The Name is Jack, Yeovil College.

JACK the Treacle Eater, one of Yeovil’s legendary characters, is famed for running long distances at high speed and fuelling himself with treacle. But in the Yeovil College end of year show for performing arts students, that fuel was friendship. It must have been a horrendous year for students, with classes happening and then not…

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Bath Festival, The Gesualdo Six at the Roman Baths

GATHERING together in Bath for the annual festival had a uniquely poignant atmosphere, enhanced by the ancient setting of the Roman Baths, when the Gesualdo Six sang a programme of 14 songs with a watery theme last night. After months of lock-downs and cancellations, the joy of live performance was shared equally by the singers…

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Grow your own taste of the sea

MARSH samphire – sometimes known as “the mermaid’s kiss” – has been making its salty, crunchy presence felt on restaurant and domestic tables in recent years, and now you can grow your own seashore delicacy, thanks to Wincanton-based Somerset Samphire. Samphire is already a native of Somerset, loving the salt marshes, where local farmers also…

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New video and website for Food Drink Devon

AS restaurants, pubs and other hospitality businesses in Devon open their doors again, the county’s food group, Food Drink Devon, has announced the support off wine buff and television personality Oz Clarke, and a new video and website. Award-winning chef Peter Gorton (pictured), a recently appointed Food Drink Devon board member, says: “It has been…

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Springhead in spring

ONE of the most beautiful gardens in the West Country, Springhead at Fontmell Magna in North Dorset, is open over the May Day bank holiday weekend for visitors to admire the blossom. The gardens will be open on Sunday 2nd May and Monday 3rd, from 11.30am to 4.30pm. There is no charge, but donations are…

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Bere Marsh Farm gets buzzing

BERE Marsh Farm, the Countryside Restoration Trust’s showcase farm by the Stour near Shillingstone in Dorset, will be at the heart of a pioneering  project to make the Blackmore Vale a hive of activity for bees and bee enthusiasts. Gardening clubs, schools, parish councils, allotment holders, indeed any organisation or group, will be invited to…

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A Dorset story of “county lines”

DORSET farmer George Streatfeild, the 2020-21 High Sheriff of Dorset, has had a short film produced to highlight the dangers of county lines drug gangs to young people in Dorset. It is the true story of ‘Sam’ (name changed) and aims to show the scale of the problem in Dorset, and to educate and improve…

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The joys of cheese on toast

AFTER months of lockdowns, and with the gradual reopening of pubs, cafes and restaurants, we can now look forward to enjoying eating out. But it is also a chance to look back at how we all spent our time and for many it seems that Cheese On Toast was an important part of our lockdown…

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Harry introduces Pink Rhubarb cider

SOMERSET craft cider producer Harry’s Cider Company of Long Sutton, has launched a new Pink Rhubarb cider as part of Southwest Cider Week. The new addition to Harry’s fruit cider range has a delicate and refreshing flavour, with a hint of nectarine and some vanilla notes on the finish. Light pink in colour, it is…

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A world of chocolate in Somerton

WE were driving through Somerton, on our way back from some photography for our new book, Deepest Somerset, when we spotted a sign for a new chocolate shop. Who can resist? Well, not us. New Street leads off  Broad Street, to the east of this pretty ancient town, once the capital of Wessex. It’s a…

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