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July 2020 July 2020

EYE WITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE BERE REGIS WI

WHIRLWIND OF 1959 BY PAT BARNES
Continuing with our lockdown theme covering WI
resolutions, this month we’re sharing information
on the WI’s SOS for Honeybees campaign which
It had been a very calm day and evening in has been running since 2009.
March 1959 before the whirlwind struck, Bere
Regis at approximately 10pm. The campaign was initiated because of the growing understanding that the
decline of honeybees is a major threat not only to biodiversity but to our way of
First there was a terrific hail storm, and then life. As well as producing honey, honeybees play a vital role in pollinating plants.
the empty milk bottles were heard blowing Around a third of our diet is directly dependent on bees – making them central to
down West Street.
our existence.
My Mother and I were downstairs in our Since the campaign launched, the WI
house at 41 West Street, while Father had
has made a buzz about bees locally
gone upstairs to bed.
and nationally and WI efforts ensured
Suddenly this deafening noise started all the honeybees got their fair share of
bricks where falling down the chimney, the government funding to research
pollinator decline.
noise was horrendous.
All the lights went out so we were plunged We also teamed up with Friends of the
Earth to push the government to
into darkness. I really thought the end of the
introduce an action plan setting out
world was coming. I have never felt more
how it will support our precious
frightened. My Father was looking up at the
honeybees. The government agreed
sky with rubble all around him, he had to
and launched the National Pollinator
climb and feel his way all through the debris until he was downstairs.
Strategy at our national Bee Summit,
He shouted “Are you alright “ Mother and I were rooted to the spot and dumb the first of its kind, co-hosted with
struck. Friends of the Earth. Details of how the
strategy will be implemented, along
My Father likened the noise to an Express train rushing past.
with a link to the original strategy, can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/
The neighbours were government/publications/national-pollinator-strategy-2014-to-2024-
calling to us to get out implementation-plan.
quickly as our thatched To mark World Bee Day in 2020, the WI has produced new resources to
roof was in the road, and complement those produced for the original campaign. These include ‘how-to’
the electricity pylons instructions to make your own bee-friendly seed bomb or a bee hotel, a bee-
bent in half, they friendly garden planting guide, and a honeybee-inspired recipe leaflet with
thought it would catch recipes such as salted honey fudge and strawberry and raspberry pollinator-
fire. friendly gin. If you’re looking for small projects to keep you sane during lockdown,

The Storm came across these might be just the thing. Just get in touch and we’ll send you instructions.
from Black Hill destroyed For details of future meetings, or further information about the WI or the projects
our house and blew itself above, please contact Di Pitts on 01929 471322 or Moira Mathers on 07900 906278.
out at Bere Down, where You can see more about our past meetings and activities on our Facebook page
the galvanised roof off @BereRegisWI.
o u r g ar a g e w a s

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