CLIMATE and health feature this month. Dr Phil Hammond asks if there’s a cure for dementia, while we preview a conference in Frome discussing climate, food and health.
We have pictures from Frome Cheese Show, Wells moat races, flower shows, fetes and harvest homes. The carnival season is next!
We welcome Somerset’s big new attraction –the Shoemakers Museum.
The Chew Valley’s second wildlife photography competition had some stunning entries –we feature some of them.
Our What’s On section is one of the busiest we have ever had. We preview a play based on people who lived in Somerset’s mental hospitals. Valley Arts is celebrating its tenth year with its most ambitious ever Fringe Festival.
We meet a 90-year-old who has walked 97 miles to support the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and an 88-yearold who has won a top gardening award.
Younger people have been enjoying success too in golf and at a skate jam in Shepton Mallet. Achievements across all age groups on Mendip are impressive.
With all of our regular features and contributors, let’s congratulate them! November 2025 deadline: Friday 17th October
Published: Tuesday 28th October
Editorial:
Steve Egginton steve@mendiptimes.co.uk
Mark Adler mark@mendiptimes.co.uk
Advertising: advertising@mendiptimes.co.uk
Lisa Daniels lisa@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
Front cover: Bishop of Bath & Wells visits Chew Magna. Photograph by Pete Brownlee. See page 5.
SOS –save our swans
WHENShirley Williams spotted a twoweek-old cygnet washed downstream over several weirs in a brook in the Chew Valley she knew it would die from hypothermia unless she saved it.
When she walked upstream to find its family, she found the parents and two more cygnets trapped in a deep-sided retention pond with a dwindling supply of food.
For the next two months, she and other volunteers, Peter McKendry and Richard Evershed, worked out a rota to feed the swans up to five times a day helped by Richard’s wife Gosia and a friend Annie
Sewart.
They were fed on lettuce, dandelions and swan pellets. Feeding cygnets bread can cause a condition called angel wing, which can stop them flying.
Shirley, from Chew Magna, a retired building designer, also had to save the cygnets several more times as they were washed over a high weir and into the brook and away from their parents.
Rescues were also carried out on a road where a cygnet was in danger of being run over and at a ford, where again cygnets were in danger of being
Bishop presents prizes
run over by vehicles.
Staff from Bristol Zoo with the help of Bristol Water managed to rescue the swans and return them to the main reservoir.
Shirley, who named the first rescued cygnet Charlie, is still feeding them every day. She said: “It’s been a great team effort. It’s been wonderful to see them recover.”
U-12 winner Sophie Green
U-18 winner Toby Widdows
Charlie after being washed away
THE Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt Rev Michael Beasley, presented prizes to the winners of the Chew Valley Nature Photography Festival. He’s pictured with U-12 winner Sophie Green and U-18 winner, Toby Widdows. See Page 30.
After a difficult rescue the swans were released
Charlie as he is now
(Photograph courtesy of Shirley Williams)
Farm recruiting
THECommunity Farm, a social enterprise based above Chew Valley Lake, is looking for enthusiastic management committee members and a secretary. It delivers organic food across the local area and champions nature-friendly farming.
THE Mendip Hills National Landscape Partnership wants to appoint a representative from the local tourism community to ensure that sector has a voice in future decisions for the area.
The partnership is a committee that coordinates work across the area to conserve and enhance its natural beauty. The partnership is made up of the three local authorities that the National Landscape spills into plus local, regional and national bodies.
David Turner, chair of the partnership, said: “The Mendip Hills is a treasured landscape but it is not a museum. Many local people and businesses rely on the natural beauty of the area to attract visitors, but a strong local economy must be balanced against the impact on wildlife and the path network.
“We'd like someone to join the partnership and ensure educated and informed decisions are made about keeping the area beautiful for all to enjoy.”
Details: The Mendip Hills National Landscape Partnership –Mendip Hills National Landscape
Restoring peat bogs on the Levels
SOMERSET
Wildlife Trust is celebrating the recent completion of its peatland restoration project on Westhay Moor Nature Reserve, one of the trust’s flagship reserves, and part of the Somerset Wetlands ‘super’ National Nature Reserve.
One sign that the restoration work is working is the appearance of a rare plant species called 'white beak sedge'. This is a target species for peatland restoration and hadn’t been recorded on Westhay since the 1960s.
Over a period of 18 months, the trust worked with leading specialists Open Space (Cumbria) Ltd using a technique called “deep trench cell bunding” both on Westhay Moor and Natural England’s Shapwick Heath Nature Reserve.
The complex technique involves slowing the flow of water by sealing underground cracks and fissures beneath the surface, whilst small surface “bunds” are constructed to capture the rainwater the peat needs to stay healthy.
Since the work was completed, the trust says there have already been promising signs of progress. Several pairs of lapwing have been seen nesting in newly-restored areas of Westhay Moor and sphagnum moss, which is essential to a healthy peat bog, is spreading more widely than before.
The trust believes that other specialist species, including the carnivorous sundew, micro-plume moth, and large marsh grasshopper will benefit from the project and the restoration of an open peatland habitat.
Sian Russell, Peatland Partnership Project Coordinator at Somerset Wildlife Trust, said: “The work we’ve been carrying out at Westhay Moor is critically important. We are currently in a climate emergency and we need to take bold action to protect our peatlands and ensure the vital carbon they store stays locked up and in the ground.
“These works are a massive step forward in the rehabilitation of one of the largest remnants of lowland raised bog in the South West, making it more resilient to changing weather patterns as well as supporting some rare and specialist species right here in the heart of Somerset.”
Over the next five years the trust hopes the rehabilitation of the peatland habitats on the reserve will go from strength to strength as the peat rehydrates and water tables stabilise.
White beak sedge
Conference tackles issues of climate and health
A GREEN & Healthy Frome conference on November 3rd is expected to welcome people from across the South West and beyond to see what they have achieved, including their Canteen pay-what-you-can food programme.
It says that at a time when the UK faces rising loneliness, food insecurity and soaring NHS costs linked to diet-related illness, Canteen offers a hopeful, replicable model, one that echoes traditions long forgotten in Britain but is still embedded in countries like Spain, Japan and India, where communal eating is central to public health.
The very first Canteen launched in October 2024 at Trinity Hall in Frome. Since then, five pop-ups have taken place, each supported by the Green & Healthy
project,
In less than a year, Canteen served nearly 900 meals, supported dozens of free meals, used hundreds of kilos of local produce, and ensured that nothing went to waste, while creating a space for community and food connection.
Frome mayor, Anita Collier, said: “Canteen is a great example of community organisations working together to create a
Details: https://greenhealthyfrome.org
Big
butterfly count
BUTTERFLY Conservation says 3,485 people in Somerset took part in this summer’s three-week count spotting 62,501 butterflies and day-flying moths.
On average, butterfly spotters saw 11.3 butterflies and moths per count, a 35% increase compared to 2024 and the most-spotted butterfly in Somerset was the Large White.
While the numbers are a vast improvement compared to 2024, the charity has warned that urgent measures are still needed to reverse long-term decline.
It says: “The sunniest spring and hottest summer ever recorded in the UK provided good weather conditions for butterflies after 2024’s record-breaking lows. However, the results from the UKwide survey show that it was definitely not a bumper summer for our beleaguered butterflies.”
Over 125,000 citizen scientists got involved in the count across the UK – more than ever before – and recorded 1.7 million butterflies and moths, with the top five species being Large White, Small White, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral and Meadow Brown.
Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation, said: “We may feel like we’ve seen lots of butterflies this summer, but that’s only because last year was so awful.
“Last summer’s results were the lowest we’ve seen and a stark warning that many of our common butterfly species are facing significant pressure from challenges linked to habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use.”
Across the UK, some species did show marked increases this summer. The Large White and Small White both recorded their
circular economy.
“It’s more than just sharing food, it’s about reconnecting with where our food comes from, ensuring everyone has access to nutritious and delicious meals, supporting local producers, and cutting waste.”
The conference will mark Green & Healthy Frome’s final year of National Lottery funding. They say they’ll be sharing their learning (both successes and challenges), telling inspiring stories, and offering hands-on workshops and site visits.
The audience will include changemakers from beyond Frome - people exploring how partnership can drive meaningful action on climate and health in their own communities.
best ever Big Butterfly Count result.
Meanwhile the Small Tortoiseshell, which had its worst Big Butterfly Count result on record in 2024, showed some improvement but still recorded a below average year and has declined by 60% since 2011.
The Jersey Tiger moth had a record year. The species was recorded more widely and in higher numbers than ever before.
By contrast, Holly Blue had its second worst Big Butterfly Count result on record, Common Blue had its third worst and Meadow Brown had its fourth worst Count result.
Dr Fox said: “We’ve reached a critical moment. The time to take action for UK butterflies is now. We know the weather impacts their numbers and with the summer we’ve just had we should be seeing them in far greater numbers. Even when the weather is good, the environment is only able to support far fewer butterflies than it used to.”
Common blue
(Photo courtesy of Alan Cooper)
Frome
through Edventure’s Future Shed.
The taming of a shrew
OCCASIONALLYtiny shrews are spotted in the garden especially in the late summer and early autumn. They like to keep well hidden but sometimes their high-pitched squeaking is heard. They are very fast and easily recognisable by their long snouts covered with bristling whiskers called vibrissae.
Though “my” cat (a stray) enjoys catching shrews, she never eats one as she would a mouse. I found out why. Glands in a shrew's flanks emit a powerful scent that repels mammals such as foxes and cats!
Their saliva is also distasteful. Birds do eat shrews. They have a much poorer sense of smell. Shrew glands are mainly used to mark their runs and territories.
It was when a shrew decided to live in my house or at least visit regularly that I began to take an interest in their life story. In the early evening my friend and I would sit and wait for the diminutive shrew to emerge from under the washing machine or on other occasions he/she would emerge from under a chest in a side room.
The shrew all alone – they are solitary animals except during the breeding season – would immediately make for the cat food which had been left. Soon we were leaving cat food out anyway!
A shrew has a strong sense of smell but poor eyesight. Normally they eat insects such as spiders, wood lice and gnats and also invertebrates such as slugs, snails and worms.
They must eat 90% of their body weight daily to survive but a lactating female may double that figure. They must eat day and night every few hours otherwise they will die. If there is not enough food they are forced to eat their own species. They do have brief rests every hour or so.
To survive times of food scarcity, some shrew species, like the common shrew, can reduce the size of their brains and even their skulls and bodies by reabsorbing nutrients from non-fat tissues.
Shrews are not often seen because they spend time just under the ground or they scurry along tunnel-like runways through tussocky grass or through leaf litter or soil. They do not hibernate but spend the winter in hedge bottoms, old nests and
holes and amongst leaf litter (yet another reason for being cautious about strimming).
We grew rather fond of the shrew but did not know whether it was always the same one. We thought it likely because they are very territorial. Their lives are short perhaps only a year or 18 months but enough to produce several litters of around five babies. The youngsters are able to look after themselves when only a month old.
We did decide it was leaving time and a humane trap was bought and set with apparently a favourite food – chocolate! It worked immediately. Instructions stated that the shrew should not be left longer than four hours without food. That was not a problem.
Naively I released the shrew back into the garden. It was back the next day enjoying chocolate and then finding itself released further away this time on the verge along the adjoining lane. Still back. Next it was released across the busy main road into a friend’s garden. Back again.
Finally, and I should have researched this at the beginning, the shrew was taken as instructed at least a mile away. The shrew did not return. I felt rather sad and hoped that a suitable home had been found in a new territory with other shrews not too far away. I hope so. But I also wonder whether the shrew found another human home as well!
DIANA REDFERN
Chew Valley flood deeper than thought
ACADEMICS from the Universities of Bath and Greenwich have revisited the devastating flood that struck the River Chew in 1968.
Using eyewitness accounts, archive records and advanced computer modelling – together with data generously provided by local residents and the Pensford Local History Group –the DocuFlood project has reconstructed the event in unprecedented detail.
The findings suggest that a peak flow of around 165 m³/s is more likely than the original official estimate of 100 m³/s. This means the flood was even more severe than previously recognised.
The researchers also confirmed flood depths reached up to 6.5 metres in places, with nearly 1km² of land inundated. Beyond uncovering the scale of the 1968 event, the project has developed an approach that can be used to investigate
past floods elsewhere. Because the methods are open source, they can be applied by other researchers, local authorities, and community groups worldwide to improve flood preparedness and planning.
The conclusions of this work will be presented on Monday, October 6th as part of Pensford Local History Group’s autumn programme at Pensford Memorial Hall (BS39 4HW), 7.30pm.
The climate times they are a’changing
THEREis a commonly held belief that if there is a lot of fruit in the hedges and trees in autumn it is a sign of a bad winter to come and it’s nature’s way of looking after the wildlife. The hedges around us are laden with blackberries, sloes, damsons, holly berries and the trees have been laden with apples, pears and walnuts. However, nice as it might sound, science argues that rather than preparing for a hard winter, it is a result of good growing conditions in the preceding seasons.
There’s been plenty of warm weather to encourage pollination, plenty of sunshine and daylight to encourage photosynthesis and plenty of moisture to swell the fruits. We’ve had plenty of warmth and sunshine this summer but we definitely haven’t had much rain to provide the moisture. Which makes me think nature is really resilient.
Some of the early apples haven’t been quite as juicy as usual but
the rest of the fruits are as they normally are. Bramble, blackthorn and plum trees must be deep rooted to produce their crop of blackberries, sloes and damsons in such abundance this year. Regardless of what the scientists say, we will be sharing nature’s bounty with the wildlife and filling our freezer, jars and bottles with whatever we can make in the coming weeks.
Regional differences in the weather through 2025 have made a huge difference to farmers in the UK. I’ve written previously of the lack of rain which has challenged Mendip, Somerset and a central line up to the North West.
Those in the east of England have had a disastrous year if they haven’t been able to irrigate. Devon and Cornwall had an average year up until mid-August when it started to dry up. Travelling to the Lake District in the midst of our drought, I was envious looking out across green fields with grass up to the cows’ knees.
And to rub salt into the wound, talking to a friend in Northern Ireland, they have had to make an extra cut of silage just to tidy the grass up in the fields before winter. We may live on a comparatively small island but our climate is totally different from region to region.
This is why the type of farming is different in the different parts of the country. Pig and arable farms are more abundant in the east of the country where it is easier to grow crops and less distance to take feed to the pigs.
Grazing livestock farms are more common in the west where grass can be more easily grown and plentiful for grazing livestock. Fruit and vegetable crops need high quality soil and plenty of water and are found in specific areas such as the Fens in the East and Worcestershire in the West.
With the changing climate it will be interesting to see how much this regionality has changed in 50 years’ time.
Nick Green is Farms Director for Alvis Bros Ltd based at Lye Cross Farm. As well as the business, he is involved with a number of local and national farming charities.
With NICK GREEN
North Somerset and the Lake District on the same day
Protecting dormice and the Mendip landscape
FARMERS, community groups and conservation organisations are working together on a Mendip dormice project that's growing bigger every year.
Jemima Western, Farming Engagement Officer with the National Landscape Team, said: “We’re pleased that Phase 3 of the Mendip Dormice project received support from the Mendip Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, as this next phase will build on the impressive progress made over the past few years to enhance habitats in hazel dormouse ‘hotspots’, raise public awareness and establish new monitoring sites in East Mendip.
“These sites will contribute valuable data to the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme and will ensure that conservation work is targeted where it is needed.
“Led by Somerset Wildlife Trust, the project brings together 12 landowners, two community groups and seven funders in a collaborative effort to protect this vulnerable species.
“The Farming in Protected Landscapes grant programme recently held another successful Local Assessment Panel meeting, approving four projects with a combined value of £53,000. As we move into autumn, work on previously
approved projects will be gearing up.
“All the projects will help nature recover and mitigate climate change, involving hedge laying, scrub clearance and tree planting, activities that are best begun in the colder months. We’re looking forward to visiting all the completed projects and seeing the positive impact they’ve made on the landscape.”
Show shines despite the weather
CROWDS of visitors enjoyed the sights and sounds of the Frome Cheese Show, although heavy rain meant the cancellation of the grand parade in the main ring.
And there were golden moments for Read Agri when the family-run company from Wanstrow was presented with a special award for reaching the 50th anniversary of exhibiting at the show.
And a hard farmhouse cheese from Lynher Dairies in Truro was named the supreme champion in the Global Cheese Awards, held on the eve of the show.
Concentration on the face of one entrant in a young handler class
Flowers in the rain – show visitors brave the downpour
Some of the Read Agri team receive their award from society president Michael Rogers (far left with chairman Kristen Penny next to him and vice chairman Tim Maygreen (far right)
Getting up close
Frome Young Farmers
Admiring the produce
FROME CHEESE SHOW 2025
Society vice-president Paul Hooper at the Global Cheese Awards
Ukelele band The Frukes on stage and . . . ahead of their performance
Coping with the showers
A stunt rider shows off his skills on the village green
Frome Show Choir
Ronnie the terrier with Debbie and Dawn
The Mendip Mindbender
ACROSS
1. X Brigade violated Somerset town (8)
5. Some tart hurt king (6)
9. Expecting to be softly raining, we hear (8)
10. Stiffen (6)
12. Girl called names hiding (4)
13. Shelter wuz rebuilt for group (3,7)
15. Cocktail bar meet has pint on top! (7)
17. Old tax (5)
19. Kingdom (5)
20. Best of three (7)
23. Undressed old lover could start a fire (5,5)
25. Circle of light (4)
28. Sudden pain (6)
29. Short poem (8)
30. Naturist (6)
31. Envy (8)
DOWN
1. Grown at Myrtle Farm (6)
2. Block round about between W-s-M and Burnham (5)
3. Hebridean Island (4)
4. Checked fabric (7)
6. Revolving device whichever way you look at it (5)
7. See 21 Down
8. Grass consuming dope gets worked-up again (8)
11. Openers for South West and Taunton bat (4)
14. Friend rearranged for eleven (4)
15. Songster from 13 Across (9)
16. Something absorbed by 15 Across (3)
17. Neat (4)
18. Ingrown toenails start playing up somewhere in North Somerset (8)
20. Valley (4)
21 & 7 Down. Brave choirmen set out to get No1 hit for 13 Across (7,9)
22. Place next to hole (6)
24. Impressionist painter (5)
26. Farewell (5)
By
This month’s solution can be found on page 86
27. Laze around then get up and go (4)
Fairlight Cryptic Clues are in italics
Update from Tessa Munt
MP for Wells & Mendip Hills
Ed Davey, the Lib Dem Leader visited Somerset and after picking strawberries at Warren’s Fruit Farm in Draycott, joined Martin Thatcher, his daughter Eleanor, businesspeople, food producers and farmers, listening to their concerns and answering questions at The Railway Inn, Sandford.
Ed returned to London, having cycled The Strawberry Line from the old Congresbury station to the Strawberry Line Café at Yatton Station. My thanks to Sally at the Strawberry Line Community Cycle Project for hiring us bikes and helmets, and Virginia at the Café for lovely tea and cake!
