Valley News October 2018

E E FR Issue No. 140

October 2018

for Whitechurch, Whatcombe, Clenston, Stickland, Houghton, Turnworth & Milton Abbas

HEADING TOWARDS HOUGHTON Picture by Tracie & Scott Taylor

Helping to inform and unite the Community Š Valley News 2018

Content may not be reproduced without prior permission of the contributor

It is easy to criticise Parish Councillors on social media but it should be remembered that Councillors are unpaid volunteers who are trying to work in the best interests of the community. It would be better if people worked with the Parish Council on the way forward, the first step is to decide whether there is a need for a replacement play park? and whether the expense can be justified? A team of volunteers is required to project manage the task which will be responsible for obtaining funding and also for all stages of design and build of any proposed replacement playpark. Previous appeals on a similar line have generated little support but this is a task which cannot be undertaken by the Parish Council alone. Ideally a subcommittee should be formed to work with the Parish Council on all aspects of the playpark, including removal of the existing equipment, replacement and future maintenance of the equipment & grounds. This will not be an easy job but it will serve the interests of the community and by working together, in a spirit of cooperation, there is no doubt that it can only be to the advantage of the children in Winterborne Stickland.

If you would like to assist in any aspect of the Playground Project then please contact the Parish Clerk at wsticklandpc@gmail.com Winterborne Stickland Parish Council

Editorial It's funny how sometimes in life you come across something that causes you to pause a moment and take stock. It might be something big - an achievement at school - an award presented - a new relationship starting - a house move… But it can also be something small, one of those occasions where you simply stop and stare, something that you find yourself remembering for years afterwards.

This might be coming across a view on a walk, looking up and seeing a spectacular cloud formation, or a sunset from Okeford Hill. It might also be a small gesture of kindness from a friend or even a stranger. Did you hear about a couple that lost their mobile phone? A family found it and saw the photograph on the front screen (it happened to be of the wife of the phone owner) and the family set out to search for the woman in the picture. When they came across her at a café they were pleased to be able to return the phone - and needless to say, the owner was pleased and relieved to get it back. When offered a reward, the family said no thanks - they wouldn't even accept an ice cream for their two children. "There's no need for a reward, it's what any decent folk would do," was the comment. How heart-warming to hear of the way that they put themselves out - another episode that restores your faith in human nature, and perhaps unusual enough to make you stop and think.

We often hear nowadays that the world is very busy, very hectic and pressured, that we need to make sure that we have a good balance between work and 'life'. Every occasion that we enjoy, every event that we undertake, every time we stop and stare goes some way to helping maintain that balance.

In a small café at Lyme Regis there is a sign hanging on the wall that made me stop and take note: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away." May you have many such moments!

The Valley News Team

Milton Abbas & Milborne St Andrew Surgery A reminder to patients that our annual flu clinic will be held on the morning of Saturday 20th October at Winterborne Whitechurch village hall. If you are eligible for a flu vaccination, please make every effort to attend this clinic as this is the most efficient way for us to ensure we have time to vaccinate everyone. If you have not received a letter or text message from us but are over 65 or otherwise eligible to receive a flu vaccination, please take this as your invitation to attend.

This year there will be three different vaccinations, one for those patients over 65, one for younger adult patients with long term conditions and a third (a nasal spray) for children: you will therefore be asked to confirm your age at the flu clinic to ensure you are vaccinated appropriately.

Winterborne Whitechurch Parish Council The September meeting of the Parish Council was held on Wednesday 12th in the Old School Room.

Minutes of the meeting can be found on the three notice boards in the village and on the PC website. http://winterbornewhitechurchparishcouncil.org.uk Two subjects where the PC Needs You are as follows: We are looking for a Self-employed Part Time Handy Man to restore some of the benches in the village including 2 in the play park. There are also a few odd jobs that crop up over the year needing doing. If you are interested please contact the Clerk on 01258 880600 for further information.

The second is that the local Speed Watch Team needs more volunteers. If you think that the vehicles speed through the village on the A354 or Whatcombe Lane or Chescombe Lane etc we need you to help. You must be over 18. Once again if you are interested please contact the Clerk on 01258 880600.

Please Note change of October and November meetings which are now 24th October and 21st November in the Old School Room, Winterborne Whitechurch.

The Blandford Surgeries It's flu jab time!

To help stay healthy this autumn/winter and prevent the spread of flu to others, it's time to have your annual flu jab. Flu is contagious, and can be passed on through coughing, sneezing or by touching contaminated surfaces.

Anyone over 65, patients with particular health conditions such as asthma, and carers will be invited by text, letter or prescription reminder to make an appointment for one of the special Saturday sessions below: Eagle House Surgery o 6th October - Adults only o 20th October - Everyone eligible o 3rd November - Everyone eligible Whitecliff Surgery o 22nd September (Blandford) o 13 October (Blandford) o 3rd November (Child Okeford) The parents of all children born between 1.9.2014 and 31.8.2016 should also book flu nasal sprays at their surgery. School age children will have them at school Alternatively, if you have an appointment with your Doctor or nurse on another matter, you can ask for your flu jab at the same time. Doctors will have supplies of the flu vaccine available in the surgery.

If you have been invited but don't want your flu vaccine, please inform the surgery. You will still be invited again next year!

It is also a good idea to stock up on cold relief products. If you need any help with what to buy, your local pharmacy can advise you.

