6 of the best AU T U M NA L G A R DENS to visit

YOUR ESSENTIAL MONTHLY GUIDE TO THE COUNTY

MEET

Shirlie Kemp’s
Gogglebox
rescue dog

somerset-life.co.uk OCTOBER 2024

Get cracking!
WALTON’S
WALNUT HARVEST
Cook supper with
CHARLIE BIGHAM

(in a hat!)

70 years of

EXMOOR
NATIONAL
PARK

By order of

THE KING

Somerset’s Royal Warrant holders’ pride

£4.50

2

October 2024

Somerset Life

Somerset Life

October 2024

3

4

October 2024

Somerset Life

WELCOME
from the editor
h, the joys of train travel. Today you join
me as I cruise through our glorious golden
autumnal countryside by rail. It’s always been
my preferred way of travel and before I set of to
interview one of the many talented personalities we have
in our county, I always check to see if I can hop aboard
a train before defaulting to the car. Today I’m heading
to Bath so have an hour or so to enjoy the changing
colours of the season from the carriage window. In fact,
it’s the second time I’ve been on the rail network in the
last week as I was also invited to visit the Newt’s latest
ofering, The Creamery at Castle Cary train station. It’s
one of Somerset’s newest eateries and by being situated
on the railway line it means one can even indulge in a
little lunchtime tipple too, if you should so wish!
This month’s magazine is, as always, a celebration
of the people and places that we are so fortunate to
have in Somerset. Not only are we celebrating Exmoor
Day on October 19 we are also acknowledging the 70th
anniversary of its designation as a National Park. It
often surprises me how many people don’t consider
Exmoor to be in Somerset (71 per cent of the park is
within our county border). If you are yet to visit, I really
do recommend autumn as a fabulous time to go. We are
truly blessed with some of the county’s inest food and
drink producers, many of which are honing their crafts
out on the moor, so it’s a good time for an autumnal walk
and a roast dinner in a cosy pub – I know that’s how I’ll
be celebrating Exmoor!
Turning our attention to the lower lands, there are also
above: Zoe from Rushton Dog Rescue has a mid photoshoot
celebrations on the Somerset Levels this month as the
cuddle with the soppy and loveable Tibetan Mastiff, Delilah.
RSPB team at the Ham Wall nature reserve acknowledge
Photo: Lucy Reeves @youandthedog
the huge strides they have made for nature over the past
30 years. If it wasn’t for their tireless work we wouldn’t
have such a healthy population of bitterns, and as our
Rescue, and as an ambassador for the charity has joined
forces with milliner to the royal family, Awon Golding
writer Malcolm Rigby inds out, they were even believed
to put Somerset rescue dogs in the spotlight. Hats of to
to be somewhat of a mythical beast! What a success story,
these rescue dogs as they put their hats on!
and a great spot for a dog walk followed by a cup of tea
and a slice of cake in the café nearby at Avalon Marshes.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank our
Speaking of dog walks, I don’t know how I would start
subscribers. We’ve been receiving some wonderful
each day without a morning stroll with my trusty labrador
feedback from our loyal readers and it really is heartOakley by my side. Unfortunately, not all dogs have the
warming to know that our Somerset Life family is growing
warm and loving home that we all ofer to our pampered
as more subscribers join us each month. It’s so easy
pooches – which is why this month I am
for people to turn to their smartphones for
entertainment these days but I love nothing
drawing your attention to a special fundraising focus for Rushton Dogs Rescue in
more than sitting down with a magazine
Langport. Mother and daughter Cindi and
and a cuppa so I’m very happy knowing that
Zoe have made it their life’s mission to rescue
more of you are enjoying those moments too!
and re-home dogs, ensuring they have a
Whether you’re travelling by train or
happier life. And, if these dogs can’t ind
exploring on foot, enjoy the changing of
a suitable home, Cindi and Zoe ofer them
the seasons and enjoy your Somerset Life.
sanctuary at Freedom Farm where they can
Rachel x
Email rachel.mead@newsquest.co.uk
forever run in the Somerset ields. The 1980s
Rachel Mead
popstar Shirlie Kemp rescued her Celebrity
Editor,
@somersetlifemagazine
Somerset Life
Gogglebox star pup Iris from Rushton Dogs
Somerset Life Magazine

A

Somerset Life

October 2024

5

INSIDE
October 2024

PHOTO:KEITHTRUEMAN

Dunkery Beacon at the summit of Dunkery Hill is the highest point on Exmoor. Join us as we celebrate Exmoor Day this October. See page 124

20 26 32 40
REGAL SOMERSET

VILLAGE LIFE

WALNUT HARVEST

By Simone Stanbrook-Byrne
We meet the chosen and selected
few in Somerset who the King
and Queen have honoured with
their royal favour. Meet the
businesses who are lying the
lag for us in our county as well
as for King and country.

By Malcolm Rigby
In his monthly column,
Malcolm takes us to Spaxton
where he learns a little more
about this village’s ‘religious’
past. It’s piqued the interest of
another author too, with a new
book out this year.

By Rachel Mead
October is THE month for these
organic delights from Walton
on the Somerset Levels. Let’s
meet Roger Saul, the man who
has turned his attention from
luxury handbags to an orchard
of over 300 walnut trees.

6

October 2024

DINNER AT THE
RAILWAY STATION?

By Rachel Mead
There’s a new eaterie in
Castle Cary and it’s just
moments away from the
railway platform. Alight at
The Creamery for homegrown
bufalo and homemade cheese.

Somerset Life

PLUS

PHOTO:JOHNCRISPIN

106

CELEBRATING OUR WETLANDS
By Malcolm Rigby
It’s 30 years since the RSPB took charge of Ham Wall. The
success stories are plentiful, as are the number of bitterns
which call Somerset home.

WIVES LIKE US

By Kate Robinson
Before Plum Sykes takes to the
stage at the Dulverton Exmoor
Literary Festival she chats all
things country life, batham hens,
fashion and interiors as well as her
favourite Somerset spots to visit.

DOG LOVE

By Rachel Mead
There are, thankfully, some good
people out there. We meet Cindi
and Zoe founders of Rushton
Dog Rescue as they embark on a
very stylish photoshoot to help
Somerset dogs ind a forever home.
Pictured is the loveable Delilah
in a hat by milliner Ian Bennett.

AUTUMN GARDEN
COLOURS

The leaves are falling and that’s
the ideal reason why you should
visit our glorious National
Garden Scheme gardens which
also invite you to join them for
a welcoming cup of tea.

Somerset Life

Reader Dinner
Join our editor for dinner this
autumn in South Somerset

60 Charlie Bigham
Supper recipes, so you too can
cook like our chef from Wells
103 Gardening galore
Top tips to keep your garden
looking glorious this October

130 Wincanton Wonder
Meet the new general
manager who is bringing her
talent to one of Somerset’s
premier horse racing venues.

166 Baby business success
We celebrate Hippychick
as they reach their 25 year
milestone in Bridgwater.

PHOTO:NATIONALGARDENSCHEME

98

57

158 Traverse the moat
Day trip ideas for you and the
family at Somerset’s top castles

PHOTO:LUCYREEVE@YOUANDTHEDOG

10

Our Winning Producers
Meet the stars of the culinary
show as they grab the
golden gongs

113 Keep walking!
The nights may be drawing in
but there’s still time to keep it
and healthy
PHOTO:PLUMSYKES

74

45

186 Cadbury competes
Will our favourite cocker
spaniel bring home a rosette?

ON THE COVER

Embrace the autumnal colours
in Shepton Mallet with a visit to
Kilver Court Gardens. The 3.5acre
gardens were irst created in the
late 19th century and are open
Mon-Sun 10am-4pm. A tour of
the gardens reveals a rockery,
parterre and the elegant arches
of the Charlton railway viaduct.
Photo: Alamy

October 2024

7

MEET THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

somerset-life.co.uk
Find us on Facebook
/Somerset Life Magazine
Share with us on Instagram
@somersetlifemagazine

EDITORIAL
ANGHARAD PAULL
is the person in the
know when it comes to
entertaining the little
people in your life. Her
monthly column ‘Kids,
these days’ has top tips for
activities countywide.

JAMES WITTS is our
Clevedon-based sports
writer whose most recent
book, Riding with the
Rocketmen, charts the
trials, tribulations and
tantrums of completing
the Tour de France.

After editing inlight entertainment
magazines, writer and
author LAURENCE
MCJANNET now has
his inger irmly on the
cultural pulse of Somerset,
Bath and Bristol.

Editor
Rachel Mead
07966 257363
rachel.mead@newsquest.co.uk
Print editor
Owen Jones
owen.jones@newsquest.co.uk
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Every month
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quintessential villages –
there’s always something
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In her role as scribe to
the spaniel of satire,
KATE ROBINSON is the
mouthpiece for Cadbury
and his monthly canine
observations.

EMMA BOVILL is our
arts columnist. Perusing
the latest exhibitions at
the county’s galleries and
talking with the talented
curators is her passion.

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Published in Somerset by Newsquest Media Group. Registered oice 1st Floor, Chartist Tower, Upper Dock Street, Newport, Wales, NP20 1DW. Printed by Acorn Web Offset Ltd, Normanton
Industrial Estate, Loscoe Close, Normanton WF6 1TW. Somerset Life adheres to the Editors’ Code of Practice (which you can ind at pcc.org.uk/cop/practice.html). We are regulated by the
Independent Press Standards Organisation. Complaints about stories should be referred irstly to the Editor by email at: rachel.mead@newsquest.co.uk. It is essential that your email is headed
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8

October 2024

Somerset Life

Somerset Life

October 2024

9

FREEDOM FARM

EVERY

DOG
has its day
Twelve dogs from Rushton Dog Rescue in Langport
- one of which belongs to singer Shirlie Kemp were selected by celebrity milliner Awon Golding to
feature on next year’s Haute Dogs charity calendar
WORDS:

‘D

Rachel Mead PHOTOGR APHY: Lucy Reeve @youandthedog

o what you want with it.’ The harsh words that
were nonchalantly muttered to Cindi McNeil
Regan and Zoe McNeil last night when they
arranged the collection of a 10-month-old
cocker spaniel, Max.
Cindi and Zoe are the founders of Rushton Dog Rescue
at Freedom Farm near Langport and have been rescuing
dogs for 20 years. For many years they made it their
mission to save dogs from the meat trade in China as well
as abusive and neglectful situations in Spain, Egypt and
Romania, but since Covid have had to restrict all their
rescue operations to the UK.
‘We’ve not been importing dogs from abroad for three
years as the situation in the UK is dire. We’re getting
up to 20 requests a day. It’s the worst I’ve ever seen it,
I’ve never seen so many rescues,’ says Cindi. ‘Max is a
prime example, he’s been with his new owner for ive

10

October 2024

days – ive days – and they’ve now decided they can’t
cope as they want to move house. They tried to return
him to the breeder – who of course doesn’t want to know –
so we step in.’
Cindi and Zoe have seen it all; the dogs’ stories are
heart-breaking and yet, despite working incredibly long
days, seven days a week, the pair are on a continuous
mission to ofer dogs another, and happier, chance at life.
‘Take Max for example. We’ll let him decompress for a few
days as we can see he’s scatty and stressed. Max will need
to adjust to his new surroundings before we assess him,
then we’ll ind out what he needs and in a few weeks’ time
we’ll get him neutered. We can already see that he hasn’t
been socialised at all so he’ll mix with our dogs and get a
routine here. We’re sticklers for routine and that makes a
dog feel safe and happy. Long term, he’ll suit a countryside
home, someone will be very lucky – he’s stunning.’
>
Somerset Life

t

’

u
y

l

h
rs A
t c

i .
d y
r

FREEDOM FARM

The dogs which ind themselves in Cindi and Zoe’s
care at Freedom Farm’s 15 acres of ields and woodland
are now the lucky ones. At present Rushton Dog Rescue
ofers sanctuary to 75 dogs but many of those will never
be re-homed. ‘Some of our dogs have had such trauma
in their lives before they reached us that we couldn’t risk
them living elsewhere.’ says Cindi. ‘Our sanctuary dogs
will have a life illed with enrichment, they integrate
together and run free through our ields as a pack. They
know their routine, and after a good long run they all
come back and love to line up to go back to their beds!’
So how is it that these rescue dogs on a Somerset farm are
suddenly inding themselves in front of a camera donning
haute couture hats? ‘To be invited by Awon Golding for our
Rushton dogs to feature on her fundraising calendar was
amazing. It’s such a fun project and with ever-increasing
overheads to cover we’re always appreciative of any inancial
support. The dogs were all so amenable wearing the hats,
they were so good and there was a lot of wagging tails.’
Awon Golding, milliner to the royal family and
celebrities such as Kylie and Lady Gaga, travelled
to Somerset with 12 designer hats – all specially
commissioned to each it a canine crown. Having rescued
her own dog, Stevie, from the All Dogs Matter charity,
Awon wanted to assist them further and so, in 2018, she
created the Haute Dogs Calendar, each passing year
commissioning new hats for rescue dogs to model with
a diferent charity as beneiciary. ‘Milliners put in such
long hours in their studios and nearly all of us have dogs
to keep us company. I put out feelers with other milliners
and 100 per cent of them were instantly on board. I assign
each milliner with a calendar month and because we all

have such distinctive styles, we end up with 12 unique
hats to showcase the dogs and shine a light on them in
the hope they will ind a new home.’
The Haute Dogs Calendar has to date raised over
£100,000 for dogs in shelter. Sales of the calendar
and an online auction of the hats is available via
hautedogscalendar.com and all proceeds from the
2025 calendar will go to Rushton Dog Rescue at Freedom
Farm. This year, Awon has designed the hat for the
month of December: ‘My hat is called Yule Dog and
it screams Christmas. It’s super cute as it’s a miniChristmas tree studded with sparkly stars and if there
is any wish to be made at Christmas, it’s that dogs will
ind a loving home.’
In addition to the Somerset dogs donning the hats
this year, 1980s singer Shirlie Kemp also joined the
photoshoot with her rescue dog, Iris. Since re-homing
Iris from Rushton Dog Rescue in 2020, Shirlie has been

>

top: Mother and daughter Cindi and Zoe are

the founders of Rushton Dog Rescue
right: Milliner Awon Golding with her rescue dog, Stevie,

who inspired the Haute Dogs calendar. Photo: Awon Golding
left: Shirlie Kemp and her dog Iris, who was rescued
from the meat trade in China by Rushton Dog Rescue

Somerset Life

October 2024

13

FREEDOM FARM

‘It was great to photograph on location, in Somerset,
and see the good work that Cindi and Zoe do at
Rushton Dog Rescue, and the dogs were all just fabulous.’

top: Christmas came early for Yorkshire terrier Edna

when she modelled Awon Golding’s hat Yule Dog.
above: Basset hound Bentley wears the top hat named

Lady Grey which is crafted from straw and adorned
with handmade lowers by Majesa Panama Hats
right: Jane Bedden Millinery was inspired by the gunpowder
plot when creating the hat for German shepherd, Beau.

an ambassador for the charity. ‘I have been a dog owner
all my life, so my heart melted when I went and met some
the poor little dogs that Rushton had rescued. It’s amazing
to see mum and daughter, Cindi and Zoe managing to
rescue these beautiful doggies and get them to safety and
hopefully adopted to good homes in the UK.’
Although Shirlie doesn’t know the whole of Iris’ history
the Kemp family do know that by rehoming her through
Rushton Dog Rescue, they have saved her from the meat
trade in China. ‘Iris has so much character and absolutely
everyone who meets her falls in love with her – and she
knows it! Though don’t go near her when she’s managed
to ind a worn sock – she turns into a Tasmanian Devil
and protects it like a lioness! Though most of the time,
Iris is like a little teddy bear. Her favourite member of
our family has to be Martin. I often wake in the mornings,
and she’s draped all over him, staring at him to make
sure he notices her irst!’
‘Raising awareness that adoption is a really wonderful
thing to do is key so we were delighted to be involved
with the Haute Dogs calendar. The photoshoot was a
breeze with Iris as she is such a good girl and acted like
a supermodel as she angled and tilted her head in the
cutest of hats whilst looking at the camera! Of course, she
has been a regular on Celebrity Googlebox with Martin
and my son, Roman so she’s very used to being in front
of the camera. I’m sure she is going to be very happy with
her calendar pics – and so will her daddy!’
Shirlie also joined Iris for a photo and modelled a mini
red top hat created by London-based milliner, Ian Bennett.
The haute couture design features in the 2025 calendar
on the month of February. Awon says: ‘I love Ian’s top
hat, he’s made it exactly as he would for a human head.
It’s vintage Victorian silk – red plush – you can’t ind
that anywhere, it’s incredible! And it also suits our model
dog Delilah so well – they say don’t work with dogs and
children but we know that’s not true. Usually, we do the
shoot of site but this year it was great to photograph on
location, in Somerset, and see the good work that Cindi
and Zoe do at Rushton Dog Rescue, and the dogs were
all just fabulous.’

.

6 WAYS YOU CAN HELP RUSHTON DOG RESCUE
1: The Haute Dogs Calendar (£15) and
Christmas cards (£7 for pack of 6) are
available via hautedogscalendar.com
2: Bid for your favourite hat
via the online auction via
hautedogscalendar.com
3: Donate to Rushton – dog bedding
and dog food are all welcomed –
just leave at the gate (TA10 9BE)

14

October 2024

4: Volunteer. Rushton Dog Rescue
is hoping to run a charity shop
in Somerset soon, register your
interest as a volunteer via
mail@rushtondogrescue.co.uk

6: Re- home a Rushton rescue
dog. Speak to Cindi and Zoe
about your lifestyle and they
will keep you in mind to match
you with the right dog.

5: Nominate Rushton Dog
Rescue in your will – leaving a
legacy or a gift to help the lives
of future rescue dogs. More info
via: rushtondogrescue.co.uk

Keep in touch
@ rushtondogrescue
@ hautedogscalendar
@ awongolding
@youandthedog

Somerset Life

Somerset Life

October 2024

15

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Championing our local communities which make Somerset so truly unique.
SEAL OF APPROVAL

SPAXTON LIFE

Life in a Somerset
walnut orchard

The King & Queen’s chosen
Somerset businesses

What’s it like to live in this
Somerset village?

PHOTO:ULRICHLEITNER

MEET ROGER SAUL

DISCOVER EARTH LIKE NEVER BEFORE
Bristol-based artist Luke Jerram is
bringing his installation Gaia to Bristol
Cathedral this autumn, with a whole
host of accompanying events to elevate
the experience. Gaia is 1.8 million
times smaller than the Earth, with each
centimetre of the internally lit sculpture

Somerset Life

representing 18km of the Earth’s surface.
As such, Gaia helps to make the scale of
Earth and its beauty, a reality for all. The
impressive installation will illuminate
the cathedral from Tuesday October 15
to Saturday November 9, alongside an
exhibition and an extensive programme

of events. Luke Jerram said: ‘I’m delighted
to bring my Gaia earth artwork to my
home city. I can’t wait for visitors to the
cathedral to see the Earth as if viewing it
from space; an incredibly beautiful and
precious experience.’
bristol-cathedral.co.uk

October 2024

19

20

October 2024

Somerset Life

ROYAL WARRANTS

BY

ROYAL
APPOINTMENT
King Charles and HM The Queen
have recently granted their irst
Royal Warrants of the new reign.
SIMONE STANBROOK-BYRNE talks
with Somerset businesses who have
received the royal seal of approval

oyal Warrant holders are a league
apart. To hold a Royal Warrant is an
endorsement of excellence; a coveted
mark of recognition giving kudos
and status in the business world. It indicates
that the holder has regularly supplied goods
or services to the royal household and it is
granted for up to ive years at a time.
The Royal Warrant Holders Association
was founded in 1840 to represent individuals
and companies holding Royal Warrants, but
the venerable heritage of this endorsement
has its roots in mediaeval times. Back then,
tradespeople would compete for royal favour,
the monarch having the pick of the best. In
the 15th century the then Lord Chamberlain,
the head of the royal household, appointed
royal tradespeople with the irst Royal
Warrants – a practice that continues thus
to this day. In the 18th century tradespeople
with a Royal Warrant began displaying the
royal coat of arms on their premises and
letterheads – this system still continues and
the devices are now also seen on packaging,
websites and delivery vehicles.
Nationally, there are more than 800 Royal
Warrant holders, including these in Somerset.

R

wastelands, ‘where all manner of interesting
weeds were growing’, Donald started
gathering wild seeds. Now, more than 800
acres is dedicated to wild seed production,
with Emorsgate’s 300 Somerset acres at
Langridge being augmented by a further
450 acres in Norfolk and elsewhere. Donald
tells me: ‘All those acres are growing wild
seed and we also travel the whole country
harvesting seeds from farmers’ meadows that
have been spared the plough and the sprayer.’
The Emorsgate family describe themselves
as ‘on a mission to bring about monumental
change, breathing life into restoration
projects’. Futureprooing is also at the
forefront of their mission, their seeds having
genetic variation to ensure an adaptability to
changing environments and climates.

EMORSGATE SEEDS
It’s no surprise that Emorsgate Seeds is the
kind of company close to the King’s heart.
Founded in 1980 by Donald MacIntyre, this
family irm produces wild seeds for ecological
restoration and the rejuvenation of nature
because ‘we love nature and growing native
seeds helps to restore the wild’. Starting in
the unlikely setting of London’s East End

above: Emorsgate Seeds, Special
Cornield Mixture. Photo: Emorsgate Seeds
left: Donald MacIntyre of Emorsgate Seeds
with his dog, Mary-Anne. Photo: Emorsgate Seeds

October 2024

21

>

ROYAL WARRANTS

‘My daughters were visiting
when the post lady called one
Friday to deliver the letter
from Buckingham Palace. It
was good news! We celebrated
with cake and champagne!’
‘We have supplied native seeds to the
household of the former Prince of Wales for 15
years,’ says Donald, ‘and we hope to continue
to be of service to the royal household.’
He describes the moment when he learned
that Emorsgate’s Royal Warrant had been
renewed by the King: ‘My daughters were
visiting when the post lady called one Friday
to deliver the letter from Buckingham Palace.
It was good news! We celebrated with cake
and champagne!’

native hedgerows. Owner, Peter Munford,
tells me that his company has ‘worked at
Highgrove since 1980, planting hedges and
trees together with follow-up maintenance
and general woodland operations.
‘Our original Royal Warrant was granted in
1989 for the then Prince of Wales, and when
he acceded to the throne, we were delighted
to be given the opportunity to apply for a
Royal Warrant to him as King.’

OLIVER & LANG BROWN

Julian and Isabel Bannerman, of Bannerman
Designs, have been working together to
design gardens and garden buildings since
1983. They are based at Mudford, near Yeovil.
‘We’re a very small studio set up,’ they
tell me. ‘We work together, with help from
various freelancers and contractors with
whom we have worked for many years. We
try to make gardens for people to live in
and enjoy, with an eye always to simplicity,
biodiversity and ecology, coupled with a dash
of romantic theatricality.’
With numerous awards to their name, their
work is informed by a lifetime of fascination
with the natural world and the history of
human intervention in that world. Isabel
also works as a contemporary botanical
illustrator, producing limited edition
prints – her extraordinary creations are
vibrant and alive, and can also be seen in the
Bannermans’ books.
‘We were introduced [to the King, then
Prince Charles] in 1991 because we had
rescued and restored listed buildings. We
had a shared interest in re-using building
materials and reclamation, in old fashioned
building and garden techniques and organic
and regenerative horticulture.’
Julian and Isabel created the dramaticlooking, wildlife-rich stumpery at Highgrove,
as well as the woodland garden. They have
also constructed rustic buildings at Dumfries
House in Scotland, an 18th-century stately
pile in 2,000 acres, home to a nationally
important collection of furniture, which went
for auction in 2007. It was bought by the King
to save it for the nation. ‘We were very proud
and surprised to receive the Royal Warrant,’
they tell me. ‘It’s always been an honour and
a pleasure to work for the King.’

BANNERMAN DESIGNS
This irm of forestry managers and contractors
based near Bruton is another company whose
environmental credentials align with those of
the King. Working with native broad-leaved
tree species, much of their work involves
caring for previously under-managed
woodlands, undertaking replanting schemes
for felled areas, establishing new planting
projects (some with funding through the
Forestry Commission) and the creation of

above: Julian and Isabel Bannerman of
Bannerman Designs. Photo: Andrew Montgomery
right: Bannerman Designs. Photo: Isabel Bannerman

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October 2024

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Somerset Life

Somerset Life

October 2024

23

CARBON GOLD
Carbon Gold, based in North Somerset, was
founded in 2007 by Dan Morrell, founder
of the Carbon Neutral Company, and Craig
Sams, founder of Green & Blacks chocolate.
Carbon Gold aims to enhance soil health
and support sustainable agriculture with its
organically certiied product, biochar.
Managing director Sue Rawlings explains:
‘Biochar is a form of charcoal that improves soil
fertility and carbon storage, thereby helping
to mitigate climate change by sequestering
carbon dioxide,’ she says. ‘Carbon Gold’s

above: Craig Sams and Sue Rawlings
of Carbon Gold. Photo: Carbon Gold
below: Carbon Gold’s biochar. Photo: Jason Ingram

products range from peat-free composts, soil
and substrate enhancers, to tree care mixes,
all enhanced with UK-sourced biochar. They
are designed to naturally enrich soil biology,
improve plant health, and increase crop
yields, while reducing the need for chemical
fertilisers and pesticides.’
Sue explains that, by enhancing soil
structure and water retention, biochar-based
products help to build resilient agricultural
ecosystems capable of withstanding the
pressures of climate change, another example
of the King’s desire to support businesses that
think ahead in terms of the environment.
Carbon Gold caters to a diverse market,
including home gardeners, horticulturists,
landscapers, and large-scale agricultural
operations, promoting the use of biochar as

a cornerstone for organic and regenerative
farming practices. ‘Carbon Gold ’s
commitment to environmental sustainability
extends beyond its product line,’ says Sue. ‘It
actively engages in research and partnerships
to broaden the understanding and application
of biochar, aiming to establish it as a key tool
in the global efort to restore soil health and
reduce humanity’s carbon footprint.’
Carbon Gold began supplying its biochar
products to the King when he was Prince
Charles. ‘The King has been a prominent
advocate for environmental issues and
organic agriculture for decades and his
commitment to sustainability aligns well
with Carbon Gold’s mission and products,’
says Sue. ‘Supplying to the King represents
a natural collaboration, where our products
could be used in the royal estates and gardens,
showcasing the practical beneits of biochar
in promoting soil health and sustainability
on a high-proile platform.’
I ask what it felt like to be listed as one of the
prestigious royal suppliers.‘Receiving a Royal
Warrant has been a tremendous honour for us
at Carbon Gold,’ replies Sue. ‘It validates our
eforts in promoting organic and regenerative
agricultural practices, aligning perfectly with
King Charles’ well-known commitment to
sustainability and the environment. This
accolade not only boosts our credibility but
also strengthens our resolve to continue our
work, enhancing our reputation within the
UK and around the world. It’s a source of
immense pride and encouragement.’
All these companies work to ind sustainable
ways forward, methods that are ‘part of the
solution’. Their Royal Warrant accolade is
well-deserved. Congratulations to them all.

