26 minute read
Community
Town fund will help Glastonbury grow –literally
A SCHEME to plant trees – including willow – is underway in Glastonbury as part of a Government-backed project to revitalise the town.
Town councillors and volunteers planted hundreds of withies on Herbie’s Field – ten acres of land bought by the authority as a community space and for car parking for events – as well as a hedgerow.
Meanwhile, the council has installed a number of tree planters in key locations around the town, but they have received a mix reaction to their appearance.
Herbie’s Field is part of what is being described as an Accelerator Project as the council spends an initial £500,000 as part of the government’s £3.6bn Towns Fund. Glastonbury is one of 101 towns earmarked to benefit from the fund with the opportunity to secure up to £24.5m of investment for the town.
Other projects proposed range from creating a new piazza entrance to Glastonbury Abbey and a new sports hub at Tor leisure Centre to refurbishing buildings on the former Morlands factory site.
The planting team at Herbie’s Field – there is a proposal to grow cricket bat willow on the site
Willows are planted by pushing the withies directly into the marshy ground
The iconic former Morlands factory gates now sit at the entrance to Herbie’s Field
School plants an orchard
HEMINGTONPrimary School has received a gift of ten fruit trees from The Tree Council as part of their Orchards for Schools initiative.
Every child in the school and pre-school helped to plant the trees. An additional 30 bushes and trees were also planted in the school’s conservation area, enhancing its forest school provision.
School head, Naomi de Chastelain, said: “We are so grateful for the children to be able to connect with nature in this way. After a difficult year with the Covid-19 pandemic this is just the kind of outdoor opportunity our children need to support their wellbeing.”
The school said it would also like to thank parent, Will Reynolds, for making the charity application and helping to plant the trees and Richard from Combe Garden Maintenance for his help and advice.
Smashing it again
Tabby around seven hours into her run
lONG-distance runner Tabby Maidment has raised at least £1,400 for Evercreech Primary School after completing a 75km run around the village.
Tabby had set a target of raising £250 for the school’s Association of Parents and Teachers to help fund the building of a new outdoor shelter and replacing the play surface at the school’s Acorns pre-school group.
Tabby – who last year ran 50km for Acorns – completed the run in around nine hours. A NEWreport says that Covid-19 has hit our most disadvantaged communities hardest – and warns the climate crisis will do the same.
The Vital Signs 2021 Climate and Communities report by Quartet Community Foundation examines how the climate crisis is already affecting local lives across the West of England and includes local and national data on energy and transport, food, weather and nature. It also features local projects already taking positive steps to improve the environment and tackle climate change.
The report’s author, lucy Gilbert, head of policy at the foundation, said: “It’s clear that, as with the Covid crisis, it’s those of us already facing disadvantage that are going to feel the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
“Our local charitable organisations will be frontline in responding to climate change because they’re on the ground, ready to act swiftly, as they’ve been doing throughout the pandemic.
“We want to support local action now that will help mitigate the local effects of climate change. There are some fantastic local initiatives working on this already, and now is the time to support them. We want to play our part by working with philanthropists and local organisations to support a fairer, greener future. The charity sector has been working flat out to support communities during Covid; we want to make sure they have the resources they need to help communities through the climate crisis too.” l Since the launch of its Coronavirus Response Fund in March 2020, Quartet has supported 276 groups with grants totalling £2.4m. In total it gave more than £5million to 930 projects last year.
Effects of Covid and climate change
Details: https://quartetcf.org.uk/reports
Friends and family welcome Tabby at the finish line
£1,400 – and counting; Tabby’s fantastic fundraising effort
Putting a smile on people’s faces
Terri (left) and fellow villager Andrea
DOZENS of homes, the village hall, church, school and pub in Croscombe have been festooned with bunting in the latest community-wide “feel good” initiative.
The colourful displays – which it is hoped will remain throughout the summer – were the idea of the village’s events committee which has worked throughout the pandemic to bring a smile to people’s faces.
Previous lockdown events have included socially distanced outdoor cinema screenings and a creepy Halloween trail. Croscombe’s Christmas Charter Market was replaced with a walkabout buy-swap-sell walking trail rather than being held in the village hall – and was so successful it may be repeated.
