why does the Mendip Hub attract regular users for its desks, office space and meeting rooms? The superfast broadband is a big plus, as are the flexible terms, but the positive, productive and dynamic atmosphere created by a friendly bunch of entrepreneurs is the reason users come back time after time.

Judith Ludovino, the Mendip Hub

Learn more about this organisation and the opportunity to stay with families in Estonia and visit Latvia during May 2015.

D.G

Wednesday, 18th March, 2015.

BEAH Wells 11-1pm – Free event.

A chance to learn about travel from a local Somerset based group.

Just turn up!!

To find out about this event or Somerset Friendship Force (including the visit to Estonia & Riga) contact: jo.webb@mbzonline.net or ring 07549190744 to hear a recorded message.

Household, Commercial & Constructional Waste Removal

07437 860475 MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 37

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MENDIP TIMES

BUSINESS

We’ve got it covered Mendip Times Distribution Points

Mendip Times is available from over 800 outlets across the Mendips from superstores to village stores and post offices, farm shops, supermarkets, garden centres, pubs, inns, hotels and restaurants, doctors’ surgeries, libraries and tourist information centres.

ALHAMPTON AXBRIDGE BALTONSBOROUGH BACKWELL BANWELL BARROW GURNEY BARTON ST. DAVID BECKINGTON BISHOP SUTTON BLACKFORD BLAGDON BLEADON BRENT KNOLL BRISTOL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BROCKLEY BRUTON BUCKLAND DINHAM BURCOTT BURRINGTON BUTLEIGH CAMERTON CASTLE CARY CHARTERHOUSE CHEDDAR CHELYNCH CHEW MAGNA CHEW STOKE CHEWTON MENDIP CHILCOMPTON

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PAGE 38 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

HIGH LITTLETON HINTON BLEWETT HOLCOMBE HUNSTRETE HUTTON KEINTON MANDEVILLE KILMERSDON LANGFORD LEIGH on MENDIP LITTON LONG ASHTON LYDFORD ON FOSSE LYMPSHAM MARK MARKSBURY MASBURY MELLS MIDSOMER NORTON NAILSEA NETTLEBRIDGE NORTON MALREWARD NORTON ST PHILIP NUNNEY NYLAND OAKHILL PAULTON PENSFORD PILTON POLSHAM PRIDDY

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Page 39 March:Layout 1

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MENDIP TIMES

New War Walk on Black Down

MENDIP HILLS AONB

Photo courtesy of Robert King

AONB page:Layout 1

One of the types of special fires at Black Down – made by mixing fuel with water.

THE Mendip Hills AONB’s Discovering Black Down Project has researched and published a new walk looking at the site of the World War II decoys that aimed to fool the Luftwaffe into targeting Black Down instead of Bristol.

The walk is available to download from www.discoveringblackdown.org.uk.

On Tuesday, March 24th, 10am – 1pm CHERT (Charterhouse Environs Research Team) will lead a guided walk to uncover what happened and where

on Black Down. The walk will take a peek inside a remaining control bunker, inspect the anti-aircraft tumps and fill in some of the formerly top secret detail.

Further details and booking: 01761 462338 sbardsley@somerset.gov.uk Look out for more opportunities to investigate Black Down’s World War II history in the coming months and to find out what local schools have been doing. Children from Blagdon Primary School have made a film showing how

(Photograph courtesy of Addicott's Archive/Blagdon Local History Society)

Discovering Black Down Project

DISCOVERING Black Down is a threeyear project (2013-2016) funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The project will raise awareness of the wildlife and

archaeological value of the Black Down and Burrington Commons through activities, events and training.

In recent years erosion and damage to

Do you recognise anyone in this picture taken on Black Down around 1940? If so, the Mendip Hills AONB’s Discovering Black Down project would like to hear from you.

the Black Down decoy worked.

Burrington Primary children are designing and making their own model decoys.

specific features and the site in general has occurred through a combination of recreational use and weather. Alongside the Discovering Black Down Project, work to restore and repair badly eroded paths across the Commons will be undertaken.

The legacy of Discovering Black Down will be to ensure local community and user group volunteers continue to play an active role in the care and conservation of this area’s heritage.

The project is guided by the Black Down Advisory Group with representatives from Mendip Hills AONB Unit, Natural England, English Heritage, Somerset County Council, North Somerset Council, and the land owner Sir David Wills.

For further information contact: Stuart Bardsley Discovering Black Down Project Officer: SBardsley@somerset.gov.uk Tel: 01761 462338 Ruth Coleman (Researcher): ruthcoleman@blueyonder.co.uk Tel: 0117 963 3178 PAGE 40 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

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WILDLIFE

Dabbling ducks

By CHRIS SPERRING MBE

DUCKS are familiar to us all. They are one of the first animals we learn to identify as children and are often the first wild animals we come in contact with through visits to the park when we are

young.

For this reason, I think most people have a degree of affection for these innocuous birds. Of course, there is a huge variety of duck species in the UK, some here all year round and others which visit during the winter months to escape the arctic winter.

The group of ducks that most people are best acquainted with are the dabbling ducks, so-called because of the way they up-end themselves to feed on underwater vegetation. These include our most common species, the mallard, and are ducks which feed just below the water surface, so live on shallow water like ponds, lakes and canals.

These birds sit high in the water and look much more buoyant than the diving ducks, which sit lower in the water, with the water almost lapping over their backs. The dabbling ducks can also be distinguished by the position of their legs, which are towards the middle of their body, whereas the diving ducks have legs near the back to propel themselves underwater and find it difficult to walk on land.

Whilst diving ducks feed on fish and other underwater animals, dabbling

Female mallard

ducks are more vegetarian. They feed largely on aquatic vegetation, but will also come on to land to feed on seeds and plants. They will also eat insects and amphibians during the warmer months.

The mallard is an extremely successful dabbling duck which, even though declining in some parts, is still very common. One problem the mallard faces is interbreeding with domestic ducks, as most domestic breeds are descended from mallards (just about everything except muscovys).

Offspring produced from mallards breeding with released domestic ducks are, therefore, not hybrids and can go on to breed themselves, causing a diluted genuine wild gene pool and introducing weaker genes into the wild population.

Another dabbling duck which you may see around Mendip during the winter is the pintail. The northern pintail drake is a stunningly beautiful duck which, as its name suggests, has an elongated central tail feather that can grow up to a quarter of its body length. This makes it unmistakable, both in flight and in the water or resting on land.

This is a large, mallard-sized duck and, as with most ducks, the male is much more colourful and smarter than the female. In the breeding season he has a chocolate-brown head with a white stripe down the side of the neck and a grey underside and back. The female lacks the long tail, which is purely decorative, and

Male and female pintail

is much more carefully camouflaged to help her hide away whilst incubating her eggs. Though most experts agree that the pintail has been declining in the UK, we must bear in mind that unlike the mallard this is a winter visitor for us, whose breeding range is quite extensive, being virtually circumpolar.

One of the factors affecting many of our winter visitors is that with more mild winters in eastern and northern Europe it’s becoming possible for many of them to stay, or not fly as far south for the winter, simply because they don't have to.

Some of the best places to see the magnificent pintail locally are any of the nature reserves with water bodies on the Somerset Levels. There are plenty of hides where you can view the water without disturbing the wildlife and watch species like pintail very clearly. I can also highly recommend a trip to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve at Slimbridge, especially during the winter, where you can view and learn about a huge variety of waterfowl and enjoy the magnificent evening swan feeds.

I was inspired to write this month’s wildlife piece on ducks after presenting the last in the current series of BBC Radio 4’s natural history programme “The Living World” (listen to episodes here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007q yz3/broadcasts/2015/02)

Chris Sperring is Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust. Contact him on 07799 413 918 or via chris.sperring@btinternet.com. Please visit www.swp.hawkandowl.org for more information

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 41

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MENDIP TIMES

A beautiful ring around Wrington

IT’S the same old story – you often overlook what is right under your nose and this has been true of me as I have not written a walk for quite a while from my home village of Wrington. So here, to make amends, is a beautiful walk on the sunny side from the village taking you up onto the hill overlooking Wrington Vale and the Mendip Hills.

It then heads across to Redhill and down to Lye Cross Farm with a chance for refreshment in an old bus before a flat walk back through fields to Wrington and a cafe or pub, if you wish. There are good views and walking is on dry tracks mainly, with some field footpaths. After rain, there are a few areas that will, of course, be a little muddy and wet. The walk has the advantage of only two or three stiles, the rest are gates and it is a good circle for dogs. There is a steady climb, with some respite, out of the village and onto the hill and then it is flat before a descent,

With Sue Gearing PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

PARK: In Wrington, a village lying between the A38 and A370 in Wrington Vale, to the south of Bristol Airport. Park at the popular Plough Inn in the centre of Wrington. It is just round the corner from the village shop Amors (go out left from Amors and up the road a metre or two and the Plough is on the left). The pub has kindly given permission for walkers to park there but ask that you park round the back and tuck yourself well out the way.

The Plough plays an active role in Wrington life and it is well worth having refreshment there before or after.

START: Come out of the Plough, turn right and shortly, turn right again going along Broad Street. Markets were regularly held here. The village was formerly a market town under the Charter of King Edward. Pass the Golden Lion on the right, toilets and then a welcome new addition to the village, the Little Red Beetle, a craft shop which sells coffee, teas, cakes and sandwiches. At the end, don’t bend left but go straight ahead into the Triangle.

John Locke, one of the foremost philosophers of the 17th century was born in a cottage in the Triangle – now demolished – but he never lived in the village. The church of All Saints is renowned for its 113ft high pinnacled tower. When the Houses of Parliament were rebuilt in 1835 after their destruction by fire, it is recorded that the architect, Sir Charles Barry, used the proportions of Wrington tower as a basis for his design for the "Victoria Tower".

Continue through into Ladywell. A short way along on the right take the footpath between gardens. This leads into a field and continue on up until you go through a gate into Alburys development. Go left up the road and then before it reaches the

road, take the Tarmac footpath straight on across the grass to join West Hay Road.

1. WEST HAY ROAD Turn right, and after about a minute, go left up Chapel Hill. Bend right and continue past the chapel along Ropers Lane.

2. BRANCHES CROSS Ignore a road left and reach a junction at Branches Cross – an island of grass with a seat under the hanging tree, commemorating the spot where, on a much older tree, three men of the village were hanged. It appears they fought in the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685 before falling foul of the notorious “hanging judge”.

Go left up Old Hill, a surfaced no through road. This climbs, starting to give you good views over Wrington Vale to the Mendip Hills as you go. Go through an opening by a gate for Barley Farm ahead and continue until just before you reach a metal barrier across the track.

3. BARLEY FARM Fork right on a drive to Barley Farm. Stay on the drive and as it bends left go up right across the grass to a footpath marker post.

Continue on to the hedge ahead and then bend left, still in the field, to reach the public footpath sign. Turn right through a kissing gate and follow the left hedge in this field all the way to the corner (ignore a gate left into another field). A kissing gate leads down in the woodland onto a stepped path, which may be rather wet and muddy – note the red Devon sandstone soil of this Redhill area 4. FOOTBRIDGE Go under a footbridge and on up into a field. Turn right along the edge going round one corner. Further along leave the

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field going through an opening and up a tree-lined path. Come to a memorial tree seat with the thought: ‘Men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit under. A society grows great when old.’

Reach a junction with a drive/track and go right on the flat passing beautiful Meeting House Farm over left.

5. MEETING HOUSE FARM Non-conformity started in Wrington following the Civil War. It was on this site in 1714 that a Meeting House for nonconformist Protestants was established.

As the drive bends left towards a wooden pavilion, go straight on across the grass with hedge on right and out through a gate at the end.

Turn left up the drive where you may encounter some glorious peacocks. Pass farm buildings on the right, now converted into commercial units, and go straight on up a dirt and grass track. There is a Bristol Gate ahead – a large gate with a small pedestrian gate built into it and so-called as it was named after Bristol footpath wardens who came up with the idea.

6. FIELD Once through, go up into the field and then stay close to the right fence. Cross the first stile of the walk in the corner. Go down a short path, and then left up over another stile. Carry on in the same direction as before. You are virtually up on Redhill now with Bristol Airport further up left. You may get some light aircraft flying over but, by and large, you should not be disturbed too much by the main air traffic.

Cross a stile ahead at a crossing of footpaths and take the one straight on in the field following the right edge. At the first corner, leave the field going ahead along a very short path under trees leading

5 miles, about 2.5 hours walking.

OS Explorer 1544, Bristol West & Portishead, grid ref: 469628

to a kissing gate hidden in the corner.

There are good views ahead now across to Mendip, as you cross the field to the visible stile on the other side. Once over, go left towards houses in Redhill following the top of the field along and round to a large metal gate left which leads to the end of a residential road in the village.

7. REDHILL Follow this along to a junction and cross, going straight on. Shortly, just before Chancellor’s Pound, take the marked footpath right. It leads through a kissing gate into a field. Turn down left, go left through the metal gate and then right down and across to the drive, taking the small gate by the cattle grid. Go down the drive, and out to the main A38.

8. MAIN ROAD Cross with great care and follow Pump Lane opposite. This leads down past houses and a small holding to a junction with large silos ahead.

9. LYE CROSS FARM Turn right going past the silos on your left and past buildings and pig units, all part of the successful Lye Cross Farm enterprise run by the Alvis family producing fine cheeses, pork and beef. You may well encounter tractor and farm traffic along here and also notice a powerful pig smell!

Stay on this lane which wiggles round towards the A38 again.

At the main road, go left to the popular Lye Cross Farmshop. Alongside is a welcoming cafe in a bus which serves a range of cakes, soups, and snacks, sourced from the farm shop, including their tasty sausages! There is a small garden alongside.

Cross the A38 again and turn left along

the grassy verge. Ignore the public footpath signed into a field – this is usually very wet and covered in slurry so the farm has given permission to use a good alternative: go on a little further and then turn right up a dirt track.

10. DIRT TRACK You can see Wrington’s soaring church tower ahead. At the track end, go right over a stile by a large gate and turn left through a large field. It should be drIer if you stay along the left side down the full length.

Follow the edge round the corner to a stile.

Cross and continue ahead towards Wrington through this quiet sheltered area with the hill up on your right. Make your way over to the far right corner and enter the next field. Now just maintain direction towards houses in Wrington along the right edge through a couple of smaller fields.

Cross a stile by a gate ahead to a residential road in Wrington 11. WRINGTON Go ahead. At the junction, turn left and continue to the junction with one of the roads through the village. Turn right and follow this along past the Memorial Hall, round the corner and to a T-junction at the end of Broad Street. Cross and go on past Amors, (ignoring School Road right) and soon arrive back at the Plough.

The Plough, Wrington, open daily, 01934 862871.

The Golden Lion, Wrington, 2.30 – late midweek, 12noon – late weekends 01934 862205.

The Little Red Beetle, Wrington, closed Sun, Mon, and closed at 2pm Saturday. Tel: 01934 863889.

The Bus Cafe, open daily, 01934 835389.

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 43

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OUTDOORS

West Countryman’s Diary

SO far the winter has been kind. Yes, there has been some cold weather, but it’s not as bad as it could have been. Cold and dry is fine with me so long as we don’t get deep frost night after night.

With each day that passes the daylight hours lengthen and spring comes closer.

With LES We are not there yet, but we are moving DAVIES MBE in the right direction. I would like it to hold on for a little longer so that I can get my pruning work done.

My work with the farm and countryside education charity Farm Link takes me right out of my comfort zone at times and into the urban environment of Bristol. How that has changed from my childhood memories of East Street in Bedminster, where Len Tiley had his greengrocer’s shop.

