The New Blackmore Vale Magazine - Issue 101

A303 TUNNEL PLAN

What’s inside this issue…

Kye Harman Sports Editor sports@blackmorevale.net 01963 400186

Debi Thorne Sales Director

Debi.thorne@blackmorevale.net 07714 289409

Paul Jones - Editor in Chief We love hearing your news and views. Get in touch with us by emailing newsdesk@blackmorevale.net or calling 01963 400186 Rachelle

Jane Toomer Senior Account Manager Jane.toomer@blackmorevale.net 07714 289411

Clare Govan Account Manager

clare.govan@blackmorevale.net 07714 289407

Lynsey Swaine Account Manager lynsey.swaine@blackmorevale.net 07714 289416

Millie fights the monster through art

THE Yellow Bus Project in Shillingstone has recently been the venue for a very special art exhibition.

Nine-year-old Millie suffered a mild brain injury after hitting her head during a PE lesson on January 3, 2024. She has been diagnosed with Post Concussive Syndrome, which in her own words is ‘concussion that

Wincanton Camera Club and the power of your NBVM!

by Brian Stubbs

WINCANTON Camera Club completed another successful season 2023-24. Our members enjoyed presentations on processing images using Photoshop, infrared photography, image composition, using natural light for portraiture, photographing the birds of Africa, and drone photography.

A particular highlight was the visit of Mark Case of Getty Images, talking about his work photographing and videoing politicians, Royalty and film stars.

Originally from Castle Cary, Mark is now one of the leaders in his field and travels the world.

We had practical sessions, including high speed photography and long exposure, with members able to try their hands at these skills.

Photographic trips out included Sturminster Mill, Bennetts’ water gardens, Andover Hawk conservancy, various woodlands, a spaniel photography evening, photographing Sherborne at night (including a visit to the chippy), and photo shows in Birmingham and London.

All this – alongside our usual four internal competitions and critique evenings – made for an entertaining and educational year.

The Club welcomes a new chairman, secretary and competition secretary to our committee, all very enthusiastic. Our programme for 2024-2025, already planned and available on our website, starts with an exhibition in Wincanton Library from August 7 and our first meeting in Wincanton Memorial Hall on Wednesday, September 4. The Club meets every other week.

Following our success at the Western

Counties Photographic Federation (WCPF), where Wincanton won the best small club award for the second year on the trot, and this being reported in the NBVM, our club came to the attention of internationally renowned landscape photographer, Charlie Waite, who saw the article.

As a result, Charlie will be speaking to us at a meeting on Wednesday, October 2. This meeting will be open to the general public at a cost of £12.75 including booking fee and glass of wine/soft drink on arrival. Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7.30pm start.

Full details, including a link to our online booking service, are available at www. wincantoncameraclub.co.uk/2024-2025/ CharlieWaite.htm

Charlie Waite is regarded as one of this country’s top landscape photographers with a worldwide reputation, his photographs are held in private and corporate collections. Charlie has lectured throughout the UK, Europe and US with solo exhibitions in places such as London, Tokyo, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, New York and California. In 2016 he was invited by the Royal Academy of Arts to exhibit in their Summer Exhibition.

British Institute of Professional Photographers. Having started out working for the BBC behind the scenes, Charlie is now frequently seen on British Television discussing the finer aspects of landscape photography. He is the owner and founder of Light & Land, one of the UK’s leading photographic workshop and tour companies, which has been running tours, courses and workshops for over 29 years with the help of a select team of photographers.

In 2007 Charlie launched the UK Landscape Photographer of the Year, an international competition open to all, which ties in with Charlie’s desire to share his passion and appreciation of the beauty of our surroundings through photography.

Charlie is a very entertaining speaker with appeal to photographer and nonphotographer alike. He will be available to sign his latest book on the evening.

Charlie is a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and holds an honorary Fellowship of the

Present on this evening will be representatives of the Disabled Photographers’ Society, a very worthy charity supported by Charlie. This charity will receive 50% of proceeds from the evening.

Many photographers will be aware, or even customers, of Fotospeed. Charlie is an ambassador for Fotospeed and they will also be in attendance with a range of their products for sale on the night.

There will also be a raffle to win one of Charlie Waite’s prints.

This evening promises to be a wonderful opportunity to hear one of the country’s most entertaining landscape photographers here in Wincanton. Tickets are available from www.trybooking.com/uk/events/ landing/61205 and are already selling.

Don’t delay as we expect this event to sell out.

Landscape photographer Charlie Waite will be talking to Wincanton Camera Club in October

Photo by Brian Stubbs

Photo by Kit Williams

Milling around

STURMINSTER Mill is offering the chance to learn how the mill works at an experience day this August.

Children aged between nine and 12 can become a miller’s apprentice on August 12, and go behind the scenes at this working mill.

There are two sessions on the day – 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm. Each costs £4.

For more information and to book email zillabears@ hotmail.co.uk or call 01258 473178.

Kids go potty for clay workshops

PUPILS at Countess Gytha Primary School in Queen Camel have been getting creative with clay.

Some 140 children from years 1 to 6 enjoyed pottery workshops with recent Art History graduate George Sutton.

Queen Camel potter and teacher, Douglas Phillips, a

former Countess Gytha pupil, donated the locally sourced clay and will fire the pinch-to be returned to the older pupils after the summer holiday.

Year 6 teacher, Toby Gallagher, said: “The children enjoyed sculpting and creating their own designs with the clay, showing great artistic flair with their fantastic work.

“We absolutely loved having George and would welcome him back.”

The Mid Somerset Arts Society (theartssocietymidsomerset.org. uk), based in Castle Cary, funded and facilitated the workshops. Its Young Arts initiative promotes high quality arts activities for young people in their communities.

George is set to train to be an art teacher.

Goodbye to a Vale great

MORE than 200 people gathered in St Nicholas’ Church, Durweston, to remember and pay their respects to the late John Tory, local farmer, pillar of the local community and councillor, who died on June 25 at the age of 84.

Mr Tory was brought up at Gains Cross, Shillingstone, which his father – one of generations of the same family who have owned and farmed land in Dorset – ran until 1952 when the family moved to Home Farm, Bryanston. There he succeeded his father in running the tenancy from 1969 to 1999.

John and his wife Jackie met in 1970 and married in 1971 – his adopted son Edward said it took a good man to be a good father, but an exceptional man to adopt two children and bring them up as his own.

Mr Tory was chairman of Bryanston Parish Council for 43 years, retiring in 2007. That same year he also retired from North Dorset District Council, of which he was a member for 31 years.

He first became a member of Blandford Rural District Council in the early 1970s, but with local government reorganisation in 1974 took a couple of years off before his

election as member for Durweston, Bryanston and Blandford St Mary in 1976, and was a staunch defender of independence in local politics.

He served as vice-chairman to Anthony Pitt-Rivers from 1981 to 1983, succeeding him as leader in 1987, and remained leader of the independent group until his retirement.

He chaired the Dorset branch of the Association of District Councils and was the agricultural representative on the South West Regional Assembly.

His life-long friend Bill Dupont, giving the eulogy, recalled that he was a member of the county executive of the NFU for 25 years, and at one time was chairman or vice-chairman of eight organisations.

He also recalled his love of rugby, developed during his days as a student at Sherborne School, his wicked sense of humour and his accomplishment as an actor in 57 amateur theatrical productions up to 1996, with roles including Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Toad in Toad of Toad Hall, and lastly as God in a production of Noah’s Flood

His fascination with local and family

history led to his becoming one of the first chairmen of the Blandford Forum Museum Society, its president for 12 years, and a district council representative on the Dorset Archaeological Committee of which he was vice-chairman for 15 years.

For 21 years, he was involved in running the charity Bluebell Ride at Durweston, which in 2007 raised around £5,500 for Julia’s House, the Weldmar Hospice and Durweston church.

And it was for the Weldmar Hospice, which cared for him in his final months, and Durweston church that a retiring collection was made.

Play days

THE Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue in Yeovil are helping to provide free family play days this month in local parks and recreation areas in South Somerset.

Activities include everything from music-making and circus skills to air-drying pottery to face painting.

The play days, which run from 11am-3pm, will also include a free live outdoor theatrical production. They are at:

• Mudford Rec in Yeovil on Wednesday, August 7, where juggling company Tit for Tat Circus Theatre Company will perform its show, Books!

• Cale Park in Wincanton on Tuesday, August 13, will see The Last Baguette Company stage Bin Rat!!!, a show with a “green” message.

• Cocklemoor in Langport on Thursday, August 15, where aKa Dance Theatre perform shed-ache, featuring two dancers and a shed on wheels!

• Jocleyn Park in Chard on Thursday, August 29, where Autin Dance will stage Out of the Deep Blue featuring a 13ft puppet. Local organisations services have been invited to attend the events, including Freedom Leisure, Young Somerset, Somerset Libraries, the Fire Service, Somerset Skills and Learning and Children’s Autism Outreach team.

Family festival

THE fun family music festival Riverside Fest is set to return to Riverside Meadows, Sturminster Newton, later this month.

The event will raise money for Children with Cancer UK and local charities The Vale Pantry and The Big Yellow Bus Garden Project in Shillingstone for a third year.

The live bands are The Other Uckers – a ukulele band; The Taun-Tones – a 50s rockabilly band; Sugar Rush – a pop/rock band; and The Foo Fakers – a Foo Fighters tribute band.

Alongside the music, the Steamship circus workshop will provide entertainment – and a fire display later in the evening.

Race night

GILLINGHAM, Mere & Shaftesbury Lions is holding a race night in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

The event is at The Old Brewery in Wyke Road on Saturday, August 31, from 6pm.

The event has six races, sponsored by local companies, and entry is £15, including the cost of a meal.

For tickets or more information phone Andrew on 07970 063066 or 01747 460000.

The event also features a bouncy slide and fun run, a fair, stalls and, of course, a bar and food including Mexican, burgers/hotdogs, pizza, ice cream and cakes.

Mad 4 Animals will be doing an hour-long show with its fantastic reptiles and creepy crawlies.

The tug-o-war rope will be out again this year, and some

new belly dancing entertainment will be on offer.

Visitors will be able to admire classic cars from the Transport of Yesteryear and dog lovers can show off their pooches in the family dog show.

The Riverside Fest is on Saturday, August 17, from noon-10pm.

Tickets are £7.50 for adults – children under 16 free of charge – and are available from The Vale Pantry and Ticketsource – with booking fee.

Community remembers a lifetime contribution

by George Jeans

A REMEMBRANCE service for Dr David Longbourne was held at St Michael’s Church, Mere, and well attended by the community.

David served Mere for five decades. He was a naval doctor before coming to Mere in the 1960s and working from Latimer House on Castle Street. He moved to The Old Rectory at Church Street and had a hand in the construction of a surgery at Dark Lane.

David was excellent at music and attended Winchester. He supported St Michael’s Church, Mere, and was greatly involved in researching the history of Mere, publishing a well-respected local history book The Book of Mere

In 1970, David created the award-winning Mere Museum, for which he was awarded the MBE. He became curator in 1984, and continued in the role for 22 years.

A wake was held in the garden of Dr Longboune’s house, and an indoor function at the Grove Building, Church Street.

Dr David Longbourne MBE, May 16, 1927 to March 17, 2024.

Festival of flowers

DORSET Eco-Friendly Flower festival in Shillingstone is showcasing local flower farming and eco-friendly floristry later this month.

The event, in its second year, is organised by Eveline’s Flowers and Dorset Lavender Farm Project.

Six Dorset flower farmers are taking part, giving talks, holding workshops and demonstrations.

Visitors can see fresh and dried flower displays at the show wagon and in the flower marquee.

The children’s marquee will provide activities for younger visitors.

Craft stalls will include willow crafts, pressed flower art, plants, jewellery, felted items, bonsai and pottery.

Visitors can walk the cut flower garden and see the garden planted by the Lavender Farm Project team.

The event is on Sunday, August 18, from 11am-5pm, at Holloway Farm, Holloway Lane, Shillingstone DT11 0SY. Tickets are £8 from www. dorsetflowerfestival.org or £10 on the gate.

Flower fans

MORETON Church is holding its annual flower festival next month, with the theme Terrific Tales –Our Favourite Stories. The event runs over the August Bank Holiday weekend and includes flower displays, stalls and refreshments. It is at St Nicholas Church from Saturday to Monday, August 24-26, from 10am-4pm, and admission is free.

Somerset centre celebrates family pride

THE Balsam Centre in Wincanton is inviting local people to come together to recognise, support and celebrate the uniqueness of all families at a special event tomorrow (Saturday, August 3).

Family Pride Day is billed as a celebration of the diversity of the local community and the uniqueness found in all families.

It is supported by 2BUSomerset, a specialist support service serving the needs of young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) people across Somerset.

Activities on the day, which is free to attend, include pizza-making, a glitter hair bar, friendship bracelet-making and other crafting activities, face painting and a collaborative community art piece.

There’s also a chance to get up close with a real fire engine and meet the firefighters from Wincanton Fire Station.

Balsam Centre deputy chief executive, Emma Brown, said: “Our Family Pride Day is intended as an inclusive, intergenerational

The Balsam Centre is celebrating the uniqueness of all families at its Family Pride Day

day of recognition, support and celebration for our LGBTQ+ community and allies, and we’re encouraging all local families to join in the fun.

“Diversity comes in many forms and we want everyone to feel they can come together on the day, in celebration of the difference but also what connects us.”

Family Pride Day runs from 10.30am2.30pm and entry is free.

For more info, visit www.balsamcentre. org.uk/events-1/family-pride-day

A gripping tale of music and family

SINGING plays a central role in local author Gill Oliver’s latest novel, Amateurs, a launch event for which is being held at the Merritt Centre at Sherborne Girls school later this month.

Her previous book, Joe Faber and the Optimists, was centred on stroke recovery and, Gill said, although it was a largely humorous novel, writing it was emotionally taxing.

She promised herself she would have more fun with the next one and picked a more obviously upbeat theme.

Music was an obvious topic, as she has been an amateur singer all her life.

So she decided to explore the interface between professional and amateur worlds, creators and performers, classical and vernacular.

Gill said: “After several false starts, lockdown rather focused the mind, because the rich

musical life I’d known was directly under threat.

“So, while some authors imagined future worlds of apocalypse and plague, I took my imagination to the very places I couldn’t go and wanted to be – to rehearsals, to cafes, bars and places where people crush together laughing and joking and gabbing away for all they’re worth.

“This led me back to my home town, Liverpool – a real cultural melting pot, where the flow of talk is never-ending, and complete strangers will treat you to their life story as you share a pedestrian crossing.

“After lockdown I had to go back just to check that Scousers were still as I’d remembered them.

“They are. We’re very open to, and curious about, people unlike ourselves, and that’s why foreign languages also creep

into this book.

“Amateurs reflects our very shouty world, but also our capacity to listen and forgive.”

Identity is at the heart of the family story. Beth is a classical composer, who is shamed into acting as accompanist for her mother’s amateur choir, while her disabled twin, Alice, is a busker.

The twins’ musical education has diverged, but then they attempt to achieve unison.

The official launch event for the paperback version of Amateurs at the Merritt Centre (DT9 3QN) is on Wednesday, August 14, at 6pm.

Tickets are available at www.trybooking.com/uk/ DPWM. Copies will also be available from Winstone’s in Sherborne,

Bookshop.org and Amazon. The eBook is already out on Kindle. More information about Gill can be found on her website, www.gilloliverauthor.com.

Paulie Stewart and Maurice Martin pose with the tree they planted to mark 100 years of Hooper Hall

Centenary tree

WELLY wanging – enjoyed, in the rain, by competitors aged from three to 83 – was among the attractions when Lydlinch marked the 100th anniversary of its village hall.

A day of community celebrations for the hall, known as Hooper Hall, also included indoor horse racing, line dancing, a family quiz, cake baking and photographic competitions.

A commemorative tree to mark the occasion was planted in the hall garden by residents Paulie Stewart and Maurice Martin.

Craft and chat

VISITORS are invited to go along to meetings of Gillingham Craft and Chat to see what the group gets up to.

Craft and Chat started in Gillingham Library in July 2018, set up mainly for women to have a place they could go to chat and learn new skills.

