Issue 8 - Volume 16 - Mendip Times

Mendip Times

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VOLUME 16 ISSUE 8

FREE

Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas

JANUARY 2021

WISHING ALL OUR READERS A HAPPY NEW YEAR! Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news

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MENDIP TIMES

CONTENTS

Welcome

WE should have spent 2020 celebrating the magazine’s 15th birthday, quite an achievement given that when we launched, print media was predicted to be dying.

Instead, we have all had to endure the difficulties posed by this pandemic.

Mendip Times has been determined to keep publishing, come what may.

We simply couldn’t have done that without the tremendous amount of support we have had from you all: readers, advertisers and local communities. When we weren’t allowed to be out and about gathering material, you sent your news and pictures in to us from right across our area.

When many of our outlets had to close during the lockdowns, local people simply asked us for boxes of the magazine to distribute round their neighbours. In April we ventured onto Facebook for the first time, then more recently Instagram, and have also seen a surge in readers on our website.

So, with your help, as usual this month we’re able to show some of the festive celebrations from around our area and the continuing efforts of communities to beat this damned bug.

We also have all of our regular features and contributors – our special thanks to them and to you.

May the New Year bring you all health and happiness.

February 2021 deadline: Friday, 15th January 2021 Published: Tuesday, 26th January 2021

Editorial: Steve Egginton steve@mendiptimes.co.uk Mark Adler mark@mendiptimes.co.uk Advertising: Ann Quinn advertising@mendiptimes.co.uk What’s On listings: Annie Egginton annie@mendiptimes.co.uk Accounts: accounts@mendiptimes.co.uk Publisher: Mendip Times Limited Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset BS40 7RG Contacts: For all enquiries, telephone:

01761 463888

or email: news@mendiptimes.co.uk www.mendiptimes.co.uk

Design and origination by: Steve Henderson Printed by: Precision Colour Printing, Haldane, Halesfield 1, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ Copyright of editorial content held by Mendip Times Ltd. and its contributors. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the Publisher. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the publisher or its associates.

Front cover: Volunteer Kim Allan making Christmas wreaths at Root Connections. Photo by Mark Adler. See page 61.

12

46

Priddy awesome – 5,000-year-old timber circle found

72

Elf ‘n’ Safety – Christmas market pandemic-style

64

Making art fun – with mud on the menu

The new normal – players train for the return of grassroots rugby

Plus all our regular features Environment ...................................6 Farming Nick Green .....................10 Internet and Crossword ..............14 Food & Drink ...............................18 Arts & Antiques ...........................24 Business.........................................28 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......37 Walking Sue Gearing ....................38 Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........40

Gardening Mary Payne MBE.......42 History...........................................46 Health & Family ..........................48 Charities........................................54 Motoring .......................................56 Homes & Interiors .......................66 Caving Phil Hendy ........................69 Riding Rachel Thompson MBE....70 Sport ..............................................71 MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 3

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MENDIP TIMES

NEWS

Protecting a city’s funfair heritage

A SIMPLe ceremony which took place in front of Wells Town Hall has ensured that the city’s twice-yearly charter fair will continue in the future.

Under charter laws, fairs are deemed to have ceased unless some sort of stall or presentation takes place. Wells – like many other venues – was unable to host its fairs this year due to Covid-19 but members of the Rogers family, who run the

Fair play (l:r): Richard Green, mayor Philip Welch and Krystal and Shaun Rogers

Richard at the official opening of a May charter fair in happier days

events in May and november, visited with a special charter banner. A small donation was made to the Mayor’s Charity.

Richard Green, honorary member of the Showmans’s Guild of Great Britain, who organised the ceremony, said: “The presentation and donation towards the Mayor’s Charity made this unique event very welcoming in that this was the first time this had been undertaken since the Second World War and made it legally binding that the twice yearly fairs will continue.”

A national winner

HeIdI Ashton, aged 11, a Year 6 pupil at Wells Cathedral School, has been chosen from thousands of entries as the overall winner in the prestigious national explore Learning Writers’ Awards.

Her story No Longer Hidden is about an old musical instrument that had been abandoned in a dusty shed.

Legendary Radio 1 presenter and children’s author, Greg James, was the official judge of the competition.

As overall winner Heidi won a 13” MacBook Pro, an iPad, Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil, £1000 in experience vouchers to spend on her passion, and £500 worth of books for her school.

Greg James said: "Heidi has a flair for telling interesting and hopeful stories. I absolutely loved reading it.”

Heidi with her parents Martin and Anna Ashton

Finn gets his special wheelchair thanks to crowd funding

In October we told of fundraising being done by the Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge to buy a wheelchair for eight-year-old Finn McCowen of Winford, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

They were trying to raise money to help Finn get a specialist adult size Hippocampe beach wheelchair, which would last him well into adulthood.

The club arranged crowd funding through the GlobalGiving platform, which quickly raised £4,000 from 138 donors.

Keynsham Lions Club also donated £500, meaning the McCowens could buy the wheelchair and various accessories and have funds to go into trust for Finn's future needs.

Rob Taylor from Rotary said: “We have been really pleased to help Finn and his family where, despite the difficult times we are living in at present, the public came through and were more than generous."

Finn’s mum, Sarah, said: "We'd like to say a heart-felt thank you to Chelwood Rotary for organising the fundraising campaign and to the donors (from all over the world) who so

Pictured (l to r) Rotary member Rob Taylor, Theo McCowen (brother), Finn in his new wheelchair with Coco the dog, mum Sarah, dad Dougie and Rotary Club president Tony Quinn

kindly gave money to support Finn. The Hippocampe matches very well with Finn's enthusiasms: speed, adventure, exploring, being outside and the sea.”

Details: www.chelwoodbridgerotary.com

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 5

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MENDIP TIMES

Company responds to gas plant protests

PLANS for a new gas plant in midsomer Norton have been put on hold following protests and a 1,800 name petition. there was outrage that the scheme was given the go ahead

by B&NeS council officials during Cllr Sarah Warren lockdown. the company behind the scheme, Conrad energy, of Abingdon has agreed to look at greener solutions for the site at midsomer enterprise Park.

Councillor Sarah Warren, cabinet member for Climate emergency, said: “It is to the company’s huge credit that they are responding to local residents’ concerns about the impact of the proposed gas generator on both air quality and global heating.”

Chris Shears from Conrad energy, said: “our business model is all about supporting the increase of renewable energy on the grid, whilst keeping the lights on, and we are very keen to support B&NeS Council with its climate emergency and clean air objectives.

“We have taken on board the feedback from councillors and from local residents, and will work in partnership with the community to develop a solution in midsomer Norton that works for everybody.”

Mass felling in Cheddar Gorge

Cheddar Gorge ash die back

CHeddAr Gorge is taking a bit of a blitz as the various owners clear trees affected by ash dieback. the Longleat estate, National trust and Somerset Wildlife trust are all cutting down trees which could be a danger to the public. the felling has left some areas of the gorge exposed to view for the first time in years. the road through the Gorge was due to reopen as mendip times went to press.

A spokesman for Somerset Wildlife trust said: “this is being done because the trees are suffering from advanced ash dieback and the high risk of structural failure in these trees would have posed an unacceptable threat to public safety.”

It says removing the canopy should encourage more ground flora.

PAGE 6 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

Gorge fingerpost installed

Tim Haselden (left) and Richard Miller

A NeW fingerpost has been installed at the bottom of Cheddar Gorge to help visitors find their way around the area.

It’s at a key junction for walkers following the circular Gorge Walk and long-distance mendip Way. the lack of signage had long been confusing for some visitors wishing to explore the stunning countryside and take advantage of the fantastic views offered along both routes.

With the support of Sedgemoor district Council and Somerset County Council, Cheddar Walking and the mendip Hills AoNB Unit have teamed up to fund the new oak fingerpost, which is located at the junction of the B3135 Gorge road and Cufic Lane.

Cheddar Walking is a local group that promotes Cheddar as a walker-friendly destination under the Walkers are Welcome scheme, offering a number of walking routes of varying grades, starting from the village centre.

Huw robson, chair of Cheddar Walking said: “this fingerpost fills a small but significant gap in the way-marking of some of the iconic walks in the Cheddar area. many visitors in the lower gorge get confused where to go to pick up the circular Gorge Walk and the West mendip Way, and now this is clearly and attractively signed.” tim Haselden, development officer for the mendip Hills AoNB, said: “We’re really pleased to have been able to help Cheddar Walking achieve this project, which forms part of a wider approach to provide a better and more sustainable visitor experience, helping people connect with nature and promoting Cheddar as the outdoor capital of the South West.”

Details: www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk/walks and www.cheddarwalking.org.uk

Mendip AONB wildlife boost SomerSet’S areas of outstanding Natural Beauty have received a grant of £248,900 from the government’s Green recovery Challenge Fund. the “Level Up” project will be coordinated by mendip Hills AoNB unit, working alongside wildlife trusts and local authorities.

Nationally, the scheme will see 800,000 trees planted, with numerous projects and extra jobs supporting conservation work. the project will work across the three AoNBs, along strategically important nature recovery networks, to enhance connections for wildlife and transitional habitats between the mendip Hills and the Levels.

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Land appeal

Frome Area Community Land trust has renewed its appeal to local landowners who might be able to offer land for much-needed affordable housing in the town. the organisation, which is run by volunteers and dedicated to creating genuinely affordable homes for local people in Frome, has been in existence for around 18 months.

With no social housing built in Frome for many years, and current social housing proposals from mendip district Council for sites at easthill and North Parade Car Park still in discussion, it is keen to identify more sites that might offer potential. trust chairman, roger Saunders, said: “We've been looking at a number of sites for some time now. Whilst one or two remain as possibilities, many tend to be unviable for various reasons, including problems with access or complications with ownership.

“What we really need is for local people who own land, whether these are small or large plots, to think about how they might use their land to benefit the community – and get in touch with us.”

With rents and property prices continuing to rise, the trust says Frome has a desperate need for affordable accommodation.

Details: info@fromeareaclt.org

College to the rescue

Frome College faced a prickly problem, when Year 9 pupil dan mcNicol found a baby hedgehog trapped in a drainpipe. tracey eames, senior teaching assistant, managed to free the trapped hedgehog but feared the worst. to everyone’s surprise, although very weak, he was alive.

Staff wrapped him in a towel and placed him in a warm box, and took him to Bellevue Veterinary Clinic in trudoxhill to be cared for. on arriving at the vets with little hope of surviving and weighing only 167g, he made rapid progress, weighing 213g before being transferred to Prickles Hedgehog rescue in Cheddar for the winter. the hedgehog has been named dan after his rescuer and will hopefully return to the college garden in the spring.

ENVIRONMENT

A legacy which will grow and grow

A HAWtHorN hedge has been planted at marine Cove Gardens in Burnham-on-Sea thanks to a legacy by the late former mayor Neville Jones oBe. Sedgemoor district Council’s parks team are hoping to recreate a soft boundary to the gardens as it would have appeared many decades ago. A plaque will be installed shortly to commemorate his work for the community in Burnham-onSea. mr Jones, a Second World War veteran, served as mayor of Burnham and Highbridge on four occasions during his 30 years as a councillor. He died in 2016 at the age of 94.

Trees fill open space

AroUNd 150 trees have been planted on land in Binegar, near Shepton mallet, in a joint venture between the parish council and mendip district Council. the tree “whips” are a mixture of native species and were planted at Binegar Bottom north east end of the village and will support Binegar Bottom’s flood prevention scheme. the grassed area – owned by the district council – has been used in the past by members of the travelling community. the tree scheme is in line with the pledge of both councils to tackle climate change, encourage wildlife and enhance the local environment. mendip district Council’s portfolio holder for neighbourhood services, Councillor Josh Burr, said: “We need to tackle climate change together. It can’t be achieved in isolation. this is a perfect example of how working together with the parishes we can deliver for our communities.

He added: “We are exploring locations across the district to see if they are suitable for similar initiatives, guided by specialist staff at mendip, and would welcome other parishes to come forward and talk to us about tree provision.”

Jon Abbott, acting chair of Binegar Parish Council, said: “It’s great to be working with mendip district Council on this tree planting project. From our perspective it ticks many boxes. It contributes to our ‘Climate and ecological emergency Pledge’; it helps replace the increasing numbers of ash trees we are losing to die-back; and, it will, as they mature, contribute to flood prevention further down in Gurney Slade.”

Time for tree! Pictured (l:r) are councillor Tom Ronan, Mendip District Council’s portfolio holder for climate change, Jon Abbott and parish councillor John Scadding

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 7

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MENDIP TIMES

A green and healthy future for Frome

tHree organisations in Frome have been awarded £300,000 by the National Lottery Community Fund to develop community-led health and wellbeing initiatives which will also benefit the environment.

Frome town Council, edventure and Frome medical Practice will work in partnership on the Green and Healthy Future project that will offer people the opportunity to increase both their health and wellbeing and also reduce their climate impact.

A Green Health Connector and Green Community Connector programme run by the medical Practice will help local people connect to green health opportunities across our town, and a Choosing Wisely campaign will help patients to make informed, green choices about prescriptions. edventure Frome CIC will focus on coordinating the partnership and organising weekly events across town, including both practical activities such as dIY secondary glazing and draft excluders as well as start-up support for residents, groups and organisations to develop climate and health projects.

Frome town Council will organise Healthy Homes and Cycling by Prescription projects, giving residents the opportunity to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and the chance to try out an electric bike for a month. the council will also take the lead in evaluating the project. the grant from the National Lottery Community Fund for the two-year project is from the Climate Action Fund which is dedicated to bringing together community, health and the local

ENVIRONMENT

An electric bike loan scheme is one feature of the project

environment in Frome. Across Frome there is growing interest in climate action, with the town committing to reducing their carbon footprint in order to become carbon neutral by 2030. A launch event is scheduled for march. the mayor of Frome, Anita Collier said: “As one of the first councils to declare a climate emergency we set a commitment to be zero carbon by 2030. We could never as a council meet this in isolation and that is why working in partnership with edventure Frome and Frome medical Practice, but also with residents in the town is so very important, and that the twin priorities of well-being and climate action are seen as one and the same. “the award from the Climate Action Fund will enable us to move forward with real projects which will meet these aims and help us to really make a change in people’s lives: ensuring warmness and wellness, whilst really committing to a cleaner, greener, healthier future.”

For details, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-green-healthy-future-for-frome-tickets-130764802043

Wedmore housing survey

AN assessment of local housing demands and unmet needs in Wedmore is being carried out by Sedgemoor district Council.

It says it is in response to comments that the village is currently seeing unprecedented levels of new build housing, with some residents and visitors saying further development is too much and not needed.

Sedgemoor’s Housing development manager, duncan Harvey, said: “With so much house building currently taking place in Wedmore and local concerns about possible further housebuilding, the council has listened to local views about future housing development in the village.

“Wedmore is a beautiful village, where some local people find themselves priced out from accessing decent, suitable housing at a price they can afford. We have decided to carry out this survey to capture an up-to-date insight into local housing demand and unmet housing need, which in turn will inform any proposals for further house building proposals in Wedmore.”

Anyone who feels that they will need help finding a suitable and affordable home of their own for whatever reason, are encouraged to respond to the survey. l Questionnaires can be completed online via www.sedgemoor.gov.uk or contact rebekah Wood, Housing development Assistant on 01278 435314 or email affordable.housing@sedgemoor.gov.uk See Opinion, page 35.

PAGE 8 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

Sustainable travel award

CHILdreN and teachers at Chew Stoke Church School are celebrating an award for promoting sustainable travel to and from school.

For nearly two years they have been promoting active and safe travel with bike-it weeks, road safety and cycling competitions, scooter experience days, walk to school events, road safety days and pedestrian and cycling training.

School head, Ben Hewett, Nuala and Alexandra holding the said: “this year we had award decided as a school to consider ways we could further improve the amount of physical activity our children were taking part in every day. one of the ways we thought about was encouraging children to be more active on their way to and from school.” the school has been awarded a modeshift Silver Star under a national awards scheme that recognises schools that have shown excellence in supporting cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable travel.

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MENDIP TIMES

Planning ahead for spring

CONTINUING Professional Development (CPD) plays a big part in many peoples’ professional lives. For those involved in With NICK farming it is no GREEN different. What is different is what it is called. If you asked a farmer what they have done to demonstrate CPD in the last 12 months you’d more often than not get a blank look and a rude answer.

Ask the same person if they’ve been on any farm walks in the last 12 months and they’d tell you where they had been, whose farm they visited and what the host was doing right or wrong. Farmers are brilliant at sharing information and their experience.

If you need to brush up on your calf rearing skills there will be short courses organised by the local vet. If you want to

find out about how to grow more grass you are guaranteed to be able to find an open day staged by a fertiliser company based on someone’s farm.

Add to that the evening meetings held by local discussion groups and you can see there is a willingness to share experience, best practice and challenge the status quo.

What is refreshing, the majority of those involved in the industry take the view we’re in it together, we’re not in competition so let’s help each other out.

This time of year may be cold, wet and miserable but farmers are looking forward to spring. Plans are made and inputs considered. What seed needs to be purchased for sowing in the next two or three months? What fertiliser is the best to use and how much of it is needed?

Is the manure management plan up to date and has the spreading equipment been serviced to make sure the right amount is applied? Are the fences around the field in

Open day at Metcalfe Farms

good enough condition to keep the livestock in?

All these things need to be considered on top of the chores of the day. When you consider all the different aspects of a farmer’s professional life they could spend a day of every week of the year engaged with CPD just to keep up.

Nick Green is Farms Director for Alvis Bros Ltd based at Lye Cross Farm. He is responsible for the farming and estate business and is passionate about British food and farming. As well as the business, he is involved with a number of local and national farming charities.

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Nedge Hill, Chewton Mendip, BA3 4LW 01761 241270 or 07483 885330 info@countrylifestores.co.uk PAGE 10 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

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MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 11

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MENDIP TIMES

Service held outdoors CHEW STOKE

A Christmas market – pandemic-style!

HOLCOMBE

Darcie, Lottie, Emily and Amelia busy at work

Chew Stoke Church School held its annual Christingle service in the playground rather than the village church because of Covid-19 restrictions. The children spent the morning making their Christingles, which they were able to take home with them after the service.

Elf ‘n’ safety. Visitors wanting to meet Father Christmas had to book a slot

HOLCOMBE Playing Fields Committee hosted an outdoor fundraising Christmas market with all stalls socially-distanced and booked times for visitors to arrive – which extended to meeting Father Christmas.

Leah with one of the Christingles

Lily with the card chosen to go out to all villagers

Dylan, Darcie, Zara and Jacob reading at the service

PAGE 12 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

Ceramicist Linda Sydenham and crafter Teresa Taylor-Wolff, both from Stoke-St-Michael. Linda had only just started to learn her craft when the first lockdown happened

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Christmas tree sale BLAGDON

CHRISTMAS EVENTS

Festive cheer at the Bishop’s Palace WELLS

Petra and Alma in the gardens

DESPITE the cold and sleet, 1st Blagdon Scouts went ahead with their annual Christmas tree sale, raising about £400 for scout funds.

