Wandering through wonderful Yeovil

A small army of independents is passionate about supporting and celebrating its town, discovers CATHERINE COURTENAY on a visit to Yeovil

- CATHERINE COURTENAY

Spend a day wandering around Yeovil and you’ll probably notice the occasional sound of a helicopter flying overhead.

What would be a minor distraction anywhere else holds a greater significance in this South Somerset town, which has an aviation heritage going back to World War One. Originally making seaplanes to support the war effort, Westlands moved into helicopter production and has remained in Yeovil ever since. The name is synonymous with the town, although it’s now under the banner of new owner, Leonardo.

When not listening out for helicopters, there are other aspects of the town to uncover. At its heart is the Church of St John the Baptist; the building dates from the 14th century, although there has been a church on the site since Saxon times. Town centre streets wrap around the church and contain many of the high street names you’d expect. There are also the usual empty shop fronts that sadly characterise many modern town centres; but it’s well worth investigating further and digging a little deeper because Yeovil has a small but passionate army of independents whose roots appear to be as firm as the history that surrounds them.

In March last year, ‘zero waste’ shop Take No Wrap opened in The Quedam shopping centre. The idea to set up an eco-friendly shop in Yeovil came from friends Lin Budzynski and Liz Kleve. They sell food items in large dispensers, so people can bring their own containers to fill up. They have many locally-made products for sale, from beeswax wrappers for food (an alternative to cling film) to coffee and tea, toiletries, candles, and crafts.