Dorset View December 2023 by Dorset View

December 2023 Volume 21, Issue 5

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03 - 202

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Happy Christmas from everyone at Dorset View local knowledge | local reporters | local news ISSN 2397-723X (print) | ISSN 2397-7248 (online)

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DORSET VIEW December 2023

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Volume 1 • Issue 5 • December 2023

DORSET VIEW

Dear Readers!

Ben Pulford managing director ben@dorsetview.co.uk

Christmas is coming … Regardless of the difficulties being experienced at home and around the world, nothing will stop the arrival of Christmas. Shops are decked out and some have gone to great lengths to keep our spirits high during the cost of living crisis, and to take our minds away from the dreadful wars that are killing innocent people. At Christmas my mother-in-law always decorated her house, even into her 100s, and most memorable was her elaborate snow scene made from cotton wool, and a little mirror for the pond. She filled it with tiny figurines of ice skaters, tobogganists and children. A few small Christmas trees gave extra sparkle, and Santa would always be there with his sleigh and some reindeer. It was simple, yet brightened a corner of her room. As did the nativity scene in our house, with baby Jesus. Little fingers would always take him out of his cradle and he’d be lost all Christmas, but somehow was reunited with his cradle when it was time to pack him away. It is often the simple things that bring most joy and we should do our best to celebrate in any way we can afford to do. Whether with family or friends, helping others or just being alone, it is important to do something different to make the day special. The festive season does bring an element of greed with it too, especially around the dinner table, but we can excuse this because after all, it’s only once a year. And if you’re curious about how others celebrate Christmas, you will find out in this magazine. Have a Happy Christmas everyone!

Janine Pulford

Picture of the month

Louis Pulford creative director DD 01202 233441 louispulford@brightboxdesigns.co.uk

Nick Pulford company secretary accounts@pulfordpublicity.co.uk

NEWS DESK 01202 870270

Janine Pulford editor janine@dorsetview.co.uk Marilyn Barber news editor newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk Karen Wyatt-Epapara deputy editor karen@dorsetview.co.uk

ADVERTISING 01202 816140

Mark Beechey account manager DD 01202 941465 mark@dorsetview.co.uk Simon Thornton account manager DD 01202 941470 simon@dorsetview.co.uk Calls may be recorded for training and quality purposes.

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Editor

The Editor reserves the right to amend or shorten contributions in order to fit in with the editorial policy and style of the magazine

LOGISTICS Mike Talbot

Fun in the winter sun at Sandbanks © Danny Howe

How to contact us

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Email: news@dorsetview.co.uk Web: www.dorsetview.co.uk Pulford Publicity, Dana House, Spinneys Lane, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9BZ /dorsetview.news @Dorset_View @dorset_view @dorset.view /dorsetview

Copy deadline 5 DECEMBER 2023 Front cover cartoon by Lyndon Wall

Dorset View is independently published and distributed free to homes and businesses in selected areas of Dorset and Hampshire. It is also available by subscription at £40 per year. Views or opinions expressed in Dorset View are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement deemed to be unsuitable for publication. Information about a service does not imply recommendation. All purchases made through this publication are done so entirely at your own risk. The copyright on all written material, logos and advertising artwork produced by our studio remains with Dorset View and should not be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher. The company’s privacy policy can be read at www.dorsetview.co uk

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Tree consultation People living in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch have until 17 December to have their say on a draft Urban Forest Strategy. Cllr Andy Hadley, portfolio holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, said: “Trees play a vital role in supporting biodiversity and this strategy recognises that our trees and woodland will also play their part in helping meet the council’s ambitious climate and ecological targets. “The BCP region boasts a diverse treescape. However, some areas have few trees, and tree cover in private residential gardens is declining, with most wards in the conurbation experiencing canopy loss over the past decade. This council wants to turn the tide on this decline and support tree growth across all wards in the BCP area.” To take part in the survey visit https://haveyoursay.bcpcouncil. gov.uk/urban-forest-strategy

David Sidwick

Safer streets

Dorset’s police and crime commissioner David Sidwick is inviting local residents to tell him what they would like to see included in his Immediate Justice Survey which can be accessed at https:// www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/IJWEB. He said: “What type of actions would you like to see take place under the scheme? For example, would you like those who have done wrong to clean-up graffiti or maintain parks and public spaces? I am determined to get Immediate Justice right for everyone in Dorset, and value your input.” Mr Sidwick added he was pleased that, as a result of Dorset’s successful bid from the Home Office’s Safer Street Fund, the county has been awarded almost £1million for projects which focus on the safety of women and girls, as well as tackling crime in rural communities. He said: “The funding, which was awarded following a joint bid with BCP Council and Dorset Council, will include the introduction of a Women’s Night Safety Charter, ‘Theft and Burglary’ prevention packs to mark rural farm property as well as more CCTV cameras in places across Dorset. “With this money we can provide help to a wide range of projects including many more beyond those mentioned, on a scale we haven’t seen before.”

Winter gardening

By Plants Direct

Winter days in the garden are short and sweet. The raking and clearing of leaves and debris from rains and high winds should be undertaken to stop disease and moss spreading. Roses, shrubs, and herbaceous borders can be cut back and top dressed to encourage flowering and supress weed growth. Lawns and grass areas can be raked and spiked to improve surface drainage and aeration. Top dressing and even a little re-seeding can be done to bare patches and new areas. Greenhouses, tunnels and cold frames can be cleaned, tidied and disinfected ready for spring. Placing planted pots and containers into your greenhouse will protect them from the worst weather but remember to water them a little to keep them going. Spring flowering bulbs can still be planted in pots and borders. Choose daffodils, tulips or hyacinths for a burst of spring colour and scent. Winter pansies, violas, primroses and polyanthus can be planted out. Deciduous trees, hedging, roses and fruit can all be planted now for best results in the spring. Visit or contact your nursery garden centre for availability and advice on all tree, shrubs, and native hedging planting. They are excellent for birds, bees and insects, flowers and berries. As Christmas approaches, trees and shrubs can be decorated and adorned with lights to bring cheer to dark cold nights and sparkle.

DORSET VIEW December 2023

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Great Dorset Steam Fair Jobs will go at counterfeiters convicted BCP Council Counterfeit goods were being sold at the Great Dorset Steam Fair in August 2022, and the couple responsible have been convicted. Mr Mohammed Masood Ali, 56, and Mrs Kauser Fisa

Counterfeit garment

Ali, 55, from Bolton, appeared before Bolton Magistrates on 7 November for sentencing having previously pleaded guilty to nine offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994 at Weymouth Court. The court heard how a trading standards officer with assistance of staff and security officers from the Steam Fair seized approximately 600 items, all of which were later confirmed as counterfeit by the trademark representatives. Had the items been genuine, their value would have been over £290,000. Both Mr and Mrs Ali were sentenced to 12-month imprisonment suspended for two years. Mr Ali was ordered to undertake 300 hours of unpaid work and Mrs Ali was given a curfew order from 6pm to 6am for a period of six months. Both were ordered to pay prosecution costs of £931 and a victim surcharge of £187.

Jobs will be lost at BCP Council as the authority tries to close its funding gap. Measures have been put in place to close a £44M gap, but that still leaves £12M and a voluntary redundancy scheme is to be set up to address this. In its latest report, BCP details how the council has taken steps over the last months to prepare plans to deliver a balanced budget for 2024/25. Residents will be asked to have their say on future council savings via public engagement in December. BCP Council leader Vikki Slade said: “Our absolute priority is to deliver services that best meet the needs of our residents while enabling us to financially live within our means. “We are facing the same difficult financial pressures as all other local authorities. We are taking steps to avoid serious government intervention that has already

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happened in other councils. “We cannot afford to live beyond our means and we need to look at what core services we can afford to continue to provide and what we may need to change, do differently and in some cases stop.”

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Dorset View causes avalanche of teddy ‘STARS’ After Dorset View printed a plea for knitted teddy bears for a charity supporting people recovering from sexual trauma, no one expected what happened next. Following the article in July, STARS Dorset received more than 500 responses and now have knitters close to home and as far afield as Sydney, Australia working to support people in recovery. Natalie Giles, head of Adult Counselling & Support Services at STARS, said: “It’s been an amazing story and after Dorset View’s news piece we had a phenomenal number of requests for knitting patterns.

DORSET VIEW December 2023

So far, we’ve had about 500 bears just from the Dorset View piece.” The endearing Trauma Teddies are used to bring comfort and help soothe children who have been referred to the charity. Therapists found that holding a teddy helps to calm a distressed child, which creates a sense of safety and stability. STARS Dorset was keen to provide such a teddy for every child who wanted one. The story gained even more traction, featuring in a recent BBC South news item. Helen Stevens, STARS Dorset CEO, said: “We’ve been completely blown away by the generosity of so many different individuals who have so kindly knitted or crocheted teddies for us. “It’s been a phenomenal community response and we never imagined how this simple concept would bring so much delight to so many different people. Thank you to all those who have supported us. “And thank you to the team at Pulford Publicity for their continued support of the work of STARS Dorset.” STARS is still in need of knitted teddies as they have hundreds of young people waiting for counselling, and they can

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STARS Trauma Teddies out and about and soon to be ‘working’ in Dorset View’s office. Keep an eye out for more photographs in future issues

be given a Trauma Teddy as a comfort while they are on the waiting list. If you are interested, please email info@starsdorset.org and request a Trauma Teddy pattern or call STARS on 01202 308840.

