Planet Wimborne Newsle er
February 2025
A belated welcome to the New Year. Snowdrops are in flower, daffodils are in bud, and I’ve even heard my first skylark! All signs of Spring are always welcome - even if they’re ge ng earlier each year because of global hea ng.
This edi on provides an update on what’s been happening in the area. We would welcome any stories for our next Newsle er. Please email planetwimborne@gmail com
Spring Green Quiz
Some quick general knowledge quiz ques ons, with a seasonal flavour:
1 As migratory birds start to return to our shores, which species will have travelled the furthest?
2. Who first brought snowdrops to the UK?
3. What is the most ecologically damaging aspect of Valen ne’s Day?
4 How much earlier do plants flower in the Spring than they did in the 1980s?
5. According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2025 is the year of the snake. So what propor on of the world’s snake species are threatened with ex nc on?
Answers below.
Planet Wimborne News
Join the Steering Group!
We s ll need a treasurer to look a er our accounts, and volunteers to join our Campaigns sub-group. Please email planetwimborne@gmail.com if you are interested in helping with these
Spotlight on Community Groups joining PW
We are aiming to profile each of the Community Groups belonging to Planet Wimborne here in this Newsle er. So if your group hasn’t been featured yet, please send us a brief descrip on and details of current ac vi es. For this issue, we’d like to welcome Dorset Cyclists Network.
Dorset Cyclists Network
We are not a cycling club but a campaign run by elected volunteers covering the whole of Dorset including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. We are a consulta on group used by local authori es on cycling proposals and we work with them We lobby the councils to improve cycle facili es, especially on behalf of people who cycle to school, work and to the shops.
We work with other organisa ons with compa ble aims We help to iden fy cyclists’ needs such as safer junc ons, secure parking, be er signs etc. A network of local area representa ves lobby on local issues and organise local rides
We organise gentle and moderate cycle rides and other events, on which ride leaders are covered for 3rd party insurance through Cycling UK, to which we are affiliated
contact: eastdorset dcn@gmail com
DEED affiliates to Planet Wimborne
We are delighted that DEED (Promo ng global educa on and learning) has affiliated to Planet Wimborne DEED is an educa on charity suppor ng and inspiring teachers, pupils and community members to develop their understanding of global issues,
environmental sustainability and cultural diversity. Many of you will know Sarah Wise from her work with War on Waste and many sustainability ini a ves in the town and you can find out more about DEED's great work here: h ps://planetwimborne.org/index.php/community-groups
A vision for a more sustainable Wimborne and surrounding area
We have set up a working group to come up with ways to engage as wide an audience as possible to develop a vision of what a more sustainable town and surrounding area could look and feel like This has been inspired by Zero Carbon Dorset's vision for the county (h ps://www.dorset2030.com/vision-statements.html). So, watch this space to see how you can be involved
Makers and Shakers
Makers and Shakers has started our next cra ivism project, which is on biodiversity loss - an issue close to our heart. We’re making a large hanging to display during April’s Earth Day week, to bring home the scale of the problem and to give pointers to a be er future. It will be in cross s tch as we know lots of people love it, also it is super easy and accessible for beginners to pick up There will be small and larger pieces to s tch It's not too late to get involved If you’re interested in taking part, contact us at makersandshakerswimborne@gmail com and let us know
Find out more about biodiversity in Great Britain from The State of Nature report infographic h ps://stateofnature.org.uk/infographics/
Repair Cafe
Over the course of 2024 we have held 10 sessions and looked at 497 items, of which just 90 were deemed unfixable That's almost 82% saved from waste. Volunteers (fixers, welcome team and kitchen) have given 756 hours over the course of the year. h ps://planetwimborne org/wimborne-repair-cafe
War on Waste
A quick summary from 2024: Bun ng - Has been loaned out 14 mes Crockery and glasses - loaned out 5 mes
Li er picking - loaned 14 mes to schools, cubs, scouts, BID, businesses, individuals and DoE Students (all the above have been loaned from Fair Ground) We have also held 10 community li er picks and have had 156 people join us over the year. h ps://planetwimborne org/index php/wimborne-war-waste
When Planets Collide