Committee member, Nicola Ridley, said: “We are a friendly bunch who between us can teach many crafts, from knitting, decopatch to Dorset buttons.

“We have a vast array of ages from 20s to 90s, and abilities.”

The group, which has done community projects, celebrated its sixth birthday with a party attended by mayor of Gillingham, Roger Weeks.

Visitors are welcome to see what the group gets up to at Gillingham Library on Fridays 10.30am-12.30pm.

Spinning a story of sail

A NEW book by Terry Stevens, Bucked in the Yarn, is the unlikely and incredible story of a small collection of Somerset villages whose residents contributed to exploration, trade and travel around the world and created a new global standard of sailcloth – the unmatched Coker Canvas.

From humble beginnings in the small Somerset settlement of East Coker, an international brand of sailing cloth was born, the Coker Canvas. A born and bred East Coker resident, Terry Stevens, tells the fascinating story of how the Coker Canvas was made, how it became a global sailing phenomenon and the impact this had on the villagers and still has to this day.

This engaging and thought-provoking book tells this incredible story and is written in a lively, accessible style, enlivened by quotations from contemporary sources, poetry and the memories of ordinary Coker people.

Still being made today, the Coker Canvas has been used in sails for over three hundred years on some of the world’s most famous admirals, explorers, buccaneers, and aristocrats captained ships and luxury yachts. The Coker Canvas was so highly regarded that it became the quality standard for the British Navy and for yachts taking part in the early years of the America’s Cup.

Along with Terry’s brilliantly crafted text, the book also contains over 100 images helping to bring the story to life. There is also a foreword by Jim Hartley, CEO of Ratsey and Lapthorne, the world’s oldest sailmakers who still use the Coker Canvas in some of their sails. The book has already received great reviews from a number of historians in the field including Dr Alan Sandry of Swansea University and Bill Jones, Emeritus Professor of History at Cardiff University. All royalties will be donated to further the work of the Coker Rope & Sail Trust. Bucked in the Yarn is published by Graffeg, available from September 17 priced £25.

A walk around… Beer Hackett

Soak up the scenery as you walk with retired Dorset rights of way officer Chris Slade

THIS is a walk of nearly five miles through peaceful countryside with wonderful views over the Vale. Some of the gates and stiles are a bit awkward, but you can find a way round.

Start at the church, and walk eastward along the road for half a mile and join a footpath on your right, heading south. It leads you alongside Tibble’s Copse, turning left, south east at the bottom.

Soon it joins another path which takes you curving east for half a mile until you meet a road. Turn left and walk north up the road for a quarter of a mile where it bends sharply to the left. Here you leave the road and continue northward along a footpath that leads steeply uphill. Soon it bends to the north west, with lovely views.

The path joins a road on a bend, which takes you downhill to

Knighton where you join a path that takes you north west past Manor Farm, where the path is between hedges next to the farm track. Then it enters a narrow avenue between very high trees for a little over 100 yards.

Thanks Cora!

MILBORNE Port Primary School’s lollipop lady retired last week after more than three decades of service. Cora Pinkawa, 85, started working as the village lollipop lady 32 years ago in October 1991. Cora, described by one wellwisher as an “amazing, selfless individual”, worked come rain or shine and greeted every child by name.

After crossing the next field you come to a gate which is overgrown, barbed wired and unopenable. The Dorset Explorer website shows the problem has been reported to Dorset Council twice so far. If it’s not been fixed by the time you read this you’ll have to divert via the adjacent field and then rejoin the path.

Continue north east to join Claypits Lane, a track leading south to Claypits Farm. Here you join a footpath that takes you north west for half mile across fields until, near the parish boundary, several paths meet. Join the path that takes you south for half a mile to meet the road at Church Farm where you’ll be close to your starting point.

rural life in Dorset

FUNDRAISING efforts continued at Caundle Marsh Church on the Farm, with a cream tea garden party that defied the weather forecast for the afternoon.

Attractions included a tombola, facepainting, temporary tattoos and the glider challenge in the farm garden. With pony rides and Eric the goat in the fields beyond, a water cannon and tractor rides, children and their families relaxed and enjoyed themselves in the afternoon sunshine that eventually prevailed.

The recent card reader CollectTin, donated by the diocese, made card transactions easy to organise on entry and people were generous with their cash.

The PCC has planned a programme of unique services and events for the second half of the farming calendar.

On the trail of art

ARTISTS in the beautiful village of Child Okeford are once again welcoming visitors on the annual art trail.

The trail showcases the artists and craftspeople in the neighbourhood, with 21 talented artists across four venues exhibiting in their homes, studios and community spaces.

From 11am to 4pm, Friday, August 23, to Monday, August 26, visitors can view and purchase a varied collection of arts and crafts. The venues are located within walking distance of the village centre making it accessible for walking or cycling.

Artists exhibiting in the Community Centre include Martin Brierley, a painter

who works in oils on board: he is inspired by land, sea and sky; ceramicist Gaynor Waring, who works in various clays and uses smoke-firing methods to create beautiful objects rooted in the local ancient landscape; and Karina Gill, a notable Dorset silverware and jewellery designer.

Rob Adams, plein air oil painter, will be in his Clock Cottage Venue alongside artist Sue Fawthrop.

Diane Ablitt will be exhibiting at the Old School House. She is an artist who likes to strip an image of unnecessary detail but still keep a strong design and create flat posterlike pieces reminiscent of a screen print.

She will be joined by Kathy Clarke, who uses the process of reduction lino printing, which involves cutting away the lino after each colour is added to the reverse impression of the design.

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

Also in the village hall will be Sue Bates, a talented watercolour artist. Sue uses no pencil before she paints, preferring to dive in with colour and negotiate the work by

using the spaces in between the subjects.

Rachel Chenery will be showing her stoneware pottery designed for home and daily life. Each piece is individual and she is constantly developing her designs and range of ceramics.

Diane Mary Alice will return with her paintings inspired by the Dorset countryside and her delightful upcycled and reupholstered children’s chairs.

With such a wide variety of artists, from painters to jewellers, photographers to potters and much more, there is something to interest everyone. The trail provides an opportunity to meet local artists in person in their creative worlds and discover new and surprising aspects of their work.

Follow Child Okeford Art Trail on social media for artist profiles and more information – on Facebook at Child Okeford Art Trail and on Instagram at coat.24.

Karina Gill

Julie Little

Diane Ablitt

Dancing shoes and donations

THE Ladies of Blandford Evening WI presented a cheque to Christine Selby and Ellen Pearce, from Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, at their latest monthly gathering.

They handed over £250, members’ charity contribution for this year.

The two visitors joined members as they were given a display and then lessons in Greek dancing by Yannis Tsenkos.

The evening did not see any waving hankies or flying plates, but it was great fun!

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Save our school!

by Anna Way on behalf of Winterborne Stickland Nursery School CIC

VILLAGERS are campaigning for help to save a popular Vale preschool.

In August 2023, the Stickleberries Preschool was closed, leaving its premises, the historic old school in Winterborne Stickland, vacant and over 100 young children without preschool places.

Despite this, the Salisbury Diocese Board of Education declared their intention to sell the site.

The school has been at the heart of the village since 1861, and was one of three set up by the donation of land by Carl Joachim Hambro. The other two schools, in Hilton and Milton Abbas, have already been sold and developed into beautiful, detached village houses.

The village was quick to respond to the plans to close the school. Villagers set up a community interest company to buy the building with the intention of reopening a nursery to keep our much loved building alive – and to support our vision of keeping our village community a welcoming place for young families.

We contacted the current head of the Hambro family, the Hon Charles Hambro, who is very supportive of the building remaining in the hands of the local community. He has stated: “The Hambro family donated the building for the purposes of local education many years ago. That requirement still exists today”.

The school building is in ‘turn key’

condition, ready to go! There is a shortage of nursery and preschool places in the area. The CIC directors plan to open the preschool year-round, offering care from 8am to 6pm every weekday, as well as holiday clubs, breakfast clubs and after school provision.

The school sits in a large playground, much of which will be returned to a more natural environment. A local landscape gardener is helping the committee make the outside learning environment as exciting as the learning areas inside.

The historic arched windows and beautiful stone doorways will be the backdrop to a nursery school that’s a place of adventure, exploration and imagination!

As we are a Community Interest Company, all profits will be re-invested back into the nursery school building, the children, the staff and the local community. The directors are all volunteers with a wide range of necessary skills and experience between them.

Much work has been done over the last year by volunteers in the village gathering local opinion, carrying out feasibility studies, weighing up the benefits of establishing a village nursery school, discussing how it will operate, applying for funding and writing a business plan.

As well as gaining the support of the Hambro family, MP Simon Hoare and county councillor Barrie Cooper, there has been coverage on local BBC TV and radio.

A substantial amount of money has

much more.

Dunbury Primary School children look fondly at their old, closed preschool building

already been raised, leaving the village tantalisingly close to a large enough deposit to buy the school.

To help with this, a GoFundMe account has been opened, Help Save Our School!, and there will be a fundraising family bingo evening in the village sports club on Thursday, August 29 at 6pm.

Despite the wishes and hard work of Winterborne Stickland villagers, the future of the much longed-for nursery school lies in the hands of the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education.

Please phone 07714 364750 if you may be able to help us save our lovely old school for many more generations in the future.

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Countdown to Summer Holiday Fun at Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show

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It’s countdown to the annual Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show! In just under a month the Turnpike Showground at Motcombe will be transformed into a rural spectacle not to be missed. This year’s two-day event promises lots of fabulous attractions for all the family.

If your teenagers are getting the hump, they won’t anymore when they see Joseph’s Amazing racing camels put through their paces. There’s thrilling pocket-rocket Shetland pony racing, competitive showjumping, carriage driving and the firm favourite of the Grand Parade of Livestock which showcases the region’s finest farm animals. From four legs to four wheels, vintage vehicles will take centre stage with a spectacular tractor parade, bringing to

life the history of agriculture in the main ring. There’s also classic cars and steam engines. Especially for kids is a meet and greet with all creatures great and small as your little ones can get up close to sheep, cattle, horses, chickens, ducks and even film star camels as featured in Disney’s Aladdin.

In the ‘Fun Food and Farming Tent’, the focus is on interactive learning about food production with farming simulators and fun puzzles. Little green fingers can also enter the horticultural competitions plus there’s face painting and sand art to enjoy.

Prices will put a smile on mum and dad’s faces too with free admission for children under five years and lowerprice advance family tickets available for two adults and two children for £41.

And if you can’t get to the Show all day, there’s a special entrance rate on the Wednesday from 3pm with adult tickets £10 and family tickets £24.

The Show will be open until 10.30pm on the Wednesday with new, extended hours.

After the main show closes at 6pm, visitors on a day ticket can now stay into the evening to enjoy live music from great local bands.

Visit www.gillinghamandshaftesburyshow.co.uk

Race from the base

CYCLISTS are being invited to enter Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance’s Race from the Base cycle challenge, being held at Henstridge Airfield next month.

The event is an ultra-cycling challenge with three distances to choose from: 30km (The Circuit), 60km (The Cruise) and 100km (The Climb).

All routes will start and finish at the airfield, the home of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance team.

Some 500 places are available, and entrants can take part as a serious cyclist, or simply use it to have fun and exercise.

Businesses or groups might like to use Race from the Base as an opportunity for team building, or in-house competitions with friends and colleagues.

The event is on Saturday, September 7, and will begin at 9.30am for those undertaking the 100km route, followed by a 10.30am start for the 60km route and an 11.30am start for those completing the 30km route.

Entrance is free for members of the public who wish to go along and show their support to those taking part.

Henstridge Airfield Cafe will be open, where food and drink will be available, or visitors can take along a picnic and sit and soak up the atmosphere.

Alana Hardy, events officer at Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, said: “We are thrilled to be holding Race from the Base again this year and excited to build on its previous success.

“Hosting a challenge event that starts and finishes at the airbase is really special, as it enables our supporters to meet some of the team and see where our life-saving crew and helicopter ‘Peggy’ are based.

“We will once again have our ‘Basecamp Village’ with a variety of activities and stalls, along with music and a barbecue after the challenge has finished.

“We can’t wait to welcome everyone to the home of our life-saving team and hope

that you will join us for this special event which raises vital funds for our charity.”

Entrance fees for participants are adults £25 (30km), £35 (60km), £40 (100km); under-16s £10 (30km), £15 (60km). The 100km distance is not open to under-16s. All children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Online registration is now open and for more information and to register, visit www. dsairambulance.org.uk/race-from-the-base

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Cancer research in Adeline’s name keeps her memory alive

A FROME family’s fundraising in memory of their “perfect” baby girl has helped a leading childhood cancer charity fund vital new research into the type of brain tumour she died from.

Adeline Evans was just three-and-a-half months old when she was diagnosed with ependymoma in November 2020. Despite four brain surgeries and months of chemotherapy, Adeline passed away at home 18 months later, in May 2022.

Katie Evans, Adeline's mum, said: “Ependymoma brutally stole our daughter away from us.

“Our beautiful Adeline was six years in the making. When she was born in July 2020 after our first cycle of IVF, we were so happy, beyond what words could ever describe.

“She was a very happy, determined little girl. She was full of love and smiles. She loved to learn, watch TV, go on the swings and cause mischief.

“It became very apparent while we were ‘on the front

line’ battling this disease that research into ependymoma and its subtypes is massively underfunded.

“This means there is a distinct lack of treatments to target this type of tumour, especially when it strikes young children who can't have radiation therapies.”

Determined to make a difference to other families facing the same diagnosis in the future, Katie and her husband, Rob, set up Little Lady A as a Special Named Fund at Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) in November 2022 to raise funds for research into ependymoma.

They have now been able to help fund a new project which will look at how to diagnose relapsed ependymoma sooner.

Katie said: “We chose to set up Adeline's Special Named Fund as we wanted to keep her memory alive.

“We wanted people to continue saying her name. What better way to do that than to raise money to fund research that will help find a cure for this awful disease?

“It is a proud moment to know that the fundraising done so far by us, and family and friends, has given researchers the opportunity to research ependymoma further.

“Had there been a faster way to find out if a child had relapsed when our daughter was still with us, we might have had more time with our precious Little Lady A.”

The new research project,

titled ‘Detecting lingering brain cancer cells before a tumour grows back’, is led by Dr Alison Whitby, part of Dr Madhumita Dandapani’s research group at the University of Nottingham.

Dr Whitby and her team hope to identify molecules, called biomarkers, in fluid samples from around the brains of ependymoma patients. If she can find biomarkers that are only present when there are living ependymoma cells, she can use them to create a diagnostic test that can identify relapsed ependymoma sooner.

Dr Whitby said: “I am working on a new method to monitor relapse in children’s ependymoma brain tumours. If we could detect relapses early and reliably, it would enable children to start another round of treatment faster.

“I very much hope that I can generate a test that will be useful and invested in so that it becomes used in the NHS and further afield.

“I am humbled to be granted the funding from fundraising in memory of Adeline and hope I can help her memory live on by helping future children.”

The ependymoma cancer samples needed for this project have been provided by the VIVO Biobank, as part of a new collaboration with CCLG. The biobank, co-funded by Cancer

Research UK and Blood Cancer UK, stores the majority of children’s and young people’s cancer samples in the UK and the new partnership bypasses the need for researchers to collect cancer samples, allowing them to dedicate more time and funding to carrying out meaningful research.

Sarah Evans, CCLG research manager, said: “We truly are in awe of our Special Named Fund families who, at very difficult times in their lives, choose to dedicate themselves to making a difference.

“With Little Lady A’s support, we are delighted to have funded Dr Whitby’s work through the VIVO Biobank Pilot Grant scheme.

“By funding projects like this, our Special Named Funds lay the foundations for future research. Pilot grants are crucial for kickstarting innovative research ideas, which can lead to larger studies and make a huge difference to children with cancer.”

Adeline with mum, Katie, and dad, Rob

A fund bearing Adeline’s name will benefit other children with cancer

Military honours

MORE than 250 people attended the Fovant Badges Society Annual Drumhead Service at East Farm, Fovant.

The moving service was led by Reverend Colin Fox and attended by standard bearers from The Royal British Legion.

