Issue 1 - Volume 1 - Mendip Times by Media Fabrica

Mendip Times Join the party!

June 2005 FREE Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas.

Inside: Mary Payne

Michael Eavis

Bobby MacArthur

Richard Thorn

Jane Guise

Jon Rata

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

Welcome The Mendip Times celebrates life on the Mendips and surrounding areas. From Glastonbury, and the Levels to the south, to the meandering Chew Valley to the north; from ancient Axbridge to the west, to bustling Frome in the east - with the magical Mendip hills connecting all points in between. It’s a very special place to live and work and that is what Mendip Times reflects in a free local magazine, written by local people, who know and love the area. What a place to be! From the splendour of Wells Cathedral, to the cider farms of Wedmore; the flash of trout on Blagdon to the mining heritage of Radstock. Not forgetting busy commercial and business centres like Shepton Mallet and Street and the huge economic importance of places like Bristol Airport and our cutting edge technology, food and IT companies. Its history, its culture, and its current concerns all come alive in the pages of the Mendip Times every month. It’s your guide to what’s happening in the Mendip area, with features by local writers on what makes this such a very special part of England. From the big events like the Glastonbury Festival and the Royal Bath and West Show, to harvest homes and local arts festivals. And with growing numbers of visitors discovering there’s more to see and do beyond the traditional tourist sites, like Cheddar and Wookey, we hope they will enjoy Mendip Times too!

Mr Mendip MBE

Editorial – Steve Egginton steve@mendiptimes.co.uk Mark Adler mark@mendiptimes.co.uk Art Editor – Lee Bird lee@mendiptimes.co.uk Production Editor – Tony Ferrand tony@mendiptimes.co.uk Sales – Louise McKenzie louise@mendiptimes.co.uk Publisher – Mendip Times Ltd, Wellington Gallery, Tunbridge Road, Chew Magna, Somerset BS40 8SN

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Printers – HSW Print, Cambrian Industrial Park, Clydach, Tonypandy, CF40 2XX 01443 441100

Contacts: letters@mendiptimes.co.uk news@mendiptimes.co.uk Telephone 0870 0611348 Fax 01275 331753 www.mendiptimes.co.uk

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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 Young thinker

Painting with Passion Cover Photo by Nigel Andrew

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Mendip Times

News

Society Hoping To Win Expansion Battle

The Government has agreed to consider a big extension to the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, pushing the boundaries to Brean Down and Uphill Down in the West, towards Frome in the East and down towards Wells and Shepton Mallet in the South.

New Look For Charity One of the region’s most successful charities has changed its name because of its rapid expansion in our area. The Greater Bristol Foundation, which has given away £10 million in grants since it started in 1987, is now known as Quartet Community Foundation, reflecting the work it now does in Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire, as well as Bristol. It works by matching donors with local organisations that need support. The charity has had an office in Midsomer Norton for two years now, and has already provided £350,000 in grants to organisations in the BANES area. It’s managed by Jilly Edwards, who is well known in the Mendips for her work with Age Concern and CVS. She said: “We’ve been inundated with applications for grants and are building relationships with donors. We are unique in that donors can go and see the projects they are supporting.” Clare Prosser, who works with her, has been with the charity for eight years. She said: “We’ve seen huge growth with the expansion out to BANES and North Somerset.

It would provide protection for the Mendip plateau between Chewton Mendip, Shepton Mallet, Stratton on the Fosse and Leigh on Mendip and also take in Beacon Hill, Maesbury, Cranmore Tower and the Mells Valley system from Nettlebridge to Vallis Vale. If approved, it would mark a triumphant end to a campaign started by the Mendip Society, when the Mendip Hills were first designated an AONB in 1972. At that time an arbitrary line was drawn along the A39, leaving out the East Mendip Hills and a large area of the Mendip Plateau. Both the Mendip Society and Mendip District Council have been trying since then to get the boundaries extended. Now the Countryside Agency has agreed to review the position and has already received a barrage of submissions supporting the case, from the Partnership Forum, representing the five local authorities in the area, the CPRE, and several parish councils. It’s not known when a decision is likely. In a statement the Mendip Society said:

“We used to cover an area within a ten-mile radius of Bristol, but now have a good understanding of the needs and issues in all of these areas.” The charity has also given out £364,000 in grants in North Somerset and is currently raising £900,000 for the Badger Centre in Weston-super-Mare, a resource centre which will also house other local groups and charities. You can get further information at www.quartetcf.org.uk or you can contact the Midsomer Norton office 01761 411083.

News contacts: By e-mail news@mendiptimes.co.uk mail to Mendip Times, Wellington Gallery, Tunbridge Road, Chew Magna, Somerset BS40 8SN. Tel 0870 0611348

“We look forward to seeing an enlarged AONB as originally envisaged, with all the protection to the landscape this designation allows and to the extra funding which it would not otherwise attract.” Further details: www.mendipsociety.org.uk

New Boy Takes His Place

About five generations back his great great (etc) grandfather, Coleridge, was stalking the Quantocks writing poetry. His grandfather was a teacher in Midsomer Norton and his father was brought up in Timsbury. So when publisher John Penrose became prospective parliamentary candidate for Weston-super-Mare in 1999, he saw it as a chance to move back home and set about restoring a former rectory with his wife Dido. She has a busy life herself in Tesco’s international division. In a stable at the top of the garden they keep Dido’s horse, Cool Dawn, a point-to-pointer who was the surprise outside winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1998. These days he faces nothing more strenuous than a runout over the Mendips. In last month’s election John took Weston for the Conservatives from the Lib Dem’s Brian Cotter and is getting used to his new life in the House of Commons. He said: “ Everybody says it’s like starting at a new school and it’s absolutely like that. One of the first things is that you are given a peg technically to hang your sword on! “ It’s all breathtakingly new and fascinating.” John is the only “new boy” from our area. Dan Norris (Lab) was re-elected in Wansdyke; David Heathcoat-Amory (Con) in Wells; David Heath (Lib Dem) in Somerton and Frome; Ian Liddell-Grainger (Con) in Bridgwater; and Liam Fox (Con) in Woodspring.

Mendip Times

Painting courtesy of Mr and Mrs St Ledger-Harris

Painting with Passion By Mark Adler MARTIN BENTHAM’S paintings of the Mendips have delighted people who live in the area – and further afield – for years. The sinewy grit of the people he portrays – farmers, workers and characters – serves as a rich history of people influencing the landscape and vice-versa. Martin is far from a “local” artist, however. His work has taken him to many parts of the country, including Dorset and the Lake District. His work is also taking a new direction. Many of his recent paintings have become more abstract as he explores the texture of paint. Working in the woods by Blagdon Pumping Station on his latest work, provisionally called Wild Garden, May Sunlight, Martin said: “I’m trying to get the paint to talk about spring, but I’m also talking about the paint itself. You can overwork a painting and hide the very material you are using. I’m now trying to find something that is more me, more Martin Bentham. Apart from individual commissions and contributing to events such as the recent North Somerset Arts Week and charity shows such as the Bristol Cancer Help Centre’s art auction (including work by Prince Charles), Martin’s work has been seldom seen in recent years.

One painting may hold the key: Snakes and Ladders Justice (top right) is a powerful, multi-layered tale of divorce, bitterness and determination. “I had to put something down on canvas to show my frustration at the family justice system and my battle to see my daughter Grace,” said Martin whose home is in Blagdon. “There are so many images in there that I needed to get off my chest.” Look at it quickly and the painting appears to be a typical Bentham landscape – a wooded clump with cascades of snowdrops, giving way to what looks like an idealised country estate, complete with children playing in sunshine. The big house is in fact the Royal Courts of Justice; the ivy-covered, weary statue that dominates one-half of the canvas is a (literally) gut-wrenching tale of the pain he felt; most of the painting is in woody shadow, the children remote. The purple reveals more: “The colour is for Fathers for Justice and I joined them because I was desperate to highlight the situation that so many fathers find themselves in,” he said. “ I wasn’t going to dress up as Batman and storm the Clifton Suspension Bridge but I had to say something.” He added: “I had to work through my anger. The snowdrops show hope, turning the corner. I had a desperate few years but now things seems to be getting better.”

