Viewpoint September 2023

Motorist jailed after collision

A driver who caused a serious injury road traffic collision in Blandford while under the influence of alcohol has been jailed. Holly Ann Davies, aged 36 from Milborne St Andrew, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on 22 August 2023 after admitting charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drink driving. She was sentenced to 14 months in jail and disqualified from driving for 37 months.

The collision occurred at around 8am on 19 September 2022 on the A354 near to the Badger Roundabout, involving a cyclist and a white Mercedes. The cyclist, a man aged in his 50s, was knocked from his bicycle and a passing off duty police officer provided first aid until the ambulance service arrived. A witness stated the Mercedes appeared to make no attempt to react before or after the collision and made off from the scene.

The cyclist required hospital treatment for a fracture to his shoulder blade, injuries to his elbows and concussion symptoms. Doctors noted that his condition was likely to have been far worse had he not been wearing a cycle helmet, which was severely damaged in the collision. The witness noted the vehicle registration and police found a wing mirror from a white Mercedes near the scene. The car was located a few hours later and the defendant arrested.

Verwood Rustic Fayre photos

Chance to win vouchers to spend in Ringwood Pulford Publicity’s charity event for Dorset Mind

VIEWPOINT

Dear readers

I know you won’t want to read this – but the meteorological autumn began on 1 September.

However, to most of us it is still summer, and despite July’s downpours, we feel we deserve more warm days with lots of interesting events still taking place locally, and across the world.

For instance, in the United States, 15 September marks National Double Cheeseburger Day as well as National Cheese Toast Day. And if that wasn’t enough calories on the menu, 16 September is National Cinnamon Raisin Toast Day. The month continues with other days marking food such as National Chocolate Milk Day and National Corned Beef Hash Day, but I can’t see a National Healthy Eating Day. Who on earth thinks these things up? Oh yes, of course, it could be food manufacturers.

Sounding a bit more fun is International Talk Like a Pirate Day on 19 September, so I guess we can all be forgiven for saying ‘shiver my timbers’ now and then.

World Car-Free Day is celebrated on 22 September, which at least seems like a good idea but I’m not sure if it will catch on.

In the UK, October has Black History Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and across the world there is International Walk to School Month, World Blindness Awareness Month and World Menopause Month.

And make sure you celebrate International Coffee Day on 1 October.

On 14 October, our fundraising dinner for Dorset Mind takes place at Dudsbury Golf Club. There are so many raffle and auction lots donated by our loyal advertisers and we can’t thank them enough for their generosity. See page 29 for details on how to book your place.

Well, that’s the diaries filled up for the coming weeks.

Marilyn Barber

News editor

The Editor reserves the right to amend or shorten contributions in order to fit in with the editorial policy and style of the magazine

VIEWPOINT

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Copy date 26 SEPTEMBER 2023

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Blandford Forum Parish Church © Danny Howe

Dorset Council is a finalist for Best Climate Action or Decarbonisation Initiative in this year’s Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Awards, which take place in September.

The award submission focused on the council’s decarbonisation programme which saw energy efficiency and renewable energy measures fitted in over 200 council-owned buildings in just 18 months.

Climate change awards Police inspector dismissed

A serving Dorset Police inspector who was found guilty of gross misconduct after posting offensive messages on a WhatsApp group and failing to challenge the behaviour of colleagues he supervised has been dismissed without notice.

Inspector Nicholas Mantle was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour following a public misconduct hearing. On 15 August, he was told of the independent panel’s decision to remove him from the organisation. He will now be placed on the barred list administered by the College of Policing.

Three other officers and one former officer also attended hearings related to alleged incidents of bullying and discriminatory conduct in connection with posts on the WhatsApp group.

The panel ruled that the contents of the group contained sexual, pornographic, misogynistic, homophobic, racist, bullying, abusive, offensive and inappropriate messages.

Of the other officers, PC Mark Jordan-Gill and former officer Paul Perdrisat were also found guilty of gross misconduct. PC Jordan-Gill was dismissed with immediate effect and both were placed on the barred list.

Serving officers PC Michael Lowther and PC Matthew Young were found guilty of misconduct. PC Lowther, who challenged the behaviour on the WhatsApp group and left the group, was handed a written warning and PC Young was issued with a final written warning.

The project, which has cut energy bills by over £1million a year for the council and its partners, was funded through the government’s public sector decarbonisation scheme. Dorset Council secured £19million from the scheme, one of the largest awards in the country.

Dorset selected for family support programme

Dorset Council is one of three local authorities selected to be a pathfinder in the government’s new programme to ensure families are better supported.

Work will start on the Families First for Children programme in the autumn and the three local authorities (Dorset Council, Lincolnshire County Council and City of Wolverhampton Council) will work with police, health and education in their areas over the following two years. The programme will attract funding for the Dorset Council area to help with the implementation.

Cllr Byron Quayle, portfolio holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help, said: “It’s great to see that Dorset Council has been recognised as a leading light in the work of children’s services.

“Our last full Ofsted inspection said the service had outstanding leadership so I am confident we have the skills and experience to be able to carry out the work the government is asking of us.”

A vital member of staff

By Edward Holmes, Meesons & Spurlings Solicitors

I was reflecting on what to write about this week and decided that I would tell you about one of our members of staff.

I feel we are very fortunate with the quality of our staff but decided to write about one in particular. He is always on time for work and normally arrives before me every morning. He treats everybody equally, irrespective of the status or position within the company. He enjoys meeting clients and is always welcoming, although on occasion he can be slightly over enthusiastic. He is constantly friendly, never moans or groans and keeps everyone smiling. He is always neat and tidy and if anything is dropped or spilt on the floor, he will hoover it up in seconds. He never leaves my side and is happy to keep me company when I work late. He keeps everybody on their toes and their bins on their desks, but that is another story. He rarely advises on the law and leaves that to our experts, but nevertheless he is an integral member of staff.

He is of course Charlie the office dog and I recommend every office should have one.

Big thank you for amazing gifts donated to Pulford Publicity’s fundraiser for Dorset Mind

With only one month to go before Pulford Publicity’s event to raise money for its charity of the year, Dorset Mind, the Pulfords would like to thank the many sponsors who have donated and promised prizes/auction lots:

Condor Ferries £100 voucher; Poole Lighting set of outdoor lights worth over £100; Salamander Cook Shop Sophie Conran Portmeirion bowls worth over £100; Oliver Twist film poster by the late Eric Pulford (framed print); Sandford Orchards crate of cider; 4 art coasters, and a print by Louis Pulford; Wimborne Wellness 2 x vouchers; watercolours by local artist Jill McKay; skateboard by Enuff Skateboards; Station Hair voucher; dog photo session with Matt Dixon Pet Photo; Marwell Zoo tickets; photographic print by Lee Cooper; Stewarts Garden Centres voucher for afternoon tea for two; Webb’s meat voucher; Xerocad canvas print; Liberty Owl and Raptor Centre tickets; Regent Centre vouchers; Francesca cut and finish; The Barn, Ringwood £50 voucher; Heathside Travel £50 voucher; Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf tickets; aromatherapy massage; afternoon tea voucher; Cliffhanger Café treat; Farmer Palmers family ticket; Dudsbury Golf Club 4-ball voucher, and lesson flower arrangement by Ferndown Florist; hamper supplied by Pulford Publicity. Apologies for any missed items. They will appear in October Dorset View Diners in the Brabant Suite at Dudsbury Golf Club on 14 October will be in for a treat whilst raising money for charity. Singer Charlotte Geary will entertain, Tony Brown will be auctioneer for the night, Dorset Mind will give a short presentation and there will also be a super raffle as well as a 3-course meal with coffee/tea afterwards. Few remaining tickets available from www.pulfordpublicity.co.uk

Waste management facility plans submitted for Canford Resource Park

UK-based company MVV Environment Ltd has submitted a planning application to BCP Council for a new energy from waste combined heat and power facility at the Canford Resource Park. This site is an active waste management site, including a closed landfill and waste processing facilities, located off Magna Road.