Winterborne Stickland Children's Playpark The Playpark at the sports field is now getting to the end of its useful life, over recent years it has been a struggle to maintain it to an acceptable level of safety. The playpark has a professional safety inspection every year and last year, whilst it passed, there were concerns about the long term viability. Spare parts are difficult to obtain and it is hard to find volunteers who are willing to do the work and most playpark companies are unwilling to take on the task.

The difficult decision has now been taken to close the playpark at the end of September 2018 as it is no longer possible to guarantee the safety of village children using the equipment. Whether or not we replace the playpark is a decision for the village in conjunction with the Parish Council. This is a costly and complicated exercise and can only be undertaken with the co-operation and support of the community as a whole. The likely cost will be in the region of £35,000 - £50,000 , going by the original expense and that of other Parishes who have recently undertaken similar work. The funding is beyond normal Parish Council resources and will require fund raising and grant applications.

Bere Regis Floral Group The next meeting of Bere Regis Floral Group will be on Tuesday October 9th at 2pm in Winterborne Kingston village hall. It is to be a workshop tutored by Annette Parker. Visitors and new members are always welcome.

If you are interested and would like details of what to bring along to take part in the workshop, contact secretary Sue Stone on 01929 471083.

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The Valley Gardening Club

Tools With a Mission

Despite a lower number of entries due to the hot weather, the Summer Show was once again a great success. Congratulations to all the exhibitors for the high standard of entries.

Winners: Sweet Pea Shield Karen Marchant Murray Simpson Trophy Shiela Pilkington The Gladioli Cup Hazel Steele The Dahlia Cup Hans Hennicker The Sid Smith Trophy Hans Hennicker The General Cup Hans Hennicker The President's Vase Hans Hennicker The Jubilee Bowl Hans Hennicker The Banksian Medal Chris Fielding The Handicraft Cup Philippa Smith The Beatrice Watson Cup Sarah Kelsey The Photography Cup Philippa Smith The WI Bowl Philippa Smith Thank you to everyone who helped in any way with the show. It is greatly appreciated.

Full details of our programme for 2018-2019 can be found on our website sites.google.com/site/vgcdorset where you can subscribe with your device to our calendar.

I'd like to thank everyone who generously donated following my appeal on behalf of Tools with a Mission (TWAM). As you can see I gathered quite a haul of tools and sewing machines, which were all recently collected from my home to be sent to the main depot in Ipswich where they are sorted into kits. These kits are then distributed to people in need, mainly in Africa, so they can make a living for themselves. If you have any unwanted tools or sewing machines please contact me on 01258 881676. TWAM are happy to refurbish tools, but unfortunately can't accept anything that is broken.

Nick Allen

Pamela Hambro Hall 100 club July 1st 196 Jerry Kelsey 2nd 168 Colin Baldwin 3rd 185 Alison Trevett Sept 1st 167 Anne Donnelly 2nd 142 Janet Bown 3rd Jilly Spencer

Valley News Party

August 1st 195 Arthur Gent 2nd 151 Anne Baldwin 3rd 118 Hazel Lappin Oct 1st 179 Zena Mills 2nd 142 Janet Bown 3rd 138 Gill Fulton

From time to time the Valley News hosts a Party for our marvellous band of deliverers as a way of saying thank you for the many hours of voluntary duty that they undertake, in all weathers, all year round. It is also a good opportunity to say thank you to those who have recently hung up their satchels.

The format changes and this year saw a new venture, holding the Party in the Winterborne Whitechurch Village Hall. Long Johns delivered fish suppers to around 50 guests and there was a cash bar available.

A good time was had by all and from the feedback we have received everyone enjoyed meeting up and sharing their experiences. Delivery rounds vary enormously, from those of well over 50 magazines to one that is just 2 (but with a long walk in between the houses!). If you would like to help we are always looking for volunteers, particularly people who might be willing to undertake holiday cover. Please contact Sue or Angela on news@valley-news.co.uk

Winterborne Whitechurch Scouts

Book Review Golden Hill, by Francis Spufford This historical novel has an exciting location, set in the young New York of 1746, thirty years before the Declaration of American Independence. One evening a handsome young man called Smith steps ashore from a London brig and presents a massive ÂŁ1,000 IOU or letter of credit to a local merchant called Lovell. Smith immediately falls for Lovell's sparky daughter, though her father thinks that the young man may be an impostor, and gives him just enough credit to last until the next London boat arrives. Smith is both courted and suspected by everyone, because he will not say what the money is for nor who is financing him. He is drawn into the fierce local politics at the same time as he proceeds to court the spiky Tabitha Lovell, whose sharp intelligence seems to be employed to cut him down to size. Dramas and adventures ensue, and the mystery of Smith's mission is successfully spun out until the last few pages.

The prose crackles in this acclaimed winner of the Costa First Novel Award, particularly in the dialogue and in the descriptions of the filthy, mercenary and dangerous back streets of old New York. There is a dull acting section and a somewhat implausible long letter from Smith to his father, but otherwise Golden Hill is thoroughly entertaining and fascinating, 'the best 18th century novel since the 18th century,' as one critic put it.

During the Summer Holidays we went on a fun Scout Camp called Jurassic Jamboree. It was held at Kingston Maurward, there were 100's of Scouts, Explorers and Guides there from all over the country and also people from lots of countries including Sweden, Spain, France and Ireland. There were so many activities such as: kayaking, caving, climbing, zorbing and much more! We went on a day trip to Brownsea Island to see where Baden Powell held his first camp. This camp was more enjoyable and very different from any other camp we have been on. It was a great experience, and a great laugh and we made lots of new friends. Winterborne Whitechurch Scouts have been invited to go over to Ireland next year for our summer camp, staying with a group we met this year. Thank you to the leaders who took us, our parents who paid for us to go, and other people who kindly gave our pack donations to help us attend.