Villagers also pulled together when torrential rain flooded homes at the end of last year, setting up a “flood hub” alongside the parish council.
The idea for the bunting came from Terri Chichester, who runs The Cross bed and breakfast in the village. She said: “I am really hoping the bunting will bring an abundance of colour to the village and celebrate events such as –hopefully – the end of lockdown, the Queen’s birthday, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and our own village events.”
Terri added: “There’s a tremendous community spirit in the village at present; it’s really buzzing.”
Organisers hope the bunting will remain in place throughout the summer Bunting can be seen throughout the village –including this dovecote
Many of the displays can been seen on the main road
Putting up bunting for a neighbour
Village thank you
Jennifer (right) with Gavin Heathcote and Karen Walker
JENNIFER Calignano, who has spent the last 15 years cleaning up the streets in Peasedown St John, has been publicly thanked for her efforts by Peasedown Community Trust.
Jennifer, who is often seen around the village with her bike and litter picker, received a bouquet of flowers and a new litter picker from trust chairman Gavin Heathcote and trustee Cllr Karen Walker.
Gavin said: “Jennifer is one of our community angels. We often see her out and about collecting litter, in her own time. She cares passionately about our village and is much loved by all.
“This public presentation is just a small way of us saying thank you.”
Details: www.facebook.com/PeasedownCommunityTrust or email peasedowncommunitytrust@gmail.com
Young litter pickers
AFTERthe village of Farmborough lost its village sweeper, two brothers answered the call to help clear litter from the streets. Harry Goodchild, aged nine, and William, aged six, who go to the local village school, stepped in until a new village sweeper could start work.
Harry said: “We wanted to help the environment and it felt good. People should go on regular litter picks because if birds ate the litter they would choke and if a mouse got stuck inside a bottle it would suffocate.”
William said: “People should not be lazy and throw rubbish on the ground. They should use a bin. Rubbish is not good for birds and other animals.”
Their parents Helen and Mark are very proud of them both and said: “Whenever we go for walks the boys point out all the litter lying around and make us take it home so we were happy they wanted to help clean up.”
Lions’ Easter gifts
CHEDDARVale lions delivered a total of 406 chocolate eggs to 12 care homes and residential establishments in the area, along with a card bearing a special Easter greeting and a promise of parties to come, having had to cancel their usual spring tea party.
A club spokesman said: “We know supermarkets are inundated with requests from charities, but the managers at Morrisons and Tescos in Wells couldn’t have been more helpful. We are incredibly grateful for their support of Operation Easter Bunny!”
PENSFORD’S25-strong group of volunteer litter-pickers have received a boost, with the arrival of ten new litter bins around the village. Six have been bought by the parish council and four supplied by Kyle Daniels of Kyle’s Waste.
Cllr Mike Daniels organised the supply of the bins – and will also be emptying them on a regular basis. He said: “The bins have been made out of reclaimed wood where possible and there are still another couple to go out. Hopefully they will get used properly."
One of Pensford’s volunteer litter-pickers, Dom lowe, said: “Along with our 25-strong litter-picking group these bins will help hugely in keeping Pensford looking clean and lovely.”
Keeping Pensford tidy
Kyle Daniels (left) and Mike Daniels
Major boost for canal society
Local councillors Liz Hardman and Grant Johnson (left) and Mark Sherrey at the foundations of Terminus Bridge as it looks now
THE Somersetshire Coal Canal Society is celebrating after its project to restore Terminus Bridge got the backing of residents and Paulton Parish Council.
As part of their Community Infrastructure levy (CIl) requirements, the council decided to hold a consultation online and in the winter edition of their village magazine so that residents could decide how best to spend its current total of CIl monies.
Over 75% of the Paulton residents who voted decided to back the Terminus Bridge project which will also see the extension of the canal to its stop plank at Radford Mill.
The society’s work party organiser, Mark Sherrey, said: “Getting the support of local residents means the world to us as we are a society run entirely by volunteers. Securing this funding means we can really start to progress our long-term plan of action for the canal.