Now thoughts are turning to a possible new one-man exhibition. “I’ve not exhibited by myself since 1996; the problem has been having the time to build up a good-enough body of work. I love doing one-offs, commissions, but you need to get a stockpile together before you can put on your own show – and I haven’t had the time.” To contact Martin, please telephone: 01761 463569.

Art

Mendip Times

John Alvis was 16 when he joined the family farming business, started by his father John and his Uncle Sam on the broad sweep of south-facing hillside on the A38 at Redhill, a few miles below Bristol Airport. The two brothers formed their company in 1952, using milk from their cattle to make cheese - and whey from the cheese to raise pigs. When John senior bought his brother’s share of the business in 1960 he paid £50,000. Today the core of the business is still cows, cheese and pigs – but it now has a turnover

Profile of £16 million a year and employs 100 people. From producing a ton of Cheddar a week, from a herd of 300 cows, Alvis Bros – John is now managing director and his brother Michael is a director – now produces 3,000 tons a year. The company owns 1,000 cows and buys in milk from 4,000 more. Sainsbury’s takes a third of their cheese – all of it organic. Alvis saw the potential of organic produce as long ago as 1992, although organic cheese still only accounts for two per cent of the total market – they are the country’s biggest organic cheese producer. John says: “It’s where the strength of our business lies. It’s not for the major players and leaves it free for us smaller boys to compete.” And in terms of awards it’s not done the trophy cabinet any harm – they were Supreme Champions at the Royal Bath and West Show last year. But though the farms – Box Bush, Regilbury, Ham Green and Stepstones – are dear to John’s heart – he’s just as proud of the contribution they have made to Farmlink, a scheme which encourages city kids to get a taste of the countryside.

For the last eight years, hundreds of youngsters have had fun simply finding out where food comes from, in a programme run by Nick Baker. John said: “We were fairly concerned that there was a lot of ignorance about what we were trying to do as farmers and thought we should do something about breaking down the divide.” John was awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours List for his services to agriculture in the South West. Perhaps it’s no surprise then that the company’s motto is: Profit With Integrity.

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Gardening

Mendip Times

With Mary Payne June is definitely ‘busting out all over’. The rapid flush of growth in May that transformed our gardens into a green tapestry is followed by a riot of colour in June. Hopefully your efforts to control the equally rapid growth of weeds have been successful and you can take time to sit and enjoy your creation. It is often while sipping a gin and tonic that inspirational ideas occur. Use a garden notebook to remind yourself to move that lovely blue Siberian iris you thought only grew to 2’ (60cm) but has now reached 3’ (90cm) - and rising - and ought to be moved in the autumn.

It inevitably involves climbing into your borders and having a close encounter with your plants. This will have the added spin off that you may notice that green caterpillar munching happily on your most precious plant or that large snail lurking ready for a nocturnal assault on your hostas. These pests can be swiftly dispatched, often under foot or twixt finger and thumb. A “pest pinched is a plant protected” with less need to resort to the bottle (chemical sprays in this case, not more gin and tonic).

Staking and supporting plants is always a chore, even more so when we delay doing it until the plants have flopped over. Trying to straighten a crooked delphinium is rarely successful so endeavour to tie up your needy plants early.

If all this seems too much for you personally then June is an excellent month to enjoy the fruits of other gardeners’ labours. Many local gardens are open in aid of the National Gardens Scheme, raising money for Macmillan Cancer Relief and Marie Curie Cancer Care amongst other worthy causes. Pick up a leaflet from your local garden centre or library for the full list.

A job I enjoy, although it seems mundane, is dead-heading and it starts in earnest in June. This task of removing spent flower heads before they set seed, particularly on herbaceous perennials and annuals really does pay dividends and encourages many plants to produce a longer succession of flowers.

I thoroughly recommend a visit to Windmill Cottage in Backwell (Sunday 19th June 2 – 5.30). Park in Backwell or at the New Inn and enjoy a 15 minute stroll up Hillside Road to the garden. Your efforts will be rewarded as Pam and Alan Harwood have created a delightful garden on the side of the hill. If you thought your own garden was on

difficult terrain think again! After tea and cakes you will come away inspired and convinced that your own garden is a doddle. My own garden in Stanton Drew will be open for the NGS on 5th and 13th July from 10.00am. I am giving you advanced notice as it is very small and I have to operate an appointment system to avoid overcrowding. I can only get four folk in the front garden and four in the back at a time!! So please ring 01275 333146 and book early. Enjoy your garden in the long evenings of June but watch out there are pests about. Successful gardening is all about having ‘green eyes’ rather than green fingers.

Mary Payne MBE, M.Hort. (RHS), M.I.Hort. A horticultural lecturer, broadcaster and garden consultant Mary trained at Studley Horticultural College and Cambridge University Botanic Garden before coming to the West Country. She teaches popular garden courses now held at Cadbury Garden & Leisure and specialises in creating innovative planting schemes examples of which can be seen at Lady Farm, Chelwood.

Mendip Times

It’s SHOWTIME

Jane Guise - Bath and West show society chief executive A QUIET revolution is underway in the corridors and committee rooms of the Royal Bath and West of England Society, organisers of the Bath and West Show and a lot more besides. MARK ADLER met Dr Jane Guise, the show’s dynamic chief executive, who is determined to lead the society into a new era. NO PAIN, no gain: not the sort of mantra you might expect to be heard in the modest offices by the main ring. But as Jane Guise strides purposefully through the building, there is little doubt that big changes have taken place since she took over four years ago. Think of the biggest tourist attraction in the West Country and the Eden Project may spring to mind. Latest figures show it attracts around 1.2 million visitor days; the Bath and West showground boasts one million. What most people fail to appreciate is that far more happens at the showground than the main show itself. For instance, the May Bank Holiday weekend saw thousands of people enjoy Bike Show South West.

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Barely had the dust settled as the last Harley-Davidson growled its way through the exit that preparations began for an antique and collectors fair. Events large and small are held almost every weekend. Many are held by outside organisations; the Bath and West showground is hired out as the venue. Yet the impression remains that the Society is more a club than a commercial enterprise, especially as it enjoys charitable status. The challenge, says Jane, has been to maintain the ‘club’ atmosphere while at the same time addressing some of the underlying business issues, arising from the difficulties of the last few years : “There are many hundreds of volunteers who play a critical role in the running of our events – we have to make sure everyone understands why some of the changes have to happen, and communicating these kind of messages is not always easy.” Her experience is far removed from that of her military predecessors at the Bath and West being armed instead with a PhD at the Royal Veterinary College and a BSc in Physiology and Biochemistry of Farm Animals.

Before joining the Society, Jane was a senior consultant to the food, agriculture and rural industries and the chief executive of a company, heading up a research team on animal health, welfare and food quality. Her business nous was just what was needed to lead the Society post foot-and-mouth. “Even clubs have accounts, business plans and balance sheets,” said Jane. “We have to have a tight management structure. It’s not been easy, but I think we are working really well now. “We have a much better understanding about doing what it says on the tin. The Executive and the Board have to make all the business decisions, but we can’t do it without the support of the committees.” Six “priorities” for the future development of the showground have now been agreed, the first to increase membership and “lower the average age”. Surprisingly the society has less than 2,000 members, putting it almost at rock bottom compared to other shows. Yet last year, the show attracted more people (attendance topped 162,000) than its rival the Royal Show. Only the Royal Welsh

Mendip Times

It’s SHOWTIME

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Mendip Times

A qualified accountant and former British women’s water-ski racing champion, mother of two Cally Harvey retrained as a personal fitness instructor and runs her business, Plus One Training, from her gym in Banwell. She remains a member of the British water-ski team and competes in her fifth World Championships this June. I developed my interest in health and fitness when I took up competitive water-ski racing 12 years ago. Water-ski racing is hugely demanding in terms of physical fitness. You need a lot of strength and stamina so, to build fitness levels, it is vital to get the right sort of training done in the gym before the season starts.