George and Jack (Aged 12)

The Garden She stands like a statue, lost in her thoughts, in a world entirely her own.

How many wishes, how many dreams, will she add to her garden ungrown?

Hard is the digging, weary the weeding, but gentle the seeds that are sown.

Nurture the wishes, live out your dreams, and you will grow flowers from stone.

Jackie Grearson 4

The Winterborne Stickland Solar Fund Committee would like to remind residents of Winterborne Stickland that funding is available for community projects.

Applications for funding should be emailed to sticklandsolarfund@yahoo.com Decisions are made every 2 months.

The basic criteria is that ideas should have benefit to the community. A committee of volunteers select successful projects.

Valley News Information VN Team: Advertising: Distribution: Printing: Payments: Small Ads: Charity Events: Articles: Deadlines: Websites:

Graham Case, Valerie Ashford, Claire & John Scott, Barbara Luke, Jim Luke Anne Donnelly ads@valley-news.co.uk 01258 881261 Treasurer: Janet Snook news@valley-news.co.uk Sue Eggar and Angela D'Silva news@valley-news.co.uk Layout: Mark Steele news@valley-news.co.uk Purely Print www.purelyprint.co.uk 01258 459977 All advertising to be pre-paid. Cheques payable to ‘Valley News'. Internet Bank Transfers now accepted.

Private sellers only. Small ads will be included for a donation and confirmed for publication when the donation is received.

Events in the Valley News area will be listed free on the Events page. Normal advertising rates will apply for boxed ads.

Send by email to Mark Steele at news@valley-news.co.uk or to Valerie Ashford, 11 Fairmead, Stickland (DT11 OND) Please include name & contact number in case of any queries.

For Advertising : 10th of the prior month. For all other submissions (articles, pictures etc.): 15th of the prior month.

Late items may not appear until the next edition.

More information at sites.google.com/site/valleynewsdt11 Editions can be viewed at issuu.com/valleynewsdt11

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My son Caspar and I survived the 45 kilometres, 4 days trek on the famous Inca Trail and reached Machu Picchu near Cusco, Peru just after dawn on August 23 with our copy of Valley News (slightly dog eared having been crammed in my backpack over two passes in almost constant rain, some snow, top height 13,779 ft for the first pass and 13,123 ft for the second). At dawn we were in thick cloud but as time passed the clouds evaporated and by 10am the sun was boiling hot and the sky blue. As you can see from the picture, Caspar and I are very happy to have made it! First photo at around 7.30am, next clearer photo at around 9.30am of just the ruins. It was a great adventure. Caroline Barnes The Valley News in Toronto with CN tower by Anne Harding

Congratulations to Barbara Luke on her 100th birthday, made even more special with a message from The Queen.

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VIVIENHORDER Estate Agents See the latest properties online:

www.horderproperty.co.uk www.rightmove.co.uk www.teamprop.co.uk A local family run business Established 1984 Dealing with all types of residential property "We pride ourselves on personal service" 4 Salisbury Street, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7AR Email: office@horderproperty.co.uk Fax: (01258) 454459

Tel: (01258) 454419

BRYANSTON design Chartered Architects Building design work Planning and Building Reg. Applications Listed Building works Feasibility studies

Project management

NEW WORKS, EXTENSIONS and REFURBISHMENT. Richard Disbrow RIBA Blandford 01258 454879 www.bryanstondesign.co.uk e-mail bryanstondesign@btinternet.com

Conveyancing • Wills • Probate A friendly and efficient service Contact Paul Lowe, Solicitor 01258 881142 paul@lowelegal.co.uk www.lowelegal.co.uk

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four-fold. And this is just one species, to say nothing about the Dark Sword-grass, Pearly Underwing, Hummingbird Hawk, Diamond-back, and many other migrants. Truly astonishing as this is, in August and September the now colossal numbers of Silver Y moths attempt to return south, and research suggests that in favourable conditions, as many as 80% are successfully reaching destinations in the Mediterranean Basin. And by the time they arrive, conditions there are perfectly suitable for winter breeding. Moths, it turns out, are anything but boring, drab brown things. There is a French term for 'moths' which is a bit more poetic. It translates simply as 'Butterflies of the Night'.

Stickland River Management Group

Streamwatch If you are very lucky, a walk along the stream west of Stickland might just give you a glimpse of a Water Vole. We found feeding sites, tracks in wet mud and other signs of their presence earlier in the season, and several people have since seen individual animals, although their numbers do seem desperately low compared to those of a decade or more ago. If you are lucky you might spot a Kingfisher sitting quietly on a branch over the stream. What you are less likely to see are moths. Of course most are true creatures of the night, and yet, up and down our river valley, quite an astonishing range of species is present.

