Arkadia july aug 2014 by Arkadia Title

Arkadia THE VERY BEST OF THE SOUTH IN ONE FREE LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE July/August 2014

Schรถn

Dorset through an adventurer's eyes

Shore thing

The inside story on Nikki Curwen - Off Shore Racer!

Transformation

Taking tagging to a new height...

In association with arkadia magazine

arkadia magazine

Editor’s Letter Summer is finally here and the market is hotting up, along with the weather. And, if you act now, there is still time to enjoy the sunshine in your dream home. Boosted by a London exodus, Dorset is the smart re-locator’s destination of choice, and who can blame them? Thanks to our thriving offices in Weymouth, Dorchester and Wareham, we have – right now – a raft of fresh, exciting properties on our books. So, whether you’re buying or selling, come and talk to DOMVS. You’ll be amazed by what you can achieve when we put our minds to it.

So, here I am buckling myself into the driver’s seat of the ‘Editor’s

page’ for the first time as full time Features Editor here at Arkadia Towers. It’s been a voyage of discovery for me, fuelled by gallons of tea and with a right good laugh at every turn! I hope you enjoy reading the magazine as much as Dan and I have enjoyed putting it together. It’s all about the great outdoors this summer, and we’ve fought our way through the undergrowth to discover what this beautiful part of the world has to offer those looking for the grown-up version of our childhood dens (and Wendy houses). We reminisce on page 8 about beach huts in Bournemouth and on page 34 we sleep in Eype, in a beautifully restored shepherd’s hut, before taking a look at the cuttingedge world of the Unidome on page 18. We’ve not only pushed the boat out in this edition, we’ve built it too, courtesy of the folks at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis. We also get talking to Hampshire sailor Nikki Curwen, page 24, and plot a course for the ultimate floating hotel experience with super-cool Sailfunk on the following page. We’ve some great art for you too, from Pete Sheridan’s graffiti art to Andy White’s painted Dorset corset, and we even get to paint the town Rectory Red (and many other beautiful colours) with Farrow & Ball. There’s a welcome return to The Tickled Pig and a forage into Hampshire’s amazing foodie scene for you to enjoy too. So, bon appétit and bon voyage!

Robin

Big thanks go to Michael Schmitz (A German on tour), Becky Walsh - A SUPERSTAR in PR! Nikki Curwen, Neal Clarke, Giles and his gang at Olives et al, Tanya, all of the Downhouse Farm Family for looking after us so well, Niki and Jez, James for fab coffee and chilled conversation, Tracey Nash - a legend in her own County... and of course Robin Savill, my new features editor, mines white with one...

CONTENTS Explore... Out of Africa - 20/21 - German, Michael Schmitz reflects on his time in Lyme Whatever Floats Your Boat - 24/25 - We talk to Hampshire sailor Nikki Curwen about the psychology of solo sailing, how she got started and where she’s headed from here A Certain Jeaneau Sais Quoi - 26/27 - What if that special boutique hotel you’ve been looking for turned out to be a state-of-the-art Jeaneau yacht? Welcome to the world of Sailfunk While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks - 34/35 - A rustic sl-Eype-over at the idyllic Downhouse Farm

Taste... All’s Fare in Love and Hampshire - 36/37 - Discover the county of Hampshire through the stories of its producers Have You Herd? - 38/39 - Forget food miles; the guys at The Tickled Pig are on a mission to get it down to yards!

Experience... Ring of Fire - 14/15 - We raise a Molotov cocktail to the thrills, spills and circus skills at Inside Out Dorset Dome-adic - 18/19 - First there was camping. Then there was glamping. Now meet the Unidome – a home from home in a (hemi) sphere of its own Seeing the Bigger Picture - 28/29 - We accompany muralist Pete Sheridan on a journey from mischief to mentor Natural Flair - 40/41 - Sara Westaway’s childhood playgrounds have become her studio, where art imitates life – wildlife, naturally

Tel 01258 863 736 Mobile 07881 748 251 Sales sales@arkadiamags.co.uk Editorial info@arkadiamags.co.uk Design designed@arkadiamags.co.uk Twitter @arkadiamags @ArkadiaEvents arkadia magazine

Business owners: plan now for a relaxing retirement…

As you relax and enjoy the hazy days of summer, it is tempting to think to the future. You have worked hard to build up your business, but what will happen when you want to stop?

Sale The most common way of selling a business outright is through a ‘trade sale’ to another business, usually already involved in the same industry. Other possibilities include a management buy-out or sale to an outside investor. The structure of the business may dictate how your investment can be realised - or the structure may need to be changed before sale.

Perhaps you would like to move on to new challenges, or enjoy a well-earned retirement. For business owners the decision of when to retire, and how to go about doing so, requires thoughtful succession planning.

Consider if you want to sell only part of your business, if you will be required to stay on for a hand-over period or would like to stay on in a new capacity. It is vital that key employees, customers and suppliers are kept happy to ensure they stay once the changes have taken place.

The more time you allow yourself to plan, the smoother and more successful the process will be. Preparing the business for sale or succession may involve changing your business strategy and putting in place taxefficient strategies to realise your investment in the business. You may also need to find and train a successor to run the business, whilst also arranging your personal plans for retirement.

Tax considerations The tax position on selling a business can be extremely complicated. You may need to consider the tax consequences for the business, for you personally and for the purchaser.

In order to set goals, you need to ask yourself a number of questions, such as: • What are your retirement plans? • Do you wish to continue participating in the business, perhaps in a support or advisory role?

• What will your financial needs be during retirement? • Are there family members involved in succession, or others that should be benefited?

• Is family succession an option or would you consider selling?

Succession For family business owners, involving family members is the best way to begin the succession process. Other business owners will need to talk to any co-owners and directors. Set up regular, formal succession business meetings, with an agenda and procedures to avoid potential conflict. All business owners should develop a written succession plan, with time frames to help deal with the practical elements of the succession process. The plan should include objectives: choosing the successor, their development programme and responsibilities; your exit plan and the ownership structure. You should also consider strategies to help minimise taxes upon death.

Taxes involved could include capital gains tax (for the business and/or personally), stamp duty on any sale of shares, stamp duty land tax on the sale of business premises and income tax. You may also want to consider inheritance tax planning at the same time. There are a wide range of options for minimising tax liabilities, depending on the circumstances. For example: • The way the sale is structured can affect the tax consequences

• It may be possible to withdraw capital in tax-efficient ways such as payments into your pension scheme • It may be possible to defer capital gains tax by reinvesting the proceeds of the sale in a qualifying investment Lashmars Tax Accountants can guide you through your various options for exit, helping identify where you can add value and when to time your departure for the best commercial and tax position. Peter Lashmar will assist you in identifying potential tax liabilities and ensure you claim any exemptions or reliefs to which you are entitled - a disposal could land you with unexpected payments unless you have done your tax planning properly. To organise your FREE initial consultation with Peter, contact Sarah on 01590 688838 or email office@lashmars.co.uk. To receive FREE tax advice monthly, sign up online for our eNewsletter: www.lashmars.co.uk and follow us on Twitter: @Peterlashmar

Disclaimer: These are general notes only provided to illustrate the taxation effects of different possible courses of action. Full consideration must always be made of all relevant details in each particular circumstance. Lashmars Tax Accountants cannot be responsible for any loss occurring from nor the effectiveness of action taken based on this article alone. arkadia magazine image: www.freeimages.co.uk

Paintings, Prints, Ceramics, Glass, Jewellery, Bags, Gifts, Cards and Interior Furnishings ...plus morning coffee, delicious lunches and afternoon tea

Queen Mother Square, Poundbury DT1 3BL

www.gallerypoundbury.co.uk 01305 213322

arkadia magazine

The summer cannot come soon enough after a particularly blustery winter so, taking the first sign of the season shifting I’m always keen to make a start with the revival of my family’s beach hut. -

Hut Life Begins Situated in Boscombe, the hut has been in the family for many, many great years and, as I prepare for the season ahead, it’s also time to recall some of the sweetest summer ‘daze’ from over 16 years of beach-hutting.

a radio and we dance about whilst calculating a furniture-sized game of Jenga, as we carefully pull out deckchairs, tables and windbreaks in readiness for a good hose down on the promenade.

There is a huge demand for huts along Bournemouth’s seafront but, thankfully, patience prevails and the opportunity arrived in 1997 for my grandmother and her two sisters (husbands included) to acquire their own.

With fresh enthusiasm for the hut, we begin discussing the possibilities of creating a ‘hybrid hut’, imagining what we could achieve with a greenhouse attached to the roof, Scandinavian inspired interior, stackable-foldable everything and a winter-proof sheath!

Our hut is communal between my extended family, spanning eight decade’s-worth of demographic, and always operating on an ‘open door’ policy. There’s also a ‘You are more than welcome’ entrance sign, which actually takes the form of my Great Uncle Brian, who’s often perched out front. When the thermometer is reading double figures and there’s a moment’s peek from the big yellow circle in the sky, whilst sipping tea ‘al fresco’, my sister and I declare it time for the annual spruce. There is no schedule for this, so in the tradition of non-tradition it usually starts with a ring around which, this year, also included relaying the good news that the hut had survived unscathed after the winter storms. The bad weather proved the spirit of the beach hut community, who jumped to action after some 300 huts in the area were damaged. A sigh of relief, and finally the conclusion of an age-old discussion; Uncle David’s ‘light-weight’ kayak, resident of the hut, that requires the assistance of an entire rowing team to manoeuvre, can now be honored with its true title of ‘anchor’. And so begins the hunt for the padlock keys, followed by a drive to Boscombe. On arrival my sister’s iPhone becomes arkadia magazine

Just as we’ve solved plans for the hydropowered Wi-Fi and heaters that store energy from the sun, my aunt and cousins arrive with a bucket of marigolds and household products – a humble reminder of our hut’s simple pleasure. This back-to-basics way continues to bring the family together, from annual cleaning to administering home remedies for jellyfish stings. As I remember about my younger cousin teaching me to yodel (the perfect accompaniment to countless May Day celebrations with Vera Lynn) I have a touching realisation that the investment made by my grandparents is far beyond the paint and wood that makes up the hut. It’s an investment in the family – about time spent together – even if some of that time is spent fixing the curtain pole (again!) and strategically stacking ice-boxes.

