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MENDIP TIMES
CONTENTS
Welcome
WE are celebrating our 15th anniversary with this issue, but the party is currently on hold, as are so many other events in these unprecedented times. But it’s not all doom and gloom. In future one village may recall how lockdown meant it got a new shop – we were there for the opening. Many others will remember the tremendous spirit of community – long may that remain. As usual we reflect that this month with 15 pages devoted to charities and community as well as the reaction to Covid-19. We have pictures from the 75th VE Day celebrations, another dastardly picture quiz from Sue Gearing and all of our regular contributors and features. We also have a special report on climate change and a focus on Uphill. When we launched the magazine in 2005, some people said we were mad going into print, when the internet was said to be the future. But we’ve grown to become the most popular local magazine in Somerset, thanks to the special community we serve. We can now be read on our website and Facebook (reluctantly Ed), but will continue to print, whatever the cost. Our thanks to our contributors, advertisers, readers and the small army of people who help us distribute the magazine every month. We couldn’t do it without your support. Here’s to the next 15 years! July 2020 deadline: Friday, 12th June 2020. Published: Tuesday, 23rd June 2020.
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 What’s On listings: Annie Egginton annie@mendiptimes.co.uk Accounts accounts@mendiptimes.co.uk Publisher: Mendip Times Limited Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset BS40 7RG Contacts: For all enquiries, telephone:
01761 463888
or: email: news@mendiptimes.co.uk www.mendiptimes.co.uk Design and origination by: Steve Henderson 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.
28
Flying the flag – VE Day celebrations
48
Focus on Uphill – Mendip’s western edge
60
Life goes on – fun during lockdown
51
Ben’s bikes – getting a village mobile Plus all our regular features Health Dr Phil Hammond ...............5 Environment ...................................6 Farming Nick Green .....................10 Internet and Crossword ..............12 Food & Drink ...............................14 Arts & Antiques ...........................20 Business.........................................22 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......31 Walking Sue Gearing ....................32
Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........34 Gardening Mary Payne MBE.......36 Mendip v Coronavirus.................40 Community ...................................50 Caving Phil Hendy ........................54 History...........................................55 Charities........................................56 Cycling Edmund Lodite.................60 Riding Rachel Thompson MBE.....62
Front cover: Front cover collage by Steve Henderson
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020 • PAGE 3
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MENDIP TIMES
HEALTH & FAMILY
Living with risk – staying alert may not be enough GOOD news. Thus far, 999 out of 1000 Brits have not died of Covid-19. And for those who have yet to encounter the virus, your chance of dying from the disease is very age-related and less than you think. For those under 14, the chance of death from Covid-19 is negligible (you are far more By Dr PHIL likely to be killed by a lightning strike this HAMMOND year). We still aren’t sure how likely children are to pass the virus onto adults, but it might be safer for them to be at school rather than shut at home all day with grandad. Men have roughly double the risk of getting the virus and dying, compared with women of the same age. Fatal risk doubles for each six-seven years extra age: an 80year-old has around 500 times the risk of dying from Covid-19 than a 20-year-old. This disease, like death itself, is very ageist. Age 0-14 1 in 5,337,266 15-24 1 in 279,550 25-44 1 in 44,423 45-64 1 in 4,388 65-74 1 in 1,143 75-90 1 in 225 90+ 1 in 81 In the week up to May 1st in England and Wales, the largest number of Covid-19 deaths was in those aged 90 years and over (1,494 deaths) and the highest proportion of such deaths was in age group 80 to 84 years (36.7%, or 1,096 deaths). Given that the average life expectancy in the UK is 80.69 years and the average life expectancy in a care home is two years even without Covid19, shielding residents was never going to result in a huge increase in life expectancy. However, to not have tried harder gives the impression of abandoning the most vulnerable and suggests their lives have less worth. The government may not be forgiven for its failure to provide protective equipment for staff and meticulously test those moving in and out of care homes from the outset, when it was clear they were at high risk. We all make errors, but politicians are poor at owning up and learning from them. Dear Mendip Times, I am writing to you after the minute’s silence held this morning in memory of the many health and social care workers who have died as a result of Covid-19. I thought of the many whose deaths will have devastated their families and colleagues. Most of all, I thought of the social care workers, caring for our frail and vulnerable friends and family members. Workers who continue to offer skilled and difficult care, currently placing themselves at risk in order to do their best to safeguard those in their care. Along with my neighbours, each Thursday I clap to show my admiration of and support for the NHS and social care staff, but I find myself feeling troubled at the end of the clapping. I can’t help feeling that senior members of government have high-jacked the nation’s pride in and gratitude for our health care workers to use this shared warmth as a shield to protect themselves from scrutiny. For the last ten years funding for the NHS has been cut and
The bottom line There is no such thing as zero risk, just sensible risk management. There are currently three ways to reduce your risk of dying from Covid-19. The first is not to catch the virus. The second is to make yourself as healthy as possible, so if you do catch it, you’re far more likely to fully recover. Eat well, exercise, be kind to your mind and sleep well. Take a daily supplement of Vitamin D too. Finally, seek NHS help quickly if you do get seriously ill, whatever the cause. It can be hard to tell the difference between, say, a severe asthma attack and Covid-19, but it’s not your job to make that diagnosis. How not to catch the virus Fortunately, this virus requires prolonged close contact to spread. The equation is simple: Successful Infection = Exposure to Virus x Time. The highest risk environments will clearly be enclosed, with a high density of people present for long periods with poor/recycled air circulation. Care homes, nursing homes, aeroplanes, prisons, call centres, warehouses, factories and religious ceremonies. We still don’t know how likely children are to pass the virus onto their teachers and schools and staff will make their own decisions. Coughing and sneezing are not the only viral accelerants. Workers yelling at each other spreads the virus. Singing in a choir spreads the virus, even with social distancing. In most circumstances, a metre apart is low risk, two metres even more so. Well-spaced, well ventilated offices are low risk. Just about everything is safer outdoors. Even if a cyclist or runner gets in your grill, you generally need at least five minutes of close contact to contract. Viral droplets land on surfaces so regular hand washing and not touching your face remains as important as ever. A mask may prevent you passing the virus on, rather than prevent you inhaling it, but if you leave it on the sideboard it can be a vector for infection. Remember, we live with and manage all sorts of risks every day. “Stay Apart” is a better slogan than “Stay Alert”. And you can still have five portions of fun a day. Mendip v coronavirus, see page 40
pleas to put in place properly funded social care ignored. Just as pertinent to the present crisis, international scientists warned about a probable pandemic following the SARS outbreak in 2003. NHS Trusts were planning for such a crisis. Under recent governments ICU provision was depleted and the NHS consistently cut in real terms. There have been at least three simulation exercises 2012, 2014 and 2016, all giving the same dire warning – that the UK was facing a catastrophe without increased acute care beds and staffing. This advice has been consistently ignored, as was the more immediate warning from China as the nature of Covid-19 became clear. Far from being a crisis that no one could have predicted, it was flagged up loud and clear. It is not good fortune that has enabled some countries to have a much lower death rate, it was good planning and clear leadership. Yours sincerely, and wishing you and your readers good health in these troubling times, Sarah Bartlett Long Ashton
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020 • PAGE 5
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MENDIP TIMES
If we can tackle coronavirus, can we take action on climate change? While our minds are focused on the immediate coronavirus crisis, Somerset Climate Action Network (Somerset CAN) has produced a report on actions needed to address the climate and ecological emergency in Somerset. The network, which represents dozens of environmental groups across the county, looks towards a carbon neutral Somerset and the changes needed to drive down emissions whilst adapting to existing climate change. While we humans are on “lockdown”, it says the planet and nature has some short time to recover – air quality improves, wildlife has more space and peace to roam, we are all buying less stuff that we probably never needed and many of us are growing more of our own food and shopping more locally. But it says the biggest societal impact of Covid-19, once the worst of the virus is past, is the likely world recession as well as a finance crisis at national and domestic levels. These are some of the report’s main findings. Many people will lose their jobs and there will be widespread hardship. in the coming months and years, addressing the climate and ecological emergency will be even more important and the way we rebuild after Covid-19 will be fundamental. Post Covid-19 it will be more vital than ever to ensure that Somerset: l Builds zero carbon houses and retrofits
ENERGY
TRANSPORT
Somerset's greatest carbon emissions come from transport – in 2017 almost half, 46.7%, of the annual CO2 emissions came from personal and commercial transportation. The M5 motorway usually contributes 12.41% of Somerset's total carbon emissions. Electrifying private, commercial and community transport rapidly will make the biggest CO2 savings.
existing housing stock that are far cheaper to power and more sustainable to power and heat l encourages community owned renewable energy schemes bringing low carbon and cheaper electricity to more people l Grows more of its own food and in a way that restores nature and supplies healthier lower food-mile produce to Somerset people l Switches road ‘investment’ schemes to building cycleways, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and public and
Whilst some use of the solar resource has been made in Somerset with a number of ground mounted schemes there is space for further deployment and in particular community owned/authority schemes which will not only ensure the project profits stay local but will contribute to the overall carbon neutrality goals. The wind resource in the county is not utilised
PAGE 6 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
community transport which people on lower incomes can more easily access l Creates a Nature Recovery Network, helping nature to recover in the long-term which helps in so many ways such as our mental health, increased pollinators to help our farmers and improved soils which is essential for future harvests l Supports climate adaptation projects so the county is future proofed with the climate breakdown in mind e.g. flooding, drought and heat. l Divests all council assets away from polluting fossil fuel companies and into
HOUSING
A very large proportion of existing homes in Somerset are built of traditional stone, which are hard to heat, especially as many are off the gas grid and are very difficult to insulate. We need to be retrofitting our existing homes to meet carbon neutrality by 2030.
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landscape restoration, green infrastructure, low carbon, renewable and sustainable business. if the Covid-19 situation has shown us anything it is that there is no limit to the lengths society can go to when faced with an emergency. Our climate situation is just such an emergency. Councils can lead by example by taking the big decisions such as divestment of their pension funds away from any fossil fuel companies and reinvesting in local climate causes such as community energy schemes. They can be champions for sensible policies such as an outright ban on future peat extraction, a key first step in preserving our Natural Capital. They can show courage by refusing to support new road schemes where cycle routes, electric vehicle and public transport options exist. This terrible virus does not mean that the climate and ecological emergency has gone away. how we rebuild and invest once we are through this will have a fundamental impact on whether we meet our zero-carbon goals and thus create a fairer, cleaner, healthier and positive future in this stunning county of ours.
ENVIRONMENT
PEAT
Nature is declining in Somerset for various reasons including climate change. We are also not protecting our habitats and our natural capital (our natural assets which include clean air, water, soil and nature) as we should. For example to still allow peat digging in this climate emergency which causes locked in carbon to be released is akin to an open cast coal mine on the Somerset moors.
ENVIRONMENT
Nature is often part of the solution to climate mitigation and adaptation. Steart Marshes is a fabulous local example of a wetland landscape; a natural buffer, now rich in wildlife and providing protection for homes, saltmarsh farming and a carbon store, locking tonnes of CO2 in the precious muddy habitat. Double Somerset’s tree cover by a combination of small-scale community plantings in and around towns and villages, with larger-scale woodland through planting and natural regeneration around the upland fringes. Encourage “quick wins” e.g. create a hedgerow “motorway” for nature, adjust mowing regimes to benefit pollinators on verges and in schools. Commission a complete Nature Recovery Network map, strategy and user guide for Somerset. Divest from fossil-fuel companies in council pension funds and invest in Somerset landscape projects and green infrastructure.
For full details of the report go to www.somersetcan.org.uk
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020 • PAGE 7
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MENDIP TIMES
ENVIRONMENT
Looking forward to life after lockdown The Mendip hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Unit has bagged £1,166 from Tesco’s Bags of help community grant scheme, which raises money through the sale of the store’s carrier bags. The unit will use some of the funding to provide better equipment, materials and training for its dedicated volunteers and young rangers. Part of the grant will also enable groups with learning disabilities or people struggling with their mental health to experience and benefit from the natural world. Tim haselden, AONB project development officer, said: "The current crisis is highlighting just how much people value open space and nature, and the role they play in supporting public health.
“When the time is right, we look forward to welcoming the public back to the AONB and providing volunteering experiences
Happier times – volunteers undertake grassland management
that will benefit people's physical and mental health as well as enhancing our beautiful countryside."
Lockdown litter pickers
TWO youngsters from Pensford have been litter picking during the lockdown and have done a good job, according to villagers. Alfie Sivier, aged eight, and his sister Maci, aged four, had been learning about earth Day at school and wanted to do something to help the planet. Their father, Daniel, said: “We decided they could go out and collect litter around our village in Pensford! “ They did and brought home a bag full of rubbish.
Why not close Cheddar Gorge more often?
CHEDDAR Gorge was closed to traffic for the weekend because of concerns that so many people were ignoring coronavirus restrictions to travel there, as well as an influx of boy racers. Police and council officials say the action was taken to protect local people. But one Mendip Times reader thinks the closure should be a more permanent feature. Just last year for your excellent magazine, i wrote a piece about a spate of over-turned cars in Burrington Combe due to lunatic drivers clearly speeding. in it, i recommended closing the combe along with Cheddar Gorge to all through traffic, on at least a few weekends a year, so that those who enjoy the countryside could enjoy peace and quiet and walk in safety. The Gorge continues to attract a minority who treat it as a race track and as a rubbish dump and they ruin it utterly it for everyone else. At last the police have actually done something about this persistent nuisance of so-called car enthusiasts which blights Cheddar Gorge. ironically it has taken a pandemic for them to act. Sadly i expect closure will not remain a permanent feature. i would however hope that my idea of closing these roads, perhaps on
PAGE 8 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
alternate weekends or once a month would be seen as beneficial to the environment long-term and be reassessed. incidentally for those who might find this a minor inconvenience i have (electronically) calculated the increased journey time for all of the alternative routes as a mere extra six minutes and between four and 1.8 miles further to travel. Richard Arthur Keynsham
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MENDIP TIMES
FARMING
Making hay – if the sun shines!
AS Covid-19 rumbles on, ask farmers how much it’s affecting them and the majority will say “not a lot”. Covid-19 hasn’t had a great impact on the With NICK day-to-day lives of GREEN most farmers. By the nature of the job they often work alone. Social distancing isn’t a problem. Where a lot of farmers will notice a difference is not being able to go to their local agricultural show. These shows have been staged by the organising society for hundreds of years. The North Somerset Agricultural Society has staged 160 annual shows. The Royal Bath and West Agricultural Society staged their first show in 1852. Both have been cancelled as has the Mid-Somerset show. The organisers of Frome Cheese Show were due to make a
decision as Mendip Times went to press. Go to these shows and you will see the annual gathering of farming families, with the chance to showcase their animals animals and produce, kick the tyres of new tractors and enjoy the fellowship of the industry. That said, no-one will be short of things to do. June is the traditional month for haymaking. Long gone are the days of the picture postcard vision of the farmer going out and mowing a few acres of grass and the back breaking effort of turning it, raking it, binding it and finally hauling it to the barn. The principle and objective remains as it has been for hundreds of years. To dry grass in the summer so it can be saved for fodder in the following winter. What has changed is the scale and technology. Where a horse drawn mower could mow ten acres a day, a modern tractor and mower can mow 150.
Butcombe farmers, Richard and Margaret Wear, with their supreme male and supreme female Ryeland sheep at the 2019 Royal Cornwall Show
Where a team of men could haul ten tonnes of hay per day, modern machinery can haul hundreds of tonnes in a day. The one thing that hasn’t changed is the reliance on good weather. Shows or no shows, farmers will still be looking at the weather forecast every day and hoping for a sunny time to get their hay made.
