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Borrowed Janet's car and went down to Dorset to visit an old friend from Balmain, Richard Norman, who was the Treasurer of the Balmain Association and Balmain Theater Group early in the 70's. Richard lives in a small run of four terraces in the countryside at Sturminster Newton. The houses were built two at a time by the farmer about 200 years ago. His back garden is quite deep and is highly developed with mainly English plants and he lives there with his two border collies.
Richard wanted to show us as much as he could of the countryside, woods, villages etc. He has a great understanding of the countryside having been brought up in this area and he is now a warden and chairman of several countryside trusts. There are many different forms of title and interest in land, everywhere you see right of ways or public footpaths; some woods are owned by an adjoining estate but the use can be restricted i.e. the owner may have to get permission to plant, cut or spray the trees or grasses in the wood. He also can grant permission for other groups to use certain parts, i.e. horse riders, walkers, hunters, fishermen - there are no signs but communities know the rules and areas that can be used, any complaints and variations go to the conservation body with the Trust, Borough and owner to resolve, very complicated. The woods were lovely with acres of bluebells just starting to bloom. There were all sorts of other flowers - cowslips, anemones, primroses, wild garlic and many more Richard knew but we can't remember.
InSherborne we were able to visit an almshouse (a poor house often provided by a private benefactor) which was open as they were having a fund raising day selling cakes etc, We visited the Abbey which has the most spectacular fan-vaulted ceiling and adjoining is Richard's old school. He boarded for five years in School House. Later that day Di was talking to Richard about his last trip to NZ when he mentioned Bill Buddo a boy he went to prep school with! Di picked up that this was the same Bill Buddo who also spent five years with me in School House Christ College NZ!! Bill provided us with a free hire car in 2007, Richard also in 2008. Quite a coincidence, we sent an email to NZ that night.
We went as far as Corfe Castle which was deliberately blown up during the civil war and to Swanage where we saw the coast and a large area under the National Trust which is habitat for many waterbirds. We caught the punt across to Poole (a very large punt pulled across by chain) and drove past some seriously wealthy houses! We visited Kingston Lacy which was owned by the Bankes family who had also owned Corfe Castle, and built Kingston Lacy after the Restoration of Charles II. The Bankes family still own huge parcels of land in the area but they donated Kingston Lacy, its gardens and furnishings to the NT. No photos at this stage, Richard is to download his photos for us, hopefully soon.
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