Sherborne Times September 2023

HEN PARTY

with Tom Mettyear and Mark Sparrow of Haddon Copse Farm

WELCOME

I’d like to keep chickens. There’s something about their contented burble and diligence that just warms my cockles. I’d like to keep pigs, goats and all manner of creatures for that matter but let’s stick to one daft idea at a time. The family/work/sleep/repeat drill of daily life leaves little room to contend with the upkeep of anything else – simply mowing the lawn requires exhaustive scheduling and the selective neglect of less pressing jobs – so I’m eternally impressed by anyone spinning more than two or three plates at a time.

Tom Mettyear and Mark Sparrow of Haddon Copse Farm spin their own proverbial plates with such grace and wholesome intention that it makes me question my energy levels. They are the conscientious stewards of 40 beautiful acres of Dorset countryside – a home they share with chickens, sheep, pigs, turkeys, cows and geese. I say ‘share’ as their approach to husbandry and animal welfare is nothing short of inspirational. They would quite genuinely prefer that their animals took the limelight in this month’s edition. It’s no surprise then that the Soil Association, Great Taste Awards and their ilk continue to hand them accolades.

This though is only part of their story – I’ll let Claire and Katharine tell you the rest.

Have a great month.

Glen Cheyne, Editor glen@homegrown-media.co.uk @sherbornetimes

Editorial and creative direction

Glen Cheyne

Design

Andy Gerrard

Photography

Katharine Davies

Features writer

Claire Bowman

Editorial assistant

Helen Brown

Social media

Jenny Dickinson

Print

Stephens & George

Distribution team

Jan Brickell

Barbara and David Elsmore

Douglas and Heather Fuller

The Jackson Family

David and Susan Joby

Mary and Roger Napper

John Parker

Hayley Parks

Mark and Miranda Pender

Claire Pilley

Joyce Sturgess

Ionas Tsetikas

Lesley Upham

Paul Whybrew

CONTRIBUTORS

Gay Barry

Sacred Heart and St Aldhelms Church

Elisabeth Bletsoe

Sherborne Museum

Richard Bromell ASFAV

Charterhouse Auctioneers and Valuers

Alexandra Brown

Mike Burks

The Gardens Group

David Burnett

The Dovecote Press

Paula Carnell

James Cattigan

Sherborne Sports Centre

Cindy Chant & John Drabik

Frank Collins

Mogers Drewett Solicitors

Rosie Cunningham

Helen Da Silva Wood

The Rendezvous

Carolyn Finch Corlett

South West Art Courses

PO Box 9701

Sherborne

DT9 9EU

07957 496193

@sherbornetimes info@homegrown-media.co.uk

sherbornetimes.co.uk

ISSN 2755-3337

Sherborne Times is printed on an FSC® and EU Ecolabel certified paper. It goes without saying that once thoroughly well read, this magazine is easily recycled and we actively encourage you to do so.

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James Flynn Milborne Port Computers

Simon Ford

Jan Garner

Sherborne Scribblers

John Gaye

Sherborne Literary Society

Annabel Goddard

Dorset Mind

Craig Hardaker Communifit

Andy Hastie

Yeovil Cinematheque

Sarah Hitch

The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms and The Margaret Balfour Beauty Centre

James Hull

The Story Pig

Vanessa Lee

MindfulNESS Sherborne

Antonia Leech BVMSci MRCVS

Kingston Vets

Carole Little

Leigh Art Show

Chris Loder MP

Paul Maskell

The Beat and Track

Tom Matkevich

The Green Restaurant

Gillian Nash

Paul Newman & Emma Tabor

Suzy Newton

Newton & Dyl

Mark Newton-Clarke

MA VetMB PhD MRCVS

Newton Clarke Veterinary Surgeons

Jean Peters Allen

The Townhouse Sherborne

Victoria Puzey

Sherborne Prep

Emma Rhys Thomas

Art of Confidence

Mark Salter CFP

Fort Financial Planning

Val Stones

Ricky Taylor

The Dough Bros

ARTIST AT WORK

No. 58 The Wishing Tree, Alexandra Brown, Oil and

This was painted in memory of a Glastonbury thorn tree on Wearyall Hill which was cut down on the night of 8th December 2010 by someone wielding a chainsaw. This tree, adorned with colourful ribbons and charms, and representing the wishes and dreams of many a traveller, was planted in 1951 from a cutting of a thorn tree which itself had been felled during the English Civil War as an object of superstition.

The original holy thorn was said to have sprung from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea when he stuck it in the ground having arrived in Glastonbury. The tradition of holy trees and hanging ribbons in them to represent our prayers and wishes seems to happen worldwide. These ideas of our ancient connection to nature seem ever more important as we realise how

alienated we have become and how important it is to preserve our natural world.

I often use copper leaf in my paintings which I then distress to give different effects. I enjoy the elemental and unpredictable nature of the process which often provides the inspiration for what the painting is going to be about. The paintings which usually depict one tree or animal represent sacred objects in themselves and all the stories and myths that were associated with them in times past when we lived much closer to nature.

Venue 154, Somerset Open Studios

16th September - 1st October

somersetartworks.org.uk

alybrownart.com

copper-leaf on linen, 150 x 125cm, £3,200

ON FILM

Andy Hastie, Yeovil Cinematheque

The Irish are coming!’ Now, I grant you, not necessarily the first sentence you would expect in a film column but bear with me and I shall explain. Increasingly, many of the more interesting or thoughtful British films released recently have been Irish or had Irish actors in leading roles. With box-office hot property Jamie Dornan and Cillian Murphy well-known internationally, and rising stars Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley soon to join them, things are looking up for the Irish.

Paul Mescal broke through in the well-received Sally Rooney-penned BBC series Normal People (2020), made by Lenny Abrahamson, himself an accomplished director and screenwriter. Do check out his earlier films, particularly Garage (2007), What Richard Did (2012) and Frank (2014) – all excellent. Paul Mescal has grown his reputation with Aftersun (2022) and God’s Creatures (2022) set in a remote Irish fishing village. To illustrate his international breakout he is currently filming Gladiator 2, set for release in 2024.

Talented and versatile Jessie Buckley made her film debut in Beast (2017) to much acclaim, closely followed by Wild Rose (2017) where she plays an aspiring country singer. She

The Quiet Girl (2022)

followed this by performing music from the film at Glastonbury. In 2019 she starred in the truly frightening HBO TV series Chernobyl, about the power station catastrophe in 1986 and the state cover-up that followed. To illustrate her versatility, Jessie Buckley later played Sally Bowles in the West End revival of Cabaret in 2021, playing opposite Eddie Redmayne in the Joel Grey role.

Recent worthy Irish films include Belfast (2021), Kenneth Branagh’s largely autobiographical following of a young boy’s childhood in Northern Ireland’s Belfast at the beginning of The Troubles in 1969, Roise and Frank (2022) a gentle comedy with bite, where a widow becomes convinced that a stray dog which adopts her is the reincarnation of her recently deceased husband, The Wonder (2022) from the Emma Donoghue novel, is a period drama where an English nurse is sent to a rural Irish community to study a young girl who is seemingly able to survive without eating, and The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) directed, written and produced by Martin McDonagh. Set on a remote fictional island off the west coast, it stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two lifelong friends whose relationship abruptly ends with alarming consequences for both. If you haven’t already do try to see any or all of these films as worthwhile recent Irish cinema, they have each rightly been critically praised.

This brings me to The Quiet Girl (2022) which I briefly mentioned in my July column and has been chosen as the opening offering for Cinematheque’s 2023/24 season of films. It will be shown on 20th September at Yeovil’s Swan Theatre. From first-time director Colm Bairead, this beautifully understated debut follows a young girl coming to terms with loss and the importance of family in rural Ireland. I cannot overstate how wonderful I found this film. Don’t miss it. It has rightly become a sleeper hit, breaking box-office records. ‘It is a jewel...deeply moving tale...and already feels like a classic.’ Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian.

Do think about joining our society, or come as a guest to see what we offer. It wouldn’t be untrue to say that many guests subsequently take out membership after visiting! All details will be on our re-vamped website below. We look forward to welcoming you.

Wednesday 20th September 7.30pm

The Quiet Girl (2022) 12A

Cinematheque, Swan Theatre, 138 Park St, Yeovil BA20 1QT. Members £1, guests £5

cinematheque.org.uk

swan-theatre.co.uk

6th September: 160 years of the London Underground Design and Architecture

4th October: Literary Portraits and their Afterlives

1st November: Wells Cathedral

First Light

Magnus Hammick

16 September – 28 October 2023

Magnus is an artist, environmentalist and founder of GBF, the UK’s leading supplier of sustainable fuel. This exhibition explores his daily artistic practice.

CLOSE Ltd, Close House, Hatch Beauchamp, Somerset TA3 6AE

Open by appointment, book online at: www.closeltd.com

Thursday-Friday Saturday 10am-3pm 10am-1pm

www.closeltd.com @closeltd

Gael Sellwood Open Studio

Natural history & landscape paintings, botanical artwork in watercolour & acrylic, etchings, prints, cards & books

16 Sept – 1 Oct 2023 10 – 5 daily (closed Mon & Tues)

Higher Farmhouse Woolston North Cadbury

Somerset BA22 7BL

gaelsellwood.co.uk

CONFESSIONS OF A THEATRE ADDICT

Rosie Cunningham

Ihave finally been to see ABBA Voyage, the technological reproduced life-like avatars of the famous Swedish singers, in concert at the height of their fame in the 1970s at the specially built ABBA Arena in East London. We didn’t get dance floor tickets but opted for the front of the seated area although we were on our feet most of the time dancing and singing to every song, as was just about everyone else in the arena. It was just like being at a live concert and only once did I feel foolish clapping after a song, thinking to myself that there was no one there to acknowledge the applause. We were all swept along by the energy and realism on stage. The technology went way over my head but it was so easy to believe that the group were really playing in front of us. Looking around, about half the audience was sporting feather boas, sequins or flared trousers and the age range was brilliant – children to grandparents. The hospitality was excellent, the transport links easy and I bought an

ABBA jumper so you can spot me in Sherborne!

Frank and Percy is a poignant, clever, insightful and witty two-hander new play, starring Ian McKellen and Roger Allam, written by the young playwright Ben Weatherill. Two men, one widowed and the other an elderly professor, meet whilst walking their dogs and gradually form a friendship which develops into a relationship but both men carry baggage which makes it a rocky road. This is a love story and demonstrates that the nature of love is never smooth, whatever one’s age or experience. These two acting titans, great friends but who last acted together twenty years ago, revel in their roles and complement each other although the jokes about karaoke and the dog’s diet are a bit cheesy. The play is transferring to The Other Palace theatre in Victoria, London, for a limited run from 8th September - 3rd December. Watch two masters at work.

Just looking ahead, I see that the exuberant,

Image: Jack Merriman

if slightly naughty, Dillie Keane is coming to the Salisbury Playhouse with Fascinating Aïda and their ‘40th Anniversary Show’ in February next year, and that is always a good laugh.

The conservation charity Venice in Peril arranges excellent talks, for example, one by Dr Maria Alambritis, the National Gallery’s Vivmar Curatorial Fellow, entitled ‘Bellini to Titian: Venetian Splendours at the National Gallery’ on 18th September. There are online talks too. I am booked for the ‘Byron & Venice’ talk by Gregory Dowling, Professor of Anglo-American Literature at the Università Ca’ Foscari, Venice, on 17th October. A portion of the ticket price goes towards conserving the city of Venice.

abbavoyage.com

theotherpalace.co.uk wiltshirecreative.co.uk

veniceinperil.org

Ian McKellen and Roger Allam in Frank and Percy

LEIGH ART SHOW 2023

The next keenly awaited Leigh Art Show is set to take place at the Village Hall in the beautiful village of Leigh in October. This biennial event always offers a valuable opportunity for amateur and professional artists from both the local area and further afield, to showcase their artistic talent, which encompasses pictures in a variety of media, sculptures and ceramics to exhibit and sell.

The last Leigh Art Show took place in October 2021, when artists from Langport to Ferndown and, from many places in between, exhibited their artworks. The Village Hall was resplendent with 175 colourful, diverse exhibits

Carole Little

Echoes of Hardy, Maiden Castle, Christine Rogers

on display. The variety and standard of work were exceptionally good, as was the knowledge that Dorset and Somerset are home to such talented artists. It is with great anticipation that this year’s exhibition will be equally if not more awe-inspiring.

Many of the artists who have exhibited at the Leigh Art Show over the years have said they enjoy meeting up with fellow artists to discuss and admire each other’s creative artworks.

As a charitable event, Leigh Art Show has supported many charities over the years. This year the chosen charity is Pancreatic Cancer Research, as it is very underfunded. The charity urgently needs more financial resources to develop a means of early detection of pancreatic cancer, aiming to save many lives lost to this silent killer. We hope you will visit the show and support this very worthy cause. In 2021 the charity supported was Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. The success of the show meant that over £1,300 was raised and shared between this charity and Leigh Village Hall.

Wholly run by volunteers, Leigh Art Show would not be possible without their invaluable support. They contribute so much in every aspect.

The show opens with a preview event on Friday 13th October (6pm-8pm) and the exhibition runs on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th October from 10am4pm on both days.

For those people requiring directions, Leigh Village Hall is on Chetnole Road, Leigh DT9 6HL. There is plenty of parking available in the car park within the grounds of the hall. Payments by cash, most cards and cheques are acceptable.

leighvillage.org.uk

Friday 13th October 6pm-8pm

Leigh Art Show Preview

Entry £5 on the door. Includes a glass of wine and canapés.

Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th October 10am-4pm

Leigh Art Show

Leigh Village Hall DT9 6HL. Entry and catalogue £2 (one per individual, couple or family). Light refreshments will be available to purchase.

MINDFUL WALKS

IN CORTON DENHAM

with Ness Lee, Mindfulness Coach and Counsellor

A chance to slow down, tune into your senses, connect with nature, and learn some easy mindfulness tools to help with everyday life.

Thursday September 14th 10am

Saturday September 16th 10am

FUTURE DATES

October 14th and 19th

November 11th and 16th

December 7th

Cost £12. To book, please contact me at ness@mindfulnessherborne.com 07702 374954

www.mindfulnessherborne.com

SETTING A COURSE FOR SHERBORNE

Carolyn Finch Corlett

South West Art Courses will be moving to Sherborne this month and taking up residence at Compton Court, Coldharbour, familiar to many as the former home of Compton Pianos. Having outgrown our studio in Henstridge, we are excited to be setting up not one but three studios in these larger premises.

We offer the opportunity to engage in many areas of art and design for all levels of ability. City and Guilds Certificates and Award courses are held one day a week, as are the SWAC ten and five-week short courses. Alternatively, there are many different one-day workshops on offer, including weekends, specially designed for beginners to learn a new skill. Groups are kept to a maximum of eight learners, to ensure a high proportion of tutor contact time.

Jenni Richards and I are both artists and teachers and we founded South West Art Courses after realising that there was a shortage of places locally to study an accredited art course for mature students and young people unable to access a large sixth form college.

We became a City and Guilds Centre in September 2022, in time to take our first cohort of eager mature learners, aged between 44 and 74, through the City and Guilds Level 2 Certificate in Creative Techniques. This fantastic 35-week course, which is taught weekly on a Thursday, consists of four units. The first two units lay the groundwork by encouraging creative exploration while covering the fundamental elements and principles of art. We then look at the units ‘Using Still Life Painting Techniques’ and ‘Creating Mixed Media Work’, which include research into historical and contemporary art and culminate in the creation of finished pieces for an exhibition. The work of this year’s group has just been on show at the Guggleton Farm Arts in Stalbridge.

The move to Compton Court will enable us to offer

more workshops, courses and qualifications as we will have the studio space for more tutors. Jenni and I will be joined by four other tutors to offer many creative skills such as textiles, painting techniques, interior design, Annie Sloane furniture painting techniques, calligraphy, watercolour calligraphy, ceramics, mosaics and papier mâché, to name but a few.

The new premises will enable an expansion of the textiles area to teach numerous different hand-stitching methods such as Kantha, embroidery, sketchbook design for embroidery and appliqué.

There are day workshops and an upcoming tenweek course for learners to begin and develop oil and watercolour painting and similarly for mixed media taught by Jenni, which will be thoroughly explored in all its exciting different forms, including creative journalling.

Mindfulness teacher and local artist, Jackie Spurrier, will be offering some sessions exploring the experience of creating art. ‘We will use the process of drawing to notice what happens in our mind, body and heart as we respond to our creations!’

Also in September a new five-week Calligraphy course, run by Stephanie Hatch, and a six-week hand-building ceramics course, run by Andrew Stride, commences. Cheryl Frampton will be sharing her knowledge of using Annie Sloan chalk paints in a series of day workshops designed to culminate in the upcycling of a piece of furniture.

Choose whichever medium you prefer or try a bit of everything to find your preferred technique. You do not need to have any previous experience, skill level or qualifications to join these workshops – all are welcome!

All details and booking available online at southwestartcourses.co.uk, or email admin@ southwestartcourses.co.uk for information.

Yeovil Audi

COUNTER CULTURE

Paul Maskell, The Beat and Track

No. 23 Mogwai: A Sonic Journey Through Post-Rock Landscapes

Since their emergence from Glasgow’s potent 90’s music scene, Mogwai have been carving a deep and determined gorge through the post-rock landscape, transcending boundaries and transporting audiences to a distant sonic plain. They remain a formidable force, renowned for their powerful instrumental compositions, hallucinatory performances and knack for traversing a spectrum of emotions.

