The New Blackmore Vale - Issue 146 by The Blackmore Vale Limited

• Main pic: Choral Society waxes lyrical on the many benefits of singing together page 27

• Above: Try your hand at archery on a beginner’s course this Spring page 25

• Left: Rotary Club event is a runaway success with a record number of entries page 11

Paul Jones - Editor in Chief

We love hearing your news and views. Get in touch with us by emailing newsdesk@blackmorevale.net or calling 01963 400186

Lloyd Armishaw Publisher newsdesk@blackmorevale.net 01963 400186

Lorraine Drake Distributor lorraine_drake@icloud.com 07850 529937

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Plans for new £7m Aldi store in Sturminster Newton submitted

BUDGET supermarket giant

Aldi has submitted plans for a new Dorset store – investing £7 million and creating dozens of jobs.

The chain has applied to Dorset Council for permission to build a food store at the North Dorset Business Park, off Rolls Mill Way, in Sturminster Newton.

And the firm said it was grateful for “hundreds of supportive comments” from residents in response to the plans, which will now be considered by council planners.

Elliott Saunders, real estate director at Aldi, said: “We are very pleased to have submitted the planning application for a new Aldi store in Sturminster Newton.

“During our public consultation last year, over 500 people (95% of responses) said that a new Aldi store would benefit the local area. We thank local people for giving us this vote of confidence and are committed

to continued engagement with the local community and the council.”

Aldi said the new Sturminster Newton supermarket would bring:

• A new Aldi food store: giving people in Sturminster Newton better access to Aldi’s award-winning range of highquality products at the lowest possible prices.

• Approximately 40 new local jobs, paid at the highest rates in the sector – above the National Living Wage.

• Additional employment opportunities created during construction and through the supply chain.

• Free customer car parking spaces including accessible spaces and parent & child spaces.

• Electric vehicle charging points with additional infrastructure installed so further points can be added in the future.

• Extensive cycle parking for customers and staff to encourage active travel.

• An investment of £7 million: benefiting Sturminster Newton and the wider area. For more details of the plans, and to comment, log on to www.dorsetcouncil.gov. uk and search application reference P/ FUL/2026/00624.

Water works

RESIDENTS of Sydling St Nicholas are being treated to an overhaul of their sewerage system, starting next month.

Around 5km of pipes in the village will be repaired and sealed. The work is needed to tackle the threat of sewer flooding caused by groundwater overwhelming the network, says Wessex Water.

More than 400 manhole chambers will also be sealed throughout the project, in a bid to reduce the impact of high groundwater levels in the area.

Wessex Water’s director of engineering and asset management, Eddie Rant, said: “By relining and sealing sewers in Sydling St Nicholas, we’ll be helping ensure the system remains resilient during periods of wet weather.

“This extensive work will help to significantly reduce the risk of sewer flooding and potential pollution issues. It can also have a positive impact on reducing the times storm overflows operate automatically – and further protect the environment by preventing foul water from escaping from sewers.”

Low-impact initial work took place on smaller roads in Sydling St Nicholas during February and March and will continue throughout April.

Then from Tuesday 5 May to Monday 27 July, a rolling north to south closure will be in place on High Street and Dorchester Road, from the junction with Orchard Close to Kingfisher Cottage, Dorchester Road, with signposted diversion via Long Ash Lane and Grimstone in place as the sealing work continues.

Back Lane, East Street and Water Side Lane will be closed for separate two-week spells in August and September.

Run, don’t walk!

TICKETS for walks held during Dorchester Walking Festival have been selling fast but a wide range of tickets remain – and new walks have been added.

This year’s programme features 51 guided walks, offering something for all abilities and interests.

Newly added events include Discover Portland on Friday, May 8, and Sunday Morning Circular from Sydling St Nicholas on Sunday, May 10.

Those interested in urban design may enjoy the Poundbury Walking Tour on Sunday, May 3, led by Simon Conibear.

This accessible walk explores Poundbury and the design principles set out in A Vision of Britain, written by HM The King when he was Duke of Cornwall.

Literature enthusiasts may enjoy Dorchester’s Literary Writers, led by Mark Damon Chutter, on Sunday, May 3.

This walk explores Dorchester’s Roman past alongside Thomas Hardy’s descriptions in his 1886 novel, taking in the Neolithic henge and Roman amphitheatre at Maumbury Rings.

Walkers can take the train and enjoy the Festival’s Walks by Train on Friday, May 8 –from Maiden Newton to Dorchester and from Moreton to Dorchester.

These longer walks begin with a short rail journey to transport walkers to the starting point.

Both routes then lead participants on a scenic walk back to Dorchester.

This walk visits locations connected with notable writers associated with Dorchester, including Thomas Hardy, William Barnes, the Powys brothers and Sylvia Townsend Warner. It includes readings of poetry and prose.

Mark Damon Chutter will also lead Roman History in The Mayor of Casterbridge on Monday, May 4.

Proceeds from each walk will be donated to local charities selected by the walk leaders. Through current ticket sales, £2,500 has already been raised for this year’s chosen charities.

The 2026 Dorchester Walking Festival runs from Saturday to Sunday, May 2-10.

All walks are led by experienced and knowledgeable leaders selected for their expertise and knowledge.

Further details and tickets are available via Eventbrite by searching ‘Dorchester Walking Festival 2–10 May 2026’.

Age Concern North Dorset Sturminster Newton

Love of singing unites choral society

by Samantha Leahy-Harland

ON a Monday evening in Sturminster Newton, while many of us are winding down in front of the television or finishing the last of the day’s tasks, a different kind of gathering is taking place at The Exchange. Voices rise, harmonies build and for a couple of hours the outside world is forgotten.

This is Sturminster Choral Society, a group of local people from all walks of life who come together each week to sing. The only requirements to join are a shared willingness to turn up, take a breath and be part of something bigger than yourself.

In an age where so much of life feels fast, digital and often isolating, there is something quietly powerful about singing together in a room. Increasingly, research is showing what choir members have always known – that group singing can reduce stress, improve mood, support breathing and even foster a deep sense of connection. But beyond the science is a simpler truth, it just makes people feel better.

“For me, it’s the one time in the week where my mind completely switches off,” said one member. “You have to focus, you

have to listen and somehow everything else falls into place.”

This term, the choir has been working on two challenging and much-loved classical pieces – Rossini’s Stabat Mater and Schubert’s Mass in G. Both works are rich with emotion, from moments of quiet reflection to passages of soaring intensity and learning them has been a challenge and a joy.

Under the direction of conductor Annemarie Lees, rehearsals are as much about encouragement and shared progress as they are about precision. There is laughter alongside concentration, and a sense that everyone, regardless of experience, has a place and a voice.

“It’s not about being perfect,” another

singer said. “It’s about being part of it. You start to feel the music together, and that’s something really special.”

That sense of togetherness extends beyond the rehearsal room. Friendships are formed, confidence grows, and for many, choir becomes an anchor point in the week, something steady, uplifting and quietly transformative.

All of this hard work and learning will come together on Saturday, May 9, when the choir performs at St Mary’s Church. For the audience, it will be an evening of beautiful music in a stunning setting. But behind the performance lies weeks of shared effort, commitment and fun, something that can’t be seen on the page, but will be felt in the room.

And perhaps that’s the real story here. Not just the music itself, but what it does, bringing ordinary people together, lifting spirits, fostering togetherness and reminding us, even in these busy and uncertain times, of the simple, restorative power of raising our voices side by side.

For those who take part, it’s more than a concert. It’s a kind of wellbeing that can’t be bottled, only sung.

Update on Sherborne Library after asbestos find closed building

BOOK lovers are being reassured Sherborne Library remains open despite work on the building – at a new temporary home.

Dorset Council said while the library building itself remains closed for “essential building work and safety checks” –including the removal of asbestos – people can still borrow and return items, reserve stock, and get support and advice from library staff.

However, services are limited at the temporary library facility – in the lobby at Digby Hall, and on Saturdays in the Sherborne Library foyer – with public computers, printing and photocopying not available.

“We know this has taken far longer than anyone wanted,” a council spokesperson said, with work paused as schedules and plans are drawn up.

“People have been asking for clear dates and regular updates, and it is frustrating when we cannot yet give a firm reopening date.

“Visitors should be assured that the asbestos identified in the building was contained and has never posed a risk to people using the library.

“It now needs to be removed as part of the current programme of refurbishment and safety improvements.”

The council said it is working with its Assets and Property and Building Control teams, specialist contractors, and Dorset &

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service during the work to ensure work meets building rules and fire safety standards.

“A new property surveyor is now leading the project and has been reviewing what the building needs so it can reopen safely,” the spokesperson went on.

“This careful review has added time, but it is there to make sure the work is done properly and the building is safe for staff, customers and visitors.

“Work has paused while further checks and plans are completed in three areas: asbestos, parts of the building that need to be checked and made sound, and fire safety work linked to that.

“Plans for the next stage of work are being prepared and agreed with the relevant bodies.”

The council said visitors could expect a “safer, updated library building” once the work is finished.

Cllr Richard Biggs, deputy leader and Cabinet member for property & assets and economic growth, said: “I know people in Sherborne are fed up with the long wait. The most important point is that the library service is still here in the town.

“We are pushing hard to sort the issues holding up the building work, but we will not cut corners on safety. Our aim is to reopen a library building that is safe, updated and ready to serve Sherborne for many years.”

MADS for it!

PHOTO: George Jeans

MERE Amateur Dramatic Society (MADS) presented the farce, The Continental Quilt, over three nights at Mere Lecture Hall.

Mary White played Elizabeth Feather and never dropped a line. And Juliet Booth, a MADS member for over 30 years, was presented with an award for directing her first play.

WI events

BLANDFORD Evening WI has announced its busy schedule of events for 2026, which includes a Summer tea party and plenty of interesting speakers.

The group meets on the second Friday of the month in the Parish Centre, The Plocks, Blandford Forum DT11 7DW (opposite to the Post Office) at 7pm.

It also hosts a coffee morning at 10.30am on the third Friday of every month in the tea rooms of the Blandford Fashion Museum. It is often an easy way to meet the members for the first time. Find out more on Facebook @blandfordeveningwi

A walk around… Fontmell Magna

Soak up the scenery as you walk with retired Dorset rights of way officer Chris Slade

START at the church, which is usually open, walking a short distance south down the road to a junction. Turn right, west, along the road. After a quarter of a mile you’ll find on your right a gate into Brookland Wood, which is worth visiting and walking around.

Rejoin the road and continue west, then north west, until you meet a byway on your left. This takes you south west over a couple of muddy patches to meet the road at Bedchester, which is a hamlet within Fontmell Magna parish.

Turn right and walk north down the road until you come to a crossroads. Here you join a footpath which takes you east north east across several fields and stiles for a mile. It turns left, north, along the hedge next to the A350.

At the corner of the field you’ll be able to join the road, turn

right and head south.

A short way past Manor Farm you will be able to join a footpath that takes you south over several fields for about half a mile to join a road, over which is Collyer’s Brook, a Community Wildlife Site with a pond where the resident swan might try to peck you! Continue down the road alongside the brook, passing a disused sheep dip.

After a while you’ll come to a road junction next to The Fontmell pub. Cross over and you’ll soon be back to where you started.

Hedgehog help

THE Vale’s hedgehogs are about to get a helping hand with two fundraising events occurring in May.

On Saturday, May 2, Sherborne Help4Hedgehogs Group is holding a cake and savoury bake sale at Parsons Yard, Cheap Street, Sherborne, DT9 3PU. Doors open at 9am and stay open until everything is sold (cash only)!

Film explores nature issues

CLIMATE and nature issues will be explored in a screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing at Shaftesbury Town Hall next week.

The film is the result of an event attended by more than 1,200 MPs, peers and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media at Westminster Central Hall in November last year.

Experts addressed the implications of climate and nature breakdown for food security, health, national security, infrastructure and the economy, alongside practical evidence on how risks can still be reduced.

Screenings are taking place across the UK with Planet Shaftesbury hosting the event at the town hall on Monday, April 27, from 7pm-9.30pm.

Broadcaster Chris Packham said: “I’d encourage people everywhere to attend a screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing

“It creates exactly the kind of honest local conversation we now urgently need, both about what these changes mean where we live, and about what we can do together to address them.”

Then, on Saturday, May 16, Blandford’s Hedgehog Group hopes to boost its coffers with a coffee morning, including hedgehog information, refreshments, homemade cakes, guest stalls, raffle, tombola and bric a brac.

Doors open from 9.30am2pm at Blandford Parish Centre, DT11 7DW. Cash and cards welcome.

Plant sale returns

THE Dorchester Committee of the Children’s Society is set to hold a popular event on its fundraising calendar.

Its plant sale will take place at Jane and Nigel Culliford’s home at 8 Grosvenor Road, Dorchester (DT1 2BB) on Thursday, May 7, from 10am-2pm.

Plant donations will be gratefully received, either on the day or beforehand, and can be delivered to Jane Culliford (Grosvenor Road) or Annette Aldridge (16 Manor Road).

Collection can also be arranged by calling 01305 269360.

A wide range of plants are usually available for sale on the day, including annuals, perennials and vegetable plants.

Have your say about fire station closures

THE ongoing public consultation into the potential closure of eight fire stations by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service will run until Friday, May 15.

The eight locations under consultation are all on-call fire stations – Bradford on Avon, Charmouth, Cranborne, Hamworthy, Maiden Newton, Mere, Ramsbury and Wilton.

Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole said: “Nobody wants to close fire stations but, despite saving over £15 million in the last 10 years, our financial position remains very challenging due to a 19.5% cut in funding provided directly from Government.

“We still need to make sure our operational staff have the equipment and training they need to stay safe, and we’ve pared back our corporate staff numbers as much as possible. This isn’t Plan A, we’ve worked through many difficult options before this point.”

He added: “The elected members of

Holiday hotspots

ENTRIES are now open for the 2026 Dorset Tourism Awards.

The awards celebrate excellence across Dorset’s visitor economy and are open to businesses of all sizes. Winners will go on to compete at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in 2027.

Previous entrants, Bagwell Farm Touring Park, said: “The process was clear from start to finish and the judges’ feedback was incredibly useful.”

Workshops and support sessions are available to help entrants through the process.

Entry is free and submissions close at midnight on May 31. Find out more and enter at www.dorset tourismawards.org.uk

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority are responsible for keeping the service sustainable and they recognise that tough decisions need to be considered.

“This consultation is therefore essential. We understand that people care about what this means for their community. That is why we want them to tell us what they think, and if there’s anything important that we might have missed. No decisions have been made.

“The final decision will be made by the Fire & Rescue Authority at their meeting on June 30. We would urge our residents to have their say via our survey.”

Full details of these, frequently asked questions, station-specific data, the consultation leaflet and the survey can be found at www.dwfire.org.uk/proposedstation-closures.

A paper copy of the survey can be requested by calling 01722 691000 during office hours or by emailing consultation@ dwfire.org.uk

Tractor road run raises cash for hospice

by George Jeans, Mere

A TRACTOR and 4x4 charity road run in aid of Salisbury Hospice took place in April at Mere Down Farm, by permission of the Coward family. Tractors and 4x4 started to arrive from 9.30am ready to leave at 11am. Hot and cold food and drink was available before and after the run, there was also a raffle.

(Not) gone with the wind

THREE friends from the Vale have successfully completed their two-day, 30-mile charity walk along the Dorset coastal path – dressed as inflatable red noses – raising £265 for Comic Relief.

Calling themselves Apollo Velvet, George Dumbrell, Jed Bennett and Tyrone Humphreys, from Yeovil and Crewkerne, set off early from Durdle Door and finished late in Bournemouth, via an overnight stop in Swanage.

Despite concerns about steep climbs, coastal winds, and the proximity of the Lulworth Ranges, the group report that they were neither blown off a cliff nor mistaken for military targets.

“We’re relieved to confirm that all three of us survived,” said Tyrone. “Which, given the costumes, always felt like an outside possibility.”

The inflatable suits, while visually striking, proved surprisingly practical.

“They held up very well,” said Jed. “The main challenge was heat. But we were able to deflate and re-inflate like blowfish to get through gates and over stiles, which felt like a design feature rather than a flaw.”

George added: “It’s not quite the £4 million raised by Greg James, but we’re really pleased to have raised £265. It will still

make a difference, and that’s what matters.”

The group thanked everyone who supported the challenge.

Apollo Velvet, who first formed nearly 20 years ago as Media Production students at Yeovil College, say this will not be their last outing.

Donations can still be made at: www.justgiving.com/page/ av4africa

Church milestone

TISBURY Methodist Church has over a week of events in store to celebrate its 125th anniversary.

The programme of anniversary events is: May 1 – Family Friday party, 3.30pm; May 3 – Healing service, 10.30am; May 6 –Tis Tots, 10am, and Communitea birthday lunch, 11.30am; May 7 –Tisbury Community Choir concert, 7.30pm; May 9 – Saturday Communitea cafe special, afternoon tea, 3pm; May 10 – anniversary Songs of Praise workshop, 10.30am; May 10 – Come Together anniversary

Foodies are in for a treat

THE countdown is on to the Shaftesbury Food Festival this spring Bank Holiday weekend.

Events get under way on Friday, May 1, with the sold-out Sorelle Great Food Quiz, a lively curtain-raiser bringing food lovers together for friendly competition and fun.

The self-guided Food Trail on Saturday invites visitors to explore local producers, farm shops and hidden corners, with tastings and behind-the-scenes access along the way.

The main event is on Sunday, when Shaftesbury’s High Street and Park Walk will be lined with more than 100 producers, street food stalls and artisan makers.

‘MasterChefs Live’ will

Thousands of visitors are expected, and a park and ride service will run from Port Regis School every 30 minutes, offering a stress-free way into town.

One of the volunteers said: “At a time of growing pressure on rural life and local food producers, the festival is a real chance to come together and celebrate the people who keep the Blackmore Vale thriving.”

Chef Shelina Permalloo

Photo: Rachel Baker

Toxic waste dumped on A35: witnesses wanted

DORSET Council is appealing for information after large containers were dumped on the A35, near Bloxworth and Morden.

A complex clean-up operation followed, after a large amount of liquid leaked from the containers, posing a potential risk to the environment.

The council says the material, believed to be oil-based paint, would not have been accepted at household recycling centres.

The cost of dealing with the incident is expected to be significant and will be borne by local taxpayers if those responsible cannot be identified.

Cllr Jon Andrews, the council’s cabinet member for Place Services, said: “This is a serious fly-tipping incident that has caused disruption on a key route and requires specialist work to clear up safely.

“Our priority is to deal with the waste responsibly and protect the local environment, but we are also keen to identify who is responsible.

“If anyone saw vehicles stopping along

this stretch of the A35, or noticed anything unusual around the time the waste was dumped, I would urge them to contact us.

“Information from the public can play a vital role in helping us take action.”

Poetry please

POETS and fans from the Vale and beyond will be heading underground for a night of words.

This year’s Words Underground poetry sessions continue on May 8, from 7pm-9pm in the Nuns’ Passage, the cellar venue below King Alfred’s Kitchen café.

The event’s organisers are pleased to welcome two guest poets, Linda Coggin and Stephen Boyce.

Wiltshire based Linda Coggin describes herself as a writer and gardener and rescuer of corvids.

Stephen Boyce, from Marnhull, will be known to many NBVM readers. He has published three poetry collections – Desire Lines, The Sisyphus Dog and The Blue Tree – and his work has appeared in many poetry magazines, anthologies and pamphlets.

There will be five or six short open readings slots, and – it is hoped – a musical interlude. No charge for entry, but there will be a call for donations to help cover costs. Capacity is limited, so early arrival is advised.

Top spot for specialist school

A DORSET provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities has been ranked among the best in the country.

Luccombe Hub, near Blandford Forum, recently aced its Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspection, which saw the school awarded a rare ‘significant strength’.

Given to fewer than 10% of schools inspected, the accolade recognises exceptional, sectorleading practice with a clear and positive impact on pupils.

Inspectors highlighted the school’s personalised approach to supporting students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), driven by strong leadership and a deep understanding of individual needs.The result: outstanding pastoral care and a nurturing, inclusive culture.

Principal Henri MonierWilliams described the recognition as “a proud moment”, praising staff for their dedication and commitment.

Widely regarded as a mark of excellence, the ‘significant strength’ award places Luccombe Hub among the leading SEND provisions in the country and reinforces its reputation for delivering meaningful, life-changing outcomes for its learners.

Find out more at www. luccombehub.com

Running for fun

SHAFTESBURY Rotary Club’s Easter Family Fun Run attracted a record number of entries for both the 5km and 10km runs.

Ollie Binyon ran up Gold Hill to cross the finish line first in the longer event in a time of just under 35 minutes, with Freddie Shoemark winning the 5km race.

The event, which set off from Park Walk in ideal weather conditions, was sponsored by Casterbridge Wealth and in aid of the Friends of Westminster Memorial Hospital.

Shaftesbury Run Club helped with the course and club founder Stewart Squire started the race.

Mobile coffee vendor Bamboo Coffee UK attended the Easter Family Fun Run and gave all profits to the Rotary Club’s charity.

