Talk on Otterhead

Hemyock History and Archiving Association
Present an illustrated talk by Elizabeth Stonex
on the work of The Otterhead Estate Trust
at the Church Rooms Hemyock at 7.30pm on Thursday 8th September 2016
Cost including refreshments: £2 members and £3 non-members
THE OTTERHEAD ESTATE TRUST, a not-for-profit limited company, manages the Otterhead Estate and Lakes Local Nature Reserve, in the Taunton Deane parishes of Churchstanton and Otterford, Somerset, close to the village of Churchinford, leased from Wessex Water. The neglected Victorian landscape, half formerly in Devon, includes the ‘lost gardens’ of Otterhead House (demolished in 1952) with terraced walks and drives as well as two former walled gardens.
The most obvious features are the two remaining Otterhead Lakes and the River Otter but by taking into account the sites of former lakes and other water management features such as leats, the reserve can be considered to have the appearance of a much neglected one mile long water garden. The Trust aims to improve wildlife habitats and conserve garden plants and built heritage features as well as restoring where possible the designed landscape. The reserve forms only a part of the Wessex Water owned Otterhead Estate; it should be noted that the Estate Trust lease does not include the two remaining lakes, management of which is retained by Wessex Water.
Photograph and text courtesy of The Otterhead Trust