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STUDENTS in Dorset are being given a chance to join a wildlife film-making workshop this summer free of charge.
The Countryside Regeneration Trust (CRT) charity, which champions naturefriendly farming, is offering two free places on a hands-on wildlife film-making session with award-winning film-maker Graham Hatherley (pictured).
The event is at the CRT’s Bere Marsh Farm in Shillingstone on Friday, August 1, from 10am-1pm.
The session, designed for young people aged 12 to 16, will teach practical filming techniques and explore how wildlife film-making supports conservation efforts.
Charlotte Weatherley, farm estate and community officer at Bere Marsh Farm, said: “We are delighted to offer this wonderful opportunity for local schoolchildren to enjoy an introduction to wildlife film-making.
“Using the wildlife and stunning landscapes on our farm as the backdrop, participants will learn top tips they can use on their own phones or cameras.”
The session will include: Graham’s
personal journey into wildlife film-making; how cameras can support conservation; filming with natural light; researching the subject; practical equipment tips; filming exercises around the farm and Angela
Hughes Nature Reserve.
Graham said: “If we can encourage a love of wild places like Bere Marsh Farm, fabulous creatures and outdoor adventures in the coming generations, then the onward direction for our planet can be a healthy one.
“Sharing images of the wildlife we encounter is a great way to make others care.”
Charlotte added: “We’ll also explore the ethical side of wildlife filming and how film-makers play a vital role in documenting environmental change, species decline or recovery.”
To apply for one of two free places, young people are invited to write up to 150 words on why the workshop is important for nature-friendly farming.
Entries can be emailed to c.weatherley@ thecrt.co.uk or delivered to the site office at Bere Marsh Farm (DT10 0QY). The deadline Thursday, July 10.
The event is limited to 10 participants with the remaining eight places available to book at £40 each.
For full details and to book, visit www. thecrt.co.uk/Event/wildlife-film-maker
WINNER of the North Dorset
Organised by the North Dorset Tourism Group, the competition showcased the region’s rich tapestry of landscapes and cultural heritage through photography.
His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, Michael Dooley, who announced the winners and made the presentations.
by Mike Bignell
AN unrestored sister of Clan Lines named General Steam Navigation Company (35001) is rumoured to be being moved to Henstridge, where some parts will be restored at Yeovil Junction.
The plan is to restore this loco as an un-rebuilt Merchant Navy with streamlining that was nicknamed as a ‘Spam can’. Some West Country & Battle of Britain locos still have this streamlining.
I do urge steam enthusiasts to support and become involved in this very ambitious project. It has spent too long being shunted around the country and deserves restoration.
A VALE village show promises to be fun-filled day, with music, good food, and a plethora of hotly contested traditional show categories.
This year’s Marnhull Village Show (formerly the Marnhull Flower Show) takes place on Saturday, July 12, at Marnhull village hall and recreation ground.
The Show starts at midday, when outdoor refreshments will be available and the stalls will be open. There’ll be a bar, ice cream from Misha’s Posh Ices and locally produced savoury food from show sponsor The Crown at Marnhull.
The village hall and marquees open from 12.30pm, when all the Show entries and prize winners will be on display. The prizegiving ceremony is at 3.30pm.
Throughout the afternoon there’ll be country dancing and music from local folk musicians, as well as a performance from the Marnhull Community Choir (pictured).
Weather permitting, there’ll be a display of classic cars and motorbikes; only disabled
parking will be available in the village hall car park.
Stalls include the Marnhull Garden Club, the North Dorset Beekeepers, Pressed on the Hill (flower pressing), Bonsai and the Countryside Regeneration Trust.
Entry is free and everyone is very welcome. There’ll be the opportunity to vote for the most fragrant rose and the best flowerpot person – and to see who local posties picked as their favourite front garden in Marnhull!
The Show’s chosen charity is Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance – the person who makes the most creative helicopter will win a trip to Henstridge to meet the crew. Entry forms must be submitted by 5pm on Tuesday, July 8, and all vegetable, fruit and flower entries must have been grown within 10 miles of Marnhull.
More information is available on the Facebook page, ‘Marnhull Village Show’ or by emailing marnhullvillageshow@ gmail.com
HUNDREDS of children
paraded through Sherborne as part of the Sherborne Pageant 120th anniversary celebrations.
This year marked 120 years since the first pageant took place in the town, and children from six schools dressed up to tell a particular story from the town’s history as they paraded through Sherborne.
Known as ‘The Mother of All Pageants’, the Sherborne Pageant has a history stretching back to 1904, when Canon Mayo from Longburton wrote to the Church Council to suggest the town should celebrate the 1,200th anniversary of St Aldhelm founding Sherborne.
A former Sherborne School pupil, Reverend Arthur Field, was credited with making this a reality, as he organised for the event to cover the town’s history – from intense battles with Danish marauders to the foundation of the 12th-century castle.
A key condition of the event was that everyone should be involved – regardless of class, gender and age.
Now, 120 years later, children across Sherborne celebrated this rich tradition.
Each of the six schools involved in the anniversary celebrations chose to depict a different key event in the town’s history.
Sherborne Girls’ School mark the Sherborne witch trial of 1620 to 1659.
This was followed by Sherborne Primary School children, who created train carriages for the parade to mark the arrival of the railway in Sherborne in 1860.
Sherborne Prep School dressed in Victorian costumes as they showcased the foundation of the Yeatman Hospital in 1874.
They were then followed by pupils from Sherborne Abbey Primary School, who celebrated the last Sherborne Pageant, which took place in 1905.
Students from Sherborne School marked the life of Alan Turing and his time spent at their school. They were joined by students from Leweston School who remembered the Second World War and the bombs that fell on the town.
Their performances included speeches from children as young as seven, through to songs and dances, celebrating Sherborne’s rich history.
Councillor Jill Warburton, Mayor of Sherborne, said: “In 1905, Sherborne did something extraordinary. The whole town
came together to celebrate its past with a spectacular pageant – one of the first of its kind in the country.
“But what made it truly remarkable wasn’t just the costumes, or the crowds, or the grand scale. It was the idea behind it: that everyone could be part of it. It reminds us that this town belongs to all of us. That
we each have something to contribute.
“It’s moments like this –when we gather across generations and backgrounds, in joy and community – that remind us why Sherborne is such a special place. Long may the spirit of the 1905 pageant live on!”
SMUGGLING will be the subject of a talk to the Blackmore Vale group of the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton.
Mike Randall will give the talk, Brandy for the Parson, Baccy for the Clerk, on Wednesday, July 16, at 7.30pm in the Bow Room.
He will tell stories about the Dorset men and women involved in smuggling in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Entry is £4 and hot and cold drinks will be available at the bar.
A WINE bar could fill a former florist’s premises in Gillingham if plans are approved.
The former Mayflowers shop on the High Street is the latest building proposed for a wine bar/restaurant/deli/shop after plans to convert the former Scenes shop across the road were withdrawn after the sale fell through.
The applicant has proposed the same business for Mayflowers as it did for Scenes.
The plans would see no internal or external alterations – bar the replacement of the Mayflowers sign above the door and a new blackboard sign put in place to display specials.
The proposed business has been described as a “relaxed continental style wine bar” that would double up as a light breakfast/lunch spot with a limited deli offering.
The plans state that they expect to see a maximum of 40 customers at any one time, with the main seating area able to seat up to 30 people.
“The business is intended to be quiet, calm and relaxing, typically playing gentle ambient music,” the plans said.
They added: “The proposed change of use has been carefully considered to ensure minimal impact on the historic surrounding area, and no disruption to the existing character of the property.
“We believe the change will provide a beneficial enhancement to the local community while maintaining compatibility with existing planning policies.”
Gillingham Town Council supported the plans when they were discussed at its planning committee meeting on Monday (June 23).
They said the new business would enhance the town centre economy, create new jobs and
revitalise a vacant high street property.
To view the plans in full, search reference P/ FUL/2025/02735 on the planning section of Dorset Council’s website.
BLANDFORD’S Repair Cafe is swapping its usual venue for life on the road next month, in a temporary change of location.
On Saturday, August 16, from 1.30pm-4pm, the monthly Repair Cafe will be meeting in the Yellow Bus Gardens alongside the North Dorset Trailway at Shillingstone, between Blandford Forum and Sturminster Newton.
Repairs will be carried out as usual in the on-site workshop.
There will be indoor and outdoor seating, toilets, disabled access and ample parking, as well as the customary refreshments and raffle.
A free, return minibus service will pick up and drop off at Whitecliff Surgery, Blandford.
To book a seat, please sign up at a session, call Carole on 01258 488977 or email blandfordrepaircafe@gmail. com
MOTCOMBE Bridge Club celebrated when founder member William (Bill) Cooper marked his 100th birthday.
Bill, who helped start the club over 30 years ago, was born in London in 1925 and had an older brother, Frank, who was a prominent Labour politician who also lived to be 100.
Bill joined the Royal Navy when he was 17 in the Second World War.
He saw action in the Mediterranean and had a narrow escape when his ship was sunk.
He was later sent to Normandy to help get the troops off the beaches, which he describes as a ‘pick up and return’ action.
As the war neared its end, he was aboard The Cossack, off the coast of Japan, when atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Bill was trained in communications and forged a career in that area after the war, becoming a sales manager in the Middle and Far East.
He was also part of a team of cyclists which took part in the first post-war Olympic Games in 1948, winning a bronze medal.
Bill puts the secret to his long life down
MARNHULL-based ceramicist Ruth Readman is gaining attention for her evocative, hand-built ceramics inspired by the Dorset landscape.
A graduate of ceramics at Bath Spa University, Ruth’s work is deeply rooted in the textures, colours and shifting forms of the Jurassic Coast.
Ruth uses hand-building techniques at both Raku and stoneware temperatures to create pieces that range from functional mugs and plates to sculptural vessels. Her ceramics are characterised by classic shapes, rich surfaces and a quiet, tactile quality that invites touch and reflection.
“I focus on the relationship between form and texture,” says Ruth. “They have to complement each other. I keep the forms simple so the surface can do the storytelling.”
Whether rooted in childhood memories or the raw texture of a weathered cliff face, Ruth’s ceramics speak of place, time and the meditative process of making.
This summer, you can meet Ruth in
to coming from strong stock, leading a busy life, eating a good, balanced diet and having a glass of wine every night.
person at Potfest South West (www.potfest. co.uk) at the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Showground from July 4-6, 10am-4.30pm.
You can find more about Ruth’s work, exhibitions and online shop at www. ruthreadmanceramics.com, or follow her on Instagram at @ruthreadmanceramics
The BLACKMORE Vale Half Marathon takes place on Sunday, July 13. It starts at 11am and finishes by 3pm at Bishop’s Caundle recreation ground. The usual route will be followed (see map)
Please allow for runners if you are driving in the area. If you have questions or you want to volunteer please phone 0345 8337423.
A HORSE received some specialist help when it became stuck up to its neck in mud near Yeovilton.
The 14.3 hand horse was found in the mud in the River Yeo at around 9am on June 28.
Crews from Weymouth, Bath and Somerton arrived on the scene as the horse owner was trying to support the horse by keeping its head above the mud.
“Crews donned flood-suits and were deployed to support
the farmer,” a Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said.
“A telehandler was sourced locally to provide assistance for the technical rescue teams upon their arrival.”
Wading crews left the risk area whilst the horse was lifted from the mud and transported by telehandler back to a paddock.
The horse was left to recover with its owner and a vet.
BLANDFORD Evening WI
ladies donned their best frocks and frills for an Ascot-themed evening when Sue Outhwaite from Snooks the Hatter of
Bridport spoke about the history of hats.
She showed members every type of headgear from fascinator to Panama, all of which they
THE Dorset Sunflower Trail at Maiden Castle Farm, near Dorchester, is returning for a fifth year next month, and will once again support the Dorset County Hospital Charity after raising £63,000 for it in previous years.
The event, held against the backdrop of Maiden Castle, England’s largest prehistoric hill fort, has a Save a Life theme.
Visitors can learn about health programmes, take part in wellbeing activities and contribute to fundraising efforts for the hospital’s Emergency and Critical Care Appeal.
Organiser, Hazel Hoskin, said: “The
were able to try on and match with their outfit.
Even those not keen on hats found something to their liking and a visit to Bridport Hat
2025 Dorset Sunflower trail is shaping up to be bigger and brighter than ever.
“Visitors will have the opportunity to stroll, photograph and immerse themselves in the serene beauty that makes this trail such a unique spectacle.”
The event is designed to be accessible and family-friendly with two trails through the acres of sunflowers and other attractions.
The Sunflower Trail, which will open when the flowers bloom, is at the farm on Maiden Castle Road, near Dorchestexr, and is easily accessible by public and private transport.
Festival on Saturday, September 6, was soon being discussed.
As well as hats, Sue showed the ladies modern parasols, ideal for rain or shine.
A TWO-DAY enforcement operation has taken place in Dorset in the fight against the illegal sale of tobacco and vapes.
Dorset Council’s trading standards team joined officers from Dorset Police and HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) and, acting on intelligence, visited six shops across Weymouth, Ferndown and Gillingham. They were assisted by a specialist tobacco detection dog.
Part of a nationally funded illegal tobacco disruption
campaign called Operation CeCe, they inspected all goods on sale. They also searched storage areas and cars connected to the shops.
Illicit goods were found at five of the six shops visited. The total seized across the shops was:
• 17,000 individual cigarettes
• 15.75 kg of rolling tobacco
• 1,300 vapes
• Shisha tobacco
• 30 tubs of nicotine pouches.
The police also seized suspected controlled drugs. Enquiries are ongoing.
HMRC seized three vehicles used to store tobacco and vapes. These will either be scrapped or auctioned.
Councillor Gill Taylor, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Housing, which includes community safety and regulatory services, said: “The sale of illegal tobacco and vapes not only harms the health of Dorset residents but undermines legitimate businesses. I thank our team, our colleagues at Dorset Police and at HMRC for this successful operation.
“These vital multi-agency operations are designed to disrupt and frustrate the supply of illegal products and we will continue working closely with our partners to disrupt these criminal networks. We urge anyone with information to come forward and report it.”
Sales of illegal tobacco and/ or vapes can be reported anonymously to Dorset Trading Standards at www.tssw.org.uk/ report-it or by calling the Citizens Advice consumer advice line on 0808 223 1133.
A DRAMATIC police pursuit came to an end when officers rammed a vehicle in a Dorset street.
The incident unfolded after officers from the Tactical Firearms Unit came across a cloned BMW on the A35 at Tolpuddle on the morning of June 22.
“The vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit along the A31 started,” a police spokesperson said. “Dorset Roads Policing Team were deployed to assist with the pursuit.
again so tactical contact was made.”
by Mike Bignell
I AM pleased to say that Merchant Navy steam loco Clan Line (35028) will again be traversing the Blackmore Vale on Wednesday, July 9 en route to Yeovil Junction.
The train times have yet to be confirmed, but I suspect it will be at Sherborne around 1pm (platform 2).
“There was an unsuccessful sting of the vehicle on the A31 near Canford Bottom (apologies to the member of public stung – new tyres will be supplied).
“Shortly after, the BMW left the A31 and drove around the Ameysford Road residential area before entering Autumn Close, a cul-de-sac.
“The BMW attempted to evade officers
They added: “While some may question if it’s necessary for deliberate damage to be caused to a police vehicle, public safety in pursuits is paramount and was deemed proportionate to bring the pursuit to a safe conclusion.
“There were no injuries to officers and only minor abrasions to the driver.”
The driver of the BMW, a male, was arrested and taken into police custody.
The best place to see it travelling at speed (75mph) will be Sherborne, whereas at Templecombe it has to slow down to cross the points and at both Tisbury and Gillingham, it will be stopping or running slowly.
You can consult Real Time Trains at www.realtimetrains.co.uk to check the progress of the train at those stations. A detailed search will show it highlighted in italics as a special.
A LIFE-SAVING defibrillator has now been installed at the Cale Park recreation ground in Wincanton.
The new defib – one of 10 across the Wincanton area – was bought by Wincanton Town Council and installed on the side of the Works and Maintenance garage between the cemetery and recreation ground.
A council spokesperson said: “The defib is accessible in an emergency.
“If someone is in cardiac arrest, call 999 and start CPR. If you’re on your own, do not interrupt CPR to go and find a defibrillator.
“If it’s possible, send someone else to find one. When you call 999, the operator can tell you if there’s a public access defibrillator nearby.
“Anyone can use a defibrillator. You do not need training. Once you turn it on, it will give clear step-by-step voice instructions.”
Visit www.bhf.org.uk/…/ how-to-save-a-life/defibrillators for full details.
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ONE of the best traditional village fetes in Wiltshire and Dorset will be held at Donhead St Andrew on August Bank Holiday Monday.
The event, which incorporates a classic car and bike show, attracts visitors from miles around – the 2022 event pulling in nearly 2,000 visitors.
More than 200 villagers from the Donhead St Andrew area are involved in staging the fete.
The event features stalls selling cakes and home produce, plants, clothes, handbags, books, collectables and bric-abrac, paintings, toys, games, gifts, jewellery, CDs, DVDs and records.
Amusements for children and families include a Punch & Judy Show, china smash, coconut shy and skittle alley.
Visitors can also enjoy a bottle tombola, live auction of seasoned logs and dog show, along with a barbecue, beer and cider tent, cream teas and music from The Sunset Cafe Stompers.
The event supports several county and local charities.
The classic car and bike show features 70-plus entries every year from owners who like to show off their restored vehicles.
Car owners are invited to take along their interesting car or bike whether it is a classic ‘Moggy Minor’, a custom car, vintage Riley or simply anything not often seen on the roads today.
Previous years have seen single-seat racing cars, military jeeps, a £50,000 Brough Superior motorcycle and a
This year vintage tractors are also being welcomed to the show.
Rosettes will be awarded by the public for their favourite classic vehicles.
Anyone interested in taking
part in the classic vehicle and bike show should phone Nick Butcher on 07957 519711.
The fete is held at Stoney Hills Field, Sans Lane, Donhead St Andrew (SP7 9LL) on Monday, August 25, with show vehicles to arrive by noon.
From 4th July
Pictures and text by George Jeans, Mere MODEL railway enthusiasts considered the recent Mere Model Railway Exhibition “probably the best ever”.
All the halls and rooms were in use at Mere Lecture Hall, with more than 10 layouts on show. One exhibit commanded almost the entire length of the main hall, which was impressive and drew much interest.
Mere had its own entrant with Mere Cross. This is a new Mere Railway Modellers Club layout, which is designed to show what is possible in the traditional 6ft x 4ft format.
Located at the foot of Hambledon Hill, Millbrook House is an elegant, spacious Georgian residence set in two acres of beautiful gardens in the North Dorset village of Child Okeford.
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A WINCANTON school is celebrating a positive Ofsted report that praised its leadership, ethos and culture.
King Arthur’s School school received ‘Good’ judgements in three key areas: Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, and Leadership and Management—a significant improvement from its previous 2022 inspection.
The report praises the school’s leadership, ethos and culture, stating: “King Arthur’s instils in pupils a belief that they can and will achieve beyond expectations.” Inspectors highlighted the school’s happy, safe and supportive environment, strong community ties, and the high expectations for student behaviour. Pupils themselves were reported to feel a renewed confidence in their school and appreciated staff’s ‘praise hard’ approach.
Headteacher Jonty Archibald, who took up post in September 2024, welcomed the recognition of the school’s transformation.
“I am absolutely delighted with this Ofsted report. It reflects the hard work,
passion and belief that our entire school community has shown over the past year. To have received three ‘Good’ judgements in key areas is a real testament to the dedication of our staff, the resilience and ambition of our students, and the incredible support from our parents and carers. King Arthur’s is a school on the rise — full of energy, positivity and potential — and this report confirms what we already know: that our students are thriving, and our community is stronger than ever. The future is very bright, and I’m excited for what comes next.”
The report also commended the school’s wide-ranging personal development offer,
including trips abroad, their Aspire programme, and opportunities for leadership roles such as prefects and sports leaders. Inspectors noted that “Pupils benefit from a high-quality programme of enrichment” and that staff morale is high, with professional development and wellbeing actively prioritised.
New legislation shines a light on the value placed on human life
by Canon Eric Woods
I HAVE taken more than a passing interest in politics and the political process ever since “Economic and Public Affairs” was one of my A-levels. That’s a long time ago! So I normally see major legislation coming – but not this year. First, there was the Crime and Policing Bill 2025, which has been some time coming but which just last month had an amendment added by Tonia Antoniazzi MP to decriminalise abortion for women beyond the statutory limit of 24 weeks’ pregnancy. In 2004 it took 700 hours if parliamentary time to ban foxhunting. This month it took less than two hours of debate by fewer than 100 MPs to allow abortion up to birth – even if the mother somehow achieves this herself, at home. The threat to the health of these women is frightening. It also opens the door to dangerous and late back-street abortions, as it will still be a criminal act for doctors to be involved. And as far as I can see, the amendment passed completely under the public radar. It beggars belief.
October last year, when Kim Leadbeater MP, having come first in the ballot for private members’ bills, announced that she would make the legalising of assisted dying her objective. Her bill subsequently had rather more parliamentary scrutiny than Antoniazzi’s abortion amendment and, significantly altered, was passed on Friday 20 June by a majority of just 23. It now goes to the House of Lords. MPs ignored serious concerns voiced by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of Physicians and the Association of Palliative Medicine. But, once again, where was the consultation with the electorate – not just over the general principles involved but the practicalities?
For example, many fear that time and resources diverted to assisted dying will reduce the (already limited) availability of high-quality palliative care. As former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pointed out, unless there is a parallel right to care, then there may seem to many to be no alternative to assisted dying – in other words, the terminally ill must be given real choices.
I could write more about that but, days later, came the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, commonly known as the Assisted Dying Bill. This at least had been known about since
Whatever my own views about the principles, it is a “slippery slope” anxiety which most troubles me. When euthanasia was first legalised in Belgium and the Netherlands, there were all sorts of safeguards. They have gradually fallen away – to the extent that children of 12 can ask for assisted dying, and from 16 need no parental consent. And how long before the whole process starts to appeal as a way of saving on social care? Far-fetched, you say? Not at all. A letter to this magazine just a fortnight ago suggested that assisted dying is better than maintaining “what are essentially warehouses for people who are simply waiting for the end.” I have seldom read such chilling words.
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all moss
and to re-point any defective cement works from ridge line and re-cement any broken gables, we always allow up to 15 broken or slipped tiles. What this offer ensures is an overall roof clean and minor repairs, all gutters and downpipes will be cleaned once the job is finished.This service is from as little as £295 and will 100% prevent you from having large roof repairs or roof replacment.
DORSET Council has rowed back on plans to introduce a booking system for its tips – but only for six of its 10 recycling centres.
The latest proposal will see the booking system implemented at Dorchester, Wimborne, Shaftesbury, and Sherborne – but not at Bridport, Swanage, Weymouth, Portland, Wareham and Blandford.
The council said it has changed its mind over the plans due to financial pressures – but the controversial plans received a strong amount of criticism from users.
It said the new changes will reduce cross-border use in north Dorset as 20% of waste received at both Shaftesbury and Sherborne comes from outside of the county, “which Dorset Council taxpayers are unfairly paying for.”
It added the new system will be put in place in Dorchester and Wimborne to reduce queuing.
Councillor Jon Andrews, cabinet member for place services, said: “We’ve listened to residents and understand their
The booking system at six of Dorset Council’s 10 Household Recycling Centres will be delayed, but it will go ahead in Shaftesbury, Sherborne and Dorchester later this year
concerns.
“We still believe a booking system is the best way to protect our recycling centres from future service cuts, but this new approach allows us to prioritise the areas with the most pressing issues.”
He added: “We’ve heard from many residents who say, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’
And we get that. But the reality is, the current service is costing more than it should, and some areas do need ‘fixing’ to a certain extent.
“A booking system will save hundreds of thousands of pounds – money that helps us keep all our HRCs open and avoid reducing hours or closing locations.”
BEAUTIFUL paintings and ceramics by local amateur artists will be on show when Yeovil Art Group stages its summer exhibition at the Digby Memorial Hall in Sherborne.
Art demonstrations will also be on offer, along with original cards and good secondhand art materials, at the event on Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27, 10am-4pm
Yeovil Art Group was founded in 1947 by a local resident.
Today it is a friendly group of people of all ages, who live in and around Yeovil.
Members meet every Monday afternoon at Birchfield Community Centre to work on their own projects and enhance their skills with the aid of fellow artists.
FUNGI fans in the Blackmore Vale now have access to a supply of delicious, locally grown mushrooms that you’ll never find on the supermarket shelves.
Jurassic Coast Mushrooms is a fungi farm with a twist…
Founded by Andy Knott and Sam Durant, based just outside Dorchester at Duck Farm Workshops, near Puddletown, it actively encourages customers to grow their own.
The ‘farm’ incorporates a spawn lab and incubation
facility, as well as a fruiting area.
“Our fruiting facility serves two purposes,” explains Andy. “To provide food and medicine for the local community and restaurants, but also to trial the many different species of native fungi, that we clone from mushrooms we find in the wild.
“We officially opened in May and already have a number of nationally scarce species of native fungi within our culture library. We are now expanding in order to supply to home growers, fungi enthusiasts and commercial mushroom farmers alike.
“We don’t grow a huge number of mushrooms at the farm but we do grow a wide variety of species, of which we’re proud to say many are
native. We also stock a wide range of mushroom cultivation supplies, such as sterile grain, liquid cultures, grain spawn, grow kits and all-in-one bags.
“We hold mushroom cultivation workshops too, where we teach folk to grow their own gourmet mushrooms on logs in their gardens.”
You can buy fresh and dried mushrooms, medicinal mushroom extract tinctures and cultivation supplies direct from the farm (weekdays from 9am-4pm), and at the occasional weekend market in Dorset or Wednesdays at Dorchester market.
Follow Jurassic Coast Mushrooms on Instagram and Facebook at @Jurassiccoastmushrooms for all the latest news.
PRACTICAL people from across the Vale come to a communal shed in Sturminster Newton to craft and repair useful bits and bobs from wood.
The Men’s Shed is part of a nationwide charitable organisation that provides facilities where both men and women can meet, share skills and make new friends.
“Time spent at The Shed takes you away from the stressful hustle and bustle of everyday life,” said a spokesperson.
They make wooden items mostly from reclaimed wood, together with generous timber donations from Conygar Timber, which are then sold at local events and fairs to raise funds to help run the project.
Creations include bird nesting boxes, feeders and tables, bug houses, bat boxes and hedgehog houses.
The shed is home to a fully equipped workshop – members are able to repair wooden items, and undertake commissions at very reasonable rates.
If you would like to find out more, pop in for a chat and to meet their friendly members. Little or no experience is necessary, because guidance and training
are available.
The Shed is open between 10am-3pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays at The Old Transport Garages, in the car park, Stour View Close, Bath Road, Sturminster Newton (DT10 1JF). If you need more information call 01258 471359.
Men’s Shed users are always grateful for donations of any unwanted timber or tools.
CANFORD Sports Academy is open for summer holiday bookings.
Running from August 11-14, the Academy offers aspiring athletes the chance to train with Canford’s top-level coaches across a variety of disciplines.
With an emphasis on performance and personal growth, courses are available in rugby, hockey, netball, rowing, golf, football and multisports.
The four-day Summer Academy is designed for young sportspeople aged between 8 and 16, and suitable for enthusiasts of all abilities.
Canford Sports Academy focuses on skill development, teamwork, and confidence-building.
Children will benefit from coaching with national and international level professionals in world-class facilities on the school’s stunning campus near Wimborne Minster.
THE Sioux Beavers colony at St Mary’s Gillingham Scouts have been learning about nature and the environment as they work towards the Earth Tribe Award –Champions for Nature’s Pathway.
The Beavers created posters, including about animals, plants and insects and why they needed and could be helped, and presented them to the mayor on a spring visit to Gillingham Town Hall.
They have also made bird feeders from recycled yoghurt pots, created Mother’s
Day cards using recyclable materials – including envelopes with insect-friendly seeds for planting with their mums – and designed candle jars for Mother’s Day using recycled jam jars.
The youngsters are also in the process of renewing a bug hotel near Milton churchyard and creating an insect-friendly herb garden in the Remembrance Garden.
