Abbotsbury and Langton Herring

Abbotsbury

THE parish of St Nicholas Church was delighted to receive A Very Highly Commended Award in the Best Managed Class of the Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Bishop’s Living Churchyard Competition.

On Saturday, October 9, I represented our parish and received our certificate from the Venerable Patrick Evans at the Prize giving which took place at the Trust’s HQ Brooklands Farm.

It is always a lovely morning at Brooklands where the winners give presentations, churches swap information and the Trust is on hand with advice. Our large open churchyard, which measures about 3,000 sq.yds(3/4 acre) is on different levels with the foundations of the old Abbey church running through it is much admired.

It looks up to the Ridgeway, St Catherine’s Chapel and down to the Chesil Bank and the sea.

It is a busy place, a thoroughfare for residents and many tourists to various parts of the village and more especially a place of peace and reflection.

There are seats in various places for the public to rest awhile.

The size makes its management quite complex, as consideration for those who visit their family graves is paramount.

From comments received this is done well There is a wooded area; a close mown area around the church and the burial ground in use and the rest is strimmed on a regular basis.

Compost heaps provide free compost for all, log piles for the invertebrates and bird boxes are in place and there is an informative display inside the church.

At the moment we are trying to reduce the fertility of a large area to encourage more herbs, to remove the ivy from headstones and also this coming year we hope to make a lichen study.

Our award has only been made possible because of advice from the Dorset Wildlife Trust, help from volunteers and our fantastic grounds man. So, thanks go to all of them.

TEA and Crumpets were served in the garden of Church View on Saturday, Oct 9 in aid of The Friends of St Nicholas Church

On an Indian Summer afternoon it was a delight to catch up with friends in this lovely garden.

The crumpets were delicious and were served with Tricia’s special homemade blackcurrant or raspberry jam.

Pat Hawes was there celebrating her 80th birthday with her daughter Carole down from Oxfordshire for the week end so congratulations were given to her.

About £190 was raised and the Friends give thanks to all who provided goods for the stalls, to Waitrose for their generous donation and to the helpers.

I have received a thank you note from village teenager Sam Miners who visited South Africa in July fundraising for the charity Zulufadder with other volunteers

Sam would like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped and supported her for this trip.

The money raised, about £1000, goes towards the local families that Zulufadder supports and the education of the children in the deprived area of Eshowe that they visited.

THE Abbotsbury Beachcombers will be holding a Coffee morning/ Ploughman’s lunch day on Saturday, October 23 in Strangways Hall

The hall will be open from 10.30am – 2pm and there will be stalls of all kinds.

If you would like a sale table ring Pat on 01035 871465 after 6 pm