The BV, Feb 22

NEVER PRINTED - YOUR GREEN CHOICE

February ‘22

ISSN 2634-8810

From the heart of the Blackmore Vale.

NEWS

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Front cover: Snowdrops at St Stephens Church, Pamphill by Tracy Whincup

INDEX

These are clickable short cuts: just click the number to jump to the page

32

38

A Country Living - Jake Furzey

54

64

Animals

82

26

Art with Michael Taylor

63 92

36 98

Book Corner Business News

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100 16

42

90 49

66

26 103

24 38 4

80

58 76

88 20 110

86 14 40

56 18

97 52

This month as I’ve edited all the copy, I’ve been staggered by the size of some of the issues raised by 75 Charity pages our columnists. I’m not talking about the sex-crazed frogs either (p.62 in case you’re wondering). Dorset is 113 Deaths always perceived as an affluent county, and yet there 14 Dorset Island Discs - Noc Lacey-Clarke are currently 2,497 people on the Dorset housing 48 Equestrian register waiting for affordable homes that just don’t exist. Dorset has one of the highest rates of second 92 Family Law homes in England, at one in every 34 homes - nearly 57 Farming three times the national average, driving up house prices and reducing availability. The Local Plan had 94 Finance over 9,000 responses – most of them concerned at 78 Food & Drink the number of houses deemed necessary for the county. And yet we do clearly need new affordable 103 Health housing – so what’s the answer? Leader of Dorset 114 Jobs Council, Spencer Flower, is proposing fewer, but larger 24 Letters to the Editor developments, with the potential of building a new town within the county. Which sounds a great way of 41 Local History | Roger Guttridge not expanding every single town and village across 4 News Dorset - until you find out the town is being built just down the road to you, of course.

34 Night Sky This week saw the sale of Wordle, the daily word 70 Out of Doors puzzle which has become a global phenomenon.

30 Photography Most of us greeted the news of the sale to the New York Times with concern and suspicion – they will, 86 Police of course, monetise it. But this simple word game is 19 Politics perfect. There are no ads, no ‘in game purchases’, no time limits, it’s easy to share (brag?) – most fans live 122 Property in horror of a slick upgraded version. But the Dorset 84 Puzzles creators of the new maths equivalent Nerdle (see p.6 10 Random 19 - Beverley Craven – and do give it a go) completely understand why it was sold. Nerdle launched just two weeks ago and has 22 Rural Matters - CPRE been an instant hit; the Blandford-based developers 87 School News have already had to move servers twice, seeing the costs of their free game spiralling as they gain an ever68 Take a Hike increasing amount of traffic (within five days they were 16 Tales from the Vale | Andy Palmer seeing 400 users a minute on their game).

And so, we come full circle. With Wordle, so with 106 What's on Housing; Louise Strattons’ interview with George 60 Wildlife Hosford this month has the same theme. Challenge Contact the BV Team: how things are done; change is inevitable, but also desirable. It’s how we manage the experience of it that Editor: Laura Hitchcock matters in the end. editor@theblackmorevale.co.uk Lastly - we’re a bit thin on Conservative comment this Dep. Editor: Andy Palmer month – it appears our local MPs have a little bit going andy@theblackmorevale.co.uk Advertising: Courtenay Hitchcock on… advertising@theblackmorevale.co.uk Everything else: Try Courtenay, he’s the organised one...

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NEWS

by Rachael Rowe

Dorset is in desperate need of new affordable homes.

Radical new plans Councillor Spencer Flower, Leader of the Council, has discussed with the Secretary of State include fewer, but larger, new housing developments potentially a new town

Where would you build a new Dorset town?

The increase in second homes combined with rocketing property prices in the south west mean tough decisions must be made for planners wanting to house modestly-paid key workers, says Rachael Rowe Local plans are essential as they shape how land housing land supply numbers and the Duty to use and places will change and develop in the Cooperate – i.e. the requirement for Dorset future. When Dorset Council recently conducted Council to accept unmet housing needs from a public consultation on its local plan, neighbouring councils. more than 9,000 people responded. “there is potential to As a result, there is Many of the views received felt the plan have fewer but larger potential to have fewer focused on housing numbers and not developments that but larger developments the needs of the people of Dorset. As a that could include a new could include a new town. But what does all result, a radical new approach has been town” proposed. this mean for people in Dorset?

The Proposal for Dorset It is not the first time Dorset has bucked the In his response to the consultation results, the trend by asking to adapt the national policy to Leader of Dorset Council, Spencer Flower, has suit the needs of the people. instigated a radical proposal and discussed it For example, in 2013, the Health and Social Care with Secretary of State, Michael Gove.

Act was adapted locally, retaining vital expertise He has asked whether Dorset can pilot a radically in planning healthcare. So, how common is it for different approach to planning. Cllr Flower has a national policy to be adapted locally as Dorset also requested to break the link between the Council aspires?

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by Rachael Rowe

NEWS

Cllr Flower explains: ’It’s not the first time I have significant design and options appraisals. So, how challenged the government. Of course, we have will Dorset Council work with parish and town to use standard methodology with planning, councils and the wider public in shaping a new but we need to look at the best way of doing it vision? I asked Cllr Flower how valid will existing to get the best outcomes. I’m an advocate neighbourhood plans for Dorset and not an apologist for the be? “the idea of Dorset government.”

“Neighbourhood creating a plan that plans are subservient meets local people’s to local plans. So Soaring house prices There are currently 2,497 people on the needs is a compelling I’d encourage all Dorset housing register, so there is a need one. Until, that is, a communities to have for homes that people can afford. However, a plan. And some new town is planned neighbourhood plans key workers have difficulty finding suitable next door to you” housing, and housing prices have increased. may need to be One thing that concerns people in the South reviewed. We want West, including Dorset, is the proliferation to give people an of second homes. opportunity to inform these developments.”

So how will Councillor Flower deal with the challenge of creating a new settlement, A new town in Dorset? potentially in the countryside, and ensure homes The one question in readers minds will be where are prioritised for people in Dorset and not any large settlement will be sited. The idea of second homeowners or AirBnB? Dorset creating a plan that meets local people’s “The key thing for me with a new settlement is needs is a compelling one. Until that is, a new that we have a lot of master planning that goes town is planned next door to you. So how does with it. So it includes the importance of upskilling Spencer Flower plan to deal with what could be local people so they can stay in Dorset and not unpopular choices? have to move away.”

“We have to do a lot of work on where a new Dorset CPRE Chair Peter Bowyer said: “We’re development will fit into Dorset. It needs to be broadly supportive of these plans but would like the right housing, the right quality, in the right to see homes that suit the needs of Dorset and place, and the right infrastructure. It needs to be fewer houses.” a lasting legacy for 30 years or more.”

A new settlement like a small town needs Peter Bowyer said: “We need to prioritise local Dorset requirements for houses that are affordable or rented so that people can afford to live here. We have an ageing population that will need support, and we will need people to provide that care. At the moment, those people cannot afford local housing.”

There’s another thorny question. What about all those plans that have already been passed?

How will that impact a new proposal? Will we end up with even more builds than anticipated? Cllr Flower said: “We are using those plans as legacy planning to inform this new development.”

Whatever you think about building, we must find a solution for people requiring housing and affordable homes.

The Local Plan for Dorset is one to watch. It also demonstrates why we all need to be proactive in consultations and be aware of what is happening in the wider world.

Finally, it shows the importance of questioning national (often city-centric) policy, especially in rural areas, and thinking outside the box for a Councillor Spencer Flower, Leader of the Council, has instigated a sustainable solution. radical proposal and discussed it with Secretary of State, Michael Gove 5

NEWS

The Dorset Nerdle

by Steve Keenan

The word game Wordle went viral within weeks. Now two Dorset families have a maths equivalent that’s destined for stardom, says Steve Keenan A maths version of the hugely successful word game Wordle has been developed in the Blackmore Richard Mann, from Iwerne Minster, who Vale and is taking the education world by storm. created Nerdle with Teachers, from primary schools to universities, are his childhood friend Marcus Tettmar praising Nerdle, which gives users six tries to solve a mathematical equation.

The daily numbers game only launched on January 20 but within five days was being played by 400 users per minute in 53 countries.

And, as with Wordle, the game’s popularity has spread like wildfire, so much so that by Day 13 (Tuesday, Feb 1), it had 360,000 users worldwide.

The response has been overwhelming for childhood friends and developers Marcus Tettmar and Richard Mann, who created Nerdle. the team have also launched a mini Nerdle (six Said Richard: “I was driving home with my daughter squares across, instead of eight) for younger Imogen, 14, chatting about the Wordle craze and children. agreed there must be an equivalent for us maths Said Marcus, 50, who lives in Shroton (Iwerne fans. A few minutes later, we’d decided on the rules Minster): “I guess we thought it was of the game and the name ‘Nerdle.’” “...by Day 13 going to be educational. It came from Richard’s son Alex, an A-level maths (February 1st) a conversation with the kids, who were student, got involved and the whole thing Nerdle had very much at the forefront of helping was put together “in a few hours” by develop it.”

Marcus, using open-source coding from a 360,000 users The response from the educational world Wordle clone. worldwide” on Twitter has been huge: “Using Nerdle to reinforce our Algebra …and for younger maths fans standards! We love math puzzles!” posted a primary Marcus’s son helped check the coding and his school teacher in Maryland, USA. primary school teacher sister advised. As a result, A lecturer at the University of South Australia added: “It encourages you to use many different aspects of working and thinking mathematically.”

And teacher Emma McCrea, author of Making every Maths Lesson count said: “Move over Worldle. It’s Nerdle time.”

As with Wordle, Nerdle was set up as free to use: Marcus also runs games and tax return software companies with an office base in Blandford.

Wordle was sold recently to The New York Times but Marcus says he is not surprised.

“Not everyone wants to make things commercial but when things get popular, they become expensive to run. The bandwidth needed is huge.

“We want to keep Nerdle non-commercial but when there comes a point when it’s getting too expensive, maybe we introduce a donation button.

Something else we have talked about is donating money to a charity.

“We’ll see what happens. People are saying the game is addictive but right now, so is watching the Note from Ed: this is my first ever attampt at a Nerdle. Wordle users site stats!” will instantly grasp how to play, and also how much I whooped when I Try Nerdle for yourself by clicking here managed this. Definite fluke - but I’ll take it.

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NEWS

by Steve Keenan

Pool closure sends shock waves A community is devastated at radical council cutbacks ‘which will affect public mental health’, says Steve Keenan Wimborne residents are facing loss of access to the swimming pool and sports facilities at Queen Elizabeth school following council cutbacks.

Dorset Council is set to withdraw an annual £500,000 grant to manage and subsidise the leisure centre attached to the school.

Without the money, the school has indicated it could not afford to keep the 25m pool, gyms and 3G outdoor pitch open to the community.

It will now have to find ways to fund the leisure centre, while the centre’s public closure would also reduce central government funding to the school by £280,000 per year.

“We would find a way to continue the commitment to our school sports programmes, but our preferred option is for the school and council to continue working together,” said Head Teacher Katie Boyes.

But that seems highly unlikely, with Dorset Council saying the centre accounts for 30% of its £1.7m annual leisure budget, the rest being shared between eight council-owned leisure centres.

Cllr Laura Miller, Portfolio Holder for Customer and Community Services, said: “Dorset Council simply cannot justify spending so much public money managing a centre we do not own, in an area that has so much comparable leisure provision close by.”

Dorset Council is set to withdraw an annual £500,000 grant to manage and subsidise the QE leisure centre in Wimborne also planning to only allow schools or clubs in future, rather than individuals.

Swim England (SE) recently warned that up to 2,000 pools could be lost by 2030 as they come to the end of their lifespan, while not enough new facilities are being built to replace them.

SE is asking the Government for £1bn for new pools and for refurbishment of existing ones.

’Counter-productive move’ It says that swimming helps to save the health and social care system more than £357m a year as being active in the water can help prevent, and treat, a number of physical and mental health Overwhelming support The news is not unexpected as the council went out conditions.

But while councils have statutory responsibility to consultation last year. It received 1,800 replies: for social care and libraries, they do not have to unsurprisingly, there was overwhelming support provide leisure facilities by law – and councils are for the status quo. all facing pressure on their budgets.

Claire Ruscoe from Wimborne said: “My sons aged Dorset Council has said it will help the 14, 12 and nine all swim “the QE centre school find alternative funding and offer a with the Manta Rays swim accounts for 30% of a one-off £150,000 to replace the all-weather club at QE on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. £1.7m annual leisure pitch. It also maintains there are a number of other leisure centres nearby, including It is very well attended budget, the rest being a pool at St Michael’s Middle School in so if this facility goes, shared between eight Colehill. many of those regular other council-owned In a statement, it added: “Dorset Council swimmers will have to operates three other leisure facilities in the stop swimming and some leisure centres” East Dorset area, as well as two country will never start it back up.” parks, so it is felt that there is clear evidence that Liz Mills of the Manta Rays club added: “This is the only leisure centre in Wimborne and there is a high Dorset Council is supporting the community to be physically active. Many other areas of Dorset are demand for swimming – we have a waiting list for less fortunate and don’t have access to the same our swimming club. It is so important.” level of leisure facilities.”

The news comes just six months after Port Regis The decision to withdraw the funding will be taken School closed its pool and gym to adult members. at Cabinet on March 1.

The former St Mary’s School near Shaftesbury is 8

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THE RANDOM 19 QUESTIONS

Singersongwriter Beverley Craven takes on the Random 19 questions

interview by Laura Hitchcock Beverley Craven

Beverley Craven has sold over four million records in her career, and is best known for her 1991 UK hit single Promise Me. Beverley fell in love with the north of Dorset visiting her father, who lived near Dorchester for many years.

In 2018 she announced the Woman to Woman tour, but it was put on hold when Beverley was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy and lymph node surgery. The tour, with fellow British singer-songwriters Judie Tzuke, Julia Fordham and Rumer is now back on the road - see it at the Pavilion Theatre Bournemouth on 5th November this year.

1. What’s your relationship with the Blackmore Vale (the loose North Dorset area, not us!)?

My Dad, who passed away recently, lived in the village of Puddletown on the river Piddle (which has always amused me). And before that he lived in Dewlish for many years.

2. What was the last song you sang out loud in your car?

Can I cheat? Only I prefer to sing in the shower (the accoustics are better!). I think it might have been ‘I Can’t Stand The Rain’.

3. It’s Friday night - you have the house to yourself, and no work is allowed. What are you going to do?

I would start with a long bath - deep and hot followed by a large vodka & tonic in my dressing gown and slipper socks, semi-reclined on my bed, probably binge-watching a nice series on Netflix.

And being very happy - I love being at home on my own with the dog.

4. Who’s your celebrity crush?

I’ve never had a thing for celebs. I couldn’t understand why the girls at school either liked David Cassidy or Donny Osmond; Really? Both were far too virtuous and clean-living for me!

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interview by Laura Hitchcock

THE RANDOM 19 QUESTIONS

5. What’s your comfort meal?

Something involving mashed potato - I am Queen of Mash - with gravy or a cheese sauce and lots of veggies, followed by a crumble (I like to make apple and mango with warmed Ambrosia custard) and then a cup of chamomile tea.

6. What would you like to tell 15yr old you?

To read ‘Desiderata’.

That marriage is not a good idea, except for tax purposes.

That everyone is flawed and to be myself.

7. What was the best thing before sliced bread?

Sliced ‘Soreen’ malt loaf!

(I think you’re cheating here pretty sure that came after sliced bread... Ed) 8. Tell us about one of the best evenings you’ve ever This goodest of girls is Lizzie, had?

Beverley’s third Staffordshire Bull I’d like to say performing at the Terrier, though she’s quick to point out that she adores ALL dogs; “it’s Royal Albert Hall, or meeting the just some owners I can’t stand” Queen at the Royal Variety Show; • Thomas Johnson Antique 10. And the best biscuit for maybe being presented with a Furniture Restoration dunking?

Brit Award by Kim Wilde, playing • Zara.

No contest - without doubt Wembley Arena and chatting it’s the Cadbury’s milk to Princess 12. What’s your secret chocolate finger. Nibble Diana, or being “probably a superpower? off a bit at each end to backstage swimming club I know when people aren’t telling reveal biscuit, stick one with Audrey disco when I’d end in your tea and suck the truth.

Hepburn at a just discovered really hard, like it’s a Unicef gala.

13. Your favourite quote? straw, until you can feel But sadly, the wonder of Movie, book or inspirational the tea on the tip of your it would be fancying boys” tongue (it will be a bit - we won’t judge. an evening cold by the time it’s made John Lennon; ‘Life is what from my happens when you’re busy its way up the finger). It melts in teenage years… probably a making other plans’. your mouth like a little piece of swimming club disco when I’d chocolaty heaven! just discovered the wonder of (This. Is. Genius. - Ed) “Nibble off a bit at 14. Cats or fancying boys.

Dogs?

Or being in a room full of each end to reveal Dogs!! Lizzie is 11.

Your top three musicians when I was a biscuit, stick one my third Staffie most-visited, struggling songwriter and favourite websites jamming into the early hours. end in your tea and (or fourth if you count ‘Rastus’ (excluding social suck really hard” the Staffie we media & BBC 9. The best crisps flavour? had when I was Depends on what you’re drinking, News!)? growing up). I adore ALL dogs • Wetransfer (I’m always doesn’t it? You can’t go wrong (it’s just some owners I can’t sending audio files to other with ready salted in my opinion. stand). musicians) 11

RANDOM 19

Interview by Laura Hitchcock

15. Chip Shop Chips or Home Baked Cake?

Again, ‘Queen of Sponge’ - I make a mean coffee cake. The trick is not to overwork the mixture once you’ve added the flour, and even self-raising requires half a teaspoon of baking powder. Just saying. (*taking notes* - Ed) 16. What shop can you not pass without going in?

Conran on Marylebone High Street, but I rarely buy anything, I just harrumph when I look at the prices and think, it’d be much more satisfying to find something lovely in the bric-a-brac section of a charity shop…

17. What’s your most annoying trait?

According to my children I make a clicking noise in the back of my throat when it’s itchy. They tell me I also take ages to answer a question (because I’m thinking about it!) and that I often don’t finish a sentence.

18. A penguin just walked in the door wearing a panama hat. Why is he here?

It’s a trick question Batman! Obviously K.G. Bird has come back for his top hat and umbrella…

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Beverley with her daughters - from left to right Connie, Beverley, Mollie & Brenna

19. You have the power to pass one law tomorrow, uncontested. What would you do?

Thank GOD you asked me this question!!

I would ban modified exhausts. Oh, hang on a minute, they’re already illegal, aren’t they? But the police never seem to take any action, do they?

Hmmm…

Why do these noisy numbskulls need to draw attention to themselves by annoying everyone else?

Have they got minuscule… er, brains?

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DORSET ISLAND DISCS

Interview by Andy Palmer

“I grew up in poverty and was bullied at school” Nocturin ‘Noc’ Lacey-Clarke, 35, is a Conservative councillor in Blandford. He is not your average tory councillor. He is different. And he is making a difference in the town.

Raised by a highly creative single mum (now a lead maths advisor for primary schools, but who as a young punk in London used to help Boy George and Adam Ant with their make-up), Noc says his upbringing was loving, but there was poverty.

‘People used to donate second hand clothes and toys to us,’ he says.

Raised in Tolpuddle, he was bullied at school.

‘I didn’t fit in,’ he “I was told that if I explains, ‘I had Asperger’s Syndrome didn’t like certain and was OCD. I could decisions I should read, but writing was stand for election. a challenge. It still is.

And I didn’t like sport.

I did. I won by My real friends were three votes. At the my mum’s university last election I won friends, not people my by around 750” own age’.

Skilled at sciences he studied maths and psychology at Bournemouth & Poole College.

From drifter to politics After college, Noc admits he became a drifter with no fixed ambition until, living in Blandford, he became disenchanted with certain decisions taken by some local councillors.

‘They said that if I thought I could do better, why don’t I stand for election. So I did in 2018. I won by three votes.’

Noc stood again at the last election, winning around 1,500 votes. His nearest competitor received around 750.

Keenly interested in helping people struggling with mental issues, Noc’s charity ‘New Opportunities for Community Support (NOCS)’ was made official three years ago, and today around 100 people of all ages receive help weekly from his premises in Blandford Forum.

‘We help people through the medium of gaming.

We listen to their stories.’

NOCS is part funded by the shop, as well as The National Lottery and Children in Need.

Noc lives in Blandford with his wife, Charlotte.

My eight music choices: ordered chronologically 14

Nocturin Lacey-Clarke chooses the eight pieces of music he could not live without.

according to when and how they affected my life: Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime My mother introduced me at an early age to this US indie band and I fell in love with the absurdity of the lyrics, the artwork on the records and the amazing use of language. I’ve always enjoyed the idiosyncrasies of the English language.

Crash Test Dummies - God Shuffled his Feet A whole album of what appears at first glance to be insightful quotes and parables but in reality led me to question a lot of ideas I had always taken for granted. How does a duck know which direction south is? And was that a parable or a very subtle joke I heard at church?

Korn - Follow The Leader For a young teenager that was struggling with being bullied, not fitting in, and the general angst of being a teenager, this album put into words what I was feeling and gave me an outlet that was exciting and physical.

Joy Division - Unknown Pleasure This is for those times in all our lives when we struggle with mental health - something that has played a huge part in my life. When the world seems broken and you just want to swim in oblivion for a while or curl up in a foetal ball in the

Interview by Andy Palmer

DORSET ISLAND DISCS

corner of a room, what better music to do it to?

System of a Down - System of a Down You can’t keep a good man down for long. The band that truly made me fall in love with live concerts, with an energy I had never experienced before.

System of a Down captured geopolitical views and had an urge to change the world which led me through college where I learnt who I was, what was important to me, and where my place was in the world The Eels - Beautiful Freak Reaching my late teens and early twenties, I had calmed down, and so did my taste in music. Still obsessed with lyrics, The Eels merged the lines between depressive downbeat music and subtle optimism which really appealed to my love of everything paradoxical.

To me, it reflects life’s natural juxtapositioning.

My Beloved Monster is a song from this album (later used in the Shrek movie sadly..) that summed up my relationship with my partner, Charlotte, of now 15 years.

We chose it as a reading at our wedding and so will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Lana Del Rey - Born to Die By my late twenties and early thirties, having seen many different sides to the world, and experiencing the accompanying highs and lows, I really found my passion which was helping people.

This led to the creation of my community-based shop, charity and lastly election.

Lana Del Rey is a mixture of hopeless love songs with darker undertones and the need to ask for help when we are at those low points. It resonated with both Charlotte and I as it points out the pain in the world but carries hope and dreams that can be attained if we work together.

Phil Spector - A Christmas Gift For You The one album that has truly been a part of my entire life. As a child every year at Christmas my mother would take this record out and play it as we decorated the house and had our first treats of the season.

Still to this day I kiss the same Father Christmas stocking and hang it on the window sill with the sounds of this record playing. I truly could not feel the Christmas spirit without it.

Even on a desert island it would bring back all the warmth and memories of a full life filled with luck.

And if the waves were to wash all your records away but you

had time to save just one, which would it be?

Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasure.

My book The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. It was one of the very first books I read independently. I knew the main character was Bilbo Baggins and wanted to find out about him as my middle name is Bilbo - I needed to know why!

It turns out my mother not only has a great taste in literature but also knew I was born to live an adventurous life!

Bilbo was always trepidatious about adventure and liked a structured, ordered life, but when push came to shove his bravery shone through - and he helped save the whole of Middle Earth.

Not a bad role model to aspire to!

My luxury item Definitely my Lego Star Wars Death Star kit. This will provide me with hours of entertainment building it. I can fulfill part of my OCD nature organising the blocks and best of all, relive the greatest moments of the Star Wars saga.

Click here to listen to Noc’s entire playlist on YouTube 15

TALES FROM THE VALE

Tales From The Vale

Secrets and lies It is a universally acknowledged truth that excited young boys cannot keep a secret.

When we first moved into the village, a delightful lad of about eight used to come into my Studio and we’d natter away (I did check with his mum, Abbie, that this was OK). The lad, Ryan, had some issues, particularly at school. The poor kid was bullied.

I think he viewed the Studio as a type of safe haven.

But I made him laugh and he made me laugh (he’s bright and cheeky) and I listened to his woes and gave whatever meager advice I could.

He asked me what I did, apart from teaching guitar, and I told him that I was a secret agent/ assassin.

Not very wise, perhaps, but he was excited about it and full of questions (‘Andy, can I come with you on your next mission?’ ‘No, it’s too dangerous!’). Stopped him meant to see that. It’s top secret.’ worrying about school, anyway.

I did swear him to secrecy telling ‘Can I have a go on it?’ Ryan him that the whole point about a asked.

‘No. It’s very dangerous and you secret agent/assassin is that it’s mustn’t tell anyone about it. Do meant to be secret. you understand?’