Nick Green is Farms Director for Alvis Bros Ltd based at Lye Cross Farm. He is responsible for the farming and estate business and is passionate about British food and farming. As well as the business, he is involved with a number of local and national farming charities.
Contact: 01275 472471 • www.jwandtjpearce.co.uk St Katherines Farmhouse, Downside Road, Lulsgate, Bristol BS48 3DZ
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INTERNET
The NHS virus app
THERE is so much information on the web, it’s a job to know where to turn. So always stick with sources you know to be reliable. We’ll take a look at the NHS Covid-19 app this month. Next month we’ll look at the general NHS app. Go to https://www.covid19.nhs.uk/ Developed by the NHS with a team of world-leading scientists and doctors, the NHS COVID-19 app will play an important role in the fight against coronavirus. If you develop symptoms of coronavirus, the app will: • anonymously warn other app users who have been near you • provide advice from the NHS on the right action to take to help stop the virus spreading further • help you to get a swab test. This is essential in allowing the country to stay one step ahead of the virus. The app is being launched on the Isle of Wight as part of the first phase of a largescale, integrated phone-based contact tracing and swab testing programme. This will play a central role in how the UK manages the rate of coronavirus transmission going forward. This first phase will allow them to gain feedback from users and make improvements to the app before making it available across the UK in the coming weeks. The app is free and simple to use. Once you’ve downloaded the app, Bluetooth technology on your phone will record the distance between other phones that also have the app installed. If you become unwell with symptoms of coronavirus, you can allow the app to inform the NHS. This will trigger a notification that the NHS will then send anonymously to all other app users who you’ve been in significant contact with over the previous few days. Affected app users will be sent official NHS advice on what to do next. The app will be part of a wider approach that will involve contact tracing and testing for the virus. The app complements more traditional measures that protect vulnerable groups and those who cannot or do not want to access digital tools. Although the app records distances between individual phones, it will not measure your location. The data in the app will only ever be used for NHS care, management, evaluation and research. You can delete the app and all of its data whenever you want. They say they will always comply with the law around the use of your data. The NHS intends to roll out the app nationally in the coming weeks. (At the time of writing, Captain Tom has raised £32,796,540 for the NHS: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tomswalkforthenhs) Submitted by IT for the Terrified: Not currently training of course, but contact us for a quick word of advice on your computer use. Cheddar Village Hall, Church St, Cheddar BS27 3RF www.itfortheterrified.co.uk itfortheterrified@btconnect.com • 01934 741751 I.T. for the Terrified – for all your computer training needs. A skill-sharing, community project. Run by a Committee – Staffed by Volunteers Registered Charity No. 1130308 : Company No. 06779600 This article is for guidance only, and the opinion of the writer. For more in depth information, please contact us.
PAGE 12 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
CROSSWORD
The Mendip Mindbender
ACROSS 1 The science of moving liquids through pipes (10) 6 Promotion found in the bottom of the bath (4) 10 Island Republic south of Sicily with St. George as patron saint (5) 11 Olympic sport played in a swimming pool (5,4) 12 This village east of Radstock sounds like a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic (8) 13 Family covers Edward's first decontamination (5) 15 Flavouring used in making the Italian liqueur sambuca (7) 17 Nonmedical term for trismus (caused by clostridium) (7) 19 Use this to get a tan indoors (7) 21 A utensil for cooking vegetables without boiling (7) 22 An embarrassing blunder (5) 24 & 30 This Village was once part of the Somerset coalfields and lies across a Roman road that ran between Lincoln and Exeter (8,2,3,5) 27 There is a pub called 'The Woodborough' in this village and until 1963 Woodborough was the name of its railway station (9) 28 Perfect (5) 29 Old fashioned toy on a string (4) 30 See 24
DOWN 1 Carol sounds like that man (4) 2 Someone from SW Croatia or a black and white dog (9) 3 An old expression of regret (5) 4 The levels could be so described (7) 5 Fortress dominating a city or Salvation Army meeting place (7) 7 Promiscuous and at large (5) 8 Organization before starting basics (10) 9 Conveyance with three wheels (8) 14 Corridor between rooms (10) 16 To be in mind but briefly (8) 18 Transport elephantine water spouts (5,4) 20 In a children's television show what was the occupation of Pat Clifton from Greendale (7) 21 Noise from small stones sloping down to a church (7) 23 Strange comic (5) 25 Tea leaf in the east end of London (5) 26 Pipe that 18 across did on the radio (4) Clues in italics are cryptic by greendandelion
This month’s solution can be found on page 62
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NEWS
Museum seeks financial support
WellS and Mendip Museum says the coronavirus lockdown means its survival is threatened and it’s launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds. The museum is an independent self-funded charity. Unlike many museums it’s not funded by local government, relying instead on donations, tickets, venue hire and shop sales. With the loss of all room bookings, tickets and shop sales, their income has dropped significantly. They have taken steps to dramatically reduce outgoings, but it still costs £500 a week to look after the collections and historic listed building. The museum has long been an important community hub. Groups of all ages, from U3a to the Young archaeologists’ Club, meet at the museum. local artists exhibit there. long-standing societies, such as the Wells Natural history and archaeological Society, hold talks there. The walled garden offers a relaxing space for garden parties and fairs. Their collections contain material of national significance and are a vital resource for researchers across many disciplines.
Sheep dip
Their library is invaluable for local and family history research. The Wells City archives, housed at the museum, are a unique repository of historic documents and maps from Wells and beyond. The museum is kept going thanks to the dedication of over 50 volunteers, from curatorial and library to front-of-house and maintenance. With exciting development plans in the pipeline, it says this is a critical time for the museum: “We desperately need your help to get through the Covid-19 crisis.”
Details: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/support-wells-museum?fbclid=IwAR3Qtt9sC1cGqiIEhbu8GzrHbMDU_66lvpV7RIL9MfWvgcyUc-3ntiJl5s
While the roads were relatively quiet, Small Brothers at Charterhouse took the opportunity to move one of their flocks. The picture shows them coming down past the Charterhouse Centre, going through Velvet Bottom and up to Charterhouse Warren Farm. it was taken by James Small using a drone.
Give the world a hug
NaThaNael Croker, aged 11, a pupil at Pensford Primary School, has been busy making hug cards for special people after rising to a challenge from his school. acting headmaster, Sam Miller, asked the children at the school to “do 100 somethings to celebrate Colonel Tom’s 100th birthday”. Some children jumped, picked up litter and one even rode 100 miles. Nathanael thought long and hard what to do, finally coming up with the idea of 100 hugs. he realised he couldn't give out 100 physical hugs so instead, with the help of his big sister, ella, set about the task of making 100 cards. he has sent his cards to the Queen, Boris Johnson and of course Colonel Tom Moore, the veteran who raised millions for the NhS with his walk. he also sent some to family members, to the residents where his mum, Kate, works and to special people in Pensford. Kate said: “We are very proud of Nathanael as he has found home schooling testing. however, he has preserved and is producing some wonderful work and wonderful ideas.”
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020 • PAGE 13
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MENDIP TIMES
FOOD & DRINK
Who ate all the strawberries?
No Wimbledon, no Ascot, no Glastonbury – who’s going to eat all the Somerset strawberries? We are – with lashings of cream! They are a treat, but they are also someone’s livelihood and we should support our With JUNE MACFARLANE local growers. If you have a garden the prospect of eating outdoors is inviting and salad days are upon us, but remember to keep safe.
PROVENÇAL CHICKEN WITH BLACK OLIVES
Anything with the word Provençal will have tomatoes in it and it’s the closest we’re going to get to the South of France at the moment! Close your eyes and think of the Mediterranean. METHOD Preheat oven to 200ºC Put olive oil and shallots into an ovenproof dish and roast for five minutes. Add chicken and garlic, turn in oil and cook for a further 15 mins. Add olives (if they have stones tell your guests!), thyme, tomatoes, a sprinkle of salt and black pepper and cook for 20 mins more until chicken is cooked through.
INGREDIENTS
(serves four) 2 tbsp olive oil 4 shallots, peeled and halved 2 fat cloves of garlic, sliced 8 chicken drumsticks 75g black olives 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves 400g tin chopped tomatoes Seasoning
ROASTED AUBERGINES WITH GOAT’S CHEESE INGREDIENTS
(serves four) 4 medium aubergines Seasoning Extra virgin olive oil 300g soft mild goat’s cheese Sumac
A starter or a simple main course. Use really good olive oil. Sumac is lemon flavoured and adds a citrus tang.
METHOD Preheat the oven to 190ºC. Put a baking sheet in to heat up. Wash the aubergines and place on hot sheet to roast for 45 mins – 1 hr. Pierce to check they are completely tender. Remove from oven. Split down the middle and open out. Season and anoint with olive oil. Spoon in some goat’s cheese, add a little more oil and a sprinkle of sumac. Serve immediately.
STRAWBERRY FOOL
Whipped cream with strawberry puree and chunks of fruit – pure heaven!
PAGE 14 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
INGREDIENTS
400g strawberries, washed & hulled 75g caster sugar 300ml dbl cream 1 tsp blossom honey
METHOD Chop the strawberries roughly. Toss with half the sugar and leave for 10 mins to macerate. Blend half the strawberries and juice to a purée. Add to bowl with chopped strawberries. Whip the cream with the rest of the sugar and the honey to soft peak stage. Fold into strawberry mix. Serve immediately or refrigerate for an hour.
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MENDIP TIMES
• Fresh produce and dairy • Freshly baked food to go • Smokin’ Bean coffee to go • Fresh flowers • Local Suppliers • Laithwaites wines • Remarkable COOK ready meals We would like to thank our local suppliers, particularly Arthur David, Greenacres Farm Eggs, Cam Valley Foods, Lye Cross Farm, Hunts Foodservice, Cotteswold Dairy, Chew Moos and West Country Honey, Butcombe Brewery, Twisted Oak Brewery and Rapide Stationery Supplies
SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY
butchers * fishMongers * delicAtessen We are still open as normal and are also offering a next day delivery service for the elderly, vulnerable and selfisolating. Please respect our signs to social distance whilst shopping with us. May we take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their support. And from all of us, we send you our best wishes. Please stay safe and stay well.
open: Monday – saturday 7am-6pm • sunday 10am-4pm
e cross, union street, cheddar, somerset bs27 3nA 01934 742521 • email cobbsofcheddar@outlook.com PAGE 16 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
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FOOD & DRINK
Home deliveries
NEW Manor Farm Shop has turned part of its tea rooms into a production line for food boxes, offering free delivery of its farm-produced meats, fruit, vegetables and other provisions around the area. While the Stables Team Room is closed, the kitchen is being put to good use making home-made cakes!
Details: Phone orders 01761 220172 or at www.newmanorfarmshop.co.uk
Country shopping at its best
North Widcombe, West Harptree, Bristol BS40 6HW Opening times: Farm shop: Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.30pm Saturday 8.30am - 5.30pm
COME AND ENJOY OUR FRESH BARBEQUE MEATS
Emma Bridgewater china and other gifts
A fine selection of cheeses and provisions
Milk – plastic free from our own dairy
Meat from our own farm, fresh fruit and veg
Supporting the community – Free home deliveries
Call 01761 220172 or order at www.newmanorfarmshop.co.uk
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020 • PAGE 17
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MENDIP TIMES
hartley’s Kitchen
e great café bistro on the Mendips
NOW A TAKE-AWAY check out our great menu on www.hartleyskitchen.com
Collection Wed – Sun 11am-2pm Dishes to excite your taste buds Salads, pies, curries, fish, casseroles, classics, puddings and much more FRIDAY IS FISH & CHIPS Sunday is a range of complete roast dinners
tel: 01749 841718 or 07973 404145 or email orders: info@hartleyskitchen.com hartleys Kitchen, rookery farm, binegar, bA3 4ul
COMING SOON – DRAFT MILK
High Class Family Butcher
Quality you can trust
Traditional service In difficult times Thanks for your patience
BARBECUE MEATS AVAILABLE
High Street, Chew Magna Tel: 01275 332417 PAGE 18 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
Hartley’s at Binegar
WHEN the government told all cafes and restaurants to close, Paul and Lynda Hartley were devastated. However not wanting to be beaten, they opened as a really great takeaway, producing the same high standard of dishes, lovingly created and sensibly packed. Loyal customers placed orders, sent cards of encouragement and delivered flowers. Hartley’s was back in business. Their food is fantastic and here is an opportunity to eat lovely food, reasonably priced and out of harm’s way – at home. Enjoy.
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WILD FOOD
Life on the edge
LITERALLY a few days before lockdown I took part in a podcast about wild food and foraging. I’m not sure if anyone has listened to it as it did go on a bit (actually quite a lot) so if you didn’t I really don’t blame you. One of the things I mentioned during the conversation was the edge of habitats being With ADRIAN the best places to look for wild food. BOOTS Why is this? Well, think of it this way. The centre of your garden is usually just full of grass, a monoculture. Whereas the edge of your garden may well have a border, fence, wall or hedge and often there may be a greater variety of plants and shrubs of edible interest. I myself am a fully paid up member of the “Association of Wild Gardeners” i.e. much to my wife’s frustration I simply don’t do any gardening except to mow the lawn. Our garden is surrounded by yummy nettles, ground elder, wild garlic, ground ivy (actually not so yummy), chickweed, wild rocket, dog rose, hazel, hawthorn and blackthorn etc. Need I go on? Oh and don’t forget the mushrooms that grow in the lawn each summer and autumn. Why would I want to “garden”? Another great example of edges I like to give is woodland and hedgerows. Woodland is surrounded by an edge and you can think of a hedgerow as a linear or curvilinear woodland edge stretched out along a field boundary. Edges of these habitats are where most energy arrives in the form of light, heat, moisture, wind, seeds, spores, insects, birds and mammals. Oh, and people. The centre of woodland can be dark and damp with not much going on (another monoculture) unless there is a clearing which is a circular edge within the wood. It is the clearing that you would look for things of interest. The same goes for a field albeit grass or crops (not that you should be wondering around in them mind) but they too are virtually devoid of wild food but the field boundaries, oh the wonderful hedges, fences and drystone walls are right where you want to be. Think of the landscape as a whole, made up of individual elements – woods, trees, fields, hedges, rivers, lakes etc that are intrinsically connected. It is this connectivity that is critical for the movement of all things including wild foods. Now that the government has eased the rules on outdoor exercise for now and people are allowed out to roam further afield, where should the lockdown forager look for the greatest variety and chances of finding wild food? The edges. Nearly forgot we need a picture, so here is one of a lovely landscape to lighten up all this serious talk of life on the edge. Hope you enjoy! Adrian Boots is a Landscape Ecologist, Wild Food Forager and Adventure Activity provider. You can visit his website: www.gowildactivities.co.uk to learn more about wild food foraging and activities you can do with him on the Mendip Hills.
