The BV, Mar 22

NEVER PRINTED - YOUR GREEN CHOICE

March ‘22

ISSN 2634-8810

From the heart of the Blackmore Vale.

NEWS

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Front cover: is this month for the people of Ukraine

INDEX

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

Contact the BV Team: Editor: Laura Hitchcock editor@theblackmorevale.co.uk Dep. Editor: Andy Palmer andy@theblackmorevale.co.uk Advertising: Courtenay Hitchcock advertising@theblackmorevale.co.uk Everything else: Try Courtenay, he’s the organised one...

When we launched the BV in 2020, we did so with a couple of guiding intentions - we wanted to connect communities fractured by a global pandemic, and we wanted to provide support for fellow local small business owners. Little did we realise that as we pulled together edition 19 we would be as useful during damaging storms as we were in a global pandemic - contacting a power company to help a (literally) powerless forgotten community. Nor did we anticipate a swelling movement to aid refugees from a war in Europe. And yet here we are.

It has been profoundly moving to see the power and generosity of local communities this week. No sooner were the collection points for donations to the Ukraine announced, than they were overwhelmed with the volume of goods donated.

Such a violent surge of compassion and a desperation to do something typifies the innate decency of people in a time of crisis. I never forget Fred Rogers’s famous advice to look for the helpers: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news,” Rogers said to his television ‘neighbours’ “my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

For those of us desperately trying to help fleeing families and those trapped in the War, the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal has now launched. It’s a coalition of 15 charities who either already have a presence in, or have partners within, the Ukraine.

This ensures exactly what is needed gets to where it is needed, and fast. It may feel less tangible, but donating is by far the best way to help - it has a faster effect, ensures the right goods get through, and also that goods are bought in neighbouring countries where you get more for every pound spent. It also supports those countries which are directly taking hundreds of thousands of refugees The appeal is also matched £1 for £1 by the British govt - up to £20m - so each donation goes further.

And yes, I know money is tight. If you are unable to give anything, please consider signing the petition to ask the government to waive the visa restrictions to allow the refugees to come here.

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NEWS

by Rachael Rowe

Paul Read checks his lambs in Bagber

How Bagber managed for a week without power Storm Eunice caused damage across the county on the 18th of February.

But six days later the village of Bagber was still without power - Rachael Rowe spoke to the residents as their resilience began to wear thin.

Lambing season is in full swing in Bagber. Excited resident Melissa Arnold proudly tells me she has just been taught to birth her first lamb by neighbour Jason Read. But, when Storm Eunice hit recently, the scene in this Dorset hamlet was a different story.

Bagber was without electricity for six days, causing significant challenges for the residents.

Life went dark Bagber might be just a small rural hamlet, but losing electricity affected people in diverse ways. There is no gas supply in the area, which meant that there were no heating or power alternatives when the power is lost. Local businesses reliant 4

on the internet were unable to operate. Farmers lambed in the dark with no hot water or heat.

Families were unable to heat food. Most of us have managed this for a few hours - but six days?

“We felt like we had been abandoned,” said Melissa, who runs a graphic sign writing company.

“All our business is conducted online. We could not get emails, new customers could not contact us. We don’t know if any new customers just never got through.”

When Melissa tried to get help from SSEN, the communication was inconsistent. “We could not speak to a human being.

Everything was automated.

Facebook Messenger sent automated messages. And they told us the power was back on... it definitely wasn’t!”

New lambs need warmth Today, Paul Read checks newly born lambs, let out in the fields for the first time.

“They go out after a week. Any earlier, and the fox will get them.”

Although Paul shrugs off any mention of difficulty in the power outage, it was challenging for him and his brother Jason to manage the lambing, especially at night.

They had head torches, but lambing can be unpredictable, and new lambs need warmth.

by Rachael Rowe Jo Moss recently moved to Bagber. Her son has complex special needs and finds sudden change hard to process. Jo explained: “We had to constantly explain why nothing was working to him. If we go away, for example, he needs processing time to deal with a new situation.

With the power outage, we kept being told the electricity would be back on at 11pm, and then it wasn’t. Explaining that to my son was hard.”

Leaving wasn’t an option Although Bagber isn’t that far from Sturminster Newton, which had power, there were various reasons why the residents didn’t leave. “People have pets and livestock,” Melissa explained.

“Although we did eat out on some evenings, it was hard for others. One household is a family of eight, with five children, so eating out each evening would have been really expensive.”

It was a similar situation for Jo Moss: “They suggested we stay with friends or relatives. But my nearest ones are a 60-mile round trip away. It’s not that easy.”

Community support Local businesses were very supportive. “Dikes (Stalbridge’s independent supermarket) did a home delivery within two hours of my electricity coming back on,” said Jo, “And Thyme after Thyme

NEWS

Melissa Arnold with one of Jason Read’s lambs in Bagber

were fantastic. They gave me a free cup of tea and let me charge my phone.”

No communication But why was messaging from a utility company so inconsistent?

And why did it take the intervention of the BV magazine and MP Simon Hoare to get anything fixed? The residents understand there are larger communities and that electricity can and is lost in storms. They also recognise that teams from SSEN were working flat out to restore services.

What they weren’t anticipating was the inconsistent communication and being unable to communicate with a

human being. If anything could be improved to cope in a future scenario, the Bagber residents agree that communication is top of the list.

The six-day Bagber power outage would have tested tolerance levels for most of us. But it also reveals the diverse needs of people in rural areas, and why consistent communication is essential. Rural communities have businesses and vulnerable people with special needs just like anywhere else. In an age where technology has transformed how we live and work, there is still a need for accurate and consistent communication, preferably from a human being.

Poet William Barnes was born in Bagber in 1801

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NEWS

by Andrew Livingston

Is Hardy’s ‘Vale of Little Dairies’ a place of brutality?

Since the BBC’s Panorama episode investigating dairy farms in the UK was released, the debate has raged on between animal rights groups and those in the agriculture sector, says Andrew Livingston The farming community is strongly opinionated from one farm in Wales. The staff on the farm are that the episode ‘A Cow’s Life: The true cost of seen kicking cows whilst down, hitting them in milk’ (click the preview image below to view the the face with shovels and moving them across the programme on iPlayer) does not give a balanced farm by lifting them on their hip pins. view or fairly depict what farms are really Despite the horrific “...staff on the farm like in the UK. footage, what has Vegan animal rights activists, however, are seen kicking cows infuriated farmers is have stated that the programme has whilst down, hitting what they see as a lack of shone a light on the true living conditions balance. them in the face with “I thought it wasn’t of the cows that produce the milk that shovels and moving good, it didn’t show our fills our shops and supermarkets.

Both sides of the argument have only them across the farm industry and the dairy been able to agree on one thing - that the by lifting them on their industry in a good light.” treatment of the cows and calves shown said James Cossins, NFU hip pins” in the programme is barbaric. representative for dairy farmers in Dorset.

Lack of balance With a 300 cow dairy and arable farm of his own, The hour-long show released on Valentine’s Day Cossins is adamant that scenes like these are not predominantly shares hidden camera footage the norm.

He told the BV: “If that is commonplace then... well, there’s no way that I want to be part of the industry if that’s the way people treat animals.”

A vegan view Some animal rights groups agree that this isn’t the norm. Francine Jordan, an employee at The Vegan Society and host of The Vegan Pod, holds such notions.

She states: “Fortunately, the extreme animal 6

by Andrew Livingston cruelty shown in the documentary will not be how all cows are treated on farms in the UK. “However, the reality is the practice of running a dairy farm is cruel. Whether it’s intentional or not, all dairy cows are seen as money-making commodities.”

One individual who would wholeheartedly disagree that his cows were just there for the money would be local farmer Richard Foot.

When watching the programme, Foot, who recently sold his 200 cows due to staffing issues since Brexit, had to turn it off due to the thought that his cows “ended up somewhere like that”.

The 61-year-old from Caundle Marsh went on to add: “Why’d they want to show that when it’s a very small percentage of farms?“ It’s that tiny percentage that ruins it for all those who are doing good, hard work and producing high-quality food with very high standards of welfare and the environment.”

BBC bias This is not the first time that the BBC’s coverage of agriculture has come under fire from farmers. Over recent years, the broadcaster has continually blamed agriculture for raising methane gases - even though the number of cows and cattle is currently less than it was in the 1950s (9.36 million now The documentary used footage compared to 10.6m in 1950). of poor transport conditions for In 2018, farmers accused the calves; even though it was another obvious by their documentary on “the number of ear tags that none dairy farming of cows and cattle is of the animals misinterpreting the currently less than depicted was sent facts to mislead it was in the 1950s from Scotland. its viewers.

Uproar from ‘Disclosure: The (9.36 million now the agricultural dark side of dairy’ compared to 10.6m community caused showed how the BBC to heavily in 1950)” dairies in Scotland edit the online send 5,000 calves a version, but the damage had year to Spain to be fattened and already been done. As soon as slaughtered. the episode aired, P&O Ferries

NEWS

banned the transportation of calves from Scotland to Ireland, the route they would have previously used when shipped to Spain to be fattened for slaughter.

Is there an excuse?

If the practices on the farm in Wales are not the industry norm, what went wrong for these animals, to be subjected to this abuse?

A Cows Life suggests that issues stem from the supermarkets - simply, we buy our milk too 7

NEWS

cheap, causing the farmer to be paid little for their produce.

Although both Cossins and Foot agree that milk is bought too cheaply, they both state it’s not an excuse.

James Cossins said: “I think what we saw has a lot to do with training and managing.

More money perhaps helps to improve facilities, but from what I could see, improving facilities wouldn’t have stopped them doing everything they were doing,” Richard Foot agreed: “Regardless of what you are getting [paid], if you can’t look after your animals properly, you shouldn’t have them… Why should a cow or a calf or a pig suffer like that because you can’t afford to look after them?”

Can regulation help?

But who ensures standards are met? Currently, in the UK, the Red Tractor Assurance Scheme ensures farms meet a plethora of standards; they state that their ‘logo means that the food

8

by Andrew Livingston

After the show, the Welsh farm you buy has been responsibly in question had its membership sourced, safely produced and terminated. However for the comes from crops and animals animals and the that have been “regardless of what industry, the well cared for’. damage had In the Panorama you are getting episode, the [paid], if you can’t already been done. farm in question look after your For vegans, is a Red Tractor animals properly, you in their view, farm.

So why was the shouldn’t have them… whether a farm farm not up to Why should a cow or is Red Tractor assured or standard on its a calf or a pig suffer not makes no animal welfare? like that because you difference.

Richard Foot says he wasn’t can’t afford to look Jordan states that no matter surprised. after them?” how well they “I think Red are cared for Tractor needs to “they are killed against their will. be sorted out. I think they drive “It’s tempting to believe that up our farm drive, they look at the animals we eat lived happy, the state of the farm and they healthy lives and experienced [just] mark the farms on what no pain or fear. they see.”

“Unfortunately, the sad truth is John Cossins agrees that Red that all animals raised for meat, Tractor isn’t working for the dairy and eggs – including those protection of the animals. labelled free-range or organic “They almost seem to pick things that are not so important. or well cared-for – are used and abused, with many ending up in When they could just look at the same slaughterhouse.” animal welfare.”

by Rachael Rowe

NEWS

How a local businessman has helped people in North Dorset for over 400 years.

Thousands have been helped by the William Williams Trust - and yet very few seem to even know it exists to help them. Rachael Rowe spoke to the Trustees of the 400 year old charitable Trust “I wonder what William Williams would have thought if he had known his trust fund would still be around 400 years later.” Helen Lacey is a trustee of the Charity of William Williams, and explained how the actions of one Blackmore Vale businessman have supported thousands of people in Shaftesbury, Blandford Forum and Sturminster Newton. And yet, how many of us have heard of the Charity of William Williams?

Who Was William Williams?

We actually know very little about William Williams.

He lived in the 16th and early 17th centuries, but all records were destroyed in the 1731 Great Fire of Blandford. The loose knowledge we have is that William Williams was a businessman who traded in cloth between the three towns of Blandford, Sturminster Newton and Shaftesbury (these three towns are linked to the charitable Trust and funding allocations). All we really know about him is what is in his will. He died sometime between 1621 and 1623, during the reign of James I. Helen poignantly added: “We don’t even know where he is buried.”

Another trustee who has researched the history, Joe Rose, tells me: “William Williams built up a fortune by trading cloth with America. He was one of the first to do so. His will shows he gave four trustees instructions to use £750 and invest it in property and land. One of the trustees was the MP, Sir Thomas Freke, indicating William Williams was well connected.”

How the Trust was Formed William William’s Will stipulated that money in the Trust was to be used to fund annual apprenticeships for two boys. These were chosen annually, in rotation from the three towns. They “The object of the Charity is to apply income received to relieve either generally, or individually, persons resident in the area of benefit (being the ancient parishes of Blandford, Shaftesbury and Sturminster Newton) who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress. In addition, to assist persons in or entering any trade or profession.”

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The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord

The Trust was originally to be used to fund annual apprenticeships for two boys. These were chosen annually, in rotation from the three towns. They were given maritime apprenticeships and two sets of clothing. They were either apprenticed to a seafaring vessel or to a shipwright.

were given maritime apprenticeships and two sets of clothing. They were either apprenticed to a seafaring vessel or to a shipwright. After two years, the Trust paid for the apprentices to work within the three towns for a further two years.

What does the charity fund do today?

The Charity of William Williams operates on the same 1621 footprint today, using the ancient geographical boundaries of Shaftesbury, Sturminster Newton, and Blandford Forum of 400 years ago (if you plan to apply and aren’t sure whether you live within the boundary, there’s a checklist on the Trust website).

Today, boys are no longer sent up the rigging.

Instead, the Charity of William Williams awards grants to support further education, such as assistance with university fees, apprenticeships, or transport costs to places like Kingston Maurward for agricultural courses. They also provide funding 9

NEWS

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to see our school in action

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Co-educational day and boarding school Nursery - Pre-Prep - Prep - Senior - Sixth Form To arrange a visit: admissions@wells.cathedral.school 01749 834441 https://wells.cathedral.school 10

by Rachael Rowe for tools for apprenticeships and training. As Joe explained: “If you are an apprentice mechanic, your tools are going to be very expensive.”

Mature students are also eligible to apply for funding. Trustees work closely with local schools; during the pandemic, the Charity of William Williams supplied schools with laptops.

Another clause in the Will of William Williams enables the trustees to help in incidences of hardship. Jo outlined an example where a local family had been able to get an oven replaced.

A multi-million fund In 1621, £3000 was invested (roughly £867,000 in 2021), which returned an annual income of £140. Today, the charity has assets worth around £9million, producing income used to award grants - that’s a significant reason you won’t see major fundraising campaigns locally.

The charity manages the

NEWS property and investments used to award grants. Chair of the Trustees, Robert Cowley, outlined recent spending: “We made a total of 173 grants last year. That included 85 educational grants worth £121,500. However, educational and general ‘relief of need’ grants were down 25% from previous years. We have to assume this is because of the pandemic, but how that will have impacted on our grant-giving is complex.”

Robert also explained the role of trustees: “The trustees feel privileged to have the care of such a power for good in the three old parishes. Our assets still include some of the properties given by William Williams nearly 400 years ago, and they are still providing a resource for those in need of the assistance he offered.”

I’m wondering what led this local businessman to create this opportunity in the first place. Joe has a view: “I like to think that

When William Williams created his Trust, James I sat on the throne of England

someone gave him a chance in life to achieve something. And I think that’s what made him feel morally obliged to repay the debt.”

The trustees believe many local people could be eligible for a grant and want to raise awareness of the opportunity. If you plan to find out more about the William Williams Trust and see whether you could be eligible for funding details are on the website.

Clear.

Approachable.

And as individual as you are.

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.

Call us on 01722 398137.

11

NEWS

by Laura Hitchcock

Local care company turns to the to fill vacancies

As the care staffing crisis continues to deepen, local care companies are turning to qualified international recruits to fill their staffing void The pandemic has shown us just how much our society depends upon our front line carers - the previously unrecognised, often unrespected workers who look after our most vulnerable. But there’s now a recruitment crisis in the industry, with countless jobs seemingly unable to be filled from our domestic workforce.

The staffing crisis is forcing local care homes to close or turn away vulnerable elderly people in desperate need of care.

In December the government announced that thousands of additional care workers are to be recruited from abroad to fill the chronic gaps. Care workers will be added to the Home Office’s shortage occupation list, which is designed to help migrants get work visas to fill jobs where there are shortages.

New Apex Prime Care’s team members heading for the UK in February

all areas have less staff now than we did at the start of the pandemic. “Finding local people who will even respond to our calls or emails after applying, Two years of challenge is proving ever more difficult Glastonbury-based Candlelight – possibly due to the general Care has been recruiting nonperception of care work being stop since the beginning of the ‘menial’ - it’s considered work pandemic two years ago.

“We saw an increase in enquiries for the unqualified, and many find domestic early on in 2020, “we still have and caring chores but when the daily death figures began at least 30% of demeaning.

“The pay is also a to rise, and furlough vacancies to fillall challenge. We were was introduced (and areas have less proud to be able extended), enquiries fell to an all-time low” staff now than we to introduce a pay says Roxanne Brown, did at the start of increase for our care and support Candlelight Care’s the pandemic” workers back in recruitment officer.

November; they are “We still have at all Care Champions and deserve least 30% of vacancies to fill, the recognition and reward. as we are now also having to However it still doesn’t reflect compensate for losing staff due to them feeling completely burnt just how valuable they are to us.” out from the last two years.

Getting staff to stay We cover Wiltshire, Dorset, While recruitment is a seeminglySomerset and East Sussex and 12

permanent challenge, retention is just as important to Roxanne right now “we are committed to rewarding our current staff who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic and repeatedly gone above and beyond any expectations. We are so proud of all of our staff here, including those who have the stressful behind-the-scenes responsibilities!” (you can see Candlelight Care’s current job ad on p.62 here) Turning to the Philippines Local care company Apex Prime Care has partnered with smiliarly family-run business BMB International Recruitment, a wellestablished and ethical overseas healthcare recruitment company, to combat the significant challenges they are also facing with recruiting and retaining frontline carers.

Apex Prime Care are offering

by Laura Hitchcock

NEWS Some of the new Apex Prime Care team are already at work: from L-R Dave, Irish, Bonnie, Liezl, Milo. Front row is Sam on the left and Aujie on the right

cars and sourcing accommodation to smooth the transition to the UK for their new team members.

They will also be on hand every step of the way to help integrate the new recruits into the team and into wider society.

Why the ?

One part of the world with a reputation for providing unrivalled levels of service and care is the Philippines; possibly because the islands have very high educational standards, and with English being the second language, there’s no problem when it comes to communicating effectively in the The first of Apex Prime Care’s Filippino recruits arrived in the UK in February

UK. Huge numbers of Filipino students go on to higher education, with many of them specialising in medicine, hospitality and the “...the general perception of care care industry.

With unemployment work being ‘menial’ - so high in their it’s considered work own country, many for the unqualified, Filipinos head for other parts of the and many find world, where they domestic and caring can command much chores demeaning” higher salaries than they would be able to at home. And the UK is a favourite destination, offering great opportunities for empathetic and hardworking Filipinos.

Apex Prime Care’s Ben Patrick said “The new team member’s qualifications are outstanding. BMB are recruiting healthcare staff with 4-year bachelor’s degrees in health or social care, plus 1 year work experience for Senior Care Workers.

“19 of our 45 new team members have already arrived and are settling into life in the UK; they have been learning about our culture, exploring their new community, training with the team and meeting their new colleagues and service users.

“The need for care in the community is only increasing and with health and social care experiencing one of its most difficult times in history for recruitment and retaining carers, we have started overseas recruitment to help relieve the pressures on hospitals and local authorities, and to fill the void of 120,000 vacancies in the health and social care industry.”

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Join our team and make a difference in your community every day!

A career with Apex Prime Care is much more than just a job.

Our home care assistants connect the community and support our clients in the comfort of their homes.

Visit www.apexprimecare.org/careers to apply Apply online or call our Recruitment Team today!

www.apexprimecare.org

0330 2020 200

NEWS

Spend a fiver - and put £1.9m per year into your local town Sherborne locals and visitors alike are in for a treat, as the Totally Locally Fiver Fest comes to town from the 12th to the 26th March.

of our weekly spend to local independents we give them a fighting chance to thrive and to keep our High Street alive. Fiver Fest makes that easy, and it’s genuinely fun to be part of” For any independent business wishing to participate in the Fiver Fest in Sherborne, please contact fiverfestsherborne@gmail.com

If every adult in

SHERBORNE

spent just £5 per week in their local independent shops

& businesses it would mean

£1 .

9 MILLION PER YEAR GOING DIRECTLY INTO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY*

which can lead to more jobs, a better high street, a stronger local economy & a nicer place to live.

MAKES YOU THINK DOESN'T IT?!

TO HELP YOU SPEND THAT £5 WE'RE TAKING PART IN THE

fiverfestsherbs fiverfestsherborne

FIVER FEST

fiverfestsherborne

12-26 MAR

2022

Why £5?

Jane says Fiver Fest is based around the now famous Totally Locally £5 message: “If every adult in Sherborne spent just £5 per week in their local independent shops and businesses, it would mean £1.9m per year going directly into our local economy. Which can lead to more jobs, a better high street, a stronger economy & a nicer place to live. Makes you think doesn’t it?!”

Totally Locally founder Chris Sands said “It’s a campaign that sees incredible offers from £5 massages to £5 veg boxes, £5 walking tours, £5 lunch deals, £5 manicures... Independent business owners are really inventive with their offers, and we encourage them to also

promote their neighbouring businesses offers too. Fiver Fest is about everyone working together to promote their town as a whole. If lots of shops have great offers on, the trip to the high street is really fun!

Jane said Fiver Fest shows that a small change in your spending habits can really make a difference to our high streets. “Just by diverting £5

#fiverfest

Sherborne is joining over 100 towns and thousands of businesses across the UK who are joining together to bring you a fortnight of special £5 deals.

The plan is to highlight the contribution to the economy that local shops and businesses bring.

