The BV magazine, Nov 22

NEVER PRINTED - YOUR GREEN CHOICE

November ‘22

ISSN 2634-8810

From the heart of the Blackmore Vale

The BV magazine - November ‘22

IN THIS ISSUE The Pocket Rocket is European Champion! 15 year-old Ruby White. The tiny teenager from Stalbridge has won her first European title – P.4

Looking Back with Roger Guttridge Did you know that Australia’s first non-Aboriginal greatgrandmother came from Sturminster Newton? P.50

Do you have room for some girls? Haidy Mansfield has a hen rehoming day this month. WARNING; see her story, and you’ll be wondering if you have room for a young retiree chicken or three. P.10

BBC’s The Repair Shop’s expert upholsterer Sonnaz takes on Random 19 Did you know she lives near Wimborne? Or that she loves prawn cocktail crisps? Oh yes, we asked ALL the tough questions. P.22

John the Fish If you’ve ever bought fish from a car park in Wimborne (hear us out here) then you’ll know what an experience shopping with John the Fish is - P.24 2

‘There’s no checkbox on Zoopla for a minstrel’s gallery’ – Dorset Island Discs Giles Keating, the owner of Athelhampton House, talks about Dr Who, LEGO and Taylor Swift – P.28 Front cover: A woodland fun guy by Claire Norris

The BV magazine, November ‘22

INDEX

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

When we launched the BV in 2020, we did so with a couple of guiding intentions We know, it’s a HUGE magazine. So we make it easy for you - just like grabbing the sections you like best from the - to connect communities Sunday papers, you can click the number to jump straight fractured by a global to the section you want. Or, y’know, just make yourself a pandemic, and to provide coffee and read from the beginning ... much-needed support for fellow local small business owners. Along the way we’ve 24 A Country Living - John the Fish found our voice (and no, to the people that ask every single 110 Announcements week – we have never and will never print. For SO 48 Book corner many reasons). Sharing a sense of place through the stories being lived out among us is the very core 106 Business news and foundation of everything we do. It is baked into 28 Dorset Island Discs - Giles Keating every story that we share. And I hope we remain the unstinting champions of local businesses, charities 64 Equestrian and communities that we set out to be. 84 Farming Because today the Bank of England has warned of the longest recession in 100 years. Interest rates 67 Food & Drink have jumped again; angry-making for those trying to buy their first property, but genuinely frightening 99 Health for so many who are not locked in to a fixed rate, 112 Jobs or whose deal ends soon. And for those already struggling, the ever-climbing food bills are enough to 96 Letters to the Editor cause prickles of anxiety at every supermarket shop. 50 Local history And we understand just how every local business is feeling at the moment. We know, because we ARE 4 News them. The BV doesn’t have shareholders, or a handy millionaire owner with deep pockets. It’s just us, 60 Night Sky trying to make something good with the motley crew 91 Out of doors of brilliance who for some reason like us enough to 31 Politics stay (we do offer them the odd dry crust, obviously. We’re not monsters). 95 Puzzles But nor are we here to make ourselves into the 22 Random 19 - Sonnaz millionaire owners, either. We’ve been offering free services since we began; death announcements just 54 Reader's photography because it feels right. What’s On’s likewise. Space for schools to share what the kids are doing. Support 103 School news for as many charities as we can. It’s not the most 62 Take a hike profitable business model, but it’s definitely the right one. 36 What's on And every month we go out and find your stories 76 Wildlife – the extraordinarily talented, the champions, the heroes, the winners, the just-quietly-getting-on-ers. 18 WIN a KitchenAid But we know there are so many more to tell – as in all things, we rely on the community to find them. Contact The BV Team: Because we might talk to Bob, but Bob knows Marie’s husband Geoff, and Geoff went to school with Lucy Editor: Laura Hitchcock whose sister won four International awards for her editor@theblackmorevale.co.uk designer knitted dormice mittens. So when Geoff tells you a weird story about mouse gloves, let us Advertising: Courtenay Hitchcock advertising@theblackmorevale.co.uk know, yes? Meantime, keep your eyes peeled – we’re currently Sub-editors: looking at ways we might help our local small Gay Pirrie-Weir businesses this winter. Pop over to the Facebook Fanny Charles group for a chat – coffee’s at 11, and Everything else: we’re very fond of posh biscuits. Try Courtenay, he’s the organised one ...

If you do enjoy The BV and felt like supporting us, you can always buy us a virtual coffee here . We’re highly likely to actually spend it on our shocking coffee habit ...

The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS

Pocket Rocket Ruby – European champion!

Ruby White, the 15 year old from Dorset, is the newly-crowned European Champion All images © Courtenay Hitchcock 4

The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS

In September Dorset teen Ruby White travelled to Italy to compete in the EUBC Junior Boxing Championships – and won gold. Laura Hitchcock reports Ruby White, the 15 year-old Stalbridge teenager who stands just five-foot-tall, travelled as part of the England squad to Italy in September for a week-long knockout tournament, and had four bouts in her Under 48kgs category. ‘I think people underestimate me, because of my size. They don’t notice my power and my strength,’ she says. She won two of the bouts by stoppage; the quarter and semifinals were won on points. ‘I knew the semi would be the hardest opponent. I wasn’t worried about beating her, but I knew she was the biggest challenge – she was strong, a good boxer. The others were … easier?’ Ruby may have felt the semi was a tougher bout, but England Boxing’s Matt Halfpenny reported on the final: ‘Ruby arguably produced her best performance of the championships in the final with an outstanding showing against Azerbaijan’s Narmin Alizada. The Sturminster Newton club boxer was quick out of the blocks, forcing two standing eight counts in the first round and a further count in the second

Champion Ruby White with Hugo at home in Stalbridge before the ref stopped the contest to give the Three Lions their first gold.’ BV readers may well remember Ruby, who was spotted as a seven year-old by her coach Shaun Weeks at his Sturminster Newton boxing gym. When Ruby with the celebratory poster which hangs in her gym

she was 12 she participated in the biggest female amateur championship in Europe, and won the ‘Best Prospect’ award (The BV, May 21). Later last year she was selected at the England Boxing National Schools Championships as ‘Female Boxer of the Tournament’ – from all classes – by the England Talent coaches (The BV, Oct 21), and invited to join the GB Pathways squad. Corruption in the sport Ruby’s dream since she first picked up a pair of boxing gloves was to win Gold at the Olympics in 2028. But amateur boxing has recently suffered a major blow with the announcement the sport will not be included in the programme for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. A 2021 independent investigation into the 2016 tournament in Rio de Janiero confirmed more than 5

The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS

Ruby in the Sturminster Newton gym with her title belts and golden gloves ten suspicious matches were likely corrupted as part of a “bout manipulation” scheme in place at the event. The report details how “compliant and complicit” referees and judges, acting under a “culture of fear, intimidation and obedience” created by the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (AIBA), corrupted the boxing tournament. An Olympic medal is the most coveted prize for any amateur boxer and has been the starting point for many of the big names in the professional ranks. Now a number of Olympic boxing teams – including Team GB – have taken to social media to start a campaign to ensure boxing is included in the programme for the 2028 games. ‘I always dreamed of being in the Olympics,’ says Ruby ‘I was so upset when I heard. My dream is maybe gone. Now the aim is that when I age into the Youth category I can go to World Championships. Hopefully I’ll still be in the England squad when I go into Seniors in 2026, and I can then box in the Commonwealth Games. With no Olympics, if I can 6

get a Commonwealth title, or win a World title, then that still gets me off to a good start when I turn professional. I don’t want to go pro too early, you really need to win something big to start your career. ‘But I have a feeling that boxing may be brought back – the 2028 Olympics are in Los Angeles, and boxing is massive in America. Imagine having the Olympics in a country where it is one of the biggest national sports and not actually having any boxing in it?’ Teen spirit How does life as a normal teenager fit around such a dedication to her sport? ‘When I’m in training camps, like the eight weeks I did in Sheffield every weekend in the lead up to the European Championships, I can’t do anything else.’ Ruby said ‘But when I’m not at camp, I work Saturdays and Sundays, and I cover odd shifts during the week too. And of course I get to see my mates. I’m going out tonight! I’m in Year 11, it’s the year we all go to parties! ‘But yes – if I have a bout coming

up obviously I’m sensible. ‘My friends are so proud of me, so supportive. They all watch my bouts, and I never get any stick from anyone at school.’ Ruby acknowledges the impact on her family, and on Shaun, too: ‘It’s not just the time taken up in driving me around. The finance side is tough. I don’t have a sponsor. We’ve set up a GoFundMe page, which I’m really grateful to people for donating through, it really helps. But when I have to travel to Sheffield for the GB training camps it’s £180 each trip just for the fuel. If it’s just a one-day training session there’s no accommodation provided, and it’s a five hour journey each way. And then obviously there’s travelling for bouts etc. We have to find that, plus any equipment I need. I do worry about it.’ A new future With the massive rise in awareness around women’s sport in 2022, does Ruby think the women’s football team has helped the women’s boxing audience?

The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS ‘Yes. Definitely. The England team has such a big support system. They’re all over every social media. And I loved that meme this summer: “Men: Football’s coming home, it’s coming home, it’s coming, football’s coming home… “Women, 60 years later: ... For goodness’ sake, I’ll get it myself.” ‘I loved that! But the knock-on effect is that women’s sport is finally becoming mainstream. It’s not just football, it’s rugby, cricket … and in boxing. Sky Sports’ main Saturday Night Fight in October was an all-women show for the first time. And the O2 was packed! That just wouldn’t have happened even a few years ago.’ Coach Shaun agrees ‘Without a doubt Ruby’s prospects are very different from those she would have had even five or six years ago at the same stage.’ So what’s next? ‘I have a bout in November against a boxer from Switzerland. Then on the first weekend in December I’m in another international tournament, the England Boxing Women’s Winter Box Cup in Manchester.’ If you feel you can help with sponsorship of Ruby or SturminsterABC let us know and we’ll put you in touch. Ruby’s titles: • 2 x MTK Lonsdale Box Cup • National Cadet Champion • Bristol Box Cup Champion • Riviera Box Cup Champion • 3 x MTK Lonsdale Box Cup Champion • 3 x Western Counties Junior Champion • 3 x National Junior Champion • 2 x Golden Girls (Sweden) Box Cup Champion • GB Three Nations Junior Champion • European Junior Champion

Ruby hopes the Olympic committee will reverse its decision to remove boxing from the 2028 Games. 7

The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS

Yetminster’s silenced chime Villagers are raising funds so that their 300 year old faceless clock can ring out again to welcome the new King. Roger Guttridge reports. Silence may be golden but not St Andrew’s church in Yetminster is at Yetminster, where the historic famous for its chiming clock - and yet it faceless clock on St Andrew’s has no clock face. Church tower no longer chimes. Image: Michael Day The clock dates from the mid17th century but is particularly prized for its late Victorian addition – a carillon that plays the National Anthem every three hours. This rare and possibly unique feature was added by benefactors in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. In about 1670, Thomas Bartholomew set up in business in Sherborne as a clockmaker, whitesmith* and blacksmith. The first records of the family appear in the Sherborne church played manually for the Queen’s records in 1674 with the baptism next spring. The work, to be carried out by Platinum Jubilee. of Thomas, son of Thomas clockmakers Smith of Derby, will More than 80 per cent of the and Anne. The couple had a include replacement of worn restoration cost has already been large family of 19 children. The parts and an improved winding promised by various charitable Bartholomews continued as system. trusts and other organisations clockmakers in Sherborne for The total cost is expected to but that still leaves £5,000 for the three or four generations; the exceed £25,400 plus VAT. village to raise. last, Josiah, dying in 1792. Churchwarden Clare Lindsay By mid-October they had already One of the first turret clocks that says: ‘The tower clock is a muchraised more than £3,000 of this Thomas Bartholomew made was loved and familiar part of our and are hoping to collect the rest for Yetminster church. His name in time for repairs to start at the is on a small brass plate attached lives and the sound of the bells ringing out over our houses end of November. to the clock with the names of and the fields beyond has been the churchwardens greatly missed To donate, visit the who commissioned it. over the last We now have project’s Just Giving Thomas Bartholomew year. used the frame of a page here or you can a once-in-a‘We now have much earlier clock, email either treasurer@ generation a once-in-afrom around 1600. yetminsterpcc@gmail.com opportunity to generation or contact churchwardens opportunity get the clock A silenced chime Clare Lindsay and Geoff for the whole It worked well until striking again Goater on churchwarden. village, with their last year, when wear yet@gmail.com. families and and time forced its friends, to get the clock striking silence. * A whitesmith is a metalworker again and chiming out for our Now the village has launched who does finishing work on iron children, grandchildren and a crowd-funding appeal to and steel such as filing, lathing, great-grandchildren.’ raise enough money to restore burnishing or polishing; it may also The clock enjoyed a brief break the clock and carillon to full refer to a person who works with from its silence earlier this year “white” or light-coloured metal or working in order in time for the when the National Anthem was it can be a synonym for tinsmith. coronation of King Charles III 8

The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS

Give a hen a home! Ex-commercial hens are being given a happy retirement by local volunteer Haidy – do you have room for some girls? Rachael Rowe reports

Haidy Mansfield has quite a job on her hands. She volunteers for the national charity Fresh Start for Hens (FSFH) and each year she helps rehome hundreds of ex-commercial chickens from her collection point near Sturminster Newton. Haidy is one of around 100 volunteers at the charity. ‘I am part of the farm teams going in to collect hens that would be going for slaughter. The charity works hard to build relationships with producers, asking them to consider giving their hens a chance at retirement.’ It started with self-sufficiency Haidy and her partner originally decided to rehome some hens to have their own steady supply of eggs, to be more self-sufficient. The hens happened to come from intensive commercial cages, and the chickens did not look good (see video below). Fleur had been trampled at the bottom of a crate and Belle wasn’t expected to survive the night, Haidy said. But both made a dramatic transformation in Haidy’s care, and were the start of her journey to creating Belle & Fleur from her Sturminster Newton home, raising awareness and working

Haidy’s next rehoming day is 26th November All images: Haidy Mansfield

to rescue intensively farmed chickens. There will be some who are puzzled by a ‘retired’ hen; all laying hens are slaughtered at the age of 72 weeks, just as their production ability decreases. The carcasses are worth very little and are usually sold for dog food, or cheap processed meat products. FSFH works closely with British farmers to buy the hens from the caged, barn and free range systems just before their slaughter date. They are then rehomed with volunteers to live

out their lives in comfort. Is there a reason a lot of these hens don’t end up in our supermarkets? ‘Laying hens do end up in the human food chain,’ said Haidy ‘usually as cheap reclaimed meat or baby food and also as pet food. But the hens from the intensive commercial systems are rarely in decent condition. Consumers often have misguided perceptions of happy hens in fields and open barns. That simply is not the case for the majority of commercial egglaying hens. As a result of tight margins and the low driven pricing, feed quality is often reduced over the laying cycle so by the end all the nutrition goes into producing eggs, and not into muscle (meat) or feathers.’ So how many hens are there to potentially rehome? ‘FSFH rehome about 70,000 hens, 3,000 ducks and 1,000 cockerels each year. In 2019 the industry estimate was 42 million laying hens in the UK; chickens being

The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS rehomed through charities is a drop in the ocean.’ FSFH only rehomes to people wanting hens as pets or companion animals. The lucky ones find new homes in gardens, allotments, and even residential care homes. While the hens obviously appreciate their newfound freedom, living it up in style, the rewards for their new owners come in the form of entertainment as well as the companionship you might expect from a more typical cat or dog pet. You may even get some eggs. The charity will not rehome to people using the hens for commercial purposes, or those selling them on. A hen’s needs If you are tempted to rehome a few hens, you’ll need some space and they do like company. ‘We advise a minimum of three hens are rehomed together.’ said Haidy ‘For three birds I would say a minimum of 3mx2m for a run, with a height of 2m. That way you can have levels and some cover overhead. Also, access to some free range time as often as possible.’ Haidy currently has ten rehomed hens herself, and is clearly an advocate for the rehoming movement. ‘It is an amazing experience. These rescue hens Haidy Mansfield with some of her own girls

have taught me so much and have led me on this journey to raise awareness of the truth of the intensive egg industry. I am

now vegan and proud that this transition has been inspired by learning the truth of what it means to be a laying hen in an intensive commercial system.’ The charity has Animal and Plant Health Agency approval for rehoming chickens and has reduced numbers in the light of current biosecurity restrictions.

If you are tempted to welcoming some ladies into your lives, Haidy’s next rehoming date is 26th November. Feel free to contact her with any questions or register your interest on the Fresh Start for Hens website: freshstartforhens.co.uk 11

The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS

Why a Small Corner of Somerset is the Silicon Valley of Cheese For three consecutive years, the Supreme Champions at the Virtual Cheese Awards have come from within five miles of each other. Rachael Rowe reports Keen’s Extra Mature Cheddar has been awarded the Supreme Champion of Cheeses at the Virtual Cheese Awards

Cheese producers in a small corner of South Somerset are celebrating. The Supreme Champion of Cheeses at the Virtual Cheese Awards (VCA) has come from the Templecombe and Wincanton area for the last three years. In fact, all the winners are based within five miles of each other and, to celebrate, have just launched a Supreme Champion Hamper containing all those awardwinning cheeses (perfect gift for a cheese fan?). The winning cheeses are Feltham’s Farm’s Renegade Monk (2020) and La Fresca Margarita (2021), and Keen’s Extra Mature Cheddar (2022). So what is going on? Penny Nagle, from Feltham’s Farm, which produces two of the supreme championship cheeses, 12

explains the importance of the Virtual Cheese Awards and how they are transforming the artisanal cheese industry. ‘They were started during the lockdown by Sarah De Wit, who has worked in the cheese industry for years. During the lockdown, everything was shut down, so there were no competitions for artisanal cheeses. Contests are one of the ways we test cheeses, but there was nothing in the pandemic.’ Virtual tasting? ‘Small artisan cheesemakers typically don’t have huge marketing budgets, so awards are very important to us.’ Penny says. ‘There are now more than 400 British and Irish cheeses in the VCA Awards. ‘All the cheeses are judged

online live so you can see what is happening, and it is totally transparent.’ How can a cheese be judged online? Once, the idea would have been laughed at, but it transpires it is absolutely possible and has transformed the world of the artisan cheesemaker. If you want to see for yourself, the judging is available on the VCA website. Who needs Netflix when you can watch cheeses being judged? However there’s a serious point to this way of promoting cheese. Says Sarah De Witt: ‘Normally, when judges are judging cheeses, they are in a room by themselves; you don’t get to see what goes on, what is said. But these awards have turned the whole thing around.

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The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS We work with cheese experts like Nigel Barden, and everything is recorded. People can see exactly what others are saying about the cheese, so you get this valuable feedback. And, of course, if you are going to an awards ceremony, you can’t take everyone. By doing it online, the whole farm or dairy can see and learn and celebrate. Penny also appreciates the learning from the VCA Awards. ‘You can hear what people are saying about our cheese and the feedback from professional experts. It’s an amazing system, and you learn so much.’ Is it Blackmore Vale grass? The 2022 supreme champion Award went to the Extra Mature Cheddar from Keen’s Cheddar, a fifth-generation cheesemaking family farm. So what is it about this corner of Somerset that produces Supreme Champions? George Keen talks about the alchemy of the cheesemaker. ‘Cheese is fermented concentrated milk, and the alchemical skill of the cheesemaker is to capture all the quality of the milk in the cheese. Milk is so complex that a skilled cheesemaker can make any style of cheese just by managing the fermentation with temperature, drainage and time. However, no two cheesemakers will make the same cheese. It’s all very personal!’ There must be something else for the supreme champions to be located so close? George

Keen’s and Feltham’s Farm have launched a Supreme Champion Hamper containing all the award-winning cheeses

has some thoughts: ‘It might be the crops we can grow in the Blackmore Vale which in turn produces the quality of milk that makes the best cheese? Or the community of local artisan cheesemakers who inspire new styles of cheese? Or perhaps just happenstance!’ Penny gave her own thoughts on the unique local success. ‘We have this huge ecosystem here in Somerset where we can get the best milk right on our doorstep. There’s also a creative vein, with a lot of people interested in milk quality. Keen’s have a wonderful heritage, whereas we at Feltham’s are non-traditional cheesemakers. But we all need to be near the supply of milk – all our milk for Feltham’s

A recent tasting at Durslade farm shop, featuring Feltham’s Farm cheese drizzled in Durslade’s own honey and served on coffee grounds to bring out the flavour 14

cheese is from a single herd at Godminster. We do still get variations in the milk, such as when cows are fed silage instead of grass. The milk really tells you what to do. ‘We also have people around us who know about cheese. For example, Carolyn in the Truckle Truck is an evangelist for promoting cheese (see The BV, Oct 22). And then we have excellent farm shops and supermarkets such as the Udder Farm Shop, Kimber’s, Durslade (their honey is perfect with La Fresca Margarita), and Dikes. That local network keeps cheese going in the area. We also have brilliant cheesemakers. And finally, we have a good local council that knows how to fund and promote rural businesses and what they need. Somerset is the Silicon Valley of cheesemaking – it is an exceptional place for the industry. There’s a fantastic milk field and it’s high quality. So it’s not surprising that all the cheesemakers are here!’ To order a Supreme Champions Hamper, see Feltham’s Farm website.