Shaftesbury Chiropractic was also there, offering treatment to tired bodies, before the runners

went home.

The Easter Run took place after the Rotary Club’s successful sponsored swim with the next big event the North Dorset Cycle Ride, sponsored by BV Dairy/First Milk, on Sunday, May 10.

That event, which will also start at Park Walk and finish at the top of Gold Hill, is another big fundraiser for Shaftesbury Rotary Club.

To sponsor riders, visit www. justgiving.com/campaign/ ndbr2026

To take part, go to www. trybooking.com/uk/FSTT

Contemporary or traditional kitchens manufactured to order

Gillingham Showroom 01747 833 789

Unit 21, Kingsmead Business Park, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 5JG

Opening Hours Monday–Friday: 9am–5pm Saturdays by appointment only Closed Sunday. www.solsticekitchens.co.uk

Luxury residential care at The Old Rectory

From our excellent home cooking to individually decorated private rooms and above all real loving care… life is tailored to you.

The Old Rectory is a beautiful residential care home that specialises in dementia care. Tastefully converted from a former rectory and carefully adapted to make it safe and secure for residents giving them the freedom to have a full and active life. We offer a caring and welcoming environment that is a true home in every sense of the word, where people with dementia are respected as individuals.

Residential care Day care Respite care

Convalescent stays

Metabolic Minute: Turn your inner critic into your strongest cheerleader

by Megan Perrin, health coach

WHEN we begin making changes to our diet and lifestyle, understanding our mindset is just as important as understanding nutrition or exercise. Becoming aware of your mindset can be a powerful first step, because if your inner voice is critical rather than supportive, it can make changes feel difficult, overwhelming, and unsustainable.

Your inner critic is the voice that questions everything. It highlights your flaws, doubts your abilities and often pushes you toward the easiest option: giving up.

While it may feel like this voice is working against you, it stems from a drive to protect you from threat. Any change – its potential to cause discomfort or failure – is viewed as a threat. The problem is that it often keeps you stuck instead of helping you grow.

When it comes to metabolic health, this matters more than you might think. Constant self-criticism can increase stress levels, which impacts hormones, energy

balance and overall well-being. This can lead to poor sleep, increased cravings, and difficulty maintaining healthy habits. In other words, a negative mindset doesn’t just affect your motivation – it can directly affect your body.

The key is not to silence your inner critic, but to reshape it. Your brain is not fixed but plastic, so we can rewire it to think differently.

Start by becoming aware of your thoughts. When you hear: “I’ll never stick to this” or “I’ve failed again”, pause and challenge it. Ask yourself – is this helping

me move forward? Can you reframe it into something constructive, like: “What can I do differently today?” or “One small step still counts”?

This shift turns criticism into guidance. A supportive inner voice helps you stay consistent rather than perfect. It encourages balance – reminding you that missing one workout or making one unhelpful food choice doesn’t define your progress. This reduces stress, supports healthier decisions, and makes long-term change more achievable.

Over time, your inner critic can become your strongest cheerleader. Instead of pulling you back, it can hold you accountable in a positive way, guiding you towards better choices while still showing understanding and patience.

Sustainable success, especially in metabolic health, comes from alignment of mind and body. When your inner dialogue becomes supportive rather than critical, you create a foundation for lasting change. Not just physically, but mentally as well.

Photo by Count Chris on Unsplash

Discover how you can help locally

Creativity in bloom at Fern Brook Lodge’s

lavender craft session

Fern Brook Lodge residents embraced the spirit of spring with a colourful lavenderthemed crafting session.

INDIVIDUALS in the Sturminster Newton area are being invited to take their first step into volunteering at the Sturminster Newton Volunteering Fair tomorrow (Saturday, April 25).

Residents at the care home on Fern Brook Lane in Gillingham were pleased to welcome Tara from Fabric Sewn Beautiful who led a special workshop.

Led by Tara, residents used a choice of colourful fabrics to make their own dried lavender-filled wardrobe and drawer freshener bags, as part of a range of activities to celebrate the spring season.

The event at The Exchange will bring together a wide range of local organisations, all keen to showcase how visitors can get involved and support their work.

will encourage more people to connect with their community, meet like-minded individuals and experience the personal benefits of volunteering, alongside the positive impact it brings to others.

Other recent activities for residents included making Easter bonnets, flower arranging, and dressing up in colourful hats and decorative scarves to watch the Grand National while enjoying afternoon tea.

Opportunities will be on offer to suit all interests and skills, and for those who can spare a few hours each month to those looking for a more regular commitment.

Fern Brook Lodge, which is run by not-forprofit charity Care South, provides residential, respite and dementia care. A dedicated activities team organises a daily programme of events to bring residents together to socialise and build friendships.

Residents have a choice of indoor private and communal lounges and dining rooms to relax in, as well as The Brook community space, which hosts a range of events throughout the year. Care home residents also have access to a large garden area with wide, flat walkways and raised flower beds.

Visitors will also be able to pick up a copy of the newly updated Volunteer Brochure, packed with information about local groups and guidance on how to get involved.

Organisers hope the event

Organisations attending include Vale Family Hub, Age Concern North Dorset, The Blackmore Vale Partnership, Dorset Blind Association, Weldmar Hospicecare, RiversideFest, SturFit, Community Connections, Sturminster Newton Community Learning Centre, Sturminster Guides & Brownies, Bere Marsh Farm, Stur the Cauldron, Christians Together, SturAction and Dorset Lavender Farm.

Fern Brook Lodge residents made their own lavender bags in a crafting session.

The Fair runs from 11am1pm and entry is free.

For more information, email Jacqui at sturbiz18@gmail.com

Fern Brook Lodge hosts its own Memory Cafe sessions every Thursday morning from 10am to 12pm for people living with dementia and their carers, which is supported by Age UK North, South and West Dorset. There is no need to book – just drop in on the day.

Creativity in bloom at Fern Brook Lodge’s lavender craft session

Fern Brook Lodge residents embraced the spirit of spring with a colourful lavenderthemed crafting session.

Residents at the care home on Fern Brook Lane in Gillingham were pleased to welcome Tara from Fabric Sewn Beautiful who led a special workshop.

Led by Tara, residents used a choice of colourful fabrics to make their own dried lavender-filled wardrobe and drawer freshener bags, as part of a range of activities to celebrate the spring season.

Fern Brook Lodge residents made their own lavender bags in a crafting session.

Bryanston Prep Pupils Take to the Stage

in Dr Dolittle JR

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Bryanston Prep’s recent production of Dr Dolittle JR was a wonderful reflection of the school’s rich, award-winning performing arts culture. A key strength of a Bryanston Prep education is that pupils benefit from being part of the wider Bryanston community, including access to the Senior School’s exceptional facilities and expert professional staff.

Prep pupils rehearse and perform with the support of experienced theatre staff in an environment that values the arts, while also learning about the technical side of production.

Theo led the cast superbly in the title role, showing resilience and professionalism. Verity, Flynn and Thea also delivered excellent performances, while Archie’s beautiful solo was a highlight.

Above all, the production demonstrated how Bryanston develops young performers, helping them build confidence as well as enjoying performing with friends on a professional stage.

Bryanston has formed a number of partnerships with leading arts organisations, including Trinity Laban and The BRIT School, and offers Performing Arts scholarships for Year 9 and Sixth Form entry.

Photo credits: Bryanston Prep

Static bikers raise more than £2,000

COLLEAGUES at First Milk’s BV Dairy site in Shaftesbury have helped cycle more than 5,800km during a fundraising challenge supporting Prostate Cancer UK.

The Bike the Hedgerows challenge saw teams across First Milk sites keep static bikes moving continuously for 24 hours, with remote riders also contributing miles during the weekend.

Together they aimed to cycle the equivalent distance of the hedgerows found on First Milk member farms, 5,564km.

By the end of the challenge, colleagues and supporters had cycled over 5,884km, exceeding the target by more than 320km.

So far, the challenge has raised more than £2,000, helping take First Milk’s total fundraising for Prostate Cancer

UK to £16,000-plus, with donations still coming in.

The Bike the Hedgerows challenge brought colleagues, members and community partners together to raise funds while helping spark conversations about men’s health in rural communities.

Gardeners spring into action

PICK up inspiration from the beautiful gardens around the Vale, open in March as part of the National Garden Scheme – find the full list of open gardens at findagarden. ngs.org.uk.

Myrtle Cottage

Woolland, Blandford Forum (DT11 0ES)

A small to medium segmented cottage garden, sympathetic to wildlife. Includes a small wildflower meadow and pond. Part flower, part fruit and vegetable, it offers a mix for everyone. Interesting hostas in pots and numerous chilli plant varieties grown from seed in the greenhouse.

Open Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17, (10am-5.30pm). £5, children free.

Pugin Hall

Rampisham, Nr Dorchester DT2 0PR

Designed in 1847 by Augustus Pugin, who also helped to design the interior of the Houses of Parliament, this Grade I-listed building is surrounded by four and a half acres of garden.

A large front lawn is filled with rhododendrons. There’s an orchard, and beyond the River Frome a woodland walk.

Combined opening – Pugin Hall and Little Benville House Sunday, May 17, (1pm-5pm). Combined admission £10, children £5.

Little Benville House

Benville Lane, Corscombe, Dorchester DT2 0NN

Contemporary garden, with landscape interventions by Harris Bugg Studio within a varied ecological AONB and historic landscape. Herbaceous borders, woodland planting, walled vegetable and cutting garden, cloud pruned topiary, ha-ha, ornamental and productive trees and moat, which is a listed ancient monument.

Combined opening with Pugin Hall Sunday, May 17, (1pm-5pm). Combined admission £10, children £5.

Ivy House Garden

Piddletrenthide DT2 7QF

A steep and challenging half-acre garden with fine views, on a south facing site in the beautiful Piddle valley.

Wildlife friendly garden with mixed borders, ponds, greenhouses, a polytunnel and ‘no-dig’ vegetable and fruit garden. Run on organic lines with plants to attract birds, bees and other insects.

Open Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17 (2pm-5pm). Admission £5, children free.

Bembury Farm

Bembury Lane, Thornford, Sherborne (DT9 6QF)

This peaceful garden has lawns and large herbaceous borders informally planted with interesting perennials around unusual trees, shrubs and roses.

Large collection of clematis; also, a pretty woodland walk, wildflower corner, lily pond, oak circle, yew hedges with peacock, clipped hornbeam around the kitchen garden and plenty of seating.

Open Sunday, May 17, and Wednesday, May 21, (2pm-6pm). Admission £8, children free.

Ivy House Garden

Myrtle Cottage

Little Benville House

Pugin Hall

Community spirits

THE Bird in Hand pub at Henstridge reopened with a party after villagers spent over two years raising the funds to buy it.

The village local, Somerset’s newest Community Benefit Society hostelry, was only closed for two days to allow the transfer in ownership to take place.

It had been open and trading profitably since the public meeting where the proposal to buy the pub was first mooted.

The Bird in Hand Society Ltd drove the project to raise the funds required but villagers, their families and friends dug deep to keep the pub open.

They raised cash by investing in community shares and by supporting fundraising events.

The society’s chair, Hugo Barton, said: “Our success

demonstrates the strong community spirit we have in the village. People have worked really hard to raise the funds.”

The Bird in Hand is a free house in the middle of Henstridge and has a strong local following.

It is home to six skittles and two darts teams, serves hot home-cooked lunches six days a week and stages quiz evenings and live music, and shows sports events on the big screen.

It has been called ‘the sitting room of the village’.

CLEARANCE EVENT

Our loose Canon

Take inspiration from history and choose heaven over power

by Canon Eric Woods

IF you haven’t heard of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (1500-1558), it might help if I tell you that he was the father of Philip II of Spain who married Mary Tudor, Henry VIII’s elder daughter, and later sent the Armada against her half-sister Elizabeth I.

Yet Philip ruled only a fraction of his father’s territories, and when the Imperial Herald announced Charles V’s titles they seemed to roll on for ever: King of the Romans; Holy Roman Emperor; Semper Augustus; King of Spain, Sicily, Jerusalem, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, the Indies and the mainland on the far side of the Atlantic; Archduke of Austria; Duke of Burgundy, Brabant, Styria, Carinthia, Cariola, Luxemburg, Limburg, Athens and Patras; Count of Hapsburg, Flanders and Tyrol; Count Palatine of Burgundy, Hainault, Pfirt, Roussillon; Landgrave of Alsace; Count of Swabia; Lord of Africa and Asia.

painting of the Holy Trinity, enthroned in the heights of heaven, with Charles kneeling in prayer before the Godhead, his imperial crown lying discarded at his feet.

The greatest prince of the Renaissance only found himself when he decided to invest, not in imperial wealth and majesty, but in God. In a small way (though to his contemporaries it was remarkable enough) he was following the example of God himself, the architect of the whole universe, who was yet content to become a little baby thing that made a woman cry. Or as John Betjeman put it, “The Maker of the stars and sea become a little child on earth – for me?”

Some years ago, Sandra and I went on a short trip to Madrid with the Arts Society Sherborne. We visited some of the grandest of Spain’s palaces and museums, including the Escorial and the Prado. We came back with heads full of images of Imperial Spain, of grandeur and majesty. But the abdication of Charles V suggests that he recognised that the power and wealth of his vast Empire were as nothing compared with the eternal verities – the things of God.

In 1555 Charles abdicated all those thrones, gave up every title, and went to live in a modest villa in the grounds of the monastery of San Jerónimo in Extremadura, a quiet Spanish backwater, to spend his final years making his peace with God, enjoying the flowers and the sunshine, spending many hours in the abbey church. It was a startling thing to do, an unheard-of thing, and over the High Altar of the abbey church you can still see Titian’s great

I was Vicar of Wroughton, in Wiltshire, for 10 years, from 1983 to 1993. In the parish church there is a plaque on the wall commemorating a parishioner who died in 1588, the year of the Armada. It begins “Impartial death, with stops the breath of kings and beggars and all mortal things”. Jesus said “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. Charles V looked impartial death in the face, and decided for heaven, rather than transient wealth and power. Good choice. Presidents and potentates would do well to copy him. But so should we.

FASHIONS & LINGERIE

Photo by Degleex Ganzorig on Unsplash

The story of one Ukrainian family

As the war in Ukraine grinds into its fourth year, we follow the story of one family forced to resettle in the Vale by

Olena

AFTER the Russian army arrived in the village, the children learned to be ready to run from sleep to the shelter in 10 seconds. We slept in our clothes. We melted the ice to wash ourselves or wash the dishes, ate mainly potatoes.

After our supplies ran out, we understood what hunger was. We dreamed of bread. We went to bed at 6pm to save on candles. We told stories in the dark, sometimes even laughed.

Columns of cars tried to leave the village, but were fired upon. Women with children tried to leave; the Russians laughed contemptuously and fired warning shots. Elderly people ran out of vital medicines. People were starving.

I felt such helplessness, hopelessness, a sense of guilt about the children.

Russian soldiers occupied the houses that suited them, even if they had to throw people out. They stole everything they

wanted, drank alcohol and rioted. I worried about my teenage daughter – I hid her, forbade her from leaving the house.

Once my brother and I were able to talk to one of Russian soldiers. “Be patient” he said. “We will soon free you.”

“From what?” I asked, as my brother turn pale. “From a normal life?”

The soldier agreed that he was surprised how well the Ukrainians (“Khokhly” as they disrespectfully call us) live. He said that they would free us from our fascist government.

remind him; this is not how a birthday should be spent.

Every night there was shelling from both sides. I will never forget the sound of the shell, it still rings in my ears. The whistling of the shell and the feeling of fear, the huddle in prayer that the explosion would pass us by. Grief and despair, pain and fear. I felt it all so physically.

I saw my reflection in the mirror and didn’t recognise myself. This old, pale, tired woman, with dark circles under her eyes, wrinkles, strands of grey hair that appeared out of nowhere.

How well they were brainwashed! He said that he and his colleagues did not expect to meet resistance, their leaders told them that they would be welcomed, they were preparing for a parade on the central street of Kyiv in honour of its “liberation”.

March 9 was my nephew’s birthday, but he had already grown more than a child should. We did not tell him, we did not

In all this, we couldn’t help my mother. She worsened, rejecting food or water. She urgently needed medical care, but we couldn’t provide it.

We lived like this for 18 days. Our friends and relatives didn’t know if we were alive. And on the 18th day, my mother died. She died in agony, just 59… To be continued next issue…

the

Lucky dog’s life

DOG lover Sharon Bough has relocated her Courtyard K9 Spa business to Field Dairy Farm, Spetisbury.

Sharon, who has been grooming dogs for about 17 years, was previously at The Courtyard Centre in Lytchett Minster.

She said: “The business is super luxury and I have gone all out to make sure that the dogs

and their humans come along and have a lovely experience with us.

“We also have a little boutique shop with treats, toys and other ‘doggie’ delights.”

Sharon did a lot of the refit work herself, including screeding and laying floors.

Her passion for dogs came about after she got a terrier called Boycie in her 30s.

Get your ticket for Purbeck Art Weeks’ concerts and other events!

Art Weeks returns from 23 May – 7 June 2026, bringing together visual and performing arts, music and the community across Purbeck’s most beautiful landscapes.

Expect to see a wide range of artwork from local artists, from painting and sculpture to ceramics and jewellery. The Open Studios trail offers the unique chance to meet artists and explore their work behind the scenes and be sure to visit the Rollington Barn exhibition near Corfe Castle, where you’ll also find the Purbeck Young Artists exhibition. Don’t miss the return of the Castle View exhibition at the National Trust Corfe Castle Visitor Centre.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

The Festival comes to life with incredible concerts, talks, and workshops throughout! Kicking off with the phenomenal I Fagiolini celebrating their 40th anniversary. Don’t miss the Parnassus Ensemble teaming up with artist Jérémie Queyras for a stunning fusion of live painting to music. The Festival Weekend continues the excitement with a dazzling line-up of concerts, featuring the captivating Grace Newcombe and virtuoso lutenist Toby Carr. There’s even more to discover: step inside Whispering Dome, an immersive concert experience, or join Dr Gill Clarke for a fascinating talk on Purbeck’s vibrant artistic heritage.

Whether you come for the art, the music or the setting, Purbeck Art Weeks offers a fabulous chance to discover something new.

Parnassus Ensemble

Cathy Veale

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THE 27th annual Easter Bunny Tractor Run, organised by the Bascombe family of Mannington, Wimborne, raised £900 for the town’s hospital

Archers aim high

THE Bracken Company of Archers, which has members across north and east Dorset, and whose outdoor venue is at Cranborne Middle School, is targeting new members.

The club is open to anyone aged eight and over – and it’s running beginners’ courses in May and June.

Members shoot at the school most weekends all year round and some evenings in the summer.

Club chair Mark Hinsley said: “New archers must go through a training course, run by our experienced coaches, for which appropriate equipment is supplied.

“A certificate of competence is awarded at the end which will allow membership of any archery club that shoots under Archery GB affiliation.”

Mark added: “Archery is not a dangerous sport and it is not a strength sport.

“But if you start ‘wrong’ or with the wrong equipment you can hurt yourself – starting with lightweight, easily managed equipment and proper coaching are essential elements of learning to shoot properly and safely.”

The Bracken Company of Archers is an Archery GB affiliated club.

That means its field is registered as a suitable venue,

its coaches are Archery GB qualified and all its members are insured.

It also means, for archers who want to progress, that they can shoot at tournaments at other affiliated clubs at local, county or national level.

The club has fun shoots which involve novelty targets and cakes.

It also has its own completions for all age group and bow types, with trophies and medals.

The club also holds wand shoots, where members can really let their bow ‘go’, and field shoots, where they can hone their skills shooting at artificial animals.

The Bracken Company of Archers’ beginners’ courses are on Saturday, May 16 and 23, and Sunday, June 7 and 14.

To book, visit its website, www.brackenarchers.club

All the equipment new members need to begin with is supplied, so they can take their time before purchasing a bow.

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Many homeowners are unaware that their property could be used to fund care costs later in life. A living trust may help protect your home and preserve your estate for your family. By placing your property into a trust, it can be ring-fenced, reducing exposure to care fees, creditor claims, or unexpected life events such as divorce. It can also help minimise inheritance tax, allowing more of your estate to pass to your loved ones.

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Tiger 131: How world’s most famous tank came to be captured

THE first detailed account of the battle in which the world’s most famous tank, Tiger 131, was captured has finally been told.

Dale Oscroft has researched the Battle of Gueriat el Atach in April 1943, one of the most important actions in the fall of Tunisia and the Nazi surrender in North Africa.

During intense fighting, his father John fired his anti-tank PIAT weapon at the side of the feared Tiger tank, which was advancing on positions held by John’s battalion, the 2nd Sherwood Foresters. To his dismay, the projectile bounced off harmlessly.

Fearing the worst as the turret began to turn towards him, he was relieved to see the tank disabled by an armour piercing round which jammed the turret.

Abandoned by its crew, the tank proved to be a massive intelligence prize – it was the first time an intact Tiger had been captured in the West.

