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Road now reopened – 2/11/18

Road Closure – Shapwick Road from Monday 1st October for approximately 5 weeks

As part of the continuing development and improvement of the Avalon Marshes Centre Kier Utilities have been engaged by Natural England to lay a new sewer to The Avalon Marshes Centre from Westhay. This new sewer is an important upgrade to the existing on-site system. It will allow Natural England to improve the community facilities available at the Centre.

The new sewer will be laid in Shapwick Road itself and because of this it will be necessary to close part of the road to traffic from Monday 1 October 2018 for approximately 5 weeks. The Avalon Marshes Centre, Hub Tea Stop and Somerset Crafts will still be open as normal and accessible throughout the closure period by following the signed diversion routes (access will be from the Shapwick village direction).

Where possible, Kier would like to ensure any disruption and inconvenience to residents and businesses is kept to a minimum and with this in mind we would welcome any questions or comments you may have.

Please contact Paul Horrell on 07896 279134 or by email at paul.horrell@kier.co.uk

The Avalon Marshes Centre, Hub Tea Stop and Somerset Crafts will still be open as normal and accessible throughout the closure period by following diversion routes.

Part of the continuing:

Avalon Marshes Centre

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The arm of a ferocious monster has appeared at the Avalon Marshes Centre. What is the story behind this fiendish apparition?

Whose arm has been torn off?

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From 9th to 13th of April there will be no access to Ham Wall reserve via the village of Ashcott due to Water Main repairs on Station Road.
During this period access to the reserve is via the village of Meare only.

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Our usual number 01458 860494 is temporarily unavailable.  If you wish to contact us please ring 01458 862040.  We apologise for inconvenience.

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Keen gardeners can now purchase RSPB Ham Wall soil conditioner from the car park at Ham Wall. Produced on site by staff and volunteers, the conditioner is made from reed and vegetation that we cut and collect as part of our reedbed management. This breaks down over a number of months and becomes a locally produced, peat free alternative to compost that you can use in your garden. 

There is a limited supply based on how much reed we cut during any year as part of our reedbed management, but we aim to have bags on sale in spring and autumn. We’re stocked up and ready for sales from tomorrow.

Not only does the production process mean we avoid burning our arisings, but the money raised from sales goes towards our conservation work and helps us save even more nature – a win-win situation!

Available for £4 per 40 litre bag. Please ask at the Welcome Building in the main Ham Wall car park.

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We are pleased to announce that Somerset Crafts, based at the Avalon Marshes Centre, has re-opened after extensive refurbishment. The Craft Centre has been closed since January 1st and is now transformed. Why not come and visit and see the wonderful arts and crafts of the Avalon Marshes?

The building is owned by Natural England and has had a total makeover thanks to funding from Defra and the hard work of Natural England’s contractors Kier Services. The inside has also been transformed by the hard work of the artists and craftspeople of Somerset Crafts, they have put their efforts into a different kind of painting with the interior of the gallery being completely re-decorated! It now has a fresher, lighter look.

Somerset Crafts comprises of 22 different artists and craftspeople who display and sell their work at the gallery. This work includes stained glass, jewellery, mosaics, oil, acrylic & watercolour paintings, photography, handmade soaps and beauty products, stone & slate sculpture, textiles, furniture, wood working & wood turning.  All the products are unique, original and locally hand crafted of exceptional quality and value for money. Why not visit their website or better still visit the Avalon Marshes Centre itself? Teas, coffee, cakes and biscuits are also available most days.

Thanks to the Defra funding Natural England’s contactors are pushing on with other works at the centre. By the end of March staff will be moving into new offices and the old life expired ones will be demolished. This will increase car parking space and open up views of the replica Romano-British building and Anglo Saxon hall. These are built by South West Heritage Trust’s Hands on Heritage Volunteers and have been largely funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

We would add that the Natural England’s site team would like say a huge thank you to Tony Ford, Craig Taylor, Ian Hunt of Kier Services and all their sub-contractors. They are working flat out to get all of the current works completed by the end of March.

Somerset Crafts is open all year round, 7 days a week from 10am until 5pm

Avalon Marshes Centre, Shapwick Rd, Westhay, BA6 9TT

Tel: 01458 860426 Email somersetcrafts2@gmail.com

Facebook Somerset Crafts   Website www.somersetcrafts.com