.

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October 2024

Somerset Life

VILLAGE LIFE
Malcolm Rigby takes a look at village life in Somerset

Hawkridge Reservoir. Photo: Shelly Duggan

T HIS MON T H W E V ISI T:

SPAXTON
t’s a quiet, little, spread-eagled, redstoned parish on the edge of the
Quantocks but Spaxton has a more than
curious past. It clearly has a good social
conscience: there’s a village community shop,
run by volunteers, selling everything from
Somerset Life to locally hand-painted cards to
PG Tips; the cricket club next door has raised
thousands on nets to protect nearby houses
with the surplus going to Motor Neurone
Disease; the parish council is committed
to improving the state of road signs and
hedges, deal with looding issues, improve
mobile reception and is in progress with an

I

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October 2024

innovative afordable housing scheme; and
every year more than 50 residents including
children gather to help frogs and toads cross
the road safely to their mating grounds. Yet it
has a history that some might call heretical
or licentious but I, personally, think is still
startling.
For over a century Spaxton was home to
a strange and notorious religious sect that
deied the laws of marriage, established
a harem of beautiful and wealthy young
women and was ruled over by two diferent
‘Messiahs’ who promised immortality. The
Agapemone, literally ‘Abode of Love’, was

created in the 1840s by a clergyman called
Henry James Prince who had been a curate
at nearby Charlinch. Although the aim was
to make the community self supporting
through the farm, it became a wealthy
society as new members were required to
donate their worldly goods, so much so they
were able to build an extravagant temple in
Clapton, London. The centre of the Somerset
Agapemone base was the chapel (also bar,
lounge and billiard room), it was here that
the ‘Great Manifestation’ took place when
Prince, though married, took a 16-year-old
orphan as his ‘Bride of the Lamb’. He had

Somerset Life

VILLAGE LIFE

previously declared that a young beautiful
virgin would have to be chosen if the society
was to be truly purged of sin.
In 1899 the impossible happened when
Brother Prince, who had preached his own
immortality, died. Waiting in the wings was
the Reverend John Hugh Smyth-Pigott; a
charming, good-looking man who delighted
in the company of women and caused riots at
Clapton by claiming to be God – the perfect
replacement. Although married, he took Ruth
Preece as his ‘Spiritual Bride’ and the union
produced three children called Glory, Power
and Life. He was defrocked by the Church
of England but rebutted: ‘I am God, it does
not matter what they do.’ Later Ruth was
replaced by other Spiritual Brides and she
led the community without her children
only to be hunted down by a private detective
and returned. Smyth-Pigott, the ‘Beloved’,
died in 1927 but the community carried on
for several decades largely under the austere
leadership of Ruth. A forthcoming book
written by Stuart Flinders will be released
in November, titled A Very British Cult.
Flinders shines a light on the people drawn
to the cult and those who managed to escape
from the Abode.

Created in the early sixties in order to provide
water for the inhabitants of Bridgwater,
Hawkridge reservoir is a valuable and
attractive asset to the residents of Spaxton.
There’s a large car park on Lawyer’s Hill
and a scenic path that takes you all the
way around – the path that doesn’t hug
the reservoir is under two miles and takes
less than an hour.
Shelly Duggan, who has been known
to go out with her secateurs to tidy up the
odd overgrown stile, said: ‘I think it’s a
very relaxing area. It is a beautiful walk
all around the reservoir; if you’re looking
for birds and wildlife it’s just a fantastic
place to go.’
Since records began in 1993, more than
105 diferent species of birds have been
sighted in the area. When I was there a huge
lock of Canadian Geese were making their
way down to the water. The parish council
is currently in talks with Wessex Water
about creating a bird watching platform
on the site.
It’s also a popular ishing spot, apparently
ofering some of the best trout ishing in
the West Country. The reservoir is stocked
with sparctic, rainbow, brown, tiger, golden
and blue trout.

Somerset Life

POPULATION: 1,051 (2021)
STAY: The Stableblock at the Gothelney
family-run farm is based in the grounds
of the Grade I-listed Gothelney Manor
Farmhouse. The ields around are
home to the pasture-fed rare breed
pigs and also grow cereals used
by local bakers, including the Field
Bakery just next door. The property
sleeps four in two bedrooms. Three
bathrooms. Available through Airbnb.

Order via quillerpublishing and use the
discount code BRITISH20 to receive 20
per cent of.

BUY: Winters Farmhouse is a ive
bedroomed family home with an
annexe offering letting opportunity.
The original property is 17th century
but has been subject to complete
renovation providing good living space
and ine period features including open
ireplaces and original beamed ceilings.
It is set in 2.5 acres, with paddocks and
a split level terrace enjoying stunning
countryside views.
£1,120,000, Fox & Sons, Minehead.

The Big Event
PHOTO:GRAHAMHUMPHREYS,QUANTOCKPHOTOGRAPHY

Hawkridge
Reservoir

STAY or BUY?

A multitude of scarecrows
come to life to celebrate
Spaxton’s biggest annual
party – The Flower Show.
It’s been going since the
1930s but these days it is less
agricultural, there is no pig
racing anymore, and it takes
place at the end of July. No
pigs but there are llamas,
there’s also a human fruit
machine, welly wanging,
vintage vehicles, a ukulele
band, a huge tug of war
involving a massive rope
and of course an opportunity
to see the competitors’
produce on display. It’s a
‘community event rather
than a commercial one.’
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Somerset Life

SOCIETY

4-Goal Best Playing Pony – Lady with Ali Hunter,
Tommy Dalton-Morgan and Lucy Marsh

2-Goal Most Valuable
Player – Amy Haydock

2-Goal Teams: Hindquarters,
Timb-ply, Nomad and Seahorses

Spectators and players enjoying tea,
cake and Pimm’s after the matches

4-Goal Most Valuable
Player – Mark Deacon

4-Goal teams (left to right): Vaux Park,
Coombe Place, Timb-ply, Canonbury

4-Goal winners, Coombe Place: Mark Deacon,
Harold Hodges, Ali Hunter, Nii White and Olly Bate

Spectators watching
the start of play

An amazing weekend
of fundraising polo
aux Park Polo Club in Wigborough near South
Petherton was the beautiful setting for a
weekend of 4-goal and 2-goal polo. Eight polo
teams, from various parts of the country, played
in the Victor Ludorum Tournament and the weather
was perfect.
A splendid array of cakes were donated and all the
proceeds from the ‘afternoon tea’ were donated to Cancer
Research. A staggering £1,900 was raised and organisers
said a huge thank you to everyone who came to support
the weekend. They also thanked the sponsors for the
weekend, Blackhound Sports and Tech Stirrups.

V
Somerset Life

Vaux Park Polo Club was established in 2006 and is run
by the Vaux family within the backdrop of Wigborough
Manor Estate and the rolling hills of Somerset. Polo is
played at the club all year round. During winter months
the full-sized all-weather arena comes into play, as does
the clubhouse with comfortable seating, large log-burner,
and hot drinks.
To ind out more about polo, have a lesson or
come and watch please contact either Ali Hunter
on 07949 440938 or Tim Vaux on 07703 524613.
vauxparkpoloclub
vauxparkpoloclub.co.uk

October 2024

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Somerset Life

SHARPHAM PARK

A

WALNUT
HARVEST
As the calendar ticks over to October,
ROGER SAUL is preparing to
harvest this year’s crop of organic
walnuts at Sharpham Park
WORDS:

Rachel Mead

PHOTOGR APHY:

Sharpham Park

There are seven
different varieties
of walnut planted at
Sharpham Park

Somerset Life

October 2024

33

SHARPHAM PARK

ou know you’ve reached somewhere prestigious when
you can cruise along the driveway in third gear. You
also know you’re heading somewhere special when that
driveway is lined with oak trees and has glorious views
over the Somerset Levels with Glastonbury Tor in the
middle distance.
The approach to The Walnut Mill is as noteworthy
as the man who lives there and also as exclusive as
the produce which is coming into fruition from these
very lands later this month. The month of October for
proprietor Roger Saul marks the occasion of the shaking
of the 300 organic walnut trees in his orchard as they
have matured, ready for harvest.
Roger may best be known as the founder of the iconic
designer handbag brand Mulberry, but since his enforced
departure from the label 20 years ago, his business
focus has been rooted at his family homestead based at
Sharpham Park, near Walton. By working collaboratively
with organic farmers all over the country, Roger switched
his attention from designing luxury leather goods to
producing over 1,000 tonnes of organic spelt per year.
And, by milling the grain on site in Somerset, Roger

produced the highly sought-after Sharpham Park Spelt
Flour, a brand that was coveted in the UK and abroad.
The Covid pandemic saw sales boom; everyone was,
after all, at home baking bread, but then came Brexit
which saw export fees rocket and the subsequent and
devastating closure of the mill. It was time for Roger to
pivot again, and the timing serendipitously coincided
with the maturation of the walnut trees which he had
planted some 20 years ago.
On the day that I meet Roger and his wife Monty, the
sun is shining, and I have just got a tad lost wandering
around the farm buildings. There’s a lot of building work
going on and Roger along with his loyal Jack Russell,
Mingo, ind me rambling amongst the piles of hamstones
which are waiting to be laid as he and Monty repurpose
the old lour mill into their new home.
‘After the closure of the spelt business last year we
divided up the estate; selling our 15th-century manor
house “next door” and we moved in here; the site of the
old mill. Our friend, Kevin McCloud [the TV presenter
from Grand Designs] said it’s one of the best new-build
industrial buildings he’s ever seen.’
When completed, the Saul family home will be an
upside-down house with the irst loor beneitting from
the expansive views across the countryside whilst the
ground-loor bedrooms will embrace the pre-existing
architectural arches and beneit from a landscaped garden
and patio which lead down to a large duck pond and,
crucially, be just a few steps away from the walnut orchard.
‘I decided to plant the orchard after discovering a
“monk’s lunch” of a walnut, chicken bones and a scallop
shell lime-plastered in the wall of our old manor house.
Every farm in Somerset had a walnut tree in the past,
the roots love the clay soil in our county so, in line with
my ethos for growing organic produce, and during my
careful restoration of the park, we planted seven varieties
of walnut. No one grows organic walnuts in the UK and
it’ll certainly take them a while to catch up with me now!’
Roger explains how it takes a good 20 years for a walnut
tree to bear fruit. His irst true harvest in 2022 bore a
mini haul, whereas last year he beneited from a two
tonne (gross) harvest. This year Roger is predicting
three tonnes from the orchard, with the October harvest
being a community hands-on afair as his friends, family

>

‘Every farm in Somerset had a
walnut tree in the past, the roots
love the clay soil in our county’

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October 2024

Somerset Life

Walnuts are a powerhouse
of omega-3 fatty acids and
polyphenols, crucial for
improving gut health and
reducing inlammation

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October 2024

Somerset Life

SHARPHAM PARK

‘I decided to plant the orchard
after discovering a “monk’s lunch”
in the wall of our manor house’
and grandchildren are invited to the orchard to help.
And, akin to the wassailing celebration familiar with
apple orchards, Roger will also honour the event with
ceremonial gunshots.
‘It is believed that the common walnut was introduced
to our shores by the Romans. Our ancestors saw the
similarity in shape between the walnut and the human
brain and subsequently ate walnuts to cure headaches.’
Today, the health beneits of walnuts are vast with
many nutritionists recommending the consumption
of walnuts to help reduce high blood pressure, and
lower cholesterol. ‘A Spanish study published earlier
this year found that the eating of walnuts can also
help with the prevention of Alzheimer’s,’ says Roger.
‘British epidemiologist and doctor Tim Spector says
walnuts are a powerhouse of omega-3 fatty acids and
polyphenols, crucial for improving gut health and
reducing inlammation. These beneits support brain
health and could play a role in preventing Alzheimer’s
disease. I wonder if perhaps the Romans knew more
than we give them credit for?’
The beneits of the walnut are not just limited to
the nut inside; the shells and the husks have multiple
qualities which Roger is already exploring. ‘We have
an artist nearby, Cat Lewis, who loves to use ‘walnut
ink’ from our husks to dye fabrics – in fact we were
featured on BBC Countryile a few years ago where
we demonstrated how fresh husks create a natural dye
which is safe for both skin and respiratory health. And,
we are also looking at how the shells can be crushed
to create a ‘grit’ which is often used as an emulsiier
within beauty products. I’d love to see us make walnut
oil one day too.’
As Roger tells me about the tradition of pickling early
walnuts on St Swithin’s Day (the shells aren’t too hard
then), Monty brings us cofee and a dish of last year’s
walnut harvest for me to sample. With most of the
walnuts in UK supermarkets imported from China,
Turkey and the US, it feels momentous to be eating a
walnut grown just 50 metres away in a Somerset orchard.
I may not be a certiied food critic, but to me these
Somerset walnuts have a rich creaminess with a
momentary and welcome tang of bitterness on the after-

Somerset Life

taste. They are without doubt incredibly moreish and if I
wasn’t in company, I certainly wouldn’t be so restrained!
Stocked with Riverford, Teals, The Newt and Hauser &
Wirth, Sharpham Park’s walnuts have already developed
a reputation for their quality and lavour, and knowing
that they are grown without synthetic pesticides or
fertilisers means that they are better for both our health
and Somerset’s natural environment.
‘Somerset is a thriving county and we’re so fortunate
to have lived and worked here for so many years. We’ve
spent our lives creating things; whether its Mulberry,
Charlton House or Kilver Court or lour here at Sharpham
Park. Monty and I have been good at embracing each
and every bit of life that comes along. We have lived and
breathed this land and now we’re excited to be recreating
Sharpham Park again.’

.

GET CRACKING!
Sharpham Park’s walnut varieties are: Franquette,
Buccaneer, Broadview, Fernette, Lara, Fernor and
Chandler. You can purchase a 350g presentation
box of Somerset-grown organic walnuts for home
delivery direct from sharphampark.com.

October 2024

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October 2024

Somerset Life

FOOD & DRINK
The tastiest stories from across the county
ON THE PODIUM

A CHAT WITH CHARLIE

IT’S MARKET DAY

Somerset’s golden food
and drink producers

Meet the founder and namesake
behind Charlie Bigham’s dishes

Let’s look at the history of the
county’s farmers markets

PHOTO:BILLBRADSHAW

The Harry’s Cider family:
Jess, Alison, Harry, Lizzie and Toby

FAMILY SUCCESS
Local artisan producer Harry’s Cider has
won two prestigious Great Taste Awards
this year, as well as being shortlisted in
the forthcoming industry-leading British
Farming Awards.
The Great Taste Awards judges
described the Original cider as having
a ‘well-rounded lavour’ and praised the
Dabinett for being ‘deceptively simple and
clean and easily enjoyable’.

Somerset Life

Harry’s Cider has been shortlisted for
the Family Farming Business of the Year
award at the British Farming Awards and
are eagerly awaiting the results at the
awards ceremony on October 18.
Harry’s Cider is produced by Harry
and his son Toby on their family farm in
Long Sutton, near Langport, with Alison
heading up the commercial arm of the
business.

Regular cider tours and tastings are
held throughout the year at the farm,
giving locals and tourists to Somerset
an opportunity to enjoy an orchard
walk, learn about the cider-making
process and sample some of their
award-winning ciders.
Tickets for the tours and tastings can
be booked online.
harryscidercompany.co.uk

October 2024

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,

DINING OUT

The Creamery’s buffalo mozzarella is combined with lemon zest and olive oil for a fresh zingy starter

JUST THE
TICKET
The Newt in Somerset has opened The Creamery,
its trackside restaurant at Castle Cary train station.
RACHEL MEAD alights for lunch
PHOTOGR APHY:

t’s Friday, the sun is shining, and I am
walking the 3.5 miles to reach my nearest
train station. It feels good to stretch the
legs, breathe in the county’s fresh air
and stop and admire the views along the way.
Though hang on, as I glance at my watch, I
best get a wiggle on because I’ve got a train

I

Somerset Life

The Newt in Somerset

to catch. My inal destination today is Castle
Cary train station. It’s not often one looks
forward to dining at a railway station – after
all, platforms are usually just a mecca of grab
and go sandwiches and cofee on the run –
but we like to do things diferently here in
Somerset, and today I am having lunch at

the recently launched The Creamery. The
Creamery was built in 1912 and was originally
owned by brothers G&C Prideaux. Known
then as the Milk Factory it was here that local
farmers would deliver their milk, which would
be made into cheese before being transported
to London via the adjacent railway line.

October 2024

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>

DINING OUT

The buildings are a key piece of our
Somerset heritage and having undergone
restoration by the Newt’s innovative design
team, they now celebrate our county’s rich
history and instantly transport you back to
the turn of the 20th century.
First things irst, The Creamery is open to
all. The Newt’s main hotel and gardens (a 10minute drive away) may be membership only,
but this trackside restaurant and farm shop
is pitched as a new community hub for local
residents, as well as a must-eat destination
for travellers boarding and alighting from
the London-Penzance line and WeymouthGloucester lines, so everyone is welcome.
I’m excited to see the transformation;
after all, the buildings around the UK’s train

way downstairs to the creamery and the
restaurant beyond. My train home isn’t for
2.5 hours, and my belly is rumbling after my
walk so I save the shopping experience for
later and opt right. The stairwell is adorned
with vintage pictures connected to the 1900s
era and as I make my way down each step,
I can hear the nostalgic tones of classic
songstresses from that time, their sultry
voices transporting me back to the golden
age of the Great British Railway.
The irst welcome surprise is that before
you even have the chance to be guided to
a table, you can pause for a moment and
see the working creamery in action. Master
cheesemaker, Margaretha Van Dam and her
team, decked out top to toe in white, are at

‘It’s clear to see that Castle
Cary train station has had a
glorious Newt make over’
stations can sometimes be a bit a little rough
around the edges, but as the train pulls into
Castle Cary, I can already see that the area
has been ‘Newtiied’.
Yes, that is a new verb I’ve just created, and
those familiar with the Newt’s innovative
designs will know exactly what I mean – The
Newt don’t hold back with their architectural
renovations; the team’s attention to detail is
second to none, and as the iconic red brick
chimney reaches into the cloudless sky and
beckons you across the brick-laid courtyard,
it’s clear to see that Castle Cary train station
has had a glorious Newt make over.
As you walk through the glass doors you’re
faced with a decision, do you turn left and
stock up on home grown produce in the farm
shop, or do you turn right and make your

work, showcasing their passion for artisanal
cheesemaking. A blackboard tells me that
today they are making Gouda which is not
a surprise considering Margaretha’s Dutch
heritage. The Newt’s long-term aim is to
create a ‘House of Cheese’ and with cheesemaking courses also on ofer for the future,
the Newt’s ethos of ‘presenting something
beautiful, and then helping you to create it
yourself’ is attained.
I’m shown to my table, leather carriagestyle booth seating setting the restaurant
stage which is further adorned with a
chandelier of milk bottles, wooden pails
and industrial pulley system detailing. The
vibe plays on the industrial heritage of
the building but feels welcoming and with
glass doors leading out to a garden with

A buffalo smash burger and The Newt’s cyder makes for a hearty lunch

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October 2024

Leather carriage-style booth seating sets the restaurant stage

Somerset Life

Good to
Know:
RESTAURANT
OPENING TIMES:
Mon & Tues 12pm-3pm
Weds-Friday 12pm-10pm
Saturday 8am-10pm
Sunday 8am-3pm
TRAVEL THERE BY TRAIN:
London Paddington – Castle Cary
Bath and Bristol – Castle Cary
Exeter – Castle Cary
Weymouth – Castle Cary
PARKING: You can park at the
station’s EAST car park. Newt
members are reimbursed their
parking charge on their food bill.
WALK THERE: Footpaths weave
across our countryside and link up
with the Castle Cary train station.
BOOK A TABLE: Avoid
disappointment and book ahead
at thenewtinsomerset.com

Take-away options are also available for those mid-train journey

further seating, it’s clear The Creamery is
very much a year-round destination. On
to lunch. The menu makes its introduction
‘Welcome to The Creamery, a new dairy and
restaurant serving hearty British food and a
range of traditional soft cheese and yoghurt
using fresh milk from the estates herd
of water bufalo.’
How glorious for us all that the ields
around Castle Cary and Bruton will be graced
by the sighting of a 200-strong herd. Field to
fork at its inest and it doesn’t take me long to
opt for the Bufalo Set Menu where £29 will
see three-courses of bufalious splendour
delivered to my seat.
For starters, you are treated to a whole
buffalo mozzarella freshly made by
Margaretha a few metres away in the
creamery. You can’t get any fresher than
that and combined with olive oil from the
Newt’s sister estate Babylonstoren in South
Africa, and lemon zest from the Newt’s own

Somerset Life

lemons, you get that overwhelming urge to
shrink yourself to the size of a Borrower and
have a refreshing dip in your bowl. Next up,
we have a bufalo smash burger accompanied
with Gouda (yes you guessed it, from the
creamery) estate gherkin, tomato and slaw
all grown and made here in Somerset. There’s
fries on the side too but I’m already starting
to get full so as crisp and delicious as they
are I gorge on the tender bufalo burger and
leave space for the inale – bufalo hangop.
Hang on, hangop? I quiz my attentive waiter
who tells me ‘Its Dutch. It’s a type of strained
yoghurt which results in a thicker consistency.’
Served with Somerset strawberries, berry
compote and oat crumble the combined
impression is a type of deconstructed chilled
crumble and, it is absolutely sublime.
With an hour or so before my return train
arrives, I waddle myself upstairs and head
for the farm shop. To say I am full is an
understatement and I even text my partner

to say there’s one less for dinner this evening.
They say never go food shopping when you’re
hungry, well on the lip side, I’m afraid I
didn’t do the farm shop justice at all as I was
so stufed from lunch.
Had I turned left when I irst arrived I
am sure my tote bag would be illed with
Hadspen House sausages, goat’s cheese
and pea tarts, a bounty of salted butter and
yoghurt made on site, and even a bottle or
two of Babylonstoren wine, but as it is all I
want to do right now is sit down!
I head back to the gardens and ind a quiet
seat which overlooks the lawn and the pond.
It’s quite the suntrap, making it the perfect
place to sit and enjoy a book whilst waiting
for one’s train to arrive. As I admire the
custom made wrought-iron gates (featuring
a train and a cheesemaker), the mini railway
track bed, and the well-stocked lowerbeds, I
realise that I am, just like my surroundings,
well and truly Newtiied.

.

October 2024

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October 2024

Somerset Life

TASTE OF THE WEST

OUR

PRIZED
PRODUCERS
The Taste of the West Awards champions food and drink producers across
the West Country, with Somerset businesses annually scooping their fair
share of the top gongs. These GOLD winning food and drink producers are
showcasing their produce at the Wells Food Festival on Sunday October 13.
Enjoy as you indulge in Somerset's tastiest award-winners...
WORDS:

Andrea Cowan

PHOTO:RUTAB

RUTAB
Rutab was founded by Ross and Bader,
inspired by their travels across the
Middle East. Determined to showcase
the inest Jordanian Medjool dates,
they are infused with luxurious
illings, enrobed with hand tempered
Belgian chocolate and inished with
innovative toppings.
There is a choice of 14 illings, but
gold was won for the Luxury Selection
Box of Six including dates infused with
mango pate de fruits, hazelnut almond
praline, ginger, rose, cofee praline
and mint crunch.
rutab.co.uk

Somerset Life

October 2024

45

LA LABEL (RIGHT)

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October 2024

Somerset Life

TASTE OF THE WEST

GODMINSTER
Originally from Bruton, the freshness of the
milk and sustainable approach to farming is
considered a major contributor to the taste of this
organic cheddar which the company says, ‘brings
the spirit of Somerset to the cheeseboard’.
They have won an impressive seven gold awards with
one for Golden Honey & Oat Crackers, two for chutneys
and four for diferent cheddars, including Black Trule
Howling Hound Organic Vintage Cheddar and Vintage
Bruton Beauty Organic Cheddar. godminster.com

SOMERSET CRAFT
DISTILLERY
Formed in 2018, gin is the passion
of this family business. They use
the inest botanicals, apples grown
in Somerset’s orchards, English
juniper berries steeped in organically
produced grain spirit and distilled
with natural spring water drawn from
deep beneath Glastonbury Tor.
Two hand-crafted gins have been
awarded gold: Spirit of Glastonbury®
Classic Gin and Spirit of Glastonbury®
Orange & Ginger Gin which derives its
subtle lavour directly from the orange
and fresh root ginger botanicals.
spiritofglastonbury.co.uk

BO BOM GELATO
Founded by Luca Narbora in 2018
in Mallorca, he moved the gelato
business back to his childhood home
in Weston-super-Mare after Covid.
With over 100 lavours, made
using only the inest natural and
seasonal ingredients, Bo Bom
ofers diferent gelato lavours all
year round. The two gold winners
bring a real taste of Mediterranean
sunshine: Tangerine, made with
freshly squeezed tangerines, and Bo
Bom Ananas which blends pineapple
with organic herbs picked from their
garden.
bobomgelato.com

PHOTO:FILBERTSFINEFOODS

FILBERT’S FINE FOODS

PHOTO:GODMINSTER

Somerset Life

The company began creating handmade gourmet snacks in 2010, using
fresh herbs and foraged ingredients
to provide their distinctive taste and
texture.
Three snacks were awarded gold
this year: French Rosemary Almonds
combining aromatic rosemary with
gently smoked icing sugar to produce
a light and tasty snack; Somerset
Applewood Smoked Mixed Nuts,
slowly smoked using wood chips from
local apple orchards and Korean Chilli
Rice Crackers which fuse chillies and
paprika for a crunchy and spicy snack.
mrilberts.com

October 2024

47

TASTE OF THE WEST

PHOTO:BADGWORTHBREWHOUSE

BADGWORTH BREWHOUSE
This family run microbrewery is very much a
community-led business with its Tap Room which
has become a social focus for the village.
All recipes have been created over the past 15
years by owner, Graham Catley. The gold winning
Badgworth IPA has a more traditional English style
‘speciically to rebel against the wave of heavily hopped
beers’. Exceptionally refreshing on the nose and
palate it has been described as a very easy drinking
and lavoursome IPA. badgworthbrewhouse.com
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October 2024

BATH HARVEST
RAPESEED OIL
Providing a versatile and healthy
alternative to olive oil, high in both
Vitamin E and Omega 3, the company
was established in 2011 when cold
pressed rapeseed oil was produced
from small batches of seeds on
Wilmington Farm just outside Bath.
Now approximately 100 acres are used
for growing the seed each year.
The range includes a number
of infused oils, two of which were
awarded gold this year: Garlic Infused
and Basil Infused Rapeseed Oil.
bathharvestoils.co.uk

Somerset Life

Somerset Life

October 2024

49

DRYAD GIN

PHOTO:AISLINGMAGILL

Becky Wright irst created Dryad Gin in 2022 in
celebration of where she lives at the foot of the Quantock
Hills, an area rooted in natural mythology. The smallbatch Somerset London Dry gin, distilled in traditional
copper stills, is handcrafted with a delicate selection
of 11 botanicals, using oak bark ‘to encapsulate the
essence of the forest in every sip’. It is inished with
subtle hints of cardamom, cinnamon, orange peel
and almond for a rich, earthy edge. dryadgin.co.uk

