Tag: travel

Exmoor Events

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Exmoor National Park Authority is delighted to announce the launch of the programme for the biggest ever Exmoor Dark Skies Festival

Running from Friday 17 October to Sunday 2 November 2025. Sponsored by BMW Vertu, Bridgwater, this annual celebration of Exmoor’s internationally recognised dark skies promises a packed programme of over 70 stargazing events, science activities, storytelling and outdoor adventures. There’s also a fun Exmoor Dark Skies Festival Competition for children.

The full free event listing and programme is available now from our Exmoor National Park centres and to download here.

 

Things to do this Summer

We have the last of our Ecology Action Days series coming up for young people.

Explore different habitats, enjoy interesting activities with our rangers and experience ecological surveying – no experience necessary!

Following some great sessions themed on Meadows and Woodland we still have these sessions available:

Rivers: Tuesday 19 August

Peatland: Thursday 28 August

To book a space, please email pioneers@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk stating the days you would like to book. Aimed at ages 16–18 years

Made possible with the National Lottery Heritage Fund and a legacy donation to CareMoor.

If you live in or around Exmoor and don’t have access to transport, please get in touch – we may be able to help (although cannot guarantee).
   

 

A Walk through Dunster’s History

11am start, Dunster National Park Centre TA24 6SE, Wednesday 27 August

Join a guided walk leader and explore the picturesque streetscape and surroundings of Dunster village. A 2 hour guided walk around a village steeped in history.

Dunster Outback Guided Walk

11am start from Dunster National Park Centre, TA24 6SE Wednesday 3 September

A 4 mile circular walk through the ages, from the outskirts of Dunster village up to Bat’s Castle with amazing views of moorland, coast and woodland.

Find lots of great Exmoor’s walks help you to explore the best of Exmoor National Park. With over 1000km of footpaths and bridleways there are long and short walks on Exmoor for everyone like this one in the video above on Dunkery Beacon. Find out more here
 

Come into our National Park Centres to join a free activity or drop in to discover…

-Exmoor Films on show

-Our state of the art digital microscopes

-Telescope hire

-More about Exmoor’s wildlife, heritage, landscape and dark skies, through inspiring and interactive displays

-Exhibitions

-Opportunities for young people to become a Park Protector

Find us in Dunster, Lynmouth and Dulverton

Wildlife

 The Red Deer of Exmoor 

Come and find out all about native wildlife – Talk with Ranger Rich Eales

Saturday 23 August 2pm

Free – donations to CareMoor welcome

Lynmouth National Park Centre 

Red Deer have lived on Exmoor since prehistoric times. It’s estimated around 3,000 deer today inhabit the farmland and moors, with people flocking to the area each Autumn to experience the rut.

8 White-tailed or Sea Eagles have been visiting Exmoor National Park over the last few years, following their release on the Isle of Wight by Roy Dennnis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England.

Find out more about them and what they like to eat in this latest video above.

Three white-tailed eagle chicks have successfully fledged in Southern England this summer. The chicks were bred by eagles released in a joint project with Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation to return this lost species.

All of the eagles are tagged so we can keep up to date with their progress and we look forward to seeing if the chicks will follow the flight path of their predecessors and visit Exmoor.

More on White-tailed Eagles here

Sowing the Seeds

Thank you to the landowners who are helping us with our meadow restoration projects.

Our conservation team have been working hard, harvesting and sifiting seed from donor meadows, to create more species rich habitats across Exmoor supporting soil health and pollinators.

Read more on meadow restoration here
 

 

Official Incident Update

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The school have respectfully asked the media not to attend the site during school hours tomorrow, so staff can provide the children with a degree of normality in what remain very difficult and upsetting circumstances.

Current situation regarding A396 

  • Inspection has been completed – repairs will need to be made to rectify damage caused during the incident and subsequent recovery operation. The team is currently arranging these.
  • The road will need to remain closed until the repairs have been completed.
  • We will try and update as soon as possible on progress.

Community support

We are continuing to support the educational community include the school, Multi-Academy Trust (Beacon) and other local schools where staff have been supporting with a coordinated plan that considers the needs of impacted children, families, school staff, and the wider community. This includes educational psychologists from both the local authority and the MAT.

We are also working in close liaison with mental health services, family support teams, and the local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector to ensure the right support is in place over the coming days and through the summer holidays.

This will included dedicated support at summer holiday clubs that are operating in the area.

There has also been additional engagement with the community to seek direct feedback on the type of support it might need in the future and we continue to work with Minehead Eye where officers are available. Sessions over the weekend were very well attended.