Scout leader, Pip Riley, said: “We have been holding these sales for around 25 years and this was the best year ever.”

Christmas trail

SPECTACULAR illuminated gardens, decorations from medieval to Victorian times and an eco-Christmas art exhibition by local schoolchildren were part of the festive fun at the Bishop’s Palace in Wells which continues until Tuesday, December 22nd.

Present time: Father Christmas’s own room

Blagdon Baptist Church organised an Advent trail of decorated windows. Niki Martini and daughter Hariette are pictured with their window.

Tyra, aged three, inside the palace

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 13

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INTERNET

Who’s Zooming who?

A LOT of meetings are now taking place using Zoom, which is simply a multiple person video call. And absolutely invaluable for being able to keep in touch with friends and family – it makes all the difference if we can see family members to reassure ourselves that they are both well and happy.

So what to do if you get an invitation?

Usually, an invitation to Zoom will come via an email or text link, so just click or tap on the blue link, and it should open Zoom. If you have the app already downloaded on your device, then it should just tell you that the host will start the meeting soon, and then let you in.

You can also join a test meeting to familiarise yourself with Zoom. https://zoom.us/test An invitation will look something like this: Topic: Committee meeting Join Zoom Meeting https://us04web.zoom.us/j/6160228424?pwd=Y3V5NnB4cVh0c 3FKUn Meeting ID: 616 022 8424 Passcode: 9cl9Xe

Click or tap on the link, and it will ask you to Open zoom.us.

Click on that, and it should just open and run. You will then get a message saying the host will admit you to the meeting soon, so just wait and it will start when the host lets you in.

The most common confusion is with audio and video, and the icons for both of these are in the far bottom left screen on Zoom. If one of them has a line through it, then it’s not working, so click or tap on it to turn it on.

The host can mute everyone, so only the host can speak.

You can unmute yourself using the icon. On the bottom middle of the screen are various options, including one where you can just type in the box to Chat to the host or everyone in the meeting – useful if you just want to say thank you for a talk etc.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all as Merry a Christmas as possible and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Submitted by IT for the Terrified • Not training at the moment, but contact us for a word of advice on your computer use. Cheddar Village Hall, Church St, Cheddar BS27 3RF www.itfortheterrified.co.uk itfortheterrified@btconnect.com 01934 741751 IT for the Terrified – for all your computer training needs.

A skill-sharing, community project. Run by a Committee – staffed by volunteers. Registered Charity No. 1130308 • Company No. 06779600 This article is for guidance only, and the opinion of the writer. For more in depth information, please contact us.

PAGE 14 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

CROSSWORD

The Mendip Mindbender

ACROSS 7 Self-important, bumptious (7) 8 # (7) 10 Where the famous nursery rhyme “Jack and Jill” was played out (10) 11 Somerset’s famous thermal Spa is here (4) 12 Doubly clued up driver might hit this before say a dance at Turnberry club house (4,4) 14 A chance of participation in success (4-2) 15 Fellow hunters or arabs (10) 19 Typical teenager complaint of facial spots and sores (6) 20 An object, no matter what!

(8) 22 What in the old days would be called a diary (4) 23 Newly invented words or phrases (10) 25 Not appearing to get any older (7) 26 Allspice (7)

DOWN 1 A large tropical lizard (7) 2 Tinned meat sent indiscriminately on the Web (4) 3 Skin and fur of the coypu or its colour (6) 4 A tree or shrub with large pink or white flowers giving us a colour much used in home decoration (8) 5 A word used as a test for detecting people, from another district or country, by their accent (10) 6 Bird whose name derives from the action of its rear end (7) 9 Someone who debases quality by adding another substance (11) 13 David ???? – Leader of Somerset County Council (10) 16 In 1704, aged 30 this man became Master of Ceremonies of 11 across (4,4) 17 Branch of biology concerned with organisms and their surroundings (7) 18 Invigorate, light a fire under (7) 21 Largest Somerset town (6) 24 A wild mountain goat with long thick ridged horns (4) Clues in italics are cryptic by greendandelion

This month’s solution can be found on page 71

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MENDIP TIMES

Mendip landlady remembered

Mary on her 100th birthday

PUB goers on Mendip in the 1960s and 1970s may well remember Mary williams, who passed away recently at the age of 101.

Mary and her husband Ivor were licensees of the Red Lion (now the Ploughboy) at Green Ore from 1962, later moving to the Castle of Comfort.

Although newcomers to Mendip, moving there when Ivor retired from the army, they soon settled in and made many good friends. her daughter, Sue Bown, said: “Following Ivor's death in 2000 Mary continued to live on her own in Binegar until well into her 90s when she moved to The Laurels Care home in Draycott, where she was looked after with great kindness.”

Mary and Ivor Williams are pictured at their leaving party at the Red Lion in the early 1960s with their daughter Sue PAGE 16 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

NEWS

Westdown quarry to reopen?

A PROPOSAL to reopen a quarry near Nunney which has not been operational since the 1980s could be submitted in the New Year.

Operators hanson UK are considering the findings of a consultation exercise ahead of seeking the go ahead from Somerset County Council for westdown Quarry. At the same time, they are drawing up plans to expand operations at nearby whatley Quarry to release further mineral reserves. hanson says the westdown scheme would create 40 fulltime jobs. A new access to the quarry would be created off the Bulls Green Link Road. The quarry has permission for mineral extraction until 2042 and, if given the go-ahead, operations would restart in 2022.

Ian Strachan, hanson’s strategic development manager, said: “Our current pre-application consultation is focused on bringing the existing permissions in line with modern environmental standards and quarrying practices.

“The scheme will ensure supplies of essential aggregate for the local market as well as supporting vital infrastructure projects.

“Combined with the existing operations at our nearby whatley quarry, our proposals for westdown will not increase lorry vehicle movements in the area, given the existing rail links that are already available and operational at whatley.

“Our plans include extensive mitigation measures to reduce any potential impacts on local communities and the environment, including a comprehensive progressive restoration scheme, for the former Asham wood and westdown quarry itself.”

Somerset County Council would carry out its own consultations before considering any application.

Whatley Quarry. Plans to extract more reserves are due to be announced shortly

Happy Birthday Dinah!

Chew Valley local history author, poet and artist, Dinah Read, was given a surprise outdoor 90th birthday party by villagers in Bishop Sutton. extracts from her book Chew Valley Voices have featured in Mendip Times from time to time.

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MENDIP TIMES

FOOD & DRINK

Light at the end of the tunnel

WE are not quite there yet, but there are reasons for optimism. You may have become a bit more adventurous with ingredients; you may have a new take on the weekday meal or you may have developed extra cooking skills.

With JUNE MACFARLANE Here are some delicious dishes to show off your new talents and well done for getting through the last 12 months!

CELERIAC SOUP WITH PESTO This knobbly vegetable takes on a slight sweetness when cooked. The celery flavour is subtle and the addition of pesto makes it a star dish.

METHOD In a large pan sweat the vegetables gently in the butter until soft. Season

generously. Add the stock and simmer for about 20 mins, until celeriac is tender. Liquidise.

Return to pan and reheat. Check seasoning. Serve with a spoonful of pesto and a swirl of cream.

SAUSAGES AND APPLES

A weekday meal with some appley zing

INGREDIENTS

(for two/three) 6 sausages 2 shallots, peeled 2 eating apples, cored 6 sage leaves

January seems like the month for sausages to me. Adding local apples perks up the weekday meal.

METHOD Fry the sausages gently in a big pan. Cut the shallots and apples into wedges. Add to the pan with the sage leaves when the sausages are two-thirds cooked. Cook until the apples take on some colour and the sausages are cooked through. Serve with mash if desired.

PAGE 18 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

Pesto and cream turn this simple but elegant soup into a star

INGREDIENTS

(for four) 50g butter 1 medium celeriac, peeled and cubed 1 large potato, peeled and cubed 1 leek, trimmed, washed and sliced 1 onion, peeled and chopped 1 garlic clove, sliced 1 litre stock, veg or chicken Pesto and cream to serve

BLACKBERRY SOUFFLÉ Soufflés are a lot easier than you think! My tip is to get everything ready in advance.

INGREDIENTS

(for two) Unsalted butter 3 tbsp caster sugar 150g blackberries 1tsp vanilla extract Squeeze of lemon ½ tbsp cornflour 2 egg whites Icing sugar

METHOD Preheat oven to 180°C and put a baking sheet in the top half. Grease two large ramekins and dust with sugar. Cook berries and 1 tbsp sugar gently until berries are soft. Sieve into a mixing bowl, discarding seeds.

Stir in vanilla and a good squeeze of lemon.

Put one scant tbsp of purée into each ramekin. Slake the cornflour with ½ tbsp of water. Stir into remaining purée. Set aside. Whisk egg whites to soft peaks. Sprinkle in remaining sugar and whisk to firm peaks. Fold 1/3 of egg whites into purée, then gently fold in remaining egg whites.

Pile into ramekins. Smooth tops and indent round the edges with a clean thumb. Cook on baking sheet for ten mins until well risen. Dust with icing sugar and serve immediately, with crème fraiche if liked.

Get ahead – get a soufflé

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MENDIP TIMES

New deli opens in Chew Magna

Chew Magna’s new deli Whole foods Artisan breads Oat milk refill Speciality coffee Charcuterie Fruit and veg Organic, healthy and eco-friendly JAMES Gardiner-Bateman and his sister Rhia have opened a new eco-friendly shop in Chew Magna called Jar’s, which reflects both their names and their plastic-free ethos.

They say it’s in memory of their father, local builder Eddie Bateman, from Dundry who died recently. Their aim is to “Refill, Re-use, Replenish” providing a wide range of healthy foods and products which shoppers can collect in their own containers.

James said: “Rhia and I are passionate about great produce. Both being raised in the Chew Valley, we are very keen to source as much of our stock from local and surrounding areas and suppliers as possible.”

He’s an internationally-renowned sax player, recently playing with Diana Ross and Boy George, but says the pandemic has given him time to work on the new business.

Rhia is a management accountant with travel specialist Alastair Sawday.

From Rob & the Team at Beans and Machines Ltd A big thank you to you all for your continued support during this very difficult 2020!

t: 01761 418882 • e: rob@beanandmachine.co.uk • w: www.beanandmachine.co.uk PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

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WILD FOOD

Christmas elves

With ADRIAN BOOTS

YES, elves really do exist! Children of all ages rejoice, big kids too! Elves will make themselves known to you but only if you have been good, kind and compassionate.

Then one day, if you haven’t been naughty, they will appear bearing gifts. Elves can be found in the most likely of places so a visit to woodland, such as deciduous and coniferous woods will be a must this

Christmas.

From my experience they do prefer oak and beech and have their homes on the ground under the spreading branches of these wonderful trees. They are tricky to spot being well camouflaged with elf magic but look carefully at the side of woodland paths and in the damp leaf litter you will be rewarded with an unusual sight.

Elfin Saddle (Helvella lacunosa) has a cap 1.5 to 4cm high, saddleshaped with convoluted lobes. One lobe sometimes points upwards which I like to describe as the point of an elf’s cap. The cap colour is blackish or grey with a paler underside.

There are no gills just the convoluted folds of the cap.

The stem (the elf’s robe) is 2-6cm tall and only 1-2cm wide, pale grey in colour, hollow and deeply furrowed like the folds of a robe. It can be found in mixed woodland and is sometimes associated with burnt ground. It is frequently found through the summer to autumn but also much later if the winter is mild.

Like most elves, you can eat them but why would you?

Edibility is poor with barely a mushroom flavour and a brittle texture. Plus they don’t like it. So whilst this has been a fun exercise in describing a rather unusual fungus in a seasonal way, it doesn’t mean to say that all edible mushrooms are actually good to eat.

So my advice is to leave the elves to themselves as the guardians of our woodlands and forests. Enjoy the outdoors this Christmas but we must all remember to respect and leave it in the condition you would wish to find it.

Have a wonderful Christmas and here’s looking forward to an even better New Year!

Adrian Boots is a Landscape Ecologist, Wild Food Forager and Adventure Activity provider. You can visit his website: www.gowildactivities.co.uk to learn more about wild food foraging and activities you can do with him on the Mendip Hills.

FOOD & DRINK

GARDEN FOOD

Winter micro-greens

AS we enter the hungry gap, things to eat are indeed getting harder to find in the veggie garden. At this time of year we like to have a lot of sprouts and “micro-greens” indoors, where the extra warmth allows us to carry on growing a little fresh food.

With JAKE For sprouts we have a special WHITSON sprouting jar with a mesh lid that makes things easy, but any jar will do. Just soak some suitable seeds (we buy sprouting mixes of either different pulses or small seeded brassicas) overnight, then drain and leave for a day in a jar, loosely covered with a piece of muslin or similar, at room temperature.

Bear in mind that a scant tablespoon of seeds can easily fill the jar once sprouted! Rinse the seeds in cold water and thoroughly drain them before returning to the jar every day until they grow into little sprouts – these are great in sandwiches, especially egg sandwiches as they are not dissimilar to those pots of sprouted cress you can buy in the supermarket.

Micro-greens are essentially sprouts that have been taken a bit further, or rather seedlings that never make it to adulthood – in the picture is a mixture of chard, lettuce and kale.

For these you simply sow seeds thickly in seed trays filled with compost – usually you buy seeds sold for micro-greens as you need many more than if you were growing full sized plants for growing in a vegetable garden.

After a couple of weeks on a sunny windowsill, you can harvest the whole plants with a pair of scissors – they make wonderful salads and are a welcome dose of freshness in these dark winter months.

Jacob Whitson is a chef, food writer and smallholder – he divides his time between the Mendips and Pembrokeshire.

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 21

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MENDIP TIMES

Now open in Midsomer Norton High Street

We pride ourselves on offering high quality local produce at a reasonable price

• Fresh, locally sourced meat • Sausages, burgers, pies, pasties and more • Vegetables and produce • Open Tues to Fri 7am-4pm and Sat 7-3

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR

112 High Street, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2DA. Tel: 01761 433130. Email: phil@phildaybutchers.co.uk Web: www.phildaybutchers.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

A new face on the high street

MIDSOMER Norton has welcomed the arrival of the town centre’s first dedicated butcher’s shop in many years.

Phil Day Butchers, on the High Street, is the latest venture for Phil Day, who discovered his passion for the trade almost by accident. He had been working in a farm shop when he was asked to help pack meat for the in-house butcher – and never looked back.

A brief spell behind a supermarket meat counter was followed by eight years working alongside wellknown local, independent butchers, gaining the experience, knowledge and skill that he has today.

Phil opened his own shop in Radstock in 2015 before the premises in Midsomer Norton became available, with convenient parking Lynda Robertson, the mayor of nearby and good access for Midsomer Norton, officially delivery vehicles. Phil said: opened the shop. Lynda and “I had always had an idea Phil are pictured with (l:r) about being in Norton and Phil’s mum Michelle and his it’s great to be here.” sister Louise

• Fresh produce and dairy • Freshly baked food to go • Smokin’ Bean coffee to go • Fresh flowers • Local Suppliers • Laithwaites wines • Remarkable COOK ready meals We would like to thank our local suppliers, particularly Arthur David, Greenacres Farm Eggs, Cam Valley Foods, Lye Cross Farm, Hunts Foodservice, Cotteswold Dairy, Chew Moos and West Country Honey, Butcombe Brewery, Twisted Oak Brewery and Rapide Stationery Supplies

SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

New Year, new location for local accountants Long established local accountants Underwood Lamb have recently moved offices. Having held offices in Chew Magna for the majority of their 60 year trading history, the current firm of Underwood Lamb Professional Services Ltd had been based in Chew Magna since 2004.

Managing director, Rod Podger, who had originally trained with Underwood Lamb at offices in Midsomer norton before moving to Chew Magna, said events of the past year had prompted a re-evaluation of all aspects of the business as was probably the case for most businesses.

He said: “Although Chew Magna is a lovely place to work and our premises there were particularly charming and characterful, the events of 2020 led us to re-evaluate our working practices and the suitability of our location.

“The investment we had already made in developing the ability to work from any location certainly helped us cope with the necessity of remote working during

lockdown and the challenges that we and all of our clients have faced this year.

“The move to online accounting and digital communication means that the need for physical space and records is diminishing all the time and our new offices will allow us to provide staff with more flexible working possibilities whilst still providing the same level of service to clients and we also have access to much faster broadband than was possible whilst we were at Chew Magna.”

Commenting on the challenges faced by businesses over the last few months Rod said: “Some of your readers may remember me talking of ‘unknown unknowns’ in a piece in last January’s issue.

“Well we certainly learned a few more unknowns this year and that in business and life in general we have to expect the unexpected more than ever before.

“Whilst the government support for business has been a lifeline for many, others have missed out for one reason or

another and it has been difficult to keep up with the changing rules and criteria attached to many of the support and grant schemes available which are still changing regularly.

“Let’s all hope that 2021 brings some better news and stability to allow businesses to rebuild although sadly some may not survive as we have already seen.”

Rod can be contacted on 01275 332612 www.ulco.com

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 23

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Mendip TiMes

Busy 2021 in prospect at the Mendip Auction Rooms The team at the Mendip Auction Rooms have produced a busy calendar of sales for 2021 with general sales being held every two weeks and a sale of Fine Art, Antiques and Collectables once a month. In addition, there will be two specialist sales of Sporting items, Fine Wines and Spirits, each being held in April and October. entries are always invited and valuations are conducted at the auction rooms each weekday between 10am and 3pm and the reception and valuation area can get very busy! In addition, senior valuer, Neil Grenyer, is often out on the road conducting home visits free of charge whilst Aaron Rogers and his team undertake house clearances.

The team at Killens and the Mendip Auction Rooms are keen to support the local community and members of the team are often invited to visit groups in order to do talks on the auction world whilst Tom Killen regularly conducts auctions for a wide range of local and regional charities attempting to squeeze the most he can out of those present for a good cause.

Keen to support local charities, Killens charge 0% commission for items sold through the auction rooms for charity whilst items that have failed to find a buyer after a few sales are also passed to local charities to be used by those in need in the local area.

Our next sales will be of Victorian and Later effects on

Filming an episode of the Antiques Road Trip

Tuesday, January 12th and of Antiques and Collectables on Saturday, January 16th, both starting at 10am with it now being possible to attend auctions in person as well as bid online.

The team at the Mendip Auction Rooms aim to make selling and buying at auction straight-forward and great fun. Do call in for professional advice on how to sell. The auction rooms are open from 10am until 5pm Monday to Friday and can be contacted on 01749 840770.

Contact the auction rooms on 01749 840770, email enquiries@mendipauctionrooms.co.uk or visit the website for further assistance.

PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

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20th Century British Art in Bath this January

ARTs & AnTiques

Mary Fedden, RA (1915-2012) A Bowl of Fruit and Violets, signed and dated 76. Oil on canvas, 76 by 61 cm; 30 by 24 in.

A SeLLING exhibition of modern British art will open in the New Year at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath. The works on offer have been selected by Freya Mitton, who has a reputation for selling works by artists who have an established reputation, mainly Royal Academicians.

Freya Mitton is an independent art dealer, based in Somerset, who has been specialising in 20th century British art since 1999.