The proposed development is a 260,000 tonne per annum Energy from Waste Combined Heat and Power (EfW CHP) facility that will be Carbon Capture Retrofit Ready (CCRR).

Residual household waste, collected by BCP and Dorset councils, already goes to Canford Resource Park

Dorset CPRE opposes re-drawing of the green belt

Dorset CPRE has backed a new report from the countryside charity that argues the green belt, which protects 12.5 per cent of England’s land area from development, should become greener, wetter and more biodiverse.

for treatment, with a very high proportion of it being transported back off site for final disposal.

Earlier this year MVV staged a number of public consultation exhibitions at The Hamworthy Club, Canford Magna, and Bearwood Community Centre.

The full planning application is now available on BCP Council’s planning portal under reference APP/23/00822/F.

Paul Carey, managing director, said: “MVV believes its proposals will provide a more sustainable solution for the management of the region’s residual waste, turning it into useful energy, some of which can be used locally.”

Peter Bowyer, chairman of trustees at Dorset CPRE commenting on ‘State of the Green Belt 2023 a Vision for the 21st century’ said: “This report is both timely and important. The government needs to commit, in planning policy, to protect and enhance the green belt. This would show it is serious about ‘brownfield first.’ It would also demonstrate its recognition of the enormous value to health and wellbeing of the countryside around our towns and cities.

“Dorset CPRE strongly opposes the re-drawing of the green belt to allow housing developments. Wisely,

green belt areas have been protected from development for the benefit of succeeding generations, yet pressure from government targets and developers threatens that protection. Meeting housing need appears to be the main ‘exceptional circumstance’ asserted by Dorset Council to justify building in the green belt. Dorset Council has already granted permission for 13,000 homes to be built in Dorset that have yet to be constructed (amounting to about 10 years’ of future growth), so we campaign for that [previously allocated] land to be used first.”

Plan for family services

A Children, Young People and Families plan for Dorset has been launched.

The Dorset Strategic Alliance for Children and Young People brings together senior people from the council, police, health, fire and rescue services, schools, early years’ settings and the voluntary and community sector to shape and transform services over the next 10 years.

Cllr Byron Quayle, portfolio holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help, who is chairman of the Strategic Alliance said: “We will work together to ensure

that our children have the best start in life; we will enable our young people to thrive as they grow into adulthood; and, where children need our care, we will ensure that they have the right support in place and for that to be in Dorset.

“We will make sure that we provide the best education for all our children and do all we can to make sure that Dorset is the best place to live and work together to keep children safe from harm at home and in their communities.”

Drug testing on arrest scheme

Anyone caught participating in illegal activity in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight may now be tested for drugs.

The new initiative has been funded by the Drug Confiscation Fund (DCF), along with a further financial boost from the Home

Office of £150,000.

It has been rolled out across the four custody centres in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and aims to reduce offending by tackling the root causes and helping offenders get any support they need.

the Year

Let’s get Dorset talking about mental health...

Don’t skirt around:

If we all mention mental health frequently in conversation, it will normalise it. Talking about your wellbeing when it’s on form, or not, will also help make difficult conversations easier to have the more we do it.

This is especially true when we talk about suicide. We shouldn’t be afraid to name it or mention it. This won’t encourage someone to act upon their thoughts but could help release the pressure they feel if they think you might listen.

Actively listen:

Allowing others to be honest about their feelings could save their life. Make these conversations as comfortable as possible – give them your full attention and provide a safe

space for them to voice their feelings. It’s important to help people experiencing suicidal feelings feel heard.

To need to talk doesn’t mean you’re a burden – it can help people around you begin to understand what you’re going through. Pausing, taking a breath, might help you think positively about your next steps.

Check-in:

Normalise checking your own feelings – how are you feeling today, really?

If you keep track of your own feelings and recognise your behaviours, you might have a better understanding of others, which can be valuable if someone is struggling to open up.

If you notice someone seems off, ask them open questions such as, “how have you been feeling lately?”

Invite them to answer more than just a yes or no. And always ask twice.

You are not alone:

Struggling with mental wellbeing and having suicidal thoughts is more common than you think – many people will experience suicidal feelings at some point in their life; however, this does not mean that they necessarily want to end their life.

There are organisations that can help: Call Samaritans for free 24/7

emotional support on 116 123

Call Dorset’s Connection helpline for mental health support on NHS 111

Text SHOUT to 85258 to receive support via text

Visit dorsetmind.uk for local mental health support and ways to keep mentally healthy

September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day, which brings an opportunity for us to remind people to start talking – which can be the start to accessing support.

Here are a few suggestions to help yourself – and others.

Nature partnership call for New Forest

The New Forest National Park Authority and Forest partners are calling for people to work together to drive nature recovery in the New Forest and wider area.

The Re:New Nature Challenge looks at the opportunities and resources needed to put nature front and centre in the New Forest National Park. In the New Forest, 56 per cent of the national park is a Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area or Ramsar Site and a further five per cent is classified as nonstatutory sites important for nature conservation – the highest proportion of land in any local authority area in the country.

At a reception at the New Forest National Park Authority stand at the New Forest Show, forest organisations called for wider partnership working, inviting landowners, land managers, communities and investors to develop projects and ideas, and secure resources together.

L-R Andrew Parry-Norton chairman of the Commoners Defence Association; Keith Metcalf of Milford Conservation Volunteers and Wings Wildlife Heritage; Rt Hon Sir Julian Lewis MP for New Forest East; Alison Barnes CEO of the New Forest National Park Authority; Mike Clarke chairman of the Wildlife Roundtable and Gavin Parker chairman of the New Forest National Park Authority

Social orchestra looking for members

The Fordingbridge-based Millstream Orchestra is looking for new members. It is open to players of all abilities and rehearses in Whitsbury, fortnightly on Thursdays. If you are over 16 and looking for an opportunity to play, or a player returning to music after a break, the orchestra is an ideal group to join.

It performs a couple of concerts a year and has an extensive library of film, show and classical music.

To find out more, call Harry Clarke on 01425 653217 or Heather Dobby on 01425 473900.

