Beetles, Bees and Butterflies We were delighted to welcome 18 children and their grown ups to our recent fun and educational insect morning at Martinstown Village Hall. It was a privilege to be joined by CBBC presenter Naomi Wilkinson, who shared ideas for encouraging insects and other creatures into our gardens and outside spaces.

There was singing, insect-themed art & craft activities, and home-made bug-shaped biscuits. Colin Tracy showed a series of beautiful photos taken in his own garden of different caterpillars and insects.

Outside in the hall garden, children used hula hoops to select a seemingly empty patch of grass and explore it carefully with a magnifying glass.

Finally, the children were invited to create their very own wooden insect hotels to take home. They filled them with materials such as twigs, leaves, bamboo canes and corrugated card, ideal for hosting solitary bees and other insects. Written by Charlotte Beare

Soil: Foundation of Life – Supper Evening with Soil Scientist Mark Kibblewhite, 12th October 2024 We are excited that Professor Mark Kibblewhite, one of Europe’s leading soil scientists and an Emeritus Professor at Cranfield University will be joining us for an evening at Martinstown Village Hall. If you want to make better informed consumer choices, learn how best to care for your own garden, or simply wish to find out more about the importance of soil to the planet, this event will be for you! Tickets available at the Village Shop

Dorset Greener Homes 14th/15th and 21st/22nd September 2024
Dorset Climate Action Network (DCAN) will once again be hosting Dorset Greener Homes. There will be about 40 homes open to the public where the owners have changed their homes to make them warmer, greener and cheaper to run. Changes such as heat pumps, solar panels or batteries but may well be cheaper innovative ways to insulate the home or to save water. In Martinstown, 17 St Martinsfield will be open 21st 2.00- 4.30pm and 22nd 10.30 – 1.00pm. For details of all the homes open see: www. dorsetcan.org/greener_homes

Community Asset Transfer
We have received feedback from the Council on our application for transfer of land north of St. Martinsfield and the church, and as expected will be amending it in tine with their comments.
This is a normal part of the process and further updates will follow.