Within the Parish Plan, a group of people, with Debbie Welch as prime mover, are hoping to use what is now the Wessex Water meadow site to provide a community facility. This will be available to all villagers, and have seating, woodland, orchard and wild flower meadow areas. In order to get people involved, we will be making available information on activities and progress.

Sketch map of 5 year design plan (Version 2).

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Sunday's working party was supplemented by Ed Wakely complete with tractor which made short work of the next section of Cowleaze to be cleared. There is still plenty to do but we are making steady progress. More helpers would be most welcome to assist in turning the Cowleaze dream into a reality.

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On Thursday 19th June at the site, there was an official handing over of the lease for Cowleaze Meadow from Wessex Water to the Parish Council. This included press coverage detailing the project so far and can be read in the next issues of the Western Gazette, Chard and Ilminster News and the Ilminster News, so look out for articles and photos.

There are regular work parties on site keeping chosen areas cleared while we actively seek funding for the project to enable it move forward. The next work party is arranged for Sunday 20th July at 11am. We have arranged a volunteer meeting for Thursday 17th July at 7.30 in the Duke of York, which will be confirmed nearer the time.

Anyone interested in joining our group, please feel welcome to come along to a work party or volunteer meeting and bring your ideas/views and join in the fun. Check out the village web site for updates and news: www.sheptonbeauchamp.org Also notices on the information board at Cowleaze Meadow site and in the Village post office stores.

Wessex Water will be officially handing over the lease for Cowleaze to the Parish Council at 3pm on Thursday 19th June at a media event in Cowleaze Meadow. This will be followed by a talk by a senior conservation officer from Wessex Water on Water Vole monitoring and their habitat.

Everyone is welcome to the official handover and also to the talk.

On the evening of 19th there will be a meeting of volunteers at The Duke of York at 7:30pm

The next work party session has been set for Sunday 22nd June from 2pm. All volunteers welcome to attend to help keep the mown area cleared.

Volunteer Work party of Sunday 18th May 2008 and the plan so far…

Present. Roger Cripps, David Gordon, Mary Clarke, Debbie Welch, Marcus Jubb, Keith Robson, Julian from Landart.

With 2 scythes and a bush strimmer, the seating area of the site was cut. The hedgerow along the back is mostly made up of elder trees. They are very old but surprisingly, are still growing. It was decided to continue to let them grow and cut back in the autumn to encourage new growth.

The next step is to rake off cuttings and spray the perennial weeds (i.e. nettles, docks, and brambles) then sow with wild flower grass seed to enable a permanent seating area to be established

A lot of work was done which goes to show how much can be achieved by a few people in a short space of time.

A big thank you goes out to all volunteers and to all those whom have given help and support. This community project would not be where it is today without their input.

We wish to announce that the project was entered into a competition ‘make over challenge’ run by ROK Building Company and The Western Gazette. Unfortunately we were pipped to the post by a project called MIND based in Yeovil (we were a strong second contender!).

We are hoping to develop this community space not only to conserve and enhance nature but also as a shared, relaxed space for all villagers to enjoy and as a learning facility for our local schools and youth groups.

We are looking for sponsorship, funding and grants to enable this project to move further forward and most importantly volunteers of any age, ability and skill to join our small team of enthusiasts and continue to keep this a growing and viable project. (All tools, donations of relevant plants, bird/bat boxes, benches, etc welcome!)

The next volunteer meeting will now be held on Wednesday 28th May 2008 at 7.30pm at the Duke of York. All Welcome to attend.

The lease has now been signed and is in the hands of the parish council. Some work has already taken place at the site to start clearance of the seating area by local volunteers.

An information board has been erected at the front entrance, so watch this space for updates and new information.

Next meeting Thursday 1st May at the Duke of York

Next working party Sunday 27th April 10am to 12 noon… To define boundary for seating area, continue scrub clearance and plant more hedging (any native hedge plants gladly received)

Sunday 18th May 10am to 12noon… To be decided at next volunteer meeting (above)

All volunteers welcome to attend and bring ideas / tools

Update on work party of Sunday 30th March 2pm to 5pm

Work accomplished: Cleared shrub in seating area and burnt on bonfire, 3 hedging plants planted next to the fence surrounding the Wessex Water works. Photos taken by Deb of work in progress Design consultation with Julian of LandArt Garden Design

With the support of Wessex Water, owner of the site, and the Parish Council, the signing of the 25 year lease for land at Cowleaze Meadow is about to take place. This will allow the creation of a public space in this area of Somerset wetland, and will provide benefits to the whole community, including the school.

A subcommittee formed by the Parish Plan steering group, lead by Debbie Welch, have produced an outline design for areas of woodland, orchard, wild flower meadow and seating. In consultation with Barbara Collier, South Somerset District Council’s tree planting project officer, a list of trees is being considered. The next practical work is to clear an area for placing the seats, and prepare the rest of the site for planting up next year. All volunteers are welcome-watch out for further information on working parties.

The next meeting for interested people is Tuesday 6th Nov, 8pm in the Duke of York

Flora and Fauna