Wiltshire Army Cadet Corps and St John Ambulance provided invaluable help on the day and Shaftesbury Town Band played magnificently during and after the service.

Chair of the Fovant Badges Society, Jose

Green, said: “In spite of the inclement weather we had a good congregation and our heartfelt thanks go to one and all.

“It’s very humbling that this unique service continues to play a role in this troubled world.”

The Fovant Badges are a unique feature in the Wiltshire landscape, visible from the A30 between Salisbury and Shaftesbury. Fovant Camp was established during the First World War and regimental badges were cut into the chalk hillside by troops stationed there. Although many badges have not survived, seven dating from the First World War are still present.

Fovant courtesy of the landowner Mr Ed Williams.

They, along with the military graves in nearby churchyards, are a record of the importance of the area during this period.

The service takes place on the first Sunday in July, this being the closest to July 1, the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

The Fovant Badges Society have an active membership and new members are

High quality, traditionally made furniture. Residential and contract upholstery in the

Hours: 9am – 4:30pm Mon to Fri

Standard Bearers from The Royal British Legion and Wiltshire Cadets

Reverend Colin Fox leads the Drumhead Service

Probate Explained

Abigail Doggrell - Associate Solicitor

Q: What probate service does HK Law offer?

A: Here at HK Law, we make it as straightforward and stress-free as possible so that Executors can have peace of mind that things are being done correctly and in a timely manner.

Q: What are the initial steps taken by HK Law in probate cases?

A: We start by meeting Executors, obtaining identification, and reviewing the death certificate. In this meeting, we advise on Will terms, discuss the next steps, and outline the likely timescale and associated fees. We then start the estate administration by valuing assets and liabilities to calculate the estate’s value and potential inheritance tax. We also inform beneficiaries about their inheritance.

Q: What is the process for finalising the estate with HK Law?

A: We apply for the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration if there’s no Will, allowing Executors to handle assets and property. After receiving estate funds, we settle legacies, liabilities, income tax, and prepare Estate Accounts. Finally, we distribute the estate per the Will or intestacy provisions.

Q: What are the benefits of using a professional probate service?

A: By using a firm of solicitors such as ourselves, the Executors can avoid personal liability and feel reassured that everything is compliant and being carried out efficiently. It takes the weight off your shoulders at what is usually a difficult time when you are dealing with the loss of a loved one.

Q: Why choose the HK Law probate team?

A: At HK Law, we understand how hard it can be to deal with the death of a loved one, which is why we strive to offer both compassion and expertise during the process of probate. So, if you need help with administering an estate, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

If you are looking for independent legal advice get in touch with our Wills, Probate, Tax & Trusts team, Abigail Doggrell, Charlotte Parsons, Chris Keenan, Hannah Keenan, Rosanna Derryman and Sue Pemberton.

Visit hklaw.uk to get in touch.

Expert Probate Advice

A Crewkerne T 01460 279100 E crewkerne@hklaw.uk A Dorchester T 01305 251007 E dorchester@hklaw.uk

Green awards for town’s open spaces

THREE sites in Gillingham have received Green Flag awards – the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

The Stour, The Lodden and The Shreen are cared for by the town council’s grounds team.

The green spaces allow local people to socialise and enjoy nature, for children to play safely and for users to improve

their physical and mental health.

Gillingham mayor, Councillor Roger Weeks, said: “The town council staff and volunteers from the Gillingham Action for Nature Group work tirelessly to ensure that our sites in Gillingham are maintained to the high standards of the Green Flag Award – everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement. Thank you”.

Gillingham Town Council

said: “It is important that our free-to-use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”

The Green Flag Award scheme is managed the charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.

Picture perfect

THE theme for this year’s church tent at the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show has been revealed.

‘The church is the place for life events’ encourages visitors to the tent to put themselves in the picture, using the photoboard to see how they would look as bride and groom.

The display board will showcase happy couples in the area’s 18 churches.

Find your nearest church on the map, or scan a QR code to open a website that will show you a church near you.

The tent is offering tea, coffee and cake at £2 a pop for the duration of the show – August 14 and 15.

Mayor of Gillingham, Cllr Roger Weeks, and members of Gillingham Town Council’s grounds team

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care Patients Enjoy a Brilliant Day Out

at Stewarts Garden Centre in Christchurch

*Advertising Feature

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care patients enjoyed a hugely successful and heartwarming day out at Stewarts Garden Centre in Christchurch.

The trip was made possible by the generous support of Stewarts Garden Centre who showed their continuing and amazing support to their nominated charity of the year. Care home provider Care South also kindly lent the charity their minibus to transport the patients and clinical staff.

Four patients, accompanied by the hospice’s dedicated nurses Amy and Helen, enjoyed a leisurely browse around the retail area, followed by a visit to the café for a delicious lunch.

Patient Joyce, shared her heartfelt feelings about the outing and said, “As you get older, you spend more time alone, and it is very difficult making friends. Everyone at Lewis-Manning is so friendly and kind, and coming here today has helped me make new friends. It’s been a wonderful day which I’d been looking forward to so much.”

Another patient, Josie, expressed her excitement, “When you don’t have transport, it is very hard to get out. It is my first time coming to Stewarts Garden Centre and I am very excited to be here today. It is excellent that they support the charity.”

Amy Stewart, Marketing Manager at Stewarts Garden Centres advised, “We have a fantastic partnership with Lewis-Manning Hospice and it’s been a privilege for our team to be able to host them today. We are honoured to act as a hub for community groups such as the hospice. We love working alongside this great charity to help them raise money, and after six months of working with them, we can see why they are such a valued and vital charity in our local community.”

Hospice CEO Clare Gallie concluded, “This day out exemplifies the compassionate and supportive community we strive to build at Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, and we are immensely grateful to Stewarts Garden Centres and Care South for their continued support.”

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To register, please visit: www.lewis-manning.org.uk/skydive

Care South at Home team enable Gayle to continue

living independently

*Advertising Feature

Care South at Home’s West Dorset team can provide flexible, personalised care to meet a range of care needs. Their carers can help with respite care or continual daily support from companionship and help with collecting prescriptions and shopping to supporting more complex care needs.

Gayle receives four daily visits from the Care South at Home team to help with her day-to-day living needs, washing and dressing, medication, and food and drink preparation as she lives with MS. She also has a weekly shopping/domestic visit from a carer to enable her to do her food shopping.

Gayle said: “My care team come to me every day and they’re not only my carers, they’re also my friends. I’m very lucky to have them. They are very good people.

She added: “I don’t know what I’d do without them. They help to me to be independent and take me shopping. They do everything for me. They’re wonderful. I just think they’re angels for what they do for me.”

Care in your own home can provide reassurance to your loved ones, while enabling you to continue living independently in your own home.

Care South is a leading provider of high quality residential and home care services across the south of England. The not-for-profit charity has home care offices covering east and west Dorset, northeast Somerset and south Somerset, as well as care homes in Dorset, north Devon, Somerset and West Sussex.

Ladies love lilies

THE ladies of Blandford Evening WI visited Bennet’s Water Garden in Chickerell on a glorious summer day to see the fabulous display of Nymphaea – water lilies.

Armed with garden guides and sun hats, they took a leisurely stroll around the lakes, tree groves and ponds, admiring the myriad colours and delicacy of the blooms.

The visitors took a rest on one of the many shady seats near the water’s edge watching the dragonflies and damselflies darting over the water, while a gardener fed the shoals of goldfish which call the lakes their home.

The small museum area gave the history of the site and the Chickerell area in general and was informative.

The obligatory photo was taken of the party standing on the replica “Monet” bridge, the afternoon ending with a pot of tea and homemade cake in the cafe – and discussions of how members could build a water-feature in their own gardens!

Gardens group glory

THE Gardens Group’s three garden centres in Sherborne, Yeovil and Poundbury have achieved success in the Midlands, Wales and West Garden Centre Association (GCA) awards.

Castle Gardens in Sherborne took first place in the Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Innovation and Creativity.

It also came second in the Garden Centre of the Year award in the Garden Centre Category, and won the Paul Cooling Award for Environment and Sustainability.

The houseplant department at Castle Gardens was also recognised as it took first place in the Ian Boardman Award for Best Indoor Plants Retailer in the Garden Centre Category, and its furniture department came third in the Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer in the Garden Centre Category.

Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group, said: “The Gardens Group did extraordinarily well at this year’s GCA awards with a total of seven awards being received across all three of our centres.

“We have an incredibly proactive,

Shepherds flock together

CERNE Sheep Group, which supports, educates and entertains about 30 local shepherds (with flocks large and small), will be enjoying a farm walk on Monday, August 12, from 7pm at Downfield Farm (Long Bredy, DT2 9AB). Members will be seeing the farm’s traditional herd of Hereford cattle by kind invitation of Mike and Kate Harris.

The next visit (TBC) will be on Monday, September 9, at 7pm.

New members are always welcome. The Group’s subscriptions are not unreasonable, and a nominal fee is charged for a one-off individual visit. For more information contact Jill Hole by phone (01929 459450) or email (jill_ hole@outlook.com).

The team at Castle Gardens in Sherborne with their GCA award certificates

passionate and skilled team, who continue to innovate and make our garden centres a welcoming place for all, while considering our impact on the environment.

“Recognition like this is a real testament to their hard work and dedication and we will continue to evolve and innovate to help spread the word that gardening is a force for good when it comes to people and planet.”

Further awards came for The Gardens Group’s plantaria bedding and hardy plants at all three of its garden centres.

Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil came first in the Ruxley Rose competition and Poundbury Gardens came second in the Local Garden Centre category, while Castle Gardens in Sherborne came first in the Garden Centre Category.

All three garden centres will go through a second round of judging in September to determine the overall winners in the region.

Over the course of 12 weeks, GCA judge, Colin Farquhar, made unannounced visits to garden centres across the Midlands, Wales and West, before the final awards were announced at a presentation held at Melbicks Garden Centre in Birmingham. This was the first year the awards covered the Midlands, Wales and West, and the first time the awards were split into three categories, Local Garden Centre, Garden Centre and Destination Garden Centre.

Our loose Canon

Remembering those Roma people who died in the Holocaust, and those still persecuted

by Canon Eric Woods

TODAY – Friday, August 2 – is Roma Holocaust Memorial Day. Not enough people know that – but it is increasingly marked throughout the UK, not least in Dorset. There will be acts of commemoration across the county today, from Poole to Sherborne.

For those who have not heard of this special day, let me explain. First, who are the ‘Roma’? Well, Roma is the colloquial name for the Romani people (also known as Romany). They are nothing to do with the Italian football club! Nor did they originate in Romania. They are not to be confused with ‘New Age’ travellers. They are a dispersed people who originally came from northern India. They began to arrive in Eastern Europe about a thousand years ago, and have since migrated across the continent and into the Americas. They have many sub-groupings, as different groups settled in various parts of Europe centuries ago, and became separated from each other. But they are nevertheless a distinct and proud people. We call them ‘gypsies’, which is really a terrible insult. I have had many dealings with the Roma during my ordained ministry, and I have the highest regard for them.

25% of their pre-war population. Many more were imprisoned, used as forced labour or subjected to forced sterilization and medical experimentation.

On February 26, 1943, the first transport of Roma men, women and children arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau. Of the 23,000 Roma imprisoned within the camp, it is estimated that around 20,000 were murdered.

On August 2, 1944, the Zigeunerlager (Gypsy Camp) at Auschwitz was liquidated: 2,897 Roma were murdered in the gas chambers and the remaining prisoners were deported to Buchenwald and Ravensbrück concentration camps for forced labour.

It was the Nazis who labelled all the Roma as ‘gypsies’, and they targeted them for total destruction. More than 200,000 Roma were murdered or died as a result of starvation or disease: around

So – today is the Roma Holocaust Memorial Day (in some countries it is marked instead on International Holocaust Memorial Day, January 27 –the anniversary of the liberation in 1945 of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp). This August 2 commemoration is a little bit special to me, thanks to my contacts with the Roma, not least in my first parish of Wroughton, near Swindon, where I had a large, permanent Romany camp within the parish. They were steadfast and loyal friends, and I miss them very much. When my wife had a car failure near the M4 it was the Roma who came to the rescue. When the Roma had a major tragedy amongst their young, they immediately asked for me. Life is still not easy for many Roma in the UK, especially following Brexit. So when we remember those Roma people who died in the Holocaust, and those who still suffer persecution, we are replacing some of the hate they have endured with love, understanding and compassion. In the current political climate, doing this is more important than ever.

Photo by Vincent Foret on Unsplash

Ancient crafts

VISITORS to Badbury Rings have spent a weekend learning about ancient crafts such as metal work, weaving and string-making.

Volunteers from the Ancient Technology Centre, Cranbourne, and National Trust rangers and archaeologists demonstrated the crafts – and how to build a wall with wattle and daub.

Adults and children dug and crushed chalk, mixed it with straw and water to produce a muddy compound which they slapped on a woven hazel panel to make a solid wall.

Our ancestors used this method of construction to build homes and it can still be found used in cottages in Dorset to this day.

The archaeologists showed how to sift the earth to discover buried items and identify tools, pottery and flint tools.

Finds from digs carried out on National Trust sites in the area were on display.

Celebratory proms

Pictures and text by George Jeans

A FREE concert at St Michael’s church in Mere, featuring the Shrewton Silver Band and Megan Jennings from Mere School, celebrated the restoration of the church pinnacles, the gilded pennants and the face of the church clock.

The work was financed by a £247,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund award.

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Station celebrations

VOLUNTEERS from the Spetisbury Station Project put the flags out to welcome visitors to their first ever summer tea party.

The flags were part of an effort to spruce up the station for the event, which attracted a good number of visitors in fine weather.

Freshly-made Pimm’s, teas and coffees, plus scones, cake and other tasty treats were on offer from one of the platforms.

The Blandford Ukulele Group and the Resonate a cappella female choir, also from Blandford, provided the live entertainment.

North Dorset Railway at Shillingstone also attended with their sales and information stand.

Visitors will also have noticed a large new Spetisbury station sign, made by Vic Whiting in the workshops at Shillingstone station.

A spokesperson for the station project said: “We would like to thank everyone who came along to support us, and we hope to make this a regular summer event, in addition to our established Christmas

Take a tour

VISITORS to Kingston Lacy, near Wimborne, can learn more about how Henrietta Bankes shaped the National Trust property.

Henrietta was mother of the last private owner of the lavish family home, reimagined as a Venetian palace in the Dorset countryside.

She was born in 1867 and died in 1953, and brought her unique tastes and passions to Kingston Lacy, updating the decor, continuing her husband’s legacy after his death, and developing the garden to suit her family and lifestyle.

Now visitors can see her influence this summer in guided tours outside of normal opening hours.

They will see the house and the gardens, where the Edwardian Formal Garden, the Victorian Fernery and the Japanese Garden are all part of Henrietta’s legacy.

Tours run from 9.40am-11am, on July 30, and August 13 and 27. Booking is essential and tickets are £10 plus normal admission.

For more information, visit the website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kingston-lacy

Weaving their magic

THE Somerset Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, which this year celebrates its 75h anniversary, is holding a special event at Hatch Beauchamp Village Hall later this month.

Visitors will be able to see members spin, weave, prepare fleece and blend fibres, and try their hand at spinning and weaving.

They will also be able to see an archive display showcasing the guild’s rich history, an exhibition of members’ work and visit stalls offering fibres, yarns, prepared tops and handcrafted items.

The event is at the village hall –post code TA3 6SG – on Saturday, August 17, from 10am-4pm.

Tea, coffee, cake and light lunches will be available throughout the day.

For more information about the Guild and the event, visit www. somersetguildwsd.org.uk

The White Bedroom at Kingston Lacy National Trust Images, James Mortimer

The Drawing Room at Kingston Lacy National Trust Images, Richard Pink

Healthy choices at school

STUDENTS at Allenbourn Middle School, Wimborne, have been working to improve youngsters’ wellbeing since the newly elected pupil parliament came into force at the start of the year.

Year 8 senior leaders, Madi Fry and Elliot Trickey (pictured), and their team of 12 senior pupils first aimed to put the fun back into reading at

school and after carrying out a pupil survey, unpopular choices for “Class Read” were sifted out and replaced with books the children chose.