Mogwai were formed in 1995 by Stuart Braithwaite (guitar, vocals), Dominic Aitchison (bass), Martin Bulloch (drums), John Cummings (guitar) and later joined by Barry Burns (guitar, keyboards). Drawing inspiration from a range of genres, including post-rock, shoegaze and noise rock, the band set out to create an instrumental sound that was both immersive and emotionally resonant.

Early on, Mogwai gained a reputation for their intense live performances, characterised by a seamless fusion of delicate melodies and explosive crescendos. Their debut EP, Tuner/Lower released in 1996, introduced the world to their atmospheric and textured sound.

Mogwai’s discography boasts an impressive

collection of albums that have showcased their evolution and versatility. One of their seminal works, Young Team (1997), marked a turning point in the band’s career. The album combined intricately layered guitar work and sweeping dynamics earning critical acclaim and solidifying their position as pioneers of the post-rock movement.

Continuing their sonic exploration, Mogwai released Rock Action (2001), featuring a more refined and experimental approach. The album embraced electronic elements while still retaining their signature ethereal sound. Tracks like 2 Rights Make 1 Wrong and Dial: Revenge showcased their ability to create expansive soundscapes blurring the line between tranquillity and intensity.

In 2003, Mogwai released Happy Songs for Happy People, an album that demonstrated their mastery of mood and atmosphere. From the haunting melodies of Hunted by a Freak to the powerful crescendos of Moses? I Amn’t, the album exemplified Mogwai’s ability to evoke a range of emotions through ever-reaching instrumental compositions.

Graeme J Baty/shutterstock

Beyond their albums, Mogwai have garnered acclaim for their work in film soundtracks. Their atmospheric sound perfectly complements the visual medium, creating an immersive experience for viewers. Notable film scores include the haunting soundtrack for Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait (2006), capturing the poetic intensity of the football legend’s movements on the field. They also scored the atmospheric soundtrack for the French television series Les Revenants (2012), bolstering the show’s supernatural themes.

Mogwai have contributed to numerous other films, including The Fountain (2006), Atomic: Living in Dread and Promise (2015) and Kin (2018), further showcasing their ability to deepen and emotionalise the visual experience.

Mogwai’s members have also engaged in various side projects, expanding their creative horizons beyond the band’s core sound. Stuart Braithwaite collaborated with guitarist Luke Sutherland under the moniker The Fruit Tree Foundation, creating music that tackled mental health issues. He has also recently teamed up with Elisabeth Elektra, Evi Vine and others to form Silver Moth, a haunting collaborative diversion. Dominic Aitchison formed the band Crippled Black Phoenix, fusing post-rock with elements of psychedelic and progressive rock. In addition to his work with Mogwai, Barry Burns has contributed to the band SUMS – a collaboration with electronic musician Robert Hampson. Furthermore, Mogwai members have collaborated with artists from diverse musical backgrounds. Stuart Braithwaite collaborated with renowned electronic musician and producer, Four Tet, on the EP Rave Tapes Remixes (2014). They also joined forces with Clint Mansell, the acclaimed composer, for the soundtrack of the film The Returned (2013).

Mogwai’s influence extends far beyond their own

discography. As pioneers of the post-rock genre, they paved the way for countless other bands and artists to explore unconventional song structures, dynamic shifts and instrumental storytelling. Their unique ability to convey emotions without the need for lyrics has inspired a generation of musicians to create music liberated from traditional vocal-led boundaries.

Their recent releases indicate a band unafraid to experiment while staying true to their core sound. Albums like Every Country’s Sun (2017) and As the Love Continues (2021) showcase their ability to guide the most delicate of melodies gently by the hand into vertiginous crescendos, ever-furthering their status as post-rock visionaries.

Mogwai’s influence is poised to continue. With their ongoing exploration, collaborative and film score work, their indelible mark spreads throughout the post-rock genre and into the wider music world. Their ascension from a Glasgow living room to becoming one of the most important and influential bands of the UK underground has been quite the journey. I encourage you to go back to ‘96, strap yourselves in and enjoy the ride.

‘Cause music is bigger than words and wider than pictures. If someone said that Mogwai are the stars I would not object. If the stars had a sound it would sound like this.’

thebeatandtrack.co.uk

Tuesdays 7pm-8pm

Under the Radar Abbey 104. The Beat and Track’s Paul Maskell often joins presenter Matt Ambrose on his weekly radio show, bringing you the best new sounds from established underground artists and new and rising acts from across the world. Listen live on 104.7FM or online at abbey104.com

Mondays & Thursdays 1.30pm-4pm

Sherborne Indoor

Short Mat Bowls

West End Hall, Sherborne 01935 812329. All welcome

Mondays 2pm-5pm & Tuesdays 7pm-10pm

Sherborne Bridge Club

Sherborne FC Clubhouse, Terraces 01963 210409 bridgewebs.com/sherborne

Tuesdays 10am-12pm

Fine Folk Dancing

Charlton Horethorne Village Hall £2.50 per session. Beginners welcome. 01963 220640.

Every 1st & 3rd Thursday 10am-12.30pm

Castleton Probus Club

The Grange, Oborne, DT9 4LA New members welcome. edwardhiscock6@gmail.com

Every 1st Thursday 9.30am

Netwalk for Business

Owners & Entrepreneurs

Pageant Gardens

@Netwalksherborne

WHAT'S ON

Thursdays 2pm-5pm

Rubber Bridge (September-April)

Sherborne Bowls Clubhouse, Culverhayes car-park. 01963 210409 bridgewebs.com/sherborne

Thursdays 7.30pm-9.30pm St Michael’s Scottish Country Dance Club

Davis Hall, West Camel

£2. New starters very welcome. 07972 125617 stmichaelsscdclub.org

Every 1st Saturday (March-December) 10am-3pm

Sherborne Digby Hall Monthly Market

Next to Library, Hound St. Antiques, arts, crafts, cafe and more. Free entry

Until Saturday 9th, Wednesday to Saturday 10am-4pm

MacAndrew Art Summer Exhibition

81 Cheap Street

A collection of over 80 artworks by Somerset artist, George Deakins

Saturday 2nd 3pm-8pm

Sherborne Wine and Spirit Fest 2023 Merritt Centre, Sherborne Girls School £15 per person. Over 200 products to

sample. In aid of Dorset Mind

Monday 4th 6.30pm for 7pm

Interview and Signing with Author Sophie Irwin - A Lady’s Guide to Scandal

The Butterfly House, Castle Gardens, DT9 5NR. Tickets £2 (redeemable against the book), available from Winstone’s and shop.winstonebooks.co.uk

Tuesday 5th 6.30pm for 7pm

Sherborne Literary Society

Author Talk: Felice HardyThe Tennis Champion Who Escaped The Nazis

Raleigh Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne Tickets available at Winstone’s or on the door

Wednesday 6th 3pm and 7pm

160 Years of the London Underground Design and Architecture

Digby Hall, Hound Street

£7 for non-members theartssocietysherborne.org

Thursday 7th 7.30pm The Yeovil Concert Band Martock Church; TA12 6JL

Tickets £12 or £10 at guardianstickets@ gmail.com, 07547 213992, Martock

LEIGH ART SHOW

Gallery, Martock Newsagent (cash only) or yeovilconcertband.com/

Saturday 9th 10am (from the Abbey)

Dorset Historic Churches

Trust Charity Ride and Stride Cyclists, runners, walkers (and dogs). Sponsorship forms and yellow donation envelopes from the Abbey (on the table near the font). Donations also via JustGiving link on the website dhct.org.uk

Saturday 9th 11am-5pm

Mind Body Spirit Fayre

Digby Hall, Hound Street DT9 3AA

New therapists, psychic mediums, stalls, raffle, refreshments,

demonstrations and workshops.

Saturday 9th 7pm

Classical Guitar Concert

St Laurence Church, Holwell, DT9 5LB

Tickets £12/£15 01963 23428

budgells@hotmail.co.uk

Sunday 10th 1pm-4pm

Pantomime AuditionsThe Frog Prince

Charlton Horethorne Village Hall Bring snacks! chaps.panto@gmail.com

Thursday 12th 7pm-8.30pm

The Amazing Mary AnningDorset’s Historic Fossil Hunter The Powell Theatre, Sherborne School Free talk by Wolfgang Grulke -

suitable for all ages. Booking link: trybooking.co.uk/CPML

Thursday 14th and Saturday 16th 10am

A Mindfulness Walk

Meeting at The Queen’s Arms pub Corton Denham. £12. Bookings: Ness Lee ness@mindfulnessherborne.com 07702 374954

Thursday 14th 7.30pm

Sherborne & District Gardeners’ Association Talk - Rugs, Cushions and Carpets Ground

Cover Plants

Digby Hall, Hound Street

All welcome. Visitors £3. 01935 389375

WHAT'S ON

Friday 15th 7pm

Cambridge Choral Scholars

29th Anniversary Concert

Cheap Street Church, DT9 3LJ

In aid of Save the Children. Tickets

£15, students £8 (cash or cheque) from Winstone’s Book Shop

Saturday 16th - Saturday 18th November

Sound of Yeovil

Live music, exhibitions, events and workshops across several locations in the town centre visit yeovilartspace.uk/soundofyeovil

Saturday 16th -

Sunday 1st October

Somerset Open Studios 2023

Venues across Somerset

Explore the work and studios of over 300 artists. Full details including maps and event calendar available on somersetartworks.org.uk, download the app or pick up a printed copy of the guide.

Sunday 17th 10am-3pm

The Sherborne Market

Cheap St, Abbey Road, Half Moon St, Digby Road and Pageant Gardens

Local producers, suppliers, amazing food and crafts thesherbornemarket.com

Sunday 17th 1.30pm-4.30pm

Sherborne Folk Band

Digby Memorial Hall

Suitable for all levels. £15 on the door or cheaper via the website sherbornefolkband.org

Monday 18th – Saturday 23rd 7.30pm & Saturday 23rd 2.30pm

Amateur Players of SherborneArt by Yasmina Reza

Sherborne Studio Theatre, Marston Rd. £11-£14 07786 070093.

aps-sherborne.co.uk

Saturday 23rd 6.30pm

Band of the Grenadier Guards Concert

Sherborne Abbey, 3 Abbey Close, DT9 3LQ. In aid of Pancreatic Cancer UK and The Colonel’s Fund Grenadier Guards. Tickets via eventbrite.co.uk

Sunday 24th 2pm-4pm

Singing Bowl Soundbath Oborne Village Hall DT9 4LA £15 please book in advance, 01935 389655 ahiahel@live.com

Tuesday 26th 8pm

Sherborne Historical SocietyThe Battle of Britain: Close Call for Europe!

Digby Hall, Hound Street. Members free, visitors £5. sherbornehistoricalsociety.co.uk

Saturday 30th 7pm

Charity Concert - The London Welsh Rugby Club Choir Sherborne Abbey. £12.50 (£8 under 16s) from eventbrite.co.uk

Sport

Sherborne RFC

The Terrace Playing Fields, Dorchester Road Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5NS

Men’s 1st XV (3pm KO)

Saturday 2nd

Frome (A)

Saturday 9th

Combe Down (H)

Saturday 16th

North Dorset (A)

Saturday 23rd

Weymouth and Portland (A)

Saturday 30th

Swanage and Wareham (H)

Sherborne Football Club

The Terrace Playing Fields

Dorchester Road

Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5NS

Men’s 1st XI (3pm KO unless otherwise stated)

Saturday 2nd

Petersfield (H)

Tuesday 5th (KO 7.45pm)

Portland (A)

Saturday 9th

AFC Portchester (H)

Saturday 16th

Brockenhurst (A)

Wednesday 20th (KO 7.45pm)

AFC Stoneham (H)

Saturday 23rd

Hythe & Dibden (H)

Saturday 30th

Shaftesbury (A)

listings@homegrown-media.co.uk

ARTISAN ROUTE

by clive webber

ALPACA - PIMA COTTON - SILK

Open Day Event – Digby Main Hall

Thursday 5th & Friday 6th October

This special event will be held on:

Thursday 5th October from 1 PM – 5 PM and Friday 6th October from 9 AM – 1 PM

There is plenty of parking at the Digby Hall car park.

We will be featuring our brand new Autumn Collection of Alpaca Knitwear, ‘Perfect Fit’ Pima Cotton Tops and Silk Scarves – All by Artisan Route

This is a young company and brand name, but please remember that Clive Webber has had connections for over 20 years in Sherborne and really knows how to produce top quality designs in Alpaca, Pima Cotton and Silk.

The beauty of the Open Day is that it provides the opportunity for Artisan Route to show our products in reality, giving customers the chance to see all the products we have.

Personal service and attention is the focal point of our small business.

We are sure that you all know how to reach Digby Hall at Hound Street, Sherborne, but just in case, the postcode is DT9 3AA.

We have chosen a spacious setting in the Main Hall to give you a warm and friendly experience !

You can check out our collection in advance on our website, please enter the full address below www.artisan route .co.uk or phone for a brochure. T : 01896 823 765

( Monday - Friday 10.00 - 18.00)

Kesia – Elegant links knit jacket with self covered buttoms. Knitted in 100% Peruvian Baby Alpaca.

Daniela – Amazing fit tunic with high square neckline and side slits. Knitted in 100% Peruvian Baby Alpaca.

Patricia – ‘Perfect Fit’ Peruvian Pima Cotton long sleeved Crew. Available in 10 colours.

Lattice – Stunning intarsia jacket in rich colours . Knitted in 100% Peruvian Baby Alpaca.

Nadia – Elegant notch neck tunic with side slits. Knitted in 100% Peruvian Baby Alpaca.

Paula – ‘Perfect Fit’ Peruvian Pima Cotton Roll Neck. Available in 8 colours.

MARKET KNOWLEDGE RICKY TAYLOR, THE DOUGH BROS

Welcome to The Sherborne Market!

What brings you here?

We attend a lot of events and markets and a common piece of advice from fellow traders is ‘get yourself to Sherborne’ – so we attended for a day out and we were blown away by the market that Jules and the team organise every month.

Where have you travelled from?

Our small bakery and shop in Taunton.

Tell us about what you’re selling.

We produce artisan doughnuts. All handmade in Taunton and fresh every day. We have a growing reputation for some of the best doughnuts in the South West. Popular choices include Kinder Bueno, Lotus Biscoff, Lemon Meringue Pie and our Original Glazed. We offer vegan options too!

Where and when did it all begin?

It was a lockdown project that my brother and I started about 2 and a half years ago now – spending time trying to create the perfect doughnut (which we are confident that we have cracked!). We then started to take them to local markets and they were so well received that in

December 2021, we decided to open our bakery shop in Taunton and bring our other brother into the team. Attending more markets and events the following year well and truly propelled our reputation as the go-to doughnut makers in Somerset.

What do you enjoy most about selling at markets?

We enjoy being amongst the hustle and bustle of it all – introducing new customers to our product never gets old and we enjoy markets to this day as much as we did the first one! We also love meeting new traders, hearing their stories and listening to advice.

If you get the chance, which fellow stallholders here at Sherborne would you like to visit?

We are big fans of The Sip Shed and always make sure we take a bottle home if we can’t enjoy a cocktail on the day! We also (naturally) have a sweet tooth so any cake/ brownie producers will pique our interest too!

Where can people find you on market day?

We’ll be on Half Moon Street.

doughbrosbakery.co.uk doughbrosbakery

Hand picked artisan TRADERS

featuring local producers, suppliers, amazing food, arts and crafts.

2023 dates

Sept 17th

Oct 8th

Nov 19th

Dec 17th

Flying the flag for local

TRANSFORMATION

Everyone involved with the project understands the significance of the relaunch of Sherborne House to Sherborne, our community and the arts across Dorset. It will provide a unique opportunity for those seeking cultural experiences, inviting the curious to come and explore the house and its history and to be a part of its future. The transformation created by the restoration will strike a sensitive balance between the echoes of the building’s past and a vision for the future.

Over the past year, Dorset Visual Arts (DVA) has been working with The Sherborne to develop the much-anticipated arts programme as the house reopens after its extensive renovation. Visitors can expect a variety of exhibitions from the best regional artists with an accompanying programme of events, activities, talks

and screenings to engage, educate and excite. We want to invite and enthuse the whole community with a welcoming programme that speaks to different groups and interests, providing a rich variety of experiences for all to enjoy – and all within a magnificent setting!

DVA, which runs the Dorset Art Weeks event, is working with its members, arts organisations and educational establishments to develop the programme. The first year will focus primarily on work from DVA members, across a range of art forms, celebrating and championing the best art in the county. With over 500 artists taking part in Dorset Art Weeks, there is a wealth of talent which can begin to breathe life into the building once more and animate its future. DVA is looking forward to making the house its home and will have its main office here but will also continue to work on new

Paul Newman, Creative Director Dorset Visual Arts & Artistic Lead for The Sherborne

Image: Lolly Agency

initiatives for the visual arts, energised by the project.

Beyond the first year, we plan to develop and create exhibitions featuring a blend of high-quality, thoughtfully curated work from Dorset creatives, interspersed with national touring exhibitions, loans and work by submission or invitation from outside the county. It’s an ambitious, inclusive programme which will establish The Sherborne as a must-visit arts destination here at the heart of the Southwest and an important hub for the local community.

We are committed to supporting young and emerging talent, working with schools and colleges to achieve this and exploring the opportunity of potential residencies, bursaries and mentoring opportunities. We’ll be working with the local arts community and there will be space to hold arts fairs, open calls and festival style events.

A well-equipped workshop space will welcome group visits and tours to The Sherborne to create personal work in response to the exhibition programme. It will also be an important space for local art groups and tutors to run workshops, as well as housing wellbeing sessions and other interest groups to engage with the building and all it has to offer.

So, what exactly might you expect to see in the first year? With many rooms of different ages and dimensions, the history and feel of the house is an important consideration in the programming and we’ve taken time to talk to different groups and arts professionals to see what might be possible.

