Author: ParishClerk
One year on – a day to reflect and remember – 23rd March 2021
One year on – a day to reflect and remember
| A minute’s silence will be held by Somerset County Council to mark a National Day of Reflection, remembering those who sadly lost their lives during the pandemic and to show support for everyone who has been bereaved. |
| Initiated by end of life charity Marie Curie, the National Day of Reflection is due to take place on Tuesday 23 March – the anniversary of the UK going into the first national lockdown. |
| The flag at County Hall will also fly at half-mast as a sign of respect for all those taken before their time by Covid-19 and for the bereaved they have left behind. County Hall will be lit up in blue and green in the evening to honour the emergency services. |
| An online ‘Covid reflection’ page has been made available for members of the public to share their own personal reflection messages – which will remain as a permanent reminder of the last year. |
| Anyone who wishes to take part and would like to add their own reflection message, photo or poem to the ‘Covid reflection’ memorial page can do so by emailing communications@somerset.gov.uk |
Register in time to have your say
On Thursday 6 May 2021 residents in Somerset West and Taunton will have their say on who represents them at the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner election. Residents must be on the electoral register in order to vote for the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) who oversees the local police force and ensures they are prioritising what matters to you.
Somerset West and Taunton Council is urging people who have not registered at their current address to make sure they are registered in time. The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday 19 April.
It takes just five minutes to apply online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. If you’re not registered by 19 April, you won’t be able to vote.
Please don’t feed the Ponies
Quantock Farmers ask ‘Please do not feed the ponies’
Since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic there has been an increase in people feeding the ponies on the open hilltops of the Quantocks. These ponies thrive on the grasses, heathers and plants on the hilltops and do not need extra food.
Some horses have special dietary considerations and can be intolerant to foods such as carrots and apples and cannot have too much sugar. Giving them “sweets and treats” can result in stomach ulcers, which are very painful, and colic which can kill them. Many fruit and vegetables may seem like “healthy” or “normal” horse treats, but they are not suitable for many horses including the ponies which graze the Quantocks.
As many of these ponies roam wild over the open hills people are unable to know how many “treats” they have been fed and people are making the mistake of saying “just one won’t hurt”. A further issue of feeding the ponies is that they associate people and cars with food. They become more tolerant and will actively approach people and cars which increases the risk of people being bitten or kicked or the ponies being injured by vehicle collisions.
Ranger Andy Stevenson said, “Although they are beautiful to look at, the ponies are pretty wild and certainly not pets so keeping a little distance from them and appreciating them from a far is the best for everybody’s wellbeing”.
Ponies on the Quantock Hills:
- Quantock Common is a large block, over 1,800Ha, of unenclosed heath and woodland on the hilltops of the Quantock Hills. It is a special habitat and is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Quantock Common is managed by the active Commoners (local farmers who have rights of Common), landowners and the AONB Service. Part of the required management is grazing by sheep, ponies and cattle. This mix of grazing promotes the different heathland species such as heathers and bilberry.
- The majority of ponies that graze the unenclosed hilltops of Quantock Common are owned by farmers / landowners who have rights of common to graze animals on the common.
- The farmers / landowners are known as ‘Commoners’ as they are exercising their rights of common. They regularly inspect the ponies and any issues reported to the AONB Service are passed onto the relevant farmer / landowner to rectify.
- If people see a pony they believe is in distress or hurt they can report it to the AONB Service, who will ensure it is communicated to the most appropriate farmer / landowner.
- Other locations also have grazing stock such as Lydeard Hill and Cothelstone Hill. These are not commons and the ponies that graze these hills are owned by the landowners.
Food Offers for the Parish
Stogursey Community Network has been offered a regular supply of food for distribution to the Parish such as dried pasta, rice, cereal, tinned foods etc.This is provided by Fareshare Bristol (you can read about their work here: https://faresharesouthwest.org.uk), basically they prevent waste by redistributing food that would otherwise be thrown away. All the food provided is in date and perfect. Before they accept this generous offer and undertake to store and distribute this food in our community they would like to check that there are people who would take up this opportunity.
- If you are finding finances rather tight at the moment, this could help you,
- If you have children at home all day, ‘eating you out of house and home’, this could help you,
- If you know of anyone else who you think would benefit from a regular bagful of food supplies, this could help them.
Please let SCN know.They can, and do, deliver food safely to people’s homes, or you could collect (and choose) food items yourself, by prior arrangement.This is a wonderful offer, but they do NOT want waste!Get in touch with them by Facebook Messenger – Stogursey Community Networkor phone us on 01278 732149, in total confidence.They need to hear from you ASAP!
Somerset County Council’s Outdoor Centres – Online virtual tours and booking
Vital children’s activity service launches brand new digital front door
Somerset County Council’s Outdoor Centres (SSE Outdoors) provide memorable experiences to thousands of young people every year.
Now, thanks to an engaging new website booking them is just a click away.
Over 14,000 young people visit the four centres each year and even throughout the Covid-19 crisis Support Services for Education (SSE) Outdoors has continued to run holiday day camps giving vulnerable children and young people the chance to enjoy safe outdoor activities.
The new website – www.sseoutdoors.co.uk – created by Somerset County Council’s Web Team offers a vivid insight into what the service offers with stunning images and video, and a new digital booking service means activities and holidays can now be booked simply and easily online.
“Our centres, run by SSE Outdoors, provide such rich and valuable experiences for so many children and young people from across Somerset and beyond, including me a few decades ago” said Cllr Faye Purbrick, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education.
“During the Covid crisis the team and centres have been a lifeline for so many vulnerable young people and some who are at risk of becoming involved in criminality. The new site is a fitting shop window for the great range of activities and holidays available.”
SSE Outdoors Service Manager, Daniel Moncrieff added: “The new website, created in-house, showcases the work of the team wonderfully and makes it really easy for schools and organisations to book activities and holidays by cutting out the need for phone calls and paperwork.
“That’s really important as it saves time for teachers and social workers who are supporting young people.”
A new lake is under construction at Kilve Court in West Somerset, which will add water sports to the wide list of current activities that include abseiling, climbing, cycling, caving, camping, hiking and canoeing.
SSE Outdoors is also pleased to be involved in the Government’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme to support disadvantaged children in staying healthy and active.
As well as Kilve Court there are three other centres – The Outdoor Centre at Kilve, The Great Wood Centre, set in the Quantocks, and the Charterhouse Centre in the Mendips, near Cheddar Gorge.
- The centres put on 7,600 activity sessions for young people over the current crisis.
- The team has worked with the Council by making freezable meals for people across Somerset, totalling over 2,100 Christmas meals and over 4,500 evening meals.
- SSE Outdoors is preparing for schools residentials to start taking place after Easter, following on from a recent Government announcement.
Roadworks Church Hill/High Street/Tower Hill, Stogursey, DAYTIME 3rd to 9th March 2021
Somerset County Council Highways have informed us that Barden Network Engineering has approval to carry out fibre cabling works on behalf of BT Openreach from 03/03/2021 – 09/03/2021, for 7 days, excluding the weekend on Tower Hill, High Street and Church Street, Stogursey.
Working hours will be 09:30-18:00
If you do have any queries / concerns about the proposed works, please contact Barden Network Engineering Headquarters on Tel. 01454 281627,
or via their website Ljnk – Barden Network Engineering Ltd .
Link to the full order Daytime Closure High St Stogursey 3rd March 2021 seven days
Approved Diversion Route
