The New Blackmore Vale Magazine

Edition 6

Friday, December 4 2020

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Edition 6

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PROUD MUM: The late Kim Gingell with son Freddie

Friday, December 4, 2020

Blackmore Vale

Fortnightly

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Teenager’s incredible tribute to his mum

By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A teenager has raised an incredible £37,000 in memory of his mum, who died in May. Freddie Gingell, a Year 10 pupil at Sexey’s School, cycled 226 miles with family and friends, raising the astonishing sum for Target Ovarian and Children with Cancer UK. His mum Kim, daughter of British racehorse trainer Colin Tizzard, died aged just 43 after a very short battle with cancer. She had been her father’s ‘right hand woman’ at Venn Farm Racing in Milborne Port.

Kim was a major lynchpin of the yard and its successes – Colin won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the King George Chase – and is ‘sorely missed’ by the racing and hunting communities.

Tributes to Kim have flooded in from all over the country. n Turn to page 6

What’s inside this week Angling Announcements Arts & Entertainments Antiques & Collectibles Business Church Equestrian Farming Field And Stream Food & Drink Health & Wellbeing Home & Gardens Items For Sale Letters Local Services Motoring MPs’ Round-Up Pets Planning Applications

82 33-35 64-67 48-49 55-57 76 80-81 83-87 82 38-42 50-54 28-32 20 68-69 43-46 71-75 62-63 70-71 46-47

n Short story winners: P8 n New homes for rescued trees: P25 n Hunt’s Dairies: Sybil Hunt fondly remembered: P36-37

Property Puzzles

88-94 60-61, 70-71

Recruitment Sport

58-59 77-79

Meet the Team Miranda Robertson

Lloyd Armishaw

Lorraine Drake

Editor

Publisher

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newsdesk@ blackmorevale.net Tel: 01963 400186

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Contact Us Advertising: adverts@blackmorevale.net Editorial: newsdesk@blackmorevale.net Postal enquiries to: The New Blackmore Vale, 3 Alfred’s Way, Wincanton, BA9 9RU

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Classified and private ads: classified@blackmorevale.net, 01963 400186 or online at blackmorevale.net Letters: newsdesk@blackmorevale.net News stories: newsdesk@blackmorevale.net Sport stories: sport@blackmorevale.net

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‘Council has been thoroughly professional’

By Steve Keenan newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

Dorset Council has strongly defended its decision to halt work on a house being modernised for the family of a dying Army officer.

It was reported in our last issue that work had begun on modernising the Grade II listed building in Iwerne Minster, which had previously been lived in by the same person for 60 years.

Col Nick Carrell, 51, bought the house for his wife Jilly and two daughters and had hoped the family would be in

by Christmas.

He says that he understood from Building Control officers who visited the house that planning permission was not needed for interior work.

Col Carrell, who has Stage 4 cancer, said: “If I speak to somebody from the planning

office, my understanding is that I was talking to the totality of the planning office.

“But I made a mistake and we have now been told exactly what we needed to do. Dorset Council has been thoroughly professional and I am happy with how it has turned out.”

In a statement Dorset Council said that it had “no choice” but to step in and halt development: “In terms of historic building listing, everything is listed, exterior and interior.

“Removal or alteration of historic fabric to a listed building without obtaining listed building consent is a criminal offence, hence why we had no choice but to get involved when it was reported to us.”

A council spokesman also objected to suggestions that

its Building Control officers told Col Carrell that planning permission was not needed.

Officers from the council’s planning enforcement and conservation departments visited the house two weeks ago and met the couple.

Added the council: “The general feeling after the meeting was one of cooperation, sympathy and respect.”

There have also been telephone conversations and a full planning application was lodged on Monday. It will now be processed.

Col Carrell said the council response will give the family

“clarity.” He said his cancer has now spread to his brain and doctors have given him weeks, maybe months, to live.

“I am stoic and resigned to what is happening to me. I don’t fret about dying. I just want to resolve this swiftly and have stability for my family.”

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Plans for 600 homes formally opposed

By Nicci Brown newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

The chairman’s casting vote clinched a formal objection to 600 new homes for Blandford.

The town council met to discuss plans for development north and east of Blandford bypass, which form a key part of the area’s neighbourhood plan.

Wyatts Homes has submitted an outline scheme for all the homes and detailed plans for the first phase of 167 homes.

The full council heard presentations on behalf of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), the Blandford Allotment Society, and Pimperne Parish Council.

Rupert Hardy of CPRE challenged the government’s assessment of housing need, saying the housing land supply in Blandford, thanks to other development underway, was twice that required, and highlighting the adverse visual impact on the Cranborne Chase AONB and its international dark skies reserve.

His colleague Derek Gardner said the A354 and A350 were major routes which had to be crossed to get into Blandford and to the new school

OPPOSITION: Rupert Hardy

proposed in phase two, with no guarantee that it would go ahead.

More car usage could mean the bypass ceased to function effectively, he said.

He also asked how many years it would take to create soil suitable for the relocation of the Lamperd’s Field allotments as part of the scheme.

Allotments Society chairman Ian Ricketts raised a number of issues with the proposed new site to which plot holders are being asked to move only 20 years after being previously relocated with the promise that they would not have to move again.

Peter Slocombe, chairman of Pimperne Parish Council, said part of the proposal conflicted with the Pimperne

Neighbourhood Plan, which was approved last year and seeks to preserve the gap between the village and the town.

The Blandford + Neighbourhood Plan Group has worked for several years to draw up proposals for the development, and town council members of the group argued that the application should be supported.

However they were outvoted, with the support of council chairman Lynn Lindsay, on the grounds of avoidable environmental impact and highway safety.

Cllr Roger Carter, chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan group, who supported the plan subject to revisions, warned he might have to consider his position after the council voted to oppose it.

Councillor Pat Osborne, chairman of the town council’s climate change group, said: “It doesn’t mean I don’t support the Neighbourhood Plan. I do, but I can’t support the impact on the carbon footprint.

“It would be a shame not to get a school, but clearly it will be more of a shame to create one in what will be a ruined environment.”

He said Wyatts had seemed to be totally unwilling to do anything more than government guidelines in relation to climate change, and had dismissed their concerns out of hand.

“But legislation will catch up, and a short delay may be all that is required.”

Councillor Noc Lacey Clarke feared there was not enough green infrastructure, and several members were concerned pedestrian crossings over the bypass and Salisbury road were inadequate.

Councillor Byron Quayle said: “We are opposing this application, in which there is a lot to be desired, not the Neighbourhood Plan.”

The Blandford + Neighbourhood Plan for the parishes of Blandford, Blandford St Mary and Bryanston, which has until now been supported by the Blandford community and includes part of the site as the preferred area for development to meet government housing targets and support the provision of a new primary school, is awaiting final acceptance by Dorset Council and approval by public referendum following a legal challenge.

CPRE chairman ‘very relieved’ by decision on development After the meeting, Dorset CPRE chairman Rupert Hardy said he was “very relieved”.

He added: “Campaigners now stand a very good chance of defeating it provided enough local residents are seen to protest.”

He said: “Our major concerns are first that this development is not needed.

North Dorset is supposed to suffer from a housing supply shortage, but that is only because the government’s method for assessing housing need is deeply flawed. In Blandford itself there is 11.5 4

years’ housing land supply which is over twice the government housing target of five years.

The development is not sustainable being outside the bypass, so new residents will be forced to use their cars to go anywhere.

“The bypass will in itself generate noise levels beyond World Health Organisation guidelines.

“Other considerations include the adverse impact on the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, as part of the site is within this. The developer

has made little attempt to address climate change, a key concern of Dorset Council. Another issue is highways, with real anxiety over safety as they want to install four pedestrian crossings over the A350, a major arterial route, and the A354.

“Pedestrian bridges would work so much better but they are expensive. These crossings and the additional traffic will create massive congestion on the bypass, affecting residents from all over North Dorset.”

Mr Hardy says up to 200

houses will be within the parish of Pimperne, contrary to the village’s Neighbourhood Plan.

He added: “Finally, a major irony is that a new school, which Blandford does need, would only be provided in the second phase of the development, some years behind the first phase, which will see 167 houses built.

How will the existing crowded schools cope with these families’ children?

“We hope for the sake of North Dorset that this dreadful development never sees the light of day.”

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Freddie’s amazing tribute to mum n From front page Kim is described as a ‘loving daughter to Colin and Pauline Tizzard, devoted wife to Dave, a much loved sister to Joe and a friend to many’. Friends say she was an ‘immensely proud and loving mother to her beloved Freddie’.

Freddie’s three-day charity bike ride from his home in Lower Zeals to Lands End in September involved Joe, Dave, Catrin, Richard, Glen and Joanna.

Freddie said: “The hardest bit was definitely getting over the Devon hills. But the sense of achievement and having done something to help at the end made it all very worthwhile.

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us.”

Helen Cullen, headteacher at Sexey’s School, said: “One of our school’s seven core values is resilience and Freddie has

PEDAL POWER: Freddie Gingell, centre, with the charity bike ride team at Land’s End. They wore tops sponsored by Christopher Middleton and Shutt Velo Rapide

WINNERS: The family enjoy their Cheltenham success THAT’S MY BOY: Freddie Gingell with his late mum Kim

demonstrated that he has this characteristic in spades. Well done Freddie, we are tremendously proud of you, as we know your mum would be.”

One of Kim’s colleagues and friends said: “We were very humbled by the sheer generosity of so many people, we want to express our gratitude and thanks to all

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those who contributed through donations and support. We would like to thank local people for holding fund raising events.”

She added: “The biggest well done to Freddie for a truly admirable thing to orchestrate and complete at such a devasting time.

“Kim would be so incredibly proud.”

Councils oppose caravan site

By Steve Keenan newsdesk@ blackmorevale.net

A proposed residential gypsy caravan site has met with strong opposition from both Gillingham and Mere town councils.

The site is on Jane Oaks Farm, just inside the Wiltshire border but only 500m from the Dorset hamlet of Huntingford.

As such, Gillingham Town Council’s planning committee debated the application last week and were unanimous in their opposition.

Gillingham Mayor Barry von Clemens said had the plan been proposed in Dorset, it would have failed on so many counts that it wouldn’t have been worth posting.

The application is for four static caravans and four touring caravans, with space

for four cars. Two amenity buildings and a sewage treatment plant would also be sited on the land, accessed by a single-track lane off the B3092 Gillingham-Mere road.

Planning officers have already said they would need to approve schemes to take surface and foul water off the site. Tree officer Shane Verrion is also insisting on a report into how a ‘significant’ oak tree would be protected.

The South Wiltshire branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) objects, saying: “The site is in open farmland, well outside any settlement.

“The countryside contributes to the setting of Mere.”

More than 50 public objections have been lodged with Wiltshire County Council, with most pointing out limited access to the field, the rural location and

Parking concern

Shoppers have just days to comment on a consultation the fact that another gypsy over a new parking permit. residential site is close by.

Residents have until Neighbouring farmer December 6 to respond at Caroline Morton at Hinks dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/shopper Mill Farm said of the halfs-permit-survey. acre site: “The existing land The council says a countyhas been allowed to wide permit could encourage deteriorate over many years more people to use struggling and should be restored to its town centres and shop locally proper agricultural use in – although it says it would keeping with surrounding cost around £50,000 annually small fields.” in admin and lost revenue.

Mere Town Council also The consultation was launched oppose the plan and said that soon after the council if it were approved by announced, without consultation, Wiltshire, then mains water, that parking charges would be power, sewerage, drainage extended until 8pm and on and waste disposal should be Sundays from January. supplied before occupation.

The decision has been Wiltshire councillor George strongly criticised by Jeans, whose division Blandford Town Council, for includes Mere, has ‘called in’ its potentional impact on the application, which means restaurants, pubs, takeaways that should a senior planning and entertainment venues – officer be minded to approve as well as churchgoers and residents. Shaftesbury and it, it would be automatically Sturminster Newton councils referred to the planning also oppose the decision. committee.

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Story writers are club’s virtual winners Blandford Rotary Club’s annual Short Story competition in its sixth year took a very different form when it was forced to go ‘virtual’, without the usual finals night and presentation evening at which shortlisted authors are invited to present their stories before the judging panel and public.

The club has now thanked everyone who entered this year and congratulated the prize winners for their excellent submissions.

In the Flash Fiction category the winner was Adrianne Howell, a member of the PennyWriters of Mere, with Express Attraction: in the Short Story category Lesley A Wyles who lives in Bridport, and is a member of Bridport Story Traders, with Celebration Cakes and in the under 18s Eve Alice Clark with When the Ships Came.

David Bamber of Dorchester won the Poetry competition for the second time with The Wintering

LITERARY SUCCESS: Flash Fiction winner Adrienne Howell and, above, Short Story winner Lesley A Wyles and Poetry winner David Bamber.

Right: Under 18s winner Eve Alice Clark

Swans, having won last year with The Lane to Waddock.

A Rotary spokesperson said that as always it was a tough choice as the standards are always high – especially this year when they had a record number of entries, including 14

shortlisted in the Poetry category, seven in the Open Category and six in Flash Fiction.

Prize money totalled £560, and the sponsors were Lesley Shand Funeral Service (poetry) and Blandford Forum Town

Council (open prose).

Further information and a full list of winners, together with some of their entries, can be found on the Blandford Rotary Short Story & Poetry Competition 2020 Facebook page.

It’s homes v sports in plan for field

By Steve Keenan

newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A Gillingham field earmarked for urgently needed sports provision is now the subject of a plan for 88 houses.

The 3.8-hectare site is on the southern edge of town, with a proposed entrance off Common Mead Lane next to the Mellowes Care Home.

There are existing rights of way across the land, which is well used by walkers and cyclists. Barn owls nest there and deer are regular visitors.

It is also land designated by Gillingham Council as a potential new sports area, 8

one of just four sites earmarked in the town’s 2018 Neighbourhood Plan.

Gillingham is desperately short of sports provision and is “well below” recommended levels, says the plan. It acknowledges there are just 7.2 hectares of outdoor playing pitches, against a target of 18.8 hectares.

The housing plan has been met with predictable dismay, many taking to social media to attack the developers, Fairfax. “I find it really sad.

They (Fairfax) discuss the ecology in their leaflet, but we have taken pictures of slow worm, newts, barn

owls, foxes and badgers in this field,” said one Facebook post.

Fairfax opened a 10-day window for people to comment on the plans, which expired on Monday. It is expected to formally apply for outline planning permission this month.

Gillingham is one of the fastest growing towns in the southwest, and its population is predicted to grow from 12,000 presently to 17,000 within a decade.

Most of the growth will be in a southern extension to the town, which is planned to take 1,800 houses. The first will be built in 2022. With

further developments in the city centre and the Bay area, the total will meet county demands for 2,200 new houses in Gillingham.

The Fairfax plan is just outside the Neighbourhood Plan area. On a website built for the site (fairfaxgillingham.com), Fairfax says an appraisal has considered key elements: landform, boundary planting, views from roads, rights of way, open spaces and neighbouring properties.

It adds: “The site adjoins the built-up area of the town and forms a logical and natural extension to the existing settlement.”

9

Fears for future of closed injury unit at hospital

By Karen Bate newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

The charity arm of The Yeatman Hospital in Sherborne fear the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) could become a “convenient covid casualty” as it remains temporarily closed.

The MIU at the hospital closed on April 6, during the early weeks of lockdown, a decision taken by Dorset Health Care Trust to manage the impact of covid-19.

Residents in Sherborne and the surrounding villages, a catchment area with a population of as many as 22,500, who need medical treatment for minor injuries, which include head and eye injuries, burns and scalds and injuries to the back, shoulder and chest, are being advised to ring the Weymouth Urgent Care Centre for assessment.

But chairman of the Friends of the Yeatman Hospital David Hayes CBE says the real consequence and impact of this decision has been to “increase emergency patients visits to GP practices and to the A&E department at Yeovil District Hospital.”

The closure of the MIU is of “great concern” to West Dorset MP Chris Loder, who sought assurance from the Secretary of State for Health

Matt Hancock in the House of Commons on November 17 that the MIU will re-open as soon as possible.

Mr Hayes, who has engaged in discussions with the Chief Executive of Dorset Healthcare Trust, Mr Loder, Lead of North Dorset Local Primary Care Network Dr Rob Childs, Sherborne Town Council and representatives of the town’s Patient Groups to take concerted action to ensure the MIU is reopened.

Mr Hayes said: “The MIU cannot become a convenient covid casualty – it is an important service, not only to Sherborne but to all surrounding villages.

“The Yeatman Hospital is West Dorset’s local community hospital, and as such an essential part of the local healthcare infrastructure.

The reduction or removal of any of the services has a major impact on the population.

“In the last 18 months three outpatient clinics have closed.

This gradual depletion of the hospital’s operating capacity has a significant and detrimental impact on our community and is done without any apparent stakeholder consultation.

“The MIU at the Yeatman Hospital was closed on April 6. Its staff were reallocated to

CONCERNS: The MIU at Yeatman Hospital closed in April

maintain MIUs in other DHCT hospitals but primarily in Shaftesbury.

“The real consequence and impact of this decision has been to increase emergency patients visits to GP practices and to the A&E department at Yeovil District Hospital.

Neither of which were the intended outcomes.

“Over recent weeks we have made substantial inquiries of the DHCT Staff, and through our MP’s approach to the CEO, we have been given assurances of a commitment for the MIU to be reopened, but with no time frame.

Furthermore, we have offered our services to the DHCT Communications Team to assist with any announcements but have received no response.

“We would urge a greater spirit of cooperation and transparency in the decisionmaking process, to enable us to provide clear guidance to our communities in order to avoid anxiety and scepticism over DHCT’s intentions.”

Chair of Apple Patients Participation Group (PPG) in

Sherborne, Bruce Duncan said: “The nearest MIU is Shaftesbury, with an appointment, where a drive for an injured patient may not be possible. The local GP surgeries have more patients to treat because there is no accessible minor injuries unit and there is no doubt some patients may get no treatment at all.”

A spokesperson for Chris Loder said: “Chris has already stated that the continued closure of the Yeatman Hospital’s MIU in Sherborne has been of great concern to him.

“Despite frequent communications that he has had with senior executives, it remains difficult to get a commitment as to when the MIU will re-open.

“Matt Hancock, who previously met with Chris at the Yeatman Hospital at the end of last year, has agreed to meet with him again to make progress on this. Chris is also keeping fully in touch on this with the Friends of the Yeatman Hospital and Sherborne Town Council.”

Services ‘constantly reviewed’ says health chief Helen Persey, Dorset HealthCare’s Head of Community Services in the West of Dorset, said: “To ensure we manage the impact of covid-19 while still providing safe and reliable services across the county, we made the decision to temporarily close the minor injuries unit (MIU) at the Yeatman Hospital at the start of the pandemic.

“Staff that were working at the unit in 10

Sherborne have been temporarily relocated to Shaftesbury and Wimborne MIUs to improve services and extend opening times.

“Local people can access the MIU service by calling either 01305 762541 or 111, where you will receive a telephone assessment, and where appropriate, a prescription sent to the local pharmacy. Where a face-to-face

appointment is needed, you will be booked quickly into your nearest MIU or Urgent Treatment Centre, avoiding the need to wait or queue.

“We are constantly reviewing how we run our services during the pandemic and this includes the MIUs across the county. For the time being, the MIU at the Yeatman Hospital will remain temporarily closed.”

Solar farms plans under discussion

By Nicci Brown newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

The possibility of two large solar farms within eight kilometres of each other in the Blackmore Vale has been raised in a pre-consultation

by British Solar Renewables (BSR) into a facility on land at North Dairy Farm, Pulham.

The 49.99MW capacity, 76 hectare proposal will be only eight kilometres from another by Voltalia for a 35MW capacity solar installation at Higher Stockbridge Farm, Lillington, to which there have been hundreds of objections since the application was submitted to Dorset Council in February this year.

It can be found on the Dorset Council website under West Dorset applications, ref. No: WD/D/19/003181 BSR’s application is expected to be submitted in December and is the subject of an online pre-consultation at bsrenergy.com/northdairy-farm-project/ During a public webinar at the end of October a member of the public asked whether the cumulative impact of the two applications would be taken into account.

Their planning consultant Hannah Ness said that Dorset Council, when asked what Environmental Impact Assessment was needed, had said they need only consider landscape, visual impact and ecology of their application,

SOLAR PLAN: North Dairy Farm at Pulham

together with an assessment of heritage, traffic and flood risk.

She said BSR were aware of the Voltalia application, but did not believe the cumulative impact was significant, and the planning authority had not asked for an assessment.

In answer to a suggestion that a similar application had not been progressed some years ago, Colin Ramsay, head of project management at BSR, said the cost of connection to the grid at that time had been too high, and that there was now a wider policy environment change

leading to planning authorities being friendlier to renewable energy applications.

Many other questions were fielded by the team, and Mr Ramsay said they would need to do more work on issues raised including concerns about the flood risk, the access for construction traffic which is currently envisaged down the narrow Cannings Court Lane, viewpoints and engagement with the neighbouring parish of Mappowder in which part of the application site lies.

A decision is awaited from

the planning authority on an application for an extension to a BSR solar farm at North Farm, Spetisbury, which was submitted in August and can be found on the Dorset Council website under North Dorset applications, ref.2/2020/1103/FUL There have been objections from Spetisbury Parish Council with concerns about construction traffic and Charlton Marshall Parish Council on the grounds of lack of public involvement in the pre-consultation at a time when residents were unable to discuss the application and the extent of the combined site.

A neighbouring 49.9MW site at South Farm with 95,000 panels, for which Voltalia were granted planning permission in February, will supply electricity to the City of London in a £40 million green energy power purchase agreement with Voltalia recently announced by the City of London Corporation.

Scheme hailed as ‘pioneering’ by City Jamie Ingham Clark, Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Corporate Asset Sub-Committee, said: “This is a pioneering scheme which we hope will lead the way for local authorities across the UK. “It means they can play their part in reducing emissions without the risks of owning their own energy firms or infrastructure and without

the need for Government funding.

“Like many organisations, we face an uncertain economic landscape in the wake of Brexit and covid-19.

“However, we can’t allow that to prevent us tackling climate change, which is now recognised as a global issue.

“The deal, which supports our ambitious Climate Action Strategy, will help cut

emissions and give us a cheaper, more secure electricity supply protected from the price volatility of energy markets.”

Voltalia CEO Sebastien Clerc said: “We are very proud to support the City of London Corporation in its 2040 net carbon zero target by providing clean electricity to the historic Square Mile and the financial heart of the UK.”

Library’s shared reading invitation Blandford Library is inviting people to a free virtual shared reading experience.

You can read a story or poem aloud and chat about what you have read on Thursdays from 11am-12.30pm.

Email the library to secure your spot: blandfordlibrary @dorsetcc.gov.uk No one has to read aloud or make

comments, unless they want to.

While the library is closed during lockdown for browsing and computer use, it still offers order and collect (orders can be placed online or on 01258 452075).

Other shared reading groups are offered within the Dorset Library service. Details can be found at eventbrite.co.uk.

Family Law Advice

We realise talking about divorce or separation is very personal and so we are offering virtual appointments by Zoom. As an alternative, we offer a one off FREE telephone appointment for initial advice on Wednesdays 9am – 1pm To book an appointment please call us on 01747 852377

11

Weldmar branching out with tree collection Weldmar Hospicecare will be collecting and recycling real Christmas trees from across Dorset in early January. For a suggested donation of £10, trees can be collected from homes and businesses between Thursday and Sunday, January 7 and 10.

This year, the initiative is being supported by Trinity St. Christmas Trees, whose team will be making the collections in Blandford and Dorchester.

Weldmar volunteers, including a team from Magna Housing, will make further collections in Beaminster, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, and Sherborne.

Alaine Harman co-ordinates the project for Weldmar and says: “We are looking forward to helping make the festive clear up that little bit easier once again. We have seen the number of people

TREEMENDOUS: Alaine Harman from Weldmar Hospicecare and Peter Hyde from Trinity Street Christmas Trees, launching the Tree-cycle initiative that will take place in January

taking advantage of this scheme increase every year, which is great news because every tree collected means money raised for the end of life care that we provide for patients and their loved ones in Dorset. With all of our other fundraising events cancelled due to covid, the Tree-cycle is more important for us now than

ever before.”

Peter Hyde, owner of Trinity Street Christmas Trees, says, “For many years we have supported Weldmar, but this year more than ever, we believe it’s a great time to step up that support to take on the Christmas tree recycling campaign. It has been a tough year for many

charities, but Weldmar continue to provide an exceptional service to the people of Dorset, at a time when they need it most.”

Bookings can be made for a January collection of your real Christmas tree at weldhospice.org.uk, or by calling the Weldmar Hospicecare fundraising team on 01305 261800.

Funding bid for hospital televisions

By Karen Bate newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A former paediatric nurse from Shaftesbury is planning to raise funds for televisions for patients to enjoy on the Farley Ward at Salisbury District Hospital.

Alison Harding has asthma along with a rare condition which leaves her often needing hospitalisation in the former Pembroke Unit, now known as the Farley Ward, which is the Respiratory Care Unit. The conditions mean Alison has recently taken medical retirement as a paediatric nurse, where she worked at Salisbury Hospital before nursing sick children in the community for the last four years.

Following a recent weeklong stay in the Farley Ward, Alison said: “I’m a regular respiratory patient at Salisbury, and was shocked by the lack of televisions.

12

“Usually you will find television sets over the bed, which are free until 12noon and the radio is free all day.

But I was in a cubicle with no television, radio and had poor internet service and no mobile phone reception.

“Coronavirus restrictions mean visiting hours are reduced to one hour with visitors wearing PPE. The newspaper and refreshment trolleys, which might perk up your day, have understandably ceased at this time.

“To be honest I was too poorly to concentrate on television, listen to a radio or have visitors, but had I felt not quite as ill, I may have become quite restless – there’s only so much colouring you can do in a day.

“This is the old Pembroke out-patients unit and there are lots of cubicles but no

entertainment. Some patients with dementia or additional needs may settle better with the soothing sound of the radio or a picture to watch.

Televisions or radios might stop the loneliness and make the day to go quicker.

“As I understand it there have never been televisions on this ward and I believe patients do need some form of entertainment.”

Alison is determined to support patients on the Farley Ward, and so she has set up a crowdfunding page to raise funds at justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/alisonharding-1 Salisbury Foundation NHS Trust spokesman said: “We’re very sorry to hear of this patient’s experience. It’s important to us that we make our patients stay in hospital as comfortable as possible and most of our hospital beds

have a bedside TV, radio and telephone, which are provided and managed through an external supplier.

“Although there are a few bays and rooms in the area where this patient was cared for where the facility is not provided, the Trust is developing new plans to improve TV and Wi-Fi provision across the site to ensure we provide the best possible experience for all our patients.

“We are very appreciative of any fundraising activity to support the hospital but due to arrangements with our supplier and licence agreements, we are unable to accept individual gifts of televisions onto the wards.

Our patient wifi is funded through generous donations to the Stars Appeal and we would very much welcome any additional funding in support of this service.”

By Nicci Brown newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A public enquiry opened on December 1 into proposals

by Bellway Homes (Wessex) Ltd for the next phase of their development opposite Tesco off the bypass at Blandford St Mary.

The enquiry by the Planning Inspectorate is taking place as a virtual event via Microsoft Teams and expected to last four days.

It is hearing the developers’ appeal against nondetermination by Dorset Council of their detailed application for the second phase of 350 homes and associated works.

They have also submitted a revised detailed application following the grant of outline permission by North Dorset District Council in 2016.

Detailed permission for the first 89 of the homes was approved by Dorset Council in January this year, and works on the gas main as part of the new development

Inquiry opens into second phase of 350-home scheme opposite Tesco off the Blandford bypass prompted an outcry when four-way traffic lights and reversed direction signs resulted in heavy congestion on November 11.

Southern Gas said they were carrying out essential and safety critical upgrades to their gas network in the Bournemouth Road area of Blandford St Mary which was hoped to be completed

by Sunday, December 6.

The lights, which allowed travel in each direction for only a minute with a 15second time lapse when they changed, will be in place throughout, and the company say they are to avoid road closures and ensure everyone’s safety.

Motorists on the first day

thought differently after finding the main roads jammed with traffic, and found themselves travelling the wrong way round the roundabout when the correct route was blocked, and on occasions heading for the wrong destination.

Delays, queues, and a significant increase in traffic through the town centre prompted speculation as to how the junction and bypass would cope when all the houses were built.

After a few days the system appeared to be working more smoothly, and a spokesman for South West Gas admitted it was a terrible location for four-way traffic lights, but said: “After considerable liaison with Dorset Council it was deemed four-way

lights were the safest way to undertake these works, being so close to the roundabout.

The traffic management was set up prior to works commencing so that we could monitor flows and queues - if the counts were deemed too high we could have removed the works whereas if we had started trenching we could not.”

He said operatives were continuing to monitor the lights and traffic to try to ease the queues on all approaches, and were working seven days a week to push the work on, but were also under considerable restrictions due to the covid19 pandemic.

There will be further disruption when Bellway resurface the road.

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13

New flagpole flying high at memorial East Stour Sundial War Memorial has a new flagpole thanks to an anonymous donation to the Village Action Plan.

The human sundial war memorial was officially unveiled at a formal dedication ceremony last year, on the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Thanks to an anonymous donation to the Village Action Plan, a new flagpole and union flag was installed in time for this year’s Armistice Day. This year, due to covid-19 restrictions, no formal ceremony was possible but a few villagers informally held

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a two-minute silence with the new flag lowered to halfmast as the names of the fallen in the two world wars were read out and the Last Post sounded.

After the First World War, East Stour didn’t create an external memorial but built a snooker room where veterans could meet and socialise.

A memorial plaque listing the names of the 19 men who were killed, together with the names of those who returned from the Great War, was created.

A stone plaque including the names of those killed in the Second World War is hung in the village hall’s foyer.

Some years ago Guy Gilding, who lives in a farmhouse in the village, found some names carved on the roof rafters when the house was

NEVER FORGET: The plaque at the East Stour War Memorial with its new flagpole

built in 1912.

With research, he discovered three of the men had gone off to war only never to return, killed in action.

Guy set about creating an external memorial for relatives and villagers to attend whenever they wished. With the interest he

created, he started fund raising for the £4,000 needed and received donations from relatives, villagers and the Village Action Plan.

The plans and the funds met the target date of creating the memorial for the centenary in November 2019 of the end of the Great War.

Foodbank donations appeal Care homes in North Dorset are taking in foodbank donations after a surge in demand.

Colten Care has joined forces with Dorset foodbanks to help people in need.

Donors can drop off food in collection boxes at all 12 of its Dorset homes, which include Newstone House in Sturminster Newton, Whitecliffe House in Blandford and Abbey View in

Sherborne.

