Oriental Rugs ad.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 08:21 Page 1
Contents page.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:55 Page 1
MENDIP TIMES
CONTENTS
24
Welcome
WE’VE survived a difficult year to welcome the magazine’s 16th birthday. Let’s pause to remember the many individuals and business colleagues who did not make it through the pandemic. But as Les Davies writes, life goes on, hopefully. Museums are reopening in Glastonbury, Bath and Taunton, the cavers are back underground and the Glastonbury 10k went ahead in a socially distanced way – we have a picture special in an expanded sports section this month. We meet Steve Hale, a remarkable survivor, who was nearly killed in an explosion at his workshop and a Blagdon man who has received the Queen’s rare Maundy money. That was for service to the community, something we celebrate as usual in many pages devoted to communities and charities, including news of a scheme to support deprived youngsters set up by Chew Valley Rugby Club. Mary Payne shows us the natural way to deal with garden bugs, while June MacFarlane suggests recipes for strawberries and courgettes. Wedmore has set up a food forest. With special thanks to our contributors, advertisers and readers – Happy Birthday!
July 2021 deadline: Friday, 11th June 2021 Published: Tuesday, 22nd June 2021 Editorial: Steve Egginton steve@mendiptimes.co.uk Mark Adler mark@mendiptimes.co.uk Advertising: Ann Quinn advertising@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. Front cover origination: Steve Henderson
39
All sewn up – bunting brightens up Wells
On full power – charity’s family festival
65
84
Sell out success – Cary’s foodies enjoy their day
Back on the road – runners return to Glastonbury Plus all our regular features Environment ...................................6 Farming Nick Green .....................10 Internet and Crossword ..............12 Food & Drink ...............................16 Arts & Antiques ...........................26 Business.........................................32 Charities........................................38 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......45 Walking Sue Gearing ....................46
Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........48 Gardening Mary Payne MBE.......50 Caving Phil Hendy ........................60 Health & Family ..........................62 Community ...................................66 Home & Interiors.........................76 Riding Rachel Thompson MBE....80 Sport ..............................................83 What’s On.....................................87 MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 3
Greenspace ad.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 08:22 Page 1
News page 5.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:52 Page 1
MENDIP TIMES
Wedmore plants a food forest
SiTuATED at the northern edge end of the village with access either down The Lerburne or through a five barred gate from the main car park, Worthington Woods Food Forest in Wedmore opened in May. Created by The Food Forest Project and assisted by Green Wedmore, the village’s environmental group, acting on behalf of the parish council, the two-acre community woodland embraces the idea of permaculture, a method of developing sustainable, ecologically harmonious environments involving communities working with nature. The Food Forest Project is a national organisation which works in communities to help combat mental health issues through planting food forests. There are proven benefits derived from simply being immersed in “nature”. Food forests are nature’s pantries growing an assortment of produce with minimal need for human intervention. No chemical fertiliser or spraying is used and the produce is available to local people at no cost. A wide range of trees have been planted most of which bear fruit or nuts, such as apple, blackcurrant, cherry, gooseberry, hazel and passion fruit. There is also an emphasis on providing an environment that attracts a variety of wildlife, including predators which eat the insects which feed on crops thus helping to regulate the ecosystem. There are bee houses for solitary bees and bat boxes. Owl boxes will also be introduced. Butterflies, tawny and bumble bees, caterpillars and a variety of birds have already been spotted. Food forests take about five years to establish fully by which time they can yield a huge variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and herbs. Wildlife in the uK as well as worldwide has been put under serious stress over the past few decades with the uK being one of the least biodiverse countries in the world. Part of the reason for this has been harmful agricultural practice. Supporting and restoring biodiversity goes hand in hand with the increasingly urgent need to limit global heating. Food forests can play a part in helping to tackle both of these issues by capturing and storing carbon, emitting clean oxygen, and providing an environment in which a wide range of flora and fauna can flourish. They also feed the microbes in the soil creating a nutrient-rich and fertile landscape in which to plant crops. Forest roots retain water and act as a defence against flooding. Come and visit. Bring friends and children for quiet enjoyment of this area in which benches and tree stumps are provided for seating. Dogs are not permitted. Rupert Bullock Details: www.greenwedmore.co.uk
Local man honoured with Maundy money
NEWS
COLiN Parfitt, from Blagdon, was one of only 95 people across the country to receive Maundy Money from the Queen. A letter from the Queen thanked him for his work to “enrich the life” of his neighbours. Colin was nominated particularly for his role in managing the major re-ordering work at Blagdon church a few years ago, from which so many in the community have since benefited. He said: “i’m very proud of the work the church has done, but my role in it was one of a team of people. it was a wonderful fulfilment of our purpose in serving our community, allowing the church building to be used for lots and lots of activities. in fact, after we’d finished the church was used every day of the week for something or other.” Every year, on Maundy Thursday, the Queen distributes these gifts. The number of recipients reflects the number of years she has lived. When Colin learned that he was to be one of this year’s recipients he said he was “surprised and overjoyed”, but added that he was “greatly humbled”. He said: “it’s an absolutely amazing thing to receive something like this. it’s a huge honour, but i just did some bits of work, nothing amazing.” The Maundy service was due to be held in Westminster Abbey, but could not go ahead this year due to Covid restrictions. instead Colin and the other recipients received a letter from the Queen together with their Maundy money via a special postal delivery. There were two small leather purses, one red and one white. The first contained a small amount of ordinary coinage symbolising the Queen’s gift for food and clothing. The second contains the Maundy coins; silver pennies, twopences, threepences and fourpences, totalling 95 pence, corresponding to the Sovereign’s age. The giving of coins in Maundy ceremonies can be dated to King John in 1213, whilst the special coins have kept much the same form since 1670. The current coins still bear the portrait of Her Majesty designed for her coronation in 1953.
Fabulous fundraiser for the federation
PEOPLE are being urged to sign up to a sponsored walk in aid of Croscombe and Stoke St Michael primary schools to help ease a fundraising shortfall caused by the pandemic. Almost all events organised by the Friends of Croscombe and the PTA of Stoke St Michael over the past year were cancelled or curtailed due to the restrictions. Now David and Tam Richardson-Aitken, whose children
attend Stoke school, are planning a 40 for the Federation live and virtual event in September. They want people to sign up to either a 26-mile actual walk, on September 25th, or take part in the virtual events between September 1st-26th. Monies raised will go towards improving the playgrounds of both schools as well as the Little Roots pre-school.
To enter, email: croscombe@educ.somerset.gov.uk
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 5
Environment section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:24 Page 6
MENDIP TIMES
Campaign grows for safe routes CYCLISTS and walkers have joined forces to call for a safe, offroad pathway to be created between Glastonbury and Wells. A coalition of groups including Extinction Rebellion and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods – as well as supporters of eco-friendly organisations – organised a protest ride along the A39 to highlight their concerns and to call on Somerset County Council to act. Around 50 cyclists and ten walkers made the journey between the Tin Bridge roundabout in Glastonbury and the roundabout in Wells by Tincknells. Volunteers have been clearing a section of path by the Tin Bridge roundabout – which they say is the responsibility of the county council – to make it safe to use. They say the pandemic has led to a large increase in the number of people taking up walking and cycling. The coalition is now planning monthly events along the route to highlight their concerns. Laura Sorenson, one of the organisers, said: “It was heartening to note that most of the traffic slowed down, became aware of the event and were generally accommodating, some tooting and waving to show support. Only a very few became impatient and dared to overtake, accelerating noisily, only to have to slow down again further up the route.” Laura said the campaign also highlighted the need for missing links of the Strawberry Line to be filled in. She added: “Everybody on the road would benefit from a dedicated shared path whether they were walkers, cyclists or motorists, so we will continue this action until we have secured what government wants for us – a safe direct travel route which has been promised and is urgently needed for our health and the health of the planet.” Laura Sorenson leads a group of riders from Glastonbury to Wells
Motorists were largely respectful of the protestors
Signing a petition in Wells calling on Somerset County Council to act Marshals were on hand to help the protestors
Bean appeal
CHILDREN at St Julian’s School in Wellow have joined local resident Frank Shellard’s grow a runner bean movement, featured recently in Mendip Times. School headteacher, Ruth Noall, said: “As part of our growing and green topics this term we have given all the children copies of Frank’s book. We have also provided the children with runner bean seeds to grow and measure at home.” Frank attended St Julian's School, as did his children and grandchildren. Proceeds from the book are going to the RUH Forever Friends Appeal, NHS Charities Together and Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
Details: www.letsallgrowarunnerbean.co.uk
PAGE 6 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Environment section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:24 Page 7
Families for trees
Alex Limberg
IT’S been a busy spring of tree planting in Pensford, supported by the Chew Valley Plants Trees project, with up to 60 trees planted around the village playing fields alone. The Conservation Volunteers have been giving away 600 trees and shrubs to be planted around the area. Planting will resume in the autumn. Alex Limberg, from CVPT, said: “Without more trees and a better network of hedgerows the rich diversity here will become increasingly depleted, and climate change will be irreversible. Planting trees is one tool in our tool box of actions to prevent climate change escalating.” Various families were invited to plant a few trees, including Nick and Trina Anstey with their children Luke and Izzy from Hillcrest in Pensford.
ENVIRONMENT
Forest plan branches out to gardens
Members of the council’s parks and green spaces team at the first giveaway in Radstock
A CHANCE for residents to improve their gardens and local environment was on offer in two tree giveaway events held by Bath & North East Somerset Council. The authority handed out hundreds of young trees from its depot in Radstock as part of its commitment to tackling the effects of the climate and ecological emergencies. B&NES residents were able to choose up to three trees per household from a range of eight, mostly native species including birch, alders, snake bark maple and mountain ash. The scheme is aimed at extending valuable tree cover in hardto-reach areas by providing species of limited size, that are characteristic of the suburban environment with the majority shown to be beneficial to air quality. It is hoped the scheme will also benefit the wider aims of the Forest of Avon trees and woodland project stretching from Bristol to Bath and sandwiched by the Mendip Hills and Cotswolds AONBS. Councillor David Wood, B&NES cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Neighbourhood Services, said: “Trees are so important in improving air quality and helping to combat the climate emergency, which is why we’ve committed to planting 100,000 trees in B&NES by May 2023. Every tree really does count as part of our collective efforts to improve our environment.”
The Anstey family
Funding for projects
WESSEX Water is providing financial support to environmental projects across the South West through its new Environment Fund. Applications must be made before June 4th and community groups can apply for up to £1,500. Kirsty Scarlett, Wessex Water’s Head of Community Engagement, said: “We are really pleased to be able to support communities that are passionate about protecting and improving their local area.” Details: www.wessexwater.co.uk/funding
This tree was destined for St Mary’s primary school in Writhlington
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 7
Environment section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:24 Page 8
Secrets of the stones
ENVIRONMENT
Badgers Wood viewpoint
Pam Hunt and Peter Speight
Doug and Chris with the owners of a "stoned" home, Rowland and Christine Barter
THE team behind GeoWeek, the annual celebration of Mendip’s geology held each spring, have decided to continue “stoning houses” in Wells and Mendip villages. Chris King and Doug Robinson will visit stone-built homes by arrangement to “tell the story of the stones” to the owners and award them a Stoned certificate. Many of the local buildings have stones from four different geological periods, telling 200 million years of Earth’s history. In one block of stone, they were excited to find ancient fossilised burrows during a recent “stoning”. The shrimp-like animal had a U-shaped burrow, like the burrows of lugworms you can find in Severn Estuary sands and muds today. It pulled food and sand down one burrow and excreted sand from the other. They could see the curved lines above the main burrow in both the burrows, showing how the animal had moved down when the sediment above was eroded. If you would like your stone-built home to be “stoned” too, free of charge, get in touch. See page 74. Details: chris@earthlearningidea.com
School’s message in a bottle
A BEAUTIFUL rainbow has appeared on the fence of Bishop Sutton Primary School, made out of plastic bottles to mark Earth Day. The Federation of Bishop Sutton and Stanton Drew primary schools received a grant of £350 from the Arts Society Mendip to buy materials. Each child had to make a flower out of recycled bottles and paint them, before they were finally assembled. Class teacher, Katie Cotton, said: “We decided to make the bottle flowers in to a rainbow – considering the importance of the symbol during the current Covid situation.” The two schools made over 224 flowers between them. One of the pupils, Sophie, said: “It took us about three weeks. Every pupil had to make one flower each and each class had a different colour. Ours was blue.”
PAGE 8 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
A GENEROUS donation from Nailsea Lions Club has enabled a notice board to be installed at a popular viewpoint at Backwell to help visitors identify some of the distant landmarks. The board at the top of Badgers Wood has been put up by volunteers from Backwell Environment Trust. From there, on a clear day you can see for nearly 40 miles over the Bristol Channel and the Welsh hills beyond. Flat Holm, Steep Holm and the Principality Stadium in Cardiff are among the landmarks which can be spotted. President of the Lions, Pam Hunt, said: “The Lions are delighted to have been able to help the trust with this project, and I am sure the new board will be much appreciated by the many visitors to this beautiful spot.” Acting chairman of the trust, Peter Speight, thanked the Lions for their generosity and said the new board, along with existing boards which explain the history and ecology of the wood, would greatly add to the enjoyment of visitors. The trust was founded over 15 years ago and manages two woodland reserves totalling 22 acres on the hillside above Backwell village. The reserves are popular with local walkers and have been much appreciated during lockdown. BET is supported by more than 200 members and has an active group of over 40 volunteers who help with woodland and grassland management.
(Photograph courtesy of Gordon Bennett)
MENDIP TIMES
Page 9 June.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 08:23 Page 1
Farming section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 09:57 Page 10
MENDIP TIMES
The benefits of locally grown food
Stand on top of the Mendips with only a herd of Exmoor ponies and songbirds for company and you don’t have to look far to appreciate the fantastic area we live in and what food is produced locally. Look towards Blagdon and you see Yeo Valley’s yoghurt dairy using milk produced by their herd of With NICK organic Friesians. GREEN Many Mendip farmers produce some of the best beef and lamb all grazed on traditional pasture. Some raise free range chicken, duck and turkeys on the same basis. Look towards Bristol and you can see the Parfitt’s Graylands Farm at dundry which is the home to their herd of Guernsey cows and Chew Moos ice cream. down in the Wrington Vale, Lye Cross Farm produces farmhouse cheddar cheese using milk from farms across the Mendips and surrounding area. Look a little further afield and thatchers orchards stand proud ready to have their apples harvested in the autumn and turned into cider. Move back towards Butcombe and we have the prize winning vineyards of Sutton Ridge and aldwick Court Farm. Further east along the Mendips is Farrington Farm which grows a great range of organic vegetables and has these and other local produce
available in its farm shop. as well as these, there are lots of other Mendip farmers supplying their products for processing and others doing the same but for sale direct to the public. through the course of the Covid pandemic many consumers have had time to consider where their food comes from and what goes into producing it. as a consequence, many of our local food producing businesses have managed to develop new markets with local customers benefitting. It doesn’t stop there. Without the need to transport food to distribution hubs only for it to be returned a few days later, food miles are reduced and less traffic is on the road. next time you have a walk across the Mendips it’s worth stopping and looking around. You don’t have to look far to see farms producing food to satisfy everyone’s palette. We live in an area of outstanding natural beauty that is our larder as well.
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.
Farms • Commercial • Domestic • Local Councils • Sports pitches Fully insured for all construction, digger and tractor work Please get in touch with your requirements – CSCS CPCS Npors and NPTC trained –
Phil Bailey 07859 432139 facebook.com/philbaileyservices PAGE 10 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Farming section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 09:58 Page 11
FARMING
Death of champion ploughman MERVYn Vowles, who has died aged 90, was a farmer, a gentleman and famously a champion ploughman. Born at Freemans Farm, Barrow Gurney in 1930, he was working on the farm at an early age. It was mostly an arable farm so there was a lot of ploughing to do especially during the war years. aged 16, Mervyn entered his first ploughing match where he came second but at the next match he came first and that was the beginning of a lifetime of winning. tractors were just being used when he started. His trusty nuffield Universal t4 tractor was kept for many years and so was his special plough RSdL 9, a model of which was placed on the coffin at his funeral. Mervyn was a really professional ploughman. In his heyday he competed across England and Wales, winning national championships. Starting in 1973 at Selby in Yorkshire he won seven more national championships and six Welsh nationals. One of Mervyn’s special interests was the north Somerset agricultural Society and particularly their ploughing committee where he took a leading role for many years. He entered the competitions, advised, and helped young people. He was also a very active member of the Mendip Ploughing Society. In 1953 Mervyn married dolly alway who had been a Land Girl working on his father’s farm. they eventually settled at Hill Farm, Barrow Gurney. they were the backbone of village life chairing many committees, dolly ably assisting. In 1997 they retired from the farm and moved to nailsea but they were frequent visitors to Barrow Gurney attending as many
events as they could. Mervyn coped well after dolly’s death in 2017 but ill-health forced him into a nursing home for the last three months of his life. He will be sadly missed by his family and his many friends. Lynne Vowles
Society’s tribute
aS a stalwart of the north Somerset agricultural Society’s ploughing match committee, Mervyn could be relied upon to turn his hand to whatever job needed doing. Whether as its chairman or regular member, Mervyn was a great colleague, respected ploughman, a man of integrity and a thoroughly nice person. the society were rightly proud that one of their own had been England and Wales’ national champion on numerous occasions. His wisdom, patience, grace and good humour will be sorely missed by all concerned at committee meetings, marking out days and “the match”.
We are now stockists of ASPEN Fuels
l Ready mixed for 2 stroke engines l Burns cleaner than ordinary fuel l Virtually free from sulphur, benzene and solvents making it less harmful than regular petrol, therefore breathing much cleaner air when working with power tools l Better for engines, longer storage staying fresh for years therefore easier starting l Reduced toxic emissions so better for the environment
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 11
Crossword page.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 08:31 Page 1
INTERNET
A fond farewell
I AM sorry to have to start with some sad news, that I.T. for the Terrified has decided, for a variety of reasons, to cease operations. IT4TT was founded in 1999 by Angela Vivian, who saw that there was a huge need in the Wedmore area for help for people (initially over 50s, but then all ages) to come to grips with the new technology. So with the help of her daughter, Penny, as admin, and using her contacts and expertise, Angela asked various firms to donate computers etc and using a shop opposite the George Hotel, she found a group of volunteers to come in and sit beside “the Terrified” to help them overcome their fears and misgivings. We later moved to the room above the skittle alley in the George Hotel, but when we had to leave there, we were in a room in the grounds of Kings of Wessex School with our own equipment, which was an ideal situation. The majority of our time was spent on 1:1 sessions, but we also did courses on genealogy, eBay etc. We were also able to hold a computer club for anyone to drop in for a quick word of advice and did some courses for farmers to help them with the increasing need to do their forms online. We also formed a esports cafe, where young people could meet and play networked games together, because at the time the internet in Wedmore was dial-up and not suitable for gaming. So Angela decided to form Wired Wedmore, where she got locals to help provide an alternative network. Eventually, BT got broadband into the area, so the need for the e-sports cafe evaporated. At the beginning, there was a lot to learn, but things are much easier to use now and there are more places to go for advice. Times have now moved on and the need for basic help from volunteers has decreased and although Cheddar Village Hall has been very accommodating, it’s not easy using a village hall without being able to store equipment, so we have now decided to wind up. So a few words of advice to finish – when using a phone or tablet, always tap and don’t press on the screen. Try using the microphone to dictate your texts and emails. Don’t give any financial information to anyone who contacts you out of the blue – always double check by going straight to the source instead. Don’t believe everything you read online! Search for solutions to problems – either with Google, or go to https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/ or perhaps YouTube. Submitted by IT for the Terrified, Cheddar Village Hall, Church St, Cheddar BS27 3RF 01934 741751 (usually goes to answer phone) www.itfortheterrified.co.uk itfortheterrified@btconnect.com
PAGE 12 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
CROSSWORD
The Mendip Mindbender
ACROSS 1 & 15 down Marcus Trescothick has just left Somerset and joined the ECB. What is his new job? (5,7,5) 9 How an explanation is applied when not exact (7) 10 The world’s largest crane is currently working at Hinkley Point. What is its name? (3,4) 11 Penny or a pound perhaps (4) 12 Pinkie (5) 13 A word in grammar used to describe an action, state or occurrence (4) 16 Lake, south of Bristol constructed as a reservoir in 1901 by damming the river Yeo (7) 17 Indelicately, to a shocking degree (7) 18 Infinite circle (7) 21 Given to touching others in a friendly way (7) 23 Where the water comes from for baptism (4) 24 In USA a fraction of a gallon as a measure of alcoholic spirit (5) 25 Assert or confess openly (4) 28 A reindeer (7) 29 Able to move quicker than the next man (7) 30 In March the remains of the 700-year-old Bishop’s palace was found under a pensioner’s lawn. In what Somerset village? (12)
DOWN 1 Out of the ordinary articles (7) 2 Aide could alter your notion (4) 3 Fields where Greek heroes were transported to after death (7) 4 Walking at a leisurely pace (7) 5 Loose, flowing outer garment worn in ancient Rome (4) 6 Makes tidier (7) 7 Beneficial result due to a patient's belief in the treatment (7,6) 8 Beneficial system that enables men to help others who went to the same school or university (3,3,7) 14 Goodbye, from old French (5) 15 See 1 across (5) 19 Ancient Roman silver coins (7) 20 Things that promote activity, enthusiasm or interest (7) 21 Of exceptional strength, size or power (7) 22 Send out a bill for goods or services rendered (7) 26 Double reed woodwind instrument (4) 27 Sandwich filler raising plans (4)
Clues in italics are cryptic
This month’s solution can be found on page 83
Page 13 June.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 08:25 Page 1
pennys
www.pennysgroup.co.uk info@pennysgroup.co.uk +44 (0)1761 241387
No order too big or too small Suppling quality topsoil, compost and aggregates Asbestos removal and collection
Plant hire Demolition Earthworks and construction pennys materials.
pennys plant.
pennys demolition.
Windows
THE CHEW VALLEY’S LONGEST ESTABLISHED WINDOW COMPANY WITH A REPUTATION BUILT ON QUALITY AND SERVICE FOR CONSERVATORIES, WINDOWS AND DOORS IN HARDWOOD OR UPVC
HARDWOOD JOINERY SPECIALISTS www.rhwindowsltd.co.uk
Recycling, muck away and grab hire
pennys waste management.
RH
pennys construction.
Telephone: 01761 452171 Fax: 01761 453342
Events feature.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 10:11 Page 1
MENDIP TIMES
Flags, music and more on Somerset Day
Maria Gregg, manager of Glastonbury’s Cancer Research shop, arranged a Somerset-themed display to mark the day
The Grey Dogs jazz band played at Castle Cary market
EVENTS
Somerset flags reflected in the water at Castle Cary’s Horsepond
Tom Lang, who retires as Deputy Lieutenant in June, presented a replacement Somerset flag to Lunn’s Filling Station/Simply Fresh on the A38 at Lower Weare near Axbridge. The personal gift was made in appreciation of the dedicated service to the local community by the staff throughout the pandemic
Somerset Morris joined the celebrations with some socially distanced dancing
Angela Morris outside All Saints Church, Sandford
PAGE 14 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Martin and Eleanor Thatcher at Myrtle Farm
Page 15 June.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 08:26 Page 1
Food & Drink section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:52 Page 16
MENDIP TIMES
FOOD & DRINK
Unlocking summer with fingers crossed
Everything seems to be a bit late this year, but maybe that means we will have great summer things like With JUNE MACFARLANE strawberries for longer. Summer veg like courgettes will arrive, sometimes in great numbers! I am often disappointed by shop-bought falafel, which I love, so at this time of year I like to make my own. Do try them! STRAWBERRY & MASCAPONE TART
A billowy dessert making the most of strawberries
INGREDIENTS
(for eight) 75g butter 250g sweet oat biscuits 250g mascarpone 250g plain Greek yoghurt 1 tbsp caster sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract 400g strawberries, hulled
This is high season for strawberries so make them a feature in this billowy tart.