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Evie Battistini, Corporate and Community fundraising officer (Dorset Mind), Louis Pulford and Ben Pulford

Over £2,000 presented to Dorset Mind Following a successful charity gala dinner, auction and raffle held by Pulford Publicity for their charity of the year at Dudsbury Golf Club, a total of £2,218.75 was presented to Evie Battistini, Corporate and Community fundraising officer on behalf of Dorset Mind. Evie said: “Wow – what an amazing total. Thank you so much. Your donation will make a massive difference to all the people in our community who are struggling with their mental health and need some extra support. “Your generous donation could help us to train, manage and support four new volunteers or provide 50 counselling sessions.” Pulford Publicity would like to thank all those who came to the event, who bid in the auction and bought tickets for the raffle, as well as the businesses that donated the items to make it all possible. “The generosity of the local community is wonderful even in these tough times,” said Ben Pulford, MD of Pulford Publicity. The charity gala event was held on 14 October with ‘auctioneer’ Tony Brown and piano man Matt Black helping to make the evening a night to remember.

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HMS Medusa

D-Day hero Medusa fights for funds A ship that performed a crucial role on D-Day won’t be able to visit northern France next year for the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings unless vital funds are found. HMS Medusa entered service as ‘Harbour Defence Motor Launch’ (HDML) 1387 and out of nearly 500 vessels in her class is the only one remaining in her original condition. The volunteers who keep her shipshape plan to return to the scene of her finest wartime mission next June, but thousands of pounds have to be found. On D-Day she was among the first vessels across the Channel, setting off on 5 June to mark a precise spot on the edge of a German minefield off Omaha beach for the following day’s invasion. There she stayed for 30 hours as a beacon for the minesweepers so they knew where to cut a passage to the beaches, and as a marker for the invading force that followed. After the landings, Medusa worked off Scotland as an escort to a minesweeping flotilla and in May 1945 went to Ijmuiden in the Netherlands where she accepted the surrender of the occupying German forces.

DORSET VIEW December 2023

Alan Watson OBE

From there she navigated the North Sea Canal to Amsterdam, the first allied ship to do so, and was there for VE Day on the 9 May. Her present captain Alan Watson OBE said: “We’d love to go to France next year and think it fitting, but costs have risen. “On top of the £20,000 a year we

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need just to keep her in a seaworthy condition we need another £10,000 and most of that is fuel costs. “Many ships that took part in D-Day will be marking the anniversary in UK waters, but we think Medusa should be in France. We have taken her a number of times over the years. “None of her D-Day crew are alive today but in their memory we’d like to take her across the Channel.” Medusa was built in Poole on the site now occupied by Sunseeker. She was sold by the Admiralty in 1968, after which she was restored over a period of 18 years by a group led by Mike Boyce in Weymouth. In 2002, a trust was formed to look after her and she is now based at Gosport in Hampshire. Donations can be made through the Medusa Trust’s website: www.hmsmedusa.org.uk

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Councillor is a maker and shaker A Dorset councillor, who is ward member for Colehill and Wimborne East, has been recognised for her support in helping to raise the profile of community groups campaigning for better environmental practices. Cllr Maria Roe was presented with a handmade climate stripe bookmark which indicates the rate of global warming from 1962 to 2022 locally. Temperatures were measured at Hurn and are available on the Met Office website as historical data. Dark blue represents the coolest and dark red the hottest. Presenting the award was Rosemary Lunt, cofounder of a new Wimbornebased environmental group Makers and Shakers who had created the bookmark.

Cllr Maria Roe with her climate bookmark

Rosemary said: “Councillor Roe has done so much in her four-and-a-half years as a Dorset councillor to raise the profile of the environment crisis across Dorset. She is also so supportive of giving small community groups like ours a voice.” Makers and Shakers Wimborne was founded in April of this year and meets at Wimborne’s Fair Ground Fair Trade Shop with the aim of turning eco-anxiety into eco action through the ‘gentle activism’ of craft activities.

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Charity of the Year

Keeping warm together this winter By Annabel Goddard As the days end earlier and earlier, it’s much easier to be brought down by the lack of sunlight coming through the window, which also can make us feel like we have less time to ourselves after work or school. At this time of year, strength in numbers can be particularly helpful, so we want to remind you how important the power of community is, and of how to make the most of it. Make an extra effort to have a weekly film night or a sit-down meal with your family or friends and have a good chat about what's going on in your lives. Having loved ones around you can help alleviate a lot of stress caused by the change in seasons. Make sure you check in with each other often – someone may appreciate it more than you think. If you are away from home or don’t have family and friends

around, it might be beneficial to you to find a local community you can spend time with. Warm spaces can help – especially if you are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. The Hope Hub in Winton and Gateway Church in Poole, for example, provide a safe space during the week to relax and chat to others. You can find more spaces across Dorset on the Help and Kindness website at www.helpandkindness.co.uk Being kind to yourself and others will help us all to navigate the winter months. If you’ve considered volunteering for charity or helping at a food bank, now could be a great time to do so, even for just an hour a week, if you’ve got the time and resources. Everyone could do with a helping hand right now. We want to say a huge thank you to Dorset View for letting us share our message throughout this year. To continue supporting Dorset Mind, please visit our website – www.dorsetmind.uk – for ways in which you can support yourselves and us, whether it's creating a fundraising challenge, volunteering or even sharing your story in a blog. We value all contributions from the Dorset community and will continue to strive to ensure everyone gets the mental health support they deserve.

Charity of the Year 2024 As we approach the end of the year, it is time once again for Pulford Publicity to look forward to, and introduce, its charity of the year for 2024. Next year, the Charity of the Year will be Lewis-Manning Hospice Care. The charity helps people and their families across East Dorset, delivering care for patients who have been diagnosed with life-limiting illnesses whose GP surgery falls within the Poole, Purbeck and East Dorset areas. Their aim is to help as many of those people as possible to live their precious lives well. The service is free of charge, and so all costs are covered by donations. You can find out more at www.lewis-manning.org.uk

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Book reveals the story behind the rebirth of the Tivoli Report and photo by Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk Looking at its Art Deco elegance today, it is difficult to imagine that for some years the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne was in a very sad state of repair. But today, thanks to a team of volunteers led by Malcolm Angel, it is a vibrant and hugely popular venue for theatre and film under the direction of general manager Charlie North Lewis. Mindful that the many new residents of the town and surrounding areas wouldn’t be aware of its history, Malcolm has produced a book, ‘The Tivoli Theatre, from Darkness to Light, the Restoration Years’ with contributions from Nicky Perry and Anita Cole. With photos on most of its pages, it is a testimony to the determination of so many local people who worked hard to bring the theatre back to the town. “This isn’t all about me,” said Malcolm, adding that the book was to honour the people he had pleasure to work with who had exactly what it took for success including grit, determination and an attitude in spades “that succeeds in any successful business.” Malcolm moved from Poole to Wimborne some 50 years ago. “I chose the town because it has a good community feel, great schools and a cinema. I love Wimborne.” The Tivoli was built in 1936 and although in 1979 it survived the threat of demolition for an abandoned road scheme, a year later the town learned that the theatre would close. Residents were horrified. Malcolm said: “People marched through the streets in protest, but to no avail and a sign went up saying that the cinema was now permanently closed.” The last show Down to Earth was staged in 1981 to packed houses

Malcolm Angel, pictured at Radio Wimborne

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for a three-week run. It was during his mayoral year of 1988/1989 that Malcolm, armed with a powerful torch and a camera, ventured inside the theatre to see what damage had been done by neglect since its closure. The years had not been kind as the photos in the book illustrate. A local paper took up the cause for the re-opening of the theatre and subsequently the Friends of the Tivoli was formed, which Malcolm joined. He has named the many people who came forward to add their support and interviewed them for the book but said: “If I’ve forgotten anyone, I am so sorry.” In 1992, the Friends held an open day so that members of the public could see what state the theatre was in and the event was such a success that more people got on board to fight to save it. You will need to read the book to discover how the Friends underwent the Herculean task of raising funds and re-opening in 1993. Malcolm, who remained at the helm until 2002 and is now president of Wimborne Drama, met so many stars of stage and screen at this hugely popular theatre. Who was his favourite? “Barry Cryer, who died recently, was wonderful. Just the same off screen as on,” he said. But I will protect the identity of those whose behaviour he said was less than perfect! Malcolm is the author of several publications and at the same time as producing this hugely informative book has written an action thriller entitled ‘The Hidden Covenant’, parts of which are set in Wimborne. Both books are available at Gullivers, his family bookshops, in Wimborne and Westbourne. @dorset.view

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Christmas in Wimborne

Christmas Events BUSINESS | COMMUNITY | UNITY

Christmas lights

As we head into December, the Christmas spirit is alive and well in Wimborne. Whether you are looking for interesting and unique gifts for family and friends, or just want to soak up the festive atmosphere, you’ll find plenty of festive events and entertainment to enjoy.

Christmas events

Wimborne’s Christmas events programme kicks off with the switching on of the Christmas lights on Saturday 25 November. There will be entertainment all day in the Square, with the lights going on at 4.30pm. A Christmas highlight in Wimborne is the Save the Children Christmas Parade. This year, it takes place on Saturday 9 December. The entertainment will begin in The Square

Save the Children Christmas Parade

mid-morning, featuring local musicians and bands and fairground rides. Then, the parade itself will start at about 2.15pm from Allenview car park, making its way through the town to The Square, where it will arrive at approximately 2.45pm. As always, the Museum of East Dorset has a jam-packed schedule of events to help make your Christmas magical. Children can visit Santa at the museum on 2 and 16 December. The experience includes Christmas crafts, a festive trail around the museum, stories read by Santa, and a gift. Head along for a festive evening of music and spoken word with Caroline Butler and Dave Townsend of The Mellstock Band on 14 December. Tickets from www.museumofeastdorset.co.uk. Kingston Lacy will once again be lighting up its house from 25 November until 1 January and, in the run up to Christmas, children can meet Father Christmas in his storybook nook for a Christmas tale and a gift. Information and tickets at www. nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/kingston-lacy/ (continued on page 14)

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Christmas Events BUSINESS | COMMUNITY | UNITY / real people, real news, local advertising. (continued from page 13)

Crafts and activities

Shopping

Wimborne has numerous independent and national retailers offering a wide selection of interesting and unique gifts for friends and family to suit all budgets. From knick-knacks to clothing, locally made and sourced artisan food and drink to quality homewares, you’ll find something for everyone. The town is also home to numerous craftspeople and, in the run up to Christmas, you’ll find them selling their wares at craft fairs around the town. Venues include the Allendale Centre, Walford Mill, Wimborne Community Centre and the Museum of East Dorset, as well as in the Square and the Allendale’s Minster Market, which takes place every Friday morning.