This shop was kept supplied from his small market garden in Tickenham, close to what was the garage down the road from the Star Inn, and by lorry loads of greens and potatoes from Hales Farm. Traffic in that area now is virtually nonstop, apart from the morning that is, when it comes to a complete stop. If I pay a visit to a school for 9am in the morning, I have to leave home at 7am. I can get to Bedminster Down within 45 minutes to an hour, but from there on it can take close onto an hour to get into Easton or St Werburgh’s.

My heart goes out to all those people who make this journey every day and then have to come back again at night.

I know that I can drive in these conditions, because half the battle is knowing where you’re going and where you should be positioned in this mass of traffic lanes. The sight of my muddy Landy must alert many to the fact that “the country has come to town”.

The urban cyclist without doubt has the upper hand when it comes to manoeuvrability, but some do chance their arm a little in slow moving traffic. For me there is always a sigh of relief when I leave the city limits and head back over Dundry to Mendip.

I am always amazed by the amount of rural knowledge many of these urban children have and just how perceptive they are. As an introduction to the country code, I ask them to close their eyes and think of what the word countryside means to them. I get some interesting answers and at times some answers that I had not thought about.

Such an answer came from a pupil at a school in Knowle: “People and houses,” she told me. It’s not an answer I would normally get and it showed that she had an awareness that people did live in the countryside.

Rural communities are the lifeblood of the countryside and not everyone who lives in a village drives a tractor. It’s people who have created this landscape we all hold so dear now, people who worked it and lived within it but may not necessarily have thought that it was enjoyable. Life was about survival and life was hard.

Whilst I know many who would ‘hearken’ back to that simple way of life, I for one would not. Today’s villagers are just as likely to work away, or be retired. Many more people work from home in this age of the information super-

highway ‘wot’ is the worldwide web. They have truly found the holy grail of employment and an escape from the prison cell on wheels that our cars have become.

Add to that the search for a car parking space that can bring out pent-up aggression and hunter instincts in the most mild-mannered of people.

Today’s village communities are a world apart from those in the past. The view that you have to have three generations in the churchyard are fading, but can from time to time bubble back to the surface in cases where those who move into a village would wish to bring their urban values with them. On the whole though my experience has shown a diverse community is a happy and prosperous one.

I have had dealings with many such communities on and around Mendip, both through my time as the Mendip Warden and my work now. Where the village shop has been threatened the community have taken it on. You may not want to do your weekly shopping there, but when you’ve run out of milk, (or even worse, a bottle of wine) they will be close by, it will cost a little more but the convenience far outweighs that. I know one village that has gone even further and taken over the local pub to prevent its closure.

Godney celebrated their first Wassail on Monday, February 9th, with the aim of raising money for their village hall.

They asked if I would be the Master of Ceremonies, which I gladly agreed to. The Sheppy Inn hosted the evening and there can’t be that many people in the village who didn’t come along, children included. It was a real community event that brought everyone together to laugh, talk and enjoy just being together. Cam Valley Morris men lent their bells and sticks to the occasion, and local band The Idle Roses filled the air with music and there was even a piper there.

Great work by the organisers!

I’ve noticed the new lambs in the fields enjoying the spells of sunshine whenever they can. Tucked away in a sheltered spot, or just hiding behind mum, they turn their faces to the sun with what appears to be a contented smile. It won’t be long now until the rest of the wildlife will be following on, as another generation of creatures take their place in the countryside.

This month photo is of a community group from the village of Compton Dundon near Somerton. They asked me if I would do an orchard day for them as they had all been bitten by the ‘apple’ bug and wanted to know more about looking after their trees. It was yet another example of a village getting involved with the landscape that surrounds them.

Check out their website for more pictures on www.comptondundon.com

You can always contact me through my website: Westcountryman.co.uk

PAGE 44 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

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MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 45

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Create a woodland garden ONE of the joys of a spring walk through an English woodland is the variety of native plants that survive in what might at first appear to be a fairly With MARY hostile environment.

PAYNE MBE Many plants take full advantage of the lack of leaves on the trees in spring by rising early and running fast to complete their life cycles before the canopy of leaves above closes over, reducing the light to an unacceptable level.

In an average oak or hornbeam woodland, the light levels are reduced from about 52% in mid-March to just above 3% when the canopy of leaves is complete in June. Evergreen coniferous woodlands create a more serious problem, as the light levels are so reduced that few, if any plants, can survive.

A copse or small wood can be transformed into a delightful woodland garden, offering the opportunity to grow some of the most fascinating plants and give interest throughout the year. Deeprooted trees, such as oak, give the greatest scope, but a sparser planting of more surface rooting species, such as beech or birch, can also be utilised. Lifting the crowns of those trees at the woodland edge will let in more light, especially on the south side.

To enjoy your woodland garden, create a winding path edged with logs and infill with wood chip over a base of scalpings.

Ideally make the path lead to a clearing or glade for a seat.

The planting starts with a few shrubs to create an understorey between the trees’ canopy and the woodland floor.

Evergreens will tolerate the low light levels better than deciduous shrubs. Our green flowered native daphne, Daphne laureola or yellow flowered D. pontica, will do well. The occasional holly, perhaps one with variegated foliage, such as the red fruited Ilex aquifolium ‘Golden Van Tol, which sets berries without the need for a pollinator. Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ (male) and S. j. ‘Foremanii’ (female), both revel in the shady conditions and give off a powerful, sweet scent in spring. Christmas box, Sarcococca confusa, which is very shade tolerant, will also delight with its winter scent.

The flowering season on the woodland floor starts with spring bulbs. Snowdrops PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

and English bluebells are an obvious choice, but are slow to establish in large numbers. Our native white flowered wood anemone, Anemone nemorosa has a number of varieties worth including. A.n.

‘Robinsoniana’ has the palest blue flowers and colonises well. Anemone blanda, pink, white or blue flowered, also spreads by seed.

A patch of Cardamine quinquifolia will surprise you with a carpet of leaves in February, followed by clusters of lilac flowers in March/April, before the whole plant vanishes for the summer. This leaves an ideal spot to plant later emerging plants such as Solomon’s seal. Bold rafts of evergreen epimediums, such as E. x perralchicum ‘Frohnleiten’, will give winter interest followed by yellow flowers and multi-coloured new foliage.

Remember to cut off the old foliage in late January so that they do not conceal the flowers. Plant a Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ in a clearing, near that seat, and enjoy her stunning scented flowers in January, February and March.

The spotted or silvered foliage of lungworts (Pulmonaria) will give interest long after the flowers have finished, so will the white variegated foliage of Brunnera macrophylla ‘Hadspen Cream’.

The summer flowering Turk’s Cap lily, Lilium martagon, is very special and, if happy, will gradually spread by seed.

Simple yellow or white variegated ivies, planted as ground cover, will create pools of light, mimicking shafts of sunlight. The yellow leaved form of our British native wood millet grass, Milium effusum ‘Aureum’ can be allowed to self-seed. Its golden foliage protected from the scorching rays of the sun by the canopy.

Take care when introducing the shade tolerant Geranium phaeum or G. nodosum as both can be prolific self-seeders and

may need controlling.

For less visible areas let the native yellow archangel, Galeobdolon luteum, have its head. The silver blotched foliage, touched with maroon in winter, makes excellent ground cover, followed in spring, by upright stems of yellow hooded flowers. Also native is the wood rush, of which the golden leaved form, Luzula sylvatica ‘Aurea’, is particularly good in winter and early spring. The low growing lesser periwinkle also makes great ground cover. The white or pale blue flowered varieties show up better than the deep purples.

Cyclamen hederifolium will flower its socks off from August through September and into October. The flowers are followed by a winter carpet of mottled foliage. Also blooming in autumn is lily turf, Liriope muscari. This will produce spikes of purple flowers from clumps of evergreen grassy foliage. In mid-winter, Cyclamen coum starts producing chubby white or pink flowers in even the darkest, coldest days.

A close relative of our native lords and ladies is Arum italicum ‘Marmoratum’.

The white marbled foliage emerges in the autumn and looks excellent over winter.

In early summer the typical arum flower is produced followed, in the autumn, by spikes of orange berries. The large bulbs of the so-called autumn crocus, Colchicum, can be planted in small groups in the autumn (they are rather expensive) and will flower immediately. Sadly their summer foliage is not attractive, but can be forgiven amongst the array of other woodland plants.

Add a generous portion of foxgloves, honesty and primroses, cover any bare earth with leaf mould or woodland bark mulch, and enjoy this special area all year round.

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MARCH GARDEN TIPS

G Cut off old flowering shoots and flowers from Miscanthus grasses. Rake dead leaves out of other evergreen grasses to thin them out and to allow new shoots to come through unhindered.

G It’s time to sow Ageratum, Alyssum, Antirrhinum, Asters, Begonias, Marigolds, Pansies, Petunias, Stocks and many other flowers in a cold frame or greenhouse.

G Cell or plug packs and peat pellets are becoming increasingly popular for raising young plants. You can sow or transplant seedlings directly into them. When it comes to transplanting or planting out there is little or no root disturbance.

G Apply a general fertiliser to all beds and borders.

G Divide overcrowded clumps of herbaceous perennials, discarding the older central part and replanting the younger more vigorous outer sections.

G Time to get planting new herbaceous perennial plants.

Astrantia, Campanula, Echinacea, hardy Geranium, Rudbeckia and Verbenas are the most popular varieties at the moment.

G Remove dead flower heads from Pansies and Violas.

This will encourage more blooms and prevent seeding.

Look out for aphid and if seen spray with Bug Clear insecticide.

G Gather sticks or buy plant supports and get them in place around perennials that tend to need support.

GARDENING Come and choose from our huge range . . .

For great home grown plants Tel: 01934 832134

Garden Design • Planting Schemes • Horticultural Consultancy Courses in Gardening and Garden Design www.christinepritchard.co.uk • info@christinepritchard.co.uk tel: 01761 221166 • mobile: 07966 172282

Courtesy Cleeve Nursery

Timberwork Buildings Bespoke buildings to suit you

Weston Garden Machinery Garden Machinery & Woodburning Specialists

We specialise in the manufacture of quality standard and bespoke garden buildings to suit your individual needs including:-

WORKSHOPS/GARAGES GARDEN SHEDS

Out in the garden this spring and need a new machine?

SHELTERS & STABLES PLAYHOUSES Let our dedicated team assist you in your choice whatever your budget . . . Full design, installation and delivery service available – customise your shed to suit your needs

We also do: Chicken Houses Dog Kennels • Bin & Log Stores YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT US AND SEE OUR SHOW MODELS – OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Hutton Garden Centre, Banwell Road, Hutton, Weston-super-Mare BS24 9UB

Tel: 01934 732 396 • www.timberworkbuildings.co.uk e.mail: timberbuildings@aol.com

Tel: 01934 813261

THE TIMBERYARD • SHUTE SHELVE • CROSS • NEAR AXBRIDGE

www.westongarden.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 47

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MENDIP TIMES

www.mendipmowers.co.uk • 01373 832965 Green Farm Industrial Estate, Chapmanslade, BA13 4JJ

Getting ready for spring

MARCH is here and with it the first signs of spring. The gardening enthusiasts among us will know that there are numerous jobs to do in the garden at the moment. We need to think about checking that plant supports are in before perennials start to grow, planting new hedges and feeding existing ones, planting selected vegetables and in milder weather giving the lawn its first mow of the year.

With the warmer weather approaching and with it more time spent outdoors, now is also the time to think about other garden improvements such as a new deck, a new shed or even a pergola. Fence posts and shed roofs may have been damaged by the winter rain and wind so you may like to take a look at these and consider changing them now.

Somerlap has been supplying quality garden products to people and businesses in Somerset and surrounding areas for over 35 years. With a varied range of products including fencing, sheds and storage, gates, garden furniture and decking they have everything you need to prepare for the spring and summer.

All of their products can be ordered via their new website www.somerlap.co.uk or by visiting them in Mark, Somerset

Stand by your mowers!

SPRING is nearly here and the grass has started to grow again!

Is your lawn mower fit and raring to go? If not take it to Mendip Mowers for a service or they can collect it and deliver it back for you if that’s easier.

Or is it time for a change of machine? Honda has just announced its exciting new offers head to the showroom to see their easy-start lawnmowers. They even do part exchange!

At the showroom you’ll also find a range of brush-cutters, with Honda’s quiet, cost-effective and powerful four-stroke engine and Versatool, the engine with seven attachments.

Stump Grinding and Tree Services, throughout the South West

See our website at www.groundlevelcontractors.co.uk or e-mail us at info@groundlevelcontractors.co.uk Prefer to talk to us?

Tel: 01934 710135 • Mob: 07941 908832 PAGE 48 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

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Growing Frome launched

GARDENING

Visitors browse the community seed swap stand

A NEW network has been launched in Frome to bring together community garden and allotment projects and other interest groups in the town and surrounding area.

Growing Frome sprouted from the annual potato day and seed swap which heralds the start of the planting season.

The event also offered visitors the opportunity to view and help judge the “Victoria Park Health and Well-being Garden” competition for children.

Purveyors of the finest hardy perennials, shrubs, trees, climbers, exotics and specimens

A huge range of potatoes on offer at the event

For information, visit: www.growingfrome.org.uk

Star gardeners

THE Bishop’s Palace and Gardens in Wells is to hold a starstudded garden festival from June 20th-25th. It will be opened

by Alan Titchmarsh, who will attend the first day of the event and will plant a tree in the gardens to replace the 19th century Tree of Heaven which blew down in the 2013 autumn storm.

The Palace will also soon announce a range of other leading names from the gardening community to appear each day.

Tickets for the event will go on sale on March 2nd.

Wrington Road, Congresbury BS49 5AN Tel: 01934 876337 www.middlecombenursery.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 49

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Gardens scheme success

East Burford House

THE National Gardens Scheme enjoyed a record-breaking year in Somerset raising £72,000 for its various charities, over 11% up on 2013.

A spokesman said: “It is thanks to the coverage that the National Gardens Scheme receives in magazines like yours that encourages visitors to pay to visit some of the hidden gems of gardens in Somerset not normally open to the public.

“This in turn raises much needed funds for the cancer and caring charities we support. Thank you for our flyer you put into the February issue of the Mendip Times helping us to find new gardens to join the NGS.” G Mendip Times is pleased to support charities

Seedy Saturday’s new venue

COMMUNITY seed swap “Seedy Saturday” has outgrown its former home and will now be held at the Conygre Hall in Timsbury on Saturday, March 14.

Now in its sixth year, Seedy Saturday offers growers at all stages and ages a fun and practical way to share their own seeds; exchange tips and experiences; buy local products; and learn about community activities.

Visitors will be able to swap seeds or make a donation if they have no seeds to swap; buy from over 50 varieties of seed potatoes, onions, shallots, garlic, plants, local produce, gifts, crafts and books – and talk to seed, plant and garden experts.

There will also be children’s storytelling and craft activities and a café providing refreshments and delicious homemade treats.

Sam Ross, Seedy Saturday coordinator, said: “It encourages people to have fun growing and saving local and heritage seeds, while reaping the rewards.”

For details visit: www.seedysaturday.org.uk

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NURSERY MASBURY, NR. WELLS, SOMERSET BA5 3HA TEL: 01749 841014 FAX: 01749 841055 www.rockymountainnursery.co.uk

COME & SEE OUR FINE RANGE OF FRUIT TREES, SHRUBS, GERANIUMS & FUCHSIAS

Visit our ROCK CAKE CAFE Serving breakfast, lunch & afternoon tea Browse around JAMES STORE Large stock of HOME BREW PRODUCTS + many other bargains See our website for more details www.rockymountainnursery.co.uk

ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS – SET IN 12 WONDERFUL ACRES – PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

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GARDENING

Norton Green Farm Garden Centre and Nursery WELCOMES YOU THIS SPRING

SHOWROOM NOW OPEN

Opening 8.00am – 5.00pm Mon – Fri. 8.00am – 12.00pm Sat

• Summer bulb range & seed potatoes.