St Mary’s Gillingham Scouts is urgently looking for new volunteers to support the work it does with young people, and behind the scenes –helping with hall maintenance, organising events like barbecues and assisting with practical tasks.
Bea Fleming, from the group, said: “Every contribution, big or small,
makes a real difference and helps us continue to inspire the next generation.” Anyone interested in volunteering should email contact@ stmarygillinghamscoutgroup.co.uk
FLORIST Georgie Newbery, from Common Farm Flowers in Charlton Musgrove, has been recognised in Parliament for her RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medal win.
Sarah Dyke, Lib Dem MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, tabled an Early Day Motion congratulating her.
Georgie was part of the Farewell Flowers Collective, which made history as the first group to showcase a funeral flower display in the Great Pavilion in the show’s history.
Their centrepiece – a willow coffin adorned with Britishgrown, seasonal flowers –highlighted the beauty and importance of sustainable funeral floristry.
All arrangements were
created without floral foam or single-use plastics and were fully compostable.
Ms Dyke celebrated Georgie’s 15-year contribution to ethical flower farming in the motion.
Common Farm Flowers grows up to 100,000 stems a year without chemicals, while supporting biodiversity and wildlife on the farm.
Ms Dyke said: "Georgie’s work is a shining example of what rural creativity, environmental responsibility and local enterprise can achieve.
“Her commitment to sustainable, British-grown floristry not only brings beauty into the world but leads the way in ethical horticulture.
“This recognition at Chelsea is richly deserved.”
CELEBRATED British artist
Maggi Hambling has donated a stunning oil painting in support of a Mapperton House & Garden’s charity initiative for Weldmar Hospicecare.
The fundraiser honours the memory of the late Earl of Sandwich, of Mapperton Estate, who received support from the charity towards the end of his life. Longtime friends Maggi Hambling and Caroline, Lady Sandwich, have created a unique opportunity to raise vital funds for the hospice through a prize draw for the painting.
The goal is to raise a minimum of £8,000 from the
painting to help Weldmar Hospicecare continue providing compassionate care for adults with life-limiting illnesses.
Mapperton has launched a GoFundMe fundraiser which enables supporters to donate a minimum of £20. Each donation will be entered into a draw giving supporters the chance to own this valuable artwork, with every contribution directly benefiting Weldmar Hospicecare’s invaluable services.
To enter the draw, please visit www.gofundme.com/f/win-amaggi-hambling-original-forweldmar-hospice
A DORSET reptile centre is able to offer free holiday activities to 160 children thanks to council funding.
The Reptile Academy, based at Manor Farm, Gussage St. Michael (BH21 5HT) will be providing160 fully funded places for local children on an expanded 10-day summer holiday programme between July 24 and August 28.
The funding comes from the Department for Education’s holiday activity and food programme, administered by Dorset Council.
The Reptile Ranger HAF Programme is an exciting blend of hands-on animal care, science-based learning, and conservation activities. Designed for children aged 8 to 16, the programme offers an immersive experience in the world of reptiles,
amphibians, and invertebrates –helping children build new skills, gain confidence, and develop a love for the natural world.
The programme is fully inclusive and accessible, with dedicated one-toone support available upon request for children with SEND or additional needs.
The site is fully wheelchair accessible, with designated parking, an accessible toilet, and a peaceful outdoor setting in the Cranborne Chase AONB.
The Academy’s staff and volunteers include individuals with lived experience of neurodiversity, ensuring a welcoming and understanding environment. Parents and guardians are encouraged to discuss any specific needs in advance so that appropriate adjustments can be made.
The Reptile Academy also offers a limited number of fee-paying places for families outside of HAF funding eligibility.
Dr Jake Weeks, director of The Reptile Academy, said: “We’re delighted to receive this new funding from Dorset Council. Many children and young people wouldn’t otherwise have access to such enriching holiday activities or a healthy hot meal each day.
“Our Easter programme was a real
highlight of the year – our young guests thrived, made new friends, and discovered the incredible world of reptiles and amphibians.
“This summer, we’re excited to welcome even more children to The Reptile Academy and help them build new skills and confidence in a fun, supportive environment. We also have applications in with neighbouring local authorities, so watch this space as we aim to bring this unique learning experience to even more children and families across the region.”
Unlike traditional holiday clubs, the Reptile Ranger HAF Programme offers an experiential learning opportunity that combines practical skills, scientific discovery, and a deep connection with nature.
Pre-booking is essential and spaces are expected to fill quickly. Find out more at www.reptileacademy.co.uk, or email education@reptileacademy.co.uk.
Soak up the scenery as you walk with retired Dorset rights of way officer Chris Slade
CLIFTON Maybank is an unusual parish as, although quite large, it has no church, pub, shop or village and a total population of about 40. It’s almost an island, as most of the parish boundary is along rivers.
Start at Clifton Road, where there’s a convenient layby near the railway bridge. Walk westward under the bridge a short distance until you come to a bend to the right, north.
Ahead of you, just before the next bend is the drive to the Tudor mansion, Clifton Maubank House. Before you reach the drive, join a footpath on your right which takes you east across a field, alongside which is the River Yeo. The path takes you under a railway bridge next to the river, then continues across the next field. As you’re approaching Huish Farm the path veers right and takes you onto the road.
Turn left and head east along the road to a T junction, where you turn right and head south until just before Longford Bridge (I wonder if there was a long ford there before they built the bridge?). A farm road/public footpath takes you south-southwest to a junction
where you turn right (west) then northwest, along a path that takes you past a solar farm and through Clifton Farm.
Past the farm, continue northwest across fields uphill to join the road opposite the parkland. Be warned that the top end of the path before the road junction is rather overgrown, so be prepared.
Enter the parkland, which features lots of lime trees, some of which form an avenue down to the big house. Leave the park in the top left corner and enter a large field of wild flowers and deer. Walk anti-clockwise around the perimeter of the field until the path enters a way through high ferns alongside the river, then crosses a field to meet the road not far to the east of Stoford Bridge.
Turn left and head up and over the hill, round the bends and back to your car. You’ll have walked about five miles.
WIMBORNE Art Club is holding two pop-up exhibitions showcasing members’ work at the Church House in Wimborne town centre this summer.
The exhibitions will feature a varied selection of subject matter and styles. Weather permitting, ‘plein air’ demonstrations will be held outside.
Wimborne Art Club is celebrating 50 years of being ‘passionate about art’.
The idea when it was founded was to provide a forum for members to share their enthusiasm for painting and this still holds true today.
The club, which meets at St Catherine’s Church Hall in Wimborne every second Thursday, has served as a hub for artists of all ages and levels, fostering creativity and camaraderie.
Members are offered a variety of activities, including painting demonstrations and workshops in various mediums and subject matter, as well as craft-based activities such as pop-up cards and gel plate printing.
The club organises events, including exhibitions displaying members’ work and engaging with the wider community.
To find out more, or pop in for a taster session, visit the group’s website, www.wimborneartclub.org.uk
The exhibitions are on Saturday, July 19, and Saturday, August 23, and are open from 10am-4.30pm. Entry is free and refreshments will be available.
The Mayor of Gillingham cut the ribbon and raised a toast to Fern Brook Lodge care home’s new ‘pub’.
Cllr Fiona Cullen unveiled the new dog-themed ‘pub’, The Tipsy Terrier, in the gardens of the home on Fern Brook Lane. She was joined by one of the home’s residents, David, Great British Bake Off star, Carole Edwards, Fern Brook Lodge’s Home Manager, Deb Wiltshire, and the home’s Activities Lead, Natasha Wilkins, to do the honours.
The ‘pub’ is open for residents to encourage them to socialise together while enjoying a range of drinks from behind the bar including Badger Beers and a range of pooch-themed mocktails such as ‘Paw-Squeezer Lemonade’ and ‘The Terrier Tonic.’
Fern Brook Lodge, which is part of the not-for-profit charity, Care South, provides residential, respite, and dementia care. The care home’s dedicated activities team runs a daily programme of events to encourage residents to socialise and make friends.
Visitors can enjoy complimentary cakes and hot drinks, while experiencing the warm and friendly atmosphere at the home’s Welcome Wednesdays sessions which run from 2pm to 4pm each week.
Fern Brook Lodge also hosts Memory Café sessions every Thursday morning from 10am to 11 am for people living with dementia and their carers. There is no need to book - just drop in on the day.
Scan the QR code to find out more, hear from residents and meet the Home Manager.
DORSET County Hospital’s (DCH) Cygnet Homebirth Team has celebrated its 10th birthday.
The team launched in June 2015, and since then has delivered over 1,000 babies across Dorset.
To celebrate its 10th year, the team held a birthday party in Stratton Village Hall and was joined by many of the families that they had supported over the years.
Head of midwifery and neonatal service at DCH, Lindsey Burningham, said: “We are so proud of everything the team has achieved over the last 10 years. They are incredibly dedicated and passionate about supporting women who choose homebirth.”
Cygnet homebirth team lead midwife Karen Myers said: “It is a privilege to be welcomed into a family’s home during labour and birth, and to also see partners
and children be involved. We wanted to celebrate our birthday with the families we have supported over the years, and we were delighted that so many were able to join us to mark this milestone.”
If you are considering a homebirth and would like more information, you can contact the Cygnet Homebirth Team on 01305 253169 or email homebirth@dchft. nhs.uk
A VERY special ceremonial role is up for grabs in Shaftesbury.
Auditions will soon be held for a new town crier – a role and tradition that stretched back to medieval times.
The successful candidate will act as the public voice and herald for the town, with the winner announcing significant local events, news, and important proclamations to the public in a lively, engaging and traditional manner.
They will be expected to take part in civic celebrations, openings, parades and town meeting.
A modest honorarium of £300 a year will help the town crier cover expenses and travel, and they will be expected to work sometimes unsociable hours – no matter the weather.
A Shaftesbury Town Council spokesperson said: “The traditional, honorary role of the Shaftesbury Town Crier is a respected position, with a long history embedded in the civic life of our town.
“Historically, town criers were officers of a royal court or public authority who made public announcements by ‘crying’ in the streets.”
The new town crier will be provided with traditional town crier livery and will report to the town clerk.
The deadline for applications is July 23. Interviews and a public audition will take place on July 30.
For full details and information on how to apply, visit www. shaftesbury-tc.gov.uk/about/council-staff/vacancies
NFU Mutual Agents and their staff at the Dorchester Agency recently nominated Dorset County Hospital Charity to receive a donation of £7,899 from NFU Mutual’s national £2.33million Agency Giving Fund.
The donation will contribute to the Dorset County Hospital Charity’s Emergency and Critical Care Appeal.
Pictured from left to right are Matt Uren (NFU Mutual), Peter Galloway (NFU Mutual) and Simon Pearson (DCH Charity) outside NFU Mutual headquarters in Dorchester.
THE Tank Museum at Bovington has reached its fundraising target to restore its M47 Patton tank.
Supporters helped raise the £50,000 required to get the M47 running following a public appeal launched in June 2024.
The US-built M47 is an important part of the Cold War story.
It also has a famous fan in Arnold Schwarzenegger, who served in an M47 in the Austrian military, later purchasing the tank he crewed.
Museum director, Chris Price, said: “This remarkable achievement is a testament to the passion and commitment of our supporters.
“We are deeply grateful – your generosity ensures that future generations can witness history in motion.”
Membership and fundraising officer, Kevin Hygate, said:
“Acquired from the Italian Army in 1987, this Cold War-era tank has never been on public display before.
“Its restoration will involve a full system overhaul, a new engine and cosmetic enhancements, ensuring it becomes a standout addition to our running collection.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed. Your valuable support helps us keep history alive.”
The restoration work is being undertaken by Matthew Pyle, an engineer experienced in tank restoration, including his own M47.
SIX students from The Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester have scooped awards in The Big Bang Competition, a nationwide competition for young engineers, scientists and technologists.
Year 12 students Sophie Cradock and Harry Hannam won the senior technology category with their project How Predictive AI Can Save the Oceans.
They aim to harness AI to fight illegal fishing as they want to help protect the ocean for future generations and to preserve Earth’s biodiversity. They also looked into using drones and underwater tech to allow more data and accuracy.
Year 12 team Chloe Clarke, Gwendolen McLeod, Sofia Neilenko and Grace Ward won the ECITB Teamwork Award for their project Tree Generator. The Tree Generator harnesses the kinetic energy of swaying
tree branches to generate electricity through electromagnetic induction.
Mat Parker, head of Careers and Inclusion at the ECITB, said: “The ECITB is thrilled to present this Special Award to Tree Generator!
“Their achievement in this widely heralded competition not only showcases their remarkable talent but also highlights the importance of events such as this in shaping the next generation of engineers and innovators.
“Their ingenuity, teamwork and vision give us great hope for the future."
The awards were part of The Big Bang Competition, a nationwide competition for young engineers, scientists and technologists.
The winners of the competition, which recognises and rewards talented young innovators, were announced at
The Big Bang Fair, the UK’s largest celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) for young people, held at Birmingham’s NEC. Run by EngineeringUK, the fair is supported by organisations across the education and STEM sector including major supporter Rolls-Royce, BBC, EasyJet,
Pixelia, Playground Games, National Highways and V&A museum.
Dr Hilary Leevers, EngineeringUK chief executive, said: “Huge congratulations to all our winners, who have shown impressive creativity, knowledge and drive as they have worked on their projects.”
BUSINESSES in Dorset were hailed for their ‘resilience and innovation’ at the Dorset Chamber President’s Ball.
More than 150 guests heard the praise at the annual extravaganza held by the county’s business support organisation.
Chamber president, Tony Brown, hosted with dignitaries including Bournemouth West MP, Jessica Toale and BCP Council chief executive, Graham Farrant.
The event was held at the Hilton Hotel in Bournemouth town centre with sponsorship from law firm Lester Aldridge, which this year celebrated 40 years as a Dorset Chamber member.
Mr Brown said: “Dorset’s business community is something special.
“We support each other through challenges, celebrating each other's wins and maybe have fun doing it.
“Our members, their innovation,
resilience and networking sessions, make the chamber what it is. I couldn't be prouder to represent you all.”
He added: “I’d like to thank the chamber team. It’s a privilege to serve alongside such a passionate and dedicated group of professionals.
“Our chief executive, Ian Girling’s, passion, drive and fair mindedness have made the chamber the success it is today.”
Dorset Chamber has nearly 700 members representing 37,000 employees.
Its presidents serve two-year terms, with Mr Brown starting in 2023. The ball is held to mark the president’s time in office and give business people a chance to network.
Ian Girling, Dorset Chamber chief executive, said: “It’s an absolute honour to work with Tony.
“The support that he gives me, the Dorset chamber and the wider community is absolutely incredible, and I couldn't work with a lovelier person.”
Mr Brown, who runs Ferndown-based Y-Not Finance, joined the chamber in 2016 before becoming an ambassador, chair of ambassadors and then a board member in 2019.
Dorset Chamber, founded in 1949, is the only chamber in the county accredited to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).
TAKE a wander around beautiful gardens, open as part of the National Garden Scheme – find the full list of open gardens at findagarden.ngs.org.uk.
Bookham Lane, Buckland Newton, Dorchester (DT2 7RP)
This Japanese-inspired oasis is tucked away in the West Dorset countryside. A garden of tranquillity is full of surprises, stories, scenery and sculptures. Highlights include a stunning metal bridge, charming tea house, lucky torii gate, gilded stepping stones, Buddha island and ancient meadow. Enchanting installations include a kominka pavilion for reflection, sensory waterfall and a restored rickshaw.
Open Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27, (12pm-5pm). £8, children £4.
Shed
Blackmarsh Farm, Dodds Cross DT9 4JX
Over 200 colourful and productive flower beds showcase a sophisticated selection of cut flowers and foliage. The flower farm supplies florists and the public for weddings, events and occasions throughout the seasons. Traditional garden favourites, including delphiniums, larkspur, foxgloves, scabious and dahlias grow alongside more unusual perennials, foliage plants and
grasses, creating a stunning and unique display. A warm welcome and generous advice on creating your own cut flower garden is offered. Easy access from a gravel car park and wide grass pathways make it suitable for wheelchairs.
Open Sunday July 27 (1pm-5pm). Admission £5, children free.
Litton Cheney DT2 9AH
Steep paths lead to four acres of natural woodland with many springs, streams and two pools – one a natural swimming pool planted with native plants. Formal front garden, designed by Arne Maynard, with pleached crabtree border, topiary and soft planting including tulips, peonies, roses and verbascums. Walled garden with informal planting, kitchen garden, orchard and 350 rose bushes for a cut flower business.
Open Sunday, July 6, (11am-5pm).
Admission £8, children free. Visits also by arrangement April 27 to September 30.
Broomhill
Rampisham DT2 0PT
A former farmyard transformed into a delightful, tranquil garden set in two acres. Clipped box, island beds and borders
packed with shrubs, roses, grasses and unusual perennials. A less formal area with large wildlife pond, meadow, shaded areas, bog garden, late summer border. Orchard and vegetable garden.
Open Sunday July 13 (2pm-5pm).
Admission £5, children free.
Woodville, Stour Provost SP8 5LY Summer at Hilltop is a gorgeous riot of colour and scent, the old, thatched cottage barely visible among the flowers. Unusual annuals and perennials grow alongside the traditional and familiar, boldly combining to make a spectacular display, which attracts an abundance of wildlife. Always something new – the unique, gothic garden loo is a great success.
Open Saturday and Sunday, July 19-20, and July 26-27 (2pm-6pm)
Admission £4, children free.
Glenholme Herbs
Penmore Road, Sandford Orcas DT9 4SE Paths meander through large, colourful beds inspired by Piet Oudolf and featuring a wide selection of herbs and salvias along with grasses, verbena and echinacea.
Planted with wildlife in mind and alive with pollinators, the garden also features a beautiful natural swimming pond.
A mixture of grass and firm gravel paths..
Open July 26-27, (10am-4pm).
Admission £4, children free.
FAMILIES are invited to Corfe Castle to learn more about the art of swordsmanship – with safety swords – this weekend. They will be able to find out about how swords were made and watch a local blacksmith forging replica sword blades in the castle grounds
The Ancient Technology Centre, an outdoor education charity which provides hands-on historical experiences to children linked to the national curriculum, is leading the experience.
Ellen Smith, senior programming and partnerships officer at Corfe Castle, said: “There’s no better place to learn the art of swordsmanship than at Corfe Castle, which has seen its fair share of battles.
“The Ancient Technology Centre are experts in engaging children with historical experiences and we’re looking forward to seeing the castle filled with knights in training.”
The experience is running tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday (July 5-6) with the castle open from 10am to 5pm. Normal admission charges apply or entry is free to National Trust members.
SHAFTESBURY Town Council has appointed Sarah Smith as its new town clerk and responsible financial officer.
She brings with her over 18 years of experience in town planning and a strong commitment to local governance and community development.
Sarah’s professional background spans residential, commercial, leisure and rural planning projects.
She is a chartered member of the Royal Institute of Town Planning and holds a master’s degree in Spatial Planning.
Sarah has previously worked for an independent town planning consultancy and a national social housing provider.
Sarah, who starts her new role on Monday (July 7), said: "I am honoured to join Shaftesbury Town Council and collaborate with councillors, local organisations and residents to shape the town's future.
“I am committed to serving as town clerk and responsible financial officer.
“This role provides an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the community.
“I am pleased to be part of a proactive and forward-thinking
council, and I look forward to helping the town's success and growth.”
Mayor of Shaftesbury, Councillor Virginia Edwyn-Jones, said: “We are excited to see where Sarah's existing expertise, coupled with her infectious enthusiasm and excitement at joining our council, will take us but we anticipate good things ahead."
Sarah will be supported by Billy Maddock, who has been serving as interim town clerk and will take on the new role of deputy town clerk.
She has extensive experience in town council operations, including policy development, budget management, clerking meetings and community engagement.
BUSINESSES across Dorset are being encouraged to submit applications for the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise recognise outstanding achievement by UK businesses across a series of categories –innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility.
Winning businesses are celebrated at a Royal reception and presented with a trophy and Grant of Appointment by the King’s representative, Dorset Lord Lieutenant, Michael Dooley.
Mr Dooley said: “There are a significant number of fantastic businesses across Dorset doing incredible work and I’d encourage any organisation to review the application process and consider entering.
“There are strong examples of the award categories in all sectors performing at excellent levels in our county and it would be phenomenal to have them recognised at this level.”
Several Dorset firms have previously been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise including Superior Seals, Think Research, Tops Day Nurseries, The Silver Crane Company Ltd, ImageHOLDERS, and JPL Telecom Ltd.
The deadline for applications is September 9, at 1pm, with successful organisations notified by early April 2026.
Organisations can check if they’re eligible and obtain more information at gov.uk/kingsawards-for-enterprise/eligibility. Entrants can apply via the entry form online at gov.uk/ kings-awards-for-enterprise/ how-to-apply
MEMBERS of Frome Weavers Spinners and Dyers will be exhibiting alongside local artists at the Redwood Gallery at Redwood Rare Breeds in Wanstrow during the Frome Festival.
Group members will exhibit items woven in their workshop where visitors will be able to see them at work, spinning and weaving on table and floor looms.
The exhibition runs from Saturday, July 5, to Sunday, July 13, 11am-5pm (not open Monday, July 7).
LYN’S BINGO at Marnhull Royal British Legion DT10 1HR on July 14th. Eyes down 7pm.
FLOWERS OF HATCH. PYO Flowers in beautiful countryside. £5 a large bunch, visit free. flowersofhatch.co.uk or 07979-502866
WITCHAMPTON FETE
1-4pm. Teas, BBQ, Bar, Music, Games, Stalls, Falconry, Raffle. Free parking, Entry 12+ £3. Follow signs in village
SUMMER SALE
Sat July 5 th . Old Village Hall Pimperne 10 - 4pm Selection of House,Shed and Garden items. Come and pick up a bargain !
BUCKHORN WESTON CHURCH FETE and FUN DOG SHOW
Saturday 12th July at 2.30pm
WINCANTON SILVER BAND
Plants,-Cakes-Toys
Bottle stall-Books White Elephant-Fancy Goods
Teas-Coconut Shy Face Painting- Sports
In aid of Ducks & Drakes Cancer Trust
Sunday 6th July at 10am Holcombe Farm, Alton Pancras, DT2 7RT
LAST ENTRY 2pm
Individual Guns
Teams of 4 FIBRE WADS ONLY PLEASE Individual Traps & Team Flush BBQ & Refreshments
Enquiries: 01300 348788 www.ducksdrakescancertrust.org.uk
Blandford Fashion Museum
Lime Tree House, 11 The Plocks, Blandford Forum DT11 7AA
JOIN US FOR LUNCH, SHERBORNE COMMUNITY KITCHEN, only £7. Every Thursday and Friday at the Raleigh Hall. Doors open from 11.30 tea, coffee. Lunch served 12.30. To book: 07561-067381
SYDLING ST NICHOLAS CHURCH FETE, SATURDAY 12TH JULY 2- 5PM. Punch & Judy, Fun Dog Show, BBQ, Bar. Fun for all the family! £2 entry, under 16s free
TEA IN THE GARDEN
on Saturday 6 July 2-5 pm at The Old Rectory, Stock Gaylard , DT10 2BG. Fabulous “Help yourself” Tea £7, stalls, raffle Children under 10 free, dogs with well behaved owners welcome. Cash and cards accepted. All proceeds in aid of Lydlinch Bells Restoration Appeal.
FRIENDS OF YEATMAN HOSPITAL, Car Boot Sale. 13th July, 9-12. The Terrace, Sherborne, DT9-5NS. Tel: 07540-587554
PLEIN AIR PAINTING
July 9 Kingston Lacy, July 16 Hamworthy Park, August 27 Arne Nature Reserve, Suitable for mixed abilities, please enquire: marionrroberts167@gmail. com. Tel 01258 721490
ST MARTIN’S CHURCH SALISBURY, Saturday 19th July, Gill Bolton and Zara Kuckelhaus play two pianos with music inspired by dreams. Home made cakes included in the ticket price enhance the interval. full details https:// www.musicinsalisbury.org. uk/?event=we-are-the-stuffthat-dreams-are-made-onshakespeare
Plus other displays covering 200 years of fabulous fashion
Tearoom and gift shop
Opening Hours: 10am - 4pm
Monday; Thursday; Friday & Saturday
Motorcycle
• Anglican High Mass at Wimborne St Giles: First Sunday of each month at 11am.
• Blandford Methodist Church: Sundays – services at 10.45am. Thursdays – coffee and chat from 10am-noon. Fridays – lunch club for over-55s from noon at £5 per meal. Phone Joyce Wild on 07817 505543 to book.
• Bell Street United Church, Shaftesbury: Sundays –services at 10.30am. Second Sunday of the month, All Age Service. Everyone welcome.
• Blandford Evangelical Church: Sunday – 10am Family Service, including classes for three-18 year olds. Monday Fellowship – weekly, 2.30pm-3.30pm, everyone welcome, term times only. Tuesday – Footprints, an activities playtime for preschool children, 10am-11.30am and 1.15pm-2.45pm, term times only. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings – small groups meet at homes at 7.30pm. The church is in Albert Street. Phone 450689 for more information.
• Castleton, Sherborne, St Mary Magdalene (DT9 3SA): First, third and fourth Sundays, Sung Mattins; second and fifth Sundays, Holy Communion. All services are BCP at 11.15am.
• Chalbury Church: Fourth Sunday of the month, 10am Holy Communion.
• Chatty Café Scheme: Pear Tree Café, Half Moon Street, Sherborne, Mondays 2pm3.45pm.
• Cheap Street Church, Sherborne: Prayer time –9.45am Thursday; Thought for the Day – 10.30am Thursday. Sunday service at 10.30am. Monday Music second Monday of the month at 6.15pm with a bring and share supper. Taizé Service second Sunday each month at 6.30pm – half an hour of prayer, meditation and music; further details from vicarlesley@outlook.com Rendezvous Community Cuppa – third Monday each month, 10.30am-12.30pm; chat, ‘cuppa’ (£1) and cake (£2); support/advice from local
surgery, speak to a pharmacist, blood pressure checks and Age UK will attend; all welcome; profits to Rendezvous.
• Digby Memorial Church Hall: Sherborne Quakers –meet Sundays 10.30am in the Griffiths Room.
• Hinton Martell: Second Sunday of the month, 10am Holy Communion.
• Horton Church: First Sunday of the month, 10am Holy Communion.
• Horton & Chalbury Village Hall: Third Sunday of the month, 9am Breakfast Church.
• Kingston Lacy: Second Sunday of the month, 9.15am Holy Communion. Fourth Sunday of the month, 9.15am Family Service.
• Lufton Church: Prayer Book services every Sunday at 6pm. Sung Mass on the third Sunday. See www.lufton.co.uk for details.
• Milton-on-Stour Church: Organ recital by Simon Bending on Friday, July 4, 7pm for 7.30pm.
• Our Lady’s RC Church, Marnhull: Mass Sunday, 9am and 6pm.
• Sacred Heart, Tisbury, and All Saints’ Wardour Catholic Parish: Sunday Mass – Sacred Heart, Tisbury, 9am, coffee after Mass; All Saints’ Wardour 10.30am.
• Sewing machine appeal: Sewing machines are wanted for Mothers’ Union members in Melanesia and Sudan. Contact Jo Higgs at musecretary@ sherborneabbey.com.
• Shapwick: Third Sunday of the month, 9.15am Holy Communion.
• Shaftesbury Quakers (Society of Friends): Meets for one hour each Sunday from 10.30am at the Quaker Meeting House, Abbey Walk, Shaftesbury SP7 8BB.
• Sherborne Abbey: Monday to Saturday, 8.30am Morning Prayer; The Sepulchre Chapel. Mondays, 9am CW Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Tuesday, noon CW Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Wednesday, 10.30am Holy Communion with Homily; The
Lady Chapel (alternates CW and BCP). Thursday, noon BCP Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Friday, 9am Ecumenical Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. First Friday of the month, 9am Requiem Holy Communion; The Sepulchre Chapel. Third Friday of the month, 11am Remembering the Fallen. Saturday, 9am CW Holy Communion; The Sepulchre Chapel.
• Sherborne Abbey organ recitals: Mondays at 1.30 pm, free entry, retiring collection.