Formerly head of sale at Sotheby’s and previously Bonhams, she has been dealing independently since 2012. She was elected to Mary Fedden, RA (1915-2012) The Red BADA in 2017 and Table, signed and dated 1987 LAPADA in 2019.

In normal times Freya exhibits at many prestigious and specialist art and antiques fairs in London and regionally but due to the current restrictions these can no longer be held. An exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath is the perfect opportunity to host something closer to home. highlights of the exhibition include two significant oils by Mary Fedden, RA and a stunning winter snow scene by Ken howard.

Limited edition prints and smaller works will also be available.

Prices will range from £200 to £25,000.

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 25

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Mendip TiMes

Topical Turnip

WeDMORe’S Turnip prize winner had a topical theme – Lockdown – featuring a padlock and a pile of feathers, submitted by herewe Goagain from North Devon.

Organiser Trevor Prideaux said: “I am delighted with the lack of effort taken to create this work,” claiming Turnip entries matched anything for the Turner prize. The six finalists are on show at the New Inn, Wedmore.

Virtual Exhibition the very best in contemporary art from around the world until 1st February 2020 vote for your favourite in the People's Choice Award wellsartcontemporary.co.uk/2020-wac-awards

PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

Art for wellbeing

LOCAL projects have always formed an integral part of the Wells Art Contemporary exhibition as part of its community outreach work.

This year’s virtual exhibition is no different, with a community room devoted to works of art from three Somerset groups: Imagine, Learn & Create, near South Petherton; The Rubbish Art Project in Shepton Mallet and heads Up in Wells.

Deborah Kolombos, the community co-ordinator for WAC, said: “We wanted to celebrate the work of these groups, especially important during these unprecedented times.

“It is increasingly recognised that engaging in art benefits mental health and wellbeing. With reduced funding, these community groups are more important than ever. Providing a dedicated gallery space within the exhibition seemed a fitting way to put them in the spotlight.”

All three projects provide art workshops for groups and individuals. James Barker from The Rubbish Art Project, said: “Our objective is to improve confidence levels, support well-being and foster inclusion in a fun and friendly space.” l Visitors to the exhibition, which runs until Monday, February 1st, can also vote for their favourite piece for the ChubbBulleid People’s Prize. Visit: www.wellsartcontemporary.co.uk/2020-wac-awards.

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ARTs & AnTiques

Lots to look forward to in 2021 LeT’S face it, 2020 will never be forgotten, but we all hope 2021 will be very different and provide us with a greater appreciation of what many of us have taken for granted for so long.

Clevedon Salerooms would like to wish all of our customers a happy New Year. A full calendar of sales is planned with the first planned for the January 7th.

The catalogue for this sale of over 800 lots is online now and includes jewellery, furniture, collectors’ items, works of art and much more.

We have perfected socially distanced view days (by appointment) and free valuation days so that we can operate largely as preCovid-19. The number of online bidders has dramatically increased and a vast new wave of “time rich” people have discovered the joys of bidding online at auction.

socially distanced free valuation days at Clevedon salerooms

We look forward to welcoming customers old and new at the salerooms in 2021. For more information call 01934 830111 or go to www.clevedon-salerooms.com

Every lot in every auction, illustrated and sold with live internet bidding

Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

FREE & Safe, Drive-through VALUATION DAYS

Cecil Aldin – Mac

Art Deco tea trolley

£50 - £80

£80 - £120

Georgian corner chair

Beryl Cook Signed print

11th & 12th January

Antiques, Interiors, Collectables & Jewellery Auction ONLINE ONLY AUCTION BEHIND CLOSED DOORS 7th January at 10.30am VIEWING STRICTLY BY PRIOR APPOINTMENT – Contact the Salerooms

Tel: 01934 830111 The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Kenn, Clevedon, Bristol BS21 6TT www.clevedon-salerooms.com

£80 - £120

£50 - £80

Antiques, Interiors, Collectables & Jewellery Auction Over 800 lots – Thursday 7th January at 10.30am Catalogue online now – Viewing by prior appointment MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 27

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MENdip TiMES

Every client matters

Here to help: (l:r) Josh Genge, Gayle Shakespeare, Nicky Genge and Michael May

BOURNE and Bargery, based at Manor Farm on the edge of Chilcompton, offer first-rate accounting and finance services for the Bath and Bristol area.

Run by Nicky Genge and Gayle Shakespeare, they are proud of providing a fast and “hands-on” approach, assisting with all elements of finance-related paperwork including self-assessment, VAT, payroll, auto-enrolment and compliance of regulations.

Their company mission is to combine all their services, resources and expertise to provide a truly comprehensive, efficient and professional service for every client. They say: “We will take care of all your paperwork and make sure you comply with regulations to avoid penalties. It is our in-depth accounting and business support which has helped to build the friendly relationships we have with all our clients.”

paGE 28 • MENdip TiMES • JaNuary 2021

Supporting local charities

WEllS business TelePA has decided to mark 15 years of trading by offering to support telephone calls for local charities, free of charge, for a period of two years.

Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) is taking advantage of this for a second year and TelePA are managing the extra phone calls they receive during their Surviving Winter appeal.

Judith ludovino from TelePA said: “By using TelePA’s services, smaller charities such as Somerset Community Foundation can always be responsive to their donors – nobody wants to decide to make a donation to then be greeted by an answerphone. Our very experienced local team will make sure every caller knows how much their contribution is valued." laura Blake, development director at the foundation said: "We are thrilled to be able to benefit from TelePA’s generous support again this year.

“During the campaign we receive a large number of calls from generous donors who want to pledge their support, which can be challenging for us as a small team. With TelePA’s support, we can answer every single call from our donors and ensure we raise as much as we can to help older people experiencing fuel poverty across Somerset.” details: www.somersetcf.org.uk/winter or call 01749 344949. For information on how to apply for a Surviving Winter grant, contact Community Council for Somerset 01823 331222.

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BuSiNESS

Beware of inheritance tax traps INhERITANCE Tax is often misunderstood and mistakes can be expensive. Beware of the following traps: (a) If you give away an asset but retain use of it this will be a retention of benefit for IhT purposes unless you pay a market rent for doing so. The seven year rule works backwards from the date of death so you could be paying rent for many years and the recipient may be left paying income tax. (b) You may be liable to pay inheritance tax before you die: IhT does not just apply on death. It can also be charged at 20pc on transfers into trust above the available nil rate band. (c) Alternative Investment Market (AIM) shares aren't always IhT free.

IhT business property relief will usually apply on shares listed on the Aim, but only if the company satisfies various qualifying conditions. (d) Don’t gift unless you have to: Taper relief applies on gifts at 20pc after three years, up to 80pc after six years but this is on the tax otherwise due, not on the value of the gift. You will not save any tax unless the gift was large enough to

exceed your nil-rate band. Under the seven-year rule, if you survive the gift by seven years or more it is free of inheritance tax. (e) IhT allowances aren't applied automatically: When you die you would expect any unused nil-rate band and the new residence nil-rate band to transfer to your spouse or civil partner. however, this will only happen if your executors claim the relief on forms IhT402 and IhT436 respectively within two years from the end of the month of the second death. You can discuss this with your solicitor. (f) Isas will usually be caught by IhT: Remember that IhT can catch assets outside Britain as well as here and it also applies to Isas even though they are otherwise tax free. (g) Executors are personally liable to pay IhT: Executors should make absolutely sure that they retain sufficient funds to settle the IhT bill before distributing the assets of the estate or they could become personally liable for any shortfall. This can be a particular problem if the deceased made large lifetime transfers within the

previous seven years and the recipient fails to pay the IhT due within twelve months.

It would be sensible to take legal advice to address the risk of falling into the above pitfalls. In any event with the prospect of wide ranging capital tax reforms coming into play over the next few years it is always prudent to regularly review the terms of your Will.

EdWard LyoNS

Email: enquiries@lyonslaw.co.uk Website: www.lyonslaw.co.uk Telephone: 01275 332168

An established and progressive law firm providing a personal and cost-effective legal service for commercial and individual clients. l Family & Divorce Law l Co-habitation disputes l Inheritance disputes l Wills and Living Wills l Powers of Attorney l Administration of Trusts l Property – sales and purchases OFFICES AT: Chew Magna 01275 332168

Westbury-on-Trym 0117 950 6506

Kingswood 0117 967 5252 MENdip TiMES • JaNNuary 2021 • paGE 29

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MENdip TiMES

paGE 30 • MENdip TiMES • JaNuary 2021

a new career – in renewables

GREEN Forest Renewables is the business run by former England international rugby prop, Will Green, which deals with supplying and servicing biomass boilers.

The company supply wood chip and pellets for a growing customer base ranging from agriculture, horticulture, hotels, domestic users, schools and local authorities.

After commuting for hours each day from his home in Somerset to london working for a renewable energy fund, Will founded the company in 2013.

The following year the company struck up a partnership, with Charltons Sawmill, Frome to supply wood chip for their state of the art woodchip facility (where they can dry it down to 25% moisture content).

Will and his wife Charlotte, a fashion stylist, moved to Somerset in 2011 and have four children Arthur, Matilda, Primrose, and hector. Will said: “We love it down here and the base at Charltons is absolutely ideal.” he started his rugby career in 1992 and played at the top level for 15 years, with stints at Wasps and leinster, winning four caps for England. he said: “It was a fortunate transition from rugby for me to get into renewables and learn a new business as much of this technology was not on the radar ten years ago.”

Now with a sister company too, Green Forest Installations, Will can design, install and service biomass fuel systems, giving customers the option to deal with just a single company.

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BuSiNESS

a year of Bouquet Florist

IT’S been a while since we updated you all on our little flower shop, so I thought I would break down our last 12 months... and what a crazy year it’s been!

January – TiME To MoVE We moved to our new shop just across the road.

February – VaLENTiNES day A record breaker busy day spreading the love around Cheddar.

March – MoTHErS day We just managed to get all deliveries out on Mother’s Day weekend before lockdown. april – 1ST LoCKdoWN Shutting the doors on our newly completed shop was hard but luckily we could still deliver.

May – pLaNTS oNLiNE With the shop closed we set up our online plant shop allowing customers to order plants for delivery.

June – No WEddiNGS What should have been our busiest month, saw lots of

cancellations and date changes due to lockdown.

July – CHEddar oNLy paGE We launched this new page on the website allowing customers to purchase items as low as £6 to be delivered in Cheddar and Draycott. august – SHop opEN aGaiN Finally being able to open the doors to the shop again, Rachel returned to our team and we welcomed our new florist Beth.

September – FLoWEr SCHooL CLoSEd Due to restrictions on gatherings, we took the decision to not offer any Flower School classes in 2020. october – HaLLoWEEN GiVEaWay We decided to do our annual Flower Giveaway on halloween rather than Cheddar Festive Night this year.

November – 2Nd LoCKdoWN Saw a huge increase in the amount of helium balloons being ordered via our website for delivery. december – NEW BaBy & CHriSTMaS Claire gave birth to baby Sidney, but had to get straight back to work for a busy Christmas.

We would like to thank all our loyal customers who have supported us throughout this past year.

From Carol, Claire and not forgetting Jasper and Baby Sidney!

Bouquet Florist, Mendip House, union Street, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3Na www.bouquetflorist.co.uk hello@bouquetflorist.co.uk • 01934 743976

ECATCHER MOL

NO MOLE NO FEE Telephone 01761 417100 www.mendipmolecatcher.co.uk MENdip TiMES • JaNuary 2021 • paGE 31

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MENdip TiMES

How to divorce well: what do family lawyers mean by a “good divorce”?

ThE phrase “Good Divorce” will undoubtedly mean different things to different people. When family lawyers talk about a “Good Divorce” they are generally referring to a separating couple’s ability to work together to achieve a fair outcome for everyone involved, setting aside their differences, communicating effectively, and putting their children ahead of any bitterness towards each other. This is easier said than done and there are many factors which influence to what extent this is possible, or indeed what works for each couple.

Recent ONS data shows an increase in divorce rates and experts predict a further uptick as a result of Covid-19.

Disputes in relation to arrangements for children are also on the rise.

Separation, including divorce, and dealing with the consequences (e.g. finances and child arrangements) is extremely emotional, stressful and difficult. As such, it is crucial that separating couples access professional support before embarking on this journey.

This support can come in many forms, such as input from a counsellor or financial adviser, but crucially includes legal advice. Prompt advice will help to shape the case making the whole process much more efficient and thus reducing time, fees and stress for both parties. how can we help?

The family team at Clarke Willmott are committed to

getting to know our clients and their expectations from the outset. We believe in reviewing the options available for achieving solution and settlement, before deciding on the most appropriate course of action for each case whether that be negotiation, round table meeting, mediation, arbitration or collaborative ways of working. We are members of Resolution, the national body of family lawyers committed to resolving disputes constructively and we seek to work in this way with our clients, their ex-partners, and all third parties wherever possible.

Resolution’s “Code of Practice” is at the forefront of our minds when dealing with all types of family law matters. We listen to all involved and treat our clients and their ex-partners with respect striving to reduce conflict and confrontation and to provide honest and effective advice.

That said, we do accept that it may be necessary on occasion to issue a court application either as a last resort, or to protect our client’s position, and if this is the case, we will do so fairly, robustly and effectively.

It is important to take advice at the earliest possible stage. Being in receipt of honest and realistic legal advice from the outset can have a positive impact and help you to deal with issues constructively. Please do contact us for a confidential initial consultation; we are open for business and are here to support our clients, albeit remotely for the time-being. l lizzie Smith is a Senior Associate in the Clarke Willmott family team. She is a member of Resolution, a Resolution Accredited Specialist and a collaboratively trained lawyer.

Lizzie Smith

She can be contacted on 0345 209 1822 or lizzie.smith@clarkewillmott.com

P & C Logs Call Phil on 07734 098323, or Colleen on 07785 250033 or on Evenings 01934 741941

Friendly prompt service from Phil & Colleen at their farm in Charterhouse Quality seasoned beech and ash hardwood, chopped and split into a variety of load options (with free delivery). paGE 32 • MENdip TiMES • JaNuary 2021

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BuSiNESS

MENdip TiMES • JaNuary 2021 • paGE 33

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MENdip TiMES

Bennetts Solicitors Attorneys & Notaries Barley Wood Stables, Long Lane, Wrington Bristol BS40 5SA Phone: (44) 1934 862786 • Fax: (44) 1934 862404 Webpage: www.bennettlaw.co.uk e-mail: info@bennettlaw.co.uk

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Donors receive a Gift Certificate & exclusive Open Day invitation to visit their tree www.chills.org.uk/naturegift paGE 34 • MENdip TiMES • JaNuary 2021

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Natural Gas, LPG and Oil boiler installations Boiler repairs, breakdowns and boiler servicing Oil tanks Underfloor heating Unvented cylinders Commercial gas and oil work Bathrooms General plumbing All work guaranteed North Somerset Gas Services Call: 01275 461168 Mobile: 07944 975650

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Bennetts is a niche and boutique commercial law firm operating out of modern offices at Barley Wood Stables, Long Lane, Wrington.

Our lawyers combine specialist legal knowledge with broad practical experience.

We can be relied on to give clear and positive advice on a wide range of complex or routine matters whether preventative or remedial.

BuSiNESS

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READER’S OPINION

The great housing debate – do we have too much development?

Many of our towns and villages are seeing large-scale housing development, creating anger among local residents. Current housing policy is not sustainable, or desirable in the longterm, says former civil servant Richard Storrar.

WHERE to build new houses is always an emotive subject and everyone is entitled to their own views. Many will argue that new houses allow first-time buyers a chance to “get on the property ladder” by investing their money in “bricks and mortar”.

However, the number of first-time buyers has remained at remarkably similar levels since 2007 and represent just 50 percent of all purchasers, despite various incentives. This indicates that there is something fundamentally wrong with our house building model, not least that the number of affordable homes is but a small number of the total houses built in any one development.

The term affordable housing is defined by the Government as “social rented, affordable rented and intermediate housing, provided to specified eligible households whose needs are not met by the market”.

However, it also acknowledges that there’s a great deal of ambiguity in the way “affordable” is used in housing. It depends on the local authority.

North Somerset Council’s current policy is that only 18% of affordable housing should be “intermediate” i.e. for sale or rent at a price between the market value and social rent – usually a part ownership scheme. The rest should be socially rented. So you have to meet the criteria, which means that there is no guarantee new houses will go to local villagers.

The answer to the shortage would be to build the houses that are required, not just expensive four and five-bedroomed “executive” homes that simply increase the profit margin for the developer. Added to this greed, is the fact that planning committees across the country have granted permission for over a million homes to be built and yet the developers have not started work on these sites.

The reason? Because if they built them, they would lose control of house pricing. Put simply, by controlling the supply they control the price.

The next issue is where these houses are being built. The developer wants to build fast and cheap. This is easier on a nice

One of the current sites – a main road into the village has been closed for months

green field, as opposed to a “brownfield”. The latter is a previously used plot, which will probably have an old building to clear. This costs time and money, so why bother?

Perhaps all the above are a price worth paying for being able to be in the village where one’s parents live, or to be away from the city and own a house with a garden, yet still able to commute to work in Bristol, Bath or Taunton?

Then let me add another factor to the equation – the environment. Not just the destruction of the farmland and loss of ecological habitats, but the government’s recently announced plans to stop the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

This is only ten years away. In house ownership terms, your new house will have only just settled and you will have only a few cracks in the plaster left to fill and repaint. Maybe, you are even thinking of buying a bigger house for a growing family.

And that is when you may find your house in the country is now a very undesirable residence. Why? Because the loss of the revenue from petrol and diesel sales has resulted in the government charging to use the road network “by the mile”. Just imagine if you have to pay a surcharge of even just ten pence a mile on the average 8,000 miles a year.

You may well need to have two cars in your household, as the promised public transport never materialised. Anyone not able to afford a new electric car would be paying tax on the fuel as well!

Even if you are able to work from home, your house will be hard to sell as car ownership will have become a burden to city dwellers, with congestion charging and Low Emission Zones (as in London) having become the norm. They will not want to pay for a congestion charge, which you have already had to absorb into your annual commuting costs.

Put simply, living in the countryside and commuting to the city is not a viable long-term option and we are already suffering the consequences. We need to start dictating to the developers what is built and where, not the other way round. They want to make money and really do not care where they build, so long as it makes the maximum profit for them.

To prevent further urban sprawl and air pollution, everyone needs to make their voice heard and ensure the developers build houses which are fit for the future. Ideally not on open farmland but where there are sufficient local services, with existing public transport.

They need to be well designed and of a high quality, incorporating all the latest energy-saving technology to prevent global warming and adaptable to the needs of an ageing population.

Richard Storrar, Chairman Keep Wrington as Wrington

There are currently plans for another 500 new homes around Wrington

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 35

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Lighting up the village TEMPLE CLOUD

CHRISTMAS EVENTS

Children’s World festive special

GLASTONBURY

MEMbERS of the Temple Cloud in bloom team have been busy putting up lights in the village. The morning was rounded off with homemade mulled wine and mince pies on the village green.

