Community news from across West Somerset

WEST Somerset Riding Club held its annual pink dressage event recently at Roborough Gate, near Brompton Regis, and raised £375 for Cancer Research UK.

Riders embraced the pink theme and some horses, too, including Tanisha Little and Doctor Doyen (pictured).

Classes were generously sponsored by local businesses, including Exmoor Tweed, from Porlock, and Hele Vale Hay and Haylage, Waterrow. The Rest and be Thankful, White Lodge Vets, The Leather Workshop, Wiveliscombe Country Store, Jeremy Scott Racing, Quantock Country Store.

Many others donated raffle prizes, and Purple Horse Embroidery gave pink tote bags to class winners, with the treats inside for horse and rider proving popular.

A spokesperson said: “It was another lovely day for the club, which has seen membership increase to 60 this summer.

“Members have enjoyed regular training, social events, and competitions, and some of the more competitive members have been very successful at area level, including wins in eventing and combined training, and so they will be attending the British Riding Club’s national championships.

“The essence of the club, though, continues to be supportive and encouraging at all levels and pink dressage certainly does that as well as raising funds for a charity close to many members’ hearts.”

TEMPORARY shuttle bus services will be provided for Watchet residents and visitors during a planned closure of Brendon Road from October 5.

Somerset Council in conjunction with First Bus will help maintain connections between Watchet, Doniford, and Williton during the road closure.

The solution follows extensive work by Watchet Town Council deputy clerk, Annie Robinson, supported by Cllr Peter Murphy,who worked with stakeholders to ensure the impact of the closure on public transport users was properly understood and addressed.

The shuttle will connect the three communities, linking with the 28, 28A, and 15 bus services, with passengers also be able to alight at St Decuman’s Church and use the pathway into the town.

Cllr John Irven said: “This is a really positive outcome.

“Annie has shown tremendous perseverance in pursuing a solution to make sure concerns raised during our consultation were followed through.

“It is a great example of what can be achieved when everybody works together to find a practical solution.”

Timetables will be published shortly and passengers are advised to allow additional time for their journeys and to check the latest timetable information before travelling.

A PLEA for the loan of props and furniture has been made by the Barnstormers theatre group which is presenting ‘Abigail’s Party’ at The Regal, Minehead, in November.

The play is set in 1977 and the furniture and props are very prescriptive, and of the time.

Spokeswoman Mary Noble said: “This is just a personal plea from me and the cast to ask if anybody might have something, large or small, that we might borrow for two weeks in November.

“We would be so grateful.”

Ms Noble said furniture which was needed included a leather three-seater sofa, or three-piece suite, preferably in orange, a teak or G-plan style dining table and four chairs, rectangular coffee table with onyx top if possible, a small desk or stand for a telephone, a wooden room divider in whole or part, a large rug, sheepskin or shag pile rug, and any other 1970s furniture people think the group might find useful.

Smaller items/props which were being sought included a silver candelabra, a coloured fibreoptic light, lava lamp, bright patterned cushions with orange in them, orange geometric wallpaper, a James Galway LP cover, a Lowry print, preferably framed, a print of Van Gogh’s bedroom chair, and a picture ‘The Wings of a Dove’ by Stephen Pearson.

Any 1970s bar items and glasses and a period telephone were also needed.

Ms Noble said: “It is a long shot, but it is such a great play we want to get it right.”

THIS year’s Wootton Courtenay Flower and Produce Show proceeds are still being calculated, but preliminary figures suggested it could reach about £510, which is slightly higher than last year’s total.

Wootton Courtenay Gardening Club chairwoman Marion Jay said she had been amazed at how full the show benches were after such a difficult summer.

She said: “You all deserve a round of applause.

“Our show judges tell us Wootton Courtenay puts on one of the best flower shows in the area, which reflects the extraordinary enthusiasm and creativity in our wonderful village.”

