Working party tidying up and clearing Goulds Bottom picnic park (From Dorset Echo)

Working party tidying up and clearing Goulds Bottom picnic park

11:41am Thursday 3rd March 2011 in Community

• THERE was a great clearing, chopping, pruning and grinding of overgrown vegetation at Goulds Bottom picnic park, which is managed by the Upwey Society, when several keen members gathered to tidy up this special place.

To make better use of this land, we decided it was time to improve not only its appearance but also its appeal to wildlife. Barry Day has been looking after it for us for the last three years, but it needed much more than just mowing. Professional help and advice came from Luke and David Mayo to ensure that only weak and overcrowded trees and bushes were removed The working party have cleared a lot of brambles and some of the ivy, we’ve felled some surplus trees which were clearly unhappy and some judicious pruning has much improved the chances and appearance of other trees. Now we shall wait for nature to work her annual springtime magic and discover plants we didn’t know existed there.

To help matters along on a rather stormy day, our President, Angela Lousley, arrived with much appreciated coffee to go with biscuits to keep the effort going. The picnic table had been installed in the park some time ago and we welcome walkers, riders and people who just like to be there.

Later on, in May, there’s to be an early evening “Springwatch in Upwey” event at Goulds Bottom when we shall be inviting families to come and see what can be seen with the guidance of some of the folk from the RSPB. More news of that nearer the time.

• UZBEKISTAN is not a country at the forefront of most peoples’ interest, but those of us who were able to go to Ken and Jenny Gale’s talk recently enjoyed a journey of discovery to Central Asia.

Our speakers had prepared an excellent presentation describing the history and present life and culture of the Uzbeks and answered many questions. Members of the Upwey Society provided tea and cakes and a collection raised nearly £100 for the local branch of the MS Society.

• AT THE WESSEX Research Group meeting on Wednesday, March 9, the speaker will be Julie Musk who will be telling stories of lesser known people and places around Weymouth. She publishes books of local interest and can advise on how to put a book together for publication. The Group meets on the second Wednesday of every month at the Memorial Hall in Victoria Avenue at 7.30pm. There is a charge of £5 (£4 concessions) with refreshments and free parking. Contact Roma on 01305 816644 or email spiraloftranquility.roma@virgin.net for information.

• AT LAST the spring is here and at the Horticultural Society’s Spring Show on Saturday, March 12, all the very best will be exhibited.

Enjoy the afternoon, from 2pm at the Memorial Hall, entry is free and there will be tea and cakes.