He swore that he’d tell no-one – Again, Ryan swore on his life that ‘not even mum’. it would remain a secret: Ryan came round later while I ‘I won’t even tell mum,’ he again was creosoting a garden shed added gravely. and he demanded that he help Early that evening Abbie came me. Manfully hiding my doubt round and both about what sort of ‘help’ he’d be, I told “I won’t even tell of us trundled our him to go and ask mum,’ he again lawnmowers up the lane to mow the mum if that’s OK, and added gravely” church grounds. to change into old She paused in the clothes. conversation to say, ‘oh, I forgot Later, while wiping the creosote to ask. How’s the machine gun?’ off the windows that Ryan had She smiled and added, ‘I generously daubed, he spotted suppose you need it for the a power drill in the shed and excitedly shouted, ‘Andy, is that a assassinations.’

‘It was a power drill,’ I said. machine gun?’

‘Well, I’d worked that out,’ she I said, ‘Oh, my God, you’re not 16

by Andy Palmer

A potential behavioural aid for schools?

answered.

‘I told him to tell no-one,’ I said.

She said, ‘He came running into the house and immediately shouted, “ANDY’S GOT A MACHINE GUN!” I think the whole village heard.’

But then, I knew that would happen. Bless him.

Explosive hand-out I’ve got form with kids. I used to be head of the education department (the ‘department’ was one assistant and we shared a photocopier) at Fort Newhaven in Sussex. It’s one of the forts, like Nothe in Weymouth, built in the 1860s to stop a French invasion. Not that the French had any intention of invading, hence the forts’ nickname at the time ‘Palmerston’s Follies.’

Essentially, my job was to give

by Andy Palmer

TALES FROM THE VALE

school parties a tour of the place extraordinarily heavy), telling in a previous issue, so I’ll add a and it was very enjoyable. We had them ‘do not remove the pin,’ bit more. I planned to teach my vast amounts of artifacts, from and explain how they work. lovely student, Laura (10 years a Churchill tank to rifles (deThen, holding the clip firmly, old) a couple of new chords commissioned) and steel helmets I’d remove the pin. I’d hand based around the open D chord. and WREN’s caps. I allowed the the grenade (obviously deThis sounds very complicated children to handle the stores and commissioned, but they didn’t but it’s not, and the variations they loved it. know that) to Lee and tell him are used in a thousand songs, so We had an ex-army sergeant not to let the clip ping off. bear with, digital reader. working, and I’d get him to On every occasion the naughtiest They are D sus 4 and D sus parade the children; boys wearing boy in class would follow my 2. Everyone reading this will steel helmets, girls wearing instructions recognize them. For WWII ladies’ service caps. It “With a lamentable example D and D and behave was hilarious. When the old guy impeccably lack of group loyalty sus4 are the intro bellowed ‘right turn, quick march’, (usually Queen’s Crazy all the girls (it was to half the kids would turn left (their bombarding me Little Thing Called always the girls) steel helmets wouldn’t move) with intelligent Love. Bung in a Bb, and there was much enjoyable questions) would point at one C and G and that’s mayhem – their teachers loved it, during the tour kid (usually skulking the whole song. too.

– his classmates I expected the at the back) and As more schools visited I got a bit keeping their entire lesson to be wilier. shout Lee!” distance. spent on this. But I’d meet them off the coach, And at the end, Laura just got it gather them around, tell them I’d carefully take the grenade, straight away. My heart swelled. they’re to call me ‘Andy,’ not ‘Sir.’ replace the pin and say, ‘Lee, I looked at her dad, Damien, who And I’d ask who’s the naughtiest I’m proud of you. You’ve proved shook his head disbelievingly. He boy in the class. yourself to be a very responsible said, ‘I don’t know D sus2’ (and With a lamentable lack of group young man,’ and his class would Damien’s a good guitarist). loyalty all the girls (it was always look at him in a new light.

So I said to Laura, ‘Now, what the girls) would point at one kid Needless to say, the naughtiest we can do for D we can do for A’. (usually skulking at the back) and boy absolutely loved it.

And I showed her A sus4 and A shout, ‘Lee!’ Once I started this, school visits sus2.

I’d ask the girls how naughty Lee shot up, and the kids would And she got that. Straight away. was. ‘Very!’ they’d shout. often return with their parents, She played them cleanly, moving So I’d get Lee come before me. pleased to see me and show me her fingers with precision.

I’d take a good look at him (bit of off.

No fret buzz, no damping of theatre here) But the best thing strings. Just perfection. “the naughtiest boy and say, ‘Lee, was that very Damien said, ‘I don’t know A sus4 they tell me that in class would follow often teachers and A sus2.’ you’re naughty, would phone me my instructions and Laura proudly smiled and looked but I don’t a week or so later at me keenly. behave impeccably think you are. to tell me that the I said to her, ‘Laura, when you I think you’re (usually bombarding naughtiest kid’s get home, dad will ask you how a responsible me with intelligent behaviour had to play these new chords’ young lad. And improved, often She said, ‘shall I show him?’ questions)” I’m going to significantly.

I said, ‘not straight away. You prove it today So, my advice to head teachers: say, “Dad, I’ll need to build my to your teachers and your class. get some grenades in. strength up to show you these In fact, I’m going to trust you with (The N.U.T. may have a different chords. Maybe if I had some my life.’ view on this – but I did this in chocolate, I’ll have the stamina to Big moment coming.

1985.

It was different then – we show you”.’

I’d take a WWII hand-grenade were more robust).

She nodded sagely, a delighted out of my sagging jacket pocket gleam in her eye. (much excitement from the kids) Female wiles Damien laughed and said, ‘Andy, and say, ‘you know what this is, I received some nice comments my girls don’t need any lessons don’t you?’ about a piece I wrote about in manipulating me. They’re I’d pass the grenade round so teaching blues, rock, pop guitar doing it fine by themselves.’ they could see it was real (they’re

17

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How a 19thC ‘relic’ allowed partygate to happen

POLITICS

Our current ‘unwritten constitution’ is unfit for purpose and ripe for abuse, argues Labour’s Pat Osborne “Partygate” continues to dominate the news, while the Tory’s plan to address the cost of living crisis is still nowhere to be seen. In fact, Sunak and Johnson seem content to announce confirmation of National Insurance increases from April.

This will undoubtedly make a bad situation worse for people in North Dorset who are already paying more at the pump, paying more in the shops, and feeling less in their back pockets after a week at work.

With Sunak’s previous £20 a week cut to Universal Credit having already pushed some 200,000 of the most vulnerable people into poverty, and energy bills set to climb 70% in just over a year, we’re all going to find it increasingly difficult to get by without the Government

stepping in.

Whilst Sunak sharpens his dagger for an inevitable leadership bid, the business of running the country for the benefit of the people takes a back seat.

So, it’s important that we don’t lose sight of why this is happening. Partygate is happening because we are among a tiny minority of countries in the World that don’t have a written constitution. Until we do, checks and balances like the Ministerial Code will always be open to abuse by those in power.

While the national press focuses on Colin the Caterpillar’s trip to Downing Street, the power of the Government is increasing with every Bill, the authority of the Courts and our human rights are being eroded, our rights to

citizenship, to protest and to vote are all being swept away.

The most recent example being so called ‘Brexit Freedom Bills’ which seek to give ministers the power to make law without Parliamentary scrutiny.

With the exception of a few notable changes made by the last Labour Government, our current ‘unwritten Constitution’ is largely a relic of the 19th Century. It’s ripe for abuse and no longer fit for purpose.

It’s high time that we renewed our expectations of those who seek to serve us and hardwired them into a written constitution that genuinely holds the public as sovereign.

Cllr Pat Osborne Labour’s former Parliamentary Candidate for North Dorset

The challenges of leadership

When Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was asked what was the greatest challenge for a statesman, he replied: ‘Events, dear boy, events’. North Dorset chair of the Liberal Democrats Mike Chapman reflects on the impact of leadership styles.

My school cricket team contained two future England caps. Did we lose? No, not ever. Did we feel good about that? Yes. Did the rest of the team improve with such talented teammates? No, we fell by the wayside.

Years roll by, and a new leader joins my business team. He has one strong message: double the output, double the profit or say goodbye. He lasted just long enough to sow the seeds of destruction for the whole enterprise, his youth

and boldness clashing against the wall of the older and more experienced.

There are other leader types, too: “There go the people, I must follow them, for I am their leader” is the classic stance of the politician.

There are four people presenting themselves in England today as our leaders: he who seems to self-serve; he who has served well in another career; he who pushes for fairness and opportunity. Then there is Nigel.

What sort of leader do we need, then? Boris, the chaotic in charge of the chaos? Keir the not-quitecharismatic, always looking back over his left shoulder?

Ed, someone tapped into the thinking, practical heart of our nation? And no, not Nigel under any circumstances.

That phrase from a bygone age will help nudge us along the path to a decision: “Events, dear boy, Events.”

How apt that a party should be an Event.

19

POLITICS

Dorset’s ‘shocking housing’ statistics One in 34 houses are second homes, that’s three times the national average, says the Green Party’s Ken Huggins who proposes radical solutions

When the new Local Plan for Dorset was put out for consultation last year, many people were dismayed by the number of new houses proposed to be built.

At 4,458 a year it represented a 47% increase on the existing Local Plan. Surprised by the unprecedented number of responses to the consultation, Dorset Council is now rethinking the matter.

Yes, we need new housing, but not so many. And most crucially we need genuinely affordable housing for low-income households and young families.

Private developers are focused on building for open market sale, because prices are so high in Dorset. The general requirement for larger housing sites to

provide 35% affordable housing does little good for those in need, because affordable is defined as no more than 80% of open market prices or rents.

That still means prices out of reach for people on an average local income. The same applies to rental properties if they’re set at 80% of market rents.

Also, time and again we see developers agreeing to an ‘affordable’ housing quota when obtaining planning permission, but once construction begins they claim the development is no longer financially viable and so they apply to reduce the number of affordable houses to boost their profits.

A final shocking statistic is that here in Dorset one in 34 homes are second homes, empty for

much or all of the time. That’s nearly three times the national average. It is unacceptable.

The Green Party approach is as radical as the circumstances demand. Suitable sites should be compulsorily purchased

by Dorset Council and made available to housing associations and Community Land Trusts to build social rented housing.

This would be the equivalent of council housing that this country once excelled at before the disaster of right-to-buy with local authorities being unable to build replacement homes.

Ken Huggins, Parish Councillor Hazelbury Bryan

Practical.

Accurate.

Friendly.

Life doesn’t stand still. Some events you can predict, plot and carefully plan for. Others come out of the blue and send you reeling. Whatever you’re facing, we’re here to help.

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RURAL MATTERS - monthly column from the CPRE

Why is Dorset so slow to adopt a policy of solar panels on roofs?

There is a political battle raging over giant solar farms which blight the countryside and reduce food production, and smaller less impactful initiatives. Dorset so far has not shone but may now be catching up, says Rupert Hardy, Chair of North Dorset CPRE North Dorset CPRE has always been supportive of renewable energy, especially at a time of Climate Emergency, and we support small (less than 5MW) community-funded solar farms as do the Low Carbon Dorset team at Dorset Council (DC).

However we have opposed a number of huge solar industrial power plant planning applications that can desecrate our beautiful countryside, especially if it is good agricultural land that should be growing food for Dorset.

We have also consistently argued for solar panels to be put on public buildings and industrial roofs, as well as more on household roofs.

The record though is lamentable.

As of September 2021, 95.4% of households and 98.4% of businesses within the DC area did not have solar panels on their roofs. Why? Local ownership of panels The phasing out of domestic solar panel subsidies in recent years meant that individuals became reluctant installers, despite the drop in prices of panels. While cash-strapped local authorities have been unable to help, community energy groups have sprung up with the goal of offering panels at very competitive rates.

It is a growing movement in which energy generation is owned not by large industrial companies but by local communities, with the 22

Some UK councils now stipulate solar PV provision as part of their planning conditions, but Dorset have not yet; Rupert Hardy questions this lack of initiative

profits invested back into the decarbonisation funding is going community. to local authorities and not However last month Community community groups.

Energy England, in advance of the Many also ask why the second reading government did of the Local “...the government not make the Electricity Bill, fitting of solar did not make the said that ministers panels on all fitting of solar panels new buildings were failing to respond to on all new buildings mandatory in growing support mandatory... rather its low carbon for community strategy renewable energy, than subsidising heat announced before pumps, which are COP26, rather or properly plan for growth in line not feasible or too than subsidising with net-zero heat pumps, expensive” commitments. which are not As many as 280 feasible or too MPs (out of 650) have now expensive for many homes. committed their support to this Some councils also now stipulate Bill, which is designed to ensure solar PV provision as part of their that Ofgem creates a ‘Right to planning conditions, but DC have Local Supply’ framework. not yet.

There was no mention of Despite this, last March funding for community energy Sustainable Swanage and in the Prime Minister’s Ten-Point community energy group, Plan in 2020, nor in recent Purbeck Energy, launched a Budgets, while most of the project to offer Swanage

RURAL MATTERS - monthly column from the CPRE residents the chance to get solar panels for their properties at competitive rates. They are using a company, IDDEA, which has already installed 1,000 panels across southern England. The Swanage Mayor, Mike Bonfield, is fully supportive and praised it as a “brilliant scheme”. How about some of our North Dorset towns encouraging the same?

Non impact initiatives One of the reasons for slow progress on industrial buildings has been issues of building ownership and leasehold arrangements, as well as roof weight and warranties.

However progress is now being made to improve the energy efficiency on public buildings in Dorset, where ownership is clearer. including Blandford School, The first major push came from and four community buildings DC’s Low Carbon Dorset team, throughout Dorset, such as who gave grants of £5m to fund Blandford Community Hospital.

4.1MW of projects, both public Thanks initially to the Lottery, sector and business, thanks initially to the European Regional and now 98 local shareholders, it has funded 1.5MW of panels.

Development Fund.

We hope to see more of these In the last year DC was given community-led projects. £19m by the government for more renewable projects, which include solar PV, heat pumps and The church enters the battle!

The Church of England may not LED lighting. This was one of the be a pioneering custodian of biggest grant packages given by the government, so well done DC. the nation’s most historic fabric, but it is now installing panels It is paying for panels to go on on many of Dorset’s churches, the roof of Durlston Castle and even Grade I listed medieval the art gallery, County Hall in ones such as St Mary Dorchester, and Swanage Mayor, of the Annunciation, various schools.

Mike Bonfield, Beaminster, as they In North Dorset, will be barely visible Blandford School praised it as a the ground. is adding more “brilliant scheme”. from Farmers are slowly panels to its How about some of fitting panels to their existing ones, while Gillingham our North Dorset buildings, but it is School has towns encouraging estimated that only a small proportion installed some the same? of farmers so far in too.

Dorset have done Bridport-based Dorset Community Energy, which so. Weight problems are often quoted as to why less retro-fitting facilitates community ownership is done. Mole Energy, part of of renewable energy production, Mole Valley Farmers, the cohas financed the installation operative group, have certainly of panels on twelve schools,

The Church of England has begun a programme of solar panel installations - even on buildings such as the Grade I listed medieval church St Mary of the Annunciation, Beaminster - as they will be barely visible from the ground

been busy promoting the fitting of panels to farm buildings here, but have pointed out that renewed demand is now facing capacity issues. They say the rapid phasing out of domestic subsidies in 2016 meant many solar PV installers had to diversify and the associated tradesmen left the industry, so there may be too few installers now.

We have openly criticised DC’s Draft Local Plan for its total lack of ambition in pushing developers to adopt more sustainable and energy efficient building standards, compatible with its declared Climate Emergency strategy.

However the recent publication of DC’s Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy promises positive changes, so we urge DC to include initiatives to promote roof-mounted panels in the Local Plan’s next iteration this spring.

Please do ask your MP to put pressure though on government for a more credible low carbon strategy, as this is so critical.

Rupert Hardy Chairman, North Dorset, Campaign to Protect Rural England 23

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the Editor

Want to reply? Read something you feel needs commenting on? Our postbag is open! Please send emails to letters@theblackmorevale.co.uk That anti vax letter I wonder if you bothered to take a look at the web link at the end of Roger Guttridge’s anti-vax letter in the January issue (p.24 here). I did, and found a site full of mad conspiracy theories and dangerous lies about covid vaccines.

Just today it was reported that hundreds of doctors in the US had signed a letter describing an online platform used by one of the men quoted by Mr Guttridge as a “menace to public health”.

Another of his “experts” , Dr Mike Yeadon, is responsible for the lie that the vaccines make women infertile. This is the same Dr Yeadon who claimed covid would quickly fizzle out with fewer than 40,000 deaths. He also claimed there would be no second wave and declared the pandemic over, weeks before deaths hit 1,000 a day.

Publishing the views of extremists is not a matter of balanced debate. My own family has suffered as a result of this kind of disinformation. Don’t forget that people’s lives are still at risk.

(For verification, here are links to the report about the US protest and a Reuters article about Dr Yeadon’s false prophesies: https://www.theguardian.com/ technology/2022/jan/14/spotifyjoe-rogan-podcast-open-letter

On Cozmo Jenks: Can I say how disappointed I was by the Random 19 interview with Cozmo Jenks (Jan issue, p.19)? I didn’t feel it necessary or appropriate for the BV to publish her fondness for marijuana as a past time, nor her swear-filled ‘favourite quote’ nor indeed her bad ‘wind’ habits. Really? She looks old enough to know better – even if those are the honest answers, a little social politeness might have served in her public responses.

Usually I look forward to this column as a fun, interesting and often thought-provoking read, but this one felt forced and deliberately provocative.

Do better, BV. Lilla May, Sherborne

https://www.reuters.com/ investigates/special-report/ health-coronavirus-vaccinesskeptic/ ) Simon Moon, Mere

Bravo Cozmo Jenks! How refreshing to read the bare honesty of a woman ‘of a certain age’. The Random19 answers all felt utterly true, mildly bonkers and thoroughly fun – a telling insight into Cozmo’s own personality, I suspect, which is of course the point. And well done BV on not tidying up or sanitising Cozmo’s answers – absolutely brilliant, she had me laughing (not unusual in the BV, I do appreciate the fact you have a sense of humour) and cheering approval. I thought I’d write to support as I’m sure you’ll get complaints. For my own part, though I’m sure my mother wouldn’t have approved, I’m considering a new sign for my kitchen – “Fit in or F**k off”!

Eleanor Shaw, Verwood

(We will not be running any further pro/anti vax debate - Ed)

What an absolute gem Cozmo Jenks is (and thank you BV for

24

not editing her answers). I had no idea she lived locally – I hope you don’t get complaints about her unfiltered answers.

The article was flowing with character, enthusiasm, positivity and a serene confidence in just being who she is. A lesson to all us ladies – let’s just be a little more honest. I’m not brave enough to try her ‘Friday Night In’ (yet!), but I’m adopting her favourite quote immediately.

Selina Gray, Wincanton *** On Violet Cross I refer to Roger Guttridge’s utterly fascinating article on the life of Violet Cross (Violet’s wars: the story of a Dorset heroine, Jan 22 issue).

I have gathered from the comments I have seen on your Facebook page that my wife and I were not alone in being inspired by her story.

We drove to the church in Hazelbury Bryan in order to view her memorial plaque – only to be completely dismayed, and rather angry on her behalf.

Thanks to the editorial comment on the image in the article, we entered the church expecting the plaque to be hidden from plain sight, and knew we had to look behind the organ – but even so, without determined perseverance we would never have found it.

As it was, my wife was not able to climb to it, and I had to navigate around the organ bench and over a wooden railing, squeezing down the very narrow gap beside the organ housing to view it myself.

Why on earth is a memorial located where no one may view it? I suspect that many of the regular church attendees have never seen it, let alone occasional visitors. Surely the point of the plaque is to remind people of Violet Cross’s life and

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR her astonishing achievements?

She apparently has no descendants, and to my mind the very least the village can do is relocate her plaque to a situation where others may pay their respects to her memory.

Alan Banes, Mere *** Dorset Island Discs I was very happy to see the new ‘Dorset Island Discs’ column; I’m a huge fan of the original radio show, and I’m so pleased you have kept the same simple format.

Dr Luckett (‘Don’t listen while driving’, Jan 22 issue) had a fascinating range - and just as it should be it allowed us an oddly personal insight into a local figure through their favourite music.

Just one request - please do select a wide variety of guests so that it’s not all classical music and jazz - and keep them honest. The one failing on the Radio 4 version is when the subject selects songs they think are suitably appropriate or impressive for a Radio 4 audience - it’s always obvious when it has

been engineered, and the listener gains nothing.

Howard Borne, Shaftesbury (I hope you’ll approve of this month’s guest variety Blandford’s Cllr Nocturin LaceyClarke’s thoughtful choices are genres away from Dr Luckett’s!

- Ed) *** On local politics I find it surprising that no one locally appears to be aware that our MP for North Dorset, Mr Simon Hoare, has had defamation proceedings begun against him, after sharing an inappropriate tweet by the UUP (Ulster Unionist Party) leader Doug Beattie.

Mr Beattie tweeted a joke that referred to the wife of political rival Edwin Poots and a brothel.

Mr Hoare shared the joke, but then deleted his own tweet in fairly short order. Mr Beattie has since apologised.

But the agricultural minister Edwin Poots has now instructed solicitors to issue defamation proceedings against Doug Beattie and Simon Hoare.

I find it remarkable that our

experienced MP, and the chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee, would engage in such poorly thought out behaviour.

G Harrow, Shaftesbury I have almost put pen to paper (fingers to keyboard?) to you a couple of times in recent months to make a request: whilst I consider us exceedingly lucky in our local MP Simon Hoare, I am aware that there are other voices to be heard, and we should be hearing them all.

I was so pleased then, to see you give space and voice to other local political opinons in the January issue - I hope this is a permanent change?

Dorset may be solidly a Tory heartland, but that doesn’t mean we all voted blue - nor does it mean that those of us who did aren’t interested in hearing the other side of the debate on local topics.

K Greening, Marnhull (the local politics column has been permanently expanded to hear voices from the local Labour, LibDem and Green Party - Ed)

Reader’s Photograph: ‘Gateway to the sun’ - Andrew Pattenden

25

ART

Interview by Edwina Baines edwina@theblackmorevale.co.uk

In the studio with Michael Taylor image: Edwina Baines

“Everything is beautiful if you look at it in the right way” World-famous artist Michael Taylor is putting on his first gallery show outside London for 30 years. The Child Okeford show is a ’must-see’ event, says Edwina Baines, who spoke to Michael about his work Around forty years ago I bought a small still life painting by Michael Taylor of a bunch of grapes (see image below). I have always admired the talent demonstrated in that oil study, especially the bloom on the grapes - a dark background with

Around forty years ago Edwina Baines bought this small still life painting by Michael Taylor.

26

the blue-violet bunch occupying a central position.

At that time, in 1983, Michael won the National Portrait Gallery John Player Award. This placed him firmly on the map of prestigious portrait painters and led to a commission from the National Portrait Gallery to paint the classical guitarist Julian Bream.

Subsequent commissions followed and the National Portrait Gallery now also owns his portraits of the crime writer P D James (Baroness James of Holland Park), and the composer, Sir John Tavener, along with a self portrait.

For his Oscar winning film, ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’, the film director Wes Anderson also commissioned him to paint ‘Boy with Apple’; the sittings taking place at Hanford School, the

Jacobean manor house in Dorset.

However, during our conversation at his lovely home near Dorchester, Michael told me he prefers not to be described as a portrait artist: ‘I don’t do so many portrait commissions now.’

Attic Stories In Dorset, there will now be the rare opportunity to view his first Gallery show outside central London for over 30 years: ’Attic Stories’ is to be held at The Art Stable, Child Okeford, Dorset from 5 February - 5 March 2022.

The ten stunning works on display are still life and figure paintings - and I was curious to understand the nuances between a portrait and a figure painting.

Michael explained ‘They each require a very different approach

There is a rare opportunity to view Michael Taylor’s first Gallery show outside central London for over 30 years: ’Attic Stories’ is to be held at The Art Stable, Child Okeford, Dorset from 5 February - 5 March 2022 Work featured in this photograph: On easel: In parenthesis.

Lower left: Copper basket with fruit.

Right: Still life with Orchid image: Edwina Baines

27

by Edwina Baines edwina@theblackmorevale.co.uk ART the painter impressed me tremendously... it had and technique.’ He likened it to the difference something that can be preserved for posterity. I between a novel and a biography. think it is a face of someone ‘Portrait painting is more like a performance. I’m demanding a lot of the “P D James asked me, who has looked on the darker side of life, certainly!’ sitter’s time - it’s a two-way thing. You ‘Are you trying to A wonderful tribute. need their attention. I have to engage make me look grim Michael went on to describe in conversation. I like to go into their how a figure painting differs environment if I’m going to paint a and mysterious?’ portrait because it reflects how they’ve I said, ‘I’m not trying from a portrait.

‘I’m using the model to say chosen to live. I like to find the sitter’s to make you look something that is universal to unique distinguishing qualities which anything. I have all of us. I’m still describing the define their individuality.’ person who is an individual enough difficulty but they are actors in a play. ‘darting glances of great intensity’ painting what I see!”