So, in go the final pieces of the hutpacking puzzle: buckets and spades, the reminder of childhood, and pop! Oh, and a bottle of Prosecco – a more appropriate reminder for my age. Welcome summer! Words and images: Nikki Dodds

Love Food & Drink from Dorset? Love Shop Dorset! Here in Dorset we are spoilt for choice with a fantastic range of artisan food & drink products! And it’s so simple to find the best of them, via Shop Dorset, with something on our website to tempt everyone’s taste buds! Here’s just a few to whet your appetite…

Chococo

Message Muffins

Delicious glutenfree free puddings… Delicious gluten puddings… sweet andsavoury savoury tarts and and sweet and tartstoo! too! Hand-made in Dorset. find out more Hand-made inToDorset. call Christine on 01258 472010

Chococo is the place to enjoy award-winning fresh chocolates, drinks, cakes, fondues and more, at their shop & café in the heart of Swanage. Their delicious award-winning chocolates are truly fresh, using locally sourced ingredients blended with fine origin chocolate.

www.shopdorset.co.uk/chocolate-sweets Dorset Charcuterie

Message Muffins offer delicious, edible visit out www.christinespuddings.co.uk Toorfind more call Christine gifts guaranteed to bring a smile! Gift on 01258 472010 or visit Boxed Muffins, Cookies, Hampers www.shopdorset.co.uk/ice-creamand Organic Brownies, beautifully puddings presented together with a personalised Pamphill Dairy greeting card, delivered anywhere in the UK just for you! Call on 01305 849264 or search www.shopdorset.co.uk/bakery-cakes-cookies

Thomas J Fudge’s Pamphill Dairy is just a few minutes drive from Wimborne Minster. There you will find the best in local produce in the butchery and farm shop as well as a range from fascinating artisans.

Only ever sourcing free-range, wild or traditional breeds directly from small farms within the Purbecks, we hang, butcher, season, cure, dry, smoke and mature all our own products from start to finish in our purpose built on-farm charcuterie.We are working closely with farmers, smallholders and retailers to produce for them, bespoke charcuterie, made from their own meat.

In 1916, our great-great-uncle, Thomas J Fudge, a dapper chap with a distinctive moustache, opened a bakery. A rather remarkable bakery in beautiful, bountiful Dorset. His buns were buttery. His bread was brilliant. His biscuits were the business. And over 90 years later, we – his family tree – are continuing his remarkable, edible work.

www.shopdorset.co.uk/charcuterie-smokeries

www.shopdorset.co.uk/bakery-cakes-cookies

You can also enjoy superb lunches, teas and cakes in the café which is next to a new children’s play area. Find out more at www.shopdorset.co.uk/farm-shops

A wide variety of great food, crafts & gifts direct from lovely, local people all at www.shopdorset.co.uk arkadia magazine

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A White background Andy White has lived in Dorset for most of his life. Whilst at school, he showed little interest in art but, at the age of 16, developed a passion for photography that has stayed with him to this day. His interest in other forms of art, however, didn’t really begin until he was in his thirties, when he developed an appreciation for a wide range of artists’ work. But this was only the start of the story.

“About ten years ago, I read that anyone could be taught to draw,” Andy recalls. “With my growing interest in art, I decided it would be good to set myself that challenge.” For the first ten years Andy concentrated on drawing, before exploring the world of paint and other media. It was at this time that Andy began to develop his own style, working mostly in watercolour on paper, and acrylic on canvas, and drawing with marker pens and fine liners. “Most of my artwork is based around faces, and I tend to experiment with styles and surfaces,” Andy says. “I have painted on wood, skateboards, boxes, cardboard and music score paper. I have also worked on textiles recently, including a second-hand cocktail dress and two corsets.” Andy’s work has been displayed far and wide; from online forums and art communities to an exhibition in Georgia, USA. More recently, works have been displayed at Ward 9 art gallery, in Boscombe’s Royal Arcade, where Andy was also asked to take part in the Great Exhibition of Boscombe, staged in an empty shop unit. Four of Andy’s works were selected for the exhibition, which showcased the talents of a varied group of artists from Boscombe and the surrounding area. Since then, Andy has increased the number of works on show at Ward 9, as well as exhibiting at nearby Plinth Art.

Andy recently responded to an Amnesty International call for artists to exhibit in four venues across the Christchurch and Bournemouth area. Two of Andy’s works were exhibited, and he was delighted when his War Child entry was also chosen for use on the publicity material for the exhibition. Andy’s work is filled with humanity and emotion, and it is often said that there is something beneath the surface of the faces he paints – something within the eyes that brings an extra dimension to his work. “I try to work with the theory that everybody has hidden depth – there is a history behind those eyes,” says Andy. “I often work the theme of redemption; thinking about people coming from a dark place into happier and more confident times.” Although Andy’s work contains personal meanings, he prefers the viewer to make their own assumptions – finding their own meanings in his work. “Nothing makes me happier than to hear someone tell me what an artwork means to them and how they connect with it. You can hear many different meanings attributed to one artwork.” Andy’s work is currently on display at Plinth Art, Boscombe Royal Arcade.

arkadia magazine

Dukkah, Chorizo and Halloumi salad

STUPENDOUS summer Salads We go along to meet one of our all time fave artistes, Bournemouth bred It’sSher Summer so what better way to enjoy Christopher, to discover the Olives than in a stupendous salad…Our Dukkah, Chorizo and Halloumi woman behind the enigmatic, salad is just one of the many salad recipes available wonderfully bizarre andgreat fascinatingly online at www.olivesetal.co.uk. If you want us to make creative ‘paper’ designs, we have seen it for you come down to The Shop in Sturminster Newton Sher on the artisan ‘circuit’ and we to pick one up or sit down and relax with the Oliveers invited her along to let us know at have The Shed, Poundbury Dorchester just what makes her tick, where the Either way we’re here to make your Summer skills were learnt, and what must go mouth-wateringly good on her mind!!

For more recipe ideas visit: www.olivesetal.co.uk arkadia magazine

Welcome to a

new season

Tue 16 – Thu 18 September

Thu 25 September

Sat 27 September

NOT ABOUT HEROES

JANE MCDONALD

THE STORY GIANT

Thu 2 October

Wed 15 – Thu 16 October

AL MURRAY

INALA

PRIVATE PEACEFUL

Wed 28 – Thu 29 October

Thu 6 November

Tue 11 – Sat 15 November

DARE TO SEA

PAUL HOLLYWOOD

HORRIBLE HISTORIES

0844 406 8666 www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

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I AM THE GOD OF HELLFIRE AND I BRING YOU...

Inside Out Festival It’s Dorset, but not as we know it… The county’s landscape is, again, about to be dramatically transformed by Inside Out Dorset, the biennial festival of largescale outdoor theatre, dance, installation, acrobatics and contemporary circus.

arkadia magazine

Produced by Dorchester-based Activate Performing Arts, the festival attracted more than 16,000 visitors in 2012 and included the signature piece Harmonic Fields – artist/composer Pierre Sauvageot’s audacious makeover of the disused Bowers’ Quarry on Portland into a vast musical artwork. Following the unprecedented success of the 2012 festival, Inside Out Dorset has lined up no less than 16 works – nine commissioned specially for the festival – to go on show at venues in Poole, Studland, Blandford, the South Dorset Ridgeway and Bournemouth. “Since 2007, Inside Out Dorset has been about creating extraordinary events in extraordinary places and, since then, tens of thousands of people have been amazed, amused, enchanted and inspired by the wonderful works that have sprung from the landscape,” says Activate’s Executive Director, Kate Wood. “The success of the 2012 festival, which was part of the Cultural Olympiad, raised the bar, and it has been a magnificent challenge to present a comparable programme. Once again, however, we have brought together leading artists, from at home and abroad, in the biggest festival of free outdoor performance art in the south.” The festival kicks off on 12-13 September, in Poole Park, with French trapeze specialists CirkVOST, staging their acclaimed show, Boo, on a monumental structure, 15 metres high and made from 3,000 bamboo sticks, secured by 2,000 knots. A key aspect of Inside Out Dorset is the Associate Programme, a series of community outreach projects, which complement the main festival. Students from schools across the county have been working with artists, as well as students from Arts University Bournemouth, to produce their own interpretations of the CirkVOST structure, which will be on show on Poole Quay during the festival. The action moves to Studland on 13-14 September, where the dramatic AngloFrench performance programme, Up in the Air, finds Activate working with French partners and artists, as well as its UK partner, Lighthouse. The shows include André and Lefeuvre’s La Serre, an intimate, beastly circus set in a greenhouse; Rime, a haunting display of acrobatics informed by Coleridge’s epic poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner; Acrojou’s trademark wheel acrobatics in Frantic; and Les Colporteurs’ highwire dance,

Le Chas du Violin.

Pyrotechnics are on the bill when outdoor theatre company, Periplum, takes over Blandford town centre on 18 September, with its sensory extravaganza, The Bell. Inspired by films like Kurosawa’s Ran and Tarkovsky’s Andrei Rublev, dynamic promenade action, stilts, aerial performance and soaring music create a potent post-apocalyptic tale. Quieter, but no less powerful, in what is perhaps the essence of Inside Out Dorset, Activate has commissioned nine artists to interpret the landscape of the South Dorset Ridgeway, forming an interactive artwork trail. Open from 19-21 September, on sites from Littlebredy to the Hardy Monument, visitors are encouraged to explore one of the county’s best kept secrets. The intervention concludes with two performances of Landance in the Valley of Stones. From 25-28 September, the festival’s final show, The Roof, invokes the spirit of Blade Runner and promises a breathless mix of intimate 3-D sound and the hair-trigger movement of free running in a purposebuilt auditorium designed by Jon Bausor, set designer for the Paralympic opening ceremony.