“We have long been aware that we would eventually need to install a new bridge on the site of the old Terminus Bridge, just East of Paulton Basin, in order to restore an uninterrupted length of canal down to the stop plank.” local labour parish and district councillor, Grant Johnson, the original proposer of the project, said: “It’s so important for us to remember where we have come from as a community and for future generations to understand how the industrial revolution helped shape the area we live in.
“There is often very little opportunity to bring back what has been so sadly lost, but with the Somersetshire Coal Canal and the restoration of Terminus Bridge, we have that opportunity. People often think of progress as replacing what came before, but I’m a firm believer that the things that made us matter and we have a moral obligation to do all we can to save it.”
Working parties have resumed at Paulton Basin and the
School marathon
STAFFat the Horse and Jockey in Binegar and the Barber Company in Midsomer Norton have walked a marathon 26.2 miles to raise funds for a swimming pool for the Mendip School on the Bath and West showground.
They followed the cycle path from Oldland Common through Bath to Frome, and have so far raised just over £1,000, twice their original target.
The appeal is close to landlady, Nikki Hutchison’s heart as Jack, her son, attends the Mendip School.
VOluNTEERSwith the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) unit are back out rebuilding drystone walls, including this wall that forms part of the Deer leap nature reserve above Westbury-sub-Mendip.
The unit is targeting walls for rebuilding that connect nature reserves to help wildlife recover. Volunteers undergo training in how to rebuild the walls. lauren Holt from the AONB said: “It's been a special day on the Mendip Hills, and not just because the sun was shining! We welcomed back our first drystone walling volunteer group in just over a year.
“We're limiting our group sizes, keeping lots of space between us and getting plenty of fresh Mendip air. Thank you to our wallers for their spirit and commitment to the cause of caring for the drystone walls of Mendip.”
Return of the wallers
More murals for street art trail
GlASTONBuRY’S extraordinary mural art trail is continuing to expand with even more works appearing on the sides of homes, businesses and other locations.
The popularity of the street art initiative has attracted artists from a wide area and the team behind the initiative is now updating a guide to the works on show. A dedicated website is also currently being created.
Curated by Glastonbury artist Kim von Coels, the trail is backed by Glastonbury Town Council and Glastonbury Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. The new guide should be available in May from the town’s visitor centre.
This mural is on a house opposite the entrance to the Somerset Rural Life Museum Sara Trenchard’s new work along Jacob’s Ladder, a footpath connecting Windmill Hill Road with Bove Town
Tasha, by Oxana Gaida, on the side of The Globe pub by Abbey Park, was completed in 2020
Tardis lands in Chew Stoke
CHEWStoke’s Happy Box lived up to its name over Easter as it was decorated with an Easter theme and was the base for the village’s Easter trail, which raised money for Bristol Children’s Hospital. The former telephone box has still been taking donations for the food bank in Withywood. One of the organisers, Ruth Donlevy, said: “Massive thanks to James Edgerton and support of Pictured (l to r) Becky Heath, Bethan Kilroy, Kate Donlevey and Lowri Knight who decorated the box, before setting up the Easter trail Chew Stoke Parish Council for engineering some solar power for The Happy Box! “This will, hopefully, allow the old ‘Telephone’ lights to be lit up at night without being on the grid and the possibilities otherwise are endless. Chew Stoke’s version of The Tardis from Dr Who here we come.”
Looking ahead to walking festival
MENDIP Ramblers are pressing ahead with plans for the return of their free walking festival over the August bank holiday weekend. last year’s festival was cancelled due to the pandemic, but the ramblers hope this year’s three-day event – based on Shipham – will be able to proceed. Walking groups restarted in April – with restrictions – and the working party has been back in action.
Despite the difficulties in 2020, the working party did succeed in their vital repairs to rights of way. In ordinary times they would be out almost every week of the year; last year that was reduced to 109 hours of work in 29 weeks. The result in 2020 was 35 repaired or new gates, 53 repaired or new stiles, four new bridges and lots of smaller jobs.