Fitness The hard work paid off for me in 1998 when I won the British Ladies Championship, beating people a lot younger than me. This sealed my commitment to a regular programme of structured fitness training as a means of keeping fit and healthy. Exercise is important whether or not you are training for a sport and over the next few months I will be providing ideas as to how you can incorporate some form of exercise into your daily routine, no matter how busy you are. Just 20 minutes of gentle exercise four to five times a week will enable you to see significant benefits in a very short time. Here are just some of the reasons why exercise is good for you: The “Feel Good Factor”. Exercise can alleviate stress and overcome tiredness. Often, after exercising, you feel re-energised Aerobic exercise - anything from brisk walking, cycling and rowing - reduces the risk of heart disease. Exercise improves the efficiency of the heart and lungs Exercise helps prevent the onset of diabetes. Exercise has been proven to be far more effective than drugs when combined with a good diet

Obesity kills more people than road traffic accidents Improves flexibility and body tone. Next month I’ll be giving some ideas on how to involve the whole family ready for the summer holidays.

Cally training Tracey Heal from Sandford for the Race For Life in Weston on July 17

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Outdoors

Mendip Times

Visitors to the Hill will also see some of the older breeds of cattle around the Charterhouse area, Long Horns, and Highland cattle being amongst them, a pleasant contrast to the normal “black and white” dairy cattle so often seen. Right on top of Mendip you will come across the pony herd grazing freely on the high moor land of Black Down, which at 325 metres above sea level, is the highest point on the Mendip hills and somewhat open to the elements from all around, (“Two coats colder” is the local description)!

Les Davies MBE Senior Warden

Covering 198 square kilometres of the West Mendip plateau, the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, (AONB) is arguably one of the most diverse landscapes within the South West of England, if not the country. What is it that makes an AONB, and why are the Mendip Hills so special? An AONB is a national designation placed under the 1949 National Parks and Countryside Access Act. Most people will be familiar with National Parks. The wide open areas of Dartmoor, Exmoor and the Peak District are those to which people will go to enjoy walking and many other outdoor pursuits. This is why they were designated, to allow people access to areas where they could enjoy the great outdoors. At the same time, it was recognised that other areas of England and Wales had landscape that was worthy of special recognition and protection. Like, the Mendips, these areas were not as robust as the great open areas of mountain and moor, which on the whole make our National Parks. These AONBs were somewhat more delicate, areas of farming and forestry and not really capable of withstanding huge visitor numbers, although today some AONB have visitor pressures greater than some of the National Parks. There are now 41 AONBs within England and Wales, covering a wide range of landscapes, all with their own special qualities. The Mendip Hills AONB was designated in 1972 because it is the most

southerly example of a limestone geology normally found in Yorkshire and Derbyshire. It is this underlying limestone that controls the way of life within the hills. It dictated where the settlements were located and being limestone, the surface water quickly disappears under ground, (as the mass of underground cave systems clearly demonstrate). Water was a prime consideration in those early days, which is why the village of Priddy is where it is, close to the water supply from the Sandstone area of North Hill and Nine Barrows, where the impervious Sandstone below sheds the water. Water is still a very large part of the Mendip story, with the two huge man made lakes of Chew Valley and Blagdon storing a huge amount of water captured from the Mendip Hills. In the classic caving guide “Mendip The Complete Caves and a view of the hills”, Dr Willy Stanton has estimated that something like 324 million litres of water, (on a daily average) will come from the various outlets and extraction points within the Mendip Hills. Suddenly this huge limestone “sponge” becomes even more important! The farming pattern of the hill is mainly confined to grazing. High rainfall, thin soils and a short growing season combine to make this the most effective use of the land. Whereas some arable can be seen, it is confined to the deeper soils. Sheep grazing has been, since the middle ages, the main form of livestock grazing.

Mendip is a working landscape, and the countryside we value and seek to protect today, is one that has taken centuries to develop. It is a classic example of how our ancestors used the land and altered it for their own purposes; we are still doing it today and will continue to do so in the future as successive generations leave their mark. Change is a natural process of life, and we cannot change that for all our technological know how. What we must do however is ensure that some of those special things about our countryside are going to be there for others to enjoy in the future. Next time I’ll talk a little about how this series of hills came into being, and how you can find some of the clues to Mendip’s past. To find out more about how best to enjoy the Mendip hills AONB, visit our web site on www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk

Les is pictured here receiving his MBE from the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Lady Gass. Les Davies first came to the Mendip Hills AONB over 14 years ago. Being born into a farm workers’ family in North Somerset, the whole of his life has been spent in connection with the land. For the past 11 years he has been Senior Warden with the AONB Service based at Charterhouse Centre on Mendip, an achievement that he feels has been the very peak of his working life. It was for his work within the Mendip Hills AONB that, in the 2005 New Years Honours list, he was awarded an MBE for contributions to the environment.

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Mendip Times

War Memorial Jon’s film makes history

( Jon Rata (right) with Valerie Yeoman, Roy Clements, Olive and Ernie Mellett and Roy Hillman ) Sixty years after the end of the Second World War, an 18 year-old student has delighted a village by committing residents’ wartime memories to film. And he’s made a bit of history himself by having the film shown worldwide on the internet. In three months since Wartime Wrington was first screened, it has been viewed by about 200 people, released on DVD and now, thanks to the Wrington web site is available to be watched internationally online. The film is the work of Jon Rata, a member of Yeo Explorer Scouts, and has been entered as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. He said: “I had to develop a skill from scratch and I’ve always

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wanted to make films and this was an amazing opportunity to do so. “The hardest part of the process was fitting all of the memories into a forty five minute film, the area has so much history and in the end I had to be very ruthless in my approach. Firstly I split my findings into categories, these are basically the categories that feature in the film. They were based on the general areas that I had asked questions on in the interviews such as ‘transport’ and ‘war bombing’. “Then I went through the tapes of my interviews and tried to find anything relevant to those categories. The only way I could then decide what would make it to the final film was by only choosing the

topics that more than one person had mentioned. My reasoning for this was that if lots of people remember it then it must have been worth remembering. “One of the best parts of making the film has to be the way with which I have been welcomed by the village. I don’t live in Wrington but that hasn’t seemed to matter, everyone has been so helpful and receptive when I was expecting to be treated as an outsider. “What I’ve been doing isn’t exactly normal but that hasn’t put people off, we’ve been back to the primary school, stopped the traffic on Broad Street, transformed a Scout Hall into a cinema and borrowed the office next door for a live radio broadcast.”

History

VE Day Mendip 1945 By Donald Brown Decorated tractors led many of the excited processions through Mendip’s villages on May 8th 1945, welcoming the end of six years of war. Back in the horse-drawn world of 1939 hardly anyone had seen a tractor but now they were everywhere, usually driven by young girls of the Women’s Land Army.

Since February, Jon has been working on making the film available to anyone who wants to watch it. “The first batch of DVDs has sold out at Richards in Wrington and with our second order we’re also going to try selling them at Budgens. It’s a risky business because I’ve only been given a week to make an impression- any that aren’t sold I’ll be getting back.” But if DVD’s aren’t your cup of tea you can order a copy of Wartime Wrington on video from Richards as well or view it on-line with broadband using the facilities of CoullMedia. Links are available through both the Wrington web site (www.wringtonsomerset.org.uk) and Jon’s own website (www.simplefilmz.co.uk).

