Recreation

Part of the Parish of Churchill lies beneath the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is exactly as it says; it is a precious landscape whose distinctive character and beauty are so outstanding that it is in the nation’s interest to safeguard it. There are over 40 AONB in England and Wales, each of which has been designated for special attention by reasons of their high quality, which includes their flora and fauna, historical and cultural associations as well as scenic views.

The care of AONB’s are entrusted to Local Authorities, organisations, Parish Council’s, Community Groups and other individuals who live and work within them or who value them. For its part, Churchill Parish Council is a member of the Mendip Hills AONB Partnership, which is an umbrella organisation that seeks to bring together the five main Local Authorities that impact upon the AONB, 28 Parish Councils and 12 National Bodies. There is a statutory requirement to produce a Management Plan that has to be revised every five years.

The main areas of this plan are:

• To conserve and enhance natural beauty
• To take account of the need of agriculture, forestry and other rural industries and of the economic and social needs of social communities
• The demand for recreation should be met so far as it is consistent with the conservation of natural beauty and the needs of agriculture, forestry and other uses.

Your Parish Council is working actively in all of these areas for the benefit of the community and strongly believes that it is one of the custodians of this unique landscape for future generations.

The Mendip Society is a group of some 700 like-minded people who come together in the interests of conserving and enhancing the Mendip Hills. Most of the Society’s members live in and around the Hills, but some live as far afield as the north of England and even Canada.

The Society co-operates with the local authorities and voluntary organisations to achieve its aims. It works closely with the management team of the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the AONB Service and the Joint Advisory Committee.

However, the Society operates throughout the Hills, not just the parts currently designated as AONB. The Society’s campaign for designation of the Hills as an AONB, achieved in 1972, was its first major success story.

To increase enjoyment and understanding of the Mendip Hills, the society:

• Runs an extensive programme of walks, talks and visits
• Helps to keep open the rights of way in the Hills
• Encourages quiet access to the countryside
• Publishes a newsletter, books and pamphlets
• Sells books and pamphlets of local interest
• Serves on the Strategic Traffic Action and Tourism and Recreation Advisory Groups of the Joint Advisory Committee
• Runs social events and competitions.

To help conserve and enhance the Mendip Hills, the Society:

• Runs a Small Grants Scheme to encourage conservation objectives through the local community
• Monitors development plans and the AONB management plan
• Advises local authorities on key planning applications, with a special watch on quarrying
• Occasionally acquires land to conserve its features and provide access
• Serves on the Planning Policy, Cheddar Gorge and Heritage Groups of the Joint Advisory Committee
• Organises on-land surveys and conservation working parties. Extensive work has recently been completed at Smitham Hill, East Harptree
• Manages the work of operating a meadow at Slader’s Leigh, Winscombe
• Promotes extensions to the Mendip Hills AONB.

Stawberry Line

Tel: 01275 888538
Send an email

The Strawberry Line is a 10 mile route that currently stretches from Yatton to Cheddar. Its wide level paths make it an ideal place for individuals and families to enjoy a leisurely walk or cycle. A map of the strawberry line is available to download here or from local Tourist Information Centres and libraries.

If anyone would like to become more involved with the Strawberry Line and its future plans you can contact the Strawberry Line Society (formerly the Cheddar Valley Railway Walk Society) through their website. The Society have a number of volunteer working parties involved in conservation work and keeping the route clear.

Public Footpaths

With lots of wonderful green spaces in the local area for walking & cycling, please view the North Somerset Council ‘public rights of way’ location map.

Click the box marked “Public Rights of Way” in the left hand column and enlarge to find the footpaths in our villages”. Ensure no other boxes are ticked.

Do you love Trees? 

A number of years back the parish tree wardens put together a walk celebrating some of our better trees whilst walking to get to know the parish, download the guide.

The popular allotment fields, a for our village’s green fingers, are under our wing. While there’s a waiting list, we’re committed to making these spaces worth the wait. Join the list by emailing us here.