METHOD Melt the butter in a small pan. Whizz the biscuits in a food processor until they resemble sand or put into a Ziploc bag and bash with a rolling pin. Put the crumbs in a bowl and mix the butter in thoroughly. Press into a tin with a removeable base. Chill until firm. Mix together the mascarpone, yoghurt, sugar and vanilla. Pile on to crumb base and arrange strawberries on top, sliced or halved. Chill until needed. Dust with icing sugar to finish.
PAGE 16 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Homemade falafels are perfect as part of a mezze
FALAFELS
Popular all over the Middle East and great as a part of a mezze spread.
INGREDIENTS
(makes about 25) 500g dried chickpeas Big handful of parsley leaves Medium handful coriander leaves 1 small onion, quartered 1 garlic clove, chopped 2 tbsp flour 1 scant tbsp salt 2 tsp cumin 2 tsp dried coriander 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp baking powder Vegetable oil for frying
METHOD Cover the chickpeas in cold water and soak overnight. Drain, rinse and dry thoroughly. Whizz in a food processor to consistency of breadcrumbs. Add parsley, coriander, onion, garlic, flour, salt, cumin, dried coriander and black pepper and blend to a paste. Put into a large bowl and chill for one hour. When ready to use, fold in baking powder. Heat the oil in a medium pan to 185°C/365°F. Form the mix into round balls and flatten slightly. Fry a few at a time for about six mins until browned and cooked through, allowing oil to come back to temperature between batches. Drain on kitchen paper. Serve hot or warm with pitta bread and a salad. You need a sauce for these: yoghourt and mint is good, so is a tahini dip, or even tomato ketchup!
BAKED COURGETTES
A starter for when you just have too many courgettes!
METHOD Preheat oven to 180°C. Score the cut sides of the courgettes, put into a small roasting dish and rub with oil. Mix together the olives, pecorino, rosemary and breadcrumbs. Season and add a little oil. Spoon over the courgettes and press down a little to steady. Drizzle some oil over the top. Bake for about 45 mins, until cooked through. Any spare stuffing can be cooked separately. Summer on a plate with baked courgettes
INGREDIENTS
(for four) 4 medium courgettes, halved lengthways 4 tbsp black olives, stoned and chopped 6 tbsp grated pecorino cheese 2 tbsp chopped rosemary 4 tbsp breadcrumbs Olive oil
Food & Drink section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:52 Page 17
Food & Drink section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:52 Page 18
MENDIP TIMES
ORDER NOW FOR COLLECTION ONLY HOMEMADE 9” PIZZA TOPPED WITH CHEDDAR/MOZZARELLA MIX
Chicken Ham Pepperoni Steak Tuna Chilli Jalapenos Mushroom Olives Pepper Pineapple Red Onion Spinach Sweetcorn Rocket Goats Cheese Order via Facebook facebook.com/Cheddarpizzahouse or call 07862 469983 Cheddar Pizza House, 7 Littlewood Way, Cheddar BS27 3FP PAGE 18 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Hartley’s keeps getting better
HARTLEY’S Café Bistro at Rookery Farm at Binegar firmly believe there is light at the end of the tunnel so they have turned the place upside down and inside out to welcome
back customers inside. Although established for nearly 14 years it was time to move the kitchen from upstairs to downstairs – job done. Then they moved the drinks bar to the front to welcome guests as they arrive – much better. Finally, they have redesigned the restaurant with more tables, adding great blasts of colour and giving an even nicer dining experience. But if the proof in the pudding is in the eating, then Paul and Lynda Hartley and their dedicated and passionate team have planned tastebud-tingling menus for the summer. Fresh fish from the coast, lamb from the Mendips, milk from the next village, together with an “off-sales” fine wine list and Snack Attack. Think posh sandwiches, home made salads, pasties and the like! The outside eating area has also been given some tlc with new tables with parasols to shield the sun (given a chance) so customers can breakfast or lunch alfresco. Altogether it’s the well-known and much-loved Hartley eating experience, just made better!
Hartley’s Kitchen The Café Bistro on the Mendips
www.hartleyskitchen.com Refurbished and redesigned – still the greatest breakfast and lunch venue l Visit our new open plan kitchen l See your favourite dishes being cooked l Join in the whole culinary experience Fully-stocked drinks bar to welcome you Bright, colourful restaurant with the great Hartley’s Team to really look after you.
Hartley’s • Tel: 01749 841718 Rookery Farm • Binegar BA3 4UL info@hartleyskitchen.com
Food & Drink section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:53 Page 19
WILD FOOD
Where’s Jack?
I LovE hedgerows. Not necessarily the garden variety (although they are okay) but the agricultural variety. So much so, I based much of my academic and industry career on their study and protection. The study of hedgerows tells you much about the history of our landscape; how it has been changed With ADRIAN and managed by people, shaped by the BOOTS political and social forces over time. They are functional in keeping livestock in (and out), make great windbreaks for crops and animals and were practical in that historically they provided fodder, building materials and wood for fires. They serve as fantastic wildlife habitats in their own right, have a large surface area and “edge” making them valuable wildlife corridors connecting features and habitats in the landscape. Some are so old they stretch back in time as far as the Stone Age. oh and as a recent study has found they absorb loads of C02 and those nasty particulates emitted by vehicles so are great for our personal and climate health too. Yet what has always fascinated me most is the sheer variety of edible wild foods of both woodland and grassland associated with them. So what does this have to do with Jack? Well any plant that has “hedge” in its name must surely be worthy of further investigation. Jack-by-the-hedge (Alliaria petiolata) is a tall plant, up to one metre with an upright stem. It has unmistakable glossy bright green and deeply toothed leaves that when bruised have a mild smell of garlic. The flowers are delicate and small (about 6mm across), bright white and the petals of each flower head are arranged in groups of four. Appearing in April to June, it’s very common and can be found on verges, waysides, woodland edges and along hedgerows. So it turns out Jack is actually a bit of a trouble maker, particularly in the US where he has spread from his native Europe and is considered an invasive weed. Yet here we barely give him a second thought. The reason for the unpopularity elsewhere is that Jack’s roots produce sulphur chemicals that kill symbiotic fungi which other plant and tree species need to survive. The upside is that these same chemicals give mustard and horseradish their famous flavours and is why Jack is also known by another name: Garlic Mustard. Whilst Jack may indeed be a problem in some parts of the world, don’t worry about his foibles, he’s not a problem for us. The best thing is to manage him. So the answer to the question “where’s Jack?” is simple – he’s on my plate! 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
Swiss chard
With JAKE WHITSON
IT’S taken me a while to learn to love chard. Whilst it is an attractive plant to have in a garden (especially the rainbow chard mixture that we like to grow), it’s not generally been something that I get excited to take into the kitchen. I think this is in part because I always treated it exactly as spinach beet, which, botanically, it is simply a very stemmy
version of. However those stems deserve special attention. I’ve since learned that I enjoy chard most in many of the traditional recipes for it that involve slightly more prolonged cooking, and pairing with cream and cheese. It’s unclear where the “Swiss” part of Swiss Chard comes from, but it may be something to do with a dish called capuns from the region of Graubunden in Switzerland. These resemble cabbage rolls (with chard replacing the cabbage leaves), but the filling is an unusual one, involving a sort of pasta dough flavoured with all manner of dried meats, sausage, onion and herbs. These packages are fried in butter and then simmered in a mixture of stock and cream. I’d love to say I’ve tried this recipe but I haven’t as yet – watch this space! Another recipe that we’re enjoying at the moment is a simple chard gratin – to make it simply chop a bunch of chard coarsely and wilt it down in a pan with a little butter. Allow to cool while you make a béchamel – I like to make a “milk stock” for this béchamel, made by boiling the milk and adding some onion, carrot and celery offcuts, along with a bay leaf, letting it sit for 20 minutes before straining and using to make the sauce. Stir the wilted chard into the sauce and spread the mixture in an ovenproof dish at least an inch thick. Cover with grated cheese (we have been using a lovely organic Red Leceister, but most cheeses will do) and breadcrumbs, and place under the grill until browned and crusty. This makes a lovely lunch or dinner with some crusty bread.
Jacob Whitson is a chef, food writer and smallholder – he divides his time between the Mendips and Pembrokeshire.
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 19
Food & Drink section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:53 Page 20
MENDIP TIMES
butchers * fishmongers * delicatessen
l Local meat l Barbeque selection l Fresh fish l Local cheeses and dairy l Cold meats and preserves l Bakery selection l Hog roast service l Catering for all your events l Celebration cheese towers
Expansion for Cobbs of Cheddar
IT’S a busy time for the Cobb family, who have run Cobbs of Cheddar for the last five years, with a second shop, Cobbs of Winscombe, due to open in June. Estelle and Adrian run the business with granddaughters Ellie on the deli and Heidi on the butchery team, with sonin-law, Simon, also on butchery. Simon and their daughter, Laura, are expecting the birth of a son imminently. And on June 21st, Cobbs Charter will open at Cheddar Sailing Club, with a friend, Marion Warr, in charge, serving home-made meals to club members. Estelle said: “As a family we are very excited at all that is happening.”
An alternative to Glastonbury
open: monday – saturday 7am-6pm • sunday 10am-4pm
e cross, union street, cheddar, somerset bs27 3na • 01934 742521 email cobbsofcheddar@outlook.com
THE Pennard Pop-Up promises to celebrate our first weekend of freedom with three nights of food, wine, laughter and song from Friday, June 25th to Sunday June 27th. Pennard Hill Farm is a family-run business overlooking the Mendip Hills in a tranquil corner of Somerset. They have a series of holiday cottages, a safari tent and a tree tent and also provide glamping for Glastonbury Festival. Since there’s no festival again this year, they have decided to put on a pop up restaurant for one weekend only, joining forces with well-known Somerset chef, Tom Godber-Ford Moore, who is Exmoor based. It says: “This incredible feast is a celebration of some of the best things the wilds of early summer in Somerset has to offer. From the rugged Exmoor coastline and moorland to the fields and hedgerows surrounding the farm itself, this is something not to be missed.” Accommodation on the farm is available but must be booked in advance. Details: https://www.pennardhillfarm.co.uk/events/
PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Food & Drink section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:53 Page 21
FOOD & DRINK
The Langford Inn opens after major refurbishment
THE Langford Inn, Lower Langford, managed by Butcombe Brewing Co, has undergone an extensive refurbishment inside and out, including seven boutique bedrooms. The pub, located on the edge of the Mendip Hills Area of outstanding Natural Beauty in North Somerset, has been brought into the company’s managed estate having been previously run by tenants. Maria Patrinos, general manager, The Langford Inn says: “We’re incredibly proud of the new look Langford Inn. We’ve had some great feedback from our incredibly supportive locals and I hope they enjoy the space we’ve created. “We are looking forward to showing off what we’ve done inside and in the beautiful garden where our guests can enjoy delicious food and award-winning beer. We’re the perfect pitstop for walkers and their dogs, cyclists and locals – a rural gem only ten minutes from Bristol.” The ground floor bar and dining area has been given a complete makeover in a modern country style of blue and green heritage tones, panelled walls and exposed stonework. Leather banquette seating, upholstered lounge chairs, eclectic artwork and statement wall and pendant lighting creates a variety of different zones for guests to relax in. The first-floor dining room, which is available for events and private hire, has been similarly transformed and has beautiful views across North Somerset. There are various alfresco areas for guests to choose from
– cosy bistro tables for two, larger wooden tables for groups and arched stone alcoves which are sure to be popular. Raised planters, tropical palms and festoon lighting create a really special atmosphere. The seven bedrooms have everything you would expect for a luxurious night’s stay – super comfy beds, country classic styling, high end bathrooms and Bramley toiletries. The menu focuses on local produce and field-to-fork sustainability. Guests can expect exciting ever-changing seasonal dishes alongside hearty pub classics and a great selection of award-winning Butcombe beers, ale and cider from the brewery just down the road in Wrington.
The Langford Inn, Lower Langford, Bristol, BS40 5BL • Tel: 01934 446059 • www.langfordinnsomerset.co.uk
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 21
Food & Drink section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:53 Page 22
MENDIP TIMES
Root Connections CIC 11537595
The Churchill Inn Bristol Road Langford BS25 5NL 01934 852757 the churchillinn.co.uk
A new look A new menu Same warm welcome
Russ and Bernie’s relaunched pub
PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Blooming lovely at Root Connections
Honey will be ready in August
THE cut flower season has burst into bloom at Root Connections, the not-for-profit gardening organisation in Stratton-on-the-Fosse, working to end rural homelessness. Now in its third year, the beautiful market garden continues to go from strength-to-strength as its produce, seasonal flowers and – thanks to funding from DEFRA/Natural England – an apiary of bees is thriving. Grown locally and sustainably without the use of pesticides or chemicals, its veg box subscriptions and fresh cut flower and herb bouquet deliveries are making some noise in the local area. Fiona Firmin, head cut flower grower at Roots, and her team of volunteers grow more than 150 varieties of flowers and herbs. She said: “New this year have been ranunculus and tulips, grown in our polytunnels. They’ve done amazingly well and will help to extend our season, which is wonderful.” Thanks to the government’s Kickstart Scheme, Roots has been able to offer its first work placement to Paige Daniels who will spend six months learning new skills, with guidance and support from Fiona, to help her on her path to her ideal job as a florist. Root Connections keeps bees with the overall vision of creating a pollinator-friendly community garden. Local beekeepers donated both equipment and swarms of bees! opportunities are now being offered to anyone interested in all sorts of beekeeping related activities, including candle making. Markus Mohn, resident beekeeper, who joined as a volunteer three years ago and is a beekeeper himself, runs the apiary with a small team of volunteers. He said: “Honey produced by our bees will be on sale via our online farm shop from mid-August. “As with all the other activities at Root Connections, our apiary has fostered such a sense of achievement, community spirit and increased levels of skills and knowledge for everyone involved. It is something we are all hugely proud of and are keen to share in the community.”
Food & Drink section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:53 Page 23
Catering company for sale
FOOD & DRINK
THE family team behind Party Pig Catering has put their hugely successful spit roasted meat and BBQ company on the market in order to concentrate on other business interests. Party Pig provides services for weddings and private parties throughout the South West and London. They’ve also attended events including Glastonbury and v festivals. Andrew venn, from Party Pig, said: “Bookings come in via word-of-mouth, a strong social media following and an established website which has many enquiries per week and a great Google page standing! It’s a business which is ‘ready to go’ for what I’m sure will become a busy summer for events. There is no shortage of trade.”
Business for sale
Party Pig – established for more than 14 years; built on a great reputation Sale includes website, goodwill and full catering kit: Ifor Williams catering trailer • 7 pig roast machines • ovens • walk in fridges • 5 gazebos • 1 9x9 marquee • steam cleaner • tables, linen, lights etc. and much more.
If you are interested in the business which is ready for this busy summer of events please get in touch.
Cosy bars and restaurant
Family and dog friendly
A traditional family run country pub tucked away in a beautiful corner of the Chew Valley with a delightful garden and front patio Monday to Friday 4pm From 12noon Saturday and Sunday
Refreshing pints in the summer sun Sunday lunches a speciality
Regil, Winford, Bristol BS40 8AY
01275 472388
www.thecrownregil.com info@thecrownregil.com
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 23
Events feature.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 10:12 Page 2
MENDIP TIMES
Gala debut for historic rolling stock
Young volunteers behind the engine shed
A BRAKE van originally built to teach military personnel how to operate railways has made its first appearance at the East Somerset Railway after being restored. Built in Stockport in 1959 for the Longmoor Military Railway, the 20-ton brake van would have been painted in military blue. The heritage line, at Cranmore, acquired the rolling stock in the 1970s. Railway volunteer Chris Borrison, a member of the Rotary Club of Wells, oversaw the restoration work which included repainting the brake van in British Railways standard brown-ish red, with black chassis. Despite still needing some internal work – including fitting a working stove for volunteers to use – railway enthusiasts were able to admire it during the heritage line’s first gala weekend of 2021.
EVENTS
Chris Borrison with the newly restored brake van number AD49028
Rail enthusiasts at the gala
Wells looking sew beautiful, say bunting organisers THE centre of Wells – along with many residential roads – has been decked in bunting in a community initiative timed to add some extra cheer after the latest Covid restrictions were eased. More than 80 individuals of all ages along with community groups sewed around three miles of multi-coloured bunting – some bearing hidden messages for onlookers to discover. The Wells Community Bunting Project enlisted the help of Wells Rugby Club, Wells Cathedral School students and the City of Wells Lions Club to hang the bunting. Groups who sewed sections included Wells U3A, Wells Cathedral School, Orchard Vale Trust and the Lawrence Centre.
Wells City Council bunting which will hang outside the Town Hall
Hanging bunting in the High Street
PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Claire at work on a section of the bunting outside the town hall
News page 25.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:52 Page 1
NEWS
Legion branches mark a centenary of caring
Wells branch president Robin Dowdeswell
ROYAL British Legion branches across Mendip joined in a national day of services to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the movement. In Wells, legion members gathered at the city’s war memorial in the churchyard of St Cuthbert’s Church where branch president Robin Dowdeswell laid a wreath. The Wells branch was founded in June 1921, less than a month after the RBL was created by the merging of three armed forces welfare organisations in London. Phillip Welch, the mayor of Wells who attended the service at St Cuthbert’s, said: “The dedicated volunteers who run the Wells branch of the Royal British Legion deserve heartfelt respect from the city for all the support they have given local veterans since the
The service begins outside St Cuthbert’s Church in Wells
branch was founded only weeks after the national organisation a century ago.” In Midsomer Norton, 96 poppy crosses were laid in front of the town’s war memorial ahead of a service where ex-servicemen placed the final four crosses representing the area covered by the branch which includes Paulton and Radstock and surrounding villages. A special Evensong service celebrating the centenary of the legion in Somerset will be held in Wells Cathedral on Saturday, June 6th. The following week sees a concert by the Military Wives Choir, supported by the Grey Dogs Jazz Band, in the grounds of the Bishop’s Palace. Two minute’s silence in Midsomer Norton
Shepton Mallet RBL held a service at the town’s Cenotaph
St Aldhelm’s school in Doulting held a dress-in-red day in support of the RBL
Poppy crosses at the war memorial in Midsomer Norton
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 25
Arts & Antiques pages.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:13 Page 26
MENDIP TIMES
Prize winners
TWO artists from the Cam Valley Arts Trail Group have been awarded first prize and runner-up in the adult section of a competition held by Libraries West. The competition was to create a piece of art from an ex-book or other reading material based on the term “Revitalised” and exploring what that meant. First prize went to Anna Hurwitz, who created a charm necklace made from copies of The Big Issue. The judges said: “An original and poignant statement, creatively executed and with a strong message. I love how intricate this entry was, so much time and effort has been put in a beautiful detailed piece.”
Anna Hurwitz
Runner-up Kate Wright produced a collage featuring Pulteney Bridge, Bath. The judges said: “Beautiful use of collage to depict this instantly and easily recognisable corner of Bath.” Cam Valley Arts Trail will be back in the autumn, Covid permitting, on November 6th and 7th. Details: @camvalleyartstrail or camvalleyartstrail.co.uk
Still weaving, still spinning
A letterbox draught excluder made by one of the group members
PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
A GROUP of enthusiasts who aim to keep alive the rich weaving heritage of Frome are preparing to welcome visitors and new members to their studio once more. Whilst members of Frome Weavers Spinners and Dyers were unable to access the studio during the past year, they kept busy on their own projects and have come together via Zoom meetings to share ideas, inspiration and the joy of their crafts. The group says it is delighted to be able to have an exhibition and sale in the Frome Festival this July – Still Weaving, Still Spinning is a celebration of work undertaken by members over the past year. The exhibition will take place at The Old Sunday School, on Catherine Hill, where details will be available about the group’s plans for the autumn which will include running introductory courses. l The exhibition takes place on Saturday, July 3rd, Sunday, July 4th, Saturday, July 10th and Sunday, July 11th from 10am-3pm. Details: enquiries@fromeweavers.org.uk
Arts & Antiques pages.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:13 Page 27
Why brown might be the new green
IN 30 years of happily working in antiques, the question I am asked the most is what will be the next Big Thing to buy and collect. Modesty and the absence of a working crystal ball normally leads me to side-step this With question but today, CHRIS YEO just for you, I am going to stick my neck out: Right now, antique furniture represents outrageous value for money and you should buy it while it is still going for a song. You’re welcome. Admittedly, this is not so much a prediction, more a statement of the patently obvious. Georgian and Victorian “brown furniture” (the rather derogatory term used by the Trade to describe honest, workaday furniture made from oak, mahogany or walnut) used to be the bread and butter of the antiques trade but, as the iron-grip of minimalism took hold its popularity went into freefall. Now, after 20 years of being in thrall to MDF and on-thecheap Scandi chic, there are signs that the pendulum of fashion is starting to swing again and prices may soon be on the rise.
ARTS & ANTIQUES
And for good reasons. For over 200 years the British made the best furniture in the world, nobody came close. The cream of it might now be in stately homes but there are still beautiful pieces to be found that are well-made and will last several lifetimes. One of the biggest misconceptions I hear – and it’s a huge bugbear – is that antique furniture is “so expensive”. I challenge anyone to find a brand-new piece of furniture for the same price you would pay at auction for a similar antique version. And there is more good news: Brown furniture is green. Alongside carbon footprint considerations, with most massproduced furniture destined for landfill, buying second-hand really is the best option for the environment. There is a phenomenal choice of furniture out there – much of it to be found online. My advice would be to think carefully about your needs, look around and only buy something you really love – not for any potential investment. Unless, unlike me you have a reliable crystal ball. You will be rewarded with years of service from furniture that brings pleasure into your life every day.
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 27
Arts & Antiques pages.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:13 Page 28
MENDIP TIMES
New home inspires Cheryl – literally CeRAMICIST Cheryl Cork didn’t need to look far for a source of clay for an artistic experiment – the site of her new home opposite where she lives currently. Cheryl was given permission by the builders to remove clay from the site and began the slow process of making it suitable for use by drying, then crushing, before covering with water so it became silt-like. The moisture was later drawn out so the clay slip became more solid before being “wedged” – a process similar to kneading bread – then stored for several
Examples of Cheryl’s hand-built work available at the guild
months to settle. The design on the resulting works – Japanese-style tea vessels – takes inspiration from The Tannery development in Holt, near Bradford-onAvon, part of a former glove factory which is being turned into a contemporary mix of housing and workspaces, reflecting the site’s industrial past and where Cheryl is soon to live. Cheryl, a member of the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen, studied at Falmouth University and much of her hand-built work for sale – available at the gallery off Broad Street in Wells – takes its inspiration from the coastline that surrounded her whilst in Cornwall. Cheryl also works in slip-cast porcelain. Having gained an honours degree in contemporary arts at Falmouth six years ago, Cheryl said she was drawn to ceramics because: “I like working with dirty hands.” She added: “I am learning all the time, inspired by nature. It’s a very organic process.”