In the darkest days of 1940, Churchill said he feared starvation more than invasion and Mendip’s farmers had transformed their traditional economy and landscape to defeat that threat. After a day’s hard physical work that started before dawn and ended well after dusk, most farm workers changed into battledress and picked up a rifle to patrol with the Home Guard, releasing regular soldiers for active service overseas. Every village had a unit and every crossroads was a strong-point. When you laugh at Dad’s Army, remember that those men were ready to die, guarding their families in their homes. The Charterhouse platoon actually faced an armed enemy, capturing the crew of a German bomber that crash-landed at Warren Farm. Shot down by Spitfires, it had been tracked across Somerset by the Observer Corps, civilian volunteers who watched the skies day and night, reporting all aircraft to RAF HQ. Among those in Home Guard uniform were a few men who did no duties or training or patrols. When called slackers or cowards, they just said they were doing auxiliary work. But they still left home at night, returning exhausted next morning with no explanation of where they had been. They were our secret Resistance Organisation, trained not to fight invaders but to sabotage them after the front line had moved on. They worked in patrols of half a dozen men with underground bases all round Mendip in caves, quarries and woods. To survive, they learned to move silently at night, to kill with their bare hands, to penetrate armed defences, to derail trains and to destroy bridges, aircraft, vehicles and fuel dumps. The enemy was expected to land from the air as well as by sea. Piles of rock across Blackdown deterred gliders from landing there to establish a forward base for the attack on Bristol. When the air raids started, those piles of rock provided another defence line for Bristol.

They were aligned like a street grid, with lamps that lit at night to resemble the bombers’ target and attract their bombs. Bristol was ringed with these decoys, some with artificial fires like a burning city, some with batteries of rockets to fire at the attackers. When the tide of war turned, Mendip became an arsenal for the forces massing to invade Europe. Its centre was Yoxter Camp. Tanks and trucks lined every road. Dumps of ammunition dotted every field. Americans camped across the county. Armed guards checked everyone, even children on the way to school at Charterhouse or Priddy. In June 1944 the soldiers, guns and vehicles left for France, leaving the camps suddenly empty. Then the Home Guard stood down and the airmen left their decoys. The Land Girls went home and the land reverted from crops to pasture. Many of those men and women are still here, our grand and great grand parents. And they left their mark on Mendip. Pill-boxes still lurk behind hedgerows, Observer Corps bunkers still lie on hill tops, the streets of the secret city still stretch in straight lines across Blackdown and poppies still bloom on war memorials every November.

On May 8th 2005, Donald Brown led a commemorative VE Day War Walk across Blackdown. Sixty years ago he spent three years in the infantry and then went into education, while continuing service in the TA and ACF. A founder member of the Mendip Rangers, he now researches local wartime history. His book Somerset versus Hitler records events of World War 2 on Mendip, while Uphill’s Great War 19141918 is an account of the hundred men from one small village who served and died in World War 1.

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Mendip Times

May I introduce myself as the antiques correspondent for the new magazine Mendip Times. My name is Nick Houlton and I’m very flattered to have been asked to write a regular column by the publishers of the magazine. I have been in the antiques trade for 30 years and have lived on the edge of Mendip for nearly 25 of those years. In that time the trade like many others, has changed more than anyone would have predicted; cities like Bristol had dozens of antique shops filled with all manner of goods stacked to the ceiling and many of the old dealers would refuse to sell a piece if they did not feel like it or if you were new to the trade. Small towns and villages all had their local shop which bought goods from the big houses as they changed hands.

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Antiques Enterprising dealers from the towns could go out on “buying trips” and you wouldn’t have to go very far down into Somerset or up into Gloucestershire before the old Volvo would be groaning under the load on the trusty roof rack. When I started I specialised in Victorian and Delft tiles. So many buildings were demolished or “modernised” that it was possible to walk round the small shops or wander onto a building site and acquire enough tiles to make a trip to London once a week enough to make a good living. Now all that has changed. The same commercial pressures that have put the ironmongers and small greengrocers out of business have taken their toll. Fierce competition between very large export houses coupled with an enormous increase in shop rents and rates have put tremendous pressure on shop keepers. The big houses left untouched since the first war have been cleared and their contents dispersed across the globe.

dealing with and meeting a large number of people both dealers and members of the public. I am still seeing objects that surprise and interest me and I am still learning the trade; it is often a vast field to work in and I’m able to buy and sell everything from thimbles to bookcases. I’m not proposing to write academic articles on Indian miniatures especially as I know nothing about them. Nor am I proposing to get too involved in the value of objects. That is a very tricky subject as anyone who has bought or sold will know. There is also the vexed question of insurance value so I shall save these subjects for another day.

The trade is now largely conducted at fairs or in wealthy market towns or the centre of London. There has also been a very negative impact from misleading television programmes; I name no names but I shall be returning to this topic in another issue. But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are still treasures to be found and the pleasure of

Your name and address will of course be kept confidential. I will also be able to advise on some aspects of the care and restoration of antiques. I look forward to hearing from you all and hope that we shall enjoy our Mendip Times. Nick Houlton Chew Valley Antiques

I’m hoping to run this column on a postbag basis. Please send me a photograph with dimensions and description of condition of any piece of furniture or ornament that you would be interested in learning about to the offices of the magazine.

Fishing

Mendip Times By Bob Handford

Most of these fish have been caught on small fly patterns such as buzzers, diawl bach nymphs, pheasant tail and damsel fly. These insect imitations are normally fished slowly below the surface in shallow areas. At other times the fish come right to the surface feeding on insects as they hatch and fishing with emergers and dries – flies that float on the top. Sport can be very exciting when the fish are feeding at the surface but

accurate casting and a quiet approach is needed to prevent ‘spooking’ the trout. Bristol Water trout are grown at our own hatchery and are famed for their fighting and eating qualities. This year so far there have been 147 fish caught weighing 4 pounds or more with the biggest weighing 7lb 12oz. The Lakes are stocked regularly so there are always plenty of fish to be caught. So far this season there have been 13,226 trout taken.

May and June are traditionally the best months for fly-fishing for trout. The water is warming fast, encouraging insect activity below and above the surface. The weed beds grow and become a vast trout’s larder by giving shelter to the newly hatched coarse fish fry, to snails and corixa (water boatmen) and to many of the nymphs and larvae. Anglers travel from all over the country to enjoy the wonderful scenery and fantastic sport that is the spring fishing at the lakes. So far this season the fishing has lived up to all expectations with plenty of top quality trout being taken from boat and bank at all the waters.

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Mendip Times

ROCK

Mi and Em on music, Pilt

“EVERYTHING THAT we get involved in is usually contentious. You talk to us and you are going to get contentious stuff,” said Michael Eavis, in the kitchen of his Worthy Farm home, with final preparations for the Glastonbury Festival in full swing. Just what I am hoping for. The problem is, most of the stories he tells are unrepeatable; Michael will suddenly stop in mid-flow, chuckle and say: “But you’d better not say that.” Critics of the Glastonbury Festival will groan. Many people still believe the festival is too big and causes too much disruption, not only in the village but around a much wider area. Despite the massive border fence which earns the village the cliché “Fortress Pilton” and despite the increasing security over ticket sales, opponents maintain it is in the wrong place.

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Emily listens carefully, stepping in when the conversation looks like it might get out-ofhand, steering Michael back on track; this is a well-honed father-and-daughter double-act. Emily is now very much part of the festival, from highlighting up-and-coming bands to her father, to working in the press office. She is also heavily involved in campaigns such as WaterAid, one of the charities to benefit from the Festival and is hoping to do more work with Oxfam, another beneficiary. Go for a drive with Michael around the farm and you begin to realise just how many projects he is involved in. Actually, that realisation begins on arrival at Worthy, Michael deep in jokey conversation with one of his workers about calves and the newlyrestored tithe barn. Or the phone will go and there will be a lengthy talk with a villager about drystone walls. Driving back from the seeing the barn, Michael skids to a halt as a couple stand expectantly outside the farm. “I’m going to have to deal with this,” said Michael.