Next on the list was a meeting with the school’s catering provider.

Madi said: “The plan is about encouraging more students to use the canteen, to benefit from the sense of community by

Top marks!

TISBURY Pre-school is celebrating after its recent Ofsted report, in which it was rated Outstanding in all areas.

The inspector said staff “provide a range of high-quality learning experiences and show children the utmost care and respect at all times”.

Manager Amanda was praised for being “incredibly ambitious and reflective”.

The pre-school is based in the Nadder Community Centre in Tisbury and is open to children aged from two years.

sitting down and having lunch together, as well as introducing more healthy options.”

The student team asked for the removal of the unhealthiest options, including fizzy drinks and some of the high-sugar and salty snacks.

They are also working on a strategy to keep on improving what is on offer to provide more healthy choices.

A “worry button” has been added to the school website for any young person who needs to share their worries, which are then addressed confidentially by a dedicated member of staff.

Elliot and Madi said: “We are leaving Allenbourn with our heads held high – we have made progress and we look forward to seeing what future senior pupils and pupil parliaments do.”

Allenbourn Middle School is an Ofsted rated “Outstanding” school for students in years 5-8.

Children shine bright

PUPILS at Hazelbury Bryan Primary School are celebrating after the school won two awards.

The school won the Pearson National Teaching Awards Primary School of the Year 2024 for “making a difference” to its children.

The school, where children are encouraged to “have courage, grow roots and shine bright”, received a special letter from author Michael Morpurgo in recognition of the award.

It has also been declared a Gold Standard Outstandingly Happy School after working with Art of Brilliance over the past year.

Pupils fly the flag for green ideas

CHILDREN at Sherborne Primary School have been recognised for a host of “green” initiatives.

The school, which has an active eco committee of students led by teacher Fran Ellis, has been presented with the EcoSchools Green Flag Award, with distinction.

Over the last year pupils have completed an environmental review of the school, worked hard to ensure they are reducing waste and energy and being as ecoconscious as possible.

Activities have included writing to their local MP about plastic pollution, meat-free Mondays, electricity-free days, litter picks, bulb and wildflower seed planting, collecting plastics to recycle, organising competitions to raise awareness of the plight of swifts, helping the Sherborne recycling cafe and eradicating many single-use plastics in the school.

Year 2 pupil, Eva, said: “I have really enjoyed feeling like I’ve done a bit to help the planet. I hope other children will be inspired to help the planet.’

Teacher Fran Ellis said: “This has been

as pupil-led as it could be, and I am really proud of the committee’s hard work and dedication.

“The school is becoming more and more environmentally aware, and we will continue to educate and drive these important issues.”

Head of school, Felicity Griffiths, said: “We are incredibly proud to have achieved the Green Flag status with distinction, a testament to the dedication and hard work of our school’s eco committee, brilliantly led by Mrs Ellis.

“Congratulations to everyone involved in this outstanding accomplishment.”

Teacher, Fran Ellis, with the school's eco committee

Great

Dorset Chilli

Festival, there’s so much more than hot chillies!

*Advertising Feature

This may be the greatest number of artisan chilli sauce makers together in one event in the UK, but with a total of over 120 tradestands there’s something for everyone at the Great Dorset Chilli Festival.

There are chilli plant competitions, a chilli sauce competition, chilli and curry cook-off competitions, and of course the favourite chilli eating competitions, but the GDCF is loved by everyone because there’s plenty of shopping to do if you don’t like the heat of chilli.

Dorset chefs Mark Hix, Mat Follas and Mark Hartstone will be demonstrating recipes in the Talk Tent, and chilli plant growing experts Joy Michaud of Sea Spring Seeds and Matt Simpson of Simpson’s Seeds will be sharing tips. Live music includes Dorset bands Tom & the Clementynes and festival favourites The Mother Ukers, plus stompin’ bluegrass from Big Joe Bone and of course familiar Mexican tunes from the roving 3-piece Mariachi band. Enjoy the music with some delicious streetfood and a local cider, ale or a rum cocktail, or perhaps a glass of bubble tea or a Dorset-roasted coffee The children will love watching the chilli eating competition which takes place each afternoon at 4.00pm, and you can keep them entertained all day with the bouncy castles, rides, circus skills workshops, facepainting and falconry displays.

The generous residents of Pen Selwood have donated heavily to the various attractions for this year’s traditional village Summer Fete - just o the A303 where Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire meet. Record donations for the renowned White Elephant stalls, including a new Christmas stall and quality items to the pre-love clothing tent mean bargains for all! The children’s toy stalls will be groaning, with plenty of other attractions for younger guests. This year’s Grand Draw has a cash rst prize of £250, cases of ne wine and much more.

Villagers do more than donate - they organise and run the attractions themselves, apart from the Circus Skills available free all afternoon. Their other interests feature in St Michael’s Church at the annual Flower, Produce & Craft Show - not to be missed!

Apologies that The Two Hats Buskers have been forced to withdraw since our posters were printed.

Parking ~ what3words graph, lipstick, digested. Proceed to St Michael’s Church and Pen Selwood Community Association charities

HILLSIDE PARISHES FETE, Dog and Flower Show @ Ibberton Village Hall DT11 0EL on Saturday 3rd August 1.00 pm Bar / BBQ, 2.30 pm Fete

CREAM TEAS

Produce stall and Live Music on 24th. August from 2.30. 5.00

At Sixpenny Handley St Mary’s church SP5 5NJ

LYN’S BINGO at Marnhull

Royal British Legion on Monday 5th August Eyes down 7pm

SHERBORNE DIGBY HALL MONTHLY MARKET

Saturday 3rd Aug 10-3 ANTIQUES, ARTS, CRAFTS, FOOD & MORE

Tel: 07717-454643

GLENHOLME HERBS open garden in support of the NGS. Sandford Orcas, Sherborne. 10-11th August, 10-4. Adults £4 children free. Teas and cakes. Huge range of Herbs and Salvias available http://www. glenholmeherbs.co.uk

There is a pre 1970’s theme, dress up and join in-

SUMMER FAIR @ THE OLD GRAINSTORE EMPORIUM, Shaftesbury Lane, Blandford, DT11 7EG - Sunday 4th

August 10am till 4pm. Vintage/ antique/artisan stalls, Rum Life coffee & cocktails, Pico Pando vegan delights, vintage vinyl, live music & more. Classic & vintage vehicles welcome. For more info phone 07745477795 or email theoldgrainstoreemporium@ outlook.com

Train Trips

Events

GARTELL LIGHT RAILWAY

is a narrow gauge railway located in the scenic Blackmore Vale Countryside in Yenston. We are opening to the public this year for an additional 4 days during the month of August. We would love to see you all there!

FREE ENTRY

DORCHESTER VEGAN SUMMER MARKET

10am-4pm

Sunday 4th August 2024

Maumbury Rings, Dorchester, DT1 1TY

Not just for vegans! Email : wdveganevents@gmail.com

CAR BOOT SALE AND ARTISAN MARKET

Winterborne Stickland Sports Club DT11 0LZ

Sunday August 11th 9:30am to 12:30pm for buyers

Sellers only from 8:30 am Beautiful location, play park, bar and BBQ FREE ENTRY for buyers

Only £5 per pitch for sellers Sorry - no dogs Sellers contact 07714 364750

CREAM TEAS, Saturday 3rd August 2pm to 4pm. Two Rivers Benefit, Blandford St. Marys Church

TEMPLECOMBE VILLAGE FETE

Saturday 3rd August

2pm. Free Entry Live Music Pony Rides, Stalls, BBq, Hog Roast, Fair rides

TARRANT GUNVILLE HORSE AND COMIC DOG SHOW.

Saturday 17th August 8.30am –4.30pm. Eastbury Park, Tarrant Gunville, DT11 8JQ. £7 per car.”

BLANDFORD RAILWAY

CLUB, Open Day, Saturday 3rd August, 10-4.30 Scout Hut, Eagle House Gardens, Blandford. Admission Donation. Children FREE

SHAFTESBURY EMPORIUM,

Fridays 16 & 30 August, Saturdays 17 & 31 August, 9 - 4.30pm, Shaftesbury Town Hall, Lots of lovely items for sale under one roof. Supporting Weldmar Hospice and Dorset Somerset Air Ambulance, FREE ENTRY

Somerset Art Weeks are back!

THE Somerset Art Weeks event is returning from September 21 to October 6.

The instantly-recognisable yellow road signs of Somerset Art Weeks will pop up across every corner of the county, signalling people towards an exhibition or show to discover in their local area.

In light of the inescapable and ever-growing urgency of the climate crisis, changes to our local landscapes, and a developing intimacy with nature and our local environments, the chosen theme this year is Landscape: Flux and Flow.

Exhibiting artists will be responding to this theme in a number of different ways within their work.

This year’s SAW-sponsored commissions and projects include everything from

immersive installations within the landscape to creative collaborations with a scientific laboratory.

You can find out all further details of how to visit the Somerset Art Weeks Festival this year by going to the SAW website at www. somersetartworks.org.uk or downloading the official Somerset Art Weeks 2024 App.

Be sure to pick up a guide from your local library, cultural organisation or at tourist information centres across Somerset in September for all information about the venues.

This year SAW is welcoming a new headline sponsor, Albert Goodman, whose contribution to this event will allow the arts to reach more people, and help the organisation continue to thrive.

A BRAND NEW AIRSHOW

10TH - 11TH AUGUST

Following the success of our Kent based ‘Battle of Britain Airshow’ we are pleased to bring to Dorset a brand new show at the stunning Compton Abbas Airfield. Held over the weekend of the 10th - 11th August, we are putting together an action packed line up.

• Anglican High Mass at Wimborne St Giles: First Sunday of each month at 11am. BH21 5LZ.

• Blandford Methodist Church: Sundays – everyone is invited to services at 10.45am and to stay for refreshments. Thursdays – coffee and a chat from 10am-noon. Fridays –lunch club for the over-55s from noon at £5 per meal. Phone Joyce Wild on 07817 505543 to book. The church is anxious to offer help to all those in need – call church steward John Cornish on 07799 516735 or leave a message.

• Chalbury Church: Fourth Sunday of the month, 10.30am Holy Communion.

• Chatty Café Scheme: Pear Tree Café, Half Moon Street, Sherborne, Mondays 2-3.45pm. Look for the table with the yellow sign.

• Cheap Street Church, Sherborne: Taizé Service – half an hour of prayer, meditation and music on the second Sunday each month at 6.30pm. Everyone welcome. Next service Sunday, September 8.

• Cheap Street Church Hall, Sherborne: Dorset Youth for Christ ‘Youth Hangout’, a space for young people aged six-11 in Sherborne to connect with others their age, play games and explore the Christian faith. Every second Sunday of the month, 6.30-7.30pm.

• Digby Memorial Church Hall: The Mothers’ Union is not holding a formal meeting in August but on Friday, August 9, Mary Sumner Day will be celebrated, by permission of the Rector, in the Vicarage garden from 10am-12.30pm. The quiet morning will be led by Barbara Priest, who works part time at Hugh Sexey’s Almshouse, Bruton, and is also a very well respected retreat leader.

• Hinton Martell: Second Sunday of the month, 10.30am Holy Communion.

• Horton Church: First Sunday of the month, 10.30am Holy Communion.

• Horton & Chalbury village hall: Third Sunday of the month, 9am Breakfast Church.

• Kingston Lacy: Second Sunday of the month, 9.15am Holy Communion. Fourth Sunday of the month, 9.15am Family Service.

• Two Rivers Benefice: Sunday, August 4 – 10.45am Outdoor Together Communion at St Mary’s Church, Blandford St Mary. Sunday, August 11 –9.30am Communion at St Mary’s Church, Blandford St Mary; 11am Communion at All Saints, Langton Long; 11am Family Service at St Mary’s Church, Tarrant Rushton. Coffee and cake – Spetisbury 10am-11.30am first and third Monday each month; coffee and cake – Blandford St Mary 10am – 11.30am, August 22. Coffee stop – Charlton Marshall Parish Centre 10.30am-12.30pm –Tuesday to Friday. Every Thursday, Morning Prayer by Zoom, 9am – contact Jane Griffin for more information.

• Lillington: All morning services at Lillington now begin at 9.30am.

• Longburton Village Cafe: The cafe provides tea, coffee –free refills – and great cakes for just £2 at the village church of St James. Tuesdays August 13 and 27 from 10.30am-noon.

• Our Lady’s RC Church, Marnhull: Mass Sunday, 9am and 6pm.

• Shaftesbury Quakers (Society of Friends): Meets for one hour each Sunday from 10.30am at the Quaker Meeting House, Abbey Walk, Shaftesbury SP7 8BB.

• Sherborne Abbey: Monday to Saturday, 8.30am Morning Prayer; The Sepulchre Chapel. Mondays, 9am CW Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Tuesday, noon CW Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Wednesday, 10.30am Holy Communion with Homily; The Lady Chapel (alternates CW and BCP). Thursday, noon BCP Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Friday, 9am Ecumenical Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. First Friday of the month, 9am Requiem Holy Communion; The Sepulchre Chapel. Third Friday of the month, 11am

Remembering the Fallen. Saturday, 9am CW Holy Communion; The Sepulchre Chapel.

• Sherborne Abbey: It is hoped to recruit several new volunteer guardians for the abbey to meet and greet visitors. Just one fixed hour a fortnight. Training will be given. Anyone interested should email sue.morgan@ sherborneabbey.com or phone 01935 873104.

• Friends of Sherborne Abbey: Everyone, non-Friends included, can join an outing to Winchester on Tuesday, September 10. The coach will arrive in Winchester late morning giving visitors time to wander, shop or have lunch. The cathedral tour at 2pm is followed by an afternoon tea. The group will attend Evensong at 5.30pm. £35 per person, including coach travel, the tour and afternoon tea. Book by August 23. More details, from the Parish Office or email Joanna.Sams@sherborneabbey. com

• Sherborne Abbey Julian Group: An opportunity to share half an hour’s silence and meditation with fellow Christians. Meetings are ecumenical and very refreshing. The next meeting is on Wednesday, September 11, in the Lady Chapel, from 4pm4.30pm.

• Sacred Heart, Tisbury, and All Saints’ Wardour Catholic Parish: Sunday Mass times –Sacred Heart, Tisbury 9am, coffee after Mass; All Saints’ Wardour 10.30am.

• Shapwick: Third Sunday of the month, 9.15am Holy Communion.

• Sherborne Abbey flower team: Anyone interested in joining the team should contact Barbara Fifield on 01935 813869 or email bafifield@ hotmail.com

• Sherborne Quakers: Meet Sundays 10.30am in the Griffiths Room, Digby Memorial Church Hall. Everyone welcome. For more information, phone Nick on 07870 192599.

• St Benedict’s RC Church,

Gillingham: Sunday, 11am.

• St Gregory’s, Marnhull: Sunday services 8am and 10am. Other services, visit www. stgregorysmarnhull.org.uk.

• St John’s Church, Enmore Green: Service every Sunday at 11.15am; parish communion on the first Sunday of the month; prayer services every other Sunday.

• St Luke’s Church, West Orchard (Shaftesbury Benefice) SP7 0LJ: Monthly service August 11, Morning Worship 11,15am. September 8, Holy Communion 11.15am. Prayer and fellowship in the village church – everyone welcome. Enquiries, phone 01747 812365.

• St Margaret’s, Margaret Marsh (Shaftesbury Benefice) SP7 0AZ: Holy Communion 11.15am, August 4. Everyone welcome. Future months, alternating first Sundays Mattins and HC.

• St Mary’s, Motcombe: Evening worship (BCP) – every first Sunday 6pm; parish communion – every second and fourth Sunday 9.30am; evening worship – every third Sunday 6pm.

• St Mary’s, Sturminster Newton: First, third and fourth Sundays – 11am Holy Communion; second Sunday – 9.30am Morning Prayer; fifth Sunday – 11am Benefice Holy Communion; second and fourth Sundays – 6pm Evensong; Wednesdays – 10am Holy Communion.

