23 Jun Life on the Edge at Mothecombe

On 2nd June, 4 members of Newton & Noss WI, joined forces with the Dementia Friendly Parishes along the Yealm, and attended an afternoon tea at Mothecombe stables, hosted by Life on the Edge. 

A few months ago, we participated in making bees out of pine cones, wool & tissue paper. The project packs having been supplied by Life on the edge . 

At another session we learnt the art of Wet felting, which was very messy and good fun to do. We were challenged to make a landscape or picture of something to do with the countryside. 

                 Jackie Ross                                                                                Gill Tune                                                                   

                 Angela MacPhearson                                                       Lesley Dempsey

                                          Jane Uglow

These were displayed at the Stables at Mothercombe, and the bees looked lovely with their tissue paper wings fluttering & dancing in the breeze. 

We all enjoyed a lovely cream tea on the terrace in the sunshine. Then a group of us went on an escorted walk, to see the bugs that frequent the wild flowers in the gardens, meadow and along the stream. 

It was a beautiful afternoon spent in delightful company. I learnt a lot too. My bee box (which is uninhabited) is facing the wrong direction- they need the warmth of the sun.  That wild flower seeds sometimes take 5 years to bloom ( there is hope for mine yet), and that sowing Yellow rattle, will help clear the ground to make way for the wild flowers; and that yellow Rattle is in fact a semi-parasitic and lives by feeding off the nutrients in the roots of nearby grasses. For this reason, it was once seen as an indicator of poor grassland by farmers, but is now often used to turn improved grassland back to meadow – by feeding off the vigorous grasses, it eventually allows more delicate, traditional species to push their way through. Brush through a meadow at the height of summer and you’ll hear the tiny seeds of yellow-rattle rattling in their brown pods, hence its name. 

All in all, it was an afternoon well spent, supporting the Dementia Friendly Parishes along the Yealm; The Life on the Edge Project, who hope to have lottery funding to continue their work.