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The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS

Much more than food

Last month, Blandford Food Bank celebrated ten years of supporting the community – and it is more needed than ever. Rachael Rowe reports Alongside. Together. Courageous. Faithworks chief executive Alistair Doxat-Purser used these, three powerful words to describe the community involved with establishing Blandford Food Bank as organisers and volunteers gathered to celebrate ten years of supporting people. ‘We started by simply giving food. But now there is a whole range of support when people come to get that food. I say alongside because although we are a food bank, you make it a place where people who come in downhearted can leave with their heads held up; where we are able to tell someone “It’s OK.” ‘And together, because so many people are taking time to collect, pack, welcome, make tea and give support. And you’re courageous because when life seems down we should not lie down and accept defeat.’ Used by thousands Blandford Forum’s food bank Blandford Food bank is currently needed to support 2,000 people Images: Rachael Rowe

Blandford Food Bank manager Gail Del Pinto, Mayoress Chris, Mayor of Blandford Cllr Colin Stevens, and High Sheriff of Dorset Sibyl King

started out in 2012 on an industrial estate on the edge of the town with a team of nine people. They started simply with food. For six years, the Methodist Church hosted the food bank, as the service needed to be close to the town centre. Today it is based at the United Reform Church on Whitecliff Mill Street. Manager Gail Del Pinto was one of the first volunteers and is still with the food bank. ‘Before the pandemic, we saw 900 people a year. In 2020,

through the lockdowns, we had 4,300 people coming here. And this year, we have 2,000. The need is increasing. We have over 70 care organisations referring people to the food bank. We also have a debt advisor, because so many people need help out of that downward cycle.’ The church building is a bit of a rabbit warren, with rooms leading to more space. There’s a welcome area where people can get a cup of tea and talk to a volunteer. And then there are rooms stacked with crates of tinned food, shopping trolleys piled high, and an open space. But there’s also a profound warmth, welcoming people to its heart. The regular debt advisory team can change people’s lives by giving them help and advice to get free of owing money. That input can be critical. There are always people to listen, and there are many different reasons people need help from a food bank. For example, Victim Support works alongside the food bank team to help people

The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS

affected by domestic violence. Thanking the volunteers The High Sheriff of Dorset, Sibyl King, thanked the volunteers: ‘The way you do this work with such compassion and dignity for the people is overwhelming. We all look after our own families, but you chose to look after other people as you would your own family.’ Colin and Chris Stevens, the Mayor and Mayoress of Blandford, were also at the celebration to thank the community for the work they had done and continue to do: ’The whole of Blandford has got behind this,’ said the Mayor. Chairperson of Blandford Foodbank, Brook Maccallum, said: ‘We launched in October 2012, and since then it’s been incredible. I find it humbling to think about what has been achieved in the town. The teams are incredible.’

Manager Gail Del Pinto described the best use of space. Nourish the work, giving powerful Community Shop will sell highinsights from a client’s story and quality food at low prices. So, how they see people in what is for example, a customer can a terrible crisis for them. She get ten items for a nominal gave an example sum (£3.50 was where a lady had quoted at the ‘Before the been supported event). People pandemic, we saw will be able to through a 900 people a year. challenging time get support with food and and advice In 2020 through financial advice. from a range of the lockdowns, ‘It takes a single organisations that rose to 4,300 dialogue to unlock within the people. In 2022 that key.’ central room Liz Evans, Amanda in the building. there are 2,000’ Perroni, Penny The team is Ross, Gyda Warren, Phyllis also advertising for a paid debt Williams and Wilma Bromilow advisor to meet demand. were given long service awards What the Blandford Food Bank at the event. has done is nothing short of remarkable. It’s also a reminder Looking forwards that any one of us could need it They might be celebrating the support one day. last ten years, but the food bank is not standing still. There are More information on the plans for 2023 to create a shop Blandford Food Bank is here. at the rear of the church, making

Clear. Approachable. And as individual as you are. Life doesn’t stand still. Some events you can predict, plot and carefully plan for. Others come out of the blue and send you reeling. Whatever you’re facing, we’re here to help. Call us on 01722 398137.

The BV magazine, November ‘22 COMPETITION

Win a £300 KitchenAid food processor! The KitchenAid 3.1 L Food Processor is a highly versatile machine with enough capacity to shred, dice, chop, slice, mince and knead all your ingredients – perfect for your Christmas food prep. And thanks to Harts of Stur, we have one to give away! To be in with a chance to win, just click the picture (or here). The closing date for this competition is 30th November 2022 and only entries received on or before that date can be included. The prize will go to the first randomly chosen entry. Good luck!

The BV magazine, November ‘22

Record-holding Sherborne student Mack is flying high

NEWS

At just 16, Mack Rutherford set out on an ambitious but oddly old-fashioned adventure – to fly around the world by himself. Rachael Rowe reports Mack Rutherford at Henstridge Airfield

Sherborne School student Mack Rutherford recently became the youngest person to fly solo around the world, setting a new Guinness World Record. To celebrate the achievement, Sherborne School got ready to become an international airport for one morning in October. The groundsmen marked a 300-metre landing strip with cones, so that Mack could land at the school playing fields en route to his home in Belgium for half term. But the weather intervened ... Around the world in 155 days His round-the-world journey took five months, flying 30,000 miles through 30 countries – alone. He left from Sofia in Bulgaria on 23rd March 2022 in his high performance ultralight Shark and

celebrated his 17th birthday on the plane. When he landed back in Sofia on 24th August, Mack had four world records to his name. He is the youngest person to circumnavigate the world by: aircraft solo; aircraft solo (male); microlight solo (male); microlight solo. Mack’s epic adventure had numerous setbacks, including spending a night on an uninhabited island, an aircraft electrical failure, a monsoonsoaked fuel tank and a solar panel system failure. Sherborne support crew Sherborne School governor George Marsh recalls the excitement at the school when

the news of Mack’s achievement came through: ‘I was there on the night they told his House. There was a stunned silence and then a huge cheer!’ Mack’s friends waited in the drizzle at the school for his plane to touch down. ‘We had really missed him,’ says Richard Xu. ‘We had a map in the House so we could see where he was every day.’ Another friend, Will Frost, has flown with Mack before. ‘He and his sister flew from Belgium to Popham Airfield and picked me up, then we flew to Henstridge – we got a taxi back to school.’ Mack’s planned landing at the school in October was scuppered by the poor weather. The disappointed pupils were encouraged back to their 19

The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS

classrooms with promises of less maths and a fish and chip lunch. Nothing happens by accident Mack is the fifth generation of flyers in his family, so he naturally grew up with planes. His sister holds the world record for the youngest female flying around the world at age 19. ‘I started properly learning to fly at 14 and got my licence at 15. But I have always flown.’ Planning a journey like this takes significant effort. So how did it all start? ‘When I got my licence I knew I wanted to do something special. My sister became the youngest woman to fly solo around the world and I thought: “that’s an amazing thing” – and knew I wanted to do something similar.’ The 30,000 mile journey included Sudan, Madagascar and the Yemeni island of Socotra, ending back in Sofia, Bulgaria. ‘We made a set route to begin with but over time that route changed completely. We did a lot of planning beforehand but some has to be done in the countries themselves because Mack Rutherford and his high performance ultralight Shark. Image: Josie Sturgess-Mills

of permits and visas. They often it’s not ideal, but it’s better than need to be done nearer to when many of the planes out there, you arrive. I got stuck for a and hopefully in the future I’ll month and a half in Crete and be able to do something with Dubai due to paperwork.’ electric planes.’ Did any country in particular Has travelling around the world impress him? changed Mack? The 30,000 ‘The thing is, they ‘I feel a lot more are so different. You confident, both mile journey can’t really compare in the air and included Sudan, Greenland ice caps on the ground. Madagascar, the to the Sahara! They I understand a Yemeni island were all amazing. lot more about But the places that aviation – and, of Socotra, the marked me were actually, the Greenland ice probably the Sahara world in general, caps and the Desert, Kenya, South how things work. Sahara desert East Asia, Japan the And I have been big cities of the US, able to cope with and Greenland.’ stress much better, helping me get through various difficulties Looking ahead and challenges.’ What does Mack think about So, what’s next? his carbon footprint in these ‘I’m working on my A-levels at environmentally-conscious the moment and trying to catch times? up with that! And I’ll carry on ‘Of course flying around the flying – I’m not sure in what area, world is not the most ecobut I’ll just keep flying.’ friendly thing to do. ‘We could not be more proud of ‘But my plane is very efficient. Mack,’ says Sherborne School It’s a very small aircraft, and it headmaster Dr Dominic Luckett. does a tiny fraction of what a ‘He has shown skill, commitment, bigger jet engine would do. So resilience and courage’.

The BV magazine, November ‘22

The BV magazine, November ‘22 RANDOM 19

Interview by Laura Hitchcock

The Repair Shop’s expert upholsterer Sonnaz takes on the Random 19 Sonnaz Nooranvary is a British-Iranian upholsterer who lives near Wimborne, best known as the resident upholstery expert on BBC One’s The Repair Shop. At the age of 17, Sonnaz became the first female apprentice at Sunseeker Yachts, where she developed her eye for detail and exacting craftsmanship standards. At 25 she started her own business, which has since grown into a bespoke interiors studio and workshop which includes interior design and restoration. Her new brand ‘House of Sonnaz’ has just launched – she hopes to ‘rewrite what it means to be a manufacturer and purveyor of home products’, creating furniture that will last a lifetime and bring joy, using processes that will not harm the environment. Sonnaz is passionate about manufacturing in the UK, and, from her own experience, she believes deeply in apprenticeships. And so, to the questions ... 1. What’s your relationship with Dorset? I came to Dorset because I applied for an apprenticeship at Sunseeker Yachts, and they wouldn’t accept me unless I lived in the area (I lived in Hampshire at the time and I didn’t drive). So I moved to Dorset for that, and have been here ever since! I’ve had the opportunity to move away, but I do love Dorset. 2. What was the last song you sang out loud in your car? I Am Woman. Who’s the artist? No idea. But it was I Am Woman – what a great song, very empowering! (I Am Woman by Emmy Meli, not the 1972 Helen Reddy one) 3. The last film you watched? It was The Luckiest Girl Alive. I saw it on Netflix – and I totally recommend it. It was pretty profound, there were lots of twists and turns and I thought the ending was genius. 22

4. It’s Friday night – you have the house to yourself, and no work is allowed. What are you going to do? Pretty much every Friday my set routine is to put on a facemask and re-do the nail polish on my toes. But if I was going all out I would run a bath, light some candles, add some music, a glass of wine – red, probably – and a book (maybe not in the bath with the book, that’s for in bed, later). A party for one! 5. What is your comfort meal? When we were kids we used to have – it’s really terrible actually – we used to have porridge with sugar and butter in it. Terrible. But if I’m feeling like I need a bit of comfort, that’s my go-to. BUT my other comfort food is a Persian meal called ghormeh sabzi. I absolutely love it. It’s loads of herbs made into a stewy sauce, and you have it with rice. It’s a really unusual taste and it’s one of my favourite meals.

6. What would you like to tell 15 year-old you? What would I tell me … I’m 15, so I am still at school … I may have been head girl by then – my life was looking up! I think I would tell myself that everything is going to be all right. 7. The best crisps flavour? Obviously it’s prawn cocktail 8. And the best biscuit for dunking? Again. Obviously. Custard creams. 9. What book did you read recently that stayed with you? A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. I’ve had the book for a long time, but I finally read it and it was heartbreaking. I cried. It’s a profoundly affecting story about people in Kabul, following their lives through the war in Afghanistan. It was a difficult, emotional read.

The BV magazine, November ‘22 THE RANDOM 19 QUESTIONS 10. What’s your secret superpower? Maybe despite the fact I have so much going on, I tend to always look like everything’s fi-i-i-ne?! 11. Your most annoying trait? Well that depends who you ask! I’m sure most people would say I’m too loud. I’m quite direct, that can be annoying. I’m a perfectionist, that’s VERY annoying. Hmmm. There’s quite a few, to be honest … 12. What shop can you not pass without going in? Oh, I love, I LOVE, a good deli! It’s the homemade hummus, the pesto, the interesting crisps and all the other things you can dip into said hummus. Then there’s the beautiful big fat olives, the sausage rolls – including vegan ones which are usually really good too ... Like I said, I love a deli! 13. Your favourite quote? I often tell myself ‘if it was that easy everyone would be doing it’. I use it to push myself on, things are hard. Things are not always easy, and I just like to remind myself of that. 14. Tell us about one of the best evenings you’ve ever had? I should probably say my wedding evening, shouldn’t I? But my girlfriends and I have a thing called ‘Tuesday Night Dinners.’ We all used to go sea swimming on a Tuesday, and then take it in turns to go to each other’s houses. It turned into ‘Tuesday Night Dinners’, even when we didn’t sea swim and it wasn’t a Tuesday. It was a good

time in our lives. We were just all girls together. We would share, support, we’re all from really different walks of life, and it was just a really great time. We still do it now, just not every Tuesday. Or even on a Tuesday. I’ve had some amazing evenings with those ladies, too many to pick one. 15. What was the last gift you either gave, or received? It was for my bookkeeper Louise – I bought her some Dorset handmade soap and one of those things where there’s a nice smelly liquid in a bottle and there’s sticks coming out of it? What are they called? It was from Dorset too, also handmade. Can’t remember what they’re called. (It’s a reed diffuser. You’re welcome - Ed). I can’t think of anything I’ve received recently. Hmm. I need to do something about that … 16. Your top three most-visited websites? Oohhh ... I love a bit of Pinterest, very good for inspiration. And I love a bit of AirBnB as well for trip inspiration. The other thing I do is

look at Positive News a lot. 17. What in life is frankly a mystery to you? The fact that when you do clothes washing you lose socks to the deep dark depths of the machine and end up with odd ones. It’s bizarre. And when you have a new tube of toothpaste, it lasts a while, but then when you get to the end, that last bit seems to last as long as the rest of the tube did. I don’t know how that works. Also light. Travelling from the cosmos. In Swanage they do stargazing events at Durlston Astronomy Centre, and you can go and look at a galaxy that’s like seven billion light years away, it looks like grains of sugar. And the light you’re seeing is seven billion years old. That’s a total mystery to me. Mind bending thoughts. 18. Chip Shop Chips or Home Baked Cake? Well, both, I would say. Why not have it all?

19. You have the power to pass one law tomorrow, uncontested. What would you do? I think that it should be law that everyone must have an apprentice – my apprenticeship really changed my life. But also … maybe that getting renewable energy fitted to your house should be free? Can we squeeze them both into one law? 23

The BV magazine, November ‘22 A COUNTRY LIVING

Wet, dried and fried

John Bell – John the Fish – is a fourth-generation fishmonger in Wimborne All images: Courtenay Hitchcock 24

A COUNTRY LIVING John only uses sustainable local fish – Poole fishermen for shellfish and agents from Cornish and Devon ports for prime fish

Filleting since he was 14 – meet the fourth generation fishmonger with no better fish to fry when it comes to his life choices. By Tracie Beardsley Ask the way to Bell’s Fisheries in Wimborne and you’ll probably get a blank look. Ask for John the Fish and people know exactly who you’re looking for. In his bright blue salopettes teamed with a funky floral shirt and loud tie on the day we met, this great character of a man has made selling fish into an art form – so much so his nickname embodies his craft. If you should be asking for John the Fish, you’ll actually find yourself directed to a car park! A huge lorry container, surrounded by a white picket fence, has been converted into John Bell’s unique fishmonger’s stall. The fish is displayed with flair – you’ll find scallops, hake, haddock and cod amongst a cheery coral reef scene among the delicious smells of smoked fish. And expect a performance. As your fish is expertly filleted, John the Fish will tell you its provenance, share easy-tofollow recipes and advise on

accompanying wine. And once he knows your name he never forgets it.

evenings, it was time to fry again. Phenomenally hard work!’ The two world wars changed everything. In the first, Alfred Wet, dried and fried fought in Flanders and returned The sign proclaims ‘Bell’s Fresh badly wounded. He traded Fish, Established 1892’. John is a through the 1920s, but an fourth generation fishmonger in accountant “crooked as a barrel a family that’s always been full of of fish hooks,” fiddled the whole entrepreneurial spirit. family out of its businesses. In 1892, John’s great Never work-shy, grandmother Eliza Alfred moved to An accountant imported from London and toiled ‘crooked as a France some of the on the roads until barrel of fish first oil-fired ranges a settlement from – and so began the hooks’ fiddled the the financial fiasco Bell’s fish business. saw him returning family out of In rapid time, the to fishmongering, its businesses family owned five establishing a new shops in York. John’s business in Fulham grandfather Alfred became a with the princely sum of £3,000. partner in the business at the age It was here that John’s father of 18. Ernest (born 1922), began learning John explains: ‘The shops were the family trade. The Second known as wet, dried and fried. World War saw Ernest conscripted There’d be wet fish sales in the and Alfred’s shops bombed. morning, fish and chips sold Surviving the war, Ernest at lunchtime and then smoked worked for the biggest chain fish in the afternoon. In the of fishmongers at the time –

The BV magazine, November ‘22 A COUNTRY LIVING Expect to queue at the Wimborne fish stall

John the Fish credits his dad with teaching him everything about the business

MacFisheries. After 20 years, he fulfilled his dream and opened a shop in the place he had holidayed on the south coast. An only child, John worked for his father after school and on Saturdays. ‘He taught me old-world skills from centuries ago. He passed them on to me and I’ve passed them on to my son Joe, whose latest business venture is building a smoker.’ From the waist up At 16, John the Fish began his formal apprenticeship, getting the best training in stock control, how to treat customers and knife skills: ‘Quality first … then speed comes naturally,’ says John. ‘My dad made retailing fish fun. He taught me to know the product, to like it and to know how to prepare it and cook it.’ John’s natty attire is also down to his dad’s timely advice. ‘Fishmongering is a messy trade from the waist down. Dad believed it was important to look presentable from the top up. He was a stickler for smart hair and a clean-shaven appearance.’ John the Fish has been trading in Wimborne for nearly 30 years and he still sees customers he started

The BV magazine, November ‘22 A COUNTRY LIVING serving as an apprentice. ‘One lady used to come to me when I was 15 and she still buys fish from me to this day.’ Queues for his fresh fish are common, as they are for the Saturday pop-up cafés run by his wife Sally. People sit on converted whisky barrels behind the picket fence and enjoy the dish of the day with a glass of wine or beer. There’s no menu and no booking. It’s first come, fish served!

John the Fish will tell you its provenance, share easy-tofollow recipes and advise on accompanying wine.