A core exhibition programme will run in the rooms on the first floor of the main Georgian house, as well as the Medieval wing. The Drawing Room will host a semi-permanent display of drawings and other works exploring notions around observation and recording. We want Dorset to be seen as a place where not only

great art is inspired and created but a place where people will want to come, show, and experience the best in regional fine art, craft and making.

Arts fairs and open call-style exhibitions will be possible in the Pavilion, a stunning new build, with an innovative, elegant structure leading off from the site’s Georgian and Tudor parts. Talks, a film programme and even theatre screenings can all be experienced here. A courtyard, amphitheatre and terraced garden will feature sculpture and other interventions, including performance. A lively programme will engage at different times, weekends and evenings, with hospitality areas inviting visitors to stay and enjoy the experience. It will be a real community hub with a wider appeal to regional and national audiences.

The building has many different spaces which need to work together - not just around the arts programme but also with the many other elements and activities planned for the site including the restaurant and bar, retail area and not forgetting the Thornhill Mural. An audio trail will tell the story of the building, creating another layer of interest for visitors.

Dorset has always attracted artists to make and create and it’s a wonderful gift to have a stunning venue with an incredible range of experiences right in the heart of our historic town. The project provides scope to create new opportunities for artists, connecting to the community for all, business and other cultural experiences, pointing Sherborne towards an exciting future with the meticulous restoration of the building sensitively acknowledging the past.

A building with so many stories to tell and many more to come.

thesherborne.uk dorsetvisualarts.org

NO TIME LIMIT ON HEALING

Helen Da Silva Wood, Chief Executive Officer, The Rendezvous

If you don’t know the Rendezvous, then you’re probably not in our target audience. Or maybe you’ve heard about us but are not quite sure what we’ve been doing tucked quietly away under the Cheap Street Church for all these years. In fact, since 1997 we have been making a profound impact on the lives of young people aged 13 to 25, helping them to grow and develop, to overcome obstacles and help smooth their transition into adulthood.

A life-changing mission

At the core of the Rendezvous is our mission to improve the mental health and overall well-being of young people. In the early days, we primarily ran informal drop-in group sessions. Now, recognising the importance of focused and tailored support to address the increasingly complex needs of young people, 80% of our work is delivered through one-toone mental health sessions. Improving mental health

is a goal that underpins everything we do whether it’s English and Maths tutoring and employability programmes, work with young parents or special projects and outreach.

No time limit on healing

We want to achieve change that will last a lifetime not just a few weeks. As Jemma Turner, our Mental Health and Wellbeing lead explains, ‘Unlike many other support services, we are not constrained by time limits. Building trust takes time and progress can be slow but if the young person wants to change we will do everything we can to help - and

we don’t give up! We are not clinical counsellors but have mental health training and use many of the same approaches. However, unlike counsellors, we can challenge and give informed advice which is something many young people appreciate.’

To help achieve this change and give young people the best chance of going on to thrive we run two projects to complement the work of our mental health and learning programme. ‘Anxious to Awesome’ and ‘Bekah’s Kitchen’ are invitation-only groups that give young people the chance to find their voices and build social confidence in a small, safe setting. The groups have helped some of our most anxious young people successfully manage the transition into college or work.

Meeting demand

As needs have got greater young people stay with us longer so we are excited to be launching a pilot project this autumn using local volunteers to provide a listening ear for those with low-level needs. As with all our support work, these sessions will be free and open to all, whether by self-referral or referrals from parents, schools, GPs or social care. We are keeping the project small as we first test the model and ensure our volunteers are trained and supported throughout but trust it will increase our capacity to help more young people in Sherborne in the long term and enable the staff team to focus on those with the greatest needs.

A local solution, a community effort

The Rendezvous offers a vital solution to the community at a time when services are limited and hard to access. We work hard to maintain our broadranging programme and are extremely proud of the young people we work with and the trust they show in us. These resilient individuals in our community deserve credit for the remarkable efforts they make to overcome hurdles and transform their lives.

Thanks to the generous support from the community, including the Sherborne Town Council, The Friends of The Yeatman Hospital, the Sherborne Castle Country Fair and numerous individuals too many to mention, the Rendezvous continues to thrive as a charity despite the challenging economic times we are living through.

You can find out more about the charity, how to refer to us, volunteer with us or make a donation to support our work, at therendezvous.org.uk.

Jemma Turner, Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead, The Rendezvous

Respecting the past, embracing the future

In the 231 years since we were established, The Abbey Pharmacy has seen many changes in our society. We continue to evolve and are now, more than ever, committed to meeting the changing needs of our customers.

Our vision for the transformation of The Abbey Pharmacy invests not only in the health of our community but also our high street – we need your support in making this a reality.

To find out more about our exciting plans and to register your support, please visit www.theabbeypharmacytransformation.com

OUR MAN IN WESTMINSTER

Chris Loder MP, Member of Parliament for West Dorset

Over the last few decades, we have seen a fundamental shift in the patterns of our personal banking. What once dominated our financial behaviour for centuries – cash – has been overtaken in less than forty years by the popularity of credit and debit cards and, more recently, contactless payments.

The Covid pandemic has accelerated these trends. Only 15% of all payments were made with cash in 2021, down from over 60% a decade ago. The decreased reliance on physical cash is one of the reasons bank branches and building societies have re-structured their business models and withdrawn from our high streets. Here in the South West, we have felt this hardest: in the last decade, our region has experienced the largest fall in the number of banks and building societies when compared to the rest of the UK.

Sherborne is no exception. The town now only has Lloyds Bank, which operates with reduced hours and doesn’t open on a Saturday. Additionally, the Post Office on Cheap Street deals with cash but only provides limited banking services. Natwest, Barclays and TSB have all come and gone, leaving behind users of cash and derelict buildings. It puts customers in a unique situation and raises important questions about the role cash will play in the future for our local and national economy.

As a market town, cash is integral for transactions between Sherborne’s traders and customers. It is a reliable, secure and easy-to-use form of payment. Cash is still the first preference payment method for 1 in 5 people who use it for their everyday spending. This is particularly so for those who are aged over 65; who live in rural areas; who use cash for smaller purchases or budgeting; or who are not used to using, or do not have access to, digital technology and the internet.

There is, therefore, still an evident need for banks and building societies to remain on our high streets.

Many constituents have told me how important it is for them to be served by someone in-person when dealing with something as sensitive as their personal finances. This is a view echoed by those who recently gave feedback to my survey on the proposed changes to staffing at train station ticket offices.

In addition, automated teller machines (ATMs) are vitally important for bridging the gap between digital and physical banking and filling the void left behind by bank closures. We are fortunate to have five ATMs located across the town; this is despite a national fall in numbers year-on-year. Yet, while an ATM is just a

short walk for those who reside in the town, for those who live outside in the more rural areas, accessing cash can mean a journey of up to 7km or more.

A blanket approach to the digitisation of personal banking risks excluding the most vulnerable and disproportionately affecting residents in rural areas. Moreover, many constituents in Sherborne and other towns in West Dorset, including Bridport and Dorchester, have no wish to manage their finances digitally and have effectively been forced to succumb to the changes in the banking and finance sector.

At the core of this issue is a debate about choice

and ethics. That is, the freedom of choice for customers to use cash and the ethics of banks and building societies in withdrawing from high streets and opting for digital banking.

I’d be interested to know what your views are on this issue, what your preference is and what direction you think personal banking is going in. You can submit your views to my survey at: chrisloder.co.uk/banking. As always, if you have any other thoughts or views, I would be very pleased to hear from you at: hello@chrisloder.co.uk

chrisloder.co.uk

Ben Haskell, aged 16, Leweston School

S

Ben joined the school in 2018 with some previous hockey experience and soon demonstrated his potential. He played 1st XI hockey aged 14 and more than held his own amongst some opposition players four years his elder.Ben has been entirely committed to hockey, appearing at girls’ training, goalkeeper training and any other opportunity for him to hit a ball! He has been at the forefront of an exceptional season for the 1st XI and has performed excellently, victorious in over three-quarters of their games. Mr Wilford, Head of Boys’ Hockey, said, ‘We look forward to Ben spending two more years here – he will have an influential role in driving the standards of hockey.’

Ben’s impressive hockey skills have also seen him gain selection for the Dorset U16 hockey team – a fantastic achievement. He is the perfect example of what is achievable if one has the commitment, drive and desire to succeed.

Portrait, KATHARINE DAVIES PHOTOGRAPHY

and

07808 400083

info@katharinedaviesphotography.co.uk

34 | Sherborne Times | September 2023

Children’s Book Review

Once I started reading this book I could not stop. This is Alice Roberts’ first children’s novel, Wolf Road and it tells the story of a prehistoric girl and her tribe ‘The Swans’ travelling through the seasons. Along the journey the main character Tuuli adopts an injured wolf pup, survives living in the extreme outdoors, hunts for food and comes up against many wild animals.

Most importantly to the plot she makes a friend, a boy named Andar. She would never have expected to as he is from another tribe. They are opposites in so many

ways and communication between them is not easy but they become best friends and with her cousin Wren they go on an epic adventure. There is lots of action and she achieves many things that she would never have dreamed of and never would have believed that she could. The plot is exciting and I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and anyone who loves reading about people and animals, their adventures and true friendships. It made me laugh in places and at the end I actually cried!

Pennie Elkington, aged 10, Leweston Prep

Wolf Road by Alice Roberts, Illustrated by Keith Robinson (Simon & Schuster £14.99, hardcover)

Sherborne Times reader offer price of £12.99 from Winstone’s Books

EAT, DRINK, AND ENJOY THE VIEW

FROM FIELD TO TABLE

A Dorset cafe with a difference, we champion homegrown and celebrate nature. Meet our Tamworth pigs, feast on our artisan produce, and enjoy our idyllic views.

A HORSE IN A PLAYGROUND, TWO SNAKES, A MOUNTAINEER AND A GIANT PEACH...

Victoria Puzey, Registrar, Sherborne Prep

Ascene lifted from a fantastical children’s novel?’ I hear you muse. Not quite. It is merely a snippet of my first few months working at Sherborne Prep School as Registrar where, from the very start, I have been lucky enough to be immersed in the most incredible variety of events that our children have been involved in.

It is my job to not only regale these experiences to our new and prospective parents but to impress upon them the importance and value of education beyond the classroom, a co-curricular education. This is enrichment at its finest, providing our children with some incredible experiences, unquantifiable opportunities and igniting passions outside of the classroom as well as in.

As the youngest members of our society grow and learn, we have a

Image: Emma Ogier

responsibility to ensure they are prepared for the world and that we help them to develop an approach to life that ensures they seize the opportunities presented to them without fear. They may not succeed at first but to adopt an approach where they try and try again, is what we aspire for.

As we strive to guide our children along the path of a well-rounded education, we recognise that nowadays, this involves so much more than academic achievement.

In recent years, senior schools and other academic institutions have placed increased importance on value-added measures; while academic performance remains a significant factor in the selection process, more are recognising the value of a more holistic approach to admissions.

The benefits of taking part in a wide range of co-curricular activities stand children in good stead for the rest of their lives. It has been widely publicised that taking part in additional activities helps children with their cognitive development, self-esteem and confidence as well as helps to reduce stress and promote positive emotional well-being.

These are all key personal qualities and the development of these should take high priority. Quite naturally children can be hesitant to try new activities so by introducing a range of activities into our children’s daily programme they are always encouraged to have a go, to step outside their perceived comfort zone and from this, new interests can be formed. We also welcome our parents to get involved in our activity programme, whether it be the annual colour run, reading at breakfast mornings or the parents’ netball that takes place after drop off on our school courts as we start the day – an active inspiration to us all!

As children progress through the Prep they develop their independence and through our termly year group camp-outs and flexi-boarding options, most will experience nights away from home. Despite the ‘floordrobe’ that the boarding bedroom can become during year group sleepovers, items are quickly matched back with their owners and happy, if a little tired, children return to their parents, having grown in themselves and developed another level of confidence to take home with them.

From enhancing cognitive skills to promoting emotional well-being, cocurricular enrichment plays a vital role in shaping well-rounded individuals. As educators and parents, we must recognise and support the importance of these opportunities in our children’s daily lives. Of course, it goes without saying that the benefit of having access to this during a normal school day eases the pressures on parents and can afford them a rare evening of peace to enjoy or recuperate!

As the new term starts all children (and school staff) experience a sense of trepidation tinged with excitement – we all wonder what the year ahead might bring. What are the opportunities in store…? Will you seize them?

sherborneprep.org

CULTIVATION

Simon Ford, Land and Nature Adviser

Sherborne sits on the boundary, between the heavy clays of the Blackmore Vale to the south and the limestone brash to the north. The Blackmore Vale is well known for its dairies because of the luxuriant grass growth but it is rarely ploughed (and only then for maize which is grown for fodder). Wheat and barley are grown on the large fields above the A30 dual carriageway to Yeovil.

Among naturalists, there is a general feeling that cultivated or arable land is pretty poor for wildlife. Think of the fens in East Anglia or the Prairies in North America, with mile upon mile of corn, virtually no hedges or trees and almost devoid of wild animals, birds or plants. Mechanisation has meant that there are bigger and bigger tractors and combine harvesters but virtually no farm workers any more. Many landowners out-source the farmland to contract agri-businesses, with no care for the land other than getting on and off as quickly as possible – vast booms, spray pesticides and herbicides to the detriment of anything but the desired crop of wheat, barley or oats.

This is of course our own fault, in our keenness for cheaper and cheaper food, economics has driven enormous losses in wildlife in every aspect of food production.

There are however examples of well-managed cultivated land, being very important for wildlife. On the coast, where birds make first landfall after flying thousands of miles from Africa and Southern Europe, arable land can play an important part in their survival. Weedy margins provide plentiful nutritious seeds, particularly in the winter months. >

Birds such as lapwing (pictured) or peewit, as well as skylarks, need bare patches within a crop to nest and raise their young and in some areas, sympathetic farmers have been providing these. Yellowhammers and tree sparrows nest in tall, mixed hedges but feed on the edges of crops.

Brown hares are most prolific in the large arable fields of places like Wiltshire and Norfolk.

It is sadly not very common any longer but occasionally you will see vast fields of crimson poppies, which have been spared from being poisoned by herbicides. When I worked in North Cornwall, I was responsible for setting up the first ‘arable weed nature reserve’ at a National Trust farm called West Pentire, near Newquay. Here, 11 small fields, which had constantly failed to produce a crop, have been managed instead for their ‘weeds’. It is now one of the most photographed places in the South West, with incredible displays of poppies and golden corn marigolds, contrasting spectacularly with the deep blue of the Atlantic. 154 species of plant now grow in this small area. Species such as corn bunting, linnet and various finches have made their home at West Pentire and in the winter. You may be lucky enough to see rare birds such as the snow bunting feeding on the stubbles.

In many ways, this is what people strive to sow in their gardens when they plant an ‘annual mix’. Cornflowers, corn cockle, poppies, radish, scarlet pimpernel and speedwell will flourish and provide a beautiful, if not shortlived splash of colour. (Not to be mistaken, as so often happens, with a wildflower meadow, which is mixed with grasses and perennial flowers, such as cowslip, knapweed, scabious, cranesbill and yellow rattle.)

Some arable seeds are short-lived and others, very long-lived (such as the poppies that erupted after the devastation of the Battle of the Somme and Passchendaele). My favourite story is when we had an archaeological dig of an ancient graveyard on the cliffs at Tintagel. Three children’s graves were discovered from the 7th Century. The spoil from the dig was placed in a pile and to my astonishment, a rare plant emerged, called wormwood, which was apparently placed in graves during that period. It had survived 1,300 years before once again flowering!

Arable plants will only thrive in cultivated land because they have evolved to grow quickly and go through their whole lifecycle in a season (an annual plant). On many farms, a strip is left unsprayed around the margins of a field, to provide an invaluable source of food, while the rest of the field is managed conventionally. Grants are available to help fund this and it is beginning to help.

So, don’t write off cultivated land as of no value for wildlife. Various specialist species have developed to make corn fields their home if only given half a chance.

DRAWN TO THE LIGHT

Swallow-tailed Moth Ourapteryx sambucaria

Gillian Nash

Large papery wings of the freshest lemon hue make for easy identification of this eye-catching moth. On closer inspection, two dark dashes on the outermost points of the hindwings draw the attention of any bird that may give chase away from vital body parts. Obscured in resting pose, this ruse is quickly revealed if disturbed, providing effective defence in daylight hours. In time many individuals show much wear and missing sections of wing as evidence of encounters and narrow escapes, whilst the head, thorax and abdomen may remain unharmed. As with many other yellow or green species, colour fades soon after the emergence of the adult moth.

Strongly attracted to light, you may be visited by swallow-tailed moths through open windows late on summer evenings during its June to August flight season. In favourable years a second brood in September to October is often seen here in southern counties.

Varied habitat includes woodland, hedgerows,

unmanaged wild areas and urban locations. Larval foodplants are extremely diverse, with garden plants and native species such as blackcurrant, ivy, horse chestnut, willows, poplars and holly all potential host plants for slender night-feeding larvae hatched from eggs laid in midsummer. Disguised cleverly as a section of brownish slightly notched twig and angled away from the main plant stem, larvae in the final growth stage are very difficult to see as they rest motionless until nightfall. A bark crevice is selected in which to overwinter and by late spring a pupa will be formed within a loose spinning among the chosen foodplant, well hidden until the emergence of the adult moth.

Although still relatively common throughout much of England and Wales, numbers have declined in recent years. We can do much to assist beautiful species such as this by providing a suitable habitat where possible to include both wild and cultivated plants even in the smallest garden.