Generally people are happy with butterflies - except those that eat their cabbages - and enjoy seeing them in their gardens. Any mention of moths though is enough to make some people fidget, express their distaste, or scoff at boring brown things flapping around candles or porch lamps, or mention irritating pests that invade their homes and eat clothes. In fact, Britain has over 2,500 species of moths, and they are every bit as colourful, varied and fascinating as the 59 regularly occurring butterflies. Their sizes range from the large and striking hawkmoths right down to the miniscule, but often stunningly beautiful, 'leaf-miners' whose caterpillars feed on the sap and tissue layers within leaves. Their 'mines' are usually easy to see in the leaves of willow, alder, hazel and many more. Along the banks of our stream a good deal of common comfrey grows, and this is an important foodplant of the Scarlet Tiger caterpillar. Very occasionally the stunning adult insect can be found during daytime in June, resting on bankside vegetation along our stream. Among many species associated with freshwater habitats are three attractive little 'China-mark' moths. The caterpillars of two of these species feed underwater on aquatic vegetation. All three are found here.

Moths are found in a huge range of habitats from mountains and forest, to coastal cliffs, rivers and marshes. Certainly some can be damaging, though many are vitally important food for birds, bats and other mammals, making them an important part of the biodiversity of our islands. Others are important pollinators, especially of wild orchids.

But sadly many moths are in serious decline, and since 1914 fifty-six species have gone extinct. This is usually seen as another indication of the widespread degradation of our environment. Ironically, new moth species continue to arrive and colonise Britain. More than two dozen species have become resident in the last thirty years, and over 100 have been recorded here for the first time. Some have arrived naturally after spreading through Europe while others from as far as Australia and New Zealand have been imported with plants and become established here.

One little moth, an extreme rarity in Britain, revelling under the name Sclerocona acutellus, turned up here during the arrival in Stickland of bundles of water reed imported from Eastern Europe for thatching. Five were found in a light trap.

What's Cooking?

Just in case you had forgotten, Christmas is on the horizon. It is time to think about Christmas cakes, puddings and mincemeat making. No sooner has autumn begun than the idea of winter food and Christmas celebrations rear their heads to remind us that we need to start preparing for the festivities ahead.

Winter food does not have to be boring stodge - it can be vibrant and interesting with the use of herbs and spices. The combination of fruit and meat in casseroles changes the flavours and brings a zing to a casserole. If you are lucky enough to have access to quinces they are wonderful with red meats and game. Being hard they keep their shape much better than pears which are in the same family and quince is often used as the root system for grafted pear trees. They have a lovely perfumed flavour that enhances a casserole and Persian cuisine uses them a lot, combining them with the soft spices of cinnamon and cumin.

Most casseroles benefit from being made ahead of time to allow the flavours to develop and then reheated when needed. It is worth making a large quantity and freezing batches to pull out when you want a delicious meal but are pushed for time. I could not cope without a freezer as it reduces the amount of shopping I have to do and it gets stocked up with fruit and vegetables from the garden rather than leaving them until they have to be thrown away I freeze them. That way there is no food wastage. Do remember to label well. I found a container which had got separated from its label so had no idea what it was which can bring pleasant surprises but also can mean that it just stays in the freezer as an unknown.

Finding an easy tray bake supper dish that can be changed easily so that it reflects different styles and nationalities of cooking is really useful. Chicken is the meat most eaten in this country and is easy to cook in so many ways. I have written before that if you buy your chicken ahead of time and freeze it you will kill any campylobacter in the chicken and ensure no risk of the illness. Otherwise just make sure that the chicken is not washed and is well cooked. I prefer the thigh meat to the breast as the breast can dry out very easily and become a bit like sawdust.

Suggestion one:Take 400 g of sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2cm cubes and 400 g of carrots cut into 2cm cubes, put these into a roasting tray, drizzle over 1 tbs of olive oil and season well with salt and pepper. Roast in a preheated oven, 200C/180Cfan/Gas 6, for 10 minutes. Add 1 large red onion cut into wedges and 3 garlic cloves. Roast for another 20 minutes.

Add 8 chicken thighs, this allows two thighs per person, if they are large thighs reduce the number, also 1 lemon quartered, put them as a single layer. Sprinkle over 2 tsp ras-el-hanout and a handful of fresh thyme.

Roast for a further 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

Stir through a handful of fresh coriander and serve with some good yogurt.

Suggestion two: Swap the sweet potatoes and carrots for Mediterranean vegetables, aubergine, courgettes and peppers and leave out the lemon and ras-el-hanout and replace with cherry tomatoes.

Suggestion three: Swap sweet potatoes and carrots with new potatoes and peppers, replace the spices with rosemary as well as the thyme and add olives and capers.

Suggestions four: Swap the sweet potatoes for new potatoes, green beans, cannellini beans and peppers, replace the spices with olives and oregano.

The options are endless, add your favourite vegetables and herbs or spices plus the chicken and you have an easy, quick and tasty supper

A Scarlet Tiger caterpillar feeding on comfrey along our stream. Picture: Will Bown During more than twenty years of moth recording here on the banks of our stream, with specialist traps using mercury vapour lamps, over 600 different species have been logged, including many river and marshland specialists, and others more usually found on heathland, or in oak woodland. And there are immigrants too. Some of these travellers use air currents to help carry them from as far as Southern Europe and North Africa. At the Rothampsted Research centre, "Vertical-Looking Radar" has been monitoring the movement of high-flying migrating insects, travelling between 150m and 1200m above ground level. In years of high immigration up to 240 million adult Silver Y moths made it to the UK, where summer breeding can increase their numbers 8

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Events COFFEE MORNING & CHARITY SHOP Mondays, 10.30am-12.00, St. Mary’s Church, Stickland WHITECHURCH YOUTH CLUB (7-14 year olds welcome) Mondays, 6.30pm, Whitechurch Village Hall COFFEE STOP Tuesdays, 10.30am-12.00, St James, Milton Abbas CUP & CAKE Wednesdays, 10.30-12.00, Old School Room, Whitechurch ROUND ROBIN RAMBLERS SUN 7th OCT 2pm Kingston Lacy Estate & Badbury Rings (4½m) Meet at the Badbury Rings car park WED 17th OCT 11am Portesham & Hardy Monument (7m) Meet outside King’s Arms, Portesham. Bring Lunch.

