The BV magazine, August 24

IN THIS ISSUE:

In farming, George Hosford looks at how his experiments in bi-cropping and mob grazing have been working, and sees the impact of ‘making room’ for nature | Page 20

We take a trip to the seaside in the 1960s with Barry Cuff’s postcards | Page 94

by Colin Lennox-Gordon

21-year-old jockey Alice Procter faces spinal injury after serious fall – her dad Doug Procter talks to editor Laura Hitchcock about living every parent’s nightmare | Page 4

Amid vanishing Wildlife, Dorset declares a Nature Emergency. Rachael Rowe looks at Dorset’s declaration and the steps it is taking to protect wildlife | Page 6

From Syria to Shaftesbury – Callum Sutherland talks to the Hammoud family, as they celebrate British citizenship and the home they have found in Dorset | Page 27

The art of dry stone walling: master craftsman Tom Trouton talks to Tracie Beardsley about finding a stone’s timeless connection to the landscape | Page 35

Front cover: Busy summer bee

INDEX

We know, it’s a HUGE magazine, and the page order changes month to month. So we make it easy for you – exactly like grabbing the sections you like best from the Sunday papers, just click the number below to jump straight to the section you want. Or you can just go make yourself a mug of tea and start from the beginning...

July has been quite the month. Hot on the heels of a big birthday for me, we celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary (I know, I don’t look old enough. What can I say). And just a few days after we published July’s issue we booked some flights and were in Marseilles by Tuesday lunchtime. I say that so casually – but this was the first time we had flown in 23 years. This was a very BIG small flight for us. When our oldest was a toddler we had left him with the grandparents and taken off for a postUni celebratory week in Portugal. For no good reason whatsoever, seasoned traveller Courtenay panicked on the flight. The return trip was no better, and an irrational fear of flying had set in. We should have got straight back on a plane, of course, but instead we opted to have two more babies and consequently very little money or energy for foreign holidays.

By the time our daughter (no.4) came along, we were very used to the car/boat/train options dictating our travel. But now, No.1 son lives 4,000 miles away – and we’re off to visit him soon.

C decided his first flight could not be a 14hr one, so to Marseilles we went. And it was a beautifully dull, boring flight with zero drama. Perfect. Of course, we returned to the UK refreshed and relaxed, only to pick up Covid ... I got swiftly better, and C got worse. And worse.

The last couple of weeks have been an exhausting tumble of attempting to stay on top of things and desperately trying to remember how relaxed we were just a couple of weeks ago in the middle of a French vineyard.

Contact The BV Team: 01258 472572

Editor: Laura Hitchcock

editor@BVmagazine.co.uk

Advertising: Courtenay Hitchcock

advertising@BVmagazine.co.uk

Sub-editors:

Gay Pirrie-Weir

Fanny Charles

Everything else:

Try Courtenay, he’s the organised one...

Everyone knows we’re a team. But being man down in our 48th publication week (FOUR YEARS! We can’t believe it!), I’ll admit the wheels came off. Suddenly the team wasn’t teaming. It may be publication week, but I’ve had to do laundry, clean the kitchen, feed everybody, make my own lunch, remember whether it’s paracetamol or ibuprofen next … THIS IS NOT THE SERVICE I HAVE COME TO EXPECT. It culminated with a very long day and evening in A&E.

Luckily he’s now doing much better – but I have warned him he’s never to be ill in publication week again. It just won’t do.

I’ve missed him.

21-year-old jockey Alice Procter faces spinal injury after fall

Alice riding Bistouri d’Honore, whom she owns and trains, at Larkhill Image ©Les Perry e-motion.me.uk

After Alice’s devastating fall at Cartmel racecourse, her dad Doug Procter talks to editor Laura Hitchcock about living every parent’s nightmare

I hadn’t spoken to Doug since his daughter had a serious fall at Cartmel racecourse in Cumbria on 20th July. He was his usual brisk, amusing, talkative self ... until he wasn’t. The conversation stuttered as I asked after Alice. Lucy and Doug Procter own and run The Glanvilles Stud near Sherborne – and we’re proud to have them as The BV’s equestrian columnists: foaling season is an annual highlight, with its big spreads of foolish-faced whiskery day-old foals. Alice, their 21-yearold daughter, is a familiar face in Dorset’s equestrian community. A successful three day eventer through her teens, she succumbed to the family trade and the lure of the racecourse, initially with a successful pointto-point career, then training her own horse while working as an amateur jockey at Keiran Burke’s yard near Dorchester.

A humdinger of a fall

‘It’s the unthinkable for any parent,’ says Doug. ‘I was watching her in the 4pm Female Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle on the TV, and I saw her fall. I knew immediately it was a humdinger.

But the race carried on – I had to wait for them to come past the second time … that was when I saw the screens were up. That was the moment. That was when I was really worried.’

Lucy, a keen trail runner, had taken the day off to run in Devon and was out of touch. Frantically scrolling every contact in his extensive list, from trainers to TV commentators, Doug tried to find someone on the ground at the racecourse who would know what was happening.

He’s swift to praise the Cartmel team, especially the Clerk of the Course James Armstrong who did absolutely everything necessary to ensure Alice received the very best care, even working out how to get her belongings, including her phone, to the hospital 50 miles away when she left by air ambulance.

Less than 90 minutes later, Doug was racing north, the never-ending panic of that five hour drive every parent’s worst nightmare, made even worse by the horrendous weather conditions as he headed to the major trauma centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, to which Alice

had been airlifted.

‘By the time I arrived, she was already in surgery. She didn’t come out til four in the morning, at which point all we knew was that “the surgery was successful”. Which simply meant her injuries had been stabilised … It wasn’t until ten the following morning that we were able to get any kind of real news.’

Pudding and positivity

Alice spent the next ten days in ICU – during the fall she sustained a number of injuries, the most serious being to her spinal cord in the thoracic region – it is affecting the lower half of her body.

‘The care she has received has been phenomenal,’ says Doug. ‘The ICU team was brilliant … amazing … I just don’t have words for them. Even to the point that when she wanted some fresh air, they unhooked the machinery from their stands, plonked it on her bed, and wheeled her outside for half an hour – still connected to all the machines – just so she could enjoy a little sunshine.’

The family finds that

concentrating on the small things is helping. A few days after surgery, Doug and Lucy were trying to find tempting simple foods for Alice to eat – yoghurt was OK, and then she tried some rice pudding: ‘She loved it. So that was it – obviously I was straight off to Asda, stockpiling those Ambrosia rice pudding pots!’ says Doug.

‘It’s correct to refer to her as an amateur jockey, but the title somehow diminishes her ability. She’s so much more than that. She’s bloody good. She’s such a good rider. This could literally have happened to anyone.

‘And her attitude has been so positive. She’s bloody amazing. She’s absolutely determined, and keeps saying “I’m walking out of here. Watch me.”

‘And she’s just messaged me after proofing this article to ask “can we sneak in a mention of my sponsor, Honeycombe Shoot Sherborne, do you think?”. She’s still making me laugh.

‘Obviously it’s not all sunshine, and she has her down-in-thedumps moments and, well, that’s … not easy.

‘But she’s astonishing. And we really, genuinely don’t know so much right now.’

Alice will require another couple of weeks on the major trauma ward and then will need space

at a spinal injury unit – her injury will require further careful evaluation to guide future treatment and rehabilitation. Doug and Lucy still have a yard to run, so they are currently tag-teaming each other up and down the M6 as they take turns to spend time with Alice – the hospital has assisted with a relative’s room, so they have somewhere to stay, and it comes with a small kitchen small kitchen – thoughtful, small things which help to make life just a tiny bit less stressful.

Meanwhile, Alice’s brother Freddie, also a jockey, has been anxiously following his sister’s condition from 4,000 miles away

in April 2023

in the US. Despite his worry, he returned to the track, finishing fourth at Colonial Downs, VA as Doug and Lucy anxiously watched the race on the TV. As we publish this issue, Freddie will be landing at Heathrow, ready to head straight to his sister’s side.

• A GoFundMe has been launched to help Alice during her recovery – at the time of writing it had already reached more than £17,500: gofundme.com/f/alice-procter

Although she’s always loved racing, Alice was an accomplished event rider first, and a Horse Trials Support Group scholar.

Riding under Rules she has ridden three times on the Flat, recording a second and third, while over Jumps she has partnered seven mounts including a third and a fourth. She is an accomplished pointto-point rider who struck up a fine association with Keiran Burke’s Golden Poet, winning three times on the Urban Poet gelding, including twice on the same day at Larkhill. As well as these victories, she rode her last point-to-point winner at Umberleigh, on Bistouri D’Honore who she trains and owns herself.

Alice riding CC Captain Kannan at Cornbury – Alice was an accomplished three day eventer and a Horse Trials Support Group scholar

Alice and Golden Poet won the Cattistock Ladies open at Chilfrome

–Alice pictured with trainer Keiran Burke (left) and the race sponsor

We consider them rare, but they were commonplace in our grandparents day – the hazel dormouse is a good example of shifting baselines

Vanishing Wildlife – Dorset declares a Nature Emergency

As the council tackles

biodiversity

loss, Rachael Rowe looks at Dorset’s declaration and the steps it is taking to protect wildlife

The dearth of insects, particularly butterflies, has been noticeable this year – but not just because the summer has been a damp squib with unusually wet weather. Historically, Dorset has been full of wildlife, its countless hedgerows teeming with life. But are some species disappearing before our eyes? Following concerns about the global decline in flora and fauna, on 18th July, Dorset Council formally declared a Nature Emergency, indicating that it would prioritise the environment and biodiversity.

What is a Nature Emergency?

Dorset is not the only council to make this formal declaration –several other local authorities are similarly concerned about the dangers to biodiversity. In the report presented to the council, the declaration recognises that there is a nature emergency:

a. That nature is in long term decline and urgent action must be taken to reverse this, that the UK is one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries – in the bottom 10% globally and the worst in the G7 – and with only about half its biodiversity left that it is far below the global average;

b. That a thriving natural environment underpins a healthy, prosperous society, that it benefits our physical and mental health, feeds us, cleans our air, moderates urban heat, alleviates flooding, absorbs carbon, makes counties like Dorset beautiful and that its survival and diversity is essential to human life;

restoring nature can help to tackle the climate crisis.

Dorset Council’s emerging nature recovery strategy will be strengthened, following the declaration. New Council leader Nick Ireland explains the priorities: ‘We’ll be embedding

Even in Dorset one in 40 of all species is no longer in the county

‘We’ll be embedding nature’s recovery at the heart of all strategic plans – including the forthcoming Dorset Local Plan – as well as into policy areas and decision-making processes.

c. That the nature crisis and the climate emergency are intrinsically linked and that the impacts of the climate crisis drive nature’s decline, while

‘We intend to further support and facilitate the development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Dorset, working with farmers, landowners, businesses, organisations and NGOs so that there are agreed priorities, opportunities and reportable actions to recover nature across the county. We

will also set clear strategic and measurable goals for nature’s recovery by 2030, and its contribution towards mitigating carbon emissions and increasing our resilience to climate change.’

How big is the problem?

The county’s wildlife has been diligently monitored for some time, including by the Dorset Environmental Records Centre and various volunteer groups and charities, and their data shows that biodiversity is declining in Dorset in line with the global reports.

Dorset Wildlife Trust chief executive Brian Bleese says: ‘We’re hugely encouraged that Dorset Council has declared a nature emergency. Most people realise that we are facing a huge global crisis. Locally, we’ve faced serious problems with water pollution. And even in Dorset, rural as it is, one in 40 of all species is no longer in the county, and that includes 20 species of bee.’

The Dorset Rare Plant Register shows there are 17 species that have not been seen in the county since 2000, including orange foxtails and

the short-water starwort. Starworts improve water quality, absorbing nutrients and naturally maintaining clean ponds – their disappearance has a follow-on impact on many other species. Variation in species is essential to create healthy ecosystems.

Recent work by the Dorset Environmental Records Centre also highlights potential opportunities, such as the 18 farms owned by Dorset Council working to increase biodiversity.

disturbing their natural habitats, but the complete absence of dormice in parts of Dorset is a signal of a broader, more serious issue, as important species quietly vanish.

The complete absence of dormice in parts of Dorset is a signal of a more serious issue

When did you last see a dormouse?

The decline of species such as field voles and dormice from rural areas is recorded in the Dorset Mammal Atlas series of maps. Last year the Mammal Society estimated there to be about 900,000 dormice in England and Wales – down from around 2.5 million in 2000. Mild winters and deer grazing hold some of the responsibility for

‘Some of this is about shifting baselines,’ said Brian. ‘Our “baseline” is how we saw nature when we were younger – over generations that baseline shifts. We all remember how much more wildlife there was when we were young – but our grandparents would remember much more.’

Where to start?

One of the challenges in Dorset is to balance the nature emergency with other government directives such as an urgent requirement to build more homes – and the new government’s changes to the planning system are likely to exacerbate this situation. Under the Environment Act 2021, all planning permissions granted in England (with a few exemptions) now must deliver at least 10 per cent biodiversity net gain (BNG). There may be opportunities for the public to challenge developers more on protecting biodiversity, beyond the usual token drainage pond on a new-build estate – they could, for example, install living walls (walls covered with plants that grow vertically), bee bricks, bird boxes and green roofs. There are other areas where the local authority can make a difference to biodiversity.

Glyphosate – why risk it?

Although Dorset Council has minimised the use of glyphosate weedkillers, they are still in use. In a letter to the council before the July meeting, campaigner

The view across West Dorset from Eggardon Hill

and TV naturalist Chris Packham urged councillors to ban the use of the controversial chemical:

“I applaud that Dorset Council has a motion to declare a nature emergency ... but to continue using glyphosate across Dorset’s urban areas is simply mind-boggling.

“We know glyphosate-based products have the potential to cause significant damage to human health and to the environment - why take that risk? In a biodiversity crisis we need leaders – this is a huge opportunity for the council to lead, and demonstrate that emergency situations require ambitious, bold action.”

Several towns, including Glastonbury, have signed up to being pesticide-free on council land, so there is a precedent. How quickly can Dorset prioritise substituting glyphosates for other, more wildlife-friendly, products?

‘Dorset Council’s existing use of glyphosate is minimal,’ says Nick Ireland. ‘However, that doesn’t mean that as a responsible authority, we shouldn’t seek to reduce or even eliminate its application. Our current deployment of the herbicide is essentially in spraying sealed

surfaces (pavements and kerbs) plus the very focused use on certain invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed and others to protect Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

‘We are working to reduce the use through various means such as removing soil and detritus from sealed surfaces, combined with ensuring that when pavements and footpaths are replaced, the new surface is designed to be as weed resistant as possible.

well-intentioned, may lack the necessary resources to be effective in execution.

‘Dorset Council has taken decisive action by declaring a nature emergency,’ says Nick. ‘We are placing nature’s recovery at the core of strategic plans, policies and decisionmaking processes. Going forward, all budgetary decisions will now take into account the impact on nature recovery.’

Chris Packham says “to continue using glyphosate across Dorset’s urban areas is simply mindboggling”

‘Many other authorities in the UK have banned the use of glyphosate only to have to retract to various extents. We won’t issue a ban now because for us it simply is not practical. Please be assured that Dorset Council is dedicated to tackling both the climate and nature emergencies.’

Funding is a significant challenge and local councils currently face enormous financial constraints. This has led to concerns among residents that Dorset Council’s nature emergency declaration, while

Protecting nature is critical for the future of the planet, for food security and to ensure healthy and sustainable ecosystems for wildlife. And it’s not solely the council’s responsibility – everyone has a small part to play to protect nature and make a difference, whether it is planting some bee-friendly flowers, putting up a nesting box in the garden, or becoming a hedgehog-friendly village.

Brian Bleese is a big fan of this collective community approach to small actions: ‘Even in your own small garden, encouraging wildlife can create an essential corridor for nature.’

Though it has minimised its use, glyphosate-based pesticide is still used by Dorset Council to tackle certain invasive species such as Japanese knotweed

A century of service

Dorset’s longest-serving councillors – Stella Jones and Robert Corben talk to Rachael Rowe about 50 years of commitment to their communities

Two Dorset residents are marking a remarkable combined century as councillors. Stella Jones has served for 50 years on Dorset councils, and Robert Corben has just marked 50 years with Okeford Fitzpaine Parish Council.

In 1973, a the age of 27, Stella Jones was elected to West Dorset District Council, which she continued to serve until 2019, when she became a member of the new unitary authority, Dorset Council.

She has been a member of Dorchester Town Council for 45 years, and Mayor three times. She has filled many district and town council roles and currently chairs Dorset Council, after the LibDems’ victory in the local elections of May 2024. When she took the chair, she symbolically removed her yellow LibDem scarf as she took the chain of office, demonstrating she wanted to remain non-political in the post. Stella was awarded the MBE in 2016 and continues to volunteer with youth charities.

Changing times

When Stella joined the council in the 70s, local authorities were a very male-dominated environment:’There was a lack of facilities and services for young families – things such as playgrounds and dropped kerbs, where you could get around with a pram,’ she says.

Robert Corben has just marked 50 years with Okeford Fitzpaine Parish Council

Three-time mayor Cllr

Stella Jones has served Dorchester town council for 45 years and now chairs Dorset Council

Having served as a councillor for most of her adult life, Stella has worked through challenges with her work-life balance and prioritising her family.

‘It is difficult balancing the role of councillor with that of being a mother and working,’ she says.

‘When my four children were young I had to arrange babysitting, collecting children from school and taking them to after-school activities. As my husband was also a councillor, I relied on good friends to help, and then would help with their children in return. When I went back to teaching I was fortunate that my school, Damers First, was very close to the council offices so I could attend afternoon meetings at the district council and evenings at the town council. It is more difficult for some councillors who live at a distance from Dorchester.

The important part of being a councillor is meeting and helping residents, and this can usually be achieved at a time to fit in with other activities.’

Robert Corben has this year stepped down as councillor in Okeford Fitzpaine Parish Council, following five decades of service.

‘I was first approached by Fred Errington, who ran the village shop at the time. He encouraged me to be a councillor. Don Lambert was my first chairman, he ran a garage on Higher Street, and I’ve served under five chairmen since,’ he says.

‘I’ve seen loads of changes. More than 100 houses have gone up in the village in my time. Back when I started, the parish council was far more laid back. Nowadays it feels like it’s hard to get anything done because of all the legislation. It’s totally different from when I started.’

Stella is keen on change: ‘Yes, there have been many changes over the years. There is much more respect from officers and other councillors for women and younger members now. Contact with residents and officers is also much easier, thanks to the internet. Online meetings help enormously with time management and reduce the need for travel. ‘Councils across the country have had to innovate and change the ways they work to deliver significant savings and efficiencies. But there is only so much we can do in the face of large reductions in government funding and increasing demand for services. I would like to see councils being able to raise money locally and then spend it for the benefit of the residents.’

Big achievements

Members of public have little knowledge of how much work councillors carry out on their behalf. Robert and Stella have both achieved a lot in their half-century of service.

Robert is proud of getting extensions of the village hall and recreation ground pavilion to cope with

increased demand. Stella is very proud of simply living up to expectations, and of her work with young people:

‘I am proud that people have faith in me and appreciate what I have achieved, and have reelected me many times over the 51 years. I am also proud of being mayor of Dorchester three times, and now chairing Dorset Council. And I am proud of involving young people in council issues by setting up Dorchester Youth Council,’ says Stella. Inspiring future councillors is essential if Dorset is to attract new people to elected roles. During the recent town and parish council elections in the county, only 18 per cent of Dorset’s civil parishes were contested at the polling stations – with no competition, election is by default. Many of the uncontested parishes also had vacancies. Robert has advice for new and prospective councillors: ‘Do your best. I’ve always done what I think is best for the village. Not everyone will agree with you, but that’s how it is. That’s democracy.’ Stella says: ‘My advice is to keep in touch with all your residents. Listen to their views and visit anyone who contacts you with a problem. We’re here to represent our community and that’s got to be the overwhelming influence in your decision to be a councillor. Stick to your principles and clearly state your views – but don’t talk too much, or people will simply stop listening to you.’

SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 2024

Learning new moves: French rugby renaissance

Inspired by legendary coach Pierre Villepreux, Clayesmore coaches return from France with a fresh approach to rugby – Sam Peters reports

On a mission to improve rugby safety and promote a less confrontational playing style, staff from a Dorset school have returned from an inspirational trip to France, led by one of the world’s greatest coaches.

Five rugby coaches from Clayesmore School, led by former Bergerac No.8 and current maths teacher Richard Dixon, attended a week-long camp in Lubersac, near Limoges, where they were trained in ‘Le Plaisir du Mouvement’ (LPM – translated as the pleasure of movement), a playing style originated by legendary former Toulouse coach Pierre Villepreux. Having developed LPM in the early 1980s, 81-year-old Villepreux was inducted into World Rugby’s Hall of Fame in 2018 and is widely regarded as one of the most influential coaches of all time.

He was present throughout the seven-day camp, leading a oneand-a-half hour session on the first day, and on hand throughout to coach nearly 130 French children.

Villepreux’s coaching principles

are based on evasion, minimising contact, going forward and relentless support.

Richard Dixon was first introduced to LPM in the early 2000s by former Oxford University coach Lyn Evans, and has been a disciple of the Villepreux method ever since. A regular attendee at the camps, he is one of only a handful of English coaches entrusted with coaching LPM.

‘It takes many years to learn this method and having Pierre on hand to help develop the aspiring coaches is inspiring,’ he said. ‘We are trying to teach children there is a different way to play, not based on collisions, set-piece dominance and other awful clichés that have crept into English rugby and turned so many people off. Rugby should be about skills and having fun.’

Since Villepreux first introduced his methods when coaching at Toulouse, the team has gone on to be the most successful club side in rugby’s history, winning 16 French titles and six European Cups in the last 44 years.

‘Every Toulouse team plays this way – it’s non-negotiable,’ says Toulouse academy coach Sam Lacombe, who also attended the camp, along with legendary French flanker Olivier Magne and other top coaches.

Clayesmore’s delegation included head of rugby Tom Griffiths, head of PE Chris Middle, head of science Robbie Winearls and Frank Thomson, husband of head teacher Joanna Thomson, who commissioned the trip. Staff from Kingham School in Oxfordshire also attended.

‘You hear a lot of talk on television about rugby being a collision game,’ says Tom Griffiths. ‘But it’s an evasion game. We want to emphasise that to our students and stress the safety element of reducing direct collisions, where concussions are more likely.’

The trip follows a visit from Toulouse’s coaching staff to Clayesmore in January, initiated by Richard Dixon, when New Zealand’s double World Cup winning flanker Jerome Kaino led a coaching session

Team Clayesmore from left: Tom Griffiths, Robbie Winearls, Chris Middle, journalist Sam Peters, Richard Dixon and Frank Thomson

Lorraine Gibson in Lansky Bros., Memphis with Hal Lansky and a replica of the pink and black outfit Elvis wore to rehearsals for the Milton Berle TV show, 1956. Image: Steve Gibson

From the South Coast to the Deep South in search of the real Elvis

Dorset author Lorraine Gibson takes a Memphis journey as she explores Elvis Presley’s life through his iconic – and shocking – fashion

A really comprehensive delve into the sartorial life of The King has taken Dorset writer Lorraine Gibson almost 4,300 miles (as flown by the crow) from home to Memphis, Tennessee, so she could walk in his famed Blue Suede Shoes.

Lorraine’s first book, Baden Powell: A Biography, was published in 2022, by which time she had already started on writing Elvis: The King of Fashion, a view of the life of the great rock’n’roller seen through the lens of fashion. And it wasn’t long before she decided she had to go to Memphis,

Tennessee, where Elvis lived from the age of 13, and where clothier Bernard Lansky had been selling clothes since 1946. Now based in the historic Peabody Hotel, Lansky Bros has trademarked itself as Clothier to the King.

‘I grew up with Elvis,’ says Lorraine. ‘My parents played his records, I watched his films during school holidays, and his colourful outfits grabbed my attention –who needed Barbie when you had Elvis? I’ve been fascinated by his style ever since.’

Lorraine already had the framework for the book in mind when spoke to Bernard Lansky’s son Hal on the phone. Bernard had dressed Elvis for more than 30 years, and Hal’s information convinced her she would need to visit Memphis to immerse herself in the world of Elvis.

‘I travelled to the Peabody Hotel, where Elvis attended his prom night, and later signed his lifechanging RCE contract.

‘Hal, who advised on actor Austin Butler’s wardrobe for the 2022 movie Elvis, and has written the book’s foreword, answered some important questions.

‘I knew what Elvis wore, but I wanted the colours, details, fabrics. He really did wear pink and black outfits – shocking in

conservative 1950s America. Ditto lace and satin blouses, and those blue suede shoes. I even discovered why he wore his belt buckle to the side.

‘At Graceland, the displays were inspiring and moving, especially the dance-worn white shoes and the exquisite beadwork on the Mexican Sundial jumpsuit that Elvis wore for his final concert before he died.

‘At Sun Studio, I held the original recording mic and stood where Elvis did when he cut That’s All Right (mama).’

The welfare-funded flat where he lived as a teenager, the Arcade Restaurant where he had his own booth and the Overton Park Shell, where he played his first live professional gig, were just some of the places Lorraine went.

‘As a child, I never dreamed that the American boy in the cheesy films would inspire such an adventure. I came back to Dorset understanding Elvis even better. Back in the UK, at an exhibition at Arches London Bridge I held some of the Elvis items I’d been writing about, including his famous gold belt. That really did leave me all shook up!’

• Elvis: The King of Fashion White Owl Books

A view of the Hammoud family’s hometown in Syria, taken before the town was besieged

All Images: Ammar Hammoud

From Syria to Shaftesbury

Callum Sutherland talks to the Hammoud family, as they celebrate British citizenship and the home they have found in Dorset

Do you know which British scientist won the Nobel Peace Prize for discovering the structure of a DNA molecule? Or how many national parks there are in Great Britain?

When you apply to become a British citizen, you need to know the answers to these questions and many more.

For Ammar and Samar Hammoud, this was the British trivia they studied tirelessly when they took citizenship tests last year. After passing –alongside English writing and speaking exams –they, with their children Malak, Massa and Ahmad, became British citizens at a ceremony in May.

The family fled Syria in 2013 during the country’s civil war.

‘We had to get out of our hometown,’ Ammar says. ‘It was besieged, we had no choice … A lot of our friends died. We suffered a lot and we had an open road only to Lebanon.

‘Our trip was terrifying and exhausting – we were bombed on the road. It was winter and we couldn’t take any [of] our clothes with us, there was no time. We were on a bus and the bombing hit the bus, a lot with us on the road died because of that barbaric attack.’

Four years later, the family came to Dorset as

From left: Anthony Woodhouse, High Sheriff of Dorset, with Malak, Ahmad, Ammar, Samar and Massa, as they receive their British citizenship certificates.

refugees with help from the United Nations resettlement programme. Samar says: ‘The UN said we could go to the US, France or Britain. I don’t know why I chose here, I just had a feeling inside that I feel very comfortable coming here.’

The family was originally told they would be moving to Devon, but were directed to Shaftesbury once they arrived.

‘At the citizenship ceremony, I was so proud to have my family with me,’ says Ammar. ‘It was a very special day. After, we went to eat fish and chips! That day will forever stay in my mind.’

This cherished achievement is something that the Hammoud family has been working hard for since arriving in Shaftesbury in 2017. Ammar describes how difficult the journey to citizenship has been. ‘Before, it was like I was going up, up, up the hill. Now I can sit down and take some rest. It was hard, everything was hard. It’s been difficult –when I came here I didn’t know anyone, I was anxious and worried all the time.’

Shaftesbury Refugee Group

In the face of these difficulties, a local charity has been on hand to help since the Hammouds first arrived. The Shaftesbury Refugee Group was set up in 2017 by local residents unhappy with the treatment of Syrian refugees and the lack of local support for them. They have since been supporting Syrians and, more recently, Ukrainians in the area, with whatever they need. The group has been crucial to the arriving families – including, of course, the Hammouds.

Ammar’s family farm in Syria produced a variety of fruits and vegetables, such as these apricots, plums, pears, apples and oranges.

‘When I first came to the UK I couldn’t open my suitcase for a month because I wanted to leave,’ says Samar. ‘It wasn’t England. It was just that I wasn’t home. But the volunteers came and sat with us, spoke with us, made us less frightened. That meant that one day I could open my bag. The Shaftesbury Refugee Group was like a bridge that made it possible for us to live here. They provided all the support. Even when I was in hospital to give birth, it was like having my mother with me. It feels like they are our family, not volunteers.’

‘I have this family, the refugee group,’ Ammar adds. ’Now I feel safe. If I have any problem, I know what to do.’

Volunteers and trustees with the charity have continuously supported the family – anything from help studying for the citizenship exams to booking an appointment with a GP. The charity’s information officer Stuart Twiss has supported the family with legal matters, accountancy and simply as a friend to hear their problems. Samar says: ‘Every year he helps us with accounting, because we don’t know the law, everything has been new.’ And it was vice chair Roz Hanby who initially encouraged the couple to share their Syrian cooking with Shaftesbury. Now, the family runs Hammoud’s Kitchen, a catering service for the local area. Samar says: ‘I didn’t think people would like to taste the food I make but she said we should just try.’

Their business has flourished, selling at the weekly Shaftesbury market and regularly catering for local events. Most recently, Hammoud’s Kitchen featured at the Motcombe Music Festival, selling out rather quickly!

Ammar says: ‘I really like to share my food and my culture, it has made me friends here. People like the baba ganoush, falafel, shawarma and my broad bean salad.’

During hot summers in Syria, Ammar says local families would enjoy picnics in the shallow river to help cool off

A future in Shaftesbury

Over the last seven years, the Hammouds have found that, despite leaving everything they knew and owned behind, Shaftesbury has now become home for them.

‘Shaftesbury people are amazing, very helpful and always smiling,’ Ammar says. ‘I haven’t felt like a refugee here. If anyone asks “where are you from?” I always say Shaftesbury.’

While Shaftesbury has become a perfect place for the Hammoud family to settle, leaving Syria has still been extremely difficult. After 13 years of civil war, their hometown is almost unrecognisable. While talking about home, Ammar goes through photos on his phone of fruit that used to grow on his family’s farm. Looking through pictures of cherry trees, glowing white raspberries and brilliant yellow pears, he marvels at how juicy and sweet these fruits were. The produce found at Dorset’s supermarkets simply cannot compare, apparently!

For Ammar, though, his family’s future is firmly in Dorset – he believes he will never return to live in Syria: ‘If I can go back, I will, but just to sell my land, then come back and buy a house in Shaftesbury.

‘My life in Syria is gone. My friends, father and mother are dead. I don’t have anything there. They killed me when they bombed my house, killed my friends. Even if I am here, my heart is dead. I cannot go back to Syria.’

The painful reality of life back in Syria, compared with the warmth that has greeted them in Dorset, means that Ammar and Samar only see Shaftesbury as their future home.

‘It’s been difficult for the children,’ says Samar. ‘A new language, new friends, new culture. For months when Massa heard a plane, she would hide under the table. Now we just try to support our children and their future.’

is now where their children have spent majority of their childhood. All three enjoy Taekwondo, and five-year-old Ahmad says he wants to learn French. Malak, who is just starting her GCSEs, recently received the highest possible award at school for her attitude and grades. Looking forward, aspirations are high. Malak wants to be either a lawyer or doctor, Ahmad aims to be a policeman and Massa likes the idea of being a teacher. Their parents say that if the children go to university, they would like to move as a family.

‘But when they finish we would come back to Shaftesbury,’ Ammar says. ‘If I leave for maybe a week, I miss it here!’

‘The children feel very confident now, thanks to the support they get,’ says Samar. ‘We are very proud, especially for them – they have good education and a bright future.’

• hammoudskitchen.co.uk

• shaftesburyrefugeegroup.org

North Dorset

Ammar and Samar are regulars at the weekly Shaftesbury market, where Samar’s baba ganoush and shawarma are very popular

The grapes harvest on Ammar’s family farm in Syria, before the war

The CLT development at Timber Hill in Lyme Regis in 2017 – almost finished

Is this the way forward?

Community Land Trusts offer hope for Dorset’s housing crisis, creating lasting, affordable homes in protected landscape, says Rupert Hardy

Housing was a major campaign issue for all political parties at the election, not least for Labour, so Dorset CPRE’s June conference, ‘Dorset’s Affordable Housing Crisis’ was timely. We covered some of the main issues in July’s Rural Matters column, but I would like to take a deeper look at Community Land Trusts (CLTs). They are often put forward as one solution to the seemingly intractable problem of buying an affordable house in Dorset, where annual wages average only £35,000 but average house prices are around £400,000 – one of the highest ratios in the country.

Alison Ward is a director of Middlemarch, an organisation offering technical support to community-led housing groups. During the conference she provided an overview of CLTs and their benefits, and showed some local examples.

What is a CLT?

• A democratic, non-profit organisation that owns and develops land and its assets for the benefit of the community.

• Typically provides affordable homes, a CLT might also become involved in all types of community projects such as civic buildings, pubs, shops, shared workspaces, energy schemes and conservation landscapes.

• They are organisations set up by the community, a landowner, developer or council and run by ordinary folk to make a difference to their community, putting control of assets into the hands of local people.

• A CLT ensures that homes are permanently and genuinely affordable. They act as long-term

stewards of land and assets, ensuring they remain for the benefit of the local community, for every future occupier.

Planning and building process

‘A community group will pick a site that nobody else would pick in a million years’

The initial task of any CLT is to establish local need – this is done by conducting a Housing Needs Survey in conjunction with the council. Once a need is established, the task of finding a suitable site follows, often helped by altruistic landowners with Rural Exception Sites*. These are usually small sites – under two acres – which are unsuitable for conventional housing development but located on the edge of existing rural settlements. CLTs can facilitate the provision of affordable homes for local residents, while ensuring the preservation of the character of the community. Normally the CLT will work with a housing association, rather than become a registered social landlord, which also gives easier access to finance. However, establishing and delivering a CLT is a long-term process.

Powerstock and Lyme Regis

A good example of a CLT at work in Dorset is in Powerstock, where the first eight affordable houses were completed by Hastoe Housing Association in 2019. Forge Orchard, which was visited by the

then Prince of Wales (now King Charles) in May that year, was much praised.

The Powerstock and District CLT had selected the site, gained the landowner’s support and commissioned the architect before selecting Hastoe to develop and manage the development.

Alison Ward says: ‘It is a real example of how a community group would pick a site that nobody else would pick in a million years … the site had sitting tenants on it and it was overlooked by a National Landscape**’.

Lyme Regis CLT is also in the protected National Landscape. Restrictions on available land and building mean that any plots which do become available command high prices, and planning consent is notoriously hard to win. Like many other pretty seaside towns, housing for local people has become increasingly expensive, with young people finding it hard to get accommodation.

Lyme Regis CLT was set up to create affordable housing for local people. Having identified a potential site at Timber Hill for 17 homes with affordable rent, the CLT was able to gain agreement with the landowner. A developer wouldn’t have been allowed to build market value homes, but the CLT would be creating affordable housing as a rural exception. The community was engaged right from the start and proved essential to gaining full planning consent. When the planning application went before the council, officers recommended it be turned down. However, a delegation of supporters from the community, the partner housing association Yarlington, the architects Boon Brown, the town council and Wessex CLT Project all spoke in favour. The proven support from the community and partners was persuasive, and the committee unanimously agreed to accept the plans. The first residents moved there in 2018. In North Dorset there are CLTs in Sherborne, Bishop’s Caundle and Bradford Abbas.

Inspired by US Civil Rights

There is a long way to go to meet the county’s housing needs

Forge Orchard was developed in partnership with Powerstock and District CLT and rural housing specialists Hastoe Housing Association

A CLT, where land is held by the community in trust, could do just that. In the early 2000s, this served as an inspiration for a number of academics and housing development professionals in the UK. A national CLT Demonstration Programme supported a number of pilot projects. The last Labour government in 2008 initiated a consultation paper on Community Land Trusts, so there is hope they will go further this time.

Dorset

There are now more than 500 CLTs in England and Wales, and the movement is growing rapidly. Currently, 1,100 houses have been completed and 7,100 more are in the pipeline. The CLT model first emerged in the USA during the Civil Rights Movement, when a number of influential figures including Slater King (cousin of Martin Luther King Jr) wanted to create long-term opportunities for economic and residential independence for African Americans in the rural South.

Middlemarch has been involved in CLTs throughout Devon, Somerset and Dorset, with 200 completed homes and 500 in the pipeline. Interestingly, 69 per cent are in protected landscapes or Green Belts, where it is hard to develop conventional housing. Most are Rural Exception Sites, and three quarters are for social rent (usually 50 to 60 per cent of market rent), and the rest are affordable housing (80 per cent of market rate). There are more than ten trusts in Dorset with completed housing projects or ones in the pipeline, and another 15 at earlier stages. However, with only 100 or so completed CLT homes in Dorset there is a long way to go to meet the county’s housing needs. Those interested in supporting or establishing one should visit communitylandtrusts.org.uk

*Rural Exception Sites – small sites on the edge of existing rural settlements which may be provided below market value for development if used to build affordable housing for local people.

**Previously known as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

‘We haven’t seen grass like this for a very long time on this field – something to do with being flooded four or five times over the winter perhaps, borrowing fertility from upstream?’

Balancing nature and farming

George Hosford looks at how his experiments in bi-cropping and mob grazing have been working, and sees the impact of ‘making room’ for nature

Some weeks ago our experimental area of bicropped wheat with crimson clover looked like the image below. The clover, sown at the same time as the wheat last autumn, had become rather dominant. A week later it rained heavily, and pretty much the whole lot laid over. Once the clover finished flowering and started to die back, some of the wheat managed to stand up again. However, the early clover dominance will have depressed the potential yield of the wheat – which is the part we get paid for – and it is far too late now for the wheat to throw up more tillers to fill in the gaps. The difficulty with minority interest cropping like

this is that there is not much guidance available for seed rates etc, so there is quite a lot of guesswork. The wheat/clover bi-crop last year went the other way: we used a less vigorous white clover which ended up so lacking in vigour that there was barely any there at all by spring.

The reason for bi-cropping is to see if we can move away from traditional mono-cropping, which can have poor outcomes for soil and environmental health. We are growing the wheat for Wildfarmed, a new company dedicated to growing and baking healthy food which does not degrade the environment, and making it widely available on the high street – their bread is available in Waitrose and M&S. The wheat has no chemicals and limited nitrogen, plus it always has a crop partner.

The bi-crop of clover looked wonderful when in flower, but its dominance has depressed the yield of the wheat – which is the profitable part of the crop

Diverse families of roots in the soil foster a broader range of mycorrhizal and other organic activity.

One way of doing this is to keep an under-storey going through several seasons – it keeps the soil shielded from hot sun and heavy rain, the clover fixes its own nitrogen, some of which can become available to the following crop as the clover dies and regrows. A good under-storey can also shade out weeds.

Diversity is one of the five guiding principles of soilfocussed regenerative farming, which, thanks to the great god Gabe Brown from North Dakota, can be summarised as follows:

• Minimise soil disturbance. Minimising physical and chemical disturbance to the soil prevents damage to the micro-flora and fauna that form the soil ecosystem

• Keep the soil covered

• Maintain living roots in the soil

• Maximise plant diversity

• Reintroduce livestock

Gabe has recently added a sixth important element, that of context – by which he means that when you apply these principles to your land, you should also consider the context: your soil type, location, altitude, aspect etc. Gabe’s book ‘Dirt to Soil’ is considered by many to be the regenerative bible – it’s a great story, and full of useful guidance.