On the a ernoon of Monday January 13th members of Planets' Wimborne, Purbeck and Sha esbury met to share and listen to each other’s experiences and future plans. It was a great mee ng hearing how each organisa on is working in different ways to tackle the climate and ecological crises. Hopefully through this Newsle er and coming along to our events you know a bit about Planet Wimborne's work and plans
Planet Purbeck (h ps://planetpurbeck.org/) is a charity and is focusing on giving young people the opportunity to experience the fantas c nature on offer in Purbeck. The aim of this approach is to inspire a love for nature in young people that will stay with them for the rest of their lives and so inspire them to help protect our precious planet It is a truly inspiring approach and they are working in partnership with the likes of the Na onal Trust and Dorset Wildlife Trust to benefit the people living and working in Purbeck Planet Sha esbury (h ps://www planetsha esbury org/) is 6 years old and does not have a formal structure. They are a group of people concerned about climate breakdown and the ecological emergency There are a number of small groups working on specific projects, such as the Tree Group and they have found focusing on food and nature is the best way to engage with people Their key project is working closely with Sha esbury Town Council to help deliver the Town's Sustainable Sha esbury Vision and Masterplan (h ps://www planetsha esbury org/ files/ugd/33cd74 b52b717d9 de44de797150f0510009f4b pdf) and this is a useful resource when considering what Wimborne Town Council's Climate Ac on Plan (h ps://wwwwimborne govuk/your-council/council-priori es/) might look like
The three Planet Wimborne Directors who a ended the mee ng are now reflec ng on what we heard to consider what we might like to incorporate in the way we work.
QUIZ ANSWERS: 1 The Arc c tern (Sterna paradisaea) is the bird that migrates the farthest in the UK, traveling up to 24,000 miles (40,000 km) each year. 2. Origina ng in Europe, the first recorded cul va on of snowdrops in England dates from the 16th century, though many believe they were first brought over by Norman monks. 3. The interna onal trade in cut flowers, which results in significant carbon emissions Buy locally grown flowers instead, e g from this supplier: h ps://wwwflowersfromthefarm co uk/
4 They now flower a month earlier, according to research 5 About 20%, or around 600 species
Planet Wimborne Plans for 2025
We are busy making plans for the coming year. Dates for your calendars are:
Spring Green Earth Day celebra ons (as part of Discover Wimborne 2025) - a number of events around Saturday 26th April. Community Group networking event on Saturday 1st March - an opportunity for our affiliated groups to come together and share ideas.
Launch of reusable Wimborne Cup at the Folk Fes val (6th - 8th June) - you may have seen ar cles asking for design ideas. You will have the chance to vote on the final cup design.
Green Fes val (11th - 18th October) - a week long celebra on of all things sustainable, with a focus on over consump on (working tle: Buy Be er, Be More).
Further details to be announced in due course We are always looking for volunteers to help with our events and please email planetwimborne@gmail.com if you would like to help.
Things happening around Wimborne
You can see what is coming up here Some key dates for February and March:
8 March Saturday, 10:30 - 12:00 Wimborne Win on Waste Bring items to Wimborne Methodist Church. Details here
14 - 21 February Na onal Nest Box week
15 February Saturday. 12:00 - 14:00. Wimborne Repair Cafe Methodist Church Hall Details here
16 February Sunday. 11:30 - 13:00. Wimborne War on Waste's Community Li er Pick Please note the change of venue to meet at Dreamboats and finish at the Football Club (h ps://planetwimborne org/node/120)
2 March Sunday Dogdean - tree guard removal Details here
23 March Sunday. 11:30 - 13:00. Wimborne War on Waste's Community Li er Pick Details here
Please support Mayor's events as all money raised will be shared between Planet Wimborne and the Friends of Wimborne Victoria Hospital:
Guided walks around the town on Sunday 16th Feb & 23rd March (h ps://www.wimborne.gov.uk/2025/01/mayoral-guided-walks-in-w imborne-minster-3/) Meet at 11am in the Square
Lunch with Jazz at the Wimborne Pig on Weds 26th Feb at 12.30pm (Tickets £25 per person for a two course meal (see Wimborne Town Council Facebook page for details: h ps://wwwfacebook com/wimbornetc/)
Mayor's Auc on of Promises on Wednesday 19th March at 19 00 in Town Hall (details on Wimborne Town Council Facebook page)
We hope you’ve found some things of interest in this newsle er. If you have comments or sugges ons for future topics, drop us an email at planetwimborne@gmail.com