SUN 4th NOV 2pm Gussage All Saints (4½m) Meet near Gussage All Saints Church. Ian Bromilow 880044 SUN 7th OCT at Milborne St Andrew Village Hall BALKAN CIRCLE DANCE WORKSHOP 4pm-5.30pm Tickets £5 from 01258 839230. Booking essential FAITH I BRANKO TRIO 7.30pm Bar open 7pm. Tickets from Sarah Ryan 01258 839230 and Gray’s Stores FRI 12th OCT Milborne Movies ‘THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI’ (15) 7.30pm, Milborne St Andrew Village Hall. Bar open 7pm. Tickets £3.50 on door.

FRI 19th OCT BINGO 7.30pm, Whitechurch Village Hall Raffle, Refreshments. In aid of Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance FRI 26th OCT AN EVENING WITH JULIAN FELLOWES AND A PICK OF HIS FLICKS 7.30pm, Layard Theatre at Canford School. Tickets £25 from canford.com/LayardTheatre or 01202 847525. In aid of Naomi House

Jumble Sale Saturday 13th October From 2pm Winterborne Whitechurch Village Hall any items to be donated maybe left at the hall from 9am Tea cakes, tea and coffee Contact Jim 01258 881204 or Martin 01258 628321 www.wwvh.co.uk

Winterborne Whitechurch Village Hall

Pub Night Social Evening Saturday 13th October at 7pm All welcome Come for a chat and a drink 10

CAR BOOT - TABLE TOP SALE Sunday 4th November from 11am Winterborne Whitechurch Village Hall Tables inside £5 - outside £3 Teas, coffees, Bar Contact: Jim 01258 881204 Martin 01258 628321 The Winterborne Valley & Milton Abbas Benefice Dear Reader, I am writing early in the month of September because there is a lot to fit in and as you may be aware, the editor regularly has to ask me for my contribution as the closing date is very close.

For the second week in September I have enrolled on a Salisbury Diocese wellbeing course. I haven't attended one of these before. It will be a new experience. I'm going walking and I am expecting great things!

George Trevelyan (a British historian and academic) said, 'I have two doctors, my left leg and my right' Walking is possibly the best form of exercise. It builds muscle, is good for the heart, increases bone density, improves flexibility and stimulates the immune system! Evidently we should all be doing it if we can!

If it is not possible for you to get out - you can still engage in a little mental wellbeing exercise. Place a chair in the middle of your room and

FROM THE REGISTERS Jonathan Stimpson and Sasha Valerie Clemens 22nd September at St Nicholas', Winterborne Clenston

SERVICES KEY:

OCTOBER SERVICES Clenston Houghton Milton Abbas Stickland Turnworth Whitechurch

sit on it! Then wait on God! Listen to the quiet and still your mind. I wonder what you will hear.

I had expected that I would be doing a lot of this sort of thing post ordination training. Having time to devote to the deeper things of life.

It doesn't happen. It is something that will have to wait until tomorrow.

The plan will be to get a little lost in those hills and lakes. To forget who we are, just for a few days. Lost, as in lost to the wind rippled water, the wide-open sky. Lost to the light and landscape. Lost to the speed of everyday life. In a world that seems to send me spinning some weeks, I am looking forward to concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other and nothing more! I hope to still the inner voices, to declutter my mind and open myself to hearing what God has to say to me! I hope that in some way you are able to find some space, peace, stillness in your lives, God bless, Alan

7th October Proper 22 19th after Trinity Green 1000 HC (Harvest) AR 1800 HC AR 1000 MW TS 0830 (BCP) sHC AR

14th October Proper 23 20th after Trinity Green 1800 EP (BCP) SL 0830 HC BCP AR

21st October Proper 24 21st after Trinity Green

1800 EP SL 1000 HC JHB/?

1000 (Harvest) JT/JHB 1000 HC AR 1100 (Harvest) DA/PC

28th October Proper 25 Last after Trinity Green

1000 HC AR 1000 MW SL 1800 HC AR 0830 (BCP) sHC AR

BCP 1662 Book of Common Prayer Traditional EP Evening Prayer HC Holy Communion (Eucharist) SHC Service without hymns or music MW Morning Worship, informal service for all, with old & new hymns & songs, without HC Rev'd Alan Ryan - AR • 01258 880482 • winterbornevalleyandmiltonbenefice.com Rev'd Sue Litchfield SL; Rev'd Jimmy Hamilton-Brown JHB; Rev’d Tina Sterling TS; Rev'd Helier Exon HE; Rev’d Jo Davis JD Debbie Albery DA; Harriet Ryan HR; Jenny Tory JT; Ian Bromilow IB; Wilma Bromilow WB; Piers Chichester PC

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dish. If you don't like peppers leave them out and swap with something else, if you have a glut of chard or spinach add that with nutmeg, it is up to you and your taste buds what combination you put together. You can also swap the chicken for a piece of salmon or some lovely sausages and the added benefit is that it is all cooked in one dish, less washing up. What's not to love.

