Environment

Come and eat me!

Eddie Morgan plants a plum tree

THE Food Forest Project team in Shepton Mallet, have planted their fourth edible community woodland, close to the town centre.

The site was a narrow but long stretch of wasteland next to the Hillmead estate and was being used as a dumping ground for trolleys, tyres, litter and dog mess so the project decided to tidy it up and plant an edible

forest garden for the local community.

Local residents joined in the day-long planting of almost 170 trees and shrubs to create two new hedgerows, two raised herb beds, fruit and nut trees and berry and currant bushes.

To ensure the project was extra special the team commissioned local artist Flo Lippin to paint two large murals and have installed an education board about the site. Over the years to come the forest garden will produce lots of free food to help mitigate food poverty in the Shepton Mallet area whilst also creating an open space for people’s mental health and wellbeing, create habitat and biodiversity and to help sequester carbon. The site, on Meadow Rise, joins the project’s two other free food schemes in the area – at West Shepton and next to Rock Farm at Downside along with a similar scheme in Wedmore.

Louise Bombardelli, who lives nearby, at work Getting ready to plant: (l:r) Faye, Robin, Tristan – the FFP founder – Eddie and Chris

Artist Flo Lippin (seated right) who painted the murals

A Food Forest Project information board For details, visit: www.thefoodforestproject.org

Less waste going to landfill

NEWfigures show there has been a big drop in the amount of waste from across Bath and North East Somerset being sent to landfill.

Thanks to the record-breaking recycling efforts of residents, just three percent of waste was sent to landfill in 2020/21, down from 15 percent the previous year.

Councillor David Wood, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “This really is a phenomenal achievement, and the figures show our residents take environmental issues seriously.

“We should be very proud of the work being done across the district to reuse and recycle – and that includes the efforts of our waste teams who do a great job.

“However, our ultimate aim is to waste nothing and we will continue to support people to reduce their waste; sharing tips on the small steps that can be taken to save resources and ultimately save our environment.”

How Somerset has responded to flooding

A NEWSomerset film called Down by the River premieres in January, with ten free screenings countywide. Each event will also include an entertaining and thought-provoking selection of Somerset archive films.

The film is a documentary about the inspiring ways that communities across Somerset have responded to flooding. It was commissioned by Somerset Rivers Authority from the Bridgwater-based charity Somerset Film.

It celebrates local volunteers and highlights some of the extraordinary work they do to help reduce the risks of flooding. Places featured include Moorland, Martock and Ham on the Somerset Levels & Moors, Croscombe in Mendip and West Somerset.

Archive films will cover historic Somerset floods, local groups like the Home Guard in WW2 and fundraising carnivals.

County councillor, David Hall, chair of Somerset Rivers Authority said: "Down by the River is a beautifully shot film that shows the best of Somerset, both in terms of our landscape and the people who live here.

“These free events will also illustrate how valuable past experiences can be in responding to challenges such as flooding and climate change.”

Each event will last about two hours. The first will be held at Bridgwater Arts Centre on January 7th 2022 at 7pm, with free tea and cake. Followed by: Burrowbridge Coronation Hall, January 8th, 7pm Roadwater Village Hall, January 14th, 7pm Taunton Creative Innovation Centre CIC, January 19th, 7pm Minehead Regal Theatre, January 22nd, 2pm Glastonbury Town Hall, February 4th, 7pm Cheddar Village Hall, February 12th, 7pm Martock Parish Hall, February 19th, 7pm

Screenings in Yeovil and Shepton Mallet will be in March. Light refreshments will be available at all screenings. The film will be available online after the screenings.

Deb Richardson, creative director at Somerset Film, said: “This is a really important project and we are delighted to have been involved.

“As we look forward to the future and begin to explore how we might respond to climate change, it is invaluable to learn from past lessons and each other and to explore our strengths as a community.”

Details: www.somersetfilm.com/get-involved

Mendip award winner

THEMendip Hills AONB Partnership have announced their Volunteer of the Year for 2021 is John Davies, from WestonSuper-Mare.

The award is made to the volunteer who the AONB Unit think has gone above and beyond a normal volunteering role.

John was presented with the award for supporting the Young Ranger scheme for over ten years and has been involved with the programme since he was a Young Ranger himself.

The AONB said: “John has really pushed himself in a challenging year for everyone and made additional efforts to renew his safeguarding training and take part in a press interview. He is one of the unsung champions of the AONB volunteers and always turns up with a smile on his face and spring in his step!”

Lauren Holt, Mendip Hills AONB Ranger, presenting John with his award

Because they’re worth it . . .

For fifty years I’ve loved this farm The views are just a dream From Glasto Tor to Alfred’s tower And farmland in between.

Through the window every day I look across the fields Watching livestock eating And hope for good corn yields.

I open the door to walk the dogs Before their morning feed Across the lawn and through the gate There’s no need for a lead.

Work on the farm is never dull And often very gritty But never would I ever swap For bustle of the city.

Much time is spent in stables Training horses to be calm First in the school for discipline And then fun on the farm. But this year we have visitors from “Highways” – oh what luck! They’re building roads all round our house, so now we’re truly stuck To reach our fields we have to take a road with traffic lights No longer can we reach our land or see the lovely sights.

We planted trees and hedges to protect us from the wind Providing homes for wildlife, now it’s all ripped up and binned. From dawn to dusk machines go on, the noise just never ceases Instead of my relaxing ride my nerves are shot to pieces.

There was a viewpoint on the peak Where we could have a brew But now it’s lorries, vans and trucks Café and portaloo.

The dogs must learn to stay on leads And get into new habits Just muddy paws and slower walks And not to chase the rabbits.

At least I know it’s all worthwhile –in two or three years’ time The traffic going east and west will flow along just fine. They’ll knock five minutes off their journey, won’t it be just heaven There’ll be no queue in Sparkford Vale just twice as long in Devon.

Camel Hill Farm, Queen Camel, Yeovil –as it was Frances Turner to be continued...

As it looks now with work on the A303

Concern over Bristol’s clean air zone

CHEWValley Chamber of Commerce has raised concerns about the proposed Clean Air Zone in Bristol with local MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and Councillor Kevin Guy, leader of Bath and North East Somerset council.

They say the main issue is the inclusion in the zone, which is due to start next summer, of the Cumberland Bridge and the A4 Portway, which means that people in non-compliant vehicles will be charged even if they are only skirting Bristol and not driving into the polluted and congested centre.

Anyone wanting to get to the motorway to Wales or the Midlands will pay £9 for pre-2015 diesel cars and pre-2006 petrol cars and up to £100 for large vehicles.

The chamber says: “It is inevitable many will opt to use unsuitable country lanes to avoid going into the Clean Air Zone. For example, leaving the A38 to go through Barrow Gurney and up to the M5 at Gordano.

“Of course that won’t be an option for larger vehicles such as agricultural lorries. It will also affect people travelling out of Bristol wanting to come here as visitors or customers.”

The chamber said exemptions and mitigation funding are focused on people living or businesses operating in the City of Bristol itself.

It said: “There is a real danger other people living or working in our area may not yet have recognised the potential impact it may have on them. We believe it would be fair for these measures to be accessible to those outside Bristol who could demonstrate they will be significantly impacted by the Zone.”