• Sherborne Abbey Remembering the Fallen: Short service on the third Friday of the month at 11am in the Lady Chapel.
• Sherborne Abbey: Welcomers are needed to fill a few vacant slots on the rota. Anyone interested in doing an extra duty or anyone interested in joining should contact Suzanne.Short@ sherborneabbey.com or the parish office.
• St Bartholomew’s Benefice: Sunday, July 13, 9.30am –animal blessing service, St Leonard’s, Semley. Bring your pet to church – or a photo if they are a touch anti-social! Refreshments and dog treats to follow. Sunday, July 20, 6pm – choral evensong on the theme Let there be Light, St Catherine’s, Sedgehill, with Christine Riding, director of collections and research at The National Gallery.
• St Gregory’s, Marnhull: Sunday services 8am and 10am. Other services, visit www.stgregorysmarnhull.org. uk.
• St John’s Church, Enmore Green: Service every Sunday at 11.15am; parish communion on the first Sunday of the month; prayer services every other Sunday.
• St Margaret’s, Margaret Marsh (Shaftesbury Benefice) SP7 0AZ: Alternating first Sundays Mattins and Holy Communion, 11.15am. Everyone welcome.
• St Mary’s, Motcombe: Evening worship (BCP) – every
first Sunday 6pm; parish communion – every second and fourth Sunday 9.30am; evening worship – every third Sunday 6pm.
• St Mary’s, Sturminster Newton: First, third and fourth Sundays – 11am Holy Communion; second Sunday – 9.30am Morning Prayer; fifth Sunday – 11am Benefice Holy Communion; second and fourth Sundays – 6pm Evensong; Wednesdays – 10am Holy Communion.
• St Mary & St Bartholomew’s Church, Cranborne: Book of Common Prayer Evensong with the Benefice Choir, first Sunday of the month at 6pm.
• St Paul’s Church: Men’s breakfast at The Mermaid, Blackberry Lane, Sherborne, on Saturday, July 12. £9. Contact St Paul’s Church office on 01935 816444 or email admin@spcsherborne.co.uk
• St Peter’s, Hinton St Mary: First, second and third Sundays, 9.30am Morning Prayer. Fourth Sunday, 9.30am Holy Communion.
• St Thomas’, Lydlinch: Second Sunday, Holy Communion 11am; third Sunday, Evensong 6pm; fourth Sunday, Matins 11am.
• Two Rivers Benefice: Sunday, July 6 – 10.45am Together Communion at All Saints Church, Tarrant Keynston. Sunday, July 13 –9.30am Communion at St Mary’s Church, Blandford St Mary; 11am Communion at All Saints Church, Langton Long; 11am Family Service at All Saints Church, Tarrant Keynston. Coffee and cake –Spetisbury 10am-11.30am, first and third Monday each month; coffee and cake – Blandford St Mary 10am-11.30am, Thursday, July 17; ‘crafternoons’ – first Thursday of every month, 2pm-4pm; £3 incl. refreshments; coffee stop –Charlton Marshall Parish Centre 10.30am-12.30pm, Tuesday to Friday.
• Witchampton Church: Third Sunday of the month, 10am Holy Communion.
THE Iguanodon Restaurant, a quirky piece of free street theatre for families, is coming to the Recreation Ground in Sturminster Newton.
It’s New Year’s Eve, 1853, and in Crystal Palace Park a group of eminent professors and geologists are holding a banquet in an unusual venue – inside the concrete cast of an Iguanodon dinosaur.
Fossil-fuelled fun ensues as the dinner guests – famous dinosaur hunters William Buckland, Gideon Mantell, Mary Anning and Richard Owen – wrangle over their amazing fossil finds.
Arts company Emerald Ant and Sturminster Newton Museum are presenting the
show on Saturday, July 12, with performances – including BSL interpretation – at 12.30pm and 2.30pm.
The performances will be
accompanied by a drop-in workshop from 11.30am-4pm where children can learn more about fossils, dinosaurs – and their local museum.
DORSET Chamber Choir will be performing at one of its favourite venues when it returns to Holy Rood Church, Shillingstone, for a summer concert.
The choir, conducted by musical director John Watkins, will be singing a set of madrigals and motets, and items by two contemporary composers.
John Rutter’s Magnificat will see each of the seven sections take and develop a phrase from the Latin Magnificat text.
Cecilia McDowall’s A Fancy of Folksongs is an arrangement of four traditional English folk songs with a modern twist.
A spokesperson for the group said: “We always enjoy singing
in the lovely Holy Rood Church and we know we will have a warm welcome.”
The Shillingstone Summer Serenade is on Saturday, July 12, starting at 7pm, and tickets are £10 – £5 students and children.
Tickets are available through the group’s website, www. dorsetchamberchoir.com, and
from choir members and on the door – cash only.
The Church Centre, Blandford Road (A357) DT11 0SW has ample parking, and refreshments will be on offer during the interval.
The choir would like to thank Stephen Feltham and Chorali Fiscus for their support and sponsorship.
BATH Opera’s award-winning summer tour is returning to Wincanton with Verdi’s La Traviata next weekend.
The company has wowed audiences at the Memorial Hall every summer since the Covid pandemic with The Barber of Seville, Tosca, The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni
Two of these productions have been awarded the coveted Gerry Branton Cup for best opera production in the southwest by National Operatic and Dramatic Arts (NODA).
Virtuoso pianist, Dominic Irving, is again musical director, with stage direction by tour manager and Wincanton resident, John Clark.
La Traviata was originally set in France in the days when aristocratic family honour was sacrosanct.
So, after the son and heir falls for a ‘lady of pleasure’, his father intervenes, leading to violence, tragedy and death.
John Clark wanted to set the opera in a modern context, but
as the plot would be implausible in western Europe, he has moved the story to the Middle East, with the lady a senior hostess in the grand casino.
John said: “The setting is in no way a criticism of a country with different values than our own, and I have tried to make the characters as true as possible to the original writing.”
John, who is mainly experienced in acting and directing plays, believes setting a small-scale opera in an intimate smaller venue can enhance the audience’s emotional experience.
He added: “The singers are closer to the audience in a smaller setting; you can do more with varying reaction and movement in a small-scale production with fewer cast and no chorus; and the solo piano accompaniment allows variation of pace and the introduction of dramatic pauses, where the audience can actually watch the performers’ minds work their way through some very
Clockwise (from above) Chinese soprano, Cecilia Zhang, plays the lover; Swedish tenor, John Haque, the son; and baritone, David Palmer, the father; in Verdi’s La Traviata, coming to Wincanton’s Memorial Hall
dramatic decisions.”
Swedish tenor, John Haque, and Chinese soprano, Cecilia Zhang, fill the roles of son and lover, reprising their partnership from a fully staged production of Norma earlier this year.
They are supported by baritone, David Palmer, who has studied in Wales and the USA, as the father who divides them.
Performances are on Friday and Saturday, July 11-12, at 7.30pm, with bar and lawn open from 6.30pm.
THREE of the world’s greatest operas, including star soloists, a full chorus and orchestra, will be staged at Bryanston School, near Blandford.
The annual Dorset Opera Festival features more than 240 professional musicians and volunteers from all over the world.
In 2024, the festival celebrated its 50th anniversary, and this year marks another anniversary – 20 years at its
Tickets priced £20 are available on 01963 34196 – 24hour voicemail – or email summertour.bathopera@ outlook.com
current host venue, Bryanston.
The operas chosen this year are all firm favourites: Rigoletto by Verdi featuring Pavarotti’s favourite aria – La Donna è Mobile (All Women are Fickle); Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana; and Puccini’s Suor Angelica, a poignant story about a young woman sent to a monastery after giving birth to a child out of wedlock.
The festival runs from Tuesday to Saturday, July 22-26.
THE Tulsa Time Band will be performing the music of Don Williams at the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne this week.
The Country artist released 25 studio albums from Don Williams Volume 1 in 1973 to Reflections in 2014.
He began touring extensively throughout the UK in the late 1970s after the release of the single I Recall a Gypsy Woman He officially retired in 2016.
The Tulsa Time Band perform songs from Williams’ extensive back catalogue, including live favourites such as You’re My Best Friend, I Recall a Gypsy Woman and Tulsa Time A toe-tapping evening is promised on Thursday (July 10) at 7.30pm.
Across
8 Lacking advanced coaching for cooking Italian food (7)
Place 1 to 9 once into every black-bordered 3x3 area as well as each of the 54 rows indicated by the coloured lines. Rows don’t cross the thick black lines.
9 Learner with lack of difficulty getting contract for term (5)
10 Sound of calm in musical work (5)
11 Western Republican taking in Arab port, martial type (7)
12 Film about fashionable circle with drawing of images? (12)
16 Polite matron mistaken about a big city? (12)
Killer Sudoku Pro
20 A number with line penned by guitarist, abnormal phenomenon (7)
23 Head working with charge (5)
Down
1 Opening in Austria and Spain for feast (5)
2 Home was altered over time to a degree
3 Treat favourably expert point about Cuba
4 Inspection that is taking place in Volkswagen (4)
5 Hymn about love a girl arranged (6)
6 Revolutionary religion rejecting society in African country (4)
7 Withdraw extremists from rule over region
13 Blunder largely showing sentimentality (3)
(7)
14 Most burdensome struggles in warm condition (8)
24 Small shoot to appear with no end of rain (5)
25 Unusual prude’s detaining soprano in masquerade (5,2)
Place numbers 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and bold-lined 3x3 box. No digit may be repeated in any dash-lined cage, and all the digits in any cage must add up to the value shown in that cage.
15 Declaration by dinosaur, maybe, in stalemate (7)
17 Ohio with set of mountains producing fruit
18 Island more attuned for chemical substance (6)
19 Foolish writer held up during appeal (5)
in Austria and Spain for feast (5)
21 Brutish type restrained by progressives
2 Home was altered over time to a degree (8)
3 Treat favourably expert point about Cuba (6)
22 Odd day about old Star Wars character
4 Inspection that is taking place in Volkswagen (4)
5 Hymn about love a girl arranged (6)
6 Revolutionary religion rejecting society in African country (4)
7 Withdraw extremists from rule over region (7)
13 Blunder largely showing sentimentality (3)
14 Most burdensome struggles in warm condition (8)
15 Declaration by dinosaur, maybe, in stalemate (7)
17 Ohio with set of mountains producing fruit (6)
18 Island more attuned for chemical substance (6)
19 Foolish writer held up during appeal (5)
21 Brutish type restrained by progressives (4)
22 Odd day about old Star Wars character (4)
Puzzles
THERE’S a lot going on at the moment, so it’s hard to know where to begin.
It was fantastic to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Emergency Department & Critical Care Unit currently under construction at Dorset County Hospital. This project dates back to the previous Government, and it is good that the current continues support for it. When completed it is going to provide a major step change in the delivering of emergency care for our part of the county. This, together with the new surgical set up at Poole Hospital, which I have also visited, should be welcomed by us all. On a related health matter, while I welcome the drive to deliver integrated electronic patient records, I am concerned that money is being wasted in delivering them in Dorset and Somerset. Cost effectiveness and value for money is key. I have met Health
Simon Hoare
Ministers in the Commons to discuss this and will be meeting local NHS leaders shortly. It is always unfortunate when public sector workers strike. The NEU is currently undertaking strike action at Shaftesbury School in response to the Academy Trust’s plans to fundamentally alter the delivery of A-level teaching at Shaftesbury and Sturminster
Newton high schools. I have met the trust to probe its plans. Frankly, I am not convinced that what is proposed is in the best interests of my young constituents attending those schools. Parents, teachers and pupils are telling me the same thing. I therefore have some considerable sympathy with the NEU and its strike action as the trust seems either unwilling or unable to communicate in an inclusive way. I am discussing the issue with Education Ministers in Westminster and with the schools Regional Office. I do hope the trust listens to reason and rethinks its plans. Parliament has been dealing with the Assisted Dying (suicide) Bill, which has cleared its Commons’ hurdles and now makes its way to the House of Lords. I have read every single email I have been sent on this issue. Rightly, people have strongly held views both for and against. I voted against the Bill for several reasons. First, I do not believe the State is infallible and that it is medically nigh on impossible to calculate the imminence of death down to within six months. Moreover, I have yet to hear a medical reason as to why six months is so totemic. Second, we should
be concentrating far more resource into palliative and hospice care. My key objection, however, was the thinness of the Bill – simply too much of it was left to future Ministerially –authored regulations, so called Henry Vlll powers, and MPs had no idea how they would look. In my considered judgement I do not believe that that is the right way to make such important, nationally groundbreaking, law.
Rightly, North Dorset constituents do not hesitate to contact me to ask for my help – simon.hoare.mp@parliament. uk – when things go wrong. Over the last 10 years precisely no-one has contacted me concerning access to local recycling centres – tips. Zilch. Zero. Nada. So, like many, I am at a loss as to why our consistently chaotic Lib Dem ‘run’ council is introducing a booking system for users. It is feared that recycling rates will fall while countryside-scarring flytipping will increase. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Our current system appears to have served us well. The proposed changes are not popular. Will council leaders now perform another screeching U-turn? One has to hope so.
PLANS for devolution in Wessex were on the agenda during a visit from a Government minister.
The Wessex Partnership – made up of Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) councils – hopes to secure added powers from central government in a bid to boost the region.
Having failed to be selected for the first round of devolution, the group is lobbying to become a Mayoral Strategic Authority by 2027.
And representatives
welcomed Baroness Taylor from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for a ministerial visit focused on the area’s “ambitious devolution plans and its drive for economic growth”.
Baroness Taylor met leaders from the four unitary councils to discuss progress and future opportunities.
In a joint statement, the leaders of BCP, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire Councils – Cllr Millie Earl, Cllr Nick Ireland, Cllr Bill Revans and Cllr Ian Thorn –said: “We were delighted to
GLASTONBURY features large in the Blackmore Vale at this time of year. I do hope everyone attending has a nice time. But as I write the hip-hop trio Kneecap – named for the IRA’s signature punishment during The Troubles – is still scheduled to perform, despite one of its members, one Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, being charged with a terror offence for allegedly advocating a proscribed terrorist organisation. I have twice written to Sir Michael Eavis, the festival’s founder, urging him to remove Kneecap from his highly profitable line-up in accordance with his family’s professed desire that the festival should be for everyone a ‘safe space.’ I’ve yet to receive a reply.
Liam is reported to have urged his young followers to ‘Kill your local MP.’ Well, in recent years we’ve seen exactly that in the murders of Jo Cox MP and Sir David Amess MP. Words have consequences, especially when tumbling from the lips of influencers like Liam. Sir Michael is able evidently to reconcile his knighthood from the British State with making a packet from giving a platform to
Dr Andrew Murrison
those that wish it and its servants ill. It’s a convolution that’s lost on me.
12 days – all it took for Israel and the US to deal with Iran’s nuclear threat that overshadowed us all. The action was necessary, urgent and proportionate.
Necessary, because the International Atomic Energy Authority recently confirmed that Iran was recklessly flouting its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Urgent, because once Israel launched its audacious Operation Rising Lion to
command the airspace, Trump had to seize the moment. And proportionate because the US strike was surgical, minimising civilian casualties.
Only American bunkerbusting munitions could reach Fordow, buried deep beneath a mountain. But the religious zealots who run Iran still possess 408kg of uranium enriched to 60%. It would only take days to refine it to weapons-grade, according to most estimates. But, for now, they do not have the facilities or, probably, the means to deliver a payload.
The Islamic Republic will almost certainly try to rebuild Fordow or dig even deeper, beyond the reach of even American ordinance, and make another dash for a bomb. Are we now entering a cycle of strike, rebuild, repeat? If Iran cannot now make or deliver a thermonuclear device, what if the madmen of Tehran decide to lob fissile material at a populous area in the form of a dirty bomb? What happens if the uranium still at large gets into the hands of splinter groups who are even worse?
Donald Trump is not my cup of tea but hats off to him for neutralising the proximate threat to us all posed by Iran’s nuclear capability. When asked if they support the necessary action taken by the US, all we got from our PM and Foreign Secretary was waffle and evasion.
Shameful.
Mere deserves its own leisure centre. Tisbury is the exemplar. The point at which three counties meet is, currently, badly served, with Gillingham and Wincanton being overcapacity. Of course, public money is tight, and any facility must be able to wash its own face. Wiltshire Council’s brilliant new leisure centre under construction in the county town is expected to cost £25 million but revenue should be covered by users. WC has a facilitating role in bringing forward private investment. Let’s hope it can do so in the county’s far south-west corner. This summer, I’ll again be sending out surveys across the constituency, including a question on what a leisure centre in Mere might look like. I would be grateful for your views.
welcome Baroness Taylor to share the progress we’ve made as a partnership and demonstrate to Government everything the Wessex region has to offer.
“The councils across Wessex are already unitary councils, so we were keen to show how well-placed we are to support devolution and the
Baroness Taylor, from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, on her visit
Government’s growth priorities.
“We are working closely together to enhance collaboration, deliver sustainable growth and demonstrate our commitment to a strong, locally-led devolution deal.
“As a partnership we are a national leader in key sectors
including defence, clean energy, digital technologies and life sciences.
“We remain confident that devolution will unlock new opportunities for investment and innovation, and we are keen to move forward with a mayoral model that reflects the ambition of our councils and attracts public and private sector investment.”
Baroness Taylor said: “It was a pleasure to be here in Wessex and hear about the area’s ambitions for devolution and driving regional growth.
“This Government’s
intention is to extend devolution to all corners of England as soon as possible.
“While the timings and process for future devolution beyond the priority programme will be subject to further ministerial decisions, we will always listen to areas’ aims as we look to move our ambitious devolution agenda forward.”
The visit included briefings on regional initiatives, a visit to Porton Science Park, alongside the opening of the Future High Street Fund Station Forecourt scheme at Salisbury Railway Station.
WHENEVER you hear someone in government say that difficult decisions have to be made, the question arises, difficult for who? Will it be those who have sufficient income for all their needs and more, or those who through no fault of their own are unable to make ends meet no matter how hard they try? The Labour Government’s plan for welfare ‘reforms’ – that is, cuts –include making it harder for people to access Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) and cutting the rate of incapacity payments for those unable to work for health reasons.
The true measure of a civilised society surely lies in how it treats its poorer and most vulnerable citizens. PIP is designed to support people who have a long-term physical or mental health disability. Around 20% of them are in work, but simply unable to earn enough to cover their basic needs. This is yet another legacy of the decades-long failures of previous governments. And while levels of poverty have risen in the UK, the income of the rich has soared as the gap between the wealthy and the poor has widened. Hence the Green Party’s call for a fair tax
system.
In 2022 almost four million of our fellow citizens experienced destitution, a quarter of them children. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimated that the originally proposed welfare cuts would impact more than three million households and push an additional 250,000 adults and children into relative poverty by 2030. After a backbench rebellion by many Labour MPs, the Government eventually offered some concessions, but the planned cuts will still apply to new claimants so people with identical needs will end up being treated differently. Patently unfair.
The OBR also calculates that the cost of benefits paid to working-age people will rise to 2.2% of our economy by 2030 – less than half what the Government has now committed to spending on
defence, leading to growing calls for ‘Welfare not Warfare’.
On another crucial topic, the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. Barely half our wildlife remains, and another 10,000 plants, animals and birds are threatened with extinction. In January, the Government cut short the first reading of the Climate & Nature (CAN) Bill before it could be put to a vote and rescheduled it for July 11. Perhaps hoping there will not be enough time for it to be debated again? There is a campaign for each of the 650 constituencies in England to send the Prime Minister a personal letter, urging him to give the CAN Bill emergency debate time and ensure that we have greater action on the climate and nature crisis. I shall be posting the letter on behalf of North Dorset in the hope its message will be heeded.
FRIDAY, July 4, marks exactly one year since the 2024 General Election in which I was elected to Parliament as the first nonConservative MP in West Dorset’s 138-year history as a constituency.
I cannot believe it has been a whole year and yet at the same time it feels longer. It has been a whirlwind. The initial shock giving way to a realisation of the enormity of the task ahead. The first day being shown around the Palace and wondering how I would ever learn how to navigate the warren of corridors and narrow staircases. Even now I am still discovering new shortcuts and cut-throughs, hidden toilets, committee rooms I’ve never been in before and recently a whole office block I didn’t know existed.
Lib Dem MP for West Dorset
Edward Morello
Then there was getting to grips with the complex and arcane procedure of the House. Most of which you have to learn by osmosis. Bobbing –the act of standing and sitting to indicate to the Speaker you wished to ask a question. ‘The Galant Member’ – the correct
way to refer to an MP who previously served in the Armed Forces. The list goes on. Even now I and others occasionally commit the cardinal sin of using ‘you’ – which refers to the Speaker of the House and not the person you are speaking about.
There was also the urgent need to find a constituency office and hire staff. I still haven’t hired a communications person, so if you ever question the quality of my columns in this magazine it is because they are written by me personally – usually 10 minutes before the deadline!
I sit on two select committees – Foreign Affairs and National Security. Both give me an opportunity to work on important issues of the defence and promotion of
the Realm.
I have, I hope, also become competent at the important work of being a constituency MP. We have closed just over 2,500 pieces of casework, helping residents with everything from getting back from Israel after outbreak of the war with Iran, securing numerous Education, Health and Care Plans for children with additional needs, and a thousand other small, medium and big issues. I’ve spoken in the Chamber 84 times and sent 820 written questions to Ministers.
This is the most amazing and difficult job I have ever done, and I am hugely grateful to the residents of West Dorset for giving me the opportunity. So, on this one-year anniversary I just wanted to say thank you again.
THIS week I’m celebrating a year since being elected as your MP. The constituency of Glastonbury and Somerton itself is also celebrating its one-year anniversary – and what a year it’s been!
The historic General Election in July 2024 was a landmark with the Liberal Democrats sweeping to victory in 72 constituencies across the country. As election night wore on, and it became apparent the Lib Dems were winning seats left right and centre – securing 3.5 million votes and incredible gains – the mood in the Lib Dem camp went from jubilant to ecstatic and I was incredibly proud to be part of that wave of success.
And, of course, it was a huge privilege to be elected to represent the people of the new Glastonbury and Somerton constituency – a wonderful part of Somerset full of vibrant rural communities and tight-knit
characterful towns, together with some of the most beautiful natural surroundings in the country.
12 months on I look back on an amazing year of hard work and success. Fighting the new Labour Government on tax hikes, standing up for improved health services and better transport, supporting farmers and tackling flooding – to name but a few – I’ve been privileged
to dedicate myself to being the voice of Glastonbury and Somerton, making sure our incredible region gets the representation in Westminster it deserves.
Some wider achievements this year have included fighting to restore Winter Fuel Payments, which I’m happy to say the Government relented on. I’ve also been proud of my work standing up for farmers against the family farm tax, the events I’ve held to support the farming community and my continuing work as an EFRA Select Committee member to examine Defra policy and hold the Government to account.
In the same role, I’ve also been focussing on reforming the water sector and challenging water company bosses on their record. I hope the results of this scrutiny will soon be applied by the Government and water companies held fully
accountable with proper rigour. At constituency level there are so many things to be proud of. My team and I have completed more than 7,000 pieces of casework, including helping constituents get the money they’re owed from the infected blood scandal and assisting postmasters affected by the Horizon scandal. We’ve helped constituents secure monies owed by HMRC, fought for those wrongly stripped of disability benefits, and have achieved results on improved bus routes, as well as working hard to find a long-term workable solution to get our rural transport services better joined up.
As always, I want to hear from you. If you’d like to share your views, discuss an issue or book an appointment at one of my regular advice surgeries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at sarah.dyke.mp@ parliament.uk
ONE of my priorities as the MP for Yeovil is making sure that every child – no matter their background, learning style or diagnosis – has the support they need to succeed in school.
That’s why I recently submitted a Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education asking what action the Government is taking to support the use of assistive technology (AT) in our primary schools.
The response from the Minister was welcome in parts but revealed how far we still have to go.
Assistive technology includes tools like text-to-speech software, digital notetaking aids and devices that help with focus, memory and communication. For children with learning differences such as dyslexia, or those with other additional
needs, these technologies can open up a whole new way of learning.
Too often, though, access to this kind of support depends on where a child lives, which school they attend or whether their parents are able to fight for it. That’s not right. Every child
deserves the chance to thrive, not just those in better-funded schools or with louder voices behind them.
The Government has promised that from September 2025 all new teachers will receive training in using assistive technology. It’s also carrying out research into how local councils, schools and suppliers can work together more effectively to deliver support. In Somerset, 27 schools are set to benefit from improved broadband infrastructure, which is vital to making this technology work in practice.
These are steps in the right direction, but they are small steps, and they are too slow.
As someone who has spoken out many times about the postcode lottery in dyslexia support, I know how urgent this
issue is. I’ve called for mandatory neurodiversity training for teachers, a national data collection system to track diagnoses of dyslexia and other conditions, and a new funding model that ensures schools have what they need to support all learners.
This is not about giving some children an advantage. It’s about levelling the playing field so that everyone has a fair chance.
Here in the Blackmore Vale, I know how committed our teachers and school staff are. But they need better tools, clearer guidance and proper investment. Assistive technology has the power to change lives, but only if it’s used well and made available to all.
I’ll keep pushing in Parliament to make sure that happens.
THE piece on dentistry by Dr Andrew Murrison – New Blackmore Vale, June 6 – struck me because he is the first person outside the system that I have seen to use the phrase ‘Units of Dental Activity’.
Almost the entire public, and most of the politicians, have no idea how General Dental Services work.
Back in 1981, Mrs Thatcher denationalised the service, passing it over to local health authorities.
She introduced the system of NHS patient registration, where a dental practice agreed to take on individual patients for a year, during which it would provide necessary treatment in accordance with NHS fees.
The local authorities did not like that one bit, because they thought it would be an openended cost to them.
They were assured that about half the cost would be paid by the patient.
But a lot of the ‘wicked dentists’ decided they would only register children and exempt adults.
So, of course, the authority then had to pay the full fee for them.
The dentists were told they must not do that.
So, they decided not to play the game any more, and stopped signing on new NHS patients.
In 2006 Messrs Blair and Brown abolished the registration of NHS patients and replaced the system with Units of Dental Activity (UDA) – for example, a ‘check-up’ is one UDA and so on.
Interestingly, two-thirds of those questioned in a survey last year thought that the registration system still existed – nearly 20 years after its abolition.
This system is much preferred by local authorities
because they can know a year in advance how much they will be paying for NHS dentistry.
That and no more.
The dental practice can only do the agreed number of UDAs – no more and no less.
If they do more, they could not claim the balance of the fees from the authority.
If they do less, then their UDA quota for the following year will be reduced accordingly.
From the patients’ point of view, once the practice has fulfilled its quota, it can see no more NHS patients until the next financial year.
This is where I come into it.
As an orthodontist I had to agree a year in advance how may courses of NHS treatment I would start and/or finish.
One year, I exceeded my quota and negotiated to have the surplus carried over into the following financial year.
In practice it then meant that I had to reduce the number of new patients I could see for that year.
It costs an awful lot of money to qualify as a dental surgeon.
Luckily, I had my tuition fees paid by a ‘County Major Exhibition’ based on my A-level results, but my father had to support me for that time, and I had to buy my own books, tools and instruments.
And none of the long summer vacation, just four weeks in August!
(And, by the way, the Royal Dental Hospital was founded in 1858, not by recent taxpayers).
The NHS was introduced as an opt-in system.
It was expected that it should not be used by those who did not need to.
In fact, shortly before I retired with a damaged shoulder
and neck from my work, I attended a local ‘NHS’ hospital.
I was loudly harangued by the sister in charge: “You shouldn’t be here. You’re a dentist. You can afford to go private!”
So I did.
Martin A Rooke-Matthews Via email
TINCKNELL Fuels’ Gillingham depot has been crowned UKIFDA Depot of the Year 2025, an achievement that fills our company with pride.
This award from the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association recognises the standards of service, efficiency and professionalism that define our operations in Gillingham.
At the heart of this success is our Gillingham team, led by depot manager Neil Bundy.
We are equally grateful to our loyal customers in and around Gillingham, whose trust and support have been the bedrock of our journey.
Tincknell Fuels remains committed to excellence, and with the support of our team and customers, we are excited for what lies ahead.
Tincknell Fuels Via email
I LIVE in the centre of Blandford Forum, and we are lucky to have parks and the trailway.