Churchill Cricket Club is open to new players of all ages, abilities and genders to join the club.

We are a friendly village cricket club that will make you most welcome.

Winscombe Football Club is very close by and runs teams in most age groups from under 5s right through to veterans.

Churchill Music is a concert and music education charity known for its excellence, innovation and energy.

Whether you want to mooch to Mozart, drink to Debussy or jive to jazz, with music performed by world-class musicians in a relaxed atmosphere with a wine and juice bar available at all concerts, Churchill Music is for you.  Previous musicians have been Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason, CM Patron, Peter Donohoe, The Carducci Quartet, The Aquinas piano trio, John Williams, John Etheridge, Jess Gillam, the list goes on.

You could try the very popular, weekly ‘Sing for Fun’ (and health and wellbeing) group held in Langford.

As well as the world-class concerts, Churchill Music facilitate and provides a wealth of education activities with local partners which include primary and secondary schools and the West of England Music Alliance (Music tri-hub).

Concerts are held either in St John’s Church, Churchill, or All Saints Church, Wrington. There is also a minibus service available. View the Minibus Society page.

Churchill Music also holds an annual Young Musician of the Year Competition for local youngsters that encourages and rewards not only technical excellence but also performance skills and presentation.

Churchill Skittle Club is situated to the rear of the Village Hall in Ladymead Lane, Langford

During the winter there are eight teams playing on the alley; two men’s teams in the Weston & District Skittle League on a Monday night; two mixed teams playing in the Wrington Vale League on a Wednesday night; two ladies teams playing in the Weston & District Ladies League on a Thursday night; and two mixed team playing in the Mendip League on a Friday night.

In the summer we have two mixed teams in the Yatton & District League playing on Monday or Tuesday nights and one mixed teams in the Weston & District Mixed League on a Friday night.

The alley is also available for competitions or for outside functions. As it is a member club a list of visitors has to be submitted to the Club 48 hours before the event. The bar will be open for all events and a sticker-up can be provided if necessary.

Some of the teams are now struggling for players and/or a captain to run a team. If anyone would like to join a team please call the Club Secretary on the above number and you will be put in touch with a captain looking for extra players. Membership of the club is £5 a year or £20 for life membership.

Further information can be obtained from the Club Secretary (Enid Plumley) on 01934 852045.

Singing in a choir is widely recognised to have beneficial effects on both health and wellbeing. If you have any thoughts of exploring singing, or perhaps returning to it after a break, please get in touch.

Trinity Singers are

• Based in Churchill, North Somerset, we meet on Tuesdays to
• Enjoy making music of high quality in the company of like-minded people for the pleasure of audiences
• Raise musical standards through controlled selection of repertoire to provide both challenge and reward
• Perform concerts with a varied repertoire incorporating both Sacred and Secular music, and including larger scale works such as Oratorios
• Retain a grounding in church music through performing at services and other church based events
• Undertake concerts and other events, principally in the area local to Churchill both for paying audiences and ‘pro-bono’ where appropriate
• Undertake joint initiatives with local schools
• Enjoy each others company socially and through fund raising events.

For more information please contact Suzie Leech
Telephone: 01934 415301
Send an email

We take care of all recreation fields, including two play areas: one for our younger children and another for the skateboard enthusiasts. Our touch also extends to beautifying these spaces with flower bulbs and beds.

Our group has gone from strength to strength and we currently have a very popular Beaver Colony, Cub Pack and Scout Troop for boys and girls from the local area aged between 6 and 14. All three sections meet on a Monday evening and have an active programme of activities including organised district events, camps and sleepovers.

Churchill Baby & Toddler Group is for babies, toddlers and pre-school children with their parent, grandparent or carer. It takes place every Monday during term time at Churchill Methodist Church 09:15-11:30.

For more information please contact Jacqueline on 01934 844134.