Ecological writer Satish Kumar once wrote that ‘unless you know Nature, you cannot love her’. Likewise, if we wish to protect England’s green and pleasant land, it’s important to get to know why. People who drop fast food litter, pollute our seas with oil and hunt our precious wildlife, obviously were never taught all about why our land is so beautiful and precious.
Somerset is a large county with a stunning coastline and many seaside resorts including Weston-Super-Mare (one of the highest tidal ranges in the world, but be careful due to sinking mud). Inland there are many pretty villages, which are popular with tourists. Home to scrumpy (cider!)
England’s smallest city of Wells
Wells (Somerset) is often called England’s smallest city (it is, if you discount the financial district in the City of London). This beautiful place is located just 20 miles or so from the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare and the cities of Bath and Bristol, located on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. It only has a population of around 12,000, and its name is indeed named after three wells from ancient times.
The private Wells Cathedral School is just one of 5 nationwide that is dedicated to teaching music. It’s a very artistic place, with many ancient buildings being used for period dramas on TV.
Vicars’ Close is apparently the oldest residential street in Europe, owned by Wells Cathedral. It consists of many Grade 1 buildings, a chapel and a library along with an arched gate for entry. As the name suggests, the houses used to all house vicars, but today it appears to be mostly residential homes.
One former resident was John Keate, who was headmaster at Eton. He was not very empathic, he used the birch and once flogged 80 boys in one day (it did nothing to restore discipline, as the boys simply rebelled).
Another local resident was Harry Patch, who until his death was the oldest man in Europe (age 111) and the 3rd oldest man in the world. A pacifist, although Wells Cathedral rang its bells 111 time for his funeral, no gun salutes were allowed at the wishes of his family.
the quirkiest town in England?
Vying with the Devon town of Totnes is Glastonbury, a small town that hosts the well-known music festival each year. It’s also well-known for its small independent alternative shops and Glastonbury Tor, a hill celebrated by pagans as one of the most spiritual places in England. It used to house two churches, but only the remains can be found.
the world’s second-longest tidal range
Weston-super-Mare is known for its huge sandy beach, but take care with sinking mud, as this is home to the second longest-tidal range in the world. Just 20 miles from the city of Bristol, also take care as unexploded bombs are often found here, as it used to be a testing station during World War II. Just like Brighton (East Sussex) it has two piers, one of which is in a serious state of disrepair (due to a storm thankfully, not arson like many of our piers that have been destroyed). It’s also the only one in England which links to an island.
HM Coastguard advice: Never cross estuaries or walk through mud where there are hidden channels of fast-flowing water. Never take you (nor dogs) near anywhere with sinking mud warnings. If you do get trapped, sit back to spread your weight evenly across the surface, and you (or someon else) call 999 immediately and ask for the coastguard.
one of England’s largest wetland reserves
The Avalan Marshes are one of our largest wetland reserves (Steart Marshes are also a new wetland that provides rare saltmarsh habitat to support endangered water voles, otters and other native creatures. These manmade wetlands are already helping to support habitats for owls to waders, and also help buffer local homes and businesses from rising sea levels, due to climate change.
England’s deepest gorge (400 metres deep)
Cheddar Gorge is one of England’s natural wonders, and our largest gorge that are up to a million years old. These are very steep and not for people with limited mobility or poor health. Formed from meltwater floods during the Ice Age, it’s home to around 100 endangered cave-dwelling lesser Horseshoe Bats, and also is where ‘Cheddar Man’ (the oldest-ever human skeleton from 10,000 years ago) was found. Interestingly, he was found to have dark skin and blue eyes, proving that the racists have no idea what they were talking about! Two other local boys with blue eyes (this time with blonde hair) from the local village of Cheddar were Matt & Luke Goss (from the popular 90s pop band Bros).