The story of the battle has never been told in detail, but now Dale’s book Tiger 131: The Forgotten Battle is available.

It has been published by The Tank

Museum in Dorset, where Tiger 131 – the world’s only working Tiger I – is on display.

The book is available from The Tank Museum shop and describes the astonishing fight to take the Tunisian ridge.

Dale said: “My father had mentioned an action in which the Foresters captured a Tiger tank in Tunisia after its turret had been jammed.

“But it was only when I was on holiday in Dorset in 2012 and saw Tiger 131 on a visit to The Tank Museum that I thought it might be connected.

“The Tiger had been captured in Tunisia after sustaining a jammed turret, but the account of the action placed it some 10 miles away from where the Foresters had fought.

“Subsequently, my research revealed the true circumstances of its capture, confirming it was indeed the same tank my father had tried to knock-out.

“Its capture following the lucky shell

strike was so important that Prime Minister Winston Churchill and King George VI were pictured with the tank when they visited Tunisia following the Axis surrender.

“My account of the battle for the ridge draws on the recollections of the men who fought there and the narrative describes the fighting from their perspective.”

The Tank Museum senior historian Stuart Wheeler said: “The story of Tiger 131 has changed over the years as more details were discovered.

“Dale, with meticulous research, has now contextualised the capture of this tank, which is the most famous in the world. He has shown the importance of the engagement in the battle for Tunisia.”

Tiger 131: The Forgotten Battle is available exclusively from The Tank Museum Shop for £12.99. Visit tankmuseumshop.org

Forthcoming Events in the Corn Exchange, Blandford Forum

Friday 1 May 2026 at 7pm - Celestial Sound Awakening

Sunday 3 May 2026 – Holistic Fair at the Corn Exchange - Free entry

Tuesday 5 May 2026 - Daytime Disco from 2pm to 4pm th

Friday 8 May 2026 at 7:30pm - Night at the Museum Concert by The Blandford Stour Valley Band in aid of the Mayor's chosen charities Tickets available from www ticketsource com/mayors-charity

Saturday 9 May 2026 - Artisan Craft Market from 10am to 3pm

Monday 11 May 2026 - Celestial Sound Awakening from 10am to 12pm

Friday 15 May 2026 at 10:30am - Mayor Making Ceremony Free entryeveryone is welcome!

Saturday 16 May 2026 at 7:30pm - The Ultimate Tribute: Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga & Dua Lipa! See poster for details

Tuesday 19 May 2026 - Soggy Biscuit Dance Band from 2pm to 4pm

Saturday 23 May 2026 at 7pm – Ring Wrestling Stars Night

Tuesday 26 May 2026 – The Blandford Group Practice Wellness Walk-In - 9am to 1pm - Free entry

Saturday 30 May to Sunday 31 May - Blandford Forum Camera Club Exhibition th st

ceremonies in Blandford Forum

The Town Hall, Council Chamber and Corn Exchange are now licensed for civil ceremonies The Town Council is proud to offer couples a stunning Grade I listed historic venue full of charm, yet fully accessible and affordable For example, the Town Hall (pictured) is available to hire for civil ceremonies at under £200 Dates for 2026 and beyond are filling fast, so please get in touch to secure your special day

Becci Brady Telephone: 01258 454500

E-mail: cc@blandfordforum-tc gov uk ewly licensed venue for civil

th Tickets, and further information, available from the Town Council office in Church Lane, Blandford Forum or at www ticketsource co uk/blandford-forum-town-council

Saturday 30 May 2026 at 11am - Town Hall Talk - Food Fight! The Role of Food as a Weapon during World War 2, by Lt Col (Retd) RJ Taylor

Sudoku 3D puzzle

Cryptic crossword

Across

6 I doze before end of shift? It’s not fitting (5)

7 Model’s in a shabby state rarely (6)

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.

Killer Sudoku Pro

9 Eye, say, non-news component in paper (7)

10 Eastern lake is frightening (5)

11 Show observation (4)

13 Old woman and married chap restricted type of creature (6)

15 Turn out former lecturer holding exercise (5)

16 Grapple with aspect of football (6)

17 Fearsome creature in crate, we hear (4)

Killer Sudoku Pro

20 Secure almost with hesitant expression reserve doctor (5)

Down

1 Posh woman with turn in charge of a starry group? (8)

2 Good man disclosed alcoholic beverage

3 Sees heritage in part in Surrey town (5)

4 Difficulty say over a line that’s not permitted (7)

5 By the sound of it, detected rise (4)

6 Work finely in IT in inexhaustible fashion

8 Republican fellow amid vote produces contemplative thought (10)

12 Dismiss a cross close to house (3)

13 Sound of feline in shed (3)

22 Pasta making fine American sick on island (7)

23 A colour about college immediately (2,4)

24 Digested report of posh school (5)

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.

14 Ethics in Malta or Italy of a dubious nature

15 Key part of cooker and tin, say (7)

18 One awkwardly holding newspaper on a regular basis (5)

19 Flower in past eradicated (5)

21 Pleasing stimulus when touring Thailand

Homes plans need to be reconsidered

IT is intriguing to see that the developers have decreased the housing target for the proposed North Dorchester development from 3,750 to 3,600 – Dorset Echo, March 31.

With the recent flooding in that area, it is no surprise when one considers the inept lack of infrastructure in place for this blot on the landscape.

At the outset, I would like to state that affordable housing and accommodation is important to the county town but not on this site or scale.

This development, stretching from Charminster to Stinsford, will be built on land described by the novelist Thomas Hardy who walked across those meadows.

The land features in the short stories The Withered Arm, The Three Strangers and in the novel The Mayor of Casterbridge

Our literary legacy and heritage is inextricably linked to the international tourism that Hardy brings to Dorchester.

Furthermore, this plan needs to be reconsidered before our landscape is lost forever.

With a climate change emergency, why would one want to build on water meadows and fields?

Dorchester is Far from the Madding Crowd and that is where we want it to stay.

I feel we have been manipulated and coerced to accept a plan where the consultation has been appalling.

We are not to be fooled Durnovaria.

As Troy exclaims in Far from the Madding Crowd: “You fool, for so fooling me!”

Mark Damon Chutter

Chair

and academic director, The Thomas Hardy Society

Good Samaritans stopped to help

ON Easter Saturday, my motorcycle unfortunately broke down at Lydlinch Common and I spent five hours watching the residents of the Vale come and go, while waiting for the RAC to arrive.

I am sure many of you might recall seeing me stood sentinel waiting!

I wanted to say a huge thank you to the many drivers who stopped to check I was okay and if I needed anything, especially the lady paramedic on her way to work who wanted to make sure I had not fallen off and hurt myself, and the gent from Kings

Stag who tried to help diagnose the issue – yes, you were right, it was the battery!

It restores one’s faith that so many of you cared enough.

I did arrive home eventually, and the bike is soon to be repaired – thank you all.

Kevin Parsons, Blandford Forum

Flaws in logic on renewable energy

KEITH Wheaton-Green – New Blackmore Vale, Letters March 27 – displays the flaws in logic so common in the renewables debate.

Renewable electricity is not reliable.

Anyone who purports to provide 100% renewable power should, in honesty, admit that this implies some blackouts when wind and sun fail.

Otherwise, they are dependent on backup from

others.

If we burn gas during a January anti-cyclone, we do not unburn it by producing a surplus in a July heatwave.

Renewable producers are habitually reported to produce ‘enough to power X,000 homes’.

One should add the qualification ‘for some of the time’.

Solar power produces mainly in summer, with long days and high sun, but when the heating is turned off and lighting demand is minimal.

And there is limited value in building ever-more offshore turbines if the grid cannot get the power to where it is needed.

By all means let us develop the technology of batteries and other means of storage, and let us develop dependable nuclear energy as fast as possible.

But it will be many years before we can dispense with gas-fired back-up.

Mike Keatinge Sherborne

Car Link service volunteer appeal

AFTER running Shaftesbury Car Link for the last seven-anda-half years as full-time volunteers, we have decided it is time to hang up our hats and retire.

This is not a decision we have taken lightly and despite advertising for help over the last two years and asking for someone to look at taking over the scheme, no-one has come forward.

Therefore, Shaftesbury Car Link will close its doors on July 31 this year.

We have met Dorset Volunteer Centre and Dorset Council, which have both said there is no magic wand to be waved, but they hope that at some time in the future a phoenix may arise from the ashes.

We appreciate this will be very disappointing to residents

New Blackmore Vale reader Ginny Radley took this photo as the sun was setting in Ashmore last week

who have come to rely on the service to get them to vital medical appointments but hope we shall receive some appreciation for putting our own lives on hold for such a long time.

All current users of the scheme will be receiving a communication advising them of the situation.

Anyone who feels they can take the scheme on and keep it going, should contact Shaftesbury Car Link on 07763 426664 or by email at shaftesburycarlink@gmail.com

Martin and June Hull Via email

Trying to trace Bake Off entrant

I AM trying to get in touch with an old friend, Brendan Lynch, one of Frome’s ‘celebrities’, from BBC’s The Great British Bake Off in 2012.

I knew Brendan in the late 1990s, and I am originally from Britanny – a Celtic region – a thing we had in common as Brendan had his roots in the Republic of Ireland.

After 20 years in the UK, I had to return to France to be with my parents.

I went back in 2015, and my dad died in 2018 and my mum in 2019.

I had a major stroke in 2019, and I was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2025.

Brendan has been a great influence on my life and others’ lives as well.

Henri Groschene 8 rue Jean Nouraud App.64

Résidence Le St Jean 17400 St Jean d’Angely France

Energy: Time to move on from 70s

WITH his letter in the April 10 issue of the New Blackmore Vale, Simon Latham demonstrates his understanding of the world’s energy system stopped in 1977.

The Chinese government’s strategic choice to become an

electrostate, and to achieve this by promoting ferocious competition between rival firms, has caused the prices of both solar panels and batteries to collapse, while their efficiencies have risen relentlessly.

Even in the often cloudy UK, the energy return on investment for solar panels is of the order of months – they will last for half a century.

Meanwhile, China’s emissions appear to have peaked.

Of course, the UK will need gas back-up for the foreseeable future, but a combination of batteries, interconnectors and the growing use of agile tariffs have significantly mitigated the impact of intermittency on second to multi-hour timescales.

He also seems unaware of the primary energy fallacy – that physics implies that power systems based on the burning of fuel throw away two-thirds of the energy as heat, hence their need for huge cooling towers –meanwhile electric cars run cool and need no grilles at the front.

Crucially, this means renewables need only replace one-third of the oil and gas we import.

Given the current ‘instability’ in the Middle East, our continued reliance on petrostates for our energy seems unwise. Isn’t it time we moved on from the 1970s?

Prof Andrea Sella UCL Department of Chemistry

London

Folk festival: Volunteer appeal

WIMBORNE Minster Folk Festival can only operate with the valuable help of volunteers to keep things running smoothly and safely for all our visitors.

Once again, we are currently short of volunteers to keep the festival going.

Specifically, we need stewards to assist in the town on Saturday and Sunday, June 13-14, between 10am-5pm.

Help is needed at: the Information Points – to help

with manning the Information Point in the town centre and Willow Walk; around the town – providing help and information to visitors; festival procession – for the procession to go ahead, we need at least a certain number of stewards; traffic management – ensuring road closures are maintained appropriately.

We also greatly appreciate help with concert stewarding –checking tickets and access to our concerts.

Training is provided for all roles, as are parking and refreshments while you are stewarding.

Additionally, stewards have access to all concerts – unless sold out – by virtue of their lanyard, providing they sign up for a minimum of two shifts over the weekend.

It is a wonderful festival, and it is thanks to our volunteers it is hoped it will remain so.

For further information and/ or to apply, email alison. folkfest@hotmail.com or paulfolkfest@gmail.com

Paul Gunovsky Project manager Wimborne Minster

Folk Festival

Lunch club invite to the over-75s

ARE you over 75, living in the BH21 area and living alone or usually eating alone?

If so, why not consider coming to join our lunch club at St John’s Church, Legg Lane, Wimborne?

We’ve been providing this service for over 30 years and meet weekly.

It is a church group but open to anyone, whatever you may or may not believe.

We ask for a £5 donation for a hearty, two-course meal.

We don’t run to make a profit but do collect any excess funds to go towards free meals at Christmas time and so on.

The cooking is provided by a team from the Probation Service who look after us really well. It is a club, not a drop-in, so you do need to book a place.

We will need your name, phone number and address –and your birthday to help you celebrate when the time comes.

We also ask for an emergency contact number, just in case.

After your first free welcome meal you can decide if you want to join us regularly.

After lunch we enjoy games, quizzes, songs/hymns or a short talk, which often has a Christian focus to provoke thought.

Do contact the church office if you are interested or know someone who might be.

I’ll be able to tell you then when the club meets.

St John’s church office –01202 842255.

Philippa Rossiter, Wimborne

Founder member Gwen, 99, who recently bid farewell to the St John’s Church, Wimborne, lunch club

Art, antiques and jewellery

ACREMAN St Auctioneers & Valuers, Sherborne, has two sale dates this month.

On Thursday, April 23, it has Modern and 20th Century Art at 10am, and General Antiques & Collectables at 11.30am.

Jewellery, Silver & Watches follows on Friday, April 24, at 10am.

Viewing is on Wednesday, April 22, 10am-4pm.

The catalogue and bidding are available online through easyliveauction.com and thesaleroom.com

Acreman holds regular valuation days where prospective sellers can take in items for its specialists to evaluate.

Valuation days, 10am-3pm: Jewellery & Watches, Tuesday; Silver & Obje’t D’art, Tuesday; Toys & Collectables,

Wednesday; Oriental & Asian, Thursdays; Coins, Stamps, Books & Ephemera, Friday; Militaria, Friday; Textiles & Fashion, Monday; Paintings & Contemporary Art, Monday.

Anyone unable to go in on the allocated days can phone or email to make an appointment, and experts are also happy to make house visits if required free of charge.

Acreman Auctioneers & Valuers at 121 Acreman Street, Sherborne DT9 3PH is open Monday to Saturday 9am-4pm. It can take in everything from single items to complete collections.

Anyone who has anything they would like to consign can contact Gill Norman on 01935 508764 or 07908 333577 or by email at auction@acreman streetantiques.co.uk

23rd April 11.30am

24th April 10am

22nd April 10am-4pm

Family-owned silver from new

A SILVER entrée dish and cover, which has been in the same family for the past 217 years, features in Charterhouse’s three-day auction of silver, jewellery, watches and antiques.

“The family have decided to let new custodians enjoy this George III silver entrée dish, especially as it has interesting history for them to research,” said Richard Bromell, from the auction house.

This George III silver entrée dish is engraved with a presentation inscription to a distant relation of the owner.

The inscription reads: “April 1809 The Legislature of Grenada voted five hundred pounds plate to The Governor Major General Frederick Maitland in proof of their Approbation of his Administration.”

It is estimated to sell for £2,500-£3,500 and it is hoped it will remain in the next family for another 200 years.

Viewing for the auction at Charterhouse starts on Monday, April 27, or prospective buyers can see all the lots and bid online via charterhouse-auction. com

Richard Bromell and the team at Charterhouse, The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne, are available for silver, jewellery and watch valuations on 01935 812277 or via rb@ charterhouse-auction.com

Victorian diamond and pearl double pendant/ brooch sold for £712,500 at Duke’s

Valuation dates at auction house

DUKE’S Auctioneers welcomes clients to its upcoming valuation days on Thursday, April 30, and Tuesday, May 19, when free expert advice will be on offer on fine jewellery, watches, accessories, silver, wines and spirits.

The auction house says these

events provide an ideal opportunity to explore the potential of consigning to forthcoming specialist sales. Market confidence remains strong, says Duke’s.

Its recent Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Currency sale –

Continued on page 36

Gold and silver prices soar

CLARKE’S Auctions is busy preparing for its next Antiques & Collectables sale on Friday and Saturday, May 8 and 9.

Spring is in the air and it says now is the time to sort through drawers and cupboards and get in touch to consign pieces that may be cluttering homes and turn them into cash.

Clarke’s is now taking entries and would be delighted to provide an assessment of items anyone is considering selling.

From charming snuff boxes and fine jewellery to portrait miniatures, coins, medals, Chinese and European ceramics, bronzes, furniture, unusual pottery or hidden treasures tucked away in cupboards or drawers – now is the perfect time to let them shine, it says.

Jewellery, gold and silver continue to be star performers

Chinese blue and white Transitional period wine ewer sold for £1,800 hammer

and with gold up 47% and silver rising about 135% over the last year, now could be the time to turn forgotten pieces into exceptional returns.

Those unworn necklaces,

Continued on page 36

THURSDAY 30TH APRIL

TUESDAY 19TH APRIL

With Nicky Houston - Head of Jewellery

Julian Smith - Head of Watches and Michael Roberts - Head of Silver

Auctioneers & Valuers

An original Fry & Sons 'Fry's Pure Concentrated Cocoa' enamel sign. Sold for £1,600. Clarke’s Auctions o er free home visits and verbal valuations. Now accepting items for this and future sales e Old Glove Factory, Buckingham Road Gillingham, SP8 4QF 01747 685592 enquiries@clarkesauctions.co.uk Antiques & Collectables Friday 8th & Saturday 9th May The Old Glove Factory, Buckingham Road Gillingham, SP8 4QF 01747 685592 enquiries@clarkesauctions.co.uk www.clarkesauctions.co.uk A Victorian wrought iron orangery plant stand, 178cm long Sold for £380

Units 1 & 2 Kingsettle Business Park, 01747 855109 enquiries@clarkesauctions.co uk Antiques & Collectibles Sale Friday 9th & Saturday 10th August

Clarke’s auctions

Continued from page 35

rings and bracelets or single earrings and broken chains at the bottom of jewellery boxes could achieve far more than owners expect.

Clarke’s valuers are happy to make home visits to value items or prospective sellers can pop into its salerooms with one item or a car full for someone to take

a look.

For enquiries about consignment into any of its upcoming 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.

Duke’s sales

Continued from page 35

March 18-19 – achieved an 83% sold rate and realised more than £1.4 million, driven by competitive international bidding.

The standout Victorian diamond and pearl double pendant/brooch soared to £712,500, highlighting enduring demand for rare, historic jewels.

Further successes included a 19th century rivière necklace (£57,500), cushion-cut diamond

earrings (£137,500) and a Victorian cat’s eye chrysoberyl, diamond and ruby brooch/ pendant (£32,500).

Silver performed equally well, with a George II silver-gilt wine cup (£22,500) and a set of three George II salvers (£28,750).

Global demand for quality items is strong and Duke’s valuation days present an opportunity to discover the value of collections.

Art class setting for comedy-drama

‘ALL life is here’ as the saying goes, and very often nowhere is this more true than in a weekly art class, where friendships grow, confidences are shared and lives change, often unexpectedly.

Life Class, by local writers Vince Jones and James Cuthill, is a thought-provoking comedydrama coming to Dorchester Arts in May.

As the title suggests, it is set in an art group run by artist Julien Valentine who has left London and moved to a small Dorset village.

His students – Veronica, Christina, Frankie and Mabel – are ostensibly there to draw and paint, but over time they find their lives expanding as their artistic talent grows.

Vince said: “I joined a local art group and was fascinated watching all the interactions and different characters, so I contacted James and said ‘I have an idea for a play’.

“People don’t just paint, they chat and tell their stories. All life is there and it’s ready-made for a story.”

Life Class isn’t the first time James and Vince have collaborated. Their plays Tipping Point and This Christmas have already been staged at Dorchester Arts, and this production is a fundraiser for the venue.

All the cast are well-known local performers – the role of tutor Julien is played by Rod Lewis, and his four students are Lynn Cockerill, Laura Jane Parsons, Barbara Proctor and

Dee Thorne.

Barbara Procter and Lynn Cockerill in Life Class

James said: “They are a strong cast and extremely experienced, so it’s been a joy to bring the play to life.

NATIONAL Theatre

Live is coming to Nether Compton Memorial Hall with a screening of The Audience starring Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II. The Olivier and Tonywinning play, directed by Stephen Daldry, explores the monarch’s private weekly meetings with her 12 Prime Ministers.

“The play isn’t all comedy, there are poignant moments and serious events in all their lives, and there isn’t a neat ending with everything tied up.”

Life Class is at Dorchester Arts, High East Street, Dorchester, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 1, 2 and 3. Performances are at 7.30pm with a 2.30pm Sunday matinee. Tickets are available from the box office, from dorchesterarts. org.uk and by calling 01305 266926.

Through these meetings, the audience sees glimpses of the woman behind the crown and witnesses the moments that shaped a monarch.

The Audience is screened on Saturday, April 25 – doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

Tickets are £15 – email lynncarter349@gmail.com to reserve. A bar and soft drinks will be available.

SINNERS (15)

War, peace and beauty in choir’s concert

THE theme of Wincanton Choral Society’s upcoming concert, Peace in Our Time, seems apposite given the strife in the world.

The choir, with full professional orchestra and soloists, will perform two major and well-matched works that express the terror and tragedy of war – Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem

Cursus

a

Both have beautifully serene moments evoking the promise of peace.