Youth football partnership

Foster with Dorset Council has a new partnership with Dorset County Football Association enabling support for the Dorset Youth Cup Competitions for the 2023/24 season.

The council says it hopes that through this partnership it can actively support youth football in Dorset, whilst spreading the message of the need for more people to foster.

Wimborne Civic Society celebrates half a century

To celebrate its founding 50 years ago, Wimborne Civic Society held a party in the gardens at Deans Court with music provided by Middlehill Baroque.

Michael Bloxham, a former chairman, proposed a toast to the health of the society and the president, Susan Gibson of High Hall, whose late husband had been one of the society’s founders, cut the first slice of a 50th birthday cake.

Since its foundation, the Civic Society’s main purpose has been to monitor the quality of the built environment in Wimborne and nearby villages. Also to support change that will make Wimborne an even better place to live and to encourage the preservation of old and historic buildings, while also promoting good design and good architecture in all future development. The society has its own plans sub-committee, which monitors planning applications and keeps in close touch with local planning authorities.

Committee member Katharine Allen lights the candles prior to society president Susan Gibson cutting the cake. L-R Susan Gibson’s daughter Mrs Charlotte Burleigh, Susan Gibson and her son Dr Jonathan Gibson

NEWS IN BRIEF

Vape recycling – Hampshire residents can now recycle vapes at any household waste recycling centre helping to avoid disposal in general waste, which is a fire risk, and reduce littering. It is estimated that around 11.3m single use vapes are thrown away each week, making it the fastest growing type of waste. Single-use vapes contain lithium-ion batteries which can catch fire if broken.

Wimborne application withdrawn – an application to demolish a single-storey attached garage, the erection of a detached double garage and the subdivision of the plot in order to erect a new two-storey four-bedroom house at 17 King Street, Wimborne was withdrawn from August’s Dorset Council Eastern Area planning committee meeting.

Blandford infill – Dorset Council has received an application to demolish a garage at Wilchurch, Wimborne Road, Blandford Forum and to erect two detached properties.

Fordingbridge house – New Forest District Council has received an application to erect a four-bedroom detached house on land adjacent to 7 Hertford Close, Fordingbridge.

Singers and musicians wanted – the Gospel Choir based at St Martin’s Church in West Moors is looking to welcome new singers (all voices) for its programme of music and engagements this autumn/winter. There is no audition and rehearsals start on Thursday evenings from 28 September. The choir is also looking for saxophonists or other brass players, guitarists, percussionists or string players who would be willing to perform in a supporting role at some events. Email stm.gospelchoir@urc-eastdorset.org.uk

Coffee morning for Macmillan

Owner of Station Hair, Fred, knows only too well the value of Macmillan Cancer Support, having had personal experience of the service.

Fred was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019. As a way of giving back, Fred has organised a Macmillan coffee morning, which will take place on Monday 2 October from 10am until 1pm. As well as delicious cake, tea and coffee, there will be a book sale, tombola and raffle.

The raffle will be for a hamper which includes Alfaparf hair goodies, a brush, a Macmillan eye mask, Macmillan water bottle, Macmillan reusable mug and a £20 gift voucher to use at Aroma café.

Fred said: “We all know how important this event is at raising much needed funds for this fantastic charity, they go above and beyond to help people when they most need it. So please come along and help support this amazing charity!”

Station Hair is located at 140 Station Road, West Moors.

Church wall paintings

By Julian Hewitt, Fordingbridge Museum

Those readers who, like me, enjoy visiting churches will be used to being greeted by bare stone walls or white plaster interiors. It is difficult to imagine the interior of a church in this country being a riot of colour. However, Anglo Saxon and medieval churches would have had interiors where every surface would be aglow with colour.

Some of the paintwork was as simple as red lines painted on the plastered walls to simulate masonry blocks, embellished with repeated decorative patterns using foliate, scrollwork or geometric shapes. Woodwork, such as roof beams, roof bosses and pulpits would have been equally colourful.

Large areas of plaster were covered in painted scenes depicting the lives of the saints or sending an unambiguous message about moral behaviour.

In Saxon and medieval times, most of the population was illiterate so this was a vivid way of communicating biblical content to them.

Most of the painted interiors of churches were done away with during the Reformation and the Civil War periods. The Reformation was the age of iconoclasts who wanted to eradicate Catholic imagery on church walls. Under Henry VIII and his son Edward VI, church interiors were whitewashed. Later, many Victorian restorers destroyed countless wall paintings that had been whitewashed over by hacking off the wall plaster to resurface walls. Fortunately, the whitewash in some churches preserved the paintings and enabled them to be uncovered and conserved.

The church at Nether Wallop has a painting of an angel dating back to before the Norman

Conquest. This is the oldest Anglo-Saxon painting in situ in the country. Later paintings show St George fighting the dragon – an allegory of good overcoming evil – and ones depicting warnings to people who may be tempted to break the Sabbath by working on a Sunday. Like most church art, these were painted by travelling artists who would go from church-to-church painting walls, woodwork and tombs. They would often also paint secular buildings.

One of the most spectacular paintings in the area is the Doom painting in St Thomas’ Church in Salisbury. This is the largest and best preserved in the country. It was painted in 1470 and uncovered in 1819. It shows the Last Judgement with people ascending to heaven or descending to hell depending on what sort of lives they had lived. Those descending into hell include people wearing crowns and one wearing a bishop’s mitre, showing no one was exempt from judgement. Tradition has it that one of the people depicted as destined for hell was Agnes Bothenham,

landlady of a house of ill repute, now the Rai d’Or pub. A bit unfair you might think, as she later repented and founded Trinity Hospital Alms Houses in Salisbury as an act of penance.

Wimborne Minster has a small but interesting thirteenth century wall painting. This depicts the crucifixion and includes some geometric patterns. This was uncovered in 1891 but was covered in beeswax for protection. This was a common treatment but it gradually darkened the image.

The Church of St Mary and St Bartholomew at Cranborne has some excellent medieval paintings showing St Christopher, the patron saint of travellers and trees of the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Virtues. The latter is thought to be unique in the country. I particularly like the way the artist has shown fish nibbling the legs of St Christopher as he wades through the river.

The next time you visit a church, look out for remains of painted decoration and think of the artists who painted them and the congregation who looked at them all those years ago.

Wall painting at Cranborne church

Boost for Thomas Hardy project fundraiser

Dorset History Centre (DHC), the county’s archive service has been awarded a £35,000 grant by the Archives Revealed programme at The National Archives.

The highly competitive process identified the service’s efforts to catalogue the world-renowned archives of author Thomas Hardy as a high priority. DHC, with its support charity Dorset Archives Trust, has been leading efforts to raise a total of £68,000. It is hoped to raise the additional £26,000 to meet the target and start the project this autumn.

The funds will employ an archivist to work on the collection, creating a new freely-accessible catalogue and descriptions of all Hardy’s archives, opening the collection up in a way never before possible. At present, this UNESCO-inscribed treasure is something of a hidden gem with very little public information available about what it contains and how it can be accessed.