John and his wife Sally who runs the Saturday pop-up cafés

I don’t buy frozen fish, processed fish or imported fish. I want to fillet it myself. The lights in the lorry container flicker into life at 4am, five days a week, as John, along with his team Mike and Sarah, start curing, hot smoking and cold smoking fish in preparation for the day. There’s always time for a workers’ breakfast of fish too. ‘I eat fish every day,’ says John. ‘Sustainability and seasonality is key to this trade. I don’t buy frozen fish, processed fish or imported fish. I want to fillet it myself. I use Poole fishermen for our shellfish and have agents in Cornish and Devon ports such as Newlyn and Brixham for prime fish. Why do I need red snapper from a different hemisphere when we’ve still got the best fishing grounds in the world? ‘I’m driven by the love of what I sell. And my love of people. Talk about full circle. My father worked for me for ten years before he died. In fact, he was working right up until the day before he died. Now that’s a lifelong passion for what you do!’

Quick fire questions: If you could cook one fish on your desert island? Lemon sole – dust it in flour and seasoning, stick it in a frying pan for a couple of minutes, or under the grill, and you’re done. Fish is the best fast food in the world. A-list dinner party guests? My dad would be first on the list. History-makers Winston Churchill, Montgomery and Kennedy. And I’d serve lemon sole! Fishmonger John is already passing his skills on to a fifth generation, his son Joe

Bell’s opening hours: Tues-Wed: 8.30-12 Thurs-Fri: 10-12 Sat: 10-11.30 Find it in the car park at the back of No.1 High Street in Wimborne. Bell’s Famous Fisheries

The BV magazine, November ‘22 DORSET ISLAND DISCS

by Laura Hitchcock

‘There’s no checkbox on Zoopla for a minstrel’s gallery’ – Dorset Island Discs Giles Keating, the owner of Athelhampton House, one of England’s finest Tudor manors, has overseen a major plan of maintenance on the much-loved building Following a spell as a research fellow at London Business School, Giles Keating was chief economist at a major international bank for 30 years. ‘The political events of this last month would have been my meat and drink, it would certainly have been a pretty busy few weeks!’ he says. He spent his time at the bank studying the economy and finance not just of the UK, but of the major and emerging economies across the globe. He first visited China before the Tiananmen Square massacre, and went back frequently, watching it grow from a primitive economy to a global power. He toured the world, visiting Asia, the Americas and the Middle East: ‘I spent my time examining, talking to people, telling them what I thought I knew, and discovering what they actually knew!’ When he retired from banking he cast around for new ventures: ‘when you retire, you can’t just lie down’. Giles became increasingly

interested in the modern finance revolution, bringing tech into the finance arena: first via a robo-advisor startup (a type of automated financial advisor that provides algorithm-driven wealth management services with littleto-no human intervention), and

Athelhampton House in 2022, with all major projects finally complete Image: Courtenay Hitchcock

then in digital currency. But with more time on his hands, Giles needed a new project. A Tudor shopping list ‘I have always had a yen to get closer to the spirit and architecture of the Tudor era. I also have four children (and have just welcomed my first grandchild), and I wanted a house which could accommodate big family get-togethers. On top of which I wanted a new business – not one to just sit on, but one I could be involved in, making it live and work. Old houses need looking after – they need to be alive. ‘But it’s a niche property search; Tudor houses are in rather limited supply. The selection of those that may also be run as businesses is even tinier. And there seems to be no checkbox on Zoopla for “minstrel’s gallery”, which

The BV magazine, November ‘22 DORSET ISLAND DISCS is a glaring omission … It took many years, but finally I found Athelhampton, and from the very first visit I knew it was the right one. ‘The house was in perfectly liveable condition when I moved in, but as the bigger projects got underway it became less so. Guests weren’t keen when flushing the toilet meant filling a bucket of water from the river! ‘After two years the heavy-duty works are complete. Most were simply maintenance, sorting the roof etc. There was also the work on revealing the original Tudor kitchen, of course (as featured in The BV, July 22). So now it’s about using the house and encouraging people to use it too. We’ve opened more of the rooms to the public, created interpretative panels to show the timeline of the ownership, and we really want to use the space. ‘We’ve had a fabulous half-term with the Tudors in residence, re-enacting the house as it would have been originally. This summer we hosted the stars of the Royal Ballet with musicians from the Royal Opera House for a fabulous weekend of dance; sadly diary clashes mean they can’t return next year, but are already booked for 2024. And of course we have the Dorset Food & Drink Christmas Fair coming in December – upwards of 2,000 people come through the doors. We’re also utilising the long gallery for local artists – we currently have an Elizabeth

Sporne ‘Modern Icons’ exhibition until the end of November. Giles has written a book based on characters from Athelhampton’s past – as he researched for a new guidebook as a lockdown hobby, the extraordinary history of the house and its occupants seemed ready-made for a story. He based it around Anne of Athelhampton, featuring historical characters and events. A second book is due out in the spring. A life in music And so to Giles’ eight music choices, in no particular order, along with how and why they stuck in his life: Come Ye Sons of Art (Ode for Queen Mary’s Birthday), Henry Purcell I just adore Purcell’s music, and especially this Ode, which is such a happy celebration and raises the heart every time! “Sound the Trumpets!” And as an added bonus, it has a link to Athelhampton, since Queen Mary’s Aunt (Lady Francis

Keightley, nee Hyde, sister of James II’s first wife Anne Hyde), lived at Athelhampton around the time this was composed.

August, Taylor Swift A change of gear after Purcell! The date gives a clue to why this is here: this track is from Folklore, one of two albums that Swift released in an incredible burst of creativity during lockdown. I played this a lot when driving down the almostempty roads to Athelhampton, where I was helping supervise a major construction project, which made the house well-nigh uninhabitable (hence the driving). The album is simply one amazing hit after another, and I think August especially hits the spot in bringing out the sheer emotional intensity of a summer love affair. Atom Heart Mother Suite, Pink Floyd This had been out for a while when I went to uni, but it was a favourite of those years and listening again recently, I think it has stood the test of time. It’s incredibly original, spanning rock and classical, a kind of rock sonata that uses any and every available musical medium including choirs and motorbikes. Sonata No 1 in G Minor, JS Bach – 1953, Jascha Heifetz These unaccompanied solo violin works by Bach are quite stunning, and of course require a 29

The BV magazine, November ‘22 DORSET ISLAND DISCS superb musician to play them. Greensleeves I’ve always loved folk music, perhaps because it somehow spans the Celtic (Irish) side of my ancestry and the English (Kentish) side, or perhaps just because it’s wonderful to listen to! Greensleeves was first published in 1580, at the heart of Athelhampton’s Tudor era (though some people say it was composed some decades earlier, by Henry VIII). Like most people, I really only know the first few verses and the chorus, but there are a total of 17 verses, and I’d like to take a vocal version of that to the Island so I can take time to get to know them all. Rose Tint my World, (The Rocky Horror Show, 1973, Original London Cast) A key soundtrack to my school years, there was even a production based on it in the school hall (don’t ask me how they got away with that!). It’s a brilliant and fun show with fantastic dancing music, but it is deadly serious below the surface. Not just in bringing gender etc. issues to the fore decades before current debates, but also in its mantra for all aspects of life: “Don’t dream it, be it!” Dr Who theme music, Ron Grainer, original 1960s version realised by Delia Derbyshire There was a handful of iconic TV shows when I was a kid (and I was only allowed to watch a few hours of TV a week) and while picking

my Dorset Island Discs, I found myself wrenched between the Avengers (Diana Rigg version, of course!), Thunderbirds, and The Prisoner. In the end, Dr Who won out because I think its amazing, original electronic sounds will repay playing over and over again on the Island. And of course, The Seeds of Doom series was filmed at Athelhampton. (spoiler alert: at the end, the RAF has to bomb the house to destruction because the giant rogue plant has taken it over. Perhaps that’s the real truth behind the destruction of Tyneham Manor?? I think we should be told!) Alejandro Lady Gaga There were so many contenders for my final choice, ranging from Verdi’s La Donna e Mobile through to Bowie’s Lazarus. Gaga won out for the sheer energy and craziness, including those amazing costumes – and especially headgear – from the video that the music evokes! I’ll need that kind of energy to keep

me going on the Island. Architecture and LEGO My book choice would be A Pattern Language: Towns, Building, Construction, by C Alexander, S Ishikawa, M Silverstein and associates, 1977. This is simply one of the great books. Ostensibly about Architecture and town planning, it’s really about life in every sense; how people live and interact with one another, grow up and grow old. Also, though published before the Internet, it has hyperlinks throughout, encouraging one to leap from one section to another, so you don’t read it straight through like a normal book, you always take a different route, as with web pages. That makes every read different – perfect for my Island stay! For my luxury I’d like a great big LEGO set, please. The more retro style, I think the current branding is “Classic”. Then I can make anything out of it, rather than be limited to one specific theme. But, please, lots of different colours and shapes – then for spooky Hallowe’en, I can use the browns and blacks, and for jollier days some bright reds and blues!

Click here to listen to Giles’ entire playlist on YouTube 30

The BV magazine, November ‘22 POLITICS

Just one comment: sorry

Politics is not a soap opera. A serious sense of purpose and a united, dedicated application has returned, says Simon Hoare MP Older readers may well recall the slightly disconcerting 1986 scene in the TV series Dallas when Pam Ewing wakes up, enters her en suite bathroom and finds her husband Bobby in the shower. The previous year, Bobby had been written out of the series, killed in a car accident. He returned, much to the surprise of viewers, and was met with Pammy declaring she had had a horrible dream. The period of his absence was immediately erased and life carried on as normal. Politics is a serious business. It can’t just erase memories. Decisions made affect the lives of us all every day. Politics is not a soap opera. That said, it has somewhat felt like one over recent months and for that I want to apologise. A one-act tragedy The government has not looked serious about discharging its important duties. The events of ‘partygate’ and Paterson combined to create a toxic environment in the country and in Parliament that led, as we know, to the fall of Boris Johnson (no returning ‘Bobby in the shower’ moment for him). Over the summer – when the country was looking for answers, reassurance and support – the governmental pause button had been pressed while a new leader was selected. The short-lived Truss government, more one-act tragedy than long running soap opera, needs no further

emanates an air of seriousness, comment. a sense of purpose and of Apart from one: sorry. dedicated application, I am not The principles that so naïve as to consider that all underpinned the mini budget is either forgiven or forgotten. were basically the right The Government has a big job ones. The UK needs to see sustainable growth. Individuals, to do and little time to do it in. The appointment of Rishi rather than the State, know Sunak as Prime Minister and best how to support their families with their own money. his retention of Jeremy Hunt at the Treasury Our tax system needs are important to be competitive While the reputational in order to attract principles rebuilding investment and so were true, the foundations. on ... The principles preparation and The Cabinet were true but the delivery were that Rishi has preparation and appointed delivery were appalling appalling represents and the impact on all views and opinions across mortgages and confidence the Conservative party, rather made worse by its avoidability. than being solely drawn in the While the markets are now narrow image of the Leader. steadier, the UK’s reputation is I firmly believe this will make repairing and the Government for better decision making and 31

The BV magazine, November ‘22 POLITICS NEWS

more robust scrutiny of policy. The mood of the parliamentary party is dramatically improved. Left, right and centre of the party are speaking to each other again – sometimes for the first time in many years. There is a sense of re-purposing, focus and hellbent determination to deliver. Not just tories I know some people reading this will be irritated and, in some sense, correctly saying ‘the UK is more than just the Conservative party’. They are, of course, right. But my party did win a commanding majority over all other parties in the House of Commons. We are right to recommit to repaying the trust the British people vested in us. Which brings me to a closing thought on the call of some for a General Election. Given all

the country has gone through a government, that being since the New Year, I really do more than 325 MPs. It is then remain to be convinced that a matter for the House of the policy delivery vacuum of a Commons to decide whether it drawn-out election campaign is has ‘confidence’ in that party. in the interests of our country My party has yet to lose a or our economy. The ship needs single vote in the Commons. to be steadied and the course If a confidence vote were reaffirmed first. held tomorrow, there would My second be a massive I remain to be argument majority in favour against a General convinced that the of it. The King Election is has asked Rishi policy delivery that we have a Sunak to form a vacuum of an representative Government. He election campaign has done so. He parliamentary is in the interests and it commands system, not a presidential one. of our country or the confidence of No individual is Parliament. Let our economy elected directly us not move any as prime minister. As you will further to defining how our know, individuals standing democracy works through the under a Party banner are prism of ‘personal presidential elected to serve constituencies, politics’. and it is the sum of those The Government has work to do results which puts a party to regain your trust. I will do all over the line in order to form I can to help my party do so.

The BV magazine, November ‘22 POLITICS

Remembering the Black Hole rollercoaster ... It’s time to grab the opportunity and place the environmental agenda back on the top of the To Do list, says North Dorset Green Party’s Ken Huggins I love rollercoasters, with their mash up of anticipation, exhilaration and anxiety. There’s something about their manic twists and turns, the grindingly slow climbs to a peak followed by the gut-wrenching drop into a trough. Some have a corkscrew, where briefly you don’t know which way is up. An appropriate metaphor for the present state of UK politics perhaps – but I’m also minded of another ride I remember. Called the Black Hole, in near total darkness it plummeted downwards at breakneck speed in a death spiral ... After the crashing end to Truss’s brief attempt at government, the hope was that Sunak would be a steadying influence as Prime Minister. That hope was rocked with the announcement of his

new cabinet, which included the removal from cabinet meetings of Alok Sharma (the UK’s president of COP26) and climate minister Graham Stuart. In spite of his previous promise to prioritise the environment, Sunak also announced that he would not attend the COP27 summit because of ‘pressing domestic commitments’. And it was confirmed that King Charles would remain effectively banned from attending the summit. This all sent totally the wrong message – that the environmental crisis can wait – when the opposite is true. For decades politicians have delayed taking action to tackle environmental issues, including our reliance on fossil fuels. This is now costing us dearly, especially those who can least afford it. The

longer we leave it the more it will cost, in lives and livelihoods as well as finance. Some argue that we can’t afford action, but inaction will cost vastly more. Plus we have a golden opportunity to rebuild the world economy in a truly sustainable way that focuses on quality of life, not on the accumulation of money and stuff. There has now thankfully been another screeching government U-turn, and Sunak will attend COP27 after all. Now the UK needs to lead international cooperation to take the actions needed to urgently address the environmental crisis. It is the most pressing issue of our time, and dealing with it properly can create a better life for us all. Let’s get that rollercoaster heading upwards !

Is it a lack of competence or integrity? The ringmaster has changed, but it’s the same old Tory circus with a worrying downgrade of climate policies, says Labour’s Pat Osborne It’s an unconvincing start for Rishi Sunak. His woeful decision to reappoint Suella Braverman just days after she was forced to resign for breaking ministerial rules has already backfired. Whether Braverman’s failure to sign off on measures which could have eased pressure at Manston migrant processing centre were deliberate and callous, or just clumsy and incompetent, remains to be seen. What is clear is that the decision to reappoint a home secretary who was only recently ousted for treading a very murky line between lack of competence

and lack of integrity was Sunak’s alone. In attempting to win over the lunatic libertarian wing of the Conservative Party, Sunak has managed to create even more uncertainty at a time the country is crying out for safe and stable hands to guide us safely through an alreadypainful cost of living crisis. Instead, it would seem that the ringmaster has changed, but it’s the same old Tory circus which seems to feature a cast of clowns, an acrobat with his arm in a sling, and a fire-eater with no eyebrows. Sunak’s decision to snub COP27

while also stopping the King from attending is something that should be of huge concern to us too. Alongside his opposition to onshore wind and support for tax breaks for oil companies, his absence in Egypt signals a worrying political downgrading of the climate crisis. It’s as though he’s unable to make the obvious connection between climate action, energy sovereignty, cheaper fuel bills and economic growth that Labour have spelled out loud and clear in our green prosperity plan and plans for a Great British Energy company. 33

The BV magazine, November ‘22 POLITICS

Not for the national best interest A general election could re-energise the tired parade of the same old faces and develop a national consensus, says North Dorset Lib Dems’ Mike Chapman Normally, of course, we Liberal Democrats occupy the centreground of politics. This last week, though, I admit I took to the high ground. That is to say, a group of us, duly wearing our yellow Lib Dem hi-vis jackets, did a litterpick on the top of Bulbarrow! It is astonishing how much – and what – rubbish is just chucked out of car windows en passant. Nonetheless, we unashamedly enjoyed the walk, the view and the company. I recommend it. Equally unashamedly, the Liberal Democrats are calling for a general election. It won’t happen because those in power, in Mrs T’s memorable line, are frit. Our concern is that the country is being damaged, people are being hurt and enterprises are going under due to the instability. As the third Tory leader this year, Rishi Sunak has absolutely no mandate from the people and his parliamentary majority is owed to a discredited figure and the car crash of Brexit promises. Worse, they are about to embark on a further period of austerity. Axes will fall at the whim of a few mandarins and special advisers, tweaked by the dogmatic and factional interests of politicians. The people of this land will have

absolutely no say. I am very concerned that investment in levelling-up, in radically improving social care and in protecting the environment will evaporate – or be pushed back onto resourcestrapped local government. Ramparts not gateways In the self-induced crisis this government finds itself in, the instant reaction is to reduce risk, back the popular, shore up support in the one-third of the population who voted for you. We used to be a classy sort of nation. We seem increasingly to be one where people and parties look out for number one rather than the national best interest; a nation becoming xenophobic, where borders are ramparts not gateways and where global issues become matters for others because we are too busy.

We need to reset and re-energise. That is the real reason we need a general election. It might even lead us to develop a national consensus. For a consensus, policies and plans must be so inclusive that everyone can buy into them, get behind them. Engaging our combined understanding and experience can find a way ahead using the best people, not just the usual suspects. Management. It is how the best organisations work. Currently, however, we are heading for the alternative: action taken in favour of the few. Leading, in a couple of difficult years, to yet more seesaw, zig then zag, fragmentation of the Union and further diminution of our standing as a country. The Lib Dems will always be there to help pick up the pieces.

The BV magazine, November ‘22

Battens, your port in a storm clarity in an uncertain world

www.battens.co.uk 0800 652 8373

The BV magazine, November ‘22 ADVERTORIAL

Don’t miss Sherborne’s Festive Shopping Day on 4th December Sherborne will once again light up with a free Festive Shopping Day, including entertainers, a street market and a parade to the lighting of the Christmas tree Sherborne will once again light up for Christmas with a free-entry Festive Shopping Day on Sunday 4th December 2022 from 10am until 4pm. The day will include: • Church services in The Abbey • Festive shops and stalls • Street entertainers • Sherborne Town Band • Other music and choirs. • Santa’s Grotto • Children’s competition • Dorset’s Farmers Market • Christmas tree festival • Parade and lighting of the tree at 4pm Organised by volunteers from Sherborne’s Chamber of Trade

and Commerce, the event offers a great family day out. Sherborne’s Festive Shopping Day is always well supported with the main shopping area of Cheap Street closed to traffic. Visitors can take the opportunity to browse more than 80 street market stalls of local makers, producers and traders, as well as the range of independent shops for which Sherborne is known. All of them will of course be offering some great ideas for Christmas gifts, treats and pampering as well as countless places to enjoy something to eat or drink in the coffee shops, restaurants and pubs the town has to offer. And while in the town, don’t forget to make the annual trip to see the award-winning Christmas display at Castle Gardens too (just five minutes drive from the town centre) There will be free parking in the following car parks: Acreman Street, Coldharbour, Culverhayes (short stay and long stay), Culverhayes (commercial), Newland North, Old Market Yard and The Digby Hall.

The BV magazine, November ‘22 WHAT’S ON

Rising star tenor at Child Okeford A talented young tenor from Somerset is giving a solo recital of favourite songs and arias at Child Okeford village hall on Friday 18th November at noon. Gregory Steward (22), who was a joint specialist vocal and trumpet scholar at Wells Cathedral School and studied voice with Tim Richards at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, from where he recently graduated with a first class honours degree in music. He won the Taunton Young Singer Competition and was a semi-finalist in both the Somerset Song Prize, a national competition for singers up to the age of 25, and the Two Moors Young Musician competition. He has sung with acclaimed vocal ensemble Tenebrae and the Choir of St John’s College Oxford. He successfully auditioned for the BBC National Chorus of Wales and has performed in Britten’s War Requiem and Handel’s Messiah, both at St David’s Hall. Since graduating, Gregory has been performing many recitals in towns and villages in Somerset and Dorset to launch his solo career. The Child Okeford concert will include songs from South Pacific, Les Miserables and popular romantic arias, including Nessun Dorma. It begins at noon and there will be refreshments.

