Wells Cathedral Stonemasons

TRACY MARKS OUT THE MENDIPS WITH THE HELP OF WELLS CATHEDRAL STONEMASONS

Dry stone waller Tracy Reynolds is helping to transform several popular gateways to the Mendips.

Tracy, from Priddy, has created nine new stone boundary markers around the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which takes in landmarks such as Cheddar Gorge, Wookey Hole Caves and Dolebury Hillfort.

She has crafted the markers, which have been financed by the Mendip Hills AONB Sustainable Development Fund grant, from local limestone and slag drawn from the disused Mendip lead mines.

Tracy, who lives in Priddy, used to work at Wells Cathedral Stonemasons, which is working on the markers‘ central stone plaques.

The markers have been positioned at busy locations such as the A38 at Cross, Shipham Gorge, Wookey Hole, the A39 near Wells, the B3135 at Green Ore, the junction of the A38 and A368 at Churchill, the B3134 at Burrington Coombe, the B3114 near Chew Valley Lake, the A368 at Bishop Sutton and at Bleadon Hill.

“I grew up on the Mendips and have always wanted to work outside, so decided to set up my own dry stone walling business around ten years ago,” says Tracy.

“It‘s hard but fulfilling work and it‘s good to be able to work once again with my former colleagues at Wells Cathedral Stonemasons.”

Jim Hardcastle, development officer for the Mendip Hills AONB added: “By having the markers at the major entrances we are reminding people that they are entering a nationally protected area which not only contains important habitats, but also vulnerable road users such as walkers and horseriders.”

ENDS 7th July 2006

For further information please contact Neil Fraser, Sturgess Van Damme, on 01275 349011 or email neil@sturgessvandamme.co.uk

Photo caption: From left to right are: Jim Hardcastle, development officer for the Mendip Hills AONB, Tracy Reynolds and Peter Arkell, managing director Wells Cathedral Stonemasons