News & Views

AXMINSTER

Prestigious prize for historian

Local amateur historian and Axminster Heritage Centre volunteer, David Knapman has been awarded the prestigious W.G Hoskins Prize for his book, Unsteady Progress – A History of Axminster from 1701 to 2000. The W.G Hoskins Prize, which is open to new or emerging authors in any category of Devon history, is named after the English professor and local historian, William George Hoskins. David’s book covers over 300 years of local history in ten 30-year chapters (and 480 pages), including many stories which have never made it into earlier histories of the town. The book is published by Axminster Heritage Centre and is available to purchase from the centre.

BRIDPORT

Recipes for Dorset schools

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, campaigner on food and environmental issues, has kindly provided some recipes to be used on local school menus. Hugh has supported Local Food Links since the organisation launched in 2006 and the team are thrilled to be able to share some of his recipes with their young discerning customers. The two recipes that have been chosen are: Gardener’s Pie and Boston Bean and Squash Stew. Gardener’s Pie is described as a being similar to the ever popular Shepherd’s Pie but more veg-centric and the team are confident the pupils are going to love it. Boston Bean and Squash Stew has been chosen as a vegetarian option and is sure to be a wonderful winter warmer.

BRIDPORT

Local business steps up

When Charlie Groves, managing Director of Groves Nurseries in Bridport, put a call out to local businesses to sponsor a tree to donate to local schools and charities, no less than 22 businesses said yes. Charlie said ‘Every year we have loads of requests for the donation of Christmas Trees for deserving organisations around Bridport, Beaminster and the surrounding villages. I wanted to find a way to be able to get anyone who needs a tree this year to get one.’ With the three trees that were donated by Groves Nurseries, Ivy House and Little Groves they donated 25 Christmas Trees.

EASY DEVON

Plans for new town revealed

A draft new Local Plan reveals potential locations for where new homes could be built, including an option for a new town, as well as East Devon’s ambitious plans to become carbon neutral by 2040. This is the first time in the council’s history that it has revealed a ‘work in progress’ draft for a Local Plan, normally waiting until work is further progressed before showing it to the public. The document, on https://eastdevon. gov.uk/ builds on the authority’s recently adopted Council Plan and looks at how the district can protect the environment, build employment space and ensure only high quality developments are built.

DORCHESTER

Tree to remember refugees

A native Birch tree will be planted at The Thomas Hardye School on 24 January 2022 as part of a nationwide campaign to mark the 80th anniversary of the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR)— the national charity providing social and welfare services to Holocaust refugees and survivors in the UK. 80 Trees for 80 Years will see native trees planted around Britain in honour of people and places that symbolise the enormous contribution made to every walk of British life by refugees who escaped from Nazi Europe. The tree at The Thomas Hardye School will act as a platform for telling the story of Britain’s Jewish refugees.