LATEST
Back to SchoolSince 1971, the proportion of seven- and eight-year-olds walking to school unaccompanied has fallen from 80% to just 9%. A handful of parents or grandparents on ‘escort duty’ will be walking them in, yet, as the new school year begins, the majority of youngsters today will be being dropped off by car or bus. But safer routes to our local schools not only bring benefits to pupils but they improve the environment for the rest of us too. READ MORE »  OTHER ARTICLES
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 » 
Farming for TomorrowThe face of traditional farming is changing as more turn to alternative ways of making a living, but for some diversification may not be the answer. In the July issue we investigate the future of farming. Whether that’s farmers gearing themselves up for holidaymakers, creating farm shops or investing in farming infrastructure and focusing on food production – we hear some impressive stories from our land. READ MORE » 
Showtime!With the Royal Bath and West Show coming up on 28-31 May 2008, we take a look at some of the highlights the organisers have in store for us this year. More than 150,000 people expected to attend over the course of the three-day event and so this year’s show is going to be packed with things to see and do. Of course, the livestock areas and parade rings remain the focus of the event. Weeks and months of care and attention are put into the preparations for this annual event and the competition is taken very seriously. READ MORE » 
The Affordable Housing DilemmaThe right-to-buy schemes of the 1980s, low wages and soaring house prices have caused a housing crisis. How can young people in Somerset get their feet on the property ladder? The housing problem has been particularly acute in villages, where property prices have rocketed over the last decade. For many young people who are unable to buy their own property, the alternative is to stay at home with parents. But all too often the only solution is to leave the small rural community of their childhood in search of a cheaper place to live. READ MORE » 
The Great Barrage DebateSupporters of the Severn Barrage say it could help solve our growing energy crisis, but is it too high a price to pay? Opinion on the proposed Severn Barrage scheme is well and truly split down the middle. It’s been called ‘visionary’ and ‘trail blazing’, while others fear its impact would be environmentally damaging. Yet one fact at least is beyond dispute: the Severn Estuary is unique. Its classic funnel shape helps create one of the highest tidal ranges in the world – nearly 14 metres – and the idea of turning this natural force into power has been around for over 100 years. READ MORE » 
Bargain HuntYou can plonk the girl in the country but it will be with ruthless London stealth that I’ll soon be plotting and scheming in the countdown to the January sales, just 65 shopping days away! Karen Daniel continues her tales from Wedmore, and there’s even the chance to see her acting in the Wedmore Theatre Club’s production of ‘Under Milk Wood’ READ MORE » 
| Breast Cancer Campaign Friendship WalksMake 2008 the year you step up to beat breast cancer and join in with the Breast Cancer Campaign Friendship Walks... READ MORE » 
Tough Notes for a Small IslandBill Bryson is not scared to tell the truth about aspects of the changing British character. This June the best-selling travel author talks to ‘Somerset Life’ about the rubbish he sees pervading our countryside. According to the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), of which Bill is now President, around 25 million tonnes of litter are dropped each year, five times more than in the 1960s. Which is why he – and the CPRE – have been driven to launch ‘Stop The Drop’, a major offensive against the growing blight of litter and fly-tipping in England’s countryside. READ MORE » 
Save Our Post Offices!With the axe looming over dozens of our post offices, people across Somerset are currently fighting to save what they regard as the heart of their community. At the end of February, Post Office Ltd announced plans to close 65 branches in Bristol and Somerset following the government’s decision to reduce the post office network across the UK. Because of falling customer numbers and mounting losses, up to 2,500 post offices are due to close nationally, and in an area-by-area consultation programme, customers are being given a chance to have their say. READ MORE » 
All Set to Offset?We all have an impact on the environment. Is carbon offsetting the answer or should we be doing more to lead a greener lifestyle? If you are what government statistics describe as ‘the average person’, then you are responsible for producing about 10 tonnes of climate-changing carbon dioxide each year – one tonne of CO2 would fill a hot-air balloon. If this is something that worries you, you may already have taken steps to reduce your ‘carbon footprint’ by switching to low-energy light bulbs, insulating the loft, getting rid of the tumble dryer or car-sharing to work. READ MORE » 
Dreaming of a Green ChristmasThere’s more food miles travelled and more waste generated at this time of year, but with a little thought we can all enjoy a merry and ethical Christmas. Being ecologically conscious has never been more important. In the past year we have been asked more and more to consider the environmental consequences of our daily lives. Christmas, traditionally a particularly wasteful period in the calendar, is no exception. With a few small changes to our behaviour we can have a significant impact upon our carbon footprint and reverse the holiday season’s reputation for waste and over-consumption. 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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