Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 32 min4:58 am – 9:30 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 56 min8:12 am – 4:08 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People8,289 residentsin the Dowslands & Blackdown census areaMedian age 51.73,458 households80% of homes owner-occupied48% owned outright6% social rented, 14% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting3.1% unemployment rate57% of adults are economically active, 3,876 in work, 31% retiredMain industries: health and social work 17%, retail and wholesale 13%, education 11%Getting to work: 35% work from home, 55% go by car, 8% walk or cycle59% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages39% of adults hold a degree or higher12% have no qualifications, 6% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 97%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 21°C, lows 12°CColdest month January: highs 8°C, lows 2°C1,083 mm of rain a year, 37 days with 10 mm or morewettest month November39 days of air frost, 6 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Parks and green spacesSnowden Parkpark · 4.5 mi · 6 haMitchell Gardenspark · 4.6 mi · 2 haJocelyn Parkpark · 4.9 mi · 3 haSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes27 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19706 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 5 Dec 201915 mi away, Bridgwater, SomersetMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 8 Feb 20267 mi away, Chard, SomersetSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: areas at High risk within 500 m of the centrea 1 in 30 chance of flooding in any year, or greaterAlso medium, low risk areas nearbySource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 3.6 · PM2.5 5.1 · PM10 8.3 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband55% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband81% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)1.7% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)3,514 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation174 m571 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 125 to 247 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalChard & District Hospital5.1 miGP surgeryThe Surgery Churchinford2.8 miPharmacyBoots4.7 miDentistOne Smile Dental - Chard4.7 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 primaryPrimaryBuckland St Mary Church of England Primary Schoolages 2-11, 54 pupils1.0 miSecondaryHolyrood Academyages 11-18, 1,282 pupils4.6 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportExeter International Airport EXT20 miMajor airportBristol Airport BRS36 miRailway stationTaunton8.2 miBus stationBus StationTaunton7.7 miFerryBridgwater Ferry Terminal17 miBus stops7 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the TA20 postcode district.
