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April 2019 April 2019
BERE REGIS WI involved. Come along to showcase your organisation, recruit more members, to
raise money, or to provide some entertainment. If you would like more information
or to register an interest in helping, please contact Ian Ventham on any of the
This March, the weather was much kinder to us details above.
than last year for our traditional Pancake Day

Races. Despite a weather forecast to the
contrary, the sun shone and it didn’t rain! For the Dark Lane Footpath
event, we were joined by 19 Year 3 and 4 pupils
from Bere Regis School, their teacher and the Head Teacher, Mr Wayne Roberts, We are still looking for evidence of use of the footpath that runs up to Black Hill
for a morning of enthusiastic racing. The race organisers were interviewed by the from Shitterton (alongside Dark Lane) as it is not formally recorded as a right of
pupils for write ups to be completed back at school and Sally Cheeseman, one of way on the definitive map of rights of way in Dorset which can be found at
our oldest members recalled for them her earliest memories of the races when it https://explorer.geowessex.com. To make it a right of way, and to ensure the right
was possible to close the road and run them up and down North Street. to use it is not lost we need to gather evidence that it has been used without any
hindrance from 1949 up to today. If you have regularly used this path in the last 20
For the second time this year, our last Stitch and Twitch meeting was held in the years, we would urge you to complete an evidence form which can be obtained
Sports and Social Club. With the extra room and facilities available, we were able from Amanda our clerk then returned to her. If we don't complete this registration
to make a good start on some craft items for the inaugural Bere Fest in June 2019 before 2026, the right to use this path will be lost for ever.
(and reward ourselves with plenty of tea and cakes!). To accommodate the

larger numbers now attending these sessions, we hope to hold all future Stitch Open Spaces
and Twitch meetings here.
At time of writing, we’re The storms in mid March have
looking forward to our blown over several large trees
March meeting when which required urgent action to
clear the streamside footpath and
Mr Carlton and his avoid damage to the overhead
associate will be giving electricity cables in places. We are
members and guests very lucky to have our Lengthsman
from three other local scheme in place to ensure that
WIs a tongue in cheek, any fallen or dangerous trees can
informative talk on the be swiftly dealt with, and the last
history of the well few weeks have certainly kept him
known store, Selfridges.
busy.
The main business at
this month’s meeting The wildlife group have completed their winter clearing work along the streamside
will be our AGM on Wednesday, 17 April 2019 but we are also pleased to be walk as the bird nesting season is now upon us. Inevitably this is a continuous
requirement to keep open areas for the more interesting plants to flower. The
welcoming Linda Lamon who will be sharing her beautiful pictures and group work together with our Lengthsman, who removes the arisings. On Souls
experiences of May’s Wood since it was planted to the present day.
Moor, the ponies should be back again in May to do their job of eating back the
Visitors are always welcome; if you’d like to find out about future meetings, or grass and undergrowth.
would just like more information about the WI, please contact Di Pitts on 01929
471322. You can see more about our past meetings and activities on our
Facebook page @BereRegisWI Community MiniBus
As previously mentioned, we have now been fortunate enough to secure a
minibus through funding and help from Dorset County Council and this will be run
alongside the NeighbourCar scheme by Brenda House. The idea of the minibus is
to provide affordable, group transport to local shopping facilities, areas of interest

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