Last month, I shared my concerns about waterway maintenance and potential flooding in Somerset. I attended the South West Association of Drainage Authorities (SWADA) emergency meeting about the Environment Agency’s situation, and when Parliament returned in early September, I requested Ministerial intervention.
I’ll keep you updated.
I’m running drop in ‘surgeries’ across the area. If you’d like to tell me what matters to you, come along:
Friday 3rd October
from 08:00 to 09:00 at The Mendip Pantry, Chewton Mendip
Friday 3rd October
from 10:00 to 11:00 at The Market Kitchen Café, Churchill
Friday 3rd October
from 11:30 to12:30 at The East Brent Hub Café, East Brent
Friday 3rd October
from 18:00 to 19:00 at The Pub Night, Village Hall, Ashcott
Saturday 4th October
from 08:30 to 10:00 at Coffee#1, Wells
Saturday 4th October
from 12:00 to 13:00 at The Lamb Inn, Axbridge
Friday 10th October
from 08:00 to 09:00 at Edelweiss Café, Cheddar
Friday 10th October
from 10:00 to 11:00 at The Community Café, Congresbury
Saturday 11th October
from 09:00 to 10:00 at The Bluebird Café, Wedmore
Saturday 11th October
from 11:30 to 12:30 at The Hive Craft Café, Shepton Mallet
Saturday 11th October
from 15.00 to 16.00 at The Coffee Bank, Winscombe
Friday 17th October
from 09:00 to 10:00 at That Coffee Place, Yatton
Friday 17th October
from 16:30 to 17:30 at The Beer Shed, Bason Bridge, East Huntspill
Saturday 18th October
from 16:00 to 17:00 at The Shipham Inn, Shipham
Friday 24th October
from 18:00 to 19:00 at The Bell Inn, Banwell
No appointment is necessary – it’s first come, first served. If you can’t come to meet me, I’ll come to see you.
Thank you.
Tessa
Ready, steady . . . bow
MEMBERS of the Bowlore medieval archery and weapons display group, based in Somerset, took up residence at the Bishop’s Palace in Wells to offer visitors a glimpse into – the often – violent chapters in British history.
As well as demonstrating weapons skills, the re-enactors made camp in the grounds, displaying traditional skills from that time.
Big turnout for village show
Aerial acrobatics from a
entertainer from
. . .
THE 117th Baltonsborough Village Show attracted hundreds of visitors to the playing fields for a day of events which included a road run, dog show and flower and produce marquee along with aerial acrobatics, live music and stalls. . . . who also provided bubble entertainment
circus
Storm in a Teacup
Ali Sheldon singing with the Grey Dogs and Friends
Sarah Dyke. MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, opened the produce show marquee watched by Pamela Gilmore (left) and Natalie Clapp
Time to ponder as a fletcher prepares arrows
Longbow archers enthralled visitors with their skills
And Rolf Hage shows off his skills at repairing chain mail
MENDIP TIMES FOOD & DRINK
With KATY BEAUCHAMP
Spicy and spooky
It’s approaching that time of year again when autumn kicks in and thoughts turn to warming dishes to enjoy inside – or out at events such as Halloween parties and, before long, fireworks. Here are some recipe suggestions that would work well whatever the weather with a little bit of spice and something spooky to nibble!
LIGHT PAKORAS
I love a pakora but find them a bit heavy sometimes, so I’ve made a lighter version.
METHOD
Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl and leave for 20 minutes for all the flavours to mingle. Add the water and gently scrunch together using your hands, breaking up some of the bread. Make into fat patties and gently fry on both sides or bake in a 180˚ oven for 20 mins and serve with your favourite dipping sauce.
PORK AND APRICOT STEW
I usually make this with beef, but the pork version here doesn’t take very long to cook.
METHOD
Fry the onion and pork until they take on a bit of colour. Tip in the soup, apricots and wine and simmer for half an hour. Season to taste. If you like a thicker stew stir in some gravy granules or thicken with cornflour. Stir to break up the apricots and add in the green beans and serve. We enjoyed ours with garlic bread.
INGREDIENTS
(Makes six to eight)
3 slices of thick white sourdough bread cut into cubes
I tins of apricots in syrup (I often use tinned peaches as I can never find apricots!)
Equivalent of a can of white wine
Gravy granules or cornflour
200g cooked green beans
GIANT MAGGOTS
What’s inside a maggot? A banana! These are absolutely delicious at any time of year. The salted caramel sauce takes them to the next level!
METHOD
Slice the pastry into thin strips and, starting from one end of each banana, wind them round until you get to the other end. You can bake them straight away or cover and refrigerate them until needed. Bake for 30 mins at 180˚.
For the sauce, melt together the sugar butter and treacle until bubbling. Take off the heat, whisk in the cream and salt and drizzle over the maggots!
INGREDIENTS
(Makes three or four)
1 packet of ready to roll puff pastry
3 or 4 bananas depending on size
For the sauce
2 large tablespoons each of soft dark brown sugar, black treacle and butter
100mls cream
Good pinch of salt
An easy but tasty pork stew
Pakoras – I prefer a lighter version
Successful beer festival
YEOValley Lions’ Claverham Beer & Cider Festival drew big crowds. Chef Jon Phillips is pictured with Diane on the
WILD FOOD
Going nuts again
LOOKINGback at old articles, it seems I have been banging on about the weather in the spring being critical to pollination for a good fruit and nut bearing year and this year has been excellent. Whilst somewhat unusual in just how dry it has been, the recent rains have benefitted us all – farmers, gardeners and wildlife alike.
I have been on my rounds of sites I know to contain excellent resources of nuts, watching them grow to maturity. The recent winds have sent immature fruit and nuts that are not firmly attached, such as acorns and beech mast, flying. Not to mention the apples from my apple trees which the local deer population has set about tidying up for me.
All of a sudden the stars have aligned and hey pesto (!), the hazel nuts are turning colour from green to brown. There are so many, we and the animals have been going nuts collecting the abundance –there are more than enough for human and animal foragers alike.
Hazel (Corylus avellana) is a small tree or shrub with single or multiple stems, large roundish leaves with a pointed end and serrated edges. The stems are straight, with horizontal marking and grey brown colour. The flowers are catkins with the nuts appearing in clusters of two, three and four. Found in woods and hedgerows, nuts are available from August to October.
Of course, you may be wondering what to do with your nuts. If they are still green that’s totally fine, just bring them into the house to dry and ripen, then, just in case Mr Weevil has been busy, check for tiny holes and discard.
Once you have your small pile of hazel nuts, as you may have guessed from the terrible pun above, why not use them as a replacement for pine nuts in a Wild Hazel Nut pesto recipe. For fun, one could use other locally sourced foods for the remainder of the ingredients too.
For example: Rapeseed oil rather than olive oil, wild garlic as opposed to basil and cheddar instead of parmesan cheese. However, if these do not conveniently line up in terms of seasonal availability, the nuts can always be frozen to store until the wild garlic is ready to collect.
The only fly in the ointment is the six-month wait for this pesto, by which time you may well be going nuts all over again . . .
Adrian Boots is a Landscape Ecologist and expert forager running wild food forays, events and activities. Please visit: www.hedgerowcottage.co.uk for more information or email him at: hello@hedgerowcottage.co.uk
GARDEN FOOD
October vegetables
SLOWERgrowth, less birdsong, colder weather. Soon it’s dark before evening begins. What to like? Fortunately, the vegetable garden offers solace, such as winter squash now ripe, cauliflower, even purple ones, cabbage, beetroot, radicchio, celeriac and the first parsnips.
Leek advice
It may be worth harvesting leeks now, before there is too much risk of the Allium leaf miner. Last year it was prevalent by November, so if you have not covered your leeks, I would look to harvest any early varieties before the end of October. Jolant is my favourite variety and it’s ready now.
On the other hand, the most common leek planting is Musselburgh, a late type. They may be damaged by the fly maggots but still survive, to grow again strongly next March and April.
Plant garlic, broad beans
Now is THE time for starting garlic. Make holes with a dibber and pop in the cloves, then cover with 2-3 cm compost of any kind. Plant the largest cloves from this year’s harvest, and depending what variety you plant, they may not appear for up to two months.
Sow broad beans
From late October, sow broad beans to overwinter small and crop from late spring. Plants need to be not too big by Christmas, in order to survive frost better. You can sow them even until mid-November, either direct or one seed per module cell to transplant in early December.
Composting
Understanding the principles helps you to work out a best method for the size of garden you have. Use a small heap which fills rapidly and finishes within a few months of first add. The ideal proportion is a quarter brown woody materials, and three quarters green. For covering soil before winter, compost does not need to be perfectly fine and crumbly. Anything more than half decomposed will work, to then be broken down more by winter weather. Use it unsieved, sometimes a bit lumpy, even with small pieces of wood visible.
New plantings under cover
October 20th is the last date for transplanting under cover any spaces you have, such as polytunnels and greenhouse. Fill them with brassica salads, lettuce, endive, claytonia, and more. Plant them all at 22cm spacing, for six months of winter harvests.
Charles Dowding has made no dig popular with millions of readers and viewers. Currently he grows vegetables in Somerset. He has written 14 books and gives talks plus courses at home and abroad.
With ADRIAN BOOTS
With CHARLES DOWDING
Noon-11pm (Mon-Sat) • Noon-10pm (Sun)
Tucker’s Grave Inn, Faukland, Radstock, BA3 5XF.
T: 01225 962669
E: info@tuckersgraveinn.co.uk
W: www.tuckersgraveinn.co.uk
ROCK-TOBER AND MORE AT TUCKER’S
Saturday, September 27th: Haytown 75 band 8.30pm – Free entry to barn
Saturday, October 4th: Corinthian Casuals at 8.30pm – Free entry to barn
Sunday, October 5th: Ben Nicholls – Live music 2.30pm –in parlour
Saturday, October 11th: Roadstars Band 8.30pm – Free entry to barn
Thursday, October 16th: Charity bingo night for HEART animal charity 6.30pm – eyes down 7pm – in parlour
Saturday, October 18th: Portway Blues Band 8.30pm – Free entry to barn
Saturday, October 25th: The Last Broadcast Band 8.30pm –Free entry to barn
Sunday, October 5th: Mother Tuckers 10k run and little Tuckers 3k for U17’s
Parlour/Café: Baguettes, locally produced pasties and sausage rolls available Friday 8am to Sunday 5pm Breakfasts Saturday and Sunday 8.15-11.30am Friday/Saturday evenings 6-9pm – Fish and chips, gourmet burgers, freshly made pizzas and more. Look out for the specials board!
Food available Sunday afternoon from 12.30pm
New national shoe museum in Street
THE Shoemakers Museum, a bold and beautifully designed new cultural landmark nestled in the heart of Clarks Village, in Street has opened marking the 200th anniversary of the Clarks company.
The museum celebrates the evolution of shoemaking, style and identity – not just as a product, but as a reflection of British life, global influence and local pride.
Set across four immersive galleries, this permanent new museum invites visitors to explore the journey of one of the UK’s most iconic brands – from its Quaker beginnings.
Sheepskin slippers, desert boots, Britpop stagewear and school shoes share space with rarely seen archival materials, promotional films and prototypes – bringing to life 200 years of innovation, nostalgia and design. Yet the museum tells a story far greater than the sum of its exhibits.
Rosie Martin, director of the museum, said: “This is a museum about people – their craft, their community and the shoes that became part of life’s biggest milestones. Whether you remember your first pair of Clarks or you’re discovering the story for the
first time, this is a space for connection, creativity and collective memory.”
Behind this nationally significant project is a quietly powerful story of local ingenuity. The museum was built not only in Somerset but by Somerset –with a team of local contractors, designers and engineers coming together to shape its striking new home.
In a surprise twist beneath the galleries, Shoemakers Museum also houses an internationally significant collection of marine reptile fossils, discovered in the layer of rock beneath the Clarks factories.
First collected by Alfred Gillett, a Clarks family member and amateur palaeontologist, the fossils place Somerset’s story in the wider sweep of deep geological time, revealing layers of history both literal and symbolic.
Visitors can also expect a thoughtfully curated retail space, with unique gifts inspired by the collection, a locally sourced café serving produce from within a 35-mile radius and a calendar of special events, workshops and tours designed to delight all ages.
Details: www.shoemakersmuseum.org.uk
Cathy’s relocation sale
CHEWTONMendip based sculptor Cathy Judge will be exhibiting in this year's Chew Valley Arts Trail on October 11th/12th for the last time. She has exhibited with the arts trail and Somerset Art Weeks for over 20 years.
Her beautiful pieces explore the female form, emphasising the tactile and curvaceous, emphasising rhythm, patterns and lines. This work can currently be seen at the A2 Gallery in Wells and the Fisherton Mill Gallery, Salisbury.
Cathy said: "I am very grateful to the many who have enjoyed my work and supported me over the years. I am having a relocation sale where early work will be sold at discounted prices.
“Those who have visited my home/studio/gallery and garden will know that there is a large body of work which now needs to find a home. There will also be a number of pieces for sale which are not, to my eye, perfect.
“These are pieces that should appeal to those who admire my work but generally feel it's too expensive. It would give me great pleasure to see people walk away with work they wouldn't normally be able to afford."
Visitors are welcome any time by appointment, not just for this Arts Trail.
Details: 07514 614777
Show winner
LOCAL jeweller Erica Sharpe has had a busy summer, including winning top prize at a national jewellery show for her handcrafted silver candle arch, Illumination.
Inspired by gardens and nature, Erica says creating the piece to celebrate Waterperry Garden’s botanical heritage was a joy.
This year has also seen her exhibit in two London shows and experience a surge in bespoke commissions. Her work in transforming inherited or unworn jewellery into new, meaningful designs using recycled gold and gemstones has seen an upturn in demand.
She said: “It’s a beautiful way to honour the past while being sustainable.”
Details: www.ericasharpe.co.uk
Demand for period jewellery remains very strong
OUR July Specialist Fine Jewellery, Silver and Watches Sale was a resounding success with some absolutely fantastic individual results.
Notably an interesting, embossed Anglo-Asian panel link bracelet, selling for £2,400 plus buyers’ premium and a stunning Art Deco black opal and diamond cluster ring that had much competition from the internet and telephone, the hammer falling at £3,600.
The silver section was particularly strong with a sizeable collection of harlequin flatware and cutlery selling for £3,850 on the hammer against an estimate of £1,600-2,000. The trend for period jewellery is still very strong, in particular the Georgian and Art Deco periods.
Coming up in our November Specialist Sale we have a superb single owner collection of mid-20th century jewellery and objects. One of the most
unusual items consigned is a continental mid-20th century yellow and white gold clutch purse with an internal mirror, marked “750”, estimated at £13,00014,000.
Also included from the same vendor is a showstopping white gold emerald and mixed cut diamond cluster ring, with an estimate of £4,000-5,000 and a vintage 18ct white gold ladies’ Vacheron and Constantin watch with blue lapis lazuli dial and diamond set bezel, estimated at £1,500-2,000.
We have also had a number of vintage gentlemen’s Omega wristwatches consigned which are still highly collectable, especially certain models from the 1960s.
The sale takes place on Wednesday, November 5th and viewing is Monday, November 3rd, 10am to 4pm and Tuesday, November 4th, 10am to 5pm. Bids can be placed online, in person, by telephone or by commission.
If you would like to be sent a link to the catalogue or be added to our mailing list for future sales and events, please contact us on the details below.
If you would like any items valued, be that an individual item, a collection, probate or house clearance please do get in touch with the team on 01373 852419 or salerooms@cooperandtanner.co.uk. Please note that fees apply for probate valuations.
An unusual white and yellow diamond toi et moi ring, set in platinum, sold £2,000
It’s about the people, not the building
A THOUGHT-PROVOKING theatre play inspired by the stories of lives of patients in former mental hospitals in Somerset has been turned into a film.
Through the Front Door was made by members of OpenStoryTellers, a group from Frome who look after adults with learning disabilities and who, in times past, would have been possibly sent to an asylum such as Mendip, formerly known as the Somerset and Bath County Pauper Lunatic Asylum and Wells Mental Hospital.
Around 3,000 patients and staff are buried in the nearby Mendip Hospital Cemetery and their graves are marked by a metal grave marker with a number. The Friends of Mendip Hospital Cemetery, who care for the Grade II listed site, were amongst those who worked with a group from OpenStoryTellers on the play which was debuted at Frome Memorial Theatre. They used the life story of one of the
asylum patients, Mary Ann Norman, as the basis for the main character in the play but carried our further research throughout Somerset.
The project began after OpenStoryTellers were successful in securing a National Heritage Lottery Fund project grant. Artistic director, Simon Blakeman, said: “We embarked upon an incredible journey into the past researching, devising, creating, and performing what eventually became, Through The Front Door.
“Featuring a cast of 26 actors with learning disabilities, this is a film sharing our personal and public heritage through the places we have lived in.”
l The film will be shown at the Wells & Mendip Museum on October 10th at 7pm. Admission is free but donations are welcome towards the upkeep of the Mendip Hospital Cemetery and towards OpenStoryTellers.
Stuart, from Open Story Tellers, who plays Mr Magpie
Some of the grave markers at the cemetery
Mary Ann Norman, whose life story provided the basis for the drama
A scene from the play
Some of the 26-strong cast on stage
Stunning images of Chew Valley wildlife
THE Chew Valley Nature Photography Festival saw hundreds of entries, culminating in an exhibition at St Andrew’s Church, Chew Magna and a prizegiving by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt Rev Michael Beasley.
Some of the photos have been turned into a calendar which is now on sale at Chew Magna Post Office, £7, or £12 for two.
Adults Animals winner – Lee Pullen
U-18s Overall Winner – Toby Widdows
Calendar cover by Simon Carder
Adults Overall Winner – Simon Carder
U-12a Overall Winner – Sophie Green
Best Mobile Phone Photo – Sally Jenkins
Adults Human Impact winner – Oliver Beech
Valley Fringe Festival
THIS year’s Valley Arts’ Fringe Festival is its most ambitious to date, rounding off a very successful tenth anniversary year.
Starting on October 4th, it will feature 28 shows and workshops of live music, theatre, dance and comedy, suitable for a range of ages, running until the end of November at venues across the Chew Valley.
Valley Arts’ chair, Geraldine Hill-Male, recalled the first Fringe Festival in 2016 involved just a couple of events at Chew Valley School.
The organisation has grown hugely, now putting on more than 100 shows a year, including regular Jazz Jam and Open Mic sessions at The Pony and Pelican and employs five staff and works with more than 50 volunteers.
Its model of bringing high quality performance to village halls and other local venues alongside working with professional artists to encourage local creativity is attracting national attention.
Geraldine said: “Valley Arts has grown very organically allowing people to see high quality work locally, without having to travel to Bristol or Bath. It’s also given people the opportunity to develop skills in performing with a high level of professional support.”