Snowfall in Wells WELLS

Mike Evans, from FX-Live, gets to work on the patio

THE Swan Hotel in Wells may be closed due to the pandemic, but that didn’t stop the team from creating its traditional festive scene in the city.

A cinema and television special effects company from Gloucestershire provided the “snow” – in actual fact, tiny pieces of paper – to dress the patio overlooking Wells Cathedral.

A wintry Wells adds to the city’s festive decorations

PAGE 36 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

Naughty elves Same Same but Different

A SEASON of hands-on activities organised by the Children’s World charity will be celebrated with a day of performances and creative workshops at Paddington Farm in Glastonbury on Saturday, December 19th.

Performers include Tall Tails Theatre with their short Makaton signed pantomime “The Tale of the Charming Rat”, a tale of a rat who gets turned into a footman for Cinderella's carriage! There will be a seasonal sing-a-long with Charlie Miller and Claire and two quirky elves from Same Same but Different, with a hamper full of fun and games!

In the craft area there will be enough angel/fairy making kits, provided by Yeast Scrapstore, for everyone to make their own decorations.

Charity director Kristen Lindop said: "It's been a tough year for us all, but despite the difficulties, we've been able to provide Covid-19 safe, weekly workshops since August for families locally, that have helped people deal with some of the challenges this year has thrown at them. Our festive day is a celebration of that work and a chance to look forward to a new year!"

There will be four timed entrances to the event, between 10am and 3.30pm. There are six household tickets available for each session for household bubbles of up to six people at a cost of £10 per bubble. l Tickets are available online at Ticket Tailor https://buytickets.at/childrensworld/461275 or over the phone on 07449 825750. For details visit: Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensWorldUK or at: www.childrensworldcharity.org

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A new year . . . a new hope AMIDST the chaos of the pandemic, there’s been much talk about nature and climate issues. Maybe, just maybe, this is the dawn of a realisation

By CHRIS that both these SPERRING MBE subjects will be our next big challenges.

As a New Year message some years ago, I wrote about the need for a ground-up approach to nature conservation, the need for people in their local areas to step up and grasp the challenge within their communities. With both councils and government taking these subjects much more seriously, it should become easier to effect that change.

What is the change? At the end of the day, change is what you make it; a simple change could be what you do within your garden, so just leaving more of an area with longer grass (doesn’t have to be all), except that the white daisy and yellow dandelion actually do look nice in a monotonous green lawn.

Don’t have a garden? If you don’t have a garden, change can be creating a window box of wildflowers for the local insects.

For a larger community-based project the change can be how councils and you view the way amenity grasslands are managed; so maybe some of it really has to be cut often, leaving the question of course: how much doesn’t have to be cut so often?

Tree planting and community-based tree

A woodland dawn

The sun rising on a winter’s day

planning? Now, before I go on, the need for trees to offset climate change is well documented whilst trees for human health and wellbeing have come more to the fore due to the pandemic. So, it’s not just a question of ok, we’re going to have trees?

Projects like that tend to fall down quite quickly and this is where the ground up approach works much better. So, decide as a community roughly how many extra trees you need, then look at where they going to go. Working with your local authority here will be of paramount importance. Don’t rule out the local farmers helping as well; they are a friendly bunch and most are willing to get involved with community initiatives if they can.

The thorny issue with this will be back to: where to plant?

Or, indeed, where to just leave alone and sit back and watch nature’s superb succession take place.

Taking a simple approach will probably assist you here. Look around at areas where trees are already growing and start to add to them, making park copses bigger, or planting along a current line of trees, filling as opposed to creating

WILDLIFE

new. The same should go for hedges, with special emphasis in our urban areas on planting or allowing hedges and trees to establish along roads known to be high in traffic pollution.

This is rewilding? No it’s not. Sadly, rewilding has become a dirty and overused word for some people and puts them off doing anything. Rewilding has its place as I have witnessed schemes in other countries which are brilliant at allowing nature to develop as it intended.

Even in rewilding areas things still need managing, so before I get letters of complaint about this, yes you will still have management or tidying taking place, but this should be done where appropriate and at an appropriate time for nature and people.

And don’t forget what I said at the beginning of this: it should be you and your community that decides where and how you do this and, of course, working closely with your local authority.

If the pandemic has taught us anything this year it is through Lockdown: 1 and Lockdown: 2 it is that we need nature and nature’s space for many reasons.

If anyone is thinking of starting up a group within your local area, then you can always speak to people already doing it.

Email me at: chris.Sperring@btinternet.com and I’ll put you in touch with your nearest group.

A new year, a new dawn. This year is going to be so great! Make a change, make the difference, if you want to . . .

I have resumed giving talks again but only online, so if your groups want to book me for a talk please message me through my Walks and Talks page on Facebook @ChrisSperringwildlife

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 37

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Heading in the right direction

An ideal walk to put you on the right track for the coming year. It’s very suitable for winter as it takes advantage of the quiet lanes near Chewton Mendip and footpaths in reasonable condition so mud should not be an issue. Walking is easy through this undulating countryside and takes you through parkland near the start, past a very tempting rural organic bakery which serves coffee and you then make your way up onto the more open land with good views across to the north. Much of the circle crosses land owned by the Waldegrave Estate. There is one slightly steeper slope near the end. There are a few stiles on the way, but they should not

With Sue Gearing PAGE 38 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

prove a barrier to dogs. Don’t forget to visit the magnificent church at Chewton Mendip where the walk starts.

PARK: The car park just by Chewton Mendip church and above the primary school. From the A39 in Chewton Mendip going towards Wells go past the Waldegrave Arms and then take the small lane on the right, Church Lane. Bear left at the top to the main car park.

START: The Church of St Mary Magdalene here has one of the tallest and finest Somerset towers – a distinctive landmark high in the Mendip Hills. The tower dates back to 1541 making it one of the last to be built before the Reformation.

The church to which it was added is much older. There is norman work in the north door and in the east wall of the nave and chancel arch. It’s worth going to see the magnificent stained glass, and the “frith stool” or sanctuary seat, built into the wall under a window on the north side of the Chancel. This entitled anyone in trouble to claim the protection of the church.

Go out of the kissing gate at the back of the car park on the permissive path. Go straight ahead along the left side of this park-like area. Soon see on your left, rising from the trees, the home of the Waldegrave family. James “Jamie” Waldegrave is the current 13th earl. One of his claims to fame was that he was a page boy at Elizabeth II’s coronation. His brother, William Waldegrave, was a

Conservative cabinet minister under Margaret Thatcher and is now known as Baron Waldegrave of north Hill. notice that part of the path is Tarmac – which means it was probably an old path to the church. Then notice a fork left which leads through a small gate and over a footbridge over the main road connecting with the Waldegrave’s mansion – it was probably the family’s link to the church. Don’t take the fork. Stay on your path and go through a wooden gate and then ahead through a band of beech woodland. Before long look for an opening in the low wall on the left and go down here to join a lower path which continues in the same direction as before and goes through woods. You are paralleling the main road. Continue all the way to a junction of tracks and go right on the main track.

1. PRIORY FARM Follow it round to buildings at Priory Farm. Go to the right of these and then bend left, soon reaching friendly Lynda’s Loaf, an organic bakery with wonderful baking aromas and a selection of homemade pastries and savouries (pizzas on Friday). You can get a coffee here, too.

Continue on, keeping the buildings on your left and bear left. Soon join Sage’s lane track and go left following it out to a junction with a road. Turn right. There should be very little traffic along here.

Ignore side tracks and after two or three minutes, on a bend, fork right.

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WALKING

2. LANE now simply follow this quiet thoroughfare along and then down all the way to a junction with the gates of Coles Farm opposite, ignoring a turning on the way

3. COLES FARM Turn left and follow this narrow lane which bends and then climbs. Ignore a turning coming in on the left and continue for a few more yards to another junction with a triangle of grass. Turn left up the no Through lane through a barrier. This pleasant track continues through the Waldegrave Estate land. notice on the left some humpy bumpy ground left over from former lead mining, reminding us of the mining history of this area.

4. RUINED FARM Further on you pass on the left the ruins of an old farmhouse which was destroyed by fire years ago. It is opposite corrugated iron farm barns. Continue to where the track ends at a gate. Go through and after a few yards, at a signpost, turn right through another gate, joining the Monarch’s Way. Head through into a field and follow the edge with woodland on the right. Carry on all the way to the end of the field getting good views to the north. Go through a gate, joining an ancient thoroughfare known as Greendown Batch.

5. GREENDOWN BATCH The line of the Batch is the old boundary

OS Explorer 141 Cheddar Gorge & Mendip Hills West, Grid reference: 598532.

Nearest postcode: BA3 4GR.

between the Liberties of Chewton Mendip and Harptree. A medieval drove road, it is a hollow way, in places seven feet deep. It takes you along under trees and is a good place for wildflowers and bluebells in spring. Go to the end of the Batch, ignoring side footpaths.

6. BELL HILL Join a lane and go straight ahead down Bell Hill through the tiny settlement of Greendown which basically comprises a couple of farms. Ignore a lane left to East Harptree and continue to drop down to a second lane left, opposite Bell Farm. A short way up this lane on a bend, follow the footpath sign through a gate on the

right. The signpost was rather badly angled when I came.

7. FIELDS Go ahead and along the right edge of the field on the headland. In the corner cross over a wooden barrier and continue as before following the right edge. Bend left round the corner and shortly go through right to join a grassy track continuing in the same direction as before with the field on the left and the steep wooded slopes of deep Watery Combe on your right. At the end of the woodland reach a crossing footpath. Here go right over a stile and then another. Head down the field to a Bristol Gate at the foot in Watery Combe.

8. WATERY COMBE Cross the track and go through another Bristol Gate. Then ahead of you is a short steep stretch up the bank. At the top see your goal – the tower of Chewton Mendip church. Carry on towards it across the field to a stile. Cross and go ahead across the field (full of maize stubble and a bit muddy when I came). Go through a kissing gate and now aim across to the church. Go through an opening in the wall near an ash tree and head across to the church and a gate into the churchyard. Come to the church itself, turn right. near the main church notice the huge yew tree door which has been bolstered by stone work.

Turn right through the churchyard, through an ornamental iron gate and into the parking area.

Lynda’s Loaf. During lockdown, Tues-Sat, 9-1pm. Check opening hours 07913 690583 lyndasloaf@hotmail.co.uk Waldegrave Arms, Chewton Mendip 01761 241384.

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 39

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OUTDOORS

West Countryman’s diary

ANOTHER New Year is upon us. Perhaps the next one will be a little kinder, but if you are reading this, then we have both survived 2020! Time is something we humans impose upon the world. We live by it, work by it and look back at it. The seasons are our true measurement of time and no matter how With LES clever we think we are, nothing can alter DAVIES MBE them as they come and go. The world continues to spin and provided no-one, or nothing, knocks it off balance, we can look forward to spring and summer 2021.

Thank you to everyone who has been buying the new book Mendipity by Sue and myself. We hope that you get a lot of enjoyment out of these walks. They could be just the guide for a family “Bimble” between Christmas and the New Year.

For those who are thinking, or have done, the new Yeo Valley Trail at Hazel Manor, please be aware it has been very wet and ground conditions are very muddy in places. We checked it recently and the Yeo Valley team are already ahead of the game putting up more signage around the trail.

One added bonus with the loss of leaves, are the extra views into the Yeo and Chew Valleys through the trees. This is going to be a wonderful spring and summer walk for next year, something that I feel is well worth waiting for.

As promised in last month’s column, a little more about George Withers, whose poem I featured recently. I also want to include something about his father William Percy Withers. George was born to Percy and Maddy Withers in1924. He was the youngest of six children and the only boy. He grew up on a series of Somerset County Council tenanted farms, finally ending up at Donyatt near Ilminster.

He was obviously destined for a farming life, but possessed much of his father’s ability to sing and write poetry. The Young Farmers Club gave George a chance to lead a social life that was so important to rurally isolated youngsters. In the 1930s it was a relatively new organisation and like many other young farmers, both then and now, it provided the opportunity for romance and marriage.

George married Avril in 1948 and both set about raising a family of four, whilst establishing a farm. Just like his father, George moved tenanted farms more than once. It wasn’t until after his retirement that he really became interested in his singing and poetry, which was to give him a new and rewarding career.

He was in great demand and deservedly so, for both his songs and poems were about everyday rural life and issues, things that the everyday person could relate to. He ended his days in the retirement bungalow a few hundred yards from his last farm. A memorable man indeed!

George’s father, William Percy Withers, was born at Upper Milton Farm on February 11th, 1894. The farm had been rented by his family for centuries. With land that stretched out onto Mendip top, much of it was pretty rough, but there was some good land in the valley. Like many rural boys he was an indifferent scholar and managed to absent himself from lessons on many occasions.

He did well at English, scripture and carpentry and enjoyed cricket, but had no enthusiasm for football. After an enforced school absence of half a term, due to an operation to remove his

appendix, his return to school was less than enthusiastic and he left at 13 years of age to take up farming.

On December 31st, 1912 Percy joined No1 Troop of C Squadron the North Somerset Yeomanry based in Wells. The North Somerset Yeomanry continued up until the Territorial Army reorganisation of 1968, when as 44 Royal Tank Regiment it ended its soldier/citizen days.

As Percy points out in his memoirs, very few people joined the Territorial Army in those days other than to enjoy 14 days camp each year. Such times were to change with the onset of WWI and the great slaughter it brought. Percy survived that horrendous four years. He came back a hero, to a land fit for heroes, or so he thought! Isn’t it a strange how history repeats itself?

Percy found that people had a very low opinion of exservicemen once the need for them was over. It shook his belief in the sacrifice that so many had given in the name of freedom, but it never destroyed it! Percy died quietly in his chair whilst dressing on a Sunday morning on October 18th, 1970.

Thank you so much to all those who have helped me and sent me information on both George and his father. I hope that I have done their memory justice. I would recommend Percy’s memoirs entitled Destination Unknown; ISBN 978-1-78510-820-4. Finally I shall leave you with one of Percy’s poems together with a winter picture near Milton Farm, where this story began.

Happy New Year to you all!

DESTINATION UNKNOWN

When I was a child at my Mother’s knee What did she, in her mind’s eye foresee; What were her dreams that she dreamed for me; What did she think I might, one day be: An eminent lawyer, a great QC, Or a scholar, perhaps, to hold a degree, A soldier brave, who’d won a VC’, A banker, a captain of industry?

Maybe a great sailor to sail the sea, A planter of rubber, perhaps, or of tea, Or else a great speaker, become an MP? Thus idly she pondered my destiny; Sweet wishful thinking and fantasy, Far, far removed from reality; But, even then I suspect that she Knew I would be – just ordinary!

You can always contact me through my website: Westcountryman.co.uk

PAGE 40 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

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MENDIP TIMES

What to grow for easier gardening

In this the third article on how to make our gardens easier to manage we will look at what plants take care of themselves and are undemanding and which ones need constant attention, as well as the different styles of planting. There are many different styles of planting and some are With MARY more labour intensive than others. The PAYNE MBE most demanding is the use of seasonal bedding plants on any scale.

Most domestic gardeners probably restrict seasonal bedding to a few pots, so not too bad. Virtually all parks departments have restricted their use to key locations and replaced with more sustainable planting schemes. next comes the traditional herbaceous border, which requires weeding, regular lifting and dividing of clumps every three to five years. Many plants may need staking and continual dead heading. Rock gardens come next, but you must stop and think that the weeding usually involves picking hairy bittercress out from clumps of saxifrages whilst kneeling on a rock!

Most of us have mixed borders. A few shrubs, the odd tree, some herbaceous perennials, bulbs and possibly even a few seasonal bedding annuals. This mix inevitably makes them labour intensive as there is always something that needs doing. Shrubs on their own are easier but to keep them in check may need regular pruning and unless this is done with care the garden starts to resemble a supermarket car park.

The lowest input comes from the naturalistic style, or prairie style of planting. A combination of long-lived, undemanding perennials and ornamental grasses. no staking, no dead heading, no dividing, just prune the lot to the ground with a hedge trimmer in late spring, spot treat any weeds and let it grow again. The secret is the careful choice of plants, avoiding anything that is invasive and wants to rule the roost.

More labour intensive than any of the above styles is your lawn. It requires 52 hours per year input for every 100 sq. m. on average, even more than seasonal bedding (45 hrs/100 sq.yds) that comes, 33 hrs/100 sq.m. for a mixed border and 6 hrs/100sq.m. for prairie style. Serious food for thought.

Leaving some areas of lawn longer in contrast to the shorter grass can reduce mowing time.

So, what else should we avoid? Intricate parterres of box hedging may only require one trim a year, but it is slow work. Hedges that require clipping more than once a year such as privet or Lonicera nitida should also be avoided.

Beech, hornbeam and yew are better alternatives. When planting a border with a hedge as a backdrop leave a good gap between the hedge and the back of the border to allow for easier hedge cutting.

Avoid rampant climbers that can lift roof tiles and need constant attention, such as wisteria, Clematis montana and Russian Vine, and keep climbers to a level for ease of pruning, preferably without the use of ladders.

Tender perennials, such as dahlias, gladiolus and cannas are lovely sources of late summer colour, but may need winter protection or even lifting and frost-free storage. They PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

Rose ‘Bonica’ and Clematis ‘Arabella’

may be left in the ground with a good covering of mulch, but their emergence in spring will be delayed.

Clematis are valued for their exuberant display of flowers but need to be chosen carefully to fit the space provided. I would always recommend using the later flowering varieties, also labelled as “hard prune” or “Group 3”. These can simply be cut back to 30cms. or so from the ground in early spring, as they flower on current season’s growth.

The nation’s favourite flower, the rose, sadly comes into the category of highly labour intensive. To perform well they need correct pruning, feeding, deadheading, and control of fungal diseases such as black spot and mildew. There is nothing more disheartening than to see a display of roses almost leafless in August.

To add insult to injury the spines manage to grab you whatever you are doing to them. When choosing a rose at a garden centre look for those with dark green, shiny foliage.

The glossy leaves seem to be able to resist fungal spore germination better than those with paler green matt foliage.

Judging by the number of books on the subject and the array of decorative pots for sale, gardening in containers is as popular as ever. Yet reducing the number of pots you tend will make gardening easier. Pots need constant attention from watering unless an automated system is employed.

Routine liquid feeding can be easily replaced using the “controlled release” fertiliser granules now commonly available. These feed the plant as and when required and can be added to the compost when first potting a plant and then topped up each spring by sprinkling on the surface of the compost. These granules usually last for three months (suitable for summer bedding plants) or for six months, ideal for long-term shrubs and perennials in pots such as agapanthus or hostas.

Terracotta pots may look natural but are porous, so lose water through the sides. To overcome this cut the bottom of a thin plastic carrier bag (if you can find one) and use it to line the inside of the pot, without blocking off the drainage hole(s). Pot up the plant as usual, cut off any surplus bag and tuck it out of sight.

This also makes it much easier to remove the pot when repotting is required. In the absence of a carrier bag the inside can be painted with a sealant e.g. yacht varnish.

Half the battle is reading the label carefully and choosing the right plant for the right place. Enjoy your gardens in 2021, they have meant so much to us during the pandemic.

