Som ERSETLI FE YOUR ESSENTIAL MONTHLY GUIDE TO THE ee SEPTEMBER 2022 | somersetlifemagazine.co.uk 4 SOMERSET ’ Behind the scenes ART WEEKS 7 at Somerset's > ae HAIDER” ©. SOO, WHO IS OUR FAMOUS NEW COLUMNIST? > You'll love her * BIRD GIRL A 20-year-old activist from Chew Valley SHEPTON 4 MALLET’S : sparkling 3 history aeiACeArS VO ODELANI) WALKS Wellington Open Morning SCHOOL Saturday 24th September 9am - 12noon Louipping children with al they need to thrive / Fully co-educational 3-18 Excellent academic results ~ aiaendl Scholarships and bursaries available Love of Learning Superb sporting, music & drama opportunities A school fizzing with inspiring teachers Extensive network of buses throughout the region Day and Boarding [email protected] | 01823 668803 www.wellington-school.org.uk @ SHOP ONLINE VISIT «TO FIT YOUR ROOM 73)=,s0m9 Ss. PERFECTLY A) dae ef PLUS LARGE SELECTION ~: OF FABRICS Wht ) | |! MN NY ‘\ | ia | . > CGE yp ORL MCILL T LARA I” ~ ——— SU APO NRA BEY FERRE +) yy” | PTR Ws VA UN aan SIZES OF TAEDA MATCHING SOFAS AD AVAV AUST AA Rat) BANG NRHN PLUS CHAIR AND GANDHADE \ in ees fe r y O@@ | [email protected] | 01278557755 | 2-4 Church Street, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 3AE ROLEX THE SEA-DWEERES Designed for aquanauts who spent days or even weeks in pressurised underwater habitats, the Sea-Dweller, with its helium escape valve, continues to expand the possibilities of exploring the deep. #Perpetual Cy sheR PERPETUAL SEA-DWELLER MICHAEL SPIERS WATCH FEATURED SUBJECT TO STOCK AVAILABILITY Editor's letter have just returned from a week’s annual leave and we decided to spend those seven days in this glorious county. It helped me to remember exactly how much Somerset has to offer and how beautiful it is in so many ways. We stopped at Minehead en route and it was absolutely thriving in the sunshine. We took part in a spot of crazy golf on the seafront before making our way to the gorgeous glamping site that is Torre Cider Farm in Washford. The following day we headed to eat:Minehead — just one of the fantastic food and drink eat festivals put on across the region every year. And it certainly did not disappoint — the atmosphere was buoyant and the range of independent businesses was fascinating as always. On the Monday we headed to our next accommodation spot — Home Farm Holiday Centre in Williton. What a beautiful holiday park this is, with direct access onto the beach. A far cry from some of the larger holiday park chains that shall remain nameless, this place was friendly, laid-back and serene. We stayed at 109 The Bay on the site, a lovely two bedroom caravan (more on that and the glamping in future issues). Whilst we were on our holiday we visited many wonderful places in Somerset. We headed to Watchet for some retail therapy in some of the wonderful independent shops - this is a Adal IN om ANAS TT fabulous place that seems to have a time zone of it own, with many retailers picking when to open up shop on the day and close when business slows down for the day. We headed down a couple of times to the stunning beach at St Audrie’s Bay to cool down under the waterfall and try to catch some crabs (unsuccessfully Iam ashamed to add, despite looking like a professional with all the ‘kit’). We also had a fabulous trip on the West Somerset Railway. What an absolutely amazing way to travel around that area, It felt like we had stepped back in time — our daughter loved waving at all the people out of the train window. The scenery was just stunning and I highly recommend Subscribe and get a £10 WATERSTONES e-Gift Card SOMERSET LIRR it if you haven’t tried it. So, a fabulous week was had by all. With fuel prices and the cost of living rocketing and so many wonderful things on our doorstep, why travel anywhere else when you can have the perfect family holiday right here in Somerset? Take care. STAY SAFE, Until next time. Charlotte Skidmore Editor, Somerset Life ’ Pie, y @SomersetLife MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS Tara Arkle Enjoy the first column from our famous new writer, a rural rebel with sometimes controversial views. Page 43 Catherine Courtenay For our Village Life feature we look at Nunney, a village that is more than just a castle. Page 40 Andrea Cowan The latest news and places to shopping and dining in Wells, our county’s compact little city. Page 46 Somerset Life: September 2022 ¢ 5 Somerset’s Cider Orchards Somerset has more working cider farms than any other county. One photographer has captured the beauty of these special places and the work that goes into producing the drink that is the pride of our county. INSIDE September 2022 24 Mya-Rose Craig