“Fiver Fest happens three times per year,” said Jane Wood, organiser “and it is now a big part of our Sherborne business year. The community support for local businesses has been amazing during lockdown, but it is easy to slip back into old shopping habits now that things are returning to normal. So this is a little nudge to say ‘Our local businesses are still here, we are still serving our community and we appreciate your support. And of course we are great value!”.

LOADS OF AMAZING £5 SPECIAL OFFERS

FROM OUR INDEPENDENT SHOPS & BUSINESSES. CHECK

OUT

WWW.FIVERFEST.CO.UK

LOOK OUT FOR POSTERS IN SHOPS, OR ON SOCIAL MEDIA

shop like your

high street depends on it

WWW.TOTALLYLOCALLY.ORG

*Based on figures calculated by Totally Locally using most recent O.N.S. Census data: Town's adult population x £5 x 52 weeks in a year = total into local economy.

15

THE RANDOM 19 QUESTIONS

TV presenter (and nation’s favourite) Valerie Singleton takes on the Random 19

interview by Laura Hitchcock

Valerie Singleton will perhaps forever be a Blue Peter presenter. She joined the BBC in 1961 as Val Singleton enjoying a continuity announcer a special event at Castle Gardens in Sherborne and in 1962 joined Blue Peter, where she stayed as a weekly presenter until 1972 (and continued to appear as a ‘roving reporter’ into the early 80s). Since then she has presented various TV shows, written for Sunday newspapers and glossy magazines, has worked on the current affairs shows Nationwide and Tonight, and at PM on Radio 4… And yet remains indelibly stamped on our collective consciousness as ‘Blue Peter’s Val Singleton’ 1. What’s your relationship with the Blackmore Vale (the loose North Dorset area, not us!)?

I came down to this part of the world because I thought Sherborne was very lively (it was lively where I lived near the Fulham Road in London!), and already loved the area; I had friends I would come down to see in Holwell. It’s also close enough to London to still see my elderly Dad, and for work.

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

Unfortunately, my new car radio doesn’t play CDs so I am mostly (being a bit of a news addict) tuned to Radio 4 or Five Live.

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THE RANDOM 19 QUESTIONS

interview by Laura Hitchcock But I did join in with a few songs from someone’s Desert Island Discs the other day; My Way (who else but Sinatra?) and Alfie Boe singing from Les Mis. 3. What was the last movie you watched? Would you recommend it?

The last movie in a cinema (prelockdown!) was Dark Waters with Mark Ruffalo. It is a dark movie too - a true story about the awful deception by the chemical company DuPont, who produced Teflon. It’s an excellent legal thriller. Definitely a must-see.

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

Well Friday night is not very different from every other night of the week in this house! Except (at the moment) it does have my favourite comedy show on BBC One - Would I Lie To You. 5. Who’s your celebrity crush?

In his heyday, the tennis player John Newcombe (image right).

I thought he was absolutely gorgeous. And I did see him play once at Queens… that’s practically up close and personal!

6. What’s your comfort meal?

It has to be chocolate. I go through phases of loving a particular one, then lose my

taste for it and move to another brand. But chocolate is always the answer.

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

I might be a bit young to take it in at 15 but I would tell her to make sure she asks her parents - and more important, perhaps, her grandparents - about their lives.

Too late I discovered what a fascinating life my paternal grandmother had led. I would so like to have known more. All those lunches I had with her in Derry & Toms Roof Gardens (now Kensington Roof Gardens) in my 20’s and I never bothered to ask.

And sadly now too late!

John Newcombe is an Australian former professional tennis player, one of the few men to have attained a world No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles.

8. The best crisps flavour?

Walkers cheese and onion!

Although Sensation’s Sweet Thai Chilli probably ties with them.

in April in 1961. There were no major roads or motorways anywhere. I was making a promotional film about the new Classic car for the Ford Motor 9. And the best “enclosed, dark, and Company called biscuit for dunking? wildly atmospheric. (what else?) a ‘Classic Holiday’ Definitely I am not sure what (see video below McVities Rich Tea. kind of music it was, - I found the 1961 Dunked all too advert - Ed). The often.

I just know it was film crew and wonderful. I had never four stars (!!) of 10. Tell us danced like it before the film went to about one or have done since” eat one evening of the best in a small local evenings you’ve cafe on a fabulous beach along ever had? the coast. We didn’t speak Greek, I will tell you about two.

I was filming in the Peloponnese, and the Greeks having dinner in the cafe didn’t speak English. in an empty unspoilt Greece But by the end of the evening we were one wonderful party, sharing songs and dances into the early hours.

And the other would be an evening at the Sugar Mill in Grenada during the time the Americans had gone in to resolve an uprising against the government. I was staying with journalist friends covering the story. The Sugar Mill had been just that - a mill for sugar. Now it was a local place to dance; enclosed, dark, and wildly atmospheric. I am not sure what 17

RANDOM 19 kind of music it was, I just know it was wonderful. Partnered by numerous unknown Grenadians, I had never danced like it before or since.

11. What book did you read last year that stayed with you?

I love history, and I picked up a book I had had for ages but hadn’t read; Andrew Marr’s History of The World. It’s absolutely terrific. So well written, readable and interesting.

I don’t read from beginning to end but dip into it.

12. What’s your secret superpower?

Bringing people together who might get on and like each other.

I refuse to call it networking as I don’t like the phrase (though one friend did call me a facilitator!). I just have the knack - it seems to work, and new friendships and useful contacts have been made.

13. Your favourite quote?

Movie, book or inspirational - we won’t judge.

It’s from E.M. Forster’s ‘A Passage To India’ “Life never gives us what we want at the moment that we consider appropriate. Adventures do occur, but not punctually.”

I have had quite a few unpunctual adventures along the way.

14. Cats or Dogs?

Always cats! I had two in London long ago, and then I adopted three kittens who had a rather dramatic start in life.

They were spotted actually on the tracks at Sherborne railway station, and rescued as a train approached by the station manager who scooped them into a bucket with a curtain hook!

My neighbour (at the station that day) took them home to catch mice on the farm, but they soon discovered they liked my duvet better than a mucky straw barn.

18

My neighbour moved. I kept the cats.

Sadly the adventurous one wandered too far, but two are still with me.

They have been utterly delightful during the pandemic. They talk to me more, follow me around and have become lap cats. I don’t even mind rescuing the mice they bring in as I like mice!

15. Chip Shop Chips or Home Baked Cake?

I’m not mad about cake so guess it would have to be chips.

But actually, best of all would be a pastry. I admit I am a bit of a pastry junky.

16. Your top three mostvisited, favourite websites (excluding social media & BBC News!)?

I don’t do social media, so that’s relatively easy to avoid!

• Google - I’m always looking up people, or searching for information • YouTube for fun clips • Can I cheat with a different

Interview by Laura Hitchcock

BBC site? It would be iPlayer for missed programmes!

17. What’s your most annoying trait?

I think it’s probably interrupting.

I must learn to let other people finish what they are saying before I jump in.

However I asked a friend, who said it’s actually not ending my sentences!

18.Your favourite quote?

It’s from E.M. Forster’s A Passage To India: “Life never gives us what we want at the moment that we consider appropriate.

Adventures do occur, but not punctually.”

I have had quite a few ‘unpunctual’ adventures along the way!

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

Ban anyone caught driving with a mobile for driving for life. Yes, life!

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DORSET ISLAND DISCS

Interview by Laura Hitchcock

“I’ve been lucky. I don’t need any credit, I just like to help where I can” Taff Martin is a surprisingly bashful Welshman; a Falklands Veteran, he’s the driving force behind Abbey104 radio station, and until recently a gigging musician. He serves on Sherborne’s Chamber of Trade committee and organises some of the biggest festivals in the town.

Raised in the tiny Welsh mining village of Bargoed, Taff Martin grew up within a musical family, playing in his Dad’s Country band, with his brother on lead guitar. At the age of 16 ( and two months!) Taff literally ran away to sea, joining the Navy as a helicopter mechanic in ‘78, where he found playing guitar in the mess helped make friends.

By 1979 he was based at Yeovilton, working on the thenbrand new Lynx helicopters.

In 1981 Taff joined a small ships flight in the Fleet Air Arm squadron 815. After a tour of Russian seas he was aboard the HMS Glasgow, the first ship in the Falklands at the start of the conflict. He saw HMS Sheffield get hit, and the Glasgow itself was bombed on the 12th May - Taff made it back to the UK in June 1982.

In 1984 Taff was invited to dinner by his boss “come meet my niece.

You might get on, and if you don’t it’s a free dinner”.

Taff ending up staying for the whole weekend, and spent most

20

of it talking to ‘the niece’ Lynda - they met again the following Saturday, and the very next weekend Taff asked Lynda to marry him. They’ve been married for 37 years this year.

Retiring the band Taff formed a band of his own in the mid 80s, and continued to gig thoughout the South West until arthritis put paid to his lead guitar days “I’m determined to not be ‘Taff, who used to be good at guitar’. You’ve got to know when to quit”.

His retirement gig at the Digby Hall in 2017 was so good, he told everyone he’d be retiring again the following week, and the week after that he’d be retiring in Yeovil...

Once he’d given up the band, Taff needed a new focus - and by serendipity he was asked to help out at Abbey104, Sherborne’s community radio station. Taff was quickly asked to run the station; it’s a passion project, and he’s been galvanising the volunteer team ever since,

as well as presenting his own Country Music show.

In 2016 Taff was asked to help with the organisation of the Queen’s birthday concert festival in Sherborne - it was such a success he did it again in the two following years. COVID caused a break, but the Sherborne Summer Festival is back for 2022, still with Taff at the helm.

“I feel I’ve had a lucky life. I’m not a big earner, but I like to put things back into the community.

I don’t really like to be noticed, I just do what I can, and I know about festivals, music and entertainment - all it costs is my time” Taff’s also a long-standing active member and previous Vice-

Interview by Laura Hitchcock

DORSET ISLAND DISCS

Chair of the Sherborne Chamber of Commerce committee, assisting with events like the Festive Shopping Day and FiverFest, and is a familiar face to most in and around the town.

Taff has lived in Sherborne with his wife Lynda since 1990, and in 2021 he published a book ‘Working for the Weekend’, combining useful tips on playing in a local band, with tales from his own 40 years of gigs.

Taff’s eight music choices, along with how and why they stuck in his life: Elvis Presley - One Night.

This was on an EP called A Touch of Gold Volume 2, and I first heard it on an old Dansette record player when I was about 8 or 9 years old. I had never heard anything like it. At the time it was all flower power on the radio, and suddenly hearing Elvis for the first time at full throttle changed my life.

Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues This was one of the first songs I learned to play on the guitar - my older brother Clint was lead guitarist in our Dad’s Country band, and there was never any question that I’d learn too.

Colin Blunstone - Say you don’t mind A rock singer using nothing but strings - violin and cello - all through this song proves you don’t need loud drums to get your point across. It’s just a beautiful song.

Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode This song is all you need to know about rock and roll guitar. It never fails to make me smile, and lights up any gig. I played it so many times on stages throughout the South West.

Status Quo - Dear John From their album 1982. I’m pretty proud that I was probably the first person in the Southern Hemisphere to get this album! I knew it was coming out mid April whilst I was in the Falklands, so I sent a cheque home for my brother to buy the album, had him record it and then send the cassette down to me. I wanted to be first on the ship to have it!

Guy Clark - My Favourite Picture of you A singer telling the story of his wife through pictures. One of the finest song writers I have ever heard. They say a picture paints a thousand words, but Guy Clark singing about his wife (who had passed away) creates so many images in the listener’s mind, it’s stunning.

Carole King - Where you lead The Tapestry album was the one that me and Lynda listened to all the time when we first met. So many great memories, and an unbelievably good album.

And if the waves were to wash all your records away but you had time to save just one, which would it be?

Elvis. He’s the whole reason I started.

Eagles - Peaceful Easy Feeling From their debut album, this took me years to learn the solo. I eventually found out they used a special device inside the guitar! I just love the sound and feel of this song, and can always imagine cruising down a USA Highway listening to it.

My book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I first read it at school in the 70s, but its message is still important and relevant today. The film, for once, was just as good as the book with Gregory Peck perfect for the role of Atticus Finch.

My luxury item Definitely would have to be a guitar. Just because I can’t sing doesn’t mean I won’t sing on my deserted island. It will keep dangerous animals away as well!

Click here to listen to Taff’s entire playlist on YouTube 21

by Andy Palmer

TALES FROM THE VALE

Tales From The Vale

There are news headlines pointing out absurdities in our world that frequently make me laugh.

A while ago I turned on the radio and heard that Saudi Arabia has announced a new ‘liberal’ law which would ’allow women to drive’. I genuinely thought I’d caught some satirical show and laughed dutifully (I hadn’t realized women were banned).

The announcer went on to explain the conditions to this amazing act of liberalism and inclusivity by saying women drivers had to cover their heads, there must be a male adult in the car (well, of course!) and women weren’t allowed behind the wheel after 6pm.

By the time we got to the curfew bit it struck me that I was listening to Radio 4 news and that this was genuine. Still laughed at the sheer audacity of Saudi males banning women from driving.

I know a little about Saudi males’ driving – it’s dangerous.

There is little road discipline.

For example, if a driver has passed his turning on a six lane motorway, he’ll simply do a U-turn and drive back through the oncoming traffic in a blaze of blaring horns and curses.

Terrible death toll According to the Global Status Report on Road Safety, Saudi Arabia (population 34.8 million) had the highest death rate associated with road injury of any high-income country in 2016, with a total count of fatalities at 9,031. The population is 34.8 million, so that’s 0.028% of the population.

Let’s put this into context.

In the UK there was an estimated 1,390 reported road deaths in 22

“...my mother made me eat it. And I’m president of the United States. And I’m not gonna eat any more broccoli!”

the year ending June 2021, a decrease of 11% compared to the year ending June 2020. With a population of 65m, that’s 0.002% of the population.

City of Roses and Nightingales My family also lived in Iran in the late 70s and that was an eye-opener. For example, road menders in and around Shiraz (known as the ‘City of Roses and Nightingales’ - the reality was somewhat different) would dig a big hole in a road to find a pipe.

They’d knock off at dusk and just leave the hole – no signs or flashing lights. In our morning walks to Pahlavi university, we got used to walking past a twisted car in a hole in the road with a smashed windscreen adorned with ominous dark splashes – ‘only cissies wore seat belts’.

the news made me laugh (in a rather perplexed way) as I write this in mid-January: apparently, homosexuality was illegal in Britain’s armed forces as late as the year 2000. Got that? Illegal!

How can it be illegal to be homosexual? What’s the rationale?

We’ll leave aside the fact that any woman or man joining the armed forces is prepared to put their lives on the line to serve their country.

The plain illogicality of ‘banning homosexuality’ is stupefying.

We’ll also leave aside ‘how can you police it’. But above all why?

Put very simply, and I apologise to readers who don’t fall into this over simplified categorisation, you are either heterosexual, or you are homosexual, you drift somewhere in between, or you just are asexual. That’s who you are! It’s how you are born, or how you develop as a person.

It’s your natural disposition.

You may as well ban people having blonde hair, or liking blues guitar. Or make it illegal to dislike eating broccoli and sprouts (all of which I have and do).

And on sexuality Another bit of information from

The broccoli war!

Well, that’s all a bit serious so

My simple solution Now my contention is that if Saudi simply banned all males from driving - and only allowed women behind a steering wheel - than the fatality rate would plummet immediately.

I would like readers to mail in their views on this to the editor.

by Andy Palmer here’s a funny: US president George Bush senior famously didn’t like broccoli. He made this world-shattering declaration abundantly clear.

But there are always some little souls who love to be ‘offended’ at the most innocuous statement, and in this case, the US Broccoli Growers’ Association took a dim view.

To which Bush, rather amusingly stated: ‘I am the US president,’ probably adding ‘…and leader of the free world’ (you need to assert your authority when dealing with uppity broccoli traders), ‘and I if don’t want to eat broccoli, I won’t eat broccoli.’

Then he invaded the wrong country. Again.

(I generally get a ‘furious’ letter from a reader when I touch upon ‘politics’, so please, if you’ve got a low irony threshold, do feel free to write in to the editor and demand that she fires me from this successful magazine (which she won’t, as I took her some cakes on her birthday - good investment, that).

Or feel free to write in if you agree with me – we’ll compare the mail bag and report back. Hit the link on the opposite page to send your views to Laura. Should I stay or should I go?

At the peak of the Cold War, a Dorset pub was at the centre of a real Russian spy scandal. In what became know as the Portland Spy Ring, Harry Houghton and his girlfriend Ethel Gee used the Elm Tree at Langton Herring to await phone calls from his KGB masters on certain nights, before disappearing to spy on the nuclear submarine fleet based at Portland.

TALES FROM THE VALE Henstridge’s cold war Cookbooks: I love ‘em. So does Kae. We’ve got a lot – about 200 really good ones – most of which will soon be in Stur’s Emporium’s bookshelves at fantastically low prices (four books for a quid – beat that Sherborne charity shops).

One book that’ll stay on our shelves is ‘The Man’s Cookbook,’ which my dad wrote about 10 years ago. It was outstandingly successful in avoiding getting on to any bestseller list.

Dad was an oddity: his professional work included him designing defence systems for the UK, and the Shah of Iran in 1977-9.

In the UK, dad was part of the team that developed the sonabuoy at Plessey in Henstridge.

Readers would further be astounded to know that UK and US intelligence were aware that Soviet Intelligence knew of the Henstridge research plant, and attempts were made to penetrate it (a US Navy officer told my dad that somewhere in Moscow there’d be a file on him and his fellow boffins). They were warned to be aware of ‘strangers’ trying to befriend them and talk about their work.

Fancy all this Cold War knife and dagger stuff in our Blackmore Vale!

I can just imagine heavily bearded men in fur caps with strange accents turning up at the Virginia Ash pub in the 1970s, asking for goulash and cabbage soup, but settling for cheese toasties.

The sonabuoy was clever: the deal was this: it’s the height of the Cold War. A Russian submarine, ready to launch nuclear missiles at Mappowder and Verwood (therefore bringing us Western capitalist dogs to our knees) is known to be lurking in the North Sea. An RAF Nimrod flies over the sea, drops a sonabuoy.

When the sonabuoy hits the water an aerial emerges from the top, and a sonar transmitter from the underside starts bipping radio waves. These bounce off the Russian submarine and its coordinates are transmitted to the Nimrod which then drops guided torpedoes that give Ivan a grim time.

Bad for Ivan: good for the inhabitants of the Blackmore Vale. Our imperialistic lackey lives can go on as usual without gulags, secret police and evil dictators.

I write the above to show that dad wasn’t as barking as he may now sound. Although the ‘BarkOmeter’ will now go into the red zone... Dad was entranced by the limitless possibilities of food dye. We kids were used to blue scrambled egg. We become accustomed to green rice pudding. Red omelettes didn’t faze us. Purple mashed potato was a given. But he crossed the line when he served lobster a la marmalade steamed in orange juice.

“Dad, can we have normal food?”

Then mum, an infant teacher at Stalbridge, banned him from the kitchen. Life resumed as normal.

Or as normal as it could be with such a father.

23

POLITICS

No troops on the ground, but is there more to do?

Why have we closed the door to the Ukrainian refugeees?, asks Labour’s Pat Osborne People in North Dorset, especially the families of British service men and women, will have breathed a sigh of relief at Defence Secretary Ben Wallace’s announcement that we won’t be sending British troops to fight the Russians in Ukraine. Not least because most of us recognise that it would be madness to consider going to war with Russia when there is such a high risk of coming off second best. But it is important nonetheless that the world stands united against Putin’s war, and the hefty economic sanctions that the international community have now imposed on Russia will hopefully go some way in encouraging Russia back to the

negotiating table.

While ordinary Ukrainians are being issued with guns and civilians conscripted into doing their bit to defend their country, their democratic freedoms and the country’s abundant natural resources, the British Government have pledged that they will be supported to “fight every street with every piece of equipment we can get to them”.

No asylum for Ukrainians At the same time, the UK has stopped accepting visa applications from Ukrainians, meaning that there is no safe or legal route for them to seek asylum in Britain unless they have British relatives. Priti

Patel’s Nationality and Borders Bill will seek to make this even more difficult by effectively criminalising refugees attempting to find a way through to safety.

It would seem that for the Tories, standing united against Putin’s war means fighting down to the very last Ukrainian while putting a double bolt on their routes to safety. Our history shows that time and again we can be better allies than that. The Ukrainian people need better allies and the British people deserve a better Government.

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

What kind of ‘follower’ are you?

Most of us are ‘followers’, according to socioligists, and these fall into five categories. But only one is the most effective, argues North Dorset Lib Dems Parliamentary Spokesman Gary Jackson.

We all know leadership when we see it, but much less is said about ‘followership’ - especially about the people who can change our government’s direction.

Until the next general election these ‘followers’ are Conservative MPs. Back in 1988, Professor Robert Kelley wrote about the importance of followership to organisational success, and described five types of followers.

First are the unthinking, docile followers who are the ‘sheep’. A second group are the ‘alienated’; independent thinkers who have been turned off. They are cynical, give only grudging support, but seldom openly oppose their leader. Third are the ‘yes people’ who completely 24

depend on their leader for inspiration and are aggressively protective. There is a fourth type that sit in the middle; ‘survivors’ who blow with the wind and seek only to survive change. I don’t see too many sheep in parliament, but I’m worried by the numbers of the alienated, the yes people, and the survivors on the Government’s benches.

The most effective follower!

But there’s one more type of follower, the last and best type is described simply as “effective”. Active, independent, critical thinkers. They manage themselves. They are courageous, honest and credible. They are engaged, well-

balanced and responsible adults who succeed without micromanagement. Volunteers with a purpose tend to be in this camp.

These are the people that get things done and improve their communities.

Organisations only thrive when they have effective followers, as well as leaders. We surely want our political representatives to be the effective type. So, my call to all of us is to follow with independent, critical judgement and a will to make things better.

Make sure you’re following the right vision and the right leader.

As Liberal Democrats, we’d be really pleased to see you join us.