Church leaders have been heavily engaged in bringing together the community. The Churches Together service on Sunday 20 July was a poignant moment for the many who attended.

Additionally, we are grateful to Somerset Community Foundation for launching its Together for West Somerset Appeal and for offering to co-ordinate community efforts and donations. We know they will ensure funds swiftly reach those who need immediate help and support our communities in the months and years to come.

The Minehead Community Response Fund will be set up and distributed with guidance from a range of partners, including Somerset Council, Somerset NHS, local schools, National Emergencies Trust, Fundraising Regulator and The Charity Commission.

There’s a link to the appeal here Together for West Somerset Appeal – Somerset Community Foundation

Latest official update from Avon and Somerset Police

Our investigation into the collision on Exmoor last week in which a 10-year-old boy tragically died is continuing this week.

Formal identification has now been completed and we can confirm the victim was Oliver Price. Our thoughts are with his parents and family who have been updated and continue to be supported by a specially-trained officer.

Two children and one adult are currently in hospital in Bristol and two adults are in hospital in Somerset, while a number of children were discharged over the weekend.

 Officers from our Serious Collision Investigation Team have been carrying out thorough enquiries to understand the full circumstances of the collision.

  The coach, which was transporting pupils and teachers from Minehead Middle School, left the A396 shortly before 3pm on Thursday 17 July.  A major incident was declared and a significant emergency service response began.

  Despite their best efforts, Oliver was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene. A family liaison officer will continue to keep their parents updated as our investigation progresses.

 The coach was recovered on Saturday and will now be subject to a detailed examination over the coming days by experts from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, as part of our usual investigative enquiries.

Officers have also been taking statements from a number of adults who were either on the coach or were travelling in the area at the time as part of their work to establish the full circumstances of the collision.

 The examination of the scene has been completed, however the road remains closed while a detailed safety inspection is carried out by Somerset Council.

 Neighbourhood officers will be present outside the school over the coming days and anyone with any concerns is welcome to speak to them.

  Chief Superintendent Mark Edgington said: “Our thoughts are first and foremost with Oliver’s family at what must be an unimaginably difficult time. We will continue to make sure they’re updated.

“Our investigation is now well underway with officers working tirelessly to find out what caused it. This work is likely to take some time and we would for patience while these enquiries take place.

“Over the last few days we have been working closely with our partner agencies and the school to ensure support is in place for anyone who might need it.

 “We are extremely grateful for all the support that’s been received locally. This clearly shows how special and close-knit this community is.

 “I would like to also thank all the emergency services and voluntary groups who responded for their support as well as everyone in our hospitals who continue to help those who were injured.”

 Anyone who witnessed the collision or who has any information they think could be of relevance to our investigation should call 101, giving the call handler the reference number 5225201782.

Kind regards,

 

Andy Doyle

(He/Him)
Communications

Community, Place & Economy

Somerset Council
07977 413530

Wootton Road Closures

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National Grid are intending to refurbish the low voltage electricity line within Wootton Courtenay. This is to improve the reliability and capacity of the lines and hopefully reduce the amount of interruptions to customers supplies caused during bad weather. The start date is the 5th of June.

The overall intention is to carry out the works as follows:

Under the initial road closure we erect all the poles and stay support wires, using excavators and a lorry. (Stay support wires are the wires that go from pole top down to a galvanised rod into the ground to support the pole.) We will then return from the 1st of September to the 12th to carry out the pole changes, replacement of existing wires with new bundled insulated conductor, BT wire transfer (done by Kelly Communications on behalf of BT) and, finally, removal of all poles by National Grid.

The intention is to avoid having to come back and cause further disruption with more road closures and old poles being left for months after.

All new poles are erected next to existing ones by our poling team, SJS Southwest. No poles will be erected without speaking to the landowner and arranging access first. We cannot move poles into new locations, as that has a knock-on effect on pole positions further on. Any accidental damage caused whilst carrying out works will be put right by National Grid at no cost to the customer.

The areas where National Grid will be occupying the road space is spread across five roads. I have labelled them and each diversion A to E, to simplify.

All Saints’ Church to Brockwell Lane (A)
New Road (B)
Brockwell Lane (C)
Ranscombe Road (D)
Fairgarden Road (E)

During the pole works we will only be working on one road at a time, and at no point during the whole project will we occupy all five roads at once. We will confirm the first road we are starting on and inform you by the end of this week [via village email].

Due to BT Openreach working in the area, on certain days we will have an extra three diversion routes. I am waiting to hear back from the council to confirm which days will be affected by Openreach works, and once they are confirmed I will let you know.

