Viewpoint November 2025

Bournemouth Youth Marching Band attend Ferndown’s Poppy Appeal launch © Viewpoint

VIEWPOINT

Dear Readers!

Although there is a plethora of documentaries available across all TV channels, I, like so many other people, enjoy going to talks organised by our excellent local organisations.

I’ve learned quite a lot over the years –and, it must be said, have also failed to retain information – but one presentation that will remain with me for a long time took place at Queen Elizabeth’s School recently.

As part of the Planet Wimborne Green Festival, Patrick Grant from TV’s ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’ spoke about ‘When Less is More’. The idea was to inspire the audience to discover how having fewer, better things could make us happier.

A show of hands revealed that I was in a distinct minority of attendees who had never seen the BBC programme, as I admit that I’m even reluctant to sew on a button.

However, I have long been concerned that my wardrobes – yes, they are plural – are bulging with far too many clothes.

Statistics show that we wear 20 per cent of our wardrobe 80 per cent of the time, so we are clearly buying more than we need. And that’s both men and women!

Patrick pointed out that, instead of buying quality clothes made in this country, we are spending our money on cheap imports, often bought online.

My friend and I were convinced that we had quality items in our wardrobes, but when we returned to our homes, we discovered that virtually all the garments were made thousands of miles away – and we’re talking names that are big on the high street.

We should be buying from our excellent local shops, many of which advertise in Viewpoint Magazine and Dorset View.

Marilyn Barber

News 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

VIEWPOINT is independently published and distributed free to homes and businesses in

VIEWPOINT

Ben Pulford managing director

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Louis Pulford creative director louis@pulfordpublicity.co.uk

Janine Pulford director janine@dorsetview.co.uk

Nick Pulford company secretary accounts@pulfordpublicity.co.uk

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Did you get a poppy?

Ahead of Remembrance Day services, towns and villages across Dorset held events to launch the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

On Saturday 25 October, Ferndown marked the Poppy Appeal launch with a parade along Penny’s Walk. Led by Bournemouth Youth Marching Band from the clocktower to The Barrington Centre, the parade featured members of Ferndown Town Council, local cadets, guides and scouts, and the area’s MP Sir Christopher Chope.

Following a service which included speeches by the Mayor of Ferndown, Cllr Lawrence Wilson, and Sir Chope, there was a free concert performed by Bournemouth Youth Marching Band inside The Barrington.

Outside of the centre was the town’s new poppy display, which featured over 2,500 poppies knitted and crocheted

by residents over the past few months. The display stands as a tribute created by the local community to honour and remember Britain’s fallen heroes.

Local businesses also participated in a shop window competition, creating poppythemed displays. This year’s winners were Fairlawn Care Home, AE Jolliffe & Son, and Pots & Paint Pottery Café.

The Mayor of Wimborne Minster, Cllr Jeff Hart, launched the annual Poppy Appeal in The Square by buying the first poppy. The event also featured a parade of military vehicles. Photo © Anthony Oliver.

Ferndown Town Council pose with members of The RBL. Fifth from the right is Sir Chris Chope MP © Viewpoint

Bournemouth Youth Marching Band © Viewpoint

Local lad raises £1,200 for Ringwood care home

A young boy from Fordingbridge has raised a huge sum of money to benefit the residents of a local care home.

Nine-year-old Alfie Jones decided to enter the Junior Great South Run after visiting his two great-grandparents at Ringwood’s Bickerley Green Residential and Nursing Home.

On Saturday 18 October, Alfie completed the 2.5K fun run in 17 minutes, with support from his friends and family.

In the process, he raised over £1,200 for the care home, which will enable the residents to enjoy trips out in a minibus.

Alfie said: “I can’t believe I raised that much money! I love visiting Bickerley Green and seeing everyone. I hated running before, but now I actually quite like it.”

His mum, Sherri, said: “I’m so proud of Alfie for committing himself to

raising all that money and completing the Junior Great South Run, knowing that the money raised will make the residents’ lives so much happier and more enjoyable.”

Tackling the challenge of e-scooters

By David Sidwick | Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner

The topic of e-scooters sparks a lot of debate and concern among members of the public. The frustrations I know many of you feel about the irresponsible and illegal use of both electric scooters and electric bikes is the reason why I have consistently raised this issue since I came to office in 2021. Whether it’s the sudden appearance of these scooters zipping through pedestrian areas or the links to crime and anti-social behaviour, it’s clear you want to see robust enforcement — and I want you to know Dorset Police are treating this seriously.

From day one, I’ve made it a priority to engage with the public, Dorset Police, and the relevant authorities to ensure your voices and concerns are heard. I’ve taken your concerns to the Force and to operators such as Beryl UK, which runs a bike and scooter hire scheme in the BCP area. I’ve challenged them directly on reports of dangerous riding and misuse of their vehicles, including underage users and instances where more than one person is on an e-scooter at a time, and pressed for stronger enforcement measures. This is because road safety is a key priority of my Police and Crime Plan.

I’ve backed Dorset Police as they take a robust approach to tackling the illegal use of e-scooters and e-bikes. Already this year, more than 50 e-scooters and 33 illegal e-bikes have been seized. Officers have also launched a targeted operation to deal with illegally modified bikes and scooters, making arrests, increasing patrols in anti-social behaviour hotspots, and crushing and recycling seized vehicles. Innovation is also playing a role in how we address this problem. The Force’s Innovation Board has invested in SmartTag forensic spray, which can help identify offenders and link vehicles to incidents.

Partnering with Bournemouth University, Dorset Police are analysing data to build an evidence base that supports more tactical and effective enforcement going forward.

Let me be clear on the legal position. Unless you’re using a rental e-scooter as part of an authorised trial scheme, it is illegal to ride a privately owned e-scooter on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes, or in pedestrian zones. They can only be used on private land with the landowner’s permission.

I strongly believe we need updated

legislation that is fit for purpose. What this legislation looks like remains to be seen. In my view, it should include mandatory number plates and insurance for all e-scooter users, minimum age limits, speed caps set by manufacturers, and potentially a basic competency test. I also believe that when it comes to hire schemes, there must be greater accountability, with visible number plates and real consequences for misuse. If companies fail to ensure their vehicles are used safely and legally, they should face penalties.

I know Dorset Police will continue to act decisively to tackle illegal and unsafe e-scooter use, seizing these vehicles and crushing them. And as Police and Crime Commissioner, I will continue to lobby for clearer and more robust legislation to deal with those who knowingly flout the law and put others at risk with their reckless behaviour.

The Force will seize and crush illegal and unsafe e-scooters © Dorset Police

An ideal gift for all Dorset lovers

-Advertisement feature-

‘Downstream Dorset, River Tales and Local History’ is a colourful journey of exploration and discovery along the many rivers and streams flowing through the beautiful county of Dorset.

Mary van Coller and her husband, Ryan, have visited towns and villages along each river, verifying facts, listening to people’s stories and taking many colour photographs.

‘Downstream Dorset’ reveals the meaning of place names and relates fascinating tales about people and events both past and present.

The book can accompany you when exploring Dorset, or you can sit and enjoy reading the many anecdotes with a cup of coffee.

Plus, 20 per cent of proceeds are donated to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

CORRESPONDENCE

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

Re: Rare ladybirds ‘spotted’ in New Forest I thought you would like to know that I have found in my garden a 13-spot ladybird.  I first spotted it in the summer and again in mid-October. I think she has now gone into hibernation. I live in the centre of Wimborne.

Jean Putland Via email

What rare wildlife have you spotted in your garden? Write in or send us your pictures

Christmas concert in Fordingbridge

Fordingbridge Choral Society are putting on a Winter Celebration concert on Saturday 29 November 2025 at 7pm, taking place in St Mary’s Church.

The main performance will be Sir Karl Jenkins’

piece ‘Stella Natalis’, which celebrates wintertime and Christmas. There will also be shorter pieces by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Hubert Parry, and solos by guest soprano Amy Carson, who was a founding girl chorister

at Salisbury Cathedral.

The concert will also feature the premiere performance of a new carol by Paul Carr and commissioned by the Choral Society called ‘Yet One Voice Sings’.

Tickets cost £15 in

Road surface work to be paused in Dorset

Dorset Council says that seasonal constraints and programme delays are forcing it to defer some road surfacing treatments to spring and summer next year.

All roads that were scheduled for treatment but cannot be completed this year will be inspected. Those showing signs of deterioration will be patched

or fully resurfaced before winter. Roads not requiring immediate repair will be treated next year.