That was seen at its best in community plays Rising Waters at Yeo Valley Organic Gardens and Hidden Voices at the Community Farm over the last two years, with casts ranging from seven to 70. Valley Arts youth theatre sessions attract 50 youngsters each week and it holds regular outreach sessions at local primary schools.
Next year’s big community production will explore the story of the Chew Valley Hoard in partnership with South West Heritage Trust, worth £4.5m. This will be the start of an ambitious two-year programme bringing the most valuable treasure ever found in Britain back to Somerset.
Valley Arts are celebrating a sell-out summer of open air performances at the beautiful Yeo Valley Organic Gardens, which featured opera, Shakespeare and circus and plans are well underway for next year’s programme.
Geraldine said: “The Fringe Festival offers something for everyone with a heavy dose of local talent. Lady Nade comes from Dundry and Casey in Gurt Haunted – which has sold out Bristol Old Vic – has been with our Youth Theatre since it started!”
HUNDREDSof people supported the third historic transport rally at Yatton Station, which raised £5,000 for the Strawberry Line Café and Cycle Project, based there. It was supported by Yeo Valley Lions. They were able to enjoy free bus rides on open top and vintage buses to Clevedon seafront and other local routes and a vast range of historic and classic vehicles.
Their next meeting is on Thursday, October 23rd when Kate Groves will be
Off to the seaside
Weston Sea Cadets marching band
EVENTS
Wrington Show
Blooming lovely
The Memorial Hall was busy
Time for tea
A display by Wrington’s Wednesday art group
Heaviest cooking apple Marshall Clements
Lucy, aged 11, winner of children's textiles
Challenging the validity of Wills: when and how it can be done
THEmaking of a Will is one of the most important steps a person can take to ensure that their wishes are carried out after death.
However, disputes sometimes arise, and the validity of a Will may be challenged. English law recognises certain grounds on which a Will may be declared invalid and remedies are available where this occurs. The grounds for challenging a Will are summarised below.
Lack of proper formalities
A valid Will must comply with section 9 of the Wills Act 1837. It must be in writing, signed by the testator (the person making the Will), and witnessed by two independent adults present at the same time. If these formalities are not met – for example, if only one witness signs – the Will is invalid. Lack of testamentary capacity The testator must have had sufficient mental capacity when making the Will. This means understanding the nature of making a Will, the extent of their property, and the claims of those who might expect to benefit. Conditions such as dementia or severe mental illness may cast doubt on capacity. Lack of knowledge and approval Even if the testator had capacity, the Will must reflect their true intentions.
If the testator did not fully understand or approve the contents – for instance, if they signed a document without knowing what it contained – this may be grounds for challenge.
Undue influence or fraud
If someone exerts pressure on the testator so strong that it overbears their free will, the Will may be set aside for undue influence. Fraud, such as forging a signature or deliberately misleading the testator, will also invalidate a Will.
Revocation
A Will is revoked if the testator marries (unless made in contemplation of that marriage), makes a later valid Will, or deliberately destroys the document with the intention of revoking it.
Remedies and outcomes
If a challenge succeeds, the Will is treated as invalid. The estate will then pass according to the last valid Will made, or – if none exists – under the intestacy rules set out in statute. In some cases, only part of a Will may be struck out, leaving the rest effective.
Where the dispute concerns financial provision, even if a Will is valid, certain family members and dependants may apply under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 for reasonable financial support from the estate.
Practical considerations
Challenging a Will is a serious step. Disputes can be costly, stressful, and may irreparably damage family relationships. Early legal advice is essential, both to assess the merits of a claim and to explore alternatives such as negotiation or mediation, which can often resolve matters without a court hearing.
Conclusion
The law seeks to balance respect for an individual’s freedom to dispose of their property with protection against unfairness or abuse. Challenges to the validity of Wills are permitted only in specific circumstances and remedies depend on the facts of each case. Careful Will-making during lifetime, supported by professional advice, is the best safeguard against later disputes.
EDWARD
LYONS
THE Healthy Homes team at Frome Town Council is seeking enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers to join its Energy Champion team.
Energy Champions help to run sessions and provide advice to local people, to help them get the energy support they need. Healthy Homes is part of Green and Healthy Frome, a collaboration between Frome Medical Practice, Edventure and Frome Town Council, funded by the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund.
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
GLASTONBURY hosted a weekend of dancing and music as a Morris side with a difference celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Wolf’ s Head and Vixen Morris, based in Kent, were joined by local side Glastonbury Border Morris and others for the event which began by the Market Cross and included a performance on Glastonbury Tor.
Glastonbury Morris would welcome new members at its rehearsals on Wednesday evenings at St Edmund’s Hall in Chinnock Road, Glastonbury.
Winford flower show
Wolf’s Head Morris opened the dancing
Hurdy gurdy player Gurdy Birdio at the Market Cross
One of the Wolf’s Head musicians
Alan Parker won two trophies presented by the Rev Dr Ian Mills
Among the winners, Fleur Beattie and Ada and Reggie Harris
Elaine Trotman won name the Teddy - Fred
Hutton Festival Week
Cheddar Gorge goes quackers!
Vale Lions Club’s annual duck race saw big crowds watch 2,000 ducks race down Cheddar Gorge, raising funds for Children’s Hospice South West and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.
CHEDDAR
The finish
Emily dressed appropriately Ducks away
Some of the revellers
Hutton Big Bash in aid of the Hutton-Dabason twinning association
Last night at the proms
Taste of Somerset
Hutton-Dabaso committee members
New sculptures honour Double Hills victims
Members of the Airborne Forces Riders made a special trip to pay their respects at the new-look memorial after the service
TWO steel sculptures of paratroopers have been installed at the Double Hills war memorial on the edge of Paulton to mark the 81st anniversary of the glider crash which claimed the lives of 23 men.
The sculptures were meant to have been unveiled during the annual memorial service at the site but bad weather forced organisers to move events to the village’s Holy Trinity Church.
Two glider pilots and 21 men from the 9th Airborne Field Company Royal Engineers were killed on September 17th 1944 when their Horsa glider being towed by a bomber aircraft crashed on the hill above Paulton on its way from RAF Keevil to take part in the Battle of Arnhem.
The service has been held for the past 46 years. The sculptures were made by Barrett Steel; event organiser Peter Yeates was MD of their Gloucester plant.
Double Hills patron Jacob Rees-Mogg and event organiser Peter Yeates arrive at Holy Trinity Church
The church was full for the service led by the Rev Adam Pitt
A bugler plays The Last Post
Wreath and crosses were laid at the altar rather than at the memorial
Village celebrates memorial hall’s centenary
THEWest Harptree Memorial Hall opened in October 1925 and the village is planning a special centenary celebration on October 18th.
There will be showings of Dad’s Army , the movie, and Buster Keaton’s silent film, One Week . But the highlight is likely to be a 22-minute video of villagers’ memories made by Martin Chiffers, who lives locally.
One of those interviewed, Hugh Moore, lived at nearby Gournay Court, which was used as a hospital for soldiers injured during WW1.
He collected a series of postcards of soldiers recuperating at the house,
which have been incorporated into the film.
Following the war there was a series of fundraising events to build the hall, which was opened by a representative of the Prince of Wales.
The hall has had several major renovations, expanding the building to its current and more modern size and in 2019 they updated the interior with better heating, kitchen, bar, surround sound system and lighting.
A hundred years after it was built, it is a very busy place.
Hair today –and gone tomorrow
HILARY Harrison has raised more than £2,300 for her local branch of Guide Dogs by having her head shaved at her local pub.
A large crowd of well-wishers gathered at the Alhampton Inn, at Alhampton near Ditcheat, to cheer on Hilary, a regular fundraiser and secretary of the Wells, Street and Somerton group. The group is keen to hear from more fundraisers.
Hilary was joined by friends and dogs from the local Guide Dogs branch
For details, find the group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guidedogswellsstreetsomerton/
Walking 97 miles –aged 90!
MARY Nicholson, aged 90, from Burnham-on-Sea walked the entire 97-mile length of Hadrian's Wall to raise money for the NHS.
She’s pictured presenting a cheque for over £8,500 to the Beacon Centre at Musgrove Park Hospital, where her brother Peter is receiving treatment.
Mary said: “It was really tough going as it was quite hot and the most difficult part was probably days five or six, as we were told it would be an 11 mile walk, but once we’d reached that milestone, we realised it was actually 15 miles that day!
“It definitely wasn’t what I wanted to see as my legs were aching!”
Mary, a former midwife, was joined on the eight-day trek by family members, including her three daughters, youngest
Hilary prepares to lose her long hair
Going . . . hairdresser Sal looks on as John has a go with the razor
Gone . . . the event raised £2,300 for the charity
son and grandchildren, but said she set the pace! She prepared by walking every day along Burnham beach and Brean Down.
Good Samaritan
SAMARITANS
volunteer, Sandy, is taking on the ancient Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, walking 100km from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela in Spain to raise vital funds for the Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset branch of Samaritans, where she has volunteered as a listener for over 30 years.
Sandy has faced many challenges in her own life, including the heartbreak of being widowed twice. She said: “Life hasn’t always been easy, but I’ve always believed it’s worth living.
“As a Samaritan, I’ve been privileged to listen to people in their darkest moments –and I want this walk to be a message of hope and encouragement to anyone who is struggling.
“Being there for someone in their darkest moment has been one of the greatest privileges of my life.”
All funds raised will go directly to the Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset Samaritans, helping to keep the service running 24/7 for anyone in emotional distress or crisis.
THISgroup raised more than £90,000 with a two-day bike ride from London to Bristol Airport for the Great Western Air Ambulance.
Ambulance paramedics and staff joined the ride along with staff, contractors and firefighters from the airport.
Charity open day
SOMERSET
Sight, the local charity supporting over 3000 blind or partially sighted people across the county, held a very successful and informative technology open day for their service users at their office headquarters in Taunton.
The charity’s low vision therapist, Julie Dyer, helped many people with magnifiers and techniques to use them, whilst Jenny Forbes, their technology officer, was able to help people with all their digital needs and devices.
The open day was attended by 70 people who were able to try out a huge range of technological support that is available to assist the visually impaired.
Details: 01823 333818
Grants available
THEtrustees of the Richard Jones Foundation will be meeting in October to consider applications for grants.
The trust was founded in 1692 for the purpose of providing financial assistance to young people under the age of 30 who are in education or training at university, college, school or in an apprenticeship.
Applicants must be resident in Chew Magna, Stanton Drew, Newton St Loe, Stanton Prior or Stowey Sutton (Bishop Sutton).
Grants are also made to organisations within these villages whose purpose can be considered educational. The closing date for receipt of applications is Monday, October 6th.
Helping donkeys
A GARDEN party at Stowey in the Chew Valley, organised by Janet Parsons, raised £1,500 for the charity Safe Haven for
Donkeys, supporting working donkeys still widely used in the Middle East.
Dairy farmer’s memories raise £1,000s for air ambulance
Graham’s family at the D&SAA HQ in Henstridge
A BOOK of his memories of life as a Mendip dairy farmer has raised more than £5,000 for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.
Graham Watts, who lived in Launcherley, near Wells, wrote Somerset Tales of a Passer By which was published by his family after his death. Family members gathered at the air ambulance headquarters at Henstridge to present a final cheque for more than £1,100 from the proceeds of the book sales.
The stories, initially written after Graham retired, were originally published in his village’s local parish magazine and the author remained anonymous, signed off always as “A Passerby”.
The collection of stories built up and Graham had suggested they could be turned into a book to raise money, perhaps for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Graham’s family compiled the book using old photographs and illustrations by Graham‘s granddaughter, Molly Butler.
Emma, Graham’s daughter, said: “It was dad‘s wish that his stories and adventures of his life on a Somerset dairy farm should be published in order to raise money for a local charity.”
l Books are available through the Dorset and Somerset air ambulance, at Browne’s Garden Centre in Wells or the Crossways Hotel in North Wootton.
Pictured (l to r) Claire Tidman, Jill Tovey, Sue Musselwhite, Helen Connelly and Janet Parsons
Graham Watts
Maggie Davies and Anne Harding on the Safe Haven for Donkeys stall
Ducks away as Lions fundraise
A LARGE crowd gathered to enjoy the annual duck race along
Ride is the biggest yet
WEDMORE’S40/30 charity bike ride saw a record number of over 300 riders, a new 30 mile course and a cracking team of volunteers to sign the course, which all made for the best and biggest Wedmore 40/30 yet.
Riders ranged from six to 86, raising more than £7,000 for Weston Hospicecare and Wedmore’s Friends of St Mary’s Church.
Club president Linda Haile (right) with fellow Lions members
The club sold around 700 ducks to raise money for local causes
the River Somer in Midsomer Norton organised by the Radstock and Midsomer Norton Lions Club.
And they’re off – the ducks are released at the start of the first of four heats Onlookers gather by the riverside to watch the races
Fete’s new judges
BESIDEScelebrating its 20th anniversary, Stanton Drew flower show and fete celebrated by appointing three junior judges, Oliver, judging food and preservatives, Atia, fruit, vegetables and flowers and Ellis, photography.
One of the organisers, Mary Payne, said they hoped getting children involved would help keep the show going in years to come.
Some of the Avon Needs Trees team (l to r) Clare Dornan, Suzanne Gaffrey, Hilary Jeffkins and Martin Elsbury
Mary Payne and the three junior judges (l to r) Atia, Oliver and Ellis
Tim Hurley from the North Somerset Tractor Club
Stanton Drew WI (l to r) Anne Stephenson, Pat Jones, Di Farmer and Jenny Wall
The String Band with singer Martina Elizova
Atia with her prizewinning painting
Blewett fete Crickham, Cocklake and Clewer harvest home
Hinton
Tree sculpture
An artist’s impression
A LANDMARKcollaboration between renowned Bristol artist Luke Jerram and woodland creation charity Avon Needs Trees will see 365 native trees planted to form a vast living sculpture at the heart of the new Lower Chew Forest.
Echo Wood will be a centrepiece of the 422 acres of woodland, orchard, wetlands and nature-rich habitats being planted around Compton Dando.
Details: https://avonneedstrees.org.uk/echo-wood/
Wildlife conference
NATURE lovers from across Somerset are being invited to Wilder Together 2025, which Somerset Wildlife Trust will be hosting in the Red Brick building in Glastonbury on October 18th.
It invites communities, volunteers and nature lovers from across Somerset to celebrate local action for nature and climate.
There will be inspiring short talks from community-led projects for the first part of the day, which will include Draycott Wildlife Group, the Recorders of the Avalon Marshes (RoAM), and Enmore Wildlife Group.
In the afternoon, there will be a choice of workshops available that explore themes such as climate adaptation, nature connection and nature-based solutions. There will also be plenty of networking opportunities throughout the day and lunch will be provided.
Tickets are pay what you can.
Details: www.somersetwildlife.org/wilder-2025
Carnival circuit’s 40th anniversary
THE Wessex Grand Prix Carnival Circuit – which includes the Castle Cary and Ansford processions – celebrates its 40th anniversary this October.
It was created by Keith Berry, of Frome Carnival, and Gordon Stockman of Castle Cary and Ansford Carnival in 1985.
Frome and Castle Cary were joined in the creation of a circuit of carnivals by Mere, Wincanton and Shaftesbury with other carnival towns in the counties of Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire joining later. The Wessex circuit remains the only carnival circuit incorporating carnival entries from the counties outside of the Somerset County Guy Fawkes Association Circuit.
Castle Cary carnival are celebrating the occasion on Saturday, October 11th with the inclusion of the famous Bournemouth Carnival Band (The Spidermen) and the procession will be led as usual by HMS Heron Volunteer Band. The childrens’ carnival takes place on the afternoon of Saturday, October 4th,
Meanwhile, a fundraising appeal has been launched to update the van used by the Carnivals in Somerset Promotion Project to tour carnivals and other events. CISPP launched the mobile education facility in 2009. It costs around 2,500-£3,000 to run each year and the organisation would also like to update the van “wrap” it has used from the start.
Carnival returns on Saturday, October 11th
For details about the Wessex Circuit, find them on Facebook. For CISPP, visit: www.cispp.org.uk
Gordon and Sue Stockman with the CISPP van
Cary
The nocturnal sounds of autumn
By CHRIS SPERRING
WITH darker days and longer nights comes the autumn and, with that, the trees and shrubs sever their life support to their summer green leaves.
The woodland and tree covered areas now not only turn colour but also begin the process of “fall” as the leaves of the trees begin raining down to the ground undergoing a process of decay that turns death into life for this habitat.
I’m often told that birds have stopped singing in the morning. But that is not exactly true; some of our woodland stalwarts, like the wren, dunnock and robin will, at first light give themselves away or indeed advertise their presence by a sudden burst of song.
Many other species of birds will be using contact calls as opposed to song and so even though autumn is an ending of the lush green of spring and summer the wild landscapes are still very much
alive, especially with sound.
With Halloween fast approaching, the autumnal death and decay bring with it the time when we are most likely to hear the background sound to many a horror film; this nocturnal bird is still itself shrouded in mystery that seems so in keeping not only with the season but also of spooky tales.
The bird in question is, of course, the tawny owl.
Tawny owls are still the most numerous of the six species of owl that we have in Britain, though it’s widely recognised that, in some areas, they too are on quite a steep decline. Whether this decline is part of the general decline of nature in Britain or something else is driving down this owl is not really known. However this is something that I’m currently studying with the help of landowners. I will, of course, give updates on this project as we progress.
The call of this owl is unmistakable, both male and female tawny owls can utter the famous and haunting long drawn out hoot that sounds like “hooo ho ho hooooo”. It’s possible to distinguish between both sexes, but it’s also helpful to have both calling at the same time.
The male will deliver his call normally a whole tone lower than the female, but only the female will make a soft screeching call that sounds like “eriee-eriee” the end of the screech always ending slightly higher in tone than the beginning. She will mostly utter this in bursts of two screeches and if annoyed will send out a loud volley of extra ones, when close to her mate and, even though you can’t see them, because it’s dark, she utters a more softer pleasing double-sounding screech. Males can also screech, however it’s not commonly heard and will sound like a lower-toned short screech, sounding like “kee-wick kee-wick”.
I always associate that call as a warning call used to alert owlets in
the spring to potential danger, or as final warning to a rival male in the autumn that he’s strayed too close to its territory.
The reason why autumn is such a great time to hear these nocturnal predators is that owlets produced earlier in the year are now themselves looking to establish their own territories and keep coming across occupied areas, which sparks these vocal confrontations.
So, your mission this month, should you wish to take it, is to have a listen in your own garden as it’s getting dark and note any tawny owls that are calling in your own community; should you wish to report your observations to me then please use the email below.
I still take groups out listening for and watching owls, and these are now ongoing. If you wish to come on an owl walk or create a walk privately with a few friends or group, then just contact me.
Happy listening.
