NAILSEA
PEOPLE
RURAL RETREAT: Photographer Tracey Thomas spent the last days of 2020 going on a ‘mud wade’ around the Moorend Spout and Land Yeo towards the Church of St Quiricus and St Julietta at Tickenham. Here are her lovely photos. We have begun a 2021 gallery but sadly no new year celebrations or our usual Apple Wassail at The Old Farmhouse or Trendlewood Park for 2021...
Nailsea farmer's market
Nailsea & Backwell Rotarians act as marshalls for a festive High Street event which was full of good cheer and anti-Covid-19 masks minus any up-close-and-personal mistletoe kisses this year although mulled wine and mince pies were on offer at Nailsea MicroPub as it opened for takeaway service...
December 2020
December market
Nailsea Christmas Farmers’ Market will be in the High Street on Saturday, December 19. The road will be closed to traffic for the day.
After Novembers ‘essentials only’ lockdown market the organisers said: "We will be back to full strength for our Christmas event with the return of our craft stalls alongside the amazing array of food, drink and seasonal plants so there will be plenty of gift buying opportunities.
"There will also be the opportunity to take home the new farmers' market leaflets with the dates on from March to December 2021 when the market kicks off next year.
"Despite the excitement of a new Covid vaccine available soon, the market itself will still be following strict guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety.
"We offer sanitiser and instructions on arrival, we create safe queuing areas in front of each stall and our stewards and stallholders will politely remind everyone to social distance.
"Similarly the stall holders will be following strict safety guidelines and most will offer contactless payment.
"The market is from 9am-1pm so bring along lots of shopping bags you will need them."
Sign up for a Nailsea Farmers Market e-newsletter here www.somersetfarmersmarkets.co.uk and find out more about the producers who attend monthly event.
Nailsea illuminations
our homes
December 2020
BRINGING CHEER: Greenfield Crescent used to be THE place to go to see fantastic Christmas decorations but in the days before LED the electricity bills became horrendous and this coupled with the idea it was all a bit passé people began not to bother. Then came Covid-19 and Lockdowns 1-3 and we all wanted something to lift the spirit and Christmas lights seem to do nicely, that and copuious amounts of alcohols (apologises to the non-drinkers). The majority of the photos were taken by Nailsea Running Club member Clare Elswood who was following one of the two routes 5K walks or runs around the town devised by the Nailsea Active group. You can print-off a map or call in at 26 Somerset Square and collect a copy.
Links for strava maps, map 1: strava.com/routes/2769309761418354524
Links for strava maps, map 2: strava.com/routes/2769313123465667532
Nailsea People now has three slideshows on its Gallery 2020 page from the High Street to the VWan-tastic touring van, shop windows to individual homes and it is a joy to see. An updated route map has been added to this slideshow for the final few days.
RECOMMENDED ROADS TO SEE LIGHTS:
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Ash Hayes Drive
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Blakeney Grove
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Church Hayes Road
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Clevedon Road through Tickenham
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Crewkerne Close
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Dorchester Close
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Greenfield Crescent
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Hillcrest Road
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Horwood Road
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Meadway Avenue
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Old Cottage Row
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The Oaks, Lodge Lane
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The Perrings
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Shaftsbury Close
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St Austell Close
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The Bramleys
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The Willows
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Trinity Road
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Walnut Close
Nailsea VWan-tastic
tours Nailsea for charity collecting for Bristol Children's Hospital
December 2020
Every December Steve Wright and his family decorate their VW to spread festive cheer and to raise money for the Wallace and Gromit Grand Appeal, supporting the Bristol Children's Hospital. This year there will be two doing tours of Nailsea - see map. Learn more on his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/christmasdubs/,
This is how you can donate:
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Just Giving www.justgiving.com/fundraising/xmasdubs; or
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Text 5, 10, 15 or 20 followed by XMASDUBS to 70085 to donate £5, £10, £15 or £20 respectively. For example 10XMASDUBS to donate £10. Texts cost your donation amount plus one standard network rate message.
TRINITY AT TRENDLEWOOD: Update the three in one final tour by the VW vans lit by 15,000 lights at Trendlewood, Nailsea. Led by Steve Wright and filmed by photographer Eloise Massett the pre Christmas charity collection is for Bristol Children’s Hospital Wallace & Gromit Grand Appeal. Nearly £3,000 raised so far, brilliant
BACKWELL TOUR: Steve said: "What a night!! Thank you so much everyone in Backwell, sorry we were so late getting to the end of the run but there were so many people out all the way around the route and we wanted to give as many as possible the chance to get photos or chuck some money in the bucket We will be coming back to The Crescent tomorrow evening just after six for all the little ones who had gone to bed by the time we managed to arrive this evening. Our coins pot is now full and extremely heavy! We will be counting it after Christmas but we are already at nearly £4000 with Just Giving and the notes which have been donated. We don't have a total from the text yet, but we know it is over £300 which was the total from last Thursday. We can't wait until tomorrow when we visit Tesco in Nailsea on Wednesday, December 23, 5-6pm."