Unfortunately, the pavements to these are often speckled with dog poo.
Tincknell Fuels’ Gillingham depot has been crowned UKIFDA Depot of the Year
Is it the owner who refuses to bag it up or the dog that should be blamed?
WE are currently seeking a trustee for a charitable initiative we are launching in Blandford – a cat cafe, a welcoming space where people can relax, connect with one another and enjoy the calming presence of animals in a cozy atmosphere.
Our goal is to establish this cafe as a charitable organisation with all profits to be donated to support orphaned children in Ukraine who have lost their parents due to the ongoing war.
At present, many children are in urgent need of material support, including basic necessities, household items, clothing and footwear.
We already have three trustees on board, but to register the charity, we need at least one more.
We are seeking compassionate individuals who may be interested in joining us as trustees – people who, like us, are committed to making a difference in the lives of Ukrainian orphans.
Julia Kobzarieva (flittingster@gmail.com) Via email
Angel
tunes from 30s-60s
IN reply to Michael Tarrant’s letter – New Blackmore Vale, June 6 – regarding BBC programming, if he likes the older genres of popular music a
station called Angel Radio broadcasts on the DAB network and online.
It is based in Portsmouth, but we can pick it up quite well in Sturminster Marshall.
It covers all music from the 1930s through to the late 1960s and has some of the old BBC comedy programmes as well.
David Whitmarsh
Sturminster Marshall
SIMON Hoare MP – New Blackmore Vale, June 20 – talks of Liberal Democrat ‘instability’.
I can assure him there is no ‘instability’ in the Lib Dem administration at Dorset Council.
In May 2024 the Conservative administration, made up of councillors who were colleagues of his, left Dorset Council in a mess.
Lack of leadership and therefore a lack of action and therefore more waste and cost to council taxpayers.
Procurement and legal are two areas that have been highlighted.
The Lib Dem administration now has to sort it out and put it right.
Lib Dem councillors are working with local town and parish councils to get things done to benefit all in Dorset.
Barrie Cooper
Charlton Marshall
EXTINCTION Rebellion
Wimborne (XR Wimborne) welcomes the decision by BCP Council’s Western Planning Committee to reject the Canford Waste Incinerator proposal in a move that defied both the council officer’s recommendation to approve and a green light from the Environment Agency.
The outcome is a powerful demonstration of communityled action.
XR Wimborne, XR BCP, Magwatch – a group of residents from Canford Magna, Merley, Oakley and Bearwood formed to protect green spaces – and concerned residents worked closely together to raise awareness across Dorset about the dangers of the proposed incinerator.
Their efforts included outreach that led hundreds of residents to email councillors in both BCP and Dorset councils in opposition.
On June 12, local residents and XR campaigners stood outside the proposed site as councillors conducted a site inspection, showing visible community opposition.
Later that day, they gathered again at BCP Council offices to greet planning committee members before the decision with placards, drumming and anti-incinerator songs.
The proposed incinerator would have burned 260,000 tonnes of waste annually –threatening air quality, public health and climate targets.
XR Wimborne has long argued that the project was incompatible with a sustainable, circular economy.
It shows the impact of peaceful protest.
MVV may appeal, but we shall keep working to stop the project and to raise awareness about the threat to Dorset’s natural environment.
Joanna Bury XR Wimborne
I READ with dismay that Dorset Council will no longer allow residents from neighbouring counties to use the Household Recycling Centre at Shaftesbury.
I live three miles from Shaftesbury, but from the
autumn will have to travel 10 miles to Warminster to use a Wiltshire facility.
Hardly environmentally friendly.
While it may save Dorset Council money in the short term, I wonder if it has considered the long term effects of its determination to push through the changes?
Today I visited, and made purchases from, a large supermarket, a toy shop and a pharmacy, all in Shaftesbury High Street.
I noted an advert in the Delicatessen window which explained that purchases made there help preserve independent traders.
If I have to take my household waste a 20-mile round trip in future, I will make sure I shop in Warminster, too.
How will traders in Shaftesbury benefit from Dorset Council’s cost savings then?
Dr Lesley Webb East Knoyle
ACREMAN St Auctioneers & Valuers, Sherborne, had a successful two-day auction in June.
The highlights were: a pair of George III silver entree dishes, hammer £1,800; a large silver tray, hammer £2,200; a quantity of silver coins, hammer £870; an Oriental bronze vessel, hammer £1,300; and a large 1938 dated painting of a dancer in the moonlight, hammer £1,600.
The catalogue and bidding are available through Easyliveauction.com and Thesaleroom.com, and Auctionet.com for timed auctions.
Acreman is now accepting items for its end of July specialist auction including garden and architectural items. The auction house holds
regular valuation days where prospective sellers can take in items for its specialists to evaluate at 121 Acreman Street, Sherborne, DT9 3PH.
Valuation days run from 10am-3pm: Jewellery & Watches, Tuesdays and Saturdays; Silver & Obje’t D’art, Tuesdays and Saturdays; Toys & Collectables, Wednesdays and Saturdays; Oriental & Asian, Thursdays and Saturdays; Coins, Stamps, Books & Ephemera, Fridays and Saturdays; Militaria, Fridays and Saturdays; Textiles & Fashion, Mondays and Saturdays; Paintings & Contemporary Art, Mondays and Saturdays.
Anyone unable to get along on the allocated days can phone or email to make an
Continued on page 46
Auctioneers & Valuers
Antiques & Collectibles Sale
A CANTEEN of solid silver cutlery from a cottage near Minehead, Somerset, is included in Charterhouse’s specialist auction of silver and silver plate at the end of this month.
“The market for silver continues to be strong at auction with top prices being achieved, helped along with high silver prices in the precious metal markets,” said Richard Bromell,
July
Friday 9th & Saturday 10th August
Wednesday 9th, Thursday 10th and Friday 11th July Viewing Days
Colour catalogue available at the-saleroom.com and easyliveauction.com
An original Fry & Sons 'Fry's Pure Concentrated Cocoa' enamel sign. Sold for £1,600.
Maurice MacGonigal PRHA (Irish 1900-1979) Race of the Currach’s - Oil on board. Estimate £3000 - £5000.
Clarke’s Auctions o er free home visits and verbal valuations. Now accepting items for this and future sales
The Old Glove Factory, Buckingham Road Gillingham, SP8 4QF 01747 685592 enquiries@clarkesauctions.co.uk
e Old Glove Factory, Buckingham Road Gillingham, SP8 4QF 01747 685592 enquiries@clarkesauctions.co.uk Antiques & Collectables Saturday 12th July 2025
Units 1 & 2 Kingsettle Business Park, 01747 855109 enquiries@clarkesauctions.co.uk
25th July 10am
from the auction house.
The canteen of silver cutlery, made by Walker & Hall, one of the most popular silversmiths of the 20th century, was inherited from a close family member.
The owners, who are planning a house move in a couple of months, were having a sort out of items they had inherited over the years and asked Charterhouse to visit their home to give them some help and advice.
The silver canteen, estimated at £2,500, is entered into Charterhouse’s three-day summer auction, with silver on Wednesday, July 30, jewellery & watches on Thursday, July 31, and antiques and interiors on Friday, August 1.
Charterhouse is now accepting further entries for the three-day auction of watches, jewellery, silver and antiques.
For help and advice, contact Richard Bromell at Charterhouse in Sherborne on 01935 812277 or at rb@ charterhouse-auction.com
DUKE’S has been a beacon for discerning collectors for over two centuries, offering items that blend history, artistry and craftsmanship.
The upcoming Summer Interiors Auction on Thursday, July 21, features a curated selection of fine art, period furniture and decorative arts.
From classical paintings and miscellanea, to intricate porcelain and silverware, each piece tells its unique story and adds sophistication to any space.
A highlight of the auction is an Attic Black-Figured Terracotta Amphora.
Dating from the sixth to the third century BC, this exceptional amphora is a striking example of ancient Greek craftsmanship.
Decorated on both sides, the
vessel depicts Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, vegetation and ecstasy, accompanied by his satyr companion and tutor, Silenus, and two maenads.
Estimated at £2,000-£3,000, the piece stands in magnificent distinction.
For those looking to enhance their surroundings with pieces of enduring beauty, this auction offers a chance to acquire items that will become cherished parts of their personal narratives.
Lot 29 in the summer auction is an Attic Black-Figured Terracotta Amphora
As the gavel falls, it marks
the continuation of these items’ journeys, carrying the echoes of history and the promise of future admiration.
CLARKE’S Auctions will be offering a fine assortment of antiques and collectable items in its July sale next weekend.
Viewing days are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, July 9, 10 and 11, from 9am-5pm.
Clarke’s is open for live bidding on Saturday, with the sale starting at 10am, and its colour catalogue can be downloaded from the-saleroom. com and easyliveauction.com. Included in the sale is a charming oil painting entitled Race of the Currach’s by Irish artist Maurice MacGonigal. Born in Dublin in 1900, MacGonigal developed a love
of the western coast of Ireland and his work is represented in all major collections of Irish art. Currach races are traditional Irish boat races featuring crews sailing light boats with wooden frames and canvas covering and take place in Aran on the Irish coast.
Other interesting lots in the sale are a fine sterling silver five-piece tea set by the American makers Amston, estimated at £700-£1,000; a pretty Edwardian kilt or plaid brooch set with a large Citrine, estimated at £300-£500; and an impressive pair of carved and painted wooden models of
For a full list of
A mid-century Ercol No.513 shape elm and beech dining table. Estimate £200-£400
Mughal warriors on horseback – standing 60cm high, they will appeal to the decorator’s market and are estimated at £400-£600.
The team at Clarke’s is happy to have a look at anything prospective vendors are thinking of selling – phone to make an appointment with a valuer.
For enquiries about entry into future sales, probate or insurance valuations or full or part house clearances, phone Richard Clarke or Karen Marshall on 01747 685592 at the salerooms at The Old Glove Factory, Buckingham Road, Gillingham SP8 4QF.
Continued from page 44
appointment – house visits can also be arranged if required.
Acreman can offer advice on items being considered for auction.
Photographs can be emailed to auction@acremanstreet antiques.co.uk or visit the salerooms, open Monday to Saturday 9am-4pm.
Acreman can take in everything from single items to complete collections.
It can also offer advice and valuations to householders who are downsizing or who need to deal with a whole house and can arrange full house clearances at competitive rates.
Anyone who has anything they would like to consign should contact Gill Norman on 07908 333577 or 01935 508764 or via the email address above.
by Sally Gregson LAVENDERS
have been part of our domestic lives in this country since we started gardening. They are native of the Mediterranean region with silver-grey leaves and aromatic flowers that relish the hot, dry climate.
Their very name is associated with ‘laundry’ and washing clothes – the words have the same Latin root. For centuries we have tied bunches of lavender flowers, or put lavender bags between the washed sheets, not only to scent the linen, but to preserve the sheets from the attentions of moths and mould.
Over the years, gardeners have selected the best forms, with the largest, most highly scented flowers. Lavenders such as Lavandula angustifolia ‘Seal’ were selected by a commercial laundry in the eponymous Kentish village for its long
stems and big ears of flower. Lavender heads were picked in the morning before the flowers were fully open and bunched and tied just below the heads with thread. The stems were bent back down to enclose the flowers in a cage of stems and tied together. The ‘bag’ was then tied up with ribbon and placed among the linen.
In traditional gardens, English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, was preferred to the alternative French Lavender, L. stoechas, which is less tolerant of our wet English winters. In the days before glasshouses were more commonplace, a wet winter would decimate a collection of lavenders growing in the open ground.
French lavender, Lavandula stoechas, is well worth taking the extra trouble to grow. It has big ears and is perfumed of eau de cologne rather than
traditional lavender. And it has a wider colour range than English lavenders. Not only are they available in every shade of lavender possible, but there are also white, pink and regal purple forms to delight a sunny garden. Lavandula stoechas ‘Rosea Kew Red’, is especially striking, for example. It has bright white petals like
by Sally Gregson
MANY of our best-loved herbs are not native to our cold, damp climate – they come from the hot, dry areas around the Mediterranean. And they particularly dislike our wet winters, so wise gardeners take cuttings or collect seed as an insurance policy.
Lavenders were introduced centuries ago by the Romans and must have been reproduced by seed or cuttings. Usually, it is advised to take these cuttings in September, but they are just as easily, and often more successful, taken in midsummer. The snag this year especially is that the current hot, dry weather is not ideal for taking cuttings. If our heatwave should fade away noisily in
flashes of thunder, as soon as possible before the next one, take some lavender cuttings. They should root quickly and the resulting young plants will have grown sufficiently to be potted up before October. Choose non-flowering shoots if possible. Flowering plants always prefer to reproduce by seed at the expense of roots. Take cuttings of the current
It is often advised to take lavender cuttings in September, but they are just as easily, and often more successfully, taken in mid-summer
year’s growth that are about 10-15cm long. Nip out the tips that would contain flower buds if they could. Plant hormones that make flower rather than root will be contained in the shoot tips.
Remove the leaves at the base of the cutting where they would contact the compost and dip the prepared cutting in hormone rooting powder. Tap
hovering butterflies, over dark magenta flowers. Lavandula stoechas is happy grown in a large pot all summer. It could be moved into the shelter of a cold greenhouse for the winter, just to keep it from drowning. Cut it back in spring and move it outside to a sunny place for another summer.
off the excess and insert the cuttings into a pot filled with a 50:50 mixture of grit and potting compost. Water the cuttings in to settle the soil around the stems. Label the pot with the name, number of cuttings and date taken, and place somewhere cool out of the sun. Beneath the greenhouse bench is ideal.
Check daily to see if the cuttings have rooted and remove any that are clearly dead. After a week or so, once they have started to root, gradually take the pot out and slowly give the cuttings more light and air. If they have rooted well by September they can be potted up into small, 9cm pots of gritty compost, and put somewhere light and airy, and frost-free. They should have made good plants by next spring ready to plant out.
FROM humble beginnings,
Shaftesbury Fringe has become one of the largest open-access arts events in the country.
Founded in 2016, the event sees the town open its doors to acts ranging from stand-ups to ska bands, soul singers to circus performers, with countless venues and shows to suit all tastes.
Visitors might find themselves dancing in a car park, laughing with a comedian in a ballroom, tapping their toes to a folk band at the Lido, or soaking up the ambience of Shaftesbury Abbey while enjoying a choral recital.
“The first Shaftesbury Fringe was a small affair, but set the scene for what quickly became known as a key event in performers’ calendars,” said a Shaftesbury Fringe spokesperson.
“We see many performers coming back to Shaftesbury to launch their newest shows before heading out on tour –you really can see them here first.
“But while many Fringe events have become huge extravaganzas, the team at Shaftesbury Fringe have taken to heart a comment made by one of our performers, that this ‘really is Britain’s friendliest fringe’.”
They said the ethos has stuck with organisers, meaning they “work behind the scenes to make sure everyone, from performers to visitors, have a happy and successful Fringe”.
The 2025 edition of the Shaftesbury Fringe runs from July 18 to 20 - and organisers are promising an eclectic mix of
acts to tickle the talent tastebuds of the whole family.
“(We have) just about everything you can imagine,” the spokesperson went on. “We have poetry readings; music - acoustic, folk, choral, ska, jazz and blues, classical, rock or sea shanties; stand-up comedy; theatre; a cartoon exhibition; a land-based synchronised swimming troupe (you have to
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see it to believe it); a bubbleologist; Tibetan singing bowl ‘chill out’ sessions and stage magicians.
“Along with the town’s eateries, we’re hosting a small group of food and drink traders on Park Walk, where you can grab a bite and listen to some of our acts perform a preview of their shows on the Busking Stage.”
So far, the Shaftesbury Fringe has more than 200 performances booked, with some slots still open to performers.
We have listed a selection of venues in the town - but a full programme will be available nearer the time, while an app is also available, giving a detailed breakdown of what you can see, and where!
PART of the fun of the Fringe is audience participation, of course, and this year is no different in Shaftesbury.
As part of the excitement, visitors are being urged to don their best hero persona - which could land them a prize.
On fringe Saturday, July 19, people are being encouraged to
dress up on the theme of ‘Heroes’.
A fringe spokesperson said: “Be imaginative – we’re not just looking for comic book superheroes.”
n Judging and prize giving will take place outside Shaftesbury Town Hall at 4pm on July 19.
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Welcoming to all for a good pint and a chat. A visit is a must!
Fringe is a ‘living event’ - so the programme is always moving and evolving.
Organisers aim to stay on top of all the changes before and during the festival.
With more than 300 performances set to take place, the best way to keep on top of everything that is going is via the official Shaftesbury Fringe 2025 app - available from the App Store and Google Play.
The app:
– Lists all artists and performances, events and venues, and times and ticket details.
– Lists multiple performances of the same show to make planning easier.
– Automatic event updates ensure the latest info is at your fingertips.
– Includes a map for all venues, car parks and health points, and directions from your location.
– Decide what to watch by searching by performance, venue, genre, age restriction, start time, end time or entry type.
– Build your own Fringe by adding performances to your My Fringe planner, and set alarms to remind you.
– List and map of places to eat and drink in the town.
Available for Sept 2025
A t G i l l i n g h a m S c h o o l S i x t h F o r m , w e c o m b i n e e x c e p t i o n a l t e a c h i n g w i t h o u t s t a n d i n g
p a s t o r a l c a r e i n a s u p p o r t i v e , a m b i t i o u s c o m m u n i t y .
W i t h m o d e r n f a c i l i t i e s , d e d i c a t e d s t u d y a r e a s , a n d a v i b r a n t S i x t h F o r m C e n t r e , w e
p r e p a r e s t u d e n t s f o r t o p u n i v e r s i t i e s , c o m p e t i t i v e a p p r e n t i c e s h i p s , a n d s u c c e s s f u l
c a r e e r s .
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l e a d e r s h i p r o l e s t o v o l u n t e e r i n g b u i l d c o
- Est 1992Cranbornes is an independent retailer which has been trading since 1992.
We sell a large selection of gifts, cards, stationery, jewellery and women’s accessories.
Come and visit our shop! Next door to our Shaftesbury shop is Cranbornes Toys.
Website: https://cranbornes.co.uk/ Email: cranbornesofshaftesbury@gmail.com Tel: 01747 855900
Address: 63-65 High Street, Shaftesbury, SP7 8JE Toys - 59B High Street, Shaftesbury, SP7 8JE
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Fringe is currently funded mainly through sponsorship and advertisements in the printed programme.
Organisers are keen to build partnerships with a range of businesses, so if you would be interested in supporting the event, get in touch.
“There are so many ways you can help and we have opportunities for budgets of all sizes,” a spokesperson said.
“We have several high profile sponsorship opportunities available, reaching a potential audience of 60,000 people over a 25-mile radius of Shaftesbury and beyond. Sponsorship packages can be tailored to suit your business.
“Our printed programme and the Fringe App are the most important resources for Fringe. They tell our audiences who is playing, what they’re playing, where they’re playing and how to get there.”
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Sponsors also feature on the Fringe websiteshaftesburyfringe.co.uk - while advertising opportunities are also available in the printed programme.
People can also become a ‘friend of the Fringe’, giving individuals the chance to offer their support to help the event
survive and thrive.
“No matter what you can offer, we’d love to hear from you,” the spokesperson added.
n For more details, visit shaftesburyfringe.co.uk/ sponsorship, where you can complete a simple form to receive a document listing all the opportunities on offer.
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ANOTHER contest running throughout Shaftesbury Fringe has more of an easygoing pace - quite literally.
Dozens of snails - yes, snails - are hidden around the town, and people are being encouraged to spot as many as they can, with a prize up for grabs for the ‘best snail spotter’.
People can download an entry form right now via shaftesburyfringe.co.uk and embark on their snail spotting journey - with 40 hidden in and around town from July 7.
Forms can also be collected from, and dropped off at, the following locations:
n Folde Dorset, Gold Hill, SP7 8JE
n Shaftesbury Library, Bell St, SP7 8AE
n The Potting Shed, Swan’s Yard, SP7 8JQ
n The Dorset Store, 43 High St, SP7 8JE
The closing date for entries is July 21.
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ASPECIAL show will give people a sneak peak into what they can expect at the
A preview show, at Shaftesbury Arts Centre, is set to take place on Thursday, July 17, offering an insight into the raft of entertainment on offer throughout the event.
the festival has to offer.
“The show brings together a variety of acts from across the festival – theatre, comedy, music, spoken word, and more – in one fast-paced, joyfully unpredictable showcase,” a spokesperson said.
“Whether you’re a seasoned fringe-goer or just curious to dip your toe in, this is your chance to sample what
“Discover new talent, catch a glimpse of shows that might become your favourites, and experience the energy and creativity that makes the fringe so special.
“One night. Multiple acts. Endless possibilities. Come along, try something new, and get into the Fringe spirit.”
The show on July 17 runs between 7.30pm and 9pm, with tickets available for £5 via bit.ly/ShaftFringePreview.
Bell St United Church
A Victorian Church with excellent acoustics and seating in pews for up to 80 people.
Location: Bell St, SP7 8AR
Black Cactus – Cafe
A small, intimate cafe.
Location: 58A High St, SP7 8AA
Coffee #1 – Coffee Shop
A High Street coffee shop with a great atmosphere and a number of performance areas.
Location: 26 High St, SP7 8JG
Father’s House – Large Hall, Foyer and Meeting Room
A modern religious centre situated just outside the main town.
Location: Christy’s Lane, SP7 8PH
Gold Hill Museum – Garden Room
A venue situated at the top of Gold Hill, within Shaftesbury Museum. The semi circular room looks out onto the Museum garden.
Location: 1-2 Gold Hill, SP7 8JW
The Grosvenor Arms is a landmark hotel located in the centre of Shaftesbury.
The Heritage Suite is situated close to the town centre and has a large performance/dance area. Audience capacity is up to 120.
Location: 43 Bell Street, SP7 8AE
The Jam Shed
Robbo’s garage situated in Swans Yard and will probably be the most uniquely decorated venue at the Fringe!
Location: Swans Yard, SP7 8JQ
an event space, with a capacity of 40 inside and more on the terrace in good weather.
Location: Bleke St, SP7 8JZ
La Fleur de Lys
The venue is the garden patio at the rear of this prestigious restaurant with rooms. Audience capacity is 25 to 30.
Location: Bleke St, SP7 8AW
The Mitre
The Assembly Room is upstairs and is a large spacious and elegant room.
The Courtyard is accessed through the main hotel entrance. It is open air and has a central working fountain.
Location: The Commons, SP7 8JA
The Half Moon – Pub and Garden
The Half Moon is a pub and restaurant occupying several rooms, with a separate garden.
Location: Salisbury Road, SP7 8BS
Heritage Suite – Community Hall
The Kalypsos staff are a team of
Visit https://kalypsos.co.uk for more.
King Alfred’s Kitchen – The Nuns’ Passage and Upstairs
A prominent Grade II-listed 13th-16th century woodenbeamed building situated in the High Street.
The Nuns’ Passage is an unusual venue situated beneath the tea room, accessed down steps leading to a vaulted cellar.
Upstairs is within the working cafe area.
Location: 17 High St, SP7 8JS
The King’s Arms
The King’s Arms sits in the centre of Shaftesbury, backing onto Bell Street Car Park.
The old skittle alley provides
A centrally-located pub, with two separate areas available: The decking at the back of the bar with fabulous views over the vale.
Location: 23 High Street, SP7 8JE
Muston’s Yard
Resurrecting the infamous old Angola 76 & Muston’s Bar live music venue for an amazing three-day festival of music, with a cocktail bar, American smokehouse BBQ and music.
Location: Mustons Yard, SP7 8AD
Pitchers Bar & Club (inside Football Club)
Just out of the main centre of
town, Pitchers is at the football club, with a quiet bar area and a adjoining function room.
A custom outdoor stage will be built for Fringe.
Location: Coppice St, SP7 8PD
The Potting Shed
Situated in a small garden centre, the venue is outdoors with a small marquee.
Location: 7 Swans Yard, SP7 8JQ
Quaker Meeting House
A new venue off Park Walk, with a choice of two rooms or the garden area.
Location: Abbey Walk, SP7 8BB
Royal British Legion Hall
A modern building just at the edge of the main town, next to the football club, the venue is the main function hall.
Location: Coppice St, SP7 8PF
Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Garden
This venue is the site of Shaftesbury Abbey, destroyed by Henry VIII in the sixteenth century, and features three
performance areas: The garden; Lodge function room and the Museum.
Location: Park Walk, SP7 8JR
Shaftesbury Arts Centre
– Rutter Room and Theatre
Shaftesbury Arts Centre is a thriving community centre. The Rutter Room is a large room.
Location: 11-13 Bell St, SP7 8AR
Shaftesbury Deli – Garden
The venue is the rear garden, accessed by a side door.
Location: 37 High St, SP7 8JE
Shaftesbury Fringe Park
Walk Busking Stage
Open to all performers, the busking stage is set on the beautiful Park Walk. Enjoy music, comedy and more.
Location: Park Walk, SP7 8JR
Shaftesbury Library
Shaftesbury library is a small but busy library. Situated in Bell Street, the library has an open children’s area.
Location: Bell Street, SP7 8AE
Breakfasts, lunches, afternoon tea, gluten/vegan options and we’re dog friendly!
Shaftesbury Lido – Courtyard or Poolside
Shaftesbury Lido is a popular local open air amenity, not far from the centre of town.
Location: Barton Hill, SP7 8DQ
Shaftesbury Town Hall and Street Performers
Features performances at the Town Hall, plus street shows.
Location: Shaftesbury Town Hall, SP7 8LY and High Street
Shaston Social Club
Features a fully equipped stage and dance hall.
Location: Bleke St, SP7 8AW
Saint James’ Church
Situated in St James, a village below Shaftesbury town.
Location: Foyle Hill, SP7 8HE
Saint Peter’s Church
A Saxon church located in the High Street, with the altar used as a stage.
Location: High St, SP7 8LY
Saint Peter’s Church Hall
This venue is a typical
church hall situated at the top of Gold Hill. The hall is up a few steps with seating for around 50.
Location: Gold Hill, SP7 8JW
Swans Yard – Courtyard
This is a well known outdoor venue in the very heart of Shaftesbury around the busy café, The Ugly Duckling.
Location: Swans Yard, SP7 8JQ
Trinity Centre Trust –Upstairs Hall
A large performance area for up to 100 people seated.
Location: Bimport, SP7 8BW
Trinity Big Stage
A managed outdoor stage in the grounds of Trinity Church.
Location: Abbey Walk, SP7 8Bb
Ye Olde Two Brewers –Garden and Skittle Alley
Situated in St James, not far from the bottom of Gold Hill, Ye Olde Two Brewers has an outdoor venue, while the Skittle Alley is situated just across the way.
Location: 24 St James St, SP7 8HE
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Family run business since 1946
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Trusted family-run business, ring for enquiries 01747 826107 TF Plant, 8 Brickfields Industrial Estate, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4JL Sand, gravel, cement and topsoil supplied Trade & DIY. Supplied loose or collected. Small or large loads also bulk bag materials & small handy bags. Muck-away service of inert materials
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Chimney Sweep Manual and Power Sweeping, Stove Servicing and Maintenance, Camera Inspections, Property Maintenance 07368 250305/01747 590799
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Doors, repairs, general maintenance etc Call Nick on 07887 358570
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by John Blashford-Snell FOLLOWING
an expedition deep in the Libyan Sahara, I asked our leader if I could drive ahead of the convoy. It was 400 miles to Benghazi and I set out with my driver, Sapper Smart, and a navigator. We had a radio, and the route was well marked, so the journey in a single vehicle did not worry me.
Speeding over the firm sand, we were 120 miles from the coast when a tyre punctured. Unbuckling the spare wheel I glanced at the dejected driver. “I lent my box spanner to Higgins last night,” he muttered. It took several seconds for the meaning of this to become clear. The desert Land Rovers were fitted with a special hub to which a rope could be attached and thus provide a simple capstan. However, it required a long box spanner to undo the wheel nuts. “There must be another way”, I protested. We searched our kit, but there was no way to unscrew even one nut. We were stranded with only four gallons of water.
Silently, avoiding unnecessary activity, we laid out the fluorescent air identification panels in the form of the emergency signal, prepared flares, made a shelter along the side of the Land Rover and crawled beneath. Our radio could not make contact with anyone. After the day’s scorching heat, the blissful cool of the night was a welcome relief.