Mark Aitchison, Colten Care’s chief executive, said: “One consequence of covid-19 and lockdowns has been that many food banks have seen a drop in donations while need has increased.

“People can simply come with food items and put them in a collection box near our reception or front door. We will

take the items to the local food bank.”

As well as providing collection boxes, Colten Care is donating food directly and inviting its regular suppliers to do the same.

The first to come on board is the wholesaler Bidfood who are contributing a range of tinned and dry foods.

Jono Tregale, chairman of trustees of Sherborne Food

Bank, said: “We are very grateful to Colten Care for their support. We have a continual need to source food. We’re currently working with around 25 families a week.”

To donate, all Colten Care’s Dorset homes are hosting collection boxes and are delighted to accept donations, so people can simply turn up and put items in the box.

The Stonehenge Alliance campaign group is launching a legal challenge to stop the government plan for a £1.7bn two-mile tunnel under Stonehenge.

Supporters of The Stonehenge Alliance group has set up Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site, a new organisation to challenge the controversial plan, which will see a twomile stretch of dual carriageway built under the site on the A303 in a bid to ease bottlenecks on the major route.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps approved the project last month, overruling a planning report recommending withholding consent for the project.

However, the Department for Transport said that the benefits of the scheme outweighed the

MONUMENT: Stonehenge road plan challenged

Legal move to thwart tunnel at Stonehenge potential harm.

Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site has instructed a legal team to investigate the lawfulness of the decision and has served a notice of potential legal action to which the Secretary of State has been asked to respond within 10 days.

The group is urging

people to back the campaign claiming the plan is “wasteful and destructive”.

Historic England and the National Trust say diverting the road underground will enhance the site, but Druids, green campaigners and archaeologists have opposed the plans.

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Join in the fun of fancy dress bike ride

Open day at the museum An open day will be held in the Victorian Garden at Blandford Town Museum on Saturday, December 19 from 10.30am till 3pm.

Outside in Bere’s Yard, the Museum’s Victorian Garden Club will be selling potted spring bulbs, jams and chutneys, with hot chocolate on offer.

The gardeners have continued to tend the stunning gardens, working through both

lockdowns in a socially distanced environment to maintain the garden as an enchanting place to visit.

The Christmas tableau will be on display along with a Christmas tree, as part of the Christmas Tree Trail organised by Blandford Parish Church.

It is hoped the museum will keep its restricted Thursday and Saturday opening in Tier 2.

A fancy dress bike ride will be taking place through Blandford on Saturday, December 12 in which families and other cyclists will be led in socially distanced groups by ‘reindeer’.

‘Rudolph’s Ride’ is organised by the Dorset Cyclists Network, and will follow a three-mile route starting from the Milldown and finish outside the Corn Exchange, with spot prizes for the best dressed rider and bike and a cost of £12 per family or £5 per person.

Advance registration, including names and ages of participants, by email to: blan@dcn.org.uk or on Facebook /YuleRide is necessary to manage numbers.

A family of five is £5 and

Under 16s to be accompanied by adult, Under 5s to ride on or be attached to parent’s bike.

The Dorset Cyclists Network is organising the event, supported by North Dorset Trailway Network. n The Blandford Yuletide Festival, after having to abandon its plans for the annual event on December 4, is instead promoting local businesses on its website at blandfordyuletidefestival.org.uk and is working with Morrisons supermarket in Greyhound Yard and the Blandford Business Support Group to offer raffle tickets to anyone making a purchase worth £5 or more from a participating business with a chance to win a festive hamper.

15

Concerns raised over new farm strategy

By Karen Bate “You can’t be green if you are in the red,” said NFU Somerset chairman and farmer Tom Kimber in response to the government’s new farming strategy which was announced on Monday.

Farmers in North Dorset are facing the biggest shift in farming policy for 50 years after the Path to Sustainable Farming strategy was unveiled by Environment Secretary George Eustace to reward farmers who tackle climate change.

The new strategy will replace the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy on December 31st and immediately will see the phasing out of the biggest farming grant, the Basic Payment Scheme.

Tom, who is primarily a dairy farmer, but also has pigs, beef and turkeys on his family farm in Charlton Musgrove explained: “The government

MOOOT POINT: Farmers are examining details of the strategy

want to tackle issues like climate change, loss of habitats and species and it is vital farmers can stay in business to be able to do these things, however farms need to remain profitable to deliver.

“Our main priority is to produce food. If we have viable businesses then we can do both.”

Salisbury farmer and President of the NFU, Minette Batters, who represents farmers across the country has raised concerns about significant falls in income.

She said: “These payments have been a lifeline for many farmers especially when prices or growing conditions have been volatile and will be very difficult

to replace in the first four years of this transition.

“Can Ministers be sure that new schemes will be available at scale to deliver redirected BPS payments?

“Take livestock farmers for example, who we project will have lost between 60 and 80 per cent of their income by 2024 as a result of these reductions.

“What changes will Defra make to ensure that the new Environmental Land Management schemes offer rewards that provide a genuine income for their businesses while maintaining food production? Expecting farmers to run viable, high-cost regulatory farm businesses, continue to produce food and increase their environmental delivery, while phasing out existing support and without a complete replacement scheme for almost three years is high risk and a very big ask.”

Residents and staff helping Pudsey Covid-19 restrictions didn’t stop residents and staff at Brook Lodge care home in Gillingham from putting on their pinnies to raise money for Children in Need.

Special cakes were baked and sold at the residential and dementia care home in Fern Brook Lane, which would usually welcome members of the community for a day of fundraising and fun.

Although the coronavirus restrictions meant that was not possible, staff and residents were still determined to do what they could for the charity.

Kitchen Assistant Alicia and Care Team Leader Sarah baked some special cakes to sell within the home on Friday, November 13, which happened to be the charity’s 40th anniversary.

Although the care home couldn’t welcome in the 16

HOT CAKES: Residents and staff at Brook Lodge raise money for the Children In Need appeal

Gillingham community, the care home is still able to support residents and relatives with covid-secure family visits.

Relatives are able to visit a room within the home that can be accessed without the risk of coming into contact with other residents, meaning residents can spend

valuable time with loved ones in the build up to, and around, Christmas.

As a result, Fern Brook Lodge remains a safe haven offering companionship, social interaction, a fulfilled lifestyle, good food and, above all, compassionate care. Following its most recent inspection, the CQC

rated Fern Brook Lodge as ‘Good’ in all areas.

Fern Brook Lodge is managed by Care South, a not-for-profit charity and leading provider of residential and dementia care based in Dorset.

For more information , ring 01747 834020 or visit caresouth.co.uk

By Karen Bate newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A young woman from Buckhorn Weston is running 367km to raise money for Cancer Research UK after her mum was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year.

Maddie Standing-Gill, 22, is striding out to run the equivalent of 6km per day over 61 days, alongside her full-time job, aiming to finish her challenge with a marathon run of 42.25km before December 31.

Motivated after her mum, Valerie Standing, was diagnosed, Maddie aims to raise £367 for the research charity she has aptly called #367.

Maddie is urging communities to support her challenge and raise money for this vital charity by donating at on Maddie’s Gofundme page: Maddie’s Campaign for Cancer Research UK. Maddie said: “Cancer is a disease that is incredibly close to my heart. It affects hundreds of thousands of families each year, including my own. Screening is incredibly important to detect early stages of cancer before any symptoms show, during these early stages treatment is far more effective.

“While for some this challenge might come across as rather unchallenging, for me it’s going to take a lot of blood, sweat and alcohol.

“I’m so immeasurably grateful for the incredible work this charity is responsible for and

RDIING HIGH: Maddie Standing Gill, right, and her mother Valerie

Maddie’s 367km run to aid mum’s cancer battle it would mean the absolute world to me if any of my close family and friends could donate any small amount to my fundraising page and share this on their newsfeed.

“I understand times are hard for everyone during this pandemic, but any small support would mean everything. Let’s help beat cancer.”

Maddie can be spotted running in Stourhead and Penselwood, hoping each

stride can make a difference.

“I’m doing this for my mummy,” said Maddie. “She is the strongest woman I know and who is doing an unbelievable job at fighting cancer, whilst being the best role model a daughter could have.”

Each year Cancer Research UK raises around £44.6m from fundraising, including events such as Race for Life, but this year, the coronavirus pandemic has meant most

were cancelled.

Maddie said: “I want to play my part in supporting the charity during these difficult times. Already I have raised over £900, which has exceeded my original target of £367.

“I want to thank my running team Rachael, Milligan, Tom, Dan, Alex and Paul, who have offered exceptional support and accompanied me on some of my runs during this incredible challenge.”

Get crafty with library’s Christmas challenge Shaftesbury Library is inviting children, parents and carers to get crafty over Christmas.

A Christmas Craft Off is being held between Friday, December 4, and Saturday December 12 for children to take part in at home.

And youngsters are being invited to make Christmas cup case creations between Saturday, December 12 and Friday, December 18.

Once these gorgeous Christmas crafts

have been created, you can take a photograph and send it to Shaftesburylibrary@ dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to be displayed in the windows.

A library spokesman said: “In the absence of our usual Christmas activities this year, Shaftesbury Library is inviting children to take up the Christmas Craft Challenge at home this year.

“Each week, we will be displaying a

different craft activity in our windows and on our social media platforms and will be asking children to make their own creations at home and to email photos of them for us to display in the library for everyone to enjoy. So get creative and have fun!”

Shaftesbury Library, in Bell Street, was due to reopen on December 3.

The library opening hours are: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday to Saturday, 9.30am to 1pm.

17

Artist donates festive jumper cash to disability charity An artist near Blandford has donated her festive-themed work for Diverse Abilities, Dorset’s disability charity, to turn into a series of Christmas jumpers for children and adults.

Henrietta Young, a painter based outside Blandford Forum, regularly volunteers for Diverse Abilities at its adults’ activity centre, The Beehive, painting with its

Eric in one of the jumpers

students and is working on a series of portraits of the people it supports.

She is also involved in The Splash Appeal, a project to raise funds for a hydrotherapy pool for the centre.

Her design, ‘Rudolph at The Beehive’, features the red-the red-nosed reindeer with buzzy bee friends.

Emma Bovey, fundraising manager, added: “We’re so excited about our range of Christmas jumpers – it’s

been a fun process to see them go from designs on the page onto real life products. Whether you purchase a child’s jumper or an adult’s jumper, your money will go towards providing a range of festive activities for the people we support this winter.”

To buy a jumper, head to diverseabilities.org.uk/thechristmas-store.

High praise for Babs in Care Champion awards A care home administrator reached the finals of national awards after being nominated by her manager.

Babs Mitchell has worked at Blandford Grange nursing home in Blandford Forum for ten years.

She was one of six people shortlisted in the Care Champion category, one of 18 awards in the National Care Awards organised by the magazine Nursing Times.

The annual awards celebrate the very best people in the care sector, by highlighting excellence and rewarding those who work tirelessly to provide consistently outstanding care.

Babs has been at the home in Milldown Road, part of the

Healthcare Homes Group, since it opened its doors.

The home provides nursing care for up to 63 residents, many of whom live with dementia, and Babs knows the home inside and out, acting as the first port of call for anyone needing support or help.

Whether it’s for a colleague, the home manager or the relative of a resident, Babs provides continuous support, serving as an ambassador for the home.

Home manager Tilla Wagner said: “I was so delighted to nominate Babs for this award, which is all about celebrating people who go above and beyond, and her shortlisting is utterly deserved. She is my

confidante, my right-hand woman and someone I truly wouldn’t want to work without.

“She quietly and resolutely carries out her day to day role, rarely singled out and celebrated for the work she does, yet she is a clear example of a ‘care champion’ through the support and commitment she offers her home, her colleagues and residents.”

The results were announced at a ‘virtual’ awards ceremony on November 25, and unfortunately Babs was not the winner in her category, but Tilla said: “She is an absolute asset to our home and we couldn’t be prouder of her.”

SHORTLIST: Babs Mitchell of the Blandford Grange care home

Tearoom crammed with local gifts and produce The tearoom at Bradford Abbas Village Shop has been turned into a festive Aladdin’s Cave to showcase the work of local artists and craftspeople.

Gemma Tucker and her team are usually busy serving up lovely food, but during lockdown this wasn’t possible.

They decided not to rest on their laurels and set about giving others a welcome boost, filling the space with super gifts and food for Christmas.

Gemma said: “We have a range of gifts from hampers made by Linda from Sherborne, handmade scarves and other 18

items from the Little Pincushion from Milborne Port, a range of gifts from Tara Loves Gifts from Yeovil, a range of cotton boxers and doggy bandanas from Little Boxers from Charlton Horethorn, unique handmade sea glass and pebbles artwork from Sea Blue Crafts of Thornford and some lovely precious stone and pearl jewellery made by a family in the village, with all the proceeds going to a leukaemia charity.”

The tearoom is part of the village shop, which has all the daily essentials supplied by local companies including

fresh bread from Evershot Bakery and Taylors Bakery, milk from Bruton Dairy including Daisy the milk station, where you can refill your glass bottles.

The shop also has a selection of cheese from Longman’s Cheese and biscuits from Moore’s biscuits, locally made honey, apple juice and amazing cake from Jenny’s kitchen available by the slice, along with many other items and amazing deals available in store.

The shop is open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 8am till 2pm Saturdays and 8am to 12pm on Sundays.

Little charity is making a big impact A small charity in Yeovil is having a big impact on young people and the environment.

More than a million people have logged on to the Young People’s Trust for the Environment’s website and some 100,000 pupils and parents downloaded lesson plans during lockdown and the pandemic.

A strong following for a charity with just two members of staff working from home.

The charity was set up in 1982 to encourage young people’s understanding of the environment and boost awareness of environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, deforestation and endangered flora and fauna.

Charity director Peter Littlewood said: “The charity also aims to provide balanced views to take into

LOOK AT THAT: Young People’s Trust for the Environment

account the realities of the modern world. We have support from some fantastic presidents, who include Dermot O’Leary, Zoe Wanamaker OBE, Steve Backshall and children’s author Andy Stanton.

“In 2021, we will be launching a new project

called Better Planet Schools, which we hope will reach all of the UK’s primary schools by 2030 and which encourages environmental learning pupil-led action on issues like saving energy, reducing waste (particularly plastic) and increasing biodiversity in school

grounds. The schools that took part in the EU-funded pilot project all saw reductions in their energy use of 10-15 per cent. And given that the average primary school energy bill is £30,000 per year, that’s quite significant.”

Peter was giving environmental talks in schools within a 30-mile radius of Yeovil before lockdown and now he is giving these presentations on Zoom. n Find out more at ypte.org.uk.

For lesson plans go to ypte.org.uk/lessonplans/browse For home learning packs go to ypte.org.uk/topics/homelearning-packs And for parents who would like to explain climate change to their children go to ypte.org.uk/downloads/clima te-change-for-parents

A Care South home for residential care in Gillingham • COVID-secure family visits and highly effective infection control measures

4 March 2020

• Residential & dementia care from a not-for-profit charity • Safely admitting new residents through our Assisi Admissions Plan, providing comfort, reassurance & a safe place to enjoy life

Mum feels very safe and the family have peace of mind knowing she is being well cared for.

Highly recommended.

Daughter of Fern Brook Lodge resident - July 2020

Contact us today to see how we can help create a new home for you or a loved one

Fern Brook Lodge, Fern Brook Lane, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4QD 01747 834020 | info@care-south.co.uk | care-south.co.uk 19

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The meeting will be held electronically via Zoom.

If you wish to join the meeting, please email by Monday 7 December 2020 using CACD AGM as the subject.

20

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Rabbit hutch L210cm D40cm H50cm £12 - 01935 813967 Fishing seat box, Preston Innovations 'on box' Footplate and

Wheels, Good condition, £50 – 01749 813529 Electronic 37 keys keyboard, age 3+, brand new £10. Pink hooded padded jacket 3-4 years girls £4. Wheelchair quickie, 2 years old, £100 ono – 01747 853675 Ice Skates Size 33, £4, 2ft Panda Bear VGC, £3 - 01258 818078 Record player with built in speakers, twospeed, 33/45 RPM as new, £6 - 01258 818078 Child’s car seat £5 01258 818078 Lego city 3 in 1 bundle 66643 brand new & sealed box’s including 60207 60213& 60219 £25.

Hauck travel cot 2 mattresses, Disney mobile & carry bag £20. Buffet 3 section electric food warmer £15 tel. Back to wall white toilet brand new in box £25 Ladies’ 1980 cameo bike recently serviced new tyres, brake pads & brake cable £99.

Tel. 01935 812462.

Genuine American Cowboy Boots, size 9, nearly new. £20.

Finnish long snowboats, size 9, brand new. £25 Suede casual shoe, khaki & red piping, size 5.5, £25, 01300 341640.

Vigo grape crusher/destemmer, excellent condition £150 Ono 01935 872803 21 Speed, timber line GT all terrain bike, good condition £85.

07866 441098.

WANTED Good Condition Vinyl Records wanted Larger collections preferred No classical please, cash paid.

07831 266478

Car Trailers, Anything considered: Call 07736 871092 Dave buys all types of tools. Call 01935 428975

OLD BOOKS BOUGHT also autographs, diaries, photographs & postcards. £10 per volume paid for decorative leather bindings.

We call by appointment entirely without obligation.

We have been buying in Dorset for over 50 years.

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Vintage Bicycles Pre 1980's Racing bicycles, Shoppers & Choppers & old parts any condition considered, Good Prices paid Tel 07739 808013

Old tools wanted for cash.

Best price in UK. VIntage,collectable & good used tools boyshilltool sandtreen.co.uk

Tel 07977298834 danletts51@gmail.com

Story of town’s railway is on track

By Steve Keenan

newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

The 161-year history of the railway in Gillingham is planned to be told in a huge installation in or close to the station.

The idea is for a 5m long interpretation board that will tell the story of the South Western Railway from 1859.

If funding is successful, an artist will be appointed in January with a brief to create a design.

And that will be the catalyst to apply for further funding to tell the history of Gillingham in a series of interpretation boards throughout the town.

It’s the brainchild of town councillor Keith Wareham.

“It’s very much in its infancy but we will know more by the end of December,” he said.

The plan is largely conditional on a £13,000 funding request to South Western Railways to pay towards the cost of the installation, either in the station or on a red brick wall in Station Road.

The town council is also

ALL ABOARD: Railway staff at Gillingham station

chipping in £3,000.

The artwork would be phase one of the much bigger project to reflect the town’s history through smaller interpretation boards placed strategically around town, said Cllr Wareham.

The subjects may include the Gillingham’s glove-making history, for example, or its market.

Photos from the Gillingham Local History Society would be studied, together with

BACK IN TIME: The Station Yard on market day in early 1900s with South West Hotel

Remembering Tree at church A village church is installing a Remembering Tree for people to pay tribute to loved ones this Christmas.

St John’s in Enmore Green will be putting up the tree and from December 14 there will be small wooden angels in the church with coloured ribbons to hang on the tree.

These angels can have the

name of a loved one, perhaps somebody you won’t be able to see this Christmas. There will be colouring pens in the church or you can decorate the angels at home. Angels will cost £1 and will be hung on the Remembering Tree on Saturday, December 19.

The church is open daily from 10am to 3pm.

other resources, to establish accuracy then turn the resources over to the artist to create interpretation boards.

The number of boards is

dependent on planning but could feasibly be close to a dozen. It is hoped the railway project will be ready by late spring.

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Go-ahead is given for cabins for Men’s Shed

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Men in the Gillingham area will soon have somewhere to retreat and chat to others after permission was granted for a trio of sheds.

The new Men’s Shed group has agreed a loan and planning which will see three log cabins installed at Orchard Park Garden Centre.

Other Men’s Sheds around the country inspired the group.

They provide community spaces for men to connect, converse and create. The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of men to enjoy together.

Phil Wheatley, chairman of Gillshed Community Interest Company, said: “They help reduce loneliness and isolation, but most

importantly, they’re fun.”

He added: “In July 2019 we held a public meeting which established the need for a Men’s Shed in our town and our committee of eight have been negotiating for a suitable building/site ever since.

“The intention is to have a machine shop, soft workshop and a reception room. Although the main emphasis of Men’s Shed is woodwork there will be sufficient working area for most types of hobbies together with a reception area for general socialising.”

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False flood warnings ‘worry elderly’

By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A Bruton man says the Environment Agency is worrying elderly residents unnecessarily after two false alarms.

Dr Colin Clark says the agency issued two flood warnings recently, sparking panic among residents – including an automatic telephone message to an elderly lady in her nineties.

The warnings for the river Brue at Bruton were issued on October 3 and November 14, he says, adding: “In view of the fact that I designed part of the flood warning system, which would give two hours’ warning before the flood detention dam would be overtopped using a non-linear flow model for the upper Brue in 2005, and which was then adopted by the EA, I am not only

The River Brue at Bruton.

Pic: Martin Siouthwood

disappointed but concerned that unnecessary stress is put on people who can well do without it.”

The New Blackmore Vale asked the Environment Agency for their response to Dr Clark’s accusations, but we did not receive a reply.

Dr Clark added: “The EA say that the Bruton flood detention reservoir with an estimated storage volume of 700,000 cubic metres will fill up and overflow with a volume of rain of 270,000

cubic metres.

“Clearly, someone in the EA needs to have a lesson in basic arithmetic and more important, hydrometeorology and a responsible and caring attitude to the people they are supposed to look after.

“Some 24 years ago I wrote a report on the dam being under-designed and unsafe and that the flood warning system at the time was inadequate, having led to false warnings. Although the dam was increased in height

and given an erosion proof spillway it took me nine years to get them to accept the situation.”

He added: “A considerable slice of taxpayer’s money is spent on the EA and it is about time they did their job with competence.

“There is still a potential design fault with the dam which I have been monitoring for over three decades.

“If anyone gets a flood warning in the future they are free to telephone me on 01749 813513 to ask if it is a valid one. We have a tipping bucket rain gauge and an emergency bucket gauge which has been calibrated and can be interrogated any time of the day or night.

“It is more accurate than radar as explained to an audience at Oxford a few years ago and published as part of a scientific research paper.”

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Firm spreading joy with filled shoeboxes

A Blandford firm has been busy packing gifts into shoeboxes to spread a little joy this Christmas.

Total Energy Services staff have spent weeks planning and gathering items such as pens, note pads, toys and cuddly bunnies as well as sanitary items including flannels, toothbrushes and soap.

The boxes were then packed and will be dropped off to the local church, where they will be checked by volunteers and prepared for their international voyage to a child in need.

On arriving at their destination, the shoebox gifts will then be handed out to the local children.

Managing director Robert Lamb said: “It brings us immense pleasure to be able to spread a little joy this Christmas, in a year that has been difficult for us all us – especially those in less fortunate circumstances than us in the world. Having recently become a father myself, I am so glad we can help those who need it the most.”

If you would like to get involved or find out more information you can either contact Total Energy

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By Nicci Brown Retired local journalist Brian Moore, who gained national fame as the author of Mike Oliver, King of Steam, telling the life story of the founder of the Great Dorset Steam Fair, has spent the last nine months working on a new book, Three Old Men Go Fishing.

The story of a four-day fishing trip undertaken by three 80-yearolds (and a dog!) is due to be published soon by Lydden Vale.

He said: “Firstly, the idea of three 80-year-olds taking a trip of over 200 miles to the wilds of the Welsh outback did not particularly appeal to my sense of adventure. I was content to spend the whole of the week relaxing in the orchard with a good book. The second reason was, I am not a fisherman.”

It’s a story of a last ‘adventure’ of three old school friends and delightful, sometimes hilarious, reminiscences of their lives.

Brian, who lives in Hazelbury Bryan, also in 2011 published Ernie Amey, the Million Pound Man, the biography of a farm worker brought up in Farnham who became the champion of agricultural workers and towards the end of his life lived in Blandford, then finally at Castleman House, where he died in 2014.

Brian said he was delighted to have recently been called out of retirement to write features for the re-launched Dorset Life magazine, which suspended publication earlier in the year due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Brian said: “It was quite a surprise when John Newth, the proprietor and publisher who is acting as interim editor, telephoned, but I was absolutely delighted to contribute.

“It just goes to prove that there is life after 80 and as long as you can hold a pen there are opportunities out there.”

Homes found for rescued saplings

By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A campaigner from Marnhull has saved 150 oak saplings from being mulched – and found them all homes around her village.

Ros Eveleigh bought up the saplings at a reduced rate from BCP council after a project that was set to use them didn’t go ahead.

The trees are now being planted all over the area, with 60 being planted near Duncliffe Woods, 20 near Thyme after Time and others in people’s hedges.

Dorset Dairy have also taken some.

Ros said: “The trees were from Wrexham and BCP council acquired 5,200 of them.

“I just happened to see it on a Verwood Facebook page.

“I put a post on Facebook and had 65 people wanting them, so I asked for extras and people have been in and out of my garden picking them up.

“I bought the first 100 for £25, got another 50 when someone pulled out and we sold them for a pound each, raising money for Marnhull Green Teams, a community group looking at environmental issues.”

She added: “If we get enough support I’m happy to put in another order.

“They won’t be as cheap, but we could consider another bulk buy of trees if enough people want them.”

BRANCHING OUT: Ros Eveleigh with her trees

Ros is a member of the North Dorset Lib Dems, and other members are expanding on her initiative.

Mike Chapman, deputy

chairman of North Dorset Lib Dems, and campaigner Bernie Sullivan are also members of Bourton Wildlife and Habitat and they are

coordinating the placement of 250 trees of mixed species, bought by Sue Rankin to offer to landowners in the village area.

Anyone in the Bourton area can apply to home some of the trees by emailing bernardsullivan2001@ gmail.com or michaelbrian chapman@gmail.com.

Mike said: “We’re trying to do the same in Bourton now.

“These successful pilots demonstrate the ‘action on the ground’ approach being fostered by the NDLD team.

It is hoped this will now lead to further tree-planting initiatives, pump-primed by NDLD and using the extensive network of community-minded members and supporters across North Dorset.”

The Lib Dem group are also looking forward to finally opening their Community Fridge project in The Emporium in Sturminster Newton as soon as lockdown conditions allow.

The initiative aims to tackle food waste and there will be no charge for any of the food.

Lib Dems across the Blackmore Vale raised the necessary funds and backing for this in just a few weeks. n For more information visit the NDLD website and Facebook page where you can also find how you can join in projects like these.

Festive donations wanted for senior folk Age UK North, South & West Dorset is calling for donations so it can support older people who are anxious about not seeing family this Christmas.

The charity says more than half of older people – more than 200,000 older people in the southwest –are expecting

to feel lonely this Christmas.

A spokesman said: “Winter is always a tough time for older people – dark nights, short days and cold, often wet weather make it harder to get outside. These challenges combined with pandemic restrictions mean that chance encounters – like

catching up with neighbours on the street or friendly chats at the supermarket – are less likely right now, yet they can make a big difference to those who are almost always on their own, or feeling lonely.”

Recent ONS figures show that, across Great Britain, 2.2

million over 60s say that haven’t had anyone to talk to about their worries. Another 2.2 million said they felt they are a burden. Donations will help fund services including befriending.

Go to ageuk.org.uk/ northsouthwestdorset or call 01305 269444.

25

Our Loose Canon... with Canon Eric Woods DL

Not everything is to be believed In 1938 the young Orson Welles, who was to become internationally famous as an actor and film director, achieved notoriety in America as the narrator of a radio adaptation of H. G. Wells’ novel The War of the Worlds.

Taking the form of a news broadcast, the drama caused widespread panic: many listeners thought an invasion by extra-terrestrial beings was actually occurring.

When, sixty years ago next month, Granada’s soap opera Coronation Street was first broadcast across all ITV regions, many viewers believed the characters were real. If one was ill, the studios were bombarded with flowers and ‘Get Well’ messages. If a character died, fans were inconsolable.

The power of the media to blur the edge between fiction and fact never seems to wane.

That is currently being demonstrated by the Netflix series The Crown. It takes real people, many of them very much alive, and projects an image of them which is often greatly distorted, and an interpretation of events which is often far from the truth.

The lead writer of the Netflix saga has admitted that he ‘makes up in his head’ what he has no way of knowing – for example, the details of private conversations between members of the Royal Family.

True, The Crown employs researchers and historical advisers, but producers have always made it clear that some scenes are ‘imagined’ for dramatic purposes.

The problem is that too many people believe what they see and swallow wholesale the stereotypes they are fed in the name of entertainment.

This is dangerously close to something that has been known to tyrants and dictators down the ages.

Tell the people the same thing often enough and they will start to believe you.

The outpouring of written propaganda in pamphlets, books and newspapers is as old as the printing press.

But with the arrival of the modern media, those with something to sell – be it a product, a cause or a manifesto – jockey to shout the loudest.

And too many people are taken in.

That is why, incidentally, I have always been opposed to the ‘hard sell’ in the communication of any religious or political ideas and beliefs.

We live in a divided nation in a divided world.

We need to listen more and shout less. Take time to discover the real facts and think things through quietly and rationally. It will not be time wasted.

26

Station’s first class

By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A railway station that once played host to royalty and political figureheads and is now a hive of restoration activity has reopened after lockdown.

Shillingstone Station has welcomed a cornucopia of famous names in its past, including Lord and Lady Wolverton (many times), Prime Minister William Gladstone (1882), Edward, Prince of Wales, future King Edward VII (1899), the Grand Duke Michael of Russia (1899), the Prime Minister of Portugal (1899), George, Prince of Wales, future King George V (1904) and the future Queen Alexandra (1904).

The North Dorset Railway Trust took over the station about 20 years ago. It was overgrown, derelict, and needed the loving care of the small band of railway enthusiasts who came to rescue it.

They refurbished the buildings and cattle dock, restored the Porters’ hut, and rebuilt the signal box. In 2008 the first track was laid through the station. The greenhouse, bike shed and platform shelter soon followed. Gardens were laid out and the picnic area created.

The barrow crossing was

JUST THE TICKET: Some of the restoration work on rolling stock and, right, the station in its glory days, when it was derelict and, main picture, how it is today

reconstructed and a carriage siding added before a point was laid to connect the up line with the down line. Many facilities were swiftly established and now it has become a haven for railway buffs and casual visitors alike, with a lovely café and museum.

Now restrictions are lifted, you can visit the café and shop on Wednesdays (11am- 3pm), Saturdays and Sundays, (10am4pm).

People can visit the signal box by

Public Notices

Personal

Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence

Would like to meet

CLIVE SMITH SKIP HIRE LTD, of Little Meadows, Gold Hill, Child Okeford, Blandford Forum, DT11 8HF is applying to change an existing licence as follows:To keep an extra 2 goods vehicles at the operating centre at Salvage Yard, Okeford Fitzpaine Common, Blandford Forum, DT11 0RT. Owners or occupiers of land (including buildings) near the operating centre(s) who believe that their use or enjoyment of that land would be affected, should make written representations to the Traffic Commissioner at Hillcrest House, 386 Harehills Lane, Leeds, LS0 6NF, stating their reasons, within 21 days of this notice. Representators must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice.