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“A little corner of Heaven”

No joining fee and 6 months ½ price on all memberships Beginners Membership – 6 lessons with PGA Professional, 10 Rounds of Golf, £50 Clubhouse Credit – Just £250 GREAT SOCIETY PACKAGES AVAILABLE ALL WEEK – PLEASE CALL FOR DETAILS Rushmore Golf Club|Tollard Royal|Wiltshire|SP5 5QB 01725 516391 arkadia magazine

www.rushmoregolfclub.co.uk

Folklore Purbeck Folk Festival

Legends, musicians and more. Remember when festivals were all about meeting friends and making merry, getting giddy on good vibrations and not worrying about who’s on next or how far away the stage is? Of course, some things have improved over the years – not least the food and facilities – but where is the sense of community, of joyous abandon, of discovery, that made your favourite festivals stand-out landmarks in your life? That old-school atmosphere is alive and well and working on a 600-acre sheep farm where Purbeck Folk Festival makes its home over the August bank holiday. With music on four stages, in covered barns (handy if it rains!), there’s also great food, a beer festival (with 40 local real ales, 20 ciders and even Dorset pils), fancy dress, a beard-off, comedy, film, art interventions and workshops, a poetry slam and kids’ activity pen – all kinds of magic just a stone’s throw from the Jurassic Coastline. Following a proposal at last year’s event, the festival will host its first wedding reception and honeymoon as the bride and groom return to the scene of their passion. What’s more, if the love-bug bites again, there’s a mobile wedding chapel and an in-house clergyman to perform the nuptials!

Headliners this year include eighties legend Lloyd Cole, former Fairground Attraction vocalist Eddi Reader, The (still beautiful) South, chart toppers Nizlopi, Turin Brakes and recently reunited Scottish indie types Idlewild, playing their only festival date of the year, south of the border. The supporting cast includes singer/songwriter Boo Hewerdine, Cajun powerhouse Sarah Savoy, Senegalese griot Amadou Diagne, folk-blues guitar virtuoso Gren Bartley, Spiral Earth award-winners Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo, and Dan Whitehouse, for many critics, the new Nick Drake. Purbeck Folk Festival: 21-24 August, Wilkswood Farm, Langton Matravers. For more information visit www.purbeckfolk.co.uk Words: Nick Churchill Images: Client Supplied

A Dome from Home A discovery of delight and wonder - a real home from home across the Wiltshire border. Words: Robin Savill

In a recent covert operation, we crossed the border (with Wiltshire) in search of a man rumoured to be single-handedly revolutionising the way we think about providing people with shelter. It turns out the rumours are true. Not so long ago, James Towner-Coston, a charismatic professional musician, was looking for a way to turn things around when the banks and corporations who had previously hired his services were forced to tighten their belts. James had always had an affinity with the traditional selfbuild culture of indigenous people such as Native Americans and set out to look for a 21st century take on what he likes to call â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;comfortable nomadityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. This led to the re-kindling of an idea that had first taken shape in Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind some 20 years earlier. Inspired by nature, James developed a modular method of construction, using orange-like segments, to offer a funky, lightweight sectional building with infinite design possibilities and almost as many uses. The Unidome had arrived.

arkadia magazine

As with all great inventions, the idea is a simple one. Ash-framed curved segments are hand laminated on purpose-built formers and fitted with a range of different in-fills, from state-of-the-art Rivertex textiles to Plexiglas, before being linked together in-situ to form a dome. The result is not only a weather-proof structure like no other; it is also the coolest place on earth! The combination of materials can be specified to produce a custom built dome, just the way you want it. After an exciting time on the road, ex-festival domes can look forward to retirement when they are beautifully clad in oak before taking up permanent residence at some of the UK’s coolest camp sites. The Unidome is the perfect festival glamping solution but James has more serious applications in mind too. The portability and speed of build makes the Unidome ideal for refugee housing, where conflict or natural disaster necessitates rapid relocation.

James also delivers a persuasive case for the use of Unidomes as affordable eco-housing – how cool would that be! Projects currently in the pipeline, including a 20dome eco-hotel and a 10-dome village at Dartmoor Zoo, will become the first permanent sites demonstrating the possibilities for Unidome communities.

James worked menial jobs to raise the money needed to build the first batch of domes. He immediately landed a festival contract and just 12 hours later (yes, just 12 hours later) the demand for Unidomes was ringing the phone off the hook! In no time at all domes were popping up all over the place with backstage and VIP boutique camping areas at festivals soon becoming Unidome villages. At the Isle of Wight Festival, the village also became a media frenzy, the media coverage with Sky Arts choosing the domes as the venue for interviews with performing stars.

As we walked around ‘Domeland’ – essentially the Unidome workshops – there was an overwhelming feeling that we had somehow taken a wrong turn and stumbled upon a super-cool loft apartment. It soon became clear that this is what James does; he creates spaces that people want to explore – spaces that people want to live in. The large two-storey building is filled with domes in various stages of fabrication and, as we explore the ground floor, we weave our way through steel formers, used to build up the layers of laminate that ultimately become dome segments. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot an electric guitar and a vintage amp, lined up with the other essential tools of James’s creative trade. The guitar is positioned where it is easily accessible, giving the impression that this is where James can be found when he’s working through an idea. Up on the mezzanine, there’s some serious product development going on, with prototype modular walls and more dome sections. There’s another guitar, amidst the ash segments, as well as retro signage and a picture of Bob Marley. It’s a great place to be and what a cool place to work – creative heaven!

To contact James visit - www.unidome.co.uk or call 01722 717 544

Simply Sublyme

Words and images: Michael Schmitz

My Time in Lyme

Unbelievable – that thing has no banister, I thought when I first saw the Cobb. Truly, thinking this is rather Germanic, was my second thought. Yes, as you might have already guessed, I am German. And, I am also a kind of adventurer and globetrotter.

Meeting new friends was not difficult at all. The British people are so warm-hearted, friendly and always ready for a chat.

I came to England in summer 2012, after living for seven years in the Swedish forests. That was my base for the summers, and in the winters I was prospecting for minerals in West Africa – mainly in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Mali.

I soon met Christine and Harry May. Christine is the most talented artist of birds of prey that I have ever seen, creating contemporary oil paintings and charcoal drawings. She lives by the sea with her husband Harry, whose name is synonymous with Lyme Regis, mackerel fishing and deep sea fishing trips. We soon became close and deep friends and together we spent countless evenings eating the mackerel Harry and I fished in the afternoon, after my writing sessions in the morning.

Now, the political situation in those countries had become a little bit odd and tricky, so I decided it’s time for a move. I sold nearly everything I owned, dry-stored the remaining stuff and began my next journey, which led me to Lyme.

Besides prospecting for minerals, photographing is my other great passion and Lyme, of course, offers you a huge range of stunning photo opportunities. Every day shows you new details to catch, and no sunrise taken at the Cobb is equal to the ones before.

Amazing, what a view! I was overwhelmed driving down the coastal road when the scenery suddenly opened into that stunning view overlooking Lyme Regis, the bay and the Golden Cap. And immediately I knew I have to live here for a while. Seeing this lovely little artist village, there was truly no doubt, this is the most inspiring spot for me to finish my book about that time in Africa.

Unfortunately, after spending nearly two years in this beautiful location, in April the time came to say goodbye. But one thing is sure; I will never forget it and will always come back for a visit.

arkadia magazine

The only thing that still makes me wonder? How do you manage to get all the taste out of your fish and chips?

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Conyers

3 West St Town Centre Blandford Forum DT11 7AW 01258 452307 www.shootingsouthwest.com

• Est. 1886 •

Gunsmiths, country outfitters & angling supplies

Expert local knowledge and advice • Justin J Frampton R.F.D. 13D •

New/secondhand shot/air guns, rifles and repairs, game, course, sea angling equipment

COMINS TEA HOUSE

FINE TEA & BRITISH TEAWARE

FINE LOOSE LEAF TEAS & TEAWARE enjoy tea in the teahouse or to take home | advice always available LIGHT LUNCHES & AFTERNOON TEAS weds - sat 9am to 5pm

The Quarterjack, Bridge street, Sturminster Newton arkadia magazine

PHONE 14 | 01258 475389 WEB | cominsteahouse.co.uk

◊Painting the Town 'Radicchio'◊ Farrow & Ball are very much part of Dorset’s heritage. They’ve been here since John Farrow and Richard Ball first founded the company and, although their products are available from showrooms around the world, Farrow & Ball are still keen to maintain their local links. Arkadia joined Farrow & Ball recently, on a tour of Wimborne, for the culmination of a unique collaboration with local businesses. The craftsmen in paint and paper offered the town’s businesses free paint to re-paint their front doors, brightening up the streets of Wimborne and coinciding nicely with the re-branding of the town.

More than 30 businesses took part, choosing colours from Arsenic to Pitch Black. Sarah Cole, Director at Farrow & Ball said, “This was a lovely project to be involved in. Being a Dorset based company near Wimborne, it was great for us to be able to support so many local businesses close to our home. Not only has it helped with the rebranding of the town, it Images - Darren Lovell - has helped us to build

www.darrenlovellphotography.co.uk

new relationships within our community. The doors look fabulous and it’s nice to see splashes of colour as you wander the streets of Wimborne!” The tour of the town, which started at The Square, was led by Wimborne’s Mayor, Andy Hampton, who introduced each of the doors in turn. “I was really pleased to be able to be a part of this project as it’s something a little bit different,” Andy said. “It’s fantastic from a business point of view, who are already receiving comments about how nice their front doors look, and the whole town of Wimborne benefits from being a more colourful and appealing town. At the moment we are busy re-branding our website and have recently had a new logo for the town designed, so Farrow & Ball deciding to paint the front doors of our businesses couldn’t have come at a better time!” Every door that has been painted, from East Street to West Street, the High Street to West Borough, has a plaque inside stating which colour has been used, so if you notice a newly painted front door on your travels, pop in and see if it’s part of the Wimborne Front Door venture. For more information on Farrow & Ball visit

www.farrow-ball.com

We like the cut of your Jib...