For tickets for an opportunity to hear a young tenor at the start of his professional career, contact Gregory on 01458 211197 or email gregorystewardtenor@gmail.com

Gregory Steward Professional Tenor Presents Romantic And Popular Songs From:-

Les ��ab�� South Paciﬁc Carouse

Al�o �n��ud�� O Sol�

�o, Nes�� D�r�a ��d mo��!

CHILD OKEFORD VILLAGE HALL LUNCHTIME CONCERT Friday 18th November 2022 at 12 noon £12 to include refreshments

To book tickets please contact:- Gregory on 01458 211197 Or email:- gregorystewardtenor@gmail.com Or On the Door, Under 18s Free

Celebrate Conservation and Christmas at RSPB Arne’s Pull a Pine Festive Weekend Join the RSPB at Arne nature reserve this December for one of the biggest conservation events in the country. Invasive pine trees from forestry plantations have taken over the heathland. Your help is needed to remove them – restoring the heath, saving the rare animals that call it home, and maybe bagging yourself a sustainable Christmas to take home too!

Over the Pull a Pine weekend, visitors can explore the Dorset heath at RSPB Arne while helping pull up the invasive pine saplings, giving the reserve’s special wildlife a home. Then cut your own larger pine tree to take home for festive decorations or a sustainable Christmas tree! Throughout this special weekend visitors can enjoy the festive village with live music, an outdoor kitchen serving winter warmers, stalls selling local and festive wares, FREE festive crafting for children, and partner stalls including Wareham Fire Brigade, and Urban Heaths. Get your wellies on, dig out your hats and scarves, and join in for a wonderful festive day in nature. Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December, 10am to 3pm (last entry 2pm). Advance booking is essential – tickets NOT available on the weekend. Book tickets here for £15.50 (under 18’s FREE, ticket still required)

The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS

Discover your perfect

PARTY SEASON OUTFIT

lewis-manning.org.uk/shops

Pop into your nearest Lewis-Manning store today!

Registered Charity No. 1120193

The BV magazine, November ‘22 WHAT’S ON

The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS

Friday Lunchtime Recitals 1.45pm Cheap Street Church (unless otherwise stated)

FREE ADMISSION ALL WELCOME 42

The BV magazine, November ‘22

GOLD TO RIO

SAT 26th NOV 7.30PM

Two of the UK’s most iconic bands will be brought to life in one power packed show! From Gold to Rio will take you on a nostalgic journey back to the New Romantic era which ruled the charts for over a decade.

LOS PACAMINOS - with Paul Young SAT 3rd DEC 8PM One of the UK’s most popular Live touring bands, Los Pacaminos play the very best in Tex Mex Border music from The Texas Tornadoes and Ry Cooder to Los Lobos and even Roy Orbsion. This is a Tequila fuelled Tex Mex party night.

CHRISTMAS AT THE OPERA 9th & 10th DEC Enjoy some of the greatest arias and ensembles from the operas of Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Puccini, and Gilbert & Sullivan. Starring the baritone Philip Blake-Jones and the London Festival Opera. Fundraising evenings for The Vale Pantry and The Exchange.

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

WED 14th DEC 2PM

Join Neil Sands for a dazzling sleigh ride of yuletide memories, filled with over 60 of your all-time favourite Christmas songs and Carols that will have you singing along from start to finish and bringing back so many wonderful memories of Christmases past.

THEATRE DANCE MUSIC COMEDY CINEMA GALLERY CAFE VENUE HIRE

The BV magazine, November ‘22 This month’s news from the unofficial capital of the Blackmore Vale ...

1855 opens its doors, the John Romans Building, and a Christmas ice rink! Pauline Batstone rounds up a busy month in Sturminster Newton

1855 The new ‘unique shop full of creativity in the heart of the Blackmore Vale’, 1855, will be opening its doors to the public on Sunday 20th November from 10am to 4pm. Yes, Sunday! It will then be open six days a week, with

appointments only on a Wednesday. Come and buy from almost thirty local artisans, producers and traders, with products ranging from wines and ciders to work by artists and photographers, a bespoke tailor, a blacksmith (sorry, no horses allowed), authors, beauty products, cards, clothes, jewellery, silk goods, bespoke furniture and more. The John Romans Building The former Lloyds Bank is now officially The John Romans Building, and is in the process of being donated by John (thank you) to SturAction to be used for the benefit of the area in perpetuity – specifically it is to be used to generate funds for local projects and to promote employment and training. On the ground and first floors donated items will be processed and sold (through The Emporium) to raise funds for SturAction’s projects. The large rooms and the office on the first floor are intended to be used to promote those objectives. The top floor is to be turned into office space to support the work of the Incubator Project, helping would-be entrepreneurs. The Emporium In the Collectables Corner of the Emporium we

The BV magazine, November ‘22 COMMUNITY

recently received a donation of some lovely gold cuff links and evening shirt studs. Thanks to Trina at Horrocks & Webb in Blandford Forum for once again giving us their expert advice and valuations. Do come and browse the wide range of collectable items – all at knock-down prices, naturally! Also in The Emporium is the Dapper Chaps Gentleman’s Boutique, complementing our brilliant ladies and children’s boutique in Market Cross. So for those glamorous Christmas events – including The London Festival Opera at The Exchange on 9th and 10th December – treat yourself to something stunning. You may also need some ‘new to you’ furniture for your Christmas entertaining – if so, take a look at the catalogue in The Emporium and check out what is on offer in the furniture showroom in the former Barclays Bank. Some pieces are very much ready to rehome, and there are others which lend themselves to an upcycling project. Make Stur Sparkle 2022 This year’s seasonal events will be launched on 25th November with an ice rink arriving in Church Street Car Park (opposite Beads with a Twist) for Friday 25th and Saturday 26th! • There will be late night shopping on the 25th and 26th. • Saturday 26th is Christmas Shopping day; there will be a Christmas Fayre in The Exchange, the Anonymous Travelling Market will be in the town, the Bulgarian Dancers will be dancing, there will be music throughout the day and don’t miss Father Christmas! The

Lantern Parade will be at 6.15pm, leading to the lighting of the Christmas tree at 6.30pm. • Join in the hunt for the sparkling stars in Stur’s shop windows from 26th November through to the New Year. • Christmas Angels will once again be hiding around the town from 1st December. • The Car and Bike Enthusiasts will be back on the morning of Saturday 3rd December • Santas will be striding along the Trailway to raise funds for the Air Ambulance on Sunday 11th December. For further information see the Christmas page on sturminster-newton.org.uk or Facebook

The BV magazine, November ‘22

The BV magazine, November ‘22 BOOK CORNER

This month Wayne recommends two books that would be perfect for Christmas for enquiring young minds Unstoppable Us

How Humans Took over the World

(£20, age 7+) From the author of the multimillion bestselling Sapiens comes an enthralling new story of the human race, for younger readers. We humans aren’t strong like lions, we don’t swim as well as dolphins – and we definitely don’t have wings! So how did we end up ruling the world? The answer to that is one of the strangest tales you’ll ever

hear. And it’s true. So get ready for the most amazing story there ever was - the incredible true tale of the Unstoppables. Find out how fire shrank our stomachs, how our ancestors spoke to animals, what football can tell us about being human, how we used our superpower for good and bad ... With full-colour illustrations showing the relentless rise and rise of the human race, this is history like you’ve never experienced it before.

The Bedtime Book of Impossible Questions (£13, age 6+)

Why are bubbles always round? Could I ever touch a rainbow? Why can’t I remember being a baby? How many stars are in the night sky? Why don’t animals wear clothes? Do plants have feelings? Have you ever not been able to concentrate because there are SO many questions

buzzing round your brain? The Bedtime Book of Impossible Questions will offer answers to the most bamboozling questions and curious queries that you can think of. With engaging and accessible text and accompanied by exciting, inviting illustrations, The Bedtime Book of Impossible Questions is the perfect bedside companion to delve into when you are wondering if there really is an answer to everything.

The BV magazine, November ‘22

Stamp Duty Land Tax changes In the mini budget announced by the Chancellor in September some changes were made to the thresholds at which Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) becomes payable. These changes now affect all residential purchases. The first change is increasing the price from which SDLT becomes payable, from £125,000 to £250,000. This means that for all property purchases of less than £250,000 there is now no SDLT to pay at all. The new Stamp Duty Land Tax rates are:

For someone buying a residential property at £450,000, for example, this means that they will now pay £10,000 in SDLT instead of £12,500. The rates and rules remain different for first-time buyers, companies, overseas buyers and people buying a second or subsequent property, but they will benefit from the changes too. First-time buyers For first-time buyers, the news is even better, as no SDLT is payable where the purchase price is up to £425,000 – previously this was only the case up to £300,000. First-time buyers can also now claim First Time Buyer Relief on all purchases of a main residence up to a maximum purchase price of £625,000 (this is up from £500,000). For example, under the old rules a first-time buyer paying £450,000 for their home would pay £7,500 in SDLT; this is now reduced to £1,250. Higher rate transactions For individuals buying a second home or buy-tolet property, the new rates are:

A two per cent SDLT surcharge for overseas buyers purchasing residential property in England and Northern Ireland was introduced in 2021. The surcharge applies to non-resident buyers regardless of the type of buyer (e.g. company or individual) subject to a few exceptions. Where applicable, the surcharge is levied in addition to the three per cent buy-to-let/second homes charge mentioned above, the flat 15 per cent SDLT rate on purchases of dwellings worth more than £500,000 by companies acting as ‘envelopes’ and the existing SDLT rates for home buyers. Unfortunately, the Chancellor did not take the opportunity to simplify the SDLT rules and reliefs, and so this remains a very complex area of taxation!

To speak to one of Trethowans’ residential property lawyers, you can call their team on 01722 412512 49

The BV magazine, November ‘22 THEN AND NOW

The rise and fall of the Union Roger Guttridge revisits the hillside site of Shaftesbury Workhouse The former Shaftesbury Union Workhouse All pictures from Roger Guttridge’s book Shaftesbury Through Time

A century ago, it was one of the dominant buildings on Shaftesbury’s southern slopes, but today you have to look hard even to find a vestige of the Union Workhouse. In fact, the only detectable remains of the Dickensian edifice The surviving former nurses’ quarters and washroom

are the brick entrance splay, which has been filled in, and part of the old nurses’ quarters and washroom, which survive as a single-storey bungalow known as Valley Cottage. The 19th century building in Umbers Hill off Breach Lane was

constructed in local stone, some of which was quarried on or near the site. The Union Workhouse succeeded two poorhouses – one at Motcombe, which housed the women, the other at Gillingham, which accommodated men.

The BV magazine, November ‘22 THEN AND NOW

Three young women, a baby and a dog relax in the field now occupied by Shaftesbury Homegrown It took time to find a suitable site for the workhouse. One negotiation was abandoned after Earl Grosvenor suddenly realised the proposed building might be visible from Motcombe House. The workhouse stigma Once it did open, the typically austere-looking workhouse accepted poor folk not only from Shaftesbury but also Gillingham and many surrounding villages, including the Stours and Fontmell Magna. In Shaftesbury: An Illustrated

History, Brenda Innes quotes a couple of touching entries from the 19 volumes of workhouse minutes. One records an offer by Mary Foot and her mother to maintain her brother’s illegitimate child to save it from a workhouse upbringing. Another refers to an old woman’s friends, who ‘refused to let her be taken into the workhouse’. Both these references serve as reminders of the stigma that going into the workhouse involved in Victorian times.

So does the story of Shaftesbury’s Doctor Harris, who attended the confinements of gypsy women needing medical attention, to spare them the ordeal of giving birth in the workhouse. The Union Workhouse, also known as Alcester House, was demolished in the early 1950s and replaced by modern houses and bungalows. On the opposite side of Breach Lane, a field has been transformed into Shaftesbury Homegrown, a community farm and allotments.

The workhouse site today as viewed from Shaftesbury Homegrown. Image: Roger Guttridge

The BV magazine, November ‘22 LOOKING BACK

A Rose family’s place in history Roger Guttridge recounts a Sturminster Newton family’s pioneering contribution to Australian history Two hundred and thirty years ago this month, a Sturminster Newton family was three months into a voyage into a unique place in history. Thomas and Jane Rose, their four children, their niece Elizabeth Fish and their dairymaid Elizabeth Watts were soon to become the first family of free settlers in Australia – hitherto only transported convicts and their guards had been welcomed. The Rose party was nine of just 15 people who responded to a nationwide appeal for experienced farmers and ‘other right kind of settler’ to become pioneers in Britain’s newest overseas colony. As well as free passage, the British government offered land, tools, two years’ worth of provisions, clothing for a year and availability of convict labour. But this was no trip for the fainthearted. It involved a five-month voyage across the world’s great oceans, all the challenges of an alien climate and environment and the likelihood that you’d

never see your family, friends and home town again. Which is perhaps why only ten adults and five children voluntarily joined the crew and 17 women convicts on the supply ship Bellona as she sailed from Gravesend on 8th August 1792. The voyage was not uneventful. Elizabeth Fish’s one-year-old daughter died just nine days into the voyage due to ‘worm fever

and convulsions’. Elizabeth later struck up a relationship with Lancashire farmer and fisherman Edward Powell, one of the other six voluntary settlers, and the couple married soon after the Bellona’s arrival at Sydney Cove on 16th 1793. Romance also blossomed between gardener Thomas Webb and convict Catherine Buckley. They married eight days after arriving. Within two years, Catherine was a widow. Thomas had been fatally speared by Aboriginals and his nephew Joseph had also died. Stinking and maggotty Jane Rose arrived at Sydney Cove three months pregnant with the fifth of her seven children. Many of the supplies failed to survive the voyage. Sixty-nine barrels of flour arrived ‘rotten, stinking and maggotty’ due to damp; pork was ‘stinking rotten and unfit to eat’; hundreds of gallons of rum and wine and almost 1,200 gallons of molasses had dribbled away

The BV magazine, November ‘22 LOOKING BACK

This suggests that in Hardy’s time or earlier, some people might have pronounced it ‘Blakemore’.

due to leaks; huge quantities of cloth, hammocks and rugs and a case of stationery were rotten and unfit for use due to water damage. Thomas Rose was allocated 120 acres seven miles west of Sydney and a further 70 acres five years later as a reward for his hard work. But the soil quality was poor and the family endured crop failures and water shortages as well as an Aboriginal attack in which Jane was hit by a spear and saved only by her whalebone corset. The family moved to Prospect, where Thomas was put in charge of a government farm, and, in the early 1800s, to a third location on the north bank of the Hawkesbury River at Wilberforce near Sydney. The land here was more fertile but also flood-prone, and the family had crops, livestock and several bark shelters or huts washed away before building a sturdier log cabin on higher ground. Rose Cottage remained in the family until 1961 and is today maintained as a tourist attraction and Australia’s oldest timber house.

with more than 100 descendants. gloves to butter and cheese. Thomas died six years later aged On 8th August 1992, 200 years 84. to the day after the Bellona By the late 20th century, the set sail, three Australian number of known descendants Rose descendants attended a of Thomas and celebration garden Jane had risen to party at Puxey Jane was hit 27,600 although Farm, Sturminster, by a spear and the true number the family’s home saved only by her is thought to before departure. be more than And in January whalebone corset 60,000. 1993, hundreds of A surviving Rose descendants letter sent to Jane in 1798 by her were among 2,000 people who parents gives us a glimpse of the converged on Sydney Cove to England they had left behind. mark the anniversary of the Thomas and Mary Topp of Bellona’s arrival. Descendants of Sturminster Newton wrote of some of the 17 female convicts a constant fear of invasion by also took part. Napoleon, of frequent troop movements as a result, of sky• Roger Guttridge’s book high prices and of ‘hardly to be Dorset: Curious and borne’ taxes on everything from Surprising includes a chapter horses and dogs to hats and on the Rose settlers.

Growing a population The Roses took their duties of populating the colony seriously. By the time Jane died in 1827, she was Australia’s first nonAboriginal great-grandmother Roger welcomes questions and comments - roger.guttridge@btinternet.com

READER’S PHOTOGRAPHY In the light Raychalle Squibb

The pumpkin patch Anthony Young

READER’S PHOTOGRAPHY

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 usually selected from our submissions pile. If you’d like to join in, please do: • Share it in the BV community Facebook Group • Or simply email it to photos@ theblackmorevale. co.uk.

Eurasion jay Darren Price

Still harbour Andy Pattenden

The BV magazine, November ‘22 READER’S PHOTOGRAPHY Squirrel toes Graham Bannister

Beetling along the Ox Drove Angela Hardingham 56

The BV magazine, November ‘22 READER’S PHOTOGRAPHY Lodmoor local Sue Wingett

Soggy days Reece 57

READER’S PHOTOGRAPHY Sunrise splash at Lyme Regis Sean Cox

Lodmoor local Sue Wingett

Snack happy Peter Corbin

READER’S PHOTOGRAPHY

Landing zone Rebecca Cooke

Tiptoeing curlew Suzanne Thorne

The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS NIGHT SKY

by Rob Nolan

I’m a bit partial to a solar eclipse October was a washout for stargazing, but astrophotographer Rob Nolan captured the eclipse – and is looking forward to some crisp clear nights Of course, it was predictably cloudy during the partial eclipse on the 25th October. However, perseverance and a bit of luck with a break in the clouds meant that I was able to get a decent image of the event! A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, thereby obscuring the earth’s view of the sun, either totally or partially. Such an alignment always coincides with a new moon, as the moon is closest to the plane of the earth’s orbit. In a total eclipse, the disk of the sun is fully obscured by the moon. In partial and annular eclipses as we saw in October, only part of the sun is obscured, around 15 per cent during this partial eclipse. If the moon were in a perfectly circular orbit and in the same orbital plane as Earth, there would be total solar eclipses every new moon. Instead, because the moon’s orbit is tilted at about 5 degrees to the earth’s orbit, its shadow usually misses Earth. Solar (and lunar) eclipses happen only during eclipse seasons, resulting in at least two, and up to five, solar eclipses each year, no

more than two of which can be total. Total eclipses are more rare because they require a more precise alignment between the centres of the sun and the moon, and because the moon’s apparent size in the sky can be too small to fully cover the Sun. The next partial solar eclipse will be visible from the UK in March 2025, with a total eclipse not forecast over UK mainland until 2090! Yes, 2090! So if you want to see a total eclipse in person sooner, you’ll need to travel to a different continent to catch one! This month’s image The image opposite was taken in a single shot using my standard DSLR camera equipment and 400mm telephoto lens. I used a strong 10-stop Neutral Density filter to allow me to sufficiently darken the sun to be able to see details including 2 sun spots. Usually a dedicated solar filter would be used, but because of the clouds, I was able to use this filter instead. NEVER look at the sun under any conditions without the appropriate solar glasses or filters for your photographic equipment!

