EXMOOR National Park Authority (ENPA) has unveiled a brand-new accessible boardwalk for Porlock Marsh to improve accessibility and help protect local nature.

Flooding over the past five years has affected this section of the South West Coast Path/King Charles III England Coast Path.

The new boardwalk will improve access for walkers on both long distance and short circular walks, between Porlock Weir and Porlock.

Exmoor Ranger Charlotte Wray, who has been leading on the project, said: “We are really excited to see this boardwalk built.

“It has been a real team effort, from consulting with the landowner, drawing up the plans, securing funds, milling the timber from our own woodlands, to final construction.

“Building the boardwalk has improved the surface of the coast path and allowed for the natural flow of water on to this special piece of marshland habitat.”

The boardwalk has been designed to mimic the surrounding landscape with a soft curve and was made possible by the generous support of ‘The Best of Exmoor’,

and donating to the CareMoor for Exmoor charity, with match funding from the South West Coast Path Association (SWCPA).

SWCPA National Trail Officer Lorna Sherriff said: “Helping to fund improvements like this on the South West Coast Path is at the heart of our charity.

“The boardwalk is fantastic and now makes this part of the coast path walkable all year round, while also protecting and enhancing the important marshland habitat.”

Ms Wray said: “We are really grateful for CareMoor donations like this, from individuals and businesses, they are essential in making expensive projects like this happen.

“Those who love and enjoy Exmoor and contribute to our CareMoor for Exmoor campaigns, are helping to support nature, heritage conservation, and access projects that can be enjoyed by everybody.”

Find out more about CareMoor for Exmoor and CareMoor Business Champions at www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/caremoor-for-exmoor.

First designated in 1954, Exmoor National Park has an amazing variety of landscapes within its 267 square miles - stunning coast, moorland, woodland, valleys and farmland, and more than 800 miles of rights of way to enjoy.

It is one of 15 national parks in the UK and in 2011 was designated Europe’s first International Dark Sky Reserve.

ENPA works in partnership with the community, local councils, businesses, and other organisations to look after the national park and promote its conservation and enjoyment.

Donations to CareMoor for Exmoor are gratefully received toward the upkeep of the moors and their special qualities.

RESIDENTS are being invited by Somerset Council to help shape where new electric vehicle (EV) charge points are installed.

The council has secured £3.78 million in Government funding to significantly expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the county.

The money will support the installation of a minimum of 1,606 low-powered public chargepoint sockets (3.5kW and 7kW) in on-street and car park locations.

These chargepoints will be designed for overnight and long-stay charging, particularly benefiting residents who do not have off-street parking and are therefore unable to install a chargepoint at home.

A preferred supplier, which will be announced shortly, has been selected, although not in contract yet.

The contractor will be responsible for the supply, installation, operation, and maintenance of the network.

The operator will invest at least 60 per cent of the total project cost, in addition to the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funds.

The concession contract will be in place for 17 years and installations will be completed within the first two years.

To ensure charge points are installed where they are most needed and will be well used, the council is asking residents to suggest suitable locations.

This could be near homes, on local roads, or in places which attract high footfall.

Suggestions will help the authority prioritise sites based on real demand and ensure the county’s charging network meets local needs.

Residents can submit suggested on-street locations via the council’s new webpage www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-travel-and-parking/electric-vehicle-charging.

All suggested locations will be reviewed against initial assessment criteria, including pavement width, road safety, and access to power supply.

Not all suggestions will result in an installation.

The council will only install charge points on land it owns or has adopted, as it unable to install charge points on land belonging to a third party.

Suitable sites will be passed to the preferred supplier for further due diligence, including site visits.

Final approval will be required from the council’s project team before any installation takes place.

Communications and engagement will be critical to the success of the programme.

Once locations have been reviewed and ahead of any installation, the project team and chargepoint operator will engage with local residents, as well as city, town, and parish councils.

Somerset executive Cllr Richard Wilkins said: “Expanding access to electric vehicle charging is a vital step in supporting residents to make the switch to cleaner, greener transport.

“This investment will help ensure people across Somerset, particularly those without off-street parking, have access to reliable and convenient charging close to where they live.

“By inviting residents to suggest locations, we are making sure new chargepoints are installed where they will make the biggest difference to local communities.”

AN update on the rapid development of Moorland Foodbank over the past year has been given to members of Exmoor Local Community Network by the charity’s trustees chairman John Preston.

Mr Preston spoke of the charity’s relocation, infrastructure improvements, expanded services, fund-raising efforts, and ongoing challenges in volunteer recruitment and grant management, with support from the link officer and other members.

Beyond food distribution, the food bank now hosts a monthly Talking Cafe and aims to provide cooking skills training.

It covers the southern part of Exmoor and collaborates with schools, police, and village agents to identify and support those in need.

ADVENT has been a busy time in Timberscombe with many services and community events happening in St Petrock’s Church, for which thanks have gone to everybody who was supportive of them.

A spokesperson said: “We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to everybody who supported our Christmas coffee and craft morning.

“It was a very happy and busy event with lots of people coming to meet up with others, enjoy refreshments, and browse for seasonal gifts.

“Our craft table holders were delighted with their trade and business was brisk, which was excellent.

“Our fabulous homemade Christmas cake was a great success and helped, along with donations, contribute to a wonderful total which has now risen to £812.

“We thank everybody who helped in any way, to make this a great annual fund-raiser for the church.”

The annual carol service was a joyous event with a packed church, and again thanks went to all the helpers who made it possible and so enjoyable, with varied traditional and more modern readings, plenty of singing, and all finishing with mulled wine and lashings of mince pies, none of which would be possible without villagers’ support.

Christingle was again celebrated with great enthusiasm in Timberscombe on Christmas Eve when a welcome was extended to anybody who wanted to attend.

A MINEHEAD Middle School pupil has been announced as the winner of local MP Rachel Gilmour’s Christmas card competition.

Two runners-up came from Sampford Peverell Primary School, which is also in the Tiverton and Minehead constituency.

Presenting book vouchers and certificates to the winners, Mrs Gilmour said: “It was an absolute pleasure to present the children with their prizes.

“Each of their fantastic designs truly encapsulated Christmas in their communities.”

The winning designs were incorporated on a card Mrs Gilmour sent to fellow MPs across the UK.

The winning entry was on the front of the card and the other two on the back.

OASIS of Peace UK administrative executive Lauren Singer has thanked residents of Wootton Courtenay for a donation of £122.40 which was raised from a Christmas carol singing event.

Ms Singer said the peace community of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam and its vital educational work rely heavily upon the support of friends’ associations around the world.

She said: “We, in turn, can only provide this support thanks to the generosity of donors and supporters like yourself.

“Your support will enable us to continue standing with the community as it provides a leading example of the kind of peace that is possible between Jews and Arab-Palestinians, especially in such worry and challenging times as we are currently experiencing.”

AN early Christmas gift was presented to St Margaret’s Hospice this year when Santa handed over a cheque for £200.

The money had been raised by entries to the recent, Minehead Rotary Santa fun run/walk.

The event took place over a 4k course, along the Minehead sea front.

More than 50 runners and walkers, dressed in Santa outfits, took part in glorious weather, with the aim of raising money for St Margaret’s and other local charities.