A MONTHLY CELEBRATION OF PEOPLE, PLACE AND PURVEYOR
WONDERWALLS with Tom Balch of Rose of Jericho
The crash-bang-wallop-double-quintet-free-jazz-feedback of summer fades to a single whispered piano as the wilds exhale and loosen their grip. Far flung spiders cast their nets, canny squirrels spread their bets and well-fattened hedgehogs get ready for bed.
And so to October… The Clockspire turns five, James Hull builds a pond and we all fall for Mila. Long overdue space is given to Simon Bar… sorry, ‘Chesterfield’, Mike Burks remembers Abersoch and Val Stones bakes cookies almost too cute to eat. Claire and Katharine nip down to Holywell where Tom Balch and his team at Rose of Jericho continue the timehonoured tradition of handmaking limewashes and distemper paints used in the conservation of historical buildings – our very own The Sherborne among them.
And oh, ahead of her visit here next month, we find a very contented Caroline Quentin immersed in the perfect imperfection of her garden.
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CONTRIBUTORS
Laurence Belbin
Elisabeth Bletsoe Sherborne Museum
Richard Bromell ASFAV Charterhouse Auctioneers and Valuers
Mike Burks The Gardens Group
Paula Carnell
Jack Clarke Dorset Wildlife Trust
Rosie Cunningham
Mgr Canon Robert Draper Sacred Heart & St Aldhelms Catholic Church
Barbara Elsmore
Olivia Eyers Ferne England
Grace Finney Sherborne Prep
James Flynn Milborne Port Computers
Simon Ford
Karina Gill
Craig Hardaker Communifit
Dawn Hart YogaSherborne
Andy Hastie Yeovil Cinematheque
Giles Henschel Olives Et Al
Denise Hepburn Rotary Club of Sherborne Castles
Sarah Hitch The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms
James Hull The Story Pig
Annabelle Hunt Bridport Timber and Flooring
Emma Humphrey The Sherborne
Mark Jerram The Jerram Gallery
Jack Killick
Lucy Lewis Dorset Mind
Massimiliano Mannella The Clockspire
Paul Maskell The Beat and Track
Tom Matkevich The Green Restaurant
Sean McDonough Mogers Drewett
Sandra Miller BSc, MSc, BCNH Dip, FDN-P Wholistic Health
Gillian Nash
Mark Newton-Clarke MA VetMB PhD MRCVS Newton Clarke Veterinary Surgeons
Jan Pain Sherborne Scribblers
Hilary Phillips Hanford School
Jackie Pitman The Old Vicarage
Caroline Quentin
Hazel Roadnight Winstones Books
Mark Salter CFP Fort Financial Planning
Peter Stanbury Sustainable Wine Round Table
Val Stones
John Walsh Friars Moor Livestock Health
Joanna Weinberg Teals
ARTIST AT WORK
in association with
No. 71: Silver Folded Box by Karina Gill
Sterling silver, 90mm x 80mm, £2,500
Iam a contemporary silversmith based in Dorset. My aim is to demonstrate first-class craftsmanship through distinctive sculptural pieces. Over twenty years ago, I unearthed a deceptively simple and unique idea, which had the potential to develop an infinite number of variations on a singleminded theme. The idea draws influence from nature’s patterns and organic repetition – the endlessly uniform variety inspired by seed pods, fossils and ferns. It also drew from the principles of printmaking and textiles, creating an outcome that is delicate yet solid, natural yet structural and simple yet confoundingly complex.
This unusual technique garnered me the Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council gold award in craftsmanship and design, for my silver folded box in 2021.
I graduated from the Surrey Institute of Art and Design in Farnham where I gained a BA (Hons) in 3-Dimensional Design in metalwork. Since completing my degree in 1996 I have built up my Dorset-based business from my workshop where I design and make contemporary silverware and jewellery.
karinagill.co.uk dorsetvisualarts.org
Image: Richard Valencia
ON FILM
Andy Hastie, Cinemateque
Our 2024/25 film season is now up and running and this month we really get into our stride with three great films to see. On 9th October we open with Anatomy of a Fall (2023), the French procedural thriller released last year to universal acclaim. It won the Palme D’or at Cannes and was nominated for five Academy Awards and seven Baftas, including Best Film and Best Director.
When German novelist Sandra Voyter’s husband is mysteriously found dead in the snow below their Alpine chalet, she becomes the main suspect. The only potential witness is their blind son Daniel. At the ensuing trial, Sandra and Samuel’s marriage is minutely dissected, with every piece of evidence cleverly open to opposing, equally plausible, interpretation. This is where the film flies, becoming so engaging. Between the extreme opposites of ‘guilty’ and ‘not guilty’ lie so many shades of culpability and doubt, which makes a nonsense of trying to grasp a simplistic binary verdict from a complicated marriage. This is a tense, cerebral
drama with an outstanding central performance from German actress Sandra Huller and rightly deserves all of the international awards it has won. ‘Continually takes your breath away’ Daily Telegraph.
On 23rd October we offer Zone of Interest (2023), British director Jonathan Glazer’s brilliantly penetrating take on the Martin Amis novel. Rudolph Hoss, the commandant of Auschwitz, his wife Hedwig (Sandra Huller from Anatomy of a Fall) and their family live a perfect suburban dream in a house and garden alongside the camp. This is a historical fact – the house still stands today. This portrayal of adjoining heaven and hell makes the point, however, of only showing the false heaven. Hell is left to our imagination, remaining off-screen, although audible from behind the wall are the industrial sounds of the genocide occurring daily. This exploration of everyday evil, where the family live in denial of what is demonstrably apparent all around them, becomes riveting, unsettling cinema heightened by Mica Levi’s astonishing soundtrack. This is serious film-making,
Zone of Interest (2023)
forcing us to question in the present our existence in our own bubbles thereby not engaging with the horror and violence in the current world. One not to be missed.
‘A masterpiece’ BBC, ‘Hits with sledgehammer urgency’ The Times, ‘Devastating and vital, bold and brilliant’ Daily Telegraph.
Finally, on 30th October we screen Godland (2022). Set in the late 19th century, Danish Lutheran priest Lucas is sent to Iceland in order to set up a parish. Full of self-belief and convinced of his moral purpose, he travels by the most treacherous route to be able to document the land with a cumbersome plate camera during his journey. Guided by disdainful locals and a dangerous, austere landscape, this beautifully photographed Nordic drama is in the Bergman tradition, with its story of a man on a singular mission tested to extremes.
‘Overpoweringly beautiful’ The Irish Times, ‘Magnificent’ The Guardian, ‘Stunningly shot’ The Times. Three very different and excellent films, each laden
with awards; intelligent, international cinema.
cinematheque.org.uk swan-theatre.co.uk
Visit Cinematheque as a guest for £5 or take out a membership for the season. See website for details.
Wednesday 9th October 7.30pm Anatomy of a Fall (15) 2023
Wednesday 23rd October 7.30pm Zone of Interest (12A) 2023
Wednesday 30th October 7.30pm Godland (12A) 2022
Cinematheque, Swan Theatre, 138 Park St, Yeovil BA20 1QT Members £1, guests £5
Godland (2022)
CONFESSIONS OF A THEATRE ADDICT
Rosie Cunningham
From Hello! Dolly to A Chorus Line at Sadler’s Wells, those old high-kicking musicals get reimagined year after year and still pull in packed audiences longing to see glamorous costumes and well-choreographed slick dance sequences. The creator, Michael Bennett, used real-life testimonies from dancers in the 1970s, who auditioned time after time for those coveted, gruelling roles on Broadway. A Chorus Line tells the story of seventeen performers vying for only eight places in a new show. The hopeful auditionees recount their personal stories of ambition and dreams as the number slowly gets whittled down. It would be hard to single out any one performance because the whole show was spectacular and the audience seemed to know all the songs word for word judging by the enthusiastic participation. For more information on which musicals are touring, visit the Musicals on Tour website.
I saw The History Boys at the Theatre Royal Bath and absolutely loved this 20th-anniversary production of
Alan Bennett’s play. The action takes place at Cutler’s Grammar School in Sheffield in the 1980s where eight boys come back for a seventh term to do the Oxbridge exam, an unprecedented event for the school and the headmaster can only dream of the accolades which places at Oxford and Cambridge would mean to his standing in the school’s league table. The boys, whilst hugely bright, are moving from teenagers to adulthood and non-academic pursuits such as sexuality, sex and losing their virginity are on their minds, alongside studying. Bennett pits maverick English teacher, Hector, who believes in culture above all else, and Mrs Lintott, the history teacher, who can’t understand why these gifted students don’t go to a lesser university where they would be happier, against a young, shrewd supply teacher, Irwin, who knows that places are awarded to students who can provide intellectual pushback and not just brains.
The cast were all fabulous but of special note was Simon Rouse as Hector, played by the amazing
Image: Marc Brenner
Bradley Delarosbel in Chorus Line, Saddlers Wells
Richard Griffiths in the famous 2006 film version which propelled Dominic Cooper and James Corden to stardom. Sexual harassment of pupils by teachers is a topic that is currently rarely out of the news and certainly not acceptable behaviour but Hector’s wandering hands would not have unduly raised eyebrows in the 1980s. The History Boys was even voted the nation’s favourite play a decade ago. This contemporary version is enlivened with period pop, think Duran Duran, Adam Ant’s Stand and Deliver and a beautiful a cappella version of St Elmo’s Fire which adds to its fresh appeal. This thoroughly enjoyable, impish, naughty, ironic look at the vagaries of education is touring until November. Fingers crossed that it might come to the West End. Now for something unique. The Amateur Players of Sherborne (APS) are looking for a female actress to take on the titular role of Hedda Gabler in Henrik Ibsen’s play, which will be performed in March 2025. In a similar vein to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Finding Maria, they are Finding Hedda. So come on all you ladies who enjoy a challenge. This is an opportunity not to be missed!
musicalsontour.co.uk westendtheatre.com
FINDING HEDDA
Amateur Players of Sherborne will be staging Ibsen’s masterpiece Hedda Gabler at the Sherborne Studio Theatre in March 2025. Hedda is self-centred, bored, charming, mercurial, fiery, entitled, manipulative. She demands attention as her right; and gets it – from the characters onstage as from the audience. She seeks diversion, preferably by amusing conversation – or failing that, gunfire. No wonder the role of Hedda Gabler is often spoken of as the ‘female Hamlet!’ If you have a playing age of 30-40, and are interested in joining the likes of Ingrid Bergman, Maggie Smith, Fiona Shaw, Cate Blanchett, Rosamund Pike and Ruth Wilson in performing this iconic role, please email findinghedda@mail.com for further details.
NICHOLAS HELY HUTCHINSON
25th October – 13th November
A MORNING IN TOURRETTES OIL
AUTUMN MORNING
OIL
AN ARTIST’S VIEW
Laurence Belbin
After a busy summer, Julia and I managed to get a few days away and settled on a place we’d visited before but many years ago, Dunster, overlooking the sea. A medieval village on the edge but within Exmoor National Park, the whole place is like a film set with the 17th century Yarn Market situated at the top of the village. Although it has been drawn and painted many times and is, like Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, a little overdone, one can’t dismiss the fact that it looks good. So I sat and drew it!
I started with a rough pencil outline to establish myself then went in with ink. The structure was most interesting and you can see the carpenter’s marks on various beams. There is also a very big mark on two of the uprights caused by a cannonball shot from the castle during the Civil War. I overheard a gentleman telling someone this snippet of information. You can see the hole it had made straight through the timber, about 4 inches in diameter, and continuing on to hit another about ten feet away to do the same. We were fortunate to see sheep being sheared there on one of the days and a selection of woollen products on sale made from the wool of the local breed ‘Exmoor Horn’. The shearer was a dab hand at the job using both power and hand shears. Whilst leaning on the gate we had a good chat with the chaps there and I reckon if I’d leaned over any more he have given me a trim too! I understand that the Yarn Market was built
to give a covered space to enable the locals to sell their own wool. The gentry were very good, you know!
Heading down High Street in the direction of the castle, we bore right towards the oldest street in the village, West Street, cobbled on both sides in places. At the end of that, we came to Mill Lane where the castle mill is located. This mill has two waterwheels side by side, apparently only three survive in the country. Nearby there is an old packhorse bridge, called Gallox Bridge. The name comes from the hill on which the gallows once stood. In olden times produce from the hill farms was brought into town via this bridge, to trade, probably at the Yarn Market. The folk would use this whilst carts and sheep were driven through the ford. It is a quiet spot and I was able to do another pen and ink sketch. You don’t need much of an imagination in Dunster to put yourself back several hundreds of years as the general layout remains much the same. The double yellow lines painted on the narrow streets tend to bring you up to 2024 rather rapidly though!
laurencebelbin.com
My Road To Sandford Orcas by Laurence Belbin is available (priced £10) from Laurence’s studio at Westbury Hall, Westbury, Sherborne DT9 3EN and Sherborne Antiques Market, 71 Cheap Street, Sherborne DT9 3BA. Copies can also be ordered for delivery by post. Please contact threepigeonspress@gmail.com
19 October - 16 November
Open Thursday - Saturday 10am - 3pm
Child Okeford
Dorset DT11 8HB 07816 837905
theartstable.co.uk
kellyross@theartstable.co.uk
Autumn Daze
Autumn is a time of plenty on our Somerset estate, as orchards and hedgerows become laden with fruit, and leaves turn to hues of gold. It’s the perfect time to join us with a Newt Membership, offering access to our gardens, woodland, eateries and exhibits for all seasons; plus, a vibrant programme of tours, events, workshops and children’s activities.
Don’t miss our upcoming Autumn celebrations as we mark the shift to mists and mellow fruitfulness.
Apple Day Weekend – 19 & 20 October Fire Night – 8 November
Children go free Visit our website to discover more about Newt Membership. Free entry for children (0-16 yrs) when accompanied by an adult member.
Iam an artist based in London working predominantly in sculpture and painting. I collect materials, usually building materials from skips, broken household items and old packaging. These items get covered in plaster or concrete and then transform into three-dimensional drawings. I rarely know what I
am going to make before I make it. There is no design. The sculptures are born from time spent in the studio, manipulating materials, cutting, folding, breaking and reconfiguring until a form is found.
In March 2024, along with three other artists, Jess Flood-Paddock, Young In Hong and Hamish
"The opportunity felt like a fitting way to reflect on Phyllida's phenomenal body of work and the impact she had on those she taught and those who knew her"
Pearch, I received an invitation to live and work at Hauser & Wirth Somerset for six weeks in July and August, concurrent with the gallery’s current exhibition ‘Phyllida Barlow. unscripted’. Having been taught by Phyllida Barlow and then subsequently worked for her for four years, the opportunity felt like a fitting way to reflect on her phenomenal body of work and the impact she had on those she taught and those who knew her.
Phyllida Barlow was a maker. Her sculptures relied on the physical process of working with materials. With artists’ studios, artist-led spaces and smaller galleries under increasing threat from escalating rents, opportunities for artists to make for making’s sake are becoming few and far between. The residency offered time free of any expectation, allowing something to develop at its own pace. It honours an experimental approach to art-making through a route of trial, error and chance. Rather than a straightforward line from impulse to the execution of that impulse, the journey of making meanders. This experimentation is essential in my creative practice as it avoids repetition and allows my work to evolve. At the end of a day spent in the studio, I ideally want to be surprised by the outcome. The curator of the exhibition, Frances Morris, who selected all four artists for this residency and to whom we are immensely grateful, must have understood that this was a way of working that we all shared.
The last time I saw Phyllida Barlow before she passed away in March 2023 was a chance meeting at an event at the Royal Academy in London. I had not seen her for some time but we almost immediately got talking about the future of artists’ studios, the difficulties faced when space is unaffordable and what the landscape of the art world and sculpture would look like as a result. Mid-conversation, I was called away by a friend who was giving me a lift somewhere afterwards. Her last words to me were, ‘Oh well, to be continued!’ and I replied, ‘Yes, definitely.’ Although she could not be there in person during my residency, the time spent at Hauser & Wirth Somerset, in some way, afforded us the opportunity to continue the conversation.
Jack Killick and his work during the ‘unscripted’ artist residencies open studio, The Maltings, Bruton, 2024. Courtesy Hauser & Wirth. Image: Clare Walsh
FLEETING MOMENTS
NICHOLAS HELY HUTCHINSON
Mark Jerram, The Jerram Gallery
Born in 1955, Hely Hutchinson studied at St Martin’s School of Art and Bristol Polytechnic. He has exhibited consistently in London, Dublin and Hong Kong and his work is found in many private and corporate collections. Hely Hutchinson now lives and works in the middle of idyllic rural Dorset – ‘the seasons and the constantly changing moods of the countryside and coastline’ being the main source of inspiration for his work. Other favoured places to paint include Venice, Paris, the West of Ireland and Cornwall.
‘I am essentially a landscape painter. I always feel, however, that this doesn’t really tell the full story. The idea that a landscape painting can spark off a sense of excitement, foreboding, sorrow or any human emotion is something that seems to me to be an interesting concept. My paintings are really memories of places and moments that I find beautiful, poignant or even nostalgic.’
Hely Hutchinson returns to The Jerram Gallery later this month with a new solo exhibition of his dreamlike views of the Dorset landscape and coast, as well as French landscapes and still-life, all in his distinctive drifting aesthetic of warm glowing hews and delicate details.
Dare to be different. The all-new, fully electric Audi Q6 e-tron has now arrived at Yeovil Audi.
The newest member to our fully-electric SUV family takes innovation and user focused design to a whole new level.
Full screen ahead
On Edition 1, the front passenger gets a large screen that can show videos and navigation.
A smarter way to unlock
Keyless entry allows you to enter your Audi safely and easily without holding a physical key.
A car with brains
Activate your own self-learning voice assistant that continuously learns from your behaviour.
Music to your ears
Four state-of-the-art speakers are built into the driver’s headrest as part of the Sound & Vision pack.
Yeovil Audi. Look No Further.
THE SHERBORNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024
Denise Hepburn, Rotary Club of Sherborne Castles
The Sherborne International Film Festival (SHIFF) is a cultural event that has carved a niche in the historic town of Sherborne in Dorset. Since its inception, the festival has become a much-anticipated annual event, showcasing a diverse selection of films from around the world. More than just a film festival, SHIFF is a celebration of global cinema, offering audiences an opportunity to experience stories, cultures and perspectives not often seen in mainstream cinema.