Theo living his best life

Out here in the herbal ley fields, the cows are happily munching away in their mobs – mob grazing is short duration, high density grazing with a long grass recovery period. You move the cattle every day, and then leave the grass to recover for up to 100 days, depending on the time of year. The cows have got very used to being moved on to fresh grazing every day, and don’t hesitate to let the world know if we are late!

This year’s rainy spring has led to vigorous grass growth everywhere – a very early hay cut was taken in places, and even parts of the river meadows have been mob grazed this year to force the animals to graze it properly. The system is working well, with the lightweight Kiwi-designed electric fence easy to move, and a network of water pipes across the fields with quick release push-fit fittings so that it is straightforward to empty and move the troughs daily.

There are a number of advantages from mob grazing. We see fewer flies bothering the animals, as fresh grazing every day moves the cattle off yesterday’s dung pats, where the flies congregate. Fresh grazing also reduces the pressure from intestinal worms, as a 50-day cycle between the grazing of any single part of the field helps to

break the worm life cycle. This means less wormer is needed, the chemicals in which, when present in the dung pats, can kill the flies and beetles on which many species like the rare greater horseshoe bat thrive. Also, some of the herbs which the animals are grazing have a natural anthelmintic effect (discouraging or killing intestinal worms). Mob grazing, which leaves around a third of the pasture behind, allows the plants to regrow far more quickly than traditional grazing which takes nearly all the herbage, because enough leaf remains to enable plenty of photosynthesis. As plants are grazed down, their roots also die back, and therefore they take even longer to recover and regrow, both under and above the soil.

As you can see from the picture below, Theo the bull enjoyed his favourite six weeks of the year with a mob of cows and their calves. The pretty one in the foreground is one of his daughters from last year, out of cows with a certain amount of Belgian Blue in their genes. The pairings gave us two calves this year with freckles and a white line along the spine, a little reminiscent of the rare breed Gloucester cattle.

We need to be smarter

A fascinating seminar with local grain merchant Bartholomews, held at the Hall and Woodhouse brewery, not only fed a group of farmers with a very fine cooked breakfast, but also provided vital intelligence on the current grain markets. An essential event in the farming year, this meeting, presented by grain trader Edd Britton, gave us much useful information which will help us to navigate the minefield that is the world wheat market for the next few months.

The weather in the US and Russia (both major world wheat producers) has been a very influential

Theo the bull enjoying his favourite six weeks of the year with a mob of cows

factor recently, with quite violent up and down swings in grain price over a short period of time, making rational sales decisions very tricky. His graph (right) shows how the balance between import and export of wheat in and out of the UK has altered over the last ten years. Since 2012 we have overwhelmingly been a net importer, for several reasons. Firstly the good old (un)reliable British weather, followed closely by the bioethanol and starch plants up north which take a great deal of grain, sucking it in from a wide area and helping keep the market buoyant. However, if prices rise too far, these plants will close for a while until things calm down.

Then there are the generally lower levels of production as farmers commit more land to environmental schemes: taking (usually poorer) land out of production in exchange for payments of public money for public goods like wild flower headlands and wild bird food.

Housebuilding also has some effect, taking land out of food production for ever, and then there is the contentious issue of organisations like the Dorset Wildlife Trust, in conjunction with Natural England, purchasing land with Nutrient Neutrality money, paid by housing developers in exchange for planning permission.

Please see my blog here for a full account of my day out with the DWT as they celebrated the revolutionary purchase of Lyscombe Farm, which, by reverting it to 100 per cent nature with no food production, will somehow unlock the building of 3,700 new homes in the Poole Harbour catchment, in which the farm sits. As you will see, I am not convinced: either by the wisdom of this in terms of value for money, or whether any actual improvement will occur in Poole Harbour as a result of this purchase. Is this where I should be banging on about the importance of looking after our home-grown food supply? There has to be room for food production to thrive, we have a growing population and some of the best soils and weather climates for food production anywhere in the world. But without care for soils and nature, healthy food production will become increasingly difficult. Weeds and insects become resistant to chemicals, which all too often wreak collateral and unintended damage elsewhere ... so we must learn to be cleverer.

Life finds a way

On the left is a common spotted orchid found in a brand new site – on a wildflower margin miles from any other orchids.

It is approximately 14 years since Traveller’s Rest was intensively farmed, and we are seeing some interesting plants showing up on our oldest margins. I am reliably informed that the tiny orchid seeds, almost dust-like, will have sat in the soil for decades, waiting for the right conditions to return to enable germination. They then need the right mycorrhizal conditions to develop, to connect the seeds with the right nutrients in the soil. They have endured so many years asleep, through generations of evolving human activity, only to return to life when government schemes pay farmers to rein back a bit on the intensive farming. We have to make room for nature in and around our main food production, and this little flower shows it can work.

A common spotted orchid found in a wildflower margin miles from any other orchids

Labour’s subsidy silence is a worry

From a blue family to red concerns: Andrew Livingston discusses Labour’s approach to farming subsidies and potential pitfalls ahead

I’m not going to disclose how I voted in the General Election, but I will say I come from a pretty blue family – not only the fact that we have lived in West Dorset for the last 25 years, but also because my Grandad used to be the Conservative Party area manager. Thanks to his connections in the party, we have a drawer of Christmas cards from the likes of John Major and Margaret Thatcher (and no, this is not something I shouted around the streets of Liverpool during my time at university!).

It was Albert Einstein who defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. With that in mind, I think it was time for a change. But the new Labour administration has already hit its first stumbling block with the people that feed the nation – where is the money?

They don’t get it

Labour didn’t push hard for the votes of the farmers. In the run-up to the election, Steve Read, now DEFRA Secretary, wouldn’t commit to maintaining the agricultural budget that is so vital for farmers. Those government subsidies are a lifeline for farmers and landowners – the difference between keeping your farm afloat or packing it all in, selling up and making the land someone else’s issue.

Currently, £2.4 billion is dished out as a reward for using the land in a way that benefits the environment while producing food. That subsidy assurance finishes at the end of the year – and the Labour Party has said that no announcement will be made on the continuation of payments for farming until the autumn budget on 30th October.

It’s a worrying start from the new government, suggesting that Ministers don’t6 understand how farms work. Farmers don’t operate month to month: you can’t just plant crops, pull them out the next month and make a shedload of money. We all wish it was that easy! The government money gives security to our landowners. It means that they have money coming in no matter what disasters occur in the market for their crops and produce.

They’re the difference between keeping your farm afloat or packing it all in and making the land someone else’s issue

If true, Rachel Reeves’ announcement of the £22billion debt that the Conservatives have hidden from the country could be a bad omen for farming. Many projects have already been cut to try and save a few coppers – the Stonehenge A303 tunnel, winter fuel payments and the social care cap have all been axed in the first round of cash-finding.

However, someone should warn the new Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Labour government to tread carefully when it comes to cutting funding to agriculture: farmers know that losing that money will mean many of them will be forced to sell up.

You just have to look across the Channel to see what happens when farmers’ backs are against the wall. I wouldn’t want the new Cabinet to end up with egg on their faces … literally.

The Martin family at Deverel Farm hosted a farm walk in July – conversation centred on crop rotation, control of fixed costs and diversification

Farm walks with the FCN

Dorset FCN have been busy this summer, with plenty of activities to bring our local farming community together.

Alongside our regular Walk & Talk events around the county (see dates for the upcoming ones in the poster below), we have held two wonderful

farm walks. The first at the Crutchley’s family farm at Nettlecombe near Bridport. We met on the most idyllic evening to explore the farm nestled under Eggardon Hill. We looked at the dairy, and a lively discussion centred around stewardship schemes and the diversification of redundant farm buildings.

Our second walk was courtesy of the Martin Family, at Milborne St Andrew. The farm is all arable, and we discussed machinery needs and how to keep fixed costs down. The farm is close to a Wessex Water borehole, and the family works closely with the water board. With much of Dorset acting as a catchment for phosphates and nitrates, hearing first hand how farmers can help was very useful.

And a quick note for non-farmers when they’re out and about – as harvest gains momentum, please be patient with the increased farm traffic on the roads. We hope for a fine month for both the farmers and holidaymakers alike.

Farming is testing at the moment and myself and our volunteers are always here to listen and help when required. – Bec Hill

FCN is here for you.

The confidential, national helpline is open every day of the year from 7am to 11pm and volunteers provide free, confidential support to anyone who seeks help:

Call 03000 111 999

Charlie Waite: frame by frame

The legendary landscape photographer talks about acting in Nairobi, photographing ‘zillions’ of actors, and an ‘obsession’ with nature’s beauty

‘My father began the Berlin Airlift.* It was actually his idea.’

As interview openers go, it’s unexpected. But I have been sitting in photographer Charlie Waite’s studio – his mill house is just outside Gillingham –for less than ten minutes, and I am already feeling it’s going to be a lovely afternoon. Charlie greeted me in the lane outside his house with a broad smile and a broader hug – we had never met before, but the warmth from this gently-spoken man made us instant friends. I settled back into the depths of the sofa, surrounded by the detritus of a lifetime of photography: walls hidden by stacks of frames below a gallery of hung photographs, half-packed boxes of books, large work-desks stacked with prints, chairs overflowing with files and paperwork. The studio overlooks the millpond below the house, and a wall of French doors let light flood in. As we talk, I am constantly distracted by the squirrels cheerfully swaggering about on the deck outside, and the endless flurry of wings as birds stop by at the numerous feeders.

‘My parents were in Berlin at the end of 1948,’ Charlie continues. ‘My mother left Berlin to have me in London. Meanwhile, my father was putting the finishing touches to the airlift – which he hardly ever talked about. It was this massive achievement … had it not happened, there could have been a third world war. And my father never discussed it. If we asked him what he did, he’d say “Oh, just after

the war, something called the airlift. ‘Anyway. I’ll go and feed the geese …” and that would be that.’ Charlie’s photography is instantly recognisable. His style is perhaps a natural result of his theatrical roots, every image a scene patiently crafted, a set

design where light and shadow are carefully composed to balance and expose. There is an essence of deep stillness which pours from every frame, as Charlie finds the quiet beauty in even the stormiest of scenes.

As one of the world’s leading landscape photographers, Charlie’s career has included solo exhibitions at top venues in the UK, the USA and Japan and countless awards. He is soughtafter as a speaker, frequently invited to share his insights on landscape photography all over the world.

‘That’s all very well now, but I was really bad at school … HATED school. I was mercilessly bullied by other boys and I was useless at sports. I could not understand them – even less today. I’m sorry world, but football and rugby leave me completely bewildered. I was beaten by the headmaster for playing football, actually – he was Scots: “You’ll no play with a round ball in my school. It’s rrrrrrrugby, and only rrrugby!”.

‘I left school at 16 and went to a tutor in Devon, an amazing guy called Eric Siepmann, whose wife Mary [Wesley] went on to write The Camomile Lawn and became a huge success. It was the late 60s, and Eric also beat me – once for fraternising with a local girl in Ashburton, on the banks of the Dart. That was the punishment – pull your pants down, you got beaten. It was pretty tough. Awful, actually.’

Africa not RADA

‘So I was living in the New Forest with my parents, and I went to the Salisbury Playhouse … within two years I was working there. I got £12 a week as an assistant stage manager with some acting parts. And absolutely loving it.

I feel, even to this day, rather uninformed about life and things

‘Anyway, I absolutely hated school. I made no friends. I was thrown into swimming pools and ditches and had a really horrible time. I think it’s because I was so, sort of, useless at everything. ‘I tried to get O levels, but I didn’t manage it, so I never did A Levels, and I never went to university. I feel, even to this day, rather uninformed about life and things.

‘I had immense parts of one line: “your carriage is waiting” – how do I stress it? Your carriage is waiting? Your carriage is waiting? Big roles!

‘In later years I met my wife at Salisbury while we were in pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk. She was a dancer, and she thought I was gay …

‘But slowly I did get larger parts, and I had been there three years when I applied to the Donovan Maule Theatre in Nairobi, Kenya. The head of the Salisbury Playhouse, an amazing man called Reggie Salberg, said I was okay to go, and so I went to Africa! I’d had no formal training – I had been accepted at RADA, but I’d only been 17 and you had to be 18 to start.

‘We had excellent directors, and the Donovan Maule Theatre was marvellous. That year in Nairobi was terrific. When I came home I was a member of Equity, and I worked for another ten years in the theatre. I wasn’t particularly great, but I did enjoy it.

‘I became fascinated by the lighting director. They are the unsung heroes of theatre but noone can ever name one. Costume, set design, actors, director … everything else but the lighting.

‘But they manipulate the light – and with it they manipulate the story. They can ensure the audience looks at a particular place, sees a particular story. They can inject pathos or humour ... it’s fascinating.

‘In 1970, Jess, by then my wife, landed a monumental television role in The Onedin Line – she was in every one of the 92 episodes. She was brilliant.

‘It was a perfect role for her of course … the character was short, mildly irritable, and always apologising afterwards!

‘I finally decided that acting was too spasmodic and unpredictable,

and I decided I’d get a studio and start photographing actors. I already knew some really good actors’ agents, and a good few actors, and I just asked if I could photograph them for their portraits for Spotlight, the big casting directory. And I did, and I did. And I did. And I did. And I did … and I did it for 12 years. It was phenomenal. Only actors. Zillions of them. Even though I’d been one for ten years, I swiftly learned so much about actors. They generally have very low self worth. I was aware myself of the vulnerability of acting. How many people do you know who “hate having their picture taken?” Actors are the same. Everyone feels exposed when the camera is raised up.

‘Usually I would chat for an hour and then spend maybe half that on the actual photography. I needed to see the actor’s confidence, not their arrogance – their personality, but not their ego. Actors often hate being well known – they’re just doing a job like anyone else – but then happen to become well known.

‘Every supermarket we went into in the 70s and early 80s there was excited whispering … the worst one was someone coming up to Jess and saying “I think you’re amazing in Poldark!”

I’m a landscape photographer ‘By this time I had a studio in Battersea, but was feeling restless. At a party I met a man called Colin Webb, who happened to be selling his house – I went to see whether we’d like to buy it. We didn’t. It was a bit awkward, it was a perfectly fine house, but not for us. We got to the door to say goodbye, and then four words changed my life. For some reason, he said “what’d you do?”

I’d always liked landscape. I used to go and watch Jess filming in Devon, get bored and wander off to explore the countryside with my camera. I had wanted to try and do it more. And I remember swallowing and saying, oh-soconfidently, “I’m a landscape photographer.”

“Are you?” he said. “I’m the director of the illustrated books department at Weidenfeld and

Nicolson, the publishers. I’d love to see your portfolio!”

And the rest is history. I went to see him. I met a giant talent called Adam Nicolson, who grew up at Sissinghurst – which was created by his grandparents, Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson. Colin, whose house we didn’t buy, said: “We’d like to do a book called the National Trust Book of Long Walks. Adam is going to write it. Would you like to do the photographs?”

And I said yes, yes. Yes!

It took about a year, and I had the most wonderful time. Adam gave me the manuscript, walking in Cornwall or wherever it was. And I then went to the place and did the walk. Actually that’s not true, I did most of it by car – but only because I had all the equipment! We came back, we met up with Colin Webb, and he looked at the results – my babies, my babies, they really were! – in their two and a quarter inch square transparencies. And he just said “Lovely. What would you like to do next?”

‘Adam promptly joked: “long walks in Russia and France?” and Colin said “long walks in France? Super ... contract tomorrow.”

‘It’s unbelievable now. Since then I’ve done 30-odd books. And I’m still obsessed with landscape photography and the natural world. I go on and on about it. It’s never just a shot. It’s a huge production. I’m happy in my obsession though.

LPOTY

In 2007 I thought it would be great if we found a way to celebrate our amazing landscapes, and I approached the AA, the book publishing arm, to suggest the idea of Landscape Photographer of the Year (LPOTY). Thankfully they immediately said, “great idea!”

I then spoke to the National Theatre, who I knew as I’d had exhibitions there, and said: “I wonder if I could have the little theatre as the gallery for

exhibiting LPOTY?” So for five years we had the exhibition at the National Theatre, which meant a guaranteed audience of a thousand people a night: because they all needed the loo in the interval and saw the exhibition on the way!

‘Then we partnered with Network Rail – and now LPOTY’s exhibited on railway platforms. Paddington, London Bridge, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh … something like seven million people a month going through Waterloo alone?

It’s just phenomenal.

‘But like every event or award, sponsorship is hard to find – I’m not absolutely sure we’ll make it to year 17. And contrary to popular belief, I don’t earn anything from it! It doesn’t earn enough to pay me, and I wanted the winner to have the £10,000. It’s really hard work, for no money. I haven’t been a good businessman, maybe? I haven’t, I’m not a businessman. I’m just a

fairly simple guy who absolutely loves being outside and wants to encourage people to photograph the landscape.’

And so to the 19 random questions ...

1. What’s your relationship with Dorset?

neverending relationship. I’ll look along a lane less than two miles from here, and think “I’ve never been up there! Oh my word. Look at that beautiful shape in the land. Look at that line of bushes. How could that have been here all this time?”

It can’t just be “Oh, that’s pretty” –it’s got to absolutely slam you

It’s next door to Hampshire where I was brought up, so I popped into it from time to time! In the 70s I was working in France when Jess heard about a mill for sale in Dorset. The solicitor told Jess she couldn’t go and see it on her own, or make an offer. She had to have her husband there. I just said “You must go and see it. You make the decision.” So she did – the solicitor was rather unhappy about it! She made the offer, and it was accepted. Actually, it turned out no one else wanted it because they suspected it flooded! So we left London when our daughter was eight, and moved here to Dorset. It’s a

It’s an extraordinary county, I’m still discovering it. Dorset never ends. I relish it all the time. And you can be so brilliantly alone in Dorset. There’s so many silent places. I usually set off in the rain – after the rain, the light is incredible for about three to four minutes. That moment the rain has passed, it’s impossible to believe the quality of the light. There’s a tiny window of clarity … and then it’s gone.

2. What was the last song you sang out loud in your car Probably Climb Ev’ry Mountain, from the Sound of Music. I think I’m still in love with Julie Andrews. I love singing Climb Ev’ry Mountain. Oh, and I Can’t Help Falling In Love. I just heard it the other day in Shaftesbury High Street. Beautiful.

3. The last film you watched? I promise you, it was The Sound Of Music! It was!

I went with my son in law, who’s a filmmaker. And we absolutely loved it. I can’t bear films which have any violence, and there’s so many movies with death and violence and cruelty. I just want happy stuff. And The Sound of Music is utterly beautiful.

4. It’s Friday night, you have the house to yourself, no work is allowed. What will you do? There’s something about creative endeavours, they carry a degree of insecurity. I look at certain pictures and I think “Does that cloud look a bit mannered? I waited for it, but …” I get a bit uncertain. So what I love doing is coming in the studio and looking at photographs that I took 30 or 40 years ago – if I can find them because my cataloguing is absurd. Sometimes I just search “little tree with cloud on top”. Somewhere I’ve written what it was, I usually find them, but I do get into a bit of a state. Anyway, I love looking back and re-evaluating them. Sometimes I see something in a photograph

that I didn’t consider was worthy at the time. And I think “that was alright”. It gives me immense pleasure, especially those I haven’t seen for a long time.

5. The best biscuit for dunking. A Ginger Nut, no question.

6. What’s a sound or smell that makes you happy?

A curlew. Just gorgeous. It really does make me happy.

To be honest, any animal that makes a sound, I’m gawking at them all the time.

7. What little luxury would you buy with £10?

I think I’d buy as many packets of ginger biscuits as I could.