Wirestock/iStock

Shepherd’s hut makers endorsed by @plankbridge

BEES AND FIBONACCI

Leonardo Pisano Fibonacci was born around 1170 in Pisa, Italy, and died in 1250 and is best known for his ‘sequence’ of numbers. As a well-respected mathematician, he was inspired by Arab and Indian mathematical systems and introduced the advantages of such systems to the West through the handwritten copies of his books, Liber Abaci. One of the ‘problems’ he discussed to be solved was that of ‘a man with a pair of rabbits surrounded on all sides by a wall. How many pairs of rabbits can be produced from that pair in a year if it is supposed that every month each pair begets a new pair which on the second month becomes productive?’ The resulting sequence, 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55… Each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers and has since been found to appear in numerous forms of mathematics and science. What, you may well ask, does any of this have to do with bees? It has been understood for a while that the breeding pattern of honey bees uses the Fibonacci sequence – a male bee, drone, is born from an unfertilised egg from a queen, single parent. The queen has two parents, giving the drone two grandparents.

However, as his grandfather would have only had one parent, he has three great-grandparents. The sequence would continue to 8 great great-grandparents, 13 great great great great-grandparents and so on.

Last weekend I was attending and running a workshop, at the IRCH (International Register of Consultant Herbalists) Summer School in Devon. During a talk by Peter Yeo, we were discussing patterns in nature and how it was first discovered from observing the breeding pattern of rabbits.

This sequence is now found all across nature, from sunflower seeds to ice crystals. Why wouldn’t it be found more frequently in bees?

I was pondering about how bees expand their colonies, naturally. Almost all across the world, Apis mellifera, or the western honey bee, has been introduced. Most beekeepers order a colony and replace lost colonies, never giving us a chance to observe what the natural saturation of bees may be without human intervention.

Over the past several years, with my own and my client’s bees, I have kept records on how the honey bee

Paula Carnell, Beekeeping Consultant, Writer and Speaker

colonies have increased, without introducing queens or colonies, and without feeding bees sugar.

This afternoon, as I was preparing my talk for next week’s 16th Asian Apicultural Association conference, I included the thought that bees should be allowed to increase naturally. I am often asked what would the saturation point be over a certain area.

I have no idea. Research by Professor Tom Seeley in Arnot Forest USA suggests that bees in the wild like to keep half a mile apart. Here in the UK I have witnessed wild colonies in varying locations and often much closer together, even in the same roof space.

Well, today, as I plotted all my figures I could see that bees increase according to the Fibonacci sequence, 0-1-3-5-8-13...

I have a client who has colonies in year 2/3 going from 0-1-3-5-9. There is a bit of a lack of forage in their area and so the question of supplementing the food of the bees has been raised. I am now an absolute ‘no’ when it comes to feeding sugar, however, I did wonder about creating a mineral and herb-rich ‘tea’ that may help support ailing colonies.

Now, after looking at my figures, I could see that the bees at The Newt stabilised at 13 colonies, from 2019, until this year. Each summer we would have swarms and splits, however, many didn’t even make it into winter. This year we currently have 25 colonies and I now see that to go from 13 to the next Fibonacci number of 21, we needed a substantial number of healthy strong colonies. Until there are enough, the numbers remain on the number within the sequence. Within our current 25, there are around 3 small late swarms or older colonies who have swarmed. We also have bees in tree cavities that we have no idea if they are large enough to store enough honey for the bees to last through the winter. This makes me suspect, that by November, we may well revert to 21 colonies.

The next leap is 34 so I now imagine we may have a good few years with 21 colonies, increasing a little each summer with swarms and re-balancing as nature remains within its laws of balance. Or, with 21 really strong and healthy colonies, increasing to 34 may not be such a leap… we’ll have to watch and see.

This pattern could also be reflected in solitary and bumble bees. A whole new range of research is needed both in mathematics and bee biology to see what else we can learn from this discovery.

This observation can have so many implications for bee management and explain part of the mass colony losses around the world. By artificially increasing our bee colonies or transporting bees into new areas, we are upsetting the natural balance of things. As everything is connected in nature, the plants, trees and weather systems could all be resonating using the Fibonacci sequence, we could be seeing losses as nature is trying to retain the balance. It may seem like huge losses because we have tried to grow or expand too quickly. It makes sense that before 100 colonies of honeybees can survive in an area, there has to be sufficient forage. We also know that when bees are in an area, plants flower more. The interconnectivity of all things is still in the early stages of modern human understanding. The Ancients and indigenous people have understood it for far longer. Western ‘civilisation’ has expanded and grown so rapidly that it does indeed need to be ‘reset’. Perhaps using Fibonacci will give us a clue in finding that new balance.

paulacarnell.com

Paula’s weekly podcast, Creating a Buzz About Health, is available on all popular listening platforms.

Emya/iStock

On Foot MUSBURY CASTLE

Emma Tabor & Paul Newman

Distance: 5 1/4 miles

Time: Approx. 3 hours

Park: Car Park, Church Hill, Musbury

Walk Features: This is a relatively easy walk which starts in the village of Musbury before heading out across countryside on a circular route, returning via the Iron Age hill fort of Musbury Castle. There are some steep, short climbs and descents, with a longer ascent as you pass through Woodlands Farm. Part of the section between Lower Farm and Woodlands Farm follows a sunken, stony track which can become flooded in winter and care needs taking here. In the final section of the walk, there are good views across the Axe Estuary and some pleasant woodland sections along the way. Refreshments: The Hind, Musbury >

E

ach month we devise a walk for you to try with your family and friends (including four-legged members) pointing out a few interesting things along the way, be it flora, fauna, architecture, history, the unusual and sometimes the unfamiliar.

We venture into East Devon to visit some of the surrounding hills overlooking the Axe Estuary, including Musbury Castle. The church of St Michael’s in Musbury is worth visiting with its 15th Century tower and parts of the building are constructed with stone from nearby Beer Quarry. There is also a memorial to the Drake family in the church.

The first part of the route is along the East Devon Way and passes underneath the summit of Musbury Castle before heading into the adjacent valley and down to Higher Buckland Farm. This is a pleasant, tranquil route and although it lacks distinct features, it has the feeling that time has passed the area by.

The views across the Axe Valley and beyond east Devon are superb, giving an overview of the course of the River Axe where the estuary spreads out beneath the chalk outcrop of Beer Head as it meets the English Channel.

Directions

Start: SY 275 946 Use the car park just below St Michael’s church, on Church Hill in Musbury EX13 8DD

1 From the car park, turn left and walk up Church Hill to St Michael’s church.

2 Take the footpath sign to the right, in front of the church. Keep on the drive towards Musbury Farm. Walk past the farmhouse and up the track, with the farm buildings on your left. Continue for 200 yards until you see a footpath sign on your right, just after a bend. Follow this, over a stile, and into a field. Walk diagonally up, steeply, and in 200 yards you will reach a footpath sign and small metal gate under trees, onto Musbury Castle. Go through the gate and walk up the hill a few more yards, keeping right, until you see a footpath sign on your right. Take this, through a kissing gate, onto a wooded path.

3 Walk on for 150 yards, bypassing the top of the hill, until you come to another kissing gate, emerging into a field and away from the summit of Musbury Castle. Keep to the left until you soon see another footpath sign – go straight on, even though the way is not immediately obvious, where the path is overgrown with bracken, to find a small metal gate. Go through this then descend some steps to a small wooden gate and out into a field. Walk straight across the middle of the field, and down, to the edge of a copse, and a small footpath sign on a post. Follow the path towards a large metal gate and stile – go over this then onto a grassy track which runs down to meet a concrete drive, with a moveable footpath sign on a lawn! >

4 Turn right onto this track, passing the side of Higher Bruckland Farm, to then turn left onto Bruckland Lane. Follow this for 1/2 mile to reach Lower Farm. At the farm, take the left turn, keeping on the road until you reach Edgehill Farm. Keep ahead, along a stony track, for 200 yards until you meet a track going down to your left.

5 This is a tricky section – more like a stony river bed than a footpath and very overgrown in places. If wet, this will be more like a river! Follow this downhill for 400 yards to emerge onto a concrete track; turn left onto the track to then walk uphill for 1/3 mile, passing through Woodlands Farm, until you eventually come to a sign at Bulmoor Cross for Musbury 1 1/4 and right to Uplyme 2 1/2 miles.

6 Turn left here onto Mounthill Lane and walk along the road for 1/2 mile towards Musbury until you see a large metal gate and a stile on your left, into a

field, onto Musbury Hill. Go into the field and stay on the right, following the hedge, which soon turns left to then follow a fence across the field towards the phone mast. Go past this to the end of the field, following the top of the hill – here, go through a small metal gate and walk along a narrow footpath through bracken then through another small metal gate into another field. Walk straight ahead and onto the hill fort. Walk along the hill fort defences, with great views across the Axe Estuary, to the far southern end where you will then drop down steeply to meet the path you came along earlier which now leads you back out of Musbury Castle.

7 Follow your steps away from the bottom of the hill fort, across the field and onto the track to take you down to Musbury Farm and back to the start.

eastdevonway.org.uk

Fax: 01963 23053

Email: info@fcuffandsons.co.uk

www.fcuffandsons.co.uk

DESIGNERS AND MAKERS OF BEAUTIFUL FINE BESPOKE JOINERY SINCE 1897

LOST DORSET NO. 38 STRATTON

David Burnett, The Dovecote Press

Thinking of a suitable photograph for the Lost Dorset page every month has been a delight, for it has meant trawling back through the 150 or so books about Dorset published by the Dovecote Press over the last half-century. Flicking through their pages, one common feature in many old photographs is the ability of small children to squeeze their way into the frame. The subject matter may be nothing to do with them but there they are – posing proudly or pushing their way to the front in every view of a High Street or village lane. Here, lined up on an old wooden bridge over the River Frome in about 1900, they happily have a page to themselves. And quite rightly so. For here is Dorset’s future in the halcyon years when Britain was at peace. It also seems fitting that they should take centre stage as I bow out with this, my final column for the Sherborne Times after four enjoyable years.

The Dovecote Press has been publishing books about Dorset since 1974, many of which are available locally from Winstone’s Books or directly from the publishers. This photograph is taken from Lost Dorset: The Villages and Countryside.

dovecotepress.com

OBJECT OF THE MONTH THE MEDIEVAL SEAL MATRIX

Elisabeth Bletsoe, Curator, Sherborne Museum

This little object, 2cm high, 1.8 in diameter and 8.5g in weight was used for making an impression on a wax seal. It is cast in copper alloy and it consists of a pedestal with a circular die (face) engraved with a design and inscription. The pedestal has six facets and tapers towards a triple collar topped by a rounded terminal which is flat with a circular piercing.

The seal matrix formed a common part of everyday life in medieval Britain during a period when general bureaucracy increased although the population was mostly illiterate. The majority date from the C13th – C14th; some are found which are earlier but these are rare. They were used by a variety of social classes to either close or authenticate documents such as land agreements, business exchanges or official court pronouncements; owners of businesses, merchants, farmers, clergy, government officials and royalty all used seals which would be imprinted using their own unique seal matrix. The inscriptions often contain mistakes, abbreviations or local vernacular. They could be custommade with personal details like initials, names or designs but the smaller mass-produced ones, like this one, are more commonly found. They were often carried suspended from a belt or in a purse, and frequently became lost; this one was found by a responsible metal detectorist in a field near Corton Denham, and was duly reported to a Finds Liaison Officer for recording. Our seal matrix is designed with the severed head of John the Baptist, lying sideways on a bowl or platter that has a pedestal. The face is deeply recessed with straight lines indicating hair, a beard and a long and prominent nose. The eyes are pellet-like and the

lips are full and writhing. A sword is indicated above the head. The inscription is engraved in mirror-image but thanks to Photoshop can be read reversed. The start is indicated by a star, followed by the Latin words CAPVT IONIS and two unidentifiable marks. All medieval people would have been familiar with the events and persons occurring in the life of Christ as the associated liturgy, liturgical events, feasts and processions gave structure to the year; it was understandable, therefore, that images drawn from the gospels were a popular choice for a seal. The growth of hagiographies during the period also fuelled notions that the saints actively participated in individual lives and that one could form a personal relationship with them.

John the Baptist had a growing cult in the 1400s; his death, as symbolised by the head, showed him to be the forerunner and herald of Christ and was a metaphor for the crucifixion. He was seen as an important intercessor and particularly influential as a guide for the soul in the afterlife. His severed head was a continual reminder of the need for sacrifice.

Thus, a seal had quasi-amuletic properties and its image contained a coded meaning, expressive of personal beliefs, intended to be ‘read’ by others. The act of sealing in itself was deeply symbolic; an act of authority which in this case was reinforced through the medium of a saintly figure.

Sherborne Museum is open Tuesday - Saturday 10.30am–4.30pm. Admission is free but donations are appreciated. Learn more about their collections at sherbornemuseum.com

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GOD’S ACRE

Cindy Chant & John Drabik

During our frequent visits to our many beautiful and ancient churches, we often spend time looking at tombstones embedded in the floor. Bodies were first allowed to be buried within the church as long ago as AD758 but only saints, royalty and important clerics were buried in this way. It was not until the 11th century that rich landowners and nobles joined them – the most important being interned closest to the altar. The poor and other deceased members of society were deposited in the ground outside, often one on top of the other. Sometimes the ground on the south side of the churchyard rose to a height well above the surrounding land and higher than the pathways leading to the porch – we may never know how many long-forgotten souls are in these unmarked graves.

The north side of the church, being damp and in constant shadow, was believed to be inhabited by the devil himself. Encouraged by the clergy, this was sometimes un-consecrated ground and for this reason it was used for the burial of suicides and non-baptised children. Sometimes it was used as a playing field by the

local youth and for games involving gambling by the older generation.

Gravestones were a 17th-century innovation and most date from the 18th century or later. Those who could afford it had family or table-top tombs, the latter often used as dole tables to distribute food, money and sometimes coal, to the poor. A known example can be seen near the porch of St Mary’s, Thornford.

Many churchyards are accessed through a gated wooden archway known as a lych or lich gate. This name originates from Saxon times and means ‘corpse’ –a clue to their use. The funeral cortege waited under the roofed lych gate to be met by the priest for the initial part of the funeral service. Often there was no coffin, the body being simply wrapped in a shroud and carried on a wooden board. From here it would be transferred to the Parish Bier, a four-wheeled hand cart, a good example of which can be seen in St Andrews, Leigh. It was then wheeled into the church for the main part of the service before being wheeled outside again to the awaiting open grave, for completion. It was the right of every parishioner, irrespective of their beliefs, to be

St Peter and St Paul’s, Charlton Horethorne

buried in the churchyard. However, executed murderers and those convicted of witchcraft were buried outside the churchyard, as happened in Cheselbourne to poor Ann Riggs who was found guilty of witchcraft.

In some churchyards, the remains of stone crosses can sometimes be found among the gravestones. Many were constructed in the 15th century but some are older than the church itself. In the 6th and 7th centuries, wooden crosses marked the spot where priests or monks would preach to the local community. Many were replaced by more permanent stone crosses and eventually, a church was erected near the site. Sadly, all stone crosses were mutilated or destroyed on the orders of Cromwell in 1643.

There are very few ancient churchyards without at least one yew tree and some have several. We are often asked about the reason for this and the truth is nobody really knows. There are many theories, one being that because the leaves are poisonous to cattle so they keep stray livestock out of the churchyard. Another suggestion is that they were grown to supply wood for making longbows for medieval yeomen. And yet another, that they were there to protect the church building against stormy and wintery weather. Our favourite suggestion is that this evergreen tree was thought to have mystical powers and was used in earlier pagan traditions, and later used in sacred and secular festivities. Long before Christianity reached our shores, evergreens were a symbol of rebirth and everlasting life. Churches were often built on earlier pagan sites which had yew trees growing there hence some are older than the church.

Over these last two editions, we have shared with you some old church customs and hopefully you have found these interesting. But what of the future of our parish churches? Whereas once all churches were full for Sunday worship, nowadays a quarter of the 16,000 Anglican churches have fewer than 16 worshippers. In the past, church maintenance was paid through the compulsory church rate but this was abolished in 1868. These days the financial burden can fall disproportionately on a small number of parishioners and in lucky cases the various Church Trusts or Lottery funding. None of us want to stop visiting these wonderful old buildings which are the gems of our heritage. Nor do we want to find the doors locked and bolted, with leaking roofs and left to the bats and pigeons. This is a very worrying problem and it will need to be solved sooner rather than later.

PICTURE THIS

Work is always busy, thankfully, and we are always looking ahead to various specialist auctions from classic cars to jewellery. Long gone are the days when you sold everything in one sale over a day or two and, whilst some auctioneers do soldier on with this format, our specialist sales hit the target market with more buyers and our vendors are

rewarded with more bids.

However, occasionally, we will have an auction devoted to a single owner or country house contents, such as we have coming up on Wednesday 27th September, and I am pretty excited about it.

At the end of last year, I was instructed by a West Country firm of solicitors to carry out a probate

Richard Bromell ASFAV, Charterhouse Auctioneers

Richard with a drawing from the Graham Oxley studio archive – of Sampson, Arthur and friends.

valuation for their client in Dorchester. Nothing particularly unusual about a probate valuation as we provide executors with several of these each week, and neither was the location unusual as we travel far and wide for these, it was the person who had passed away who got me interested – Graham Oakley.

Some reading this will have heard of him and some not. For the not, Graham Oakley was born in 1929 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. As an only child he grew up living above his parent’s electrical repair shop until they moved to Warrington where he studied at the Warrington Art School before and after his National Service.

