Tag: travel

Can you help?

Published on by Lesley WebbLeave a comment

Plastic Free Exmoor will be carrying out a clearance of tree guards near Croydon Farm, Timberscombe on 18th July 2026.

We are looking for fit volunteers to help collect hundreds of old trees guards, so that they can be recycled, reducing the amount of plastic in the environment.

Our goal is to clear every plastic tree guard and cable tie from the trees within this section of mixed deciduous woodland. The tree guards will be left at collection points at the edge of the woodland. The owner of the woodland will be responsible for removing the tree guards from these collection points.

If you are able to help please email Peter at plasticfreeexmoor@gmail.com

Further detail are below.

Heart Wood Tree Guard Clearance – Information

Date: Saturday July 18th

Time: 10am to 3.00pm If we get plenty of volunteers the clearance will hopefully be completed more quickly. However, it is fine if you can only help for part of the day.  

Meeting Point: We will meet and park in the farmyard at Croydon House. There is plenty of hardstanding car parking in the farmyard.  

Contact: If you have any questions I can be contacted at plasticfreeexmoor@gmail.com or my mobile phone number is 07927 921975.

What to Bring

Please come dressed for the weather conditions on the day. Be aware that we will be working in undergrowth that may contain brambles, so old clothing would be best. We will be working on a slight slope, so sturdy footwear is advised. Please note that there is likely to be ticks in the woodland, so it will be important that skin surfaces are covered and that you wear gloves.

A penknife can be useful for cutting cable ties and freeing up stubborn tree guards. I have spare knives that I will bring along.

Please bring along food and a drink.

Exmoor Dark Skies

Published on by Lesley WebbLeave a comment
Exmoor Dark Skies Festival to Mark its 10th Anniversary
Dark skies event photo
Credit Shaun Davey
Businesses, organisations and event hosts are invited to be part of a milestone celebration of Exmoor’s internationally recognised dark skies, with sponsorship and advertising opportunities too.
Exmoor National Park is preparing to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Exmoor Dark Skies Festival in 2026, with plans for an extra-special programme of events highlighting the magic of Exmoor after dark.Visitors and local communities can look forward to a wide range of experiences, from nocturnal wildlife walks to inspiring talks and unforgettable outdoor activities. The festival brings together partners, local businesses and organisations from across Greater Exmoor, to help people discover and enjoy Europe’s first International Dark Sky Reserve. It attracts people from across the country while supporting Exmoor’s visitor economy.
Festival Organiser Julie Colman said: “The Exmoor Dark Skies Festival has grown into a much-loved celebration of our incredible night skies, and the 10th anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to make the programme even more special. We would love to hear from businesses, community groups and organisations with ideas for events and activities for the anniversary programme, which will help people experience Exmoor after dark in engaging and memorable ways.”
Anyone interested in hosting an event as part of the 2026 festival is asked to contact Julie Colman, Festival Organiser, at ruralenterprise@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk.
Businesses are also being invited to take advantage of advertising opportunities in the official festival programme. A total of 7,000 copies will be distributed across Somerset and Devon, giving advertisers visibility among visitors and residents planning their festival experience. A headline sponsorship opportunity is also available, offering prominent association with one of Exmoor’s flagship events.For advertising or sponsorship enquiries, contact ruralenterprise@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk or find more information at www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/darkskiesfestival

waste collections

Published on by Lesley WebbLeave a comment

Somerset Council has announced that there will be no recycling or rubbish collections taking place during the upcoming Spring Bank Holiday on Monday, 25 May.

Collection days will change across Somerset following the bank holiday.

All collections will be 1 day later than the usual schedule:

  • If a resident’s usual collection day is Monday, it will now take place on Tuesday.
  • Tuesday collections will be moved to Wednesday, Wednesday collections to Thursday, and so on.
  • For those who usually have a Friday collection, their collection will be rescheduled to Saturday 30 May.