Continuing works into colder, wetter weather risks treatment failure and further disruption for residents, so this decision has been taken to protect road quality and minimise inconvenience.

Cllr Jon Andrews, Cabinet

member for Place Services (which includes highways), said: “We regret that we are unable to complete our full preventative micro-surfacing programme this year, and this is disappointing for everyone.

“Micro-surfacing must be carried out before winter sets in, and unfortunately, circumstances have led to

advance or £18 on the door and includes a free drink. Under 18s are free. Tickets will be available from Caxton Decor on Salisbury Street in Fordingbridge, or online at ticketsource.co.uk/ fordingbridgechoral.

delays at some sites.

“We are inspecting all scheduled roads and can reassure residents that those in need of immediate repairs will be patched this year.”

School challenged with wheelie bin competition

By Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

Students at Ringwood School have been challenged to design creative, eco-friendly covers for

the district’s new wheelie bins.

New waste collections started for residents in Bransgore,

Fordingbridge, Ringwood, and surrounding areas in October.

These covers will enable residents to store their new wheelie bins discreetly in their gardens, to stop them becoming unsightly and taking up valuable space.

The idea is inspired by a similar initiative from Brockenhurst Green Roofs, for which Greening Ringwood showcased a prototype at the recent carnival.

At a meeting in October, Ringwood Town Council’s Planning, Town and Environment Committee approved the student competition for the covers, which would have

pollinator-friendly green roofs.

The committee said the competition would encourage students to engage in ecodesign, sustainability, and local biodiversity and offer opportunities for collaboration with the wider community, local colleges, and potentially even manufacturers. It would also help to create a network of pollinator corridors throughout Ringwood and the surrounding areas, supporting bees, butterflies, and other vital species.

The competition will enable the council to build on its engagement with Ringwood School.

The Lombard Rally Festival St Giles, which took place at Wimborne St Giles House in Cranborne, attracted a huge crowd of enthusiasts who had been starved of rally action since the demise of Rally Sunseeker in 2012. Over the weekend of 18 and 19 October, the cars performed demonstration runs and around 100 classic vehicles were on display. Pictured is James Avis driving flat out in his Ford Sierra Sapphire, which previously competed on the 1991 Tour de Corse with Bernard Beguin behind the wheel and JeanMarc Andrie navigating. Photo © Bruce Grant-Braham.

School hits the right notes

Ferndown Middle School is encouraging pupils to enjoy music.

The school, which ensures every student receives a minimum of one hour a week music tuition, has been recognised with the Music Mark.

At Ferndown Middle School, break-time and after-school clubs are packed with aspiring musicians, singers and composers. Ferndown is also the first middle school to receive lead school status from Octagon Music Hub, which means it is a trailblazer in music education.

The Music Mark was gained for the school’s ambition and quality – and you have to be recommended to achieve it.

Scott Welcomme, head of music, said: “We really believe in the benefits of nurturing our pupils with music and encouraging them to pursue different career pathways.

“Music transforms lives and is something that everyone can be involved with.

“Music improves children’s general wellbeing and health, and we do everything from classical music to Chinese drumming to DJ-ing.”

Student Evie Bartlett said: “I love all the options available and all the music clubs. I play the flute and am doing my grades. Music gives us lots of opportunities, it’s fun and makes us feel happy.”

Memorial bench clarity for Ringwood

Ringwood Town Council’s Recreation, Leisure and Open Space Committee receives several requests for memorial benches, and so it has decided more clarity is needed when it comes to their location and style.

The recent open spaces management review identified locations for new benches. Five benches could be accommodated along the Bickerley, and Dr Little’s Garden also has capacity.

The committee resolved that the designation of Dr Little’s Garden and the Bickerley path be approved as memorial bench locations, until they reach capacity.

A consistent bench style should be set, and any new benches at the Bickerley do not need to match the existing metal bench.

Families should cover the cost of the bench, plaque, installation and a contribution to future maintenance.

The decision about whether to install a bin should be delegated to officers (budget permitting) with benches installed on larger bases, but bins only installed where there is a genuine need.

The capacity for new benches should be considered annually as part of the Open Spaces management review.

Scott Welcomme bangs the drums for music at Ferndown Middle School

Toad Patrol wants you

Ringwood and Poulner Toad Patrol has issued a call for new volunteers to help protect the area’s amphibians

Finding a toad in your garden or while walking in nature can be a nice surprise. But alarming recent research by Cambridge University shows that the number of amphibians in the wild has fallen dramatically: almost half of the UK’s toads have been lost in just one generation.

The loss of ponds and natural habitats, as well as changing weather patterns, is partly to blame for this decline. But many toads are also killed by traffic, especially when they crawl slowly across busy roads as they migrate to breed and lay their eggs near water.

They begin their migration in January, and that’s when the Ringwood and Poulner Toad Patrol starts to turn out every evening along a local toad “hotspot” to help them make it safely across the road. And the Patrol is looking for more volunteers who can help.

For the past 37 years, Ringwood and Poulner Toad Patrol has worked tirelessly to help the area’s wildlife. Every night from January to the middle of spring, volunteer patrollers take turns driving slowly along the road from the North Poulner crossroads to the Moyles Court ford below Rockford Common from dusk until 11pm, stopping to pick up toads and carry them across the road so they can safely continue their journey down to the water’s edge.

“The shocking decline in toad numbers means that every life we can save is more precious than ever,” said Nicola Yorke, who runs the patrol.

“The particular route we look after on the edge of Ringwood next to Blashford Lakes can be especially dangerous for them, as they risk being killed under the wheels of cars and vans. So, we’re looking for more

willing volunteers who can spare a couple of hours one evening every week from mid-January through to the end of March.”

As well as calling for new volunteers, Yorke urged drivers to slow down, be patient and keep an eye out for toads on the roads, in order to avoid future fatalities.

“The toads crawl down from the wooded hills above Blashford Lakes to find a mate and breed,” she added. “By early spring, after their eggs are laid, they make the return journey, once again facing the dangers of the busy road.

“They only move when it’s warm enough — five degrees and above. They love wet nights, but they’ll also cross when it’s not raining, particularly early in the season when they’re keen to get down to the water. And with toad numbers falling, we need to carry on helping them to stay safe, which is why we need more volunteers to join our friendly, inclusive group of passionate, dedicated patrollers.”

In 2025, Toad Patrol saved 416 toads, as well as 22 frogs and 146 newts. The volunteers’ hard work and efforts to protect the local toad population was recognised in May when the patrol were given a prestigious Community Award by Ringwood Town Council.

To help raise awareness of Toad Patrol, volunteer Louis Pulford (who is also this magazine’s creative director) has designed a photo exhibition called ‘Amphibians Are Friends: A Tale of Toad Patrol’. The gallery will be on display at Moors Valley Country Park and Forest from 10 January to 12 July.

If you are interested in volunteering with Ringwood and Poulner Toad Patrol, please email rptoadpatrol1@gmail.com.

Grumpy Toad © Louis Pulford

Not So Grumpy Toad © Louis Pulford

Holt Halls’ anniversary antics

In October, Holt Village’s two halls marked significant anniversaries with a joint party.

The Village Hall celebrated 50 years and the Parish Hall 90 years of providing great venues for the village and surrounding areas. A celebration cake was cut and distributed.

Partying kicked off with free fizz and cake, and celebrating continued with a film of old Holt, as well as games, historical displays, plenty of chat, and, of course, more cake.

Those who had held wedding receptions and special family events in the halls many moons ago also attended.

People who are interested in seeing films of old events in the village can watch them in the Parish Hall on Friday 21 November. Please email vickyvillagehalls@gmail.com for details.

Both halls host a variety of activities and clubs, and they are venues for parties large and small. Details for making a booking can be found on holtvillagehall.co.uk and holthall.org.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Former brewery plan

Pennyfarthing Homes has bought the former Ringwood Brewery, which it plans to redevelop and convert into office space as its new headquarters. The site covers nearly two acres.

Coffee morning

West Moors resident Maureen Flynn held a coffee morning on 8 October which raised £846 for cancer research. Virtually every business in the town donated prizes to the raffle.

Dorset police van

The new mobile Dorset Police van is to visit Sainsbury’s in Ferndown on the first Tuesday of the month and Verwood Memorial Hall on the first Thursday, between 11am and 1pm.

Forest survey

New Forest residents are invited to give their views about the National Park in an online survey. It can be accessed on https://nfnpasurvey2025.commonplace.is./ and it closes on 30 November.

