A few bright days sent me out with my camera to find the traditional signs that the darkest days are past and there is a promise of spring. There are a few seconds of birdsong if you scroll down.   more »

Some pretty sights in Street, Tuesday morning 6th November 2007.   more »

On the way back from a musical date in Baltonsborough this afternoon I couldn't resist taking a few minutes of video in the wonderful sunny weather.   more »

A few views on a dull February day.   more »

The AGM of the Street Society this Tuesday 26 September, 7.30 in the Methodist Hall, is to hear the local organiser of the National Trust on what the Trust is up to in Somerset.

Street has Collard Hill as its nearest NT property, with its rare Large Blue butterflies and its associations with the Civil War. Glastonbury Tor is another NT site that you can't miss.   more »

The Grange looks good through the trees. 

I remember when this was green fields ... (4) 

I remember when this was green fields ... (3) 

When the Houndwood development has taken place, and four million houses (or however many it is) are built on the site, it may be interesting to look back at the time before building began.

I remember when this was green fields ... (2) 

I remember when this was green fields ... (4) 

Fish and chips and honeysuckle 

Large snowflakes falling on cherry plum blossom, 2nd March 2005.

Blossom now holds promise of cherry plums later.

This willow is under threat. Here is the application:

Application No: 111137/008PG29
Received: 26 Jan 2005
Development Type: Trees - PG29
Full Grid Reference: ST48259,36360
Registered: 28 Jan 2005
Ward: Street South
Application Type: TPO Felling
Case Officer: Yvonne Jarrold
Valid: 26 Jan 2005
Parish: Street
Applicant: Mr P J Barker,
6 Merriman Road,
Street,
Somerset, BA16 0JA
Location: 6 Merriman Road
Street
Somerset BA16 0JA
Proposal: Felling of Willow tree covered by TPO M1107 (DEL)

I thought that the leaflet about Combe Hill Wood ought to be widely available, so here it is:

Combe Hill Wood

is owned by The Ninesquare Trust and is managed by fountains plc U.K. forestry services. Tel: 01295 750000.

NOW FULLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Combe Hill Wood is situated about 3 miles south-east of Street, Somerset, above and between the nearby villages of Gompton Dundon & Butteigh. It is easily accessible via the ridge road known as Reynold's Way which links the B3151 and the B3153, and it has a spacious car park. Its map grid reference is ST 503 331.

The woodland extends to 25 hectares (62 acres) with a diverse range of habitats. Research has indicated that Combe Hill has been a mixed site of woodland, wood pasture, grazed calcareous grassland and scrub for several hundred years. It has trees of all ages and very many species. One area of semi-natural oak woodland has been there since 1822 and has developed a rich variety of lichen, ferns and invertebrates in the deadwood. Extensive planting of conifers and broadleaves took place in the 1960s with Pine, Spruce, Western Red Cedar and Larch being inter-planted with Elm, Beech and Alder, among which there is much Ash regeneration of all ages. The remaining veteran Oak, Beech, Sycamore and Field Maple are often found with an under-storey of Hazel and Hawthorn. The woodland is silviculturaily managed to retain and favour veteran trees, coppicing Hazel in a regular rotation. Remaining areas are thinned to encourage the development of native broadleaves of all ages, and to allow the good quality conifers to mature. The paths and newly created open spaces are managed to encourage a diversity of flora and fauna: wild flowers and invertebrates in particular should increase in these areas.

There is an extensive path system throughout the wood for all abilities, including disabled and wheelchair users, leading to viewpoints with stunning scenery below: views over this lovely part of Somerset and the levels or "moors" as they are known locally. These viewpoints are pleasant places for gazing in quiet contemplation, or for a picnic, or scanning around with binoculars, maybe watching the wildlife. Many interesting song-birds, woodland birds and birds of prey may be seen: among them goldcrests, bullfinches, jays, pheasants, woodcock, buzzards, kestrels and sparrow hawks. Roe deer, foxes, badgers, hares or rabbits may be seen if it is fairly quiet, especially early in the morning or towards evening.

The wood also contains a section of the "New Ditch" which is an enigmatic 3000-year-old Iron Age earthwork.

The Ninesquare Trust was established in 1995. Its aims are to benefit the people of Street, in Somerset, and the surrounding area, with a commitment to supporting projects with a particular focus on. education and the environment. The Trustees have welcomed this rare opportunity to combine managing this wood to a high standard whilst retaining its diversity and encouraging the fullest possible public access. Following wide consultation and substantial financial support and advice from the Forestry Commission in support of these objectives, Fountain Forestry have been responsible for the major programme of work undertaken at Combe Hill Wood. This has involved thinning and clearing as well as the construction of paths, fencing, signage and other improvements for good public access.