Anyone who wishes to contribute to the project can donate by going to www.dorsetarchivestrust.org

Transform your space With Grace

- advertisement feature -

Based in the centre of Ringwood, With Grace can help you to add beauty and charm to your surroundings. Discover faux flowers that mirror nature’s artistry, curated interiors, furniture, wedding bouquets, perfumes, and candles. Their lifelike faux flowers bring nature indoors with stunning arrangements that enliven any room, capturing the essence of real blooms. You can also have silk flowers for your wedding day.

In addition to wedding bouquets, With Grace can supply buttonholes, table arrangements, flower arches and flower girl hoops.

Pop into the shop at 55 High Street, Ringwood and see the handpicked pieces of furniture that radiate style and sophistication. Also on offer are fragrant perfumes and candles. With Grace offers a delightful shopping journey that celebrates elegance and creativity.

Hardy with his bicycle

Vikings and volunteers

This summer, the ladies of Blandford Evening WI took on a new venture, catering to Vikings, volunteers and visitors at the Dark Ages open weekend at the Ancient Technology Centre in Cranborne.

Dressed in their well-known green checked pinafores they coped with the showery weather, record crowds, hoards of hungry Vikings and even the temporary loss their gas supply. The ladies enjoyed the day and will be helping once again at the centre’s Apple Days weekend on 23 and 24 September.

Major milestone for beekeepers

North Dorset Beekeepers is developing a half-acre site at Holloway Farm in Shillingstone as a honey bee centre.

Currently, a church hall is used for formal teaching, and the association’s beehives are located on land owned by the Forum School. The new site will provide facilities that will make the association’s activities much more accessible, although it will come at a price, as the centre is expected to cost £200,000. More than a quarter of the funds have been raised so far.

Tim Villiers, who leads the association’s Apiary Working Group, said: “It’s a lot of money for a small charity like us to raise. We need to convince others just how important the honey bee is to us humans and that our new centre will help spread the word in Dorset. If anyone out there would like to help us, we’d love to hear from you. You can contact us via the website (www. northdorsetbeekeepers.org.uk).”

Artist’s impression of the proposed Honey Bee Centre

Join horticultural society in Verwood

The Verwood and District Horticultural Society is currently looking for new members to join their fun and friendly group for their regular monthly meetings, annual shows, outings and social events. The 2023/24 membership starts from 2 November.

There are varied talks on wildlife, nature, local history and crafts as well as gardens and flowers.

The VDHS meets on the first Thursday of every month for a speaker, refreshments and raffle. You can get in contact via www. verwoodhorticulturalsociety. co.uk or contact Ollie on 01202 827622. Alternatively, head along to one of the monthly meetings in the Verwood Memorial Hall at 7.30pm.

Volunteers needed

Verwood Youth Centre is keen to attract adult volunteers for Mondays and/or Thursdays, 5.45-8.30pm. If this is for you email:youthworker@verwood.gov.uk

Verwood Rotary Club

By Louisa Hiscock

The

We support Rotary’s international projects as much as we can, which means we can get involved alongside other clubs to make a real difference.

Soon our annual Christmas Shoebox Appeal will be launched when we work with local schools to fill shoeboxes with small gifts. These are sent around the world to disadvantaged children in time for Christmas. Last year, we sent 156 boxes.

We also continue to support projects such as Shelterbox

(providing essential shelter and items to support areas of the world hit by devastating natural disasters) and Lend with Care, which supports people in developing countries by pledging what seems a very small amount to us to help them set up their own small businesses, shops and farms. Once our small loans are repaid in full, we can choose new entrepreneurs seeking support and redistribute the capital again. So, lots to keep us busy!

new Rotary year is now well underway. Throughout August, members were kept busy organising our Rustic Fayre. In the next issue I hope to share more about the day and the funds raised for charities and local organisations.

Air Cadets reopens in Ferndown

Air cadets are offered many opportunities, including the chance to fly. In the past, cadets at the Ferndown unit have flown as passengers in a light aircraft, glider or even on board RAF aircraft such as the Typhoon fast jet or a Chinook helicopter.

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards, up to Gold level, are offered as part of the training, as is leadership training, through the Junior Leaders course. Cadets will have the opportunity to try their hand at military skills and drills, and are encouraged to build new friendships while learning to rely on the other people to get the job done.

Aside from new experiences and skills, air cadets can also take away qualifications including BTECs and City & Guilds vocational qualifications and First Aid.

Air cadets can also take part in sport, and can be supported to take it to the next level if aptitude is shown.

The Ferndown squadron meets on Mondays and Fridays, 7.15-9.30pm at the squadron building in Cherry Grove, situated between Ferndown Leisure Centre and Ferndown Upper School. Applicants should be between the ages of 12 and 17. For information, email Adj.2358@rafac.mod. gov.uk or call 01202 891644.

The RAF Air Cadets 2358 Ferndown Squadron has been granted permission to reopen after it was forced to close during the pandemic and is accepting new members.

How healthy are you?

Autumn is the perfect time for a healthy living reboot. Holidays done, children back at school, the treats and trips of summer over. Time to take stock and make some lifestyle changes. Perhaps lose a few pounds or start exercising regularly. Maybe a bigger change, like giving up smoking.

This is where LiveWell Dorset, your local, councilfunded FREE health and wellbeing service, really can make a difference. Its team has the expertise – and the tools – to help you succeed, including 1-2-1 coaching.

LiveWell supports Dorset adults who want to manage weight, stop smoking, move more or drink less. It takes just a few minutes to register by phone or online. LiveWell’s advisors

will help you make a personal plan to achieve your goals.

LiveWell offers a kickstart weight-loss programme that includes vouchers for 12 free weeks of slimming group support. This can also be combined with coaching sessions.

Smokers have lots of options including nicotine replacement gum or patches, vape kits, or a place on an Allan Carr Easyway oneday quit course worth £300 which can be done online or in person. Go in a smoker, come out a non-smoker!

Making a lifestyle change can be tough on your own but with LiveWell on your side, you’ll have the support you need to succeed. Visit livewelldorset. co.uk or call 0800 840 1628.

How healthy is your lifestyle?   Get your LiveWell score – scan the advert on this page or visit: https://www. livewelldorset.co.uk/areyou-living-well

Autumn vaccines Homes needed for unaccompanied children

School aged children will be able to get the flu vaccine from September.

Flu vaccinations for children are being prioritised to prevent children from getting seriously ill from flu, and to break the chain of transmission of the virus to the wider population.

This year, adults over the age of 65 and those with underlying health conditions will be eligible for a flu and Covid-19 vaccination, with the offer starting from early October, to maximise protection for patients right across the winter months. Residents of older adult care homes will start receiving their vaccinations on 2 October, with the public able to book appointments the following week. The NHS will let people know when bookings open.

If people have booked an earlier appointment with their local provider, these appointments can go ahead.

If you would be willing to foster or provide supported lodgings for unaccompanied children and young people, Dorset Council would like to hear from you.

