A fungi walk on Sunday morning uncovered a range of fungi types living in the Carrs Woodland nature reserve at Twerton. Beginning at Walwyn Close the walk was led by fungi expert Justin Smith, who recorded the different species found while telling the rest of the walkers a little bit about each one.

A lot of the fungi have interesting facts connected with them. There is the Candle Snuff fungus which looks like a candle wick snuffed out, and the Dryad's Saddle fungus, so-called because a Greek mythological creature called a Dryad might conceivably sit upon it. To see photos of other fungi we discovered, watch the slideshow here. The complete species list is here.

Joe, 17/11/08

An NHS dental practice has recently opened in St Michael's Surgery, Walwyn Close, Twerton, and staff are putting out the message that they are up and running and taking on patients. The practice is owned by ADP (Associated Dental Practices) which also has a surgery in Oldfield Park.

The Twerton practice can provide NHS dental treatment for up to 5,000 people. It will be open Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 1pm and 2pm and 5pm, and on Friday from 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 4pm. If you want an application pack, you can get one by telephoning 01225 339882 or by calling in at Oldfield Park Surgery, 45 Upper Oldfield Park.

Joe, 13/11/08

Here are some points summarised from Councillors Paul Crossley and Dine Romero's e-newsletter for the Southdown Ward. To receive the full newsletter by email, contact Paul Crossley . You can also read their Southdown blog here.

Phone mast application

Vodaphone has registered an application to install a mobile phone mast at the junction of Mount Road and the Hollow. This would be in the form of a 10 metre high wireless timber telegraph pole.

You can register your opinion about the application online here, but be aware that comments can be read by other people. Contact Paul or Dine to register your views in a non-public way. Paul and Dine have asked that the application be considered in public if the planning officer recommendation is to approve it.

Whiteway project

A major project is due to start in Whiteway and will run for 18 months. Objectives will include reducing burglaries and fly tipping, and increasing community involvement. If you live in Whiteway and would like to be included in this work, contact Paul or Dine.

Southside Youth Centre

The Southside Youth Centre will now be open on Friday evenings from 7pm to 9.30pm, for 13 to 19 year-olds. Meanwhile, the Tuesday boxing club has proven so successful that it now opens on Thursday evenings as well.

Trees for Marsden Road

A project called More Trees for Bath has secured a grant to give away trees in the Kingsway area (Marsden Road).

Credit crunch

People experiencing financial difficulties can get advice from the Citizens Advice Bureaux. There is also a free local debt counselling service called Christians Against Poverty.

Regional Spatial Strategy

The Liberal Democrats in Bath are challenging Government plans to build 21,000 homes across Bath and North East Somerset. Issues include the impact of the development on the future of this area and decisions having been made by a Government panel on the basis of a very short tour of Bath.

If you would like to speak to Councillors Paul Crossley or Dine Romero, their Ward Surgeries are held on the first Saturday of the month at Southdown Methodist Centre, The Hollow, from 10am until 12 noon. No appointment is needed. Alternatively, you may contact them by phone or email.

Information from newsletter, 11/11/08

A charitable organisation called the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) arrived in Twerton on Saturday, to begin the restoration of the limestone grassland at the Carrs Woodland nature reserve. The work took place in the meadow that is just below Pennyquick View.

Over the years the meadow has been neglected and has filled with brambles. The BTCV intend to come each year and hack away at the scrub, so that grasses will gradually return to the bits of ground that have been covered over. The BCTV likes to use traditional tools such as shears and forks, instead of electric or petrol driven machinery.

The same stretch of meadow is an area where an endangered species called the Dotted Beefly is found. You can see a video clip of a search for the Dotted Beefly at Carrs Woodland here.

Joe, 10/11/08

Boundaries are a strange thing. If you walk all the way into town from Twerton, by the time you go past Regency Cleaners, The Belvoir Castle Pub and Matty's Cafe, you are not far from the town centre. So how come these buildings still feel like Twerton landmarks? They are located in the Westmoreland Ward - the old East Twerton.

The Belvoir Castle opened in 1850 and has long associations with Twerton and East Twerton. It would have been a stopping place for local men employed at the Stothert and Pitt engineering firm. Behind the pub lies the ground where Bath City Football Club originally played until 1919.

Efforts to generate support and revenue for the Belvoir to keep it from closing, have included a series of Quiz Nights organised by community activist June Player. The one I attended had about forty to fifty people turn up. Everyone pays £2, fifty percent of the pot goes to the winning team, the second team gets a tenner, and the rest goes to the Bath Cats and Dogs charity.

Max the dog plays a starring role in welcoming people to the event, and there is an interval half way through when you can get a cheese or ham roll. Martyn from Widcombe who is a regular at the quizzes said, "The Belvoir Castle is a very individualistic pub that should be supported."

The Belvoir Castle has five skittles teams, including a ladies team, and several pool teams.

Joe, 10/11/08

It was a good night at Bath City Farm on Wednesday, when the farm organised a bonfire celebration and viewing of the firework displays over Bath. The farm doesn't have its own firework display in case it frightens the animals. Instead, a bonfire is lit to coincide with the display at the Rec which you can see across the city from the farm.

The fire started well but then looked like it was going to fizzle out, until some men got a few hay bales and started working them into it. Sizzling away on the barbecue were some good quality sausages and burgers. They tasted great with loads of mustard and red sauce.

Joe, 05/11/08