Moving into the 1950s and 1960s, he worked in London as a scenic artist, a design assistant at The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and as a set designer at the BBC for film and TV series including Nicholas Nickleby, Treasure Island and Softly, Softly.

However, in 1970 he embarked on what he would become famous for – writing and illustrating the Church Mice series of books. Graham proceeded to produce 12 books in this series ending with The Church Mice Take a Break in 2000. If you did not manage to see or read these charming books when you were younger and you have kids or grandchildren

then they are to be recommended.

Moving forward to 2023 and with a grant of probate awarded, the executors instructed us to remove and clear the property, including over 850 of his original watercolour drawings. Most of these are from the Church Mice series of books and they are positively charming.

In the first book, readers are introduced to Arthur the church mouse, who lives in a church with his friend, Sampson the cat. Sampson, it is revealed, has sworn never to harm a mouse, having listened to many sermons on brotherly love and meekness while living in the church and taking their message to heart. Arthur soon invites more mice to live in the church, earning the permission of the parson by promising that the mice will do chores and odd jobs to earn their keep.

Sampson, Arthur and the other mice go on plenty of adventures which are beautifully drawn in the paintings we will sell in the one-day auction dedicated to Graham’s artwork. All the original artworks are being sold without reserve and estimates vary but are generally in the £50 to £500 region, so if you fancy one do pop into the salerooms for the auction. charterhouse-auction.com

HADDON COPSE FARM

The long single-track road to Haddon Copse Farm near Sturminster Newton can be a noisy drive in high summer if your car has overzealous parking sensors. A glorious wall of greenery, the hedgerows have been deliberately left to let nature do its thing – uncut in order to encourage biodiversity and provide nesting cover for families of mice and shrews. >

Words Claire Bowman Photography Katharine Davies

Mark Sparrow (L) and Tom Mettyear

‘We only cut the hedges around the farm every five years to regenerate the growth but the longer you leave it, the more birds, bees and butterflies you have,’ explains Tom Mettyear, who along with his partner Mark Sparrow, a psychotherapist, has run this bucolic 40-acre farm in the heart of the Blackmore Vale for the past ten years. ‘All through the summer the hedgerows are visited by marble whites, gatekeepers and meadow browns, and in the autumn the goldfinches love eating the prickly knapweed seedheads.’

Pulling into the farmyard at the end of the track, it is hard to believe that what is now a fully functioning, Soil Association-certified farm was once just three enormous fields without so much as a cow pat in sight. That was until Tom stumbled across the particulars one wet September afternoon at the Dorset County Show and knew he was on to something special.

‘At the time we had Angel Cottage Farm, an organic farm near Salisbury. We were renting various fields

but had effectively outgrown the space. We literally fell upon this one when we ran into the Symonds & Sampson tent at the show to escape the rain,’ reminisces Tom. ‘It was just as we were going out that I saw some details on a laminated sheet of paper and thought, “That looks interesting,” and picked it up. We drove past it on the way home in the pouring rain and at the bottom of the track there was a muddy entrance to a field. And that was it: no track, no farm yard, no buildings, no water, no animals – just three large fields with nothing in them. I’d planned the entire farm by the time we’d got home.’

Today the three fields have become a patchwork of 16 and instead of standing empty are now home to poultry, cattle, pigs and sheep – meat that is sold under their award-winning Angel Cottage Organics brand. In late summer one field also becomes a seven-pitch glamping site, where campers can relax into nature, toast a marshmallow or two and take in rolling views >

of the Dorset Downs. And then there’s the two-acre orchard the couple planted the moment they moved in, from which they make hundreds of litres of organic apple juice.

While many busy farmers might have stopped there, Tom and Mark have also introduced a packed courses and events calendar – from open-air painting classes and five-course pop-up dinners to a one-day retreat called Soil to Soul, which gives participants the chance to immerse themselves in the farm’s biodiverse habitats through guided walks, meditations, foraging and time exploring the farm and its wildlife, as well enjoy delicious food drawn from the farm and vegetable garden.

In fact, it is what Tom describes as this ‘blurring of the edges between food, farming and nature’ that lies at the heart of everything they do. ‘We are trying to grow food in a sustainable way but instead of imposing ourselves on the land we want to have an equal relationship with it,’ explains Tom, as he takes me on a tour of the farm. ‘It’s farming but not farming that pushes the boundaries – in fact, it’s leaving lots of boundaries untouched. For example, we have recently started mob grazing, which is where you move the cattle every couple of days around the fields. That way you get much more biodiversity because the grass isn’t being bitten down to nothing.’

This gentle, sustainable approach to farming naturally extends to the animals and the way in which they are treated. Everywhere you look there are creatures living their best free-range lives, from the hens pecking contentedly in the orchard to rare-breed piglets rootling and roaming in their muddy pasture. ‘One of the things that we do here is that we are really respectful of the animals, so that it’s not just about nature, but it’s also about the pigs and the cows and the sheep. For example, if a pig is resistant when we are going to the trailer to take them to slaughter we don’t force it, we take it back out. It’s the same with putting the chickens in crates – if one really resists we just think, “No, don’t stress it.” It’s something we’ve developed over the past couple of years and it’s made a massive difference to us. It seems to be that the meat is better when the flock is calmer. Some farmers around here probably think I’m talking nonsense but I’ve got loads of customers who love that and it’s the reason they buy their meat from us.’

For Tom, who originally trained as an actor before deciding he didn’t love it enough to pursue it seriously, the farm is the fulfilment of a childhood dream. ‘I’d

wanted to have a smallholding since I was 15 and used to stay with my godfather on his farm on the EssexSuffolk borders every summer. It was the perfect farm – beautiful old stone buildings, a donkey and pony in the field. He grew potatoes, strawberries and crops and owned cattle and sheep. I helped with the hay-making and just loved the life.

‘My godfather was hugely influential on me as a person. What I didn’t realise at the time is that he was an organic farmer. He was actually one of the first in the early Seventies to be part of the Soil Association revolution. There was something about the energy of that farm that was really special and it just stuck.’ The farm tour ends on at what, for me, is a highlight – an expansive view of the shimmering wild grass meadow in which Tom and Mark have planted 1,000 trees and dug a large rain-fed pond where house martins and swallows come down to drink and water boatmen and dragonflies dart and hover. In the summer sunshine, it almost takes your breath away.

‘On a summer’s evening we get barn owls flying across the valley from Fifehead Neville and nightingales singing outside our bedroom window. It is really magical. But we are not doing all of this just for us now – we’re thinking of a hundred years’ time,’ continues Tom, signalling to the hundreds of oak and hazel whips that dot the landscape. ‘In many ways it’s our legacy because this is not about my generation – we’ve already made a mess of it – it’s about my nieces and nephews in their thirties and my great-nieces and great-nephews. I’m wondering what sort of world they are going to be left. I feel strongly that I’m a custodian, not an owner of this farm. Quite simply, that means I have a responsibility to look after it and pass it on in a better state than I found it.’

haddoncopsefarm.co.uk

angelcottageorganics.co.uk

Sunday 10th September 9.30am–6pm

Soil to Soul: Reconnect to Nature & Rewild Your Soul

Haddon Copse Farm, Woodrow, Fifehead Neville, Dorset, DT10 2AQ. An immersive and restorative day on a dynamic, regenerative, organic and nature-based farm, enhancing your connection with nature, farming, food, health and your soul. £100 per person. For bookings and information please email Tom at info@angelcottageorganics.co.uk

Open Monday-Saturday 9.00am-6.00pm, Sunday 10.00am-4.30pm (tills open at 10.30am)

Castle Gardens, New Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5NR

www.thegardensgroup.co.uk @thegardensgroup

Be bold with bulbs

Now is the time to plan for spectacular displays in spring, with bulbs including daffodils, narcissi, crocus, tulips, hyacinths and many more. Vibrant, versatile and easy to plant, bulbs can bring a welcome splash of colour to both containers and borders.

With a little planning and planting now, your bulbs will have a chance to establish themselves before the winter sets in.

01935 814633

castle@thegardensgroup.co.uk

An interesting trend that has hit gardening in recent years is that we sell many more plants when they are in flower than was ever the case in the past. This to an extent ignores traditional gardening rules and planting times including the fact that autumn is the best time for planting most hardy plants. It also is the time for planning ahead and planting for the next year. An example of this would be wallflowers and Cheiranthus which are excellent bedding plants for filling in the gap between winter bedding and summer displays. These plants can be purchased in pots in the spring but experienced gardeners know that the best and most cost-effective time for planting is in the autumn with good old fashioned bare rooted plants in a

FORWARD THINKING

Mike Burks, Managing Director, The Gardens Group

bundle wrapped up in newspaper.

Other planting that fits into this category are the spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, crocus, hyacinths and the like. Whereas in early spring we have available such plants ‘in the green’, which are best to choose but plant the bulbs in the autumn. The bulbs are available from early August but the range peaks in September and October. The beauty of bulb gardening is that the first task is to spend some glorious time choosing the bulbs in our vast displays! The perhaps harder (yet still enjoyable) task of planting can wait awhile! Making one’s selection whilst the range is at its highest is a good idea and the bulbs will be happy being kept cool and dry whilst waiting for space to be

available in the garden. It also means that when it’s time to plant, the soil should be moist and easier to work. Indeed, it is traditional to wait until November to plant tulips.

One bulb that will need planting sooner though is hyacinths for flowering indoors at Christmas. These are what are known as ‘prepared’ bulbs which have been specially treated to induce them to flower within a specific timescale. If you’d like the beautiful scent of hyacinth on Christmas Day then the bulbs will need to be planted before the 25th September. To get a bowl, of say 5 plants, all in flower at the same time, my suggestion would be to plant the same colour bulbs in individual pots, planted in bulb fibre with them sitting

in a cool and dark space. To get 5 evenly growing bulbs, plant 7 or 9 and then later choose those that are most matching in their growth. Bring the bulbs out into the warmth and light once the flower buds have pushed up past the leaves – that’s usually just a few centimetres of growth.

For planting outside there is a huge selection of tulips available with some spectacular flower colours. With all bulbs just about, the larger the bulb, the greater the potential for flowers. Almost at the other end of the colour scale is the classy Catherina with pure white inner petals with the lightest of cream outside. Equally as dramatic are some of the green and white varieties such as Spring Green which grows to around 20 inches (50cm).

Dwarf daffodils and narcissi are always a delight and are useful in tubs and baskets as well as in the ground. As a centrepiece to a tub or basket varieties such as Tete a Tete, February Gold and Jack Snipe will force their way through the rest of the planting to perform at a time when everything else is finding it tough. For something a bit different, look at Rip Van Winkle with its shaggy double flowers. Better for wildlife are the dwarf varieties Lobularis which is native and grows to around 10 inches with a deep yellow trumpet and creamy petals and also the pure yellow Obvalaris, sometimes known as the Tenby daffodil.

I’m a fan of the dwarf iris. There is something about the structure of the plant and its neatness when it’s in flower that pleases me. The varieties are often scented and the blues such as Harmony and Reticulata are particularly good. The yellow Danfordiae is great too and a recent introduction is Blue Note with dark tips to the petals on slightly taller plants. New for this year is the variety Louise which is a wonderful creamy yellow colour.

Some great ground cover varieties are very useful in providing early colour often in shady places. Anemone blanda in their whites and blues are particularly good at this and do their thing before the leaf growth of overhanging trees causes too much shade, which is a clever adaption. Try Cyclamen coum with scented dark pink and fragrant flowers. I like the colourings of the foliage too. And for a splash of yellow, use Winter Aconite, Eranthis cilicica.

So, lots to choose from for a beautiful display next year and if the moisture remains in the soil planting should be fairly straightforward. thegardensgroup.co.uk

JulieK2/Shutterstock

SEEING PATTERNS

Suzy Newton, Newton & Dyl

While for some, adding a pattern to the interior design of the house is a way to uplift a dull space or corner, for others, it resonates with their personal style. Patterns, in the form of curtains, paintings, wallpapers, wall or floor coverings, or even bedlinen, reflect a sense of character to the interior – celebrating freedom of self-expression and the joy of an interior filled with colour, pattern and life.

Introducing pattern into a decorative scheme can be intimidating but adds so much personality to a room.

If you start with a fabric, wallpaper or rug that you love you can start to build a decorative scheme from there. The most prominent pattern in the room sets the tone and colour scheme for the rest of the space. It is a brilliant starting place to anchor the room. Choose one colour and carry that hue across all of the patterns in a room. Tying many different patterns and textures together with a consistent colour family is key to a cohesive look. Let’s say you choose blue as a room’s dominant colour. Mix turquoise stripes with navy florals, pale blue geometrics with aqua polka dots and teal palm trees with indigo gingham. The eye will read the colours as one.

Don’t go halfway with your use of prints and patterns. It will look like a mistake. Instead, go all out – mix florals, stripes and checks. The result will appear effortless. Creating a strong focal point in the room is also important as it allows your eye to rest. Don’t forget about scale! You want to mix big patterns with small, to keep the eye engaged as you move around the room. Think timeless. Florals, stripes, and checks are classic prints that never go out of style. The key to using pattern successfully in your room is balance – spreading the pattern around the room and not piling it up in one spot. With something like stripes remember that the vertical lines create the impression of height while horizontal lines appear to widen a space. Stripes are often used in period homes and work very well with spots. Whatever patterns you choose to use in your home, make sure you add some plain colours into the mix to even things out or calm down your vibrant zebra rug with some simple stripes or polka dots!

Perhaps to ease into pattern start with a small space in your home, consider using a whimsical wallpaper in your cloakroom or papering an alcove, behind shelves or below a kitchen island to make a concentrated impact. All these ideas are the things that transform a house into a home.

Suzy_Newton

Wallpaper: Mind the Gap - Woodstock Lifestyle Collection 'Peace and Music'

THE TOWNHOUSE SHERBORNE

Jean Peters Allen

Iwas born and educated in South Africa and like so many of my contemporaries in the 1990s, I Ieft our beautiful land to seek a stable future for myself and future family. After many years of hard work in London and Cambridge I was lucky enough to find myself living in Jersey, Channel Islands. Its stunning coastline, rural scenery and active lifestyle were somewhat reminiscent of South Africa. My three children grew up in Jersey and like a lot of families, I looked at boarding school options for secondary school in the southwest of England.

My eldest was 11 when we embarked on a 10-day road trip to visit schools in the South West and London areas. Of course, being foreign I didn’t have a family or friends’ connection to any particular school so it was a matter of doing our homework and then putting our

gut feeling in the lead.

The minute we entered the beautiful market town of Sherborne in Dorset I felt it was the right place for our family. The bustling community, the Girls and Boys schools criss-crossing the town, beautiful architecture, unique boutiques and the Abbey bells. As an African girl, Sherborne was perfectly and exotically English.

Children leaving home to go to boarding school at 13 is tough on them and their parents. So many day-today happenings missed, sports fixtures missed and very quickly I found myself visiting more and more often. At the time accommodation options in Sherborne were scarce and basic although this is much improved in the past 8 years.

In 2018 my eldest was in his GCSE year, my daughter about to join the Girls School and I noticed a

Image: Millie Pilkington

For Sale sign in a window above the shop Biggie Best (ironically a South African brand) on Cheap Street. Location IDEAL. My eldest and I decided to take a look and the estate agent lead us in. ‘Mum, I could live here!’ He exclaimed under his breath ‘Me too!’ I whispered back.

An enormous Victorian townhouse welcomed us in. Solid family spaces including a private work-fromhome study for me (and studying students), a family kitchen for all the Sunday roasts we otherwise would have missed, a large dining room for gatherings of young friends whom I would never have really got to know from abroad, a comfortable movie night living room and beds and floor space to crash on after those precious nights of freedom from school.

I did my sums. If we could rent it out as a shortterm holiday let and use it as our home away from home, let’s go for it!

For 5 years The Townhouse has provided all of us with happy, fun times. It’s even been a sanctuary for stressed times and respite. I worked from home for the weeks my children ‘needed’ me around. It was let in between and ‘washed its own face’. All in all, a real blessing for the family and those who got to stay in it and enjoy all Sherborne has to offer.

Now my children have finished their studies and our family needs have changed.

I’d always marvelled at the potential of the proportions and grandeur of The Townhouse; how fabulous it could be with some refurbishment and some style. I’m passionate about making spaces beautiful and have renovated a large farmhouse as well as a beachside townhouse in the recent past but The Townhouse proportions and its position in such a deeply historic and architecturally beautiful market town called for something uniquely dramatic and sumptuous to show off its period grandeur.

So, 6 months ago I decided to take the plunge and bring my vision to life. I wanted to create a space Sherborne could be proud of and that could be a business for my family too.

It started with an after-work gathering in The Townhouse living room where Arabella and Steve from Artichoke and Phil and Craig from Sherborne Antiques Market helped, encouraged and nudged me into choosing the paint palette – the moody colours from Fired Earth - Charcoal, Under the Waves and Dartmouth Green. The painted ceilings, instead of closing it in, warm the space up and highlight the

beautiful Victorian proportions. It’s this deep canvas that sets off all the furniture, lighting and accessories so effectively.

I was lucky enough to find a professional and local team to take up the challenge of bringing this beautiful, listed lady to life. Each one of them became as passionate as I was to see the vision through. Refurbishing a property with no outside spaces for storage, carpentry or rubbish disposal is a real building challenge and having me project manage from afar so much of the time added to the complexity. But hats off to all of us as we rose to each challenge and continued to work as a coherent team.

In the meantime, I was developing the look and feel of the interior design and started to source furniture, lighting and accessories with the holiday guest in mind looking for comfort, luxury and homeliness. The most delightful experience for me was that I found almost everything I needed from local Sherborne businesses. The furthest I had to travel was to Curtain Exchange in Bath where they found the perfect drapes for every one of the extraordinary, beautiful windows.