If opening on a Monday is part of the Recycling Centre’s opening days, then it will be open as usual from 9am to 6pm on Bank Holiday Monday.

To help manage the increased volume of recycling, residents are encouraged to make extra space in their recycling boxes by crushing and flattening their recyclables.

This simple step can make a difference to help reduce the number of trips crews need to make to empty their vehicles.

For more information about what can be collected for recycling and to check a collection day visit the Council’s Bins, recycling and waste pages.

Early start during hot weather.

Waste collections in Somerset will begin from 6am next week, from Tuesday 26 May as temperatures are expected to climb.

The early starts are to help crews impacted by the hot weather and help to minimise any chance of disruption to recycling, rubbish or garden waste collections across the county.

Waste collection is hard, physical work and early starts help limit the time crews spend working in the hottest part of the day.

Somerset Council is asking residents to put their bins out the night before to make sure they are prepared for the early start.

Bus News

Published on by Lesley WebbLeave a comment

Taunton Park & Ride single tickets are only £1!

Patronage on the Park and Ride service from Gateway (M5 J25) via the town, Musgrove Hospital and Silk Mills to the West continues to rise along with a 6.2% footfall increase in Taunton. The service runs every 20 minutes until 8pm Mon-Fri (6pm Saturday) then less frequently until 11pm (Mon-Sat) using the 1E for Silk Mills and 30 for Gateway (M5 J25). The double decker service is well used by both visitors plus those who live on the route but there is always room for more!

Bus not turned up or arrived more than 20 minutes late?

See the Somerset Bus Passenger Charter for your options. Some operators may offer a travel vouchers.

How do I track my bus?

  • Bustimes.org – this covers all buses.
  • Operators app or website

Where do I get bus timetables?

  • Special mention for TravelineSW. Type in your route number, click the relevant service.Select whether you want just the main stops and press ‘PDF’. The website will generate your own personalised timetable which can be printed out. Where bus routes have been mentioned in this newsletter, the links provided are to TravelineSW timetables.
  • Timetables are also available on the operators website or via Bustimes.org
  • Over the last few years we have persuaded some bus operators to continue to fund the printing of timetables however we are finding this more challenging. Local libraries will often print timetables for a small fee. We also fund a small number for distribution at our bus stalls.

How do I plan my journey?

How much is a bus journey?

All single bus journeys are capped at £3 until at least March 2027.

Some operators offer discounted tickets for short journeys, area based tickets or group tickets. Consider these to save money.

Cutcombe Hill Update

Published on by Lesley WebbLeave a comment

I’m writing to provide a final update on the repair works along the A396 at Cutcombe Hill.

I am pleased to confirm that all major works have now been completed. Over the coming days, our team will be collecting the remaining traffic management equipment and barriers as we begin the final phase of demobilisation.

During the road closures, we also took the opportunity to carry out temporary repairs to a damaged section of verge on the straight stretch higher up the hill. This area was impacted by vehicle movements during snowy conditions earlier this winter. A long‑term engineering solution will be developed; however, due to the limited working window and the requirements for design, planning, and additional road closures, the temporary repair was the most practical option at this time. This approach has allowed us to safely remove the traffic management barriers that had been in place at this location.

Over the next few weeks, a formal sign‑off inspection will be undertaken to identify and address any minor snags. These checks ensure the site is left in the best possible condition and that all aspects of the scheme meet the required standards.

I would also like to share that a tree will be donated to Cutcombe Parish Council for planting in the recreational grounds. This is in memory of the tragic events of last summer, as well as marking the remarkable resilience and unity shown by the community during and after that time. The Parish is also considering the installation of a bench beside the tree to create a peaceful space for reflection.

We would like to sincerely thank residents, local businesses, and all road users for their patience, cooperation, and understanding throughout the duration of these works.

If you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to get in touch.

Yours faithfully,

Kali

Kali Martin
Assistant Highway Service Manager 

Somerset Council

Area – West


highways-west@somerset.gov.uk

0300 123 2224