Direct feed from Chard and Ilminster News


Click the title to read the full article

Ilminster Forum Updates

Wessex Water Hosepipe Ban

The hosepipe ban starts on Tuesday 18 August at 00:01hrs. From this point customers must not use a hosepipe for activities covered by the restrictions: 

You must avoid using a hosepipe for:
  • watering a garden
  • cleaning a private motor vehicle
  • watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises
  • filling or maintaining a domestic swimming pool or paddling pool
  • drawing water for domestic recreational use
  • filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain
  • cleaning walls or windows of domestic premises
  • cleaning paths or patios
  • cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces

This ban does not impact everyday essential household use, such as showering and washing.

You can also still:

  • water plants with a watering can
  • use water from your water butt
  • fill up a bucket for car washing.


Posted: 17/08/2026 22:26:00

Events

Upcoming Events

Event: Seeing Through the Rain: young visions of Ilminster's life and future (1 Sep to 17 Sep)
Location: Ilminster Arts Centre, The Meeting House, 35 East Street, Ilminster, Somerset TA19 0AN

Details:
Immerse yourself in visions of water, weather and changing Somerset landscapes, created by 60 students from Ilminster’s Herne View School with local artist John Gammans. Sponsored by Somerset Rivers Authority.

Date: 17/09/2026
Time: Daily
Price: Free entry



Event: 47th Annual General Meeting followed by “Outside In On Nature” with Mei Cooper
Location: Millenium Hall Water Street Seavington TA19 0QH

Details:
South Somerset Local Group RSPB illustrated talk by Blackdown Hills resident Mei Cooper is the writer, producer and co-creator behind PocKit Robot, an early-years nature series created by her family-run film studio, hyper-mouse Films. Mei translates complex ecology into adventures for 3 to 8 year old digital native kids, gently guiding them away from their screens and out into the physical world. Instead of fighting screen time she and her co-director Scott use world-class animation to excite kids and their grown-ups about our native ecosystems. They are passionate about fixing the cultural imbalance where British kids can easily identify a lion or kangaroo, but overlook the wonderful native UK birds and plants. As PocKit Robot roams the universe he finds planet earth to be the most amazing and wondrous place of all. Mei will show us a film or two of PocKit Robot, talk about the inception and evolution of this project and tell us where she and Scott want to take it.

Date: 17/09/2026
Time: 7.30pm
Price: Members £4 and non-members £3



Event: Sophie Rosa & Ian Buckle
Location: Ilminster Arts Centre, The Meeting House, 35 East Street, Ilminster, Somerset TA19 0AN

Details:
Sophie Rosa, violin Ian Buckle, piano Programme Felix Mendelssohn Violin Sonata in F minor, Op 4 Beethoven Sonata no 5 in F, Op 24 ‘Spring’ Elgar Salut d’Amour, Op 12 – Chanson de Matin and Chanson de Nuit Op 15 Grieg Violin Sonata no 1 in F major, Op 8 Sophie Rosa is in demand as a soloist, director and chamber musician. She has performed across the UK as a recitalist in major festivals and venues including the Royal Festival Hall, Purcell Room, Wigmore Hall, Kings Place and Bridgewater Hall and has appeared as soloist with orchestras including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Manchester Camerata. Sophie has broadcast live for BBC Radio 3 and has released CDs on Rubicon Classics, EM Records and Champs Hill labels. Sophie is Leader of Sinfonia Viva and appears regularly with the orchestra as soloist and director. She also guest leads orchestras throughout the UK and is a member of Pixels Ensemble. She plays on a Joseph Gagliano violin dated 1795 and a Claude Fonclause bow made available through the generous support of the Stradivari Trust. www.sophierosa.com Ian Buckle maintains a varied freelance career as solo pianist, chamber musician, orchestral pianist and teacher. He is the artistic director of Pixels Ensemble, which he formed in 2016 www.pixelsensemble.org He enjoys longstanding associations with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the John Wilson Orchestra, appearing as soloist on numerous occasions; and has played concertos with the Royal Philharmonic, Opera North and Sinfonia Viva. He has been the pianist in Ensemble 10/10 since its inception and regularly plays orchestral piano in the BBC Philharmonic. Ian teaches at the University of Liverpool, is an examiner with ABRSM and is an artistic director of Stapleford Granary Arts Centre in Cambridge www.staplefordgranary.org.uk

Date: 18/09/2026
Time: 7.30pm
Price: Tickets: £20 Students: £5


More Upcoming Events...