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GARDENING

JANUARY GARDEN TIPS

• Mist over the tops of houseplants regularly especially if they are in a room with central heating. Water carefully; it is better to let plants dry out between waterings and then give a thorough soak than a small amount regularly.

• Clean houseplant leaves with leaf shine. Dusty leaves will struggle in low light at this time of year and polished ones look so much better!

• Group plants together, the display will look better, but more importantly, they grow better together as a group.

• Feed indoor plants monthly; but make sure the root ball is wet first, if not water first!

• Keep Citrus cool unless they are actively growing.

• If your living room is looking bare once you have taken out the Christmas tree and taken down the decorations, why not liven up the room with a houseplant.

• Central heating can dry out houseplants, so stand the pots in groups on a tray of damp Hydroleca or pebbles. This will create a humid atmosphere around the plants but do avoid over watering and position them where they can make the most of the winter daylight.

• Keep deadheading cyclamen, African violets, Christmas cacti and azaleas to encourage more flowers to open. Don't forget to keep cyclamen and azaleas as cool as possible for prolonged flowering.

• When the days and nights are very cold, move plants away from cold windowsills into a warmer place!

• Dig garden lime into areas where you are planning to grow cabbages, sprouts, etc. This will help combat club root disease.

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Showroom open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-12noon Sat MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 43

Gardening section.qxp_Layout 1 10/12/2020 13:26 Page 44

MENDIP TIMES

Planting to fight polio

THE Pride in Paulton group have been busy planting crocus corms, donated by the Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge, part of Rotary’s international campaign to eradicate polio.

For each of the past three years Chelwood Bridge has given 4,000 crocus corms to local communities and schools.

When the corms flower, the purple colour reflects the dab of purple ink on the little finger of each child vaccinated.

Club president, Tony Quinn, said: “We are so pleased our communities are able to support us as we continue towards our goal of complete eradication of polio.”

Since Rotary started the campaign in 1987, there are only two countries now where polio is endemic, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS – SET IN 12 WONDERFUL ACRES – PAGE 44 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

WI stays active

Pictured (l to r) Nita Wendover, Christine Hall and Jenny Harris

GARDENING BISHoP Sutton and Stowey WI members have been keeping busy tending the newly restored planters behind the village hall, adding flowers, garlic bulbs and vegetables, with bunting to keep the birds away.

President, Jenny Harris, said members have been keeping in touch by email, phone,

in person and on their Facebook page.

She said: “In our groups in 2021 we hope to continue to exercise together gardening and walking. We have six months of fascinating speakers booked for our monthly WI meetings via Zoom and we have organised handicrafts which we can continue in lockdown.

“When finally allowed, it will feel an awesome indulgence as we socialise over a meal or cream tea!”

The group has also started making twiddlemuffs for elderly patients and dementia sufferers in care homes. one batch was delivered to Robinson House Care Home in Stockwood.

Maria Jones from the home is pictured (left) with WI members Jenny Harris and Alison Ewins.

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Mendipidity ad.qxp_Layout 1 09/12/2020 14:08 Page 1

Have a Merry Mendipity Christmas!

Just in time for Christmas, here is an exciting new book of 12 walks on Mendip, called Mendipity, written by Sue Gearing and Les Davies, both well known to Mendip Times readers, and authors of several walks books together. This year, walking has become an even more popular and this book should be just the thing to give you a range of new destinations and interesting information about the routes – a serendipity of Mendip, in fact.

It will make an ideal Christmas present, with circular walks ranging from 3.25 miles to 8 miles all over the Mendip area from Bleadon in the east to Faulkland and Nunney in the west. Also, there’s lots of interesting information about what you see and pass en-route.

And there is an EXTRA SURPRISE – the launch in the book of a brand new trail, the Yeo Valley Way, set up this autumn by Yeo Valley Organic on the northern edge of Hazel Manor Estate overlooking the Chew Valley with great views.

The walks in the book include a castle, hill fort, crumbling mansion, lake, folly, lavender fields, a gorge, forest, nature reserves, former industrial remains, limestone grassland, high open land and splendid views. They are based on circles that have been in Sue’s Mendip Times column over the last few years, now updated and amended.

It is available NOW by mail order through Mendip Times (see form below). Mendipity will also be on sale in local bookshops and outlets. Mendipity is in the same mould as the last walks book

by Les and Sue, Miles More Mendip, with full colour pages, ring bound, OS maps, clear instructions and lots of interesting information about nature, geology and history.

All of this for only £9.99. Available now through Mendip Times by mail order (just add postage and packing). (See form on right). Also available in local bookshops and outlets.

BUMPER CHRISTMAS BUNDLE For Mendip Times, Sue and Les are also making up a Bumper Walks Bundle comprising Mendipity and their previous Mendip book, Miles More Mendip (published 2016). Normal price would be £19.98, but for Mendip Times readers it will be just £15 (plus p&p).

Walking P38 – Outdoors P40

READERS’ OFFER

MENDIPITY only £9.99 (plus p&p)

A new book of 12 circular walks on Mendip by Sue Gearing and Les Davies Please send me: 1 book @ £9.99 (p&p £1.50)..........................................£11.49 2 books (p&p £1.95)........................................................£21.93 3 books (p&p £3.40)........................................................£33.37 4 books (p&p £3.40)........................................................£43.36 Total

£...........

Name:..........................................................................................

Address:....................................................................................... ......................................................Postcode:...............................

Bumper Pack of MENDIPITY and MILES MORE MENDIP only £15 (plus p&p) 1 pack @ £15 (plus p&p, £1.95).....................................£16.95 2 packs @ £15 (plus p&p, £3.40)...................................£33.40

SPECIAL OFFER:

Send cheque payable to Sue Gearing, to 33 Garstons Close, Wrington, Bristol BS40 5QT Or pay by BACS. Details: Nat West, Mrs Susan I Gearing, Book Account: Sort code 60 23 32, Account 81294956.

Please mark it for Walks Books.

Any queries to Sue Gearing: gearings@btinternet.com

History feature.qxp_Layout 1 10/12/2020 13:27 Page 46

MENDIP TIMES

Experts hail major new discovery at Priddy

entrance.

“Interestingly, one side of each pit in the circle was sloped whereas the other side was cut vertically. Excavations at other sites have shown that such sloping sides acted as an aid to erecting timber posts, which could be slid into the hole and then levered up against the vertical faces of the pit.”

At some point the oak posts themselves had been removed and the pits back-filled. But the base of the posts had been burned to prevent rotting and the charcoal recovered enabled carbon dating to show the age of the site. The pits also contained small slabs of Old Red Sandstone, which could be deliberate packing around the posts to help keep them in place.

At the centre of the circle, a small U-shaped cluster of stake holes was found, which could represent a lightweight structure, perhaps a wattle screen, which could have hidden or contained activities happening at the centre of the site.

Dr Lewis said: “Timber circles were freestanding, rather than roofed structures, and represent some of the earliest circular architecture in Britain. They are monuments that acted as an arena for ritual activities, which may have included the observation and celebration of celestial events.

“The timbers may have been carved or painted and it is possible that they also supported lintels, as seen acted out in stone at Stonehenge itself. A characteristic of many timber circles is a central feature, suggesting that activities focused on the sacred centre of the sacred circle.

“The U-shaped cluster of stakeholes identified at Priddy adds further weight to this.”

Pit before excavation

A fully excavated pit

PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

(Photographs courtesy of Dr Jodie Lewis)

Aerial view of the pit circle

(Photograph courtesy of James Atkins)

A RARE late Neolithic timber circle has been confirmed near Priddy, the first to be found in Somerset, making it a site of both regional and national importance.

The 5,000-year-old Priddy Timber Circle is just the latest addition to the Neolithic Mendip landscape. In recent years, researchers have uncovered an Early Neolithic enclosure on North Hill, close to the Priddy Nine Barrows, and a further Late Neolithic enclosure, close to this timber circle site.

They also previously excavated at the Priddy Circles and were the first to confirm that they also date to the Late Neolithic period.

Together, they say, this work is showing that during the Neolithic the Mendip Hills were without doubt one of Britain’s most significant ritual centres.

Dr Jodie Lewis, from the University of Worcester, started excavations on the timber circle in 2019 after it was initially found in 2018 through a geophysical survey by the local community archaeology group Archaeological Landscape Extreme Research Team (ALERT).

The university and ALERT have worked closely together for nearly a decade on the Priddy Environs Project investigating the origins and development of human activity in Priddy. It is run by Dr Lewis and Dr David Mullin.

Surveys showed what appeared to be a small circle of pits in a field close to the centre of the village, 16 metres in diameter and comprised of 12 sub-surface pits. Around 25 staff, students and volunteers started excavating last July and it became obvious that the pits must be cut into the bedrock for them to be showing up on the geophysics.

Dr Lewis said: “After much mattocking, shovelling and trowelling, slowly the top of the pits began to reveal themselves.

“This work showed that the pits were spaced regularly at two metre intervals and had been cut into the bedrock to a depth of around one metre. Two of the postholes, in the southeast of the circle, were found to be deeper than the others and this could indicate they held larger posts, forming an Dr. Jodie Lewis

History feature.qxp_Layout 1 10/12/2020 13:27 Page 47

Do you recognise this?

HISTORY

GIVEN that she has spent her whole life in the Chew Valley, Mary Hasell is used to being asked questions about local history or if she recognises people in old photographs.

But this one has got her stumped.

Mary, from Chew Stoke, who was 100 in May, was sorting through old photos in her desk with her daughter Sue when she came across it.

Sue said: “Mum hasn’t got a clue where it came from but would love to know.”

If you have any information please contact news@mendiptimes.co.uk

History re-printed

Charabanc outing

Tracing the history of TB

The old Winford Hospital

WHITCHURCH Local History Society has stocks of re-prints of Memories – Volumes 1 & 2 which were first published in 1980 and 1997. Each book contains a collection of local people’s memories in the middle years of the 20th century.

Wells Road-Staunton Lane, Whitchurch 1920

Details: Secretary, Geoff Gardiner 01275 830869 or geoff@thegardiners.org.uk

IT’S not so long ago that the scourge of TB saw isolation hospitals dotted right across the country, with several around the Mendip area.

Now a London-based artist hopes to capture people’s memories of what it was like to be treated in them.

Bekki Perriman’s family all came from Somerset and her father was a TB patient at Winford Hospital in the 1950s. She was told he was in the hospital until the age of seven but as he died when Bekki herself was only 11 she wasn’t able to talk to him about his experience.

She said: “I’m interested in collecting peoples’ stories of what it was like, as it feels an important part of history that could easily otherwise be forgotten. It would also help me understand my dad's experiences more Bekki's dad, Mike, fully. aged three “Although there are lots of archives with photos and medical records I've never really heard people sharing their stories. I'd like to work collaboratively with everyone involved, so that their stories are represented as they are told.”

She previously ran a project on homelessness, which can be seen on her website.

Details: zbekkilouise@gmail.com http://bekkiperriman.co.uk/wp/

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 47

Health section.qxp_Layout 1 10/12/2020 13:31 Page 48

MENDIP TIMES

Therapeutic gardening

WhAT gets you flowing? I’m talking wellbeing, not urology. Flow, according to my positive psychology friends, is a type of happiness, a state of absorption even, where you’re fully immersed in a pleasing activity, such that you may lose track of time. Flow is about being totally engaged with what you’re

By Dr PHIL doing – in the moment or in the zone – and HAMMOND it’s generally after rather than during the experience that you appreciate the pleasure it brings.

Active recreation is known to be more satisfying and rewarding than passive leisure and what puts most people in the flow is gardening.

I’ve often thought gardening should be on prescription. It gets you away from the four-walled prison of home and work, puts you in touch with nature, the four seasons and the rhythm of life, gets your hands dirty and gives you the enormous sense of achievement and joy in watching something grow and nurturing it.

It can provide cheap and sustainable food in a recession. It connects you with other enthusiasts. It’s great for your mental health and it’s surprisingly good exercise. In Bishop Sutton, two of my friends (heather and Sally) have devoted an entire field to wildflowers for the community to enjoy. Seeing Sally put her back into planting cowslips is a joy to behold, as will be the end results.

A GP friend of mine has used the green space around his surgery for patients to grow plants and vegetables in and then sell them onto the local community and hospital. Practice staff, carers and patients all work side by side, learning new skills, teaching each other, producing food and contributing to community wellbeing.

No previous gardening experience is necessary and you don’t need to have a garden at home to join in. And, of course, by growing and selling food locally, it’s great for the environment and makes a small contribution to the NhS zero net carbonemission target.

Why source fruit and vegetables from across the UK or even abroad when GPs and their patients are growing them for you?

I’ve been a fan of social prescribing for a while, where people are introduced to art, a new hobby, company and support to get them through their lives rather than medicalisation. There is now good evidence that community gardening helps those with longterm physical and mental health problems, or those just isolated, lonely or bored.

The last year has been tough for mental health, but – like the virus – the risks are less outdoors. moving, talking, doing and reflecting glue a community together and group gardening ticks all the health boxes.

But I like it most because, in an age of competitive tendering and outsourcing, it shows the power of cooperation and collaboration, and of the kindness and shared purpose we need in 2021. What will you grow this year?

Dr Phil will be hosting the BIG Virtual Christmas Quiz to help Julian House raise vital funds to support men and women experiencing homelessness. Join me on Thursday, December 17th at 7pm. Sign up & donate to join https://www.julianhouse.org.uk/supportus/events/christmas-workshops/big-christmas-quiz-of-theyear/

PAGE 48 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

Plop the Raindrop

I’m a bit upset. Why should my mates and me get all the blame for this Covid-19 thing? It’s not our fault if a tiny bug takes a ride on the back of some of us water droplets. We are small but they are so tiny you can’t even see them with a magnifying glass. You need an electron microscope, whatever that is.

We are very lucky that they don’t seem to do us any harm, but we are the ones that get stuck in your smelly face masks.

That wouldn’t be so bad if you all brushed your teeth properly – especially after you’ve eaten garlic, or fish.

And while I’m having a bit of a moan there’s another thing – you all keep washing your hands. So who helps you do that? We do of course, getting stingy soap in our eyes all of the time and being turned into bubbles. Then we’re just washed down the plughole.

There’s no respect for what we do. You just take water for granted. Without us you would all shrivel into desiccated prunes. Can you imagine a world without seas and rivers? Can you imagine having a cup of tea that was made without water?

Without us this world could not exist. Yet we are the ones being blamed because the sea levels are rising as the polar ice caps melt. Basically, we’re all in this together, and now it looks as though the scientists have found some vaccines to beat the nasty virus everything should start to get back to normal next year.

We all need a bit of a rest, especially the planet. It was so peaceful during the first lockdown when the skies were empty of planes and the roads were empty of cars. You won’t believe it, but the world used to be like that all of the time.

That was once all the volcanoes had stopped exploding and the seas had stopped boiling.

Of course mammoths were noisy too. I still miss them, especially at this time of the year when I could snuggle down in their warm fur to see out the winter. I still hope to find one again some day.

If you spot one let me know.

I hope that you are warm and safe and have a very happy Christmas and New Year.

MENDIP GRANDAD

Supporting the NHS

CheW Stoke’s happy Box, featured in our last issue, has recently been devoted to the NhS. The old red telephone box also has some Christmas features. Glenda Tidcombe is pictured admiring it.

Health section.qxp_Layout 1 10/12/2020 13:31 Page 49

Grant scheme is available

HEALTH & FAMILY

A mAN from Street with cerebral palsy is encouraging people who are living with a disability to check if they are eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant from mendip District Council after he received help for much-needed improvements to his home.

The means-tested grants are available for adaptations so that disabled people can live David at home independently and safely in their homes with the facilities they need. David, aged 41, said: “The adaptations to my home have meant I can now live independently, with a live-in carer.

“Over the last year including the lockdowns because of Covid-19, I have really appreciated the works to the house thanks to the Disabled Facilities Grant. They mean that I can now enjoy maximum independence, I feel safe at home and can get around easily.”

For information first contact Somerset Direct on 0300 123 2224 (press 2 – Adult Social Care) to request an Occupational Therapy assessment

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M T

Coronavirus feature.qxp_Layout 1 10/12/2020 13:50 Page 50

MENDIP TIMES

Hopes of a vaccine may have given us all hope that an end to the pandemic could be in sight. But for the time being its effects are still having a profound effect on everyone’s lives.

Closer to home

MEMBERS of the Inner Wheel Club of Wrington vale have paid a visit to Cheddar Foodbank, which has been the focus of their activities in recent months.

In the past, the club usually collected items to be sent in shoe boxes to Romania, but the pandemic caused a rethink and a decision to help people closer to home.

Jacky with some essential items The pre-Christmas donations included festive fare such as puddings, mince pies and selection boxes.

Bike loan offer to key workers

noRTH Somerset Council’s established Borrow a Bike scheme is diverting its focus to prioritise key workers with longer-term bike loans to help them travel to work in a healthy, active and socially-distanced way.

The scheme, which usually gives north Somerset residents the opportunity to loan a bike for up to four weeks with a £50 deposit, has temporarily been adapted so key workers can now borrow a bike for up to three months at no charge.

The longer loan period will help key workers improve their health and observe social distancing while making their essential journeys. The scheme is funded by the council through the Department for Transport’s Access Fund.

When a similar scheme was launched earlier this year, the council’s loan bike fleet was snapped up immediately and there were 40 people on a waiting list. A further 18 bikes from another project were diverted to assist staff at Weston General Hospital where they remain in regular use on short-term loans.

The Borrow a Bike scheme is run by the council’s local partner, The Bicycle Chain, in Weston-super-Mare. Key workers interested in taking up the extended loan offer should apply on the Better by Bike website, selecting north Somerset as the relevant council. All bikes are then collected from the store in Aisecombe Way. For details, visit: www.betterbybike.info

Footballers score with foodbanks

Pitching in: Radstock Town FC is supporting local people in need

Club members on their visit

More help for victims of abuse Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner, Sue Mountstevens, has secured a further £216,000 funding for 12 local victim services that support survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence who continue to be impacted by the pandemic.

This is in addition to over £505,000 received in the summer to support 17 local victim services. She said: “Such providers continue to be a lifeline to survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence and this funding will strengthen their response as we navigate our way through coronavirus restrictions.” next Link and Safe Link service manager, Sarah o’Leary, said: “Although measures taken to address the Covid-19 virus have been essential in tacking the pandemic, the risks to victims of domestic and sexual abuse has increased.”

PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

PLAYERS and staff at Radstock Town FC collected around 1,000 vital items for local foodbanks in a single morning at their Southfields Recreation Ground home.

Unable to play competitive football due to the Tier 2 restrictions – the first team plays in the Toolstation Western League Division one – the squad decided to do their bit to help their local communities instead.

Led by manager Ryan Child, they collected more than 500 tins of food, almost 60 jars of sauce and other ingredients and 170 toiletry items within the space of just a few hours.

Ryan said: “We’re very much part of the local community; the people we are helping are in need. It’s also offered a chance for the lads to get together to do their bit.”