Festival

‘hidden gem’

THE intimate Cursus Festival on Myncen Farm on Cranborne Chase promises to punch above its weight when it is held over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

The family-friendly festival is now in its 11th year and just 500 tickets will be available.

The music line-up features headliners Peat & Diesel, Land Of The Giants and Black Water County.

They will be joined by The Hempolics, Skimmity Hitchers, RuMac and

Samantics, plus top local acts including Pronghorn and Typical Girls.

The event – one of the few festivals to allow dogs on site – will also have a DIY Den activity area for children, along with a DJ tent, rural craft demonstrations, campfire and farm tours.

Festival organiser Kev Davis said: “Cursus is a true hidden gem on the festival scene.

“Everyone will find a warm and friendly welcome here,

The Vaughan Williams was immensely popular in its day, much played throughout the Second World War.

But The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace has just been voted by Classic FM listeners as the nation’s favourite classical piece in the 2026 Hall of Fame.

Karl Jenkins is the first composer living today to achieve this accolade. He pipped to the post such perennials as Vaughan Williams’ Lark Ascending and

Rachmaninov’s Piano Concaerto No.2. This powerful but accessible work is a mere 26 years old.

The concert is at the sports hall at Wincanton Leisure Centre on Sunday, May 17, at 7.30pm. Tickets, priced £18, including programme – free for under 18s – are available from www.ticketsource.com/ wincantonchoralsociety See www.wincanton-choralsociety.uk, www.facebook.com/ wincantonchoralsociety or phone Sally Greenhalgh on 01749 860457.

not to mention an epic soundtrack of original bands and loads of other fun.”

The Cursus Festival runs from Friday to Sunday, May 22-24.

Teddy Rocks eyeing £1m raised

THE Teddy Rocks Festival, billed as the music festival which fights children’s cancer with rock, could raise £1 million over its lifetime at this year’s event.

The festival has raised more than £800,000 since 2011, with funds directed towards children’s cancer charities, helping children and families going through treatment, and research into childhood cancer.

This year’s festival, at Charisworth Farm, Blandford, from Friday to Saturday, May 1-3, is the tenth since the it

moved from The Greyhound pub in Blandford and became a full blown festival.

The event sold out for the first time last year and organisers have increased capacity for this year’s event.

Acts on the line-up include The Hoosiers, the charttopping indie-pop band best known for hits like Goodbye Mr A and Worried About Ray. They return to the festival after headlining 10 years ago.

Also playing are Elvana, the Elvis-fronted Nirvana tribute, bringing their mash-up

show; Coldplay tribute Viva La Vida; and Boyzlife, Brian McFadden from Westlife and Keith Duffy from Boyzone, who will be performing as part of Friday night’s pop party.

Festival founder Tom Newton said: “It’s been 10 years of graft from so many people – we’re so lucky to have an absolute army of volunteers who give so much to make sure the event happens every year. It’s been a real journey, and I feel like it’s only just beginning.”

The event also includes lots

of family friendly activities, a range of food and drink providers, and fairground rides.

Tom added: “There is so much good we can do with the success of the festival and reaching the total of £1 million raised through the festival would be something special.

“It’s certainly something we’ve got our eye on, without putting too much pressure on ourselves, but it would be a lovely achievement to hit that this year.”

Cursus Festival headliners Peat & Diesel

‘Thank you for the music,’ says Lord of the Dance

NATIONAL treasure Craig Revel Horwood, the longestserving judge on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing, is coming to Westlands Yeovil this summer.

After starting as a dancer, he worked on the nation’s biggest musicals and became a choreographer, director and best-selling author.

He is also an excellent singer and following the release of his debut solo album, Revelations – also the name of his tour – he is presenting an evening of music, dance, drama and song.

The audience can expect a ‘fab-u-lous’ night of big songs, tall tales and glamour – and tales from the Strictly Come Dancing set.

Craig said: “This show is unlike anything I’ve ever done. People aren’t going to see ‘The Judge, Craig’. They’re going to see the real Craig. It’s about my life, it’s who I am. It’s the most personal tour I’ve ever done.”

Who Craig is can be traced back to his roots. The man who turned 60 in January and who has become a national treasure started out in musical theatre. His first ever job was West Side Story, and he took singing lessons as a kid, in his native Australia.

Music was in his life throughout his schooling. “It just seemed to be a very natural journey for me to go into musicals. I just loved performing in musicals until I was 30. People don’t really

know me as a singer because I’ve been in the background doing it, I suppose.”

Other areas of his life took over. He became one of the UK’s best and most influential directors and choreographers, winning Laurence Olivier Award nominations for Spend Spend Spend and My One and Only

He directed the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and was invited to join the judging panel for BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2004. As of 2025, he’s Strictly’s only original judge.

Strictly made him a household name as a stringent rule-follower who has dished out more low scores of ‘1’ than any other judge. Becoming famous for catchphrases and unique locutions – from ‘chah-chah-chah’ to ‘fab-ulous’.

And yet there are many more strings to his diamanteencrusted bow, and singing is foremost among them. So, when the opportunity arose last year to record an album of songs, he jumped at the chance.

“I thought: ‘Come on, you’re 60. Do it.’ My mum’s always told me to get an album together and do something. So, I thought: ‘Yeah, I’ll do it.’ I grew up in the era before things were recorded – so there are no recordings of my earlier performances in theatre.”

Craig went into the studio and recorded Revelations –Songs Boys Don’t Sing. It was a collection of tunes that showcased an emotive, pitchperfect voice. His interpretations of such songs as Memory showed a discombobulating degree of warmth and empathy, Don’t Rain On My Parade cast him as the ultimate razzle-dazzle

showman, while As Long As He Needs Me, from Oliver!, became a song that took on new meaning with Craig’s thoughtful tenderness.

Just like the Great British public, who gave the singer his first chart hit, Craig was thrilled. “Singing is such a liberating experience. Each song on the album means something to me. You know, the first ever musical that my mum went to see with the kids was Jesus Christ Superstar, so I’ve recorded I Don’t Know How To Love Him.

“Waltzing Matilda is in there because I was born in Australia and when we grew up it was like a national anthem.

“I wanted to do Memory, from Cats, because I was in that show, but I’d never get to sing that song because I’d obviously never get the part of Grizabella. It’s the same with I Don’t Know How To Love Him, from Oliver! It just goes without saying, you know, that I’ll never play Nancy.”

The show will, of course, feature plenty of Strictly “It’s been Fab-U-Lous to have been there since the start. None of us could ever have believed it would become the phenomenon it did. It’s been a huge part of my life and the reason that people know me. So yes, of course, I’ll be talking about Strictly – I don’t think people would forgive me if I didn’t.”

Craig will be joined on stage by the talented musician Ben Goddard who fans will recall from their double-act on Celebrity Gogglebox.

Craig Revel Horwood is at Westlands Yeovil on Friday, June 5.

Family Fest organiser sets out stall

MUSIC and much more is on offer to help kick off summer at Family Fest 2026 in Wimborne.

The ninth festival, and sixth in the town, is on 12 acres of scenic farmland alongside the River Stour from Friday to Sunday, May

29-31.

The event features acts including Lottie, Static Tandem, Yazadi, Harvey Glenn, Gracie Park, Hunters Moon and Layla Jurado. Other activities include family crazy golf, Punch and Judy, Magic Jay, Junk Jodie,

BMX stunt shows, a petting farm and falconry displays. Plenty of food and drink will be on offer with Greek and Italian options, fish and chips, ice cream and a bar. Rob Batson, founder of Family Fest, said: “2026 is our biggest year yet with

further enhancements on activities and shows included in tickets, a stronger live music schedule on the main stage, a new layout providing easier access to the festival site and the option to camp in the festival, too.”

Craig Revel Horwood will be performing in Yeovil

JUMBLE SALE, Saturday 2nd May, 2pm –4pm, North Cadbury Village Hall, BA22 7DP

SPRING SALE, PULLEN AND WAINWRIGHT COURT

Community Hall, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5RD, Sat 25th April, 2pm-5pm. Money raised from Table Letting, Refreshments and Tombola to go to British Heart Fondation. Come and help raise funds for this worthy cause.

SALISBURY BIG CURRY

LUNCH 2026. Wed 6th May @ 12.30pm. Join the ABF South West team. in the Salisbury Guildhall. Tickets £35 per head or £265 for a table of 8. Tel: 01980 672337 E: southwest@ armybenevolentfund.org www.armybenevolentfund. org/southwest

LYN’s BINGO on April 27th

Marnhull Royal British Legion. Sodom Lane (DT10 1HR). Eyes down 7pm.

JUMBLE SALE

-BUCKHORN WESTON

HALL Saturday 25th April, 2.30pm.Cakes-Teas-Raffle

HELP4HEDGEHOGS, cake sale, 2nd May 9am, Parsons Yard, Cheap Street, Sherborne, in aid of Dorset Rescues, Cash only.

SILENT AUCTION, 25th April, 10am-4pm Shaston Social Club, Shaftesbury. Craft stalls, food stalls, tomola, bar. In Aid of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Fundraiser

ALWESTON CAR BOOT

SALE, 4th of May, Sellers 7am, Buyers before 7.30am - £5, Buyers after 7.30amDonation. See Facebook for more

POP UP CAFE, Stourhead. Sunday 3rd May, Bank Holiday Monday 4th May. 9am-5pm at Stourton Village Hall,, near the entrance to Stourhead Gardens. Cakes. Coffee.Refreshments. Homemade Lemonade! Raising funds for new playground equipment

Walks at homes of Lawrence and Hardy

VISITORS can immerse themselves in Dorset’s rich literary and cultural heritage at the historic homes of Thomas Hardy and TE Lawrence.

Hardy’s Cottage, the birthplace of author and poet Thomas Hardy, and Max Gate, the home he designed and lived in – and Clouds Hill, the rural retreat of British Army officer, archaeologist, diplomat and writer TE Lawrence have all been freshly restored after winter conservation work. Visitors will be welcomed with introductory talks from knowledgeable volunteers and invited to explore the rooms,

gardens and personal stories behind these two towering figures of English literature.

The National Trust has also launched Footsteps Through Time, a season-long programme of guided walks running until October.

The programme invites visitors to explore the places, paths and viewpoints that shaped Hardy’s imagination and Lawrence’s life.

Each of the four walks offers a different way into their stories, led by guides who combine local insight with their passion for the county’s literary heritage.

All walks are free, though standard admission applies for entry into Hardy’s Cottage, Max Gate and Clouds Hill. Pre-booking is essential for Hardy’s Cottage and Clouds Hill and strongly advised for Max Gate.

Full walk details and booking links can be found at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ visit/dorset

SPRING BROCANTE

The Larmer Tree Gardens, Nr Salisbury, SP5 5PY

Sunday 3rd May 10 - 3pm

B/H Monday 4th May 10 - 3pm

Advance tickets £7 | On the gate £8

Children under 16 free Assistance Dogs only

A carefully curated selection of 40 Artisan, Vintage & French Brocante Exhibitors offering lovely homewares, gifts, textiles & lifestyle products with Artisan food & drinks in the gardens.

For further information & to buy advance tickets, please visit: www.thedorsetbrocante.co.uk

• 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 10am-noon. Fridays –lunch club for over-55s from noon. Phone Joyce Wild on 07817 505543 to book. The church offers help to those in need – call church steward John Cornish on 07799 516735.

• Bell Street United Church, Shaftesbury: Sundays –services at 10.30am. Second Sunday of the month, All Age Service.

• Blandford Evangelical Church: Sunday – 10am Family Service. Monday Fellowship – weekly, 2.30pm-3.30pm, term times only. Tuesday –Footprints, activities playtime for pre-school children, 10am11.30am and 1.15pm-2.45pm, term times only. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday –small groups meet at homes at 7.30pm. The church is in Albert Street. Phone 450689.

• 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.

• 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.

Rendezvous Community Cuppa – third Monday each month, 10.30am-12.30pm.

• Digby Hall: Mothers’ Union meeting on Friday, April 24, 10am for 10.30am start.

Katherine Howe will bring her guide dog and tell of their training and life together. All welcome.

• Friends of Sherborne Abbey: Sunday, May 17, Friends’ Choral Evensong at 6pm followed by the annual meeting at 7pm in the abbey; Thursday, June 18, afternoon tea with

music in the church hall 3.30pm-5pm followed by Girls’ Choir Evensong in the Abbey at 5.30pm; Tuesday, September 15, Friends’ outing to Gloucester Cathedral; Wednesday, October 7, coffee morning 10.30am-1pm in the church hall; Sunday, November 29, Advent reception 4pm in the Lady Chapel, followed by Advent carol service in the Abbey at 5pm.

• 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.

• Our Lady of Lourdes & Saint Cecilia, Blandford: Sunday, 9am Holy Mass; Monday/ Wednesday/Thursday/Friday, 9.10am Morning Prayers, 9.30am Holy Mass; Tuesday, 6.10pm Evening Prayers, 6.30pm Holy Mass; Saturday, 9.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament/Confessions; 5.30pm Vigil Mass of Sunday.

• Our Lady’s, Marnhull: Sunday Mass, 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.

• 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 Quakers: One hour of silent prayer or meditation every Sunday at 10.30am at Raleigh Hall, Digby Road DT9 3NL. Contact Nick Jackman at sherbornequakers@ gmail.com

• Stour Vale Benefice: Sunday, April 26 – 9.15am Parish Communion, St Michael & All Angels, Stour Provost; 10.30am Morning Worship, St John the Baptist, Buckhorn Weston; 11am Parish Communion, All Saints, Kington Magna; 6.30pm Evensong BCP, St Mary Magdalene’s, Fifehead Magdalen. Sunday, May 3

– 9.15am Parish Communion, St Andrew’s, Todber; 10am Morning Worship, St Mary’s, West Stour; 11am Parish Communion, Christ Church, East Stour.

• St Benedict’s, Gillingham: Sunday Mass, 11am.

• 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 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.

• 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 Mary’s Church, Stalbridge: All Sunday Services start at 9.30am. Rector, Canon Richard – phone 01963 363367; email canonrick@icloud.com

• St Nicholas, Durweston: Family Communion Service every first Sunday of the month 11am; Evening Service every third Sunday of the month 6pm.

• 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.

• Sturminster Christian Fellowship: Service every Sunday at 10.45am.

• Two Rivers Benefice: Sunday, April 26: 9.30am – Communion at St Mary the Virgin Church, Charlton Marshall; 9.30am –Morning Worship at St John the Baptist Church, Spetisbury; 11am – Communion at All Saints Church, Langton Long. Sunday May 3 – 10.45am Together Communion at St John the Baptist Church, Spetisbury. Coffee and cake – Spetisbury 10am-11.30am, first and third Monday each month. Coffee and cake – Blandford St Mary 10am-11.30am, May 21.

• West Camel Independent Methodists: All Saints Church (BA22 7QB) Sunday, April 26, 6pm; Sunday, May 3, 4pm, United ‘Sunday @ Four’ with tea. Sundays May 10, 17, 24 and 31, 6pm. This friendly, growing church extends a warm welcome to everyone. Contact Geoff. mead@yahoo.com or phone 01935 850838.

Food security in uncertain times

TRUMP’S disastrous war in the Middle East is having a devastating impact on people in Iran and Lebanon – but we’re also experiencing the consequences here, in the Glastonbury and Somerton constituency. As petrol and heating oil prices continue to spiral, residents are finding it increasingly difficult to keep their homes warm while covering the costs of essential travel around rural Somerset.

With global instability rising, it is clear we need to prioritise the UK’s defence capabilities –and national security does not exist without food security. If we cannot produce enough of our own food and rely primarily on imports instead, we leave ourselves entirely exposed to global political and economic shocks – putting vital food supply chains at risk in times of conflict.

Yet the Government is refusing to take food security

seriously. Instead, it continues to undercut the UK’s primary food producers – our farmers – with dodgy international trade deals and the ill-thought-out inheritance tax hikes which came into force at the beginning of April.

This is why I tabled my Good Food Bill in Parliament last week. My Bill places a clear duty on the Government to

safeguard our food security, developing and implementing a national food strategy which encourages supermarkets and public service providers to prioritise the procurement of British-grown produce, while providing farmers with the long-term certainty they need to invest and plan for the future.

With Trump’s ceasefire looking tenuous, I am calling for the Government to include a commitment to bring forward the Good Food Bill in the next Parliamentary session in the King’s Speech on May 13.

Long-term reform is necessary to stabilise prices and strengthen domestic food production – yet immediate cost-of-living support is also essential to ensure Somerset households are not left to bear the burden of international conflict alone.

As Liberal Democrats, we are leading the charge to implement a temporary VAT holiday and

price cap on heating oil –allowing rural communities across the UK to weather the storm of volatile energy markets. We are also calling for a short-term fuel duty cut to reduce the cost of red diesel used in agriculture, and a £1 billion annual increase in farming budgets to keep our farmers producing food for our tables.

Food security is central to our national security, and our farmers are stewards of both. We can’t afford to put them at risk. I am determined to push my Good Food Bill onto the Government’s plate, safeguarding UK food production in these increasingly unstable times.

As always, I want to hear from you. If you would like to share your experiences of recent price hikes, have an issue I can help with, or wish to register your interest to attend one of my regular advice surgeries, please don’t hesitate to contact me at sarah.dyke.mp@parliament.uk

Working across the political divide

AT a time when the world and society is fracturing and more interested in highlighting difference and division I thought I would begin by highlighting where MPs of different parties can come together to work together on a common goal or desire to change a certain policy. I am lucky enough to serve as an officer of several All Party Parliamentary Groups where Parliamentarians work together on a common interest. Mine include farming and dairy, both of which are vital for rural North Dorset. Another way of working together is through legislation and this often starts with a Ten-Minute Rule Bill which does not of itself change the law but often kickstarts or moves along a policy aspiration. Let me give you two examples of where I have been involved. Back in 2024 I was a co-sponsor of a Bill designed to introduce better controls on the

Conservative MP for North Dorset

Simon Hoare

sale of fireworks. Every year I receive emails from constituents anxious about fireworks and their impact on their pets and livestock. As a result of this Bill the Government is now consulting on tougher laws to control what can be sold and to whom. If progress is made, the lives of many people will improve dramatically.

Last month I co-sponsored another, the Menstrual & Gynaecological Bill, which aims to enhance teacher training and awareness, provide better and faster diagnosis of conditions such as fibroids and endometriosis, as well as improving knowledge of good menstrual health. These are important issues for women’s health and for young women at school across North Dorset. The Bill will not become Law, but, as with the case of fireworks, I am hopeful that continued pressure and awareness raising will ultimately see beneficial changes.

Of course, politics must be about passionate and energetically argued debate surrounding the issues of the day. That is important to keep the democratic flame burning. I highlight the issues above to illustrate that we MPs can and do work together to try to achieve change and improvement for the

lives of our constituents.

My work as chair of the Commons’ Public Administration & Constitutional Affairs Committee brings me into close contact with a number of issues. A current one is the appalling record of Capita in delivering pension payments to recipients of the Civil Service Pension Scheme. As a committee we are hearing evidence on the issue and as your MP I am helping a number of North Dorset constituents secure redress. If you are affected by this problem, do please email me at simon.hoare. mp@parliament.uk

I also want to report that I have been re-adopted as the Conservative candidate for the next General Election. It is the honour of my life to represent the wonderful people and area of North Dorset in Parliament. I have always tried, and will continue to do, my best.

Lib Dem MP for Glastonbury & Somerton Sarah Dyke

The Greens ‘not high on drugs’

SO, what’s your preferred recreational drug? I’ll share what mine is later, but first let’s look at lies being spread about the Green Party’s proposals on illegal drugs. The Labour party sank particularly low during the Gorton & Denton by-election, sending vans around the area with signs claiming that the Green Party wants to ‘teach our children to use drugs, including crack and heroin’. Keir Starmer joined in by claiming in Parliament that the Greens are ‘high on drugs, soft on Putin’.

The hard truth is that the so-called war on drugs has been a failure. All manner of illegal drugs are still readily available, many diluted with dangerous cheap additives to increase the supplier’s profits. The trade is also conducted largely by violent gangs, preying on the younger and more vulnerable members of society. The result has been a devastating impact on the health of many addicts,

Ken Huggins on behalf of the Green Party in North Dorset

and a massive burden to the NHS, the police and the justice system. Not to mention the effect that the associated criminality has on the individuals and communities affected by it. As those who work with addiction know full well, most harmful drug use is underpinned by poverty, isolation, mental and/or physical

illness and psychological trauma. The Green Party’s ambition therefore is to minimise those societal ills and end the prohibition of drugs with the creation of legal regulation that minimises the harms associated with drug use, production and supply. What’s needed is an inclusive, supportive and socially just society. One that takes care of the vulnerable and less fortunate among us, instead of criminalising and punishing them.

Legal regulation must be firmly based on evidence and take a public health approach that tackles the wider causes of problematic drug use, including poverty and adverse life circumstances. It also needs to recognise that adults should be free to make informed decisions about their own drug consumption, and for that freedom to be balanced against the Government’s responsibility

to protect individuals and society from harm. Evidencedbased education is also essential, to raise public awareness of the criminal, health, environmental and international issues associated with the production and supply of drugs.