At Arkadia Towers we’ve been following the pursuits of locally born sailor , Nikki Curwen. The exploits of this incredibly adventurous and terrifically fearless young woman keep us entertained on different social media platforms on a regular basis. When we found out Nikki was a fan of the magazine, we rushed over to say hi, just before she left for her next offshore racing adventure! You were brought up around yachts, and sailing is very much a family affair for you. How important has that early start been to your ‘journey’ so far? I started sailing from a very young age and, with a December birthday, I was probably put into a boat during my first ever summer . We got our first family yacht when I was about nine. Weekends consisted of cruising around the Solent and often across the English Channel to the Channel Islands. Growing up around boats has definitely helped me on my journey; sailing is like second nature to me now. The world of yacht design and construction seems to be constantly changing, with more and more technological advances being incorporated into the finished craft. How does this affect the role of the 21st century sailor? Technological advances definitely shape the racing world of sailing, particularly in Mini class. The Mini is known as the testing ground for innovative designs; if proven successful within the class, revolutionary designs are often incorporated into larger ocean racing boats. You were so close to getting a place in the 2013 Mini Transat; what would it mean to you to get a place in the 2015 race? Having narrowly missed out on a place in 2013, I’m now fully set on the 2015 edition of the race. Now with a two-year programme, I can almost guarantee my place in 2015. Reaching the start line in 2015, after three years in the class, will be an incredible feeling, and to finish – even better! We have some beautiful stretches of coastline in the UK. When the scenery isn’t flashing past at 25 knots, what are your favourite places?

Although I’ve done a lot of sailing along the south coast of the UK, I haven’t actually stopped in many places. The south coast really is spectacular and when arriving back in the UK, having crossed the Channel, it’s always welcoming to see Swanage and Anvil Point on the horizon, and then sail in towards The Needles and past Bournemouth and Christchurch. It’s great to see the places you’ve been to on land from a different perspective. Many people in the UK find sailing a great way to spend their spare time. Your schedule looks absolutely crazy and I get the impression that you don’t get much time to relax , but when you do get a break, what do you enjoy doing? I run my campaign by myself, including the logistics, maintenance, media and sponsor searching, so there isn’t as much time as I’d like to actually go sailing. So, for me, sailing is definitely the relaxing part of it. Other than sailing, I love to go snowboarding and climbing. If I wanted to start sailing tomorrow, what would your advice be and where would I start? I’d say, find your nearest dinghy course/instructor and get into a small boat. You can really get a feel for the boat and how the wind affects it. A dinghy is much more responsive than a yacht and therefore, in my opinion, much better to learn in. The psychological side of sailing solo has always intrigued me and it must take a lot of getting used to. What do you find are the main challenges? The main challenges might seem odd, but it really is back to basics – eating, sleeping and drinking. Sailing solo is very demanding and the longer you’re at sea, usually the greater the effects. Sleep is probably the hardest element to control and you end up sleeping in 10-15 minute power naps throughout the day. Performance drops dramatically when you’re tired or hungry and it’s important that I keep pushing the boat and myself to full potential. Whilst the basics of sailing can be taught, it is the experience that comes with time spent on the water that really makes the difference. What are the most important lessons your experience has taught you? Experience definitely helps; if you do something enough times it becomes natural to you and, for me, sailing is just that. Particularly with solo sailing, time on the water directly relates to your performance. Sticking to routines, whatever the weather, is one key point I live by. Whether it’s five knots or 50, it’s about making sure you do every manoeuvre the same and about not cutting corners. By sticking to this it becomes habit, imprinted in your brain, and you’re less likely to make mistakes. @nyx88

Sailfunk: a different stay, a different luxury. Independently owned, super stylish yacht company Sailfunk, offer their guests some very special unique accommodation– a beautiful yacht to stay and play on. Sailfunk is a 44ft Jeanneau Deck Saloon, fully fitted out with all the necessities and luxuries you could want. From its own branded sailing gear to super comfortable beds, crisp bed linen, a fully fitted galley kitchen, your own Nespresso to a selection of wines and Champagnes. Everything’s been thought about, including a prearranged expert skipper and mate, just a call away.

Hands on or feet up? Choosing to stay on Sailfunk as your floating boutique residence, is to take a luxurious new perspective on self-catering. Whether you book her whilst moored in Salcombe from July to end of September or chase the winter sun to Palma and Andratx, Majorca from October, you can always expect perfection. You can while away your holiday enjoying the hum of coastal life from the harbour mooring, with a prearranged local gourmet food selection delivered direct. Or you can arrange to be skippered around for a day on the sea. Should you wish to experience Sailfunk out on the water, your day would start with a delicious breakfast and an informal briefing with the skipper. They’ll gauge just how much sailing you’d like to do and tailor the trip around you: ‘hands on’ luxury sailing or just sitting back, relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere and scenic coastline.

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neil@sailfunk.com | 01983 760511 | sailfunk.com

A break…from the usual. Sailfunk’s an ideal indulgent long weekend or blissful week for those wanting something new. With two full size double cabins, en suite, a bunk twin and two more optional beds within a walnut wooded lounge area, it’s excellently suited for four to luxuriate with plenty of space. Owned and headed up by Neil Lawrence, his friendly team take care of everything, especially you. Nothing is too much trouble and they personally shape the stay around your ideals. This is about an experience where the sailing is part of an overall story of fine food, choice wines and boutique accommodation on the beautiful South Coast. Whether it’s the deli lunches delivered on board or recommendations of the best local seafood restaurant or gastro pub, you just have to ask. Staying on board for an idyllic week moored in Salcombe begins at only £400 per day for four people. Prices for winter breaks in Palma Majorca are available on request. As well as boutique stays, Sailfunk moves into the Solent from March through to July, mooring at Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. Offering everyone from sailing fanatics to complete novices, escapism, freedom, and the thrill of being on the water for a day’s sailing. A Solent Sail Day with skipper, crew, cuisine, drinks and excitement starts from as little as £1,250. So whether at the helm or lounging on the deck, do as much or as little as you like, but you’ll do it with Sailfunk style.

arkadia magazine

The Transformer

Muralist Pete Sheridan is a long way from the streets of Manchester where he grew up, but has found many commissions for his street art in Dorset.

Pete, your mural work comes from spray painting techniques associated with graffiti. How did you develop your skills? I was born on Rottenrow in Glasgow and, as a lad, I used to love being taken to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum (and it was free). I grew up in 1980s Manchester and there was a limit to what you could get up to, as it always seemed to be raining. I was into hip hop culture – its music and dance. If we couldn’t ride our bikes, we would explore the disused, grey utility buildings that made up the environment. Spraying was a way of transforming our surroundings for the better. To me, tagging (the practise of signing a name) is like the behaviour of a caged animal; beautiful as it can be, going over the same old artwork has no interest to me. My poor attendance at school meant that I was edging towards expulsion, banished from certain classes for my disruptive behaviour.

Luckily, there was an art teacher who gave me tasks to do, like drawing dead animals. He would freeze specimens that he’d found and bring them to school, saying: “Try to finish drawing this before it thaws.” Thanks to him, I managed to focus on art and stay in school. Now, bringing colour and interest to an environment is your job Yes, there is the ice cream van painted on boarding in Ranelagh Road, Weymouth, and a boarded-up shop in Fortuneswell. Mural work, well executed, seems to earn respect and, as such, is not usually sprayed over.

You work a lot with various funded groups and have completed some exciting projects in Dorset recently, such as the work under the Great Western Railway Bridge in Dorchester. What do you think young people get out of a project like that? A good example is the series of projects at Woodroffe School in Lyme. That school, in particular, is very good at brainstorming ideas with its students, who then work-up a design to scale it up. Mural projects like those require great mental stamina from the students – a quality that they might, otherwise, not develop. I see respect and great focus demonstrated, as well as self-awareness of their actions. My role is to slow the process; I don’t want them to be easily satisfied, so I prompt them to search further, or help them get around problems. I need them to scrutinise their efforts, as I do in my own work. Often there is follow-up mentoring work with continued work from some students.

Tell me a little about your paintings. I like to explore traditional subjects such as landscape and portraits but I am still using the tools of my trade – marker pens and spray cans – to create my work. It’s not obvious but I like the surprise.

So, what other projects do you have in store for us, in Dorset? There are various murals in the pipeline: a history timeline for Sherborne, a gable end in Ferndown, in Portland I am turning a modern house into an old stone cottage, and the Blue Raddle pub in Dorchester is having a ceiling worthy of the Sistine Chapel!

Words: Anna Bowman arkadia magazine

THE NEW F-TYPE COUPÉ. NOW AT WESTOVER, POOLE.

FROM £51,250 ON THE ROAD. The F-TYPE Coupé delivers a uniquely connected driving experience – ultra precise, powerful, sensual and, most of all, alive. It looks fast. And it is fast. Be amongst the first to drive the F-TYPE Coupé, contact us today to book an appointment. WESTOVER, POOLE WESTOVER HOUSE, WEST QUAY ROAD, POOLE BH15 1JF

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HOW ALIVE ARE YOU? Official fuel economy figures for the Jaguar F-TYPE range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 17.8-22.8 (15.9-12.4); Extra Urban 34.0- 42.2 (8.3-6.7); Combined 25.5-32.1 (11.1-8.8). CO2 emissions 259 to 205 (g/km). The figures provided are as a result of arkadia officialmagazine manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation. A vehicle’s actual fuel consumption may differ from that achieved in such tests and these figures are for comparative purposes only. On the road price is the manufacturer’s Recommended Retail Price, plus First Registration Fee and Delivery Pack.

A Cat above the rest. ‘Cat from a different cloth...’ we could go on, all of our attention though is drawn to the car, Jaguar’s latest model, the F-Type Coupe, arrived at Westover Jaguar’s West Quay Road showroom in early April, where its sleek looks and stunning performance are guaranteeing it plenty of attention! “This is the most performance focussed production Jaguar ever made and it’s getting a really great response from our customers,” says Neal Clarke, Sales Manager at Westover Jaguar. “It is graceful but it packs a muscular punch too and it really is spectacular to drive, thanks to its pulse-quickening reactions. Cleverly, there’s also plenty of room for bags so it’s much more practical than many of the competitor cars on the market. It’s a pretty irresistible package.” The latest model from the design-aficionados at Jaguar delivers a clever combination: sports car performance, packaged up with a luxury interior and plenty of boot space. With a lightweight aluminium body and an impressive driver assistance system, the F-Type Coupe brings instant response and agile handling. Extra touches, like deployable door handles and rear spoiler, as well as the option of a full length panoramic glass roof, take the luxury theme beyond the cockpit to the car’s exterior. The test team at Auto Express seem to agree, reporting that “the Jaguar F-Type Coupe's breathtaking looks and blistering performance make it an instant classic.” The F-Type Coupe comes in a choice of four distinctive models– F-Type, F-Type S, F-Type V8 S and the F-Type R. All benefit from a low centre of gravity, as well as four advanced braking systems and an eight speed, closely-spaced ratio gear box, which combine to deliver exceptional handling. Top of the range model, the F-Type R, has a 5 litre supercharged V8 engine, which accelerates from 0-60mph in four seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 186mph. The F-Type S and F-Type models both have 3.0 litre V6 supercharged petrol engines, achieving 0-60mph in 5.1 seconds and having top speeds of 161 mph. Prices start at £51,235.