• Unwins, Fothergills, Johnsons & Country Value seed collections together with specialist range

by Sarah Raven & sweet peas • Good selection of terracotta, glazed, fibreclay & plastic pots, troughs & containers • Compost, mulches & barks, including multibuy and special offers • Wild bird food & feeders • National Garden Gift Vouchers sold & redeemed • Cut flowers & house plants • Wide range of gifts and cards Also available: • Gravel & grits, paving & walling • Fencing, posts & trellis etc.

• Turf available weekly to order LOCAL DELIVERY SERVICE Open: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 10.30am-4.30pm

Wells Road, Chilcompton, Nr. Bath Tel: 01761 232137 E. nortongreenfarm@tiscali.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 51

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MENDIP TIMES

Red Cross aid in Somerset

Mendip Rotary president Mike Hiles flanked by Rob Porter and Lee Crichton from British Red Cross Transport and Rotarians Doug Johnson and Mark Summers.

THE Rotary Club of Mendip has presented a cheque to the British Red Cross transport support service. Their volunteer drivers carry out a free door-to-door service for the Red Cross, taking cancer patients to receive treatment in Taunton and Bristol.

This little known service, unique to Somerset, organises a 70strong team of volunteer drivers who collectively clock up around 500,000 miles each year supporting more than 1,000 Somerset-based cancer patients. The service has been running for 15 years.

Club President Mike Hiles, who made the presentation, said: “This is an invaluable service to Somerset residents and we applaud the volunteers who carry out this work. Some of our own members have benefited from this service in the past.”

Charity’s new home

WILTSHIRE-based charity Alabaré has opened its first house in Weston-superMare for men with learning disabilities. It hopes to have up to 20 places available shortly.

The first resident, John, is pictured with support worker, Joe. He was referred to the home following a family breakdown.

Alabaré also provide support for men recovering from substance abuse in North Somerset through their Andrew House project in Clevedon.

Details: www.alabare.co.uk

Help for Heroes

THE Rotary Club of Nailsea and Backwell together with the Inner Wheel Club of Nailsea are staging a major concert in aid of the Help for Heroes charity on Sunday, May 16th in Bristol Cathedral.

It features the Treorchy Male Choir and the Royal Marines Corps of Drums. Starting at 7.30pm, tickets are priced from £10 to £25.

Details: Opus 13 on 0117 923 0164 or at www.opus13.co.uk

PAGE 52 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

Lions support vehicle

Pictured (l to r) Lion Derek Livsey, Russell Ford, welfare chairman, Melvin Johnson, trust chairman and Lion president Margaret Small

THE Midsomer Norton and Radstock Community Service Vehicle Trust, formed in 1967, has taken delivery of its sixth vehicle in 48 years.

They provide transport for handicapped, disabled and the sick in the local area and other local voluntary organisations. It became a registered charity in 1978.

The new vehicle can accommodate 12 passengers and two wheelchairs, with a reduction in seated passengers. Radstock and Midsomer Norton Lions gave a grant towards the cost of the vehicle.

Charity auction

EARLY in 2014 Cheddar Valley U3A Patchwork Group were approached by a friend who asked if the group would make her a king-sized quilt, for which she would donate £350 to Weston Hospicecare.

Sadly, just days before the group were due to present the finished product the U3A heard that their friend had passed away.

Now the quilt to be included in a charity auction taking place on March 6th, at a ball organised by Broad Community Trust at Cadbury House, raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and Weston Hospicecare.

Details: 07783 671488

(Photo courtesy of Mike Lang)

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CHARITIES

Charity car wash

Cycle challenge for charity

Volunteers at work

Some of the PAC team: (l-r) Karolyn Curle, Maritsa Harrington, Paul Cooper, Emily Denham, Andy Vowell and Andrew Smith

MEMBERS of the volunteer crew at Burnham-on-Sea’s lifeboat station swapped the sea for chamois by holding a car wash to raise funds for the RNLI. More than 90 cars received the five-star treatment, raising more than £1,000. Burnham-on-Sea Lifeboat Operations manager Matt Davies said: “Thanks to all those involved and a special thanks to the hand car wash next door who closed for the duration. I’m really pleased we broke the £1,000 mark, everyone worked really hard to raise a fantastic amount for the RNLI.” Burnham’ station was opened officially in May 2004, but has been operational since December 2003. It operates a 7.5metre Atlantic 75 named Staines Whitfield and a smaller 4.95m D class IB1 inflatable named Puffin.

Palace welcomes volunteers

EMILY Derham may have failed her cycling proficiency test at the age of 33 but that didn’t stop her signing up to one of the top cycling events in the country.

The keen fundraiser is taking to two wheels in aid of Positive Action on Cancer, the Frome-based charity which offers counselling services for anyone affected by the disease, including family, friends and carers.

Emily, a PAC trustee, is to tackle the Lionheart Sportive, a 100-mile or 100-kilometre challenge starting and finishing at Longleat on Sunday, March 22nd. Emily, from Frome, who is Sirona Healthcare’s Locality Manager for the Community Learning Disability Team based in Kingswood and Thornbury, has already clocked up 15 half marathons, one whole marathon and a 14Km SAS style assault course with 200 obstacles – but had never cycled.

Emily, who is in a team of 10 from PAC to compete in the Lionheart Sportive, has set herself a £500 target. To support Emily, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/Emily-Denham5

THE Bishop’s Palace and Gardens in Wells is appealing to people to support the work of The Palace Trust, which is responsible for caring for the palace and gardens so that everyone can enjoy them, now and in the future.

Volunteers will be equipped with improved training, a more inclusive expenses policy and regular palace news to share with visitors. They will be asked to give a regular contribution of time to welcome visitors throughout the year.

Operations and Volunteer Manager, Lorna Muffett, said: “2014 was the most successful year ever at The Bishop’s Palace in terms of visitor numbers. The Palace Trust is aware that greater visitor numbers and longer opening hours means that we will need the support and commitment of our volunteers now, more than ever.”

RADSTOCK and Midsomer Norton Lions Club have donated £200 worth of gardening equipment to SWALLOW, a local charity supporting people with learning disabilities. Lion president Margaret Small and welfare chairman, Russell Ford, are pictured presenting the cheque and gardening tools to members of SWALLOW.

Details: lorna.muffett@bishopspalace.org.uk

Garden gift

Details: www.swallowcharity.org

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Making colours run

WESTON Hospicecare’s hugely popular Colour Run is back for a second year and will take place on Uphill Beach on Sunday, April 19th.

The multicolour fundraising event will see 2,000 participants tackling a 5k route along the beach, getting their bright white kit dirty as they dash through a rainbow of colours. Last year’s event raised £45,000 for the hospice.

St. Margaret’s Great Somerset Colour Run will be held at Hazlegrove School, Yeovil on Sunday, June 14th.

Details: 01823 365 or online at http://www.greatsomersetcolourrun.co.uk Details: www.westoncolourrun.org.uk or call 01934 423960.

Another great bowls charity year

IT was the ninth year of the Midsomerset Charity Floodlight Bowls tournament played at the end of each season by Paulton, Norwest, Prattens, Purnell and a combined Frome Selwood and Frome Park bowls clubs and to date has raised over £25,000.

This year’s charity was Age UK based in Bath who do lots of good work in the Midsomer Norton and Paulton area.

Organisers Eric Obern, Bryn Hawkins and Trevor Francis are pictured (l to r) presenting a cheque for £2,000 to the charity’s chief executive Janet Dabbs.

The amount raised was helped by a concert put on by the Mendip Male Voice Choir and a Rock ‘n Roll Dance at the Conygre Hall Timsbury. Next season’s charity is the local Gateway Club.

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New trustees wanted

Sarah Prendegast (left) and Pam Richards

AGE UK B&NES, the local independent charity which works with and for older people across Bath and North East Somerset, needs new trustees to join its board.

The charity supports around 12,000 older people, their families and carers every year and is particularly keen to hear from people with some knowledge of the health and social care sector.

Chair of the Trustees Board, Pam Richards, said: “Experience of fundraising, events or running a business would be fantastic but what’s most important is passion, ideas, and good connections within your local community.”

Sarah Prendergast said she became a trustee after the death of her father: “I saw how end of life care could go badly wrong and how our disconnected family lifestyles can result in isolation and loneliness in later years following the death of a partner.”

Details: www.ageukbanes.co.uk

Raising funds for wildlife

THE Chew Valley group of Avon Wildlife Trust raised £1,005 at their annual jumble sale. Claire Croft, who has taken over the reins from Annie Sewart, said: “We had a great turn out and there were still quite a few people there at half past three, when we have usually finished by then.”

Pictured (l to r) are Pam Blyth, Annie Sewart, Pat Rodrick, Claire Croft, Margaret Croft, Bill Blyth, Richard Campbell and Leonie Nicholson, youngster Archie.

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New support group

A NEW group will meet every Wednesday in Wrington to support those who are dying, caring for loved ones or have already lost loved ones.

Weston Hospicecare is behind the group and is offering their shop on the High Street as the meeting place. Members of the hospice’s team will also be on hand at each session to offer their expertise.

Racing success

CHARITIES

Singing can help

A SINGING group for people living with dementia and their carers, run by the Alzheimer’s Society in East Harptree, is celebrating its first anniversary on March 25th, 10am-11.30am, with a special party to mark the occasion and is opening its doors to local people to join a sing-a-long and find out more about the group.

In its first year the group has gone from strength to strength with new members joining all the time and a lively group of local volunteers supporting them.

The group was set up in partnership with the Village Agents after local carer, Jill, highlighted the need in her local area for such a group.

She said: “For John and me, Singing for The Brain has been a complete lifesaver. Each time we go I look around the room and think how lucky we are to have this. The support for people with dementia in the valley has changed out of all recognition.

“As a younger carer I feel a responsibility to ensure that dementia is not forgotten, hidden away or ignored. My attitude is that I have had this life forced on me and I deal with it as well as I can, so other people should at least be exposed to it and hopefully that will lead to some kind of understanding.”

Singing for the Brain is a programme developed by the Alzheimer’s Society for people with memory problems. The programme promotes communication through singing which can help with articulation, concentration, focus and motivation.

The group is held on Wednesday mornings at The Wellsway, East Harptree.

Details: Paula Smith 07795 344936.

Marathon effort

WRINGTON resident Caroline Harding organised a fundraising event which raised over £6,000 for Weston Hospicecare. She’s one of five people running for the hospice in the London Marathon, but needed to secure £2,000 minimum sponsorship.

Caroline said: “I found the night so emotional, everyone was so kind in every way and very keen to support Weston Hospicecare. I still have people sponsoring me. I am now aiming to reach the £8,000 mark with all of my fundraising.”

If you would like to apply for a place in the 2016 Virgin London Marathon, contact Claire Dibben on 01934 423967 or email Claire.dibben@westonhospicecare.org.uk

THE Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs of Mendip held a successful Race Night at Church House in Cheddar, raising £1,757 for charities including Red Cross Drivers, RNLI, Cheddar Food Bank, Bristol Research into Alzheimer's and Care for the Elderly (BRACE).

Rotary President Mike Hiles said: “We’ve all had a great time this evening and raised a good sum. It’s a great example of how Rotary and Inner Wheel work together to support local and national charities.”

Sam’s challenge

SAM Jordan, who is president of the Inner Wheel Club of Chelwood Bridge, has raised around £3,000 for the Great Western Air Ambulance, after completing 1,671 kilometres on a rowing machine.

She decided to undertake the challenge after spending up to ten hours in the gym, as physiotherapy on a damaged shoulder. She said: “I found out that the air ambulance had taken off 1,671 times in 2013, so decided to raise money for them by rowing 1,671 kms on a rowing machine in the gym, so raising money for the charity as well as getting physiotherapy on my shoulder.”

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 55

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Coleford hub opens

MEMBERS of voluntary organisations, village groups and local agencies gathered for the official opening of the new community hub building in Coleford.

Based in the old school building in Church Street, At The Hub is run by a new village not-for-profit social enterprise in a bid to tackle rural isolation.

The building is home to Coleford’s youth club and is available for local groups and individuals to hire and will act as a new meeting place for the village and surrounding areas. It was established with support from Mendip District Council in the hope that it will encourage public agencies to make their services available through the hub, making it easier for local people to access the services they need.

Councillor Philip Ham, district councillor for Coleford, said: “It was great to see so many people turn out to support the launch of the new hub and find out more about how it can help them connect with the services they need.

“Coleford has a very strong community, which has been the key to making this project a success. I’m confident that the new hub will be a real benefit to the people of Coleford and surrounding areas and I’m pleased that Mendip District Council has been able to support such a worthwhile initiative.”

Organisations in attendance at the launch included the YMCA, You Can do Active Living Group, IT Help at Home, Frome Men’s Shed, Mendip Credit Union, Bluebird Care and Coleford Revival Group.

The set-up is a smaller version of the Shape public services

Community award

THE Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge is once again inviting local parish councils to nominate people for the club's annual community award, which is open to all members of the public within the club's area, which stretches from Blagdon in the West to Camerton in the East.

Details to: rasclarke@gmail.com

Village hall revamped

THE management committee of Evercreech Village Hall is celebrating the complete renovation of the cloakroom facilities in both the main and rear halls in their muchloved village hall, which celebrated its 80th birthday in 2014.

They now have a modern and easily accessible disabled toilet with baby changing unit plus all their cloakrooms received a complete make-over with new fittings and fixtures, modern flooring and hygienic wipe-down wall coverings.

In addition to being one of the oldest community halls in Somerset, Evercreech Village Hall is widely used by the local community and surrounding villages and has more bookings than there are days in the year.

Amongst regular users on Sundays are St. Peter’s Church with a monthly Café Church service and a Messy Church afternoon meeting. More traditional hirers include Women’s Institute, Mid-Somerset Flower Club, Evercreechers Mother and Toddler Group, the very active Short Mat Bowls Club, Evercreech Drama Group, the

PAGE 56 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

The shape of things to come (l:r): Phil Horler (bookings secretary and chairman of Coleford Revival Group), Henry Banks (hub board member), Cllr Philip Ham, Jo Milling (Mendip District Council officer), Ross Welch (Willmott Dixon) and Sara Skirton (another Mendip District Council officer)

hub created at Mendip’s offices in Shepton Mallet. Building work in Shepton was overseen by contractors Willmott Dixon, which helped refurbish the building in Coleford.

Dementia champions

POLICE officers from the Mendip Neighbourhood Team have been trained to be Dementia Friends Champions.

They are sharing their knowledge to give members of the community an understanding of dementia and inspire them to take action as Dementia Friends. Shepton Mallet is the first neighbourhood watch team to embrace the project.

Inspector Mark Nicholson said: “We see the role as an extension of community policing and supporting vulnerable people on our patch. We have joined forces to run Dementia Friends Information Sessions for local neighbourhood watch teams to help them to actively engage with people living with dementia."

G If you would like Mark and the team to run a Dementia Friends Session for your neighbourhood watch group, please contact the police on 101 and ask to leave a message for Mark Nicholson.

seniors Friendship Club, the Evercreech Parish Council and most recently a district Explorer initiative for scouts in the 16 years and older age group.

There are also commercial classes in art, Zumba and tap dancing who choose to use the hall for their courses.

