A VILLAGE meeting is being planned for late December or early January to explain proposed community shop plans to the people of Kilve and the surrounding area and to answer any questions regarding the project.

The committee working on the plans has held talks with the parish council to explain the idea of a shop in the Christopher Robin Garden and to request councillors to assist with funding.

The committee is in the process of becoming a community benefit society, which is a legal structure which has a laid down set of rules agreed with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The FCA will have to approve the committee’s application for registration which will enable it to open a bank account in the name of the shop committee.

Members are also in the early stages of preparing their planning application.

The committee had previously looked at using the Hood Arms or the Old Bakery, which could both be used, but neither would be a permanent site.

Discussions were also held with the village hall committee on whether a shop could be sited within the hall, but the option that looks to have the most in favour of success would be a modular building sited within the Christopher Robin Garden.

Committee members have visited three local community shops in Bicknoller, Crowcombe, and Stogumber, and met their committee members.

All are volunteer-run and trade successfully, with Crowcombe donating £27,500 to local charities and good causes in the last 16 years.

The committee has also held very positive talks with Somerset Community Foundation, a group that handles the grant funding from Hinkley Point C and, if the village decides it wishes to go ahead with a shop, then it will be applying to the fund for support with the project.

An interesting meeting was held with Vernon Hughes, who was one of the committee that was involved with the setting up of Spaxton Community Shop.

This was a project that took several years to bring to fruition but has proved a success.

Members discussed how the Spaxton committee surveyed their community to garner support for the project, and decided there was enough to take it forward.

They were able to use some land that belonged to the parish council and developed a plan with a total cost of £150,000.

They raised £30,000 of this themselves by a sale of community shares with more than 300 people buying into the idea.

The remainder of the money came from grants and a loan from the Plunkett Foundation.

The shop opened in 2015 and has traded successfully ever since.

It is staffed by volunteers, with one part-time paid manager.

They have now cleared their loans and have a healthy turnover which enables them to give grants to support activities within their village.

The committee believe this is a model that could be replicated in Kilve.

ST Margaret’s Hospice, which has been serving the Somerset community for 45 years, has enjoyed a hugely successful season of beautiful gardens opening their gates to raise more than £27,000 this summer.

The hospice provides free compassionate clinical and supportive care to people facing life limiting illness and their families.

It is already looking ahead to summer 2026 and is on the hunt for more glorious gardens to join the line-up.

Visitors love to see spaces they can draw inspiration from, so while large country gardens make for a wonderful day out, a beautiful English back garden can be just as inspiring, sometimes even more so.

Community partnerships fund-raiser and glorious garden co-ordinator Holly Hackett said: “We welcome all outdoor spaces - allotments, school or church gardens, woodlands, farms, we love an eclectic mix to offer our visitors.

“If you are worried your garden might be too small, why not ask your neighbours to join in with you, or perhaps hold a small garden party, or plant sale?

“We would be delighted to hear from you if you would like to take part, have any questions regarding our support for the gardens taking part, or have any ideas of your own.”

Holly can be reached by email at [email protected] or by calling 01935 709493.

ANYBOY who enjoys walking in the local area, including Exmoor, the Brendons, and the Quantocks, can try one or two of the West Somerset Ramblers group walks.

Or, if people would like to get out more on walks and improve their fitness, the ramblers walk twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

They also arrange occasional walking holidays and trips to walk further afield.

Wednesday walks start at 10 am and are four to six miles and a good way to try the group walks.

Members take coffee and a snack and have a coffee break half-way through the walk.

The Saturday walks are eight to 11 miles and start at 10.15 am.

Ramblers take lunch and coffee and have a morning break and a lunch break.

Spokeswoman Alison McCarthy said: “We are a friendly, welcoming group and you are welcome to try up to three walks with us before joining the ramblers.

“Visitors to the area are also very welcome to join us for a walk.

“You can find out lots more about our group and see our walks programme on our website www.westsomersetramblers.org.uk.”

Upcoming walks include Bossington Hill, deer spotting near Webber’s Post, and a Watersmeet ramble.

The ramblers are Britain’s walking charity with more than 500 groups and anybody joining can walk with any group and find walking routes all over the country.

Ms McCarthy said: “You will find contact telephone numbers for walk leaders under ‘Our next walks’ on our website.

“Just contact the walk leader for the walk you would like to try and come along.

“You could also contact our membership secretary, Pam, on 07749 705854.

“Our website has lots of information, including our full programme of walks.”

VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help create a village boules pitch in Wootton Courtenay Playing Field.

Playing field committee chairman Mike O’Keefe has had a positive response to the boules idea and now needs help with the project.

Mr O’Keefe said: “Now that the ground is softer, it is a suitable time to start work on a boules pitch on our playing field.

“The idea has been agreed at previous annual meetings to provide an opportunity for fun and recreation for all ages on our playing field.

“Boules and scoreboard will be available near the pitch for use by villagers at any time.

“In the future, villagers may get together for barbecues and fund-raising events to support local village clubs and societies.

“The boules pitch will be situated in line with the round picnic benches, from the last tree toward the archers’ hut.

“It will be the standard size of 12 metres by three metres, with a fine gravel top surface.

“Two new benches will be situated alongside the pitch.

“Boules is easy to learn and play and is suitable for all ages and is growing in popularity.

“There is a West Somerset Boules Leagues of village and pub teams, the nearest team is at The Kildare Lodge, in Minehead.”

THE winners of this year’s coveted Exmoor Society Alfred Vowles Photography Competition awards will be presented with their prizes at a ceremony at Dulverton Town Hall on November 13.

All the photographs entered will be shown on the hall’s big screen and there will be a talk by this year’s judge, top professional photographer Mark St John Asprey.

With a portfolio which includes working with iconic brands such as Smirnoff, Marmite, and Carte D’Or, Mark made his name in food, editorial and advertising photography before moving into Exmoor landscape photography.

His work has recently been exhibited at Tim Williams Fine Art in Malmsmead and also the National Park Visitor Centre, Lynmouth.

Despite commercial success, Mark always made time for his passion for landscapes and scenery, frequently visiting Exmoor and eventually moving there.

Inspired in part by working for the iconic Getty Images organisation, he views landscape photography as works of art.

Mark lives in Lynton with his wife Beverley and their border collie, Heather, where he continues to pursue his lifelong passion for photography, capturing the landscape that surrounds him.

Mark will also be announcing the winners of this year’s competition, showcasing the entries that capture the beauty of Exmoor’s wildlife, landscapes, and people.

Entries, which closed in September, are in four categories - farming, wildlife, landscape, and the waters of Exmoor.

The overall winner will receive a £250 prize.

The competition is in memory of celebrated local photographer Alfred Vowles who was born in 1882 and until the late 1940s devoted his life to recording the life, landscape, and people of Exmoor.

Doors open at 6 pm a 6.30 pm start and the organisers thank Priddy’s of Minehead, who are supporting the event by printing the winning photographs.