To find out more about the Jaguar F-Type Coupe, or any of the products and services available at Westover Jaguar, please visit the showroom, or call 0800 999 2366.

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Land Ahoy!

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Practical, professional or purely for pleasure – learn boat building or woodworking skills at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis. The Academy teaches the widest range of hands-on boat building courses in the world, specialising in composite, modern and traditional wooden construction, restoration and repair.

Students on the intensive 38-week course gain practical experience by working on a wider range of construction types than found in most boatyards or on any other boat building course. Students do not work on commercial projects but learn by building and working on real boats, selected for their educational value and relevance to students’ aspirations. The intensive and highly practical courses vary in length from 5 days to 38 weeks. The Academy also offers woodworking courses, running from 5 days to 12 weeks. Based on their training philosophy, courses are hands-on and intensive. The 12week course offers the opportunity to design and make a piece of

furniture, in addition to gaining City & Guilds Level 3 certification. Students join the Academy from every profession, and from all over the world. Many will go on to work in the marine industries but the courses also appeal to those taking a sabbatical from their ‘real’ lives or simply escaping the rat race. Based on Monmouth Beach in Lyme Regis, the Academy lies at the heart of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whether you want a professionally recognised boat building qualification, a few days by the sea learning practical techniques, or the skills needed to build your own boat, there is a course for you in Lyme Regis.

By hook or by crook... Words: Robin Savill.

p When

the rest of my flock deserts me, I take my little shepherdess on an adventurep

n a beautifully remote spot, at the end of a long lane that hints at the adventure to come, lies Downhouse Farm, at Higher Eype, near Bridport. Visiting recently, I immediately fell in love with the farm’s unspoilt surroundings, its old stone barns and its rustic charm. Nearby, a lovingly restored shepherd’s hut sits at the top of a field that slopes gently towards the coast, enjoying stunning views out to sea and across to the village of Eype and beyond. This was to be home for the night and I must confess that, having always had a thing about shepherd’s huts, I was more than just a little excited! The original plan had been a romantic night away, but a last-minute cancellation from the babysitter put pay to that idea and a ‘Plan B’ was required. I thought of making the most of the peace and tranquillity to catch up on some writing, on my own, but hearing my youngest daughter’s voice in the background made me think again. Georgia not only shares my sense of adventure but is usually at the back of the queue when it comes to spending quality time with dad, so... countryside adventure, here we come! Upon arrival, on a glorious June evening, we were greeted by Nikki and her future son-in-law, Craig, who provided all the information we needed about the hut, the farm and the surrounding area. Nikki and husband Dean have been farming here, on 350 acres of the National Trust’s Golden Cap Estate, since 1991. They run a large herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle, a flock of Welsh, badger-faced Tordhu sheep and a small herd of pigs, as well as running their award-winning Garden Café and hiring out the shepherd’s hut.

The hut is beautifully decorated, its tongue and groove interior washed in a lovely shade of cream, with soft furnishings in blue Toile de Jouy, adding to the shabby chic feel. Despite its size (approximately 6’ × 12’) it feels remarkably spacious and offers plenty of room for two. A stable door opens into the living area where a pine table (complete with vase of freshly picked flowers), provides space for dining, or playing the board games that are thoughtfully stowed in the drawer. There’s also a chest of drawers containing other essentials, such as a picnic blanket and a supply of tea lights. The bed runs across the far end and is curtained off from the rest of the hut, giving it a cosy, nest-like feel. It looked so inviting, but there was still some exploring to do! After we’d met the pigs and a gorgeous lamb, simply called Lamb, we decided it was time to venture to the pub. The quickest route to Eype’s New Inn is across the fields and, following Craig’s instructions, we arrived 15 minutes later, to a very friendly welcome. From the blackboard, Georgia and I both chose the freshly caught haddock and took our drinks out to the terrace, to enjoy the view across to the farm and our shepherd’s hut! The fish were huge, wrapped in the most delicious batter I’ve ever tasted and nestled on a bed of freshly cooked chips. Despite the epic proportions, we both cleared our plates and, after Georgia had also polished off a bowl of ice cream, we headed home to the hut. For more information visit www.downhousefarm.org or call 01308 421232.

It was soon time to turn in and I must admit that, in such rustic surroundings, I was surprised by how comfortable the bed was. So comfortable, in fact, that we both slept like babies. In the morning, we woke to the sound of birds and playful piglets and set off for an early morning walk, spotting a fox and lots of rabbits, before returning to the farm with a camera full of photos and a hearty appetite! After a quick shower, we headed for the Garden Café for a full farmhouse breakfast. As we tucked in, we realised why the café had been awarded the prestigious title of Best Café in Dorset; the food is out of this world! After breakfast, Craig showed us the newborn piglets and two-week old calves – adorable! Sadly, it was time to leave, but what a time we’d had. The shepherd’s hut is beautiful and Nikki and her family had looked after us like we were family too, making the whole experience so relaxed and, well, just perfect really! Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway, peaceful retreat or just some quality time with someone who deserves to see a little more of you, treat yourself to a stay in the Downhouse shepherd’s hut. A one-night stay, for two people, is just £85 during high season including a full farmhouse breakfast.

A feast of fun

Every July, Hampshire celebrates its abundance of food and drink through the Hampshire Food Festival A delicious diary of events for everyone to enjoy.

This fabulous festival is organised by the county’s food group, Hampshire Fare, with events throughout the county held by local producers, farmers, pubs, restaurants and tourist attractions.

opular events include brewery, farm and vineyard tours, cookery classes and demonstrations, produce markets and tastings, picnics, barbecues, cream teas, jam-making and cheese-making, and special festival menus showcasing local ingredients. “This is the foodie occasion of the year – a series of novel, interesting and inviting events running throughout July and into August, and culminating in the New Forest Show,” said Tracy Nash, Commercial Manager for Hampshire Fare. “This year I’m really excited as the festival has moved up a gear. The quality, variety and geographical spread is brilliant and there’s something for everyone, from families to wine-lovers.

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We’ve seen a lot of our members getting involved for the first time and quite a few businesses who aren’t Hampshire Fare members coming on board too. This year is really shaping up to be the best festival yet!” It’s no wonder Tracy is so excited; last year’s festival included more than 80 events, attracted 180,000 people and generated over £3.25 million towards the local economy. The festival’s success was recognised at the Beautiful South Awards with a Silver Award in the Tourism Event of the Year category.

The festival is for everyone, from families looking for fun local events, to keen foodies and people who simply want to find out more about Hampshire

There’s definitely no shortage of things to be excited about this year, such as the Sparsholt Food Festival, A Taste Of Hampshire, on 19 July, with eight leading Hampshire chefs, including James Durrant and Luke Holder, in the Hampshire Fare Cookery Theatre.

Yet more highlights include the Vineyards of Hampshire Wine Festival, Parsonage Farm Fest, SouthamptonBembridge steamship cruises and Lyburn Farm cheese and vegetable tours.

There will also be masterclasses in the Sparsholt Cookery Theatre, a Kids’ Kitchen, plus a Cake-Off competition judged by Harry, the Junior Bake-Off winner.

Discovering the stories behind the producers is a great way to discover the county, with its varied landscape of lush farmland, downland, woodland, chalk stream valleys and coastline.

Another highlight of this year’s festival is an invitation from Lord and Lady Wakeham and Hampshire Fare, inviting guests to a special Local Food Shopping Experience Evening on 11 July to be held in the magnificent surroundings of Pinglestone Barn, a 15th century monastic aisled barn. Tickets will be priced at £10 and will include a glass of Hattingley Valley fizz, and all profits will go to Age UK Winchester.

Details of the events are listed in the free Hampshire Food Festival programme. This year the introduction is by Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder of Limewood’s acclaimed restaurant, Hartnett Holder & Co. Both Angela and Luke are known for their informal, grounded style of cooking and their respect for local produce.

The festival programme is available to download at www.hampshirefare.co.uk, where you’ll also find details of this year’s events For further information please call 01962 846509

arkadia magazine

taking food back to its roots

Two years into their kitchen garden project, The Tickled Pig is truly taking food back to its roots. The polytunnel, kitchen garden and their small

herd of rare breed pigs are going from strength to strength and it is still their ambition to become a self-sufficient and sustainable business over the coming months and years. Striving to put the quality and provenance of ingredients before their profits, and continuing to seek out the best suppliers and producers that Dorset has to offer, means that their offering is as fresh and exciting today as it was when they opened two years ago. Their strategy of changing the menu on a monthly basis gives them time each month to devote to research.

The team actively seeks out inspiring local artisans, and crafts dishes that showcase both these discoveries and their own fine produce, grown and reared within walking distance of their kitchen. They even encourage morning foraging trips, making daily tweaks to incorporate foraged finds into their offering.

There aren’t many true kitchen garden restaurants in the area, and certainly none that have been so lovingly created, through sheer hard work and determination. Over the last two years, The Tickled Pig team has faced the usual adversity, weather being the main opponent. However, their large polytunnel has enabled them to keep up a good supply of fresh produce, even during the colder months and, although things slow down at these times, they’re looking forward to a good stock of winter vegetables this season. Keeping the small herd of Oxford Sandy and Blacks has also been a learning curve. Gaining an understanding of how the climate, food supply and other environmental factors affect the quality of the meat has been a fascinating lesson, resulting in some amazing home-cured charcuterie and a huge supply of homemade sausages and the famous pork belly.