A guide to making representations is available from the Traffic Commissioner’s Office.

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request, stroll through the gardens, watch volunteers restoring vintage rolling stock and see artefacts in the museum. The trust is hoping to extend the track and facilities even further.

Volunteers will be pleased to show off their work restoring old rolling stock.

They acquired their first coach back in 2013 – a 1957 sad looking green Southern Region coach. The volunteers nicknamed it The Football Special. It was sprayed with graffiti, had ripped seats and broken windows. The original wagon volunteers set about stripping it down, welding, repairing the bodywork and repainting it. Today, it sits proudly on the platform,

where it is used as a room for functions, cream teas and special events.

Tony Jordan (trustee and head of restoration) bought a small shunting locomotive, which had been languishing in a yard for decades. The bodywork was terrible but the engine and chassis were sound. The body was repaired and welded up. The engine was given fresh oil and adjusted. A van battery was connected and it burst into life. Tony named it Little Eva, after his mother and the singer of the 60’s song Locomotion. It is now used for shunting and will be upgraded with vacuum brakes, to allow it to haul passenger traffic.

The station was also given an

ex RN dockyard wagon.

Built in 1909 for the Glasgow and South West Railway, it had a low roof and was probably used on a line with low tunnels (possibly into the Nobel explosives factory in Ayrshire).

It was sold to the Navy around 1926, and used in dockyards.

Unfortunate ly, it had been standing around in yards for very many years and

the bodywork was rotten.

The whole body collapsed when an attempt was made to dismantle it. Other delights include a 1909 LNWR wagon and a 1901 metal framed GW fruit wagon – both as good as new after strenuous efforts by volunteers. The LNWR wagon is now a mobile workshop and the GW fruit wagon will be used as a mini cinema to show old railway videos.

Volunteers are currently working on a 1959 brake/guard’s wagon, in which it is hoped to offer passenger rides in this wagon from 2022, and a 1936 Scammell 3-wheel delivery lorry.

For further information to join as a volunteer or support the volunteers in anyway look them up on our website northdorset railway.co.uk or find S&DJR Shillingstone on Facebook.

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Home & Garden

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Fancy buying beautiful, handmade (and locally made) gifts this Christmas?

It’s been quite the year, and this has put a bit of a crimp in everyone’s festive shopping.

But in Sturminster Newton, the Workhouse Chapel is opening up again, offering people the chance to boost local artists and bag lovely gifts you’d never usually find on the high street, to boot.

For just two months each year an unassuming little Victorian Workhouse Chapel in Sturminster Newton metamorphoses into a glowing beacon of hope for all those who dread the annual Christmas shopping trip, and this year especially, keeping away from the crowds and keeping it local is more important and appealing than ever before.

Despair no more – as the Workhouse is covid-ready to welcome shoppers in.

Not only will you be able to book an hour’s browse round the many original, unique and handcrafted items, you’ll be safe as houses in doing so.

The place is bristling with original, handcrafted, quirky and local, textiles, ceramics, jewellery, leatherwork and paintings.

Here you’ll find garden sculptures, wood, cards, stocking fillers, gifts for him, gifts for her, things for the garden, child friendly puzzles, decorations for your tree, cards for every occasion, and such a lot more - all lovingly made by hand.

Dozens of highly skilled makers and artists from Dorset and surrounding counties have work for sale here - it would be hard to find a more glorious mix of unique and beautiful gifts anywhere. The makers and artists who are included in Handmade are carefully selected, TREEWISE based on the quality of their Experts in all aspects of TREE SURGERY, HEDGECUTTING & STUMP REMOVAL

NPTC qualified & fully insured No job too small, Friendly, personal advice and free quotations.

Make a wise choice and call David Merefield today on 01747 850906 / 07966 522361

28

craftsmanship, originality of design, ecocredentials and where they live and work. Keeping it local, recycling and perpetuating real craft skills are at the heart of what the Workhouse Chapel is all about.

Handmade’s organiser Rose Hatcher and fellow maker Kate Osman have also set up Handmade for Christmas Online, a sparkling cloud-cornucopia of

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Christmas Cheer (for those who prefer to shop wearing their slippers), and now that we’re out of lockdown again, they will be offering hour-long real life shopping appointments during December. Only four visitors at a time will be allowed in the Chapel, so you are assured a safe, relaxed and sociallydistanced browsing experience.

If you would like to book a shopping appointment please note that Covid-compliant practices will be implemented and that no children are allowed. Ring 07900 580 716 or email handmade@ workhousechapel to make your appointment. Or visit workhousechapel.co.uk 29

Home & Garden

Gardening...

Autumn is a time when compost heaps start to bulge as gardeners tidy their plots.

Compost heaps generally come in two types – those that work efficiently and quickly turn vegetation into compost, and those that take an age.

Understanding how the composting process works is the key factor in making your heap efficient.

The most important part of the composting process is the part you won’t see, the billions of microorganisms working on your behalf. Look after these and your stack of plant material and kitchen waste will quickly transform into well-rotted compost, a perfect soil conditioner.

It is essential to provide microbes with the right conditions to carry out their work. Firstly, like us, they

need a balanced diet.

The balance in their case is the proportion of foods high in carbon to those rich in nitrogen. Carbon (C) provides microbes with energy while nitrogen (N) is used for biological processes.

Theoretically, the magic ratio to aim for your compost heap is 30 parts carbon to 1-part nitrogen (C:N = 30:1). If the C:N ratio is too high (i.e. too much C) decomposition becomes terribly slow.

However, if the C:N ratio is too low, (i.e. too much N) the nitrogen will vaporise as ammonia and your heap will start to smell. But don’t worry, calculating the exact ratio of a heap is practically impossible. You would need to be a mathematician and know the exact C:N ratio and weight of each item added to the heap, and if we were to do

that nobody would ever make compost! Fortunately, common sense saves us with this guideline: ‘mix the heap to mix different compostable items’. This is possible by knowing which commonly

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composted materials are high in carbon or nitrogen.

Compostables increasingly high in nitrogen: n Coffee grounds n Cow manure n Poultry manure n Vegetable waste

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The second important factor is temperature. Heat is generated as micro-organisms decompose plant material. 4360°C is required for the best composting rate to be achieved. Between these temperatures, weed seeds and most diseases cannot survive.

It is important piles are turned

frequently to ensure all parts are exposed to these high temperatures. Thirdly, turning the heap allows air to enter, which the microbes need to survive. Finally, keep the compost moist because decomposition can take up two-thirds of the original water content. By broadly following these guidelines, your heap will become efficient and provide your garden with wonderful compost.

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Home & Garden Tales from a Half-Wild Garden...

with Carrie Triffet

December is the time for all the seriously unsexy chores in the half-wild garden. Chief among these is the scrubbing of accumulated green slime from exterior greenhouse glass and poly plastic – a feat which is best accomplished during a driving rainstorm. Deep joy.

And then there’s the turning of all six compost bins. Charles Dowding, our guiding light of gardening know-how, only turns his compost once. But that’s because he’s a magical compost genius. We are not.

Our compost is usually either slightly soggy or too dry in the middle. So we turn our bins multiple times, correcting the wet-dry balance as we go. It’s an activity that works muscles I never knew I had.

gardening. Apparently this involves making hundreds of little clay seed balls for all your food crops, and scattering them liberally throughout the wilderness. The idea is to let Nature do what it does best, entirely without human interference.

No weeding, no watering, no mulching, no pruning. No washing down greenhouse walls in the pouring rain. I’ll admit it sounds intriguing, but I do have questions. Like...how do you know where your crops are? Are you just supposed to stumble upon a cauliflower nestled amid the bindweedbramble-nettle-cleavers?

I confess I have my doubts. So we won’t be giving up our tidy beds to reforest our fruit and

veg garden anytime soon, despite the obvious laboursaving advantages.

Yet now, I’m looking at the rewilded half of the garden with new eyes, and wondering at the productivity possibilities over there, under its tangled woodland canopy. After all, a few wild-caught courgettes might be rather nice. So a very small bit of Japanese forest gardening might be worth a try over there. Who knows, making seed balls could turn out to be an ideal way to pass wintry evenings. As a cold weather activity, it beats outdoor slimewashing, any day.

Carrie Triffet is an award winning author of four books, none of which are about gardening.

Danny's Garden & property maintenance.

All trees, hedges, fencing, gravel paths/driveways, pressure cleaning, concrete bases, free quotations, fully insured, 07545 61973501258721376

Seasoned hard wood logs, Barn stored, delivery up to 20 mile radius, Sherborne, Call 01935 815534

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All ironwork: Handrails, gates, railings, repairs, restoration. 01258 880301

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On the plus side, our polycottage (like a polytunnel, only prettier) is full of happy verdant growing things. Winter greens for our December harvest, and newly-sown broadbeans for later. Overall, we find the hard, year-round effort is more than balanced by the deep satisfaction the garden brings.

But on the other hand...

I recently watched a video about Japanese natural forest Manure Well rotted manure £50.00 per transit load, phone Roger on 01202 826502 or 07885826396 CHRISTMAS TREES, cut and potted. Holly Reefs now available, 01258 452513 - Langton Nurseries, Blandford BARE ROOT HEDGING now available, 01258 452513 - Langton Nurseries, Blandford GARDEN MAINTENANCE & BUILD n Free Quotes n Garden/Lawn Maintenance n Gutter Cleaning n Patio/Drive Cleaning n Tree Felling n Painting n Repointing Garden Retaining Walls n Fencing n Concrete Bases for Oil Tanks & Fitting Call Tristan: 07931 811089

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01963 363233 BIKE SHED. Asgard Annexe secure bike shed, 2 years old £400 077929 60951

Christmas Trees, all sizes, holly reefs, will be sold from the 1st December. Next to Railway Bridge in Motcombe, SP7 9HU 01747 850129 for details.

G Plan Lounge Furniture.

3 Seater settee £90, 2 seater settee £70 and single armchair needs attention £25. Buyers collects, offers invited. Call 01963 210668 Sofa bed, Black, Metal action, used once, super condition, £250, 07975 526119 Real Christmas Trees For Sale from £30.

Mapperton Hill (Gillingham to Mere Rd) BA12 6LH Kevin Cosh 077938 44249

Announcements Acknowledgements Ray Humphries MBE Chris, Mark and Sharon and family thank everyone who sent them condolence cards and letters on the passing of our dear Ray. The number of Shaftesbury people who came out to pay tribute to Ray was overwhelming and a wonderful tribute to the affection and respect that people held for him. Thank you also to Merefield & Henstridge Funeral Directors, Rev. Denise Binks and Rev. Steve Hawkes for their help and guidance throughout.

Donations received to date in Ray’s memory total £2,232.10 and will be shared between his three chosen charities; Shaftesbury Town Silver Band, Shaftesbury & District Carers H.O.P.E., and Cancer Research.

As a family we are so grateful for the love and support we received from our extended family, many friends and the people of the town during this difficult time.

Ray will be smiling on you all as he did in life.

Birthdays

BERYL STONE Congratulations to Mrs Beryl Stone – 100 years young on the 14th December 2020.

ANDREW BICHENO Andy aged 75, formerly of Sixpenny Handley, died peacefully at home in "The Gambia" on 13th November.

In our hearts forever, he will be greatly missed.

His loving family xxx

Ruth Goddard (Doggrell) Formerly of Wyke, Gillingham and Motcombe. Passed away peacefully at St Andrews care home, Ewerby, Linconshire on 18th November aged 82.

Much loved Mother and Grandmother, loving sister to Jean and Helen.

With all our love from the Stone Tribe, all Relations & Friends.

Deaths

DURRANT RAYMOND Of Coniston, Cumbria.

Passed away peacefully in Preston Hospital on 28th November after a long illness aged 74 years.

Formerly of Blandford St Mary, son of the late Mr and Mrs Len Durrant, brother to the late Rita.

A much loved dad to Lisa, Dawn and Scott and loving grandad.

Will be sadly missed by family and friends.

COCKERELL CYNTHIA ERNESTINE of Stalbridge passed away peacefully on 9th November 2020 aged 75 years. A much loved wife, mum, grandma and sister. Funeral service to be held at Yeovil Crematorium on 7th December 2020 at 14.40. Due to restrictions limited attendance only. Family flowers only.

To make a donation in her memory for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance please visit her tribute site at: funeralcare.co.uk / tributes-and-donations Co-operative Funeralcare, 4 Market Square, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1FG, Tel: 01258 472073

MOORSE, Heather Ann aged 81 years of Gillingham. On 14th November 2020, peacefully at Yeovil District Hospital. A much-loved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. A life dedicated to animals. Private cremation. Donations in memory of Heather are being invited for the RSPCA c/o Funeral Director Harold F Miles South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone (01963) 440367

NURSE, Peter aged 90 years of Mudford. On 14th November, 2020 peacefully at Yeovil District Hospital.

A much loved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. Private cremation.

Donations in memory of Peter are being invited for Yeovil Hospital Charity, Oncology Unit, c/o funeral director Harold F Miles, South Cadbury BA22 7ES, Telephone (01963) 440367

Ann Salwey Passed away peacefully at home in Child Okeford on 11th November 2020 after a long battle with dementia.

Much loved wife to John, Mother & Granny. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

A memorial service will be held next year to celebrate Ann’s life

STREET Philip Maxwell (Phil) aged 74 years of Trent.

On 16th November 2020 peacefully at his home. A Much loved husband, father, grandfather and friend.

Private Cremation.

Donations in memory of Phil are being invited for Marie Curie Cancer Care, c/o Harold F Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone (01963) 440367.

Mary Storrs Mary passed away on the 18th October 2020 after a short illness.

Loving wife of late Peter Storrs, dearly loved Mum to Jonathan & Sarah, Granny to Hayley, Oliver, Mary, Elaine and Alisha & Great Granny to Olivia, Lily & Amelia.

So much missed.

33

Announcements GOODBODY A.J.H. (TONY) Formerly of Durweston Passed away on the 2nd August aged 72 years at Salisbury District Hospital after enduring with courage and spirit his illness over several years.

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Tony’s life to take place in 2021.

A seat of remembrance is to be placed in Cann Churchyard, Shaftesbury.

A much loved Husband, Father and Grandfather who is greatly missed.

BENJAMIN Vera (of Wincanton) Passed away peacefully on 11th November 2020, aged 91 at Cookson’s Court Care Home, Yeovil. Beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will be sadly missed by family and friends.

A private family funeral will take place.

Donations in memory of Vera for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance may be sent c/o Clive Wakely, A.J. Wakely & Sons, The Old Police Station, Carrington Way, Wincanton, BA9 9JS, Tel: (01963) 31310.

Please make cheques payable to Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance.

HAROLD JOHN CHANDLER (HARRY) Peacefully passed away on 6th November, aged 86.

Much loved Father, Grandad, Great Grandad, Brother and Uncle.

Funeral to take place at St Cuthbert’s Church, Oborne, Dorset on Friday 4th December at midday.

Due to covid restrictions this will be a private burial. Family flowers only.

Donations if desired to Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Mons, High Street, Henstridge, Somerset, BA8 0RB, (01963) 362570 in aid of Dementia UK

34

YEOMAN Shirley Lucretia, aged 85 years of Holway Farm, Sandford Orcas, on 14th November 2020, peacefully at Fir Villa Residential Home. A much loved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend. Private Cremation. Donations in memory of Shirley are being invited for The British Heart Foundation, c/o Harold F Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone (01963) 440367.

PARSONS Nigel Kenneth (of Alweston) Passed away on the 16th November 2020 aged 75 years. Much loved by Pauline and all of his family. He will be sadly missed. A private funeral service will take place.

Donations in memory of Nigel to Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and Macmillan Unit, Yeovil District Hospital may be sent c/o Clive Wakely, A.J. Wakely & Sons, 16 Newland, Sherborne, DT9 3JQ

Kenneth David Willis On 26th November 2020, peacefully at home aged 83 years of Shaftesbury. A much loved Dad, gang and wother gang who will be sorely missed by all family and friends.

Private family service.

Donations if desired to the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance may be sent to Merefield & Henstridge Funeral Directors, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset. SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532

JOHN FARLEY Died peacefully at home in Milborne Port on the 17th November 2020, aged 87 years.

He was much loved by his family and well liked by all who knew him. He has served his community for many years as a county, district and parish councillor.

Donations in his memory are invited for St Margaret’s Hospice, Yeovil.

C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services.

Tel: 01963 362570.

The family would like to thank the hospice and district nurses, the Butterfield Carers and all those who have sent their best wishes and kind thoughts.

BIRD Dorothy June (June) aged 70 years of Yeovil.

On 17th November 2020, peacefully at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.

A much loved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, partner to Malcolm, sister, aunt and friend.

Private cremation.

Donations in memory of June are being invited for Yeovil Freewheelers, c/o Harold F Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone (01963) 440367.

TAYLOR JACQUELINE MARY (Jackie) Passed away peacefully at home on Monday, 23rd November aged 91.

A much loved and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunty.

Funeral will be held at Yeovil Crematorium on Friday 11th December at 2pm.

Donations if desired to Alzheimer’s UK may be sent to Grassby & Close, Innes Court, Sturminster Newton.

Anyone wishing to attend, numbers are limited due to covid restrictions, please phone 01258 472200.

Announcements DUCKWORTH, Roz Passed away peacefully on 17th November 2020 aged 88 years. Much loved mother of Sue and Mike. She will be very sadly missed by all of her family and many friends.

The funeral service will be held at Salisbury Crematorium on Thursday, December 10th 2020 at 2pm. Please note attendance of funeral services has been restricted. If you wish to attend, please confirm with the family before attending.

Family flowers only, donations if required can be made online at funeralcare.co.uk /tributes-and-dona tions. For any enquiries, please contact Co-operative Funeralcare, Shaftesbury on 01747 858968

Ball (nee Morgan) Mary formerly of Denes Avenue, Mere.

Passed peacefully away at Bramley House, aged 94, on 31st October 2020 Loving mother to Diane & Wendy, Grandmother to Ian & Emma, Great-Grandmother to Jennifer & Dean.

She will be missed by all.

Donations to the Illeostomy & Internal Pouch Association

Peter Jackson Funeral Services Independent Family Owned and Run Funeral Directors

Private Chapels of Rest • 24 Hour Service Golden Charter Pre Paid Funeral Plans

Henstridge (01963) 362570 Mons, High Street, Henstridge, Somerset BA8 0RB

Gilligham (01747) 833757 Harwood House, Newbury, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4QJ

pjfs@btinternet.com. www.peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk

KEANE WIN Win Keane, formerly of West Cross, Swansea passed away peacefully aged 89 in the Malthouse Residential Home in Dorset on 23 November 2020.

Beloved younger sister of her late brothers Raymond and Gerard, and loving aunt of Paula and Sara, she will be much missed by her friends and family.

A service will be held with close family at Salisbury Crematorium on 9 December at 2pm.

Her ashes will be interred in the family plot at Oystermouth Cemetery in 2021, when times are better.

Any enquires to Peter Jackson Funeral Directors, Harwood House, Newbury, Gillingham Dorset SP8 4QJ, 01747 833757, pjfs@btinternet.com

A J Wakely& Sons Independent Family Funeral Directors Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

– 24 Hour Service –

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817 Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310 Pre-payment plans available

Please contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Announcements should reach us by 1pm on the Monday before publication.

However every effort will be made to accommodate them until we go to press 35

Remembering the much-loved OBITUARY A Sherborne business which went from selling milk with a horse and cart to a multimillion-pound firm employing 500 people is mourning the loss of its much-loved former chairman.

Sybil Hunt was in her 100th year when she died in March, leaving her Bradford Road home to 18 charities that were close to her heart.

Born in Sherborne in 1920, Sybil attended the Lord Digby School, which today is known as Sherborne House.

As a young woman during the Second World War, Sybil served throughout the war with the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the forerunner of the British Women’s Royal Army Corps in Oxford and Bicester. After the war, Sybil returned to her beloved Sherborne, taking a job at Hunt’s Dairies in Cheap Street, making ice-cream.

And it was here where she met her future husband, Michael Hunt.

The Hunt family’s roots are in farming and the wholesale business began life as a horse and cart operation delivering milk from Blackmarsh Farm from 1912.

But it was when Sybil was making ice-cream for Sherborne’s delicatessens that the ice-cream delivery service really took off and fast became one of the biggest businesses of its kind in the south west.

Michael and Sybil married at St Cuthbert’s Church in Oborne and set up home in the flat above the small retail shop they owned on Cheap Street, which was in front of the dairy. The Hunt’s Dairies site is where Waitrose is today and the small shop they owned is now Oliver’s Coffee Shop.

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A LIFE WELL LIVED: Sybil and Michael with dairy staff, the shop in Cheap Street, making ice-cream, right, and, below, bottling milk

Michael was a man of great innovation and with Sybil by his side, the pair were unstoppable and used diversification to take the business from strength to strength.

The pair made the bold decision to sell the dairy in

1976 and invested in frozen food deliveries to hotels, garages, and cold stores across the southwest.

After selling Hunt’s Dairies, the couple moved to their new home on Bradford Road, where they lived for the remainder of their lives.

Hunt’s Frozen Foods grew and grew, becoming Hunt’s Foodservice.

Their nephew Richard Hunt is now its chairman.

He said: “Sybil and Michael’s commitment to the community was always at the heart of their actions.

dairy ex-chairman Sybil Hunt

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: Sybil Hunt, the former chairman of Hunt’s Dairies and, below, with her late husband Michael and, right, the firm’s truck with a personalised plate

“They were warmly remembered for the Christmas parties they held for staff and their children in Digby Memorial Hall – a huge box of party hats still remains to this day.”

Michael died in 1988, and Sybil ensured her husband’s

legacy lived on. The Hunt’s business was her passion and she dedicated her life to its success. She became company chairman and was actively involved in the business.

Often seen working on reception, Sybil knew

everyone who came in and out of the business.

Richard said: “Hunt’s Dairy started out as a small business in the town, serving the community. It’s like we have gone full circle and opening the supermarket is a way of honouring our family

roots, where we can support the town once again in that personal way. It was a move which Sybil greatly supported.”

He added: “For the Hunt’s business, the family, and to the local community, Mrs Hunt was an influential figure. Leaving her house to charity in her will shows just how much she cared for the community and is a great reflection of her kindness.”

From humble beginnings from selling milk with a horse and cart, Hunt’s Foodservice can now sell up to £2.5million of food a week using 150 lorries to support hospitals, schools, pubs, coffee shops and independent retailers. Employing 500 people across numerous sites it is also one of the town’s biggest employers.

Described as ‘kind, spirited and influential’, Sybil – despite reaching her 100th year – was still actively involved in the family business, taking a keen interest in the ‘monthly board meetings’ which were held in her house in recent years.

Hunt’s Foodservice even has a lorry dedicated to Sybil, with her very own personalised number plate, SEH15.

Sybil passed away peacefully on March 16, 2020 aged 99.

Her funeral was held at St Cuthbert Church in Oborne, the same church in which she was married and for which donations were made in her memory.

A much-loved aunt of seven, great aunt to 11 and great, great aunt of nine, Sybil touched the lives of all those who knew her and is sorely missed by her family, her many, many friends and the hundreds of members of staff, both past and present, who worked at Hunt’s Dairies and later, Hunt’s Foodservice.

37

Food & Drink

By Katharine Wright thehungrygiraffe2020@gmail.com

The brussels sprout is not just for Christmas.

The ‘mini cabbage’ is a little green ball of goodness. So, if you are one of those who tend not to eat them, maybe after this article you may think again.

Brussels sprouts are part of the gemmifera group of cabbages, grown for its edible buds.

They can be as small as marbles or as large as golf balls and named after the capital of Belgium Brussels, where they were popular back in the 16th century.

Shout for the sprout!

Today worldwide the brussels sprout industry is worth in the region of £650,000,000, and if

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Christmas happens to fall right in the middle of brussels sprout season, making it the most readily available and affordable vegetable to serve on Christmas Day. Also, the modern idea of festive feasting was just ‘being invented’ as brussels sprouts were becoming much more readily available.

Of course, you either love them or hate them, and like most children, I thought brussels sprouts were the food of the devil and still to this day remember having to have one on my dinner plate on Christmas day.

However today I love them and pile them on my plate – and insist that my daughter has one on her plate at Christmas.

One portion of the vegetable gives us a whopping 195% of you think that is a lot of our recommended daily money imagine it in volumes allowance (RDA) of vitamin – An equivalent to 3,240 K and a huge 125% of our British football pitches!

RDA of vitamin C. Along with So why has the humble 11g of carbohydrate and 4g of brussels sprout become a protein, especially if steamed. tradition as part of our Scientists also say that Christmas dinner? No one has brussels sprouts contain the exact answer, but it could substances that have simply be seasonality. We all demonstrated cancer-fighting know that back in time you ate properties which suppress what was in season and inflammation and helps the risk of recurrence of myeloma. Us Brits consume the most brussels sprouts and an incredible two-thirds Open as usual Fri-Sat, of the total amount and outside shop 24/7. grown each year are Pre orders for any who consumed over the don’t want to come in Christmas period shop. Call the shop or alone. email Christina.

To be sure of the marks330@gmail.com or freshest and tastiest markscattle@yahoo.co.uk sprouts and other Pet foods of all variety’s vegetables I suggest our local farm shops, can be sourced through of which some may us also by order. have grown their own.

Christmas meat orders now Goldhill Organic Farm being taken for all your shop is just one for needs from turkeys, game, you to try. Farm shops meats and trees coming are an obvious choice in soon. when looking for fresh Durweston, near Blandford local vegetables, meat, 01258 450050 dairy, bakery and more.

ENFORD FARM SHOP

@enford farm

Food & Drink

Cooking...

with Mrs Simkins

Cumberland Rum Butter for Christmas and Christenings Cumberland rum butter is a real Christmas treat – there’s nothing like watching a spoonful slide and melt over your Christmas pudding or slipping a sliver or two under a mince pie lid.

Whilst the most well-known ‘hard sauce’, brandy butter, is a fairly light affair and can be whipped up from brandy, butter and icing sugar, Cumberland rum butter is much more complex, and full of potent festive flavours: dark brown muscovado sugar, Caribbean rum and plenty of spice in the form of nutmeg.

Rum butter was once fed to expectant and nursing mothers in the Lake District, to ‘keep their strength up’ and was a vital part of Cumberland christenings and visits to new babies and continues in some families today. Usually eaten spread on oatcakes, coins were left in the empty butter bowl.

Plenty of coins sticking to the sides and bottom of the

150g salted butter, slightly softened Up to ½ a nutmeg

bowl predicted wealth and good fortune would ‘stick’ to the child as it grew.

Obviously, it behoved guests not to scrape the bowl too clean, but to leave it fairly sticky in the baby’s best interests!

Families often kept a special bowl for serving rum butter and many beautiful butter

Mum’s Kitchen...

This is my granddaughter Evie’s favourite at Christmas!

This lovely tasty salad has festive elements in it and makes a lovely change from all the traditional Christmas fare.

Cranberry and Green Lentil Salad Ingredients: 150g dried cranberries Juice and grated zest of 2 small oranges 3 x 410g tins green lentils, drained and rinsed

Bunch parsley, chopped 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar Method Soak cranberries in orange juice and grated zest till plump. Mix together lentils and parsley, reserving some parsley to sprinkle on the top. Add to cranberries and orange juice

bowls have been passed down through the generations. As the saying goes: Butter for goodness, rum for spirit, sugar for sweetness and nutmeg for spice.

Ingredients for a 425g (15oz) jar 175g Muscovado sugar 100ml dark Caribbean rum

For best results, steep the sugar in the rum overnight.

The next day, heat gently, stirring frequently until the sugar is completely dissolved: avoid boiling.

Cool.

Beat the butter until creamy and gradually work in the rum and sugar mixture. Grate in a lavish amount of nutmeg and stir thoroughly. Pack into a sealed sterilised jar.

Note Tightly covered, this keeps brilliantly in the fridge or a cool larder, for months and is absolutely beyond delicious spread on toasted crumpets: no need to butter first with normal butter obviously! It’s also wonderful on pancakes.

Or toast. Or tea cakes, scones, gingernuts, digestive biscuits, rice pudding, your weekend porridge, baked apples, Dorset knobs . . . .

Check out Mrs Simkins’ website for more Christmas recipes MrsSimkins.co.uk twitter.com/mrssimkinscooks

with Diana Holman CIDER AND APPLE JUICE Farmhouse cider, also Ashmead's Kernel juice.

3 litre takeaways, £10 each.

Cider by Rosie, Winterborne Houghton, DT11 0PE. Tel 01258 880543

and mix well. Whisk olive oil and vinegar together and pour over. Season lightly and sprinkle with reserved parsley.

39

Food & Drink

Celebrating the very best of our

By Miranda Robertson Fifth generation farmers from the Tarrant Valley have launched a new awards scheme for Dorset food and drink producers.

The Love Local Trust Local Awards are all about championing Dorset food and drink producers, Dorset farmers and the Dorset fishing industry.

The Cossins family, who run Rawston Farm, The Langton Arms in Tarrant Monkton and Rawston Farm Butchery & Farm Shop in Tarrant Rawston, are well known for delicious, locally produced, Dorset food and drinks.

In 2018 they decided the time was ripe to launch a label to promote local foods, after a number of scandals involving supermarket fare.

They knew people were interested in the provenance of their food, after hosting Open Farm Sunday, opening the farm to the public so they could see for themselves how their food was being produced.

Barbara Cossin said: “Our visitors love knowing the story of their food, the miles it has travelled and that they are buying and eating genuine local produce. But they often asked, how do we know that the food we buy elsewhere really is what it says it is?

“The last Open Farm day was in 2018 at a time when major supermarkets were being taken to court for their dishonesty in promoting food from British farms that did not actually exist. There were news reports of meat testing stating that a fifth of samples tested revealed unspecified animals’ DNA. The TV was full of documentaries showing cheap imported meat being labelled with the Red Tractor label, 40

Left Heather Brown of Dorset Foodie Feed runner up of Local Champion 2020. Top right, Bill Meaden of Cranborne Chase Cider proudly showing his three runner up plaques. Bottom right, Jon and Rob from BH Fish with their Love Local Trust Local Awards

giving the consumer the impression they were buying British meat instead of cheap foreign imports.”

The family realised the appetite for local produce was strong, and set about creating their own Love Local Trust Local label for Dorset food.

Barbara added: “We want to put consumer trust back into buying local, Dorset food

with genuine provenance and full traceability.”

The Love Local Trust Local label assures the consumer This food has been grown with love & care and to the highest ethical standards This food has transparent and full provenance and complete traceability This food has been produced with the main ingredients

sourced from less than 30 miles of its origin. This food fosters community spirit and is good for our overall environment They use the label themselves and have now started to share it with carefully selected Dorset businesses that share their values.