Unaccompanied children are children and young people who have had to leave their home and country and have been separated from their parents or carers. In Dorset, unaccompanied children are cared for by the local authority as children in care. The council has a responsibility to provide a warm welcome and kindness to ensure children have a safe and nurturing home where they can thrive.

People from any background are welcome to apply – you can be married, single or in a partnership, and from all ethnic groups and backgrounds, as long as you can provide a safe and supportive environment.

To find out more about providing a home for an unaccompanied child or young person, email fosteringenquiries@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk .

Ferndown Fitness – save £100 on membership this month

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If you find the thought of going to a gym rather daunting and don’t fancy paying high prices for personal training, then Ferndown Fitness is the place for you. A club with a difference that offers personalised exercise programmes, regular assessments to track your progress and as much help and guidance as you need from approachable, knowledgeable staff. No posers or show-offs, just people who want to lose weight and improve their health and fitness in a relaxed, friendly environment. And you can save over £100 on a membership this September. To find out more, visit ferndownfitness.co.uk or call 01202 855321 to book your free guest visit.

Free counselling sessions for substance abuse

People on low incomes or who are unemployed can take advantage of free counselling services by Poole-based substance misuse support charity, EDAS (Essential Drug and Alcohol Service), thanks to a £10,000 grant from Talbot Village Trust.

Dr Mindy Bartlett, CEO of EDAS, said: “EDAS was set up to enable adults struggling with substance abuse across the country to access essential support and guidance,

providing them with a better future. We simply cannot do this work without generous funding from organisations like Talbot Village Trust.”

The free-of-charge sessions include one-to-one counselling appointments both in person and over the phone, communal support groups, mindfulness and meditation sessions, mental and physical health training, career and social guidance, harm minimisation, and relapse prevention.

Generous donation to secure dementia-friendly screenings

Dementia-friendly screenings will continue at Lighthouse Poole, thanks to a donation by NFU Mutual New Forest, Isle of Wight and Bournemouth. The donation of £6,443 will enable the dementia-friendly programme to continue to grow.

John Heather, senior agent at NFU Mutual’s New Forest, Isle of Wight and Bournemouth agency said: “For this year

we have chosen to support charities that directly help local communities that use the arts to focus on the education, support and wellbeing of the elderly in the community. We are delighted to be helping Lighthouse to continue with their Dementia Friendly screenings, bringing help to those suffering with the condition and to provide some respite for their carers.”

EDBKA ensures no barriers to becoming beekeepers

By Sandra Palmer-Snellin • https://edbka.org.uk/

Beekeeping has been proven to improve mental health and wellbeing, promoting relaxation and reducing stress levels.

The East Dorset Beekeepers Association (EDBKA) know this activity to be therapeutic for those with learning disabilities, who may, from time to time, experience higher levels of stress and anxiety. Beekeeping also provides an opportunity for people to develop new skills, such as learning about bee behaviour and how to care for a hive.

This sits well with Sturts Farm’s 90-acre working organic biodynamic farm ethics, drive for sustainability and environmentalism.

Since February 2023, Ivor Kemp from EDBKA has given six training sessions to adults who have a variety of learning difficulties but passionately want to become responsible

stewards and bee farmers. As a new EDBKA committee member, I was welcomed by students to observe their final lesson. Their sense of purpose, recall of information and enthusiasm lit up the room. Ivor’s empathy and passion made the course on modern natural beekeeping a joy. It covered the honeybees’ behaviour, natural history, their diseases, and pests. Upon completion of the course, each trainee received a certificate and stepped into a protective bee suit for the first time. As they investigated the hive, the students got to see the complexity of the bees’ social structure, female workers, drones (males), eggs, brood and capped over honey stores.

Although thrilling, meeting bees for the first time can be an instinctive fight-or-flight moment, even though they

are on the other side of the suit. The additional sensory stimulation can be difficult or overwhelming for people with sensory processing issues, but there was none of it.

Their focus and questions demonstrated they worked well as a group and their support network will ensure they make great progress.

As the world continues to grapple with environmental issues, we all know bees provide a critical role in pollinating plants and crops, and are crucial to the environment and the food chain.

Beekeeping encourages people to get involved, connect

with nature, enables them to protect it and has a positive impact on local communities.

EDBKA gifted a top bar hive to the delegates and delivered a swarm to the Sturts Farm students in May with their first bee colony. In good years, bees create surplus honey. EDBKA’s training covers how to harvest this honey, use an extractor, and filter honey for placing in jars, as well as preparing wax for making candles, soap, and furniture polish. The students will design their own labels for these products, and it is hoped they will be accepted for sale in the Sturts Farm shop.

Rare plants thriving thanks to cattle

Grazing cattle, deer, ponies and pigs are treading pathways that are helping rare species of animals and plants to thrive on the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve in Dorset.

For the past 10 years, cattle have been released into a 1,300-hectare area of the heath, and the results have been analysed by teams of students from Bournemouth University, led by Professor Anita Diaz.

Early findings have shown that the tracks trampled by grazing cattle, pigs and ponies, as well as the resident silka deer, are creating ecological corridors, helping other specieis also move around the heath.

Ellen Baugh, an

undergraduate student studying Ecology and Conservation, said: “As the animals move through the landscape they create a lot of disturbance by trampling and foraging. They also create a lot of variation in vegetation which is important to a lot of species.”

The Purbeck heaths have a large population of the rare silver-studded blue butterfly which is thriving thanks to this variation. Other species taking advantage of the animal tracks include the bright yellowflowered bog asphodels, which provide pollen for bumblebees, and the carnivorous sundew, which uses its sticky red tentacles to trap insects such as ants and grasshoppers.

Ivor from EDBKA with Sturts Farm beekeeping students

A carnivorous sundew in an animal track by Anita Diaz Isla

Win £50 to spend in Ringwood!

The popular market town of Ringwood is bustling with national chains alongside local, boutique outlets, has plenty of places to eat and has all the services residents and visitors may need. Appropriately, Market Place is the venue for a weekly market which takes place on Wednesdays from 8am to 3pm.

The town also has a leisure centre and outdoor sporting facilities, activities for young people at Carvers Clubhouse, an abundance of outdoor spaces and Greyfriars, the local community centre.

Viewpoint is offering readers the opportunity to win £50 to spend with one of the advertisers on this page. All you have to do to be in with a chance to win this fabulous £50 cash voucher, courtesy of Pulford Publicity, is answer the following:

On what day is Ringwood’s weekly market held?

Enter online at www.dorsetview.co.uk or send your answer to the address on page three of this magazine. Closing date is 9 October 2023. The first correct answer drawn will be the winner. Employees of Pulford Publicity Ltd are not permitted to enter. There is no cash alternative. The £50 voucher will have to be spent within three months of being awarded. The winner must state where they wish to spend their £50 voucher or their entry will be invalid. The editor’s decision is final. Personal details will be stored securely and will only be processed to determine the winner of the competition. The winner will be announced in the magazine and their name and phone number/email address will be passed to their chosen business for the purposes of allocating the voucher.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Licence objection – Ringwood Town Council’s Planning, Town and Environment Committee has put forward an objection to New Forest District Council with regard to the application by Antepli at Meeting House Lane for a licence to open until 1am. The authority said 1am was not appropriate and should be amended to 12 midnight.

