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December 2022 December 2022

SWANAGE BAY summer and the delightfully named Fool’s Watercress (pictured) which could be
mistaken for our watercress in the nearby beds.
We have heard that some villagers have expressed concern that this growth is
It was a glorious summer morning as I made my half hour car journey to Swanage blocking the stream. We can assure everyone that this growth is natural, and
for my Saturday morning swim with old friends. Weekends are usually busy, but much water will be flowing under the leaves. However, the stream flow will be
this was definitely ‘me’ time. slowed down.
I nearly always enjoy my journey as at 7am the roads are fairly quiet and I allow Far from being a problem this is what happens every winter and causes water to
myself a little thinking time. As usual, I parked on the road above the promenade enter the nearby Souls Moor ‘water meadow’. This also encourages the growth of
and took the short walk down to the beach. Today was going to be a special important native plants on the meadow like the Southern Marsh Orchid. In the
day. The early morning sun was beating down from a beautiful blue cloudless sky. stream, the aquatic vegetation provide shelter for small fish and aquatic
The sea was a flat mirror pond of peace and tranquillity. I love it here! invertebrates such as caddis
Across the road, I could already see fly larvae. This is the classic
Dave Cook preparing for the characteristic of a ‘chalk
morning as he put out the chairs stream’.
neatly spaced in front of his beach Souls Moor and the Stream
chalet. “Hi Dave-– Richard not down were designated as an
yet?” I greeted my old friend. S.N.C.I (Site of Nature
Richard Tavinor is the joint owner of Conservation Interest)
what they both jokingly call their because of this. In past
“listing” building. centuries water meadows
were valued for crop growing
because nutrient rich silt was
washed down to these areas
from further upstream.
I guess that Dave is the unofficial leader of Holding back water leading to the flooding of water meadows is now
our informal band of swimmers. Club rules: encouraged in many places to prevent or at least minimise flooding downstream
well there aren’t any really, we just look out on land and property. There are a number of locations around the country where
for each other and try to make sure we are streams that had been ‘straightened out’ some 30 years ago, to acquire more
all safe. A few years ago in a rough sea, intensively farmed agricultural land. They have now been taken back to their
Richard, Pete Meteau (another of my original course and revegetation encouraged. We are indeed fortunate to have
swimming buddies) and I set out for the a very good example of this classic chalk stream in the village.
stone pier and back. Somewhere on the
outward journey I had managed to swim ahead of the other two (I still could
then!) but thought that I would meet them coming back. I never did find them in Join Us at our Conservation Working Parties
the maelstrom of the sea and when I returned to the safety of the chalet I waited.
I could see two lonely figures gradually making their way up the beach and it was Please come and join us at our Conservation Working Party. The next will be on
of course Richard and Pete. They had got out and were looking for me, Saturday 3rd December, followed by others on the first Saturdays of January,
concerned for my safety. Their relief was tangible but do you know what those February, March and April 2023. No experience is required, there’s a friendly
two said to each other when I was missing “Well at least he would have died crowd and it is great fun and exercise too! If you would like to join us please email
doing the thing he loved”. Old friendships, black humour still go hand in hand in Mike Gee at mike.n.g@outlook.com for more details and a copy of our health
our swimming community. and safety guidelines.
Dave is an interesting character. His mother was a former county swimmer and We will meet by the stream bridge near to the Scout Hut, Elder Road at 10am or
with her encouragement he began swimming for Oxford City Swimming Club. In

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