FOOD & DRINK
GARDEN FOOD
Growing basil
THIS year we've been making a concerted effort to grow a lot of basil, which, for me at least, is not as easy as it seems. What I've come to realise is that basil is extremely sensitive to the cold and any extreme temperature changes between night and day, or With JAKE even moving plants out of the WHITSON propagator to the greenhouse, can severely check their growth. With that in mind, for our early crops we've been keeping the young plants in the propagator for much longer and only planting out in the greenhouse now the risk of cold snaps has receded. It seems to be paying off and we are just starting to harvest bunches for the kitchen. There are many kinds of basil available to you when you grow from seed, but to be honest I've never fallen in love with any apart from the classic large leaved “Sweet Genovese” variety. I find that most other types include some kind of anise aroma of which I am not overly fond. We like to use basil in all sorts of ways – fried crispy as a topping for stir fries, or scattered liberally over tomato salads and pasta dishes. However the ultimate basil dish, and the one for which we really need to grow a lot, is of course pesto. Much as we may try to substitute basil for other more plentiful herbs, nothing ever comes close to the deliciousness of pure basil pesto. Pesto recipes abound, but I will say that of all the ingredients, basil is the only one that I consider indispensable. If you have no pine nuts, toasted sunflower seeds make a fine substitute and toasted cashews are arguably even superior. Parmesan is of course a wonderful addition, but I've made many a fine pesto with a dog end of grated Cheddar, or even no cheese at all (I recommend a scant teaspoon of soy sauce if not using cheese, as it adds some of the same body). The important thing is plenty of fresh basil, and good quality olive oil. With a plate of al dente pasta, there's nothing better. Jacob Whitson is a chef, food writer and smallholder. He is currently working on setting up a small sustainable goose farm in Somerset with his partner Johanna.
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020 • PAGE 19
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MENDIP TIMES
A turn towards a new normality for Mendip Auction Rooms With the expectation that the government would announce that auction houses may reopen to the public on June 1st, Killens have started to stage their auctions again but are putting safety at the heart of their plans. All future sales are being held online only and government guidelines are being closely followed. Viewings and valuations can be undertaken at the auction rooms by appointment and, subject to precautions, valuers can undertake home visits. Measures have been taken at the auction rooms to ensure social distancing can be maintained by visitors and staff and consignments can be delivered and collected in a straight-forward and contactless manner. Whilst many look forward to the return of live room bidding, this will depend on government advice. All catalogues are illustrated and can be viewed online and bids can be made either online through the auction rooms’
website – www.mendipauctionrooms.co.uk – or thesaleroom.com. With the guidance changing frequently, do log onto the website for the latest news. Unfortunately, the Lookout Café and its excellent coffees and cakes is out of bounds for the foreseeable future. As tom Killen states: “We are undergoing a steady return to business and putting safety first. Many clients have welcomed the staging of auctions again and there is certainly still keen
interest from buyers. “in addition to accepting items, the team are able to conduct probate valuations and arrange house clearances subject to implementing government guidance.” the next sale of Antiques and Collectables at the Mendip Auction Rooms will be on Saturday, June 13th with a sale of Sporting, Fine Wines and Spirits on the evening of June 18th prior to a sale of Victorian and Later Effects on tuesday, June 23rd.
Contact the auction rooms on 01749 840770 or email enquiries@mendipauctionrooms.co.uk for further assistance
PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
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Clevedon Salerooms open for business
ARTS & ANTIQUES
CLEVEdon Salerooms are holding their first sale since the coronavirus pandemic on thursday, June 4th. taking note of the latest government guidance and in consultation with trade associations, Clevedon Salerooms have taken all necessary steps to ensure the safety of staff and customers as we emerge from the period of lockdown. the sale will be held behind closed doors with no public access to the salerooms. Potential bidders can choose to register to bid live on the internet or leave commission bids direct with the salerooms. normal viewing is suspended but viewing strictly by prior appointment is possible subject to availability. the free valuation days on June 8th and 9th will be held with strict social distancing in place (as proved successful prior to the lockdown) and weather permitting will be conducted in the open air beneath large gazebos and with customers called from their vehicles in Michael Storey – group of six cold-painted bronze hares estimate £80-£120 their order of arrival.
For further information and reassurance, please do not hesitate to contact the salerooms on 01934 830111
THIS IS A LIVE ONLINE ONLY AUCTION BEHIND CLOSED DOORS Vintage WSM Travel Poster £80 - £120
Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers
FREE AnTIquE VALuATIOn DAYS
Set of three Giovanni leather finish cases £50 - £80
8th & 9th June
9.30am–1pm and 2pm–5pm Held at the salerooms – no appointment necessary
WE ARE SAFE TO VISIT
You can visit us safe in the knowledge that our strict social distancing measures will not place you at any risk
Tel: 01934 830111 The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Kenn, Clevedon, Bristol BS21 6TT www.clevedon-salerooms.com
Ercol Chiltern Dining bench £200 - £300
Poole Pottery Antiques Roadshow 21 years £30 - £50
Antiques, Interiors, Collectables & Jewellery Sale Thursday 4th June at 10.30am (Internet Auction behind closed doors – no public access) Limited Viewing - Strictly by Prior Appointment (Do not arrive unannounced and expect to view the sale)
VIEW THE SALE CATALOGUE NOW AT WWW.CLEVEDON-SALEROOMS.COM MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020 • PAGE 21
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MENDIP TIMES
Trust and inheritance disputes Based just off junction 25 of the M5 in Taunton, Clarke Willmott’s agricultural legal team provides a full range of services to the south West rural community. They are also the NFU legal panel firm for somerset, dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. an area in which they have recently seen significant growth is trusts and inheritance disputes and they now have a specialist team which deals with all such cases. One case which the team is particularly proud of is the significant victory achieved for one of their farming clients, andrew Guest, in a long-running proprietary estoppel dispute against his parents. For 32 years, andrew worked on the family farm for a very low wage, on the understanding that he would inherit a substantial share of the farm. Unfortunately, however, he and his parents fell out and the parents terminated the partnership between them, evicted andrew and his family from their home on the farm and disinherited him. andrew subsequently issued a claim in the High Court and following trial, the judge upheld andrew’s claim and held that it would be unconscionable to allow the parents to go back on their promise. The judge ordered the parents to pay andrew a sum equivalent to 50% of the post-tax market value of the farming business and 40% of the post-tax market value of the farm. andrew’s parents were then granted permission to appeal to
the Court of appeal solely on the question of remedy, i.e. what andrew should receive to compensate him for his claim. However, earlier this year the Court of appeal roundly rejected andrew’s parents’ arguments and upheld the High Court’s award. andrew’s parents have now applied for permission to appeal to the supreme Court. If the supreme Court does not overturn the High Court’s award, then the farm will have to be sold. Polly Ridgway and daniel Gill, solicitors who acted for andrew Guest commented: “This is a significant decision in this area of law and it is one we are very proud to have been involved in. However, the case has also been hard fought and many will consider it sad that such a case has taken place between members of the same family. “as such, this case perfectly illustrates the need for those involved in or contemplating bringing inheritance disputes to get expert legal advice as early as possible.” For more information about this or our agricultural legal services generally, please contact Victoria Howlett on 0345 209 1719 or victoria.howlett@clarkewillmott.com. We have offices in Bristol, Taunton, Birmingham, Manchester, London, Cardiff and southampton. despite the Covid-19 restrictions, we are fully open for business with our lawyers working remotely from home.
For further information on private client and business matters and how they are being impacted by COVID-19, visit https://www.clarkewillmott.com/supporting-you-through-covid-19-coronavirus/
One customer, Carol Brake, wrote:
“I ordered the hand gel to help us through this Covid-19 period. My family and I love it. Easy to apply, dries quickly with no sticky feeling, smells lovely and leaves my hands so soft. I suffer with dry sensitive skin normally without the extra hand washing we are currently doing and the hand gel really has helped improve the dryness. We have placed a further order as this is much better than other gels. Thank you”.
How these goats are helping NHS nurses on the frontline A herd of prize-winning goats are helping keep the hands of nurses working on the NHS frontline in good condition during the coronavirus pandemic. Milk from the Chew Stoke Kerborne herd supplies the Felton skin care company, Goats of the Gorge, who make skin creams and soaps using natural oils designed to help those with sensitive skin like eczema or psoriasis. The business has seen a dramatic increase in positive reviews posted by NHS frontline staff on their Facebook page where reviews also show how the products have helped children and adults with their skin complaints. The goat’s milk contains vitamin A which helps to break down dead cells and repair the skin. With many of their stockists closed, the business has seen an increase in their online shop sales and telephone orders. The products have certainly helped where people are now asked to constantly wash their hands often leaving them very sore. The family business donated skin creams to the microbiology department at Southmead Hospital and to St Martin’s Hospital in Bath. Goats of the Gorge products can be found in many outlets throughout Mendip Times’ area. Recently the alcohol hand-gel 70% active has kept the family business very busy. Check out the website to find a stockist near you or buy online.
Visit us at www.goatsofthegorge.com where you will find a stockist near you or visit our online shop for the easy transaction. Telephone: 07958 261971
PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
Alcohol hand gels 50ml £2.50 100ml £ 3.80
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BUSINESS
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020 • PAGE 23
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MENDIP TIMES
Public rights of way and Covid-19
as our much-needed daily allowance of exercise during Covid-19 increases, so too will the discovery of new local public footpaths. While a delight for the majority, it has also caused implications for associated landowners. The following provides guidance on landowner and public responsibilities around rights of way when out and about. Where there has been a significant increase in the numbers of people using public footpaths over the last few weeks, this has caused anxiety among many landowners, particularly where public footpaths run through or close to farm houses, buildings and yards. With increased instances of gates being left open and dogs not being controlled, farmers have raised concerns that this could put people who live and work in rural areas, as well as livestock, at risk. Recognising that these are unprecedented times, the department for environment, Food and Rural affairs (defra) has permitted landowners to consider a number of temporary measures that will help reduce any associated impact to livestock, for those who live in and around the local area. such measures may include: • Tying gates open if it is safe to do so, removing the need for walkers to touch • displaying notices encouraging walkers to respect local residents and workers by following social distancing guidelines
PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
• Offering alternative routes that avoid gardens, farmyards or schools but only when safe to do so. Having the public walk other than on a public right of way is potentially at the farmer’s risk. Where guidance is changing regularly, any landowners with questions relating to their land and current rules, can contact the Mogers drewett agriculture team on 0800 533 5349 or email jonathan.cheal@mogersdrewett.com. We are working remotely but ready and able to help. Jonathan Cheal, Agriculture Team, Mogers Drewett
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BUSINESS
Let’s support our local businesses aT a time when there is apparently very little in the way of business, why would there be a need for a business article? Well, in fact, this has been a very busy time for us. every time a new piece of advice or an instruction comes from the government, people like us are busy translating it, checking it through for loopholes and potential problems and then advising clients accordingly. If you aren’t attached to an accountant or business advisor who is keeping an eye on things for you, please feel free to look at our website where there is a link on the home page to a summary of the COVId19 government help available. Hopefully things will be a little bit clearer for you. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we are on week six of living a shielded existence, so like many, we have had cause to be grateful for the help of local suppliers of food and other commodities. Not least because it took us three weeks before any of the supermarkets we had registered with could offer us a delivery slot. I have to say a huge “thank you” to
dan at Queen st deli in Wells, who has kept us supplied (from a safe distance) with milk, eggs, veg, cheese and other occasional treats – which shall remain nameless, but Mr B, who doesn’t suffer from Weight Gain, can highly recommend the Lovington Buns – and there are, I know, many others in our corner of the world offering the same services to keep us going. How many of us will continue to use small, local businesses when the current restrictions are over? I certainly shall. Not least because I now have a debt of loyalty to them for stepping up to the plate in our hour of need. When you are faced with a supermarket giant saying “computer says no” as you vainly try to get a delivery slot, but someone near at hand says, “let’s see what we can do” and then sorts out the problem for you, it’s surely a no-brainer to stay loyal to that business? Well, if this lockdown has taught me anything, it’s that we should value what we have in our own communities, and, if and where we can, remember that a few
Dan Holland
extra pounds spent locally will help our communities and our high streets to survive and thrive. Who knows? The days of the artisan producers and retailers may be about to come around again... I can dream! In the meantime, take care and stay well. Jane Bowe Probusiness
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020 • PAGE 25
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MENDIP TIMES
Fair division of matrimonial assets FROM time to time the media reports on spectacular big-money divorce cases often focusing on short marriages where one or other of the fortunate spouses hits the proverbial jackpot. Those cases are rare and for the most part the courts have to wrestle with the division of rather more limited assets. In exercising its wide and flexible powers the court is guided by the principle of fairness and so the start point is generally an equal division of the assets unless there is good reason to decide otherwise. a short marriage, an exceptional financial contribution by one spouse or another, a significant disparity of borrowing capacity or the needs of dependent children are all capable of being reasons to justify departing from equal division. Inequality of division is particularly common where, for instance, the main asset is the former matrimonial home which is needed as a home for the children of the family. In deciding on what amounts to a
“matrimonial asset” the court is more inclined nowadays to exclude those assets which were built up prior to the marriage and those which were acquired following the permanent breakdown of the marriage (for instance pensions or inherited assets). The shorter the marriage the more inclined the court is to adopt this approach. Those who argue that they should have a greater share of the matrimonial assets because they have made an exceptional or special financial contribution to the marriage will need to establish that he or she was the generating force behind the fortune rather than the product (or idea) itself, that the scale of the wealth depended on his or her innovative vision as well as his or her ability to develop those visions and that he or she has generated such vast wealth such that his or her business success can properly be viewed as exceptional. so the fact that an individual might have happened to have been in the right place at the right time and have taken full advantage of that opportunity and worked
hard to develop it is less likely to be able to establish an exceptional contribution. Bearing these principles in mind those who already have assets and who are embarking on second marriages would do well to consider entering into a prenuptial agreement with a view to “ring fencing” assets which otherwise might be seen as matrimonial assets. Be prepared! EDWARD LYONS
Email: enquiries@lyonslaw.co.uk Website: www.lyonslaw.co.uk Telephone: 01275 332168
An established and progressive law firm providing a personal and cost-effective legal service for commercial and individual clients. lFamily & Divorce Law l Co-habitation disputes lInheritance disputes l Wills and Living Wills lPowers of Attorney l Administration of Trusts lProperty – sales and purchases OFFICES AT: Chew Magna 01275 332168 PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
Westbury-on-Trym 0117 950 6506
Kingswood 0117 967 5252
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BUSINESS
ECATCHER MOL
Your Local Award-winning Funeral Director!
NO MOLE NO FEE Telephone 01761 417100 www.mendipmolecatcher.co.uk
STUDIO/WORKSHOP REQUIRED Business established in 2000 Seeking new premises To buy or rent 1,000 - 2,000 sq. feet West Mendip/ N. Somerset area
Phone: 07786 862892
P & C Logs Call Phil on 07734 098323, or Colleen on 07785 250033 or on Evenings 01934 741941
Friendly prompt service from Phil & Colleen at their farm in Charterhouse Quality seasoned beech and ash hardwood, chopped and split into a variety of load options (with free delivery).
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020 • PAGE 27
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MENDIP TIMES
STOKE ST. MICHAEL
HOLCOMBE
Villagers gather at a safe distance after marking VE Day with a toast.
Ex-Royal Navy serviceman Dave Sprink (centre) raises a glass of port at Holcombe’s Lynchgate in memory of VE Day personnel. He was joined by (l to r) Garry Newman (ex-Royal Marines), Paul Smith (ex-Royal Tank Regiment), Guy Blackstone (ex-Royal Marines) and Pete James (ex-Royal Logistics Corps).
The front of the village shop was decorated with VE Day-themed drawings by local children.
The railings were decorated outside the village church.