The couple are hoping to work on another project Michael is involved in: building ten further homes-to-let in the village on land he has donated, close to an earlier scheme of eight in the village, built around ten years ago. Michael is clear about the need for social housing in villages such as Pilton: “We have to have working people in the village, otherwise the balance will be all wrong. We need the schoolchildren, the shop, the church, the club, everything. It needs people who are active and getting involved otherwise the village wouldn’t work. It would be lopsided.” Suddenly, the couple are in the back of the Land Rover and we hurtle to the other side of Worthy where Michael points out a spot where they can park their caravan. Then we are bouncing down Muddy Lane – Michael wants to show off the reed bed that has been installed to deal with waste water.

Interview

K OF AGES

ichael mily Eavis ton and farming

Back in the farm house, the talk is of this year’s festival. One of Michael and Emily’s proudest achievements is wooing one of the country’s leading internet ticket agencies – and getting them to stop advertising tickets for sale. Michael even posed for a photograph with the office staff before going for a cup of tea with the owner. Emily said: “He was so surprised that Michael actually bothered to go to see him. People don’t think that Michael actually cares about where the tickets go. But the fact is that it is more about the integrity of the event and the fact that people are not being ripped off.” The big news, apart from Kylie Minogue’s Sunday night “glam” show, is the hoped-for appearance by the troubled Pete Doherty, former leader of the Libertines, in the tabloid headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. Doherty, rehabilitation allowing, is due to play in the Leftfield marquee with his new band Babyshambles, possibly featuring

model Kate Moss. Emily said: “He is such a good songwriter; their songs are just amazing, but it’s touch and go whether he will make it.” Daughter and father talk at least three times a day about the festival plans. There is a break next year, but work is already underway for 2007. Not that a year without a festival will mean either can take life easily. There is the small matter of the 10th Glastonbury Extravaganza in August, this year spread over three nights, with Joss Stone headlining on Friday, Nigel Kennedy and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on Saturday and on Sunday there will be a touring performance of the West End show The Ratpack.Then there will be the Pilton Party in September, the annual thank you to villagers for supporting the main festival. The Friday night party is held in a marquee on the village playing field and attracts several thousand people to see some big name bands before the marquee is transformed into the venue for a

quintessential village fete. October will see a landmark event: Michael celebrates his 70th birthday. Next year promises to be busy for Emily, with more work with the Make Trade Fair campaign. She said: “I hope to be raising awareness and getting people in the music industry interested in it.” Next summer, Michael plans to visit Canada to stay with a lifelong friend and former Pilton resident. The friend owns a ranch and learned his horsemanship from Michael’s father, skipping off school to work with the horses in the pre-tractor days at Worthy Farm. Michael himself stopped milking the dairy herd ten years ago, after 40 years of early mornings, but still checks the productivity levels every day and the farm is as important as ever. He said: “I don’t really miss the milking. Every day, I’m out and about on the farm and I am still hands-on.” Emily added: “The farm is integral to the whole thing; nothing would happen without the farm. It’s the farm first for us.” Words and picture by Mark Adler

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Mendip Times

Bobby MacArthur has lived in Somerset for more than 40 years. Three of her five children were born in the county. She has six grandchildren. Bobby has practised as a complementary therapist and yoga teacher for the last 30 years. Stressed Out or Challenged? By Bobby MacArthur Reading the paper the other day, I discovered that, at one time, backache was the number one reason for absenteeism from work; now it is stress. So let us take a look at stress. In fact, we all need some “stress” in our lives, to ginger us

Health up; make us aware of danger and even to make our lives more interesting. Being under undue stress means one is unable to cope with whatever is causing the problem. It may then pay to step back and look at the problem from another angle. Are you being unduly pressurised or are you being challenged? Challenge is great. It allows you to take a good look at the problem and then decide how to tackle it. It may even make you take a different route. Being stressed weighs you down mentally and physically, so you carry a heavy burden, which saps your energy; makes you lose self-esteem and, in the end, you become defeated. Let’s say you are feeling stressed. Remember it affects not only your emotions but your bodily functions too. Recognising stress is the first step towards controlling it. There are too many causes of stress – too many to discuss here – but here are a few suggestions to help you to cope. Get to know your body. Be aware of how it feels. You are probably more aware of the price of food in the supermarket than of how your body is reacting to stress. Notice how you react to certain situations.

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What happens to your body when you are stressed? Notice your shoulders. Are they up by your ears? Drop them. Are they folded in towards your chest? Open them up. Lift your head. Look up. Not down. The very act of doing that can even lift depression. Unclench your jaw and your hands. Try a complete change of activity and atmosphere. Exercise is a great release. It does not have to be excessive. Walk the dog. Or just walk yourself. Stroll in the park. Play with the children. And get outside. In the fresh air. Plan something nice each week, so you have something to look forward to. Be AWARE. Notice your surroundings. Start to look and listen. Open up your senses, most of which are dormant. Buy the best nourishing food you can afford and taste every morsel. Remember. You only ever put good oil and petrol in your car and you give it an annual MoT. You have only one body. It should be your pride and joy. Whatever your shape and weight, your body is the most wonderful machine ever devised. Treat it well. A well nourished body copes with stress better than a body that is badly nourished. Now, how’s that for a challenge…

Mendip Times

How Chew Ian Roderick, Chairman

It used to be called Flaming June. But these days it seems we can expect anything and everything from floods to drought at this time of the year. Global Warming is often blamed. Or Global Dimming – caused by the accumulated waste that we have expelled into the atmosphere. It may seem too daunting for any individual to make a difference – perhaps that’s George Bush’s excuse. But in Chew Magna, things are different. The village has signalled its intention of becoming a Zero Waste Parish. More than 160 people have already signed up to the project. A Zero Waste Open Day, pictured here, got huge support. Bristol-based developers JT Group, headed by local resident, John Pontin, have bought the Old Mill in Tunbridge Road as a headquarters for the project.

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Campaign chairmen Ian Roderick said it started with the simple concept of conversations in coffeehouses, an initiative from the Royal Society of Arts, and the ethos is simple: “Change has to start somewhere, and we are beginning by making simple changes in our community. “One person CAN make a difference but a whole community will make a bigger difference. When other communities follow, a significant improvement will be made.” Action groups have been set up looking at waste and recycling; people and consumption to support the local economy; transport and energy; and how to link with communities in other countries to achieve a converging world. SWEB are donating a free low-energy light bulb to everyone signing up and students from Bath University are studying how Chew Magna’s energy might be provided from a renewable source i.e. without burning

fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal. Once the Old Mill is ready it will become a centre for many Zero Waste activities and the sale of related goods. Ian Roderick, who is chairing the project, said: “I am astounded at the level of interest and support for what we want to do. It is now a great challenge to use this energy to launch the many schemes that we have discussed in our coffeehouse conversations. “Undoubtedly we are tapping a deep feeling that we are all living in ways that squander the resources of our planet and it is time to do something about it, right here, right now. The development of the Old Mill will act as a focal point for the project which, we hope, will have effects across the valley and to the far corners of the Earth.” If you want to join the project then please contact Ian Roderick on 01275 333455 or email to ian@dovetail.co.uk

Environment

Green is w Valley

There can be few – if any- matters more important, and none more urgent to the continued well-being of the human race, than the slowing down of the damage being done by ourselves to our environment. Those of us who are already “oldies” may feel little impact but I fear that our grandchildren will be faced with irreversible harm to their very existence, if we do not start to take hard decisions now. Not in five or ten years from now. The extraordinarily well presented Zero Waste exhibition will surely have brought home to everyone who has seen it, the dangers of inaction – or the risk of leaving action to other people. Bryan Symons

I must admit that I was slightly apprehensive and worried that I would find it all rather gloomy, doomy – the end of the world is nigh – but I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was brilliant. Extremely well informed, wonderfully exhibited and comprehensive. I left feeling that I could really do something about it – that we all could – and would. Of course the most exciting thing is the plan for the Old Mill. It has looked so sad for so long – it will be wonderful when it is a vital part of village and valley life. Olwen Symons

It’s a way of showing how a small community can make a contribution and if a lot of small communities did it, we could make a big difference. What stunned us was how many people there are with great knowledge, which can help others, so it’s a way of showing people how we can make a difference just through small individual efforts. Marie-Louise Hales

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Property

Mendip Times

MONEY IS not always the most important thing when it comes to designing buildings that can transform people’s lives, argues Matthew McKaig, regional director of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), who is based in Wells. “This year we received high quality entries for the first regional RICS Awards and the winners of each category reflect this.