• St Peter’s, Hinton St Mary: First, second and third Sundays, 9.30am Morning Prayer. Fourth Sunday, 9.30am Holy Communion.

• St Thomas’, Lydlinch: Second and fourth Sunday, 11am Holy Communion. Third Sunday, 6pm Evensong.

• West Camel Independent Methodists: Meeting at All Saints Church, BA22 7QB. United “Sunday @ Four” with tea, August 4, 4pm. August 11, 18 and 25, evening worship 6pm.

• Witchampton Church: Third Sunday of the month, 10.30am Holy Communion.

Arts & Entertainment

Sounds of the Balkans and Brazil at festival

THE fiery music of the Balkans, cool Brazilian sounds, and a joyous selection of classical music will all be heard in a West Dorset village as the Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Art returns for its 42nd event this summer.

Alongside a packed programme of music to suit all tastes, Burton Bradstock’s Village Hall hosts a high quality exhibition featuring work by West Country artists, ceramicists and crafters.

The music festival attracts internationally acclaimed performers, many of whom are festival regulars, who are hosted by local families and are regarded as friends.

The art festival opens on

Saturday, August 10, when the village hall is transformed into an art gallery for nine days.

This year’s music festival features “Balkan Bradstock”, an electrifying performance from Paprika, the UK’s leading Balkan music blend, whose mixture of folk, rock and jazz styles is bound to set feet tapping.

The programme of concerts from Monday, August 12, to Friday, August 16, also includes Brazilian jazz with Sao Pauloborn singer, Carolina Lelis, a Viennese Soiree, chamber music by Schubert and Fauré, and a late-night performance of Olivier Messiaen’s iconic Quartet for the End of Time It culminates in a Gala

Concert with the full Festival Orchestra on Friday, August 16. Featuring star turns from renowned musicians, it will include a Bach triple concerto, a seldom-heard version of Mozart’s early masterpiece, his Sinfonia Concertante, and Dvorak’s Rondo for cello and orchestra.

There are also lunchtime concerts and late-night recitals, and in a special Castaway event, broadcaster and musician Sandy Burnett talks to the festival’s artistic director violinist David Juritz about the music that has shaped his life.

To launch the concert programme, a festival evensong will be held in the music venue of St Mary’s Church on Sunday, August 11, following a tea party that afternoon in the Rectory Gardens, accompanied by live music.

Tickets are available through Bridport Tourist Information Centre. More information can be found at www.burton bradstockfestival.com

A laugh a minute

THE story of the little boy who never grew up will be told when Immersion Theatre presents its musical, Peter Pan, at Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury.

Catchy music, lots of audience interaction and a laugh-a-minute script are promised in the open air production.

Peter Pan is being performed on Thursday, August 8, at 6pm and advance booking is required – for tickets visit https://swheritage. org.uk/events/peter-pan.

Arts & Entertainment

THE Laudemus choir will be led by former King’s Singer, choral director and composer, Jeremy Jackman, when it returns to Dorset this month.

The choir, which takes its name from the Latin for “let us praise”, has its roots in the Wimborne Arts Festival of 1991.

It has returned each year since then to bring cathedral-style Evensong to country churches across Dorset.

It operates as an annual summer course, with singers coming from all over the UK and some from overseas.

The repertoire is wide

Choir set to tour country churches Shakespeare and a picnic

ranging, with different music for each service on the tour.

This summer, Laudemus will visit churches in Stalbridge (Tuesday, August 6), Swanage (Wednesday, August 7), Gussage All Saints (Thursday, August 8), Symondsbury (Friday, August 9) and the Minster in Wimborne (Saturday, August 10).

The choir will be accompanied for most of the week by Dorsetborn organist Sam Hanson, who works as a busy freelance conductor, accompanist and composer in Dorset and London.

On Saturday, the organist is Colin Davey, organist and director of choirs at Wimborne Minster.

Saturday’s service will also feature the first performances of two new choral works – the

SHAKESPEARE’S shortest –and wildest – comedy, The Comedy of Errors, is set to be performed outside at Higher Orchard in Sandford Orcas, near Sherborne.

Theatre company The Three Inch Fools are dusting down their musical instruments and promising an hilarious and vibrant take on the play. They’ll seek to untangle an

almighty mess in this farcical tale of long-lost twins, hysterical misunderstandings and endless mishaps.

Audience members should pack a picnic, dress for all weathers and take their cushions and camping chairs.

The Comedy of Errors is presented with Dorset touring arts charity Artsreach on Friday, August 16, at 7pm. Gates open

winning pieces in the recent Laudemus Composition Competition written by John Sturt and David Harris. A presentation to the young composers will be held at the close of the service.

picnics at 6pm and a licensed bar will be available.

and further

Summer showcase for club’s artists

MEMBERS of Wimborne Art Club will be showcasing their talents in a Summer Exhibition next weekend.

The show, at the Church House, Wimborne, will feature work covering a variety of subject matter and styles.

Jan Wall, who trained and worked as a potter and has been a club member for 20

years, enjoys painting with watercolours.

She said: “I love the happy accidents and use salt/ clingfilm and so on, on a diverse range of subjects. Whatever inspires me.”

The exhibition on Saturday, August 10, runs from 10.30am-4.30pm and entry is free of charge.

Wimborne Art Club was

formed in 1975 and meets fortnightly on a Thursday in St Catherine’s Church Hall in Wimborne.

Activities include demonstrations, talks and workshops – and at least two exhibitions a year are held.

For more information, contact Rosemary McDonald at ramcd6@gmail.com.

The Laudemus choir and (left) Former King’s Singer, Jeremy Jackman

Old Harry by Wimborne Art Club member by Jan Wall

Sudoku 3D puzzle

Cryptic crossword

Place 1 to 9 once into every black-bordered 3x3 area as well as each of the 54 rows indicated by the coloured lines. Rows don’t cross the thick black lines.

Killer Sudoku Pro

Across

1 Drop pretence (6)

5 Satirical work on normal revolutionary party year (6)

8 A pair of books on a Swedish group (4)

9 Union perhaps lacking in loyalty (8)

10 A leading group in hot area in Caribbean capital (6)

Down

2 Posh doctor with artist in shadow (5)

3 A very advanced party supporting Britain boastful display (7)

4 Promise a grant possibly to cover university and centres for new experts (9)

5 Friend found in pearls oddly (3)

6 Genuine money for kingdom (5)

11 Search thoroughly extremists in argument in struggle (6)

12 Thin pancake at a counter partly (4)

14 Digit from west presumably? (3)

15 Get rid of dilapidated place (4)

16 Look over casually lines penned by education graduate (6)

18 Conclusion of springtime flower festival (6)

20 Extra work covering US magazine (8)

22 Pair in suit employed (4)

23 Keep at distance from Anglican church in warm garment (6)

24 Hear about aim that’s in fashion (6)

Killer Sudoku Pro Place numbers 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and bold-lined 3x3 box. No digit may be repeated in any dash-lined cage, and all the digits in any cage must add up to the value shown in that cage.

7 Criminal male CID gets to harangue (7)

11 Most intelligent young animal catching sun after cold (9)

13 Arab opponent is coming (7)

15 Hate unusual power in erratic side (7)

17 New or senior guards in a deteriorated state? (5)

19 Alter first person in final (5)

21 Reserve diamonds (3)

Early school years are so important

WHY are our prisons full? Why do we lock up so many people?

There are many reasons, including the international drugs trade.

But part of the reason lies in our primary schools and how they address behaviour.

Having watched a teacher wife over many years, I conclude that the Reception year is crucial.

At this point children are more biddable and cannot be a serious physical threat.

In a good school, they are taught self-discipline and to recognise authority – they learn good manners and respect for other people, they recognise right and wrong.

Children need to learn that life is not all roses – they must deal with frustration or failure.

If these things are got right at the earliest stage, then there is a far better chance that children will become good citizens with the mental strength to deal with

the challenges and temptations of life.

Mike Keatinge Sherborne

Heavy toll of horseracing

IT may be shocking for New Blackmore Vale readers to learn that in the first six months of 2024, 112 horses were killed on British racecourses.

Horses were killed from racing injuries including heart attacks, broken legs, a broken neck and a number of other horrific injuries.

There were 299 abuses of whip regulations, including horses being whipped more times than permitted, in the incorrect place and with excessive force.

At Animal Aid, we work tirelessly to track each horse which dies on British and Irish racecourses, as well as abuses of the whip regulations.

Flower meadow: A call for help

EACH summer for 12 years the spur of land in Castleton, at the junction with New Road in Sherborne, has given pleasure to all who pass by with the varied flowers that appear. This year a magnificent display of self-seeded hollyhocks dominate and it is thanks to a group of dedicated local residents that this annual spectacle can be enjoyed. Elizabeth Wills and William Heath would be pleased to hear from anyone who would like to help ensure the continued reappearance of this beautiful flower meadow.

Barbara Elsmore Sherborne

These figures illustrate the inherent and unrelenting cruelty of the horse racing industry – no animal should be killed, or be made to suffer, in the name of “sport”.

To read our full report, head to www.animalaid.org.uk.

Nina Copleston-Hawkens Animal Aid campaigner Via email

Planning rules and rainwater

IT is all very well when MPs of any party say it is necessary to take the water companies to task for allowing sewage to be dumped into our rivers, but years ago, when as parish councillors we vetted planning applications, rainwater had to be directed to a soakaway or nearby ditch flowing to a river.

It was not allowed into a sewer.

It would seem planning regulations must have changed since then and rainwater has been frequently allowed into sewers.

When you consider the amount of rain we have had this spring, is it surprising that water treatment works are struggling to cope?

Here in our village, applying for planning of a domestic dwelling, it is encouraged to install rainwater harvesting tanks, this being used to flush toilets and to feed outside garden hoses.

We can understand that retrospectively it is not always possible to install these tanks, but surely planning regulations should cover alternative arrangements for the direction of rainwater in future.

Mr & Mrs Garrett West Camel

MP’s numbers dont’t add up

SINCE Andrew Murrison rather petulantly points out in his column that the Labour Government was elected on a

vote share of a third – as if that raises important questions regarding its popularity and mandate – I thought it worth pointing out that its national vote share was, in fact, 34% and that Andrew Murrison’s, in his constituency, was 33%!

I was pleased to see Simon Hoare’s piece was far more reflective, cooperative and community-minded.

Via email

Name supplied

Leisure centre

cutting carbon

WE were delighted to see Gillingham has been able to celebrate the award of Green Flags for a number of its public open spaces.

This is the result of great work by the town council team and by many volunteers and enthusiasts.

Sneaking under the radar, though, is another huge achievement by our community which we would also like to celebrate.

Riversmeet, Gillingham’s health and leisure centre, has just been awarded a property energy rating of “A” and is very close to achieving net zero.

Through the professionalism and hard work of the team at Riversmeet, energy consumption has reduced by 50% and carbon emissions by no less than 92% in the last two years, while still delivering a greater range of activities for more people.

Nationwide, very few existing facilities – as opposed to new, purpose-built ones –have achieved this rating.

Worth a loud North Dorset cheer – and worth visiting to see what a community-owned charitable trust can do for our health and wellbeing as well as the environment.

Laura Day and Mike Chapman Volunteer Trustees, Gillingham Leisure Centre Trust

Keeping on Carrying On...

“SO, what’s changed? What’s different” asked a constituent of mine following the Election. She wanted to know how it felt being on the Opposition rather than the Government benches. Apart from the physical changes of sides and the obvious differential in numbers, on the surface my answer to her question was “not much”. Perhaps it is a hallmark of the maturity of our democracy and Parliament that seismic political events can occur without, thankfully, a drop of blood being shed or bullet fired. Not for us a breathing space as the new Administration prepares to take Office – no. With a blink of an eye Governments come and go and the business of governance and Parliamentary representation continues. Now perhaps I am lucky. When I was in Government, I built up good friendships and alliances across the House. Many of my Labour friends are now Ministers and I wish them

Conservative MP for North Dorset

Simon Hoare

well. But because of those friendships, and what I hope is my reputation for being fair and decent with all colleagues – well there are a few exceptions, I am after all only human – I have been able to make the case for constituents to the new Government just as I did with the former.

Some examples: I had a good discussion with my successor as Elections Policy Minister about

the operation of postal votes, an issue raised with me by several constituents since the election. I have applied for an Adjournment Debate to raise some obvious issues and how to fix them. He was pleased to learn I had done so.

At Health Questions I secured a meeting with the new Public Health Minister to discuss the issue of child deaths due to brain tumour and the woefully low level of awareness of what signs to look out for. A fearless constituent, who lost her son to a tumour, has campaigned on this issue. She will be attending the meeting with me, and we hope for progress. Again, the Minister is a friend and has told me he wants to be as helpful as possible.

Having met local residents at Winterborne Stickland who are energetically campaigning to buy the closed village school, I tabled a Parliamentary Question to establish the new

Government’s approach to support for the Community Ownership Fund. And my advice surgeries continue, and I have an inbox of casework to work through on behalf of constituents.

As all politics is local, I had a useful meeting with the new Leader of Dorset Council and the chief executive to discuss issues which fall within their remit. These included: the works at Dinahs Hollow; planning in Stalbridge and Charlton Marshall – the latter following my attendance at a packed village meeting to discuss opposition to an inappropriate housing development; and the impact that increased flying activity is having on residents near to Compton Abbas Airfield. I must confess to an affection for the Carry On films. Perhaps a new one could be made called “Carry on Representing North Dorset”. It’s what I have always done. I shall carry on doing so.

Labour laying ground for tax hikes

THE new Government is doing what new governments do – but on steroids. It's trying to build a highly negative narrative around its inheritance. The reason is as plain as a pikestaff. It wants cover for the tax hikes and borrowing that are about to be unleashed and an excuse if its promises aren't realised. So, like a big blousy pantomime dame, it's flounced in with a great show of shock and horror on opening the books. Trouble is, independent authorities are saying the books look pretty good and, in any event, they've been wide open for all to see since the Office of Budgetary Responsibility was created by the last Government in 2010. Back then the incoming Government had had to draw up its manifesto based on supposition regarding the state of the public finances. Not now. So, in a few weeks' time in

Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire

Dr Andrew Murrison

the Budget, expect the new Chancellor to be spinning you a yarn as the pretext for doing all sorts of things that weren't in her Party's manifesto.

But we haven't had to wait for screeching U-turns. A government that came in saying it wanted to restore trust in politics has been appointing Labour supporters to high office

in our hitherto impartial civil service, hopping on and off the very same private jets it screamed at the last government for using and reneged on its campaign pledge to cut energy bills by £300. And it's only been in for a couple of weeks. That's what a crushing majority does. This Government can pretty much do what it likes.

And yet. Within days of his victory Sir Kier has had his first rebellion. That's quite an achievement. He chose to punish the seven rebels by removing the whip. Trouble is, once you've rebelled and been cast out, you're likely to make a habit of it. And then there are those old lags who have not been given a ministerial job despite slogging away in opposition. That's because Sir Kier has chosen to appoint people just elected, or not elected at all. Combative Emily

Thornberry is the most high profile casualty. Sir Kier should watch his back. The devil makes work for idle hands.

Happily, my own shellshocked party is at least having a well overdue outbreak of amity and concord. Whether unity survives the leadership contest remains to be seen, but early signs are good.

I regret the outcome of the general election because I think this Starmer government will be very bad for our country and specifically for our area, but I am looking forward to my party having the time and space to refresh itself. If history is any guide, the big test of whether it has done so will come in four, not five, years. I predict the next general election will be in May 2028 on the same day as the local elections scheduled for that year. What twists and turns in the meantime.

WHO doesn’t love a state opening of parliament, with the monarch’s speech? Not just the pomp and ceremony. As democracy wobbles in two of our closest allies, the sense of stability provided by the British system of government is reassuring. Even Rishi Sunak played the role of the defeated with a grace absent during the election campaign.

At the core of Labour’s programme for government was a commitment to improving living standards by delivering the first serious economic growth since the Banking Crisis. There are laws to change how the Bank of England responds to failing financial institutions, new rules for preventing Liz Truss-style reckless budgeting, the creation of a National Wealth Fund, and changes to planning and pension management to help drive greater economic growth.