From pub to homes – New Forest District Council has received an application for the Lamb Inn at Hightown Road, Ringwood to be converted to provide six one-bedroom flats and one three-bedroom house. Modern rear extensions would be demolished.

Hostel to flats – New Forest District Council has granted permission for the conversion of a seven-bedroom hostel at 14 Parsonage Barn Lane, Ringwood into five flats to provide temporary accommodation.

New pathways – New Forest District Council has installed improved footpaths with additional drainage works to ensure the paths remain usable at Poulner Lakes, near Ringwood. Town trail – Ringwood’s Town Trail has been relaunched, thanks to contributions from Ringwood Society’s members and a grant from Hampshire County Council. There is a revised route and new information board and town map. Copies are available from outlets around the town.

Ringwood Actions for Climate Emergency (RACE) is holding an auction of locally produced, nature inspired art, including drawings, paintings, fused glass, wood carvings, wooden bowls, needle felt, pewter work and photography.

The event will take place on Saturday 14 October at Trinity Hall, Ringwood. Viewing starts at 6.30pm with the auction at 7.15pm. Tickets from Eventbrite, or email ringwoodraceagainsttime@ gmail.com, and include a glass of wine and some canapés.

Profits will go to future projects in the Ringwood area, in particular pollinator and habitat friendly planting around Ringwood and improving habitat at the RACE field at Crow Hill.

Court to lead carnival

This year’s Ringwood Carnival will be attended by a Carnival Court.

The decision was made by the carnival committee following their announcement of the crowning of a male carnival queen. Subsequent negative comments, both publicly and privately, led to the teenager – named as James –stepping back from the role. Instead, James will take on an ambassador role, and appear alongside carnival

Ringwood resident charged

Police officers investigating reports of an indecent exposure in Ringwood have charged a person with numerous offences in connection with the incident.

The charges come after reports that two young girls were allegedly subjected to indecent exposure opposite an address on Euston Grove in Ringwood between Wednesday 26 July and Thursday 27 July.

Samantha Norris, 55, of Ringwood has been charged with three counts of making indecent photographs/ pseudophotographs of a child, possession of a prohibited image of

a child, possession of extreme pornographic image and two counts of exposure. After appearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court, Norris was further remanded in custody and is next due to next appear at Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday 9 January 2024.

princesses Lucy Knight and Mia Marcinek, town mayor Gareth DeBoos, deputy town mayor Rae Frederick and mayor’s consort Mary DeBoos. The court will travel across a number of vehicles, led by Sampson Percheron Horses. Ringwood Carnival takes place on Saturday 16 September, with parades at 2pm and 7.15pm. As well, there will be street entertainers, live entertainment, craft stalls, fireworks and a fun fair.

Would you like to own a piece of art?

COMPETITION!

£60 to dine out on us!

The review of Frampton’s in the August issue of Viewpoint proved very popular, so the editor has decided to run a competition to give one lucky winner the chance to win a £60 voucher towards the cost of a delicious meal at Frampton’s on the High Street in Ringwood.

Head along for lunch or dinner and choose from the menu of burgers, pizzas and tapas-style small plates. Or treat yourself to a leisurely brunch, which is offered until 1pm.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is answer the question below.

Q. Until what time is brunch served at Frampton’s?

Rules of entry:

Enter online at www.dorsetview.co.uk or send your answer to the address on page three of this magazine. The £60 voucher will be valid for three months from the issue date and must be redeemed towards the cost of food only. No change will be given. Closing date is 9 October 2023. The first correct answer drawn will be the winner. Employees of Pulford Publicity Ltd or Frampton’s, Ringwood are not permitted to enter. There is no cash alternative. The editor’s decision is final. Personal details will be stored securely and will only be processed to determine the winner of the competition. The winner will be announced in the magazine and their name and phone number will be passed to the venue to facilitate the giving of the prize.

Events

Details were correct at the time of going to print. Send information about your events to newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

15-24 September

Activate Performing Arts’ biennial outdoor arts festival. Venues in Wimborne, Poole and Moors Valley.

16 September

Ringwood Carnival with processions at 2pm and 7.15pm.

16 September 10am-1pm

Blandford Forum Community Expo at the Corn Exchange in the Market Place.

16 September 7pm

Wildlife photographer David Bailey with a talk and slideshow at Stanpit Village Hall. Bar and raffle. £5. Contact Tracy 07526 935311.

17 September 10am

Alzheimer’s Society’s Bournemouth Memory Walk from Bournemouth Pier. To sign up, visit www.memorywalk.org.uk

18 September 10am-3pm

Open day at Dudsbury camp. Refreshments available plus stalls, games and a ukulele group. Contact judydaniels@ntlworld.com

18 September 7.30pm

Colehill Floral Arrangement Group meets at Colehill Village Hall. Visitors welcome for £5. Contact 01202 610902.

19 September 8pm

Wimborne Civic Society meets at the Allendale Centre. Members £2, non-members £5.

23 September 10am-12noon

Blandford War on Waste litter pick. Meet at the Mortain (blue) bridge. All equipment supplied.

26 September 7.30pm

West Parley Gardening Club meets at the MS Centre, Dorset,  Church Lane, West Parley BH22 8TS. www.westparleygc.co.uk

29 September–1 October

Arts by the Sea Festival, Bournemouth.

29 September 2pm

Blandford & District branch of the U3A lecture by Joanna Gardiner on medical detection dogs at Durweston Village Hall.

30 Sept 10am-1pm

RSPB New Forest Local Group field trip to Farlington Marshes, Portsmouth. Meet at nature reserve car park at the A27/A2030 junction. Non-members £5, members free. Tel 01425 652864 https:// group.rspb.org.uk/new forest/

30 September 10.30am-4pm

Bournemouth Vegan Festival at Citygate Centre, Bournemouth. www.veganeventsuk.co.uk.

30 September

Race night at the Village Hall, Braeside Road, St Leonards BH24 2PH. Details: mariestlshall@ yahoo.com or 01425 475733.

30 September 12noon-4.30pm

Bournemouth Orchid Society show and trade fair at the Allendale Community Centre.

30 September 10am

Volunteers needed to look after saplings in Jubilee Copse, West Moors. Call 01202 861044 or email office@qwestmoors-tc.gov.uk

2 October 2pm

Blandford and District Floral Group meets at the Anne Biddlecombe Hall, Tarrant Keyneston.

5 October 7.15-9.15pm

Ferndown & District Historical Society meets at the Barrington Centre on the first Thursday of each month. Contact Andrew Palmer 01202 874407.

7 October 2-4pm

East Dorset Beekeepers Association Honey Show at West Moors Memorial Hall.

7 Oct 10am-1pm

RSPB New Forest Local Group field trip to Keyhaven Marshes. Meet by the sea wall small parking area. Non-members £5, members free. Tel 01425 652864.