Cheryl in her studio doing a process called slip-casting, which is different to throwing and hand-built
The tea vessels inspired by The Tannery
Marvellous miniatures
THe Hilliard Society of Miniaturists will hold its annual exhibition at Wells Town Hall from June 5th-12th. The exhibition includes work by some of the best miniature artists from the UK and around the world. Landscapes, animals, portraits, flowers, birds and the fantastical are all shown in extraordinary, luminous detail. You can enjoy looking at over 250 paintings and sculptures, often just a few inches wide, and talk to experts about how it is done. entry is free and the paintings are for sale alongside cards and limited editions. The exhibition will be open 10am-5pm, closed on Sunday, June 6th.
FREE ENTRY
2021 International Exhibition of Miniature Art Saturday 5th – Saturday 12th June Wells Town Hall, 10am – 5pm Over 250 paintings and sculptures, just a few inches wide. All in extraordinary, luminous detail. Talk to experts about how it is done, or buy one for yourself. There’s always space to hang a miniature on your wall! Last entry 4pm • Closed on Sunday 6th June
PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Arts & Antiques pages.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:13 Page 29
Mendip Auction Rooms now fully open WITH the continuation of the roadmap out of lockdown, the Mendip Auction Rooms are now fully open with it being possible to visit for valuations and attend viewing and sale days subject to precautions. Valuations can be undertaken on a drop-in basis between 10am and 3pm each weekday or alternatively one of the valuers from the team will be happy to visit you at home free of charge. Three sales are conducted each month at the auction rooms and the expert team of valuers can advise on value and the best sale for the item to be sold in. The team of valuers continues to grow with Harriet Mustard joining Killens in June from Special Auction Services. At the May antiques sale there was really strong online bidding with quality once again in demand. Collectables were particularly wanted with a pair of Clarice Cliff Bizarre ‘Applique’ ‘Blue Lucerne’ pattern book ends selling for £7350 with strong
national and international interest. A Sevres coffee can and saucer found amongst a collection of miscellaneous
ARTS & ANTIQUES
ceramics achieved £2600. The next antiques sale at the Mendip Auction Rooms will be held on June 12th.
Contact the auction rooms on 01749 840770 or email enquiries@mendipauctionrooms.co.uk for further assistance
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 29
Events feature.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 10:13 Page 3
MENDIP TIMES
EVENTS
Pop-up market is a big success PoP-uP markets have become popular since the pandemic, giving people the chance to meet outside, have a chat and catch-up. They are also a good way to raise money. A market held in Blagdon churchyard raised more than £1,100 for St Andrew’s Church. one of the organisers, Penny Crawfurd, said: “This was the first pop-up market this year, after having held two successful ones last autumn, and it proved to be popular again. “A large number of people came, despite the fact the venue for the market had to change at the last minute to the churchyard because there was anxiety the about the weather,
Tess Collinborn and Tina Smith on the plant stall
but the weather was kind to us.” Stalls included a large number of plants, cakes and preserves, books, toys, paintings, bric-a-brac, second-hand children's clothes and two raffles one of which was an amazing celebration cake made by Susie Barton – a white rabbit complete with upright ears.
Janet Dench, Margaret Speirs and Poppy on the raffle stall
Susie Barton (left) and Ali Grafton on one of the cake stalls
Susie Barton with her rabbit cake PAGE 30 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Imo Berman selling prints by the late Betty Silburn, to Jane Wroath and William Carey
News page 31.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:53 Page 1
Legion centenary
Cathedral front under wraps
NEWS
Pictured (l to r) Brian Marshall, Jim Swords, Judith Gallop, John Gallop, Albert Owers and Chris Clark
THE Wrington branch committee of the Royal British Legion laid a wreath on the war memorial at All Saints’ Church to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the legion’s formation. At one time there were 20 RBL branches in Somerset alone.
Centenary toast
Long Ashton’s new war memorial saw its first service
Work to the West Front should be completed by August
A PILOT conservation programme has begun on part of the West Front of Wells Cathedral which will establish the best way forward for similar work in the future. Cliveden Conservation is carrying out the first phase of works to clean and repair the stonework and sculptures to the central top tiers of Christ in Majesty, The Apostles and The Order of Angels. Each stage of the project will be carefully documented including details of cleaning and mortar trials to establish best practice and inform future conservation to the whole of the West Front. The West Front has undergone several schemes to protect and secure the statues and architectural elements. The most recent work took place during 1974-87. Berenice Humphreys, Senior Project Manager for Cliveden Conservation, said: “This is such a rare opportunity to carefully examine the fragile limestone sculptures and supporting architecture; every step of the project will be vital in securing the future of the magnificent West Front.” The Rev. Canon Dr. Rob James, Canon Chancellor and Keeper of the Fabric, said: "The West Front is one of the glories of English architecture. It tells important elements of the Christian story as well as being aweinspiring. The repairs and investigative work carried out over the next few months are vital for conserving this jewel for future generations. The Chapter of Wells Cathedral is most grateful to the Wells Cathedral Preservation Trust for funding this phase of the work." The work will continue through the summer to be completed in time for the unveiling of the Antony Gormley sculpture in August. Entitled DOUBT, the work will be placed in one of the empty niches on the West Front. Businesses and other organisations in Wells are being asked to help cover the cost of the sculpture project, following a donation by local businessman Louis Abagani to the community interest company Project Factory, which is bringing DOUBT to Wells. For details, visit: www.projectfactory.uk
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 31
Business section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 14:00 Page 32
MENDIP TIMES
P & C Logs
Security specialists
Static and mobile security patrols
KeyWarD security is a locally based business covering somerset and the surrounding counties. all of their staff have been Dbs checked and have undergone specialist training in security and First aid to meet stringent security industry standards. they operate 24-hour security static and mobile patrols throughout the south West for businesses, as well as managing security at sites where numerous people gather. they also cater for individual contracts such as providing cover during holidays. If you have any security requirements related to the protection of property or personnel, do not hesitate to contact them.
Businesses Events Holiday cover
Call Phil on 07734 098323, or Colleen on 07785 250033 Friendly prompt01934 service from Phil & or on Evenings 741941
Colleen at their farm in Charterhouse
✆ 01749 572433 ✆ 07808 275422 ✆ 07467 422546
Quality seasoned beech and ash hardwood, chopped and split into a variety of load options (with free delivery).
New business in Street
ECATCHER MOL
NO MOLE NO FEE Telephone 01761 417100
SA
LE
FOUR SEASONS SALE NOW ON
SA
LE
www.mendipmolecatcher.co.uk
GREAT SAVINGS ON SHEEPSKIN, SUEDE & LEATHER JACKETS AS WELL AS BARBOUR CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
Details: See Chi Chi’s Facebook page
Also reductions in our fashion ranges, luggage and small leather goods
S
PAGE 32 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 9.30–17.00 Sun 11.00–16.00
A L E
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 9.30–17.30 Sun 12.00–16.00
Glastonbury-born businessman and property developer Malcolm slocombe is supporting young manicurist tuan thi Dao with the launch of her new business, Chi Chi nails and spa, which opened at one of the slocombe family’s commercial premises, 98, High street, street on april 12th. Malcolm is a director of Glastonbury and street’s Four seasons sheepskin and leather goods shops. He and his family have been trading successfully for more than 50 years having first opened in Glastonbury in 1971. He is a descendant of local character Frank slocombe (b.1865), who drove the royal Mail coach through the night from bridgwater to street and was also a farmer, baker and WW1 horse supplier to the Ministry of Defence. Malcolm has always had a keen eye for business and now in his 80s likes to share his experience with others to help them with their entrepreneurial ventures. He said: “My grandfather, Frank slocombe, was someone who was always quick to spot an opportunity which is why he earned his living doing so many different things – when circumstances changed, he changed. “the Covid crisis is having a devastating effect on many businesses and it’s uplifting to meet and support a young, undeterred woman like tuan thi, who is ‘going for it’ in difficult times.” Four seasons shops in Glastonbury and street are also back open offering their exclusive trade-in service on your old sheepskin and leather coats.
Business section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 14:00 Page 33
BUSINESS
Domestic violence and abuse: the modern law
Domestic violence and abuse has always been with us – for years it was down played but nowadays attitudes have changed and the law has adapted to meet them. Domestic violence and abuse is any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. the abuse can encompass, but is not limited to: • psychological • physical • sexual • financial • emotional Controlling behaviour is a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/ or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour. Coercive behaviour is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim. a coercive or controlling behaviour offence came into force in December 2015. It carries a maximum 5 years’ imprisonment, a fine or both. Victims who experience coercive and controlling
behaviour that stops short of serious physical violence, but amounts to extreme psychological and emotional abuse, can bring their perpetrators to justice. the offence closes a gap in the law around patterns of controlling or coercive behaviour that occurs during a relationship between intimate partners, former partners who still live together or family members. Disclosure of Police records – under the Domestic violence disclosure scheme an individual can ask police to check whether a new or existing partner has a violent past. this is the ‘right to ask’. If records show that an individual may be at risk of domestic violence from a partner, the police will consider disclosing the information. a disclosure can be made if it is legal, proportionate and necessary to do so. Domestic violence protection orders (DVPos) were implemented from 8 March 2014. Domestic violence protection orders are a new power that fills a gap in providing protection to victims by enabling the police and magistrates to put in place protection in the immediate aftermath of a domestic violence incident. With DVPos, a perpetrator can be banned with immediate effect from returning to a residence and from having contact with the victim for up to 28 days, allowing the victim time to consider their options and get the support they need.
before these reforms there was a gap in protection because police couldn’t charge the perpetrator for lack of evidence and so provide protection to a victim through bail conditions, and because the process of granting injunctions by the Family Court took time. that said in less urgent cases the use of the Family Court is still very helpful in obtaining injunctions restraining matrimonial misconduct including financial misconduct (where a freezing injunction can be obtained to prevent disposals of assets intended to defeat legitimate financial claims). If in doubt as to what course to take you should seek legal advice. 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. l Family & Divorce Law l Co-habitation disputes l Inheritance disputes l Wills and Living Wills l Powers of Attorney l Administration of Trusts l Property – sales and purchases OFFICES AT: Chew Magna 01275 332168
Westbury-on-Trym 0117 950 6506
Kingswood 0117 967 5252 MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 33
D h lo L to d
Business section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 14:00 Page 34
MENDIP TIMES
Need more space at home but don’t want to move or extend? Our bespoke garden buildings can be used for virtually anything you can imagine. HOME OFFICE STUDIO SPACE LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION ADDITIONAL LIVING SPACE
Call or email for a no obligation discussion of your requirements.
www.avocetproducts.co.uk/banwell/ email info@avocetproducts.co.uk • Tel 01934 824092
Beautiful & peaceful off-grid site in nature
PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Business section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 14:00 Page 35
Sometimes in business Granny knows best HoW many times have you heard the saying “don’t throw the baby out with the bath water!” lost count? Me too. the world we inhabit currently seems to dictate that we should always be moving on, always changing the way we do things and we are led, not least, by the intense and rapid nature of the changes made in technology. It’s amazing – but is it always for the best? now, to add a homely feel to this, I have taken a couple of pictures for you. the first is of my great-grandmother’s kitchen scales. as we have quite long generations in my family, we know that these were bought and used in the Victorian era. they are still in use now. they are the most accurate and robust balance scales and my baking has
improved immeasurably since I took them out, gave them a thorough cleaning and began using them again. of course, it helps that I am used to pounds and ounces! secondly I have photographed the blade of my favourite bread knife. It was a free gift actually – to my grandmother – to celebrate the opening of the new bakery in blaenavon Co-op in 1936. It’s a really good bread knife and tackles my homemade loaves without a problem. right, so that’s the proof that old stuff can be really useful and the same is true for business. no matter how much brilliant equipment you have invested in (and believe me, I’m not saying that this isn’t a really good idea), if you don’t return calls, don’t turn up when promised, don’t offer a good value service, it won’t prevent you from losing your clients hand over fist. ultimately people just want the job done well at a price which gives value for money. as service providers we have to keep up with constantly changing rules and be highly alert and flexible whenever innovative ideas and equipment come onto the market. However, have you ever heard of anyone moving from their existing accountant, lawyer, dentist etc because they haven’t got the latest
BUSINESS
model of whatever they use? engineering, technology and innovation are great, but they don’t replace good quality service or a solid result for a customer or client. so, horses for courses, and if you have the equivalent of my great-grandmother’s kitchen scales in your office, or of my grandmother’s bread knife on your shop floor, don’t be in too much of a hurry to be rid of it. Check its cost per use against the latest model before making any rash decisions and just make certain your investment in the latest technology is entirely worthwhile. and if it is, go for it! Personally, I love a new toy. best wishes to one and all, and stay well. Jane Bowe, Probusiness
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 35
Business section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 14:00 Page 36
MENDIP TIMES
The importance of succession planning for farmers HaVInG a succession plan in place will not only help to secure business continuity but also prevent a lot of heartache for loved ones, this is particularly relevant with farming businesses where often family and business are very much intertwined. For a start many farm properties include the family home and there will be family members who do not want to take on the family business but who you still want to benefit from a share of the assets. What is succession planning? Put simply, succession planning is about having a long-term plan in place for your business and not has many incorrectly believe retirement. Why is it important? For an individual business, succession planning can help to strike a fair balance between ensuring the business is passed to those who want it and providing a share of the parental assets for non-farming siblings. Where to start? Initially with a conversation, it is important to find out what each family member wants for their own future. this may not be an easy conversation to have but it is important that everyone in the family that might be affected is involved. What should be covered in a succession plan? • How the assets of the farm are owned • Who is occupying the land and buildings and on what basis
• What each member of the family wants from the farm in the future • What is the long-term direction of the farm business Understand the tax situation there are two types of tax you need to be aware of: • Inheritance tax (IHt) – agricultural property relief and business property relief can help to reduce or eliminate IHt on farming other qualifying business assets. • Capital Gains tax (CGt) – giving away assets can trigger a CGt bill. It may be possible to claim Hold over relief, which allows any immediate CGt to be deferred, with the person receiving the gift taking over the gain of the original owner. Wills and Partnership Agreement a key part of succession planning is making sure that all members of the family involved in the business have valid Wills and, where appropriate, a partnership (or shareholder) agreement is in place. this will ensure ownership of the business ends up where intended to avoid family arguments in the future. Pensions and investments Pensions can play an important part in succession planning. they can provide a source of income or funds to buy farmland and/or property or provide provision for children who do not wish to be involved in the business.
If you are considering putting a succession plan in place, please call 01793 342323 or email Frank.Collins@mogersdrewett.com we are here and happy to help.
PAGE 36 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Business section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 14:00 Page 37
Surviving Covid – and an explosion tWo years ago steve Hale was nearly killed in an explosion at his premises in Hewish. not only has he made a remarkable recovery, his business, sJH Machinery ltd, has continued to develop despite the pandemic. It was on saturday, May 11th, 2019 that he decided to spend some time tidying his yard and was cutting the top off a 45gallon oil drum, for use as an incinerator. He said: “It’s something I had done 70 or 80 times before. but there must have been a build-up of gas somehow inside. that’s the last I remember.” the explosion hit steve full in the face and was heard right around the area. He was put into an induced coma and his family was told to fear the worst. What followed was months of treatment in five different hospitals. the brI reconstructed his face using 15 plates and 70 titanium bolts. slowly he recovered from post-traumatic amnesia. He said: “slowly but surely, I’ve made progress, thanks to my wonderful family, friends and staff. It was suggested I might have to sell the business, but it’s my baby and I care about it, so that wasn’t going to happen.” Instead expansion plans he had made before the accident went ahead, with new warehouses at Hewish and a new depot opened in tiverton, Devon. steve started his own business in 2008, after working for boulters in banwell, and now employs 15 people. the company is main dealer in the area for Kubota, Mountfield, stiga and
BUSINESS
Karcher covering domestic horticulture, professional ground care and agriculture. steve lives in lower langford with wife Jo and daughters evie, aged 11, and Gracie, aged eight. He also has a daughter, Whitney, aged 22, and son, Marshal, aged 20, from a previous marriage. He said: “In a way this was a whole massive wake-up call. I’ve been extremely lucky. I love the business and hopefully as things begin to settle down we can continue to increase our coverage across the area.”
Your main Kubota dealer for Somerset and South Gloucester Main Road A370, Hewish, Weston-super-Mare BS24 6SE
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 37
Charity section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:55 Page 38
MENDIP TIMES
Charity’s fundraising appeal
A LOCAL charity which offers a unique place of refuge to people having a hard time is hoping to buy its site and so continue its work for decades to come. During the pandemic and lockdowns, its services have been needed more than ever. Windsor Hill Wood is a family-based community, set in a woodland smallholding on the outskirts of Shepton Mallet, offering Christian hospitality to many, regardless of race, religion or absence of religion, gender or sexual orientation. Started in 2010, the charity’s vision is to offer hospitality to all by providing accommodation, three meals a day and a rhythm of life which includes times of work, rest, optional prayer and play. Between three and five guests are usually in residence, some staying several months and others just a few days. Guests arrive for a variety of reasons – some because of an explicit personal crisis or as part of an addiction recovery and others because they are finding life difficult in their home environment. Some have been homeless, or in prison, whilst others are home or business owners. Windsor Hill Wood also has many visitors and volunteers who visit the site and help with the day-to-day tasks. For them, it is a place of quiet connection with nature and an opportunity to recharge their batteries away from any daily challenges they may be facing. Windsor Hill Wood is now at a strategic point in its development. It needs to buy the property and so ensure that this project can continue for many years to come. Most of the £650,000 funds needed for this have been raised through loans and donations, but the last £100,000 is needed. Anyone interested in making a donation to the appeal can find the Windsor Hill Wood charity page at Virgin Money Giving. Details: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charityweb/charity/finalCharityHomepage.action?charityId=1020 442 or go to www.windsorhillwood.co.uk
PAGE 38 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Sisters raise funds for research
Bea (left) and Poppy
TWO young sisters from Ubley are raising money for brain tumour research in memory of a family member. Bea, aged six, encouraged her class at Ubley Primary School to take part in a “wear a hat day to school” and also sold cakes to neighbours while, Poppy, aged three, took part in a “wear a hat day” at her Zoom toddler group. Their mum, Kim Crawfurd, said: “It was my husband Christian’s sister’s husband, Piers who was known as Uncle Peas to us, who died from this disease. He was only 40 when he lost his battle with a brain tumour in March this year. We were all devastated. “It sounds strange but although he had cancer, he never acted like it so it was a shock to us all in some ways. Piers lived in London with our family; but people from around the Chew Valley knew him because when he would come and visit us he was so chatty and kind, he found friends wherever he went “After he died our girls wanted to do something to help others. They are very aware that their cousins are now growing up without a Daddy and they wanted to try and stop this happening to other families by helping to find a cure, hence why they have raised money for Brain Tumour Research.” So far the girls have raised more than £100. Kim said: “I think it’s really terrible that although brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of under 40s and children, just one percent of the national spend on cancer research is allocated to this devastating disease.” Details: https://www.braintumourresearch.org/donate
Bike jumble is back
FROME’S annual Bike Jumble, organised by Frome's Missing Links in partnership with Frome Town Council, will be held on Sunday, June 27th. Proceeds from the event, outside Frome Library, will go to Frome's Missing Links, which is working to get a family-friendly multi-user path built that will connect the town centre with the Colliers Way route to Radstock and beyond. l The sale runs from 10am-2pm. For details, visit: https://fromesmissinglinks.org.uk/
Charity section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:55 Page 39
CHARITIES
ACTIVITY charity Children’s World followed up its December Festive Special with a May Day event for all the family, featuring everything from circus skills to cabaret and crafts. The festival – funded once again by Glastonbury Town Council – was held at Paddington Farm with limited numbers able to attend to comply with social distancing. Amongst the acts performing – some for the first time this year due to lockdown – were Noisy Oyster with Dangerous Dave, Same Same but Different and the Blue Butterfly, Amy Amelia. The Green Man and Mother Nature – Vicky and Star – from Higher Beings welcomed families at the festival entrance at Middlewick Farm to guide them through the orchard to the fun. Children’s World was born out of the Glastonbury Festival and supports inclusion for all children through drama, performance, film-making and fun. Charity director, Kristen Lindop, said: “It’s great to get back out into the community. We ran a Festive Special, just before the winter lockdown, which proved very popular. Huge thanks to Glastonbury Town Council's Youth Committee who have funded this event.”
(Photograph courtesy of Weston Hospicecare)
Farm hosts May Day family fun
Arthur and Daisy in the craft tent
P
The Blue Butterfly – Amy Amelia, from Bath
Glastonbury Town Council youth committee members Luca (left) and Barney (second from right) with Angela Bolton and Kristen Lindop, from Children’s World and performer the Blue Butterfly Vicky and Star from Higher Beings
Puppeteers Noisy Oyster with Dangerous Dave
Steve Newton from performance artists Same Same but Different
For details about Children’s World’s, find them on Facebook page or at: www.childrensworldcharity.org
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 39
Charity section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:55 Page 40
MENDIP TIMES
Artworks raise thousands for children’s charities
AN artist from Radstock is hoping that sales of his watercolour landscapes will help Children’s Hospice South West in its fundraising efforts in its 30th anniversary year. David Graham, who is in his 70s, took up painting when he retired from work and set himself the target of working away at his hobby until he was able to sell his artwork in aid of children’s charities. So far, he has raised more than £10,000. Now he is supporting CHSW as it celebrates its milestone in providing care for children with life limiting conditions and their families. David said: “Children’s Hospice South West is a very special charity that is totally committed to making the most of short and precious lives. The care they offer at each of their hospices is not simply about medical and nursing care for sick children, but about enriching the lives of children and their families. “Art has brought me a lot of enjoyment and if people are kind enough to purchase a piece of artwork then together we can help the charity to offer a safe haven of care, support and friendship.” David grew up in the Lake District, where he first developed his love of landscapes and, after training as an engineer, moved
David with one of his recent works, a watercolour of the Bishop’s Palace in Wells
to the South West for his career spanning teaching and research at the University of Bath and directing IT services at Wessex Water. Emily Mitchard, area fundraiser at CHSW, said: “He is an outstanding artist and we are honoured that he has chosen to support CHSW in our 30th anniversary year. It’s a wonderful way to help us be here for local children and families now and in the future.”