Diversion Routes
Each diversion route drawing has been designed by our traffic management provider, Core Highways:

Click here for All Saints’ Church to Brockwell Lane – Diversion A
Click here for New Road – Diversion B
Click here for Brockwell Lane – Diversion C
Click here for Ranscombe Road – Diversion D
Click here for Fairgarden Road – Diversion E

Click here for route avoiding BT Openreach works, Church to Brockwell Lane
Click here for route avoiding BT Openreach works, New Road
Click here for route avoiding BT Openreach works, Ranscombe Road

Access will be maintained for residents. We do ask residents to try and work with us in minimising the amount the contractors have to move, to speed up the process and help us get off the road as quickly as possible. Bin collections and deliveries will be allowed.

All power outages will be confirmed by letter in advance. (Please note we will not generate for businesses affected, only for customers with medical issues).

The initial closure is scheduled for 8 weeks, but hopefully we will be done sooner than this. This is an over-estimation to allow for unexpected hard ground which may delay excavation. However, we cannot guarantee it won’t take the full 8 weeks.

Adam Shepherd
Technician, National Grid

All Saints’ Church, Wootton Courtenay, Tabletop sale

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We have a wide variety of stalls at the tabletop sale on Saturday, 31st May in the Wootton Courtenay village hall (1030am to 4pm).  Here are the stalls to look out for on Saturday:

Marion Jay, Crockford Plants, will be selling a wide variety of plants.  Her tables will be in the centre of the hall.

Jamie and Lisa Waters will be representing Shelduck Photography with their photographic products and other items.

Nicole Stewart of ‘Amour Heart Gifts’ is your one-stop shop for beautiful heart themed gifts, cards, stationery and home decor.

Ro Hoyte will be selling her original artwork in the far corner by the stage. Seek her out.

Mark Oxtonby, one of our local photographers, will be selling his photographs and cards.

Veronica Clegg, another local artist, will be displaying and selling her artwork.

Paul and Nicky Scott will be generously selling plants from their ‘Dunkery Pleck’ garden, in aid of the church roof appeal.

Ingrid Popplewell has had a clear out and will be selling household goods.

Maggie Robertson has also had a clear out and will be selling household goods too.

A late addition to this venerable line up is Wootton Courtenay’s very own Silversmith, Brian O’Hara, who will be selling silver and metal ornaments and jewellery.

The Minehead branch of the Guide dogs for the Blind will be there and so will Heidrun Humphries with ‘Hoglets Hedgehog Rescue’.

There will be a small selection of homemade cakes on sale and an instant raffle with some great prizes to raise funds for the church.

And, all the way from West Wales, we are pleased to host ‘Cardigan Curiosities’ with their unique blend of antiques, vintage items and homeware – your one-stop treasure shop!

Refreshments are lavish and will be available to purchase all day. All this for just £1 entrance fee for adults, free for children.

If you can make it, I’d love to see you there.

Amanda Elliott

Regal Theatre for May

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STEEL MAGNOLIAS

Thursday, 1st May 2025 – Saturday, 3rd May 2025 – 7:30pm

Barnstormers present… Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling

This play is a beautiful and bittersweet comedy set in the 1980s in deep south Louisiana.    Six very special friends bonded together by mutual triumphs and tragedies played by some of our best local actresses.    Sharing each other’s strength and loyalty, despite their differences, beautiful and impulsive Shelby, her strong-willed mother M’Lynn, beauty parlour owner Truvy, confident wealthy widow, Clairee, sharp-tongued Ouiser and mousey newcomer Annelle are guaranteed to make you laugh as well as shed a tear.

LEGENDS OF AMERICAN COUNTRY SHOW

Monday, 5th May 2025 – 7:30pm

The upcoming tour will showcase highly acclaimed tributes to Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Don Williams, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Tammy Wynette and Kenny Rogers and new tributes to icons Alan Jackson, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks and the new kid on the block Luke Combs with countless other well-known singalong hit songs in this must-see musical extravaganza.  Featuring three superb singers who are all accompanied by a fantastic live band of musicians. Watch that real authentic Tennessee sound coupled with an authentic stage set and state-of-the-art production that is guaranteed to transport you all the way, hand clapping and toe-tapping, to Nashville and back in one night.

THE REGAL FILM SOCIETY – THE LAST SHOWGIRL (cert 15)

Tuesday, 6th May 2025 – 7:30pm

Dir Gia Coppola          US 2025          88 mins

A ‘bruising and beautiful film’ about a middle-aged Las Vegas showgirl who is faced with an uncertain future after learning that the review she has performed for three decades is scheduled to close.