Perhaps you might like to try your hand at making your own Christmas crafts? You can have a go at making your own Christmas wreath or decorations at Allendale House or Walford Mill, or head to Pamphill Parish Hall from 15-17 December for Wimborne Art Club’s Christmas Arts and Crafts Show.

See the venues’ websites for further details.

Christmas craft fair

Traditional celebrations Wimborne Minster holds a number of services in the run up to Christmas to celebrate the season and offer respite from the stresses of Christmas shopping. Services include shoppers’ carols on 22 December at 11am on the Minster Green. The popular Carols in the Cornmarket will also take place on 22 December at 6pm, accompanied by choristers from the minster. On Christmas Eve, midnight Eucharist begins at 11pm. For those who prefer more modern Christmas entertainment, the ever-popular Tivoli pantomime returns, and this year’s production is Cinderella. Performances take place from 15 December to 1 January. The Best Ever Christmas Show runs from 15 to 24 December at the Allendale Centre.

Carols in the Cornmarket

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BUSINESS | COMMUNITY | UNITY

Vetsmiths celebrates third anniversary - advertisement feature -

When husband and wife, Chris and Sam Devlin set out to create and build their dream independent veterinary centre, standards were set high, but to be awarded the ‘Business of the Year 2023’ in the Wimborne Business Awards far exceeded their expectations. Their team, now at 16, with four vets, three qualified nurses, two animal nursing assistants and an admin and reception team all have the same vision and enthusiasm for providing the best possible care not only for pets, but their owners too. They say it’s all about building those special relationships throughout the lifetime of your pet. Chris and Sam are passionate about being independent and still hold true to the promise of being able to see the same vet and making sure clients get the right amount of time with them on every visit. The Wimborne community has welcomed Vetsmiths with so much enthusiasm. Chris said: “We knew Wimborne was a great town, but it’s made me realise just how strong the independent vibe is in the town. We love it and wouldn’t

want to be anywhere else.” As the team looks forward to the New Year and meeting even more of the pet-loving community, they welcome you to pop in for a coffee and a chat so you can see for yourself they’re not like most other vets.

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Head nurse Tara said about working at Vetsmiths: “Why would you not want to? We’re a fun, professional, friendly bunch who love our jobs. I mean if Carlsberg did practices, then look no further.” www.vetsmiths.co.uk

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law spot by Harold G Walker Solicitors

Which parent should the school call? By Kiran Kaur, Fellow Legal Executive Headteachers and school administrators can find themselves in a difficult situation if caught between the separated parents of one of their students. The school must act carefully to comply with the applicable rules and requirements, and the parents need to know their rights and responsibilities. This recently published guidance from the Department of Education is very helpful for all involved: https://www.gov. uk/government/publications/ dealing-with-issues-relatingto-parental-responsibility/ understanding-and-dealingwith-issues-relating-toparental-responsibility

• What the school must do/can do/should do, depending on legal duties/powers/pursuant to guidance? A couple of key points to bear in mind include: • A resident parent cannot prevent the school from carrying out its legal duties, such as sharing a child’s educational record with a ‘non-parent’, for example, sharing GCSE results • The school can delete or limit certain information from the child’s educational record that is shared with the nonresident parent, for example, if it is necessary to safeguard the child or resident parent from a risk of serious physical or mental harm

'Wildlifefriendly' gardening in Boscombe

Law Spot is for information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Over 30 children and adults attended Eco Sobo’s latest sustainability workshop which took place at Grounded Community’s Secret Garden in Boscombe. Workshops kept everyone entertained as they played the very popular ‘Whose Poo?’ guessing game, went wildlife pond dipping, learned how to take the perfect cuttings of pollinator-friendly plants, took part in a spider scavenger hunt, and put their mud pie skills to the test in the mud kitchen. Rosie from Sobo Wastebusters and co-founder of Eco Sobo, said: “These sustainability workshops are all about teaching the community, including the next generations to come, about better ways to look after our planet.” Eco Sobo started off as a

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It is important for the school and parents to be clear about: • Who is a ‘parent’ and who has ‘parental responsibility’? • Who are the ‘resident’ and ‘non-resident’ parents?

DORSET VIEW December 2023

These points can be difficult to work out and there isn’t enough space in this article to consider each in detail. Therefore, HGW Family team can help advise on and answer these questions.

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one-day sustainability fayre planned for May 2024 and has now, thanks to public support and funding, grown into a sustainability movement for the community. Funding for the workshops comes from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is distributed by Dorset Community Foundation working with BCP Council, via the BCP Thriving Communities Fund.

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health and care

If you are in any doubt about your health you must consult your GP. Dorset View is not responsible or liable for damages, which may occur as a result of your use or misuse of the information available on this page.

Stop smoking programme launched Accounting for around 74,600 deaths a year in England, smoking harms nearly every organ in the body and dramatically reduces both quality of life and life expectancy. Now, specialist stop smoking teams are offering dedicated support to hospital inpatients and soonto-be parents across Dorset. The Treating Tobacco Dependency programme, supported by Public Health Dorset, helps people to quit, reducing their risk of developing smoking-related illnesses. The programme offers one-to-

one behavioural support and free Nicotine Replacement Therapy in hospitals and maternity services. Heidi Croucher, Dorset’s Treating Tobacco Dependency programme manager, said: “Engaging with pregnant people in a supportive and nonjudgmental way during a check-up about the benefits of stopping smoking for their health and their babies, is the most successful way to motivate them to quit. “If you are pregnant and a smoker, you should talk to your midwife to see what support you can get to stop smoking.”

Help a young person leaving care A Wimborne woman who supports young people in Dorset who are leaving care is urging other people to become involved in the Dorset Council Supported Lodgings scheme. Sharon Cooper, 56, has over the last 10 years looked after around 10 young people between the ages of 16-25. She said she enjoys helping the young people achieve their goals or aims in life, no matter how big or small and watching them grow and develop as people. The network, she added, included help from Dorset Council’s Fostering service and other Supported Lodgings providers. Katie, who has been living with a Dorset

Council Supported Lodgings provider for the past three years said: “My experience in supported lodgings has been really positive and it has taught me a lot. I’ve learnt lots of things that have grown my confidence and made me feel ready for moving on. I’ve made a great connection with my supported lodgings provider, and she has supported me through anything I’ve needed help with.” All Dorset Council Supported Lodgings carers receive training and are paid an allowance to assist with day-today living costs. To find out more, visit the Dorset Council website or contact fosteringenquiries@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

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Surviving winter appeal Citizens Advice experts are warning that more people than ever could find themselves in arrears with their energy bills as Dorset Community Foundation launches its annual Surviving Winter appeal. The appeal, run in partnership with Citizens Advice in Dorset, distributes £200 grants to pensioners and vulnerable people aged 50 and over living in fuel poverty who often can only afford to heat one room for a few hours a day and routinely skip meals to save money for their fuel bills. Citizens Advice project manager, Ros Dignan, said: “We’ve seen newer people coming in and seeking help that we probably wouldn’t have seen before because they would have been managing okay.” Dorset Community Foundation chief executive, Grant Robson, said: “In previous years we have asked people who feel they don’t need their government Winter Fuel Allowance to ‘recycle’ it so we can give it to someone in need.” Donate to Surviving Winter at: dorsetcommunityfoundation.enthuse.com/ donate, at: dorsetcommunityfoundation. org or by sending a cheque made payable to Dorset Community Foundation to Surviving Winter Appeal, Dorset Community Foundation, The Spire, High Street, Poole BH15 1DF.

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health and care / caring about people is an act of maturity .

Respite bungalow

Ask for ANI

Hayeswood Bungalow in Wimborne is to be used to provide respite for families of children aged eight to 17 with autism or a learning disability.

People at risk of, or experiencing, domestic abuse now have another avenue to get help. Some Dorset pharmacies are taking part in a scheme which can help victims access the support they need. Those in need can discreetly signal for help from the safety of a pharmacy by Asking for ANI. ANI stands for Action Needed Immediately. Pharmacies taking part display posters with a distinctive hand symbol to let customers know that they can approach their staff to seek help. They include all Boots stores and some independent pharmacies in the county. Using the codeword ANI will alert staff that someone requires an emergency police response or help with contacting a helpline or specialist support service. The victim will be invited into a consultation room where staff will check whether the victim is in danger and wants the police to be called. If so, the staff member will offer the use of a phone to dial 999 or make the call on the victim’s behalf. If the victim is not in an emergency situation, the staff member will support the victim to contact a national domestic abuse helpline or local support service. They may also contact the police via 101.

The respite care will provide people with a precious opportunity to spend quality time with their other children and loved ones, or to just give parents valuable time for themselves to recharge their own batteries. The bungalow has been transformed into a home-like environment, complete with three bedrooms, and there are outreach services on the horizon to further extend their work. Children will be able to stay for a maximum of 75 nights per year, with referrals being made on a case-by-

case basis through social workers. Hayeswood manager, Mandi O’Conor said: “Often, families can feel like they’re on the brink due to the tremendous pressures they face. Any early support is absolutely crucial. “Some people worry that they shouldn’t have to ask for help, but we want families to realise that asking for support shows they understand how best to help their child. Our aim is to create nurturing hubs where families can thrive with a bit of support and respite.”

A list of participating pharmacies and more information about the scheme can be found at www.dorset.police. uk/police-forces/dorset-police/ areas/campaigns/campaigns/askfor-ani

Do you suffer with arthritis? If you have arthritis, and you want to stay active and get out and about, you will be made welcome at the Arthritis Care & Friendship club. It meets in Ferndown Day Centre on the first Saturday of the month. With 30 active guests, and for a small contribution of £5 per visit, you can enjoy afternoon tea, entertainment and outings. The group is self-funded and every October guests donate £25 each for the whole year. You can find more information on Facebook by searching for Ferndown Arthritis Care Community Group, or email arthritiscareferndown@gmail.com or call 0330 311 2793.