8. What would you like to be remembered for?

As somebody who’s encouraged a sense of amazement about the natural world. If I could do that, if I could be somebody who’s encouraged you to look through a camera and notice. And really spend time engaging with the natural world. Don’t just take a snap. Everyone should be a photographer, because it makes

you notice. But it’s not easy. The image has got to convey a massive emotional hit to the viewer. It’s got to be an emotional reaction, it can’t just be “Oh, that’s pretty”

It’s got to absolutely slam you.

9. What’s your comfort meal? PIZZA! Spinach pizza, always spinach pizza.

Or maybe my breakfast... with blackcurrants. I read up a lot about them, and they are the most amazing fruit. I usually have a really big pot of blackcurrants – the Udder Farm Shop does them frozen! I get about a carrier bag full. Blackcurrants rock. So breakfast, blackcurrants and yogurt. Lovely.

10. What’s your secret superpower?

Complete wonder at nature. Not necessarily to photograph – I told you, I’m obsessed. I rescue worms. I’m in a total state of amazement at the existence of the natural world.

11. What was the last gift you gave or received?

I gave the girls (Charlie’s twin

granddaughters) a basic little canoe to be able to go on the river, to know what it feels like to float in a little boat. They love it.

12. What’s your favourite quote?

I love Gandhi’s ‘the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals.’ I think that’s the best.

13. Your most annoying trait? Untidiness. It’s desperate. I know it’s kind of amusing, but if I could, I’d find a therapist who would help me be tidy. I cannot understand how I can be doing something with one bit of paper, writing a list or something – a list! If I can achieve that, that’s amazing – and then suddenly something else comes into my head and I completely forget what I’ve just been doing and go and do the second thing. Then I forget the second thing because a third has popped into my head ... I’m surrounded by half-finished things. That’s why my studio is such a tip.

I love it when I’ve had a tidy up though. I feel heroic. I want to tell everybody!

14. What shop can you not pass without going in?

A brocante or a bric-à-brac shop. I’m not very good with modern things, really. Actually, there’s a lovely old shop in Shaftesbury High Street which has become a sort of antique shop. Not high end antiques, a bric-à-brac place. Crazy items. Wonderland.

15. Tell us about one of the best evenings you’ve ever had The evening the grandchildren were born. Even now I get tearful. And I’m completely besotted, absolutely bonkers about them.

16. What in life is frankly a mystery to you?

Why we aren’t more aware of how we have to save our planet. I did a thing for the Art Society a while ago, and they asked me what my favourite landscape was.

I chose a picture of the planet Earth from space. It is the most extraordinary image. And I always says: “That’s all we’ve got, it’s just us. We must protect it.”

It’s the biggest mystery, why we aren’t hell-bent on trying to ensure that we preserve our wonderful planet Earth.

17. Chip shop chips or home baked cake?

A really lovely vegan homemade cake (but please put in brackets I LOVE CHIPS. Because I really do.)

18. Cats or dogs

I grew up with cats. I think they’re amazing creatures, what they have to put up with.

But I have dogs, and I’ve always had rescue dogs. I think dogs can teach us a lot. And the more we learn about dogs the better. And you usually know you’re going to get along with somebody who likes dogs.

19. You have the power to pass one law uncontested – what would you do?

There are more women photographing than ever – but

they often go out with fear in their hearts. And far fewer of them do sunsets or sunrises, especially in towns and cities.

I’d make a law which states when a woman is murdered, the perpetrator should go to prison for their entire lives.

More than 1,000 women a year are killed in the UK. It’s unbelievable that women are just walking in the park, or decide to take the shortcut home, and ... Because I was bullied, I know that there’s an aggressive side to men. I wish our laws were much stronger when it comes to violence against women.

• charliewaite.com

• Meet Charlie at Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show, where he’ll be judging the photography

* In 1948, Air Commodore Reginald Waite was Head of Disbandment at the headquarters of the Allied Control Commission. He suggested that the Berlin Blockade could be broken by an airlift. Subsequently, the British and Americans started a joint operation to circumvent the Russian blockade.

The man who reads the

stones

The art of dry stone walling: master craftsman Tom Trouton talks to Tracie Beardsley about finding a stone’s timeless connection to the landscape

Tom Trouton tells me his head is “full”. And how! It’s impossible not to be captivated by his passion for his craft, his knowledge of geology and his deep love of the landscape. We meet at his house in Castle Cary – a lockdown project to keep both his head and skilful hands occupied. He’s transformed a modest 1960s bungalow into a stunning dry stone clad home within a walled garden now jam-packed with tropical plants. It’s soon clear that the melodic noise of a hammer ringing on stone – a ‘tchock, tchock’ sound that Tom mimics perfectly – has been the soundtrack to his life since childhood.

‘I grew up on Exmoor, always outdoors playing,’ he says. ‘When I was about ten, I decided to build a den. I borrowed my father’s pickaxe and hammer to cut through some stone to make a pathway. But what to do with all the stone? I stacked it up ... and that was my first dry stone wall. It was tiny, but as a kid I thought I’d built Hadrian’s Wall!’

He still owns the hammer he used that day. Family photo albums show him as a little boy holding stones – Tom would spend hours watching the “old boys” on Exmoor patiently building walls with no mortar. ‘I’d spend my summer holidays patching up holes and learning the techniques from these real old characters.’

All images: Tom Trouton

Master stone craftsman Tom Trouton

He met Heather, his wife of 28n years, on a blind date. He moved to south Somerset where he was a postie in the morning and in the afternoons he gardened and walled. He also worked in a local quarry where he met another great mentor.

‘The quarry owner, Brian Trevis, was an amazing man. He taught me so much about the local stone. Geologically, there’s lots of different stone in this area; Shaftesbury Green, Cary Stone, Ham, Blue Lias ... local to North Dorset is my favourite, Forest Marble.’

In 2005, Tom set up his own landscaping business. One of his first jobs was in Jersey, at a mansion formerly belonging to the island’s chief minister. He was tasked with creating hundreds of metres of walls ... and building an amphitheatre. The massive undertaking involved three quarters of a million tonnes of soil and rock that had to be sorted. It was here his stepson Liam was trained by Tom, learning his craft on one of the ‘hardest stones to work with’.

‘He’s an absolute natural,’ says Tom proudly. Liam is now a partner in the business, and Tom’s son Joseph, also a talented

works with

And business is booming.

‘I had 19 people working for me at one stage earlier this year. I didn’t enjoy that. I feel a responsibility to my team – at heart I’m not a businessman, I’m a craftsman.’

Being his own severest critic, perfectionist Tom trains everyone who works with him.

‘A lot of people think they can wall, but they can’t. It’s a fluid process. You’ve got to be guided by the stone. I visualise exactly

what I‘m looking for, then read the stones I’ve got and see how they can come together.’

Stone apples

It was a quote for just one wall that led Tom to his most prestigious client – The Newt in Somerset. He’s now been working for the private country estate and exclusive hotel for nine years.

‘A branch had fallen off an oak tree and The Newt’s owner, Koos Bekker, asked me to incorporate it into a dry stone wall. Spectacular! After that, I was asked to create stone sheep using iron-shot Sherborne stone, making their black heads with Mendip stone. Some people will look at them and see sheep. Some will just see rocks!’

And what gift to give a multimillionaire client?

‘I‘d been working at The Newt for four years and thought the project was coming to end. I’d always fancied having a go at stone sculpture, and the theme of The Newt is apples. I used a template of an actual apple from my own garden, and I created a stone apple. My nephew Alex had the idea to make it look like

waller,

him too.

someone had taken a bite out of it. Koos loved it!’

Tom may not (yet) have got his wished-for commission to build another stone apple for Apple HQ in California, but that first one led to many more – along with acorns, cherries, pears, trees and waves.

‘A Cockney lady asked me to create apples and pears for her enormous landscaped garden staircase as a nod to the Cockney rhyming slang!’ He’s also immensely proud of his own Stonehenge-style creation. In conjunction with the Arts Development Council, Tom helped build the Black Down Stone Circle near Hardy’s Monument. Five “totems” built from local Forest Marble stone are perfectly aligned, one with true north and the other four with the midwinter and midsummer solstice sunrises and sunsets. In clear conditions, the Sun’s full disc shines through an opening in one of the totems, lighting up a central rock of Portland stone.

‘It was a real challenge, but so incredible when I witnessed it

Tom Trouton resting on one of his stone sheep, made with honey-coloured Sherborne stone,

working perfectly.’

Tom is proud to give what he calls ‘comfort to the landscape’: ‘I aim to create walls that complement the land they are to reside in. I turn up at a job and there’s just a pile of stones. That is traditional dry stone

walling. You use what is lying around – part of the environment – and you rearrange it to form a boundary that blends with the existing backdrop.

‘It’s always an incredible honour to rebuild a wall which you know someone worked on hundreds of years ago. Hands from the past touched the stones the exact same way you are.’

With such a busy head, Tom admits he finds it hard switching off from work. ‘I love what I do. I’ll never retire.’ When he relaxes he goes wild swimming – but he doesn’t take a dip in a river. He swims in an old quarry, surrounded by more inspiration to fill his head.

• tomtrouton.co.uk

• You can see Tom in action at The Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th August,where he’ll be creating a memorial stone sheep wall to celebrate the Show’s 30th anniversary at Turnpike Showground.

Summer solstice at the Blackdown Solar Circle. Tom Trouton built five totems from local Forest Marble, all perfectly aligned: one true north and the other four with the sunrises and sunsets of the two solstices

with black heads of Mendip stone

Ready for Rev Offs?

The ultimate Classic & Supercar Sunday returns to Clayesmore this month, and with more than 650 cars on display it’s set to be a huge day

The Clayesmore Classic & Supercar Sunday returns to Iwerne Minster on SUNDAY 18 AUGUST, showcasing more than 650 of the finest, fastest and rarest cars in the world.

The Rev Offs return... be prepared to be wowed! Last year’s did not disappoint. Set against the backdrop of Clayesmore house, it’s an amazing spectacle when the competing cars line up for the showdown of noise and muscle! The Camaro ZL1 will return – allegedly after some modifications and a trick to bypass the rev limiter – as will the twin turbo Huracan, though it’s had a makeover.

We are delighted to welcome back our headline sponsor, Harwoods, who will be presenting an array of Bentleys, McLarens and Aston Martins.

Aston Martin Vantage and the new Bentley Continental GT up close and personal – and we are assured there will be some seriously rare specials car to see. WATCH THIS SPACE!

Haynes Heritage are making their first visit to the show, bringing a variety of rare cars and restoration demonstrations. It’s time for the kids to take the driving seat!

The Mini Rovers experience for kids is back – free of charge, thanks to Harwoods – so every child can have a go on this exciting off-road adventure obstacle course (now sporting a patriotic livery from their appearance on Britain’s Got Talent!). Come and have a go in these mini electric Land Rovers and earn a little learner driving licence.

We also warmly welcome Hendy, who will be displaying some fabulous brands, from Maserati to Mokes, and plenty of others in between including Jaguar and Land Rover. Expect a surprise appearance from a yellow three-wheeler, a display of military vehicles, singing Land Girls ... As always, we’ll be rocking out to live music, and as you’d expect there’ll be no shortage of delicious food, with

Book your tickets now and save ££’s on the gate price click this link to buy now! https://bit.ly/classicsuper2024

• Adults £14.79, Over 8s £7.75

• Clayesmore School

• A350 Iwerne Minster

• DT11 8LL

Here we go again – Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show is back!

The rural day out is a celebration of community, countryside and tradition – and it’s a feast for the eyes, ears, and taste

While the livestock, pristine rows of tractors and huge farm machinery signal it is very much still an agricultural show, there’s something about the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show that is a lot more – even for those who have never set a wellied foot in a fragrant farmyard.

It’s the sense of community and the passion for the countryside that make it an unmissable event in North Dorset’s calendar.

An eclectic mix that works

The G&S Show spans the generations, from a weatherbeaten man giving a terse nod to a neighbour to an excited child leading a calf into the Main Ring for the first time.

Small children in long white coats carefully lead sheep around a ring, seemingly not bothered by the crowds. Others trot ponies through their paces or help parents feed and brush livestock. Over in the marquees, perfectlyshaped vegetables compete alongside glorious dahlias in a riot of colours as inspirational flower arrangements filled the horticultural tent.

buds!

Steam to ferrets

The crowds will be cheering this year as things turn competitive in a big way in the Harts of Stur Main Ring. And when we say big, we mean camel-sized. The camel racing is going to be the hit of the summer, we’re calling it now.

The speed of the Shetland Pony racing team is something to see as they hurtle around the Main Ring – hugely entertaining, it’s

worth finding a seat to stop and watch them. And by show day you’ll already be missing the Olympic showjumping – grab a spot ringside, there’s plenty of jumping to see here.

Over in the Turnpike Ring, riples of laughter always accomany the start of the ferret racing –the furry creatures race down drainpipes, and it’s tails out, not the nose, that wins!

And the Terrier Racing is unmissable – regulars aren’t there for the dogs so much as for Harold Galpin’s commentary and the sheer chaos that unfolds. Over in the steam section there always seems to be someone working on the engines, polishing and making sure the paintwork was gleaming. And what a joy it is to see them rumbling into the Main Ring for a circuit or two.

All the Food

It’s at places like the G&S Show that you realise just how much food and drink is produced in the towns and villages of Dorset. From local beers to the gin distillers’ botanicals there’s a drink for everyone. And you certainly won’t go home hungry –expect hog roasts and ice cream stalls, endless choices at the fudge stand, local sausages and plenty of world foods. Make a picnic from salami, a mountain of regional cheeses and some of the local bread and cakes.

A Grand Parade

The relaxed atmosphere of the day is at times juxtaposed with the strictest formality. Bowler hats in the judging ring, elegantly dressed ladies driving carriages, and pristine white-coated families leading livestock. Some things at the G&S Show have never changed.

The Grand Parade starts at 3pm both days – don’t miss it, you’ll find the showground empties as everyone heads to the Main Ring to see the show’s champion livestock enjoying their moment of glory.

The great thing about the G&S Show is that you never know who you might meet as you make your way round: you’ll bump into old friends and colleagues, local celbrities and for generations of local farming families it’s simply their annual get together.

And if you’ve never been before, be aware you’ll soon be marking the third Wednesday in August on your calendar every year!

Quick show tips:

• Advance ticket prices: Prices increase at midnight on the 7th August!

Family (2 Adults & 2

Children): £41

(Gate price £48)

Adult: £18

(Gate price £21)

Child (aged 5 to 15): £3

Under 5’s go FREE! BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

• Gates open at 8.30am on both show days. They close at 10pm on Wednesday 14th, and at 6pm on Thursday 15th August.

• Be sure to download your ticket in advance – data signal on show days is always very limited!

• Bring some cash because the data signal will be shaky as the showgroudn fills, so contactless won’t be reliable

• Polite dogs are of course welcome – they must be on a short lead, and NO dogs are permitted within the livestock areas, or in any marquees.

• Bring a picnic! There are three designated areas for picnicking – we just ask that you don’t sit too close to marquees, so as to not block any emergency exits.

• Save on plastic – bring your water bottle to the Show! Drinking water points sponsored by Battens Solicitors will be available around the Showground, and will be marked on the map.

Visit the Oceanarium and take an awe-inspiring underwater voyage, above and below the waves!

Prebook online 48 hours in advance and SAVE up to 25% off!

Discover more than 200 enchanting creatures. Learn fascinating facts along the way and come face to face with your favourite aquatic animals, from stunning sharks to a loggerhead turtle, jellyfish, clownfish, piranha, mischievous otters, and a happy colony of Humboldt penguins!

Regular creature talks and feeds, and don’t forget to have a go at the adventure quiz trail!

Summer wouldn’t be complete without an aquarium visit! oceanarium.co.uk

H(Alternate Sunday afternoons at 3pm)

25 th August - Anthony Burns -Cox (organ)

8 th Septe mber - Neil Sissons (organ)

22 nd September - Clapper Chaos (hand bells)

6 th October - Louise Cousins (piano) and special guests

20 th October - Stephen Binnington (organ)

3 rd November - Ian Jordinson’s organ compositions (played by Stephen Binnington)

No tickets required but donations towards Church Funds will be gratefully received

For further information please call 07817 379006

Our specialist care teams across Somerset, Devon, Wiltshire and B&NES offer bespoke support to enable you to live the life you choose.

✓ Support to remain independent in your own home

✓ Revitalising respite breaks

✓ Individually tailored residential care

✓ Round-the-clock hospital standard nursing care

✓ Specialist dementia support

✓ Empowering learning and physical disabilities care

It’s the first time that Atkinson Action Horses will be performing in Dorset

Could this year’s be the best Dorset County Show yet?

If you’ve ever marvelled at the incredible horses featured in TV favourites like Poldark, Victoria or Peaky Blinders, you’ll be wanting to grab yourself some tickets for Dorset county Show. For the first time ever, the UK’s premier equestrian performance team, Atkinson Action Horses, will be coming to Dorset, thrilling spectators in the main ring on both days. Under the expert leadership of Ben Atkinson, the team promises to deliver an unforgettable display of highenergy, breath-taking and death-defying equestrianism –it’s guaranteed to impress. Ben Atkinson’s journey into the world of equestrian stunts began when his father moved from dairy farming into equestrian and never looking back. Ben rode in his first display as an 11-yearold and has been performing internationally since he was 16. The synergy between the horses

and their riders is nothing short of spectacular, promising an unforgettable experience for all at this year’s County Show. James Cox, the Show Organiser, shares his excitement:

‘Atkinson Action Horses are unlike anything you have ever seen when it comes to equine displays. Prepare to be stunned – we certainly have been! This isn’t just the first time Atkinson Action Horses have attended the County Show – it’s the first time they’ve ever appeared in the county. We cannot wait: it’s set to be an absolute show stopper.’

Not all horse play

In addition to the Action Horses, the County Show is delighted to welcome the IMPs Motorcycle Display Team to the main ring on both days, plus Tomahawk Throwing and Alpaca Competitions! The exciting acts will be entertaining the crowds along with the more traditional features of a county show –

livestock exhibitions, food and drink marquees, showjumping, the Heavy Horse Village, Axemen displays and a vintage Steam Section.

Pawsome news!

New this year is the County Show’s first ever ‘Fun Dog Show’. Kindly organised by St Giles Animal Welfare, there will be a class for everybody’s best four-legged friend: loveliest lady, waggiest tail, best biscuit catcher, the most appealing eyes and the best talent. Being an agri show, DCS know just how important the young handlers are, so there’s also a special ‘under 16s’ class to show off their winning handling skills.

• 7th and 8th September

• Dorchester, DT2 7SD

• Car parking is free at the Showground, walk from Dorchester or catch the FREE Shuttle Buses

Child Okeford Art Trail 2024

Child okeford will once again be opening its doors this August for the annual Art Trail, showcasing 21 talented artists and craftspeople across four venues, exhibiting in their own homes, studios and community spaces. All the venues are located within walking distance of the village centre, and visitors can view and purchase a varied collection of arts and crafts.

Exhibiting in the Community Centre is Martin Brierley – a painter who works in oils on board, inspired by land, sea and sky. Also ceramicist Gaynor Waring – she works in various clays and uses smoke-firing methods to create beautiful objects rooted in the landscape – and Karina Gill, a notable Dorset silverware and jewellery designer. Local plein air oil painter Rob Adams will be at Clock Cottage with artist Sue Fawthrop.

Diane Ablitt will be exhibiting at the Old School House. She is an artist who likes to strip an image of unnecessary detail, keeping a strong design and creating flat poster-like pieces. She will be joined by Kathy Clarke who uses Reduction Lino Printing: cutting away the Lino after each colour is added to the reverse impression of the design.

There will be a group of 13 artists in the Village Hall, where local charity SERO (raising money for Julia’s House Children’s Hospice) will be offering refreshments, homemade cakes and sandwiches throughout the four days. Their member Julie Little creates affordable paintings in various media with all profits going to SERO.