Held over several days, the festival features films that span various genres, languages and countries. The selection process aims for each film to contribute to the promotion of cultural understanding and artistic excellence, appealing to both seasoned cinema fans and casual moviegoers.
SHIFF is a volunteer-run event, organised by The Rotary Club of Sherborne Castles. Screenings take place in the beautifully restored Powell Theatre, an intimate venue that adds a touch of charm and history to the cinematic experience. This connection to the local community is further strengthened by the festival’s partnerships with local businesses and organisations who sponsor the films, which helps to create a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere.
Programme
Thursday 17th – Sunday 20th October
Thursday 7.30pm
Hero (12), China, 2002
Ancient China and the Qin Empire are out to conquer the six kingdoms, making its king a target for assassination.
One man, with supernatural skills, single-handedly ensures the king’s safety, killing the three most notorious assassins in the land. Treated as a hero, he is summoned for an audience with the king. Directed, co-written and
produced by Zhang Yimou, this wuxia film stars Maggie Cheung, Jet Li, Tony Leung, Donnie Yen, and Ziyi Zhang. Running time: 99 minutes Sponsored by Angela Scott (TL, UW Partner)
Friday 5pm
In the Mood for Love (PG), China, 2000
In the sleepy, proper Hong Kong of 1962, Mrs Chan and Mr Chow, a journalist, move into neighbouring apartments on the same day. Their encounters are formal and polite until a discovery about their respective spouses creates an intimate bond between them. Directed by Wong Kar Wai, this iconic film is a co-production between Hong Kong and France and stars Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung, Chiu Wai, Ping Lam Siu, and Rebecca Pan. Winner of Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival, 2000. Ranked in 2019 by The Guardian fifth in its Best Films of the 21st Century. Running time: 98 minutes Sponsored by Ogilvy & More
Friday 7.30pm
Monos (15), Colombia, 2019
Teenage commandos perform military training exercises by day and indulge in youthful hedonism by night, an unconventional family bound together under a shadowy force known only as The Organisation. After an ambush drives the squadron into the jungle, both the mission and the intricate bonds between the group begin to disintegrate. Winner of the World Cinema Dramatic Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival, 2019. Directed by Alejandro Landes and starring Julianne Nicholson and Moisés Arias. Running time: 103 minutes
Sponsored by Battens Solicitors
Saturday 5pm
My Neighbour Totoro (U), Japan, 1988
A tender, beautiful film, My Neighbour Totoro explores the magical fantasy world of childhood and the transformative power of imagination, as it follows one extraordinary summer in the lives of sisters Satsuki and Mei. Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, this animated film stars the voices of Noriko Hidaka, Chika Sakamoto and Hitoshi Takagi. Considered one of the top animation films in Empire magazine's The 100 Best Films of World Cinema in 2010,
the film received numerous awards, including the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize and Kinema Junpo Award for Best Film in 1988. Running time: 86 minutes
Sponsored by Dorset Blue Vinny Cheese/Dorset Blue Soup
Saturday 7.30pm
The Good, The Bad,
The Weird (15), Korea, 2008
The story of two outlaws, a bounty hunter in 1940s Manchuria and their rivalry to possess a treasure map while being pursued by the Japanese army and Chinese bandits. A South Korean Western action film directed by Kim Jee-woon and starring Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, and Jung Woo-sung. Inspired by the 1966 Italian spaghetti western The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Running time: 129 minutes
Sponsored by Ian Fay Joinery
Sunday 5pm
Diva (15), France, 1981
Two tapes, two Parisian mob killers, one corrupt policeman, an opera fan, a teenage thief and the coolest philosopher ever filmed, all twist their way through an intricate and stylish French-language thriller. A cult classic, internationally acclaimed, directed by Jean-Jacques Beineix and adapted
from the novel Diva by Daniel Odier. Starring Frédéric Andréi, Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez, Richard Bohringer. Running time: 117 minutes
Sponsored by The Grange at Oborne
Sunday 7.30pm
Amélie (15) France, 2001
Despite being caught in her imaginative world, Amélie, a young waitress (played by Audrey Tautou), decides to help people find happiness. Her quest to spread joy leads her on a journey where she finds true love. Romantic comedy directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The film won Best Film and Best Director at the British Academy Film Awards. Running time: 123 minutes
Sponsored by Art of Confidence
Thursday 17th –Sunday 20th October
The Sherborne
International Film Festival
The Powell Theatre, Abbey Road, Sherborne DT9 3AP
For tickets and information visit rcsc.org.uk
The Rotary Club of Sherborne Castles is hosting a social evening on 28th October at The Drinksmith on South Street, Sherborne. This event is an opportunity for potential new members to learn more about the club, meet current members and explore how they can get involved in making a difference, locally and globally. Places are limited. Please contact Denise Hepburn, Membership Secretary, on 07712 527221 or by email at hepburndenise@gmail.com for more details.
COUNTER CULTURE
Paul Maskell, The Beat and Track
No. 34: Simon Says: Use Your Imagination
Very good friend of the shop Mr Simon Barber (who shall be referred to as Mr Simon Chesterfield for the remainder of this article) is somewhat of an indie ambassador. Simon started his musical career as bass player and vocalist for the Chesterfields in the early 80s. First issuing songs on flexi discs in fanzines the band later signed to Subway Records in 1986 and got regular plays and sessions on Radio 1 courtesy of Janice Long and John Peel. They also appeared on the now infamous C87 compilation issued through the music magazine NME. The C87 compilation is considered to be a pivotal moment in indie music and the beginning of the indie scene. The Chesterfields have been going off and on for the past 40 years during which
time Simon has also fronted bands in the shape of Basinger and Design. Both bands I used to follow in my late teens and early twenties in the Gillingham and Yeovil area. Great days.
The Chesterfields recorded their fifth album back in 2022 entitled New Modern Homes which was preceded by two singles Our Songbird Has Gone and Mr Wilson Goes to Norway. The band subsequently toured the album around the UK. And then a rest for Simon? Absolutely not.
This year, under the moniker of Simon Chesterfield, Simon is releasing an album of his previous material, re-imagined. An idea formed while considering the many bassline ideas surrounding the song The Waiting Room. Simon imagined
Image: Deborah Johnson
the song with a bigger sound including a string arrangement. Studio ace Ben Scott Turner and multi-instrumentalist Charles Harrison were enlisted to help develop this idea and see if it had legs. And had legs it did. The initial recordings sounded so good with Charles’ scoring that a string section was assembled and violin and cello were recorded live in the studio. Backing vocals were added and the song took on a whole new feel. It was the Chesterfields song with a twist of late-60s Scott Walker. The song was big and expansive. This piqued the interest of PJ Harvey collaborator Rob Ellis who asked to check the recordings out. Rob, on listening to the subsequent tracks, came up with a few ideas and suggestions. Within a short period of time Rob, almost by default, became co-producer and drummer on the album. This resulted in the completion of five further songs; Kill Someone, Time to Confess, Oh My Darling No, Something and Two Buttons. Still with a tinge of indie guitar weaving in and out of the album, the songs take a different shape with piano, cello, violin, brass and some beautiful backing vocals/harmonies. The album as a whole is a delight, however, the standout track for me is the emotive Something which is both melancholic and uplifting at the same time. An array of great musicians conspired to make this re-imagining a reality and breathe new life into already great songs. Joining Chesterfield, Scott Turner, Harrison and Ellis on the album are: Joe Atkinson, Matt Barge, Jenny Bliss, Emma Kingston (designer of the Beat & Track logo and insanely talented musician), Seiko Nemoto, Nick Squires, Helen Stickland and James Thornton.
So, Simon Chesterfield’s debut solo album will be released on Friday 11th October. There is a launch party being held at the Lyric Theatre in Bridport –
EM_ST.qxp_Layout 1 06/09/2024 15:38 Page 1
"The song piqued the interest of PJ Harvey collaborator Rob Ellis, who subsequently became co-producer and drummer on the album"
get your tickets now, bridportandwestbay.co.uk. The album is being released on all digital platforms and, in keeping with his indie roots, Simon will also be releasing the album on a limited edition vinyl teninch. Check out Simon’s latest video for album track Something and you’ll witness Simon transporting a mysterious ‘pink’ ladder around the town of Sherborne and the surrounding countryside.
So, Simon says, ‘See you in Bridport’ and for that matter, so do I.
thebeatandtrack.co.uk
Tuesdays 7pm-8pm
Under the Radar
Abbey 104. The Beat and Track’s Paul Maskell often joins presenter Matt Ambrose on his weekly radio show, bringing you the best new sounds from established underground artists and new and rising acts from across the world. Listen live on 104.7FM or online at abbey104.com
Mondays 1.30pm-3.30pm
Craft and Chat Group
Sherborne Library, Hound Street
Bring along your current project and meet others.
Mondays & Thursdays
1.30pm-4pm
Sherborne Indoor
Short Mat Bowls
West End Hall, Sherborne 01935 812329. All welcome
Mondays 2pm-5pm & Tuesdays 7pm-10pm
Sherborne Bridge Club
Sherborne FC Clubhouse, Terrace Playing Fields. 01963 210409 bridgewebs.com/sherborne
Tuesdays 10am-12pm
Fine Folk Dancing
Charlton Horethorne Village Hall £3 per session. Beginners welcome. 01963 220640.
Every Wednesday 6pm–10pm DJ Sessions
Roth Bar, Bruton BA10 0NL. An evening of chilled tunes by local DJs. Free.
Every 1st Thursday 9.30am Netwalk for Business Owners & Entrepreneurs Pageant Gardens. @Netwalksherborne
Every 1st Thursday 11am-12pm Poetry Writing Group
Sherborne Library, Hound Street
Share your poetry, hear what others have been working on and have friendly discussions.
Every 2nd & 4th Thursday 10am-12.30pm Castleton Probus Club
The Grange, Oborne, DT9 4LA New members welcome. edwardhiscock6@gmail.com
Thursdays 2pm-4pm & Fridays 11am-1pm
Digital Champions Sessions
Sherborne Library, Hound Street Bookable sessions for help with basic skills using your own device or a library computer. sherbornelibrary@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
01300 345431. £8, £6 u18s, £24 fam Suitable for ages 2-6yrs (bring a cushion). artsreach.co.uk
Planning ahead
Friday 1st November 7pm
Sherborne Museum’s
Big Fat Autumn Quiz
Digby Memorial Church Hall, Digby Road, DT9 3NL. BYO drink and glasses. Teams of up to 6. Tickets £5 in advance from Sherborne Museum, from 1st October. sherbornemuseum.com
Saturday 2nd November 7.30pm
Mousehole Male Voice Choir
The Merritt Centre, Sherborne Girls, Bradford Road DT93QN. In aid of RNLI. £17.50 trybooking.com/uk/DIOY events@sherborne.com
Sport
Sherborne RFC
The Terraces DT9 5NS
Men’s 1st XV. 3pm KO
Saturday 12th
Salisbury (A)
Saturday 19th
Dorchester (H)
Saturday 26th
Swanage & Wareham (A)
Sherborne Football Club
The Terraces DT9 5NS
Men’s 1st XI. 3pm KO unless otherwise stated
Saturday 5th
Portsmouth (H)
Saturday 12th
Hythe & Dibden (A)
Wednesday 16th (7.45pm KO)
Downton (H)
Saturday 26th
Baffins Milton Rovers (A)
listings@homegrown-media.co.uk
Kingmaker: Secrets, Lies and the Truth about Five Prime Ministers
Talk and signing with Lord Graham Brady
Wednesday 9th October 7pm Cheap St Church, Sherborne
As Chairman of the Conservative 1922 Committee, it is Lord Brady’s hand that held the executioner’s axe over five consecutive Conservative Prime Ministers’ heads. Cameron. May. Johnson. Truss. Sunak. Five prime ministers, one explosive memoir lifts the lid on the leadership battles that have defined British politics for a decade and a half.
Tickets £7 available in-store and shop.winstonebooks.co.uk
MARKER KNOWLEDGE
OLIVIA EYERS, FERNE ENGLAND
Welcome to The Sherborne Market! What brings you here?
I started trading at The Sherborne Market a few years ago when a friend and fellow artisan Elly Harvey Silver recommended the market as being the best! After a break, I am back and excited to show the town my business’s new direction!
Where have you travelled from?
An enchanting nook of the Chalke Valley, at Shaftesbury’s rural end where the rolling hills whisper secrets. It’s a bit like living in a cosy storybook, where the countryside sparkles with a touch of magic. The equally beautiful Sherborne feels like a home from home.
Tell us about what you’re selling
I weave threads of creativity into exquisite handmade millinery, accessories and homeware – from countryside-inspired luxurious hats that grace special occasions to charming gifts that capture the essence of British elegance.
Where and when did it all begin?
I was taught to sew on the lap of my late grandmother
at the age of 7 and learnt the crafts from generations past. Fast forward to 10 years ago when my son was born, my life changed direction and I decided to let my creative side and hobbies make my living! Originally The Tweed Boutique (sold in 2023), Ferne England is my love and dream job.
What do you enjoy most about selling at markets?
The markets give me a wonderful chance to meet my customers and chat about products and life in general. I adore meeting new people. Getting feedback on my products is also really important so I can keep improving.
If you get the chance, which fellow stallholders here at Sherborne would you like to visit?
That’s a really difficult choice as there are so many amazing artisans but Elly Harvey Silver is a must and Orris Leather – both incredibly talented artisans!
Where can people find you on market day?
I can be usually found on Cheap Street.
ferneengland.co.uk
ferne_england
Hand picked & selected artisan market
Flying the flag for local featuring local producers, suppliers, amazing food, arts and crafts.
Markets held between 10am - 3pm on the dates below.
10am - 3pm Oct 20th Nov 17th Dec 15th
Images: Tory McTernan
READING LABELS
Emma
Humphrey, Retail Manager, The Sherborne
Where is this made? This question is often asked these days, and consumers’ growing awareness and need for information are welcome trends. The fact that we are all thinking about where things come from and how they are made can only improve product provenance.
A survey conducted by OnePoll in March of this year found that 57% of British businesses prefer to buy British-made products over alternatives imported from other countries. Reference for British-made products has risen by more than 20% over the past year. The two main drivers are to help the British economy by supporting British jobs and for environmental reasons.
For the consumer, it’s wonderful news: more British products are on our shelves. The only slight fly in the ointment is price. Our home-produced products are, in a lot of cases, twice that of a similar product made abroad.
So, do you sell products at a commercially acceptable price and erode the margin or choose the price they need to be and risk not selling them? With these choices, it is understandable that most buyers would search abroad for an alternative.
Some companies do a little of both, with great success, sourcing expensive components from abroad and combining them with UK-made and designed
elements. As demand increases, the hope is that more British companies will be able to produce greater volumes of desirable products at commercial price points.
As a buyer, sourcing conscientiously is vital to the decision-making process. We showcase local makers, whether it’s beautiful Chocolate Arthouse chocolates handmade by Claudia in Bishop’s Caundle, greeting cards by local artists, Richard Bramble Ceramics in Sherborne, Christina Oswin’s silver jewellery from Frome, stationery made from recycled coffee cups in Dorchester or hand-marbled notebooks from Compton Marbling in Tisbury, to name just a few. We also stock honey from local bees who collect pollen within flying distance of The Sherborne!
We then look to the rest of the UK for unusual and desirable pieces. If we can’t find them there we look abroad but the products must be sustainable and produced ethically.
As consumers continue to choose homegrown talent over cheaper imports from abroad, we will be able to increase our offering, championing locally made beautiful gifts that bring us joy and go a little way to helping our planet.
thesherborne.uk
2nd October Mars and the Muses: The Renaissance Art of Armour. In the 15th and 16th centuries most of the richest noblemen in Europe were dedicated patrons of the armourer’s art. This lecture serves as an introduction to the idea of armour as an expressive art-form
THE REMARKABLE MOLLY CLIFT
Jackie Pitman, Activities Coordinator, The Old Vicarage
We are delighted to celebrate the incredible life of Molly Clift, our cherished resident who recently turned 102 years young. As the oldest resident in our community, Molly’s life story is a rich tapestry of experiences and talents that she continues to share with us all.
One such story harks back to 1925, when, as a very young girl, Molly would be taken in her pram on shopping trips by her mother. They would often encounter none other than the renowned Dorset author Thomas Hardy who each time would compliment her mother on having such a beautiful daughter.
Molly remains an active and inspiring member of our community. She participates enthusiastically in many activities, showcasing her love for life and the arts. A gifted pianist, Molly played at her local church for many years and still enjoys playing the piano for our
residents. Her artistic talents extend beyond music – she has been painting for most of her life and her beautiful artwork adorns the walls of The Old Vicarage, admired by both staff and fellow residents.
Molly’s creativity also flourishes in her love for knitting. Over the winter months, she generously crafted mittens for the residents and staff. This summer she was excited to showcase her talents at the Leigh Flower and Craft Show, where she entered both her paintings and knitting and won very well-deserved first and second places respectively.
Molly Clift’s enduring passion for art, music and community is an inspiration to us all. We are privileged to have her as a part of The Old Vicarage family and look forward to celebrating many more milestones with her.
Children’s Book Review
Hazel Roadnight, Winstone’s Books
Fairy Shopping By Sally Gardner (Bloomsbury 2024, £9.99 hardback)
Sherborne Times reader offer price of £8.99 from Winstone’s Books
Come with us on a shopping trip to Silverbell Street – you’ll be amazed at the places there and the extraordinary things they sell!
Of course, if you by any chance don’t believe in fairies, well then you won’t see anything at all so you’d miss out on the amazing sweets, the wands and the hats. You wouldn’t get to go to Rapunzel’s Hair Care
Salon or visit Mr Farfunkel’s magic shop where he has all the latest tricks!
But if you are a believer in fairies, well then, it’s all there for you – the beautiful shops are all open. My favourite is the pet shop where pets choose their owners and lunch in the Foxglove restaurant is just the place to go for a break.
So, do you believe in fairies?
UNEARTHED
Ivo Finney
Aged 16, Sherborne School
Over his Fifth Form year, Ivo completed his GCSEs and discovered where his interests truly lie, which has led him to choose Economics, Politics and History as his A-level options. His interest in current affairs has led to his participation in the debating society which culminated in a victory for his house, Harper, in the inter-house debating competition. The school has now come to rely on him in debating tournaments and he has been a mainstay of Sherborne’s team since year 10: it led him to use his quick wits, excellent memory and gentle mockery against the Sixthformers of other schools to devastating effect. His interest in world news led to him joining Sherborne Radio’s ‘Politics Show’, first as a contributor but later as a host, which he has thoroughly enjoyed. In addition, his keen passion for sailing has enabled him to participate in tournaments throughout the year and is an interest he is pursuing with the Andrew Yorke Award, which will allow him to elevate his expertise to dingy instructor level. Ivo is thoroughly looking forward to starting his A-levels and further pursuing his extracurricular interests.