Heat our homes, not our planet

POLITICS

The word millionaire is an abscenity when so many are literally having to choose between eating and heating argues the Green Party’s Ken Huggins

The rise in energy prices for consumers is driven by fossil fuels, notably gas, and reflects an unstable political and economic environment. It illustrates the need to build better insulated houses, accelerate the switch to renewable energy, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels with their wildly fluctuating prices.

Few people would argue with that, but there is less awareness that there is no such thing as fuel poverty, food poverty etc – there is simply across-the-board poverty for households whose income falls below their needs.

Needs, not wants.

How is this possible in a rich country like the UK? It stems from our wildly inegalitarian society, and the Green Party believe the words millionaire

or billionaire should be viewed as an obscenity when so many people are literally having to choose between eating and heating. We will never get society-wide support for the radical measures needed to halt global heating unless they go hand in hand with a much fairer and more equal society.

Currently the rich squander the world’s resources on ostentatious overconsumption, while the poor cannot afford to be part of a ‘collective effort’ when they have so little already.

A solid, far-reaching plan In the short term a responsible government would bring in windfall taxes on the large energy companies, raise taxes for rich individuals and use

much of the revenue to help struggling households through the crisis. The focus should then move to funding retrofitting of home insulation at zero cost for households in need, along with regulation requiring all new construction to be fully insulated, not reliant on gas boilers, and fitted with solar panels. Locally we need to put aside reservations about solar farms and windfarms, and start approving them on all suitable sites. Energy produced and consumed locally helps protect us from global shocks.

Ken Huggins, Parish Councillor Hazelbury Bryan

25

RURAL MATTERS - monthly column from the CPRE

Huge growth in community-led projects...

Community-owned Thorncombe Village Shop

...but we need more volunteers and more progressive action from town councils copying successful schemes elsewhere, insists Rupert Hardy, chair of North Dorset Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) Over the last decade or two there has been huge growth in community-led ventures in Dorset, as well as the rest of the UK. The drivers for this have been the reduction in services offered by local authorities, particularly during the austerity years following the 2008 financial crisis, when government cut back massively on its financial support to local government, with, for example, subsidies for local bus services being cut.

More onerous drink-drive laws affecting pubs, the growth of supermarkets undercutting traditional village stores, successive governments reducing the provision of social housing and a need to provide roof-mounted renewable energy that will not 26

desecrate Dorset’s beautiful countryside, have all been factors.

There has been a growing realisation that communities need to act to reduce loneliness and isolation as the An increase in ‘belonging’ government has been slow to At the same time growing address longstanding issues, life expectancy has meant such as mental health. that more retirees have the The list of community-led time and energy to support or owned activities is long: volunteering and communitycommunity-owned pubs and led activities, shops; community “communities usually on a transport; voluntary, unpaid, community land need to act to basis. Innovation reduce loneliness trusts; community in ownership and isolation as energy groups; structures and community the government arguably greater kitchens and has been slow altruism have all myriad other to address helped too. groups.

Across the UK Dorset CPRE has longstanding more people feel been active in issues” they are part of promoting many their local community, with of these too, as we believe around a third acknowledging in community engagement that Covid has increased their and localism, opposing a sense of belonging. government that remains too

RURAL MATTERS - monthly column from the CPRE

focused on centralisation and control of power.

wish to provide sites. Hastoe Housing Association manage many of the properties in Genuinely affordable Dorset. homes…

Dorset CPRE support pubs Community-led housing and village shops, which are covers a range of models, but the beating hearts of our community land trusts (CLT) village communities, but they may be the most significant, have been threatened by involving local many factors, people creating with COVID “It is a ‘brilliant’ genuinely growing movement lockdowns affordable affecting pubs in which solar homes on a brutally. powered energy non-profit basis.

There are generation is The concept was several owned not by borrowed from communitythe USA, where owned pubs in large industrial it was developed companies but by Dorset and I am strongly during local communities, happy to eat at the civil rights one in Shapwick, with the profits movement The Anchor, invested back into which produces era. The first the community” community delicious food. land trust in The designation Dorset was set up more than of pubs threatened with a decade ago in Buckland closure as ‘Assets of Common Newton, but there are now Value’ has helped in their over 20 here, with seven growth. Dorset CPRE run and actually housing people. judge the Best Village Shop Oliver Letwin, the MP, was competition in Dorset, and a great supporter of the a number of community-led concept. There are examples shops, such as Thorncombe in Gillingham, Sturminster Village Shop have won prizes.

Newton and Fontmell Magna, The Plunkett Foundation has while our Sherborne CPRE been instrumental in getting group is supporting a new one such ventures off the ground, which hopes to take advantage and there are now over 350 of Sherborne Castle Estate’s in the UK. They succeed as

Dorset Community Transport Minibus at Blandford

they engage the community, who are more likely to shop there, and they stimulate social activity. There are also community kitchens, such as Sherborne Community Kitchen created in Sherborne during Covid to help the vulnerable, staffed by volunteers. Most towns have community food banks too, such as Blandford and Gillingham, but without volunteers they would not exist. …and affordable solar panels The phasing-out of domestic solar panel subsidies in recent years meant that individuals became reluctant installers, despite falling panel prices, while cash-strapped local authorities were unable to help.

However, 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 profits invested back into the community.

Last March Sustainable Swanage and community energy group, Purbeck Energy, launched a project, Solar Streets, to offer Swanage residents, as well as surrounding villages, the chance to get solar panels for their properties at discounted 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’. Swanage Town 27

RURAL MATTERS - monthly column from the CPRE

Council funds the Sustainable Swanage Projects Officer.

How about some of our North Dorset towns doing the same?

Local transport schemes?

In the last decade a number of community transport schemes have got off the ground in Dorset towns and villages. This is in response to less public transport and the need to reduce rural isolation.

It would be great if government were to fund better public transport, but the chance of this happening appears remote.

Dorset Community Transport, based in Blandford, runs 50 minibuses across the county helping schools and groups.

They are largely funded by Town and Parish Councils, and stepped in take over some of the bus routes which commercial operators pulled

28

Friends Supporting the CommunityOwned Anchor Pub at Shapwick

out of in 2017 after more subsidy cuts.

Bere Regis NeighbourCar offers a service run by volunteers using their own cars, for ‘anyone with transport difficulties’, while Milton Abbas runs a similar scheme. They both pay volunteers expenses.

DC now run a website to

promote all community transport schemes, as well as offering £5,000 to fund new schemes.

Overall, it would be fantastic if more people came forward as volunteers so we can sustain the community spirit developed during Covid.

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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.

When writing, please include your full name and address; we will not print this, but do require it.

On Mr Loder & the sea eagle I, like so many others, was shocked and appalled by our MP Chris Loder’s comments on social media around the death of the Sea Eagle this month. I am staggered that a man so connected to a rural community, who has until this month made such a name for himself as an advocate of animal welfare, could be so astonishingly illinformed.

The original comment - basically that he would not support the police using time and resources investigating the killing of unwanted birds of prey instead of drug crime - was badly done, and contained a number of factual errors.

The drugs team is entirely unrelated to the wildlife protection team, and the birds were not ‘introduced’ to Dorset, they flew here of their own volition from the Isle of White.

Are politicans now to choose which crimes are to be investigated? Can the police not do both? Should the Dorset Police Rural Wildlife & Heritage Crime Team be disbanded then?

And if there are not resources to do both, then surely that is his failing as our local representative to ensure the police are properly funded to do so?

Mr Loder then compounded his error by seemingly supporting his case by sharing an article from The Scotsman, in which the only unbiased facts seemed to be from the RSPB “What’s being said about [sea eagles] attacking livestock is inflammatory and people are basing their opinions on what 30

they perceive to be the case rather than reality.”

Commissioned Report 370 on Sea Eagle Predation on lambs in the Gairloch area was commissioned after farmers and crofters complained of high lamb mortality.

Within the study area in the radio-tagged flocks, no lambs (including both tagged and non tagged lambs) were taken by white tailed eagles.

Surely local sheep farmers have more trouble with uncontrolled off-lead dogs than they do with birds of prey?

Mr Loder appears to have upset the rural police, many wildlife organisations (Mr Packham was one of many outspoken in his disapproval), farmers, and he sadly made the national press with his ill-informed views. His suggestion that local residents may be concerned for the safety of their domestic pets is frankly alarmist.

I congratulate Dorset Councillors Laura Miller and Byron Quayle for publicly reprimanding him for his comments. Perhaps it’s time the Conservatives need to reconsider who is representing this nature-bound, agriculturallyimportant constituency?

Dr Charles Mathews, nr Sherborne (there was also a heated discussion on Facebook here around Mr Loder’s comments) *** Sherborne’s CCTV I was disappointed to read a statement from Sherborne Town Council following their meeting

on February 21st indicating once again that CCTV would not be supported in the town. In a town with barely any Police presence and increasing crime and antisocial behaviour, residents and business owners are now being forced to spend hundreds of pounds installing their own CCTV to protect themselves and their businesses.

The Town Council quote a figure of £130,000 for six cameras.

I find this sum ludicrous. Just recently it was reported that sixty CCTV cameras are being setup along the French coast at a coast of £170,000, all with live 24hr feed.

Surely, as a bare minimum working practice, at least three quotes should be obtained before spending public money?

Of course, all of us would rather we had more Police on the streets but that simply isn’t going to happen any time soon and in the meantime I and others are no longer able to walk home alone after dark for fear of attack. Not only would CCTV help to deter and convict criminals but it can also be used to trace missing persons, important in a town with a high population of young and elderly people.

Mary Carr, Sherborne Stur’s Little Mermaid Panto I had to write and commend the SNADS group for the Little Mermaid production - specifically for the special ‘relaxed’ performance. We attended with my daughter, who is autistic, and it was utterly wonderful.

It was admittedly chaotic, loud and frankly rather mad with an entire audience of ‘free thinkers’ enjoying the liberation of responding how they chose.

It was brilliant to see so many who are often excluded from live theatre deeply enjoying the show. Above all it showed the amazing professionalism of the cast - no matter what was going

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR on out in the seats, the show went on with gusto.

Bravo, SNADS - and thank you.

Jenny G, by email *** On Noc’s Dorset Island Discs Thank you BV for shining a spotlight on our amazing local councillor Nocturin Lacey-Clark.

I have always respected and admired his integrity and his unstinting work and support for our community. But I never really knew ‘the man’ rather than ‘the councillor’. What an inspiring story, and such an asset for our town.

Mary White, Blandford What a terrific selection of tracks that Nocturin Lacey-Clarke selected. I have to admit, I never expected to see Korn or Talking Heads featured in a rural Dorset magazine - but it’s all the richer for it! Fascinating inisght into the Blandford councillor, too - I get the feeling the town are lucky to have him representing them.

Martin Grey, Verwood How brilliant it is to have the ability to hear the music being talked about in your Dorset Island Discs!

I do love the way you include videos in your pages - where they are pertinent and helpful - and it works especially well when reading about music you do not know or cannot place.

I would expect the original ‘Desert Island Discs’ radio format to lose something without the ability to listen too, but I am enjoying the new series immensely!

Iris Altrincham, Wimborne *** Access to cash Which? Magazine recently asked readers to write to their local paper to support their campaign to highlight the

impact of lost access to cash in their community. The two following are representative of the letters we received, all of which began “I’m concerned about my ability to access cash in my local community....”

The number of free cashpoint machines has decreased in Blandford, which is 6 miles from where we live.

Tescos is the most convenient for us, but they have recently reduced from two to one - and that is sometimes temporarily closed. Lloyds Bank is the nearest alternative.

We still need to pay cash for certain items such the newspaper, as well as others who help us with occasional shopping etc.

James Hamilton-Brown, email I am disabled and can no longer drive, so having cash in my purse is crucial in my local rural community or if I am taken out by some kind soul.

I am also concerned about the ability of criminals being able to knock on the door and demain my card and card number.

In a rural and sparsely habited situation I need to feel secure - and a bit of cash in my pocket can be very reassuring.

Paula Andrews, by email From Facebook this month: Our most-commented post on Facebook this month was on last month’s story that the increase in second homes combined with rocketing property prices mean tough decisions must be made for planners wanting to house modestly-paid key workers.

The Leader of Dorset Council, Spencer Flower, has instigated a radical proposal, potentially looking at an entire new town: “I think it would better if a proportion of houses being built around current towns such

as Wimborne and Blandford were actually sold at a price people on low incomes or single salaries could afford to buy. More affordable housing is needed even if that included housing such as tiny houses or sustainably built out of wood etc.”

Anne Biggs Time to take a look at renovating the decaying buildings in town centres and sadly neglected buildings with very very greedy owners just sitting on them. Turn them into realistic affordable/ starter homes/ single person homes for working class local people.

Susan Colings What about all the existing developments being built?

Why are they not affordable for local people? We already have another town built in west Dorset, Poundbury. Why are they not affordable houses for local people?

Andy Angler “The council don’t want to pay anymore for low paid jobs however the people doing them can no longer afford to live in Dorset - so they are losing their minimum wage labour. They have to be housed somewhere because otherwise the council will go bust trying to afford to pay Teaching Assistants, Admin Assistants, Care Workers, Cleaners etc. all those people saying no thank you! You have kids right? You are going to get old? You will at some point need someone being paid minimum wage. Where is fitting to live for those people doing those jobs? A tent? Remember - those people kept the country going.”

Mary Seer Do follow us on Facebook to join the discussions.

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BOOK CORNER

Wayne recommends:

Two perfect books for Spring “With the promise of Spring around the corner and warmer weather to enjoy I thought some natural history choices would be a good idea to tempt you outdoors.” - Wayne

The Countryman

by Johnny Scott £16.99

There is something for everyone in The Countryman. Whether you are a country dweller, an urban nature lover, an amateur historian, or a budding naturalist, the variety of subjects covered is a real treasure trove. From the toad to the bumblebee, the cuckoo to the pheasant, the attractions of the nightjar, the development of sheep breeds or the value of the cottager’s pig - these are just some of the characters of the natural world as described by Johnny Scott.

What are the origins of Oak Apple Day, and when and where is it still celebrated? What do you know about Morecambe Bay shrimps or gulls’ eggs - how do they make the journey from harvest to plate?

What is a hag stone and what is its connection to a horse brass? Do you know what marl is and where would you find it?

Answers to these questions and so many others are to be found within these pages. The author’s acute powers of observation and fluent style enable him to convey his lifelong experiences and knowledge of the natural world in an informative but accessible way. His understanding of the origins of country customs and celebratory festivals is extensive, and his affection for them and all that the countryside has to offer shines through. Be prepared to be enlightened, amazed or amused or probably all three!

Wild Green Wonders

by Patrick Barkham £14.99

Wild Green Wonders brings you a selection of twenty years’ worth of Patrick Barkham’s writings for the Guardian, bearing witness to the many changes we have imposed upon the planet and the challenges lying ahead for the future of nature. From Norwegian wolves to protests against the HS2 railway, peregrine falcons nesting by the Thames to Britain’s last lion tamer, Barkham paints an ever-changing portrait of contemporary wildlife.

This collection also presents thought-provoking interviews with conservationists, scientists, activists and writers such as Rosamund Young, Ronald Blythe and other eco-luminaries, including Sir David Attenborough and Brian May. ‘Siding with the planet is siding with the underdog, and this has motivated much of my journalism’, Barkham writes.

Wild Green Wonders is his chronicle.

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.

ART

Interview by Edwina Baines edwina@theblackmorevale.co.uk A Dianne Mary Alice watercolour titled ‘Little Black Dog’, featuring her ‘chien de lapin’ Oliver, who she rescued whilst on holiday in France image: Edwina Baines

My artful journey of self-discovery From garden design, journalism and fashion and textiles, to a new career as an artist, Dianne Mary Alice explains to Edwina Baines how she goes about her unique creative life The artist’s journey is a process of self-discovery, filled with doubts, dreams and challenges.

From the issues of making a living and dealing with rejection to finding and expressing themselves in their true voice, the creative artist lives in a world of profound questions and subtle choices.

Charting her progress over recent years, Dianne’s first solo exhibition, entitled An Artist’s Journey, runs until March 6th in the Rotunda Gallery, at the Philpot Museum, Lyme Regis.

In one of the older parts of Lyme Regis, this museum stands on the site of famous fossil collector

Mary Anning’s home; and the Rotunda Gallery is situated at the top of its quirky tower - the glass dome providing a wonderfully lit space for display purposes.

A winding path Every journey has a starting point: for Dianne it was a Fashion and Textiles course, followed by theatre costume design and training for a knitting-machine designer and inventor.

For several years she worked in publishing, on Prima, the woman’s journal - before deciding on a change of course. After retraining, for the remainder of her career she

worked as a garden designer: and as a lover of flowers, plants, landscapes, the sea and dogs, these motifs are now reflected in her artwork.

Locations have changed from Newcastle upon Tyne, Leicester and London but with a new home in Dorset came the move to fulltime painting. During our drive from her home in Weymouth via Symondsbury to Lyme Regis, Dianne chatted to me: “I like to try new things and find out about different artists. I’m always yearning to learn more and experiment with different media. Colour and texture are important to me and perhaps 33

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Dianne in the Rotunda Gallery, at the Philpot Museum, Lyme Regis with some of her paintings and sketch books image: Edwina Baines

by Edwina Baines edwina@theblackmorevale.co.uk

ART

Dianne and Oliver in Lyme Regis’ Philpot Museum. On the right is the oil - The Wave

that is why I like to use thick paint and a palette knife.”

A Show Of Love Lyme Bay Arts runs Sou’-Sou’West Contemporary Art Gallery on the Symondsbury estate, where local artists exhibit throughout the year. The current one, ‘A Show of Love’, features one of Dianne’s mixed media collages entitled ‘Lovely Things’ and includes a picture of her dear little dog, Oliver (see previous page).

She explained, “When boating on the Canal du Midi in France we found him on the tow path in a very poor state (or perhaps he found us!); he couldn’t even stand.

A marvellous French vet said he might have a chance and a few days later he began to perk up, so we decided to keep him. The vet called him ‘un chien de lapin’ as similar looking dogs were used for rabbit hunting. He remains a bit of a hunter!”

From her home in Weymouth, Dianne can walk out with Oliver across the fields to Bowleaze Cove for local inspiration.

Here on the often-isolated sand and pebble beach, the big skies, reflective light and ever changing sea provides inspiration - and explains the colourful, exuberant vigour in Dianne’s work.

“Initial sketches and line drawings are done ‘plein air’ whenever possible, often moving on to underpainting in

acrylic and ending with oil,” she Elaine Harris is fascinated by explained. the ebb and flow of a wave, There are several more a big sky, a foggy day, a wild Exhibitions in the offing. A new bouquet, sunlight through group show is being run by leaves, the quietness of a still Casterbridge Arts Society in moment. She says of her work: “I Poundbury, Dorchester, over the photograph, I draw, I paint. I try Queen’s Platinum out different and “I’m fascinated by Jubilee weekend in new techniques. I the ebb and flow of am on a constant June. Focusing on conservation and a wave, a big sky, quest to learn, to preservation, it will improve, to refine a foggy day, a wild be entitled “It’s and to visually bouquet, sunlight describe the image Up to Us.” Dianne is hoping to work through leaves, the which I have in my on a large canvas quietness of a still head.” which will feature Debbie Leech is moment…” the theme of fish keen to indulge - a North Devon her love of all fisherman friend has provided things creative. She enjoys lovely images for inspiration. painting and printmaking and attends regular life classes and Take Three Artists workshops. What she says could Over Mothering Sunday apply to all three of these artists: weekend, March 25th/26th, the “My journey is on-going and I ‘Take Three Artists’ exhibition am still learning every time I will include Elaine Harris, Debbie pull a print, experiencing equal Leech and Dianne Mary Alice amounts of excitement and showing their work in Upwey frustration. Seeking creativity in Village Hall. All three artists are the many avenues of art helps members and volunteers of to keep me sane and happy. It is Artwey, a Community Interest such an uplifting feeling bringing Company of around 60 artists something to life that is personal based in Weymouth, Portland and original.” and Dorchester. Their mission Looking forward to Dorset Art is to promote the visual Weeks on 14 - 29 May, Artwey arts through their website, members will be exhibiting exhibitions, open studios, art at the historic Nothe Fort at trails and workshops. the entrance to Weymouth Members work in a variety harbour for Dorset Art Weeks. of media from paint to print, Some dates to get in our sculpture to textiles, ceramics to diaries! photography and much more.

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READER’S PHOTOGRAPHY Egret on the Stour Pam Ballam

Dawn Flight - Nicholas Allan Innes

Yellowhammer on the North Dorset Trailway - Marilyn Peddle 36

Curious hare Graham Bannister

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.

Colmers Hill Emily Carr

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READER’S PHOTOGRAPHY

Posing Stonechat - Nicky Newman

Golden hour reflections from Eye Bridge - Richard Small

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READER’S PHOTOGRAPHY

New Forest Highway at Dawn - Claire Sheppard

Milborne Port deer at sunrise - Justine Jackson

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by Rob Nolan

NIGHT SKY THIS MONTH

He brings the gift of a Rose!

The equinox on March 20th is a sad day for star gazers as that’s when days become longer than the nights, says expert Rob Nolan. But there’s still lots of astral excitement to observe Well, we’ve certainly had some changeable weather this past month, ending with storm Eunice tearing through the south west on Friday the 18th Feb. Certainly not conducive weather for star gazing by any means! High winds have been a theme recently.

Given that we’ve just celebrated Valentine’s Day, it seemed only fitting to give you all the gift of a Rose this month! Like many, though, mine is a bit late for the 14th February...

The Rosette (or Rosetta) Nebula’s appearance in optical light resembles a rose flower, or the rosette, the stylized flower design used in sculptural objects since ancient times, and the nebula was named after the design.

The nebula has earned the

nickname the Skull because it also closely resembles the human skull. I much prefer to see it as a rose though.

A beautiful nebula The Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237) is one of my favourite objects in the winter sky to photograph. It’s an unbelievably beautiful nebula in constellation Monoceros, the Unicorn. It has an apparent magnitude of 9.0 and is approximately 5,200 light years away from Earth.

