The latest council meeting looked at the ambitious plans for the natural space around Haydon.

This 20-acre ex-tip site was purchased by Radstock Town Council in 2019 with the purpose of safeguarding the site for community use for generations to come.

Since the closure of the coal mine in 1973 the area, known locally as The Batch, has been partially flattened and allowed to naturally regenerate.

There is now a mosaic of habitats on the site including woodland, unimproved grassland and scrub.

The vision for Haydon Batch is to provide a welcoming greenspace which is easily accessible yet retains its wildlife value and natural feel.

It will be a space where people from surrounding communities (Haydon and Westfield are the closest but Radstock, Midsomer Norton and Kilmersdon are all within walking distance) can easily access and enjoy the views, the nature and the sense of history.

It will be a space that people will be encouraged to use to benefit their physical and mental health and wellbeing and it will be a suitable site for small scale events. The local community will be engaged in both the development of the site and its long-term management. The site will be designated as a Local Nature Reserve.

If you want to know about the council's plans and what happens next you can check their web site by clicking HERE : the RTC site