Unique clothing for men and women. Handmade in Dorset
OPEN STUDIO
Friday 18th - Sunday 20th October, 11am-5pm
School House Farm, Blackdown, Beaminster, Dorset DT8 3LE
M. 07887 530333 E. kat@bluebarn.life @bluebarn.life www.bluebarn.life
Make a Difference to Young People’s Lives
Do you have time to help young people in the Sherborne/Yeovil area?
We are looking for volunteers on an ad hoc or regular basis to help deliver our Learning Programme, work behind the scenes or assist our fundraising activities
Please contact us now. We would love to hear from you
Tutoring
Maths & English*
Administration
Design
*No teaching experience necessary but regular time commitment essential
Find out more www.therendezvous.org.uk/get-involved
BEST IN CLASS
Miss Finney, is it a Mila day today?’ was a question I was greeted with repeatedly every morning during the Summer Term and one that I am sure will continue to be one of the most popular questions I will be asked throughout this coming academic year! Mila, our Pre-Prep Labrador, started at the Prep in April, working two days a week across the Pre-Prep classrooms. Her working days quickly became the best days for both the children and the teachers!
A dog in a classroom? What a distraction! Actually, what we have witnessed is a more enthusiastic
attitude to learning, calmer classrooms, an increase in empathetic skills and deeper social interactions between the children.
During Mila’s first week, our Head of Pre-Prep, Cassie Wood asked the children during one of our assemblies how Mila had helped them. The children responded with, ‘She helped me write my story,’ ‘She read my story and told me what else to write,’ ‘She listened to me read,’ ‘She made me feel better when I fell over.’ The positive comments went on and on! Not really expecting such an immediate impact, the Pre-Prep teachers were all surprised by the responses,
Grace Finney, Reception Teacher, Sherborne Prep
and it confirmed to us that the addition of Mila to our Pre-Prep family was benefitting the children in more ways than we might have guessed!
One of Mila’s most important jobs in the Pre-Prep is listening to children read. I have watched in awe at the impact of changing my language when asking a child to read. Rather than asking, ‘Can you come and read, please?’ I would say, ’Joe, Mila is waiting for you to read to her.’ Can you guess which gets the more enthusiastic response?
During a reading session, Mila sits on her bed and the children sit by her side, showing her the pictures
in their book and building their comprehension skills by telling her what has happened in the previous pages they have read at home. Once they start reading, they use their finger to guide Mila, showing her the words they are reading thus helping them track their own reading without even realising! I often pause the session after a child has read an uncommon word and ask them to explain to Mila what that word means - it helps me assess how well a child is understanding vocabulary but it also gives them an opportunity to ‘teach’ which is one of the best ways to embed learning. Mila’s reading sessions are of course followed by the awarding of one of her personalised reading stickers, which is worn with pride for the rest of the day!
How does the presence of a dog build social interaction? One of the best parts of being a Reception Teacher is guiding learning through play and exploration. Since becoming a teacher, I have become adept at tuning into several ‘play conversations’ and at the same time being ready to engage, extend or simply observe the children’s play and interactions. Since Mila’s presence in the classroom, there has been a subtle change in the children’s conversation. Before Mila started, the children would be engrossed in their play world, rarely commenting about anything outside of it. The subtle changes I have noticed are the children’s awareness that there is someone else in the room they also need to think about. They weren’t necessarily putting Mila’s needs above their own play needs but they were thinking about her, being conscious of her, talking about her to each other and therefore developing their awareness, communication and empathetic skills.
‘We have to tidy up the Lego off the floor quickly because Mila does not wear shoes and it will hurt her if she stands on it!’ ‘Mila is asleep – we have to play quietly,’ ‘Mila looks tired, shall I stroke her on the head like mummy does to me when I’m struggling to fall asleep?’
These comments I overheard were all ones that first made me smile but then reflect on the unique impact just the presence of an animal can have on young children’s development.
I will ask the question again: a dog in a classroom? I think Mila’s impact speaks for itself but if you still need persuading, ask a Pre-Prep child for their thoughts. You won’t be disappointed by their response.
sherborneprep.org
Image: Katharine Davies
ALL EARS
Hilary Phillips, Head, Hanford School
Term is well underway and our new girls have settled into the Hanford routines and traditions.
No matter how many starts of term I experience, I still find the freshness of the girls as they come back to school energising, heartening and invigorating. I spend the summers here at school as there is plenty to be done when the pupils are not here and, whilst it is a joy to enjoy a quiet space, I really miss the noise.
During our pre-term staff training sessions, one of my colleagues, Mark, our Head of Maths, who is also very interested in children’s happiness and health engaged the staff in a very thought-provoking session and I have been considering his words ever since. Mark asked us to think about how good we were as listeners. Well, ‘pretty good’ we all thought, after all, it is a core part of the job. Mark took this but then threw us a curveball, ‘Are you actively listening or are you just waiting to speak?’
Good question! We are probably all clear about how hearing is different from listening; the first, a passive act not relying on concentration and the second, hearing with thoughtful attention. We need the second if we
are hoping to help problem solve. However, when Mark challenged us with listening vs waiting, it really struck a chord. I started doing a bit of digging.
Research actually shows that only about 10 per cent of us listen effectively. I wonder if that also means that we only listen effectively 10 per cent of the time. We have the distractions of devices pinging and dinging at us. Our ‘to-do’ lists are long and fill our thoughts and then there are those thoughts, swirling around in our heads and taking precedence. Often, we are just waiting to have our say. We often think that we are listening but perhaps we’re just considering how to jump in to tell our own story, offer advice or even make a judgment –in other words, we are not listening to understand but rather listening to reply.
I’ve decided to work on my listening skills and see if I can get to a point where I can call myself a great listener. What I have found so far, through some really interesting reading, is that I should work on the following:
1 Wait to speak. This takes a lot of practice but is at the heart of the matter.
2 Start from a place of open-mindedness and acceptance. Don’t judge, don’t compare, don’t interpret the other person’s experience, don’t offer advice.
3 Stay present and listen deeply – to the words, to the gaps and to what is unsaid.
4 Be attentive but not intense – relax my gaze.
5 When it’s time, ask good open-ended questions, not yes/no ones.
I find that number 2 is counterintuitive. Aren’t I supposed to be offering advice? Am I not supposed to solve the problem? I am a teacher. I’m the Head. Isn’t that my job? Well, no. If I solve the problem, I haven’t equipped the child to go on and solve the next one. I’ve taught them that if you go and download your problem on someone else, they will make the issue go away. Not great future-proofing!
During the course of my reading on this topic, I came across Otto Scharmer, an American researcher specialising in innovations in learning, and I would highly recommend him for ideas. He talks about four different levels of listening which start from the ‘Download’ which is where we are simply seeking to confirm what we already know. Then it’s the ‘Factual’
which is where we are listening to acquire new knowledge. Level 3, ‘Empathetic’ is where we start to connect with the person to whom we are listening and then the final stage, nirvana if you will, is the ‘Generative’, where not only do we connect with the listener but we also start to connect with the core ideas and think about their potential future. This stage is all about letting go of the ego and focusing on making the best future. I’ve only scratched the surface of what he says but I will definitely read more. I love this fabulous quote of his;
‘The power of attention is the real superpower of our age. Attention, aligned with intention can make mountains move’.
So, I have my homework for this term. I’m going to work on listening and improving attention, which I feel will result from good listening. I’m also going to make sure that we are teaching our pupils how to listen but also how to ask. If we can get this sorted then many problems they could face along the way will dwindle from mountains into molehills and they will be better able to face whatever the future may throw at them.
hanfordschool.co.uk
Independent boarding and day school for girls aged 7 to 13
“Offers the most magical upbringing a little girl can dream of” The Carfax Education School Index
Overall winner: Dartford Warbler Collecting Nesting Material by Paul Dibben (Category: Wildlife in Action)
Second place: Taking in the Majesty of Chapman’s Pool by James Hand (Category: People in Nature)
Third place: Bobtail Squid in Newton’s Cove by Paul Pettitt (Category: Marine and Coastal Wildlife)
Junior winner: Cuckoo in Flight at RSPB Arne by Archie Garth
DISCOVER | EAT | SHOP | STAY | CELEBRATE
Welcome to Symondsbury Estate, set in the beautiful Dorset countryside just a stone’s throw from the Jurassic Coast. Join us for lunch. Browse our shops. Visit the gallery. Explore our fabulous walks and bike trails. Relax and unwind in our holiday accommodation. Celebrate your wedding day...
Upcoming Events & Workshops
Apple Day - Sunday 27th October
Symondsbury Farm Supper - Wednesday 30th October
+44 (0)1308 424116 symondsburyestate.co.uk
Symondsbury Estate, Bridport, Dorset DT6 6HG
DRAWN TO THE LIGHT
Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria
The aptly named Canary-shouldered Thorn is a moth of the Geometridae group of species, instantly distinguishable from the other related ‘thorns’ by its almost luminous fluffy thorax, hence its vernacular name. The deep orange/ yellow scalloped-edged wings have two crossbands and are speckled and darkly mottled to some degree throughout. There are several similar thorns within this group and all have an unusual butterfly-like resting pose which varies according to the particular species.
Habitat can be diverse and includes wooded areas, hedgerows, unmanaged wild places, parks and gardens but urban sightings are rare. The leaves of deciduous trees such as alder, lime, elms, birches and goat willow are the larval foodplants where eggs are laid to overwinter until they hatch the following early summer. The night-feeding larvae may be green or brown and are notched to resemble twigs,
remaining hidden stock still during daylight hours, attached and cleverly angled away from the small branches they mimic. Once feeding is complete, a descent to ground level follows where the formed pupa rests concealed among plant debris until the emergence of the adult moth.
The Canary-shouldered Thorn is a nocturnal and resident moth with a widespread distribution throughout much of the British Isles. In common with many other insect species, its numbers have suffered a significant decrease in recent decades in many locations, probably due in part to habitat loss. In Dorset, it remains fairly common in its preferred habitat of established broadleaved woodland.
With a flight season from mid-July until late October, it is one of our most beautiful autumn moth species that share the rich colours of the season, blending with the changing hues of falling leaves.
Gillian Nash
HWall/Shutterstock
THE HAZEL DORMOUSE
Jack Clarke, Marketing and Communications Officer, Dorset Wildlife Trust
The hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) is a small, nocturnal mammal native to the UK, predominantly found in southern England and Wales. Measuring around 6-9cm, with a distinctive bushy tail and gingery-brown fur, it’s an excellent climber, preferring woodland habitats, especially those rich in hazel, bramble and honeysuckle.
Rarely ever seen, dormice spend most of their days asleep, climbing high into the trees at night to search for food. In spring and summer, hazel dormice enjoy feeding on the blossoming flowers of trees such as hawthorn and oak, as well as taking advantage of the abundance of insects available during these warmer months.
Females give birth to a single litter of up to seven young, in a small, round nest built from grass and bark. After roughly three weeks they begin foraging close to their mother, before leaving the nest at six to eight weeks old.
During the autumn, hazel dormice are busy feasting on hazelnuts, berries and seeds, building up enough fat reserves to survive a winter without food. As the temperature cools, hazel dormice begin to clamber down from the safety of the trees to seek out a place to hibernate. This is often a pile of logs or leaves at the base of trees, or just beneath the ground where they can avoid the winter cold. Here, they will curl up in a tight ball, snuggling up to their tail for warmth until spring arrives.
The hazel dormouse is at risk of extinction. Their population is estimated to have declined by 52% since 1995. Fragmented populations and milder winters causing them to end their hibernation earlier when berries, flowers and nuts are less available, make this species extremely vulnerable.
But Dorset Wildlife Trust nature reserves offer a haven for hazel dormice. Yearly coppicing of woodland at Bracketts Coppice and Ashley Wood nature reserves
provides low, short growth which is an ideal nesting habitat for dormice, whilst brambles and honeysuckle growing in the understory provide a good food source. The installation of nest boxes at several reserves such as Powerstock Common offers a safe place to breed and allows for population surveys. This reserve
Image: Hugh Clark
management, carried out by a dedicated nature reserves team at Dorset Wildlife Trust, is helping to secure the future of this beloved species.
Visit dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk to learn more about wildlife and wildlife conservation in Dorset.
• Hazel dormice have an average lifespan of five years.
• If food is scarce outside of hibernation season, they can save energy by dropping their body temperature and going into a state of ‘torpor’.
• Hazel dormice can spend nearly threequarters of the year ‘asleep’ in some form.
A WING AND A PRAYER
Simon Ford, Ecologist
Ihope that many of our Sherborne Times readers will have taken part in Butterfly Conservation’s, Big Butterfly Count back in the summer. I wonder though, whether, like me, the numbers and varieties of butterflies you counted were way down. On some days in our garden in central Sherborne, we were lucky to see a single butterfly, even though it was a nice sunny day. Normally we would expect holly blue, small, large and green-veined white, small tortoiseshell, peacock, red admiral and possibly a comma.
It was the same in the countryside when I was out walking or carrying out a survey. Yes, there were odd marbled whites, skippers, meadow brown, gatekeeper, painted ladies and common blues on the lovely wildflower area near the beacon on The Terraces but nothing like I would have expected. Speaking to colleagues and reading updates, this appears to be an issue, not just in Dorset, but across the country.
It isn’t just the more noticeable butterflies but it seems to be across the spectrum of invertebrates (insects). I have hardly seen a wasp all summer, instead of being pestered while eating a cream tea! Also amazingly I have not once been bitten by a horse-fly when out surveying our walking near streams and rivers!
Of course, some insects can be pesky and annoying, buzzing around and in the case of a few of them, biting. We bought various insect repellents and creams and mosquito nets for our summer trip around Scotland, fearing clouds of midges but virtually saw none. Our camper-van windscreen remained virtually clear of insects. (The insect charity Bug Life, uses car number plates as a clever way to assess insect numbers, with something wonderfully called a ‘Splatometer’, where you count how many splats you get over a given distance!)
So, what is happening to see such a dramatic drop in insects (from an already low number) since recording started in earnest in the 1970s? As ever, it is not a single
cause. It is believed that the cold, wet winter of 2023/24 which didn’t seem to end, was a contributory factor. Many insects, such as solitary bees, many of which nest in holes in the ground were flooded out. Flowers for pollinators came into flower, out of sync with the insects, leaving them nowhere to feed or lay eggs – one of the many worrying impacts of climate change.
Another reason relates to agriculture and horticulture. Vast arsenals of pesticides/insecticides are sprayed across the environment to control species such as aphids. On some arable fields, enormous tractor booms fold out and a cocktail of chemicals are applied to the crop. The previous government gave consent to use one of the most deadly and persistent chemicals known to man, neonicotinoids. These chemicals are banned across the European Union due to their impact on bees, pollinators and aquatic life but were given consent to use in sugar beat, contrary to overwhelming scientific evidence of the danger to the environment. Insecticides are also being used in our gardens, both commercially and also domestically. Many of these will kill beneficial non-target insects, as well as those that are seen as a pest.
Habitat loss is not just about mammals and birds. Hedges, unimproved grassland, woodland, ancient trees, old orchards and marshes are all places that provide a home for insects. You don’t need me to explain that insects are a critical part of the food chain and perform many essential functions, such as pollination. We can do as much as we can to provide nesting sites for swifts and swallows but if there is nothing for them to eat, then they will not come.
Who knows if 2024 is just a ‘blip’ or part of an everworsening long-term decline? Hopefully, we will see better weather this winter but if we do not address the cause then things will deteriorate further.
Each of us can do our bit to help. When planning
your garden for next spring, choose plants which help pollinators (many will have a picture of a bee on the pot or seed packet). Try to include flowers which are open and accessible to insects, rather than double varieties. Plan an area of wildflowers or long grass if you can. Step away from the brightly coloured bottles of insecticides and chemicals in the garden centre or DIY store. There are much better ways to control pests and wildlife will thank you!
Sherborne Town Council has been working with the local conservation group, EUCAN to keep various areas of verge and grass around the town for pollinators, which is really beneficial. Many people remain very concerned however about their plans to fell the remaining six 320-year-old ancient lime trees in front of the abbey. The hollows are home to many important ‘dead wood insects’ and bats and birds, as well as being such an important historic and cultural feature of our town.
Adonis blue Polyommatus bellargus (female), Cerne Abbas Nick Edge/Shutterstock
PLAN BEE
Paula Carnell, Beekeeping Consultant, Writer and Speaker
We’ve never seen so many bees’ was a comment from a local on West Island after walking towards a giant wild colony of bees attached to a palm tree. ‘I hadn’t seen any in all my time here and now they’re everywhere!’
Well now that ‘The Crazy English Bee Lady’ is on the islands, the bees are getting noticed! Since my last piece where we’d moved a single colony across the lagoon into the Oceania House garden, a swarm appeared outside a holiday cottage, attached to a frangipani tree. This was a perfect opportunity to rescue the swarm and solve the issue of not enough drones in my little, now-growing apiary. Taking the 6am ferry, I travelled across the lagoon with my bee suit, water sprayer, an old mosquito net and a selection of cardboard boxes. The cottage manager had already positioned a ladder for me to use to access the bees, and Greg bought me a handy branch saw so I could ‘simply’ saw off the branch and put the bees attached to it into a box and bring them home and put into the empty hive…
Swarms are ALWAYS higher up than they appear. Standing on the TOP rung of the A-frame ladder, I realised that I could do with some help. A truck pulled up – I thought they were interested in what I was doing but it turned out they were on other business. However, when I asked if someone would hold the ladder for me
and offered a bee suit, I had an eager helper!
Most of the population here, in fact anywhere, cannot tell the difference between a bee and a wasp. When this swarm was first noticed, there were cries of ‘get the exterminator!’ believing they were wasps – the invasive Macau paper wasp does seem to enjoy stinging people. Thankfully, one of the crowd recognised them as bees and wanted to leave them so that he could have honey! I explained it would be a few weeks before any honey would be available and that was when I had support to move them.