Organisers are now looking forward to the next 80 years of providing a lively village hall at the heart of the community and offer their thanks to Viridor Credits and Awards for their funding.

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Here’s to the future

COMMUNITY

Community awards

THE volunteers of The Hub Library in Paulton were named Neighbourhood Team of the Year in the B&NES annual community awards.

The Hub houses the library, a coffee bar and meeting room.

It also provides the opportunity for community organisations to deliver their services in an accessible, central village location. This work is supported by over 30 local volunteers who give up their time to support the community.

Council chairman, Cllr Martin Veal said: “We received 79 nominations from which eight individuals and eight teams have been selected as winners. I would like to congratulate all of them for the work they do in their communities for the benefit of others.”

Nancy Appleton from Peasedown St John was named Volunteer of the Year. She volunteers at Merriman Dance Academy and Teenage Rampage; is a cheerleader at Beacon Hall, and is involved in Bath Area Play Project summer activities.

Judith Chubb Whittle of Stanton Drew won the Volunteer Leader award. She is the chair of Stanton Drew Parish Council, governor of the local primary school, a prominent member of the neighbourhood planning team and a member of the Pensford, Publow and the Stanton’s Community Trust.

The Hive, Clutton won the Volunteer Team award. This social enterprise supports young people recovering from addiction, depression and social problems. Many of the young people have moved on to further education, employment and some are now mentoring others.

The Somer Valley FM team with members of The Midsomer Norton School’s Partnership

COMMUNITY broadcaster Somer Valley FM and The Midsomer Norton School’s Partnership have signed a new deal to allow the station to continue to broadcast from its main base at Somervale School.

The radio station has worked closely with Somervale since launching in 2008. The school partnership – which also runs Norton Hill School – owns the building housing the studio which is offered at a peppercorn rent in return for educational services such as curricular support to media qualifications and training and work placement opportunities for students. It is estimated that more than 600 students have benefited.

Somer Valley FM started as a classroom project at Somervale and progressed to being the Radio Academy’s South West Station of the Year in its first five years. The new service agreement between the partnership and the station reflects the decision by the regulator Ofcom to award a second licence to the station which will allow it to broadcast until at least 2019.

Community café success

Barrow Gurney wins grant

BARROW Gurney Village Hall has been awarded a Big Lottery grant to install a brand new roof and insulation.

Built in 1928, the hall still has many original features, but now offers modern amenities for a wide range of functions. It’s in the centre of the village in an elevated position next to the Prince’s Motto, overlooking the village green.

The hall is considered a great place for community events and has been praised for its excellent acoustics for musical performance. The Big Lottery Fund has awarded close to £6billion in grants since 2004.

THE community cafe in Stanton Drew is going from strength to strength. It’s held on the second Saturday of each month in Stanton Drew's Church and provides the chance for everyone to meet other local people to buy or sell home-made goods and generally find out what is happening in the area.

Organiser, Karen Lyne, said: “We are all amazed at how well the monthly cafe has taken off. Everyone seems to be making an effort to come along and everyone enjoys getting together for a couple of hours here.”

The photograph shows Grace, Claire and Hannah enjoying tea and bacon rolls.

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 57

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Getting the best from the NHS?

THAT’S a good question. And one I was asked several years ago by an editor at the publishers Quercus. Not only that, but she wanted me to write a whole book to answer it.

There are lots of books written by American doctors about harnessing patient power. You can guess the sort of thing.

Patients are not the problem, they're the solution.

The empowered patient is as strong as any drug yet

By Dr PHIL invented.

In America, you need to have plenty of money, or HAMMOND at least a good insurance plan, to get the best care. Some 40 million Americans have no health plan at all, no matter how loudly they shout.

In the UK, everyone gets access to healthcare, but you might have to wait a long time for it and it can be very variable quality. The question is, if you stand up for yourself can you get better quality NHS care that isn't at the expense of others less fortunate?

And the answer?

Yes and no. The big difference in this book compared to others I've written is that the voices of patients and carers are very prominent. As a doctor who has never been poor, frightened or seriously ill, I’m in no position to tell people how to live their lives and how to behave when they become patients. So I spent a lot of time listening to people who have survived and even thrived as patients, in and out of the NHS, and combined their tips tactics with my own insider’s knowledge. And I also listened to those whose NHS care had gone terribly wrong, and the advice they gave to stop it happening to others.

Isn't there a danger that your book will just help middle-class patients work the system at the expense of those who aren’t able to?

As the NHS becomes more consumerist, there is a danger that a book like this can make the service even more unequal and unfair. I have long argued that we should give more power and control to those patients and carers who want it, but not at the expense of those who don't or can't speak up and advocate for themselves. In a system that is supposed to treat patients according to need, it is often the softer, quieter voices we must listen to most.

I've learned from listening to patients that those with the most difficult, stressful lives are used to making tough decisions every day. If they're given the right information and support, they can use these skills to make the right choices for them when they use the NHS. And the overwhelming sentiment from nearly all the patients and carers I spoke to was that they wanted to improve the NHS not just for them and their family, but for other patients. The vast majority have had a satisfactory to excellent experience of the NHS and wanted to share their thoughts and suggestions with others. And those who had poor or disastrous 'care' were very driven by the needs to stop it happening to other people.

Your book calls for a bidet revolution in the NHS. What do you mean by that?

We need to change the NHS from the bottom up. In my 30 years in the NHS I've lived through 15 top-down structural reforms which have been driven by ideology rather than evidence. If all we ever did was listen to the suggestions and concerns of frontline staff, patients and carers, and act on this feedback to continuously improve the service, the NHS would be out of sight as the best service in the world. We still need to put more money into it, but we need to be certain that money is benefiting patients.

When patients are given more power, control, information and support, it also gives them the knowledge, skills and the courage and confidence to use them.

70% of what we can do to prevent chronic diseases, and to prevent them getting worse, is down to the way we live our lives. Just 30% is down to healthcare. So central to my bidet revolution is the realisation that what we can do for ourselves to stay well usually far exceeds what the NHS can do for us. The secret is to accept the things that we can't change, and then commit to changing the things we can according to our dreams and values.

‘Staying alive – how to get the best from the NHS’ is published on April 2. Phil is live at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon on March 31.

PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

Healthy competition

YOUNGEST son has become, according to our neighbour, a serial “comper”. It began late last year with a chess tournament “the ultimate in nerdiness” according to his sisters. From where I sat it involved some quick-fire chess and plenty of cake-eating and running amok through a school, playing hide-and-seek with new-found friends.

Early in the New Year he was inspired to enter a writing competition. He enthusiastically sketched out his characters and a rough story-line but then became distracted by “Clash of the Clans” on Mendip Dad’s iPad. A short time later he was enthused by another competition to become an “Intelligence Officer” for a children’s TV channel. The prize-winner would not only appear on TV but also have a guided tour of MI5’s offices. We went online and downloaded the form. We were under strict instructions, to fill out all sections and with minimum adult intervention.

I fulfilled my role, attaching a passport photo to the form. Youngest son began filling out the form describing how playing football, rugby and chess would help him in the role of “Intelligence Officer”. I told him to carry on and left him in the care of Mendip Dad, while I drove middle child to gymnastics. Somehow they got distracted by the rugby and the form was not filled out.

Fast forward to the following Saturday. The closing date for the competition was Monday. The local post office had shut. Youngest son filled out the rest of the form and I jumped in the car hoping a drive to a larger village would catch the post. I drove at break-neck speed while youngest son stuffed the form into an envelope, ripping the envelope at the same time.

We were greeted by sympathetic smiles and empty mail bags. I posted the form anyway, hoping the judges would take pity when they saw the battered envelope. Was this the making of an “Intelligence Officer”?

The next competition involved Lego. We registered on the site and downloaded another form which we completed before emailing to the online address. Alongside the form we must email a photo of a Lego model built by youngest son.

The competition specified a land and water vehicle able to navigate a crocodile-infested swamp.

I lay on the carpet contorting myself to fit youngest son and the Lego model into the photo, which must also give justice to the multi-terrain nature of the vehicle, showing both the wheels and the water propeller. Halfway through middle child and I nearly destroyed the vehicle trying to shoot its best angle.

“Everyone thinks another boy in my class is the king of Lego,” youngest son reflected. “But if he’s the king maybe I could be the prince!”

MENDIP MUM

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Best feet forward

MIDSOMER Norton will welcome a new face to its business community when reflexologist and chiropodist Michelle Targett opens her new clinic Feet1st4U on The Island at the end of February.

Michelle has 15 years’ experience and had been working from home in Chilcompton until the premises became available.

She said the Feet1st4U clinic was a natural progression of the services she offers, which will continue to include home visits.

Michelle said: “When I knew the shop was becoming available it gave me the opportunity to act on an idea I’ve had for a number of years.”

Paul Myers, the mayor of Midsomer Norton, will officially open Feet1st4U on Saturday, February 28th when there will be a chance to meet Michelle and discuss the treatments she offers. She will be seeing clients from Monday, March 2nd.

Michelle added: “Part of the satisfaction of my profession is seeing someone come in with really painful feet and leave painfree after just one session.

Feet1st4U, will be open from 9am-5pm MondaysWednesdays, 10am-7pm on Thursdays, Fridays from 9am4.30pm and on Saturdays from 9am-midday. Appointments can be made in person, by calling 01761 418220 or by visiting: www.feet1st4u.co.uk

HEALTH & FAMILY

Official opening 10.30am, Saturday, February 28th

Emotional Well-Being Clinic Help with: ● Anxiety ● Depression ● Lack of confidence ● Relationships ● Trauma ● Low self-esteem ● Indecision ● Stress ● Life Changes ● Negative beliefs ● Anger Management ● Painful memories ● Self-defeating/harming behaviour ● Low self-esteem ● Loss

J a ne Ros s- Wh e at le y

BACP ACCREDITED COUNSELLOR AAMET CERTIFIED EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE PRACTITIONER Evening and weekend appointments available Introductory rate available – Complimentary initial half hour session Visit janeross-wheatley.com or call 07731 937293 e Remedy Centre, 23 Cuthbert Street, Wells

New treatment on offer WELLS Lipo Laser, based at the Wells Chiropractic and Osteopathy Centre, is offering a new, non-invasive treatment to help people lose unwanted fat and cellulite.

The new therapy targets areas of the body where there is a build-up of fat and releases the cells into the blood stream. The equipment is known as a “cold” laser because it does not rely on heat to penetrate the body.

It is not suitable for everyone; the treatment is aimed at people who are motivated to actively try to be healthy and follow an exercise programme. Joanne Evans, who offers the lipo laser treatment, said: “The lipo and skin tightening technology is for removing stubborn fat and

toning loose skin. If clients aren’t actively trying to be healthy then they won’t get the best results as the body will want to re-absorb fat.”

Joanne is currently offering a taster session and consultation for just £30.

Single and looking for a social life . . . then join SPA

An enthusias c and friendly group of single people who enjoy organised events

For more informa on go to www.singleprofessionalassocia on.co.uk email: wellsandmendip@yahoo.co.uk Or contact Anne – 01934 743139 Veronica – 01749 330455

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 59

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MENDIP TIMES

CAVING

Secrets that lie under Priddy

SWILDON’S Hole at Priddy was first entered

by Herbert Balch and the Wells Natural History and Archaeological Society in 1901, but they had only reached the Old Grotto and the Forty Foot Pot when the landowner denied them access.

Since there was a large active swallet With PHILIP depression only a kilometre away at HENDY Eastwater, it was decided to excavate there, in the belief that a cave there might well connect to Swildon’s.

Work started in 1902 and several digging trips down through a massive unstable boulder ruckle led them to open passage, the 380 Foot Way. This ended in a choke, but off this passage lay the Boulder Chamber, which allowed access to the rest of the cave.

A deep canyon led to the Crossroads, with side passages to the left and right. The right-hand passage is choked, but the route ahead led via the awkward S-Bend to two high rift chambers. Just after the S-Bend, a narrow passage on the left was followed to the Twin Verticals, two ladder pitches beyond which two routes led to the bottom of the cave, the Sand Chamber and Terminal Rift.

One is the Muddy Oxbow, the other the Thirteen Pots, a series of climbable potholes. Later, the left-hand passage at the Crossroads was dug, to a ten metre chimney and a similar ladder pitch, Dolphin Pot. This was found to lead to the lower part of the cave.

A hundred years ago, Eastwater Cavern was more prone to flooding than it is now and on one occasion some army officers exploring the cave were trapped by a torrent blocking their exit via the Boulder Chamber. Fortunately, one of them knew of a recently-discovered alternative route, above a very narrow chimney which was only just passable. The entrance boulder ruckle was very wet, with a whirlpool at the top, but they all escaped safely.

The alternative route, which is reached near the end of the 380 Foot Way, is a steep bedding plane, the Upper Traverse, where it is necessary to keep high. Lower down, the bedding becomes very narrow and difficult to negotiate. Eventually at a junction a steep entrenched bedding plane is reached. The uphill passage leads to the squeeze down to the Canyon, while downhill is the Primrose Path.

There is another tight squeeze here, Hallelujah Hole, beyond which is the Lower Traverse. This leads eventually to Primrose Pot, immediately after an extremely long and tight squeeze. The Pot was first descended in 1950 by the Wessex Cave Club. They found three pitches totalling 57 metres in depth, and although several places have been dug at the bottom, no continuation has been found. Shortly before the Primrose squeeze, a passage on the left leads back to the Rift Chambers and the S-Bend.

Although devoid of any formations, Eastwater Cavern provides several strenuous and sporting round trips. One of the more popular is the exchange trip, where one party rigs and descends the Twin Verticals, while another goes down Dolphin Pot. After meeting at the bottom, the parties return by the other route, retrieving the tackle as they go.

Apart from a few minor discoveries by diggers, little changed in Eastwater until 1983, when the Bristol Exploration Club investigated a little visited part of the lower cave, Ifold’s Series

Eastwater Cavern – Thirteen Pots

beyond Harris’s Passage near the bottom of Dolphin Pot. A squeeze, which was probably always open, led into the long and arduous West End Series, which is richly decorated in parts.

There are several tight squeezes and some passages fill with water in wet weather. There are more than ten pitches. The series was so named because it heads west of the old cave and many of the features have been given appropriate names, such as Cenotaph Aven, Charing Cross, Blackwall Tunnel and Regent Street.

At the bottom, Southbank Series was entered, from where after much effort, a route was engineered back up to Morton’s Pot at the end of the 380 Foot Way. Although tight and awkward, this is now the preferred route into the West End Series. Sumps at the very bottom of the series have been dived, but without success.

Balch was pleased with his discovery at Eastwater, even though it did not take him back into Swildon’s Hole as he expected.

Originally, he believed that the Swildon’s water flowed to Cheddar, as the first part of the cave heads west towards the Gorge. But when Sump I was passed, and the rest of the cave opened up, it was seen that the stream passage turns to the south.

It has now been dye-tested to Wookey Hole, along with the other major Priddy swallet caves, Eastwater Cavern and St. Cuthbert’s Swallet. So Balch was not too far off the mark; the caves are interconnected. All of these underground watercourses must meet up somewhere under the southern flank of Mendip, to form the subterranean River Axe, which emerges under the cliff at Wookey Hole.

Diving in the terminal sumps at these three caves has not so far brought any advances towards the resurgence, but there is hope. At Templeton, roughly in line with the known ends of St. Cuthbert’s Swallet and Wookey Hole, a digging team is slowly making progress at the bottom of a shaft, now more than 60 metres deep.

It is hoped that one day, open passage will be reached which leads to the underground river. We have been digging for more than 15 years now and are advancing slowly but steadily down into the hill. Perhaps one day the river will be reached and another significant part of the Priddy cave systems will be added to the map.

