Community, leisure and tourism

Includes things to do, places to go, parks and volunteering

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Visit Somerset

Somerset offers endless opportunities for great days out, weekend breaks and longer holidays

Parks and play areas

Find parks, play areas and country parks on a map

In this section

Arts and culture

Including theatres, art centres and leisure activities

Find community centres and village halls for hire

List of village halls available to be hired out

Passport to Leisure

Helping those on low incomes access to leisure activities at a discounted rate

Assets of Community Value

Guidance on nominating local land buildings as an asset of community value

Tourism

Includes information about places to visit and things to do in Somerset

Parks and open spaces

Where you can go and what you can do outdoors in Somerset

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Visit Somerset

Somerset offers endless opportunities for great days out, weekend breaks and longer holidays

Tourism business support

Somerset Council has a dedicated department to help with tourism focused business enquiries

Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The limestone Mendip Hills with the lakes of the Chew Valley is a stunning landscape of steep slopes and undulating plateau

Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The Quantock Hills are an area of wilderness and tranquillity

England Coast Path Storywalks

England Coast Path Storywalks are designed to offer a skimming stone of interesting facts, myth, history, nature and tales linked to location

Walking and cycling maps

We have produced a series of 20 walking and cycling maps to help you to explore the county

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Diseases affecting trees

Includes information on Ash Dieback Disease and Acute Oak Decline

Habitat and wildlife benefits of long grass

Working to support wildlife in public areas

Footpaths

Information on footpath standards and grades

Play equipment

Guidance on what to consider when planning your play area and how to report damage, accidents or problems with play equipment

Parks and open spaces service

How we maintain our parks and open spaces, deal with lost property and report any damages

Wildlife and biodiversity

Somerset has some outstanding wildlife areas

Parks and play areas

Find parks, play areas and country parks on a map

Report an unauthorised encampment

Guidance on unauthorised encampments on council land

Guidance for private landowners on unauthorised encampment

Information on what to do if an unauthorised encampment is set up on your land without your permission

Sports and sporting venues

Includes sports pitches, clubs and organisations

Reference and research

Includes the Somerset Intelligence Network

Local history and heritage

Includes information about the South West Heritage Trust

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Football and sports pitches

Football and sports pitches available for hire in Somerset

Sports and leisure facilities

Gyms, leisure centres, swimming pools, tennis courts and more available across Somerset

Bill Whistlecroft Athletics Arena Track Pass

Our Track Pass gives you unlimited access for casual training

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LGBTQ+ Support

Information on LGBTQ+ support organisations working across Somerset

Somerset Intelligence

Providing information and data on a wide range of topics

Community right to challenge

The right to express an interest to deliver services on behalf of the Council

Assets of Community Value

Guidance on nominating local land buildings as an asset of community value

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South West Heritage Trust

The Trust provides heritage services for Somerset and Devon

Somerset Rural Life Museum

Explore rural life from the 1800s onwards and discover more about the county’s heritage

Archaeology and Built Heritage

Protecting and enhancing our historic environment in Somerset

Archives and records

Discover history from the 8th century to present day

Brick and Tile Museum

The museum is dedicated to the local industry of brick and tile making

Somerset Heritage Centre

Explore the rich history of Somerset by accessing our collections

Museum of Somerset

Discover 400 million years of history

South Somerset Heritage Collection

South Somerset Heritage Collection is a fascinating historical collection of objects and images

Community grants and funding

Funding sources available to help your community

Volunteering and voluntary organisations

Find out what you can do to help your community

Events and exhibitions

Includes carnivals and festivals

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Community Funding Sources

Information about funding sources and grants available to community groups in Somerset

Shape Mendip Lottery

Shape Mendip Lottery raises funds for good causes that benefit the Mendip community

Somerset West Lottery

The lottery offers good causes registered with the lottery the opportunity to raise income for their organisation

Children and Youth Initiative Fund

Supporting projects that improve the lives of people aged 0 to 25 years old, whose families are Somerset Council tenants housed in Taunton and the surrounding parishes.

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Local choices and community resource

Opportunities for communities to be empowered through community self-help, volunteering and local solutions

Community litter picks

How to organise a litter pick to keep Somerset tidy

Somerset volunteers

Volunteering opportunities, information and advice, and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise support in Somerset.

Somerset Armed Forces Covenant Partnership

A partnership between councils, colleges, health services, charities, the military and reservists

Volunteering in Somerset

Information on how to become a volunteer

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Markets

Information about markets taking place in Somerset

Guide to organising community events

Things to know about before planning a street party or event such as road closures, venue, insurance and more

Glastonbury Festival licensing and event management

Information on licensing and event management for Glastonbury Festival

Event safety

Guidance for event organisers on things to consider when planning an event

Booking events and permits

If you wish to hold an event or activity in a park or open space, you need to apply for permission to do so

Somerset Markets

Locations and times of some of the markets that take place across Somerset

Safety Advisory Group (SAG)

Information and guidance on how to hold an event safely