The night sky, November 2022 - Rob’s guide for your stargazing this month: October was a pretty grim month for stargazing; we seemed to have a lot of very cloudy nights which meant we didn’t get to see much, including the meteor showers! Hopefully as it gets colder we’ll see some crisp and clear nights this month. Heading out on a clear night in November will provide stunning views of our very own Milky Way as it looms overhead. Spend some time looking at the structure and you’ll see that it is spangled with glowing diadems. Grab those binocular or a small telescope and those blurry jewels will reveal themselves as distant star clusters. Constellations to look out for this month include Perseus, the legendary hero who slew Medusa. Look out for the stars in this cluster including Mirfak, and Algol, the demon star, which represents the eye of Medusa. Also look out for the double cluster within Perseus, h and chi Persei, which borders with Cassiopeia. One of the best planets in our solar system to look out for in November is Uranus. On very 60

dark nights, you stand a good chance of spotting the planet with the unaided eye looking towards southern skies. Uranus is four times the size of the earth, and is unique because it orbits the sun on its side – most likely due to a collision when it was in its infancy. On the 5th of November, Uranus will be opposite the sun in our skies and at its closest to the earth, so it’s a good time to try and spot it. Look low towards the south western skies on the evening of the 7th to see the narrowest crescent Moon with brilliant Venus visible to the left. On the 10th and 11th, the moon will dance with Jupiter and Saturn, passing below the two planets. The Leonid meteor shower will peak on the night of the 17th/18th, however due to a nearly full Moon, the display this year will likely be washed out by the moon’s brilliance. See the moon set below the backdrop of the Pleiades on the 19th, above the bright stars Aldebaran and the Hyades. Find RPN Photography on Facebook here

The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS

Take a Hike:

Forde Abbey-less circular 11 miles

For the first time, we haven’t recently walked our route – all hiking stopped thanks to C finally having his knee operation. Instead we’re sharing a great one from the archive; it uses well-established paths so even after 18 months it should be reliable! It is a quiet and beautiful day’s hike. It’s well marked, but does cross a lot of streams and fords so choose footwear with care. It is so-named because we don’t recall getting a sight of Forde Abbey itself, despite its proximity! Do keep an eye on the map - as you switch between major paths (the Monarchs Way, the Wessex Ridgeway, the Liberty Trail) it’s easy to stroll past your next turn, enjoying your current easy path! The terrain is varying, with lovely views of the wide Marshwood Vale as well as green lanes, sheltered fields and a beautiful woodland lake. We have always created and recently walked the routes we feature (See all previously published routes here), so you know you can trust them. We aim for unpopulated routes with no roads and BIG VIEWS! You can see all our routes 62 (including many which are unpublished in The BV) on Outdoor Active, and all include a downloadable gpx file. All images © Laura Hitchcock

The BV magazine, November ‘22 CLICK THE MAP to see the interactive map and download a gpx file

The BV magazine, November ‘22 EQUESTRIAN

THE Portman

Point To Point Badbury Rings, Wimborne

order tickets online

A Fun Family Day Out

13th November | Sunday

Gates Open: 10am | First Race: 12.00pm CARD & CASH on the gate | Badbury Rings, Wimborne For more information and tickets visit our social media

@badburyringspointtopointcourse

The BV magazine, November ‘22 EQUESTRIAN

Horse holidays and housekeeping The horses are off for a rest, but it’s time for cleaning, sorting ... and perhaps some jumping, says three-day eventer Toots Bartlett

Toots with Freestyle R (Freebie) With the event season behind us, we begin a brief period of quietness throughout the yard. Most of the horses at Team FoxPitt have already gone on their winter holidays. My own team of horses is due to go home to my parents’ house near Castle Cary in the next few weeks to have their own break. It’s time for each of them to rest, relax, put some weight on and enjoy just being a horse! But while the horses get to go on holiday, my human team and I get to sort through everything on the yard: every draw needs re-labelling, sorting out and finding anything that is broken or isn’t in a pair. All the tack gets a deep clean, taken apart and thoroughly checked over. We will sort through the lorry, removing any competition gear that doesn’t

need to stay there over winter. We’ll also reorganise the lorry and give it a thorough clean. As it was new to us mid-season, it’s a vital job to get it properly set up for how we want it, ready for next year. The stables are also being washed out, all the mats re-glued down and the stable doors will get a fresh lick of paint. On to showjumping We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff to Team TB – local girl Erin has joined us, and only a few weeks into the job I can already say she is a massive asset, working well alongside Eve and me. Now the event season has finished, I will turn my attention to showjumping for the winter. I am lucky enough to have the ride on Carlos 55, my sister’s

horse, and he is an incredible showjumper. I’m really looking forward to getting out and about on him – and being brave enough to do those tight turns. We will also spend a lot of the winter months doing strength and condition work, on both the horses and myself! Lots of core and back end work to strengthen the muscles and top line. This will be done through pole work, schooling and in-hand exercises. I am also looking for a couple of young horses to produce next season, so if you know of anything showing promise or talent do contact me (tb@ tootsbartletteventing.com). We are also able to take in horses over the winter for schooling – it’s a good time to re-educate whilst the pressure of competition is off. 65

The BV magazine, November ‘22 ANIMALS

The BV magazine, November ‘22 FOOD AND DRINK Extra virgin quality just-picked olives Image: Deborah Macmillan and Natalie Wheen

The Art of the Olive In search of a quiet Greek retreat, artist Deborah Macmillan and radio presenter Natalie Wheen became accidental organic olive farmers. Edwina Baines reports It was Homer who coined the term ‘liquid gold’ for olive oil – Ancient Greece was where the olive tree and fruit achieved the importance they still enjoy today. I interviewed Deborah Macmillan with a view to talking about her life as an artist – but on visiting the recently-acquired home in Hammoon that she shares with her friend Natalie Wheen, I was intrigued by a very different liquid gold story. Old friends Deborah was born in Queensland, Australia into an “affectionately argumentative” family who encouraged her artistic talent. ‘They left the walls of my bedroom bare so that I could draw on them, which all my friends thought was outrageously eccentric!’ After gaining a scholarship to the National Art School in

Sydney she moved to London and in 1972 married dancer Kenneth Macmillan. Director of the Royal Ballet, knighted in 1983 and arguably the finest choreographer of his generation, Sir Kenneth died in 1992. Deborah has exhibited her

own works in London and Glyndebourne and also spends much of her time supervising revivals of her husband’s ballets in major theatres around the world. When we chatted, she was just back from Australia where the Queensland Ballet Company

Natalie Wheen (left) and Deborah Macmillan at home Image: Edwina Baines)

Contact Edwina with art news and events on edwina@theblackmorevale.co.uk

The BV magazine, November ‘22 FOOD AND DRINK was staging Manon and was soon heading to Paris for his celebrated ballet, Mayerling.. Natalie Wheen was born in Shanghai, as were her father and grandfather, but in the turmoil of post-war revolutionary China they were evacuated in 1951 to Hong Kong, moving to England in 1957. Natalie, a talented student of violin and piano at the Royal College of Music, “hated practising.” After her music degree at London University, she joined the BBC, working first as a radio studio manager, then producer and finally as a presenter. For many years she was an instantly recognisable voice on BBC Radio 4’s Kaleidoscope arts programme and Radio 3’s Mainly for Pleasure, and latterly on Classic FM – chosen by Radio Times readers as possessor of one of the most attractive voices on radio. A Greek escape In 1996 the two friends pooled resources to buy a ‘rundown shack and a little piece of land 50 metres from the sea’ on Greek island of Lesvos, somewhere to escape from the stresses of their professional lives. Later they added several adjoining parcels of land, on all of which olive trees grew. As they watched the olives grown and harvested (unlike other vegetable oils, olive oil is extracted from a fruit and not a seed), they were horrified by the “slippery practices” of many local farmers: fields poisoned by chemicals, trees wrecked by aggressive harvesting, newly harvested olives dumped and crushed into massive sacks and processed in filthy mills. So they started a new business, Avlaki Superb Organic Olive Oils, immediately taking control of every aspect of production. They converted the land to strict organic farming, with olives harvested by hand in December and blemished fruit removed, 68

Deborah Macmillan with her painting of Sir Kenneth Macmillan Image: Edwina Baines

Euphorbia and rock roses on Lesvos Image: Deborah Macmillan and Natalie Wheen

The BV magazine, November ‘22 FOOD AND DRINK before the crop was taken, in shallow crates to avoid bruising, to the private, clean mill. From Lesvos to Wetherby The regulation of organic food production operates efficiently in Greece and their soil is tested regularly. Each olive farmer on Lesvos takes their harvest of the day to the mill for processing. The olives are not mixed with others. In many countries, small farmers add their olives into a general co-operative for milling. Once processed into airtight containers, the unfiltered oil begins its long journey by ferry to Athens and then overland to Wetherby in Yorkshire, where it is bottled by a family business of organically licensed farmers. From there, the Avlaki oil goes to a distribution depot in Aylesbury. When lockdown started in 2020 and all flights were cancelled, Deborah and Natalie stayed in Greece. They were thrilled to see how their now chemical-free land had allowed nature to come ‘roaring back’, as Deborah says. Now the fields bloom with orchids and wild flowers and teem with wildlife in the many bushes and trees that are deliberately left for cover. The friends are passionate about their olive oil, which has a long history of beneficial health properties. But there

Picked olives waiting to go to the mill Image: Deborah Macmillan and Natalie Wheen

is a similarly long history of nefarious practice in the olive oil industry. It is known as one of the most adulterated of agricultural products. Deborah calls it ‘the oldest fraudulent food production in the world.’ Amusingly, even in Roman times the populace was warned to “beware the olive oil trader”! Deborah and Natalie, as relative newcomers to olive farming, say it is essential to read any olive oil bottle label carefully to check it is ‘extra virgin’. Anything else is of lesser quality, and could even have been extracted with chemicals – especially if it’s called “light’”. Slimmers beware! Diversifying Olive oil is a key ingredient in many beauty products and Avlaki is now making top-quality organic Avlaki organic olive oils

olive oil soap, with no additives, preservatives or perfumes. Negotiations are continuing with a Dorset producer and there are plans to make a household soap with added eucalyptus. Both Natalie and Deborah are now happily ensconced in Dorset and are ‘madly planting’ in their garden, planning woodland groves in the fields. ‘It has been exciting to bring things back,’ says Natalie. This confuses friends from their previous lives in London: ‘They are clueless about country life and find it difficult to understand why we moved.’ says Deborah. ‘What has been lovely is to involve ourselves in countryside events.’ They enjoyed a summer of country fairs, particularly the ferret and terrier racing at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show. They are also working hard with local farmers and the Countryside Regeneration (formerly Restoration) Trust at Bere Marsh Farm in Shillingstone to restore the water meadows skirting the Stour. So, the next time you carelessly toss a bottle of olive oil into the supermarket trolley, make sure you read the label and remember that not everything named “virgin” is immaculately conceived! As Avlaki proclaims ‘We keep the olive in the olive oil!’. OliveOilAvlaki.com 69

The BV magazine, November ‘22 FOOD & DRINK

It’s autumn, obviously it’s SAUSAGES Two recipes this month – and they’re both personal favourites which feature regularly as part of our family meals. Both are simple to whip up, taking 30 to 45 minutes from start to finish; perfect to pull together for a wonderful autumnal weekend evening meal with family or friends. The Toad in the Hole recipe is one I have used for years, but of course there are many versions of a Yorkshire pudding – some with water and milk, some with more eggs, some with much less flour. This recipe tends to produce Yorkshire puddings that have a crispy top and bottom, and a thick pudding-like middle. If you prefer a lighter Yorkshire, then just use 2 or 3oz less flour. The Sausage and Baked Bean Pie recipe is so simple, with just three ingredients, and I use ready-made pastry on purpose. I don’t think the hour or more spent making the puff pastry from scratch is worth the extra effort for something that takes just five delicious minutes to scoff down! – Heather

Sausage and Baked Bean Pie

All images: Heather Brown

Ingredients (serves 4) • • • •

8 sausages Two 400g tins of baked beans 1 packet of ready rolled puff pastry 1 egg to egg wash or some milk.

Directions 1. Pre-heat the oven to gas 6/200º/180º fan. 2. Slice the skins of the sausages and remove the sausage meat. 3. Break the now-skinless sausages into small pieces, about 2cm long, and place them into an ovenproof dish. 4. Tip into the dish the baked beans and stir together. 5. Carefully unroll the pastry from its packet and place over the top, pressing down the edges. 6. Make a small hole in the centre. 7. Brush with beaten egg or milk. 8. Bake for 25 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and golden. 70

The BV magazine, November ‘22 FOOD AND DRINK

Toad in the Hole Ingredients (serves 4)

• • • • •

2tbsp oil 8 sausages 2 eggs 9oz plain flour (I use 00 grade flour) about 200ml milk

The name may refer to the way toads wait for their prey in their burrows, making their heads visible in the earth, just like the sausages peep through the batter.

Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 200º fan/gas 7 – the oven needs to be good and hot. 2. Pour the oil into the base of your oven proof dish which needs to be large enough to fit the sausages with about an inch of space around each one. Place the dish with the oil into the oven so the oil gets hot. 3. Into a large bowl, measure out the flour and then add the two eggs. Pour in about a third of the milk and whisk together, making sure to get rid of all the lumps of flour. 4. Add the milk to the mix, a splosh at a time, whisking in between, until the mixture is the consistency of a good milkshake. It doesn’t need to be an exact science here though – a thicker mixture simply results in a stodgier Yorkshire pudding. Eggs aren’t all the same weight, so if 200ml of milk is still too thick, then add a bit more. If you end up with something that is more the consistency of water, just add a little flour to thicken it back up a bit. 5. Carefully take out the hot dish from the oven and place the sausages, equally spaced, into the dish. 6. Pour the Yorkshire batter over the sausages. 7. Place back into the oven and cook for 25-30 minutes until golden and crispy on the top. Serve immediately! 71

The BV magazine, November ‘22 FOOD AND DRINK

Seasonal eating just got deliciously comforting

Dorset is known as a natural larder, from meat to dairy and cakes to veg. Caz Richards of Dorset Food & Drink suggests some seasonal favourites Autumn is something that famous poets, authors and I all agree on: “The first fire since the summer is lit, and is smoking into the room: The sun-rays thread it through, like woof-lines in a loom.” (tip hat to Thomas Hardy). Autumn is about switching up the salads, adding a warm dressing and swapping the crisp dry white wines and blonde beers for ruby reds and nutty ales, as we hunker down with all the comforting food and drink. It’s always a delight to see the season’s bounty studding market stalls and shops or turned into preserves, cider, and juices. And never mind the shops – who doesn’t love the thrill of passing a gate or front door where jewelcoloured preserves vie for space among a box of apples, pears, pumpkins, squash, onions, and earthy beetroot, waiting for coins to drop into the honesty box? That time of year Eating what’s currently in season is a no-brainer – it makes sense for both our purses and our palates with the abundance of big flavours and rich colours bursting with vitamins and all the good stuff. If you like the hustle and bustle of a market, you can of course always support local producers by purchasing your seasonal fruit, veg, meat and fish there. But you can also pick up lots of local produce from smaller independent shops and some supermarkets. Dorset Food & Drink has got you covered for your autumnal 72

Beef short ribs slow braised with ale and herbs and a three-root mash. Slow cooked on the bone, beef short ribs are a thrifty cut, producing succulent meat and a magnificent gravy. Serve with an earthy mash of carrot, swede and parsnip for serious flavour combinations. Image and text: Dorset Meat Company.

bonfire-night bangers, drinks and sweet treats. Our seasonal meat picks: The Dorset Meat Company, Jurassic Coast Farm Shop and B.Curtis Family Butchers. Venison steaks, burgers and sausages make a great healthy and hearty option, so our wild card choice is from Taste of the Wild. Add a dash of relish or chutney to seasonal faves from this lovely lot: Deelicious Chilli Jam, From Dorset with Love and Weymouth 51. For your cheese course, how about some Buckshaw Milk Sheep or a tasty selection from

The Book & Bucket Cheese Company? Dorset Artisan Macarons will bring a splash of colour and Chococo will satisfy anyone’s chocolate craving! Our Autumn must-try drinks: Curious Kombucha, Dorset Ginger, Dorset Star Cider and these cheeky little numbers from Cerne Abbas Brewery – Watercress Warrior, Mrs Vale’s Ale and Ginger Fox. Before you know it, it’ll be time to think about Christmas and planning your festive menus ...

The BV magazine, November ‘22 FOOD AND DRINK

Cosy winter warmer wines

The warm weather has finally broken, and wine merchant Sadie Wilkins is reaching for her jumpers – and a satisfying glass of something comforting The nights are darker, golden leaves are falling from trees and there’s a chill in the air – woolly jumper season is officially here. With hearty autumnal dishes back on the menu, it’s time to pour a tipple that feels cosy, warming and all things nice. Despite the common misconception that high alcohol content is the only route to tingly warmth, you can in fact achieve that satisfying comfort from a variety of wine styles – some more unexpected than others. Many structural components of wine are responsible for its reassuring embrace – from generous, ripe fruit and thick-skinned tannins to lees contact (wait for it – Ed) wines and fermentation processes – not to mention the usual ‘hits’ of terroir, climate, and grape variety. As I often say, there’s a lot going on in any bottle of wine, it’s just a matter of discovering what variables work for you – and at what time. Wine is subjective, after all. With that said, you shouldn’t be surprised to see some ‘big reds’ on our winter warmer wine list; a brooding glass that will bring a bang to not just your bonfire night celebrations, such as Napa Valley Cabernets, Northern Rhônes and Reserva Riojas.

Portugal’s greatest gifts. From ruby, LBV and tawny to vintage, colheita and white (and everything in between) there’s a comforting richness from port that you just don’t get anywhere else. Take a flask Fortified and fabulous of port to your firework display, and I promise Less conventional – but just as hearty – are you’ll not regret it. generous white wines that bring unctuous flavour And last but never least, pudding and creamy texture with elegance and ease. We’re talking overWhite wines made this wines. The golden rule with dessert wine is to make sure ripe Viogniers that are dripping way are like stepping the sugar content of the wine in stone-fruit lusciousness, and oak-fermented Chardonnays that into a French patisserie exceeds that of your dessert. After this, it’s great fun to invite vanilla and coconut to the explore and discover your winter party. perfect pud pairings. I’ll leave you with some There’s also a lot of fresher wine styles and tried and tested combinations to get you going: varieties that are being produced with lees contact chocolate and Sauternes, an Auslese with anything too. The ‘lees’ are the leftover yeast particles from red berries (my favourite is an Eton mess, but very fermentation, and when the wine is left in contact berry trifles and pavlovas also hit the spot) and how with them you get a bucket load of creamy texture and buttery flavour. White wines made this way are about a Tokaji Aszu with a caramelised apple tart? If you want to get ‘winter ready’ and fancy trying like stepping into a French patisserie and indulging out some of the season’s best, we’ve put together in a fine pastry or beautiful brioche. some themed wine cases to tickle your taste buds. Now we’re in the realms of pure indulgence, we Give us a call or simply pop by to our Sherborne may as well move on to wine shop – oh, and don’t forget your mittens. my other go-to wines that simply deliver at this time Find Sadie and the Vineyards team at of year: port and pudding The Old Yarn Mills, 9 Westbury, Sherborne wines. Fortified and DT9 3RQ; they’re open Tuesday to Saturday. fabulous, port wine is one of 73

The BV magazine, November ‘22 MEET YOUR LOCAL

A walk on the Wild and Game side Pies, pasties and sausages are on the menu at Yeovil-based Wild and Game as they promote the use of wild British game into our diets. Rachael Rowe reports Nordic-style venison. All images: Wild and Game

It’s that season when thoughts turn to pheasant and venison dishes, but one local company is making British game a yearround food dish. Steve Frampton, the managing director of Yeovilbased Wild and Game, explained how it all began in 2017: ‘We really wanted to sell more British game – most of the game from British estates is sold to European markets. We want to change that and encourage more people to buy our own. Game is a great commodity in this country. ‘People think that game meat is an expensive meat. The Victorians started that by making

it an exclusive food. But it is actually in abundance, especially venison and partridge. There’s also lots of people who don’t know how to cook it, or don’t have a taste for it. ‘All our meat is wild game. We source it from British game dealers and British estates (including in Dorset and the West Country). Game dealers will buy from British shoots and estates, and farms for meat like venison. The meat is processed quickly, so we have breast meat, whole birds, and also pies and pates.’ What about the shooting season which will affect pheasant, for

example? ‘Our meat is processed very quickly and then frozen, so it’s available throughout the year. It’s not seasonal and there’s no reason why British game can’t be available all year round. We extend the season beyond the season. ‘And wild game has a lower carbon footprint. It’s also lower in cholesterol than other red meats. Some people are concerned about the carbon footprint with traditional farming right now and looking at vegetarian lifestyles; game meat is a good halfway house as the meat is all wild.’ Tell us about the team? ‘We have three people at the distribution warehouse and three working on the business side. We also have an extended network of game dealers, obviously.”