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Childhood obesity rates drop Recently published figures from the National Child Measurement Programme, England, show that, while the levels of obesity among primary school children is falling from the highest recorded levels during the Covid-19 pandemic, for Year 6 children, it remains above pre-pandemic levels. For 2022/23, obesity in reception class children fell to 9.2% from 10.1% in 2021/22, compared with the highest recorded figure in 2020/21 of 14.4%. The decrease signals a return to pre-pandemic levels for this age group and is one of the lowest levels since 2006/07. The report also found the proportion of Year 6 children, aged 10 and 11, living with obesity dropped to 22.7% in 2022/23. This was down from 23.4% in 2021/22 and 25.5% in 2020/21 but remained higher than the 2019/20 pre-pandemic level of 21.0%. By region, in the South West, 8.2% of reception children and 19.4% of Year 6 children were obese.

Looking to lose a few pounds? When it comes to losing weight successfully, making small, manageable changes to your daily routine can make a big difference. Here are a few tips from LiveWell, Dorset’s free health and wellbeing service. LiveWell offers a weight loss kick-start with 12 weeks free at a slimming group or online support, plus 1-2-1 coaching. Find out if you are eligible: 0800 840 1628 or visit livewelldorset.co.uk.

Don’t ban treats: banning food you love will make you crave it more. You can have a small treat occasionally but try to stick to Public Health England’s suggested 400 calories for breakfast and 600 each for lunch and dinner. Plan your meals: plan your meals and snacks for the week so you know exactly what you are going to eat.

Making a weekly shopping list means you’ll buy fewer unnecessary items. Cut down on alcohol: did you know that a glass of wine has the same number of calories as a piece of chocolate? Try swapping alcoholic drinks for lowcalorie soft drinks. Discover more tips and free support at www. livewelldorset.co.uk

Drink more water: don’t mistake thirst for hunger. Water also boosts your metabolism and can help you feel fuller if you drink a glass before a meal. Don’t skip breakfast: this will make you feel hungrier, leading to snacking or eating bigger meals later. Get more active: exercise burns extra calories and helps keep weight off. The trick is finding an activity you enjoy and making it part of your daily routine.

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Recognition for palliative care Collaboration between a hospital’s end of life care service and a night nursing team has been recognised for its work to support patients and their loved ones at the ‘scariest time to be living with an advanced illness’. The ‘Hospice at Home’ pathway was established from Christchurch Hospital’s Macmillan Unit, in collaboration with the Community Night Nursing Team in Dorset. Louise Pennington, lead nurse for palliative care, said: “I know many of us, me included, have experienced what 3am can feel like when you are caring for someone who is dying. I am really proud of our teams and the impact that we are having across the system in east Dorset for patients with palliative and end of life care.”

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Patients are triaged by a 24/7 helpline, with the service aiming to increase both the capacity and quality of care for patients in their homes overnight. The collaboration has since been showcased as one of six successful case studies in a report published by Sue Ryder, titled ‘Best practice in endof-life-care’, with the initiative commended for “implementing services in response to challenges, and meeting local population health needs.”

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Care home residents meet Kate Adie Former BBC war correspondent Kate Adie gave a talk to residents and staff from Alexandra House, a Care South care home in Poole, at an event hosted by Lewis-Manning at Parkstone Yacht Club. Kate had the audience entranced with tales of her youth, and her humble beginnings as a station assistant at BBC Radio Durham before rising to be one of the most established female war correspondents in the world. Having covered many wartorn regions, Kate recounted

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some of her most watched broadcasts including the 1980 coverage of the siege of the Iranian embassy and the infamous reporting of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest. Alexandra House resident Hazel said: “Kate is someone I have always idolised and someone I saw an alliance with as we both worked in maledominated environments. She was fantastic. I will remember this forever.” The audience had a chance to ask some questions and each individual received a signed copy of Kate’s book, The Kindness of Strangers.

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Coping when your world starts to spin By Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk It came right out of the blue. One minute I was walking along the riverside path into Wimborne and the next I wasn’t. Whoosh – my head spun and losing my balance completely I fell backwards onto a patch of grass. I contacted a neighbour who helped me back home and rather shaken I contacted 111 who, after asking numerous questions, told me to see my GP. Local surgeries have received a lot of criticism in the last three years but, to the credit of mine, I got an immediate appointment. So what caused the very sudden dizziness? Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). No, I hadn’t heard of it

either. It sounded very rare and I came away from the surgery feeling quite unique. Not so. I have lost count of the amount of people who say they have either experienced it or know someone who has, so I received lots of sympathy. Unlike other sufferers I didn’t feel unwell or nauseous. It is debilitating and, fearing that I would have another unheralded attack, I did some research. BPPV occurs when small crystals of calcium carbonate shift in the inner ear and/or fall into another area within the balance canals. Common triggers include rolling over in bed, getting out of bed and lifting your head to look up. The day before I fell over, I had been

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sitting in the chair at my hairdressers having a back wash – as I have done so very many times in the past. When I went to sit up I felt momentarily dizzy, but thought no more about it. If I had done my research then, I might have avoided falling as there are exercises one can do at home to help the condition, and it is an easily treated disorder. The Brandt-Daroff (BD) exercises and the Epley manoeuvre help to relocate the loose crystals that cause the dizziness in the first place, with other evidence suggesting that repeated exposure to

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health and care

the feeling of dizziness reduces its intensity. Just Google the condition, or ask you GP for a leaflet as there is lots of good advice out there. The NHS advises a number of remedies such as moving your head carefully and slowly during daily activities, turning on the lights if you get up at night and in the morning, getting out of bed slowly and sitting on the edge before standing up. When you do the exercises and you no longer feel dizzy, you are on the way to recovery. However, you can still feel sensitive to motion or have a less steady balance as the brain had to make adjustments to try to deal with the problem while BPPV was present.

Research has shown that when you have BPPV, you have one inner ear telling the brain a different story than the other about where upright is. The brain gets busy trying to adapt to this, but then when BPPV is corrected, it needs time to readjust again. For most people, the system finds its way back to normal eventually, but it can take longer for some people compared to others. Also, when you find yourself in an environment that challenges your vision or external support, like a dimly lit room, a busy environment or uneven/unstable ground, you can suddenly start to feel uncomfortable. This is likely because when you had BPPV, the balance information from your ear became unreliable, so you started relying more on information coming from your visual or tactile senses. Examples of this could include fixating on a target to help maintain your balance as you walk across a busy room or running your hand along a wall. When either or both of these systems are challenged, you might find yourself feeling more unstable than usual if your brain hasn’t realized yet that the information from the ears can be relied upon once again, since the BPPV has been corrected. I am still following advice such as sleeping on my back with my head slightly raised on two or more pillows and trying to relax as anxiety can make vertigo worse. And the good news is that exercise such as walking is good for BPPV as it can help to improve your balance, keep muscle tone and increase your strength.

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pets and wildlife / an animals eyes speak a poweful language.

Bumper berry crop a boost for wildlife This autumn, the hawthorne berry crop is the largest it has been since records began 20 years ago – and this is great news for wildlife. Hedgerows and woodland across the country are laden with the berries, which are known as haws. According to reports from the Woodland Trust’s volunteer Nature’s Calendar recorders, the crop has been rated 4.2 on the fruit scale, which is deemed ‘exceptional’. The bumper crop was only matched in 2014. Dr Judith Garforth, the Woodland Trust’s citizen science officer, said: “This is really good autumn news for wildlife. “Haws are eaten by migrating birds such as redwings, fieldfares and thrushes as well as small mammals. “The fruit score is really important as it provides an indicator of winter food availability for wildlife, as well as the seed source available for natural regeneration of trees and shrubs, it’s often

linked to climate variables in preceding seasons.” The Nature’s Calendar team puts the exceptional crop down to a mild spring where temperatures hovered above average. This is when the white hawthorn flowers bloom which, if pollinated, go on to produce the red fruits in autumn. The volunteers also record the date hawthorn flowers first start to open in spring. The average date of first flowering of hawthorn in the UK this year was 1 May. As May was warm and dry, it was ideal for pollinating insects. While the news is good, for this year at least, extra volunteers are needed to ensure accurate gathering of information in the future. Dr Garforth said: “We desperately need more recorders to deliver such data which is so important for tracking the nation’s seasons.

“We’re incredibly lucky to have historic data going back almost 300 years, but to understand how wildlife is responding to the changing climate, we need new volunteers to continue the record into the future. “Becoming a recorder is a great way to get into the

outdoors but you can even chart nature by looking out of your window. So please do come forward – anyone can take part, you don’t need to be scientist!” Visit www.naturescalendar. woodlandtrust.org.uk to find out more about being a recorder.

