ON what seemed like a summer's day - almost unheard of this year - I attended the Celebrating the Blackdowns event held at Churchinford on Saturday.The public attendance exceeded everybody's expectations with several hundred people visiting during the day.
It was an opportunity to see where some of the £1.9 million LEADER+ funding from Europe has gone during the past six years.
The Blackdowns AONB Partnership, on which I represent Taunton Deane Borough Council, has used the cash to support a wide range of activities and events during that time, and now the fund is coming to a close this year.
It is being replaced with a £2.4 million 'Make it Local' fund over the next three years, of which more details were promised at the Celebrating event.
I was a little disappointed, then, to find that we have not actually, definitely, been given the money.
Despite the recent public announcements of the success of the Partnership bid, it seems we still have to jump through some hoops before we know for sure that the money is ours.
From what I have seen so far of the way the Partnership is funded, we are going to need that money if we are to continue supporting the community of the Blackdowns.
One snag, though, is that in order to get the money, we are having to extend the 'Blackdowns' borders as far as the edges of Exmouth and Seaton so that we can say we have a large enough population base which will benefit from the fund.
Assuming we get the money, then the grant scheme will start next year.
Applications will especially be welcomed if they concern culture, tourism, recreation, using sustainable natural resources, or network building/bringing people together.
There was lots to see at the cricket ground just outside Churchinford, and everything there had received funding from the LEADER+ programme.
It was nice to see lots of children with their parents, and the kids seemed to like having a go at making punkie night lanterns or doing some wood carving, while inside the Camera Obscura they were able to 'spy' on what their parents were doing elsewhere in the field.
I discovered when I had a look at the Camera Obscura that they had been 'spying' on my son George, who had taken his bicycle along and was whizzing around the field on it.
I think George will soon be competent enough for the stabilisers to be taken off, and then he will be whizzing around even faster.
I was looking forward to having a burger from one of Nick Strange's barbecues, which always seem to be at these events, but instead the Partnership had laid on a hog roast, because the equipment was funded through the programme.
I would not have minded, except that by the time I arrived, the hog had all been eaten and there was nothing left.
Some of the other activities to see were hedgelaying skills and apple juicing, while I found Nick Strange inside the marquee with his meat produce stall, along with items such as alpaca wool socks, a BHaam (Blackdown Hills Artists and Makers) display, and much more.
Incidentally, I learned that the Camera Obscura is looking for a permanent site, which needs to be secure and enjoy good views. I believe Culmstock School has been suggested, but if anybody has any other ideas, they will be welcomed.
- The photos above show (in descending order) me having a look at some of the punkie night lanterns; a display of alpaca wool socks, and the BHaam stand.
