22 December 2022 - Christmas Trees
What?!
You haven't even bought your tree yet and here's someone talking about how to get rid of it afterwards?
(For those of us who think it's appropriate to put it up on Christmas Eve and take it down on Boxing Day then I'm not too early!)
Anyway...
Our local (Plaisters Lane) neighbours who run Trinity Street Christmas Trees are doing the Weldmar Hospice's "TreeCycle" scheme again this year. They will collect your used tree for a modest donation to this very worthwhile charity - your tree doesn't need to have been bought from TSCT but is there really anywhere else you'd consider buying from? And a little Christmas robin whispered to me that recycling your 2022 tree could get you a discount on your 2023 tree!
19 December 2022 - Carol Services
Ho-Ho to you all - and a last minute reminder of the St Andrew's Carol Service this evening at 5.30pm.
I've been asked specifically to invite you all to the village Carol Service, tomorrow, December 20th at 6.30pm, outside the Mission Hall, led by the Salvation Army Band.
There will be a retiring collection for the Salvation Army.
This will be followed by refreshments (mince pies and mulled wine, at £2 per person) in the Mission Hall.
On Christmas Eve there will be a Crib Service at St Andrew’s at 4.30pm.
And on Christmas Day, Christmas Communion at St Andrew’s will be at 9.30am.
Have a jolly good time!
J & S & the Mission Hall Trust
19 December 2022 - Wildlife in the woodland just below the spring basin
As some of you will know the Biodiversity Group have been managing the woodland just below the spring basin for a number of years. This has been part of a long-term lease agreed between Wessex Water and the Sutton Poyntz Society. We do get a number of requests about access and we are working with Wessex Water to get a boardwalk built in the wood to help in that respect, as much of the wood is now flooded following the river being diverted a couple of years ago.
To give folks an idea of the wildlife that live in the wood we have been keeping a video diary by using cameras at different locations. Following a fair amount of work, helped by Bill Egerton, we now have the diary accessible on the village web site. For the next couple of months the diary can be accessed from the front page of the web site via the link Biodiversity Group's Video Diary - it can also be accessed via the Biodiversity home page.
The objective of the diary is not to produce spectacular wildlife footage, we leave that to the experts, but to give an insight into life going on in this quiet and peaceful part of the village, undisturbed by human activity.
Dave Emery
Biodiversity Group
15 December 2022 - URGENT TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF (part of) COOMBE VALLEY ROAD (for Openreach)
The closure will come into operation between 09:30 and 15:00 on 16 December 2022 and remain in force for five days, however it is
anticipated that the works will be completed by 16 December 2022.
J & S
14 December 2022 - Christmas Carols at St Andrew's
A "change of date notice" has been handed to me by a passing angel:
St Andrew’s Church Carol Service will now be held on Monday December 19th at 5.30pm - everyone welcome.
J & S
11 December 2022 - Successful hedgerow planting
A big thank-you to the 30 or so villagers who turned out last week to help with planting the hedgerow along the millennium walk.
They were ably supported by an equal number of enthusiastic young helpers from the Weymouth East Cub group.
A special thanks to the Muntsy's special needs group who stoically helped to plant the first 20 metres of the hedge.
The weather was generally kind although the afternoon shift was a little damp.
In all some 1400 saplings were planted with 12 different species which will provide many different types of flowers and berries as well a wide variety of leaves for Autumn colour.
Thanks also for to the support from George and Sally Lunn (who farm the sheep), the Dorset AONB with a £1500 grant from the Strategic Development Fund, as well as a large number of saplings donated by the Woodland Trust, organised by Jon Waterman.
Cheers,
Dave Emery
Biodiversity group
6 December 2022 - Mission Hall feedback meeting on Thursday
Just a reminder that the meeting to review and discuss all the excellent feedback from the village on the future of the Mission Hall will be held on Thursday 8th at 7.30pm. You know where.
There's no football to watch so come and hear all the ideas and plans and make the Mission Hall what we all want it to be. And by the way, mulled wine and nibbles will be served!
J pp Bill Egerton
1 December 2022 - Ho! Ho! Ho!
Christmas starts in the village with a suitably-themed Coffee Morning tomorrow at 10.30am in the Mission Hall.
And to continue the celebrations we'll be officially turning on the Sutton Poyntz Illuminations (a.k.a. Christmas tree) tomorrow evening at 6.30pm.
Expect mince pies, mulled wine and all sorts of jollity.
Many thanks to Jon and Ian for hosting the tree in front of their house (next to The Cartshed), but even greater thanks to Peter and Tamzin Hyde of Trinity Street Christmas Trees for donating the magnificent tree to the village. Trees can be bought from their usual place in Dorchester next to the Post Office - I forget the name of the street that's on - or from Morrisons in Weymouth. Give them your support!
Ho-ho
J & S