Dear Subscriber First Name      

As we come to the end of a fabulously warm summer, we have a few updates for you, including feedback on the recent Fitness Bootcamps and the winner of Favourite Trainer and their Successful Trainee! Find out who won below.

We also have further news from Sustainable Nunney and some of their activities you can support. And, a call to action from villager Andrew Liggatt on the growing litter problem in the village.

It is time to remind everyone that the Nunney Flower Show is on 6th September. Are you exhibiting or attending?

And, if you haven’t already, please take the survey below to Voice your prioritisation of some of the Nunney Parish Council’s ‘fix it list’.

Warm Space is also on the radar and will be starting up again on Thursday, October 2nd at 12.15 in the Village Hall running first Thursdays (except Janaury) through April. It is free and a really great opportunity to mingle with your fellow villagers. Please join us.

The next Nunney Parish Council meeting is this Monday, 1st September in the Village Hall at 7.00pm. We hope to see you there to discuss the business of the village.

The NunneyVoice Team
Nunney Parish Council

If you want to contribute to the next NunneyVoice newsletter, please reach out to cllr.lane@nunneyparishcouncil.com

NUNNEY FITNESS BOOTCAMPS

We had overwhelming success of the trial fitness bootcamps this summer, largely in thanks to the Community Health & Wellness grant we received from the Somerset Association of Local Councils (SALC), the organisation of the events by Councillor Julie Lane, and the shared programming and teaching of each event by local husband and wife personal training duo, Beth Johnson & Theo Sackett, with assistance from both Julie and her husband, Darren Gerry. 

Each session went from strength to strength (literally) as we watched the locals, ranging in age from 16 to 80, gain confidence in trying new and challenging exercises and equipment that was purchased through the grant. PT Beth has an incredible ability to orchestrate a fun group fitness session that included the use of battle ropes, TRX suspension training, resistance bands, booty bands, smash balls and kick boxing pads and gloves.

Beth Johnson commented “teaching group exercise to our local community has been such a joy. There’s something incredibly special about the people of Nunney coming together and watching them grow stronger…not just physically, but in confidence and connection as well. I’ve loved seeing friendships form, barriers break down, and the spark of accomplishment light up someone’s face when they realise what they are capable of. It’s more than just fitness, it’s about building a community where everyone feels supported, encouraged, and celebrated. I’m looking forward to doing more!”

After each session, the attendees were polled for feedback and a chance to vote for their favourite trainer with the opportunity to win a free one to one session with the overall winning trainer.

AND THE WINNER IS

We’re pleased to announce that local participant Amanda Sheridan has won a session with Beth! Amanda says: “Bootcamp has been just brilliant. I normally hate organised group exercise, but the sessions were very well structured, fast-paced, fun and doable by all levels and ages. Best bit was knowing many of the 20+ people who turned up each week and getting to know new people in the village. And, it was free! Blooming marvellous. Thanks to Julie, Beth, Darren and Theo’s great organisation and enthusiasm.”

Cllr Lane confirms the success of the Bootcamps and says: “the Parish Council will now run these sessions sporadically throughout the year and charge a small fee per session.

Whilst we realised in hindsight calling these sessions ‘Bootcamps’ was possibly too daunting for many, the attendance was at or slightly over capacity of 20 people each week.

Future camps will be marketed as ‘all abilities fun group fitness sessions’, but will now be branded ‘Flash camps’ due to the spontaneous nature of future sessions – which will largely depend on good weather over the autumn and winter months.

We hope to get back to a more scheduled series of events late next spring and into the summer months. We are incredibly grateful to SALC for this amazing grant and the opportunity to use our Old Quarry Gardens ‘refurb in progress’ space for these sessions.” 

Thank you to everyone who supported the spring litter pick. It helped inspire a group of children to meet regularly to continue looking after the environment and to take pride in their local area. They were recently referred to as the ‘Little Pickers.’ Credit goes to Beaux Gadsby who organised the group and Sarah Leakey who purchased the equipment from The Nunney Flower Show group.

Thanks to everyone who supported the environmental film night at the village Hall back in a dark night of early spring. It was well supported with great feedback and all thanks to Giles.

Going forward we will be reviewing and renewing our wildflower plots dotted around the village after they suffered from the long dry summer with little rain.

We will also be putting in a group entry to the up-and-coming Flower Festival and we will be organising an Autumn litter pick as soon as the nettles go back to sleep. There is also talk of arranging a Bat Group, watch this space!

All of our activities are supported by our amazing volunteers, and is always open to anyone who would like to join with us.

Andy Norris

A pertinent message from Andrew Liggatt

Litter is the scourge of the countryside. I have been conducting a one man operation to collect litter on a section of Nunney side roads. You may have noticed me on Ridgeway Lane, Green Pits Lane or Nunney Catch Road. The litter problem is quite appalling and seems to be getting worse.

A notice was put up recently in the Nunney Catch underpass proclaiming "don't be a tosser" and asking people nicely to put any rubbish in bins and not blight the countryside. A few weeks later the sign had gone, maybe vandalised by a litter lout!

If any Nunney resident feels the same, please contact me for more action. Thank you.

Andrew - 01373 836 078

The Nunney & District Flower Show is next Saturday, September 6th from 1 to 5 pm. The Show is not just about flowers, but has always been about community, and a whole variety of home-grown and home-made produce, together with crafts, art, photography and creative writing, encouraging a little bit of friendly competition while also enjoying the fun of our Village Fête activities alongside.

This year we will be opening the doors earlier than usual, at 1pm, to help visitors enjoy our lunch stalls / ice cream van / bar / cafe offering light refreshments with cakes and cream teas / raffle / tombola / face-painting / a variety of games stalls including Splat-the-Rat and the Coconut Shy, together with Maypole dancing and a friendly Tug-of-War competition.

Why not get together a Tug-of-War team with friends, family, work colleagues or neighbours and enter your team by emailing us at: nunneyflowershow@gmail.com. No experience necessary! Separate children’s teams are welcome, too, but children cannot compete with adults.

This year, the Nunney Parish Council is hosting a stall courtesy of the SALC grant that will be led by Annmarie Sweet and Rosie Wilding. Bring your children to ‘Nunney Never Never Land’ where the makings of a local fairy trail will begin. Have your child try their hand at creating a Fairy Door. These will be distributed around the village leading into the magical lands of the Exploratory Woodlands within the Old Quarry Gardens that will have a new Willow Archway planted courtesy of Mary Cross and helpers next February. Keep your eyes peeled for information about this willow workshop, coming soon.

See you next Saturday!

At the annual Parish Council meeting, you asked if we could occasionally send around a list of items that need consideration or repair for the community to be consulted and to help us prioritise our focus.

Please spend a few minutes completing this updated survey to help us deliver what you want from the Nunney Parish Council.

We hope you enjoy the fourth issue of the NunneyVoice. Please encourage friends and neighbours in the Village to sign up to receive the NunneyVoice online.

Feedback or suggestions? Visit NunneyVoice.

Want to contribute? Email cllr.lane@nunneyparishcouncil.com.