Sales manager Paul Houlker, business support manager Spencer Lord, co-founder Steven Frampton, technical consultant Katie WatkinsYoung and operations director Mark Robbins

The most popular products? ‘Sausages, all year round! Especially the venison and pheasant sausage. We’re also bringing back our grouse

The BV magazine, November ‘22 MEET YOUR LOCAL sausages and we have a pheasant and caramelised onion variety too. Other meats like pigeon and rabbit are also popular – I can’t get enough rabbits to sell.’ Are you just mail order? ‘We are. But we do supply a few shops, too. COVID was the main reason for developing the mail order side as the market virtually collapsed during the pandemic. But there’s a massive demand for game meat. ‘Everything is delivered frozen. People don’t eat game every day so they can put what they don’t want to use immediately in the freezer. Once it is cooked, most can be refrozen.’ If you haven’t visited the Wild and Game website, take a look even if just for the recipes (though do look at the meat of course!). If you’re in the “I don’t know what to do with it” camp there are many interesting and creative ideas on how to cook game, with lots of inspiration for meals. So who is responsible for them? ‘Jenny Price, our PR consultant, and Mark Robbins, our operations director, design the recipes. We developed a range of them purely because some people are frightened of cooking game. When they look at our site, they can always find one that fits. We also do subscription boxes of game and a recipe booklet is included, so it gets people

Rolled venison haunch roast

thinking. People are always looking for more ideas and recipes.’ Your biggest challenge? ‘Getting people to eat game! People have this idea that game is expensive and that it needs to be hung for a long time which results in the strong “gamey” taste – that’s not always a taste for modern people. Our animals are processed very quickly so that strong game flavour isn’t there.’ What are you most proud of? ‘Really, simply getting to where we are today. We now have a customer base of 32,000 but it has been hard work.’ So what’s next? ‘We’re focused on getting game into the British diet. We’re Wild and Game’s Pheasant Chilli

about to launch a range of six ready meals. A lot of work has gone into the technical side and sampling – it’s a long process. We also have a luxury pies range. We’re always looking to try something interesting with game meat for the longer term prospects of the business.’ The review Growing up I used to eat a lot of pheasant as Dad belonged to a local farming shoot. Like Wild and Game we didn’t hang game birds for a long time as we weren’t keen on the stronger gamey taste. Having had to clean a few pheasants in my time, it was a pleasant change to receive a sample pack where all that processing had been done for me! Everything was well insulated so it could be simply popped in the freezer until ready to use and the delivery time from the courier was accurate. The recipe booklet really got me thinking about how to cook something different, in ways I would never have thought about (Chinese -style orange pheasant anyone?). The meat was very high quality and tasted delicious. I’m now a big fan of the venison and pheasant sausages and I’m looking forward to creating a Moroccan-style chilli with some venison mince. www.wildandgame.co.uk 75

The BV magazine, November ‘22 WILDLIFE Lesser Quaking Grass Image © Seb Haggett

Astonishing success as nature takes the lead

Rewilding Wild Woodbury – Dorset Wildlife Trust’s project records more than 1,100 species in its first year

A year into the Wild Woodbury rewilding project at quaking grass appeared, offering an excellent food Bere Regis and surveys have already recorded an source for many finches including goldfinch and uplift in the biodiversity and abundance of species linnet, and for yellowhammers.. Narrow-leaved moving onto the site. Over the last year, the land lungwort, red hemp nettle and three species of has been allowed to regenerate naturally, which orchid – including southern marsh orchid – are has increased the biodiversity and abundance of present on the site, as are small populations of wildlife. Staff and volunteers have recorded more cobalt crust fungi. than 1,100 species in this summer’s surveys, and The restoration of natural processes on the site eight Red List birds (of conservation concern) have should provide the right conditions for many been confirmed to be breeding at Wild Woodbury. species to return in greater numbers next year. Skylarks have increased from just two singing males last year to 18 counted this summer. No Nature’s regeneration tree pipits or woodlark were recorded in 2021 but With an ambitious aim of building an exemplar a breeding pair of each has been sighted raising for sustainable land use to tackle the climate and juveniles this year. Though there’s ecological crises, the early years no previous data for them, 28 of the project were always going yellowhammers have been counted to be about letting nature take the Eight Red List this year. lead, allowing the land to gently A rising number of juvenile birds regenerate and giving nature more birds have been have been spotted across the site space. But of course, that doesn’t confirmed to be too, including cuckoo, whinchat mean simply abandoning the breeding and nightjar. land! The Wild Woodbury team, partners and volunteers have Lesser quaking grass spent much of the year conducting A dry spring and the mass of emerging pollinators surveys and collecting data on ecology, soil, in the former arable fields helped to increase hydrology, species and water quality to provide the invertebrate population. Butterfly transects baselines for monitoring and future analysis. tracked more than 200 meadow brown butterflies Restoring a landscape and making space as well as silver-washed fritillary and painted lady for nature on this scale takes time, but it is on the wing. The hot summer weather increased extraordinary to see all that has been achieved moth activity, attracting rarer species such as in just one year and to witness the abundance dingy mocha. of wildlife species already calling Wild Woodbury Invertebrate specialists amassed more than 200 home. species of beetles, bugs and spiders, some of which have only a handful of records in Dorset. Discover more about Wild Woodbury at: Large clumps of the nationally-scarce lesser dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildwoodbury 76

The BV magazine, November ‘22 WILDLIFE

Above – Wild Woodbury, taken in June 2021 as the rewilding project began (image courtesy of James Burland). And below, Wild Woodbury taken almost exactly one year later, in July 2022 (image courtesy of Roger Bates)

The BV magazine, November ‘22 All images © Graham P Bannister Wildlife Photography

In search of the elusive three hares

Wildlife writer Jane Adams goes in search of mysterious hares in Dorset churches which may have originated in Buddhist China 78

The BV magazine, November ‘22 WILDLIFE

As I stared up at the ceiling inside St. Hubert’s church, Corfe Mullen, three hares stared back at me. Each hare shared ears with its neighbour and though the optical puzzle was fascinating itself, what did it mean? Placed alongside the Christian iconography, it felt weirdly out of place. ‘Aren’t they just big bunnies?’ a friend asked when I told her about the hares. While it’s true that they share some physical similarities, these elusive mammals are very different from rabbits. With long, black-tipped ears, a golden brown coat and those powerful hind legs, they’re nearly double the size, and about as similar to a rabbit as a Chihuahua is to a Cocker spaniel. Hares are solitary creatures, particularly outside breeding season, feeding on fresh plant shoots at night and hiding in a dip in the ground (a form) during the day. However, if discovered, 79

The BV magazine, November ‘22 WILDLIFE

The three hares boss in St Hubert’s Church, Corfe Mullen they can run at up to 45mph, quick enough to outrun any native predator. Historically, we’ve had a confusing relationship with hares. Pagan and Christian beliefs linked them not only to madness, famine and witchcraft but also fertility, good luck and longevity. A pagan springtime ritual celebration of hares may even have morphed into the Easter Bunny tradition. But nowadays they aren’t as common as they once were. Most modern farms don’t include the mosaic of crops, hedgerows, woodland and grazing that hares need to thrive. Along with an increase in pesticides, modern farm machinery and a lack of legal protections, their numbers have decreased by 80 per cent over the last 100 years. Hares breed from February through to September, producing three to four litters each year. The three hares motif may be linked to their fertility. In the Middle Ages, it was thought that hares could reproduce without a mate – effectively virgin births. So the three hares could symbolise the Virgin Mary – or the Holy Trinity. This mysterious icon isn’t restricted to one Dorset church. There are 17 churches in Devon with examples of a three-hare boss, with others found in Somerset and Cornwall. However, the earliest example of the motif is found in a Buddhist 80

cave painting in China, dating from 581 to 618 CE. It is likely that it found its way to southern Britain via the Silk Road – a busy trading route in medieval times. So although autumn and winter are an excellent time to spot hares in the wild, this month try looking inside as well. Check the ceiling of your nearest medieval

church and, if you find the mysterious three hares, I’d love to hear from you! To learn more about brown hares, see the Hare Preservation Trust. Find out more about the Three Hares Project here. Contact Jane Adams via her website janevadams.com

Sadly, hare coursing continues to be an issue, especially in north east Dorset – see the report from The BV, Aug 21. Hares cannot match the stamina of hunting hounds who will continue the chase until the hare is exhausted. Even if the hare escapes it is widely understood that its welfare is seriously compromised due to the trauma.

The BV magazine, November ‘22 RURAL MATTERS - the monthly column from the CPRE

NEWS

A view of Dorset’s hedgerows from Ibberton Hill. Image: Rupert Hardy

Hedgerows – are they our overlooked climate heroes? Hedgerows have inexplicably been left out of the climate change action plan, says Rupert Hardy, chairman of North Dorset CPRE

Last year we wrote about the – and they suggested that for importance of hedgerows in every £1 spent on hedgerows, offsetting climate change (The a return of up to £4 can be BV, Aug 21). We welcomed the expected from ecosystem and government’s 2019 Committee economic activities such as on Climate Change report, which biodiversity enhancement, called for a 40 per cent extension carbon sequestration and of the UK’s hedgerows. Sadly woodchip production for biofuel. the government did little to Planting hedgerows on arable implement this in its 2021 action land can boost yield by ten per plan, which aimed to restore and cent and reduce artificial pest enhance trees and woodland, but control by 30 per cent. This is all inexplicably left rather ironic when hedgerows out. you consider how For every CPRE therefore set many hundreds of £1 spent on out to promote miles of hedgerows hedgerows, this instead, were grubbed up in expect a return proposing a target the post-war period of 40 per cent by to supposedly to of up to £4 2050, with the improve agricultural campaign called #40by50. efficiency! Healthy hedgerows We commissioned the Organic teem with life and more then Research Centre to provide ten per cent of the UK’s priority an overview of the impact on species are associated with nature, climate and the economy hedgerows, including dormice

Volunteers planting a hedge in Dorset. Image: Ian Duckworth

and hedgehogs. There is huge potential to increase the carbon sequestration of hedgerows, if they are allowed to become wider and taller. They also improve air quality and can reduce soil erosion and flooding. Hedgerow Heroes The CPRE has worked with Farmers Weekly to engage with farmers who want to be involved in our hedgerow management survey and has received no less than 1,100 responses, which we are analysing now. There will be a parliamentary reception in December to launch the results of our farmers’ survey. Dorset CPRE has also been involved in a project to plant or restore more than 15 kilometres of hedge across the county, including the planting of over 50,000 trees. On the Hinton Admiral Estate straddling the Dorset/ Hampshire border, this has involved the planting of 1.7 kilometres of new hedgerow and improving a further 1.3 kilometres of existing hedgerow to create a better habitat for wildlife. We are asking parliamentarians to sign up to become Hedgerow Heroes and to call on the Secretary of State to make a firm commitment to our 40 per cent target. Fifty five have signed up to our campaign – but sadly they 81

The BV magazine, November ‘22 NEWS

do not yet include any Dorset MPs. Our fellow campaigners, Dorset Climate Action Network, want to facilitate hedgerow restoration through their Great Big Dorset Hedge (GBDH) Survey project. Dorset CPRE members are helping with this too. John Calder, who has a farm in Charmouth, is helping to start that journey by designing the hedgerow surveys on the major trails that traverse our county – the Jubilee Trail, Stour Valley Way and Brit Valley Way among others. Hopefully this will start a conversation in every parish they visit. The aim is to bring together volunteers and/or contractors with landowners who want to have their hedgerows assessed, then restored or extended. Hedgerows in Toller Porcorum In September various volunteers, including those from Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) and Dorset CPRE, made their observations on nearly a mile of the Jubilee Trail to the west of the DWT’s Kingcombe Centre in West Dorset. They looked at what species are in a hedge, found one English Elm tree, and used the Adams Condition Code infographics sheet to determine

RURAL MATTERS

the distinct stages of the life hedgerows have been a defining cycle of a hedgerow. Almost attribute of rural England, the every hedge surveyed had an stitching that holds the fabric of interesting story to tell but they the countryside together. From a found a particularly wonderful distance they give the landscape old pathway in Mount Pleasant form and distinction. Up close Lane. It was far too important they give it life, filling fields and historically and complex byways with birdsong and darting structurally to fit tidily into the insects and the furtive rustles of streamlined hedgerow rodents … assessment process that More than 10 per Hedgerows has been developed for don’t merely cent of the UK’s the GBDH project. It is enhance the priority species worth so much more countryside. are associated than that, so they added They make it.’ a sheet especially on it. Nowhere with hedgerows Hopefully data collected is this will be added later to a Quantum more true than in the pastoral GIS database so everything can landscape of North Dorset, with be recorded in one place and the added realisation of the then used in mapping software key role hedgerows can play such as Dorset Explorer. This will in halting biodiversity decline help to identify the hedges that and tackling climate change. have already been surveyed and Thomas Hardy’s “Vale of the Little sections that may need additional Dairies”, the Blackmore Vale, planting. If you would like to join is characterised by its irregular John and other volunteers on patchwork of small fields divided future surveys, or find out more by ancient hedgerows. Some are about the GBDH project, please Bronze Age or Neolithic in origin. visit www.dorsetcan.org/hedge. They may have been boundaries html. then, but now we need them for other reasons. Hedgerows in North Dorset Please consider planting a In 2000, our future CPRE new hedgerow as well as more president, Bill Bryson, wrote: trees. They are vital for our own ‘For well over a thousand years survival.

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Clarke Willmott LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registration number OC344818. Authorised and 83 regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 510689).

The BV magazine, November ‘22 ADVERTORIAL

Farmer’s son wins longrunning inheritance case A farmer, disinherited in favour of his brother after a lifetime’s work on the family farm, has won his case in the Supreme Court A Supreme Court judgment has been handed down in a longrunning and significant farm inheritance dispute. Three generations of the Guest family have farmed Tump Farm near Chepstow since 1938. A family falling-out between Andrew Guest and his parents, David and Josephine Guest, meant that he was told to find another job, move his family out of the farm’s cottage, the farming business partnership was dissolved and Andrew was disinherited completely. A lifetime on the farm As is common in farming families, Andrew left school at 16 and worked full-time on the farm for a low wage, living in a converted cottage on the farm, later with his wife and children too. His parents repeatedly led Andrew to believe that he would inherit a significant portion of Tump Farm. Regrettably, the relationship between Andrew and his father broke down. In April 2015, 32 years after Andrew started working full-time on the farm – often on less than minimum wage – his parents’ solicitor wrote to Andrew dissolving the partnership, forcing Andrew to seek work elsewhere. They also gave Andrew and his family three months to leave their cottage. David Guest made a further Will, disinheriting Andrew completely in favour of his younger brother in 2018. Andrew brought a claim in the 84

Andrew Guest won his case against his parents in a battle over inheriting the family farm (Image: Clarke Willmott)

High Court against his parents on the basis of the doctrine of proprietary estoppel. In essence, this allows a person to ask the Court to intervene if: 1. There has been a promise or assurance made by a person (A) to another (B) which creates an expectation that

B has or would become entitled to a right or interest in A’s land; 2. That promise or assurance was relied on by B; 3. B has suffered detriment as a result of relying on the promise or assurance; and 4. It would be unconscionable,

The BV magazine, November ‘22 ADVERTORIAL

in all the circumstances, to allow A to go back on their promise or assurance.

The Court of Appeal roundly rejected Andrew’s parents’ arguments and upheld the original High Court award. The parents were then granted permission to appeal to the Supreme Court on the way the award was calculated. David and Josephine Guest argued that relief should be calculated based on the detriment Andrew has suffered, rather than his expectation of inheritance.

£1.3 million judgement His Honour Judge Russen QC accepted Andrew’s evidence that his parents repeatedly led him to believe that he would inherit a significant part of the farm, stating that it was unconscionable for the parents to go back on this promise. As a result, the High Court Comprehensively dismissed awarded Andrew a clean break In a judgment handed down on lump sum payment of 50 per 19 October 2022, the Supreme cent of the value of the dairy Court comprehensively farming business and 40 per dismissed this and warned that cent of the value of the farm to the detriment-based approach start a life elsewhere, together forms no part of proprietary valued at more than £1.3 estoppel law million. Effectively because it is the this is what his Andrew, in his repudiation of parents had fifties, with no the promised promised him he home, no job, no expectation which would inherit. The Judge savings, and no is the harm caused. recognised that pension, despite The parents did, however, this would almost a lifetime of successfully appeal certainly mean that hard work that immediately the farm would awarding Andrew have to be sold in his interest in the farm order to satisfy the Judgment. accelerated his inheritance – his The parents were granted parents never promised the permission to appeal to farm to Andrew during their the Court of Appeal on the lifetimes. question of remedy; what sum David and Josephine Guest can of money the parents should now decide whether to sell the pay to Andrew as a result of farm to achieve a ‘clean break’ their unconscionable conduct.

or to put the farm into trust for Andrew to inherit on their deaths. Agriculture specialists at national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP represented Andrew. Polly Ridgway from the team said: ‘Andrew’s parents put in place a series of measures which were designed to leave Andrew, in his fifties, with no home, no job, no savings, and no pension, despite a lifetime of hard work. Thankfully, the Supreme Court was prepared to use its powers to prevent this clear injustice and, as a result, Andrew will receive his inheritance promised to him either now (as an accelerated sum) or on his parents’ deaths. We are delighted to have helped Andrew achieve this result. ‘Aside from being a significant decision in this area of law, the case also highlights the need for those involved in or contemplating bringing inheritance disputes to get expert legal advice as soon as possible so as to avoid the situation Andrew’s parents now find themselves.’

For more information on how the Clarke Willmott Agricultural disputes team can help you or your business, please visit www. clarkewillmott.com 85

The BV magazine, November ‘22 FARMING

Avian influenza – what you need to know

Alarmingly, bird flu is on the rise – new laws apply to backyard poultry keepers too, says NFU county advisor Gemma Harvey The 2021/22 winter season saw the worst outbreak of avian influenza, more commonly known as bird flu, that the UK has ever experienced, with more than 130 cases across the country. In previous years, cases have gradually subsided as spring approached, with none reported over the summer months, but that was not the case this year. Over the summer and on into the autumn, avian influenza persisted and a steady trickle of cases has continued. In recent weeks the number of confirmed cases has significantly increased. Backyard chickens Cases are not just confined to the commercial poultry sector – around half of the confirmed cases in winter 2021/22 were in backyard flocks. In response to the rising number of cases, on Monday 17th October a nationwide avian influenza prevention zone came into force, meaning that it is now a legal requirement for all bird keepers in Great Britain to follow strict biosecurity measures to protect their flocks from the threat of infection. How is bird flu spread? Bird flu is spread by direct contact between birds and through contamination in the environment, for example in bird droppings. This means wild birds carrying the disease can infect domestic poultry, so the best way to reduce the risk of your poultry catching bird flu is to minimise the chance of them coming into contact with wild birds or their droppings, by practising good 86

biosecurity and safety measures. coupled with soaring energy and To help prevent the spread of the feed costs, has put the whole disease it is important to review British poultry sector under the biosecurity measures that are huge emotional and financial currently in place in your flock. pressure.’ The NFU has To receive the latest produced a helpful news and advice poster (opposite) to Around half of should there be a Bird help you understand the confirmed Flu outbreak, poultry key areas to think keepers can sign up cases were about when it to the APHA poultry in backyard comes to protecting register. The NFU your birds. This in recommends that flocks turn will protect not anyone with poultry only your own flock or captive birds, no but other backyard farmers – and matter how many are in the support British poultry. flock, should register for free by clicking here or do so via the Poultry sector under pressure helpline on 03000 200 301. NFU Poultry Board chairman James Mottershead says: ‘The If you suspect Avian Influenza sheer persistence of AI (avian in your flock, please contact influenza) over the past year, your vet immediately.

