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July 2020 July 2020
Of course, this year, the 75
th
anniversary, was, of necessity, AUTUMN LEAVES
a more modest affair. We
raised our glasses in Shitterton
As this article is usually about what happened at the
in memory of all those who
Autumn Leaves Club each month, it is pretty difficult to
made the ultimate sacrifice
be able to report when nothing is happening! But
all those years ago in a world
nothing venture, nothing gain, and I would like to share
at war. We still thought about
this information with you all.
the message of twenty five
years ago – aspirations of a Just as the Lockdown started in March, the club was
world at peace. coming to terms with the loss of our Dear Leader, Kath Jeeves. We realised that
decisions had to be made regarding the future of the club, so it was decided to

ask the members what their opinions were, and a questionnaire was sent out. The
response was very good with 27 out of 28 people returning the forms, and this is a
summary of the answers to the following questions:-
OVER THE HILL OR ACROSS THE RIVER YES NO DON’T KNOW
DON’T MIND
What does this title mean? It is quite simply that we are the other side of Black Hill MAYBE
from Bere Regis in the hamlet of Turnerspuddle. What have we to write about? The Do you want the club to continue? 27 0 0
answer is the beautiful countryside and all its various plants, animals and birds
found here. Starting from the churchyard, where we have had a wonderful display Are you happy with the time of the meeting? 27 0 0
of snowdrops since the last week of December and the glorious yellow of the Are you happy with the way the club is run at the moment?
celandines, which have been in flower on the south facing bank of the lane down 27 0 0
to the church since the middle of January, The only other wild flowers in blossom
then were the mass of white daisies on the lawn at the front of the house. While Do you enjoy the speakers that we have? 27 0 0
mentioning the lawn, it is worth stating that the grass does not appear to have Do you like the musical afternoons? 20 2 5
ceased growing all winter. This is also seems to be the case of grass generally, Would you like more time to sit and chat over tea?
especially on the water meadows beside the river Piddle, which of course
meanders along boundaries of Turnerspuddle. 8 13 6
Would you like to receive a birthday card from the club?
In mid February there were numerous birds about not found in Bere, including 12 12 3
small egrets on the water meadows, numerous buzzards, which can be seen Would you be willing to help with the management team?
hovering around almost daily. One comes to roost in our apple tree and then flies 7 17 3
off down the lane to find a new roost in the large ash tree growing beside the lane If we had a “Rota” for people to help with the washing up,
down to the church. Also greater spotted woodpeckers, which if not always visible each member would only be called on about once a year.
can be distinguished by their distinctive calls, akin to their tapping at the tree Would you like to help 20 6 1
trunks on which they spend most of their days .At this moment in tme as I look out
Should the club be for over 50’s and not just over 60’s?
onto the lawn a magpie looks back at me as though it owns the place.
26 1 0
Also visible from the window is the bird table with its various feeders, which are
Do you like the name “Autumn Leaves”? 21 4 2
now in need of refilling, so the numbers of smaller birds, which are normally visible
from the kitchen windows just aren’t there. These in the past have included all As you can see, Autumn Leaves is very successful in the eyes of the members, but
three types of sparrows, numerous tits, robins and even sedge warblers from down very few are willing to help to run it.
on the water meadow. This morning {late February) I walked slowly up the lane
eastwards, from the ‘village centre’ towards the junction with the main Without new members and people willing to take on some responsibility, the
thoroughfare of Yearlings Drove , which meanders north easterly up to the main Autumn Leaves will fall off the branch and fade away.

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