With a commission I am trying P D James spoke about her experience of to find out what makes them sitting for Michael. During a sitting, she different to others; in figure painting I’m looking asked, ‘Are you trying to make me look grim and for what is universal to all of us.’ mysterious?’

The placement of each figure’s hands seemed He replied, ‘I’m not trying to make you look particularly expressive in many of the paintings. anything. I have enough difficulty painting what I Always beautifully portrayed. see!’

Michael explained, ‘Hands are very expressive.

She apparently felt that was the mark of a good The odd thing is, if you paint a hand anatomically portraitist. Painting with deep concentration and correctly, it looks wrong. You have to paint how it giving her ‘darting glances of great intensity’.

There was a certain amazement when she first saw feels.

Often I’ll paint it correctly and then wipe it over the portrait. She said there was ‘a conviction that with a cloth and what is left is more expressive.’ this was a portrait beautifully painted. The skill of

Portrait of PD James (copyright National Portrait Gallery)

28

Michael Taylor in his studio.

Works featured are Left:’Toppled Machine’ Centre: ’Three tiered Table’.

Right: ‘Attic Scene with Grave goods’.

Michael holding: ‘Petrified clock with oil can’ image - Edwina Baines

’I’m still learning’ with an object for weeks and weeks, in complete His technique does not include a lot of drawings; silence or with a bit of Haydn, getting to know it rather he completes preparatory diagrams and thoroughly. It’s a meditative process. The only way notes for his own use and then draws on the I can get the necessary focus is to take my time and canvas with under-paint. However, he told me that then do nothing else.’ he has recently been attending life classes again.

A still life is a work of art where the predominant ‘There is nothing like the rigour and discipline of subject matter is that of inanimate objects, objective drawing for sharpening up the brain and either natural or man-made: this genre had its eye.’ heyday during the Dutch Golden Age of The Curator of the the sixteenth century. Also known by its Sitting with Michael in his studio, I was surrounded by the National Portrait French title, nature morte, the term “still life” canvases for his exhibition. He is gallery writes of derives from the Dutch word stilleven, which able to take an everyday object literally means motionless or silent life. It the ‘Sheer beauty, is a genre which has fallen out of fashion such as a sewing machine, a weight and pepper pot or an old oil can and in recent years - but Michael manages paint it with extreme precision. intensity of his to portray a contemporary twist on the ‘Everything is beautiful if you timeless tradition so that even the most ‘still lifes’ look at it in the right way. I love mundane objects are imbued with a life pulling things out of tips and beyond the ordinary and can be made into rescuing them and giving them a new meaning,’ he masterpieces. says.

The Curator of the National Portrait gallery writes The pictures certainly take time to look at, each of the ‘Sheer beauty, weight and intensity of his object gaining significance. There is a tenderness ‘still lifes’ - so I can understand that at the end of and reverence in his interpretation of both an intense period of painting, Michael needs to get everyday items and the figures themselves: it is outside to walk each day in our beautiful Dorset no wonder that Michael completes only three or countryside. four paintings each year. He is able to ‘commune https://www.mrtaylor.co.uk 29

READER’S PHOTOGRAPHY

Dawn Flight - Nicholas Allan Innes

Dipper on the Lym - Maurice Whitney

30

Female bearded reedling - Sharon Towning

We welcome photography submissions from readers - the only rule is that they must have been taken locally in the last month. Our cover shot is usually selected from our submissions pile each month.

If you’d like to join in, please either use #BVPhoto and tag us on Instagram (@ theblackmorevale), share it in our Facebook Group, or simply email it to photos@ theblackmorevale.co.uk.

Crisp winter across the Vale - Matthew Alner

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READER’S PHOTOGRAPHY

From Abbey Walk - Pawel Wach

32

Dawn on Hambledon - Marilyn Peddle

READER’S PHOTOGRAPHY Hare dryer needed - Graham Bannister

Cut Mill - David Thompson 33

by Rob Nolan

NIGHT SKY THIS MONTH

Finding the colour in the stars, and even on a spectacular Wolf Moon There is no richer reward than spotting planets in what is sometimes considered a ‘slow month’ for star and planet gazing, says Rob Nolan

On the evening of the 17th January, we witnessed the first full moon of 2022, the aptly named ‘Wolf Moon’. Named as such because wolves were more likely to be heard howling at this time. Traditionally believed that wolves howled due to hunger during winter, we know today that wolves howl for different reasons.

Therefore it seemed right to start the year off with our closest neighbour at an average distance from the Earth of 238,855 miles.

The rhythm of the phases of the moon has guided humanity for millennia; our calendar months are roughly equal to the time it takes to go from one full moon to the next.

The moon is a bit more than a quarter (27%) the size of Earth, a much larger ratio than any other moons to their planets in

our solar system. This means the Moon has a great effect on our planet, including the tides, and may even have been a major factor in making life on Earth possible.

This type of Lunar image (opposite) is known as a Mineral Moon. By enhancing the colours usually unobserved, we can reveal the mineral deposits on the surface. The blue tones reveal areas rich in ilmenite, which contains iron, titanium and oxygen, mainly titanium, while the orange and purple colours show regions relatively poor in titanium and iron.

This image was taken using my 1000mm Skywatcher 200 PDS Newtonian Reflector Telescope, and a Nikon D850 DSLR camera.

Zooming in on the surface you can easily make out the Sea of Tranquillity (the large blue patch

towards the North East face of the Moon).

The two most prominent craters Tycho (South) and Copernicus (toward the East) are easily identifiable as are many of the other features.

To find out more about the Lunar surface, visit NASA’s site. We often take the Moon for granted, always there, always influencing our planet and our daily lives, so why not make this year the year to get to know it a bit more!

Grab your binoculars or a telescope and take a tour along its stunningly beautiful and dramatic surface! It was also Buzz Aldrin’s Birthday on the 20th January, who is now 92 years old, and was the second person to set foot on the Lunar surface during the Apollo 11 space flight, Happy Birthday Buzz!

The Night Sky, February 2022 - amazing things you can see this month: This month is generally considered ‘quiet’ for planetary observing. However, exciting observations can still be made.

The Orion Constellation continues to dominate the sky, along with Taurus and Gemini. These great constellations appear weaved in the night sky by the Milky Way galaxy band. As these star patterns drift to the west, they make way to new constellations rising in the east: Leo (the Lion) and Boötes (the Herdsman). New constellations constantly come into view because our relative position constantly changes as we orbit the Sun. Sirius dominates the night sky this month, at the head of Canis Major (the Great Dog). Sirius boasts a temperature of almost 10,000˚C and is twice as heavy as our own Sun. As Sirius rises you’ll notice it twinkling a multitude of different colours. This is partly exacerbated by its low position in the sky and Earth’s atmosphere.

These colours also act as a cosmic thermometer, allowing us to tell how hot or cool the star is.

Stars are not just ‘white’: using binoculars, take 34

a look at Betelgeuse, the second star on Orion’s shoulder and you’ll see it shines red. Capella in the constellation Auriga shines yellow, while Rigel, also in Orion, is a blue supergiant star.

On the 7th February, it may be a good evening to try and spot the faint planet Uranus. Grab a pair of binoculars and follow the terminator on the Moon.

This is where the line is drawn between the bright and dark regions of the surface. Track up and to the right for three Moon-diameters, and you should happen across the faint speck of light that is the seventh planet in our solar system.

Towards the end of the month, look towards the south-west after sunset to find Jupiter. Once Jupiter sets in the twilight, the only two visible planets throughout most of the night are the two outermost planets, Neptune and Uranus.

Mars is visible in the early morning after 5:30am, in Sagittarius, with Venus also visible above it.

Mercury is only visible in the deep dawn twilight, to the lower left of Venus in the south-east.

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BOOK CORNER

Wayne recommends:

Two books for a February evening “At the time of writing Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and as an alternative to chocolate or flowers I’m recommending Natasha Lunn interviewing some of our must enduring authors for their thoughts on love and relationships. Or if you were simply in the mood for a satisfying read then the excellent Francis Spufford is a great choice for a winter’s night” - Wayne

Conversations on Love

by Natasha Lunn £9.99

“This book might just change your life.”

Sunday Times After years of feeling that love was always out of reach, journalist Natasha Lunn set out to understand it. She turned to authors and experts to learn about their experiences, asking: How do we find love? How do we sustain it? And how do we survive when we lose it? In Conversations on Love she began to find the answers: Philippa Perry on falling in love slowly, Dolly Alderton on vulnerability, Stephen Grosz on accepting change, Diana Evans on parenthood, Emily Nagoski on the science of sex, Alain de Botton on the psychology of being alone, Esther Perel on unrealistic expectations and many more...

“I underlined passages on almost every page of this wideranging, tender-hearted book” Evening Standard

Light Perpetual

by Francis Spufford £8.99

Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2021.

November 1944. A German rocket strikes London, and five young lives are atomised in an instant.

That rocket never lands. A single second in time is altered, and five young lives go on - to experience all the unimaginable changes of the twentieth century. Because maybe there are always other futures. Other chances.

From the best-selling, prize-winning author of Golden Hill, Light Perpetual is a story of the everyday, the miraculous and the everlasting. Ingenious and profound, full of warmth and beauty, it is a sweeping and intimate celebration of the gift of life.

“My god he can write. One of the best opening chapters and closing chapters you’ll ever read.” Richard Osman

In 2022 Winstone’s celebrates 10 years as Sherborne’s Independent Bookseller.

Winstone’s has won the ‘British Book Awards South West Bookseller of the Year’ four times and was winner of the ‘Independent Bookseller of the Year’ national award in 2016. Owner Wayne Winstone was previously one of the three judges for the Costa Prize for Fiction. This year Wayne was selected as one of the top 100 people in the Book Trade’s Most Influential Figures listing.

BOOK CORNER

A Dorset Victorian thriller with a twist

Lovers of historical murder mysteries will enjoy this exquisitely researched tale of dark goings-on set in Victorian Dorset and told in the vernacular of the time. Author Andy Charman explains the story behind Crow Court.

The paperback edition of Crow Court, a novel set in 19th century Wimborne Minster, is published by Unbound on February 3rd.

Crow Court is my first novel and I was proud to see it long-listed for the Desmond Elliot prize 2021.

Set in Dorset and centred on Wimborne Minster, it tells the story of several townspeople who are drawn into a mystery surrounding the drowning of a choirboy and the disappearance of the choirmaster.

Rather than telling this story with a single narrative, I used Crow Court to explore the lives of as many different characters as possible, so the tale unfolds through fourteen episodes, each telling different aspects of the story. The narrative is passed from the vicar, to a cordwainer, to a wine-merchant, a farm-hand, a sailor, and a well-to-do composer of parlour music - among others.

While the events are entirely fictional, I was determined to make the characters and their lives as realistic as possible. It took a great deal of detailed research, to the level that, for example, every name and profession is drawn from census data. Most importantly, the voices needed to sound right, and rural labourers of the 1800s spoke in Dorset dialect.

Fortunately, William Barnes (1801-1886) left us fabulously detailed records of both the vocabulary and grammar of the time. Using this, I was able to attempt a recreation of fulsome Dorset expressiveness.

‘Proper trimmen crop o’ rushes here,’ says Bill Brown in the opening chapter. ‘You joinin’ us a-labourin’?’ asks his more mischievous friend, John Street.

After a lot of practice, I attempted a few sections as if narrated entirely by a farmhand. I kept the

spelling modern for clarity, and aimed at as good a re-creation of Dorset dialect as I could manage; the jokes are predictably earthy.

Anyone who knows Wimborne Minster will find the setting of this novel familiar and it ranges out to Sturminster, Swanage and Lyme Regis. With such a broad survey, I hope that Crow Court captures the warmth, good-humour and quick-witted nature of the Dorset character.

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A COUNTRY LIVING

by Tracie Beardsley Wood craftsman Jack Fazey learned traditional woodland management, coppicing and hedge-laying, charcoal making, timber framing and green wood crafts during his apprenticeship with renowned woodsman, author and eco-builder, Ben Law, of Channel 4’s ‘Grand Designs’ fame Image: Courtenay Hitchcock

Wellbeing from woodworking 38

by Tracie Beardsley

A COUNTRY LIVING

A ‘cardboard’ caravan in the depths of winter with no running water or electricity! Unlike most of us who’d run screaming for our creature comforts, Jack Fazey calls that an ‘incredible experience’. Tracie Beardsley reports in this month’s A Country Living After four years of working in conservation in Mexico and Australia, Jack Fazey was struggling with living back in his home city of London.

When an apprenticeship came up with renowned woodsman, author and eco-builder, Ben Law, of Channel 4’s ‘Grand Designs’ fame, Jack applied and never looked back.

Living in an ancient woodland in Sussex in a leaky old caravan, he learnt from his wood guru about traditional woodland management, coppicing and hedge-laying. As the ice thawed on his blankets and spring appeared, Jack turned his hand to greenwood crafts, making use of materials gathered during winter. He went on working with Ben, building bespoke timber frame houses. Not bad for a lad with no formal carpentry qualifications.

Jack recalls: “The apprenticeship was a baptism of fire and a wonderful experience - a complete immersion in woodland living. I’ve always loved bush-craft and camping. Waking up on a frosty morning, building and lighting a fire before you can have a brew – you know you’re alive!”

Green woodworker Jack Fazey demonstrates the natural curve in a branch which makes a good spoon Image: Courtenay Hitchcock

A wood living Now 35 years old and settled in Dorset with his wife Hayley and two young daughters, Jack lives in a timber-framed house he built with Hayley, and has launched his own business - Fazey Woodcraft Bespoke workshops are proving a hit, even with inspired by his love of all things to do with wood. hen and stag parties. “I’ve managed to silence very Fazey Woodcraft combines all Jack’s talents, rowdy blokes as they sit absorbed in their carving. offering eco-builds, stunning wooden garden The rule is no beer until the tools are down!” structures, plus bushcraft and green woodworking courses. His latest venture is a series of workshops Wood and wellbeing in venues and woodland spaces across Dorset.

Jack is a firm believer in the emotional benefits People from 18 to 80 years old learn the arts of of working with wood. Last year, Fazey Woodcraft spoon-carving, green woodworking, basketry and supported Mental Health Week, offering ancient bark crafts, using wood “I’ve managed to workshops for men at Okeford Fitzpaine’s from local tree surgery waste. silence very rowdy Big Yellow Bus Garden Bus Project, which ‘You can get addicted! blokes as they sit encourages people with mental health issues to get outdoors.

He explains: “Since lockdown, absorbed in their Just listening to feedback on Jack’s there’s been a surge of people carving. The rule website videos shows people loving the wanting to work with their hands. My workshops attract is no beer until the opportunity to ‘switch off’. that engages your hands allows all demographics – I’m amazed tools are down!” “Anything the sub-conscious to do its own thing by the variety of folk I see in while you’re completely absorbed in the process,” front of me, happily covered in wood-shavings. explains Jack.

“Spoon carving is one of the most popular “There’s infinite realms of possibility for expression. workshops. You can get quite addicted to it.

Perhaps it’s the simplicity – all you need is a log, an How much can I push this design idea before a spoon becomes sculpture? That’s what I love about axe and two knives.”

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A COUNTRY LIVING working with wood and bark. I appreciate the artistry but also the use and purpose.

One of my favourite sayings: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

And when he’s not working with wood, you’ll find Jack wildcamping in the woods with his wife, Hayley, five-year old daughter Lyla and toddler, aptlynamed Hazel. Lyla’s first wild camping experience was at just three months.

“You can’t beat a night sleeping out, looking up at the stars through the trees.”

by Tracie Beardsley

Some of the items made during Jack Fazey’s classes: spoons, woven baskets and bark containers.

All images Courtenay Hitchcock A few simple hand tools are used to create the majority of Jack’s projects. The Axe, Froe, Knife & Saw are the tools he uses the most.

Quick-fire questions with Jack: Favourite TV show?

Anything Sir David Attenborough does. I also like the Repair Shop.

Ideal dinner guests?

David Attenborough along with tribal elders. I’ve always been fascinated with the way indigenous people see the world. We need to listen and learn from them to save our planet.

Best book?

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall-Kimmerer - an astonishing work of science and beauty. Everyone should read it.

Jack’s happiest outdoors - when he’s not working with wood, you’ll find him wild-camping in the woods with his wife, Hayley, five-year old daughter Lyla and toddler, aptly-named Hazel

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Favourite tree?

Birch – it’s not only beautiful but has so many uses. Its bark is probably the oldest form of making containers. It resists fungal growth so it’s ideal for food storage. It’s a great firelighter in the dampest of conditions and in spring, you can drink its sap which is loaded with nutrients.

THEN AND NOW NEWS

by Roger Guttridge The c1900 picture from Barry Cuff ’s postcard collection appears in David Burnett’s latest book Lost Dorset: The Towns.

Gillingham’s survivor pubs At least externally, two of Gillingham’s pubs have barely changed in the 120 years between these two pictures, says Roger Guttridge.

Confusion reigns over the address of the Phoenix Inn at Gillingham, which some sources give as High Street, others as The Square and which until the 1880s was in Bridge Street.

Names aside, the location has changed remarkably little in the 120 years or so between the taking of these two pictures.

For one thing the two pubs in the picture not only survive but retain their names, although the Phoenix (near right) has changed from ‘Commercial Hotel’ to ‘Inn’.

The Red Lion is a few doors further along on the right.

Between them are the former Free School, which was founded in 1516 and survived until 1876; Mayflowers

the florists; the Topsie Rabbit Kindergarten; Stone House; and Reynolds’ pet supplies and boot repairs.

The Square end of the Phoenix (near right in the bottom image) is now the Gillingham Tandoori Indian Restaurant.

On the far left of the pictures (where the two boys stand) is the entrance to Church Walk, leading to the parish church.

Beyond the boys today are the art shop Scenes, a couple of takeaway shops, the Studio and Rutters the solicitors. The large three-storey building in the middle of the terrace formerly hosted Silvester Edgar’s watchmaking, printing and bookbinding business but is now residential accommodation.

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LOOKING BACK

by Roger Guttridge

The Dorset canal that wasn’t During Britain’s Industrial Revolution, 4,000 miles of canal were developed in an astonishingly short time – but in the end, Dorset didn’t get any! Roger Guttridge details the local planning catastrophe The sketch of Fiddleford showing plans for an aqueduct across the present-day A357 (modern map for comparison below)

As a veteran of canal holidays in the ’70s and ’80s, I’ve often wondered what Dorset would have been like had these arteries of the Industrial Revolution reached our county.

They almost did: between 1796 and 1803, eight miles of the Dorset and Somerset Canal were constructed at the Somerset end.

Had the ambitious project continued, parts of North Dorset would have been transformed, especially Fiddleford, where there were plans for an aqueduct fed by the Darknell Brook (see images, above).

Had they come to pass, the Fiddleford Inn or the former Traveller’s Rest, two doors 42

away, might now be called the Narrowboat or the Boatman’s Rest.

The feasibility of a ‘Dorset and Somerset Inland Navigation’ was first discussed at a meeting in Wincanton’s Bear Inn in January 1793, when canalmania was sweeping across the

entire country.

In 80 years, 4,000 miles of canals were built, helping to transform both the national economy and local economies along their routes.

The local plan was to provide a waterway link between Poole and Bristol – an alternative to

LOOKING BACK

by Roger Guttridge the long and hazardous voyage around Cornwall.

Huge network planned!

Supporters predicted a regular traffic in coal from the Bristol and Somerset coalfields, and Purbeck clay destined for the Staffordshire Potteries.

Other cargoes envisaged included freestone and lime from Somerset and timber, slate and wool from Dorset.

Initially there was great interest from investors with subscriptions greatly exceeding the prescribed minimum.

The proposed route ran from Bath to Frome (with a branch to the Mendip collieries) and on via Wincanton, Henstridge, Stalbridge, Sturminster Newton, Lydlinch, King’s Stag, Mappowder, Ansty, Puddletown and Wareham to Poole Harbour.

Wareham folk were supportive but a meeting at the Crown in Blandford insisted the canal would be more beneficial if it

get in touch with Roger: roger.guttridge@btinternet.com

went from Sturminster Newton to Poole via Blandford and Wimborne.

A newspaper advertisement said progress was rapid, the public would soon experience the benefits of the canal and ‘part of Counting the cost it near the collieries is already Robert Whitworth, the project’s completed and a barge was consulting engineer until he launched there on Monday’. resigned in September 1793, The advertisement proved to be favoured the Blandford option. hopelessly optimistic.

His costing for the 37 miles Of the original £70,000 pledged from Freshford to Stalbridge by prospective shareholders, only was £100,234 (approximately £58,000 materialised. £15,461,737 in Over the next few 2021) “Those eight miles years, partly due The remaining 33 to the Napoleonic alone required miles to Poole had wars, the company 28 bridges, an estimated cost of lurched from crisis three tunnels, £83,353. to crisis and only The Blandford an aqueduct, 11 eight miles of route was finally grooved stop-gates, canal were built. chosen in 1795 Progress was nine double stopbut with branches hampered gates and three to Wareham and and expenses Hamworthy. increased by the balance locks” It seemed like the rocky terrain. perfect compromise but there Those eight miles alone required was still opposition from some 28 bridges, three tunnels, an landowners. aqueduct, 11 grooved stop-gates, Lord Rivers insisted that ‘the nine double stop-gates and three canal did not proceed beyond balance locks. some point betwixt Sturminster Construction ceased in 1803, and Blandford, otherwise when the last of the money ran withholding his consent’. out, although hopes lingered In 1796 a drastic decision was on until the mid-1820s, when taken to abandon the southern attempts were made to involve section, reducing the canal’s the canal company in plans for a length to 48 miles and the cost to railway covering the same route. £146,018 (approx. £22,524,212 It would be another 30 years in 2021 terms). before the rail link came to Bizarrely, it would now terminate fruition. at Gain’s Cross, Shillingstone.

By then the canal – originally described as ‘one of the best Catastrophe rocks the plan conceived undertakings ever With £73,000 already raised from designed for the counties of shareholders, the necessary Dorset and Somerset’ – was Act of Parliament was quickly reduced to an overgrown relic in obtained and received royal the Somerset countryside. assent.

The company’s records suffered It gave the owners the right to an even worse fate when a bomb draw water from any source fell on Wincanton during World within 2,000 yards of their War Two. canal and to create a junction Among the few surviving with the Kennet and Avon, documents is the plan for the thus connecting to the national double-arched aqueduct at network.

Fiddleford, shown opposite.

Work on the Mendip collieries The picture also shows a ford branch began in the summer of where the stone bridge is today 1796. and two houses that still survive.

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LOCAL HISTORY

by Paul Birbeck

To be found in Sherborne, this West of England insuramce company’s plaque featured King Alfred

What does it mean if you have one of these ‘marks’ on your house?

Walking around local towns you may see strange plaques high up on the external walls of larger historic buildings. Local expert Paul Birbeck explains their origins and significance My January BV article considered the birth of the modern fire brigade in our area. This month’s piece is a natural sequel While walking around local towns and villages, you may occasionally notice unusual symbols and objects; for example on the external walls of buildings. One of my favourite items in Sherborne are the fire marks which are found on at least three buildings around the town.

The origin of these historical plaques pre-dates any fire brigade, but does provide a link to early fire fighting and the protection of property.

The Fire of London and the birth of insurance As the Great Fire of London in 1666 consumed the buildings, alms houses, schools and churches of the City, property owners watched their buildings and livelihoods go up in flames, each knowing that they had lost everything - the concept of fire insurance did not exist.

One year after The Great Fire, the first fire insurance company, called “The Fire Office”, was established

by Nicholas Barbon. His fire brigade employed small teams of Thames watermen as firefighters.

He also established a mutual society which offered fire insurance. This later became known as the

These Sherborne fire marks feature the Royal Exchange Assurance building (right) and the British lion.

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Phoenix Fire Office - an appropriate name for the society as the Phoenix is a mythical bird which burns itself and then arises from the ashes reborn.

The fire mark To identify that a property was covered by fire insurance, attached to the building at a height easily seen from the street - but out of reach of thieves was a sign or emblem called a fire mark which was issued by the company.

Each insurance company had its own distinctive design which made identification of the property easier for their fire fighters and the company representatives. At first they were made of lead with the individual policy number stamped upon them and a type of logo.

The designs of all the companies can still be found.

The Sun Fire Office had a large sun with a face. The Royal Exchange Assurance’s mark featured their building (image bottom left); the West of England plaque featured King Alfred who was the emblem for the company (image above). British had a lion (image below right, the lion is very worn), and Phoenix’s fire mark featured a Phoenix rising from the ashes.

Find them in Sherborne Today, Sherborne has at least four fire marks scattered around the town. Three are around the central areas and one can be seen on the west wall of Sherborne Castle, showing the Westminster company logo and policy number.

If you aware of a fire mark, treasure them as part of our heritage and do please make the owner of the property aware of its importance – they are becoming an increasingly rare sight. I would also be interested to know the location: paul@sherbornewalks.co.uk Happy searching!