Plums have been wonderful this year, so sweet with all the sun they have soaked up, they have many uses sweet and savoury. Plum vinegar is delicious in savoury cooking and for making salad dressing, delicious with roasted beetroot and heritage tomatoes. If you have a good apple cake recipe swap the apples for plums, and of course crumbles are perfect for plums. They add depth of flavour in beef casseroles in a similar way that chocolate does, you miss it if it was not there but you don't really know what it is that is adding that extra flavour. Instead of pear and frangipane try plums instead, they work brilliantly with almonds and make a lovely pudding. Plum jam is rich and divine, the easiest way is to put the sugar over the plums leave overnight and then boil the next day, no added water to dilute the flavour, a cinnamon stick imparts that delicious smoky flavour which works well with plums of all varieties, cardamom is another spice that works well with plums or leave them alone and enjoy pure plum.

Claire Scott

then a hard winter killing the rose. I leave the teasels for the birds to feed on, they have a majestic silhouette and look stunning in winter sunlight when touched with frost. Many seed heads are beautiful in their own right and add height and shape to a winter garden.

Increasingly we are being encouraged to garden with wild life in mind, not to be too tidy, leave a patch where the leaves can lie and there are some logs and branches from the prunings left to rot gently so that the amphibians and beetles can hibernate. It is lovely to see the birds and animals enjoy the space we create. Recently I have had a new 'poo' appear in the garden. Black with seeds in it. On asking around this is a visiting hedgehog, I have always left places that may suit hedgehogs in the hope that they would find their way in, I have yet to see one but they have left their message behind.

This is also a good time of year to think about plans for next year, sometimes a border starts to underperform and while we remember what did not work we can reconfigure it so that next year it is back to its best. Many plants have struggled with the freezing rain, rain and then the heat this year. I have some dahlias that are only just coming in to flower and the gladioli were noticeable for their absence in spite of having planted a lot of new bulbs which did not enjoy the dry and hot weather. The cannas on the other hand have been superb and the geraniums have been exceptional. I had some old plants which I had taken cuttings from and then planted out with the intention of letting them die in the winter, perhaps they knew what I had in mind but these old straggly plants are now very large floriferous plants that visitors keep commenting on, they are planted in a large tractor tyre and had lots of manure and compost to feed on, they have not been watered at all and have flourished. It just goes to show what some good well-rotted manure can do.

It is easy to get stuck in with all the jobs a garden provides us with but it is also essential to enjoy the rewards of that work, walk around see the plants, enjoy their effects, pick the flowers, fruit and vegetables that are the bounty of our labours. See the bees and butterflies which come to feed and marvel at nature's design. The bee flies were very evident this year with their long proboscis dipping into flowers, many more than I have seen in the past, and the more insects I see enjoying the garden the more rewarding I find it. Knowing that the sparrows had three lots of babies this year, who are so entertaining on the feeders, just adds another dimension to gardening and an additional benefit.

Claire Scott

Down the Garden Path I wonder what the weather for the rest of the year will be, gardeners are so dependent on the weather that it is easy to get over fixated with the it, but as the daylight hours reduce the plants change and tell us that autumn is on its way. Already the leaf colour is changing, and in some cases falling, which means that we can no longer pretend that it is still summer even if it is warm and dry. I emptied a wormery in August and used the soil for top dressing which has resulted in an amazing crop of tomato plants and courgette plants, a seven-inch tomato plant in September is going to struggle to do anything as the night temperatures fall and daylight reduces, it just goes to show the effect of warm soil on the speed of germination.

This time of year is very busy with the combination of taking apart displays in pots and hanging baskets, deadheading, cutting back perennials that have finished and planting bulbs. Tulips need to wait until November but daffodils, muscari, snow drops, fritillaria etc all need to go in this month. A row of pots full of small daffodils looks lovely in the spring, yellow is such a joyful colour after the drab winter months and a good reminder of the colour awaiting our senses. Personally, I don't like the pink daffodils, for me they should be yellow, white is OK, bits of orange are fine as it is the same pallet but pink not for me. There is a tulip that is supposed to look like an ice cream in a cone, I think its hideous, but that is the thing about gardening, we each like different things and can express it in our gardens without doing anyone any harm.

While the soil is warm it is an ideal time to plant bare rooted shrubs and trees. They are less expensive that the potted ones and need to go in as soon as you get them, give them a good soak in a bucket of water to really hydrate them after their journey to you, and make sure that the hole is bigger than you think they need as this will help their roots travel outwards, put some good compost at the bottom and soak the soil as well as watering the top when you have planted your plant. Trees may need staking to start with depending on how sheltered your garden is as it does help prevent root rock while they get established.

There are an increasing number of winter hardy salad crops which can be grown in the garden or in an unheated greenhouse, so much tastier than the soft salad leaves flown in from Africa or South America.

A pot of mint or chives will grow happily on a windowsill and now is the time to pot some up from the garden to carry through the winter months. Other herbs can be picked and frozen in ice cube trays then put in bags in preference to drying them as they keep their colour and flavour and you just need to pop a couple of ice cubes into your dish when cooking.