Fieldfare eating berries © David Whitaker

Happy Christmas for your pet By Lynwood Vets

Have you ever tried to explain Christmas to your pet? Pets like routine and predictability and at Christmas things change and they won’t understand why. While some might enjoy the hustle and bustle and everyone being at home, for others it causes anxiety which might lead to aggression or unwanted behaviours. All the preparations and unusual activities disrupt their normal daily routine. This can include the arrival of the tree and furniture being moved to accommodate it, presents

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being hidden in their resting places or the spare bedroom being prepared for guests. While everyone wants to enjoy the day itself, try and keep your pet’s normal routine. Be mindful as to how many treats you give them, stomach upsets on Boxing Day are no fun! It is not just overindulgence that causes illness, some Christmas plants and foods are poisonous and eating decorations, wrapping paper and toys can also cause problems. For those pets that don’t want to join in with the festivities make sure they have quiet places where they can retreat if they choose. Cats like to hide up high or under things, maybe in a leftover delivery box! Also don’t forget fish, hamsters and other pets that can’t move to a quieter place, and those that live outside may need extra bedding in the cold and may be scared of fireworks or noise from parties. With a little extra planning you can keep your pets happy for Christmas. @dorset.view

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education

Inspiring children in IT A group of 180 children aged nine to 12 were encouraged to consider a career in IT at the Dorset Coding Day, hosted by Heatherlands Primary School in Poole. This was the second time the event was held, following a successful inaugural day in 2022, with the aim of encouraging children to aspire to potential opportunities in

coding for their increasingly digital futures. It also covered elements of the programming topics in the Key Stages 2 and 3 computing curriculum. One speaker at the event was Luke Longdon from Enhanced IT, who said: “As more and more of the world goes online, children see digital on a daily basis but don’t necessarily see it as an

option for their future careers, especially in Dorset. The purpose of the afternoon was to inspire those children and to remove any misconceptions “I talked about how coding is used in areas that children use every day; games, apps and websites. I wanted to show how coding can be applied in the real world to hopefully ignite a career for one of the children.”

Witchampton school marks makeover anniversary From its founding in 1855 until 1963, pupils at Witchampton Church of England First School had to use an outdoor toilet and a celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of the installation of an indoor one, and the rebuilding of its premises, was held recently. Former pupils and teachers attended a brief service at which a hymn was sung that had also been part of the

dedication service in 1963. One former student, Audrey Hayter, was the third generation to attend the school, and two more have followed with her twin grandchildren there now. Headteacher, Jo Hancock, said: “Prior to the reconstruction, there were only two rooms separated by a wooden panel. The toilets were outside and the school

was heated by two stoves. After the 1963 update, the school was dedicated by the Bishop of Salisbury. “While the reconstruction was underway the school

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relocated to the village hall and during the dedication the children walked from the village hall back to their new building.” The school is part of Initio Learning Trust.

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Remembrance Remembrance has been marked across Dorset with a series of poignant and moving services. On Armistice Day, 11 November, short ceremonies were held to mark the end of First World War at many of the war memorials across the region, including Wimborne, Ringwood, Verwood and Blandford. On Remembrance Sunday 12 November, parades and services were held to remember the service and sacrifice of all those who have fought for their country and to defend our way of life. Although it rained on Wimborne’s Remembrance Sunday parade from the Royal British Legion to the Minster, there were plenty of people with umbrellas lining the streets. The church was full to capacity for the service and, fortunately, it had stopped raining after the service for the Act of Remembrance and wreath laying at the War Memorial. Across the BCP council area, there were parades and services held at Bournemouth’s Central Gardens, Poole Park and through Christchurch town centre, with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance at the Priory church. Despite torrential rain, Ferndown marked the occasion with a parade followed by a service at St Mary’s Church, while in Ringwood there was a procession from Market Place to the War Memorial Garden. In Verwood, following a service at St Michaels and All Angels Church, there was a procession to the war memorial for a service of Remembrance. In West Moors, the act of Remembrance was moving and memorable as the names of the brave soldiers from West Moors who have died whilst in active service were read out before the laying of wreaths. The tree near the memorial had turned a striking gold and pink as if paying its own tribute. And in Blandford, befitting a military town, hundreds of people gathered in front of the town hall to sing hymns and watch the parade and wreath laying.

Wimborne parade and Act of Remembrance. Photos by Marilyn Barber

West Moors © CatchBox

The Ferndown parade. Photos by Karen Wyatt-Epapara

Verwood Mayor Cllr Toni Coombs lays a wreath following a twominute silence on Armistice Day. Photo by Karen Wyatt-Epapara

Poole Sea Cadet Band led Poole’s Remembrance Sunday parade. Photo by Bruce Grant-Braham

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foodie news / if music be the love of food, play on...

Dining around the world on Christmas Day Janine Pulford • janine@dorsetview.co.uk

A traditional turkey roast dinner was something I looked forward to every Christmas Day until I was in my 20s then something happened. I saw a programme about factory farming and stopped eating meat overnight. While the rest of the family continued to do their ‘thing’ on Christmas Day, I was happy with the vegetables and cranberry sauce. I didn’t miss eating meat, and occasionally a whole salmon graced our table instead of a turkey. It was quite different to a roast dinner, and I appreciated my nearest and dearest giving up their roast for a salmon, yet had they been Swedish, that wouldn’t have been the case.

And there are many other countries where turkey is not the tradition. Believe it or not, KFC is top of the pops in Japan. This craze started in the 1970s when KFC introduced a Christmas ‘party barrel’ brimming with fried chicken and salad and it caught on big time. Suckling pig is the meat of choice in the Philippines, and Puerto Rico, whereas in Greenland they eat whale meat and reindeer on Christmas Day – watch out Rudolph! Christmas is a big affair in Italy with many dishes prepared on the day by family members. Lasagne, ravioli, baked chicken, roast pork, stuffed veal rolls and more. In Southern Italy they celebrate with the Feast of the Seven Fishes. In Sweden, a ham or a smorgasbord-style dinner is enjoyed including pickled herring, cured salmon and meatballs. Curry, or biryani, is favoured in India. Sliced beef tongue with vinegar and Indian spices is a delicacy in some areas. Capon, turkey, guinea fowl or pheasant – roasted and stuffed with chestnuts – is relished in France. In Venezuela, the dish of choice is hallaca – a mixture of pork, chicken, raisins, olives, capers, onions and pimentos, folded into corn dough and wrapped in a banana leaf. Germans enjoy a duck or goose with braised red cabbage and potato dumplings. Barbecues and salads are popular in Australia because Christmas falls in the summer holiday, but a meat roast may also be enjoyed. In Montenegro, they prefer a meatless and dairy-free meal – usually dishes made with beans, fish and potatoes. Now for dessert. For me, it has to be Christmas pudding with lashings of brandy butter. I won’t even consider anything else. In Denmark, a Ris á la mande is traditional, that’s rice pudding with almonds, vanilla and whipped cream. A caraway seed cake is given on Christmas Day in Ireland. And in Spain a traditional dessert is nougat or ‘Turrón’. Jamaicans, as you might imagine, bake a fruit cake using fruit soaked in rum and red wine for six months, or cupcakes using mixed dried fruit soaked in rum. The Germans enjoy a traditional Stollen, a mixed fruitcake covered with marzipan and dusted with icing sugar. And the Greeks like a sweet Baklava, which includes chopped nuts and honey. Whatever your choice, and you may like a change this year, have a very happy Christmas. But if cooking a festive meal is too much to think about, why not consider the option of dining out and letting someone else prepare the feast and do all the tidying up afterwards? Now there’s a thought. And finally: did you know an average Brit eats a whopping 6,000 calories on Christmas Day? Normal daily intake would usually be between 1,300 and 1,800 calories. So factor in a nice long walk after the King’s speech, if you haven’t fallen asleep! Sources: goodto.com, redbookmag.com, bawarchi.com

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Festive Christmas parties With Christmas fast approaching, you’ll be wanting to celebrate with your friends, family and work colleagues. If you haven’t already booked, get organising soon, as calendars will be filling up, and you don’t want to miss out. Meeting for a lunch, dinner or just a luxurious hot chocolate or mulled wine is a great way to catch up with friends in the run up to Christmas, with a pub or cosy café making ideal venues. If you’re asked to make a menu choice in advance, keep a list in case anyone forgets on the day. And if you’re planning a large family gathering, why not book into a pub or restaurant? You’ll be able to enjoy your Christmas morning knowing the main meal is someone else’s responsibility and everyone in your party can choose a meal they’ll enjoy. If you work for a big company, the chances are the office party will be

organised for you, but if your organisation is small, you might like to join other companies in a Christmas party night at a hotel or restaurant. That way you will probably be able to enjoy the perks of booking in a larger group, such as drinks on arrival and entertainment. You’ll also want to think about how you’ll get home – don’t take any risks when it comes to drinking and driving. If no-one in your party wants to be the sober driver, check the bus timetable so you don’t miss the last one home, or book a taxi well in advance, so everyone can have a relaxing time. Have fun.

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Over 800 pupils involved with Glow Badbury Glow Badbury provided a rare opportunity for local families and schools to experience drama and music

at Badbury Rings after dark. Fundamental to the success of the arts project were the staff and over 800 pupils of Pamphill

Illuminated Roundhouse at Glow Badbury

First School, Witchampton First School, Allenbourn Middle School, St Michael’s Middle School, Yewstock School and Stour Connect. Emerald Ant’s Glow Badbury event featured a magical, illuminated arts trail, created through artistled workshops with local families and schools. Ahead of the workshops over 300 children were inspired by archaeologists and National Trust Rangers on a succession of field trips to the Iron Age Hillfort near Wimborne. This unique arts project was

carried out in partnership with the National Trust’s Kingston Lacy Estate, with key funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with other funding from Dorset Council. The local community had been involved with the project from the start, in deciding what kind of project would most appropriately shine a light on the special heritage of The Rings. Dorset Arts organisation Emerald Ant then realised this ambition, celebrating the site’s fascinating layers of archaeology and ecology through ‘Glow Badbury’.

Art meets science exhibition Visitors to Bournemouth will be able to explore an exhibition that delves into the relationship between science and art. SEISMIC: ART MEETS SCIENCE, in collaboration with SEISMA Magazine, is a group exhibition being hosted on the second floor of Bobby’s in

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Bournemouth town centre. Curated by Paul CareyKent, the exhibition hosts 10 artists, all presenting different variations of work inspired by or connected to specific scientific ideas, in an intriguing and dynamic exhibition featuring painting,

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photography, film, sculpture and installation. The exhibition presents a diverse collection of mediums, styles and aesthetics, bringing to light fresh angles from which to approach the work, and prompting surprising, often fascinating questions. The pieces in the exhibition sit alongside two sets of commentary – one from an art perspective, and the second by a relevant scientific expert, in a way that makes the theory understandable for visitors of all backgrounds. The exhibition is open 11am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, until 20 January 2024.