Sherborne Antiques Market sourced the signature living room chandelier, the secretaire in the study and large dresser items in the hallways. Artichoke sourced the remarkable French dresser in the Victorian family bathroom which gives the whole Townhouse experience the real wow factor. They helped bring the wilder touch into the space with stone urns, iron sconces and wild florals as well as provided the delicate dressing tables for titivation and preparation. Our beautiful baskets are from Lydia’s Willow Weaving and Simon Bouwer sourced us the softest, most luxurious silk carpeting which means even our floors are lovely to sit on. Forever England provided beautiful cotton bed dressing linens and Kitty from Upstairs and Downstairs and Sophie from Susie Watson were where I found the final touches to pop the rooms with colour, fabrics and blossoms.

Even the charity shops in Cheap Street provided so many beautiful crystal items and many stunning antique books for display.

The Townhouse Sherborne is now available for bookings thanks to all the team and community in Sherborne. I hope it provides a special base for many people to come and experience everything unique and curious and diverse that Sherborne has to offer.

thetownhousesherborne.com

WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO WITH TRUFFLE OIL AND CHEDDAR CRISP

Tom Matkevich, The Green

Now is a better time than any to explore our countryside and forests for wild mushrooms, and of course, make completely sure that you know exactly what you are picking; a good mushroom-hunting guide is invaluable. Substitutes that you may be able to find in the supermarket include oyster and chestnut mushrooms. And what better dish to showcase these fantastic ingredients than a classic mushroom risotto. A little high-quality truffle oil goes a long way and ties the dish together nicely. Now several British companies sell our native black truffles.

Ingredients Serves 4

For the risotto:

300g Arborio rice

30g dried porcini mushrooms

300g wild mushrooms, varieties such as girolles, boletes, hedgehog mushrooms

1 medium white onion, finely diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 tbsp olive oil

1 cube of chicken or vegetable stock

1 glass of white wine (175ml)

50g mature cheddar, finely grated (we use Montgomery’s)

20g parsley, finely chopped

20g butter

Truffle oil, to finish

For the cheddar crisp:

70g mature cheddar

Method

1 To make the cheddar crisps, finely grate the cheese over greaseproof paper and bake at 180C for around 7 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool completely.

2 Clean and trim the fresh mushrooms. Remove any butts and soil and rinse quickly under a cold tap. Cut any larger mushrooms into smaller pieces so they cook more evenly.

3 Add around 200ml of boiling water to a bowl along with the dried porcini and let sit until rehydrated. The liquid remaining will turn dark and form a mushroom stock. Remove the mushrooms, add the stock cube and stir until dissolved.

4 Set a large saucepan over a medium heat and add the olive oil. Then add the onions and garlic and cook until translucent, stirring constantly. Then add the wild and porcini mushrooms and cook for around 10 minutes, again stirring constantly.

5 Add the risotto rice and cook for a further 2 minutes. Then add the wine and cook off until little liquid remains.

6 Pour in a little of the mushroom stock and cook the rice at a simmer, still stirring constantly. Once absorbed, add more stock and repeat, until the rice is creamy and just cooked.

7 Remove from the heat, immediately add the cheese, parsley and butter, and stir until incorporated. Season with salt and a good amount of black pepper.

8 Serve immediately with the cheddar crisps scattered over each portion and a drizzle of truffle oil.

greenrestaurant.co.uk

In my first Headship, I had a lovely teacher who came into school and taught music. She made this recipe for school events and it was very popular with everyone. It’s a real Friday treat – it has all the things that you know are naughty but nice. As I have said before a treat is OK once a week. If you cut it into small squares you won’t feel so guilty. They can be bagged up and they sell like hot cakes.

Serves 12

Preparation time 15 minutes

What you will need

A brownie pan is just the right size and depth, grease it well with butter.

Ingredients

115g margarine

115g marshmallows

Val Stones

CILLA’S CARAMEL CRUNCH BARS

115g Caramel bars

200g Rice Krispies

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

1 Place the margarine, marshmallows and Caramel bars in a pan and gently melt, stirring to help combine the ingredients.

2 When completely melted stir in the Rice Krispies and the vanilla extract until all they are coated in the caramel mixture.

3 Spoon the mixture into the brownie pan and press the mixture flat with an offset spatula.

4 Leave until cool then cut into small squares.

These also freeze well so you can make a batch for emergencies!

bakerval.com

Image: Katharine Davies

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A MONTH ON THE PIG FARM

Well, what a difference a year can make. I have just read my article for this time last year and it’s all about the heat – how we opened early because of the heat! As I write, the forecast is for a few nice days but it is far from settled –it has rained again in the night. The fields actually have puddles in them now, the grass has been growing like crazy and I can hardly keep up with the lawn. Our lavender has enjoyed the cooler temperatures

and has been flowering its head off. We had a shaky start when I thought that a lot of our plants would not survive the harsh winter last year threw at us but nature as we know is incredible and most of them survived. I replanted two whole rows that we did lose but the rest have been amazing. Watch this space – suffice it to say we are going to do a lot more with our lavender in the near future.

Today I have help on the farm and Len and I have

James Hull, The Story Pig

Image: Katharine Davies

a busy day moving pigs. I haven’t quite worked out the order of how we are going to move them yet. It’s like a big jigsaw – moving any group means moving all groups. So, I won’t feed any of them this morning – food is the key to doing anything with pigs. They will be fed as we move and sort them, group by group. Moving pigs when they are outside, like everything we do, is hard physical work and by the end of the day, we will both be exhausted. Len, my friend and help today works for us once a fortnight. We work well together and it is incredible how we think the same way – he is like an extension of me.

Pigs, you only get one chance to catch them. We will set our heavy pig gates up in each paddock – this in itself is normally quite a task as the unfed pigs will be screaming all around us, bumping into us, trying to knock the hurdles over before the pen is formed. Once erected, picture a U-shape tunnel of gates with one extra one on one side to be our gate. The next thing to do is to have a half bucket of pig nuts with me and walk away from the new pen with all the pigs streaming after me in a big screaming line. Then I have to turn quickly and run, weaving crazily so as not to get knocked over, back into the new pen, spread a line of pig nuts inside then jump over the hurdles at the end. The pigs stream in behind me and then we have to cajole a few more cautious ones to the opening, not making eye contact with them of course. (Never make eye contact with a cautious pig – it will never go in!) At the last second Len flings the gate around at great speed shutting them in.

We pull the hurdles tighter, making the pen smaller and creating a small opening from where we can let out the ones we don’t want to move. I normally operate the gate end, Len drives them towards me. Of course, the few we want out are always at the far end and as he

drives them towards me in a sea of pigs, all the ones I need to keep in are trying to dart past me, through me, push me over, come behind me and the few we need out dart past the gate and back round. This can go on for a few minutes...or longer. Sometimes we have to rethink – sometimes you would hear me say, ‹That’s near enough, leave that one.’

Then it’s time to load them up. I back the livestock trailer up to the front of the pen and we open it up – the pigs fly in to find the food I have sprinkled inside. Then it’s a quick judgement as to when there’s enough in, up with the gates and tailboard, stopping the remainder from escaping and quickly shut the pen back up.

So, that was yesterday and we picked out 12 different groups so moving the hurdles 12 times. It turned out to be a really hot day yesterday and was pretty hard work. It took its toll on us and we were both exhausted by the end of the day but everyone was in their new right pens, and everyone was fed. It was so hot when we let them out they would race around their new paddock and then flop in the muddy wallows – wallows that I haven’t had to fill manually for nearly six weeks but which were full of all the rainwater we have received. They dived in and rolled in the thick muddy water coating themselves in a muddy slick. Of course, many of them had done this before we picked them out too and I am sure they delight in sliding past me, covered in smelly mud, and smearing it all over my legs too if they possibly could.

It’s early morning now and I can report that I slept like a log after yesterday. Today is Thursday – I’m going out to feed everyone now and then back to the farm to open the cafe. By then I will have clean legs!

thestorypig.co.uk

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BRUSH UP!

Mark Newton-Clarke MAVetMB PhD MRCVS, Newton Clarke Veterinary Surgeons

In the last week of July, a few early blackberries ripened in a sunny part of the wilder area of my garden so I picked one and tasted that tart sweetness most of us are familiar with. Despite best efforts, a seed managed to lodge itself between one of my molars, resulting in a second interdental flossing of the day. Success brought disproportionate relief. The experience prompted me to think again about dental issues in our pets and how they are unable to perform routine tooth care for themselves.

Dentistry takes up a good proportion of a vet’s time in small animal practice, for good reasons. Only a few of us have the inclination to brush our dogs’ teeth daily, even though this is an excellent idea. Let’s leave flossing out of this along with brushing cats’ teeth, both impossible for all but exceptional animals (none of which I have ever come across). But what about brushing our dogs’ teeth? Yes, it’s a good idea but needs to be started early in puppyhood even though all the milk teeth will be lost by 6 months or so, to be replaced by the permanents. The point of the early start is to train your puppy to accept a toothbrush so that later on, it becomes part of the daily routine. The incentive to brush your dog’s teeth is significant as if this can be done at least 4 times per week, plaque buildup is prevented and so remedial dental work is avoided later on in life.

If you are going to start brushing your puppy’s teeth, a few weeks of gently opening the mouth, moving lips and touching gums followed by a tasty reward is the best introduction. When you have good compliance, use a child’s soft nylon toothbrush with a liver or chickenflavoured dog toothpaste (yummy!) to start gentle brushing of incisors and canine teeth. Don’t brush for >

more than a minute or two before giving a reward and then move on to other teeth, if puppy is happy. The outside (buccal) surface of a tooth is obviously easier to brush but as confidence grows, the inside (lingual) surface also needs attention. The problem is, newly erupted teeth are sparkly white and so there seems little incentive to brush them. Before long though, depending on diet and your dog’s breed, food residue trapped between the teeth becomes calcified and then invaded by bacteria, leading to the formation of ‘tartar’, the brown crusty deposit that resembles the rock in our kettles. The difference between the two is the organic component of tartar which feeds the bacteria, which in turn causes gum inflammation (gingivitis) and odour.

The interface between the tooth crown, the root and the gum is amazing if you think about it, as it must seal the bacteria in the mouth away from the boney socket of the root while at the same time allowing some movement during tooth eruption and must withstand the forces of biting and chewing. These are considerable. The seal is called the periodontal (around the tooth) ligament, likened to the button at the top of a zip fastener. If the button is missing, the zip opens very easily. So the chain of events is this; tartar builds up at the base of the tooth, inflammation damages the periodontal ligament, gum recession (it unzips) and root exposure. Hence the expression ‘long in the tooth’, which means the root becomes visible rather than the crown becomes longer. Many of us are familiar with this!

Crowns are covered with non-stick enamel, roots are not. So the root becomes even more heavily tartared than the crown, more bugs invade the surrounding tissues and further inflammation and infection result. It’s this vicious circle that is prevented by brushing teeth! Sadly, by the time this process becomes advanced, the tooth usually needs to be removed as it will become a focus for future infections and ongoing problems.

Tooth removal is an emotive issue for many dog and cat owners! For this reason, all our vets and nurses explain the need to remove teeth that will cause future issues but there’s a problem. A tooth covered in tartar cannot be properly assessed for removal until the tartar is removed by ultra-sonic scaling and the integrity of the periodontal ligament has been tested. As this can only be done after the patient has been anaesthetised, accurately predicting the outcome of dental surgery is very difficult in many cases. There are some exceptions, clearly, for example, if a tooth is visibly loose or badly damaged, or, in the case of a cat, has a form of endodontal (within the tooth) disease, called FORL. Long name, Feline Osteoclastic Resorptive Lesion! It means tooth destruction from the inside, leaving the crown as a fragile shell. This strange condition is almost unique to felines, for reasons we do not fully understand. It is recognised by a hole in the enamel with usually pink tissue showing through and indicates advanced destruction of the inside of the tooth. Not surprising that the remnants of the crown need to be removed, the root gently drilled and then the gum heals over the site.

If tooth extraction is emotional for owners, it can be technically difficult for the surgeon. Very deep roots and fragile facial bones do not make a good combination so great care is needed, made worse by old age and any kidney problems. Pity that, as most of our dental patients are older and have declining renal function! However, with thorough pre-operation tests and multi-modal monitoring during the anaesthetic, risks are minimised and within a very short time afterwards, the patient is so much happier even though the smile might be a bit gappy!

HEAT STRESS IN SHEEP

With the increasing temperatures rising as a result of climate change there is a growing concern for the welfare of animals and keeping them safe from heat stress. With extreme heat, sheep are impacted both directly (by the heat) and indirectly (through the impact of the heat on their environment). Prolonged periods of high temperatures will reduce the availability of grazing as well as reduced water availability which would both need supplementing. These factors can have a major knock-on effect by impacting the body condition score of sheep and the productivity and profitability of a flock. Fly problems are also a real concern so it’s imperative to watch out for signs of fly strike within your flock, these include discoloured, moist or greasy appearing wool, bad odour, agitation and the presence of maggots in the wool.

As with most animals, heat stress is a significant concern, with a very real risk of fatalities if signs are not recognised early and steps are not taken promptly to reduce the risks. Aside from this, high temperatures will also affect feed intake, growth rates, fertility and conception rates and therefore massively affecting productivity in the following breeding season.

Heat stress is caused when sheep are unable to maintain the balance between body heat production and body heat loss. It is therefore important to recognise the signs of heat stress early, these include:

• Panting/open-mouth breathing

• Head extended and tongue protruding with profuse salivation

• Refusal to lie down or refusal to stand up

• Increased breathing rate with increased respiratory effort (abdominal effort when breathing)

Antonia Leech BVMSci MRCVS, Kingston Vets

• Rectal temperatures above 41°C

• Huddling

• Front legs held in a wide stance in a bid to increase lung volume

• Staggering

•

Collapse and death

How can you prevent the occurrence of heat stress and reduce the impact of extreme heat?

Firstly, ensuring that there is sufficient shade in the form of hedges and trees or the shelter of a barn will mean that they can escape direct sunlight and hopefully keep cooler. If you are needing to move your flock only do this in the cooler times of the day such as early mornings or late evenings where possible. If you can avoid moving, handling or transporting during the hot spells that is even better. However, where movement and confinement

of sheep are vital - for shearing, vaccination, worming and transportation – ensure that animals are moved over shorter distances and kept in smaller groups. Of course, another prevention is to maintain a ready and abundant supply of clean, fresh drinking water in every field which is ideally situated in or close to shade.

If you chose to house your flock, it is so important to ensure that barns are well-ventilated to cope with all conditions, if possible installing fans will help ensure airflow within the barn. In addition, you must consider body heat increases with larger group sizes – allowing more space by reducing group sizes will help with this. You must feed housed ewes indoors or outdoors only if dry outside – this is because if they get wet it can lead to high humidity indoors once they are bought in and will increase the risk of heat stress. Humidity can also be increased by poor draining and ventilation in areas of housing prone to wetting, therefore it is important to keep good maintenance of these areas.

Shearing is important to keep the sheep cool but also to prevent fly strike from occurring. However, wool protects sheep from extreme heat as well as the cold. Research shows that sheep with a one-inch fleece are more comfortable than their more closely shorn counterparts, with the wool fibres aiding the more rapid dissipation of heat. Therefore, it is important to consider shearing earlier in the season to allow for some growth before the typically hotter summer months.

You’ve found a sheep with heat stress - now what?

It is so important to call your veterinarian for advice or even a visit if your sheep are showing signs of heat stress. Whilst waiting for your vet, move the sheep to the shade immediately or provide shade, preferably somewhere with a breeze. Offer plenty of cool clean water and you can spray them with cool water, especially on the legs and feet and inner thighs/elbowshowever, only do this under the guidance of your vet as you can often end up cooling them too much if you are not cautious. It is important to increase air movement around them – this can be done with fans, ventilation or wind movement. However, sometimes further treatment is required by your vet so please get in contact with them as soon as you notice possible signs of heat stress. By following the mentioned precautions (and a bit of common sense!) and prompt response to the signs of heat stress will lead to better outcomes.

kingstonequinevets.co.uk

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AIR AND WATER

Sarah Hitch, The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms and The Margaret Balfour Beauty Centre

As we return from the relaxation of our summer breaks we all too quickly feel the pace of our lives speed up again. Routines of work, family life and commitments start to take over our slightly simpler summer existence and the balmy haze of a well-being mindset leaves us. It’s at this point we quickly get out of stride of doing the simple things to look after ourselves but two of nature’s elements can be easily restored. We don’t usually think about our breathing – it’s just something our body does by itself. But how we

breathe affects our mood, our health and our skin. Deep breathing, sometimes referred to as belly, diaphragmatic or abdominal breathing, is a very effective tool for changing your physical, emotional and mental state. One of the main ways that deep breathing improves our health and skin is through the activation of the relaxation response. This state of rest, in which we feel calm, we digest food effectively and our bodies heal, is the opposite of our stressful fight-flight response. When we are stressed blood flows to our muscles

Planet Flem-iStock

and away from skin and digestion. The stress hormone cortisol increases leading to inflammation, flare-ups in problem skin, eczema, psoriasis, acne, delayed skin healing and accelerated ageing.

The relaxation response can reverse many of these changes and this can be activated in many ways but most easily by deep, controlled breathing. This signals the brain to calm itself and sends a message to the autonomic nervous system to relax. Cortisol levels lower and all the negative conditions ease away.

Deep breathing exercises can be done anywhere at any time. Slow your breathing down without straining yourself. Focus on your breath. Breathe in slowly through your mouth or nose, and allow your chest and belly to expand. When your lungs feel full and before they start to strain, let yourself exhale slowly and steadily. If you are feeling very stressed and need to relax (especially when trying to sleep) focus on prolonged exhalation.

