The gardens are well laid out and were full of Spring flowers as can be seen in the attached photographs. Many members partook of a nice lunch before returning home later in the afternoon, after a very enjoyable day out.

Keith Banks – Leader – Discovering Wessex Group

Triumphant Tree Planting Session – West Moors Community
The Free Tree initiative in February, only saw 60 saplings rehomed in
West Moors, leaving 130 still to be planted.
In addition to these, 200 extra saplings were purchased by the Council in
February, to add to the New Copse behind the skate park where 105
were planted during the first Community Tree planting session on
Saturday 8th January.
With the help of 30 volunteers (Councillors, local residents, a Ferndown
U3A representative and her family and council staff and families) on
Saturday 19th March, 200 saplings were planted during the Second
Community Tree Planting session, now ready to find their way in the
World!
There was a wonderful atmosphere and Community Spirit filled the air.
The sun was shining with a warm wind blow, the generosity from
volunteers and the buzz from the busy new skate park.
The 95 saplings that are left (Blackthorn, Rowan, Goat Willow and a few
Dog Rose), are available for collection from the council office before
Friday 25th March. Those remaining will be planted in the Copse by our
Grounds Maintenance team
These trees are working towards the development of a Woodland
Copse, to commemorate the Queen’s 70 Jubilee in 2022 and to do more
to reduce our carbon footprint, as we aim to move towards being a
carbon neutral council.

Amie Fawcett

Assistant to the Clerk to the Council

“One of the BBC’s ex-roving reporters paid a visit to the Barrington Centre on the 4^th of March and entertained 102 members of the FU3A at

one of our First Friday Coffee Mornings.

Alan Jones has spent many years reporting on news items on the South coast for BBC Radio.  He said these run into the thousands but he only ever talks

about the ones that nearly went wrong – because they are the funny ones.  Then just to prove it he nearly forgot to turn on his microphone he’d just

been given to present his talk.

Stories of his visits to warships out at sea, a visit to a snake venom specialist and an opportunity to meet the Queen kept his audience laughing with

one of the funniest and most interesting talks we have been privileged to receive for a while”. 

Keith Banks – Committee

Did you guess  the murderer? 

What a wonderful afternoon.  14 talented individuals and groups entertained us with song, recitations and sketches.

The judges critiqued the acts but the final results were with the audience vote.

Tea and cake rounded off a lovely afternoon.

Well done to everyone who took part.