Friday Lunchtime Recitals

Sandroyd Seedlings, The Walled Garden Free stay & play toddler group Every Thursday 9.30-11am

1.45PM

CHEAP STREET CHURCH (unless otherwise stated)

7th January - Soloists I

14th January - Soloists II 21st January - Strings

28th January - Singers 4th February - Brass

11th February - Woodwind

18th February - Pianists I

4th March - Chamber Music 11th March - Pianists II

18th March - Wind Band Recital, Big School Room, Sherborne School

Indoor & outdoor exploring Messy play Story time Refreshments The Walled Garden Sandroyd School Rushmore Park, Tollard Royal Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 5QD

FREE ADMISSION | ALL ARE WELCOME

01725 530 124 office@sandroyd.com www.sandroyd.com

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STURBIZ This month’s news from the unofficial capital of the Blackmore Vale...

Surprises on a meander round the old market cross in Sturminster Agnes & Vera (far right) is a great place for gift buying. Next door is Joshua’s coffee shop, the blue building is Is Shin takeaway, and the thatched building is the White Hart Alehouse image: Courtenay Hitchcock

The centre of Stur is an often-overlooked and undervalued asset in the oldest part of town, says Pauline Batstone The Boutique is part of the Market Cross shopping area, and it’s a great place for browsing. In Beads with a Twist there’s always a new find, defintely the place for jewellery to go with your new outfit. There are few people who can walk past Daisy Delbridge’s

without turning to breathe in the beauty of the florist shop - why not step in and treat yourself?

On the opposite corner, a potter around Agnes and Vera’s is a must - they are always a go-to if you’re hunting for an unusual gift.

Sweet Pea is a perfect stop for refreshments, and the next building along is the tardis of Stour Books. image: Courtenay Hitchcock

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If you have a little longer, when was the last time you stopped by the museum? It’s a fascinating place, filled with stories and the history of the places you walk past every day.

On for some clothes shopping in Gallery One, and of course no book lover can resist stepping into the hidden bookshop round the corner. Don’t be deceived by the tiny window of Stour Bookshop, it’s a positive Tardis.

It’s always best to finish up with a coffee - try Joshua’s or Sweet Pea (or something stronger in The White Hart Alehouse...)

For gentlemen there is also the opportunity for a spruce up at Oli Barbers or ladies step round to the car park side for a relaxing pamper at Enzos.

STURMINSTER NEWTON Far left is the black shopfront of Beads with a Twist. In the middle is the Boutique, and then on the right is the always lovely florist’s shop Daisy Delbridge. image: Courtenay Hitchcock

Important dates for your diary!

The huge success of the two community charity shops means we can stage many exciting events this year, says Pauline Batstone. Some of the money raised from the sale of your preloved goods in The Emporium and The Boutique goes towards organising events for residents to enjoy and to bring new shoppers into town.

This is what that diary of events is beginning to look like - and we will publish updates as events are confirmed.

Each first Saturday in the month (providing the weather’s not forecast to be awful!) the car enthusiasts bring their pride and joy to admire and swap stories in the Station Road Car Park.

Anyone can come along - we have cars and bikes from modern to vintage. It’s very informal, no attendance fee, parking is free and we’re a friendly welcoming bunch!

The public liability insurance is paid for by The Community Benefit Society.

On 1st March we plan to hold our first Pancake Day event; ‘Races in The Rec’ at 2p.m. – pancakes supplied, but bring your own frying pans!

Mothering Sunday is 27th March is a good reason to buy flowers, chocolates and gifts Easter events: Good Friday, 15th April, a service will be held at the Cross in the Market Place, possibly followed

by Hot Cross Buns Easter Saturday, 16th April, The Mill will be milling Easter Sunday, 12 noon onwards.

An Easter Egg Hunt around the town Easter Monday, 12 noon, an Easter Bonnet Parade from the Church Hall to the Railway Gardens 7th May A Wedding Fair held around the businesses in the Town, more details to follow.

2nd to 5th June The Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend - details are still being discussed by The Town Council and the Community Benefit Society so more details to follow, but; • Thursday 2nd – Beacon Lighting Railway Gardens • Friday to Sunday – The Exchange Real Ale and Cider Festival • Saturday 4th June - Car Enthusiasts Meet in Station Road Car Park • Craft Market at The Exchange • Anonymous Travelling Market

• •

in Station Road and the Market Place Garden Fair in The Railway Gardens Sunday 5th June – 12.00 to 3.00 p.m. The Big Lunch and Fancy Dress Parade in The Railway Gardens

13th to 19th June Sturminster Newton Literary Festival - includes various events including a Victorian Fete in the Railway Gardens on the afternoon of Saturday 18th.

July 1st to 3rd – the Boogie Woogie Festival hope to be back 20th to 29th August – SturBuzz; it’s all about bees and sustainability and fun – with a fancy dress parade on Sunday 29th (your best bee costume) And then of course it’s the Cheese Fair on the 10th and 11th of September, there may be something about the Queen’s Green Canopy in October, and then we are back to Christmas again… I’m feeling tired already!

Plans for old bank to be new business space supporting local producers and sellers Tim Robins is leading on an idea to see if the former NatWest building can be reinvented as a shopping destination - bringing more people into the town to our shops and cafes.

The proposal is to offer customer-facing, exhibition-style space, six days a week, for people just setting out in business, selling good quality items from the Blackmore Vale.

Hopefully this will provide useful space and support to new businesses, and also create a changing, ever-more-interesting shopping experience for both residents and visitors to the town (if you are interested in more details on this, please contact cllr.p.batstone@btinternet.com) 47

EQUESTRIAN

by Clare Turner, Skylands Coaching & Training Centre The Turner family on a pony carriage and Jon Turner running.

The beautiful social aspects of driving (no cars required!)

There is a whole new social world to be enjoyed with carriage riding – and you don’t need to own a horse, says Clare Turner Where was the original boot or dashboard? What was the original rally car? The answers lie in carriages and the sport of carriage driving.

Please pardon the pun, but there are many routes in to 48

driving. Often people start by ‘breaking in’ an outgrown riding pony (with expert help - available via British Driving Society or British Carriage Driving) Those that don’t have access

to a horse or pony of their own may enjoy helping at local events, becoming grooms or ‘backsteppers’ to a local driver - social media is always a good place to make contact with local driving groups to find drivers

EQUESTRIAN Portman Pony Club Members on their ponies

needing an extra pair of hands.

It’s also possible to book carriages and drivers for all sorts of occasions - a driving lesson, a picnic drive for a birthday, a prom night, weddings and funerals. One of the local companies for this is Highsteppers at Pallington.

Make new friends The social aspect means that there are always two people on The Highsteppers Driving Team

the carriage, more if you have a bigger carriage - so there’s always conversation to be had and people to meet as you drive.

Inclusive sport Carriage driving is a diverse and accessible sport, catering for all ages, and to both able bodied and disabled the benefits of time spent with animals and out in the fresh air speak for themselves and carriages

provide access for everyone equally.

There is also the historical aspect of driving. Many vehicles and the harnesses that you may find in the show ring at county shows are antiques, fully functional and beautifully presented for the event. ‘Mr Private Driving’ is a marvellous source of education, particularly for those interested in showing, and he is endlessly entertaining for armchair supporters of the sport.

Join the community It is absolutely the best way to travel, you can’t beat bowling along with a friend and a lovely horse or pony trotting along in front and maybe a carriage dog at your wheel!

In short the driving community are a group of like-minded people who enjoy the sport and want to have fun with their animals.

There are all sorts of carriage driving activities from rallies, sports driving, scurry driving, showing, fun days, carriage dogs, fancy dress, long reining - most involve picnics and all include friendly faces - maybe something to consider for 2022.

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by Lucy Procter

EQUESTRIAN

‘We marvelled at her natural maternal instinct’ A complicated foaling left the newborn orphaned, but with medicines and good husbandry we found a foster mare, says Lucy Procter

January is a significant month in stud life - with the turn of the year all the horses get a year older, the previous year’s foals head off to the sales and we eagerly prepare for the early foals.

Tuesday 25th January was D-Day for our 2021 foals. We took 10 foals and an in-foal broodmare to the GoffsUK January sale in Doncaster. The process started on the Saturday, when Doug and I each drove a lorry load to the sales ground and we repeated the trip with a second load on Sunday. Doug then stayed on to run our draft at the sales and I came home to watch expectant mares.

On the Tuesday, we sold seven of the ten foals and the broodmare, but overall it was a disappointing sale with prices down on previous years and an overall clearance rate of 64% - at least we beat that - so we wish the new owners the best of luck with

The orphaned foal was bottle fed coloustrum every hour until a foster mare could be found image - Lucy Procter

their purchases and move on to the arrival of this year’s foals.

In anticipation of sitting up watching the stable cameras overnight, it was straight to bed once home on Sunday afternoon, only to be woken up at 10pm by one of our sons who had been watching the cameras, to say that

With the vet in attendance, the mare’s sweat was wiped over the foal to help the foal smell like the dam and improve the chance of her accepting the foal. The foal was brought into the stable, into a feeding position alongside the mare, encouraging the foal to find the mare’s teats. image - Lucy Procter

one of the mares had started to foal. Unfortunately, the foaling was not straightforward and, although we got the foal out alive and well, an internal rupture during foaling meant that sadly the mare didn’t make it.

We were able to take a quantity of the mare’s first milk, called colostrum, to feed to the foal, and supplemented this from our store of frozen colostrum collected last year.

It is very important to get 2-4 litres of good quality colostrum into a foal in the first few hours after birth. The colostrum contains important immunoglobulin proteins from the mare which help provide the foal with maternal immunity during the first 6-12 weeks, until the foal’s own immune system is functioning.

An orphan foal We made up powdered foal milk to feed the foal every hour using a lamb bottle, and started the hunt for a foster mare. Eventually

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After a complicated delivery, this foal’s mother sadly didn’t make it. However she’s now thriving thanks to round the clock care and swift action of the Glanville’s team in tracking down a foster mare who has adopted her image - Courtenay Hitchcock

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EQUESTRIAN we were offered a mare that was due to be weaned from her own foal, so was still producing milk, and the owners were confident that the mare was a good mother.

Once the mare had settled in a large stable at the stud, our vet attended and injected the mare with Prostaglandin (PG), commonly used in foal fostering to help induce maternal behaviour and increase the chance of the mare accepting the foal.

A side effect of PG is to induce sweating and we wiped the mare’s sweat over the foal to help the foal smell like the dam and improve the chance of her accepting the foal. The vet also gave her Oxytocin to let her milk down.

We then brought the foal into the stable and into a feeding position alongside the mare, encouraging the foal to find the mare’s teats. The mare quickly accepted the foal suckling and gradually we moved away and within 1½ hrs of starting the process, we had left the mare alone with the foal, just keeping watch on the cameras. As the mare wasn’t producing quite enough milk, we started her on Domperidone - a drug that helps build up milk production - and we increased the quality and quantity of her feed.

While her milk increases, we are still supplementing the foal with a few bottle feeds, but the foal much prefers drinking from mum and her bottle feeds are reducing.

A week later and the mare and foal are happy together. If the foal wanders too far away, there is a low whickering from the mare and the foal quickly responds and moves back to her new mum.

It is a pleasure to watch them together and marvel at the natural maternal instinct.

If the foal wanders too far away, there is a low whickering from the mare and the foal quickly moves back to her new mum.

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all images - Courtenay Hitchcock

by Carl Evans

EQUESTRIAN Energumene (Tommie O’Brien) has work to do as he sets off up the run-in on his pointing debut at Larkhill, but he soon reeled in the leader, Ain’t No Limits.

Image Carl Evans

Young horses are giving point-topointing a new edge Buyers are starting to look for young horses with promise rather than current winners, says Carl Evans for Great British Racing International An exciting new development within the sport of point-topointing involves the buying and selling of young horses.

Many yards across Britain now house horses who have been bought as ‘stores’, generally at the age of three, who are then raced in point-to-points at the age of four or five as a way of advertising their ability before they are offered at public auction.This follows a pattern which has become established in Ireland.

In the past, such horses, especially those destined for point-to-pointing, were often left unbroken until they were five or six.

A spin off from this youthful

policy of running younger horses to-point at Larkhill near Salisbury in points - and then selling them and was then sold to O’Neill for to continue their careers in €150,000. hurdle race and steeplechases Two of the best chasers on either - has been a steady rise in the side of the Irish Sea began their number of excareers in British British point-topoint-to-points. Ahoy “Sky Pirate was Senor won a pointpointers winning bought as an races under Rules to-point at Kimble in at mainstream unbroken three- Buckinghamshire in racecourses.

November 2020 for year-old for Among British Shropshire trainer Mel €34,000… he sold winners at Rowley, and was then for €150,000” last season’s bought by Scottish Cheltenham Borders’ trainer Festival was Sky Lucinda Russell for Pirate, trained in Gloucestershire £50,000. She trained him to win

by Jonjo O’Neill. Sky Pirate, who a Grade One novices’ hurdle at had been bought for €34,000 last year’s Aintree Grand National as an unbroken three-year-old, meeting and he is a leading made his racing debut in a point- contender for novice chase 53

by Carl Evans honours at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

‘This should not be missed’ Meanwhile, in a real show of confidence in British point-topoint form, the brilliant two-mile chaser Energumene was bought

by Ireland’s champion trainer Willie Mullins after the horse had won a point at Larkhill aged four.

Energumene was recently involved in one of the great clashes of recent times, when he took on and was narrowly beaten Time Lucki, who finished by the mighty Shishkin at Ascot second in a point-to-point for (to see it, play the ‘Shishkin vs Warwickshire trainer Fran Poste, Energumene | A Clash for the and has since become a star for Ages’ video, above right - it’s Dan Skelton. just over two “Energumene was minutes long, recently involved A new way and incredibly in one of the great In 2006 four-yearexciting). horses were Their hoped-for clashes of recent old allowed to run in rematch in the times, when he British point-toQueen Mother took on the mighty points, and while Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Shishkin at Ascot” their numbers fluctuated over the Festival is one that next ten years, a Herefordshire should not be missed. point-to-point trainer called Tom Another Cheltenham Festival Lacey emerged with a gamehorse to watch out for is Third Ahoy Senor (Alex Edwards) leads on his way to a win at Kimble, Bucks, in November 2020 Image Carl Evans

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changing plan.

Copying a form of trading popular in Ireland, Lacey began sourcing well-bred three-yearolds, breaking them in and educating them to jump with aplomb, and then selling them after they had run in one or two point-to-points.

One reason this form of trading was proving successful was a growth in specialist sales of young point-to-pointers held at several venues, but particularly at Cheltenham racecourse. These sales drew in well-heeled owners keen to buy horses who could

EQUESTRIAN run at big race meetings.

Lacey, who trained Sky Pirate and Energumene to win point-to-points, worked out that leading ‘professional’ trainers wanted to buy once-raced four-year-olds who had shown ability, and had physical presence and a solid pedigree, rather than older horses who had won a string of point-topoints, but whose form and pedigree was of limited appeal.

Lacey paved the way Other trainers around Britain, often younger members of the trade hoping to build a career, took note of Lacey’s lead.

Chris Barber, who trains near Seaborough on the Dorset/Somerset border, is a grandson of the late Richard Barber, a giant among trainers of point-topointers.

Like his grandfather, Chris handles older point-topointers - but he also trains youngsters who are for sale. He says: “I became involved through following my grandfather around at the sales – he had a great eye for a young horse and firmly believed that point-to-pointing was a good grounding for a horse to go on and race over hurdles and fences.

“If a young horse has shown it can race for two and a half miles and jump 16 fences a lot of the early work has been done.

“Tom Lacey paved the way for buying and selling British pointers (on a commercial scale). He was

successful, and that side of the sport provides another string to our bow.

There’s not a lot of money in just training pointers, but if you can buy an unfurnished horse at a sale, and later sell it for a profit, that’s another strand of income.

“We use the same “I followed my training methods, grandfather around but whereas an older pointer at the sales – he more or less had a great eye for knows the job a young horse and and just needs firmly believed to be made fit enough to race, that point-toa younger horse pointing was a good needs educating. grounding for a Good riders who can give them horse to go on and that education race over hurdles are important – a and fences” bad football coach won’t get the best out of young players, and it’s the same in our job.

“I don’t believe this commercial side of pointing is bad for the sport, especially since races for fouryear-olds only, and four- and five-year-olds, are now becoming established. There are races for older horses, so they are not missing out, and the commercial, younger horses are encouraging new faces into the sport.

The current champion point-to-point trainer, Tom Ellis (who is based in Warwickshire), has a big string of horses, but they include horses of all ages, so it cannot be said the sport is becoming exclusively about youngsters.

“There’s room for all, and while we are all delighted when someone sells a British pointer for a good price at auction, we are also just as pleased to join them for a drink at the back of the car if they train an older horse to win an open race.”

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George Hosford’s break crop has fallen foul to politics. One of the main products from poppies is morphine, but this can no longer be exported, halving the financial return on the crop.

George Hosford: Always adapting, always learning

Louise Stratton interviews George Hosford, Dorset NFU County Chair, and discusses poppies, worms and the excitement of school visits Our Dorset NFU County Chairman is George Hosford, in his second year of the twoyear Chairman’s term and he is passionate about our farming industry and home-grown produce.

George farms in partnership with his brother on 800 hectares outside Blandford. The farm is all rented from a private landlord and is made up of 650 hectares of arable land, 110 hectares of permanent pasture with the remainder being woodland and farm buildings.

It’s a busy farm, employing several full-time members of staff to manage the mixed enterprise.

Within the arable land, the farm is always trying to maximise the area of wheat being grown.

Therefore, the ‘break crop’ – a

crop grown to interrupt the repeated sowing of cereals to prevent disease build up – is important to the rotation.

George has some unusual break crops, growing spring beans, oil seed rape and even poppies.

the beetle attacks.

But this hasn’t put him off and one thing that is evident from conversations with George is that their farm is always challenging and experimenting with new production techniques.

They now bring the sheep flock Letting the sheep in to the fields of oil seed rape in Oil seed rape, predominantly autumn. The sheep knock back grown for edible vegetable the crop, eat weeds and remove oils, is recognised by its bright the need for a fungicide as yellow flower. An insecticide they eat the leaf material away, was banned in the which would “...without the UK in 2013, which otherwise catch insecticide, farmers fungal spores was the farmer’s way of protecting like George have floating around oil seed rape from the air, and very little control in the cabbage stem reduces the leaf over the beetle flea beetle, which area for the attacks. But this can decimate fields beetle to land of the crop. Without hasn’t put him off...” on. The sheep the insecticide, will reduce farmers like George have very the crops yield, but you save on little control over growing costs making it cheaper

FARMING

to make a margin. It is all about doing the sums.

Poppy politics The poppies have historically been a success, but unfortunately, after 15 years of growing them, they have fallen foul to politics. One of the main products from the poppies has been morphine but this can no longer be exported.

George, alongside other poppy growers, has been working to put pressure on the Home Office to grant poppy growers a licensing scheme, but so far this hasn’t materialised and without it, halves the return from the crop, so it isn’t financially viable anymore. The area will be replaced with more beans, increasing the protein crop production.

Leave the worms alone The farm is in environmental land management schemes and herbal leys. These are a new addition to the farming system and George has added them to the rotation to improve the farm’s soil. Soil is an area George has become increasingly passionate about and as we talk you realise it has driven many of the changes in his farm management.

The biggest change has been the ‘retirement’ of the plough, last seen working on the farm in 2012! George has moved to a notill drilling technique, shallowing up cultivations over the past ten years.

Many factors influenced this decision, but fundamentally George recognised that it was bad on the soil structure. The worm is an arable farmer’s unsung hero; they recycle organic matter and improve soil structure as they burrow through soil. For George, as the plough turned the soil upside down once a year, it became

Earthworms are an excellent indicator of soil health; plough-based horticultural systems have been found to have the lowest worm populations

environment. George sees that maddening watching the waiting everyone has a connection with seagulls feed on half the worms our industry by eating food every in the soil. Now, by leaving the day and he hopes that he sparks soil undisturbed whilst drilling some interest for the children the seeds for the next crop, the to go away and question what worms are left to work their is out there and what is being magic. produced.

It is so “as the plough turned There is clearly enlightening to hear George talk the soil upside down a high level of about what drives once a year, it became satisfaction taken from these him to continually maddening watching school visits and improve his the waiting seagulls George is keen farming system; to encourage he recognises feed on half the farmers to over his farming worms in the soil” fellow take the plunge career the or encourage industry’s change, a school to get involved, not and his change, in approach to forgetting that in Dorset the farming. The environment has risen up the agenda for us all and County Show’s Fabulous Food & Farming | 1840 Education on his farm it plays a key role in Fund has been set up to support the decision-making process. schools with travel costs to a The farm also runs cattle and farm. sheep; there are 55 beef cattle When I asked about the future of and two handsome bulls, a Red farming, there was real positivity: Angus and a Hereford. The farm of course, the Government plays hosts some of the river Stour an important role in this period valley water meadows and the cattle always ‘finish’ well on these of change for our industry in shaping the surrounding policy, lush pastures. but there was a real positivity about the future from George, Farm, school exploring ideas of branding and Alongside George’s desire to increased traceability for the fine tune the farming detail, farm business. he has another passion that he confessed he drops everything to Alongside all George’s farming activities, he still finds time do. Hosting schools on his farm. to scribe a monthly farming With a farm in which all subjects broadcast - View from the hill | can be taught (although there was a distinct lack of enthusiasm Day to day life on a Dorset Farm - and I’d encourage you to hear for covering the languages!)

George feels strongly the benefits directly from George what he’s up to, because for someone who to opening children’s eyes to is open to learning all the time, farming. it makes for exciting times and The visits are centred around reading! food production and the 57

In association with

by James Cossins

Keeping poultry can be ‘fowl’ through winter bird flu season

VOICE OF A FARMER A Rawston Farm turkey. Two interesting turkey facts for you: only male turkeys gobble, and their poop identifies their gender (a male’s poop will be shaped like the letter J, while the female’s is more spiral-shaped!)

A surge in people keeping their own poultry during the lock-down egg shortage could be why ‘bird flu’ is spreading from wild to domestic fowl, argues James Cossins Here at Rawston farm we are all year. This year has been the about producing and sourcing worst the UK has seen, with local. We don’t just rear our own currently 80 outbreaks across the beef; we also rear own Christmas country, and it’s not only in wild turkeys for the butchery and birds but also domestic birds. shop.

With current bird flu regulations, We were pleased with the DEFRA advice is to keep all quality of our turkeys and have poultry inside or netted to received positive feedback from prevent wild birds from coming customers. This is what gives me into contact with poultry and to great pleasure in rearing our own prevent wild birds from using turkeys - it is of huge concern the same food and water source. to us that we ensure a good Please look at DEFRA’s website Christmas dinner for you. for more information.

But rearing turkeys does have its challenges: one night we had Guarantee of high quality a visit from Mr Fox who beat us As an Arla Milk producer we get to the birds’ evening lock-up and regular audits from independent sadly took five turkeys as an early vets to look at our cattle from a Christmas dinner. Greedy! health and welfare prospective.

The winter is a This ensures that all challenging time Arla’s milk can be sold “Mr Fox beat for all poultry with a guarantee of high us to the birds’ standards. As a producer producers and hobbyists evening lock-up we keep records of any should be and sadly took health problems that aware too. may occur. five turkeys as an All medicines we use During covid, early Christmas are recorded on a with a national shortage of dinner. Greedy!” computerised system. eggs, many Our own vet from the people wanting Damory Vet Practice has their own eggs bought chickens worked out our total medicine and ducks. useage for the last year and Bird flu (also known as avian determined whether our usage influenza) is rife at this time of has changed and also how we 58

compare with the other dairy producers within the practice.

Our audit takes place next week and we are hoping that we meet their necessary requirements to continue with our Arla milk contract.

In the past vets have been helpful in advising where we can improve on any particular issues that we face. They are keen to see records where we have had the cows independently scored for mobility (for example, is there any lameness present) and the overall appearance of our cattle. Let’s hope for a positive outcome!

Winter feeding We do out-winter some animals on a forage crop and bales of straw and silage. So far, this winter has been kind to them, apart from the wet period over Christmas.

We always try to choose free draining fields with hedges for shelter and often they can be in a more healthy environment than animals kept inside buildings through the winter.

As we move through February the days are finally getting longer, and hopefully there will no more bad winter weather.

FARM TALES

by Andrew Livingston

The names we farmers get called…

…are often predictable and not always flattering. But a new term has appeared which reflects modern green thinking, says Andrew Livingston Farmers get called a lot of names – and they’re not always nice: yokel, yeoman, crofter.

Even Worzel Gummidge still!

But a term I recently heard was that we are Carbon Stewards. Well, that’s a step up, and pretty fitting with the current fight with climate change.

Any good carbon steward worth their salt will have to know their way around their dirt. You really can’t get away from soil… it is quite literally everywhere!

Still to this day, in the 21st century, I don’t believe we know everything about the earth underneath our feet. On a basic level, soil is made up of five ingredients - minerals, organic matter, living organisms, gas and water.