For growth to be meaningful, everyone must benefit, which is

Early days a whirlwind of activity Government’s agenda for change

FIRSTLY, let me start with a massive thank you to everyone who voted for change in West Dorset. I am hugely honoured that you have put your trust in me to be the first Liberal Democrat MP in West Dorset’s 139-year history. It is a responsibility I take very seriously, and I promise to work tirelessly to justify your decision.

My first weeks in Parliament have been a whirlwind of activity. From navigating the labyrinth-like Palace of Westminster, to being sworn in, participating in my first votes and attending Prime Minister’s Questions. The atmosphere is charged with a sense of purpose and I’m eager to channel that energy into positive change for our community.

While Parliament is exciting,

Greg Williams, on behalf of Dorset Labour

why Labour is banning exploitative practices and helping people get a better deal at work, alongside creating a new skills body to ensure people get the training they need to prosper, free breakfast clubs at every primary school

and new rights for renters.

We’re moving ahead on returning railways to public ownership as their franchises expire, establishing Great British Energy to deliver publicly owned clean energy, and handing water regulators the power to clean up our waterways, among much more.

The speech was an enormously ambitious set of proposals for delivering change for the UK. However, not removing the two-child benefit cap has caused some – former – colleagues difficulty.

After years of child poverty falling under the last Labour Government, the last 14 years has seen it grow substantially.

I would say most colleagues across the Labour movement, and even other political parties, recognise the two-child cap has driven this increase and believe that the policy has to go. The question is how best to achieve and fund this. Without the funding, any vote on removing

the cap is essentially tokenistic.

The Labour Party has announced the formation of a Child Poverty Taskforce which will recommending the best approach for reversing childhood poverty. They will be able to consider the two-child cap alongside all other possible variables and produce recommendations for what needs to be done and how it should be funded.

If we are serious about ending child poverty, then this comprehensive approach gives us the best chance of delivering on that goal. I ask for party members’ patience with the taskforce-led approach.

No such patience is required with respect to the Bibby Stockholm barge moored up in Portland. Not even a month into being an MP, Labour’s Lloyd Hatton in South Dorset is delivering what Richard Drax failed to. The barge will be gone when its contract expires in January.

I’m chomping at the bit to dive into constituency work and we are setting up our office as fast as we can – thank you for bearing with me over this transition period. West Dorset is the heart of everything I do, and I’m impatient to roll up my

sleeves and tackle the issues that matter most to you. From protecting our beautiful environment to revitalising our rural services, there’s no shortage of work to be done.

Setting up an office and recruiting staff is a crucial first step. I’m in the process of assembling a dedicated team who share my passion for West Dorset and can help me serve you effectively. We’re working to establish a strong local presence, ensuring that your voices are heard loud and clear in Westminster.

I must admit the wheels of government turn more slowly than I’d like. Bureaucracy can be frustrating, but I’m learning to navigate the system while maintaining my sense of urgency. Rest assured, I’m pushing hard to make progress

on the issues that matter most to our community.

My background in renewable energy and international relations has prepared me well for the challenges ahead. I’m committed to putting environmental concerns at the forefront of decision making, fighting for a better deal for our rural communities, and ensuring that West Dorset’s unique character is preserved and celebrated.

Thank you again for this opportunity. I’m over the moon to be your MP and I promise to work every day to justify your faith in me. Together, let’s build a brighter future for West Dorset.

If you are resident and would like to get in touch, you can do so by emailing me at edward. morello.mp@aparliament.uk

LibDem MP for West Dorset

Edward Morello

New teeth for water regulator

DURING the recent general election campaign I used some of the time to continue campaigning to stop sewage dumping into our North Dorset rivers. I visited Gillingham wastewater treatment centre, I met people responsible for operating the site and to see some of the recent improvements made by Wessex Water.

As expected, the operations and maintenance teams were friendly, highly knowledgeable and demonstrated dedication, pride and thorough professionalism.

Some of the conversation with the external relations team at the visit explored discussions of the overall business model for the water companies and the water industry more generally. I explained Liberal Democrats’ and my strong opposition to the operating model for the

Gary Jackson, North Dorset

Democrats

industry. Although the external relations team thought my criticism unfair, we agreed to differ.

Last week I took part in the water industry regulator, OFWAT’s public question and answer session, where OFWAT answered questions on its judgements of the 16 water companies’ plans for the next five years. Plans to stop sewage

SOMETHING TO SAY ? Email

dumping and the costs to customers for doing so formed almost the entire content of the session.

Considering OFWAT’s many years of toothless oversight I asked how we could trust OFWAT, and the Environment Agency, to really hold the water companies’ feet to the fire.

OFWAT is convinced that it can now take more aggressive action against the companies, policing extravagant bonuses and ensuring we don’t pay twice for investment we should already have had. OFWAT judged Wessex Water’s business plan to be inadequate and has reduced the value of Wessex Water’s proposed programme to reflect its lack of ambition, and its performance last year.

It was reassuring to see that our bills for the next five years will reduce by £12 excluding inflation, but disappointing that

Wessex Water has set itself such a low bar. The average bill rises across the other companies will be £94. OFWAT will allow Wessex Water to raise bills if it can demonstrate that it can deliver sewage pollution prevention projects in the next five years. Wessex Water has time now to re-submit its proposals and the final plan will be set on December 19 this year. We can all comment on OFWAT’s latest ruling by August 28 by going to its website.

Wessex Water’s performance has slipped and it will need all of us to be vigilant to ensure we get value for money while the company meets its obligations to eliminate sewage dumping. Campaign groups were well represented in pressing OFWAT for more, and Liberal Democrats will continue to be among them.

‘Dental deserts’ are a disgrace

I AM delighted to return to Parliament to represent Glastonbury and Somerton. It’s been a busy few weeks, during which I have been hard at work in the House of Commons.

I participated in the King’s Speech debate, using this opportunity to call on the new Labour Government to deliver vital health and care services in rural areas. I highlighted the ongoing dental deserts widespread across Somerset. It is a disgrace that so many people cannot get the urgent treatment they need, leaving them in dental agony. This new Government must reform the NHS dental contract to ensure areas such as ours have the dentists we need.

I also spoke about the health of our farmers and called on the Government to continue to support the roll-out of rural health hubs, which provide

Liberal Democrat MP for Glastonbury and Somerton Sarah Dyke

accessible healthcare in rural communities. I repeated this point in Health and Social Care Questions and the Minister of State for Care assured me that he will work with colleagues in DEFRA to deliver on the needs of agricultural communities.

The new Labour Government has made the roll-out of

renewable energy one of its core commitments, and while I am fully supportive of the need to increase our renewable energy output, I am clear that the rural communities that host renewable infrastructure should benefit from it. So, during a Ministerial Statement on renewable energy, I asked the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to ensure communities that host groundmounted solar panel farms receive money through Community Benefit Funds. I was pleased that the Secretary of State agreed with this principle, and I will be sure to hold him to account on this.

I was also delighted to take part in a debate about Education and Opportunity, in which I highlighted the appalling state of SEND provision in Somerset. I receive a significant amount of casework from parents of

children with SEND who are not having their needs met, are missing out on an education and suffering. I am clear that we need a solution urgently and will look forward to working constructively with the Government on this issue to make sure every child receives the education they are entitled to.

And lastly this week, I would like to applaud the two athletes from Glastonbury and Somerton who will be competing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. In celebration of their achievements, I have tabled a Parliamentary Motion congratulating them and calling on the Government to support grassroots sport.

As always, if there is anything I can assist you with, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me at sarah.dyke. mp@parliament.uk

Advertiser’s announcement

Antiques & Collectibles

Fine jewellery in strong demand More space in new saleroom

DUKE’S Auctioneers in Dorchester has a Jewellery, Watches, Silver & Currency auction next month.

The sale offers a curated collection of exceptional variety, including treasures for long-time jewellery collectors and first-time buyers alike.

The sale will take place over two days, beginning with Jewellery & Watches on Wednesday, September 11, followed Silver & Currency on Thursday, September 12.

The four pillars of the auction are each marked by pieces of high quality and exceptional beauty.

Fine jewellery continues to hold a command over the auction world.

With pieces wreathed in beauty and quality, it is no

surprise it continues to be a popular and bountiful auction.

Duke’s is inviting consignments for the upcoming auction, with entries closing soon.

To consign, visit Duke’s website at dukes-auctions.com or email enquiries@dukesauctions.com

CLARKE’S Auctions is now fully operational in its new saleroom at The Old Glove Factory in Gillingham and is busy preparing for its sale of Antiques & Collectibles on Friday and Saturday, August 9-10.

Much more space means a large amount of fine period furniture is for sale including a late 19th century inlaid figured walnut-glazed breakfront bookcase estimated at £100£200; a late 18th/early 19th century oak country house dresser, £150-£250; a set of six Regency dining chairs, £80£120; and a Regency period figured mahogany bow-fronted chest of drawers, £70-£100, along with period dining tables, mahogany chests of drawers, Victorian bedside cabinets and

more.

Clarke’s colour catalogue can be found at the-saleroom.com and easyliveauctions.com from Saturday, August 3, and viewing is on Wednesday and Thursday, August 7-8, and both days of the sale from 9am- 5pm.

Clarke’s is holding its Classic Vehicle & Automobilia sale on Friday, September 13, so anyone who has classic vehicles, motorcycles or automobilia they would like to sell, can get in touch with Matthew Whitney on the number below.

For consignment into any of Clarke’s future sales, or for probate valuations, house clearances or other queries, phone Richard Clarke or Karen Marshall on 01747 685592 at The Old Glove Factory, Gillingham SP8 4QF.

Auctioneers & Valuers

Art Deco set

ACREMAN St Auctioneers & Valuers, Sherborne, saw good results last month in the collectables sector.

A 1960s Sasha doll and clothing fetched £650 hammer; a collection of seven antique GWR railway puzzles £210; and Meccano O gauge railway items sold for £180; and a collection of Royal Crown derby paperweights £800.

In the jewellery sector, Acreman had a wonderful collection of Art Deco green and white paste set jewellery that achieved £1,300.

Acreman is holding a programme of valuation days in August in which prospective sellers can bring in their items for its specialists to evaluate.

Valuation days run from 10am-3pm. Jewellery &

Watches, Tuesday 6th, Tuesday 13th and Saturday 24th; Silver & Objet D'art, Wednesday 7th , Wednesday 14th & Saturday 17th; Toys & Collectables, Tuesday 6th, Tuesday 13th & Saturday 24th; Oriental & Asian, Thursday 8th, Saturday 10th & Thursday 15th; Coins & Stamps, Friday 9th, Friday 16th & Saturday 17th; Militaria, Wednesday 7th, Wednesday 14th & Saturday 17th; Textiles & Fashion, Friday 9th, Friday 16th & Saturday 24th.

Acreman holds a general valuation day every Wednesday from 10am-3pm. Anyone who has anything they would like to consign should contact Gill Norman on 07908 333577 or 01935 508764, or by email at auction@ acremanstreet antiques.co.uk

Medal discovered in an old desk

A VICTORIAN medal estimated at £1,000, which has been in the same family for 176 years, is being sold by Charterhouse in Sherborne in its specialist auction of medals, militaria, coins and stamps on Thursday, August 29.

“The family were unaware of the medal, which was hidden away in an old desk,” said Richard Bromell, from the auction house.

“It is quite amazing to think this is the first time the medal has been on the open market in nearly 180 years.”

The medal was approved in 1847 for men who served in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars 1793-1814 and the Anglo-American 1812 War.

When awarded in 1848, many of the recipients had already died. Captain Austin was the only officer of the 76th to receive the medal.

While the family are interested in history, with no memory of Captain Austin, they have decided to let a collector enjoy the medal rather than leave it in their desk.

The scarce Victorian Military General Service Medal –pictured – was awarded to Captain Francis Austin, who served with the 76th Regiment of Foot.

Richard Bromell and the Charterhouse team can be contacted for specialist advice and valuations at The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne; phone 01935 812277; email rb@charterhouse-auction.com.

Soft Ground Engravings for sale

£80 framed or £60 unframed

Haileybury and Imperial Service College -Hard schooling, Skippy 6ft. Kangarw, The Great: Circo Moira Orfei in one of the last boxing Kangaroo act - Hard Punches Equity wielding Itinerant - The boards, Ads T.V. and Film - Hard Knocks, have morphed Anthony Irvine into the Ice Man: Struggle begets Character, Character begets Faith, Faith begets Success. Why does this matter? Because Anthony Irvine, A.K.A the Ice man & A.K.A. Aim

The artist is the antidote to: Marcel Duchamp and all that pedal that the meaningless of art is the meaning. There are at Guggleton Farm CIC Stalbridge Dorset DT10 2RQ a 100 new paintings that say otherwise, also you can meet a true inspiration, buy Robert Wringham’s book Melt It, signed editions of soft ground engravings. Art is a re- creation of the metaphysical values of an artist. Why does this matter? You acquire knowledge by Abstraction by awareness. Art tells you aspects of experience. What is essential, significant and important.

Maynard Hales

Original soft ground engravings also available from:Iceblocked websites plus www. saatchiart.com/irvineanthony

Nex t Sale

Saturday 14th September European Ceramics & Glass; Clocks, Barometers & Instruments; and Selected Antique Furniture & Objects

For a full list of our specialist sales please see our website

Valuation dates at arts centre

BEARNES HAMPTON & LITTLEWOOD, the south west’s highly regarded and largest firm of auctioneers and valuers, has announced it will be holding regular antiques valuation mornings at Bridport Arts Centre in South Street.

The first of these walk-in events is on Monday, August 19, from 10am-noon.

The valuation mornings will be led by Cristian Beadman, head of valuations at Bearnes and a regular on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, who was recently filmed valuing dinosaur footprints up the road in Swanage!

Cristian’s decade at Christie’s in London and subsequent work at the largest provincial salerooms –now honed by 10 years manning the Miscellaneous Tables on the

Cristian Beadman, head of valuations at Bearnes and a regular on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow

Roadshow – leave him well placed to be able to look at most things.

A spokesperson for the auction house said: “B H & L has numerous specialist departments with expertise in all fields, so mark your diary, come along and Cristian will be delighted to advise.”

Going for gold

by Amy Brenan, director of Heirlooms Jewellers, 21 South Street, Wareham

YOU may be aware that the price of gold has rocketed in recent months and this has had a significant impact on the antique jewellery market. In fact, 18ct yellow gold is currently more expensive than platinum! If you have inherited any gold jewellery, or have bought some as an investment, here’s how it could affect you:

Increased valuation

THE intrinsic value of antique jewellery often includes a significant amount of gold. As gold prices rise, the market value of gold antique jewellery increases, making it more attractive to collectors and investors.

Investment appeal

that appreciates over time more attractive.

Market dynamics

DEALERS and auction houses might see increased activity as sellers look to capitalise on higher gold prices. This could lead to more frequent auctions and private sales, with a heightened interest in highvalue pieces.

Preservation versus profit

OWNERS of antique jewellery may be tempted to sell their pieces to take advantage of the high gold prices. However, the decision to sell is often balanced against the desire to preserve these items for their historical and sentimental value.

Demand for authenticity

ANTIQUE jewellery, already valued for its historical and aesthetic significance, gains additional appeal as an investment. High gold prices make owning a tangible asset

AS the value of antique jewellery rises, the demand for professional authentication and appraisal services increases. Buyers and sellers alike seek assurance that they are dealing with genuine and accurately valued items. As a result of the gold price increase, a lot more variety is coming onto the market which allows a jewellery collector to be choosier about condition and quality. Buying the best you can buy at the time will really help build a solid future collection.

HOLTS

FREE VALUATION DAY

For guns, militaria, edged weapons and related items

Thursday 5th September NFU Mutual

The Creamery Station Road, Sturminster Newton Dorset, DT10 1BD

To book an appointment, arrange a free valuation or home visit please contact: David Thurgood 01297 306123 westcountry@holtsauctioneers.com

GOOD QUALITY 1960s to 1990s ENGLISH AND SCANDINAVIAN FURNITURE, ANYTHING INTERESTING CONSIDERED. PLEASE PHONE 07714 704 635.

