Talking Walk with David Allen
Sunday 12 September
10-12:30 pm
Talking Walk with Dr David Allen on Stockland's Turbaries
Meet on the lane near Sandpits: Grid Reference ST251028
Dr David Allen is a third generation resident of Stockland. After more than 20 years as an agricultural botanist in Africa, David returned to his native parish where he took on the management of the Stockland Turbaries on behalf of the Parish Council. Turbaries date from Medieval times when land, too poor to be considered Commons, was known as Manorial Wate on which parishioners had the right to dig peat. They were fuel allotments. Among the parishes within the Blackdown Hills that possess turbaries, Stockland is fortunate to have 165 acres, in seven blocks. They have been managed for wildlife over the past 25 years and are extremely important as carbon stores and thus an important part of the plan to manage climate change. We will be visiting two of the important sites which are very different: Horner Hill and Bucehayes Common. The walk will involve some uneven ground and uphill walking.
Talking Walk with Martin Hesp
Saturday 18 SEPTEMBER
2-4 pm
A QUANTOCK ADVENTURE BASED ON THE LAST BROOMSQUIRE led by MARTIN HESP
Meet at Dead Woman's Ditch Car Park: Grid reference: ST161381; nearest postcode TA5 1HW.
Martin is a writer and journalist based in Somerset. For decades he was Editor at Large of the Western Morning News and his knowledge of the South West is legendary. Martin's tale The Last Broomsquire is increasingly referred to as the Quantock novel and has an evocative sense of place. You can watch Martin talking about the novel at Shute Festival earlier this year via our Programme page. The story, which takes places as the 18th century becomes the 19th, could only have happened in the Quantock Hills. The tale is intrinsically woven into the deep coombes and lofty ridges of what is now an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. All the locations described actually do exist and won’t have changed much in the intervening 200 years. Martin will be leading us on a unique walk in the central Quantock area which will take us to some of the main locations in the novel. The walk will involve some uneven ground and uphill walking.
Tickets cannot be transferred, exchanged or refunded if you are unable to attend a ticketed event. If Shute Festival needs to cancel an event due to illness, weather or some other unforeseen circumstance, we shall offer all ticket holders a full refund or a credit.
Location
Shute is situated just off the A35 between Axminster and Honiton. The festival will be held in two locations in the centre of the village – St Michael’s Church and Shute Primary School.
If you are travelling by car, Shute is clearly signposted from the A35. Parking at the festival site is limited. There are spaces along Haddon Lane (the road between the church and school) but visitors should be aware that the lane is narrow and access must be maintained at all times. If possible, please share transport.
The nearest railway station to Shute is Axminster, which is on the Waterloo to Exeter mainline.
The station is well served by cab firms but it’s advisable to book in advance.
Axminster Taxis – 01297 34000
Paynes Premier Cars – 01297 35895
Axminster Cabs – 01297 33055
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Contact
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