The nebula is a large cloud of gas and dust that lies near a large molecular cloud and is closely associated with the open cluster NGC 2244, whose stars were formed from the nebula’s matter in the last five million years.

The surrounding gas that forms a ring around the dark centre is glowing because it is being blasted by radiation from nearby stars (I know, I’m destroying the rose romanticism now), making the Rosette Nebula an emission nebula made up of hydrogen gas, giving it a red colour when imaged.

This image is also my first mosaic composition, which was created by stitching four separate images together to make the overall image, providing higher overall detail. Each Panel of the mosaic contains two and a half hours of data. This was shot in January this year using a Skywatcher 200 PDS Newtonian Reflector Telescope and Cooled Astro Camera.

The Night Sky, March 2022 - Rob’s tips for your stargazing this month: Winter officially ends in less than a month on the 20th March. At which point we will pass equinox, and the days become longer than the night.

The most exciting changes may happen in the southern skies at the moment, but now is a great time to have a look at some of the northern constellations that are visible every night of the year. Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Draco and Ursa Major and Minor are all visible and should be explored.

Gemini in the Southern Skies plays host to the bright stars Castor and Pollox.

Castor is actually a family made up of six stars, with three pairs of stars all gravitationally bound to each other, which can be seen when observing them through a small telescope.

Pollux is cooler, and appears more orange, but it’s also not alone. A planet larger than Jupiter orbits Pollux, called Thestias.

Gemini is also home to a beautiful star cluster, M35, which can be seen with the unaided eye despite being nearly 2,800 light years away from Earth.

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Praesepe - also known as The Beehive - is a swarm of more than 1,000 stars, visible as a faint misty patch in Cancer to the unaided eye, between Gemini and Leo. It was first distinguished as a group of stars by Galileo - grab a pair of binoculars or a small telescope to take a closer look.

Other events to enjoy this month start on the 8th of March, when the Moon is near the Pleiades.

As mentioned, on the 20th March, the Spring Equinox occurs, a saddening time for astronomers as it marks the beginning of the end of the few long nights we’ve enjoyed during the autumn and winter months.

On the 28th March, just before dawn, look low towards the south-east to observer Venus with the narrow crescent Moon below. If you have a pair of binoculars to hand, you can also see Saturn and Mars in the vicinity.

Most of the planets in our Solar System are only visible just before dawn during March, with the exception of Uranus, which is observable by binoculars or a telescope all night long.

Find RPN Photography on Facebook here

A COUNTRY LIVING

by Tracie Beardsley

Self-made selfsufficiency

Carl Mintern with a haul of wild oyster mushrooms from near his home

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by Tracie Beardsley

A COUNTRY LIVING

“It’s all linked and never finished”. And Carl Mintern wouldn’t have it any other way now he’s discovered the joys of self-sufficiency, Tracie Beardsley reports in this month’s A Country Living After restoring an old farmhouse in Lovington, A proud Carl showing off a success from his local builder Carl found himself moving into it. first time growing a vegetable garden His client had decided to rent the property rather than live there, and gave Carl first refusal and a significantly reduced rent. The house came with eight acres of land.

Four years on, Carl and his wife Jackie, along with their three teenage children, have created a selfsufficient lifestyle, living off the land as much as possible.

Carl explains: “Until that point, we had no intention of growing our own food. I’d grown a few carrots, and we’d kept a few hens for eggs but the idea of self-sufficiency and doing things to the level I do now just wasn’t in my zeitgeist.”

That level includes producing as much of their own food as possible.

“I was diagnosed Their smallholding is with testicular home to a menagerie cancer. I couldn’t of hens, ducks, pigs, goats and sheep. work for six Feeding stock with the weeks while by-products of bakeries I underwent and fruit and veg shops that would otherwise chemotherapy so I go to landfill reduces immersed myself keeping. waste and their own He’d already taught himself how to forage and is in mushroom carbon footprint. now an expert, leading foraging courses across foraging” “Every animal pays for Dorset and Somerset and most recently writing itself,” Carl explains. a regular column on the topic here in the BV (see He makes his own cheese and ice-cream – this month’s on p.56). enjoying 20 pints of milk a day from two goats.

“I’d had a rural childhood – poaching trout He even slaughters and butchers his pigs himself, and dabbling in foraging,” he explains “but I having learnt how to do this from books and really got into it when I was diagnosed with YouTube. His first pig took him three days to testicular cancer. I couldn’t work for six weeks slaughter and butcher. Three years on, it’s gunwhile I underwent chemotherapy so I immersed to-freezer in three hours. myself in mushroom “What became clear to me from the “...I can teach people foraging and went moment we moved in was that we shouldn’t the skills I’ve gained from becoming an waste this opportunity. I’d never had land enthusiast to an – the principles of before. I didn’t want our time here just expert. permaculture, how to “Wild, edible plants being the same as what we usually did – working, watching Netflix, going to bed. This grow your own food, are a ridiculously desire was coupled with an immense sense to preserve, to forage, neglected amazing of custodianship of the land.” to compost, to make source of free food - absolute gems,” cheese, bake sourdough, he explains as he Hitting the ground running master the art of The boxes were barely unpacked when shows me a kitchen Carl set to work. Within the first year, shelf groaning under fermenting...” he’d created a vegetable garden, erected pots of dried foraged a polytunnel, bought in pigs and goats to rear, mushrooms and walnuts. “We’re not talking food started digging a pond and learnt about beemiles, we’re talking food metres when you walk 43

A COUNTRY LIVING

and forage.”

Carl shares his passion for self-sufficiency in a series of brilliantly informative podcasts - just look for the ‘self sufficient hub’ podcast to listen in.

“Wherever you live, whatever your lifestyle, you can grow some of your own food and be more self-sufficient than you are. I want to share my ideas and passion with anyone prepared to listen. Growing your own food is the Swiss army knife of sustainability. It improves soil health, it sequesters CO2 from the atmosphere and it tastes incredible! And when you sit down to a meal and literally everything on the plate is something you have helped produce – that’s a phenomenal feeling.”

by Tracie Beardsley Carl spending a moment with a one-day-old baby goat, born in his garden from his milking herd

Big plans and new adventures Sadly, the ‘Good Life’ is drawing to an end in Lovington as the owner of the farmhouse is reclaiming her property. But Carl is determined to continue his self-sufficiency adventure. “I’m planning to buy a field where I can create a learning centre and set up the smallholding again. ‘’My vision is that I can teach people the skills I’ve gained – the principles of permaculture, how to grow your own food, to preserve, to forage, to compost, to make cheese, bake sourdough, master the art of fermenting. I want to pass on to others all the things I’ve spent the last four years immersing myself in - things I didn’t realise I loved until we lived off the land.”

Find out more about Carl at Self Sufficient Hub. Carl’s Foraging Courses in Dorset and Somerset are now available – full details are on Carl’s website here

Quick-fire questions with Carl: Favourite book?

The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery; selfsufficiency learnt on the great plains of America, covering everything from milking a goat to midwifery.

Dinner party guest?

Sam Harris – neuroscientist and moral philosopher, master meditator – I’m a big fan of his.

What would be on the menu?

Something in season of course!

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Carl harvesting wild oyster mushrooms which will feed his family (excess will be dried and preserved for use later in the year).

THEN ANDNEWS NOW

by Roger Guttridge Declaration of the poll at the Old School, Sturminster Newton, 1910

The Old School Tie The Old School house in Sturminster Newton reflects fascinating local history, some of it personal, says Roger Guttridge It’s a private house today, appropriately named The Old School, but the building in Penny Street, Sturminster Newton, has seen more than its share of uses across almost 200 years.

My ‘then’ picture above dates from 1910 and shows a crowd gathered outside for the declaration of the poll to elect the MP for Dorset North.

There were two general elections that year, both won in Dorset North by Conservative Sir Randolph Baker with a majority of 149 in January and 32 in December.

On both occasions his sole

opponent was Arthur Wills, who had first won the seat for the Liberals in a by-election in 1905 and retained it in a general election the following year.

Sir Randolph was the defeated candidate in those previous elections.

The Old School, whose mighty buttresses tower imposingly above Penny Street, was built in, or a little before, 1835 by the Rev Thomas Lane Fox. He wanted to educate ‘the poor boys of this parish’, many of whom would have transferred in 1835 from the mixed Church School in what is now St Mary’s Church Hall.

It later became the Secondary Modern School and in my primary school years in the late 1950s it doubled as the canteen for pupils of the Junior School in Bridge Street (now the William Barnes School).

Every lunchtime we would file along Church Lane to claim our ‘school dinners’, cooked in, and served from, the later extension to the L-shaped Old School building.

I remember that a large portrait hung on the wall of the larger hall section, where we ate.

I’ve always imagined that this was a picture of William Barnes, the poet, but this may be my memory playing tricks.

What is now the Old School’s garden was the school playground in the ’50s and I recall that there were classrooms and offices around the perimeter, now all gone.

My mother, Connie Guttridge, worked in the canteen until recruited as secretary to headmaster, Stanley Tozer, in preparation for the move to the new Secondary Modern School in Bath Road, which opened in 1960 and became the High School in 1968.

For a few years after 1960 the Old School hall hosted social events such as meetings of the Silver Thread Club.

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LOOKING BACK

by Roger Guttridge

A tale of two pubs – and an intoxicated postmaster!

If you think our modern TV soaps are racy, you should have lived in north Dorset in the 19th century, says Roger Guttridge Fiddleford Post Office aka the Traveller’s Rest c1957. The people are (l-r) Connie Guttridge (née Ridout), Jane and Jim Ridout, relative Ann Minchell and (front) Lassie the springer spaniel and Roger Guttridge aged about seven

An editing error in last month’s Looking Back column affords me an excuse to indulge in an historical tale that is rather close to home.

The insertion of brackets around my first reference to the ‘former Traveller’s Rest’ in my story on the Dorset and Somerset Canal gave the impression that this longlost pub and the present-day Fiddleford Inn occupied the same building.

They definitely did not, although I confess that the BV editor is not the first to make this assumption.

I have read similar claims elsewhere, including in promotional flyers published by the Fiddleford Inn itself.

Although I say it myself, noone is better placed than I to unravel the story of Fiddleford’s pubs.

The present-day Fiddleford Inn 46

was not a pub at all until the late 1960s, although it was a brewery in the 19th century and probably also the 18th.

It features in one of the family legends told to me by my maternal grandfather, Jim Ridout, about our smuggling ancestor Roger Ridout.

The story goes that Roger beat up an Excise officer who dared to inquire about the contents of a jar that the gang leader was carrying from the brewery to his home in Okeford Fitzpaine.

It actually contained fast-acting yeast and the smuggler shook it vigorously, pulled out the stopper and directed it into the officer’s eyes.

Smugglers outwit the law Roger Ridout’s mother, Susannah Appowell, was a Fiddleford girl, and the smugglers stored their contraband at Fiddleford Mill.

As to the brewery, this was owned by the Adams family for much of the 19th century, and they substantially extended it, adding an archway which gave wagons access to the back yard.

During my childhood, the arch was still there, closed to the road by a large green gate.

The outline of the arch can still be seen around the Fiddleford Inn’s front door.

The building was a private house, known as Archway House, until about 1967, when it changed its use to become the Archway House Hotel.

I was 17 then and living next door in a house called Woodview.

This is now Forest View, though I can’t imagine why, as the wood that provides the view has not become Piddles Forest.

This property hosted Cressey’s tannery in the mid-19th century.

by Roger Guttridge

LOOKING BACK

Archway House (now the Fiddleford Inn), probably the 1930s

The Archway House Hotel was thought he was on to a winner, initially unlicensed but acquired so he upped sticks and moved a liquor licence within two or his large family (plus hens and three years and became the rooster!) to Fiddleford.

Fiddleford Inn in 1972.

He thought he was taking It was Fiddleford’s over a pub so first licensed imagine his “He was once hostelry since cautioned for being disappointment the closure of the when he arrived intoxicated while to find that Traveller’s Rest on Post Office duty the Traveller’s almost 90 years earlier. but behaved himself Rest had lost The latter pub was its licence a few after that” set back slightly years earlier. from the main Thus thwarted, road, a couple of doors along James and wife Harriet instead from Archway House. opened a shop and two years The house is known today later added the Post Office. as Traveller’s Rest but in my James returned to his native childhood was a village shop called Fiddleford Post Office, run by my great-grandparents and grandparents from 1894 to 1965.

Okeford Fitzpaine when he wanted a drink, and was often heard singing Onward Christian Soldiers as he staggered home to Fiddleford after a pint or five.

He was once cautioned for being intoxicated while on Post Office duty but behaved himself after that.

The Traveller’s Rest was previously called the Bell and dates back at least to 1753, when the landlord was William Dawson.

Fiddleford had two pubs at that time. Widow Ann Churchouse ran the Royal Oak, though the exact location of this hostelry is unknown.

The Portman Hunt outside Archway House, now the Fiddleford Inn

The pub that wasn’t…

My great-grandfather, Colour Sergeant James Hilliar Ridout, was working as a racecourse steward in Dublin in 1894 when a relative wrote to say that the Traveller’s Rest had become vacant.

The former Scots Guardsman famously enjoyed a tipple and get in touch with Roger: roger.guttridge@btinternet.com

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LOCAL HISTORY

by Paul Birbeck

Cinema came to rural communities Dorset Council supported films in certain village halls, and these remained popular into the early 1980’s, says local guide Paul Birbeck

Imagine a world with few domestic cars, telephones or television. No mobile devices, computers. internet or social media platforms.

What would you do for entertainment? How would have spent your time and keep in touch with friends and relations?

Many people remember such times, some - those who hanker for a simpler, less complex lifestyle than we live today - with affection. My memories of growing up in the 1950’s are formed of climbing trees, playing sport, walking, cycling and exploring with friends. If the weather was poor we played board games and cards. The dark brown radiogram, record player and the crackly black & white TV in the corner of the lounge were the height of modernity. By the early 1960s, Saturday mornings often involved walking under the railway arches below Oxted railway station to the Odeon cinema, where eating popcorn and watching children’s films were more than satisfactory.

Trailers for the adult blockbusters, screened in the afternoon and evening, only tempted young teenagers to unsuccessfully try and pass off as 18 years old to gain entry...

Early cinema in Dorset In late C19th Dorset, early commercial cinemas, or picture houses, opened in Bournemouth and Christchurch and were the first to show short cinematic film programmes. By the 1930’s, cinema houses had started to open in most market towns and people began to ‘go to the pictures’ As the Hollywood film industry evolved through to the 1950s, Dorset’s town cinemas were supplemented by rural properties like chapels and village halls which were modified to enable the latest films to be shown. The film stars were the idols of the day.

Mobile cinema In remote rural areas, travelling showmen provided Bioscope Booths at travelling fairs, enabling more people to see moving pictures for the first time.

Mobile cinema units travelled around the county.

These vehicles carried a self-contained generator and mounted projector which projected on a rear view translucent screen. In his book ‘A Century of Cinema in Dorset 1896-1996’, film enthusiast Peter Dyson describes evidence of such units touring the BV on a regular basis into the 1960’s.

In 1976 Dorset Communities Council supported a scheme which supported preferential booking rates 48

In Shaftesbury, The Palace Picture House was at the bottom of the High Street, but was demolished in 1925. The Savoy Cinema opened on Bimport in December 1933 with “Maid of the Mountains”, starring Nancy Brown and Harry Welchman.

It stood opposite the town’s largest church, which apparently caused some initial controversy. It closed in 1984, and was demolished in the same year to make way for what is now ‘Savoy Court’ residential flats.

for selected films in a number of village halls. These remained popular and well supported into the early 1980’s.

Today, cinemas had some success in fighting the competition of television, but they have never regained the influence they held in the 1930s and 40s, and audiences have dwindled. In the 1990’s we saw a boom in out-of-town multiplex cinemas, and the few remaining town cinemas invested in digital projection facilities capable of producing screen images that rival the sharpness, detail and brightness of traditional film projection. Only a small number of more specialist cinemas retained film projection equipment.

Now most people see films on television, via satellite or subscription on demand services.

Streaming film content on computers, tablets and phones is common, proving more convenient for modern audiences and lifestyles. However, it is still possible to find evidence of the old movie houses in the towns around the Vale. For example, Sherborne once had four cinema facilities. Physical evidence has long disappeared, but posters, old photographs and contemporary personal memories are still shared on social media. In contrast, the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne has survived and flourished to ensure the ‘Magic of film’ lives on.

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

Friday Lunchtime Recitals 1.45PM

CHEAP STREET CHURCH (unless otherwise stated)

7th January - Soloists I

14th January - Soloists II 21st January - Strings

28th January - Singers

Indoor & outdoor exploring Messy play Story time Refreshments

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

The Walled Garden Sandroyd School Rushmore Park, Tollard Royal Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 5QD 01725 530 124 office@sandroyd.com www.sandroyd.com

FREE ADMISSION | ALL ARE WELCOME

49

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

It’s begining to feel a lot like... spring in Sturminster Newton The shops are shaking off their winter gloom and brightening up the town with their displays, says Pauline Batstone

It’s finally beginning to look a lot like spring, and in Stur the shops are ready to greet you with windows to cheer up a grey day.

The Boutique at The Market Cross currently has a gorgeously bright and fresh window display to tempt you in for your spring wardrobe – with quality clothes and accessories at knock-down prices inside, of course.

Meanwhile The Emporium in The Market Place has had a major reshuffle inside. A picture gallery is planned for upstairs to display the many pictures which have been donated – there is currently a wide range of prints, paintings,

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cartoons and photos in stock to give your home a new look (or maybe just provide a new frame for an upcycling project).

Downstairs is the usual treasure trove of useful household items, many of which you naturally had no idea you needed until you saw them. Maybe replace that chipped mixing bowl or treat yourself to a new jug for the daffodils?

There’s an ever-changing variety of beautiful china, ‘collectables’, books (at a standard bargain price of four for a £1!) and music.

And of course the gentlemen can themselves update their look for spring in ‘Dapper Chaps’.

STURMINSTER NEWTON

Important dates for your diary!

Some of the money raised from the sale of your pre-loved goods in The Emporium and The Boutique goes towards organising events for residents to enjoy, and to bring new shoppers into town.

There are some great spring events planned to bring you into the town centre, put them in your diary now; First Saturday of the month next is 5th March (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.

Easter events:

There will be a Spring Quiz in the Sturminster Newton shops during the holiday period - the Stur Quiz Trails are always popular, they’re a great free activity with the kids during the holidays.

Good Friday, 15th April: a day of solemn remembrance with a short service at 12.00 noon at the Cross erected in the Market Place, with Hot Cross Buns afterwards.

Easter Saturday, 16th April: On the morning of Easter Saturday, the Women’s Institute will be running an Easter Bonnet Making Workshop in The Church Hall beside St. Mary’s Church, followed by an Easter Bonnet Parade

up through the town to The Exchange patio area for judging – anyone can join the Parade.

Also on Easter Saturday, the Mill will be open and milling.

includes various literarythemed events, including a Victorian Fete in the Railway Gardens on the afternoon of Saturday 18th.

Easter Sunday, 17th April: In the morning, Easter Egg tokens will be will be hung around town to be redeemed for real Easter Eggs in the Church from 12.00 noon onwards.

July 1st to 3rd – the Boogie Woogie Festival hope to be back

Easter Monday, 18th April The Mill will be open and milling.

7th May A Wedding Fair is planned to be 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 - the week-long festival

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…

To keep updated have a look at sturminster-newton.org.uk, find us on facebook or contact Jacqui Wragg of SturBiz on 07810 424269.

Plans for the old bank to be a new business space supporting local producers and sellers

Plans are well underway - past the point of no return! - to give you even more ways of spending your money in the former Nat West Bank, which is being transformed into an indoor shopping destination.

If you are a business person, looking for somewhere to sell your goods directly to the public, all day, six days a week, 52 weeks a year, then please pop into The Emporium and leave your details with the shop staff there so that we can get in touch with you. Alternatively, email Pauline Batstone: cllr.p.batstone@btinternet.com 51

EQUESTRIAN

by Sara Greenwood Looking across the new Chilfrome course at the October 2021 Open Day

It’s a new home for Cattistock point-to-point this season As the 100 year old Point-to-Point racing (amateur steeplechasing) season begins, Sara Greenwood introduces the new home of the Cattistock course Point-to-Point horse racing, steeplechasing for amateurs, is getting into full swing again.

There have been some very good days’ racing around the Wessex Area which covers eastern Hampshire to Devon and is one of the largest and busiest areas in the country.

A century of racing from point... to point.

Point-to-Pointing locally was introduced in the Blackmore Vale country in the late 19th century. Generally, races were run from one point to another hence the name. The start and finish were kept secret, runners simply told where they should meet. They were then able to ‘take their own line’ to the finish.

Through the 20th century the races became more regulated, resulting in the modern sport of today. Over the past 50 years the Cattistock meetings have been held at Darvole, near Yeovil, Inpark, Toller Down Gate, Littlewindsor... and the 2022 venue for the Cattistock pointto-point horse and pony races is a new home. In contrast to the stiff climb of the old Seaborough course, the new course at 52

Chilfrome sits in the bowl of a with hedgerows and a few valley. It is an elongated, almost clumps of trees. flat oval, with a slight incline If you’ve not been before, towards the why not bring the finish. family to the race “The start and finish were kept on the 30th April?

A day out It promises to be secret; runners We start the day an exciting day were told where - viewing of the at 1.00 pm with two Pony Races to meet, and were new course will be for children aged then able to ‘take excellent across the 9 – 16, many of valley. their own line’ to There will be a whom go on to the finish” have successful Licensed Bar, careers in racing delicious local food, either on the flat or National Bookies, ice cream and other Hunt. These are followed by six stalls. It should make for a Point-to-Point races, each one wonderful family day out. aimed to suit the various ages Admission is from 11 am and abilities of horses. £15 per person including a The valley is now sheep grazing Race Card. Under 16s are country; old turf throughout Free. Book tickets here

by Lucy Procter

EQUESTRIAN

Start to finish - sharing the dream Occasionally it’s great to leave the stud so that the whole team can share in the ultimate racing dream, says Lucy Procter This week Last Royal, a year younger full brother to superstar racehorse Honeysuckle - and also bred by The Glanvilles Stud (TGS) - was running in a Novice Hurdle at Wincanton, so we took the staff to watch. The girls raced through morning stables, got changed and drove to the racecourse in time to join the trainer in the parade ring.