For details and to purchase a painting, starting at £35 for a print, in aid of the charity, visit www.dgwatercolours.co.uk
Hundreds and thousands
KEEN knitter Audrey Smith set herself a charity target of creating a blanket featuring 100 squares after being inspired by a challenge laid down by the family of Captain Sir Tom Moore, who urged people to complete fundraising tasks based on the theme of 100. Audrey, of Shepton Mallet, asked family and friends to
Audrey at home in Shepton Mallet with the nearly-completed blanket
Some of the SWALLOW fundraisers PAGE 40 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
sponsor her to complete the blanket in aid of Dementia Care UK. Quite by chance, Audrey chose a purple colour yarn which matched the charity’s logo. The blanket will be a gift to the Torrwood nursing and dementia care home in Wells. Meanwhile, staff, members and supporters from Midsomer Norton-based charity SWALLOW, which supports local teenagers and adults with learning disabilities, set themselves challenges in order to raise money for the organisation. Amongst the tasks they completed were 100 miles walked, 100 lengths swum and 100 minutes ran. There were also 100 pictures taken and 100 cakes baked, 100 push-ups completed and 100 pictures coloured. So far, they have raised more than £1,000.
Charity section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:55 Page 41
Cyclists inspired by Gabriella
A DISABLED girl’s love of cycling with her family is behind a challenge by members of Mendip Cycling Club to attempt to “chase the sun” in June. Riders will set out from the south east coast of England at dawn to try to travel 205 miles to Burnham-onSea by sunset. They’re hoping to raise £5,000 to buy either a brandnew specialist Gabriella with Carlo on a holiday at Center bicycle for Parcs. The bikes the club are hoping to buy for children with the school are different models disabilities, or two second-hand machines, for Avalon Special School in Street where Gabriella de Gregorio, 13, is a pupil. Gabriella and her family, who live in Cheddar, are all keen cyclists with dad Carlo transporting her on a trailer. Carlo said: “Cycling is a brilliant activity for us all as a family and Gabriella adores it. It is her great joy.” The school boasts several bikes which are suitable for use by able-bodied children, but none for those with disabilities. The riders will set out on Saturday, June 19th to try to complete the journey in 17 hours. Carlo had hoped to be part of the team which will attempt the challenge, but Gabriella’s health issues meant he could not commit to the training. Carlo added: “I want to make cycling activities at school as inclusive as possible, which is why we might look at buying two second-hand bikes.”
Seven of the Mendip Cycling Club members who will attempt the challenge
For details, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mendipcyclingclub?utm_term=xE3ZxeJVn
Brothers’ challenge
CHARITIES
A FIVE-year-old pupil from St Julian’s School in Wellow has raised almost £700 as part of the Captain Sir Tom Moore 100 Challenge. Felix signed up to the challenge to raise some muchneeded funds for Ups and Downs – a charity that supports children with Down Syndrome across the South West. School head, Ruth Noall, said: “As a school we wanted to encourage children to make a difference and take part in the
Felix and Rio
Captain Tom 100 challenge. “Felix, whose younger brother Rio has Down Syndrome, walked 100 laps of his garden with a target of raising £400. That has now almost doubled thanks to the generosity of so many!” Rio completed 100 Makaton signs as part of the challenge - a language programme that uses signs together with speech and symbols to enable people to communicate. Details: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/felix-and-rioscaptain-tom-100-challenge
Hospice donation
ALTHOUGH it has been an unusual year for the members at Orchardleigh Golf Club, the business of raising money for charity continued throughout 2020. As a result, the out-going chairman, Jim Worsley, was able to present a cheque for £1,295 to Dorothy House represented by Steph Cox. Jim said: ''Dorothy House has been a consistent recipient of our fundraising for a number of years as we are so impressed with the work they do and so many of us in Frome have known people who have needed their help'' Orchardleigh was also able to donate a similar amount to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 41
Charity section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:55 Page 42
MENDIP TIMES
24-hour fitness challenge for charity IF you were suddenly faced with a life-changing diagnosis or injury, how do you think you might react? Athletes do it by exercising. Vicky Rees-Davies, a personal trainer and fitness instructor, has been diagnosed with early onset Vicky Rees Parkinson’s Disease. Davies She’s only 46. Vicky is passionate about raising awareness of PD and how the benefits of exercise, nutrition and a positive mental attitude may help to slow down the progression. She’s now an ambassador for Parkinson’s Care Ed Jackson
Kettle bells with rugby player Olly Barkley
and Support UK. Ed Jackson, a professional rugby player and England international, was completely paralysed by a neck injury four years ago. Since then Ed has slowly, and literally, scaled mountains to raise money for the charity he founded, Millimetres 2 Mountains. M2M supports people struggling with mental health problems as a result of facing adversity in their lives - by taking them away on life-changing trips to mountains. M2M then supports them through a development programme on their return. Vicky works at Balance, The Countryside Gym, in Timsbury, which is owned by Ed’s step-mum, Sue. Together with friends, including some sporting celebrities, they held a 24-hour fitness challenge “to try and help and inspire others and to raise money for these two charities so close to our hearts”. They managed to double their target of £2,000!
Details: The page is still open for donations Virgin Money Giving | 24 Hour Fitness Challenge
Locks-down for sisters
YOUNG fundraisers Devon, Taylor and Myleigh Brodrick each had more than one foot of their hair cut off for charity. Their locks have been donated to the Little Princess Trust, which provides real hair wigs for children and young people who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other illnesses. The trio, who live in Radstock, also raised £250 in sponsorship for the charity. Devon, aged 12, donated 15”, Taylor, aged 11, 17” and Myleigh, aged nine, more than 14”.
Devon, Taylor and Myleigh with their aunt Suzy Furber, a hairdresser in Faukland, who cut their locks
PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Charity section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:55 Page 43
Boost for local charity
A LOCAL charity which supplies unique memory boxes to children who have lost a sibling has received a cash boost from a house builder. The Harvey Hext Trust, which has supplied more than 300 bespoke memory boxes to professional bereavement services across the UK, has received a £1,000 grant from Persimmon Homes Severn Valley as part of their long-running Community Champions scheme. Sarah Hext, of Winford, who founded the charity after the death of her son Harvey, said: “Our memory boxes all are completely individual and personalised for the bereaved child. They are an important way of remembering the child and the design process also serves as a way of helping children express their emotions by talking about their siblings. “Like all charities, fundraising has been tough recently due to Covid-19. This grant is a huge boost.” Details: www.persimmonhomes.com www.asiblingswish.com
Support for heart research
CAMERTON and Peasedown Croquet Club held a National One Ball Croquet Tournament, raising £165 for The British Heart Foundation. The club has taken part in this national competition for some time – but this year they had 12 players, more than ever before. After a day of exciting croquet, the top two players, John Rowley and Christina Sandford, won their places at the final in Surbiton.
Collectors wanted
THE British Red Cross have rescheduled their fundraising week to the last week in June this year. With so many new houses in the area, Langport and District Red Cross group needs more collectors, both for house-to-house or in car parks. It says there is no qualification needed except the ability to smile! They will also have stalls on the field for the Somerton Fun Day on Sunday, July 4th. Chairman, Chris Cox, has donated £300 to the Red Cross this month through sales of his book. He has copies available at £12. Details: Chris Cox 01458 273085 cox.cj@btinternet.com
CHARITIES
Mendip Ring challenge to fundraisers
KEEN walkers are being urged to sign up to tackle all or part of the Mendip Ring longdistance footpath route in aid of a Frome man’s favourite charity. Frome Town Rotary is organising the 107mile sponsored walk, starting on Saturday, May 29th and finishing ten days later, in memory of Karl Waldeck, one of the founders of the club, who died in October 2020. They want as many people as possible to take on the challenge; a small group attempting the complete circuit will begin the first, 14-mile leg at East Woodlands, near Frome, and end at Farleigh House. The walk will raise funds for a Nepalese charity Classroom in the Clouds which came to Karl’s notice when he took on the challenge of walking to Everest base camp. The charity’s aims are to build good quality, new classrooms; to sponsor teachers; support teacher training, and encouraging employment of female teachers, in a country with very limited financial resources. The Mendip Ring – devised by Mendip Ramblers – is based on a series of existing footpaths which approximately follow the Mendip District Council boundary. Karl Waldeck in Nepal
There is a £5 per person entry fee. For details, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/peterbennett20
Riding therapy
SOMERSET Community Foundation is able to offer equine support for disabled and autistic young people following the closure of the Horseshoes and Handprints charity based at Stocklinch in South Somerset. The foundation will manage the H & H fund in the future. The charity was established in 2013 and provided therapy until 2017, when they returned to concentrating on delivering funding to families to access the equine therapy provider of their choice. Kirsty Campbell, programmes manager at the community foundation, said: “The Horseshoes and Handprints Fund will open to applications in September 2021. These grants will cover 50% of the cost of equine therapy sessions, up to a maximum of £250.” Details: www.somersetcf.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/Grantsfor-Individuals or call 01749 344949
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 43
Charity section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:55 Page 44
MENDIP TIMES
Poppy’s charity efforts hit a high note TALENTED young musician, 16-year-old Poppy McGhee, who has raised thousands of pounds by playing her violin to help blind and autistic children, is being recognised with a Rotary Young Citizen Award 2021. Poppy, originally from Wookey, who has epilepsy, started playing the violin aged five after seeing the famous violinist Nicola Benedetti playing on YouTube, and passed Grade 8 – the top musical examination – with distinction two weeks after her eighth birthday. She said: “I read somewhere that Nicola Benedetti passed her Grade 8 when she was eight years old. So, I decided that I wanted to do the same thing.” Poppy also started fundraising at the age of five by making and selling charity Christmas cards for a local hospice. Then, after seeing a performance when she was seven by blind and autistic pianist Derek Paravicini, who inspired the setting up of The Amber Trust, she decided to use her musical talents to raise thousands of pounds for this charity. She took part in her first fundraising concert when she was just eight. The Amber Trust was founded in 1995 with the aim of providing blind and partially sighted children, including those with additional disabilities, the best possible chance to meet their musical needs and aspirations. Professor Adam Ockelford, who founded The Amber Trust, said: “I first met Poppy eight years ago when she was only eight years old; she was a tiny little thing. And she came up to me at the end of a concert and said, ‘I want to raise money for The Amber Trust’ and I thought ‘Wow! fantastic!’. “And indeed she did! She started with a concert that year and every year since, raising money for us. She's now raised several thousand pounds. She really is our golden fundraiser.”
CHARITIES
Poppy has taken part in workshops run by The Amber Trust helping to provide music for blind, partially sighted and autistic children, and she also mentors younger musicians. Professor Ockelford added: “Poppy is a brilliant performer and she has the ability to communicate through sound and through music with young children with profound disabilities. They really pick up on her brilliant communication skills and she enthrals them with her violin playing, and they smile and laugh. It's the most wonderful thing.” Mendip Rotary Club was so inspired by Poppy, who has also been involved in many of their charitable and musical events, that they nominated her for a Rotary Young Citizen Award 2021. Poppy is a scholarship pupil at Marlborough College in Wiltshire and plays the recorder and piano as well as the violin and has also learnt to play the cello and oboe. She said: “I really love the way that music can light up people's lives and I really enjoy performing to see how much people benefit from it. Also, I really love helping younger children and being a part of their musical journey.” Poppy was due to be presented with her award as Mendip Times went to press.
A father’s grief – Chris runs in memory of his daughter CHRIS Bale is going to run 28 marathons in 28 days in memory of his daughter AnaBella, who died 28 days after being born. He was preparing to set out from his home in Frome on May 19th, the third anniversary of her death, travelling down to Poole to start his run around the South West Coast Path, aiming to complete a round trip of around 734 miles. He’s raising money for Bristol Children’s Hospital’s Grand Appeal and the bereavement charity CRUSE. He and his wife stayed in accommodation provided by the appeal during AnaBella’s short life. Chris, an entrepreneur who works in IT, will be filming as he goes, talking on his website about his grief, hoping it will help other men “to talk about their story”.
He said: “Male suicides represent 75 percent of all suicides in the UK and 45-49 is the most common age group. We are not good about showing our emotions. I expect the videos will be pretty raw.” He’d originally planned a marathon walk in Spain in honour of his daughter, but the pandemic put paid to that. He said: “I’m not an endurance athlete and I know it’s going to be hard. I started running marathon distances during lockdown. Then Captain Tom really raised the bar and I wanted to do more than a walk.” He’s carrying a tent, hoping people would offer him a place to pitch it. His last stop before returning home is due to be Axbridge. He said: “I expect I’ll be pretty broken by then.”
Details: www.walkforanabella.com Facebook Podcast Spotify A Father’s Grief www.gofundme.com/walk-for-anabella https://bit.ly/anabella2021
PAGE 44 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Wildlife page.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 11:50 Page 40
WILDLIFE
My goodness, is it really June already?
AS I write this in mid-May we have come out of what now seems to be a traditional long dry and cold, yet very sunny spring. We have then moved into the equally, so it seems, traditional long, wet May, but still with the background temperature below average. The climate and wildlife By CHRIS barometer that is my garden has SPERRING responded to these new conditions in very MBE interesting ways, with the normal two pairs of blackbirds going through the long dry period having either fledged no young from one nest, or only one young from the other. You see, for them, a moister spring will create a big supply of juicy food at an important time and that’s when they’re feeding young. But they did have the chance to breed again during May which may mean more fledglings. For the first year since 1993 the frogs in our two garden ponds have failed to produce any spawn, no doubt caused by the very late frosts and actual reduced numbers of frogs themselves. These issues combined have taken their toll. These are just two issues in just one garden, so if we now expand that decline into the wider countryside, we might also find some interesting developments. Through the aid of remote cameras in several of our Hawk and Owl Trust nesting boxes, we now know that tawny owls have had a very mixed spring, with many pairs seemingly not starting to nest. Early nesters are appearing to be failing with those that started later being more successful. This is a trend that’s actually been happening in the last few years, and the other interesting trend is with barn owls. Though traditionally starting to nest earlier, those pairs that did start early, even way back as far February, have lost out through the long dry period with grass growth being suppressed. This slow growth has had a knock-on effect on the number
Blackbirds have been struggling to find food in the chilly and wet
A barn owl enjoying one of its favourite habitats
of small mammals that the owls prey upon and which must be available at the critical owlet rearing time. Yet again, we see those barn owls that are now incubating or even laying eggs much later fare better. Of course, that’s providing this wet, chilly weather gives way to a more settled period of weather during June. Owls make an interesting study with regards to weather effects. If we take the barn owl, for example, then it doesn’t like the cold or extreme heat, finds it difficult in constant wind and, because of its superb adaptation of silent flight, its stealthy approach to prey is compromised in heavy rainstorms. I suppose if we're honest we’d say with that list: “What the heck is it doing living Britain in the first place?” However, it does, and their actual numbers are certainly more stable than 25 years ago thanks largely to the farming community. After more than a year of being unable to monitor numbers and nest sites, I’m delighted to say I’m now back out-andabout monitoring, not just owls but all wildlife, and offering advice to landowners and farmers. I have to say a massive thank you to all the farmers who have been in touch recently and these will be mostly new contacts so new owl nests for me to monitor and hopefully much more wildlife in years to come! What’s also welcome is the number of questions I’m now being asked about rewilding and, as I have lectured on this subject for more than 15 years, it’s no surprise to anyone that I’m convinced that this is the way forward. Before anyone shudders with horror at the prospect of huge change, then think again as it’s not like that at all. There are many independent wildlife groups now working within their own communities and so it was a real privilege to meet a relatively new group called Rewild Chew Garden by Garden. Though a small group, it’s already having a huge impact by literally going from garden to garden giving advice to people on how best to still have their formal gardens but making room for and increasing the wildlife within their area. Brilliant work! Find them on Facebook.
To watch live footage from one of our Somerset barn owl nest sites, visit: www.hawkandowltrust.org/web-cam-live/barn-owl-cam-live-somerset
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 45
Walking DPS.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 14:03 Page 46
MENDIP TIMES
Beauty from an industrial past
THIS circular ramble starts in the Forestry Commission woods above East Harptree in the Mendip Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and explores little-known paths, going near one of the sources of water that flows down to Bristol and passing the amazing last lead smelting chimney on Mendip. All the industry has gone and now we can enjoy gorgeous woodland with bluebells in spring, streams, fields and great views over Chew Valley Lake. We head along a wooded combe and under an amazing stone aqueduct. Go past East Harptree Church, the Waldegrave Arms pub and through East Harptree passing the community shop. To complete the round there is a modest climb back up, through fields, on a small lane and through a wood set up by a local family. This walk puts us in exploring mood, enjoying new paths and tracks. There are about four or five stiles en-route.
With Sue Gearing PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
PARK: In East Harptree Woods Forestry Commission car park, which is off the BB134 road heading from Mendip north towards East Harptree. There is a barrier at the entrance, 6.6ft (1.98m) high.
START: From the car park turn left through a forestry barrier and along the broad track in the woodland. This area is now all open access. Continue until you reach a turn right signposted to Smitham Chimney. Follow the track as it bends round, past a fenced-off area around new planting and arrive at a rustic wooden oak seat made by Rickford carpenter Roger Baker, overlooking the pond and the magnificent 70ft chimney. Carry on around the pond to an information plinth about the chimney, the mining and resmelting.
1. CHIMNEY This, the last lead smelting chimney on Mendip, is a visible reminder of the thousands of years of lead mining that have taken place on the hill. This Cornishstyle chimney was built mid-19th century when an industry sprang up here and at other Mendip mineries to re-smelt the piles of slag from previous mining. The chimney was connected by horizontal flues to a furnace, now long since gone. Reach a T-junction with a track and turn left away from the chimney. Soon take the next clear track on your right (ignore a couple of small footpaths off right over the bumpy ground). You will have a plantation of pines on your left and humpy bumpy ground on the right, more evidence of former mining. Go through a gap in an old stone wall and almost immediately fork right on a smaller path (opposite a mining
hollow on the left). This is a small grassy path which soon goes downhill under an avenue of pines.
2. VALLEY EDGE Reach the edge of a steep valley, Garrow Bottom, and a crossing track. Down in the Bottom is a spring feeding water down to Harptree Combe where it combines with another source of water from Chewton Mendip. This then continues down towards Bristol and Barrow Tanks, using only gravity feed, thanks to the skill of the Victorian engineers. We see more of this later. Turn right with the valley down left. The slopes were carpeted with bluebells and ransoms (wild garlic) when I came. Follow this main track when it bends sharp left and drops down back on itself still in the woods. At the end, turn sharp right on a track along the bottom with a stream on your left – the stream coming from the spring further along. After rain, expect some mud. The track leads all the way to a lane, going through one of the traditional old forestry barriers. 3. LANE Cross to the kissing gate (KG) opposite. Go ahead across the field to a marker post with a choice of paths and bear up left. Continue diagonally up, to a small copse ahead of you in the top right corner of this field. This is full of wild garlic in the spring. Go through a gap in the stone wall; you will see a footpath marker post pointing diagonally back down towards beautiful views of Chew Valley Lake. Follow the footpath direction down this field, walking towards the lake. In the corner, go through two KGs separated by
Walking DPS.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 14:03 Page 47
WALKING
the remains of an old stone stile. Head diagonally down to the bottom left corner, passing four oaks over right in the field. In the corner a KG leads to a stony track.
4. TRACK Turn right and, not far along, go right over a stile and then bear diagonally left across the field (the same field you were in earlier with the oaks). Go through a kissing gate and go straight ahead across towards woodland. After another KG, drop steeply down into Harptree Combe. 5. HARPTREE COMBE Turn left in the combe, with the stream right. It can be a bit muddy for a while. Notice the steep rocky sides of the combe on the other side, on the top of which are the almost invisible remains of a former castle, Richmont Castle. It was originally owned by the cruel Azeline de Perceval (“the wolf”) and his equally cruel son (“the wolf cub”). It became a useful fortress during the Norman conquest of Somersetshire. It was held by Sir William de Harptree for Empress Matilda against King Stephen and, although seemingly impregnable, it was captured by the King. Fortunately, the castle was left intact. In the time of Henry VIII it was pulled down by the then owner, Sir John Newton. Continue down the combe coming alongside stone work channelling the stream into a leat. Bend round right, down steps and left along a path. Up right is where the water from Chewton Mendip comes in. Go along with huge stone buttresses on your right, holding the water. Finally come to the magnificent stone aqueduct with the water piped above. This is all part of the skilfully crafted line of works bringing water to Bristol from Mendip.
OS Explorer 141, Cheddar Gorge & Mendip Hills West, grid ref: 557541, post code for car park BS40 6DA. 5.9 miles, about 3 hours walking.
6. AQUEDUCT Go under the aqueduct and on down the stream to the bottom of the combe, leaving through a KG. Note the magnificent oak tree ahead. Turn right uphill and along a broad hedged track. Cross a stile and head towards the church. Go up steps and through a significant stone squeeze stile, along a path at the side of the churchyard and out into East Harptree village. The beautiful 12th century church is well worth a visit.
7. EAST HARPTREE Go ahead, passing the Waldegrave Arms on your right and on through the village. Go on past the community shop, avoiding side turns. Over left is the wall of Harptree Court. Go through the de-restriction signs and at the end of an orchard on the right, take the footpath stile right into a field. Go up the right side of three fields until you come out onto a lane. 8. MORGANS LANE Almost opposite, turn up into Morgan’s Lane still climbing steadily. Reach Morgan’s Cottage ahead and go to the left. A few yards before the end, take a
pedestrian gate right and go ahead and through a gate into very pleasant Walker’s Wood.
9. WALKERS WOOD This is in memory of Mike and Carolyn Walker and has a welcoming seat. Go through the wood into a field then head up diagonally across, going through a gap in the hedge and across a streamlet. Up on the top is a Bristol Gate (BG). Once through head right, through another BG and now, on the level, follow the left hedge. Go left through a BG. Bear up across to the top right corner, near a large farm. (It can be a bit confusing with temporary fencing for horse paddocks). You may have to step over. Go up and then right across a footbridge. The path then heads across, bends up left to a KG onto a Tarmac drive. Turn right and soon reach Harptree Hill. 10. HARPTREE HILL Turn left uphill and find the entrance to the woods where you parked. The Waldegrave Arms, East Harptree, 01761 206859.