Elaine Dadley, from the ramblers, said: “All of this means better walking for all walkers, not just ramblers. This work is carried out on behalf of the local authorities, but the labour is free. The group are currently back at work, as are the members who regularly check footpaths in order to report problems.”
For details, visit: www.mendipramblers.co.uk
Countdown to Somerset Day
Flying the flag for Somerset
SOMERSET Day will be celebrated on Tuesday May 11th and organisers of celebrations to mark the event say it’s time to get your flags, bunting or window stickers and posters ready.
They want people throughout the county to “Fly the Flag for Somerset” and are asking people to download a Somerset Day pack from their website.
The pack includes templates for the distinctive yellow and red Somerset flags and bunting to make and brighten up homes, gardens and communities. For those who would like to purchase bunting or larger flags, Somerset Day has partnered with Red Dragon Flagmakers. A window, car sticker and badge pack is also available to buy.
Somerset celebrates its birthday over the weekend of May 8th and 9th through to Somerset Day itself. lucy Housley, one of the organisers of Somerset Day said: “Finally, we have a chance to celebrate – spring is here, and we are starting to meet with friends and family outdoors, so let’s really go for it and have a massive splash of colour across Somerset.”
This sign has appeared on the edge of Pilton urging people to support Somerset Day
For details, visit: www.somersetday.com
Popular choir begins search for new director
CONGRESBuRYSingers is seeking a new musical director, following the retirement of Gordon Pullin after 12 years. They put on four concerts a year, with a wide selection of programmes, from classical to folk songs, and usually perform Stainers Crucifixion at local churches during Holy Week.
The choir meets on Tuesday evenings 8-9.30pm in the Old School Rooms and hopes to resume rehearsals in September. New members are always very welcome.
Applications close on May 21st.
New film will guide skatepark designers
A FuNDRAISING appeal is due to be launched in May to build a modern skateboard park in Bruton.
The volunteers behind the BruBowl plan say the new facility is desperately needed by young people in the town as the current ramp in Jubilee Park is too small and out-of-date; the BruBowl would incorporate the latest features and designs.
A proposal for the BruBowl was first raised by a group of parents – many of whom were skateboarders themselves – in 2016 when they sought the backing of Bruton Town Council.
Now the council has secured a long-term lease on the site from landowners the Sexey’s Trust and a £150,000 fundraising appeal can begin.
Anyone interested in using the new multi-use facility was invited to take part in a short film to pass on their ideas to the skatepark designers.
Rufus Bullough, one of the original parents behind the BruBowl idea, said: “Currently there is a gap in Bruton’s community of a safe, inclusive and accessible space catering for the growing number of 5-18-year-olds. We are providing a service to Bruton’s young people where they can build confidence, challenge themselves, express creativity whilst developing social skills and resilience.
“BruBowl skatepark will support Bruton’s young people by providing a safe, designated multi-use wheeled sports park. It will support a broad range of ages and abilities with a credible leisure facility to meet the increasing demand for cycling, skating, scootering off the roads and away from traffic in a busy rural town
“BruBowl skatepark will develop the health and wellbeing of young people, particularly relevant during the pandemic, in a free outdoor community space, proven to be welcoming to both families and individuals alike.”
A youngster with big ideas – filming of the video underway in Jubilee Park
Iyla and Sache were also asking for people’s ideas
Dozens of young people took part in the filming The current ramp is too small and out-of-date
Celebrating the life of Gerry Brice
Former policeman Primary School and The Blue School, treasurer of the Gerry Brice died at village hall committee and chairman of the parish council. the beginning of In 1987, Gerry won Community Policeman of the Year for April. his services to the police force. Gerry (PC 603) Gerry had also served as an Irish Guard in the 1950s completed 30 which involved serving his country in Egypt and taking years’ service in part in The Trooping of the Colour in 1957. the Avon and On behalf of his family, granddaughter laura Roberts Somerset police said: “Gerry will be missed by his loving family and force between everyone that had the pleasure of knowing him. A 1959 and 1989. celebration of his life will be arranged when the Beginning his career in Keynsham, Gerry was later posted to Chewton Mendip in 1966, where he quickly became a pillar of PC Gerry Brice completed 30 years’ service in the force the community. Gerry thrived on helping those around him and always went the extra mile. Being the village policeman was everything Gerry had wanted and he involved himself in every aspect of village life.