TASTE OF THE WEST

PHOTO:HONEY’SCIDER

HONEY’S CIDER
This father and daughter team of craft cider makers use classic Somerset apple varieties
and techniques on the family farm near Bath. The traditional grazed orchards were revived
in 2002, with widely spaced trees providing sheep and cattle with shade and shelter.
They won gold for Brown Snout Single Variety Cider, a mild bittersweet cider
with soft tannin. Brown Snout is a late-lowering yellow-green bittersweet apple,
apparently named after the distinctive russet patch around the eye. honeyscider.co.uk

DOWDING'S

QUANTOCK STEAMERS

GLASTONBURY ABBEY

Organic farmer, Oliver Dowding, prides
himself on upholding one of Somerset's
inest artisan traditions, producing
cider and apple juice from his orchard
fruit or from surplus local apples which
could otherwise go to waste.
It began in 2016 and, roll on nine
years, the company has won 10 gold
awards this year including Dowding’s
Apple Cider Vinegar, two for apple juice
and seven for cider, both carbonated
and still, along with a low alcohol
Somerset Breakfast Cider.
dowdings.co.uk

This company has been producing
award-winning steamed sponge
puddings and meat suet puddings
since the family business was set up
in Stogursey in 2016. The puddings
are still made individually in a kitchen
rather than a factory, using quality
local ingredients to keep food miles
as low as possible.
The Syrup Sponge has won gold for
the sixth year in a row, joined this year
by Lemon Curd Sponge Pudding, and
Steak & Kidney Suet Pudding.
quantocksteamers.co.uk

Set in 36 beautifully peaceful acres of
parkland in the centre of the ancient
market town, the Abbey grounds
include an orchard, which contains
historically signiicant apple varieties
and has been in use since at least 1799.
Glastonbury Abbey Apple Juice
won gold this year. Made from apples
grown on the abbey site, picked by
staf and volunteers and pressed and
bottled by Hecks in Street – the juice
travels less than ive miles from tree
to customer.
glastonburyabbey.com

Somerset Life

October 2024

51

PHOTO:SOMERSETCHARCUTERIE

SOMERSET CHARCUTERIE
Somerset Charcuterie was started in 2014 by friends Andy and James who
turned their hobby and passion into a full-blown business. They make
salamis and cured meats following authentic Mediterranean methods but
utilising Somerset ingredients and free-range, rare breed pigs.
Two products won a gold including a best-seller, Black Pepper & Garlic
Salami, and Xalapa Coppa which took two years to develop in order to achieve
a perfect balance of heat with the other lavours. somersetcharcuterie.com

FUSSELS FINE FOODS
The family has been farming in Somerset
for generations, but the company began
in 2005, growing, pressing and bottling
quality rapeseed oil as a local alternative
to imported olive oils.
The range has grown to include pure
and lavoured cold pressed rapeseed
oil and dressings, mayonnaises and
vinaigrettes made with the oil. There
are also gift boxes and hampers. Gold
was awarded for an infused oil, the
Sicilian Lemon Cold Pressed Rapeseed
Oil, creating a bright, clean lavour.
fusselsinefoods.co.uk

THE CARSLAKE
TEA COMPANY
Their website states that 165 million
cups of tea are drunk daily in Britain!
The company, which began in 2014,
is providing plenty of choice for tea
drinkers with almost 100 blends.
In addition to traditional loose black,
green and white tea, there are herbal
teas and fruit and herbal infusions. Ten
golds were awarded for exciting blends
such as Tiger Lapsang Souchong and
Turkish Apple Infusion, as well as their
best-selling Finest Earl Grey.
carslaketea.co.uk

BATH SOFT CHEESE CO
No strangers to winning awards for
their organic cheese, the Padield
family have been dairy farmers at Park
Farm near Bath for four generations.
This year they are celebrating two
golds. One is for Bath Soft, a square,
soft and creamy cheese dating back
to the time of Admiral Lord Nelson
who, in 1801, was sent some by his
father as a gift.
The second is for Wyfe of Bath, a
nutty and creamy semi-hard cheese
made with vegetarian rennet.
parkfarm.co.uk

The Wells Food Festival is on October 13, 10.30am-4.30pm with free admission. wellsfoodfestival.co.uk
52

October 2024

Somerset Life

TWELVE MONTHS OF JOY

The perfect present

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£35.99
saving 33%*

Gift an annual
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one this Christmas
and get a

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October 2024

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October 2024

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October 2024

Somerset Life

READER EVENT

An exclusive event for
Somerset Life readers
Join us for this a unique event – a Reader Dinner at
the award-winning Teals in South Cadbury

e are delighted to invite you,
our loyal readers of Somerset
Life magazine, to join us in
South Somerset for an exclusive
reader dinner. Hosted by Somerset Life editor
Rachel Mead and Teals’ founders Nick and
Ash Sinield the three-course dinner will be
held on Thursday October 10.
On arrival at 6.30pm you will enjoy a
welcome glass of Somerset Pimm’s made with
Somerset Cider Brandy or a non-alcoholic
‘Sprigster Garden Cocktail’ before being
shown to your seat at our event feasting
table for 7pm.
The award-winning chefs from Teals
will be creating a three-course menu
which celebrates seasonal produce from
our county. Head chef George Whitelock
will talk us through the menu, sharing tips
about how he has cooked the dinner in a
‘positive impact way’.
Then our guest speaker, Peter Prescott
from CULTJAR will share his insights from
buying a small farm in Somerset to setting
up a modern preserved food brand. CULTJAR
sources ingredients from Peter’s farm as well
as selected West Country growers to create
recipes with irst-class ingredients. The
whole range now includes over 35 products
– it’s quite the story!
After the meal, guests will be welcomed
to enjoy the Teals shopping experience at
leisure. Explore the range of gifts and treats
which celebrate Somerset businesses across
the various departments: lifestyle, gardening,
books, luxury foods and specialist drinks.
An opportunity to get ahead on your festive
shopping perhaps!
Numbers at this exclusive Reader Dinner
are limited so do head to teals.co.uk to secure
your place at our Somerset feasting table.
The Reader Dinner ticket is £39pp
(excluding additional drinks). Teals nestles
amongst the Somerset ields at 1 Orchard
Lane, South Cadbury, BA22 7FS and is easily
found just a few moments from the A303.
We look forward to welcoming you as we
all enjoy Somerset produce cooked at its
very best. Book your seat
via: teals.co.uk/product/
some r set- life-r eade r dinner/ or by scanning
this QR code with your
smartphone.

W

Somerset Life

top: Byron Wheeler (CULTJAR head chef)

and Peter Prescott (CULTJAR founder) in
the farmhouse kitchen. Photo: neilawhitephoto
above: The Teals restaurant is nestled in
the Somerset countryside and celebrates
its rural setting. Photo: Ed Schoield

October 2024

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October 2024

Somerset Life

CHARLIE BIGHAM

Supper
with
Charlie

Charlie Bigham, founder of the hugely successful independent
food brand, has launched his irst cookbook. Andrea Cowan
discovers what has led up to this new venture

‘O

ver the years a lot of customers have suggested
that I write a cookbook,’ Charlie says. ‘It’s
inally happened and has turned out to be
a lot of fun.’ With a focus on ‘fuss-free and
lavourful’, the book shares more than 100 recipes divided
into chapters include Standing-Up Starters & Drinks,
Sitting-Down Starters, Mains for Two, Four or Six, Mains
for Many, Vegetable Sides & Sharing Plates and Puddings.
‘I’ve included all my favourite recipes from home that
have been reined over the years and have got the thumbs
up from family and friends alike,’ he says. There are Charlie
Bigham’s classics that customers will recognise such as ish
pie, chicken tikka and lasagne as well as some surprises
including a quick baba ganoush with toasted pitta and
rabbit ragù pappardelle.
A conirmed foodie, with a love of cooking which started
in childhood, he founded his business in 1996 following
hot on the heels of an English literature degree, a stint as a
management consultant and travelling through Europe to
India in a campervan with his girlfriend, Claire (now wife).
Returning from his travels and inspired by new lavours
and experiences, Charlie was ired up to start his own food
business. His aim was to create really delicious dishes for
fellow food lovers, putting in all the care and attention that
you would if you were to cook them yourself. Within a year
of setting up at his kitchen table he was stocking Waitrose,
and so began the impressive growth of the company: it
now boasts a portfolio of dishes with over 60 oven-ready
meals, made and sold exclusively in the UK, and eaten by
1 million keen cooks every week.
In 2017 a second kitchen was added to the business with
the opening of the eco-designed Quarry Kitchen in Dulcote,
which won the RIBA South West Building of the Year award
in 2018. Named after the site in a disused stoneworks in
the Mendip Hills just outside Wells, it was the result of a
lengthy hunt for what Charlie calls ‘a little bit of magic’: a
characterless unit on an industrial estate was never going
to hit the mark. It is full of natural light and designed to
be ‘an inspiring place to work, as well as super-eicient’.
The kitchen has been a real boost for Wells and the
surrounding area, providing employment (approximately
300 jobs at last count) and apprenticeship placements to
attract school and college leavers. The company has also
thrown itself into the community, balancing proit with
purpose and actively contributing to the enrichment of
the surrounding area.

Somerset Life

The Quarry Kitchen in Dulcote, Wells. Photo: David Loftus

An example is its ongoing relationship with Wells Food
Festival, including Headline Sponsor of the festival for the
last four years. ‘As a celebration of the fantastic independent
producers of the South West there is no better place to
immerse yourself into all things foodie,’ he has said of the
company’s involvement. ‘I like to think of Wells as the food
capital of the South West!’
With 200 artisan producers at the festival, there is
real synergy with his business. Charlie has always been
very particular about what goes into the Charlie Bigham’s
dishes, with fresh ingredients delivered to the kitchens
every morning, mostly supplied by family-run businesses.
His mantra has always been that when it comes to store
cupboard ingredients, nothing goes into Charlie Bigham’s
food that he wouldn’t be happy to use in his own kitchen
at home. Which brings us back to his new cookbook which
outlines his must-have kitchen ingredient essentials, from
fridge items to spices. Everything is easy to cook, full of
lavour and, ‘in keeping with how I like to cook, can be
made without any fuss while having a good chat (and
maybe a drink) with whoever happens to be with you in
the kitchen,’ he says. ‘I’m hoping that the book will inspire
people to try cooking a few things they may not have cooked
before — and have a great time doing it.’
One thing is for sure: with glorious photography
throughout by David Loftus, and styling by Charlie’s wife
Claire, Supper with Charlie Bigham is set to become a
kitchen classic, with dishes you will turn to again and again.

>

October 2024

61

CHARLIE BIGHAM

Beef bourguignon
As soon as I catch the irst glimpse of autumn, my culinary thoughts
inevitably turn to warming, slow-cooked stews. I love the summer
for all its abundance and freshness, but there’s something deeply
comforting about cold walks, log ires, red wine and a delicious,
well-cooked beef bourguignon!
We make what I think is a pretty tasty recipe at Charlie Bigham’s,
so I thought I'd share my home version. The secret is to start with
some good-quality beef: if you are going to the butcher, ask for chuck,
but if you’re buying in the supermarket, look out for braising steak.
I recommend buying a whole piece and cutting it up at home so you
have some nice chunky pieces. Delicious accompanied with parsnips
with garlic, thyme and honey, and savoy cabbage with chestnuts.
Feeds: 6
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 2½–3 hours

INGREDIENTS
• 1kg (2lb 4oz) braising steak
• 50g (1¾oz) plain lour
• 50g (1¾oz) butter
• 50ml (3½ tablespoons) olive oil
• ½ bottle (375ml / 13l oz) red wine
• 100g (3½oz) pancetta lardons, or
bacon lardons
• 3 red onions, cut into wedges
• 1 celery stick, inely chopped
• 5 garlic cloves, inely chopped
• 450g (1lb) chestnut mushrooms,
quartered (no need to peel)
• 2 tablespoons tomato purée
• 3 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 500ml (18l oz) fresh beef stock

• 10–12 Chantenay carrots, topped
but left whole, or 3 regular carrots,
chopped into 6cm (2½ inch)
pieces
• Rosemary sprig
• A few thyme sprigs
• 2 bay leaves
• 170g (6oz) jar of Borettane onions
(or other pearl onions) in vinegar,
drained
• Sea salt lakes and freshly ground
• Black pepper
• Small bunch of lat leaf parsley
(about 20g / ¾oz), leaves roughly
chopped, to serve

METHOD
First you need to cut up your beef
into good-sized pieces (about
7–8cm / 3 inches). Put half the lour
in a mixing bowl, season well with
salt and pepper and tumble the
meat in this so it is well coated.

and cook for another 10 minutes
or so, stirring occasionally.

Melt the butter in a frying pan with
the oil and cook the loured meat
on both sides over a high heat for
5–7 minutes, or until browned –
do this in two batches to avoid
overcrowding the pan, putting the
meat to one side once cooked.
Deglaze the pan with some of the
wine, scraping up the tasty bits
on the bottom of the pan. Set the
liquid aside with the cooked meat.

As the mixture cooks, preheat
the oven to 180°C/160°C
fan (350°F), Gas Mark 4.

Meanwhile, start preparing your
sauce. Heat the remaining butter
and olive oil in a casserole dish.
Add the pancetta or bacon and
cook for a couple of minutes so it
starts to release its fat. Add the red
onions and celery and cook for 5
minutes or so, until the vegetables
have softened, stirring occasionally.
Add the garlic and mushrooms

Bring to the boil, then cover the
casserole dish, put it in the oven
and cook for 2–2½ hours, stirring
every 30 minutes or so, until the
meat is tender. You can take the
lid off for 30 minutes towards the
end of cooking to slightly thicken
the sauce. Taste and adjust the
seasoning if necessary. Finish
with a scattering of parsley.

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October 2024

Sprinkle the rest of the lour
into the pan, then stir in with the
tomato purée and Dijon mustard.

Tip in the rest of the red wine, then
the beef stock and give everything
a good stir before adding the
carrots, herbs and drained onions.
Finally, add the beef plus the
pan deglazing juices.

>
Somerset Life

Somerset Life

October 2024

63

CHARLIE BIGHAM

Baked igs with spiced honey & ricotta
Sometimes you just want
something simple for pudding. I
love igs and they tend to be readily
available in the late summer and
autumn, a time of year when they
are also good value. A fresh ig
picked of the tree is a delight in
itself (and probably best eaten
straight away), but shop-bought
figs tend to be smaller, have
slightly thicker skins and are
easily elevated by a quick burst in
the oven with a few other lavours
thrown in that show them to their
best advantage.
Feeds 6
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 25-30 minutes

INGREDIENTS
• 50g (1¾oz) light muscovado sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 12 igs
• 50ml (3½ tablespoons) Madeira,
or other sweetish booze you have
spare
• 4 rosemary sprigs
• 250g (9oz) ricotta cheese
• 100g (3½oz) walnut halves
• 4 tablespoons runny honey

METHOD
Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C
fan (400°F), Gas Mark 6.
Mix together the sugar and
cinnamon in a small mixing bowl.
Starting at the stem end, cut the igs
halfway down in a cross shape.
Arrange your cut igs in a single
layer in a baking dish and sprinkle
the cut surfaces with the sugar
and cinnamon. Sprinkle with
the Madeira and then toss the
rosemary sprigs on top before
baking for 25-30 minutes, or until
the igs are soft and the juices have
run to make a delicious sauce.
Once the cooked igs come out of
the oven, spoon clumps of your
ricotta over the top, scatter on the
nuts and drizzle the whole dish
with the honey. Best served warm.
TIP: To really bring out their lavour,
you can lightly toast the walnuts
in the oven for ive minutes while
the igs are cooking, but don’t
forget them! Leave them to cool
before breaking over the igs.

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October 2024

COMPETITION TIME
Supper with Charlie Bigham is
published by Mitchell Beazley at
£26. For a chance to win a copy
of Charlie's latest book please
scan the QR code and answer the
following question:
In which year did the Quarry
Kitchen win the RIBA South West
Building of the Year award?
To purchase a signed copy of the book visit Charlie
Bigham’s marquee at the Wells Food Festival on Sunday
October 13. wellsfoodfestival.co.uk

Somerset Life

Market Day
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October 2024

Somerset Life

FARMERS' MARKETS

997: the year Harry Potter first
captured childrens’ hearts and minds,
wi-i became available to the public,
and Elton John’s Candle in the Wind
sat atop the UK singles chart. Yet, at the
same time, and not nearly as well known, a
revolution started to brew – one that would
help regenerate local farming economies,
and forever afect Britons’ relationship
with their food.
More speciically, this originated at Green
Park Station in Bath, where (after a short
run at the Parade Gardens), on a Saturday
in September 1997, traders pitched up to
sell items they’d made – like cheese, apple
juice, vegetables, and microgreens – direct
to the public.
‘A lot of people didn’t know what to expect,’
says Keith Goverd, who was there selling his
apple juice, and one of the initiators of the
market itself. ‘They weren’t used to local
producers being presented to them, and were
amazed to ind things that were easy to grow
in the area.’
The idea – that of a ‘farmers’ market’ – was
indeed pretty radical at the time. Since at
least the 60s, supermarkets essentially had
command over how food was bought and sold
in the UK and, until 1997, any alternative
means for producers to peddle their wares –
without such inluence or intervention from
middlemen – directly to the public simply
did not exist. These days, farmers’ markets
have become a lifeline for some producers –

1

according to food charity Sustain, a farmer
typically receives about eight pence of every
pound spent in a supermarket; when they
trade on a farmers’ market however, they
get it all, albeit after any expenses, such as
stall fees and fuel costs. ‘For our pitch at Bath
Farmers’ Market,’ says Lynette Flanders, who
co-runs Glastonbury Ferments with husband
Mike, ‘it’s £35 a week.’
Needless to say, no one on the market’s
management side is making a killing here,
but then that was far from the reason for
its inception. In response to Agenda 21 (a
global action plan dreamt up by the UN
that encouraged local councils to, in part,
proactively address social, environmental,
and economic problems within their
respective areas), Bath & North East
Somerset Council wanted to ‘encourage
the production and consumption of local
food’. A farmers’ market, not dissimilar to
those already popular in California, was how
they’d do it. The concept was welcomed, and
after its irst year, Bath Farmers’ Market went
from operating monthly to twice a month.
Since 2002, it’s opened every Saturday, and
on a good day gets 2,000 people through
its doors.
Keith and his colleagues didn’t know it
then, but Bath Farmers’ Market would set
the example for a nationwide movement
eventually spawning 650 similar markets
across the country. 1998 saw Somerset
welcome the second (Glastonbury) and third >

With our county being so fortunately rich in food
and drink producers, HUGH THOMAS takes a
look at how farmers’ markets have inluenced
our shopping habits since their conception
PHOTOGR APHY:

Somerset Life

Ed Schoield

October 2024

67

(Frome) farmers’ markets in the UK. These
were set up and supported by a committee
that included Paul Sander-Jackson who, then
a volunteer and later as part of Somerset Food
Links, was commissioned by local councils
to help develop and promote a healthy local
food economy in the county. ‘At Glastonbury
we had about 40 producers in the early days.
It took place in the St John’s car park on a
monthly basis, and is still running – albeit
in a much reduced fashion in a new venue at
the bottom of the High Street.’
Roger White, who Paul tasked to manage
Glastonbury among other markets in
Somerset, says they were ‘thronged with
people’ even in the early days of their
existence, and would subsequently be a
growing prospect to producers: ‘They’d say,
“Well, we’ve moved to Somerset or we’ve
started [farming] because we hear there’s
farmers’ markets we can sell our produce at.”’
After Glastonbury, Paul and Roger helped
set up markets in Wincanton, Wells, Yeovil,
Crewkerne, Chard, Frome, and Axbridge,
among others. In order to try and future-proof
the markets, and run them collectively, they
set up the organisation Somerset Farmers
Markets (SFM), which – now in its 25th year
– hosts hundreds of local producers across
seven markets in the county. Each is distinct
in character, from Axbridge’s 25-trader
market in the town’s handsome 400-year-old
market square, to Nailsea’s 40-stall monster
that takes over the high street once a month.
All, though, share a sense of camaraderie
among the producers trading there, which is
the kind of thing Roger – now almost in his
eighties – remembers since day one. ‘That
camaraderie amongst stallholders was also
infectious with the customers, who would
come into the market and recognise there was
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October 2024

a sort of a buzz, a community atmosphere.’
Among other assets, it seems farmers’ markets
have, to at least some degree, succeeded in
helping regenerate local economies, and
perhaps by accident even the complexion
of Somerset’s towns. In the case of Frome,
Roger wonders if this was achieved by the
farmers’ market (originally in the Cheese &
Grain, but now on Boyle Cross) almost singlehandedly. ‘Frome used to be a pretty rundown
ex-industrial town but it’s now become quite

‘You have to work
very hard as an
independent
small business’
‘yuppie-ied’. I was in Frome Museum recently
and asked a volunteer there what caused the
town to change. She ummed and ahhed a bit,
then said, “Well, I think it may have been
after the farmers’ market started, as it got
into the press.”’
Roger suggests that, as Frome is on the
main train line from London, and the concept
of local farmers’ markets in the UK was at
that time only a year old, it wasn’t diicult for
interested, somewhat monied individuals to
go see what the fuss was about.
None of this is to suggest that farmers’
markets in Somerset haven’t had their downs
as well as their ups – last year, SFM had to
close their Burnham-on-Sea market due to
unsustainable trader numbers, and this year
were forced to relocate Crewkerne’s market
– which similarly sufered from dwindling
trader interest, but also proximity to road

traic – from the Market Square outside
the Town Hall to Falkland Square shopping
centre. Both instances speak to the chickenand-egg challenge of attracting shoppers
and stallholders simultaneously. The former
generally looks for a decent array of producers
selling high quality produce, while the latter
will only trade if there’s enough incentive to
counter the various and often encumbering
disincentives.
‘You don’t get weekends,’ Lynette tells me,
this time while packing down her stall after
a successful SFM market in Frome. ‘You have
to work very hard as an independent small
business, doing everything – the accounts,
purchasing, marketing...But then we’re faceto-face with our customers. A lot of people
haven’t experienced fermented foods such
as ours before, or have had a bad experience
because it’s been pasteurised, bulk-made
stuf.’ Lynette says she also likes getting
to know ‘the other fabulous traders that
become great friends and support,’ and not
losing out on a ‘big cut’ from retailers like
supermarkets.
It turns out that for the last 27 years, the
idea has endeared itself to shoppers, too
– supermarkets had ofered somewhere to
buy cheaper and cheaper for so long, it took
something like farmers’ markets to remind
us that, actually, in Somerset, we often quite
like having somewhere to buy better.

.

SHOP, LOCALLY
To support our Somerset producers
and to ind out more about the
markets across our county visit:
somersetfarmersmarkets.co.uk and
somersetfarmersmarketsuk

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NUTRITION KNOW-HOW
Top nutritionist Pauline Cox MSc, author of Hungry Woman
and owner of Sow & Arrow, answers your health questions

AM I AT RISK OF BEING
VITAMIN D DEFICIENT?
Vitamin D requirements vary from individual
to individual, however some groups are more
at risk of developing a deiciency than others:
OLDER INDIVIDUALS:
As we age, our ability to synthesise Vitamin D
declines. This, coupled with a lower tendency
to spend time outdoors, renders the older
population more susceptible to Vitamin D
deiciency.

PHOTO: GETTY

INDIVIDUALS WITH DARKER SKIN:
As described by the National Institute of
Health, the increased levels of pigment
melanin in the epidermal layer of the skin
reduces the ability of the skin to produce
Vitamin D from sunlight

5 SIGNS THAT YOU MAY BE LOW IN VITAMIN D
As we enter the latter stages of the year in the
UK we can ind it increasingly diicult to get
our daily dose of Vitamin D from sunshine.
Not only is Vitamin D essential for bone,
muscle and dental health, it is also vital for
the immune system and ighting of viruses,
plus it also has a powerful anti-inlammatory
efect in the body. Vitamin D regulates the
amount of calcium and phosphate in the
body so without it, bone health can sufer
and even our good mood relies on a healthy
dose of Vitamin D.
Vitamin D is essential to a healthy immune
system – so much so that a virus will try and
block the body’s Vitamin D receptor to try and
reduce access to the vitamin. By increasing
your Vitamin D levels you are increasing
your ability to promote a healthy immune
response and increasing your resilience to
winter viruses! Vitamin D is produced in
the skin by exposing the body to just 10-15
minutes per day of sun. Yet due to low levels
of sunshine in the winter months, more time
spent indoors and even factors such as age,
skin colour and weight status, many people
are lacking in this vital vitamin.
Here are ive signs that signal that you
could be low in Vitamin D.

be a sign of Vitamin D deiciency. One test is
to gently push on your breastbone (sternum).
If it feels tender or sore, this can also be
potential sign of vitamin D deiciency.

1. LOWER BACK PAIN
Your body’s Vitamin D status inluences
many aspects of its musculoskeletal health.
Poor Vitamin D levels can result in lower
back, hip, shoulder and rib pain. Bone pain,
closely associated with joint pain, can also

5. UNUSUAL AMOUNTS OF HAIR LOSS
Often hair-loss is hormonal-related and
genetic, however, low levels of Vitamin D
can also cause increased hair loss, which may
be more noticeable in the winter months due
to lack of sunshine.

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2. MUSCLE PAIN
Prolonged muscle pain and/or weakness,
accompanied by a waddling gait, can result
from deicient amounts of Vitamin D. Muscles
closer to the trunk, the shoulders and the tops
of thighs are often involved with muscle pain
related to Vitamin D deiciency.
3. LOW MOOD
Vitamin D has often been linked with mood
disorders and anxiety. Vitamin D is very
important in making your happy hormone
serotonin. Low levels of Vitamin D can lead
to low levels of serotonin… not good news for
the winter blues!
4. RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS
There are many Vitamin D receptors in the
sinuses and lungs, indicating the importance
of Vitamin D interacting with our immune
system. Recurrent infections and poor ability
to ward of illness can be a sign that you are
low in Vitamin D.

INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE OBESE OR
WHO HAVE UNDERGONE GASTRIC
BYPASS SURGERY:
Those with excess body fat – typically with
a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more –
can be vulnerable to lower Vitamin D levels.
This is due to the excess fat robbing the body
of Vitamin D usually used for other bodily
functions.
THOSE WITH IMPAIRED LIVER
AND GUT HEALTH:
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. To ensure
is it absorbed by the body, a healthy, wellfunctioning liver is required to produce the
necessary bile needed to assist the body in
absorbing Vitamin D. Those with fatty liver
and other forms of liver disease, individuals
with coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis and
cystic ibrosis are more prone to deiciencies
in Vitamin D.