Autumn is a great time to hear owls
A tawny owl in all its glory
So much to see around Wrington
I’M taking you to my home village of Wrington for this circle. It is very much still a proper village with interesting old cottages, a beautiful church, hall, recreation ground, two pubs, café, a chemist and several shops. As well as this, the community, which is growing, is very active in so many ways – one of which you will see at first hand. Nestling below Wrington Hill, the village is approached by small roads. This short walk is one I do often and has a good variety of history, a hill, views, woodland and fields and takes in a new nature
With Sue Gearing
reserve established by volunteers with two lime kilns. The first part of the walk is quite a strenuous uphill, but the rest is more or less flat and downhill.
PARK: Thanks to our village pub, the Plough, in the heart of Wrington, you have permission to park in their car park behind. But remember you are taking up customer space, so please do go in and enjoy their food and drink and the garden. But should the parking look busy, please find somewhere else. The pub is under new management and enjoying renewed popularity.
START: Turn left out of the pub up School Road. This is a narrow uphill road passing old cottages. There is no footpath, so do take care. After about five minutes reach Rock Barton Yeomans on your right.
1. THE DRING
Turn up here, going through a gate by South Combe onto a walled path, known as the Dring. This leads up to Ropers Lane, one of the nicest residential roads. Turn right on the flat. After about five minutes at the 20mph sign turn left up a footpath by Branscombe, ignoring the first two drives on the left. It takes you through a kissing gate by a small pond into a field. Turn right and head across the field to the gate on the far side onto
the bottom of Wrington Hill. Turn down right a few yards and then cross at the Wrington sign and turn left into Prestow Wood Nature Reserve.
2. RESERVE
This is an area – once a quarry for limestone – which has been tackled enthusiastically by a team of volunteers (Prestow Wood Conservation Group supported by the parish council), restoring lime kilns, clearing trees and bushes and creating a path network and steps, making it a very welcoming place with information on flora, fauna and wildlife. Come to the wonderfully restored lime kiln.
It is worth reading the information board about the kilns and lime burning.
Go up the steps at the side and then turn back right and see the top of the kiln. Continue on the path. Further on ignore the left turn and just continue ahead through the edge of the reserve, passing an information board about Life in a Log Pile. After steps and following the green arrow go down more steps and out of the reserve. If you want, take the very short path behind the information board to see the other lime kiln, not yet fully restored. You have to come back here.
Return another time and explore some of the paths in this reserve and reach a seat high up which has a wonderful view over Wrington Vale.
3. OLD HILL
Turn left up Old Hill – fairly steep going now for about 0.4 miles. Keep straight on, ignoring a side turn, go through a barrier and on. As it flattens out, turn left through a kissing gate by a large farm gate. Cross the field and drop down to a gate at the end onto Wrington Hill.
4. WRINGTON HILL
Turn right, going uphill again for a short while and bending round, then level out and continue along. Ignore a footpath right and just past bungalows and a barn, turn left along the marked public footpath track (not the Byre track).
5. FOOTPATH
After a few minutes, go right through a kissing gate by a large gate and head across the field getting wonderful views left over Wrington and across to Mendip. On the far side, enter the next field and immediately bear down across to the bottom corner. Head through into yet another field. Now go straight on, passing two stately oak trees and reach a metal kissing gate into woodland.
6. WOODLAND
Drop down a steep little path and continue to descend, ignoring a path on the right. Keep on the woodland track. At the end, a kissing gate leads to a field. Follow the left edge. Ignore a small gate on the left tucked into the hedge and a little further go left through a metal gate, along the path and join a drive by a house in an area called Udley.
7. ROAD
The drive leads to the West Hay Road. Do
a dog leg – left and then right – and join a footpath track signed to the Loft and Tanglewood. Follow it all the way to the end, round a couple of bends. Take the footpath ahead, at the side of Westhay Farm. It is a narrow hedged path which leads at the end into fields.
8. FIELDS
Ahead you can see the imposing tower of Wrington Church. Bear across the field, which has a dip or two in the middle and could be rather wet after rain. Go through a gate and follow the arrow across to a Bristol Gate (a large farm gate which incorporates a pedestrian gate). Your route now is straight on towards Wrington following the left hedge. Go through a gate in the corner and then right past a huge pylon. There is a gate at the end and then bear across right to another gate leading onto a fenced path. At the end, go
through into another field and straight across, getting close to Wrington. Pass a small square enclosure which houses a capped-off spring. Maintain direction through a gate and on to the end of the next field. Turn right joining a path which leads to a residential road, Ladymead.
9. WRINGTON
Turn left and come out in what is known as the Triangle. It is worth visiting the parish church over right.
Some of the church dates back to the 13th century but there have been several renovations. The most dramatic feature is the 35-metre high tower of the church. Sir Charles Barry, one of the two main architects for the Houses of Parliament in London, was said to have used Wrington’s tower as inspiration for the Victoria Tower in London. Also here in the Triangle by the church was the thatched cottage where John Locke, the philosopher, was born in 1632. At the time his mother was on the way to Pensford where the family subsequently settled. The exact location in Wrington is not known.
From the Triangle go out into Broad Street – wide because it was along here that markets were held. Pass welcoming Mother Hen café and shop, the Golden Lion, Amors stores on the corner. Turn left past the Spar and reach the Plough.
Plough, 01934 313011
3.8 miles. About 1.5 - 2 hours walking • OS Explorer map 154, Bristol West & Portishead, Grid Reference: ST 46969 62871, Postcode: BS40 5QA. What3words: post.sunbeam.neckline
West Countryman’s diary
I THINKit’s fair to say that summer has now gone and autumn is making itself felt. That’s not all bad from the countryside point of view as it’s now in the recovery stage. It didn’t take long for the grass to recover once it started to rain. My apples have done better than expected through such a dry season and the cereal harvest will have come in dry. What lies ahead is unknown, but one thing is certain, we can’t do anything about it!
I always maintain that autumn is nature’s way of lowering us gently into winter. The sunny days that we get at this time of the year hold greater value than the scorching heat of midsummer. I always look forward to the autumn colours, the red and golden hue of the leaves as the tree takes back every bit of nutrient it can before discarding them.
This is also the time of year for hedgerow harvesting. Nuts, berries and fungi are on the menu, but caution is needed when it comes to these activities. Mendip Times columnist Adrian Boots knows what you can eat and what you can’t . . . I was once told that all fungi are edible, but some only once!
Berries are less of a gamble but do make sure the identification is correct –there are some that could cause you problems. Nuts are pretty safe, but the squirrels are more likely to get to them before you do. The cobnut tree in my garden yields enough for me and the resident squirrel who will collect and bury them, forgetting where he put them.
I suppose it’s the arboreal rodent version of losing your car keys and turning the house upside down looking for them. His efforts do however bear fruit for me in the form of new seedlings that I can transplant.
The swallows have gone along with the swifts and house martins. I have always found their leaving a sad occasion and
remember the days when the electricity wire across the yard at Hales Farm would be filled with those swallows preparing to leave. They would all sit on the wire chattering away to one another before some unseen signal lifts them up and they were away to warmer climes.
I can’t help but think that nesting sites have become difficult for these birds as redundant farm buildings are converted to residential use. Generations of birds who have nested at the same sites for years will find themselves evicted and what a shock that must be for those who return.
Can anyone from the conservation/bird world tell me if artificial nest boxes are available to help? Maybe it’s time for me to put my money where my mouth is.
This is the time of year to take a good look at your winter walking equipment. Are your boots waterproof along with the jacket and over-trousers? We have all too easily slipped into the “we don’t need those yet because it’s been so dry” mood. It’s just now that we are being rudely awakened. Don’t forget the rucksack. Mine is in need of some TLC where the stitching has gone. After the American tour (that is with them and not in the country) the sack needs to be repacked.
I carry a four-person emergency shelter. Some may think that’s a little over the top for Mendip, but I would beg to differ. It takes hardly any room in the bottom of a 25ltr sack but can literally be a life saver. Then comes the waterproof over-trousers, an extra layer of warm clothing, gloves and so on.
Don’t forget the first aid kit. Mine is adapted for me so contains items you wouldn’t normally find. Painkillers, antiseptic cream and a tube of Deep Heat. There’s also a bit of emergency food such as beans (cold beans are such a reminder of my military days), chocolate and sugar sweets to keep me going.
Always remember to replace what you use and don’t be afraid to use it. This is not an exhaustive list but may give you an idea of what’s useful.
It’s ploughing match time, but by the
time you get your copy of Mendip Times the Mendip match may well be over. I will however bring you an update in my next column and pictures of the day on 24th of September will also be in the next edition.
We will all be hoping that the recent rain is sufficient to soften the ground. I find it quite ironic that last year some matches were cancelled for being too wet whilst this year they were cancelled because it’s been too dry! It truly is Goldielocks’ porridge . . . too wet or too dry but never just right!
My final paragraph is in tribute to the late Reece Lovell from Ubley Hill Farm on Ubley Drove. Anyone walking that route will have passed the small bungalow on the right that he moved into with his wife Liz in 1965.
He was a true “Mendipper” with a wealth of countryside knowledge that I found invaluable during my time as Mendip Hills Warden. Reece was a role model and mentor to several generations of pony club members; he was an anchor of the Wills Estate shoot and a proficient skittle player. He had done most things in his life but always loved his sheep and poultry.
I knew I had “cracked” being on Mendip when he stopped and leaned out of his Land Rover door, then fixing me with his stare, he simply said: “So what do you know that I should!” He’s gone but will never be forgotten.
This month’s picture is the back of my horse box full of apples ready to go for pressing, complete with Union flag seat to rest from my labours. Nobody has tried to take that down!
Don’t forget you can always email me on: Les.davies@westcountryman.co.uk
With LES DAVIES MBE
Moat boats float on
THE annual Wells Moat Boat Races attracted a record of more than 20 entries and a large crowd to watch the event on the Bishop’s Palace moat.
It was organised as a fundraiser by the City of Wells Lions Club and the 1955 (City of Wells) Air Cadets.
Swanning around: the Bishop’s Palace team won the prize for the best adult fancy dress
Show goes ahead
THE North Somerset Craft & Produce Show went ahead in Wrington despite the postponement of the society’s annual ploughing match because of the summer’s dry weather.
Admiring the entries
Local MP Tessa Munt was part of the St John Ambulance adult team which won the Bishop’s Cup
Members of Sarah’s Preservation Society celebrate victory over the Ship Faced team
The Likely Lads on board their raft called a Bunch of Tankers
A large crowd gathered to enjoy the races
Post-drought recovery
FIRST of all, I must congratulate everyone who has exhibited in the various village flower shows this year. At Stanton Drew Flower Show we had an excellent array of flowers, fruit, and vegetables, as well as cookery, children’s exhibits, art, and craft, but sadly fewer entries in the photography classes. In spite of the rain, visitors turned out in force, which was so rewarding, with the ladies of the W.I. making a record income from teas and cakes. Thanks also to those in the sales marquee which turned out to be a veritable colander.
Plants never fail to amaze me. Their ability to recover from flooding from this year’s severe drought is staggering. After just 24 hours of rain, the fields started to green up, but we do not yet know what the long-term effects will be.
I am expecting the buds on camellia plants to drop, but not until they are about to come into flower in February/March. It is critical that they have an adequate supply of moisture during July and August. Those in pots may have fared better if watered regularly.
Lawns recover amazingly well but will require a bit of TLC before the onset of winter. Keep the height of cut high for a while and delay scarifying until they are growing strongly again. An autumn feed will help them, now there is sufficient moisture for them to make use of the nutrients.
Different species of grass show different tolerances to drought, with much depending on whether they spread by rhizomes (underground stems) or stolons (surface running stems) on the surface. Rhizomes being more drought tolerant.
Lawn weeds like hawkbits and dandelions have deeper tap roots that help their survival, as I am sure you have noticed. They can access more water and are away from the surface heat of the sun.
You may have noticed how successful the bindweed in the hedgerows has been this year, in spite of the drought. This is because it has very deep roots, often going down five feet, so has been able to access water. The hedges have also survived, with the exception of some elderberry plants that have already lost their leaves.
I have noticed a number of cases of fire blight, particularly on cotoneaster species this year. This is a bacterial disease that can affect any members of the rose family, but especially cotoneaster and some Mountain Ash varieties. The cotoneaster on The Triangle in Chew Magna is not in the best of health and affected areas have been pruned out.
Ash dieback disease appears to have slowed, probably because it requires a high humidity to spread. Many trees, especially those with surface roots, have suffered while the deep-rooted oaks cope better and have a bumper crop of acorns this year. Trees have been shedding leaves in order to reduce their demand for water and reduce water loss. Sadly, I do not think we will have a good show of autumnal foliage
tints this year.
Apples are deep-rooted and are laden with fruit as a result of good weather conditions at flowering time for the pollinating insects, but the fruit size may be smaller. Good pollination, and therefore fertilisation, leads to a bumper crop with less fruit falling in what is called “June drop”, which happens in July, when imperfectly fertilised fruit are aborted.
It has been a struggle to keep trees and shrubs planted in the spring alive, especially where access to water was not easy. The same goes for perennials and annuals, although dahlias have done very well. Their ability to store water in their tubers is a significant help.
Now that the rain has arrived, will it know how to stop? It is time to think about bulb planting to give a good show next spring. Daffodils and narcissus flowered early enough before the dry spell in May, to build up their bulbs for next year.
Later flowering bulbs, such as tulips, cannot be relied on to flower again anyway, but the size of purchased bulbs may be smaller, which means slightly smaller flower size next year. Snowdrops may have suffered as the bulbs dislike being dried out, which most certainly happened this year. It is for this reason that you should never buy snowdrop bulbs in the autumn.
There have been some impressive displays of annuals adorning various pubs around the Mendip Area.
Congratulations to the Bear and Swan in Chew Magna for keeping their display going. A colourful mix of mainly begonias and geraniums.
Choosing the right plants for the aspect, growing in the right compost, with sufficient slow feed, or supplementary liquid feeding, to last the summer and having an automatic watering system are the keys to success for tubs and baskets.
If there is one plant that has laughed at the drought and high temperatures, it is the ivy-leaved cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium). In its element under deciduous trees, where it has been the driest, but a bit shady, they have sprung into bloom in mid-August, creating a carpet of pink or white flowers to be followed by a carpet of mottled foliage all winter. Buy these now, as growing plants, never as dry tubers, and watch them colonise your garden. The seeds are covered in a sugary substance which ants enjoy, thus spreading the seed. It may take a couple of years or more for them to flower from seed, but they will live for many years to come, ultimately producing tubers the size of dinner plates.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
With MARY PAYNE MBE
Cyclamen
O C T O B E R G A R D E N T I P S
• If your borders look full and there appears to be no room for bulbs, pot them into largish pots or pond baskets so that they can be dropped into the gaps which will inevitably appear as winter approaches. Taller tulips and daffodils can easily be grown this way.
• Lift dahlia roots and store them in a frost-free place for winter. Cut the tops back to about 8-10cm and stand them upside down for a few days to let the excess water drain out of the stems.
• Finish bulb planting now, the sooner they are in the ground, the sooner they will start rooting and the better they will perform next year.
• If badgers dig up tulip bulbs, plant them in a buried cage made of chicken wire.
• Step up the bird feeding this month, a variety of feeds will bring a variety of birds to your garden.
• Don’t rush to cut off flower seed heads as these could provide free bird food.
• Put up ladybird, lacewing or mason bee over-wintering lodges to help these useful insects over-winter. They will help you with pest control next year!
• Install a shelter for toads, hedgehog and bat boxes. Both these will encourage these very useful and interesting mammals to visit your garden.
• Install a birdbath. Birds need to maintain their feathers as much in winter as summer.
Sarah Crosse
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Visit our MASBURY’S CAFE
Open Mon-Sat 9am-4pm (Sun 10am-4pm) SERVING BREAKFASTSMon-Fri 9-11.15am; Sat 9-11am; Sun 10-11am; LUNCH12-2.30pm; AFTERNOON TEAS Tel: 01749 841155
The Showroom, Tarnock, near Axbridge, BS26 2SL Call us on 01934 740163 Email info@perfectpave.com Showroom
Ray’s a winner
RAYWinsley has added to his haul of gardening medals by striking gold in Bath in Bloom, winning the private winners’ category, his best result ever, just one level below being overall winner!
He said: “I’m very proud, because some of the others are professional gardeners. I hope to go one better next year.”
He was up at 6.30am watering the plants at his bungalow in Bishop Sutton. He will be 88 next birthday.
NORTON GREEN GARDEN
CENTRE
SPRING FLOWERING BULBS AVAILABLE NOW –LOTS TO CHOOSE FROM!
GREAT CHOICE OF GLAZED, TERRACOTTA & PLASTIC POTS PLUS EXCITING NEW RANGE OF STONE STATUES & GARDEN ORNAMENTS
Bradon Farm NGS GARDENS OF THE MONTH –OCTOBER
A CLASSIC formal garden demonstrating the effective use of structure with parterre, knot garden, pleached lime walk, formal pond, herbaceous borders, orchard and wildflower planting.
Address: Isle Abbotts, Taunton TA3 6RX.
Contact: Mr & Mrs Thomas Jones deborahjstanley@hotmail.com
Open by arrangement: From January 2nd, for groups of ten plus.
Rowden –new
THIS is an old farmhouse surrounded by farmland with beautiful views of the Quantocks beyond. Parts of the garden are still being constructed. There are formal and informal areas herbaceous borders and a walled kitchen garden. The arboretum borders a five-acre lake with abundant wildlife. There are steps and boggy areas.
Address: Monksilver, Taunton TA4 4JD.
Contact: Mr & Mrs David Gliddon, 07787 154522
gliddonrowdon@gmail.com.
Open by arrangement: March to October for groups of up to 30.
Admission: £7.50, children free.
Other Gardens Open for the NGS
To see more gardens open for the NGS, see The Garden Visitors Handbook, or the Somerset County Leaflet, available from local Garden Centres, or go to: https://ngs.org.uk/
Village wins gold
PAULTONstruck gold at the Bath in Bloom Awards. The Pride in Paulton group were category winners for the second year running for Horticultural Achievement by a Group.
Mike Colliver won Gold and category winner for his allotment; Dawn Colliver won Gold and category winner for her floral display in the front garden; Paulton Junior School won Gold for their school garden and Gregs and Vicky of the The Lamb Inn won Silver Gilt.
They were given their awards by Liz Hardman, chairperson of BANES, who is also from Paulton.
Flycatchers catch the eye
of award-winning
Fascinating because they catch flies – but not bees – his cultivated plants have been recognised with many Royal Horticultural Society Awards of Garden Merit. Roy, 90, who lives in Wembdon, has even had a cultivar named after him.
EXPERT horticulturist Roy Cheek shows off Mr Purplehaze, one of his collection
Sarracenias at the Evercreech Village Show.
Nunney Flower Show
Molly was the winner of the flower show’s first competition to grow as many potatoes as possible in a 20-litre pot. She is pictured with show committee members
College open evening
STRODECollege in Street will host its open evening on Thursday, October 16th, 6-8pm, welcoming prospective students and their families.
