Dilton Marsh WI meeting report

Although sickness had reduced the numbers of members attending the first WI meeting of the year, those present were given an interesting talk on garden birds.

The speaker was Christine Johnson, an ambassador for the British Trust for Ornithology. She described the importance of gardens in maintaining the bird population and was able to share information on the impact that smaller domestic gardens, paving and decking and the increased use of pesticides appears to have had of different species of garden bird. She encouraged members to join the Garden Birdwatch project, run by the British Trust for Ornithology, which helps to map populations of birds, insects and mammals throughout the year. Her talk was supplemented by some colourful pictures.

Following the talk, the six proposed resolutions for the national AGM were described. Each WI is asked to put forward the preferred option which will be debated at the national AGM in the summer. Following a vote of members, it was agreed that the preferred option was the resolution relating to increasing plant security. 

 The next meeting will be held in the Memorial Hall on 14th February. Although part of the meeting will be devoted to the annual selection of the officers and the committee members, time will also be spent in some social activities.

 Hilary Fairfield