Bungalow plan

Dorset Council has received an application for the demolition of four bungalows at 5–8 Primrose Hill near Wimborne Minister and the erection of four new bungalows.

New chair for New Forest authority

Victoria Mander has been elected as the new chairperson of the New Forest National Park Authority. She replaces David Bence. Keith Mans is deputy chairperson.

Wielding the knife at the anniversary party © Bruce Grant-Braham

Townswomen’s Guild update

David Richmond-Coggan entertained at a recent meeting of the Verwood Afternoon TG with his talk on ‘The RNLI — 200 Years in Stories’. He presented a potted history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, which started out as the National Society for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck and changed to the RNLI in 1854.

In 1926, horses were brought in to assist in launching boats, but the first steam-driven lifeboats were introduced in 1890 and petrol engines in 1930. The charity was very active in WWII, rescuing downed aircraft and transporting explosives in dangerous conditions.

The guild also arranged a ‘Soup and Pud’ lunch and has more activities planned up until Christmas.

Verwood Afternoon TG meets at the Memorial Hall on Ringwood Road on the first Thursday of the month at 2pm. For more information, ring Judi on 01202 053264.

Heathland restoration project for Verwood

Restoration work has taken place at Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Verwood this autumn, as well as in Ferndown and Upton, aiming to safeguard some of the world’s rarest wildlife habitats while reducing the risk of wildfires to both nature and nearby communities.

The sites were Stephens Castle and Dewlands Common North in Verwood, Slop Bog and Parley Common in Ferndown, and Pine Clump in Upton.

The project was supported by funding from Natural England and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and focused on restoring lowland heathland — an internationally rare ecosystem that supports endangered species such as the Nightjar, Woodlark, and all six of Britain’s native reptiles, including the elusive Smooth Snake.

Over time, invasive scrub and self-seeded coniferous trees have encroached on these heathlands, threatening biodiversity and increasing the risk of wildfires. The restoration involved removing selected trees and invasive species such as rhododendron to allow native heathland plants — especially heather — to thrive once again.

Rangers have also worked closely with Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service to develop wildfire response plans and ensure fire crews are familiar with the terrain.

Have a natter on town’s new Chatty Bench

By Louisa Hiscock, Verwood Rotary Club

In October, the club hosted a concert by the Dorset Police Male Voice Choir at Verwood Methodist Church. It was great to see so many there supporting this event, and the choir was fantastic as always. The evening raised over £1,000 for charities supported by the Rotary Club.

Club President Roger Sweet was also pleased to try out the new Chatty Bench in Verwood with Mayor Spencer Flower. This was bought by the club with the support of Verwood Town Council which will maintain the bench long term. Community Switch, a local initiative supporting improved health and wellbeing in the community, has also

worked closely with the club and set up a QR code on the bench providing support links. A great community collaboration to bring people together.

Organisation is already underway for Rotary’s annual Christmas Shoebox Appeal with local schools involved. This worthwhile project involves filling shoeboxes with a selection of small gifts and toys to be received in time for Christmas by disadvantaged children around the world. The pleasure in putting the boxes of gifts together, knowing the excitement and joy they will bring to children, cannot be underestimated.

At club meetings, we have recently enjoyed speakers from several organisations and charities, including the RNLI. Club members are also getting out in the local community. You may have seen us in our hi-vis vests helping as marshals at the drive-through flu vaccinations at Lake Road Surgery and at Flameburst, Verwood’s community fireworks event.

Finally, we are looking forward to hosting a ‘hand out evening’ soon to present donations to a wide range of organisations, charities and groups from the funds raised at our Rustic Fayre.

For all the latest Rotary news and events, visit our website: verwoodrotary.org.uk.

Conservation work has taken place at Stephens Castle heathland © Dorset Council

Mayor Spencer Flower (left) and Club President Roger Sweet (right) with club members at the Chatty Bench

The choir concert at Verwood Methodist Church

Go green with Christmas tree festival

Verwoodians on Waste (VoW) are holding their first ever eco Christmas tree festival at St Michael’s Church this November. The theme is: “How long before your gift is gone?”

Any money raised from donations and tea and cake sales during the weekend-long festival will go directly to the church.

The festival encourages local community groups or businesses to design their own Christmas tree decorations using re-used or recycled (and preferably plastic-free) materials.

VoW are providing six-foot, Dorset-grown trees for groups to decorate, and visitors during the festival will be asked to vote on which tree is the most creative.

The festival aims to inspire visitors to make eco-friendly changes this Christmas.

Trees will be decorated on Thursday 27 November, ready

for the festival to open from 10am to 4pm on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 November, and from 11.30am to 3pm on Sunday 30 November.

The winner will receive a prize presented by local MP Sir Simon Hoare on Sunday 30 November at 3pm.

As well as the fantastic trees, there will be carol singing, coffee and cake for visitors to look forward to. Visit vowverwood. com for more details.

Christmas cheer in Verwood

Last year’s Christmas Extravaganza was a big success, and Verwood Town Council are hoping to follow it up with this year’s Christmas lights switch-on event.

Taking place on 29 November from 3pm to 6pm, the festive event will be spread across three locations: Ferrett Green, the Memorial Hall, and the United Reformed Church.

Visitors to Ferrett Green can look forward to several attractions including children’s rides, face painting and a chance to meet Santa. There will be plenty of amazing food and drink choices, including a fish & chip van, popcorn, candy floss and donuts, while the Scouts will be running a burger stall and the Guides are organising a marshmallow firepit. If you need something warm, remember to stop by the

Get your dabbers ready

If you need some festive fun, why not play a classic game of bingo on Friday 21 November.

Verwood Youth and Community Centre on Howe Lane is organising a Christmas bingo fundraiser from 6.30pm to 10.30pm. The event promises to be a night full of joy, prizes and bingo. It will be run by young people for parents, friends and family of the centre, and each round of bingo will be different.

Tickets cost just £8 and include five rounds of bingo, and tea, coffee and cake will be on sale from £1.50. Book your tickets from eventbrite.co.uk/e/christmas-bingo-fundraisertickets-1757729398949.

Highlights from last year’s Christmas event. Photos © Carrie Lloyd

town council’s hot chocolate stand (which will have boozy and non-boozy options).

The Christmas market will be held in the Memorial Hall, with gift stalls selling a variety of festive present ideas. Ringwood Distillery will be selling their popular Wyrd Gin, while the Heathland Heritage Centre will serve hot drinks and sell tickets for their raffle. Another face painter and Mr Pop’s Balloon Animals will help to keep children entertained.

Finally, the United Reformed Church will have a Christmas display, activities and drinks.

The event will build up to carol singing around the Christmas tree at 5.30pm, and the lights will be switched on at 6pm.

For more information, keep an eye on Verwood Town Council’s website and social media pages.

Dorset labelled an Age-friendly community

Older people are welcomed and respected in Dorset.

That’s the message from Dorset Council, after it was announced in October that the county was the 100th place in the UK to become an Agefriendly Community, joining a growing network of places which covers a population of more than 10.5 million people aged 50 and over — a figure larger than the entire population of Greece. The Age-friendly Communities concept was developed by the World

Health Organisation in 2007. It involves local groups, leaders, councils, and businesses working together to make their services and infrastructure more age friendly.

Dorset has one of the oldest populations of any UK county, with 30 per cent of its residents aged over 60, compared to a national average of 19 per cent.

Cllr Steve Robinson, Dorset Council’s Adult Social Care portfolio lead, said: “We see Dorset as a place where growing older means living well at any age and any level of ability, and where every generation feels valued and contented.

“We are reaching across Dorset to listen to older people’s experiences to see what’s working, what could be better and what do people want for their future. Your voice will help shape a county-wide Age Friendly action plan, guiding our next steps.”

Dorset Council is running an online survey until 19 December about how to make the county more age friendly. Fill out the survey on the council’s website: dorsetcouncil.gov. uk/age-friendly-dorset.

Dan cycles 1,040 miles for JTYAF

A man, who took up the Land’s End to John O’Groats cycling challenge, has raised £5,260 for the Ferndown-based John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF).

Dan Avey-Hebditch’s journey over six days and covering 1,040 miles was far from smooth. On the first day, a snapped gear cable threatened to halt his progress. Thankfully, his wife Tina and cycling club friend Hugh sprang into action. After delivering a spare bike to Dan, Hugh repaired his main bike by 4am the next day, so Tina could reunite her husband with it in Runcorn at the end of day two.