The event offers an excellent opportunity to explore the college’s facilities, learn more about its wide range of courses and find out about the support available for learners at every stage of their journey.
It says this year’s open evening is particularly exciting, as Strode College has recently merged with Bridgwater & Taunton College to form the University Centre Somerset College Group (UCS College Group).
The merger, which took effect on August 1st, brings together the strengths of Bridgwater, Taunton, Cannington and Strode College while maintaining each of their unique identities and community focus.
Visitors will be able to meet tutors, talk to current students and discover the expanded opportunities created through this new partnership. It’s the perfect chance to see how Strode is shaping futures.
If you are unable to attend on October 16th, the next open evening will be on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026.
Details: www.strode-college.ac.uk
The gift of music
CHILDRENat Peasedown St John Primary School are celebrating after being given £2,000 worth of new musical instruments, thanks to a fundraising drive by the school’s Parent and Staff Association.
The music department has been able to purchase a full class set of recorders, enough xylophones and metallophones for every child in a class to use and a selection of soft mallets to help keep volumes low – protecting little ears!
School head, Ruth Noall, said: “What a fantastic start to the new school year!”
Discover all about Downside School
DOWNSIDE School is preparing to welcome prospective families to its next Open Day on Saturday, October 11th.
The school, at Statton-on-the-Fosse, just 25 minutes from Bath, is recognised for combining excellent academic results with an outstanding breadth of opportunities.
Surrounded by acres of safe, open countryside, Downside offers pupils a nurturing environment in which to learn and grow, while also being part of a warm and welcoming community.
For day pupils, wrap-around care is available until 9pm at no extra charge, giving families flexibility and ensuring children can fully benefit from all aspects of school life. The school also runs convenient daily minibus routes from the centre of Bath and surrounding villages.
A highlight of the Downside experience is the extensive co-curricular programme. With more than 70 activities to choose from including sport, music, drama, outdoor adventure and debating, pupils are encouraged to explore their talents, develop new skills and find their passions beyond the classroom.
The upcoming Open Day will provide families with an
Sailing is just one of the co-curricular activities on
opportunity to tour the campus, meet staff and pupils, and experience first-hand the distinctive atmosphere of this historic Catholic school that warmly welcomes children of all faiths and none.
Can dementia be prevented?
By DrPHIL HAMMOND
I GET sent a lot of self-help books to review and have written a few myself. Indeed, you could easily spend your life reading nothing but self-help books, pausing occasionally to shift buttocks to reduce the risk of a pressure sore. “How to Prevent Dementia” did at least pique my interest, having forgotten where I put it down not ten minutes ago.
At 63, I forget names and places more often than I feel comfortable with, although a big hit of caffeine can still kick my memory into life. I was taught that anything that’s good for your heart is good for your brain (daily exercise, not smoking, moderate booze, plenty of fruit and veg, reasonable sleep and easy on the junk food).
So, is there anything else we need to know to stave off the big D?
Yes, as it happens. Richard Restak, a clinical professor of neurology in Washington DC, has written more than 20 books on the human brain and has certainly got the hang of it. The first 100 pages go into some detail about the various types of dementia, how they present and how the diagnosis is made.
Restak firmly believes that “the more you know, the more tools you have to prevent its onset”. He also believes that we only think of the memory loss aspect of dementia and we also need to consider the thinking disturbances and emotional changes that occur.
Dementia “can begin with speech problems… disorders of emotions and behaviour: unreasonable anxieties and depressions, reclusiveness, hoarding, impatience, sudden flairs of temper, delusions, and hallucinations”.
Thirdly he believes that there is a continuum of dementia in all of us and we will all go through periods of memory loss, disordered thought and emotional lability. Often, they reverse, sometimes they progress.
The “proven lifestyle ways to combat dementia” kick in on page 101. Restak cites his survey of older Americans thriving into their eighth and ninth decades. Ten traits are cited most often by his interviewees as forming the basis for healthy brain functioning:
(1) Education, (2) Curiosity, (3) Energy, (4) Keeping busy, (5) Regular exercise and physical activity, (6) Acceptance of unavoidable limitations, (7) The need for diversity and novelty, (8) Enjoying your own company, (9) The maintenance of friends and social networks, (10) The establishment and fostering of links with younger people.
This is clearly not a randomised controlled trial – older people may have been able to carry on with the top ten because they simply didn’t have dementia, not that it stopped them from getting dementia.
But Restak tells compelling stories of the benefits and pleasures of learning new words, exaggeration, reminiscence, writing an autobiography and learning and practising new tasks.
Having a reason and purpose to live as you age, with plenty of social connections across the generations may well help delay dementia and certainly makes life more rewarding, but delivering it to everyone in such an unequal society is another matter.
Researchers often recommend the Mediterranean diet as good for the heart, partly because they like going to Mediterranean countries to do their research, but evidence it delays dementia is disappointing, at least according to one study of 28,000 Swedes.
It’s only one study, but it shows how hard it is to prove cause and effect in such a complex multi-factoral disease. Caffeine at least gets the thumbs up for improved brain function although individuals vary in how they process it and it can send a susceptible heart into arrythmia.
Don’t get hung up on eight hours sleep, get enough to feel refreshed and nap when you need to. There is no mention of HRT and dementia, as the jury is still out. But Restak repeatedly warns of the dementia risks of hearing loss. Get those ears checked.
Alcohol is both good for your social life and bad for your memory. Moderation is clearly key, and yet my cohort of men (over 60) are the ones drinking way above our safe levels. We figure we’ve made it to retirement, so why not?
But if dementia doesn’t get you, falling down the stairs will, so I aim for two dry days a week (not easy when you have a fabulous local, the New Inn, Blagdon).
Restak also recommends 1. Eliminating perceived stress (i.e. any stress you don’t enjoy) 2. Easing off on recreational drugs (although I plan to take lots when I get to end of life care) 3. Lying under a tree canopy 4. Life-long learning 5. Experiencing both variety and moderation.
Or as your granny said: “Variety is the spice of life” but “moderation in all things.” Finally, and perhaps surprisingly, your attitude of mind may be more protective or destructive than you think.
Do you agree or disagree with the statement: “The older I get, the more useless I feel.” In a study of people with mild cognitive impairment, 35% disagreed and 65% agreed. And those with positive age beliefs had a 30.2% likelihood of recovery than those with negative age beliefs. The bottom line is that if we “hope well” about our futures, we might live well in the present.
Restak’s book spurred me into brain action (use it or lose it), but some of us are genetically destined for dementia however hard we try to prevent it. There is hope here too, with a detailed dissection of dementia drug development.
l Dr Phil appears in “Conviction – The Lucy Letby Case” in selected cinemas from September 22nd and on Channel 4, September 29th. Phil is speaking locally at a fundraiser for Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue at Yeo Valley Canteen (October 3rd) and a men-only health BYO charity fundraiser with food, music and games at the Old School Room, Chew Magna (October 4th – tickets from Barney 07766 078533).
Ask Dr. Hannah
FREE PROSTATE CANCER TESTING EVENT
Saturday 15th November 2025, 10am-4pm
The Victoria Club, Leigh Road, Street, BA16 0HB
Somerset Prostate Support Association is hosting a FREE event on Saturday 15th November 2025 for men aged 40 and over. Every year in the UK 40,000 men are diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and around 10,000 die from the disease. Early diagnosis can be crucial to successful treatment. Appointments take 10-15 minutes and MUST be BOOKED ONLINE, IN ADVANCE. It will NOT be possible to be tested on the day without a prior appointment. All tests are confidential and are carried out by qualified medical practitioners.
To book your appointment at a time to suit you:-
1. Visit https://mypsatests.org.uk/events/
2. Register yourself using your email address.
3. Click ’Find an event’ –search for SPSA.
4. Select the event, scroll down, choose a convenient time slot and book it.
For any questions regarding the tests please contact Peter Hopwood: telephone 01458 441669 or email peterhopwood46@gmail.com. Donations to SPSA for future testing events will be gratefully received either at the event or via spsa.uk where you can donate online.
Prostate cancer tests offer
FREE prostate cancer tests will be held at the Victoria Club in Street in November hosted by the Somerset Prostate Support Association.
They follow the success of a similar event held earlier this year in Croscombe. The tests, which take 10-15 minutes, will take place on Saturday, November 15th from 10am to 4pm. Appointments must be booked online in advance.
The SPSA says every year in the UK 40,000 men are diagnosed with the disease and 10,000 die from it. Early diagnosis can be crucial to successful treatment.
book visit: mypsatests.org.uk
End of life
CHURCHESTogether in the Cheddar Valley are organising a morning about “Finishing Well”, addressing questions around the end of life and funerals.
It will feature a GP, a hospice nurse, funeral director and local church ministers at Cheddar Baptist Church on Saturday, October 25th, 9.15am-12.45pm. All are welcome.
wedmorevic@gmail.com
Cheddar Valley Churches
COURT HOUSE
Gifts in Wills make up a third of RUHX’s income –an appeal for support
ACCORDINGto the Money and Pensions Services over half of UK adults don’t have a Will. The idea of writing a Will is a serious subject and one that requires much forward planning.
RUHX, is the official NHS charity of The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, but we are more than a hospital charity. We go further to give you and your loved ones the extra extraordinary care you deserve, while supporting our staff to do what they do best.
Every donation goes towards improving the health, happiness, and wellbeing of everyone in Bath and beyond – and without gifts in Wills, we simply could not do what we do.
“As a family, it’s a comfort to know that people going through cancer treatment have been helped by our mother’s generosity and kindness. It’s a positive thought during a sad time.” Mary, Daughter of Daphne, who left RUHX a gift in her will.
At the RUH Bath, we treat more than 230,000 patients each year and serve half a million people in the community through our family of hospitals and treatment centres.
Having a Will, and making sure it’s up to date, is the best way of making clear what you wish to happen to your estate in the future. You can also include who cares for your children or pets, should
anything happen to you.
It's important to make sure that friends and family are cared for in your Will, but you can also make sure the causes that matter to you are included too, as your legacy for the future. A Will can be used to help both the people and the causes closest to your heart.
In 2024, £4.5bn was donated to charities across the country, through gifts left in Wills (Legacy Futures 2024 research) and across the UK, one in five people have included a gift in their Will to charity (Remember A Charity 2025 research).
At RUHX, we count on gifts in Wills. Whether it’s a large sum or a little something, every gift empowers us to go above and beyond with innovative equipment, research, and facilities, along with a huge number of smaller things that bring comfort to patients and staff.
By leaving a gift in your Will, you’re helping the RUH Bath to keep on being here and doing extra for your family, friends, and community – long into the future. What a powerful legacy to leave behind.
To find out more about how a gift in your Will can support your local hospital, head to www.ruhx.org.uk/gift-in-wills to download our free gift in Wills guide or speak to our Gifts in Wills team on 01225 825 900.
Sewell House open morning
FOR over 50 years, Sewell House has offered an affordable, comfortable and carefree next move in later life. With a readymade community of independent, like-minded and happy residents, Sewell House is managed by a friendly and caring team who are dedicated to making residents feel part of a unique way of living while keeping active and feeling secure.
With 26 studio and one-bedroom flats available, the monthly rent includes the service charge, heating, electricity, water, daily lunch, council tax, TV licence, wi-fi and on-site parking.
Some residents decide not to sell their home and rent it out to cover their fees at Sewell House. There is also a guest flat for family members to stay in when visiting residents.
Come and have a tour and a chat at our next Open Morning on Saturday, 18 October from 10am–12noon. We look forward to seeing you.
Every day of the year, a nutritious, seasonal three-course lunch is provided by our chef and served in the dining room. This is a wonderful opportunity for residents to socialise while enjoying a first class, freshly prepared meal.
Surrounded by beautiful gardens and within walking distance of the thriving village of Winscombe, Sewell House residents
have full use of the garden and summer house. They are also encouraged to bring on seeds and plants in the potting shed and plant them in their own patch.
Come and give us a try! Visit Sewell House to see what it has to offer or book a trial stay in our guest flat.
Age is no barrier
TWO intrepid explorers from Somerset are setting off on an unsupported 7,300 mile walk around the mainland coast of Great Britain, hoping to raise £10,000 for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.
Zoe Langley-Wathen and Mike Langley are championing the message that adventure has no age limit.
They will begin their journey on Saturday, October 4th starting at South Haven Point, Studland and expect to take two years walking anti-clockwise around the entire coastline of mainland Britain.
Mike, aged 73, hopes to become the oldest person to complete the walk. He said: “After two new hips, I know this won’t be easy – but I’m determined to prove that age doesn’t have to hold you back.”
Zoe, who will be 54 at the start, has already completed several national trails, including the South West Coast Path, Offa’s Dyke and even became the first woman to walk the Wales Coast Path in 2012.
Details: www.dsairambulance.org.uk
Making sleep easy as the clocks go back
MOST readers will welcome the extra hour in bed as the clocks change this month. Sleep is affected by anything that alters the body’s clock (otherwise known as the Circadian Rhythm), so those with chronic sleep difficulties may find it harder to adjust and question why the clock-change is necessary.
Longer summer evenings and brighter winter mornings still offer benefits for many working in agriculture and other industries in our rural communities. Sleeping well through the seasonal change can be made easier for all with a few small adjustments.
Despite the many products on the market offering sleep solutions – from pillow sprays to trackers – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) is the NHS’ first-line choice for chronic insomnia, with the best evidence-base, though it might be difficult to access. Tools and techniques from CBTi can be helpful for anyone who finds their body’s natural rhythm out-of-sync.
CBTi focuses on cognitive (thought-based) techniques and may involve engaging differently with unhelpful thoughts and beliefs about sleep. Finding alternatives to: “I’ve not slept enough, and I won’t be able to cope” – a common thought amongst insomniacs –may be a start.
Some mindfulness practices, which train people to choose
whether to engage with a thought or to put worries about sleep to one side, can help here too. Another approach is self-acceptance –fears about sleep and “off days” because of tiredness are normal but need not become a dominant and self-critical worry.
The second focus of CBTi is on behavioural techniques that promote better sleep habits. Relaxation skills foster a calmer mind throughout the day and encourage better sleep at night. Musclerelaxation, body-scanning and breathwork are all examples that are worth learning.
In addition, sleep retraining can help break the association between the bed and lying awake. One method – sleep restriction – minimises the time spent in bed to improve what is known as sleep efficiency.
While it might be tempting to enjoy the longer lie-in the morning the clocks go back, a practical approach for those struggling with sleep, is to gradually shift by scheduling an alarm forward by an extra 15 minutes daily from your normal wake-up time.
Start this four days before the change, allowing the body time to gradually adjust and gently ease into the change in season.
Louise Hudson, HDip CBH https://www.sanguinetherapy.co.uk
Chew Stoke harvest home
Entrants in the dog show
Chew Valley School band The OtherVerse (l to r) Maximus, Rupert, Alfie and Ted
Children starting to gather to watch Nutty Noah, pictured with Joanna Tiley, who sponsored the show, and Andrew Tromans who was the show MC
Chew Stoke WI members (l to r) Liz Botham, Hazel Wedlake and Jan Puttick
Donna Coles face painting Ofelia, aged five, while her sister Lorena, aged three, waits her turn
Henley, aged 8, with her painting which got 2nd prize
A walk in the woods
THEWindsor Hill Wood refuge near Shepton Mallet is holding a fundraising event on Saturday, October 4th, offering guided walks in the woods with James Chapman, tree enthusiast and chartered forester.
The walks will include a time being forest detectives, identifying trees and tracking and spotting some of the wildlife that lives there.
The two walk times are 10.30am to 12 noon (aimed at children U-11 and their parents/carer) or 2.30-4pm (aimed at older children and adults).
Suggested donations for bookings are £10 for children and £15 for adults, which includes refreshments (U-5s free and full supervision is the responsibility of parents and carers).
Details: 07504 758263
Club makes history
TWOjoint presidents have taken charge at Chelwood Bridge Rotary for the first time in the club's 37-year history. Umang Patel (left) and Duncan Aitken have taken over from last year’s president John Butler. They’ve announced a busy programme for the year, saying: “Let’s make this a year of unity, growth and unforgettable service.”
Raising a glass to mining memories
FORMER Somerset Coalfield mine workers gathered for their annual reunion lunch, organised by the Somerset District Miners Welfare Trust.
A total of 36 ex-workers and friends attended the reunion at the Old Down Inn at Emborough.
Next on the agenda is a trip to the Aerospace Museum in Filton - home to Concorde - in October before the trust hosts a Christmas lunch on December 19th.
New chairman for legion branch
THE chairman of Shepton Mallet Royal British Legion Branch has stood down after nine years in the role.
Andy Ransom, handed over to Ed Freely at the branch AGM and was awarded a certificate in recognition of his service.
Jan Crewe, the branch Poppy Appeal organiser, was awarded a Gold RBL badge for her outstanding efforts in raising funds every year over the Remembrance period in November.
Friends and colleagues reunited
For details, visit: www. Somersetminers.com
Mike Allison, the chairman of Somerset RBL (right), presents Andy with his certificate
Triple celebration
COMPTONDando’s village fete raised £ 4,700, which has been shared equally between Compton Dando Community Association, the village hall and St Mary’s Church.
Pictured (l to r) are Christel Rees, chair of CDCA, Clive Howarth, St. Mary's churchwarden and Harriette Dottridge, Compton Dando Parish Hall.
Ruth’s community award
Ruth Donlevy receiving the rosebowl award from Rotary President Umang Patel
THERotary Club of Chelwood Bridge have awarded their annual rosebowl community award to Ruth Donlevy, a GP, who lives in Chew Stoke.
She was nominated by Chew Stoke Parish Council, who said she is involved with many aspects of village life, as well as being a GP and having a family.
She is chair of the village hall committee and has even taken to the hall stage in a comedy evening to raise money for the hall.
She has supported the village shop and helped weed and plant flowers for judging in the Village in Bloom competition. She also helps at the annual Chew Stoke Harvest Home.
The council said: “It feels like whenever the council needs help or information, Ruth is the person. She is a kind, compassionate person who does so much for the community without ever expecting anything in return.”
Summer teas
(l to r)
SUNDAYafternoon teas raised £3,500 for Compton Dando's St Mary’s Church and will return next summer.
One of the organisers, Jenny Davis, said: “We have had many more people come to enjoy our teas than any other year. Every week there are different bakers and the cakes have been exceptional.”
Appeal for volunteer drivers
Be like Ian – one of the service’s volunteer drivers
MENDIP Community Transport has issued an urgent appeal for more volunteer drivers to help people attend vital hospital appointments.
Last year, its hospital car service supported people on 1,660 essential medical journeys but more and more need its help and they need more drivers to ensure no-one is left without transport.
They are appealing for drivers with some time to spare, a clean driving licence and access to a car. Volunteers can choose the days they are available and get paid mileage.
For details, visit: www.mendipcommunitytransport.co.uk
Pictured
Terese Tyson, Hilary Cox, Phil Tyson and Gerry Cox from Pensford
Souper lunch
THEfirst soup lunch of the year in Pensford’s Old School Room was popular despite the stormy weather.