Everyone was delighted to watch Last Royal dominate the field and win by a frankly astonishing 42 lengths!

Go Romeo Last Royal was named because his dam, First Royal, died when he was just three months old – hence he was ‘last of the Royals’.

Luckily, when he was orphaned, he was just old enough to thrive without supplementary milk as he had already been eating grass, hay and hard feed so was able to join some older weaned foals without needing a foster mother.

Being an orphan, he was always much loved by the girls and has always been known as Romeo at home.

Where it begins At Wincanton, our entire team got to see the ultimate goal of what we do; winning races.

Meanwhile, in Worcestershire,

I was at the start of the cycle, with homebred mare, Glanvilles Guest, visiting Planteur, her chosen stallion this year.

Our vet, Paul Legerton, had been scanning the mare over the previous week and had determined from her follicle size and oedema (blood thickened womb) pattern, that she was well ‘in season’, meaning that she should be receptive to the stallion, and would most likely ovulate in the next 48 hours.

A hot date in the diary With the cover (mating) booked for midday, we loaded Glanvilles Guest with her 4-week-old Scalo colt into the lorry at 9am to travel to the stallion. Mares and foals generally travel very well together, on a thick bed of straw and without a partition so they have the full double space – a stable on wheels.

The mare travels tied up with a haynet to munch, and the foal is left loose, free to happily drink, wander around or lie down and sleep. The covering usually takes around 30 minutes and then we are loaded again and on the way home. The next stage is to scan for pregnancy and to make sure the mare hasn’t conceived twins and this we do at 14 days after covering. So, it’s fingers crossed

The first TGS foal of 2022. Will this one be the next 42-length winner? Image by Courtenay Hitchcock

that she scans in foal first time.

Raising young Thoroughbreds is so dependent on the hard work of our staff and it was great to be able to share with them, Last Royal’s win at Wincanton today. At this time of year, the excitement is, that every new foal being born or conceived could be the next 42 length winner.

The whole TGS team got to join Last Royal (‘Romeo’) in the winner’s enclosure at Wincanton this week

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In association with VOICE OF A FARMER

by James Cossins March means drilling crops at Rawston pictured here in the 1960’s image - James Cossins

Not all dairy farmers...

The community impact of Eunice, that Panorama documentary, and the government’s drive for rewilding - James Cossins muses on a busy few weeks Here at Rawston Farm we have managed to come through the week of three named storms relatively unharmed. We did lose our electricity supply for 24 hours, but with our generators at each dairy on standby we managed to continue milking our cows without too much disruption.

We lost a number of trees to the gales but fortunately they didn’t cause damage to our buildings. Our surrounding villages didn’t fare quite so well, with a loss of power for up to five days and nights with power lines being brought down by trees, and wooden power line poles breaking. It has been a challenging time for all but it has brought out the community spirit, with everyone helping neighbours out. I am sure when the wind has calmed down there will be lessons to be learnt as to the best way to cope in these situations.

A cow’s life I am sure that many of the readers may have watched the Panorama programme portraying the life a dairy cow. As a dairy producer I was shocked at what I saw. I could 54

not believe that humans could Eustace, the Minister for the treat animals in this way. As was Environment, and it became stated in the programme, most clear that the Government is animal keepers would never determined to go down the treat their animals like this. We road of promoting rewilding have various assurance schemes of land, and growing crops for such as Red Tractor wildlife. Whilst I “the Government agree in certain and in our personal case an Arla assurance is determined to circumstances it scheme which goes into go down the road is appropriate on great detail on animal less favoured land of promoting to do this, the welfare and how to rewilding” best treat animals. We Government seem have protocols on how to have forgotten to handle animals and how to about food production and this deal with emergencies. We all country’s food security. With occasionally have a sick animal, what is going on in the world at and by following compassionate the time of writing, I would have methods you are far more likely thought the government would to nurse the patient back to a full have put more emphasis on recovery than if the anlmal was producing our own food for this maltreated. country rather than relying on I hope readers understand that imports. the actions taken on the farm featured in the documentary is Spring begins very much an isolated occurance. As we move through March we I understand that following the will be concentrating on sowing programme, the farm was visited our barley and bean crops, and by various inspectors to question applying some fertiliser to kick their welfare practices. start the autumn crops into their spring growth.

Rewilding or food security?

The dairy cows are already Recently the NFU held their looking over the gate, waiting annual conference which this patiently to be let out to graze year took place in-person. One once more. And so yet another of the key speakers was George year’s cycle begins again.

FARM TALES

by Andrew Livingston

Farming for a living?

From petty customer theft to competing with the mega dairies, small farms are fighting against the tide to run a successful business, says Andrew Livingston If lockdown taught us one thing, it’s to buy local. in rural areas, milk vending machines became all the rage during 2020 as farmers learnt that they could cut out the middleman and sell straight to the suppliers.

An important by-product of farmers gaining more of their profit means that food has a much smaller carbon footprint. My final look at what farmers are doing to reach carbon neutral targets by 2040, puts the onus on the public to buy local!

Security dog Wilf considers egg guard duty a necessary chore

The egg trade Last year we decided to stop selling our eggs to St Ewe (a Cornwall-based packer) and instead became a producer for Foots, who are based just outside of Sherborne. Previously, with St Ewe, our eggs would be picked up in Dorset, driven for grading in Cornwall and then taken to London to be sold.

Madness, I know!

However, since our first flock of chickens, we have also sold our eggs on our gate to the passing trade. spread on your toast?

For years agricultural marketing campaigns have This has admittedly come with its issues; stolen eggs and money, with some ‘customers’ apparently pleaded with the public to ‘Buy British’ in the supermarkets. But now it’s time to buy local. Being believing that washers and lint are legal tender. fortunate enough to be living What it does ensure though, is that our “...stolen eggs, in a rural county you will be customers get the freshest produce stolen money, and amazed at what local produce possible, whilst seeing where their food comes from - that is the real joy of buying some ‘customers’ you could buy - even without going to a (often overpriced) straight from the farm. apparently farm ‘shop’. believing that Most popular farm milk Take one avocado I love avocado - but when you pick them up washers and lint are vending machines will be accompanied by a vending in the supermarket shelves can you envisage legal tender” machine selling eggs, cheese, the land that it has grown on? Do you know the impact of the water consumption of an avocado butter, maybe meat, condiments, soup or pies. You can buy all your staple foods in a way that not only farm (two thousand litres of water are needed to supports your local farmer but helps to keep fuel produce just one kilo of avocados – four times and greenhouse gas emissions down. the amount needed to produce a kilo of oranges, and 10 times what is needed to produce a kilo of tomatoes)? Do you know how many miles that fruit The struggle of the small farm Unfortunately, with the cost of animal feed and has travelled by sea and air to be smashed up and electricity as it is, small family-run farms are turning to selling direct to customers simply to 20 euro cents, a rusty be able to turn a profit. Especially daity farmers washer and a few coppers - all received as larger and larger commercial dairies with in excess ‘payment’ for eggs at the of 1,000 cows are keeping the cost of the milk farm gate. low; meaning the small farm next door can’t get a decent price per litre to be able to make a living.

In a simpler time, farmers would devote their time to pampering their animals to perfection.

Now, farmers seem to need to spend their lives squeezing every last potential penny out of their farms just to stay afloat.

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

by Carl Mintern Traditionally, gorse was important to the rural economy throughout the British Isles, and used as winterfodder for livestock. Commonly called fuzz moots, gorse roots were dried and burned as fuel - touted to be better than coal, hotter and cleaner. Well into the nineteenth century, they were used to fuel brick bread ovens, which were often called furze ovens.

It’s ‘officially’ maincrop season You’re wrong if you think a forager’s prime time starts in August. You can reap the bounty of a wild harvest right now, says expert forager Carl Mintern, who picks out three favourites for early spring As we rise out of a very mild winter this year, we see the young buds of spring appearing earlier and in more abundance than usual.

For me this is an opportunity for action – the wild food harvest starting gun has officially gone off and we are into a forager’s equivalent of what a gardener

Wild garlic was so highly valued in Ireland that, according to the Old Irish Brehon laws, there was a fine for stealing it from private land – the poacher would forfeit “two and a half milch cows”.

One wonders how the penalty of two and a half cows was paid.

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may consider their maincrop season.

People who are unaccustomed to foraging may consider the foraging season as beginning in August and ending around October, with most of the fruit and fungi that can be found across the UK at that time of year. If you are someone who thinks this way then, well, that’s what I am here for! And you have been missing out on some of the best foraging of the year.

The British countryside offers wild edible food in every one of the twelve months, but from early March things really start to get exciting, and this year it’s all happening even earlier than usual. Let’s have a look at three of the plants that will make their way into my kitchen regularly this March...

DORSET FORAGER

by Carl Mintern

Gorse flowers (Common Ulex Europeaus) The bright yellow blossoms of the gorse bush act as a flag for foragers seeking out these deliciously mild and sweet additions to our wild salads.

These yellow petals, with scents ranging from coconut to almond, are a real survivor and can be found in the harshest of environments.

Within the Blackmore Vale, the windswept crests of hills are one place to find this plant with ease when out walking, or even alongside the road while taking a country drive Common Gorse is in flower from January till June, when Western gorse (less common) takes over here in the southwest of the UK. There really is never a good reason not to have some species of flower to adorn your salads.

You can also add these blossoms to bread dough, where they will retain their bright yellow colouring, speckling each slice of your loaf with the golden glow of spring.

Common sorrel (Rumex Acetosa) Common, or garden, sorrel is a plant every forager should have in their repertoire. The tangy zing from the oxalic acid gives it a citrus flavour, making it another great salad plant.

Chefs among you will no doubt already be familiar with sorrel as it is commonly used to make soups, or pair with chicken dishes.

This super-common plant, usually considered a weed, is a herb you can buy seeds for and grow in your own herb garden – or you can simply walk outside your door and harvest it from the wild (I know which I prefer).

It is very common; it will be growing in grassland and pastures across the Blackmore Vale, and almost certainly in your own lawn if you have one.

Romans used to eat Sorrel leaves as a digestive after overeating, and on long hot marches they also used to suck the leaves to take the edge off their thirst. This habit gave the plant its name, which comes from the Latin ‘rumo’ meaning ‘I suck’. The plant has diuretic properties, and is high in vitamins such as A, B and C - in the past it has been used to prevent scurvy. It is also a good source of potassium.

Identified by its two ‘arrowhead’ style points, one must take care to avoid the poisonous lords and ladies which can appear superficially similar.

Wild garlic – our favourite!

The plant, native to Britain, has a long list of synonyms, which include Bear’s garlic, Broadleaved garlic, Ramsons and Wood garlic. It can be found in many woodland sites across the UK. I personally find it very common

on some of our countryside roadsides that meander through woodland - you will often smell it before you see it!

The whole plant is edible - use it as you would garlic. A personal favourite of mine is to bake fish wrapped in the leaves which acts to steam them while infusing a gentle flavour.

As with sorrel, wild garlic has been mistaken for Lords and Ladies in the past so care should be taken in identification.

See details and availability of Carl’s local foraging courses on his website Self sufficient Hub here 57

WILDLIFE

Snap up a designer des res for birds

Volunteers at Bere Marsh Farm have been building beautiful bird boxes, designed to cater for each bird’s specific needs, says the CRT Every spring, birds need a safe place to build a nest. Different species look for different locations and special features for their homes for the summer, but they are united in their hunt for some shelter, security and protection.

Just like our own homes, bird boxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. What best suits a robin is not suitable for a tawny owl; sociable sparrows like to share boxes. Paul said: “When we their nesting space, whereas a removed these grain shutes from blue tit nests in its own unique the farm in 1990, I never imaged home. that I would be making sparrow At the Countryside Restoration hotels from them thirty years Trust (CRT)’s Bere Marsh Farm later!” near Shillingstone, a group The bamboo stalks that have of volunteers have taken up been cut down from the garden the challenge of catering to a of the farmhouse at Bere Marsh diversity of tastes, and have are becoming the hollow holes completed a number in bug or bee boxes. of bird box building Sallow trunks, “When we workshops on the removed these brought from the farm.

Gordon Beningfield grain shutes Each box is designed Memorial Farm in the for a particular bird, from the farm Marshwood Vale, will according to their in 1990, I never be hollowed out and different features. then capped with a imaged that Some are open roof for tawny owls.

I would be fronted, some have Most people will be a circular hole, or making sparrow familiar with the a deep drop that most common type hotels from emulates a tree of bird box - a plain them thirty trunk. Some provide box with a circular years later!” entrance hole - but terraced housing that emulates the lines even these are of nest spaces sparrows prefer, tailored to different species of others have a landing stage for bird according to the size of the owls. entrance hole. The depth of the box and the position of the hole Re use, recycle... are also important to ensure that Where possible, the CRT the young don’t fall out. volunteers have used recycled It is also recommended that timber or off-cuts to construct a circular metal nest box hole the houses. The materials that protector is added to prevent have been recycled include predators such as woodpeckers timber grain chutes that were and squirrels from making the removed from a local farm. Paul hole larger to gain access.

Millard, a former farmer, has Robins, wrens, pied wagtails and made them into sparrow nesting spotted flycatchers all prefer 58

an open-fronted box. Again, different height front panels will attract different species.

Support the charity, buy a beautiful bird box The handmade bird boxes can be bought directly from Bere Marsh Farm - install them in your garden, and enjoy the new residents.

If you are not able to put a box in your own garden, but would still like to get involved, the Countryside Restoration Trust are welcoming donations to enable them to distribute these boxes to schools, allotments or churchyards etc.

Prices are as follow: – • £20 standard cedar bird nest box – open and with holes • £5 standard bird nest box in recycled materials • £10 sparrow hotel • £70 Barn owl box • £35 Tawny owl box • £15 bat box • £20 dormouse box • £7 bug box Please contact the Bere Marsh Farm Manager Elaine Spencer White espencer@ countrysiderestorationtrust. com or call 01258 860090 for more information, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday.

Alternatively, you are welcome to purchase them directly from the farm here.

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

Photographer. Bee Watcher.

WILDLIFE The brimstone (an old word for sulphur) is a fairly large, pale yellow butterfly, with distinctive, leaf-shaped wings.

Adults hibernate through cold weather, so may be seen flying on warm days throughout the year, although they are most common in the spring. Usually seen in ones or twos, they are never very common, but are widespread. They can be found in damp woodlands, along sunny, woodland rides and mature hedgerows, and in large gardens.

The sulphurous beauty of brimstone How a single butterfly enhances my world - and we can support these little angels of delight, says Jane Adams It feels good to be outdoors. lump to my throat to admit it, Up to my knees in last summer’s but ultimately, it’s our fault. overgrown seed-heads and Enough doom and gloom. This straw-coloured stems, a little glittering gem in front of me movement by the hedge catches is a brimstone butterfly. A male my eye. It’s a yellow butterfly. with butter-coloured wings, the After the uncertainties and fears shape and tone of two veined in the world - the war in Ukraine, leaves. And, though it dazzles, Covid, the lockdowns, job losses it disappears when it lands for and isolation - watching this a second within the highlights butterfly feels life affirming and and shade of a lichen covered gives me reassurance. branch.

Reassurance that at “It’s exhausting Back in flight, least one thing - the its wings to watch, but one controlled by our remind me impossible to natural world - is still of the waving look away. Then, hankies of a functioning. Just.

Why just?

Morris Dancer. as swiftly as it Because butterflies are One minute it’s appeared, it’s having a hard time. by my feet, the gone” Research by the charity next it’s twenty Butterfly Conservation metres away as confirms a ‘serious, long-term if it can teleport. It’s exhausting decline of UK butterflies’. And to watch, but impossible to this has resulted in ‘70% of look away. Then, as swiftly as it species declining in occurrence’ appeared, it’s gone. since 1976.

The principal causes seem to be How we can help! the destruction and deterioration Even this early in the year, we of the places they live, and can still help butterflies. Many of extreme weather events caused their caterpillars live within fallen by climate change. It brings a leaves, so leaving piles of leaves

around the garden (rather than burning them) will give them a home. And if you’re planning on adding new plants to your garden, buy as many as you can that are butterfly-friendly, with flowers that will overflow with sweet nectar.

Imagine a world without butterflies. No, nor can I. Hopefully we can keep it that way. We need to cherish our little harbingers of summer and life.

Help your garden butterflies: Butterflies like warmth so choose sunny, sheltered spots for nectar plants. And different plants attract a wider variety of species; aim for flowers right through the seasons. Spring flowers are vital for butterflies coming out of hibernation and autumn flowers help butterflies build up their reserves for winter.

The best plants for summer nectar in your garden: • Buddleia (The butterfly bush) • Verbena bonariensis • Lavender • Perennial Wallflower (especially Bowles Mauve) • Marjoram (Oregano)

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WILDLIFE

Top ferns to find in North Dorset They’re easy to just walk past, but Alex Hennessy from Dorset Wildlife Trust suggests we pause to notice the range of ferns growing in our woodland and hedgerows, and shares her favourites Hart’s-tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) The simple, tongue-shaped leaves of this fern are a glossy green with orange spores underneath – often in stripes that bring to mind centipedes’ legs – scolopendrium is Latin for centipede. Their characteristic leaves with curled ends and sides make them quite easy to spot.

Male-fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) When you think of a fern, the chances are you envisage something quite like the male-fern. The fronds of this species are split into many tapering leaflets, which unfurl in spring from tightly wound strands starting from the base of the plant. By summer, the plant will have exploded into a spray of fronds up to 1.15 metres high, which will then die back again in autumn. Male-ferns are one of the food plants of the angle shades moth caterpillar, which can be seen from May to October and looks like crumpled leaves.

Adder’s-tongue fern (Ophioglossum vulgatum) Another fern named for its wildlife-reminiscent shape, this is an important indicator species for ancient meadow habitat and is much less prevalent and more difficult to find than the hart’stongue or male-fern. It usually appears between June and August, spending the rest of the year underground as a rhizome. It is bright green, with an upright oval-shaped frond – quite different to the frothy frond displays we most associate with ferns. Two other related plants, the small adder’stongue fern and the least adder’s-tongue fern, are much smaller and rarer, and only found at a few sites around the south-west of England.

Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) This is our most familiar fern in Britain. The golden-brown colour of dying bracken in winter is likely to be a familiar sight in woodlands, on heathlands and across many other habitats across the county. Bracken grows up to 2 metres in height and spreads underground via rhizomes. Because of its fast growth and ability to negatively impact flora and fauna if left unchecked, bracken needs to be carefully managed and this vital conservation work is often carried out with the help of the fantastic Dorset Wildlife Trust volunteers.

Find out more about Dorset Wildlife Trust’s work and how you can get involved here 60

Hart’s-tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) Male-fern (Dryopteris filix-mas)

Adder’s-tongue fern (Ophioglossum vulgatum)

Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum)

VET

VET

Spring means it’s all systems go for the farm vets

This lamb was born by Caesarean section after the ewe did not dilate properly

As the weather warms, lambing and calving begin, heralding the busiest time of year for farm vets, says Damory’s Laura Sage BVSc (Dist) MRCVS Spring is finally here - the busiest time of year for our team of farm vets. On top of the usual routine work we are busy tending to emergencies ranging from difficult births and Caesarean sections to poorly calves being placed on fluid drips and hospitalised here at the practice.

For all newborn animals, a good intake of colostrum (mother’s first milk) is essential. This contains nutrients and antibodies to provide energy and temporary immunity to newborns, so it is

vital in preventing diseases such as “joint ill” (joint infection) and “scour” (gut infections causing diarrhoea). Close attention must be paid to whether calves and lambs drink enough colostrum; if not, they need to be supplemented by bottle or stomach tube.

Milk fever One common condition we treat in cows who have recently given birth is ‘milk fever’ (low blood calcium), which can quickly A helping hand was needed to bring this beef calf into the world!

become fatal. Sheep can also get milk fever before lambing if they have any kind of stress or diet change.

Watch your dog Please take care walking dogs at this time of year. Pregnant ewes can abort their lambs or suffer milk fever with the stress of a dog approaching, even if “they’re just playing”. This is devastating for all involved, so please keep dogs on leads around sheep.

Cows with calves at foot can also be nervous of dogs and people.

Don’t walk between cows and calves, or allow dogs to ‘play’ with inquisitive calves, as their mothers can be protective.

Walk calmly and quietly through the field, and make sure you have an ‘escape route’ planned if you are worried.

Although busy, spring is full of variety and excitement, and the most rewarding time of year for us. Bringing new life into the world never gets old!

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ANIMALS

Dropped by r, deer every yea too so eco-friendly

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A DOG?

YOU BOTH NEED

DEER ANTLER DOG CHEWS NON STICKY & CLEAN TEETH INSTINCTIVELY LOVED BY DOGS SUSTAINABLE, NATURAL & HEALTHY

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ANIMALS

Become a Friend Registered charity number: 1167990

We get by with a little help from our friends and we would love for you to become one of ours!

You can choose to donate £3, £5 or £10 per month to help the rescue animals in our care. It’s a wonderful way to support Margaret Green Animal Rescue and to make a real and lasting difference.

Not only will you have the joy of knowing you are helping a good cause, but you will also receive a yearly thank you letter from us for all your continued support.

Please visit our website to find out more and download a form: www.margaretgreenanimalrescue.org.uk

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NEWS

Take a Hike:

Take in some of the finest views across North Dorset 6.2 miles

Enjoy big views with ever-wide skies as you complete the circle from Lower Ansty - starting with easy parking in the village, then a few simple climbs to enjoy the best of Hog Hill looking out over Lyscombe Bottom and down via the Dorsetshire Gap ridge.

Bingham’s Melcombe is a beautiful estate - do wander out of your way to visit the church and pause to enjoy the view of the gardens.