The British weather also put Dan to the test, with relentless wind and torrential rain battering him along the way.

Dan was supported by local businesses. Custom Creations and Hudsons sponsored his kit and made generous contributions to his JustGiving page, while Sibbett Gregory, ABS Computer Systems, and Francesco Hair Salon made significant donations. Dan has a personal connection with JTYAF. Despite being born a decade apart, both he and John grew up in Ferndown, attended the same schools, and served as cadets in the Air Training Corps. Dan’s challenge was his way of honouring this bond and giving back to a cause close to his heart. To donate, visit justgiving. com/page/dan-aveyhebditch-jtyaf-lejog.

Missed NHS appointments cost £160

Each missed appointment costs the NHS £160. That’s according to new analysis of NHS data conducted by business communication company Esendex.

The research revealed the huge cost of missed appointments, with no-shows costing NHS trusts in the South West more than £35.7m between 2019 and 2024.

The analysis is based on more than 7.4 million no-shows across 144 NHS trusts in England and Wales that responded to Freedom of Information requests.

A regional breakdown of the findings showed that the South West had the fewest noshows last year. In 2024, there were more than 37,500 missed appointments, up just 1.44 per cent from the year before,

at a total cost of over £6m.

For comparison, London had the highest number of no-shows in 2024, with over 108,000 appointments not attended at a total cost of over £17m.

Chris Gorman, head of commercial transformation at Esendex, said the findings are “incredibly frustrating,” especially for NHS staff on the front line who must deal with the financial and administrative burden of no-shows.

He added: “Many NHS trusts are already working incredibly hard to reduce the number of Did Not Attends, but a huge number of appointments are confirmed or updated via a letter, which can be easily lost or misplaced.

“NHS trusts need to find new and improved ways to reduce the number of no-shows.”

Dorset Council celebrated with a cake-cutting ceremony

Join a picnic fundraiser for Gaza this Christmas Eve

Residents are being asked to organise a Christmas Eve picnic to raise funds for humanitarian relief in Gaza

A Wimborne resident is calling on members of the Dorset community to take part in their own festive picnic to help raise funds for charity.

Moved by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Glenda Stansbury is urging residents to gather with family or friends on Christmas Eve and think of others, at one of the most compassionate times of the year, and make a donation to the British Red Cross.

She said: “I am sure that, after watching news bulletins regarding the plight of Gaza, there are several people who, like me, think: how can we possibly help, and could we even make a difference?

“It is too easy to think it is someone else’s responsibility,

but positive actions do help.”

She is promoting the picnic fundraiser as a way to spread compassion and empathy to others across the miles during the Christmas season.

“The idea is that people get together and have a picnic of their choice and wherever they choose on Christmas Eve. Whether that be together in a park, in a community hall, or even virtually with others, just to spend a few hours thinking of those less fortunate and how fortunate our own pathways are.

“Perhaps it will be an opportunity to enlighten children gently about the lives of other families overseas.

“It would be a time to take a step back and take stock to appreciate all we

have whilst offering some empathy to those families in Gaza. At a time when we quite often feel stressed with the pressures of Christmas, this opportunity to do something different on Christmas Eve may bring a different slant and in doing so enhance our own wellbeing over Christmas.

“When I was bringing my own family up, many years ago, I often used to think ‘let’s keep things simpler and do a Christmas picnic on the beach’. But it’s not too late; I will invite my adult children this year for that Christmas picnic and we can collectively donate to this appeal together.”

Glenda has suggested making a donation of £30 (which is approximately the cost of a turkey dinner in the UK.) She stressed that this is not to take away any of the celebrations people

may already have in place for Christmas, and added: “Much like the clapping for the NHS during Covid on a Thursday evening, this is just a chance to collaboratively spread compassion and empathy while making a charitable donation.”

The British Red Cross is supporting the Palestine Red Crescent Society with its lifesaving work in Gaza. Thanks to donations, the society has provided over 1.6 million emergency relief items, supported over 900,000 people with health services, and set up 27 camps for displaced people in Gaza. It distributes around 1,000 hot meals daily to displaced people. To make a donation for your Christmas Eve picnic, please visit giving.give-star.com/ online/british-red-cross/ glenda-fundraising-gaza.

Get your LPAs sorted

Who

would look after your finances and health if the unthinkable happened to you?

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you appoint one or more people to help you make decisions if you lose mental capacity due to old age, illness or an accident.

There are two types: Health and Welfare covers decisions about your daily care, where you live, and medical treatments, while Property and Financial Affairs concerns your money, bills, and property.

Creating an LPA can give you peace of mind this Christmas that you’ll be protected should the worst ever happen to you.

While you don’t need a solicitor to create an LPA and can do it yourself via the website gov.uk/power-of-

attorney, it is a complicated process, and any mistakes will make it invalid. A solicitor can help if your situation is complex or if you want to make sure the document is correct and legally sound.

That’s why local law firm Harold G Walker Solicitors is offering a huge 50 per cent discount on LPAs this November and December. Individuals can get both types of LPA created for £300 plus VAT instead of the normal £600 plus VAT price tag, while couples can get both types created for £500 plus VAT rather than £1,000 plus VAT.

To find out more, visit one of the offices in Wimborne, Broadstone, Christchurch and Verwood, or go to the website: hgwalker.co.uk.

Going the extra mile to help families with cancer

By Eve Went, co-founder of Dorset Cancer Care Foundation

The Deputy Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr George Farquhar, was one of seven people who took part in this year’s Run Bournemouth for the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) — sporting one of our rather fetching new red running vests.

Cllr Farquhar tackled the half marathon for the second year running for the DCCF. He was joined in the half marathon by Katy Beel, Taylor Bangezhano, and Emily James. While DCCF runners Chris Speers, Nuno Almeida and Samantha Bumford tackled the Supersonic 10K.

We are hugely appreciative of everyone who agrees to

take part in Run Bournemouth or Run Edinburgh for us, and in return for the sponsorship they raise, we pay their race registration, give them a fab red vest to wear, and offer them our support on social media. Between them, this year’s team raised hundreds of pounds in sponsorship for the DCCF’s continued work supporting Dorset families struggling financially because of a cancer diagnosis.

If you’d like to sign up to next year’s Run Bournemouth, the DCCF will pay for your registration in any of the events — 5k, 10k or half marathon — in return for you raising

New tech to boost

at-home care

A care provider in Ferndown is one of the first to use innovative new technology to enhance the quality of care it provides to clients.

GoodOaks Homecare East Dorset is among the first GoodOaks branches to introduce advanced digital health monitoring using the Whzan Blue Box system. This revolutionary technology enables early detection of health concerns, reducing hospital admissions and giving peace of mind to families.

The Blue Box system is used to create a personalised health baseline for a client, helping care professionals quickly identify and respond to any changes.

Adam Downer, director at GoodOaks Homecare East Dorset, said: “This technology bridges the gap between social care and healthcare. It empowers our care teams and supports better outcomes for our clients.”

The Ferndown branch is

introducing free digital health monitoring as part of its care services. This new benefit is designed to give clients and their families greater reassurance, helping people to stay safe, well, and independent at home. By offering regular health checks at no additional cost, GoodOaks is able to spot health concerns and monitor vital signs such as blood pressure, oxygen saturation, pulse, and respiratory rate.

GoodOaks is a national homecare provider with 28 offices throughout the UK. For more information, visit goodoakshomecare.co.uk.

sponsorship for the charity.

Or if you are thinking of taking part in another sporting event next year, such as The Great North Run, the London Marathon, an abseil or a Tough Mudder, we would love for you to take part for the DCCF.

Please let us know, so we can get in touch and offer our support.

Of course, you don’t have to raise a sweat to help our work. You and your children or grandchildren could stage your own event — like walking a mile a week for the DCCF. Or you could host friends or family for a tea party, coffee and cake, or a Sunday roast and charge a donation to attend.

people who took part in Run Bournemouth for the DCCF in October

We also have a packed programme of events you can be part of and in doing so support us. Or, if you’re busy, you can simply donate online or even consider leaving us a legacy in your will.

There are many ways to help our work, and you can find lots of ideas on our website: dccf. co.uk.

Have you had your flu jab yet?

The NHS is urging anyone eligible for a free flu vaccination to get their jab as soon as possible

The flu vaccine is given for free to anyone over the age of 65, those under 65 who are in a clinical risk group, care home residents and staff, children, and pregnant women.