In a remarkable career turnaround, Baywatch star Pamela Anderson gives a fine, nuanced performance as 57-year-old Shelly Gardner, who has given her life to performing in Le Razzle Dazzle, a classic French-style review at a casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip.

THE FREDDIE & QUEEN EXPERIENCE

Friday, 9th May 2025 – 7:30pm

Internationally and critically acclaimed, The Freddie & QUEEN Experience are the UK’s Premier Queen and Freddie Mercury tribute band, who deliver a passionate and energy packed show full of all QUEEN’s greatest hits.  The 5-piece band perform, with replica outfits and instruments, a full recreation of QUEEN’s Live shows, based around QUEEN at their very best – the 86 ‘Magic tour’.

UNVERSED

Saturday, 10th May 2025 – 7:00pm

Unversed … An eager young actor in the city of London has got her hands on a discarded copy of Shakespeare’s first folio. Newly printed and the hottest publication in town, all the plays exist together for the very first time. There’s only one problem: the parts are all too out of reach for women to play on the public stage. Come along and be part of the rehearsal as Antonia gives herself permission to speak the verse and explore the profession of being a woman – both onstage and off.

UNVERSED was commissioned and created for the 400TH anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio for Keats House in Hampstead where it premiered to great reviews and has since toured to Doctor Johnson’s House in Fleet Street, John Clare Cottage and The Painted Room in Oxford and will go to Stratford in 2025.

ROYAL BALLET & OPERA : WAGNER’S WALKURE

Wednesday, 14th May 2025 – 5:15pm

Gods and mortals battle in the second chapter of Wagner’s Ring cycle. Conductor Antonio Pappano and director Barrie Kosky reunite to continue the mythical adventure that began with Das Rheingold in 2023.

On a stormy night, fate brings two strangers together, unleashing a love with the power to end worlds. Meanwhile, in the realm of the gods, an epic battle ensues between their ruler Wotan and his rebellious daughter, Brünnhilde.

DORIAN GRAY

Thursday, 15th May 2025 – 7:30pm

Don’t Go Into the Cellar presents…

Oscar Wilde’s only novel is adapted for the stage in this atmospheric one-man show. What awful secret is stored inside the attic? Only the eternally youthful and charming Dorian Gray knows. But as his appetite for sin leads to ever greater acts of wickedness, Gray will stop at nothing to make sure no one discovers the dreadful truth!

Jonathan Goodwin plays Oscar Wilde in this thrilling one-man performance adapted by himself from the Wilde novel.

THE CONCERT

Saturday, 17th May 2025 – 7:30pm

After its almost sell-out debut concert in June 2024 The Concert is being staged again.

35 excellent local singers form a choir with soloists and are accompanied by a wonderful 20-piece orchestra.

A wide range of light music includes Abba, Miss Saigon, Summertime, Mozart…..

A delightful evening of great music and light-hearted humorous entertainment.

EXHIBITION ON SCREEN: MICHELANGELO – LOVE & DEATH

Tuesday, 20th May 2025 – 7:30pm

The spectacular sculptures and paintings of Michelangelo seem so familiar to us, but what do we really know about this Renaissance giant?  Michelangelo’s genius is evident in everything he touched.  Beautiful and diverse works such as the towering statue of David, the moving Pietà in the Papal Basilica of St Peter and his tour-de-force, the Sistine Chapel ceiling, still leave us breathless today.

ROYAL BALLET & OPERA : BALLET TO BROADWAY:WHEELDON WORKS

Thursday, 22nd May 2025 – 7:15pm

Sensuous contemporary ballet meets the energy of musical theatre in four distinctive short works. Fool’s Paradise, The Two of Us, Us, An American in Paris: four works showing the remarkable choreographic range of The Royal Ballet’s Artistic Associate, Christopher Wheeldon. Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon

  CHRIS MCCAUSLAND : YONKS!

Sunday, 25th May 2025 – 1.00pm, 4.00pm & 7:30pm – ALL 3 PERFORMANCES SOLD OUT.

ANNIE JNR

Thursday, 29th May 2025 – Saturday, 31st May 2025 – 7:30pm

Oasis Theatre Mini’s presents…

Based on the comic strip and adapted from the Tony award-winning Best Musical, with a beloved book and score by Tony award-winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, Annie Jnr features everyone’s favourite little redhead in her very first adventure

Tickets for all events may be booked in advance online at https://regaltheatre.co.uk/whatson or from the Box Office (Tel 01643 706430) between 9.30am and 12.00pm Monday – Saturday;