This colony are SO very chilled out. Despite me sawing away at their branch, they carried on gently humming and clinging to the perfectly white fresh wax comb they had attached to the branch. Sawing as gently as possible, from the top rung of a ladder, arms stretched above my head, is not an easy task. I had testsawn a frangipani tree the previous day as a practice run but this branch was thick. Eventually, I could feel some movement and with my left hand holding the other end of the branch, by now covered in bees, I could take the weight as my right hand sawed through the thickest part. I had a box balanced on the top of the ladder and thankfully was able to fit the branch straight into the box. Then, taking hold with both hands, I descended the ladder. My helper looked in the box, eyes bright
with wonder to see the bees so close up, through the safety of a bee suit. It was still only 6.45am so the bees weren’t too active. I carefully sealed up the box and then wrapped it in an old mosquito net – absolutely perfect for transporting bees!
When I placed the branch of bees into the hive, it fitted perfectly. I decided not to cut their wax off. I really needed a healthy queen and some eggs, and it wouldn’t hurt to have an ‘n’ shaped branch in the hive in the place of frames. I placed foundationless frames around it so the bees could expand and fill the frames and then eventually I would be able to safely remove the branch.
Bees always have their own agenda. A week later I opened the hive to find that they had expanded upwards into the lid of the hive! More fresh white comb, this time with eggs in it, and the queen proudly walking around to let me know it was her comb and her new eggs! I didn’t want to cut off this comb and risk losing her eggs. I sprayed some water over the comb to clear the bees and revealed a mixture of pollen and nectar stores and tiny fresh eggs. I adjusted the frames and told her she really needed to expand horizontally. I even added a frame of honey from the neighbouring hive to keep her going and enable more wax building.
The next visit I was astonished to find that she hadn’t touched the honey at all. I wiped some outside
the entrance to the hive and the bees ignored it. I’d never experienced this before in the UK – the slightest drop of honey and bees are straight onto it. I could only think that there was enough fresh nectar around which they must prefer to stored honey.
I checked the neighbouring hive for inspiration and realised that despite a day or two of rain, they also hadn’t touched their honey. Later that week, I interviewed Manchester Honey Company for my podcast and I asked what they thought. Managing over 200 hives and lots of swarm and bee rescues, Gareth confirmed that the only time bees won’t touch honey is if there is a nectar flow somewhere. I then realised the state of bees in the UK – there is so little nectar available, even during our summer months, that they are forced to consume the honey they create for winter and emergencies only. This came as a shock and chilled me to the bone. Firstly honey really is a by-product for us, however, it is emergency food for them. The removal of 98% of our wildflower meadows not to mention all the other forage that is no longer available really is far more serious than I thought. The message is to absolutely plant more flowers long before anyone considers starting to keep bees.
paulacarnell.com
E bespokeinteriorssherborne23@outlook.com
Our briquettes are made from kiln-dried timber offcuts and wood shavings produced in our workshop. The offcuts are shredded and mixed with the shavings then highly compressed into briquettes of varying lengths, using only the naturally occurring resins inside the timber to hold them together. The moisture content is 10 – 15%.
MADE FROM WASTE TIMBER • CARBON NEUTRAL
SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE • HIGH HEAT OUTPUT
LOW ASH RESIDUE • CLEAN TO USE REDUCED USE OF FOSSIL FUEL
Sold in 12.5KG bags (minimum contents)
1 Bag
10 Bags
£5.00
£45.00
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The Joinery Works, Alweston Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5HS
Tel: 01963 23219
Fax: 01963 23053
Email: info@fcuffandsons.co.uk
www.fcuffandsons.co.uk
OBJECT OF THE MONTH
THE KEYHOLE HORSESHOE
Elisabeth Bletsoe, Curator, Sherborne Museum
As part of a general collections review, we’ve been examining a box filled with horseshoes, which initially seemed to be a heap of corroded metal. Research revealed, however, that we have a fascinating range of shoes from the 11th century to the early 20th. While we mostly think of them as an unchanging and familiar U-shape, we can now demonstrate a whole evolution of forms over time.
There is some controversy over how and when the horseshoe originated. Asian horsemen in 400 BCE employed hides woven with foliage covering the hoof to assist their animals’ movements and the straw umugatsu was used in early Japanese societies to create friction when the horse was carrying a load downhill. The Romans made a kind of slipper out of leather for easier progress over rough ground, to which was later added a thin metal plate under the foot, secured with straps. These were known as solea ferrea which archaeologists now call ‘hipposandals’. The poet Catullus (84-54 BCE) wrote of a mule’s iron shoe being cast off and lost in a ‘tenacious bog’ but one of the earliest references to nailed shoes was found in the Tactita, a military treatise by Byzantine emperor Leo VI (886-911) describing ‘lunar-shaped iron shoes and their nails’.
By 1000 CE the use of nails was common practice throughout Europe, which when they were punched in caused a bulge in the edge of the shoe, leading to a scalloped outer rim. We possess an example of an early ‘wavy-edged’ shoe with 6 nail holes, found in the River Yeo and which was verified as C12th by the British Museum. Early nailed shoes were small, crudely formed and had broad ‘branches’ with few holes. At this time iron was a valuable commodity and horseshoes were traded like currency and used to pay off debts. Iron was also considered to have apotropaic functions hence the horseshoe has many folkloric associations.
Shoes were later forged in great quantities and became wider and longer to accommodate the larger feet of the draught horses that were used for trade and travel; during the Crusades (1096-1270) soldiers rode to war on the Flemish horses which were the ancestors of the current British heavy breeds.
The shoe pictured above is of a type that was in use c. 1650-1800. It demonstrates changes that were occurring where styles of shoe in Britain became divergent according to use. Apart from the obvious inner profile, known as a ‘keyhole’, the number of nail holes had increased to 8 and the surface next to the foot had become slightly concave. It was also fullered where a deep groove was introduced to each branch into which the nail holes were punched which allowed the heads of the nails to be slightly countersunk below the shoe’s surface. It would have been developed from those used on Flemish or Burgundian horses and was for heavy draught, which seems appropriate since the shoe was found on Pinford Farm by the donor, Mrs Young. It was partly contemporary with the ‘tongue’ shoe which had a tunnel shape internally and was lighter and more suited to riding.
The type of shoe demonstrated the varying degrees of work required of the horse and reflected the state of the roads at that time which, despite changes in legislation, were still little more than stony dirt tracks. Modern ‘clip and rim’ shoes are made of steel, aluminium or even more flexible materials such as plastic or silicone for lightness and comfort. No doubt shoes will evolve even further in response to future research into the structure of the equine hoof.
Sherborne Museum is open from Tuesday-Saturday 10.30am-4.30pm. Admission is free although donations are greatly appreciated.
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FLASH BACKS
Ihave become aware that I have far too many photographs on my laptop and that a clear-out is needed. I am only halfway through but still have over 38,000 which sounds ridiculous, I know. We bought our first digital camera for Christmas 2003 and loved it though we took it with us, as in the past, on high days and holidays we left it at home most of the time. I was then given a very small version which fitted perfectly in my handbag and I carry it with me everywhere snapping away at anything that interests me much in the way that owners of mobile phones do today. I download everything onto my laptop and keep the photos in order by collecting them together in digital folders. Being interested in family and local history I also scan any relevant old photos I come across, so now have a huge collection of photos taken over the last twenty years together with numerous historic photos. What I hadn’t appreciated is that some of my early photos have now joined the ranks of the historic photos and the above is an example taken at the top of Cheap Street in Sherborne in September 2008.
On the far left is Sherborne Reprographics, opened in 1990, which by 1995 had taken over the card shop behind for additional developing and computer equipment to cater to the emerging use of digital cameras. Next is the entrance to Somerfield which opened its doors around 1990 and was succeeded first by the Co-op and latterly by Waitrose in April 2014.
Waitrose takes its name from Wallace Waite and Arthur Rose who opened their first store in Acton in 1904. Next is Olivers, established in 1987 by John Oliver who retained many of the fittings and features from Mould and Edwards – Provision Merchants and Bacon Curers – established in around 1914. Then Pheonix Antiques, now Midwest Stationers, and Sporting Classics’ second shop, now Moshulu. Next is Abbey Fine China, established 1999, which later became Maddie Brown and after a disastrous flood at the back of the shop, closed its doors in 2016. When the shop was being renovated, I took some pictures of the interior and it is pleasing to see that some of the older remnants of the construction of the building were left visible when White Stuff took over. Sporting Classics is the last shop on the left before Boots the Chemist and has only relatively recently left the town after over forty years of trading.
On the right of the photo and now no longer in business – a fish and chip shop now Winstone’s bookshop, the wonderful Chocolate Musketeer, The Little Art Shoppe and Humberts Estate Agents. Sandwiched between them and still going strong is Mistral.
With grateful thanks to Alec Oxford for the detailed research contained in his book The Known History of the Shops in Cheap Street, Sherborne published in 2005 and on sale via the Somerset & Dorset Family History Society (sdfhs.org) price £10.50.
Barbara Elsmore
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WELL TRAVELLED
Richard Bromell ASFAV, Charterhouse Auctioneers
Every day is a valuation day of some sort at Charterhouse. People load their cars up with goodies or walk up the drive in Long Street with carrier bags with a (usually) high degree of hope and expectation that what they have is going to fetch a pretty penny or two.
In addition to people who come to our salerooms, we also receive a good number of enquiries via our website. With a brief description of what they are looking for help and advice on, along with a few images uploaded, we can generally offer good advice and let them know what they might realistically expect without leaving the comfort of their home.
All valuers have leanings and learnings on most subjects but for me, one subject which I really enjoy are classic, vintage and collector cars, as I have been known to write about here. So, heading up our classic and vintage car department, I am asked to help with a broad range of vehicles. The oldest vehicle I have had the pleasure to auction was a circa 1898 De Dion-Bouton three-wheeler, dragged out of a barn near Crewkerne a few years ago. The largest vehicle I’ve sold was a 1950s Green Goddess fire engine, which sadly Mrs B did not share my enthusiasm for!
In between and over the past few decades, we have seen and sold most vehicle marques from Bugatti to
BMW. Conditions vary on all vehicles, from barnstored basket case projects to show-winning Concours cars. I have also sold a new car, with just a mile or two on the clock – that was a Rover 75 estate. It was about a year or two after MG Rover the bankruptcy in 2008 so in essence a new car which was a couple of years old but it still found plenty of admirers.
Recently, Mrs B booked some time off and we drove up to the Lake District. With emails, it is difficult to stop working altogether, even with an out-of-office reply. The weather was relatively cold and mostly wet, and one afternoon I was allowed to look at what was in my email inbox and one enquiry caught my attention. In the email, there was a brief description of the car, some history and a couple of images. The car, a 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet had been inherited and the new keeper was not a car person so needed my help and advice.
Air-cooled 911s always generate great levels of interest and, as is often the case, the roof comes down, the price goes up, but one line in the history fascinated me which noted the mileage as 303,000. I thought this was a typo, easily done with the mileage being a more sensible 30,300, not unusual, even for a 39-year-old Porsche.
Contact was made and an appointment booked to see the Porsche when the holiday was over. Easy to spot, the white Porsche cabriolet looked good from 40 paces. However, the closer I got to the car, the more I thought it looked a little tired and when I opened the driver’s door, my suspicion was confirmed – the car had over 303,000 recorded miles!
Now entered into our 24th October classic & vintage car auction being held at Haynes, this is the highest mileage Porsche I have ever seen. Needing some TLC, it will still find many admirers at the auction.
charterhouse-auction.com
01747 851881
mail@pwcr.co.uk
www.pwcr.co.uk
1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet
3rd October
24th October
1st November
1st November
We are excited to announce that after 18 years in Sherborne we will soon be tripling the size of our showroom, offering you an even larger range of quality bathroom and bedroom products. Over the years we have built an exceptional reputation for product knowledge, customer service and quality workmanship
NATURE’S PALETTE
Annabelle
Hunt, Bridport Timber, Colour Consultant
Our response to colour goes beyond just the visual—it can really impact how we feel. While everyone’s reaction to colour is personal, certain shades tend to have a similar effect. Red, for instance, often feels lively and full of energy, encouraging social interactions, while blues and greens are known for their calming influence. That said, we don’t usually use bold, primary colours in our homes. Instead, most of us lean towards more subtle, nature-inspired tones that feel soft and sophisticated. Colours that have a slightly muted, weathered look come across as more natural and soothing than those that look too bright or straight out of a paintbox.
As we head into the colder months with shorter days, it feels comforting to surround ourselves with warm, earthy tones like beige, terracotta and rich browns. These shades, often inspired by raw materials, bring a cosy and grounded feeling to a space, helping to create a calm, relaxed atmosphere. They also have a way of reconnecting us with nature and giving us a break from the overly digital, artificial world.
The range of colours we see in nature is enormous—think of the deep greens of forests, the soft heather purples of moors or the cool, dusty tones of minerals and earth. Even in the soft, bluish light of our northern climate, these colours work beautifully for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Deep greens and earthy browns, for example, add a sense of timeless elegance to country homes, giving them a natural, sophisticated look.
Farrow & Ball’s Bancha No. 298 is a strong green that feels grounding with a warm yellow base and lovely mossy tones. Or for a rich, deep green like that of evergreen foliage, Beverly No. 310 is a great option for a bolder look, whether as an accent or as the main colour. For something a little more dramatic, Studio Green No. 93 can almost look black in low light but in daylight, it reveals a deep, mysterious green—perfect for a front door that makes a statement.
Russet browns and terracotta tones are also making a big comeback. Instead of pairing them with yellowed creams, which can feel a bit outdated, they look amazing when combined with stronger shades. For example, the rich chestnut tones of Deep Reddish Brown No. W101 and the warm buff of Cat’s Paw No. 240—both from Farrow & Ball’s archive—really pop when accented with a dusky mauve like Brassica No. 271. If you are looking for earthy tones that pack a punch, Farrow & Ball’s Blooth Pink No. 9806 is a fresh, pinkish terracotta, while India Yellow No. 66 brings a warm, golden ochre that is reminiscent of gorse flowers.
These bold colours need strong, grounding neutrals to balance them out. Instead of using clean, bright whites, which can feel too stark, go for soft, stronger neutrals like stony greys and dusty mineral shades. Stirabout No. 300 is a great neutral that’s not too warm or too cool, while Light Stone No. 9 (from the archive) offers a soft, greenish undertone that works well alongside bold colours or even on its own as a subtle, calming shade.
By mixing and matching these natural tones, you can create a space that feels warm, welcoming and effortlessly connected to the world outside.
bridporttimber.co.uk
ROSE OF JERICHO
Words Claire Bowman
Photography Katharine Davies
It was perhaps inevitable that Tom Balch would one day end up running a company dedicated to preserving the integrity of old buildings. A history graduate, who at a young age helped his parents bring their Victorian townhouse back to life, worked on period dramas filmed in Georgian stately homes and whose passion for authenticity led him to handcraft and fire the 2,000 bricks needed to repair the chimney breast of his 18th-century home, the writing was always on the (old and slightly crumbly) wall. >
‘I’d used Rose of Jericho lime mortar for repointing our house, had decorated the rooms with their paints and spent some time project managing the restoration of an 18th-century forge so I was used to working with their materials,’ explains Tom. ‘The owner, Peter Ellis, was looking for a route into retirement and somebody to run the business day-to-day so I came in for a chat and it all went from there.’
Today, as Tom shows me around the Rose of Jericho HQ in Holywell, just off the A37 – a cluster of beautiful old barns and interconnecting yards filled with mortar and huge mounds of different coloured sand from around the country – it feels like I’m observing a centuries-old tradition. Ben, a colourman, is busy whisking a beautiful deep blue pigment into a huge vat of lime while Chris is measuring out pigment to a precise recipe for customer orders. There is talk of horse hair, distemper and tallow (animal fat used historically to make candles). If it weren’t for the white plastic buckets stacked neatly in the barn or the occasional beep-beep of a pick-up truck backing up in the sand yard, I would feel like I’d travelled back a hundred years.
Meanwhile, in the Victorian stable-cum-showroom, four decades worth of aggregate samples – the sand
used to mix their mortars – are artfully displayed, their labels faded to the point of disappearing. From the red sands of Devon through Dorset to Gloucestershire and beyond, the samples span the length and breadth of the UK. For me, the icing on the cake is the pigment wall – each shade in the colour chart, from Eau de Nil to Tuscan red, a brush stroke on the plaster, including Tom’s favourite Sienna – ‘a subtle reddish, peachy colour that changes dramatically with different light’.
Included in Country Life’s Top 100 list of UK architects, interior designers and specialist craftspeople for the third year in a row – an accolade which Tom says has ‘drummed up quite a bit of interest,’ – Rose of Jericho has specialised in traditional building materials from handmade paints, lime mortars and plasters for the past 40 years.
Working almost exclusively with historic buildings, from the humblest stone cottage to the grandest stately home, the firm was first established in Northamptonshire in 1989 by Peter Hood, later bought out by the Evershot-based conservation construction company St Blaise and, following a management buyout by its Project Manager Peter Ellis, has gone from strength to strength ever since. >
Today, while Peter continues to be actively involved in the company, it’s very much Tom at the helm – no small feat when everything from the products they sell to the building material analysis and paint matching service they also offer are in such high demand.
‘In an average month we are involved with maybe 400 projects,’ says Tom, cheerfully unfazed by the amount of work this must entail. ‘We’ve worked on Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and most of the Royal Palaces, including recently the stables at Buckingham Palace, and we’re currently carrying out analysis work at Hampton Court. More locally we provided historic paint, mortar and consultancy to The Sherborne, and carried out analysis of its Medieval wing as well as working on the Georgian parts of the building. It has been wonderful to watch this old building come back to life.’
In fact, with forensic-level analysis, Tom and the team are able to identify and colour-match everything from the smallest flake of paint on the wall of a Georgian bedroom, to a historic mortar from, say, the Tower of London. Given how little they have to go on and how far back in time they have to delve, this to me seems nothing short of miraculous.
‘In the case of the Tower of London, we would try to identify what aggregate was probably used at the time and where it came from, the only problem being that a lot of these quarries no longer operate because they’ve been worked out or environmental legislation has changed,’ explains Tom. ‘So we’ve had to find an alternative quarry to achieve the same colour, texture and performance. Thankfully, locally to us in Dorset there are still lots of quarries in operation, from Corfe Mullen and Hurn to West Knighton near Dorchester and, of course, Portland.’