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‘The Yellow One’ by Uli Ap

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Green festival celebrity

Winners at the annual show

Gardening club settles into new venue Following a fire at West Parley Memorial Hall, the West Parley Gardening Club had to find a new venue at very short notice. Thanks to the efforts of the memorial hall chairman, Anne Lane, and the MS Centre, the club was able to maintain the programme without any interruption. The monthly meetings now take place on the last Tuesday of the month at the MS Centre, Church Lane, West Parley. This year, the club had a diverse range of speakers on subjects including roses, Athelhampton House, cacti and birds of the New Forest. A special event is planned

to celebrate the club’s 10th anniversary. During a club meeting, there are refreshments and home-made cakes on offer plus a raffle, sales table and a monthly flower/vegetable competition. Whether a beginner or an experienced gardener, if you would like to find out more contact the chairman, Rod Darch on 01202 896711 or Sheila Lister on 01425 474562. Details also at www.westparleygc.co.uk.

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Springwatch TV presenter Megan McCubbin inspired an audience of nearly 300 adults and young people at Wimborne’s Queen Elizabeth’s School at ‘You, Me & Nature’, the headline event of the opening weekend of this year’s Planet Wimborne Green Festival. Spokesperson Jean Morgan said: “Speaking with her trademark passion for wildlife, Megan delivered a fascinating presentation which totally lived up to its billing, featuring creatures great and small, her own travels and research, TV work and campaigning, plus what actions we can all take to safeguard nature and protect species here in the UK.” Megan signed copies of her latest book, An Atlas of Endangered Species and chatted with members of the audience after her talk.

Megan McCubbin speaking at QE School at Wimborne’s Green Festival. Photo by Richard Frewer

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Six free Christmas activities for children Christians Against Poverty, which is run from Hope Church in Ferndown, has come up with six ideas for free activities for children at Christmas. 1. You can make all kinds of fun festive decorations from things found around the house, and reduce waste at the same time. Here are just a few ideas: • Use kitchen roll tubes, tissue paper and string to craft your own crackers • Collect pine cones, dip them in PVA glue and sprinkle with salt to create mini snowy Christmas trees

5. Take a walk or drive around your local village or town to see the Christmas lights 6. Take part in a Santa Run. If you’re worried about debt, coping on a low income, budgeting or finding work, visit capuk.org/help to find out about the free support offered by Christians Against Poverty (CAP) in partnership with local churches.

• Create a herd of mini reindeer using bottle corks, twigs, buttons and string 2. Go to an all-age church service 3. Watch a free fireworks show – this is a great one for New Year’s Eve 4. Put on a Christmas-themed variety show in the living room – sing, dance, read poetry or act out a nativity scene

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Advent adventure

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Count down to Christmas with Pavilion Dance and discover what surprises lie behind the Advent door. Join dance artists Claire Benson and Olivia Quayle for some festive making, moving and grooving. This fun, Christmas-themed experience has an assortment of things to watch and do. Create your party hat ready for the show and take a peek through the Advent door to find some Christmas theatre magic. Running time: 45 mins with a 5-minute break. Pavilion Dance’s family shows are relaxed performances so please come prepared to take off your shoes when entering the performance space. Suitable for children aged 3yrs+ and their families. Please come a little earlier than the advertised time to make your party hat in our foyer. Check out the full December line-up. You may also be interested in the Frozen dance workshops and film screening and the New Year’s Eve Ceilidh. www.pdsw.org.uk, ph: 01202 203630

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Events

Details were correct at the time of going to print. Send information about your events to newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

Until 2 December West Moors Drama presents a comedy, ‘Lies, Spies and Apple Pies’ at West Moors Memorial Hall. Tickets on the door or in advance from Dixon Kelley estate agent. Until 30 December Polar Express train ride at Swanage Railway. Until 2 January Poole Christmas Maritime Light Trail through Poole town and onto the Quay. 1 December 5-8pm Lantern and Santa parade in Fordingbridge with late night shopping and lights switch-on at 6pm. 1 December from 5.30pm Carols on the Petwyn, West Moors. Parade, Father Christmas, elf hunt and wheelbarrow races – adults pushing adults and mini barrows for children pushing teddy bears. Prizes. 1 December Yuletide Festival, Blandford Forum. Info at https://blandfordyuletide-festival.org.uk/ 1-20 December 10am-4pm Exhibition entitled ‘Atmosphere’ at The Gallery Upstairs at Upton Country Park. 2 December 10am-3pm Market stalls in Broadstone with the Broadstone Christmas parade starting from Story Lane at approximately 1.30pm. 2 December 11am-3pm Christmas Fayre at MS Centre Dorset, Church Lane, West Parley, BH22 8TS. Many stalls, crafts, cakes, jewellery etc. Further details 01202 570300. 2 and 16 December 2-3pm, 2.453.45pm, 3.30-4.30pm Visit Santa at Museum of East Dorset. https:// museumofeastdorset.co.uk/ project/visit-santa-makechristmas-magical/ 2 December 4-7pm Christmas Extravanganza in Verwood with lights switch-on at 4.30pm. 2 December 7.30pm Wimborne Chamber Orchestra concert at Wimborne Minster Church. 2 December 7.30pm Vivamente Voices presents Carols by Candlelight at Wimborne Methodist Church. Tickets from www. vivamentevoices.co.uk/events 3 December 5-7pm Christmas Family Show at St Nicholas Church, 30 Wareham Road, Corfe Mullen. Tickets from parishcorfemullen. church/christmas 4 December 7.30pm Charity Christmas concert at The Victoria Rooms, Fordingbridge. Tickets from 07962 272931.

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DORSET VIEW December 2023

4 December 2pm Blandford and District Floral Group meets at Ann Biddlecombe Hall in Tarrant Keyneston.

9 December 11am-4pm Ringwood Waldorf School Christmas bazaar in Folly Farm Lane, Ringwood BH24 2NN.

6 December 2.15pm Lytchett & Upton Floral Club workshop and social afternoon at CJs, Lytchett Minster church car park. Bring cardboard 4” x 17” (2 pieces), oasis and container with Christmassy flowers and foliage to take part. Refreshments provided.

9 December 12noon and 2pm Diverse Abilities hosts Christmas Biscuit Workshop with Maggie the Seaside Baker at the Dolphin Centre, Poole. Booking essential. Tickets from diverseabilities. org.uk/biscuitworkshop

6 December 7pm Fireside Theatre play reading of The Reluctant Debutane at Jenny and Mike Brown’s home. Ring to book on 01202 825178. 6-9 December Christmas Tree Festival at St Martin’s Church, West Moors. 7 December 3-5pm Arthritis Care Ferndown meets on the first Thursday afternoon of the month at Ferndown Day Centre. Guests pay £5 for entertainment, afternoon tea and outings. Visit Facebook group or call 0330 311 2793. 7 December from 7pm Carols by Candlelight, hosted by Julia’s House Children’s Hospice at St James’ Church, Church Street, Poole. Book: www. juliashouse.org/poolecarols 7 December 7.15-9.15pm Ferndown & District Historical Society meets at the Barrington Centre on the first Thursday of each month. Contact Andrew Palmer on 07968 224158. 7 December 7.30pm Verwood and District Horticultural Society meets at Verwood Memorial Hall on the first Thursday of the month. Details at www. verwoodhorticulturalsociety.co.uk or call Ollie on 01202 827622. 8 December 3-7pm Ringwood School Christmas Market, free admission. Meet Father Christmas, stalls and carol singing. 8 December 7pm Forest Holme Hospice Charity Christmas party at the Hamworthy Club, Canford Magna. Book on www.forestholmehospice.org.uk 8 December 7.30pm Artsreach present Icicles and Inglenooks at Blandford Parish Church. Tickets from www.artsreach.co.uk 9 December Save the Children Christmas Parade starts from coach park at Allenview car park at 2.15pm and arrives in Wimborne Square at around 2.45pm. 9 December 10am-3pm Artisan Makers Market at Wimborne Community Centre. Free admission. 9 December 11am-3pm Christmas Fayre in Wimborne Minster Church. Free children’s trail 11.30am-12.30pm. Children’s craft workshop 1.30-2.30pm. To book your place on the workshops email: claire@wimborneminster.org.uk. /dorsetview.news

9 December 7pm Verwood Choral Society concert at Verwood Methodist Church. Tickets at door. Proceeds to Julia’s House. 9-10 December 11am-4pm Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church, Sturminster Marshall. Trees decorated by members of the community and dedicated to charities. Carols 3pm on the Sunday. Free entry. 9 and 16 December 11am-3pm Yuletide family fun at Red House Museum, Christchurch. Pre-booking not required. 9 and 16 December 3-4pm Choir in the courtyard at Red House Museum, Christchurch. 9-24 December Christmas Tree Festival at St Aldhelm’s Church, Branksome. Teas and coffees available. Email: office@st-aldhelm.com 10 December 6.30pm Forest Holme Hospice Charity Light up a Life Memorial Service, Harbour View, Lytchett Minster. 11 December 2.30pm West Moors Horticultural Society presents Gardens Worth a Visit by Mike Webber at the Memorial Hall. 11 December 7.30pm Wimborne Orchestra Christmas Concert at St Nicholas Church, Corfe Mullen. Admission free. Retiring collection in aid of Coda Fiddle Orchestra. 11 December 7.30pm St Aldhelm’s Orchestra at St Aldhelm’s Church, Branksome BH13 6BT with A Classical Christmas. Free entry, retiring collection. 13 December 6.30-9pm Bournemouth Big Band, Swing and Jazz Club meets downstairs in Kinson Community Centre. Details www.bournemouthjazzclub.org 13 December 7pm Dorset Police carol service in Wimborne Minster. Free entry. 13 December 7.30-9.30pm RSPB New Forest Local Group, Birding the World’s Remote Islands, Lyndhurst Community Centre SO43 7NY. Non-members £5, members free. Tel 01425 652864, https:// group.rspb.org.uk/new forest/ 13 December 7.30pm East Dorset Antiquarian Society meets at St Catherine’s Church Hall, Wimborne. @Dorset_View