The new awards are being backed by several prominent

Food & Drink

food & drink producing champs The winners and runners up were: n Cakes, Pastries & Confectionery: Sweet Indulgent Fancies, Lizzie Baking Bird nJams, Chutneys & Honey: Barbara’s Kitchen, joint runners up Bohemian Dorset and Tarrant Valley Honey nDrinks: Shanty Spirit, Cranborne Chase Cider nFish: BH Fish, Portland Shellfish LOCAL HEROES: Jon and Rob from BH Fish, Barbara Cossins – founder of Love Local Trust Local, Paul Dunlop, Blanchards Bailey LLP, the sponsor and judge of Innovation Category, Sam Purcell of Harbarn Developments Ltd, sponsor and judge of Fish Category

nMeat: Chase Royale, The Dorset Goat Meat Company nCheese: Dorset Blue Vinny, The Book & Bucket Cheese Company nDairy: Meggy Moo’s Dairy, Baboo Gelato nDiversification & Sustainability: Bohemian Dorset, Cranborne Chase Cider nInnovation: BH Fish, Dorset Blue Vinny Rising Star: Isaac Cider, Cranborne Chase Cider

MOOSIC TO MY EARS: Meggy Moo’s Dairy winner of Dairy Category Award 2020 shown with LLTL founder Barbara Cossins and sponsor and judge Sophie Alexander of Hemsworth Farm

Dorset businesses as sponsors and judges. The inaugural awards were planned for autumn – plans which had to be changed in the light of the pandemic, but will nonetheless be going ahead.

Barbara said: “Surely there is no better time than now, in the midst of a global health pandemic, to embrace all that is local as we strive to feed

our families with nutritious food and drink with known provenance we can trust.”

She added: “We could not be more pleased as to how these new Dorset Food & Drink Awards have been received.

“I am so thankful for the support from all of our sponsors, they were heavily involved in the judging process, which we took very

seriously and a number of our entrants were visited to understand their stories and how they made their produce.

“The judges found choosing a winner for each category so difficult as the entrants were all so strong and all were deserving contenders.”

The overall winner was BH Fish from Poole, a company born at the start of the

nLLTL Local Champion 2020: BH Fish, Dorset Foodie Feed

pandemic. Sponsor and judge, Paul Dunlop of Blanchards Bailey, said: “We were amazed that BH Fish were able to create what they had in such a short period, were so passionate about the produce and the customers, supported fisherman during a time they would have been out of work and promote Dorset produce.”

41

Food & Drink

Cheers! Sparkling future for vineyard

By Steve Keenan

newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A Dorset vineyard has sold out of its top-rated sparkling wine after the company scooped an international award.

The website at Langham Wine Estate crashed for three days in a row when the winery was named Sparkling Wine Producer of the Year, beating prestigious French Champagne houses.

In those three days, Langham sold more sparkling wine online than in the whole of the 2018-19 season.

And top of the sales chart was the Blanc de Blancs 2015, retailing at £31 and awarded a gold and second highest score for any sparkling wine in the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC). At present, only magnums are available, at £75.

“The website just melted down,” director Justin Langham told The New Blackmore Vale. “We had individuals buying from all over the country, while every one of our trade customers has come on saying they want more because the wine is flying off the shelves.”

The IWSC is one of the largest competitions of its kind, and the trophy for Sparkling Wine Producer of the Year is awarded to the winery who demonstrates quality and consistency across its range, taking an average score from the producer’s wines.

More than 700 wineries entered the competition, with Langham entering all five of its sparkling wines. Last year, French house Veuve Clicquot was the winner.

It is a remarkable triumph, given that Langham is a single vineyard of just 30 acres, planted in 2009.

42

CHEERS ALL ROUND: The team at Langham Wine Estate celebrate after being named Sparkling Wine producer of the Year in the International Wine and Spirit Competition. Inset: A bottle of their award- winning sparkling Blanc De Blanc

“Eleven years of hard work has paid off,” said Justin, who planted the vines and turned his father’s small vineyard into a commercial venture.

“It’s been slowly paying off for the past four or five years but it was hard work building up sales. I thought that if we could produce a good wine, people will buy it. I found out that’s not the case.

“We had won a fair few awards and I thought that would be helpful but it wasn’t significantly helpful.

“This is.”

Langhams has a small staff and produces 50,000 bottles a year, a relatively small number in the industry. There are still rose and chardonnay

wines, as well as the five sparkling wines.

“I put the success down to three things,” said Justin.

“First, the grapes we grow (chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier). The site is extremely good and the clones of the three varieties we grow affects all sorts of things in the vine.

“Secondly, as we are relatively small, we do everything ourselves, which is not what most people do. If anything goes wrong, we have only ourselves to blame.

“We pay very good attention to detail.

“And thirdly, the way we make and blend the wine.”

As well as gold for Blanc de Blancs, silver medals were awarded for its

Corallian Classic Cuvee and Culver Classic Cuvee, recognised as “sophisticated and complex” by the judges; as well as for the Pinot Meunier 2017 and Langham Rosé NV. The whole wine industry in England is upping its game, said Justin, and is still growing fast.

Last year, Langham teamed up with two other Dorset vineyards – English Oak and Furleigh – to promote the county’s wines.

Visitor numbers to Langham have grown steadily for the past six or seven years, he added, and now account for about 100 a day, every day of the week.

After the first lockdown ended, numbers visiting were double that of summer 2019.

The vineyard also expects to re-open its café this week.

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Planning applications in South Somerset Chilthorne Domer 20 Forts Orchard: Single storey rear extension to dwelling.

Galhampton Building And Land At Sandbrook Lane: Erection of a new dwelling to replace approved conversion 20/01186/FUL Henstridge 52 Ash Walk: Vehicular access and hardstanding.

Horsington Barn Adjoining Horsington Manor Lower Road: Implement/ storage shed .Steel frame, 13.7 metres length by 12 metres wide, and the height of sides of 4 metres and peak height at top of A-frame of 6 metres. Will be corrugated tin clad on the sides and back and the roof will be sheeted with fibrecrete. The steel uprights will be bolted down with a aggregate base floor. One of the sides (the south side) will 46

have metal frame doors to provide secure storage of farm implements.

9 Manor Court Tower Hill: Replacement garage doors, altered design tocurrent doors.

Martock Burial Grounds Pound Lane: Fell tree in Conservation Area Milborne Port Ven House London Road: Notification of intent to carry out tree surgery works to No.02 trees within a Conservation Area Lynden View Redwing Road: Application to carry out tree surgery works to No.01 tree within the South Somerset District Council (MIPO 190) 1998 Tree Preservation Order North Cheriton Old Orchard Cheriton Hill North Cheriton: Change of use and extension to existing redundant agricultural building and domestic garage to form together

a new dwelling. Plus extension of the existing domestic curtilage to enclose the new dwelling and associated garden.

North Cadbury North Cadbury Court Woolston Road: Fell No 1 Tree in conservation area The Grange ,Cary Road: Internal alterations including replacement staircase, removal of 20th century partitions & new openings, single storey boot room to side of dwelling Templecombe Combe Throop Cottage 28 Throop Road: Single storey extension to rear and enlarged porch to front.

Yeovil 59 Matthews Road: Removal of existing shed and erection of a concrete based timber framed building to rear of dwelling.

12 High Street: Change of use from Shop (Class A1) to

Restaurant (Class A3).

5 Waterloo Lane: Change of use of from cafe (Sui generis) to C3 use (Residential) to form 2 flats 163 Mudford Road: Amendments to 20/00294/HOU: Replacing 25cm by 50cm roof tiles with 30cm by 60cm Tiles.

52 Nelson Way: The erection of a garden shed (Retrospective).

Squirrels Lodge Old Bristol Road Sigwells: Application for Lawful Development Certificate for existing use of dwelling without compliance of condition 5 on planning permission 03/01321/COU dated 18 February 2004 (agricultural/ horticultural occupancy).

Land At Lufton: Amendment to approval 10/01875/REM to create two parking spaces, for Unit 371 and Unit 372 Thorne House, Thorne: Tree surgery works to No.02 trees within a Conservation Area

Planning applications in North Dorset Bryanston 16 Walnut Avenue - land adjacent and opposite: T1250 and T1590 - Chestnut x2 - Fell to ground level. A report carried out on 11/09/19 by Wessex Woodland Management Ltd highlighted the fact that these mature chestnut trees have both been suffering with age related decline and due to their close proximity to nearby properties it has been deemed that the safest and best possible solution for the two trees is to fell them and replant with 2 walnut trees in their place. Upon a recent second inspection in September 2020 it had become apparent that one of the trees had shed a large limb, this again highlighted safety concerns.

69 The Cliff: T1 - Silver Birch Fell because of proximity to neighbouring property and low amenity value. Replant with a small species in similar position.

Cann Southbank Farm Higher Blandford Road: Develop land by the demolition of existing agricultural buildings and dwellings. Erect 30 dwellings (comprising of houses and flats), a 250 m sq. convenience store (class use A1) and construction of new vehicular accesses onto public highway. (Outline application to determine access and layout).

Child Okeford The Oasis Shaftesbury Road: Construct road Fontmell Magna Maltings, Church Street: T1 Pride of India (Koelreuteria Paniculata) - Reduce crown by 1m all over.

Hazelbury Bryan 3 Kingston Lane Kingston: Nonmaterial amendment to Planning Permission 2/2020/0201/ HOUSE to increase the depth of the approved single storey extension from 4.275m (internally) to 5.325m.

Hinton St Mary The Estate Office, Manor House: T1 - Atlas Cedar Reduce crown height by 2.5-3m (all limbs above tear wound) and blend into lower canopy following storm damage and

partial loss of upper canopy. T2 Irish Yew - Fell and grind out stump as established tree growing adjacent to wall which forms part of a listed structure.

Tree is now overgrown and has applied pressure to wall which is cracking. Replanting with L shaped yew hedge to hide bins.

T3 - Hornbeam - Fell due to asymmetric form and tree supressing growth of magnolias (Conservation area - est. 30-40 years old. Not in excess of 1959 TPO). T4 - Holly x3 - Fell. Poor specimen. Removal will improve spacing and growth of birch trees (Conservation area est. 30-40 years old. Not in excess of 1959 TPO).

Mappowder Fir Tree Farm Hazelbury Road: Erect agricultural building Milton on Stour Stourbridge House, Post Office Road To Pierstons Fields Road: T1 - Willow - Reduce height and peripheral limbs structure by shortening branches by 3-4m due to recent double limb failure (onto SSE cables beside highway) and subsequent tear wound where a large section of the canopy is now missing which exposes the remaining canopy structure. T2 - Holly Coppice, retaining epicormic shoots around base of stem.

Retain stump at 0.5m from ground level. Leaf density is sparse and individual leaves are small. Poor extension growth.

Tree displays poor vitality and is in decline.

Okeford Fitzpaine Okeford Fitzpaine C Of E Primary School, The Cross: T1 Hornbeam - Fell. T2 - Willow Fell. T3 - Birch - Fell. L1 Hedge - Reduce back to boundary. No Objection.

Shaftesbury 15 Tanyard Lane: T3 - Box Elder - Re-shape crown by reducing all over up to a maximum of 2m to appropriate growth points. T4 - Sycamore Fell. T5 - Apple - Pollard to secondary fork due to decay on main stem. T6 - Bay - Remove two sparse main stems (old growth) leaving basal shoot growth at base to develop. T7 Cypress - Fell.

Old School House, Tout Hill: T1 - Walnut - Reduce height and remove spur. The tree has developed a large spur in its attempt to secure better light and the spur is likely to break off and damage the tree as it grows.

There are current signs of stress which will only worsen.

Broad Dene, Hawkesdene Lane: T1 - Monterey Cypress - Reduce in height by 2-3m to old pruning points. T2 - Cherry - Reduce in height by 1-2m to old pruning points. T3 - Beech - Removal of hanging branches from storm damage. G4 - Beech - Reduce lateral branches that are positioned from ground up to 5m by 3m.

Thimble Cottage, 14 Gold Hill: T1 - Goat Willow - Fell due to the tree not thriving in such a small garden and does not hold a long future. T2 - Cryptomeria Fell as it is lifting the patio and does not hold a long future in its current position.

ND Land Adj Reservoir Shaftesbury SP7 9LE: Notification Under the Electronic Communications Code Regulations 2003 (as amended) to utilies permitted development rights.

The Old Meeting House - land rear of, St James Street: G1 Sycamore x3 - Reduce height by 4m and lateral limbs over garden by up to 3m.

Shillingstone Land adjacent to White Pit Farm Cottages White Pit: Proposal: Erect 2 No. dwellings. Form new vehicular acess and 4 No. parking spaces.

Shroton Fourways, Frog Lane: T1 Copper Beech - Thin and reduce the crown by removing a few beams. Reduce the overhang over the boundary wall and allow more light through the crown. Extent of works as per annotated photos.

Stalbridge 2 Park Grove: T1 - Cherry - Fell completely as it has got too large, shading too much of gardens and getting into wires.

G1 - Birch 1 - Reduce height by 2m and lateral spread by 1m. G1 - Birch 2 - Reduce height by 2m

and lateral spread by 1m. G1 Birch 3 - Reduce height by 4m and lateral spread by 2m.

Stourpaine 1 Bottom Road: Demolish existing car ports, remove hedge and erect double garage/car port (Retrospective) Havelins Farm House, Havelins: T1 - Birch - Crown reduce branch extremities back to previous pruning points. This will involve the removal of branch ends by 3m off the height and 1m off the lateral branches (as per annotated image 1). The retained tree will be 10m in height and 6m wide. T2 - Poplar - Crown reduce branch extremities back to previous pruning points. This will involve the removal of branch ends by 1m off the height and 0.5m off the lateral branches (as per annotated image 2). The retained tree will be 5m in height and 34m wide. T3, T4 and T5 - Yew and Cypress - Reduce branches overhanging the building to provide a 1m clearance. This will involve cutting back or removal of secondary and tertiary branches only to provide sufficient space and prevent existing growth from touching the nearby roof and gutters.

Sturminster Newton Stablemead, Glue Hill: T1 Lime - Raise canopy to 3m from ground and remove epicormic growth from main stem. Reason: General maintenance.

Ulwell, Penny Street: T1 - Cedar - Reduce branch overhanging road and growing toward Bathurst by 2m and keep a uniform shape as per annotated photograph.

Thornicombe Ranmoor Thornicombe Hill: Erect 6 No. Glamping Pods with associated alterations to the existing access and associated scheme of hard and soft landscaping. Form 1 No. parking space.

Winterborne Stickland The Barn Dunbury Lane: Removal of partition wall to create open plan kitchen/dining room. Carry out all internal alterations associated to this.

47

Antiques & Collectibles

Whatever you do, don’t Google ‘gimp’

By Miranda Robertson

and ordered a book called The Upholstery Bible – simple!

An enterprising 76-year-old has Then I removed the springs, been teaching herself new skills horsehair, wadding and fabric – after deciding to tackle that too was fairly easy.” upholstery during lockdown.

When Lockdown 2 was Peg Browning, who is originally announced, Peg threw herself from Blandford and has now into the project, stripping the settled in Turnerspuddle, decided chair to expose the maker’s on a whim to rescue an old name, “which I googled and nursing chair as her sister moved found that it was a Parisian house. “No, I have absolutely no workshop between 1824 and use for a nursing chair being 76 1930 and was quite well-known, years old but I did need a supplying bespoke furniture to project,” she said.

Louis-Philippe and Napoleon She added: “I have no III.” She added: “The annoying experience of upholstery beyond thing was that if I was to covering the odd removable seat reupholster the chair the maker’s pad. The chair looked very sad name would be hidden again. with springs hanging down and That night, during my usual all fabric rotting. I went online failure to sleep time, I hatched a plan and in the morning, two days before lockdown started, I searched the internet for a Free valuations & home visits company House clearances arranged able to Probate & Insurance valuations digitally print the maker’s name onto a piece of plain fabric that I could put on the back of the chair back.

“After several false starts I eventually found Mark at Big Print Little Print and he agreed to A French Belle Epoque display table, help. I set of bombe form, sold for £4800 off for his premises in www.busby.co.uk the Contact Verwood info@busby.co.uk 01308 420 100 area and eventually The Old Hemp Store located North Mills, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3BE Mark – 48

WEB WE WEAVE: The chair before, inset, and after. Also inset, Peg Browning

impressive place with technology galore.

“Mark was extremely helpful and I would highly recommend him. After half an hour and with a spend of only £12, I left with the maker’s name expertly printed on a cotton tote bag that I was then able to cut to fit. Next I ordered tacks, webbing, hessian and a webbing stretcher and lockdown began.”

Peg toiled away, removing hundreds of nails used over the many years and changes of fabric.

She said: “Every time I broke a nail or tack head I very nearly abandoned the whole thing. The air was definitely blue!”

The next job was to sort out the seat. Daunted by the instructions on sewing in springs, Peg plumped for foam, then tacked webbing to the underside.

She said: “I’ve never done webbing before but once I mastered the stretcher it became

quite pleasurable. I have decided that hammering is definitely therapeutic – especially whilst thinking of unpleasant people.”

Peg covered the lot with hessian followed by foam, fire-retardant covering and then her fabric.

She said: “All this went well and so I ordered gimp for the finishing touch to cover the tack heads. One of my daughters messaged to ask what I was doing and I replied that I was searching online for gimp. Her reply was a shocked, ‘Mother, whatever are you up to now?’ I had no idea what she meant and when I enquired she told me to Google it. My advice to all is, please DON’T!” Peg is now looking for another project in case there is Lockdown number 3....

We Buy RECORDS, COLLECTIONS LARGE and SMALL. Call BILL 01747 811000 Email bill@ rebornrecords.co.uk

Antiques & Collectibles

1,500 lots on offer at two-day auction Clarke’s Auctions is holding a two-day sale on Wednesday and Thursday, December 30 and 31.

With over 1,500 lots of antiques and collectables on offer, there’s something for everyone. They will be selling over 200 lots of silver and jewellery, with one of the most striking lots a Persian high carat gold coin bracelet, estimate £1,800 to £2,200, and plenty of gold and precious stone dress rings, necklaces and costume jewellery with estimates from £20 to £200.

Silver highlights include a Victorian four-piece tea and coffee set with chased and embossed decoration by makers Martin Hall & Co. London, estimate £800£1,200 and a 1930s silver oval two-handled tray with makers marks for Roberts & Doré. Thomas Roberts was a respected figure in London at the beginning of the 20th century, who was unable to source silverware with the quality he wanted so established himself as a manufacturing silversmith and took on premises in London’s Hatton Garden – already recognised as being the main area in London for jewellery and diamonds.

He gathered together some of the best craftsmen in the country and they soon established themselves as recognised silversmiths and saw their pieces supplying to top London stores and throughout the world.

As their November sale of Chinese and Oriental Arts sale was cancelled due to the recent lockdown they are offering over 350 lots of Chinese, Japanese and Asian ceramics, jades, bronzes, ivories and art and know that there will be fierce online bidding for the star lots. These include a collection of jade carvings, one being a Chinese jade

carving of a temple lion which has an estimate of £600-£800, which is likely to find its way back to China in the New Year and a Chinese gilded bronze figure of a Buddha with an estimate of £550-£650.

Appointments are still being made to appraise items suitable for entry into their 2021 sales so please call the office to make arrangements for a home visit following Government guidelines and they are open by appointment for free verbal valuations Monday to Friday at their salerooms behind the Kingsettle Antique Centre on Station Road, Semley. All enquiries should be directed to either Richard Clarke or Karen Marshall on 01747 855109.

The Persian high carat gold coin bracelet UNDER THE HAMMER: Above left, a Chinese jade carving of a temple lion and centre, Chinese gilded bronze figure of a Buddha.

Right, a Victorian fourpiece tea & coffee set

by Martin Hall & Co

n Clarke’s Auctions’ first Classic Cars, Bikes and Automobilia sale proved to be a success, with enthusiasts and saw bidders registering from far and wide.

The automobilia section, with almost two hundred lots, had an

eclectic mix of items, with two collections of diecast models and Austin 7 spares performing very well.

Both collections, from a deceased estate near Poole, found buyers from as far away as Suffolk and the

Midlands – proving the power of the internet.

Their next Classic Vehicles & Automobilia sale will be held on Sunday, March 14 2021 and please contact Matt Whitney on 01747 855109 for all enquiries regarding this sale.

CLARKE’S AUCTIONS Auctioneers & Valuers Clarke's Auctions

A Chinese Ducai shallow bowl decorated with foliate scrolls.

Estimate £12,000 - £15,000

would like to wish their customers a very Merry Christmas and look forward to seeing you again at our 2021 sales

Please contact Richard Clarke or Karen Marshall on 01747 855109 Station Road, Semley, Shaftesbury, SP7 9BU enquiries@clarkesauctions.co.uk clarkesauctions.co.uk 49

Health & Wellbeing

Massage is the message for babies & parents Baby massage has long been advised by experts as a way for parents to calm, and bond with, their newborn child.

And a new series of videos put together by Dorset HealthCare’s Perinatal Service provides simple, practical tips on how to do it.

Nursery nurse Claire Starling says baby massage has a range of benefits for both parents and children, from easing teething pains to improving sleep patterns.

She has created a number of short clips to help demonstrate how a baby can be soothed and relaxed through two different massage techniques.

The first involves gentle stroking, which calms a baby and increases circulation, while the other helps babies suffering from eczema and cradle cap, as well as stimulating their immune system.

VIDEO: Newborn Bonding Nursery Nurse Claire Starling

Claire said: “Baby massage not only helps the baby, it provides an opportunity for parents to spend quality time with their child instead of just seeing to their daily needs.

“It helps gain a deeper and more confident understanding of their baby’s

behaviour, crying and body language to increase the ability to nurture and care for their child.

“Massage not only has the physical effect of soothing and calming a baby’s body, it also has psychological effects – giving them a sense of feeling safe, secure, loved

and cared for.

“It’s an ideal way to enhance bonding and attachment.”

Baby massage can also sooth babies to sleep, aid digestion, ease teething pains, improve circulation and improve weight gain.

And research suggests it can significantly help mums who may be suffering with postnatal depression, or are at risk of depression, to interact with their child.

Claire added: “You can massage your baby as much as you want.

“Some parents give daily massage as part of a routine, especially at night to sooth them to sleep.

“Others choose to massage their baby when they want to feel close to them or want to offer a different activity.” n You can watch the films online at: dorsethealthcare. nhs.uk/baby-massage-videos

Spindle tree colours bring back memories The sun’s arc is sinking lower, and the days are shortening but nature is still delivering its healing surprises.

It is now mid-autumn and seasonal gales have cast the remaining leaves to the ground. Whilst out walking alongside a small woodland, I notice some fine crimson leaves and the familiar pink haze of a spindle tree shimmering against the crisp blueness of an autumnal sky.

Up close, my eyes delight on the zingy orange berries that burst out from their lipstickpink pods; tiny baubles that dangle from the spindle’s thin branches, bringing a burst of colour to this weather-torn hedge land.

If not subjected to annual cutting by a mechanical flail, a spindle tree, such as this 50

one, can live for over 100 years and grow 9m tall. The straight and strong pale wood that it produces was once used for making the spindles that spun and wound the thread from wool, giving the plant its common name. They are found throughout Europe and typically along the margins of ancient woodland. I

barely regard them all year, even their pretty white starshaped flowers in Spring can go unnoticed.

It is only now in their late November colours that they steal the show.

Yet it is a hedgerow tree that I hold very dear. I still recall my childhood excitement when I first encountered the spindle’s exotic fruits. My father collected the seeds and grew them in his Dartmoor garden. Long after his death, his spindle tree continued to flourish and with it, all the wildlife that it attracted: holly blue butterflies, ermine moths, ladybirds and lacewings. Although all parts of the spindle tree are toxic for humans, (like poor Sleeping Beauty who pricked her finger on a spindle), they provide

important winter food for birds, mice and even foxes.

It was mostly the robins I remember though. They would lay their claim and fiercely defend the berries.

Robins, it turns out, are fundamental to the distribution of this native plant.

As I wander on, I eventually remember Euonymus europaea, the botanical name for a spindle tree, based upon ‘eu’ the Greek prefix for ‘good’. In Celtic folklore, spindle’s magical properties make it a ‘lucky tree’. I certainly feel blessed seeing it today; the bright orange seeds for my own garden clasped tightly in my hand feel as precious as jewels sent by my father from some far away shore.

Dr Susie Curtin

Health & Wellbeing

Let’s talk about communication

By Alice Johnsen During any stressful period of our lives, one of the first things to suffer is very often good communication.

Our concentration and attention to detail is not as good as when we are not over stressed.

Our reactions are based more on emotion than logic. When our stress levels are high, we are more likely to use the emotional right side of our brain rather than the logical left in order to take decisions.

This can mean that we react in a fast but unconsidered way, which can add to bad communications within either a professional or personal relationship. Our emotional resilience is lowered by stress, which can affect the way we react to

other people’s decisions.

That can lead to a greater risk of misinterpretation and a breakdown of clear understanding.

So how to solve this?

First, recognition.

If you recognise communication within any relationship needs improving, you have taken the first step to clarity.

Secondly, in order to address

this successfully, finding the right time and place to discuss the issues is key.

To get the best out of a potentially difficult conversation it is sensible to identify a good time of day when neither party is distracted (no phones in the room) or tired and when the risk of interruption is low.

Both parties need to agree that all cards must go on the table but – and this is essential – with kindness.

Consider how you would feel if you heard the words you speak spoken to you.

Next, in a conversation like this, it is so important that you really, really listen.

Also that you accept there may well be a need to embrace change or to compromise. To quote Jim Rohn: “Effective

communication is 20% what you know and 80% how you feel about what you know.”

Finally, if you can, return to the conversation after a few weeks have passed – don’t just leave it as a one-off.

Be honest about what has or has not changed and what is or is not working for you.

If you are aware of what is increasing the stress for either party that has caused the initial breakdown of communication, look to address that too.

Be calm, flexible and kind.

Be patient.

Communication is so key to our every interaction. It deserves protecting.

Alice Johnsen is a life coach based just outside Sherborne.

07961 080513 alicejohnsen.co.uk

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51

Health & Wellbeing

Weed is good for you! (Dandelions that is) Think before you dig up your dandelions.

They are one of the most useful herbal medicines we have and you can use the whole plant.

As a species, we developed alongside the flora and fauna of the natural world.

Plants and berries and the odd bit of meat was our staple diet until we started to farm. Our bodies have not evolved as fast as our technology hence many ailments and diseases arising from processed foods and chemicals that we are not equipped to deal with in large loads. To remain healthy you need to have a slightly alkaline internal environment and to do this, you need to eat lots of dark green, leafy vegetables which carry magnesium, iron and calcium as well as vitamins, proteins and minerals vital for our cellular structure.

Dandelions have been used for years as an aid for all manner of ailments from arthritis to heart disease, to cirrhosis of the liver to skin problems, haemorrhoids, eczema and alcoholism.

Basically, they get the system moving by stimulating your liver and gall bladder to produce digestive juices. This not only allows better assimilation of your food,

A walk around...

BLANDFORD Park in or close to Salisbury Road (wherever you can find free parking!) near the cemetery.

Visit the war graves etc and notice, grouped together, the ornate and well maintained graves of the local Romany families.

Head north up Shaftesbury Lane for half a mile then left, south west, down Tin Pot Lane, then turn right, north east to enter the Milldown Nature Reserve which is worth spending some time exploring, especially if your visit is in the flowery season.

At the south west end of Milldown you can join the 52

former Slow and Dirty Railway line and head south east for a couple of furlongs, passing a playing field on your right. Cross the playing field to join Park Road and head south east, then down Damory Street until you reach East Street, the town centre.

Make your way West along East Street where there are lots of small and interesting shops. The church is on your right, which is worth a visit.

It was, like much of the town, built by the Bastards following the great fire which destroyed everything in 1731.

Notice the water fountain at the corner of Church Lane.

Opposite the church is an alleyway down which is the

but can also alleviate elimination it can help with bloating and flatulence. clearing uric acid which They act as a slight laxative accumulates in joints causing and a diuretic (making you arthritis and gout. Stopping pee more) aiding elimination your body holding onto of toxins, extremely water lessens oedema or important for keeping your water retention which in turn blood clean and body keeps blood pressure down healthy. Clean, healthy blood and helps to clear out any allows the movement of urinary tract infections. oxygen and nutrients as well The liver and it’s ability to as hormones to travel around clear toxins in closely related the body freely. to the skin and both can be You can treat dandelion helped taking dandelion. leaves as a food and add Lastly, the flowers (which them to a salad or even eat are sometimes made into them as a little appetiser wine) contain a nutrient that before your main meal. The increases the levels of dried root can be made into a acetylcholine in the brain, a powder and has been used as depletion of which is linked a rather revolting (in my to Alzheimer’s. opinion) substitute for coffee. Both the root and leaves are also tinctured; a process where alcohol is used to Fiona Chapman is extract all studying naturopathy it’s nutrients. and herbal medicine at As the plant the College of is useful for Naturopathic Medicine

with retired Dorset rights of way officer Chris Slade

The Romany graves in Blandford Cemetery town museum, which is worth a visit (if open). It is run by volunteers with free entry (donations welcome).

Continue along East Street past the car park until on your left is an alleyway leading to/past Morrison’s supermarket and car park, beyond which is an area of

pleasant parkland alongside the Stour, the parish boundary.

After exploring it, make your way back to the west end of East Street where there is a junction with Salisbury Street which you follow north east for about a mile until you find your car.

Health & Wellbeing

Adele Clinch, BSc HCPC registered chiropodist/podiatrist 01935 812231 Home visits in NW Dorset Sherborne sherbornepodiatry.com

Natural Pain Relief therapist in Gillingham.

Bio resonance scan and treatments.clinical reflexology & baby/ toddler reflexology.

T: 01747 826931 yvonne@intelligenthealth clinic.co.uk Making Life More Comfortable!

The friendly team at Shaftesbury Chiropractic, led by Dr Vanessa Spencer, are committed to helping you get back to doing the things you love.

Come and chat to one of our Chiropractors or try a taster massage!

Chiropractic treatments Pilates Sports massage To book an appointment call us today on 01747 851455 1 Brimport, Shaftesbury SP7 8AT

www.shaftesburychiropractic.co.uk FLU FIGHTERS: Age UK is urging all senior citizens to have their flu jab. Inset: Chief executive oficer Dave Thorp

Age UK urging flu jab for senior folks Age UK North, South & West Dorset (NSWD) is urging older people to get the flu jab.

With coronavirus sticking around, the charity is encouraging them to protect themselves and others, and prevent hospital admissions.

Chief executive officer Dave Thorp said: “This year has been exceptionally hard for older people. We know the combination of cold weather, shorter days and seasonal flu means winter is already a tough time for some of the most vulnerable people.”