When the first flush of panic passed, I had wanted to call Smart every name under the sun. However, eight hours later my anger had subsided as I tried to evolve a plan that would save us.
We were on the edge of the mile-wide track and it was possible the convoy would find us. But they only had to be 500 yards east and they would pass behind a low ridge, missing us
completely.
That night, lying in the sand, I awoke to hear a rattling metallic noise nearby. There was no wind, yet when I peered out across the moonlit desert, I saw nothing. That’s strange, I thought, and instinctively drew out my pistol. As I scanned the desert, from behind a low hillock one of our discarded food cans rolled into view. It was rotating over and over as if propelled by a strong wind, but the night was still. The can stopped and then rolled back the way it had come. I’m going mad, I thought. Then it changed direction and came towards me. My God, a haunted tin can! The shining object was 10ft away now, rolling this way and that, when I raised my pistol. My bullet threw up sand an inch from the can, which instantly accelerated away. I fired again. The can stopped and, to my amazement, a desert rat hopped out, clearly annoyed at having his supper
disturbed.
At daylight, the radio was still silent. However, just in case others could hear us, I sent an SOS signal giving our position. Lying under the shelter, I checked our emergency actions. Flares ready, ears alert for noise of aircraft or vehicles, air identification panels out. Remaining water, now down to two-and-a-half gallons, carefully stowed in the shade. All other sources of liquid checked, we lay in silence, the beads of sweat growing on our filthy skin and turning into rivulets, which ran into the sand. God, how we smelt. On the move we had not noticed it, but now it
was becoming unpleasant to be near anyone else. Sleep was impossible. A voice in my head kept saying: “There must be a way out”. Rather like shipwrecked sailors on a raft, I
mused. It’s the waiting that is the worst.
At noon the sun was overhead – it was 48°C. The nearest water was 75 miles away. Walking out was hopeless. Stay with your vehicle, was the great cry.
Smart was looking very sorry for himself, but then I had asked if we could go on ahead and alone. We delayed lunch until mid-afternoon to avoid working in the full heat and boiled sweets helped to lessen the thirst. Then we all heard a distant rumble. “It’s the convoy,” yelled Smart. Our flares streaked upward, but I couldn’t see the trucks. Oh God! They must be just the other side of the ridge. The navigator was already tearing towards it when I heard another engine and, spinning round, saw a Land Rover bearing down on us. “Having a spot of bother?” our rescuers enquired. We had all learned a lesson.
JOHN Blashford-Snell will be speaking at the Armchair Adventure Festival on Saturday, July 26. Signed copies of his recent book, From Utmost East to Utmost West, are available priced £20, including UK postage. Contact jenny@ ses-explore.org for further details.
by Kay Parkinson
MOST of us know the voice well. It’s the one that pipes up after a difficult conversation or a long day, pointing out what we should have said, how we came across or what we failed to do. It doesn’t shout all the time. Sometimes it whispers. Often, it chatters on in the background like an unwelcome radio.
For a long time, I mistook that voice for the truth. I thought it was the part of me that kept me grounded, that pushed me to do better and try harder. However, what I’ve come to realise, both personally and professionally, is that this inner critic isn’t a reliable narrator. It’s not necessarily bad, but it is stuck.
The critic is a part of us that
by Susanna Curtin
I AM sat at 2,500 metres above sea level in the High Atlas Mountains of southern Morocco. Above me is the clearest blue sky you can imagine, and below me, fine layers of cloud that hang between the mountain folds, shrouding the valleys and hillsides strewn with Aleppo pines and Atlas cedar. In the distance, the tall summits of this colourful mountain range grace the skyline in misty blue-grey layers – the last remains of the winter snow nestling in their crevices. It would be totally silent were it not for the songs of the alpine birds and the winds that speed through the mountain passes. It is 30 years since I last visited Morocco. A lifetime for me, but just a moment for these ancient peaks that separate the Sahara Desert from the Mediterranean Sea. Although I have been into the Rif mountains of northern Morocco, I have always wanted to visit the High Atlas, as these are the most enigmatic and captivating range and a haven for biodiversity given their lush valleys, alpine meadows,
formed to protect and defend, often in response to shame, fear or rejection. It learned to keep us in line so we wouldn’t feel that pain again. It believes that if we just get it right, if we’re quiet enough, nice enough, capable enough, then we’ll finally be safe. So, it uses the only tools it knows – like judgement, control and perfectionism.
It’s important to know, though, that this kind of protection isn’t the same as care. The critic’s voice may be loud, but it’s not necessarily wise. Its tone is often harsh and urgent because it has forgotten how to speak kindly. The problem is, criticism rarely creates lasting change. It chips away at our confidence and disconnects us from our deeper
rugged cliffs and unique geology. And now, after all these years, here I am, slightly older but even more passionate about the natural world.
There are three ranges of the Atlas Mountains in the Maghreb region of North Africa. The Mid, High and Anti-Atlas. Together they form a backbone from the north to the south of Morocco, and from their most northerly point stretch for 1,600 miles into neighbouring Algeria. The High Atlas range begins close to the Atlantic coast in Agadir, forming a barrier between a milder coastal climate and the harsh, arid conditions of the Sahara. The purpose of my trip is not to scale their lofty summits but to record the butterflies, birds and flowers of the alpine meadows that lie in the shadow of Jbel Toubkal, North Africa’s highest mountain at 4,167 metres. I will also be visiting the ski region of Oukaimeden, the eastern edge of the Toklan massif, the hiking centre of Imlil and the Nfis river valley.
What strikes me most about these mountains is not just their imposing size but the different
colours of rocks and shales, which are a combination of russet red, ochres, pale greens and granites. It reminds me of Alum Bay on the Isle of Wight, where, as children, we took home objects filled with different coloured layers of sand collected from the colourful cliffs. Similarly, the High Atlas are mostly comprised of sedimentary rocks including sandstones, siltstones and conglomerates from the Triassic and Jurassic periods. But during the Cambrian rift, when the tectonic plates in the Earth’s crust split apart to form the continents we have today, volcanic activity forced up swathes of intrusive volcanic igneous rocks such as granite and quartz, as well as metamorphic rocks, such as schist, that have been altered from their original form by the intense heat and pressure within the Earth’s crust.
The Earth is made up of several layers – the crust, mantle, outer core and inner core. The rigid outer layer of our planet is known as the lithosphere and is composed of both the crust and the uppermost part of the Earth’s mantle. The lithosphere is not a solid shell. Instead, it contains seven major tectonic plates. A collision between the African and Eurasian plates was how the Atlas Mountains were originally born, and their continued convergence means that Morocco is a country sadly prone to earthquakes.
In fact, the area in which I am travelling was at the
epicentre of the 2023 earthquake that devastated the remote mountain communities in this part of Morocco. 3,000 people lost their lives and a further 5,500 were injured in the magnitude 6.8 tremor and subsequent aftershocks in September 2023. Old buildings crumbled and the devastation it caused is still strewn in these rugged, hard to reach hillsides and valleys. Driving along the mountain roads, the red and green scree and sandstones of the hillside are so ‘crumbly’, it is no wonder the damage the earthquake caused. Despite this violent geological history and harsh environment, people and nature seem to thrive here. Compact mountain villages are linked with roads and power, yet despite the modernity around them, life has remained largely unchanged for centuries in these traditional Berber or Amazigh communities who still maintain ancient practices, such as the communal management of pastures and plants, the traditional methods of irrigation, and the seasonal movements of people and their animals between geographical or climatic regions. Perhaps it is this subsistence farming and grazing that have helped to maintain the colourful alpine meadows that are rich with orchids, poppies and alpine flowers. Gathering my rucksack and camera, I leave this lofty viewpoint to continue my Moroccan adventure.
n Dr Susie Curtin (email curtin. susanna@gmail.com).
sense of worth. That’s where a different approach is needed, one rooted in encouragement,
not fear.
As the days become longer and dare I say warmer, it’s a good moment to ask what kind of community we’re building, not just the one around us, but the one within. Are we nurturing a mindset that punishes and pressures, or one that uplifts and honours? We can shift our mindset and move from an inner critic to an inner coach. Where the critic says, ‘you’re not good enough’, the coach asks, ‘what support do
you need?’. Where the critic points out what went wrong, the coach helps you reflect, learn and move forward.
Try this simple practice:
n Notice when your inner critic shows up. What does it say? How does it make you feel?
n Thank it – yes, really. It’s trying to protect you.
n Invite the coach in. Ask: ‘What would an encouraging voice say right now?’ or ‘how can I honour what I need instead of punish myself?’.
We build inner community the same way we build outer community, with kindness, trust and practice. Over time, your critic will become your coach, cheering you on.
n Kay Parkinson is a therapist specialising in trauma, emotional neglect and the impact of shame on identity and self-worth. Kay’s work focuses on transforming shame through the lens of authentic honour. Visit www.placetotalktherapies. co.uk.
by Fiona Chapman
THE scent of honeysuckle is in the air wherever I walk. It is the smell of summer and warm days, and just so evocative of happy memories. I am trying to grow lots in my garden, with middling success. This year one of the plants has been overrun by aphids and is struggling to survive. I refuse to use any pesticides or weedkiller in the garden – much to my husband’s annoyance – so I just have to hope it will overcome the attack. It is not looking promising, sadly.
Honeysuckle is one of the Bach Flower remedies, and not surprisingly, given that it reminds me of summer, it is for
those who are stuck in the past and cannot move forward. It is for people who cannot or do not want to accept change and always hark back to the past and so-called ‘happier’ times. These people need to be able to come to the present and to move on. Life is continually changing and presenting new challenges, sadnesses and delights, and those in the negative honeysuckle state cannot live in the moment, let alone look to the future. If in a positive honeysuckle state, it means you can live and learn from the past while enjoying life as it is.
Honeysuckle is good for those who are grieving and cannot get over the loss, for the
homesick or those with regrets. It can also be taken if people glorify the past and think the world was so much better then.
A couple of drops under the tongue or in water will gently bring you back to the present.
I was recently glancing at an article about end-of-life regrets and one of the main ones was holding onto grudges, which I thought was very powerful. So
often, holding onto grudges only hurts the person holding onto it, the other person may be unaware or just not care. So, for our own sakes, it is much better to let go and forgive or understand, and a little bit of honeysuckle might just help the whole process.
n Fiona Chapman is a naturopathic herbalist (email Pellyfiona@gmail.com).
The first group of Sherborne men to take part in a free, healthy cooking course run by the Friendly Food Club say it has whetted their appetite for more. Some of the group members are pictured with their Friendly Food Club tutor, Dr George Petry (third from left)
THE first group of Sherborne men to take part in a free, healthy cooking course run by The Friendly Food Club say it
has whetted their appetite for more.
The Friendly Food Club charity provides free cooking
programmes for adults, families and children across Dorset and piloted its first men-only group in collaboration with Sherborne
SIMPLE, savoury and packed with flavour, this mushroom, red onion and rosemary puff makes an effortless lunch or light supper.
Serve warm with a crisp green salad for an easy yet elegant meal.
Ingredients
Punnet of chestnut mushrooms, sliced
1 red onion, peeled, halved then sliced thinly
2 eggs, beaten
1 sheet of puff pastry
Sliced goat’s cheese (optional)
A few sprigs of rosemary or thyme
Salt and pepper
Splash of olive oil or good knob of butter – mushrooms soak up oil, so be slightly generous.
Method
PUT the oven on to 200 degrees or conversion.
Take the puff pastry out of its box and place in shallow baking tin of similar size or trim to size so it is flat and fits the base.
Using the point of a knife, score a border 2cm in the from the edge to make an inner rectangle. When this cooks, the border will rise encasing the delicious filling!
Put it back in the fridge until needed.
Fry off the onions gently, so they soften, with a good splash of olive oil and add the mushrooms, garlic, if you wish, a good pinch of Maldon Salt and good grinds of black pepper. Toss it around the pan until everything is cooked through and add fresh herbs of choice.
Set aside to cool for a few minutes and beat the eggs. Add the filling to the eggs – leave a little for egg wash – and, taking the prepared pastry tin, tip the mixture into the middle of the pastry and spread around only up to the scored line.
Use a pastry brush to paint the border with the left over egg wash. If you have not kept any,
Foodbank with funding from Communities Against Cancer.
The charity has also worked with Sherborne Primary Care Network.
Seven men took part in the six-week course at West End Hall, in Littlefield, with all ingredients, equipment and utensils provided.
Dishes prepared and cooked included lasagne, frittata and a Thai Red Curry, and as with all Friendly Food Club sessions, participants were encouraged to sit and eat what they cooked with their fellow group members.
Mike Kanter said: “I saw the course advertised in Sherborne Museum. I’m fairly experienced in cooking, but I felt like I had got into a bit of a rut, and I hoped this course would encourage me to be more confident to try cooking new things.
“I’ve enjoyed what we have
a tablespoon of milk will do a similar trick for a golden edge. Put in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden. Serve with a dressed green salad.
n Annie des Forges, DirectorChef, The Table Bruton; Annie Austin, Director-Host and Concierge Somerset Roadtrip.
cooked, especially the frittata, which I had never made before. It’s healthy and you can make lots of variations by using whichever vegetables you have knocking around. I have made about three of these myself at home since then.”
Jonathan Hill said: “My wife and I have always worked, and I try to help out at home as much as possible, but cooking has mostly been something I have ‘assisted’ with – chopping vegetables and the like – rather than something I would do alone, or from scratch.
“So, when I saw the course advertised, I thought it was a good opportunity and signed up straight away.
“I felt a bit nervous when I first came along, but I have enjoyed it, and I’m pleased with what I have achieved – the lasagne we made was the best I have ever tasted!
“George, our chef, has been great. I have learned a lot from him about food, as well as cooking techniques.
“We have also talked about the importance of food on our health and there has been some interesting discussion around men’s cancer.
“Personally, I have been tested for bowel and prostate cancer and think it’s very important that every man should do this. This course has been really helpful in highlighting those issues.
“I have met some nice people and hope there will be another cooking course that I can sign up to very soon.”
Friendly Food Club tutor and chef, Dr George Petry, said: “It’s always a bit nervewracking starting a project series like this, with a varied group of men of different experience and skill levels, some with no experience and some used to cooking for themselves.
“One thing they all had in common was their desire to learn and adapt and understand food better.
“As a group they came
together easily and were soon asking questions and some wanting to push the boundaries.
I was very impressed with their commitment and interest in the dishes.
“All of the group asked if we could run a follow-up series of cooking workshops. There’s the validation. We would love to.”
Liz Guilmant-Cush, chief executive of the Friendly Food Club, said: “We know there is a
need and demand for more courses like this, and we have a potential volunteer to run another one.
“We would very much like to hear from local groups and organisations who would now be interested in funding this group and would ask anyone who would like to find out more to phone us on 01202 057100 or email us at hello@ thefriendlyfoodclub.org.”
Home reared and locally produced meats, game, deli, fruit, veg, free range eggs and lots more.
Follow us on Facebook for all our latest meat pack deals and what’s in fresh that week.
Open Wednesday to Saturday 10am-5.30pm. 01258 450050 Chicken feeds etc available.
Half a lamb £90 |
Peter and Karlene are delighted to invite you to the Plough Inn at Manston and look forward to seeing you soon.
We are delighted that our renovation and expansion project has been well received by customers as have our food and beverage offerings. After a very long search, we now have a fully staffed kitchen and offer our full lunch and dinner menu every day from Tuesday lunch until Sunday lunch. We are closed after lunch on Sunday and all day Monday. We offer a wide range of beers, cider, wines and spirits as well as a range of non-alcoholic options.
A Pub With Warmth And Atmosphere
The bar and snug have been refreshed but retain all the old features that made this cosy area so attractive. And, by popular demand, we have a new wood burning stove to provide atmosphere and warmth whenever needed! We have a completely new kitchen, beer cellar and new male, female and disabled washrooms. The old conservatory is now an insulated garden room and we have a new dining area which can accommodate a further twenty guests.
Hearty Food And Distinctive Drinks
By experimenting with our menu and listening to our customers we have developed a popular menu ranging from light snacks to exciting specials and everything in-between. Please look at our menu and see if you can spot your favourite country pub meal. For Sunday lunch, in addition to our full menu, we offer a traditional roast with all the trimmings. Our range of drinks has evolved in response to customer demand and caters for all tastes. But most importantly we have built a wonderful team to look after you all and ensure a great experience at the Plough.
We hope to see you soon, Cheers, Peter & Karlene
AXMINSTER DRILL/ MILLING MACHINE. Many extras. £1,100. ONO. Tel: 01258-473598
DRUM KIT MOSTLY YAMAHA for sale, phone for details, also 150w Carlsbro piano amp. 01258 473598
ROLAND EXR-7 full size Midi arranger keyboard, excellent condition £125 or offers 07801 994393
Deadline to place your advert is the Friday before publication.
PHASE EIGHT PLUM SATIN HIGH HEEL SHOES as new worn once size 6 cost £62 bargain at £15. Gillingham 07769-708992
POWERCRAFT ROUTER
MODEL PBF1200. Immaculate condition. Complete with set of unused cutters, guides and instructions, boxed. £40.00. Telephone 01963-362924
SPANISH GUITAR FOR SALE- £45 . Can deliver with in reasonable distance of Gillingham, Dorset. 01747-825108
GENTS ELEGANT STRIPED
LINEN JACKET. 42 Chest GURTEEN MAKE - as new £35. TEL: 07879-880-250
2 PICNIC BASKETS 39x29x18 and 1 large basket 52x32x30. M&S. £15. 01747-812457
WARDROBE, APPROX (INCHES)
36w x 68h x 21d. One side hanging, the other shelves and drawers. Originally from John Lewis. £20 ono. 07731 843743
CARAVAN STEPS PURPLELINE as new £20. 01747-822345
KARCHER STEAM CLEANER with instructions, brand new rollers & spares. £50 07784 748634
2 x HANGING CLOTHES RAILS. £10 each. 07785 534 524
HEDGE TRIMMER, Gardenline
26 cc.Spares or repair (pull cord ratchet slipping)£18.00. Tel. 07903-678306.
FREE. OAK VENEERED UNIT. 116cm x 72cm x 42cm, 2 wood and glass doors, originally to hold CD/music center, to collect: Tel: 01305-889369
1 GREENHOUSE, 6ft high, 6ft wide, X 8ft long. 2 Green houses. 7ft high, 6ft wide, X 8ft long, FREE to dismantle and take away. (Illchester) Tel: 07950-450824 Tony
LLAMA/ALPACA MANURE
excess bags of manure (free to collect) phone 01725 552061
AIDAPT MOTORISED
ELECTRIC Mini Cycle with hand held control/program,calorie counter £50 ono Tel 07773-477432
LIGHTWEIGHT CHALLENGE
GARDEN push mower with grass box £15. Long handled scythe as new £30. Sherborne. Pictures available. Tel: 07875-566224
“LIGHT ASH” COLOURED IKEA dining table with two drop leaves and 8 drawers. Approx size when extended= 154 x 80 cm. Very good condition, £45 Tel 07747-392317
VACUUM - STICK KLEENEZE
22.2 Turbo. Spare filter and attachment. £20 Tel 07542-349669
WINSTON CHURCHILL’s
The Second World War in 6 volumes,Original editions.£25. Tel.01747-811611
BRAND NEW 8 METRES left of a 10 metre roll of green shed roofing felt £10. Call/text 07305 189480 (Pimperne/Blandford).
36 METRES OF 150mm double faced skirting boards. £45. Tel: 01747-840835
BEECH MAGAZINE RACK (holds 12 magazines) £20
IKEA Hutten pine wine rack (9 bottles) £10. 07971 607386
PINE MERCER COFFEE TABLE. 1mtr X 60cm. with drawer. £5. (Gillingham) Tel: 07963-319751
WINDSHIELD, Horizontal stripes , Autumn colours. Robust cotton.5 wooden poles (metal tops and bottoms ) 355cm x 113cm.£10 .07980 380287. Sturminster Newton
BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN WALNUT SIDEBOARD 8 DRAWERS 164 x 90 x 48 EXC. COND. DOWNSIZING. £45 07976 937830.
WHITE DRESSING TABLE AND MATCHING CHEST OF DRAWS. £40 BUYER COLLECT . 07768-355068
PUPPY/DOG CRATE
45x50x60cm. Very good condition. £20. Gillingham. 07966-967709
HUSQVARNA ELECTRIC 1400 chainsaw with manual £4501935 475451
CARAVAN EXT LEAD, new & packed.£10-00.call 01935 475451
ANGEL MOBILITY
WHEELCHAIR as new. Comes with cushion and foot rests. Lightweight and foldable so fits easily in car. £50. Tel: 07890-887014
GENTS BICYCLE, 10 speed (triumph) £20. Tel: 01747-870824
BOXES USED FOR MOVING. Over 70. All flattened. 2 sizes. Plus packing. FREE. Sherborne 07906 102490
CYCLE TRAILER vgc fits all bikes with cover £30ono Tel 07749-037733
TRADITIONAL HAMMOCK, needs attaching between 2 trees. Full-sized, never used. In original packaging. £10. Sturminster Newton. 07980-380287
S.A.D LIGHT BOX. lamp to help with symptoms of Seasonal affective disorder. £25 07542-349669
JOIE BABY ROCKER with mobile , light grey. Good condition . £5. 07817-031241
WOODEN DOLLS HOUSE, Removeable front to house, Been stored away for a few yearsexcellent condition. Handmade, a few items of furniture. 61cm w x 39d x 42h. Wincanton £50 ono 07815 516547
Please
WANTED VINTAGE GAMING, Check your lofts! We are looking for Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, Original Atari 2600. All vintage and retro gaming machines. Great prices paid and I collect, Call Andrew 07799417711
OLD BOOKS BOUGHT. Will call by appointment entirely without obligation. Bristow & Garland 07392 602014
Notice is given that BEARFOOT Productions LTD has applied to Dorset Council for a new premises licence in respect of the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Showground Motcombe, Shaftesbury SP7 9PN to deliver one event a year for the following Wrestling Entertainment 1200 – 0100 Friday Live Music 1000 – 0100 Saturday Recorded Music 1000 – 0100 Sunday Performance of Dance Sale of Alcohol (On & Off Sales) Provision of Late Night Refreshment. Any interested party or responsible authority may make representations by e-mailing: licensing@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or writing to, Licensing, Dorset Council, County Hall, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ within 28 days from the date of this notice. (21st July 2025) The licensing register and details of this application may be inspected by contacting the licensing Section during normal office hours via email or phone on 01305 838028. It is an offence under Section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003 to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application, the maximum fine on summary conviction is unlimited.
DATE: 24th June 2025
(for 16th July 2025)
With so much love from Sue, Shelly, Ali, Abby and families on your very special birthday.
27/11/49 – 27/06/24.
My lovely Dave, I will always love you and you are in my head and my heart forever more. You are loved by me, your Louise x
The family of Tom Batsford would like to thank everyone who sent us cards and flowers and who attended the Service of Thanksgiving for Tom’s life held in St Michael’s Church Mere on 19th June 2025. A total of £470 was collected in his memory, in aid of the Air Ambulance Service and Mere Toddler Food Bank. Thank you so much for your generosity
Valerie Anne - ‘Val’
Peacefully on 8th June 2025 in Yeovil District Hospital, after a short illness, aged 72 years, of Stalbridge. Beloved Wife of Allan and a much loved friend. Funeral service at Yeovil Crematorium on Wednesday, 9th July at 2.00pm. No flowers please. Donations if desired, for St. Margaret’s Somerset Hospice can be made online at peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk or cheques made payable to the charity may be sent: C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, The Old Reading Room, Shaftesbury Road, Henstridge, BA8 0PP. Tel: 01963 362570
On 25th June 2025, peacefully at home with his family and the dogs by his side, aged 78 years. Of Cherry Orchard.
A much loved Dad and Grandad. He will be sorely missed by all his family and friends. Funeral service takes place at Salisbury Crematorium on Tuesday 15th July at 11.00am. The funeral cortege route from The Ship Inn, West Stour to Shaftesbury will be on David’s Tribute Page www.mhfd.co.uk. where donations can also be made in his memory for The Stars Appeal SDH. They can also be sent c/o Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532.
Passed away peacefully on the 26th June in the Dorset County Hospital aged 81.
Widow to the late Roy Godwin. Loving mum of Janet, Morag, Robert, Christopher and Roy. Nanny to Hannah, Beatrix, Harry, Joshua, Thomas, Esmee, Alisha, Ciaran, Rhys, Jacob and Thirza. Sister to Glenys and Myra and friend to many. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. A service to celebrate her life will be held on Tuesday 22nd July, 2pm at Holy Rood Church. Buckland Newton. Black clothing not necessary. Family flowers only, but donations in Cindy’s memory can be made to PICU (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit) at Southampton Hospital online at www.grassby-funeral.co.uk or sent c/o Grassby Funeral Service, 8 Princes Street, Dorchester, DT1 1TW.
Died peacefully in New Zealand on 25th June 2025. Memorial Service for Family & Friends, Holnest Church, 12noon. Monday 7th July
Anthony Paul Hedditch
85 years formerly of Stalbridge peacefully at Nazareth Lodge, Sturminster Newton on 19th June 2025, No funeral at his request
Peacefully at Yeovil Hospital on 10th June 2025
Will be much-missed by his daughter Jane Kitching, his son-in-law Ray, his stepson Peter Holland and his step-daughter-in-law Heather, as well as many friends from his Army, Wales, Eastbury, Shaftesbury and Gillingham days.
Funeral at Salisbury Crematorium on 8th July 2025, at 3pm
Of Cucklington, passed away peacefully, on 19th June 2025, aged 94 years. Dearly loved husband, father and grandfather. A Thanksgiving Service for his life will take place at Gillingham Baptist Church at 3pm on Tuesday 8th July. Please park in one of the town car parks unless you have accessibility needs. Family flowers only, but donations may be made to The Soldiers’ and Aviators’ Scripture Readers Association (SASRA) at: sasra.org.uk
“ Di “
On 18th June 2025, suddenly, but peacefully, at home after a long illness. aged 82 years. Of Shaftesbury. Much loved Wife to Alan, Mum to Lynn and Grandma to Lucy and James. She will be greatly missed and never forgotten. Funeral service takes place at Salisbury Crematorium on Wednesday 9th July at 11.00am. No flowers please, but donations for The Stars Appeal SDH may be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or sent to Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532.
David John
Peacefully on the 13th June 2025, aged 92 years of Buckhorn Weston. Dearly loved Dad, Grandad & Brother. Funeral service at Yeovil Crematorium on Thursday, 10th July at 11.20am. Family flowers only please, donations if desired for The Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Trust. C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Harwood House, Newbury, Gillingham, SP8 4QJ. Tel: 01747 833757
Died peacefully on the 17th June 2025 at home in Milborne Port, aged 78 years. Husband of Carole. Much loved Father, Grandfather & friend. Funeral service at Mendip Crematorium on Monday 21st July at 12.30pm. No flowers please. In memory of Peter, please make a donation to a charity of your own choice. Enquiries to Peter Jackson Funeral Services. Tel: 01963 362570
Peacefully at home on 21st June 2025 aged 65 years. Much loved wife of Richard, Mother of Becky and Andrew, Nanny of Lucas, Maisie and Alfie. Co-Founder of the Ducks and Drakes Cancer Trust. Funeral Service to be held at St Andrew’s Church, Bingham’s Melcombe, on Tuesday, 8th July at 12 noon. Family flowers only please. Donations in memory of Nettie can be made to Weldmar Hospicecare, online at www.grassby-funeral.co.uk or cheques can be made payable to the charity and sent c/o Grassby Funeral Service, 8 Princes Street, Dorchester, DT1 1TW.
At peace after a short illness in Yeovil District Hospital, aged 90 years. Living in Templecombe and previously Montreal, Canada for 45 years.
Beloved Wife of the late Eric. Much loved and greatly missed Aunt, Great Aunt, Great Great Aunt & friend.
Funeral service at St Nicholas Church, Manston on Friday, 11th July at 12 noon. Family flowers only please, donations if desired for Balsam Farm Animal Rescue - Cats. Cheques payable to the charity may be sent to Peter Jackson Funeral Services, The Old Reading Room, Shaftesbury Road, Henstridge, BA8 0PP. Tel: 01963 362570.