Also in the hall will be Sue Bates – a talented watercolour artist who uses no pencil before she paints, Rachel Chenery who will be showing

her stoneware pottery and Diane Mary Alice will return with her paintings inspired by the Dorset countryside and her upcycled children’s chairs. With such a wide variety of artists, from painters to jewellers, photographers to potters and much more, there is something to interest everyone. The trail provides an opportunity to meet local artists in person in their creative worlds and discover new and surprising aspects of their work.

• Friday 23rd to Monday 26th August

• 11am to 4pm daily

• Follow Child Okeford Art Trail on social media to see more artist profiles and more information about the trail

Unveiling the Mysteries of the Wessex Hill Figures: Cerne Abbas Giant Conference at Dorset Museum

Drawing on recent excavations by the National Trust and new research, a special day-time conference will be held on 28th September at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery to explore the Cerne Giant and other significant hill figures in Wessex. The Cerne Giant, located near Cerne Abbas in Dorset, is a key part of local culture and folklore. Its origin and date have been debated, with theories ranging from prehistoric to modern times. However, 2020 excavations by the National Trust dated the Giant to the Anglo-Saxon period, a surprising finding not previously considered. The conference will present these findings –and their implications – featuring talks from archaeologists, academics and researchers on the

Giant and other hill figures.

The event will include interpretations, images, artwork and excavation reports, exploring how the significance and interpretation of these figures have evolved.

Attendees can explore resources and displays and meet contributors to the project.

Speakers include Dr. Mike Allen, Professor Timothy Darvill, Professor Martin Bell, Chris Butler, Dr. David Miles, Paul Cheetham, Kate Adie, Professor Barbara Yorke, Dr. Sarah Fry, David Dawson, and Garry Gibbons.

More details and tickets at DorsetMuseum.org –spaces are limited and pre-booking is essential: Standard: £40 | DNHAS Member: £35 | Student: £25

BREATHLESS - MUSIC OF THE CORRS

SAT 10TH AUGUST

A celebration of the music of The Corrs, recreating the beautiful harmonies, look and songs of this iconic band Featuring dancers from O'Leary Academy of Irish Dancing (£20)

JAMIE & THE FALCONS

SAT 17TH AUGUST

Jamie Moses (Los Pacaminos/Dos Amigos) and his band of world-class quality musicians who between them have accompanied some of the greatest names in popular music (£18.50)

THE ALTER EAGLES

SAT 7TH SEPTEMBER

Expect all the classics - including Hotel California, Take It Easy, One Of These Nights, Take It To The Limit, Desperado, Lyin' Eyes and Life In The Fast Lane and more... (£20)

TENORS UNLIMITED

SAT 12TH OCTOBER

Twenty years of performing, the UK’s original classical crossover ‘man band’ repertoire includes popular classics with crooner and pop favourites, as well as original songs (£23/£24)

SAT 21ST SEPT (18+)

Survivor’s guilt and political resolve

Navigating politics with humility – MP Simon Hoare reflects on the election aftermath, his duty to North Dorset and promises constructive opposition

Well! Quite a lot has happened since the last edition of this fantastic magazine. As the June and July editions were during the election campaign the editor, in her infinite wisdom, pulled the usual political columns. Thankfully, normal service has now resumed.

My first and very pleasant duty is to thank the electors of North Dorset for re-electing me to continue my public service on their behalf. It was always going to be a difficult and challenging election – and so it proved. Perhaps more so than I had anticipated when I look across our depleted benches in the Commons. I must confess, and I know I am not alone, that I have felt survivor’s guilt – it was doubtless the same at Rorke’s Drift or in the Crimea following the Charge of the Light Brigade. It is a side to the craft of politics that is not necessarily talked about. Politics is a human business and very much a family team effort. So are lots of jobs, I know, but sometimes the personal side of politics is not recognised. To win is an emotional experience; to lose even more so. I saw some fallen colleagues, visibly controlling their emotions as they emptied their offices after years, sometimes decades, of serving their communities.

their Twitter or Facebook pages’. I never have used the label on my own social media, but it is not out of embarrassment. Let me explain why. When I am a candidate I put on party colours – a blue rosette. I stand as a Conservative and badge myself accordingly. Having been elected, however, I serve as the Member of Parliament.

I am, of course, a Conservative. I take (and sometimes abide by) the Conservative Whip in the House of Commons. But – and it is a big but – as the MP I serve all of North Dorset, whether they voted for me, for someone else, or did not vote at all. If they have a problem then they need to come and see me as their MP, not as ‘a Conservative’. I am here to serve all of the communities that make up North Dorset and will always be as inclusive and welcoming as possible to one and all.

I take (and sometimes abide by) the Conservative Whip, but as MP I serve all of North Dorset, whether they voted for me, for someone else, or did not vote at all

While our politics is brutal (think Gladiator but with Order Papers) it is also civilised here in the UK. We smile and shake hands with the victor and the vanquished (everyone did in North Dorset save one, who may remain nameless) and then we promptly get on with the job. We should be proud that election results in this country are not met with Trumpian revolt or States of Emergency being declared. A removal van turns up and shortly afterwards the new tenant arrives. The timeless monarch provides the constitutional link between old and new.

Not wearing the badge

During the last Parliament, I saw several ‘oh he/ she must be embarrassed to put “Conservative” on

Badger and berate as usual

We are fortunate to live in a fantastic country. Not one without problems and challenges – we all know that. Stuff needs doing here at home, and the whole world seems less safe and sure than we would like it to be. I want to wish the new Government well. They serve us all and we have to hope that good fortune shines on them – when it does, we all benefit.

I have been asked a number of times how I would conduct myself in opposition: let me try to answer that question. I will speak up and stand up for North Dorset, as I always have, without fear or favour. I shall badger and berate on behalf of my constituents (indeed, I have declined a shadow ministerial role to allow me to do so). I shall oppose the Government where I truly believe they are getting it wrong BUT I won’t oppose for opposition’s sake.

I will endeavour, as I believe my party will, to be constructive – there are a lot of issues which will benefit from cross-party working. I am pledged to play my part in that approach. And I know that is what you will want me to do.

Two million votes and growing: the Green surge

When it was finally over, the media smoke billowing off the election battlefield somewhat obscured the fact that as well as winning all four of its target seats, the Green Party came second in another 39 constituencies.

Growing numbers of us are obviously grasping the severity of the unfolding environmental situation.

Around two million people voted for the Green Party and its vision for a better future, and more than 3,000 new members have joined since the election ended.

No doubt many more would have voted Green had it not been for widespread tactical voting. On which point, as well as being grateful for those people

who contacted me before the election to express their support, I appreciated the messages of those who apologetically let me know that they were reluctantly going to vote tactically this time round. Shame it didn’t pay off in North Dorset – close, but no coconut. If we are to enjoy a true democracy, then we need to change the way we elect our politicians. Yet again the firstpast-the-post electoral system has given us a government that only received a minority of the vote. This time it was Labour who benefitted, their 34 per cent vote share gaining them 63 per cent of the seats in Parliament. The

Ignored and underfunded: the

One of the things that really energised me as a candidate during the general election campaign was education – yet it received scant wider debate. VAT on private education grabbed some headlines, along with financial stresses in higher education and teachers’ pay. But there was little discussion of education in general. Exam results will be out this month and we will celebrate. No doubt we will also have the ritual fuss about exam regimes, and Labour will talk about its planned review of the curriculum and assessment. The real scandal, though, is in how we fail 16 to 21-year-olds in further education (FE) and training. This issue has great relevance to us here in North Dorset.

Kingston Maurward College is merging with Weymouth College

from the beginning of August. Kingston Maurward faced acute financial pressures, and might have been forced to close without drastic action. The college is important for our rural economy here in North Dorset as both a centre of excellence and also the closest provider of agricultural and horticultural courses. A merger of two universities in the troubled higher education sector might command national media attention, but not this merger of colleges – because it is in the equally-troubled FE sector. Yes, there is a difference in scale, but I am drawing attention to an

Conservative’s 24 per cent vote share gave them 19 per cent of the seats, while the other parties’ 42 per cent share of the vote gave them just 18 per cent of the seats. Little wonder the Electoral Reform Society has called the result the most disproportional on record. At the hustings events leading up to the election, there was a noticeable lack of questions about the environment. For far too long now, many politicians – and most of the media – have either denied or down-played the severity of the ever-worsening environmental situation. The unexpectedly rapid onset of the changing climate that we’re now experiencing is a massive wake-up call. We have to halt both the destruction of the natural world and global warming. Not next year. Not next decade. NOW. Time is no longer on our side. The future can still be bright, but only if we work to make it so.

Ken Huggins North Dorset Green Party

FE sector crisis

ingrained and unjust indifference to further education.

The FE sector has been underfunded and undervalued for years, and recently it has been under acute financial pressure. A drive to give parity between vocational and academic qualifications led to the introduction of T-levels by the Conservative government. These T-levels were dumped in the dying days of that administration, for lack of money and direction. Successive governments have talked the talk on apprenticeships and further education, but they have not then walked the walk.

We have a desperate need in the UK for a more skilled and motivated workforce – and the most obvious route to it is to provide attractive, well-funded training to young people. We are simply not doing enough. Department for Education statistics show a 40 per cent reduction in under 19-year-olds registered in apprenticeships since 2010. That’s at least 50,000 fewer apprentices, with the greatest reduction since 2016. Labour says it will set up Skills

England, make some changes to the Apprenticeship Levy, and will turn FE Colleges into specialist Technical Excellence Colleges. What progress will we actually see on this in five years’ time? The path to growth in our economy is through investment in people and capital. The new government needs to stop paying them lip service and instead demonstrate that it really values further education and training for young people. Businesses invest where there are skilled people,

and people are in turn attracted to where there are good jobs. We need a virtuous circle like this in North Dorset if we are to thrive, and it all starts with strong FE and HE colleges nearby. I send best wishes for the future to the staff and students at Kingston Maurward College and our FE colleges across Dorset. We need and value what they do.

Gary Jackson North Dorset Liberal Democrats

Expertise and experience at the helm

I was at the North Dorset election count in Blandford. As I finally left the sports hall around 5:30am, I congratulated the re-elected Conservative MP Simon Hoare, for whom I have a lot of respect. I said to his colleague, “make sure you keep your party from steering into the vile embrace of the far right,” to which he jokingly replied “and you keep Labour sensible!”. The joke was on him – I have as much influence on the Labour Party as my cat does. However, if you are worried or sceptical about this new Labour Government, might I just focus your attention to the very simple, yet very deliberate act of the cabinet appointments. Over the weekend that followed the landslide victory, I felt absolute relief. We have returned to a Government with a leader making ministerial appointments that make sense, with expertise in each position and relevant life experience. British politics has been crying out for this.

Our new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, is a former director of public prosecutions: someone with experience of management and leading, someone capable of making hard decisions for the greater good.

The chancellor of the exchequer is Rachel Reeves – someone whose entire political ambition has been to become chancellor. She worked

for the Bank of England, she understands the economy. Then there’s deputy prime minister Angela Rayner – someone who didn’t attend private school or university, who left school at 16 while expecting a baby, has risen through adversity and now holds one of the highest offices in the land.

Home secretary

Yvette Cooper –former chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, worked for Bill Clinton before his election victory in 1992, served past cabinet positions in the Brown government. She has broad and long term political experience. Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson managed a refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Similarly, Foreign Secretary David Lammy led the campaign for the Windrush generation to be granted full British citizenship, and has been at the forefront of the fight for justice for the families affected by the Grenfell Fire. Minister for Prisons James Timpson – awarded an OBE for services to training and employment for disadvantaged people, is known for advocating

for former prisoners.

The new Science Minister is Dr Patrick Vallance – clinician, scientist and pharmacologist, past president of R&D at GSK and a former government chief scientific advisor. Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband oversaw the introduction of the Climate Change Act 2008 and is co-chair of the Institute For Public Policy Research Environmental Justice Commission.

The attorney general Richard Hermer is a serious international lawyer whose work has included the Afghan unlawful killings inquiry and the task force on accountability for crimes committed in Ukraine.

I hope, reading these appointments, I have moved your needle slightly, to feel relief and confidence in this new Labour government. Although this is just the start, I think the foundations have been laid for a successful and meaningful government, to address the issues that we face and enact the positive change that the country needs.

Guy Perkins

North Dorset Labour Party

This month’s news from the unofficial capital of the Blackmore Vale...

A whirlwind tour of all that’s coming up in Sturminster Newton this month

Pauline Batstone shares her monthly round up of what’s happening among the town’s collection of community enterprises and events

The Boutique, The Emporium and 1855 have all been having a bit of a makeover recently – a smart new sign over The Boutique, with new dark blue paint on the doors and windows of both it and 1855. And we’re pleased to be showing Earth Star, a new piece by local artist Jamie Hart on the front of 1855 –we want to do our part to make the town look attractive. Inside our shops the stock is as good as ever. Hopefully we may get a little more summer weather yet to encourage shoppers to enjoy buying some of our lovely summer clothes in The Boutique (Sale Now On!) and don’t forget Dapper Chaps. We must just say congratulations to 1855 for winning a Gold Award in the North Dorset Business Awards – and also to our tireless SturAction staff and marvellous volunteers.

If you’ve not stopped by 1855 for a while, why not use the regular Meet the Traders event on the

1855 looking smart with new paint and the mounted Earth Star

personal highlight was the totally The Emporium.

1855 manager Cheryl Basten with SturAction’s Jacqui Wragg, celebrating their Gold Award

The Art Race in The Exchange

In other news ...

The Wedding Festival will be back in 2025 – this time at the end of January. If you have a wedding dress in your attic which you would love people to enjoy again, St. Mary’s Church will be looking for more for the fourth exhibition!

School holidays have started but that means the new term is looming closer. Don’t forget the FREE school uniform items upstairs above the Furniture Warehouse. Let the youngsters enjoy their summer freedom but as we move towards September come and see what we can help you with.

We are trying to keep The Furniture Warehouse open on a regular basis – Monday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 4.30pm (plus other times when we have volunteers available). If the door is not open, do always come down to The Emporium and someone will pop along and open up for you. And if you have a few spare hours, would you like to come and join our cheerful SturAction family? Get out the house, meet new people, fill a few quiet hours and immerse yourself in the lovely feeling of giving back. We are always looking for more volunteers to come and join our SturAction family! Please do drop by The Emporium or 1855 for a friendly chat, or email Cheryl on 1855stur@gmail.com.

We are often asked where the money raised through SturAction’s shops goes – here’s what your support enabled us to contribute to the Town during July:

• Art Week simply would not have happened without you

• We have paid a grant to The Blackmore Vale Practice to help fund various national awareness campaigns to keep us all healthy and happy

• We are one of the sponsors of the Riverside Festival on 17th August, which aims to give families a cheap day out

• We pay for the free car parking on the first Saturday of every month with the aim of bringing people into town to shop and also enjoy the Car & Bike Enthusiasts Meet (and we also pay the insurance for that event).

• We have made a grant to The Exchange towards an exciting ongoing project which they hope will draw more people in to the town. That is just one month’s work for the town by SturAction – it is all about making Stur a good place to live, work and play.

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RiversMeet – the green centre of Gillingham

In the middle of Gillingham there is a shining light of environmental excellence: the leisure centre known to all as RiversMeet, where investment in green technology has been all-embracing. The pool and changing rooms are heated by air source heat pumps, roof mounted solar panels generate almost all of the building’s electrical energy requirements and all of the lighting is modern and low consumption. The management team has created a culture of sustainability that is wholly admirable. In the past two years, energy consumption has been cut by 50 per cent and carbon emissions by no less than 92 per cent.

RiversMeet has just been certified with a category A property energy rating – the whole of North Dorset can be proud of the example being set. What is more remarkable is that RiversMeet is owned by the community, operated on a not-for-profit basis by a team of professionals overseen by a board of volunteer Trustees drawn from the community.

A unique asset

The main centre on Hardings Lane, RiversMeet Active, was created on the back of strong community support and District Council funding in a rebuild programme from 2008 to 2010. In 2023, RiversMeet Performance was added as a new highperformance training and fitness centre located on the Brickfields Industrial Estate – perhaps more well known locally as ‘the old Legends nightclub’! This facility was enabled by considerable support from Dextra and lies alongside the centre’s gymnastics and soft play centre.

RiversMeet is a unique community asset – there are no other wholly community ownedand-operated facilities of this kind

in Dorset, and very few nationally. To succeed in these tough times, a health and leisure centre operating as a charity – with the many constraints that brings –has to be extraordinary and a valuable asset to its community. RiversMeet provides a great deal for its members:

• High performance training, gymnastic and broad range of fitness facilities

• A range of health and wellbeing resources

• A well-managed swimming pool for year-round use

• Flexible spaces for events and recreational activities

• A trained, professional team to support and enable a range of activities

• A place just to meet, enjoy a coffee and relax

The town’s growing

RiversMeet’s business model is also based on delivering considerable value back to the community through:

• Physical education, rehabilitation and stimulation for those whose health demands it

• Affordable access for all ages and abilities through a flexible, no-contract membership plan

• Employment and advancement opportunities for young people in the town and volunteering

The RiversMeet swimming pool is heated by air source heat pumps

opportunities for those with the time and skills to help take RiversMeet forward

• As a welcoming space for all manner of community, group and individual interests

• As a facility offering membership deals, advertising and sponsorship opportunities for local businesses, large and small Gillingham town is set to grow fast through the developments already under way and others in the offing. Demand for amenities like RiversMeet will grow too as we realise more and more just how important exercise and recreation is for our health and wellness. To keep up, RiversMeet needs to do three things –improve the resilience of some of its core systems, to modernise and upgrade its facilities and equipment, and it needs to build capacity both in the extent of its offering and the capability of its people. There are plans in hand for renewal and growth, and they now depend on the successful pursuit of grants, financial support and local fundraising. RiversMeet is the centre of the community of Gillingham. It is a vital asset and a provider of essential services. Frankly, RiversMeet is amazing.

Mike Chapman, Trustee The Gillingham Community and Leisure Trust Ltd

Dorset charity for bereaved children at crunch point

Mosaic, a Dorset charity founded in 2007 to support bereaved children, has launched a major fundraising appeal to continue supporting children struggling with the death of someone close to them. The charity provides qualified counsellors who help children and young people understand and manage their grief and anxiety. However, the increasing demand for Mosaic’s services has outstripped its ability to provide free access to counsellors.

The charity urgently needs to raise £100,000 this year to maintain its support services amid rising costs and dwindling funds. Jo Revill, Mosaic’s CEO, says, ‘This is the crunch point for us now. We’ve seen a 47 per cent increase in the number of children and young people being referred to us for help this year. We want to continue to exist for Dorset’s children. The services we offer can transform a child’s life, and their life chances, but we cannot be sure of meeting that need if we can’t raise the money.’

Teachers from primary and secondary schools across Dorset refer children to Mosaic for counselling support and advice. Last year, the charity provided counselling to 412 children and young people – this number is likely to be substantially higher in 2024, with extra help also going into school in peer support. Nearly half of the referrals involve children or young people who have lost a parent. It costs £350 to provide comprehensive counselling for one child or young person, including family support, over several months.

Karen Parnell, Chair of Trustees, says, ‘I’m incredibly grateful for the support our family received from Mosaic when my husband died. It had a profound impact on my children during a very difficult time. The specialised counselling and peer support provided my daughters with a safe space to express their feelings, share their experiences and connect with others who understood their loss.’

She added: ‘We hope that our communities can really get behind us in this challenging financial period to help us raise funds so that all the children and young people who need our help can receive it. There is so much more for us to do as a charity and we’re lucky to have very dedicated individuals – staff, volunteers, trustees and counsellors – who make all the difference.’

• For more information about the Mosaic appeal, please visit mosaicfamilysupport.org

Marie Curie needs locals in Shaftesbury and Gillingham

Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end of life charity, urgently needs volunteers to organise supermarket collections in Shaftesbury and Gillingham. By co-ordinating just a few collections annually, volunteers can help Marie Curie raise essential funds and awareness to continue providing expert care and support. Marie Curie offers specialised end of life care in people’s homes across Dorset, as well as free information and support services.

