Shapwick Allotment Association Well, it’s been a cold and wet start running to the spring, with preparations well underway for a late March planting spree. A spot of tidying up and a layer of new compost and we’re all ready to go. First on the action list for the allotment site is some additional planting of the hedgerow to the west side. A good turn out from the team and even a couple of hours of sunshine! Shapwick Starlets WI 7 S PR I NG I S SUE | APR I L 2 0 2 5 SUE SELLICK Our Speaker in January was our very own Louise who became a Woolly Detective for the evening. Such an interesting talk and demonstration, one very talented lady. Louise is part of our ‘Crafty Team’ who are working on plans for our 100th birthday celebration. In February, Nick from Goats of the Gorge told us his path from being a policeman to an entrepreneur with his own very successful business, even appearing, with his sons, on Dragons’ Den. And we learned a lot about the benefits of goats’ milk. Nick bought some lovely products with him, I can highly recommend the shampoo bar, available from the website or Glastonbury Abbey shop. SIMON DAWES The online version of Shapwick News in full colour at: https://www.shapwickvillage.co.uk/newsletters/ With our 100th birthday coming up in October, plans are ‘full steam ahead’! As part of our celebrations we are hoping to fulfil 100 acts of kindness, starting with helping out at Secret World Wildlife Rescue, getting the aviaries ready for all the orphaned baby birds that they will rescue, rehabilitate and release. We also hope to help the Hawk and Owl Trust with planting apple trees. We have been busy researching the formation of our WI, started by Lady Strangways of the Manor House in 1925. In the Records Office in Taunton we found lots of information: when she died in 1932, Lady Strangways left her prize heifer to her Bailiff! But sadly we found no photographs yet of the founder members: Lady Strangways, Mrs Seamer (the wife of the Vicar) or Mrs Fordham (the Doctor’s wife). In March we learned about what the railways had done for us, from their beginnings until the present day. Thanks to Pete for a fascinating talk; interesting to see how the numbers of routes crossing Britain increased and then declined. How lovely to see the spring flowers again! With the weather improving, we will be able to start our weekly wanders, and buzzing around on the bus. Is there anyone who might have any old photographs of the village from 1925 onwards, to help with our research? If so, please contact us via FB or email: shapwickwi@yahoo.com We look forward to a new allotmenteer in the spring and will be staking out the last plot before March is out in readiness for her introductions to the team. Village Hall NERINA SCOTT, BRIDGET DAWES, IAN HALE February saw the first of this year's breakfast mornings which was a great success. With over 50 breakfasts being served it was a lovely opportunity for villagers and friends to catch up. And in March close to 40 villagers enjoyed the first Curry Night of the year! Both events showed the great difference the recent improvements to the hall have made. Thank you to all those that supported the hall. Future breakfast mornings and events will be posted around the village and on Facebook residents.
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