CHILDREN at Langford Budville Primary School have described their trip to Langford Lakes Christmas Tree Farm for their Great Christmas Tree Hunt:

On December 4 , the seven to ten year olds of Langford Budville Primary School walked to Langford Lakes Christmas Tree Farm on our annual "Great Christmas Tree Hunt".

After a tour of the farm, we chose a nice big tree and carried it back to school over the muddy fields.

We actually had to carry two trees because we had a mini tree for preschool too.

It’s about a mile to walk in each direction over the fields.

The Great Hunt takes place every year because it helps build up our strength, teamwork and friendship, and of course it is great fun.

A tree is heavy and it takes approximately five to six people at a time to carry one. Ethan carried it today for a lot of the time of the way but Isla, Samuel, Charlie, Edie, Luca, Phoebe, Charlie, Luna, Maisie, Florrie, Alex, Willow, Lily-May, Wren, Emmelyn, George, George and George all helped a lot.

When we arrived at Langford Lakes, we met Shaun Hendy, one of the owners of the farm, and he explained how they grew the Christmas trees.

He took us for a walk and showed us the different sizes and ages of the trees and some of the secrets that he uses to grow perfect trees.

They use electric secateurs to cut low branches off so every tree has a handle to hold onto and they use 'helicopters' on the top leader branch to stop birds breaking them. Shaun even gave us a sneak preview of 'Enchantment', a magical night time trail through the biggest of the Christmas trees.

There were mini houses that you could go inside for a tea party, magical keys flying through the bushes, scary dinosaurs (but not that scary), a deadly octopus in a lake and an awesome smoky portal to enter.

It was brilliant in the day time.

It must be amazing when it is all lit up at night.

Back in the big tree barn, we split into three groups to each choose our favourite tree and then Rufus the worker elf chose the best of those.

He wrapped it up for us in a net and gave us a little tree for preschool as well. Then we had to carry the trees all the way back to school.

It was slippery and muddy and it was difficult communicating to each other as we tried to hold the trees up.

We did it though and now the trees are at school, proudly decorated and looking lovely.

You can come see them at our Christmas Fair this Saturday if you like. It’s at twelve until two pm.

We are really proud of ourselves too. We carried the trees ourselves a long and difficult way.

Thank you so much to Langford Lakes for their generosity.

Written by Wren, Maisie, Samuel, Charlie and Edie (aged seven to nine).

THE Sampford Arundel Garden Club Christmas party was held on Thursday, December 4.

The members and committee decided to hold it a week earlier than normal due to other things going on in December for the members.

Members were invited to take part in a friendly gardening related quiz which was put together and run by Jill and Martin Jones from Post Box Cottage in West Bagborough.

The club visited their cottage earlier in the year and were very impressed with their beautiful garden.

The quiz was multiple choice and groups of four to six people per team generally. The quiz had categories including herbs and spices, fruit and vegetables to name a few.

Much debate and laughter ensued and with a few clues from Jill and Martin.

Graham Strevens, Susan Bellringer, Marsha Casely, Wendy Pollard, Jane Dickins and Vera Rowlandson were on the winning team.

Then it was onto the food and drink. Mulled and non-alcoholic wine was on offer as well as a magnificent spread of food. Every member of the club brought along a food contribution. Some members of the club also bought along raffle prizes, and this meant that most members won something.

A fantastic £84 was made from this for the club funds and it was remarked that we probably have never had so many raffle prizes donated. It was a very jolly and festive event, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

There will be no club meeting in January.

The Sampford Arundel Garden Club will next meet on the February 12 when they will have a talk on the Kitchen Garden.

If anyone would like to come along or would like more information about the club contact Sue or Nick Matthews on 01823 672662.

THE much anticipated time is almost here and for the community of u3a it began on Monday, December 8, with the Christmas ‘party’, in the usual venue (though much transformed by beautiful decorations), of the Rugby Club.

Eagerly anticipated by everyone, we had a full house which appears to grow larger with every meeting.

The tables were set with biscuits, mince pies, dishes of sweets and wonderful table decorations to match the season.

Music also fitted the season and a magician/comedian by name Jude Coram who had members in the palm of his hand with card tricks that involved the whole audience, and when Emu arrived, with Jude’s aid of course, he brought the house down.

Quotes from the participants included: ‘A wonderful event’, ‘ well done - great event’, ‘good fun, lots of smiles for a great magician’, ‘very well organised, lively event’, and ‘great fun, enjoyable’.

Members expressed they had never attended a ‘party’ this early, either time of the day, or indeed, this early before Christmas that was so much anticipated or so thoroughly enjoyed.

If anyone would like to become a member of the Wellington branch of u3a it couldn’t be easier. Just come along to the next meeting, the first one of the year, which will be January 12 in the Rugby Club at 10.15 am. All are welcome.

The newly-refurbished function room of the Beambridge Inn, Sampford Arundel, was the venue for the December meeting of the Monument Probus Club of Wellington to which club president, Richard Williams, welcomed 30 members.

The business section of the meeting opened with the observance of a period of silence in memory of past members Colin Moore and Garfield Taylor, who had both recently passed away.

Members were reminded of dates that include the 2025 Past Presidents’ Lunch and 2026 President’s Luncheon, both of which are scheduled to take place at the Oake Manor Golf Club.

Looking ahead to the club’s annual meeting in April, Richard Whiteway, the secretary, was able to announce that David Badham will serve as the 2026/27 president with John Williams serving as vice-president. Barry Brown will become the new secretary.

The remainder of the morning’s meeting was given over to an illustrated presentation by Charlotte Humber, highlighting the work and valuable service of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, which is currently based at Henstridge Airfield on the border between the two counties.

Ms Humber explained that it was one of a network of 21 air ambulances, currently in operation nationwide, and the latest available figures revealed that it had flown just under 3,000 missions for the period April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.

The service currently operates with an AW 169 helicopter with plans for another one in the near future. Current annual operating costs for the service was about £10-million with each mission costing around £3,500.

Many members were surprised to learn that the service receives no funding from the government or grants from the National Lottery and was totally reliant on its own fund-raising activities.

Ms Humber went on to explain how the service was staffed in two shifts to enable it to fly missions between 7 am and 2 am with the aim to get all flights airborne within 12 minutes and on the scene of an incident within 20.

The cost of equipment was also a major outlay and, after giving some examples, Ms Humber concluded her talk by once again highlighting the importance of fund-raising efforts, including the service’s own lottery.

After answering a series of members’ questions, Ms Humber was thanked by the president.

The club’s next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 8, 11 am, at the Beambridge Inn, when the guest speaker will be Brian Wright, who will give a presentation, entitled “West Country Witchcraft”.

Monument Probus Club welcomes new members. More information can be obtained from the honorary secretary via email at [email protected]

BLUE Bird Care hosted their festive Mind & Motion event on Monday, December 9, at the Kings Arms Community Hub.

The sessions boost mobility with gentle, hands-on projects alongside companionship and laughter.

This week, the group listened to live violin music, sang Christmas carols, made cards and even did a bit of dancing.

Never has there been such an intense game of jenga.

To attend the final session of the year (Christmas themed) on December 22 book a space by calling 01823 331194.

Sessions will run into the new year.