HOW MUCH VITAMIN D
SHOULD I TAKE?
The NHS states that children aged 1-10
shouldn’t exceed 2000IU (International
Units) per day and adults no more than
4000IU. A high-quality supplement, either of
pure Vitamin D3 or a combination of D3 and
K2 is an ideal way of boosting your Vitamin D
levels throughout the winter months. If you
are susceptible to low levels of Vitamin D
as identiied in the groups above, then a
supplement throughout the year could be
beneicial.
For high-quality sources of Vitamin D
and D3 + K2 visit: sowandarrow.com

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CULTURE
Celebrating the creativity from across our county
MEET PLUM SYKES

AUTUMNAL ACTIVITIES

BILLY RETURNS TO YEOVIL

Writer Kate Robinson chats to
Plum about her latest novel

Top tickets, not to be missed,
across the county this month

Let’s meet Billy Billingham
ahead of his tour

VIKING WOODWORKING WORKSHOP

PHOTO:SOUTHWESTHERITAGETRUST

Avalon Archaeology is a lovingly crafted reproduction of
Somerset’s heritage in the heart of the Avalon Marshes
and part of the Avalon Marshes Centre near Westhay.
Visitors can explore replicas of a Saxon long hall, a
Roman villa, a Viking trading boat and the world’s oldest
archaeological excavation hut. The Viking woodworking
event for adults on October 12 is a hands-on workshop
with archaeologist and craftsman Marc Cox. Crafters will
make an archaeologically-inspired stool using traditional
tools, experiencing woodworking in the age of the Vikings.
Book at avalonarchaeology.org.uk

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PHOTO:ROBERTFAIRER

PLUM SYKES

Plum
job
Ahead of the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival, Kate Robinson
chats to PLUM SYKES about her latest novel Wives Like Us - a story
which revolves around the lives of three rich wives, an American
divorcee, a bereaved butler and a grand English country house

n the day I chat to author Plum Sykes she is
voicing her frustration with her bantam hens.
They have not laid an egg for her since early
May and yet last year they were proliic layers.
Their ickleness is frustrating, but she laughs it of. She
clearly loves her life in the country and is not going to
be deterred by erratic fowl. The bantams live at home
with her and her two daughters in Gloucestershire (the
less lashy part of the Cotswolds… more on this later),
alongside two dogs and three horses.
Plum admits she couldn’t imagine living in the city
now: ‘For me the English countryside feels like coming
home. And wherever I have lived in the world – New
York, London, Milan – I always hark back to the green
ields, meadows, hedges.’ This love of the countryside
was instilled in her by her grandmother, who lived in
a bucolic part of Kent where Plum spent much of her
childhood riding ponies and racing around in nature.
‘She was the most amazing and kind person. She was so
into horses and so instrumental in my upbringing I think
that my love for her and my love for the countryside are
all one thing.’
After a career in fashion writing for British and
American Vogue, Plum turned her hand to novels and
produced her irst book – Bergdorf Blondes – a New York
Times bestseller. Two more novels followed and now her
latest, Wives Like Us, sees Plum return to Gloucestershire
to satirise the lives of the lashy Cotswold ‘princesses’ who,
with their butlers, helicopters, large country piles and
glamorous wardrobes, have colonised the Oxfordshire
side of the Cotswolds. Is there a clear divide between the
two Cotswold sides? Plum assures me this is true: ‘The
Oxfordshire side is the very hot east-Hampton version
of the Cotswolds. That is where all the celebrities want
to buy anything expensive. This side is much more rural,
less developed and built up.’ Plum herself lives near Bisley,
home to that other doyenne of Cotswold literature, Jilly

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Cooper. She feels it is less contrived: ‘Over there on the
dark side, as I call it, it is all parties and caterers, Range
Rovers and helicopters on the rugby pitch. Here there is
a sort of old-school-ness to it. It is further from London,
so less attractive to London types.’
Indeed, parts of Somerset have seen transformation
over the years – bastions of rural life turning into
fashionable, celebrity-illed (and fuelled) hotspots, but
with nothing like the excesses of the Cotswold princesses
displayed in her book. Plum has seen huge change
there in her time: ‘The Oxfordshire part is like a pop
culture sensation. It is akin to a colony outside London,
refashioned to suit them, with all the pleasures and social
intensity of London, if not more.’
To my mind, the society she satirises in her book is
lawed and potentially problematic in these straitened
times. Plum agrees: ‘I think that particular universe
with the fashion and the setting and the social side has
got out of control. When it gets out of control and too
much money is being spent on silly things, then I think
you have got a satire waiting to happen. I didn’t have to
invent anything or exaggerate anything – that’s how it is.’
Wives Like Us is woven through with such layering of
fashion and interiors that these create symbiosis with
the characters themselves. Plum says: ‘You can tell a lot
about a person by how they dress. People’s personal style
speaks to me in a way that perhaps words don’t. Clothes
are part of the story, like another character or a plot line.’
They certainly allow a platform for rivalry, envy and
social competition, as do the houses and interiors of
her book, some with a more modern inish and others a
more faded glamour. Plum agrees: ‘Each of the women
is an archetype and their houses are the architectural
archetypes. These people live in the same area but they’re
each trying to express something about themselves, it
is all very intentional. Wives Like Us is almost like a
non-iction iction book because there is so much in >
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PLUM SYKES

PHOTO:PLUMSYKES

‘You can tell a lot about a person by how
they dress. People’s personal style speaks
to me in a way that perhaps words don’t’
terms of style, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously.’
Plum is as disciplined with her writing as her busy life
allows her to be. ‘Writing is such a hard process it is not
easy to say you’ve enjoyed it,’ she admits. ‘The feeling
of having done it is wonderful, but it is so much work.’
She works in the term time when her children are at
school and if she has to write in the holidays, she gets up
early before anyone else. She rarely spends a whole day
sitting at her desk, instead inding it more productive
to do a few hours at a time and then head of for a walk
or ride to clear her head and develop more ideas.
She is very excited about talking at the upcoming
Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival in November: ‘I
absolutely love Exmoor. I have a friend I have visited
many times, who lives on a farm just outside Exford,
with amazing views.’ Indeed, whilst writing Wives
Like Us, she asked her friend if she could come and stay
for a couple of days. ‘It was a huge success. I found the
atmosphere of Exmoor to be incredibly restorative. I
am convinced it is because of the moors and the sea air;
there is something very special about the air.’
Over the next few months when writing, she would go
there for a few nights at a time. ‘I like the amateurishness of the area, the fact it is not manicured. It is
astoundingly beautiful.’ There are other attractions to
this part of the world she inds alluring: ‘In Exford there
is a riding shop selling secondhand riding kit, which
is my dream. Breeches from the 1930s and knackered
old bridles.’ When she was asked to speak at Dulverton
she agreed without hesitation. ‘I love a small literary
festival almost more than anything else.’
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As for Somerset itself, she is a big fan: ‘Hauser & Wirth
is lovely and I have been there a few times, plus the area
around the Newt. Bath is wonderful and it is only about
an hour from me. They have an amazing bookstore
called Toppings, plus some fantastic museums. My
favourite part, however, is Exmoor. On one of my visits
I took my horse with me and we went riding over the
moors and it was amazing. You can go on three-hour
rides, which is incredible. You can’t really do that in
Gloucestershire as it is very truncated by roads.’
What is next on her writing agenda? Perhaps a story
set on Exmoor or maybe a version of Wives Like Us set
in the fashionable hotspots of Somerset? Plum, however,
feels she still has plenty more material for a Cotswold
follow-on; ‘I would actually like to write a trilogy of
these books, because I just think it is asking for it. I’ve
got so many good scenes which I cut that I can put into
another book.’ The Cotswold princesses will be quaking
in their leather Hermès
riding boots.
The Dulverton Exmoor
Literary Festival takes
place on November 16-17.
Tickets can be bought
via visitdulverton.com/
dulverton-exmoorliterary-festival.
Plum Sykes will be in
conversation with The
Times journalist Alice
Thomson.

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JOHN NICHOL

John Nichol
at the tomb of
the Unknown
Warrior in
Westminster
Abbey

Connecting with
unknown warriors
Gulf War veteran turned author John Nichol
tells us about the origins of his poignant new book
WORDS:

AF navigator John Nichol found
himself on the front page of every
newspaper when he and pilot John
Peters were shot down over Iraq
in 1991 during the irst Gulf War. Both men
became prisoners of war and were paraded
– beaten and bruised – on Iraqi TV. After
their release they collaborated on a book,
Tornado Down, on their experiences.
In the intervening years, John has written
nearly 20 books. His latest, The Unknown
Warrior – A Personal Journey of Discovery
and Remembrance, is a remarkably moving
investigation into the story of the Unknown
Warrior, entombed in Westminster Abbey, and
all the men who remain unknown warriors on
the battleields.
John embarked on his journey of discovery
after an event at Westminster Abbey in July
2018 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of
the Royal Air Force. He found himself looking
at the slab of black marble which marked the
resting place of an unknown warrior from the
First World War, laid to rest on Armistice Day,
November 11 1920. Since the late Queen Mother
spontaneously laid her wedding bouquet there,
every royal bride marrying at the Abbey since
has copied the gesture.
John had seen the grave before, but this
time it really resonated. ‘I was standing with
a World War Two veteran,’ he recalls. ‘I’d seen
it before and I knew what it was but I didn’t
actually know anything about it.
‘When Covid kicked in I had more time on
my hands to sit and read. I was quite intrigued
by the story. Over one million British Empire
soldiers were killed in the First World War and

R

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Su Carroll

over half a million still have no known grave. I
wanted to try and tell a human side to the story.
‘It wasn’t just about the experiences and
brutalities, but about the people back home
waiting – they were going to war as well.
There was a lack of communication – for each
death they had to send a letter home and that
would take weeks and sometimes months to
arrive. If there was a telegram it would just
say if someone was dead or missing. It was
quite brutal. From a human aspect, these
ramiications run through society.
‘I wanted to ind out more; how it happened
and what it represented. Only a tiny proportion
of those killed had a grave.’
The numbers are stark. During the First
World War (1914-18) more than 9.7 million
military personnel and about ten million
civilians were killed. On day one of the Battle of
the Somme, July 1 1916, 21,392 British soldiers
were killed or were missing; 35,493 were
wounded and 585 had been taken prisoner.
That’s 57,470 people in total. One man was
killed every 4.4 seconds.
John’s meticulous research included
the statistic from the Commonwealth War
Graves Commission that 526,816 British and
Commonwealth soldiers of the ‘Great’ War
have no known grave. Of those 338,955 have
never been buried at all and 187,861 are buried,
but have not been identiied. John describes it
as being reduced to soil and statistics.
‘That is the nature of war,’ he says. ‘The
reality is about the individual sufering and
seeing things that they could not speak to
anybody about. They were reserved and didn’t
wear their hearts on their sleeves. Many of >
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JOHN NICHOL

TELLING STORIES

‘I had my limited and minor experience of being
shot down and held a prisoner of war but I never
knew the angst of the Battle of High Wood’
the men would have had what we call PTSD
but what they called shell shock during the
war, or cowardice. And they would be shot
for cowardice.’
John talks in the book of the brutal battle of
High Wood in France’s Somme region – where
the Germans had a vantage point in a wood
on a hill to cut down any soldier attempting
to take it. Even visiting it on a sunny day in
spring 2023 to see the spot for himself, John
is chilled by the atmosphere.
‘I’ve tried to build up the story with
contemporary accounts, illing out the stories
by talking to the people who knew the men. It’s
about making a human connection. I had my
limited and minor experience of being shot
down and held a prisoner of war but I never
knew the angst of the Battle of High Wood.
‘In the Battle of the Somme, 100,000 people
were lost and I can’t imagine the severity and
depth of that experience. But I do understand
the concept of going over the top – you do it
for the man or woman on your left or right.
‘In the Stone Age man would have picked
up a branch and thought “that will come in
handy.” They look at someone that they hate,
or they look at a piece of land and think it
should be their piece of land. Look at the First
World War and the diference is the scale of
the destruction – the industrialised means of
warfare. By the time they had endured three
or four days of shelling, there was nothing left
of them. Their graves were in the mud.
‘The scale of war is diferent now, that’s the
reality of human nature. In Ukraine or Israel
and Palestine there is still ighting and it’s the
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ordinary men and women and children who
sufer. But even in modern warfare there can
be unknown warriors. In the Falklands War
we buried Argentinians who had no ID.’
He remembers being at the Royal British
Legion’s Festival of Remembrance in 2022
and hearing Mary Fowler read a letter from
her childhood that her dad had written 40
years earlier during the Falklands War. He
had been on HMS Coventry when it was hit
during an Argentinian air attack.
‘Mary told me afterwards that her pain was
made ininitely worse by the fact that when he
and many of his friends went down with the
ship, their bodies were never recovered. She
had no grave to visit, no place to contemplate a
life without him, nowhere to grieve. As a young
serviceman, I had watched that war unfold
on TV, seen ships sinking into the freezing
waters. I had even been deployed on a Task
Force vessel later that year. I now realised that
though I knew about the death toll, I hadn’t
really thought about its wider resonances.’
Following the publication of the book in
September, John is now undertaking his irst
ever theatre tour.
‘Living in a van and out of a suitcase for eight
weeks is really exciting. I will have objects
on stage and there will be footage and lots of
sound to recreate a battle. I want to give people
a real sense of what it was like. I want to bring
the story to life.’
John Nichol will be at Westlands, Yeovil
(westlandsyeovil.co.uk) on October
22. Earlier he’s at Exeter Northcott
(exeternorthcott.co.uk) on October 14.

John Nichol says everything
he’s done in his life has been ‘by
accident’. He was 16, disillusioned
with school and waiting for a
bus when he walked into an RAF
recruitment oice looking for
something to read. Within two
hours, he’d signed on.
During 15 years’ service he lew
Tornado jets in both air defence
and ground attack roles. On
active duty during the irst Gulf
War in 1991 he was shot down
on the irst low-level, daylight
raid of the conlict. Captured
and tortured, he was paraded on
television, provoking worldwide
condemnation and leaving one of
the enduring images of that war.
His irst book Tornado Down was
a great success and he has written
many books – including ive novels
– and newspaper and magazine
articles since.
‘When I left the Air Force in 1996
I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I
was offered one job as a combine
harvester salesman!’ he laughs. ‘I
had no plans to write but the irst
book had been a huge success
and I’ve learnt about writing as I’ve
gone along,’ he says. ‘It’s about
painting a picture and telling a
story.’
The Unknown Warrior – A
Personal Journey of Discovery
and Remembrance is published by
Simon and Shuster.
johnnichol.com

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WHAT’S ON
COMPILED BY:

Laurence McJannet

Somerset Life

PHOTO:CAMERA-LESSPHOTOGRAPHYBYSIANCANN

Guide to
THE BEST
events in
October

Storm-churned seaweed

EXHIBITION

Sian Cann: Ripples Run Deep
Using remarkable cameraless photography and other experimental
photographic techniques, artist Sian Cann reveals the surprising
and unseen visual poetry of water in her month-long exhibition
at ACEarts in Somerton. From seaweed suspended in storm
surges to gentle lows of healing wells and channels choked
by pollution, the exhibition tells the stories of water and
invites you to see this life-giving force in a whole new way.
Open Tuesday 11am-5pm and Wednesday to Saturday 10am-5pm.
From October 5. ACEarts, Somerton. Free. acearts.co.uk
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PHOTO:SVDELOS

Lisa Blair embarks on a record-breaking
journey around Antarctica in Ice Maiden

CINEMA

Ocean Film Festival
Dive into a night of aquatic adventure as the Ocean Film Festival World Tour brings a new
collection of thrilling ocean-themed ilms to Bristol’s Redgrave Theatre this month (and
Komedia in Bath in November). The Ocean Film Festival is a celebration of the planet’s
oceans, featuring wild seafaring voyages, fascinating marine life and environmental
activism. One of this year’s highlights is Ice Maiden, in which adventurer Lisa Blair
embarks on a voyage to become the irst woman to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted
around Antarctica. When unexpected and life-threatening weather conditions cause
catastrophe, Lisa needs to dig into every ounce of courage, determination and self-belief
to not only inish the journey, but survive in the most dangerous waters on the planet.
Each screening will see a free prize giveaway to win ocean-related goodies. From 7.30pm.
October 3-4, Redgrave Theatre, Bristol, £17.20, concessions £15.45. oceanilmfestival.co.uk
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WHAT'S ON

THEATRE

Reverberation
From Matthew López, the Tony
and Olivier Award-winning
writer of The Inheritance, comes
the sexy, funny and hauntingly
human Reverberation – Bristol
Old Vic’s f lagship autumn
production, which runs until
November 2.
After a personal tragedy,
Jonathan has withdrawn from
the world, with little social
life beyond the men he meets
online. When the enigmatic
free spirit Claire moves into the
lat upstairs, she tries to coax
him out of his shell. Drawn
together by a mutual need for
emotional attachment, they
form a connection, but the past
eventually reverberates into
the present, threatening the
happiness they’ve found.
Matthew
L óp e z’s
extraordinar y play about
loneliness and longing was
originally staged in Connecticut
in 2015. This brand-new
production has been reshaped
by López, transposing the action
across the Atlantic to London,
and will be the play’s European
premiere.
From October 2,
Bristol Old Vic Theatre.
From £10 (plus concessions).
bristololdvic.org.uk
EXHIBITION

Carali McCall: Ininite
CLOSE Gallery in Hatch
Beauchamp hosts a solo
exhibition of new work by

per for mance ar t ist and
scholar Carali McCall, entitled
INFINITE: body, alchemy,
landscape and the cosmos. In
this exhibition McCall looks
at the concept of infinity
through these four lenses,
and through a multitude of
materials, performances and
collaborations, she introduces
the viewer to a series of artworks,
showing the artist enduring
processes and making works that
consider material and spiritual
connections. McCall will be
based at the gallery during the
weekends of Somerset Art Weeks
(until October 7) to give viewers
the opportunity to see some of
her live performances.
Until October 12,
CLOSE Ltd, Hatch
Beaumont.
Free. closeltd.com
COMEDY

Jack Dee: Work
in Progress
Comedy heavyweight Jack Dee
comes to Frome’s Merlin Theatre
this month as he workshops
new material ahead of his
forthcoming UK tour. Firmly
established as one of Britain’s
biggest and best-loved comedy
stars, Jack has captured the
imagination of audiences and
critics across the land with
his dry humour and deadpan
delivery. Tickets to see the man
who turned grumpiness into an
art form are expected to be in
high demand, so early booking is
advised. Recommended for ages
14 and over. From 8pm

October 3,
Merlin Theatre, Frome.
£22. merlintheatre.co.uk

CLASSES

Expressive Charcoal
Drawing
Join artist Kate Lynch at the
Somerset Rural Life Museum
in Glastonbury for this halfday workshop exploring the
techniques used in creating
expressive charcoal drawings.
Using locally grown willow
charcoal, you will experiment
with mark-making and try
some fun exercises to explore
the rich potential and versatility
of your medium, before going on
to develop your own landscape
drawing. This workshop is
suitable for beginners and
more experienced artists alike.
All materials and tea/coffee
provided. The willow charcoal
is kindly provided by Coates
Willow. From 10am to 1pm.
October 5,
Somerset Rural Life
Museum, Taunton.
£40. swheritage.org.uk
MUSIC

Tarren + Maddie Morris
New-folk ambassadors Tarren
celebrate the launch of their
second album, Outside Time,
with a set of beautifully
crafted, modern folk music.
Sid Goldsmith, Alex Garden
and Danny Pedler incorporate
minimalist musical forms
into material inspired by the

traditional canon, creating
gorgeously woven themes that
have the pulse of traditional
dance at its heart.
They are joined by Maddie
Morris, whose bold, insightful
and refreshingly unique song
writing weaves stories out
of contemporary experience.
Whether turning a centuriesold ballad on its head or
writing something new, hers is
infectiously, subversively vital
music. Passionately political,
yet gently understated, it deftly
treads the path between art and
activism. From 8pm.
October 26,
St George’s, Bristol.
From £10.
stgeorgesbristol.co.uk
FOOD

Eat:Festival
Anyone who enjoys excellent
street food should make a
beeline for Burnham-on-Sea
at the end of this month, as the
scrumptious eat:Festival comes
to town. Up to 80 stalls selling
the best local and regional fare
will be set up through the town
centre, focused on College and
Victoria Streets. Expect to
tantalise your tastebuds as
the aromas of freshly made
food from the inest artisanal
producers wafts throughout
the town. There’s music and
entertainment throughout the
day too. From 10am to 4pm.
October 26,
College and Victoria Street,
Burnham-on-Sea. Free.
eatfestivals.org

MUSIC

Nik Kershaw:
The 1984 Tour

PHOTO:STEVEULLATHORNE

This month there’s a unique opportunity to see 80s pop
icon Nik Kershaw as he relives his most successful year –
1984 – by touring the UK. On his visit to Bath’s Komedia,
Nik and his band will perform the two platinum albums he
released that year – Human Racing and The Riddle – in
their entirety. He was the UK’s biggest selling artist in
1984, languishing for some 62 weeks in the top 40 singles
chart. This 40th anniversary concert will feature two sets
by Nik (one for each album), with no support act.
October 16, Komedia,
Bath
£32.50.
komediabath.co.uk

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>

WHAT'S ON

MUSIC

Voces Amici
Voces Amici, as the name
suggests, is a group of friends
who sing quite beautifully
together, and they perform at
Ilminster Arts Centre this month.
This group of young professional
vocalists have been making a
stir in the south-west with their
programmes ranging from light
classical operatic arias to musical
theatre old and new. Molly Soo,
Abby Parmenter, George Horgan
and Maisie Lewis will captivate
their audience with arias from
Bizet’s Carmen, Gilbert and
Sullivan, songs from the 1940s
and musical theatre greats.
They’ll be ably accompanied by
local choral director, organist
and pianist Jonathan Delbridge.
Two of the group – George and
Molly – were both born and have
lived and studied in Ilminster –
even having their irst singing
lesson here, so they should get
quite a reception. From 7.30pm.
October 25,
Ilminster Arts Centre. £15.
ilminsterartscentre.com
LITER ATURE

Wells Festival of
Literature

EXHIBITION

As old as the Hills
As Old as the Hills – a series
of arts events – culminates in
an immersive contemporary
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October 2024

The Fallout
Love, conlict and space travel collide in this
charming and compelling new play performed at
Taunton’s Brewhouse Theatre. In a not-so futuristic
world, Hazel, a doctor, and Astra, a space shuttle
engineer, unexpectedly fall in love. But when the
space travel industry causes terrible repercussions

PHOTO:RUSSELLSACH.

The Festival has come a long
way since 1992, growing from a
weekend in the Bishop’s Palace
to a nine-day extravaganza in
Cedars Hall, a state-of-theart performance venue in the
beautiful grounds of Wells
Cathedral School. No two
events run at the same time, so
it is possible (if ambitious!) to
attend them all. The Literary
Quiz in the Swan Hotel is the
only event not held at Cedars
Hall. Highlights include Suzie
Dent in conversation with David
Lister; Jonathan Dimbleby in
conversation with William
Waldegrave; and John Suchet
– in search of Beethoven.
October 18-26,
Cedars Hall, Wells.
£10 or £6 for concessions.
wellsfestivaloliterature.
org.uk

THEATRE

on people’s health, Hazel is left to deal with the
results. The Fallout asks if you can love someone
who represents what you hate most in the world?
From 7.45pm,
October 26, Brewhouse, Taunton.
From £11. tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk

DAYTIME

Apple Day
Weekend

October 19-20,
The Newt, Castle Cary.
Free with membership.
thenewtinsomerset.com
MUSIC

art exhibition in the Zig Zag
building in Glastonbury for
Somerset Art Weeks Festival.
It features ten well-known and
diverse artists working in a
range of disciplines from largescale sculptural installations,
textiles and assemblage to
audio visual, photography and
performance. Artworks will
respond particularly to climate
change, focussing on floods
and water pollution, provoking
thought and debate about global
and local issues.
Until October 6,
Zig Zag, Glastonbury.
Free. instagram.com/
as.old.as.the.hills

This popular weekend during
apple harvest season is well
worth a visit to The Newt, for
one of our favourite events in
the Estate calendar. ‘Apple
Day’, which actually falls on
October 21, was started in 1990
by Common Ground. It aims
to raise awareness not only of
the importance of orchards to
our landscape and culture, but
also in the provenance and
traceability of food - philosophies
that The Newt also holds dear.
It’s a two-day celebration of
all things apple-related; from
juice pressing to apple games,
displays, recipes, cyder tastings
and tractor tours through the
orchards. There’ll be live music,
apple-themed menus and BBQs
with meat and vegetables from
the estate cooked fresh over
coals. From 9am to 6pm.

Steeleye
Span
The band who changed the
face of folk music celebrate 55
years together at what’s bound
to be a sell-out show at Yeovil’s
Westlands this month. Steeleye
Span’s new album Green Man
Collection brings together
recent tracks with new versions
of classic songs. Their show too
will be a selection of songs from
across the years and no doubt
including irm fan favourites.
Maddy Prior may be the one
remaining original member,
but the Steeleye Span is still very
much alive.
October 18, Westlands
Yeovil. £29.50
westlandsyeovil.co.uk

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INTERVIEW

Billy Billingham lands in Yeovil
The decorated SAS leader and bodyguard to the stars returns
to the town where he once did helicopter training
WORDS:

AS: Who Dares Wins star Billy
Billingham sees his stage tour,
called Always A Little Further, as a
chance to give something back. Billy
is as tough as they come. Chief Instructor
on Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins,
paratrooper, decorated SAS leader and a
bodyguard to Hollywood superstars, he has
seen extreme combat and gruelling missions.
It could all have been very diferent, he
says: ‘I grew up in Walsall in a very poor
family. I was the middle child of ive. Mum
and dad were very loving but there was a lot
of trouble where I grew up. I was gravitating
towards the wrong people; gang people. I was
getting into a lot of trouble with the police.
I’ve done good things and bad things, and
things I’m not proud of.

S

Somerset Life

Su Carroll

‘Even as a nine-year-old, I knew what I
was doing. Mum made excuses about me
getting in with the wrong gang – but I
was the wrong gang. I realised at that age
that the people who were sufering were
mum and dad.’
Leaving school early, Billy joined up. If
he hadn’t, he says: ‘I’d probably be dead.’
He found he had total respect for his
instructor from day one. ‘It was knowing
I’d made the right choice. I could make it
work. When you work hard for something,
it feels good. Seventy started the course
and only seven of us inished.’
He progressed through the ranks and
spent over 20 years in the Special Forces.
In civvy street he was a bodyguard to
celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt,

Sir Michael Caine, Tom Cruise and Russell
Crowe. Now he’s sharing his experiences
with a live theatre audience, something he
approached with trepidation at irst. ‘It took
a while, stepping on stage, but it never felt
uncomfortable. Now I enjoy it.’
The tour enables him to show his American
wife parts of this country including those
he is familiar with. ‘I remember Yeovil and
the dunking pool where we did helicopter
training, helping us prepare for an aircraft
crash once or twice a day!’ he smiles. Let’s
hope his show has a smoother landing.

.