As of late October, over 1.2 million flu vaccinations have been administered in the South West so far this year. The NHS in the South West has also administered over 430,000 COVID-19 vaccinations to those most at risk.

However, recent data shows that flu cases and hospitalisations are currently on the rise.

NHS consultant Dr Matthew Dominey said: “The flu vaccine helps to reduce your chances of having serious illness. It is vital that those eligible continue to

come forward and receive their vaccines before we head into winter.

“Flu can be a serious or life-threatening illness, and we are already seeing a rise in the level of flu circulating in our communities. Getting your flu vaccine is the best protection against flu and, as the flu virus changes every year, it’s important to get a vaccination each year to ensure your protection and help reduce the spread to others.”

Other ways to stop the spread of flu include washing your hands regularly with soap and water, staying at home and avoiding close contact with others if you’re not feeling well, and using tissues to cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

L-R: Deputy Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr George Farquhar, Katy Beel, Chris Speers and Taylor Bangezhano — four of the seven

GoodOaks’ Adam Downer and Charley Arnold

Column by Fordingbridge Museum is sponsored by Adrian Dowding

Burgate Manor

By Julian Hewitt | Fordingbridge Museum

At the junction of Salisbury Road and the A338 in Fordingbridge, readers may have noticed a pretty thatched cottage. This was the North Lodge for Burgate Manor, which is now on the other side of the A338 bypass. It was intended as a picturesque welcome for visitors. The main entrance lodge near the town centre was originally a similar thatched cottage, but this was destroyed by fire in 1866. Burgate Manor was once surrounded by fields and parkland and was the home of the leading landowner in the town. The present building replaced an earlier manor house which stood a few hundred feet to the north of the existing manor. This older

manor was recorded in the Domesday Book as belonging to the king, but it passed to the Bulkeley family in 1446 after the previous owner, John de Leckhull, was murdered by his servants. They held it until Sir Dewy Bulkeley married Anne Coventry, which eventually led to John Coventry, the eldest son of the 6th Earl of Coventry, inheriting the estate. He was followed by a confusing number of John Coventrys. It was John Coventry, the eldest son of George William, Earl of Coventry, who commissioned the building of the existing manor in 1811. The building stands on an imposing site overlooking the River Avon and is in the Gothic style of architecture. On the

river side, the central fullheight curved bay is designed to look like a castellated tower. The main entrance is through an impressive porch, which bears the date 1811 and the Coventry coat of arms above it.

The manor has many interesting features. The front entrance has the unusual feature of sliding doors built into it. This leads into a small entrance porch with a vaulted ceiling, which is noteworthy because it is made of stone when most Gothic Revival vaults were generally made of wood. A small cupboard behind the shutters of the dining room window would have held a chamber pot for the use of the gentlemen when the ladies had withdrawn.

The staircase is top-lit by a large fanlight and has castmetal stair balusters with a mahogany handrail that terminates in a lifelike snake’s head. Many of the doors have sliding latches embellished with the Coventry coat of arms, and some of the roof timbers are reputed to be reused ships’ timbers.

In 1857, John Coventry, who had been a Church of England curate, decided to convert to the Catholic Church. His family were incensed and would have disinherited him had previous wills not disallowed it. When his father died in 1871, he inherited and moved in with his wife Catherine and their 12 children. In 1872, he built

a church, now on Salisbury Road, but then in open fields. John died in 1897 but left the estate in financial ruin. Between 1898 and 1900, many of the estate lands were sold off, and the buildings on Salisbury Road and Whitsbury Road were built by developers at this time.

The Coventry family retained the house until 1939, when it was advertised for sale along with 114 acres of land; the property owned the trout fishing rights on three quarters of a mile of the River Avon. There was no electric lighting, and water came from a well room in the basement cellar, which had an oil-fired pump for raising water into a tank in the roof. There was a walled kitchen garden with vineries, a peach house, a boathouse and a gardener’s cottage. The building was bought by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) and is now owned by the Game and Wildlife Conservancy Trust. It is not open to the public, but documents relating to the house and pictures of the interior and exterior can be viewed by contacting Fordingbridge Museum.

The Coventry coat of arms

This small cupboard would have held a chamber pot

New woodland trails in Dorset

Families visiting Moors Valley in Ashley Heath now have the chance to enjoy a new walking trail.

It is amongst 20 Feel Good Forest Trails to be launched by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Forestry England, including another Dorset trail in Wareham Forest.

The 20 trails are intended to help families connect with nature. Packed with seasonal forest-themed activities from searching for food and wildlife to listening to the sounds of trees in the autumn, each trail encourages families to explore Forestry England’s

spaces, while also learning about forests in the UK and even the Amazon Rainforest.

To find more information about the trails, visit wwf. org.uk/act/trails and forestryengland.uk/feelgood-forest-trails.

It’s not always easy for everyone to access natural spaces, so for families unable to visit a trail in person, WWF and Forestry England have created a free Feel Good Forest Activity Pack (forestryengland.uk/feel-goodforest-activity-pack) filled with ideas to help families enjoy nature wherever they are.

New Forest drivers urged to watch out for animals

Up until 20 October this year, there had been 62 accidents involving animals on New Forest roads, with 36 animals either killed or injured.

Consequently, and with the evenings getting darker, road safety campaigners are asking businesses to help promote safer driving.

Companies with staff who drive in the New Forest are being encouraged to join the New Forest Drive Safe campaign to raise awareness among their employees of Forest ponies, cattle and other animals on or close to roads.

The newly launched group is urging as many local firms as possible to sign up to the scheme, which will provide support and advice to help make staff more aware of the risks of driving near livestock and what to do if they are involved in an incident with an animal.

Companies can join free of

Why you need pet insurance

By Marilyn Barber

Vet bills can be very high, and because they can come out of the blue, it is crucial to have pet insurance in place.

Pet insurance allows you to afford necessary treatments without struggling with the costs. Many policies also include benefits like liability coverage for your pet, help if your pet is lost or stolen, and access to vet helplines.

Knowing that you’re covered if, sadly, your pet incurs an injury or suddenly becomes unwell gives you peace of mind.

Depending on the policy, it can also cover things like your pet going missing, theft, third-party liability if your pet causes harm or damage, and sometimes even dental or other specific treatments.

Your pets are such

charge by filling out the form on the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association website: realnewforest.org/ about/business-group.

It is a legal requirement to report an accident involving New Forest livestock to the police as soon as possible and within 24 hours, even if the animal has run off.

Gilly Jones from New Forest Roads Awareness said: “Many people who drive through the Forest every day are aware of the risks but don’t always realise how unpredictable animals can be, especially in poor light or bad weather.

“The New Forest Drive Safe campaign gives businesses a way to help share that awareness among their teams.

“It’s about changing habits, encouraging drivers to slow down, and reminding everyone that the Forest’s animals always have right of way.”

an important part of your family, and you want them to live a long life. Insurance to make treatments more affordable can achieve that.

Some policies include extras such as assistance with costs like advertising a lost pet or kennel fees if you are hospitalised.

It’s best to get insurance when your pet is young and healthy, as most policies will not cover pre-existing conditions.

Before purchasing insurance, it’s worth looking carefully into the type of policies available. They can be time-limited, maximum benefit, or lifetime, with lifetime being the most comprehensive but often the most expensive.

And as with any insurance policy, be sure to read the fine print.

Preview

Local MP Tom Hayes talks about his first year in office and the need to deliver improvements for Bournemouth

Labour politician Tom Hayes was elected MP for Bournemouth East in last year’s general election. A year on, and he has been very active in the role, having held a debate in Parliament on the provision of playgrounds in local areas, called for reforms to protect leaseholders, launched a campaign to improve the quality of privately rented accommodation in Bournemouth, and helped BCP Council trial higher parking fines in the summer to try and deter dangerous parking.

During the summer recess from Parliament, Tom came on to Your Voice | Dorset Podcast in early August to talk about how his first year had gone.

Originally from Salford in Greater Manchester, Tom grew up caring for two

disabled parents, which he explained is his reason for why he got into politics.

“That experience, of having to support the people you love most in the world from a very early age [and help them] navigate systems that continually let them down, burned into me that sense of injustice.

“I was very lucky. We had neighbours around us [who] would go the extra mile to help me out. I had teachers who let me stay beyond the school day to make sure I had somewhere warm and safe to do my homework. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the contributions they made.”

Prior to being selected as Labour candidate, Tom was a charity chief executive, ran mental health, domestic abuse

Starry Skies

By Mark Hardaker FRAS

Well, winter’s almost here.