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14 December 6.30pm for 7pm start Caroline Butler and Dave Townsend of ‘The Mellstock Band’ perform ‘A Country Christmas’ at Museum of East Dorset. https:// museumofeastdorset.co.uk/ project/a-country-christmas/ 14 December 7pm for 7.30pm start Wimborne Valognes Twinning Association wine tasting evening at the Wimborne Community Centre, King Street. Presenting a tasting selection of wines with talks and light meal. Tickets wvta.org.uk/programme 15 December 10am-1pm RSPB New Forest Local Group field trip to Normandy Marsh (SZ 327 941), meeting at the end of Maiden Lane, Lymington. Followed by Christmas lunch at The Chequers Inn, Ridgeway Lane, Lymington SO41 8AH. Field trip cost for non-members £5, members free.Tel 01425 652864, https:// group.rspb.org.uk/new forest/ 15 December 7.30pm and 16 December 2pm West Moors Singers presents a Christmas concert entitled That Glorious Night at St. Martin’s Church Centre, Moorlands Road, West Moors BH22 OJW. Tickets from Buds and Blooms, the ticket manager on 01202 870769 or at the door. 16 December 7.30pm Bournemouth and Distric Concert Band at Wimborne Minster church. Book on www.BournemouthAndDistrictConcertBand.co.uk 16 and 23 December Ringwood Artisan Christmas Market at The Furlong. 17 December 10am Wimborne Rotary Club SantaStour Fun Run starting from Wimborne Town Football Club, Ainsley Road, BH21 2FU. 2.5k or 5k course. Register at www. wimbornerotary.org/giving 20 December 10-11am, 11.30am12.30pm, 1.30-3pm Making yuletide hobby horses in Red House Museum, Christchurch. Pre-booking required. 20 December 7.30pm Vivamente Voices Christmas concert in the Great Hall, Canford School. Tickets from www. vivamentevoices.co.uk/events 21 December 6.30pm Broadstone Music Series presents A Time Traveller’s Christmas Concert at St Nicholas’ Church, 30 Wareham Road, Corfe Mullen. Advanced online booking at www.broadstonemusicseries. info or limited availability for cash on the door. 22 December 6pm Carols in the Cornmarket in Wimborne. Accompanied by members of the Broadstone Community Concert Band and choristers from Wimborne Minster. 24 December 6-8pm Father Christmas will be in Ringwood Market Place to receive presents to be redistributed by Ringwood Rotary Club. @dorset.view

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motoring

Gritters on call Pavement There are more than 90 people on standby to grit Dorset’s roads as the temperatures drop. As well, there are nearly 13,000 tonnes of rock salt in store which will be used to keep the county’s roads open during adverse weather conditions. There are 684 miles of roads that form 23 main gritting routes which are treated when road surface temperatures are expected to drop below one degree Celsius. These include A, B, and wellused C class roads, and links to hospitals, large industrial estates, transport interchanges, emergency services stations and other critical infrastructure, most schools and main routes through towns and villages with populations of more than 750. Drivers are encouraged to drive on newly gritted roads with care as new salt needs to be driven on to be activated and even salty roads can be icy. In icy conditions, take care, reduce speed, and keep your distance.

parking is dangerous Guide Dogs, the UK charity for people with sight loss, have called on the government to crack down on dangerous pavement parking. Footpaths and pathways obstructed by parked vehicles cause huge difficulties for people with a vision impairment. People with sight loss cannot always see if they can safely squeeze past a parked car, and often their only alternative is to step into the road around it, exposing them to oncoming traffic. People on mobility scooters, and pushing or using a wheelchair or pushchair are also often hindered by inconsiderately parked cars. Research recently conducted by YouGov on behalf of Guide Dogs found eight in 10 people (85%) know that pavement parking impacts the safety of pedestrians with a vision impairment. Nearly three-quarters (72%) said pavement parking is common in their area. Additional YouGov polling among local councillors in England found the majority (95%) said pavement parking created a safety risk for pedestrians with a vision impairment, with 70% admitting pavement parking is a problem in their area. The government consulted on options to tackle pavement parking in 2020, and so far, no changes have been made. Guide Dogs is calling for national restrictions on pavement parking and says a clear law is needed where pavement parking is the exception, not the norm, and only allowed where it is deemed unavoidable by the local council. Eleanor Briggs, head of Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns at Guide Dogs, said: “The message from the public and local councillors is clear; our streets are not safe because of cars blocking pavements. The government need to act now as local councils don’t have the powers they need. Parking on pavements is a nuisance for everyone, but potentially dangerous if you are a wheelchair user forced onto the road, pushing a child in a buggy or have sight loss and can’t see traffic coming towards you.”

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PULFORD PUBLICITY sponsors WIMBORNE COMMUNITY GARDEN Making the garden accessible By Jane Benson Life at the Wimborne Community Garden never seems to stop. We’ve had such a busy and exciting few weeks: winning the South and South East in Bloom Community Garden award; hosting a wonderful evening with Tamsin Westhorpe; holding a fun and delicious pumpkin curry event. Amongst all this, due to the extraordinary generosity of the Hendy Foundation Trust and the skills, yet again, of our friend and brickworks expert Dan Higgs, we now have a glorious paved path that snakes its way through what is to be our sensory garden beds. This beautifully laid path also runs through the ‘wild area’ of the garden to the entrance gate which is at the end of Beaucroft College’s car park. With the path in place, this means that now, whatever the weather, we are easily accessible for wheelchairs, rollator walkers, buggies and so on. As the path

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DORSET VIEW December 2023

goes on to run through the sensory garden, again this makes more of the garden readily accessible to everyone. The sensory garden is another exciting development as very soon we are going to be planting this up with a wonderful array of grasses. This is yet a further example of amazing generosity, as the grasses are a donation from Neil Lucas from Knoll Gardens. Not only has Neil given us so many of his beautiful grasses but he has also shared so much of his knowledge with us and thrilled us with his enthusiasm for our garden. So, despite the rain and the winds, the bulbs are in, we are still very busy and life at Wimborne Community Garden is good. Do feel free to come and visit us any Wednesday morning, Friday afternoon or Sunday afternoon at the top of School Lane, opposite Beaucroft College. From all at Wimborne Community Garden, have a very merry Christmas.

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in the home

Secure sheds and garages I f you are heading away this Christmas, you’ll want to know that your belongings will still be there when you get home. In light of a spate of recent break-ins to outbuildings in the Poole area – where offenders have cut door locks or forced doors open with crowbars, before making off with high-value items such as bikes, e-bikes and power tools – police have issued advice on securing sheds and garages so you don’t get a nasty surprise on your return. • Attach a secondary lock to the base of the garage • Alarm any outer building – this can be done with a single alarm or it can be linked to the main house alarm if you have one • Do not leave tools and ladders out to potentially assist offenders

• Place bins behind locked gates or secure them to a fixed point using a chain and padlock • Use curtains, blinds or oneway window film on shed or garage windows to make sure criminals cannot see what is inside • Don’t post pictures on social media of your bike, or your routes on fitness trackers/ apps that show your start/ finish point as offenders may be able to determine the home address where your bike is stored • Forensically mark and register your bikes, tools or other expensive items using an accredited forensic marking solution For more information on how to keep your garage, sheds and outbuildings secure, visit www.securedbydesign.com.

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in the home / home is where the heart is .

Tenants for Energy efficiency grants eco-homes The first tenants will soon move into new affordable homes on land between Cheshire Drive and Wilkinson Drive in Bournemouth. BCP Council has recently completed the 11 properties which consist of a block of nine two-bedroom flats and two threebedroom houses. The properties are built to the highest eco-standards using fabric first principles, which prioritise the energy efficiency of a property from its conception, to create an airtight, insulated building that reduces the amount of energy required to heat the home. The buildings are all fitted with triple glazing and solar panels, and the energy for each property is provided from a renewable source by ground source heat pumps. This means greater energy efficiency and lower bills for the tenants. The development also boasts ample parking on site and a communal garden for the flats. Families in the houses will also enjoy their own private garden.

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DORSET VIEW December 2023

The Home Upgrade Grant in Dorset, a government-funded scheme helping homeowners and landlords improve the energy efficiency of their homes, has been launched. The two-year programme is being delivered by Ridgewater Energy on behalf of Dorset Council, BCP Council and Public Health Dorset, and can cover measures like loft and wall insulation, heat pumps, double glazing, low energy lighting, and solar panels. To qualify, homes need to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G, must not use mains gas for heating, and have a low income.

To meet the criteria of a low income, households must receive a meanstested benefit, have a combined income of less than £31,000 before tax, or live in an eligible postcode area. Residents can check whether they are eligible for a Home Upgrade Grant or other support available, by contacting Healthy Homes Dorset via their website or by free phoning 0300 003 7023. For more information on further support available to help residents with the cost of living this winter, residents should visit the Dorset Council website or phone its customer services team on 01305 221000.

Diverse Abilities, Dorset’s disability charity has launched its annual Christmas tree recycling service. Bookings are now being taken to have your Christmas tree collected from Friday 5 January until Monday 8 January from Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Wimborne, East Dorset and Ringwood. The charity is also recruiting volunteers to help the team to collect and recycle Christmas trees. Families and businesses with access to vans, pickup trucks, or buses should contact Fran on 01202 718266. Visit diverseabilities.org.uk/ trees to book your collection for the first weekend of January.