The best way to prune roses can provide hours of discussion, many of the old rules are being challenged as our weather changes. I cut out dead and crossed branches and reduce the height of tall roses to help prevent root rock, but in October they may well still be flowering well so I enjoy that and wait until they have finished. My main pruning is after the frosts have finished so that any die back from the winter is part of my pruning, that way I don't run the risk of pruning hard and

Discovery day at Knighton House 'Discovery' - our Autumn term learning disposition at Knighton House

At the start of each term at Knighton House School, the pupils take part in a themed Learning Disposition Day with a specific focus on learning methods. The theme for this Autumn term is 'Discovery' and this is applied in all subjects. Discovery was chosen as a way to kick start the new KED Curriculum; we felt it encompassed the attitude and approaches to learning we are striving to instill in all our pupils, so find out, ask, be curious, tinker, first guess, get it wrong, try it again and then discover. The pupils will have the opportunity to practise dispositions, to discover new skills and build on others. We hope the process will not only encourage more effective learning, but will also equip them to meet new challenges they might face in the future.

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Before the summer holidays each House was given part of the alphabet and tasked with 'discovering' interesting facts using the letters they were given. On 'Discovery Day' all this information was put together, by Houses, to create a large display in the Main House. Merits were given for the best House displays. For the rest of the day, pupils were split into year groups and enjoyed a range of 'discovery' activities, encouraging them to work together and to build new friendships, as well as strengthening existing ones.

One of the activities involved the use of the NATO phonetic alphabet: girls had to decipher the code and figure out a missing sentence.

Over in the sports department, girls were split into small groups and had to work together to create their own sport. They were given a range of equipment and could use as little or as much of it as they wished, but had to ensure that all game rules were written down, and that they were

able to describe their discovered sport to the other groups.

In the art room the Bs were given a piece of paper and pencil to 'talk for a walk' on the page. Once that was done, they passed their sheet to a neighbour. Next, they were asked to try to discover something new about their neighbour and for this 'discovery' to be reflected in the piece they were about to paint - a piece of art which incorporated the marks made with the pencil and then the shapes and patterns they felt achieved this - a sort of 'discovery' Kadinsky effect.

For the final activity, the girls had to create a timeline of key scientific discoveries. They were given the role of researcher, timeline organiser or display creator. The day's activities encouraged teamwork, effective communication and engaged their curiosity.

We hope that the 'discovery' theme will quicken interest among our pupils, and develop their imagination and creativity, important traits in life.

Walking along Water Lane on the last day of summer, the sun was shining, promising a warm day. I snapped a photo of 2 ponies grazing peacefully together in the meadow adjoining the last bungalow on West Street.

The hedgerows are bursting with blackberries and hawthorn berries. Iris, long since past flowering, are leaning towards the stream, trailing the tips of their leaves in the sparkling clear water.

I always finish my walk just before the trout farm, at a spot where I can stand for a few minutes, listening to the sound of the water, and the rustle of leaves in the breeze.

Then, today, officially the first day of autumn, I spotted hops growing in the hedge by the stream, and a most wonderful sight. ....... the flashing iridescent blue of a kingfisher darting upstream. Glorious.

Jackie Grearson

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Valley Organisations & Contacts Abbey Swimming Club Milton Abbey Swimming Pool. Tue 1830-2030, Fri 1930-2030, Sat 1000-1200, Sun 8am-9am, Lynn 881443, Pat 880601, Stephen 881524, abbeyswimmingclub@gmail.com Aquacise and lane swimming for fitness Exercise in the water - safe and fun for all ages. Ladies and gentlemen welcome Fridays 6.30pm Maria 880895 secretary@masportsclub.org.uk Bere Regis Floral Group 2nd Tue each month, 2pm, Kingston Village Hall, Diane Edmunds 01929 472 331 British Horse Society (Dorset) County Bridleway Officer • 01258 880318 carolshoopman@btinternet.com Bus2Go Margo www.bus2godorset.org 01258 837749 / 07917 298321 Dunbury Church of England Academy www.dunbury.dsat.org.uk • 880501 Extend Exercise (to music for 60s+) Fri 10am-11am, PHH, Jilly Spencer 07971 755715 Golf Club Milton Abbey School, Laura Haim 881872 Jan’s Fun Art & Craft Classes 07836 639514 janodesigns@yahoo.co.uk Ladies Keep Fit Wed 7.30pm WVH. Mary Fripp 880416 Milborne St. Andrew Village Hall Events Alice Harrall 01258 837371 msavillagehall@gmail.com Milton Abbas 2001 Women’s Group Pauline Northeast 880223 Milton Abbas Art Group Mon 7pm-9pm, RRMA, Elizabeth Walker elizziewalker@yahoo.co.uk Milton Abbas Local History Group 1st Wed each month, 7pm RRMA Bryan or Pamela Phillips 880385

VENUE KEY OSR Old School Room, Whitechurch PHH Pamela Hambro Hall, Stickland RMA Reading Rooms, Milton Abbas WVH Whitechurch Village Hall

Milton Abbas Neighbourcar For your medical transport needs, 01258 470333 Milton Abbas Riding For The Disabled Friday 10am-12noon Term time, Luccombe Riding Centre, Sue Hodder 880229 Milton Abbas Sports Club Andy Smith 880310 The Middleton Players Mike Roberts 880976 Pamela Hambro Hall 880969 • pamelahambrohall.wix.com/home Patient Voice (the Patient Reference Group for Milton Abbas & Milborne St Andrew Surgery), Sec. Nigel Hodder 880229 Pilates 1 hr classes: Mon 10am; Tue 6.45pm; Wed 10am; Thu 12.00; PHH, Jilly Spencer 07971 755715 POPP Wayfinders for The Winterbornes Sue Inman 07920 650608 Sue.Inman@helpandcare.org.uk Richard Hewitt 07971 338129 Richard.Hewitt@helpandcare.org.uk Round Robin Ramblers Normally 1st Sun & 3rd Wed each month Ian Bromilow 880044 River Stickland Management Group Richard Marchant 881716 (Secretary) r.marchant@btinternet.com Short Mat Bowls Mon 1.30pm PHH Francis Dennett 880129 The Spanish Society Susana 01258 721261 / 07766 069836 Sticklebacks Parent & Toddler Group Tue (Term Time) 10am-12pm, PHH Cheryl 07795687151 cheryl_s84@hotmail.com

To add or update a listing on this page please email news@valley-news.co.uk

19

Swimming Lessons Juniors and adults. Beginners and improvers.