My personal recreational drug of choice is alcohol, mostly in the form of excellent Dorset-brewed beers. While nicotine is also legally available, I count myself lucky not to have taken up smoking as a youngster. Like smoking, alcohol has serious health impacts if not consumed in moderation. The same goes for any drug used for recreational purposes.

So no, the Greens are not high on drugs. We just understand that business as usual is not working. And that, like climate and the environment, something needs to be done about it urgently.

Time to catch up on local issues

EASTER recess meant I had some time in the constituency to catch up on some of the most pressing issues locally.

Among other things, I met Surfers Against Sewage and the River Lim Action Group to discuss inaccurate pollution data on the Lim and how we can use the upcoming Water Bill to tighten up powers to stop sewage release. I met Dorset Community Transport and Sherborne Town Council to discuss bus improvements in the town and surrounding area. I visited the reopened pharmacies in Lyme Regis and Bridport, now operating under new owners as part of Allied Pharmacy, and I was pleased to see so many of the original staff back in their rightful places.

I joined the NFU and local farmers to discuss the issues facing the sector as well as improving pathways into farming locally. I met the team

Lib Dem MP for West Dorset

Edward Morello

behind the newly formed Wriggle Valley Against Sewage Pollution to discuss their proposal for a rainwater harvesting pilot scheme in Yetminster to try and help reduce flooding in the village. I met the local neighbourhood policing

team in West Bay to talk about boy racers – not just boys – and associated anti-social behaviour.

I also had the huge honour of reading a poem at the funeral of the sadly departed Councillor Dave Bowell. Dave was wonderful man and hardworking councillor, who dedicated himself to fighting for the residents of Bridport. He will be greatly missed.

His passing also means there will be a by-election for his seat on Dorset Council next month, more information about which will be shared with residents very soon.

Parliament has returned to the bombshell news Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting ahead of his appointment as UK Ambassador in Washington and that officials at the Foreign Office overrode that decision. The appointment of a known associate of Jeffery Epstein, who had already been

forced to resign from Government twice before, always stuck in my throat. The news that he was also considered a security risk by our intelligence services and was appointed anyway is simply galling. The Foreign Affairs Committee, on which I sit, has called the mandarin at the centre of this scandal to appear before it this week to answer questions about who knew what, and when.

There are so many issues that matter to people right now – the cost of energy and heating, petrol prices, housing, SEND, buses, sewage and many more. It is deeply depressing that once again Parliament’s time is being taken up with discussing Peter Mandelson. This Government was elected on a promise to end the years of scandal and sleaze we endured under the previous administration. It is not going well so far.

Chagos deal a dead parrot!

REJOICE! At long last, the Chagos surrender deal has gone the way of Monty Python’s dead parrot, the unconvincing Norwegian Blue. Sir Keir has quietly dropped the necessary legislation before the imminent end of this parliamentary session. A huge win for Kemi Badenoch and a rare ‘thank-you’ to the US President for saving Number 10 from its own stupidity.

Now come the recriminations. Gleeful Mauritian ministers had already announced plans to use the £100 million of annual largesse from British taxpayers to abolish income tax for its own taxpayers. A dead deal means those plans are dead too. Mauritius will be demanding compensation. I raised this in the Commons this week, urging that not a penny will pass to Mauritius now that the deal is no more. Minister Doughty’s replies to me and to others on a similar theme were cryptic. We’ll be snapping at him terrier-like on this.

Lord George Robertson made some thoughtful remarks on

Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire

Andrew Murrison

defence spending just down the road in the Guildhall in Salisbury. He is, of course, well placed – a former Labour Defence Secretary, ex-NATO Secretary General and the lead author of this Government’s Strategic Defence Review. The Government accepted the Review’s recommendations but now it keeps delaying the publication of the Defence Investment Plan to actually fund it. If that frustrates me, poor George must be pulling his hair out. Little wonder he told the

Financial Times that Sir Keir was ‘not willing to make the necessary investment’ and in Salisbury accused the Treasury of ‘vandalism’ and our ‘political leadership’ of ‘corrosive complacency’. I agree.

Well-placed sources are even suggesting that some of the eight Type 26 frigates being built to replace our ageing Type 23s may be cancelled or delayed. T26s will be our new Towed Array Patrol Ships (TAPS), designed to detect and deal with submarine activity. I spent 18 months in TAPS in the early part of my Naval career. So I asked about the rumours in the Commons this week. The junior Defence minister answering issued the usual assurances but I wonder if he even knows. Truth is we ought to be building more of these ships, not fewer. That’s because of recent increase in Russian submarine activity that minister Al Carns outlined in a statement on Monday.

If I were the Prime Minister surveying this political landscape, staring at rolling fallout from the appalling

Mandelson affair and the likelihood of crushing defeats in the May 7 council elections, I would seriously consider my position. Sir Keir needs to answer for the costs and humiliation of the Chagos debacle. He lacked either judgement or grip over Mandelson. And he lacks the political will or manoeuvre to divert ballooning welfare costs to fund Defence as Lord Robertson has urged.

To end on a more cheerful note, I have had welcome news from VodafoneThree. The network, former by the merger of Vodafone and Three last year, is rolling out 5G coverage across the country as part of an £11 billion investment programme. South west Wiltshire is set to benefit. Coverage in my constituency is due to reach 94% by the 2028 and 100% five years later. New satellite technology is the key. I’m excited by the prospect which will benefit households and businesses. The Deverill Valley, probably the worst ‘not-spot’ locally, will be particularly pleased.

Big moment for local healthcare

THE reopening of maternity services and the Special Care Baby Unit at Yeovil District Hospital this week marks an important moment for families across our rural communities.

For many people in villages and towns across South Somerset and North Dorset, access to local healthcare is not always straightforward. Travel distances, transport and timing all matter, especially when it comes to maternity care. That is why the return of these services is so significant.

Since the temporary closure last year, I have been working to ensure that the concerns of local families were heard. I raised the issue in Parliament, worked closely with NHS leaders, and brought national attention to the importance of these services by

At every stage, my message has been the same. These services must return, but only when it is safe to do so.

I recently visited the unit

ahead of reopening and met Professor Deirdre Fowler and the team. It was reassuring to see the improvements that have been made and the focus on ensuring a safe and sustainable service for the future.

There has been clear investment in both the environment and the equipment used to care for mothers and babies. New incubators have been installed, and the unit has been refreshed to create a clean and modern space. Staff facilities have also been improved, supporting better teamwork and communication.

Importantly, a bereavement room has been created, recognising the need to provide compassionate care during the most difficult circumstances.

Behind the scenes, the Trust

has also taken steps to strengthen staffing and ensure robust systems are in place to maintain safety and quality. These changes are essential to rebuilding confidence in the service.

I would like to thank the dedicated NHS staff who have worked so hard to prepare for this reopening, and the families who have shown great patience during the closure.

As a rural area, we must always ensure that services work for our communities, not just larger towns and cities. I will continue to work with the NHS to make sure these services remain safe, accessible and sustainable for the long term.

Access to safe, local maternity care is essential, and I will continue to stand up for it.

hosting Ed Davey in Yeovil.

Lib Dem MP for Yeovil Adam Dance

Pollinator plants for the vegetable crop

by Sally Gregson

WE are increasingly aware of the importance of pollinating insects to our vegetable crops in the garden. Planting to attract the bees and butterflies that will spend their summer moving the pollen between the flowers has become a major part of everyone’s gardening.

It’s such a large proportion of fruit and vegetables that need to be pollinated before they bear a harvest that without the bees and insects we would have very thin harvests. Commercially, many vegetable farmers import, ‘borrow’ or ‘buy’, the attentions of hives of bees for the crucial

months for their crops.

Our own more modest plots benefit hugely from their attentions, so it makes sense to sow the appropriate seeds alongside the vegetables. And many of them make very colourful additions to our

Pots and plants and ringing the changes

by Sally Gregson

IT’S becoming increasingly fashionable to make an area dedicated to entertaining our friends and neighbours in the garden. It’s an idea that has been around for a long time, but with the prospect of another glorious summer of sunshine and warmth ahead, living outside in summer has just got more possible.

And one of the most important factors of life outdoors is to have beautiful pots overflowing with flowers. There are one or two ‘tricks’ that garden designers employ to maximise their effect. One is to use the same colour pots in any given area. For instance, blue-glazed pots cry out to be positioned together, with lots of toning flowers. It’s easier still to stick to terracotta pots and containers of every size and any

shape. The plants and flowers can change with the seasons, but the terracotta colour unifies the arrangements.

One idea that makes changing the display simpler is to pot everything up into ‘sleeve’ pots that are just a size smaller than the designated containers. Then the potted plants can be removed when they have finished performing and put elsewhere to be cut back and allowed to rest for their ‘off’ season. So large pots of tulips in a sleeve-pot could be removed as soon as they fade to make way for new pots of summer flowers such as pelargoniums and marigolds.

Dahlias and agapanthus often start their visible life after mid-summer, so it’s fun to visit the nurseries to find something else to occupy the time between the end of the tulips and the

otherwise green plots.

One of the most useful flower associations is that of Tagetes, or French Marigolds. The single form of these attracts bees and hoverflies at every stage of their growth. (The double flowering forms of any pollinators are often without the nectar that attracts the insects). The bees will pollinate anything within flying distance, and the hoverflies also eat greenfly and blackfly for breakfast, lunch and tea, at every stage of their development. Tagetes are a bonus to every thoughtful gardener. English marigolds, or Calendula, however, are quite

different. They attract the blackfly rather than host their predators.

A row of poached egg flowers – Limnanthes douglasii – along a line of ‘step-over’ apples means that every apple blossom that appears will get pollinated, especially in a sunny spring. Poached egg plants are native annuals that are very easy to grow, and with little encouragement will self-seed every spring. Spring-flowering forget-me-nots are similarly enthusiastic self-sowers, as their name suggests, and that touch of true blue complements the pale pink apple blossom.

Once the flowers are over, pull them up and pop them on the compost heap. Their charms will be spread to everywhere you put your garden compost throughout the season.

Plants and flowers can change with the seasons but terracotta pots unify the arrangements

beginning of the dahlias and agapanthus. For example, there are the Dutch irises whose flowers are beautiful but quite fleeting, that would fit the bill in a glorious range of colours from mysterious green-yellows to smart white and yellow.

Out of season, position these seasonal pot-fillers somewhere bright and sheltered from the high winds, out of sight of the main display where they can fade away unseen. And when they are brought out, imagine that ‘wow’ moment.

White poached egg flowers, Limnanthes douglasii ‘Alba’

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Get in the Garden

Home & Garden

I LOVE plants that have a scent as well as colour.

Quite often the scent will be of interest not just to us, but to insects as well, including bees and butterflies.

This will have further impact in the garden by improving the diversity of visitors and in turn help with pollination and the control of pests.

Top of the list at this time of year are the Erysimum or Perennial wallflowers.

The best known is a variety called Bowles Mauve which will get to a size of a couple of feet with similar spread.

It is easy to grow and will keep on flowering, especially if the old flowers are removed before they go to seed –this kids the plant into thinking its job of reproducing isn’t done, so more flowers will be produced.

There are also some other wonderful varieties including the wonderfully named Walberton’s Fragrant Sunshine with its yellow flowers with fabulous fragrance.

If that’s not enough for you, then there is a variegated form, Walberton’s Fragrant Star.

More subtle colours can be found in Pastel Patchwork.

The scent from Daphne odora aureomarginata is really quite something.

A slow growing evergreen with variegated foliage, the pink and white

flowers really pack a punch and can fill a garden with a beautiful aroma.

A newer variety that is especially pleasing is Rebecca.

These shrubs enjoy partial shade and a wellprepared soil, and when the flowers have finished the foliage is very attractive for the rest of the year.

Scent in the evening is priceless and the Night Scented Stock with its mouthful of a Latin name Zaluzianskya.

It’s a low-growing plant suitable for a pot or for cascading down a rockery or a wall.

The flowers are white with a deep pink back to them.

During the day they have no perfume at all but once the light levels drop, the scent starts.

Where we have a display of them in the garden centre is quite amazing and the plants can be found even in the dark!

I learnt from Radio 4 that the sense of smell has no filters in the brain and is directly linked with the part of the brain that deals with emotions.

Smells are also long remembered, which is why they can often make you nostalgic.

The scent of mown grass is often quoted taking you back to childhood.

Of course, it might also mean your neighbour has cut their lawn and it’s time you did yours!

with Mike Burks, MD of The Gardens Group

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100th BIRTHDAY

JO BUCKHAN

Was 100 on the 23rd April. He is known for working at Jespersen & Harris in Sturminster Newton for many years and managed Gillam the hardware shop in Shaftesbury until retirement. Anyone anytime welcome to come and visit Jo this week, please ring 01258 820670 and ask for details.

PUBLIC NOTICES

JASMINE AVRIL CHAMBERS Deceased

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone with a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of Holly Cottage, Church Hill, Kington Magna, Gillingham, SP8 5EG, who died on 20/02/2026, must send written details to the address below by 25/06/2026, after which the Estate will be distributed with regard only to claims and interests notified Farnfields Solicitors, 37 High Street, Warminster, BA12 9AJ Ref: AEA/Chambers/92837-0001

TERESA CALLANAN

Deceased

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone with a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of 38-40 White Cliff Mill Street, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7BQ, who died on 15/05/2025, must send written details to the address below by 25/06/2026, after which the Estate will be distributed with regard only to claims and interests notified Blanchards Bailey LLP, Bunbury House, Stour Park, Blandford Forum, DT11 9LQ Ref: HST/WIL5217/0002

BRENDA JOAN UPWARD

Deceased

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone with a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of 1 Carter Close, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7NE, who died on 13/12/2025, must send written details to the address below by 25/06/2026, after which the Estate will be distributed with regard only to claims and interests notified Blanchards Bailey LLP, Bunbury House, Stour Park, Blandford Forum, DT11 9LQ Ref: STE/HAI0065/0001

PUBLIC NOTICE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is given that Scotty-Lee Thomas has applied to Dorset Council for a new premises licence in respect of The Fiddleford Inn for the provision of alcohol generally between the hours of 10:30 and 23:00. Any interested party or responsible authority may make representations by e-mailing: licensing@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or by writing to, Licensing, Dorset Council, County Hall, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ by 14 May 2028. 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

PUBLIC NOTICES

TAKING THE TRAIN? THE NEW CAR PARK AT GILLINGHAM STATION has 83 extra wide spaces, and “Pay on Exit” and with cheaper rates than the old car park. Only £4.90 weekday all day. £3.90 Sat/Sun all day. 30 minutes free.

Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence

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Owners or occupiers of land (including buildings) near the operating centres who believe that their use or enjoyment of that land would be affected, should make written representations to the Traffic Commissioner at Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UE stating their reasons, within 21 days of this notice. Representors must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice. A Guide to Making Representations is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-guide-to making-representations-objections-and-complaints-goods vehicle-operator-licensing

DEATHS

Diana Knights (Née D’Arcy)

Passed away peacefully at the age of 86 years on 2nd April 2026 at Athelstan House Care Home, Malmesbury. Diana was a long-term resident of Sherborne. Dearly loved Mother of Naomi and Simeon, Grandmother and Sister. The Memorial Service will be at St. Mary Magdalenes Church, (Castleton Church), Sherborne on Friday 8th May 2pm. For details, please call Simeon 07967 199779. Donations, if desired, to The Rendezvous, Sherborne or The Friends of the Yeatman Hospital.

Albert Cochrane

Peacefully at Dorset County Hospital on 11th April, 2026 aged 91 of Pimperne, Widow of the late Betty Cochrane. Loving father of Deborah & Gary, Grandfather to Kevin & Lisa and Great Grandfather to Oliver, Noah & Lucy. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends. Funeral service to be held at Poole Crematorium on the 8th May 12 noon followed by a celebration of his life at Cobham Sports & Social Club. Family flowers only please, donations welcomed in Albert’s memory to Kidney Research UK or British Heart Foundation c/o Colin J Close Funeral Service

DEATHS

Lucy Jane Martin and Elodie Rowan Watts

It is with the heaviest of hearts that the families of Lucy Martin and John Watts announce the passing of our beloved Lucy and Baby Elodie Rowan on Monday 23rd March 2026.

Everybody that knew Lucy will be well aware of what a devastating loss this is to us all.

A funeral service for them both is being held at St Peter’s and St Paul’s church Blandford on Saturday 25th April 2026 at 11.30am all are welcome. This will be followed by a private burial so please go ahead to The Crown and the family will rejoin you. The family have requested family flowers only and donations in lieu are for Dorset Wildlife Trust.

To donate online or leave a message of condolence please visit www.funeraldirector.co.uk/ funeral/lucy-martin or send care of Lesley Shand Funeral Service, 28 East Street, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 7DR (01258) 453425

Ronald Edwin Fulford. (Ron)

Passed away peacefully at Newstone House Care Home in Sturminster Newton on April 14th aged 97years. Much loved Dad, Granpa, Great Granpa. Burial will be at Ham Down Woodland Ground on May 7th at 12 midday. Followed by a Celebration of Ron’s life at the Swan Hotel in Sturminster Newton.

TRACY HARRIS

On 13th April 2026, peacefully at home after a long illness bravely borne, aged 47 years. Of Gillingham. A devoted Wife to Peter, Mum to Jessica and Lewis, a loving Daughter of Roger and Betty and Sister to Richard. Funeral service takes place at Yeovil Crematorium on Thursday 7th May at 11.20am. No flowers please, but donations in her memory for the Multiple Sclerosis Society 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

DEATHS

Edna Croft Née Cakebread

Passed away peacefully at Nazareth Lodge care home. Edna aged 97 years of Okeford Fitzpaine. Much loved wife of the late Thomas Croft ‘Ted’ and loving Sister to Jennifer. She will be dearly missed by her nephews, Stephen, Geoffrey and Michael also by Sara, Beverley and Sharna.

Funeral service has taken place. If desired donations to Hedgehog Rescue of Hazelbury Bryan can be made in memory of Edna online at peterjackonfuneralservices.co.uk

Maureen Yvonne Atkinson

Died peacefully aged 96 years at The Malthouse on 24th March 2026. Much loved friend to the late Margaret, a dearly loved aunt and friend.

Funeral service at St. Mary’s Church, Gillingham on Tuesday, 28th April at 11:30am.

Family flowers only please. Donations if desired for Stars Appeal can be made online at peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk

Pam Millichip

Passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on the 2nd April aged 78 years. A beloved Wife to the late Monty and Mum to Mandy, Kevin and Andrew. A much loved Mum, Granny, Sister and Friend. She will be sadly missed by all. Funeral service takes place at Yeovil Crematorium on Friday 1st May at 2.40pm. All Enquiries c/o Harold F Miles Funeral Directors, Meadows Edge, Folly Lane, South Cadbury BA22 7ES, www.haroldfmiles.co.uk

WRIGHT, Mary Elizabeth

Passed away peacefully on 29th March 2026, aged 77 years. A much-loved Mum, Grandma, Nan and Auntie. Also a devoted ‘Wren’ to Girl Guiding UK.

Funeral service will be held at Long Borrow Ceremony Hall, Harbour View Crematorium, BH16 6AN.

Family flowers only, please. If you wish, donations can be made in memory of Mary to Friends of Dudsbury via www.harbourview.co.uk.

DEATHS

WATTS

Pamela Joyce – ˈPamˈ

Peacefully on 8th April 2026 at The Old Rectory Care Home, aged 87 years, of Stalbridge. Beloved Wife of Keith. Funeral service at Church of St. Thomas a Becket, Lydlinch on Friday, 1st May at 2.00pm, followed by interment. Family flowers only please. Donations if desired for either Parkinson’s UK or Church of St. Thomas a Becket, Lydlinch can be made online at peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk

PATRICIA ELSON ‘PAT’

Passed away peacefully at The Knoll Nursing Home on the 12th April 2026, aged 101 years.

Much loved Wife to the late Harry, Mum to David, Nan and great-nan. Pat’s Funeral service will be held at Yeovil Crematorium on Friday 15th May 2026 at 12:00 PM. Donations if desired to ‘Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance’. All donations and enquiries to A J Wakely & Sons Funeral Directors, The Old Police Station, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 9JS.

Jane Hurd

Passed away peacefully at her home in Mere, after a short illness on 14th April, with her family present. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. Loving Mother to Sebastian, Christopher, Alexandra and Emily and Grandmother to Seren, River, Beatrix and Jessica. Funeral service at St Michael’s Church, Mere on 13th May at 12.00. Friends and family are invited and to the Grove Building afterwards to commemorate her life. Donations are invited in aid of Weldmar Hospicecare, Herringstone Rd, Dorchester, DT1 2SL, Tel 01305 261800.

CHERRET, Brian Frederick

29/07/1936 ~ 15/04/2026

Dearly loved & missed. The funeral service will take place at The Long Barrow, Harbour View Crematorium & Woodland Burial Ground, Randalls Hill, Poole, BH16 6AN on Wednesday 13th May 2026, at 2:30pm.

