GeoWeek 2021 1-9th. May

Anyone facinated by the geology of Mendip (or geology in general) may be interested in events organised under the heading GeoWeek 2021. The press release may be seen via the link below. For more information, and to book for events, contact Chris King tel. 01749 675 554. email chrisjhking36@gmail.com . Chris lives in Wells but is Emeritus Professor of Earth Science Education Work at Keele University.

AGM 26th March 2017

This year the AGM was conducted via the newsletter and by post / email. Voting on the resolutions was as follows. 78 members voted.

1. Approval of Annual Report:   For 57 Against 0  Abstain 21

2. Tina Bath as Chairwoman of the Society:   For 77 Against 0 Abstain 1

3. Re-elect other Committee members: For 78 Against 0 Abstain 0

4. Change to Constitution: For 67 Against 0 Abstain 11

 Cross - Axbridge Path and Cycleway

The Society is supporting a campain for a path and cycleway between Cross and Axbridge by providing a small grant to help with publicity. The aim is to provide safe access avoiding a very busy road and is described at  Coffin Lane Campaign: Home.

Wilder Churches

Although not our event this may be of interest to members.

Somerset Wildlife Trust and the Diocese of Bath and Wells are launching an initiative to encourage the management of churchyards for wildlife. Free on-line (Zoom) training is being run for anyone who is interested in helping. The first session (of three) will be held on 24^th March from 7 to 8.30 pm and more information, including how to sign up, may be found at https://www.somersetwildlife.org/wilder-churches.

Proposed Gas Fired Power Station in Axbridge

A planning application by Balance Power for a stand-by gas fired power station in Axbridge was turned down by Sedgemore Council last June. The company has appealed against this decision and the matter is now with the Planning Inspectorate. The Mendip Society opposed the original planning application and is opposing the appeal. The Society’s objection may be seen below. Members can lodge their own objections on-line at https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/: insert the planning reference 3263845 in the “search for a case” box and press “make a representation” then follow the instructions; it is not necessary to register for an account.  Alternatively, representations may be sent by post to: The Planning Inspectorate, 3C Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Bristol, BS1 6PN. Representations must be received by 10^th March 2021. The original planning application can be viewed at https://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/planning_online?action=GetDetails&app=21/20/00003&p=Compton%20Bishop.

Strawberry Line Re-opens

North Somerset Council has completed the work to get the Strawberry Line Heritage Trail open once again between Winscombe Millennium Green near Woodborough Road Bridge and Station Road Sandford.

The work started last year in mid-November and consisted of the construction of a retaining wall to support a section of the railway embankment that was collapsing. It needed 400 tonnes of aggregate and soil to stabilise the embankment, and the resurfacing of 1.25 miles (2 km) of Strawberry Line Path. 300 meters of fencing were restored or repaired and the original interpretation boards for the Heritage Trail were repaired. The photos show (clockwise): the collapsed wall shored up, old Winford Station platform, the gateway at Yatton and the line resurfaced.

Helping People Get Close to Nature

The "Nature and Wellbeing Project" aims to enable people with learning difficulties to connect with, and enjoy, the natural world. It is a joint venture between the Somerset Wildlife Trust and, amongst others, the Mendip Hills AONB. We have invited them to visit our nature reserves at Sladers Leigh and Tania's Wood and look forward to seeing parties in due course. For more information on this project see https://discovery-uk.org/wellbeing-in-nature/.

Archive of Past Newsletters

Recent newsletters may now be found in the Archive page. Earlier newsletters will be added if we can find electronic copies (scanning is time consuming and produces rather large files). We have paper copies of most past newsletters and these can be made available on request to the Membership Secretary.

A Less Attractive Mendip Scene

The reason for including the picture below (Ubley Drove) is not just to have a rant about the selfish moron who dumped this stuff but to say that I reported it via Mendip Council's website and within 24 hours it had gone. Let's have three cheers for the Council and its contractor IDVerde: "hip-ray, hip-ray, hip-ray".

All local councils have means for reporting fly tipping so if you see it please don't assume someone else will act, report it.

Peter Janes

Mendipity - a new book of walks
With support from the Society our President, Les Davies and member Sue Gearing have published a new book of walks on Mendip, called Mendipity.  More details, including how to order a copy may be seen by clicking this link https://www.dropbox.com/s/ydo0m0ebln1acwn/P71-1.pdf?dl=0 (this is the advertisement which appeared in Mendip Times).

Strawberry Line - Study of Breeding Birds

Our nature reserve at Slader's Leigh features in a study of breeding birds along a section of the Strawberry Line conducted by local resident Lincoln Garland. An abstact may be seen at the following link and the full article may may be downloaded here: https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202009.0303/v1 .

Events and Walks

Update 18th December. The Committee has decided that the Covid situation is too unsettled at present to restart the programme but will keep this under review.

Please check this website and your E-mails regularly .

The Mendip Hills sit high above the Somerset countryside in South West England.

The limestone uplands feature dry gorges, caves, sinks and river sources. One of the most famous areas is the Cheddar Gorge and the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a protected landscape.

The Mendip Society works to conserve and enhance the Mendip Hills and surrounding areas for everyone to enjoy. 

As a registered charity, we organise social activities on the hills for all our members including walks, special interest visits and talks. We also manage some small nature reserves and members are encouraged to be involved with these.