Phil has been caving for more than 47 years and is a member of the Wessex Cave Club. He has been involved in producing several caving publications and is a caving instructor in Cheddar. His main interest is digging for new caves.

PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

(Photograph by Pete Glanvil)

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MOTORING

Tour heads West

THE Mendip Vintage and Classic Tour organised by the Classic and Historic Motor Club takes place on Sunday, May 10th. It’s become one of the most popular events in the West of England’s motoring calendar, attracting a wide range of interesting vintage and classic vehicles. The event, now in its 21st year, is open to 150 pre-1995 vehicles. From Shepton Mallet the cars follow a scenic route of 86 miles across the Mendip Hills for a lunch stop at Ston Easton Park before finishing on the lawns of Wells Cathedral. It will once again be raising funds for the charity Riding for the Disabled.

Details and entry forms: www.candhmotorclub.co.uk

For servicing, repairs and sales of all makes of caravans and motorhomes

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MENDIP TIMES

Boost for construction courses at Frome College

FROME Town Council is contributing £5,000 to a programme helping disengaged students at Frome College to prepare for a career in construction.

Paul Wynne, the town council clerk, said: “Initial reports from Frome College and Mindset Training, who are involved in delivery, suggest that the programme is making a big difference and the expectation is that these young people will be in an excellent position to compete for jobs at the end of the programme.”

ARIMIS

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SERVICES Planning Applications Listed Building Building Regulations Care & Repair New Houses – Extensions Conversions & Refurbishments For a free consultation, please contact Rob Tel: 0800 458 4283 Mob: 07818 212 532 Email: rob@arimis-architectural.co.uk

PAGE 62 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

Property market slows

MORE properties are coming on to the South West housing market and stamp duty reform is continuing to provide a boost to sales volumes, according to the latest survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

In the South West, 28% more chartered surveyors have seen a rise in new instructions in January and 24% more respondents have reported a rise in new buyer enquiries.

Price momentum, whilst positive, continues to moderate and surveyors are expecting a relatively flat price picture over the next three months.

Despite a month in which mortgage approvals fell to their one of their lowest levels, 16% more chartered surveyors have seen an increase in newly-agreed sales in the South West over the past month and the number of agreed sales per surveyor showed a slight increase in January (up from 18 to 21).

Although the picture overall remains positive, anecdotal evidence from respondents suggests that the picture is quite mixed across the South West with some surveyors saying that the market in their area has slowed. One respondent also questioned whether the imminent national changes in internet advertising would ‘polarize property marketing techniques and results over the next few months’.

Looking ahead chartered surveyors in the region are expecting a 2.2% increase in prices over 12 months, and 3.2% per year increase over the next five years.

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Land prices rise

FARMLAND demand continued to outpace supply in the final six months of 2014, with land prices in the South West rising again to reach £8,438 per acre, according to the latest Rural Land Market Survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Arable land in the South West is currently more attractive than pasture, with the price of arable land hitting £9,250 per acre, with pasture at £7,625.

Surveyors in the South West say that supply is a big issue in the region, with a shortage of whole farms coming on to the market with a lot of interest from local farmers. Most land in the South West is being purchased by industrial farmers (64%) followed by ‘lifestyle’ buyers (27%). Josh Miller, RICS senior economist, said: “Although there remain a number of risks on the horizon, including commodity price volatility, the forthcoming general election and a possible exit from the EU, surveyors remain confident on the whole that prices will continue to rise over the next 12 months.”

W

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PROPERTY

Time to celebrate

KEYRING Lettings are celebrating their first year of trading as a new concept in the property lettings market. The social enterprise, which is a non-profit making community interest company (CIC) provides a comprehensive, caring, high quality lettings and management service throughout the Mendip area.

To celebrate their first year of trading, KeyRing Lettings will be offering a special promotion on fully managed properties of an 8% monthly management fee (minimum

12 month contract) along with a full rent guarantee and NO VAT. Landlords are invited to their open day celebrations on Wednesday March 11th, 2pm to 7pm at their offices,50 High Street, Shepton Mallet BA4 5AS.

A NEW development of homes and flats will shortly be completed in Coleford – the properties will be available for rent to people with strong links to the village.

The new development, named Mackintosh View, consists of two fourbedroom houses, nine three-bedroom houses, seven two-bedroom houses and four one-bedroom flats.

Phase one of the development has gone live on Homefinder Somerset. Phases two and three will be advertised in the weeks

beginning Monday, March 2nd and Monday, March 16th respectively. Local Mendip District councillor Philip Ham said: “I know of a lot of people who left Coleford because they were unable to find a home, but who are keen to move back.”

G The homes are being provided to local people in partnership with Aster Communities. Anyone interested in being considered for the properties needs to be registered with Homefinder Somerset: www.homefindersomerset.co.uk

Homes for “locals” in Coleford

BUTCOMBE, NR. BLAGDON

AUCTION 12TH MAY 2015 (UNLESS SOLD PRIOR) QUITE POSSIBLY THE MOST STUNNING LOCATION IN THE VALLEY! Building Plot /Conversion Permission for conversion of agricultural barn to residential dwelling of approx. 2542 sq ft. Elevated position overlooking the lake and through the valley to the Mendips and Channel. Large plot of 0.7 acre. Ref: 24068 PRICE GUIDE £325,000

WEST HARPTREE, CHEW VALLEY

Edwardian semi detached house in rural location.

Immaculately presented interior with plenty of potential for further extension; three bedrooms, two receptions, superb kitchen, front and rear halls.

Outbuildings, Country garden and parking. Far reaching views. EPC: PRICE GUIDE £349,950 F Ref: 24822.

EW

N

COCKLAKE, NR WEDMORE

Traditional stone farmhouse with 2000 sq ft of family accommodation and 4400 sq ft of outbuildings standing in garden, yard, paddock and orchard of 1.46 acres. Far reaching views over miles of countryside to the Mendip Hills and Glastonbury Tor. Three principal reception rooms, 4/5 bedrooms, potential annexe. Pretty gardens, plenty of garaging and parking. Ref: 24823 EPC: F PRICE GUIDE £575,000 W NE

Wrington Tel: 01934 864300 MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 63

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The Kingfisher way

OVER the years window companies (still often referred to as double glazing companies) have become infamous for their high-pressure sales techniques, pricing that ranges from excessive to impossibly cheap, questionable fitting skills and frequent (and highly suspicious) insolvencies.

In contrast the family firm of Kingfisher, founded back in 1986, has steadily gained itself a reputation for running its business based on the fundamental premise that you treat customers as you yourself want to be treated.

It is a philosophy that particularly strikes a chord with people who feel threatened and apprehensive when they allow a salesperson into their home.

The nightmare of the rep who won’t go until he (or she) has an order is a grim reality for many people.

Kingfisher’s MD Angie Hicks has no time for companies that subject potential customers to such ordeals.

She feels that, long term, it is a counterproductive policy since

PAGE 64 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

recommendation is vital if a business is to grow: “What is important to me is that our customers know they can ask for advice and be given a quotation without feeling they need to make instant decisions. In reality so many of our customers have become friends, and the fact that a large proportion of our business comes from referrals and recommendations, is a clear affirmation of the value of these friendships.”

So what sets Kingfisher apart in what is a highly competitive market?

Angie gives six key reasons; 1. Kingfisher will never, in any circumstances, pressure customers into making a decision.

2. The best price is always quoted at the start.

3. The company will not promote offers that are ‘too good to be true’.

4. Products and installation are covered by a comprehensive 10year guarantee.

5. All fitters are qualified and

thoroughly trained. They are polite, punctual, tidy and take pride in their work.

6. After-sales care is a key part of the business. At any time customers can ask for help and advice and feel under no obligation.

Angie said: “We’re now into the third generation of family employees since my father started the business 29 years ago. The spirit in the company is wonderful, but there is never a hint of complacency. We recognise that we are only as good as our latest installation and we cannot afford to rest on our laurels.”

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HOMES & INTERIORS

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JACKSONS

Jacksons Fencing – news, topical treats and more . . .

Bring the outside inside and viceversa . . .

HERE’S a great project that was inspired by the need to make better use of the garden space, after extending the house. It looks amazing, and the sensitive approach to the use of materials has made it even more successful. By choosing tongue and groove effect panels, with the boards running horizontally to match the timber cladding on the house, this encourages a feeling of cohesion to the look of the whole outdoor space, it blurs the lines between house and garden, and brings the outside inside, and vice-versa.

John Horswill sent these lovely photos of the completed project (thanks very much John) and here’s what he told us about it: “The project was initiated by our need to provide more living space on the ground floor of our town house. The garden area is very small – only 50 square metres – so we were limited in the size of extension that the available space could support.

Our solution was to build a very simple fully glazed bay window extension, at the same time redesigning the garden to complement the additional area created within the house.

“We raised the terrace up to ground floor level, providing more apparent space, particularly when the bi-fold

John’s extension and terrace with bi-folding doors creating the longed-for extra space

John’s garden with the Tongue and Groove effect panels with Premier Trellis topper panels

doors are fully open.

“Most of the existing shrubs were retained and new raised beds added.

One of the most important aspects of the design was the fencing and we were attracted to the simple lines of Jacksons’ products. We faced the external walls of the house with cladding to match the upper floors, and needed to extend that theme into the boundary treatment.

“We are very pleased with the results, in particular the balance between trellis and panelling. And as a bonus, we had ordered enough components to build a new shed and garden gate, integrated into the fencing.

“The contractor made an excellent job of it and used more or less all the

WIN

A

components. Note the shed, which was built into the fencing and works really well – I’m hoping to add a ‘green’ roof at a later date. All in all, I am really pleased, it’s a very successful project.”

You can find out more about the tongue and groove effect panels and the square Premier Trellis topper panels used in this project by going to your local page.

There’s also a link there to the customer project story with more photos of this lovely garden and many others. Plus up to date info on any special offers and winners of previous free prize draws. www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/bathlocal or call 0800 408 4754 to talk to your local Jacksons Fencing Centre. louise@jacksons-fencing.co.uk

JACKSONS WHEELIE BIN STORE

Enter the free prize draw and be in with a chance to win one of Jacksons wheelie bin stores. Simply log on to your local page, address below and follow the easy instructions on how to enter. The draw closes 31.03.15. To enter go to: www.jacksonsfencing.co.uk/bathlocal

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 67

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Youth club grants

A TOTAL of 21 youth clubs in Somerset – including five in Mendip – will receive a share of £58,000 in grants from Somerset County Council to help run popular sessions.

The Somerset Youth and Community Service grants will support new and existing projects that benefit young people across the county. They include: • Stoke St Michael Youth Club: £2,800 toward staff costs for a youth club session on Wednesday evenings.

• Shepton Mallet Youth Club: £3,500 toward staff costs to continue delivery of the open-door youth club on Tuesday nights.

• Evercreech Youth Club: £725 toward the cost of staffing for the senior club on Thursday nights.

• Glastonbury Town Council: £3,500 for staffing costs to continue delivery of their open-door youth club at Windmill Hill on Wednesday nights.

• Coleford Youth Club: £3,500 toward staffing costs to continue their Tuesday night youth club.

In Sedgemoor, North Sedgemoor Youth Clubs was allocated £3,500 for the Cheddar Open Access Youth Club to go towards the staffing costs of running the Tuesday night session and was also given £3,500 toward the staffing costs for Axbridge Youth Club’s Monday night session.

In South Somerset, Bruton Youth Club was given £2,250 toward the costs of a professional worker to support their team of volunteers at their Monday evening youth club.

Councillor Frances Nicholson, Cabinet member for Children and Families at Somerset County Council, said: “I am pleased that we have been able to support our communities with these grants, which are a ‘top-up’ to the funds they have already worked hard to raise locally.

“Many of these projects are heavily reliant on the generosity and dedication of volunteers. I’d like to thank them for everything they do and I hope the grant funding helps ensure these projects continue benefiting the young people of Somerset in the future.”

Fashion show for Macmillan

CLOTHES designer Anna Perra is once again holding a fashion show in May to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The event – showcasing Anna’s spring and summer collections – will be held at Ston Easton Park on Thursday, May 14th. Anna, based in Shepton Mallet, holds a number of charity shows during the year.

Tickets are £15. Half of the proceeds will go to the charity.

The event begins at 7.30pm.

For details: www.stoneaston.co.uk

Pedestrian friendly in Frome

RESURFACING work in Palmer Street in Frome is due to start on Monday, March 16th, Somerset County Council has confirmed.

The works will last for eight weeks and will make it easier for people to cross the road. The scheme – supported by Frome Town Council – represents the first in a series of projects to make the town centre more pedestrian friendly. The next phases will be to improve the Boyle Cross area followed by more pedestrian friendly features in the Market Place.

Hospice opens new shop

ST. Margaret’s Hospice in Somerset has opened its 35th shop – celebrating its 35th year! It’s in South Petherton in the old Coop store.

The expansion of the charity’s retail arm is a mirror image of the expansion of the hospice since 1980. Focusing on extending its community services, the hospice has been able to provide care for over 3,200 people in the last year alone.

In 2014 the chain of shops contributed £1.17million of the £6.5m needed to deliver this care.

Young badminton players blooded

CHEW Valley Junior Badminton Club did themselves proud when they took on Uphill Junior Badminton Club for a double header of junior matches,

losing the match 22-20.

This was the first club badminton match that any of the young Chew players had ever been involved in.

They are now looking forward to the retrun on March 15th at Chew Valley Leisure Centre.

Details: Will Mellersh 07721 443 343 www.chewvalleybadminton.co.uk

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NEWS

Morris honour Alfred jewel THE Mendip Morris Men, whose logo and dress is centred on the King Alfred's Jewel currently on loan to the Taunton Museum, visited the museum by invitation to dance in front of it.

Founded in 1956, the Mendip Morris Men adopted the Alfred Jewel as their badge due to its connections to Somerset and King Alfred the Great, King of Wessex. The insignia is worn with pride as the centrepiece on their baldricks (the cross sashes worn by Morris dancers).

The ninth century Alfred Jewel, apparently made on commission to King Alfred the Great was discovered in North Petherton in 1693. During February it is on loan to the Taunton Museum from the Ashmolean in Oxford, replacing the replica which is usually on display.

Moose, rattle and roll!

from Chris Evans’s 1950’s disco. Many dressed the part, with prizes for the most realistic 50’s costumes.

Profits from the night went towards supporting Alzheimer’s charities, with a separate whisky raffle raising £40 towards supporting RNLI flood rescue. The event was also supplemented by two fun quizzes supplied by Pat Burge.

Rock’n Rollers Brian Mudge, Khalil Kattanna, Chris Harris, Brian Hood and Ron Fisher

Karen and Abi Fear

Photo courtesy of Mike Lang

MORE than 60 members of Burnham-on-Sea’s Moose International lodge 123 and their guests were swept back to the 1950s with a disco at their Governor and Lady Presidents’ annual party.

Those who could jived, whilst others sang along and foot tapped to a multitude of old rock ’n’ roll numbers and ballads

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 69

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Timsbury rocks the night away

Africa fund concert

Children at David’s Nursery

Alma and Eric Smith greeting guests

THE Conygre Hall in Timsbury was transported back to the 1950s for a rocking good night which raised £1,700 for the Great Western Air Ambulance.

The event was held by the Inner Wheel of Chelwood Bridge, raising money for president Sam Jordan’s chosen charity. The best dressed competition was won by Lauran Hurst and Alana Sandall.

Tony and Linda Quinn

A CONCERT will be held in Wells in March to raise money for a charity which funds nursery schools in Kenya.

