Frome Festival has been really hit by the pandemic so this year there was little to see there, so we opted instead for a rural venue unfamiliar to all of our walkers - Marston Park.

As a Festival venue, the park has not been used in fifteen years, but things have changed in those years and the fabulous lakeside is open daily to members, campers and walkers. This year a Festival site, it boasted lakeside food and drink as well as musical entertainment.

Not knowing quite what to expect, we were intrigued by the scenery, and took the opportunity to focus our lenses on the water, the woods and the DJ. However, the restricted access beyond the immediate frustrated us, and we left to explore the nearby Church in the grounds of the magnificent Marston House.

Here, we gained access to the building as well as the Churchyard as a group of bellringers had turned up for a practice, which was a bonus, as was the soft evening light on the stones and statues and the stunning views across the valley. We discovered there is a dedicated walk around the park that looked interesting- one for the future we thought.

Heading for Frome in search of more to photograph, we came upon a number of trainee firefighters, seemingly belaying themselves to lamp posts, and a colourful group of Morris Dancers due to perform in the market place. This was a further bonus, and one we enjoyed with a handful of other spectators, and much horn blowing from passers by in cars!

There was less of an air of Festival in the town otherwise, so we abandoned to the outdoor bar at The Cheese and Grain where the aimiable waiter proclaimed himself a beginner at photography wanting to join a group like ours!

We had fun and the plan for next week is to take up the Treasure Hunt Challenge thrown down from Warminster Camera Club to our members.

In the meantime if those who went to Bath last week would like their photos in a gallery to celebrate the trip, perhaps they could let me have some in the next few days – maximum of six each. Jenny Short