The go-to suppliers for architects, interior designers,
conservationists – in fact, anyone with an old home who wants to stay faithful to the original fabric of the building – Rose of Jericho has been at the forefront of the lime revival since it first emerged in the late 1980s. ‘People were starting to notice that buildings that were maybe 600 years old and had previously stood the test of time had started deteriorating very rapidly and they were questioning why,’ explains Tom. ‘They came to realise that the addition of cement mortars post-war had accelerated decay of stone because the buildings couldn’t breathe. Rather than the moisture escaping through the joints, it would sit in the stone and when that froze the surface of the stone would be damaged.
‘With this lime revival came a great deal of relearning. There were two generations of tradesmen who hadn’t really used it and a lot of the skills had been lost,’ continues Tom, who says a lot of what they do involves re-education, hence the calendar of workshops teaching different techniques. ‘For many years it was thought that lime was archaic – something that people did because they wanted to be a bit whimsical, a bit different. It’s taken 20 years but now a larger proportion of the construction industry is starting to realise its importance.’
Inspired by my tour and keen to relieve an area of back wall on our 200-year-old cottage of that pesky cement render Tom mentioned, I arrive home with a bag of lime mortar, colour matched to our warm local stone, to fill between the joints. Now restored to its original state – the same way it would have looked in 1820 when every village had its own lime kiln – the wall not only looks beautiful but gives me a warm glow of satisfaction every time I see it. I can almost hear it start to breathe again.
roseofjericho.co.uk
Open Monday-Saturday 9.00am-6.00pm, Sunday 10.00am-4.30pm (tills open at 10.30am) Castle Gardens, New Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5NR www.thegardensgroup.co.uk @thegardensgroup
Embrace Autumn
As we advance into autumn and the garden starts to wind down from its summer blooms, there is still plenty to keep the gardener occupied. It is a time to think about tidying up borders, deadheading and removing any old summer bedding that has gone over.
In autumn we can enjoy the burning colours of Acers, the scented bloom of Sarcococca, and the bright berries of Pyracantha, all of which help to keep the garden dancing through the colder days.
Traditional Helleborus are a popular perennial at this time of the year, Hamamellis provides a spicy fragrance to a garden and the late flowering Caryopteris adds a spot of blue to break up the orange hues in any border.
For a free quote contact us at: 01935 478564 | 07976 850 720 colinsmithgardening@outlook.com www.csgardening.uk
Yenstone Walling Ltd
Dry Stone Walling and Landscaping
All types of stone walling undertaken
01963 371123 / 07791 588141
yenstonewalling@btinternet.com www.yenstonewalling.co.uk Patrick Houchen DSWA member CIS registered
A MICRO-CLIMATE MECCA
Mike Burks, Managing Director, The Gardens Group
My in-laws, for many years, have holidayed in North Wales in a seaside village called Abersoch, on the other side of Snowdonia on the Lleyn peninsula. It’s not well known in the South and Southwest but those from the North of England and in particular Lancashire and Yorkshire will know it well. Housing there is highly desirable and the property we have rented for years and years was recently
sold meaning our last couple of stays have been in alternative accommodation and further from the beach.
The most recent house has a decent-sized garden and an interesting collection of plants that aren’t normally found elsewhere particularly this far North. The reason is the maritime climate and, even though the garden faces North, it is sheltered too so plants tend to flourish there.
The garden was obviously planted by someone who has a keen interest in plants and there are a number of very large tree ferns (Dicksonia antartica) dotted around that must have been there for 25 years or more. Some are up to 5 or 6 metres and have started to branch. They seem not to mind the sea air too much although this may be that the sheltered nature of the plot stops the worst of the salty air. It is also
clear that they hold onto their fronds over the winter showing how mild it is in the area. In Dorset, it would need to be a very sheltered garden or for the ferns to be protected with fleece or straw for this to occur.
Also planted at around the same time are several palms (Trachycarpus fortunei), again up to 5 or 6 metres and growing very happily. Two have been planted so that they are the exact distance for a hammock to be slung between them, which seemed perfect but somehow it turned out we would be walking for miles every day rather than lounging around!
In the interesting orchard area, there was a mature Black Mulberry (Morus nigra) with fruit just starting to ripen. These are wonderful, long-lived trees that just get more exciting the older they get.
The most remarkable trees in the garden though are some Norfolk Island Pines (Araucaria heterophylla (related to Monkey Puzzle)) which we just couldn’t grow locally. These I would treat as indoor plants but they eventually grow into large trees. One morning as I was putting the recycling out, I met a young family walking down to the beach and they asked if I knew what the ‘upside down trees’ were! They are very striking and have a symmetry and structure that makes them contrast against anything else around.
Away from the garden, the clifftops were a glorious colour of yellow from low-growing gorse and purples and pinks from the heathers. These clearly had been cut down every year to keep them under control and so the display was quite dramatic.
On another walk up to an Iron Age hill fort, there were bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) growing and fruiting well with almost blueberry-sized fruit. It didn’t take too long to have enough for a bilberry pie! In Devon, these are known as whortleberries. The heathers (Calluna and Erica) along with the bilberries show that the soil is acidic.
Blackberries were disappointing in the area and weren’t anywhere near the size we get at home. This won’t be a lack of rainfall but might be due to the soil draining too quickly and so remaining dry. Luckily, I had picked some the day before we left, and these were made into a fabulous blackberry ice cream early in the holiday.
For the avoidance of doubt, the amount of walking balanced out the food intake and there was a perfect amount of relaxing too so I also managed to complete the reading list that my daughter brought for me!
thegardensgroup.co.uk
Abersoch, North Wales
EXTRACT
DRAWN TO THE GARDEN
BY CAROLINE QUENTIN
Iwonder how many of us recall the close-up examination of nature that, as children, we took for granted? Recently I saw my friend’s little boy lying on his belly, his face a few centimetres (or inches as I still like to think of them) away from a spider’s web. He was totally absorbed in the grizzly examination of a spider wrapping a fly in its silky web, like a ready meal in clingfilm. The child was entirely focused on what he was observing – watching a spider preparing to devour its prey was all he needed in that moment. He wasn’t thinking about computers or television, food or even people.
He was satisfied, calm and peaceful. I can vividly recall, as a child, staring at a daisy for minutes at a time, looking so closely at its little sunny face that I’d have a dusting of yellow pollen on my nose. The gold of its centre was mesmerising, and youthful eyes meant I could see its stamen, stigma and anthers without reading glasses. The tiny white petals observed so closely revealed a pearlescent magic sheen. It was an entire world on a slender stem.
One autumn I put a piece of fungus in a matchbox and kept it there for months. I loved taking it out and scrutinising its subtle striations of colour. Unfortunately, I discovered, if you keep a piece of fungus in a matchbox for too long it shrivels up to a piece of dried leathery nothing and someone chucks it in the dustbin while you are at Girls Brigade.
I believe as adults we can learn from our childhood selves and regain the peace that comes from closely observing nature. It might work for you, if ever you need a moment of respite from troubling thoughts.
Try some of these.
Find something from the natural world to look at. This might be a flower, a leaf, a spider’s web, or if you simply can’t access the outdoors, an apple or a carrot will do! Hold whatever you have chosen to give your full attention to, close enough to your face so that you can really see and even smell it. Find a good source of light.The sun is excellent, daylight is good however cloudy the skies, but a good lamp will suffice.
Now look at it. Soak up as much information as you possibly can. Give in to the meditative moment of bliss. I like a big blousy dahlia or tulip or rose but a fresh green leaf can be equally fascinating, if you give it enough time and attention. The colour palette will be very different for a leaf, of course, but sometimes the greens, browns and greys are as lovely as the brighter colours. Look at the colour. If it’s red, ask what sort of red is it? Pillar box, maybe scarlet?
Perhaps it’s pink, but what sort of pink? Gentle candyfloss pink or shouty fluorescent Barbie pink. Does the colour change as the petals near the centre of the bloom? What happens where the petals meet the stem? What’s inside? Open up the flower head –what’s in there?
A tight group of pollen-laden stamen? A little black bug? I like to imagine I’m a bee looking for pollen at this point, but I do understand I’m a bit peculiar and that less eccentric people are happy to forgo this part of the process! Now very slowly turn the bloom in your hand.
You’ve seen what’s on show, but have you looked at the reverse? You can take my word for it that what’s going on backstage is often much more interesting than the show itself! Try to love the imperfections that are revealed. If the flower is beginning to wither and die, observe the gentle fading of colour, the wrinkling of the once perfect petals becoming even more fragile and the scent changing from a robust perfume to a more complex scent of decay. Value the imperfections. This is sometimes hard to do in a world where only perfection is deemed to have worth, where to be good looking in a conventional way is so prized and aging is seen as a sort of failure to be altered, as though the inevitable decline of living things should be ignored or is in some way shameful and ugly.
Examine your flower or your leaf, the fresh bits, the perfect bits and the imperfect bits. It’s all beautiful, it’s all important and it all deserves our attention.
Monday 18th November 6.30pm for 7pm
Caroline Quentin: Drawn to the Garden
The Sherborne, Newland DT9 3JG
A witty and enjoyable evening with this renowned figure in British comedy as Caroline discusses her beautifully illustrated book with respected journalist Valerie Singleton. Tickets £10 from Winstone’s Books, Cheap Street and shop.winstonebooks.co.uk. Signed copies of Caroline's book will be available in-store from 19th November.
Micro-dining experiences in an old cow barn and kitchen garden
‘A visit to Horrell & Horrell is like going to a friend for dinner, where you bring a bottle, relax, enjoy the food, and let conversation flow –whilst we take care of everything else’
Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, and the occasional Sunday lunch
To reserve a space at a dining experience or to enquire about private hire, please visit
www.horrellandhorrell.co.uk
Sparkford, Somerset
AN ITALIAN IN SOMERSET
CARAMELISED PEAR AND ONION CHUTNEY
This is a very simple recipe and a real autumnal treat. Much tastier than the supermarket stuff too! Enjoy in a sandwich, with cheese, cold meats, sausages, pork chops… the list goes on!
Ingredients
500g fresh pears
1 medium onion
300ml cider vinegar
4 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp whole allspice
Method
1 Peel the pears and remove the cores. Cut into small chunks. Peel and thinly slice the onion.
2 Add all the ingredients to a large saucepan. Cook on a medium-low heat for around 1 hour and until the chutney is caramelised and glossy. You may need to add a splash or two of water if the mixture seems too dry.
3 Transfer the chutney to a jar and enjoy!
greenrestaurant.co.uk
Tom Matkevich, The Green Restaurant
Uliana Petrosian/iStock
THE CAKE WHISPERER
TEDDY BEAR OAT COOKIES
Image: Katharine Davies
Val Stones
When my children were small, they had packed lunches and I always made them substantial biscuits and cookies to go in their lunch boxes. This is a recipe from my recipe book, one of our all-time family favourites. They are quick and economical to make. I decided to put a new twist on them by turning them into teddy bears. If you wish you can make these gluten-free by replacing the self-raising flour with Dove glutenfree self-raising flour and gluten-free rolled oats. These cookies are also excellent to batch-bake for fundraising events and children’s parties.
Time preparation 10 minutes to make the dough, 15 minutes cooling time, cooking time 15-20 minutes
What you will need
• Two baking sheets, greased or covered in silicon sheets.
• A round 6cm plain round cookie cutter.
• Small piping bag with a fine round nozzle or cut the end off the piping bag to pipe teddy eyes.
Ingredients Serves 12-14
172g soft light brown sugar
172g soft margarine
172g golden syrup
260g self-raising flour
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
240g rolled oats
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
To decorate
• Sufficient raisins to make teddy noses
• 25g plain chocolate – chips or chopped
Method
1 Preheat the oven to 160C fan assisted,170C, 325F, gas mark 3-4.
2 Place the sugar, margarine and syrup in a pan and allow to melt so that all the ingredients combine. If you wish you can do this in a microwaveable bowl in the microwave on medium heat for 2-3 bursts of 1 minute. Sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl and add the oats, stir well.
3 Make a hollow in the middle of the flour then pour in the melted ingredients, add the vanilla extract and with a wooden spoon stir well until the mixture comes together.
4 The mixture will be quite soft and needs to cool so it will be more easily handled.
5 Place the bowl covered with a clean tea towel in the fridge for 15-20 minutes (or a little longer if needed) to become firm.
6 When the dough feels quite firm, lightly dust the work surface with a little flour, place the dough on the floured area and with a lightly floured rolling pin roll out to about 1cm thickness.
7 Cut 12 rounds and place each cookie on the baking sheet allowing space between the cookies as they spread. Tip - Dip the cutter into some flour to coat the blade of the cutter to stop the dough from sticking.
8 Any leftover dough can be rolled out again to make more cookies, leaving enough dough for the teddy nose and ears. This dough is very forgiving and can be rolled out up to 3 times until used up.
9 To make the teddy features, take a pinch of dough and roll it into a ball the size of a marble. Using your thumb, press into the dough to make an ear shape, press this onto the teddy head to seal it and then repeat until each teddy has ears.
10 Pinch a piece of dough, roll it into a sausage and press it onto the teddy head to create a nose then press a raisin onto each nose.
11 Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned and just firm to touch.
12 Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 4 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
13 When cool, pipe the eyes on each teddy.
14 Melt the chocolate in a microwavable bowl in the microwave on the lowest setting for bursts of one minute stirring in between. Place the melted chocolate in the piping bag with the small round nozzle or snip the end and pipe the eyes.
15 They store well in an airtight container for 2 weeks and in the freezer for a month.
bakerval.com
THE JOY OF COOKBOOKS
Joanna Weinberg, Teals
Would you agree that there are few shops quite so comforting as a bookshop? There they sit, the books; still, solid and scented with Eau de New Book. Objects of beauty together make whole walls of colour and each one a bounty of knowledge, humour and company, waiting for you to find them and make them your own.
Of all the different kinds of books, few give us quite so much pleasure as a cookbook. We have always been drawn to food and cooking, and happy childhood memories always had meals at the heart of them. And so it has continued, into our grown-up lives. A recipe becomes more than just a set of instructions to follow – it’s a story of a family supper, a gathering of friends, a celebration of a significant moment and, with a ‘click!’, captured forever in the album of life. Here, a tray of crisp-skinned chicken thighs dusted with coriander and cumin and heady with garlic becomes more than just the trudge of an afterschool supper; the molten tender steak in gravy under a golden pie crust promises an evening of friendship around the kitchen table that will linger in the mind and heart for days to come.
We have always thought of the store as, yes a place of provisions, but also a gathering place for our communities - of locals and travellers. So it made sense to have shelves across the back of it for cookbooks. If you were coming in to buy food, wouldn’t you want some ideas for how to cook it too? You’d be able to browse for flavour from Sabrina Gayour and Diana Henry, for comfort from Nigel Slater and for seasonal connection from River Cottage. You could support local with the Cooking Pot, the Castle Cary pandemic fundraiser or, now, the clever new collection Cook Together by local chef and teacher Dorothy Woods, a how-to of nourishing recipes for two.
Autumn always brings with it a handful of big hitters hoping to bag a Christmas top slot. This year, they are on the shelves already, with offerings from
Nigel, Yotam, Hugh and Jamie (need we bother with surnames when we are friends already?) bringing their take on Feasts, Comfort, Pies and Simple to your kitchen. We’re also particularly excited about Meera Sodha’s Dinner - a book of family recipes that draws boldly on flavour bombs from far and wide, making ingredients such as gochujang and miso as every day as cheddar and tomatoes.
You may not cook right through them straightaway but there they will sit, waiting patiently for you to revisit. In years to come, you will suddenly find a cinnamon-spiced pilaff that you can’t believe you hadn’t tried before or a way of roasting chicken on a bed of sliced potatoes that turns them into a golden mass of savoury pleasure and exactly what you want to eat right now.
It turned out that selecting books for our shelves in the shop was almost as fun as taking a book home
to dive into. Gradually the cookbooks were joined by travel titles, handbooks for camping and wildswimming, and companions for holidaymakers stopping in on their journeys West to beach, hill or moor. As our range grew, we began to pack the books a bit tighter onto the shelves, tucking them in between the ceramics and candles. How could we resist a title that might enhance a holiday, improve a Sunday lunch or inspire an environmental endeavour?
And then last year, we didn’t have room for more at the back of the store and the little bookshop upstairs was born. If we moved books up onto our mezzanine, we could have more; many more. We could have novels, classic and contemporary; we could stock wellbeing titles and nature writing; we could share whole series like the ‘Do’ books - approachable manuals for everything from how to breathe better to how to make sourdough. We could have a bank of children’s
books and visiting authors telling stories from a comfy armchair. And so we did, and there it is, up the stairs on your left as you come into the store. A panoply of Nature and Walking, Cooking and Travel, books to make your day easier, more pleasurable, to fill your dreams with wilderness and with hope. There is plenty of fiction now, too, a quirky and individual and not at all complete offering of novels but a selection of favourites carefully gathered through personal recommendations. As the nights draw in and we retreat behind curtains and shutters, they will be sitting on the shelves, these new friends with their promise of escape, of transformation, of comfort. We will leaf through the pages of a cookbook and there, in the autumn chapter, will be supper, a squash roasted till golden, flecked with garlic and topped with crisp sage.
teals.co.uk
LA CARTE MENU
Open lunch and dinner Wednesday to Saturday, and Sunday lunch
Massimiliano Mannella, Senior General Manager, The Clockspire
When The Clockspire opened its doors in 2019, we couldn’t possibly have imagined how that first year would go. It had taken around two years to complete the purchase and renovation of The Clockspire from the old William Medleycott school that so captured the imagination of owners Charles and Mike. They were inspired by this magnificent Grade II listed building with its dusty potential, standing sentinel-like, a gatekeeper to the village they’d made home.
So they set about devising an extensive and fabulous renovation. Architects and designers Studio Indigo, renowned for their work on luxury yachts and high-end London residences, led the project and delivered a sensitively detailed heritage restoration here in the West Country. The original historic floorplan was reinstated, creating space for the main restaurant. Soaring vaulted ceilings were uncovered from beneath unsympathetic later additions. Stonework was repaired and restored. Elegant interior touches with hints of cherry and teal were added to contrast with the natural tones of the polished concrete floor and furnishings and create a final masterpiece of understated elegance.
Though undeniably grand and impressive, our dining areas – the central and ‘west’ wings as we call them – have a wonderful lightness and tranquillity to them that makes being there such a joy. The ‘east’ wing is home to the kitchen and, stacked above it, the mezzanine cocktail bar.