Billy Billingham is at Westlands
Entertainment Venue, Yeovil, on
October 16. Tickets are available via:
westlandsyeovil.co.uk

October 2024

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A CHANGE OF ART
Join Emma Bovill as she opens doors to art and explores the creative scene in Somerset

PHOTO:MELISSALEWIS

MATERIAL QUALITIES

Nathan Slate at SL-ATE

Space to stop and breathe

Somerset Life

really great happening to this town,’ says
Nathan understatedly, but with a touch of
steel in his voice.
The resident makers at SL-ATE include
Somerset-based creatives jewellery designer
Julia Thompson and ceramist Barbara Boylan.
There’s also sustainable tea, matcha and cofee
from Brew Planet, which is blended in the
Quantocks. Since opening in June, SL-ATE
has hosted evening workshops and Nathan is
keen to blur the lines between art and food,
with the cofee shop merging seamlessly
into a bar.
‘I’m hoping the space grows organically,’
relects Nathan. Recognising the vibrant
arts scene elsewhere in the county, such
as in Frome and Bruton, he is passionate
about maintaining a ‘gritty and earthy vibe’
in Bridgwater as its creative personality
blossoms. ‘If I live in Bridgwater and want a
place like this, there must be others like me,’
he says simply. ‘I want more people to open
places like mine.’
A collaborative approach is obvious not
only across the curated collections at SL-ATE,
which also have a Portuguese inluence
linking back to Nathan’s time in Maderia,
but in the way he has reached out to local
businesses such as boutique hotel The Old
Vicarage, run by Candida Leaver. She is as
enthusiastic as Nathan about an imminent
reimagining for Bridgwater and for support
between business owners.
sl-ate.com
@slate_conceptstore

PHOTO:NICOLATURNER

‘We’re letting the space become what it
wants and evolve,’ says artist, designer and
advocate of the ‘slow living revolution’ Nathan
Slate of his new creative venture SL-ATE
in Bridgwater. Concept store is a perhaps
limiting misnomer, SL-ATE fuses fashion
and curated homewares, cofee shop and open
studio in a light and airy space on the corner
of Clare Street.
Nathan, who has dressed Rihanna and
Lady Gaga but modestly makes no reference
to them, is making Somerset his permanent
home after several years travelling to and
from the county to Madeira, where he enjoyed
the unhurried pace of life. ‘People need to
slow down, at SL-ATE people can come in
and read their books,’ he explains, drawing
attention to a selection of second-hand books
from The Book Nook.
He has made a point of switching hard
chairs for upholstered ones at a table favoured
by customers. People are encouraged to
wander around with a cofee in hand to look
at the ceramics, fashion lines, dried bouquets,
jewellery or Nathan’s diverse work. A founder
of Skewer House restaurant in Taunton,
hospitality is in Nathan’s bones and he is more
than happy to stop making to chat to visitors.
Bridgwater, Nathan believes, is on the
cusp of an artistic explosion. Bridgwater Arts
Centre, the irst public arts centre in England
to open with Arts Council funding, was
recently awarded a £700,000 cash injection
which will include updating the exhibition
spaces. ‘We’re just on the edge of something

Fresh from her imposing installation
The Meddling Fiend, engaging with
the statue of Sir Joshua Reynolds in
the Annenberg Courtyard at the Royal
Academy of Arts for the Summer
Exhibition 2024, Bath-based artist
Nicola Turner brings her work to
the Somerset Rural Life Museum
in Glastonbury, where she will be
exhibiting alongside ilmmaker
Trevor Pitt.
Known for her large-scale
compositions in wool and horsehair,
Nicola’s installation in the Abbey Barn
will form part of the museum’s project
Spinning a Yarn: Telling the Story of
Wool in Somerset and will explore
human connections with the material.
Nicola manipulated unprocessed
leeces and salvaged horsehair to
create The Meddling Fiend and her
works invite us to consider what
agency dead matter retains.
Trevor Pitt’s ilm Somerset Yarning
tells the personal stories of sheep
farmers and artists who work with
their leeces. Trevor and Nicola’s joint
exhibition at the Museum runs until
November 2, complementing wider
activities for Somerset Art Weeks.
Spinning a Yarn: Telling the Story of
Wool in Somerset will continue until
November 30.
Based from FORM-ica, an industrial
building in Oldield Park, Bath, which
she recently converted into seven
artists’ studios, Nicola is a founder
and director of Bath Art Depot (BAD),
a collective of artists, architects and
artist-educators living and working in
Bath. BAD is leading a campaign for an
arts and cultural hub in the city.
nicolaturner.art
@nicolaturner.art

.

Nicola Turner in her studio

October 2024

91

PHOTO:NIGELBATTRICK

LIFE L VES
Bath’s smallest pub
As you take an autumnal stroll through the streets of Bath
don’t miss the turning for Northumberland Place which will
lead you to the Coeur De Lion. Renowned for being Bath’s
smallest pub it’s a great cosy spot for enjoying a Bath Ale.

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October 2024

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94 Cheshire Life: <%+1m><%M> <%Y>

LIFE ON OUR
PLANET
The Bristol Beacon plays host to an
exciting musical experience where
audiences will see the story of life on Earth
unfold on the big screen to live music.
Accompanied by the Welsh National Opera
Orchestra playing the score, Netlix’s
Life on Our Planet will come to life in a
unique and captivating way.
October 2. Tickets: bristolbeacon.org
PHOTO:

Netlix

%

%

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October 2024

Somerset Life

OUTDOOR LIFE
Making the most of our county’s greatest gift
GOLDEN LEAVES

FEATHERED FRIENDS

OUR NATIONAL PARK

Visit these Somerset gardens to
embrace the arrival of autumn

The RSPB is celebrating 30 years
of conservation work at Ham Wall

It’s the 70th anniversary of
Exmoor’s designation

HIKE FOR OUR HOSPICE

PHOTO:CHARITYCHALLENGE

St Margaret’s Hospice invites you join an exclusive charity
trek across Landmannalaugar in Iceland, one of the most
volcanic regions on Earth. Over ive days, you’ll explore
58km, weave through steaming lava ields and camp
against breathtaking backdrops. The adventure concludes
with a celebratory meal, a chance to explore Reykjavik,
and a relaxing soak in the famous Blue Lagoon.
The minimum sponsorship for this trek is £3,670,
covering lights, accommodation, meals, and equipment.
The trek dates are: August 25-29 2025.
st-margarets-hospice.org.uk/icelandtrek

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of the best

AUTUMNAL
GARDENS
The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access
to private gardens whilst raising money for nursing and
health charities through admissions, teas and cake.
Enjoy the autumnal colours on display in Somerset
this October by visiting these glorious gardens
PHOTO:NATIONALGARDENSCHEME/FLINGERSLANE

10 FLINGERS LANE,
Wincanton

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October 2024

Nynehead Court was the home of the
Sandford family from 1590-1902. The
14 acres of gardens are noted for
specimen trees, and there will be a
garden tour with the head gardener at
2pm. The garden combines Victorian
formality with natural style further into
the parkland including spring bulbs in
managed grassland. A Historic England
garden of national importance.
Contact: 01823 662481. Please
contact head gardener to book:
garden@nyneheadcourt.co.uk.
nyneheadcourt.co.uk.
Facilities: Tea, cofee, squash
and biscuits available, dogs
welcome, picnics, coaches.
Disabled Information: Partial
wheelchair access: cobbled yards,
gentle slopes, chipped paths, liable
to puddle during or after rain.
Period of Opening by
Arrangement: Jan 8 to Dec 16
for groups of 10 to 30.
Admission: £8.50, children free.
Directions: 1½ miles north
of Wellington. M5 J26 B3187
towards Wellington. R on
roundabout marked Nynehead
& Poole, follow lane for 1 mile,
take Milverton turning at fork,
turning into Chipley Road.
PHOTO:NATIONALGARDENSCHEME/NYNEHEADCOURT

A secluded third of an acre secret walled
garden hidden behind the High Street
in Wincanton on a no through road. Box
hedges, topiary, a formal kitchen garden
with fruit trees, a fernery, glasshouses,
and a lawn lanked by herbaceous
borders and shrubs. Designed by an
architect, the striking layout leads
the visitor from one notional ‘room’
to another.
Contact: Yseult Ogilvie, 07736
609789, yseultogilvie@hotmail.com.
Facilities: Light refreshments, dogs
welcome, plants for sale, picnics,
accommodation.
Disabled Information: Wheelchair
access diicult due to steps down
from the lane.
Period of opening by
arrangement: from January 2 for
groups of 5 to 30. Bookings by email.
Admission: £5, children free. Card
payment available.
Directions: Situated on the left hand
side of Flingers Lane to the north of
the B3081. Parking available for four
cars. Additional parking on the High
Street or around the Memorial Hall.

NYNEHEAD COURT,
Wellington

Somerset Life

GARDENS

Layout and planting began in 2003 by a
garden designer and a painter. Four acres
comprising three distinct gardens with
exuberant mixed herbaceous and shrub
borders leading to a meadow and orchard
with wildlowers, masses of spring bulbs,
species roses and lilacs.
Contact: Keith Anderson and
David Mendel, 01458 850604,
andersonmendel@aol.com,
Facilities: Dogs welcome, coaches.

Disabled Information:
Wheelchair access.
Period of Opening by
Arrangement: From January 2.
Admission: Arrange when booking.
Directions: 4 miles east of
Glastonbury; 8 miles west of Castle
Cary. From A361 at West Pennard
follow signs to West Bradley (two
miles). From A37 at Wraxall Hill follow
signs to West Bradley (2 miles).
>

PHOTO:HEATHEREDWARDS

WESTBROOK HOUSE,
West Bradley

PHOTO:NATIONALGARDENSCHEME/KNOLLCOTTAGE

KNOLL COTTAGE, Stogumber
Four acre garden started from ields in
1998. Extensive mixed beds with shrubs,
perennials and annuals. Over 80 diferent
roses. Small arboretum area including
many different cornuses, rowans,
hawthorns, oaks and birches. Pond, large
vegetable and fruit areas.
Contact: Elaine & John Leech, 01984
656689, john@Leech45.com,
knoll-cottage.co.uk.
Facilities: Home-made teas, dogs on
leads, plants for sale.

Disabled Information: Wheelchair
access.
Period of Opening: June to Oct for
groups of 5 – 30.
Admission: £5.00, children free.
Payment by cash only.
Directions: Three miles south east
of Williton. From A358 follow signs
to Stogumber. After 2.5 miles at
T-junction, turn right towards Williton.
After ⅓ miles turn right up narrow lane.
Knoll Cottage on left after 100yards.

GARDENS

PHOTO:NATIONALGARDENSCHEME/LITTLEYARFORDFARMHOUSE

LITTLE YARFORD FARMHOUSE, Taunton
Unusual ive acre garden embracing 17th
century house (not open). Natural pond and
90ft water lily pond. A plantsman’s garden
notable for the aesthetics of its planting
especially its 300+ rare and unusual tree
cultivars: the best collection of broad leaf
and conifer specimens in western Somerset.
Contact: Mrs. D. Bradley, 01823
451350, dilly.bradley@gmail.com.
Facilities: Cream teas. Dogs
welcome, plants for sale, coaches.
Disabled Information:

Mostly wheelchair access.
Period of Opening by
Arrangement: April 7 to October 31.
Admission: £7, children free.
Card payment available.
Directions: 1½ miles west of
Hestercombe, 3½ miles north of
Taunton. From Taunton on Kingston
St Mary road. At 30mph sign turn
left at Parsonage Lane. Continue 1¼
miles west to Yarford sign. Continue
400yds. Turn right up concrete road.

PHOTO:NATIONALGARDENSCHEME/BRADONFARM

BRADON FARM,
Taunton
Classic formal garden demonstrating
the efective use of structure with
parterre, knot garden, pleached
lime walk, formal pond, herbaceous
borders, orchard and wildflower
planting.
Contact: Mr & Mrs Thomas Jones,
deborahjstanley@hotmail.com
Facilities: Home-made teas,
coaches.
Disabled Information:
Wheelchair access.
Period of Opening: from January
2, For groups of 10+.
Admission: £7.00, children free.
Payment by cash only.
Directions: Take turning to Ilton
of A358. Bradon Farm is 1½ miles
out of Ilton on Bradon Lane.

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GARDENING TIPS
Cara Maccallum-Hills from Monkton Elms garden centre in Taunton ofers seasonal advice

JOBS IN THE GARDEN
FOR OCTOBER
Harvest pumpkins and squashes
before the irst frosts. They quickly
turn mushy if left outside!
Plant scented walllowers – bundles of
ield grown plants are in garden centres
now. These will lower in spring.
This month is the ideal time
to plant hedges, soft fruit, and
move trees and shrubs.

Plant pink hyacinth bulbs to bring bursts of colour to your spring garden

Lift and divide herbaceous
perennials, removing perennial
weeds, and improve the soil
with compost and fertiliser.

It’s time to plant
those bulbs!

‘T

o plant a garden is to believe in
tomorrow’ – Audrey Hepburn said
this, and nothing could be truer,
especially when planting in the
autumn. In many ways, autumn is the busiest
season of all for gardening enthusiasts. Fruits
need to be harvested and pruned, perennials
require cutting back and, when lowering is
over, leaves need to be collected and compost
made. But most importantly, autumn is the
time for planting and preparing your garden
for the winter months and next year’s blooms.
It’s also a time to plant spring lowering
bulbs. Planting bulbs in September and October
while the soil is still warm gives them time to
establish roots before they go dormant for the
winter. The bulbs can be planted anytime from
late September through to December; however,
we advise planting tulips in late October or
November. Snowdrops, crocuses, narcissus,
tulips and hyacinths are the harbingers of
spring in your garden, balcony or patio and
bring such joy after the long winter months!

TOP TIPS FOR PLANTING BULBS

PHOTOS:GETTY

• Plant bulbs in larger quantities
than you think you’ll want.
• Buy bulbs when they come out in stores
and garden centres, the fresher the better!
• Look for large, irm, healthy
looking bulbs.
Choose spring bulbs to suit your garden
theme and colour combinations and choose
your varieties based on their lowering times,
that way your bulbs can lower in succession
from late winter through to the summer.

Somerset Life

Lift dahlia tubers after the
irst frost and store frost free
in barely damp compost.

When planting, take note of the diferent
lowering heights of your bulbs. It is best
visually to plant taller varieties in the middle
of the pot, or towards the back of the border
and shorter ones towards the edge of the pot
or front of the border.
You can plant spring bulbs directly into
the ground, in borders or in containers.
Preparation is key, turn the soil over,
incorporating your bulb compost. It’s also
good to add some fertiliser when planting,
which will feed the plant during its initial
growth phase. Ensure the ground or pot has
good drainage. If planting in the ground, you
may want to add a bit of horticultural grit.
As a rule of thumb plant a bulb twice as
deep as the bulb is tall. For large bulbs such
as narcissus, tulips and hyacinths, this will be
about 10 to 20cm deep. For smaller bulbs such
as snowdrops and crocuses, this is about ive
to 10cm. Spring bulbs generally need sun or
partial shade and free-draining soil.
Your distance between bulbs generally
depends on their size. Large bulbs need about
12cm between them, small bulbs about ive to
seven. For a natural-looking efect, plant the
bulbs at varying distances apart. If you want
a solid-colour loral carpet efect, plant all the
bulbs at the same distance apart.
Water bulbs immediately after planting,
encouraging root production. Many bulbs
can be left in the soil after lowering. Next
year, these same bulbs can produce another
beautiful display, but you will have to help
them along with feed and fertiliser. Apply
fertiliser when the shoots emerge from the
soil and repeat immediately after lowering.

Strawberry runners should be planted
now. If they are replacing old plants,
choose a fresh site for best results.
Raise pots off the ground for the
winter with bricks or ‘pot feet’,
to prevent waterlogging.
Create compost bins for collecting
fallen leaves and dead plant material.
Clean your greenhouse, getting
into all the corners. Leave the
door open to dry it properly.
Move any frost tender plants
such as citrus inside now.
Invest in bird baths and bird feeders
this autumn. Birds are a gardener’s
friend and keep pests down.

.

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Bringing back the

‘MYTHICAL BEAST’
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LA LABEL (RIGHT)

The walkways at Ham Wall take you up close to nature. Photo: Mike Pearce

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
is celebrating 30 years at Ham Wall Nature Reserve.
MALCOLM RIGBY talks to some of team who have
been instrumental in the conservation work

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107

WANT TO
LEARN MORE?
For more info about the
birds at RSPB Ham Wall
visit: rspb.org.uk/hamwall
To keep up to date with
the latest news you can
follow on Facebook
and X @rspbhamwall
And for details of future
events visit: events.rspb.
org.uk/hamwall

A bittern takes light. Photo: Sandie Andrews sa@sandrews.co.uk

These bitterns have made RSPB Ham Wall their home. Photo: John Crispin

hen the RSPB took over
the Ham Wall site near
Glastonbury back in 1994
there was, of course, the
small matter of restoring a semi-industrial
devastated landscape into the beautiful
sea of reeds that you see today but there
was always one central aim – to bring back
the bittern.
As Steve Hughes, RSPB site manager at
the nature reserve, says: ‘The big driver for
this was the bittern, that was the big target
species we were trying to get, the whole site
was designed with bitterns in mind. The
idea was that if we get it right for bitterns,
we’d get it right for lots of other things as
well. That was a long process, an awful lot
of research went on, nationally, about what
bitterns needed. Despite that they took an
awfully long time to get here and it was quite
frustrating, people were wondering whether
it was ever going to happen.’
Bob Buck, former policeman, and Pete
Wood, former engineer, have each been
working as volunteers on the RSPB reserve

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for quarter of a century. Bob proudly
produced his RSPB Avocet badge which
recognizes his 25 years of service during
which time they have planted more than
half a million reeds. He describes the
initial scene as looking like the Somme
with 10-foot craters where peat had
been removed.
At the end of the century the bittern was
on the verge of extinction. In 1997 there
were just 11 booming (mating) males, now
there are twice that number on this site
alone, 50 in Somerset and 239 in the UK.
Bob says: ‘So they’ve gone from the red
list to the amber list. Absolutely the result
of this RSPB nature reserve, if we hadn’t
planted the reeds, done what we have,
this wouldn’t have happened. This reserve
was designed specifically to make an
optimum habitat for bitterns and it’s done
its job. But it was ten years before I even
saw one, I thought they were like griins,
mythical beasts.
‘The reason is that it took that long for the
whole reserve to get into balance, the water

quality improved and it starts from the most
microscopic of plants and invertebrates,
then you go up through the food chain to
the ish and that’s what the bitterns eat.
‘In every sense this reserve is a success,
it’s a success because we’ve done what we
set out to do and it’s a success because
people come; we do guided walks, butterly
walks, on Saturday I’m coming down to do
pond dipping.’
Come along to the RSPB Ham Wall nature
reserve on a Thursday morning and you will
spot a whole host of blue chested creatures
busily pecking at the landscape – not a
rare species of bird but a group of RSPB
volunteers in their oicial polo shirts.
Steve says: ‘The volunteers are absolutely
amazing we couldn’t do what we do, on the
scale that we do, without them. Over 100
volunteers on the books who do a whole
variety of stuf, there are guys like Pete and
Bob who do all the practical side of things,
then there are people who lead events for
us, people who run the cofee shop, people
who carry out the surveying and monitoring,

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Ham Wall provides the perfect habitat for birdlife. Photo: Mike Pearce

people who help in the oice, there’s a
whole range of activities – there’s no way
we could do it without the volunteers. And
they’re a fantastic bunch of people. People
in their teens and people in their 80s and
everything in between. We also have work
parties at the weekend so people with a job
can volunteer.’
Pete says: ‘What it’s done for me is make
me more observant of what’s around, I
have expanded my knowledge of wildlife
in general. When I do a walk I have a very
full folder; all the insects, the mammals
and their scat, you don’t see them very
much but you see what they leave behind.
The majority of people who visit go away
thinking “well I’ve learned something
today” and that as far as I’m concerned is
the satisfying part. You want to be outside,
doing something useful, trying to change
the world a little bit.’
2008 is seen as the turning point for
bitterns and since then the graph has
lown up and up but they are not the
only success story. Marsh harriers have

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colonised the area with ive nests at RSPB
Ham Wall this year alone. The bearded tit
is another small victory, these long-tailed
birds (with moustaches really, not beards)
who love to ly over reed beds, are also now
more numerous. Then there’s the great
white egret which used to be a subject for
twitching. Steve says: ‘They’ve started to
colonise the UK but this seems to be an area
they’ve really homed in on. There are night
herons, cattle egrets, all kinds of things that
used to be considered exotic but are now
turning up and breeding and becoming
more commonplace. It’s the quality of the
habitat and the size of the place.’
Anyone who lends a hand, in whatever way,
at RSPB Ham Wall is conscious that they
are part of a bigger space, Avalon Marshes,
that includes such reserves as Shapwick
Heath, Shapwick Moor and Westhay Moor,
managed by Natural England, Somerset
Wildlife Trust and the Hawk and Owl
Trust. Together they share resources and
machinery and coordinate management
plans. The birds see no boundaries.

As Steve says: ‘For me Ham Wall and the
surrounding reserves, because there are all
these other organisations working beside
us, is probably the best wetland in the UK.
If you want to work in wetland conservation,
why would you want to work anywhere
but here. It’s innovative what we’ve done
here and what’s happening here. And it’s
attracted a whole lot of species that you’re
probably not going to get anywhere else.
‘I’ve never taken what I do for granted,
I’m very lucky and privileged to get the
opportunity to do this for a living. So, I don’t
mind the rain or snow, bring it on really. I
get to come out here at certain times of day
that most people don’t. I really love the early
mornings and the evenings, anytime of year.
It’s quiet and you see a whole of things that
you wouldn’t normally. In winter you see the
starlings leaving the roost, in the summer
you see the big dragonlys roost, kind of
unique to this place.’
Perhaps most importantly: ‘We have
brought the bittern back or played a huge
part in that.’

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SECRET WORLD
Pauline Kidner, founder of charity Secret World Wildlife Rescue in East Huntspill.

L ET’S TA L K A BOU T

Parliament in session
ost of our orphans have gone to
their new homes and we start to
hear how they are getting on. A
landowner who had a little owl
released in his woods was amused to see
that one of them has decided that a barn owl
box he had built and put up will do nicely,
thank you!
Slightly palatial for such a small bird, the
little owl seems very content and we hope
that maybe, with such a posh house, he may
soon get a mate!
Fortunately, we have been able to ind
enough release sites for our tawnies as we
always end up with quite a collection –
known as a parliament of owls.
They are content to be reared together – as
we have some large aviaries for them. Happy
to live alongside humans, it means that if
owlets in the wild are ever in trouble, they
will usually be seen and reported.

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Our family of badgers is busy excavating
the artiicial sett and preparing for the winter
with bedding being taken in. We are so lucky
that our landowners very often continue to
feed the juveniles through the winter as these
orphans have no parents to teach them how
to survive through the winter.
Not every rescued orphan is easy to ind a
home for. For the irst time we had a sika calf
brought in for rehab. They are very similar
to our red deer but as an invasive species,
it means we can’t release her back into the
wild. She was very pretty and enjoyed being
reared with a roe fawn for company. It was
important for us to ind a suitable home
where we were sure she would be looked after.
Having worked with the New Forest Wildlife
Park in the past, we were very pleased to
ind out that they also had a female sika
deer that came in as a casualty a few years
ago. So, this is where our little one will be

above: A parliament of owlets currently
residing at Secret World Wildlife Rescue

going. Hopefully their sika deer will enjoy
having company and we know it will be a
lovely home for her. You may see her if you
visit the park in Ashurst.
We are forever grateful to people who
ofer release sites for our orphans. Without
having homes for them to go to we wouldn’t
be able to rear them. If you think you have
a suitable release site for birds or mammals,
we would love to hear from you. It’s the inal
piece in our jigsaw when caring for wildlife
– absolutely crucial. Do contact Charlotte
Wroe, our wildlife release co-ordinator, at
charlotte.wroe@secretworld.org . Charlotte
will come and survey and let you know how
you can help us.
secretworld.org

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CU T OU T AND K EEP

WALK

Have your camera to hand along this walk, there’s plenty to photograph. Photo: Charlotte Norman

WA L K

Woodland Walking
A two mile stroll through Chargot Woods
WORDS:

Joseph Madge and Charlotte Norman

ctober brings its own unique beauty to the
outdoors, the shift from summer’s heat to
autumn’s cooler temperatures creates a perfect
environment for outdoor exploration. Walking
in October means traversing paths adorned with a
tapestry of red, orange, and gold leaves.
As the temperatures drop, the importance of social
interaction becomes paramount for maintaining mental
and emotional well-being. With Somerset being one of
the more rural counties in the UK, Somerset Activity and
Sports Partnership (SASP) endeavours to bring the people

O
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in these communities together through the medium of
physical activity.
One project in particular that focuses on the importance
of this social interaction is our one-to-one volunteer and
participant programme called ‘Move More Together’. This
is a programme designed to encourage adults over 50 who
wish to move a bit more to get active again through the
support of a volunteer who can motivate, guide and of
course, provide some friendly conversation. If this sounds
of interest, either by getting involved as a participant or
volunteer, please do enquire with SASP. sasp.co.uk

>

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WALK

GOOD TO KNOW
Free Parking
Designated Paths
Involves Steep Slopes
Watch out for bikes!
Plentiful wildlife

5

4

3

2

1

THE WALK
Chargot Woods is part of the Chargot Estate,
and the West Somerset Mineral Line. If you
follow one of the routes, you’ll ind yourself
visiting one of the old mining lues. This route
is located to the west of Taunton in the beautiful
natural forestry of Exmoor National Park.

1

The postcode for the car park for this
walk is TA24 7DQ. This will take you of
the B224 and into the car park which is
free. A mildly challenging walk this one, as it
has a few hills that you can’t escape. From the
car park, you walk down into the woods, and
what goes down, must come up!
This walk has a couple of signposted routes
for you to take, but there’s plenty of opportunity
to go of the beaten track. Our favourite route
is to take the path to the right of the car park.
Why is it our favourite? Because the opposite
hill you can walk up is far nicer and doesn’t
seem to drag on! This route will take you down
the hill, and into a valley where there will be
a small pool of water, and from there, you can
pick any route you like, but I would recommend
looking for ‘Langham Engine House Trail’. You
will see it on the map situated in the car park.

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2

Shortly along this path, you will
notice that it diverges in two – you’ll
want to take the left path. You will be
surrounded by birds, large and small, from
the buzzards to quail to pheasants. It’s so
much fun to see them scrabbling around,
but if you happen to have dogs that love to
lush, keep them close by – otherwise, you’ll
have a cacophony of pheasant calls echoing
around the woods!

5

Take this short path up until you hit a
left turn and at this point you’re around
halfway, then this should take you all
the way back to the car park down a bendy
and hilly path – now would be a good point
to rest and appreciate the views!

.

3

Continue along this path until you get
to a ‘T’ junction on the route, where
you can take the left path and venture
further into the woods. From here, stick to
the right-hand side of the twisted path until
you hit a crossroads.