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 47
Outdoors page.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 11:51 Page 64
MENDIP TIMES
OUTDOORS
West Countryman’s diary
HALF the year has gone already! The brighter side of this is we are moving closer to some sort of “normality”. Whatever that may hold for our future is yet to be seen. Are we now living in the new normal, with social distancing and changes to routines born out of the pandemic? There are so With LES many questions, but life must go on that’s DAVIES MBE for certain! We have questioned our human behaviour of global travel and use of natural resources. Perhaps this has been for a reason, a reason that has made us look at what we have been doing and how we can improve things. I recall John Thatcher of Thatchers Cider summing up a job or project by asking “Could we have done it better?” It seems like April showers all the time at the moment, but this can be all to the good when it comes to growing crops. Last year was far too dry, far too early. We can deal with a dry period after the end of May, but not before. That said, my potatoes finally went into the ground during a dry spell alongside the onions and shallots. Small stuff compared to the first cut of silage or the early Cheddar strawberries, but important to me as a statement of self-reliance. Looking closer to home has become very important and there can never have been a greater importance placed upon the community shop and farm shop to supply good quality local produce needed during our time of lockdown. I hope that this trend is here to stay! Local campsites, pubs and restaurants are no doubt looking forward to opening up again. Can you remember having a pub lunch? At one time it was all part of the day out and maybe we will be spending leisure time there again. A day out in the countryside is more than just the miles walked, it’s about what you can see and experience. That’s the reasoning behind the walk books I write with Sue Gearing. There are lots of things to see if you have the eyes to see them! Have you seen the scary beastie that has been etched into a field on the slopes of Long Bottom near Shipham? It transpires this is an advertisement for a new computer game. The figure is
a large wolf-like creature, which I truly hope has not been seen lurking around the nearby Rowberrow forest. It is however very impressive, but regretfully may very soon disappear with the rain. Mendip does not have the underlying chalk of Dorset and Wiltshire where other features have been carved since prehistoric times. I suspect this creature will have been created with a bio-degradable medium and will soon melt back into the landscape as quickly as it appeared. It is certainly a very impressive piece of contextual art on a large scale. Not all that far back Yeo Valley created a cow on a north sloping field above Ubley. More like “How now brown cow” than the White Horse of Westbury, in Wiltshire, it was another feature of interest and conversation in the countryside. All this stuff fascinated me and as I await the arrival of “Banksy” on Mendip, there are still plenty of things in the natural environment to fuel my limited artistic interest. We may not possess a Cerne Abbas giant, with all his natural attributes, or a white horse, but we have twisted shapes in the trees and cloud formations that appear as one thing only to morph into another shape, disappearing as quickly as they were created. Time spent relaxing on a sunny Sunday afternoon looking at clouds isn’t time wasted. It’s therapeutic and great family entertainment. When you grow tired of cloud gazing, which does have a name that escapes me at the moment, so I shall christen it “polygrotamy”, start looking for faces and shapes in the trees. Scary monsters or quiet benign looking creatures, all appear at one time or another when your eyes and mind become accustomed to searching them out. I have found one of the best places is amongst the ancient lime trees that mark the south east boundary of Kings Wood near Cross. Check out the Winscombe walk on page 10 of the Mendipity walk book to take you on the pathway through these guardians of the ancient woodland. I am going to leave room this time for an extra picture: Firstly the snarling beast of Shipham and secondly the almost Jurassiclike creature seen on Wrington Hill. No doubt you will find many more during your days out! The “blob” on the picture is a fly on the lens, who was so desperate to get in on the act. Thanks to Sue Gearing for providing me with these.
You can always contact me through my website: Westcountryman.co.uk PAGE 48 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Yeo Valley page.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 11:52 Page 1
Gardening section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:46 Page 50
MENDIP TIMES
Beat the bugs with biological control
After the cold nights in April, and April showers in May, hopefully we can get back into our gardening routines. the bedding plants and runner beans are planted out and growing away, herbaceous plants are staked before they even think about flopping, and the tomato flowers are With MARY setting well in the greenhouse. PAYNE MBE So, we can now turn our attention to dealing with all the variety of little critters that wish to destroy our best efforts and eat our crops before we do. As less and less effective sprays, quite rightly, are available to us, we need to move into the world of biological control in our gardens. the horticultural industry has been there for many years and we are now able to benefit from their research into who controls what and how to go about it. there are basically three approaches. trap it, eat it, or lay eggs in it. the “trap it” approach has been around for many years in the form of grease or glue bands applied to the trunks of fruit trees to control winter moth. the female winter moth is wingless so after emerging from a chrysalis that has overwintered in the soil, she must climb up the trunk to lay her eggs on the flower clusters. On the way up she gets stuck to the grease so cannot mate with the winged male moths flying above waiting for her. Grease bands have no effect on codling moth numbers as both the male and female can fly. Yellow sticky traps have been hung in greenhouses to trap anything that likes yellow especially the pesky glasshouse whitefly that likes tomatoes and plenty more. thrips prefer blue so blue sticky traps are used to monitor the level of particularly western flower thrips which can devastate glasshouse crops. We have now moved on from basic glue traps to specific pheromone traps. these use the sex hormone of the female of a single species to lure the male to his death, again on a sticky platform. In commercial horticulture these are used to give an indication of the level of pest infestation and are unlikely to give complete control. In our gardens they are useful tool to reduce populations to a tolerable level. the great advantage of these pheromone traps is that they only catch the intended prey as only they are attracted by the scent, leaving all other insects to go about their business unharmed. the most popular of this type has been the pheromone trap for codling moth. this is the remains of the grub you often get inside an apple after taking a bite! the trap should be hung in the tree between May and August and one trap will protect about five trees. A similar product is available to help control the grub inside plum fruits, aka plum moth and should be used at a similar time to the codling moth trap. Similar traps are available for pea moth (the grub inside peas) and raspberry moth grub. Leek moth has in recent years had a devastating effect on leeks on allotments but can now be controlled in a similar way between May and June and again from August to October when the second generation of adults are on the wing. two promising introductions in this field are pheromone PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Chafer grubs
traps for the horse chestnut leaf miner that causes so much unsightly damage to the foliage and box tree caterpillar. the latter is likely to be heading your way between April and October. this moth lays hundreds of eggs which can hatch into voracious caterpillars and can easily defoliate a box bush. Once you have an infestation, then a different approach is required – read on. even the dreaded chafer grubs that cause havoc in lawns and borders can be caught by an appropriate trap. One trap will not catch all the aforementioned pests, you will need a separate trap for each species. In greenhouses we can employ a different “eat it” approach and release “good” bugs to control the “bad” bugs either by gobbling them up or by parasitising them. A common greenhouse pest on cucumber, melon and almost any plant is the tiny two spotted spider mite. this pest sucks the sap of the plants leaving a mottled appearance and weakening the plant. Another “good” tiny spider, (Phytoseilus persimmilis) runs around eating all the “bad” spider mites without harming anything else. Check the temperature that these “good” bugs prefer and ensure you have a population of tasty pests for them to eat before introducing them. Both the adult and larval stage of ladybirds and lacewings are excellent at dining on greenfly in the garden, likewise, earwigs and the larvae of the hoverfly. the glasshouse whitefly, the scourge of tomato plants, can be controlled by the “lay eggs in it” approach by the introduction of a minute wasp, Encarsia formosa, which lays its eggs in the immobile nymph stage of the whitefly, turning them black. New parasitic wasps emerge to continue the good work. Microscopic eelworms can be deployed to control slugs, vine weevil grubs and chafer grubs. the eelworm transmits a deadly bacterium to the grubs, rather than devouring them. read the instructions very carefully as some of these eelworms are sensitive to low temperatures (aren’t we all!) and the soil must be always kept moist to enable them to swim around and find the slugs or grubs. Lack of adequate soil moisture is the most common reason for failure with these products. Bacteria are also used in the control of box caterpillar. Bacillus thuringensis in conjunction with a plant feed can be sprayed onto affected plants. Care must be taken not to use this product on other plants as the bacteria can attack any caterpillars. Using good bugs to defeat the bad bugs is the future of pest control both for the amateur and professional. remember that these are live creatures you are introducing, so take care of them on arrival.
Gardening section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:46 Page 51
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 growbags 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.
GARDENING
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NURSERY MASBURY, NR. WELLS, SOMERSET BA5 3HA TEL: 01749 841014 FAX: 01749 841055 www.rockymountainnurseries.co.uk COME & SEE OUR FINE RANGE OF FRUIT TREES, SHRUBS, GERANIUMS & FUCHSIAS
Visit our MASBURY’S CAFE
Serving breakfast, lunch & afternoon tea Delicious homemade meals. Sunday Roasts, Outside catering, buffet lunches delivered, themed cuisine events. Telephone 01749 841155 for further details.
BROWSE AROUND JAMES STORE SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS WWW.ROCKYMOUNTAINNURSERIES.CO.UK
ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS – SET IN 12 WONDERFUL ACRES –
Fencing
Hedging
Services include: Treework | Stump Grinding Fencing | Turfing | Logs Garden and Ground Maintenance Avant and Operator Hire Stump grinding
We also offer one-off or regular contracts, Domestic and Commercial
Turfing
Contact Dan 07827 328874 or email dan@a1gardening.co.uk web www.a1gardening.co.uk
Treework
Grass cutting & maintenance MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 51
Gardening section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:46 Page 52
MENDIP TIMES
C
NORTON GREEN GARDEN CENTRE
SUPERB SELECTION OF BEDDING, PATIO & HANGING BASKET PLANTS READY NOW! . . . TAKE A WANDER AROUND OUR PLANT AREA & EMBRACE THE GLORIOUS COLOURS & FRAGRANCES – WE GUARANTEE YOU WILL BE SPOILT FOR CHOICE!
VEGETABLE PLANTS READY NOW INCLUDING TOMATOES, RUNNER BEANS & MANY MORE!
WELLS ROAD, CHILCOMPTON, RADSTOCK BA3 4RR Telephone: 01761 232137 Open Mon–Sat 10am to 4pm • Closed Sundays
Weston Garden Machinery Garden Machinery & Woodburning Specialists
One battery powers multiple tools
Behind Shell Garage Winterstoke Road, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset BS23 2YS
Tel: 01934 626093 www.westongarden.co.uk PAGE 52 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Plant sale supports church
eLAINe Avery has set up a plant stall once again outside her home to raise money for St Mary’s Church in West Harptree. She started off in a small way back in 2005, raising just over £100 that first year. Since then she has raised over £11,000, growing most of the plants herself, with others donated by local people. elaine said: “During lockdown plants have sold particularly well while many people were reluctant to travel farther afield to garden centres. Last year it raised about £1,800 for St Mary's which was very welcome because the pandemic prevented us from holding many of our usual fundraising events.” Parishioners will be holding their annual pavement sale for St Mary's on Saturday, June 5th, with stalls outside the church from 10-12noon. If wet, the sale will be held in West Harptree Memorial Hall.
vill S wa wa " Ch bas ma bom
wil rec C on hav jus sun fam “ Ch D
Gardening section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:46 Page 53
Cheddar summer challenge
Instead of their traditional indoor event Cheddar flower Show committee are inviting people to take part in a village-wide event in August, a flower and Scarecrow trail. Show chairman, Chris Sims, said: "Many people have enjoyed walking, gardening and creative crafts over the last year and we wanted to combine these in a celebration of summer. "We are asking villagers of all ages to join in our Summer Challenge by making a scarecrow, or by planting pots, hanging baskets or flower beds, or decorating their gardens with homemade flowers, pom-poms, garlands or bunting, or even yarnbombing. “All featured items must be in front gardens and visible from the pavement or gate, so no-one will go into the garden." the trail will run from Saturday, August 14thAugust 28th, when everyone's handiwork and green fingers can be admired by people following the trail map. It will not be judged, but every participating household will receive a small memento. Chris said: “During August we will also have a virtual show on facebook, when people can post a photo of anything they have made or grown, such as craft, cookery, flowers, or artwork, just for kudos, no prizes, but there will be a prize for the tallest sunflower in the Grow a Giant Sunflower Competition for families. “We hope that Cheddar folk will enjoy this Summer Challenge."
WI gardeners
GARDENING
tHe Garden Gang has been in action again, providing plants for Bishop Sutton playing fields. Members of Bishop Sutton and Stowey WI took on the planters there last October, when they seemed to be neglected. President, Jenny Harris (pictured), has donated a wide array of plants, tended by herself and members.
Details: Cheddar Flower Show Facebook Page or contact cheddar.flowershow@yahoo.com
PERFECT PAVE
Perfect Pave, based on the Valley Line industrial estate, in Cheddar, has built an enviable reputation over the last 16 years for the quality of its work installing block paving and other landscaping products. Now founders Alex Howley and Simon Bethell have set up a new service run by James Starmer supplying these products to both the trade and public, as well as continuing to expand their installation team. e company now has contracts all over the South West and offers a wide choice of projects. It’s not only friendly, professional service that sets us apart, we can’t be beaten on price and ensure our prices beat those of builders’ merchants and garden centres.
Showroom open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-12noon Sat MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 53
Gardening section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:46 Page 54
MENDIP TIMES
Timberwork Buildings Bespoke buildings to suit you
We specialise in the manufacture of quality standard and bespoke garden buildings to suit your individual needs including:-
WORKSHOPS/GARAGES GARDEN SHEDS SHELTERS & STABLES PLAYHOUSES Let our dedicated team assist you in your choice whatever your budget . . . Full design, installation and delivery service available – customise your shed to suit your needs
We also do: Chicken Houses Dog Kennels • Bin & Log Stores YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT US AND SEE OUR SHOW MODELS – OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
THE TIMBERYARD • SHUTE SHELVE • CROSS • NEAR AXBRIDGE Tel: 01934 732 396 • www.timberworkbuildings.co.uk e.mail: timberbuildings@aol.com
Bank Holiday Monday Open 10am-4pm
NGS GARDEN OF THE MONTH
Wrington gardens
Homemade teas at Mathin Cottage, plants for sale. Opening details: Wednesday, June 9th and Sunday, June 13th, 2-5.30pm. Admission: Combined entrance for all gardens £5, children free, pay at the gate. Address: School road, BS40 5NB.
Watcombe, Winscombe
Mature three-quarter acre edwardian garden with colourthemed, informally planted herbaceous borders, pergola with varied wisteria, two formal ponds and growing collection of clematis. Opening details: thursday, June 10th, 2-6pm. Admission: £4, children free. Please book ahead on www.ngs.org.uk Address: 92 Church road, Winscombe, BS25 1BP.
Lympsham gardens
Cream teas, plants for sale. Opening details: Saturday June 19th and Sunday June 20th, 2-5pm. Admission: Combined admission for all four gardens £6, children free. Pre-booking available on www.ngs.org.uk but not essential.
Frome
three contrasting town gardens: 1/3rd acre with views at Catherston Close; a former bramble strewn wasteland which has become a secret, walled garden at elmfield House and another transformation in Lynfield rd, showing how 1970s conifers can be replaced with colourful mixed borders. Opening details: Sunday, June 20th, 12-5pm. Admission: Combined admission: £6, children free. Must be pre-booked via NGS website.
Penny Brohn UK
teas and plants. Opening details: Sunday June 27th, 11am–4pm. Admission: £4, children free. Pay at the gate. Address: Chapel Pill Lane, Pill, BS20 0HH.
Honeyhurst Farm
Cream teas and plants available. Opening details: Sunday, July 4th & Monday, July 5th, 25pm. Admission: £4, children free. Address: rodney Stoke BS27 3UJ. https://www.ngs.org.uk
PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Gardening section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:46 Page 55
Popular sale
Foodbank veg challenge
John Parkin and his sons Frederick and Franco with some of the plants they had bought
Judith Manning and her granddaughter Elizabeth, who was celebrating her seventh birthday
GARDENING
tHe annual plant sale at St Laurence’s Church, east Harptree raised about £715 for Christian Aid. Organiser, Hazel rider, said: “Despite a wet forecast, it was a mostly sunny day and the attendance was good especially during the morning. Our grateful thanks to all who grew plants and came to this popular annual event.”
A GLASTONBURY HOLY THORN TREE Crataegus Monogyna Biflora – It’s The Real Thing!!!
Available from Malcolm Slocombe Four Seasons 16 High Street, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9DU Telephone No: 01458 832061
GArDeNerS are being asked to sign up to a challenge to help Wells foodbank by donating surplus fruit and veg or by growing larger amounts of crops if they have space. During the coronavirus pandemic, more people than ever have been turning to the foodbank for help and organisers say it is vital that enough fresh food is provided to help everyone in need. the Veg Patch Challenge is an opportunity for growers to pass on spare produce to people in need. Sue Marland, senior pastor of Wells Vineyard which is behind the challenge, said: “If you’re planting fruit and veg crops this spring, please think about growing a little more this year to share with foodbank clients. “every week the local supermarkets donate fresh produce which supplements the tins and packets that shoppers give, but we also buy additional fresh food to ensure all foodbank clients can receive a balanced and healthy diet.” the idea came from rod Major, president of the City of Wells Lions Club, who added: “We all know people who struggle to use up crops in the summer and we thought it would be a great use of spare produce if it could be given to the foodbank. Many people in need would be delighted to receive fresh, healthy food in their food box and it would be wonderful to see homegrown food going to such a good cause.” To sign up for the challenge, email info@wellsvineyard.com or message via Facebook.
GALHAMPTON Country Store
A FAMILY-RUN SHOP & STORE ON THE A359 BETWEEN CASTLE CARY & SPARKFORD
Now available in Patio size
daily home essentials, fresh bread & milk
Garden & timber supplies
DAILY HOME ESSENTIALS, FRESH & LOCALLY SOURCED SPACIOUS, FREE CAR PARKING – OR CAN DELIVER LOCALLY
Footwear & clothing
pet, poultry, horse & livestock feeds
Open seven days a week: Mon-sat 8am-5.30pm/sun 10am-4pm
Fir Tree Business park, High Road, Galhampton, yeovil, somerset, Ba22 7BH • Tel: 01963 440464 email: sales@galhamptoncountrystore.co.uk
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 55
Coronavirus feature.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:49 Page 56
MENDIP TIMES
Village says Happy Birthday
Special delivery – John’s home service
Pictured (l to r) Ron’s son Ian, granddaughter Freya, Roko the dog, Ron Waker and grandson Harrison
Ron Waker, from Compton Dando, was unable to throw a big party for his 90th birthday because of Covid restrictions. Instead villagers and family members decided to do the next best thing and celebrated with a banner, balloons and by ringing the church bells. Ron was a dedicated member of the church’s bell ringing team before Covid put paid to that. He is also a church warden at st. mary’s and is well known throughout the village as the first to volunteer to help at any village event. Together with mervyn Cox, Ron maintained the churchyard for many years and created and tends the beautiful garden behind the tower. He has also been popular as a dog-sitter for favourite village canines. Thanks to the “rule of six outdoors”, Ron and his family were able to enjoy a private garden picnic to mark the event.
Covid winner
PAGE 56 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
James stewart, aged 14, from Felton has won first prize in a school literacy competition with a piece describing how the pandemic affected him and his family. He said: “I wrote about how I wasn't able to play rugby and how I had to stay home. It was a sad time. I just wrote about how it felt to be living in a global pandemic and how it changed my life.” He attends the Voyage Learning Campus in Westonsuper-mare and is pictured with his prize, an amazon fire tablet.
DuRIng the pandemic, communities have found various ways to adapt. In Hutton Mendip Times readers have been fortunate enough to carry on receiving the magazine thanks to local resident, John Chatburn, and his trusty bicycle. magazines are usually picked up from the village hall. However, due to various restrictions on movement and the closure of public buildings, this has proved difficult for residents with the hall being closed. John came to the rescue by voluntarily delivering the magazine by hand to 60 grateful residents over the past 12 months. It is hoped that, with the “road-map to recovery” being implemented, residents will once again be able to get their monthly shot of mendip stories and events from the hall which was hoping to carry out cautious re-opening from the middle of may. John is pictured with his trusty bicycle getting ready to deliver the may edition. originally in hotel management, he received the mBe for services to the local community over many years. He will be 80 next year. We hope to feature more of our own unsung heroes of the pandemic in future issues.
Coronavirus feature.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:49 Page 57
Young rangers are back
MENDIP V CORONAVIRUS
School beats Covid restrictions
Pictured (l to r) Dave Wiltshire, school head, Ruth Motion, school chaplain, and the Rev Stuart Burns, vicar of Cheddar
menDIP Hills aonB has welcomed back its young rangers more than a year after its programme was disrupted by the pandemic. They were greeted by some of mendip's finest weather, rain and fog! Leader, Lauren Holt, said: "We found it really difficult to have the same impact running sessions online as the objective of the programme is to be an outdoor learning experience. “We decided that the best thing to do would be to offer an extension of the programme instead. our current cohort started in september 2019 and would normally graduate this July. However, they will now be graduating in July 2022. “This means they will have another year to make up for all the time we lost and get the experience they signed up for.” For their first session back the young rangers were handson supporting a local community tree planting group and tending to some newly-planted saplings on one of mendip's nature reserves. They plan to continue helping with this project in autumn.
Grants available
KIngs of Wessex school has managed to maintain a leavers’ tradition dating back to 1883, despite Covid restrictions. since then students have celebrated their moving on to pastures new by climbing the tower of st. andrew’s Church in Cheddar on ascension Day, Thursday, may 13th and singing the ascension Hymn. It’s thought the tradition was brought to the school by a former headmaster who had seen similar traditions at magdalen College, oxford. after a short service in the church, the oldest children climb the tower, while the youngest watch from the vicarage garden with sticky buns. Covid-19 restrictions meant the school was forced to move things online to keep the tradition alive and keep children and staff safe. The school shot a short ten-minute service from the church for children to watch in classes, followed by a montage of drone footage from the top of the tower in a bid to bring the experience of ascension back down to earth! The trust’s chief executive, gavin Ball, said: “although the last year has been tough, to keep these traditions alive feels immensely important and something I am very proud of the staff at the Kings of Wessex for working so hard to do. “We are incredibly pleased that the tradition of ascension Day has been able to continue here at Kings, and although we hope that we will be able to get back to normal next year, for now we’re grateful to be able to do something to mark all the incredible achievements of our children!”
Trustees Gavin Heathcote and Cllr Karen Walker
THe Peasedown Community Trust, founded last year, has relaunched its grant scheme to support projects in the village. Chair of trustees and director, gavin Heathcote, said: “our grant giveaway will hopefully go a long way to support those Peasedown projects that need help getting back on their feet.” Details: peasedowncommunitytrust@gmail.com
The video is available to watch via the Wessex Learning Trust’s YouTube channel https://youtu.be/9ElYNOThUvs
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 57
Coronavirus feature.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:49 Page 58
MENDIP TIMES
Support for young victims
Pictured (l to r) Kate Dewfall, Clevedon Aid, Pearl Cross, JHF, Julie Buck, JHF and Jane De Budé Clevedon Aid
TWo north somerset charities formed a partnership to provide Covid-19 recovery and support for vulnerable young people. Clevedon aid allocated £4,000 of a £26,000 government grant to the JHF Youth Charity, the Jack Hazeldine Foundation, for mental health and outdoor learning workshops this spring/summer. This allocation of funding comes as the two charities forge a stronger alliance, working together to provide Covid-19 recovery and mental health support for vulnerable young people disproportionately affected by the pandemic. JHF’s managing director, Pearl Cross, said: “We have more young people desperately in need of funding and this comes at the perfect time.” Details: hello@thejhf.org www.thejhf.org https://www.facebook.com/JHFcharity or call 01275 873962 https://www.clevedonaid.org.uk/
Lockdown walkers
a WaLKIng group set up by Bishop sutton and stowey WI last october has proved to be a great success. members pictured at the beginning of their latest walk are (l to r) Janet Thornhill, sharon Ryan, sue owen, Julie Le Vaillant, nita Wendover, Denise stirrup, Cheryl Taylor and Cynthia Holman.
PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Awards for Covid heroes
WInneRs have been announced of the shining Light awards which recognise community heroes in Bath and north east somerset who went the extra mile to help others during the Covid19 pandemic. Last year’s chair of Bath & north east somerset Council, Councillor andrew Furse, said: “The dedication to the community shown by the winners of the shining Light awards is humbling and they deserve every bit of this special recognition. “The awards highlight the consistent support vulnerable people have received with the things many of us take for granted, such as posting a letter or popping to the shop. “They are a recognition of how people have adapted to support the community when we can’t all be together in person. Congratulations to our winners and to all of the nominees too.” one of the winners was Caroline Huins a key worker who has made many people smile with generous gifts of flowers. In march last year, Caroline who works for Tesco’s in Paulton, noticed that there was a surplus of flowers left at her store at the end of the day. Instead of the bunches being thrown out she asked if she could take them home with her and quietly distributed them on her neighbours’ doorsteps at the end of her late-night shift. People began to talk about the mysterious flowers left on their doorsteps and a Facebook group and messages of thanks were given to the Flower Fairy of Writhlington. other winners included aimee Philips, aged seven, from Keynsham, who created a book called the Very Hungry Honeybee to raise funds for the nHs. Wellow Village shop offered a delivery service which they had never done before. sam oliphant and the Chew Chat Team who provided support to older isolated people living in the Chew Valley area. Denise Perrin and the Wern Covid Vaccination Community Volunteer group that includes a member of staff and 80 volunteers who have supported the roll-out of the vaccination campaign in the Chew and somer Valleys.