Perhaps also opt to walk the footpath around the front of Nordon Hill from the Dorsetshire Gap - the views are spectacular, but the rough path runs awkwardly across a steep hill: you’ll potentially spend all your time trying not to break an ankle. We did it once, but now always opt for the simplergoing route around the back, and sadly miss the view!

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 64

The view from Henning Hill, looking north across Melcombe Bingham to Nordon Hill and the Dorsetshire Gap to its left.

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

The view north from the Dorsetshire Gap ridge

This route is filled with great lunch spots, but my top two would be the cross dykes on Hog Hill - one of my favourite spots to sit and enjoy the view - or from the Dorsteshire Gap ridgeline, with spectacular views both sides.

NB the Gap crossroads is always muddy - do watch your footing as you descend.

Don’t carry on up the apparently clear path over Henning Hill; you turn right before the barn to get to this view.

We go straight on through the gate (wrong) every.

Single. Time.

Swathes of snowdrops on the Bingham’s Melcome estate

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NEWS

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

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

by Charlotte Tombs

FLOWERS

Go on, give it a grow!

Prices of imported flower have leapt 40%, so here’s tips on how to grow your own – and it’s so satisfying and simple, says Charlotte Tombs

The crunchy, frosty – or drizzly - days from late winter to early spring herald the ‘big sowing of flower seeds’ for me as a British artisan flower farmer.

I’m being hopeful here – and I’m always hopeful.

Hopefully I will have chosen the right ‘must have’ flower for this season (yes there are flower trends), hopefully it will germinate, hopefully the slugs won’t eat it, hopefully it will grow into a big strong plant, hopefully it will flower in time for your big occasion, and hopefully it will be just the right shade to complement your bridesmaids’ dresses, sashes, groom or usher’s ties or cravats.

That’s a lot of hope tied up in a tiny seed that sometimes is no bigger than a grain of sand.

In addition to all that hope - and inevitable failure a lot of time is invested by growers.

Flowers are perceived to be expensive (they are not, of course, when the grower has spent eight hours in the rain, covered in mud!).

I have read in the trade press that it is estimated that the cost of imported flowers has jumped by “That’s a lot of 40% this year. So why not hope tied up in think about growing your own from seed? It is really a tiny seed that very simple and incredibly sometimes is no rewarding; beneficial for bigger than a your mental health and grain of sand” fills you with a great sense of achievement.

No equipment required You don’t need a lot of expensive kit; a sunny window sill, a bag of all-purpose compost (preferably peat free - share one with a friend if a whole bag is too much) and literally any container to hold soil in; if it has a lid even better. Current TikTok trends have many people growing on their window sills in old plastic fruit punnet boxes from the supermarket.

There are so many different methods of growing from seed and you’ll find one that suits you; Charlotte’s ‘soil blocker’ gadget creates useful compressed blocks with a seed indentation in each

Some of Charlotte’s seedgrowing results from last year

currently our spare room floor is covered with seed trays making use of the underfloor heating.

And our kitchen window sill is home to old Indian takeaway containers (yes, obviously washed out...) which are home to 40 seeds each.

Because I sow so many seeds I do have a gadget called a soil blocker which compresses the compost and makes tiny little blocks with an indentation for the seed in the top which I then sprinkle vermiculite on to retain moisture.

Just follow the instructions on the packet and as soon as the seeds have emerged, move them to a sheltered outdoor space - bring them in at night to protect from sneaky late frost and frigid winds.

You’ll soon be gripped Seed sowing can become quite addictive. There are some great social media accounts that take you through all the different steps: check out Swan Cottage Flowers on Instagram and Facebook. Zoe posts regularly and takes you by the hand through all the different steps of growing from seed. Give it a go, you’ll be hooked.

Or follow me Northcombe Flowers (or Instagram here) and I’d be happy to help; give me a follow and see my ‘Flower Farmers Year’ in photos. I promise a beautiful flower-filled feed. Hopefully.

Charlotte’s spare room floor is currently a seed nursery

The takeaway boxes on Charlotte’s kitchen window sill hold 40 seedlings each.

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ADVERTORIAL

A gust of fresh air!

Activity gathers pace as the roses come out, playing their own part in the constant cycle of growing and moving, says Thorngrove’s Kelsi-Dean Buck Well how about this weather, eh!

It’s been mayhem the last few days and we hope the recent wind hasn’t caused too much damage to your homes and garden spaces. We can always get some unpredictable weather as we approach spring but we’d quite like it if there were fewer storms, that’s for sure!

Bring out the roses Our plan for the end of February had been to move the newly potted up roses out of the polytunnels here, but we’re currently holding off due to the storms. By the time you read this we may have moved them out (Kelsi says that the roses are now officially ‘out’ - Ed).

Roses leaving the polytunnels is

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a big sign that Spring is arriving and they’ll be blooming before we know it. Once the roses have been moved out and we’ve freed up the space, we’ll be potting up the new Clematis - aka the Queen of Climbers!

Our new trees will also be leaving the polytunnels in the next couple of weeks and will be on display around Thorngrove, which means we’ll then be potting up this year’s stock of shrubs... and so the cycle goes on!

The secret of an outdoor cafe As for what else is new? The Secret Garden Café here on site has a new manager and our new menu has just launched – do stop by, say hello to Ben and his

team, and give the new menu a try! Those who’ve visited the café in the last year will have seen how much things have changed since we first opened. After moving all the seating ‘outside’ to our fully enclosed patio area, revamping all the furniture and replacing the tables and chairs, we’ve created what we feel is one of the most unique and cosy café spaces in the area – and we’re not done yet!

This past week we had a new temperature control system installed, meaning your visit will be comfortable whatever the weather. Please keep your eyes peeled on our Facebook page too as there may be even more exciting news on the café very soon…

We’re always adapting and developing the site to become a place the whole community can be proud of, and we’re excited for the rest of 2022! What’re your gardening plans for the Spring? Stop by Thorngrove for a chat, some professional advice, gorgeous Mother’s Day gifts and all your gardening needs!

In association with

by 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.

Allotments suffered badly from the mid month gales during February; chicken houses, sheds, polytunnels and greenhouses were all damaged or destroyed.

Sturminster Newton allotments suffered considerable damage from the storms. But plot holders, like farmers, are a resilient lot. When you are at the mercy of the weather you simply ahve to take the rough with the smooth, and come back fighting.

On our own plot damage was restricted to 3 broken panes of greenhouse glass, and some newly-leaning purple sprouting broccoli!

Still harvesting By the end of February we were still harvesting parsnips, carrots, leeks, purple sprouting romanesco, sprouts and winter radishes.

Our first chicons of Witloof chicory were cut mid-month from roots lifted back in November.

Both areas with green manure (see box below - we use Phacelia and field beans) look well, and these will be dug-in during March. Our entire plot, apart from the green manure, has had farmyard manure applied over What is ‘green manure’?

Green manures are fastgrowing plants sown to cover bare soil. Often used in the vegetable garden, their foliage smothers weeds and their roots prevent soil erosion. When dug into the ground while still green, they return valuable nutrients to the soil and improve soil structure.

Barry Cuff is still harvesting his purple sprouting romanesco from his Sturminster Newton allotment

the course of the winter.

Digging will continue into March as the last crops are harvested.

Some areas will not be dug these will be planted later with brassicas, sweetcorn, legumes and cucurbits (squash, pumpkin, courgette etc).

The seeds of this year’s harvest We have now sown - in the greenhouse - red and white cabbage, lettuce and onions, all in plug trays for planting out later. The peppers sown in January are doing well in the bedroom window!

A double row of broad beans were planted out on the 23rd, and look well so far. We grow half a line each of two varieties; Witkiem Manita and Masterpiece Green Long Pod. These should crop over a long period.

With very few frosts our garlic is growing well (planted November and January).

General housekeeping All our carry-over seed has been tested for germination, and any packets with low vigour and germ discarded. Most open packets keep well as long as they are stored correctly.

The grass paths have been cut twice this winter as there has been little frost to check growth.

Increasing numbers of households are looking to grow their own vegetables and fruit due to the rising cost of living.

This is reflected in a growing list of applications for plots on the two sites at Sturminster Newton. If you’d like to add your name to the list, contact Barry on 01258 473280 69

by Pete Harcom at Sherton Abbas Gardening

Garden jobs for March Don’t rush to buy tender plants from garden centres until the spring frost is over, warns Sherborne gardener Pete Harcom The clocks will go forward on 20th March - spring is finally here! March can be a cold month though - it could be late April or even May before night time frosts are over.

By far the most effective tactic in the war against slugs lies in enrolling their natural enemies: the birds, frogs, toads and other animals that will happily devour slugs as a tasty tidbit. Make a home for slug-eating wildlife and you’ll see populations of this arch nemesis plummet accordingly.

Ponds support more wildlife than any other garden feature. The simplest ponds are made from little more than a sunken tub, bucket, or even an old kitchen sink.

Dig a hole for your container then sink it into the ground so the rim lies at ground level. Add some sand or clean gravel to the base of the container for ponddwelling insects. Now pile some stones in one corner of the miniature pond to help frogs and toads clamber up and out.

Finally, lower a couple of pond plants into the water. If possible, fill your new pond with rainwater.

Tips for your summer preparation • Annual flowers can now be sown (from March onwards). Rake soil to a fine tilth on a dry day. Watch the weather forecasts for frosty nights and protect if necessary with cloches or horticultural fleece or net curtaining.

• Be careful - whilst the garden centres have huge displays of annuals and bedding plants at this time of year, it may be best to wait until late March before you purchase too many tender plants (eg fuchsias and pelargoniums) unless you have good frost protection such as cloches or a cold greenhouse.

• There is still time to lift and divide large clumps of border perennials and take basal cuttings.

• Keep an eye on weeds and take them out with a hoe or similar. Then cover all bare soil patches and around shrubs with a good thick layer of mulch or garden compost.

• March is the last chance to plant bare rooted trees and shrubs. Now the soil is warming up, shrubs will soon begin to grow and get established.

• Mow lawns carefully now, as soon as weather permits, and re-seed any bare patches in the lawn.

What you should be pruning • This is the traditional time to prune bush and shrub roses. Prune bush roses hard - they can take it! Cut back Cornus (dogwood) for more colourful stems next year.

Garden wildlife • Slug pellets are a real problem for hedgehogs and frogs - they eat the snails and slugs that have been killed by the slug pellets.

Try alternative slug and snail killers such as crushed egg shells around your special plants, or try creating a wildlife pond - this will encourage wildlife in general, but particularly frogs, birds, slowworms and beetles, and these all help to keep slug/snail populations down.

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• •

Hedgehogs will be emerging from hibernation around now.

If you can, try to clean up the inside of any bird nest boxes before the garden birds start exploring!

ANTIQUES

by Craig Wharton & Philip Traves

Brown (furniture) is the new green!

In the first of their new column, antique experts Craig Wharton and Philip Traves share why we all need to love back-in-fashion brown furniture.

When Sherborne Antiques Market open its doors last summer, customers were greeted with a cardboard cut-out of Greta Thunberg with a slogan; “Brown Furniture is Green!”

We have found over the last year that there is ever-increasing interest in older furniture, with antique furniture now being purchased by increasingly younger enthusiasts. Mahogany chests of drawers have become popular - and wonder with their brilliantly practical storage and with beautiful mahogany veneers. Why buy flat-pack (life expectancy ten years?) when a good 19th century chest of drawers will cost you under £500, and probably still be in use in fifty years time?

And no matter how sustainably a modern manufacturer might try and make their production process, there’s no way a new piece of furniture can compete with the carbon footprint of a chest of drawers which was handmade over a century ago, and has probably been in constant use ever since. It’s the ultimate ‘reduce, re use, recycle’.

Georgian oak and mahogany bureaux are now beginning to sell too, with happy customers

re-inventing uses for them. The last one we sold is now a sewing desk, complete with sewing machine, and full of remnants and cottons.

We paint our front window backdrops in bright modern colours, and then display period furniture against it; this has certainly shown our clients how good the furniture looks, demonstrating that it can be mixed in with contemporary living.

Your chest forgives you Antique furniture is also more forgiving than modern light veneered furniture. When you buy a 17th century coffer it has centuries of dents, stains, burns and wear - but rather than seen as damaged, it is improved by the patina of generations. Even the more recent water stains

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and red wine marks are part of a long life - after a fresh wax and good polish these are just part of the long heritage of these staple pieces of our living history.

Antique furniture prices generally peaked in the late 1990s, when good quality reproduction furniture was manufactured because of the huge demand for the look of a period home.

Now in 2022 with ‘The Repair Shop’ being one of the most popular programs on television, antique furniture is being viewed differently. There is a newly rising demand for furniture restoration - why not restore your Grandparent’s furniture?

It has lasted over 100 years and should last another 100!

Listen to Greta - “Brown furniture is green!!”

Craig & Phil

Sherborne Antiques Market is open 7 days a week: Monday to Saturday 10 till 5, Sundays 11 till 4.

01935 713760. Find them on Instagram here

by Sadie Wilkins, Indie Wine Merchant

FOOD & DRINK

A pint of chardonnay and a packet of crisps Male or female drinks are nonsense, of course - so why is the industry still suffering under a ‘boys club’ mentality, asks Sadie Wilkins

A dry white wine for the lady, and I’ll have a pint please. When it comes to drinking alcohol, for years society has happily categorised certain beverages as being either male or female. The gender debate in wine has always been an interesting one. We even see grape varieties receiving the stereotype treatment – Bordeaux belonging to men and the likes of pinot grigio and rosé winning the hearts of women only. Now, of course we know this isn’t true, but these outdated labels unfortunately do crop up every now and then – still.

Remarkably, the labels applied to the drinking of alcohol are almost role reversed when it comes to producing, sourcing and selling wine. The ‘glass of vino’ no longer belongs to women, the very people who we previously labelled as being the stereotypical drinker.

It’s a man’s wine world We are proud to be a mostly female team at Vineyards, in a very male dominated arena; don’t get us wrong, we know both awesome women and men in the wine and spirit trade, who do marvellously at their jobs and know their stuff. But there is a definite sense of pride in knowing that you are helping to buck a trend.

The last couple of years have been incredible for us; we’ve climbed the ranks of Harpers’ Wine Top 50 UK merchants to number five, and we moved premises to expand our business. But we would be lying if we didn’t say it wasn’t noticeable that we were the only females on the finalist award ceremony zoom call for Harpers. As we sat in anticipation for our placement, we stared back at 9 other squares for the top ten and were surrounded by men. It made us proud yet saddened in equal measure.

Shattering the walls of the industry One thing that we love about International Women’s Day (this year on Tuesday 8th March) is the spotlight it shines on some amazing people achieving wonderful things in their given industries.

This month we wanted to share the love for some of our incredible producers – who just so happen to be women.

Let’s start with the awesome Kathy from Brighton Gin. Back in 2012 Kathy decided to trial making a gin - and thank goodness she did. We have stocked Brighton Gin since 2015; it’s made using 100% organic pure wheat spirit and 100% vegan. This gin

really is a great addition to anyone’s drinks cabinet, distilled in small batches in Brighton this juniperled gin really has a flavour punch but with a subtle smooth undertone.

Samantha O’Keefe, owner of the Lismore Estate, is one of our favourite producers in South Africa.

Samantha has managed to keep smiling throughout the last couple of years when alcohol sales were banned in South Africa, and her winery was caught in a bushfire (thankfully not all her stock was in storage there). I am a real fan of her Age of Grace Viognier. Simply sublime, oily, fleshy peach and orange blossom notes roll onto the palate which stays ripe but perfectly balanced.

Another winemaker we have been impressed with for a while has been Marinette Garnier from Burgundy House Jaffelin. Marinette is producing not only amazing still wines but also sublime Crémant too. We were lucky enough to have Marinette host a customer tasting evening a couple of years ago. She can recite the start dates of each harvest; it is that kind of dedication that leads to the most beautiful wines. Whether you are drinking her Meursault or her Vin de France Pinot Noir, you know that she has overseen the whole process.

Please feel free to pop in and sample some stunning wines that have been made by amazing winemakers who just happen to be female.

Starting on Tuesday 8th March until Friday 11th March, we shall have a selection of wines open for customers to try. Don’t just take our word for it, let the wines show off themselves. Cheers!

(a fascinating further read on sexism issues in the wine industry 73 is ‘Women and wine – a tipping point’ by Jancis Robinson here)

by Heather Brown

FOOD & DRINK

DIY doughnuts. Oh yes.

One of my favourite things in the world is a freshly made and heavily sugared doughnut, full to the brim with wonderfully sharp raspberry jam. Learning how to make them was a dangerous step for me: I was genuinely concerned I would never stop, such is my intense love for them!

This recipe is not difficult to make, but it does take a little time - you need to allow for the dough to rise twice. You can also experiment with fillings - I have added lemon curd or nutella in place of the jam before, and they work well with any kind of jam or curd. I even made them with coffee jam once!

I recently discovered From Dorset with Love’s peach jam which is a delight and would be wonderful as a doughnut filling. Heather x

Ingredients • • • • •

480g strong bread flour 14g quick action yeast 1 tsp salt 40g butter 30g caster sugar

• • • • •

220ml milk 2 eggs 1litre vegetable oil raspberry jam extra caster sugar

Directions •

• •

• •

•

•

•

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In a measuring jug, measure out the milk and then heat up gently (either in a microwave or on a hob in a saucepan) until warm. Once the milk is warm (not boiling), add in the butter and stir so that it melts into the warm milk. Add the yeast to the warm milk and stir well so it dissolves.

In a large mixing bowl (or stand mixer bowl), add together the flour, salt and sugar and stir to combine.

Add the milk mixture and the eggs to the flour mixture and beat together to form a soft, slightly sticky dough.

Knead the dough so it becomes very smooth (3-4 minutes in a stand mixer or 5-6 minutes on a floured surface by hand).

Lightly oil the inside of a bowl and place the dough inside. Cover with cling film and leave somewhere warm to double in size - about an hour.

Meanwhile, line two baking sheets with greaseproof paper. Then cut out 12 squares of greaseproof paper and place onto the lined baking sheets (about 10cm x 10cm). Oil these lightly.

These paper squares are for the doughnuts to rest on and make picking them up later to pop into the oil a lot easier. By oiling the paper the dough balls will slip easily into the hot oil and you won’t lose any of the rise in this process.

Once the dough is risen, lightly oil both your kitchen work surface and your hands and take out the dough (the oil on your hands will stop the sticky dough from sticking to you).

Cut the dough into 12 pieces and shape each into a ball. Place each ball onto its own little square of oiled paper on the baking sheets. Cover loosely with cling film and leave to prove again for 45 minutes.

As you are getting close to the end of the 45 minutes, pour the oil into a large saucepan

•

•

• • •

• •

• •

and leave to heat up. The oil needs to reach between 160º and 180ºC and I recommend using a thermometer to track this temperature.

While you are waiting, cover a wire rack with a couple of layers of kitchen towel.

Once the oil is hot enough, gently pick up the doughnuts by the paper and drop them into the oil (careful the oil doesn’t splash you – it is hot!). You may need to cook your doughnuts in batches, it depends on how large your saucepan is. You want just enough to cover the surface with space to bob about (they will float).

The doughnuts will need around 2 minutes on each side; carefully flip them over in the oil to make sure they are nicely browned on both sides.

Once browned, remove from the oil with a spatula and leave to cool on the paper towels (this helps to soak up some of the excess oil).

Once all of the doughnuts have been cooked, turn off the oil and leave it to cool down somewhere safe. NB. Hot oil on the stove should never be left unattended.

Add some caster sugar to a bowl and roll each cooked doughnut around in the sugar, coating each side generously.

Place your jam into a piping bag. Make a small hole in the side of each doughnut with a sharp knife and then pipe jam into the doughnut.

Heather’s Tips: I find it is best to store the doughnuts on their sides with the jam hole facing upwards (see picture) to avoid the jam escaping!

Doughnuts are best eaten the day they are made but if you do keep yours for a day, then 10-20 seconds in the microwave and a little extra sugar will revive them (the jam does get hot doing this so be careful!).

NEWS

Dreamy GF brownies image: Heather Brown

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.

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ONLIN

EY EAR

NEWS

Bespoke Butchery Service

TH

U EB

HE

RY

S BUSINE

We offer a bespoke cutting and processing service for certified organic meat producers in the South West.

For farmers, farm shops and local producers, we can cut and process your carcasses to your specification, either as shop ready cuts, primals or processed products, in our FSA certified organic butchery.

Please contact Lee on butchery@coombefarmorganic.co.uk / 01460 279521 for all enquiries.

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O

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S

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.

Pussy willow - Just click the picture to complete the jigsaw. And I should probably offer apologies in advance. Our tester took far too long and says it’s the ‘worst jigsaw ever’.

She took over an hour to complete it - can you do better? (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: how do you quit your job properly?

Q I have just been offered a new job and now I need to tell my current employer.

The new company wants me to start as soon as possible.

The problem is, we are short-staffed where I am not and I don’t know how soon I will be allowed to leave. How should I bring this up with my current boss?

A: The time between telling your employer that you’ve found a new position and you actually leaving is known as your notice period.

If you’ve been in your current job for less than a month, you won’t have to give any notice period unless your contact says otherwise. If it’s more than a month, you’ll have to give at least one week’s notice. Your contract should make it clear exactly how long is expected. If you don’t have a written contract and your 78

employer has no written record of you agreeing to a notice period, you should give at least one week’s notice.

It’s worth waiting until your new employer has confirmed your employment, for example by giving you a start date before handing in your resignation.

How to resign It’s best to resign in writing (email is fine) so that you have a record of the date that you told your employer. On the Citizens Advice website we have a page on handing in your notice.

If you’re keen to move on sooner rather than later, it may be possible to negotiate a shorter notice period than your contact says. If you want to go down this route it can be useful to reassure your current employer that you will tackle any urgent work before finishing.

Fixed term contracts are a bit different as you won’t need to give notice if you intend to

leave on the last day of contract.

Leaving early would usually mean giving at least one week’s notice, unless your contract says otherwise.

Don’t forget about your holiday days during your notice period.