Kara Frampton, Marie Curie community fundraiser for Dorset, says: ‘The volunteers will set dates, find collectors, bank the money and thank participants. Full training and ongoing support will be provided.’

A single collection in Dorset can raise more than £400, enough to fund 17 hours of vital nursing care for someone with a terminal illness. Kara says, ‘Every day I hear about the incredible impact Marie Curie has had on families during the most challenging times.’

Last year, Marie Curie cared for more than 44,000 people across the UK through hospices and home nursing visits.

Over the next five years, the charity aims to double the number of people it supports.

• To learn more about volunteering or other ways to support Marie Curie, contact Kara Frampton at kara. frampton@mariecurie.org.uk or call her on 07712 691510.

Put yourself in the picture

If you’re going to the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show this month, don’t forget to stop by the church tent. A reliable fixture at every show, it’s a refreshment marquee run by the Church of England in Gillingham, Shaftesbury and Stour Vale.

The theme for this year is ‘The church is the place for life events’ – try out the photoboard to see how you would look as the bride and groom. It will show the happy couple in one of the 18 local churches – and you can have a look at the map to see the nearest church to you.

All profits are shared among

selected rural community charities. Once again, the church tent are keeping their prices the same – £2 for filter coffee or a mug of tea and £2 for a slice

of homemade cake. They’re brewing up from 8.30am to 6pm each day and their tent offers a warm welcome – and the chance to have a sit down!

Walking the wing for Alfie!

Elaine Gough has been fundraising for her nephew, 16-year-old Alfie O’Neill, all his life. Alfie has cerebral palsy, severely affecting his mobility – he relies on his wheelchair, and he constantly needs both equipment and therapy, which is what the family raise funds for.

Alfie lives with his Mum (Elaine’s sister Pauline), his dad Dan and his sister Maisie.

Alfie O’Neill and his aunt Elaine Gough, who completed a wingwalk to raise money for equipment for Alfie

‘We all love him so much,’ says Elaine. ‘He is such a character and has a heart of gold – and nothing ever phases him.’

Elaine took the extreme step of a wing walk on Friday 26th July at Henstridge Airfield: ‘I had a lot of family and friends turn up to see me do it, it was an amazing experience! Even better that I was doing it for my nephew.

‘Everyone at the Airfield and all the wing walk people were amazing, so reassuring, and they were so pleased we were doing it for Alfie.

Elaine’s Justgiving Wingwalk page is still open here

Speed painting – The Art Race at The Exchange

If you’ve never watched an Art Race, you’ve been missing out!

During July the Stour Hall at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton became a challenge arena –twelve artists with very different styles each set out to create a picture in just 20 minutes, watched by an audience free to stroll around and see the works develop. The viewing was helped along by music, a bar, freshcooked pizzas and the chance to chat and compare opinions with the rest of the audience.

The observers voted for their favourite work, and the four top

scorers competed again in a Grand Final.

Finally, a well deserved winner was chosen – Claire Gillies will now have an exhibition of her work in the Bibbern Gallery at The Exchange.

The remaining three runnersup will share an exhibition at the same venue, which is also the well-used café as well as the bar for all evening shows at The Exchange.

It was a real challenge for the artists, fascinating for the audience, and a great social night out, with the chance to

buy all the art created during the evening as well. The event was held to raise funds for The Exchange, and there will be another Art Race on Friday 28th February next year.

Coming soon

Meanwhile the next fundraiser for The Exchange is on 25th September, when three-time Olympic medal winner William Fox-Pitt, who has just coached the Japanese Olympic team to a first equestrian medal, getting Bronze in Paris, will be talking about his remarkable career in eventing and his decision to retire from 5* level events.

Local youths embark on a trip of a lifetime with Lions International

Ringwood & Fordingbridge Lions Club have helped eight extraordinary local young people secure a place at a Lions International Youth Camp abroad this summer. Six are pictured, collecting speciallyprinted lions tee shirts to wear on their travels. Printed on the back of each shirt is their name and where they are travelling to:

• Isabella – Mexico

• Emma – Switzerland

• Katie – Japan

• Oceane – Austria

• Francesca – Italy

• Isabelle – Hong Kong, China and Macau

• Gabriella –Netherlands

• Rosalyn – Finland

Every trip is unique, and each young person will spend up to two weeks living with a host family (or, in the case of Katie, three weeks in rural Japan) and then a further week to 10 days at an international youth camp. Every year more than 100 International Youth Camps are arranged by Lions International,

spanning 40 different countries. Every Lions Camp is different, but each offers participants a life-changing experience. Those taking part usually only need to raise enough funds for flights and spending money, with Lions Clubs meeting other expenses. If you are between 16 and 22 years and wish to apply for an International Lions Youth Camp abroad in the summer of 2025, please contact Ringwood & Fordingbridge Lions Club at randflions.org.uk or call us on 0345 833 5819

The winning work by Clare Gillies

A local expert from Citizen’s Advice provides timely tips on consumer issues. In the postbag this month:

Extra financial help for the elderly

Q:‘My mum is over 80. She has breathing problems and arthritis in her joints. She can’t walk up even the slightest slope and when she goes upstairs she has to go on her bottom. She can’t stand for very long, she can’t manage the vacuum cleaner any more and she gets exhausted just having a shower. My friend said she should claim PIP but I’m not sure that’s right, especially since my mum has savings.’

A:As your mum is over State Pension Age, she cannot make a fresh claim for Personal Independence Payment – but she can make a claim for Attendance Allowance.

Attendance Allowance isn’t means tested, so it doesn’t matter what other money you get, and it doesn’t matter how much you have in savings either. Nor will it affect your State Pension, and you can claim it even if you’re still working and earning money. You can claim Attendance Allowance if you:

• have reached State Pension age

• need extra care or supervision because you have an illness or disability

• have needed care or supervision for at least six months because of illness or disability If you’re terminally ill, you can claim Attendance Allowance straight away – you don’t need to wait six months.

You can spend your Attendance Allowance however you like. Lots of people spend it on something that makes life a little bit easier, including things like paying for taxis, helping towards bills or paying for a cleaner or gardener. To apply you can either phone the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 or download a form on GOV.UK

It’s always best to telephone, because your payments will be backdated to the date you phoned, as long as you return the form within six weeks. If you simply download the application form, you’ll only be paid from the date that the DWP receives the form.

The claim form is quite long and it might seem daunting at first but you can get help either from Citizens Advice or from AgeUK, so don’t let that put you off applying.

Take a Hike:

Cow

Down Hill to the Salisbury spire spot| 8.7 miles

This route is an old favourite of ours, and one we walk regularly: it’s well signed and accessible all year round.

Starting at Cow Down Hill, where there’s easy parking, you promptly abandon the Ox Drove to head up and over the brow of Marleycombe Hill and down into the Chalke Valley – you can go straight down the face of the hill to Bowerchalke, the views are spectacular – but this is the dodgy-knee-friendly route down.

You’ll wind your way along from Bowerchalke to Broadchalke, then gently plod back up to the top again.

The views make every step worth it, we promise!

The odd little ‘tail’ you can see at the far end of the loop on Knighton Hill is of course entirely unnecessary ... but you’ll always see it on our tracks in the app as it’s a favourite picnic spot of ours! We perch either on the bank on the corner of the lane (shady on hot days) or in the edge of the field (sheltered on cool days), and enjoy the fantastic views across to Salisbury Cathedral in the distance.

When you’re ready to move on, it’s a simple matter of down the lane to re-join the Ox Drove, and then a long straight saunter back to the car.

• CLICK HERE for more images and an interactive map (plus downloadable gpx file)

See all previously-published Dorset Walks on the website here. You can also find every route we’ve walked (including many which are unpublished in The BV) on OutdoorActive here (just zoom in/out on the map) – all include a downloadable gpx file.

Just a hap-hap-happy guy Alexandra

Smile, please Shazz Hooper

Pereira

Should I stay or should I go?

Kim Robinson

Bottoms up

Shazz Hooper

Show off Trevor Stadd

Air time

Andrew Burge

We welcome photography submissions from readers – the only rule is that they must have been taken locally in the last month. Our cover shot is always selected from our submissions pile. If you’d like to join in, please share it in The BV community Facebook Group or simply email it to us on photos@bvmagazine.co.uk

Barley

Sarah Strong

Early morning pole dance

Rebecca Cooke

Speckled wood

Laura Tuke

Wood white

Darren Atyeo

Common blue

Tracy whincup

Face first Tracy Whincup

Mattie (The Real McKay) enjoys his plaiting session ahead of Dauntsey Park Horse Trials

Gearing up for events

Team Rimmer’s July adventures and a behind-the-scenes peek at the meticulous competition prep, including a top-secret luxury shampoo tip

How is it August already?! I don’t know where the time has gone –when we’re in full swing dashing from event to event, the weeks just fly by.

In July, Team Rimmer has been to Aston-le-Walls, Upton House, and most recently Dauntsey Park Horse Trials. We’ve had some highs: Sir Henry Hall obtained his 3*L qualification at Aston and Jimmy finished in the prizes at Dauntsey. But we also had some lows – Elsa and I took an unlucky tumble at Dauntsey when we landed a bit too steeply from a hedge. Fortunately, we are both absolutely fine, so it’s onwards and upwards!

We were busy getting all the horses and kit clean and ready

for Dauntsey when Courtenay paid us a visit for this month’s photos – he managed to grab a sneaky peak into what it takes to prepare five horses for a day’s competition!

A huge amount of mostlyinvisible preparation work goes into each event, so I thought I’d put together a little ‘A-Z’ (yes, OK, it’s an A-F!):

Aisfor ‘Always clean the stud-holes before you get to the event!’ When competing on grass, we screw studs into our horses’ shoes to prevent them from slipping – essentially, we turn their ordinary shoes into football boots! They often get small stones and dirt in their

stud-holes, so we make sure they are cleaned out the day before to avoid any last-minute stress.

Bis for Braids – I’m cheating now, they’re actually called plaits. Our horses are plaited for all three phases, which requires sectioning the mane into chunks, plaiting it down, and rolling them up into little bobbles. We often do the plaits the day before, especially if we have an early start. Then to make sure they stay tidy overnight, lots of them wear Lycra ‘hoods’ which make them look a bit like Batman!

Cis for Clothes – well, tack, but close enough (I know, I’m stretching it here!). If you think

All images: Courtenay Hitchcock

From top left: Team Rimmer’s box of studs | Plenty of storage required when you’re taking five horses | Jess with the team’s portable tack room | as well as the horses, the box has to be a home-from-home for Team Rimmer humans too

A is for ‘Always clean the stud-holes before you get to the event!’

your wardrobe is extensive, you should see that of our horses … they have saddles, bridles, boots, numnahs (the saddle blanket that goes between the saddle and the horse’s back) and girths –all of which require cleaning and packing into the horsebox the day before.

Disfor Dirt! The day before an event, all the horses have a scrub-down with my favourite luxury shampoo of choice: none other than a bottle of Fairy Platinum! I find this works particularly well on the grey horses, especially Max, who seems to enjoy finding the muddiest patch to roll in …

Eis for Essentials. In all the chaos of packing their special competition tack, we also have to pack all the everyday items: plenty of hay and water and rugs to keep them warm if needed. Each horse also has their own passport, which shows all their vaccinations, required every time the horse travels. They even get passport stamps when visiting Internationals, just like us!

Fis for Food. Last but definitely not least. Mum and I also need to make sure we have plenty of supplies for the day – mum has a soft spot for a chocolate brioche, whereas I will happily tuck into a sausage roll at five in the morning! Granny brings her legendary egg sandwiches (seriously, she’s known for them!)

which keep us going until we get home, and owners often bring yummy picnics too.

It’s no small task getting everything ready to go – until now we’ve done a pretty good job of not forgetting anything major, but I’ve heard plenty of stories of people, saddles and even horses being left behind!

Jess with her Willberry Wonder Pony - the charity supports vital research into osteosarcoma and grants equine-related wishes to seriously ill people and their families

Wildlife writer Jane Adams explores sundews – Dorset’s carnivorous plants – and Darwin’s fascination with their deadly allure The

Dorset’s little carnivores

The round-leaved sundew

In a letter dated 1860, the renowned naturalist Charles Darwin wrote to a friend, “… at the present moment, I care more about Drosera than the origin of all the species in the world.” It would be reasonable to assume Darwin was writing about a rare exotic bird, or maybe a species of tortoise ... but no, he was actually getting worked up about a carnivorous plant, more commonly known as the sundew. Carnivorous plants have always fascinated me. When I was a child, I was given a Venus flytrap and fed it live prey with tweezers. I remember watching as its hinged leaves closed around each struggling fly that buzzed for a while – and then went ominously quiet.

Each struggling fly buzzed for a while – then went ominously quiet

While I’m glad I’ve moved on from this gruesome hobby, I’m still amazed at how a rooted plant has evolved to entice, ensnare and ultimately devour another living creature for extra nutrients. Surprisingly, Dorset is home to three native species of sundew: the round-leaved, oblong-leaved and the rare great sundew. Though far from common, all three species like the moist and infertile soils of Dorset’s boggy lowland heaths. Look for them growing quite close to the ground (their maximum height is 20cm), where their red-tinged leaves sparkle in the summer sunshine, making them easier to spot.

Ancient sundew folklore:

• Woodpeckers use the dew to harden their bills

• Dew from the plant, known as a source of youth and virility, can be used in antiaging potions

• The plant can be used as a love charm because it has the power to lure and entrap its prey

If you do come across one and kneel for a closer look, you will also notice hair-like structures on each leaf adorned with a droplet of liquid ‘dew’. Drawn by this deadly glistening lure, insects soon become stuck in the sticky glue. Then the sundew wraps its leaf around the prey, secretes digestive enzymes – and the unsuspecting insects are turned into a nutritious soup.

As Darwin exclaimed, ‘By Jove, I sometimes think Drosera is a disguised animal!’

Is there a triffid lurking right under our noses in Dorset, albeit in a minuscule form?

It’s an intriguing thought.

The earlier spring generation of holly blue feeds on the flower buds and berries of their namesake tree, but the summer generation seen in August relies more on ivy Image: John Bridges

Nurturing nature – our garden choices matter

Wildlife-friendly gardening has an impact: DWT’s Jack Clarke takes a closer look at how your green space can help local species thrive this August

Large or small, your garden or green space can make a real difference to local wildlife – the way you choose to care for your garden really does matter! Collectively, wildlife-friendly spaces, no matter how small, act as mini stepping stones across our towns and villages, helping wildlife find food, water, shelter and places to breed. Even the smallest space like a window box can encourage and support a variety of fascinating insects, contributing to a thriving ecosystem.

In August, look out for the beautiful hummingbird hawk moth. It’s a summer visitor from southern Europe and north Africa, and its numbers vary year on year depending on weather conditions. With its hovering flight and long tongue, this amazing daytime moth is sometimes mistaken for a small exotic bird, hence its name.

Cinnabar moths are also ‘out and about’ this month. Their larvae are one of many species which rely solely on the leaves and stems of ragwort for food. Ragwort flowers are an amazing pollen and nectar source for many insects, including butterflies, beetles and solitary bees. Often stripped from fields

and paddocks, ragwort can pose a health threat to grazing livestock. But in a garden or wild space it is an amazing food plant, supporting more than 200 species – so please do think before you ‘weed’! Also on the wing this month is the holly blue butterfly. In Dorset, it is warm enough for them to have two generations a year, so the ones we see now are the offspring of the adults you might have spotted in the spring.

Shake some heads

Top nectar sources for insects in August include succulent sedums, tasty marjoram and colourful rudbeckias. If you spot gaps in your borders, pop in a few perennials like salvias or asters which will provide sources of pollen and nectar through late summer and into autumn. And do deadhead plants in pots or baskets to keep the flowers coming. Some roses, such as Rosa canina and Rosa setipoda, will produce hips if you don’t remove all the spent flowers. This will give you a much-enjoyed splash of colour through the winter but could be a genuine life saver for hungry birds and small mammals. Many earlier flowering plants, such as foxglove and sweet William, will have set seed by now – it’s a good idea to collect and save some for future sowing. Choose a dry day and just shake the seed heads into a paper bag. Seed will keep for several years if stored in a cool dry place, but if you have too much, remember to share with friends!

Not all seeds will store well though – for example yellow rattle, sometimes known as the ‘meadow maker’, is best sown fresh between now and the end of the year.

For more wildlife-friendly gardening advice, visit dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-friendly-garden

The hummingbird hawk moth is a regular summer visitor to the south of the UK. Image: Dave Appleton

All images © Heather Brown

Rose and matcha cake

This recipe started out as a bit of an experiment but has now become a reliable go-to if I am looking for something summery and floral – the matcha tempers the rose with some earthiness. I use Polly’s Petals for all my food grade edible powders and petals: not only are they locally-based on Portland but they have such a beautiful range. If you don’t usually buy matcha, you can get loose matcha powder in most supermarkets or health food stores – just make sure it is not the kind in tea bags! I have used Stork margarine – I was looking for something light and airy and this baking margarine lends itself to that. It also happens to be naturally dairy free.

Ingredients

• 170g/6oz golden caster sugar

• 170g/6oz Stork margarine

• 3 eggs

• 170g/6oz self-raising flour

• 2 tsp matcha powder

• 150g/5oz icing sugar

• 1tsp rose powder

• Edible dried rose petals to decorate

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 180º fan/gas 6. Grease and line an eight inch square baking tin.

2. Beat the caster sugar and margarine well together until light, fluffy and pale in colour (this will take two to three minutes with an electric mixer). Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating really well between each.

3. Add in the flour and the matcha powder and gently mix with a large spoon, making sure not to knock out any of the air you have just beaten in.

4. Carefully pour this batter into the cake tin and smooth into the corners. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes – the sponge needs to be springy to the touch and be slightly pulling away from the edges of the tin.

5. Once baked, leave the cake to cool.

6. To finish, mix together the icing sugar with some cold water, adding very little at a time, until you reach a thick, drizzly consistency. Stir in the rose powder.

7. Cut the cooled cake into squares and drizzle it with the icing, sprinkling with dried rose petals to finish.

by Fanny Charles

Dorset – the food festival county

Discover Dorset’s busy summer food lineup: from cider and seafood to chilli and cheese, Fanny Charles explores the best local flavours this year

Dorset has had a busy summer food festival calendar for many years – and this year the festival diary has got even fuller, with a new event at Shaftesbury joining regular celebrations of the county’s rich harvest of food and drink, seafood, cider ... and chillis.

The busy foodie month starts on Saturday 3rd

August with the Dorset Food & Arts Festival now based at the Great Field at Poundbury (it was held originally at Queen Mother Square). This year is a special anniversary for the free event, which began in 2012 to celebrate the best of Dorset’s food, drink and creativity, during the London Olympics. It has remained free, and is a great event for locals to

Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival

renew relationships with food and drink producers and artists – and for visitors to discover some real tastes of Dorset.

Saturday and Sunday 3rd and 4th August – the Great Dorset Chilli Festival, now established at Stock Gaylard, near Stalbridge (it was originally in the grounds of St Giles House near Wimborne). It has some claim to be Dorset’s hottest festival!

Wednesday and Thursday 14th and 15th August – Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show, one of the country’s leading agricultural shows, is a wonderful celebration of food and farming across Dorset and a bit beyond.

Saturday 17th August – celebrate the West Country’s best known alcoholic drink at the Dorchester Cider Festival in Borough Gardens. It is a free, family-friendly celebration of the region’s bests cider as well as elderflower infusions, street food and live music.

Sunday 18th August – new this year, EAT Shaftesbury on Park Walk. This is a new date for the long-established EAT festivals which bring outstanding local food and drink to towns across Somerset and Devon.

Thursday 22nd August – Melplash Show on the West Bay showground between Bridport and West Bay, is one of the region’s finest one-day shows, and a great day out for anyone who cares about food, farming and the countryside.

