Benefit from purchasing top quality garden items - seeds, potato tubers, onion and shallot sets, garlic and fruit trees and bushes, Christmas gifts and garden items with a 15% discount.  

Our fantastic Partners, Pennard Plants (RHS Master Growers 2019) will also donate a percentage of all their takings attributed to our Event to our chosen good cause - in 2021 that will be GillShed CIC.

Check out our website for all the details - including the code that gets that 15%…

Note: Avian influenza is unconnected with coronavirus (COVID-19).

Public Health England advises that the risk to the public’s health is very low. The Food Standards Agency has said that on the basis of the current scientific evidence, avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers.

If you keep poultry (including gamebirds or pet birds) or other captive birds, you must act now to reduce the risk of disease in your flock by following the relevant biosecurity…

Help is available for anyone in Somerset who may need additional support during the second national lockdown. Read here.

See here.

The Church will be open for private prayer on Sundays moving forward from 10am to 3pm approximately – If necessary we can still host funerals but sadly public worship is once again restricted by the current Government Coronavirus measures.

We have put together some options to support the marking of Remembrance this year…

• Remembrance on the door step…  …

I can do with some help to distribute poppies this year. With the various restrictions I have not had chance yet to ask individuals for help. Clearly Remembrance Day will not be the same but the charitable giving and the remembering is as important as ever.…

https://www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus/covid-19-latest-advice/

Just before lockdown, the Parish Council agreed that we should set up a group to coordinate voluntary help for those who needed to self-isolate. A lot has happened since then and we are keeping the village website up to date with links to the latest Government advice and regulations and lists of local businesses who will deliver to the village. Most of us have been able to make arrangements to have food delivered or have contacts who will help us with shopping, getting medication and other…

Thank you to everyone who sent cards and messages of sympathy on the death of David.

Many thanks to Sarah, Claire and Rosemary for the beautiful flower arrangements in the church and to all who supported us on the day. It really made a difference!

Love to you all

Heather & family…

Here are the key rules at 22 September Government frequently asked questions

The first edition of The New Blackmore Vale paper came out today and I understand it is available through all the usual outlets on alternate Thursdays.  Local news in a new format, more colour and for now slimmer, I take it as a sign that life carries on under Covid-19 restrictions.  If advertisers return, the new team behind the publication hope to return to a weekly format.

There is also a BVM online service which covers north Dorset.  The implication is they are…

On the first Friday of the month, Pen Pub once again opened the doors of your Village Hall and welcomed villagers back after a 6 month lay-off in a new CV-19 aware format. With less seating possible inside, extra tables and chairs were placed outside and the side door used to serve people watching the sun set. The indoor layout was significantly changed to facilitate social distancing with some subtle reminders of CV-19 guidance in evidence along with extra hand sanitiser stations provided…

Verity will be running tomorrow night at 9.05pm in the British Championship 5000m in Manchester.

BBC2 coverage ends at 9pm but video of the race should be on social media. The British Athletics website has given these instructions on how to watch…

On the cover of this issue of the Pen Paper is a photo by Robert Nutter of the 'Ribbon of Light' at Long Knoll. Those of you who have been driving towards Maiden Bradley may have been surprised by flashes of light on the hill.

An artist is transforming a hill into a shimmering 'Ribbon of Light' using thousands of old CDs in tribute to the NHS. …

The Pen Paper has been printed and will shortly be distributed. For those who can't wait here is a story of life under COVID-19 to get started on.

The Way I See IT

Interested in some guided walks in Cranborne Chase?

Post last night on Bourton Facebook page - unfortunately, I can't share the photos..but thought I would share the text in case anyone knows who has lost her.

"Lost and Found. This young black cocker spaniel, female. Found this evening by Rebecca, visiting in Penselwood for the weekend, 8.30 all alone on Pen Mill Hill, between Bourton/Zeals and Penselwood. If you know anyone who’s lost this adorable mut , please call Rebecca on 07794 732385 or 01747 840869."

Click here for charts