Holts spring auction cycle

ends in £2 million of sales

HOLTS Spring Auction Cycle has completed and the Summer Auctions are happening now.

The last auctions proved to be another resounding success, raising just on £2 million, selling 90% of the live auction on the hammer.

As usual, locally-consigned guns did incredibly well, with the interesting and unique exceeding expectations. £600 was paid for a .32 (rimfire) Remington Elliot patent four-barrelled derringer pistol, c1870, even with some tarnish to the exposed iron surfaces the little pistol with a 3 3/8in. barrel cluster well exceeded the initial estimate of £300 to £500

One of the stars of the show from the region was a rare Charles Lancaster 20-Bore Four Barrelled Shot Gun circa 1885 which generated some intense

bidding, eventually selling for £17,000.

HOLTS are accepting consignments for their next auction, with valuation days throughout the region.

The next one at the NFU Sturminster Newton on Thursday, September 5. For full list of venues please see the HOLTS website to book an appointment or discuss a valuation or home visit contact David Thurgood on 01297 306123 or by email to westcountry@holtsauctioneers. com.

Home & Garden

Grasses to embrace, grasses to avoid

by Sally Gregson

TALL, swaying grasses planted among perennials may be the “look” of the moment, but many gardeners are sceptical about the virtues of grasses. They point to self-seeding invaders with running roots that run riot through the garden. And, some grasses are riotous, it is true. But by no means all.

There are one or two that, like some perennials, have wayward, wandering ways. Gardeners’ Garters’ – Phalaris arundinacea – for example, can cause quite a problem. It’s pretty, green and white striped leaves look attractive in a pot in the garden centre, but released into a border it shows its wicked, running ways. It’s best left on the shelf.

But its doppelganger, Miscanthus “Morning Light” is a beautiful, non-running grass

that produces similar green-andwhite leaves to about 1.5m and will not run. Miscanthus, in general, are good, architectural grasses. Miscanthus sinensis “Malepartus” has 2m tall leaves that support deep satin-red flowers in autumn. It does not

seed but it will produce bigger clumps over the years. There is also a naughty, blue-bladed grass that should be avoided despite its beautiful foliage – Elymus or Leymus arenarius. It is related to couch grass with which it shares its

propensity to run to cover up to 8m. And it’s difficult to eradicate once out in the border. There are plenty of other, equally beautiful, more polite, blue grasses.

Helictotrichon sempervirens, the “Blue Oat Grass” has elegant, steel-blue leaves and tall, waving flowers in early summer whose skeletons stand until the autumn gales. It moves in the wind and loves a sunny place. And there’s a whole race of Festuca. They resemble little blue hedgehogs, and are perfect for a dry, bright place.

Not all grasses like the sun. There is a lovely bamboorelative, Hakonechloa macra aureola, that produces a fountain of gold-and-green leaves in summer and dies back in winter. It’s happy in a shady spot where it complements those pale woodlanders perfectly. Belying its bamboo blood it does not spread, merely becomes bigger and more like a little, inanimate fountain over time. It will look very beautiful in a shady corner, and still lovelier in a pot.

Managing ornamental grasses

by Sally Gregson

AFTER a long, wet winter such as the one we have just experienced, many gardeners will bemoan the lost plants they have had in their borders. Too much winter wet is in many ways more difficult to manage than too much frost. Plants survive extremes of cold in winter much better than an excess of cold rain.

Many ornamental grasses, for example, prefer a sunny, open space. The roots of many plants, especially grasses, quite simply rot in an excess of winter moisture. Grass roots are reluctant to grow at all from midsummer onwards. Which is why most grasses are divided only in spring. Then they are keen to get away into the warming land. It can be quite tempting in the bright, new spring light to cut back all grasses, regardless of whether they are evergreen

or not. Sadly, many beautiful specimens, newly planted the year before, succumb to being “tidied up” a little too enthusiastically. Many will not re-grow from a tight haircut.

Miscanthus can seem particularly untidy in spring, but it’s a good idea to cut the old, flowered stems right down, leaving those that are beginning to sprout. These stems will carry the current year’s flowers later in the season.

Evergreen grasses should be combed through with your hands encased in rubber gloves to lend cohesion, to pull out the dead leaves. The resulting thinner plant should then be lightly fed with a little diluted fertiliser and watered. It should then “get away” well.

Herbaceous grasses that die back in autumn need to be tidied up in winter, cutting them back and removing the dead top growth. But allow a little to

Miscanthus Morning Light growing with Verbena bonariensis

remain for the garden birds to line their nests.

Seed can be sown as soon as spring arrives. Few varieties need any special treatment. All should germinate quickly in a shallow seed tray of proprietary compost in the cold

greenhouse, and pricked out in the usual way. Pot up the young seedlings into 9cm pots and stand them down where you can keep an eye on their development. They should be ready to join the garden gang before the summer.

Bamboo relative hakonechloa macra aureola produces a fountain of gold-and-green leaves in summer and dies back in winter

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Home & Garden

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• Sell online easily, quickly and reliably

• Buying advice, setup and installation

I’m Phil Hudson, your local tech expert and trouble-shooter. I’ll come to you and sort things out, at a time that suits you. Or you can drop off your machine at my workshop for quick, efficient care and maintenance.

or

Plumbing

Contact: John Banham

Seeking the roots of your family?

Experienced Genealogist now available to do the digging. Call Tony 01425 838184 tony.green.agas@outlook. com

Enford Farm Shop

Durweston DT 11 0QW

Half a pig approx £130.

Home reared and locally produced meats, game, deli, f ruit, veg, f ree range eggs and lots more.

Follow us on Facebook for all our latest meat pack deals and what’s in f resh that week.

Chicken feeds etc available.

Open Wednesday to Saturday 10am-5.30pm.

01258 450050

Food and more on festival menu

LOCAL food, drink, art, craft, music and community talent will be on offer at the Dorset Food and Arts Festival 2024 being held at Poundbury.

The event will see 65 stalls showing off their wares at the Great Field tomorrow (Saturday, August 3) between 10am-3pm.

Dorset Food & Arts Festival coordinator, Caz Richards, said: “We really hope the local community, holidaymakers and day trippers will come and support this popular event and look forward to seeing everyone.

“We love the Great Field, and work with Pips Poundbury and the Park Run to ensure the event works in harmony with them on the day of the event.

“Shopping and in the fresh air, catching up with friends and supporting local producers.

“It’s a winning combination!”

The event is held on the Saturday closest to the late Queen Mother’s birthday and offers free entry for all.

Caz added: “We shifted the festival location in 2021 to the Great Field in Poundbury to give us more space and to operate safely as we emerged from the pandemic but look forward to reimagining the event for 2025 in partnership with the Duchy of Cornwall, local businesses and residents.”

Visit the Dorset Food & Arts Festival Facebook event for more details, including a full list of stallholders.

TRADITIONAL COUNTRY PUB

SERVING FINE FOOD AND DRINKS

Peter and Karlene are delighted to invite you to the Plough Inn at Manston and look forward to seeing you soon.

We are delighted that our renovation and expansion project has been well received by customers as have our food and beverage offerings. After a very long search, we now have a fully staffed kitchen and offer our full lunch and dinner menu every day from Tuesday lunch until Sunday lunch. We are closed after lunch on Sunday and all day Monday. We offer a wide range of beers, cider, wines and spirits as well as a range of non-alcoholic options.

A Pub With Warmth And Atmosphere

The bar and snug have been refreshed but retain all the old features that made this cosy area so attractive. And, by popular demand, we have a new wood burning stove to provide atmosphere and warmth whenever needed! We have a completely new kitchen, beer cellar and new male, female and disabled washrooms. The old conservatory is now an insulated garden room and we have a new dining area which can accommodate a further twenty guests.

Hearty Food And Distinctive Drinks

By experimenting with our menu and listening to our customers we have developed a popular menu ranging from light snacks to exciting specials and everything in-between. Please look at our menu and see if you can spot your favourite country pub meal. For Sunday lunch, in addition to our full menu, we offer a traditional roast with all the trimmings. Our range of drinks has evolved in response to customer demand and caters for all tastes. But most importantly we have built a wonderful team to look after you all and ensure a great experience at the Plough.

We hope to see you soon, Cheers, Peter & Karlene

Health & Wellbeing

Meditations in nature: Return to Ronda

by Susanna Curtin

WE visit many beautiful and interesting places in our lives. Mostly they are transient experiences, and we are happy to leave them behind in search of pastures new. There are other places, however, that remain in your soul long after you have left and call you back time after time. For me, the historical town of Ronda in the Sierra de las Nieves National Park of Andalucía is one such place. Not only because I love the evocative and intuitive sounds of Flamenco for which Ronda is famous and for which I come, but also because of its unique combination of art, culture and nature – all of which inspire my imagination. But the thing I love the most, is how this joyful, romantic town is blended seamlessly with the wilderness in which it sits. It is the only place I have visited where I can hear the cheerful bustle and chatter of daily life at the same time as hearing the shrieks and calls of the falcons who patrol the gigantic limestone pillars on which the town is balanced. Ronda is one of the oldest

towns in Spain, and like other places, it has experienced periods of peace, unrest and invasion. Many civilizations have settled here over the centuries. Neolithic tribes, Celts, Phoenicians, Romans and the Moors have all claimed it as their territory, that is until the 15th century, when the town was eventually divided up among the Castilian nobility. Even then, it was not secure from a French invasion in the Peninsula War and the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. This turbulent history is apparent in the architecture and design of the town but also in

the stories of old that sleep quietly below the romance and sophistication that greet the visitor. Today, Ronda is a welcoming, peaceful place where tourism and the needs of the local community are sensitively interwoven, and where life genuinely seems affable.

One of my favourite places in town is the Alameda del Tajo park. From here the view is arrestingly beautiful overlooking the El Tajo valley and the stark, craggy mountains of the Serranía de Ronda. I love to steal an hour here, just to watch the comings and goings

of the kestrels, peregrines, choughs and crag martins that soar in the updrafts from the valley 300ft below the railings.

Like Flamenco, the wildlife here has its own distinctive sounds, dances and rhythms. In the early morning sun, bright green Andalucian wall lizards dart in and out of rock crevices, and songbirds such as redpoll, linnet and cisticolas are busy harvesting insects. As the light intensifies, swallowtail and southern blue butterflies dance effortlessly around the flowerbeds of agapanthus, lantana and oleander. When the midday heat arrives, it all goes rather quiet and still, that is until the late afternoon when the Griffin vultures and Bonelli’s eagles, that have patrolled the mountain slopes for prey, make their return journeys. Eventually, in the cool of the evening before the setting sun, squadrons of swifts speed over the rooftops, and the occasional white stork glides silently overhead into the valley to roost. Then, as the sky turns crimson and the sun sinks below the mountains, the horseshoe bats and the geckos come out of hiding, and the tawny owls call an end to the day.

Time spent in Ronda slips away only too quickly and there

Continued on next page

Treasure trove of herbs uncovered

by Fiona Chapman

I HAVE a vegetable patch that my husband calls my weed patch. He is right, sadly. It is overrun by bind weed which I just cannot keep on top of. In said weed patch, I have black and red currants which I never manage to pick before the birds do. Some asparagus, which I do greedily harvest, but there is only enough for one sometimes, artichokes – more on those later – and raspberries.

I also have a wonderful marshmallow plant in there, with soft velvety leaves. It is about to flower, so, rather sadly, one evening, I started pulling off all the bindweed only to reveal a treasure trove of herbs

underneath it all, which is so exciting.

The herbs I knew about –marshmallow or Althea officinalis, is demulcent – you use the root – and will line the stomach and mucous membranes, including the bladder to allow healing to go on underneath.

Artichokes Cynara scolymus are brilliant for helping to break down fat and process it in the liver. In herbal medicine the leaves and roots are used. They are good for cholesterol and helping to shift stagnant anger, resentment and shock – which is stored in the liver.

Lurking in the depths of the weed patch, I found Equisetum

arvense or horsetail – an ancient and extremely tenacious herb, full of minerals. It is great for the blood and any mineral deficiency such as hair loss and brittle nails, as well as bone deficiencies like osteoporosis. It is also nutritive and antimicrobial.

I have masses of Hypericum perforatum – St Johns Wort – the sunshine herb, not yet flowering, but as soon as it does, I will be harvesting this. I can make a lovely oil that can be used in my “healing oil” for any nerve damage, and I will also put the fresh flowers in vodka and make a tincture which is good for tension, anxiety and, for me, SAD – Seasonal Adjustment

Disorder – as well as being anti-microbial and a help with infections such as Epstein Barr, Herpes and even hepatitis. I also have Calendula officinalis, or pot marigold, coming up which I use for stomach complaints and poor absorption, as well as being excellent for the skin.

So, my rather desultory gardening in my vegetable patch turned into an extremely happy revelation, and, although my husband might be disappointed at my not being able to feed anyone, I can at least keep them healthy!

n Fiona Chapman is a naturopathic herbalist (email Pellyfiona@gmail.com).

Ronda is famous for a unique combination of art, culture and nature

Health & Wellbeing

The joys and fears of summer travel

by Daisy Campbell

IT’S that time of year when more travelling and moving about happens. The slightly panicky packing of bags, washing of clothes that you haven’t seen in a year or more. Will they fit in the bag? Do I have those 100ml-sized bottles for the plane?

Coupled with excitement, this can also feel very unsettling and anxious making. Some of us who are lucky enough to go abroad, can find that this often involves getting on a plane or a ferry to somewhere far away, which can trigger even more panic.

We stay rather nestled in our cosy, familiar nests during the winter months and get pushed out of them when the warm summer months begin. This can feel exhilarating, exciting and longed for, but for some, the creeping in of anxiety brought on by a change of routine and something different, as well as a potentially dreaded flight, can be horrible.

It seems to be that ultimately, if we look a bit further inwards,

BELINDA

ROBERTS RCST

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPIST

Craniosacral Therapy is a deeply restorative form of treatment for the body, mind and soul.

www.belinda-roberts.co.uk 07702 681264

it’s a feeling that we won’t be okay, that we are at risk of being in danger and therefore not safe and secure. We feel at the mercy of outside events or situations to push and pull us so that we feel rudderless, without our familiar things around us . Of course, by venturing to another country and getting onto a plane, it can feel like we are raising the risk, but are we not just as vulnerable in our day to day lives with other things?

Is it that we have built an invisible safety net which we call our own front door, our bed, our car and that this is in some ways just an illusion of safety?

Ultimately, we all want that feeling of safety to be within us and to travel with us. Finding ways to cultivate that, is I think, the beginning of more relaxed, happy travelling.

One way in which we can do this is to establish a consistent mediation ritual, or to do something that helps you feel safe and calm. Taking time each day to listen to relaxing music or do some breathwork can help

to calm the nervous system, and if done regularly, can provide a feeling of inner security. Eating well, crucially cutting refined sugar, which can cause havoc with cortisol levels, is so important for the body to be physically strong and less susceptible to stress around us. It is not an overnight fix, but these little steps over time help us to feel that sense of solidity and safety within us, wherever we are or go. This enables us to enjoy and relish the beautiful world we live in, to break our safety net wide open and explore with courage and joy, knowing we are always safe

within. A wonderful travel companion is a flower essence called “shock release” a superior version of “rescue remedy” by www. saskiasfloweressenses.com, which is always a winner in helping you feel safe and secure.

n For gentle guidance and support to make changes, however small, email daisydundas@yahoo.com, phone 07740 864616 or contact via Instagram at @ daisycampbellcoaching. Daisy is a fully qualified, level 5 health coach.

is never enough time to cherish all that it offers. But today, I rose with the first songbird to join some fellow walkers on a short route to the church of the Virgen de la Cabeza – a 10th century Christian cave hermitage built into the hillside on a mountain ridge opposite the town. Stepping quietly through the old, cobbled streets, the rising sun painted the mountains in a rosy alpenglow. Leaving the town behind us, we walk out into the countryside along a tiny section of the Camino de Santiago – a network of routes that would eventually lead the

pilgrim to the city of Santiago de Compostela, 895km north west.

As we approach the church, we encounter a rather sad looking chap who is lovingly watering a young almond tree that has been planted in memory of his dear friend whose heart and soul will always remain in the town he loved. A tender moment and a fitting reminder of the intense relationship we can have with places.

