THE Clutton Trefoil Guild are to take part in the South West England Region Trefoil Guild litter pick called “Clean Sweep”.

Guilds will be joining in a region-wide litter pick during the period April 22 to May 4 as part of the South West England Eco Project called “SWEEP”.

To find out more about joining a Trefoil Guild near you go to: www.trefoilguild.co.uk/find-a-guild

IN March, Professor Richard Coates visited us with his talk on ‘Rails in the Avon Gorge’. This proved to be more than just about the two railway services many of us remember on either side of the River Avon.

Both of these still exist of course though the Somerset-side line is only freight from Portbury Dock at present pending the re-opening of the passenger line through to Portishead. On the other side the mainline from Bristol to Severn Beach still operates through the Gorge once it exits in Sneyd Park from the tunnel under the Downs. Apart from that Richard told us about rail lines to do with the Gorge’s quarries, the building materials transported uphill from the river up to Leigh Woods, the Clifton Rocks Railway and the Bristol Trams that came as far as Hotwells. A very informative talk with good illustrations.

In March we held our AGM and showed some of our own archive films on Whitchurch and the remaining part of the North Somerset Railway film.

On Saturday, May 23, from 2pm to 4pm we will be featuring an afternoon of nostalgia about the 1960s. A film and talk entitled ‘The Swinging Sixties’ will be presented by Mike Britton and after that we will be showing archive film of the 1968 Floods. Also, there will be the usual refreshments.

This will be in the Community Centre adjacent to our normal venue.

The society also have planned a film event for Saturday, July 4, at the Community Centre – details being finalised. The autumn / winter programme will resume in September. We welcome anyone to our programme of talks or events, and also anyone wishing to come along just for individual talks. The evenings begin at 7.30pm. We normally meet at the United Reformed Church on the main road though the Village – rear entrance. For more information about the Society, membership and its events, please contact the Secretary, Geoff Gardiner, on 01275 830869 or at [email protected]

A NEW season, a new era — As we welcome the start of a brand new cricket season, there’s a real sense of excitement around Harptree Villages Cricket Club. The Season started with our intra club match back on April 26, whilst our league fixtures get underway with the Saturday XI facing Winscombe 2nd XI on May 2, followed by the Sunday XI taking on Easton Cowfolk on May 3.

Both sides finished 6th in their respective leagues last year and will be looking to build on those solid performances. The Saturday XI play in Division 6 North of The Somerset Cricket League, and the Sunday XI play in Sunday Conference Division 2 of The North Somerset Cricket League.

Alongside our league commitments, HVCC have a full programme of mid week friendlies, beginning with a trip to Barrow Gurney on May 20. Outdoor nets take place every Thursday evening at The Playing Field.

We’re also delighted to announce that, from this summer, the club will be running All Stars Cricket (ages five to eight) and Dynamos Cricket (ages eight to 11) — a fantastic new addition for 2026 and a great way to introduce young players to the game.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the club’s re formation in 1986, and it’s fitting that we welcome several new committee members as we look ahead to the next chapter. New players of all abilities are always welcome, it’s really the perfect time to give village cricket a try. Our Thursday net sessions are an ideal opportunity to meet the team and find out how to get involved.

For more information, visit the website: hvcc.play-cricket.com/home

RESIDENTS, visitors and members of the local community recently came together for a delightful flower arranging session at Barchester Cadbury Hall care home in Yatton, creating a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere filled with colour, creativity and conversation.

The event was led by a talented volunteer florist who shared her expertise and demonstrated a variety of flower arranging techniques. Guests were shown how to create different styles of arrangements, from simple hand-tied bouquets to more structured displays, offering inspiration for all skill levels.

Residents at Cadbury Hall were joined by visitors from the local community, including members of the Women’s Institute, making the session a truly social and engaging occasion. Everyone had the opportunity to get hands-on, experimenting with flowers, foliage and design, while enjoying the relaxing and therapeutic benefits of the activity.

The session not only encouraged creativity but also provided a wonderful opportunity for social interaction, learning and building connections within the community. The room was filled with smiles, laughter and a shared sense of achievement as participants proudly displayed their floral creations.

The general manager Audrene Abrigo said: “It was fantastic to see our residents and guests come together to enjoy such a creative and uplifting activity. Events like this are a great way to bring the community into our home and create meaningful experiences for everyone involved.”

The success of the event highlights the importance of engaging activities that support wellbeing, creativity and community spirit, and we look forward to hosting more sessions like this in the future.

THE race director of the Chew Valley 10k has hailed the Gillard family in Bishop Sutton for providing a free 600 space car park at the Westway Farm Business Park, which is vital to the success of the event.

Denise Mellersh thanked all the sponsors who contribute help in many ways but said: “Without a place to put all the cars, we simply wouldn't be able to run the event."

The Gillards not only provide parking, but erect barriers and signage and people are able to make use of the toilet and shower facilities in the business park. They are also delighted that tenants share their interest in supporting local events and Brock and Houlford and the NFU are providing sponsorship in what will be the 10k’s 14th year.

David Gillard said: “Our aim is to help create long term sustainable growth in the Chew Valley, providing a pleasant environment in our business park for a wide range of businesses to flourish, creating jobs and making it easy for their clients to make use of the goods and services on offer. Part of that process is to get behind the local events that make the Chew Valley so special, so we are pleased to do our bit to help.”

The 14th Chew Valley 10k will be held on Sunday, June 7, at 9.30am.

EASTER Sunday Raceday at Bath was a glorious sunny day with excellent entries in all the races one of which was sponsored by R J King & Sons from Farrington Gurney.

They sponsored a handicap stakes for horses four years old over a distance of one mile. The family had a great day out and the racecourse looked after them all so well.

The day was planned as day out and a team building day and a chance to celebrate family events later in the year.

THE team at Chew Stoke Church School were pleased to invite a representative of the local Rotary Club into school recently for an important cheque presentation.

Ken Biggs from the Rotary Club was pleased to visit the pupils who have been busy fundraising for the club’s charity Water Aid. Funds of £275 were raised and presented to Ken.

Headteacher Ben Hewett said on the day: “This morning we were pleased to welcome Ken Biggs from the Rotary Club back into school. As you may recall, we have recently been raising money for the Rotary Club’s Water Aid charity and we were able to present Ken with a cheque for £275. Thank you to everyone for supporting this very worthy cause.”

BEAT the autumn blues, and come and join the Pop-up Pub.

Holy Trinity Church, Norton Malreward, part of the Chew Valley East Benefice, will be hosting a number of ‘Pop up Pub’ events to encourage fellowship, relaxation and community.

This will be an event full of cheerful company, cheering ales, wines and soft drinks, plus the ambience of a beautiful, ancient building, filled with centuries of the life of the village.

A time of relaxation with a chance to sample wine and beer at reasonable prices alongside, soft drinks and bar snacks.

The next events will be held on Friday, May 22, June 19, July 17 and August 14, all from 6pm to 9pm.