Fabulous fundraising
Charity fundraisers Sam and Steve Wright who organised the Christmas van tour are astounded at the amount of money they raised for the Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal.
The total is £8159.16 which is going to make a massive difference to the children being treated at The Bristol Children's Hospital and their families.
A breakdown of their Christmas Dubs fundraising is:
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Cash donations - £1,910.16
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Text donations - £605.00
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Just Giving Donations - £2,963.00
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Vee Dub Family Christmas Competition - £2131
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Sale of our Golf Mk3 - £550
The Nailsea couple would also like to say a big thank you to Derek 'Delboy' Tarrant for fundraising in Dorset and joining us on our last Nailsea run around Trendlewood, Lee Perry for fundraising around Clevedon and Anthony Boothman for driving Sam's van on a couple of nights to give the children a rest and a few early nights.
Steve said: “A thank you also to Simply Surf Bus Ltd for letting us use their showroom to decorate the vans in the relative warm, Ken from Worle Autos
Ltd for MOT'ing and servicing the Golf for free for its new owner and Jon from Tesco Nailsea for letting us park and fundraise in the car park.“If people would like us to do it all again in 2021 let us know.
“Thank you again to everyone who donated, we are totally blown away by everyone's generosity.”
Lockdown 3 then 2 then 3 again!
countryside walks but no indoor entertainment with visitors!
December 2020
Christmas decorations
a story of community cohension
December 2020
Lockdown 2
stayathome unless out exercising
November 2020
Nailsea School
finalists nature photography
November 2020
Remembrance Day
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
ACT OF REMEMBRANCE: On the 11th hour of the 11th day on the 11th month we will remember them. Here is the link to the live video showing the Act of Remembrance at Nailsea's War Memorial. It includes Nailsea's Roll of Honour and starts with two minutes silence. HT operations manager Siân Steel said: “We are very happy for it to be shared with the local community.” Because of Lockdown 2 it was sadly not a public event this year...
Just walking
Ali Kuleli November 2020
Walking the dog
taken early morning by Steph Carradine October 2020
Halloween Pumpkin Trail
October half term 2020
FILM FUN PUMPKIN TRAIL: A Nailsea dad and his family have created an ET wonderland in the front window of their home as part of the film fun Pumpkin Trail initiated by Nailsea Community Group and organised by Helen Morgan. Their pumpkin was bought at Triggols farm at Tickenham and added the movie music to the tableau. The dad said: "Putting the finishing touches with a moon backdrop lit by stage lights and with John Williams’ soundtrack blaring out – best Friday night for a while." Meanwhile at Chapel Barton the Minions display has a way to go Amanda Burgess…it is done now and added. Childminder Amanda also bought her pumpkin fromthe Triggols barn a place her children love visiting. Carol Gladwin, of Hillcrest Road,said: "My supermarket pumpkin doesn't like the heat and won't last the week I fear." Leanne Bessell said: "We are at Orchard Road. Me and the children had a great time picking our pumpkins at Puxton pumpkin patch. We have gone for the movie theme Avengers. We hope you enjoy our display. Happy Halloween." However, the wind and rain is playing havoc with the display and some fear they may not last the week. ~The tinsel town images even featured on the BBC news - the whole story is HERE
Nailsea Farmers' Market
Saturday, October 17, 2020
MARKET DAY: After a six month gap because of the coronavirus crisis Nailsea's monthly farmers' market is back and has moved into a traffic free (for the day) High Street. Despite some of the comments on Nailsea People Facebook page social distancing was observed even if the camera angle makes it look as it people were closer together. The atmosphere was friendly, the fresh fruit, vegetables and meat produce on offer superb along with the handmade cakes and craft stalls. Nailsea Town Council chairman Jan Barber checked out with Somerset Farmers Market organiser Louise Hall, who are now in charge, all was running smoothly. The next market is 9am-1pm on Saturday, November 21 - just in time for customers to in their Christmas orders. SFM charge £27 per food and craft stall which can be booked via its website by clicking HERE, email louise@somersetfarmersmarkets.co.uk or call 01373 813812. It costs Nailsea Town Council more than £5,000 annually to subsidise the market.They do have permission from Crown Glass Shopping Centre to spread into Somerset Square if necessary - well done everyone
Winter is coming
October 2020
eat:Nailsea food festival
Saturday, October 10
Nailsea's food and drink festival returned to the town centre on Saturday, October 10 - social distanced and covid secure, but still full of great local food and drink
The organiser of the second eat:Nailsea food festival arrived on site early on Saturday morning, October 10, to find the red and white barriers blocking the High Street car parking spaces had filled with water and were a dead weight to move.
Other than that the day went without incident despite some reservations because of the coronavirus restrictions.
In fact although cold the sun peaked through a sometimes overcast sky and people came taste the produce on offer and more importantly to buy both from the stalls and the High Street shops.
