Thursday 1st May

Thursday, 1 May 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

There’s been a call for the Somerset Levels to be designated a National Landscape. A Yeovil man has raised £2,000 for a new school minibus at Fairmead School in Yeovil by running the London Marathon. Exmoor Ales, which provides cask ales across the region and beyond, is closing its Somerset brewery and moving the business to Surrey...and more.

There’s been a call for the Somerset Levels to be designated a National Landscape, previously known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Somerset is home to four national landscapes: the Blackdown Hills, the Mendip Hills, the Quantock Hills, and Exmoor National Park. Councillor Henry Hobhouse, who represents Castle Cary on Somerset Council, believes Somerset deserves a fifth national landscape, arguing it will protect the Levels' historic character.

An Ilminster mother says Somerset Council has left her teenage daughter " in limbo." Kelly’s daughter has special educational needs and undertakes supported employment at Silver Lining’s café in Ilminster. Silver Linings says because Somerset Council has delayed issuing the paperwork, Kelly’s daughter can no longer work at the cafe.

Exmoor Ales, which provides cask ales across the region and beyond, is closing its Somerset brewery and moving the business to Surrey. MD Jonathan Price says this is to protect the long-term viability of the business following a drop in sales.

A Yeovil man has raised £2,000 for a new school minibus by running the London Marathon. Warren Morgan’s daughter attends Fairmead School in Yeovil, to whom the £2,000 will be donated.

A shop in Henstridge is helping parents who struggle to buy items for their children. The Honesty Jar lets people pick up items such as school uniforms in return for donating things that they want to get rid of.

A new café has opened at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard. ‘Perdida is a Latin American fusion café located in the redesigned conference room.

Somerset Day is Saturday, May 10th, and Sunday, May 11th. As part of celebrating all that’s best about Somerset through cider and cheese trails, children’s storytelling, and village fetes, the highlight of the two-day event will be a performance on Saturday by the Wurzels at Rich’s Cider Farm in Watchfield.

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Thursday 17th September

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18,000 shoplifting offences have been recorded in the Avon and Somerset Police area in the last financial year. A Chard man has been sentenced for assaulting a police officer. Forefront Community Centre in Chard is celebrating 20 years of bringing people together in the town... and more
Wednesday 16th September

A pilot with the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance says there will be 'catastrophic' consequences if laser pointers continue to be pointed at their aircraft. Plans to build forty new homes in the village of Curry Rivel have been given the go ahead. The owner of a ram called Rambo in Keinton Mandeville has thanked firefighters for rescuing him after he got stuck in a concrete pipe... and more
Tuesday 15th September

Police investigating an attack on a shop worker in Yeovil have released CCTV images of a man and woman they want to speak to. Farmers in Somerset are being warned to expect more cases of bluetongue. Ilminster Carnival Committee has announced the cancellation of this year's Children's Carnival due to a lack of entries... and more
Monday 14th September

Two new mobile NHS breast screening units have taken to the road in Somerset. More than 700 new homes are to be built alongside the M5 in Bridgwater. Dawes Twineworks in West Coker is one of several venues open to the public for free this month... and more
Friday 11th September

It’s going to cost more to park in Chard. Police have issued an image of a man they want to speak to in connection with two burglaries in Yeovil. Somerset Cricket Club is planning to stage performances by some of the world's biggest artistes at their Taunton ground... and more
Thursday 10th September

Work has begun building a new multi-million-pound David Lloyd leisure centre in Yeovil. NHS Somerset says a new system to handle emergency stroke care will lead to "better outcomes" for patients. Tickets for next year’s Glastonbury Festival will go on sale in October...and more
Wednesday 9th September

Police have released an image of a man they want to speak to following an assault in Yeovil. Businesses in Taunton say they're worried that planned changes to parking rules could put people off visiting the town. The Red Arrows will take to the skies near the Somerset border in a one-off display later this week... and more
Tuesday 8th September

Police in Avon and Somerset say they’re dealing with a big increase in reports of cloned vehicle fraud. A new video system designed to speed up stroke care has been launched in Somerset. Pilgrims are walking through Somerset this week to mark eight hundred years since the death of Saint Francis of Assisi... and more