Writhlington Flower Fairy Caroline Huins at work in Tesco in Midsomer Norton. She made use of unsold flowers at the store to cheer up villagers’ lives
Coronavirus feature.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:49 Page 59
MENDIP V CORONAVIRUS
Poems for the pandemic
Larder on the move in Timsbury
menDIP District Council has been working with the mental health charity mind in somerset on a creative arts project in Frome that captures the thoughts and feelings of an extraordinary year, following the Covid pandemic. The series of poems on public display at merchant’s Barton car park were penned by service users and staff at the mental health charity and commissioned by mendip to mark mental Health awareness Week in may. The inspiration for the poetry pieces were a set of stunning photos taken by Frome photographer Tim gander, installed 18 months ago on hoardings surrounding the town’s saxonvale site. The chair of mendip District Council, Cllr Helen sprawsonWhite, said: “It’s so touching to read the words of those suffering with a range of mental health issues during this hugely difficult time in our lives, their interpretation of Tim’s images mixed with their own thought and feelings are both emotional and outstanding. “I’d like to say a huge thank you to each of the contributors for their honesty and creativity, and to mind in somerset for facilitating the sessions, as well as Tim gander for his moving imagery. I urge anyone that can, to take the time to visit the site and take a moment to read the poems.”
A helping hand. Rotary club president Jackie Partridge (back left) and the club’s Timsbury representative Wendy Simmons (front right) present a cheque to Michelle and Stacey, cofounders of the larder project
Earl thanks Covid charities
someRseT Community Foundation welcomed the earl of Wessex at The Royal Bath and West showground during his recent visit, where he met staff and trustees, alongside representatives from six charities who were funded by sCF to help them deliver their vital services and support to the community during the coronavirus pandemic. See P82 Royal visit.
a TRIaL community larder scheme run by a small team of volunteers in Timsbury is to expand thanks to the support of the Rotary Club of somer Valley and south Road methodist Church. The larder was launched in January to offer nonperishable items to anyone in need from the porch of the Timsbury YmCa building. It operated for limited times on three days a week. now the larder is to move to the methodist church where it will be available round-the-clock on a trust basis. To donate (non-perishable food, toiletries and cleaning products are accepted) or to become a volunteer, email: pantry@timsbury.org.uk
Medal for “unsung” heroes
someRseT County Council used somerset Day to name the first recipients of a somerset medal to recognise their voluntary efforts during the pandemic. Residents were invited to nominate someone who they considered was an unsung hero. a cross-party panel of senior county councillors chose the winners who included andy Childs, who runs the Wookey Hub in Wookey, and Ian Jeffries who was instrumental in the setting up of the Burnham and Highbridge Coronavirus Community support group in February 2020. other recipients include vaccination volunteers, food deliverers, PPe producers, pop-up shopkeepers and many others who went above and beyond to make sure somerset kept going during the pandemic. County council leader David Fothergill, who sat on the panel, said: ”The number and quality of the nominations we received were quite astounding. It was humbling and immensely heartening to read so many stories of how people have responded so positively to the coronavirus crisis, putting others’ wellbeing first and foremost.” The winners of a second category for community groups will be announced later in the spring. all the winners will receive their medals later this year when Covid restrictions allow.
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 59
MENDIP TIMES
Back underground and back to the pub!
(Photograph by Phil Hendy)
THE gradual relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions is at last allowing us to get back underground, although social distancing must still be observed. Our huts and headquarters are available for changing, although overnight stays are still not possible. We can now enjoy a pint of beer in the pub garden after our With PHILIP exertions. HENDY Care is being taken to ensure the continuing stability of our caves, as changes could have occurred during our long absence over the winter. Earlier this year, a collapse was noted in one of our largest caves, G.B. cave at Charterhouse. The 150 metre-long Main Chamber descends steeply over a boulder floor to a wet 12 metre pitch. One side of this, a mass of huge boulders, was beginning to settle. An inspection by members of the Charterhouse Caving Committee early in April found that settlement had continued and the whole side of the pitch is in a very unstable condition. Several massive rocks have fallen to the foot of the waterfall and the top is a jumble of boulders and mud. Further collapses are expected, especially if the cave takes a lot of water after heavy rainfall. Warning tapes and notices have been placed well beyond the top and bottom of the ladder pitch. Fortunately, there is an alternative route to the bottom of the cave because below the waterfall a popular high level route leads up to the large Great Chamber, which is beautifully decorated. As well as sport caving, digging teams have started work again. Over the last 30 months, a small group of us have been excavating a subsidence in a cowshed near the head of Ebbor Gorge. This has made a superb winter dig, as we can park our cars in the shed and stay sheltered from the elements. After the top layer of mud and farmyard effluent was removed, the dig twisted down through boulders of conglomerate, eventually aligning itself on a rift. The Dolomitic Conglomerate is a tongue of Triassic rock which extends up from the Wookey Hole ravine – in fact the outer chambers of this cave are in the same rock. We are now more than 36 metres down and have not so far encountered limestone, which we believe to underlie the conglomerate. The area was once extensively mined, mainly for iron and manganese, but the dig appears to be entirely natural, with no sign of it being entered previously. Although the shaft has
CAVING
GB collapse
not been open for long, bats have already colonised, probably attracted by the gnats and midges with which the dig is infested. Over on western Mendip, cavers are keeping an eye on Bleadon Quarry, where permission has been given for the construction of a small housing estate. The quarry lies in a spur of limestone which runs down the hill. Originally known as Little Down Quarry, it was begun in the late 19th century and soon after caves were discovered. There are several caves and some mines in the Bleadon area, none of which is of any great length. It appears that they are partly hypogenic in origin, meaning that they were formed by water welling up from the depths, rather than by streams sinking on the surface. Most of the caves in the quarry have been lost, either quarried away or buried under debris, including the most important, Bleadon Bone Cave. Pleistocene bones of several species, including bear, elephant, wolf and tiger were found in 1881 by the quarry owner, Wadham Pigott Williams and William Bidgood, curator of the Taunton Museum. Many of these finds are now in local museums, but the cave was quarried away. It was known that under the quarry floor there is a water course and several wells have been sunk to intercept it to provide a water supply, mainly for Highbridge. The flow was inadequate for this purpose, but the water has been exploited more locally. Building work may disrupt and pollute the underground water, which rises in springs in rhynes which feed into the River Axe. Excavation for foundations may well expose other caves. No doubt when work progresses, we will have a better understanding of this small piece of Mendip. We all hope for steady progress towards the “new normal” and that all of our outdoor activities can start up again. With summer on the way, the countryside and fresh air is beckoning.
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 60 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
(Photograph by Graham Price)
Caving page.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 08:32 Page 48
Property section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:12 Page 74
Review of the property market
PROPERTY
House prices continue to surge with a shortage of homes to buy. Sally Killen looks at the housing market. THE continued strength in the housing market has been well publicised with house prices having risen at the highest rate since August 2007 and the average house price in the UK hitting £256,000 in March, according to official figures, which is £24,000 higher than in the same month in 2020. It seems that a perfect storm of factors have come into play in strengthening the market. Brexit uncertainty had led to supressed demand since 2016 which was unleashed with a deal having been done at a time when the lockdown forced many to reassess their lifestyles and where they wanted to live. The stamp duty holiday has helped fan demand encouraging buyers to seek a property. During the spring, all agents have seen a desperate shortage of properties coming to the market and both the sales and letting markets have been brutal for buyers or prospective tenants with properties quickly snapped up with many being sold or let before actually coming to the market. As supply picks up, however, and demand settles then values may stabilise but it is certainly a good time to sell. Those seeking to buy certainly need to ensure that they are in a strong proceedable position in order to be in with a chance of buying their dream home. Many ask whether the housing market will become overheated and crash but, in spite of the press promoting this as a
possibility, most pundits are of the opinion that this is unlikely as the provision of new houses remains constrained, mortgage availability is improving and the economy recovers. At Killens, we have potential buyers desperate to buy and if you are considering selling, contact us for a free appraisal of your home. We offer a bespoke, proactive and personal service utilising all the tools of marketing and we will be delighted to assist.
This three-bedroom cottage at East Harptree is on the market with Killens for £425,000
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 61
Health section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 14:06 Page 62
MENDIP TIMES
Another fine mess?
JUST when we thought it was safe to go back in the pub, thanks to our stellar vaccination programme, up pops another variant. B.1.617.2 is one of the India variants that has taken a foothold in the UK, first detected in February but now spreading so rapidly in some parts of the By Dr PHIL country that it may overtake the Kent HAMMOND variant as our dominant strain. Does this matter now we have vaccines? We will shortly find out. Ideally, we would have waited until all adults had been offered two doses of vaccines before opening up our borders and despite a sudden ramping up of vaccines in the most affected areas, there may not yet be enough protection to stop more hospital admissions and deaths from Covid. Or we may be pleasantly surprised. Why did we end up in another high risk situation? The government’s decision to put Pakistan and Bangladesh on the “red list” for border control from April 2nd (effective April 9th), but not India until April 23rd, makes no rational sense at all. Of the three countries at the time, India had by far the biggest outbreak. Up to 20,000 people arrived in the UK from India during the delay and were left to their own devices to quarantine (which we know isn’t very effective). It was always likely a new “variant of concern” was behind the Indian outbreak, but waiting for it to be identified instead of taking pre-emptive action based on the infection numbers was a big error. The majority of UK citizens appear to be far more cautious than the government on border controls. In a recent IpsosMori poll of 2,007 adults aged 18-75, 79% supported stopping people from entering the country from countries with higher levels of Covid-19 infections; 70% supported quarantining in hotels for those returning from all foreign holidays; 67% supported stopping people from entering the country from any other country; 58% supported stopping people from holidaying abroad in 2021. In contrast, our government advocates a weak and inconsistent “traffic light system” for international travel that is frankly not up to the task. After a country is put on the red list, people are given a grace period of four to seven days to rush back to the UK with the virus, much like jumping the lights on amber-red. Highly risky, and you don’t always get away with it. Not only is B.1.617.2 now all over the UK, we are likely to be exporting it elsewhere. When will we ever learn? Dr Phil is author of Staying Alive, Medicine Balls and Sex, Sleep or Scrabble?
PAGE 62 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Plop the Raindrop
CAN you imagine life inside a cucumber? Have you seen how fast they grow? And how do they know what to grab on to? I’ve spent time inside them and it’s a mystery to me. As far as I know they don’t have eyes like you have, so I guess they just wave around like a mad octopus until they touch something and hold on. Vines do the same kind of thing, if they’re growing by a wall. Spiders send out a long string of silk and just see where the wind takes them. That’s understandable. But how do plants know how to do it? Perhaps they are more intelligent than we know. After all they have been around a very long time and can feed themselves without going to supermarkets. Cucumbers are pretty boring, but it’s surprising how many water droplets like me can squeeze into one. We’ll probably end up inside a slice on a cucumber sandwich and then get eaten and find ourselves stuck inside a human bean at some posh summer event. You wouldn’t believe how many of us are inside your body right now! Cucumbers can be knobbly, but vines grow lovely shiny grapes, which are often squashed into wine, which can be fun at the time. But then I might get trapped inside a barrel and then a bottle for years and years and years. I think my current record is spending 50 years trapped in a whisky bottle, which was a pretty sobering experience. There are far worse places to get stuck. Water melons can be very messy. But once again, eventually, I’ll get swallowed by a human bean. I can’t believe just how much you lot eat and drink. Or where it all goes afterwards. I could write a very comprehensive guide to all the different ways that animals on earth have a poo. It was much more exciting for me before human beans and toilets were invented. I might get left on the floor of a rain forest, having escaped from a lizard, listening to the squawk of exotic birds or the croak of a poisonous frog. Or get dropped in the sea by a flying dinosaur. You have to bear in mind that I was around for millions of years before you came along with your fancy ways and smelly old drains. It’s quite insulting for a creature of my standing to get flushed down the loo. On the whole, the Earth seemed to manage pretty well without human beans. But since you arrived, the rest of the planet has had to learn to adapt to survive. I’d always assumed that one day ants would rule the earth, since there are so many of them. Unfortunately, an awful lot of things didn’t make it. How I miss my friendly mammoth. This isn’t anything new. Over the years I’ve witnessed lots of mass extinctions, not just the dinosaurs but lots of different species. The difference is that those creatures had no control over it. You do. And you can still do something about it. Think of me if you have a cucumber sandwich. MENDIP GRANDAD
Health section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 14:06 Page 63
Bags of love thanks to WI members
HEALTH & FAMILY
Minimum 2hrs = £32.50 (All Credit Cards Accepted)
Mendip Times reduces travel costs A BOX full of handbags containing toiletries and pamper gifts has been delivered to a women’s refugee organisation in Bristol after being collected by members of Bishop Sutton and Stowey WI. Pictured with their handbags (l to r) are back row Liz Balmforth, Julia Young, Marion Mason, Nita Wendover and Cheryl Taylor, front row Jenny Harris and Alison Ewins.
100,000 potential customers within a short distance of your business
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 63
Health section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 14:06 Page 64
MENDIP TIMES
HEALTH & FAMILY
COURT HOUSE
Ground Floor & Courtyard Rooms Currently Available
e Care Home with a difference. We offer all that you would expect from a high quality, family run Care Home set in a Georgian House in the lovely village of Cheddar, Somerset.
You can live your life to the full and choice is our favourite word. Rooms now available with full en-suite facilities and total personal care is offered. Rated by the CQC as good in all areas
e Manager – Chris Dando • 01934 742131 • chriscourthouse@gmail.com Court House Retirement Home, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3RA www.courthouseretirementhome.co.uk
PAGE 64 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Events feature.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 10:14 Page 4
Confidence of youth pays dividends ANSFORD Academy students who run the Fed community kitchen project in Castle Cary made their market stall debut at the eat:Cary food festival – and promptly sold out of more than 500 cakes! They were so confident that their baking efforts would be a success that the team even prepared a “sold out” sign which went up on their stall just after lunchtime. Fed was set up during lockdown to give the students a chance to use their cookery, marketing and other skills – using locallysourced produce – to offer healthy meals to anyone in need in the town and surrounding area Also making their first appearance at eat:Cary were members of the team behind The Cooking Pot book of recipes written in lockdown by residents of Castle Cary and Ansford with stories about local food and drink businesses. Every penny of every book sold goes to the Castle Cary Parish Charity supporting Cary Cares. Copies of the book are still on sale in the town and from ccacookbook@hotmail.com Hundreds of visitors enjoyed the sights, sounds and smells of the first eat:Cary festival since 2019. The number of traders able to attend was reduced as part of efforts to ensure social distancing by organisers, eat:Festivals, a not-for-profit company based in Burnham-on-Sea. The festival also saw the launch of Cary’s own marmalade competition, won by Carrie Weir, from Ditcheat, with her Seville orange recipe.
Marmalade winner Carrie Weir with competition sponsor George Kronk, from George’s Greengrocers
eat:Festivals duo Bev and Sarah Milner Simonds
EVENTS
What a success! Members of Fed on their sold-out stall
Street entertainment added to the festival atmosphere
Karin (left) and Jeannie share a joke on The Cooking Pot stall
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 65
Community section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:54 Page 66
MENDIP TIMES
First class send-off for village postman
Rotary in action
resiDents in Chelynch, Cranmore and Doulting turned out in force to say farewell to popular postman Mike singer who has retired after 13 years on the round. in two separate presentations on his route, Mike was given gifts including a cheque, a book of villager’s memories and many cards. Mike, 65, who lives in Chilcompton, was a postman in all for 15 years, walking 12 miles a day on his east Mendip round.
WitH the lockdown easing, Wrington Vale rotary Club members have been back in action. a doughty group assembled in Banwell to collect litter in the pouring rain, creating a more pleasing environment for all.
The presentation in Cranmore
Mike makes his last collection from Cranmore
Mike offers his thanks to Chelynch and Doulting residents PAGE 66 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Taking to the water
YOung people at glastonbury & street sea Cadets are looking forward to setting out on the county’s rivers after receiving a cash boost. the youth group, which currently has almost 30 members, has started to meet face-to-face again after a year of Covid-19 disruption. and the group is now a step closer to buying nine kayaks and a box trailer after receiving a £1,000 grant from Persimmon Homes severn Valley. Cadets’ chairperson, elaine Dearling, said: “Covid-19 has had a huge impact on our members and their families. Families have struggled with the isolation of lockdowns and for some of our young people, sea Cadets is their only social outlet outside of school and so they have missed the structured training and of course their sea Cadet friends. “We want to give them something to smile about and look forward to. these nine new kayaks will do just that.”
Royal party plans
Organisers of Paulton’s Party in the Park, led by george Batchelar, have decided to cancel this year’s event because of the pandemic. However they say the event will be back next year - but with a difference! instead of being held on the first saturday in July, it will be held on the first saturday in June to coincide with the Queen’s four-day Platinum Jubilee weekend.
Community section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:54 Page 67
COMMUNITY
Yard sale has bargains galore
eVerCreeCH’s second yard sale trail attracted dozens of buyers looking for great deals on everything from clothes and DVDs to arts and crafts. trail maps took bargain hunters to just about every road in the village. the event was held to raise money for acorns Pre-school. a refreshment stall raised almost £130 alone. l Pilton’s annual jumble trail will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 31st.
Stella and daughter Mahala in Maesdown Road
Charlotte and Charlie on the family stall in Enfield Road
New Post Office opens
POst Office services have returned to Peasedown st John at the Hive Community Centre, which opened earlier this year. Joy Fraser, chair of the centre’s management committee, said: “Over the last few weeks, as lockdown restrictions have eased, the centre has become a hub of activity with the new swallow Café opening, and the community library continuing to provide an essential service since the start of the year. “now residents will be able to access a Post Office in the building as well – open six days a week!” Post Office manager, Lorna Hills, said: “a community the size of Peasedown st John needs a Post Office. With so many people relying on these services on a daily basis, the option of providing facilities at the Hive was an opportunity not to be missed. “We’re looking forward to welcoming the public and providing a first-class service.”
Rufus and Gulliver visiting the cuddly toy tombola stall on Prestleigh Road
Joy Fraser (left) and Lorna Hills
Details: www.thehivepsj.org 01761 360021 or www.facebook.com/HiveCommunityCentrePSJ MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 67
Community section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:54 Page 68
MENDIP TIMES
Flower crowns for Jack
Free flower crown making sessions were held in evercreech as part of village May Day celebrations after Covid restrictions once again forced its Jack in the green parade to be postponed. the sessions were held in the Old stores studio as part of its notfor-profit community work. May 2019 saw several hundred people take part in a day of Tight rope maestro Christopher Bullzini celebrations shows off his other circus skills including a procession through the village led by Jack before a community party in the Bullzini circus field.
Blossom at work in the Old Stores Studio
School tree project
CHiLDren at Peasedown st John Primary school have been learning about the environment as part of a new tree planting project. Pupils and staff planted 15 trees in the school grounds, donated by the Peasedown Community trust. the trust has set itself the ambitious target of planting over 500 trees in the village this year. Others have been planted at Peasedown Croquet Club, the Dementia Friendly Community garden and in residents’ gardens school head, Damian Knollys, said: “the decline of our natural environment and climate change is the single biggest issue facing the planet. “the more we can educate our children and young people –
Lucy and Sue with their completed crowns
May 2019 and the first Jack in the Green procession in Evercreech
the next generation – the more equipped we are for the future for looking after our natural and local habitats.”
Details: peasedowncommunitytrust@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/PeasedownCommunityTrust
PAGE 68 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Community section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:54 Page 69
Lions in action
CHeDDar Vale Lions Club have finally been able to present their Centenary Bench to Wedmore after it was put in storage due to the pandemic. it’s in Worthington Woods, Wedmore’s new community woodland at the bottom of the Lerburne. Lion president Keith Cook and Lions Jan Clark and sylvia Cook are pictured with Polly Costello and rod Pring from Wedmore parish council. the Lions were also busy over the early May Bank Holiday, joining forces with helpers to clear Cheddar gorge and surrounding areas of litter.
COMMUNITY
Reading raises school funds
Fred and Jimmy dressed as Mr Men on the school’s special book day
a tWO-WeeK readathon held by Church stoke Church school asked children to read as much as they possibly could and record their reading in minutes. then, for every minute read, family and friends were asked to sponsor them. Head teacher Ben Hewett, said: “Our aim was to raise £600 to buy new books for the classrooms, however we managed to raise the fantastic target of £2,500.” in recent league tables the school has come in the top one percent of schools nationally for attainment in reading. Mr Hewett said: “statistics show that children who read for pleasure are more likely to succeed in every area of their school career and indeed in later life. We hope that all of our initiatives increase the children’s love of reading even further.”
Hall renovated
West Harptree Memorial Hall has been renovated, with support from the national Lottery. supporters are planning to show off the refurbishment at a reopening day on June 26th from 2pm. the day will include games, cakes and a BBQ. the bar will be open and there will be a table top sale, with a range of sellers, which they hope will become a regular event, potentially with a craft and farmers’ market. they ask people to go along to see what groups currently use the hall and have a say on what they would like to see happening, possibly new groups/events. Details: https://www.westharptreehall.com/reopening
Ted during the Easter holidays MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 69
Community section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:54 Page 70
MENDIP TIMES
The great outdoors
CHiLDren at Cameley Primary school are having to be taught in the village hall while building work goes on at the school. But Chestnut class got outdoors to see some lambs and sheep in the village. Head teacher, Hannah Maggs, said: “it is great to see the children able to get out and about in the local environment, getting close to nature and away from their screens.”
