LATEST
Somerset’s Olympic HopefulsUnless you’ve been living on another planet you will know that the 2008 Olympic Games kicks off in Beijing this August. From 8-24 August, 10,500 of the world’s elite athletes will compete in 302 events across 28 sports. But as Olympic fever sweeps the globe, here in the UK we will also be looking ahead to 2012, when it is our turn to host the Games. ‘Somerset Life’ talks to young champions who have their sights on gold at the 2012 London Games, and discovers how Somerset can play its part towards their future success. READ MORE »  OTHER ARTICLES
48 Hours in… Weston-super-MareWeston-super-Mare lounges along the sandy, south-western side of the Severn Estuary, like a quiet Sunday, indulging visitors in the seaside comforts of a traditional English seaside resort. Cod and chips, vanilla ice cream, chocolate flake, perm-pink candy floss, sea shells, donkey rides and a Victorian pier with amusements at the far end, where spellbound holidaymakers can offload their loose change. This August, why don’t you soak up some sun on a weekend in this delightful Victorian seaside town. READ MORE » 
Willow WomanBest known for her 40ft-high sculpture ‘Willow Man’, which stands out boldly against wide skies beside the M5 near Bridgwater, sculptor Serena de la Hey has made willow her medium and the Somerset Levels her home. This August she talks about working in willow and the difficulties of large-scale installations. READ MORE » 
It’s a Scoop!On a sunny day in August dairy farmer Rob Lunnon emerges from the freezer room dressed like an alpine skier and cradling pots of ice cream and sorbet. The flavours in his gloved hands each have temptingly indulgent names like chocoholic chunk, stem ginger and caramel with vanilla fudge.
This is the home of multi-award-winning Mendip Moments, whose premium ice cream is made from the milk of pedigree Holsteins grazing on the lush pastures at Lower Haydon Farm near Wells. READ MORE » 
DIY MakeoverLin and George Watkins first spotted their 1830s four-bedroom home in the spring of 2004, and although it was in poor condition, they loved it straight away. “All the woodwork was stained a mahogany brown, which made it look very dark and gloomy,” says Lin. “There was a badly laid mahogany laminate floor throughout most of the downstairs, and in the kitchen some of the worktops were scorched where hot pans had been put down.” But with some DIY skills and artistic flair it’s possible to transform your home without spending the earth, as Lin explains in the August issue. READ MORE » 
| Paralympic DreamTaunton sportswoman Lucy Shuker is preparing to represent Britain at this summer’s Paralympic Games in Beijing. The 28-year-old has been British No.1 women’s wheelchair tennis player for the last three years and is currently ranked No.10 in the world. This will be her first time at the Games, which opens on 6 September. This August, ‘Somerset Life’ meets a young sportswoman who has refused to let her disability get in the way of her dreams for the top. READ MORE » 
Gold for Horses, Green for GardeningWith £4 million in winnings last year, National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls certainly has the magic touch. But it’s not only horses that seem to blossom under his care – plants do too. From a young age Paul has had green fingers. Following a successful early career as a jockey, he turned trainer, starting at Manor Farm, near Shepton Mallet, in 1991. Initially there was no garden to speak of at either of the two yards forming part of the set-up, but, despite being immersed in a frantically busy working life, it was one of the areas he was keen to develop. READ MORE » 
Taking a PuntAlthough normally associated with boater-wearing undergraduates at Oxford or Cambridge, not many people know that you can actually go punting in Somerset – and the boater is completely optional.
There’s been a boating station on Forester Road in Bath from 1833, and ever since 1879 it has been the domain of one family through four generations. This August, ‘Somerset Life’ looks at the history of the Bath Boating Station READ MORE » 
Suitably ShadyMost people know about the harmful effects ultra violet (or UV) light can have on the skin. But whilst people regularly use sun cream for protection, is the same consideration being given to exposure of the eyes? In normal day-to-day life, the eye is more than capable of coping with exposure to UV radiation. However, at other times – sunbathing, surfing, sunbeds, skiing, welding – the eye’s protection can struggle to cope and damage can occur. So what effect can the sun have on our eyes and what should we be doing to protect them? READ MORE » 
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Somerset Walks
Whether you choose a woodland trail, a stroll through Lorna Doone country, a walk centred around impressive geological features or on spectacular viewpoints, our wonderful selection of Somerset walks, which feature monthly in the magazine, will bring you chance encounters with Exmoor ponies, feral goats, rabbits, kestrels, buzzards, red deer and butterflies.
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Garden Visits
Inspirational visits to gardens across the county feature in Somerset Life every month and here we give you a taste of just six of them, most of which are open to the public and guaranteed to enlighten and enthral.
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Celebrity Interviews
Characters from the county talk to us every month about their lives and loves, and this selection captures the flavour and variety of six of these celebrity interviews. You can catch up with the latest interview in the current issue of Somerset Life.
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10 good reasons to visit...
In this popular series which features every month in Somerset Life, we take a deeper look at what there is to see and do in villages and towns across the county.
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