Alongside being the local bobby, he was churchwarden, chairman of the school governors at Chewton Mendip
Gerry (second left) with former colleagues at a reunion at Wells police station
Garden project has Lions Club backing
CITY of Wells lions Club is continuing to help local charities despite being restricted in their fundraising events for the last year. One being regularly supported is The lawrence Centre in Wells, a charity offering help to older people including those who may be socially isolated of suffer from (l:r) Lion Paul Marsh, Maggie Charlesworth and Rebecca Edwards, from the Lawrence Centre, and Lion Ian Williams memory loss. last year, the club drew into their funds and gave £600 to the centre towards the cost of personal protection equipment. They then became aware of the aim to developing an outside area for visitors to enjoy a quiet space with flowers and wildlife. The plan was developed by Rebecca Edwards and she and lion Ian Williams put together an application for a lions Environment Grant. All were delighted to hear that a grant of 450 Euros had been made.
Work has progressed well with weeds being removed and some planting and heavier work removing fibrous roots is underway. lion Paul Marsh has offered assistance in the garden and his carpentry skills to develop the entrance. Once the tree surgeon has completed his work planting of the remaining area can take place. l The centre still needs more funds, in particular to help buy some seating. For details, find the lawrence Centre Garden Project on Facebook.
Grants available
NORTHSomerset groups are being invited to apply for up to £20,000 each to improve health and wellbeing as we exit lockdown.
The North Somerset Community Partnership fund has £350,000 to award over two rounds this year. Grant applications need to be made before the first deadline, June 3rd. The fund is held by Quartet Community Foundation.
Julie Newman from Quartet said: “The Covid crisis has exacerbated many existing inequalities but thankfully North Somerset groups have shown they can reach and support our most disadvantaged communities.
“The last round of grants went to a diverse range of groups. One, Escapeline, supports vulnerable children at risk of exploitation from county line gangs. Another, Vision North Somerset, is using their grant to alleviate loneliness and isolation for people suffering sight loss.
“As we emerge from the long winter lockdown this new grant round can benefit a really wide range of local projects tackling health and wellbeing in North Somerset.”
Details: https://quartetcf.org.uk/grantprogrammes/north-somerset-communitypartnership-grant/
Better late than never
Civic recognition. Award winners (clockwise) Radek Evans, Rachel Clark, Gill Fone and Dawn Cunningham
lAST year’s mayor of Frome, Mark Dorrington, has been able finally to present his civic awards to community champions in the town after the pandemic caused the annual ceremony to be postponed.
The awards were announced during the council’s online meeting in March; earlier Mark had presented certificates and flowers to the winners – in a safe, socially-distanced way.
Mark said: "This last year has seen so many truly heartwarming stories of folks volunteering to help others during the pandemic. This community feeling is what we strive for in Frome and it's wonderful to see so many still continuing with this.
“In my civic awards I wanted to recognise four individuals who have each volunteered to help others, some for many years and some raising thousands of pounds, each special in their own way."
The recipients were Radek Evans, a regular volunteer with many organisations including the Fair Frome foodbank and the Food at Five community meals and who also helps with Active and in Touch.
Frome’s neighbourhood sergeant, Rachel Clark, received her award for the amazing fundraising work she has done for the charity We Hear You.
Gill Fone (featured in the March issue of Mendip Times) has played an important part in many organisations in Frome over the years and has overwhelmingly contributed to the community.
Dawn Cunningham set up Frome’s CAB and welcomed the first client back in 1974. Dawn continued to volunteer one day a week in Frome and at Midsomer Norton until late 2019 when she had to step down due to ill-health. l The current mayor, Anita Collier, will present her civic awards covering her mayoral year at the council’s annual meeting later in the spring.