Waving the flag
SHEPTON MALLET
ALAN Williams from Shepton Mallet certainly waved the flag for the 75th anniversary of VE Day. He campaigned for the monument in Wells to Harry Patch “the last fighting Tommy”. The large flag was used in the unveiling and was presented to him after the ceremony. He said: “I am very pleased to own it as part of my collection. And it certainly had a good airing today!” PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
BINEGAR
An impromptu and unplanned gathering was held at the cenotaph in Shepton Mallet for a two minute’s silence. Lt Col John Lyde was invited to lay the wreath on behalf of the town.
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LEIGH-ON-MENDIP
Bugler Phil Davey sounds the Last Post, watched by the Rev. Anthony Dickson, priest-in-charge of the village’s St Giles church. Paying their respects outside the Memorial Hall. Many villagers joined in the ceremony which was also attended by several ex-service personnel.
OAKHILL
Caroline Taylor on George (left) and Sandra Pennyfather, on Badger, pay their respects at Oakhill war memorial after riding through the village.
VE DAY 2020
MIDSOMER NORTON
Midsomer Norton and Radstock Royal British Legion members prepare to lay wreaths at the Midsomer Norton war memorial. Members laid wreaths at other locations too, including Radstock and Westfield.
Pattie Nicol ran a VE day stall outside her house and raised £141.37 for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
PENSFORD
Charlie Love, Jim Huntley and Jessica Love with their VE Day cake.
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020 • PAGE 29
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MENDIP TIMES
VE DAY 2020
TIMSBURY
SANDFORD
Chris Fiddes, standard bearer, and Barry Sewell, chairman, lead a parade organised by Timsbury Royal British Legion.
Street party in Somerville Road.
Molly Purse (back, right) outside her home with Kath (back, left), Maddi, Micki and Lola
Pictured (l to r) Jenny and David Cobbold, Lottie the dog and Denise and Paul Spencer.
EVERCREECH
COMPTON DANDO
Pictured (l to r) Elizabeth Brealey, Grace, Simone, Maisie and Ben Wall, Clive and Lorna Howarth, and Steve and Sarah Rendell.
PAGE 30 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
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A little bit of bread and no cheese . . .
AS the lockdown on our lives begins to ease and we venture further afield, most birdsong will have waned by now, but many fledging birds By CHRIS will be heard either SPERRING by their begging calls MBE to be fed, or they might also be seen, in the case of birds like house sparrow or starling, following their parents around gardens and fields learning by example. Other sounds from birds that may be hidden from sight by summer’s thick foliage are their alarm calls that are like a universal language. A classic example is, as one robin begins its tich, tich tich, alarm call it sparks the blackbird into its defensive alarm call and that tells the great tit young being raised in your garden bird box to freeze and be silent. These are just some of the sounds from birds that despite the end of the main singing season will keep going. Of course some birds will still be singing; species such as robin can sing all year round, and it’s not the only one. But now as we ease out of lockdown and you begin perhaps walking further away from your base, I have a challenge for you. I wrote a short piece about what is now a red listed bird, a bird that most people know by its song, but that very few people these days have seen. Certainly I well recall walking the many Mendip
footpaths over 20 years ago and coming into areas of high hedgerows bordering arable fields and hearing the classic song of “a little bit of bread and no cheese”. And with a bit of patience if I stayed still and quiet the bird itself would reveal itself by alighting on top of the hedge. That first view of it literally takes your breath away with its bright yellow head and front giving way on its front to light brown streaks, the unmistakable yellowhammer. In the Facebook post, I wrote about the area where I live and the decline of yellowhammer that I’ve noted over the period from early 1980s to now. Some of the responses from people on Mendip have been interesting, saying that though much reduced the yellowhammer is occasionally heard and seen. My earlier description of the habitat of the yellowhammer is the classic area to find or listen out for them. However
WILDLIFE
that’s not the whole story, as certainly around 20 years ago in my area there were no arable fields, just grazing land, with predominantly cattle, but what there was were high hedgerows. But again, that’s still not the complete story, because the pictures of yellowhammer with this article I took just prior to lockdown in a woodland. I think it’s safe to say this is very much a bird that feeds predominantly on seeds and so there is the arable link, though it also feeds on seeds of nettle, dock and grasses. This means that hay meadows can be attractive for them and when rearing offspring they will have good source of protein from insects. During my forest surveys of ten years ago and the repeat of 2019 yellowhammer would be encountered where good young tree cover was mixed with scrub and course grasses. So, to conclude I would have to say that this species is really a woodland edge species which benefits from natural or managed succession. So, as you venture further from your base look out for this striking bird, listen out for its song that has inspired poets, writers and even musicians such as Beethoven. If you are still in lockdown or shielding and want a wildlife fix, then go to the Hawk and Owl Trust Somerset Barn Owl webcam; the young have just hatched and so this part of their story is the most exciting – and dangerous. You can watch the webcam live by going to: https://hawkandowltrust.org/web-camlive/barn-owl-cam-live-somerset
Chris Sperring MBE is conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust. For news of any public walks or talks coming up please visit via Facebook @ChrisSperringwildlife
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020 • PAGE 31
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MENDIP TIMES
WALKING QUIZ: WHERE OR WHAT IS IT?
INSTEAD of a walk in this issue, I thought I would remind you of some of my walks over past issues of Mendip Times. How observant are you on the walks? Here is a selection of the many photographs I take when I am out. Why not have a go at identifying where or what they are. Don’t forget some of them may be several years old. Answers on page 62
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2
With Sue Gearing
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4
5 6 PAGE 32 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
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7
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WALKING Le
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MENDIP TIMES
OUTDOORS
West Countryman’s diary
IT’S the middle of May as I write and we are starting to see some easing in restrictions of movement. Many will still be somewhat With LES anxious, whilst DAVIES MBE wishing to return to some sort of normality, or “New Normality” as I have heard it described. Exercise restrictions are also being eased, but as you will see Sue Gearing is not producing a walk this time. Instead you will need all your “Mendip” knowledge to work out her picture quiz. For my part, this month’s column will contain some of my rural observations and a few “tales”. Stories and sayings are an important part of our culture. Much information during the Saxon period was passed down by word of mouth and as with all stories, they would change with the telling. Stories that we tell will change in the same way. It was William Shakespeare who, in his famous play Henry V, described the veteran of Agincourt, relating the tales of his daring-do: “He will remember with advantages deeds he did this day.” We will all do that in some form or another! One of the most noticeable things during the lockdown period has been a lack of road kill. The wildlife has been able to fly and run across the road with relative safety, not ending up flat-packed into the Tarmac. I include here, the cattle in Burrington Coombe who have taken to ambling up the road. So good to see people being respectful, slowing down and going around them quietly. I think the goats have been enjoying the quiet as well. The use of local paths has increased as people who may not have used them before, explore more of their surroundings. I also see an increase in cycling. All of this is great news and I hope that such things from our “Changed life” stay when this is all over. May is moving into June and half the year has gone. So I’m going to tell one of my stories about trees, the hawthorn, or as it’s also known, the “May”. We are all familiar with this tree and its prickly disposition. It has become an important part of our hedgerow system and is certainly a tree of village and field rather
than the forest. There are undoubtedly champions of its cause, but I want to look a little closer at this species. Archaeological remains have shown the hawthorn was around by at least 6000 BC if not before. There are around 1000 species worldwide and they can live up to 400 years. They provide refuge and food for around 50 different species of insects as well as birds and small mammals. On Mendip it was promoted by that agricultural revolutionary John Billingsley, as an essential part of the hedgerow during the late 1700s and early 1800s. Termed “Quick Sets” they would rapidly grow into a thorny stock-proof boundary. It is difficult to find a tree that is more wound up in our heritage and customs than the hawthorn. Its pagan connections with spring and fertility abound. One spring goddess was Blodeuwedd, said to have been created from nine kinds of spring flowers, as the consort to a Celtic Sun God. It is she who we see represented by the May Queen dressed in blossoms. Also hanging around was the “Green Man” or “Jack in the May” with his green leafy costume. He was a symbol of fertility, representing the leafy summer as King of the May. Hang on! This “fellah” crops up all over the place, not least at wassails. Undoubtedly the most famous of Christian stories with a hawthorn connection is that of the Holy Thorn in Glastonbury. After the death of Christ, legend has it that Joseph of Arimathea came to Glastonbury and stuck his staff into the ground from whence it took root and grew. It is also said that a Parliamentarian soldier was blinded by a chip from this thorn, after being sent to cut it down during the English Civil War. Other such tales of catastrophe surround the unnecessary destruction of the hawthorn. The hawthorn has both “magical” and healing powers that come from its fruit and flowers. Twigs and branches from the hawthorn, woven into a globe, were said to protect a farmhouse from fire. This globe was replaced each New Year and the old one burnt, to be scattered on the land before sowing crops. Other stories exist of its role in protecting wells and springs, which of course were essential to life. The more I
look into the story of the hawthorn, the more there is to know. One thing I know well, is of its link to the apple tree. The hawthorn was occasionally used to graft apples onto. It’s a member of the rose family, as is the apple. With evolution the rose, the hawthorn and the apple all went their separate ways to develop into what they are today. Family roots however run deep and it’s still possible to graft an apple onto a hawthorn. One modern tale of that relates to my time at Long Ashton Research Station. Long Ashton was the premier research and development centre for the cider and fruit industry. It’s where I did my apprenticeship in the late 1960s and 70s, starting my 50 plus years’ connection with the apple tree. Scientific work was underway to find different off-shoots from the Bramley apple and these were being grafted in the tree nursery. One of the team (who shall remain nameless) thought it would be quite a jolly “jape” to place a hawthorn graft into the work. It grew and the attention it attracted started to get out of hand, some owning up had to be done! Before you all start to make assumptions, NO it was NOT me! This month’s picture was taken from my “office” at the top of an apple tree, where I was grafting a new variety. No it wasn’t hawthorn and yes, I had got back into my tree! Stay safe and happy.
You can always contact me through my website: Westcountryman.co.uk
PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
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Mendip TiMes
Castaway vegetables!
With MarY paYne MBe
Whilst in lockdown my mind strayed to thoughts of which vegetables i would take with me if i was cast away on a Covid19free desert island with a temperate climate and ideal soil! this was prompted by the unprecedented demand there has been for vegetable seeds this season. Folk with time on their hands keen to have a go. Not all vegetables are easy, so my selection takes
this into account. My top choice would be beetroot. they are one of the easiest vegetables to grow and are versatile in the kitchen. Far from being simply boiled, peeled, and eaten with salads they are now made into chips, grated raw with baby leaves, juiced and roasted, to name but a few. these days they are regarded as one of the “super foods” being rich in antioxidants, often associated with the purple colouring. however, beetroots now come in multiple shades of yellow, white and even purple/white stripes (Chioggia). Beetroot seeds are actually a cluster of seeds, but these days seeds can be purchased (e.g. “solo”) that are individuals, for ease of commercial production. Beetroots do not suffer from any major pest and disease problems thus lending themselves to organic culture. Worth knowing, is that the seeds contain a germination inhibitor and this needs to be removed, usually by rainfall before germination will take place. this can be done artificially by soaking the seed overnight in a glass of water. in the morning, the water will be brown. Drain and sow immediately. Runner Beans, also known as “kidney beans” from the shape of the seeds, are a summer special, but can be temperamental if the weather and soil conditions are variable. Poor setting of the flowers is usually due to dry root conditions, hence the old system of digging your runner bean trench in the autumn and filling it with kitchen waste, old shredded newspaper, or cardboard. this provided the organic matter to retain soil moisture during the summer season. Plant breeders have to a certain extent overcome this problem. the varieties “Firestorm”, “snowstorm” and “Moonlight” have been hybridised with the French bean which is much more tolerant of drier conditions and sets well. French beans can give problems if the soil or compost is too wet. they tend to take up too much water too fast. to overcome this, germinate them on damp kitchen paper in a closed container. When the root emerges pot them up or plant them out. Neither French nor Runner beans are tolerant of frost, so do not be tempted to sow too early. Broad beans are not to everyone’s taste, but are easy to grow and a great relief from the overwintering brassicas and leeks when the first autumn sown “Aquadulce Claudia” are ready to eat in May/June. the immature pods can be cooked and eaten whole, in the same way as sugar snap peas. Of course, my selected desert island will not have any blackfly or chocolate spot diseases to trouble my beans. As a child i revelled in popping the middle out of cooked broad beans by squeezing them – probably aiming at my sisters across the dinner table – this practice could come in handy to repel the enemy on my island! paGe 36 • Mendip TiMes • June 2020
the humble potato would have to be on my list, but which variety to choose from the many hundreds available these days? i would probably go for “Charlotte”, described as a second early but often sold as a salad variety. the yellow skin and creamy coloured flesh have excellent flavour, both hot and cold. the second early varieties mature in about 15 – 17 weeks from planting. For the adventurous, they can also be planted in early september in pots, grown outside until frosts are imminent and then housed in a frost-free glasshouse to give new potatoes on Christmas Day. Purple sprouting broccoli would be a must as it fills the “hungry gap” between the overwintering vegetables and early summer crops, but it is a slow crop to grow. seeds can be sown now, outdoors in a drill and then the young plants transplanted into their final positions in late June/early July. Plant them very firmly and be prepared to stake individual plants. Protect them from the ravages of the cabbage white butterflies (i hope there are none on my desert island) with fleece. Where would we be without the onion family? leeks, salad onions, shallots, garlic and chives for adding flavour to our food. For those without a greenhouse then onion sets are the answer. Onion sets are the easiest and if heat treated ones are used then this avoids them running to seed or “bolting”. Onions store well too and do not require sophisticated conditions. the sets can be planted direct in the ground. Make sure you rotate the ground on which you grow onions (and all the onion family) to avoid disease problems. i am a fan of the shallot, especially the so-called banana shallots which are more elongated. they are much easier to peel than the traditional shapes. traditionally one plants garlic on the shortest day and harvests it on the longest, but there are spring planting varieties available now. leeks are very slow to grow from seed, but young plants can be purchased and planted and will give a useful crop to harvest in late autumn and overwinter with little attention. i am looking forward to my pest, disease and Covid19-free desert island where i can enjoy growing edibles. Oh, i forgot to say there will be no weeds on my island either, with rain by night and sun by day. i have just made some bean netting out of string so i should be able to adapt that to catch some fish. happy days!
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June Garden Tips
• Make sure that your potatoes don’t run short of moisture at this time. the new tubers should be forming now and will respond well to a thorough watering. • Plant out those annual herbs (dill, pot marigold, basil, coriander, etc) that often resent being planted too early. • Plant outdoor tomatoes, ridge cucumbers, courgettes and marrows. these can all be easily grown in large pots or grow bags on the patio. • Most herbs will benefit from being cut fairly hard now. the young shoot tips are generally the tastiest parts to use in cooking. • there is still time to make a sowing of perpetual spinach leaf beet. this is a really useful vegetable that can be harvested right through the winter. • A late sowing of parsley can still be made and, even if you don’t have a veg. patch, curled parsley will not look out of place in the flower border! • spray your apples to stop Codling Moth grubs boring into your fruit. Pheromone traps, now widely available, give good non-pesticide control but need to be installed early enough to get control. • Remove (by snapping them off) side shoots from cordon (non bushy) tomatoes. stake and support them. Feed regularly with tomato feed, it improves the flavour! • Prune plums and cherries. if wall trained, new shoots can be pinched back to encourage more branching. tie and support new shoots. heavy crops can be thinned next month if necessary.