Once the clocks go back to GMT, the nights feel suddenly much longer, darker and colder — although with our changing climate, who knows what to expect this winter?

Did you ever look up on these crisp, cold nights and wonder what a star really is? Or a planet? What’s the difference?

A planet is an object that orbits a star such as our Sun. The Earth, Mars and Jupiter are all planets — or satellites — of our Sun. They can be small and rocky (like us) or giant and gaseous (like Jupiter) or large and icy (like Uranus or Neptune). None of them shine by their own light, being visible in the night sky only by reflecting the sunlight that falls on them. Until recently, we had no evidence of planets circling distant stars in the sky, but these days, using sophisticated telescopes in Earth orbit, we know of at least

6,000 of these socalled “exo-planets”, some of which may be suitable for harbouring life.

and homelessness services, and was a councillor for 10 years at Oxford City Council. Reflecting on that experience, he said: “My hands felt so tied behind my back, that I could do so little, but demand for our services was rising and rising all the time. The needs of the people I was representing was overwhelming, and yet time and again they were let down, just like my parents were. Again, I felt that sense of injustice on an epic scale.

“I thought, if I can do anything positively to improve people’s lives and make systems easier to navigate… I’ve got to step up.”

Tom went on to win the seat of Bournemouth East, which had been Conservative since its creation in 1974, with 40.8 per cent of the vote. He stressed the

Stars are nothing more than huge balls of hot gas, just like our Sun. But instead of being close by like the planets in our Solar System, stars are a vast distance away from us — so far that you cannot see their disks even with the largest telescopes. Like our Sun, stars shine by converting hydrogen gas deep inside their cores into helium, releasing vast quantities of energy in doing so. Think of two BILLION hydrogen bombs going off in a star every second! This energy escapes from the surface of the star in the form of heat and light, which makes its way across the universe until it reaches us.

The light from our Sun, only 92 million miles away, arrives at Earth after about eight minutes; the light from even the nearest

importance of trying to deliver for the people of Bournemouth.

“The first year has been about becoming really rigorous with how we spend our time, because the next four years are going to fly by. We need to be able to show the people I represent that the trust and the faith they put in us, to elect Labour for the first time in Bournemouth, is being repaid.”

To get in touch with the MP or to learn more about his work, visit tomhayes.org.uk.

To listen to the full interview, search Your Voice | Dorset Podcast on your preferred podcast provider, or watch it on dorsetview.co.uk/podcast and youtube.com/@dorset_view. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more great interviews and videos.

star to us, Alpha Centauri, takes over four years to get here. The most distant stars we can see with the naked eye are all in our own Milky Way galaxy, up to perhaps 4,000 light years away from us, but the nearest bright galaxy, the Andromeda nebula, is over 2.5 million light years away. Converted to miles that is 15,000,000,000,000,000,000 miles.

These distances are beyond the comprehension of the human mind. No wonder

we astronomers use light years to measure distances to stars and galaxies rather than miles or kilometres.

Mark Hardaker lives in Verwood. He is an amateur astronomer and treasurer of Fordingbridge Astronomers. The club has an observatory in the international dark sky reserve at Cranborne Chase and provides astronomy outreach events for scouts, guides, youth groups and other organisations on request.

Tom is the Labour MP for Bournemouth East

The interior of the Sun © Science Photo Library/Alamy Stock Photo

Christmas

DONE DIFFERENTLY

Although many people choose turkey with all the trimmings for their Christmas lunch, there are other alternatives which are less fussy than a full-blown roast. Chicken, prosecco and watercress potato-topped pie

Serves six

Prep time: 60 minutes (plus overnight chilling)

Cook time: 90 minutes

Ingredients

• 25g plain flour

• 8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs cut into chunks

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 12 spring onions, finely sliced

• 1 clove of garlic, minced

• ½ tsp thyme leaves, finely chopped

• 200g prosecco

• 300g chicken stock

• 300g full fat Greek yogurt

• 200g frozen peas, defrosted

• 200g green beans or sugar snaps

• 200g asparagus

• 50g watercress, finely chopped

• 1 tbsp parsley, chopped

• 1 lemon, zested

• salt and black pepper

• 1kg small potatoes, thinly sliced

• 40g butter, melted

• 6 thyme sprigs, leaves picked

Method

Heat a large pan and add the olive oil. Add the spring onions and a pinch of salt, reduce the heat and cover with a lid. Cook slowly for 20–30 minutes until soft, sweet and caramelised. Remove from the pan and set aside. Mix the flour with some salt and pepper and use it to coat the chicken pieces. Brown the chicken in batches, adding more oil as necessary. Remove and transfer to a bowl.

Add the prosecco, stirring to deglaze the pan and bubble until most of the mixture has gone. Add the thyme, chicken stock and yogurt, and simmer on a reduced heat.

Add the spring onions and chicken back to the pan and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. Add the peas, sugar snaps or green beans and asparagus, and cook for 10 minutes more or until the chicken is cooked through. Add the watercress, parsley and lemon zest and taste the mixture. Season to your taste with salt and black pepper.

Spoon into your pie dish, cover and refrigerate overnight to let the flavours develop.

The next day, preheat the oven to 180C. Blanch the potato slices in boiling water for 5 minutes until al dente. Drain and allow to steam dry for 10 minutes.

Arrange the potatoes on top of the chicken mixture in concentric circles. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with thyme, then bake for 30–40 minutes or until hot through and crisp on top. Stand for 10 minutes before serving with extra watercress.

Getting festive IN FORDINGBRIDGE

This year’s Christmas lights switch-on event in Fordingbridge will take place on Friday 28 November from 5.30pm to 8pm.

A lantern parade will lead Father Christmas through the High Street to the main stage, where the switch will be flipped to light up the town at 6pm.

There will be plenty of live music and entertainment to enjoy, including a Christmas market in the Town Hall, fairground rides and more. Don’t forget to stop by Santa’s Grotto, which

Highlights from Fordingbridge Christmas Lights Switch On 2024.

Photos © Kathy Downie

is free for all children, and say hello to the reindeer and donkeys.

On the main stage, there will be performances by Fordingbridge Musical Theatre Choir, Fordingbridge Dance School, and Burgate School. The Vintage Sweet Hearts have been welcomed back to serenade the town with classic 1940s songs, and Hyde Band will be playing carols around the town.

The Mayor of Fordingbridge, Cllr Peter White, said: “The Christmas Lights Switch On is always one of the highlights of the year in the town centre and indicates that festivities are underway. I hope many people decide to attend the event, enjoy the entertainment on offer and get in the festive spirit with their friends and family.”

On the night, the town council will be collecting donations for Fordingbridge Food Bank. Collection boxes can be found at the Town Hall. For more information, contact Fordingbridge Town Council.

THE FUN DOESN’T

stop there

Another event to look forward to in Fordingbridge is the Christmas Fayre on Saturday 22 November from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

Held in St Mary’s Church Hall, the Fayre will offer light refreshments and lots of stalls offering festive gift ideas.

The event aims to raise funds for St Mary’s Church.

And throughout December, there will be four free car parking days to encourage people to shop locally.

Both car parks run by New Forest District Council will offer free parking on 6 December (to support Small Business Saturday), and the weekend of 20 and 21 December. The town council can request an additional free parking day.

Turn to page 40 for more details on the free parking days.

IN RINGWOOD Christmas time

Get ready for festive fun at the Winter Wanderland Ringwood’s popular Winter Wanderland will take place on Sunday 30 November.

Put together by Ringwood Town Council, Winter Wanderland is a series of festive-themed activities and events spread throughout the town to celebrate this special time of year.

The name “Wanderland” is intentional — it promotes movement and discovery throughout the town, and visitors and shoppers are encouraged to explore the area.

This year’s Wanderland will include a festive market featuring over 70 stalls selling a range of gifts as well as food and drink.

There will also be live music and street entertainment, plus the town’s Christmas

lights will be switched on at end of the day.

Santa’s Grotto will also be open from 12noon to 5pm. Families are invited to step into the magic of Christmas and meet Father Christmas himself at Ringwood Gateway. Each visit comes with a festive gift, with tickets priced at just £5 per child. Children under the age of one are able to attend free of charge when booked alongside a paying child. There will also be plenty of magical photo opportunities both inside and outside of the grotto. Tickets to Santa’s Grotto are limited. Book online for a timed entry slot (no need to queue up). Head to tickettailor.com/events/ ringwoodtowncouncil/1910116 to buy your ticket.