4

You will soon encounter a bit of a
crossroads, here you’ll want to go
straight on (as if you were taking the
second exit at a roundabout). It’s a stunning
area, quiet and picturesque. Great for
exploring, the ups and downs may be slightly
challenging around this part but take it at
your own pace!

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WALK:

The Priestway
Pilgrims Path

Most religions include the tradition of pilgrimage and today the deinition of
who is a pilgrim is tricky to pin down. Perhaps all of us who gain strength,
hope and a sense of well-being from our walking are, at heart, modern pilgrims
WORDS & PHOTOS:

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October 2024

Alistair and Gill Campbell

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WALK

orlock Pilgrim’s Trail is a 29 mile
loop visiting nine of Exmoor’s
churches and chapels including a
tin tabernacle, England’s smallest
parish church, Lorna Doone’s Oare church
and two tiny half-forgotten chapels.
In 2022, Porlock Pilgrim’s Trail was
inaugurated with the hope that it would enable
walkers to visit nine of these churches and
chapels using ancient routes that have been
walked and ridden by clergy and parishioners
for hundreds of years. This month’s short
circular walk uses the Priestway which links
Stoke Pero with Luccombe. The walk crosses
some of Exmoor’s stunning countryside –
ancient oak woodlands, wild moors and high
pasture – and visits two beautiful, and very
diferent, old churches. Most religions include
the tradition of pilgrimage and today the
deinition of who is a pilgrim is tricky to pin
down. Perhaps all of us who gain strength,
hope and a sense of well-being from our
walking are, at heart, modern pilgrims.

P

1

Leave Horner car park by the car exit
and turn left onto the road and then
fork right at a small village green along
the track signed Horner Woods, to cross
Horner Water by a stone bridge. Continue
ahead along Horner Combe through this
4,000 acre National Nature Reserve. Horner
Wood is an ancient oak woodland and a haven
for bats and rare lichen; you may also spot
Exmoor ponies wandering amongst the trees.
Following the stream for about 35 mins/1.5
miles you reach a footbridge across Horner
Water, signed Stoke Pero.

2

Turn left over the bridge and follow
the path to climb through the wood.
Eventually, keep right, signed with a
blue arrow, to reach a ield gate. Fork right

along the boundary to a gate into a walled
lane leading to Church Farm’s yard. Cross
the yard to reach a small lane and then turn
left to reach Stoke Pero church.
Stoke Pero church is Grade II-listed and,
at 309m above sea level, the church is the
highest on Exmoor and the second highest in
England. The church has no electricity; many
services are candle lit. On the wall is a list of
Rectors that dates back to 1242.
The church’s tower was built in the 13th
century but the rest of the church was rebuilt
in 1897 by the owner of the manor, Sir Thomas
Dyke Acland. All the timber for the rebuilding
of the church was carried up from Porlock by
a donkey called Zulu; his picture, drawn by
locally acclaimed artist and moor-dweller,
Hope Bourne, hangs on one wall. During these
building works three sets of human remains
were uncovered from directly under the old
north wall, suggesting that the 13th century
church had been built on the site of an even
older churchyard.
If you look at the gravestones some have
rather odd sentiments on them, for example
Jane Rawle: ‘As I am now, so must you shortly
be; Therefore prepare for Death and follow me’.

3

Retrace your steps through the farm
and along the walled lane. Then keep
ahead to cross three ields – do not
re-enter the wood. At the third ield, keep the
fence to your right – watch for blue waymarks;
there are wonderful views across Exmoor’s
hills and valleys. Cross Prickslade Combe,
where once there was a remote farmstead,
and two further ields before inally passing
through a gate in the corner of the second
ield to enter a lane. Keep ahead, through
another gate, signed Horner Hill and, at the
end of the ield, keep ahead to enter ancient
oak woodland.

above:

Stoke Pero church
is 309m above sea
level, making it the
highest on Exmoor
and the second
highest in England.
right:

Walking through the
beech woods as you
follow the Priestway
certainly surrounds
you with nature!

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October 2024

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>

4

After passing a bench on your right – a
great place for a rest and to take in the
view – fork left downhill unsigned and
not following the blue waymarks. After a
path joins from the right take the next right
downhill and then left, also downhill, now
following the blue waymarks again. At the
bottom cross the bridge over East Water and
start the steep climb, signed Webber’s Post.

5

top: A picture perfect welcome as you arrive into the village of Luccombe
above: The chancel of St Mary the Virgin in Luccombe dates from 1300

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At the top of the climb, turn right on
the surfaced path, signed with the
Coleridge Way yellow feather. On
reaching Webber’s Post car park (there are a
few benches here, both on the trail and in the
car park), turn left and cross the road. Then
fork half right, away from the track, again
signed with the yellow feather. Cross a second
road and, at the back of the open area, turn
left taking the good track downhill through
oak and beech forest towards Luccombe.
Enter this village of thatched sandstone
cottages and, just before the church, take
the footpath on your left signed to Chapel
Cross. Now take the irst gate on your right
to enter the churchyard.
The church of St Mary the Virgin in
Luccombe seems much too large for the
village; a 1944 study recorded that there

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WALK

1

6

2
5
3
4

were just 51 adults and 23 children living
in Luccombe. But the parish was once very
large and extended west to include a third
of Porlock; those who lived in Porlock’s
Doverhay area had to travel nearly three
miles to church rather than walk 100 yards
to Porlock’s St Dubricius. The chancel is
the earliest part of the church dating from
around 1300 with the nave and tower being
added around 1450. Neither the church nor
the tower has any foundations.
If you lift the rug by the pulpit you will ind
a ine brass dedicated to William Harrison, a
wealthy local farmer who died in 1615. Above,
the roof bosses in the Nave show the heads
of two women and two men, possibly the
benefactors of the new 13th century glass in
the south aisle’s East Window.

6

Leave the churchyard through the gate
that you arrived through and turn
right along the path which shortly
reaches a lane. Keep ahead on the tarmac
lane for 250m and immediately after the
crossroads, bear left through a gate into the
wood. Now follow the track, keeping right at
every junction until you eventually descend
to a road. Turn left to enter the village of
Horner once more.

Somerset Life

The P i lg r i m’s T ra i l ’s website,
porlockpilgrim.co.uk, contains lots more
information about the entire 29 mile of the
trail. You can also buy the Pilgrim’s Trail
guidebook on the site as well as from Porlock
Information Centre or any Exmoor National
Park Visitors’ Centre. The book contains a
page about each of the churches and chapels,
a route description of the whole trail and links
to downloadable .gpx mapping iles.
There is a Pilgrim’s Trail ink stamp in each
church and chapel which can be used to record
your walking progress. The Guidebook has
a space at the top of each church and chapel
description for you to place your stamp. When
you complete the trail you can sign your name
in the record book in Porlock church.

.

COMPASS POINTS
START POINT: Horner National
Trust pay-and-display car park
TA24 8HY; SS 8977 4557;
///plotted.smirks.backhand
DISTANCE: 6.5 miles (10.5
km). Allow 3 hours. There are
two short but steep climbs.
MAP: OS Explorer OL9 (Exmoor)
REFRESHMENTS: There
are two seasonal tea shops in
Horner as well as pubs, cafés
and shops in nearby Porlock
(1.5 miles away). Stoke Pero
churchyard and Webber’s Post
are both ideal picnic locations.

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Wistlandpound Reservoir.
Photo: Keith Trueman

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EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK

70
YEARS OF

EXMOOR
Five recommended ways to
embrace Exmoor this autumn to
honour the 70th anniversary of its
oicial designation as a National
Park since October 19 1954

1
THE EXMOOR DARK
SKIES FESTIVAL
A huge range of events from October 18
to November 3 giving enthusiastic
stargazers, wildlife watchers and
families the chance to enjoy Europe’s
irst designated Dark Sky Reserve.
The festival programme is packed
this year with immersive planetarium
experiences, dark skies yoga by
moonlight, a family astro party,
ranger-led dark skies walk and talks,
a gin and stargazing evening, space
detectives and ireside storytelling.

2

THE 70 FOR 70
CAREMOOR APPEAL
Give or fundraise anything from
70 pence to 70 pounds to help our
Exmoor landscape stay special for
another 70 years. Funds raised will
boost nature recovery and education
projects happening on Exmoor.
If you’re feeling energetic, join the 70
for 70 virtual walk. Clock up your steps
at home, in the gym or out and about
on Exmoor. You can sign up to take part
and get more info and walking route
advice at exmoor-nationalpark.gov.
uk/exmoor70

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PHOTO:PCTURNER71/GETTY

The Two Moors Way is a long distance trail crossing both Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks

3

5

THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF GREAT BRADLEY BRIDGE

EXMOOR YOUNG
CHEF COMPETITION:
A PLATFORM FOR
CULINARY EXCELLENCE

Great Bradley Bridge across the River Barle
will provide a secure, sustainable route
along the Two Moors Way between Tarr
Steps and Withypool.
The 28-metre-long bridge is made of a
recycled steel and locally sourced oak and
has been built with support from generous

donors. The bridge will make an enormous
diference to walkers and horse riders,
allowing them to cross the river safely all
year round.
You can order a plaque on Great
Bradley Bridge via exmoornationalpark.gov.uk/caremoor

4
READ MORE ABOUT EXMOOR
Dr Lucy Shipley highlights 70 of Exmoor’s
special sites in a brilliant new blog series that
helps to tell its story, from the Mesolithic Era
to the Second World War. Check out exmoornationalpark.gov.uk for the full range of
Exmoor historic site stories.

Exmoor Farms: A Year on the Moor is
written by local farmer and author, Victoria
Eveleigh and photographed by Eleanor Davies.
This project ofers a captivating exploration of
contemporary farming life in one of the UK’s
most remarkable upland regions.

Celebrating its third year, the Exmoor
Young Chef Competition takes place on
October 5 and is designed to inspire and
empower aspiring young chefs aged 13-17.
This initiative ofers a unique platform
for participants to engage directly with
professional chefs from across the region.
Finalists are chosen by an expert panel
and will have the thrilling opportunity
to captivate judges with a locally sourced,
three-course menu at West Somerset
College in Minehead.
Keep tabs on these budding chefs
by following updates on visitexmoor.co.uk and social media.

Further events and celebratory news can be found via
exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk and visit-exmoor.co.uk.
Follow on social media too @exmoornp @visit_exmoor
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Wonderwallers
There are over 250 miles of drystone wall on the Mendips, serving as a valuable habitat
for some of Somerset’s rarer species. The walls are iconic in this part of our county
and the Mendip Hills National Landscape team is working hard to preserve them
WORDS & PHOTOGR APHY:

s you climb up onto the Mendip
plateau from any direction, passing
about 100 metres above sea level, a
signiicant change in the landscape
character is that the hedges and fences of
the surrounding low-lying countryside are
replaced by Mendip’s iconic drystone walls.
These walls are such an important feature
of the Mendip Landscape that the Mendip
Hills National Landscape has designated
them as one of the 12 special qualities of
the Mendip Hills.
On the Mendips, there are over 400
kilometres of wall of diferent ages, creating
a labyrinth of habitat and history. When you
get your eye in, you can become a proper wall
spotter, learning so much about the local
landscape and its history as you go.
The earliest walls were built between 410 AD
and 1066 AD, identiied by being almost bellshaped in proile, much wider at the bottom,
and curving up towards the narrow top with
stones placed in an almost random fashion.
As wall building moved through the later
medieval period, they started to get narrower
at the bottom along with straighter, more
vertical sides until the walls constructed in
the 1500s to 1700s, which are almost parallel
on both sides.
The modern style of tapered (or ‘battered’)
wall developed in the late 1700s after one
of the many enclosures acts, where wealthy
landowners could claim any land they could

A

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Andy Chamberlain

enclose with walls, usually done with the
labour of the unknowing locals who’d been
working the land for generations.
Modern walls are in a style known as
‘random rubble’. The stones used would have
been found in the ield or quarried very close
by. They consist of two outer faces made of
large stones (the biggest ones are always at
the bottom) inilled with smaller stones, or
‘heartings’ as they are known to the wallers.
Drystone walls are a critical habitat. They
are home to over 220 species ranging from rare
mosses and plants, through numerous insects
and other invertebrates to larger residents such
as small rodents, toads, lizards and the iconic
adder for which the habitat provided is crucial
through all stages of its life.
On a warm day, you may see adders basking
on the walls, getting ready to hunt or look
for a mate, whilst on colder and wetter days,
of which there are many on Mendip, they
will shelter in the wall – whilst at the same
time focusing their attentions on hunting the
other creatures living there. During the winter,
these snakes and many diferent creatures
will use the walls to hibernate. They are ideal
for this because there are plenty of voids to
be found in the foundations; where it is both
relatively dry as well as having a reasonably
constant temperature.
Mendip’s drystone walls need almost
constant attention because when they start
to collapse, their stock-prooing capability

above: Mendip’s drystone walls
need almost constant attention

and, eventually, their habitat value is lost.
Interestingly though, the optimum walls for
habitat are slightly collapsed and covered
in greenery.
Mendip’s walls are maintained and rebuilt
by dedicated drystone walling craftspeople,
both professional and voluntary, from all
walks of life. In the Mendip Hills National
Landscape walling group we have students,
retired professionals, people looking to become
professional wallers and those who just want
to practise the craft for all the physical and
mental health beneits working outdoors in a
beautiful landscape with friends ofers.
If you would like to ind out more about
drystone walling and information on training
courses then contact the Dry Stone Walling
Association (dswa.org.uk). If it does turn out
to be your thing, then you could always join
one of the local groups such as the one run by
myself (mendiphills-nl.org.uk)

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illarney-born Blaithin Murphy is
about to embark on her second
season as the general manager
of Wincanton Racecourse and is
enjoying her recent move to the Somerset
countryside. ‘I know it sounds clichéd, but
the rolling hills and green ields really do
remind me of home,’ the 26-year-old grins
as she compares her new home to her native
Ireland. ‘I moved down here in the summer
of 2023 and haven’t looked back. Somerset is
a beautiful part of the world, and the people
are so welcoming. I feel very lucky that this is
home for me now.’
Blaithin was born into the world of
horseracing, so a life in the sport was written
in the stars for her. She has a three-time

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Cheltenham Gold Cup winning-jockey as
her uncle, Jim Culloty, who famously made
history aboard the legendary Best Mate when
winning the Blue Riband of Jump racing for
three consecutive years (2002, 2003 and 2004).
Culloty, who also partnered the 2002 Grand
National hero Bindaree, made more history in
2014 when becoming only the ifth person in
history to ride and train a Cheltenham Gold
Cup winner after saddling Lord Windermere
to victory.
Murphy’s older brother, Oisin, has been
Champion jockey on the Flat three times (2019,
2020 and 2021) and is enjoying another tilt
at the title in 2024 so there was no escaping
the industry for Blaithin, but she certainly
has no complaints. ‘Racing has always been

in my blood; I was very lucky that horses
and sport were always around me. I grew
up showjumping and pony racing, and then
decided that life was a little safer out of the
saddle, but I always knew that I wanted to be
involved in the sport somehow.’
Blaithin is one of the youngest general
managers of a racecourse and landed the
job at Wincanton following 12 months on
The Jockey Club’s trainee general manager
programme. ‘I have always wanted to be
involved in racecourse management, but it is
a bit of a dream to be able to say I am managing
a course with such popularity as Wincanton at
such a young age. All my career and schooling
decisions have been made around one day
getting a job like this, and I feel extremely

Somerset Life

PHOTO:FRANCESCAALTOFTPHOTOGRAPHY

lucky to have been able to start that journey
so early in my career.’
When asked to explain what the role of
racecourse general manager involves, Murphy
lets out a laugh: ‘That is easier to ask than it is
to answer! I suppose the easiest way to explain
it is that the role of GM is all-encompassing.
One day you can be race planning alongside
the clerk of the course, and the next you’re
painting the walls of one of the hospitality
spaces – but that is why I love it. There is no
chance of being bored! As part of my trainee
scheme, I was very lucky to be able to travel
around to all the courses within The Jockey
Club group and learn a huge amount about
all areas of the business, from marketing to
operations, spending time out on the track

Somerset Life

with the grounds team as well as supporting
our sales and conference and events, which
has been hugely valuable.’
The Jockey Club is the largest employer
and commercial organisation in British
horseracing and one of the leading sports
businesses operating in the UK today, and
runs 15 of the UK’s racecourses. Wincanton
Racecourse hosts 16 race days each season
from October to April each year but is a
hotspot for community activity throughout
the summer months when the track isn’t racing,
something Blaithin is keen to expand further:
‘I would love to raise the involvement that the
local community has with the racecourse. We
have such a vast space and great facilities in
such a thriving area, it is a huge driver of mine

to see the racecourse becoming a community
hub for our people.’
As an organisation, The Jockey Club has
community at the heart of its ethos, and
Blaithin is set on leading the charge with that
at the Somerset track. ‘Wincanton is already
occasionally used as a base for the town
running club, the golf course in the centre of
the racetrack is thriving and the youth football
club train at the racecourse. We want to ensure
that the local area is beneitting from having
us on their doorstep, and this feels like we’re
on the right track to do that.’
Blaithin moved her life to Frome for the
role but certainly has no regrets: ‘I love
everything Somerset has to ofer. The people,
the surroundings, and the communities are >
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HORSE RACING

left:

Blaithin Murphy is the irst
female general manager
at Wincanton Racecourse.
Photo: The Jockey Club

below:

Blaithin Murphy, Maria Culloty,
Oisin Murphy, John Murphy,
Maureen Culloty and Siabh Murphy
celebrating Oisin’s win in the Flat
Jockey’s Championship.
Photo: Pat Healy

PHOTO:FRANCESCAALTOFTPHOTOGRAPHY

‘We are really lucky to have seen so many stars
of the sport grace Wincanton over the years’
so welcoming – it feels like the perfect it
for me.’ Merlot, her popular French bulldog,
has made the move with Blaithin and has
certainly settled in well: ‘Merlot loves it here!
We’re never too far from a beautiful walk
somewhere and being based on the racecourse
in the week means he has full rein of the
place – he is certainly becoming known in the
local community.’
The racing season at Wincanton is jampacked with the irst highlight coming on
Saturday November 9 with Badger Beers
Chase Day. This is day two of the West
Country Weekend alongside Exeter’s Haldon
Gold Cup Day on Friday November 8. ‘The
joining together of the two ixtures feels like
it has been a great success for both courses.
We’re heading into our third West Country
weekend now, and we’re delighted with how it
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October 2024

is developing. Badger Beers Chase Day is one
of my favourite days of the year. We are able to
showcase our fantastic racecourse on ITV, and
we have been able to build on the day and make
racing part of the county’s social calendar.’
Wincanton is considered to be based in the
‘sweet spot’ of British racing. With 14-times
Champion Jump trainer Paul Nicholls based
just down the road in Ditcheat and popular
former jockey-turned-trainer Joe Tizzard in
Sherborne, Wincanton regularly hosts star
names at the track. ‘We are really lucky to
have seen so many stars of the sport grace
Wincanton over the years, such as See More
Business, Frodon, Knappers Hill, Ga Law and
even 2008 Grand National winner Comply Or
Die. I am really passionate about ensuring
that our sport becomes synonymous with the
local area and we are working hard to engage

with a variety of stakeholders to do so. In
2023, we took our 2022 Badger Chase winner,
Frodon, to visit the local primary school in
their playground which was pretty cool, and
this year we welcomed over 100 children to
the racecourse to ofer a taster of what this
sport and racing has to ofer.’
While she will be busy with her day job,
Blaithin still has her sights on exploring more
that her new home county has to ofer. ‘I feel
like I am only just touching the surface with
Frome where I now live, but I think the aim
would have to be to get to Glastonbury! I don’t
think I can truly say I live in Somerset without
being able to say I have been there!’
You can ind out more about
Wincanton Racecourse and this
season’s race meetings at:
thejockeyclub.co.uk/wincanton

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HOME LIFE
Interiors inspiration and property advice
KITCHEN LOVE

BROADWAY STAR

COMPETITION TIME

What’s cooking? We have the
latest kitchen styling tips

A handsome property in this village
near Ilminster is in the spotlight

How you can win tickets to the
Homebuilding & Renovation Show

PHOTO:STUDIOAMPHORA

AUTHENTIC CRAFTSMANSHIP
Studio Amphora, inspired by a love
for elegant and sustainable interiors,
ofers exquisite antique homewares that
bring character and charm to homes
and gardens.
Founded in 2022 by Ellie WoodhouseClarke in Frome, the studio specialises in
unique storage pots sourced from southeast Europe and west Asia. Each handpicked piece, with its weathered patina

Somerset Life

and distinctive shape, showcases authentic
craftsmanship and a rich history.
Ellie’s naturopathic background
influences the collection, embracing
biophilia—integrating natural elements
into living spaces to enhance wellbeing.
The pots, with their earthy textures,
natural tones, and organic, imperfect
shapes, bring a touch of nature indoors.
They can be styled with dried lowers or

stand alone as stunning decorative items,
each full of heritage and character.
Designed to be cherished and to endure
for a lifetime, Studio Amphora’s homewares
tell their own unique stories. Each item
is a meaningful addition to any home,
celebrating the beauty of imperfection
and the essence of timeless design.
studioamphora.com
@studio_amphora

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HEART
of the Home
Fill your heart with joy and rejuvenate your
kitchen with some new and fresh styles
COMPILED BY:

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Laura Wood

Somerset Life

INTERIORS

Cook up a storm
Alto is a sleek kitchen collection, exuding an understated
elegance with its discreet handle and smooth matt inish. The
ultimate family kitchen, it’s presented in a L-shaped layout
featuring multi-functional zones for preparation, cooking,
and informal dining. Form and function combined, the range
provides a host of lexible furniture options and is perfect to
pair with Spaceworks+ organised storage for a clutter free feel.
An ideal space for socialising and entertaining with friends,
Alto is presented in a complementary palette of grey mist
cabinetry and a grey focal island. he Alto range from Lifestyle
Kitchens starts from around £5,000. lifestylekitchens.com

PANS FIT FOR A PARTY
With this Scandinavian-inspired
collection you bring a splash of
colour and a good portion of
cosiness into your home. Ideal
for those who like to enjoy their
daily kitchen time. Thanks to
the thick forged aluminium base
and the Thermolon Ininity Pro
ceramic non-stick coating, you
can efortlessly conjure up the
tastiest dishes.
Maylower six piece set,
£125, greenpan.co.uk

STORAGE SOLUTIONS
FOR LIFE
With its eye-catching industrial aesthetic,
the Umi shelf unit is a stylish way to store
your kitchen utensils. Its utilitarian
appearance is enhanced by the striking
rust inish and locking casters, which
also means that it’s easy to move. Four
generously sized slatted shelves provide
ample storage space. This shelf unit adds
a contemporary and practical note to a
kitchen or pantry but its rich tones can
also provide a beautiful backdrop to your
houseplant collection, making this a truly
versatile item.
Umi iron shelf, £895, nkuku.com

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October 2024

137

INTERIORS

RUSTIC REALNESS
Topped with two pieces of solid marble and
inished with hand-crafted iron handles, this
unit will slot efortlessly into a kitchen or
orangery with a leaning towards wholesome,
farmhouse-inspired design. There’s three
drawers and two shelves ofering storage
options on one side and on the other the
overhang allows space for stools. With hooks
and a towel rail on the shorter ends, this
versatile island is a stylish and practical
centrepiece for any freestanding kitchen.
Eaton kitchen island (large), £3,525,
coxandcox.co.uk

NATURAL BEAUTY
Dry your dishes with these linen tea
towels ‘Aster and Sunlowers’, works
of art from the collection of antique
nature prints by The Linoroom.
Printed on natural coloured linen,
one tea towel features bold golden
yellow sunlowers and the other
beautiful blue asters.
‘Aster and Sunlowers,’ pair of
linen printed tea towels, £33,
home-landing.co.uk

CHOPPING MAD
Feel like a top chef with this ive piece
knife set from Joseph Joseph. There
is no better feeling than chopping
through a juicy steak and with this
spectacular fusion set you can do just
that. The knives contain Elevate™
technology which features weighted
handles with integrated tool rests
designed to improve hygiene and
reduce mess.
The scissors feature an extra thumb
grip for more power, a blade notch
for gripping lower stems and an
integrated herb stripper. There is
nothing more you could want to be
able to impress your guests with your
knife skills.
Fusion ive piece knife,
cleaver, scissors set, £140,
josephjoseph.com
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COMPETITION

Free show tickets
West Country family business Heavers is ofering Somerset Life
readers the chance to win tickets for The Homebuilding
& Renovating Show at the Bath & West Showground
ith a history of 64 years,
Heavers is one of the longest
standing glazing companies
in the country. Based in West
Dorset, the third generation family business
installs windows, doors and bespoke glazing
throughout the South West and beyond and
is bringing its work to Somerset.
The company will be attending The
Homebuilding & Renovating Show at the Bath
& West Showground in November. The event
includes more than 140 exhibitors across
two theatres and there are opportunities
to sit in on seminars and masterclasses
over the weekend too. The go-to exhibition
for self-builders and renovators, the show
ofers the chance to see thousands of new
and innovative products to improve your
home and to get expert advice.
From planning regulations for extensions
and managing renovation budgets, to stylish
kitchen design and integrating underloor
heating, the show has it all under one roof,
and Heavers will be there to ofer expert
glazing advice. With countless national
and local awards under its belt for customer
satisfaction throughout the years, it has one
of the largest and most comprehensive new
showrooms in the south. The company was
founded in 1960 by Master Builder – George

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Somerset Life

Heaver. Specialising in local home-building
and renovation projects, George’s reputation
for high quality workmanship soon spread,
and he was known across Dorset for his
meticulous attention to detail as well as his
high level of customer service – he would
work closely with the customer from the start
to inish to ensure every client’s expectations
were exceeded. With this enviable reputation,
the business had to grow and George took on
a trusted team. His son, Malcolm joined the
business in 1973 and they worked alongside
each other for many years, helping the
business to evolve whilst keeping the core
ethos of customer satisfaction at the heart.
Current managing director Ross Heaver
(Malcolm’s son) joined the company in 1998
as an apprentice installer – Heavers had
been a part of Ross’ life from early on and
the importance of customer satisfaction was
inherent in learning the ways of the business.
After Malcolm retired, Ross took the reins,
having run the business alongside Malcolm
and other family members for many years.
Ross continues to work actively amongst the
diferent departments to ensure the company
evolves in a well-rounded way, and regularly
visiting throughout the installations and on
completion to ensure the company’s high
standards are met. Projects range from single

above: A recent new build that Heavers
worked on near Lyme Regis. Photo: Matt Austin

window and door replacement installations,
home renovation and extension projects,
right through to Grand Designs-style
epic new-builds. Heavers works closely
with the client from the initial consultation
appointments, to site visits, surveying and
right through the installation phases.
You’ll have a chance to visit Heavers,
during the Homebuilding & Renovating
Show at The Bath & West Showground on
November 16 and 17. Managing director
Ross Heaver will be there with members
of his team, exhibiting on stand 123 and
they look forward to meeting current and
prospective customers to discuss their
upcoming projects.
For a chance to win one of 25 pairs
of tickets for the show please email
victoria@heavers.co.uk by 3pm on
November 12. Winners will be picked
at random. Our usual competition
rules apply.
To ind out more about the products
Heavers ofers, visit the company’s
stand at the show or ill out an inquiry
form at heavers.co.uk/contact-us

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INTERIORS NEWS

IT’S A DOG’S LIFE
Tales & Treats has announced the
launch of a new line of dog-inspired
candles. Celebrating the UK’s most
loved dog breeds these candles are
set to become a popular addition to
every pet lover’s home.
Every candle is lovingly handpoured in the UK, ensuring a
personal touch and superior quality.
Their fragrances and waxes consist of
plant-based ingredients sustainably
grown and sourced as well as being
vegan, cruelty-free and PETA
approved, relecting a commitment
to ethical and sustainable practices.
Curly Cuddles – poodle mix,
£12, talesandtreats.co.uk

Bespoke kitchen storage

SLEEK SUSTAINABILITY
Pyrex’s® new zero plastic three-inone glass storage range is the perfect
solution for eco-conscious consumers
seeking to reduce food waste and
embrace sustainable living. These
high-quality glass dishes come
with matching glass lids, ensuring
durability, safety, and a completely
plastic-free experience.
Sustainabilit y has become
increasingly paramountin today#s
world, with consumers seeking
practical solutions to reduce
food waste and embrace mindful
consumption. At the forefront of
this movement is Pyrex®, a trusted
name renowned for its commitment
to excellence in cookware. With a
rich legacy, spanning decades,
Pyrex® has continuously evolved
to meet the ever-changing needs of
modern households, ofering a range
of products that seamlessly blend
functionality with sustainability.
Set of four food storage dishes,
£65, pyrex.co.uk

Somerset Life

In either a small or more spacious kitchen, a kitchen pantry
is often at the top of a homeowner’s wishlist. Integrating
a kitchen pantry into the design and palette of a kitchen
provides invaluable storage space, keeping the kitchen
eicient and streamline while not compromising style and
adding aesthetic value. Made to measure units and bespoke
pantry cupboards incorporate extra storage seamlessly into
a kitchen, minimising clutter on the worktops and providing
ample storage for a kitchen of any size. Bespoke Shaker
kitchen, POA. hux-london.co.uk

of the best...FRUIT BOWLS

Terracotta rule ceramic
bowk, from £95, rebeccaudall.com

Large wooden tibetan
bowl, £275, shimu.co.uk

Jonathan Adler Eve fruit bowl,
£265, sweetpeaandwillow.com

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151

PROPERTY VIEWS
Ashley Rawlings, a director for Savills, discusses the sale of a lifestyle business opportunity near
the pretty market town of Ilminster, and gives us the low-down on the local property market

PHOTO:SAVILLS

Lifestyle business
opportunity in popular
South Somerset village

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loor with period features including open
ireplaces, decorative tiled loors and a
particularly charming main staircase from
the spacious reception hall. There is plenty
of space for entertaining or for a large family,
with a good sized drawing room, additional
sitting room and lovely, light dining room.
The generous kitchen/breakfast room has
an AGA and there is a scullery, pantry and
laundry room close by.
Stable Cottage has previously been used
to provide rental income but would equally
be suited to guest accommodation or for
relatives. The cottage is well appointed
and provides a living room with adjoining
kitchen/breakfast room, and two double
bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. A private
driveway leads up to the house, garaging and
plenty of parking, all set in beautiful, mature
gardens. An attractive walled garden is to
the rear, with a stone terrace, and there are
extensive lawns and an enclosed all-weather
tennis court. There is also a 3.2-acre paddock
next to a small area of woodland.
Bullen Court is on the market for a
guide price of £1,745,000.

