Shapwick’s Pétanque (Boule) Court has arrived: as a result of Frank Barnard’s inspiration, widespread support by the community via the Shapwick Residents FB page, and tremendous help and encouragement from Langport Town Council, backed up by detailed planning and execution by the Parish Council, the Shapwick Village Green Petanque Court was constructed at the end of March. The Court is free to use by anyone with a Shapwick connection. No booking needed (just bring your own boules): “allez la boule……..” We have already been challenged to “un concours” by Langport and there are strong rumours of a local league forming. Play Area Pedestrian Gate: a new superior design, purpose built pedestrian gate has been installed which makes entry and exit to and from the Play Area much easier and reduces any potential safety hazard. Our thanks on behalf of all users to the generous donors who made this possible. Rural Road Safety: At the Highways Working Group for the Avalon & Poldens LCN I chaired recent presentations by PC Dan Cox who leads on Road Safety for Avalon and Somerset Police and on Agricultural Vehicle Safety nationally. The following table is a real shocker!!!!!, it means for example that 60% of accidents occur on rural roads, even though they only account for 45% of the total “vehicle miles” travelled. Play Area equipment purchase: as detailed in the Parish Council Minutes for 26 February 2026, a slide has been ordered for the play area. When we have an installation date, we will be asking for help from parents, grandparents and others with the installation of the associated safety-matting. Shapwick Village Meeting & 20mph Zone consultation: this important annual meeting will take place on Tues 19 May, 7:00pm in the Village Hall. In addition to the opportunity to hear from all of our brilliant Village organisations and ask any questions of them, we anticipate that this will be the first community consultation on an emerging proposal to create a 20mph speed zone within the village. (See minutes of January and March PC meetings). EVERYONE IS WELCOME SO PLEASE PUT THE DATE IN YOUR DIARY. PC Dan Cox also pointed out that Somerset has already got off to a bad start in 2026, with 11 deaths already this year (as of 24 February and not including the recent fatality on the A39). It is hard to provide a single source of driving advice. However this one, from NFU Mutual, covers the most important points pertinent to ALL RURAL ROAD USERS. But above all please drive carefully, remember the Fatal Five and keep your Fellow Road Users safe!!!! The “Fatal Five” behaviours: Speeding Drink or drug driving Not wearing a seatbelt Using a mobile phone (or other distractions) Careless or dangerous driving All Agendas and Minutes at: https://www.shapwickvillage.co.uk/council-matters Shapwick Parish Council and Community Group 2 S PR I NG I S SUE | APR I L 2 0 2 6 GRAHAM CROUCHER CHAIR OF SHAPWICK PC Finding it hard because the photos a bFlack and white? Find a flourition of Shapwick News at: https://www.shapwickparishcounci l.org.uk/parish-newsletters/ Bee Bank: In 2025 the PC decided to build a Bee Bank (see PC minutes for 24/9/2025). A Bee Bank is a crescent shaped bank composed mainly of sand, earth and small stones, with a flat vertical face on one side, facing the sun. The bees should mine their way horizontally into this vertical face and lay their eggs at the end of the tunnel. This bank is being built in the area alongside the allotments, supported with a range of wild flowers (for actual plan, see Appendix to minutes for 25/11/2025). The bees which dig tunnels are called solitary or mining bees and are distinct from honey and bumble bees. There are over 220 different species in the UK. They are not aggressive at all. Somerset farm land and wild flower meadows once buzzed with life but over the last few decades the UK bee population has fallen by 30% with the decline being most acute across lowland areas. The mining bees that used to burrow into the banks of the Parrett and Tone rivers are disappearing. Therefore, crops and wild flowers are not being pollinated. This is not just a wildlife issue; it is a matter of food security and economic resilience. Pollinators contribute an estimated £600 million to the UK economy each year. Therefore, a Bee Hotel is not a gimmick, it is an insurance policy for Somersets’ farms, gardens and wildlife and is good governance.
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