On Tuesday, 21 November members met for the Annual General Assembly. The evening began with a fascinating talk about the “Soils of Dorset” by Professor Mark Kibblewhite, Chair of Trustees at Dorset Wildlife Trust and a founding member of BAEG. He took us on a journey from Lambert’s Castle via Whitesheet Hill in Beaminster to Halstock and Hibbits Wood. Soil and all the minute organisims that exist within it is a living system that drives everything it supports. He explained how the heights in this corner of Dorset are the remnants of a tundra landscape dating from before the last Ice Age, and he described how land use across this and many other areas in Dorset has changed radically from pre-‐1955 to current day (within his own lifetime). Mark’s description of different soil types, accompanied by a brief history of their formation, provided a window into an area taken seldom considered by the vast majority. In almost all cases this change of land use and agricultural practice is resulting in degradation of soil quality.
Mark was warmly thanked for this excellent and enlightening presentation, which invited us to pay more attention to the ground we often walk over and think we know well.
The business part of the meeting including the election of committee members. For 2024, the BAEG Committee comprises: Robin Amswych (Treasurer), Jenny Beck, Deborah Childs, Nan Dower, Sheila Hawkins, Alison Roger, Paul Rychnovsky, and Rosemary Rychnovsky. Proposals put to and agreed by members present included, a 2-‐monthly series of talks open to the public, and investigating the possibility of establishing a BAEG small grant of up to £100, to enable local volunteer groups to get projects related to environmental benefit underway.