Saturday and Sunday 24th and 25th August –Swanage Fish Festival at a new venue, Sandpit Field off De Moulham Road.

Saturday and Sunday 24th and 25th August – Stock Gaylard Oak Fair, celebrating oak trees, woodland, forestry, conservation and lots of local food.

Dorset County Show’s food area and enormous food and drink marquee

Looking a little further ahead:

7th and 8th September – Dorset County Show, at the showground just north of Dorchester; two days of the cream of Dorset farming and countryside exhibitions and competitions, food, drink and rural life generally.

7th and 8th September – Dorset Seafood Festival, enjoy the best of Dorset’s marine harvest at the Weymouth Peninsula.

Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th September

– Sturminster Cheese Festival, now in its 25th year, a celebration of the region’s cheese tradition, with lots of other artisan food and drink producers, artists and makers, local organisations, children’s activities and live music.

Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th September –Poole’s Seafood and Sounds Festival in the Old Town and on the Quay; great food and live music.

Dorchester Cider Festival

by Fanny Charles

Put a tiger in your tank!

Wilfrid Shon is making some of the best gin in the world in a Dorset farmyard – and its Asian kick has its roots in a notable 1767 local fair

One of the most famous scenes in all Thomas Hardy’s novels is the hiring fair in The Mayor of Casterbridge, at which farm labourer Michael Trenchard, in a drunken fury, sells his wife. Two villages in this area lay claim to be the home of that notorious fair – Yarlington near Wincanton, which still has an annual fair, and Shroton near Blandford. Geographically, Shroton might seem to have the more plausible claim, as Thomas Hardy would more likely have known it.

Shroton Fair, founded in 1261 in the village under the lea of Hambledon Hill, was probably originally a horse fair, but later became a hiring fair, where tradesmen and craftsmen would hire themselves out for contract work. The fair continued, inevitably changing over time, but finally closing in the 1960s –there must be many in the area who still remember it.

Famously, in 1767, a tiger came to Shroton Fair – and that extraordinary exotic visitor has

given its image to Wilfrid Shon’s gin, which he produces in a container unit in the courtyard of a farm on the western slopes

Wilfrid

of Cranborne Chase, just a few miles from Shroton, where he and his family have lived for more than 20 years.

Founded just three years ago, Shroton Fair Gin has this summer scored two major successes. It won gold and was judged in the top five per cent of gins in the International Wine and Spirit competition, for which around 1,000 gins were entered.

At the Global Spirits Masters awards, more than 400 gins were blind tasted – Master’s medals were awarded to entries scoring higher than gold, meaning Shroton Fair Gin is one of just 36 in the world with a Masters (making 27-year-old Wilfrid a Master of Gin).

It is quite an achievement for the young distiller who only began making gin in the wake of

Shon, Master of Gin and owner of nano-distillery

Shroton Fair Gin

Covid, and describes his one-man business as a ‘nano-distillery’. Educated at Sandroyd School near Tisbury, Clayesmore at Iwerne Minster and Canford School, where he did his A levels, Wilfrid read politics at the University of York and gained his masters in warfare and strategy at Leeds. He was working in the events industry in York when the pandemic closed down hospitality. Sensibly, he opted to come home – and began experimenting with the idea of making his own gin.

Grains of Paradise

‘I love cooking, hospitality and booze,’ he says. ‘You could call it my holy trinity! When I came back home I had to do something, so I started experimenting with botanicals to make a gin.’ He spent many months exploring the possibilities but finally found the right combination: ‘I stopped tweaking when I liked it,’ he says. Apart from the essential juniper, Wilfrid began with spices including cardamom, cinnamon and coriander – and later cumin – and some herbs. The mystery ingredient, which gives this gin its very distinctive taste, is a West African pepper called Grains of Paradise (Aframomum melegueta) which comes from

The Spiced French 75

Every gin should have a signature cocktail, and this is Shroton Fair Gin’s. It’s an elegant serve which complements the botanicals, and is the perfect aperitif on a warm summer’s evening.

For the spiced syrup:

100g caster sugar

100ml water

1tsp Grains of Paradise

2 dried juniper berries

5 coriander seeds

3cm fresh ginger root, chopped

1 strip lemon zest

1 Strip grapefruit zest

the ginger family and has a slightly citrussy flavour. The process begins with these botanicals being soaked in muslin bags for about 18 hours and then drained through a lively mix of grapefruit, lemon, ginger and cranberry. The finished product has ‘a bright mouthfeel,’ says Wilfrid, who recommends drinking Shroton Fair Gin with Fevertree’s Mediterranean tonic and a slice of frozen grapefruit. After he had settled on the recipe, Wilfrid needed somewhere that he could officially distill his new gin. He asked local farming friends, and a few months later was able to move into a little container in the courtyard at Ash Farm, where he is open to customers (including people looking for refills) on Friday and Saturday mornings from 9am to noon.

It is a constant learning process – ‘Every day is school day,’ he says, as he discovers more about distilling, the industry and the business of marketing his product.

He loves events and meeting new customers – look out for the Shroton Fair Gin stand at this year’s Great Dorset Chilli Festival on the weekend of 3rd-4th August, Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show on 14th and 15th August,

For the cocktail:

30ml Shroton Fair Gin

10ml lemon juice

10ml grapefruit juice

10ml spiced syrup

Champagne to top up Ice to shake

Lemon twist to garnish

Method:

1. Begin with the sugar syrup. Add the water, sugar and spices to a small pan and set over a low heat to dissolve the sugar. Once dissolved, increase the heat and boil for three to five minutes until syrupy. Remove from the heat and add

Shroton Fair Gin’s signature cocktail –a Spiced French 75

Dunster Show on 16th August, Mid Somerset Show on 18th August, Melplash Show on 22nd August and Stock Gaylard Oak Fair on the weekend of 24th and 25th August.

• For more information on Shroton Fair Gin and where to buy it, visit shrotonfairgin.co.uk

the citrus peel. Leave to cool.

2. Once at room temperature, strain through a muslin cloth into a sterile bottle and store in the fridge. Pop a champagne flute in the freezer to chill.

3. When ready, add the gin, citrus juices and syrup to a Boston shaker and shake for 15 to 20 seconds, or until the sides of the shaker feel cool.

Strain from a height into the chilled champagne flute to aerate the mixture.

4. Top up with champagne, and give a gentle stir with a bar spoon, garnish with a lemon twist and serve immediately.

From Dorset With Love

In 2010 Chrissy and Karl Regler had just had their second child. Finances were tight, and Chrissy, on maternity leave from the solicitors office where she worked, took a part time job in a pub. When a supplier let them down, she offered to make the pub’s popular chilli jam. ‘They loved it,’ she says. ‘Then they wanted a real ale chutney. As time went on, I started making on a very small scale for people to buy. Finally, we realised that if I sold X number of jars, I wouldn’t need to work at the solicitors anymore.

‘I mean, it was tough. We don’t have luxury holidays. We don’t have expensive cars. And it has definitely been hard with us being married – you’ve got to have a good strong relationship to be able to deal with that! ‘We’ve had lots of challenges –Brexit increased the import costs. We had no glass available for three months last year because

Dorsetshire Sauce, the awardwinning product that ‘made people take us seriously as foodies’

it was coming from Ukraine and Russia. And then Spain had major droughts ... My job might sound cutesy and domestic, but it’s actually a hard business in which to keep your head above water. Prices change all the time and you’ve got to constantly look at procurement. You’ve got to have the quality of goods coming in, you can’t just buy any old stuff.

‘People ask “why don’t you use Dorset’s strawberries?” – the answer is that there’s nowhere in Dorset that could produce enough. Plus there’s the sheer cost of that premium UK fruit –people wouldn’t pay it.

‘We pride ourselves on being a family brand, we don’t want to charge £6, £7, £8 a jar. We want people to be able to afford to buy from us and have our products on their breakfast tables. We don’t see the point of things being out of reach or only for a treat. We want our product to be an achievable thing.

which is a supermarket standard, it means our food safety is a really high level. We supply The National Trust and the RSPB and they both require a high standard of food hygiene. We were stocked in Co-op but we chose to de-list – supermarkets are not for us. They would take £4,000-worth of stock, and then pay you from what they sell. But you’ve made the investment in all the jars, the ingredients, the production … and you’re just waiting to receive that back.

People ask

“Why don’t you use Dorset strawberries?” –the answer is that nowhere in Dorset produces enough

‘We are SALSA accredited (Safe and Local Supplier Approval)

‘In a small business, you wear many, many hats. You’re in charge of your food safety, your accounts, procurement, marketing, sales and your customer service. You’ve got to be able to streamline as much as possible, or you’d go crazy. We don’t want to be a faceless brand. We want to be out there with fellow small traders, to go to a food festival and recognise our stockists – to stop for a chat. We want to be talking directly with the public, to say, “Oh, you can

From Dorset With Love founders Chrissy and Karl Regler Image: Courtenay Hitchcock

buy it here, here and here”. Food shows are great. Because people can see that we’re actually normal! We’re ordinary people who sit in on a Friday night and watch rubbish telly!’

Dorsetshire sauce

The From Dorset With Love range has grown over the years – the chilli jam is still there, but it sits in a broad range of jams, marmalades and chutneys. Last year Chrissy diversified into table sauces: ‘They’ve gone incredibly well. We also have fruit-infused balsamic vinegars, which are for more than just salads. But our main product is Dorsetshire source. It’s a unique taste – Karl spent 18 months creating it.’

‘We’d started making ketchup and brown sauce,’ says Karl. ‘I wondered why we were buying Worcestershire sauce to add to our products when we could make our own. So I started experimenting.’

‘But without the anchovies,’says Chrissy. ’Basically because we want to have friends – fermenting fish for 18 months isn’t ideal!’

‘About ten years ago I ended up with the right recipe,’ says Karl. ‘It uses 21 ingredients, with 15 herbs and spices – and it won a three star Great Taste Award that year. Out of 10,000 products only 152 got three stars.’

‘From there, Fortnum & Mason picked it up and things started to move,’ says Chrissy. ‘People took us more seriously as foodies. The Hix restaurant chain used it instead of the market leader. The Pig on the Beach uses it, The Salt Pig use it … it’s great for catering to allergies as it’s vegan and it’s gluten free.’

It’s still very much a family business – Chrissy’s brother works in the kitchen (he’s credited with fixing Chrissy’s grainy table sauce issues).

Chrissy’s mum has been a staunch supporter from the start, and still helps out where she’s needed: she taught Chrissy to

Chrissy on the stand at the Sturminster Cheese Festival

make a good marmalade, and it’s her piccalilli recipe in the jars. Although they’ve turned away from the supermarket route, Chrissy and Karl are still keen to expand the brand, exploring new markets and products, constantly innovating and testing. But there are certain areas of the business that won’t change.

‘There are food shows that we do every year,’ says Chrissy.

‘Strangely, of all of them, our local Sturminster Cheese Festival is absolutely one of the main ones! It’s popular no matter what the weather is doing. It’s a really good community event, and we always carry back empty trays on the Sunday because we’ve sold out – I don’t think we’ve ever had a bad event there.

‘The shows are where we can really tell people that we’re totally handmade. When a customer speaks to somebody there, they’re speaking to the person who makes it, or who’s packed the box or labelled the jar.’

From Dorset With Love products are stocked in lots of delis and farm shops all over the county (there’s also a stockist in Norway

and a butchers in Belgium!)

Products are available direct from the website, and of course you can stop and say hello to Chrissy and Karl at Sturminster Cheese Festival in September.

• fromdorsetwithlove.co.uk

Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival

Always a major event in the local foodie calendar, this year the Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival boasts more than 20 cheese makers, alongside a wide variety of other local West Country food and drinks traders and producers.

From Cheddar to blue cheese, olives to chutneys and cakes to chocolates, there will be something to tempt every taste bud ... and let’s not forget the locally-produced gins, ciders and vodkas on offer!

The Cheese Festival will take place on 14th and 15th September from 10am to 5pm at the Recreation Ground, Ricketts Lane, Sturminster Newton. Advanced Tickets £8

(£9 on the gate)bvmag.co.uk/ sturcheesetickets

by Fanny Charles

A sense of place is important

Howard Phipps’ art is rooted in the chalk downs of Wiltshire and Dorset, capturing this ancient landscape in his exquisitely detailed wood engravings

When Howard Phipps prepares to make one of his beautiful wood engravings, he uses a printing press whose design has probably changed little since the time of Caxton and Gutenberg. His Albion press is more than 160 years old – not quite as ancient as the printing machines invented by those 15th century pioneers, but still very old in these days of fast-changing digital technology, AI, laser and 3D printing and instant communications. The cast-iron press, which is quite small by comparison with others of a similar vintage, came from the old Cranborne Chase School, based in New Wardour Castle near Tisbury. Printing presses like the Albion weigh a ton (in some cases more) and come in sections, each finely engineered to fit together precisely.

‘When I brought it back, we had to pull it apart, then when you put it back together, you need to make sure the markings correspond,’ says Howard. ‘But they don’t easily go wrong!’

Howard Phipps in his studio.

Image: Fanny Charles

Wood engraving, like the wood-cut process, is a relief printmaking technique. The artist draws and then engraves an image onto a mirror-smooth surface of a block of endgrain boxwood. The tools have splendid names like spitsticker or scorper. Ink is applied to the relief surface with a roller and a printed impression is taken from the result.

Howard explains: ‘The artist is, in effect, drawing with light, for it is the engraved or lowered areas that come out as white. The main characteristics of wood engraving are the fine stippling and white lines against a dark background. The nature of the wood and the fine tools make a particularly rich-toned range.’

Timeless quality

Growing up in Cheltenham, Howard studied art at Gloucestershire College of Arts in the town, followed by a postgraduate year in Brighton. For some years, he taught art in Devon before moving to the Salisbury area where he still lives. He was elected a Royal West of England Academician in 1979, and a member of the Society of Wood Engravers (SWE) in 1985.

the Cotswolds, Howard got to know the work of the private

In his print room, Howard Phipps’ 1862 Albion Press, with a woodblock locked onto the bed of the press

produces limited edition books, many of which have become collectors’ items. This became a lifelong relationship – the Whittington Press published his collections Interiors (1985), Further Interiors (1992) and Ebble Valley (2007), for which he also wrote the text.

After moving to Wiltshire, Howard met the printer and author Walter Partridge, who had a printing business in old barns at Sutton Montis. Before acquiring his own Albion press, Howard made prints on one of the Partridge presses, and also produced frontispieces for some of Walter’s books.

There is something infinitely satisfying about watching a master craftsman at work –and Howard Phipps is both a

master of his craft and a hugely talented artist, a combination that has earned him a reputation as one of this country’s (if not the world’s) finest wood engravers. His pictures, whether landscapes or interiors, are instantly recognisable, with their exquisitely fine detail and timeless quality.

He lives in a village overlooking Cranborne Chase and close to the Ebble valley. Much of his art is rooted in the chalk downs of Wiltshire and Dorset, with their deep coombes and beech clumps. He works from drawings and watercolours made on location, using light to reveal the underlying forms of the landscape.

‘I love cycling and walking – and drawing on location,’ he says. ‘I need that sense of place – it is very important.’ His relationship with chalk downs dates back to the year he spent as a student in Brighton, exploring the Sussex downs inland from the town.

‘I am very interested in the sculptural nature of the downs, ‘ says Howard. That particular feature is powerfully present in Howard’s engravings of the chalk hills and valleys of Wessex. He is particularly drawn to the region’s many ancient hill forts and tracks – prehistoric places on which earlier

Dorset Coast, Seacombe

generations have left their mark. His subsequent wood engravings are profoundly imbued with a sense of place.

Cutting it fine

Howard’s work has been exhibited widely, including at the Royal West of England Academy, the Victoria Art Gallery at Bath, the Royal Academy summer exhibition, Salisbury Museum, Dorset County Museum, St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery at Lymington, Messums Wiltshire gallery at the Tisbury tithe barn and Sladers Yard at West Bay. He has had a number of solo shows, including most recently Cutting It Fine, in 2021-22, at Salisbury Museum, which was featured on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row arts programme (listen to hear Howard in his studio, he starts at 11:25) His many awards include the Contemporary Print Prize at the Royal Academy summer exhibition in

1985, the Landscape Print Prize at the National Print Exhibition and various SWE prizes.

He has engravings in many collections, including the British Museum, the Ashmolean, Cheltenham Art Gallery, the Russell Cotes Museum and Art Gallery in Bournemouth and the Yale Centre for British Art in the USA. He has also illustrated books for publishers including Bloomsbury, The Fleece Press and the Folio Society.

Howard currently has work in the summer exhibition at Gallery Nine at 9b Margaret Buildings, Bath, running until the end of September. The show also features work by Yo Thom, the Japanese-born ceramicist who lives at Fontmell Magna.

• For more information about Howard Phipps, more of his wood engravings, drawings and watercolours, and information about upcoming exhibitions, visit howardphipps.co.uk

Under Win Green

The Voice of the Allotment

The July diary

Barry Cuff takes a look at what’s happening, as the allotment enjoyed July’s damp weather

The weather remained unusual for the time of year – we had many dull days through July, and more than three inches of rain. Most crops have benefitted, with only a few a little later than usual:

Autumn salad and stir fry veg – Radicchio and Chinese cabbage have been sown in plugs. The remainder will be sown direct in August and September.

Beetroot – Pulling as required for salads, and have sown a mixture of varieties (Perfect 3, Crimson King and Cylindra) in three more partrows.

Brassicas – All now doing well under the net, with good growth after recovering from pigeon and slug damage. Very few Cabbage White Butterflies spotted this year, and no sign of Swede Midge.

Waiting to be planted out from plug trays are Medallion and Snow March spring cauliflowers, plus Romanesco and Savoy cabbages.

Broad bean – The plants have finished cropping and have been put on the compost heap.

Carrot – Pulling as required now, and more sowings have been made (Early Nantes).

Celeriac – Putting on good growth and fed regularly with liquid seaweed.

Celery – The Golden Self-Blanching are doing well, like the celeriac. Both are baited with slug pellets.

Chicory – Growing well despite suffering a little slug damage.

Courgette – two varieties growing (Defender and Astia), and both are cropping well: we are picking every two to three days.

Dwarf French bean of Safari mid-July, and the Nautica is currently flowering, will start cropping by early August.

Leek – We do not need leeks until December. They have been planted out on the ground following the early potatoes and the broad beans. Thanks to the wet weather, they are establishing well.

It’s a bumper year for potatoes - so far we have dug Maris Bard, Charlotte, Jazzy, Caledonian Pearl and a few Sagitta. All images: Barry Cuff

Lettuce – A new batch is sown each month to ensure a constant supply (Little Gem).

Mangetout – First pickings of Carouby De Massaune, but we’ll wait a little longer for the Purple Magnolia which will crop in August.

Onion – The new variety Bonus is looking well (this variety replaced Golden Bear which we grew for many years). Some white rot which we live with as there is no cure except for an eight-year gap in the rotation. We manage six years and expect to lose about five to ten per cent to the disease

Parsnip – Looking exceptionally well!

Peas – A total disaster this year! Poor establishment due to weevil and soil conditions. We hope to do better in 2025.

Potatoes – These have loved the wet conditions! So far we have dug Maris Bard, Charlotte, Jazzy, Caledonian Pearl and a few Sagitta. We have cut the haulms off Sagitta and Desiree. The Picasso and Caledonian Rose are still green, and these will have to be checked every day now as our plot neighbour has blight on her outdoor tomatoes

Runner beans – Both varieties (Moonlight and Scarlet Emperor) are right at the top of the eight foot canes and covered in flowers.

Squash – From mid month we saw them put on a lot of growth.

Sweetcorn – Slightly later than usual. Tassels are appearing, but now they need some sunshine.

Sweet pepper and Tomatoes (in the greenhouse)

– both are doing well and starting to crop, though there is a little blossom rot on a few of the tomatoes.