It was always Charles and Mike’s vision that we create a restaurant with a unique hospitality concept, something never seen before in this area. To help them deliver this, they called upon the experienced restaurateurs behind The Woodspeen in Newbury. The newly assembled team pulled together a menu concept inspired by fresh, locally sourced ingredients – simple, playful and elegant – and paired this with their unique brand of warm and knowledgeable service.
We opened our doors in October of that year and were thrilled to receive the notoriety of several prestigious architectural and design awards. Studio Indigo scooped the William Stanstell Somerset Historic Building Award. Organised by the Somerset Building Preservation Trust, this esteemed accolade celebrates and applauds well-designed and conserved buildings that contribute positively to their surroundings and enhance the character of local communities throughout Somerset. The Clockspire project also scooped Heritage Building and Overall UK Winner at the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2020.
Guests travelled from far and wide to see our award-winning interiors and sample our beautiful food. It was the most wonderful start! And then, just weeks into 2020, the pandemic struck. To have the wind taken out of our sails just as we were making headway was incredibly tough. We had no option but to close and furlough the team. As any hotelier or restaurateur will tell you, service professionals thrive on human interaction so this hit our front-of-house team the hardest. Luckily, with the backing of the wider group, we were able to ride out the storm and get back to work within a matter of months.
Five years later we’re still here and despite the significant challenges facing the hospitality industry as a whole, we find ourselves celebrating a significant milestone! It’s a great moment to stop and reflect on what we’ve achieved. >
We recently calculated that we’ve welcomed over 70,000 guests since we opened – that’s around 15,000 per year – and we particularly love to see our friends and neighbours from the village.
We’ve scooped some wonderful accolades. We’re proud to retain 2 Rosettes from the AA, as well as their Wine List Award. We made it into Square Meals Top 100 Restaurants this year and most recently were shortlisted as finalists in the prestigious Trencherman’s Awards. The emphasis has always been on sourcing locally and seasonally, ensuring that our ingredients are of the highest quality and reflect the rich provenance of our region. We’re continually evolving menus, watching trends and price points and responding to guest feedback to create dishes that are both familiar and comforting but thoughtfully balanced.
Though we’ve said farewell to some familiar faces –Restaurant Manager Thomas Gamella and Head Chef Luke Sutton have moved into group roles - we’re lucky enough to have several of our founding team members still with us.
Emily has been with us from the very start, beginning her career with us as our friendly receptionist. She’s downstairs in the office now, keeping administration under tight control. Luke
Bryant joined us as an apprentice in 2019, having previously trained with Michael Caines in Devon and has steadily risen through the kitchen ranks. He now leads the entire department, continually refining his knowledge and skills under the tutelage of Group Head Chef Luke Sutton and Group Executive Chef, Peter Eaton. Kieran joined the team as a kitchen porter early in 2020 and today he is one of the most senior members in the kitchen, working alongside Luke to manage daily operations. Together, they’re mentoring the next generation.
It has been my immense pleasure and privilege to be part of the community here in Milborne Port these last five years and to build and mentor an exceptional team to serve our guests – to which we have a new addition. Allow me to take this opportunity to introduce David Hill, The Clockspire’s new General Manager, who we welcomed into the business in August. David joins us from Weymouth’s renowned ‘Catch’ and brings a wealth of knowledge and professionalism that our esteemed guests are already enjoying immensely.
Here’s to 5 wonderful years! We hope we’ll see you soon.
theclockspire.com
The Clockspire's new General Manager, David Hill
Image: Doug Grigg
UNINTENTIONAL PILGRIMS
Giles Henschel, Co-Founder, Olives Et Al
Somehow, we have recovered all the various bits of our bikes from the diaspora we created by sending them hither and thither for cleaning, preening and gentle pimping and, miraculously, most of them have been reassembled into something resembling two serviceable machines – all ready to go again for round two.
It’s been strange not to have them and a curious feeling of displacement has been with us these last few weeks. To fill the void, we settle down in the evenings to pore over maps and plot routes for the second leg. As we do so, we’re drawn back to some of the experiences and lessons from the first leg and one stretch, towards the end of our travels, comes up more frequently than others…
Call it divinity, for this had definitely not been our intention – we had stumbled onto one of the Camino trails leading to Santiago de Compostela far, far to the west of us. Crossing the Pyrenees, we dropped out of the clouds and headed for the oddly named hamlet of Bizkarreta – Gerendiain not realising it was a staging
post on the Camino Francés. We found the roads filled with earnest walkers making their way steadily towards their goal. Locating our digs we expected to find it also chock-full of eager pilgrims, sore of foot and hearty of tale. Not the case.
In the shared kitchen we found one lone, forlorn young chap who had hurt his knee and was resting up before setting out again – a softly spoken, earnest American with an invisible blanket of quietness wrapped tightly around him that broadcast his loneliness and isolation.
He was about to prepare an exceedingly meagre and ascetic meal for himself consisting of pasta and not much else – no sauce, no oil, no meat, no vegetables – just pasta with pasta. Wanting to repay some of the kindnesses we’d experienced across our travels, we suggested he shared our meal. He almost smiled. Annie cooked up a mound of rice with fresh onions, veg, meatballs and tomato sauce seasoned liberally with various herbs and spices we’d picked up along the way – dressed, naturally enough, with some fine extra virgin
olive oil and a thick balsamic we’d been carrying with us since Modena. Not too shabby a meal. Our pilgrim seemed genuinely taken aback that we would cook and share what little we had.
Next morning, we left him with some medicines and wondered how he would get on. We saddled up and, chatting, were reminded of The Pilgrim’s Progress – John Bunyan’s epic religious tale with the central theme that knowledge is gained through travel and learning from one’s mistakes along the way.
Google ‘Quotes about Pilgrims’ and you get all sorts of stuff ranging from Shakespeare to Chaucer, James Joyce and even John Wayne and loads of others in between. Even typing the word makes it sound and look a bit funny – pilgrim. Pilgrim? I am a pilgrim. Are you a pilgrim? A pilgrim, pilgrim. Howdy, pilgrim. Get off your horse and drink your milk, pilgrim.
Pilgrim. Definition: A pilgrim is a person who embarks on a long journey often with a religious or moral purpose, especially to a foreign land.
Well, that had to be us, then. Long journey? Moral purpose? Foreign land? Tick all three. Good Lord above! We were pilgrims! On a pilgrimage! We felt really godly and goodly. Like we are doing a THING. And it’s a GOOD THING! We really were PILGRIMS! Wow!
We had the definite feeling of being on the homeward stretch – we were both tired and I was making mistakes. We arrive at our next destination and I see some anxious faces inside, peering out at the two bikes and us. I stroll in and say howdy – the teeniest, tiniest Mrs Pepperpot-sized lady looks me up and down and asks if I have a booking.
‘Yes,’ I say, breezily, ‘Booking.com’
‘Your name is Jill Es? Jill Es Hens Suck El?’
‘Yes, it’s Giles. Giles-Hen-Shell, as in chicken and egg – just one night.’
Mrs Pepperpot is joined by Mr Pepperpot – equally as teeny and tiny. Mrs P looks at Mr P then up at me and says, a little sternly, ‘You book for tomorrow. You day early. You make big mistake.’
Oh bother. That’s us completely stuffed then.
‘Oh dear. Lo siento. I don’t suppose you have a room available for tonight, instead?’
The Pepperpots look at each other and have a gabbled conversation in such heavily accented and hushed tones that I can’t discern a word but the body language is not looking good.
By this time, I’ve been joined by Annie and I briefly
tell her I made a mistake on the booking and, whilst I know it is not her fault, I am going to blame her. When in doubt, always blame someone else. Especially when you need them to do what I needed Annie to do next.
‘Remember Kaklamanis? Lefkada? Easter?’ I whisper. She nods and immediately understands. I need her to cry. Right now. On cue.
The Pepperpots look back at us just as Annie conjures up a vision of a squished squishy thing lying on a road alongside a handsome twig all surrounded by beautiful trees under a pretty cloud or two and her eyes well up and the bottom lip starts to tremble. To add to it, she drops her shoulders and slumps, head downcast, breathes a heavy sigh and looks up, full-on doleful, with tears running down both cheeks.
‘Of course we have a room for tonight. Why is she crying?’
Seems I’d misread the body language and it was just Mrs P getting Mr P to hop to it and get the room ready. In all honesty, Annie didn’t need to cry – the P’s were so understanding and helpful and I felt a tinge of guilt about mucking it all up. Mistakes happen. We try and learn from them and not make the same one twice.
Neither of us is quite the same person who left some weeks back and, secretly, neither of us really wanted it to end. I’d been toying with a phrase in my head for the last couple of thousand miles – it’s a riff on the quote oft attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson, ‘It’s not the destination, it’s the journey’ and I found myself repeating, ‘The destination is not the journey. The journey is the destination.’
• To ride to a horizon, eager to learn what’s beyond and head for the next.
• To seek answers to questions that have not been asked before.
• To not judge those who share their experiences and not be harsh on those who choose not to.
• To share what little you have with those who have less or are in need.
• To listen to the wind in the trees on a deserted road in the late afternoon sun, engines ticking as they cool, us with no words spoken or needed.
These are the things we will miss but carry with us –ready to ride again.
The journey was the destination. An unintentional pilgrimage.
Annie and Giles are on the second leg of their journey as we speak. Follow their progress at olivesetal.co.uk
A MONTH ON THE FARM
James Hull, The Story Pig
And just like that our rather weak summer disappeared from under our noses. This week, as I write, the rains have fallen harder than I can remember. Four days of near-continuous heavy rain have transformed our landscape from a dry, hard dusty farm to something resembling an outdoor sauna, steaming ground-soaked, leaden skies that look and feel like they may well fall in at any time so full of more rain to come. I check the forecast on my phone for the hundredth time this week and although it says two weeks of sun after today, I must conclude it is hard to believe at the moment but ever the farmer, ever the optimist!
We need the sun and dry to return in pretty prompt fashion as is always the way in the summer we have only done half the jobs that I have promised to do. Many of you will have seen our new big pond taking shape but to build a pond you need dry weather, the
irony! We have already moved thousands of tonnes of soil to form the lower bank and shape it up into a pond sort of shape but we still have a lot more to move, only dry weather work. We need the dust to return to be able to haul the many more tonnes of soil, to slowly sculpture and shape the banks into soft curves, to fit the liner into a dry-bottomed hole, not a slippery muddy hole suitable for mud wrestling. Maybe there’s a money-making idea!
It’s a few days ago since I wrote the above and finally, we have had a couple of windy dry days. I have shaped up the last banks at the front of the pond and levelled them up so there are no low spots for the water to escape from and no high spots to have too much bank showing. I’m pleased with the results so far and the day has arrived!
It’s time to fit the liner – 1-tonne piece of rubber. It
arrived in early March and has sat waiting patiently in our yard for its day of glory. Well, yesterday we picked it up with the tractor and carefully drove it down to the pond edge. We had vague instructions on how to unroll it so three of us heaved and shoved to get it off the pallet and into a straight line following the bank, then we unrolled the huge rubber Swiss roll. And there it sat, a flat mass of rubber, folded umpteen times that needed to be pulled across the pond and stretched out. We each picked up an edge and lifted, looked at each other with shock at the weight of just one edge and pulled. We pulled and we strained and bit by bit, foot by foot the liner came towards us, doing its very best to stay stuck to the fold below.
To be honest, I cannot quite describe how heavy it was to move but as usual, we were determined and worked as a brilliant team to finally stretch it out from side to side – a huge black square covering every inch of my handiwork below, all my careful shaping and tidying gone. We stood back and surveyed our work – quite an achievement for only three of us. (Every YouTube video I had watched had shown about 10 people doing what 3 of us had achieved.)
Just as we finished, Charlotte slowly approached with a tray of tea and cake for us. She too marvelled at our new black pond or as is probably nearer the truth, black crater at the moment. After our quick tea, it was back to digging a narrow trench as close to the edge of the pond as possible to tuck the edges in to secure it and then backfill to start to keep the liner in place.
We achieved our aims for the day – the liner was secure! I want to say a huge thanks to Len and Josh for helping so much and for being as enthusiastic as me about what we were doing. These two are really my only sporadic help but both are always so willing and strong and they enjoy seeing the results as much as we do. They are both always an absolute pleasure to have around at The Story Pig. Our next big job together is to take the tipis down for the winter and put one back up in our barn for our winter cafe – another day of huffing and puffing, pulling and tugging coming up very soon!
On that note, we will be moving inside for the weekend of 12th October and from then on we will be open on Friday evenings for pizzas and Saturdays and Sundays. And finally, I will end by saying what I have been saying since March this year, we must be due some good weather between now and then – we must be! thestorypig.co.uk
Molten cheese oozing over hot potatoes, with charcuterie and pickles
(vegetarian option available)
SATURDAY DATES
19th October
16th November
TIME 5pm - 9pm
PLACE
The Drinksmith South Street, Sherborne TO BOOK Pop into the shop...
Give Us A Call: 01935 315 539 Jump Online: thedrinksmith.co.uk PRICE £15
Your local independent vets. Veterinary services for livestock in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.
01258 472314
friarsmoorlivestockhealth.co.uk
farmoffice@friarsmoorlivestockhealth.co.uk
Pet, Equine & Farm Animals
• Operating theatres • Digital x-ray
• Nurse clinics • Laboratory
• Separate dog and cat wards
Kingston Veterinary Group Unit 5B, Coldharbour Business Park
The Forum, Abbey Manor Park, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 3TL
Mon-Fri 8.30 - 18.00 Sat 08.30 - 12.30
T: 01935 421177 (24 hours)
E: yeovil@kingstonvets.co.uk
kingstonvets.co.uk
25 parking spaces
Separate dog and cat areas
5 consulting rooms
2 theatres
A dental suite CT scanner
NEW TRICKS
Mark Newton-Clarke MAVetMB PhD MRCVS, Newton Clarke Veterinary Surgeons
Well, we’ve been in the new surgery premises on Sheeplands Lane for a couple of months now and if you have had occasion to visit us there, I’m sure you’ll agree the car parking is an improvement. The easy access into reception and its division into cat-side and dog-side (the silhouettes on the end walls show which is which) is helping to keep the peace. As some of you saw during our open day in July, the dispensary sits right behind the reception so medicines are readily accessible to our receptionists, who also double as dispensers. Prescription medicines are checked by two people before they are handed out but the third check is equally important – that done by you, the client and owner. Mistakes can happen no matter how hard we try but the more checks and balances in place, the fewer get through the safety nets. So please do check the label on your pet’s medicine when you receive it and if anything looks wrong, don’t hesitate to tell the receptionist. In fact, if anything during your visit to us could have been better, please let us know. As a nation, we are hesitant to make comments other than compliments but at the surgery, we welcome them as it’s the only way to improve. If you prefer to email us, sherborne@newtonclarkevet.com is the one to use and just to let you know, the telephone system is centralised so by dialling the Sherborne number, you might well get through to the Yeovil practice. The receptionists book appointments at both sites so do make sure everyone knows where you want to go (and who you would like to see!).
Extra space in the car park and inside the building makes life easier for clients and staff but from a diagnostic viewpoint, the real difference between the new surgery and the old one lies in two pieces of equipment; the CT scanner and the digital dental X-ray machine. I’ve briefly mentioned the former before but only in the last couple of weeks have we been doing proper CT scans on patients. The images are extraordinary, displayed in 3D and can be manipulated by the computer so that any structure can be viewed at any angle. Oliver Davidson, one of our younger vets who’s studying for his post-graduate qualification in surgery, is very excited about it. After he took me
on a virtual journey down a dog’s ear canal and into the middle ear (an important structure that is poorly imaged by plain X-rays), I must say I was excited too.
As for dental X-rays, this also is a major step forward in diagnostics that brings better treatment. Anybody who’s been to their dentist will be familiar with the practice of routine dental X-rays and every dentist’s chair is equipped with a machine. The really important bit for dogs and cats is the mandible, or jaw bone, which has a canal running through it carrying nerves and blood vessels. The roots of their lower teeth can extend down to almost touch this canal, making it vulnerable to damage during an extraction. What’s more, the crusty brown deposit (tartar) that builds up on our pets’ teeth is not only unsightly and smelly, it causes gum infections that in turn lead to bone loss around the tooth root. So we have the situation of a relatively massive tooth sitting in a weakened mandible which means after the tooth’s extraction, there is almost nothing holding the jaw bone together. This all adds up to increasing the risk of a mandibular fracture.
Dental X-rays can tell us how much bone is left around a tooth and so help us judge the risk of complications, like nerve damage or mandibular fractures. The size and shape of tooth roots is another important consideration as hooked roots make extraction much more difficult. Similar considerations are made by human dentists.
It’s routine to take post-operative X-rays after orthopaedic procedures to check the position of surgical implants and to make sure bony alignment is correct. Dental surgery is no different and in fact is a form of orthopaedic surgery, requiring the same level of care. Furthermore, dental X-rays allow us to identify retained tooth roots and will help us to confirm that the roots of extracted teeth have been fully removed, as retained root fragments can cause problems in the future.
Like all new bits of tech, in a very short time, we are all wondering how we ever managed without them. Not sure what’s coming next, maybe a laparoscope to do keyhole surgery? Guess I’ll have to just wait and see…
newtonclarkevet.com
DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VET CATTLE CAMP
John Walsh, Friars Moor Livestock Health
Last month was a first for me – I was invited to speak in Germany at a veterinary conference called ‘Cattle Camp’ just outside Nuremberg. My colleague Liz and I arrived in Nuremberg on a Wednesday morning. This gave us the day to explore the city before we headed to the conference. Nuremberg was a beautiful place and we managed to see the local Imperial Castle, eat sausages and sauerkraut, explore the streets dating back to the 11th century and, of course, try some of the local beer.
We were asked to speak about the work the practice does to promote sustainable youngstock rearing and lameness prevention. We presented to one hundred vets and industry people who had come to the conference from all over Germany and neighbouring countries. Luckily for them, their English was much better than my German and they understood my talk.
The vets in the room had lots of interesting and challenging questions on how we run our youngstock group, cattle foot trimming and the foot health sides of the business. Our youngstock service is delivered and run by vets and vet technicians. Vet technicians are not qualified vets but have been trained to a high standard by the practice to carry out tasks relating to our youngstock group membership. In Germany, vet practices do not currently employ vet techs and vets carry out the majority of traditional veterinary work. Many of the vets loved the idea of how they could
incorporate new roles for vet technicians in their businesses to help benefit their farmers and improve the health and welfare of animals under their care.