PROTECT YOUR BIRDS If you keep poultry or captive birds, they are at risk from Avian Influenza (bird flu). There are a number of steps that you can take to reduce the risk of your birds being infected by this notifiable disease. Good biosecurity practices such as an enhanced hygiene routine are central to this. Use the following top tips to make sure you are doing all you can to protect your birds…

 Tick all of the following practices that you are already doing and think about how to implement those you are not.

Housing

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You should house your birds in line with government guidance

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Ensure that wild birds, rats and mice cannot access the area where your birds live Check for any leaks in the roof to prevent water getting into the area where your birds live

Water sources

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Prevent your birds from sharing nearby ponds and waterways with wild birds. For example, by netting areas of standing water, such as ponds, preventing bird access

General

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  

Feed and Water

Clothing and Footwear

Cleanse and Disinfect

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Regularly cleanse and disinfect hard standing areas your birds can access Thoroughly cleanse and disinfect all equipment, such as feeders and drinkers regularly

Carry out effective rodent control Limit the amount of people who have access to your birds Speak to your vet if you are worried about the health or welfare of your birds

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 

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Do not feed or water your birds in areas which can be accessed by wild birds Always clean up any feed spillages to discourage wild birds, rats or mice

If you feed wild garden birds, make sure you do this in a separate area, as far away as possible from your captive birds

Ensure that all clothing and footwear are washed thoroughly before you come into contact with your birds Use specific footwear when accessing the area where your birds live - do not access the area where your birds live wearing footwear you have worn elsewhere, e.g walking the dog as this can increase the risk of cross contamination

For more information visit - www.countrysideonline.co.uk/birdflu

The BV magazine, November ‘22 Flowery strip in a field of spring barley, hopefully it will be a source of beetle and aphid munchers.

Battling beetle, following ELMS and farewell Florrie and Rocky

Farmer George Hosford discusses the latest news on ELMS, crosses his fingers on the new oilseed rape, and says goodbye to two old friends Autumn sowing has proceeded at pace over the last three weeks; all is sown apart from two small fields of wheat, though the rain has made the last 10 days a bit of an on/off affair. I am hesitant to mention the new season oilseed rape crop – it needs a little longer to determine whether all of it will see the season out, though it may have turned the corner in the last 10 days, in spite of a slug and flea beetle onslaught. Delayed sowing thanks to the august drought meant that emergence coincided with the main beetle hatch, and although we have been trying to encourage predator insects with a more flowery habitat, the crop has still suffered. Perhaps though, had we not established the extra habitat, the crop would have failed completely. Harvesting wild seed We are in the first year of a new Countryside Stewardship agreement, and as well as the infield flowery strips, a significant part of it involves establishing six metre flower margins around the arable fields that don’t already have them. Many of our fields have had them in place since we first entered HLS (Higher Level Stewardship scheme) in 2010, when we used purchased seed to establish them. This time we have used our own seed, harvested this summer from a field of downland

reversion created in 2010 as part of that original HLS – which itself had been sown with seed harvested from much older existing downland. It was, on that occasion, harvested by a seed specialist with a brush harvester and a tractor with very wide set wheels on very steep banks. We cut this year’s seed with our own combine. It has now been analysed and 14 flower species have been identified, as well as a number of grasses. Fingers crossed for a good germination.

that ELMS will replace the BPS, but ELMS will offer farmers public money for providing public goods, in the shape of environmental enhancement. Supporting food production has been deemed to be less deserving of support with public money ... There are two other strands to ELMS, in addition to SFI. Local Nature Recovery is touted as the replacement for Countryside Stewardship (CS), and could perhaps be wound in and simply emerge as an evolved version of CS, without the The latest on ELMS upheaval of a whole new scheme. The SFI, (Sustainable Farming Secondly there is Landscape Incentive) is the wide-ranging Recovery, which needs to be basic level of ELMS (DEFRA’s handled with great care. It environmental land management is likely to operate across a scheme) designed to attract many limited number of large areas farmers into environmentallywhere groups of landowners beneficial activity. The NFU is get together with a particular calling for it to be pushed ahead outcome in mind. with vigour and to deliver 70 Each of the 24 pilot projects per cent of recently Supporting food farmers, with announced will 65 per cent receive £500,000 production has of the ELMS to develop their been deemed less budget. But projects. If this deserving of support DEFRA have yet is likely to result to acknowledge with public money ... in large areas that this is what taken out of food will be needed to achieve their production then the potential aims. ELMS is intended to be a environmental gain will need to partial successor to the BPS (Basic make a very strong case. Payment Scheme), a relic of the The NFU is asking for a pause EU days, which is being reduced in broader ELMS development, to zero in annual stages over in order to take full account of seven years. It is not pretended the changed situation across

The BV magazine, November ‘22 FARMING

the world, the Ukraine war, the energy crisis, climate change and the ongoing aftermath of the COVID pandemic, not to mention the consequences of Brexit – all have affected food supply and flow around the world. If there is to be a pause in ELMS roll out in order to ensure that all these things reach fruition, then a delay in the reduction of BPS must also remain on the table. Insufficient hedgerows We now know what SFI can look like in reality for the two standards which are so far available (arable and grassland soils). The interface is straightforward and the application is easy to complete online, though the level of funding may not be high enough. Let us hope that more standards will appear very soon, but they must be fit for purpose before release. Draft versions of a Hedgerow Standard, for example, still need further work; a way needs to be found whereby SFI would fund farmers to plant new hedges in the advanced level. This could achieve much takeup and make a real difference. Hedges have the potential to provide huge environmental gain, but the key will be the funding. The ‘income foregone plus costs’ model that DEFRA is currently hooked on will not cover all the work needed to be done to many existing hedges, and if trying to get new ones planted, will be utterly insufficient. School visit champions Lastly, we bade goodbye to two old and faithful animal friends this year, both of whom were stars every time we a school trip visits the farm. At the end of a visit, after looking at growing crops, cows with calves, doing a woodland trail and checking out shiny giant machinery, we usually finish with a visit to the paddock where the old pony and the tame

sheep live. We always go armed with a bag of toast, which is handed out to the children and immediately snatched from them by the greedy, though surprisingly gentle, sheep (and the pony if she is quick enough). Florrie the pony was allegedly 38 this year. Sadly 2022 was as far as she could manage, and so too it was for Rocky, a wether lamb from 2012. Junior family members had lambed his mother – he was a big fellow, and the birth proved too much for his mother, who did not survive. Once my 12 yearold recovered from the shock of witnessing the ewe’s demise, she gleefully brought him home to join that year’s band of orphan lambs. From that moment, a life of luxury and uselessness was assured, though poor Rocky had his share of troubles. First there was the time he got himself breached in the bushes, and had it not been for the eagle eye of Jayne he would have expired there. Then there were the many episodes of the hole in his back. What started with a small injury at shearing turned into a massive issue once the magpies spotted it and got dug in. First we tried

disinfectant spray and Stockholm tar, but that just trickled away in the sunshine. Then we tried a lady sheep’s prolapse harness (the indignity of it), but he would shrug it off and the magpie was back in a trice. The stupid animal would just let it peck away. Ugh. After that we tried stitching a patch to his wool; knitting it might have been better, but the wool was too short, and the patch didn’t survive trips into the bushes. Finally Nicki hit on the genius idea of the glue gun (a wonderful tool for a multitude of situations). The glued-on patch lasted weeks, enabling the wound to make a full recovery! Last Sunday afternoon a walker informed us that there was a suspiciously dead-looking animal lying on its side in the paddock. We had only moved them that morning, and Rocky had trotted along happily, so the end had been thankfully swift, lying peacefully in the autumn sunshine. Between them Florrie and Rocky must have met over 3,000 children. That’s a lot of toast. (see George’s full monthly blog and images on View from the Hill here)

The BV magazine, September ‘22 FARM TALES

(stock image NOT of the farm in question)

Dorset farm fined £52,000 for causing unnecessary suffering to cows A recent case of animal neglect on a Dorset farm has highlighted red flags with the Red Tractor accreditation systems, says Andrew Livingston Once again, farming has been cast under a dark shadow - this time a lot closer to home. Last month, a farmer from Kingston Russell, near Dorchester, was charged with offences relating to animal cruelty. In April last year, Trading Standards visited the farm with a vet from the Animal and Plant Health Agency and found an appalling sight which has once again created negative press towards agriculture. Pens of calves had a mix of healthy, severely sick and even dead calves. The pens, feeding equipment and water troughs were all dirty and a badly injured and lame cow had been left with no visit from a vet for over three months. Out in the fields wasn’t much better according to the report. The visitors had to free a calf who had got caught in wire and had been left in a field and a large variety of animal bones and skulls were recovered from the land. The punishment for the mistreatment of all these animals? The farmer who ran the property was fined £52,000 for the neglect. In my personal opinion, they 90

have got off lightly – I feel anyone found mistreating animals should be banned from keeping them for life and face prison time. Red Tractor approval? I know for some farmers things can slowly build up until it is difficult to work out how to return to once-high welfare standards. But once you keep animals, it’s a commitment that you cannot break. Partners and family need to know that their needs come after your cows, corn or pigs. So how had it got to this? Until April last year, the farm in question was certified with Red Tractor status. However, Trading Standards had been visiting for six years to ensure that changes were being made to the welfare of the animals. Did Red Tractor know of the previous poor animal welfare? The accreditation company should surely have been aware that the farm and its animals were in a poor state - otherwise what is their point? The farm is now banned from Red Tractor accreditation for two years, another stick with which to beat the farmer. But I would

bet my house on the fact that the organisation has offered no support to the farmer in question since his ban. Of course there is no excuse for animal abuse, but when standards slip on a farm it usually correlates with troubles in the farm manager’s mental and physical wellbeing. Despite my anger toward the farmer for what he did to those animals, I am still concerned for the individual – agriculture is a lonely business with a high rate of suicide. This case suggests that Red Tractor don’t appear to have systems in place to continuously care for accredited farmers or their animals. Instead, the Red Tractor accreditation seems to attempt to protect animals simply by increasing farm paperwork. I do believe that the individual in question should have been banned from keeping animals. But even if he had, it’s got to be up to accreditation companies like the Red Tractor to help farmers who have made mistakes to transition and learn – not just throw the book at them and then move on.

OUT OF DOORS

The Voice of the Allotment

A resurgence after the rain

After the hot dry summer, three inches of rain in September made a noticeable difference to the plot, never achieved by the watering, says Barry Cuff.

With above-average temperatures and higherthan-average rainfall for October, growth of both vegetables and weeds was phenomenal! The one slight frost wasn’t cold enough to kill off tender plants. Within a week, newly moved soil had produced a flush of weed seedlings, especially chickweed, groundsel, fat hen and sowthistle. Many of our flowers – cosmos, nasturtium and dahlia – still attracted hoverflies, bees and Red Admirals. Lots of weeds were still flowering too – black nightshade, red deadnettle, weasel snout and shepherd’s purse. We were still picking runner and French beans till at least the middle of the month, but they have now finished, and we cut our last courgette on the 25th. Our first parsnip was dug mid-October and cooked as wedges; tasty enough, but they will be better after a few frosts. We have had some wonderful autumn salads too, all harvested fresh from the plot. Ingredients included red frills mustard, green streaks mustard, mizuna, lettuce, cauliflower florets, red moon radish, blue moon radish, baby carrots and radicchio. The brassicas have never looked so good, having lost most of the whitefly and with little-to-no caterpillar damage. We have cut excellent Cheesy and Fargo cauliflowers, eating them both raw and boiled. Our Ironman calabrese are producing goodsized heads and will eventually have smaller side shoots. All the lower leaves of the Brussels that were covered in honey dew have been removed, making the plants look much better as the sprouts themselves begin to develop.

Barry continues to enjoy autumn salads, and the plot’s brassicas have never looked so good

Both the leeks and celeriac are growing well and we will start harvesting those next month. Celery and carrots continue to be harvested as required and we are using potatoes, squash, onions and garlic from our store. From the freezer we have this summer’s peas, French beans, broad beans and sweetcorn. We were still picking raspberries on the 28th of October and we are enjoying the last of the pears which we picked early in the month. Looking ahead Next year’s garlic was planted on the 12th. We are trying two varieties which are both new to us – Garcua and Carcassonne Wight – and have planted a total of 40 cloves. A highlight of the month was the arrival of our seeds from Kings. We ordered 37 packets (31 vegetable and six flower), making the most of the 50 per cent discount we get as our allotment is a member of The South West Counties Allotment Association. The first of these will be sown next February – broad beans and peppers. 91

The BV magazine, November ‘22 OUT OF DOORS Create an indoor spring bulb garden in the depths of winter All images: Charlotte Tombs

Can you have British flowers all year? 92

Charlotte offers workshops throughout the year - please see northcombe.co.uk for further details.

The BV magazine, November ‘22 OUT OF DOORS

Winter doesn’t have to mean resorting to supermarket flowers, says Charlotte Tombs. Perhaps we just need to think a little differently The answer is YES; with a little imagination, planning, organisation and determination you can have British flowers in your house all year. Of course, the flowers might not be the same as those you would buy from the supermarket along with your weekly shop. But stick with me – there is a way which is kinder to the planet, which has little to no carbon footprint. If you’re thinking about your eco choices, why are you still buying imported flowers with who knows how many chemicals sprayed on them or fed to them? I certainly know what I’d rather have in my home. Thinking differently Even in the depths of the coldest months there are winter-flowering shrubs, hellebores, berries, seed heads, winter-flowering honeysuckle ... if you look hard enough you can always find a bit of colour. I think we can be quite conservative in our approach to vases of ‘flowers’. Sometimes a simple group of twigs with lichen on can be quite beautiful. There is also the option of forcing branching by cutting twigs when you can see the first leaf/blossom buds. Bring them inside and place in water – given the indoor warmth you’ll get to watch the leaves unfurl. It is wonderful to watch. Something else you can do is plant bulbs that have been cooled to fool them into winter dormancy. By planting these specially-treated bulbs (look for ‘pre-chilled bulbs’) you can cheat Mother Nature and have an indoor spring bulbs garden. Some bulbs, such as narcissi, don’t need to be kept in a dark cool place if they have had the cold treatment. Instead you ‘plant’ (more like ‘place’!) them on gravel in a glass storm lantern and watch them grow. The flowers will fill your home with scent. Use your forced branches for these blooms as support for the long stems. Or perhaps you could invest in an everlasting bunch of flowers – dried ones. I say invest as these have been grown from seed, potted on, planted out, fed, watered and nurtured until they were harvested, sorted, dried and stored ... before being made into a vase arrangement for you to enjoy. It seems fair that they are more costly. There is an awful lot of effort in that dried bunch. Some brides are having all dried flowers for their weddings now. I’m not sure I could go down that route but there is always room to enjoy fresh and dried.

If you have any questions on techniques or varieties, please do send me a message on Facebook, Instagram or email me on northcombeflowers@outlook.com and I’ll happily help.

Hellebores provide subtle but splashy winter colour

A simple twig with lichen on can be quite beautiful

‘Plant’ narcissi on gravel in a storm lantern

Dried flowers can be a wonderful investment

The BV magazine, November ‘22 ADVERTORIAL A splash of autumnal colour from Thorngrove’s rudbeckia

Pop in for a little distraction With Halloween over, Thorngrove are keen to work their magic with a little distraction and fun for the whole community, says Kelsi-Dean Buck And there we have it – October is in the rear view mirror and the festive season is officially here! Our Christmas plans for Thorngrove are coming to fruition and 2022 is set to be our biggest one ever. We appreciate the world has been a little upside down, and many hard-working people have experienced difficult times recently. The thought of Christmas might even be a stressful one to some. But we’re seeing it as an opportunity to remind everyone of what’s important at this time of year – making memories, and spending time with those most important to us. Our role in the community goes far beyond selling garden plants and essentials; we want to be a place everyone can rely on for a distraction, and as a destination for making those memories! Let us distract you Regular visitors to Thorngrove and followers of our story will be aware that 2022 has seen us get ourselves back on the map as a location for events. The hanging basket workshops have been a staple of our calendar and we’re aiming to broaden the appeal, 94

perhaps introduce new people to gardening, and to become a place for young people to get creative too. It’s been going really well with our craft events for children. We’ve hosted them at Easter, over the summer, and most recently for Halloween. They have given children an opportunity to visit Thorngrove, and create something brilliant to take home with them. We’ve had pot decorating (and planting!), decoration making, and sessions for making jam jar lanterns. It’s a simple approach, but one we’ve had amazing feedback on. We keep the events affordable too, determined to be accessible to as many people in the community as possible.

Looking ahead, these craft sessions will definitely continue, along with more new events that allow us to continue being that place for a distraction, and a relaxing meeting spot for family and friends. Our upcoming feature event is of course our Santa’s Grotto. Tickets for this are available now (just go to our website for more info). We’re also delighted to be hosting Angel Exit Theatre from 10th November – they’re offering drama workshops, right here at Thorngrove. All leading to a Christmas show! With a new menu in the café, and all the Christmas essentials arriving now, let us be your one stop shop for festivities this year. Hope to see you soon!

The BV magazine, November ‘22 PUZZLES

Crossword

Jigsaw

Simply click to complete on your tablet, computer or phone - or there’s a download option if you prefer pen and paper.

A stunning October sunset. Just click to complete! If you get stuck, there’s an icon at the top of the screen which reveals the completed picture for you to refresh your memory. Image © Courtenay Hitchcock

The BV magazine, September ‘22 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the Editor

Want to reply? Read something you feel needs commenting on? Our postbag is open! Please send emails to letters@theblackmorevale.co.uk. When writing, please include your full name and address; we will not print this, but do require it.

On Ramblers This weekend I passed a group of what I took to be a group of ramblers - 12 or so people of retirement age, all in stout boots, wearing sensible waterproofs and carrying backpacks. However – I was driving, and I slowly passed them on a narrow single track lane. The issue was that most scattered before me to both sides of the lane. Surely it is a hikers basic 101 knowledge that on a road you walk in single file, and keep to the right? By scattering on both sides they made it far harder for me to pass them all safely. Some had unnecessarily launched into the hedge, others stood to the side of the ride, others, busy chatting, edged over but stayed side-by-side. Please walkers - by all means fill a quiet lane when there is no traffic, but do us careful drivers the courtesy of moving to just one side, in single file, when you allow us to pass! Alan Moreton Shaftesbury On the politics Great to have Simon Hoare back in your politics pages again - I, like Dr Mathews in your September issue, had noticed his absence. His column (p.22 The BV, Oct 22) was apposite as the Westminster Circus continues to play out this month (as I write Liz Truss is still PM, but will she be tomorrow? By the time this is printed I suspect she will not be). I did feel that perhaps Ken Huggins column from the Green’s this month was 96

unusually underwhelming - his is usually one of my favourite viewpoints to read, and I wonder if perhaps his actual views on the current Tory Mess may have been a little too strong for The BV’s pages? Tony Barratt Nr Verwood (I couldn’t possibly comment either way on that - Ed) Farm cruelty I have been horrified to learn of the case of farm cruelty in West Dorset recently. The cruelty and suffering appear to have been bad enough, when it came to light in the court case. But what is worse is that this was a Red Tractor certified farm - which had been visited repeatedly by Trading Standards due to concerns over the animal welfare for six years! Quite why it took so long for the situation to be resolved and the animals properly cared for is beyond me. How can a farm with such ongoing and longstanding animal welfare issues still retain its red tractor status? And more importantly, how are we supposed to now trust this alleged beacon of shopper security? Once earned, do red tractor not return and check up on its certified badge wearers? Once again we are fooled by the marketing. How lucky we are in Dorset to have such a wealth of local options to buy direct form producers, and not have to trust that the blurb we read is actually true. Alan Pinman Dorchester

(Andrew Livingston’s Farm Tales column this month discusses this very case - Ed) Are Warm Hubs being set up in Dorset for the vulnerable th is winter? I can thus far find no mention of an organised, unified project to do so, though I am aware of certain individual businesses and community organisations who are offering a warm space to those who find themselves alone and cold and probably hungry through the coldest months. Obviously a collective effort is most effective, but if there are numerous disparate groups setting up individual hubs, then a central resource to know where, when and what is available would be incredibly useful to share among those who may well need it. I fear the coming winter will prove difficult and long for many many of us. A Harding Shaftesbury Thank you for your feature on Mike Howe the thatcher. I always enjoy the craftsmen and women featured in Tracie Beardsley’s excellent articles, but this one particularly struck a chord as my grandfather was a thatcher. I remember being in his dusty shed, playing with the very ladders and tools you showed! It’s also very encouraging to see such an emphasis on apprenticeships and true training - the old skills aren’t just a nice bit of history, they’re essential for so many things and I fear that every year we lose so much knowledge before it has been passed on to future generations as the young people are driven to university, bypassing fulfilling crafts and trades. Anne Ryman Chalke Valley

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www.porterdodson.co.uk 97

The BV magazine, November ‘22 COMMUNITY Monthly updates from the various North Dorset Police Teams. This month’s news from Blandford’s PC Tom Harness

Neighbourhood priorities The autumn has seen the local policing teams concentrating on the issues which the public have said are their biggest concerns, says PC Tom Harness With a busy summer now behind us and much to reflect on over the last few months, policing in North Dorset continues to work at driving down our three priorities, which were decided by our neighbourhood priority surveys: • Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) and driving. • Drug Dealing and County lines. • Reducing rural crime and acquisitive crime, with particular focus on burglaries. Back in July we saw an intensification week in Blandford. As well as effective and targeted use of stop search powers we also executed a warrant at an address which was publicised by local news and the BBC. This was as a result of Operation Viper – Dorset Police’s coordinated response to drug dealing and county line activity. To reduce anti-social behaviour in Blandford, we have utilised Community Protection Notices (CPN’s) – these were formerly referred to as ASBO’s, a term many will be familiar with. We

PC 2186 Dave Mullins on the left and his colleague PCSO 7309 Mike Sinnick

have identified key and persistent anti-social offenders, such as prolific drug users, shop lifters and those that have continually disrupted the peace and vibrancy of the town. In conjunction with the council ASB team, these individuals have been served with conditions designed to rehabilitate and reduce their offending. Drop in clinic On the last Tuesday of every month we have been joining up with Blandford Group Practice for a drop-in clinic at the Corn Exchange in Blandford. While there we aim to answer any questions the public may have and, importantly, offer an opportunity for people to fill out our neighbourhood priority surveys – these survey answers are key in deciding what the local policing teams focus on each quarter, so please do come and have a chat. PC Mullins Lastly we are saying goodbye to one of Dorset’s longest continually serving neighbourhood PC’s, Dave Mullins. He has covered rural North Dorset and Blandford for nearly 18 years and has finally decided the time is right to retire. We wish him all the best.

