Introducing "All-Weather Friends": A New Chapter in the Poundbury Story

Over the past few months, we've had the pleasure of watching Poundbury artist and Good Things volunteer Mary O'Flaherty grow in confidence in her own distinctive style. That's why we're especially excited to introduce our latest design, All-Weather Friends. As a team, we think this might be Mary's best work yet.

A New Direction: Landmarks of Poundbury

From the beginning, Poundbury Good Things has been about celebrating Poundbury — while also sharing it with a wider audience. The more people who connect with what we create, the more we can support local good causes.

With that in mind, we invited Mary to explore some of the places that make Poundbury unique. Her recent designs, launched earlier this spring, include the allotments at Middle Farm Way in The Plotters' Pest, and the fountain at Victor Jackson Square, beautifully reimagined in Sirens' Song.

For this latest piece, Mary turned her attention to the Buttercross. Many people will recognise its distinctive shape, though not everyone will have noticed the weathervane on top. In All-Weather Friends, that small detail becomes the starting point for the whole scene. The Buttercross sits at the centre, familiar and steady, part of everyday life in Poundbury.

Small Details, Big Character

Nature plays its part too. In Mary's typically whimsical style, a red squirrel — perhaps a visitor from Brownsea Island — has caught the attention of two little dogs, adding a sense of movement and life. There's also an unusual plant that blooms just once a year. Mary explains: "My new design was nearly finished when I noticed the Paulownia foxglove tree near the children's play area at Woodlands Crescent had come into flower. I just had to include it. Whilst the foxglove tree isn't native to Britain, the foxglove after which it's named is such a familiar, well-loved sight in our woods and hedgerows, and is a real symbol of the magic of spring."

All the while, the Buttercross weathervane turns through sun, rain and snow, quietly suggesting the idea behind the piece: whatever the weather, brighter days come again.

An Artist in Her Element

This design marks an important step in Mary's creative journey. With more freedom to follow her instincts, her work feels more confident and expressive, while still holding onto the easy charm that makes it so recognisable.

Reflecting on her work, Mary says: "I've always hoped my art would give people a real sense of the warmth and community here — that's at the heart of everything I create for Poundbury Good Things. I want to show what's really here: a lively, connected community with a surprisingly close relationship with nature. For me, it's about capturing that true spirit of Poundbury."

We're delighted to share All-Weather Friends with you and hope you enjoy it as much as we do. It will be available on greetings cards and our popular mini-wooden jigsaws in the coming few weeks. 

Emma Taylor, Project Lead, Poundbury Good Things - An initiative of the Community Association of Poundbury

As always, we'd love to hear what you think.

You can find out more at: Poundbury Good Things