The more you practice focusing on your breath the more quickly your body responds and the longer the benefits will last so you can handle everything that is thrown at you.

Hand in hand with getting the right amount of air and oxygen in our lungs is hydrating our bodies’ cells. Hydration is vital in maintaining a healthy mind, body and skin particularly as we age. Water makes up for 50% -70% of our body weight, 90% of our skin and we need it for good health. It is involved in an array of processes - lubrication and cushioning for joints, healthy brain function and good digestion, regulating body temperature and balances our body’s pH. Water also provides the transport system needed to carry molecules like oxygen and nutrients to all our tissues and cells and remove waste products for elimination. Our bodies cannot handle these processes when we become dehydrated and we experience physical and mental symptoms. Unsurprisingly, the best way to keep yourself hydrated is to drink water and fluids through the day and add foods with high water content to your diet. Treat the return to the autumn term as a reset for the whole family with fresh autumn resolutions to breathe better and hydrate.

thesanctuarysherborne.co.uk margaretbalfour.co.uk

KEEP TALKING

Annabel Goddard, Volunteer Placement Student

TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains themes of suicide, which could be distressing for some people. Please seek support if needed and take note of signposting below.

Sunday 10th September is World Suicide

Prevention Day, a day that prompts us to consciously remember the importance of normalising conversations about mental health. Many of us have experienced a friend or loved one struggling with their mental health at some point but suicide ideation is possibly more common than you would think. One in five of us experience suicidal thoughts at some point in our lifetime. One in 15 people act upon it.

It’s human nature, in the face of losing someone to suicide, to speculate what we could have done differently and how, if at all, it could have been prevented. This is exactly what we want to talk about

this month: how we can make suicide prevention accessible for everyone.

We often avoid talking about suicide but it’s important to normalise talking about it – to help tackle the stigma and taboo that still exists. We should also learn to recognise signs, look out for any change in behaviour and know what to do if you, or a loved one, is struggling with their mental health.

Learning from experience

The first thing to do is notice patterns of behaviour in your own thoughts and triggers – learning from your own experience can help others. Get familiar with your feelings and note how you feel day to day – they will fluctuate. Unexpected life events or workplace issues can impact your mental health. If you find your job is particularly stressful and it’s causing you to feel more anxious, make a

note of it. And from there think about what strategies you can employ to help alleviate the issue early.

I personally have gotten into the habit of journalling, which I use as a day-to-day mental health tracker. I essentially just check in with myself and ask how I’m really feeling, and from there I find it easier to comprehend my own well-being and know when I need to intervene. I have previously found it incredibly hard to recognise when I’m having more of a difficult time than usual. Writing my feelings down takes about five minutes and makes a huge difference to my overall well-being.

Secondly, we need to learn tangible skills to help others who might be suffering quietly. There are courses such as Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Suicide First Aid which can provide in-depth knowledge about mental health and what to do in a crisis. But soft skills are also important.

No one is expected to take on someone else’s problems but if you start to feel comfortable talking about yourself, it will indicate that you are sympathetic to mental health issues. Leading by example will encourage people who are struggling to talk to feel more comfortable doing so.

Providing a listening ear to someone who really needs it could save their life. It is very easy to feel extremely isolated when you experience suicidal feelings and you can’t talk about it due to fear of sharing these feelings. This results in pressure building – talking will help release it.

If someone you know plucks up the courage to speak to you, you might not know what to say, and you might feel nervous when hearing how they feel. But your friend or loved one might simply need a safe space and your undivided attention.

If you are struggling yourself, it’s important to reach out for support as early as possible, before problems escalate. There are people in your network that would be willing to help. This could be close friends, family, trusted colleagues or your GP.

Sharing your deepest thoughts can be one of the hardest things to do but it’s also the first step towards getting better.

You matter – and you are not alone.

• Call Samaritans for free 24/7 emotional support on 116 123

• Call Dorset’s mental health helpline Connection for support 24/7 on NHS 111

• Text SHOUT to 85258 for text support

• Call CALM on 0800 585858, 5pm to midnight every day

• Visit dorsetmind.uk for local mental health support and ways to keep mentally healthy

At the time of writing, David Perham, owner of Muntanya in Sherborne is trekking to the summit of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in support of Mind.

Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, standing at nearly 6,000m and presents an incredible challenge. David has funded the trip personally and all monies raised will go straight to Mind. To help David in his support of this vitally important cause, please visit his JustGiving page at bit.ly/david_perham_MIND

Ground Picture/Shutterstock

MINDFUL WALKING

Vanessa Lee, MindfulNESS Sherborne

Whatever the season, whatever the weather, having two dogs means getting outside for a decent walk. Happily, this coincides with one of my favourite mindfulness practices – walking meditation or mindful walking.

The more formal side of mindfulness, sitting meditation, brings challenges for those who find sitting still difficult. But meditation doesn’t have to mean being still. Attaching mindfulness to movement is a great way of reaping its many benefits, whether it be yoga, martial arts or in this case, walking. Getting outside in nature, to walk deliberately, can greatly improve both our physical and mental well-being. Countless studies have proven the benefits of mindfulness, with positive changes to anxiety, depression, mood and happiness.

Often as we walk, we let our minds wander or set

it to work on a particular problem; the movement of a walk so often helps the shift and progression of thoughts. Mindful walking, however, is a bit different. Mindfulness simply means to bring our attention to the present moment, and as far as possible, with an attitude of open curiosity to however that moment might be. We have the habit of so often ruminating backwards over things that have already happened or projecting forwards into the future: either that or falling into swathes of time where we are simply lost in thought and disconnected from what we are doing. Mindfulness puts us back in touch with ourselves, so we might better glean clear and present insight.

Mindful walking is an active practice that requires us to be consciously aware and moving in the environment. Walking is an everyday movement

and like breathing, is done usually without thought, so how do we walk ‘mindfully’?

1. The basics of mindful walking meditation are to bring your full awareness to the movement of walking itself. Begin by standing still and noticing your posture. Feel your feet firmly planted on the ground. Have a sense of your whole body and how it is feeling. If you close your eyes, you will notice a slight sway, as your body constantly works to maintain balance. As you begin to walk, bring your full attention to the movement. Notice the transfer of weight from leg to leg. Notice the swing of your arms. Connect to the rhythm of your breath and feel the ground beneath you…

You might also choose to use the walk as a moving body scan, gently directing your attention from one

area of the body to another, working upwards from your feet. We live so much in our heads that we so often forget that we reside in a body! Bringing simple awareness to the walking itself will give thoughts and a busy mind the chance to settle.

2. You might add words or a phrase to your walking which can help to maintain focus. For example: ‘I am here. I am grateful.’ perhaps a personal mantra or simply counting your steps.

3. Another way to bring your attention to the present moment is to engage your senses. When we are lost in thought, we so often miss noticing what is happening around us. Run through your senses: what can I see? Notice how your eyes can reach the horizon to take in the whole view but then they can also notice the tiniest detail. What can I hear? Tune in to the sounds that find their way to you. Near sounds and sounds further away. Sounds of nature and other sounds we perhaps don’t like so much. What can I smell? Notice the sense of touch, texture…

4. Appreciative walking: if you are walking in nature, notice the beauty around you as you move. You might pause to appreciate the view. If you have a regular walk, you might notice the subtle changing of the season. You can bring gratitude to the walking itself: the ability to be outdoors and move freely.

5. Encounter the weather! Notice the day’s weather. Feel it on your face. Wet, dry, warm, cold, sunny or grey … You might also ask yourself the question, ‘What is the weather of my mind today?’. We can notice that thoughts and feelings are very much like the weather, always moving, always changing. Even the worst storms pass.

Mindful walking isn’t about getting anywhere, but rather engaging in the journey itself. Modern life is fast-paced and demanding. We might be better described as human doings rather than human beings! We need to remember to slow down and reconnect to the present moment.

Taking a short mindful walk can be a wonderful re-set during a busy day. Even if it’s simply walking mindfully between your car and office or taking ten minutes during a lunch hour to walk around the block –it has great benefits.

The science is clear. Physical exercise and mindful practice, positively influence health and well-being. It can take a little while to get used to but it’s well worth persisting.

Nothing is new about any of the claims made by one movement practice or another – all vying for your attention. All trying to encourage you to take up their practice…choose me!

• ‘Strengthen, control and balance the body for longterm, sustainable freedom of movement’

• ‘Decrease body fat, increase strength and endurance, and improve health outcomes’

• ‘Help balance your body, mind, and spirit’

• ‘Increase your flexibility, build strength, improve your posture, keep your joints healthy, practice mindfulness, reduce stress, lower blood pressure, make healthier life choices’

• ‘Improve your stamina, increase your strength, burn fat, keep your heart healthy, stay young, relieve stress, strengthen your bones, find your balance’

I wonder, did you get through that list or did you stop reading? It’s all a bit overwhelming! I too am

A GOLDEN THREAD

Emma Rhys Thomas, Instructor, Art of Confidence

guilty of this bombardment of the not-so-unique selling points to advertise, persuade and ultimately sell what I do. The goal is to find what makes you feel better and what makes you enjoy life but how will you know what is truly good for you?

The best use of the body in movement comes from understanding. The one simple truth is ‘move to improve!’. I’m going to make ‘keeping it simple’ rather complicated by looking at movement from a myofascial perspective: ‘myo’ meaning muscle and ‘fascia’ meaning connective tissue.

The body’s myofascial network can be described as all the muscles encapsulated by connective tissue in a variety of long chains throughout the body. This maintains its shape and supports movement. You can be recognised even if you shed your skin! Think of an elastic mesh keeping everything not only together but also apart. Everything is connected to everything. Muscles that you may have thought should be independently strengthened, like working

on those glutes or abs, will have an effect on the whole system. For example, an overworked, tight ‘behind’ may reduce the length of your stride.

Remember that the body is a wonderfully complex, self-regulating organism and our efforts to maintain it are secondary to the work going on within that we are not even aware of. The fascial system works on information from all the senses in all the networks throughout the body. It is in constant communication with the brain – what happens next is a result of that information and conversation. Fascial responses are fast. Maintaining that super highway is more important than strength. If we truly want to stay younger for longer, stay strong and flexible, find physical and emotional balance and so on, we will need to maintain a healthy fascial system by what we put in (a healthy diet and hydration) and how we keep moving.

Train the timing. Sadly, as we age, responses slow down, a change occurs in the elasticity of the body and messages can be misunderstood. For example, it doesn’t matter how strong your feet are or how strong your glutes are, if the message from one to the other does not get delivered in a timely (ultraspeedy) manner, you may experience problems with injury or pain in the knee, hip or back and develop compensatory patterns in movement which lead to chronic conditions.

Train the tension. Humans have evolved to stand upright. A balanced, elastic tension is held throughout. It responds to vibration, absorbs impact, stretches and reflexes…all the things we get from our physical workouts. The crucial element is training muscles ‘on when long’.

Train the balance. Fascial imbalance is within us all. Even before birth, we are out of balance! It is

unavoidable. It starts in utero. The womb we ‘work out’ in will have an influence on our body when we are born. Genetics, biology and the environment all play their part. We cannot just create the perfect form. We are not automatons with a matching nut and bolt in each joint with equal levers like a Meccano model. Our training should be adaptable.

Train the mind. Connective tissue holds emotion. Mindful physical exercise moves fascia, which can help emotionally. Take away a protective restriction and we will expose an underlying issue. Conversely, take away an underlying issue and we will solve a protective restriction.

Train efficiency. Brain and body work together. The brain can shut down body systems. It monitors where best to allocate our energy resources for the most effective use. Effort needs to match purpose. Add variety. Your myofascial network can get stuck in a rut! It responds less to repetitive, predictable movement patterns.

So, what is truly good for you? However you choose to move, try keeping in mind your myofascial network.

To round up… a creative footnote. Think of a drawing made without lifting pen from paper, using only one line – a contour drawing. Taking it one step further, it can be done without ever looking at the paper. These practices in art are said to be good for observation. Well, the body might be thought of in that way and if we attempt to follow the line, that ‘golden thread’, we can observe and understand how all parts are connected. When we change one thing, we will change everything!

P.S. Pilates has it all!

quantockpilates.com

Art of Confidence

Movement Practices and Wellness

Be your body and mind’s best by attending to posture

LOW INTENSITY, HIGH INTENSITY OR WELLBEING?

James Cattigan, Sherborne Sports Centre Manager

These were the questions we asked ourselves as we entered the final phases of ‘the build’ – soon to be the new and sparklingly refurbished Sherborne Sports Centre – and as our thoughts turned to our class provision, our facilities, our instructors. What truly is best for our members? What sort of a centre are we? What do we want to be for our members, for our boys, for Sherborne?

Big questions, challenging questions, but ones well worthy of consideration. What will encourage people to pursue an active and healthy lifestyle? What activities really are best for us to participate in? What gives the best possible health benefits? What will encourage us all to pursue an active and healthy lifestyle? What are the barriers? Can we remove them?

Carrying out research amongst our members there is a real diversity in exercise habits and preferences. And, as some new activities have been introduced, MetCon45 – a high-intensity training class, Family Fitness and pickleball – a racket sport truly accessible to all, we ought to consider what we are trying to achieve as a sports centre. How are we going to help everyone to find their fitness?

Finding your fitness, deciding what you want to achieve and what can you fit into your busy life is not easy. Everyone is different, everyone has a story and everyone has, from time to time, obstacles, challenges and setbacks.

Our day-to-day wellbeing is promoted by participating in activities such as pilates, yoga and mindfulness which help to improve emotional resilience and create a sense of balance. Including stretches and mobility exercises into your routine can improve flexibility, joint health and posture whilst bringing cognitive benefits such as increased concentration and stress reduction.

Low-intensity exercise is usually gentle on the body and so it is suitable for people of all ages and abilities. Access to low-intensity exercise may be through swimming and water-based activities such as

Aqua Fit, pickleball and seated exercises. Equally, for those training for long-distance events, low-intensity exercise can help build stamina with a gradual increase in time spent training. Low-intensity exercise has a lower impact on joints while promoting muscle toning and giving cardiovascular benefits such as increasing muscular endurance whilst lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease.

High-intensity exercise equally has a place and is often thought of as the best way to efficiently burn calories and promote healthy weight management. Challenging your cardiovascular system, high-intensity exercise improves your heart’s efficiency, enhances blood circulation and boosts cardiovascular endurance. Typically, high-intensity workouts are shorter than a low-intensity ‘steady state’ exercise therefore they appeal to the time-poor amongst us who want to fit a challenging workout into a busy schedule! Highintensity workouts usually engage multiple muscle groups which promotes muscle growth and strength development, something which is not only important for daily tasks but in order to give support and shape to our skeletal system.

Whatever your goal is, whether it be to exercise for health reasons or to train for your next event and be in the best shape possible, I’d encourage an exercise programme that is achievable and motivating yet slightly challenging and has regular checkpoints so that you can gain a sense of achievement as you progress.

Exercise connects like-minded people, it allows socialising amongst friends, with a sense of shared purpose. Whether attending a class or trying something new, exercise boosts our happiness and self-esteem and promotes better sleep quality. A well-rested body and mind are essential for our overall wellbeing and help our ability to cope with the daily pressures of modern life.

Find your fitness. For life.

sherbornesports.co.uk

Image: Josie Sturgess-Mills

Just like that – it is September. Children are back to school and we return to a ‘normal routine’ –whatever that is! It is fair to say that a lot of our clients struggle to maintain a structured routine over the summer holidays. Whether this be the distraction of early evening BBQs, entertaining children or going on holiday, there seem to be many more, mostly welcomed, indeed eagerly anticipated, distractions in the summer holidays!

Restarting our regular routine can be problematic and challenging for many. Whether this be nutritionbased or related to our exercise regime, a return to the routine will help us achieve all our health and fitness goals, but is something that needs to be planned and may seem overwhelming for many. However, we are here to help! Follow our simple steps to regain or begin a routine to improve both your exercise regime and nutrition. Let’s refer to it as our ‘self-care’ routine. Firstly, we need to plan our exercise schedule. Try and find times that suit you, that will leave you undisturbed and take place at times when you can regularly train. If you find keeping to the routine difficult, put an entry into your diary, ring-fencing not only the day but also the specific time when you train. If you use an electronic diary, go one step further and create the entry as a reoccurring weekly appointment. That of course is the easy bit – once in your diary you need to be committed to the exercise routine. The activity concerned could be a structured exercise class, which also ticks the social box – or even a home workout or walk around the area. Reserving a specific day and time will help the exercise routine become achievable. We should of course exercise more than once a week but during those busy times we find ourselves in during the year, at least we can always rely on our day and time blocked out to exercise. There is

ROUTINE

Craig Hardaker BSc (Hons), Communifit

however no reason why we shouldn’t block out time for several sessions during the week if we are able to do so.

We also need to plan our nutrition. Many athletes plan their meals for the whole week. With some even meal-prepping for the whole week so it is ready with little fuss. This is a good way to view your weekly food intake and highlight any nutrients you may be lacking, or getting excessive quantities of! Too much cake – surely not!

Although we do not need to plan to the extent that an elite athlete would, planning a weekly routine of meal choices can help us get a healthy, balanced diet. A two-week cycle works well, where we alternate between two different weekly ‘menu’ ranges, ensuring not only that we eat healthily but that we don’t buy unnecessary food items at a time when shopping bills are ever-spiralling.

Although we have concentrated in this article on the ‘physical’ in the form of nutrition and exercise, it is also important to point out the value of a mental health routine – one where we can declutter by putting time aside for ourselves to do what we enjoy. This doesn’t have to be for long, a 15/30 minute mini-break to read a book can be incredibly uplifting and help us get through the day. Whatever you enjoy doing, put time aside each and every day, and add this to your routine.

