Page 34 - BR June 2024 with duck - converted

June 2024 June 2024

The Beauty of Weeds BERE REGIS WI
During the merry month of May, you have probably been ‘weeding’ the garden in
preparation for this season’s planting. However, stop for a moment and have look
at the small flowers of these very common plants. They often have a beautiful form May has been a busy month for the WI. On Friday,
th
and when looked at closely compare well with our colourful garden flowers. They 10 the ladies visited Carey’s Secret Garden with a
are the nectar source for small insects which are at the bottom end of the food member of staff to explain their short history and
chain and play an important role in wildlife conservation. Get your hand lens out or their planting plans . As they have only been
switch your mobile to macro and have a look! reworking this walled garden since 2019 remarkable
progress has been made. There are now areas for plants that thrive in arid areas,
It is often said that a ‘weed is a plant in the wrong place’. Most of these plants [cactus and succulents] trees and plants that provide us with food, herbs that we
produce very large quantities of seeds which by natural means of seed dispersal
find their way into your garden. Some have very extensive root systems that are
difficult to remove. We will leave Nettles and Couch grass aside and look at just 4
of the many little plants that you may be weeding out.
1, Changing forget-me-not,
with minute flowers that open
from a coil and change from
yellow to blue as they age;
2. Thyme-leaved speedwell,
3mm diameter flowers, white
with elegant blue lines that
attract insects to the flower;
1
3. Herb Bennet, a hedge 2
bank plant with yellow know along side
flowers, that easily finds its medicinal and ‘well
way into shaded areas of the being’ varieties. There is
garden, This is a Geum and a a large vegetable area,
close relation to the colourful a “no dig” example and
garden varieties; a variety of garden
plants for us to note for
4. And last but not least, Field our own gardens. Our
3 Bindweed, one of the two 4 g u i d e w a s ve r y
bindweeds that find their way
into the garden and give knowledgeable and the
staff, conscious of the
gardeners a real problem at very warm weather,
times! kindly opened up their
barn to provide shade,
Bere Regis Three Walks seating and cold drinks
for those who needed a short break from the tour. A most enjoyable and
Some time back the Parish Council produced a helpful leaflet outlining three walks informative morning.
around the village and the near countryside. The walks were of varying length and
included Snow Hill / Back Lane, the stream and May’s Wood, and Black Hill. In the For our monthly meeting Steve Belasco was invited for a second visit. Last year he
took us along our coast line in photographs taken from his boat. This time, again

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