If you have unused paid holiday you should speak to your employer about either taking these during or towards the end of the notice period, or being paid for them.

Change your mind Finally, sometimes people can change their minds about moving jobs or find their circumstances alter. If this happens to you, you should always speak to your current employer to see what the options are, and if you can stay in your current role.

Everyone’s situation is different but if you face any challenges with an existing or potential employer, contact Citizens Advice 0800 144 8848 or visit our website

POLICE Monthly updates from the various North Dorset Police Teams. This month’s news from Blandford’s Police Sergeant Jane Hammond

Eunice, anti-social behaviour and public surgeries - all in a month’s work for the team Blandford’s policing team worked hard to ensure everyone’s safety in the aftermath of Storm Eunice this month, says PS Jane Hammond It’s been a busy few weeks, made ever more challenging by Storm Eunice. She certainly kept the teams busy!

We were able to deal with incidents during the storm, and also the aftermath of fallen trees and power lines with the help of Dorset Council and many other agencies. I was proud of all our teams and their hard work, helping to keep people safe.

The teams were also engaged with following up on crimes and anti-social behaviour; we are committed to putting victims first and being tough on crime.

We do rely on our communities to tell us what they know and want you to continue to report incidents. This assists us to detect crimes and be in the right places at the right times to help prevent incidents.

On our social media you can see advertised where and when your local police teams will be in your communities for you to speak to in person.

We love these ‘engagements’ some of them include partner agencies with whom we work to keep our communities safe.

Please also look at our Dorset Police Web pages – ‘Neighbourhood Policing’, where you can see the faces and names of your local neighbourhood police officers and Police Community Support Officers (known as PCSOs).

“Thank you to everyone who dropped by our joined-up surgery in #Blandford with local Councillors Byron Quayle and Nocturin Lacey-Clarke and to Dorset RoadSafe.

Surgeries are great for crime prevention advice, Neighbourhood Policing priority surveys, Dorset Alert sign ups and to discuss any concerns and issues or pass on information.

Everyone is welcome.”

h

r y 13t Janua

“Damage has been caused in the play area where ‘graffiti’ has been sprayed over the play equipment.

Road side furniture has also been damaged. This was reported earlier in the week.”

February 26th

“Avoid Church Hill as there is a limb balancing precariously on a power line. There are ongoing reports of fallen trees & branches in Dorset.

Others down at Milldown Road, Blandford.

th Februar y 18

#NecessaryTravelOnly is still advised and if you do have to go out please exercise utmost vigilance.”

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.

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SCHOOL NEWS

Bristol Bears Rugby visit King Arthur’s On Monday 24th January, Bristol Bears the Premiership rugby union team visited King Arthur’s School in Wincanton as part of their outreach work and HITZ flagship education and employability programme.

Nick George and Ben Woolfson, used rugby’s core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship throughout their session with key stage 3 students.

The aim was to help students realise the importance of the ‘soft skills’ that occur in rugby - and all things PE - in everything else they do, whether that’s studying other subjects, job interviews, entering into training, apprenticeships and/or employment in the future.

Students played many games of conditioned rugby to help them realise the value of transferable skills they gain through the

medium of sport, such as communication, resilience, teamwork, leadership, empathy, co-operation and respect to name a few.

King Arthur students loved the sessions and in addition to the rugby’s core values developing the personal skills, life skills

and employability skills, some students have since hinted they may even now look to join external rugby clubs!

Student Filip said “It was nice to meet the players/ coaches and hear them sharing their knowledge about different careers and pathways to take.”

Local Teacher’s 24-hour Football Challenge for Motor Neurone Disease Matt Smith, teacher at Dumpton School, whose brother was recently diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, has just started a fundraising campaign. Matt will attempt to dribble a football for 24 hours (or 100 miles) at Dumpton School, Wimborne on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th March. Monies raised will be split between the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and to support his brother’s care.

Matt’s brother Paul is a huge football fan and as a child played for Grange Athletic FC, represented Dorset and signed associate schoolboy forms for AFC Bournemouth until aged 16.

Therefore, the idea of a 24-hour dribble felt like a fitting way to help raise awareness and money for the IMNDA.

Some pupils from the Prep School will be coming along to support Matt’s challenge on the day as well as friends and family.

Matt would be incredibly grateful for any donations and further details may be found on his

Go Fund Me page here where you will also be able to read a little more about Matt’s brother Paul, and his tremendous determination to raise awareness of this life-changing disease.

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SCHOOL NEWS

‘Masked Teacher’ success at Bryanston!

February saw a wildly successful ‘Masked Teacher’ night at Bryanston, in celebration of the popular ITV television programme ‘The Masked Singer’.

The dedicated Coade Hall team put on an incredible show for the pupils, featuring five talented members from the Bryanston community performing on stage in front of them.

Teachers were welcomed on stage to roaring applause and excitement. Stars of the show included Dapper Dog, Gingerbread Man, Dizzy Dino, Cool Seal and Dinky Dragon.

The one-off extravaganza provided some light-hearted fun for the Bryanston pupils and staff. Drama Teacher Ms Simonds won the show as Dinky Dragon!

Antony has a very special reason to ask you to buy his planters at Sherborne School Sherborne School is always keen to celebrate and share the successes of its whole team - of which it definitely counts Antony Howard.

Antony works for Amiri Construction Limited, who are currently remodelling Sherborne School’s Sports Centre. Antony is a key member of the team, operating the barrier into the car park just off Acreman Street, keeping everyone safe all day. In quieter moments he can be seen making wooden planters, raising money for a charity that has very special significance to him.

In July 2019, Antony was involved in a serious cycling accident, and sustained a serious bleed to the brain. Antony was taken to Yeovil Hospital where complications began and it was clear he would need further treatment and more significant medical expertise. After being transported to Southmead, Antony underwent a life-saving operation involving removing part of his skull. He was placed in their ICU department and received 1:1 care around the clock, where he remained for several weeks until being moved to the Neurological ward, still within Southmead.

In October 2019 Antony was lucky to be given a place at a rehabilitation centre, Dene Barton, Taunton. It was here where they focused on physiotherapy, counselling and basic life skills. He 82

was able to return home for a night or a weekend at a time to see his family, until he was eventually able to return home on a permanent basis at the end of November 2019.

Antony and his family are incredibly grateful to The Neurology Department at Southmead Hospital and Dene Barton Rehabilitation Centre for the incredible care he received. The money raised through the sale of the wooden planters (which will be kindly matched by Amiri Construction) will be donated to Southmead Hospital. To date Antony has raised over £1,000 through the planters, and he and his family are planning further fundraising activities for Southmead and Dene Barton Rehabilitation Centre.

The planters cost between £5 and £25 each - to place an order, please see Antony, he would be delighted to see you.

SCHOOL NEWS

Wells Young Musicians String Orchestra (WYMSO) Returns!

Wells Cathedral School are thrilled to be relaunching Wells Young Musicians String Orchestra (WYMSO), a free string group for players aged 6-13 (Grades 1-5), run by Clare Rowntree, Head of Music at Wells Cathedral Junior School. The group meets on Saturdays from 10.00am – 11.00am at the Wells Cathedral Music School on St Andrews Street (across from Wells Cathedral, near Wells Museum). If your child is interested in joining, please visit the website here to read all about it.

Gillingham plants a tree for the Jubilee Gillingham Town Council (GTC) is supporting The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC). On Monday 28th February GTC was joined by pupils from Gillingham School and the town’s primary schools to plant a tree at Jubilee Fields in Gillingham.

Deputy Mayor, Cllr Sharon Cullingford thanked the schools and said “We have chosen to plant a Pin Oak, a magnificent member of the oak family which will produce a stunning display of autumn colour.”

The tree was marked with an official plaque, and will be added to the QGC Map of the green canopy of tree-planting projects across the country.

Representatives from Milton-onStour Primary School, Wyke Primary School, Gillingham Primary School, Gillingham School, and Deputy Mayor of Gillingham Cllr Sharon Cullingford.

Night of the Great Debate – Youth Speaks Competition Teams from Shaftesbury, Blandford and Gillingham Schools took part in Rotary’s ‘Youth Speaks’ competition on 17th February at Shaftesbury School. Each team had a Chair who managed the debate, a Proposer who put forward their motion and an Opposer, arguing against it.

The Intermediate competition was for students aged 11–13yrs and the Senior competition for 14–17yr olds.

The students argued their points well in front of a judging panel and fielded questions from the questioner, in front of an audience and within a time limit.

The winning team in the Intermediate Competition included Olivia Sharples, Tamzin Caves and Tyler Spencer from The Blandford School, whose topic was “Should PE be taught in mixed or single sex groups?” and the runners-up were Olivia Pretlove, Seth Collis and Seth Young from Shaftesbury School whose topic was “Reasons for and

The winning teams and the runner-up: from L-R - Shaftesbury School – Immediate Runners-Up, Blandford School – Immediate Winners, Shaftesbury School - Senior Winners.

against allowing entry to refugees and asylum seekers”.

The winning team from the Senior Competition included James Joshi, Isaac Clifton and Gift Catesby from Shaftesbury School whose topic was “Should citizens have a moral obligation to break the law?”. The winners will go through to the next round of the competition which takes place in March.

Many thanks to Shaftesbury

School for hosting the event, all the students for taking part, their schools and teachers for supporting them, the judges: Rachael Gale - local teacher; Simon Hoare MP; Cllr Pauline Batstone, and the questioner Virginia Edwyn-Jones. The event was run by Shaftesbury Rotary Club in partnership with Shaftesbury School, and in conjunction with Gillingham Rotary Club.

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FAMILY LAW

Disinheritance by deception?

Lucy Mignot from Blanchards Bailey explains the thorny issue of ‘fraudulent calumny’ - which is far less romantic than it sounds

If you think ‘fraudulent calumny’ sounds like something from a Shakespeare play, you wouldn’t be far wrong. The concept of pouring poison in the ear was a common theme for the playwrite. Sadly however it is still very much relevant today in the context of wills.

Fraudulent calumny occurs when one person poisons a willmaker’s mind against someone who would otherwise be their natural beneficiary, and as a result the will-maker disinherits the person they have been poisoned against, or leaves them less than they would be expected to receive.

If fraudulent calumny can be proved, the will is invalid and will be set aside, reverting to the will-maker’s previous will

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or, if they did not have one, the intestacy rules.

Sibling rivalry In practice, these disputes are often between siblings, where one is alleged to have spread lies about the other to a parent.

There are cases where it was alleged that a parent had been deceived into believing that one of their children had stolen from them, was a shopaholic and spendthrift, or was untrustworthy.

Fraudulent calumny will only be established if the person casting the aspersions knew that what they were telling the will-maker was untrue - or they did not care whether it was true or not, and there is no other explanation for the disinheritance.

It is a subtle form of undue influence where, rather than being forced into making changes against their will, the will-maker makes the changes of their own volition because their perception of the person they are disinheriting has been skewed. Fraudulent calumny is often missed by inexperienced or non-specialist lawyers to the disadvantage of the client claiming that the will should be set aside.

If you are concerned that a will may have been affected by deliberate deception or you believe it may not be valid for any other reason, it is essential that you seek specialist legal advice from a contentious probate expert. Contact Lucy Mignot on 01305 217 303 or lucy.mignot@blanchardsbailey.co.uk

FAMILY LAW

Using the Digital Legacy option could save your loved ones stress Trying to access important data locked into the phone of a deceased relative can be a nightmare. But Apple has launched a new ‘Digital Legacy’ programme to overcome this problem. Senior Associate Solicitor Adam Hillier reports.

Advances in phone technology have seen us progress from ‘just a mobile telephone’ resembling a small brick into the sleek multi-purpose devices that most of us now use. There really is an app for everything, easily downloadable, straight onto your phone.

All this data remains locked safely within the phone through a combination of passwords, unique thumbprints, or other security measures.

However such protection can mean that without careful forward planning, a sudden unexpected death of a family member could lead to their mobile phone blocking access to their personal or professional material.

Under the iCloud Terms of Service, the deceased person’s data would effectively die with them.

A new solution Apple is now attempting to simplify this problem for users of iPhones, iPads, MacBooks and other such devices. In its recent iOS update (15.2), it has introduced its new Digital Legacy program.

Digital Legacy allows the individual to select and send a message via their phone to a maximum of five people requesting that they become Legacy Contacts. They are most likely to be family members or friends but could also perhaps be trusted professionals like solicitors or accountants who may have been appointed as Executors to act in their Will.

When the Legacy Contact is notified, the message shares a unique access key with them, and this is then automatically stored in their Apple ID settings.

Additionally, Apple do still require proof of death via a death certificate; meaning that nobody can attempt to access the data whilst the individual is still alive.

Easy access when needed It would be prudent to check with your Legacy contact that they are happy to have this responsibility before sending the message and if they do not own an apple device themselves or perhaps it is too old to update to iOS 15.2, you can instead print a copy of the access key for them or leave

such information with your Will.

After you have died, your chosen Legacy Contacts would be able to access your Apple account data from the phone in a simplified and organised manner, rather than a timely, expensive, and likely unsuccessful legal battle with Apple, who would fight to protect their customer’s privacy.

I would suggest that when you prepare new Wills or update existing ones, careful consideration is given to your digital data and suitable precautions put in place to assist loved ones after death.

For more information contact Adam Hillier: adam.hillier@battens.co.uk 01935 846165 85

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Contact Jenny Cottrell 01258 444682 jenny.cottrell@porterdodson.co.uk

We can help with: • Buying and selling your home • Remortgages • First time buyer advice • Buying to let • Property auctions • Buying and selling land info@porterdodson.co.uk

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www.porterdodson.co.uk

by Ian Girling

BUSINESS NEWS

The real beauty of apprenticeships With the cost of university education rocketing, the appeal of apprenticeships to students and employers is highly attractive, says Ian Girling of Dorset Chamber, whose message is ‘earn while you learn’ Hello and welcome to my March column. This is one of my favourite times of year as we welcome the lighter morning and evenings and say goodbye to the darkness of winter.

I’d like to talk about the importance of apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships, still often undervalued and misunderstood by employers and parents, offer young (and more mature) people a fantastic way to learn new skills and gain valuable qualifications whilst earning. They offer employers an effective way to recruit and train talented people into their business with support and guidance from training providers. The apprenticeship route also often offers financial support to employers.

No longer just vocational Many will often still wrongly assume that apprenticeships are purely for vocational careers and sectors. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Apprenticeships are available in a vast range of industries from engineering and manufacturing, to construction, accountancy, law, marketing,

Statistics on the national Apprenticeship site states: •

• •

86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation 78% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve productivity 74% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve the quality of their product or service

aerospace and science-based qualifications. This is but a few off the top of my head - the range of apprenticeships available is huge.

the marketing function in a substantial training organisation.

Dorset Apprenticeship Awards If you are an apprentice A new old route to work or employer working with I believe one of the key challenges apprentices, the Dorset to increasing the uptake of Apprenticeship Awards, run apprenticeships

by Dorset Chamber is educating “Many employers in partnership with parents and the Dorset and assume that carers; those who Somerset Training play a vital role in apprenticeships Provider Network and influencing young sponsored by Superior are purely for people as to the Seals, are currently vocational careers career routes open for entry. Free to and sectors. This enter and open to all they take after completing their couldn’t be further apprentices in Dorset, GCSEs or A levels. from the truth” they celebrate the Apprenticeships superb contribution offer an apprentices make to alternative to higher education, businesses and organisations. and in fact can sometimes help You can see more information at young people progress within Dorsetchamber.co.uk. We close their chosen careers at a far for entries on 20th March 2022. quicker pace without the usual You can also see more further education debt. information and a host of guides My daughter decided to follow and tools to help employers and an apprenticeship route into apprentices at Apprenticeships. digital marketing and I couldn’t gov.uk. I urge you to take a look, be happier with the start this you may be very surprised. has given her career. She is now 19, and currently oversees

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Sherborne Business Awards 2022

Winners!

Artisan/Local Produce Provider Winner is Elly Harvey Silver

New Business of the Year Winner is The Queens Arms

Sponsor Sherborne Town Council

Sponsored by Porter Dodson LLP

Independent Business of the Year Winner is The Sherborne Market

Excellence in Customer Service Winner is At Goathill Farm

Sponsored by Battens Solicitors

Sponsored by Mogers Drewett

Young Entrepreneur/Rising Star Winner is Harry Ollis

Community Support Winner is Yeatman Hospital

Sponsored VALMIERA GLASS

Digital Innovation Winner is Vineyards Sponsored by Hunts Accountants

Green Eco Business of the Year Winner is At Goathill Farm Sponsored by Church House Investments

Cafe, Pub, Dining Winners are The Cross Keys & Oliver's Coffee House Sponsored by Hunt's Food Group

Best Place to Work Winner is Barker Laundry & Dry Cleaning Sponsored by Sherborne Town Council

Sponsored by Sherborne Indies

Family Business Winner is Girlings Complete Hearing Sponsored by NFU Mutual Sherborne

Independent Business of the Year Winner is The Sherborne Market Sponsored by Battens Solicitors

Service Provider of the Year Winner is Atkins Ferrie Wealth Management Sponsored by Gavin Dixon Finance Solutions Ltd

Health Beauty, Fitness Business Winner is Communifit Sponsored by Sherborne Chamber of Trade and Commerce

Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Award Yeatman Hospital Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Official Media Partner

BUSINESS NEWS

Wessex Electrical installs ‘23 football fields’ of solar panels at Clayesmore School Clayesmore School has now seen the completion of a large solar PV system installation by Shaftesbury’s Wessex Electrical.

The firm installed 790 PV panels across the two roofs. The solar array will generate circa 150,349 kWh and provide a saving of approximately 64 tonnes of CO2 per year.

The savings are equivalent to planting & maintaining 11.85 hectares of woodland; that is nearly 23 football fields, or 5,000 car parking spaces!

Wessex Electricals Director, Ali Morgan, commented “We have worked with Clayesmore for over three decades providing electrical, fire & security solutions and we are delighted to expand our existing remit to include renewable energy solutions. It is great to see the results of the teams’ hard work, the benefits provided to the school from the solar panel array and the contribution that this is making to their sustainability strategy.”

A spokesperson from Clayesmore school said “Clayesmore are always looking to improve their sustainability and will, when possible, strive to reduce our carbon footprint. Projects like installation of PV, Biomass and LED lighting will always be considered. In the last seven

years, we have been able to install both a comprehensive biomass system to the site, and have two significant PV solar panel systems installed.

One was in conjunction with a replacement roof to our Sports Centre in 2015, and the following year we installed a similar system to our new Senior Design & Technology extension.

Both of these systems have

helped us meet our Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) requirements which we assess every 4 years, and also generate power which we can use internally and also export externally back to the grid.

Wessex supported us right from the concept design phase through to completion of the project, and onwards in technical and maintenance support.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Staglers - a ‘bone-a fido’ business...

When Biscuit the family terrier wouldn’t leave an old antler alone, John and Sandra Palmer-Snellin spotted a new eco-business venture opportunity John Palmer-Snellin had a sudden lightbulb moment when he picked up a piece of naturally fallen off antler from his wife’s tame deer. Biscuit, the family Border Terrier, wouldn’t leave the antler alone and began chewing on it; Staglers, the dog chew specialist, was soon founded. Staglers now provides sustainable and eco-friendly shed deer antler chews.

John is passionate about nature, photography, falconry, and of course his beloved dogs – Biscuit and Dodger. The Stagler business catchphrase is ‘Just Ask John’.

John served in the Royal Marines, and went on to be a Personal Protection Officer to RT Hon Edward Heath for three years before joining Dorset Police, where he was the first, and only, full-time force Wildlife Officer, speaking at local schools and educating young children on the importance of nature.

The issue of dog chews Finding the right chew is an issue many dog owners tussle with. Raw bones carry bacteria (and smell), but cooked bones beome brittle and cause choking hazards. Leather hide chews can contain all manner of chemicals - and swiftly become soft, stinky and messy. Commercially packaged chew sticks don’t

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John Palmer-Snellin and Biscuit in front of their antler stack

last long, especially for bigger dogs, and many are filled with unnecessary sugars. Staglers think they have the solution.

Farmer Palmer’s deer John’s wife Sandra, Director of Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park, grew up on a farm surrounded by animals. 23 years ago she and her brother, Philip Palmer, opened the farm to the public for family-friendly days out.

Sandra owns a herd of red deer that children often meet and feed at the family-run farm, a firm favourite activity. Like many species of deer, only stags have antlers and they shed on a seasonal basis, allowing new

ones to develop (the antlers are a ‘status symbol’ in the mating ritual). Although Staglers don’t use Farmer Palmer’s deer antlers to form their business, they were inspired by these local Red Deer.

The right Stagler for your dog?

“Choosing the appropriately sized antler is important for your dog” John Palmer-Snellin commented “our ‘Just Ask John’ service allows the customer to receive a bespoke cut, weight and sized dog chew depending on their breed and chewing habits.

“Staglers are rich in protein, so dogs do not need to chew more than a half-inch or so per day; this is what makes them last a whole lot longer than your average dog chew. My passion has always been with animals, wildlife and nature – so to be working directly with people and their beloved pets makes it all worthwhile”.

The local couple are often branded ‘The Dog Whisperers’ as they supply eco-friendly, nonsmelly and natural dog chews that outlive the lifetime of an ordinary dog chew.

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

Entry dates are announced for the Love Local Trust Local Awards 2022 As the Love Local, Trust Local Awards enters its third season, founder Barbara Cossins is excited to announce the launch of the 2022 Awards Though we celebrated the 2021 Love Local Trust Local (LLTL) awards back in November, the work didn’t stop. Instead, we instantly began planning an even bigger & better 2022 event. With so many fabulous Dorset food & drink producers, fishermen and farmers wanting to take part in the LLTL annual awards, we have consulted with our supportive sponsors, reviewed the categories, polished the trophies and are ready to announce our new 2022 dates.

The Love Local Trust Local Food & Farming Awards 2022 All the classes have now been finalised, and we are happy to give BV readers the heads up on this year’s opening date for entries - 1st May 2022.