The menu is inspired by their garden and the richness and variety of produce that our region has to offer. Through all their efforts, their mission is to create food that surprises and makes people smile. “When we dig our home-grown potatoes that morning for lunch, we’re hoping that their flavour will transport our diners to a happy place – somewhere nostalgic. We all remember our Grandad’s veg patch and how much better the food tasted, compared to anything we buy today. It’s such a simple pleasure but we think that, sometimes, the simplest things are the best!”

Check out The Tickled Pig homepage www.thetickledpig.co.uk to find out more about their green endeavours. Or pay them a visit or call 01202 886778 to book.

Nature's Artist

From childhood inspiration to modern-day technique, artist Sara Westaway shares her story. Every day, I see things that spark a picture in my head, and I always carry a small camera so I can take pictures of plants, insects, animals and landscapes. I was very fortunate to have a blissful childhood on a beautiful dairy farm in the Blackdown Hills. My playgrounds were the fields, rivers, streams and farm buildings, and the cows and wild animals were my constant companions. These days, my subjects are often the ordinary and overlooked â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the simple symmetry of a seed head or the glint in the eye a mouse. The subtle beauty of these simple things seems to strike a chord with others too. I was recently very flattered to have my drawing of snowdrops win the first prize in a viewersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; vote at the annual Snowdrop Festival in Shaftesbury. With Pure, I wanted the beauty of the flowers to speak for themselves, with no adornment apart from a solitary ladybird, bringing a little colour and representing the hint of spring around the corner. I was also very pleased to have one of my drawings selected to feature in an e-book on the animal kingdom. I entered a national competition organised by Art Has No Borders, and my drawing of a mole emerging from his run was chosen. I work primarily in pencil and pastel, as both media suit my style and subject matter. I have always drawn, right from those early days on the farm, and I continue to get my inspiration from the hedgerows and fields around me.

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Whatever picture I am working on, I always start from the middle (I do the same with jigsaws). With animals, it is vital to catch the sole and personality in the eyes, and so I always work on these first and build the rest of the picture around this point. Similarly, with flowers and other natural subjects, I start with my focal point and work out. I am always learning and fine-tuning my style, and as the years progress I find myself working on a larger scale and with more colour. My love of nature and wildlife has only grown over the years and, despite periods of city life and careers in property and finance, my need to inhabit and depict the countryside has finally won! Today, I have a large organic allotment that is home to many creatures (most of which feast on my veg!). My favourite area is the small wildlife pond, home to newts, frogs and numerous creepy crawlies. These have become the inspiration for an illustrated childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book, which I hope to complete and have published in the near future. My inspiration is still to be found in everyday things and the beauty of nature. I guess, at heart, I am still the little girl fishing for tiddlers on the farm!

arkadia magazine http://www.sarawestaway.net/ - Facebook - www.facebook.com/Sarawestaway.artist

LARMER TREE W EDDINGS & R ECEPTIONS D INNER & D ANCING

To l l a r d R o ya l Salisbury Wiltshire SP5 5PY

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GATHERED for a whimsical life

Heirlooms of tomorrow for home, littluns & the young at heart .

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C • R • E • A • T

We design, create and manufacture... luxury, bespoke, lifestyle artwork.

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Dorset Hydrographics have a unique skill set. We are artists, illustrators, designers and manufacturers. As airbrush artists we can produce amazing creations. We also offer airbrush courses for those wishing to learn the skill themselves. ‘If you can paint it, you can dip it’ We offer both the facility to dip any product you wish to have painted and we also manufacture the machines in order for companies and individuals to purchase. Our skill set encompasses the following but we are open to any challenge. • Hydrographic Printing • Custom Airbrushing and Paint Studio • Product Development • Pencil Sketches, Drawing and Portraiture • Fabrication and Metalwork • Wall Art and Murals • Sculpting • Special Effects Design

q green community fair r The ninth Green Community Fair will take place at Poole Park on the weekend of 30-31 August. Regional and local charities, community and voluntary groups, ethical and environmental traders, small businesses and Transition BH Hub will once again team up for this free event. The fair will feature ethical and environmental stalls, talks and demonstrations, a natural and holistic healing therapies area, arts and crafts workshops and a cabaret stage with live music and performances throughout the day. The fairs are organised for the community, in conjunction with the Transition BH Hub – groups of people living in Poole, Bournemouth, Wimborne, Christchurch and surrounding areas starting ‘Transition Town’ initiatives for the benefit of the community and the environment. All over the world, transition initiatives are actively and cooperatively creating happier, fairer and stronger communities. These are places that work for the people living in them and are far better suited to dealing with the shocks that accompany economic and energy challenges, as we transition towards a lower energy future. They are also places that move away from the assumption that our massive environmental impact can go on indefinitely. Green Community Fairs provide eco-friendly entertainment, attractions and demonstrations to encourage local people to rethink how they live their lives. They inspire people to refuse (plastic bags for example), recycle, reuse and reduce, repair, to become more self-reliant, to grow their own food, to learn new skills and use public transport – all practical steps to ease the negative impact modern society has on the environment. Free activities at the fair include African drumming, music workshops and recycled art and craft workshops, fashioning rare butterfly costumes and masks from tents and other reclaimed materials left behind at Glastonbury Festival. Volunteers will also provide guided plant and tree walks, dream catcher workshops and a green woodworking demonstration. The highlight of the day is when the children show off their work in a colourful carnival parade. The fair will once again host Tip of the Pops, an award-winning ‘ecotainment’ disco with no carbon footprint and the world’s only solar-powered wheelbarrow disco, created from waste reclaimed from the tip! Hosted by DJ Dynamo, spinning classic 7” vinyl from five decades of dance, Tip of the Pops is musical comedy activism for all ages, providing entertainment, education and workshops. There will also be local traders, producers, artists and makers selling eco-friendly, hand-made or fairly traded products. Debbie Pike of Dorset Portraits will be back by popular demand, and once again sets to capture the spark of her subject whilst talking to them and creating wonderful pieces of personal art during an amazing 30 minute sitting. New for this year will be the Slim Slam Boogie cabaret stage with returning favourites: New Orleans raconteur, Doctor Jazz; compère and DJ, Westdown Towers (The Bing Bong Rooms) and many more friends, performers, poets and musicians (to be confirmed).

Updated news of bands, performers and other contributors will be posted to the event website www.greencommunityfair.co.uk or phone 01202 386348 for more information.

Silver-washed Fritillary, copyright Richard Carter, ukbutterflies.co.uk.

emember when you were still at school? Quelle horreur and OMG, but plants and gardens were not always top of your agenda! However, July and August were THE most important months of your year – glorious days of freedom and exploration, especially if you were lucky enough to live in Dorset or the New Forest. In the equally glorious freedom of the plant world though, these months can represent something of a lull. Spring blossom has long since blown in the wind and there’s a pause, before the arrival of the late summer delights.

Time for some imaginative thinking, but simplicity is often the key and what could be simpler than grass? When time is more readily spent chilling with your family, let the humble lawn become a sketch pad. Imagine your lawnmower is a pencil and use it to draw a picture, then erase it in the autumn – there, it’s done! Don’t worry about trying to create a wild flower lawn, just mow a few weaving paths, a close-cropped walk around the edge to provide definition, perhaps a small clearing and let the rest grow. You will be amazed at what appears; all the grasses will flower and there’s

ALL GRASSED UP AND SOMEWHERE TO GO?

bound to be a few wild flower gems in there somewhere. It’s beautiful, and brilliant for biodiversity, and butterflies, damsels, ladybirds and so many other good insects will quickly show their appreciation. But that’s only the beginning. Have a little

wander through these lovely ornamental grasses: miscanthus and stipa, calamagrostis and hakonechloa, briza, pennisetum – the list goes on, offering a refreshing palette of shape and movement and oh, so simple to maintain. Try planting Panicum ‘Northwind’ or Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ as a medium height hedge or screen. Something shorter? Then Pennisetum ‘Fairy Tails’ or ‘Red Buttons’ are gorgeous and you will want to stroke them each time you pass! Add to these some of the taller, late summer perennials and it will breathe fresh life into your garden. As we’re on the subject of birds and bees and grass and trees, wood seems a natural link and leads me back to the New Forest, where I took Lymington-based sculptor, Andy Baerselman to meet a client whose garden I designed late last year. It was her childhood home, holding many happy memories and she was keen to re-use what materials we could. So, when a timber seat was needed I

Some Great Plants: Astrantia major ‘Roma’ Persicaria amplex.‘Fat Domino’ Dianthus carthusianorum Rosa ‘Malvern Hills’ Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’ Verbena bonariensis ‘Lollipop’ And a Good Read: The Arcadian Friends by Tim Richardson Sarah Talbot 07808 471937 www.sarahtalbotgardendesign.co.uk

introduced her to Andy – and then Andy to a rather beautiful blond ash tree that was lying in the grounds. The rest, as they say, will soon be history. “I was delighted at the prospect of turning the old tree into a seat. I like to make the most of the natural patina and when it’s finished, this will sit under the branches of a white cherry tree.” So, take a fresh look at what you have in your garden, let your imagination wander and remember there’s more to grass than meets the eye!

Words: Sarah Talbot Images - Supplied

Wareham Office: 01929 555300 Email: trisha.ashby-rudd@domvs.co.uk Website: www.domvs.co.uk

2Queens Harveys Close Road Name Rd Maiden Newton Town Swanage DT2 County BH19 £475,000 EPC: D Post Code Price: £999,950 EPC: B Prices: £????????

A compelling, individually designed property with sea views located in the highly desirable area of Durlston. The stunningly high specification incorporates solar panelling, under floor heating, air source heat pump and Cat 5 cabling throughout making this a low maintenance dream house. Spacious accommodation includes attractively designed generous en-suite facilities to each bedroom. There is also a useful wine cellar and superb below ground facilities: a unique contemporary find which blends well with the Victorian grandeur of this marvellous part of Swanage.

BEAUTIFULLY FINISHEDPerfect family space and lay-out ECO FRIENDLY Glorious, sun-lit garden SEA VIEWS

Double garage and parking

• Eco Friendly • Sea Views • Plentiful Storage • 5 Double Bedrooms each with En-suite • Extremely Spacious Accommodation

Wareham Office: 01929 555300 Email: trisha.ashby-rudd@domvs.co.uk Website: www.domvs.co.uk

This exquisite four bedroom Grade II listed cottage nestling amongst the farmlands of West Morden is enticingly set within attractive gardens, with a swimming pool and steam room equipped for perfect relaxation throughout the year.