Coronavirus feature.qxp_Layout 1 10/12/2020 13:50 Page 51

Certificates of appreciation

GLASTonBURY and Street Lions Club has presented seven Certificates of Appreciation to local groups for their response to the pandemic.

They have been presented to the food banks in both Street and Glastonbury, the local Coronavirus Community Support Groups in Street and Glastonbury, Street Baptist Church, Millfield School and Ashcott village Shop.

The certificates said: “In recognition of how you have volunteered and supported the local community at a time of crisis. When caring people join together, roll up their sleeves and take action to make their community better, it’s an incredible feeling for everyone involved.”

In the opinion of the club’s members all recipients had gone the “extra mile” in providing support during the pandemic.

Whether that was the food banks helping with emergency food support to those who need it the most or the support groups signposting residents to services or doing simple practical things like undertaking food shopping, delivering food boxes or

Ashcott Village Store (l to r) Lion president Brenda Wood, Sammi Linham of Ashcott Village Shop and Lion Peter Cole

MENDIP V CORONAVIRUS collecting prescriptions more than ably helped by Millfield School staff and some of their local students.

Street Baptist Church continues to supply a “Meals on Wheels” service principally on a Friday providing a full lunch to well over 100 residents each week.

Sammi Linham at Ashcott village Shop was both surprised and delighted to receive her certificate saying: “We have loved being able to help our community when they needed it”.

A spokesperson for the Lions said: “These certificates are but a small token of thanks to the many tens of volunteers who have given hundreds of hours of their time in difficult and trying circumstances.

“Whilst none did so to be rewarded, their contribution to local communities has to be acknowledged. The recipients only represent some of those who have helped the vulnerable over the past months but they are groups known to our members. We say thank you to everyone who has and continues to help those in need at these difficult times.”

Mary Powell of Glastonbury Food Bank and Lion president Brenda Wood

John Melia of Street Food Bank and the Salvation Army

David Fothergill, leader of Somerset County Council, said: “This year has been exceptionally hard for many voluntary and community groups so I know these grants will be of real benefit to so many people. A relatively small sum can make a huge difference in improving people’s lives in these very challenging times.”

The latest groups to have benefitted include: Axbridge Active Living, £750 for running costs for a social club for older people; Butleigh Playing Fields Association, £2,080 for playground improvements; Children's World, Glastonbury, £2,500 towards supporting disadvantaged children in the Glastonbury area; Globe Carnival Club, Keinton Mandeville, £2,500 for equipment and

resources for cart and costume making; Horrington Cricket Club, £1,000 for running costs for a community sports club; Prattens Bowls Club, £500 for green maintenance and clubhouse heating costs; Shapwick and Polden Cricket Club, £2,180 for coaching costs to support the junior teams; Shepton Mallet Men’s Shed, £2,434 towards unit lease cost; Shepton Mallet Ukulele Group, £682 for equipment for community performances for vulnerable people; Wanstrow Allotment Group (WAG), £2,500 for a shed to provide a social connection focus; Wells Community Shed, £1,000 towards equipment, first aid and skills courses; Wells Swimming Club, £2,500 for pool hire costs for training sessions.

Charities get coronavirus support

GRAnTS worth £72,886 have been awarded to 37 smaller, grassroots charities and community groups in the latest round of The Somerset Fund, managed by Somerset Community Foundation (SCF).

Laura Blake, development director at SCF said: “It is such a difficult time for so many local charities, many of whom have lost out on donations and fundraising due to the coronavirus outbreak this year.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be able to award these grants and so grateful for the generosity of local individuals and companies who have donated to The Somerset Fund. our extra thanks go to Somerset County Council, who match every donation to The Somerset Fund by 50%.”

Details: www.somersetcf.org.uk/tsf or email laura.blake@somersetcf.org.uk

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 51

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MENDIP TIMES

MENDIP V CORONAVIRUS

Grants help during pandemic MoRE than £155,000 has gone to 11 good causes in north Somerset to help boost health and wellbeing during the Covid19 pandemic.

People living with cancer and older people in care homes are among those to benefit from the north Somerset Community Partnership fund which is administered by Quartet Community Foundation.

Quartet’s Julie newman said: “As we head into a challenging winter living with Covid-19 I’m so pleased these grants are helping people with their health and wellbeing. “north Somerset good causes are experiencing a double whammy of increased demand as they’re hit with a really difficult fundraising environment.

“These grants are crucial right now because north Somerset good causes need all the help they can get to support those most in need.” nailsea-based Wellspring Counselling has received a grant of £20,000 for “walk and talk” sessions.

Its director, Julie Ingram, said: “We’ve seen a spike in referrals for young people. Also our Wellbeing practitioners are now back working in schools, helping young people with their mental health and wellbeing.

“We’re also expecting an increase in adult referrals as people worry about jobs, stress levels go up as relationships come under pressure through the restrictions and over winter.

“We’re seeing more need for counselling, the pandemic is having an impact on local people’s lives and livelihoods, creating more stresses. We saw a slight spike in demand for

Winford Primary used a previous grant to build this safe outdoor pod for children to meet Tango, the school's educational assistance dog

counselling in the first lockdown, but we’re now seeing a lot more referrals.”

Among other grants osprey outdoors got £9,910 and the Strawberry Line Café in Yatton £20,505. The deadline for the next round of grants is January 7th.

Details: quartetcf.org.uk/grant-programmes/north-somerset-community-partnership-grant/

One village’s experience of coronavirus

ALISon Hoddell is looking for contributions for a time capsule to record the experience of lockdown in Chew Stoke, explaining how different people in the village were affected by it.

Contributions can be anything from one paragraph to a couple of pages, with photos also being welcomed.

Alison, who is one of the two village church wardens, said: “So far we have around 70 contributions plus about 20 from the year 6 pupils at Chew Stoke Church School, and are hoping for a contribution from pupils at Chew valley School.

“Some contributions are extracts from diaries, some are poems, and some focus on one aspect of their lives while others range more widely over the whole experience of lockdown, including reflections on how it has affected their whole families.

“Several people caught Covid-19 and experienced the testing system – one

Andrew Troup and Alison Hoddell

suffered from long Covid – a couple had relatives who died during lockdown and one attended a Zoom funeral. Some of the working age population were furloughed, others continued to go to work, while some worked from home.

“Most people were thankful to be living in the countryside, particularly

given the beautiful weather. Some people enjoyed lockdown, took up cycling, roamed the footpaths and did things they had been putting off for years, while many really appreciated the opportunity to spend more time with their partners/families.

“Sadly, many single people, particularly those who had lost their partners, and people stuck at home alone while their partners were working, were lonely despite their best efforts, and everyone missed seeing family and friends, particularly if they normally relied on them for support – mums of young children missed support from their parents, friends, toddlers groups etc.”

She said the lockdown has also brought out the best in people creating a real community spirit among everyone She has previously published booklets on the two world wars with Andrew Troup.

Details: alison.hoddell@gmail.com or 01275 332421

PAGE 52 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

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CHRISTMAS EVENTS

Have a very green Christmas FROME

a WOnDeRFULLY festive turnout of more than 200 designs were entered into this year’s Mayor of Frome’s Christmas card competition. each year the mayor – this year it is anita Collier – sends out a uniquely-designed Christmas card to many different organisations and individuals that she has met over the year. Back in november, Councillor Collier asked the children of the town up to the age of 12 to come up with the most creative design around the theme “Frome’s Green spaces”.

There were so many entries, the mayor decided to add two highly commended to the winners. arthur Mitchard, of Oakfield school, won the overall competition with his picture of Victoria Park and was delighted to have his image on the Arthur’s winning design front of the card that will be sent to more than 500 recipients. l all designs are being displayed in Frome Town Hall, and images will be shared on Frome Town Council’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Making Christmas special

The mayor of Frome with Arthur

All the cards are on display in the town hall

MIDSOMER NORTON

TenanTs and staff at Greenacres Court in Midsomer norton will tuck into a special Christmas dinner this year, thanks to the generosity of the town’s branch of the TsB. The bank has offered to cover the cost of all tenant and staff meals on Christmas Day as well as providing every resident with a small gift. Greenacres Court is home to 30 extra-care tenants.

Councillor Rob appleyard, Bath and north east somerset cabinet member for adult services, said: “This is a wonderful gesture from staff at the TsB in Midsomer norton and we are very grateful for their generosity. It’s been such a challenging year for residents of care homes and sheltered housing who, despite the best efforts of staff, have often felt isolated from loved ones and their community as a result of coronavirus restrictions.”

Tina Manley, branch manager, said: “TsB was set up to help communities thrive and at Midsomer norton branch we want to have a greater social impact by becoming involved with and supporting our local community, whether this be by donating our time or money.

This year has been hard for everyone but even more so for Season’s greetings (l:r) Carrie Hulford, TSB branch people like the residents of fundraiser, Enid Snook, Greenacres tenant and Tina Greenacres.”

Manley, branch manager

EAST HARPTREE

Beatrice Alexander, aged nine, and her brother, Sebastian, aged four, helped make this Advent window on the East Harptree window trail

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Singing for the brain

ThE Alzheimer’s Society organises singing sessions for those suffering with dementia. Originally they were organised as group meetings but in the last few months due to Covid-19 they have been using Zoom on the internet.

It has been recognised for some time that music and singing are therapies that are very beneficial for those people suffering from and developing dementia.

Locally Yeo Valley Lions is supporting the society’s efforts to attract more people to these Zoom sessions, suggesting anyone who knows of someone who might benefit contacts the society’s local manager Sally Cavill.

Details: scavill@alzheimers.org.uk or call 07771633068

Support for air ambulance

ThE Great Western Air Ambulance Charity has been given £22,000 for five new blood warming machines.

Their doctors and paramedics carry blood and fresh frozen plasma ready to give a blood transfusion at the scene of an incident. But it has to be warmed close to body temperature.

The donation has come from The County Air Ambulance hELP Appeal, the only charity in the country that funds NhS hospital helipads.

Last year 37 patients locally were given emergency transfusions at the scene and the air ambulance charity needed to get replacement machines.

Chief executive, Anna Perry, said: “We’re so grateful for grants and donations such as this one that allow us to purchase vital kit for our crew to give patients the best possible chance of a positive outcome.

“Without support like this, we simply couldn’t make a difference to so many lives and families across the region, so on behalf of all of our communities – thank you.”

Robert Bertram, chief executive of the County Air Ambulance hELP Appeal said: “The charity has a very strong connection with GWAAC having provided funding during its first few years. Through our hELP Appeal we have funded helipads at Bristol Royal Infirmary and Southmead hospital, which have helped to save many lives.”

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Valuable donation to end the year

SWALLOW, the Midsomer Norton-based charity supporting teenagers and adults with learning disabilities, has received a generous donation from a company which has been supporting its work for more than 25 years.

The money will go towards keeping members and staff safe and allow the charity to put in additional support where it is really needed. The Inclusion is the key to SWALLOW’s work donation, from Bath-based Roper Rhodes, comes at the end of a year when many fundraising activities have been halted.

Bev Craney, SWALLOW chief executive, said: “We are so grateful for the support that Mark and Paul Roper have given SWALLOW; this year they have boosted their donation because they recognise how difficult it has been for us.

“This follows many years of support that was initially started

by Brian Roper and has made a huge difference to SWALLOW’s development. It’s a lovely Christmas present.”

Mark Roper, company chairman, said: "This year has been really tough for so many local charities with all their usual fundraising activities being cancelled due to the pandemic. It's up to those of us in the local community who can help to step up to the plate. We are delighted to be able to increase our support for SWALLOW and we would urge others who can to do their bit too."

For details about SWALLOW, visit www.swallowcharity.org or on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/SWALLOWCharity/

SOUP! back on the menu?

ORGANISERS of the charity fundraising SOUP! lunches in Wells have pencilled in a date in April to resume the event.

The lunches regularly attract around 100 people who pay £5 before hearing from a number of local charities and organisations and voting on who should receive a donation, match-funded by a local business.

Wells Independents, who organise the lunches, have postponed the SOUP! lunch planned for Saturday, January 9th but have earmarked Saturday, April 17th as a potential date to resume.

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Rachel Clark’s challenges for 2021

FUNDRAISER Rachel Clark is marking ten years of supporting cancer counselling charity We hear You by taking on a challenge every single month in 2021 and is calling on the community to get involved.

Rachel has raised more than £55,000 for the charity and was named Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year in the National Institute of Fundraising Awards in May 2020. Rachel said: “Next year will mark the tenth anniversary of my mum’s death and therefore the tenth anniversary of my fundraising. Due to the pandemic some of the challenges will be virtual but I hope that by the spring our WhY supporters can start getting together again!”

Details: facebook.com/WHYWeHearYou or wehearyou.org.uk/fundraising/

Rotary on film

WESTON Rotary has been making the most of lockdown to record a series of short films to seek out like-minded individuals to join its charitable and fundraising efforts – and have some fun!

From Banwell to Bleadon, hillside to Worle, Rotarians have been getting online and speaking about what they do to help their community in Weston as well as individuals in developing countries. The short films are designed to encourage viewers to join Rotary and include a warm welcome from local president Norma Johnston, a summary of what the club does with Julian Matthews as well as Marian Barber and Terry Gilbert on clean water and joining Weston Rotary respectively.

Details: https://www.facebook.com/westonrotaryclub www.westonrotaryclub.org.uk

Christmas gifts for kids

ROTARIANS in Frome are supporting a scheme by national charity KidsOut to provide Christmas presents to survivors of domestic violence.

Frome Town and Frome Selwood Rotary clubs are part of a nationwide campaign to provide a Rotary Christmas Toy Box to Every Refuge, Every Child. The clubs are funding boxes of brand-new toys to help support children’s mental health and make the world a little kinder. Each box will contain over £80 worth of gender/age-appropriate toys.

The Kids Out day at Longleat organised by local Rotary clubs had to be cancelled this year due to Covid. Normally, more than 1,000 children from Frome and the surrounding area are treated to a day out at Longleat Safari Park and attractions.

Horses to the rescue after lockdown

CHARITIES

hORSEWORLD, the horse rescue charity, has seen a big increase in demand for its Discovery service, which provides lifechanging equine assisted learning sessions to local children and young people.

Sharon howell, Discovery course leader, said: “hearing how some of our students really struggled without being able to be here for their regular sessions was heart-breaking; but at the time there was nothing we could do.”

As soon as the first lockdown was lifted the Discovery team started planning and putting measures in place so that they could welcome students back once given the go-ahead.

Petra Ingram, horseWorld’s chief executive said: “Discovery has brought about outstanding results when nothing else has worked for the individual or the group; our horses have shown us that they have the capacity to change lives.

“We’ve experienced a massive rise in calls from education services, specialist provision units, and local authorities, all of which have children and young people in desperate need of the unique support and transformation our Discovery courses offer.

“We are receiving urgent enquiries every day. The fact that demand for Discovery is at an all-time high is a sad indication that recent events have taken a huge toll on vulnerable children and young people, as well as a testament to the amazing work of our teams, and our wonderful horses.”

Poppy appeal thanks

ThE Wells branch of the Royal British Legion has thanked individuals, businesses and other organisations who supported its 2020 Poppy Appeal.

Despite restrictions imposed by the pandemic, they were able to collect £6,000 – a far cry from last year’s total of £27,000. The branch says the national figure is around £6 million compared with £40 million in 2019 and Somerset around £68,000 compared with £1 million.

The branch was able to distribute some collecting tins in Wells, Wookey and Priddy and ran stalls at the city’s Tesco store and also on the market. Wells City Council allowed the branch to use the town hall as a base.

Derek Cooper, the poppy appeal organiser for Wells, said: “Our hope is that next year life might have returned to some sort of normality as it’s the 100th year of The Royal British Legion and also of the Wells branch which was one of the first to be launched 100 years ago.”

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MENDIP TIMES

Drivers warned about charges

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MASSES OF SPACE

BATH & North East Somerset Council is testing its systems to help promote Bath’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) ahead of the zone’s launch in March.

The council has installed 140 signs in and around the clean air zone boundary in central Bath, warning drivers that CAZ charges will start from March 15th for certain vehicles.

The temporary covers will then be taken off overnight on March 14th to reveal permanent signs informing drivers that they are entering a Class C Charging Clean Air Zone.

At the same time, up to 70 automatic number plate recognition cameras have been turned on so that the council can test its enforcement systems for non-compliant vehicles driving in the zone.

While daily charges will not apply until the zone is launched, owners of noncompliant vehicles driving in the zone during December and January will be informed by letter in February that their vehicle will be subject to a charge from March 15th.

These early notice letters will include information on how to check their vehicle, pay the charge and apply for support to upgrade to a compliant vehicle if eligible.

In addition, all homes and businesses in Bath and North East Somerset have received a postcard with key information about the zone.

From March 15th, Bath’s Clean Air Zone will operate in the centre of the city seven days a week, 24 hours and day, all year round. Charges will not apply to private cars or motorbikes, but most other vehicles will have to pay a daily charge if they don’t meet certain emission standards.

Some buses, coaches and HGVs could be charged £100 per day to drive in the zone. Owners can get support if they need to upgrade their vehicles.

Councillor Joanna Wright, joint cabinet member for Transport Services, said: “As vehicles are gradually upgraded or replaced, it will be interesting to see the impact of the charging zone and our support package on air quality.”

Details: www.gov.uk/cleanairzone

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MOTORING

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The Island in Midsomer Norton

the regeneration of the town, so please have your say in the public consultation.”

Midsomer Norton’s mayor and town councillor, Lynda Robertson, and town clerk, Donna Ford, said: “We are encouraged by the plans for the Island and we are looking forward to the end result. It is an exciting time for Midsomer Norton and we welcome this much-needed investment for the town.”

Bev Iles, acting chair of the Midsomer Norton Community Trust, who run the town hall and are on the project steering group, said: “The Community Trust welcome the improvements at The Island with great enthusiasm as they will support locallyrun events and offer fantastic opportunities to showcase the heritage of the town. The redevelopment will restore The Island to a functioning community space which can be used by a range of community groups and local businesses for retail, fundraising and much more.”

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(Ph t

PROPOSALS have been unveiled for a £2m scheme to regenerate Midsomer Norton High Street, starting with plans to create an open space and market area on The Island next to the town hall.

An online public consultation on the Bath and North East Somerset Council scheme has opened and runs until Tuesday, December 29th. The council says the revamp will enhance the western end of the High Street, support local traders and create a space for markets and cultural events.

It would see the existing parking bays on The Island replaced with a flexible in-line layout which would vary depending on everyday use or if a market or event was in progress.

The improvements are the first of many projects in the £2m Midsomer Norton High Streets Heritage Action Zone to celebrate the historic high street and encourage sustainable economic growth. These will include a new pedestrian passageway between the High Street and the car park, renewed shopfront signage, community workshops and other initiatives including planting schemes and pop-up shops.

The High Street Heritage Action Zone is funded by a grant from Historic England, support from the West of England Combined Authority’s Love Our High Streets funding and match funding from Midsomer Norton Town Council.

