Rescue mission launched for snowbound Exmoor residents

RESIDENTS on Exmoor who remained cut off by heavy snow after almost a week were hoping to be rescued this evening.
The village of Upton (pictured), near Wimbleball Lake, saw nearly two feet of snow block roads and lanes, making them impassable.
The result was that a number of families living in remoter properties were unable to move from their homes.
One couple, Peter and Julie Bowker, who live nearly a mile from the village centre, resorted to calling the BBC today to highlight their predicament.
They said their cocker spaniel, Bramble, had broken a foot and needed to be taken to a veterinary surgery.
But they were snowbound in their home, which was about 1,000 feet above sea level and six miles even from the nearest shop.
Somerset County Council responded by saying it was sending a snow plough to the village and hoped to reach Mr and Mrs Bowker and other trapped families tonight.
Mr Bowker, aged 70, told the BBC the snow was so deep that only a tractor could reach them.
He said five other local families were also trapped in their homes by the snowfall.
Mr Bowker said: “I am looking out of my window and there is still no sign of the snow plough.
“We are hoping it is on its way.
“We live on the top of a hill and the snow has turned to thick ice and shows no sign of melting.
“The main road and the public highway are clear and most of the lanes in the area are clear but we are here and unable to get out.
“It all looks very beautiful but after a day or two you just want it to be cleared.
“Some friends took pity on us. They drove as far as they could and then donned skis and brought us some emergency provisions.”

Exmoor Beast riders return for end of season challenge

SEVERAL hundred cyclists will be hitting the roads and lanes of Exmoor on Sunday for the second annual Exmoor Beast, a 100-mile end-of-season race.
This year, the start and finish is at Wimbleball Lake, and the routes takes in Wheddon Cross, Dunster, Minehead, Lynmouth, and Simonsbath.
The event is already considered one of the best and most challenging cyclo-sportives of the year and offers a choice of routes over either 100 miles or 100 kilometres.
The Exmoor Beast has been devised by professional event co-ordinators and experienced sportive riders, who have been observing and learning from the varying organisational standards of UK promotions.
Chief organiser, ex-Royal Marine Marcus Di Vincenzo, said: “The domestic sportive scene needed a spectacular fixture, which is a fitting finale to the annual calendar and we will provide all the trimmings that will form the ideal climax to the season.
“We have the expertise and highly-trained manpower to enable the Exmoor Beast to be safely and successfully tamed, providing you give it the respect it deserves and have prepared properly.
“If the awesome climbs do not take your breath away, then the fantastic scenery certainly will and our aim is to make the journey from entry to post ride recovery smooth, enjoyable and truly memorable.”
Exmoor Beast is being held in partnership with BikeSomerset and this year has attracted nearly 1,000 competitors.
The first riders set off at 7 am on Sunday and the first to arrive back at Wimbleball are expected at about 1.30 pm.
The race will be raising money for the charity National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

• Our photograph shows riders crossing the finishing line in last year's Exmoor Beast. Photo by Active Exmoor.

Planting starts on Exmoor's Celebration Woodland

THE first trees have been planted in a new natural woodland at Wimbleball Lake.

South West Water, the Exmoor Society and South West Lakes Trust have joining forces for the exciting and innovative project, which aims to provide an area where visitors and residents can contribute to the landscape and environment.

The celebration woodland will be planted with a selection of native trees which will cover 1.4 acres and will be open to residents and visitors who wish to join this special tree planting scheme.

It will mark 50 years of the Exmoor Society and provide a woodland which visitors to Wimbleball can enjoy.

“Trees can be donated for numerous reasons,” said Evelyn Stacey, Director of South West Lakes Trust.

“These can include to celebrate a birth, anniversary or birthday.

“Or a tree can be planted in memory of someone special.

“We also think people and business organisations may just wish to contribute to the scheme or to off-set some of their carbon emissions.”

A second phase of planting will take place in the autumn and this pattern will be continued with plantings twice a year in spring and autumn.

To ensure that the Celebration Woodland is kept as natural as possible, trees will not be marked in anyway but a book of dedication will be kept at the tea room at Wimbleball Lake for special messages and remembrance.

Trees can be planted for a donation of £20 which covers the cost of the tree, planting, on-going maintenance and a listing in the dedication book.

Anyone can join the scheme whether they wish to plant just one tree or several.

Anybody who would like more information should contact South West Lakes Trust on 01566 771930.

• Our photograph shows the planting of Oliver’s Oak, the first tree in the celebration woodland at Wimbleball Lake, by (left to right) Cairns Boston, chairman of the South West Lakes Trust trustees, Exmoor Society chairman Rachel Thomas, and South West Water customer services director Monica Reed. Photo by Jim Wileman.

Crash on remote Exmoor road leaves one person trapped

FIRE and rescue crews battled for nearly an hour to free a woman trapped in her car after a crash on an isolated stretch of road near Wimbleball Lake.
The incident happened near Leigh Barton Farm, Skilgate, and involved two vehicles.
Two fire and rescue crews attended from Dulverton and Bampton shortly after 10 am on Wednesday, January 16, and used clan lucas cutting equipment to free the casualty, who was then taken by ambulance to hospital.
A rescue tender from Taunton Fire Station was also called to the scene.

Rotary's Exmoor Moonraker teams raise £10,000 for children's hospice

NEARLY 350 walkers in 63 teams braved the elements in the annual Moonraker sponsored night walk on Exmoor to raise money for the Children’s Hospice South West and other Rotary charities.
The teams, which were drawn from across Taunton Vale, the Quantocks, West Somerset, and East Devon, walked one of three routes in poor conditions including continuous drizzle and thick fog in places, between Wimbleball Lake and Luxborough.
A team of more than 50 members of Taunton Vale Rotary Club, and the Inner Wheel, which organised the event, ensured the walkers were well-equipped, marshalled, checked on route, and fed in the middle of the night.
In addition, search and rescue facilities and four minibuses ensured all walkers were successfully returned to the base camp – with the last team finishing the course at 4.30 am.
The walkers again proved to be enthusiastic and up for the annual Moonraker Challenge, which it is anticipated will raise more than £10,000 for the Children’s Hospice South West.
The majority of the walkers were already looking forward to next year’s Moonraker event.
David Montgomery, president of Taunton Vale Rotary Club, which has members from Watchet and Wiveliscombe and several surrounding towns and villages such as Bampton and Wellington, praised the walkers for their efforts on the night and for the amount of sponsorship raised on behalf of the children’s hospice.
He also thanked all the marshals and support teams, as well as the local farmers and residents, for their help in making Moonraker a big success on the night.
This year’s winners were: The Challenge Walk (15 miles) – Crowcombe Stalkers; The Standard Walk (13 miles) – The Saints; The Short Walk (7.5 miles) – Rokin Robins.

• Our photographs show (top) the Challenge Walk winning team the Crowcombe Stalkers, (middle) The Saints team who won the Standard Walk, and (bottom) members of the Rokin Robins team who won the Short Walk. Photos submitted.