The ageing process weakens the immune system meaning our bodies are less able to fight off illnesses. This happens even if you are fit and healthy.

Dave Thorp added: “The best way to protect yourself and others is to get the

flu vaccine. Antibiotics and other medication won’t help to prevent you from getting flu.

“There are different flu strains, so each year the vaccine is created to protect against the most prevalent strain.”

Flu is a seasonal illness which is usually at its most prevalent from October to March each year. Flu is much more than a nasty cold. In England, flu caused more than 1,700 admissions to hospital in people aged 65 and over in 2018-19.

FREE COUNSELLING SERVICE We have received funding from the National Community Fund to enable us to offer a telephone support line for anybody having trouble coping with these weird times that we are going through.

What ever your problem, give us a call and our friendly counsellor will try to help.

The help line is available: Tuesdays Daytime 1 - 4 pm Wednesdays Evening 6 - 8 pm Thursday Daytime 12 - 3 pm

Telephone: 07714 550969 It’s good to share

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When the home that you love has become too much for you to cope with, and you worry about the everyday things like cooking meals and caring for yourself, then it may be time to consider an easier way of life. St Denis Lodge is a beautifully appointed house with an attractive garden and conservatory. We would welcome an opportunity to show you why it is one of the most highly regarded homes in the area.

Contact Vicki Elesmore on 01747 854596 St Denis Lodge, Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8BS

53

Health & Wellbeing

Make your own...

cleansing balm

By Victoria Brunton In the last edition, I shared with you my lovely moisturising DIY deodorant bars and today I have one of my top favourite natural skin care recipes to share with you. A nourishing make-up remover and cleansing balm.

With this colder weather, it’s more than important to ensure your skin is being kept nourished. I have created a lovely night time skin cleanser which will do just the trick. Water free and consisting of only natural ingredients, you won’t even need to moisturise after cleansing.

For this simple recipe you will need the following ingredients: 2 tablespoons Shea Butter 1 tablespoon Cocoa Butter 1 tablespoon Coconut Oil 1 teaspoon Rosehip Oil 5 drops Geranium Rose Essential Oil

5 drops Patchouli essential oil Place the Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter and Coconut Oil in a glass bowl and melt over a double boiler or microwave.

Keep stirring until all the oils and butters have melted. If using the microwave, give a stir every 30 seconds.

Let the mixture cool slightly for about 5 minutes and then add and stir in the Rosehip Oil and essential oils. As

with all my other recipes, use whatever essential oils provide you with a feeling of calm.

Pour the mixture into a glass jar or a container of your choice, allowing it to cool and solidify before use. If you wish to speed up the cooling process, pop it in the fridge.

To use, take a scoop of the balm with your fingers and

massage into your face and neck. For a spa like feeling, leave the balm on for a few minutes and then place a warm muslin cloth over your face and inhale the fragrance before gently wiping off the cleanser. Alternatively use a reusable makeup remover pad to wipe off any excess oil. The butters and oils will have already started moisturising so a thin layer will remain for overnight moisturisation.

This cleansing balm can also be used as relief for dry elbows and feet as well as a hand and nail cream - so what’s there not to like!

If you are looking for natural, eco-friendly gifts this year, my handmade Kunewyk Moisturising Bars and Christmas gift sets are now available online at kunewykwoods.co.uk – proceeds go towards tree planting in Dorset. Prices start at just £4.75.

Breathing through tough situations

By Finola Brennan Yoga Instructor and Ayurvedic Therapist at The Cedar Tree the-cedar-tree.co.uk For some, winter is a wonderful time for slowing down, and cosying up in front of a blazing fire with a cup of cocoa or mulled wine.

If that’s not you, perhaps you are ready to pull the duvet over your head in an attempt to stay there until spring.

You aren’t alone, especially with the environment we find ourselves in at present. Worry, fear, stress and anxiety compounded by conflicting views, sometimes voiced with great gusto...it’s hardly any wonder we can feel a bit 54

strained at times.

Thankfully we have a tool to help. Many of us are unaware our breath has a great power that can be harnessed to help overcome moments of anxiety, stress, fear or anger.

A breathing practice called the seven/eleven breath, is a simple technique that will help empower you to remain in control. When you first learn the following steps, find a comfortable space where you won’t be disturbed.

Close your eyes and begin to notice your breath, observe where you can feel the breath in your body. It may be at your nose, or at your mouth, it may be at the top of your chest. Just take a little bit of time to notice this. If you find thoughts start

to distract you, this is perfectly normal, as soon as you notice just begin to watch your breath again. Try to encourage deeper breaths to fill your lungs, rather than shallow breathing.

Then begin to count to three as you inhale and five as you exhale (or similar, as long as your exhale is a little longer than your inhale).

Settle into a rhythm focusing on your breath and counting.

Practice for two or three minutes, knowing that at any point you can return to your normal breathing pattern.

Eventually you may be able to increase the ratio, inhaling to five, exhaling to seven, then progress to inhale for 7 and exhale for 11. Essentially what you are doing is sending your

body the message that all is well and it can get out of its fight or flight ...busy, worried, anxious mode and relax.

With practice this will become a natural technique you can do anywhere, to help bring a sense of calm and balance to when things become strained.

Quick recap!

Close your eyes and begin to notice your breath.

Observe where you can feel the breath in your body Focus on your breath Deep breathe, fill your lungs Inhale for 3, exhale for 5 Settle into a rhythm focusing on your breath and countIng Increase your inhale to 5 and exhale to 7, eventually increasing to inhaling for 7 and exhaling for 11.

Business

Accountancy group takes over forest firm A Shaftesbury accountancy boss has snapped up a business in the New Forest. Paul Stacey, director of Hub Chartered Accountants, bought Jenny Barnes & Co in Ringwood to form a new regional accountancy group.

This latest takeover is the second major purchase Stacey has made in past 18 months, following his acquisition of Shaftesbury-based Rutter & Allhusen last year.

The new group, Hub Chartered Accountants, will be made up of Stacey’s three legacy businesses Rutter & Allhusen Ltd, Jenny

Barnes & Co. Ltd and IQ Business Consulting Ltd. It will offer tax, accountancy, bookkeeping and business consulting services to private clients and businesses across Dorset and the New Forest, from offices in Shaftesbury and Ringwood.

Clients will benefit from a wider spread of services and experience and economies of scale that will keep prices extremely competitive.

He said: “We aim to offer clients across the region a different type of accountancy, tax & business

consulting service that addresses their specific issues like lack of time, lack of accounting expertise, a desire to build a business on their own terms and ensuring they retain a fair maximum return.”

He added: “Research shows that small businesses in particular are not well served by the accountancy profession. Too often small business owners regard their accountants as expensive, backward looking, hard to access and lacking the vertical sector expertise to give

Exporting from the Vale...

Exporting to Japan For over a year, we had been speaking with Koichi Matsumoto and his company Dream Studios in Yokahama, to create our first mirror maze in Japan. It had to be installed and open for the Spring Festival.

The concept, specification and price had been agreed. “It’s important, Adrian, that both you and I consider the price is fair to you and fair to me,” said Koichi.

And it was. All that remained was the client’s decision and his first instalment of funds cleared through our bank, before our English contractor’s factory could start work.

Finally, we were down to four working days, or we could not fabricate the project in time for shipping by container and installation in Japan by our team. Koichi called excitedly: “I spoke to the client today, and it’s agreed! I shook hands on the deal, we are under way with the contract! The funds will be with you within 10 working days.”

“I’m sorry, Koichi, but that’s not going to work,” I replied.

Ten minutes later, Koichi called: “Look at your online bank account.” There, to my astonishment, was the first instalment in full in our bank account. “How did you persuade

Paul Stacey

useful practical advice.”

Trevor Bristow, head of marketing & business development at Hub, said: “Our services are specifically aimed at providing cost-effective realworld solutions, so that business owners can get on with running their businesses.”

by Adrian Fisher

the client to pay within the past ten minutes?” I asked, incredulously.

“It’s not his money,” he said. “I paid it myself out of my own company. Clearly your cash flow is weaker than mine. I’ve shaken hands on it, so it’s certain he will pay me. It’s the way business works in Japan – my word is my bond. It’s an old saying that dates back to the coffee houses in London in the 17th century.”

And that is the way we began to build mirror mazes in Japan with Koichi Matsumoto. He has been an honoured guest to our home in North Dorset, when we

thrilled him with visits to such places as Salisbury Cathedral, unthinkable in such an earthquake-prone country as Japan. Marie and I were his guests in Tokyo, and he took us by bullet train to Kyoto, where we visited temples and water gardens, and shared meals in traditional Japanese dining houses. Our son Wilfred spent his gap year in Japan, teaching English at a school in Tokyo, and again Koichi was a true friend to our family. With Koichi as our trusted partner, we have now exported seven mirror mazes to Japan.

Thanks so much to all who made Christmas lights possible

By Jacqui Wragg of Sturbiz A big thank you to the following people for supporting Sturminster Newton’s Christmas tree and lights.

It is not possible to have the usual big crowd gathering at the annual Sturminster Newton Christmas tree light switch on this year, but we want to give special thanks to Debbie Hurst and Liz Whittingham for their hard work and devotion to raising funds and sponsorship in ensuring this seasonal event has taken place over the last 10 years. We’d also like to add recognition to our Christmas Elf,

Sophie Davies, who joined the team midway to make her very, very special mark on the occasion and we wish her the very best in her move to Devon.

For the past three years the town has had amazing financial and voluntary support from the following businesses and individuals: John Roman Park Homes – Colton Care, Newstone House – NFU Sturminster Newton – Stalbridge Linen – Grassby and Close Funeral Service – Farnfield Solicitors – Sturminster Newton Town Council – Porter Dodson Solicitors – Symond and

Sampson – Sturminster Dental Practice – Nazareth Lodge – Market Place Drycleaners – Root & Vine – Stur of the Moment – The Really Tiny Coffee Company – Agnes & Vera – John Carrick Wealth Management – Spear Travel Agents – Stour Management Ltd (formerly SturQuest Enterprises) – The Co‑operative Funeralcare ‑ Sturminster.

Thanks also to Mervyn Rose (Rose Engineering), Adam Dodson and the Grounds Team, Wynnstay Agriculture and The Christmas Decorators who oversee the installation and the

dressing of the tree.

This year, local generosity of donations of pre–loved items to the Community Chest Boutique and The Emporium have helped to raise funds for the lights and new fittings on the additional 45 mini trees purchased by individual businesses and residents for added festive town illumination and thanks are given to Cllr Martin Jones and his team for the installations.

It has been a year of huge change for the world which has been emotionally difficult for so many. Raise a glass to 2021 for hope and togetherness.

55

Business

Cable pair prosper with mentorship

By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A couple who have built a global business in Sturminster Newton have extolled the virtues of a mentoring scheme that helped them weather the storm of Chinese competitors and the pandemic.

Dafydd and Sonia de Lange founded D and S Cable Braiding Ltd in 2008 after the company Dafydd worked for relocated its manufacturing unit up north – it later shut down the braiding side of its business.

They got the business going with very little working capital and kept it going, as other braiding firms fell by the wayside – there were around 200 companies making cables in the UK in the late 90s but now there are just a handful.

In 2014, after six years of trading, the pair were advised to get a bit of extra help and met a volunteer from DorMen – now called Dorset Business Mentors.

While they were skilled at their jobs they lacked business and cash flow skills and they wanted a business plan.

Dorset Business Mentors

swung into action and mentor Trevor Dutton was chosen for his wide range of experience.

Trevor recognised the potential in the business and helped identify an investor in Liverpool, who subsequently bought a 50% share in the company. He helped Dafydd and Sonia increase productivity, improve turnover and expand.

In 2016 the de Langes again extended their range into Jute ropes and other related cord products. By 2017 they were in a position to buy back their 50% share, enabling them to regain complete control of the business.

In 2020 they took over a cable extrusion company in London, once again enabling them to extend their product range. This precipitated a move to larger premises to accommodate the cable manufacturing, cable extruding and cord business.

This growth has been against a national trend of a whole industry being lost to Chinese competitors. Daffyd said: “Trevor has developed our capabilities and strengthened us as business owners.”

Sonia said: “Without Trevor

we wouldn’t have succeeded. He really believes in us and that has been key at those moments we felt we can’t do this any more. He encourages us to keep going.

“He is diplomatic and always considered but doesn’t beat about the bush, which we welcome.”

Dafydd and Sonia say they CABLE CALL: Dafydd and Sonia de Lange feel the business is in a with Trevor Dutton good position Volunteer Dorset. and resilient, despite the Membership of the service pandemic. starts from £200 +VAT a They are looking to enter year for unlimited 1:1 new markets in the face of mentoring and skills Brexit and other market development courses. forces.

Dorset Business Mentors has To learn more about Dorset Business Mentors call 01305 more than 130 volunteer mentors, all experienced, 221 268 or go to senior and successful dorsetbusinessmentors.uk. business people in their own Trevor Dutton has been a spheres. The service has mentor to well over 40 Dorset businesses since 2006 been provided to over 2,000 business across Dorset over and was awarded Volunteer the last 15 years. of the Year 2019 by

Let everyone know you’re #stillopen with free directory entry Are you #StillOpen? Then the Dorset Gateway Business Directory could help you let people know.

Dorset Gateway, Dorset LEP’s business growth hub, is refreshing its business directory and businesses of all sizes and in any sector are invited to register and feature on their free online platform.

In an effort to support small businesses during the differing restrictions during the pandemic, Dorset 56

Gateway is also encouraging retail, hospitality and tourism businesses to register.

The #StillOpen campaign encourages people to shop locally and help Dorset businesses hit by the virus – they are also trying to support local businesses in the run up the festive period and into the new year.

Finn Morgan, business engagement and Dorset Gateway manager, said: “Our business directory

provides an up-to-date register of Dorset’s businesses for organisations to promote their goods and services to suppliers, investors, other businesses and most importantly, customers.

“As businesses prepare for ongoing restrictions, many have changed or are changing the way they provide their goods and services. We’re committed to supporting them by

providing this platform and encouraging people to shop locally.”

The team at Dorset Gateway, delivered in partnership with Dorset Chamber, is fully updated on the latest government and local support available to help Dorset’s business community respond and recover from the impacts of covid and prepare for exiting the EU. dorsetlep.co.uk/dorsetgateway-business-directory

Business

ARE YOUR RETIREMENT PLANS ON COURSE? Contact us for a pension review.

PETER HARDING WEALTH MANAGEMENT Principal Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management

30 Haven Road, Canford Cliffs, Dorset BH13 7LP Tel: 01202 830730 40 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8JG Tel: 01747 855554 9 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PU Tel: 01935 315315

Email: peterhardingwm@sjpp.co.uk Web: www.peterhardingwm.co.uk The Partner Practice is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the title ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

Peter Harding Wealth Management is a trading name of Peter Harding Practice Ltd.

57

Recruitment PART TIME PALL BEARERS

FULL TIME COOK Semley, Wiltshire

Compton McRae are looking for a cook to join our busy team, starting immediately.

Please apply by sending your CV to bill@comptonmcrae.com Wanted - Labour for hedge clearance and planting FT and PT. 07773 132819 Cleaner required, part time for rural home. 07712 604904 WHOLESALE SALES MANAGER wanted for a fast-growing craft business based in Shillingstone. £25k pro rata. For full details head to hawthornhandmade.com/ pages/careers Workshop team member required. Needs a good eye for detail, will suit someone with an interest in electrical and mechanical assembly, experience not essential.

Full time position at small friendly company near Shaftesbury.

01747 851060 General Plumber/Bathroom Fitter, experienced person required. Must be hard working and reliable, must work to a high standard and on own when necessary, full driving licence and own transport essential, good package, immediate start, 07946 396912

58

Local Independent Family Funeral Directors are looking for reliable and suitable candidates of smart appearance for part time pall bearing, training and supervision provided.

Please contact Merefield & Henstridge Funeral Directors on 01747 853532

Farm Operations Manager required to cover maternity leave An exciting opportunity for an operations manager has arisen to cover a year’s maternity leave in our farm office! A farming background is essential as we provide veterinary services to dairy, beef, sheep, goat, alpaca, and pig farms in North Dorset, Somerset and Wilts.

The successful candidate must have strong leadership qualities. They must know how to listen, respond, and problem-solve with solid solutions. They must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and be able to chat in a friendly manner with everyone! The successful candidate will be required to work at least 4 days a week and 1 Saturday morning in 5 and will work alongside 5 other office staff,13 farm vets and 4 veterinary technicians.

Applications should be made to the practice manager Justine Turnbull via email justine@friarsmoorvets.co.uk by Friday 4th December 2020

www.friarsmoorvets.co.uk

Wessex Vehicle Services Commercial Body Builders require a full time stores controller/ vehicle inspector 40hrs per week Duties to include * Ordering & Receiving * Goods Inwards * Checking delivery of new vehicles * Unloading Materials * Type approval

documentation Full UK Driving licence required, must have some knowledge and experience within a stores role Forklift licence an advantage but not essential Please contact Tony Sweatman for more information on 01722 714545 or email CVs to tony@wessexvehicles.co.uk Steel erector/cladder required for industrial / agricultural buildings Experience preferred but not essential as training offered to the right applicant. Phone John Guttridge 07860570258 Sheet metalworker required for small engineering business near Shaftesbury. Engineering experience is essential.

Full time position.

01747 851060

Skilled cabinet makers required To join our growing successful team, all applications will be treated with discretion.

APT Interiors specialise in the manufacture of luxury bespoke 昀tted and freestanding furniture, our projects are wide ranging and interesting.

Applicants must have: 5 years bench experience Ability to use modern wood working machines Ability to produce furniture from drawings Ability to work on sole projects or as part of a team 45 hours per week, overtime available Excellent rates of pay depending on experience Job Type: Full-time, Permanent Salary: £35,000.00 - £50,000.00 per year Apply via email to: andy@aptinteriors.co.uk with details of your experience and enclosing a CV if possible

Recruitment Business Administration Apprentice

OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITHIN THE FARMING ENVIRONMENT National Milk Records plc is looking for an enthusiastic person to become a part-time, self-employed Sampler, visiting 8-9 farms in the Dorchester/Wareham/Blandford and also Bridport/Axminster areas. The work involves taking individual cow milk samples.

Hours will vary but the work will take up approximately 5-8 early mornings and 5-8 afternoons per month and applicants must have their own transport. A perfect position if you enjoy the outdoor life and earnings about £350-£450 per month.

Please contact: fionabl@nmrp.com for more details.

Closing date: 14/12/2020

Based in our local Administration Office supporting our Office Manager with all administrative aspects of running a busy office.

You will also be studying with a local training provider for a Level 3 or 5 qualification, depending on experience.

January start – 37.5 hours per week, competitive salary.

Asesoria Group is a professional services company operating in the UK & Ireland, working with a wide range of corporate and public sector organisations.

Tisbury DENTAL & IMPLANT CLINIC

Full details can be found on our Careers page at www.asesoria-group.com or email careers@asesoria-group.com

Dental Nurse required at our well-presented practice, Tisbury Dental & Implant Clinic

Strictly no agencies – thank you.

Portman Dental Care is a leading private dentistry provider with a family of more than 145 practices.

Winner of ‘Outstanding Business of the Year’ at the Dental Industry Awards for the past four years.

Full time hours: Monday to Friday Trainee dental nurses will also be considered GDC, Indemnity and CPD costs covered Competitive rate plus excellent benefits, including: Practice bonus scheme Life assurance Sick pay Pension scheme

If you would like to find out more about this Dental Nurse vacancy please email jodie.salter@portmandental.co.uk

Gardener Grounds Maintenance person required. To work in private client's gardens and communal and residential sites. Some experience preferred and a full driving licence required. Good communication skills and able to work as part of a small team. Full time position. Call Mike at Greenman Solutions Ltd on 07738 824952

Sandroyd

Co-ed Boarding and Day Prep and PrePrep School School Head Chef Required January An experienced, cheerful and hardworking individual is required to lead the School’s kitchen team. Term-time only.

For further details, please contact: Chris Stewart, The Bursar, Sandroyd, Rushmore, Tollard Royal, Nr Salisbury, SP5 5QD Tel: 01725 516329 bursar@sandroyd.com Closing date Midday Thursday 10 December Interviews the following week Sandroyd is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo the appropriate child protection screening before appointment.

SITUATIONS WANTED Help needed over festive season? Xmas/ New Year Party. Hard Worker Book now! 01747-228397 Experienced Finance Manager Looking for work in the local area.

Experience in SMEs / start-ups / entrepreneurial environments, with a modern, energetic, flexible “think outside the box” approach. Able to manage all aspects of financial management/bookeeping/ payroll/ cashflows, budgets, R&D, multicurrency etc. Hands on / management and HR skills. Happy to WFH or office based. Flexible employed Full /PT/self employed basis.

For further details / CV / informal chat please contact: Lizzy.Lambert613 @gmail.com

Experienced qualified carer available for all aspects of care, available days, nights, weekends, excellent references, valid DBS, Insured - Please call 07879 178764

A local carer is available. 14 years of experience, all aspects of care. Fully qualified. Reliable and committed. 15 miles radius of Shaftesbury.

Call 07809 206782.

Fully qualified, reliable and experienced carer available Sherborne based, self employed -Insured and DBS Call Dawn: 07596 891741 Considerate companion / cook/ driver (excellent references) call Elizabeth 01963 370906

59

Puzzles (for you or I)

Arrow words Five-grid sudoku

Crossword 1

Towered temple

Duo

Pick

Metal filament

Tacitly

2

3

4

5

6

7

Debates

8 Haze

9

Online gasp (inits)

Mediocre writing

11

10 Atop

Dog cub

Former worker (abbr)

Singer’s need

Sweet young woman

Company boss (inits)

14

AOL, eg (inits)

Cereal box figure (inits)

Queen of Carthage

Pointed instrument

15

16

Propellant gas (inits)

Zagreb native

13

12

Appeal

18

17

Elitist

20

19

Usernames (abbr)

Can

21 ‘I’ll make it happen’ (4,2)

Golf score

Across 1 Offensive (7) 5 Sneering (5) 9 Worldwide (13) 10 Disappeared (8) 11 Plant harvested as food (4) 12 Overwhelmed (9) 16 Refuse to obey (4) 17 Type of make-up (8) 19 Oppressive (13) 21 Quit (5) 22 Speak softly (7)

Oaf

Wordsearch Australian Plants

T R R T E O T E L T S I M N A

S A E V O R G N A M T L I T S

I T Q Y Q S T O I L Y J S A T

L A R I B G W U S L U I S H N

A S L O R T O I L D L S S Y A

ACACIA BANKSIA BLADDERWORTS BOTTLEBRUSH BYBLIS JARRAH KAURI LILLY-PILLY

60

I G U L W O J I R B L U G S L

C K L N D R P A Y U R O N L P

A A C N D Y E B R B A S O E R

C S A K L E S D E R W K D I E

A W T L Y O W L D A A T N R H

I W I A S B T S L A P H A R C

H L W I S T E R I A L M U A T

K O L R O S E S S O B B Q M I

MARRI MISTLETOE PITCHER PLANT QUANDONG STILT MANGROVE SUNDEWS WANDOO WISTERIA

H A A B A S L A T K H D A S P

E R E S O A L T A I S K N A B

22

Sudoku

2

7 3 1

Down 2 Dwarf tree (6) 3 Science subject (9) 4 One after eighth (5) 6 A charity, for example (inits) (3) 7 Fire-breathing beast (6) 8 Heavy food (6) 11 Living things (9) 13 In abundance (6) 14 Trim back (6) 15 Mountaineer’s tool (3,3) 18 Mend (5) 20 Belonging to that man (3)

8 5 2 7

1 4 7 1 5 8 3 2 6 4 3 2 8 9 2 4 4 9 7 5

For the solutions turn to page 67

Brain chain RESULT

16

×1/4

×12

×1/3

+25%

Puzzles (for cleverclogs)

Jumbo 3D Sudoku

Cryptic Crossword 1

1

4 7 1

7 8 6 3 1 5

4

8

9

3

4

6

9

1 5

9 8 4

1 2

9

1

5 4 6 9

9 5

7

2 8

6

7

10

11

13

14

15 17

18 19

3 20

21

22

23

5 24

25

8 3

2

Jumbo 3D Sudoku instructions Place 1 to 9 once each into every black-bordered 3×3 area as well as each of the 54 rows indicated by the coloured lines.

Rows don’t cross the thick black lines.

Killer Sudoku Pro 22

5 9

16

9

8

4

12

4

6 3 7 8 3 1 4 9 2 2 4 7 8 2

3 6

2

5 4

6

3 2

7

9

2

3

8

2

6 9 6

2

13

10

10

15

Across 8 Detailed society showing summary of a meeting? (7) 9 Drive the Spanish behind troublemaker (5) 10 Welcome Greek with returning support (5) 11 Engineering soldier with pointed tools stretches out (7) 12 Chat two characters exchanged for an environmental cause? (12) 16 Largely non-mainstream footage shown by refined friend on a singular basis (12) 20 Medic with agent disrupted systematic police search (7) 23 Problem in one that’s pretentious? (5) 24 Determination shown by son in legal documents (5) 25 Bring into view old writer getting published (4,3)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 13 14 15 17 18 19 21 22

Down A fighter with love for Spanish friend (5) Coroner altered day officially (2,6) Numerical fact by American gets standing (6) A southern island unchanged in nature (2,2) I stray into South American mountain range (6) Churn out latest of sheets on seat in church (4) Conservative heading for defeat in a final stage? (7) Radical is studied, we’re told (3) Trouble with number turning up around American institute? It’s deceptive (8) Stain reportedly blue to subside (3,4) Glossy coating right away to disappear (6) More substantial prince in exotic realm (6) Good price for jar (5) Skilful bachelor consumed by drink (4) Dupe also beginning to languish (4)

12

Killer Sudoku Pro instructions 14

8

7

21

12

10

11

34

15

8

10

10

9

9

Brain chain (Hard version)

12

15

21

11

Place 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and bold-lined 3×3 box. No digit may be repeated in any dashed-line cage, and each dashed-line cage must result in the given value when the stated operation is applied between all of the digits in that cage. For subtraction and division operations, start with the highest number in the cage and then subtract or divide by the other numbers in that cage.

4

9

17

5

12

12

RESULT

43

-10

×2/3

+132

×2/7

×5

27

Can you solve these brain chains entirely in your head? Start with the bold value on the left of a chain, then follow the arrows and apply each operation in turn. Write the result in the box.

61

MPs’ round-up

Area’s charity grants are welcome news Thank you to everyone who wrote in with supportive comments following the debate I led in the Commons on the future of the National Trust, a much-loved charitable institution, Britain’s largest landowner and big operator in our area.

Charities across the board have been badly impacted this year. MPs were recently informed by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden of the funding packages which have been provided to charities hit by the crisis.

Part of the Government’s response to the pandemic has been a £750 million support package to ensure voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors could remain operating. The scheme is by far the most

MP for South West Wiltshire Dr Andrew Murrison generous in Europe for the charity sector.

Over 13,000 charities across the country received direct funding towards continuing their work. This was complemented with other support programmes, such as

the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

The £750 million figure was broken down into multiple schemes, including a £200 million Coronavirus Community Support Fund – designed to buttress small and medium sized charities.

Of this, £183,295 was received by six local charities in my constituency. They included, Collaborative Schools, HELP Counselling Services, Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, Larkrise Community Farm, Vehicles for Change, and Fairfield Farm Trust.

Amongst these charities, I most recently visited Larkrise Community Farm. I was able to see the fantastic work they do first-hand. As a special needs educational provider,

they have worked hard to keep their doors open and I know that any fiscal support will have been greatly appreciated.

Charities are vital bastions of community engagement and support, and it is essential we help see them through to the other side of this horrible pandemic. The grants given through the Coronavirus Community Support Fund will have helped towards this.

I warmly welcome it.

Good news on the A303 improvements. I hope to meet the Transport Secretary soon to press the need for the second phase to the west of Stonehenge, including the A303/A36 junction, without which the case for the tunnel would fall flat.

LOOK AT ME! Yes, me – I was meant to be MP David Warburton, but he’s a bit busy this week!

I am a lovely, tasteful ad from the New Blackmore Vale’s design team.

You want me?

I’m yours if you email adverts@blackmorevale.net 62

MPs’ round-up

Stick to the rules and we can get through this I have referenced every thesaurus and book of word I own and have, I am afraid, failed to identify a word that adequately sums up 2020.

Unique springs to mind while ‘hoped never to be repeated’ will be in all our minds and prayers. Health, liberty, livelihood, education, finances and public services have been tested and strained as at no other period in peacetime.

While the prospect of a vaccine provides a warming glimmer of hope; as I write, the Commons is debating the imposition of a new tiering system which spreads a chill winter gloom on all us. By the time you will be reading this I will have voted for the new regulations.

Not with a gladsome heart, in fact, quite the opposite. I have done so out of necessity. To continue a blanket national lockdown would have been untenable while to leave the people of the country open to, and unprotected against, the

MP for North Dorset Simon Hoare ravages of Covid would have been irresponsible. We are a mature democracy, so I have no doubt that the trajectory of freedom stretching from Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights to universal suffrage is safe.

Business is taking a pummelling and the hokey cokey effect of regulation has not helped. But, we are a strong economy with a resilient

and adaptable range of commerce, service and manufacture. There will be a recovery and until it is embedded the Treasury must continue to support through innovative schemes. Some in my inbox urge a total lockdown until the vaccine is fully rolled out. Others urge not just a light touch but a no touch approach.

I have always seen Covid for what it fundamentally is: A PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGE WITH ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES. It is the former that is the trump card and the one I have put front and centre in my thinking. I would have loved rural Dorset to be in Tier 1. Initially I thought that we had only gone into Tier 2 because of the cases in and around Bournemouth and Poole. In fact, when our excellent Dorset Council Director of Public Health walked me through the data it was clear that without taking

BCP into consideration our part of Dorset would still have been placed in Tier 2 principally due to the figures around the over 60s. Now, I will press Government with all the energy I possess to get us into Tier 1 as quickly as possible. I can only make the case and we can only achieve that if we collectively abide by the rules of Tier 2. If boredom, frustration, anger and selfishness win through we will not only remain in Tier 2 but run the very real risk of being in Tier 3. Let us, in the words of St Paul, run the race to the finish; stick to the rules and make progress, in so doing we will be protecting the health of our communities and those we love. An unique year there is no doubt. A very different, quieter Christmas beckons.

Notwithstanding that may I close by wishing you all a peaceful, healthy and socially distanced Christmas and a much better, more confident 2021.

