My Somerset Life

A diary by Brian Snellgrove

A visit to the Community Farm in Chew Valley

The community Farm lies adjacent to an artificial lake at Chew Magna. Good organic food is grown and distributed to the local population by way of veg boxes. Anyone who wants to visit can do so by clicking on this link https://www.thecommunityfarm.co.uk/ and seeing for themselves what goes on.

We visited a laid back event where we were encouraged to make contact with nature, walk around and observe things, and we ended up on a large field doing aerobic exercises. We did not expect to be there the whole day so left after a couple of hours but enjoyed the exercise and the freedom to be whatever we wanted to be.  One lady was used to organising groups and was grateful to be on the receiving end of the organised.  The images speak for themselves.

overlooking Chew Valley lake (not swimmable, used by a Sailing Club)

A ferocious locust or alien beast, from a previous music festival, made from recycled tyres

an amazing octagonal kitchen and social area with a grass roof

young tomatoes

peppers

healthy wood chips

general view – not glamorous but does the job

 

 

courgettes

 

runner beans in all their profligate glory

 

lovely to see such rosy apples so early in the year

The general admin office

someone is very tidy minded

almost a work of art if not the real thing



My Somerset Life

A diary by Brian Snellgrove

Clutton Fayre and the 50th Anniversary of Frome Council

To the village of Clutton to enjoy the annual outdoor celebration which does not change much from year to year. There are various small sales stalls, charity stalls, local initiatives, a large tent where the most glorious selection of cakes, all homemade, were available for the princely price of two pounds of slice.  I found someone who was selling carrot jam believe it or not and it was absolutely delicious and it tasted like apricots. There were dog shows and some dancing and acrobatic acts. That were a very large selection of old cars altogether very good value for money for four pounds entry fee.

 

To Victoria Park in Frome where there was the 50th anniversary celebration of the formation of the town council. I went mainly to see Rupert who was conducting interviews on behalf of FromeFM radio. He interviewed me and Françoise and after we came in the area and what our plans were for the day. I met one of two people who had been trained in studio techniques for those very small stationed whose audience can be a realistically numbered in the 500 range.  There are hundreds of local radius stations around the country and for those interested here is a link to a list.  https://jack-bromby.com/uk-community-radio-stations-list/
This stand took the top prize for a confusing collection of imagery. I told the chap there I did not link  the word design either with a surgery or with the community and I did not link the name toolbox with a neighborhood. I think these words come from different disciplines but you’ll never know what going to come out.
I thought I would ask Bing what it thought so I put in the key words without comment and received the following:

It sounds like you’re interested in community-led neighborhood planning and design! These initiatives often involve local residents working together to shape the future of their area. Here are a few key points about neighborhood toolbox community design surgeries:

  1. Community-Led Planning: These plans are typically led by local organizations such as parish or town councils or neighborhood forums. They focus on the specific needs and desires of the community1.
  2. Participatory Approaches: Engaging the community in the planning process is crucial. This can include workshops, surveys, and public meetings to gather input and ensure that the plan reflects the community’s vision2.
  3. Design Tools and Activities: Good design is a key component of neighborhood planning. Tools and activities can help assess the qualities and character of a place, guiding the development of design policies3.
    When I asked for examples, Bing said  there are several successful examples of neighborhood toolbox design projects that have made a significant impact on their communities. Here are a few notable ones:

    1. The High Line, New York City: This project transformed an old elevated railway into a public park. Community input was crucial in the design process, ensuring the space met local needs and preserved historical elements.
    2. Granby Four Streets, Liverpool: Residents of this area came together to save their neighborhood from demolition. They used community design principles to refurbish homes and public spaces, creating a vibrant and sustainable community.
    3. Vauban, Freiburg, Germany: This neighborhood was designed with strong community involvement, focusing on sustainability and social cohesion. It features car-free streets, energy-efficient homes, and communal green spaces.
    4. BedZED, London: The Beddington Zero Energy Development is an eco-village in South London. It was designed with input from residents to create a sustainable community with energy-efficient homes and shared amenities.

    so maybe it is me being unaventurous and narrow-minded. I guess it takes many types of mindset to make a community and this could be one that I should take more seriously.

 



My Somerset Life

A diary by Brian Snellgrove

Francoise’s birthday

Very strangely we had no clear idea before today about where we should go particularly to celebrate the birth day by having lunch. Looking through TripAdvisor is all very well but I find myself swayed by the one star and two star reviews who give very measured and reasonable arguments for why they did not enjoy the event. For example one very posh restaurant got a low rating because the proprietors let young children run around and presumably to disturb the other diners.

Roughly speaking if over 90% give a five-star rating it’s probably not too bad but the trick is to look at when the reviews were written and you can have a number of bad reviews inside 2023 but unbeknown to you there was a change in management at the end of the year so the review should really be disregarded.

