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March 2022 March 2022

Item number six was an ornate gold urn into which she extremely seriously, and my approach to the Government recognises both my
used an asymmetrical oasis block. More tulips featured and Dorset Council’s commitment to the needs and aspirations of the residents of
this time a beautiful shade of pink. A lively discussion Dorset. I am a strong advocate for Dorset and remain committed to lobbying for
took place about how best to keep tulips upright. A a better deal for the communities of Dorset. Here is the link to the statement on
two pence piece in the water, aspirin and lemonade the council’s newsroom: https://news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/2022/01/26/a-local-
were all suggested as solutions! Some beautiful peach plan-that-is-right-for-dorset-cllr-spencer-flower-leader-of-dorset-council/
germini and pink roses, with dark red lisianthus were
arranged in a line across the display.
Maintenance of highway verges
Diana Holman had brought along one of her favourite
containers which was so tall that unfortunately when Liz Maintenance of highway verges is an important but costly undertaking for Local
tried to plant with some striking stems of cornus they Authorities. It is necessary for safety as well as aesthetic reasons. With the squeeze
would not fit as they were touching the ceiling! So a on public finance we have much less money to satisfy this demand. Dorset
change of plan turned it into a horizontal Council are taking an innovative ecological approach to managing our verges,
arrangement. Dark phormium leaves, cut reducing soil fertility through the collection of grass cuttings, introducing species
into fish tails, provided structure and large of flowering plant which restrict grass growth and ensuring low nutrient soils are
bergenia leaves covered up the used in road construction. The result, slow growing, beautiful wildflower verges
mechanics. Liz reminded members that which attract and sustain pollinating insects, and lower costs as the need to cut
grouping in odd numbers works best but if verges is reduced.
you only have two stems to make sure they
are at different heights. Maintenance of highway verges is
necessary to provide safe passage on
The final container was a statue and Liz our roads ensuring good visibility for
decided to do a contemporary design in a drivers and pedestrians. The need to
traditional receptacle. She used raffia cut verges is linked to the underlying
covered wire to group heads of alstroemaria together. With fertility of the soils in which the grass
phormium leaves folded into loops and fatsia around the grows. The milder autumns and springs
base the end result was simply fabulous. have led to extended growing seasons,
and with it, greater public pressure to
What an impressive afternoon! Talk about exceeding cut more frequently. Starting from the
expectations and Diana was lucky enough to win one of principle that if we can reduce the
the raffle prizes - of course, she chose the arrangement in amount that grass grows in the first
her own vase! place, we will have less to cut, and this
should cost us less, whilst not

compromising public safety. Of the four main components of the ecosystem that
Next Meeting make grass grow – light, water, temperature and soil nutrients – it is only the soil
The next meeting of Bere Regis Floral Group will be on nutrients we have some control over.
Tuesday 8 March 2022 at 2pm in Winterborne Kingston There are two main ways we can reduce soil fertility:
th
village hall.
On existing road verges, we can collect the grass cuttings and remove them,
Area Demonstrator Lucy Ellis is the demonstrator for the gradually reducing the amount of nutrient which fuels grass growth. We can also
afternoon, and her title is Opera Goes to the Movies – Part II. Sounds intriguing! As add plant species such as Yellow Rattle which naturally reduce the amount that
always, visitors and new members are most welcome. grass grows by sucking the life out of the roots.

For more information contact chairman Bob Holman on 01305 848262 or come When designing a new road scheme, or as part of works to existing roads, we
along on the day. We would love to see you! make sure the finishing layer of soil is as low in nutrients as possible - or leave it as

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