Martha Elizabeth – ‘Liz’
Died peacefully on 17th June 2025 in Yeovil District Hospital, aged 78 years of Henstridge.
Much loved Wife of George, loving Mum to Kevin & Nigel.
Much loved Nanny of Luke, Eleanor, Matilda and Samuel. Brother of James, Sister-in-Law to Christine, Mother-in-Law to Victoria & friend to everyone. Funeral service at Yeovil Crematorium on Monday, 14th July at 2.40pm. No flowers please, donations if desired for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Trust can be made online at peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk
Raymond Alan (Dick)
Passed away peacefully at Dorset County Hospital on the 16th June 2025, aged 90 years.
Much loved husband of Mary, he will be sadly missed by all family and friends. Funeral Service to be held at St. Pancras’ Church, Alton Pancras on Tuesday 29th July at 11.00am. Family flowers only please but donations, if desired, for The RNIB may be given at the Service, online at www.dorchesterfunerals.com or sent c/o Matthew Lucas Funeral Directors, Down House, Widcombe Street, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3BS.
Passed away peacefully at Bramley House Care Home in Mere on 26th May 2025, aged 92 Years. Margaret was a retired Minister of this area and she will be sadly missed by all who knew her.
The Funeral Service will be held at The United Reformed Church in Mere on Friday 18th July at 2 pm. Family Flowers only please. Donations if desired to the Henry Doubleday Research Association. You are welcome to join Margaret’s family after the Service for afternoon tea at the Church to celebrate her Life and Ministry.
passed away suddenly on the 15th June 2025. aged 62. A loved husband, son, dad and grandad who will be desperately missed by all his family and friends. Funeral service will be at West Wiltshire Crematorium on Wednesday 23rd of July at 3:00pm. Family flowers only. Donations to Dorothy House and sent via DJ Bewley, Manvers Street, Trowbridge, BA14 8EH, 01225 353525. A splash of colour would be appreciated on the day (just like Hammy). x
of Blandford St Mary. Peacefully at Dorset County Hospital on 12th June 2025 aged 79 years. Mick will be sadly missed by all his family and friends. A simple service is to be held on Friday 11th July 2025, 2:00pm at Lesley Shand Blandford Service Chapel. Please wear something red as Mick was an avid Liverpool fan. Donations are invited for the Injured Jockeys Fund and can be made c/o Lesley Shand Funeral Services, 28 East Street, Blandford Forum, DT11 7DR, 01258 453425 www.funeraldirector.co.uk/funeral/michael-dew
• Unattended funerals starting from £995
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• Reassurance that your loved one will be looked after with utmost care and professionalism
Available 24 hours a day. Find us at: dignityfunerals.co.uk/local
A FUNERAL director who was one of few females in the job when she began her career has celebrated her anniversary with Dorset’s Douch Family Funeral Directors.
Marcella McDonagh started in the sector three decades ago. After moving to the area, she joined Ives & Shand in Parkstone, Poole, where she has now worked 20 years.
She said that in her early days there were very few female funeral directors, but now she believes more are taking it as a career than men.
Marcella said: “When I began my career in the funeral profession in the early 90s, I was one of only a handful of women entering the field at that time – and one of the very few to do so without any family connection to the industry.
“It was still a very traditional, male-dominated profession, and most people came into it having grown up around it.
“I was stepping into the unknown, driven not by legacy but by personal calling and the unwavering support and encouragement of my mum and dad.
“My journey began in my home city of Sheffield, straight after leaving school, because I had watched a documentary about embalming and the care of the deceased.
“I was deeply moved by the dignity, respect and quiet service that underpinned the work, and something within me just clicked. From that moment, I knew where I was meant to be.
“At the time, women were often behind the scenes in the office, but rarely out conducting funerals.
“Careers advisers never mentioned funeral work –especially not to girls. If you wanted it, you had to really
want it and be ready to prove yourself.
“I started at a funeral directors in Sheffield and gained experience in every part of the role, from preparing coffins, washing vehicles and driving the ambulance to chauffeuring limousines and supporting families at funerals. I embraced every opportunity to learn.
“After relocating to Dorset, I enrolled at a college in the Salisbury School of Funeral Sciences and gained my National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) qualification.
“Since joining Douch Family Funeral Directors 20 years ago, I’ve worked at the Ives & Shand branch in Parkstone, where I’ve had the privilege of supporting many, many families through one of life’s most difficult moments.
“Each funeral is unique, each story different, and I consider it a deep honour to be entrusted with such a personal responsibility.
“Over the years, the profession has changed enormously. Today, in some areas, more women are entering the funeral profession than men – something that would have been almost unthinkable when I started.
“I’ve always felt supported in the Douch family, where training, development and progression for all staff have been genuinely championed.
“The families I’ve met have left lasting impressions, and many remain in my thoughts –some are even still in touch. I’ve kept every card, every letter and every kind note I’ve received.
“They remind me why I do what I do, and why it continues to be a privilege, even after all these years.”
Nick Douch, managing
director of Douch Family Funeral Directors, said: “Like the clergy, funeral directors were once very maledominated.
“But as society changed so has the funeral industry and we recognised this in our family business many years ago.
“Marcella has been at our
Ives & Shand branch since she began with us, and the branch is always busy and the feedback from families is always extremely positive.
“Our team includes many exceptional female funeral directors who bring diverse experiences and strengths to their roles.”
We are looking for a driver to join our team for morning and afternoon school runs. Weekdays during term time only. Meals provided during working hours.
For further details, please contact: Rupert Burnell-Nugent, Sandroyd, Rushmore, Tollard Royal, SP5 5QD Tel: 01725 516329
bursar@sandroyd.com www.sandroyd.org
Sandroyd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This post involves contact with children and is classed as “regulated activity” by the UK government. As such, a number of mandated pre-employment checks (including an enhanced DBS check) will be undertaken to ensure that the successful candidate is suitable for work with children. Additionally, suitability for work with children will be assessed by taking up appropriate references and at interview. Finally, candidates should be aware that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
Lodestone Property is an award-winning, independent Estate Agency based in Wells and Bruton, Somerset. We are currently looking for someone who can manage our successful office in Bruton
The successful candidate will have:
• Bags of motivation
• Experience in winning residential instructions - mid/high end of the market
• Leadership skills for management of the office and its team
• Proven delivery of outstanding customer service
• Commitment to building lasting relationships
• Strong communication both inside and outside the business
• Excellent IT and digital skills for this fast-moving sector
• Experience working with new build developers
• Experience pricing new build schemes
• The desire to help drive the business forward
We are a small agency with a big heart This role provides a great opportunity for someone looking for career progression and development. Salary and package will be commensurate with experience Full UK driving licence required
If you would like to be a part of our dynamic team in a forwardthinking, professional and modern agency, please send us an introductory email with your updated CV to: will@lodestoneproperty.co.uk
KNOWLEDGEABLE & EXPERIENCED GARDENER, required to work 2 days per week in Over Compton DT9. 07771 770741
WANTED EXPERIENCED GARDENER to join our team working on a prestigious 7 acre garden near Shaftesbury. Previous experience required and references. 07792-892999.
CHEERFUL ACTIVE PA/ CARER WANTED for Friday mornings. Extra shifts available if desired. 07790-5242411
RAGWORT PULLERS needed Higher Winterborne Houghton, Blandford. Hourly rates £12 depending on experience. Please call C Barnes 01258 881 693
System and Development Support Trainees for a North Dorset Electronics Company
Suitable for STEM and non-STEM recent graduates Located in North Dorset
Full-time positions on initial 12 months fixed term contract
Apply in writing with CV and covering letter to sysdevgradsdorset@protonmail.com
Tired of chasing Dealership Bonus Schemes? Want an employer that values quality workmanship? Looking for real job satisfaction?
Location: Near Sherborne, Dorset (DT9)
Salary: Very Competitive, Depending on Experience
Contract: Permanent, Full Time
Hours: 8am – 5.00pm Mon – Thurs; 8am – 1.30pm Fridays, Overtime Available
Brotherwood are the UK’s leading vehicle conversion specialists. We currently have an exciting opportunity for an MOT Tester / Vehicle Mechanic to join our Mechanical Rebuild and Service Centre.
Due to the expansion of our vehicle servicing and MOT testing facilities we require a full time Class 4 MOT Tester. You will be responsible for MOTs and servicing, minor diagnostics, maintaining and repairing customer vehicles as required.
Subject to experience you may also be involved in the mechanical assembly of brand-new converted Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles for delivery to customers.
Experience in an Independent Garage or Franchise Dealer environment is essential. We currently work with new vehicles from Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota and Vauxhall, with access to technical support direct from the manufacturer.
A competitive, fixed salary dependent on experience and company pension scheme is offered along with a pleasant, spacious working environment. Mental health support is available to all employees
through our funded scheme in conjunction with Mind in Somerset. Key Skills
• Ability to perform routine maintenance and repair on customer vehicles
• Ability to perform Class 4 MOT Tests
• Fault finding and diagnostics
• Maintaining a high standard of vehicle servicing and repair, with an exceptional quality of workmanship to ensure customer satisfaction
• Ability to perform other maintenance tasks such as air conditioning servicing, digital 4-wheel alignment and tyre fitting
• Ability to carry out major and minor repairs on vehicles and components, including but not limited to engine, brakes, fuel system, transmission, steering, suspension, drive line and some electrical systems.
• NVQ / City & Guilds Certification (Min. Level 3)
• Certified MOT Tester
• Valid driver’s license
• Proven track record References may be requested.
To assist with the delivery of Blackmore Vale Group
Normally 2 days per week.
2 days per week.
Future Roots Young People’s and Family Mentoring Team
Based on 30-acre care farm
Annual Salary Range: £33,000-£38,000 37 hours a week
Start Date: To fit successful candidate’s availability
Based in rural West Dorset, Future Roots is a long- and well-established provider of complimentary social care that provides a therapeutic alternative education. Working with schools and Dorset and Somerset’s Children’s Services we use a farm environment and our animals to offer young people learning and therapeutic experiences to help them overcome trauma and challenges. We are now looking for someone to join our team as a Manager, to manage key aspects of our Young People’s Service and to deputise for the Director. We need someone who can bring demonstrable skill and experience from a background of working with children and young people, and who has an affinity with the outdoor environment and animals.
The role will cover: Strategic Leadership in key aspects of the Service, Safeguarding, Quality Assurance, Contract Management, Compliance and Relationships with commissioners and funders as well as generating new business and income streams.
Please read the job description for the specific detail of the role.
For further information about the role contact Julie Plumley (Director Future Roots) on 01963 210703 or via email: office@futureroots.net
Applications to be returned to office@futureroots.net by 1pm Monday 14th July
Please visit our website www.futureroots.net to see the full range of what we do.
Synergy Complex Care is currently recruiting for a Healthcare Support Worker to join a team supporting our client, a disabled veteran who has severe MS, in the Shaftesbury, Dorset area. Must be adaptable, broad minded with a sense of humour. Duties include, but are not restricted to, all personal care and hygiene tasks, hoisted transfers from bed to chair, helping with eating, light domestic duties and driving; some cooking may be required. Must be a dog lover. Experience preferred.
Full training provided. Salary range £13.40 - £16.25 per hour. Email info@synergycomplexcare.com or Call 0117 403 7878
We are looking for a time served and hands-on Electrician. You will be experienced with wiring pump shed and replacing pumps, be able to maintain motors, basic control panels and equipment.
You will need to hold a full UK driving licence. Travel is necessary as maintaining water systems across the South West.
We offer a competitive pay and benefits package for this permanent position. Operating from our head office in Dinton, this is a great opportunity to work for a well-established, professional company with a reputation for quality.
Please contact Jackie Mitchell for an application form Email: jackie.mitchell@mjabbott.co.uk Tel: 01722 716361 www.mjabbott.co.uk
Abbott Limited is an equal opportunities employer
We are looking for a Water Engineer with experience in the water industry to work with our Installation Teams on local Drainage and Water Engineering Projects, covering both the public and private water sectors.
Ideally, you will have experience using electro-fusion, compression, solvent weld and steel pipe jointing methods.
You will be familiar with the operation of small plant and hold a full UK driving licence.
We install and maintain private boreholes so working in teams is essential.
We offer a competitive pay and benefits package for this permanent position. This is an exciting opportunity to work for a wellestablished, professional company with a reputation for quality.
Please contact Jackie Mitchell for an application form
Email: jackie.mitchell@mjabbott.co.uk Tel: 01722 716361 www.mjabbott.co.uk
Abbott Limited
A NEW exhibition revealing the untold stories of the people who designed, built and advanced some of the most iconic British cars in history is set to launch at Haynes Motor Museum, near Sparkford.
“This landmark exhibition, ‘British Icons: Driven by Innovation’, is the first part of a major exhibition redevelopment over the next five years,” said museum curator, Dr Luca Hoare.
“It looks beyond the cars themselves to the people who created them, bringing their stories to life in the space alongside hands-on and interactive displays.”
The exhibition, covering over 40 years of British automotive history, will spotlight four marques – Aston Martin, Jaguar, Lotus and Mini, and showcase star cars including a 1993 Jaguar XJ220 and a 1981 Lotus Turbo Esprit.
Visitors can also enjoy a ‘Paint-a-Mini’ interactive experience, where they can produce and personalise their own design on a Rover Mini car.
Haynes Motor Museum is open 10am daily with the exhibition running from Monday, July 21.
For more information, phone 01963 440804 or visit www. haynesmotormuseum.org
2013 (62) Ford Ka 1.2 Studio 3dr. Clearance car, sold as seen, MOT Feb 2026, recent clutch & cambelt change, £35 tax, 1 owner, 119,000 miles................£1750
2017 (17) Ford KA+ 1.2 Zetec 5dr. 85bhp, petrol, 5 speed manual gearbox, parking sensors, cruise control, hill hold, air con, Bluetooth, upto 56mpg economy, small exterior with a spacious interior, 76,900 miles ....................................£6450
2012 (12) Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 5dr. Parking sensors, cambelt has been replaced, Bluetooth, only 61,500 miles..........................................................£4650
2012 (62) Ford Ka 1.2 Studio 3dr. 69bhp, petrol, 5 speed manual gearbox, £35 yearly tax, 50+mpg, simple car with basic spec, cambelt replaced, MOT Nov 2025, private sale on behalf of a customer, 73,500 miles .......................................£2950
2021 (21) Ford Puma 1.0T ST Line X 155 MHEV SUV 5dr. Partial leather, sat nav, park sensors, cruise control, collision detection, road sign assist, 47,200 miles...........................................................................................................£13750
2014 (14) Ford Kuga 2.0TDCi Titanium X AWD 4x4 SUV 5dr. 163bhp, diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, 4x4, high seats, leather, heated seats, heated screen, sat nav, park sensors, auto park, reverse camera, sunroof, auto lights & wipers, cruise, lane aid, sign recognition, hill hold, electric tailgate, cambelt replaced, 92,500 miles .........£7450
2018 (68) Ford Kuga 2.0TDCi ST Line SUV 5dr. Sat nav, road sign assist, cruise control, park sensors & auto park system, reverse camera, partial leather, 61,800 miles..........................................................................................................£11750
2020 (69) Ford Tourneo Custom 2.0TDCi Titanium 320 L1 H1 Automatic 9 Seat Minibus 5dr. 130bhp, diesel, 6 speed automatic gearbox, 8 seat plus driver, reversable seats for conference or forward facing, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, heated front seats, park sensors, cambelt replaced, 97,000 miles ............£21500 + VAT = £25800
2014 (14) Ford Transit 2.2TDCi 350 Trend 12 Seat Minibus 5dr. 3 front seats, 9 rear seats, removable rear seating, ideal for day van or camper conversion, 75,500 miles...............................................................................................£12600
2023 (73) Vauxhall Vivaro 2.0TD 3100 Pro L2 Van 6dr. Sat nav, reverse camera, cruise control, air con, twin side doors, ply lined, 21,300 miles, selling on behalf of a customer.........................................................£18250+VAT = £21900
2006 (06) Mercedes-Benz CLK200 1.8 Kompressor Sport Automatic Convertible 2dr. 163bhp, petrol, 5 speed auto gearbox, recent new roof & shocks absorbers, full history, 15 stamps, heated leather, electric roof, auto lights & wipers, cruise, park sensors, MOT June 25, private sale on behalf of a customer, 77,500 miles ...........................................................................................................£4250
2016 (66) Citroen Berlingo MultiSpace 1.6HDi XTR Automatic 5 Seat MPV 5dr. £20 tax, high seating, big boot, tip
2015 (65) Peugeot 308 1.2THP Allure Automatic 5dr. 130bhp, petrol, 6 speed automatic gearbox, sat nav, park sensors, reverse camera, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, hill hold, only £35 a year road tax, 50+mpg economy, cambelt has been replaced, 69,500 miles..............................................................DUE IN SOON
2019 (19) Renault Captur 1.5DCi Iconic Automatic SUV 5dr. 90bhp, diesel, 6 speed automatic gearbox, sat nav, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, parking sensors, hill hold, high seating, sliding rear seats, upto 67mpg economy, 20,300 miles .........................................................................................................£12250
2017 (17) Vauxhall Astra 1.4 SRi 5dr. 100bhp, petrol, 5 speed manual gearbox, auto lights & wipers, parking sensors, cruise control, pre-collision assist, sign recognition, hill hold, Bluetooth, 63,600 miles ..............................................£6950
2005 (55) Mercedes-Benz SL350 Automatic 3.7 V6 Convertible 2dr. Sat nav, heated leather, parking sensors, cruise control, selling on behalf of a customer, 61,500 miles.................................................................................................£7500
2020 (69) Ford Transit 2.0TDCi Trend 350 MWB MR L2 H2 11 Seat Minibus 5dr. 130bhp, diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, 10 seat plus driver, 2 front seats, 9 rear seats, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, parking sensors, heated front seats, hill hold, cambelt replaced, 90,200 miles.........................£19500 + VAT = £23400
2018 (68) Renault Clio 1.5DCi GT Line Nav 5dr. Sat nav, cruise control, partial leather, parking sensors, cambelt kit has been replaced, 63,200 miles..........£7950
2014 (64) Kia Venga 3, 1.6 Automatic (Sat Nav) 5dr. 123bhp, petrol, 4 speed automatic gearbox, high seating, decent boot, sat nav, parking sensors & reverse camera, electric sunroof, partial leather, heated seats, cruise control, sign recognition, hill hold, only 38,800 miles........................................................£7850
2019 (19) Renault Captur 1.5DCi Iconic Automatic SUV 5dr. Sat nav, parking sensors, cruise control, road sign assist, cambelt kit has been replaced, 26,800 miles...........................................................................................................£10850
2016 (66) Mazda 3, 2.0 SE-L Nav Automatic 5dr. 120bhp, petrol, 6 speed automatic gearbox, sat nav, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, parking sensors, sign recognition, heated seats, hill hold, 75,900 miles...................................£8450
2016 (66) Vauxhall Mokka 1.6CDTi SE 4x4 SUV 5dr. 136bhp, diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, 4 wheel drive, high seating, big boot, heated leather seats, heated steering wheel, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, parking sensors, hill hold, performance & economy, upto 60mpg, 65,500 miles ....................................£7250
till Nov 25. 129k miles, Pepper White, £1400 ono, (Stalbridge) Tel: 07762-165247
TRANSIT CUSTOM, Crewcab. 2016 (65), 156k miles, Black, 12 months MOT. £6,000. (Nr Sherborne) Tel: 07563729297 / 07583-847432
• Unfinished Projects
• Minimum of £200 paid on Scrap
by Lynn Broom
Longmead
Veterinary Practice
I GRADUATED as a vet 25 years ago today on July 4, 2000! A lot has changed in those 25 years and my work has changed significantly over time.
When I first graduated, I worked in mixed practice in Devon and Somerset. There were still farms with no electricity and no running water – using a well – out on Exmoor. Calving a cow by torchlight and washing in cold water wasn’t unknown. I found farmers welcoming and accepting of a female vet and never experienced prejudice.
I worked a one in two rota with my boss, which involved being on call every other night and every other weekend, as well as working four full days a week. On call back then meant a genuine emergency and you normally needed to go out and deal with a cow prolapse or an RTA dog. In 25 years this has changed significantly, and our 24-hour society often leads to people calling in the night to ask
for flea treatment or to discuss chronic conditions. While specific emergency cover exists commonly in cities now, many vets still work all day and cover their own on call and unnecessary calls like this eat into their night’s sleep.
Farm and horse work mainly involved visits which were great in the summer where exploring the countryside was a pleasure
but less enjoyable in the winter in –6C temperatures when your drugs were at risk of freezing solid. I still miss the large animal work, but repeated injuries led to the difficult decision to take up small animal work full time.
Facilities have developed out of all recognition. At my first few jobs we had to manually develop x-rays leading to variable image quality. Today, digital x-rays are common, leading to an almost immediate image of high quallty. Referral centres with MRI scanners are now readily available whereas, in a rural practice 25 years ago, you were the only option available to a sick animal which sometimes led to complex surgeries, often with satisfying outcomes.
Some owners and patients stand out. Like the time I operated on an hours-old Suffolk Punch foal with an inguinal hernia – his guts were outside his abdomen under his skin –and he lived until he was 19 years old. And the border collie puppy who ate string and needed multiple gut incisions to remove it and went on to make a full recovery. And the 22kg boa constrictor who needed a lung flush under anaesthetic. Many clients became friends and it was lovely to be there to help their old companion move on and to welcome a new puppy or kitten into their lives.
I have enjoyed my career and never regret leaving the insurance industry to retrain as a vet. There have been good times and bad times, and I haven’t enjoyed every day. Expectations have changed and I’m glad not to be starting out in my career today.
n Jasper, 11, and Misty, 10, are a delightful pair. They have been with Cats Protection since last September and are desperate to get out of a pen and into a loving home together
n For details, please call the helpline on 01258 858644 or visit our website, www.cats.org.uk/middorset
If your cat has gone missing, Cats Protection offers practical steps to help bring it home safely. Start by searching your local area thoroughly, checking sheds, garages and outbuildings where it might be hiding. Create posters and share them in your neighbourhood and online communities. Inform local vets and animal rescues in case someone has found your cat. Ensure your cat’s microchip details are up to date, as this can be a vital tool for identification, and update the microchip database to advise your cat is lost. For a detailed guide and additional advice visit the Cats Protection website or call us on 01258 858644.
If you have found a stray cat, Cats Protection has helpful guidance to ensure the cat gets the care it needs. First, check if it is in distress or injured and contact a vet if necessary. Look for an ID tag or take the cat to a vet to check for a microchip. If the owner cannot be identified, share details about the cat locally via posters, social media and community groups. Cats Protection advises against assuming all stray cats are lost, as some may simply be exploring. For full guidance, visit the Cats Protection website or call us on 01258 858644.
THE team at Cats Protection Yeovil has hosted an afternoon of cat chat for cat owners, fans and potential volunteers.
The branch has been helping needy cats across Somerset and Dorset for over 40 years, but owing to retirements and increased work commitments, the team has vacancies to fill.
The chat cafe at The Gateway Coffee Shop in Addlewell Lane aimed to tell prospective volunteers about what roles were available and cat rehoming.
Nicola Parry, branch development manager for Dorset, East Devon, Somerset and Wiltshire, said: “Our team of volunteers has a remarkable range of cat welfare knowledge and there is very little they haven’t seen either as fosterers, when bringing cats into care for rehoming, or out in the community doing trap-neuter-return.
“We are running low on volunteers at present and our brilliant Yeovil group is
stretched thin.
“We need cat-savvy people to join us who can offer advice and support to cat owners.
“We also need people who can be hands-on when we bring cats into care, whether that’s assisting with the admission process or providing a temporary foster home for cats before they go to their new owners.
“Even our branch team leader is currently helping with fostering as demand is so high.
“Just one of the recent cats to arrive in care is Ermintrude who was found as a pregnant stray in a kind member of the public’s garden.
“He contacted us for help and she is now raising her four kittens, Verity, Vienna, Violet and VeeVee, with gentle support from her fosterer.”
Further information about the variety of roles available is at www.cats.org.uk/support-us/ get-involved-volunteering/ join-us-as-a-branch-volunteer or email nicola.parry@cats. org.uk to discuss opportunities.
by Leanne Brock
THE Twin Counties (Dorset and Wiltshire) team came head-tohead against Sussex at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, in the final of the Gill Burns County Championship.
It was the first time Dorset and Wilts had gone further than the group stages since before the Covid pandemic and their first time in the final.
This season has also seen a large number of players make their county debut.
Having faced Sussex last season and lost, Twin Counties were determined to make a statement this time.
The team did not let a very warm day affect the physicality
of the game.
The sides were evenly matched from the start, but Dorset and Wilts pulled away to a 12-7 half-time lead thanks to tries from Denny Jones and Alex Patten.
The game swung back and forth – each time Dorset and Wilts put more points on the
board, Sussex quickly followed suit.
After a penalty kick from Lanaa Plummer, Dorset and Wilts were watching the clock tick down with a five-point lead at 15-10.
But with just 20 seconds left, Sussex scored an unconverted try leaving the game tied 15-15
at full-time.
In a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out, Dorset and Wilts stole the win 2-0.
The celebrations did not stop there, though, as, mid-pitch, vice-captain Anna Beckett dropped to one knee to propose to team manager Samantha Briggs.
by Graham Howard DDAS junior secretary
10 juniors from Dorchester and District Angling Society fished on Hillview Lake at the prestigious Todber Manor in the sixth round of the points championship.
Even though the temperature was a blistering 28 degrees, they all managed to catch plenty of carp.
In an event where silverfish did not count, a few guest catfish ‘kittens’ made an appearance to add a bit of variety to the day.
Shelter and ice-cold water were on hand should anyone need it, but the youngsters all fished through until the end at 3pm.
Third on the day was Kenzie Toulson with a personal best weight of 124lb 9oz. A little way ahead came Alfie Ellis in second with 140lb 5oz, also a personal best.
But runaway winner was Austin Scott-Kennedy with 166lb 6oz.
Austin Scott-Kennedy came 1st with 166lb 6oz
Josh Roe still leads the championship with 113 points from Scott-Kennedy, now on 93 points, while Ellis slipped to third on 91 points.
The next event is a coaching session at Luckfield Lake on Saturday, July 5. For more information about DDAS Juniors, go to www.ddasjuniors.co.uk, or contact the junior secretary at juniors.sec@d-das.com For club and membership information go to www.ddas.com.
DORSET County FA
welcomed volunteers from Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DASAA) to share CPR and defibrillator training with staff, teaching that ‘bystanders can be lifesavers’.
John Bizzell and Sue Galden gave some staff a refresher and for others the confidence to be able to help someone when they need it.
Dorset FA finance officer, Anne-Marie Clark, said: “The training was great, well communicated and we highly recommend it to other clubs, organisations, schools and groups.”
Anne-Marie added: “In our rural county, the demand for DASAA is growing.
“It is an important charity,
relying heavily on fundraising from the public to ensure that it can continue providing critical care.
“It is something that really hit home for us at the DCFA as we recently had an air ambulance attend the County Ground.
“Sadly, the outcome was not as we had hoped, however, it highlighted to us again how essential the
service that this charity provides is.”
Dorset FA is now encouraging others to book a session or attend another session held at the County Ground in Poole.
For further information, head to www.dsairambulance. org.uk/cpr-and-defibrillatorawareness-sessions-lifesupport or contact; AnneMarie.Clark@dorsetfa.com
YEOVIL & Sherborne Hockey Club (YSHC) are looking for new players for the 2025/26 season.
The club, based at Yeovil Recreation Centre, have four Ladies’ teams, three Men’s teams and an active Junior section, with senior league matches on Saturdays and junior tournaments on Sundays.
Training sessions and home fixtures take place on the artificial pitch at Chilton Grove, Yeovil.
YSHC offer former players – over the age of 35 – the chance to get back to the game
with informal Masters Pay & Play sessions on Thursday evenings.
Launched in 2022, the Pay & Play sessions have gone from strength-to-strength with an emphasis on the social side.
A spokesperson for the club said: “We are an inclusive club that welcomes experienced players at all levels – whether you have recently moved to the area, returning to hockey after a break or simply looking for a new club challenge.
