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April 2021 April 2021
During the usual post-swim cup of tea in early 2016, our eagerness for to get back BID is willing to meet the cost of the lost income at an amount to be calculated by
in the sea led our minds wondering for a good idea for a swim. We wanted a
challenge, something different and something that to our knowledge had not the Council’s parking team based on average weekend costs for that time of
been done before. The ‘good idea’ was born, 11 miles of changing scenery, calm year. Any requests for free use of the six days will be reviewed by the Parking
water and perhaps the lift of an ebb tide to help keep the spirits high – a perfect Services Team and a record maintained. Requests should be emailed to
good idea. parking@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk six weeks prior to the free parking date and you
should expect a response within 5 working days. This policy starts from 1/03/2021.
Many good ideas are spontaneous, suggested at a moment of high; a positive
plan for the future – a break of monotony perhaps. Many turn out not to be such
good ideas! How would ours turn out? Spring Clean of Dorset
Verges
“OK, let’s go!” So, accompanied by our safety boat and kayak and loyal support
team of three we embarked off down the River Frome. The dense fresh river water Dorset Council’s fight against
and its unfamiliar dark brown, the smoothness on the skin and the relative coldness roadside litter is continuing –
to the usual sea swims unsettled me slightly at first. “14.3 degrees”, the electronic with the annual spring clean of
boat display stated boldly. Oh dear, maybe I should have mirrored Bob and wore verges along some of the
my wetsuit? Was this good idea turning into an arduous long reality and possible a county’s busiest roads.
very short swim? I’d told myself I would swim for as long as it was fun and Following vegetation being cut
enjoyable. back; the removal of bushes,
shrubs and long grass reveals
From the very start Bob set off with his usual rhythm, focus and determination. I was the full extent of littering by
a little more distracted. A swan here, a duck there, a boat over there and the 14.3 drivers and verges quickly
degree temperature. Still, with the hint of a tidal flow with us I soon found pace become an eyesore. The
and rhythm too, arms turning like clockwork and all concerns soon evaporated. council’s waste team is working with countryside officers to ensure that litter
Soon, the first mental milestone of Ridge Yacht Haven sailed past. picking is scheduled following the flailing of roadside verges.
Another mile or so and the vastness of Poole Harbour opened up before us. Dorset Council is supporting this year’s #LoveYourVerge campaign, which will see
Guided by the safety boat we found ourselves in the Wareham Channel making ‘pop-up’ signage on roadsides to celebrate local habitat and the biodiversity
good progress. Glints of sunlight through the clouds, the water temperature was across Dorset and encourage residents and visitors to value verges and other
rising slowly helped immensely. I could feel the warmer salty harbour water just open spaces. The campaign is a collaboration between the council’s
below my body, with my hands, each time I pulled forward. I wanted that warm Greenspace Service and Litter Free Dorset. Residents can report litter problems, fly
water at the top. Occasionally I stopped to dangle my legs in the ‘heat’. Every -tipping and rubbish being thrown from a vehicle - online.
now and then the natural flow of the tide would bring the ‘warm’ water to the top
– heaven.
Suddenly, the tide changed. We were no longer being helped but now being Step Up to a career in child and family social work
hindered. The irregular shape of the harbour and the water sloshing around it Social work is a challenging but rewarding career which can make a real
(albeit in slow motion) had produced a back flow of tide. Whilst this was predicted difference for children and families. Dorset Council are looking for strong
it was unwelcome. A brief discussion led us to elect to board the boat, hold station graduates who have experience of working with children, young people and
and wait until the unwelcome flood flow ceased. A good chance to have families, and who can demonstrate their maturity and emotional resilience. Step
something to eat, catch up each other and the team and prepare for the next Up to Social Work is a 14-month, full-time programme funded by the Department
few hours. This was one of the good things about our swim. There were no time for Education. It is being delivered locally by a regional partnership including
keepers, no split times, laps or agenda. We were simply swimming for the Dorset Council, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, Wiltshire Council
enjoyment, swimming for fun. 20 minutes later we were back in. and Bournemouth University. The course gives trainees an intensive, hands-on
Now we were flying along! Each time I sighted the next channel marker buoy it experience of working in a real-life social work role working with children and
appeared quicker than anticipated, then the next, then the next. We were families within a local authority children’s services alongside academic learning.
Those successful in gaining a place will have all their course fees paid and will be

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