Maria 880895 or Richard 837402 Table Tennis for Adults Tue 2pm-4pm & Fri 7pm-9pm, PHH Graham Case 880740 Tennis Club Winterborne Sports Club, Stickland Debbie Albery 451873 Valley Ringers John Close (Tower Capt, WW) 880457 Ann Fox (Tower Capt, WS) 881156 Valley Computer Club Richard D’Silva 880118 Valley Gardening Club sites.google.com/site/vgcdorset Valley Players 881415, www.valleyplayers.co.uk Whist Drive 3rd Wed of month, 7pm, RRMA. Entry £1 W. Stickland Sports & Community Club Vaughan Manners 880969 • wssc.club Whitechurch Beavers, Cubs and Scouts Tue, Beavers, Dunbury School Gym Girls & Boys 6-8 years Fri, Cubs 6.30-8.15pm, Dunbury School Gym Girls & Boys 7½-11 years Fri, Scouts, 6.30-8.30pm, WVH Girls & Boys 10½-14 years. Leader: Skip, winterbornewhitechurchscouts@gmail.com Secretary: Anna 880363 anna@annaway.plus.com Winterborne Whitechurch Village Hall See Text Ads Yoga Thu 9.30-10.30am, PHH, Louise Hull 860381 Zumba WVH, Various classes, AM & PM, Tue & Thu Tracy 07971 636437

Parish Council Websites winterbornestickland.org.uk winterbornehoughton.org.uk miltonabbaspc.org.uk. winterbornewhitechurchparishcouncil.org.uk

W CROSS R D Thank you to Nick Donnelly for writing our first ever Valley News Crossword.

There are two sets of clues, Cryptic and Easy, but remember, you cannot mix the clues as the cryptic answers are different to the easy ones.

Answers will be given in the next edition.

CRYPTIC

EASY

Across 1. Chesterton enfolding confused impressionist – a cheap trick! (7) 4. Terribly angry about no end of fun with Chinese vase (6) 7. Contrite message clearly contains something (4) 8. Organised backwards regatta? Things must be getting tight! (9) 10. Bar hairdressers having extra love (6) 12. Exist sounds like clothed after recumbant period ordered by doctor (7) 15. Lays big eggs in Brussels scheme (3) 16. Does a cat sob drunkenly? You need this to spice up your life (7) 19. Titanic soldiers end in Sweden having started with Isle of Man (7) 22. Anglers prey caught in big arena (3) 23. Posse precedes path on embarkation point (7) 26. Surrealist needs hospital after holding onto last of Amanda's bloomer (6) 28. Queen docked crustacean, holding sign and tbs of butter (9) 30. Supporter of military music? Off with its head! (4) 31. Toffs finding source of water on board (6) 32. Tea with the queen after early reggae? On Sunday? They're on thin ice! (7) Down 1. Contradicting proceeds before proverb (10) 2. Dance done by Chinese leader who embraces Mitchell brothers initially (5) 3. One hundred of unknown origin on eastern ship makes female cleric (8) 4. Ranch without mother seems distant (3) 5. Hesitation after a short time with ride on (5) 6. Spain follows loveless onion for game (5) 9. Drive back soldier nevertheless (5) 11. See the morning earth (4) 13. Provide new track for the retiring shoot (3) 14. Trumpet! Chick arrives, wants its tea. Canines, perhaps, causing problems? (10) 17. Drunkenly drive a US motorhome to Senegal's capital to see the first animal (8) 18. Lower member hides in cars ill-fitting bodywork (4) 20. Acknowledge mixed up present (3) 21. Alf, who phoned home, has cheat at heart of African country (5) 24. Indulge naive who lost a hundred (5) 25. Become large to roar (5) 27. Macho craftiness? Just guts! (5) 29. Service without Frenchman? Dolt (3)

Across 1. Summer sport (7) 4. Goal (6) 7. Ms. Blyton's first name (4) 8. An outgoing person (9) 10. Makes a noise while sleeping (6) 12. Control the function of (7) 15. Belonging to us (3) 16. Lack of care (7) 19. Wound dressing (7) 22. Swab (3) 23. Uninterrupted (7) 26. Tree (6) 28. Pure (9) 30. Holiday island, part of Indonesia (4) 31. Hold gently and protectively (6) 32. Version (7) 1. Bready confection, beloved by west Londoners (7, 3) 2. Drink made from apples (5) 3. A church service (8) 4. Hill (3) 5. Flowing water (5) 6. Relative of the heron (5) 9. Sharp plant feature (5) 11. Kitchen apparatus for baking (4) 13. Ovum (3) 14. Judgement (10) 17. Made larger (8) 18. Saga (4) 20. Back of a boat (3) 21. Void (5) 24. Possessor (5) 25. Food with dressing served cold (5) 27. Head of a monastery (5) 29. Be in debt to (3)

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