Vets in the UK appear to have much more freedom in the UK to govern our own practice and how we choose to interact with our clients. In Germany, the charging structure is still set by the government and they are more restricted in the services they can offer. For example, if there is a new service that is not covered in the government charging structure then they have to apply to the government to have this added before they can offer this as a new service.
The conference gave us the opportunity to meet a variety of vets from all over Germany and hear what they are doing to promote cattle health and welfare in their practices. The vets worked on a mix of farms, ranging from 25 to 4000 cows and as a result, there was a real mix of stories and experiences to hear.
The conference title was ‘From Artificial Intelligence to Welly Boots’. It is centred around how vets are taking their businesses forward, embracing new technology and the power of AI to move away from the traditional reactive veterinary services to more proactive approaches. I was proud to find that many of the ideas generated at the conference, we as a practice were already doing and had been doing so for several years.
friarsmoorlivestockhealth.co.uk
LASER BEAMS
NO MORE NEED FOR MESSY, TIME-CONSUMING AND SHORT-LIVED METHODS SUCH AS SHAVING & WAXING! NO MORE IRRITATION, RAZOR BURN OR INGROWN HAIRS!
OUR 3D TRILOGYICE TRIPLE WAVELENGTH LASER TECHNOLOGY CAN BE USED ON MOST SKIN TYPES, AND OFFERS COMFORTABLE, EFFECTIVE & PERMANENT REMOVAL OF UNWANTED HAIR FROM ALMOST ANYWHERE ON YOUR FACE OR BODY.
(AND WHAT’S MORE, WE NOW OFFER SKIN REJUVENATION TREATMENTS USING THE SAME PROVEN LASER TECHNOLOGY.)
FACE TIME
Afacial is a glorious treatment both relaxing and deeply rewarding in the benefits you can feel and see almost immediately. The advancements in skincare services and professional products enable your skincare therapist to go above and beyond where we were restricted before. Suitable for men and women these advanced services are a game changer for results.
Microdermabrasion facials offer a deeper exfoliation and smoothing of the skin’s epidermis or outer dead layer. They are great for skin that has become ‘craggy’ with deeper lines, open pores or skin coarsening in texture. Microdermabrasion is also helpful to even out the texture of acne-scared skin if there are no active pustules present. It polishes and buffs the skin leaving it feeling soft and glowing but the skin requires protection from the sun for two weeks after treatment. This can be repeated every two weeks as an intensive course or just as and when you feel you need a skin polish.
Non-surgical facelifts use microcurrents that work with our own nerve receptors to trigger the tightening of muscles that have lost their strength over time. This results in a revived and lifted ’you’ without the need for injectables and fillers being put in your body. It is essentially exercise for the face but there is no need to break into a sweat! Instead, you can relax and in many cases drift off, while the therapist glides probes across your face and infuses serums for a glowing and nourishing effect with an instant lift. These treatments can be had as a one-off before an event but work best when you have a course of treatments over a period of 4 to 5 weeks and then maintain your lifted look with a treatment once a month.
LED light therapy added to a facial offers advanced skin rejuvenation by stimulating collagen production, reducing inflammation and increasing blood circulation. It is a fantastic enhancement to a treatment to target fine lines and wrinkles and blue light energy can be harnessed to reduce the inflammation and bacteria in acne-prone skin. A skincare professional can give a tailored approach whilst using controlled stronger equipment and give guidance for consistent results.
Chemical peels use a chemical solution to improve the appearance of your skin by resurfacing. This reveals new brighter, smoother skin and improves conditions such as breakouts, pigmentation, sun damage and increases collagen aiding a smoother and tighter skin. More advanced peels from professional product brands are formulated to target specific skincare concerns and a skin care therapist can work with much stronger grades of chemical layering as necessary.
Skin rejuvenation with laser is perfect to even the skin tone and plump the skin. It triggers stimulation of the fibroblast cells which in turn produce more collagen. This treatment is progressive so a short course of three to five treatments is recommended with follow-up treatments every three months.
The autumn is an ideal opportunity to investigate advanced facial therapy to give the skin an additional boost during winter. Several advanced services require no exposure to strong sunlight after treatment for a few weeks which is more straightforward in cooler months too.
Sarah Hitch, The Sanctuary Beauty Rooms
People Images Yuri Ash/Shutterstock
The Old Vicarage
Leigh, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 6HL
The Old Vicarage offers residential care for both permanent and respite stays. Set in tranquil landscaped gardens with stunning views, our home has a warm and friendly atmosphere. The home has won more than 30 national and regional awards for its exceptional care.
We currently have both permanent and respite vacancies. Call us today to book a viewing and meet our amazing team.
Call us on 01935 316800 or visit healthcarehomes.co.uk
Committed, compassionate, caring
BELINDA ROBERTS RCST
Art of Confidence
Movement Practices and Wellness
Be your body and mind’s best by attending to posture
A deeply restorative form of treatment for the body, mind and soul, craniosacral therapy helps release deeply held patterns of trauma, tension and pain.
Beautiful studio location at Unit 3, West Down Farm, Corton Denham, Sherborne DT9 4LG
Contact Emma Rhys Thomas 07928 291192 or email quantockpilates@gmail.com
Mobile Physiotherapy care in the comfort of your own home
Chartered Physiotherapist with over 40 years experience working for the NHS as well as private and domiciliary physiotherapy. I specialise in rehabilitation, orthopaedics, mobility issues, home assessment, post-op and post-trauma care etc.
Covering North Dorset and South Somerset regions.
Please call to discuss your needs or to book an appointment T 01963 371163 M 07866 310 045 E julessanders2626@gmail.com
L I F E G U A R D Q U A L I F I C AT I O N
MUST BE AGED 16 YEARS AND ABOVE
Benefits:
• Learn skills for life including First Aid, AED, responsibility, and team work
• Internationally recognised qualification, giving you the potential to work and travel
• A great way for students to fund their studies with varied working hours
• Opportunities for career progression in the leisure industry
Becoming a lifeguard opens a variety of doors for careers and awards you with essential skills including First Aid and CPR. Upon completion, lifeguards will have the knowledge to supervise pool environments and administer first aid and water-based rescues
DISPELLING MYTHS ABOUT OCD
THE REALITY BEHIND THE DISORDER
Lucy Lewis, Assistant Psychologist and Dorset Mind Ambassador
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) awareness week is 13th-19th October 2024.
As OCD is a highly misunderstood mental health condition, we wanted to take the opportunity to dispel some common myths. OCD is often trivialised and misrepresented in popular culture, leading to harmful stereotypes and misconceptions. In reality, OCD is a complex and deeply distressing disorder that can significantly impact a person’s life.
Myth 1: OCD Is Just About Being Neat and Organised
One of the most pervasive myths about OCD is that it’s merely a preference for cleanliness and order. While it’s true that some individuals with OCD may have compulsions related to cleanliness or organisation, OCD is far more complex. The disorder involves
intrusive, distressing thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours (compulsions) that a person feels compelled to perform to alleviate anxiety.
‘What people perceive OCD to be couldn’t be more different. What’s often thought of is the excessive cleaning but not why someone with OCD has to clean. Yes, cleaning can be a part of someone’s routine but it’s not the only indicator of living with OCD. For me, I clean and ask questions of reassurance as I have these racing and overwhelming thoughts that if I don’t then something bad will happen. Most of the time, these compulsive actions ease the thoughts for a few moments but the racing thoughts soon return bigger and more triggering.’
Chandy, Dorset Mind Ambassador
Myth 2: There are Always Visible Compulsions Involved
Some individuals experience what’s known as ‘Pure O’,
where they primarily struggle with obsessions without any visible compulsions. Instead, their compulsions might be mental rituals, such as repeatedly reviewing memories or seeking reassurance. This type of OCD can be just as distressing as the more commonly recognised forms but it is often overlooked because the compulsions are not outwardly visible.
Myth 3: OCD Intrusive Thoughts Reflect the Person’s True Desires
Perhaps one of the most distressing aspects of OCD is the nature of intrusive thoughts. These thoughts can take on various forms, often involving taboo or socially unacceptable content, such as sexually explicit material, incest or violent acts. These intrusive thoughts do not reflect the person’s true desires or intentions; rather, they are a symptom of OCD. People with OCD are often horrified and deeply distressed by these thoughts, which can lead to intense guilt, shame and anxiety. It’s crucial to understand that these thoughts are involuntary and not a reflection of the person’s character or values.
Myth 4: OCD Is a Personality Trait, not a Disorder
Many people casually describe themselves or others as ‘a bit OCD’ to refer to being neat, organised or detail-orientated. This not only trivialises the severity of OCD but also contributes to the misconception that it is a personality trait rather than a debilitating disorder. OCD is not something you ‘are’; it is a condition people ‘have’, often impermanently. People with OCD are not just overly tidy or fussy; they are dealing with a disorder that can consume their thoughts and lives.
Myth 5: People With OCD Can Just ‘Snap Out of It’
Telling someone with OCD to ‘just stop’ their compulsions is akin to telling someone with a broken
leg to ‘just walk it off.’ OCD is not about choice or willpower; it’s a disorder that affects the brain’s functioning. Effective treatment often involves a combination of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), particularly Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and sometimes medication.
Myth 6: OCD is Rare (2)
OCD is often thought of as a rare condition but it’s more common than many people realise. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that OCD is one of the top 20 causes of disability worldwide for individuals aged 15 to 44. Approximately 1-2% of the global population is affected by OCD, which translates to millions of people.
Myth 7: OCD Only Affects Adults
OCD is not an adult-only disorder; it can affect people of all ages, including children and adolescents. In fact, OCD often begins in childhood or adolescence, with symptoms sometimes appearing as early as age 6 or 7.
Myth 8: OCD Is Just an Excuse for Bad Behaviour
Some people mistakenly believe that OCD is an excuse for odd or bad behaviour but this is far from the truth. Individuals with OCD experience overwhelming anxiety and distress due to their obsessions and compulsions. The behaviours they engage in are not voluntary or enjoyable; they are coping mechanisms to deal with intrusive thoughts that can be debilitating.
If you are worried about your mental health, please speak to your GP and/or contact Dorset Mind at dorsetmind.uk. In a crisis? Please call 999. The Samaritans are always there to listen at 116 123 – and you can call Dorset’s NHS mental health helpline on 111, Option 2 - 24/7.
Sandra Miller BSc, MSc, BCNH Dip, FDN-P, Wholistic Health
To be honest, we experienced a mixed bag of success in regard to producing our own food this last growing season. I was hoping for courgettes and nasturtiums in abundance but these plants did not thrive. I have big plans for building a structure in our garden over which we might grow gourds of various kinds in years to come – hopefully, more successfully. Maybe this time next year I’ll have an autumn crop of squashes and pumpkins that will see us well-stocked in warming soups and lanterns but for this year we must be content with the green leaves that did do well. I’m very pleased with the small lettuce plants we bought and added to the patio. Their varied leaf shapes and colours made them attractive and not at all out of place amongst the herbs, edible flowers and solely decorative plants alongside them. We cut leaves from the same plants multiple times throughout the summer and rarely had to buy any at all despite eating
salads almost every day.
Now that the cooler months of the year are coming, we will not give up on our raw, fresh vegetables but our salads will embrace the seasonal changes. We will be relying more on perpetual spinach to provide our raw greens. This isn’t true spinach but it is wonderfully easy to grow and can be used in a similar way. By adding warm root vegetables and squashes, plus warming spices, that cold edge is taken away whilst still loading up on all that vegetable goodness.
Something else that can be grown in minimal space, all year round, even without a garden, is sprouted seeds. Because these tiny plants are only a few days old, they are absolute powerhouses of nutrition. Germination is a process that involves the production of unique types and high concentrations of phytochemicals and nutrients. Within a week you can grow yourself a little crop of them right on your windowsill. In basic terms,
the process generally involves first soaking the seeds in water for some hours and then rinsing and draining them once or more times a day. These sprouted seeds can then provide a valuable source of nutrients through autumn and winter. Some have a stronger flavour than others but alfalfa, for instance, is quite mild-tasting and easy for my children to eat happily. Sprouted seeds are also rewarding for children to watch grow given how quickly they change. I was surprised but pleased when recent guests of my daughter went home raving about the alfalfa sprouts I’d offered them to try at lunch!
So what was hidden within the alfalfa spouted seeds I’d served up? Meaningful quantities of vitamins K and C, plus phytoestrogens and antioxidants all help to make alfalfa sprouts potentially beneficial for fighting ageing, cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes and high cholesterol, and easing menopause and PMS symptoms.
I regularly grow broccoli sprouted seeds because they boast such an impressive list of potential benefits. These sulforaphane-containing seedlings have shown real promise for the prevention of cancers of the throat, lung, colon, prostate, breast, bladder and skin. Broccoli sprouts directly support my known genetic susceptibility to certain cancers in an easy and delicious way.
In the peer-reviewed Journal of Diabetes, Metabolic Disorders and Control a review article on fenugreek sprouted seeds concluded that ‘Fenugreek (sprouted seeds have been shown to have) antidiabetic, antiinflammatory, hypocholesterolemic (cholesterollowering), anti-toxic, chemoprotective, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, lactation stimulant and antioxidant properties’. That’s an awful lot for some little green-sprouted seeds to be able to claim!
In order to gain the most benefit from sprouted seeds, be sure to chew them thoroughly to liberate the nutrients for digestion. Keep them in the fridge after sprouting and eat them within a couple of days to minimise the risk of unwanted bacterial growth. I had a batch where I germinated too many seeds for the size of the container and the seedlings, being too tightly packed, created heat and went off before they’d finished sprouting. Whilst cooking reduces the possibility of bacterial contamination it also damages many of the nutrients so the ideal is to observe good hygiene in the growing equipment and eat them fresh and raw.
Here’s to sprouting better health!
wholistichealth.co.uk
Thursday 21st November 6-9pm
Live music, complimentary treatments and demonstrations, Christmas gifts, luxury prize draw, exclusive event offers and much more!
Tickets £10
In support of
providing support for grieving parents
For tickets please email: relax@thelazybarn.co.uk
To see what we get up to day-to-day, follow @thelazybarn on and
Enjoy an evening of Festive flowers and mulled wine with your friends!
Come and enjoy one of our wreath making events to bring you leaping and bounding into the festive season!
Join us between 6-9pm on Thursday 28th November or Thursday 5th December and create your very own stunning Christmas wreath guaranteed to dazzle your friends and family.
£65.00 per person
Pre-booking is essential
Santa's coming to The Eastbury!
Saturday 30th November
Join us for a fun filled family day from 12pm and get a chance to meet Santa! Enjoy festive treats, party games, balloon modelling, magic show, mini disco and best of all meet Santa in our Santa's Grotto! Take a picture with Santa and pick out an exciting gift available for each child!
£19.50 per child including all activities and a festive lunch box. Free entry for adults!
For an extra special treat book our Festive afternoon tea! This must be booked when purchasing your tickets
GOING BACK TO MOVE FORWARD
Dawn Hart, YogaSherborne
Since I began teaching yoga ‘full time’ I have always taken a few days out each year to retreat and reset. For the past few years, I have found this space at a local wellbeing festival where I could experience different styles of yoga, breathwork and meditation. I would always come back with something new, feeling confident my yogis would be excited by the new postures or workshops I had planned for them.
This year the festival did not take place. At first, I was disappointed and looked around for something to fill the space. But as I became overwhelmed with the selection of retreats, well-being festivals and workshops I began to realise I had perhaps lost sight of why I needed this time out.
I had become so focused on finding a new idea and keeping things fresh, had I lost sight of why I began practising yoga - Hatha Yoga in particular?
I realised there was only one place I needed to go. No yurt in the wilderness for me. I booked my train ticket to Surrey, Sutton to be precise. Not known for its wellness festivals and retreats but it is where my yoga teacher lives and runs her studio and was my ‘yoga home’ for 2 years. During this time I made the journey from Sherborne every month to learn why practising Hatha Yoga made me feel so good and how to share that with others.
I hadn’t been back since 2019. I had stayed in touch via email but I allowed lockdown to break any intention to go back and visit regularly. So I treated myself to a room in the town centre Premier Inn and a selection of personal favourites from the M&S food outlet at the train station. Not the nurturing and nature-based retreat of past years but the perfect space to review the business side of YogaSherborne without distraction. This left the following day for the really important part - space for me to find whatever it was I was looking for.
The Saraswati Yoga studio is a short walk away from the town centre in the suburbs. It is a simple ground-floor studio and you would easily walk past not noticing it. As I joined the regular Saturday morning class I was greeted with hugs and smiles from people I hadn’t seen for years and thought would not even remember me. As I settled, I became aware of my breathing, of how my body was feeling and where my head was going.
I stayed on for the ‘advanced’ class. This is not just about flipping up into challenging postures. It is for experienced yogis or teachers who are all human. Illness, body shape, mental trauma – it was all there and not every physical pose was executed to ‘Instagram standard ’. But we were able to find what works without fighting the ego. We knew when to hold longer and breathe deeper because we had learned to listen and respond to our own body not just follow what we were told or had seen others do. We ended with introspective work - this month it was meeting our inner child and understanding how they can often hold us back. Sharing on this level with people in a safe space can be really freeing and I left feeling physically and emotionally lighter.
Yes, I did pick up some new variations to postures and flows to share with my classes but it was the shift inside that made the difference; a peacefulness and confidence in what I believe is the best way to share Hatha Yoga. A reminder that you’ll always find your way or it will find you if you stop and give yourself enough space.
yogasherborne.co.uk
Diet and lifestyle coaching:
PUMPKIN WORKOUT!
Craig Hardaker BSc (Hons), Communifit
Hello October, the month that ends with Halloween! We are really looking forward to our next charity run, raising funds for Yeovil Freewheelers on 27th Sunday. Their volunteers deliver emergency blood, organs and medication on motorbikes, thereby saving the NHS millions of pounds each year and, even more importantly, helping to save lives and provide critical medical care. We hope to see you on the 27th possibly in fancy dress, running as ghosts, skeletons or ‘pumpkin people’? Pumpkins are one of the main symbols of Halloween and an increasing number of people place them outside their door for Halloween. But have you ever used a pumpkin for exercise? They are really cheap and fun to use - here are some examples of exercises you can perform with one. Make sure you use a pumpkin suitable in size for you - the bigger and heavier the pumpkin, the harder the exercises will be! Aim for 10-20 repetitions per exercise, fewer if it becomes too strenuous.
