Dorset Mind’s Tour de Dorset Fundraiser

The Tour de Dorset Fundraiser is super simple and open to all ages and abilities. All you need to do is cycle as far as you can between 26th June and 18th July and track your progress on Strava group. This year Beryl, the bike share provider across Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole, is running their annual fundraiser coinciding with the Tour de France. They have nominated Dorset Mind as its official fundraising partner in BCP, so help us raise as much money as we can!
Sign up to the Tour de Dorset Fundraiser and you’ll be in with a chance of winning some incredible prizes!

🏁  Furthest distance Adults 17+:

1st place: Beryl Laserlight light
2nd prize: Beryl Pixel light
3rd prize: Beryl 100 minute bundle

🏁 Furthest distance Ages 13 – 16:

  • 1st place: 1 hour session at Tunnel Tree Tops + A Giant Compel ARX Youth Helmet
  • 2nd place: 1 hour session at Tunnel Tree Tops + A Giant Compel ARX Youth Helmet
  • 3rd place: 1 hour session at Tunnel Tree Tops + A Wakey Wakey ART’s bundle

🏆 Bonus prizes for:

  • The ‘Biggest fundraiser’ – Beryl Laserlight light worth £125
  • The ‘Best view from Strava photos’ – Beryl Pixel light worth £19.99

Sign Up HERE.

Adults £5, Ages 13-16 £2.50 and free for under 13’s.
There is an optional Beryl merchandise bag available for £5, all proceeds going to Dorset Mind.

Visit their newly launched Just Giving page HERE.

Once registered you will receive an invite to join Beryl’s Strava Challenge. (Please note that logging your rides is optional, and will allow you to win prizes, in order to use Strava you must be 13 years of age and above to register for an account).

Dorset MIND’s services are available for all Dorset adults and young people aged 11+, and they offer targeted support to minority communities to ensure they are supported. They offer specialist services for BAME and LGBTQ+ people; and provide support for women-only and carers. #Broadwindsor,#Drimpton,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#TourDeDorset,#MHAW,#Beryl,#FightForMH,#Lewesdon,#WestDorset,#MIND,#Cycle,#PedalPower,#ReThink,#LGBTQ,#Crisis,#Help,#Support,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Mental Health Awareness Week: 10th -16th May 2021

Throughout this pandemic, millions have experienced a mental health problem, or seen a loved one struggle. The support required is not always adequate or sadly isn’t even out there. Mental health is not hidden anymore; it’s on the front pages; it’s on the political agenda; it’s spoken about by royalty. For millions of people, mental health is now something to be honest about – not ashamed of.

The week is an annual event when there is an opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health. The Mental Health Foundation started the event 21 years ago. Each year the Foundation continues to set the theme, organise and host the Week. The theme this year is Nature. Download their Nature Journal HERE to document how you feel before and after connecting with nature, and jot down anything interesting you notice while doing so!

Mental Health Awareness Week is open to everyone. It is all about starting conversations about mental health and the things in our daily lives that can affect it. This year as many people as possible – individuals, communities and governments – are being asked to think about connecting with nature and how nature can improve our mental health.  We are extremely fortunate where we live surrounded by the fields and woodland with the sea shore less than 10 miles away.

Lewesdon is obviously our closest hill, but there is Pilsden Pen right next to it and the 45 second video below by local photographer, James Dawson captures the stunning 360 view from Pilsden Pen on a recent windy day:

What a wonderful place we live!

There are lots of ways that you can get involved in Mental Health Awareness Week.  Notice nature and try to make a habit of connecting to the nature every day. Stop to listen to the birdsong, smell the freshly cut grass, take care of a house plant, notice any trees, flowers or animals nearby. Take a moment to appreciate these connections.

It has been stated –

  • Spending just 5 minutes in nature can boost your wellbeing.
  • Exercising in nature reduces blood pressure, heightens immunity and improves mood and self-esteem.
  • EnglishGardening.co.uk give 11 surprising health benefits from Gardening (see below).
  • Exeter University recommends spending 2 hours or more a week in nature to get the benefits for wellbeing – similar to the 5 a day of fruit and veg.
  • Open your curtains and let the sun shine in – you’ll get a boost of serotonin and Vitamin D which helps to improve mental health and wellbeing.