An eggs-cellent initiative
Club president Sue Ruddick loads up her car to deliver the eggs to Lenka Grimes, the co-organiser of Fair Frome
THE Inner Wheel Club of Frome purchased £200 worth of Easter eggs which went into family food parcels organised by Fair Frome.
Norman conquered
NORMAN,the crusader knight who has been guarding the back entrance to the ruins of East Harptree castle for the past ten years, has hopefully been saved from an ignominious end. When villagers walking in the combe recently found that Norman had been toppled from his lookout point they went to his rescue and brought him back into the village to dry out. Norman was carved and installed in East Harptree Norman as he used to look combe during their festival in 2011. But Norman appears to have been attacked by time, water and rot (and probably woodlice) rather than any more sinister foe.
He’s now dry and recuperating in a villager’s garage, while discussions are taking place about how to renovate and waterproof him.
Boost for cancer research
HAnnAH’SWillberry Wonder Pony Charity has announced a new research project with middlesex University, which aims to uncover why bone cancer spreads to other tissues. The research, which will be led by Dr Helen Roberts, will aim to unravel the complex cellular and environmental control of how a rare type of bone cancer known as osteosarcoma (oS) spreads to other tissues such as the lungs.
The charity was established by talented horse rider, Hannah Francis, following her diagnosis with the aggressive form of bone cancer in 2015. Hannah was determined to ensure that noone with a diagnosis of osteosarcoma in the future would have to endure the bleak prospects and archaic treatment regime that she experienced.
Hannah, who lived near Frome, established her charity in march 2016, before she died in August 2016 at the age of just 18. For the past 30 years, survival rates in oS patients have remained unchanged, partly due to the lack of research into why the tumour spreads and what initiates this process.
Dr Roberts said: “i am delighted that Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity has given me the opportunity to investigate why osteosarcoma tumours metastasise to the lungs. Along with our collaborators at the Royal Veterinary College, we plan to use cutting edge cell-based assays to define not only the role of the bone cells, but also the lung environment.”
Support for WWF
THREEChew Valley girls raised £74 for the World Wide Fund for nature (WWF) by selling homemade flags, themed around the Six nations rugby, along with warming cups of hot chocolate. olivia Davies, Evie Cloes and martha Davies wanted to raise money to help put an end to tiger poaching and also to help in the fight against climate change affecting the polar bears.
The girls said: “We wish to thank every one of our customers for their support and hope to do it again soon!”
Simon’s PPE –positive potty experience
Simon Robertson, from The Dental Clinic, Portishead, is aiming to raise £5,000 this summer for Vine Counselling, based in Congresbury.
He plans to cycle the 350km King Alfred’s Way in three days in early June then do a “Tough mudder”, a ten-mile run with 25 obstacles along the way, on August 21st. All in his full work PPE protective gear!
Simon said: “King Alfred’s Way is an off-road mountain bike challenge. i do a bit of road cycling, but this will be much harder and unrelenting.
“Tough mudder challenges are physical and mentally taxing and include plenty of mud, ice cold water and even electrocution. i am not a runner!”
Simon’s wife Tracy works for Vine Counselling, a nonprofit making charity offering affordable, donation based, professional counselling to people who need help to cope with anxiety, stress, bereavement, depression, bullying, trauma, loneliness, abuse and family problems.
Simon said: “Vine has seen an unprecedented demand for their services at a time when their fundraising opportunities have plummeted. This is an invaluable service that i would like to support in their efforts to support others.”
Details: Virgin Money Giving | PPE . . . Positive Potty Experience for Vine
Fitness classes resume
AgEUK Somerset hopes to encourage a move towards “normality” with their “let’s move together and improve together” fitness campaign.
The charity’s Ageing Well team, who normally run and manage hundreds of community-based exercise classes, have held a wide range of online exercise sessions since last July.
They plan to resume their community-based classes from may 17th, with strict safety measures in place, while continuing online sessions for those who would prefer to stay at home for the time being.
The charity’s “stay strong, stay steady” classes – falls prevention sessions run in conjunction with Somerset County Council and the nHS – will also be resuming and hope to have a positive impact on the strength and balance of vulnerable adults.
