Thorncombe lies in a very beautiful part of West Dorset, bordering Devon and Somerset.
It falls within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) . The Parish is over
5,200 acres in extent and is principally agricultural land.
Fields tend to be small and hilly with ancient hedgerows, while the access roads
to the village are very narrow lanes, shaded in summer by tall trees including oaks,
beeches and sycamores, and fringed with primroses, bluebells and cow parsley.
Applications for Grants from TVT
Under the terms of its amended constitution, Thorncombe Village Trust (TVT) is now
able to invite applications for grants from individuals or organisations wishing
to undertake a project or activity which reflects one or more of the aims of the
Trust.
Namely to:
i) encourage and promote a greater interest in, and understanding of, the local environment
and its history
ii) protect historic buildings in the Parish and especially to conserve the character
of the village of Thorncombe and of the other settlements in the Parish
iii) oppose unsuitable development in the Parish
iv) safeguard and enhance the countryside in the Parish.
The money granted must be used for the direct benefit of the Parish of Thorncombe
only and for the public good, in such a manner and place that the Trustees can verify
the grant has been appropriately used.
If you wish to make an application for funding, please request an application form
in one of the following ways:
- Email the Secretary of the Trustees on su7882@eclipse.co.uk
- Pick up a form from inside the porch at The School House, Chard Street, Thorncombe
(opposite the church)
- Download an application form and the guidelines from the TVT website Application
form Guidelines for applications
Completed application forms need to be received by the end of September for an October
decision and by end of February for a March decision by the Board of Trustees.
For any further information or if you have any questions, please talk to one of the
trustees: Mark Agnew (30385), Kate Cahn (30054), John Higgs (30994), Richard Holt
(30428), Mary Marsh (30139), Jan Walker (30212), John Whitbread (30525).
Clearing brambles below Johnson’s Wood
In December a small group spent a busy morning attacking the mountainous bramble
patch in the field below the trees in Johnson’s Wood.
Using slashers, a chain-saw, secateurs, shears (and,probably, in the case of Sally’s
dog, teeth…) we reduced the mountain to a medium-sized hill., Thus letting in light
and space to the trees, and stopping the brambles from spreading over the entire
field.
A second assault was made in February by a hard-working group of 10 volunteers. Many
thanks to all - nearly done now!
Wilfrid Potter - a correction
It was brought to our notice that we have been spelling Wilfrid’s name incorrectly
all these years. The correct spelling is Wilfrid and we have been referring to him
as Wilfred. Many thanks to his long-time friend Emma Saunders who contacted us
and prompted the search for accuracy. His cousin Marina looked through old papers
and discovered , to her own surprise, that it was indeed Wilfrid. We will try to
correct all the references to him on this site, but please excuse any that are missed
and let us know so we can change them.
Those of us that remember Wilfrid Potter often think of him walking or cycling the
roads around Thorncombe. How appropriate then that a new road being named in his
memory should be called Potter Walk. The new road will be on a development being
built on the site of the school in which he taught for many years, Westwoods Grammar
School, Northleach, in the Cotswolds. Many of his former pupils remembered him with
fondness and affection, and the decision to call the road after Wilfrid was made
unanimously. Wouldn’t he have loved that?
More on Wilfrid here
New photos of Wilfrid as a baby and child have been kindly lent by Mrs Sheila Holloway.
Look at them here