The concert will be held in memory of a keen supporter of the Norton Down Africa Fund, which was founded ten years ago.

The fund concentrates on running four schools in the Kisumu area, each accommodating 30 children who would never have had any chance of education.

The concert at Wells Methodist Church will be performed by Castle Cary Choir in memory of Rita Parsons who passed away last June. Rita was a member of the choir and a great supporter of the Norton Down Africa Fund. It was always Rita’s goal to raise enough money herself to open a fourth nursery on behalf of the fund and this was achieved in January.

The fund named the nursery after her late husband David. Christine Button, from the Fund said: “Rita was thrilled when we gave her pictures of the grand opening!

We were very saddened when she passed away but happy that she was able to know the nursery had been opened.”

The concert will be Wells Methodist Church on Friday, March 6th at 7.30pm. Tickets are £7.50 in advance (available from Beah’s in Wells) or £8 on the door.

Singing for charity

Jacky and Ray Lithgo. Jacky organised the whole event, with the help of fellow Inner Wheel ladies PAGE 70 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

MIDSOMER Norton based ladies’ choir, the Somer Valley Singers, has donated £500 to the Forever Friends Appeal for the RUH Cancer Centre and £300 to St. John’s Church, Midsomer Norton.

The money was raised at its annual charity concert last October and thanks to a donation of £80 from the Orchard Care Home in Bath following a visit from the choir.

The choir, conducted by Heather Hill, meets on a Thursday from 7.30pm to 9pm at the Somer Centre and is always happy to welcome new members.

Jim Farmer or Elvis Presley?

Details: www.somervalleysingers.co.uk or telephone 01761 433325.

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Children dance their socks off

Various schools took part

OVER 1,000 people saw Churchill Academy’s Dance Their Socks Off show held over two nights at Weston Playhouse.

Vicki Cook, dance teacher at Churchill Academy, had spent months with local primary schools choreographing and planning the dances ready for their big show, now in its seventh year.

The show was split over two evenings to ensure that each school could give a larger number of students the opportunity to perform. Over 400 children from Banwell, Blagdon, Burrington, Churchill, Hutton, Sandford, St Andrew’s Congresbury, Winscombe and Wrington primary schools took part.

This is one of several activities involving the local cluster schools where the academy provides them with support in the performing arts.

Paul Harrison, Second in Faculty, Performing Arts at Churchill Academy, said: “We are delighted at how successful Dance Their Socks Off has been and we’re lucky to have such a talented team behind it. The performances are a testament to the quality of work delivered by our cluster schools.”

Adge is back

MUSIC

REGULARS at The Crown, in Churchill did a double take when a face from the area’s musical past dropped in for a pint and a song. But this was no ghost: in fact, it was actor Alex Dunbar, who is playing Wurzels’ legend Adge Cutler in a new play about his life and music to be performed in March.

Scrumpy & Western: The Life and Times of Adge Cutler will be premiered live at The Curzon Cinema, Clevedon, at 7.30pm on Friday March 6th.

After a day pottering about Wuzelesque locations including Nempnett Thrubwell, Stanton Drew and Burrington Combe, Alex enjoyed a pint of scrumpy at The Crown – a pub little changed since Adge’s time.

The play has been co-written by Tom Henry and Shaun McCarthy and is being staged by the newly-formed Hooligan Theatre Productions. The Arts Council agreed a small grant to get it to the development stage and it is hoped that if it goes down well, more funding can be obtained to tour it fully later in the year.

Alex is from the village of Muchelney, on the Somerset Levels, and trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He said: “This is a great role and the play pays tribute to the kind of characters you still find around Somerset to this day – funny, resourceful and with a real sense of identity and love for the area.”

The show, directed by Amanda Horlock with musical direction by Martin Pring, is also being performed at the Town Hall, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, on Saturday March 7th.

Details: The Curzon, Clevedon, Friday March 6th http://www.curzon.org.uk • 01275 871000 Trowbridge Town Hall, Saturday March 7th www.trowbridgetownhall.org • 01225 774306

Hutton – Crafty crows Sandford – Stomp

North Somerset Arts Week

NORTH Somerset’s creative talent will be on show from May 1st – May 10th, with nearly 300 artists showcasing their work at various venues. North Somerset’s own Theatre Orchard will be working alongside the very popular and hilarious Living Spit performing in their Theatre Shop in Clevedon, whilst in Westonsuper-Mare, the Film Weston group will be screening drama, documentary and art films from and about the region.

Nailsea Tithe Barn will also be hosting performance events and there will be music events across the area too.

NSA chair, Lorraine Jones, said: “North Somerset Arts Week succinctly expresses our aims – bringing art into our communities and providing opportunities for visual and performance artists living and working in this area.”

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 71

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Decade of song

THE Axbridge Singers will celebrate their tenth anniversary in style. They have a flourishing link with a French choir from the Languedoc region in the south of France.

It began two years ago when Amanda Boyd (a local folk singer and member of the Axbridge Singers) was visiting an English friend in that area of France. She attended a choir rehearsal of Cantagarrigue, his local choir, and a link was formed.

Some 18 Axbridge Singers visited France in October 2013 and sang in a joint concert. In September 2014 an ‘advance party’ of six intrepid Cantagarrigue singers visited Axbridge.

Now the majority of the members of Cantagarrigue are arriving for a long weekend on March 12th. On the Saturday the choirs will be singing in The Chapter House of Wells Cathedral at 11am and then at 7.30pm at St. John the Baptist Church in Axbridge.

Details: www.axbridgesingers.org.uk

Getting streetwise

WEARE Academy C of E First School have been introduced to Street Jazz to learn rhythm, develop awareness of the body and confidence in performance.

One of the pupils said: “It was really enjoyable, very energetic and we learnt some awesome cool moves!”

Headmistress, Denise Mawdsley, said: “They were completely taken with Street Jazz and as a result we will be looking for more opportunities to include it in our curriculum.”

PAGE 72 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

Classical success for local charity

LOCALS braved the cold to gather at the Friends Meeting House, in Sidcot for a classical concert in aid of Weston Hospicecare.

The West Mendip Orchestra played a wonderful programme of music starting with Antonín Dvořák’s American Suite, followed by Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto and finishing with the “Romantic” Symphony No. 2 by Howard Hanson.

Fourteen-year-old cellist Nigel Thean from Wells bravely took the lead on Elgar’s masterpiece, wowing everybody in the venue with his talent. Members from Winscombe Choir were on hand to volunteer whilst businesses from the area – including Birds Bakery and The Deli in Winscombe – donated food and drink to the event which generated almost £300 in refreshment sales alone.

Scottish legends for Priddy Folk Festival

PRIDDY Folk Festival have confirmed the first big names for their 2015 festival in July, legendary Scottish singer-songwriter Dick Gaughan and another big name from north of the border, Duncan Chisholm.

Also appearing are English alternative pop duo Nizlopi whose JCB Song reached number one in the charts in 2005.

Gaughan, now 66, has been an influential force on the British folk scene since the 1970s and has over 20 albums to his name as a solo artist or as a member of bands such as Boys From The Lough.

Chisholm will be appearing at Priddy with his own trio and with his folk-rock band Wolfstone, who have released eight albums since their formation in 1989. Chisholm has also released a host of solo albums, the most recent being Affric which was longlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year in 2012.

There are also plenty of acts from the new generation of folk stars, including harmonica genius Will Pound – a nominee for the 2015 BBC Radio 2 Folk Musician of the Year award – amazing young vocal performers The Tea Cups and Priddy’s own folk stars The Drystones.

Tickets for the festival, which runs from July 10th -12th, are available at early-bird prices until February 28 and start at £55 without camping or £67 with camping.

Details: www.priddyfolk.org

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Soloists excel

Panto raises roof

MUSIC

Conductors and soloists together with Lion Derek Livsey, event organiser, and Lion president Margaret Small.

BATH and North East Somerset Music Service presented the Schools Philharmonic Orchestra and Cantelina Choir in a concert for Radstock and Midsomer Norton Lions at the Prospect Theatre, Writhlington.

The four soloists for the evening, Alessia Watson, Bartholomew Scattergood, Alexander Dziadulewicz and Samantha Mitchell received applause for their fine singing and instrumental entertainment.

Conductors Timothy Parker (Cantelina) and Rainer Dolz (Schools Philharmonic Orchestra) performed with fine control of the large number of students who have committed to practice and rehearsal in addition to their other school work.

Thanks were extended to Bath & North East Somerset Music Service, by Lion President Margaret Small. Proceeds will be divided between Bath & North East Somerset Music Service and Lions local charities.

Palace showcase

THE Bishop’s Palace and Wells Cathedral School are to work together to further the musical and charitable ambitions of both institutions.

Following a highly successful lunchtime recital at the Palace last year, Wells Cathedral School are to begin a series of concerts and recitals in the beautiful surroundings of the medieval Palace which will run throughout 2015, starting on March 4th, with another on March 11th.

Entry to the concerts will be free of charge and will offer the audience a chance to enjoy the exceptional talents of the students in a truly unique location.

Details: www.bishopspalace.org.uk/events or 01749 988 111.

The STARR production of Robin Hood in Cheddar was a big success. Originally formed 28 years ago, St. Andrew’s Roof Raisers was formed to support the church and church hall. The show was written, produced and directed by Patrick Westby of Cheddar.

A brilliant cast included local faces old and young. Ceri Walsh and the children of the forest sang a wonderful rendition of Frozen’s "Let it Go". The show had great performances by the Rev Sue Rose as Friar Tuck and Huw Davies as the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Busy time for choir

CONGRESBURY Singers will be performing Bach’s St Matthew Passion at St Andrew’s in the village on March 17th.

Tickets costing £5 can be obtained in advance from Congresbury Post Office, Morgan’s, from Paul on 01275 878740, other choir members or will be available on the door.

They have also been invited to perform Stainer’s Cruxifixion again this year. They will performing it first on Tuesday March 1st at the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Clevedon, starting at 8pm. There will be a retiring collection with tea and biscuits.

Then, secondly, on Saturday March 21st they will be performing it at St Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church in Nailsea, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets, costing £5 can be obtained from John Haynes or Clive Collins at the church or on the door.

On both occasions the bass soloist will be Bruce Saunders and the organist Jean Routley.

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Unsung heroes

Dinner with Dermot

Groundsmen Bryn Hawkins, Brian Moore, Brian Wells and the Tunley committee

Dermot Gallagher will be speaking at Frome Town FC.

THE Mid Somerset Football League is celebrating two prestigious awards, with their clubs Tunley and Temple Cloud winning Groundsman of the Year awards.

Brian Moore of Tunley came in first place in Somerset and Roy Chivers of Temple Cloud was runner-up. Their trophies were presented to them by Brian Wells Somerset FA chairman of the County Cups committee and president of the MSFL and Bryn Hawkins chairman of the MSFL. Brian congratulated both men and thanked them for all the hard work they have put in over many years and hoped they would continue long into the future.

Norton RFC reunion

FORMER Premier League referee and current Sky Sports pundit Dermot Gallagher will be the special guest at Frome Town Football Club’s 2015 Sportsman’s Dinner in March.

The famous referee has officiated some of the biggest names in the Premier League history and is well-known to be one of the funniest and best speakers on the after dinner circuit.

The event will be held at the club on Thursday, March 19th from 7.30pm. Tickets are £15 per person.

For more details contact Ian Pearce at the club: 07811 511222.

FORMER players, friends, benefactors and supporters are being invited to attend Midsomer Norton RFC’s annual reunion lunch on Saturday, March 7th.

The Ist XV is due to host Corsham RFC in the Southern Counties South league match with a 2.30pm kick-off. The buffet lunch begins at 12.30pm.

Corsham and MNRFC played out a very hard game in the reverse fixture last November with Norton earning a 0-12 victory.

Ross Miller crosses for a try in the last minute of Norton’s match against visitors Wimborne. The home side won 34-8

Norton players rush to congratulate Ross Miller

For more information about the reunion, contact Nigel Rowles at: nigel@crfencing.co.uk PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

(Photo courtesy of skysports.com)

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Gold for girls

The winning Somervale team

Step in to sport for young people

BATH Rugby Foundation are working with Bath & North East Somerset Council to get more young people active by offering a varied and interesting programme of sports activities at two youth hub sites in Bath and North East Somerset.

The Door Step Sports clubs programmes at Southside Youth Hub in Bath and Peasedown St John Youth Hub offer a range of activities including canoeing, gym sessions, table tennis, rugby, basketball and dance.

They are open to anyone between 15 – 25 years old and take place on Wednesdays at Southside Youth Hub and Mondays at Peasedown St John Youth Hub. Anyone interested in getting involved should just pop along and introduce themselves.

A TEAM of trampolinists from Somervale School in Midsomer Norton have won gold at an inter-schools competition in Bristol.

Lily Axford, Amy Golledge, Mollie Chivers, Daisy Collier, Daisy Swarbrick and Abigail Palmer represented Somervale at the annual Winter Sainsbury’s School Games. Lily and Mollie were the only survivors from the team who clinched a silver medal in last year’s competition but with a new-look team, they were hoping to go one better.

The girls had to perform three rotations including a body management floor routine, some set skills and a set routine.

Matt Dochniak, head of PE at Somervale, said: “They were extremely professional in their approach and performed exceptionally well in all three activities. This was recognised by the judges who were very complimentary having watched the girls perform.

“After the judges’ scores had been calculated there was a nervous wait but the winners of the Sainsbury’s School Games Trampolining were Somervale School. The girls collected their gold medals and should be congratulated on an excellent performance.”

Chew Valley entries open

ENTRIES are now available for the Chew Valley 10k, which is being held on Sunday June 21st. Last year it was won by Nathan Young of Wells City Harriers in 33.05minutes. The photograph shows the start of the children’s 1k race.

Details: www.chewvalley10k.co.uk

Memorial match has a place in history

(Photo courtesy of Chanz Lynes)

SPORT

Details: Dave Hedges 07821 021733

TO mark 100 years since the start of WWI, football clubs across the country took pictures of teams taking part in a special match, which were then posted on the FA website.

Chew Valley U12’s had their photograph taken with Bath Arsenal Pumas before going on to beat them 3-2. Chew Valley has just been made a development centre for Bristol City.

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Looking for a new challenge

HILARY Barnard who lives at Redhill, near Bristol Airport has been competing in the discipline of Trec for the last 10 years and she With CELIA explained to me all GADD about the sport and why she loves it so much.

Trec is a sport intended to test the skills of a horse and rider in planning and executing a long-distance ride in unfamiliar country. It originated in France as a way of testing and improving the skills of trail ride leads and was introduced to the UK in the early 1990s.

Hilary first began the sport because she was looking for a way to utilise her children’s ponies when they lost interest in riding; she was looking for something that Harvey who is now 20 years old could compete in successfully and she has never really looked back.

Trec is a three-phase competition.

The first phase – Orienteering or POR (Parcours d’Orientation at de Regularite) is a long-distance ride across a variety of terrain. The competitors get access to a master copy map of the route they have to take and get an allocated time in which to copy the route onto their own individual maps which they take with them on the day.

Any mistakes in copying will lose them points if they miss check points or even get to them from the wrong direction.

Each competitor starts the day with 240 points and the aim is to lose as few points as possible throughout the competition.

Each section has to be completed at a given speed, but you are not given the speed until you set off and you must keep going at that pace until the next check point, where your new speed will be given. Some sections have to be completed in walk which is quite good when trying to encourage land-owners to let the riders cross over their land.

Trec is divided into four levels, with Level 1 being the most basic for beginners with shorter distance and easier obstacles, and Level 4 being the one that is used for international competitions.