Of course, this is all easier said than done. It is far too easy to get carried away with the stresses of life, one where our best plans and intentions just get blown away. Weeks turn to months and suddenly we are left with our routine in tatters – a routine important for our health, fitness and overall well-being. So let’s make some small changes today, improve our routine and look forward to the months ahead.

communifit.co.uk

Image: Stuart Brill

URGENT REQUEST

Donations of food items have been falling for some time. This is understandable given the cost-of-living pressures everybody is under but we are now struggling to cope with the surge in demand and require more items than ever.

If you’re in a position to help, PLEASE consider adding any of the following items to your trolley when shopping:

• Soup • Baked Beans • Pasta Sauces • Tinned Tomatoes

• Tinned Vegetables • Instant Mash • Rice Pudding

• Tinned Fruit • Porridge • Sweet Biscuits

• Savoury Biscuits • Boil-in-the-bag Rice

Donation points can be found near the check-outs at

Thank you.

www.sherbornefoodbank.org

07854 163869 | help@sherbornefoodbank.org

THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCCESSION PLANNING FOR THE FARMING COMMUNITY

Having a succession plan in place will not only help to secure business continuity but also prevent a lot of heartache for loved ones. This is particularly relevant with farming businesses where often family and business are very much intertwined. For a start many farm properties include the family home and there will be family members who do not want to take on the family business but who you still want to benefit from a share of the assets.

Put simply, succession planning is about having a long-term plan in place for your business – not as many incorrectly believe, retirement.

For an individual business, succession planning can help to strike a fair balance between ensuring the business is passed to those who want it and providing a share of the parental assets for non-farming siblings.

Initially, with a conversation, it is important to find out what each family member wants for their own future. This may not be an easy conversation to have but it is important that everyone in the family that might be affected is involved.

What should be covered in a succession plan?

• How the assets of the farm are owned

• Who is occupying the land and buildings and on what basis

• What each member of the family wants from the farm in the future

• What is the long-term direction of the farm business

It is important to understand the tax situation. There are two types of tax you need to be aware of:

• Inheritance Tax (IHT) – agricultural property relief and business property relief can help to reduce or eliminate IHT on farming or other qualifying business assets.

• Capital Gains Tax (CGT) – giving away assets can trigger a CGT bill. It may be possible to claim Hold Over relief, which allows any immediate CGT to be deferred, with the person receiving the gift taking over the gain of the original owner.

A key part of succession planning is making sure that all members of the family involved in the business have valid wills and, where appropriate, a partnership (or shareholder) agreement is in place. This will ensure ownership of the business ends up where intended to avoid family arguments in the future.

Pensions can play an important part in succession planning. They can provide a source of income or funds to buy farmland and/or property or give provision for children who do not wish to be involved in the business.

mogersdrewett.com

Frank Collins, Partner and Head of Department, Agriculture, Mogers Drewett

A QUESTION OF TRUST

Mark Salter, Certified and Chartered Financial Planner, Fort Financial Planning

Trusts can be an effective planning tool that can be used throughout life’s progression. However, there is often a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about the purposes of trusts so we thought it would be useful to explain what they are and some of the reasons to use them.

A trust is a legal arrangement that gives a trustee the right to hold property or assets for the benefit of a beneficiary or beneficiaries. The purpose of a trust is to provide legal protection for assets such as property, land, investments, business interests and life assurance policies.

A trust is a separate legal entity (like a company) which usually involves several roles. The ‘Settlor’ is the person who sets up the trust and gives the assets away. The ‘Trustees’ are the legal owners who manage and administer the trust per its terms, which are usually set out in a Trust Deed. The ‘Beneficiaries’ are the people who will benefit from the trust.

A trust can also specify how and when assets are distributed and allow more control over the beneficiaries’ use of the assets. Trusts can be used in addition to a will to direct assets after death and offer benefits such as minimising taxes and protecting assets. Trusts can also enable control over how assets are disbursed, which is important if the beneficiary is a child or family member who may not handle money well

There are many different types of trusts and the most appropriate trust will depend on what you want the trust for and will often be determined by the beneficiaries’ circumstances or tax.

Reasons to Set up a Trust Asset Protection

The main reason for creating a trust is to protect assets. Rather than giving assets or funds to an intended beneficiary or beneficiaries outright, it is often better

to place the funds into trust in the event of a change of circumstances for that individual. Placing assets in certain types of trusts can protect them from creditors, marriage breakdown, care fees or from those who might influence beneficiaries.

Tax Planning

Any assets transferred to a trust will fall out of the estate for tax purposes if you survive seven years. The added advantage is that even though assets are given away, control of them can still be retained by being named as a trustee.

Family Wealth Planning

A trust allows you to pass assets down your family’s generations without creating an inheritance tax liability in your own children’s estates. If you give your children assets outright, you might also be giving them an inheritance tax liability. A trust allows you to retain assets for children or grandchildren if it would be more tax efficient to pass them to grandchildren when they are older without the assets passing via your children’s estate for tax purposes.

It may be tempting to transfer everything into trust but looking at the reasons and tax consequences before doing so is extremely important. As always, we suggest seeking professional advice.

Trust Registration

Since September 2022, the majority of trusts now need to be registered irrespective of whether the trust needs to pay UK taxes. If you have set up a trust in the past or have been appointed as a trustee then it is important to check the trust has been registered. For further information please visit www.gov.uk or speak to your solicitor or financial planner.

ffp.org.uk

Here we go again – once more unto the breach. There’s no hiding that times are tough but fret not, we’ve been here before and together, we can find ways to protect your finances and look to the future. Let’s hatch a plan.

Let’s start with what a CPU is. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the ‘brain’ of a computer, responsible for executing instructions and performing calculations that power all tasks and processes in a computer system. Basically, one of the most important bits of hardware in a computer.

When I started working with Dad (Jimmy) it was all about the CPU being Intel. Every PC or laptop that we looked at was powered by Intel so I didn’t know any different. There had been chat about AMD-based computers but it just seemed like no one used them. Generally, like car engines, you can replace a CPU like for like or upgrade them (more difficult these days) to a better one if all the sockets and screws fit. But you cannot swap between AMD or Intel as they are not compatible. Therefore, when deciding on your computer purchase you need to make sure you get the right one for you.

In my honest opinion unless you have a specific task that requires a particular processor there isn’t much in it. Essentially both companies’ CPUs do the same thing. Most customers that come through the door know already what they want and when we offer them the other we get that look of, ‘why?’. We only try and recommend what we think is best for you, the customer. Below is a comparison of the differences between each processor to give you the best information.

Performance and Everyday Tasks

Intel processors are known for their strong single-core performance, which makes them ideal for everyday tasks like web browsing, office work and multimedia consumption. If you primarily use your computer for activities such as checking emails, watching videos or using office applications, an Intel processor could provide a smooth and responsive experience.

AMD processors offer a good balance between

James Flynn, Milborne Port Computers

single-core performance and multi-core capability. This makes them well-suited for multitasking and slightly more demanding tasks like photo editing, light gaming and streaming. If you find yourself frequently switching between multiple applications or engaging in light creative work, an AMD processor could offer better efficiency in handling these activities.

Gaming and Entertainment

Intel processors, especially those from the Core i5 and i7 series, are popular among gamers. If gaming is a priority and you want to play the latest titles at higher frame rates, an Intel processor might be the right choice. Intel’s integrated graphics can also handle casual gaming, which is a plus for users who don’t want a dedicated graphics card.

AMD’s Ryzen processors have gained attention in the gaming community for their competitive performance and affordability. If you enjoy gaming and also want to engage in content creation or streaming, an AMD processor could provide a well-rounded experience.

Budget Considerations

Intel processors, while reliable, tend to be slightly more expensive than comparable AMD options. If you have a flexible budget and value the peace of mind that comes with a well-established brand, Intel processors might be more appealing.

AMD processors often provide better value for budget-conscious users. You can get more cores and threads at a lower price point compared to Intel. If you’re looking for a cost-effective solution that still delivers decent performance, an AMD processor could be a great fit.

computing-mp.co.uk

THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS

Jan Garner, Sherborne Scribblers

It was a Wednesday, one of the days I helped out at the charity shop in the high street. I’d seen their leaflet asking for volunteers pinned to a notice board at the library. Why not! I thought. It would help pass the time which, since retiring, apart from taking a long overdue holiday to visit my son at his home in France, I was having difficulty filling. In less than a week, after a perfunctory interview and the necessary checks as to my honesty and suitability, I was enjoying being part of a team of women of a certain age, widowed, divorced or just lonely like myself. That particular morning had been really busy. Jean, another volunteer, and I hardly had a spare moment for a chat but, as usual, after lunch things quietened down. I was at the front desk intent on untangling some pretty beads I’d spotted in a box of costume jewellery that had been donated that morning. I’d almost completed the task when a deep voice interrupted me. ‘Can I pay you for this book?’ I looked up into eyes as dark brown as the unironed jumper the tall, rather handsome elderly man in front of me was wearing.

‘Yes, of course.’ I pushed the necklace aside. ‘That’ll be £1.99 please.’

‘Sorry,’ he said as he passed me a ten pound note, ‘that’s the smallest I’ve got.’ ‘It’s not a problem,’ I gave him a big smile and wished I’d worn something more flattering that morning. After I’d rung up the amount on the till and given him his change, I said, ‘that’s a very good cookbook. I’ve a copy myself. I love Delia, she always makes everything so simple to follow. Mind you, I don’t agree with the title.’

‘Why? What’s wrong with it?’

‘Well, I don’t think, One is Fun! Do you?’ he glanced at the book’s cover. ‘No, not really.’ Keen to keep him talking, I said, ‘She obviously had an OMO like me in mind when she wrote the book.’

The creases on his forehead deepened as he frowned. ‘A what?’

‘An OMO. On my own - solo - single, whatever you want to call it.’

‘Well, that’s a new one on me,’ he said. ‘Mind you, I suppose the older we are the more likely it is that we’ll land up on our own. Actually,’ he laughed, ‘I’ve been an OMO for over a year and it’s definitely no fun. In fact I’ve found it pretty hard. I had quite a shock after my wife died. I realised just how useless I was. I couldn’t even boil an egg. So, after eating nothing but spag Bol, sausages and chips and those awful meals for one, I thought it was time I tried to increase my culinary repertoire before I die of boredom. Hence the cookbook.’

My smile faded as he dropped it into his carrier bag and moved aside for the elderly lady in a buttoned-up blouse and sensible shoes waiting to pay for a hideous china cat that had been languishing on the shelf for weeks and that I was convinced no one in their right mind would buy.

‘Well, good luck with the recipes,’ I said as I took the offending monstrosity from the woman. ‘Do try the beef curry,’ I shouted after him as he made for the door. ‘It’s my favourite

and dead easy to make. You’ll find the recipe in the One Man’s Meat chapter.’

He turned, gave me a thumbs up then disappeared onto the street.

It was a couple of weeks later when I saw him in the shop again. He was at the counter talking to Jean. I left what I was doing, put the dress that someone had left in the changing room back on the rail, ran my fingers through my hair and joined them.

‘Hello’ I gave him a big smile. ‘How’s the cooking going?’

‘Ah, hello,’ he replied. ‘I was hoping I would see you. I wanted to thank you for recommending the curry. It was really good and since you ask, I’m actually doing OK in the culinary stakes. I’m not quite Michelin star standard yet, but I’m really enjoying cooking. I’d planned to make the steak and kidney with pureed vegetables tonight but I didn’t have a pot large enough. That’s why I came in. This Pyrex dish is just what I need,’ he said as Jean finished wrapping it in bubble wrap. ‘Delia says you can double the ingredients and make enough for two or freeze a potion for another day.’

‘Wow,’ I said, ‘I’m impressed. I love steak and kidney. You must let me know what it’s like. I can’t remember when I last had it.’

‘Well,’ he hesitated and a slight flush coloured his face. ‘If I’m not being too presumptuous, would you care to join me for dinner this evening? You’d be very welcome.’

And that was how it started. Passing the time was never a problem after that first meal. Over the following months, we took turns in cooking every one of Delia’s recipes in her book. I can’t say what the magic ingredient was but by the time we got to Happy Endings, her chapter on desserts, we’d found our own happy ending.

Covering South Somerset & North Dorset

Small Business Support

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The Weighbridge • High Street • Milborne Port • DT9 5DG www.mpfix.co.uk

01963 250788

Suppliers of both new and pre-loved vinyl, official t-shirts, merchandise and memorabilia. Come visit and “Try before you buy”. The Beat & Track, The Old Shambles, South Street, Sherborne, DT9 3LN

07730 356719

thebeatandtrack@icloud.com

www.thebeatandtrack.co.uk

ACROSS

DOWN

20.

23.

16.

18. Relating to vision (5)

19. Unfortunately (4)

21. Large period of time (3

AUGUST SOLUTIONS

1. Sinking down (8)

5. Race (anag) (4)

9. Type of military operation (5)

10. Held tightly (7)

11. Maker (12)

14. Female pronoun (3)

15. Card game (5)

16. Hurried (3)

17. Bump (12)

Speak excitedly of (7)

22. Spin quickly (5)

Slender freshwater fish (4)

24. People who shape horseshoes (8)

1. Fine powder (4)

2. Alfresco (4-3)

3. Excessively forward (12)

4. Annoy continuously (3)

6. Escapade (5)

7. Abiding (8)

8. Sound of quick light steps (6-6)

12. Foot joint (5)

13. Give guidance to (8)

Be given (7)

LITERARY REVIEW

John Gaye, Sherborne Literary Society

The Farmer’s Wife by Helen

Rebanks

(Faber & Faber, £20 hardcover)

Sherborne Times reader offer price of £18 from Winstone’s Books

It sounds discourteous to start this review by explaining that the author, Helen Rebanks, is the wife of the highly respected Cumbrian sheep farmer, environmentalist and author of two books, James Rebanks. But this book is very much her story – that of a farmer’s wife, mother of four and vital part of a very busy and successful farming and family team.

Like James, Helen is from Cumbrian farming stock and her family history is so very typical of many farming families as each generation has its own ideas as to how to manage the land and the business and does not always treat the views of the next generation with the respect they deserve. Helen provides a quite brutal insight into the tensions that often prevail within such a family which is to an extent also mirrored by James’s back story, whose father and grandfather had very different views from each other on managing the land.

Helen and James met as youngsters just before he left for a year’s farming experience in New Zealand. But they were both smitten and so when James returned and, having studied at night school to gain some A-levels, he got a place at Magdalen College, Oxford and they started their lives together away from the home comforts of Cumbria. It was here, while seeking to generate some income, that she developed her culinary skills, drawing on her experience of cooking for her busy farmer’s wife mother. The resulting recipes are a feature of the book and a treat for the reader. I must

admit to not having tried any of them but they sound both delicious and easy to follow.

Bringing up four children is, in any circumstances, a full-time and demanding role and to do this while being very much part of the farm team and living in various, often remote, houses in an area of regularly quite demanding weather adds a whole new dimension to the stresses and strains of family life. The section in the book which covers surviving the 2018 ‘Beast from the East’ brings home very clearly some of the struggles that those living in lowland Dorset never even thought of experiencing.

But bringing up a family while surrounded by nature, glorious surroundings and all the exciting life of a livestock farm has its compensations from which they all benefit, particularly when other pressures can cause feelings of despair. Likewise, living within a community that looks after its own and which brings joy often through very small gestures by neighbours.

For those who have read James’s two best-selling books, this is a fascinating and complementary volume about Cumbrian farming life. For those who have not had that pleasure it is an excellent insight into the various and many demands of a farmer’s wife who has such a vital role to play beyond that of a mother, housekeeper, cook and lover. And the recipes look delicious too!

sherborneliterarysociety.com

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

Gay Barry, Sacred Heart & St Aldhelm Church

The other day I received an email from a friend, informing me that in recently acquiring a smartphone, she had entered the 21st Century! This news set me thinking about my own smartphone – whether or not it is beneficial.

One advantage of having a mobile/smartphone is that in critical circumstances it enables immediate necessary contact with others. To illustrate this, I recall a situation that happened some years ago. My mother was in hospital in one town at the same time as, in another town, my stepfather was in a nursing home. My mother needed to know that my stepfather’s health had deteriorated and the task of bringing her up to date with his situation fell to me. On hearing that my stepfather was very unwell my mother’s immediate and desperate desire was to visit him. This was logistically impossible so we decided to speak with him through the only means available –my smartphone. Their conversation of a few minutes turned out to be their last. Immediately upon finishing, the staff member accompanying my stepfather was heard speaking, ‘Gay, are you still there?’, and revealed that at that moment my stepfather had passed away. Such an extraordinary, profound moment of both great sadness and peace. A ‘kairos moment’! My mother, present to her husband of many decades; my stepfather, hearing my mother’s voice at their shared final moment. Affording the possibility of their being present to each other to the end was a smartphone. Since that experience, I’ve ceased (almost!) to decry the use of smartphones, although I’m still concerned about their overuse. One sees people sitting together, bodily proximate yet, armed with smartphones, apparently not present to each other at all. Often ‘bleeps’ that herald text messages intrude into conversations or prevent concentration on a task at hand. Smartphones may have great value in enabling essential communication but does their overuse lead to the diminishment or devaluation of personal human communication? Through technology are we too often readily available to respond to others who are physically at a distance from us, while ‘distancing’ ourselves in some way from those who are closer? Does the lure and overuse of technology diminish our willingness to be locally present to others? Does it obscure our sense of being present to beings, those created, and perhaps even ‘uncreated’? One wonders!

Green by name and nature