Holcombe plans to celebrate
HOLCOMBe is planning to hold a fun community sports day for all ages to celebrate the opening of a new path and raise much-needed funds for the village playing field and recreation ground. there will be lots of sporting events to take part in, including sprint races, egg and spoon, penalty shoot-out and hobby-horse gymkhana, to name but a few! there will also be sports demonstrations to watch, such as trampolining and Zumba, games to play, a raffle to take part in and food, drink and ice-cream to enjoy while you listen to local bands. it will all culminate in a medal ceremony for the top competitors. it promises to be a wonderful family day. gates will open at 12pm on saturday, July 17th with the opening ceremony due to start at 12.30pm. the event will close at 5pm. the event is organised by Holcombe Park and recreation ground Committee, a registered charity. entry is by advance ticket which can be purchased for £3 per person from www.ticketsource.co.uk/holcombeplaying-field. Details: holcombeplayingfield@gmail.com
PAGE 70 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Tribute to Prince Philip
sOMerset Freemasons are planning to provide support for young people to take part in the Duke of edinburgh’s award scheme. they are looking for 100 young people of any ability aged 14–24 to take part in the scheme remotely. they funded a three-year bursary of £16,500 between 2016 and 2018. the new appeal to members for funds will be in memory of Prince Phillip, himself a Freemason for 69 years, the deputy head of the somerset Freemasons, Ben Batley, said: “Our members are honoured to be able to support the bursary scheme once again so that those disadvantaged young people in somerset not aligned to any supporting school or organisation can seek assistance to take part and develop life skills through the award. “We aim to announce the amount raised on June 10th which would have been the occasion of Prince Philip’s 100th birthday.” Over the course of the pandemic somerset Freemasons have donated more than £175,000 to help local communities with various projects including food banks, PPe manufacture, women’s refuge and giving tablet PCs to local hospitals. Details: www.somersetfreemasons.org • www.dofe,org
Community section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:54 Page 71
Market date
COMMUNITY
Keeping Axbridge tidy
LOuise and Barry Walsh have become official litter-pickers in axbridge. they have an agreement with sedgemoor District Council to collect litter in the council’s blue waste bags and leave them next to the litter bins in the town. the council also supplied the litter pickers. Barry said: “a quick email to notify the ‘clean surroundings’ team at sedgemoor results in them being collected within days. We are also keeping the axbridge bypass clean and tidy and hope that our efforts will encourage residents of other towns and villages to do the same.” Details: Clean.surroundings@sedgemoor.gov.uk
WeLLs u3a, university of the third age, will have a stall at Wells Market on Wednesday, June 2nd when the u3a is being promoted nationally. the stall, bedecked with bunting to promote the branch, will be giving away cupcakes and selling a cookery book compiled by members and illustrated by their painting group. they are expecting a visit from the mayor around 11.30 and the town crier will be announcing their presence.
Pop-up shop brings cheer to residents
staFF and residents at the Orchard Vale trust centre near Wookey have opened an in-house pop-up charity shop giving everyone the chance to buy or donate clothing. three support staff at the trust, which has played a leading role in supporting adults with learning difficulties throughout somerset for more than 30 years, came up with the idea after one of them was having a clear out of her wardrobe and residents were eager to play their part during the pandemic. a spokesman for the trust said: “Luckily at Orchard Vale trust, support staff and residents alike have shown incredible resilience, strength and creativity throughout this time. “not only has the atmosphere lifted throughout the residential home as a result of this exciting project (we all know the powers of retail therapy), but the rekindling of community connection and engagement has reminded residents, staff and organisations supporting vulnerable people alike that we are not alone and that despite the challenges
Staff and residents at East Court, near Wookey
we’ve seen over the past year, the somerset community will work together to re-build what we have lost during the pandemic.”
A panoramic view of the pop-up shop
The shop is currently open to staff and residents only, although donations from the community are being accepted. For details, visit: https://www.orchardvaletrust.org.uk/ MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 71
Community section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:54 Page 72
MENDIP TIMES
Woodland refuge is in demand
it’s been a busy year for Hidden Valley Bushcraft, based at Pensford, since nick and Louise golding featured in Mendip Times last July. they have been running their bushcraft courses for Covid key workers, as well as service veterans, able to relax around the campfire. they have also replaced their eco cabin, thanks to support from the armed Forces Covenant trust Fund and Veterans Foundation. staying in this privately owned woodland, veteran families can have their own mini adventures and create long-lasting memories. in addition to this project, the armed Forces Covenant trust Fund have provided funding for an additional 144 military veterans to access HVB's Woodland Warrior Programme over the next two years. this provides free therapeutic activities for armed forces personnel, veterans and members of the emergency services. the new project has been developed in response to the Covid pandemic which has had a huge impact on the mental health and wellbeing of families, in particular, injured T E veterans who were already A woodland retreat away from Covid-19 By Steve Egginton suffering with their own mental health conditions. the upgraded cabin has been built using local or re-purposed wood including offcuts and using an army of volunteers. Local companies who supported the project, included Dandos, Vears Construction, tesa electrical, Jat reclamation, Wells ENDIP
IMES
uiet woodland near Pensford, Nick and L uise Goldsmith are preparing to welcome some of those who have been badly traumatised fighting the coronavirus p ndemic. Key workers, care staff or shop workers as well as hospital staff, are eligible to apply to spend a day with them “refocussing” by learning bushcraft and survival skills in a camp under the trees. The first 50 free spaces on their key worker project were snapped up within hours. Within 24 hours they had to start a waiting list for places. This day for key workers is based on the successful “Woodland Warrior” programme, which Nick, a former Royal Marine commando, started to help military veterans suffering post-traumatic stress disorder, as he does. Woodland Warrior has gained a national reputation, with support from Prince Harry’s Endeavour Foundation, the Armed Forces Covenant and most recently the V terans Foundation. Some 72 veterans went through the course last year, some showing remarkable s ns of recovery, even starting their own b inesses. Next year they hope to a ommodate 144. With the growth of their company, Hidden Valley Bushcraft, Louise left her job with Avon and Somerset Police last A ril after 11 years. She was a detective constable in child protection. Woodland Warrior is now registered as a not-forp fit community interest company. Normally these woods would be filled with children’s laughter, but the forest
camp fire
P
NVIRONMENT
Nick and Louise, with Fin, aged 13 months, and their dog Tilly
kindergarten they run to subsidise the warrior programme, is closed by lockdown. The kindergarten has been rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted. Similarly the corporate clients who make up most of their income have had to cancel. Nick said: “It’s remarkable that we bought this unloved patch of land and managed to turn it into a business.” It’s obviously far more than that, since the whole seven and a half acre site is a haven for wildlife and has been transformed since they bought it in 2012. They added a field running down to the River Chew last year and Nick has planted 400 trees there. He said: “The amount of support we get from local people, companies and schools is just astonishing.” The key worker project is being funded by the Chelwood Community Fund, through the income it gets from the village’s solar farm. It’s for key workers living locally, but the couple are busy applying for wider funding to enable them
to offer places to key workers living further afield. Nick said: “Some of these people will not have seen their families for weeks, quite apart from dealing with the horrors of the virus. Hopefully they can come back and bring their children with them in happier times.” Louise said: “With what we’ve been through in our careers, we can empathise with what they have seen. The grant is fantastic. We’ve been given this unique opportunity to help people.”
Fire lighter – bushcraft style
The outdoor dining table
Details: www.hiddenvalleybushcraft.co.uk
8 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2020
PAGE 72 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
reclamation, Design scaffolding, rH windows, ashmead roofing supplies, Flooring superstore and Crafty Claires Bristol. nick said: “Having a good relationship with local family-run businesses means you’re supporting them, helping people connect whilst boosting the local and rural economy.” some of the wider conservation jobs that were more involved than expected saw nick calling on alide Hire services for the use of a mini digger which meant he could clear surrounding field drainage ditches for first time in years. these are now teeming with life! With the help of local tree surgeons and the labour of many veteran volunteers, close to 1,000 trees have now been planted and tons of locally produced wood chip used to reinstate sections of lost river bank. the site is now home to 36 bird boxes, a handful of bat boxes an owl box and now even boasts a beehive. it is hoped this will produce honey as early as autumn which will be sold locally to further fund these conservation projects. nick said: “the Hidden Valley is for anyone that wants to come and spend time in the woodlands learning new physical and life skills. “We focus on maximising what this little corner of england has to offer our armed forces and emergency services by prioritising its upkeep in creating an optimal environment for them to recuperate, recalibrate and re-engage through our Woodland Warrior Programme.”
Details: https://www.hiddenvalleybushcraft.co.uk/ •
Threat to Axbridge Post Office
axBriDge Chamber of Commerce is concerned that the town’s post office is under threat, after the royal Mail announced it plans to close the sorting office there and move it to Winscombe. the chamber fears that without the sorting office the post office is likely to be unviable and could eventually be forced to close.
Louise and Nick in the new eco cabin
it says the chamber has 40 members with every business reliant on the post office for sending and receiving parcels. it said: “it cannot be underestimated how important the post office is as a centre for the community bringing people together and as a stationery and general goods shop.” it has launched a campaign with the
town council, political representatives and all community groups calling on royal Mail to suspend the closure and consult with all interested parties. it’s asking all those affected to lobby the various individuals and organisations that could bring pressure on royal Mail, including writing letters to the Queen.
Community section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:54 Page 73
Developing youngsters – through rugby
CHeW Valley rugby Club has launched a pioneering scheme to help youngsters who are in need of support. the star scheme stands for support to achieve through rugby and the club is seeking to raise £75,000 to run initially for three years. it will focus first on the Chew Valley and south Bristol, but rFu officials are already talking about it being a model for a national scheme. its aim is to show how rugby clubs, through mentoring and team work, can welcome youngsters with mental health issues or other challenges to a “family”. it will help fund match kit, subs and transport and will appoint a Community Liaison Officer to run the scheme. Chew Valley’s u-16s coach, Dan Wooler, has been the driving force behind the idea after watching the development of Daley noel from Hartcliffe in Bristol, who arrived at the club having dealt with several challenging early life experiences. six years later he has been invited to join the Bristol Bears academy. His mother, Kelly, says the male role models he found at the club stopped him going off the rails. Dan said: “i had a word with the other coaches at Chew Valley and discovered that there were numerous young people in the club who had already benefited from their association with the sport of rugby. “if you think that in Bristol there are 10,000 children with diagnosable mental health issues, you can see the extent of the problem. and that was before the pandemic.”
COMMUNITY Daley Noel
the club is working initially with Chew Valley school, Fair Furlong school in Hartcliffe and the Bristol charity Youth Moves, which is supported by england rugby international ellis genge, who was born in Knowle West. it has formed a management committee with Dan, club chairman, shane Cameron, coach, Bruce Wellman and businessman Matthew Burke. skylark Media, based in Chew stoke have made a video to launch the scheme.
Details: https://vimeo.com/skylarkmedia/review/547918663/685495a8da • Funds for the Future (virginmoneygiving.com)
Welcome for new vicar
an elaborate but socially-distanced service was held at Winford Church to celebrate the arrival of the new vicar designate, the rev Dr ian Mills. He has been appointed to the planned new benefice of Chew Valley West, covering Chew stoke, nempnett thrubwell, Winford with regil and Felton. ian and his wife Kelly ann, a consultant in foetal medicine at st Michaels, Bristol, have moved into the rectory in Winford. the service was led by the rt rev ruth Worsley, Bishop of taunton, and the Venerable Dr adrian Youings, archdeacon of Bath. ian was ordained in august 2017 and since september 2018 had been a curate in a group of parishes near Belfast. Before studying at the Church of ireland theological institute, ian worked as organist and master of the choristers in Derry Cathedral.
Great national litter-pick
The village's last litter-pick
COMPtOn Dando is one of the villages that can’t wait for June 6th, the date chosen by Keep Britain tidy for their big spring litter-pick. Liz stanbury is one of those who volunteered every February to collect rubbish from around Compton Dando and surrounding villages. she said: “Our villages have suffered extra litter and flytipping during lockdown with the influx of large numbers of visiting people in our lanes. it is thanks to many generous volunteers that our countryside is kept as clean as it is. “as June 6th is designated as a national litter-picking day, it would be great if people took out a bag of some sort on that sunday and just picked up any odd bits and pieces they spot.”
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 73
News page 74.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:53 Page 1
MENDIP TIMES
Mendip Geoweek raises questions for the future
Doulting quarry
WHILE they were not able to run all their original plans for GeoWeek in the Mendip area, organisers did manage to run some events, in Covid-secure groups of six. Their “Springs of Wells” visit began in the Bishop’s Palace gardens where the springs flow out, giving Wells its name. They used a piece of rubber tubing, water and dye to show how the wells work and how their sources have been dyetraced. They then visited Tor Woods to see the evidence that springs were flowing in a similar way 200 million years ago. Maybe these are the longest-flowing springs ever recorded! They enjoyed a great visit to Doulting quarry, one of the oldest and longest-worked quarries in the UK. Jurassic limestone from the quarry was readily cut and carved and so was used to build parts of Wells Cathedral, Glastonbury Abbey and many buildings across the Mendips. If you live in a stone-built house you will probably find the corner stones and the window and door surrounds are pale yellow or buff-coloured Doulting Stone. They say it was then great to be able to visit the 12th century Doulting Church and the 15th century tithe barn in Doulting village, both built of the local stone, and St
On the raised beach at Sand Point PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Investigating the springs of Wells
NEWS
Aldhelm’s well, a spring flowing from the Doulting stone at its boundary with the underlying clay. Their “Net-zero” visit was to Sand Point near Weston, overlooking the Severn estuary. They welcomed two separate groups to discuss the potential impact of the government “Net-zero by 2050” target on the local area. They examined the five metre-high raised beach, formed by higher sea levels in the past and discussed how a fivemetre rise in sea level today might impact the region. They looked at what a tidal barrage electricity generating system might mean for the estuary and how the Welsh coast wind turbines might affect our coastlines in the future. They investigated the rock structure to see if it was suitable for carbon capture and storage (CCS – it is not) and, by reference to the nearly visible Hinkley Point power station, whether the rocks are suitable for the deep geological disposal of radioactive waste (they are not). They considered whether the nearby outcrop of basalt lava rock might be used to remove carbon from the atmosphere by spreading on local fields for enhanced weathering, and a range of other options. They decided that there are big issues, with no easy answers. You can see their GeoWeek “Net-zero” launch event, hosted by the director of the British Geological Survey, at https://earth-science.org.uk/geoweek/ and sheets discussing many of the “net-zero” options at: https://www.earthlearningidea.com/home/Net_zero.html GeoWeek will be held again in May next year, when organisers hope to be able to run more visits and to welcome many more people to join them, when Covid is, hopefully, a distant memory and climate change is high on the agenda.
Motoring page.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 08:35 Page 60
MOTORING
SHIPHAM MOTOR COMPANY LTD.
Turnpike Road, Shipham, N. Somerset BS25 1TX • www.shipham.co.uk • 01934 842350
Caravan and Motorhome Servicing All makes and models l Caravan Servicing l Annual Habitation Checks l Alu-Tech Bailey Approved Repairers l Warranty Maintained l Damp Repairs l Accident Repairs l Insurance Repairs l Accessory Fitting
THE NEW SHOP
MASSES OF SPACE
UBLEY MOTOR SERVICES Sales – Service – Parts – Repairs
ALL MAKES SERVICING – VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS, AIR CONDITIONING, MECHANICAL & BODY REPAIRS Collection/Loan Car by arrangement MOT TESTING STATION
COMPETITIVE PRICES ON TYRES, BATTERIES AND EXHAUSTS
ACCIDENT REPAIR CENTRE BREAKDOWN & RECOVERY SERVICE
QUALITY USED CARS Your peace of mind is our priority
CLEEVE HILL, UBLEY. TEL: 01761 462275 (24hrs) www.ubleymotors.co.uk
THE NEW WORKSHOP Open Monday - Friday 9am–5pm; Saturday 9am–12 noon
Approved
A37 • Gurney Slade • Radstock BA3 4TQ Call: 01749 841051 • Mob: 07778 465520 Email: sales@caravanrepairs-sw.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 75
D dd fS
VISIT OUR LARGE NEW WORKSHOP AND SHOP!
t
• Volvo trained and qualified • VIDA Software Downloads & Upgrades • Diagnostics • Parts & Accessories • MOT Testing • Air Conditioning • CAR SALES • Free Loan Cars
h
Volvo Servicing and Repairs on all models, including Electric Hybrid Vehicles. New Car Warranty Compliant
)
VOLVO Specialist of 30 years
(Ph t
Independent
Homes section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:17 Page 76
Mendip TiMes
Fast & Reliable WINDOW INSTALLATION
Boasting a stunning range of aluminium and uPVC window designs and hardware, we’re confident that we have a highly energy efficient and tempting style to suit your South West home or client.
FACTORY & SHOWROOM IN CLEVEDON
We understand how important it is to homeowners and businesses alike, to actually see the quality of products up close. So, why not drop into the Seal-Lite showroom? Come in and see the products for yourself!
Access to Showroom by appointment only
PAGE 76 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Homes section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:17 Page 77
HoMes & inTeriors
Heating a period home doesn’t have to be expensive
Authentic windows, quirky angles, lovely fireplaces – period homes are a joy to live in – except when the wind is whistling down the chimney and your expensive heat is leaking out of the windows. the charm of period properties becomes rather testing in colder weather as draughts seep round the edges of single glazed panes – which themselves offer practically no insulation against the winter chill. the result is nippy evenings and huge fuel bills. Photographer Guy and his wife Poppy were experiencing exactly this problem in their Victorian terrace. After much research they decided that installing almost invisible secondary glazing would mean they could keep their authentic windows whilst staying warm and reducing heating bills. Guy said: “Double glazing was the solution that other houses in our street had plumped for, but we didn’t want to change the original windows. “We found a local company called Mitchell & Dickinson which specialises in a secondary glazing system called cosyGlazing where glass-like panes are placed over the windows which act as double glazing while keeping the original windows untouched. We had three windows done. “When the Mitchell & Dickinson team came, they took out the windows and sanded them down further, fitted airtight brushes between the windows, then cut the cosyGlazing to fit. “the result doesn’t look much different – which is just what we
wanted, but it makes a lot of difference to our comfort. the temperature doesn’t drop in the evening – it keeps at a constant, agreeable temperature and the noise has decreased dramatically. it’s also much cheaper to heat.” And summer installation means that your home is insulated, cosy and ready for the colder months.
details: https://mitchellanddickinson.co.uk/01271 859160
Mendip TiMes • June 2021 • page 77
Homes section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:17 Page 78
Mendip TiMes
pondering on the true meaning of success We each of us have our own ideas of what we consider to be success, but when we try to define it in business terms it’s all too easy to consider the “bottom line” as the yardstick by which we measure it. Of course if you run a business you owe it to your customers, your employees and your family to run it profitably, but i would argue strongly that success in business can be achieved only when it gives you a real sense of enjoyment. Putting it very simply: that it makes you and the people you connect with each day, happy. these words by Malcolm Forb i read the other day summed it up for me: "i think the foremost quality – there's no success without it – is really loving what you do. if you love it, you do it well, and there's no success if you don't do well what you're working at."
croker field MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENTS RENOVATIONS Property Repairs & Development Groundworks Landscapinng Driveways Patios Decking Fencing Get in touch . . . hello@crokerfield.co.uk
page 78 • Mendip TiMes • June 2021
HoMes & inTeriors
i know that when i get home each evening what makes me feel “i’ve done it well” is not counted in sales, but rather in the pleasure i’ve had in meeting and talking with people, listening to what they’re saying and looking to help as best i can. So when i sat down to write this little piece i reflected on a few things recently that make me really love what i do… • A few weeks ago we installed a porch for a couple in Burnham. they came along to our showroom with a card to say how pleased they were, which was thanks enough in itself, but they brought us wine and chocolates too. they so loved the showroom’s garden that the husband will be coming to join us as a gardener! • Last week one of our customers brought in two jars of homemade marmalade. Like many of our customers she and i have developed a real friendship and she knows how much i love home cooking. i did give her a jar of lemon curd in return! • the other morning i was at an appointment and we sat in the garden having coffee and chatting. time flew by and it was soon lunch and it was a real delight to be asked to stay and a real bonus to have a proper lunchtime meal. • And one final story that meant a lot to me. i was with a customer who had to go off to her allotment to put away her chickens. As a friend i was asked to stay and child mind until she returned. it’s little things like that give me a real buzz and confirm what is really important in life. angie Hicks, Md of Kingfisher
Events feature.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 10:15 Page 5
Time for tea – and cakes!
AN afternoon of tea and cakes raised nearly £300 for St Thomas a Becket Church in Pensford towards repairs to its clock face and safety rails on the tower roof. It was held by The Friends of Pensford Church Tower who will be holding a similar fundraising event on Sunday, June 20th from 2pm. The church became redundant in 1971, after being closed following the 1968 floods. Its tower remained consecrated and in 1992 was taken into the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. They repaired and refurbished it with the help of villagers and friends, who formed the friends group. Visiting the event this month was Helen Johnson, who is a volunteer with CCT. She is their historic trail advisor and is exploring routes between the different churches owned by the trust, hoping to produce walks and cycle routes between the churches, encouraging people to visit these beautiful little buildings, which are all manned by volunteers.
Pictured (l to r) Marie and Ron Coombs, Katherine and Jolyon Laycock, Jenny Gully and Wilson Sherborne
Pictured (l to r) Carol Davies, Alison Coombs, Jane Flower, Catherine Miller and Caroline Coombs
PAGE 44 • MENDIP TIMES • JULY 2019
EVENTS
Letty and Andrew Smith, with Poppy, and Marie and Ron Coombs
Helen Johnson from the Churches Conservation Trust with Mark Heigham from Street
Visitors pictured (l to r) Rob Burgess, Conor McGloin and Gemma and Rachel King
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 79
Riding section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 14:08 Page 80
MENDIP TIMES
Here comes summer!
WITH lockdown lifting there comes a cautious optimism and a raising of spirits as we move from the dark winter days of the pandemic to planning summer outings and having fun, especially having fun riding and driving our horses. They deserve enjoyment and exercise too. With RACHEL Since Tam and I featured on Countryfile THOMPSON there have been lots of calls and emails to MBE The Trails Trust (TTT) inbox asking for help with multi-user path creation processes and also in riding across the countryside for fun and to visit friends. Planning a route overland can be tricky; there are public bridleways and permissive ones too, but how do you find them and more importantly how accessible are they? It can be exasperating and even dangerous travelling ten of a 15mile route to find the way deep in mud, or perhaps having to deviate onto a busy road. The Mendip area is criss-crossed by no fewer than eight long distance routes, five for walkers and three for road cyclists and walkers but none for horse riders, carriage drivers and mountain bikers. Help is at hand, however, as Mendip Bridleways & Byways Association produce a Mendip District map based on the Ordnance Explorer Map series for a small fee. We could really do with local riding maps going over the borders into North Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset and Sedgemoor too. Project anyone? As for route accessibility, MBBA has beavered on quietly throughout the pandemic repairing and maintaining the riding and carriage driving network which is done in partnership with Somerset County Council. Ginnie Jones, MBBA secretary, told me: “You can see from the photos we have actually managed to spend lots of Somerset’s money, joint funded with MBBA. Mostly, it has been just me and the contractor and I haven’t done a lot of hugging!” MBBA and TTT have celebrated a rather odd anniversary together by jointly funding a new fence along the Gales Lane bridleway near Ashwick, with the MBBA, of course, organising the work. It is more or less 20 years since Gales
Gales Lane, near Ashwick – marking the 20th anniversary of the MBBA and TTT working together
Lane was so kindly dedicated by the Green family as a bridleway to help riders cross the busy A37 and enjoy using their beautiful green lane. It’s 20 years since the first fence was erected in the field at the bottom to separate the users from the cows. It was the very first route development project that MBBA and TTT, then the Mendip Cross Trails Trust, undertook in partnership with Somerset County Council Rights of Way. A lot of stone has been laid and bridle gates and signposts installed since then, making a huge difference to the network. Whether you want to help create routes or help fund local route projects and much more, you can find MBBA and TTT online www.mbba.org.uk and www.thetrailstrust.org.uk and on Facebook too. Enjoy your summer riding and remember to support the MBBA fun rides because while you and your horse are having fun you are investing in the network too.