THE FACT that Batcombe is even in the finals of the RICS award is a tribute to the community itself. The village’s Jubilee Hall is the keystone of a community complex that many towns would be proud of. Ten years’ hard work by the community trust went into the project, which began when their ageing, timber building was condemned and ended in cheers as Prince Charles opened the new centre in 2002.

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We hope that they continue to do well in the national competition. “The RICS Awards scheme was established in 1990 to reward a diversity of projects that impact on the built and natural environment. “The categories are broad enough to ensure that every aspect of urban and rural regeneration is recognised. Value for money is fundamental to the success of every winning project, regardless of scale, in respect of both capital expenditure and lifetime running costs. “Four building projects in Somerset are among those nominated in the inaugural Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ regional awards: “Robin Hood’s Hut at Halswell Park near Bridgwater and a farm building complex at Higher Ford near Wiveliscombe were joint winners in the Building Conservation category, while the Charterhouse Centre accommodation block at Priddy was nominated in the Sustainability category and Batcombe Rural Community Centre near Shepton Mallet was nominated in the Community Benefit category. A fifth building, the Combined Universities, Cornwall campus at Tremough was nominated in the Regeneration category. “Yet again, the region’s diversity and

creativity in its built environment has produced very strong contenders for this year’s awards. It’s not just the excellence of the schemes, but more importantly the positive contribution they have made to people’s lives.” *The five winners are due to be presented with their awards at a ceremony on 22nd June at the Bishop’s Palace in Wells. The winners will now go forward to the next stage of the competition and will be judged against other regional winners to compete in the International RICS Awards. The winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony on 7th October at London’s Banqueting House, hosted by TV presenter and Mendip resident Kevin McCloud.

The Trust had first bought the former Victorian village school from the Bath and Wells Diocese in 1992 and developed its playground into a car park. The hall and the school restoration cost around £700,000 – more than £100,000 of that was raised by the 400 villagers.

some way to rebuild our hall. We were going to lose the old school; the village hall had been condemned. Then along came the Lottery funding and it opened Pandora’s Box and away we went.” The project has won a string of other awards, not just for the building itself but the management. Donald added: “The awards are a tribute to everyone.We needed to satisfy ourselves that we are doing a good job.”

Trust chairman Donald Sage, who was taught in the school as were his father and grandfather said: “We had to try to find

The Charterhouse Centre at Priddy

Mendip Times

Internet Although I had a relevant background, the only expertise I can claim is self-taught - so anyone can come up with a better way of doing things – and I’d like to hear from other Mendip-area webmasters about their experiences.

With so many village facilities disappearing – the shop, the pub even village schools – how do we maintain a sense of community in the 21st century? The village web site could be the answer, and Wrington has one of the best, set up by Richard Thorn: “When I started ours, www.wrington.org.uk <http://www.wrington.org.uk/> , in December, 1999 as a personal millennium project, I hoped it was a good idea, and the response from residents and others all over the world, suggested it was. Now, seeing how rapidly we’re moving to computers in the home being as ‘normal’ as the telephone, I’m sure village-based websites can deliver a localness and immediacy of communication like no other medium. But that’s easier said than done.

My main worry is what happens when I’m no longer up to it? Now over 1,000 pages, and with more than 7,000 images, the website’s become a document of record as well as a conveyor of news. The hit-rate rose to 150 a day when every event in Wrington’s eight day Village Fair was photographed and reported. One lady was overheard telling a friend, “we tune in to the website every evening to see what’s been going on during the day!” If you know anything about the internet, you’ll have heard of Google, that wondrous search-engine. Tap “Congresbury” into it, or Glastonbury or Axbridge or Cheddar, and you’ll see the variety - and sometimes the similarity - of websites in the area. I’d be interested to know how they go about the production and updating, how many people are involved, how much technical expertise exists in the community itself? It can often be just one person collecting, editing, and uploading material.

A survey last year of village websites by the University of Plymouth, produced a profile of a typical ‘webmaster’. It seems we’re largely male, retired, mid-sixties, with a (hitherto frustrated?) interest in computing, long-term residents of our community – and do it for love! This adds up to someone with time available, a thorough knowledge of the village, and sufficient technical and design know-how to cover all aspects. What you don’t need to be is male. So, if you live in the Wrington area – do get in touch!” Richard Thorn holds workshops in the John Locke cyber room in Wrington every Wednesday. The participants we spoke to are enthusiastic: Margaret Maggs: “It’s very useful, when you have been listening to a programme, to get more information on the internet. It’s also useful for e-mail, for the family.” Jane Pemberton: “We have a son and family, who have just gone to Australia, so we email them and download their stuff, to know they are safe.” Jim and Heather Swords: “We have dragged ourselves out of the swamp and are part of the evolved computer world. We use it to shop from Tescos and e-bay, as well as for e-mails, internet, and for my new camera.”

QUALITY CIDER FROM SHEPTON MALLET

The Gaymer Cider Company, Kilver Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5ND

Tel: 01749 334000

Mendip Times There has been a steady growth of Farmers Markets – Farm Shops – Fine Food Shops. In short, a Food Revolution is being spawned but why are more and more people moving in this direction – it certainly is not for convenience but it is good for us… To support this revolution we present our reasons for our existence –

PAUL HARTLEY is a cookery writer, and broadcaster and with wife Lynda, runs his own food shop in Wells. Here he argues why shoppers should buy locally. Consumerism surrounds us all with special offers, extended credit and BOGOF (buy one get one free) however this influence flows in the main from ‘multiple’ type retailers. It’s a bit like auction fever as we are guided from placard to placard each message subconsciously dragging money from our wallets – but where does that money go? I’ll tell you. Some of course goes to local wages but the vast majority goes to head office costs and suppliers from all over the country. Sure, if you are selling ‘white goods’ or French fashion the retailer has no option but ‘import’ their stock. However we are talking food here and the Mendips has such a plethora of fine food producers there is little excuse to buy elsewhere. Have you noticed how our shopping habits are gradually beginning to change?

