Visit if you can!

Stop Press.....
The very latest news from the valley is that the snowdrops are looking stunning even though they are not yet fully out.  Don't forget your camera!

Scheme starts Saturday 5th February

What a difference a day makes.  It's blowing a gale here in Wheddon Cross but don't worry, the snowdrops are safe in their snug valley - far too sensible to grow up here!  The plants are showing their white tips nicely but have yet to bloom in full however the forrecast suggests that we'll have sunny spells on Saturday and Sunday afternoons which the snowdrops will love.
Don't forget to bring a few pennies to purchase our greetings cards, postcards, shopper bags, the Exmoor Magazine and hopefully some potted snowdrops grown by Cutcombe First School's gardening club.  All proceeds go towards the scheme to ensure it's future. 
The park and ride buses start at 10:30am on Saturday 5th February so we hope to see you soon!

Shhhh..... I see sunshine.....

Hooray!  It's warmed up a bit here and I can even see a few small patches of blue sky.  Snowdrops like the warmth so fingers crossed a few days of this will bring them out in bloom.  They are currently showing their white petals but have yet to open out so a few days will help.
If you plan to visit us please remember to bring walking boots or wellies as it will be a bit muddy thanks to the recent rain.  We will have a bucket and brush in the car park where the buses stop (next to the toilets) so you can clean up before heading into the pub, tea room, market cafe or snowdrop cafe..... If you've got a dog it would be a good idea to bring plenty of towels!!
More news tomorrow.....

Not long to go!

The white tips of the snowdrops are visible however they are very unlikely to progress much over the next week due to the cold weather of this week and more to come (according to the forecasters).  Going on past experience I would suggest that the flowers will be starting to bloom just as the scheme starts so fingers crossed for some sunny days at the beginning of February!
Many of our regular visitors may be surprised to find that our usual parking area for long stayers is now a building site, but don't panic!  The Exmoor Livestock Farmers have kindly given us permission to use their land where the old sheep market was for parking.  You may also notice a change here too - the brand new livestock market is a stunning building and also includes a cafe.  Lucy and Catherine will be opening the cafe on weekends during the scheme and half term.  Please note that there will be livestock markets on Thursday 10th and Wednesday 16th and this will mean no parking there.
Many thanks to the Groundwork Trust for their work in clearing leaves from the path, and to Exmoor National Park Authority for all the signing and other works to help the scheme run smoothly.
If we could just find a crystal ball for the weather we would be sorted......

The Count Down

Not long to go now and finally the snow has melted.  We are hoping that this might mean no snow during February, but no bets have been placed.  Our leaflets have been printed and are available on line as a download from the Wheddon Cross website as well as from the information trailer once the scheme begins.  Staff are being signed up and rotas finalised so visitors will be greated by smiley people willing to help and point weary walkers in the direction of hot drinks and a bite to eat - the rota for the snowdrop cafe held in the Moorland Hall will be on the website soon.  Exmoor House Hotel Tea Room and the Rest and Be Thankful Inn are taking bookings during the snowdrop period so to avoid disappointment, ring now! 

Why bother?

If you have read the previous entries on this blog, you may well wonder why a park and ride is necessary as it seems like a lot of hard work for something that rarely breaks even let alone makes a profit!  I shall try to explain its history below:
The road that leads to the valley is a single track road with steep banks on both sides, no passing spaces and no where to park.  The valley is home to several farms, houses and businesses, and before the park and ride scheme started these locals were often unable to carry out their normal daily routines as queues of cars blocked the road and the stench of burnt out clutches filled the air.  Some visitors would park where ever they could blocking in residents or damaging the few verges along the road - many of which were home to snowdrops that got squashed in the process.  Exmoor National Park Authority decided to run a park and ride scheme from Wheddon Cross to make sure that visitors could still see the snowdrops whilst residents were able to live as usual in the valley. 
There is of course a conflict in running such a scheme - in order to let people know when the scheme is running, it has to be advertised which therefore encourages more people to come.  On the plus side a huge majority of visitors to Wheddon Cross in February spend money in the pub, tea room, Snowdrop Cafe, accommodation providers, village shop and garage and also in businesses in adjoining villages during a traditionally quiet time of year.  The only threat to the scheme is that of finances.  If it continues to run at a loss the Parish Council may not be able to continue propping it up.  Let's hope that we have a snow-free February in 2011 and that our visitors are generous!!

How does the scheme work?

Snowdrop Valley Park and Ride Scheme would not happen without the assistance of several organisations.  Badgworthy Land Company own the land known as Snowdrop Valley and without their permission the scheme would not be able to function.  Badgworthy Land Company do not profit from the scheme - Cutcombe Parish Council  make a small donation each year which does not reflect in any way the importance of their cooperation.  A donation is also made to Exmoor Farmers Livestock Auctions who allow us to use their land for car and coach parking except on market days.  If you have visited Wheddon Cross you will know that parking is a major issue and without EFLA's help there would be very limited options.  We also give a donation towards the village website - without Cynthia we would not be able to update the site with daily weather details in a 'breaking news' fashion.  Donations from the Parish Council are less than £600 so are not big earners for those who help us - good old community spirit is the key.  We are also very grateful to Exmoor National Park Authority who provide practical advice and assistance from loaning the information trailer, organising volunteers to set up the rope barrier and clear the paths in the valley, to paying for the road closure order and clearing fallen trees on the public rights of way leading to the valley in the blink of an eye!  If all of the above organisations decided to bill the scheme at 'real prices', Snowdrop Valley Park and Ride would never happen again.......