Paul Crossley, B&NES cabinet member for community services, said: “Community input into these new designs for Midsomer Norton will be crucial in making sure this public space works for the community. This is an important moment in

)

Action plan targets The Island first

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MENDIP TIMES

On the street where I live Keeping warm this winter

GlaSTOnBuRy Festival founder, Michael eavis, is supporting Somerset Community Foundation’s Surviving Winter campaign, which hopes to raise £120,000 by encouraging people to donate their winter fuel payment. he said: “I know many people will have had a tough year, and we face some challenging months ahead, so it’s very good to know there are people like Somerset Community Foundation who locate the needs of people and can award Surviving Winter grants to fulfil these needs.” every year Surviving Winter helps around 500 elderly people living in Somerset through the cold winter months, thanks to generous local donors who, last year, donated £135,000 to the appeal.

Details: www.somersetcf.org.uk/winter or call 01749 344949

Sarah at home in St Cuthbert Street

WRITeR and museum volunteer Sarah Villiers chose a subject close to home for her latest historical book – the street in Wells where she lives.

A Street Through Time 1770-2020 looks at the lives of ordinary people living and working in St Cuthbert Street and how some were involved in un-ordinary and curious happenings.

Sarah, who can often be found at Wells and Mendip Museum, said: “Who were the residents and where did they come from? how did they cope with the 1831 cholera outbreak? Who eloped, who was transported, who was accused of child cruelty? On the positive side, who took in paupers, deaf apprentices, other relatives? “how did seamstresses, labourers, brush-makers or railway workers live? how did the lives of women change? how were the poor treated?”

Sarah says that although the focus is on St Cuthbert’s Street, A Street Through Time’s typicality makes this study relevant to small-scale community life in many areas.

A Street through Time (£7.50 + £2 p&p) is available directly from Sarah via csarahvilliers@gmail.com or from Wells and Mendip Museum, on Cathedral Green

Be my buddy

Pictured (l to r) Poppy, Poppy, Xia and Mia

PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

The Men’s Shed in Farrington Gurney has supplied several new Buddy Benches to Cameley Primary School. Children are encouraged to sit on them if they are feeling lonely, encouraging other children to share their company or ask them to join in games.

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COMMUNITY

Posters demand attention from drivers ROaD safety signs designed by children living in the Priddy area have been installed around the village as part of an awareness campaign by the parish council. a total of 12 posters were submitted for the competition and each poster has been enlarged and printed. The winners of the three age group categories were Paul Casseleux, Camille Casseleux and Rosie Payne. Other entries were received from amelia Burgess, Ben Burgess, Billy Flury, Kit Flury, Milla Oren, Mo Smith, Oli Butterell and Stan Smith.

Originally, just the winners would see their posters turned into signs, but the parish council decided the entries were all so good they should all be printed. They say thank you to ariel Signs in Cheddar for their work.

One of Paul Casseleux’s entries

Another entry by Paul Casseleux features his cat Syke, who can often be seen sitting on a nearby wall

Witty but on message: Camille Casseleux’s entry was a winner

Ben Burgess’s sign on the way into the village from Deep Leap

Tabby passes the primary school

Community shop powers ahead FaRMBOROuGh Community Shop has seen big benefits by installing 14 solar photovoltaic panels to improve the energy efficiency of the shop.

The total investment needed was in excess of £6,000, which was estimated would save the shop at least £500 per year in electricity bills.

The full cost of the project was achieved within weeks of the initiative’s launch, including a grant of £2,700 from The naturesave Trust and the panels were

installed mid-March, one week before lockdown.

Phil Gray, treasurer to the shop said: “Our original calculations indicated that we would reduce our annual electricity bill by £550, but the operational figures show that the panels have exceeded this in just over six months of use.

“Farmborough Community Shop is currently using 80% of the total energy being produced by the panels, and this is saving us money which can be spent in

other areas of our business and increasing community support. “a significant reduction in CO2 is also something we are proud to have achieved, making our business more environmentally sustainable.”

The community shop has been an important hub of the village since 2018, but 2020 has seen a greater need for its services, with over 500 home deliveries made to local vulnerable and shielding villagers throughout the Covid-19 crisis.

Details: www.naturesave.co.uk/naturesave-trust

MMENDIP ENDIPTT IMES IMES• •JA ANUARY UGUST 2021 2020 • PAGE 59

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Carnival comes home

WITh the Somerset carnival season unable to take place, members of the Wells committee decided to brighten up the day of one of the event’s stalwarts.

On the day Wells Carnival should have taken place, they took flowers and cake to visit nancy Dodds at her home in Wells. nancy – the first woman to receive the Freedom of Wells – is a former chair of the Somerset County Carnival association.

Carnival committee members at their socially distanced meeting with Nancy Dodds. Masks were removed for the photo

Pre-school challenge

WalTOn under Fives near Street celebrated its 25th anniversary by holding a sponsored challenge for activities involving the number 25.

There were so many creative ideas – climbing out the swimming pool and jumping back in 25 times, 25 puddle jumps, walking up the Tor in 25 minutes and doing a different exercise every day for 25 days.

The prize for the best idea was for picking up 25 bits of litter on the walk to school. The challenge raised £550 and part of the money bought a new light-up table with accessories.

PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

Lions look forward to roaring again

Supporting the community despite lockdown (l:r) club president Rod Major with fellow member Ian Burt and Maggie Charlesworth and Eve Loring from the Lawrence Centre

The annual moat races in Wells could return in 2021, according to members of the City of Wells lions Club which is already making plans to hold vital fundraising events in the coming year.

The club is in discussions with several other organisations over arrangements to run and manage the races, one of the city’s most popular fun occasions – scheduled for august – and the club is also hopeful it can support the May Fair and maypole dancing as well as organising charity concerts in the Recreation Ground.

Its optimism comes after a year which it admits has been difficult because the club has been unable to provide the same amount of support that they have done in the past to local charitable organisations. every single one of its events had to be cancelled once lockdown was announced. The only event they were able to run was Business over Breakfast early in the year which raised £1,250 for Macmillan Cancer Support. however, the club been making donations from what funds they have to many local organisations including the Connect Centre, the lawrence Centre, Children's hospice South and head’s up as well as local branches of other charities.

The club is now a registered charity with amazon Smile which donates 0.5% of the purchase price at no additional cost to the purchaser if they nominate City of Wells lions as their chosen charity.

Club president Rod Major said: “We shall need help to run these events so if you are interested in discovering what we do, the fun we have knowing we can make a difference, you are most welcome to visit us at one of our meetings. We are always open to new ideas to raise money and how we can help, funds permitting.”

The club normally meets on the second Monday of the month at the Swan Hotel. For details, call 0345 8336736 or email: lions@cityofwellslions.org

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Images offer hope to homeless SaleS of a calendar featuring striking images of Chilcompton will help a pioneering charity continue its work with Mendip’s homeless and rough sleepers.

Villagers Matt and Jill Marshall offered to produce the calendar for Root Connections, based in nearby Stratton-on-the-Fosse, which brings together volunteers and the homeless or those in recovery to cultivate a 1.5-acre market garden, producing fruit, vegetables, seasonal flowers and Christmas wreaths for sale at local markets and through its veg box home delivery scheme.

Suzanne addicott, founder and director of Root Connections, said: “When Jill first contacted us during the first lockdown, with their idea of producing a bespoke calendar of Chilcompton village scenes and the offer of supporting our project with proceeds from Matt and Jill Marshall

COMMUNITY

Matt and Jill with volunteers at Root Connections

sales, we were delighted and so grateful.”

It took Matt – a graphic designer – around eight hours to produce each image from photographs. Jill, who works in branding, said: “Matt’s illustrations had been so well received among our circle of friends, with one or two suggesting we should produce a calendar depicting images from around the village.

“We thought that was a great idea and started to look for a local charity or community organisation we could donate proceeds to – that’s when Root Connections came up.”

Rotary’s school gifts

Children in Swans Class, Bishop Sutton with their new dictionaries

ChIlDRen at seven schools around the Chew Valley got an early Christmas present from the Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge.

For several years now the club has donated usbourne Illustrated Dictionaries to local primary schools as part of a wider national project to assist with literacy and educational development.

Over the past few weeks 105 year 4 pupils received them in schools at Bishop Sutton, Blagdon, Chew Magna, Chew Stoke, Farrington Gurney, Pensford and Stanton Drew.

Bishop Sutton’s head, Dieter Cook, said: “literacy skills are so important in everyday life and the dictionaries that the children have received support the children's basic skills as well as giving them a curiosity of language and the world around them.”

Making Christmas wreaths in one of the garden’s polytunnels

The calendar, which is available in two cover versions, costs £10 and is available through www.rootconnections.co.uk or from Jill at: jymarshall@gmail.com

Congresbury Memorial Hall

IRVInG and ann Prowse hope to be able to start holding Covidsafe book and jigsaw sales in aid of Congresbury Memorial hall fortnightly from Saturday, January 9th, 9am to 1pm.

The hall’s leaking roof has been repaired with the help of some grants and volunteers have been able to decorate during the lockdowns.

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Let there be lights RADSTOCK

The miner’s wheel and the clock tower on Radstock Museum have also been illuminated for the festive season

FATHER Christmas – with the help of the Radstock and Midsomer Norton Lions Club – took centre stage at the switchon of Radstock’s Christmas tree lights, which was a low-key event due to the pandemic.

Finn, Gracie and Isla with Radstock’s special guest A window of a house in Selwood Road

Lighting up post-lockdown FROME

Lighting up Black Swan Arts; the charity running the centre has been badly affected by lockdown

UNABLE to hold the annual Christmas lantern parade through Frome, organisers of Light the Night instead encouraged businesses and residents to illuminate their windows and open PAGE 62 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

spaces as part of the town’s festivities.

Frome Town Council is running a “calendar countdown” on its website until Christmas and is running an “elfie challenge” asking people to spot its elf

in the windows of the town’s shops and take an “elfie” to post onto social media using the hashtag #FromeElfieChallenge.

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Santa given the bird TOR VIEW CHEDDAR

CHRISTMAS EVENTS PENSFORD

Tree decorated

Father Christmas got an early visitor at the home of Arthur and Moira Croker in Cheddar

LANGPORT VILLAGERS and children joined forces to decorate the Christmas tree on the village green in Pensford. Organiser, Liz Jones, said: “Thank you to everyone who helped – we needed a community effort on this and we got it!”

Parking present

Pupils at High Ham School started celebrating Christmas early

A star in Cheddar

MENDIP District Council is introducing free parking for a week from December 17th in all of its pay and display car parks. It says it hopes people can “keep it local” while doing their essential retail shopping and support local businesses at the same time.

ZOE Goodacre, from Axbridge First School, was the winner of the Batts Combe quarry festive colouring competition and switched on the Christmas star above the Cheddar site.

It was the second year operators Hanson had invited children from Axbridge, Cheddar and Draycott first schools to take part in the competition. The best three pictures from each school were put forward, with Batts Combe quarry manager Vince Pitt, area clerk Emma Robbins and local liaison representative Nicola Haynes choosing Zoe’s as the overall winner.

Vince said: “The star is a very popular feature within the local community and last year’s colouring competition was a huge hit.

“We wanted to be able to repeat it this year, despite the challenges of Covid-19 restrictions, so we put a Christmas tree at the entrance to the quarry and were able to maintain social distancing while Zoe switched on the lights for the tree, which simultaneously switched on the star.”

Zoe with Shaun Hartland from Batts Combe quarry

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 63

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Club members turn to Zoom

MeMBerS of Midsomer norton Probus Club have been holding a series of monthly meetings on Zoom – complete with guest speakers. The club has been unable to meet at its usual venue – the Centurion hotel in westfield – since the first lockdown back in March. The next scheduled talk is on Tuesday, January 12th at 10.30am when Brian Freeland will return with a talk entitled: A Trip down the river Charente”.

Meanwhile, the club says many members have booked already for the annual trip to Paignton.

Campaigners clear first hurdle to save centre

NEWS

The Portway Annexe – a listed building – was built by the Blue School to accommodate girl pupils

For details about the club, contact the secretary on 01761 417225

Volunteer drivers wanted

Chew Valley Community Transport scheme (CVCT) is appealing for more volunteer drivers willing to take passengers to medical appointments. They anticipate a surge in demand after Christmas as people begin to be offered coronavirus vaccination.

CVCT has been established for some years, with a system of local volunteer drivers who are willing to transport people in their own cars – you do not need to be able to drive a mini-bus! drivers do not have to make a regular commitment, they simply offer to do a journey if they wish, when they see that one is requested. drivers are supported by a rota of volunteer coordinators, supplied with hand sanitiser, disposable masks and reimbursed their mileage costs.

There are many community transport schemes throughout the Mendip Times area. They are likely to have slightly different ways of working but they are all likely to be in need of more volunteers as so many of their older drivers will have been shielding since March.

A GrOUP of community representatives has come together to try to save the Portway Annexe building in wells from redevelopment when it is put up for sale by Somerset County Council after the current lease ends. local residents became concerned that the building was becoming run down after it was vacated by Somerset Skills & learning during the first lockdown.

The Portway Annexe Community Group has been working with wells City Council, Mendip Council and John Osman, the county councillor for wells, and has succeeded in having the building registered an Asset of Community Value with Mendip district Council. wells City Council, which applied for the ACV, says it is now looking at options to put in a bid to buy the building to keep it in community use and as a business centre and will be discussing the way forward in the coming weeks.

If you’re interested in helping, contact your local scheme.

If you live in or near the Chew Valley contact 01275 333430.

Socially distanced school scheme upgraded

An area around a primary school in Clevedon is now a designated pedestrian and cycling zone during the day in a bid to create a safe route for pupils. in June, north Somerset Council made temporary changes to access on All Saint’s lane in Clevedon to help people to socially distance while walking to All Saints school.

These measures have now been upgraded to stop commuters from cutting through this narrow residential street and allow families to walk safely with adequate space.

The issues with commuting traffic were also combined with parking problems, increasing the need for more space for walking. in order to create a safe route and allow for social distancing All Saint’s lane and Carey’s Close have now been designated as a pedestrian and cycle zone between 8am and 4pm.

This means that motor vehicle access (including parents transporting children to school) is prohibited at either end of All Saint’s lane during school hours.

PAGE 64 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

Art is on the menu

Children at Stanton drew Primary School experienced art lessons with a difference, when they welcomed well-known local artist, natasha Clutterbuck, to give them a lesson.

Ashton Thomas in Year 6, said: “Mrs Clutterbuck came in and taught us some art, where we used interesting items such as charcoal, paint and mud. The subject of our art was fruit, including pumpkins, peppers and oranges.” natasha is well-known for her depiction of vegetables and use of natural materials. She said: “The children were a delight to teach and loved exploring the different shapes, mixing colours and especially liked using the mud!”

She has been working with Yeo Valley since 2012 when she had a commission to create a giant pumpkin mural for the canteen at the newly refurbished headquarters in Blagdon.

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A year of ups and downs ending on a positive note WHO would have thought at this time last year we would have had the ups and downs (mostly downs) of the past 12 months?

Life for many people has either been put on hold, or at least been start/stop, as we have bounced from one lockdown to another and had restrictions placed on our movement, the likes of which have not been seen since the second world war, with even the much longed-for family vacation falling foul to not the weather this year, but something even more unpredictable.

Part way through the year we experienced a glimmer of hope as the issues blighting the world and our country seemed to rescind, only to be plunged back into a tiered lockdown as Christmas approached. One thing that is safe to say... the majority of us will be very glad to see the end of 2020 and look forward with optimism towards a brighter 2021.

So what of the housing market in 2020 and what can be expected from 2021?

Well the truth is, buoyed by the Government’s incentivised stamp duty

holiday (for completions up to the 31th March 2021) the housing market made a remarkable recovery in the second six months of the year and in fact the numbers of sales being achieved were very much in line with expectation during a normal year.

As for 2021, well it is safe to say that we are cautiously optimistic that the market will be stable and less challenging than 2020. We are truly blessed that the beautiful Mendip and North Somerset regions that we call home remain a highly desirable location for buyers who are looking to strike the ideal balance of countryside life, coupled with the convenience of our close proximity to Bristol, Bath and Wells for the culture and essential employment that they provide.

At Debbie Fortune Estate Agents we are here to help, even if all you need is friendly advice. We have three linked offices, 23 local members of staff, extensive online and paper advertising and a reputation built on recommendation and proven success.

PROPERTY

We love our beautiful corner of England as much as you do and we will always do our upmost to assist you on every step of the way. Let our experience and local knowledge help you on your next journey in 2021 and for those of you who have supported us over the past 11 years, a big, big heartfelt thankyou…

Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year from all the team at Debbie Fortune Estate Agents.

NEIL DREJER DIRECTOR

ESTATE AGENTS

As leaves fall it marks a new beginning, let us help you on your journey Congresbury 01934 862370 Chew Magna 01274 333888

Lettings 01275 406870 Backwell 01275 406880 MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 65

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MENDIP TIMES

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PAGE 66 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

A new lease of life

JO Harrison is a professional upcycler and furniture stylist who transforms old and muchloved pieces of furniture, creating unique items from her studio at Farrington’s Farm.

She has a passion for homes and interiors and enjoys giving new life to previously owned furniture and home accessories which she sources from France and Belgium as well as markets and auctions in the UK. She moved to this area from Northumberland the day before the first lockdown so spent her time getting the studio ready. It’s now displaying some really lovely pieces.

She’s also planning workshops by Zoom if necessary.

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We understand how important it is to homeowners and businesses alike, to actually see the quality of products up close. So, why not drop into the Seal-Lite showroom? Come in and see the products for yourself!

All Showroom Visits by Appointment Only MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 67

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MENDIP TIMES

HISTORY

Restoration work is a labour of love

By Mark Adler

Nigel Dickinson in the team’s workshop

PAGE 68 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

In their prime. (l:r) Les Rodway, Nigel Dickinson and Steve Erlicher. It will take several coats of primer before undercoats and topcoats can be applied, followed by varnish

change of trustees – and direction – at the Midsomer Norton South station meant another home had to be found for it. The East Somerset Railway was happy to help.

Some detective work established the origins of the carriage, including the

discovery that some paint was of GWR origin, but the carriage had served on both the Merthyr and Brecon line in South Wales and the Midland Railway. Built in 1890, It was probably in service for about 30 years.

Steve said: “Being of Midland origin, it is identical to Somerset & Dorset Railway carriages of the same period, as the S&D used plans from the Midland for much of

their rolling stock, including these third class coaches, it seemed appropriate that it should be housed on the S&D.” Following a rather involved hunt, Steve discovered a suitable chassis which he acquired from the Swindon & Cricklade Railway. He added: “This had been Midland Railway No. 1753, possibly a full brake.

The number was stamped each side of the chassis for confirmation. When the body was placed on the chassis (in a blizzard) it fitted like a glove.”

Steve, Nigel Dickinson, Les Rodway, Terry Lyons, Alan Bridger and Steve Causer spend two days a week working on the coach – they expect it will take another five years before it can again carry passengers, possibly as part of a vintage train attraction.

Having self-funded the project to date, Steve and the team are now in the process of establishing a trust to complete the work, the most pressing priority is to build a shed so they can get to work restoring the roof. Trust status will allow them to apply for grants and other funding.

