SOMERLEYTON WI: At the recent September meeting president Linda Sprosen welcomed members back from the summer break. Pat Webb was presented with flowers for a special birthday. A minute’s silence was held in memory of member Averil Chinn. Pat Mullard brought along bags of apples from her garden. The BBQ in August at the Rugby Club had been a great success again in no small way due to the cooking skills of John, Norman and Reg – members’ husbands. Liz and Alan Jinks had celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Secretary Sandra Charlton listed activities for members’ participation such as skittles, a visit to Hotters in Worcester, the Group meeting at Blakedown with a talk by the Royal Navy, Christmas at Hartlebury Castle and also at Waddesdon Manor. A date to see ‘South Pacific’ at the Rose was decided on and more people were needed for the Halloween Pudding Tasting evening. A coach was taking a group to visit Coventry Cathedral which went off very well. Rosemary Winnall, Coordinator of the Wyre Forest Study Group, gave a most interesting and informative talk on her passion for the flora and fauna of the Wyre Forest. Her slides were wonderful. Groups of volunteers go out each month to study and document their findings. There are many rare species in the forest. A Whitty Pear tree was planted in 1916. There is a fifty-year plan hoping to remove the conifers to return to a lower shrub layer. Pat Mullard gave the vote of thanks. Rosemary kindly judged the photographic competition for ‘Trees’ which was won by Kay Cowell 2nd Linda Sprosen and 3rd Angie McCarthy. Monthly meetings are held in St Cecilia’s Church, Hoo Road, at 7.30pm on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Visitors are very welcome to attend. The next meeting will be on Tuesday 10th October when Barry Sheldon will talk about his work as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner. There will be a quiz on TV crime programmes.