DorsetAONB.org invite you to Virtual Picnics in the parks! Click HERE.

The Mental Health Foundation invites people to share images/videos/or just sound recordings of the nature on your doorstep (and how this made you feel) on social media using #ConnectWithNature and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek hashtags.

MIND (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders): Find out more about their new strategy and how they plan to lead the fight for mental health, including their focus on supporting the people disproportionately affected by mental health issues. Click HERE.
MIND are a registered charity in England (no. 219830).

IF YOU NEED HELP NOW:

  • The Samaritans offer emotional support 24 hours a day – in full confidence.
    Call 116 123 – it’s FREE
    Or email: jo@samaritans.org.uk
  • For support in a crisis, Text Shout to 85258.
  • You can contact ReThink HERE, Monday to Friday, 10am-2pm for practical advice on:
    • benefits, debt, money issues.
    • police, courts, prison.
    • your rights under the Mental Health Act.
    • different types of therapy and medication.

Call ReThink on 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).

  • Mind Infoline offer an information line to answer questions about:
    • types of mental health problem.
    • where to get help.
    • drug and alternative treatments.
    • advocacy.

    Call the Mind Infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary considerably).
    Or email: info@mind.org.uk.

  • Talk to someone you trust: you may find it helpful to talk to your partner, a relative or a friend about your problems. They may be concerned about you and welcome the opportunity to hear what you have to say. If this is not possible, you may prefer to talk to someone else you can trust, like a faith leader or a tutor.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Someone will listen, give you support and advice, and fight your corner.

#Broadwindsor,#Drimpton,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#ConnectWithNature,#MHAW,#FightForMH,#Lewesdon,#WestDorset,#PilsdenPen,#JamesDawson,#ConnectWithNatureDorset,#MIND,#ReThink,#Samaritains,#Crisis,#Help,#Support,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Direct Message from Angry Farmer

Framptons CowsLocal farmer, Andrew Frampton is angry, frustrated and exasperated having to repeatedly deal with the carelessness of walkers leaving gates open and dog owners not picking up after their dogs.
A big f’ing thank you to the dog walkers/walkers who decided to leave open a hapsed and chained gate this morning (Saturday 4th) on the route to Lewesdon hill. 50 heifers and Bull then got into grass laid up for silage and a spring barley field. This is the third time this year. All gates swing freely and have simple dog clip and chain attachments to make it easier for you lot. We put up with you letting your dogs shit and not picking it up and even slinging it in the hedges when you do not to mention a lot of you who roam around the fields and through the woods which are miles away from the 1 m path leading to the hill.
Is it really that difficult to shut a gate behind you?
”  🤬

Frampton's Field#StaySafe #SocialDistancing #Farming #Broadwindsor #Lewesdon #Community #BeResponsible #Moo

No Fires Up Lewesdon Hill!

Disposable BBQIn April, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service asked people to refrain from having any bonfires at all whilst the Coronavirus restrictions are in place.  Despite this warning, the continued irresponsible use of disposable barbecues means that fires are now going to be banned on all land owned by Bridport Town Council.
You won’t be able to use disposable BBQ’s in public parks, gardens, on beaches AND in public woodland in Bridport and West Bay.
Bridport Town Council Leader Cllr Dave Rickard said: “It is staggering that a minority have played ‘fast and loose’ with public safety and have caused us to have to implement this ban.
The Town Council and Dorset Council bans cover all public parks, gardens, beaches, car parks in Bridport and West Bay, and most publicly accessible meadows and woodland.
There are large signs at the entrance to Lambert’s Castle but nothing as yet at Lewesdon where there has been recent evidence of bbq activity.  Why, asked a village resident, if people care about the countryside enough to make the effort to visit – why mess it up?

#Broadwindsor #StaySafe #SocialDistancing #Nature #Lewesdon #NoBBQ #NoFires