Dorset Trefoil Guilds SWEEPing up!

On 30^th April, on a lovely sunny, if windy day, Dorset Trefoil guilds including Dorchester, Weymouth, Mudeford, Dorsetwide, Beaminster, Poole, and Kinson started work on their SWEEP challenge by doing beach cleans on several of Dorset’s beaches SWEEP stands for South West England Eco Project and is running until December 2027. Dorchester and Weymouth Trefoil guilds went to Weymouth, Swanage, Kinson and Poole Trefoil guilds to Swanage beach, Dorsetwide and Beaminster to Lyme Regis and Mudeford of course cleaned Mudeford beach. We were assisted with our equipment by Emma Jackson of Dorset County Council who went out of her way to make sure we had what we needed, BCP council and Weymouth Town Council. 

As expected there were numerous tiny pieces of plastic and glass – dangerous to birds, fish and other animals such as dogs - as well as pieces of fishing net. There was also a huge net that we couldn’t move on Weymouth beach, half buried in the shingle that a council officer told us that they know about and were waiting for a digger vehicle to remove. While there were a few unexpected, perhaps unmentionable items, in the area east of Weymouth Old Pier Dorchester guild was impressed that the people of Weymouth and visiting holiday makers left so little litter – well done to you all. Of course we did find some broken bottles and cans – but not many. 

Our SWEEP challenge is designed to encourage community activities to promote environmental awareness and sustainability – and certainly people asked us who we were and what we were doing and why – and if we were volunteers.  Beach (and park) cleans are not the only element in our project. Identifying ancient and significant trees in Dorset (think Hadrian’s Wall’s Sycamore Gap in Northumbria) and learning about seahorses and beavers in the marshes at Swanage are other projects, as are learning how the rise in sea levels impacts on wildlife. We are also encouraged to support projects being run by charities such as Dorset Wildlife Trust and Dorset Countryside volunteers. Of course other counties in the South West will concentrate on their areas and charities. We are also encouraged to support farmers’ markets and eco refill shops to promote sustainable food sources. 

Like all sections of Guiding and Scouting we will gain a badge if we complete 4 challenge clauses! 

Trefoil is the adult section of Girlguiding and any adult who supports Girlguiding, Scouting and also the community is welcome. For more information please contact Judy Thompson, email:-jct19336@gmail.com. Judy is the Dorset’s county secretary and can put you in touch with your nearest guild. Dorchester guild runs a knitting project supported by many in the community, making lap and memory blankets, twiddlemuffs and toy animals for Dorset County Hospital elderly wards and we welcome donations of double knitting wool. Please contact Judy as above if you can help.