Ms Jay said £400 of the money raised would be donated to Good Vibe Veg, to facilitate group visits from schoolchildren to the growers field at Horner, and the remaining funds would go either to St Margaret’s Hospice or charities supported by the National Garden Scheme.

A TOTAL of 75 competitors submitted 412 entries to this year’s successful Nether Stowey Flower Show held in the village’s Church Centre on Saturday, August 15.

The organisers thanked everybody who entered or supported the show.

In addition to flower and vegetable classes the event featured baking, floral art, jam-making, needlework and other crafts, photography, art, and a children’s section.

Cup Winners

Junior – Amelia Palmer 29 points. Junior runner up – Helena Sysum 22 points. Fruit, veg & flowers and plants – Mike Carver 78 points. Floral art – Jill Bramhall 14 points. Produce – Zoe Connaughton 23 points. Handicraft –Joint Liz Merchant & Emma Sysum 7 points each. Photography – Oceaniana Connaughton 17 points. Woodwork – Chris Collier-Smith 5 points. Stowey Gardeners – Jackie Hellier 23 points. WI – Elaine Mills 28 points. Nether Stowey lady with most points – Elaine Mills 28 points. Nether Stowey gent with most Points– Andy Hayes 37 points. Adult outside Nether Stowey gaining most points – Mike Carver 78 points. Child’s Best Exhibit in Show – Helena Sysum for animal from vegetable. Best Exhibit in Divisions A & B – Rosie Aubrey for onions. Best Pot Plant – Rosemary Fitzgerald. Best Exhibit in Floral Art – Jill Bramhall for arrangement in unusual container. Best Exhibit in Produce – Kerri Brierley for Traybake. Best Exhibit in Handicraft – Charles Griffiths – Wooden Bowl. Overall Best in Show – Jill Bramhall for arrangement in a sardine tin. Jill was also awarded a £50 voucher courtesy of The Kitchen at the Quantock Lakes.

RURAL communities across Somerset will find it easier to develop and deliver their own active travel schemes thanks to a Somerset Council initiative.

The council is launching a rural active travel toolkit which will help communities through the process of developing a project from large-scale schemes such as a multi-user path to smaller improvements such as dropped kerbs.

It takes groups from identifying a need and engaging local people, through to route design, funding, consents, delivery, and ongoing maintenance.

Cllr Ros Wyke, Somerset Council's associate lead member for active travel, said: "People may be inspired by the excellent examples of community-led active travel schemes across Somerset.

"The toolkit aims to encourage and support more projects like these by providing communities with the confidence, knowledge and practical tools to get started."

The project has grown from a recognised need to do more to support active travel in Somerset's rural areas, where communities can face challenges around access to services, limited transport choices, and social isolation.

National guidance also tends to focus on urban environments, which can make it difficult for rural communities to find information that feels relevant to their circumstances.

Cllr Wyke said: "We know that there are those who are already active or interested in developing active travel schemes, like parish councils, community groups, and local volunteers.

"But, we also hope it will inspire people who have identified a local issue or opportunity and want to explore how active travel improvements could benefit their community.”

A package of online training sessions is also being developed which will support communities in using the guidance.

Sessions will cover each section of the toolkit in more detail.

Anybody interested in taking part can find an expression of interest form on the council's website.

A CLIMATE adaptation plan is being put together for Porlock with help from the Somerset Wildlife Trust.

The trust is holding a free evening event from 7 pm to 9.30 pm in the village hall on Tuesday, September 15, for villagers to drop in and input to the plan.

People will be able to discuss how Porlock can adapt to local climate impacts, learn about Somerset’s climate projections, and help create a climate adaptation plan for their community.

Teas, coffees, and refreshments will be provided for the evening.

A CHARITY match was held by members of Porlock and District Bowling Club on August 18 in support of the League of Friends of Minehead Hospital.

The occasion raised £260 for the charity.

The club also welcomed several new bowlers to its Parsons Street rinks whom it is hoped will now join the club, which is renowned for being a friendly and hospitable place to visit.