What is not so widely talked about is the part that Dorset, in particular Chetnole (home to my favourite railway halt) near Yetminster, has played in the history of immunisation. It was a Chetnole farmer, named Benjamin Jesty, who in 1774 devised cowpox vaccinations against smallpox. He was the first to introduce the idea that those people infected with cowpox, a relatively mild disease, could be protected against smallpox, by administering the less virulent virus. English physician, Doctor Edward Jenner, is given historic credit for developing the smallpox vaccine, more than 20 years later in 1796, but in truth it’s West Dorset’s own ‘Farmer Jesty’ who we have to thank for the pioneering medical

discovery that is still saving lives today.

We welcomed the start of Advent on November 29 and many will be glad of the news that communal worship is permitted once more. I have lobbied ministers and church leaders on this for many months, as I did previously in the spring.

The hope of a choir singing, and even perhaps the opportunity for me to play the organ at one or two of my local village church carol services, is indeed something to be thankful for.

As our local shops fully reopen for business this week, adorned with glittering lights, it is an invitation from our high street shopkeepers to keep our local economy moving for Christmas.

I do hope you will accept that invitation – as indeed shall I. 63

Vaccines pioneer a north Dorset boy

My column this week has gone to press before Tuesday’s key vote in Parliament on the latest coronavirus restrictions and the Government’s proposed tiered approach. To read my view on this, and how it affects us here, please visit chrisloder.co.uk/tiers It is thanks to a British scientific breakthrough on vaccines that the country is finally able to turn a corner in its fight against coronavirus.

That, and the significant expansion of rapid turnaround testing to reduce transmission, holds the key to us getting beyond this epidemic stage.

Of course, we continue to tread a very fine line between protecting our health and wellbeing and saving our economy. There are still challenging months ahead, and

MP for West Dorset Chris Loder restrictions to live with, but I believe that for the first time we can see hope of fighting this health emergency; albeit our economic emergency has only just begun.

Arts & Entertainment

Festive selection pack at arts centre Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s first National Theatre Live Recording is War Horse, based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo and adapted by Nick Stafford in association with the awardwinning Handspring Puppet Company.

At the outbreak of World War One, Albert’s beloved house Joey is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France.

Though still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.

This powerfully moving and imaginative drama is a show of phenomenal inventiveness.

At its heart are astonishing life-size puppets who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to life. n Saturday December 5 @ 2.30pm Tickets Adults £15, Under 18s £12 Tickets available from www.shaftesburyartsce ntre.org.uk or Shaftesbury Tourist Information Office.

Fleabag, written and performed by Phoebe WallerBridge, is Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s latest National Theatre live recording.

Fleabag is a rip-roaring look at some sort of woman living her sort of life. With family and friendships under strain and struggling to keep a café afloat, Fleabag decides she has nothing to lose.

This hilarious, awardwinning one-woman show which inspired the BBC’s hit TV series, was recorded on stage from London’s West End in 2019. nSaturday December 12 @ 2.20pm Tickets Adults £15, Under 18s £12 Tickets available from www.shaftesburyartsce 64

ENTERTAINING: War Horse, Fleabag and The Nutcracker are all at Shaftesbury Arts Centre

ntre.org.uk or Shaftesbury Tourist Information Office.

With music by Tchaikovsky and choreography from Yuri Grigorovich, Shaftesbury Arts Centre is delighted to present a live recording of The Nutcracker, performed

by The Bolshoi Ballet.

On Christmas Eve, Marie receives a nutcracker doll as a gift. In her dreams, the toy

turns into a courageous and charming prince, who takes the girl on an unforgettable adventure.

This eternal holiday classic is the Bolshoi’s ode to wonder and imagination.

Audiences of all ages will be carried away on an enchanting journey of their dreams with young Marie and her Prince through a whirlwind of snowflakes, an

intense battle against a Mouse King, and finally, a kingdom of delights on the Bolshoi’s majestic stage. nSunday December 20 at 2pm and 7pm Tickets Adults £15, Under 18s £12 Tickets available from shaftesburyartscentre.o rg.uk or Shaftesbury Tourist Information Office.

Arts & Entertainment An innovative project combining live singing and old films has been held via Zoom for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia in Wiltshire.

Folk singer and song collector Amanda Boyd worked with Alzheimer’s Support Wiltshire to deliver interactive Zoom sessions, which included fascinating old footage from the collection of Windrose Rural Media Trust, the rural media charity covering Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset.

Amanda usually works faceto-face at memory cafés, but they weren’t possible due to covid restrictions.

She sang during the films, encouraging people to join in if they wanted to.

She said: “The songs I sang complement the films on their screens. So, for example, I sang Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside to accompany a film about a coastal resort in the 1950s and Boys And Girls Come Out To Play along with footage of schooldays in Edwardian times.

“Singing together is a shared communication and is welldocumented as being highly beneficial for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Folk songs are ideal for this work.”

The project was funded by Arts Council England’s emergency funding.

Sarah Marriot, head of community services for Alzheimer’s Wiltshire, said: “Lockdown has been so isolating for people with dementia and their carers so the chance to link with others is even more valuable.”

She said she appreciated the work Amanda had put in to provide such an entertaining morning for so many.

“The happy feeling that it created will have lasted with them for the rest of the day – such a benefit for us all in these turbulent times.

MEMORY LANE: Some of the old footage and, inset below, a screenshot of the Zoom session

Singer Amanda Zooming in with Alzheimer’s project

“Attendees loved the chance to see the old films of areas that were familiar to them, doing activities that brought back memories of times that they can remember.

“The informal, chatty

approach was perfect, and several people unmuted themselves to share stories of their own that were prompted by the piece of film Amanda had shown.”

Four recorded ‘audio film

books,’ sequences of songs and films, will be made available online at windroseruralmedia.org.

DVDs of old films and audio from Wiltshire can also be purchased from the website.

65

Arts & Entertainment

Where there’s a mill, there’s a way Sturminster Newton Mill is an ancient water mill – a delightful blend of rural history on the River Stour.

A mill has stood here for at least 1,000 years.

Atmospheric and dramatic, its scenery changes from day to day and from season to season and the surrounding area is a haven for wildlife haven.

To step inside the mill is to step back in time – the sounds of the traditional machinery and method of milling flour has been unchanged for centuries.

Little has changed inside the mill, except for the ‘modern’ turbine installed over a century ago to replace the water wheels in 1904.

Sturminster Newton Mill was even mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

During the pandemic, the mill has had to remain closed but behind the closed doors, miller Pete Loosmore and Imogen Bittner used the season’s supply of grain to produce flour commercially following shortages in shops.

Pete said the mill usually operated on a part-time basis during the tourist season to produce enough flour for visitors.

However, unable to open because of the social distancing guidelines, he began milling flour full-time to meet the spike in demand.

Requests for flour flooded in from all parts of the world from California to Taiwan.

When the mill is open, visitors are able to explore the three floors of working machinery and take a guided tour with Pete and Imogen, who know every nook and cranny of the building.

The millers share stories of Sturminster Newton’s link with Newfoundland and show visitors the shoulderhigh flood marks or work the 66

MILL POWER: Sturminster Newton Mill attracts a wide range of visitors, from motorcycle enthusiasts to the New Hardy Players. Below, right: Inside the historic mill

sack hoist. The Sturminster Newton Heritage Trust took charge of the mill in 1994 and is managed by volunteers.

It is a working mill, which is open four days a week from March to September.

A programme of events ensures that it is an interesting place to visit as early morning tranquillity can give way to school parties, families picnicking, boogie music sessions, open air theatre, cream teas and

much more. The Mill is always a place to soak up atmosphere while enjoying a coffee.

There are of course challenges with such a historic building. Winter brings unpredictable flooding, while the fabric of the building and the traditional machinery need constant maintenance much of which is done by volunteers.

A recent survey identified issues that need professional

work and the trustees are co-operating with the town council to procure a £250,000 Heritage Lottery Grant to ensure the mill will be available for future generations.

The trustees’ aim is that the mill will be preserved as a special place, which will continue to delight and educate its many visitors.

For more details about Sturminster Newton Mill go to sturminsternewtonmuseum.co.uk

Arts & Entertainment

By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A former headteacher of Sherborne Prep has just released his latest book, focusing on the ladies in author Thomas Hardy’s life.

Peter Tait first spoke about Thomas Hardy’s Women at the Mere Literary Festival in 2017, but the book wasn’t published until October this year.

Tait grew up in New Zealand, but has spent the last two decades in England.

After dabbling in writing political poems and polemics in various journals and magazines while at university, he had his first paid commission writing for the 1971 Massey University revue, which was notable for featuring Sir Lockwood Smith, until recently, New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Britain.

After university, he fell into teaching, first in New Zealand and later in South West England, before becoming head of Sherborne Preparatory School in 1998.

He has written several books on Thomas Hardy; Florence: Mistress of Max Gate was his first novel followed in late 2013 with Emma: West of Wessex Girl.

He has also written about the Powys brothers, John Cowper, Theodore and Llewelyn (and the lyrics of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen).

Over the past ten years, he

IN HIS OWN WRITE: Peter Tait and, inset, his latest book Thomas Hardy’s Women

Focusing on the women in the life of Thomas Hardy has published more than 150 articles on education in a variety of newspapers, journals and magazines His latest tome looks at the most significant relationships Thomas Hardy had with the women during his lifetime.

It begins by looking at family members and examines the considerable influence exerted by his mother, Jemimah.

Next, it assesses his relationships with his two sisters, Mary and Kate and his two wives, Emma and

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Florence before describing whom he often used as his friendships with four of mouthpieces for his views on his closest female love, marriage, feminism and confidantes, Tryphena much else. It is available at Sparks, Florence Henniker, petertait.org, priced £14.99 Agnes Gove and The Swan Gallery, Sherborne Gertrude ~~CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION ~~ Bugler. The second section of the book until 19th December looks at his In the Gallery, Online & by Website female Virtual Viewing characters, ***** his Also a very large selection of Antique Prints & heroines,

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67

Letters

It was unkind to call officers jobsworths find themselves in.

Many people would be happy to pay for a property in need of modernisation, particularly one that is Grade 2 Listed given that the initial purchase cost would be relatively low due to the necessity of meeting the conditions imposed on any renovations. To knowingly go ahead with internal alterations without applying for permission is a risk they have undertaken irresponsibly, regardless of the rules and they should NOT be allowed to continue.

The Colonel should be ashamed of himself for behaviour unbecoming to an officer and gentleman Vicki Nugent

Our front page story last week raised a few hackles, due to the word we used to describe Dorset Council planning officers.

We are happy to apologise to them for the term, and to anyone else this word may have offended. We do realise the officers concerned are working within constraints set by the government, and we regret using this term to describe them.

Ed Firstly let me say how glad I am that the Blackmore Vale is back. My thanks and congratulations.

However I must comment on your use of the word ‘jobsworth’ in your most recent edition to describe someone who is only performing their statutory role. Are the police jobsworths for enforcing traffic regulation or local authorities jobsworths for pursuing fly tippers? Your use of the term was ill judged.

Trevor Hodder n I take very great issue with your headline on the front page of this week’s Blackmore Vale.

You have no right to call public servants “jobsworths” simply for doing their job.

I do not work in this sector and know no one who does, and yet my disbelief at your headline is incredulous, and Trumpian in its language. There are two sides to every story and yet you will only be remembered for trying to emotionally browbeat those very officials who work to ensure high standards in our council services.

Shame on you.

Garry Barker n How insulting can you be, describing council staff as “jobsworths” (your headline) simply for doing the job they are employed to do? Shameful 68

Lyndon Wall is an experienced cartoonist and caricaturist based in Blandford Forum. He can be commissioned to create personalised caricatures. See more of his work and contact him via justsocaricatures.co.uk reporting.

Kerry Pitt-Kerby n My pleasure at seeing the return of the Blackmore Vale magazine was tempered by your latest cover story “Colonel’s Final Battle Thwarted by Jobsworths”. Colonel Nick Carrell and his family have my utmost sympathy for the terrible plight they find themselves in and my heart goes out to them. However I strongly object to the planning officers being referred to as ‘jobsworths’; they are simply doing their job – protecting our wonderful villages, countryside and built heritage from unregulated development.

Did they even know of the circumstances of the family carrying out this renovation before they stopped the work?

The fault here lies with the professionals recruited to work on the project – any architect should know that such a project would require Listed Building Consent (even for interior alterations) and possibly planning permission and it would have been incumbent on them to check before commencing work.

This is the sort of accusatory inflammatory reporting akin to the tabloids and I expected better of the New Blackmore Vale. If this is the sort of ‘journalism’ that is going to feature you’ve lost yourself a reader.

Name & Address withheld n I have every sympathy for the sad health condition of Col. Nick Carrell but none whatsoever for the housing situation he and his family now

n What gives Chris Loder, MP, the right to remove a wreath from the Cenotaph (BVM 20/11/20)? According to the article, the wreath was laid by Donald Bell, an exserviceman who completed four tours of Northern Ireland. That Mr Bell used the opportunity both to express his concerns about climate change and to remember those who gave their lives, is surely a matter for him. Chris, of course, has the right to disagree with Mr Bell’s sentiments, beliefs, and actions, but I question his right to judge Mr Bell’s motives, and to remove his wreath.

As an ex-serviceman, I have marched in the Remembrance Day parade, and feel privileged to have done so. Chris believes that Mr Bell’s action was a political protest. That’s as maybe, but Chris’s action was equally political. The only difference is that Mr Bell served, and as far as I know, Chris didn’t.

Gordon Morris Leigh

Letters n Can I offer my thanks to the magazine for so kindly featuring our article regarding Ferne Animal Sanctuary and The Ferne Estate as they operated prior to 1975?

Several people have come forward to generously offer their experiences and reminiscences for our book, for which we are most grateful.

Any other such recollections would be welcomed as all contributions are greatly valued and appreciated. Please do not hesitate to contact me on 01308 868612.

Adrian Dixon n I would like to express a huge thank you to the NBV magazine for including an item in a recent edition on Manor Farm Hazelbury Bryan, now on the market, with its family connections for me. In response to it, I was so pleased to have received several emails and one delightful phone call from folk who remembered my relatives – the Bird Gillinghams – from the village, the last of whom died in 1993.

The information provided filled in some of the missing pieces of the family jigsaw as well as highlighting special memories of some dearly remembered relatives of mine and, it would seem, of many in and around Hazelbury.

Thank you.

Brian Langer Overton, Hampshire n In selecting the Sherborne school hockey team the left hand side candidate was a real dilemma, even though he was picked for West of England trials. Halfway through a training session the little blond 15-year-old boy with big blue eyes would approach me: “Sir, can I leave now, I've got to attend a piano lesson?”

“What the hell are you thinking about, tink-tonking away on a bleeding piano?” I said. “You could be playing for the West of England, don’t waste your

time messing about with music!”

I happened to be addressing a young impressionable lad called Chris Martin, who was to shoot to millionaire pop stardom as the charismatic lead singer of Coldplay, one of the world's most celebrated bands of the 21st century.

I couldn't care, good little player was Chris! Maybe, just maybe he named the band after standing around on the left wing on Sherborne’s Upper on many a diabolically freezing cold January afternoon.

Gavin Featherstone (lifelong poor hockey coach!)

Olympic coach Gavin Featherstone featured in last fortnight’s NBV, having written a book. n We now have approval, (subject to confirmation) of a second vanity project by the Government (and second only to HS2), of the road tunnel adjacent to Stonehenge. The support of English Heritage and other bodies with a green agenda, to the detriment of logic is not of the real world.

The answer to the congestion problem there on the A303, is a second carriageway to the spot of the current road, which would run alongside at the expense of the grass verge and part of the pig farm. This could be completed probably in not much more than a year and at a fraction of the cost, although I am not a civil engineer.

It would also avoid at least ten years of further misery, increased congestion and minimal disruption of traffic and the economy, not only locally but to the whole of the SW. Trees could be planted to screen the Stones. By the time any tunnel opens traffic volumes will have multiplied to accentuate the problem.

The roundabout, which is a major cause of the current problems, should be overpassed. Of course we only have two routes to the east; the

Thanks to our lovely shop

The little shop at Stourpaine is certainly a big asset to the village (NBV November 20).

I would also like to add a huge thank you to the ladies who have worked so hard in the shop and post office during A303 and the A30.

Of course, this will not solve the problem due to the prevalence of single carriageways to the west of the roundabout. Neither will the tunnel.

This project is madness. The planners and influencers are clearly not drivers and live in an exclusive bubble. The tunnel project stands more chance of being disrupted by the environmentalists, when the engineers dig up a bone or some such artefact.

I have asked our MP Simon Hoare for his view. He has yet to respond.

Jeremy Bloomfield, East Stour n I read the letter from Jeremy Bloomfield in East Stour, with great interest as I could have written the same words myself.

I very well recall how we were told that by becoming a unitary county council cost savings

lockdown, keeping the shelves filled with goods to suit our needs and delivering our groceries and newspapers.

They certainly deserve a mention.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED would be made – and then being slammed with an astonishingly high council tax rise immediately in order that we could be ‘levelled up’ to the likes of Bournemouth, Poole etc (not that we have anywhere near their levels of services).

And yes, now it seems that our car parks are to be charged for seven days a week until 8pm!

Again we are being ‘levelled up’ to busy towns and cities.

What a total joke.

And with the Chancellor's announcement that councils can increase council tax by 5% next year, I have little doubt that Dorset Council will take full advantage of that. Until council tax bands are reassessed and charged correctly, these tax hikes are becoming increasingly unjust. And to cap it all, rural Dorset is now in Tier 2 of lockdown – again we are being levelled up, it seems, to the more heavily infected towns!

Anne Johnstone Shaftesbury 69

Pets

Ask the vet...

I am getting a new pet for Christmas. How do I settle them in ?

Christmas is not the best time to get a new pet because we often have lots of different people visiting (although this year that is less likely!) and lots of potentially toxic foods or chewable presents in the house.

We are also not in our usual daily routine and young pets thrive on routine.

Researching their needs and ongoing costs will give them everything they need for their entire life. Buying a pet on a whim means that you have not planned ahead to ensure that your ongoing (foreseeable) circumstances will accommodate the changes needed to look after them. Getting your pet checked out by your local vet (often as a free new pet check) will identify any health problems early on and you can get advice on the best way to look after your pet including preventative care.

with Lynn Broom

Puppies benefit from routine which helps them settle more quickly and encourages house training. Continuing the food that the breeder fed minimises the chances of upset tummies – changes to diet should be done gradually over 10 days. A secure quiet area will give them a place to sleep and be left safely – children should understand that the puppy needs its own ‘down’ time for resting.

House training is achieved by taking

your puppy out regularly and Vet encouraging Lynn peeing and Broom pooing outside – there will be a bit of trial and error initially but you will soon work out a routine. Puppies cannot ‘hold on’ as long as adults so should be let out more frequently otherwise they will get in the habit of peeing/pooing indoors and house training will be delayed.

Kittens are generally very clean from an early age and prefer to use a litter tray to pee and poo in. Ensuring they have more than one tray and cleaning it regularly will encourage them to use it – putting them in quiet areas

(or moving them to an area that the kitten has chosen to use) further encourages tray use. They also benefit from continuing the breeders diet choice initially until settled.

Kittens love to play but still need time to sleep and should be left alone when resting.

Rabbits and small furries need a suitable diet from an early age to keep them healthy. Not all diets available are suitable and it is a good ideal to research the best foods – this will often be a combination of commercial diets and fresh food. Rabbits and guinea pigs need a lot of fibre in their diet which is generally provided by good quality hay provided ad lib.

Pets provide us with companionship, responsibility, entertainment and, in the case of dogs, exercise. All of this can enrich our lives and, in return, we must ensure we provide all our pets need from an early age for a healthy and happy life.

Puzzle solutions Crossword

Sudoku

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9 3 1 4 8 2 7 5 6

5 6 4 7 1 9 3 2 8

7 4 9 5 6 1 2 8 3

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S N I D E G R I O N A L G C R O P R N R E D A I S T I C K U E A R I A N E X I S P E R

Any problems with these puzzles? Email newsdesk@blackmorevale.net Arrow words S A S M U R A M I

P T A W I O G O M P O N P T D P L A I C C F C E U I C R O A T T D W I L L E A G L E Y

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Motoring

Call to 2021 school leavers

Cats Protection: Lost and found Great news – a cat that got out of its basket at Friars Moors Vets on October 12 has been found in Hammoon, luckily still with its collar on and its owners details and is now happily reunited with them.

Lost Cats: Gillingham – b/w boy missing since January: Sturminster Marshall – longhaired blue grey & peach calico tortie 19/10: Overton Way, Blandford year old brindle tortie 11/11: Found Cats: Maple Close, Shaftesbury – tabby female not chipped: Downside Close, Blandford black cat with a little white on his chest: Spetisbury – grey& white cat been visiting a property near South Farm is it new to the area or a lost cat.

Tel 01258 858644 Cats Protection is offering neutering and microchipping for £5 in postcode areas DT10, DT11, SP5, SP7 and BH21 call 01258 268695

By Karen Bate A commercial vehicle firm is bucking the bleak economic trend and creating new jobs in North Dorset.

ETS Truck and Van, commercial vehicle dealers, have expanded their operation to Blandford and opened a Mercedes-Benz Truck Dealership in the premises formerly occupied by MC Truck and Bus. Operations director Darren Gale said: “Since we started in Blandford in October 2019 we have seen a steady growth in business as our customer base has increased.

“We have always specialised in all makes of commercial vehicle and this is set to continue.

“The tie-up with MercedesBenz will not affect our ability to maintain all makes of truck but will bring the increased security needed to invest in the area. So far we have created four new jobs in the area and are likely to create more as we go on.

“We are particularly interested in hearing from any school leaver who will be leaving school in 2021 and would be interested in an apprenticeship in heavy vehicle technology.”

ETS Truck and Van was started by Colin and Darren Gale in 1994 in Poole and quickly gained a reputation for quality service at reasonable prices. They were appointed to represent MAN Commercial Vehicles in 1997 and have represented the brand in Dorset since then. In 2014 they moved to larger premises on the Nuffield Industrial Estate and added the IVECO brand to their offering.

The expansion to Blandford

was made easier because of family ties to Blandford and to provide a better service to operators in north Dorset who would normally find it inconvenient to take their vehicles to Poole for maintenance.

Darren added: “Our service departments in Poole and Blandford are completely geared up to provide a premium service to operators of all make of truck, we operate our own MOT testing facility in Poole and both branches have tachograph and road speed limiter facilities as well as all the usual services you would expect from a professional vehicle repairer.

ETS Truck and Van are open from 6am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 7am to noon on Saturdays, They operate a 24-hour callout service and deliver spare parts to all parts of Dorset ETS Truck and Van in Blandford can be contacted on 01258 480404 and in Poole on 01202 669339.

Puzzle solutions Jumbo 3D Sudoku

Killer Sudoku Pro 22

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5 8 7 1 6 4 1 29 4 2 9 3 6 4 7 3 1 9 8 7 1 8 6 5 9 2 5 1 8 7 4 7 9 5 8 1 4 2 3 5 8 2 3 6 3 5 2 6 9 7 6 8 6 7 2 3 5 2 4 6 4 3 7 2 4 1 5 9 4 9 1 9 6 8 98 5 3 3 6 51 8 6 4 9 8 7 7 2 7 5 3 5 7 1 4 9 8 2 1 2 1 5 7 3 2 8 6 6 9 4 4 4 1 3 9 5 8 6 2 4 2 7 8 6 5 1 3 1 4 3 7 2 1 6 3 9 4 7 6 1 2 6 5 8 7 5 8 3 9 7 8 7 9 3 5 4 9 3 9 4 1 5 2 3 1 8 1 4 6 9 2 9 2 2 5 3 8 6 7 8 2 6 3 1 5 8 4 5 7 4 7 7 4 8 2 9 6 1 5 9 5 3 7 8 6 9 6 7 2 1 3 9 6 1 1 2 3 4 7 2 4 3 9 4 5 1 5 6 8 8 6 8 5 9 4 1 3 7 2

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Cryptic Crossword A O S M I N U T I R A G R E E T O C U C O N S D R I N D I V E A D R A G N O B I W I L L S N E H

A E S I S P E R E I D E T O O L

S S C I M P E L E E O R A W L S R I V A T I O N L G U A L L Y M U G P O S E R L I A P E N O U T R N E

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Motoring Motorbikes Wanted Non runners & unwanted Phone Keith on 07966 213344 LOCKSMITH SERVICES provided by master locksmith now available in Shaftesbury - 01747 853585 or 07747 488587 Independent Land Rover specialists Parts, repairs, servicing, MoT preparation, 42 years’ experience, 01749 880817, www.nicholaspaxton.co.uk

WANTED CAR TRAILERS ALL TYPES CONSIDERED 07736 871092

New scheme will allow you to hire electric

By Miranda Robertson A brilliant new pilot scheme will be launched on January 9 in Tisbury – where people can rent electric cars by the hour.

Tisbury Electric Car Club has been funded by Power to Change Lottery funding, and its founders were expecting to launch in April this year.

However lockdown struck and, if you’ll pardon the pun, Power to Change pulled the plug.

Now they are hoping their second planned launch will go smoothly.

Julie Phillips started working on the project a year ago, based on successful car clubs in bigger towns and cities.

She canvassed 95 householders in Tisbury to

BRIGHT SPARKS: From left, project manager Catherine Allison, Margaret Paul and Alan Maryon Davis

see if they would use such a scheme, where people will pay under £6 an hour to hire one of two cars.

The pilot is aimed at people who cannot afford to buy and run a car, or one-car households who occasionally need a car or retired people who rarely use their cars. But it will be open to all – for whatever reason.

Julie said: “I planned the pilot and provided a business model to see if it could be sustainable long term. Three of us were working on it but unfortunately our funds were suspended because of lockdown. After lockdown we did some research and more than 92% of people liked the idea, mainly because of the environmental

Honest pricing Quality work Exceptional customer service

72

Motoring

cars by the hour in Tisbury impact and its cost effectiveness.

“People would pay an annual subscription then rent cars for under £6 an hour. It was going to be £5 but extra measures such as sanitising has put our prices up slightly.

“In rural places the bus service isn’t brilliant. It’s really difficult to get a bus to Shaftesbury, I think there’s one a week. There’s also strong concern about public transport and covid – the trains are running at 30% of what they were was last year as a lot of people are avoiding public transport.”

She added: “We’re hoping that our club could replace second cars and reduce number of cars on the road.”

If the scheme takes off the group will aim to put a car in other villages too.

Search for Tisbury Electric Car Club on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to find out more.

PLUG AND PLAY: Left, project lead Gustavo Montes de Oca

01747 854789 / crewscars.co.uk Five Square Motors (Bosch Garage) Salisbury Road (A30) Shaftesbury SP7 8BU

THE WHOLE POINT: Julie Phillips (Community Engagement TECC) & Alan Maryon Davis (chair Nadder Community Energy)

CAR SALES

2013 (63) BMW 1 Series 1.6 116i M Sport Automatic 5dr. 136bhp, 8 speed automatic, lovely M Sport model, parking sensors, bluetooth, climate control, auto lights & wipers, 67,500 miles £10450

2017 (67) Honda Jazz 1.3 i-VTEC SE Navi Automatic 5dr. 102bhp, petrol, automatic, sat nav, parking sensors, touch screen, auto lights & wipers, auto main beam, cruise control, sign recognition, bluetooth, 13,500 miles £11350

2015 (64) BMW 3 Series 330D M Sport 3.0TD Automatic 4dr. 258bhp, diesel, 8 speed automatic, sat nav, leather, park sensors, adaptive suspension, Harman Kardon audio, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, 48,800 miles £15750

2003 (53) Jaguar S-Type 3.0V6 Sport Plus Automatic 4dr. 240bhp, petrol, automatic, heated leather seats, electric seats, parking sensors, cruise control, air con & climate control, MOT til June, clearance vehicle, 114,000 mile £1500

2009 (09) Ford Ka 1.2 Style + 3dr. Petrol, immaculately well kept car, low mileage, air con, alloys, ipod input, only £30 a year road tax, upto 55mpg economy, cheap to run, only 50,500 miles £3250

2006 (06) Mini One 1.6 Convertible 2dr. Petrol, pepper pack, electric folding roof, parking sensors, very well kept car with extensive service history, bargain Mini convertible, MOT til June, clearance vehicle, 83,500 miles £1900

2018 (68) Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost Active X 5dr. 140bhp, petrol, 1/2 leather, heated seats, touch screen, sat nav, park sensors, camera, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, auto main beam, sign recognition, upto 55mpg, 6,900 miles £14500

2015 (15) Peugeot 3008 Hybrid 2.0TD 4x4 Allure Automatic SUV 5dr. 200bhp, diesel & electric hybrid, 4 wheel drive, 6 speed automatic, high seating, large boot, sat nav, partial leather, parking sensors, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, head up display, FREE road tax & upto 74mpg economy, 79,900 miles £8250

2017 (17) Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium Automatic 5dr. 100bhp, petrol, automatic, parking sensors, multi award winning engine, auto lights & wipers, climate, cruise control, bluetooth, upto 65mpg, 33,700 miles £9500 2016 (65) Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium X 5dr. 100bhp, petrol, partial leather, heated seats, parking sensors, reverse camera, hill start assist, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, Free road tax, upto 65mpg, 49,900 miles £8250 2019 (19) Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost ST Line X 5dr. 125bhp, petrol, ST styling pack, 1/2 leather, heated seats, touch screen, sat nav, parking sensors, auto lights & wipers, auto main beam, cruise control & speed limter, lane keeping aid, traffic sign recognition, bluetooth, 12,800 miles £16500 2013 (63) Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost Zetec 5dr. 125bhp, petrol, multi award winning engine, more power than most 1.8 engines, appearance pack, bluetooth, £30 a year road tax & upto 56mpg economy, only 35,100 miles £6750 2017 (67) Ford C-Max 1.5TDCi Titanium X MPV 5dr. 120bhp, diesel, high seating, big boot, 1/2 leather, heated seats, sat nav, touch screen, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, sunroof, park sensors, reversing camera, 22,800 miles £12450 2017 (17) Ford Kuga 2.0TDCi Titanium X AWD 4x4 SUV 5dr. 180bhp, diesel, all wheel drive, sat nav, touch screen, heated leather, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, park sensors, camera, sunroof, electric tailgate, 32,100 miles £15950

2018 (68) Renault Clio 0.9TCe GT-Line 5dr. 89bhp, petrol, sat nav, touch screen, 1/2 leather seats, cruise control & speed limiter, auto lights & wipers, bluetooth, parking sensors, hill start assist, keyless entry system, 14,400 miles £9975 2017 (67) Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 SRi 5dr. Petrol, air con, alloys, cruise control, touch screen, automatic lights & wipers, hill start assist, 29,500 miles £7950 2012 (12) Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 SE 5dr. 100bhp, petrol, partial leather, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, air con, alloys, cd, ipod input, automatic lights & wipers, 32,300 miles £4950 2017 (67) Vauxhall Astra 1.6CDTi Elite Nav 5dr. 136bhp, diesel, sat nav, touch screen, heated front & rear seats, heated steering wheel, leather seats, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, 58mpg economy, 82,500 miles £8250 2017 (17) Vauxhall Mokka X 1.4T Active SUV 5dr. 140bhp, petrol, high seating position, large boot, parking sensors, cruise control, automatic lights, touch screen, bluetooth, hill start assist, 42,800 miles £9500

’S ARRIVING SOON! MANY OTHER VEHICLE’S 73

Motoring BMW 2.8, 1995, Blue, very very high mileage (360,000) but a beautiful runner driven regularly, MOT to December 2020, full service history since birth. £500 ono - 01258 820890 or 07967 816506

WANTED - twin axle trailer chassis. Condition of Body unimportant, anything considered for a sensible price. 01258 820062

n Shaftesbury Shoe Repairs has just refurbished during lockdown and has invested as part of its locksmith service into production and repair of car key remotes. They can now repair or replace broken Over 30 years experience

Best prices paid please call:

TOYOTA YARIS, 3 dr hatch, 1300 petrol, 12 months MOT, £675 ono. 07891 785118 FORD KA, 07, 1300 Petrol, 65,000 miles, 12 months’ MOT, £800ono 07891 785118 Mini Cooper Hatchback, one owner from new, Metallic Blue, 87,000 miles, New MOT, Good Condition, £1,850 - 07714 289400

remotes, new batteries and replace lost remotes on most vehicles ie Ford Vauxhall Peugeot Citroen etc. The new programming equipment allows them to diagnostially add keys to your vehicle.