As I stated last month, ploughing is now seen as an archaic practice; the breaking of the soil releases carbon dioxide into the air. Now, arable farmers are being instructed to plant what is called a cover crop to introduce more carbon into the ground - a process called carbon sequestration.

Enrich the soil by doing less Cover crops are designed to feed the earth rather than the farmer and his customers. Predominantly, when cover crops are grown to the required height, rather than being harvested, they are killed in the field so their matter can feed back into the soil. Richer soil health is not only better for the environment, but it can also increase the health and yield of your cash crop.

Additionally, the roots of the cover crop help trap and hold moisture - which can later water any nearby growing plants and vegetation, rather than having to use an irrigation system.

Finally, cover crops add important nutrients such as nitrogen into the soil, improving the growth of your harvest crop that sow into the ground next.

many nutrients, water and carbon dioxide into the ground before your next crop comes in. Companion crops will be grown alongside your cash crops, with the added benefit of attracting pollinators to the cash crop. With the constant reduction of pesticides being used on farms, farmers are also beginning to grow ‘sacrificial’ crops for pests such as insects and birds to eat. Think of it as placing a McDonalds next to a Michelin Star restaurant to keep the general riff-raff out!

The downside The issue with cover crops is it is hard to see where your profit is coming from. It’s unusual to plant a crop to just kill it where it stands; you wouldn’t rear a lamb to have it slaughtered and left in the field.

Some farmers are admittedly slow to take to cover crops. With margins on farms being so tight, it’s understandable that they don’t look to the future by protecting their soil. It’s not that they don’t want to take on that mantle of ‘carbon steward’, it’s more that they are worried that fighting for your ground doesn’t put food on the table or the shops.

Thankfully, the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) is to have funding for farmers who look to nurture their soil. Also, some water companies are offering grants for farmers’ cover crops to help trap nitrogen in the soil. (play the short video below with sound UP to enjoy a Purple Tansy cover crop in Dorset last summer)

How they’re used There are two main types of cover crops; ‘catch’ and ‘companion’. The first aims to catch and store as

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DORSET FORAGER

by Carl Mintern

See details and availability of Carl’s local foraging courses on his website Self sufficient Hub here

Chickweed is abundant almost all year round, and is an amazingly tasty salad green, packed full of vitamins

Wild (and free) food is springing up!

Few know that the much-derided chickweed is an amazingly tasty salad green packed full of vitamins, says expert forager Carl Mintern, who shares what you can find in February on your daily walk February definitely feels like winter, but with the days lengthening we can turn our thought toward the spring.

Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) were introduced by the Romans, who used it as a pot herb. It tastes like parsley; leaves can be used in salads and the stems are delicious steamed, boiled, or lightly fried and tossed in butter

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Shoots are starting to appear in hedgerows and snowdrops are already making their welcome appearance.

Some wild plants or edible mushrooms are available, or even at their best, right now!

Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) are one such plant.

Alexanders are a biennial first introduced to our shores by the Romans, who brought it with them as a pot herb. They are among the best wild vegetables of spring. It is widespread, some would call it invasive, in coastal regions around the Blackmore Vale, across the whole of the south of the country in fact but can also be seen inland.

Hedgerows are where you should be looking for this plant. You can pick the stems right now and they will continue to be harvestable when the first flower buds appear in late March and April and beyond.

With a flavour similar to angelica

by Carl Mintern

DORSET FORAGER

or parsley, the stems are delicious steamed or boiled, or lightly fried tossed in butter. Salads can be invigorated with their leaves and flowers.

As always, be sure you know what you are collecting: never munch on a hunch (as every forager knows). Particular care must be made to avoid some of this plant’s cousins in the carrot family, which include both hemlock and hemlock water dropwort, both of which are deadly.

The lowly chickweed A particular favourite of mine is Chickweed (Stellaria media). This common plant is an amazingly tasty salad green and is packed full of vitamins. This weed can replace lettuce in any salad and is out there growing right now. It can be found in meadows, waste ground and gardens. The beautiful white flowers will also liven up the appearance of a salad.

Chickweed is abundant almost all year round and is certainly one every forager should add to their repertoire.

Winter mushrooms Finally, let’s mention a great winter fungus, the velvet shank mushroom (Flammulina velutipes). You can find these bright coloured orangebrown caps fruiting through the winter. Velvet shank mushrooms are saprophytic, meaning they live on dead and decaying trees. Look for orange-coloured caps (3-7cm across when fully grown), growing in large profusions. They have a glutinous layer to their caps in all but the driest conditions.

They are related to species of mushrooms cultivated in Japan and are a great mushroom to add to asian dishes. They superficially look like some other species including the deadly funeral bell. But while the funeral bell is a summer/ autumn mushroom, the velvet shank is a winter bloomer.

This lovely species will start showing itself in early winter and can continue until around March.

The velvet shank mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) are at their best right now, are a great mushroom to add to asian dishes

See details and availability of Carl’s local foraging courses on his website Self sufficient Hub here 61

WILDLIFE

by Jane Adams

Jane Adams - Naturalist. bTB Badger Vaccinator. Nature writer.

Photographer. Bee Watcher.

Eighty glistening eyes stared at me!

‘I was shocked when I heard a loud gurgling sound as I took the bins out one night – but was delighted when I saw what it meant’, says Jane Adams I first heard the gurgling when I I hadn’t given frogs much was putting the recycling out. thought until then. Well, you It was a dark, wet night, and as I don’t, do you? dragged the bin to the curb, the And yet ‘common frogs’ are far sound grew louder. I wondered less common than their name if the sewer under the lawn suggests. Slug and snail killing was blocked again, and sighed. pesticides have cleared many Poking rods down the drain gardens “for a few days, hadn’t been a pleasant of the experience. common our previously Weirdly, when I returned frogs’ lifeless pond with a torch, the sound had biggest overflowed with food stopped. But waving a light around the garden, its beam sex crazed frogs” source. came to rest on something Imported unexpected; eighty glistening diseases have weakened and frog eyes. And as I stared killed them. And, in the UK, back, their gurgling and croaks we’ve lost 500,000 ponds in the restarted. last century. Is it any wonder common frog numbers have The possibly-wrong pond been falling for over 40 years?

We’d dug a pond the previous autumn. Friends had helped.

The start of something good Dreams of dragonflies flying That year, the first year I saw round the garden had spurred us them, February started icy cold, on. At 2x1 metres, the pond was then turned to drizzle; the cue small. But it had a shallow and a frogs need to emerge from the deep end, and a liner, and we’d undergrowth and spawn. For a thrown in a few native aquatic few days, our previously lifeless plants. We weren’t sure if what pond had overflowed with sex we were doing was right, but it crazed frogs, and their clumps of was worth a go. spawn filled the shallows. Local 62

frogs had needed a pond, and I hadn’t even realised.

Fourteen years later, that same small pond is now the wildlife hub of our garden. Mammals and birds use it to drink and bathe. Dragonflies, damselflies, newts, and toads lay their eggs amongst its weeds.

And, as I drag the recycling out to the curb, and February’s drizzle descends, I smile at the sound of gurgling.

How you can help your local frogs: •

Add a pond; they prefer one 2m across, but even a tiny ‘pond in a pot’ helps

•

Provide piles of rocks, logs and leaves; spaces to shelter from predators, shade in hot summers and for food foraging

•

Avoid using pesticides and slug pellets; an unwanted garden pest is welcome food for frogs and toads, and the chemicals may be harmful

click here for more tips

by Jeannette Hampstead

WILDLIFE

How to ensure your garden hogs finish hibernating successfully

Now is the time for cleaning hedgehog houses and ensuring they are not confused when they wake in the spring, says Jeanette Hampstead I am often asked when hedgehog houses should be cleaned out. Well, the time is now!

Hedgehogs that are going to hibernate are probably well asleep by now so it’s an ideal opportunity to have a little look.

Gently, and as quietly as possible, open the lid of the hedgehog house and part the nesting material. If there is a hedgehog in residence they will probably jump or make a hissing noise. If that happens just replace the nest! You could put some more hay in as well, then quietly replace the lid and withdraw.

Try to put the house back into the same position so the waking hedgehog knows exactly where it is and can find the food you leave out for it.

If the house is empty remove all the nesting material and insects. I clean mine with bleach and animal cleaning spray to remove any ticks or mites that reside unseen in the cracks and crevasses.

Rinse well with water - from a hose is best. Allow to dry completely before replacing the hay back into the house.

cold. They are colder than freezing. It may be that they are so well asleep they are not aware of their surroundings, so replace the nesting material and the lid. Leave them alone to wake in the spring.

I sometimes put some newspaper on the top of the old hay to soak up the tiny bit of condensation the sleeping hedgehogs produce but it is not necessary.

How to deter cats Any old or broken houses could be used as feeding stations. By putting hay in the entrance tunnel, Keep feeding you may deter cats from pushing through to the Feeding in winter is also a personal choice. I stop food; they often do not like the feel of it on their feeding wet cat food in jelly and just give dry food whiskers. when the weather becomes cold. Wet food freezes, Where to place a hedgehog house is personal whereas dry cat biscuits do not. There is no need choice - I usually put mine under a bush or hedge to crush, soak or break the biscuits. Crunching with the entrance facing into the overgrown area them is really good for hedgehog teeth so just feed to give it some protection from the weather. them as they are.

Having said that, we have Continuing to give the food into a feeding had hedgehogs nesting station helps those waking early from “a hibernating in houses placed in the hedgehog is really hibernation. Also they know where to find middle of the lawn, food if it is left in the same place regularly. cold. Colder than Research has shown that hedgehogs can wake and even in an upsidefreezing. Dead cold” up as many as seven times over a winter. It is down house waiting to be cleaned in a pile of thought they wake because they are hungry, dirt houses! Hedgehogs nest wherever they feel thirsty or have a full bladder. Some wake to move comfortable, and do not appear to realise there house too. are any rules they should be sticking to.

The Hazelbury Bryan Hedgehog Rescue has It’s not dead! been incredibly busy in 2021; we are currently Just as an aside; if you open a hedgehog house making provisions to buy a new incubator as and you find a hedgehog that is not moving or two is often not enough. Funding help is much making a noise, do not automatically think it is needed - if you are able to contribute you can dead. A hibernating hedgehog is really cold. Dead donate via our paypal account here.

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VET

Protect your pets from antifreeze!

All animals, but particularly cats, are susceptible if they ingest common antifreeze. How to protect them – and how to spot suspected poisoning is explained by Leanne Garrett RVN ISFMDipFN It is important to remember at this time of year that screen wash and other antifreeze solutions contain the very toxic chemical Ethylene glycol.

Ethylene glycol is used to prevent freezing, most commonly used in cars but can also be found in paints and even in ornamental snow globes!

This chemical is extremely toxic to all animals (including humans!) but cats are more susceptible due to their metabolic differences.

This metabolic difference in cats means that even when a very small amount is ingested it causes very rapid and fatal injury to the kidneys which can result in death.

Cats are weird. They like it.

Cats are most commonly exposed when it has leaked into a puddle, been spilled when topping up car fluid levels or drained into a container in a garage. Cats can also be poisoned by drinking rain water that collects in a vessel that previously contained antifreeze.

Unfortunately, ethylene glycol is super tasty to cats, which is why it is so important to be vigilant and take extra care when using the chemical. It should only ever be used in closed systems (such as car engine coolant systems). Any coolant drained from cars needs to be disposed of carefully in tightly closed containers. Any spillages should be cleaned and mopped up thoroughly. Bottles containing 64

ethylene glycol should be stored carefully and tightly closed.

If you are worried that your cat may have ingested ethylene glycol you should take your cat to the vet immediately! - the sooner medical treated is started the better chance of survival.

Signs of antifreeze poisoning: • Increased urination • Increased drinking • Vomiting • Depression • Lethargy (being abnormally sleepy) • Appearing drunk and uncoordinated • Seizures (fitting) • Abnormally fast heartbeat • Very fast, shallow breathing • • • •

How to avoid accidental poisonings: Never add antifreeze to garden water-features or ponds.

Always keep antifreeze in clearly labelled, robust, sealed containers, away from pets and their environment.

Clean up any spills immediately, no matter how small, and make sure pets cannot access the area until it is clean and safe.

Always dispose of antifreeze safely - contact your local authority for advice.

RESCUE ANIMALS

Can you be a dog foster ‘pawrent’?

Dogs Trust is looking for local dog lovers to open their homes and volunteer to foster a dog whilst they wait to find their forever home.

Emma Sainsbury, co-ordinator of the Home from Home fostering scheme at Dogs Trust Salisbury, says “Some of the dogs that come into our rehoming centres just aren’t cut out for kennels – these may be young puppies, older dogs, dogs with injuries/ medical conditions, and sometimes we just run out of space. We’re looking for foster carers that are happy to take dogs into their home until we can find a forever home for them. They all really benefit from home comforts and the love of a family.

“Fostering is completely free and we’ll provide everything you could possibly need; food, bedding, toys, treats etc. And we’re on hand to provide 24hour guidance and training advice.”

The Salisbury branch of the charity is looking to recruit a number of foster carers, but there are some requirements to qualify as a foster for their dogs: • an adult will be around for the majority of the day • You will have no pets or children under 12 • you will have a secure garden • you are willing to take on dogs who need training • you live no more than an hour’s drive from the Salisbury centre, and have your own transport so that you can take a foster dog to meet potential adopters, or attend appointments at the centre.

“We know the requirements to become a foster carer are very specific, but we really hope that there are people out there who want to give dogs a little bit of extra TLC in their hour of need. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, we would love to hear from you!”

Although dog lovers with children and other pets can become foster carers, foster homes without children or other animals make it easier for the dog to fit into their new home life.

If you think you can offer a rescue dog the type of foster home we are looking for please contact hfhsalisbury@dogstrust.org.uk

Jimmy is a 10 month old large Lurcher

Chester is an older English Springer Can you give one of these boys a forever home?

Poppy is a shy 12 year old Cairn Terrier X

Sponsor an Animal!

Registered charity number: 1167990

Did you know that you can sponsor an animal at our Church Knowle Centre for just £5 per month?

In return for your monthly donation, your chosen animal will send you twice yearly updates on their adventures and what they have been getting up to with their furry friends.

Not only is this the perfect treat for yourself, but you could also gift a sponsorship package to a loved one this Valentine’s Day! By sponsoring an animal at the centre, you can help us to look after and save another.

Please visit our website to meet our sponsor animals and download a form: www.margaretgreenanimalrescue.org.uk

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NEWS

Suite 7 | Second Floor | Merley House | Merley Park | Wimborne | BH21 3AA | 01202 848203

Clearbrook House | Bristol Road | Sherborne | DT9 4EF | 01202 848203

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NEWS

Take a Hike:

Have you ever explored from Martin Down?

9.5 miles

This route is a personal favourite of ours, a beautiful route at any time of year. These images are from last summer - but we last walked it to check it just two weeks ago. It was January, and the day was grey, cold and damp, and cionsequently so were the pictures. So I thought I’d cheer your viewing with a little much-missed summer sunshine instead. Same route, just six months earlier!

Starting out with easy parking in the less well known Lower Car Park at the back of Martin Down, enjoying easy paths across diverse Dorset landscapes, climbing the ridge for fantastic views and staying with it before moving into woodlands and descending back across the AONB. Your feet barely touch a road, it’s all well-signed footpaths and bridleways.

The routes we feature have always been created and walked recently by ourselves, so you know you can trust them - we aim for unpopulated routes with as little road and as many views as possible!

You can always see the route and follow it yourself via the free Outdoor Active app - see all our routes here.

All images Laura Hitchcock 68

The view from the top of the first climb up Blagdon Hill - you can just make out the car park half way to the horizon

CLICK THE MAP TO SEE THE ROUTE ON OUTDOOR ACTIVE, OR SCAN THE QR CODE

The first climb from the car is the worst; it’s not steep but it does just Keep. Going. Up. But what’s not to love about walking past Toby’s Bottom? Do keep an eye on the map in Boulsbury Wood; detour slightly to Mear’s Pond for a quiet pause. When you reach the summit of Pentridge Hill, have a quick explore through the pine trees to appreciate the views on the other side of the hill before moving on.

Important Note: If the weather has been wet then do take our alternative, one mile shorter variation here which has a diversion around the corner near Boulsbury Farm. As the track passes through a large pig unit it follows a narrow track which is often unpleasantly filled with slurry. It is impassable after wet weather.

As you leave the woodland behind it’s impossible not to stop at this stile for a minute to absorb the surprise view that has opened up across Tidpit Common Down

Surely I’m not the only one to get the urge to charge up this path with arms flung wide? Be ready for that gorgeous forest you’re about to head into

one of my favouirite holloways, is as you leave Boulsbury Wood

Old forest, tall new trees.

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FLOWERS

by Charlotte Tombs

Spanking naked young ladies!

A Valentine’s bouquet from Dorset Flower Co, full of British flowers - a gorgeous mix of doubles and singles tulips, alstromeria and narcissus with Dorset-grown foliage.

The charming tradition of sending Valentine’s Day cards and flowers to loved ones has a racier origin than you’d imaging, says (a blushing) Charlotte Tomb!

It’s still far too early for my smothered (take your pick) the flowers to make an appearance, celebrations and made them though it won’t be too long and their own (not to the extent that there are a few brave souls the Romans did, and readers showing their faces already: the may well have mixed views on early daffodils, snowdrops and this). hellebores.

In the centuries that followed, So I thought I’d do some two early Christian martyrs research and find out a little met their grisly ends on the more about St Valentines Day 14th February and it is thought and how it came about. that both their names were Many holidays and traditions Valentinus, the Latin for that we celebrate today seem to Valentine. have their roots planted in Pagan In 496AD Pope Gelasius history. declared the 14th February as ‘St St Valentine’s Day seemingly (as Valentines Day’ and it became a there appears to be conflicting Christian feast day. views) has its beginnings in a Pagan fertility festival called ’My sweet Valentine’ Lupercalia (‘the god of fertility In 1382 Chaucer celebrated the and flocks’) which was celebrated engagement of the young King in Ancient Rome between the Richard II to Anne of Bohemia 13th and 15th on St Valentine’s Day. “running naked And another reference February. through the It is said that the is from an inmate of festival involved the Tower of London, streets and people running a Duke referred spanking young where naked through in a letter to his wife maidens on the ‘as my very sweet the streets and spanking young bottom with Valentine’. maidens on the leather whips” By 1601 William bottom with leather Shakespeare mentions whips - apparently this was to aid Valentine in Ophelia’s lament fertility (really? Not in Dorset and in Hamlet, and by 1797 it was definitely not in February!). common practice for sweethearts As with many of the old Pagan to pass love notes to each other. festivals, the early Christian With the introduction of the church adopted/absorbed/ Penny Post in 1840 by the 70

Royal Mail it became not only affordable but possible to send cards anonymously with pre-printed verses and pretty pictures not too dissimilar to the cards of today. Then racier cards began to appear which shocked the prudish Victorians.

That’s more than enough history.

- back to flowers where I am on safer ground.

Don’t spend the earth for your Valentine There are British flowers available to buy for your Valentine - and they won’t cost the earth (literally), unlike the rather pitiful foreign red roses flown thousands of miles around the world.

They are a little harder to find, but a good local place to start is The Dorset Flower Company near Dorchester who offer amazing bunches of flowers (see image), plus total transparency as to where your flowers come from: all bouquets come with a card giving the provenance of every stem.

The best way to find a reliable local British flower seller is to use the Flowers from the Farm website, which shows growers and florists who (like myself and The Dorset Flower Co) only use British grown flowers.

ADVERTORIAL

Finally February!

We finally made it through what was seemingly the longest January in history, and the Thorngrove team are looking ahead to a year of getting involved and ‘being more’...

Well that was the longest January in history wasn’t it? We made it though!

2022 is well underway and we’re excited for what’s to come.

Planting season continues, with Kale, Basil, Tomatoes, Aubergines and Broad Beans some of the key things you be sowing in Feb. Don’t forget the Summer flowering bulbs too – get them in pots this month so you’ll have plenty for your garden come July.

For any guidance on how to get the most out of your planting, just stop by for a chat.

Keen to be involved At Thorngrove we’re naturally planning for spring and summer, but we’re also considering more ways to get ourselves involved with the community.

As we’ve often previously mentioned, we want to be more than your local garden centre; we want to be that resource for advice, an event destination, and a presence beyond our

gates. Whether that’s by getting to talk about, and we love your involved with South & South feedback, comments, and shows East in Bloom (in which our staff of support. recently won awards), returning We’ve thrown ourselves into to the Gillingham & Shaftesbury the deep end and really tried show, or supporting small to ramp up the content we put community efforts. out, and we’re not slowing down.

If you have a project you’re Our Instagram will be exclusively working on – please do get in beautiful plant photography from touch, there may now on, and we’d love be something we share your photos “there may be to can do to help…our too! something we Budding photographer plants look pretty good, you know! can do to help… proud of your garden our plants look space? Maybe a new Plenty to say item from Thorngrove pretty good, you has pride of place? Let We’re also making know!” some tweaks to our us know – we’d love to online presence’. highlight it.

The community of followers Speaking of beautiful images – we’ve built on Facebook and we’re also immensely proud to Instagram have been so good have launched our new range to us in the last couple of years. of 100% eco-friendly greetings With the launch of our online cards, featuring unique and shop during the pandemic, our original Thorngrove photography. gorgeous new shop space on Just another step towards our site, the café revamp, all the mission of making ourselves a usual garden tips, ‘plant of the garden centre you can be proud month’... we always have lots of. See you soon!

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In association with with Barry Cuff

The voice of the allotment:

It’s the season for choosing - and making a start on the sowing

Barry Cuff shares what’s happening on an allotment you might expect to be bare in January, along with an annual potato trip.

One of the main events in our allotment year is the trip to Mill House Nurseries at Owermoigne for our seed potatoes - they stock over 80 varieties. This year there were 21 first earlies, 16 second earlies and 45 main crop all accompanied with details of disease resistance and main cooking characters.

Each year we aim to grow one or two new varieties.

A variety of potatoes We chose Sagitta (superb flavour best chips and mash) and Royal. This variety was bred for McCains (The perfect all rounder. Makes superb chips, roasties, mash and jackets. Excellent flavour with good disease resistance). We bought enough tubers for a line of each. The rest of our crop will be tried and tested varieties. These are Foremost, Charlotte, Elfe, Rooster, Picasso and International Kidney. Once home the tubers were stood up in egg trays and put in the garage with natural light and frost free.

Peppers and beans All our vegetables are grown from seed either directly into the soil, or in pots and plugs for transplanting.

We ordered them all last year, and they arrived

back in September and October - the majority were bought from Kings Seeds (as we belong to the South West Counties Allotment Association we get a fifty percent discount on their catalogue price), but there are a few varieties which Kings do not stock, and we obtain these from Fothergills and Thompson & Morgan.

As of today (26th January) we have sown and pricked out about 15 chilli peppers and 25 sweet peppers. Sown in the greenhouse in trays of compost are 50 seeds Masterpiece Green Longpod beans and 50 Witkiem Manita broad beans. These should be ready to plant out late February.

Still harvesting Out on the plot the autumn-planted garlic is doing well, and we are still digging carrots, parsnips, leeks and celeriac. A few celery have survived the frosts; admittedly they are not brilliant at this late stage, but the centres are good for soup.

From our store and freezer we are still enjoying potatoes, onions, squash, sweetcorn, peas and French Beans.

Only one third of our plot will be dug as usual and we hope to do this once cleared of crops over the next two months.

Barry Cuff ’s annual trip to Mill House Nurseries at Owermoigne for seed potatoes - selecting from over 80 varieties, all accompanied by details of disease resistance and main cooking characteristics.

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by Pete Harcom at Sherton Abbas Gardening

Garden jobs for February This month can be used to get yourself properly prepared for springtime.

The following jobs will help, says gardener Pete Harcom Tips for Basic housekeeping • Clean up and consider fumigating the greenhouse - this will help keep pests under control.

• How about installing a water butt now, ready for the summer? Rainwater is particularly useful for watering acid-loving, ericaceous plants.

• Find out what type of soil you have. Invest in a soil testing kit to help you choose the right plants for your garden.

• Wash empty pots by scrubbing them with hot water and a mild detergent. Rinse them well afterwards.

• Keep feeding the birds, hangup fat balls and keep bird feeders topped up.

What you should be pruning • Prune winter-blooming shrubs such as mahonia, winter jasmine and heathers, once they’ve finished flowering - but be careful not to cut back into old wood.

• Cut back wisteria side shoots to three buds from the base, to encourage abundant flowers in spring.

• Prune buddleia and elder hard back - right to the base - to keep these vigorous shrubs to a reasonable size. Trust me. They’ll grow back!

• Trim back ivy and deciduous hedges, Virginia creeper and any other climbers. Do this now, before birds start nesting and to keep gutters and windows clear.

• Prune summer-flowering clematis towards the end of the month, before active growth begins.

Cut stems back to healthy buds about 30cm from the base.

Get ready for sowing • It’s a good idea to organise this year’s seeds by sowing date. Get hold of a box with dividers, and file your seed packets by the month they need to be sown in. This will make life a lot easier in the weeks to come.