Highlights from Winter Wanderland 2024. Photos © Trevor Pogson

RINGWOOD’S GOT (festive) talent

As part of the festive fun during Winter Wanderland, Ringwood businesses will be taking part in a Christmas Display Competition, with shops and community spaces aiming to wow visitors with their creativity.

Entrants to the competition will be listed on the Wanderland Town Map, and the winner will

be chosen by public vote. Last year, over 30 shops, businesses and community organisations took part in the competition, and over 800 votes were cast. The overall winner was Ringwood Fabrics, with Queen Nails in second place, while Little Monkeys Children’s Day Nursery came in third.

Christmas Eve ENTERTAINMENT

The Christmas Eve event in Ringwood’s Market Place has been going on since the 1950s and sees residents gather for an evening of carol signing.

Since 1999, the annual celebration has been organised by the Rotary Club of Ringwood.

In a novel twist, attendees are encouraged to bring a present to give to Father Christmas, which will be distributed to those less fortunate. This tradition began over 30 years ago.

The event will be held from 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday 24 December. For more information, visit the Ringwood Rotary Club’s website.

Looking for presents? HEAD TO THE FAYRE

On the hunt for a special Christmas gift or unique present? Make sure to head to the Christmas Fayre at Ringwood Waldorf School on Saturday 22 November.

From 11am to 4pm, the festive market will feature over 50 stalls offering unique, handcrafted gifts, as well as children’s crafts and candle dipping.

Explore the magical gnome garden, try the homemade lunch, tea and cake, or listen to the live music. There will also be a raffle. For more information, visit ringwoodwaldorfschool.org.uk.

What’s on AT THE BARN?

If you’re looking for yuletide fun, head to The Barn in Ringwood this December

On Friday 12 December, there’s The Coastal Comedy Christmas Special. This stand-up comedy night will feature as-seen-on-TV comedians Jen Brister (‘Live at the Apollo’, ‘QI’, ‘Mock the Week’) and Terry Alderton (‘Live at the Apollo’, ‘Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow’). And joining the bill is the musical comedian Ant Dewson, known for his comically limited piano skills and silly songs.

Then on Saturday 13 December, Radio GaGa are performing a tribute act to Queen. Get set to listen to all their top hits, including ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, ‘We Will Rock You’ and, of course, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.

Finally, on Saturday 20 December, New Purple Celebration will be celebrating the music of Prince. Though let’s hope there’s no ‘Purple Rain’ instead of snow this Christmas. To book your tickets, visit thebarnringwood.co.uk.

New café to make THE FURLONG MORE FESTIVE

If you need a warming hot chocolate while shopping for Christmas gifts, be sure to stop by a new café in The Furlong Shopping Centre.

Luxury chocolatier Hotel Chocolat opened a brand-new concept store and Velvetiser Café at the end of October. The store offers space for up to 30 guests to relax and enjoy a signature Velvetised drinking chocolate, served hot, over ice, or as a chocolate shake. With 18 flavour options and a choice of dairy or plant-based milks, visitors can enjoy a personalised chocolate experience.

Alongside the café, the shop will showcase Hotel Chocolat’s premium chocolate collections — a perfect festive present.

Charlie Reed, marketing director at The Furlong, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Hotel Chocolat to The Furlong. Their store and Velvetiser Café will be a fantastic addition to our mix of retail and leisure brands, offering visitors a place to unwind and indulge. We can’t wait to share this new experience with the Ringwood community.”

REVIEW

The Ladykillers

Ferndown Drama, The Barrington Theatre

By Marilyn Barber

A play is always enhanced by an ingenious set, so enormous credit must go to designers Peter Gutteridge and Colin Pile for their ingenuity which added so much to the enjoyment of this black comedy.

Based on a 1955 Ealing Studio film starring Alec Guinness, it tells the story of five bank robbers who plan a heist whilst posing as undercover musicians at the house of the elderly Mrs Wilberforce, who they plan to kill after the event. What could possibly go wrong?

Each of the actors really got under the skin of their characters. There was the cool and assured Professor Marcus (George Findlay), contrasting with the highly excitable Major Courtney (Patrick D’Ardenne). Mark Ward added more than a dash of humour as the dim

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

19 November 10am West Moors Flower Group meets at the Memorial Hall.

19, 26 November and 3, 10 December 11am–1.30pm Colehill Community Cafe, St Michael & All Angels Church Centre.

20 November–1 December 10am–4pm

The Opportunists exhibition at The Gallery Upstairs, Upton Country Park, BH17 7BJ.

20–22 November 7.30pm Poole and Parkstone Productions present ‘History in Harmony’ at The Barrington Centre, Ferndown. Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Tickets from ticketsource.co.uk/ pandp/e-mqarvz or 0333 666 3366.

21–23 November Wimborne Art Club winter exhibition at Pamphill Village Hall. 1pm–4pm on 21 and 22 November, 10am–4pm on 23 November.

22, 29 November and 6, 13 December

Junior Chess Club for ages six to 14 years at Ferndown Library. Email graham7morris@gmail.com.

One-Round, with Rob Reynolds providing a big dose of menace as Louis Harvey, all black clothing and dark glasses. Gareth Dunning completes the quintet of robbers as a member of the criminal underclass.

Jenny Sibley was splendid as Mrs Wilberforce. The actress, who has 60 years’ experience under her belt, was on the stage for much of the action and her characterisation was so believable.

Dawn Hollington never disappoints in her roles, this time as Constable McDonald and also as one of Mrs Wilberforce’s guests. Sue Barber and Helen Kuster also clearly enjoyed their small cameo parts as the other guests. Directed by David Pile, this play provided a really enjoyable evening.

22 November 7.30pm

Concert featuring Minster Bells to Choral music at Wimborne Minster church. Tickets on door and at Square Records.

23 November 4pm

Broadstone Music Series concert at St John’s Church, BH18 8AR. Online booking via broadstonemusicseries.info.

24 November 7.30pm

John Maddocks Jazzmen at the Bluebird Social Club, Ham Lane, BH22 9DP.

25 November 6pm–9pm Advent calendar workshop at The Treehouse, Merritown Lane, Christchurch, BH23 6DT. Visit diverseabilities.org.uk/ events to book your place.

25 November 7.30pm West Parley Gardening Club meets at the MS Centre Dorset, Church Lane, BH22 8TS.

27 November 7.30pm Ringwood Natural History Society meets at Greyfriars Community Centre, BH24 1DW. Contact John Gurney on 01425 471362 or 07395 855 404.

29 November 10am–3pm

Artisan Makers Market at Wimborne Community Centre, Kings Street. Free entry. Café available. Dogs welcome.

REVIEW Jekyll & Hyde

Wimborne Drama Productions, Tivoli Theatre

By Marilyn Barber

This company is never afraid of crossing new boundaries. Over the past few years, it has staged the comedydrama ‘Calendar Girls’, courtroom drama ‘Witness for the Prosecution’, and the wartime thriller ‘Pressure’.

And with this play, adapted by Neil Bartlett from the original book by Robert Louis Stevenson — who wrote it whilst living in Westbourne — the company entered new territory.

The story centres round Dr Henry Jekyll, who creates a potion which transforms him into the evil Mr Hyde. The play takes place in and around high society and the lowest places in Victorian London in 1886.

Taking on that incredibly complex role was Andy Gill, who had to turn himself inside out to inhabit the two personas. It was an impressive performance.

The three women in

29 November 7pm

Fordingbridge Choral Society presents a Winter Celebration at St Mary’s Church. Tickets from ticketsource.co.uk/ fordingbridgechoral.

30 November 3pm–5.30pm Christmas Fair followed by treelighting and carol singing. St Michael & All Angels Church, Colehill.

1 December 10.30am–11.30am

Reading Friends: Reading Your Way at Ferndown Library.

1 December 7.30pm

Wimborne Gardening Club meets at St Catherine’s Church Hall, Rodways Corner.

3 December 10.30am–11.30am

Reading Friends Group meets at Ferndown Library.

4 December 7.30pm

Verwood and District Horticultural Society meets at Verwood Memorial Hall. Details on verwoodhorticulturalsociety.co.uk or call Ollie on 07508 577114.

4–7 December 11am–6pm

Christmas Tree Festival, St Luke’s Church, Salisbury Road, Burton.