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Mendip TiMes • June 2020 • paGe 37
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Mendip TiMes
n Gs Ga r d en oF THe Mon TH
Virtual garden tours
As visitors were not able to go to the NGs opening of Rose Cottage, smithams hill, east harptree this spring due to government restrictions, the garden can be viewed on Youtube with a guided tour by owner Jenny Cruse. Donations are invited for the NGs and the village church. the NGs itself has a number of garden tours on its website.
details: rose Cottage https://youtu.be/YLv81Hy0u8g nGs https://ngs.org.uk/virtual-gardenvisits/?gclid=eaiaiQobChMiidbZ3omz6QiVT3tCh2TsanQeaaYasaBegK6uvd_Bwe
Our garden and pond shop is now fully open to the public Plants now in stock – vegetables, bedding, patio and water plants, shrubs and climbing plants Customers must keep to our social distancing rules
GardeninG
Yeo Valley adapts to cancelled Chelsea Flower show and donates plants to hospitals
DesPite there being no Rhs Chelsea Flower show this year, Yeo Valley has continued to play a part in this year’s online show and donated many plants that were destined for the show to hospital grounds. Yeo Valley announced plans to feature an organic show garden at Rhs Chelsea Flower show last November. teaming up with award-winning garden designer tom Massey, it planned to feature a show garden with a diverse range of habitats and a rich tapestry of flowering plants to encourage wildlife and support pollinators. Yeo Valley creative director sarah Mead said: “the design was a direct lift from our organic garden in Blagdon with the aim of showcasing organic farming to even more people. “stanton Drew’s Colin Clutterbuck was going to build a Mendip stone wall on-site using walling borrowed from the farm and returned afterwards. We were all due to be travelling to london to both plant the garden and also man the stand and talk to the show visitors. “the idea was to ask people to consider organic practices and to put nature first, as we do here on the farm.” the Rhs Chelsea Flower show was cancelled due to the coronavirus. instead sarah Mead and tom Massey have been able to contribute to the virtual show with videos from the organic garden at Blagdon and interviews. some 2,000 dazzling flowers, perennials, annuals, shrubs and grasses intended for display in the Yeo Valley organic show garden have been gifted to hospitals. tom Massey said: “We wanted to take a more proactive approach and gift the plants to a good cause as a show of support for the Nhs. We hope that the plants will brighten up the hospital grounds and provide a small boost to help Nhs staff and patients through these incredibly trying times.” the intensive care unit garden at Derriford hospital, Plymouth received the plants in March as well as five london hospitals close to the nursery where the plants were being grown. details: Find out more about Yeo Valley’s organic garden and virtual Chelsea at www.yeovalley.co.uk
paGe 38 • Mendip TiMes • June 2020
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HEALTH & FAMILY
Life under lockdown – how one care home is coping
WE realised our environment was a ticking time bomb as far as the virus was concerned, with 23 residents between 90 and 106 years old, mostly with the underlying health issues that were being talked about. We started preparing as best we could, buying in personal protective equipment (PPE) but everyone was having the same idea and we were struggling to buy alcohol hand gel. People were starting to panic buy foods and toilet paper; having 29 toilets we were starting to worry about running out. We then held a meeting with my management team and decided that we must stop any visitors coming in to the home to try to minimise the risk of infection. This was Wednesday, March 18th. This was difficult for the families who did not know when they would see their elderly mums and dads again (or ever if the infection came in). We set up Skype and Facetime to aid communication. Again as the days went on, more bad news was being reported, hearing of 500, 600, 700 deaths a day and we were starting to hear stories of people locally having and dying from the virus. We also starting hearing of care homes locally with cases and national stories of care homes losing ten-20 residents to the virus. I immediately called my top team together and after a chat for about 15 minutes we realised that we had no choice but to shut up shop. I did have three empty rooms which I could have filled but decided not to, since these were ideal places for the staff to sleep. All of the workforce knew that this was what we needed to do and although there were some staff who couldn't come in due to
Locked in – The Court House team
child and other commitments, 12 people agreed to do it. I was leaving my wife, 22-year-old Chloë and four-year-old Edith, on the outside which was very tough. My brother James also stayed on the outside so he could source supplies for us. We held a residents’ meeting and explained what we were doing and the residents were so relieved. Residents’ families were equally happy and were grateful for the sacrifices we were making. The first few days were very emotional but we are all actually really enjoying it and even more so in the knowledge that for now our residents were as safe as they could possibly be. We are small in numbers but are such a tight-knit team, we are all working hard but so well together. We have our chef Gary with us who is delighting us on a daily basis with his wizardry in the kitchen, this is really helping to keep us going. Chris Dando Court House, Cheddar
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The Manager – Chris Dando • 01934 742131 • chriscourthouse@gmail.com Court House Retirement Home, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3RA www.courthouseretirementhome.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020 • PAGE 39
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t
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MENDIP TIMES
Amidst all the gloom and uncertainty, here at Mendip Times, we thought we would celebrate some of the positive stories still happening around the area we cover.
Charities need support
CANCer counselling charity We Hear You is celebrating a fantastic response to tough financial times from its supporters, with more than £2,000 raised in just a fortnight. the mitchell family in Frome raised £325 selling pizza baked in their home pizza oven (pictured). the charity has seen an increase in oneoff and regular donations, birthday fundraisers and one-off challenges and is delighted with the success of its WHYworkout challenge, where supporters complete a short workout, make a donation and nominate friends to do the same. We Hear You stands to lose up to 70% of its predicted fundraising income for the 2020/2021 financial year and, like many charities, faces an uncertain future, with most community fundraising through the spring and summer postponed or cancelled. Fundraising and communications manager, Gemma Wilkes, said: “We’ve had a really good few years at WHY and have grown enormously, both in terms of the service we provide and our community fundraising income. “We’re proud of it and we’re determined to come out of the other side of the pandemic offering support to people affected by cancer and lifethreatening conditions.
New supporters (clockwise from left): Esme, Kenney family head shave, Shelley and the Mitchell family
“In addition to our usual one-to-one counselling service, which continues via phone and online, we’ve launched a Covid-19 specific crisis support service to provide speedy telephone support for people who have or have had Covid-19. It’s the right thing for us to do, but obviously it means we need to find even more money.” Five-year-old esme completed 26 repetitions of a different activity every day for a week for the London marathon’s 2.6 Challenge, including baking 26 cupcakes, making 26 bird feeders and walking 2.6km. She said: “I had lots of fun doing all the things and am really happy I got so much money to help. thank you for helping me.” Shelley o’regan, a childminder in Frome, shaved her head as part of a
birthday fundraiser and said: “I guess cancer charities are close to my heart having lost a number of people close to me and I wanted to do my bit in supporting those affected by Covid-19, so WHY ticked both boxes.” Arthur, William and edward shaved their heads along with their dad, while mum Jazz ran a marathon over ten days for the 2.6 challenge. Arthur, aged 11, said: “I think charity is still important in this difficult time because people still need someone to help them and to talk to and may get lonely and sad if they don’t have anyone to talk to.” Five-year-old brothers William and edward got involved because “people should be kind” and because they wanted to “help people who are sad because of coronavirus”.
Details: www.wehearyou.org.uk/donate 01373 455255 email info@wehearyou.org.uk
Freemasons support free meals
SomerSet Freemasons have donated £1,000 to a community food service based at the Butchers Arms in Yatton. Since the coronavirus lockdown, romajos, a team of 90 volunteers, have prepared meals for 150 people, six days a week for the elderly and most needy in the area. the meals are free and food costs are met by community donations. the pub, run by Caroline radnedge and Nick Williams, also provides fruit and veg boxes and takeaways. the local masonic lodge is known as the Lodge of Agriculture. Its charity representative, Steve Collings, said: “Freemasons all over Somerset are helping out wherever they can to combat Covid-19 and we are delighted to be able to assist this very deserving charity.” PAGE 40 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
Details: www.pglsom.org
Nick Williams and Caroline Radnedge
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Sisters support NHS
Tilley, Molly and their mum Ruth
tHe Porter sisters in Chew magna have appeared every thursday evening with a "thank you” banner, which they made, and joined others in clapping for the NHS. molly, aged six, and her sister tilley, aged five, are both pupils at Chew magna Primary School. they have joined other residents showing their appreciation in support of the work of the NHS. Neighbour, Audrey reid, said: “Dressing gowns, wellies and saucepans are an amusing combination.”
Working from home
ANDreW Vickery of Stanton Drew has been making Covid19 face visors on his 3D printer. He is one of a team of people from rotork in Bath who are using their own home 3D printers to make these visors during the lockdown. He said: “As a group we have supplied the rUH and a large number of smaller clinics, first responders, and care homes with over 2,000 visors. rotork are sponsoring us for all the materials that we use. “It's not just us. there are many other people with 3D printers helping the NHS, and it's not just here. People at our rotork factories around the world are doing the same thing.” He can be contacted via his Facebook page.
MENDIP V CORONAVIRUS
Support for health workers
SANDrA Blair, from temple Cloud raised £526 for the South West Ambulance Service with a virtual plant sale. She said: “the people of temple Cloud and Clutton have been particularly generous.” the ambulance service’s head of charity, Zoe Larter, said: “our focus at the moment as a charity is very much on supporting the health and wellbeing of our staff and volunteers who are working tirelessly to keep us safe during these unprecedented times.” Details: www.swambulancecharity.org
A village says thanks
Do we really know what the people around us actually do? this question came up recently in Compton Dando, when a retired gentleman, who wanted to remain anonymous, wanted to send flowers in appreciation to any health workers who were based in the village. A request was put out through the village mailing list for names of key workers and between them villagers quickly identified around 20
people who were still at work. there were half a dozen nurses and therapists. But there was also Steve, a refuse collector, Dawn in the police, two head teachers keeping their schools open for children of key workers and others giving support to people with age-related or mental health issues. Some businesses were also making and supplying infection prevention services and materials. ten health workers received bouquets of flowers, put together by Sarah Wilson of Compton Garden Flowers, and delivered anonymously. these included a bouquet to teresa oaten (pictured), matron at St martin's Hospital, Bath, who was delighted with her flowers. Barend ter Haar, secretary of the local community association, said: “Simon, orthopaedic surgeon at the rUH, reported that while elective surgery was quiet, the number of cyclists coming in with broken bones from accidents had proliferated. Lockdown has produced a very different world! “those at or near the 'front line' are working very long hours under stressful conditions and these small signs that they are being remembered helps them keep going.”
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020 • PAGE 41
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MENDIP TIMES
Rotary supports community
The show must go on
memBerS of the rotary Club of mendip have gone into action to support their local community in the fight against coronavirus. As soon as the extent of the pandemic was realised, emergency club funds and donations from individual members totalling over £1,000 were made to the Cheddar Food Bank and the Cheddar Valley Coronavirus Support Group. one club member, Anwar Hussain, provided and cooked a series of takeaway meals free of charge for National Health Service workers and care staff, the most recent sponsored by the club. A group of rotarians and Inner Wheel members made laundry bags which have been sent to local hospitals, and non-surgical face-masks, which have been delivered to pharmacies in Cheddar and Axbridge. A number of rotarians have volunteered to answer telephone queries from vulnerable residents on behalf of the Coronavirus Support Group, and have been responsible for sponsoring, producing and installing Stay Home signs at key sites on main thoroughfares. Club president, Ian maynard, said: “Wherever there is human need, you will find rotarians who follow the rotary motto – Service above Self. We are pleased be able to support Cheddar Valley residents through this very worrying time.”
Happier times
tHe enigma twirl team started the season in great style, doubling its membership and with a clutch of top prizes in the first competition in march. But the coronavirus lockdown has meant twirling their batons alone at home. And with the Somerset carnival season currently on hold, another chance to showcase their skills looks to have gone. the team moved from melksham to Stratton-on-the-Fosse village hall in 2017. Leader, tanya Denning, who is giving lessons online, said: “the majority of the team are digging deep and picking up their batons on a daily basis to practice, as well as use it as an escape from the uncertainty currently turning their lives upside down.” Worldwide, baton twirlers have come together to put on a virtual online “Pass the Baton” doing a small fun performance and then passing the baton on. enigma are due to take part in July.
Telephone helpline
tHe Sweet track Counselling Agency, based in Glastonbury, has set up a temporary free phone support service for those who are needing someone to talk to during the coronavirus emergency. they have a team of volunteers who are offering a friendly voice and ear to listen to those who are needing to talk. People can leave their name and phone number on either of these mobile numbers: 07739 761435 or 07519 818383. A text message is fine. one of their volunteers will call back within 24 hours. PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
Details: Facebook – Enigma Twirl Team Tanya 07702 808079.
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Wells on song despite lockdown WeLLS acoustic music duo, the Portraits, have released a new single featuring some of the city’s most talented performers and singers uniting from lockdown to spread the song’s simple message: “Don’t Worry!” thanks to the power of the internet, a total of 30 performers, including a number of music students from the Blue School and local choir the Skylarks, got together on screen in perfect harmony. the Portraits’ producer, Jeremy millington, said: “We’d sent everyone a score with the part we wanted them to play or sing and a rough demo of the song and each person fired us back a video of their performance from their bedroom or garden. “I then had a great time putting them all together and quickly realised the results were very special. the song is only as good as it is because everyone gave it their all. maybe that shows just how keen we all are to send the world a giant and heartfelt hug right now.” the Portraits, Jeremy and Lorraine millington, were due to perform at this
The Portraits, Lorraine and Jeremy Millington
summer’s Glastonbury Festival, now postponed until June 2021, as well as this year’s Godney Gathering. they say the single is dedicated to all those toiling tirelessly to fight Covid-19
and to the loved ones it has taken from us. Any proceeds from digital sales of the song will go to the Wells Blue School's PtA. the song is out now on itunes, Spotify and all popular digital platforms.
Details: www.theportraitsmusic.com www.facebook.com/theportraitsmusic
Firemen salute NHS
Some of Chew magna’s firefighters are pictured applauding outside Chew medical Practice. Crew manager, Chris Attree said: “We went to the surgery at Chew valley to help celebrate and promote the great efforts of our NHS staff.” He’s pictured (right) with rob morgan and tom Wain.
Jacob’s tribute
JACoB Chesters-Withey, from Clutton, is one of the pupils from Cameley Primary School who has used time home learning to make a rainbow in honour of the NHS.
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Learning how to cope with coronavirus So what lessons should we learn from the lockdown? Will society ever be the same again? Can more mature people learn to Zoom? Former teacher, writer and businesswoman Mary Moss from Frome gives us her thoughts.