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specialist services / who to contact for the service you need. ANTIQUES

CHIMNEY SWEEP

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

CARPENTRY

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

DECORATING

CAR SALES

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here

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01202

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COMPUTER SERVICES

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DORSET VIEW December 2023

Today

FENCING

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specialist services GARDENING SERVICES

FIREWOOD

FENCING

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ACCEPTANCE OF ALL PAID FOR ADVERTISEMENTS

GARAGE DOORS

GARAGE SERVICES

HOUSE CLEARANCE

ITEMS WANTED

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LANDSCAPING

Pulford Publicity Ltd (“the Publisher”) reserves the right to refuse publication of any advertisement without notice or explanation. Whilst the Publisher will endeavour to represent the best interests of the client in undertaking client’s instructions, it is fully understood that it is the agreed responsibility of the client to supply Dorset View accurate copy details of the advertisement(s) to be placed and any alterations to the copy must be received prior to copy date. Guarantee of insertion cannot be given and the Publisher shall not be liable for any loss or damage caused by any error or inaccuracy in the printing of an advertisement or by the total or partial failure, however caused, of publication or distribution of Dorset View. In no case shall the total liability of the Publisher for any misprint, error or omission exceed the price charged by the Publisher for that advertisement. The Publisher shall not be liable for any damage or loss save as stated and, in particular, the Publisher shall have no liability to the Advertiser in any circumstances for any claim for damages to, loss of, or costs in respect of any anticipated profits, revenues, business opportunities or for any other indirect or consequential loss. Claims for any error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement must be made within 10 days of publication to the Administration Department. Advertisers are requested to check their advertisements after the first insertion. The Publisher will not be responsible for any errors on subsequent insertions, which have not been advised to them. Cancellation of an advertisement must be advised in writing 21 days prior to copy date. Unless agreed otherwise in writing by the Publisher the terms of payment for credit accounts are 10 days from date of invoice. Any discount, which the Publisher may have agreed with the advertiser will be forfeited in the event of failure by the advertiser to meet these credit terms. All rates quoted are subject to VAT at the current rate in force at the time the advertisement appears. Copyright of advertisements produced wholly by the Publisher belongs to the Publisher. Advertisers may not reproduce such advertisments without the Publisher’s written consent. Full details of copy dates are obtainable direct from Dorset View and/or its representatives. The placing of an order for an advertisment shall amount to acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

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specialist services / who to contact for the service you need. MOBILITY

PEST CONTROL

OLD TOYS

Funding boost for maritime sector

PLUMBING & HEATING

ROOFING

TREE SURGERY

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DORSET VIEW December 2023

TREE SURGERY

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Marine and maritime sectors in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) area are set to be boosted by government funding. The Great South West, a coalition made up of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) across Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, has been named as the country’s ‘Marine and Maritime Launchpad’. As a part of the programme, £7.5m in funding has been allocated to unlock the potential of the region’s sustainable green and blue economies, boosting the economy by up to £45 billion and creating 190,000 new jobs by 2035. UK-registered small and medium sized enterprises can now apply for between £25,000 and £1m to help deliver outstanding nautical projects and innovations in the region. Applications can be submitted until 11am on 6 December. Successful projects should last between six and 18 months, start no earlier than 1 April 2024 and complete by 30 March 2026. Successful applicants will also benefit from access to specialist support, as well as opportunities to network and collaborate with other businesses. @dorset.view

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Christmas flowers for Advent

Image credits: Stars for Europe.

The hallmark of Advent is a beautifully decorated tree, a mainstay of households around Britain in the run up to Christmas. But have you thought of using poinsettias on your tree instead of tinsel and baubles, or swapping your tree for a poinsettia?

The poinsettia lovers, Stars for Europe, share their top festive tips. Traditional Christmas tree dressing

Natural alternatives to trees

DIY decorations such as cut poinsettias in baubles and homemade tree decorations are quick and easy to make and add a personal touch to any Christmas tree, whether it’s real or artificial. Choose bright red poinsettias for a traditional touch, or yellow and cream for something more Scandi style. With their colourful bracts, cut poinsettias in baubles that have been turned into vases make Christmas trees stand out. Tip: To ensure cut poinsettias last a long time, immediately after cutting, dip the cut ends briefly into hot water (approx. 60°C) then into cold water, before placing them in water-filled Christmas baubles and hanging them up.

Some people don’t have room for a real tree but still want to enjoy the natural beauty and warmth that winter floral arrangements bring to the home. Affordable, readily available and much smaller in scale, poinsettias are a great solution, offering endless opportunities for spectacular table centrepieces and window dressing.

Advent joy Unleash your creative spirit! An Advent wreath made using dried florals and cut red poinsettias is a real gem, and a great thing to create as a family when the nights are drawing in. This type of artistic design can skilfully bridge the gap between tradition and modernity. Or try a mixed display by combining a potted poinsettia with a winter scene.

As cut flowers, poinsettias will stay fresh for up to two weeks if, immediately after cutting, the stems are dipped for a few seconds in hot water (approx. 60°C) and then in cold water. They can then be placed in water-filled flower tubes. Tip: Wrapping the root ball of the poinsettia in moss looks both beautiful and helps provide the poinsettia with water, as the moss stores plenty of moisture. Whether as a gift, substitute tree, table decoration or a bowl filled with cut poinsettias, these beautiful flowers will create a festive atmosphere. please mention Dorset View when you contact our advertisers

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A lifetime’s dream fulfilled By Karen Wyatt-Epapara

Trevor Northcott had always been inspired by the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, but never believed he could also get up on stage with his idols. That was until a former coach asked him about his ambitions and set him on a path to success he never even dreamt of. Trevor, who has dabbled in the bodybuilding industry for more than 20 years and is now in his 60s, finally took to the stage for the first time – a dream he held his whole adult life – just eight years ago. His first taste had him hooked and success followed as he moved up the ranks of British bodybuilding. Trevor trained at Eddie Abbew’s Olympian Gym in Hemel Hempstead before a move to Christchurch where he paired up with coach James Graesser.

More success swiftly followed and this year he placed second in the British UKBFF masters finals. As a result, he was invited to the IFBB Arnold Classic Europe, where he finished in fourth, and also to the IFBB World Championships. As he had already booked a holiday abroad, Trevor intends to defer his entry to 2024. Trevor hopes to inspire others with his story, and is even undertaking qualifications in coaching and nutrition so he can help others like him achieve success. He said: “Age is just a number – people think they can’t do things when they‘re older, but they can if they dedicate themselves.” Having also trained carefully through injury, Trevor added: “You can even train with a disability if you want – as long as you do it right and with the right nutrition.”

CORRESPONDENCE

NEWS IN BRIEF

To express your opinion or ideas about the community send your letters to letters@dorsetview.co.uk

GP practice failed me I was intrigued by your recent article ‘Thumbs up for Dorset GP practices’ (Dorset View, September 2023) as my experience is very different. I can only assume that the survey excluded the Mid Dorset & North Poole group of surgeries. My GP practice is part of the Mid Dorset and North Poole group of practices, more specifically Poole North Primary Care Network Practices. Mid Dorset and North Poole was the third worst GP practice group for patients waiting more than two weeks for an appointment out of the 50 worst (so 47th) areas of England in a survey reported in Yahoo News and originally published in the Guardian. My personal experience is calling my surgery for an appointment to see a GP on 17 August and being told that the first appointment available was 26 days later and this was a phone appointment. If I insisted on a face-to-face appointment, it would be “a lot later”. After making the appointment the receptionist briefly asked me what my symptoms were (are receptionists now trained medical experts?), presumably to make a note for the GP. My symptoms were a pain in and around the eye and a rash on my forehead. I made the appointment after seeing my optician for a full eye examination. My symptoms got worse. I ended up at Poole A&E after calling 111 on 19 August and was told that I had shingles in the eye and face. My sight then deteriorated, I called the Bournemouth Hospital Eye Unit emergency service. I was told to get to them ASAP, a programme of intensive emergency treatment then followed to save the sight of my left eye. Their service was superb. I kept my telephone appointment with my GP. He had full notes from the Eye Unit. I asked if the practice had a recovery plan to reduce the wait time for appointments. He was dismissive, inferring that everything was fine and insisting that they will speak to someone the same day if the case is urgent. I didn’t go to medical school for four years, I’m not medically qualified, and how am I supposed to know whether my symptoms are indicative of a serious threat to my health? Colleagues tell me that they always ‘over play’ their symptoms to make their health problem sounds urgent so that they get a call back the same day. If everyone is doing this, no wonder the naïve patient who doesn’t plead urgency has to wait 26 days. That the surgery is still using telephone appointments as their main method of consultation concerns me. Surely a telephone call with a patient, within 24 hours of calling for an appointment, should be used as triage call to determine both urgency and whether a face-to-face appointment is needed? I wonder what percentage of telephone appointments result in the patient then needing a face-to-face appointment, perhaps 50%? This is very inefficient use of GP time, effectively doubling their workload. Following my experience and having read the Yahoo News article I consider that the Mid Dorset and North Poole group of practices need to be put into remedial measures and consultants brought in to completely overhaul their working practices (eg, how about combining all their telephone reception service into one customer service centre who can view available appointments across the group?). In summary I conclude that this group could not have been part of the independent GP patient survey 2022, (or some very selective patient details were submitted for survey, I certainly did not receive a survey). Peter Pounds email

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DORSET VIEW December 2023

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Boost for active travel – five companies in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area have received a share of a £55,000 government funding pot aimed at supporting them to improve sustainable and active travel facilities for their employees. They are the Hamworthy-based Adam Practice, April Six in Christchurch, Beryl in Boscombe, Bournemouth University and the Pause Cat Café in Bournemouth. Fly-tipping hassle – A rural crime survey has found that fly-tipping is the crime most likely to have affected rural residents in the South west in the past year. However, most said they were more concerned by the theft of agricultural machinery and more than 50 per cent did not bother reporting crime to the police. Infill application – Dorset Council has received an application to erect a detached house and garage at 8A Rowlands Hill, Wimborne. Ferndown plan – Dorset Council has received an application to redevelop the site at 11 Robinson Drive, Ferndown to provide three new chalet bungalows. Ferndown warm space – Ferndown Community Support is providing a warm space on Wednesday evenings (4.30-7pm) and a Saturday Club (10am-12pm) at Ferndown Day Centre each week through winter.

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