The rustic vegetable soup sold out, leaving coconut and courgette or apple and parsnip to replace it.
The next lunch is on October 1st, 12noon-2pm, then fortnightly.
Anyone for curling?
LYMPSHAMWI members have had a busy summer, including a trip to Buckfast Abbey with a ride on a steam train and a cream tea to raise funds, which included other WIs from the Somerset area.
They also had a croquet match on the village green and when they don't have a speaker they play curling!
Church closes for winter
ONCEagain St Hugh’s church at Charterhouse has been open to visitors every Sunday during the summer and finally shuts its doors for the winter after a harvest service on Sunday, September 29th, 11am.
Dating back to 1908 this gem of the Mendips has welcomed visitors with tea and biscuits as they marvelled at the interior and exterior too.
One of the organisers, Marion Ball, said: “Thank you to all the volunteers who open St Hugh’s on a Sunday afternoon during the summer months.
“Visitors from far and wide have called in to have a cup of tea and look around this unique church on the Mendips.”
Saint’s day
Churchwarden Jayne Elton
ST. ANDREW'S Church in Holcombe is continuing its 140th anniversary celebrations on Sunday, November 30th, which is St. Andrew's Day, by holding a benefice service for the East Mendip Trinity. This includes Holy Trinity Church, Coleford and St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Kilmersdon. It says all are very welcome to attend the service at 10.30am in St. Andrew's Church in Holcombe.
Penny Cross who was volunteering with her dog Ember and two visitors Nick Haskins and Rose Barker from Cheddar and Shepton Mallet
Centre’s plans go sky high
COMMUNITY hall campaigners in Charlton Adam, near Somerton, are celebrating a £129,350 award from the National Lottery towards a new roof and other improvements.
For many years, the Charltons Community Centre has been a very sad, dismal and cold hall but still hosts sports, parties, live musical gigs, craft fayres, charity events and a diverse mix of other events.
A fundraising campaign was launched called Raising the Roof to allow a new roof to be installed but the National Lottery Community Fund award plus a local charity donation of £150,000 and a parish council grant of £3,000 will allow the centre to install solar panels and improved heating as well as carrying out other improvements.
Chairman Rick Harrison said: “We will not be resting on our laurels as we
still want to improve the heating plus create a community cafe and restructure the changing rooms, create a disabled toilet and a small air-conditioned ground floor studio.”
For details, visit: https://www.charltonscommunity.org
Singers show the joy of singing
JOYFULSpirit, a friendly, fun-loving community choir based in Wrington, is celebrating 20 years under the inspiring leadership of Alison Cooper.
They say: “We’re all about singing, laughing, and enjoying music together. We love performing at local events and supporting charities, but just as
importantly, we cherish the weekly buzz of coming together to sing.”
Their repertoire ranges from gospel and Motown to a cappella and more, creating a sound that’s warm, rich, and moving –sometimes making you smile, sometimes even bringing a tear.
They have a mix of ages, abilities and
personalities and everyone over 18 is welcome. There are no auditions, no need to read music and you can sit if you prefer. Rehearsals are on Thursdays at Wrington Chapel, 7.15-8.45pm. They usually perform at least two concerts per term. The next will be at St John the Baptist Church, Axbridge, on Saturday, October 4th.
Community Transport directors held a "plaque" unveiling on the local community bus "Bluey" at The Old Schoolrooms, Congresbury to honour the memory of Richard Brook.
His wife Judy pulled the curtain back to reveal the inscription "In memory of Richard Brook. founding member, enthusiast and driving force behind Bluey".
She was watched by members of the local lunch club, who use Bluey regularly. Richard ran a group called "Crusaders" for many years, organising trips out for residents. They even had a day at the Houses of Parliament!
The group would welcome more volunteer drivers.
Holiday trip for Wells u3a
WELLS u3a took 38 members on a five-day holiday to Kent, which included visits to Chartwell, Hever, Rochester, Chatham and Leeds Castle. Another highlight was a visit to Ightham Mote (pictured).
Details: https://wells.u3asite.uk
Dance pros come to Shepton
PROFESSIONAL dance company
Ekleido are undertaking a oneweek residency in Shepton Mallet in mid-October. They will be adapting two of their breathtaking performances that are usually performed in major dance venues, ready to undertake a national rural venue tour next year under the Rural Touring Dance Initiative.
Shepton Mallet’s Let’s Buy the Amulet and Make The Sunshine organisations joined forces and are co-ordinating the residency together with Take Art, Somerset’s rural touring charity.
The residency will include some community engagement activity with local groups and public events finishing with a full performance in Croscombe Village Hall on Saturday, October 18th.
For details, visit: www.takeart.org/whats-on
Chairman Wayne Faunt and Judy Brook Lunch
Ekleido are visiting the Shepton Mallet area in October
Rotary visitors from abroad
THE Rotary Club of Mendip hosted five Rotarians and their spouses from clubs in the USA and Canada as part of a friendship exchange.
The club used the three mornings to make visits to significant local attractions or projects: Wells Cathedral, the City of Bath and the charity run by the Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge Water Survival Box.
Visitors Bruce and Colleen Bermel are pictured alongside Mendip Rotary president Tom Elson and Mary.
Snowdrop festival expands
THE Shepton Snowdrop Festival has teamed up with Somerset’s finest snowdrop gardens to create the Great Snowdrop Gardens Trail of Somerset.
Forde Abbey, Dunster, Snowdrop Valley, Hestercombe and East Lambrook Gardens will join the Bishop’s Palace and Yeo Valley Organic Garden, which opened specially for the festival for the last few years and will do so again in 2026.
Kilver Court in Shepton Mallet, will also open for the festival and another longstanding partner garden and sponsor.
Two privately owned gardens in Wells, each with snowdrops, will open for the first time as part of the festival; one, the garden of a house with medieval origins, and the other, a sixacre garden with great winter interest, sculpture and stunning views of Wells and beyond.
The core festival takes place on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st February. Festival director Amanda Hirst said: “We’re often asked by visitors where they can see the best snowdrops. I came across another garden trail elsewhere and thought we could do the same but with a focus on snowdrops. We’re very proud that all the special snowdrop gardens in Somerset have joined us.”
Details: www.sheptonsnowdrops.org.uk
Air ambulance cheque
MEMBERSof Wraxall Lodge and King Alfred Lodge of Freemasons paid a visit to the Great Western Air Ambulance base to make a joint presentation of £3,941.
Quiz night
School display
Church School pupils had 350 pieces of art and writing on display at the village’s harvest home in a tradition dating back to 1897. Hattie and Frankie were two of the prize winners.
THE Strawberry Line WI held a quiz night at Cranmore Memorial Hall compered by Harriet and Jazz HazelwoodRose.
CHEWStoke
Shipham harvest home
Iain, Christine and Chris Shaw awarding the Bob Shaw shield to Justin Vallance for his work in the community
The Shipham Collective
East Harptree flower and craft show
Jackie Head
Ruth Knox in the arts hub with Hilda, aged 3, and Nell, aged 4
Mary Maggs and Victor Cook
Kerrie Thompson
Barnaby, aged 7, with his prizewinning painting Head
Jenny Cruse and Theo and Krystina Hartry
Strong demand for Valley homes
WE’REheading towards autumn, which is a wonderful time of year in the Chew Valley when we can enjoy the amazing colours of the changing leaves before we hunker down for winter.
It’s been another great year for our business, during which the statistics have regularly shown that we consistently substantially outsell all the other local agents. No wonder that we have such a huge list of people who are interested in buying a home in the Valley.
There is a real thirst from would-be buyers with more than a thousand of them ready to move when the right property comes up.
We are grateful that so many people entrust us with one of the most important things they will ever do – selling their home and buying somewhere different to live. They come to us because they know about our passion for “Dedication, Imagination and Delivery” which will get them moving.
My team is always ready to go the extra mile, we never rest on our laurels and we are always working hard to continue to develop and improve our service.
Our clients regularly say how much they appreciate our downto-earth approach, based on an unrivalled local knowledge and a realistic understanding of the market, rather than a dramatic presentation with claims that can’t be delivered.
It’s all too easy to be bamboozled by a fancy presentation with an even fancier valuation – you might go so far as to call them fanciful. But even though there are a lot of buyers out there, they are extremely price conscious so if you want to move you need to be aware of that. It won’t help you if you set the price so high that months later you haven’t had any offers and you are no nearer making your move.
One of the questions I am regularly asked is whether it’s better to sell first, so you can move quickly? Some people say they would be willing to sell and move into a rental property before buying their next house. I wouldn’t recommend that because whilst it’s unlikely we’ll see a sudden change in the market, there’s always a slight risk attached to that strategy.
My preference is you should be as well prepared as possible, getting all the photographs taken and marketing materials produced, so that when you do find a property, we can press the button and get your existing home into the market place right away, putting it in front of the hundreds of people we know would relish Valley life.
So, if you are even vaguely considering making a move in the next few months, give us a call or pop in to see us for a chat and leave the rest to us.
All selling items to be dropped off on Friday 24th morning –the day before auction day!
Entry form can be found on the website www.nancekivellandpartners.co.uk
Please email entries with photos of lots to chloe@nancekivellandpartners.co.uk
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Development projects confidentially available including Self-building Plots, Traditional Barns with planning, Pub sites for redevelopment and Strategic Land suitable for promotion for development
i n p r i n t a n d o n l i n e !
Mendip Times ONLINE
FREE! access to all of our recent magazines from our website
FREE! links to all of our advertisers’ websites
FREE! links from our features and editorial pages
More information – more enjoyment
No annoying pop-ups – Mendip Times pure and simple
FREE! service for readers and advertisers
North Somerset Vintage Tractor Club ploughing match
Rotary festival a sell-out
THE Mendip Family Festival returned for its third year and was a complete sell-out. Organised in partnership with the Wrington Vale Rotary Club and hosted by Mendip Activity
Centre, the festival is set to raise thousands of pounds for local causes supported by Rotary.
Harry Potter was one of the themes
Doreen Doreen, one of the bands
Judges (l to r) Steve Raymont, Chris Baker, Diane Haberfield and Fred Anthony
Chairman Tim Hurley (right) with Mal Ashworth
The lessons horses have taught me
I HAVEjust got back from a wet Chillington with my friend Jancis as chief groom. The rain has truly come and now it doesn’t seem to want to stop! Horse owners hey! Never happy – too little rain, too hot, too much rain, too cold, too windy. We have such a narrow window of when everything is perfect. My season ended at Wellington and having dealt with this weather, I cannot say I have any regrets!
Jancis was competing in the regional final with her home-bred horse Escape the Opposition (Nova) in the BE100 regional final which is a qualifier for Badminton Grassroots Championship.
Last year, I went to Chillington and had a disaster, so we were hoping for an improvement on that day. Jancis has been working hard on Nova’s dressage. At Wellington he gained a 40 which is 60% because he became very tense with all the atmosphere which had him nearly last in his section.
After this result we decided on a plan to help his relaxation which included going and hiring arenas at KSEC, doing a dressage test at the recent Cotswold Cup Qualifier at Pontispool after uber secretary Ros Luff managed to fit Nova in and doing two warm-ups before his test so he could take in the sights and sounds with no pressure and have time to relax.
All this effort and work was rewarded at Chillington where he gained his best ever dressage result with 72%. Sadly, he knocked a pole in the showjumping before going on to do an easy clear round. This also meant he was out of contention for a qualification place.
It will be a similar December to mine with Jancis refreshing to see if he managed to get a wildcard if they up the qualification rate to 30% again. Badminton regional finals are hotly contested and you cannot make any mistakes all for the chance to ride at Badminton.
Eris is currently home with me as she was kicked in the field by her field mate Enya and needed stitches. They have lived together all their lives but for some reason Enya and Eris have been squabbling and Eris came off the worst out of the fight. It has healed beautifully and once the stitches have been taken out, I will get her going again for a few weeks before letting her have the winter off and hoping she stops fighting with Enya.
I have been reflecting on all the lessons which horses have taught me. I have very little patience with humans, but an abundance with horses and probably because of this have got better with humans. They have taught me to really look at body language.
With their inability to verbally communicate, you really look
at what they are trying to tell you with their body language. Are they happy? Are they uncomfortable? Are they stressed? What is their posture doing? How are they reacting to what is around them and how can I make their lives a bit better by changing how I do things when I am with them?
The best times with horses are often the quiet ones, hanging out with them in their stable or field. It is always a huge privilege when they decide they want to interact with you and they choose to be with you when they don’t have to be.
Sure, we can bribe them with carrots and treats, but I love just watching them. Seeing how they interact with their field mates, how they choose to interact with you.
What I really love about horses is they are very present beings. They really do live in the moment and react to what they see or hear. I think as humans it’s very easy to get caught up in the past or the future and forget to be present.
Whenever I am with horses, I just stay present and with that if you have had a bad day, it can be washed away with just dealing with the here and now.
I really believe that horses are not naughty and nor do they plan things. You often hear “oh he has come out today in a bad mood”. Or “‘they are really naughty about this corner”.
Horses simply do not have the capacity to think like this, they are reactive animals and I read a science paper that once said they can pick up human emotions and heartbeats so a lot of what they do is a direct response to what the human is feeling.
We are truly lucky to have these wonderful animals in our lives and I for one never take it for granted.
Lucy Counsell is a lifelong equestrian with a passion for eventing. She set up the riding club, Equestrian Training South West, served on Area 12 Riding Club committee and has her UKCC2 qualification to coach riding
With LUCY COUNSELL
Eris feeling sorry for herself
Rain? What rain?
AROUND 90 horseriders defied thunderstorms and torrential rain to take part in the Mendip Bridleways and Byways Association fun ride around the Faulkland area. They chose from 8.6-mile and 12-mile routes starting and finishing on farmland at Hassage – by kind permission of the Francis family – taking in views of Wellow, Norton St Philip and Laverton.
Volunteer marshal Avril directs riders to the start of the route
The storms didn’t deter around 90 riders from taking part
Homeward bound: riders reach Faulkland
Heading off from Hassage
Smiling through the rain
The secret season: cycling through autumn’s wonders
AUTUMNgets a bit of a tough deal in the cycling calendar. The days shorten, the weather turns unpredictable and the café queue mysteriously doubles the moment the temperature drops below 12°C. Some riders even contemplate packing their bikes away, opting for the warmth of “indoor training” on a turbo machine.
But here’s the secret: Autumn is glorious. It’s the season of golden light, crunchy leaves and café stops that feel entirely justified because, frankly, who doesn’t deserve a slab of lemon drizzle cake after pedalling through a chilly crosswind?
For a start, take the scenery. The same lanes you’ve ridden all year suddenly explode in a blaze of red, orange, and gold, as if nature went a little wild with the paintbrush.
One day you’re crunching through a drift of brittle leaves, the next you're gliding past fields softened by a silver mist. Every ride now feels like a scene from a movie.
Unlike the constancy of summer’s greenery, autumn is restless – it changes week by week, ride by ride, always surprising you with some new detail. Even the light has a distinctive character now, low and golden, painting everything in softer tones.
The cooler weather is another gift. Gone are the sweat-soaked climbs where your sunglasses fog up, your jersey clings and you question all your life choices. Instead, autumn serves up crisp air that makes your lungs feel like they’ve been washed clean.
Autumn awakens the senses in other ways too. The earthy smell of damp soil,
the tang of wet leaves, the faint drift of chimney smoke from a distant cottage –all combine to create an atmosphere unique to this time of year.
Even the sound of tyres rolling over scattered leaves adds its own rhythm, a gentle percussion that underscores each ride.
The café stops are different too, rewarding you with comforts that summer can’t match. An iced drink in August? That’s forgettable. But a hot chocolate in October – that’s a life-changer!
The shifting skies of the season, bring their own gifts. Sunrise no longer demands an alarm – you can roll out after breakfast and still feel like you’ve caught something special. Evenings end with skies streaked in pink and orange, the kind of colours you can’t help but pause to admire, even if it means slowing your pace.
The light never lingers long, but perhaps that’s what makes it so precious. Every ride feels like a small race against time, a reminder to make the most of what the day gives you.
Of course, autumn has its quirks. Damp roads and piles of wet leaves can make corners treacherous. Potholes hide under
puddles, waiting to jar your wheels. It’s a season that rewards care: Braking a little earlier, cornering a little more smoothly.
Wider tyres with decent tread help and it’s worth taking a moment to check your brakes before heading out. Lights, too, become essential – not just to see, but to be seen, as the sun dips sooner each day.
These little adjustments don’t dull the joy of autumn riding; if anything, they sharpen it, adding a quiet confidence to each ride. And confidence, in turn, shifts your mindset.
Summer often carries a pressure – long days to fill, miles to chase, numbers to hit. Winter, meanwhile, demands grit and resilience. Autumn sits between the two. It invites reflection, balance, and choice.
Some riders seize it as their last chance for big challenges, clocking up miles before the weather turns. Others (me included) like to slow down, savour the season, and rediscover the simple joy of pedalling without urgency. Both approaches feel right, because autumn allows for both.
That, perhaps, is the real gift of this season: Perspective. It reminds us why we ride, beyond time trials or Strava segments. It’s about the rhythm of breath and motion, the turning of wheels beneath you, the sensation of moving through a world that is itself in motion.
Autumn doesn’t last and maybe that’s why it feels so vivid. It was always my favourite season for commuting to and from work. Perhaps that’s why, even now, I find it hard to imagine packing my bike away when the leaves begin to fall.
Those who keep pedalling know a secret. Autumn is not cycling’s epilogue but one of its finest chapters – a season of golden light, crisp mornings, and quiet roads. If summer is for speed and winter for grit, autumn is for wonder. Pure, uncomplicated wonder.
A PARADEof young golfing talent was on display when Fosseway Golf Club hosted its first ever county event, the annual Four Counties competition for U-12s between Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.
In an exciting climax to the contest, it was Somerset managed by Fosseway’s own Dave Josham and coached by Saltford professional Chris Coles, who emerged the winners.
The John Sercombe Trophy named after the late secretary of the Wessex League was presented to Somerset by Fosseway Club president, Roger Parfitt.
Dave Josham, who had done so much to make the event possible, said: “It was a fantastic day enjoyed by all.
“I would like to say a big thank you to Fosseway Golf Club and its members, who turned out in force to help on the day. Thanks also to all the players and parents who made it a truly memorable event.”
Boot swaps in Midsomer Norton
THERotary Club of Midsomer Norton ran their annual series of boot swaps again this year over four Saturday mornings alongside the farmers’ market. Again, many young people benefited from being able to swap their sport boots for a bigger size.
It says this free service is always well received and the club were again delighted by how many swaps took place.
John Dando, Rotary president, said: “The Club are keen to support the community and enjoy ourselves whilst doing so, and welcome like-minded people to join us.”
This scheme will return in the summer of 2026.