HARTLEY’S MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Quality: By sourcing produce as locally as you can you can ensure that you get the very best quality possible. Most of the fresh fruit and vegetables from the Mendips are hand picked so the freshness is guaranteed. Many local dry goods (e.g. sauces, pickles, chutneys, jams and marmalades) are made locally from the very best ingredients. Product Knowledge: Because shopping with local food retailers like us and those at other farm shops and farmers markets you can meet the actual people who produce the goods and are able to learn from them all about the products - we know what goes into the products we sell. Supporting the Local Economy: As we source our stock locally the money we spend stays in the local economy. Our staff are local and spend their wages locally. Our buying supports local farmers, growers, producers and manufacturers. The stock is transported locally, our equipment is sourced locally. The Shopping Experience: Local food specialists pride themselves on the level of service they offer to their customers and their product knowledge, a friendly approach, willing to source particular needs, carrying shopping to cars, opening the doors for customers, recipes and advice – they cost nothing but their value is great. When was

the last time you saw people smiling when they leave a grocery multiple? Just look at people when you next visit a Farmers Market or Farm Shop – they actually look as if they are enjoying shopping and they probably are! Price: “ I like local shops – but they are so expensive.” How often have you heard that? Are they correct? Try comparing all the prices, taking into consideration the quality. I really believe that you may be pleasantly surprised. As local food retailers and producers we offer a fair price for our products and make a fair profit. Food Miles: By sourcing locally, fresh vegetables and meat in particular haven’t travelled around the world before you get them. This means they will be fresher and in better condition which has got to be good news for you. In nutrition and goodness terms there are just huge lifetime advantages in getting the food from the source to the table as quick as possible. Quantity: By not selling things pre-packed you can get the quantity that you want – not the quantity that some faceless wonder has decided you should have. Your local shop is generally happy enough to split down packs so you can have what you want – try that in your local supermarket but keep your eye on the security guard. I hope that the reasons I have outlined give you pause for thought regarding shopping locally but don’t take my word for it – try it for yourself. The Mendip Times welcomes your views on this and any other food issues. Please write or e-mail us.

THIS YEAR’S Mendip Food and Drink Festival was launched at the Charlton House Hotel in Shepton Mallet where guests including pupils from Oakhill School enjoyed a Mendip breakfast prepared by head chef Simon Crannage from local produce. Following the first event in 2004, this year’s dates are October 21-30. The Festival will spotlight locally produced food and drink as well as bringing an awareness for healthy living. It is being organised by a group made up of local hoteliers as well as Mendip District Council and Somerset Food Links. Simon said: “We were delighted with the results and participation of last year’s festival and we have expanded our programme this year. Here in the Mendips we are fortunate to have good quality food on our doorstep.” Pictured (left-right) Christina Ballinger from Somerset Food Links, Jolyon Stonehouse from Tenon, Jon Thorner of Jon Thorner Foods, Daryl Issitt of Bay Tree Foods, Anthony Gibson from the National Farmers Union and Lesley Baker, Charlton House. Photo: Ian Sumner

26.

Food & Drink A MIDSOMER DREAM – putting the local back into food

Cathy Pegler & Richard Robinson

MIDSOMER NORTON’S monthly farmers’ market is celebrating its first anniversary and hopes are high that it can go from strength to strength. The market, in a church hall on the High Street, began as a six-month experiment. The question was: would shoppers support it? The idea of running a farmers’ market in the town had been discussed for some time and there had been an earlier, unsuccessful, attempt. Inevitably, when the idea to relaunch the market was suggested, volunteers to run it were missing. Cathy Pegler was working for The National Association of Farmers’ Markets, based in Bath, and agreed to run the market on a trial basis. Cathy runs the market with partner Richard Robinson, a professional photographer who swaps his darkroom for the kitchen in the busy cafeteria, where all the food is sourced from the traders themselves. Cathy said: “Living in Radstock, I knew there was the enthusiasm for a market in this area, but we couldn’t find the people to run it on a regular basis.

“Now we are a year old and the market is really established.” Cathy added: “At first, people came here out of curiousity and the numbers began to drop, but most are now regular visitors and come here as much to meet friends as shop.”

Debbie said: “We had always sold our surplus eggs and vegetables, but the market has given us a real chance to expand.” The market is operated under the strict rules of the Somerset Farmers’ Markets initiative, based in Glastonbury.

For stallholders Debbie Idiens and Steve Pitt, the market is an ideal opportunity to sell home-grown produce as close to their doorstep in Coleford as they can. Plough to Plate began as a roadside venture.

Cathy added: “The market has had great support from the church, Bath and North East Somerset council and the local Chamber of Commerce. I hope everyone can benefit.”

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Mendip Times

The cider industry, so much a feature of the landscape and heritage of Somerset, is enjoying a resurgence in interest and a welcome increase in sales for cider makers across the region.

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more interested then ever before about where and how food and drink is made.”

The cider makers themselves can be credited for ensuring that cider remains of interest to drinkers today because of an impressive recent record of innovation for what is the oldest drink produced in the UK.

The big two cider producers, Gaymers Cider at Shepton Mallet and Bulmers in Hereford, have invested large sums in the last decade to plant and use English cider apples rather than imported apple juice concentrate and the latest new product unveiled by Gaymers is produced from the fruit of just a single Somerset orchard.

Ben McFarland, current ‘Beer Writer of the Year’ has seen the transformation in fortunes: “Cider makers have made great progress. In recent years there has been a steady stream of fantastic new styles of cider created, meaning a broader range on offer and as a result cider now appeals to a larger number of people.”

Elsewhere in the region, other cider makers like Thatchers at Sandford, Heck’s at Street or Sheppy’s near Taunton are producing quality ciders from single apple varieties and names such as the Kingston Black, the Tremlett or the Somerset Redstreak cider apple could become as well-known as the Chardonnay or Merlot grape.

Cider also benefits from an increasing trend of people seeking out specialist and premium products and the producers that make them. Simon Russell, a spokesman for the industry explains: “Cider has always been recognised for being a natural product, produced by people with an appreciation for the heritage they represent and clear links to the places where the apples are grown and where the cider is made and people are now

A recent cider festival at the Poacher’s Pocket pub in Chelynch near Shepton Mallet, saw some ten different ciders – and a perry – on offer. The aim was to offer a wide range to both regular and novice cider drinkers, said pub owner Stephanie Turner. She added: “Cider has come a long way from its image as the rough drink that farmers paid their labourers as part of their wages.

“Some people are nervous if they’ve never tried cider before, but there is so much choice that they’ll usually find something they are happy to drink.” Stephanie added: “One of my regular customers called cider Chateau Mendip. It’s so much a part of this area… the essence of Somerset.”

Food & Drink

Chris Carson, Gaymer chief exec.

Kingston Black Dabinett Yarlington Mill Gala Tremlett Porterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Perfection THE MENDIP Times and the Gaymer Cider Company have teamed up to offer you the chance to win a fabulous VIP prize. On offer is a tour of a first-class orchard in all its glory with harvesting in full swing, followed by a tour of the Gaymer Cider Company site at Shepton Mallet, before relaxing in their famous Cider House for a sampling session with complimentary buffet. Answer the following question correctly and you and five friends, members of your family or work colleagues could enjoy an exclusive trip to the heart of cider making: Which of the following apples is NOT traditionally used by cider makers?

Please send your answers to: Cider Competition, The Mendip Times, Wellington Gallery, Tunbridge Road, Chew Magna, Bristol BS40 8SN Or e-mail your answer, with Cider Competition in the Subject line to: editorial@mendiptimes.co.uk The closing date for entries will be June 30, 2005. The judgesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; decision will be final. Please note the following conditions apply: All entries must be from persons aged 18 or over. The prize will be a trip for six people (who must all be 18 years of age or over) on a Monday or Wednesday in early to mid October. Precise dates will be arranged between the winner and the Gaymer Cider Company. Employees of the Gaymer Cider Company and their families are not eligible to apply.

Answer:_________________________

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29.

Mendip Times

David Irwin

The exploration of caves in the Mendip Hills has proven to be a popular pastime for many people of all ages. Apart from the study of recorded caves it can involve specialised methods of underground photography, mapping of caves and – of course – the attempt to discover new ones. Many of those who undertake these tasks eventually become so committed that it becomes a passion that lasts a lifetime. I first went underground in Mendip’s famous Swildon’s Hole, near Priddy, in the autumn of 1953, although I had already explored a number of sea-shore caves at Saunton and Croyde in north Devon during boyhood.