Before this I did feel quite flat at the day because nothing had been organised and I felt I had let Francoise down but she was as puzzled as I was about a lack of direction. Normally our inspiration does not let us down. Anyway, about nine o’clock, I decided to pay a visit to a restaurant we had known for some time, see below. We then decided we would visit the Yeo Valley establishment which includes a restaurant which was highly spoken of.

I also realise that I had done all I could in terms of my new venture due to start 25th September in Frome and I now had to hand it over to others to bring forward my ideas in a practical way.

We ended up by going to Hartley’s Kitchen Bistro which is near Wells. We have been there many times and we I’ve never had any bad food and the proprietor, the ever affable Paul, always greets us and looks after us as best he can. We have known him so long that we can ask personal questions as to how he is and I asked a question about the arrangements for mailing us with information, so it’s not all meaningless dribble.

 

We then went off to the Yeo Valley organic group that have an organic garden, but also a restaurant which they call rather and wisely in my opinion ‘The canteen’  I got on very well with the organiser and found myself writing a 2000 word essay to him on his website. The kitchen was a hotel at one point and has wonderful views over the Chew Valley. My first visit was pleasant and I don’t think it will be the last.  I don’t have a huge amount of energy for diary writing at the moment but here are some images. If you want a meal with a difference here is the web site.   Blagdon, Bristol BS40 7SQ

very pleasant dining room

this was a converted hotel

I had the honor to be the black sheep of my family

old fashioned Ordinance Survey map

not sure what to make of this art work

men’s toilets with organized graffiti

The building in its previous incarnation as a hotel

 



My Somerset Life

A diary by Brian Snellgrove

Modern art with a difference plus a forest of EMF

I have written elsewhere about the effect of the electro magnetic waves particularly those coming from the five G and 4G system but also from mobile phones and today I achieved what must be a world record to me anyway of 356 devices within range. This reinforces my acknowledgement of the need to be out of range from this toxic atmosphere and when 5G is introduced into Bath where this picture was taken it’s going to be even worse.

So to the hospital to have my regular eye injection. There was a very limited range of food on offer, so disappointing when I remember the days of yore when there was plenty of choice including lovely sweet courses including apple crumble and bread and butter pudding but alas now these are things of the past. I was offered spaghetti bolognese or a vegetarian shepherd’s pie with chips, peas, gravy etc. The spaghetti I had, and gave me an idea for how I could incorporate my desire for meat with my need for food that is accepted by my increasingly choosy body.
Many paintings adorn the corridors of the hospital.  See my many entries in this diary. Type in the search bar RUH

 


.I found this ‘cinema verite’ approach so honest and revealing. A couple who were not getting on and had little to say to each other

 

This below is the well known Royal Crescent in Bath but a different take which for me shows the balance between nature and buildings.

I was on the bus when a baby sneezed and I was motivated to look up why the mother should say bless you. Google said that the most popular theory is that it originated in Rome when the bubonic plague was ravaging Europe. Sneezing was one of the plagues main symptoms and it is believed that Pope Gregory 1st suggested a tiny prayer in the form of saying ‘God bless you’ after a sneeze which would protect the person from death



My Somerset Life

A diary by Brian Snellgrove

Combined visit to Glastonbury and Wells

Not often that you have a blazing log fire when the temperature is 25 degrees but that is the custom in chalice well when I and Françoise went to join the celebration of Lammas which is to do with the first harvests. I found the numbers were considerably lower then last time but in a way that was a relief and I had one or two meaningful conversations. One was with a German who was camping in this area and last came five years ago.

I have lost track of the number of times I have visited Chalice Well. It was only occasionally before we moved down here in 2012 but we now come about six times a year, always to festivals and celebrations and it is always rewarding in human terms particularly when I meet people who are new to this environment. They all come because of the reputation and all treat the well and its surroundings with respect

The road leading to Chalice Well itself from the town has a number of decorated cottages and this was one that had been considerably renovated since we last visited a few weeks ago. I don’t think you could get away with changing the front leading onto a street in any place other than Glastonbury but then this is the local custom

In general, the unique High Street it’s flourishing what with the continual stream of tourists but for some reason this second hand shop has had to close who knows whether it is business or personal. The person who wrote this is obviously very distressed. How sad after so long.

To Wells in the bus.  We have a good half hourly service to Bristol from Street via Glastonbury and Wells. The swans were in fine form around the Castle moat. I love the gardens though I am not sure that high summer is the best time.  I reckon June, There is too much overgrowth for my liking.

In the Bishops garden

In the evening Francoise and I went for a wine and cheese party with two of the Ex leaders of Vineyard. Vineyard movement has now been disbanded in the area but the people are maintaining contact with each other and reforming their lives in a way that you would do after a divorce or separation. I met Tim, a man who had just cycled from Lands End to John a Groats for charity. He cycled ae distance of 1032 miles. He has cycled across America. What a pleasure to meet such people.