ConvErsaTion Cambridge dictionary definition of conversation (noun): (a) talk between two or more people in which thoughts, feelings and ideas are expressed, questions are asked and answered or news and information is exchanged. Looking for positives in these challenging times is not easy, but hopefully there will be some outcomes which could improve our quality of life. the art of conversation, for example, is again flourishing among friends, neighbours and social groups of all ages. Until recently, young people’s use of social media has been a source of derision for an older generation who’ve viewed the need for such interaction as shallow and needy. But then what happens as soon as their usual support networks – book groups, golf clubs, rambler societies etc – are shut down in an attempt to contain the coronavirus? they, of course, suddenly become tech savvy and hurriedly educate themselves in these matters in order to keep in touch. Health-centred isolation has actually made us start talking to each other again. WhatsApp groups have erupted everywhere; even the most tenuous of connections will merit a collective gathering and suddenly individuals become voluble in a way they never have been before the virus sent us into a spin of animated discussion. It’s a blessing then that during this uncertain period of confinement we have at our disposal the tools of communication denied previous sufferers. Ironically, the very implements that have stopped us chatting on a regular basis – screens, essentially – have become our greatest comfort and source of valuable information during isolation. Hopefully, this terrifying pandemic might re-establish face-toface CoNVerSAtIoN as a healthy, life-enhancing human activity rather than a sound bite between hours of nonconversational screen time. LEisurE Cambridge definition of leisure (noun): the time when you are not working or doing other duties. Being in the West Country during this period of isolation can be a joyful experience, especially with such clement weather conditions. People lucky enough to have gardens can enjoy them fully – even if that does involve working on them – and many of us are able to take walks along deserted country lanes and through fields or woods without encountering another human being. With most of our usual leisure activities unavailable for the time being we’ve reverted to age-old pastimes such as unhurried PAGE 44 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
strolling, allowing time for observation; rarely, in recent times, have the blossoms of spring and the awakening of wildlife been appreciated by so many. re-engaging with nature in this way, prompted unfortunately by catastrophe, has proved to be good for both the individual and collective soul. Another pre-occupation is food, but as a nation we have been guilty of tending towards fast food, both home cooked and takeaway. this imposed time at home – even for those working from home – has provoked a frenzy of cooking, baking specifically, and experimenting with ingredients in the kitchen. Perhaps, after this unprecedented period in recent history, we might all end up with a healthier life/work balance. Novels and articles written last century about leisure in the 21st century often assumed that the majority of the population would now have so much leisure time (presumably alongside financial security) owing to automation. Unfortunately that idyll hasn’t emerged but rather we have high unemployment figures and on the other side of the coin, overstretched workforces and an ever-increasing gap between the highest and lowest paid in society. the current crisis certainly confronts us with the facts about those who should be most valued in our midst. this allows us to appreciate the truly courageous and selfless key workers who carry out their tasks with a vocational zeal rather than being motivated entirely by personal wealth. TravEL Cambridge dictionary definition of travel (verb): to make a journey, usually over a long distance. All the time I was growing up – during the 1960s and 70s our only family holidays were trips to stay with relations. Fortunately, our nearest and dearest were located in the Lake District – our father’s family – and half way down the Adriatic coast in Italy – our mother’s family. Both locations, especially the one abroad, were considered pretty exotic by my peers. there were two reasons why they were our regular destinations; they gave us the opportunity to spend time with loved ones and because they were cheap. the very idea of randomly selecting a far-flung resort was considered way beyond reach for most people until the advent of the package holiday in the 60s when it became popular to grab a week or two on foreign soil while remaining cocooned within our own very British way of life. then, growing expectations, more disposable income and increased competence with travel arrangements meant that people began to venture further and more independently until, in recent times, it sometimes seemed as if adventurous travel had become a competitive sport. In short, I’ve never really got over the idea that the only, or main, reason for travel is to go and see people you know and who want to see you. I blame my parents, just as my children used to blame us for not taking them to Disney. Why would anyone, we asked them, want to go to Disney World when, instead, they could forage in rock pools and explore caves, or climb trees, or swim in tarns? After lockdown there’s an assumption that we will quickly return to normal and let’s hope that’s the case, but maybe to a slightly tweaked “normal” which accommodates some newly discovered appreciations of the things around us. Staying closer to home might prove not to be the hardship anticipated.
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Another bug to worry about!
meNDIP District Council is warning owners of public buildings and volunteer-run premises to service their water and air con systems before re-opening to staff and the public. Any water systems lying dormant during the Covid-19 emergency are likely to have increased levels of bacteria present, which means there’s a heightened risk of Legionnaires' disease. Shops and offices, hairdressers, hotels, pubs and restaurants, sports centres, gyms, residential buildings and any campsites currently shut down, will be reminded to check and maintain their systems by members of the council’s environmental health team. Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia. It’s a lung infection you catch by inhaling droplets of water from the likes of air conditioning units, shower heads or hot tubs. It's not a common disease, but it can be very serious. Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease are similar to Covid-19 and include high temperature, feverishness and chills, cough, muscle pains, headache, and pneumonia. Its name originates from a deadly 1976 outbreak of the disease at an American Legion convention in Philadelphia. Details: environmental.health@mendip.gov.uk 0300 3038588
Parents rally to save nursery
PAreNtS of the rainbow montessori Nursery School in Winscombe have raised £3,000 to help save the nursery. on the last working day before the job retention scheme went live, private nurseries were told they could no longer claim the full 80% for their furloughed workers. the parents organised a Facebook page and video and immediately started raising money. one dad, Andy Brown, pictured with daughter riverrose, shaved his head when they reached £1,000 and his legs at £2,000. His wife Dani marie, who helped organise the fund, said: “As we are all aware, this is a terrible time we are living through for millions of people and thousands of businesses across the country and the world as a whole.
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Community support
GLAStoNBUrY and Street Lions Club has made three donations to local groups who are providing support to local communities. the club received £600 from the Lions’ national Covid-19 fund, making this up to £1,200 with match funding. the local groups who have each received £400 are the Glastonbury Foodbank, the Street Foodbank and Street Baptist Church meals on Wheels service. the Club’s president, Brenda Wood, said: “this coronavirus pandemic is hurting lots of local people and we wanted to provide support to those helping those in need in our community.”
Louise and John Melia representing the Street Foodbank being presented with a cheque by Lion David Atkins
Details: 0345 833 6714
“Covid-19 is affecting not only our adult lives but the lives of our children who are too young to understand the problems we are facing. I am setting up this go fund me page to help my child’s preschool as it is the heart of the village of Winscombe for many children and their families.” the parents are now organising fundraising raffles supported by businesses in Winscombe. the nursery’s principal, Jo Griffith, said: “my staff and I are overwhelmed by the support of our current parents, many past parents and friends of montessori in the village and I would like to say a BIG thank you to everyone that has donated and are continuing to donate to keep the nursery afloat in these challenging times.”
Details: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-the-heart-of-the-villa https://www.facebook.com/daniyella.marieworboys.33/videos/1652797671543060/?t=7
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Praise for community volunteers tHe focus of this year's Somerset Day on may 11th saw local charity, Spark Somerset, and Somerset local authorities saying a huge “thank you” to the thousands of volunteers who have stepped up to support their communities in response to Covid-19. over the past couple of months, communities have come together to form hundreds of informal community groups who are providing valuable support to vulnerable residents. Local authority staff have also been praised for playing their part. Councils have set up a joint helpline 0300 790 6275. Spark Somerset run the local volunteer service, matching
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volunteers to a cause that matters to them. In response to the pandemic, they launched a website where Somerset residents can sign up to volunteer in their community. Katherine Nolan, chief executive at Spark Somerset, said: “It has been amazing to see such a positive community response during these difficult times. “existing charities and newly established Covid-19 community groups have been pulling together to support vulnerable residents – and for many people it has been a lifeline. “the months ahead are going to be very challenging for all of us and we know that the demand on charities and community groups is going to rise considerably. As we slowly return to the ‘new normal’ over the coming months, we have the opportunity to maintain some of this fantastic community spirit.”
Details: www.corona-helpers.co.uk www.sparksomerset.org.uk or email volunteer@sparksomerset.org.uk
Have you got talent?
Aid for care homes
WrINGtoN Vale rotary and Inner Wheel Club members have been supplying protective items to care homes in the area. tricia murphy is in charge of sourcing the items, some 2,300 in the first three weeks. She said: “I have tried to create a network of people that can help, but am always in need of more ladies with sewing machines that can make scrub caps and laundry bags. “the requests are still pouring in from the care homes in our area, so to all you ladies helping us please keep making until I tell you otherwise.” Her husband John and other rotary members are delivering the items. Details: www.rotary-ribi.org • clubs contact: ClubiD=1235
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VINe Counselling Services, a mental health charity based in Congresbury, has launched a lockdown competition, “Unlock Your talent”, but note that the deadline for entries is this Friday, may 31st. the competition is open to everyone, with categories for children and adults of all abilities. It has been set up to both encourage people to embrace the world of art in its widest sense, and to relieve the boredom of being stuck at home at the moment, saying it’s all good for your mental health. entry fees, from £5 to £20, will support Vine to run its donation-based professional counselling service at a time when it is needed more than ever. there are various categories, with prizes including art, dance and vocal coaching and the use of a professional recording studio. Judges include Karen Hauer from Strictly Come Dancing and Hamilton cast member Aaron Lee Lambert. the inspiration for the competition has come from awardwinning singer/songwriter rachel mason who has a studio nearby and approached Vine Counselling to offer her support.
see www.vinecounselling.org for full details and to enter via a JustGiving page.
Support for food bank
tHe rotary Club of Nailsea and Backwell has made an emergency payment of £200 to the Nailsea Covid-19 Action Group as a contribution to the vital work done by the food bank set up at 65, High Street, Nailsea.
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A guide to Mendip’s western edge THE Uphill Village Society is a registered charity with the object of preserving, promoting and enhancing the village of Uphill for the benefit of everyone. Situated on the boundary of the Mendip Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty the village benefits from being separated from the nearby town of Weston-super-Mare by the sea, a golf course, historic manor and grounds and at least three nature reserves including Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Walborough and Uphill Hill are two adjacent nature reserves bordering the village. The former, managed by Avon Wildlife Trust, contains floral grassland and salt marsh, while the latter, owned by the local council and somewhat
The River Axe at Uphill has been a port since at least Roman times (above and below)
Walborough nature reserve
The Bluebell field
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Part of the scarecrow trail
(All images xourtesy of Wessex
more interesting and scenic, includes a grassy hill, a disused quarry, a Norman church and a patch of woodland. Apart from a few species found only in the salt marsh, the two reserves have similar plants, the most notable species being honewort, goldilocks aster, wild clary, autumn lady's-tresses, and the bee, green-winged and early purple orchids. The hill and surrounding fields have calcareous soil, being underlain by the same limestone ridge that forms the Mendip Hills to the east and Brean Down to the west. The village society works in close partnership with both organisations to preserve these important reserves as well as the village itself and the special community that exists there. During these difficult times the village has worked hard to support those in need. Local businesses have provided muchneeded resources, takeaway and delivery services as well as supporting individual households whenever needed. In more “normal” times the village would during the last few months have seen many events take place from charity duck racing and the village fete to sandcastle festivals and VE Day commemorations. An annual scarecrow festival brings hundreds of visitors to the village and more regularly there is a monthly market and weekly pop-up café with the village itself proving so much of interest to see. The Woodland Trust managed Bluebell Field has provided an abundance of spring colour with the hill reserves bringing a fine display of orchids and cowslips. The Norman Church of St Nicholas and the adjacent tower stand overlooking the village and, when the time is right, make Uphill a place to put on the must visit list. Stewart Castle Chair Uphill Village Society 01934 415581
HISTORY?
St Nicholas Church tower with NHS tribute
The annual duck race
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Support for foodbank
(Photo courtesy of Caroline True)
Pretty as a picture
Community effort
Ray loxton, Pilton’s famous grave digger, has been immortalised by Strode College student, lydia Carter. The painting will form part of her art foundation final project and will help fund her future Ba studies, when it is sold in a couple of months’ time.
Managing director, Neil Edgerley, is usually found in the workshop, but has been helping with home deliveries
PeoPle in Shepton Mallet have formed the Shepton Mallet Coronavirus Volunteers with nearly 200 members running shopping errands and collecting prescriptions. In nearby Pylle, Ne Motors has expanded the range in its shop and carried out hundreds of home deliveries. PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
PeaSedoWN St John’s Party in the Park Festival committee has donated £200 to the Somer Valley Foodbank to help buy emergency food. Chairman, Nathan Hartley, said: “The Somer Valley Foodbank needs more support than ever before. The charity sector is really struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic and organisations like foodbanks have faced and upturn in demand for their services.” Foodbank chairman, Paul Woodward, said: “The funding will be used to purchase £200 worth of food, which will go a long way to support our service users each week. “Thank you, it’s community grant schemes like this that can really make a difference to local volunteer-run initiatives.” Details: www.somervalley.foodbank.org.uk
Village stalwart
PeNNy Crawfurd, one of two founding members of Blagdon orchard Group, has stepped down from her role as secretary. The other founder member, Suzanne Wynne, said: “I expect everyone in Blagdon knows Penny, who has been on the committee since our formation a decade ago. “She is a stalwart of many organisations and has given endless support to our group, but she now has increased family commitments. “We of course are very grateful for all the support Penny has given, but although not now on the committee, I know that she will continue to support our activities.” Penny is pictured during pruning of the orchard in February.
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Village history
The photo shows one of Peasedown St John’s oldest pieces of heritage, the near 200-year-old Turnpike marker from 1827 next to the Red Post Inn. Installed by the then Bath Turnpike Trust, it directs travellers to the older settlements of Wellow and Camerton.
PeoPle living in Peasedown St John and the surrounding areas have been supporting local and Community History Month. The village’s community library has been leading the campaign on its Facebook page. library operations manager, Cllr Karen Walker, said: “Peasedown St John has a lot of local history to be proud of! archaeological evidence shows that the village, albeit under a different name, has been occupied from at least the early Iron age. “The medieval settlement of eckweek was excavated in 1989, and now lies under the Peasedown a367 bypass and Under Knoll. “Much of what we know as Peasedown St John today has developed around the Red Post Inn, which opened in the mid1800s.”
Scarecrow crazy
COMMUNITY
aNNIe landricombe’s decision to make a scarecrow during lockdown with her son Joe and baby Stanley got the whole of Clutton motivated. More than 60 scarecrows suddenly appeared for a Annie Landricombe, with Stanley and weekend trail Joe (right) around the village. annie said: “I merely created a Facebook event a week or so in advance, mainly to entertain myself and my young boys and the village ran with it. “It’s so humbling. Thank you all for your support. We’re hoping to do it again next year and raise funds for the local NHS or a Covid-19 related charity.”
Details: www.facebook.com/PSJCommunityLibrary
Rotary challenge
deSPITe lockdown, the Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge has been busy fundraising as well as holding their weekly meetings via Zoom. The latest fundraiser was a 2.6 Challenge in aid of Children's Hospice South West, when 22 members did walks of at least 2.6 miles or gardening for 2.6 hours. In total they raised £1,150 including gift aid. In addition the club donated a further £250 in memory of Rotarian Mike daniel who died recently.
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Barrow Gurney gets a new shop BaRRoW Gurney’s pop-up shop looks as if it will become a permanent fixture. landlord, andy Miller, opened the shop at the Princes Motto when the lockdown was announced only three days after he took over the pub. It’s proved such a success that he’s now converted an old stable across the car park into a shop with the help of Kenny Gordon from Holly Hedge and other villagers, promising it will stay when the coronavirus crisis is over. Villagers are delighted. Jan Kershaw-Salmon, said: “andy has been absolutely phenomenal, a real lifeline, supplying takeaway meals as well as running the shop, with local honey and eggs and a whole range of other stuff. “He’s prepared to go that extra mile to help. He managed to get me some croissants and an FT for my husband. He even took some beer to a couple of chaps tidying the graveyard. He’s really embedded himself in the community.” Her husband, Nigel, a planning consultant, is helping get the necessary permissions for the new shop. Villagers raised £600 in three hours on a Just Giving page to help pay for the planning application. andy, who has been in the licensed trade for more than 20 years, said: “I was genuinely choked when Jan told me this. What an amazing community this is. “The support we’ve had from the village has been absolutely fabulous. It took ten days to convert the old stable.
(Photo courtesy of Peter James Millson)
Poet laureate heads for Wells
THe organisers of the 28th Wells Festival of literature are pressing ahead with plans for october and have announced that poet laureate, Simon armitage, will be among more than 30 speakers. Competition entries are already double that for last year, with the closing date for entries June 30th. The open poetry prize is worth £1,000 and the fiction prize £750. The entry fee is £6, with £1.25 going to fund poets,
writers and drama in local schools. The festival is due to be held october 16-24th.