Details: Facebook
A jam fine day at Shepton skatepark
SKATE Jam – a day-long celebration of skating, scootering and BMX riding –returned for 2025 to the West Shepton Skate Park at Shepton Mallet.
Dozens of riders of all ages and abilities took part in the fun, which included workshops and competitions.
The event was organised by Shepton Mallet Town Council with coaches from
Skate Rubicon. A spokesperson for the council said: “The event was a great success and we were really pleased to see so many people young and old using the skate park and enjoying the day.
“We put on a number of free events during the course of the year and think it is important to celebrate the talent and energy within Shepton Mallet and highlight the importance of providing positive, inclusive spaces for everyone to enjoy.”
Waiting their turn at the top of the run
Concentration on the face of a young scooter rider
Comperes Sam (left) and Alex
Wrington concert will showcase choir’s diversity
TRINITY Singers, based in Churchill, is well-known for the wide range of music offered in its programmes. On Saturday, October 25th, at All Saints Church Wrington, the choir presents a programme entitled “Give us this day: songs of life and hope”, which will again showcase this diversity.
There are stories of life, love and faithlessness, presented in arrangements of folksongs by John Rutter and others.
The concert starts at 7.30pm and is conducted by Andrew Tyrrell and accompanied by Claire Alsop.
Tickets, £12.50, are available through the choir or on the door.
Details: www.trinitysingers.org.uk
Cantiamo looks forward to a busy weekend
A musical milestone
CHEDDARMale Choir turns 30 this month and plans to celebrate with a spectacular joint concert at Shipham Village Hall on Saturday, October 18th.
They will join forces with the vibrant voices of Bois GoetreHen Male Choir from Bridgend, South Wales, for a musical
THE Cantiamo choir, based in North Somerset, will be performing in fundraising concerts in Cheddar and Wrington this October.
Their programme, 'Seasons of the Soul', reflects different stages and emotions of life and features a feast of a cappella choral music spanning five centuries of composition including pieces by Purcell, Pearsall, Gjeilo, Tavener and Stopford.
The concerts will be free to enter but generous donatons towards the upkeep of the churches would be welcomed. Cantiamo, under the directorship of Jeremy Martin, will be performing at Cheddar Methodist Church on Saturday, October 4th at 7pm and at All Saints' Church, Wrington on Sunday, October 5th, at 6.30pm.
evening in support of The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Expect a rich and exhilarating programme of hits from the musicals, uplifting spirituals, pop favourites, and the glorious depth of traditional male voice harmonies.
Tickets are £10. Doors open at 7pm.
Details: contactcheddarmalechoir@gmail.com
Trinity Singers
Cheddar Male Choir
Bois Goetre-Hen Male Choir
The West End –of Cheddar
WESTEnd Wednesdays caters for singers with a passion for the shows. This monthly adult musical theatre choir has been running since January, bringing participants the experience of harmonising and moving to iconic West End hits in a supportive fun-filled environment.
Each month, experienced choir leader Kate Lynch and musical director, Joshua Newport, focus on a different show and every session is self-contained.
They meet at Cheddar Community Pavilion on the last Wednesday of every month 7.15-9.15pm.
Details: Westendwednesdays@gmail.com Facebook and Instagram
Nailsea concert
BOLD BRASS are giving a much-awaited return concert on October 25th, 7pm at Christ Church, Nailsea.
The ensemble was founded originally as a quintet in 1977, but a short time later the larger ensemble was formed for one concert. The usual line-up is four trumpets, tenor horn, euphonium, tube, three trombones and percussion, with later addition of a flugelhorn.
The programmes are drawn from light classics, swing and big band as well as from great musical shows. They have performed in churches and music festivals as well as abroad over the years. Tickets, £10, are available in advance from the Church Office (10-12noon weekdays) or on the door. Proceeds to church funds.
Details: 01275 859210
Events that go with a swing
MENDIPSwing, a 17-piece big band, is a not-for-profit organisation, which has raised thousands of pounds playing at local events. The band, based in North Somerset, says it gets people smiling, dancing –and donating.
Band manager, Dave Gale, said: “Live music gives people a reason to come out, have fun –and most importantly –support your cause.”
He says their signature sound, rooted in the rhythms of classic swing and jazz, is perfect for dancing. Their recent gigs have been in Saltford, Camerton and Moorlinch.
Their next stop is Farmborough Memorial Hall, on Saturday, October 25th, 7.30pm.
MEMBERSof St John the Baptist Church in Churchill raised £800 for church funds with a ploughman’s supper featuring the High and Dry Sea Shanty band.
One of the organisers, Margaret Avery, said: “It was a very successful evening and everyone had a really good time.”
A celebration of Hope
AN exhibition, opening at Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury this autumn, offers a new appraisal of the work and life of Exmoor writer and artist Hope Bourne. Open from September 27th to January 10th next year, A Life Outside: Hope Bourne on Exmoor, is created in partnership with The Exmoor Society which cares for The Hope L. Bourne Collection and it considers Bourne’s status as one of the West Country’s most significant nature writers, whose work and way of life are especially prescient in this time of advancing environmental crisis. It draws on new research by writer and Guardian Country Diarist Sara Hudston, whose book A Life Outside: Hope Bourne on Exmoor will be published next year. Sara is co-curating the exhibition with Kate Best, for the South West Heritage Trust. Hope Bourne (1918–2010) was a writer and artist who spent almost 60 years recording the landscape, wildlife, history and changing rural traditions of Exmoor. She made thousands of drawings and paintings, wrote and illustrated books, authored pamphlets and newspaper columns, as well as keeping a daily journal. She bequeathed her entire estate to the Exmoor Society, of which she was a founder member.
For more information visit SRLM.ORG.UK
Mendip Rocks! returns in style
THE sights, sounds and stories of the Mendip landscape will come alive in October with the 2025 Mendip Rocks! Festival of Geology.
Running from October 1st to October 25th, the festival is packed with opportunities to uncover the secrets beneath your feet and experience the area like never before
Organised by the Somerset Earth Science Centre, in partnership with the Mendip Hills National Landscape team and The Mendip Society, the programme offers something for all, from fascinating guided geo walks and hands-on geo art workshops, to rare behindthe-scenes tours of operational quarries.
To mark Earth Science Week, the Somerset Earth Science Centre, based in Stoke St Michael, will be celebrating the achievements of women in geoscience on Saturday, October 18th, with an afternoon of thought-provoking lectures delivered by leading female geologists, each showcasing their expertise and highlighting the vital role of women in advancing our understanding of geology.
A Family Museum Open Day on Saturday, October 25th will be an exciting and fun finale to this year’s festival. Visitors will have
the opportunity to explore the centre’s extensive collection of fossils, rocks and minerals, and are invited to bring their own finds for identification by expert geologists.
The event will also celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of pioneering fossil hunter Mary Anning, with a rare chance to view a detailed replica of the renowned Lyme Regis statue currently on loan from the Geologists’ Association.
Lou Sumbler, Festival Co-ordinator at the Somerset Earth Science Centre, said: “The Mendip Hills are truly unique. The festival offers a fantastic chance to explore how geology has shaped our landscape over millions of years and provides rare opportunities to discover some of the area’s best kept geological secrets.”
Jim Hardcastle, Manager of the Mendip Hills National Landscape Team, said: "We are delighted to be able to deliver Mendip Rocks! again this year. It is an opportunity to share the special qualities of the Mendip Hills National Landscape with local people and to reach new audiences.”
For more information and to book: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/mendip-rocks-2025-4600963 General enquiries or to book if unable to book online call 01749 840156 or email info@earthsciencecentre.org.uk
Cathedral hosts special remembrance service
THEREpromises to be a powerful and moving evening of commemoration as Wells Cathedral hosts the Somerset Festival of Remembrance 2025, a one-off event marking the 80th anniversary of the end of WW2.
This is likely to be one of the very last occasions on which veterans who took part might be present. Organised by Somerset County Royal British Legion, this unique occasion will honour the courage, resilience, and sacrifice of Somerset’s people at home and abroad during the war.
The evening will feature music, stories, and ceremony, including performances by the Central Band of the Royal British Legion and the Yeovilton Military Wives Choir, contributions from the county's cadet forces and tributes from veterans and civic leaders.
Highlights include parading the Somerset Book of Honour, an Act of Remembrance with poppy drop, and a multi-themed programme tracing Somerset’s wartime experience from mobilisation to liberation and legacy.
The evening will be compered by former BBC broadcasters Clinton Rogers, Deputy Lieutenant, and Ali Vowles, Deputy Lieutenant.
The RBL says: “This is a community-centred and inclusive event, both solemn and uplifting, and open to all. Early booking is advised. All proceeds support the Royal British Legion and Wells Cathedral.
FROMfiction to football fever, this year's Wells Festival of Literature is in the game as tickets are snapped up fast.
Comedian Rachel Parris – best known for her TV appearances on The Mash Report and Late Night Mash – brings racy romance to the event with a witty sequel to Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice.
Football writer Simon Kuper will stir a different kind of passion in conversation with BBC Radio Somerset sports presenter Charlie Taylor.
Simon has attended every World Cup since 1990 and describes his journey into the heart of football in World Cup Fever. It’s a fascinating account of how the competition has changed since the inaugural event in 1930.
The festival runs from October 17th-25th.
Details: www.wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk
Rachel Parris
Local hero returns
THE operators of the heritage railway line at Midsomer Norton have announced the return of steam power just in time for the autumn and Christmas seasons.
Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust has secured the loan of the iconic restored locomotive Kilmersdon, built in 1929 for the Somerset coalfields. It will make its return at the line’s Halloween Spectacular on Sunday, October 26th and remain until after the New Year.
Cinema’s refurbishment
WELLS Film Centre Cinema is having a planned closure for a week this October to carry out some refurbishment work to their cinema seats.
The closure will run from Thursday, October 9th and the complex will reopen on Monday, October 20th. During the closure the in-person cinema box office will not be open. Sally Cooper, cinema proprietor, said: “We are aware some of our seats need to be reupholstered, this involves them being removed and sent away. We appreciate our customers patience while we have been planning a date to do the work.”
For information and prebooking for shows, visit: www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk
Professional theatre
A HIGH-energy performance of Shakespeare’s classic thriller Julius Caesar will be performed by Afro-Caribbean theatre company Tangle in a special show in Croscombe in October.
This is the latest touring professional theatrical show to be hosted by Croscombe Frolics thanks to the support of Take Art –Somerset's rural touring charity.
Tangle’s fast-moving adaptation incudes a cast of five actors with original music performed live on stage. Tangle, based in Swindon, says this high-energy production brings African-inspired storytelling into the heart of ancient Rome.
The show takes place on Saturday, October 18th in Croscombe Village Hall at 7.30pm. Richard Cronin, from the Frolics, said: “This
company are on a tour of regional theatres but thanks to Take Art we are getting their one rural touring slot so really excited.”
Tickets: £14 adults, £9 low income, £6 under25 • via www.takeart.org/whats-on or in person from The George Inn, Croscombe
Scoop for literary festival
HEYWOOD Literary Festival describes itself as a unique literary event that will go beyond the page to reveal the hidden stories within handwriting.
Renowned graphologist
Emma Bache will lead a discussion with two acclaimed authors - historian Felice Hardy The Tennis Champion Who Escaped the Nazis and New York Times bestselling author Frances Liardet We Must Be Brave.
After introducing their powerful books, Emma will offer a live demonstration of her fascinating craft. Using examples from the authors' work, she will analyse the handwriting of reallife people and historical figures, uncovering insights into their character and motivations.
The discussion will then turn to the authors themselves as Emma assesses their own handwriting, providing a unique glimpse into the personalities behind the stories you love.
This is a rare opportunity to connect history, literature, and the science of graphology in one unforgettable event.
“I’ve analysed the Handwriting of Trump and Putin!”
A Scoop for the Heywood Literary Festival –Emma Bache, UK’s Leading Graphologist Speaks on 18th October
Emma Bache
Festive cheer at The Bishop’s Palace Christmas market
THE Christmas season will get off to a sparkling start at The Bishop’s Palace in Wells as the much-loved Christmas Artisan Market returns on Saturday, November 8th and Sunday, November 9th.
From 10am-4pm each day, the medieval rooms of the palace will be filled with stalls offering an array of hand-crafted and locally-made gifts, perfect for those special people who are always tricky to buy for.
Visitors can browse decorations, cards and unique treasures while enjoying live music in the inspiring setting of this historic building.
Reduced price day admission includes entry to Artisan Market, to the Palace itself and to the award-winning 14 acres of RHS Partner Gardens.
After shopping, visitors can relax in the Bishop’s Table café, which will be serving a seasonal menu alongside its stunning views across the croquet lawn.
Merryn Kidd, CEO at The Bishop’s Palace, said: “Visitors tell us the Artisan Market is the perfect way to start their Christmas shopping. With a wonderful mix of artisan gifts, festive music and the chance to explore the Palace and gardens, it’s a truly special experience.”
The Artisan Market is a fundraising event supporting The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens, which is owned by the Church Commissioners and managed by The Palace Trust, a registered charity. Every ticket purchased helps care for the heritage site so it can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Tickets are available in advance at www.bishopspalace.org.uk or on the day
Get into the festive spirit at The Bishop’s Palace this November
T HE M ENDIP T IMES W HAT ’ S O
Commercial entries cost £25. We’re happy to offer entries for non-profit community group meetings and charity fundraisers free of charge. If you feel that your entry fits our criteria for free publicity please state why – and send a succinct single paragraph, in a format that can be copied and pasted to annie@mendiptimes.co.uk
Wednesday October 1st
Clevedon Gardener’s Club 1st and 3rd Wed. each month, 7.30pm Kenn Rd Methodist Church Hall, Clevedon BS21 6LH. Details: clevedongardeners.chessck.co.uk
Sing2breathe for breathlessness – learn techniques for breathing control and posture. 1.45 to 3pm every Wed, Cheddar Catholic Community Hall. Details: 07595 745884 or vocalkate@gmail.com
Backwell & Nailsea Support Group for Carers: Ken Hunt “Travelling with Ken” 2-3.30pm WI Hall, Backwell.
“The Roman Civil War: Republic to Empire” talk by Dr Michael Watts, 7.30pm Chew Magna Millenium Hall, £5. Details: rcade47@gmail.com Willow Lampshade weaving course 9am–5pm Carymoor Environmental Trust, BA7 7NR. Funded places available: Find courses – Somerset Employment and Skills
Thursday October 2nd
Chew Valley Death Café meets 12-1.30pm in the Community Library, Bishop Sutton. A safe supportive space to talk about life, death and loss over tea and cake. All welcome. Contact: bryonyhuntley2019@gmail.com
Wells Scottish Dancers the Blue School Dance Studio BA5 2NR. Every Thurs 6.30–8.30pm. Beginners welcome. Tel 01934 740065 or ann.wellsdancers@gmail.com
Paulton Folk Night 8.30pm Red Lion. Music, song, good company! Free. All welcome. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com
Draycott Art Club sessions 10am-1pm & 2-4pm every Thurs. Memorial Hall BS27 3UE. All welcome. Details: draycottartclub.mendip@gmail.com
Sing2breathe for breathlessness – for breathing control and posture 2.15-3.30pm every Thurs. Priory Health Centre, Wells. Details: vocalkate@gmail.com 07595 745884. Joyful Spirit Choir meets every Thurs, 7.15pm Wrington Chapel, Ropers Lane BS40 5NH. All welcome! Details: joyfulspiritrehearsals@gmail.com
Congresbury Gardening Club talk by Nick Morgan “Making the most of your Greenhouse” 730 Congresbury Methodist Hall. Visitors welcome. Details: www.congresburygardeningclub.com
Friday October 3rd
Firm Roots Cancer Prayer & Support meets first Friday monthly 2.30-4pm Clevedon Baptist Church, Station Rd, BS21 6NH. A small friendly group for those affected by cancer. Details: www.firmroots.org.uk or Kate 07505-580297. Radstock Folk Dance Club, every Friday 8-10pm St Peter’s Church Hall, Westfield. Beginners welcome, partners not essential. £3 incl refreshments. heather.m.leverton@gmail.com
Shipham Charity Lunch, 12.30pm village hall, every other week. Soup, bread and cheese, pickle, tea/coffee and biscuits. £5.50, U5s free. For Save the Children.
Friday October 3rd to Sunday October 5th
Somerset International Festival of the Arts, St Andrew’s Church Backwell, BS48 3JJ. Details: www.somersetfestivalarts.co.uk
Saturday October 4th
Windsor Hill Wood Refuge: two guided walks: 10.30am-12 for under 11s with an adult and 2.30-
4pm for older kids and adults. Try identifying trees, wildlife and tracking. Suggested donation £10 for kids (U5’s free) Adults £15, incl refreshments. Please book: 07504 758263. Local Live Music Showcase: five acts from across Chew Valley! 7.30pm Bishop Sutton Village Hall. Details: www.valley-arts.co.uk
Frome Society for Local Study talk by Clare Fear “The Tone Works” 2.30pm Frome Memorial Theatre Assembly Rooms. Visitors welcome, £5. Details: www.fsls.org.uk
Mendip Rocks! Festival of Geology: Geo Art workshops, Somerset Earth Science Centre, Stoke St Michael, BA3 5JU. To book: www.earthsciencecentre.org.uk/mendip-rocks East Mendip Walk: a mod to hard circular 6m around Stoke St Michael. Meet 10am recreation ground car park, BA3 5JL. Mendip Society members free, guests £2. Booking essential: www.themendipsociety.org.uk/walks-and-events Joyful Spirit Choir 7pm St John the Baptist Church, Axbridge. Details: Facebook. Saturday October 4th and Sunday 5th Cantiamo Concerts: Sat at 7pm Cheddar Methodist Church and Sunday 6.30pm All Saints’ Church, Wrington. Free, with collection. Sunday October 5th
Wrington Vale Rotary Classic Car, Motor Bike and unusual vehicles – Breakfast BBQ 9am-1pm Brean Down Car Park TA8 2RS. Just come or call: 07790 400718.
The Poorbox Brothers 4pm-6pm Caryford Community Hall, Castle Cary. Tickets £8: www.caryfordhall.co.uk
Monday October 6th
Pensford Local History Group: Results of academic research into the 1968 floods, 7.30pm Memorial Hall, BS39 4HW. All welcome, £3 incl refreshments. Details: pensfordhistorygroup@gmail.com
Congresbury Memorial Hall Club: Friendship evening with Bingo, 8pm War Memorial Hall. Visitors welcome.