(Photograph courtesy of Steve Erlicher)

STEVE Erlicher is well-known within railway heritage circles for his love of old carriages and he is delighted with his latest project, although it might be better to say that it is the carriage which is in seventh heaven.

Steve, along with five fellow enthusiasts, is hard at work restoring a 130-year-old third-class coach. In that time it has served as a mainline carriage, a local commuter carriage, for railway excursions and – probably – ferrying Welsh miners before serving for more than 50 years as a café near Exeter and 20 as a garden shed in Somerset!

The five-compartment carriage – it can seat 50 people – is now being painstakingly restored at its seventh home, the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore, where Steve and the gang have ambitious – and long-term plans – to return it to service.

Steve had learned about the coach body after restoring a carriage on the West Somerset Railway and visited it in Blackford where it had been used as a shed. The owners were moving home and the new residents didn’t want it. Steve said the conversation went along the lines of: “‘Would you like it?’ the lady asked. ‘Pardon?’ I replied. “Would you like the carriage – we are moving house?”

He arranged for the coach to be transported to the Somerset and Dorset Heritage Railway at Midsomer Norton where restoration work began. But a

The coach is lifted from the garden in Blackford where it had been used as a shed

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(Photograph by P. Hnedy)

Caver or potholer – what’s the difference?

THOSE of us who venture underground for sport or scientific enquiry go under many titles and names. “Mad” is commonly heard!

In Britain, we tend to refer to ourselves as cavers or potholers and sometimes as speleologists. Strictly speaking, speleology is the scientific study of various aspects of caves With PHILIP and there are many specialists in fields such HENDY as biology, karst hydrology and geomorphology, and cave archaeology. Karst is simply a posh word for limestone.

The prefix “speleo” is seen in some foreign terms for cavers, such as “espeleologos” in Spain, and “speleologistes” in France.

Our American friends often refer to themselves as “spelunkers”, which personally I regard as rather an ugly word.

But back to Britain. All potholes are caves, but not all caves are potholes. The term “pothole” itself has two distinct geological meanings. In rivers with rocky beds, a pothole is a pit worn into the bed by pebbles and boulders as the force of water moves them around and scours away the bed. They are commonly seen at the foot of waterfalls and cascades and can be very deep.

Potholes can also occur in caves – the Double Pots in Swildon’s Hole are well known and it is said that anyone who falls into them while trying to stay dry while traversing round them becomes a true son (or daughter) of the Mendip Hills.

In caving terms, potholes are caves characterised by deep, often wet, pitches, and often they have more vertical depth than horizontal passage length. They form where the limestone beds are horizontal or vertical, or nearly so.

In finding its way through the rock, water will preferentially follow existing lines of weakness, the bedding planes between rock layers, or the joints, formed as perpendicular cracks in the beds formed as a result of earth movement.

A feature of potholes is a series of pitches or drops, connected by short sections of level passage. They are most frequent in the Yorkshire Dales, so potholing tends to be a Northern term.

The caves themselves, and the drops within them, are usually referred to as Pots, such as Diccan Pot and Peny-Ghent Pot. One of the most famous is Gaping Gill above the village of Clapham.

It has several entrances, all Gaping Gill, Main Chamber potholes, but the

Goatchurch Cavern – the Drainpipe

largest is 111 metres deep, taking the Fell Beck into its depths where it lands in a vast chamber from which various passages lead off. The cave is several miles in length and the water eventually emerges in the Ingleborough show cave, many metres lower down the fell.

The deepest underground pothole in Britain is Titan, in the Peak Cavern in Derbyshire. It is 141.5 metres deep and is a challenging experience for the fittest and most experienced cavers.

The limestone of Mendip has been tilted by earth movement to an angle of between 50 to 80 degrees on the northern slopes and 25 to 35 degrees on the south. So although water percolating underground still follows the weaknesses of the bedding planes and joints, most of the drops are relatively short.

Therefore most of our natural underground passages are classified as caves and those who explore them refer to themselves as “cavers”. A simplified cross-section of a Mendip cave would show a zig-zag pattern, with cascades dropping into sumps.

However, erosion has ground off the tops of the uppermost rock to leave us with short drops and more-or-less horizontal passages in between. In many cases, this erosion has resulted in high but narrow passages known as rifts.

Some of our caves have entrance pitches, so have been called pots. Pinetree Pot at Nordrach is one such; another is Ubley Hill Pot. Some deeper underground pitches have been named pots, such as the Forty Foot Pot and Twenty Foot Pot in Swildon’s Hole and Primrose Pot in nearby Eastwater Cavern.

In recent years, some deeper caves which could reasonably be called potholes have been found on Mendip. Lodmore Hole in the Yoxter ranges was dug to a depth of 37 metres and Spider Hole, currently being dug in Cheddar Gorge, is around 100 metres deep, as is Templeton, a dig I am associated with at Priddy.

As Shakespeare said, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet and very few of us make a fuss about what we are called.

Caver, potholer, speleologist or mere speleo, the important thing is to go underground and get exploring.

Covid-19 may have placed certain restrictions on our activities, but it has not entirely put paid to our sport. I wish you all a Happy New Year, as we look forward (hopefully) to fewer restrictions on our activities.

Phil has been caving for more than 50 years and is a member of the Wessex Cave Club. He has been involved in producing several caving publications and until his retirement was a caving instructor at Cheddar. His main interest is digging for new caves

(Photograph by Anon)

CAVING

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 69

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MendiP TiMes

riding

Pennies from heaven

JANUARY, another new year. All of us must be wondering what this year will bring, but perhaps we should be asking what can we bring to With raCHeL the New Year?

THOMPsOn Resolutions are MBe hard to make and easy to break, mine are to try and be kinder, work hard for the causes that matter to me and make sure Tam and I spend time hacking in the countryside learning about and loving nature.

Recently I caught up with Sandy Ratcliffe (Redmore) from Stone Allerton.

Sandy is an inspirational warrior battling to save badly treated animals and improve welfare and breeding standards who still has time to help judge native breed pony classes at local shows, show her own Shetland ponies and have a laugh.

Sandy has been involved in horse and dog welfare for 35 years working amongst a network of charities and has given talks on the equine markets at the RSPCA horse crises summit. Sandy says that: “All the welfare charities are stressed and under-funded due to the pandemic, horses and dogs are selling like hotcakes, often to people who don’t understand their needs and welfare issues soon emerge.”

Welfare workers travel to animal markets and auctions on the look-out for suffering and stolen animals. Individual

Happy times in the paddock

Page 70 • MendiP TiMes • January 2021

sandy with Halstock dinky Minky (left) i.L.P.H Becky (elizabeth)

cases can be closer to home and a lot of time is spent educating owners or in the worst cases negotiating to get the owner to give the animal up. It can be heart rending and terribly sad work but reuniting a stolen horse with its owner or seeing an animal return to health is so rewarding.

Many of the ponies that Sandy rescues are Shetlands and miniature Shetlands.

She has a passion for this tiny breed of pony who have such wonderful characters and big hearts and are so often the chosen companion for large horses.

Shetland ponies can have major health issues stemming from dwarfism, which may not be apparent to the prospective purchaser.

Breeding ponies with such defects can lead to other severe deformities like short limbs, oversized heads, stomachs and hearts. Often, they are unable to eat properly due to jaw and teeth issues. Sandy

works alongside Munchkins Rescue rescuing deformed mares in foal and emaciated starving ponies, taking individuals home to an isolation stable where vet Nicko checks them for diseases such as strangles. Together they work out a programme to return the animal to health.

Despite all this, Sandy still knows how to have a laugh showing her own miniature ponies Alfie and Spice: “They are my pennies from heaven,” she says.

She is bringing on Spice, on loan from the Halstock and Blackertor Stud. Alfie, (Treflys Fanando) bred by Elaine Fitzhugh is her sunshine, love at first sight. He is a top-class quality gelding who has given Sandy an amazing two years winning many firsts and championships, including the Wessex group show – being first senior mini two years in a row and went on to being first gelding mini and standard in the Shetland performance scheme 2019.

Her husband, Danny, started helping show the ponies last year, winning with Spice whilst Sandy came second with Alfie after tripping up. “You should have heard the banter from our friends,” she laughs. “It’s such fun, having a giggle and a glass of champagne.”

In her spare time Sandy also travels to Romania to work with Sadie’s rescue on spayathon campaigns and rescue.

Sandy asks us all to give what we can to the welfare charities to help them through this crisis. She suggests giving to well-known charities who “are doing amazing work”: the RSPCA – www.rspca.org.uk – Glenda Spooner Farm – www.worldhorsewelfare.org – and, of course, Munchkins: www.minimunchkins.org

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SPORT

Wheel or no deal

MANY will be glad to have seen the back of 2020 and will be looking forward with optimism to the New Year. But what will it bring? As the Covid-19 restrictions ease over time we may see a way to the return of mass participation cycling events.

These are so important in many ways.

CYCLING Firstly, they generate massive amounts of with EDMUND LODITE income for charities, through rider sponsorship and fundraising and just as importantly raise public awareness of the cause they are supporting.

A local example of this is the Great Weston Ride which has raised significant funds for charity, one of the main beneficiaries being Prostate Cancer UK. By signing up to a sportive later in the year there is an incentive to get out on the bike when you might not otherwise want to do so.

The pay-off happens on the day where a long distance bike ride becomes manageable and enjoyable because of the training put in much earlier.

The start of a new year is also an opportunity to re-check our health, wellbeing and lifestyle. During these colder and darker months of the year we’re exposed to less sunlight, which results in decreased production of vitamin D. That vitamin is responsible for healthy bones, absorption of calcium by the body and regulating our mood to help ward off depression.

I wasn’t aware beforehand but approximately one-third of the UK’s population suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Cycling is recognised as one of the ways to combat it.

For those lucky enough to get hold of one at Christmas, the New Year may be starting with a new bike. January is usually the month where I’ll see families with young children on new bikes. Those short journeys are the first pedal turns of independence in the long journey of life.

As with all technology, the boom in electric bikes is expected to continue during 2021, and beyond. Electric bikes (e-bikes) open up the benefits of cycling to more sectors of the population particularly for older people, and those with health conditions and/or disabilities.

I often hear the phrase “I would go cycling but there’s too many hills” or “it’s too far to cycle there”. E-bikes overcome these obstacles while still allowing the ability to self pedal when it suits.

Although improvements in battery technology have pushed down the cost, e-bikes still remain out of reach for many.

And surprisingly, unlike other forms of electric transport, ebikes receive no government subsidies.

But to do that in a general way would not benefit those in most need, so a targeted approach is needed. Let’s hope that the government’s “Gear Change” vision announced last summer and its commitment to ebikes turns into action this year.

Finally, this year will see a new start for the nation after Brexit. We will never know if the one line slogans were true or not. However there are implications for cycling.

The EU hits Chinese-made bicycles with a 48.5% anti-dumping duty. This protectionist tariff was first applied in 1993 as a response to the huge volumes of cheap Chinese-made bikes flooding European markets and threatening the livelihood of European bicycle producers.

However, a newly-independent United Kingdom might not adopt this tariff. Without a local manufacturing economy to protect, could it be that British consumers will see more Chinese bike Great Weston Ride brands enter the market?

JANUARY CROSSWORD SOLUTION

ACROSS: 7. Pompous 8. Hashtag 10. Kilmersdon 11. Bath 12. Golf ball 14. Look in 15. Stablemates 19. Eczema 20.

Anything 22. Blog 23. Neologisms 25. Ageless 26. Pimento DOWN: 1. Monitor 2. Spam 3. Nutria 4. Magnolia 5.

Shibboleth 6. Wagtail 9. Adulterator 13. Fothergill 16. Beau Nash 17. Ecology 18. Animate B Yeovil 24. Ibex

FESTIVE HAMPER COMPETITION WINNER

WE are delighted to announce that the winner of our annual Find the Rabbits Competition is Mr L. Collier, of Sandford. Very many congratulations for correctly identifying the whereabouts of the five rabbits: on pages seven, 14, 58, 80 and on the Wookey Hole Cave Aged Cheddar advertisement itself.

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 71

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MENDIP TIMES

End of an era as charity closes SOMERSET sports charity TS5C is to hang up its running shoes after 13 successful years of supporting the county’s young athletes and will close by the end of 2020.

It was established in 2007 by Alan Gloak MBE, the former chair of Somerset County Council and mayor of Glastonbury.

TS5C (Team Somerset 500 Club) was initially set up to support young, aspiring athletes in the county who had the potential, but lacked the money or facilities, to represent Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics.

After the London Games, the charity continued to fund young sportspeople working towards Rio 2016 and more recently what would have been Tokyo 2020. Its remit also expanded to support healthy living projects, a wheelchair basketball initiative, and numerous sports clubs and events.

TS5C has raised and distributed more than £250,000 to almost 150 athletes and supported more than a dozen health and wellbeing projects throughout Somerset.

Alan Gloak, chairman of the charity, said: “We only intended the charity to be a short-term project, but it grew into something much larger. Regrettably, the trying conditions of 2020 and the difficulty of raising funds in the prevailing climate makes this a sensible time to call it quits.”

He added: “I think we can be justifiably proud of what we, as a small self-funded charity, have achieved and I’d like to thank everyone who has supported TS5C over the years. We

Alan with Ronnie Wells, a sprinter and one of the athletes to be helped by the charity

wish all our athletes, past and present, every success for the future.”

TS5C leaves a legacy of the TS5C Healthy Living Fund which will continue to be administered through the Somerset Community Foundation. It will be open to applications from groups linked to sport and healthy living projects.

For details, visit: www.somersetcf.org.uk

Cricket – a lesson for life

CHILDREN at Cameley Primary School have been bowled over by the chance to welcome a Somerset Cricket youth coach to help them learn the basics of the game.

The opportunity arose through Chance to Shine, a national charity that aims to give all children the opportunity to play, learn and develop through cricket.

Head teacher, Hannah Wicket keeper Evie and Reyn batting Maggs, said: “As well as the physical benefits of regular activity, cricket is used to teach children important key life skills that will help them beyond the playground. Through the values of cricket, children are taught about respect and fair play.

“Come rain or shine, our children have enjoyed bowling, batting and honing their cricketing skills as well as enjoying the autumnal fresh air.

“Thankfully the hard cricket balls were substituted for softer ones so Cameley windows remain intact!

“Who knows, in a few years’ time the next Alastair Cook may emerge as a result of this inspiring coaching.”

PAGE 72 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

Players prepare to return

Players were pleased to get back onto the pitch

Some of the laws of rugby have been upended to allow the grassroots game to return

MIDSOMER Norton Rugby Club staged an in-house touch training session to help players adjust to some of the law amendments which will come into force once competitive grassroots rugby returns.

They include the suspension of the maul, a maximum of seven players in a line-out and a free kick to restart a game where a scrum would normally take place.

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SPORT

How the pandemic has hit local sport

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on local sports clubs. A year ago Chew Valley RFC was celebrating promotion to South West 1 and the club’s 50th anniversary. So how has it coped? Club president Andrew Tanner reports.

ALL rugby clubs played their last competitive games back in March and it’s probably fair to say most clubs thought they would only lose one month of rugby after the March 23rd lockdown and that they could get back to summer training and a new season as from September.

Obviously this hasn’t been the case and Chew Valley Rugby Club, along with many others, found that major fundraising events at the end of last season, which would bolster the bank balance to see us through the lean summer months, could not take place and a rapid tightening of the financial belt ensued.

Chew Valley provides a facility for everyone to play rugby, from five years of age to our senior teams for both men and women. We are a community club, 100% amateur and pride ourselves on providing quality coaching across all age groups.

With a short window to get back to training, it was great to see the players back at the club, albeit with restrictions. Chairman Shane Cameron together with director of rugby Bruce Wellman and junior chairman Andy Taylor looked at addressing our main concern which is to retain the interest and commitment of the playing membership – clubs will definitely lose players and this must be minimised where possible.

Our youth and junior sections continued to train and meet on a Sunday and in the week (when not in lockdown). This adds significantly to the playing membership’s mental health.

All senior sides train once a week and we have increased our coaching staff to ensure we keep our training engaging and interesting. A major addition to our coaching staff is Bristol Bears and Wales outside half Callum Sheedy as backs and skills coach.

Rugby was always going to be one of the last sports to return. The RFU has been in a difficult position on how to take the sport forward. We all hope that in the New Year we can get rugby back to the way the sport should be played;

Happier times – last year's anniversary celebration

however player safety has to be our no.1 priority.

Bruce Wellman said: “The recent return to rugby proposal from the RFU has been really welcomed. Published in November, I support the proposal for the men’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd team leagues. I was delighted to see each team has been placed in a league which is challenging but has reduced travelling. This is something the RFU could look at for the future. Let’s hope so.”

Shane Cameron said: “On a financial front we have needed to look at new avenues to raise revenue. Our kitchen is open for breakfast on Fridays including takeaway under the current restrictions, with curry on a takeaway basis on a Friday evening.

“With the return of Premiership rugby on TV we have plans to hold lunch whilst complying with government rules on Covid-19. I’m hopeful that some form of rugby will be available in the New Year.”

The mini and junior section has played some form of rugby since the start of September even though very little physical contact is allowed. We have several rules to reduce infection risk such as washing our hands and the

ball every 15 minutes.

The players and coaches have enjoyed improving fitness and skill without the joy of running into someone else. It has been great that despite the pandemic over 200 children and teenagers have been able to play sport outside every Sunday and some Wednesdays with their friends in a safe, fun and supportive environment.

Some groups have continued with some short fitness sessions virtually over lockdown but we all look forward to playing together again as soon as we are able.

The work carried out by volunteers and one of our sponsors Aces in the summer to provide floodlighting to all available grass areas means we can accommodate many more groups of limited numbers in accordance with infection control guidance.

This has been particularly important in accommodating the increase in the number of women taking up the game with Chew Valley Cats. If we can get matches on and spectators using the clubhouse and bar, albeit with restrictions, this will help guarantee our survival as an important part of the local community.

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021 • PAGE 73

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MENDIP TIMES

Racegoers return – but Huw says farewell WINCANTON Racecourse was amongst the first tracks in the country to welcome back the punters and the bookies after a number of behind-closed-doors meetings.

Several hundred people enjoyed an afternoon’s racing with the wearing of face masks compulsory – for jockeys, trainers and stable staff also – and “safe distance” monitors on patrol. Attendance numbers are being limited for the foreseeable future.

At the start of the meeting, it was announced that Huw Williams – general manager for the past six years – would be leaving. Spectators around the parade ring gave Huw a round of applause for his work. He is succeeded by Jack

Striking a Pose, trained by Colin Tizzard and ridden by Robbie Power, on his way to victory in the third race

Parkinson, who will combine duties at Wincanton with being general manager

Raising money for the Injured Jockeys Fund – whichever way round you wear the mask

Masks and snoods were the order of the day: Magic River in the parade ring

PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2021

SPORT

at Exeter Racecourse, another Jockey Club venue.

Bespoke. Gill Langford (right), owner of Midnight Callisto, in a mask with her own colours, with friend Gill Gregory, a member of the Decimus Racing syndicate

The headline says it all. Wincanton took place the day after racegoers were allowed back onto courses in Tier One and Tier Two areas

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