* Please enjoy and respect the wood *

On behalf of the Street Society Nina Fry contacted Stephen Clark at Mendip about the trees in Merriman Park. This is the relevant part of the reply:

Merriman Park has a good selection of trees, I�m not sure they would be considered rare but there are some species that you don�t often see in this area. Most of the trees are in reasonable condition as we have carried out remedial work around the park over the last few years. Unfortunately this has also meant the removal of a few trees, one of which you may be interested in, an Indian Bean Tree (Catalpa bignoniodes). There is a Ginkgo biloba on site, that is doing well. Although these days it may not be considered rare.

Some members of the Street Society had found that the park was originally planted with rare species. Evidently these species have now become more common. I repeat my feeling that the whole park now needs to be redesigned for present-day use.

The Street Parish Council web-site   more »

Christmas Day in Merriman Park, and the sunlight plays on birch bark.   more »

Perhaps a manually adjusted camera would show more, but with a bit of imagination    more »

Street High Street has been looking cheerful for weeks now,   more »

The High Street has been looking festive, and crowds of unfamiliar faces have been seen   more »

White frost in Street today   more »

Red sky in the morning is the shepherd's warning. What bad weather are we to expect on December 2nd in Street?   more »

Lawrence Housman's home, Longmeadow, from the Clothier field.   more »

How's that for a porch!   more »

Another successful new Overleigh building is this, by Overleigh House.   more »

How the new house looks now. What was once The Pepperpot in Overleigh   more »

A new owner is having work done on the house and outbuildings of Overleigh Farm.   more »

Birds on the cherry-plum tree.   more »

November sky above Overleigh.   more »

Joseph Motley's design for Holmcroft included a Doric porch, well carved, and nicely detailed windows.   more »

Two events have happened since the unhappy public meeting of the Parish Council a week ago.   more »

Having quoted one newly-found tribute to Street and the countryside around it, I take the opportunity of adding Thomas Hardy's ballad set in what was then an inn at Marshall's Elm.   more »

This time I sat up and took more notice than usual, because one of the members raised the matter of that fine Victorian house in Somerton Road    more »

Here's a closer view of St Michael's tower   more »

The right hand supporter of the Clarks War Memorial    more »

Like the supporters in a heraldic 'achievement'    more »

Inside the Clarks War Memorial is a dignified list of the dead   more »

Normally I enjoy a view of the Tor   more »

High in the cherry-plum spiders have been busy, their webs invisible until a mix of dew and early morning sunshine picked out their intricate designs.

Season of mists - the first Sunday in September dawned misty, and with schoolchildren preparing to go back to school tomorrow autumn is knocking on the door in Street.

Rather hidden away at the back of Crispin Hall is the Community Garden, protected by these handsome wrought iron gates. It beautifully fills the space between the main hall and the SelfHelp Centre, or Community Centre. You can just imagine what a dreary or even sordid space this could have been without the work and care that has gone into the garden. Whoever had the idea in the first place deserves a lot of credit.

A flashback to a week or two ago, when I went round snapping attractive views, and there were lots of them. These three are a very lovely adornment to this entrance to Clarks Village - and the hanging baskets are lovely too!

Here's the gold certificate won by Street in Bloom in its very first entry for the South West in Bloom competition. Only one other gold certificate was awarded, and that was to St Ives, who actually won the competition. One of the judges apparently said that our hanging baskets were better than all the rest.

All buildings are enhanced by a pretty girl in front of them. As I was taking the front of Crispin Hall, this young lady happened to get into the photo.   more »

The Friends Meeting House is to my mind one of the handsomest buildings in Street. Built in the local blue lias stone, and providing inside the extreme simplicity characteristic of Quaker meeting houses, its exterior is well proportioned and adorned with this fine Doric porch.   more »

A more distant view from the Street bypass. Street is still surrounded by green, thank God!

As you drive on the Street bypass you catch a glimpse of the old toll house (the white house) across the fields.

Street and Glastonbury may be long-standing rivals, but we in Street cannot get away from Glastonbury Tor. This is the view from about a quarter of a mile outside Street on the Baltonsborough Road.

The road leading out of Street passing the Parish Church, Strode College and Theatre, Crispin School and Bowlingreen Mill is lined for part of its length by trees reminiscent of some French roads.

A splendid view over the Somerset Levels from Street Hill. From some places you can get a good view of Compton Dundon.

Wood on Street Hill. Some of the trees are very old, but the whole wood is carefully managed, with conifers planted to shield slower-growing trees, and planned felling and rejuvenation.

The path through the wood on Street Hill. There are routes suitable for the less mobile and for wheel-chair users, but if you take the longer routes, be prepared for some scrambling, and in wet weather you will get muddy!