Ring Kevin or Gerry on 01747 853585 or 07747 488587.

www.kpcleisure.co.uk 2 Garage’s Growing Together, With the Best Collection of Van’s in Dorset, Vale Auto Service Tel: 01963 362 843 or Mobile : 07734 955 524 & Deejay’s Prestige Tel: 07767 404 900 WE OFFER THE CLEANEST COMMERCIAL VEHICLES IN THE AREA. MANY WITH ONE OWNER AND LOW MILEAGE. ALL IN EXCELLENT CONDITION SMALL VAN’S

LARGE VAN’S

14/14 Fiat Doblo 1.2 Multijet SX , manual , 83,k in Blue at £4,875. Plus V.A.T

17/17 Nissan NV400 SE lwb, L3 high roof, 2.3 Dci, Manual, in Silver, 71,k , Possible motorhome conversion or Day Van, at £11,000. Plus V.A.T

14/14 Fiat Doblo 1.2 Multjet Maxi, manual, 51,k in White at £5,450. Plus V.A.T 14/64 Ford Fiesta 1.6 tdci, manual, 53,k, in Blue at £5,495. Plus V.A.T 07/57 Ford Transit Connect 1.8 tdci, 156,k in White PX at £2,995. No V.A.T

TIPPER’S & DROPSIDE 15/65 Ford Transit 2.2 TDCi rwd, Tipper, in Blue ,50,k at £16,900 Plus V.A.T

11/61 Ford Transit Connect 1.8 tdci, High Roof 56,k in White £5,995. Plus V.A.T

15/15 Ford Transit 2.2 TDCi LWB, Dropside, in Blue ,56,k at £15,750 Plus V.A.T

11/11 Ford Transit Connect 1.8 tdci, High Roof 52,k in White £5995 Plus V.A.T

CARS

12/62 Ford Transit Connect 1.8 tdci, 80,k in White at £4,995. Plus V.A.T

2009 59 reg Range rover Vouge se 3.6 turbo diesel full service history, finished in silver very clean tidy car, tow bar fitted 110,000 miles leather seats air con sun roof park camera park sensors, and many more extras, £11950.

14/64 Ford Transit Connect 1.6 tdci, 72,k in Blue at £6,995. Plus V.A.T 14/64 Ford Transit Connect 1.6 tdci, 74,k in Blue at £6,995. Plus V.A.T 17/67 Mercedes Citan 1.5 dci , 65,k in White at £6,450. Plus V.A.T 14/14 Nissan NV200 1.5 dci Acenta, 40,k, in White at £7,050 Plus V.A.T 14/14 Peugeot Partner 1.6 hdi , S , 48,k in White at £5,500. Plus V.A.T

ALL MAKES AND MODELS SERVICED AND REPAIRED

13/63 Peugeot Expert 2.0 HDi , 75,k in White Arriving Shortly 13/63 Peugeot Expert 2.0 HDi , 49,k in White at £7,750. Plus V.A.T 15/65 Vauxhall Combo 1.6 Cdti , 23,k in White at £6,995. Plus V.A.T 17/17 Vauxhall Combo 1.6 Cdti , 41,k in White £7,695. Plus V.A.T

SUBARU AND FIAT specialist

MEDIUM VAN’S

M.O.T Testing

16/16 Renault Trafic 1.6 Sport Dci SL27,swb, in Black, 46,k at £11,995.Plus V.A.T 16/66 Vauxhall Vivaro 1.6 2700, in white, 49,k at £11,000. Plus V.A.T

Vale AutoServices Ltd, Bazeland hill, A30 Shaftesbury road, Henstridge , Somerset , BA80TD www.valeautoservices.co.uk PLUS MORE VAN’S ARRIVING SHORTLY, PLEASE VIEW. VALE AUTO’S SERVICE’S OR DEEJAYS PRESTIGE

74

Mobility The WAV: From Pope-mobiles to sleek motors in 35 years A Sherborne firm has been supplying wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) for 35 years, since its founder was inspired by converting a car for a neighbour.

Brotherwood was founded in 1985

by Rod Brotherwood, and began with the conversion of a Nissan Prairie for wheelchair user, friend and neighbour, John Lambert. John, a former airline

pilot, had become dependent on his wheelchair as a result of a motorcycle accident.

WAVs did not exist. The only options were conspicuous vehicles, which John called ‘Popemobiles’. John asked Rod, a vehicle engineer, if he could design and build him a better vehicle which could transport him in his wheelchair.

WAVs have come a

long way in the intervening years. To

see what Brotherwood can do for you, go to

brotherwood.com or call 0808 115 6026.

Age Concern still offering its support Age Concern North Dorset (ACND) is based in Sturminster Newton and is your independent, local charity offering advice and services for all older people. The charity supports Sturminster Newton and the 22 villages and hamlets surrounding the town.

Most of its services were delivered in the home until lockdown. Volunteers continue to operate mainly by email and telephone.

There is still a lot of support being offered in the North Dorset area and all local charities are doing their best to assist the community in any safe way they can. If you need help, ACND can direct you to other organisations in your area via its Telephone Support Service. They can also offer support with: n Befriending and Chevrolet Matiz 05, 84k, mot 29/10/21, £495 – 07940 99932

friendship – trained volunteers willing to visit or telephone on a regular basis n Welfare benefits support and advice with a variety of benefits including Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Carer’s Allowance n Telephone Support Service – help with agerelated enquiries n Foot Clinics – clinics are held fortnightly on a Monday morning (please call to book a place) The office is currently open during the week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 10am and 2pm. Home visits are now offered for welfare benefit support. You can also visit the office in Stour Connect, call on 01258 475582 or go to acnorthdorset.org.uk Daihatsu Terios, 4 wheeled drive, short mot, £395 – 07940 199932

Millbrook House R E S I D E N T I A L CAR E H O M E CHILD OKEFORD, BLANDFORD FORUM, NORTH DORSET, DT11 8EY

In the heart of North Dorset this elegant home for the elderly is set in two acres of beautiful gardens. Established as a care home for over 30 years. Like you we value care, respect and dignity. If you are seeking care for youself or a relative a warm welcome awaits you here at Millbrook House. A place you can really call ‘home’.

We care, allow us to care for you.

24-our care by dedicated and experienced staff Twenty-nine beautifully appointed en-suite rooms Freshly prepared home cooked cuisine

Family and friends welcome to visit at anytime Convalescent and holiday breaks In-house activity programme Please visit us at anytime

For further information and a brochure contact us on 01258 860330 enquiries@millbrookhousecarehome.co.uk | www.millbrookhousecarehome.co.uk

Now available large en-suite room with French doors onto the garden & views towards Hambledon Hill Registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), regularly inspected and recently rated good. We are proud to have also recently been awarded a ‘Commend’ by the Gold Standards Framework.

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Church

Time to ask: “Are you OK?” Are you OK? This time of year sees great religious ceremonies.

For Hindus, Sikhs and Jains there is Diwali, the festival of light. Sikhs have celebrate the birth of Guru Nanak.

The Jewish community will observe Hanukkah.

Many Muslim communities have just celebrated Eid-eMilad, the anniversary of the birth of Muhammad. Soon it will be Christmas, when Christians celebrate the birth of the Jesus, the source of our light and hope for the future.

As the Bible says: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:5) Let us shine in the darkness of this winter as we ask our friends and neighbours: “Are you OK?”

In the last few days we have been given an early Christmas present with the removal of some of the lockdown measures, but, by being given the chance to meet others in their own homes, to travel to see loved ones and indeed the opportunity to go out for a meal, we have also been given a responsibility.

We must constantly ask our loved ones: “Are you OK?” No matter how careful we have been during the last few weeks there is still the possibility that we either have, or can transmit covid-19. Hence we must think of others rather than ourselves. Do we really

need to visit another household or can we have contact by phone, email or even Zoom? Which is the best, not only for ourselves but for so many others? We also have to wonder about those who are housebound and have no choice but to stay at home, lonely, depressed and feeling unloved.

Could we knock on their door, keeping a safe distance, and offer a small present to show that they are not forgotten?

The same also applies to those who have lost their jobs, are hungry and in despair.

Can we remember to place a

with the Rev Richard Priest, of Stour Vale Benefice

Vicar in the Vale food item in the supermarket bin for the Foodbank, could we offer a meal or maybe we can do even better by asking the question: “Are you OK?” Just those three words can make so much difference.

They show that we care and yet they cost us nothing.

Whatever we decide to do this Christmas may we think of others before ourselves and when we ask those three words: “Are you OK?” May we say it with meaning and give thanks that the vast majority of us are safe and well.

God bless you all.

Church services December 6 – 2nd Sunday of Advent Church of England: 9.30am: St Peter’s Family Service 9.30am: St James’ Parish Communion 11.15am: Enmore Green Family Service 11.15am: Margaret Marsh Matins 4.30pm: St Peter’s Christingle (ticket only) 6pm: St Peter’s Christingle (ticket only) 6pm: Motcombe Evening Communion.

10am Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Gillingham 10.30am BCP Holy Communion at St Nicholas, Silton. Due to very limited seating, places at Silton must be booked in advance 4pm Christingle at St Simon & St Jude, Milton on Stour 76

9.15am: Blandford Parish Church 10.30am: Streamed Eucharist at Sherborne Abbey 11am Mattins at St Mary Magdalene, Castleton Saturday, December 12 3pm-5pm Open afternoon at St George’s, Langham. Pop in, listen to carols playing, light a candle.

December 13 – 3rd Sunday of Advent 9.30am: St Peter’s Parish Communion 9.30am: Motcombe Parish Communion 11.15am: The Orchards Parish Communion at West Orchard 11.15am: Melbury Abbas Matins 6pm: St James’ Pilgrim Service.

10am Holy Communion at

St Mary’s, Gillingham 4pm Christingle at St Mary’s, Gillingham 3pm: Carol service at All Saints, Langton Long.

Booking essential due to restricted numbers. n Mass resumes in the Catholic churches after lockdown: Sundays 9.30am at Our Lady’s in Marnhull and 11 am at St Benedict’s in Gillingham.

Christmas Masses as follows: Our Lady’s 6pm Christmas Eve, 9.30am Christmas Day; St Benedict’s 8pm Christmas Eve, 11am Christmas Day. Please note you need to register to attend as covid regulations mean much reduced capacity, so telephone Steve on 07887 988123. website marnhull andgillinghamrc.org.uk

n Visit shaftesburycofe.org.uk for up to date news of Church of England activities in and around Shaftesbury. or get in touch with the Team Office on 01747 853060. n Beautiful Lillington church, please join our super friendly traditional service.

Every Sunday 10am. Details on Sherborne Abbey website. n An online service takes place at 10am on Sundays on the Blandford Parish Church Facebook Page. The church is open on Sundays for private Prayer 9am-11am. n For details of Sherborne Abbey services go to sherborneabbey.com/services

Sport

Dorset Cricket named star county of 2020 A national charity which promotes ‘the power of cricket’ through schools and communities has named Dorset its County Board of the Year.

The charity Chance to Shine said the Dorset Cricket Board (DCB) has done “brilliant work” for years and “always comes up with innovative ways” to bring the game to people. “Dorset

has a great understanding of the role that cricket can play for all children.”

The DCB says that in the six months to lockdown in March, it got 6,901 children to play cricket in primary schools across Dorset and trained 150 teachers.

Some 20 primary schools in North Dorset have taken on the Chance to Shine programme, which the DCB

says will return strongly in 2021.

Colin Moore, the chairman of Stalbridge CC, says more than 40 members of the club had early experiences of cricket via Chance to Shine at Stalbridge School.

He added: It's a sport for all, with multi-skilled elements that means everybody can find a role they enjoy or skill they can develop.”

Sport kicks off after lockdown Pleased to be back say our sports teams: not so pleased that being in Tier 2, social clubs at football, hockey and other sports cannot open.

HOCKEY: Clubs were able to resume training from Dec 2. “My response would be that we are now excited to be back playing again but a little disappointed that we are in tier two and the social side cannot be enjoyed which is a big part of the sport,” said Stephen Way of Gillingham Hockey Club.

The Ladies First XI play at Devizes tomorrow while the Seconds are at home to Mendip.

The Men’s First XI play Basingstoke, the Seconds away to Fleet and Ewshot.

WE’RE BACK: Wincanton FC return to action away to Calne Town on December 12

Only members can play the course “for the first week or two,” said a spokeswoman.

GOLF: Sherborne GC began taking bookings last Friday for play from midday on December 2.

TENNIS: “We were very relieved and excited to get back to tennis this week for singles, doubles and group coaching.

“It will be amazing to resume matches in the tennis leagues: we just hope

FOOTBALL FIXTURES DECEMBER 5 Southern League Premier South Swindon Supermarine v Wimborne Dorset Premier League Sturminster Newton v Shaftesbury Reserves FA Vase Millbrook v Sherborne

Dorset Senior Trophy Sherborne Reserves v Gillingham Town DECEMBER 8 Southern League Premier South Salisbury v Gosport Borough Toolstation Western League Div One Sherborne Town v Bishop Sutton

there is enough time to arrange cancelled matches before the end of the season.” says Angela Phipps, Donhead Community Tennis Club.

Holmes in swoop for four players Manager Danny Holmes has recruited four players with two more on the way as he bids to reboot Shaftesbury’s faltering season.

Billy Mayberry and Jack Lovell arrive from Wimborne FC, while full back Ben Walker was on the books at AFC Bournemouth.

Matt Dodds is also an experienced defender.

Shaftesbury are two places off the bottom of the Wessex Premier League with six points from nine games and have conceded 30 goals.

Now Holmes is looking to shore up the defence with players used to a higher level. “The lads we have are good but they need help,” he said. “I’ve given everyone a chance but we’ve had below par performances and it’s not good enough.”

The new signings met up with the squad yesterday and train again tomorrow: the next match is on Tuesday away to Tadley Calleva.

“Nothing replaces being on the training pitch. It’s very nice to back,” said assistant manager David Walsh.

SWIMMING: The North Dorset Turbos Performance Squad resumed training at RiversMeet, Gillingham on Wednesday.

n In the last issue, we said Dave Fraser is still chairman of Blandford United FC. Steve Powell is of course chairman for the adult and youth teams. Apologies.

Wessex League Premier Tadley Calleva v Shaftesbury Town DECEMBER 12 Southern League Premier South Metropolitan Police v Salisbury Wimborne Town v Beaconsfield Town Toolstation Western

League Division One Sherborne v Warminster Wincanton v Calne Town Wessex League Premier Shaftesbury v Alresford Dorset Premier League Blandford United v Wareham Rangers Hamworthy Recreation v Gillingham Town Holt United v Sturminster Newton United FC

77

Sport

‘Eventually a kind of normality will return’

By Richard Scott General Secretary Sturminster Newton United Football Club 2020 has been a very strange year for us all - and for our football club it has not been any different. In March, the lockdown meant that our club house had to close and football itself came to a halt with the season suspended.

The club house acts as a focus for the football teams, both adult and the many youth teams based here.

Match days are always busy and football is an important activity for young people (and the occasional not so young!). However, beyond that, the club acts as a venue for skittles, pool and darts teams. We have quizzes, discos and live music available to our members.

Our facilities are often the envy of other visiting clubs.

Not many of the smaller clubs in the county can offer what we have. So, clearly, lockdown has meant a severe curtailing of all those activities. However, that doesn’t mean that, as a club, we are not continuing to look forward. Eventually, a normality of some kind will return and we look forward to enjoying football and all our other activities.

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Floodlight appeal for Stur FC Management of the Dorset Premier League have set themselves a fundraising target of £15,000 to pay for floodlights at its Barnetts Field home ground.

The money will cover the cost of lamps as the pylons were installed some time ago.

It’s just that the club didn’t have enough money to pay for the lights!

The Sturminster Newton United Football Club’s Floodlight Appeal will be a crowd funder scheme. The club is planning a raft of fundraising projects, some of which will begin soon.

Secretary Richard Scott said: “We are aware that for most of us the present situation brings other priorities.

“So the real thrust of fund raising will begin hopefully next year, when some normality returns.”

The club play in the same league as Blandford United and Gillingham Town.

They’ve had had a slow start to the season, winning one out of six.

But optimism is high at the club. Chairman Tracy Matthews says: “There is currently a real buzz around the club after the appointment of Nick Squires

as first team manager, and we feel as a football club getting the lights up is a much-needed investment.

This has been a long-term ambition of the club.

“The lights would ultimately help Nick take our club to a whole new level, a level that we feel we are capable of reaching in the next few seasons. It will be a big statement from the club in regards to the ambition and direction we are going.

“It will also unlock the potential for an under-21 team to bridge the gap between our thriving youth set up and our men’s teams.”

Sport

Birdie boxes to protect club’s greens Sherborne Golf Club has installed 12 bird boxes around the course in an unusual move to combat damage being done to its greens.

The boxes are designed with a 45mm hole, apparently the perfect size to encourage starlings but discourage other birds.

And it’s the starlings that head greenkeeper Scott Johnson wants nesting.

“We have four or five greens that are getting torn apart on a daily basis by crows and rooks,” he said.

The birds are after leatherjackets, the larvae of flies known as crane flies or daddy-longlegs.

Scott said: “A crow tends to scavenge and tear the turf with its claws and beak to get to the leatherjackets, whereas a starling has a very short, sharp pointed beak so it tends to peck straight in and straight out.

“A starling won't cause any notable damage to the turf, which is why we are encouraging them to set-up home.”

SPOT THE BIRDIE: Starlings are being encouraged to nest at Sherborne GC and eat leatherjackets

After six years as deputy course manager, Scott became head greenkeeper in

September.

He says he is ‘ecstatic’ with how the course is looking, as lockdown gave his team time to improve presentation of the fairways and green.

He has tried various methods to limit bird damage, including a bird scarer microphone and spinning CDs near the worst affected greens.

Now a company called Agrovista Amenity is working with Scott to

explore a more long-term, controlled outlook.

The firm supplied the bird boxes, and specialist David Bevan said “We’ve created a habitat for starlings to nest and breed: Now we have to let nature take its course.

“It's certainly a long-term approach: the industry needs to start looking away from chemical controls as the sole answer. The more you can do to encourage the natural predator the better.”

Aim high! Rugby kids help Everest challenge A Tisbury couple who played in the highest game of rugby in history raised more than £18,000 for a children’s rugby charity.

Vivienne Worrall and John Curtis, pictured centre, trekked to Advanced Base Camp on Mt Everest with 25 other players to play two games, full contact and touch rugby.

But first they called in at North Dorset Rugby Football Club for some much-needed training.

John had played rugby in the past but was quite rusty while Viv had not played

rugby before.

They were invited to train with the under 10 and under 9 squads and Viv confessed it wasn’t as easy as watching it on the screen, and keeping behind the ball was quite

difficult.

She had the utmost respect for her team members who played well despite having a total beginner on their team, while her team involved Viv very much in the game.

“It was clear they had an understanding of the game and were committed to having fun as well as conducting themselves in a sporting manner. I am very grateful to them all for allowing me to join in and to give me tips along the way”.

Vivienne and John were awarded Players of the Week and presented with club

beanies, which they wore with pride on Everest.

NDRFC supported the pair as they raised funds for the charity Wooden Spoon, which helps help disabled children and young people facing disadvantage.

John and Vivienne raised £18,073 towards a project total of £200,000, which helped the charity to donate £1.3m to projects in the financial year 2019/20.

Since it was founded in 1983, the charity has distributed in excess of £26m to more than 700 projects.

79

Equestrian

Roome at the top of training world

By Jade Leahy For my last pre-lockdown roving reporter trip, I travelled to Fontmell Parva in North Dorset to meet event rider and trainer Joe Roome. Joe runs the yard at Fontmell Parva House, a bold, 17th century Elizabethan estate set in the heart of Portman country.

I went to the yard to meet Joe, who was ever modest about his achievements.

Having grown up abroad (his father was in the army), he moved back to Dorset as a teenager, and since then has established his reputation as a rider and coach in the local community.

Having come from a nonhorsey background, a chance encounter with Jo Rimmer catalysed his riding career, and the two remain lifelong friends. Joe then spent a year working for Lucy Wiegersma, coming back to Dorset to spend a season at Fox Pitt eventing before setting up his own business

UP AND OVER: Horse trainer Joe Roome in action

at Fontmell Parva. Supported by his invaluable head-girl Stacey Blunn, he is proud to look after a yard full of event horses, youngsters and huntliveries.

As well as running the yard and coaching, Joe has been successfully competing at international level.

The past few years have seen him produce Hilton Van Het

Keizershof up to Advanced, and finish seventh in the CCI3*-L at Blair Castle last year on the 12-year-old mare, Auriella.

Alongside some exciting young horses, a new ride for this year, Brechfa Medrod, is one to watch for the future, with only a couple of runs this season due to covid restrictions. Though not necessarily aiming for Badminton, Joe is passionate about producing young horses through the grades, and the rewarding work of retraining racehorses off the track. He is supported by Devocoux and Spillers horse feeds.

Joe loves the discipline and dedication required for dressage, and he could see himself focusing on this area more in the future.

In the meantime, he is passing on his expertise, coaching other riders across all the disciplines and supporting the next generation through the Portman Pony Club.

Meet the physio who treats horses – and their riders A physio based in Milborne Wick is treating horses and their riders.

Megan Merrifield of Polgreen Physiotherapy treats a variety of horses across all disciplines from

leisure, endurance to fivestar eventers after seeing how physio helped their performance.

Megan has her own horses and plans to bring on her four year old homebred, who

Dorset Showground What’s on...

Sun 8th Nov Eventers Challenge

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80

she hopes to event in the future.

She initially trained as a human physiotherapist for three years at university, going on to work for the NHS. She then completed a three-year Masters degree in veterinary physiotherapy.

Although she now specialises in horses, she also continues to treat riders.

Megan said: “Horses originally did not evolve as they have, for the purpose of riding. It is something that we have bred and trained them to do therefore, most horses are likely to experience some tightness or discomfort.”

One of the main things Megan sees is primary and

secondary back pain in horses.

She says it is vital to have a good team behind you including vet, farrier, saddler, dental technician and therapist.

She said: “The high-level competition horse is still a horse at heart; so whilst competition care routines are required to perform well, you should ensure that your horse has the opportunity to be just that – your horse will greatly benefit, particularly dressage horses, from a good canter or gallop.”

Equine treatment sessions are £60, rider treatment sessions are £40 n polgreenphysio.co.uk 07933 287321

Equestrian

Hoof care and management is essential to well-being Whether barefoot or shod, it is essential to keep horses on a regular schedule.

This being one of the most important parts of hoof care and hoof management. As the saying goes, “no foot, no horse”. It is the duty of both the owner and the farrier to ensure that the feet are trimmed regularly and to ensure there are no detrimental effects.

When the horse is shod, the horn is protected by the shoe and is not worn away. Therefore, regular visits by the farrier to ensure the hoof is at optimum length with not too much excess growth is essential. Even if the shoes haven’t

been ‘worn out’, it is still necessary for the farrier to visit to reset the shoes.

The foot only needs to be slightly longer than the naturally optimum length, to be a potential knock-on effect on the horse’s comfort.

As the foot becomes longer, the leverage at the toe becomes greater, and so does the corresponding force at the heel. This excessive downward heel pressure puts extra strain on the ligaments and tendons around the joints.

It has been said that for every cm of extra toe length, this results in an extra

50 kilograms of force acting on the tendons. And for every one degree drop in sole angle where the deep digital flexor tendon inserts into then pedal bone, can lead to a extra 4% increase in the pressure exerted on the Navicular bone. The optimum scheduling time is generally four to six weeks, this allows both farrier and owner to quickly spot any problems that may arise and deal with them accordingly. It also allows any problems that may have arisen to be dealt with, and kept on top of, to keep the progress going forwards.

Sam Wilkes DipWCF

Tough time for everyone in lockdown benefit of exercise, social interaction with humans, dogs and horses.

A loyal, longstanding customer at Peylings Farm has set up a page to help raise funds for her beloved stable yard. And from what I understand the response has been amazing. Many people who have donated learnt to ride at Peylings whose children now ride there.

Meet our equestrian columnist Charlotte Williams, horse lover and amateur showjumper from West Stour Lockdown has stopped so many equine pastimes in recent months and it makes me realise how much we have taken for granted.

We are unable to go to shows or take part in fun rides and training, but these are luxuries and I feel very privileged to be able to go out hacking and enjoy my horse in the beautiful Dorset countryside.

From the moment I mount Flek and look through his chestnut ears, life seems a little better, a little happier and a touch more normal, at least for a while.

It got me thinking about how much Flek costs, particularly at the moment – he’s not like a car I can SORN when he’s not in work. He still requires the same amount of time, care and food. Flek is my best friend and worth every penny and every single minute of my time that he takes. My time and my money is well spent.

As I was pondering, a post on a social media page popped up, highlighting the situation of Pevlings Farm

RIDING OUT: Charlotte Williams and Flek

ARTICLES FOR SALE Riding and Livery Stables, one of our local riding schools near Templecombe.

Pevlings Farm has been part of the local community for 35 years and the impact of lockdown is taking its toll on the staff, the ponies, the morale and, obviously, their income.

As someone who grew up living for the weekend and with it my weekly trip to the riding school, this touched a nerve. So, armed with a few goodies for the 32 ponies, I found myself making a socially distanced visit to Pevlings Farm, where I met Alison, standing in the empty car park near the even emptier sand school.

Alison and I had a lovely chat and she explained her

yard has 32 working ponies, not including the DIY liveries.

These ponies are living a very different life at the minute, they are not working as there are no lessons and no hacks out. But of course they still need the same amount of feed, hay, bedding and daily care.

All this is made twice as hard with furloughed staff and winter looming.

Lockdown for this second time has been harder. A reduced staff along with winter rain and the cold makes turning these ponies out for much-needed outdoor time hard work. So twice as much work for fewer staff.

For humans, this yard like many others gives us the

Logs R Us 1 ton pickup load of logs £90 double load £150 dumpy bag £60 All hardwood 07790 404593 01258 818081 Governess cart late 19th Century by JA Lawton.

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07980147019 01747870360 Two Leather Saddles & One Felt Saddle, numerous bridles, stirrup leathers & irons, all broken but useful for repairs etc. Open to offers for job lot to clear.

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81

Field & Stream

What’s that fish? Don’t tell ’em pike ANGLING David Rigby of Sturminster and Hinton Angling Association sent us this photo of three young anglers at the river at Fiddleford.

He said: “Louie, Oli and Freddie are three keen pike anglers and had a good day last week and the best fish was a lovely specimen weighing in at 17lb 8ozs.

“With the winter on its way and the best part of the season for predator fishing approaching hopefully this will help to encourage a few more youngsters to give fishing a go.”

Go to s-haa.co.uk to find out more.

GUNS WANTED FOR CASH Air rifles and air pistols, any make or model and condition, we collect in any area 07970 742471

Wildlife pond’s weeds can be invasive THE FIELD with Tria Stebbing October came and went in a flash, leaving us slightly behind with jobs on the smallholding.

We are lucky to have a large wildlife pond on site which provides a haven for newts, frogs, toads, and dragonfly as well as the water fleas and larvae that we do not see. Whilst vegetation is good as it provides nutrients and cover for the wildlife it can very quickly get out of hand. Autumn is a good time to put the waders on and get stuck in pulling out excess vegetation and storm damage without worrying about treading on anything that hasn’t yet found a dark log to hibernate under.

The pond was already on the smallholding when we bought it and had been planted up with various plants, some of which we have since learnt are highly invasive.

We have a particular species 82

called parrot’s feather (myriophyllum aquaticum) nonnative to the UK and very invasive. It was originally sold for garden ponds but now has been banned from sale as it can quickly choke a pond or lake and completely block light out.

Legislation which attempts to control the distribution of parrot’s feather includes Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it illegal to distribute or allow the release of parrot’s feather into the wild. Not great lovers of chemical intervention, we go into the pond and pull it out by hand. This stuff is evil, it needs pulling from its extensive roots which blanket one end of the pond. It chokes and strips the pond of light and forms a green carpet of dense undergrowth.

When removed in an ideal world it needs burning, we stack it up on the edge of the pond for a few days to allow insects etc to crawl out, before burning it.

Having made the mistake of pulling it out and throwing it in a

pile to compost we were gutted to find it happily continuing to grow in its new environment.

We even must rinse our wellies off to stop ourselves innocently walking particles of it up to another part of the pond. It is a full-time job keeping on top of the weed, we spent several weekends pulling it out last year, stepped away for a few weeks and returned to find it had returned just as badly as before.

As if that was not bad enough the once pretty bullrushes have gone the same way, clogging the places that the feather has

missed. During the winter it dies back and collapses down, leaving brown spikes emerging from the water. It is a race against time to pull it out but back breaking stuff.

We get a lot of enjoyment from the pond, sitting watching darting Dragon Flies skimming the surface hunting for gnats, mosquitos and bugs. Apparently, they have a top speed of 30mph and we often see them dipping half their body into the pond to lay eggs. Giving them a clear clean pond is the least we can do, but arduous all the same.

Farming

What you need to know about bird flu

By Alice Moor

risk area. Being vigilant is key. You can reach me on twitter If like me, you have a small @AliceMillerVet, and for flock of chickens, you will further updates follow us probably be aware of the current on Facebook @Friars bird flu outbreak in the UK. Moor Livestock Health, Bird flu is an infectious twitter @FriarsMoorVets, influenza virus of which there or visit our website are several strains. It is a friarsmoorvets.co.uk. notifiable disease: there is a legal Best wishes from Alice requirement to report cases, with and the Friars Moor team. protective zones and restricted animal movements put in place 1 ton dumper to control the spread of disease. wanted.

