The Prince of Wales visits Poundbury

The Prince of Wales made one of his regular visits to Poundbury on the 26^th November 2018.  During the day long visit, His Royal Highness opened Yarlington Housing Group’s new-classical style Extra Care housing development.  ‘ Yarlington Melrose Court’ is made up of 63 self-contained apartments and provides an alternative to care homes.  The Prince heard at first-hand how the development helps residents to live in a community and to stay independent for longer.   During the visit His Royal Highness met many of the residents at a tea party in the bright and airy communal lounge.  The Prince also met one of the residents who use to be a sheep farmer in his apartments which offered His Royal Highness the opportunity of enjoying the apartment’s stunning views over the Great Field.  The Prince also visit the communal garden  before undertaking a short walk to the Dorchester Community Church. 

On the way to the Church His Royal Highness met a small number of students from Damers First School who presented him with a birthday card and told him about a tree planting project which the school had recently completed. 

Dee Stone who baked 1000 brick-shaped cakes to help raise funds for the much needed new church said “I really feel like we are at home here, I love it.  We wouldn’t have been able to accommodate this many peole in our old church.  People are so friendly and we all help each other as much as we can.”

Following the public engagements His Royal Highness undertook a private tour of Poundbury, visiting some of the development currently under construction.  The Prince of Wales also popped into family run  Happy Blossoms a new artisan florist and A Brace of Butchers who have just opened a plastic free grocery section.