Family flowers only. Donations if desired to the British Heart Foundation & Cancer Research UK can be made at www.harbourview.co.uk

MIRA MIGHALL

15th April 2026, Wife of the late John. Loving Mother to Sharon. Loving Nan to Brandon and Alisha. Great Nan to Mason, Seb, Amelia. Service at Harbour View, Lytchett Matravers, Saturday 16th May at 3pm. Livestreamed. Family Flowers only please. Donations via Harbour View for Alzheimer’s Society.

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Items for sale

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DOG GUARD FITS L/ Rover Freelander 2 £10 Gillingham 07707-475328

BIRD TABLE, HAND MADE with roof & hooks. Photos available, can deliver £50, 07584-683242

SEWING MACHINE. Make janome. £50 07593-750711

FLYMO FOR SALE. £35. Tel: 07541-302802

HARDBOARD SHEETS. 2440 x 610 (8’ x 2’). 8 off plus offcuts. £20. 01963 32174

TWELVE EX-HOTEL BANQUETING CHAIRS; metal framed with padded seats and backs; fair condition £4 each; buy any or all; 01747 590809

LARGE VICTORIAN MAHOGANY CHEST with four drawers, width 1150cms, depth 50cms, height 1200cms. Good condition £50. 01963 204533

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2 SETS OF STEP-LADDERS £10 each. 01747-229148

NAILS, SCREWS, NUTS & BOLTS, small tools, assortment fittings, plus more. £50 to clear, will sell seperate. Tel: 01747-840835

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1 roll superglass loft insulation covers 12.12 square metres. Also 1 roll of roof TX Optima roofing underlay. Surplus to requirements. £20 per roll. 01258-473193

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OXFORD DIE CAST MODEL CARS. £2 each, 25 to choose from. Cars, vans, buses and tractor. All in boxes as new unused and unopened. Tel. 07485 107895.

ACOUSTIC GUITAR (cort) with case new strings fully serviced £49.00 no offers. 07545-065503

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TWO BLACK GARDEN OBELISKS approx 3ft high. Bought last year. £15 each, Call 07752-600640

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BAMBOOS IN LARGE POTS FREE buyer collects 01747859493 or 07853-762088.

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WOODEN GARDEN TABLE and four chairs (Charles Taylor style) £50.Tel: 07765-635330

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CLEANING HELP NEEDED. ASAP. at least 8 hrs per week. 10 mins East of Sherborne. Tel: 07778-785293

LOOKING FOR SHEEP SHEARER for small flock for May 2026 onwards. Near Sturminster Newton. 07786-478183.

PA FOR ADMIN AND DRIVING REQUIRED, DT10/11 for 6 hrs over 2 afternoons per week, plus, ad hoc appointments. Phone 07990-759838 between 1-4 pm weekdays only.

SENIOR YARDPERSON REQUIRED

Senior Yardperson required for a dynamic estate near Dorchester. We are recruiting an organised and forward thinking, dedicated Yardperson to work with a small and committed team. This is a seasonal full-time position from now until the end of October, in the first instance.

As the Yardperson you will take overall responsibility of running a busy farm yard, and workshop; including general maintenance, grain store handling and management (weighbridge on site), grain drying, and tractor driving particularly during harvest. No accommodation available.

Please apply via email to Tom Lyle –Farm Manager, tom@dewlishfarms.com

Parish Clerk

Upper Deverills Parish Council wishes to appoint a Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer.

This is a part time position, approximately 25 hours a month, working primarily from home.

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An exciting opportunity for an engaging and inspiring BHS Qualified Coach who will enjoy the challenge of implementing a new two-year programme for Years 10 and 11 (BHS Challenge Awards, Ride Safe and Stage 1 and 2) and who also has the capacity to support the BTEC Equine Management course and deliver units in collaboration with our Senior Equine Teacher. The candidate should have a thorough knowledge of BHS teachings, complete horsemanship pathway and the ability to deliver structured classroom, practical and ridden lessons.

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Leweston is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS check will be required.

A Catholic Foundation which welcomes pupils of all Denominations

The applicant should have good computer, administrative and communication skills and should be competent in bookkeeping. Local authority experience would be an advantage, but training is available. The salary will be based on NJC pay scales plus agreed expenses. If you would like an informal chat about the post, please call the current Clerk on 0797 1368742. Full information about the Parish Council is available on the website at: www.upperdeverills.co.uk/parish-council

For an application pack please email the Clerk: clerk@upperdeverills.co.uk

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‘Get cooking’ – food club’s push

AS new figures reveal 18,000 children in Dorset are now being adversely affected by the rising cost of food, healthy cooking charity the Friendly Food Club has launched a wide-reaching campaign to Get Dorset Cooking.

Figures published in March by The Food Foundation show one in nine families in the UK –11,000 families in Dorset – are now struggling to afford healthy, nutritious food, with 53% of insecure households having cut back on fruit and 40% on vegetables in February alone due to rising prices.

works with thousands of children and adults each year, offering free sessions which give people the confidence and basic cooking skills to prepare healthy and affordable meals.

The charity’s chief executive, Liz Guilmant-Cush, said:

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The Friendly Food Club

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“Rising food insecurity means that more families are struggling to put meals on their tables, with parents often skipping meals to allow their children to eat, or swapping fruit and veg for cheap, less healthy ultraprocessed options.

“Some families are also being faced with the choice of whether they can afford to have food to

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eat or heat their homes. Pressures on household budgets are coming from all angles, particularly now with increases in fuel costs.

“The Get Dorset Cooking campaign aims to highlight the joy and fun in cooking, as well as the benefits of saving money and getting the whole family involved.

“Over the coming months we will be holding a live event and distributing cook-at-home kits and free recipes. We will also be attending food and community events across the area to raise awareness and get people involved.”

In addition to its wide range of free community workshops, the Friendly Food Club will be focusing on training local community group leaders, so they can run their own permanent, regular cooking sessions.

“We will be placing specific focus on teenagers, recently

bereaved older people and those managing chronic health conditions who may lack the confidence to cook from scratch,” said Liz.

“We want to reduce reliance on food banks by teaching families how to cook healthy, nutritious meals on a strict budget.”

Beyond cooking, the campaign also targets social isolation by creating a space for companionship and social interaction.

The Friendly Food Club is asking Dorset residents to respond to a quick and simple anonymous poll to gauge experience of food insecurity, and people’s attitudes to cooking. To respond to the poll, visit www.thefriendlyfoodclub. org/get-dorset-cooking

For more details on The Friendly Food Club and how to get involved with the Get Dorset Cooking campaign visit www. thefriendlyfoodclub.org

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.

India’s oldest form of medicine

by Fiona Chapman

AYURVEDA medicine comes from India. It is its oldest tried and tested form of medicine and most of the population still uses the Ayurveda system in everyday life.

It takes years to study Ayurveda, so cannot be

explained in a short article, but in simple terms, it is based on the dosha system.

Humans are divided into are three main doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, and although we all display characteristics from each dosha, according to what we look like, how we act, what

Understanding neurodivergence: A shift in thinking

by Nicole Asghar

FOR many years, being autistic, ADHD, dyslexic or dyspraxic was seen only through a medicalised deficit lens. These were ‘conditions’ to be diagnosed by a doctor or psychologist after being asked, ‘what’s wrong with you?’. Being told from a young age that the way your brain has developed is wrong and needs to be ‘fixed’ can understandably lead to low self-esteem, shame and guilt.

The neurodivergent community is now seeing a shift in how we – the West

– thinks about divergent brains and lived experiences – and it can’t come soon enough. We’re hoping to write a different story for future generations, so they don’t have to experience the same harmful perceptions. First, let’s take a look at some of the history.

The term ‘neurodiversity’ emerged in the late 1990s from sociologist Judy Singer, who aimed to reframe neurological differences as natural variations of the human brain rather than deficits. From this, the term ‘neurodivergent’ came to describe individuals whose

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we eat, our emotions, digestion and disease tendencies, often we are born with one dosha – or constitution – being prominent – the ‘prakriti’. As we go through life, certain characteristics may start to become dominant, which can be down to environment, diet,

neurology diverges from the dominant norm. This language did not originate within medical institutions but within autistic communities, marking a shift toward self-definition and advocacy.

Earlier understandings of autism were limited and deeply misunderstood. In the mid-20th century, autism was first described as a distinct condition but was often confused with childhood schizophrenia. Clinicians regularly blamed mothers, suggesting behaviour was due to emotional deprivation. It wasn’t until the 1990s that autism began to be recognised as a neurodevelopmental condition, rooted in differences in brain development.

A similar pattern can be seen in the history of ADHD. Although descriptions of inattention and hyperactivity were noted as early as 1798, it wasn’t until 1987 that a formal diagnosis was added to medical literature. Initially labelled as ‘hyperkinetic disorder’ or ‘minimal brain dysfunction,’ the

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happiness, work, stress and generally what life throws at us, and unless they are dealt with, we become out of balance and have an ‘aggravation’ of either our own dominant dosha or those of the other two. This pushes the body and mind out of balance and allows

focus was mostly on managing disruptive behaviour in children.

What history shows us is that when children behave in ways that call for flexibility, creativity or a rethinking of support –especially when that behaviour disrupts established systems – it is often framed as challenging and problematic. Differences are quickly pathologised, contained and corrected, rather than explored. The focus of the adults around the child shifts to prioritising compliance over understanding.

Now is the time for this to change. Advocacy is not about denying difficulty, but about widening the lens through which it is understood, making room for both needs and strengths. I’ll be writing about neurodivergent disability in my next column.

If you’d like to share your thoughts on this, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to get in touch.

n Nicole Asghar is a Dorsetbased therapist working online and around Bournemouth. Specialising in neurodivergence, trauma and yoga. Get in touch via nicole@ourluminousminds. com or www.nicoleasghar.com

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disease to manifest.

A watered down version of each dosha is as follows:

Vata people are tall and thin, possibly slightly irregular looking with bony knees and elbows and joints that tend to crack. They may talk fast and have a high or slightly hoarse voice. Their skin can be dry, and they may have thin, frizzy hair with a tendency to split

ends.

Pitta people are more athletic looking with a regular body shape and a loud commanding voice. Often, they have a ruddy complexion and can be prone to irritation and anger. They need to exercise vigorously and go through life at a pace.

Kapha people are slightly thicker in build with strong

Meditations in nature: A sky full of talons

by Susanna Curtin

NOW that April is in full swing, there is much to behold outside our front doors. I have loved watching the incremental changes that bring much needed hope for warmer and better times. The hedgerows are rapidly turning green again, and it is great that the swallows have returned even earlier this year than last. Spring has also sprung in my small garden, where an industrious male wren has taken days to build an intricate nest in the ivy, and the house sparrows and blue tits have taken up residence in their nest boxes.

Unfortunately, having created an ideal habitat for garden birds, I have also unwittingly attracted a pair of sparrowhawks that kamikaze through my garden daily, occasionally collecting a small, feathered victim in their talons as they do so. They have a nest nearby and chicks to feed, and although I hate to see them make a catch, I cannot help but admire the speed and stealth of these magnificent birds. It is indeed my fascination with birds of prey that has brought me out to the Purbeck heathlands. Last week, I saw my first osprey of the year at RSPB Arne. She had caught a huge fish and was slowly devouring it on a nesting platform provided purely for the ospreys. I’ve since learned that the osprey I saw is called ‘Beaky’, an

bones, lustrous thick hair and nails with large eyes and lips. They tend to be more sedentary and like sweet things, so can be prone to weight gain.

Each dosha is more prominent in different times of life, season and day. To maintain equilibrium, we need to look at the whole person to assess why they are out of balance. Digestion is often the

key. If there is not enough, or too much, ‘agni’ – digestive fire, it can produce ‘ama’ – toxins – in the system or, if the fire is so great it burns the food before digesting it, the body does not get any nutrients. We would then treat with diet, exercise and herbs.

n Fiona Chapman is a naturopathic herbalist; email Pellyfiona@gmail.com

unringed bird with an oversize beak, who loves this part of Poole harbour, and who is an expert hunter, known for her love of large seabass. Each migration, she stays for about a week to recuperate and then flies on towards her northerly nesting ground. I am hoping more ospreys are passing through.

Rather than return to Arne today, I have decided to go towards the Middlebere channel. Just as I leave the warmth of my parked car, I spot a dark shape in the distant sky. First, it is the sheer scale I notice. A large, hooked beak, long, broad plank-shaped wings and the unmistakable slow, powerful flight of a white-tailed eagle gliding silently over the heathland with a regal authority and presence. This is the best eagle sighting I have had in Dorset.

Chaffinches and chiff-chaffs accompany me along the track to the bird hide at Middlebere where there is an air of excitement. I am quickly informed that ‘Beaky’ is on her platform again with yet another fish, and that a second osprey is perusing the channel. With so much going on, I settle in for an hour of observation. There is a flock of black-tailed godwits, shelduck and curlew – the dull grey sky making it easier to see their fine breeding plumage.

Sitting here and looking out through the open windows, all is quite still, and it feels like I am watching a beautiful stage-set just waiting for nature’s drama. Fortunately, it isn’t long to wait before the action begins. An osprey is back up on the wing. As it flies low over the channel, the flocks of geese and godwit take to the air, rising together and then folding and turning in unison with their wings catching the light. Of course, the lone osprey is not at all interested in them, merely the fish hiding in the water beyond. ‘Beaky’ sends out a high- pitched mew to let it know she is there and that this is her territory. The other osprey turns tail downstream and the stillness resumes.

But over the woodland in the distance, two buzzards are soaring high above the pine trees, and there, slipping in between them like a blade, is another bird. Smaller, faster, angular and flying with such intent. A goshawk! It has more pointed wings and a longer tail, and you can almost feel the tension in the sky as it makes its presence felt. Then suddenly it is gone.

Leaving the drama of this place behind me, I go too, out

into the brightness and back along the track, thinking to myself that the only bird I wished I had seen was a harrier. Miraculously, as if the reedbeds had heard my thoughts, a female marsh harrier with her distinctive pale head lifts into sight and slowly floats above her wetland habitat like a feathery shadow. This is one of my favourite birds of prey, so different from the others. They have slow, calm and deliberate wing beats in between long glides, where they hold their wings in a shallow ‘V’ shape. When they see their prey, they dip down and twist slightly, then, if unsuccessful, return to their unhurried quartering. Rather than dominating their habitat, they seem more meditative and in tune with it. I watch her for as long as I possibly can.

I know now why I love seeing these raptors so much. It is because they have such a powerful presence, they almost call me to where they are, and each one, whether it be an eagle, osprey, harrier, hawk, falcon or an owl, has its own hunting techniques and is perfectly adapted to its habitat and its prey. They have a unique power and intelligence in the landscape and have come to symbolise ecological health – having once been so persecuted, they are now considered a conservation success, something that gladdens my heart. If I count my garden sparrowhawk and the red kite I saw on my car journey here, I have seen seven species this morning. 50 years ago that would have been very unlikely. n Dr Susie Curtin (email curtin. susanna@gmail.com)

Susie Curtin saw osprey on a visit to the Middlebere channel

DAbadia on spot against strugglers

by Avril Lancaster

Pitching In Southern League Division 1 (South)

Tavistock AFC 1

Shaftesbury 3

SHAFTESBURY moved back into the play-off places courtesy of two Alefe Santos DAbadia penalties and Toby Holmes’ 28th goal of the season at Langsford Park.

Santos DAbadia opened the scoring from the penalty spot after a foul on Holmes in the third minute.

But Tavistock responded when Rhys Lindsell fashioned a chance for Jacob Bowker to smartly score past Ben Taylor in the sixth minute.

Jack Crago should have put

the home side ahead as the ‘Lambs’ looked anything but a relegated side 26 points adrift at the start of play.

After Jack Hoey went close with a header, fortune turned back in the Rockies’ favour when Holmes went round home keeper Thomas Burstow.

The referee adjudged contact and Santos DAbadia dispatched his 13th goal of the season two minutes before the break.

The second half saw the Rockies get on top and apply some pressure and former Wimborne Town star Holmes finished a powerful run and

cross by Lewis Brown with 20 minutes left.

Holmes then hit the underside off the bar and Luke

Euro champs date for pair who follow ‘way of the stick’

TWO martial artists who train in Bruton have been selected to represent the UK at the European Jodo Championships in Bordeaux in France later this year.

Andrew Terry, from Shaftesbury, and his student Matt Preston were both successful in the National Jodo Championships.

Andrew won the 6th dan category and Matt came second in the 3rd dan category.

WINCANTON Golf Club results:

Monthly Stableford – April 5: 1 Tristan Sams 39, 2 Richard Czemerda 29 ocb, 3 Adam Dickens 29.

Seniors Monthly Stableford – April 7: 1 Andy Blandford 37, 2 Stephen Parker 36, 3 Kevin Bieda 35 ocb, 4 Martyn Andrews 35.

Seniors Nine-hole Monthly

Stableford – April 7: 1 Harry Eden 22, 2 Alan White 17, 3

Dave Shean 26 ocb, 4 Jim Bunce 26.

Seniors Roll-up Stableford Front 9 –April 10: Winners –David Hallett/Keith Williams/ Dave Shean – 56 points.

Anniversary Texas Scramble – April 11: 1 Terry Ings/John Burns/Tony Garrett – 43, 2 Steven Ireland/James Thow/

Jim Stephen – 40, 3 Adam Dickens/Jim Phillips/Nick Young – 39, 4 David Whitehand/David Amann/ Kevin Bieda – 38.

Seniors Monthly Medal –April 14: 1 Simon Lenton nett 72, 2 Tim Godfrey nett 73, 3 John Westaway nett 74 ocb,4 Rick Graham nett 74.

Seniors Nine-hole Monthly Medal – April 14: 1 Keith

The Rockies moved back into the play-off places after beating Tavistock

Burbidge, and substitutes Keith Tottingham and Leighton Thomas, nearly increased the margin of victory

Jodo, whose literal meaning is ‘way of the stick’, is a 400-year-old Japanese martial art.

One person uses a stick, like a broom handle, and the other – for safety reasons – a wooden sword.

Men and women of all ages can participate.

Andrew, a registered regional coach with the British Kendo Association, travels regularly to London for sessions with his teachers.

He also practises Sojutsu, classical Japanese spearmanship from the 16th century.

Anyone interested in finding out more about these martial arts can contact Andrew on 07720 966661.

Williams nett 34ocb, 2 Alan Armstrong nett 34, 3 Alan White

Seniors Roll-up Back 9 –April 17: Winners: Kevin Bieda/John Westaway/John Wolstenholme – 53 points.

Pairs Shield – April 18: 1

David Amann/Steven Ireland – 59, 2 Mike Case/Jim Phillips – 53, 3 Rick Graham/Tony Garrett – 51.

nett 36.

GOLF FOOTBALL

MARTIAL ARTS

Andrew Terry and his student Matt Preston

Daisy wins and breaks records in South Africa

SHERBORNE runner Daisy Davies took the title and broke records in the Port Elizabeth Ironman Triathlon in South Africa.

The endurance event saw the 23-year-old swap the hills and fields of the Blackmore Vale for the beaches and roads of the Cape.

The gruelling race consisted of a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42.2km run on a very tough course in 25-degree heat.

In what was her first race of

the year and her first race representing her new team, Bianchi Pro Triathlon, Daisy set a new course record of 8.46.30 and beat the previous bike course record by 3.5 minutes.

Daisy last year became the youngest female winner of the European Elite Long Distance Triathlon Championships in Almere, Netherlands.

Daisy, who trains in the pool at Oxley Sports Centre, where

she works part-time as a lifeguard, said: “It’s a great confidence boost at the start of the season, especially on such a brutal course.

“To break both the course record and bike record was an added bonus. Looking ahead to

big goals, I know the hard work is paying off.”

Next up is Challenge Roth in Germany in July, after which Daisy will step up her training as she focuses on the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, later in the year.

24-hour marathon for good cause

TENNIS players will be rallying for a cause in a 24-hour ‘Tennisathon’ at Sherborne Tennis Club.

The event will raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) in support of club stalwart Nick Chapman.

Nick, a member of the club

for over 30 years and a former club chair, has recently been diagnosed with MND and can now only play tennis from a wheelchair.

A spokesperson for the club said: “He continues to inspire club members with his positive

mindset and he has embraced his disability with aplomb.

“This event is, hopefully, a reminder of how sport can uplift, empower and unite people.

“Whether you play or cheer, everyone is welcome.”

Anyone interested in playing in or volunteering at

the tennisathon, on Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17, should email mndevent@ sherbornetennis.com

Anyone who would like to donate to the Motor Disease Association can do so via the JustGiving website, visit www. justgiving.com and search ‘Sherborne Tennis Club’.

Champion jockey King claims treble

by Robert Bracher

A BRIGHT spring day interspersed with a short sharp shower welcomed racegoers to the Cattistock point-to-point at the scenic course at Chilfrome, near Maiden Newton.

The riding honours went to champion jockey James King with a treble and Ed Doggrell with a double. Owner Luke Price had a double and Evie Toozer had her first ever training success with her first runner.