On the village green the eat:festival flag fluttered among the garden furniture.
Nailsea MicroPub had extended its hours and was wall-to-wall customers when it opened at the earlier time of 11am.
Simply Green had a stall outside, 65 High Street was manned by Nailsea Town Council staff all day and Westcoast estate agents took some photos from outisde its office.
eat:Nailsea is a free all day festival that showcases some fantastic West Country local food and drink producers with more than 60 food and drinks producers set up along the High Street and in Somerset Square at Crown Glass Shopping Centre.
The stalls will have a wide variety of goods including farmers’ markets favourites like ales, bread and cheese alongside top quality street food with world flavours made with local ingredients.
Organisers Sarah and Beverley Milner Simonds who run many similar festivals in the West Country ensured all was running like clockwork.
Sarah said: "This was be our seventh festival post lockdown, although food markets have been permitted to trade throughout lockdown.
"We are really proud of how our producers have adapted to the new requirements."
Find out more at the festival Facebook page or website www.eatfestivals.org
If you are interested in trading at the October 2021 event, applications open on Sunday, November 1, 2020.
Flora and fungi
photos from Tyntesfield, Karen Barclay, Fiona Campbell, Tracey A Thomas and Eloise Massett
Tuesday, October 6
Somewhere under the rainbow
Thursday, October 1
RURAL RAINBOWS:With a wet and windy October predicted for North Somerset day one began with a double rainbow - thanks for sharing photos taken in Nailsea and Backwell...apologises if you missed my Facebook message
near Jacklands Fishing Lakes
morning mist by Aga Kubish
end of September
The Drove, Nailsea
setting sun by Martyn Flower
end of September
1st anniversary Nailsea MicroPub
Friday, September 25
PUB PEOPLE: The best of beers in the worst of times Nailsea MicroPub celebrated its first anniversary with birthday cake and fine wines and ales plus lots of good cheer. Despite the coronavirus crisis boss Mark Ashman and his partner Carolyn Cooper met the unprecedented challenges of year one with resilience and good grace. If you missed day one of the weekend beer festival go along and enjoy social distancing and table service from 3-10pm on Saturday, September 26 at the High Street tap room - a mix of friendly familiar faces and new people too, who can you spot in the photos?
Nailsea's mighty oak felled
Wednesday, September 16
TIMBER TIMBER: On Wednesday, September 16, two woodcutters arrived to chop down the old oak tree on Nailsea's village green. In the slideshow with additional photos from Lynda Dicks is a record of the branches falling one by one leaving only the trunk for someone to carve into a fitting memorial to a tree which was planted in the time of Queen Victoria. Perhaps a modern day totem pole like the one from Potter's Bar? Paul Thomas said on Nailsea People Facebook page said the replacement looks a very poor specimen and if the counci is having the trunk carved the angel at Felton cost £3-4,000. To read the original story with the fabulous photo by Grete Howard in full atmospheric eeriness go to the August front page by clicking HERE. And does anyone know anything about the black and white silhouette faces with rainbow coloured blobs cascading down against the leaking sealant on brick wall?
BACKWELL BEAUTIFUL: Photographer Tracey Thomas shared her images of Backwell lake with Nailsea People on Instragram - the early morning mist the the swans ready to take flight. And the train coming into Nailsea and Backwell railway station was taken by Karen Chandler. Thank you for sharing your September views with us...
NAILSEA FROM THE SKY: Weston-based photographer Shay McGill, aged 16, says he loves taking photos from the ground or even the sky. He has been out in Nailsea this September with his drone and captured this panorama airborne shot. He said: "This is one of my favorites from the day. It includes a lot of Nailsea and hope you like it as much as I do, feel free to send me a message via Facebook for inquiries or email shaymcgill2004@gmail.com."
TUESDAY TOWN TALK August 25
(or village talk if you prefer)
Creditors of The Country Pub Group Ltd owners of The Battleaxes which has gone into administration have a Zoom meeting fixed for 10am on Thursday, August 27.
Il Paradiso is no nearer re-opening with staff finding jobs elsewhere while the partners cannot agree on a future.
Rumours on social media that Jenny's cafe at Clevedon is opening in Nailsea have been refuted by the owners who said 'not at the moment, maybe in one year's time'.
And in other news we are told Cafe 119 will be using the old PS Travel shop as an overflow restaurant space when al fresco dining becomes too cold for comfort in the winter months...love the funky wallpaper and white sofas.
Talking of moving we also hear the Nailsea Disability Initiative shop at 10 Crown Glass Place won’t be reopening instead it will run its services from September at 65 High Street recently vacated by Nailsea Community Group (formerly Nailsea Covid-19 Help Group) who are now at 26 Somerset Square.
The PDSA charity shop reopened this week and are taking donations - the earlier in the morning the better but note current limited opening times.
St Peter’s hospice charity shop takes donations on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 10-11.30am.
Photos taken between showers on Tuesday midday, August 25.