RAFA Mid-Somerset Branch: Games Day with skittles, darts, pool, cards and board games. No business! 11am Bell Inn, Bruton Rd, Evercreech BA4 6HY. email rafa.midsomerset@gmail.com or 01458-22405
Tuesday October 7th
Arts Society Mendip talk: “Palmyra: bride of the desert” Dr Paul Roberts, 11am Croscombe Village Hall and via Zoom. Guests welcome, £10, on request to tasmendip.comm@gmail.com Details: www.theartssocietymendip.org.uk
Bath NATS talk with Joe Hampson “Honeygar Farm” 7 for 7.30pm BRSLI, 16 Queen Square, Bath BA1 2HN. Visitors welcome £3. Hotwell Howlers: the music of the Somerset Coal fields 7.30pm Somer Centre, M Norton www.radstockmuseum.co.uk
Yatton Local History Society talk by Steve Osman on the Swiss Air Crash in 1973, 7.30pm Yatton Methodist Church BS49 4DW. Details: yattonlocalhistorysoc@gmail.com
Wednesday October 8th
Bereavement Help Point, Shepton Mallet: an informal, supportive space to meet others who may
be experiencing similar feelings. All welcome. Free drop-in, 10-11.45am, Shepton Brasserie, 64 High St. Details: 0345 0310 555 or dorothyhouse.co.uk
Wells Folk & Barn Dance Club 7.30-9.30pm St Thomas's Church Hall, BA5 2UZ. All welcome: 2nd, 3rd & 4th Wed most months. Details: wellsfdc.co.uk
Blagdon Local History Society 7.30pm Court Lodge, BS407TQ. Talk by Alan Grey on local ochre and iron ore mining. Details: www.blagdonlhs.com
Kilmersdon Gardeners Club talk by Micky Little “Bulbs that create a sparkle of delight!” 7.30pm village hall BA3 5TD. Visitors welcome £3 inc refreshments. Details www.kilmersdongardeners.org
An evening with Paul Dyer, 7.30pm Caryford Community Hall, Castle Cary. Tickets £8: www.caryfordhall.co.uk
CAMEO meeting: Gosha Balwinska “Natural ways to support your Health” 7.30pm Congresbury Methodist Hall. £2 inc refreshments.
Mendip Story celebrates 12 years! Story-telling for adults with tea and cake 7-30pm Ston Easton Village Hall BA3 4DA. Email: mendipstorycircle@gmail.com
Thursday October 9th
Chew Valley Garden Society: talk via Zoom by Gavin Haig: ‘The Healing City’ with Q&A. Group viewing 8pm Stanton Drew Village Hall. Details: 01275 333456.
Friday October 10th
Keynsham AWT talk by Anna Stevens, "Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project" 7.15 for 7.30pm Baptist Church, High St, Keynsham BS31 1DS. Visitors welcome £5, incl drink.
Vintage Cheddar Rock Band: Dance 7 for 7.30pm Cheddar Community Pavilion. Tickets: Draycott Village Shop or 07762 702721. Free, charity collection for the Children’s Hospice SW. Table-top Sale 10am-1pm Congresbury War Memorial Hall. Many brand-new items. Tables available: Irving, 01934 832004.
RNLI Mendip Folk Concert: with Jon Wilks, English writer, folk singer, and guitarist. 7.15 for 8pm Winscombe Church Centre, 52 Woodborough Rd, BS25 1BA, Tickets £15 from winscombe.folk@gmail.com or 07703-538861. Brent Knoll Bazaar, Farmers’ Market & Parish Café 10am-12 Parish Hall, TA9 4EH.
Compton Dando Craft Day: 10-4pm village hall, BS39 4JZ. £8 incl lunch. Details: hdottridge@hotmail.com 01761 490445. Saturday October 11th and Sun Oct 12th
Chew Valley Arts Trail, 10am-6pm. Details: www.chewvalleyartstrail.co.uk
Chew Valley Beer & Cider Festival, Ubley village hall, £10/session: www.chewvalleybeerfestival.co.uk
Wells EcoWeek 11th-20th Oct: many activities. See Wells Environmental Network
O N G UIDEFOR O CTOBER 2025
Sunday October 12th
Clevedon & District Model Boat Club sail at Clevedon Marine Lake, 10am second Sun monthly. All welcome to join us to sail and chat! www.clevedonanddistrictmodelboatclub.co.uk
Churchill Music: Freddy Kempf, virtuoso pianist, 3pm All Saints Church, Wrington, BS40 5LF. Tickets: ticketsource.co.uk or holly@churchillmusic.org.uk
Compton Dando Church Concert: The Handful Chamber Choir, organ and harp. 4.15pm for 4.30pm. Details: Jenny 01761 490727. Monday October 13th
Mendip Folk Dance Club, 8-10pm St James’s Church Winscombe BS25 1BA. All welcome, 2nd 4th & 5th Mondays. £3 incl refreshments. Details: Pat 01934 742853.
Nailsea & District Local History Society AGM and talk by Dr Jo Edwards “Hannah More’s 18th century” 7.45pm Nailsea School, BS48 2HN. Visitors welcome £3. Details: 01275 463479 or www.ndlhs.org.uk
Priddy Folk Session 8.30pm Queen Victoria. Music, song, good company! Free. All welcome. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com
Cheddar Valley Singers, Mondays 7pm Cheddar Catholic Community Hall. Details: cheddarvalleysingers@gmail.com or Facebook. Weston Civic Society “The Western Forest” – for a greener North Somerset. 7.30pm Weston Museum, BS23 1PR. All welcome, £2. www.westoncivicsociety.org.uk
Norton Radstock u3a: “The colourful life of Queen Victoria & Prince Albert” by Susan Symons. 1.30pm-4pm. Somer Centre M. Norton BA3 2HU. Visitors welcome. Details www.norad.u3asite.uk
Tuesday October 14th
Frome Selwood Horticultural Society talk by Colin Higgins “My North Somerset Levels story” 7.20 for 7.30pm Critchill School. BA11 4LD. Details: 0777 620 8531 jane.norris9@gmail.com
Clutton History Group talk “A history of Bristol in nine paintings” by Elaine Cook, 7.30pm village hall, Venus Lane, BS39 5SP. Visitors welcome, £5 incl refreshments. Details: 07341 266986 or Chris.border@live.co.uk
Timsbury Gardening Club: Dr G Hargreaves ‘A Westonbirt Spring’ 7.30pm Conygre Hall, BA2 0JQ. Visitors welcome £2. Details: www.timsbury.org.uk/activities
Shipham, Rowberrow & Star History Society: Roy Acrill: Elf & Safety –myth or fact? 7.15 for 7.30pm Shipham Village Hall, BS25 1SG. Guests £4. Details: Jan 01934 260784. Wells & District Wildlife Group: 10am-12 a Fungus Foray – not foraging – in Mendip woods. Details: www.wdwg.org.uk or 07415 350062. Weston-s-Mare Archaeological & Nat. History Society: “Bugs” in Folklore and Fable by Ray Barnett. 7 for 7.30pm Friends Meeting House, High St. BS23 1JF. Visitors welcome £4 incl tea/ coffee.
Wednesday October 15th
Mendip Gardening Club: “Avon needs trees”, talk by Lily Stevens 7.30pm Ston Easton Village Hall BA3 4DA. Details: 01761 453654. Henton & District Gardening Club “Close Encounters” talk by wildlife photographer Colin Varnell. 7 for 7.30pm Henton Village Hall. Visitors welcome, £5. Details www.hentongardenclub.weebly.com
Thursday October 16th
Shipham & District Garden Club talk by Moira Anderson, “Swans of the Bishop’s Palace”,
7.30pm Shipham village hall, BS25 1SG. Wrington Gardening Club ‘Gardening in small spaces’ by Matthew Symonds, 7.30pm Wrington Memorial Hall BS40 5QL. Visitors £3. Music for Miniatures – classical concerts for babies and toddlers, 10.30am Chew Magna Baptist Hall. www.valley-arts.co.uk
Chew Valley Library celebrates “Rail 200” with a display of railway interest books available for loan. Open Thurs and Sat at The Link, Bishop Sutton (former chapel near the PO. Rear car park). Details: www.chewvalleylibrary.org.uk
Friday October 17th
Shipham Charity Lunch, 12.30pm village hall, alt. weeks. Soup, bread, cheese, pickle, tea/coffee and biscuits, £5.50, U-5s free. All profits to Save the Children.
North Somerset Quilters. Speaker Lizzie Everard “What GB Sewing Bee taught me to value in making” 7.30pm Backwell WI Hall, Station Rd., BS48 3QW. Visitors welcome £7. Details Karen 01275 463119.
Venice Treacle: deranged disco! 7.30pm Chew Stoke Village Hall www.valley-arts.co.uk
Yatton & District Horticultural Society Autumn Show 2pm Yatton village hall, BS49 4HL. Wells Active Travel Day 10.30-3pm, community fun day with speakers, activities and displays for non-car travel. Part of EcoWeek.
Gurt Haunted part improvised West Country comedy thriller! 2.30pm Winford Village Hall www.valley-arts.co.uk
Farmborough Craft Fayre, 10.30am-3pm Memorial Hall, BA2 0AH. Entry £1, kids free. Wide range of gifts, refreshments.
Mendip Rocks! a forum of fossils, fieldwork & female voices. 12.30-4.30pm Somerset Earth Science Centre, Stoke St Michael, BA3 5JU. £15 (£5) incl refreshments. To book: www.earthsciencecentre.org.uk/mendip-rocks Claverham Market: 10am-12 Village Hall. Butcher, veg, crafts etc 01934 830553.
Cheddar Male Choir 30th anniversary concert with Bois Goetre-Hen Male Choir. For Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance. 7pm Shipham Village Hall.
Frome Society for Local Study talk by Pat Smith “Planners vs the People” 2.30pm Frome Memorial Theatre. Visitors welcome, £5. Details: www.fsls.org.uk
West Harptree: 100th anniversary of the Memorial Hall: Bar open 6pm, films 7pm: Buster Keaton, a local village video and Dad's Army the movie. Free! Details: www.westharptreehall.com “Come & Sing” workshop with Wincanton Choral Society 10am-4pm King Arthur's School. Choruses from Fauré's Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine. Details: elizabethfindley164@gmail.com or 01963 33194.
Julius Caesar 7.30pm Croscombe Village Hall, nr Wells. Details: www.takeart.org/event/tanglejulius-caesar
Frome Ukelele Club (FRUKES) charity concert. The Silk Mill, Frome. 7.30pm. Tickets –£5 –available via Facebook, any FRUKES member or on the door. Cash bar.
Toytrac model farm show, West Woodland showground, Frome. Details: info@bulldogfairs.com
Sunday October 19th
The Little Red Pipers New Clothes fun family theatre. 7.30pm Old School Rooms, Chew Magna. Details: www.valley-arts.co.uk
Monday October 20th
Winscombe District u3a talk by Dr David Agassiz “The archaeology of Worlebury Hill Fort” 2 for 2.30pm Community Centre BS25 1JA. £2.50. Visitors welcome.
Congresbury Memorial Hall Club: Friendship evening with Bingo, 8pm War Memorial Hall. Visitors welcome.
Timsbury Nats talk by Brian Plant “Composting Worms” 7.30pm Conygre Hall BA2 0JQ. Visitors welcome £5. U16s free with an adult.
Tuesday October 21st
Arts Society Mid Somerset talk ‘Dame Laura Knight’ 10.15 for 11am Caryford Hall, Castle Cary BA7 7JJ. Visitors £8.
RNLI Mendip Trafalgar Night Dinner 6.30 for 7.30pm Mendip Spring Golf Club, BS49 5JT. Guest Speaker, Mark Dowie CBE former CEO of RNLI. Tickets £42.50 fromTim@moransonline.com or clubhouse@mendipspringgolfclub.com
Wednesday October 22nd
Bereavement Help Point, Shepton Mallet: an informal, supportive space to meet others who may be experiencing similar feelings. All welcome. Free drop-in, 10-11.45am, Shepton Brasserie, 64 High St. Details: 0345 0310 555 or dorothyhouse.co.uk
Wells Folk Night 8pm City Arms. Music, song, good company! Free. All welcome. Details: richardlm397@gmail.com
Thursday October 23rd
Yatton & District Horticultural Society “Gardening in small spaces” by Mathew Symonds 8pm Hangstones Pavilion, Stowey Rd, BD49 4HS. Avon Wildlife Trust talk: “The Kestrel” by Naomi Johns on why they are now so rarely seen near motorways, 7.45 Chew Magna Old School Room, £2.50.
Visit to Ebbor Grove Farm, Priddy: a gentle walk, talk about regenerative farming with views, tea and cake! Mendip Society members free, guests £2. Booking essential: www.themendipsociety.org.uk/walks-and-events Friday October 24th
Willow Berry Basket weaving course, 10am4pm, £80. Details: www.carymoor.org.uk/whats-on “New & selected potatoes” with John Hegley, comedy’s poet laureate, 7.30pm Chew Stoke Village Hall. www.valley-arts.co.uk
Storytelling Workshop: learn the tricks and hear some tales with Colin, 10.30am-12 The Link, Bishop Sutton (old chapel nr the PO with car park behind) BS39 5UU. Details: www.valley-arts.co.uk Saturday October 25th
Wells Repair Café, 10am-12.30 Wells Library, Union St. Bring clean, broken items of all kinds and our volunteers will do their best to fix them. Bring leads /chargers. All welcome. See Facebook or: repaircafe.wells@gmail.com
Ian Luton sings Elvis & more! 7.30pm St Katharine’s Church, Felton Common BS40 9UR (nr Bristol airport). Tickets £10 from Winford shop or Karen 07717 664727.
Somerset Earth Science Centre Museum Open Day, 11am-3.30pm Stoke St Michael, BA3 5JU. Free family activities. Details: www.earthsciencecentre.org.uk/mendip-rocks
Just Act Natural Family activity day 10am–3pm, for families with a child who has SEND. £8pp. Details: www.carymoor.org.uk/whats-on
Yatton Music Society pianist Joss Wort 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church, Yatton. Visitors £15: www.yms.org.uk
Continued overleaf
MENDIP TIMES
Saturday October 25th continued
Mendip Swing Band 7 for 7.30pm Farmborough Memorial Hall. Tickets £8 from Community Shop or 07891 932822. Details: 07939 566718 or mendip.swing@yahoo.com
Trinity Singers concert 7.30pm All Saints Church Wrington. Tickets £12.50: www.trinitysingers.org.uk
Bold Brass 7pm Christ Church, Nailsea. £10 from Church office or on door. Cash bar. Car park free after 6pm. To reserve tickets: 01275 859210. “Finishing Well”: addressing questions around the end of life and funerals, Cheddar Baptist Church, 9.15am-12.45pm. All welcome. Details: wedmorevic@gmail.com Facebook: Cheddar Valley Churches.
Timsbury Gardening Club Craft Fair 10am-2pm Conygre Hall BA2 0JQ. Entry £1, kids free. Details: 07410 452685 or timsburygc@gmail.com
Monday October 27th
Norton Radstock u3a Coffee morning, 10am-12noon Somer Centre, M. Norton BA3 2HU. Visitors welcome. Details www.norad.u3asite.uk
Tuesday October 28th
Winscombe Folk & Acoustic Club 7.30 for 8pm in the quiet “Room Upstairs”, Winscombe Club, BS25 1HD. Open mic for music, song, poetry, £2.
Wells & District Wildlife Group: talk by Howard Peters “The Red List”
Unmissable
THE Bath & West Showground plays host to two spectacular nights out that promise unforgettable memories – whether you’re looking for spooky fun with the family or a hilariously chaotic Christmas party with friends and colleagues.
On October 31st, step aboard The Ghost Train Glow Party, a Halloween extravaganza designed for all ages. From late afternoon into the evening, the showground transforms into a glowing wonderland packed with entertainment.
Families can enjoy a thrilling ghost train ride, a dazzling glow puppet show, magic, disco dancing, and plenty of prizes. Children can get creative in the craft corner, strike a pose in the photo booth, and show off their scariest costumes in the fancy-dress competition. With spooky mocktails for kids and a bar for grownups, it’s a true family night out.
of threatened species, 7.30pm Wells Museum. Details: www.wdwg.org.uk or 07415 350062.
Chilcompton Gardening Club: Introduction to Forest Gardening, Rob Handy, 7.30pm Village Hall, BA3 4EX. Details: Facebook
Wednesday October 29th
Harptrees History Society: ‘Somerset Military Coastal Defences” by Phil Curme. Visitors £3. Book from Oct 15th by email: info@harptreeshistorysociety.org Subject “Oct 2025”.
Backwell & Nailsea Macular Support meeting 1.30pm Backwell WI Hall. Details: Sheila 01275 462107.
Thursday October 30th
“Railways in South Wales in the 1970s & 80s” with presentation on the Cavalcade at Stockton & Darlington, 7.30pm Horsecastle Chapel, Yatton BS49 4QQ. £3. Supporting the Strawberry Line café, who will provide refreshments. Details: Trevor: 01934 835208.
Friday October 31st
Camelot Area u3a talk by Kylie Gallagher on the Children’s Hospice South West, 2.30pm Caryford Hall, Castle Cary BA7 7JJ. Visitors welcome, £2 incl refreshments. Details: www.camelot-area.u3asite.uk
Frome Society for Local Study talk “Old songs: stories of love and death” 2.30pm Frome Memorial Theatre Assembly Rooms. Visitors welcome, £5. Details: www.fsls.org.uk
Whitchurch Local History Society: ‘From Sheep to Shirts – the story of the Somerset woollen industry’ with Ken Parsons, 7.30pm URC, 24 Bristol Road, BS14 0PQ. Visitors welcome £4. Details 01275 830869.
Shipham Charity Lunch, 12.30pm village hall, every other week. Soup, bread, cheese, pickle, tea/coffee and biscuits. £5.50, U5s free. For Save the Children.
Friday October 31st to Sunday November 2nd
Avon Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers 50th anniversary free exhibition with craft demonstrations. From 11am at “Sparks Bristol” 78 Broadmead – the old M&S. Details: info.avonguildswd@gmail.com
Saturday November 1st
“Montague Terrace” a powerful new drama from Brass Works Theatre, 7.30pm Chew Stoke village hall. Details: www.valley-arts.co.uk
Vintage Hornby Model Railway Show 10am-4pm King Alfred’s Academy, Highbridge, TA93EE. Adults £5 cash, accompanied children free. Details: www.somersethrca.org.uk
Saturday November 1st and Sun November 2nd
Blagdon Local History Society: “Know your village” Exhibition (Sat: 10am-1pm, Sun 10am-4pm) with talk “The end of the line -75th anniversary of the closure of Blagdon’s railway” on Sat at 2.30pm in the village club. Details: www.blagdonlhs.com
Then, switch gears for the festive season with Bad Christmas –The Best, Worst Christmas Party on December 5th. This is no ordinary holiday gathering: expect mischievous elves, a Grotty Grotto with a very Bad Santa, Auntie Claus running the show, and even a “rubbish raffle” with ridiculous prizes.
With live music from the Missing Cat Trio, comedy performers and plenty of photo-opps, it’s the ultimate night of tongue-incheek festive fun. Perfect for work parties, friendship groups, or anyone who likes their Christmas served with a big dose of humour.
Why choose just one? Celebrate spooky season in style, then keep the good times rolling straight into Christmas. Secure your tickets now for two of the Bath & West Showground’s most unmissable events of the year!
Book your tickets now Bath And West Showrgound –All Events