Mendip murder mystery – on horseback
EAST Mendip Riding Club is organising a countryside hack with a difference in June – a murder mystery trail. The event will take place on Saturday, June 12th around East Pennard, near Shepton Mallet along bridleways and lanes. The hack will last around 45 minutes before people taking part are asked to solve the clues. Riders will be sent out as teams in timed intervals. Entry numbers will be limited. For details, visit: www.eastmendiprc.com
PAGE 80 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
New gates and better visibility at the Riverside bridleway at Chilcompton
For details, visit: www.mendip.gov.uk/article/9827/ Mendip-s-multi-user-paths
Riding section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 14:08 Page 81
Quiet corners helping to meet demand for riding
RIDING
VOLUNTEERS at the Riding for the Disabled group in Wellow are taking part in a project to help fill the gap whilst Covid-19 prevents their usual activities from taking place. Quiet Corners offer users the chance to spend time with ponies and learn grooming and other skills. The Wellow group is using Anne Allen’s yard on the edge
Quiet Corners are providing a vital opportunity for RDA users to enjoy spending time with ponies and horses
Ed Bracher and Lucy Nelson during their visit to Kilkenny Stables
of Bath for the sessions which are currently attended by people aged from four to 35, including a couple of wheelchair users. A recent session was visited by RDA chief executive Ed Bracher and Lucy Nelson, Deputy Lieutenant of Somerset. Wellow RDA hopes its usual sessions will resume in June and is appealing for more volunteers to help out both at the Quiet Corners.
For details, call Anne on 07713 639125 or email: anneallen9@me.com
Expansion plans at riding school
DIVOKY Riding School at Downhead, near Shepton Mallet, is seeking to increase its staffing levels as well as its number of horses to cope with the current level of demand. As lockdown continues to ease, the team at Divoky, headed by Pat Divoky proprietor Pat Bishop, has seen a particular increase Bishop in families wanting to start lessons for very young children and also mature adults returning to riding. Some other schools have surrendered their licences in the wake of the pandemic and new legislation. Pat said: “It is always tricky to find the right sort of horses that will cope with the demands of the work, but they have a very good home for life with us. We are very careful to make sure everything is right before they even start to work so new members of the horse team will see the vet, the dentist, the saddler, the loriner and have a full MOT before being schooled by our staff riders. This ensures the horses are used to working together and familiar with the surroundings.” Pat said recent months had been challenging but added: “Running a riding school is demanding, the new licensing rules have put many proprietors off running this type of business but with the guidance and training we receive from the British Horse Society and with the support of a very understanding bank we have made it through the pandemic and we are looking forward to the future.”
An award-winning riding school in the heart of Mendip
WANTED
We are looking to buy horses and ponies for the school. Must be fit and well and able to pass a vetting to work immediately. Aged over 5 years, no vices
WANTED
We are looking for a full-time groom. Ideally qualified to BHS level 2 willing to work towards level 3. Sunday-ursday (40hr week). CV: pat.divoky@gmail.com
WANTED
We are looking for a full-time instructor. BHS qualified coach level 2 (min), must have first aid, safeguarding and DBS. Sunday - ursday (40hr week). *No accommodation so own transport is essential. CV: pat.divoky@gmail.com
Divoky Riding School, Manor Farm, Downhead, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 4LG www.divoky.co.uk T: 01749 880233 • M: 07971 207037
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 81
Events feature.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 10:15 Page 6
MENDIP TIMES
Walkabout in Wells for royal couple
THE Earl and Countess of Wessex visited Wells to meet individuals and community groups to thank them for their efforts during the pandemic. Having arrived in the city by helicopter after a tour of the Covid vaccination centre at the Royal Bath and West Showground, the couple first met the team at the Elim Connect Centre. Next stop was the churchyard at St Cuthbert’s where organisations including the Wells Coronavirus Network and the Project Factory – the team behind the displays of bunting in the city centre and the planned Wake Up Wells community fair. A stroll up the High Street to meet traders was followed by a tour of the Bishop’s Palace gardens and Wells Cathedral.
EVENTS
Edward and Sophie share a joke with Deputy Lieutenant Tom Lang outside the Elim Connect Centre
Sophie, the Countess of Wessex
The couple arrive in St Cuthbert’s churchyard before splitting up to meet separate group
Christopher Bond, from Wells Coronavirus Volunteers, shares a joke with the prince
Phillip Welch, the mayor of Wells, escorted the prince during his walk up the High Street
The countess with a posy of flowers presented to her by local florist Lynnsey Kelly (right)
The countess talks to local businessman Louis Agabani as they pass the Crown Hotel in the Market Square
PAGE 82 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Sport section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:57 Page 83
SPORT
Pedal power soars in pandemic
ONe of the unexpected effects of the pandemic has been a huge surge in the demand for new bicycles, with demand outstripping CYCLING supply. According to with EDMUND LODITE the national trade association for the UK cycle industry, sales grew by 60% in 2020. In the same period electric bike (ebike) sales more than doubled and one pound in every five spent on bicycles was spent on e-bikes. That growth looks set to rise exponentially bringing the UK in line with many of our advanced european neighbours. A few years ago, I hardly knew or saw that many people with an e-bike. But now they are more visible offering fresh opportunities for many people to enjoy the benefits of cycling. I’d never tried an e-bike before yet, in the last month I have had two chances to experience the benefit of pedal assisted power – and I have to say I was surprisingly impressed. The first happened by chance at a café on a walk from Chewton Mendip. A customer (I think his name was Dave) turned up to pick up some bread on a Brompton foldaway bike. I noticed the bike had been converted into an e-bike by replacing the front wheel with a motorised one containing a hub motor. That and the battery pack on the handlebars came from a Swytch ebike kit. This approach means almost any
Rugby first
Chew Valley Rugby Club is attracting attention in the rugby world with a new scheme to help youngsters who are in need of support. The STAR scheme aims to show how rugby clubs can help youngsters with mental health issues or other challenges through the support of a rugby “family”. One youngster who has been mentored for six years, has been invited to join the Bristol Bears Academy. Full story P73.
existing or unused bicycle can be converted easily and affordably into an e-bike, by replacing the front wheel and attaching components to the frame. As we chatted about the bike, Dave kindly offered me the chance to take the bike for a spin. From the first few pedal strokes the power assist kicked in giving me a slightly faster experience than I would normally expect on a bike. when I returned, he told me he and his wife had moved from London where they had used the Brompton bikes for commuting and now needed some assistance to cope with the hills in the west Country. The conversion kit had been a perfect solution, allowing them to continue cycling and had given their bikes a second lease of life. Steve, who was on that walk with me, then happened to take delivery of an ebike a couple of weeks later. having not cycled since he was younger, he had done his research and had opted for a purpose-built electric bike (Scott). here the technology works by using a motor in the bottom bracket to assist the power
transmitted from the pedals. Steve told me he had collected the bike and then cycled it home via the Old Bristol Road out of wells, which is no mean feat. I thought it’s a great example of how e-bikes can suddenly open new opportunities and experiences. when I popped round to look at his bike my first impressions were of the sleek styling and smart engineering. Steve let me have a quick ride on his bike. It felt very stable due to the even distribution of weight and a lower centre of gravity. Out on the road, the motor adapted responsively to the effort I put in and to be honest it felt like riding an unpowered bike, just a bit faster. It seems to me that the benefits of riding an e-bike are that you can cycle further, it builds fitness, is cheaper than running a car and means that hills and the wind are no longer a problem. You’re left to just enjoy the ride – and if you happen to pass someone panting out of breath on a hill climb, try not to smile!
JUNE CROSSWORD SOLUTION
ACROSS: 1 & 15. elite batting coach 9. Loosely 10. Big Carl 11. Coin 12. digit 13. Verb 16. Blagdon 17. Grossly 18. endless 21. Tactile 23. Font 24. Fifth 25. Avow 28. Caribou 29. Nippier 30. wiveliscombe. DOWN: 1. exotica 2. Idea 3. elysian 4. Ambling 5. Toga 6. Neatens 7. Placebo effect 8. Old boy network 14. Adieu 15. See 1 across 19. Denarii 20. Stimuli 21. Titanic MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 83
Sport section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:57 Page 84
MENDIP TIMES
Runners on the roads again By Mark Adler
AROUND 750 competitors took part in a Covid-compliant Glastonbury 10km Road Run – one of the first such events to take place in 2021. with a new, phased start format and a new route avoiding Glastonbury town centre and the west Mendip hospital, the event was highly praised by runners of all abilities. The annual race – organised by Mendip Athletics Club – began in 1981 on a course around Glastonbury Tor; this year’s took runners on a fast, flat route from Strode College Sports Centre towards Baltonsborough and back. Oliver Paulin, 24, a member of Coventry Godiva harriers, was the fastest man home with a time of 32:22; Kate Drew, 21, of Taunton AC, was the fastest female to cross the line at 37:07. wells City harriers were the top team, followed by Taunton AC, with Clevedon AC in third.
The first phase of runners heads off
Staff from St Dunstan’s School in Glastonbury were raising money for Asthma UK in memory of former student Amy Thomas, who died in 2017 from an asthma attack
We’ve got this licked: Paul and pal ahead of the start
PAGE 84 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Byron Joce, 60, ran in the first race in 1981 and completed the London Marathon the following year. He finished with a time of 1:06:14
The medals hark back to previous races
Sport section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:57 Page 85
SPORT
Local carnival clubs – including Wick CC – provided marshals. For most, this was their first fundraising event in 2021
Millfield School staff member Joe Lewis collects his medal
Phase 24 runners – there were 50 groups in total
Oliver Paulin reaches the finish line
Kate Drew was the fastest woman
Ruby Orchard finished with a time of 37:14
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 85
Sport section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 12:57 Page 86
SPORT
Podium finish
Damon in action
STReeT-based Damon Smith got off to a good start to the season at Brands hatch smashing his personal lap time, winning a trophy and coming away third in the championship overall. he won a podium place in the first race of the weekend, coming third on his Kawasaki ZX10R, frustratingly only 0.002 seconds from the fastest lap of the race.
Tennis for all
Details: DS Racing Kawasaki #23 on Facebook and Instagram
CheDDAR Tennis Club welcomed four players to its inaugural walking tennis group. The game has been adapted to enable players to use their racquet skills but with rules which prohibit running and allow two bounces of a slower ball making it easier for rallies to take place. It is ideally suited for those coming back from injury or for those with reduced mobility. The players, some of whom had not held a racquet for more than ten years, thoroughly enjoyed being out in the fresh air and commented that the sessions would give them something to look forward to each week. The game offers a great opportunity to develop tennis skills, build physical fitness and meet new people and the club welcomes anyone who would like to dust off their racquets and give it a try. Sanitised racquets can be borrowed if required. The sessions, costing £7 and led by head coach Stephen Pearce, are held on Friday mornings 1112noon. Also new to the club this year is the Pay and Play scheme for nonmembers aimed at attracting local residents and visitors to enjoy the wonderful facilities. Courts can be booked on the club’s website for only £5 an hour. Details: Stephen Pearce 07904061301 www.cheddartennisclub.co.uk or its Facebook page.
PAGE 86 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
Boost for Wedmore FC
The Isle of wedmore Football Club has been awarded a grant of £15,000 from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation, to ensure it provides the best possible playing surface for its players. It follows a pitch inspection using the Football Foundation’s specially developed app, PitchPower, which assesses the quality of grass football pitches. The club will now be able to use the grant to complete the maintenance work identified in the assessment, which includes applying fertiliser, aeration, seeding and other maintenance practices. Club chair, Nick Beason, said: “we continually strive to provide the best facilities we possibly can for players, supporters and the wider community.” Details: https://footballfoundation.org.uk/ grass-pitch-improvement
(Photography courtesy of Gordon Brady/EDP Photonews)
MENDIP TIMES
What's On section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:00 Page 87
Bath museums ready to welcome visitors Bath Preservation trust has announced the reopening of four historic destinations in the city following the easing of restrictions. the trust runs No.1 Royal Crescent, herschel Museum of astronomy, Beckford’s tower and the Museum of Bath architecture. at the herschel home, visitors can wander through and see replicas of the telescopes William herschel invented and used, see the music room where he and his sister Caroline tutored students and the workshop, where you can still see the furnace and smelting oven used to make the telescopic lenses. Beckford’s tower, situated a little over a mile from the heart of Bath offers spectacular views across the surrounding countryside and of the city itself. the Museum of Bath architecture is a great place to learn more about its honeycoloured houses, sweeping crescents and elegant streets. the museum also gives visitors insights into Bath’s Roman history and its transformation from a small, walled Herschel Museum music room medieval town into a
WHAT’S ON
UNESCO World heritage destination. No.1 Royal Crescent is one of Bath’s most famous and instantly recognisable locations, if not its most prestigious address. When it reopens on Wednesday, June 2nd, it will feature a remarkable new immersive experience, which will allow visitors to see life as it was lived in Georgian Bath during the late 1700s. Bath Preservation trust’s Director of Museums, Claire Dixon, said: “after such a long time closed, it is so exciting to be able to welcome visitors back to our museums. Each one represents an important aspect of Bath’s history and bears testimony to the astonishing people who came to live in this beautiful World heritage City.”
Details: www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk • Twitter @BathPresTrust • Facebook /@bathprestrust Instagram @bath_preservation_trust
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 87
What's On section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:00 Page 88
MENDIP TIMES
t h E M E N D i P t i M E S W h at ’ S O N G U i D E
Please send entries for these listings as a single paragraph of less than 25 words. We’re happy to list entries for charities and voluntary groups free of charge – but please submit them in the format below. We may not be able to use entries which are too lengthy or submitted as posters or leaflets. Commercial entries cost £25.
Tuesday May 25th to Saturday June 5th Theatre Royal Bath live theatre reopens with a new stage adaptation of t.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets, directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes. all advance tickets are sold out but any returns will be available from 12noon on performance days. Monday May 31st Alexandra Bowling Club, alexandra Park, Bath, open day 10am-4pm. try something different and come along – we have the bowls so that you can have a go. all welcome but children should be accompanied by an adult. Please book a slot so that we do not become over-crowded: 0117 9864866 or wwwalexandrabowsbath.co.uk Saturday June 5th to Saturday June12th Hilliard Society of Miniaturists, Wells town hall, Ba5 2RB, 10am–5pm (last entry 4pm) closed on Sunday, June 6th. Disabled access, free entry. Thursday, June 10th Valley Arts, the Canterbury tales, holt Farm
Organic Garden BS40 7SQ, 7pm. Details: www.valleyartscentre.co.uk Saturday, June 12th Temple Cloud in Bloom pop-up plant sale in the village hall car park and on the village green, 10am-1pm. Saturday June 26th The Reduced Ring Cycle is coming to Croscombe! Wagner took 15 hours, Somerset based Bluebirds theatre, experts at re-telling even the most complex tale, take an hour. Meet all the weird and wonderful characters from the Ring Cycle and listen to some great operatic music in a beautiful family-friendly mash-up outdoor performance. advance tickets only as numbers are limited by Covid restrictions: www.takeart.org/whats-on . Sunday June 27th Yard and rummage sale organised by Saturday Stitch and Fosseway Gardening Club, 10.30-12.30, harvester Yard, Ditcheat (near the church). Details: 07772 008594. Chew Valley Rugby Club re-start their Classic Car and Bike meetings, 10am-3pm. Kitchen and bar open for breakfast and drinks. Free parking and entry for classic car and bike owners and anyone interested in classics. Further events planned for Sundays in July and august. For up-to-date info please check Chew Valley Classic Car and Bike Meet
Boat race entries are open
Flashback to the last races in 2019
thE annual Wells Moat Boat Race is set to return in august, thanks to the determination of organisers, the City of Wells Lions Club. Entries are now open for teams wanting to take part in the afternoon of fundraising and fun, which attracts thousands of spectators
to the moat around the Bishop’s Palace. Rod Major, from the Lions club, said the format of the races – on august Bank holiday Monday – might be altered but would still offer entertainment for all.
To enter, contact Rod at rod@wfs.me.uk or 01749 670100
Wedmore street fair
WEDMORE’S street fair and harvest home teams are combining forces this year to organise a community summer fete in St Mary’s Church and Church Street on Saturday, august 7th. Wedmore Friends of Weston hospicecare are having a stall at the fair and are looking for complete jigsaws for sale. Please deliver them to Bramblings, Plud Street, Wedmore BS28 4BE or call 01934 712089.
PAGE 88 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
FOR
J U N E 2021
Facebook page or call 07831 336444. Saturday July 3rd Jazz in the Paddock, Winscombe, 6.30 for 7pm. Bring a picnic and chairs and enjoy a beautiful summer’s evening listening to the Big R Big Band, Church Paddock, Winscombe hill, BS25 1DE. adults £10, U16s £5, family ticket £25 (2 adults and up to 4 children) from hampden Osteopathic Clinic 01934 843617 and on the gate. Sunday July 4th Somerton Fun Day Sunday July 4th and Monday July 5th Garden Open for the NGS. honeyhurst Farm, Rodney Stoke, BS27 3UJ. 2-5 p.m. adults £4 Children free. Cream teas, cakes & plants available. Sunday July 11th Picnic in the meadow. Rodden Meadow, Frome. 11am–2pm. a host of activities, from river dipping to tree climbing. Bring a picnic and have fun in one of Frome’s most loved open spaces. Details: www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk Saturday July 17th Christ Church Nailsea Summer Fair in the Rectory Garden, 9.30am-12.30pm. Bouncy Castle, balloon modeller, bubble-ologist, candyfloss, crafts and various stalls and refreshments. admission free.
June in Frome
Before the pandemic
With predictions of a dry and warm summer ahead, the Merlin theatre in Frome has a full season lined up for its purpose-built outdoor theatre space, ECOS – the European Community Of Stones amphitheatre. the programme includes music, comedy, film and poetry as well as bringing some of the country’s best touring theatre right into the heart of the South West. Due to seat-distancing rules, booking in advance is essential. Details: www.merlintheatre.co.uk
What's On section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:00 Page 89
WHAT’S ON
Exhibition programme announced for two Somerset museums thE Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury will showcase local artists in its summer programme, after reopening on Wednesday, May 19th. the programme has begun with the first solo exhibition by Glastonbury-based artist Joanna Briar which brings together ink drawings with linocut and woodcut prints in an exhibition inspired by the museum itself and by the countryside surrounding it. During the summer the museum, working in partnership with the Royal Bath and West Society, will open its first “living exhibition”. there will be a vibrant programme of family events and activities that capture the spirt of the Bath and West Show, as well as an opportunity to discover more about the society’s wideranging history. autumn sees the museum continue its successful collaboration with Somerset art Works. alice Kettle is a highly-regarded textile artist whose large-scale narrative embroideries are inspired by contemporary issues and ideas. themes of cultural heritage and displacement are explored through the contributions of migrants brought together in works by alice. the museum is run by the South West heritage trust, which has chosen for the season the theme of the Stories that Make Us, also reflected in the programme at its other museum, the Museum of Somerset in taunton, where works submitted to the Royal Photographic Society’s international Photography Competition are on show. the museum will be the only South West venue to host this annual display of contemporary photography from across the globe. the museum is known for its family-friendly summer exhibitions. this year the cartoons and art of the horrible histories illustrator Martin Brown are featured. the horrible histories books, written by terry Deary, were launched in 1993 and are now world bestsellers. they have inspired tV series, stage shows, exhibitions and even a feature film. the series relaunches in 2021 with new titles including a history of flight called Up in the air. Visitors will be able to see the original covers for some of the horrible histories and discover more of Martin’s work from his beginnings as a humorous graphic artist and fan of cartoons. the museum’s successful exhibitions dedicated to 20th-century British art continue in the autumn with a celebration of the colourful achievement of Brian Rice, one of Britain’s leading abstract artists, originally from south Somerset. head of Museums for the South West heritage trust, Sam astill, said: “after a very difficult year we’re now looking forward with optimism to the opportunities ahead. We’re
Glastonbury Tor, by Joanna Briar. Her exhibition runs until July 3rd
collaborating with some brilliantly creative people and some key partners to deliver a programme that can provide enjoyment, All visits must be pre-booked at www.swheritage.org.uk
inspiration and learning for everyone.”
Literary festival in Shepton
LOCaL couple, tim and Julia O’Connor, have launched a new festival, Literally Shepton, which will take place over the weekend of July 9-11th. it promises a variety of comedy, theatre, music, spoken word, author visits and a short story and playwright competition, with events at Shepton Community Bookshop, the art Bank and a Love your Library event at the newly refurbished town library. Details: www.literallyshepton.co.uk
MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021 • PAGE 89
What's On section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 13:00 Page 90
MENDIP TIMES
WHAT’S ON
Foodies delight at the Bath & West Country Festival FOOD enthusiasts will be delighted that the Food & Drink hall is firmly on the menu of attractions at the one-off Bath & West Country Festival in august. this popular feature of the usual Royal Bath & West Show has relocated to the Showering Pavilion and has a new sponsor, Jon thorners. amongst the food stands in the hall and on the Main Lawn will be Fanny annie’s (retro street food); alimentos (Spanish street food); hidden Pizza; the Curry man; Salcombe Dairy; Unstabled Bar and Café and the Chock Shop (homemade brownies) whilst cheese aficionados can enjoy Godminster Cheese, the Great British Cheese Company and Bath Soft Cheese. Food will combine with the festival vibe courtesy of “Liver Cottage”, with comedy chefs hugh Fearn and Lee Whittingstall presenting alternative cookery demonstrations. as the mobile kitchen garden moves through the crowds they’ll create “fusion food on the move”, blending home grown ingredients with food foraged from the corner shop, the streets, and the audience. Blurring the boundaries between traditional and contemporary, urban and rural, fresh and “Best before June 1972”, the Liver Cottage chefs stick to their motto: “Don’t leave anyone wanting more!” Cider lovers will be delighted that the British Cider
Alternative cooking with chefs Liver Cottage
Championships will take place at the festival, within the Orchards & Cider area, which has moved to the Sedgemoor Building. alan Lyons, head of Shows, said: “the Food & Drink hall is one of the best-loved parts of the Bath & West experience. it gives our visitors the opportunity to try unique West Country produce, and is also a wonderful platform for our stallholders.”
The Bath & West Country Festival takes place on Friday, August 27th- Sunday, August, 29th. Tickets are available at: https://www.bathandwest.com/tickets
Show is on schedule
a BRaND-new showground will greet visitors to this year’s Mid-Somerset agricultural Show at Shepton Mallet in august. Work is well advanced on a An artist’s impression of the completed dedicated building on the new showground office/store for the agricultural society on the showground at Cannard’s Grave. Class schedules for the one-day show, on Sunday, august 15th, are now available online with some changes to ensure more space in the marquees, but organisers are confident it will still offer a day to remember for exhibitors and visitors alike. there will be reduced arts and crafts and flower show classes and also a reduced number of cider classes. For this year only, no cookery demonstrations will take place in the Food hall. all livestock classes will be the same, as will horse classes, but pre-entry only for horses this year with no entries taken on the day. Show secretary, Christine Barham, said: “We will of course be following any government guidelines relevant at the time, but above all we want people to feel comfortable being at the show.”
PAGE 90 • MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2021
For details and to download schedules, visit: www.midsomersetshow.org
(Photograph courtesy of Jason Bryant)
What's On section.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 08:28 Page 91
SRLM FP ad.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2021 08:29 Page 1