Details: www.wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk
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Villagers at the opening
Andy (right) with business partner Geoff and his son Chris
We’ve even got a marble counter from Chris Warren, from Marmobello, the son of my business partner, Geoff.” a crowd of villagers watched – from a distance – as local farmer Phil Carnell cut the ribbon to declare the shop open. andy’s not always used to being so popular – he’s a proud member of Bristol Society of Rugby Referees! His partner, Geoff, is an ex-Premiership referee and current Premiership/International TMo and a 40 year plus member of Barrow Gurney Cricket Club.
Hearing loss linked to dementia
a RePoRT from the Frome Hearing Information exchange claims that patients with hearing loss are at risk of developing dementia if they are unable to receive help to clean and re-tube their hearing aids. Wally Harbert, who runs the exchange, says that responsibility for maintaining hearing aids is fragmented between hospital and community services, between public and private providers and between health and social care. He says this hinders coordinated planning, information-sharing and co-operative working. He says guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Social Care excellence is flawed because it largely ignores the experience of staff responsible for meeting the day-to-day needs of patients with hearing loss. He believes that, in the absence of strong government action, solutions must be found by local communities. He said: “We can only hope that, as with the coronavirus pandemic, when local communities become aware of how they can help, they will rise to the occasion. Details: agecare@btinternet.com
Art created by lockdown
Valley arts is putting together a showcase of local talent for their lockdown liberation programme to be streamed online on Saturday, July 4th. The aim is to celebrate how creativity, on any level, has helped people stay positive during isolation and they need your help to create the content. When it’s all got too much, have you sung your heart out, taken a moment of reflection to write a poem, learnt a new piece on the piano or quietly spent the afternoon painting the view from your window? Have you dusted off your old camera and captured local nature, written funny stories with the kids or got silly creating new TikTok dance videos? Whatever art form you have turned to for your mental wellbeing, they want to see, hear and share your creations.
COMMUNITY
Vicar without a church
(Photo courtesy of Nick Spratling) (Photo courtesy of Ellie Shipman)
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Details: info@valleyartscentre.co.uk
Protecting our churches
THe Somerset Churches Trust’s campaign to stop lead thefts from church roofs has now gone national, at a time when churches are closed, making them more vulnerable. Trustee Chris Hawkings led the pioneering project, which was launched in March 2018, in partnership with allchurches Trust, the charitable owner of ecclesiastical Insurance. The partnership used SCT’s existing grant giving scheme to distribute funds to mainly rural churches in Somerset to enable them to install roof alarms. Chris said: “The £30,000 allchurches Trust fund, topped up by our own funds, has seen some 23 churches benefit from grants to install roof alarms, latterly providing up to £2,500 towards the cost of fitting alarm systems.” Details: www.allchurches.co.uk/roofalarmgrants
Summer is coming
eIleeN Broadley a keen needle felter from Chelwood, has used the lockdown to finish off a project she has been trying to complete for some time. eileen said: “My latest piece is called Summer because it is the missing piece from a set of felts related to seasons. Summer has, however, eluded me and lockdown seems to have provided the focus I needed!” eileen enjoys going to the craft workshops at Compton dando.
THe new vicar of Paulton, High littleton and Farrington Gurney, the Rev adam Pitt, has been unable to enter any of his churches since he arrived just ahead of lockdown. He said: “all the buildings have been locked, so there have been no weddings, baptisms or normal church services.” Instead he has a Facebook page, on which he carries out church services, posts songs for the day and other uplifting messages, via the your Paulton Facebook page. His actual licensing was not until april 30th and was conducted via Zoom. He said: “I had loads of plans for things to do when we started here, including my own daughter’s baptism. However, the lockdown has caused a complete rethink of everything. “The biggest question is how do you get to know a new community when you can’t meet anyone? I grew up in this area, so I have a head start, but it’s required a lot of changing of plans and new ideas.” He grew up in Clutton and lived in Bath and Bristol before moving to Midsomer Norton to start a family with his wife, Sarah. They have six children, two adopted. Prior to his training he worked for eight years as the manager of a community charity in central Bath. When the lockdown eases he plans to be very involved with local schools and community work. He said: "life at home is a huge juggling act at the moment, running a small nursery, a primary school, a secondary school and a (very) amateur video production studio.” Meanwhile he asks that anyone in Paulton, High littleton or Farrington Gurney who is in need of prayer or practical help, gets in touch. Details: http://paulton-benefice.org.uk/
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MENDIP TIMES
The caves and mines of Stockhill
NORTH Hill is one of the Mendip anticlines, where folds in the rock have pushed up domes of sandstone, which through weathering and erosion have been exposed above the surrounding limestone. Rain falling on the impervious sandstone flows downhill, until it meets the permeable limestone, and With PHILIP sinks underground at swallets. HENDY The main caves at Priddy which have been formed at this boundary are Swildon’s Hole, Eastwater Cavern, and St. Cuthbert’s Swallet, to the south of the hill. The area to the east, on Priddy Mineries and in the Stockhill plantation, have until recently largely been ignored, partly due to the extensive ancient mine workings and later afforestation, which confuses the original topography. To date, all of the digs have been in mines, most of which follow natural cave passages. In the 17th century, Thomas Bushell sank 20 shafts in the area which was then known as Rowpits. The intention was to drive a deep adit under the mines, to drain the water which limited the depth to which the miners could explore. The project was stopped by suspicious miners and the shafts were lost. There are three sites of interest by the side of the road between Hunters’ Lodge Inn and Miner’s Arms, near Waldegrave Pool. Closest to it is Waldegrave Swallet, probably one of Bushell’s shafts. The site originally lay under the pool, and may have contributed to the eventual lowering of the pool in about 1920 to today’s level. It was dug by cavers in the 1920s and 30s, reaching a depth of six metres, until it was abandoned and filled in. A dig in the 1970s revealed some old shoring, but the sink was again abandoned when the Minery suffered a hippy invasion. Water flowing from the channel at the end of Waldegrave Pool dam sinks in a large depression under the embankment which carries the road. This is popularly known as Wheel Pit, although there is no trace of any construction. The water sinks under the bank in a choked tunnel supported by tramway rails. The depression once held a deep pool used by the lead works, but when they tried to increase the depth by building a dam in around 1900, the pressure opened up the swallet, and the water vanished, to pollute the rising at Rodney Stoke. This may also be one of Bushell’s shafts.
(Photograph courtesy of Phil Hendy)
Five Buddles Sink
CAVING
Stock Hill Mine Cave. Trevor Hughes on the ascent to upstream passages
A little further south lies a smaller pit, which had two surviving masonry walls. The late Tony Jarratt noticed that this lay at the end of a line of buddle pits, used to wash lead ore, and he correctly concluded that this was the true wheel pit. Digging revealed the remains of a water wheel and a cave was discovered which had been modified by the miners to drain the water used to operate the wheel. The mud was rich in fine particles of galena. Five Buddles Sink is 50 metres long and 12 metres deep, extending under the road to a second dug entrance, Cornish Shaft. Tony then switched his attention to another shaft, just inside the Forestry, Stock’s House Shaft. This is also a mine, which follows small natural passages for 100 metres. On the other side of the road to Wheel Pit is Snake Pit, another shaft leading to narrow cave passages widened by miners. This has been dug by various clubs, currently (subject to Covid-19 lockdown) by the Wessex Cave Club. By far the most successful dig has been undertaken by Trevor Hughes and his Cainhillites, a group formed to dig Cain Hill Shaft at the Batch in Priddy. Near the foresters’ cottages in Stockhill there was a descending tunnel, Stock Hill Swallet, which was dug by the Axbridge Caving Group in the 1950s before being backfilled. Trevor dug a nearby shaft, Stock Hill Mine Cave. A sizeable chamber was found in May 2017, but rapid progress in 2019 led to a complex series of passages totalling 638 metres in length. From the foot of the shaft, the cave goes off in four directions. Using explosives, a tight passage was enlarged, then after some open passage, a squeeze led to an impressive chamber measuring some four metres wide and six metres high. Two sumps have been found at the lower part of the cave, but investigation by the Cave Diving Group has shown them to be impassable after only a few metres. Upstream, two inlet branches were found heading north, towards Stock Hill Swallet. These narrow rifts run parallel to each other. One has a small stream, and a slippery four-metre climb leads to the other upstream section. A phreatic tube was enlarged by digging out the floor and around 450 metres of passage was then entered. Much of the cave is narrow and contorted, but there are some sizeable chambers. This well-deserved find gave the Cainhillites the JRat Award for the longest cave found in 2019, and work will continue once current restrictions are lifted. So far, the shaft leading to Thomas Bushell’s natural drain and abortive adit remains elusive, but the Stockhill area seems to hold a lot of promise.
Phil has been caving for more than 50 years and is a member of the Wessex Cave Club. He has been involved in producing several caving publications and until his retirement was a caving instructor at Cheddar. His main interest is digging for new caves
PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
(Photograph courtesy of Mike Mason)
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HISTORY
Local celebrations in May – as they used to be
MAY is traditionally a month for gatherings and celebrations, with many local villages holding May Day events, though things have been a little different this year, of course. However, spring is still making our countryside look beautiful and we can welcome the warmer and brighter days to come. Historically, May Day was celebrated on May 1st, when there were gatherings round the village maypole, morris dancing, the May Queen was crowned and a good time was had by all. Incidentally, the idea of dancing round the maypole with ribbons is thought to date only from the 19th century. Originally, the maypole was just a tall wooden pole, set up on village greens in Britain, and across Europe, at the beginning of May. Experts cannot decide if there was any symbolism to the custom, but it was certainly a focal point for the celebrations. In England the first of May was also the traditional day for morris dancers to perform in their local villages, often more with a sense of duty than anything else, apparently. In more modern times, many morris dancers have made a point of dancing to welcome the dawn. In the 19th century, the date was also chosen for International Workers Day, a fact which caused some comment when the modern May Day holiday was instigated in 1978 by the Labour government. Locally, in the 19th century, the first Tuesday in May was eagerly awaited by the residents of Stowey and Bishop Sutton. This was the day when the village Friendly Society held their annual feast day, or “Walk” as it was sometimes called. Other local villages also had their own
Dawn on One Tree Hill in Priston
Friendly Societies – Compton Martin, Stanton Drew, Chew Magna, East Harptree, to name but a few. Some, like Priddy, still do. There was no social security in those days so Friendly Societies were set up to help out financially when workers were ill. A few pence were paid in each week and a fund was built up to help those in need. Once a year, some of this money was spent on the club day. What happened on these club days? It was a village holiday; there were stalls, swings, roundabouts, a brass band, dancing. The members of the society gathered, sometimes wearing regalia, carrying their badge of membership, which was a brass emblem, often called a stave head, on the top of a wooden pole. After a roll call, they proceeded to the parish church, where a sermon was preached. They then retired, usually to a local hostelry but in some places a specially erected marquee, for the club feast. There were speeches and toasts and it was not unknown for too much liquor to be consumed at these events.
Somerset Morris in action
On one occasion, in a village on the Somerset/ Dorset border, tempers ran high, a fight ensued and staves were broken in the struggle. A few years ago, fragments of the staves were dug up in the garden of the pub. At some point in the proceedings came the parade, led by the society banner and a band, and, as one contemporary account of a similar event in Hampshire put it, “all the rabble rout of the village stepped after them”. Up until 1914, Bishop Sutton School routinely awarded a half-day holiday for “Sutton Club” although some of the head teachers were perhaps disgruntled at the way this brought their average attendances down. As Ebenezer Brown wrote in Bishop Sutton school log book in 1886: “Gave a day's holiday... Owing to the attractions of swings, roundabouts and other amusements, the usual accompaniments to the ‘Club Day’, the average for the week is only 72.7.” Club Day often continued to be an important date in villages long after the societies closed, as it was often the time of year when the annual village fête was held, though no one could remember why! The brass emblems carried by the members have become collector's items. They are very attractive objects, which give us a link to the past. Each village had its own design and surviving examples have been passed down in several local families. Local morris side, Somerset Morris, have a set of these staves from various villages, which they can be seen using in dances at events around the Mendip area, once the lockdown is lifted. Sue Emmett
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MENDIP TIMES
Samaritans need support
WeStoN-super-mare and North Somerset Samaritans has launched Samarathon, a virtual marathon, as a fundraising initiative that encourages supporters to run, jog or walk a marathon distance in their own time over the month of July. Branch director, Andy, said: “Now more than ever we know getting active works wonders for your mental wellbeing. In this current climate we really need the public’s continued support. “Due to the cancellation of many of our fundraising events, Samaritans is facing a significant loss of funding, so we’re urging the public to help us ensure that we continue to be here for anyone who needs support.” Details: www.samaritans.org/samarathon
New date for cycle ride
tHIS year’s Wedmore 40/30 charity cycle ride, that was due to take place on July 5th, will now be held on Sunday, September 27th. the course takes riders through the heart of beautiful Somerset landmarks such as Cheddar Gorge, the mendip Hills and the levels, raising funds for Weston Hospicecare and Wedmore’s St mary’s Church. Details: https://bit.ly/Wedmore4030
Food parcels for elderly
StAFF and volunteers of local charity Age UK Somerset delivered free food bags to 50 older people in need across Somerset and North Somerset. the bulging bags containing long-life essentials such as rice, tea bags and tinned foods as well as a fruit smoothies and some goodies including chocolate, were bound for destinations as far afield as Frome, Nailsea, Weston and Yeovil, and many places in between. one overwhelmed recipient commented: “I received a bag from a very nice gentleman. I couldn’t believe it! No-one has ever done anything so lovely for me in all of my 80 years! thank you, thank you thank you!" the charity has requested more food donations in the hope that they can make up and deliver more food parcels to people across their patch. Details: 01823 345610 email info@ageuksomerset.org.uk or go to www.ageuksomersetcoronavirus.org.uk
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Hospice pens new date for popular event
WeStoN Hospicecare’s Strictly Fun Dancing will hopefully take place on Friday, November 6th at the Winter Gardens. Both the Winter Gardens and the hospice were equally as keen to settle on a new date after the original date in march was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Weston Hospicecare’s events manager Grace Dibden said: “We were very sad to postpone Strictly Fun Dancing in march. “Firstly, for the fantastic dancers who had been training so hard since the start of the year to give us all a great night of dancing. But also because it was expected to bring in more than £20,000 for the hospice.” tickets sent out for the original 2020 date will be valid for the rearranged date in early November. meanwhile, the hospice is also planning for 2021’s date which will follow next spring. Details: grace.dibden@westonhospicecare.org.uk
Helping cyclone victims
SomerSet Festivals paramedic, Nich Woolf, is seeing out the coronavirus lockdown in the remote Pacific nation of Vanuatu – one of the most vulnerable countries in the world for natural disasters – but so far Covid-19 free. Nich travelled from his home in Burnham-on-Sea to the island of Santo in Nich Woolf and his colleague Jerome February to work as a Sesse in Vanuatu volunteer paramedic. then the country closed its borders to try and protect itself from Covid-19, his flights home were cancelled, and a tropical cyclone hit. Cyclone Harold hit Vanuatu at easter, with 190 miles-per-hour winds which destroyed villages, roads and power supplies. As the country is slowly rebuilding Nich continues to work as a volunteer paramedic whilst trying to rebook his flights home.
