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YOUR ESSENTIAL MONTHLY GUIDE TO THE ee SEPTEMBER 2022 | somersetlifemagazine.co.uk
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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
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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
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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.
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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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8 ¢ Somerset Life: September 2022
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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
