The West Dorset Magazine, March 25, 2022
Letters
31
newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk
More than one way to strip a lynchet I cannot agree with John Wright that strip lynchets were formed by ploughing (Down to Earth, February 25). On hillsides the top soil is quite thin. You would end up with three feet of top soil on the downhill side and raked chalk on the rest of the flat area. I would think it more likely that the top soil was removed, then the land levelled and then the top soil was put back. JWA Diggens Piddlehinton n We’re a couple of former regional press reporters and subs who recently spent a week in Askerswell. I’m just writing to say how impressed we were with The West Dorset Magazine – the content, the layout and production, and the
sheer size of the mag. I wish you every success with your new venture - if what we saw is anything to go on, you should thrive! Best wishes, Adam Aiken. Norwich n It was such beautiful weather at the weekend, I decided to take my grandchildren to West Bay for a lovely walk across the beach. I couldn’t believe it when my four-year-old grandson picked up a brightly coloured packet and rushed back to me with glee, showing me his find. When I looked at the package, I was dismayed to find it was an air freshener, still in its packet. Air fresheners are filled with toxins which are hazardous to marine life. Jane Humphries Dorchester
Plant of the week...
Cartoon by Lyndon Wall
justsocaricatures.co.uk
Blackthorn By botanist Dr Dave Aplin Blackthorn – Prunus spinosa ‘It’s a blackthorn winter’, mum used to say, a period of once predictable colder weather coinciding with the blooming of blackthorn emerging from leafless stems. This suckering shrub, occasionally small tree, is a common hedgerow plant with sharp thorny shoots making it a valuable livestock hedge. Its white flowers emerge from midMarch when the blooms of February’s cherry plum are spent and before the buds of hawthorn appear on their leafy stems. Blackthorn, is also known as sloe, produces bluish-black fruits during autumn which are often gathered to flavour Christmas gin.