Caving Never interested in team sports, I became fascinated with the underground scenery, of learning how to travel through a cave to view the wonderful stalagmite deposits and participating in the ‘sporting’ challenges that caves can offer by way of climbs, ‘bottoming’ large potholes - most requiring specialised climbing equipment by way of ropes or flexible ladders to make their descent; crawling in noisy cascading streamways and wallowing in glutinous mud that one washed off in deep, cold, pools of water! It sounds horrendous – but it’s fun! However, a cautionary note. Anyone wishing to ‘have a go’ should contact and join one of a number of caving clubs in the area who make new members welcome and where the necessary expertise and insurance is available. Any local information centre will have contact names and necessary details. By the early 1960s I had become familiar with many of the Mendip caves but it was after joining a caving club that I became aware of the wide number of specialised activities involved with cave exploration where, as amateurs, useful work could be undertaken. My particular interest was participating in, and developing methods of, mapping caves.

Over the years I, with others, eventually produced a number of maps of important Mendip caves which are now widely available to cavers throughout the country. In 1977 I co-authored the guide book Mendip Underground to the Mendip caves which has now reached its 4th edition and is used regularly by cavers. Latterly I have been investigating the history of the exploration of Mendips’ caves, some details of which will appear with other topics in forthcoming issues of this magazine. Having been frequently asked if I was still interested in caving a simple response from me sums it up. “No, I’m not interested. I’m just obsessed!”

A curtain in Straw Chamber, St. Cuthbert's Swallet, Priddy. Photo D.J. Irwin.

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Mendip Times

The Wild Side of Mendip By Chris Sperring

Welcome to this, my first article for the new Mendip Times. Within these articles I will focus on different species of wildlife and some of the issues that affect their status on and surrounding Mendip. During the month of June most bird song becomes more subdued due either to the feeding of young or the adults beginning the process of moulting their worn or damaged feathers. However, a dawn chorus can still be heard and on warm mornings in wooded or scrubland areas the Willow Warbler is one of my favourite birds to continue listening out for. It is smaller than the House Sparrow at around 11cm in length and has a highpitched song sounding like a series of descending notes ending with a flourish (like a Chaffinch but much more fluid sounding). The Willow Warbler is probably a bird you have come across many times if you walk or run on the Mendip hills. At the moment it is

32.

to be found in areas of Mendip where scrub is allowed to grow or that good hedgerows can be found. The Willow Warbler is a migratory bird; arriving early to mid-April and leaving for warmer areas of Africa by September. It is an insect feeder so relies on good habitat and, of course good summers, to breed. Another bird that is very visual on Mendip at this time of year is the Stonechat. A striking bird found more in the higher areas; the picture I took of this Stonechat was almost at the highest point of Mendip. Slightly larger than Willow Warbler, it gets name from its song which sounds like two small stones being bashed together. Despite their small size Stonechats are relatives of the Thrushes and if you get the chance to see one notice how they use the scrub and instead of hiding away actually perch at the highest point displaying their colours to rivals and suitors alike. Stonechats feed on insects in the summer

Stonechat: Chris Sperring

Nature and, being a resident bird, will also eat seeds (particularly grass seed heads) and available insects during the winter. A bird making what I hope will be more than a short term comeback on Mendip is the Barn Owl. Barn Owls are mostly nocturnal but during the times of year when they are food stressed, such as winter and when they have owlets to feed in the summer, they can be seen quite easily in the early evening when the sun is still shinning. As many of you will know I have worked with barn owls and their conservation for many years now, and without doubt the work we have done coupled with the fantastic cooperation we have had from farmers and other landowners has helped this special birds’ recovery to really get going. Barn owls nest in holes in trees and dark, quiet ledges in old farm buildings. They will also take readily to nesting boxes placed in

buildings or trees. But above all else it’s the feeding habitat that is the key to their success, or otherwise. They feed on small mammals and in particular do well where the number of Short-tailed, or Field Voles is high. The Hawk and Owl Trust are now surveying Barn Owl numbers on and around Mendip, so if you see a wild Barn Owl (like the one by Somerset Wildlife Photographer, Brian Phipps) over the coming months please let us know. Chris Sperring MBE Chris Sperring became involved with wildlife, and subsequently wildlife conservation, at a very early age. His enthusiasm for the subject can be seen at the many public talks and lectures he carries out across the whole of the UK. He describes himself as a field naturalist and a practical conservationist.

Chris received an MBE in 2001 for services to Nature Conservation. As this was the year of the foot and mouth outbreak he decided to walk from his home town of Portishead to Buckingham Palace to receive his award from the Queen. The walk was dedicated to the vital help and warmth that he has always received from the farming community, without which he could not have achieved many of his conservation success stories. Chris donated all of the sponsorship money from the walk to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute which helps farmers through difficult times. Currently he is the national Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust, but also occasionally presents natural history programmes on TV and Radio. Chris is a regular tutor at the Charterhouse Outdoor Activity Centre, where he mainly teaches Astronomy and Wildlife courses.

The Hawk and Owl Trust Formed in 1969 the Hawk and Owl Trust is the only UK organisation dedicated solely to the conservation of Birds of Prey and Owls. Through creative conservation, imaginative education and scientific research the Trust strives to provide a secure future for this enigmatic group of birds. Although the Hawk and Owl Trust is a national organisation it has a thriving local group structure, and anybody wishing to attend local group meetings or even get involved with activities such as habitat management, survey work, education or monitoring can contact the Chairman of the Mendip and Somerset Levels Group, Mrs Pat McCann, on 01458 833203 patron.sparrowhawk@ukonline.co.uk The Chairman of the Hawk and Owl Trust also lives locally, at Charterhouse-onMendip, and can be contacted on 01761 462017. Advice and visits are available to landowners and farmers, who should contact Chris Sperring on 01275 849287. Chris is also available for public talks and to lead groups on local ‘Owl Prowls’.

Willow Warbler: Chris Sperring

Barn Owl: Brian Phipps

To find out more about the Trust and its work visit www.hawkandowl.org.

33.

Sport

Mendip Times Where have all the players gone?

When England won the Rugby World Cup back in 2003, you might have thought the game was heading for a resurgence. And where better to lead it than the West Country, with Bath, Gloucester – and now Bristol rightfully restored – heading the premiership league charge. But it’s been a different story at club level. Clubs that used to be able to put out up to five teams are having to cut back. And some are struggling to survive at all. In the last couple of years, Cheddar have pulled out of Somerset League Two; Old

Ashtonians have dropped out of Somerset League One. Clubs like Blagdon and Chew Valley Old Boys sometimes struggle to put out two teams a week. Andrew Neal, Blagdon’s chairman, has just had an England rose tattooed on a fairly sensitive part of his body - his arm - that’s how passionately he believes in the game. He’s also spent weeks scouring the shops in Bristol looking for a Lions shirt that fits him ready for this summer tour, but to no avail. “They had plenty of football shirts, but nothing for me,” he said. And he believes that is part of the problem: “The South West is a rugby area in terms of premiership, but if you look at media coverage and at what you can get in sports shops, you would never know it. You try and find a pair of rugby boots in Bristol and you find the big chains just don’t sell them. You have to find the small suppliers.” When the nearest premiership football side is in Birmingham, he says he cannot understand why all the emphasis should be on football, particularly given the support that premiership rugby gets locally. But the lack of profile for the sport isn’t the only problem: where are the young players that local clubs need?

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Andrew says: “More and more of them are going off to university. And if they aren’t they have the income to go off for a gap year.” And in this computer age, more of them seem happy to sit and play games than to get out and put on a rugby shirt. We have to get them back.” He’s been advertising in the local press, organising public meetings, and badgering any drinking companion that he can collar about the state of local club rugby. Mark Fox, spokesman for Frome Rugby Club said he sympathised with smaller clubs. But Frome play in a higher league, Southern Counties South and can attract players from a wider area. He said: “The problem has been endemic for a while in the game. With professional rugby a lot of people who might have carried on playing will go and watch Bath rather than pull on a rugby shirt.” But is small club rugby doomed? Have your say by writing to us or sending your comments to letters@mendiptimes.co.uk

Andrew Neal

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