At Level 4 the orienteering route will be about 40 kms and if you complete any sections faster or slower than the given speeds then marks are deducted, as they are for taking the wrong course.

Phase two is called MA (Matrise des Allures) and is all about controlled pace. In this phase you have to stay within a corridor and canter as slowly as you can then stop, turn round, and walk back as quickly as you can. Any deviation from the optimum time frames and again you are deducted marks.

All types of horses and ponies are used for Trec but obviously in this phase a well-balanced and slow canter and very fast and active walk are desired qualities.

Phase three is the obstacle course, called PTV (Parcours Terrain Varie). This section consists of 16 different obstacles, or tasks that the horse and rider have to complete. Being asked to jump a few smallish fences, walking through water, down small steps or drops, opening gates and bending are just a few of the things they may be asked to do.

Each obstacle carries a maximum of ten points and riders can opt out of doing an obstacle by telling the judge they do not want to complete it and they will lose the points for that particular obstacle.

However, if they miss one out completely they will then get zero points for the whole phase.

The season runs pretty much the same as the Horse Trials season here in the UK, from the end of March until midOctober, and there are competitions nearly every weekend throughout the UK. Level 1 competitions are run on one day but the other levels are a two-day

affair, with phase one being on the first day, and phase two and three on the second.

Trec is an extremely sociable sport, the riders very often camp over the weekend and there are often BBQs on the Saturday night, with the ponies kept in corals overnight.

Hilary has competed for Great Britain internationally, taking part in the European Championships last year in Italy where she finished best of the British.

This year she is on the list for the British squad and the selection process takes into account the points gained over six specific competitions.

Hilary has two ponies, Harvey who is now 20 and is a very experienced Trec pony and then Roughtor who is a much more inexperienced pony who Hilary has spent a lot of time re-training as he had a very traumatic start and was very nervous.

I asked Hilary about her goals for the coming season. She said: “I just want to have fun. I compete about once a fortnight and I am particularly interested this year in bringing on Roughtor more and improving our scores with him in all phases. I have already qualified for the National Championships that takes place in Scotland in mid-August and I am looking forward to that.”

This sport is designed for all levels of horse and rider and is one of the few sports that you can do single-handedly without the need of a big team of helpers and many competitors go to competitions alone.

We look forward to reporting on Hilary’s progress this year.

For more information on Trec go to www.trecgb.com

PAGE 76 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

(Photography courtesy of stevewallequestrianphotography.co.uk)

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Days at the races – point-to-points PRE and post-Cheltenham Festival fever will be in the air when the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt and the Mendip Farmers Hunt stage their point-to-point meetings in March.

The two fixtures bookend the festival and offer racegoers the chance to discuss the line-up and compare their fortunes.

The BSV meeting takes place on Sunday, March 8th at its now wellestablished location at Charlton Horethorne, between Wincanton and Sherborne. The fixture has been hosted by popular farmer and hunt member John Sprake and his family since 1995.

With six races on the card and two pony races to follow, the meeting attracts a large crowd of knowledgeable point-topoint fans. The three-mile course is famous for its two long gallops, including the finishing straight and horses need to

be stayers as well as having a good turn of speed, said fixture secretary Caroline Hicks.

Caroline said: “At one time we used to have more than 200 entries, but people are now more careful about when and where they decide to run their horses, but we always get a good turnout if the weather is suitable.

“Point-to-points are so dependent upon sponsors and supporters are we are very grateful to ours who have been so loyal over the years.”

The BSV meeting will again have a big screen relaying all the action to the crowds and which will also be a feature at Mendip’s meeting on Sunday, March 22nd.

Its location at Ston Easton is popular with people from the Mendip area and from Bristol and Bath and the fixture also

RIDING Zara Phillips at last year’s Ston Easton meeting

features six races with two pony races afterwards.

Always well supported by Ditcheat trainer Paul Nicholls and his family, last year’s meeting also saw entries of horses trained by the Princess Royal’s daughter Zara Phillips.

Both fixtures have a scheduled start of 12.30. For more information on point-to-point meeting, visit: www.pointingwessex.co.uk

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RIDING

“Vic” does the trick at Wincanton

A winning proposal: Berit and Alex toast their engagement

By Mark Adler

HORSERACING enthusiasts may have a new local hero in Southfield Vic, owned

by Mrs Angela Yeoman and trained by Paul Nicholls.

The six-year-old enjoyed a comfortable win at Wincanton Racecourse on their Kingwell Hurdle race day. Nicholls’s other contender on the day, Irving, was beaten into second place in the feature race by Blue Heron, trained by Dan Skelton, who was assistant to Nicholls at Ditcheat before starting his own stable.

Southfield Vic, bred by Mrs Yeoman, who lives near Frome, was ridden home in the Bathwick Tyres Yeovil Handicap Hurdle by Nick Scholfield. Mrs Yeoman said: “I am amazed and delighted; it was an amazing run.”

The meeting was staged on Valentine’s

Southfield Vic on his way to victory

March events

Sunday 1st Quantock Riding Club dressage at Stockland Lovell Manor, Fiddington Monday 2nd Mary King and Emily King XC clinic at Stockland Lovell Manor, Fiddington Wednesday 4th Lower unaffiliated show jumping at Badgworth Arena, Axbridge Affiliated dressage at Stockland Lovell Manor, Fiddington Saturday 7th Unaffiliated show jumping at Stockland Lovell Manor, Fiddington Unaffiliated dressage at Pontispool Equine Sports Centre, Norton Fitzwarren

PAGE 78 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

Day and racegoers witnessed a new fixture in the parade ring: Alex Hickman made a surprise marriage proposal to his girlfriend of a year, Berit Reaver. A

horse was led into the ring wearing a rug bearing the words: “Berit, will you marry me?”

Happily for Alex, Berit said yes.

A salute for Angela Yeoman from winning jockey Nick Scholfield

The presentation takes place

Sunday 8th Unaffiliated mini show jumping at Stockland Lovell Manor, Fiddington Tiverton Foxhounds Hunter Trial at Pontispool Equine Sports Centre, Norton Fitzwarren Wednesday 11th Higher unaffiliated show jumping at Badgworth Arena, Axbridge Sunday 15th Taunton School NSEA Show jumping at Stockland Lovell Manor, Fiddington Taunton Vale Team Chase at Pontispool Equine Sports Centre, Norton Fitzwarren Wednesday 18th Lower unaffiliated show jumping at

Badgworth Arena, Axbridge Wednesday 25th Higher unaffiliated show jumping at Badgworth Arena, Axbridge Saturday 28th Andrew Lovell Confidence Building clinic at Pontispool Equine Sports Centre, Norton Fitzwarren Sunday 29th Exeter and District Riding Club One Day Event at Pontispool Equine Sports Centre, Norton Fitzwarren Monday 30th Matt Ryan XC clinic at Stockland Lovell Manor, Fiddington

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WHAT’S ON

Game Fair is aiming high

Brook Bank Shooting Ground Rodney Stoke, Cheddar BS27 3UJ

Try your hand at clay pigeon shooting at the Westcountry Game Fair

WHETHER you are an experienced shot or would like to learn more skills, the annual Westcountry Game Fair at the Royal Bath and West Showground at Shepton Mallet will cater for all.

The fair – the first major event of its kind of the year – takes place on Saturday, March 21st and Sunday, March 22nd and will host Bristol Clay Shooting who will provide a 50-clay trophy competition shoot on both days with open, ladies and junior categories. There will also be a “have-ago” stand for beginners.

In addition, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation will have a team of accredited coaches on hand to help you whatever level you are at, from picking up your first shotgun to improvement tips for the more experienced shot. The lesson will include gun fit, master eye test, safety and shooting tuition.

A selection of guns and associated equipment will also be available to purchase at the show.

Elsewhere, experts will demonstrate the variety of techniques used for training a dog, which depend very much on the type of work they are expected to perform. They include Graham Watkins, from Gamegoer Gundog Training, who has a wealth of knowledge and experience with spaniels and labradors and other breeds, not just for the shooting field but also falconry.

Graham will be accompanied by Dave and Lex Rayner from Woodash Gundogs in Weston-super-Mare. Dave is a very successful field trainer, having judged the cocker spaniel championships both here and abroad. This year he has bred dogs which ran in the English Springer Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel and Retriever Championships.

The BASC information stand will be located on the Showering Pavilion balcony with a wide variety of countryside organisations and artists attending, including the Deer Initiative, South West Wildfowling clubs; Avon and Somerset Firearms Licensing, Simon Trinder Wildlife Artist and Debbie Mason Lithographs.

The event also has a wonderful mix of have-a-go activities including archery, air rifles, fishing, terrier and lurcher shows and family dog show, along with demonstrations and a shopping village.

Last month, Mendip Times ran a competition to offer five pairs of tickets to the show. The first five correct entries drawn were from: Caroline Fry, Tunley, Edmund Goodland, Backwell, Mrs L. Wedlake, Chew Stoke, Experts will pass on dog Mrs J. Young, Bishop Sutton, training techniques Tony Jefferies, Wrington.

BEGINNERS CLAY SHOOTING PACKAGE (variety of targets) from £31.00 Gift Vouchers available

OPEN PRACTICE, 5 DAYS A WEEK See website for opening times Gunsmith on site No membership scheme – open to all!

Tel. 01749 871055 www.brookbankshooting.co.uk

• OPEN DAILY • CAFE AND SHOP • EASTER EGG HUNT • WEDDING FAIR 8th MARCH • SCHOOL HOLIDAY FAMILY ACTIVITIES • RARE PLANT FAIR 22nd MARCH

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Please send entries for these listings as a single paragraph of approximately 25 words. We’re happy to list entries for charities and voluntary groups free of charge – but please submit them in the format below. Commercial entries cost £25.

Thursday February 26th Chew Valley Wildlife Group: a Wildlife Journey in Arctic Norway by Cecile Gillard, Chew Magna Millennium Hall, 7.45pm, visitors £2.50; season ticket available.

Somerset Wildlife Trust, East Mendip branch, Wildlife and the Four Seasons, illustrated talk by Tony House, St. Catherine’s Church Hall, Park Road, Frome, 7.30pm, adults £2.50, children and students £1.

West Mendip Walkers – easy walk from Tor Lane, Wells Ex141 ST554457, 12.30. Details: Tony Strange 01934 733783 or anthonyestrange@gmail.com Charity quiz night, Red Post Inn, Peasedown St. John, in aid of Dorothy House Hospice care, 8.30pm.

Teams of up to six invited to challenge the Rare Breeds team from Butcombe Brewery. Ffi: Simon at the Red Post: 01761 433232 Thursday February 26th and Friday February 27th Trinity Singers Joint Concert, Bristol Cathedral (Thursday), All Saints’ Church, Weston-super-Mare (Friday). Time and ticket price to be confirmed.

Music by Purcell, Harris, Tippett and Parry. Details: Susannah 01934 844106.

Friday February 27th Friends of Weston-super-Mare Museum, A History of the Privy from Roman times to the present day, with Linda Hall, Down the Garden Path, 2pm, Weston Museum, Burlington Street, members free, visitors small fee on the door.

Mendip Citizens Advice Mobile Unit at Glastonbury Health Centre, Wells Road. 10am to 12pm. The CAB bus and staff will be available to provide free, independent and confidential advice on a range of issues. No need for an appointment.

Wrington Friendship Club, Blue Flowers, illustrated talk by Ian Parsons, 2.30pm Wrington Memorial Hall, Silver Street. New members welcome. Details: Fred Parsons 01934 863562.

Free Health Walks – Glastonbury Health Centre, Wells Road. Meet 10am. Easy, mostly level walks of about 1.5 miles around Glastonbury. Optional café stop at the end. Details: vicssullivan@hotmail.com Rotary Clubs of Frome, Help for Heroes charity concert at Frome Memorial Theatre BA11 1EB, 7.30pm, tickets £10 from theatre box office.

Bingo at Writhlington Village Hall, every Friday evening doors open at 6.30pm, Eyes Down 7.45pm.

Details: Jean Auckland 01761 439132.

Saturday February 28th Cheddar Vale Lions Club jumble sale, Church House, Cheddar, 2pm, entry 20p, jumble accepted from 12noon.

Brent Knoll Parish Hall fundraiser, Howden Jones in concert, 7.30pm for 8pm, tickets £8 from Jenny 01278 760477 or the village post office.

Backwell Village Market, Backwell WI hall, range of stalls and café, plus a drop-in dog masterclass, 10.30am-1pm. Details Gloria 07870 598770 or www.backwellvillagemarket.weebly.com Concert – Pilton Wind Ensemble – Mozart Serenade for 13 wind instruments and Strauss Serenade, St Thomas Church, Wells BA5 2UZ at 1pm. Retiring collection. Details 01749 890646.

Congresbury Book Sale, 9am-1pm at War Memorial Hall. Good quality books, jigsaw puzzles, dvds, cds and talking books.

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followed by 50th anniversary celebration of the society at the Queen Victoria Inn. Contact: Gill 01934 742508.

Plant Heritage, Somerset Group, Saxifrages, illustrated talk at the Village Hall, Edington, 2.30, with plant sale one hour before the talk, members free, visitors £4. Details: 01278 451631.

Monday March 2nd deafPLUS drop-in session at Glastonbury Health Centre, Wells Road. 9.30am to 12pm, for information, advice and guidance about hearing aid use and maintenance, employment support, and social care support.

Tuesday March 3rd The History of the Harp – from Mediterranean antiquity to 20th century Europe, a talk by Ms Sarah Deere-Jones LRAM LGSM for Mendip DFAS, 10.30 for 11am, Bath & West Bar & Restaurant (formerly the Westex Suite). Details: www.mdfas.org.uk. Guests welcome.

Congresbury Over-60’s Club, Perry, keyboard & songs, Congresbury War Memorial Hall, 2.30-4pm.

Details: 01934 832004.

Wednesday March 4th Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Wells Cathedral School Chamber Choir concert, 1pm, included with admission. Details: www.bishopspalace.co.uk 01749 988111.

Thursday March 5th West Mendip Walkers – moderate circular walk from Nunney 8.5mi/13km. Ex142 ST735456. Park old quarry above castle. Start 10am. Contact Tony Strange 01934733783 or anthonyestrange@gmail.com Cheddar Valley U3A – The Wonderful World of Glass – a talk by Dr Francis E. Burroughes at Church House Cheddar, 2.15pm, £2. Visitors welcome.

Wells Evening Society, the Golden Age of the Royal Navy, with Peter Warwick, Wells Town Hall, 7.30pm.

Friday March 6th Quiz night, Buckland Dinham Village Hall, 7.30pm, teams up to six, £5 per person to include supper, licensed bar. Details: Linda 01373 461897 or Simon 01373 452418.

Redhill Village Club Open Mic Night from, 8pm, hosted by Jerry Blythe. Budding musicians and performers are all welcome, it’s FREE to join and ample parking. Church Road, BS40 5SG. Tel: 01934 862619.

Charity concert at Wells Methodist Church by Castle Cary Choir, in aid of Norton Down Africa Fund. A special memorial concert for Mrs Rita Parsons who passed away last year. Rita was a member of the choir and a great supporter of the fund. 7.30pm, tickets £7.50 in advance available from Beah’s in Wells or £8 on the door.

Saturday March 7th Churchill Music! Vida Guitar Quartet, St. John the Baptist Church, Churchill, 7.30pm, tickets £14.50 or £10.50 for Champions of Churchill Music! Under 25s free. Details: Ursula Dornton 01934 852919 infol@churchillmusic.org.uk Clash of the Choirs, fourth event at St. Mary's Wedmore, 6.30pm sharp, ten choirs, 200 singers, a packed house to support them and the usual shenanigans. Tickets on sale from The Paper Shop in Wedmore from early February. They will sell out fast!