Electric start.

Public Health England continue call 07970 297019 to advise that the H5N8 and H5N2 strains of bird flu are very Peking bantams low risk to humans and properly this year hatched, cooked poultry products are safe. fabulous colours, Chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, pullets & cockerels pigeons, partridge, pheasants, mixed. Call ducks, apriquail, and guinea fowl are all at cots & black and whites, risk whether kept as pets or this year hatched. 01300 commercially. You should 341640 follow the biosecurity guidelines to protect them.

Barn wanted for Clinical signs can vary but the workshop / dry following signs should be storage for reported; respiratory distress, microlight coughing, sneezing, gurgling, projects, ideally in gaping, blue colouration of the a secure location. neck and throat, reduced A small airstrip appetite, decreased egg would be a bonus production, diarrhoea, and mass for test flying but or unexplained death. If you not essential. suspect bird flu report it Contact Ian: immediately to Defra on 03000 07710464828 200 301. If you find dead wild birds report to Defra on 03459 33 55 77: do not touch the birds.

It is vital your birds don’t have contact with wild birds, so food and water must be covered and enclosures should keep them out. Cleanliness is also key, so reduce any disease transmission by cleaning footwear before and after entering the bird areas, humanely control vermin and disinfect hard surfaces.

It is a legal requirement to register any flock of 50 or more birds and it is still advisable to register even small numbers at gov.uk/giudance/poultryregistration.

There have been confirmed cases in wild swans and a wild goose in both Weymouth and Poole so Dorset remains a high Friars Moor Livestock Health

FLYING TRADE AT FROME! ALL SECTIONS SHOWING HIGH PRICES AT FROME LIVESTOCK MARKET THROUGHOUT NOVEMBER ORGANIC STORE: STEER TO £1475 ORGANIC STORE: HEIFERS TO £1455 FAT PIGS: TO £125 FAT LAMBS: TO £222 per kg CALVES: CONTINENTAL BULL TO £420 CALVES: CONTINENTAL HEIFER TO £410 REARED CALVES: STEER TO £460 REARED CALVES: HEIFER TO £500 DAIRY HEIFERS: TO £1900 DAIRY COWS: TO £1950

WEEKLY MARKETS EVERY WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY WEDNESDAY 9th DECEMBER SALE OF REARED CALVES WEDNESDAY 16TH DECEMBER SALE OF 20 EXCELLENT QUALITY FRESHLY CALVED FRIESIAN & AYRSHIRE X FRIESIAN BLACK & WHITE HEIFERS & COWS WEDNESDAY 16TH DECEMBER NEXT SALE OF PIGS

FRIDAY 11TH DECEMBER STORE CATTLE SALE TO INCLUDE ORGANIC CATTLE SALE OF 90 ORGANIC WEANED CHAROLAIS STEERS & HEIFERS 7-8MO HB SS FA SALE OF 70 ORGANIC SOUTH DEVON & ANGUS STEERS & HEIFERS 12- 18MO HB SS FA WITH NAMED SIRES NEVER BEEN HOUSED OFF THE SALISBURY PLAINS FRIDAY 18TH DECEMBER SALE OF STORE CATTLE TO INCLUDE ORGANIC CATTLE

CHRISTMAS OPENING TIMES Full Market Wednesday 23rd December including Store Cattle no Pigs No Market Friday 25th December Full Market Wednesday 30th December including Store Cattle no Pigs No Market Friday 1st January 2021

Strict Social Distancing rules apply.

Everyone to provide their own face masks and gloves.

Face masks to be worn at all times.

Website: www.fromelivestock.com Frome Livestock Market, Standerwick, Frome, Somerset BA11 2QB Frome Market Office tel: 01373 830033 Email: info@fromelivestock.com

Independent veterinary services for livestock in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire Collection points for livestock medicines and supplies at Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, Blandford and Shaftesbury Please call the office on 01258 472314

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Farming Parts of the county to be ‘rewilded’ The government has vowed to plant 30,000 hectares of trees throughout the British countryside by 2025.

But NFU Dorset says farmers already take environmental obligations very seriously.

A spokesman said: “If the government succeeds in getting the country to net zero by 2050 they will be a decade behind agriculture as the NFU’s ambition is for farming to get to net zero by 2040.

“To some extent the process of incentivising farmers to ‘rewild’ has already begun as the EU transition period ends and we move away from the old Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) towards a system of payment for public goods, which would include environmental work and things like planting trees and hedgerows.

“Unfortunately, there is a complete lack of clarity on exactly how the transition away from BPS is going to work – even though we are now just a few weeks away from it happening.”

Country Diary with AJ Selby What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?

John Steinbeck It’s time for reflection as the year closes and what a strange and unforeseen year we have had. Unless you are at least an octogenarian and remember the last war then few people will have experienced the sort of impact that the pandemic has had upon us. However, there have been some positives and the natural world has played a large part in keeping people sane.

December sees pheasants abound in field and forest margin, eating a very varied diet of both animal and vegetable origins. They will gorge on beech mast, spilled grains, fruits, berries and leaves, and also eat small insects such as caterpillars, leatherjackets, wireworms and beetles. Occasionally they will take small lizards and rodents and when out feeding even the weak winter sun is enough to strike a glint of rainbow brilliance on their

Pheasants feasting plumage. It’s strange to think that this iconic British countryside bird is not a native, but hails from Asia.

The trees, so resplendent just a few weeks ago, have been stripped of their autumn display. Now we are left with the last of the leaves and a bounteous crop of holly berries in the hedgerow.

These field boundaries are no

less busy at this time of year compared with spring, but the absence of foliage enables the keen watcher to see far more than at other times of the year. Marauding bands of finches and tits work their way down the hedge-line and I am always delighted to see small groups of a favourite bird, the long-tailed tit, whose presence never fails to stay

Have your say on landscape strategy People living in the Cranborne Chase and Chalke Valley with an interest in the landscape are being asked to join a new board.

People with a ‘broad range of interests’ who are actively To-let: approximately 100 acres of winter sheep grazing/pasture, Higher Ansty, ring fenced, water available three months November, December, January only. Offers invited. 01258 880006.

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involved in the community and want to help the area are being sought for the Cranborne Chase and Chalke Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme – a National Lottery Heritage Fund Scheme.

The community stakeholder group will advise the landscape partnership board of local views until the end of 2024. You will meet every three months and will advise, support and provide a strategic direction to the

landscape partnership.

Applications are welcome from representatives from local communities and parishes in and around the scheme area, particularly those with interests in the environment, wildlife conservation, heritage and history, recreation, health and wellbeing, young people, volunteering, interpretation, practical skills and business.

Apply by 31 January 2021. It is expected that the first

meeting will be held in February 2021.

A role description, application form, person specification as well as other supporting documents can be found at cranbornechase. org.uk/landscapepartnership-scheme.

If you are interested in being involved or to know more, call landscape partnership manager Jonathan Monteith on 01725 517417 or jonathanmonteith@cranbor nechase.org.uk

Farming CONCRETE RAILWAY SLEEPERS For cow tracks / retaining walls.

Contact Ricky or Robert at Liquiline Limited.

01258 830324 / liquiline.co.uk

Wanted. large and small bale hay.

07768 747967 SaddlebackxOSB weaners for sale.

8 weeks old. 01747 852042/ 07969 123557.

Wanted: pair of Call Ducks, for good home! Tel 07760 766033 50m brand new chicken mesh 01258 830474 Jersey heifer, close to calving, very quiet, ideal for dairy, house cow or calf rearing, delivered. £750. 07367 565050

Land wanted to rent for pigs and sheep, Tisbury area please call 0778 626 1967

Chinese Geese £30 and Peking Bantums £15. Call 07854 322872.

WANTED dead or fallen trees, NOT rotted, ash, oak or beech - anything considered. Taken away and cleared.

Tree felling service also available, Call 01935 873169

Sheep Keep wanted for small flocks of sheep. Anything considered, North Dorset Area.

07564277083

CARAVAN REMOVAL SERVICE old unwanted caravans, cars, vans, etc. Metal, yard, garden, garage removal clearances undertaken, please call 01935 873169

in the winter chill my progress to watch them work.

A closer look will see other fruits and seeds that the birds are feeding on: shrivelled up blackberries, haws, hips and cotoneaster.

The wild clematis, known as Traveller’s Joy or Old Man’s Beard, festoons many a hedge and bramble clump.

Our hedges are a barometer to the well-being of the natural world and their diversity of species helps to

For those whose TV volume is now at 50!

indicate their antiquity. It has been estimated that one new type of shrub is added to an unmanaged hedgebank every one hundred years, which helps to tell the story of these boundaries to field, farmstead or parish that dates back to the Domesday Book or even further to Saxon times.

Stay safe readers, and enjoy the festive season with, hopefully, plenty of fresh air in our amazing countryside.

Mob: 07966 244536 Hydraulic Hose Specialists and Stockists to the Agriculture, Forestry, Automotive and Transport Industry Pneumatic fittings Quick release couplings Air brake fittings Pressure wash hoses + lances Hose clamps Up to 1 ½ “Hose stocked Hydraulic Hoses Variation of oils Mobile service available

Cote Farm Works, Kilmington, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 6RF

38 The High Street, Wimborne BH21 1HT Tel: 07514 417556 8.30am – 4.30pm

COME FOR A FREE 1 HOUR HEARING TEST!

Email: hoses@ardiesels.co.uk

For those farmers who drove tractors in the 70s!

0% interest payment plans available for hearing aids

We will welcome you all with open ears!

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Farming

We’re ready for the Christmas rush! and we have found friends and family to help with the task as our loyal Polish family are not coming this year owing to the covid-19 The winter routine is now restrictions. The go ahead for We provide a friendly, local service well and truly set, with the seasonal workers was given at competitive prices. Based at cattle happy in their winter Redlynch near Bruton, we supply Car, too late for our Polish family Commercial, Agricultural, Plant & 4x4 quarters. tyres and offer a 24hr breakdown service. to make arrangements to It is a mixture of emotions We won’t be beaten on price. come. They had planned to for Tom and the staff as they drive from Poland through Call us on face the months ahead of Germany etc to reach us, 01749 813957 or relentless feeding, bedding limiting the contact with other 07971 012628 and cleaning out the yards people on the way, our or find us at and sleeping areas. However, daughter and son-in-law had www.southwestyreservices.co.uk the land is too soggy to get said they would give over on and do any work, even if their house so the Psoles there was time between the could be self-contained, and daily we had set up isolation routines. quarters in case of infection Mobile Service The harvest or illness. The work is skilled Agricultural Specialist of the and luckily there are enough Over 35 year’s Experience turkeys is of the family with these skills NIGEL MARTIN the next job. that we are confident we will 07921 929891 All is ready manage.

We had a flurry of turkey orders for Thanksgiving, so our season has already started.

Nationally turkey numbers are down. We certainly considered back in late February what we should do before we decided to order about the same number and profile of weights as usual, STURMINSTER NEWTON but then added some extra smaller ones. Only time will & BLANDFORD AREA tell if we were right!

Calving continues with lots of heifer calves born to ensure Scrap Metal, Cars, good numbers of dairy cows Heavy and Light Iron for the future.

I particularly Farm And like the Factory Clearance Shorthorn Weighbridge calves; they are even more SCRAP endearing to look METAL at than the others, RECYCLING which are lovely with their cute TOP PRICES PAID faces and long eyelashes! Vigilance Skips/HAIB lorry available during this period is all for onsite collection important to minimise Tel 01258 860 166 or 07974 822 243 difficulties for the cows when in labour.

Ruth Kimber’s Farmer’s Diary

TYRES AROUND LTD

WESSEX METALS

WANTED

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But generally, with good management of the mating, feeding of the pregnant cow and suitable housing for birth, most potential problems can be addressed. A trained, experienced eye can pick up when the cow’s about to calve and if things aren’t going according to plan.

The farm shop is very busy.

Thank goodness we have really good staff to match the workload. Preparation is all important, the gammons are already curing alongside the bacon, some of which will be sent to be smoked.

We are enjoying the increased number of birds visiting our garden feeders and the wild flower area we planted has really attracted loads of different species. Goldfinches feed in flocks, so lovely to see – they particularly like the teasle heads.

Kimbers’ Farm Shop is open Tuesday-Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 10am-4pm and Sundays till Christmas 10am4pm.

We are on the Wincanton racecourse road B3081 between Bruton & Wincanton.

BA9 8HD. Tel. 01963 33177 email info@kimbersfarmshop.co.uk Website: kimbersfarmshop.co.uk

G R E E N S L A D E TAY L O R H U N T Online Machinery Sale

Telephone: 01278 410250. Email: livestock@gth.net

ONLINE TIMED MACHINERY AUCTION - at https://gth.auctionmarts.com Monday 7th December 昀nishing from 7.00pm onwards The Dispersal Sale of Ford Tractor, Farm Machinery & Effects

Ford 5610 TRACTOR; 12’ IW Livestock TRAILER; Malgar 1300 SLURRY TANKER; Conor 900 TOPPER; West 10T Silage TRAILER; 8T NC Grain TRAILER; Reco Ovlac SM160 4F Rev PLOUGH; Niemeyer Single RAKE; Teagle Tomahawk 8080 BALE SHREDDER; Hispec 1000 Side Discharge MUCK SPREADER; 2x Cambridge ROLLERS; 2x Wydale FEEDERS; Qty of FEEDERS & DRINKERS etc. full listing at www.gth.net.

For Mr GG James (Chew Magna, Bristol) Viewing available by appointment on Friday 4th & Monday 7th December in allocated timeslots. Everyone to strictly adhere to social distancing regulations – please contact 01278 410250 to register your interest and book your time slot. **ALL BIDDERS MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED ONCE THE BIDDING SITE HAS OPENED. NEW BIDDERS ARE REGISTERED WITH A STANDARD BIDDING LIMIT OF £500 PLEASE CONTACT US TO INCREASE IT. A BUYERS PREMIUM OF 5% +VAT WILL BE PAYABLE ON ALL LOTS**

Forthcoming Deadstock Sale SEDGEMOOR AUCTION CENTRE

NORTH PETHERTON, SOMERSET, TA6 6DF (M5, J24)

Wednesday 9th December at 10:30am Sedgemoor Collective Machinery Sale (350+ anticipated lots to include misc. items)

Ford 7610 4WD TRACTOR; David Brown 995 TRACTOR; Sanderson TELEHANDLER; Kioti Mechron Diesel UTV Only 600 hrs; 3T Tipping TRAILER; 1.2T Tipping TRAILER; IW 12’ Livestock TRAILER c/w Sheep Decks; IW Tri-axle Cattle TRAILER; AS Marston Rotary Dung SPREADER; Vicon Fert 803 SPREADER; Taarup KV 110 Feeder WAGON; (2016) Teagle 4040 Silage/Straw CHOPPER c/w Square Bale Extension; Teagle 8080 Straw CHOPPER; Teagle Tomahawk Round Bale Straw CHOPPER; Jeantil Straw CHOPPER; John Deere 960 Round BALER; McHale 991 BJS Bale WRAPPER; Claas Single Rotor RAKE; Spearhead Batwing TOPPER; KV Flail MOWER; Vicon Fertiliser SPINNER; Fleece Layer Fergi CULTIVATOR; Roller MILL/CRIMPER; ROTOVATOR for Compact Tractor; Parmiter Double Shear GRAB; Bale SQUEEZE; LINKBOX; Loader BUCKET; 6’ Dung FORK; 6’ BUCKRAKE; Pallet FORKS; Euro 8 BRACKETS and Converter BRACKET; 2 x Yard SCRAPERS; IAE HEAD SCOOP; Tony Bins Foot Trimming CRUSH; Hydraulic Road BRUSH; 2 x 20’ CONTAINERS (1 insulated); Pallet of Ply SHEETS; 2x Lamb Creep FEEDERS.

** Further Entries Accepted **

Items to be delivered Tuesday 8th December between 9.00am - 4:30pm ** To be sold from the rostrum in the hall to adhere to social distancing ** Live bidding on Marteye, please register in advance.

Forthcoming Dairy Sales SEDGEMOOR AUCTION CENTRE

NORTH PETHERTON, SOMERSET, TA6 6DF (M5, J24) Thursday 10th December at 10.45am with the Heifer Calves The Christmas Cracker Show & Sale of

227 DAIRY CATTLE

105 Freshly Calved Holstein Cows & Heifers from Beaconhill, Beneknowle, Bettiscombe (x17), Birchwood (Dispersal), Clevian (1x Jersey), Dinnaton, Dorset, Ellicott & Son (x15, Dispersal), MB & LC Haskell (x12, Dispersal), DE & WM Headon, Huntlodge, Keevil, Lilylane, Longmoor, Peacehay, Peridot, Quantock, Rookhaye (x11) & Treetop 45 Incalf Heifers from Dayhouse, Gest, PT & JC Hinds, PJ Searle & Son & AH Warren Trust (ORGANIC) 2 Holstein Bulls from Beneknowle 18 Bulling Heifers from Chedhunt, Clevian (Jersey), Rookhaye, Tyrywen & Shanael 43 Heifer Calves from JF Cobb & Sons & Mr D Thorner 14 Embryos from RJ & NJ Clarke & AJ Limond With over 100 freshly calved cows and heifers to include phased dispersal sales and a good selection of Pedigree, Commercial and Organic youngstock this is a comprehensive last collective sale of the year!

SEDGEMOOR AUCTION CENTRE Tuesday 15th December at 11.00am

The Dispersal Sale of the Milking and Incalf Portion of the Autumn Bl ock Calving NMR Herd of

187 HOLSTEIN X AYRSHIRES

Comp: 186 Dairy Cows & Heifers Inmilk &/or Incalf & 1 Pedigree Limousin Bull

105 NMR HERD AV: 9,016 KGS. 3.95%BF 3.30%P SCC=100 105 HERRINGBONE Parlour; CUBICLE Housed 105 AUTUMN BLOCK CALVING 105 SERVICES TO: British Blue and Limousin For MA & NR Bowditch (ceasing milk production) (Removed from Hellings Farm, Crewkerne, Somerset)

Private Treaty FOR SALE • 80 Autumn Calving Pedigree Cows – All in full production.

12 Pedigree Jersey Heifers - Calving January to March, Ref DRB. Ref: DRB. For further details please contact Andrew Clements on 07769 904704

Forthcoming Fodder Sale DECEMBER SEDGEMOOR AUCTION CENTRE Sat 19th The Collective Fodder Auction of Hay, Silage and Straw.

Entries to be in by Monday 7th December 2020.

Sedgemoor Auction Centre North Petherton, Somerset, TA6 6DF (M5, Junction 24) Telephone: 01278 410278 www.gth.net

TOTAL STOCK FOR THE WEEK 7283

Stock from across the West Country, sold to buyers from throughout the Nation Returns for Saturday 28th November 2020 DAIRY CATTLE (98) Heifers to £2300. Others £2180. Cows to £2200. Others £2060. (1043) STORE CATTLE & STIRKS - FORWARD STORES (705) Steers to £1325 (CH). Others £1295 (LIMX) £1280 (2x LIMX & CHX) & £1275 (CHX). Heifers to £1270 (CH). Others £1245 (LIMX) £1170 (BRBX) £1160 (2x LIMX) & £1125 (CHX). GRAZING COWS (26) to £875 (LIMX). Others £850 (LIMX). SUCKLERS (13) Cows & Calves to £1060 for an incalf heifer & £1010 for a cow & calf. STIRKS (335) Steers to £925 (2x LIM). Others £870 (LIMX) £840 (BAX) & £832 (CHX). Heifers to £810 (LIMX). Others £745 (BRBX) & £742 (LIMX). CALVES (355) - Beef Bulls to £485 (BRB). Others £465 (BRBX) £440 (BRBX) & £438 (BRBX). Heifers to £272 (BRB). Others £270 (6x CHX & BRBX) £265 (3x LIMX & BRBX). Black & Whites to £225. Others £198.

(4847) SHEEP Store Lambs (3031) to £99. Others £98, £97 & £96. Overall Ave £80.39. Cull Ewes & Rams (1079) Ewes to £142. Others £138. Rams to £162. Others £144. Overall Ave £74.15. BREEDING EWES (147) to £92.

CATALOGUED FRIDAY SHEEP SALE – BREEDING EWES (500) to £160.

Others £154 (3x pens) & £153 (3x pens). Overall average £118.41. GOATS (90) to £135. Others £125. Overall ave £120.04.

The West Country’s Gateway to National Abattoirs Returns for Monday 30 th November 2020

PRIME CATTLE (81) Steers UTM av 191.6ppk to 211.0ppk & £1,346.52.

Others 206.5ppk, 200.0ppk, 199.5ppk &199.0ppk. Others £1,324.68, £1,300.95, £1,288.98, £1,273.05, £1,266.00. Heifers UTM av 192.5ppk to 217.5ppk and £1,338.24. Others 214.5ppk, 213.5ppk, 210.0ppk & 207.5ppk. Others £1,313.28, £1,312.00, £1,291.08, £1,288.98 & £1,285.88. BARREN COWS (56) Continental av 99.9ppk to 116.5ppk and £996.15. Others 114.5ppk. Others £795.70. Native Beef av 90.0ppk to 115.5ppk and £883.58. Others 112.5ppk &109.5ppk. Others £862.16 & £841.50. Dairy av 100.0ppk to 112.5ppk and £855.20. Others 108.5ppk. Others £851.63. FINISHED SHEEP (796) Lamb ave 217.34ppk to 231.0ppk and £115.00. Others 230.0ppk (2x) 229.0ppk & 227.0ppk. Others £114, £108.50 & £107 (2x).

FORTHCOMING SPECIAL SALES For full rules on market attendance and up to date sales list please refer to our website https://www.gth.net/sedgemoor-auction-centre and/or Saturday market report https://www.gth.net/market-reports.

DECEMBER Sat 5th.......... Monthly Catalogued Sale of Organic Store Stock 10am Ring 2 Sat 5th.......... Fortnightly Sale of Pigs 11am Mon 7th.........South West Winter Fair **Closed Show - No Public Entry** Wed 9th........ Collective Machinery Sale 10.30am Sat 12th........ Suckler Christmas Cracker Sale of Cows, Calves, Heifers & Bulls Approx 12.30pm Ring 1 To include: Dispersal of Heywood Simmentals & Wyvern Charolais on behalf of David Barker. Subject to TB Test.

Wed 16th...... Orange Market Dedicated Sale for bTB Restricted Cattle.

Store Cattle – 15 Months & Over, Prime Cattle & Barren Cows.

Stock to be booked in with the market of昀ce by 9th December. Licences to be obtained from Truro Trading Standards on 03000 200301 or CSC.TBlicensing@apha.gsi.gov.uk Sale commences 4.30pm Thurs 17th.... Monthly General Sale of Antiques and Furniture 10.00am Sat 19th........ Special Catalogued Sale of Clean Plucked Christmas Poultry 11.00am Sat 19th........ Fodder Sale 1.00pm Thurs 24th.... Of昀ce Closed Fri 25th......... Christmas Day – Of昀ce Closed Sat 26th........ Boxing Day – No Market- Of昀ce Closed Mon 28th.......Christmas Bank Holiday – No Market – Of昀ce Closed Tues 29th...... Prime Cattle, Barren Cows, Prime Lambs & Killing Ewes

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Property

11 AU De CT ce I O N m be r

DORSET DEVON HAMPSHIRE SOMERSET WILTSHIRE LONDON

Dorchester

Offers Over £325,000 A detached, 3 bedroom bungalow with garage and garden, and with scope for upda ng. In a cul­de­sac posi on, the property enjoys views over the water­meadows. EPC=E.

Sherborne Guide £425,000 Situated off Hospital Lane in heart of the town, a walled building plot with PP for a striking 3 bedroom house, with a small range of buildings.

Dorchester 01305 261008

Sherborne 01935 814488

Blandford St Mary

Guide £775,000 An extended and well­presented 5 bedroom house, designed to take full advantage of views over the mature gardens to the water meadows and River Stour. EPC=D.

Fiddleford

Blandford 01258 452670

Sturminster 01258 473766

TO

LE

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Guide £695,000 A stylishly presented 4 bedroom house with large garden adjoining fields, double garage with room above and separate home office / studio. EPC=E.

A spacious and well­presented 4 bedroom family home with large open lawn gardens and far reaching views towards Sha esbury.

Available for a long term let. EPC=E.

Guide £425,000 A deligh ul Grade II Listed 4 bedroom co age with charming original features and a very pre y south­west facing garden, situated in this popular village. EPC=Exempt.

Sturminster 01258 474265

Blandford 01258 452670

Sturminster Newton

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£1500pcm

Child Okeford

PLANNING

VALUATIONS

BUILDING SURVEY

Property

QUALIFIED EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL

Winterborne S ckland

Guide £725,000 A beau fully presented tradi onally built yet contemporary 3 bedroom co age­style property, with a rac ve gardens and double garage, in a popular village. EPC=E.

Penselwood

Blandford 01258 452670

Sturminster 01258 473766

Ferndown

Guide £795,000 A very private detached 4 bedroom home set in 0.66 acres, with a pool, sauna, extensive garaging/storage, and only a short distance from the town centre. EPC=D.

St Leonards

Wimborne 01202 843190

Wimborne 01202 843190

Milborne St Andrew

Guide £1,250,000 A well­presented family home with a well­established kennel and ca ery business within 2.05 acres in a quiet yet accessible loca on adjoining Hurn Forest, EPC=F.

The opportunity to create a brand­new office/light commercial space to your own specifica on, in a peaceful yet accessible rural loca on.

Guide £20,000 A long­established and successful 20 cover restaurant and shop in the heart of Poundbury, available on a flexible lease, to include all furniture, equipment and website. EPC=C.

Dorchester 01305 261008

Dorchester 01305 261008

SALES

LETTINGS

POA

Guide £1,295,000 A 3 bedroom bungalow with pp to extend, a 2 bedroom barn conversion, a large barn, and stables with pp to convert into 2 further holiday co ages. In all 6.6 acres. EPC E&C.

AUCTIONS

Poundbury

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Property

t. 01749 684 198 e. bruton@huntersfrench.co.uk w. www.hunterfrench.co.uk

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SS TC

The Lamb, Upton Noble Situated in the heart of the delightful village Upton Noble, this converted pub is filled with the perfect mix of character and contemporary style.

• Spacious sitting room and kitchen • Four bedrooms • Large garden with beautiful countryside views • Separate annex £1,100,000

The High Street, Bruton An wonderful opportunity to live on The High Street of Bruton, walking distance from all you might need.

• Five bedrooms • Unique style throughout • Spacious garden to the reat • Private sitting and dining room £550,000

Prospect House, Mere An impressive family home, located outside the peaceful village of Mere.

• Four double bedrooms and three bathrooms • Large private annexe or studio • Generous garden • Lovely views £800,000

Experience the Di昀erence Tetbury

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Frome

Property

t. 01749 684 198 e. bruton@huntersfrench.co.uk w. www.hunterfrench.co.uk

Are you following us?

Briard Cottage, North Barrow Idyllic country cottage, surrounded by beautiful country views and only a short-drive from Bruton.

• Four bedrooms • Wonderful condition • Lovely courtyard garden, and parking to the front • Spacious sitting room and private dining room £332,500

Brue Close, Bruton A large detached bungalow, in pristine condition.

• Four bedrooms • Spacious kitchen, as well as private dining room • Garden to the front and back • Driveway parking and garage

£400,000

The Chapel, Upton Noble Incredible opportunity to purchase this unique property.

• Charming and artistic style throughout • Two double bedrooms, with ensuite bathroom • Open-plan ground floor • Private garden, with parking to the front £400,000

Experience the Di昀erence Tetbury

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Property

Space and versatility near Stur centre Tucked away in a quiet position yet within walking distance of Sturminster Newton town centre, this beautifully refurbished stone house offers much more than first meets the eye.

Behind the mellow Marnhull stone exterior lies a spacious and adaptable family home which has been meticulously extended and renovated by the vendors over a number of years.

The well-proportioned rooms have good ceiling heights & light and bright rooms, with wooden flooring throughout the ground floor. The 24’ reception room has a feature fireplace, beams and exposed stone work, whilst the beautiful kitchen is fitted with stylish, bespoke Italian units and high-quality appliances.

With four bedrooms on the first floor and two further bedrooms on the second floor, the house offers the space and versatility to accommodate all the family.

Outside, a detached 39’ barn offers potential for office, playroom or even converting to additional living space, subject to the necessary consents.

The position of the house is superb, it is in the conservation area and within a short walk of the town centre, yet has a lovely, mainly walled garden with mature trees, a decked area with summerhouse, and direct access to the Stour Valley Way footpath which follows the course of the River Stour as it winds through the Dorset countryside.

The Guide for the wonderful family home is £810,000, contact Giles Wreford-Brown at Symonds & Sampson in Sturminster Newton on 01258 473766 to find out more.

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Property

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Branches throughout the UK Blandford (01258) 453898

Dorchester (01305) 783795

Gillingham (01747) 828680

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Sherborne (01935) 433341

Warminster (01985) 215991

Wincanton (01963) 34065

Yeovil (01935) 433341

Head Office: 01963 34065 email: enquiries@armishaws.com www.armishaws.com 93

Property National Country & Equestrian Property Specialists

Dinton, Salisbury An elegant Grade II listed period stone Manor House set in a commanding position in the Nadder Valley close to excellent public schools and communication links.

Near to some of the most spectacular hunting, riding & shooting country in the South West.

• 17th Century Country House • Eight Bedrooms • Four Reception rooms • Further Oak Panelled Study • Wine Cellar • Grade II listed Dovecote• Stabling Opportunities • Garages • Courtyard • Formal Gardens • Manege • Paddocks • Swimming Pool 5 Acres

Guide £2.9 million

To arrange a viewing call 01722 782727 or email charlotte@foxgrant.com foxgrant.com COUNTRY & VILLAGE

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FARMS, LAND & SMALLHOLDINGS

EQUESTRIAN SPECIALISTS

TOURISM & LEISURE

Property

Simon Hoare MP holds regular e-surgeries. If you would like to book an appointment, please contact Simon by Tel: 01258 452585 Email: simon.hoare.mp@parliament.uk or by post: The Stables, Whitecli昀 Gardens, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7BU. For all the latest information on Coronavirus and local restrictions, please visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus

吀is year has been, by any definition, strange and challenging.

May I wish all of my North Dorset constituents a happy and peaceful Christmas and more hopeful 2021.

Simon Hoare MP 昀.com/simonhoarenorthdorset

@Simon4NDorset

www.simonhoare.org.uk

ALL THIS IS AVAILABLE AT

01747 820 965 sales@bombouche.com www.bombouche.com