5–20 December 1pm–4pm Exhibition at The Gallery Upstairs, Upton Country Park, Poole, BH17 7BJ.

this 10-strong cast were outstanding, especially Sali Pike who played investigator Dr Stevenson. My only criticism is that Sali’s first speech was with her back to the audience, which affected the clarity.

The play required the ‘gentlemen’ — Colin Pile, Andy Scott, Calum Hearne, Richard Neal, Richard Scotson and David Beddard-Banks — to go through a wide gamut of emotions, and this they all did with skill and splitsecond timing throughout the disturbing story.

Michelle Barter took on a huge challenge to direct this complex play, and she should take a bow as must the creative team behind this production. Clearly many, many hours of rehearsal went into recreating the story from this Gothic novel.

The company’s next production is ‘Von Ribbentrop’s Watch’, a dark comedy which will run from 19 to 21 February.

Events

6 December 10am–4pm

Christmas Tree Festival at St John’s Church, Broadstone.

6 December 1.30pm Broadstone Christmas Parade.

6 December 2pm–4pm

Ferndown Arthritis and Friendship Club meets at Ferndown Plus Day Centre. Call 03303 112793 for details.

6 December 7pm

Verwood Choral Society presents a Christmas concert at Verwood Methodist Church. Contact Ann Mayo at annsmayo@yahoo.co.uk.

8 December 10am

Wimborne in Bloom Charities Fair in the King Street Community Centre.

8 December 10.30am–11.30am

Reading Friends Group meets at Ferndown Library.

8 December 2.30pm West Moors Horticultural Society meets at the Memorial Hall.

8 December 7.30pm

Ferndown & West Moors Philatelic and Postcard Club meets at The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, BH21 3AP. Call Paul Barry on 07932 581791.

10 December 10am

West Moors Flower Group meets at the Memorial Hall.

Christmas events for your diary

Here’s a round-up of festive events and attractions to get you in the holiday spirit

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

There’s plenty going on across the conurbation this winter.

In Bournemouth, head to the Lower Gardens between 13 November 2025 to 4 January 2026 and enjoy the magical Christmas Tree Wonderland, featuring enchanting illuminations and lighting installations, or show off your skills in the SKATE Bournemouth ice rink. Book your tickets from iceskatebournemouth.co.uk.

Christchurch High Street’s Christmas lights switch-on will take place on Saturday 22 November from 11am to 7pm, featuring live music. And from 1–24 December, the Christchurch Living Advent Calendar will see 24 musical acts perform at 24 different venues, raising money for 24 local charities. For details, pick up a programme or visit christchurchlivingadventcalendar.org.uk.

Poole’s Christmas lights will be switched on in the evening of Saturday 22 November and will feature a Santa parade from Lighthouse Poole down to Poole Quay.

Ferndown

The Christmas in Ferndown Market will take place on 29 November from 11am to 5pm in Penny’s Lodge Car Park. This free public event will feature entertainment for all the family: market stalls, food and drink, Santa’s Grotto,

music and more. The Ferndown Christmas tree lights will be switched on by the town mayor at 5pm.

On 10 December, there is a free Christmas concert performed by the Bournemouth Youth Marching Band in The Barrington Centre at 7.15pm. And on 12 December, there will be carol singing around the Christmas tree outside The Barrington from 6pm, accompanied by Ferndown Concert Brass. Afterwards, there will be a free concert by Five Star Swing inside the arts centre at 7.30pm. This is a ticketed event with a suggested donation of £10, available to reserve online or in person at the box office.

West Moors

West Moors Youth Club’s annual event, Carols on the Petwyn, is due to take place on Saturday 6 December from 6pm in the centre of West Moors. Look forward to a magical evening of music, lights, and festive cheer, with a chance to see Santa and browse stalls from local small businesses.

There’s also the annual Christmas tree festival in St Martin’s United Reformed Church. This free event sees the church transformed into a festive forest, with each tree decorated and designed by a different local group, business or organisation. The theme for this year is Christmas carols and songs.

The festival will be held on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 December from 10.30am to 4.30pm and again on

Need a tree? Pull your own pine

Instead of buying a commercially grown Christmas tree this winter, why not go and pull your own and do your bit to help the environment?

The Pull a Pine event held at RSPB Arne nature reserve near Wareham invites the public to come and chop down their own tree, which helps the RSPB prevent the prolific tree species from taking over the heathland.

Attendees can take home as many trees as they want, and tools will be available. There will also be live music, craft stalls, carol singing and food, as well as coffee and mulled cider. The event will be held from 10am to 3pm on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 November, with last entry at 2pm. To book, visit events.rspb.org.uk/ events/128274.

Saturday 6 December from 10.30am to 6pm. Donations are welcome and will go to the church’s chosen charity.

Finally, there’s still time to take part in West Moors Town Council’s Christmas card competition. Children are invited to create a design for the town council’s official Christmas card, with prizes available for the three best designs. Drop off your entries in the council office before the closing date of Friday 21 November.

Wimborne

The festive season in Wimborne Minster begins on Saturday 29 November with the Christmas lights switch-on and market in the Town Square.

On Saturday 13 December, the annual Save the Children Parade will once again bring colour and celebration to the town, as families, schools, and community groups join a procession and raise funds for Save the Children.

On Friday 19 December, the everpopular Carols in The Corn Market will take place, bringing the community together to sing.

Then on Saturday 20 December, the Town Mayor’s Charity Collection will take place in the Town Square, featuring a performance by The Quarterjacks of Wimborne Marching Band.

And don’t miss the Christmas Craft Fair in the Allendale on Saturday 22 November from 10am to 4pm for your chance to buy a handmade festive gift.

Free parking in December to support New Forest businesses

New Forest District Council (NFDC) will provide four days of free parking in December to support local businesses and communities in the run-up to Christmas

The council is offering the free parking days as an incentive for people to shop locally, to support New Forest businesses, and to engage in festive community events.

The first of the free parking days in NFDC town and village centre car parks will be on Small Business Saturday on 6 December 2025. This annual national campaign encourages consumers to shop local all year round and support small businesses.

Other parking days include 20 and 21 December 2025, and an additional day where town and parish councils can request free parking in support of their Christmas events.

Cllr Geoffrey Blunden, NFDC portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, said: “Our high streets are the heart of our towns and villages, and an important part of our local economy. We hope the free parking days will support our communities to explore our high streets at a vital time for local businesses, allowing them to thrive and grow.”

Areas where shoppers can park for free include The Furlong and Blynkbonnie car parks in Ringwood, two car parks in Fordingbridge, Betsy Lane in Bransgore, and Burley car park. Find the full list of NFDC town and village car parks at newforest. gov.uk/article/1234/Town-and-village-parking.

Car parks with free parking days this December include The Furlong Shopping Centre in Ringwood

A special thanks to Burley’s Home Care for sponsoring puzzle zone

Here’s how to solve Codeword. Every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number. All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number.

To start you off, we reveal the code for three letters.

To solve Sudoku, you need to fill the grid so that each row, column, and threeby-three box of cells contains the digits 1 through 9, without repetition.

Start by looking for rows, columns, or boxes that are almost complete, and fill in the missing numbers. Then use a process of elimination to look for the only possible cell within a row, column, or box where a number can fit.

Protect your plants this winter

After a scorching hot summer and heavy rain in September, gardens have had a tough time this year. But with winter fast approaching, now is the time to take steps to protect your plants.

According to Alasdair Urquhart, Haskins Garden Centre’s plant expert, the autumn rainfall created a surplus of crops across the country. He said: “Apples, sloe berries, and walnuts have flourished early in huge quantities. Now is the time to stock up your freezer for the winter ahead, with berries lasting up to six months and walnuts up to a year when frozen.”

Meanwhile, with frost emerging from late October,

gardeners should take steps to protect their hedgerows and flowering shrubs. Urquhart said: “It’s important to prune blossoming shrubs now to encourage better flowering next spring, such as Forsythia, blackthorn, and Camellia. Pruning too late can weaken plants and reduce their ability to withstand the cold, impacting next year’s blossom.”

The Royal Horticultural Society also offered advice. You can protect plants from cold, wet weather by wrapping them with re-used or plantbased horticultural fleece during the winter. Plant pots and containers should be grouped together for mutual protection in dry, sheltered

areas. Wrap your containers with bubble wrapping or straw to prevent roots from freezing. Alternatively, try burying

the pot into the ground to keep it protected. Leave the rim showing so you can dig it out in the warmer months.

Peony © Greens and Blues Lily of the valley © Tatyana Mi

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