Perhaps you have a fabulous Dorset food or drink product that you’d like to enter? Or your business is keen to support the small food businesses of the county & become a sponsor?

It’s the stories as much as the food We tell the stories of Dorset’s wonderful farmers, fishermen and food producers; and also of a food movement that is going from strength to strength.

We want to get the British public behind supporting local businesses, encourage them to eat locally and seasonally, and also to reduce the environmental impact on all our lives.

There are 14 LLTL 2022 award categories:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Dairy Cheese Honey Jams Chutneys & Condiments Meat Fish Bakery (Sweet) Bakery (Savoury) Farm Shops Drinks Innovation & Diversification Conservation & Environmental Impact Business Development Award

There are a few changes & tweaks from last year, all strongly supported by the LLTL sponsorship team and we are very pleased to have the brand new category of Farm Shops on the category list.

Entries open on the 1st May, and are entirely free to enter. You are welcome to enter one product in each category, alternatively multiple products into a single category.

The LLTL awards are fast becoming the ‘food & farming family to be part of’ as they recognise the hard work and dedication of the people behind the food on our plates, working hard to put Dorset food & drink on the map.

Deadline for entries is 1st September, but don’t delay, or you will suddenly realise it’s the end of summer and time has run out! In order to qualify for entry, you need to be producing your food or drinks in Dorset, within 30 miles of your business HQ, have less than 30 employees working for you, share in the ethos of full provenance and traceability in what you are producing and of course, taste exceptional.

If you’re interested in getting involved or want to find out more, visit lovelocaltrustlocalawards.co.uk or call 07831 184920 and talk to Barbara Cossins, the founder of Love Local Trust Local 91

READER’S PHOTOGRAPHY

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HEALTH NEWS

Are you properly managing your stress container?

Stress responses are as old as the human race - but even without the threat of actually being eaten, we still sometimes struggle with the effects of a stress response, says Dee Swinton of Dorset Mind.

Stress Awareness Month is fast approaching (April), and it’s a chance to take stock and check how we’re doing. Thanks to the pandemic, many of us have been experiencing a heightened level of stress and anxiety.

Understanding this and being able to manage our stress is an important tool that can help to mitigate the effects stress has on our mental and physical wellbeing.

rise and we find ourselves moving towards being overwhelmed, it is important to reduce symptoms by using and utilizing various resources and techniques. One of the best of these is learning about our ‘Stress Container’ which can help us to visualise and contextualise our stress.

The Stress Container As we go about our lives we’re exposed to a wide range of What is stress? stressors, some of which we Stress is what happens as a result unintentionally keep with us of our body’s ‘Fight or Flight’ and collect as we go, just like a response to a threat. sink collects water. This ‘sink’ Back in the stone represents our “despite the lack of stress container, age this response would help us to saber-toothed tigers, and the water is quickly get away the stress. This this response can still stress can come from predators.

Nowadays, despite be triggered. It will from different the lack of saberof course be due to ‘taps’ - different toothed tigers, a wide range of less- life stressors; one this response can tap for example feral life stressors: could denote still be triggered. work, money, It will of course our anxiety be due to a wide family... just life in surrounding the range of less feral recent pandemic, general” life stressors: one could work, money, represent having family... just life in general. to adjust to new restrictions.

It is important to note that a Another could be a difficult little bit of stress in our lives can relationship. be helpful; it’s what drives us to If not managed, our containers achieve our goals. can overflow, which is when However, when our stress levels problems arise. The amount our

sink we can hold differs from person to person. One person maybe be able to collect more water before overflowing than another.

How to release the pressure: Unblocking our sinks and letting some water out, even only a little at a time, is possible. When we feel that our containers are getting too full, we can take positive steps to reduce it. This can be achieved through positive actions such as getting active, connecting with nature, talking to friends and family. Or why not try out a new hobby or mindfulness/ yoga and see how it affects your stress levels?

Support If your stress levels become unmanageable, or your mental health starts to affect your daily functioning, the first step is to contact your GP. You can also find our support via this link.

If you reach a crisis, or need emotional support, ring the Samaritans FREE on 116 123, 24 hours a day.

We offer ‘Managing Stress, Anxiety and Burnout’ training and Mental Health First Aid Courses to both businesses and members of the public. Find out more by following the links or emailing training@dorsetmind.uk.

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HEALTH

by Karen Geary, a Registered Nutritional Therapist DipION, mBANT, CNHC at Amplify

A 500g pack of dried red lentils is less than £1.50 - enough for an 8-12 person portion of lentil dahl.

Healthy eating on a tight budget Some of the healthiest foods can be the most inexpensive. Nutritional Therapist Karen Geary explores the options for cheap protein and veg As the inflation squeeze on budgets becomes more widespread, it is hard not to notice the rising cost of the household food shopping bill.

Healthy eating is not all chia seeds and turmeric lattes.

With that in mind I’ve taken a run through of highly nutritious 400g canned beans in water are under £1 a can.

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foods that won’t break the bank.

Beans and legumes These are some of the most under-rated foods we can buy.

High in fibre, B vitamins and minerals, they are an excellent source of protein; great if you are trying to reduce your

consumption of meat, and when paired with grains like rice they become a ‘complete’ source of protein. If you follow the diets of the Blue Zones, you will already know that beans are the cornerstone of their longevity diets. 100g cooked portion of beans or legumes contains between 9g and 16g of protein, depending upon your choice.

There is also some evidence that beans may support healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels, as well as healthy gut function.

A 500g pack of dried red lentils is less than £1.50 - enough for an 8-12 portion lentil curry.

Most ready-to-serve 400g canned beans in water are under £1 a can, and may come up cheaper in multi-packs. Cannellini (white) beans make for a great base for soups when blended with stock, and the possibilities are endless for bean chillis and salads.

And don’t forget frozen edamame

by Karen Geary beans - they are not just an alternative to peas. They pack a whopping 13g of protein per 100g and are therefore a great cheap replacement for animal protein and are extremely filling.

Avoiding flatulence!

Some people suffer with wind and bloating when they eat beans and lentils. It is best to increase your intake gradually, starting with ¼ cup at a time and working up. If you are using ready-cooked legumes/lentils, always rinse and drain before eating. Try adding cumin, fennel, ginger or turmeric to meals as they can aid digestion If you are using dried beans or lentils, always, always soak them overnight especially red kidney beans, which contain a toxic lectin which is poisonous.

Soaking also helps to neutralise a compound called phytic acid, an anti-nutrient which can reduce the absorption of minerals.

Soaking may also help to reduce bloating.

Fruit and vegetables Frozen fruits and veg are just as healthy, if not healthier than fresh, as they are frozen immediately upon picking, retaining key nutrients. Frozen berries can be up to 40% cheaper than fresh – and they are an easy addition to breakfast time with yogurt, smoothies or even added to pancake batter.

Frozen veg is a family staple and can be found from around £1 for a mixed bag – excellent in stir fries and casseroles.

Wonky veg or ‘not quite perfect’, as the supermarkets call them, are cheaper, as is buying what is left at the end of the day – sometimes it is fun to try something different and the diversity is good for us. Farmers markets can also be cheaper than the supermarket.

How to use leftovers What can you do with left over

Beans and legumes are high in fibre, B vitamins and minerals, they are an excellent source of protein; and when paired with grains like rice they become a ‘complete’ source of protein.

veg? Pulverise it all together in a food processor and store in a small snack bag or an ice cube tray. Add a few cubes to thicken sauces in casseroles, or add one spoon to a smoothie – an excellent way of using left-overs while getting extra nutrients in.

Buy from the farm We are so lucky in Dorset to have farms on our doorstep who sell directly to the public; often far cheaper than the supermarket.

Not every farm has a shop but sometimes will sell to you directly.

Make your own ‘milk’.

Last time I looked, some plant milks are twice the price of dairy,

and are far less nutritious. But some people cannot or prefer not to eat dairy. It is rare to find shop-bought plant milk without additives. 250g of hemp seeds is around £2 – roughly the price of a carton of the higher end plant milks, yet will yield four times as much milk if you have a blender and are prepared to invest £6 in a nut milk bag. Add a date and pinch of salt and it is better than your shop bought version (recipe here).

Recipes featured in images: • Lentil Dahl • Pesto, bean & tuna jackets • Aubergine & Chickpea Curry NB Price comparisons used are from Ocado & Amazon, Feb ‘22

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HEALTH

by Mel Mitchell

Returning to fitness post-covid.

You might find something you’ll love. I did, says Mel Mitchell, who was dubious about enjoying an ‘aerial hoop’ fitness class.

Having worked my way through my own journey back to fitness, I thought I would talk about ways to get back to exercise post-covid. It’s safe to say the road to recovery will be different for everyone, and is dependant on a number of factors including the severity of the symptoms.

Covid as we all know affects the respiratory system - I was lucky enough to suffer only mild symptoms but even I was surprised how much it affected my breathing and chest during exercise.

Too much, too soon.

My advice would be to wait until you feel better and are free of symptoms before you begin exercising again. The tendency is to go straight back to the old routine, especially once you are out of isolation and have your new found freedom. In hindsight, I probably returned to exercise too quickly. My chest definitely wasn’t prepared for my first CrossFit competition back that’s for sure! It’s important to listen to your body - at the end of the day, you are the best judge of

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how much you feel is enough. But even if you feel like you are fully recovered, adopting a slow return to fitness is definitely the best approach.

I made the mistake of assuming I was recovered enough to go straight back to the high intensity workouts that I was doing prior to getting covid.

How wrong was I! I ended up coughing and wheezing and feeling a lot more fatigued than normal for a full week after I thought I was fully recovered.

Getting back to exercise too soon and too hard may ultimately lengthen your recovery. Start off slowly and work upwards, gradually building the intensity and length of your workouts over a number of weeks. Listen to your body, and if symptoms return ensure you take a step back and rest.

There is still a lot we don’t know about the affects of covid and it will inevitably affect individuals in different ways. The key is to be patient, which I know can be difficult especially if you are anything like me and are used to being so active!

FUN FOR YOUR LITTLE

VIP s

DO YOU OWN ONE OF THE HOTTEST TICKETS IN TOWN? www.farmerpalmers.co.uk email.shop@farmerpalmers.co.uk email. shop@farmerpalmers.co.uk call. 01202 622022

Wareham Road, Organford, Poole, BH16 6EU

“If you can imagine a family farm park Utopia, then this is it!”

The below is based upon a Customer Review Raining? Bring your wellies for those puddles!

- TripAdvisor Feb 2022: Catering is delicious, high quality and has options for all dietary needs.

“Absolutely everything has been thought about Website and booking systems are easy to from the child’s point of view as a priority, navigate and you can even pre-order goodies meaning fun, fun, fun all the way, followed to pick up on arrival. closely with parent - in my case grandparent Forgotten to bring something? They’ll probably peace of mind and ease of use. have one in the shop! If you haven’t thought Farmer Palmer’s caters for all size children up of ‘that’, rest assured, Farmer Palmer’s team to about 8 years. Equipment is well maintained, have! clean and you can see why children love it Our staff are brilliant - friendly, welcoming, so much - it’s imaginative, practical, playful… knowledgeable and nothing is too much there’s lots of opportunities to get close to trouble. Utopia indeed!” the animals and there are handwash stands exactly where you want them. There’s water We recommend pre-booking at play, sand play, soft play, tractors, play houses, least 24 hours in advance - do so go carts (get pedalling parents - little kids can online by clicking here ride pillion!) and The World of Dinosaur Roar www.farmerpalmers.co.uk Discovery Trail!

Tel: 01202 622022 There’s masses to do, indoors and out, so shop@farmerpalmers.co.uk whatever the weather it’s a full day of fun.

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NEWS

WHAT'S ON

@

AT A GLANCE

MARCH

04/03 Brit Pop Live 06/03 Tea with William Barnes -SOLD OUT 19/03 Forever in Blue Jeans 24/03 Mothering Sunday 26/03 One Night in Dublin APRIL

02/04 08/04 14/04 21/04 22/04

Ninebarrow Wired for Sound The Addams Family 2 Happy and Glorious An Evening with Wayne Sleep 30/04 Roxy Magic

FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS

SAT 19TH MAR, 7:30PM 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 MOTHERING SUNDAY (15)

THURS 24TH MAR, 7PM A maid living in post-World War I England secretly plans to meet with the man she loves before he leaves to marry another woman.

Starring Olivia Colman, Colin Firth and Josh O’Connor. (15) £5

Cinema sponsored by

01258 98 475137

THE EXCHANGE

STURMINSTER NEWTON

ONE NIGHT IN DUBLIN

WIRED FOR SOUND -

SAT 26TH MAR, 7:30PM

CLIFF RICHARD

A celebration of the music and song of Ireland! For nearly 15 years, Middi and his legendary ‘Wild Murphys’ have been playing Irish music to the masses and now they’re bringing Murphys' Pub to Sturminster Newton. £21

FRI 8TH APR, 7:30PM A live concert celebrating the career of Cliff Richard.

Covering as many hits as possible from six decades of Cliff music. Jimmy and his sensational five-piece band, will have you dancing in the aisles in no time. £19.50/ £18.50 conc

NINEBARROW

SAT 2ND APR, 7:30PM Ninebarrow (pictured right) are a multi-award-winning folk duo from Dorset, who are impressing audiences across the country with their innovative and captivating take on the folk tradition. £18/ £16 U18s

ANNUAL FABRIC & HABERDASHERY SALE

SUN 3RD APR, 12 NOON - 3PM Fabric donations welcomed.

Email info@stur-exchange for details.

FREE ENTRY

OPENING HOURS Box Office Mon-Sat, 9am - 1pm Cafe Mon-Sat, 9am - 1pm

WWW.STUR-EXCHANGE.CO.UK

OLD MARKET HILL, STURMINSTER NEWTON

Free seeds for the annual chilli plant growing competition Chilli plants are easy to grow, can look spectacular, with the bonus of having tasty fruit. But the seeds need to be sown now for summer fruiting.

The Great Dorset Chilli Festival are holding their annual Chilli Plant Growing Competition - to be judged at the event held at Stock Gaylard, near Sturminster Newton, on Saturday 6th August, with prizes sponsored by Harts of Stur, and by Simpsons Seeds.

Amateur gardeners should be sowing their chilli seeds now!

Fierce competition The Chilli Plant Competition is an established part of the Chilli Festival, where amateur chilligrowing enthusiasts can enter classes to compete for the bestlooking fruiting chilli plant.

“Judging is taken very seriously, and the competition is fierce” says Festival Director Miles Halton, “but the joy is that anyone can take part, and anyone could win”.

The Chilli Plant Competition: There are two classes.

Class 1 is only for the chilli variety “Santa Fe Grande”, a traditional chilli variety which ripens early and gives good yield. Class 2 is the open class into which any chilli plant can be entered. Plants are judged on appearance, development, condition and fruiting.

Judging is done by two respected commercial chilli seed growers; Michael Michaud of Sea Spring Seeds (Sea Spring Seeds, based near Dorchester, developed the

WHAT’S ON

hot Dorset Naga chilli) and Matt Simpson of Simpson’s Seeds (as seen on TV shouting “grow, damn you” at his chilli plants).

The winner of each chilli plant competition class will receive a £50 gift voucher from local instore and online cookware and gardening retailer Harts of Stur, in Sturminster Newton.

Free seeds:

The organisers of the Great Dorset Chilli Festival have been supplied by Simpsons Seeds with a limited supply of Santa Fe Grande chilli seeds to give away. For a copy of the rules and to claim your seeds email info@greatdorsetchillifestival. co.uk

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WHAT’S ON

Thomas Cameron Returns to Shaftesbury Arts Centre After unavoidable delays, singing sensation’ Thomas Cameron is making a welcome return to Shaftesbury Arts Centre.

A charismatic English tenor, Thomas has a powerful voice that’s making waves in the world of classical music.

His first three singles, ‘Bring Him Home’, ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’ and ‘Music of the Night’, taken from his beautiful debut album ‘The Voice of Thomas Cameron’ have been met with critical acclaim and great enthusiasm from his fanbase.

Thomas was featured on BBC television where they described him as ‘wowing the music world’, a statement fully endorsed by his nominations for the Best In Music Award 2019, and the 2018 Classic Brit Awards.

With his inimitable personality and performing a number of well-loved songs including musical theatre hits and beautiful classical pieces, Thomas is sure to please many tastes and gives a very special performance to remember.

Saturday 12 March at 7.45pm Tickets £18 shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk or Box Office 01747854321

‘Reading the Land’ - Shaftesbury’s first Book Festival The theme ‘Reading the Land’ is an invitation to share in the passion, experience and insight of our authors as we explore the best of nature writing.

With much of the last 18 months spent adjusting to new limitations, many of us have explored the lanes and paths closer to home in a bid to find new ways to stretch our minds (and legs!). For some, it has been a chance to reconnect with nature, while for others it has proven an opportunity to examine more closely the natural world around us.

“We hope to stimulate positive ways of living with nature, and encourage the audience to share our passion for the landscapes, coasts, and flora and fauna” Whether you’re in the town or country, high-rise or ground-level, there are ways to notice nature and what’s happening in the environment around

us. Our authors bring their insights to the Festival, exploring a variety of themes connected to the landscape; the importance of trees and bees, rewilding, and so much more.

For more information about the events and to see our list of authors please click here.

An audience with Tristan Gooley Tristan Gooley will be speaking to the Sherborne Literary Society about his latest book, ‘The Secret World of Weather : How to Read Signs in Every Cloud, Breeze, Hill, Street, Plant, Animal, and Dewdrop’. Tristan Gooley, the Natural Navigator, will be in conversation with Brian Bleese, CEO of the Dorset Wildlife Trust.

In The Secret World of Weather we discover the simple rules that explain the weather signs and learn rare skills that should enhance every minute spent outdoors.

Wednesday 30th March 7pm-9pm The Digby Memorial Hall, Sherborne 100

Tickets £9 members, £10 non members available through the Sherborne Literary Society website and Winstone’s Bookshop.

WHAT’S ON

SECRETS OF AN ANTIQUES AUCTIONEER

A morning with Garry Batt Duke`s Senior Valuer

JUBILEE HALL, YETMINSTER, DT9 6LG SATURDAY APRIL 9th 2022

10AM – 12.30PM

Exclusive auction of promises Hot or Not – a fun quiz to test your valuation skills Refreshments - Raffle Tickets £10 – prebooked please – under 12s free from the Spar, the White Hart, 01935 873421 or email pccsec.yetminster@gmail.com Organised by the Friends of St Andrews

Contact 01305 265080 or enquiries@dukes-auctions.com

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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.

DEATHS

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Available 24 hours Personal service day & night.

Pre-payment plans, memorials, private chapel of rest.

Water Street Mere BA12 6DZ 01747 860361 www.lchillandsonfuneraldirectors.co.uk 105

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ADVERTORIAL

PROPERTY

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

Do I need to use a solicitor when buying a house?

There’s no legal requirement to do so, but using a solicitor for your house move reduces your risk, says Jenny Cottrell from Porter Dodson There is no requirement that you use a solicitor, or licensed conveyancer, when buying a house; you could choose to represent yourself. However, when making this decision, ask yourself: why should I consider using a solicitor when buying a house?

Protecting your investment Using a solicitor will give you peace of mind that you have been advised of any hidden legal issues you might otherwise be unaware of. You will be reassured that you will be able to sell your property when the time comes without issue.

Less hassle Buying a house involves dealing with lots of different people; estate agents, mortgage companies, the land registry, search providers, HMRC and the seller. Your solicitor will communicate with all these people for you, taking the strain of coordinating the process off you and making sure that all payments are made on your behalf.

Mortgage lenders may require that you do If you need to take out a mortgage to finance your purchase, your mortgage lender may insist that you use a solicitor to ensure that their interest in the property is properly protected.

Your solicitor’s role • Guide you through the process • Carry out property searches to reveal any issues • Report to you on the legal aspects of the property and raise any questions with the seller that need to be answered • Complete a stamp duty land tax return and pay any stamp duty land tax triggered by your purchase • Report to your lender and deal with the transfer of mortgage funds • Coordinate the exchange and completion of the purchase • Register you as the new legal owner with the Land Registry.

So, whilst you do not need a solicitor to sell your house in England and Wales, the risks of doing your own conveyancing if you don’t have any experience are very high. Buying or selling a house can be a complex process. Using a legal professional gives you peace of mind that the process will be completed correctly. It also allows you more time to focus on the other, more exciting, aspects of your house move.

We’re here for you If you’re buying or selling a house, we can help you. To find out more, contact Jenny Cottrell: jenny. cottrell@porterdodson.co.uk or 01258 444682.

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NEWS

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PROPERTY

The last grand country house in Wiltshire

Guide price £5,500,000

An outstanding Grade I Listed Manor House, in an elevated position with far reaching views over its own park and towards the Blackmore Vale Zeals House is a substantial Grade I listed property of architectural merit constructed of stone with gables and tall chimneys. The property provides well-appointed receptions and bedrooms with outstanding southerly views over its own parkland, lake and towards the Blackmore Vale beyond.

Whilst it has been considerably extended over the centuries, sympathetic treatment by craftsman and consistent use of local materials has ensured that each extension has retained the character of the whole.

The Great Hall with its polished panelling oak, the drawing room with its plaster moulded ceiling and the principal bedroom with its intricate coving and cross straps ceiling mouldings are all Georgian in style, contrasting with the magnificent full height oak panelled bedroom next door.

The property offers wonderful family accommodation, however, subject to the necessary consents, could be converted into a bespoke Country House Hotel as there is an unconverted coach house, stable block and two gate lodges.

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The romance of the house is captured by a 1909 advertisement in the Field magazine: ‘To be let, furnished, a beautiful old Tudor residence together with 3,400 acres of excellent shooting. The Mansion, standing in a grandly timbered park on high ground...contains handsome outer and inner halls, a suite of fine reception rooms, splendid billiards room, about twenty bedrooms, bathroom and first-class domestic offices; stabling for ten, two large coach houses; squash racket court; gardener’s cottage; two lodges. Large kitchen garden, glasshouses and pleasure grounds, with large lake affording boating and fishing.’

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