Hula-hooping grannies support children’s hospice
JeAN Cridland and Pam taylor from Nailsea are taking on an unusual challenge to support the Children’s Hospice South West at Wraxall. the duo are both hula-hooping for 26 minutes every day for 26 days to raise funds. Jean and Pam are both over 70 and self-isolating – they each have children and grandchildren. When they heard about the 2.6 Challenge, they wanted to do something special to support a local charity caring for children and families during the coronavirus crisis. they raised over £430 in their first week. Details: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pamtaylor-and-jean-cridland
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CHARITIES
Tapping into lifesaving knowledge
FoUNDeD by West Country farmers 32 years ago, Send a Cow is now working in six countries in rural Africa, Uganda, rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, ethiopia and Zambia, with some of the poorest smallholder farmers. Families are given training to grow their own food, send their children to school, earn a living and take charge of their own futures. It is a “hand up not a hand out”. Staff there are facing the risk of the coronavirus epidemic. Local ambassador, Jackie Laws, from Westbury-sub-mendip, said: “In the UK we are relearning the importance of washing our hands. In Africa, this can be life saving for all in normal life, let alone in a crisis. “Despite Covid-19, the projects are continuing. Health facilities in these rural areas are basic or non-existent, so to keep the families safe we are increasing our WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) work. this includes training on tip taps – an ingenious way to wash hands when you have no running water.” tip taps are basically plastic containers, suspended on a frame, with a bar of soap alongside. Jackie said: “Secondly, the training will ensure they can be self-sufficient and have seeds to plant this growing season, so they don’t need to venture into town for work or food,
Sylvia Nantale Uganda
risking cross infection.” With restricted movement, the staff are using radio broadcasts and mobile phone technology to ensure that no one is left behind. It only costs £13 to provide a family with the training in the making and use of a tip tap. they then pass-on the knowledge to others in the community. the charity’s school resources web page has a free guide to making your own tip tap. It is fun for adults and children, uses materials easily found at home and is a lesson in how to make do with what we have.
Details: sendacow.org/donate-now/ https://sendacow.org/get-involved/organisation/schools/lesson-resources
Swimming sisters support RNLI
SoPHIe Williams, aged 13, and her sister Beth, aged ten, from Bruton have raised more than £1,000 for the rNLI lifeboat station in minehead by “swimming the Channel” in their own back garden. Both are guides, working on their campaigning badge, which led them on to raising money for the station. they set themselves the challenge of swimming 17km each over three days in the pool in their back garden. they
were tethered to the wall so they didn't actually go anywhere! Father, David, said: “they aimed to raise £300 but have smashed that by raising over £1,000! they are very pleased with themselves and as their parents, we are incredibly proud of them.” the rNLI rely totally on donations and sponsorship from the public.
Details: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/DavidWilliams241?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=DavidWilliams241&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=7dbf7ead226e4d32afd9c1900bacf65f.
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MENDIP TIMES
Supporting young people
YmCA mendip & South Somerset are working hard to meet the needs of the people they support, including 96 young people in their housing projects. With the help of Somerset Community Foundation, tesco Bags of Help Scheme and Neighbourly, they have been able to offer food vouchers and essential items. they are also offering additional resources for the residents to join in with crafts, activities and cooking sessions, plus the opportunity to learn new skills. In Frome residents have cleared their communal garden, ready for a makeover. Details: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ mendipymca
Support in bereavement
SomerSet County Council has commissioned two leading charities to provide bereavement support for people in Somerset in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. the Somerset Bereavement Support Service will be delivered in partnership by end-of-life charity marie Curie and mental health charity mind in Somerset. If you or someone you know is affected by grief or bereavement call 0800 3047412 (monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm).
Online choir supports young mums
CHeW Valley choir, Vox in Frox, hopes to raise £5,000 with an online video supporting Bristol charity mothers for mothers, which helps families affected by maternal mental illness. the choir’s leader, Caroline Lowe, said: “When I was a new mum myself I struggled, but I can’t imagine how hard it must be to cope with young motherhood in the present lockdown. “No contact or support from your family, you can’t go to mother and baby groups, no just taking your baby out for a stroll, or to a cafe, or round to your friends’ houses.” She selected one of the choir’s favourite songs, Bridge over troubled Waters, and teamed up with the Bristol Brass Consort, pianist Claire Alsop and sound mixer and picture editor Adam Palmer for a performance online. Choir member and GP, Helen Ayrton,
said: “the words of ‘Bridge over troubled Water’ are just perfect; this is exactly what mothers for mothers do.” She often recommends the charity to young mums. When you’re weary, feeling small. When tears are in your eyes I will dry them all I’m on your side When times get rough Vox in Frox is an all-female choir based in the Chew Valley and has been performing to sold-out audiences since 2013, raising money for various charities. the choir has performed at Llangollen and won awards at the midSomerset and Cheltenham festivals. It is one of seven choirs run by Caroline Lowe, an inspiring conductor and teacher, who says: “Singing keeps us all sane, so it is good to give something back.”
Details: https://youtu.be/52bddAqSF_g https://localgiving.org/fundraising/bridge-over-troubled-water-1587655954/
Charities pool resources
A CHeW Valley charity dedicated to raising funds for meningitis research has joined up with other fundraisers to form the meningitis Family. the charity, remembering maggie, was set up in memory of maggie Wells, from Bishop Sutton by her husband Pete, raising more than £15,000 for the meningitis research Foundation in Bristol. mr Wells said: “the group, not only from the Chew Valley, but also from Bristol and Bath, have been supporting each other’s events, again raising funds, but this time for meningitis Now (based in Stroud) as well as the meningitis research Foundation. “It is this group, which is now planning events in the valley and Bristol together, with 50% of all profits going to each of the charities. “they have decided to call themselves the meningitis Family as this is what the group is, a family supporting and helping each other.” He hopes to resume fundraising events once the coronavirus crisis is over. PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
Maggie Wells
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CHARITIES
Support for young people
WItH some charities facing serious problems due to the impact of coronavirus, Clevedon-based Jack Hazeldine Foundation (the JHF) are working harder than ever to ensure ongoing support for local vulnerable young people. Despite the constraints of the lockdown, JHF service users in North Somerset and surrounding areas are enjoying bespoke virtual mentoring and tutoring support. In addition to their regular provision of service, the JHF team are responding to the crisis by ensuring the wellbeing and welfare of mentees and their families. this has meant facilitating food parcels, delivery of essential resources and equipment for home
learning, as well as the monitoring and prevention of safeguarding risks at home. JHF Programme manager Nicki Winstone said: “the team have been amazing during this time, mentors and tutors have bent over backwards to accommodate virtual working and make it successful for the families they work with, demonstrating their commitment to helping young people.”
Best mentor in the world
HorseWorld’s new boss
Details: www.thejhf.org
Nicki Winstone
JHF mentor, Kathryn Bubb, said: “During these times it is invaluable to our mentees that we have been able to stay in contact through virtual mentoring to provide reassurance and support their mental health.” one of her young mentees has said: “I love having Kathryn as my mentor. I look forward to Kathryn calling as she is kind and funny. I feel happier after speaking to her.” recently, she drew a photo for Kathryn calling her the “best mentor in the world!” the charity was set up by Ben Hazeldine and his family in 2012 using money collected at his grandfather Jack’s funeral.
HorSe and pony rescue charity, HorseWorld, based at Whitchurch, has a new chief executive, Petra Ingram, currently chief executive of Londonbased international charity Brooke, Action for Working Horses and Donkeys. She will take up the post in August, having been at Brooke for almost 11 years. John Newman, chairman of trustees for HorseWorld said: “Having admired Petra’s outstanding work at Brooke over many years, we are delighted that she will be taking on the role of chief executive at HorseWorld. “this will help us to develop further our rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming work and growing our successful Discovery programme which supports hundreds of young people with special educational needs each year. “there’s little doubt that our charity, along with charities nationwide, will have to rise to some significant challenges in the coming weeks, months and even years as we deal with the effects and repercussions of the Covid19 pandemic. “We have admired the way in which our team at HorseWorld has adapted to ensure that our horses, ponies and donkeys are well cared for and whilst we have been unable to run our Discovery workshops during the lockdown period, we are already anticipating increased demand in the future.”
Details: www.thebrooke.org and www.horseworld.org.uk MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020 • PAGE 59
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MENDIP TIMES
CYCLING
Fixing a bike – an ABC guide
THERE is an unprecedented boom in cycling going on as the government encourages people to cycle to work. Bikes which have been left CYCLING and forgotten in the with EDMUND back of the garage are LODITE now waiting to be given a new lease of life by their owner. If you’re one of these people, here are some of the simple things you can do to bring a bike back to life and make sure it is safe to ride. By understanding how your bike works you’ll get more out of it and also feel safe and secure when you’re out on a ride. First of all, if the bike hasn’t been used for a long time, start with a quick clean to remove any grime so you can see what you’re dealing with. There are quite a few spray-on bike cleaners that can do this in minutes. Then, go through the A, B, and C of checking the bike. A is for Air pressure. The side of the tyre will show the recommended range in pounds per square inch that the tyre should be inflated to. This allows for variation in weight of the rider. Try and use a pump that has a gauge to inflate the tube. Too hard and you risk reduced traction and a “harder” ride. Too soft and you’ll feel like you’re riding through sand. If you don’t know how to sort out a puncture, practice at home – it’s a lot less stressful than the real thing!
Ben gets on his bike
While you’re looking at the wheels check that they spin true. They shouldn’t catch on the brakes or wobble laterally so check that the wheel is centred correctly. Most modern bikes have quick release levers allowing the wheel to be easily removed. The spokes should all have the same tension and any that are loose will need to be tightened, which may mean a trip to the bike shop. B is for Brakes. The brake pads should only be in contact with the rim and shouldn’t touch the tyre. If they are getting worn (smooth) then replace them. The brake levers should not pull back as far as the handlebar grip. If that happens loosen the brake cable anchor bolt, pull the cable tighter and then tighten the anchor bolt again. Both sides of the brake mechanism should move when the brake is applied. If this is not happening, turn the small adjustor screw on the stationary side until both sides are moving again. C is for Chain and Cogs. It’s likely that the chain on an unused bike has gone a bit rusty and won’t move that well, but not all is lost. A few sprays of WD40 will loosen the chain links – but try to avoid any going onto the wheel rims or brakes. Then, wash the chain and
BEN Pedelty, a sponsored downhill mountain bike racer, should have been doing his GCSEs this month. He also had a Saturday job lined up at the new TREK shop in Bath to work over the summer until his ‘A’ level studies are due to start in September. Instead, Ben has spent lockdown checking, repairing and servicing bikes for the villagers of Clutton, all free of charge, apart from the cost of any parts needed. Ben’s mum, Trudy, said that when lockdown started Ben was quite happy at first – then quickly began to get bored. “So we had a chat about what he could do for the community,” she said. They posted an advert on the village Facebook page in early April and he’s averaged one bike repair each day since, 29 in the first month, first come, first done!
PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
cogs down and make sure they are completely dry before applying chain lubrication to each link. If the chain is really worn and jumps when pedalling then replace it. New chains tend to come with quick links making them easy to fit. If the rear cogs need replacing you may need to go to a bike shop to get them replaced. There are a couple of other things to think about particularly for children who have now grown a bit taller. The saddle should be low enough so that it’s easy to dismount but also high enough so that the legs are extended when the pedal is at its lowest point. The arm reach to the handlebars can be adjusted by moving the seat forwards or backwards on the saddle rails. Helmets need to fit properly and not be balanced on top off the head or be too loose. Research shows that wearing a helmet improves confidence in cycling. A few simple steps like these can change what seemed like something destined for the tip into a way of exploring the countryside, creating memories and simply just having a nice time outdoors. There’s never been a better time to be on a bike. Stay safe.
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MENDIP TIMES
Lockdown horse tails
DURING the Covid-19 crisis, for those who care for them, horses have been our solace, getting us out of bed during the long lockdown days and giving shape and meaning to the day. In many ways, ensuring our horses receive the care they need has gone on as before, social distancing is not With RACHEL so difficult when the carer is at the end of a THOMPSON long lead rope and the service provider is at MBE the other end of the horse. The absence of traffic has led to quiet horse rambles to long forgotten paths. Unfortunately, after standing here, soaking up the stunning view through the beech trees on Draycott Sleight, Tam went hopping lame in her near hind. Catherine the lovely Equine Stable vet later attended and removed the remains of a sharp thorn. That visit was handy as we rasped Tam’s teeth too, a non-urgent but necessary procedure we should have had to wait for. There followed a week of foot tubbing and buckets of food containing bute knocked all over the floor and then equally lovely Harry the farrier rocked up to shoe and whilst here pronounced the foot fit and well. Two weeks passed, Tam was still slightly lame so, concerned, I phoned lovely and kind Corinne the osteopath. Out she came and watching Tam trot up the lane she asked us to halt and in the middle of the road picked up Tam’s hind leg and after a grunt and a thrusting manipulation, Tam trotted away sound, she had twisted her leg and back during the foot episode.
JUNE CROSSWORD SOLUTION
ACROSS: 1. Hydraulics 6. Plug 10. Malta 11. Waterpolo 12. Faukland 13. Clean 15. Aniseed 17. Lockjaw 19. Sunlamp 21. Steamer 22. Gaffe 24 & 30. Stratton-on-theFosse 27. Winscombe 28. Ideal 29. Yoyo. DOWN: 1. Hymn 2. Dalmatian 3. Alack 4. Lowland 5. Citadel 7. Loose 8. Groundwork 14. Passageway 16. Evanesce 18. Jumbo jets 20. Postman 21. Screech 23. Funny 25. Thief 26. Flue
PAGE 62 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2020
RIDING
Back in the stable watching as Corinne manipulated Tam’s poll, picked up each leg, gently banged her spine with a wooden peg and a mallet and inserted needles along her back (for dry needle manipulation) I asked her how and where she learnt her magic skills. Corinne is a trained human and equine osteopath. She has a BSc in Zoology – the science of animals, populations and ecosystems, animal behaviour, evolution, biodiversity and conservation and both a BSc and MSc in osteopathy. An osteopath detects, treats and prevents health problems by moving and massaging muscles and joints. The wellbeing of mammals depends on bones, muscles, ligaments and tissue functioning as they should. Equine osteopathy has been adapted from human osteopathy, combining our knowledge of horse anatomy, neurology and physiology to treat the whole horse and keep it healthy and happy. As Tam relaxed, dropping her head and licking and chewing, Corinne pulled her tail. “The horse ostlers did this in the old days,” she explained, “they would massage and tone the horse’s muscles with a wisp made of hay or straw and then pull its tail like this to help with pelvic traction.” Back then humans depended on one horse power for work and travel, the wealth of the world resting on a horse’s shoulders and back, so imperative to keep them healthy and well. Corinne told me that she trained with the legendary and inspiring physiotherapist and chiropractor Ronnie Longford back in the 1990s. Ronnie was awarded the MBE at the age of 90 for 60 years of service to the equine world. Ronnie went to school every day on a pony and served in the desert with the Warwickshire Yeomanry, treating horses in the heat of Egypt and then for all of his life, inspiring others. Picking up her magic box of tricks we waved goodbye as Corinne set off to Kingdown for her next patient leaving us awe-struck and grateful in her wake.
WALKING QUIZ ANSWERS
1. Ashton Court Mansion 2. Hazel Manor Drive 3. Window in Priddy Church 4. The spill-over at Litton reservoir 5. Clevedon Pill 6. Cranmore Station 7. Above Cheddar Gorge 8. Old naval college near Portishead 9. View from Black Down 10. Brean Down, old battery searchlight 11. Looking into Velvet Bottom 12. Sign in Wookey Hole
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