Start now for show-stopping summer fuchsias • If you have a cold greenhouse you can start potted Fuchsias back into growth. Prune overwintered fuchsias back to one or two buds on each shoot. For the next few months if you pinch out the lead bud on every shoot, you will have lots more flowers in the summer. Showquality Fuchsias (used for showing later in the

Fuchsias are a popular patio plant, but have a habit of becoming leggy when overwintered. Pete shares his pinching out method to ensure yours will be covered in summer flowers

year), are pinched out like this.

Removing the growing tip stimulates the side shoots into growth, so, instead of having one main stem, you double the shoots each time you pinch out. These side shoots will then take precedence.

Let those side shoots grow until they have two or three pairs of leaves, then remove their growing tips. Repeat this process until you’re happy with your fuchsia form, though it’s best to stop pinching out around June at the latest.

Having pinched out several times, you’ll have a nice bushy plant with lots of growth, lots of flowers and maybe even a show quality plant!

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CHARITY NEWS

More support for women in rural communities in Dorset

A Dorset charity for women, The Water Lily Project, has launched a new initiative to help disadvantaged women and particularly those in rural areas in our region get back into education or the world of work.

The Water Lily Project, which has worked with vulnerable women in the community for over 10 years, is putting particular emphasis on women from deprived and rural areas of the county.

Project Manager Liz Carter explained: “It’s a fact that it’s often women from poorer or rural areas whose life chances for continuing their education or becoming employed are reduced significantly.

“Giving them the opportunity to learn and reboot their career chances is vital for empowering them to live independent lives and fulfil their potential.

We are asking women to come and EAT with us – ‘empower, activate and train’.

“We know from our years of helping women in crisis that equipping a person with the right life skills is a vital building block in their route to helping themselves improve their own circumstances.”

This scheme is offering 24 places to women aged

18 or over who are currently unemployed or economically inactive. The European Union Social Fund and the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) fund it along with support by Groundwork UK, a federation of charities mobilising practical community action on poverty and the environment across the UK. The women will benefit from mentoring and fullyfunded training suited to their individual needs for five hours a week for 20 weeks to help equip them with the skills to get a job or to continue their chosen path of education.

The Water Lily Project is keen to hear from other support agencies across Dorset, especially those in rural areas, who may be working with women who meet these criteria and could benefit from the scheme.

To find out more about the how the scheme can help you or someone you know, please contact Liz Carter via email: manager@waterlilyproject.org.uk

Wessex Group raises £5,000 for Dorset Charity Teddy20 After a year of fundraising, Wessex Group Ltd, based in Shaftesbury, is thrilled to present Teddy20 with a cheque for £5,000.

From fancy dress to cake baking competitions, the teams have pulled out all the stops and had huge fun doing so. For the most recent fundraiser the teams held a Christmas tombola with an impressive array of prizes donated by staff, suppliers and customers. Prizes included a 55” flat screen tv, Virginia Hayward hampers, wine, champagne and a lot of chocolate. The raffle tickets alone raised over £2,000.

In 2021, Sam James from the Wessex Property Care team nominated Teddy20 for the company’s annual fundraising charity.

Sam described his rationale “Teddy20 provide funding to families to ease financial pressures, offer a holiday respite in their ‘Ted Shack’ holiday home, and host parties, events and experiences for the children and their families. They also donate money to research into various forms of cancer.

I volunteer in various ways for this charity, and they never fail to blow me away with their amazing work. They work so hard to raise the money, let alone the work they do with the money. They are local heroes and the money we would raise would

do so much good for so many families suffering the effects of children’s cancer.”

Simon Morgan, Director said, “The staff are fantastic and always get stuck in to raise money; it is heartening to know that the fun we have at the events go to a very worthy cause.”

Owen Newton, Founder of Teddy20 said, “We are very thankful to Wessex for their efforts this year and the amount they have raised for Teddy20. We survive solely on donations and their support will help us continue to provide support to children and young people suffering with cancer.”

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CHARITY NEWS

Hall & Woodhouse raises over £1million for charity in a decade

Local family brewers Hall & Woodhouse raised over £126,000 through various partnerships over the last charity year.

Jon Mead completed a gruelling challenge to cycle to each of Hall & Woodhouse’s 50 pubs in Dorset to raise vital funds for Dorset Mind.

The money raised in 2021 has brought the company’s total fundraising figure over the past decade to a staggering £1,103,000.

Lucinda Gray, Community Relationships Manager at Hall & Woodhouse, said: “We could not be prouder of the incredible efforts shown by our team and what they have collectively achieved over the past charity year. To be able to take the total money raised in the last decade to over £1million is an extraordinary milestone, and I thank all our team for their ambition and dedication to make this happen.”

Pub Charities A Guinness World Recordbreaking pub quiz, and a challenging group paddleboarding excursion were just some of the events and activities arranged by 76

pubs across the south to raise money for their chosen charity partners. In October 2020 Hall & Woodhouse had launched its local ‘pub charity partnerships’, and now each Managed House team and the team based at the brewery select their own charity partner to support within their local community. £1,867 was raised for Dorset Mind by Hall & Woodhouse team member Jon Mead, by cycling to each of the company’s 50 pubs in Dorset. Jon cycled over 350km over the course of his challenge, which took over 19 hours to complete.

The Crown Hotel in Blandford raised £1,300 for the Blandford Foodbank by hosting a night of live music with Meatloaf tribute act, Meet Loaf, performing the band’s greatest hits.

Additionally, almost £18,000 was collected through Hall & Woodhouse’s charity dish

initiative, which can be found on the menu at all its Managed Houses. The Steak and Tanglefoot Ale Pie proved to be a popular dish with 25p from each pie bought going straight to the pub’s chosen charity partner.

Lucinda Gray added: “we are constantly looking for new ways to reach out to those who need our support. Our pub teams have faced many challenges over the last few years and yet they continued to prioritise charity fundraising activities and our guests have responded generously in support.

“Our teams are excitedly making plans with their charity partners for the year ahead to ensure we raise even more money in 2022. Activities include the return of our own Dorset Beer Festival to be held at the brewery on Saturday 25th June with all profits from this event going to Dorset Mind.”

CHARITY NEWS

Local law firm raised thousands for Weldmar Hospicecare during Make A Will month

For the third consecutive year, Blanchards Bailey participated in drafting Wills in return for a donation to Dorchester’s Weldmar Hospicecare.

Throughout October 2021, the private client department at Blanchards Bailey LLP undertook the drafting of thirty Wills in aid of Weldmar Hospicecare based in Dorchester. Clients referred via the scheme met with members of Blanchards Bailey’s thirty two strong, specialist private client team, to complete their Wills and In lieu of paying a fee to their solicitors, clients donated £120 or £180 to Weldmar Hospicecare and some left a legacy in their Will to Weldmar.

Following a recent update from Weldmar it has been confirmed that, once realised, the work carried out by Blanchards Bailey will result in donations of between £3,600 - £5,400 to Weldmar.

Support for Dorset adults with a life limiting illness Sarah Balchin, Weldmar Hospicecare’s Legacy, In Memory

and Trust Fundraiser said; “We cannot thank Blanchards Bailey LLP enough for all their proactive support. Our Make A Will Month has seen a very successful third year, especially at this difficult time with the continuing Covid-19 pandemic. Thank you also to everyone who booked an appointment and made a donation to Weldmar.

All the donations received, and the gifts left for us in Wills, will allow us to continue caring for adults in Dorset who have a life limiting illness, and supporting their loved ones too, with all of our services provided for free.”

Jerome Dodge, Head of the Private Client Department at BBLLP added; “Blanchards Bailey are keen supporters of local charity endeavours. Although we tend to focus on fundraising for a specific nominated charity each year, when we are approached by a charity and are able to help,

we are always happy to do our bit. We were delighted to be involved in Weldmar’s Make a Will Month once again.”.

Throughout the three years of the Weldmar Hospicecare Make a Will Month, the scheme has raised over £30,000 of donations for the charity which provides free vital end of life care for people living in Dorset who need specialist support.

To find out how to participate in Make A Will Month in October this year, see here.

If you would like to speak with our private client department about creating a new Will or updating a current Will, please contact Jerome Dodge, Head of Blanchards Bailey’s Private Client department, on 01258 459 361.

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by Heather Brown

FOOD & DRINK

The most dreamy brownies (and they’re gluten free) • • • • •

100g butter 150g caster sugar 100g soft brown sugar 50g golden syrup 4 eggs

Ingredients • •

70g gluten free plain flour (standard plain flour works too) 275g dark chocolate (broken into pieces) - ensure it is gluten free if necessary

Method • • •

•

• • •

Pre heat the oven to 170º fan/gas 5.

Line an 8” (20cm) square cake pan with baking parchment.

In a saucepan, heat together the butter, caster sugar, soft brown sugar and golden syrup on a medium heat. Make sure to keep stirring so the mixture doesn’t catch and burn.

When the butter has melted and all the ingredients have combined, pour in the chocolate pieces and stir the mixture as they melt.

When the chocolate has completely melted, take the saucepan off the heat.

Add in all 4 eggs and stir them into the mixture until completely combined.

Then tip in the flour and mix slowly until well combined.

Embrace your sweet tooth with these indulgent Creme Egg brownie variations image: Heather Brown

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• •

•

•

Pour the chocolatey batter into the tin and pop into the oven.

Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, check your brownies and turn the pan 180º so it bakes evenly (most ovens don’t bake evenly so its worth doing this step despite the momentary lowering of the oven temperature).

Bake for another 10 minutes. The top should now have cracks right across the middle (not just around the edge) and not ‘jiggle’ in the centre when the pan is gently wobbled. If it is still quite jiggly or it isn’t cracked across the middle, then bake for a further 5 minutes.

Leave to cool in the pan on a wire rack. To cut the brownies cleanly, leave to cool then pop the whole pan into the fridge for a couple of hours. They will then cut with a sharp knife.

I love this recipe - its simple to make, oh-so-dreamy and rich, and it’s gluten free too. I first experimented using gluten free flour to accommodate a dietary requirement but I never went back to plain flour; for some reason it just really works in this recipe! (NB. if you are making this for a coeliac, then do make sure that your chocolate is gluten free too, as not all are).

These recipes make the perfect puddings too - I often serve with fresh raspberries and cream.

If you wanted something a little ‘extra’ then you can bake half a Creme Egg into the top (see image left): just cut the eggs in half and add them to the top after the first 30 minutes baking time and return the tray to the oven).

If you are looking for a pancake recipe for Pancake Day on Tuesday 1st March then check out my recipe from the February 2021 BV magazine here…

Heather x

NEWS Heather Brown is on the committee of the Guild of Food Writers; a home economist with a passion for Dorset’s brilliant foodie scene.

Heather runs Dorset Foodie Feed, championing Dorset’s food and drink businesses, as well as working with her food industry clients.

Dreamy GF brownies image: Heather Brown

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by Rachael Rowe

MEET YOUR LOCAL

When Halstock village shop first opened in 1991, the idea of community-run shops relying on volunteers was at that time visionary.

Meet your local: Halstock Village Shop This month we feature Halstock Village Shop. As you step towards the shop door, there’s an overwhelming sense of community spirit. I’m not sure why that is - and then I met the team, says Rachael Rowe Tony Woodroffe is the Director of the community shop, Bardy Griffiths is the Chair of the Community Shop Committee, and Barry Dennis is the shop manager. Halstock is also one of the best-stocked village shops I have seen (like a Tardis). There’s a constant trail of people stocking up on local goods. I talk to Tony and Bardy in the large community room at the back of the shop.

What’s the story of the shop?

We’ve been going since 1991 and we were one of the very first community shops. When the previous owners retired in 1990, a group of people in the village got together to see what they could do to keep a shop. Funds were raised, and the (recently deceased) Betty Harris drove to Yeovil with £200 to buy stocks to get things going.

We got funding and support from the Plunkett Foundation. Two of our funders, Derek Smith and Richard Fry, were instrumental in getting the shop up and running and they advised other community shops around the country.

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As the business grew, we raised funds to purchase land, enabling us to get the current building and community room in 2013.

Two flats above the shop bring

in rent. We would have struggled without that community room in the pandemic because of all the deliveries. The shop is run under the Halstock Village Trust, and Tony Woodroffe (left) is the Director of the community shop, Bardy Griffiths is the Chair of the Community Shop Committee

MEET YOUR LOCAL

by Rachael Rowe profits are ploughed straight back into the village.

I’ll never forget the first day. We took £200, and I didn’t have a card machine!

And then we found Barry, our manager. I don’t know what we’d do without him. He is marvellous.

How big is the team?

We have 20 volunteers and three paid staff, including a manager and the assistant manager.

Is there a shop pet?

“Pets? Pets? No pets are allowed in this shop. We don’t have any mice either!”

What’s flying off the shelves at the moment?

Barry smiles. “It’s strange for this time of year, but cakes and biscuits are still popular. People are still after their post-Christmas treats! We have always done well with dairy, and our cheeses are popular.”

Tell us about your local suppliers.

We have pretty much everything here. It starts with someone asking Barry if we can get something, and it ends up being supplied. First, there’s bread from Mortimers and Liberty Farm Milk. Then, we get sausages from Sam’s Pigs in Halstock.

can get without having to go to a supermarket. If someone wants something, they just talk to Barry.

The window displays are popular and a real talking point. They are organised by volunteers. Note: A striking Birdwatch display was in the window when I visited - image below left.

What are you most proud of?

The profits! By that I mean they all go back into Halstock Village Trust, so it is directly ploughed into the whole village. It sends a signal as to how successful this shop is to people. We don’t have a pub in Halstock, so the village shop is the community hub. This is where you can learn people’s news or if someone’s struggling or lonely.

Not in a gossipy way but proactively, to support one another. We even have visitors stocking up on local food they can’t buy in their area.

So what’s next?

Extending the shop is our aspiration. We want to build an extension to stock even more things for the local community. But that’s a 5-10 year project.

What has been your biggest challenge?

To begin with, setting up the post office. The Plunkett Foundation helped us a lot. But we had to make daily phone calls to the post office to get the service, and then I had to have an interview to see if I was a suitable person. And then someone had to be designated as the responsible person...

We were fortunate because a local resident who worked in the Yeovil post office could step in for a month, so we didn’t lose the service altogether.

What is your absolute favourite part of the shop?

Well, I don’t know. I do all my shopping here?

What’s so amazing is the number of things you

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FOOD & DRINK

by Sadie Wilkins, Indie Wine Merchant

The art of matchmaking wines

Sometimes selling wine feels like a dating service, says Sadie Wilkins Wine is not just a drink; it’s a talking point, it’s a social tool, a thank you, a sign of gratitude, a celebration, an overdue catch up... the list goes on. Quite simply, we connect through wine, and the bottles we crack open bookmark our lives.

So, every time we recommend a bottle to a customer, whether it be a midweek pause to punctuate a long day or an occasion to mark something special, we see it as a privilege to be trusted with all those small and large moments in people’s lives. In short, we better make sure the wine sings the right tune from the glass, which is a real skill when faced grapes and wines that hail from with a library of wine made up of regions not so mainstream – the 1500 plus bottles! ‘weird and wonderful’ grapes. We Equally, every bottle on our sample everything we source for shelves tells a story – from the the shelves, and we carry it out terroir to the winemaker and blind too, without everything in knowing the price “We sample between. We everything we source – just the varieties follow every and region. It’s for the shelves, and something we are wine we source from grape to we carry it out blind slightly obsessive glass, meeting too, without knowing about as we like winemakers to have zero prethe price” along the way, conceptions and before sharing let the wine do the its story with the good folk who talking. come into our wine shop. So, When you put this altogether, there’s a lot to consider when it means we know and love our making a recommendation – wines for what they are, and feel we’re like a dating service for passionate about sharing them wine drinkers, and we want to with others. make sure that we get a second date.

We’ve got you For us, shopping in an So, let’s put our skills to the test independent should mean and find your perfect match this finding not only great examples Valentine’s Day. Can we be so of the grape varieties, but also bold to guess your brief? interesting interpretations of You want something ‘nice’ to go with a tasty meal that’s more special than your usual but doesn’t break the bank, right?

Well, here’s my thoughts, and I’m going to go with a red and a white that never disappoint!

Though for a personalised

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recommendation, we’d love to see you in person, at the shop, where we can take on the challenge of your brief – whatever it may be!

Sadie’s suggestions: For a red - steak is a Valentine’s staple, and most people choose a Malbec, but here is a little twist.

Morande Reserva Carmenere is simply divine.

Think green bell pepper meets hedgerow fruit, with a firm backbone but without a huge tannin hit. This wine over delivers and every time I enjoy a glass it seems to give me another level of complexity. £12 per bottle.

For a white - Karim Mussi was inspired by his favourite poets to create this wine: William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Jorge Luis Borges and Walt Whitman.

Los Poetas Semillon is a fantastic wine from Argentina that is bursting with white flowers and peach aromas that lead onto citrus and tropical fruit flavour.

Fantastic with white meats, salads, flavoursome fish dishes and even a goat’s cheese tart. £13 per bottle.

PUZZLES

Crossword

Jigsaw

Simply click to complete on your tablet, computer or phone - or there’s a download option if you prefer pen and paper.

Winter Sunset on Okeford Hill (image Laura Hitchcock) Just click the picture to complete the jigsaw

(you can choose a different number of pieces - make it harder or easier, it’s up to you!).

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A CITIZEN’S ADVICE

A local expert from Citizen’s Advice provides timely tips on consumer issues. This Month: what to do if your summer holiday is cancelled?

Q We are hoping to book a holiday abroad this summer but we are worried it might get cancelled and we can’t afford to lose that much money. What can we do to protect ourselves?

A: This summer, many of us will be looking to book that sunny getaway we’ve been dreaming about for the past two years. But things aren’t completely certain so here are some top tips to help you maximize your chances of getting away and, if you can’t, ensure you get refunded: 1. Check the cancellation conditions. If you have to cancel your holiday because you’re unwell or self-isolating, you may not be entitled to a refund. If the cancellation is because of a national lockdown, you should get a refund but it may take longer than normal to process.

2. Check the local entry requirements. You might need a negative test before you fly and may need to self-isolate on arrival. If the destination country

imposes new restrictions after you book but the flight is still going, you may not be entitled to a refund because you no longer want to travel.

Keep in mind that the UK vaccination programme is much further advanced than many countries so they might not re-open at the same pace and in the same way as the UK. 3. Make sure you understand the entry requirements to the UK when you return.

The rules for people who have been vaccinated may be different to the rules for those who have not been vaccinated. Also, things can change quickly and may not be the same when you return as when you booked.

4. Pay by credit card if you can manage the repayments.

If you put at least the deposit on a credit card, the full amount of the holiday costing more than £100 and up to £30,000 is protected by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. If you don’t have a credit card, pay by debit card

rather than by cash, cheque or bank transfer. If things go wrong you can ask the bank to do a chargeback — even though this is voluntary on behalf of the bank, it often works.

5. If your holiday is cancelled, you may be offered refund credit notes.

Some refund credit notes are guaranteed and offer a refund, but they all have time limits. So, make sure the travel agent is protected

by The Travel Association (ABTA). Make sure to use the credit notes or claim the refund before the expiry day. You don’t have to accept a refund credit note for cancelled package holidays which must be refunded in full by law within 14 days.

And, if your flight is cancelled by the airline, you should be refunded within 7 days.

For more help and support, take a look at our advice on holiday and transport or contact our consumer helpline. You should also check the government website advice on foreign travel and on returning to the UK. 85

POLICE Monthly news from the various North Dorset Police Teams. This month’s news from Shaftesbury’s PC Rob Hammond

Knock down ginger isn’t much fun for the vulnerable

Shaftesbury’s policing team has a new sergeant, and PC Rob Hammond says the team have been focusing on anti-social behaviour by youths.

The Shaftesbury team have undergone some changes this year with the departure of the popular PCSO Phil Dibble. He has gone to join Wiltshire Police as a PC, and we wish him luck.

This leaves me (PC 740 Rob Hammond) & PCSO 5382 Su Leatt as your neighbourhood team.

Another change is the departure of our supervisor PS 731 James Francis - he has moved to the youth offending team based in Verwood.

Joining the teams as Sergeant Francis’ replacement is Police Sergeant 1404 Matt Bradley, who comes to us from CID. Once it was ‘knock down ginger’...

Lately we have been focusing on antisocial behaviours (ASB) mainly by youths who seem to think knocking on doors and running away is fun. It’s an old game, but it’s not fun at all for the person who could be vulnerable inside. We have identified some of those responsible, and these have been referred into the youth offending process.

Taking illegal cars off the road Noisy cars and document offences have also been a focus recently. The rural teams regularly seize non-insured vehicles in order to make the roads safer; we try to highlight these on our social media feeds, along with regular updates on all our activities.

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After several reports of this vehicle driving dangerously over recent weeks, officers found it driving around Shaftesbury in the middle of the night with no lights on.

Unfortunately when officers put their blue lights on, the driver didn’t want to talk and sped off from them.

It didn’t take long to locate it abandoned nearby. Driver is believed to have no documents and as such their car was seized

3th

ry 1 Janua

Teams from Shaftesbury & Gillingham, supported by officers from FSG, PDU (and of course the dog) executed an MDA (drugs) warrant at an address in Gillingham. One male was arrested and is assisting us with our enquiries. Ref 55220012411.

Januar y 22nd

Januar y 15th

Gillingham & Shaftesbury had reports of youth related ASB. Officers were out visiting locations known for youths congregating. One intoxicated youth was found unconscious & getting colder by the minute after being left by his ‘friends’ in Shaftesbury (fortunately some other youths located him).

An ambulance was called, the youth kept warm & details of his parents gained who were also contacted.

For details on your local team’s future engagements please refer to our website. As always, if you wish to contact us follow the links.

You can report non urgent matters via 101, and remember if you see a crime in progress or a person in danger call 999.

Getaway duck in Sherborne

SCHOOL NEWS

Sherborne Primary School have had a fun filled week with visits with a tractor and trailer as the reception children are studying vehicles and our Year 1 children have had a pets week. This is called Paws, Claws and Whiskers topic, they had a variety of pets in to visit KS1, including two very small dogs, some baby tortoises, a Call duck, some hamsters and a guinea pig. The children got to learn about all these animals’ diets and how they are cared for. The call duck who decided to fly up on the mezzanine and refused to come down, just walking up and down quacking at the children was the highlight of the day.

Cheselbourne Toddlers is open now!

Next Tuesday why not pop along to Cheselbourne Village School Toddler Group, Scarecrows?

Scarecrow’s toddler group is run by Cheselbourne Village School on a Tuesday between 9:30am and 11:00am in the Village Hall (opposite Cheselbourne Village School). It is full of fun, games, toys, songs and rhyme time. All are welcome!

The group is run by Miss McIntyre, who is the PreSchool Leader at the school and is a fantastic way to help with any transition into preschool/school and helps your children become that little bit more ‘school ready’. Keep an eye on our facebook page: Call the school for more information: 01258 837306 Or even just pop along during term time.

New vests for Trent Young’s Cross Country Teams Pupils from Trent Young’s CE School near Sherborne are sporting their new crosscountry vests with pride after receiving them from local business, Sherborne Turf.

The kit was sponsored by local business, Sherborne Turf, who supply turf that has been grown in their turf fields near Trent, and landscape supplies across the South West.

Nicola Harris, Managing Director, said, “We are delighted to have supplied the new crosscountry kit for Trent Young’s CE School and hope they enjoy a successful sporting season ahead of them.”

The kit, consisting of 18 cross-country shirts, will allow the children to participate in local cross-country events. This includes the Dorset Primary Schools Cross Country and the Yeovil Primary Schools Cross Country event, where pupils have recently participated and performed extremely well, including a win in the year three girls’ race.

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SCHOOL NEWS

Local man recognised by Dorset’s High Sheriff for his youth work On Tuesday 18th January the High Sheriff of Dorset Mr Michael Dooley MMs. FRCOG visited Sturminster Newton High School (SNHS) to present a High Sheriff’s Award to Shaun Weeks for his long-standing support of the young people of Sturminster Newton and the surrounding villages.

Shaun is a huge asset to the young people of the area and despite having a family himself he donates significant proportions of his time to local young people in a number of ways.

In 2001 Shaun started up Sturminster Newton Boxing Gym; it has since produced several National Champions and currently has one boxer on the England pathway (14yr old Ruby ‘The Pocket Rocket’ Else-White is crowned Two Time National Champion, BV Oct 21).

A spokesperson for SNHS said “we are very fortunate to have Shaun supporting the school in many ways; Shaun has worked to support, mentor and guide students and their families and encouraged young people into youth sports. This has developed their confidence, trust and selfesteem which has in turn served to remove barriers within school and allowed them to be successful in their education.”

Most recently Shaun has been one of the community volunteers as part of the high school’s enrichment programme, where he runs an introduction to boxing for beginners at the gym during school time. This has led to several students becoming part of the main club, as well as expanding the opportunities, expectations and horizons of a great deal more. In addition, Shaun has also sponsored a PSHE programme ‘The Fight Against Knife Crime’ aimed at our older students as part of the Sturminster Newton Boxing Club which is delivered during the PSHE lessons at school.