Ed Doggrell and Chris Barber teamed up in the opening Conditions race with the promising Jewel in the Park and

having made most of the running had too much in hand from the second last for his four rivals.

The winner of three races last season and the victor in an Intermediate at Dunsmore last November, he had not been seen since due to what was Chris described as ‘a blip’.

Shareyourbiscuits added to his two victories at Howick and Larkhill when winning the Restricted race under James King, trained by Luke Price. Taking up the lead after the second last, and despite a

mistake at the last, he forged clear to beat his main rival Up Killoughey by six lengths.

Luke Price enjoyed his second winner as an owner on the day when his No Hard Feelings , trained by Evie Toozer, was left solo in the Maiden Conditions race when his only rival Doctor Doyen pulled up at the 12th fence.

Punches Cross won the Grass Roots Rider race at the course in 2025 and repeated the feat when winning the Conditions race for Novice Riders under Henry Moore. For most of the race he duelled with his rival Uno Mas,

ridden by Jimmy Munro, until after the final ditch when he started to draw clear. After his opponent was pulled up approaching the fourth last, Henry was able to steer his mount home.

Ed Doggrell’s second winner on the day was Duc De Bourbon in the Mixed Open race. Repeating the tactics he adopted on Sam Loxton’s gelding at Ston Easton he maintained a steady gallop from the outset and had two lengths in hand at the winning post ahead of main rival Pink Eyed Pedro, ridden by James King.

Daisy Davies is a lifeguard at Oxley Sports Centre

MID DORSET CATS PROTECTION C ats looking for new homes

The Mid Dorset branch of Cats Protection has a number of cats still needing veterinary care before being homed.

The group is also looking for people to foster cats and has other roles available in the branch.

To enquire about any of these roles or cats for rehoming, phone 07831 586114.

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IF your cat has gone missing, Cats Protection offers practical

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Blood clots in cats

by Lynn Broom BVSc, GPCert(ExAP), AdvDipAAB, MRCVS

BLOOD clots or thromboses are a particular problem in cats with heart disease. Sadly, clots can appear out of the blue because a lot of heart disease goes undiagnosed in cats.

The origin of the clot starts in the heart and develops due to abnormal blood flow. On ultrasounds scans mini clots can be seen swirling within the heart. These mini clots can amalgamate to form larger clots and they then leave the heart and typically lodge in the aorta, iliac arteries or lungs.

The classic presentation is a young cat that suddenly loses the use of its back legs – less

frequently just one leg may be affected. The cat is in considerable pain and often it is assumed that they’ve had some form of trauma such as a road traffic accident. It can be difficult to determine the cause but typically the back feet – or affected foot – will feel cold compared to the front feet. The cat is often in respiratory distress due to the pain, but clots can also affect the lungs directly and cause difficulty breathing.

When heart disease is suspected such as on auscultation of a heart murmur, an ultrasound scan can be caried out to see if there is abnormality of the heart muscle and chambers. An alternative

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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 07831 586114..

FOUND CATS

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.

Thromboses are a particular problem in cats with heart disease

diagnostic technique relies on a blood test and this can pick up abnormalities earlier. Heart disease, such as cardiomyopathy – the most common cause of heart disease in cats – does not always cause a heart murmur and a blood clot may be the first symptom noted.

Sadly, the prognosis is poor for resolution of symptoms and serious consideration should be given to euthanasia when a cat presents with these symptoms due to the associated pain and distress. Treatment involves trying to dissolve the clot, provide pain relief and to use medication which reduces the risk of further clots developing.

When cardiomyopathy is suspected, even in the absence of confirmation – for instance when finances or the cat’s

temperament do not allow – it is worth considering starting on medication to reduce the risk of clots developing.

Cardiomyopathy can be apparently symptom free –though cats are very good at hiding their symptoms – and, unless a murmur is heard during a veterinary exam, the first sign may be a clot developing or sudden death.

When heart disease is identified, there are medications which can help control symptoms, but sadly, currently, they do not affect progression of the condition and cats will continue to deteriorate.

If you are concerned about heart disease in your cat please discuss this with your vet so that they can provide options for investigation and, where necessary, treatment.

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 07831 586114.

n Leo, 10. Cuddly chatty chunky boy

n Rocky, five. Gorgeous cheeky boy that loves his cuddles. Will need help daily with his coat when it grows back

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Drivers grumble over A303 works

DRIVERS using the A303 near Mere say they are growing frustrated after months of roadworks with little visible sign of progress.

Traffic management, including lane closures and a 50mph speed limit, was first introduced in January, with signs indicating drainage works.

But with no obvious activity on site, many motorists have been left wondering whether anything is actually being done.

One driver commented online: “What is going on. They [roadworks] seem to be there for no apparent reason,” while another said: “Doesn’t seem as if anything’s been done in months. Never see any workers. Ridiculous.”

National Highways has now

confirmed the works are linked to ongoing investigations into flooding and road surface issues along the route.

Jonathan Hill, National Highways route manager, said: “We’ve taken steps to ensure the safety of the travelling public following a spate of flooding issues along a section of the A303 near Mere.

“After identifying an increase in water run-off affecting this dual carriageway section of the A303 in recent winters, we installed temporary traffic management early in the new year to protect road users from the risks of floodwater and surface water issues while we carried out further inspection and assessment work.”

The current measures cover a 1.2-mile stretch, where lane one is closed in both directions and a reduced speed limit is in place.

These are expected to remain until at least the end of April while further inspections and potential remedial work are carried out.

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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

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2017 (67) Kia Picanto 1.25 GT Line S 5dr. Sat nav, parking sensors, reverse camera, heated seats, heated steering wheel, Bluetooth, sunroof, auto lights, hill holder, cruise control, 68,000 miles Due in soon

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

2016 (65) Audi A5 Coupe 1.8TFSi S Line Nav 2dr. Sat nav, parking sensors, cruise control, leather, heated seats, road sign assist, Bluetooth, auto lights & wipers, hill holder, 92,900 miles ...................................................................................... £7950

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

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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

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Cuddly lambs provide cold comfort

by Tria Stebbing

“OAK before ash, we’re in for a splash” became a saying back in the 16th century, meaning that if oak trees leaf before ash trees in spring, the coming summer will be dry – if the ash leaf first the proverb predicts a very wet summer. “Oak before ash, we’re in for a soak”.

I can’t find one for wind. A cold wind has now been blowing across the field and paddocks for some time, making everything a bit of a chore. Hay blowing in your face, cold blustery showers and temperatures still below the seasonal norm.

At least the grass is growing and growing well! We have decided to leave our own field this year to grow. In the past we have returned to lamb, which delays it growing as the sheep are still grazing in June. As well as the grass growing, the thistles have taken hold, so we will spend a day manually pulling them now, to save bales not being quite up to par. As predicted, the price of small bale hay has rocketed due to the challenging conditions last summer. We were fortunate to have a good barn full and have been able to help friends out who do not mind the fusty ones from the back.

The swallows have returned to the barn – what a sight for

sore eyes! They always make me smile as they represent summer, warmth and better days.

Arthur the cuckoo has made it back to Suffolk – an epic last push saw him leave central Spain last weekend and arrive in the UK via Bilbao, Jersey and the Isle of Wight. It will be a while before we hear the cuckoo, in the meantime the cuckoo flower flowers in the meadow, heralding its feathered friends’ arrival.

Lambing has begun slightly early, with my mis-marked Zwartbles ewe gifting us a runty-looking ewe lamb the size of a kitten unexpectedly at the weekend. Unusual, as she usually has twins or triplets. A brilliant mother, the little thing is thriving already. This year the breed dictates that the lambs are named with names beginning with ‘P’. Next up, our Dutch Spotted crossed with Zwartbles mix should provide an interesting looking lamb.

Lamb cuddles certainly make everything worthwhile – the mud, the hard work all seem to become a distant memory when cuddling the cute little things.

This week the Highland cows are set to be TB tested again. It comes around so quickly, like a dental check-up – if you can get one – that you dread. We really wish we could be tested yearly,

but current policy is still giving us six-monthly testing. The flies have started to emerge, so Blue Tongue will start to hit the news again.

Belle is currently instinctively very volatile and unpredictable due to the influx of hormones. A lot of media this week about cars pulling over in Scotland and people jumping

out to hug the mighty beasts. I certainly would not recommend it – one swing of the head in the wrong direction sees us running for cover having been on the receiving end of their unpredictable temperament. The blackthorn is magnificent. It is hoped that white blossom on the roadside everywhere you look is going to

Spring show treat for all the family

THE Dorset Spring Show, which returns to Puddletown next month, promises a full day of attractions for all the family.

Headline attraction the Jamie Squibbs Freestyle Motocross Team promises airborne motorcycle stunts, gravitydefying tricks and jumps of more than 30 metres in the Spring Arena.

More action on two wheels will come from Bike Battle BMX displays serving up aerial tricks and precision riding over the weekend.

Countryside skills include the popular sheep dog demonstrations and visitors can meet animals in the Spring Farm, including sheep, pigs, cows, goats, alpacas and chickens, while the Heavy Horse Village will showcase shire horses.

New attractions include a circus skills workshop and shows, a lifesize dinosaur over 13ft long, fire dancing performances, music stage,

wood carving demonstration and hands-on pottery workshops.

The third edition of the show is at the Birch Lane Showground on Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10, 9am-5pm both days, and entry is free for children aged 15 and under.

The music stage remains open into the evening on Saturday and includes fire dancing.

Show tickets are £14 until May 2 – to book, visit www. dorsetspringshow.co.uk

The first ewe lamb arrived early

Why May is my favourite month of the year

by AJ Selby

“MIST in May, heat in June.”–Country saying

ASK anyone who knows me what my favourite month of the year is and they will tell you it’s May. There’s so much to love about May – birdsong is at its peak, the hedgerows are exploding with colour and on top of those beautiful flowers and verdant green leaves we see a variety of insects, butterflies and many, many beetles of different colours as well as hoverflies, solitary bees and other smaller insects that are hard to identify for the average naturalist.

At the start of the month, hedgerows still sport primroses with their pale yellow blooms reflecting the sunshine, along with dog violets and the plain but no less interesting dogs mercury – how wonderful are so many of our wildflower names. The yellow celandines have faded, but in their place come the delicate white flowers of the greater and lesser stitchwort, as well as ragged robin and Jack-by-the-Hedge, also known as garlic mustard. Rub the leaves of this lovely plant between your fingers and draw in that strong garlic scent.

Sharp eyes will notice dominant greenery emerging from the hedge bottom as cow parsley starts to make a good size plant with a prominent stalk, which will burst into a beautiful white umbelliferous flower head before the month of May is out. Cow parsley dominates our hedgerows for a few weeks in May and June, turning our verges into snowcapped vistas. Another plant to look out for is the bluebell –we are very lucky to have most

of the world’s population of bluebells in the UK. If you see solitary bluebells popping up on waste ground or in open hedges, it’s an indicator there was once woodland there and the bluebells have survived in their new habitat.

The rich scent of many of these plants attracts lots of insects and they too attract insect-eating birds. One of the most easily recognised is, of course, the swallow. I love to watch them swoop and drift across a flowery meadow in early summer, always in a hurry to catch, eat and return to their nest with a mouthful of insects. Alongside them come the house martins who will be looking at a good nesting spot under the eaves of old buildings and modern houses, too. The house martin has a dark blue back with a white belly while their cousins, the sand martins, are much plainer with a brown back to match the sandhills and burrows in which they nest.

As the days lengthen and the mercury rises, so wildlife rush to stake a territory, find a mate, make a nest or burrow, raise their young and take advantage of a time of plenty. For bird life the main part of marking out a territory is in their song, and this is by far the best time of year to hear nature’s free chorus. If you’ve yet to do it, I urge you on just one bright, warm early summer’s morning to set your alarm clock for about 3.30am and get outside, hopefully somewhere near a wood and just absorb this orchestral magnificence.

When I go out early to listen to the dawn chorus I like to lie down on a waterproof sheet

looking up at the trees and absorb the symphony as it starts quietly with one or two birds, usually the blackbird, and then others start to join in until there is a stereophonic melody all around you. This is one of the most astonishing acts of nature you can enjoy for free, and if you have the Merlin app on your mobile phone it will identify each bird as it sings, and you can save the recording in the app – note, it uses your mobile data, so be aware of that.

There is so much going on during the month of May that it can be so easy to miss little things, like the emergence of new flowers, or butterflies appearing as if from nowhere – one day there are none, the next day you see small blues, meadow browns, commas and gatekeepers. Or you can be sat out in your garden in the

evening and suddenly be aware of a bat or two above your head swooping, diving and rising as it feasts on insects.

I can’t tell you how much I love May and I’ve written before now, if in the far away future one was allowed to come back to the here and now for just one day, it would be in late May when the sun burns off the early morning mist, there is barely a breath of wind and I could walk across the meadow watching the swallows at work, and then alongside the riverbank to see ducks, water voles and the kingfisher. And finally, as the sun passes its zenith and the afternoon heat beats down, I can slip into a cool and moist woodland drawing the earthy scents from the forest floor and listen to the birdsong. I hope you too will enjoy the month of May as much as I will.

The dawn chorus starts quietly with one or two birds, usually the blackbird, and then others start to join

Early wildflowers and the first swallow

by Ruth Kimber

IT’S still frosty, holding back regrowth of the fields and making gardeners nervous about their tender plants. It’s been a long winter and still it hangs on.

We have benefited from the zero grazing, feeding the cows with cut grass at the evening feed, after grazing in the fields by day. This has the effect of conserving acres for silage making for winter feed. It’s said when a cow grazes, she eats one mouthful, stands on four and messes on another!

Dung has been spread on maize fields and some has been ploughed to make ready for tillage and planting.

TB testing has been carried out again – we are on a sixthmonthly sequence and it’s time consuming, tricky for the animals and staff. We’ve had broken legs, aborted calves and so on, with the stress of cattle being herded into the crush, their neck trimmed and an injection given by strangers.

We have a good handling system, which minimises stress

and injury on the animals, but it cannot eliminate all risks.

The whole family holds its breath for the reading of the test on the fourth day. The test itself hasn’t changed or improved in accuracy.

Many animals have been slaughtered around the country, yet no TB found.

The wildflower blossom has been spectacular, especially the blackthorn, with promises of sloes to come. However, all plum blossom has to survive the frosts.

The wildflowers seem to be

early this year, even the bluebells are fully out – these used to be May flowers.

We saw our first swallow on March 30, the same day I took the photo of the cows grazing happily in the spring sunshine in the field behind us. The cow in the foreground is a roan dairy shorthorn. I love the look of these cows!

Shorthorns are hardy cattle which look after themselves. Good grazers, they happily continue to graze when it’s raining, not taking to the hedge as quickly as Holsteins. Their milk is generally higher fat and protein, but not as much volume. Longevity and fertility is good, and being a dualpurpose animal, their beef calves yield good bodies of beef.

When my father was first farming, shorthorns were the most common breed on farms, then came a drive to use Ayrshires, then a few years later the Friesians arrived, later still the large Holsteins.

Each breed has its strong

points. Ayrshires are smaller, fine-boned animals, with good quality milk, but before the days of sexed semen, the bull calves were largely unwanted and ended up as pet food.

Friesians/British Friesians are larger animals with higher milk yield, their bull calves were used as bull beef, or veal, and many were exported back in the 1980s.

With the advent of sexed semen, unwanted dairy bull calves are not born, but now the cows not required as replacement dairy caves are mated with beef breeds –Aberdeen Angus, Hereford and continental breeds such as Simmental, Belgian Blue – now British Blue has been bred – and several others. These male animals make good beef for various markets. We favour the Aberdeen Angus heifers for our shop and internet customers. The steers are sold as stores. The farm shop was very busy over the Easter period. Darren’s lambs were ready for the roast dinners – we are lucky to have slaughterhouses in easy reach, where stress to the animals is at a minimum. Short journeys, timed, respectful deaths and certainty of getting your own animals back.

A roan dairy shorthorn among Ruth Kimber’s cows grazing happily in the spring sunshine

Protecting your farm against fuel theft

Farms are an attractive target for fuel thieves and never more so than during the current crisis of escalating oil and diesel prices. In collaboration with Dorset Police, Cornish Mutual is encouraging farmers to review their security measures. Here are some practical steps you can take to reduce the risk of becoming a target.

Fuel tanks are an obvious vulnerability, particularly when in isolated or less visible locations. Positioning tanks close to buildings or within clear sight of the farmhouse or yard can help deter opportunistic theft. Avoid locating tanks in remote outbuildings, but where this isn’t possible, secure fencing and natural barriers like hedges can make access more difficult. CCTV and security lighting, including motion-activated or duskto-dawn systems, are also effective ways to discourage unwanted activity.

Regular checks are equally important. Monitoring fuel levels and inspecting tanks for signs of tampering, such as damaged locks, unusual marks or spilt fuel, can help identify issues early. Also consider mobile bowsers that can be stored securely when not in use and using diesel dye to make fuel traceable and less attractive to thieves.

Fuel theft is rarely a quick crime. It often involves planning, vehicles and potentially numerous containers, meaning suspicious activity can sometimes be spotted. Reporting anything unusual, particularly vehicles seen late at night in rural areas, can help protect not only your farm, but neighbouring businesses as well.

Alongside prevention, it is important to ensure you have the right insurance cover in place. Cornish Mutual understands the risks facing farms today and offers practical, tailored support alongside comprehensive farm insurance to help protect your business and provide peace of mind, should the worst happen.

For advice on protecting your farm and to review your insurance cover, contact Cornish Mutual on 01872 277151 or visit www.cornishmutual.co.uk

Farming

Vet diaries –spring reflections

by Tom Angel, veterinary surgeon, Synergy Farm Health

DRIVING on duty in recent days, enjoying sunshine and temperatures nudging 19˚C, I found myself reflecting on just how quickly things can change. It seems only a few weeks ago we were battling floods and spiralling energy costs felt marginally more manageable. Even my neighbouring dairy farmer has already taken his first cut of grass – a sure sign spring is well and truly under way.

Spring calving and lambing appear to have felt the shift too, with many farms welcoming new arrivals seven-10 days earlier than expected. Thankfully, there have so far been no signs of

Bluetongue or Schmallenberg virus, with no associated issues such as stillbirths or weak or deformed lambs and calves.

This spring’s dominant theme has been LDA operations, but we’ve also been seeing a number of other feed-related problems in dairy cows, including milk fevers and staggers, even in midlactation animals. No one wants to encounter these issues, and while ‘just one DA’ may seem a relatively straightforward fix, it’s often only the tip of the iceberg. Underlying metabolic issues can have lasting knock-on effects on both yields and fertility, long after surgery is complete.

We’ve had reports of low magnesium and high potassium

levels in last year’s silages, influenced by temperature swings of up to 20 degrees and repeated ground frosts. Feed shortages have also led to more frequent chopping and changing of rations than cows would ideally like. As grass begins to be cut and ensiled –something that should now be routine – it’s worth stressing the value of regular silage analysis. Providing vets and nutritionists with accurate, up to date data is invaluable when it comes to ration formulation and troubleshooting.

In other news, early March saw the launch of the Great South West Partnership Agrifood Growth Plan at Westminster. The event showcased the south west region as a national leader in

Synergy Farm Health Vets

food security, productivity and long-term growth across farming, fishing, food manufacturing and agrifood technology.

We were delighted that Synergy vets Alastair and Rachel Hayton were invited to attend the launch and roundtable discussion at Portcullis House, joining senior leaders from agrifood businesses across the south west, alongside government representatives. Discussions focused on how to support long-term growth in an industry that is so critical to the nation’s economic future and resilience.

A hugely important moment for the sector – and we were proud to have Alastair and Rachel representing Synergy Farm Health at the heart of it.

Many farms have welcomed spring calves seven-10 days earlier than expected

Tom Angel Alastair and Rachel Hayton

SPRINGHILL POULTRY

BH21 4JE, Point of lay chickens, Ducks, Turkeys, Feed and bedding, 07970-672003

FOR SALE: Grass reared pheasant poults available, June, July & August. Tel: 07824-807093

LOOKING FOR SHEEP SHEARER for small flock for May 2026 onwards. Near Sturminster Newton. 07786-478183.

Deadline to place your advert is the Friday before publication.

R&W FENCING Agricultural paddock and stock. 01258-88089207980-036250

WANTED land to buy in Dorset 07810 472347

STATIC CARAVAN, mobile home. 35x12, 2bed, D/G, C/H, Patio front doors, £12,950. Others available from £1,500. Tel: 07753-793060

CONCRETE GROOVING, Mobile Grain Crimping and dry rolling Service. Cowco Southern. Call Ted: 07970-965040

WANTED COWS COWS COWS

Farmers short of winter fodder? Sell your surplus cows NOW to achieve higher prices.

• All Grades

• 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 Tel: 07811 381159

Brookfield Livestock Marketing Ltd 7 days a week.

