More than 40 volunteers from the Wimborne Community enjoyed the sunshine on Sunday 5th February and helped pick up the biggest amount of litter we have ever collected in 2 hours on one of our picks! It was shocking to see and we could have easily spent the whole day clearing rubbish along verges, underneath bushes, on streets, paths and the river banks! The worst offenders were cigarette butts - we lost count of those in town, especially outside pubs, bus stops, and other venues where people gather then drop their butts as they rush in!
News
Planet Wimborne A.G.M.
Wednesday February 1st 2023
7:30 pm
Minster Arms, Wimborne
All welcome
Please email us ahead of the meeting to receive an agenda.
Dorset Community Energy hope to build a small ground-mounted solar array by the reservoir at Dottery (on land West Of Atrim Road, Dottery, Dorset DT6 5HS). They plan to make the electricity generated from the proposed array available to local residents via an Energy Local Club. These clubs allow members to buy cheaper electricity direct from a local renewable energy installation; and allow those generating the electricity to achieve slightly larger income than selling direct to the grid.
Planet Wimborne is campaigning for the use of glyphosate to be drastically reduced by Dorset Council and also for the public to be more discriminating in their choice of weed control. This is based on the mounting scientific evidence of the harmful effects of glyphosates, not only to aquatic life but also to insects such as bees. There is also concern that it might be a human carcinogen.
Dorset Council has launched a survey seeking the views of residents and businesses on their priorities for better bus services. However, funding is limited after the Council failed in a bid for government cash earlier this year.
Dorset Council's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) will be refreshed annually, and has the the key aims to improve public transport in Dorset by:
Planet Wimborne has written to several businesses, including BP, Shell and Esso service stations, Co-op and McColl’s, asking them if they stock disposable BBQs and if so, to consider taking them off their shelves.
Planet Wimborne hopes these businesses take the positive step to stop selling disposable BBQs and also sign up to support the Litter Free Dorset campaign.
One of Planet Wimborne’s affiliated groups is St John’s Church, where a whole crowd of children from Wimborne had great fun this summer taking part in the church’s annual holiday club, ‘KidsVenture’. This year’s theme focussed on the Christian idea of real transformation that can be found through God – including the need for things to change for the better in the way we care for our planet.
Dorset Council has issued an update on the development of the local plan, following a Cabinet Meeting on Tuesday 26th July 2022. You can see the update here: Dorset Council Local Plan – Cabinet update
This update is particularly relevant to the Dorset Deserves Better Campaign and is the first information received from the council for many months. You can find the latest information on the DDB campaign here: Dorset Deserves Better
The Big Butterfly count is underway. One of the biggest citizen science events in the world. Our insects are in decline and this is a way you can help understand the current state of our butterflies. It is really easy. Take a cold drink into the garden or park and sit for 15 mins counting all the butterflies and day flying months you see. An easy to use guide is available at the website link below where you can record your sightings. So east yet so important.
https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org
Huge thanks to the amazing team of people who litter picked last evening! What an incredibly disgusting amount of rubbish we found! 🤢
Cans and bottles were found tucked in bushes and dumped on the river bank and in the water! Old clothes, takeaway food packaging and sweet wrappers were found in all sorts of places! 😝
And, as usual, the most numerous item was cigarette butts, so please do get in touch if you or your staff/friends/colleagues would like a free stub tidy pack, we have lots to give away!