“Our team captains and coaches work closely with new
by Avril Lancaster
SEASON tickets at Shaftesbury in the forthcoming Pitching In Southern Division 1 (South) are £129 with concessions £79 and Under 16s free.
Manager Jim Milligan is focused on improving on last season’s 17th place, following his return from Bemerton Heath Harlequins in January.
He hauled the team to safety using loan signings and was not shy of using every option he could.
The return of Luke Burbidge
by Sharron McVie
on the field made a difference with wins over Melksham Town, Exmouth Town and Bristol Manor Farm among the notable results. The Rockies do not do draws that often
The club are welcoming a new physio, Megan Fergusson joining from Andover New Street.
Megan is studying for a Masters in Physiotherapy.
Shaftesbury have begun a series of friendly fixtures: Saturday, July 5, Cheddar AFC (3pm); Saturday, July 12, Poole Town (3pm); Saturday, July 19, Laverstock & Ford (3pm); Tuesday, July 22, Hamworthy Recreation (7.45pm).
MEMBERS and guests at Sherborne Golf Club enjoyed an inspiring evening in the company of Mike Browne (right), world number one amputee professional golfer.
Mike lost a leg following a motorbike accident while serving in the Army display team.
His golfing career has gone from strength to strength since turning professional in 2016.
players to ensure they find the right squad and playing level to suit their abilities and ambitions.”
Yeovil & Sherborne Hockey Club has an active junior section
To find out more about the club, training times and how to get involved, visit www.yshc. co.uk.
Anyone interested in joining should contact thr membership secretary, Debs Gemmell, via the website.
WINCANTON Golf Club results.
Seniors Roll Up Stableford Back May 9-23.
Winners: Geoff Lye/David Ivey/David Hallett/Ray Phillips 60 points.
Monthly Medal, May 24: 1 Richard Czemerda nett 68; 2 David Whitehand nett 69 ocb; 3 David Amann nett 69.
Seniors Nine-Hole Medal, May 30: 1 Neil Auckland nett 32; 2 Reg Gazzard nett 35; 3 Robin Price nett 37.
Seniors Monthly Medal, May 30: 1 Chris Dibben nett 65; 2 Kees Schouten nett 67; 3 John Morgan nett 70.
Monthly Stableford, May 31: 1 David Amann 39; 2 Mike Case 37; 3 Simon Lenton 34.
The John Murray Trophy, June 6: 1 Simon Lenton 20; 2 John Westaway 19 ocb; 3 Chris Mieville 19.
Monthly Stableford, June 7: 1 David Ivey 40; 2 Steven Ireland 37; 3 Phil Francis 36.
Seniors Roll Up Stableford, June 13: Winners: Phil Francis/ Colin Jacobs/Pete Starkey 61 points.
Monthly Medal, June 14: 1 Steven Ireland nett 69; 2 David Whitehand nett 70; 3 Nigel Orr
nett 71.
Seniors Monthly Medal, June 17: 1 Colin Jacobs nett 65; 2 Mike Case nett 67; 3 John Westaway nett 69.
Seniors Nine-Hole Medal, June 17: 1 David Ivey nett 31; 2 Neil Auckland nett 33 ocb; 3 Reg Gazzard nett 33.
Seniors Roll Up Stableford, June 20: Winners: Geoff Lye/ Pete Starkey/Colin Jacobs – 60 points.
Captain’s Cup, June 21: 1 Mike Doddington 41; 2 Nigel Orr 39; 3 Jon Reed 38. Longest drive on sixth, Jim Stephen. Nearest the pin on ninth, Jon Reed. Nearest the pin on 14th, Mike Doddington
Seniors Captain’s Cup, June 24. 1 Rick Graham 41; 2 Chris Dibben 38; 3 Steven Ireland 37. Seniors Captain’s Cup Nine-Hole, June 24: 1 Derek King 21; 2 Mike Goodchild 16; 3 Neil Auckland 15.
Seniors Roll Up Stableford, June 27: Winners : Dave Hardiman/Jim Bunce/Kevin Francis 59 points. Category Championships, June 28: Category 3 Winner, David Amann nett 62. Category 4 Winner, David Whitehand nett 68.
by AJ Selby
“July is hollyhocks and hammocks, fireworks and holidays, hot and steamy weather, cool and refreshing swims, beach picnics and vegetables all out of the garden.” – Anon
I ALWAYS think of July as a lazy month, the time of year when the buzz and excitement of spring and early summer has passed, and before the rush to bring the harvest home in August and September. It’s a dreamy month of hot days, flowers hanging their heads almost in shame in the midday heat, and those all too rare warm evenings when you can sit outside until darkness in a balmy temperature at the end of a day that you never want to end.
I enjoy the cool of the woods, dappled shade and sunlit glades, where butterflies patrol the rides alternately basking and feeding at their peak time of year. Perch yourself on a stump or grassy hummock and watch as they flit, searching for open flowers, and try and identify some of the 59 species that call Britain home. A small pocketbook will help you to spot speckled wood, silverwashed fritillary and, my favourite, the scalloped-winged
comma. Most people know the original yellow butter-coloured fly, the butterfly, which is the brimstone. They can also spot a red admiral with its orange, black and white body, and the peacock with its two ringlet ‘eyes’.
A number of brown species include the meadow brown, the brown argus, the ringlet and the gatekeeper. And then add in the blues like the common blue, small blue, chalkhill blue, the adonis blue and the reintroduced large blue. So, a walk will be rewarded with the identification of half a dozen or more species. The chalkhill blue takes me to my other favourite habitat of summer – downland.
True downland is one of the oldest man-made habitats, formed when trees and scrub were cleared thousands of years ago for grazing and early types of sheep and goats prevented regeneration. This resulted in a close-cropped sward which developed a variety of plants that sheep would keep tidy but not eat out. It is estimated that large acreages of traditional chalk downland were lost after the Second World War due to the intensification of agriculture, and ploughing to grow cereal crops for the nation did irreparable damage to this
now rarest of habitats.
Generations of farmers had tended the downland with love and care, controlling the grass with the sheep but allowing wildflowers to thrive. It is thought that up to 45 plant species per square yard can be found on ancient downland, with the attendant insects, butterflies and birds that make up the ecosystem. What happens if the sheep are removed? The area grows longer grass, tougher plants like dock and bramble take hold and then small shrubs like thorn and gorse get a foothold. In the long-term it will revert to scrub and then forest.
Some of the chalkland wildflowers are delightful and to lie on the soft sward on a summer’s day with the scents of wild marjoram, wild thyme and perhaps fragrant orchid is a delight. Some of the other downland plants have enchanting names – eyebright with its flowers of a curtseying lady, the delicate pink of the common centaury, the bluebellcoloured clustered bellflower, the lovely white stars of the fairy flax, the wonderfully named squinancywort, the bright yellow birds-foot trefoil, the bastard toadflax, the horseshoe vetch, ladies bedstraw and various orchids.
Lie on the downy grasses and look skywards to spot that bird of open lands – the skylark. Last month I wrote of the supreme songster, the nightingale, but the skylark is more common, albeit on the danger list and with much reduced populations in the last 50 years. The song is known by most people, and many poets
and wordsmiths have tried to pen the lilting song for their readers to understand. George Meredith wrote The Lark Ascending which Ralph Vaughan Williams turned into music with the violin imitating the song. Other writers include Richard Jeffries, that man of the north Wiltshire downland, who described it as ‘a waterfall in the sky’ and the bird also inspired Wordsworth and Shelley.
The skylark isn’t the only bird of the skies with swallows and housemartins endlessly swooping and diving to feed on insects. The old saw is ‘when the swallows fly high, the weather will be dry’ indicating that the insects too exist at higher altitudes in dry spells. Higher still will fly the buzzard, effortlessly cruising on the thermals – should he drop low then a gang of corvids are likely to pester him and chase him away. And, of course, you can’t look skyward in summer without hoping to hear the scream of swifts as they cut through the air with their scimitar wings and open mouths. Sadly, these beautiful birds are still declining and a campaign to install one ‘swift brick’ – a brick with a nesting hole – into each new build house seems to have stumbled into government red tape. There is a campaign to ensure that this happens, and if you love these birds, please look it up and support it.
And the last word – don’t forget to put water out in your garden for the birds during this hot weather.
by Tria Stebbing
MID-SUMMER was hot, and it felt as though we had at least had a taste of better days. The sun posed the question, to bale or not to bale? On close inspection the grass is not of sufficient growth currently to cut for hay. Half of the field
seems okay, the other not. There is also a staggering amount of thistle. So, we have taken the gamble to leave it. The weather has been glorious and several local smallholders decided to bale – the forecast had been spot on and then we had the heaviest thundery downpour on
Friday, certainly enough to ruin anything that had been cut. With a little bit of free time on our hands and some glorious weather, we decided to take the vintage beast out on a local tractor run. A tractor run, for those not in the know, usually involves lots of
tractors, farming folk, food and a raffle. The tractors drive on a pre-chosen route through the countryside, it is hoped off-road, before heading back for a butty and a raffle. Usually in aid of a local charity, they are a great way for the network
Continued on page 98
by Friars Moor Livestock Health
AS a farm practice we offer a range of courses for all farmers – from lambing to artificial insemination, foot first aid to medicines use. Empowering farmers with new skills or refreshing skills is an important way of improving efficiencies and subsequent profitability on farm.
As vet trainers, we attend ‘Lantra Train the Trainer’ courses. This gives us a great insight into the different ways people learn, and how to structure courses so that participants really do go away having learnt what they came for! Incorporating this into our training makes them very rewarding to run.
The summer is a busy time of year for calving and calf rearing courses with busy autumn calving around the corner. Calving courses are hands on using a cow simulator. The simulator contains a mock pelvis allowing participants to feel the presentation of a calf and give correct assistance using ropes/ calving jack as needed.
Teaching skills like this increases the chance of a live calf with a dam which recovers easily. New staff or young people are always taught by the wider farm team on the job, but being taught the correct principles at the outset can make a big difference to staff confidence.
Demand for teaching good practice around calf rearing is high for new staff on farm or for farmers keen to improve their calf rearing success. We run these as small groups on farms so we can mix up small bits of theory with lots of
practical application. Part of running a course is making everyone feel confident and involved, and this is particularly true for younger participants.
Our new premises at West Stour has been designed with space for teaching. which is wonderful. This spring we ran a lamb postmortem course for sheep farmers in our new postmortem room, which was well received. Our meeting room has been perfect for delivery of our ‘worm egg counting for farmers’ courses this spring, which are becoming increasingly popular
as farmers look to become more sustainable and effective in their parasite control plans.
Summer course dates: n Friday, July 11, 10.30am2pm – Worm Egg Counting for Farmers.
n Thursday, July 17, 10am2.30pm – Practical Calving.
n Tuesday, July 22, 10.30am-3.30pm – Calf Rearing Level 1.
n Friday, August 22, 10.30am-3.30pm – Calf Rearing Level 2.
Contact the office on 01258 472314 or e-mail farmoffice@ fmlh.co.uk to register your place.
MEMBERS of the Friars Moor Livestock Health team will be running 10 kilometres cross-country, on Sunday, July 20, starting at the Sturminster Newton branch and crossing the finish line into the new premises at West Stour.
Tel: 01258 452307 Mob: 07973 642278 Est 1886
We are doing this to raise
money for the brilliant charity Breast Cancer Now, which supports people across the UK battling breast cancer, a cause close to our hearts. If you would like to support us and donate, please pop into the practice or find the link on our social media. Thank you.
by Ruth Kimber
A BIG thank you and well done to all our farming colleagues who opened their farms for Open Farm Sunday.
The main Christmas turkey poults arrived this week, tiny balls of fluff that fit in the palm of the hand. It is staggering how quickly they grow to anything between 10lb and 40lb – about 5kg-20kg – by Christmas, depending on their strain. We have 25 different strains, giving us a wide weight band and choice of bronze and white birds. But just now, it is only possible to tell the bronze from the white!
The poults need heat, food and water and calm, and in the first couple of days, we have to keep a very close eye on them. Then we have to protect them from vermin, rats and so on,
other birds and the farm cat!
Over the years, we have had jackdaws, magpies and other corvids get into the barn, causing death and injury, to eyes in particular. Rats take day-olds and later will even nibble the parson’s nose of live older birds. One year our farm cat managed to get in the pens without detection and steal the growing birds one by one. But the biggest fear is the fox, which kills many birds and causes death by panic, only taking one for his supper.
Our eldest grandson, Edgar, has gone into quail egg production. Darren bought him a suitable shed which Guppy –grandad – helped him assemble and treat. Naomi sourced the birds and off they went to collect them. He was very excited with his new venture.
The dairy cows are enjoying the summer grazing and now all the other cattle are out in the fields. The recent rain has revived the grass but regular rain during the season is important to keep food in front of them. We operate a rotation system, where the cows enjoy fresh grass each day with the remainder shut away to rest and recover. The species-rich leys have done well and offer tasty food for the cows and wildlife, also benefiting the structure of our soils.
The latest words from Government giving US farmers routes into our market with beef, the deal with Europe threatening the livelihoods of our fishermen and the sea stock around our shores are concerning. The NFU is also worried about other possible trade deals using poultry farmers as the bargaining chip. This demonstrates again the lack of regard for home production with our high standards and food security.
from page 96
of farming generations to catch up. This run was brilliant – it took us beyond the Blackmore Vale slightly towards Cranborne Chase. The range of crops was evident, as was farming on a larger scale, at its best. Rural views back towards Blandford and Shaftesbury were staggering and only highlighted my love for this part of Dorset. The hedgerows displayed their
finest treasures, the elderflower dying back, blackberries ripening and early signs of beech nuts. Wildflower corridors along the edges of the fields doing a grand job attracting brimstones and gatekeepers, as well as providing a habitat for small creatures to hide from the red kites circling overhead.
With playtime over, we returned to the home village via the sheep and cows. The hot weather has kept me on my toes, ensuring that the bottle-fed lambs have mastered drinking from the bucket. Just to be sure, I have been popping up with the bottles, not with milk, but with water. Neil and Nirvana have appreciated the water and drunk from the bottle with relish. Nova, clearly smarter than the other two, noticed it was not milk and was not entertaining the idea. The whole flock spend the daylight hours flaked out
underneath a large oak, only getting up to graze when the midday sun has gone. They have enjoyed munching the hornbeam hedges bac k this week and have left a very neat head-height line where they have taken the fresh shoots away.
The Highland cows, Sebastian, Belle and Babybell, are enjoying the sun and the lazy days of summer and seem more active in the early evening when they can be seen dancing around their enclosure, playing together and bashing horns.
This week the lambs will be removed from the ewes to allow for their milk to dry up. A noisy event, as the ewes will call for their young, even though they have long had enough of the constant feeding. The ewes will be put on well grazed paddocks for a few days to allow the milk to go. We will then return the ‘now teenagers’ to the flock.
It’s Show Time for Synergy Farm Health by Ed Powell-Jackson, Veterinary Surgeon
Show season is upon us and we are busy with preparations. As well as hosting our Synergy Farm Health stand, for many of the shows we are also the official vets in attendance, which is my role at Melplash.
ADVERTISING FEATURE
This involves an early start to check in livestock, as well as being on hand for any eventualities during the show itself. We also advise the show societies on any current disease concerns, such as Bluetongue or Avian Flu for example. It is always a pleasure to see our clients competing with such immaculately turned out stock, as well as to catch up with so many people off farm. Let’s hope for some wet weather before then, and sunny days come August!
Please do come and say hello to the Synergy Team if you visit any of the following shows this season:
27 JULY, TOTNES SHOW
7 AUG, HONITON SHOW
9 AUG, ELLINGHAM & RINGWOOD SHOW
13-14 AUG, GILLINGHAM & SHAFTESBURY SHOW 14 AUG, OKEHAMPTON SHOW
21 AUG, MELPLASH SHOW
6-7 SEPT, DORSET COUNTY SHOW
2 OCT, THE DAIRY SHOW
WANTED: LAND TO BUY in Dorset. To grow trees and shrubs. Tel: 07810-472347
POL PULLETS FOR SALE. Great layers and a variety of egg colours to choose from. 07545-468700
SHEEP KEEP WANTED for a flock of ewes. Anything considered. 07495-423751
FLEMING 4’ TOPPER in excellent condition due to little use. 3 point linkage,PTO driven. £575. 01258-455333
2 STABLES PLUS 2 ACRE FIELD for rent. (extra 2 acres available) Hazelbury Bryan On Secure Farm. Water + Electric available £220pcm 07734059190
10 ACRES OF ORGANIC FORAGE rye whole crop. Between Blandford & Shaftesbury. Call Al: 07786-073765
Cows Cows Cows All Grades
CONCRETE GROOVING MOBILE GRAIN CRIMPING and dry rolling Service. Cowco Southern. Call Ted: 07970-965040
Also, Bulls plus Organic Cattle Farm Assured or Non-Assured No V.A.N Number, No Problem! Payment on the day - Farm purchases Haulage Arranged
Livestock
EVERY WEDNESDAY WEEKLY SALES OF PRIME CATTLE CULL CATTLE DAIRY CATTLE & CALVES. PRIME, STORE & CULL SHEEP ********************************************************************
EVERY FRIDAY – SALE OF STORE & BREEDING CATTLE ********************************************************************
WEDNESDAY 27th NOVEMBER CHRISTMAS FATSTOCK SHOW CLASSES FOR HANDLED & UNHANDLED PRIME CATTLE. BARREN COWS. PRIME LAMBS. PRIME PIGS & CALVES FATSTOCK SHOW DINNER FRIDAY 29th NOVEMBER
EVERY WEDNESDAY WEEKLY SALES OF PRIME CATTLE CULL CATTLE DAIRY CATTLE & CALVES. PRIME, STORE & CULL SHEEP ******************************************************************** EVERY FRIDAY – SALE OF STORE & BREEDING CATTLE ********************************************************************
R&W FENCING. Agricultural paddock and stock. Also part time help required. 01258-88089207980-036250
PART TIME HELP REQUIRED WITH SHOW SHEEP, to prepare and attend shows, mid July-mid September. Please contact: 01258-820690 or 07957-998856 (North Dorset)
RAGWORT PROBLEM? Black Grass problem? Solution Call: Simon 07929-995747
HEDGE PLANTING AND HEDGELAYING for more information phone James 07930-262639
CARAVAN REMOVAL SERVICE, old, unwanted caravans, cars, trailers, vans, etc. Garden machinery, tractors, scrap metal. Yard, garden, garage removal clearances undertaken, dismantling and gas cutting service. Please call 01935-873169 or 07368-380477
WANTED SHEEP KEEP around Sparkford area. 07526-521014.
EVERY WEDNESDAY WEEKLY SALES OF PRIME CATTLE CULL CATTLE DAIRY CATTLE & CALVES. PRIME, STORE & CULL
WEDNESDAY 4th DECEMBER SALE OF REARED CALVES ********************************************************************
WEDNESDAY 27th NOVEMBER CHRISTMAS FATSTOCK SHOW CLASSES FOR HANDLED & UNHANDLED PRIME CATTLE. BARREN COWS. PRIME LAMBS. PRIME PIGS & CALVES FATSTOCK SHOW DINNER FRIDAY 29th NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY 11th DECEMBER FORTNIGHTLY SALE OF PIGS ********************************************************************
MONDAY 16th DECEMBER SALE OF TB RESTRICTED CATTLE ********************************************************************
We provide a friendly, local service at competitive prices. Based at Redlynch near Bruton, we supply Car, Commercial, Agricultural, Plant & 4x4 tyres and offer a 24hr breakdown service. We won’t be beaten on price. Call us on 01749 813957 or 07971 012628 or find us at www.southwesttyreservices.co.uk
SHIPPING CONTAINERS FOR SALE / HIRE Tel: 01258 472288 Mob: 07977 936109 New and second hand containers - blue/green - all with box locks
WEDNESDAY 4th DECEMBER SALE OF REARED CALVES ********************************************************************
WEDNESDAY 9th JUNE SALE OF PIGS Sale of 31 In-Calf British Frisian Heifers due September onwards to British Friesian. Closed Herd. BVD Free.
WEDNESDAY 11th DECEMBER FORTNIGHTLY SALE OF PIGS ********************************************************************
WEDNESDAY 18th DECEMBER LAST MARKET BEFORE CHRISTMAS SALE FOR ALL SECTIONS INCLUDING REARED CALVES, PIGS & STORE CATTLE ********************************************************************
MONDAY 14th JULY SALE OF TB RESTRICTED CATTLE
MONDAY 16th DECEMBER SALE OF TB RESTRICTED CATTLE ********************************************************************
MONDAY 30th DECEMBER SALE FOR ALL SECTIONS EXCEPT PIGS ******************************************************************** FOR ADVICE ON ALL CLASSES OF STOCK PLEASE CALL BRADLEY TOWELL 07496 263916 TOM ROGERS 07384 462288
WEDNESDAY 18th DECEMBER LAST MARKET BEFORE CHRISTMAS SALE FOR ALL SECTIONS INCLUDING REARED CALVES, PIGS & STORE CATTLE ********************************************************************
TREVOR ROWLAND 07968 480401 LESTER WILLIAMS 07778 646031 ROSS WHITCOMBE 07815 985737 CLIVE PEACH 07970 620859 ANDREW FRIZZLE 07977 136863
WEDNESDAY 16th JULY SALE OF REARED CALVES FOR ADVICE ON ALL CLASSES OF STOCK PLEASE CALL TOM ROGERS 07384 462288 TREVOR ROWLAND 07968 480401 LESTER WILLIAMS 07778 646031 ROSS WHITCOMBE 07815 985737 CLIVE PEACH 07970 620859 ANDREW FRIZZLE 07977 136863
MONDAY 30th DECEMBER SALE FOR ALL SECTIONS EXCEPT PIGS ******************************************************************** FOR ADVICE ON ALL CLASSES OF STOCK PLEASE CALL BRADLEY TOWELL 07496 263916 TOM ROGERS 07384 462288 TREVOR ROWLAND 07968 480401 LESTER WILLIAMS 07778 646031 ROSS WHITCOMBE 07815 985737 CLIVE PEACH 07970 620859 ANDREW FRIZZLE 07977 136863 Frome Livestock Market, Standerwick, Somerset, BA11 2QB 01373 830033 info@fromelivestock.com www.fromelivestock.com
Skips/HAIB lorry available for onsite collection Tel 01258 860 166 or 07974 822 243
PROPERTY AUCTION THURSDAY 24TH JULY 2025 AT 2:00PM AT DIGBY
Stourpaine
rich in biodiversity, in a secluded, peaceful area south of the River Frome. Freehold.
Guide £25,000
Wimborne | 01202 843190
North Perrott Guide £45,000 3.01 acres (1.22 ha) of gently sloping pasture land with direct road access. Freehold.
Sixpenny Handley
2.23 acres of diverse broadleaf woodland and pasture adjoining the River Stour, with single bank fishing rights, accessible by foot, bicycle and horseback. Freehold.
Guide £150,000
A centrally located Grade II Listed property currently arranged as 3 x 1 bedroom flats and walled gardens, requiring modernisation throughout. CTBs A, EPC Exempt, Leasehold. PROPERTY AUCTION FRIDAY 16 MAY 2025 2:00PM AT MERLEY HOUSE, WIMBORNE BH21 3AA & VIA LIVESTREAM
Sturminster Newton | 01258 472244
Yeovil | 01935 432526
A detached barn of about 125 sqm. in just under 1.70 acres with off-road
Charlton Marshall
Wareham
Guide £110,000
Queen Camel
Dorchester
Guide £200,000
Guide £50,000
Level pasture land and a traditional stone building set in 2.15 acres on the outskirts of the village of Queen Camel. Freehold.
Witchampton Guide £50,000 0.19 acres of amenity land with scope for a range of uses (STPP/consents), adjoining residential properties. Freehold.
Yeovil | 01935 382901
Dorchester | 01305 261008
Wimborne | 01202 843190
Bournemouth
Guide £300,000
Holt, Wimborne
Tarrant Rushton
Charlton, Marshall
Guide £225,000
An opportunity to purchase a parcel of permanent pasture in the village of Holt, extending to approximately 4.51 acres Freehold.
Guide £200,000
A grand, 4 storey (including basement) mixed-use Victorian building occupying a prominent corner plot on Lansdowne Crescent. RV: £53,500, £8,300, CTB A, EPC TBC. Freehold.
Verwood Guide £125,000 1.38 acres with a derelict barn in a residential location falling within the main urban development area on the Local Plan. Freehold.
Dorchester Commercial | 01305 236237
Wimborne | 01202 882103 Guide £80,000
Wimborne | 01202 843190
Bradworthy, Devon
Portesham, Dorchester
Guide £110,000
A semi detached, extended 4
period property for complete renovation with a generous garden adjoining Ferndown Forest. CTB C, EPC F, Freehold.
Winfrith Newburgh Guide £170,000 20.42 acres (8.26 ha) of level, productive permanent pasture land adjacent to Tadnoll and Winfrith Heath. Freehold.
14.05 acres of agricultural land with outstanding views over Chesil and the Fleet to White Nothe and to Start Point. Freehold.
Dorchester | 01305 236237
| 01202843190
Dorchester | 01305 236237
Guide £395,000
Sutton Mandeville
Guide £250,000
Guide £85,000
A detached, extended 3 bedroom
23.55 acres of permanent pasture, with fishing rights along the River Stour, which borders the land. Freehold.
9.13 acres of freely draining land, predominantly comprising pasture with an element of woodland, located between Wareham and Wool. Freehold.
23.55 acres of predominantly level lying, permanent pasture benefitting from fishing rights along the River Stour which abuts the east boundary. Freehold.
Pallington Guide £350,000
38.42 acres (15.55 hectares) of fertile, workable arable land with good accessibility. Conveniently split into three workable parcels. The land has previously been used to grow salad crops and is understood to be very productive, more recently the land has been in a combinable crop rotation. This Autumn, the land has been drilled with a cover crop. Freehold.
Wimborne | 01202 843190
Wimborne | 01202 843190
Dorchester | 01305 236237
Winterborne Houghton
Blandford Forum | 01258 452670
Wimborne | 01202 882103
Motcombe
A charming semi-detached 2 bedroom cottage with a separate 1 bedroom, single storey annexe with off-road parking and gardens. CTBs C & A, EPCs D & B, Freehold.
Horton, Wimborne
A substantial bungalow requiring renovation, providing potential for extension or replacement, subject to PP, in a rural position enjoying grounds of 1.60 acres.
Subject to an AOC. CTB E, EPC F, Freehold.
over 6,300 sq. ft./585 sq. m. in grounds of 0.54 acres, providing development permission. EPC D, Freehold.
Traditional stone barn set in 5.97acres. Positioned in a private location with residential conversion opportunity (STPP & relevant consents). Freehold.
A partially renovated and extended 2 bedroom bungalow with potential for upwards extension, subject to planning permission. CTB C, EPC E, Freehold.
Tiverton | 01884 218911
Horton Heath Wimborne | 01202 843190
5.90 acres of productive agricultural land and woodland, in the heart of a popular village, with good highways access. Freehold.
An attractive semi-detached 2 bedroom cottage for renovation with a generous garden situated in this much favoured North Dorset village. CTB E, EPC G, Freehold.
42.94 acres (17.38 ha) of productive arable land. Free draining loam soil over chalk, two road access points, a cattle handling race, outstanding views and private water supply. South east aspect suited to vines and solar. Freehold.
Sturminster Newton | 01258 472244
Sturminster | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 472244 Batcombe, Dorchester Guides
Shaftesbury
£350,000 A former doctor’s surgery in 0.58 acres with prior approval for change of use to a residential dwelling under application P/PACD/2024/02991/. RV: £5,100, EPC C, Freehold.
Castle Guide £375,000 A charming Grade II Listed3 bedroom stone cottage for complete
|
|
| CORNWALL | LONDON
Dorchester, Dorset 484.35 acres (195.95 ha)
An extended and modernised period house combining character and charm with contemporary family living in a quiet location on a nothrough road with wonderful views, land and stables. In all about 2.40 acres. CTB F, EPC D, Freehold.
An extended and modernised period house combining character and charm with contemporary family living in a quiet location on a nothrough road with wonderful views, land and stables. In all about 2.40 acres. CTB F, EPC D, Freehold.
gardens. CTB E. Freehold.