Embracing the country-style within the kitchen which includes an electric four oven Aga and oak furnishings with granite work tops, this 17th Century treasure has been carefully modernised to preserve the quintessential cottage-appeal.

• Rare opportunity in highly sought after village • Private swimming pool and steam room • Electric Aga with Calor gas hob • Spacious accommodation • Period features • Rural location

Close proximity to Wareham Beautifully peaceful Considerable charm

Badgers Walk West Morden Wareham Dorset BH20 Price: £685,000 EPC: Exempt arkadia magazine

Dorchester Office: 01305 757300 Email:stuart.bramley@domvs.co.uk Website: www.domvs.co.uk

Church Barn Maiden Newton DT2 Price: £645,000 EPC: C

Luxuriously appointed Stunning views of St Mary’s Church Extensive & versatile accommodation

Originally constructed in the 19th century, this barn conversion is a much loved stylish family home discreetly positioned at the end of a no-through road enjoying privacy and open rural views. Successfully combining modernity with history, the property has five bedrooms, three bathrooms (one en suite), and three reception rooms. The generous kitchen is impressive with excellent facilities for the keen chef as well as a designated family area, complete with wood burner. Outside, there is a balcony, within the eaves of the building, and a good sized walled garden with a paved terrace as well as lawn.

• Perfect family space • Private location • 5 bedrooms (1 en-suite) • 3 reception rooms • Balcony • Walled garden

Wareham Office: 01929 555300 Email: trisha.ashby-rudd@domvs.co.uk Website: www.domvs.co.uk

A carefully considered and ultimately stunningly designed property. The sweeping staircase and beautifully polished stone tiled entrance hall with arched window allowing a view of the garden beyond, creates a gloriously impressive beginning to an elegant and charming home. Centrally located in this riverside town, there are five very generous bedrooms all with ensuite facilities, plus extensive garage complex and potential for self-contained annexe. • 5,665 sq ft of internal accommodation • Beautifully bespoke kitchen and bathrooms • 5 double bedrooms (all with ensuite facilities) • 6 bathrooms • Orangery • Potential for self-contained annexe • Extensive garaging

CENTRAL TOWN LOCATION OUTSTANDING INTERIORS FAULTLESS DESIGN

Gabriel Oak Wareham BH20 £ 1,500,000 EPC: B arkadia magazine

Wareham office: 01929 555 300 Email: trisha.ashby-rudd@domvs.co.uk Website: www.domvs.co.uk

Garden House Upper Hamble River Nr Southampton Hampshire Price: £ 2,350,000 EPC: D

Set within approximately 16 acres a long driveway leads past the paddocks either side, to the landscaped gardens arriving at the front of this four bedroom property before sweeping around to the detached 4 car garage/annex complex. Extensive terracing wraps around the house with a heated swimming pool perfectly positioned to enjoy the views. A small boating pond is bordered by a lush bog garden, and wild flower meadows lead down to approx 350 yards of river frontage alongside the River Hamble. Open views up and down the river add to the sense of enchantment as does the unrivalled privacy. A truly compelling location.

• Rare opportunity in this exclusive riverside location • Approx 350 yards of river frontage • Paddocks & wild flower meadow • 4 car garage/annex complex • Country location yet so close to amenities

Extensive river frontage Extremely private Stunning views

Preston Office: 01305 835300 Email: charlotte.jones@domvs.co.uk Website: www.domvs.co.uk

This charming four bedroom residence is tucked away off the popular Bowleaze Coveway. Sea views and privacy can be found from this secluded spot. Well-proportioned rooms are offered with this handsome property including a large kitchen/family room. The impressive master suite has the appealing advantage of views towards the sea and fields behind. • Secluded Spot on Bowleaze • Far-Reaching Coastal and Countryside Views • Large Kitchen/Family Room • Master Ensuite • Four Double Bedrooms • Plentiful Parking ENCHANTING GRADE II LISTED COTTAGE MANY ORIGINAL FEATURES DELIGHTFUL GARDEN • ENCHANTING GRADE II LISTED COTTAGE • DELIGHTFUL PRIVATE GARDEN • PRIVATE STREAM • 2 SPACIOUS BEDROOMS • PARKING AND GARAGE • EXPOSED BEAMS • FEATURE FIREPLACE • MODERN KITCHEN WITH BELFAST SINK

Meadowside, Bowleaze Coveway, Weymouth – DT3 Offers in excess £650,000 EPC: D arkadia magazine

Preston office: 01305 835300 Email: charlotte.jones@domvs.co.uk Website: www.domvs.co.uk

Millcot Nottington Weymouth DT3 £360,000 EPC: E

Charming Hamlet Streamside Location Sun Room overlooking the Private Gardens

This charming cottage offers character and wellproportioned living accommodation set in mature and pretty gardens. Set in the heart of this pretty hamlet, the generous living space is offset by the original features of this converted Mill House to include exposed ceiling beams, fireplace with cosy multi-fuel burner and quarry tiled floors. A charming country kitchen and sun room, wellpositioned to enjoy the afternoon sun and views of the garden, are further engaging features. In addition there is the rare advantage of a triple garage, as well as secure off-road parking.

• Pretty Mature Gardens • Character Four Bedroom Property • Triple Garaging & Off-Road Parking • Two Reception Rooms and Sun Room • Semi-Rural Location in Highly Regarded Village

There may never be a better time to sell your dorset home.

he ongoing London exodus is fast creating a property bubble here in the South West; the number of Londoners quitting the capital for a change of lifestyle is now at its highest since before the start of the recession.

At DOMVS, we know that buying or selling your house is an intensely personal process but one that requires absolute coverage. We pride ourselves on combining global exposure with local expertise.

The capital has, traditionally, proved an oddly insular market with its booming economy and spike in house prices. As values have soared – the average home in London is worth £435,000, according to the Land Registry – people tended to stay put. Until now, that is.

Our dedicated team of 25 professionals is small and always accessible, yet boasts a wealth of experience and multi-discipline knowledge that drives powerful results. I have been in this business for more than 30 years and my mantra is simple but effective – do it properly and with passion.

Signalling that a wider recovery is well under way, Londoners are flocking to the home counties, and beyond, in record numbers. And DOMVS, with our unique, global access, can help you reap the benefits of this dramatic shift We are proud to belong to the exclusive Fine & Country network, made up of more than 275 offices, together with 100 international outlets, connecting us with buyers around the world. Their Park Lane office fully enables us to make the most of this key market. Dorset is increasingly popular with clients relocating from elsewhere in the UK, and overseas. We have the lifestyle, we have the weather, we have the coast and, of course, we have the property.

Our hugely experienced team has been hand-picked with precision and care. I oversee residential sales while Neil, my husband, is an expert on land acquisition. Architect, Barry Coupe looks after project management and Debbie Turner is in charge of lettings. We even have our own auctioneer, Richard Worrall. But this is an ever-changing market in challenging times and while we will always fiercely believe in the personal approach, we also know that our inspirational property demands edge, nous, technology and platform. Despite our extensive reach, our powerful local expertise remains unparalleled. Bolstering our longstanding offices in Weymouth and Dorchester, our Wareham office ensures blanket coverage.

Polly Greenway

new Wareham office

Our new Wareham office -Foreground DEBBIE TURNER, Head Of Lettings, POLLY GREENWAY, Director (pink jacket) & NEIL GREENWAY, Director TRISHA ASHBY-RUDD - Wareham Branch Manager (behind reception)

Preston Office: (01305 835300) Email: charlotte.jones@domvs.co.uk Website: www.domvs.co.uk

Mouse Cottage Nottington Weymouth DT3 Price: £695,000 EPC: F

This charming property is located in a stunning setting with far-reaching views of the hills of Nottington. Tucked away yet offering easy access to either Dorchester or Weymouth town centres this five bedroom detached residence comes with stables, camp site facilities and wood area surrounded by just under 7 acres. The current owners use the land for livery and camping

• Change of Lifestyle Opportunity • Business Opportunities with the Land • Beautiful Hamlet Setting • Detached Chalet Style Property • Five Bedrooms

Successful Running Business Stables & Outbuildings Just Under 7 Acres

Preston Office: 01305 757300 Email: charlotte.jones@domvs.co.uk Website: www.domvs.co.uk

This property offers pure indulgence - not to mention the views! A stunning contemporary home with over 3000sq feet of space sitting proudly atop one of Weymouth’s premium locations.

BREATH-TAKING SEA & COUNTRY VIEWS Impressive specification Coastal living

Offering versatile accommodation over 3 floors with breath-taking far- reaching views over Weymouth Bay and presented to an extremely high standard incorporating modern day living with luxurious bathrooms and grand rooms. Turkish Travertine and solid timber floors are just some of the finishing touches used. Pure coastal living at its best!

• Impressive Contemporary Residence • Commanding Coastal & Countryside Views • Five Bedrooms, Two En-Suites • Double Garage and Plenty of Parking • Landscaped Gardens

Oceanwave 45a Bowleaze Coveway Weymouth DT3 Price: OX £850,000 EPC: C

Wareham Office: Tel: 01929 555300 Email: trisha.ashby-rudd@domvs.co.uk Website: www.domvs.co.uk

Saxon Cottage West Lulworth BH20 Price: £495,000 EPC: D

Historic village Coastal walks on your doorstep Close proximity to Lulworth Cove

This beautifully presented cottage is within close proximity of Lulworth Cove, famed for its oyster-shaped cove and stunning scenery. Light, bright and airy Saxon Cottage provides the perfect home for permanent living, but equally enticing for those seeking a holiday retreat. This charming property has three double bedrooms, two bathrooms one of which is an en-suite. A private enclosed courtyard is another advantage as is the rare advantage of a garage and off-road parking.