Squats
Stand shoulder-width apart whilst hugging the pumpkin tight over your chest. Look straight ahead and sink your hips into a comfortable drop, bending your knees while keeping them in line with your toes. Slowly push back up, leading with your heels.
Body twists
Sitting on the floor, lean back slightly. Transfer the pumpkin across the body from one side to the other. Make sure you pull your tummy in and rotate the pumpkin slowly across the body. The more you lean back, the bigger the rotation and subsequently the harder this will be!
Lunges
Stand with legs shoulder-width apart whilst hugging the pumpkin tight across your chest. Looking forward, take a shoulder-width step in front of you. Once the foot is stable, bend both knees and drop downwards towards the floor. Aim to keep your shoulders above your hips throughout. Slowly push back up into your shoulder-width stance and repeat by taking a step forward with the other leg.
Pick-ups and presses
Put your pumpkin on the floor and place each foot on either side of it. Bend your knees into a squat-like position to pick the pumpkin off the floor. Roll the pumpkin up the body, aiming for the pumpkin to finish directly above your head. Slowly lower the pumpkin back to hip height and then slowly return the pumpkin down to the floor and repeat.
Sit-ups
Lie on your back with your knees bent. With the pumpkin on your chest slowly move your torso up from the floor towards your bent knees. Once you have reached your maximum height, slowly return to the floor and repeat. Fancy a challenge? As you come up towards your knees, extend your arms away from your chest over your legs.
So there you go – some fun exercises that you can do with the help of your pumpkin this October. Once you have finished with your pumpkin, why not recycle it? A homemade soup or feeding to wild animals is our preferred choice.
We would love to see photos or even videos of you exercising with your pumpkins – don’t forget to tag us on social media or send them to us via email. Come on Team Communifit, let’s become Pumpkin People this October!
communifit.co.uk
HAUNTED BY MARKET FEARS
Mark Salter CFP, Chartered FCSI, Fort Financial Planning
As Halloween approaches, it reminds me of the haunting fears many individuals face when considering investing or managing a large sum of money, whether it’s their hard-earned pension fund or the inheritance they’ve just received.
The financial markets, with their unpredictable nature and the unhelpful noise of the media, can seem like a haunted house filled with fright and unexpected twists and turns. This fear is not unfounded; the spectre of market volatility can spook even the most seasoned investors.
One of the primary concerns is the fear of losing money. The thought of seeing hard-earned savings vanish into thin air can be terrifying. This fear often leads to paralysis, where individuals are too scared to make any investment decisions, leaving their money idle in cash accounts or in existing investments which have been performing poorly or aren’t as tax-efficient as they could be.
Behavioural finance sheds light on why these fears are so pervasive. It reveals that our brains are wired to react more strongly to losses than to gains – a phenomenon known as loss aversion. This can lead to irrational decision-making, such as panic-selling during market downturns or chasing after the latest investment fad, only to be tricked by the market’s deceptive allure.
To navigate these spooky financial waters, working with a financial planner can be invaluable. They can provide a well-structured plan tailored to individual goals and risk tolerance, ensuring that the investment strategy is not driven by fear but by informed decision-making.
The well-guided investor stays the course during turbulent times and is not spooked into making hasty decisions. By focusing on long-term goals and maintaining a diversified portfolio, investors can avoid the traps and tricks of the market, ultimately achieving financial peace of mind.
This Halloween, don’t let the market’s ghosts and goblins scare you away from investing. With the right knowledge and guidance, you can turn your financial fears into opportunities for growth and security.
ffp.org.uk
We live in a complex world. At FFP we aim to remove complexity, replacing it with simplicity and clarity so that our clients can enjoy their lives without worry
Telephone: 01935 813322
01935 815 008 | huntsaccountants.co.uk
EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS BILL
WHAT TO EXPECT AND HOW TO PREPARE
Sean
McDonough, Managing Partner and Head of Employment Law, Mogers Drewett Solicitors
As we head out of the warm weather, it is a good time to recall the King’s Speech from earlier this year, which outlined a raft of proposed legislative changes. Business owners must now start preparing for significant updates in employment law and in particular workers’ rights. The Government has a stated aim of delivering their Employment Rights Bill within 100 days of taking office. Once delivered, the bill will then need to undergo the usual vigorous, parliamentary approval process, before it becomes law. This means that the changes proposed by the bill will likely become law in the latter part of 2025/early part of 2026. It is however clear that significant change is on the horizon and there’s no time like the present to start planning which is why we’ve created this summary of the key aspects featured in the Employment Rights Bill. We take a snapshot view of each area of change and provide suggested actions for employers to consider.
Basic Day One Rights
• Proposed Change: Employment rights like unfair dismissal, sick pay and parental leave will be available from the first day of employment.
• Actions: Update recruitment processes, improve hiring assessments and ensure dismissal procedures are robust from the start.
Equality at Work
• Proposed Change: Prevent outsourcing to avoid equal pay, require pay gap action plans and mandate reporting on ethnicity and disability pay gaps.
• Actions: Prepare for comprehensive demographic data collection, develop action plans to address pay gaps and ensure data-driven strategies for equality.
Fair Pay
• Proposed Change: Implement a Living Wage, eliminate age-related wage bands, ensure fair tip
distribution and strengthen sick pay.
• Actions: Budget for increased wage costs, revise payroll systems and ensure compliance with new pay regulations.
Family-Friendly Rights
• Proposed Change: Enhance parental leave policies, protect pregnant women post-return and introduce paid carers’ leave.
• Actions: Update leave policies, revise employee handbooks and train managers on new regulations.
Fire and Rehire
• Proposed Change: Ban fire and rehire practices and enforce fair restructuring processes.
• Actions: Develop transparent consultation processes, train management on best practices and update employment contracts.
Flexible Working
• Proposed Change: Make flexible working a right from day one.
• Actions: Review flexible working policies, assess role suitability and set clear guidelines for managing requests.
Redundancy Rights
• Proposed Change: Base redundancy consultation on total business impact, not individual workplaces.
• Actions: Understand new consultation thresholds, prepare for extended requirements and ensure compliance with collective consultation.
Right to Switch Off
• Proposed Change: Introduce a right to disconnect to prevent overworking.
• Actions: Develop out-of-hours communication policies, set expectations for response times and train managers to respect boundaries.
Self-Employment
• Proposed Change: Enhance rights for self-employed workers, including written contracts and protection against late payments.
• Actions: Ensure written contracts, comply with payment regulations and implement timely payment systems.
Single Status of Worker
• Proposed Change: Create a single worker status, simplifying employment status.
• Actions: Review workforce composition, reclassify contractors as necessary and ensure appropriate rights and benefits.
Trade Union Rights
• Proposed Change: Strengthen union representation and simplify the union recognition process.
• Actions: Adapt to increased union activity, revise policies on union interactions and comply with new recognition procedures.
Whistleblowers
• Proposed Change: Enhance protections for whistleblowers, especially for reporting sexual harassment.
• Actions: Strengthen whistleblowing policies, ensure confidentiality and create a safe reporting environment.
Zero Hours Contracts
• Proposed Change: Ban exploitative zero-hours contracts and ensure contracts reflect regular hours.
• Actions: Shift to stable contractual arrangements, review current contracts and establish procedures for adequate shift notice.
Conclusion
As you can see there are a significant number of changes coming our way and as both employment lawyer and employer, I can appreciate that there may well be some anxiety for those responsible for compliance in these areas.
On the upside these legislative proposals emphasise a commitment to a much fairer and inclusive workplace however they will also require business owners to review and update their policies to ensure compliance and minimise potential disruptions.
Staying informed and prepared will be crucial for navigating these changes effectively. It’s worth noting that there is a planned consultation period which ‘may’ bring tweaks to the proposals and we will be keeping a close eye on these developments.
Given the weight of changes in this area of law, we would recommend employers, if in any doubt or concern, to seek guidance and consult qualified, experienced lawyers. This will help to address any specific issues and support the organisation’s compliance with employment law matters.
mogersdrewett.com
Intel processors are among the most widely used and trusted in the world. Known for their performance, reliability and versatility, they power a variety of devices from desktop computers and laptops to servers and workstations. However, with a wide range of models, choosing the best one for home use can be confusing. Here are the main categories of Intel processors to help you decide which one is best suited for you.
Intel’s consumer processor lineup is divided into several series, including the Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 and Core i9. Additionally, Intel offers the Pentium and Celeron processors, which are more affordable but less powerful options. Here’s a quick breakdown of each: Intel Pentium and Celeron: These processors are the most basic and budget-friendly options. While they are enough for simple tasks like web browsing, word processing and light media consumption, they may struggle with multitasking or more demanding applications.
Intel Core i3: The Core i3 processors are ideal for basic tasks like web browsing, streaming, document editing and occasional light gaming. These processors typically have two or four cores and provide solid performance at a reasonable price for everyday use. If your needs are modest, a Core i3 could be a great option.
Intel Core i5: The Core i5 series is a popular choice for many home users because it offers a good balance between performance and price. With four to six cores, Core i5 processors handle most tasks with ease,
INTEL PROCESSORS
WHICH ONE IS BEST FOR DOMESTIC USERS?
James Flynn, Milborne Port Computers
including multitasking, moderate gaming, video editing and photo manipulation. If you work from home or engage in more resource-heavy tasks, the i5 is a versatile choice that provides plenty of power.
Intel Core i7: Stepping up in performance, the Core i7 processors are better suited for power users who need to run more demanding software, including video editing programs or advanced gaming at higher settings. With up to eight cores, these processors can handle heavier multitasking and resource-intensive tasks with ease. For most home users, an i7 might be overkill but if you want the extra performance headroom, it’s a solid choice.
Intel Core i9: The i9 processors are Intel’s top-ofthe-line consumer chips, designed for enthusiasts and professionals who require maximum performance. With up to 16 cores and advanced features like hyperthreading, these processors are ideal for tasks such as 4K video editing and intensive gaming. However, for most home users, the i9’s power is unnecessary and its cost is significantly higher than the other models.
For those with basic computing needs or on a tight budget, the Pentium or Celeron processors can be sufficient but I wouldn’t recommend these as I don’t feel they are really up to the task of the modern-day user and you may be wasting your money as for a little more you can get an i3. Even when they are rebranded with the names Pentium Silver or Celeron Gold, don’t be swayed by their marketing! computing-mp.co.uk
Commercial Development Management Sales
A SNAIL’S PACE
Jan Pain, Sherborne Scribblers
The scenic Canal du Nivernáis in western Burgundy is a link between the rivers Loire and Seine. It began life in the late eighteenth century when its purpose was to float rafts from the forests of the Morvan, carrying timber, building stone, grain and wine to the populous areas afforded by the two rivers. Its industrial usage was short-lived, as in the nineteenth century with the arrival of the railways its importance diminished and it fell into decline.
Today, the canal is used exclusively for navigation in recreational craft and, in the middle 1980s, we found ourselves, with friends, hiring a motor cruiser to enjoy the delights from the water of the tranquil countryside with its undulating farmland and limestone outcrops. We would disembark at historic, picturesque villages, our quest often being to purchase a baguette, epoisses cheese and obligatory bottles of Burgundy.
It was obvious in the course of a week our journey would not take us far, faced as we were with a myriad of locks (the entire 174km stretch boasts 112!) Much physical activity was involved and, on reflection, I am pleased we undertook the trip whilst still relatively young and nimble.
We women had determined not to become galley slaves and, whenever possible, in the early evening we’d moor up close to a village to sample gastronomic local fare. A Michelin Guide entry read well for a hostelry at Mailly-le-Chateau, indicating a family-run restaurant. This would be a reward for our labours with a fine dinner on the horizon. The men adopted sporty, casual attire but we fairer sex opted for sloughing off our nautical gear necessitated by ‘messing about in boats,’ having slipped into our luggage something stylish to rival any chic French madame we might encounter.
My friend was the epitome of elegance, nattily turned out even for the rigours demanded on board and, come the evening, a model of perfection. She’d acquired a bolt of eau-de-nil silk and had it made into a pencil slim capped-sleeve dress with matching jacket. Even when she teetered from the vessel up the bank leading from the towpath in her high heels, she still managed a head-turning entrance into the hotel dining room.
Now, there was no point in being in Burgundy unless one partook of regional delicacies and, even before we entered the establishment, the pungent smell of garlic assailed our nostrils. This could mean only one outcome, a dish of the celebrated Escargots de Bourgogne, prepared in sizzling hot garlic butter with chopped parsley. In more refined establishments, such as we found ourselves, the small plates with shallow indentations to present the snails are eschewed in favour of a deep dish containing the gastropods nestled within their spirals, drenched with the aforementioned oily constituent.
This, understandably, required a different approach when eating, for which a pair of rounded-end tongs was supplied, the snail shell captured within the metal globe and the delicate morsel extracted with a tiny fork. I was salivating at the thought of my starter, rejected by my friend on the grounds of it being ‘too messy,’ as she ordered paté de foie gras.
Side by side we sat, our husbands opposite, deliberating on the wine list and then, voila, the first course arrived. Thrilled at the prospect, I launched forth with poised tongs only to discover that I did not possess the dexterity required. The snail shell had a mind of its own, projecting itself skywards, looping the loop and cascading in a buttery stream onto the tailor-made silk dress and jacket of my friend!
My mortification was palpable: waiters, suppressing mirth, rushed forward with crisp white napkins in a useless dabbing exercise. The solicitous proprietor’s wife pronounced, with a suitably concerned expression, that she was desolée and offered the services of le pressing. Alas, the garment was irretrievable. It was an unforgettably embarrassing moment and, only a few years later, I witnessed a similar scene being played out with less disastrous results in the film, Pretty Woman. With my hand on my heart, however, I can aver that my incident pre-dated that which was portrayed by Julia Roberts on the silver screen! I only wish I could have come up with her memorable bons mots, ‘slippery little suckers!’
J DAY ENGINEERING, BASED IN HENSTRIDGE, HAS
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Peter Stanbury, Research Director, Sustainable Wine Round Table
A Thousand Feasts by Nigel Slater (Fourth Estate 2024, £20 hardcover)
Sherborne Times reader offer price of £18 from Winstone’s Books
’m one of that breed of cooks who might best be called ‘enthusiastic amateur chefs’. People like me are never happier than when we are making a souffle of this, smoking that or creating a jus of the other. I suspect that we are also constantly aggrieved when our guests, after an initial flurry of ‘darling, how clever of you’, and ‘gosh, how simply divine’, seem largely to forget the food as the evening moves on into gossip, chat and laughter.
Nigel Slater’s joyous new book, A Thousand Feasts, is a timely reminder that people like me should, frankly, get over ourselves. This book, from the renowned food writer, is drawn from the notebooks and diaries that he has kept over his decades of touring the world. It is a series of vignettes of his experiences in food and the people with whom he has shared them. They range from the amusing to the poignant to the whimsical.
Writing about a camping trip to Ireland, for example, he explains that ‘we slice delicious sausages from the local shop and fry them in a shallow, battered pan over a small gas stove. I want my bangers to be a deep glossy, brown. John wants to save gas.’
On a trip to Seoul, having walked through ‘puddles of what I very much doubt is rainwater’, he meets a ‘chef as plump as a pumpkin’, who is making dumplings – ‘stuffed with minced pork and shredded cabbage’. The staff, he says, though not apparently noticing him,
nevertheless nod in his direction, acknowledging that ‘don’t worry, we’ve clocked you’.
Some of his one-liners are fabulous in conjuring up in only a few words an entire scene and experience. ‘Lifting the lid on a bowl of miso soup and hearing the almost silent sigh as lid and cup part company’; ‘newly made marmalade sitting in a café in Spitalfields. Pots of glowing amber, rust and cinnamon jelly, waiting smugly for toast’; or ‘Gothenburg, a pastry shop’s window full of gingerbread houses sitting on a bed of snow. Suddenly, I am in a fairy tale.’
A Thousand Feasts is, in the best way, the ideal book for the downstairs loo or the last thing you read before turning out the light. The longest of the entries is only 2 pages, and it is a delightful book simply to dip into, like ‘the delight of seeing a hand-made hazel hurdle on an allotment.’
What this wonderful book reminds us – in particular, my breed of ‘keen amateur chefs’ – is that food is not really about the ingenious techniques which create it. It is the people we eat it with and the places where we eat it. Few of us can remember the detail of even the finest Michelin menu. But all of us will have vivid memories of certain meals taken with certain people, in certain places. These meals will remain in our minds, long after recollection of the chef’s cleverness has departed.
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
Robert Draper, Sacred Heart & St Aldhelm Church
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’. I find it fascinating how bits of poetry I might have learned ages ago at school still manage to turn up in my memories when something triggers them. I don’t think I ever really disliked school but I always found going back to school for the autumn term was something of a deep sorrow after the freedom of the summer holidays and the (probably) good sunny weather. Once school restarted there were three months of steadily declining daylight, sunshine and (it seemed) fun. I find it extraordinary that some of those feelings still persist so this is not a time of the year I savour – it is a season that brings with it resignation and a sombre acceptance.
But perhaps I should listen to the poem I remember from school. In autumn we receive the fruit of all the days of spring and summer – the blossom and flowers on the trees, bushes and plants that produce the fruit that makes this the season of mellow fruitfulness, that enables people to bottle fruit and make chutneys and preserve produce with which to stock pantry and cupboard (and freezer). And that as well as offering ripe produce to feast on at this time. I am sure it is always true that the fresher the fruit and vegetables the better they taste but it is also true that what we can stock up from the spring and summer will see us through the autumn and winter.
So perhaps I don’t need to begrudge the passing of summer – perhaps I can rejoice in what it has given me and what autumn can provide. Perhaps I can appreciate more whatever I can hold on to and what will sustain me as the months progress. Perhaps I can think of that in the bigger picture –the spring and summer of my own personal life may have quietly passed but the experiences, the people, the memories and the fruitfulness of those years can sustain me in the autumn of my life. Each season is a gift from God and offers its own fruitfulness, and to stock up on the good experiences and good memories can provide great comfort and solace. So instead of feeling resigned and sombre as we enter October and autumn, I can rejoice in what spring and summer have offered and savour the graces and gifts that those seasons have given me. When my own winter comes around, I can give thanks for the mellow fruitfulness of the life I have been given and all that it entailed.
