Keeping Poundbury Beautiful: Could You Spare 15 Minutes?

This story is part of our Quiet Heroes of Poundbury series—celebrating the small acts of neighbourliness that make this a better place for everyone.

We recently heard from Lorna, a resident of ten years who walks through Poundbury every day and noticed the weeds building up in kerbs and gutters. She raised the matter to us, and also went out and cleared the stretch outside her own home and down her road. Fifteen minutes and two buckets of weeds later, it looked so much better. She has kindly allowed us to share her story — and her gentle challenge to the rest of us.

Lorna is exactly the kind of Quiet Hero we want to celebrate. She spotted something, did something about it, gently.

What strikes us about Lorna's story is how naturally it connects to so many of the principles in our Poundbury Seven — the framework for living well right here, which has resonated so strongly with our community.

Principle One: Walk Every Day. Lorna noticed the weeds because she walks Poundbury every day. It's the spontaneous encounters and observations that happen when we move more slowly, connecting us to the place we live. Walking isn't just good for your health; it makes us more attentive to our surroundings.

Principle Two: Know Your Neighbours. Lorna's suggestion that a street tidy is a perfect excuse to get to know the people around you is spot on. A shared task on a shared stretch of road is a natural conversation-starter. It's more fun done together — and likely more effective too.

Principle Six: Steward the Place You Live: "Plant something. Pick up litter. Maintain beautiful spaces. Care for nature. Civic pride is a practice." Lorna's fifteen minutes of weeding is Principle Six in its purest form.

It's been a hot, dry summer, which has kept weeds somewhat in check, but kerbs and gutters do accumulate growth over time, and a small amount of attention makes a real difference.

A few things worth knowing:

Poundbury's green spaces are maintained by different organisations depending on where you are: the MANCOs, the Duchy of Cornwall, and Dorchester Council each have their own areas of responsibility. If you spot something that needs attention in a shared green space, it's always worth checking who is responsible before assuming it will be dealt with automatically, or that nothing is being done.

Your first contact point for advice is the MANCOs via their managing agent Symonds & Sampson: call 01305 756 968 or email mancos@symondsandsampson.co.uk — they can tell you whether an area falls within MANCO responsibility and point you in the right direction if not.

For areas that aren't the direct responsibility of MANCOs, the Duchy, Dorset Council, or Dorchester Town Council — such as the kerb outside your home, or the pavement edge along your stretch of road — residents and businesses can make a real difference simply by taking a few minutes to tidy their own patch. No equipment needed beyond a pair of gloves and a brown bin.

Having said that, if you spot a planting in the park struggling in the current heat, a little water goes a long way. It's one of those small acts of neighbourly care —very much in the spirit of Principle Four: Give Something Back — that adds up quietly across a whole community.

Poundbury is a beautiful place, and it stays that way because people like Lorna care about it. Thank you, Lorna, for being a Quiet Hero.

If you have a question about who is responsible for a particular area of green space in Poundbury, visit the Support & Guidance section of the Virtual Community Hub or contact the MANCOs via the details above. And if you know a Quiet Hero who deserves recognition, please let us know at whatson@lovepoundbury.org, with their permission, of course.