10 October 7.15-9.30pm

Tamsin Westhorpe talk to raise funds for Wimborne Community Garden at Beaucroft College Hall, School Lane, Wimborne. BH21 1HQ. Tickets via: https://faithworks. churchsuite.com/events/ikx3quy4

11 October 6.30-9pm

Bournemouth Big Band, Swing and Jazz Club meets downstairs in Kinson Community Centre. Details www.bournemouthjazzclub.org

11 Oct 7.30-9.30pm

RSPB New Forest Local Group AGM, Lyndhurst Community Centre. Non-members £5, members £3 Tel 01425 652864.

11 October 7.30pm

East Dorset Antiquarian Society meets at St Catherine’s Church Hall, Wimborne for a talk on The Rise and Decline of Bournemouth and Poole Tramways.

14 October 6.30pm

Pulford Publicity’s Charity of the Year Dinner and Auction in aid of Dorset Mind. Tickets £44.50 from www.pulfordpublicity.co.uk

18 Oct 10am-1pm

RSPB New Forest Local Group field trip to Hengistbury Head (SZ 162 911). Meet in car park area outside the Hikers Café. Non-members £5, members free Tel 01425 652864 https:// group.rspb.org.uk/new forest/

18-21 October

Ferndown Drama present Out of Focus at the Barrington. Tickets available from www.ticketsource. co.uk/ferndown-drama or from the Barrington Box Office.

Fundraiser for Wimborne Community Garden

Garden guru and author Tamsin Westhorpe is returning to Wimborne – where she once owned a gardening shop – to give a talk to help raise funds for Wimborne Community Garden.

Established in 2022 by the local community and supported by the charity Faithworks, Wimborne Community Garden is adjacent to Beaucroft Foundation College. Over the last year, the land has been transformed with raised beds, fruit trees and plenty of fruit and vegetable patches.

The garden provides fresh produce for Wimborne Food Bank+, the school’s cafe and other local food initiatives. It also creates a safe space for people to meet others and build self-worth, confidence and skills through gardening.

Tamsin’s talk takes place on Tuesday 10 October, 7.159.30pm at Beaucroft College Hall, School Lane, Wimborne BH21 1HQ. Book your tickets via: https://faithworks.churchsuite.com/ events/ikx3quy4

NEWS IN BRIEF

Charity trek to Petra – Julia’s House Hospice Charity is seeking adventurers and hiking enthusiasts to join an unforgettable eight-day fundraising trek to Petra from 2-9 November 2024. To find out more visit: www.juliashouse.org/petra or contact the fundraising team on events@juliashouse.org.

Ringwood Carnival by Lyndon Wall

Tamsin Westhope

Verwood Rustic Fayre

The rain held off, and people turned out in droves for yet another successful Rustic Fayre. There was plenty to see and do, both in the arena and around the fayre site. Highlights from the arena included the fayre opening by the Verwood Carnival queen and princesses; the

Black Eagles Acrobats, terrier racing and a tug’o’war.

There were also classic cars and bikes, stalls and crafts, musical entertainment and the duck race which, after entering for many years, Pulford Publicity was lucky enough to win. Money raised at the Fayre will be used by Verwood Rotary Club to support good causes.

Inside Out festival returns

Moors Valley Country Park and Wimborne are just two of the venues which will host Activate Performing Arts’ biennial outdoor arts festival Inside Out Dorset which runs from Friday 15 to Sunday 24 September. The others are Poole, Bere Regis and Weymouth.

Art will be installed at Moors Valley with Kathy Hinde’s Chirp & Drift – a flock of illuminated instruments that chatter in a musical morse code, combining elements of birdsong, language and music. As wing-like bellows move, air is pressed through

accordion reeds hidden within each ‘bird’, reminding visitors of the delicate and fragile state of the environment, and of our own health.

Both Wimborne and Poole will see contemporary circus, physical theatre and dance performed by Gap of 42 on 16 September.

In Poole on 16 and 17 September, audiences will be treated to storytelling, movement and musical performances.

Further details from https:// activateperformingarts.org.uk/

Wagner, Brahms and Mendelssohn

Preparations are well under way for what is anticipated to be one of the most spectacular concerts of recent years at Fordingbridge Choral Society. The choir is to be joined by leading professional players of the Edward’s Ensemble, who feature in Siegfried Idyll by Richard Wagner. Brahms and Mendelssohn make up the rest of the programme.

The concert on Saturday

25 November is to be conducted by music director Nigel Edwards, a former St Paul’s Cathedral chorister and principal BBC violinist. Singers of all voices are always welcome and details of this and the concert can be found at fordingbridgechoral.org. uk or from the secretary on 01425 656348. Rehearsals are in Fordingbridge on Wednesdays.

M/cycle lock discounts benefit Dorset

Motorcycle owners can now protect their motorcycles from theft by purchasing a lock at a discounted rate, thanks to a new anti-theft initiative.

The charity DocBike has joined forces with Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), David Sidwick, to provide the scheme which gives each Dorset household the opportunity to purchase an alarmed disc lock at a significantly reduced price with the PCC covering the subsidy.

The locks, which normally retail at £99, are being offered at the reduced cost of £25 including postage and packaging. Funding is limited and requests for the locks will be monitored by the charity, so only Dorset residents will be able to benefit.

PCC David Sidwick said: “I have heard of the devastating impact that thefts have on bike

owners. For many people, owning a bike is a cheap way to get to work; for some youngsters, it’s their first mode of transport; and for some, it’s a means to earn a living by delivering food and goods.

“Education and prevention are key components when it comes to tackling any crime. Through this initiative, I hope to raise awareness of the issue of motorbike theft and help owners take practical and proactive steps to protect their bikes.”

The initiative comes after a noted increase in the number of motorcycles, scooters and mopeds stolen in Dorset, with 242 thefts being reported between January 2023 and July 2023 compared to only 255 in the whole of 2022.

Dr Ian Mew, co-founder and trustee of the DocBike charity said: “This is a

Vehicle safety recalls

The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency has announced that after working together with several vehicle manufacturers, motorists will be provided with more up-to-date safety recall information. This information will be provided digitally in the following circumstances:

• Through the online ‘check the MOT history of a vehicle’ service – this will include a prompt to

users when a vehicle registration entered has an outstanding recall on it

• MOT reminders –subscribers will now receive a prompt if their vehicle has an outstanding recall when they receive their MOT reminder Recalls information from manufacturers that are not yet supplying data direct to DVSA will continue to be updated by SMMT and can be checked using the vehicle recall service.

really valuable initiative to motorcyclists in Dorset. Putting high-quality locks into the hands of motorcyclists and scooter riders not only helps to prevent thefts but also helps to reduce the chaos and loss of life that is associated with stolen motorcycles.”

To buy a lock at the discounted rate, go to: https://docbike.org/product/ oxford-big-boss-dorsetpcc/

Success at Sailing World Championships

Two Dorset sailors have won world championship medals in the Formula Kite class, the newest sailing discipline to be added to the Olympic schedule.