Friday 20th June

STANDING STRAW AUCTION

Gomershay Farm, Stalbridge, Sturminster Newton

ON-FARM AUCTION

Thursday 17th October at 11.00am

Genuine Dispersal of 2 Tractors, Telehandler, 24:24 Parlour, Poly-Tunnel, Grassland & Livestock Equipment, Workshop Items, etc

Wednesday 28th June at 6.30pm Bindon & Pinhay

Bindon & Pinhay

Silverlake Farm, Sherborne, DT9 6SN

The Grain Store, Heathfield, Rousdon, Dorset

SHIPPING CONTAINERS

The Grain Store, Heathfield, Rousdon, Dorset 830ac of Standing Straw

FOR SALE / HIRE

Genuine Dispersal of Combine, Self Propelled Sprayer, 4 Tractors, 2 JCB Telehandlers, Forklift, Pick-Up, Arable Machinery & Livestock Equipment

Genuine Dispersal of Combine, Self Propelled Sprayer,

• 461ac Wheat

Tel: 01258 472288

237ac Winter Barley

• 237ac Winter Barley

• 132ac Oats

•

2017 Claas Lexion 650 Combine with Vario 770 Header, Shelbourne Reynolds RSD20 Stripper Header, 2011 Bateman RB17 (3,708hrs) Sprayer, 2019 Massey

Mob: 07977 936109

New and second hand containers - blue/green - all with box locks

Friday 30th June at 12 noon

Friday 30th June at 12 noon Durweston

Travellers Rest Farm, Durweston, Blandford, Dorset 6,220 acres of Standing Straw

6,220 acres of Standing Straw

PEDIGREE ABERDEEN ANGUS BULLS (Wessex herd) March born yearlings and 2 year olds. Health scheme. Black or red bulls. Puddletown £3000 07770 794615 jake@wessexgrazing.uk

• 2,442ac Wheat

• 2,006ac Winter Barley

• 1,557ac Spring Barley

Andrew Lee Vegetation Management

• 1,557ac Spring Barley 178ac Oats

• 178ac Oats

• 37ac Oil Seed Rape

2017 Claas Lexion 650 Combine with Vario 770 Header, Shelbourne Reynolds RSD20 Stripper Header, 2011 Bateman RB17 (3,708hrs) Sprayer, 2019 Massey Ferguson 7720S Dyna6 (2,320hrs) & 7718 Dyna6 (2,880hrs), 2016 New Holland T7.210 (3,610hrs) & T7.200 (4,365hrs) Tractors, 2012 JCB 531-70 (2,145hrs) & 1997 527-58 Telehandlers, 2010 Isuzu Rodeo Pick-Up, Doosan Pro5 18 Forklift, McConnel 8.2m & 6.3m Cambridge Rollers, Twose & Watson 10’ Tandem Rollers, KRM Sola Ares 2713 Drill, Vaderstad NZ 6m Cultivator, Kuhn HR 4004 Hyd. Folding Power Harrow, KV DXA 4.7m Trailed Discs, KV LD85 5f Rev Plough, Kuhn VariMaster 153 5f Rev Plough, McConnel 3m Shakerator, Kverneland TL Geospread Fertiliser Spreader, McConnel Magnum Euro 280 Hyd Offset Topper, Bomford Hawk 6m Hedgecutter, Kuhn FC313 TG Mower Conditioner, 2 x Stewart 16-21L Grain Trailers, Marshall BC25 Bale Trailer, Cattle Hurdles, Attachments (Q-Fit), Machine Spares, Workshop Items, Weights, etc.

2021 Merlo TF 42.7 CS Turbo Farmer (2,690hrs), 2010 Case Puma 140 (10,939hrs), International 674 with Loader, 24:24 Fullwood Afimilk Parlour, Cotswold Flush, Fullwood Auger Master Feeders, Ambic Teat Sprayer, 2000 Fullwood 12,500ltr Fabdec Bulk Tank, ND Jeanes 15t Bulk Bin, Rowlands 20t High Discharge Bin, Mollasses Tank & Stand, 2018 Anka Pro Foot Trimming Crush, 2010 Marshall QM2 Silage Trailer, 2005 Joskin 11000ME Slurry Tanker, 2017 Keenan VA2-18 Feeder Wagon, 2020 Aerworxx 10-30m Aerator, Lely Splendimo 280F Mower, 2012 Pottinger Lion 301 3m Power Harrow, Browns Flail Topper, 2002 Major 700 Road Brush, Ifor Williams TA510G Livestock Trailer, 2021 Merlo 8ft Bucket, Wylie Shear Grab, 25ft Single Axle Bale Trailer, Single Leg Mole Plough, Teagle Tomahawk 4040 Bale Shredder, Mixit PTO Lagoon Stirrer, Quicke 210 Loader Bucket, Logic Contact 200 Weed Wiper, 2009 Joskin 4300/209SDH Shallow Disc Injector, Feed Trailer, Large Quantity of Electric Fencing Stakes, Reels & Fencers, Quantity of Feed Troughs, Various Feed Buckets, Mobile Milker, Hook on Buckets, Wydale Teat Feeders, Parlour Matting, Parlour Fans, Calftel Group Hutches, Various Field & Yard Gates, 32mm Water Pipe, Parlour Spares, Quantity of Astro Turf, Emergency Bulk Tank, Concrete Water Troughs, 60ft x 30ft Poly Tunnels. Further entries invited.

Grass flail and scrub flail available for the management of scrub, brambles, grass etc. Working on slopes of up to 50 degrees with operator.

Friday 7th July at 12 noon

Friday 7th July at 12 noon Wynford Eagle

The Grain Store, Manor Farm, Wynford Eagle, Dorchester, Dorset

The Grain Store, Manor Farm, Wynford Eagle, Dorchester, Dorset 1298 acres of Standing Straw

• 599ac Wheat

• 281ac Winter Barley

• 119ac Spring Barley

• 229ac Oats

• 70ac Oil Seed Rape Full

Thursday 30th April at 11.00am

Friday 20th June

STANDING STRAW AUCTION

ON-FARM AUCTION

Gomershay Farm, Stalbridge, Sturminster Newton

Ashley Farm, Kings Somborne, Stockbridge, SO20 6RQ Dispersal Sale of Combine, Telehandler, 3 Tractors & Arable Machinery

On behalf of Spicer Partners

Thursday 17th October at 11.00am Silverlake Farm, Sherborne, DT9 6SN

Wednesday 28th June at 6.30pm Bindon & Pinhay

On behalf of John Swain Limited (Retiring)

Genuine Dispersal of 2 Tractors, Telehandler, 24:24 Parlour, Poly-Tunnel, Grassland & Livestock Equipment, Workshop Items, etc

The Grain Store, Heathfield, Rousdon, Dorset 830ac of Standing Straw

STANDING STRAW AUCTIONS

830ac of Standing Straw

Thursday 17th October at 11.00am Silverlake Farm, Sherborne, DT9 6SN Genuine Dispersal of Combine, Self Propelled Sprayer, 4 Tractors, 2 JCB Telehandlers, Forklift, Pick-Up, Arable Machinery & Livestock Equipment

Online bidding available

Genuine Dispersal of Combine, Self Propelled Sprayer, 4 Tractors, 2 JCB Telehandlers, Forklift, Pick-Up, Arable Machinery & Livestock Equipment

• 461ac Wheat

Wednesday 25th June

• 237ac Winter Barley

• 132ac Oats

Saturday 29th July

Pinhay and Bindon – The Grain Store, Heathfield, Rousdon Approx. 1,000ac of Standing Straw

Including: John Deere S785i Hillmaster Combine with 730 Premium Flow Header(19), John Deere 6R250 (24), John Deere 6230R (19), John Deere 6820 (04), Kramer 447 Ecospeed (19), John Deere R952i Trailed 30m Sprayer (20), Amazone Cenius 5003-2TX Super Tined Cultivator (23), Amazone Catros+ 7003-2TX Disc Cultivator (19), Amazone ZA-TS Ultra 4200 Fertiliser Spreader (19), Vaderstad RDA 600S Drill (19) with Vaderstad BioDrill 360 (24), Kongskilde 6m Virbroflex Cultivator, Kongskilde 6m Triple K Cultivator, Spearhead Batwing Topper (14), Dowdeswell DP120MA 6f Reversible Plough (97), 2 x AW 14t Grain Trailers (15 & 09), Starfire 6000 Receivers (RTK & SF1), Weights, Garden Machinery, Workshop Items, etc.

Online bidding available

On behalf of John Swain Limited (Retiring) Online bidding available Contact Greg Ridout: 01935

Saturday 29th July Buckham Down Farm, Beaminster DT8 3SH

Buckham Down Farm, Beaminster DT8 3SH

Friday 30th June at 12 noon

Friday 27th June

McConnel 8.2m & 6.3m Cambridge Rollers, Twose & Watson 10’ Tandem Rollers, KRM Sola Ares 2713 Drill, Vaderstad NZ 6m Cultivator, Kuhn HR 4004 Hyd. Folding

Hawk 6m Hedgecutter, Kuhn FC313 TG Mower Conditioner, 2 x Stewart 16-21L Grain Trailers, Marshall BC25 Bale Trailer, Cattle Hurdles, Attachments (Q-Fit), Machine Spares, Workshop Items, Weights, etc.

Emergency Bulk

Marshall BC25 Bale Trailer, Cattle Hurdles, Attachments (Q-Fit),

Friday 7th July at 12 noon

The Dairy Event on Wednesday, 2 October

Trailer, PortAgric 6’ Topper, Ransomes TS59 & TS90 & TS91 Ploughs, Krone AM242Z Mower Conditioner, on Wednesday, 2 October

Trailer, PortAgric 6’ Topper, Ransomes TS59 & TS90 & TS91 Ploughs, Krone AM242Z Mower Conditioner, Feeders, Stationary Engines, Signs, Bygones, etc.

Introduced: CAT TH408D Telehandler (18), Bateman RB35 36m Sprayer (09), Horsch Leeb 4LT 24m Sprayer, Horsch Joker 6RT 6m Cultivator (22), Horch Joker 5RT 5m Cultivator (25), Dale 9m Eco Drill (20), Bailey 8/66 22ft Low Loader (19), Amazone ZA-TS 4200 Fertiliser Spreader (18), Kverneland Exacta-TL GEO Fertiliser Spreader (16), Maschio Bisonte 280 Topper (25), etc.

Wynford Eagle

Further suitable entries welcome.

The Grain Store, Manor Farm, Wynford Eagle, Dorchester, Dorset

On behalf of Ashley Farm Partnership (Change of Farming Policy)

Please call in to our stand for refreshments and to meet our rural and agricultural experts

1298 acres of Standing Straw

Please contact Greg Ridout 07817 517467

Contact Greg Ridout: 01935 382909/07817 517467

• 599ac Wheat

Contact Greg Ridout: 01935 382909/07817 517467 Online bidding available

• 281ac Winter Barley

599ac Wheat 281ac Winter Barley

• 119ac Spring Barley

• 229ac Oats

RESIDENTIAL | AGRICULTURAL | COMMERCIAL

• 70ac Oil Seed Rape

• 229ac Oats 70ac Oil Seed Rape

at symondsandsampson.co.uk

Hawk 6m Hedgecutter, Kuhn FC313 TG Mower Conditioner, 2 x Stewart 16-21L

Machine Spares, Workshop Items, Weights, etc.

McConnel 8.2m & 6.3m Cambridge Rollers, Twose & Watson 10’ Tandem Rollers, KRM Sola Ares 2713 Drill, Vaderstad NZ 6m Cultivator, Kuhn HR 4004 Hyd. Folding

Hawk 6m Hedgecutter, Kuhn FC313 TG Mower Conditioner, 2 x Stewart 16-21L Grain Trailers,

Teagle Tomahawk 4040 Bale Shredder, Mixit PTO Lagoon Stirrer, Quicke 210 Loader

Wydale Teat Feeders, Parlour Matting, Parlour Fans, Calftel Group Hutches, Various

Tank, Concrete Water Troughs, 60ft x 30ft Poly Tunnels. Further entries invited.

DORSET | DEVON | SOMERSET | HAMPSHIRE | WILTSHIRE | CORNWALL | LONDON PROPERTY AUCTIONS AXMINSTER, WIMBORNE & SHERBORNE

Thursday 30 April - The Guildhall,

Land for sale by public auction:

Loders, Bridport

Lot A Guide

£200,000 18.15 acres with farm buildings.

Lot B Guide £120,000 12.41 acres.

Lot C Guide £140,000 14.03 acres. Freehold. Dorchester | 01305 236237

Allington, Bridport Guide £85,000 5.77 acres. Freehold. Axminster | 01297 33122

Cuttifords Door, Chard Guide £35,000 1.32 acres. Freehold Axminster | 01297 33122

Yetminster Sherborne | 01935 814488

Guide £200,000

A detached 3 bed bungalow with a generous wraparound garden, garage and driveway. With planning permission to demolish the existing property and replace with 3 dwellings.Freehold. EPC E. CTB C.

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. Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

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

Dorchester Dorchester | 01305 261008

Guide £15,000

1.11 acres of woodland and riverbank, varying in topography, having recently been cleared and enhanced by the current owner. Freehold.

Blandford Forum

Guide £75,000

A Grade II Listed 2 bed maisonette in the town centre with period features and garden. Leasehold. 99 years from 24 June 1981. GR £150 pa. BI approx. £850 pa. EPC exempt. CTBA.

Blandford | 01258 452670

Shroton

Ideally placed right in the heart of the town centre, this convenient terraced cottage has the rare benefit of off road parking and a sunny courtyard garden.

Ilminster Ilminster | 01460 200790

A character south-facing stone house in an excellent central village location with a large oak-framed double garage, workshop and south-

An attached 2 bedroom period property situated in this highly sought after village.

Freehold. EPC E. CTB B.

Cranborne Wimborne | 01202 843190 Guide £200,000

A detached 4 bed period property in need of refurbishment, with private gardens, outbuildings, in a quiet setting in this popular village. Freehold. EPC E. CTB F.

Blandford | 01258 452670

This delightful 2-bedroom end-of-terrace cottage has been fully updated but retains great charm. It is situated in the heart of this mo

This but retains great charm. It is situated in the heart of this mo

Sturminster

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

An attractive, double-fronted 3-bedroom period property tucked away on an idyllic country lane with character features throughout and views over

A tastefully improved 4-bedroom village house with light and spacious accommodation, set in attractive gardens and backing onto farmland.

Marnhull

North

Shroton

DORSET | DEVON | SOMERSET

PROPERTY AUCTIONS AXMINSTER, WIMBORNE & SHERBORNE

DORSET | DEVON | SOMERSET | HAMPSHIRE | WILTSHIRE | CORNWALL | LONDON

Thursday 21 May - The Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AA

Longburton, Sherborne

A mixed deciduous woodland extending to approximately 4.01 acres (1.62 hectares) spilt into two parcels. A diverse variety of flora and fauna in a Site of Nature Conservation Interest. Freehold.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 472244

Marnhull

2.70 acres of permanent pasture with two field shelters and a small area of hardstanding. Good access directly off highway. Freehold.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 472244 Guide £50,000

4.37 acres of mixed mature woodland located in a peaceful, rural location within Dorset’s National Landscape. Freehold.

Middlemarsh Dorchester | 01305 236237 Guide £65,000

Bourton

Guide £25,000

A well-positioned 1.54 acre parcel of level land on the edge of a popular village, with countryside views and excellent connectivity. Freehold.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 472244

acres of gently sloping, to sloping woodland in a peaceful, rural location with outstanding far-reaching views to the sea. Freehold.

an excellent central village location with a large oak-framed double garage, workshop and south-

Holnest Sherborne | 01935 814488

Guide £450,000

An exciting Class Q development site for 5 x 3 bed and 1 x 1 bed dwellings in a peaceful rural location. Freehold.

£125,000 A 3 bed house, in need of full renovation, situated in the heart of Sherborne. Subject to a Sec 157 restriction to have lived or worked within the local area. Freehold. EPC E. CTB B

Sherborne Sherborne | 01935 814488

but retains great charm. It is situated in the heart of this mo

This delightful 2-bedroom end-of-terrace cottage has been fully updated but retains great charm. It is situated in the heart of this mo Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Bishops Caundle, Sherborne

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766 Guide £275,000+VAT

Lot A Greenham, Crewkerne

A charming Grade II listed Public House offering a fantastic business opportunity as well as living accommodation. The property is sold with a fitted commercial kitchen and has been at the heart of the community for a great number of years. RV £11,750. Freehold. Haydon, Sherborne Sherborne | 01935

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,

Dorchester | 01305 236237

An attractive, double-fronted 3-bedroom period property tucked away on an idyllic country lane with character features throughout and views over

Freehold. EPC E. CTB F. Lot B Greenham, Crewkerne

A tastefully improved 4-bedroom village house with light and spacious accommodation, set in attractive gardens and backing onto farmland.

The land extends to 37.30 acres (15.10 ha) in total and comprises two productive parcels of agricultural land currently laid to grass, but has previously supported arable crops. Classed mostly as Grade 2 with far reaching views. Freehold.

Sherborne | 01935 814488

Dorchester | 01305 236237

Marnhull

Shroton Gui

Stalbridge

Mappowder

Guide £585,000

Guide £595,000

Buckhorn Weston

Marnhull

Guide £425,000

Guide £525,000

A fine Grade II listed former village Post House with attractive gardens,

A charming original stone cottage with super garden room extension to the rear, far-reaching views and lovely large south-facing garden. 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 surrounding countryside. CTB E. Freehold.

A character south-facing stone house in an excellent central village

A detached character cottage with good sized rooms and pretty garden near the middle of this popular village. Freehold. CTB E, EPC E.

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

Gillingham

Shroton

Guide £435,000

A detached bungalow at the quiet end of a cul de sac offering parking, a garage and gardens both front and back. Freehold. CTB C, EPC D.

This delightful 2-bedroom end-of-terrace cottage has been fully updated

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.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766 Guide £300,000

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Guide £285,000

An attractive, double-fronted 3-bedroom period property

A pretty stone Grade II listed cottage in a superb central town location within easy walking distance of all amenities and facilities. Freehold. CTB D, EPC Exempt.

An attractive, double-fronted 3-bedroom period property tucked away on

away on an idyllic country lane with character features throughout and views over the neighbouring countryside. CTB C. Freehold.

Sherborne | 01935 814488

Newton | 01258 473766

North Cheriton

OIEO £400,000

tucked

Shaftesbury

Sturminster

Wincanton

Henstridge

Thinking of Moving?

We have now entered the spring market with lighter evenings and warmer weather providing the best time to sell your home. If you are considering a move in the near future, we will be delighted to offer a free valuation and market advice on your property.

Please call 01963 34000 or email wincanton@hambledon.net to book an appointment.

£144,000 Wincanton

Symonds & Sampson take to the London

Symonds & Sampson looks forward to exhibiting at the popular London & Country Property Show on 13 May.

Stage

The annual show, hosted by The London Office and held at Chelsea Old Town Hall, has become the ‘go-to’ event for those looking to buy or sell. Agents nationwide offer advice on properties and localities to guide would-be movers to their perfect destination.

The event has become a popular fixture on the calendar as Bob Bickerstaff, Director of The London Office, explains, ‘The show is for those who are inquisitive about moving away from London in search of a different lifestyle. We expect good attendance as the trend of relocating out of London continues. This year, a showcase of development opportunities and new homes for potential investors is an exciting additional feature within the show’.

Representatives from Symonds & Sampson will present a selection of residential, agricultural, commercial, auction, and investment properties we have available for sale and to let.

To include your property and showcase it to the widest audience, please call 01258 473766 or contact your local Symonds & Sampson office to arrange your free market appraisal.

Beautiful new homes in Marnhull

Durbey field Park is a s tunning development of 61 high quality homes in a beautiful countr yside setting. Located jus t 3 miles from Sturmins ter Newton and close to Shaf tesbur y and Gillingham

Priced from £375,000, t he 3 and 4 bedroom

sus t ainable homes include solar PV panels, air source heat pumps and under f loor heating

Visit our s tylish new show homes and explore t he CG Fr y & Son dif ference for yourself !

Sales Of fice , 1 Marlott Crescent, Marnhull, Dorset, DT10 1GB

Tidy bungalow with no chain

THIS well-maintained bungalow in Springfield Road, Wincanton, is for sale with no chain with Hambledon at £245,000.

The property is in a tucked away location in a no through road on a mature residential development.

Gas central heating and double-glazed windows are installed.

For more information, phone Hambledon on 01963 34000.

It has a light and airy sitting room, fitted kitchen, two bedrooms, side and front porches, wet room, garage and gardens.

TO LET

ROOM TO LET IN STURMINSTER. Please phone for more details. Tel: 01258-473598

HOLIDAY LET

CRANTOCK, CORNWALL, THE TOWER HOLIDAY APARTMENT. Sleeps 4. Families and couples only. Atlantic beach and Coastal footpath, 4 minutes walk. Parking, Dog-friendly, no passing traffic. Tel: 01637-830394

The New Blackmore Vale Magazine

DEADLINES

Display ads must be booked by Wednesday the week prior to publication, with final copy submitted by the Friday.

Classified ads may be accepted after this, HOWEVER these will be subject to space.