ROCKWELL Green ward town councillors are organising a litter pick on Sunday, March 22.

Cllr Andrew Govier and newly elected Cllr George Western, who are behind the litter pick, will have a small number of litter pickers and hi-vis vests available but would like to request that people bring their own wherever possible.

Anyone wishing to take part should meet at the front of All Saints Church at 12.30 pm.

It is recommended to wear sensible footwear, gloves, and warm, waterproof clothes.

A SMALL part of Langford Budville became, musically speaking, a part of New Orleans for a couple of hours when The New Riverside Jazz Band played the Jubilee Hall.

The musicians looked very smart in their black shirts and trousers with sunshine yellow ties as they opened the evening with At The Jazz Band Ball.

There were a couple of numbers composed by 'Fats' Waller, Honeysuckle Rose and I Can't Give You Anything But Love.

The Si Tu Vois Ma Mere' was played by the reeds player on soprano saxophone with accompanying banjo, string bass and drums, just as the composer Sidney Bechet would have liked it.

An uptempo version of Autumn Leaves was played on trombone, with guitar, string bass and drums backing.

The harmonica featured in 'Engineer's Blues' which was written by the trumpet/harmonica player, with the rest of the six-piece band joining in to create a musical image of the sounds of a steam train starting a journey, getting up speed, thundering along and then slowing down before coming to a stop.

Other tunes, played by the entire band, included Blue Skies, Tin Roof Blues, and The Charleston.

The closing numbers were a moody St James' Infirmary and the uptempo Weary Blues.

The next Wivey Has Jazz is on April 8, starting at 7.30 pm when Paul Harrison's UK/DK Jazz Band is appearing at the Jubilee Hall.

Entrance is cash only, payable at the door.

Email [email protected] or phone Mike on 07585 537030 for further information. Newcomers are welcome.

AFTER weeks of relentless winter rain, a talk on floods in Somerset proved highly topical for West Buckland WI, at its March meeting.

Speaker Bel Deering from the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) painted a picture of floods past, and present and the actions needed to reduce the risk of future flooding.

She said that the SRA was launched in January 2015 as a response to the devastating floods of winter 2013/14 and its key purpose was to reduce the risk and impact of flooding. It also has a role in increasing resilience across the area, particularly as wetter winters are forecast due to climate change.

Funding for the SRA is provided by Somerset County Council through council tax, amounting to around £3-million for 2025/26.

Bel explained that floods have always been part of local life. In fact the area now known as the Somerset levels was once a great inland lake, and was habitable only during the summer months. Drainage began during the iron era to make the most of the fertile land and continues today.

She provided examples of some of the most devastating floods, including a massive storm surge in 1607 that killed 2,000 people with a devastating impact on the environment.

Old pictures of the Taunton floods in 1960 and more recently illustrated the misery of flooded streets, homes and properties.

Given the nature of the landscape, Bel said that there wasn’t a single answer to Somerset’s many flooding problems. Different approaches are needed in different places, in varying combinations. The SRA as a partnership gets people working together more powerfully on suitable projects. Many projects are currently underway across the county from small works to clear drains and gullies and tree planting to major flood defence schemes.

One example is the new multi-million pound Bridgwater tidal barrier, which uses state of the art technology that will protect 13,000 homes.

Work is also progressing to improve flood defenses along the River Tone in Taunton.

On the other side of the spectrum, a pioneering project to restore part of the River Aller on the National Trust’s Holnicote Estate in West Somerset is being hailed as a major success, for reducing flood risks and boosting wildlife.

The National Trust filled in 1.2km of the River Aller, so water that used to flow through a straightened, deepened and managed channel, was instead moved up and out onto its wider floodplain.

This option uses natural resources so water is able to find its own way across the floodplain, preventing flooding downstream.

Somerset also has different types of floods. There are slow rising floods, typical of the Levels and flash floods caused by storms and heavy rain.

As part of the SRA’s resilience remit effort has been made to increase awareness. This includes being fully aware of the dangers, never driving through flood water and avoiding wading or swimming due to water contaminated with sewage.

People are encouraged to check the flood risk for their homes. Bel said this was especially important for people in rented properties, who may not have checked before taking on a tenancy.

She urged everyone to get prepared for emergencies at home to significantly reduce the impact, in the event you have to leave home suddenly. She suggested a grab bag is one way of ensuring you have all the essentials you may need. Contents could include water, a torch, power bank, first aid and medication, insurance details and passport.

She concluded the talk by handing out an emergency planning template.

Member Marian Hudd thanked Bel for an excellent and engaging talk. Members then paused for refreshments.

West Buckland WI President Christine Wombwell reported on activities arranged to celebrate 90 years of West Buckland WI. These include a celebration lunch, a coach trip to Sidmouth and a summer garden party.

She also asked for volunteers to help at the WIs table top sale in aid of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, on May 9 at Wellington Scout Hut.

Member Christine Warn provided feedback from a recent survey to find out what members liked about the WI and any potential changes. Several members supported a proposal not to sing Jerusalem at the start of every meeting. A ballot will now take place to decide the way forward.

A lively discussion then took place about the new Supreme Court ruling, effective from April this year, which restricts formal membership of the WI to biological women only. Several members expressed concern over the ruling.

President Christine said that to be able to operate as a single sex organisation the WI regrettably had to adhere to the Supreme Court ruling. However, the National WI would be bringing forward sisterhood programmes to extend fellowship to transgender women.

West Buckland WI meets at 7.30 pm on the second Tuesday of each month at the village hall, and new members are always welcome. The next meeting is on Tuesday, 14 April when the speaker will be journalist Sally Smith talking about the extraordinary stories of the first women to circumnavigate the earth.

If anyone would like to visit or join West Buckland WI, contact Christine Wombwell on 01823 652863 or 07736 712273.

PUPILS at St John’s C of E Primary School have spent the past week boldly going into a fun-filled Science Week all about space.

Throughout the week, classrooms were buzzing with hands-on science experiments.

Children explored everything from craters to constellations, discovering fascinating facts about our solar system.

The excitement really started when our young engineers designed, built, and launched rockets of all shapes and sizes. The children also enjoyed delving into the stories of famous astronauts.

From Neil Armstrong’s giant leap to Mae Jemison’s inspiring journey, pupils discovered the courage, curiosity, and teamwork that space exploration demands.

The grand finale came on Friday with an exciting visit from Wonder Dome, whose immersive mobile planetarium brought the universe straight to the school hall.

Inside the dome, pupils lay back and gazed at dazzling stars, swirling galaxies, and distant planets. Gasps, wows, and “Can we stay here forever?” echoed through the air.

Science Week was truly an out-of-this-world experience for everyone involved.

The school would like to thank all staff, pupils, and the Wonder Dome for making the week such a success and for proving that when it comes to learning, the sky is definitely not the limit.

THE local carnival group is searching for new royalty to take part in the 2026 procession.

The positions are open to anyone who lives in Wellington or within a five mile radius of the town.

Prince and princess open to anyone under 16. King and queen open to anyone over 16.

To enter, email [email protected] for an application form or visit Buy & Save.

The closing date is June 1.