• Approx half a mile to Lulworth Cove • 3 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms • Impressive kitchen • Private courtyard garden • Rare advantage of a garage & private parking

Dorchester Office: 01305 757300 Email: polly.greenway@domvs.co.uk Web site: www.domvs.co.uk

Approached via a long private drive through the Frampton Estate sweeping up to the front of the house, past the tennis court and enjoying a wonderful ‘sense of arrival’ as the enchanting setting becomes clearly apparent. Set in approximately 2.5 acres combining mature woodland with lawned gardens, private terraces, and mature planting, the gardens undoubtedly frame the property beautifully: it is hard to believe that in such a private setting the ‘outside world’ is only a short distance away. A wonderfully preserved late-Victorian house with ancillary accommodation either providing additional income or self-contained 3 bedroom accommodation for elderly relatives etc: a delightful opportunity for the next family to enjoy.

• Enchanting private setting • Approx 2.5 acres of gardens and woodland • All-weather tennis court • Heritage-style garaging • Range of brick-built outbuildings

MAGICAL FAMILY HOME Ancillary accommodation WELL PRESERVED LATE-VICTORIAN HOME

Moreford Hall Moreton Dorset DT2 £999,999 EPC: F arkadia magazine

Dorchester Office: (01305 757300) Email: stuart.bramley@domvs.co.uk Website: www.domvs.co.uk

Shepherds Thatch Coryates Dorset DT2 Price: £500,000 EPC: E

An enchanting period cottage set in half an acre of beautifully landscaped garden, creating a truly idyllic setting with country views. Light and airy; including three bedrooms, kitchen /family room with Aga, formal dining room and sitting room with open fireplace. .

• Plentiful space to extend if required (unlisted) subject to the usual consents • Beautiful landscaped garden • Considerable period character • Far-reaching open country views

Half an acre Detached single garage Bespoke character features

Wareham Office: 01929 555300 Email: trisha.ashby-rudd@domvs.co.uk Website: www.domvs.co.uk

Nestled in the surrounds of stunning Dorset countryside with its own mature gardens, this enchanting detached Grade II listed thatched cottage is an absolute delight. It is a property full of charm with inglenook fireplaces, attractive mature gardens and spacious accommodation; a ‘dream cottage’. Stunning countryside views set the scene and with 4 bedrooms and large reception rooms it can be enjoyed as a family home or an idyllic getaway cottage.

NEW THATCH IDYLLIC RURAL LOCATION SURPRISINGLY SPACIOUS ACCOMMODATION

• Wonderful countryside setting • Spacious living accommodation • Charming original features • Garage and extensive parking • Sought after location

Taddlestones Tarrant Monkton DT11 Price: £720,000 EPC: EXEMPT

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Wareham Office: 01929 555300 Email: trisha.ashby-rudd@domvs.co.uk Website: www.domvs.co.uk

The Birches Elwood Close Sandford, Wareham BH20 Price: £585,000 EPC: C

Tasteful contemporary design Impressive specification Exceptional finish

An elegant, contemporary chalet, stunningly finished to an exceptionally superior standard. This is a tasteful and spacious home meeting the high expectations of modern living. Underfloor heating, stylishly crafted bathrooms and a kitchen any aspiring gourmet chef would relish. Set on a private road with its own drive and garaging close to local schools, village amenities and the charming historic riverside town of Wareham.

• Contemporary spacious accommodation • 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms • Exceptionally high specification • Garage and parking for 4 further cars. • Private no-through road

Dorchester office: 01305 757 300 Email: stuart.bramley@domvs.co.uk Website: www.domvs.co.uk

The property is discreetly located at the end of a nothrough road and is an enchanting oasis with beautifully landscaped gardens and a spring-fed lake. With four bedrooms (two en-suite), three reception rooms, conservatory and double garage, the property is an ideal family home set in some of Dorset’s most desirable countryside within ten minutes from the coast. The immaculately maintained garden is a wildlife haven enjoying absolute privacy with many delightful seating areas

• Tranquil location • 4 bedrooms (e En-suite) • 3 reception rooms • Conservatory • 10 minutes from the coast

PERFECT FAMILY HOME BLISSFUL SETTING SPRING-FED LAKE

The Old Granary Litton Cheney DT2 Price: OX £695,000 EPC: E arkadia magazine

Dorchester Office: 01305 757300 Email: stuart.bramley@domvs.co.uk Website: www.domvs.co.uk

Woodland View, Dewlish, DT2 £ 485,000 EPC: D

This engaging cottage-style home was originally built in the 21st century and offers all the benefits of modern living with the character of a traditional Dorset home creating an extremely welcoming environment within this ever-popular unspoiled village. The sitting room is particularly charming with its inglenook-style fireplace creating a cosy focal point. Of particular note are the gardens which are carefully landscaped to provide seating areas, vegetable garden and all backing onto open fields at the rear.

• Village location • Beautifully presented • Detached property • 4 bedrooms (ensuite facility to master) • Double garage with additional private parking

Backing onto fields Landscaped gardens COTTAGE STYLE-CHARACTER

Jamie at home... Polly Greenway meets Jeremy (Jamie to friends & family) Pope, 70, Dorset’s former High Sheriff and a leading scion of the Eldridge Pope brewing dynasty who ran the 122-year-old family business until early 1999. The Company was sold in 2004. He was heavily involved in Weymouth’s successful Olympic bid and helped oversee the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee visit to the county in 2012. Q. You now live in West Compton but you were born in Dorchester, in Culliford House at the end of South Walks. Your Grandparents lived in South Court on the opposite side of the Walks, which is now Sunninghill School. How has Dorset changed in your lifetime? A. Traditionally, Dorset was a very inward-looking county – some people I met lived and died here without ever going outside the county boundary – but, though that was part of its charm, there was also some sense of in-breeding. That’s all changed. We now have our fair share of Lynda Snells but also, still, a huge amount of latent talent. If we could just get decent broadband. Many people once travelled through Dorset, but more and more are now seeing the county as a destination for holidays, leisure and business – and there’s no city or motorway. That’s one of the things that’s rather charming about it. But there’s so much going on, so much to do – the countryside, the coast, the culture. It’s just a fantastic county which virtually contains Britain’s entire geology and that leads to this fabulous diversity of landscape and habitat, flora and fauna and birdlife. As such, it’s unique. Q. Your great-grandfather founded Eldridge Pope in 1871 before developing what is now Brewery Square. Do you mourn the fact that the company is no more? A. I retired in 1999 and tried to buy the brewery, to develop myself, but it wasn’t to be. I don’t think the people who took over from me really understood the business. Within just a few years, Eldridge Pope ceased to exist. The biggest sadness for me was for all the people I worked with. But, inevitably, things change. I’m not sitting moping. Q. What do you make of the ongoing Brewery Square development? A. What worries me is the high density of restaurants which I don’t recognise as something Dorchester needs – the town is not exactly the nightclub capital of the West of England. I get very mixed reviews. I wish it well, but the tragedy would be to end up with an out-of-balance development that ultimately falls derelict. That’s my concern. The logical step would have been to have had a really comprehensive masterplan for a new Dorchester town centre. That, I think, is an opportunity that was missed. And I would have loved to have developed an out station here for the Jurassic Coast. An awful lot of the fossil finds end up in London’s Natural History Museum where they’re not visible. I would have tried to repatriate them.

much more complicated than London. I don’t think many people realised that. There was a Merlin helicopter up in the air at all times with an elite group of marine snipers on board, bomb disposal teams (in mufti) circulated the town, there were three or four tiers of police and marines in patrol boats and ribs, and officers from across the UK mingling with the visitors. There was such a great atmosphere and a wonderful team of volunteers to meet and greet them. A lot of people moaned, but we’d never have got the Weymouth relief road built had it not been for the Olympics, and the Dorset coast was showcased all around the world. There were some who thought they were on a gravy train but the most important thing should have been to be full, not rack-up the room rate to an unrealistic level. Others said that the bucket and spade tourism trade would suffer but there was a live screen on Weymouth beach and free sports taster courses – 100,000 youngsters went through that system. Also, the Chesil Trust, of which I was a founder Trustee, introduced the Sail for a Fiver scheme in 2002, under which any child in Year 6 can enjoy a half-day sailing taster for £5. So far, 12,000 plus young people have gone through, which is an astonishing achievement and a great legacy. Q. You were High Sheriff in 2012/2013 and, as a Deputy Lieutenant, helped organise the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee visit to Dorset on 1st May 2012. Was that a highpoint of your year in office? A. The trip was quite rushed and I had to rock-up in my ceremonial knee britches, which I don’t miss at all. We presented the Queen with a Dorset hamper full of local delicacies and when she saw it, she asked my wife: “Is all that food for me?” She was absolutely delighted, telling Prince Philip: “Look what they’ve given us.” Q. You have three grown-up sons. Have they followed in your footsteps? A. My youngest is a lawyer, so he has, in a way. But my other two sons are a banker and a golf pro. Q. What does the future hold for you? A. I’m told 70 is the new 50, which is gratifying. I’m still a trustee of the Tank Museum in Bovington and we have just resurrected a scheme which I am passionate about. It’s designed to take on young offenders and give them work they can relate to – restoring vehicles, learning about IT and so on. Under the previous scheme the re-offending rates were less than two per cent which is almost unheard of. I just hope we can achieve similar results when the new scheme starts in early May. Q. And finally, tell us your guilty secret. A. I love cooking! Lobster Bisque is my signature dish, along with Partridge Saltimbocca.

Q. As Vice Chairman of the Dorset Olympic Board and the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, you were heavily involved in the county’s successful bid to co-host the 2012 games. What was the highlight, and the legacy? A. I stood up after the games on a high. The Olympics were fantastic. The co-ordination of security was incredible – immaculately organised and, because of our coastal location, Jacqueline Pope (Jeremys wife) presenting the Queen with a Dorset hamper

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FULL DESIGN SERVICE FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION DISTINCTIVE, ORIGINAL HOME ACCESSORIES & FURNISHINGS MADE TO MEASURE CURTAINS & BLINDS OPENING HOURS Tues - Fri 10am - 4pm & Sat 9.30am - 1pm (T) 01305 267219 www.catwhiteinteriors.co.uk 1 Buttermarket . Poundbury . Dorset . DT1 3AZ STOCKISTS OF: Little Greene Paint Company, ROMO, Osborne & Little, Liberty of London, GP & J Baker, Cole & Son, arkadia James Hare, magazine Blendworth, Korla, Villa Nova, Black Edition, Baker Lifestyle, Robert Allen, Barneby Gates & Silent Gliss