The BV magazine, November ‘22 HEALTH

Connections with community Feeling connected is a fundamental human need, says Dorset Mind’s Abigail Hole, and one that should be thought about as winter arrives As the colder weather sets in, it’s worth considering the support networks and connections you have near to home. Establishing routines and people who you can turn to, especially if you’re vulnerable to mental health challenges during the winter months, can be an important exercise. We all need someone to talk to from time to time. Human Need You may have heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – it is frequently used as an education theory which discusses a human’s basic needs for survival: food, warmth, security and safety, for example. Maslow’s theory also discusses psychological needs – our ‘motivations’ for survival including love, belonging and friendship. Some may argue that this 1940s theory is outdated for modern day living, but the importance of human connection and acceptance remains a fundamental need, not just a desire, and is critical in prioritising your mental health this autumn and winter. Loneliness This year, during May’s Mental Health Awareness Week, Dorset Mind raised awareness of the impact of loneliness on mental health. Although not a mental health condition in itself, feeling lonely is extremely common across all age groups, races, and living situations. Mental health conditions also increase our chances of feeling lonely, or the risk of isolating ourselves. Research conducted by the Office of National Statistics found that people who say they are never lonely are more likely to feel part of their community (Community Life Survey, 2018). By finding a sense of belonging within our community, we feel motivated to take care of other’s needs; this in turn boosts our own wellbeing. It’s important to acknowledge how you’re feeling. We recommend taking note in a diary exactly when feelings of loneliness arise, as this can help detect patterns, which can be useful when finding support during the challenging times. For example, if you notice frequent feelings of loneliness during the weekend, or after work, you can plan and find support available during these periods. Seeking Connection Thankfully, there are numerous ways we can connect with others within our community. Although social media might not be to everyone’s cup of tea, it does provide a vast community of people to connect

with, from local community groups or common interests to simply connecting with distant friends and family members. It’s also worth checking community notice boards in cafes, gyms, libraries and even supermarkets for posters of low cost or free group activities. If you would like to be a part of a community project and work as part of a team, volunteering can be an excellent way of connecting with others. At Dorset Mind, volunteers provide support across the charity based on their own preferences, from helping tend to our allotments to providing one-to-one phone calls with young people and adults who may be experiencing periods of loneliness themselves. Talking to someone If you are experiencing emotional or wellbeing challenges and need to talk with someone, Dorset Mind’s befriending service can help. It provides oneto-one support for adults through check-in phone calls, helping with goal setting, reducing social isolation and improving confidence and self-esteem. Additionally, The Silver Line helpline is a free 24hour telephone service for older people, offering friendship, conversation and support especially for those who may be feeling lonely or isolated. You can call it on 0800 4 70 80 90. The Samaritans also provide a listening service through their 24 hours a day phoneline. You can talk through your concerns, worries and troubles – contact them on 116 123. Dorset Mind wellbeing and mental health support: dorsetmind.uk Find out more about Silverline: www.thesilverline.org.uk

The BV magazine, November ‘22 HEALTH Between October and April (when our shadow is longer than our height in the sunshine), we need to find vitamin D in food and supplements

Recruit Vitamin D to help win the war against winter bugs Everyone in the UK should take vitamin D as a supplement – nutritional therapist Karen Geary explains what, how and why In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) suggests that around 10 million people may be deficient in vitamin D. Why is it important, how do you get it and how do you know how much to take?

read more about that here). In other studies, vitamin D deficient individuals were found to be at higher risk of COVID-19 infection as compared with vitamin D sufficient patients.

How do I get vitamin D? Why vitamin D? Our bodies cannot make vitamin We need vitamin D for our D without sunlight and food (and immune system to function. then only in small amounts), so Immune cells have vitamin D we need both sources or to use receptors on them – when it is supplements. Vitamin D is fatabsorbed into the cells it provides soluble, which means you need a protective effect against to eat fat to absorb it. Foods infections and suppresses the with vitamin D include oily fish, replication of organic dairy, We have to eat an some viruses. beef liver, These immune mushrooms enormous amount cells are mostly which have – like 3kg of cheese, in the gut and it been exposed several cans of tuna to sunlight, is thought that vitamin D may tofu, fortified and eight eggs! also support the milk products, integrity of the lining of the gut. fortified cereals and eggs. But There is also a suggestion that we have to eat an enormous vitamin D may provide protection amount to get anyway near the against other conditions (you can recommended minimum amount

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– like 3kg of cheese, several cans of tuna and eight eggs! In the summer, when our skin is exposed to sunlight, 90 per cent of our total vitamin D comes from sunshine and we are likely to be making enough. However, between October and April (when our shadow is longer than our height in the sunshine), we need to find it elsewhere. In food and supplements, there are two types of vitamin D: D2 Ed’s Note - I thought a vitamin deficiency sounded over-dramatic and ‘doesn’tactually-happen-to-normalpeople-like-us’. Until, that is, my then-13 year old was diagnosed as vitamin D deficient after a couple of very worrying months. Dose yourselves, and dose your teenagers. The impact of low vitamin D levels is very real and deeply unpleasant.

The BV magazine, November ‘22 by Karen Geary, a Registered Nutritional Therapist DipION, mBANT, CNHC at Amplify which is found in plants, and D3, found in animal products. Our body makes D3, its preferred form, so it is important that you buy supplements in D3 form. Fortified foods are usually supplemented with D2. How much to take? An optimum level of vitamin D is between 75nmol/L and 100nmol/L. You can get an at-home test for £29 at www. vitamindtest.org.uk/ and you can calculate how much you may need here. Did you know that NHS and Public Health England take a test, a top-up dose over recommends that anyone over the winter of 2,000 to 3,000iu’s 12 months old should take a as a daily food supplement is supplement at a minimum of sufficient and at this level is 400iu of vitamin D per day from unlikely to lead to a too-high October to March? This level, level unless your by the way, is D3 is already too barely enough to The NHS and high, which is maintain current Public Health rare. Note this levels. Did you also England is much higher know that the US – than the NHS which is at a lower recommended recommendation. latitude than the daily dose, by There are infant UK (except Alaska) the way, is barely and junior – recommends supplements at higher amounts, enough a smaller dose and with an upper also available. tolerable limit? BetterYou offers good quality It is always better to tailor the highly absorbable supplements. dose to suit you by testing your Unless you are taking blood current levels. thinners, I would always However, if you are unable to

recommend taking vitamin D3 with vitamin K2. This is because the current research shows that vitamin K2 ensures that the calcium transported by the vitamin D is absorbed by your bones where it is needed. Vitamin D from sunlight. There is a wonderful free app for tracking this – though it is for the summer more than winter dminder.ontometrics.com/ Lack of sleep, stress, sugar, alcohol and poor diet can all deplete your immunity and no amount of supplementation can compensate for poor lifestyle. So always consider supplementation as part of a wider lifestyle approach to winter wellness.

We have to eat an enormous amount to get near the required vitamin D levels

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The BV magazine, November ‘22 HEALTH

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each other at the back. It’s so good for them just to observe, to understand from a young age that exercise is not only a normal part of life, but we do it for fun.’ ((BOUNCE)) is a flexible workout - even the high intensity sections can easily be adapted for all ages, sizes and abilities. ‘Exercise isn’t a punishment! It’s a way to be proud of your strength, to enjoy your body. We just put on a great playlist and sing along! ‘As the nights draw in it’s really important that we all keep exercising to keep those happy hormones swooshing about our bodies. It’s not about losing weight, or meeting a target. It’s simply about working at your own pace, and building strength class after class. ‘Sorry, am I talking too much? You might be able to tell, I’m just so passionate. I LOVE what I do!’ ((BOUNCE)) is a low impact high intensity full body workout on mini trampolines. The one hour session splits into 40 minutes of dancechoreographed HIIT cardio followed by 20 minutes of toning. ((BOUNCE)) Wincanton is at the Memorial Hall Tuesdays: 7.30 to 8.30pm Thursdays 7 to 8pm See Facebook here ((BOUNCE)) Gillingham is at BONES Youth Centre Mondays and Fridays 6.30 to 7.30pm. See Facebook here Cost is £6.95 per class - no commitment, no sign up fees, bulk class passes are available.

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The BV magazine, November ‘22 SCHOOL NEWS

Talking to people who help us

Sherborne Primary School children in the Early Years Foundation Stage spent this month learning about ‘people who help us’. They had exciting visits from a vet and an ambulance driver and then they themselves visited Sherborne Fire Station. The children learned lots, but more importantly had an amazing time.

Never a bad word for ‘good’ Durweston The staff, governors, parents and children of Durweston Primary School are delighted that they have been judged by OFSTED to be a ‘Good’ school. In fact, the inspector said she had never before inspected a school where there were no negative comments from parents. The children were emphatic in their opinion that there is no bullying in the school, and 100 per cent of parents would recommend the school to other parents. The inspector praised the extremely good behaviour of the children and the warm relationships between both pupils and staff and between pupils themselves. The ambitious curriculum was noted, as was the high expectations that the teaching staff have for all children including those with SEND. She saw that the school’s values underpin everything they do;

Durweston Primary School pupils setting off to reenact the Roman attack on Hod Hill

one teacher said ‘these are not just for school, but the values we want them to have for the rest of their lives.’ ‘We have always believed that Durweston is a great place to learn and a great place to work, and are delighted that OFSTED

have recognized that our school is a very special place. I am enormously grateful to my fabulous staff, amazing children and their hugely supportive parents. What a super way to start the year!’ said headteacher Nicola Brooke. 103

The BV magazine, November ‘22 SCHOOL NEWS

BBC’s Adebanji Alade visits The Gryphon The Gryphon School in Sherborne were recently fortunate to host a visit from celebrity painter Adebanji Alade. Adebanji is a presenter on BBC’s ‘The One Show’ as well as vice president of The Royal Institute of Oil Painters. He is a wonderful motivational speaker among a myriad of other accomplishments. Selected for their exceptionally high effort and their above-andbeyond attitudes to learning in art, 27 students from across all key stages spent an entire day with Adebanji. They experienced a professional portfolio viewing, watched an inspiring painting demonstration and workshop and they each received one-to-one guidance on creating a portrait of their own in oil paint and mixed media. The students gained valuable insights and learned new skills in traditional and contemporary portraiture techniques using oil and mixed-media. They all produced highly successful and advanced portraits.

Inspired responses The students were absolutely delighted with the experience: ‘It was a brilliant opportunity and I would recommend this workshop to anyone’ - AK ‘Truly a wonderful experience! I’m so happy that I was picked for it, I feel like I’ve learnt many useful techniques and that this workshop will help me to become a great artist! I hope that one day I’ll be just as successful and skilled as Adebanji Alade!’ – BS ‘ Adebanji’s workshop was really educational and inspired me to do my own oil painting’ - IW Adebanji commented on his day at The Gryphon School; ‘Thanks so much for hosting a wonderful workshop with your talented art students, I really 104

enjoyed working with them.‘ Mr Malone, from The Gryphon School’s art department, said ‘We would like to say a huge thank you to both The Gryphon Foundation and to headteacher

Nicki Edwards for their generous support in helping to make this wonderful opportunity happen. And of course well done to the exceptional-effort students who took part.’

The BV magazine, November ‘22 SCHOOL NEWS

Autumn at the kindergarten The two to four year-olds have embraced autumn at Wimborne Kindergarten, making great use of their outdoor space. They have been using their imagination building with crates, planks and tyres to create their own vehicles, and helping each other to complete their own obstacle course. All the children love water play and they experiment with pouring, sieving, filling and emptying containers – it’s always a busy area in the garden. The children have also been investigating the pumpkins and gourds, exploring their smell, texture and colours. They have enjoyed the many autumn displays in Wimborne town centre on their walks and visits to the local library. The children particularly love their visits to the Wimborne Community Garden which adjoins the Kindergarten. They have used foraged blackberries from the Kindergarten’s own hedgerow and collected fallen apples to make their very own Gruffalo crumble and they have baked gingerbread men after reading the story. The leftover apples were used to create wonderful prints in Autumn hues! As the days get colder the children will continue

to use the outdoor space as a free-flow facility, enabling the children to choose to learn inside or outdoors whatever the weather.

The NSEA championships at Keysoe A squad of nine Sandroyd School riders attended the nationals just before half term for the finals for showjumping (SJ) and JWS (jumping with style). The Mini Showjumping class went first and Bo, Charlotte, Lily and Willow all rode well, finishing in 11th out of 27 teams. Two teams had qualified for the Mini JWS finals. The white team (Charlotte, Georgia, Rose and Bo) had a good experience at their first championships. The purple team (Lily, Willow, Molly and Daisy) all rode confidently over 17 fences showing a good style and transition from showjumping to cross-country. This competition is judged on style as well as faults and they achieved a team score of 26.8. Willow had an individual score of 1.9 penalties – the best of the class. The team placed 2nd and Willow won the class. On the Friday it was the novice

classes, 85/90cm SJ and sandroyd had one team qualified. This was a very strong class with 42 teams entered. Molly, Willow, James and Charlotte all rode well but a couple of poles down meant they had a team score of 8 which left them in 17th place (a good result when only five teams finished on a zero score and seven were eliminated). In the 85/90cm JWS,two Sandroyd teams had qualified. The white team (Charlotte, Georgia, James and Rose) all hard. The purple team (Daisy, Willow and Lily) had to ride without Molly as her pony went lame and so could

not compete but again a good experience. Lily, Willow, Rose and Georgia competed as a team in the Mini Eventers Challenge Qualifier for Hickstead next May. All again rode well on now-tired ponies (and riders) but they managed to win the class and Lily won as an individual so she has qualified for the finals next year. James had qualified for the 90/95cm finals as an individual and he rode a super double clear which gave him 21st place out of 164 riders – as one of the youngest in this class this was a huge achievement.

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The BV magazine, July ‘22 BUSINESS NEWS

Local cookshop beats Harrods and John Lewis to win top award

Wimborne’s popular independent cookware retailer Salamander Cookshop were celebrating last month, having won a prestigious Excellence in Housewares Award at a glittering ceremony at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. Often described as a traditional ‘emporium’, Salamander stocks over 5,000 different cookware products. All have been carefully curated by owners David and Ione Crossley, who took over the shop in 2019. There were seven other finalists in the category of Excellence in Retail Training, including Harrods and John Lewis. ‘We feel proud to be recognised alongside such an impressive range of leading national brands’ said the husband and wife team. ‘This award recognises our focus, our team really knowing the products we sell and us being able to share that knowledge and expertise with customers.’ It’s all in the training David and Ione put the win down to their baked-in commitment to training. David said: ‘We came to the retail sector from education; we ran our own training consultancy helping to develop school leaders and teachers. Quite simply, as lifelong learners ourselves, great training is part of our DNA. With this background, a focus on learning

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about the cookware industry and its products was natural for us.’ All Salamander staff undergo online training with suppliers and leading cookware specialists, as well as attending workshops at places such as the Le Crueset kitchen in Andover. Ione said: ‘We believe we best serve our customers by offering genuine product knowledge and expertise as well as great customer service. We’ve developed an induction manual and we take every member of staff through the shop in sections so they can really get under the skin of what we sell – how it works, where it comes from, its benefits and features.’ Salamander was also a finalist in the Retail Initiative Category for its innovative approach.

The couple have in-store demonstrations for customers, and during COVID held virtual cooking competitions and personal Zoom shopping. Food walks The couple are always looking for new ways to expand what they do, too. Their cooking events have proved very popular – one of their recent guest experts was Maggie Richardson from last year’s Great British Bake Off. Wimborne Food Walks is another venture which they jointly host with other businesses in the town. Ione said: ‘We’re delighted to partner with Dacombes of Wimborne, who allow us to use their demonstration kitchen. We love the town – the brilliant range of cafe and artisan food shops inspired us to run Food Walks where we showcase other local food businesses, such as East Street Deli, The Malthouse Bakery and Bells Fisheries.’ The cookshop also won Good Retailing Award in 2021 for its accessible website, effective use of IT and its creative newsletter which goes out regularly to over 800 subscribers. salamandercookshop.com

The BV magazine, November ‘22 BUSINESS NEWS

Shaftesbury and Sherborne Business Awards close this month - have you entered yet? Two of North Dorset’s biggest business awards are closing this month - if you’re connected to a business based in Sherborne or Shaftesbury then now’s your chance to get your entry polished and sent off before the closing date. Shaftesbury businesses Entries for the inaugural Shaftesbury Business Awards opened in September, and organiser Nigel West of MW Events told the BV that over 50 entries and nominations were submitted in the first 24 hours. ‘The response has been incredible. The awards simply focus on promoting the range and quality of local businesses. Entry is free, businesses can enter as many categories as they wish, and they can also get their customers to nominate them.’ Entry deadline is on Monday 28th November, and the

Winners of the 2022 Sherborne Business Awards. Image: Laura Hitchcock

awards ceremony will be at The Grosvenor Arms in Shaftesbury on Thursday 26th January. Sherborne businesses Sherborne Business Awards are back for their second year –entry deadline is 2pm on Friday 11th November, so get your entry double checked and completed! The Sherborne Awards Ceremony will be on Thursday 12th January.

Nigel said: ‘We are proud to run grassroots business awards, focussing purely on the quality and range of local businesses. They are open to all – businesses, organisations and institutions – and I firmly believe that the awards should not simply be an excuse for a party. The focus is on the entries, not the event. However, it is a great opportunity for local businesses to get together.’

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The BV magazine, November ‘22

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The BV magazine, November ‘22 JOBS

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The BV magazine, November ‘22 JOBS

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The BV magazine, Nov 22

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