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| The villages of Stoke St Mary, Thurlbear and Orchard Portman are situated in the southwest of England approximately 3 miles east of Somerset's County town of Taunton and three miles from Junction 25 on the M5 Motorway. To the north of the villages lies Stoke Wood, an ancient woodland covering many acres and to the east lies Thurlbear Wood another ancient woodland, both splendid in their natural riches. To the south lie the Blackdown Hills - a vast forest area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and to the west lie the spires of Taunton Deane. More distant to the west are the hills of Exmoor National Park. Stoke St Mary, Thurlbear and Orchard Portman are themselves bordered by the villages of West Hatch, Staple Fitzpaine, Corfe and Henlade. The Register of Electors 2000 shows 446 adults living in 235 dwellings in the civil parishes of Stoke St. Mary and Orchard Portman (includes Thurlbear). |
