Blooming Wareham is going for Gold!

GREEN-FINGERED

gardeners in Wareham are going for gold this summer in Britain in Bloom competitions.

Judges will be visiting today (Monday, July 10) to assess the town’s entry in the South and South-East in Bloom competition.

Members of Wareham Community Growers hope the floral displays they have created with the town council impress, after winning Gold and the Best Small Town award in 2022.

The group has also accepted an invitation this year to enter Wareham in the RHS Britain in Bloom national finals and the judges will be visiting on Tuesday, August 1.

The competition is not all about flowers – community involvement and environmental responsibility are considered alongside horticultural excellence.

Anyone who would like to

Children’s crafts at arts showcase

YOUNGSTERS can have low-cost summer holiday fun in children’s workshops being staged at Dorset Arts & Crafts Showcase at Purbeck School in Wareham.

A variety of activities are planned over the five days of the show for children aged six and over.

They will be making bearded geckos one day, for example, and air-dried clay beasties and Dorset buttons another day.

Younger brothers and sisters can join in some of the activities.

Entry to the event is free for children and under-18s, and a nominal charge is made for workshop activities to cover material costs. Advanced booking is not necessary. help Wareham Community Growers should phone Jacquie on 07890 139038, visit their

The showcase also includes a large sales gallery of work by members of Dorset Arts & Crafts Association, four guest exhibitions, art and craft stalls, and craft demonstrations.

The Dorset Arts & Crafts Showcase runs from Friday to Tuesday, August 4-8, 10am-4pm.

Facebook page or email warehamcommunitygrowers@ gmail.com.

Hospice PhD student Cathy presents work at university

LEWIS-MANNING Hospice Care and Bournemouth University PhD student Cathy Beresford has presented her public involvement strategy at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences conference at Bournemouth University.

Cathy was appointed a fully funded Lewis-Manning PhD studentship at BU in September 2022 set to complete in 2025.

Her PhD studies involve qualitative research with people who have advanced liver disease to explore their palliative and end-of-life care experiences.

She is receiving support from the experienced researchers and clinicians from Bournemouth University and Lewis-Manning Hospice Care. Cathy is a qualified nurse with an MSc in Primary Care and a background in diabetes specialist nursing.

She said: “I am so grateful for the support I am receiving from Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, I wouldn’t be able to study for this PhD without it.

“It’s an amazing personal and professional opportunity for me.

“I’m thoroughly enjoying my studies, which have been really varied.”

Hospice chief executive Clare Gallie said: “We are enjoying following Cathy’s PhD journey and delighted that her studies are progressing so well.

“Her funded studies are with huge thanks to three very generous supporters of the hospice – Professor Howard Thomas, a key supporter of the charity and Emeritus Professor of Hepatology at Imperial College London and a former chair, NICE clinical guideline development group on treatment of chronic hepatitis band NICE and hospice patrons Sir Simon and Jill Campbell.”