AKA Bird Girl She’s a 20-year-old environmental activist and campaigner with a passion for saving the planet, but what has inspired a young woman, who already has an honorary doctorate in science? Shepton Mallet An iconic building complex and a famous local family are preparing for the future of a Somerset town, while casting an eye back ovet some sparkling history. Rural Rebel Our new columnist Tara Arkle is an award-winning screenwriter and novelist, activist, poet, broadcaster and journalist. She is the daughter of stage and screen actress Joan Collins and singer/songwriter Anthony Newley. OWA :030Ud 6 ¢ Somerset Life: September 2022 In the footsteps of Jane Austen Jane Austen is synonymous with Bath, where she lived in the 19th century - so we’ve selected eight things to do in the city that are related to the famous author. io} Zz ° a 6 < o ° 3 & 6 8 + I] River Parrett Trail With 50 miles of the River Parrett Trail to explore across our county, Rachel Mead packs her backpack and continues to follow the river from source to sea in the second half of her special feature. peas [PULH Autumn colours As the season starts to change, expert Jane Earthy from Monkton Elm Garden Centre tells us about her favourite autumn plants including the colourful ceratostigma or hardy plumbago. sabewA}2990, MAGS > PLUS 20 The Georgians in Somerset Where they left their mark on the county 40 Village Life Nunney - it’s more than just a castle 66 Bookshops Five great spots to browse for books 68 Somerset Art Weeks Hundreds of artists put work on show 76 Diary Our pick of great September events 83 Food for Life Our new feature onall things foodie 87 Apple Cider Vinegar Will a daily sip help keep you healthy? 117 Nature notes A memorable stoat encounter 139 Gardening Bring some autumn colour to your borders 160 Trivia Quiz How well do you know the county? 162 Somerset Greats Seafaring admiral Robert Blak ON THE COVER Our cover image by Daria Ustiugova is a watercolour image of green trees, illuminated by the sun, with light at the end of the tunnel. 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All material is sent at the owner’s risk and, while every care is taken, Archant Community Media Limited will not accept liability for loss or damage. james @ robertj ameswo rkshop.com Somerset Life magazine and its journalists are committed to abiding by the Society of Editors’ ‘ Code of Practice. If you have a complaint that cannot be resolved by the editor, please contact the Www. robertj amesworkshop.com Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Gate House, 1 Farringdon St, London EC4M 7LG, or via [email protected]. More information about IPSO and its regulations can be found at www.ipso.co.uk. 8 ¢ Somerset Life: September 2022 Some furniture is made for the here and now. FREE Some is built to stand the test of time. GIFT CARD At Neptune, we believe that the best can do both. worth up to £2,000 with home and kitchen design projects this September Good design never grows old. Bristol, 0117 2464 200 Bath, 01225 465 301 Ask in store for full details, or visit neptune.com/designoffer Ft ie \ pL oka ull bes bel eebeaeeeed ¥ PRIDE IN PICTURES Somerset has more working cider farms than any other county. One photographer has captured the beauty of these special places and the work that goes into producing the drink that is the pride of our county PHOTOS: Tessa Bunney nthe autumn of 2019 Tessa Bunney began to photograph the diversity of Somerset cider producers — from the seventh-generation Hecks, to Roger Wilkins’ rare remnants of cider house culture, to Burrow Hill’s brandy made from cider. Documenting both the smaller orchards which blend in with the patchwork landscape of small fields and the larger orchards supplying industrial cider makers, she visited producers who use only apples picked up by hand from their own and local orchards and those who use special apple picking machines. Tessa, who spent the first 19 years of her life living in Somerset, captured the RIGHT: Carl at Burrow Hill Cider processes of creating cider, as well as ancient customs such as wassailing — a traditional ceremony that involves singing and drinking the health of trees to promote a good apple crop for the following year. Her work will be exhibited at the Martin Parr Foundation at Paintworks Bristol, until September 25, entitled Made out of Orchards. The Martin Parr Foundation has produced a small publication to accompany the exhibition, showcasing images from Made out of Orchards alongside a text by Somerset-based author and poet James Crowden. This will be available at the gallery and online. martinparrfoundation.org 10 ¢ Somerset Life: September 2022