Ellie Aldridge, from Poole, and Lily Young, from Weymouth, took silver and bronze respectively in the women’s kite, which will make its Olympic debut at Paris 2024. The results helped Britain to finish the regatta as the only nation to win five medals at the 10-day regatta in The Hague.

Silvers also went to Micky Beckett in the men’s dinghy and John Gimson and Anna Burnet in the mixed multihull,

and a bronze for Emma Wilson in the women’s windsurfing.

The final of the kite competition saw Young and Aldridge joined by fellow Brit Katie Dabson and France’s Lauriane Nolot, the eventual winner. Maddy Anderson was knocked out in the semifinals, finishing ninth overall.

Aldridge also won silver at the Paris 2024 test event last month. She said: “To have four Brits in the top ten, and three in the final fighting it out for the world title is insane. It’s so nice to know we’ve got the strongest squad in the world, pushing each other hard for the Games next summer.”

Golf event raises money for sports charity

An annual fundraising golf day raised more than £12,500 for a local charity.

The event, organised by Nicholas O’Hara Funeral Directors, took place on 4 July at Remedy Oak golf club in aid of the Steve Bernard Foundation (SBF). It had an American theme in a nod to the date, and was enjoyed by 88 players.

SBF was chosen as the benefitting charity as it is the funeral directors’ charity of the year. Established after the tragic death of Stevie B, whose passion in life was sport, the charity has raised over £600,000 to support sporting projects from schools, grassroot clubs, elite athletes including Olympians, county, national and world champions, Invictus games medallists and hundreds of disability athletes.

Following the golf event, Anthony and Jane O’Hara presented a cheque for

£12,647.33 to Tony Bernard, Steve’s father and trustee to the charity. Anthony said:

“We know the charity will do great things with the money and if we can have helped one child enjoy sport, or one team have the equipment they need, or help an elite athlete achieve their goal, then we will feel really proud to have been a small part of that.”

Ellie Aldridge

CORRESPONDENCE

To express your opinion or idea about the community send your letters to letters@dorsetview.co.uk

Where do you sing?

Do you sing in the shower, where there are excellent acoustics, or in the car, at the top of your voice, or even in the kitchen while listening to the radio? Wherever it is, it must mean that you like to sing, and in doing so, do you feel uplifted or happier? If so, why not join our choir, Verwood Choral Society, where you can sing to your heart’s content? On Monday 18 September, 7-8.30pm, we start practising at St Michael’s Parish Church for our Christmas Concert. The acoustics are wonderful, which is the main reason why we use this venue and our musical director, Ann Mayo, encourages us to try new music and we have fun in doing so. Anyone and can join, there is no age limit or auditions and it is a great way to make new friends. You can just come along on the day, or if you feel more comfortable enquiring first you are welcome to call our chairperson Carol Sampson on 01202 814072 or e-mail her at casampson@tiscali.co.uk

We look forward to seeing you.

Kim Vine

On Behalf of Verwood Choral Society

Such has been the success of a Fordingbridge eco friendly community shop that it is moving to bigger premises.

Staffed by volunteers, The Green Gram opened in May 2022, offering refills of foods, cleaning products and toiletries. In its first year, its customers prevented over 16,000 containers (the equivalent of 372kg of plastic) being thrown out. The community benefit society –which is owned by members of the community – is moving to the former Harrison’s building at 23 High Street.

Committee member Jo Anderson said: “We’re moving to new premises so we can offer more products, help more customers reduce their impact on the environment and save money too. We opened The Green Gram as

a community benefit society with a share offer, allowing members of the community to invest both physically and emotionally in the shop.”

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Bathroom choices

By Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

Let’s be honest, most of us spend quite a bit of time in the bathroom – I can see parents of teenagers nodding here – so it is important that it is both welcoming and super functional.

Trends in colour have changed over the decades from white to avocado, back to white and now, in 2023, warmer shades such as cream, earthy brown, tan and taupe are finding favour, as are bright colours.

To have a bath, or just to have a walk-in shower or cubicle is a conundrum.

However, if you have small children and in the future plan to sell your property as a family home, you do need to retain a bath but with a shower unit installed above it with either a glass screen or a shower curtain.

Walk-in showers have become increasingly popular – and they are not just for wet rooms. A walk-in shower is a cubicle that exists independently from the rest of the bathroom. It features glass panels around the outside of the shower and slightly raised shower trays.

The range of bathroom sinks is huge but if you have a tiny bathroom, and need all the floor space you can get, a wall-mount sink is the best option. This gives an opportunity for storage below. Oval sinks are easy to pair with almost any bathroom style and – best of all – with no place for dirt to get trapped they are easy to clean!

Take plenty of time to choose your bathroom tiles.

A porcelain tile is a popular choice for the floor. Porcelain is a denser, less porous and harder option that offers greater stain and water resistance than a ceramic tile. Plus, it’s suitable for radiant in-floor heating to keep feet toasty on cool mornings.

And as a rule of thumb, it is best for a bathroom floor to be a darker shade than the walls and ceiling.

Equally important is your choice of lighting as it needs to capture your skin in detail with similar colour accuracy as in daylight. And it also needs to conform with safety regulations.

How to keep your geraniums on top form

Geraniums are everywhere this season. Few other summer flowers bloom so profusely, in such a variety and for such a long time, yet at the same time are so low maintenance. Here are some tips to keep your flowers blooming.

Remove dead flowers

Removing faded flower heads will encourage more flowering, as it prevents the geraniums from putting energy into forming seeds. They prefer to invest the energy they save into producing new flowers which fill your garden with colour for longer. If you are short of time, look for selfcleaning geranium varieties in your garden centre as they don’t need deadheading and they shed wilted flowers of their own accord.

Fertilise and feed

If your pelargoniums and geraniums only have a few flowers, this may be due to a lack of nutrients. As ‘greedy’ plants, they have a high nutrient requirement. If you didn’t

use a slow-release fertiliser when planting, the reserves in the potting compost will be depleted after four to six weeks and you should start fertilising. To fertilise, either mix a commercial liquid fertiliser for flowering plants into the water once a week or insert fertiliser sticks into the soil. These will keep your plants blooming for about two to three months.

Position in the sun

Geraniums are light-loving flowering plants. The more sun they get, the more abundant the flowers will be. If flowers start to decline or don’t appear at all, check the position where they are planted or placed in your home. Is your geranium getting enough light or is it in shade? If so, simply move your geraniums to a sunnier spot in the garden or place them on a windowsill. Space them out

Geraniums grow quickly and need sufficient space. It is recommended that they are planted in four to five litres of soil to develop and

flower properly. If planted in a container and the space has become too small for your plants, then repot them. As a guide: a 60cm x 20cm balcony box can hold a maximum of three geraniums, and a 100cm box can hold four to five plants. A pot for a single geranium should have a diameter of 20-25cm

and be at least 18cm high.

Additional tip: alternating trailing and upright geraniums in a container gives the plants more space to develop freely.

To keep the flowers blooming well into autumn, the experts at Pelargonium for Europe (PfE) are on hand with some tips at www.

pelargoniumforeurope.com

Picture by Pelargonium for Europe