Autumn, in my view the year’s loveliest season, is now upon us. After the searing heat of the summer, the annual landmarks of changing leaf colours, harvest festivals and Frome Carnival all herald a more comfortable and serene time of year for me.
I continue to spend as much time outdoors as possible and enjoy learning about projects that make the most of our lovely landscape. One I visited recently is The Village, an acre of land on what many of you will remember as the Frome Golf Course at Critchill. The Village is a multi-purpose community space that supports families and children through nature-based learning, horticulture and free community events. Children can play and learn in a safe space, and it reminded me of my childhood when we spent all day making dens and playing in the woods. Recently The Village was awarded £20,000 by the National Lottery and this, together with a grant from Frome Town Council, will enable them to offer even more activities to local residents. Anyone can visit them on the last Sunday of the month so do go and see what they offer. Find out more about The Village on their website.
In Frome town centre you may have seen a marvellous new mural at the side of Ellenbray in the Westway Centre. This is the first artwork in a project to improve the look of areas in the town that have been blighted by graffiti and tagging. The aim is to enable young people to learn new skills and create artwork that enhances our environment rather than detract from it. Tom from School of Graff is leading the project and is running courses for 13 – to 18-year-olds in Frome. Contact The School of Graff to find out more via emailing theschoolofgraff@outlook.com.
In my last column I mentioned World Clean Up Day and hoped some of you would take part by making your local area tidier. When I was out and about wombling, I saw that many of you did and I thank you. One resident, Matthew Mills, took it a step further and embarked on a Clean Up Week! Thanks Matthew, it really does make a difference.
Finally, I must mark the end of an era for the Victoria Park Café. Since 2022, it has been run by a non-profit organisation called Cultivating Communities, and they have done a fantastic job. However, they close this October and it will be in new hands from next Spring. On behalf of all those who enjoy the café I would like to offer my appreciation to Sam, Caroline, Sherry and all the volunteers who have made it such a lovely place to visit. Thank you all.