Will Wallis | 01305 236237
Sturminster | 01258 473766
A character south-facing stone house in an excellent central village location with a large oak-framed double garage, workshop and southfacing gardens. CTB E. Freehold. Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
A character south-facing stone house in an excellent central village location with a large oak-framed double garage, workshop and southfacing gardens. CTB E. Freehold. Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster | 01258 473766
A ring-fenced livestock and dairy holding, with5-bedroom farmhouse, 2 cottages and a barn conversion (AOC). A good range of adaptable farm buildings with a dairy unit. The property is situated in a rural location in the Bride Valley, offering views along the Jurassic Coastline. For sale as a whole or in 3 lots. Freehold. CTB-F,C,C,tba. EPC -F,C,tba. Guide £7,445,000 (Whole)
North Cheriton
North Cheriton
A 4 bedroom house in a lovely rural location on a quiet lane with wonderful far-reaching views and garden and grounds of one acre. CTB
A 4 bedroom house in a lovely rural location on a quiet lane with wonderful far-reaching views and garden and grounds of one acre. CTB
Blandford, Dorset 211.78 acres (85.71 hectares)
Donhead St Mary
Donhead St Mary
Nr Sturminster Newton Guide Price £1,100,000
Nr Sturminster Newton Guide Price £1,100,000
Guide £800,000
A particularly spacious family house with 3500 sq ft of accommodation over three floors in a quiet location with wonderful far-reaching views over the Wiltshire/Dorset countryside. CTB G, EPD D, Freehold.
A particularly spacious family house with 3500 sq ft of accommodation over three floors in a quiet location with wonderful far-reaching views over the Wiltshire/Dorset countryside. CTB G, EPD D, Freehold. Guide £800,000
presented 4 bedroom country home with stable yard & paddocks, in total 4.11 acres. CTB E.Freehold,
Will Wallis | 01305 236237
Tucked away down a no through lane is this extended and very well presented 4 bedroom country home with stable yard & paddocks, in total 4.11 acres. CTB E.Freehold, Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Tucked away down a no through lane is this extended and very well presented 4 bedroom country home with stable yard & paddocks, in total 4.11 acres. CTB E.Freehold, Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster | 01258 473766
Sturminster | 01258 473766
OIEO £400,000
£400,000 the neighbouring countryside. CTB C. Freehold.
Sturminster | 01258 473766
Sturminster | 01258 473766
Okeford Fitzpaine
Leigh
An attractive, double-fronted 3-bedroom period property tucked away on an idyllic country lane with character features throughout and views over Sherborne | 01935 814488
An attractive, double-fronted 3-bedroom period property tucked away on an idyllic country lane with character features throughout and views over the neighbouring countryside. CTB C. Freehold. Sherborne | 01935 814488
Guide £775,000
A tastefully improved 4-bedroom village house with light and spacious
accommodation, set in attractive gardens and backing onto farmland.
An enchanting and meticulously preserved arable and livestock farm. Comprising a handsome 5-bedroom period farmhouse, working Granary Mill, two cottages with traditional and modern farm buildings, sitting centrally in productive arable land, pastureland and woodland. For sale as a whole or in four lots. Freehold.CTB G,C,C; EPC Exempt,D,D. Guide £4,795,000 (Whole)
OIEO £500,000
Leigh OIEO £500,000
£400,000 the neighbouring countryside. CTB C. Freehold. accommodation, set in attractive gardens and backing onto farmland. No onward chain. CTB F. Freehold.
An attractive and beautifully restored Grade II listed former farmhouse with plenty of charm and original character features along with a 100’ garden in the heart of the village. CTB F, EPC Exempt, Freehold. Guide £775,000
A tastefully improved 4-bedroom village house with light and spacious accommodation, set in attractive gardens and backing onto farmland. No onward chain. CTB F. Freehold. Sherborne | 01935 814488
No onward chain. CTB F. Freehold. Sherborne | 01935 814488 facing gardens. CTB E. Freehold.
An attractive and beautifully restored Grade II listed former farmhouse with plenty of charm and original character features along with a 100’ garden in the heart of the village. CTB F, EPC Exempt, Freehold.
Sturminster | 01258 473766
Sturminster | 01258 473766
PROPERTY
PROPERTY AUCTION THURSDAY 24TH JULY 2025 AT 2:00PM AT DIGBY MEMORIAL CHURCH HALL, DIGBY ROAD, SHERBORNE, DT9 3NL
PPROPERTY AUCTIONS FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER 2024 & FRIDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2024 AT THE DIGBY CHURCH MEMORIAL HALL, SHERBORNE AT 2:00PM AND VIA LIVESTREAM
Melplash
rich in biodiversity, in a secluded, peaceful area south of the River Frome. Freehold.
Guide £50,000
Wimborne | 01202 843190
A former village hall with parking situated on the main road in the heart of the village. GIA 175 sqm. Freehold. RV TBA.
North Perrott Guide £45,000 3.01 acres (1.22 ha) of gently sloping pasture land with direct road access. Freehold.
Sixpenny Handley
Guide £150,000
Dorchester Commercial | 01305 261008
Yeovil | 01935 432526
A detached barn of about 125 sqm. in just under 1.70 acres with off-road
Charlton Marshall
Henstridge Guide
Dorchester
£300,000
Guide £200,000
Witchampton Guide £50,000
0.19 acres of amenity land with scope for a range of uses (STPP/consents), adjoining residential properties. Freehold.
A centrally located Grade II Listed property currently arranged as 3 x 1 bedroom flats and walled gardens, requiring modernisation throughout. CTBs A, EPC Exempt, Leasehold.
A lofty workshop with large and level fenced outside space. 0.66 acre plot on the Marsh Lane Trading Estate. Freehold. RV Workshop-£9,600 Yard£12,000; EPC-C.
Dorchester Commercial | 01305 261008
Dorchester | 01305 261008
Wimborne | 01202 843190
Guide £300,000
23.55 acres of permanent pasture, with fishing rights along the River Stour, which borders the land. Freehold.
Tarrant Rushton
Winterborne Zelston
Guide £250,000
Guide £185,000
Bournemouth
Codford, Wiltshire
Guide £395,000
Guide £200,000
Wimborne
Yeovil
Guide £142,000
A modern suite of mostly open plan offices of 603 sqm net internal space (gov.uk) set in a rural location but close to good road links. Freehold. RV-£57,000; EPC-E.
Verwood Guide £125,000 1.38 acres with a derelict barn in a residential location falling within the main urban development area on the Local Plan. Freehold.
A grand, 4 storey (including basement) mixed-use Victorian building occupying a prominent corner plot on Lansdowne Crescent. RV: £53,500, £8,300, CTB A, EPC TBC. Freehold.
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Dorchester Commercial | 01305 236237
Wimborne | 01202 843190
A semi detached, extended 4 bedroom period property for complete renovation with a generous garden adjoining Ferndown Forest. CTB C, EPC F, Freehold.
Winfrith Newburgh Guide £170,000
A Grade II listed building offering several uses/options with planning permission and LB consent for conversion to residential. Freehold. EPC-D.
Wimborne | 01202843190 Guide £225,000
20.42 acres (8.26 ha) of level, productive permanent pasture land adjacent to Tadnoll and Winfrith Heath. Freehold.
Yeovil | 01935 423526
Dorchester | 01305 236237
Horton Heath
Dorchester
Guide
£190,000
Guide £275,000
Milborne Port
Fifehead Magdalen
Guide £200,000
Guide £250,000
Pallington Guide £350,000
Wimborne | 01202 843190
Sherborne Sherborne | 01935 814488
Dorchester | 01305 236237
A detached, extended 3 bedroom cottage for renovation, enjoying a rural position and delightful countryside views in 0.20 acres of gardens. CTB C, EPC G, Freehold.
A semi-detached 3 bedroom property for refurbishment with scope for extension and remodelling (STPP) in a convenient location on the A31. Freehold. CTB-C; EPC-E.
38.42 acres (15.55 hectares) of fertile, workable arable land with good accessibility. Conveniently split into three workable parcels. The land has previously been used to grow salad crops and is understood to be very productive, more recently the land has been in a combinable crop rotation. This Autumn, the land has been drilled with a cover crop. Freehold.
Blandford Forum | 01258 452670
Blandford | 01258 452670
Motcombe
Okeford Fitzpaine
Guide £295,000
Guide £250,000
Shroton
Guide £295,000
A partially renovated and extended 2 bedroom bungalow with potential for upwards extension, subject to planning permission. CTB C, EPC E, Freehold.
A mid terrace 2 double bedroom property in need of renovation throughout, with an enclosed rear garden situated close to the town centre. Freehold. CTB-C; EPC-D.
Dorchester | 01305 261008
Wimborne | 01202 843190
Sturminster Newton | 01258 472244
A charming 2 bedroom period cottage, situated at the end of a terrace in a quiet village location. Freehold. CTB-C; EPC-E.
Winterborne Houghton Guide £400,000 42.94 acres (17.38 ha) of productive arable land. Free draining loam soil over chalk, two road access points, a cattle handling race, outstanding views and private water supply. South east aspect suited to vines and solar. Freehold.
Sherborne | 01935 814488
Sturminster | 01258 473766
Guide £350,000
Fiddleford
Fontmell Magna
Guide £395,000
Sandford Orcas
Guide £400,000
20.70 acres (12.01 ha) tucked away in a quiet rural position in 3 lots.
Lot A – 15.02 ac arable capable pasture land with a gentle south facing slope£115,000
A semi-detached 2 bedroom cottage in 0.89 acres offering character and charm throughout and enjoying views over the surrounding landscape. Freehold. CTB-C; EPC-E.
A charming semi-detached 2 bedroom cottage with a separate 1 bedroom, single storey annexe with off-road parking and gardens. CTBs C & A, EPCs D & B, Freehold.
Sturminster | 01258 473766 Guide £295,000
Batcombe, Dorchester Guides £40,000 to £115,000
Yarlington Sherborne | 01935 814488
Sturminster Newton | 01258 472244
A former primary school measuring over 6,300 sq. ft./585 sq. m. in grounds of 0.54 acres, providing development potential, subject to planning permission. EPC D, Freehold.
A charming, extended, Grade II listed property with a private rear garden situated in this favourable village on the edge of the Cranborne Chase. Freehold. CTB-E.
Lot B - 3.57 ac pasture and woodland including an old brick pumphouse - £40,000
Lot C – 11.11 ac pasture and strip of woodland with stream frontage - £90,000
Sturminster | 01258 473766
Blandford | 01258 452670
Chilcompton Guide £195,000
Bridgehampton, Somerset
Horton, Wimborne
A substantial bungalow
A partially built 5 bedroom detached house, with double garage and gardens. PP was granted under application reference 2022/1683/FUL. Freehold.
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Yeovil | 01935 423526
Wimborne | 01202 843190 Guide £450,000
A period detached cottage in need of general improvement throughout, set in spacious gardens of 0.21 acres (0.08 hectares). Freehold.
Guide £500,000
A residential development site measuring 0.87 acres with full, detailed planning permission for 7 residential dwellings (planning ref: 20/01206/FUL). Further 1.13 acre field included. Freehold. CTB-D; EPC-F.
Iliminster | 01460 200790
A former doctor’s surgery in 0.58 acres with prior approval for change of use to a residential dwelling under application P/PACD/2024/02991/. RV: £5,100, EPC C, Freehold.
Shaftesbury Guide £95,000
A detached 3 bedroom character property in a village location with scope for improvement, sitting in a 0.66 acre plot less than 2 miles from Sturminster Newton. Freehold. CTB-F; EPC-F.
A charming 1 bedroom property forming part of a Grade II* Listed building, ideal as a buy to let investment or bolthole. Leasehold with 50% share of freehold.
Sturminster | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Grade II Listed3
Guide £225,000-£250,000
Somerford Road, Christchurch
A detached 2 bedroom cottage for complete renovation, situated in this highly sought after village within Cranborne Chase. Freehold.
Blandford | 01258 452670
Yeovil | 01935 382901
Wimborne | 01202 843190
An attractive semi-detached 2 bedroom cottage for renovation with a generous garden situated in this much favoured North Dorset village. CTB E, EPC G, Freehold. Guide
cottage for complete renovation, situated close to the centre of this highly sought-after village. CTB E, EPC Exempt, Freehold.
Milborne Port Guide £150,000 An attractive period property for renovation enjoying a generous garden sitting on the outskirts of Milborne Port. Freehold.
A 4 bedroom bungalow in need of modernisation throughout, with 0.62 acre grounds, multiple outbuildings and stunning views. Freehold. CTB-E; EPC-E.
Sherborne | 01935 814488
Sherborne | 01935 814488
Guide £595,000
A site measuring 0.39 acres with full planning permission for an exclusive development of 9 x 2 bedroom apartments (8/22/0470/FUL), situated in the heart of Christchurch close to Avon Beach and Mudeford Quay. Potential for alternative schemes STPP. CIL: £98,735.93, Freehold.
Belchalwell Guide £250,000 A detached bungalow on a 0.30 acre plot for modernisation/replacement (STPP) with a positive pre application response for a 4 bedroom house. Freehold.
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
DORSET | DEVON | SOMERSET | HAMPSHIRE | WILTSHIRE | CORNWALL | LONDON
South Barrow
Bowridge, Gillingham
Bowridge, Gillingham
Guide £895,000
Guide £1,250,000
Guide £1,250,000
Hazelbury Bryan
Bryan
Guide £765,000
Guide £1,150,000
Guide £1,150,000
Mappowder
Mappowder
Guide £595,000
Guide £595,000
Mappowder Guide £595,000
Mappowder Guide £595,000
Marnhull
A thoughtfully designed barn conversion with integral annexe offering a rare blend of character and versatility in a sought-after village. Freehold. CTB – F. EPC – E.
A fine Grade II listed former village Post House with attractive gardens, a substantial barn/workshop and lovely views to the village church and
A fine Grade II listed former village Post House with attractive gardens,
A fine period farmhouse in a quiet position boasting far reaching views. Dating from 1737 the farmhouse offers 3 reception rooms, 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Outside is a wonderful stone barn with potential (stp), workshop, large garden and paddock, in total 4.13 acres. CTB E, EPC E, Freehold. Further land available.
Sherborne | 01935 814488
A fine period farmhouse in a quiet position boasting far reaching views. Dating from 1737 the farmhouse offers 3 reception rooms, 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Outside is a wonderful stone barn with potential (stp), workshop, large garden and paddock, in total 4.13 acres. CTB E, EPC E, Freehold. Further land available.
a substantial barn/workshop and lovely views to the village church and surrounding countryside. CTB E. Freehold.
A fine Grade II listed former village Post House with attractive gardens, a substantial barn/workshop and lovely views to the village church and surrounding countryside. CTB E. Freehold.
A character south-facing stone house in an excellent central village
A delightful house with flexible accommodation in an enviable, historic part of the town and a short level walk from the High Street. Freehold. CTB-E; EPC-D.
Guide £525,000
A character south-facing stone house in an excellent central village location with a large oak-framed double garage, workshop and south-
Guide £525,000
An extended and modernised period house combining character and charm with contemporary family living in a quiet location on a nothrough road with wonderful views, land and stables. In all about 2.40 acres. CTB F, EPC D, Freehold.
An extended and modernised period house combining character and charm with contemporary family living in a quiet location on a nothrough road with wonderful views, land and stables. In all about 2.40 acres. CTB F, EPC D, Freehold.
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
A character south-facing stone house in an excellent central village location with a large oak-framed double garage, workshop and southfacing gardens. CTB E. Freehold.
location with a large oak-framed double garage, workshop and southfacing gardens. CTB E. Freehold.
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 472244
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 472244
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Guide £750,000
Guide £825,000
Guide £825,000
A beautifully presented bungalow in an edge of village location on a quiet lane with a lovely south-facing garden of approximately 0.75 acres. Freehold. CTB-F; EPC-D.
This delightful 2-bedroom end-of-terrace cottage has been fully desirable
This delightful 2-bedroom end-of-terrace cottage has been fully updated desirable
Shroton Guide £435,000
This delightful 2-bedroom end-of-terrace cottage has been fully updated but retains great charm. It is situated in the heart of this most desirable village. CTB D. Freehold.
An exceptional detached 5 bedroom residence, finished to an impeccable standard. Set within beautifully landscaped gardens with stunning countryside views, in a highly sought-after village. CTB G, EPC B, Freehold.
Shroton Guide £435,000 updated but retains great charm. It is situated in the heart of this most desirable village. CTB D. Freehold.
An exceptional detached 5 bedroom residence, finished to an impeccable standard. Set within beautifully landscaped gardens with stunning countryside views, in a highly sought-after village. CTB G, EPC B, Freehold.
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster | 01258 473766
Sturminster | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Bedchester
Guide £650,000
Guide £810,000
Guide £810,000
A tastefully decorated and spacious property with a wonderful garden enjoying excellent views towards Hambledon Hill . Freehold. CTB-G; EPC-E.
A 4 bedroom house in a lovely rural location on a quiet lane with wonderful far-reaching views and garden and grounds of one acre. CTB D, EPC F, Freehold.
OIEO £400,000
A 4 bedroom house in a lovely rural location on a quiet lane with wonderful far-reaching views and garden and grounds of one acre. CTB D, EPC F, Freehold.
An attractive, double-fronted 3-bedroom period property tucked away on an idyllic country lane with character features throughout and views over the neighbouring countryside. CTB C. Freehold.
An attractive, double-fronted 3-bedroom period property tucked away on
An attractive, double-fronted 3-bedroom period property tucked away on an idyllic country lane with character features throughout and views over the neighbouring countryside. CTB C. Freehold.
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sherborne | 01935 814488
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sherborne | 01935 814488
Guide £450,000
St Mary
Donhead St Mary
Guide £800,000
Guide £800,000
Nr Sturminster Newton Guide Price £1,100,000
Nr Sturminster Newton Guide Price £1,100,000
Sturminster Newton Guide Price £1,100,000
A double-fronted detached house in a fine spot within the village with wellproportioned accommodation and open views towards Okeford Hill. Freehold. CTB-F; EPC-D.
A particularly spacious family house with 3500 sq ft of accommodation over three floors in a quiet location with wonderful far-reaching views over the Wiltshire/Dorset countryside. CTB G, EPD D, Freehold.
A particularly spacious family house with 3500 sq ft of accommodation over three floors in a quiet location with wonderful far-reaching views over the Wiltshire/Dorset countryside. CTB G, EPD D, Freehold.
presented 4 bedroom country home with stable yard & paddocks, in 4.11 acres. CTB E.Freehold,
Tucked away down a no through lane is this extended and very well presented 4 bedroom country home with stable yard & paddocks, in total 4.11 acres. CTB E.Freehold,
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Tucked away down a no through lane is this extended and very well presented 4 bedroom country home with stable yard & paddocks, in total 4.11 acres. CTB E.Freehold, Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766
Sturminster | 01258 473766
Sturminster | 01258 473766
Sherborne | 01935 814488
Blandford | 01258 452670
Sherborne | 01935 814488
Sturminster | 01258 473766
Sturminster | 01258 473766
Sherborne | 01935 814488
Guide £450,000
Fitzpaine
Leigh
Guide £775,000
Guide £775,000
A detached bungalow in a highly convenient position with plenty of parking, a garage, a workshop and a level
OIEO £500,000
Leigh OIEO £500,000
An attractive and beautifully restored Grade II listed former farmhouse with plenty of charm and original character features along with a 100’ garden in the heart of the
An attractive and beautifully restored Grade II listed former farmhouse with plenty of charm and original character features along with a 100’ garden in the heart of the village. CTB F, EPC Exempt, Freehold.
No onward chain. CTB F. Freehold.
A tastefully improved 4-bedroom village house with light and spacious accommodation, set in attractive gardens and backing onto farmland. No onward chain. CTB F. Freehold.
A tastefully improved 4-bedroom village house with light and spacious accommodation, set in attractive gardens and backing onto farmland. No onward chain. CTB F. Freehold.
Sherborne | 01935 814488
Sherborne | 01935 814488
Sturminster | 01258 473766
Sturminster | 01258 473766
Newton | 01258 473766
£475,000 Bourton
A stunning versatile four bedroom semi-detached home, in an elevated position with breathtaking far-reaching views. Thoughtfully refurbished and extended comprising striking kitchen/breakfast room, light and airy sitting room, dining room, master bedroom with dressing room and en-suite, studio/workshop, garden, parking. EPC Rating D. Freehold.
£775,000 Wincanton An
£625,000 Cucklington
A substantial four bedroom detached house with delightful views over adjoining fields. Offering versatility and potential by converting the large double garage into a self contained annex. There is an impressive sitting room with modern inglenook fireplace, delightful conservatory off the dining room, off road parking, mature garden. EPC Rating: E. Freehold.
£300,000 Bruton
£259,000 Bourton
A superb four bedroom end-terrace house located just a short stroll from Sexey’s school. Comprising light & airy sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room and family shower room. Landscaped garden, off road parking, garage. EPC Rating: C. Freehold.
£595,000 Bruton
Summer has arrived and we still have many buyers looking to purchase a property in the local towns and villages. If you are considering a move in 2025 we will be delighted to offer a free valuation and marketing advice on your property.
We are enjoying a busy start to the year having registered many buyers looking to purchase a property in local towns and villages. If you are considering a move in 2025 we will be delighted to offer a free valuation and marketing advice on your property.
Please call 01963 34000 or email wincanton@hambledon.net to book an appointment.
Having enjoyed a busy summer we still have many buyers registered with us wishing to purchase within the local towns and villages. If you are considering bringing your property to the market we would be delighted to hear from you. Please call 01963 34000 to arrange an appointment or email wincanton@hambledon.net
impressive four bedroom detached house within easy reach of Sexey’s school. Spacious hallway, sitting room with wood burner, wonderful kitchen/ diner with French doors opening to a patio, snug/study and a light and airy master bedroom with en-suite. Outside is an attractive front garden, delightful landscaped rear garden, double garage, parking. EPC Rating D. Freehold.
£120,000 Henstridge
£225,000 Wincanton
IDEAL INVESTMENT OR FIRST TIME BUY. A spacious first floor flat with a long lease and two allocated parking spaces. Comprising entrance hall, delightful sitting/dining room with large bay window, fitted kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Rating: D. Leasehold.
attached single garage. EPC Rating: C. Freehold.
£595,000 Castle Cary
£395,000 Templecombe
Attractive detached bungalow situated in a peaceful, secluded setting comprising entrance hall, sitting/dining room with attractive fireplace, conservatory, fitted kitchen, utility room, master bedroom with en-suite, further two bedrooms, family bathroom, double garage with electric up and over door and an easy to maintain garden with a wood store. EPC Rating E. Freehold.
Marnhull, Dorset. Guide price
£2,850,000
Misterton, Somerset. Guide Price £1,270,000
Misterton, Somerset. Guide Price £1,270,000
A rare chance to acquire three individual properties on the outskirts of Crewkerne, requiring some improvement, but positioned next to each other and offering a lifestyle opportunity. 5 bedroom seventeenth century Farmhouse, 3 bedroom converted Granary, 1 bedroom seventeenth century Cottage, gardens, orchard, barn, walkable to mainline Station.
A rare chance to acquire three individual properties on the outskirts of Crewkerne, requiring some improvement, but positioned next to each other and offering a lifestyle opportunity. 5 bedroom seventeenth century Farmhouse, 3 bedroom converted Granary, 1 bedroom seventeenth century Cottage, gardens, orchard, barn, walkable to mainline Station.
An exceptional period country house with beautifully restored interiors and extensive grounds with annex, swimming pool and tennis court. An impeccable village house with generous living spaces, including a 24ft drawing room, bespoke handmade kitchen, 6 bedrooms, 6 bath/shower rooms. 1 bed annex. Established gardens with large terraces, in all about 2.74 acres.
East Orchard, Dorset. Guide Price £995,000
East Orchard, Dorset. Guide price £2,350,000
An Edwardian country residence with wonderful rural views, extensive & versatile accommodation,
An Edwardian country residence with wonderful rural views, extensive & versatile accommodation, outbuildings and delightful gardens.
A stunning new country house set in fabulous rura location surrounded by 7.5 acres. 4 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms, 3 bath/shower rooms. Planning permission for new carport/annex. Extensive gardens and terrace with opportunity to landscape/design.
Misterton, Somerset. Guide Price £1,270,000
A stunning contemporary home with beautiful far-reaching views over open countryside. Entrance hall, large open plan kitchen/dining room, sitting room. Downstairs bedroom with sitting room and ensuite shower room. 3 double bedrooms, 2 bath/shower rooms. Double garage with 1 bed annex above, gardens, stables, paddock of approximately 2.6 acres. In all about 4.25 acres.
A rare chance to acquire three individual properties on the outskirts of Crewkerne, requiring some improvement, but positioned next to each other and offering a lifestyle opportunity.
A rare chance to acquire three individual properties on the outskirts of Crewkerne, requiring some improvement, but positioned next to each other and offering a lifestyle opportunity.
D
A beautifully renovated old Bakery and Temperance Hall on the edge of this popular Somerset village. Old Bakery: Sitting room, kitchen, pantry, utility, cloakroom, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath/ shower rooms. Temperance Hall: Open plan living, mezzanine floor with 1 bedroom and shower room. Gardens, garages, parking.
A handsome listed village house dating back to the 17th century situated in the Wylye valley with an annex and delightful gardens. 4 reception rooms, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 3 bath/shower rooms. Self-contained 1 bedroom annex. 0.74 acre of gardens and grounds. Garages/Parking.
5 bedroom seventeenth century Farmhouse, 3 bedroom converted Granary, 1 bedroom seventeenth century Cottage, gardens, orchard, barn, walkable to mainline Station. East Orchard, Dorset. Guide
5 bedroom seventeenth century Farmhouse, 3 bedroom converted Granary, 1 bedroom seventeenth century Cottage, gardens, orchard, barn, walkable to mainline Station. East Orchard, Dorset.
EPC Exempt
An Edwardian country residence with wonderful rural views, extensive & versatile accommodation, outbuildings and delightful gardens.
A charming extended-period cottage with well-proportioned rooms and a wonderful garden. Sitting room, kitchen/dining room, 3 bedrooms, bathroom, utility, cloaks, about 1/3 acre garden, parking, garage.
An Edwardian country residence with wonderful rural views, extensive & versatile accommodation, outbuildings and delightful gardens. Hall, five reception rooms, family kitchen/breakfast room, utility, 2nd kitchen, cloakroom, 6 bedrooms, 6 bath/shower rooms, studio, carport, outbuildings & stores, gardens approaching 1 acre.
6 bath/shower rooms, studio, carport, outbuildings &
ROOM TO LET IN QUIET LOCATION in Sturminster Newton. Tel: 01258-473598
GROUND FLOOR (675 square ft) of tradional Tythe Barn, suitable for office/studio/salon etc, £80 p/w. Tel: 07811-837061
LARGE SUNNY ROOM WITH ENSUITE SHOWER ROOM IN QUIET PRETTY LOCATION OUTSIDE KINGS STAG. USE OF ALL USUAL FACILITIES AVAILABLE 1/8/25TEL 07760 584 389
SELF-CONTAINED ACCOMMODATION on quiet farm near Yeovil 01935 892476
400186 | adverts@blackmorevale.net
MOST homebuyers prefer a south-facing garden, but the over-50s favour the relative cool of a north-facing garden, according to new research.
South-facing gardens get a greater amount of warm sunshine throughout the day than north-facing gardens, which only tend to get the sun during the cooler hours of the morning.
Homes with a south-facing garden command an average price premium of 4% compared to the wider market which, at the current average UK house price of £271,000, is the equivalent of adding £10,857 to a home’s value.
However, older homebuyers seem to have less desire to spend time in the hot sun,
rendering south-facing gardens less appealing.
Regency Living’s survey of 1,000 over-50s reveals that less than a fifth (19%) enjoy spending a lot of time in direct sunshine.
Instead, the vast majority (51%) say they enjoy sun exposure ‘in moderation’, while 31% say they prefer to spend time in the shade.
This desire to stay sheltered from hot sunshine means that 44% say they would prefer to have a home with a northfacing garden.
Meanwhile, only 13% say they would prefer a southfacing garden which tends to receive far more sunshine and stay warmer throughout the day.
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23, 24 July at 19:00 | 26 July at 14:00