The pretty market town of Ilminster
takes its name from the River Ile and
the Minster church, dating from
1450. The town grew up around the
church and today hosts a good variety
of shops and a theatre. Ilminster is
well placed for the main routes to
Cornwall, London and the M5, and
lies just to the east of the Blackdown
Hills National Landscape.
According to Savills Research,
the average sale price in Ilminster
in the last year (to April 2024) was
£282,282, an increase of 0.9 per cent
compared to the previous year and a
24.3 per cent increase over the last
ive years. Somerset as a whole had
an average sale price of £324,725
which has seen a slight decrease of
2.9 per cent over the last year, though
has seen a ive-year increase of
25.4 per cent.
Ilminster is surrounded by popular
villages, many of which outperform
both the town and wider county
in terms of house prices, such as
Broadway and Horton, which over the
last ive years, have seen an average
sale price of £465,794 and £405,626
respectively. The villages have a great
range of clubs and societies between
them, including a thriving cricket
club, two playgrounds, a pre-school,
the well-respected Neroche Primary
School and a medical centre. Horton
has a post oice and The Five Dials
Inn, while there is The Bell Inn in
Broadway.
The nearby Blackdown Hills, on
the border of Somerset and Devon, is
arguably a hidden gem – an unspoilt
rural landscape with a wide variety
of wildlife and diverse habitats. The
average price for property here is
around £446,000, representing a
28.5 per cent premium above the
county of Somerset.
PHOTO:GETTY

ith its unspoilt countryside
peppered with cider orchards,
vibrant market towns and
picturesque villages, South
Somerset has long appealed to those in search
of a rural lifestyle. For those who dream of
escaping the daily commute and conines of
a 9-to-5 job altogether, investing in a lifestyle
business such as a B&B or holiday complex
could be the opportunity to do just that.
Bullen Court, in the village of Broadway,
near Ilminster, is a great example, ofering
lexibility as either a spacious family house
or a business opportunity, with 5,600 sq ft
of versatile accommodation, including eight
bedrooms in the main house and a separate
two bedroom cottage. The house has been
completely refurbished by the current owners
and run as a B&B, proving popular with
visitors to Somerset as well as acting as a
luxurious stop of for those travelling to and
from Devon and Cornwall.
Originally a row of period cottages dating
back to the mid-19th century, the property
has been remodelled and extended. There
are attractive reception rooms on the ground

WHAT’S HAPPENING
IN THE MARKET?

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FAMILY
From the very young to the young at heart
SOMERSET’S BABY BUSINESS

COCKER SPANIEL COMP.

Exploring Somerset’s castles
with the whole family

Celebrating 25 years
of Hippychick

Our canine columnist enters
the dog show...

PHOTO:YOUTHADVENTURETRUST

RECCE THE RAMPARTS

DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE ‘POWER OF THE OUTDOORS’?
The Youth Adventure Trust empowers vulnerable 11-15 year olds
to fulil their potential through outdoor adventure and one-to-one
support. They help young people build resilience, develop conidence
and learn skills to help them face challenges in their lives.The YAT
Resilience Programme launches in Somerset this autumn. Selected
young people will join the year-long programme of monthly activity
days, take-home challenges and an overnight expedition. They will

Somerset Life

be supported by the charity’s dedicated staf and volunteer team,
who will work closely with each individual to ensure they get the
most from their Youth Adventure journey. As the charity begins
its work in Somerset, it seeks community support. Would you be
able to help at all? Individuals, businesses, grant-makers and
community groups are encouraged to get involved by contacting
Emily at emily@youthadventuretrust.org.uk

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KIDS, THESE DAYS
Join Angharad Paull as she explores the best places to entertain children in Somerset

at t lement s , su it s
of armour, moated
fortresses, treacherous
plots and ghostly
stories…is Somerset home to
some of the country’s creepiest
castles?
While there have certainly
been some dastardly goings-on
at many of these spectacular
buildings, up close in the light
of day, surrounded by some of the
prettiest Somerset countryside
I’ve ever laid eyes on, it’s hard
to imagine any gruesome events
taking place within their walls.
Darker tales are often there for
those seeking eerie thrills, but
if it’s living out the characters
of yore fantasies, or soaking up
history on a cultural day trip to
the county’s most picturesque
sites, this handful of Somerset
castles, ranging from humble
medieval ruins to the grand
and intact Dunster Castle, are
the best ones to visit with family.

B

Right: Be King or Queen of

your own castle with a Somerset
staycation at Stogursey Castle.
Photo: The Landmark Trust

Raise the drawbridge at
Somerset’s ‘spookiest’ castles
STOGURSEY CASTLE
Stogursey, a charming village to the east of
the Quantocks, was chosen by William de
Courcy, a steward to Henry I, as his main
base. The castle remnants bear witness to
nearly a thousand years of history and its
historical CV boasts a visit from King John
in 1210, as well as a minor role in the War
of the Roses, before eventually falling into
ruin due to time and neglect.
Only the gatehouse survived in any
recognisable form and is now a holiday
let under the care of The Landmark Trust.
Standing guard at the end of the 13th century
bridge, it is the only entrance to the grassy

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castle ruins on this moated idyll, and is
accessible only to guests staying at the
gatehouse. But if you’re not living out your
royal family fantasies inside this ancient
abode, and limited to viewing the ruined
walls from across the moat, is the castle still
worth a visit, just for a distant gander? The
answer is, absolutely yes.
One of the landmarks on the castle loop
of the Castle & Coast Way, keen hikers
are rewarded with sensational views of
the Quantock Hills, Exmoor and Severn
Estuary on the 6.5-mile (10.5k) circular walk
that starts at Nether Stowey and takes you

over the hills to Stogursey Castle. But you
don’t have to go that far to see this Somerset
wonder. A raised, short and signed footpath
from Castle Street leads to what is surely
one of the most enchantingly bucolic scenes
in the country: a stone footbridge with
small weir cascading into a shallow ford,
the yellow thatched gatehouse, and rocky
castle walls on their island perch. You can
walk all around the moat on one side of the
castle, and should you wish to take on the
aforementioned hike, you’ll ind a signed
footpath in the far corner.
landmarktrust.org.uk

Somerset Life

The remains of 14th century Farleigh
Hungerford Castle add a touch of gruesome
intrigue to Somerset’s castle repertoire.
Located around nine miles from Bath, in the
River Frome valley, the fortiied mansion was
occupied by the Hungerford family for some 300
years, but is now in the care of English Heritage.
With its beautiful countryside setting and
picnic-perfect grounds, it’s hard to imagine the
dramatic and sinister history that saw political
disaster, domestic scandal and grisly murder
befall its inhabitants.
The audio tour and graphic panels around the
site describe the role in which the Hungerford
family, starting with Sir Thomas Hungerford
in 1370 – the irst formally recorded Speaker
of the House of Commons – and the castle
played in history. Key points of interest around
the castle ruins are highlighted, including the
castle bread oven, where Agnes Hungerford’s
irst husband, John Cotell’s body was thought
to have been burned after his murder, so she

Squeezed tightly onto its own little
island, the moated, medieval and
impossibly photogenic Nunney Castle
is free to visit. Built by a local knight,
Sir John de la Mare in the 1370s
(supposedly with the money he had
made by kidnapping French nobles
during the Hundred Years’ War), the
castle has a largely peaceful history.
Though ruined, the towers and walls
are fairly well-preserved, except for
one which took such a blow from a
cannonball in 1645 that its owner
surrendered the castle immediately.
Spot birdlife in the moat before a
potter around the characterful village
of Nunney village.
english-heritage.org.uk

could marry Edward Hungerford. Visitors
can also see the south-west tower, where Lady
Elizabeth Hungerford was imprisoned for four
years in the 1530s, by her husband, Sir Walter
Hungerford III, who frequently attempted
to poison her. She survived by drinking her
own urine and eating food secretly supplied
by local women.
With its partly-sur viving towers,
surrounding wall, gatehouse, moat, well,
infamous bakehouse oven and the chapel’s
rare medieval wall paintings, it’s a fascinating
site, with many hidden treasures. For a chilling
glimpse into the past, dare to venture down to
the crypt to see the best collection of humanshaped lead coins in Britain. The coins
still contain the embalmed remains of four
members of the Hungerford family. Look
closely, and you’ll see that some have faces
moulded onto them – death masks cast from
the faces of the deceased.
english-heritage.org.uk

TAUNTON CASTLE
(MUSEUM OF
SOMERSET)

DUNSTER CASTLE

Somerset Life

PHOTO: DAVEWOOD

Perched on a hilltop and surrounded by colourwashed, mediaeval thatched cottages, tea
rooms, cobbled streets, spectacular grounds,
rolling countryside and sea views, Dunster
Castle is straight out of a fairytale. Amazingly,
this Somerset fortress turned family home, has
only been owned by two families throughout its
history, and is now looked after by the National
Trust. As well as acres of space to explore, The
Dunster School of Magic returns for another
adventure from October 5 to November 3,
2024. Compete in the games and follow the
clues to ind out what happened to the Pumpkin
Games trophy.
nationaltrust.org.uk

PHOTO: ANGHARADPAULL

PHOTO:ENGLISHHERITAGE

NUNNEY CASTLE

FARLEIGH HUNGERFORD CASTLE

Discover four million years of
history inside Taunton Castle, a
Grade I-listed Scheduled Ancient
Monument in Somerset’s county
town. It has housed a museum for
over 100 years, saving the castle from
ruin and telling the story of Somerset
from prehistoric times to the present
day, as well as its own history, since
being founded in the 12th century by
Henry de Blois, grandson of William
the Conqueror. On October 31, the
lights are turned of at the castle for
the spookiest night of the year. Make
a lantern and journey around the
museum by candlelight, discovering
tricks and treats along the way.
swheritage.org.uk

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Navigating change
With Labour now in power, what will the new government’s
education policies mean for private schools?
WORDS:

Emily Roberts, Independent Schools Council (ISC)

hese are interesting times for independent
schools. They are contending with ongoing
inancial challenges, such as rising energy
bills and teacher pension costs. They’re
also navigating topical education issues, including
reforms to the relationships, sex and health education
(RSHE) curriculum and calls to ban mobile phones
in the classroom. Perhaps most importantly, they are
preparing for Labour’s plans to add VAT to fees and scrap
business rates relief for independent schools; policies
that are set to come into efect from January 2025 and
April 2025 respectively.
Independent schools are a vital part of the education
system and they contribute significantly to their

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local communities. They widen access through lifetransforming bursary schemes; last year, schools
provided more than £1bn in fee assistance, of which more
than £500m was means-tested. They also collaborate
with neighbouring state schools and local organisations
to provide educational opportunities for children and
young people. These mutually beneicial partnerships
take many forms, ranging from academic programmes
to those specialising in music, sports, and careers
advice. By creating these links, schools address gaps
in provision and discover new ways of doing things in
their own schools.
Labour’s election victory has considerable implications
for independent schools, which lie at the heart of the

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EDUCATION

PHOTO:HENDRIKDAVID

party’s education policy. Both education secretary Bridget
Phillipson and prime minister Sir Keir Starmer have
reiterated Labour’s intention to add VAT to school fees
– which would afect all independent schools – and take
away business rates relief for those with charitable status.
The former would hit some harder than others; small
schools, faith schools, military families and children
with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
are among those most vulnerable to its efects. Many
families would be priced out of independent schools,
forcing those schools already operating on tight margins
into deicit or even closure. Most independent schools
do not have big surpluses and what they do have they
reinvest back into education for their students and the
local community. The policy would also have unintended
consequences for the state sector, as children displaced
from independent schools would seek places in already
stretched state schools. Recent reports suggest a number
of local authorities across the country simply do not have
the capacity within their state schools to admit an inlux
of pupils from the independent sector.
While the business rates relief element of Labour’s
plans would not apply to all independent schools, it does
have implications for the charity sector as a whole. It
would create a two-tier charity system, setting a worrying
precedent that any charity seen as ideologically opposed
to the government of the day could be subject to extra tax.
It is still uncertain whether those most at risk
would be exempted from VAT on fees (pupils with
an education, health and care plan are currently
the only group to be protected from the rise).

‘Independent
schools are a
vital part of the
education system’
In the face of this uncertainty, independent schools will
continue to do what they do best; provide a well-rounded
education for their children, as well as valuable support for
their local communities. ISC will do all it can to support
schools in that endeavour, using our collective voice to
raise awareness of the crucial role independent schools
play in the wider education system.
We all want to see a well-funded, thriving state sector.
We welcome the opportunity to work with the new Labour
government to build upon the great work already being
done in the sector to deliver our shared goal of a great
education for every child.

.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH:
The ISC (Independent Schools Council), represents more
than 1,400 independent schools in the UK and overseas.
isc.co.uk

PHOTO:MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES

top left: Schools are facing challenging times with
PHOTO:HIGHWAYSTARZ-PHOTOGRAPHY

on-going inancial costs and various reforms in policies
above: The change in government could affect independent
schools further especially the proposal to add VAT to fees
left: Most independent schools invest any surpluses back

into their students and the local community, says the ISC

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PROMOTION

THE RESULTS ARE IN
Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate (QE) celebrates its A-level league table
positions with its schools ranking irst and second in Yorkshire

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ranked seventh for academic performance in
the north of England in the Sunday Times
Parent Power 2024.
Principal of the collegiate, Daniel Machin,
said: ‘We are immensely proud of our Year
11 and Year 13 students – for their results,
for the people they have become in their
time with us at QE and for the well-rounded,
resilient and ambitious adults they will go
on to become. We prepare our students for
their futures – our two senior schools exist
to give a diverse choice of options for our
students, to ind the it they need to succeed
within their examination years, inside and just
as importantly, outside the classroom. The
whole of the team QE community wishes
them well on the next part of their journey.’
This year has seen students aim high
with a wide range of irst choice university
places achieved at Oxford, Imperial College
London, the London School of Economics,
Durham, King’s College London, University
College London, and Bath, amongst other
excellent UK and worldwide universities.

PHOTOS: QUEEN ETHELBURGA'S

oth senior schools at QE are
celebrating a wave of excellent
A-level, BTEC and GCSE results.
Across the two schools, the
combined percentage of A*/A grades at
A-level is 78 per cent, with the percentage of
BTEC Distinction* and Distinction grades in
QE Faculty reaching 73 per cent. In addition,
the Year 11 students across QE achieved 62
per cent grades 7 to 9 in their GCSEs.
These results place QE College and QE
Faculty as irst and second in Yorkshire in
the Independent Schools exam results for
A-levels, which was recently published in
The Telegraph and The Times. The same
league table ranked QE College as the
top independent school from the north of
England for A-level and GCSE results, which
follows suit with the Sunday Times Parent
Power 2024 that conirmed QE College as
the top school in the north of England for
academic performance for a third year in
a row. QE Faculty, which ofers bespoke
performance pathways for sport and the arts,

Head boy of QE Faculty, Sebastion who joined in Year
9, received two As and a D (distinction). He goes on
to study management at Loughborough University

Georgia started at QE College in Year 2, gaining
two A*s and two As she will now go on to study
medicine at Oxford University

SCHOLARSHIPS AND
BURSARIES
QE has a longstanding scholarship
programme and prides itself on building
an experience around each child. At
QE, you can create a curriculum to suit
your interests and goals, without the
limitation of timetables and option
blocks. There are more than 100 clubs
to build up experience and knowledge
for career goals as well as for fun
and wellbeing.
Many scholars go onto prestigious
universities, accept lucrative US
scholarships, attend distinguished arts
schools and conservatories, or accept
professional sporting contracts.
QE offers partial scholarships to both
boys and girls in academics (Year 12
entry only), basketball, cricket, football,
netball, music, and drama. Applications
for September 2025 are now open for
day students and boarders applying for
entry into Years 7, 10, or 12.
Top up means-tested bursaries are
also available.

Further information about the process
along with entrance criteria can be
found at qe.org/scholarships or
via attending the open morning on
November 16

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HIPPYCHICK

BABY
BOOMERS
Bridgwater-based baby and toddler accessories
company Hippychick is celebrating 25 years
in business. Founded in 1999 by Julia Minchin
at her kitchen table shortly after giving birth
to her irst son Tom, Hippychick’s journey
has been something of a rollercoaster as
Tom Minchin himself describes

hen my parents Julia and Jeremy
asked me to sum up 25 years
of Hippychick, from my own
personal perspective, I soon
realised that we were coming at the topic
from very diferent standpoints.
They (even though it probably doesn’t
feel like it) have had a previous life outside
of the business which mum founded in
1999. Yet for me and my siblings Olly and
Sophie, we cannot separate our lives from
Hippychick. We have been early stage models,
container unloaders, and occasional blog
writers amongst a myriad of other things.
Hippychick has provided a constant stream
of entertainment – which is why it’s time to
relect on the company that’s always been in
the background and more than occasionally
in the foreground of our lives for 25 years now.

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THE BEGINNING & EARLY
YEARS (1999 – 2005)
The start of the company and subsequent
years in Spaxton aren’t memories that are
readily available to me so for this stage of

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the business I’m relying entirely on second
hand information! That said, I am reliably
informed that my parents had no phones, no
delivery van, and were regularly the scourge
of the local post oice causing enormous
queues by sending orders out.
My irst memories of Hippychick start
in Bridgwater, when what is now still a
confusing warehouse was truly labyrinthine
to myself as a child. I remember playing hide
and seek amongst racks of the (now sadly
no longer sold) Shoo Shoo’s (small leather
children’s shoes available in all sorts of
shapes and sizes).
Understandably, my halcyon days are
remembered a little diferently from Mum
and Dads’ perspectives… the scale up from
home operation to a commercial premises
is the sign of an evolving business and yet
it ushered in some of the trickiest times the
business has ever seen.
The move in 2003 meant costs massively
increased just as my sister joined the family.
Pure exhaustion and a sense of battling on
every front are the overriding emotions I pick
up on when discussing these years with Mum.

left: The Hippychick Hipseat has been

MIDDLE YEARS (2005 – 2010)

a successful product for the brand
throughout the years. Photo: Hippychick

Growing the business meant endless trade
shows all over the country and even further

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>

HIPPYCHICK
aield. A practice that still ills the business
calendar to this day. 2005 was a successful
year with the relationships fostered during
the early years starting to bear fruit; the
result of which being that Hippychick became
a supplier to major national retailers such as
Boots, Mothercare and Tesco.

‘The theme running
throughout
Hippychick has been
one of resilience’
Mum and Dad put the expansion down
to versatility and continual adaptation;
picking products for the future rather than
just sticking with a set list of bestsellers.
Relationships with a wide variety of suppliers
and customers meant that they could ind
formulas and ways of working to suit each
individual need. Accompanying this was
a switch from analogue business practices
into the digital age. A process not merely
concerned with starting to use email as a
work tool but centered around foresight in
becoming an early adopter of Amazon – a
then relatively small e-commerce platform.
Industry recognition started to follow
this expansion with success at national and
regional awards and I vividly remember
feeling a mixture of pride alongside confusion
as to why my mother was going to be speaking
on the radio and had her photo in the paper.

GROWING PAINS (2011)

In 2011, Dad’s love of adventure sports
catches up with him in Nepal and he crashes
out of the sky whilst paragliding. It’s an

above: The ‘Hippychick’ Family,
Tom, Julia, Olly, Sophie and Jeremy
below: Julia and Tom in the
early days of Hippychick

UKRAINE
accident which doubly afects family life as
it knocks half of the ruling coalition out of
work. However, whilst he’s incapacitated
for ive months the business goes through
one of its most successful periods, winning
more and more industry awards. Whether
this is the universe’s idea of good karma or
something more easily solved is still debated
to this day.

CHALLENGES (2013 -2020)
TRADEMARK INCIDENT
I think I started to appreciate some of
the random vagaries of entrepreneurship
when Mum and Dad told us a container
had been seized in China. A Trademark
Troll (apparently a real term) had claimed
the Hippychick trademark abroad and
consequently had rights to a container full of
stock that was urgently needing to be sent out
to our waiting customers. £30,000 of stock
was lost and never recovered, which was just
the start of an eight-year saga which cost a
huge amount of time, energy, and money.
A painful lesson in international business.

BREXIT
Undoubtedly for a small business heavily
dependent on shipping to and from Europe,
Brexit has provided, and continues to
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provide, a multitude of challenges. Currency
luctuations alongside huge volatility in
shipping and transport rates have been the
catalyst for near disaster more than once.
More currency luctuations and shipping
turmoil come as a result of the war in Ukraine.
However, I think the enduring Hippychick
memory from this period is when Mum and
Dad managed to organise a Hippychick
branded 40ft lorry full of supplies to go to
Ukraine. Dad drove there and back and there
was a tangible sense of being able to use
a long existing knowledge of trade routes
and contacts for positive change. It made
me so proud.

HIPPYCHICK TODAY
Many things have ensured that the business’
longevity haven’t changed; the Hippychick
oice still contains many of the familiar
faces from my childhood (a particular shout
out to Steve, Rose, Scott, Sarah, Alan, and
Mike) who all have an incredibly detailed
knowledge of the industry and without whom
the business wouldn’t exist. The commitment
to getting orders out as soon as possible
remains to this day. Dad can often be caught
blowing up the new Crocodile Creek Soft
Footballs until 1am at home.
I will never be able to capture the genuine
pleasure as well as the pain that accompanies
the endeavour of 25 years in business.
That said, the theme running throughout
Hippychick has been one of resilience.

