We’ve had 2 and a half inches of rain in the area since the start of September so BEWI gardeners were delighted that it was dry on Monday morning.  Our host was less delighted with the state of the hanging baskets, geraniums and the canna lilies all of which suffered with the constant damp and rain showers.  On the plus side, Ruth’s garden was wonderfully green and still punctuated with colour from begonias, fuchsia, thunbergia, rudbeckia and more.  As usual tips on plant care and where to buy good quality plants was shared.  The sun shone but coats stayed on as it was a cool Autumn day.  In October the gardening group hope to visit a garden full of autumnal colour.

BEWI has run for several years a monthly photo competition which members can enter.  This last month the theme was “Arches” and our professional photographer judge said that there was an outstanding selection of photos. “Some of the pictures illustrate perfectly how a great image can be constructed, both for photographs or paintings.”  Our regular camera club helps enthusiastic amateurs to learn more skills at meetings.  The local WI federation also organises an annual photographic competition and congratulations goes to one of our members whose entry is being published in the Hampshire Federation 2025 calendar.

WALK & TALK AUGUST 2024

We needn’t have worried about the weather

We needn’t have worried about the heather

We needn’t have worried about the pond

Or finding the path that went beyond.

We needn’t have thought no-one would attend

Or that a refusal might offend.

We needn’t have worried about where to eat

Or if we’d be able to get a seat.

The weather was fine, though often notorious

The heather was stunning, deep purple and glorious.

Lilies, ponies, and cattle were all in store

Five walkers today (which is more than before).

To the tearoom for leisurely coffees after

Shared understandings, stories, and laughter.

Next month we will move to our new time: Monday

So that we don’t clash with the Silver Swans ballet.

thank you Jacqueline for, not only spending time, along with Vivienne, arranging BEWI walks but also for your undoubted talent as a poet.

Our wine club have travelled across the globe in the comfort of our homes with a glass of wine in hand to assist.  This week we started in Austria and were told we were trying a wine made with their most popular grape, Gruner Veltliner.  We’d sampled this before and expected a dry white with hints of lime, lemon and grapefruit.  The wine, called Orange, was a surprise to the palate.  It’s a pretty colour (not bright orange) and rich, spicy and complex.  Eaten with some smoked cheese, we really began to appreciate this new wine.  Then we learnt, it wasn’t new.  Orange winemaking hails from ancient traditions with these techniques used as far back as 5,000 years ago in what is now Georgia.  Originally, orange wines fermented in large buried earthenware amphorae called Qvevri (“Kev-ree”) which were closed with flagstones and sealed with beeswax. There were no additives, not even yeast.  During fermentation, the wine is exposed to lots of oxygen which morphs fresh fruit and flower aromas into aromas like bruised apple and honey. Over time, wines taste nutty.

BEWI wine club thoroughly enjoyed the evening, sampling 4 wines with, possibly, Von den Terrassen being the favourite.

Every year NFWI considers resolutions proposed by the membership.  This year the proposal was “Dental Health Matters” and it was passed with an overwhelming 95.5% margin as delegates called for more government investment to relieve the chronic shortage of NHSD dentists.

The NFWI Public Affairs Department will now develop a WI campaign to take action on the dental health crisis both locally and nationally. There will be lots of opportunities for members to get involved.  More than 12 million people were unable to access NHS dental care in 2023 – more than 1 in 4 adults in England. And 90% of dental practices are no longer accepting new NHS adult patients. Tooth decay is the number one reason for children to be admitted to hospital.

That’s why NFWI are urging all members to get involved in our campaign to end this crisis.  You can find a letter to send to your MP by logging on to MyWI.

NFWI National Chair, Ann Jones addressed her final Annual Meeting (4000 delegates attended at the Royal Albert Hall) last month.  During the year she has travelled the country visiting WIs and commented on ‘warm welcomes and an enormous sense of optimism and excitement for the future’.  She is celebrating the WI’s increased numbers with an average of 66 new members a day joining in the last year.  BEWI has also welcomed new members and we realise it’s not always easy joining a new organisation and learning what is happening and who everyone is.  One of our well established events is a meeting just for new members so they can start to get to know each other and last week Ann Hayden, BEWI president invited them to her home and it looks like they had a great time.

BEWI members seem to be surrounded by flowers in this wonderful month of June and summer has arrived with long warm days.  Many of our members were involved with plans for the Coronation planter; we visited a member’s pretty garden; our monthly photo competition theme was “Fabulous Flowers” and our Crafty Girls created glorious blooms out of crepe paper.  These artificial blooms were so good, they looked like some of the excellent photos submitted for the competition.  BEWI endeavours to find activities that members enjoy, not necessarily because they are good at them but it’s fun to learn in a group.  WI members can access courses via the WI Learning Hub as well as by working together with our own creative BEWI members.

The WI Learning Hub is part of the ongoing commitment of the NFWI and Denman Trust, to provide WI members flexible access to education.  Non-WI members can continue to access a number of courses available on the Hub for a charge; if you would like to find out more about joining the WI movement, visit thewi.org.uk.

Do you think you would like to join BEWI, contact us via our Join Us tab.

There are plenty of beautiful Georgian houses in Blandford Forum (built after the town’s Great Fire in 1731) and one of them, Lime Tree House, is home to the Blandford Fashion museum.  Exhibitions show visitors historic dress and textiles and the connection between fashion and social history. Members of BEWI were treated to an informative talk and tour by one of their volunteers and the opportunity to wander through the rooms at our leisure.  Currently, one area is dedicated to Olympic clothing, some on loan by Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson and another room displays nightwear from Baby Doll nighties to exquisite fine white lace on a modest full length nightdress.  There is such a great range of outfits, something for everyone plus an excellent tearoom and some bits and bobs to try on.

Most definitely worth a visit.