Contact, David Hopkins 01934 710149.

Book sale and Freecycle event in aid of Winscombe Community Association, 9am-12.30pm. Refreshments available. Please leave donations of books, CDs, DVDs and jigsaws on the book trolley in the Community Centre, Sandford Road at the Thursday market, 9-12.00 or call 01934 823609 or 842250.

St Mary’s Church, Timsbury giant Jumble sale, in the Conygre Hall, Timsbury, 10am to 12noon. All the

W h a t ’ s

usual stalls plus tea and coffee and a raffle makes a great morning’s entertainment! Entry will be 30p and proceeds will be towards the cost of supporting the church.

Frome Society for Local Study and Frome Civic Society, Ian Pearson The work of Bath JPs in the Early Victorian Period, Assembly Rooms, Frome, 2.30pm.

Bishop’s Palace, Wells community garden master class, an introduction to growing your own food, 11am-1pm. Details: See above.

Plant Heritage Somerset, early spring plant sale, W.I. Hall, Backwell, Station Road, Backwell BS48 3QW, 10am – 3.30pm, free admission, specialist nurseries. Refreshments. Details: 01275 462700.

Sunday March 8th Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Love Actually wedding fair, 11am-3.30pm. Details: www.bishopspalace.co.uk 01749 988111.

Tuesday March 10th Weston-super-Mare Archaeological and Natural History Society, Oreston, Uphill and Kirkdale Caves: their history and palaeontology, a talk by Deborah Hutchinson, Bristol Museum Collection Officer, Victoria Methodist Church Hall, Station Road, W-sM, BS23 1XU, visitors welcome £2.50.

Clevedon Art Club, St. Mary’s Church hall, Castle Road, Clevedon, 7.30pm. The club meets on the second Tuesday of every month throughout the year.

Details: www.clevedonartclub.co.uk Half-day Cookery Experience, Fodder at Yeo Valley HQ, 9.30am – 1.30pm, £45pp, inc breakfast and lunch, pre-book online; call 01761 461425 or email events@yeovalley.co.uk Wednesday March 11th Nailsea and District Horticultural Society, salad and herb crops for the small garden, with Jon Mason, United Reformed Church, Stockway North, Nailsea, 7.30pm.

Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Wells Cathedral School string ensemble concert, 1pm, free admission to Palace.

Wells Civic Society investing in young readers and writers with Siobhan Goodwin and representatives of Wells Bookworms, with local writer and illustrator Bebecca Gryspeerdt, Wells and Mendip Museum, 7.30pm.

Thursday March 12th West Mendip Walkers – easy circular walk 5.5mi/9km from lay-by at Ubley Warren Farm. Ex141 ST515558. Start 12.30pm Contact Jenny Nicholas 07803 722878.

Burrington Commons History Group meeting.

Court Lodge, High Street, Blagdon, BS40 7TQ, 10.30am. Morning indoors (10–12.30) followed by more survey work if weather allows (bring packed lunch and drink). To book please email ruthieworsley@gmail.com or ring Ruth Worsley 01761 232898.

Warmer Improved Somerset Homes (WISH project) drop-in session at Glastonbury Health Centre, Wells Road. 10am to 12.30pm. Find out how to make your homes warmer, reduce energy bills and improve your health.

Friday March 13th Wrington Friendship Club, AGM followed by bingo, 2.30pm Wrington Memorial Hall, Silver Street.

New members welcome. Details: Fred Parsons 01934 863562.

Saturday March 14th Croscombe Spring Charter Market, Village Hall, 10am-12noon, local crafts, cards and gifts, plants, vintage goods, kids’ zone, Easter egg hunt and much more, raising funds for Avalon School's Hydrotherapy Pool appeal. Details: 01749 939457.

Brent Knoll Bazaar, Farmers’ Market and Café,

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10am-12 noon in Brent Knoll Parish Hall, free admission. Details: 01278 760 308.

Seedy Saturday, sixth annual seed swap, Timsbury Conygre Hall, 10am to 2pm.

Congresbury Over-60’s Club, Chris Rainbow, vocalist, Congresbury War Memorial Hall, 2.30-4pm.

Details: 01934 832004.

Sunday March 15th Mothers’s Day, Yeo Valley Organic Garden and Tea Toom, afternoon tea and fizz, £22pp with free entry to the garden. Pre-book online; call 01761 461425; or email events@yeovalley.co.uk Monday March 16th Timsbury NATS, Tom Cairns, Natural History Recording, Conygre Hall, Timsbury, 7.30pm, entrance £3.

Knit a Bunny Workshop, Yeo Valley Organic Garden and Tea Room, full day with morning coffee and lunch, £65pp, pre-book online; call 01761 461425; or email events@yeovalley.co.uk Tuesday March 17th NADFAS Illustrated Lectures, Tribal Rugs – Treasures of the Black Tent, with samples on display, Caryford Hall, Castle Cary, 11am, free parking, £6, information 01963 350 527.

Wednesday March 18th Friends of Weston-super-Mare Museum, annual meeting, 7pm, followed by West Country Smuggling – An Age-old Pastime, with Cllr. John CrockfordHawley, members free, visitors small fee on the door.

Thursday March 19th West Mendip Walkers – moderate circular walk 8mi/12.9km from Bleadon Village car park. Ex140 ST34057. Start 10am. Contact Tony Strange 01934733783 or anthonyestrange@gmail.com Croscombe Society quiz night, village hall, 7.30pm, teams of four people per table, £5 per person to include a light buffet supper, bar & raffle. To book a table or for more information contact Elaine on 01749 939457.

Cheddar Valley U3A meet & greet coffee morning at Church House, Cheddar 10.30am to 12noon, visitors welcome. Details 01934 710242.

Warmer Improved Somerset Homes (WISH project) drop-in session at Frome Medical Practice, Enos Way, 10am to 12pm. Find out how to make your homes warmer, reduce energy bills and improve your health.

Friday March 20th Arthritis Research, UK, Chew Valley branch, quiz night, Cameley Lodge, 7pm for 7.30pm, £16 for a team of four, supper £10 a head. Details: Bridget Gracey tandbgracey@gmail.com or telephone 01275 472639.

Elizabeth I, Virgin on the Ridiculous, Fodder at Yeo Valley HQ, from 6.30pm, comedy theatre at its best, £24 inc supper, pre-book online; call 01761 461425; or email events@yeovalley.co.uk Saturday March 21st Pilton Wind Ensemble concert, Quintets and Octets, East Pennard Church, BA4 6TU, 7.30, retiring collection. Details 01749 890646.

Spectra Musica in Concert ‘From Bach to Berkeley Square’. St. Luke and St.Teresa’s Church, Wincanton, 7.30 pm. Tickets £10 from www.spectramusica.co.uk, 01749 860457 or on the door.

Bristol Chamber Orchestra 7.30pm, All Saints’ Church, WSM, BS23 2NL, conductor Dennis Simons, music by Handel, Dvorak, Bach and Nielsen with Sally Adams as the soloist. Interval refreshments, donations to church funds. Tickets £10 on door, advance tickets at £8. Details: 01934 522026.

Dundry Royal British Legion Club, fun quiz night & raffle, in support of James McKeag's Triple McMarathon for the Stroke Association - he is

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running the Paris, Manchester and London Marathons in April 2015 – 8pm, £3 per head incl. a light supper.

Sunday March 22nd Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Rare Plant Sale, all day, £4 admission to fair, palace and gardens.

Roosters Country and Western Music at Redhill Village Club, Donna Taylor Country Disco from 2.30pm, followed by Country Line Dancing with Daniel Berry 8pm – 11pm. Admission £6, plus free overnight camping if required. Details: Den 07798698195. Church Road, Redhill BS40 5SG Wednesday March 25th Backwell and Nailsea Macular Support, Dr Hamish Batten will explain what Macular Degeneration is all about, 1.30pm, WI Hall, Backwell. Details: Sheila 01275 462107.

AGE UK Somerset drop-in session at Glastonbury Health Centre, Wells Road, 10am to 12pm, pop in for a chat with an adviser from Age UK about the information available on a wide range of issues affecting older people.

Thursday March 26th Chew Valley Wildlife Group: Bristol Zoo – Conservation & Sustainability, with Simon Garrett, Chew Magna Millennium Hall, 7.45pm, visitors £2.50, season ticket available.

West Mendip Walkers – moderate circular walk 6.0mi/9.6km from Henton Hall. Ex141 ST496 453.

Park village top car park. Start 12.30pm. Contact Ken Masters 07784941439.

Friday March 27th Mendip Citizens Advice Mobile Unit at Glastonbury Health Centre, Wells Road, 10am to 12pm. The CAB bus and staff will be available to provide free, independent and confidential advice on a range of issues. No need for an appointment.

Free Glastonbury Health Walk – meet outside Glastonbury Health Centre, Wells Road, 10am for 10.15 departure. An easy, mostly level walk of about two miles on paths, pavements and quiet lanes in and around Glastonbury. Optional café stop at the end.

Details: vicssullivan@hotmail.com Wrington Friendship Club, herbs & fragrant plants – illustrated talk by Don Everitt followed by Easter Bonnet competition, 2.30pm Wrington Memorial Hall, Silver Street. New members welcome. Details: Fred Parsons 01934 863562.

Saturday March 28th Wrington Vale Rotary concert, Sidcot School meeting house, raising funds for the Heartworks appeal, with Colin Bell, Zoe Maitland and Paul Beechey, tickets £10, 7.30pm. Details: 01934 842551, 01934 852481 or visit www.facebook.com/rotaryheartworks Chew Valley RNLI Magical Comedy Show, with Oz Moses, Ubley Village Hall, 7.30pm, £15 to include hot supper. Details: Tim Gracey 01275 472639.

Plant Heritage Somerset, talk on Primulas (British variants only) by Dr. Margaret Webster, National Collection Holder. 2.30pm at Edington Village Hall TA7 9HA. Visitors £4. Details: 01278 451631.

Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Community Garden Spring Fair, 11am-3pm, included with admission.

Nunney Village Hall, Tom Connor’s Memphis Jazz Men, 7.30pm, adults £10, children £5, raising funds for the church roof. Details: Norman 079799 35067.

Jumble Sale at Winscombe Community Centre, Sandford Road, 2pm in aid of Old Station Millennium Green. Jumble wanted on morning or call 01934 842470.

Frome Society for Local Study and Frome Civic Society, agm 2pm, lecture 2.30 Mendip Village Histories with the Villages History Group, Assembly

WHAT’S ON

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Rooms, Frome.

Congresbury Book Sale, 9am-1pm at War Memorial Hall. Good quality books, jigsaw puzzles, dvds, cds and talking books.

Tuesday March 31st Congresbury Over-60’s Club, Ration Books to Rock ’n’ Roll – illustrated talk by Terry Merrett-Smith, Congresbury War Memorial Hall, 2.30-4pm. Details: 01934 832004.

Wednesday April 1st Bishop’s Palace, Wells, family activities, searching for the minibeasts you can find in the garden, 11am3pm, included with admission.

AGE UK Somerset drop-in session at Frome Medical Practice, Enos Way, 10am to 12pm, pop in for a chat with an adviser from Age UK about the information available on a wide range of issues affecting older people.

Thursday April 2nd Wells Evening Society, Painting the Fallen Woman, with Dr Allan Phillipson, Wells Town Hall, 7.30pm.

Friday April 3rd Redhill Village Club Open Mic Night from 8pm, hosted by Jerry Blythe. Great opportunity for musicians and performers to showcase their talent. All welcome to come along to either participate or just watch and enjoy some “Live Music”. Church Road, Redhill BS40 5SG 01934 862619.

Saturday April 4th Nailsea and District Horticultural Society Spring Show at Nailsea School 12.30 pm.

Redhill Village Club Easter Raffle Evening with lots of lovely prizes on offer. Draw tickets – still only 25p each. Church Road, Redhill BS40 5SG. Wednesday April 8th Bishop’s Palace, Wells family activities – Springtime at The Bishop’s Palace, craft activities will include making daffodil bunting, wooden peg butterflies and caterpillars, and herb and lavender bags, 11am-3pm, included in admission.

Nailsea and District Horticultural Society, summer flowering bulbs, Don Everitt, United Reformed Church Hall, Stockway North, Nailsea, 7.30, all are welcome, £2 members, £3 non-members, membership for 2015 is £5.

Wells Civic Society, public art in Wells, with local artists, Wells and Mendip Museum, 7.30pm.

Saturday April 11th Rotary Club of Nailsea and Backwell quiz in aid of the Water Survival Box scheme, Backwell WI hall, 7.30 for 7.45pm, byo drinks and glasses, tickets £6, contact John Glason 01275 463969.

Redhill Village Club Mouse Race Night – first race starts at 7.30pm, tickets £2.50 each includes supper.

All proceeds will go towards the village hall's kitchen extension fund raising project. Church Road, Redhill BS40 5SG 01934 862619.

Sunday April 12th The Daffodil Society Wessex Group, annual show, Henton Village Hall, Henton Nr Wells, 2pm to 4.30pm, free admission. Details: 01275 855675.

Tuesday April 14th Sofonisba Anguissola, first major female artist of the Renaissance, a talk my Ms Terry Pearson MA for Mendip DFAS, 10.30 for 11am, Bath & West Bar & Restaurant (formerly the Westex Suite), B & W Show Ground, Shepton Mallet, BA4 6QN. Details: www.mdfas.org.uk. Guests welcome.

Saturday April 25th Model Railway Show, featuring Trix and Hornby, layouts and sales, also other makes, Eden Grove Methodist Church Hall, Horfield. Bristol BS7 OPQ, 10am-4pm, adults £2, children under 12 free. Trade and enquiries: Dave on 01934 838229.

MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015 • PAGE 81

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MENDIP TIMES

Art signals spring at Glastonbury Abbey

WHAT’S ON

GLASTONBURY Abbey has unveiled its 2015 programme of events, guaranteeing there will always be something different to see. An exhibition called One Touch of Nature, which brings together three Mendip artists for a celebration of the natural world, has opened just as the new season brings the abbey grounds to life.

The beautiful ruins of the abbey will also become the setting for some top-class entertainment throughout the year with a performance of Shakespeare’s The Tempest on Wednesday, July 22, Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 on Friday, August 28th and the abbey team is welcoming IK Productions for the first time with Summer Holiday on Saturday, August 22nd.

To find out more about the 2015 programme, visit www.glastonburyabbey.com or call 01458 832267

ANSWERS TO THE MENDIP MINDBENDER

STEAM TRAINS BETWEEN BISHOPS LYDEARD (near Taunton) & MINEHEAD

Princes Road, Wells, BA5 1TD

MARCH 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, THEN DAILY MARCH 25th to APRIL 16th MARCH 26th to 29th: SPRING STEAM GALA

APRIL 4th: MEET AND GREET WITH “PEPPA PIG AND DADDY PIG” EVERY SATURDAY AND WEDNESDAY FROM APRIL 1st: DUNSTER CASTLE EXPRESS

Starts Thursday 26th February Starts Friday 27th February

COMING UP:

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (PG) Selma (12A) Wild (15)

Tuesday 3rd March Duchess of Malfi (12A) 2pm Globe On Screen Starts Friday 6th March

Weds 11th March Starts Friday 13th March

Unfinished Business (cert tbc) La Traviata 7.30pm ENO Suite Francaise (15)

Book in person Online 24/7 @www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk Over the ’phone: 01749 673195

PAGE 82 • MENDIP TIMES • MARCH 2015

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Techniglaze ad:Layout 1

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Page 1

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