Washer goes to school...

Okeford Fitzpaine Primary School was visited last week by Washer the 5 week old Friesian cow from Poppy Farm. The children from the Primary School and Sunbeams Day Care had the opportunity to see Washer up close and ask any questions. The children learnt he was bought from auction, which is why he had a sticker on his back. He had two tags on his ears which were like his passport, and he still drank milk twice a day.

We learnt how tall he would get - and that cows cant fly but they can jump when this young.

It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to see a beautiful animal up close.

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Shaun Weeks (centre) with SNHS Headteacher Mr Davis (left) and the High Sheriff of Dorset Mr Michael Dooley MMs. FRCOG

Shaun has also supported the local community in many other ways, being a key member of Stalbridge Youth Football Club. He regularly fundraises for the organisations he is involved with, and recently raised over £2,000 for Julia’s House by coming out of retirement himself and boxing two matches with local people.

Headteacher Mr Davis said “We are extremely fortunate in this community to have so many local people who are prepared to freely donate time and effort to the school and local projects for young people. We hope everyone joins us in congratulating Shaun on his award.”

SCHOOL NEWS

Dorset knob throwing added to the curriculum in Dorchester

The Prince of Wales School will be teaching Dorset ‘knob throwing’ to children after a local festival was cancelled for the third year in a row.

Dorset knob-throwing contests traditionally involve competitors hurling a Dorset knob – a hard biscuit – as far as they can. The record throw of 29.4 metres (96 ft) was set in 2012.

Speaking about the new initiative, Headteacher Mr Gary Spracklen said, “The Dorset knob biscuit is part of our local cultural heritage. Many of our children enjoy attending the Dorset Knob Throwing Festival. With the festival cancelled, we will be bringing Dorset knob throwing to the curriculum and hosting our very own Dorset knob throwing event for families here at The Prince of Wales School”.

Year 4 pupil Charlotte, on hearing the news said, “In our lessons we already learn about the

international significance of the Jurassic Coast, the life and work of Thomas Hardy and we become experts on Maiden Castle. Me and my friends are very confident that we will be better than our teachers and parents at Dorset knob throwing. We are going to get practising in our PE lessons and do our very best to set some new world records!”

Asked if other schools could get involved? Mr Spracklen said, “It would be great to see other schools locally embracing the Dorset knob and hosting their own throwing events. Perhaps we could set up a Dorset knob throwing schools league with home and away fixtures? I’d love to hear from any schools that would like to get involved”.

Knob Throwing Rules: • Three Dorset knobs per go, furthest knob thrown is measured • Use only Dorset Knobs provided • Standing throw from marked standing point • Underarm throwing only • One foot must remain on the ground during throwing • Distance of the furthest knob measured within the designated throwing zone, which is 5m x 32m, marked in 2m zones, with use of measure to determine distance thrown • Dorset knob measured at final resting place • If Dorset knob breaks upon landing it will be the umpire’s decision of final resting place

Local school youth debating competition The launch of the inaugural local heat of Youth Speaks, a national competition organised by Rotary Club International has been announced Shaftesbury School will be the venue for the inaugural local heat of Youth Speaks on February 17th 2022.

Youth Speaks is a debating competition organised and promoted by Rotary International, intended to challenge a young person’s public speaking abilities in order to perform, persuade and entertain the audience with a display of wit and knowledge of a topic.

In teams of three, participants present arguments and points of discussion, before taking questions from the judging panel who are, themselves, skilled orators.

Participants can select a topic

which is important to them, giving them an opportunity to delve deep into research, formulate ideas and build confidence. The area event has been organised by Shaftesbury Rotary Club, working in partnership with other local Rotary Clubs and Shaftesbury School.

The judges for this year’s event include Simon Hoare MP and Rachael Gale a local teacher. The students will be asked questions

by Questioner, Andrew Hollingshead, after they’ve put forward their arguments.

Teams from Shaftesbury School, Gillingham School and The Blandford School will compete in the Intermediate Competition

for 11-13 year olds and the Senior Competition for 14-17 year olds. The winners will progress to the Rotary District Competition stage.

For more details contact Shaftesbury Rotary Club on hello@shaftesburyrotaryclub.org or by phoning 01747 852328.

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SCHOOL NEWS

Horsington children accidentally treated to a masterclass by legendary horse trainer Pupils from Horsington Church School had a trip to the racecourse - and ended up receiving a tour from racehorse trainer David Elsworth As well as being given the full VIP experience, a talk about life in-front of the camera by Racing TV presenter Jess Stafford and a glimpse behind the scenes on a busy race day, the undoubted highlight was walking the course with racing icon Elsworth (pictured below), who is best known for training the great grey Desert Orchid in the 1980s.

Elsworth became a household name through the success of ‘Dessie’, the horse known to millions for winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1989 and the King George VI Chase on four occasions.

After retiring in December following a 43-year career as a trainer, Elsworth hadn’t planned on taking on the children’s tour.

He said: “I was cleaning out my office and I had a nice picture of old Cavvies Clown in action at the racecourse. I wondered if Wincanton would like it and it all went from there.

I ended up showing the kids round for a while, which was great. The racecourse were very kind, and it all became a bigger

deal than me just trying to find a new home for the picture!”

Now 82, Elsworth is a popular figure at Wincanton and the racecourse’s General Manager, Jack Parkinson, was delighted with the gesture from the former champion trainer, who was in nearby Whitsbury before moving to Newmarket in 2006.

He said: “When we found out David wanted to gift us the picture, we invited him along as a guest of the racecourse

for the day. It just so happened that the children were also here with Racing To School (a charity which aims to inspire the next generation to take an interest in horseracing).

“David was incredibly generous with his time and more than happy to give them a moneycan’t-buy experience of a day at the races. Hopefully they had fun and we’ll see them here enjoying days out with their families for years to come.”

Olympic Gold Medallist Kate French visits Leweston School Leweston School had a very special visit from Kate French, Olympic Gold medallist for Modern Pentathlon at the Tokyo Olympics, on Tuesday 7 December. Kate is the first British competitor to win since Steph Cook took gold in the 2000 Sydney games.

During the day, Kate met a number of Leweston Senior students who all take part in the family of sports that make up Modern Pentathlon such as Biathle, Biathlon Triathlon, Laser Run and Pentathlon. The students were provided with the opportunity to ask questions about Kate’s life as a Modern Pentathlon athlete and how she got to be in the Olympics.

Kate also visited the Prep School where she spoke to the pupils and the pentathletes to help inspire 90

them. Kate gave a short talk about Pentathlon and the Olympics, followed by a question-and-answer session with questions from the pupils such as “do you feel nervous before a race” and “how do you control your nerves”.

Life’s complicated.

Instructing a solicitor shouldn’t be

We’re all about listening, understanding and advising Whatever you require, we will advise you with clarity and efficiency, offer value for money and an unparalleled level of legal advice.

Contact Karen Watts in our Bridport office on 01308 555639 to discuss your matrimonial and family matters.

We can also help with: • Wills and LPAs

• Employment law

• Conveyancing

• Dispute resolution

• Trusts

• Commercial property

• Funding care

• Corporate commercial

info@porterdodson.co.uk www.porterdodson.co.uk

FAMILY LAW

ADVERTORIAL

Expert help on common domestic legal issues from the team at Porter Dodson LLP.

Three reasons why you should put your Will in place properly The importance of a Will is often not realised until someone actually discusses their wishes, says Tom Mottram from Porter Dodson.

We have, in previous editions, advocated the importance of carefully considering and putting in place provision for the devolution of your estate.

It is often not until someone discusses their wishes and affairs that they recognise the importance of a Will.

We frequently deal with families and friends of individuals who have died without keeping theirs up to date. The implications for such parties can be extremely costly at what is already a difficult time.

Below are three crucial reasons (and it is a nonexhaustive list) for putting your Will in place properly and making sure you keep it under regular review.

1. Ensuring your estate passes to your chosen beneficiaries In the absence of a valid Will, the law will choose to whom your estate passes and how as well as who manages everything after your death. Often this will not be as you intend, or it may fail to recognise the specifics of your circumstances. For example, you may have lost touch with certain people or feel that others are in greater financial need. One beneficiary may be more connected to your home, your affairs or your business.

Circumstances, wishes and rules change over time. Aspects such as these must be addressed if 92

confusion and upset are to be avoided. Otherwise disputes can arise, which are expensive to resolve.

2. Inheritance Tax The government has frozen the tax-free allowance for several years, meaning more people may unknowingly find themselves in a taxable position.

A professionally prepared Will can help to capture allowances and exemptions that the taxman has made available, allowing more of the estate to pass to your beneficiaries.

3. Protection and flexibility Sometimes it may not be appropriate for an intended beneficiary to inherit. Perhaps they are young, financially irresponsible or experiencing matrimonial difficulties.

We’re here for you We cannot issue you with a crystal ball (we keep this just for the lottery numbers), but we can prepare your Will so that your beneficiaries are looked after without risking their inheritance.

If you need to make or review a current Will, we can help you so that you make the decisions that are right for you and your family.

To find out more, contact Tom Mottram: tom. mottram@porterdodson.co.uk or 01305 756317.

ADVERTORIAL

FAMILY LAW

Do I need a prenuptial agreement?

Congratulations! You’re engaged. You’re now looking at setting the date, booking the venue and writing the guest list; but have you considered a pre-nuptial agreement? Or do you think that’s only for the very wealthy?

With the average age for first marriages now well into our 30s and the fact that second marriages are increasing year on year, people are thinking more about the need to protect the assets which they have already accumulated, in the event of a separation.

What is a prenuptial agreement?

A ‘pre-nup’ is an agreement entered into by a couple prior to their marriage or civil partnership. It sets out who owns what and outlines what would happens to their assets and income if their relationship breaks down.

Who should get a prenup?

You should think about setting up a prenup if you: • Have assets that you would not want to share if the relationship broke down • Have children from an earlier relationship and want to protect their inheritance or keep specific assets for them • Have your own business, or perhaps a family farm, which you want to retain control of • Want to safeguard money or assets that you are expecting to receive in a future inheritance • One of you has debts and you would like a clause acknowledging that those

debts are nothing to do with the other partner Relationship breakdown is never easy. Emotions can run high and it can be difficult to think about financial matters.

If an agreement cannot be reached and Court proceedings are necessary this can be very expensive and stressful. The UK court has a wide discretion when dividing assets and this can result in uncertainty for all. By entering into a properly drafted prenuptial agreement you can alleviate some of that uncertainty and stress as you will already have agreed how to divide your assets in the unfortunate event of the relationship breaking down.

Are prenups binding in the UK? Currently, in England and Wales prenups are not 100% legally binding. The Court will always retain jurisdiction. But, if a prenuptial agreement is properly entered into then it will carry significant weight in any subsequent court proceedings.

What do we need to do to enter into a prenup?

It is important that both people receive proper advice and the following formalities are adhered to: 1. Both people must enter into the agreement of their own free will and without any

duress, influence or pressure.

2. Both people must provide full and frank financial disclosure to each other.

3. Both people must obtain independent legal advice from separate solicitors before entering into the agreement.

4. The agreement should be fair and reasonable to each party. (It is prudent to specify review dates for key events in the future, such as the birth of a child or say in 5, 10 or 20 years’ time to ensure the agreement remains fair and reasonable) 5. The agreement should be finalised no later than one month prior to the date of the marriage.

6. Each person should intend that the agreement determines the outcome of their financial arrangements in the event of divorce.

All of these formalities are crucial - if they are not complied with then a Court may decide to ignore the prenuptial agreement.

Prenups are not for everybody but they are certainly not just for the rich and famous anymore.

If you are looking for further advice about prenuptial agreements please contact Kimberley Davies on 01202 338569 or at Kimberley.davies@trethowans.com

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FAMILY FINANCE

Mythbusting Lifetime Mortgages 94

FAMILY FINANCES

Equity release; it’s all over our TV screens and radio, but what do you actually know about it? Expert Chris Brooks separates the fact from the fiction and busts those myths you’ve heard about lifetime mortgages.

The most common form of equity release is a Lifetime Mortgage, put simply this is a long-term loan which allows you release the wealth tied up in your property.

Myth 1: Lifetime mortgages are unsafe and unregulated.

Fact: Lifetime mortgages are regulated by the FCA, also the Equity Release Council is set up to protect the interests of consumers so you should have peace of mind to consider equity release.

Myth 2: You’ll owe more than the value of your home.

Fact: Products which meet the Equity Release Council’s product standards are required to feature a no negative equity guarantee. Put simply, this guarantee means that you, or more specifically your estate will never owe more than the property is worth once it is sold.

Myth 3: You must stay in the same property for the rest of your life.

Fact: With most lifetime mortgages, you can move home and transfer the loan to the new property providing it meets the lenders terms and criteria.

Myth 4: You will leave a debt to your family and loved ones.

Fact: Providing the terms and conditions are met, no debt is left to your estate, and you or your family will never owe more than the value of your home once sold upon death or permanently moving into long-term care.

Myth 5: Equity can’t be released if there is an outstanding mortgage.

Fact: You can apply for a lifetime mortgage providing you pay off your existing mortgage balance. This can be done either through the equity released from your property or by another means.

Myth 6: It’s not possible to reduce the outstanding debt.

Fact:Many lifetime mortgages allow for 10% voluntary repayments without you incurring any early repayment charges.

With some plans you can also make monthly interest repayments; this way you can maintain the debt to the initial amount of the loan before interest. Lenders will need to check these payments are affordable to you. If you choose to make

interest repayments, you still have the option to move to a roll up arrangement at a later date if you wish. There are even some lenders who can offer you the option to pay off some of the capital throughout the plan.

Myth 7: You won’t be able to leave your property as an inheritance.

Fact: Once the loan has been repaid from the sale of your property, any money left over can go to your beneficiaries. Some plans let you ring fence a portion of your home’s equity to leave as an inheritance for your loved ones.

Myth 8: You’ll lose ownership and control of your property.

Fact: With a lifetime mortgage you continue to own 100% of your home. A lifetime mortgage is a loan secured against your property, so you will always retain ownership until you either die or move into permanent long-term care, after which time your property will be sold to repay the loan plus any accrued interest.

A better understanding.

Now we’ve dispelled the myths you have a better understanding of what choosing a lifetime mortgage actually means and its impact on you and your family.

There’s a useful calculator tool HERE for you to find out how much money you could unlock from your home.

Chris Brooks Certs CII (MP & ER) Independent Equity Release Adviser Equity release may involve a home reversion or a lifetime mortgage. To understand the features and risks, ask for a personalised illustration.

Harbour Equity Release is a trading name of Equity Release Associates Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA registered number 932793.

At Harbour Equity Release our objective is to find the right solution for you. There is no obligation to proceed, and if equity release isn’t your best option we will let you know.

Please visit my website for frequently asked questions, a free-to-use calculator to see how much equity you could release and more.

Please feel free to either give me a call on 01202 925 976 or email me at enquiries@harbourequityrelease.co.uk

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Maximizing the value of your pension Pension planning is a complex area - Sherborne’s AFWM Ltd’s independent financial adviser, Dan Driscoll highlights some key considerations.

Nearly seven years on from the introduction of pension freedoms, the demand for pensions advice continues to be strong. With the events of the pandemic still creating uncertainty, could you benefit from a review into your own pension planning approach?

What if I have unused pension allowances from previous years?

This can be particularly important if you’ve had a large redundancy payment, are a business owner/ Director or if you’re a high earner.

The carry-forward rule lets you take advantage of any unused allowance from the previous three tax years.

If you’ve used all this year’s allowance (£40k), but you hadn’t used any allowance from the previous three tax years, you could invest up to an extra £120,000 in your pension in the current tax year.

Effectively, you’d pay in up to £96,000, with the government’s contribution adding up to £24,000 in basic-rate tax relief to the pension.

If you were a UK additional-rate taxpayer, you’d also be able to claim up to a further £30,000 in tax relief via your tax return.

There are two requirements to be able to carry forward pension allowances: • You’ve had a pension in each year you wish to carry forward from, whether you made a contribution or not. The State Pension doesn’t count.

• You have earnings of at least the total amount you’re contributing

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this tax year. Or if not, your employer could contribute to your pension – this is likely to be most relevant for those with their own limited companies.

Effective use of your savings in retirement Having the right investment strategy combined with ensuring that the level of withdrawals remain sustainable are critical elements of your retirement plans.

But it is also vitally important that those withdrawals are as tax efficient as possible.

Retirement with pension savings only If you are solely reliant on pension savings in retirement, using your personal allowance is key to ensuring funds last as long as possible.

A personal pension becomes a ‘crystallised pension’ as soon as you cash it in and start taking your retirement benefits.

You can currently crystallise your pension from the age of 55, and can access your crystallised pension via drawdown or an annuity.

The personal allowance currently sits at £12,570 - this allows you to crystallise £16,760 each year without paying any tax.

Alternatively, where a higher income is needed and to spread the tax free cash over more years, the full crystallised amount could be taken each year.

Factor in the State Pension to your plans, as this may mean altering the amounts drawn from other pension savings.

Semi-Retirement You may not want to fully retire, but instead reduce the hours you work, or take up something that has been a long-held ambition.

This becomes more of a possibility from age 55 (57 from 2028) if you can support your part-time earnings by accessing your pension.

The choice is then whether to take tax free cash only, or a mix of tax free cash and income. Taking tax free cash only could mean more tax on the income element in future years.

However, there is an argument for taking tax free cash only: when you draw taxable income from your pension drawdown pot for the first time, the ‘money purchase annual allowance’ is imposed.

This means that the total of future contributions to money purchase pension schemes is limited to £4,000 a year. Anything over this will be subject to the annual allowance tax charge.

This could restrict future planning opportunities via pension savings.

You could even lose out on employer contributions.

At AFWM we offer independent and impartial advice to help you plan around these key considerations.

We offer a free, no obligation consultation meeting to any prospective clients and don’t have any minimum investment requirements. If you would like to book an appointment, please contact AFWM Ltd on 01935 317 707 or dan.driscoll@afwm.co.uk.

FAMILY FINANCE

Should you choose an ISA or Pension?

It all depends on your perspective

Using an ISA or a pension can be an excellent way of making your savings go the extra mile. but investors are often confused as to which one to invest in, explains Andrea Steel of Church House Investment Management Choosing between an ISA or pension for your savings is by no means an either/or discussion – quite the opposite, in fact. Each are tailored to meet different savings requirements, and should nearly always be used together.

Rather than trying to decide whether a pension or an ISA is better, the debate should centre on which is better in a given situation – for which savers need to know the differences between the products.

Similarities and differences At their heart, both pensions and ISAs are designed as tax-efficient savings vehicles. Both allow individuals to hold their savings in cash, shares and bonds, as well as spread their money across a diversified portfolio of assets.

Both also allow savings to grow tax free, as no income tax or capital gains tax is incurred as the value grows.

It’s when you get down to the minutiae that the differences between pensions and ISAs become more apparent. For example: • Employers are not obliged to make contributions into an employee’s ISA, while they are, in most cases, into an employee’s workplace pension.

• ISA savers are not charged income tax when they access their money, whereas pension savings are taxable once the 25% tax free pension

commencement lump sum has been withdrawn Other differences exist beyond these, but perhaps the two most important when deciding which to use are tax relief and flexibility.

Tax relief When one puts money into a pension, the government gives a rebate that is equivalent to one’s marginal rate of tax to top up the pension. In simple terms, this means that a £100 investment will only actually cost £80 for a basic rate taxpayer.

Couple this with the money an employer is obliged to contribute, and it is easy to see how the value of pension savings may grow above investment performance.

Flexibility Conversely, while this ‘free money’ in the form of tax relief and/or employer contributions is not available to ISA investors, an ISA has far superior flexibility.

Savers may usually only access their pension funds from age 55 (57 from 2028), ISA savers can access their funds whenever they like. That being said, it should be noted that some types of ISAs (such as the Lifetime ISA) do impose conditions on withdrawals.

The end goal It is clear is that neither a pension nor an ISA is “better”– they are different tax-efficient products

for different purposes.

For those thinking about saving for their retirement, the pension is the obvious choice.

Not only do investors receive more tax benefits than if they were to use an ISA, but the fact that they cannot access their money before age 55 also removes the temptation for early withdrawal.

However, for those with more short-term savings requirements - buying a house or a car, putting a child through school or university, for example - an ISA might be a better solution.

Indeed, although contributions will not enjoy government or employer top-ups, ISA savings can still grow without that growth being taxed and has the added benefit of being accessible at any time.

Important Information The contents of this article are for information purposes only and do not constitute advice or a personal recommendation. Investors are advised to seek professional advice before entering into any investment decisions. Please also note the value of investments and the income you get from them may fall as well as rise and there is no certainty that you will get back the amount of your original investment. You should also be aware that past performance may not be a reliable guide to future performance.

Church House Investment Management is a trading name of Church House Investments Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Whatever your stage in life, whatever your priorities, Church House are here to help you invest to achieve your goals. If you would like to find out more about our wealth management services, please contact our Dorset office in Sherborne on 01935 382620 or enquiries@church-house.co.uk

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BUSINESS NEWS NEWS

by Ian Girling

Is the future of work the postpandemic ‘hybrid model’?

Regular face to face contact, camaraderie and time together at the office are important, says Dorset Chamber ‘s CEO Ian Girling,

Hello and a warm welcome to my February column – can you believe it’s February already? I hope 2022 has got off to a good start for you and I think we can look forward with some positivity and the fact that hopefully we have now finally turned the corner with the pandemic and get on with things.

Personally, I was delighted when we could get our teams back in the office with the end of the ‘work from home’ guidance.

After two years, I have mixed views on working from home.

I’ve always been a firm believer in trying to be a family-friendly employer, doing what we can to enable people to strike a good work/life balance while keeping their productivity in the workplace high.

Home working can offer many benefits. As I say, it helps maintain a good work/ life balance (although it can sometimes result in people working longer hours than they would in the office) and takes out the need for travel, helping ease road congestion and reduce our carbon footprint.

This was all so evident during the various forms of lockdown over the last two years. It provides a freedom in our daily lives and many have adapted well to home working. Both my wife and daughter are permanently home-based and it works very well for both of them. They use technology well to keep in regular contact with their colleagues and both have a good home setup.

Downsides to home working However there can be downsides.

It is vital that people have the 98

right home environment to work productively. Balancing a laptop on your knees to work isn’t at all ideal, and employers have a duty of care to ensure employees have the right environment if home working for substantial amounts of time.

We’ve all read also about the social isolation that many experienced when home working. We’ve come to realise that face to face time with our colleagues is important - not just for our wellbeing but also that productivity and creativity rises when you are with your colleagues. Home working may also not be such an attractive prospect for people who live alone.

The obvious solution is….

It’s also important that home workers do not become isolated from the business; a focus can tend to be on just your area of responsibility. It’s vital that we keep our teams fully engaged and they don’t become disconnected from the wider business. Communication is key.

An obvious solution that many

have adopted is the hybrid model, where employees work partly at home and partly in the office. This can allow the best of both worlds, offering the benefits of home working but still maintaining that contact and engagement with our colleagues.

Many firms have actively adopted this approach and indeed many employees are requesting this.

I’ve missed having our team together and am really happy that finally we are back together.

A few staff are working on a hybrid basis but we are making sure there are times when we are all in the office together.

It’s been great to see our office come to life again after the pandemic and for me, that regular face to face contact, camaraderie and time together is so important.

While it’s been a very difficult two years for us all, we’ve learned so much and it’s important we embrace the positives that came through as we adapted our working practices during the pandemic.

by Dorothy Brown

BUSINESS NEWS

Are you overwhelmed by debt?

Dorothy Brown, an experienced insolvency practitioner, shares the most common signs which may be causing you distress in your business.

1 - Cash Flow The first sign things are going wrong is a constant lack of cash. The old adage that cash is king exists for a reason. All businesses suffer periodic dips where cash is tight. But if cash flow is continually a problem, the business is in trouble. If a business is continually spending more than it earns, unless it is deliberate and well-funded (as with some tech businesses at launch) it will lead to problems.

2 - Defaulting on bills Everyone misses a payment or forgets a bill, but if the frequency with which it occurs increases, it suggests a business can’t pay its way. This is a sign it is underfunded, isn’t chasing debts hard enough or is heading to liquidation. Defaults on HMRC or on other formal arrangements can be particularly damaging. It can also be bad for your reputation and that of your business.

3 - Extended debtor or creditor days Another sign of possible trouble is a rise in either debtor or creditor days. If your business has to delay payments to creditors, this can force some suppliers to cut off the supply of vital components or ingredients. Likewise, if you are unable to effectively chase payment it may cause future cash flow problems. Either way, sudden changes in these numbers should be investigated to see whether they are signs of something more serious.

4 - Falling margins Ask any experienced entrepreneur and they will tell you that for long-term survival what matters are profits, not sales. As the old saying goes, turnover is vanity, profit is sanity. Falling margins suggest that costs are too high, and prices or income is too low. This is not a sustainable position.