Weeds – What a year so far for weed growth! Hand weeding and hoeing at each visit to the plot, and we always allow a few Weasel Snout, Thornapple and Moth Mullein to survive. Hopefully August will be sunnier, especially for the sweetcorn and squashes.

The tomatoes are doing well and starting to crop, though there is a little blossom rot on a few.

The runner beans are right at the top of the eight foot canes and covered in flowers

Help your lavender plants to keep their shape by trimming them after flowering

Essential jobs to nurture your garden this August

Your August garden: prolong blooming, manage watering and prepare for next year’s display with expert advice from Pete Harcom

August’s jobs in the garden:

• Even with all the rain we’ve been having, it’s wise to keep a check on your potted plants and hanging baskets – the odd one can often miss out on all the rainfall, but naturally you won’t consider it needs watering after a downpour! The best time to water plants is early morning – this allows the foliage to dry quickly which discourages fungal spores. If you have to water in the evening, it is best to water at the roots and not on the leaves, reducing any fungal problems from wet leaves on the plant and on the soil overnight. However ... plants in containers may well need watering twice a day – early morning AND evening!

• Keep feeding all your container plants with liquid fertiliser – once a week if possible. Regular feeding and dead heading – especially roses, dahlias and perennials – will help to keep the displays going.

• And in a step further than dead heading, sweet peas are at their best this month and they really do benefit from you constantly picking the flowers for vases in the house. It helps prolong the flowering period.

• Keep on removing those weeds, as they compete for water and soil nutrients.

• Prune all your summer flowering shrubs once the flowers are finished. And trim your lavender plants after flowering too, to help them keep their shape.

• This is a good month to remove the long whip side shoots from wisteria, back to approximately 20cm from the main stem (usually to 5 or 6 leaves). This will help control the growth and also encourage flowing next year. Wisteria will need pruning again in January or February.

• Now’s the time to plant your autumn flowering bulbs like Colchicum (autumn crocus)

• And believe it or not, now’s the time to order next year’s spring bulbs and perennials, ready for this autumn’s planting! Don’t forget your daffodils, tulips and Madonna lilies.

• Still looking ahead, start collecting seed from plants you want to grow next year – especially foxgloves, aquilegia, calendula, poppy and lovein-a-mist. Seed from aquilegia is an easy job – the seed pods rattle when they are ready to harvest, and they can be scattered immediately after gathering. Sow them in a shady spot if you need some colour there, or collect them for sowing in the Spring. You can store them in a dry spot in the shed until required for sowing.

Embracing the summer

Thorngrove Garden Centre’s regular update from Kelsi-Dean Buck – who is excited for their biggest ever summer of events, plants and crafts

*do not complain about the sun* ... *do not complain about the sun* ...

We hope you’ve all been staying safe and hydrated during the recent heatwave? We’re doing our best not to moan about the heat: after that horrendous start to the year, and the spring being a total wash out, it’s been nice to have a bit of actual summer! We are so excited for August and beyond as we will be getting out and about at two of the biggest events in our calendar.

On the 14th and 15th August we will be attending Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show, setting up with beautiful plants and meeting all of you lovely people! We will have a fabulous selection of 3-for-£10 1litre pots of West Country grown flowering herbaceous plants, with pack lavender, roses, herbs, gifts, greetings cards and more. That’s not all – we will be running a prize draw on both days. We just had our final meeting to plan our pitch and we’re so excited, it will be our biggest presence ever!

Not only we will be there as Thorngrove, we will be setting up with Employ My Ability (EMA), so visitors can learn more about the amazing opportunities we offer young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Those who know about us already will know how EMA is at the heart of our garden centre and café – if you’d like to know more and meet our staff, grab a leaflet and please come and have a chat.

Looking ahead to September, we are also attending Dorset County Show on the 7th and 8th September, with even more on display. We cannot wait!

Back at Thorngrove

In other news, we are looking forward to hearing the judges feedback on Shaftesbury in Bloom 2024. Thorngrove, our EMA students and day service users play a huge role in this volunteer-led scheme, putting together more than 100 planters which are proudly on display around Shaftesbury. Whatever the outcome, we’re already planning for 2025 and look forward to continuing this annual tradition.

Here at the garden centre we have now revealed dates for our special summer mini garden crafts sessions for children. This month they can make some mini gardens with real seeds, and a whole range of decorations to create a theme of their choice. These are perfect for four to nine-year-olds (though other ages are welcome). Parents go free! Booking is on our website, or just give us a call or pop in.

We are of course bursting at the seams with blooms here on site, so do come and have a look for your summer garden additions. Our plant of the month is the wonderful Anemone, and there are a range of multi-buys and special offers. And don’t forget to join our FREE loyalty scheme (exclusive offers going out soon so don’t miss out!).

Have a wonderful month, and we’ll see you soon!

• thorngrovegardencentre.co.uk

A 60s trip to the seaside

This month Barry Cuff has chosen a pair of suitably holiday-themed postcards of the coast - both having been sent by children in the 1960s:

Weymouth’s Jubilee Clock Tower is instantly recognisable on the Esplanade in 1966 – many readers will no doubt remember day trips to the beach looking just like this. It would appear Richard was possibly ‘encouraged’ into writing his postcard to Jane – he doesn’t seem to have much to say!

‘Dear Jane. This is a lovely place for a holiday. I wish you were here. Love from Richard

by Rita to her school friend Jane Hancox in Smethwick, near Birmingham from her 1963 summer holiday to the Dorset coast. We can see the rowing boats were for hire at Lulworth Cove at 2/6’ for half an hour, four shillings for an hour, and the sign warns ‘NO responsibility taken whatsoever’! Weymouth pier, known as the Commercial Pier and the Pile Pier, was built in 1812 and demolished in 1986.

‘Dear Jane, I am having a lovely time here at Weymouth and the weather is wonderful. Our caravan is a short way from the sea but is a very pleasant drive. Weymouth has a wide stretch of golden sand and the sea is blue. Over at the pier a number of liners going to France and places like that come to load up. Well see you soon at school. Rita

Sent

THEN AND NOW

Step back in time with our ‘Then and Now’ feature, where vintage postcards from the Barry Cuff Collection meet modern-day reality. Explore the past and present on the same page, and see the evolution of familiar local places. ‘Now’ images by Courtenay Hitchcock

Shaftesbury

by Karen Geary, Nutritional

It’s time to eat purple!

Summer fruits are not only tasty but also packed with nutrients – add these health-boosting foods to your meals, with tips from Karen

I hope by the time you read this, summer will finally have materialised in our corner of the world – as I type it’s still raining ... This month I thought I’d take a look at summer fruits, as some are better options than others. Berries and stone fruits tend to have a lower sugar content compared with tropical fruits like mango, banana and pineapple. They offer a burst of flavour and colour to our diets and they also pack a nutritional punch. These fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre, making them essential for maintaining good health. Here’s a closer look at their nutritional benefits, and some tips on how to incorporate more of them into our diets.

Small but mighty berries

Berries, including strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackcurrants and blackberries, are tiny fruits packed with vitamins C and K, manganese and fibre. Berries are a great choice for people watching their sugar levels and usually suitable for diabetics, as they are the fruits with the lowest sugar content. Berries are celebrated for their high antioxidant content as they contain anthocyanins. These are anti-inflammatory compounds and have been linked to a reduced risk of chronic diseases by helping to neutralise harmful free radicals which can damage cells and contribute to ageing and disease.

Anthocyanins are a type of natural flavonoid, water-soluble pigments found in many fruits and vegetables. These pigments give berries, cherries, red cabbage, red onions, purple carrots, beetroot, black grapes, purple sweet potatoes and other colourful plants their vibrant red, purple, and blue hues. Consuming anthocyanin-rich foods has been associated with numerous health benefits, including reduced inflammation, improved heart health, enhanced brain function and even better vision. Anthocyanins are not only responsible for the

Geary

beautiful colours in many fruits and vegetables but also contribute significantly to their healthpromoting properties. It’s why I always ask my clients to eat something purple every day!

Chia Jam

• 450g bag of mixed frozen berries (or fresh if you are lucky enough to have loads)

• 3 tbs of chia seeds

• A little water (about five tbs)

• Juice of a lemon

Add the frozen fruit, water and chia seeds to a pan. Warm through until gently boiling, then take off the heat – the chia seeds will naturally thicken the cooked fruit.

Once it’s cool, stir through the lemon juice. This jam will keep well in the fridge for a week – add it as a fruity topping to cereals and yogurt, spread it on toast or throw some into your smoothie.

Juicy and nutritious stone fruit

In ancient Chinese folklore, peaches were believed to be a symbol of immortality and they were often associated with longevity and good health.

Stone fruits, including peaches, plums, cherries

and apricots, are named for their large, hard seeds. These fruits are also quite low in sugars, are excellent sources of vitamins A and C, potassium and fibre. Vitamin A is crucial for eye health, while vitamin C boosts the immune system and aids skin health. The fibre they contain supports digestive health and also helps in maintaining a healthy weight.

I ask my clients to eat something purple every day!

To enjoy more stone fruits, try slicing them into salads with mozzarella and basil, grill them for a unique dessert – or simply eat them fresh if you can find nice ripe ones!

My personal favourite grilled peach recipe is here.

Incorporating summer fruits into your diet can enhance your overall health thanks to their rich nutrient profiles and various health benefits. Boost your vitamin intake, improve your digestion or simply enjoy a delicious snack – summer fruits are an excellent choice. Embrace the season’s bounty and enjoy these fruits as they contribute to your well-being!

Get a pet, they said ... it’ll be fun ...

Dorset Mind volunteer Annabel Goddard takes a minute to appreciate how furry friends enhance our lives and affect our mental health

August is an animal lover’s dream –we celebrate both International Cat Day on the 8th and International Dog Day on 26th. While most of us need no excuse to give our furry friends an extra treat or cuddle, it’s worth reflecting on why we love our pets so much – and the importance of their company in aiding our mental health.

Routine

It doesn’t matter if you’re a cat or a dog person, or even a rabbit or fish person – our pets need, and often demand, attention. Dogs need to be walked, fed, sometimes groomed and definitely loved daily, for example. By having to attend to our pets we find ourselves unconsciously in a regular routine and getting outside and active –which benefits humans too! We often work our lives around theirs, in the best way possible. But by looking after your pet, you are in fact looking after yourself too.

Connection

Our pets love us back. Companionship from animals can be a massive tool in reducing loneliness, and even helps ease grief and depression. Service animals play a huge role in many lives, especially for those who may not be able to get by without them – for example guide dogs for the visually impaired or anxiety dogs in schools.

Support

Dogs have been “man’s best friend” for centuries – having one is almost guaranteed to help you get through difficult times. Many pet owners, me included, often feel as though their pets understand their moods better than humans do.

Support from a pet can feel less emotionally demanding, especially if you don’t want to talk about your feelings. Pets care for you in their own silent ways and intuitively know when to comfort you. There for you

Many of our childhood pets have taught us amazing things about love and loyalty. It’s true to say that you never forget your first pet – they are simply cherished family members. My first cat, Nicholas, would lie on my lap when I was only four years old, and I have remained a cat person ever since. Cats are particularly helpful with anxiety – if you’re lucky enough to have a cat that loves to sit on your lap, I guarantee you often take a moment just to listen to their purr and feel their warmth. They can be very calming when they want to be!

Giving a pet a home

If you’re considering getting a pet, you don’t have to buy a puppy or kitten. Sadly, there are plenty of unwanted animals, and adopting a rescued animal is a great idea – but do your research and make sure you find a reputable charity or organisation. Initially it can be difficult to navigate their needs, which, like ours, can be physical or emotional – being able to see your pet grow towards you and settle in can be so rewarding. It will feel amazing to be the one who gives an animal a second chance at life, and your new pet will love you for it.

Our pets play a crucial role in our well-being. They provide us with routine, connection and unwavering support. The lessons of love and loyalty they teach us are invaluable, and the bond we share with them is irreplaceable. And let’s not forget the simple joy and fulfilment that comes from living with an animal. By giving a pet a home, we not only improve their lives but also enrich our own in countless ways. Celebrate this month by showing your pets extra love, and perhaps opening your heart and home to a new furry friend in need.

Support for you:

• First steps towards support should be to speak to someone - a trusted friend, family member, professional or your GP

• Visit Dorset Mind for local mental health support and helpful advice

• The Samaritans are there to listen 24/7, call them free on 116 123

• Call Dorset’s mental health helpline Connection for support on 0800 652 0190

Dorset takeover: business as unusual

Dorset Chamber CEO Ian Girling looks to engage with new MPs to tackle business challenges in a new, multi-coloured political landscape

As anticipated the July 4th General Election unsurprisingly saw a huge Labour victory with the Labour Party gaining more than 200 seats – a total of 412, with a majority of 174. The Conservatives suffered their worst result, in terms of seats, in their history, with a loss of 251 seats. There are just 121 Tory seats now remaining in the House of Commons.

Within Dorset, only two of our eight Conservative MPs survived the election – Simon Hoare and Sir Christopher Chope, and both with significantly reduced majorities. Now, a previously Blue Dorset consists of four Labour MPs, two Liberal Democrats and those two Conservatives.

I think it’s absolutely vital that MPs engage closely with business – I have written to all the Dorset MP’s and encouraged them to work with us in making sure the business voice is always heard. I have also written to our new Prime Minister and congratulated him on his election and stated we’d be delighted to welcome him to Dorset for a visit to businesses.

So what does this mean for business? Does this change in government threaten or bolster economic stability? Only time will tell. It’s true that after several challenging years of record-high inflation and rising interest rates, things are a little more stable now – inflation down to 2 per cent from a high in 2022 of 11 per cent. We’ve yet to see the Bank of England reduce interest rates, but I’m confident this will come. It’s going to be absolutely vital for the new government to

maintain this path of economic stability and recovery. Within Dorset, recruitment challenges and the cost of housing are two linked and significant issues – and something that we will be pushing on.

I am very keen we closely engage with our new MPs to develop a strong relationship with the Dorset business community. As the County Chamber of Commerce, we will do our absolute best to facilitate this.

H&W invests in Holidaymaker: a game-changer for hospitality tech

Hall & Woodhouse (H&W) has invested in Holidaymaker to enhance its guest engagement technology for the hospitality industry.

Dorset firm Holidaymaker launched its guest experience app in 2020, aiming to help hospitality brands increase revenue, boost brand loyalty, and encourage repeat business. With H&W’s investment, the company is poised to revolutionise guest interaction in the sector.

Anthony Woodhouse, Chairman of Hall & Woodhouse, says: ‘We feel strongly about backing Dorsetbased winners and enabling entrepreneurs to unlock their full potential.

‘Holidaymaker was an obvious investment for us due to its work in the hospitality sector.

‘It is an exciting time to be working closely with Holidaymaker, as it looks to grow and push the boundaries of what can be achieved in the sector.

‘We are eager to see what learnings we can apply to our own business through this partnership.’

With H&W’s support, Holidaymaker has evolved from a guest experience app to a comprehensive software platform, allowing parks to market directly to their guests and owners. Anthony Woodhouse also serves on the Holidaymaker board in an advisory role.

Holidaymaker CEO David Lakins says: ‘Having Hall & Woodhouse’s backing has provided us with the foundation to take the next steps to grow the business and expand our offering.

‘We are incredibly excited to have Anthony’s great insight, experience and guidance on the board, and his company is the perfect match, sharing innovation, passion and culture.’

‘Holidaymaker is currently developing a new app for H&W,’ co-founder Dave Mc Robbie added. ‘It will offer personalised communication, providing information on menus, dining offers and local attractions. Guests will also be able to book tables, accommodation, and browse other pubs in H&W’s estate across the south.’

Anthony added: ‘Holidaymaker has a really interesting product with a strong management team. We believe in the team’s vision to provide technology that delivers innovative solutions for the hospitality sector. We feel fortunate to be part of the team’s journey to achieve this ambition.’

• holidaymakerapp.co.uk

• hall-woodhouse.co.uk

Four trophies at prestigious WineGB Awards for Langham Wine Estate

Dorset-based Langham Wine Estate celebrated a remarkable achievement at the WineGB Awards 2024. Its Corallian Classic Cuvée NV was named Best NV/MV Classic Cuvée, while the Pinot Noir 2019 won Best Blanc de Noirs and the Wessex Trophy. Additionally, Langham Wine Estate was awarded Best Estate Winery. The WineGB Awards, recognising the excellence of Great Britain’s wine and producers, featured a prestigious judging panel led by co-chairs Susie Barrie MW, Oz Clarke OBE and Peter Richards MW.

Head Winemaker Tommy Grimshaw expressed his gratitude for the accolades and credited the hard work of the whole team:

‘We are dedicated to producing exceptional sparkling wines that truly represent our little patch of Dorset, only using grapes grown on our 85-acre vineyard. We believe this commitment is crucial as the English wine scene rapidly expands. We will continue our minimal intervention, traditional method approach, with the aim to produce the best English sparkling wines.’

L-R: Dave McRobbie, Anthony Woodhouse and David Lakins

New leadership for Rubicon

As founder Lloyd Banks retires, the new joint managing directors of Rubicon People Partnership lead with a focus on culture and innovation

Jess Comolly-Jones and Terry Porter have been appointed joint managing directors of Rubicon People Partnership, taking over from founder Lloyd Banks, who has stepped down after 24 years.

In 2021, Rubicon became one of the UK’s first 100 per cent employee-owned recruitment consultancies. Jess, 38, joined as a trainee in 2005, working her way to commercial director. Terry, also 38, joined a year later and advanced to director of operations.

Lloyd, 62, said: ‘Both Jess and Terry have very different skillsets and work very well together. Passing the baton to them was a no-brainer.

‘They’re inheriting a solid and successful business and have the energy and the motivation to take it forward.

‘After a lifetime of work I’m now looking forward to focusing on travel, whisky, cigars and motorcycles!’

It’s all about the team Poole-based Rubicon employs 37 people and has an annual turnover of more than £12 million. Future plans include

expanding across the UK and new initiatives such as the relaunch of Rubicon Executive. Terry says: ‘As an employeeowned business, we’re fixated on culture. If you culturally align and your morals fit, then we’re onto a winner… It’s why the retention and average years of service of our team are so high. The employment industry has changed radically since Jess and I initially joined.

‘We’re looking forward to adopting new tech – new software coming in will be a game-changer for us.’

Jess says: ‘Attracting talented

individuals from outside the industry with transferable skills and the right attitude, then developing, supporting and growing them, has been the recipe for our success.

‘It really is all about the team. We are constantly evolving and both Terry and I are excited for the future.’

• Rubicon places temporary workers, contract and permanent employees in various sectors including technical, manufacturing, logistics, commercial and executive/C-suite positions.

• rubiconpeople.co.uk

Regeneration plans move forward for Dorchester offices

RTI Estates Ltd, part of Dorchester-based Redtale Holdings, is planning Dorchester’s first openmarket build-to-rent project by converting Vespasian House into 37 apartments for up to 144 people. The £11m project is part of RTI’s ongoing regeneration of the historic Barrack Quarter. The development will include one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, as well as penthouses, providing high-quality, flexible rental accommodation. The conversion comes as NHS organisations

currently based in Vespasian House are exploring relocation options.

The project follows RTI’s previous developments in the Barrack Quarter, including key worker apartments for NHS staff and the conversion of former stores into townhouses and apartments. Since 2013, national policies have facilitated the conversion of commercial properties into homes, with over 100,000 new homes delivered in England. The easing of criteria, especially post-pandemic, has further encouraged such conversions

Jess Comolly-Jones and Terry Porter (right), joint managing directors at Rubicon People Partnership, with Lloyd Banks who is stepping down after 24 years. Image: Andrew Diprose

Caring for local families for generations.

Whether your planning ahead with a funeral plan or when a loved one passes away, end-of-life care needs to be dependable, compassionate and ethical. With decades of experience, our trusted funeral services are available whenever you need us on 0800 008 6878. Local to you in:

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