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BE A GOOD SPORT
In his latest sporting misadventure, James Witts relects on his
continued weekly eforts to mimic Captain Marvel…

have a confession. I’m limping toward
48 years old and still dream about being
Bryan Robson and scoring the winning
goal at Wembley. For the unfamiliar,
Robson played for Manchester United and
England, and his pomp was in the 1980s.
Robson played central midfield and
could do it all. Defend, tackle, pass, attack,
score… It’s how Robson earned the nickname
‘Captain Marvel’. And why I’d be Robson at
every school lunchtime. I was obsessed and
dreamt of gracing the Theatre of Dreams.
Sadly, my professional ambitions were
harshly snufed out by the unholy trinity:
lack of commitment, insuicient talent and
an early teen love afair with the pub.
So, my United dream died. But my love
afair with the Beautiful Game didn’t. Which
is why every Monday night, myself and a
ramshackle collection of ageing dreamers
attend that mecca of elite football, Goals in
Brislington, for ive-a-side. We’re not in a
league; we’re just a pool of mainly fathers who
still enjoy that buzz. For years, after every
match I ache, creak and can’t sleep through
adrenaline. And I love it.
I dof my hat to one of the reasons behind
this long-lasting footballing afair to former
Loaded editor James Brown, who wrote a
book about his love of the small-sided
game, Above Head Height: A Five-A-Side
Life. Brown summed it up perfectly when
he wrote that even though he knows little
about his teammates’ lives, he knows their
personalities inside out. It’s a reassuring
familiarity. Almost a safety blanket, albeit
a rather sweaty one.
For us, we have the all-action Pinks – I don’t
even know his real name – who ironically for
a policeman takes no prisoners on the pitch.
Then there’s Nick. Sports psychologists would
call Nick a ‘cultural architect’. He has an easy
charm and brings the group together. Until,
of course, he plants his bladed soles upon
your foot with his stocky frame. He’s Jekyll
or Hyde depending on which team you reside.
I suspect Nick’s in senior management. Then
there’s Grandy. I have no idea what Grandy
does apart from the fact he’s not allowed a
mobile phone in work so he’s always the last
one to pay the match fee. Maybe he’s the
prisoner Pinks cannot catch.
What’s clearer is the rhythm of the night.
The warm-up comprises a jog of the pitch
before stopping to chat to whoever’s nearest
while lifting one leg in the air in the knowing
belief that it’s a physiological impossibility
this tokenistic stretch will prevent strains
and pains in muscles seizing and stifening
with every passing year. It’s then a rolling of
the arms, again for no good reason. And then

PHOTO:GETTY

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Somerset Life

Five-a-side love letter
the match starts, not with a whistle, more a
‘let’s just get on with it as we’re all shivering
from an insuicient warm-up’.
When the match starts, there are few
surprises. Munce, one of my best mates from
Devonian days who now lives in Keynsham,
will either hit a long ball into the corner –
some would say aimlessly – or try a backheel.
The aim? No-one knows, least of all Munce.
Dave will sit on the half-shoulder and roll
of the defender. Time and time again you
know what he’ll do but are often left clutching
his shadow and frustration. Then there’s
Carl or Carlos. He’s strong as an ox, whose
powerful shot strikes fear into the opposition
defenders, especially when wearing short
shorts on a frozen winter’s night.
The ritual’s the same. Play, sweat, wish for a
third lung and then drive home accompanied
by a McDonald’s. When home, head to the
back garden and remove socks, shinguards
and astro football boots that are coated in
tons of rubber crumb that I never knew
until penning this column is used to provide
comfort and an even roll of the ball. My son,
who plays when home from Manchester
University, would certainly question that
second attribute when it comes to my yellowsticker Robson impersonation.

above: In a world of increasing solitude,
ive-a-side unites, says James

We are recreational footballers, miles
away from the talent, itness and pay packets
of Salah, De Bruyne and co. But we’re the
heartbeat of the game. Yes, often an erratic
hungover heartbeat but the heartbeat all the
same. As Brown says, many pros simply stop
when they stop earning. We’ll keep going
until the limbs can’t.
We play in rain, sun, wind and snow. And
we’re not the only ones. According to the FA,
over 1.5 million women and men play smallsided football every week. This includes the
increasingly popular walking football. We
play in Bristol but there are ive-a-side pitches
and games all over Somerset, from West
Somerset College in Minehead to Selwood
Academy in Frome and many schools, colleges
and leisure centres in-between.
In a world of increasing solitude, ive-a-side
unites; in a world that seeks remedies from
big pharma, it’s the healthiest of medicines,
both physical and mental; in a world of the
virtual, this is real emotion, real laughter
and real moderate football. I can’t think of
a better way of spending £6.

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JANE TOWNSON OBE
The CEO of the Homecare Association, who has extensive experience
in the social care, health, housing and technology sectors

he UK’s population is ageing – and
it’s ageing faster in some parts of
the country than others. The 2021
Census revealed that more than 18
per cent of the population in England and
Wales is now aged 65 and over. In coastal
and rural areas like North Norfolk and West
Somerset, around 30 per cent of residents are
in this age bracket. The changing population
creates both challenges and opportunities
for our society.
Professor Sir Chris Whitt y, the
Government’s chief medical oicer, who many
of us saw on our television screens during
the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighted in his
annual report last year that while people are
living longer lives, they do not spend all of
those added years in good health. Older adults
are more likely to develop multiple long-term
health conditions, frailty, and disability. Ill
health in older age, wrote Whitty, is not,
however, a foregone conclusion.
‘Many of the diseases that limit the
freedoms and enjoyment of older adults are
not inevitable… It is possible to delay the
onset and progression of many debilitating
or disabling diseases, either to the point they
are only present for a short period at the very
end of life or, ideally, are never present at all.’
There is cause for optimism. Public
health interventions have doubled life
expectancy in England and Wales over the
past 180 years. Improved living and working
conditions; reduced smoking rates; childhood
immunizations; and better healthcare; have
all played a role. Survival rates for many
cancers have increased signiicantly because
of advances in diagnosis, treatment, and
prevention. Screening programmes are
inding more cancers early, which makes
treatment easier and improves outcomes.
These successes show that concerted action
to improve population health can yield
lasting beneits.
Sadly, not everyone has an equal chance of a
long, healthy life. There are stark inequalities
in healthy life expectancy between the most
and least deprived areas.
On average, women in the most deprived
areas spend 26.4 years in poor health,
compared to just 15.6 years for women in the
least deprived areas. Tackling these health
disparities must be a key part of any strategy
to improve health in an ageing society.
The chief medical oicer’s report outlines
three key groups who can take action to
enable older adults to live a greater proportion
of their lives in good health: individuals
themselves, through healthy behaviours
like physical activity and eating well; local

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PHOTO: WAVEBREAKMEDIA/GETTYIMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO

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Optimism for our
ageing society
and national government leaders, through
policies that create environments promoting
healthy ageing; and healthcare professionals,
through secondary prevention, screening,
and early treatment of disease.
One challenge is that the growth in numbers
of older people is unevenly spread. Retirement
hotspots in rural and coastal areas will see
large increases in older residents. Meanwhile,
younger people will remain in urban centres.
This has implications for the provision of
health, social care and other services in these
areas. The geographic distribution of the
workforce risks not matching the distribution
of need – who will care for older people in
some places? Geographic disparities also
exist in the location of specialist clinical
centres, such as those for stroke care.
Ensuring the NHS allocates resources based
on need, particularly in deprived and rural
areas, is essential for improving outcomes.
This includes investing in prevention,
early diagnosis, and comprehensive
rehabilitation services.
Current medical training is based on
specialisms, which are important. We need
to shift, though, from treating just single
diseases to considering how best to support
those with multiple conditions or complex
needs. GPs and geriatricians do this routinely

and we need more healthcare professionals
who consider the whole person and
their circumstances.
It is crucial to support older adults to
maintain their independence and quality
of life. This includes creating age-friendly
communities with accessible housing,
transportation, and opportunities for social
connection. Local authorities play a key role
in shaping these environments.
More research is crucial. We need to
explore the biological mechanisms of ageing;
discover efective interventions to prevent or
delay ill-health and disability; and create new
models for health and social care. Scientists
are not studying enough older people, even
though they have more health problems. We
must ensure interdisciplinary collaboration
and involve older adults themselves in setting
research priorities.
In conclusion, the UK has seen major
public health successes in the past, which
show what is possible when society commits
to improving health. We need individuals,
communities, government, healthcare
services and researchers to take concerted
action. With the right policies, practices, and
investments, we can create a future where
more of us can experience good health in
our later years.

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LATER LIFE

Care UK Rossetti House resident Jim recently celebrated his 100th birthday Inset: Jim and his wife Edna

Celebrating
Frome’s Centenarian
‘Finding a wonderful partner’ is the secret
to a long life, says 100-year-old Jim

retired Navy veteran, living at a
care home in Frome, shared the
secret to a long life on his 100th
birthday. Jim Cush celebrated
the milestone in style at Care UK’s Rossetti
House on Welshmill Lane and shared many
secrets to living a long and healthy life
including ‘inding a wonderful partner’ and
the creation of the NHS after the war. Jim
also had a special visit from the Mayor of
Frome, Councillor Andy Jones who wished
him a very happy birthday.
Jim was born in Loftus, North Yorkshire in
1924. Due to the Second World War breaking
out, Jim was unable to apply for his dream
scholarship at Liverpool’s School of Art to
study architecture. Instead, he left school
at the age of 16 and worked at Skinningrove
Steelworks in the laboratory, where his father
also worked. Despite securing a job, Jim was
keen to enlist in the army but was turned
down several times as he was needed at the
steelworks. Eventually, he was enlisted into
the Navy at the end of the war in 1946 and was
based in Fife, Scotland, until he completed
his service in 1949.

PHOTOS:CAREUKROSSETTIHOUSE)

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After the war, Jim returned to the
steelworks and worked there until he
retired at the age of 57 in 1981. He also had a
part-time job as an auctioneer in Saltburn.
Jim’s passion for the arts never dwindled.
He loved to draw, especially black and white
sketches and architectural drawings. He also
considered himself to be a bit of a handyman,
restoring a large Georgian house and garden
in Brotton, North Yorkshire, to save it from
being demolished and making it his family
home for over 40 years. Jim’s handy work
also extended to converting an old school
bus and later an ambulance into campervans
for his family. He loved to drive on remote
mountain roads and enjoyed wild camping
with his wife and children.
Jim married his late wife, Edna May, in
1950 and the pair were married for 67 years.
Their daughter Denise said: ‘They were totally
in love all their lives.’
Edna was from Somerset, Jim from
Yorkshire and yet they met while they were
both serving in the Navy in St Andrews.
Denise said: ‘They didn’t realise how much
they meant to each other until they were about

to leave.They knew then and there they had
to be together and were married soon after.’
Jim added: ‘Edna meant everything to me,
she was wonderful.’ The couple have four
children, three grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren, who regularly visit Jim at
Rossetti House.
On the big day, the team at Rossetti House
adorned the home with balloons and banners,
complete with a birthday cake specially
prepared by head chef Lukasz Smykowski.
Jim said: ‘I never thought I’d be celebrating
my 100th birthday. It’s down to the great
care, support and love from my family and
the people around me.’
Philip Vale, general manager at Rossetti
House, said: ‘It was an honour to celebrate
Jim’s birthday. He is a beloved resident at
Rossetti House, and we all had a lovely time
acknowledging this tremendous milestone.
Everything we do centres around supporting
residents to live fulilling lives, which is why
we are always eager to mark special occasions.
Jim’s 100th birthday was no exception, and
it was a delight to hear his great advice for
living a long and happy life!’

.

October 2024

177

The value of
peace of mind
Would you know how to perform CPR on your child or grandchild?
When Rachel Mead was asked this question, she realised
it was time to brush up on her irst aid skills.
t’s Saturday morning and I am joining
a group of parents and grandparents
in Tring Parish Hall as we all learn
lifesaving essentials on a Mini First Aid
course. The class isn’t called ‘mini’ because
it’s short or bite-sized, but because the irst
aid instruction is aimed at saving the lives
of babies and toddlers.
Sarah Saundry is our instructor for the day.
In addition to being a registered nurse and a
qualiied Early Years Practitioner, she is also
a mum of two and she is making it her mission
to help parents and grandparents across
the counties of Somerset and Devon to feel

PHOTOS:RACHELMEAD

I
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October 2024

comfortable if an emergency situation should
arise. ‘When it comes to performing irst aid
on your own child or grandchild, emotion
is involved and quite often that attachment
can make it hard to think logically in an
emergency situation. Our classes aim to give
you the tools to think clearly and be conident
in what you are doing.’
Mini First Aid is the original brainchild
of Kate Ball. The mum of six initially started
Mini First Aid in 2014 from her kitchen table
ofering high quality baby and child irst aid
classes to parents and carers. Demand grew
and Kate saw the potential for growth, so

she started franchising the business in 2015.
Since appearing on Dragons’ Den in 2021 and
being backed by Dragon Sara Davies as an
investor and an advisor, Mini First Aid is now
a multi-award-winning organisation with
almost 70 franchises nationwide. Around
1,000 families are taking up the classes each
week across the country, with Somerset being
no exception.
Katy Cockburn is also present today and
she runs classes in Bath and North Somerset:
‘I love to run my classes and help grandparents
and parents as they navigate the diferent
stages through a baby’s and toddler’s life.

Somerset Life

MINI FIRST AID
People are terriied of weaning with the fear
of choking, but they leave our classes with a
new conidence knowing they can help their
child if something should happen. With so
many grandparents involved with childcare
these days it’s crucial that they know what
to do in an emergency.’
Sarah begins her class by asking everyone
to follow and remember a DR ABC structure.
She also gives out useful guides which can be
kept in a nappy bag or irst aid cupboard. As
she goes through each DR ABC step, Sarah
calmly demonstrates how to perform CPR
on a child.
D is for Danger. Call for help before you
launch in.
R is for Response. If a baby appears to be
unresponsive remember that babies won’t
always respond to their name being called
so blow on their face or tickle their feet to
see if you can wake them.
A is for airway. Diferently to adults, it is
more likely to be a problem with an airway
in children (rather than a heart problem) so
focus on the recovery position and assess if
the airway is clear.
B is for Breathing. Is the baby’s chest rising
and falling? Look, listen and feel for breaths.
C is for Circulation. Checking a pulse on a
baby is very hard so if a baby isn’t breathing
it’s best to start CPR.
There are key diferences when performing
CPR in babies and children compared to
adults and I am thankful that Sarah is
teaching us to ‘give tiny pufs of air, as if
blowing out a candle’ into the baby-sized
mannequins. ‘Your adrenalin will kick in’
reminds Sarah ‘and you’ll feel as though
you are the Hulk but you must remember

that baby CPR is diferent to that of adults.’
The class also covers all of the typical
accidents that you are likely to come across
in one’s childhood. Some of the statistics
are frightening with Sarah reminding us
‘Thirty toddlers are admitted into A&E every
day with hot drinks burns – one of the most
common accidents being a child pulling a
hot drink down on top of them from the
kitchen worktop.’ Focusing on how to deal
with diferent types of burns; whether we
can manage it at home or whether we should
be taking a child to A&E is useful to know
and because the information is delivered in
an easily digested way, I am conident I will
remember it. Many sections of the class are
practical too so you can practise your skills
for giving CPR on both baby and child-sized
mannequins, which all helps the lifesaving
tips stick in one’s memory.
With the course focusing on choking,
wound cleaning, nose bleeds and broken
bones you do inish the session suitably
armed with a solid knowledge of what to do in
an emergency. There’s also vital information
about spotting the signs of meningitis and
sepsis too, plus the Mini First Aid trainers
also educate attendees about how a range of
health conditions might present diferently
on black and brown skin as well as on white
or paler skin tones.
I feel happier that I have learnt the
essentials and when I ask the mum and
grandfather sitting either side of me, they
both agree. Sarah says: ‘When people arrive
to our classes you often see fear on their
faces, but people always leave looking happier
than when they walked in. That’s the value
of peace of mind.’

BOOK A CLASS
To sign up for a Mini First Aid course
in Somerset visit: miniirstaid.co.uk.
Prices start at £25 per person. Simply
enter your postcode and the website
will link you to your nearest class.
Alternatively, you can connect with
Sarah on Facebook at: barnstaple.
miniirstaid.co.uk/classes
Bridgwater: October 5, 10-12noon
Yeovil: October 10, 7-9pm
Cheddar: October 13, 2-4pm
Ilminster: October 15, 7-9pm
Wells: October 16, 10-12noon
Peasedown St John: October 20, 10-12
Wincanton: October 21, 6.30-8.30pm
Frome: October 27, 2.30-4.30pm

.

Mini First Aid are the oicial partners of the Meningitis Research Foundation, Children’s Burns Trust UK and The Sepsis Trust
and are committed to support the health education targets of these organisations. Mini First Aid also partner with the National
Childbirth Trust (The NCT) and The Twins Trust for irst aid education for parents and carers supported by these organisations.

Somerset Life

October 2024

179

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October 2024

Somerset Life

MOTORING

F I R ST DR I V E:

The Porsche 911 Carrera GTS
The new 911 GTS has a fundamental change – it’s got a hybrid
powertrain. Does it spoil the overall 911 experience?
WORDS:

Jack Evans PHOTO: Porsche/PA

WHAT IS IT?
The Porsche 911 has always been about
incremental changes. From one generation
to another, the 911 has never strayed too
far from its original stylings, with Porsche
changing its central icon in small brush
strokes to ensure a common thread between
each model. It’s certainly not one to rip up
the rulebook, that’s for sure.
But this latest-generation 911 – dubbed
992.2 in Porsche-speak – introduces quite
a big step-change with hybrid technology
being integrated into the 911 for the irst time.
It’s only being applied to this GTS model, for
now at least, but could be the start of a very
electriied future for the 911.

WHAT’S NEW?
From the outside at least, you’d be hardpressed to tell this new GTS apart from the
old one. Key signiiers include the active
aerodynamics package which includes
adjustable front difusers that can aid cooling
or close up to help make the 911 as slippery
through the air as possible.
Fortunately, they’ll close when it’s raining
to stop water and grit from lying through
the car’s underside.
Inside there’s a similar theme to before,
albeit with some more technology to chat
about. The pleasant blend of analogue and
digital dials of the older 911 have been ditched,
replaced instead by a full-size screen that
you’ll ind in cars like the Taycan.
Porsche says that it’s made it easier to see
key information and while that is the case,
it seems a shame that the 911 has lost one
of its last pieces of old-school equipment in
favour of yet another display.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?
It’s within the mechanicals of this new 911
GTS where things get interesting. At the
heart of the GTS sits a turbocharged 3.6litre Boxer engine which feels tried-andtested Porsche.
But whereas a lot of hybrids have an
electric motor assisting the engine directly,
the 911 has a series of electriied components,
including an electric-assisted turbocharger
for quicker boost response and a small
electric motor housed within the eight-speed
dual-clutch automatic gearbox. A teeny-tiny

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October 2024

battery is ixed within the nose of the car and
doesn’t impact luggage space.
With 534bhp it’s now 54bhp more powerful
than the older GTS while being just 50kg
heavier. However, this hybridisation isn’t
really focused on eiciency – this 911 will
still only return up to 22mpg in the best
conditions – but instead has been introduced
to help boost driver involvement and make
this turbocharged car even more responsive.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
Right from the start the typical points we
expect to be nailed in a Porsche 911 are,
well, just that. The steering has some lovely
weight to it and the thin-rimmed wheel
makes interacting with the car a joy. The
brakes are pleasant to use too and there’s
that inherent agility present which helps
to make the GTS keen through the corners.
Reinement is decent, too, and even in the
Cabriolet version we tested there was very
little noise with the roof in place.
Acceleration is near-brutal in fashion
and accompanied by all manner of whistles
and whooshes from the turbo which feels
primed at any moment to help crank that
Boxer engine up a gear. The gearshifts, in
particular, are impressive and deal out each
cog with lightning-fast response.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?
Priced from £135,834 – or £142,600 for
the Cabriolet – the 911 GTS sure isn’t cheap.

However, as with most Porsche models, what
you’re accessing with that price is a lot of
mechanical know-how which – in this car
particularly – feels very cutting-edge.
There will still be a more entry-level
Carrera model – which uses a conventional
turbocharged petrol engine without any
hybridisation – at just under £100,000.

FINAL SAY
This car feels like Porsche’s way of getting us
used to the idea of a hybrid 911. It, in typical
Porsche fashion, doesn’t dive in with both
feet but has instead used hybridisation to
enhance the 911 experience rather than
overpower it completely.
It’s all executed remarkably well without
losing the hallmark 911 characteristics.
Though the standard Carrera is still a ine
car, this GTS version shows that an electriied
future for the 911 is an exciting one indeed.

.

TECH & SPEC
Model as tested: Porsche 911 GTS
Price: £135,834
Engine: 3.6-litre turbocharged lat-six
Power: 534 bhp
Torque: 610Nm
Max speed: 194mph
0-60mph: 2.8 seconds
MPG: 21/22.4mpg
Emissions: 251-239g/km

Somerset Life

SOMERSET DIRECTORY

01823 365013

When you have finished
reading this magazine,
please recycle
184

October 2024

Somerset Life

THE CRUCIVERBALIST
T
NOUN. A person who enjoys or is skilled at solving crosswords

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Fo
or more
free puzzle
es from
Professorr Rebus
pleasse go to
Pitcherwitss.co.uk

QUICK CROSSWORD

ACROSS

DOWN

ACROSS

DOWN

1 ‘Pneumatic’ tan to fade
badly with volcanic rock (6)
4 Crook, far removed from
being a car accessory (4,4)
9 Level of ineptitude
greeted witheringly (6)
10 The weightiness of golf
taking on ars vita (8)
12 Run a size check on
controlling state (8)
13 Guarantee being,
like, certain? (6)
15 Tuna recipe could
be a great one (4)
16 Scaly animal left
to right itself (7)
20 Many an owl could be
seen as feminine (7)
21 Prima donna is
greedy, right? (4)
25 Second match, as
requested of Sam? (6)
26 Words that are twice taken
to be a chillled drink (3,5)
28 Crude choices are about to
be made for summer treats (4-4)
29 Having to end the gig,
frustratingly, at the border (6)
30 Hill sprinter who’s
come second? (6-2)
31 Neural pathway seems
hard to accept (6)

1 Stand by your pet deals,
carefully negotiated (8)
2 Paperback publication
full of ammunition? (8)
3 Eye chart, not at variance
with being bright and genial! (6)
5 Monster dog replaced
from within (4)
6 Very luxurious, for
Cassiopeia! (4-4)
7 Have to be crafty, like a
rat recovering from lu! (6)
8 Cooking? Hers is ok
for a devout Jew (6)
11 Pip to say ‘ta-ta’ to rain
drops? Sound! (3-1-3)
14 Foolish to let acid determine
a way of speaking (7)
17 As if a boned illet
could be genuine! (4,4)
18 Diminutive half
of a quart? (4-4)
19 Partsong growing out of
a mild agar solution (8)
22 Investigator using a pencil
and greaseproof paper? (6)
23 Put own twist on
residential area of city (6)
24 Badly need South-Western
help in Scandinavia? (6)
27 Home number, given
out on food list (4)

1 Having command of a
foreign language (6)
4 Dither (4)
7 Bother (3)
9 Drug (6)
10 Fossil (8)
12 Fill completely (8)
13 Heavenly body (6)
15 Savage (4)
16 Screen object (4)
17 Tired (5)
20 Sum (5)
21 Leave out (4)
22 Avoid (4)
25 Person who leaves (6)
27 Large plastic bag (3,5)
29 Taking in various styles (8)
30 Piece of furniture (6)
31 Novel (3)
32 Raise (4)
33 Golf block (6)

1 Sea debris (7)
2 Investment company (4,5)
3 Essence (6)
5 Chunk (4)
6 Poverty legislation (4,4)
7 Like a bird (5)
8 Openly (7)
11 Adhere to (5,2)
14 Rude (7)
18 Library (9)
19 White-collar (8)
20 On that (7)
23 Foster (7)
24 Show of (6)
26 Relative by marriage (2-3)
28 Feudal piece of land (4)

CRYPTIC ANSWERS: Across: 1 Pumice, 4 Roof rack, 9 Degree, 10 Gravitas,
12 Suzerain, 13 Assure, 15 Aunt, 16 Laminar, 20 Womanly, 21 Diva, 25 Replay,
26 Ice water, 28 Choc-ices, 29 Edging, 30 Runner-up, 31 Unreal. Down: 1
Pedestal, 2 Magazine, 3 Cheery, 5 Ogre, 6 Five-star, 7 Artful, 8 Kosher, 11
Pit-a-pat, 14 Dialect, 17 Bona ide, 18 Pint-size, 19 Madrigal, 22 Tracer, 23
Uptown, 24 Sweden, 27
QUICK ANSWERS: Across: 1 Fluent, 4 Flap, 7 Ado, 9 Opiate, 10 Ammonite,
12 Saturate, 13 Planet, 15 Maul, 16 Icon, 17 Weary, 20 Total, 21 Omit, 22
Shun, 25 Emigre, 27 Bin liner, 29 Eclectic, 30 Bureau, 31 New, 32 Lift, 33
Stymie. Down: 1 Flotsam, 2 Unit trust, 3 Nature, 5 Lump, 6 Poor Laws,
7 Avian, 8 Overtly, 11 Stick on, 14 Uncivil, 18 Athenaeum, 19 Clerical, 20
Thereon, 23 Nurture, 24 Flaunt, 26 In-law, 28 Fief.

Somerset Life

October 2024

185

The world according to

CADBURY
This month: Dog shows, rosettes and ilm auditions

ear Reader. As the leaves started turning brown
and autumn reared its head, the Labrador and
I found ourselves taking part in the village
dog show, an annual event renowned for the
varied breeds it attracts, not to mention the varied, ahem,
behaviour. Known as Scrufts, it is not to be confused with
that world-famous canine event, the largest of its kind.
The calibre of a Scrufts contestant (yours truly excepted
of course) is testimony to this.
Featuring events such as the ‘11-legged Dash’ – a
mathematical equation of two humans with a leg tied
together, each leading a dog – and the ‘Potato on a
Spoon Race’, it was a rollercoaster
afternoon of highs and lows.
Both the Labrador and I were
entered in a number of categories,
the stakes rising ever higher as
rosettes were handed out to our
fellow competitors. In my humble
opinion there were a number of
controversial claimants to irst
prize, but as the judges ranged
from the elderly down to the very
young, consistency in judgement
was clearly not of importance.
First up was the lip-smackingly
promising ‘Sausage Race’. The event begins with owners
and dogs at one end of the ield and a plate holding a
sausage at the other end. Basic in its premise, the idea
is to race like fury to the plate, whereby the dog devours
the sausage and the pair race back, fastest irst. It was
evident that the Labrador – despite her proven sausageeating skills – was not going to win any speed prizes so
I stepped up boldly, conident that the slight turn of foot
I had so often practised in pigeon-pursuit would stand
me in good stead. To my horror and embarrassment, I
romped home an inglorious Fourth, the green rosette little
compensation for the bright red First I had anticipated.
Comments were muttered from above about ‘holiday
weight’ and ‘itness’ but I chose to ignore them. There was
compensation, however, in the next event – ‘Children’s

D

Favourite’. No speed involved, it instead played greatly
on my strengths of charming good looks coupled with
an even and kindly temperament. Sitting beautifully
still, ears back, eyes shining, I did my best to win over
the youthful judging panel (one of whom even belonged
to me; nepotism disallowed sadly). Unfortunately, I had
to settle for an ignominious Third place, a rank above
Fourth but still not the giddy heights of Number One.
The inal nail in my personal dog show coin was
hammered home during the ‘Most Appealing Eyes’
category, at which the crowning glory, astonishingly,
went to the Labrador. Conspiracy theories aside – the
poor aged soul had not yet won
anything and it was getting late
in the day – I ind it impossible
to believe that her muddy (and
slightly milky if I am honest) eyes
hold more appeal than my liquidbrown pools of allure. I can only
assume those judging that category
were themselves challenged in the
visual department. Needless to say,
I have not heard the end of it and
am reminded of this humiliation
every day when I glance up at the
rosettes displayed above our beds.
Matters have not been helped by the Labrador recently
being invited to audition for a local ilm. Rumours lew
round the house of her being ofered her own trailer and
an inexhaustible supply of treats, schedules were checked
and audition videos and photos submitted, alongside a
hitherto sketchy CV (now greatly enhanced by her recent
‘Most Appealing Eyes’ win). The part was for an aged
Labrador but in the end she was rejected. Whether she
came across too sprightly in her audition video, or they
heard rumours of a strong aroma, we shall never know.
Suice to say she has come back down to earth with a
bump and now the real star of the show can shine once
more. Hurrah.
Love, or what you will,
Cadbury

‘It was evident that
the Labrador - despite
her proven SAUSAGE
EATING SKILLS was not going to win
any speed prizes,
so I stepped up’

WORDS:

186

October 2024

Kate Robinson

Somerset Life

Somerset Life

October 2024

187