5 - Unhappiness It may sound simple, but businesses in distress are rarely happy. Owners and managers, who can sense something is wrong (but may not be sure what) get stressed and pass it on. They start cutting at random to make savings or deploy sudden switches in strategy to try and revive things. Lots of senior people may leave in a short time. These are all signs that the business might be heading down the decline curve and that action is needed urgently to pull things back.

What to do?

The main thing is to talk to someone. There are many organisations you can contact to help out, which does include your bank and HMRC. You can also talk to an Insolvency Practitioner, such as myself. You can contact me on dorothy@ evenkeelsolutions.co.uk or 01202 237337.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Shaftesbury wedding videographer declared Best in South West Not quite a year after launching his business, Dan Pitman has been declared the South West regional winner - and awaits news on the National award at the end of the month.

The Wedding Industry Awards are well-respected in the wedding industry, judged by a panel of experts rather then a popularity contest.

Dan Pitman, a roofer from Shaftesbury, entered the 2022 awards, just a year after launching his wedding videography business in May 2020, feeling that even a little recognition would add some credibility to his fledgeling brand.

He was excited and surprised to learn he was a finalist, and attended the ceremony in Cheltenham on the 26th January with little expectation.

His response when he won was an emotional one: “I’m still on such a high from winning. I feel incredibly lucky that my work has been recognised and regarded as the

highest standard in the south west after less than a year of filming weddings. The amount of time I have invested in learning the skills required to film weddings, the money invested in equipment, facing fears of huge responsibilities... all worth it!”

“I am so grateful to everyone who has hired me - especially the first few. Booking a videographer who had never filmed a wedding before is a huge risk - I certainly wouldn’t have done it!

But to give me the opportunity to do that means so much.

It is going to be a very busy year for me” he added “I’m transitioning from roofing to full time weddings, and 2023 bookings are busy. The national finals are next month, and I am up against some amazing filmmakers. If everyone can

keep their fingers crossed for me I’d really appreciate it!

The Regional Winners now go through to the National Final.

The National Winners will be announced at a spectacular National Awards Event in London on February 23rd.

Top dog status for eat:Festivals

Local food and drink festival organisers eat:Festivals are Finalists in the Dog Friendly Business of the Year category at the Bristol, Bath & Somerset Tourism Awards Organiser Sarah Milner Simonds said “We think this is a ‘paw-fect’ start to the new year and really wag-ficient news. We work really hard to make our one-day food and drink festivals welcoming for the whole family and that includes four-legged members too.”

Co-organiser Bev Milner Simonds continued “We have always made sure we are dog friendly but this year we enhanced experience by having a Dog Concierge on hand to welcome pets, publishing local dog walks, working in partnership with local dog businesses to increase our number of water bowl spots and having Pooch Paws-Points dotted throughout the festival with seating for owners to take a breather.” working hard on the plans for the 2022 season of eat:Festivals find out if they have won Gold, Silver events - including enhancements for everyone and or Bronze on 17 February and until then they are their dog!

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Blanchards Bailey are a Dorset based law firm specialising in commercial and private law.

Recognised by the Legal 500 as one of the top firms in the south west.

In association with

Calling all potential sponsors – Join the Dorset food movement everyone is talking about.

As the Love Local, Trust Local Awards enters its third season, founder Barbara Cossins is thrilled so many sponsors have remained - but is looking for a few new partners to join the 2022 awards.

Now in its fourth year, Love Local Trust Local is making great progress in educating and encouraging the people of Dorset to eat & shop locally, supporting our incredible array of food producers, farmers & fishermen.

This year, they are looking for more local Dorset organisations to become part of the Love Local Trust Local sponsorship family. Remaining for their 3rd consecutive year as sponsors are NFU Mutual Wessex, Blanchard Bailey, Symonds & Sampson, The BV Magazine, Damory Vets, Kingston Maurward College, Roberts Foodservice, Chase Farming, Hemsworth Farm, Harbarn Developments, Dike & Son and Saffery Champness.

Join the family For a small investment you can join them and benefit from so much in supporting the production of wonderful food & drink here in Dorset.

Sponsorship of a category is only £750 for the year.

Some of the many benefits include: • Raising the local profile of your business & gaining positive publicity & PR • Benefitting from an increased online presence and profile by association • Becoming a judge of the tastings for the finalists in your category • Developing new partner relationships with other key Love Local Trust Local sponsors • Appearing in printed, online and PR placement as the key sponsor for an entire award category • Having your own organisational website profile on the well-respected Love Local Trust Local website • Building awareness of your brand with Dorset businesses from regular activity on a range of social media platforms supporting the annual Love Local Trust Local Awards • Enjoying networking opportunities with everyone involved • Attending the Awards Night as our guest and bringing clients or team members with you to

Barbara Cossins, local farmer, business woman and founder of the Love Local Trust Local label and Awards.

• •

celebrate your achievements Presenting your Love Local Trust Local award to the lucky winner at the main event Displaying your own pop-up banner & marketing material to the awards event to promote your business on the night

Love Local Trust Local is fast becoming the food & drink movement to be part of, campaigning for British food and fair treatment for our farmers, food producers and fishermen and support from our government, local and national.

Get in touch at awards@ lovelocaltrustlocalawards.co.uk or call 07831 184920 and talk to Barbara Cossins, the founder of Love Local Trust Local 101

READER’S PHOTOGRAPHY

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HEALTH NEWS

Restored Eating Disorders: Change is possible An eating problem is any relationship with food that you find difficult. Anyone can experience eating problems and adopt extreme behaviours as a result, explains Dee Swinton, regardless of age, gender, weight or background.

Eating disorder symptoms can has one of the highest levels of manifest as cravings, eating more eating disorders admissions in or less than usual or trying to eat the country. healthier. Changing eating habits It’s safe to say that early every now and then is normal, intervention is of utmost but if you feel like food or eating importance, and ahead of Eating is taking over your life, it may Disorder Awareness Week become a problem. that takes place between 28th Eating disorders are not just February and 6th March, we about food or weight want to bust though and you don’t Eating disorders are the myth have to ‘look sick’ to about the not just about food or stigma (and be diagnosed or need help. An eating disorder weight, and you don’t self-stigma) can be about difficult have to ‘look sick’. of asking emotions or painful help.

An eating disorder for feelings that come Shame felt can be about difficult by sufferers at any stage in life as a result of external can result emotions that life stressors or past/ come as a result of in their present trauma, both of silence and external life stress or reluctance which are not mutually past/present trauma to reach out exclusive. for support.

Dorset’s high levels But by doing so, it can save a life.

But the fact remains: eating With treatment, most people can disorders have the highest death recover from an eating disorder. rate of any mental health illness and are estimated to affect 1.6 Taking the first step to million people in the UK (The recovery Telegraph, Nov 2018).

So, what do you do if you think During the first lockdown in that you or someone you know 2020, monthly referrals for eating might be struggling with food disorders amongst young people issues? in Dorset rose drastically by 42% The first step should always be according to NHS England, Jan to seek help from your GP. But if 2022 This isn’t surprising when your situation is life threatening, you consider how the increased we recommend that you get levels of anxiety and isolation yourself or your loved one had such a devastating impact on straight to A&E if you can do so vulnerable young people. It has safely, or dial 999 and request an now been estimated that Dorset ambulance.

Choose your journey At Dorset Mind, we aim to increase awareness about eating disorders and help support people’s recovery journeys.

‘Restored’ Eating Disorder support comprises professionals with lived experience, who support people (aged 16+) who might be living with anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorders or another specified feeding or disordered eating. Y ou don’t have to have a diagnosis to use our services.

We provide two pathways to assist recovery: mentoring, and a weekly online peer-support group.

Mentoring provides 1-2-1 support from trained mentors who coach you through an 8-week, CBT based programme.

Our online Recovery Group facilitates weekly peer-support in the form of a discussion group that utilises a 26-week programme.

How to access our support: To book your initial assessment with our team, email Romy at restored@ dorsetmind.uk.

Please note, this is not a crisis service. Dorset Mind charity supports adults and young people with a range of 1-2-1 and group mental health support, education and training across Dorset. Find out more at: dorsetmind.uk 103

HEALTH

by Karen Geary, a Registered Nutritional Therapist DipION, mBANT, CNHC at Amplify

Five (easy) ways to kick-start your healthy eating When winter drags and you crave comfort food, it’s many of us turn to convenience carbs. But healthier options are simple, says Karen Geary choline which supports our metabolism and also a healthy nervous system amongst many things. If you hate cauliflower, try quinoa instead, a fantastic source of protein.

Swap mash for root veggie mash

Mixing up winter vegetables such as carrots, parsnips and swede into a mash with a dash of olive oil can bring a wider variety of veg into your diet, more nutrients and will help you feel fuller and satisfied for longer. White potatoes when mashed release their sugars quickly which will make you hungry sooner.

Swap chips for celeriac or sweet potato chips

Chopping celeriac or sweet potatoes into chips, massaged with olive oil, salt and your favourite spices (I like hot paprika with a touch of cumin), bake in the oven fast – they take about 20 minutes on 190 deg C and are hassle-free.

Swap rice for cauliflower rice

Curry night? Swap white rice for cauliflower rice. Blitz raw cauliflower in the processor or chop finely into rice-sized pieces.

Spread out on a baking tray and bake on 180 deg C until dry and slightly charred (about 30 mins).

You need to stir it every now and then to make sure it dries and browns evenly.

Cauliflower is a cruciferous veg, very low in calories, high in fibre, vitamins and minerals and has one of my favourite nutrients, 104

oil, spread on a baking sheet and bake on a low heat, eg 120deg C for an hour or so until they are dry (they shrink a lot!).

Sprinkle with salt and enjoy.

Another great way to get your cruciferous vegetables into your diet, high in fibre, vitamins, and minerals and none of the additives that you get from a bag of crisps.

Swap potato crisps for kale crisps This sounds a bit new age California, but if you have some kale hanging around in the bottom of your fridge, strip the leaves away from the stalks, massage the leaves with olive

Swap flavoured yogurt for Greek yogurt or kefir

A lot of the fruity yogurts are ultra-processed and aimed at dieters because they are low fat, but instead are loaded with sugars, preservatives or emulsifiers which can give people an upset stomach.

Switch from low fat yogurt to Greek yogurt – it is high in protein and fat and will keep you fuller for longer.

If you don’t like the consistency of Greek yogurt – give kefir a go.

It is one of the best fermented foods for gut health around.

Add stewed apple and cinnamon and you have a lovely dessert or an indulgent breakfast. Your gut will thank you for it.

by Mel Mitchell

Maybe it’s time to try something completely different?

You might find something you’ll love. I did, says Mel Mitchell, who was dubious about enjoying an ‘aerial hoop’ fitness class.

HEALTH

Instructor Fran Drake demonstrates the Aerial Hoop

As you may remember I spoke about trying new forms of exercise in some of my previous articles.

This week I had the pleasure of trying an aerial hoop class.

I was asked by a friend and fellow fitness instructor ‘so, when are you coming to my aerial hoop?’

Me being me and always up for trying something a bit different, I booked in. If I’m completely honest it’s not something I ever saw myself doing - mostly because I have as much grace as a hippo on a sandcastle.

I was reassured though that this didn’t matter, and to give it a go anyway. I’m definitely glad I did.

No grace required Aside from the fact that I might not have looked terribly graceful, I certainly had fun trying.

I went to class as a complete beginner, not knowing what to expect.

With great direction and lots of encouragement from Fran and the fellow attendees, I had my first few moves perfected (sort of). Needless to say, I may need a bit more practice before my circus debut.

I have in the past heard comments about aerial hoop being classed as a form of exercise. Well, Fran is now the second aerial hoop instructor that I have met, and the amount of strength and control that “…the these ladies have developed amount of is unreal. It just goes to show strength and that strength and fitness doesn’t have to come from control these your usual forms of exercise. ladies have For those of you wanting to developed is get into fitness, but wanting to maybe get into something unreal” a bit different then I would definitely recommend that you give it a go.

It is a fantastic form of cross training which builds strength and flexibility as well as improving balance and core stability. All while having fun hanging from a hoop doing your best cirque du soleil impression!

Instructor Fran Drake says “I get asked a lot ‘what is a good age to start circus arts?’ The answer is any age!

I also hear a lot of people who flat out refuse to try because they are ‘too old/not fit enough/not strong enough/flexible enough’. Barbara, 66, has been training for three years. Lisa, now 52, had no previous gymnastics or dance but has been aerial training for five years. Circus is for every age.”

Come and learn how to defy gravity with Phoenix Aerial hoop classes at Sturfit in Sturminster Newton.

Wednesdays 5pm and 6pm, Fridays at 5:30pm.

Class is £10.50 - simply book online here.

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DAYS OUT

Rock climbing - something to do that the teens will actually love Editor Laura took her three perennially-reluctant teenagers to try Rock Reef in Bournemouth - and was amazed at just how much they loved it.

Every parent of teenagers knows that the coninual air of bored cynicism gets wearing. So I arrived at Rock Reef with three teenagers and only moderate expectations of the fun they’d have climbing a big colourful wall. As it wasn’t going to be me wobbling precariously on a rope, I hadn’t paid too much attention to the specifics when we’d agreed to review the experience.

Walking in was an eye opener.

Rock Reef is located literally on Bournemouth Pier – we parked at the BIC, and it was just a two minute walk down the hill. Checked in upon arrival, we deposited coats and bags in one of the plentiful free lockers, and everyone who was climbing headed straight for the safety briefing.

Instructions were clear and patient; alarmingly quickly they were confident in how to work the clipping system, and let loose on a frankly HUGE hall of different climbing walls – mostly themed sections, with one entire end a fake rock face for a more authentic climbing experience.

They each chose differently themed ‘walls’ and after a nervous start they soon found their confidence and began racing and challenging each other, trying out the various routes.

They then moved on to the Highline, suspended from the ceiling much like an indoors ‘Go Ape’ course – wobbly log rungs, monkey hoops, balance posts and cargo nets – all swinging freely, way up high in the air. It was so good they went round twice.

A great atmosphere Rather than an intimidating first impression, the atmosphere was brilliantly collaborative and friendly between climbers. Staff were attentive, helpful and unfailingly cheerful. When a lady had a panic attack half way around the Highline course (it’s very high!), she was rescued with gentle, unhurried coaxing; despite the big traffic jam

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she’d created there was no hint of impatience in helping her move along.

Our given time slot was 90 minutes, and it swiftly vanished. The walls were high enough to be challenging even for 6’2” 19yr olds (though we saw small 6yr olds scampering up them at terrifying speeds...), and a range of difficulties which meant a nervous first timer could still reach the top on some, and didn’t feel defeated when they couldn’t conquer the difficulty of others.

To finish off the experience, at the end of the session they had two goes each on the Leap of Faith and the Death Slide. That’s a no from me. So HIGH. And the verdict of the jaded cynical teenagers? A unanimous “When can we go again?”. They’re demanding a return trip soon.

We were provided with the Ultimate Adventure tickets (£30 per person), which included the Clip ‘n Climb, the HighLine, PierCave and two goes on both the Vertical Slide and Leap of Faith. Just Clip n Climb tickets are £12, and the Highline is £10.

The Piercave is a set of dark tunnels with pits, slides and ball pools to replicate a caving experience.

Smaller kids seemed to enjoy it hugely, but my teens suggested skipping it if you’re tall, a bigger build or not keen on confined spaces.

Tickets must be booked in advance on the website here

The three teens on the first wall - the middle ‘morse code’ was deemed the hardest in the room. and the circles on the left the easiest.

15yr old half way up the pipes - note people in background for scale!

Big and little teen on the Highline, travelling over the head of their brother on the rock wall - he never did make the top!

WHAT'S ON

@

THE EXCHANGE

STURMINSTER NEWTON

OSKAR'S AMAZING ADVENTURES

TUES 22ND FEB, 10AM An original, heart-warming and entertaining play by Theatre Fideri Fidera for a young children and their families, full of good humour, adventure, music and song.

This event is presented by Artsreach. £6/ £5 U18s/ £20 family Post show arts and workshop available

craft

GO NOW!

FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS

THE MOODY BLUES TRIBUTE

SAT 19TH MAR, 7:30PM

SAT 26TH FEB, 7:30PM Performing the music of The Moody Blues. All the hits plus deep cuts, recreated live, that sound as close to the initial recordings as you will ever hear live. £22

Come join the greatest party in town! This big-hearted show includes songs from Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. £22/ £20 conc

£2 per child BRIT POP LIVE

NO TIME TO DIE (12A)

THURS 24TH FEB, 7PM James Bond has left active service. His peace is short-lived when Felix Leiter, an old friend from the CIA, turns up asking for help, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology. £5/ £4 U18s

Cinema sponsored by

TOYAH'S POSH POP TOUR

FRI 25TH FEB, 7:30PM A unique chance to experience Toyah up close and personal with a show that has a lively cinematic sound using Toyah's vocals, keyboard/ stand up bass and story telling. £22

01258 475137

FRI 4th MAR, 7:30pm The 90s, the clothes, the scene and the sounds, it’s all here. From Oasis to Blur, Ocean Colour Scene to Pulp, it’s the sounds that haped a generation and a movement that defined a generation. £20

TEA WITH WILLIAM BARNES in the company of The Ridgeway Singers & Band

SUN 6TH MAR, 3PM Dialect poet William Barnes relished the huge variety of country dances, folksongs and carols originating from Dorset. Alongside a delicious Dorset cream tea, The Ridgeway Singers and Band, led by Tim Laycock and Phil Humphries, will perform traditional songs from across the County. This event is presented by Artsreach. £12 (including cream tea)

WWW.STUR-EXCHANGE.CO.UK

OLD MARKET HILL, STURMINSTER NEWTON

NEWS

By Kate Goddard

Directed by Paula Skinner

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WHAT’S ON

Mill Singers male voice choir concert at the Udder Farm Shop with Supper The Mill Singers Male Voice Choir are thrilled to be back singing again and their first concert is at the Udder Farm Shop. The ticket price includes a choice of three main course meals (including vegetarian) and light choral music. it starts at 7pm and songs such as ‘American trilogy’ and ‘Do you Hear the People Sing?’, some Matt Munro classics etc. Why not make a table of friends for an enjoyable evening?

Shaftesbury Snowdrop Festival at Springhead As well as enjoying the beautiful drifts of snowdrops, visitors will have the chance to wander round the formal and informal lakeside gardens at Springhead.

The gardens will be open Monday to Friday during February from 11am to 3pm, and also over the weekend of 12 to 13 February (when there will be a plant stall). Please check our website (here) before attending in case of any changes.

Entry to the gardens will be free but donations would be appreciated.

Dogs on leads are welcome and there is assisted wheelchair access.

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WHAT’S ON

Curated by Anne Desmet RA, this exhibition marks 100 years since the founding of the Society of Wood Engravers in 1920. It includes 120 works from the Ashmolean’s outstanding collection of many thousands of prints, plus loans from private collections by leading artist-engravers from the 1790s right up to the present.

They range over Romanticism, modernism and abstraction, to extraordinary photo-realistic works that defy belief. Included are well-known names such as William Blake, Samuel Palmer, M. C. Escher and Peter Blake; and many women artists including Gertrude Hermes RA, Gwen Raverat and Edwina Ellis whose outstanding works deserve to be better known.

Make an Appointment to Be Shaken and Stirred Bond On The Rocks is a nine piece band that will shake and stir you through the music of James Bond from the theme music of No Time to Die and everything in between. You have All The Time In The World to enjoy this show which is For Your Eyes (and Ears) Only.

Nobody Does It Better than Bond On The Rocks.

Shaftesbury Arts Centre Saturday 5 March at 7.30pm Tickets £16 Members and under 16’s £14 at www.shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk or from the Box Office 01747854321

An evening with Victoria Glendinning on ‘Family Business’

An intimate history of John Lewis and the Partnership Who was John Lewis? What story lies behind the retail empire that bears his name? Behind the glass windows and displays of soft furnishing, this book reveals the family that founded the shops in all their eccentricities, and whose relationships became blighted by conflicts of epic proportions as their wealth bloomed.

Tickets £10.13 – £11.19 - available here Friday 25th February Digby Memorial Hall ​Doors open at 6.30 for 7pm Refreshments will be available 110

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Pre-paid funeral plans

If you want your ashes sent into space, Holst’s The Planets played on your departure and your service broadcast on the web, have them.

It’s your funeral.

PROPERTY SPECIAL

Our pre-paid, inflation-proof funeral plans guarantee the way you want to be remembered and protect your loved ones from unnecessary burden and costs.

Drop in to see us today, visit us at funeralcare.co.uk or call us on 0800 243 380 Funeral homes in: Frome l Gillingham l Shaftesbury l Sturminster Newton l Warminster

£100 OFF

our pre-paid funeral plans*

Enter BLACKMOREVALE21 at: funeralcare.co.uk/funeralplans or take this coupon along to your local funeralcare home. *Terms & Conditions: The voucher may only be redeemed against eligible Southern Co-op funeral plans costing £3,000 or more and will be deducted off the cost at time of sale. The voucher has no cash value and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount, offer or promotion. For full terms and conditions visit: funeralcare.co.uk/ funeralplanterms, request a copy from any Southern Co-op funeralcare home or by calling 0800 008 6878. This voucher is valid until 31/12/2021.

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PROPERTY

Quintessential Dorset former farmhouse in a pretty rural hamlet

Guide price £1,200,000 A handsome Grade II listed thatched farmhouse in Belchalwell near Blandford, in a glorious rural setting, is new to the market.

Erls Farm is a quintessential Dorset former farmhouse in a glorious rural setting at the bottom of Bell Hill. This charming property was likely to have been built in the 18th century and has rustic red brick elevations under a thatched roof with pretty timber sash windows. Inside, the house has spacious, well arranged accommodation over two floors and a wealth of charming period features including exposed brick walls, timber floors, beams, inglenook fireplace and wood panelling. On the ground floor there is a spacious hall, characterful drawing room and a large family kitchen with AGA. On the first floor are five bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Barn, workshop, lawns and paddock The house is approached from the lane via a private drive leading to the side of the property with an area of parking for several cars. A most attractive brick and flint barn forms the south eastern boundary and double doors provide access to a workshop.

The remainder of the barn is used for storage and

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may have potential for conversion subject to the necessary consents. To the front of the property is a narrow area of lawn and dwarf stone wall with steps up to the front door. On the south western side of the house is a large level lawn bordered by a mature hedge and with lovely views over the hill and surrounding countryside. In addition to the main plot is a further paddock of about 1.3 acres situated across the lane with a stable building, greenhouse, fruit cage and pond.

National brand, international reach, local knowledge, personable people.

For friendly, helpful, expert advice on your home please contact your Salisbury Branch.

Fiona Pengelly

Sarah Cull

Maisie Umpleby

Oliver Andrew Cronan Custance-Baker

Salisbury Branch 41 Milford Street, Salisbury, SP1 2BP 01722 344010 | salisbury@struttandparker.com

Could the Energy Efficiency of our homes lower our mortgage rates?

As society grows ever more eco-conscious, Brad and Susie from Meyers consider the impact of a home’s energy performance on a mortgage offer We are all becoming increasingly aware of the the link between our use and production of energy and its impact on the climate.

We are beginning to see an increase in the steps being taken by large corporations and smaller companies to combat this.

How could this effect the individual homeowner?

Many New Years resolutions and plans for mortgage companies revolve around sustainability and energy efficiency, and therefore the pace of incentivised lending for properties with a higher Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating is beginning to escalate.

Green mortgages We have seen this in a number of specialised lenders who have embraced ‘Green Mortgages’.

For example, NatWest are offering a reduced rate to those purchasing or remortgaging a home with an EPC rating of A or B. It is said that in the next 12 months the activity surrounding 124

these Green Mortgages is set to rise, with increased support from the government.

This also appears to be gaining individual traction as a recent survey found that 48% of homeowners and prospective homeowners would consider improving their energy rating to access a better mortgage.

So how can we improve our property’s EPC rating?

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Double glazing Loft insulation Wall insulation Replace your boiler to a new, energy-efficient boiler Solar panels

If your home has an up to date EPC, you can view it on the governments website https:// www.gov.uk/find-energycertificate.

You can also find lots of useful help and advice on improving your properties EPC rating here https://www.simpleenergyadvice. org.uk

The benefits of Green Mortgages Broadly speaking, a green mortgage is one that rewards someone for buying/owning an energy-efficient home. That typically means either a slightly lower interest rate, cashback when you take out the mortgage, or both. Some deals are restricted to people buying a new-build property.

In addition, some lenders offer their existing mortgage customers additional borrowing at discounted rates to pay for green home improvements such as replacing draughty windows, upgrading an outdated heating system or adding solar panels.

The government has said it is keen to support a competitive market in this area and is exploring plans to link mortgages to green home improvements by imposing targets for banks and building societies.

Please do get in touch for any property advice or a free expert valuation on your home: Brad at Shaftesbury – 01747 352077 Susie at Blandford – 01258 690553

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