Page 34 - br-nov-2018

November 2018 November 2018

November, meeting at the Cemetery gates at 10am.
hiking and camping in wild county,
journeying for just over 8 hours a day in Our initial focus will be upon ancient / veteran trees bounding the hollow ways /
some difficult weather conditions. sunken lanes leading from the village on to Black Hill and alongside the boundary
Many thanks to all the Leaders, hedge banks skirting the southern edge to Black Hill. These tracks / banks are of
supervisors and assessors who helped historic interest and significance to Bere Regis and the trees alongside them a
the young people achieve this part of part of that history. If you know of any old trees you think are valuable let us know
the award. and we will take a look at them.

Sunken lanes, also known as hollow ways, holloways (the name is derived from
Scout News the old English or Saxon word ‘hola weg’) are ancient tracks with many dating
back to early time. They provided routes for farmers to move their stock between
Scouts welcomed new members who grazing grounds, for people to take their wares to market, or for parishioners to
moved up from cubs, and with even attend church. Over centuries of use and the eroding effects of feet, hooves,
more due to move up in the New year we decided to change the timings of our cart wheels and water these tracks have become wider and worn lower and
meetings (plus the ageing Leaders need more beauty sleep) so we start and lower into the landscape. With time some of these paths turned into the paved
finish half an hour earlier which also has the bonus of lighter evenings in the spring roads we drive along, others are now footpaths or bridleways, and sometimes
and autumn months for us to be out doors. they have been lost in the landscape.
It was a weekend of two halves weather wise at the recent Nosh Camp at With earthen walls to either side, held in place by a network of roots; with trees
Buddens camp site. We arrived in the rain and managed to get the tents up very and hedges at a higher level to either side of these tracks; and, with the canopy
quickly before our first ‘nosh’’ of a packed lunch. The scouts then set about of these trees often forming a tunnel, these paths have a real air of mystery and
earning the Chef activity badge by planning a 2 day menu for 4-6 people, shop magic. Their characters change with the weather and seasons – dappled light on
for the food for 2 of the meals – we invaded Sainsbury’s in Wareham with a sunny days, damp and gloomy on winter days.
budget of £4 per person, store the food appropriately and showing consideration
that we were using a outdoor kitchen. They cooked the food on a camp fire, Hollow ways are often wildlife havens. Dark and damp conditions can
served and cleared away afterwards. Well done to all for coming up with some encourage lichen, fungi, harts tongue ferns; others have a splendid display of
fantastic meals and gaining the award. stitchwort, bluebells and primroses in Spring; and, there are also rabbit burrows,
badger sets and fox holes, and bats add to their special character as the light

fades.
Cub News
We are fortunate to have a wealth of hollow ways in Dorset, with some fine
The cubs do not stay inside even if it is cold and dark – they go outside and light examples leading from our village onto Black Hill. These hollow ways are a record
fires and cook. Other activities they have enjoyed are team six challenges and of the habits of our ancestors with hundreds of years of repeated use that makes
disability awareness. them rich in heritage and mystery, a joy to walk and a good starting point for
recording ancient and veteran trees.

Beaver News
Contact Us
In our normal section meetings this
term the beavers were gearing up If you would like to know more about the work of the Wildlife Group or to be
for our play, The Lost World, as included on our mailing list, please contact:
part of the Creative and Musician Tony Bates at tonybates19@gmail.com / 01929 471563 or
badges, and for some beavers,
part of the Personal Challenge Mike Gee at mike.n.g@outlook.com / 0775 988 4942.
badge, which was performed on
th
the 17 October. Thanks to the

34 51