Walking back to our hotel for breakfast I think of how sad I will be to leave this wonderful part of Spain.

n Dr Susie Curtin (email curtin.susanna@gmail.com).

My Wellbeing

Treat yourself to some self care with experts in your local community

FRONT STRAP

My Wellbeing

PREGNANCY

YOGA

with Sally Rainbowchild

12 30pm–1 30pm Every Wednesday

The Space, Shaftesbury

Experience the transformative benefits of pregnancy yoga, carefully crafted to support women through the incredible pregnancy journey

The classes nurture your body, mind, and spirit adapting to each stage of your pregnancy’s unique needs and promoting your baby’s healthy development

Classes are suitable for mums-to-be f rom 14 weeks onward.

For more information and to book, please get in touch. Embrace this sacred time with the support and care you deserve.

Classes run for five weeks.

£7.50 per class.

Try your first class for f ree.

Benefits of Pregnancy Yoga

• Improved Flexibility and Strength

Enhanced Breathing and Relaxation

• Reduced Pregnancy-Related Discomforts

• Stress Relief and Emotional Well-being

• Improved Sleep

• Community and Support

07873 336662 yogaindorset@gmail com www.yogaindorset com

Belinda Roberts

Craniosacral Therapy

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Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle yet profound, hands-on holistic treatment that uses light touch to tune into the body’s rhythms and tides including the cerebral spinal fluid which bathes the nerve roots in the spinal column. A branch of osteopathy, it is rooted in the understanding that the body holds its own inherent wisdom and capacity for self-healing. Using light touch to listen to the subtle movement of tissues from the membranes and fascia to the bones, the body is able to release deeply held patterns of trauma, tension, pain and restriction on the physical, emotional and mental levels, restoring and integrating healthy function. Suitable for people of all ages from babies to the elderly, some conditions it can help in the relief of include birth trauma, pregnancy, anxiety, chronic illness, TMJ, tinnitus, pre and post surgery or dental work, insomnia, physical trauma, digestive problems, recovery from accidents, ADHD and many more. I am a member of the Craniosacral Therapy Association and have a practise in the peace and quiet of Pen Selwood as well as a clinic in Bruton. To find out how I can support you on your healing journey, visit www.belinda-roberts.co.uk or call 07702 681264.

The Space - Shaftesbury

Advertising Feature

The Space in Shaftesbury, run by Sally Rainbowchild, offers a tranquil haven dedicated to enhancing your well-being through yoga and holistic practices. With over 25 years of yoga practice and teaching experience since 2010, Sally is a VTCT Level 3 massage therapist, reflexologist, and mental health first aider. She provides a variety of classes to meet diverse needs, including Pregnancy Yoga sessions, designed for mums-to-be from 14 weeks onwards, offering gentle exercises and relaxation techniques in a supportive and nurturing environment. Sally teaches Hatha yoga classes and provides treatments.

Her classes are fun, informative, and profoundly relaxing. Whether beginning yoga to gain fitness, strength, and flexibility or to help calm a busy mind, classes and courses at the Space offer an excellent introduction to yoga. The next 12-week beginner course starts in September. It will cover the fundamentals of yoga, including physical postures and movement, breathing, and some basic meditation techniques. There’s something for everyone at the Space, Shaftesbury. Sally proudly announces that The Space has been nominated for Best Health & Fitness Business 2024. This recognition highlights the commitment to promoting health and wellness in the community. Sally looks forward to sharing the Space with you.

The

Shaftesbur

Ride the Wellness Wave: How Hot Tubs and Swim Spas Boost Health and Wellbeing

In our fast-paced world, staying healthy can feel challenging, but the solution might be closer than you think—right at home. Hot tubs, swim spas are becoming increasingly popular not just for luxury, but for their amazing health benefits too. Hot tubs are fantastic stress-relievers. The warm water and buoyancy create a relaxing environment that helps you unwind. The heat improves blood flow, relieving muscle tension, which is great for chronic pain from conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia. The massage jets also help relax muscles more deeply, reducing pain and promoting an overall sense of well-being.

Swim spas offer a blend of relaxation and exercise, perfect for low-impact workouts that are easy on the joints. Swimming or water exercises boost cardiovascular fitness, tone muscles and increase flexibility. The water supports your body, reducing strain and injury risk, while providing resistance to build strength and endurance.

Along with many physical benefits, hot tubs and swim spas are great for mental health too. The soothing warm water can help ease anxiety and depression, leading to better sleep and a more positive mood. Taking a break from the digital world to soak in a spa can also help you practice mindfulness and feel more satisfied with life.

*Advertising Feature

Chill tubs are also gaining popularity for reducing muscle soreness and inflammation. The cold exposure constricts blood vessels and decreases metabolic activity, which reduces swelling and tissue breakdown. This process accelerates recovery, lowers the risk of injuries from intense workouts and boosts energy levels by releasing endorphins. Adding a spa to your routine isn’t just about luxury; it’s a smart move for your health. Whether relieving physical pain, staying fit, or enhancing mental health, these watery retreats offer a great way to improve your well-being. Dive into the wellness wave and see the benefits for yourself!

Due to the popularity of the feature we will return with new My Wellbeing content 13th September 2024. Reach 90,000 potential customers every fortnight.

Get in touch Lynsey Swaine 07714 289416 Lynsey.swaine@blackmorevale.net to know more

Lauren Leahy RN

Ear Wax Removal Specialist

Towns set for 121 more electric bikes

A NEW electric bike scheme is being rolled out in Dorchester, Portland and Weymouth later this summer. Dorset Council has entered into an agreement with operator Beryl to bring 121 e-bikes for hire across the three areas, with the idea to encourage more sustainable transport habits across Dorset. The e-bikes will be hired from and returned to designated “Beryl bays”, which will be located following consultation with key local stakeholders. The scheme will be operated by Beryl on behalf of Dorset Council with the initial set-up costs being funded by the council. Beryl chief executive and co-founder, Phil Ellis, said: “Dorset is not only a picturesque area with plenty to see and do, it also has a clear ambition to encourage more sustainable transport choices. “Our e-bikes are a fun, easy and versatile way to travel and their extra power can really open up areas, enabling riders to tackle hills and undertake longer journeys. “They’re also great for commuting, helping to reduce physical exertion and allowing people to arrive at work clean and ready to go. “By encouraging more people to swap four wheels for two, we can hopefully contribute even more towards reducing traffic congestion while improving air quality and public health.”

A NEW electric bike scheme is being rolled out in Dorchester, Portland and Weymouth later this summer. Dorset Council has entered into an agreement with operator Beryl to bring 121

Salveo Forma Physiotherapy specialise in physiotherapy at home for older people

Getting older isn’t always easy. Many of us start to experience aches and pains and can have difficulties with walking, balance, falls or completing everyday activities. You may have complex needs, multiple health conditions, joint surgery, or have had a recent hospital stay and are struggling to get back on your feet. Whatever the reason, physiotherapy plays a crucial role in the management of age-related conditions and your recovery. Our expert physiotherapists can identify areas of difficulty with movement, strength and balance and provide a tailored treatment plan to suit individual needs.

We wish to keep you active while maximising your quality of life and independence in the comfort of your own home or care home. Whether you wish to feel confident gardening, playing with grandkids, or simply getting up from your favourite armchair, we can help give you the strength and skills you need to keep doing the things you love. We become part of the family, working with you and your loved ones to overcome those little (or big) challenges that come with ageing. Let us bring our expertise to support your journey to improved well-being.

salveo forma physiotherapy

My Wellbeing

e-bikes for hire across the three areas, with the idea to encourage more sustainable transport habits across Dorset.

he e-bikes will be hired from and returned to designated “Beryl bays”, which will be located following consultation with key local stakeholders. The scheme will be operated by Beryl on behalf of Dorset Council with the initial set-up costs being funded by the council.

Milagro CBD Oil is the purest and best-tasting premium CBD oil available on the market today.

Milagro CBD Oil is cold-pressed, filtered CBD oil created from the best organically grown hemp in Europe.

Carrying all the vital Phyto cannabinoids CBD and CBG, then distilled, winterized to create a smooth CBD oil that’s a powerful dietary supplement with a range of health and wellbeing benefits. We also have products for your hair, face, skin, essential oils, CBD Pet oil and much more. Go to our website dorsetcbdoil.com and see for yourself, lots of information about the products and benefits of CBD oil.

Beryl chief executive and co-founder, Phil Ellis, said: “Dorset is not only a picturesque area with plenty to see and do, it also has a clear ambition to encourage more sustainable transport choices. “Our e-bikes are a fun, easy and versatile way to travel and their extra power can really open up areas, enabling riders to tackle hills and undertake longer journeys. “They’re also great for commuting, helping to reduce physical exertion and allowing people to arrive at work clean and ready to go. “By encouraging more people to swap four wheels for two, we can hopefully contribute even more towards reducing traffic congestion while improving air quality and public health.” Premium beauty in the heart

Brue Osteopathy opened in March 2021 in Wincanton by Sarah Hoskins, after graduating from Swansea University.

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She saw the need to help the community live a pain free life. Osteopathy is a system for diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, it works by integrating the structure and function of the body. It helps to allow the body to work together and as a unit. Since opening; the practice has expanded with two new osteopaths joining the team. Gianluca and Rebecca have expanded working with Sarah to bring a holistic approach to treatment. Each member of the team uses their speciality, with Sarah focuses on reduction of pain in adaption of lifestyle on an individual basis. Gianluca uses a mainly structural approach and exercise prescription to directly influence the body, whilst Rebecca looks at treating the body as a whole, she can see how imbalances in one area will affect other areas of the body. Osteopathy can help with back pain, arthritic pain, sciatica, headaches and much more. Appointments are available Monday – Thursday. We look forward to helping you on your pain free journey.

In addition to Osteopathy, Sarah Hickling from Your Time Coaching is offering in person counselling on a Friday in the clinic. Sarah works with ‘person centred principles’ to allow you to talk freely and support you to help you find the right solutions.

Sarah can help with anxiety, confidence, stress, grief and more. Visit yourtimecoaching. com for more information.

Manicure | Pedicure | Gel Nails |Nail Tidy | Holistic Massage Hair Removal | Advanced Facial Micro Needling | Luxury Facial Brows & Lashes | Lifting

BlackmoreCopyright

My Wellbeing

Discover Tranquility and Wellness at Holbrook

Discover Tranquility and Wellness at Holbrook

Manor Spa

*Advertising Feature

Manor Spa. *Advertising Feature

Nestled in the serene Somerset countryside, our newly opened spa offers a haven of relaxation and rejuvenation. Indulge in luxurious treatments, from soothing massages to revitalising facials, tailored to your wellness needs. Enjoy state-of-the-art facilities, including an indoor heated pool, sauna, steam room, and a fully equipped gym for invigorating workouts. Afterwards, unwind in our charming Garden Café, where you can savour delicious, healthy refreshments amidst beautiful surroundings. Our spa is designed to provide unparalleled comfort and serenity, making it the perfect retreat for mind and body. The breathtaking beauty of Holbrook Manor’s historic estate enhances your experience, offering a picturesque backdrop for your wellness journey. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful escape or a revitalising boost, Holbrook Manor Spa is your destination for ultimate pampering. Join us and discover the art of true relaxation.

Nestled in the serene Somerset countryside, our newly opened spa offers a haven of relaxation and rejuvenation. Indulge in luxurious treatments, from soothing massages to revitalising facials, tailored to your wellness needs. Enjoy state-of-the-art facilities, including a hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam room, and a fully equipped gym for invigorating workouts. Afterwards, unwind in our charming Garden Café, where you can savour delicious, healthy refreshments amidst beautiful surroundings. Our spa is designed to provide unparalleled comfort and serenity, making it the perfect retreat for mind and body. The breathtaking beauty of Holbrook Manor’s historic estate enhances your experience, offering a picturesque backdrop for your wellness journey. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful escape or a revitalising boost, Holbrook Manor Spa is your destination for ultimate pampering. Join us and discover the art of true relaxation.

Gazpacho

(supports immune function)

The English Tomato is coming into season and no better than in its natural form, no cook and chilled as a gazpacho. Although it’s simple it’s important to get the layers of flavour for that punch and zing so keep tasting until you get exactly to your liking!

I serve mine with a soughdough crouton which I dry out in the oven with a smothering of olive oil, crumpled rosemary sprig and Maldon sea salt. If I have a jar of stoneless black olives, I blitz with olive oil and a garlic clove and spread onto the top of your crouton as a black olive tapenade. Plonk it on the top of your soup and serve to your guests or family with a ramekin of fine diced cucumber and tomatoes giving it texture.

Ingredients:

• British Tomatoes 1 kilo

• Cherry tomatoes 6 - fine dice for garnish

• Cucumber - half (in the soup) half fine dice for garnish

• Lemon - one whole squeezed

• Sherry Vinegar - 1 tablespoon

• Slice of good stale bread (optional) I prefer a crouton on top

• Good olive oil - 100ml this will make the creamy emulsion of the soup

• Basil Oil for droplet garnish

• Malden Salt good pinch

• Good grind of black pepper

Blitz together all the ingredients (except those stated for the garnish). Taste and adjust to your liking.

Chill in the fridge for a couple of hours. Put into your cool bag with some ice blocks if you’re taking it for lunch.

To serve pour into a glass, mug or bowl. Garnish.

Annie des Forges, director/ chef The Table Bruton, annie@ thetablebruton.com, phone 07834 487381; director, host and concierge Somerset Road Trip

Leisure Club memberships from £59 per month

State of the art fully equipped gym suitable for all abilities and ages

Clean, spacious workout areas

Regular classes

Indoor heated pool & spa bath

Steam room & sauna

Corporate memberships available

Pamper yourself with a spa day or beauty treatment at H l f

The Garden Café

Situated within The Club, an ideal place to relax with family and friends whilst enjoying a selection of drinks, barista coffees, home baked cakes

High price of the airport drop-off

MANY of the UK’s busiest airports have increased prices for drop-off parking since last summer, as the great holiday getaway begins.

Seven of the top 20 airports by passenger numbers have increased their prices, according to analysis by the RAC.

Four have increased drop-off charges by £1 compared to 2023 – London Gatwick (£6 for 10 minutes), Edinburgh (£5 for 10 minutes), Birmingham (£5 for 15 minutes) and Bristol (£6 for 10 minutes), with three –Glasgow, Leeds Bradford and Aberdeen – putting prices up by 50p since last year.

Fortunately for drivers on drop-off duties, nine airports have frozen their prices this year.

Just three airports out of the top 20 in the UK – London City,

Cardiff and Inverness – retain free drop-off zones.

And while dropping off for up to 20 minutes at London Luton is currently free in its Mid Stay Car Park – after last October’s fire forced the closure of the airport’s Drop Off Zone – travellers should be aware that the terminal is a 10-minute walk or shuttle bus ride from the terminal building. Last year, Luton charged £5 for 10 minutes in its drop-off zone.

London Stansted – despite not increasing its charges this year – remains the most expensive UK airport for dropping off, charging a whopping £7 for up to 15 minutes, the equivalent of 47p a minute.

Leeds Bradford is a close second charging £6.50 for 10 minutes, with London Gatwick

and Bristol the third most expensive, both demanding drivers pay £6 for up to 10 minutes. Glasgow and Aberdeen both charge £5.50 for 15 minutes.

On a cost-per-minute basis however, it is Manchester that takes the wooden spoon for offering drivers the worst value, charging £5 for just a fiveminute stay – the equivalent of £1 a minute, way ahead of the next priciest per minute, Leeds Bradford which charges the

equivalent of 65p per minute (£6.50 for 10 minutes). It is perhaps not surprising then that 81% of drivers surveyed by the RAC this summer, who have either dropped someone off at an airport or have been dropped off themselves in the last 12 months, describe the charges as a “rip-off” with 71% believing all airports should offer free drop-offs. Just one-in-10 (13%) say they understand why airports charge what they do.

Only three of the UK’s top 20 airports have free drop-off zones

Motoring

ON ALL VEHICLES UP TO 3.5 TONNES INCLUDING HORSEBOXES AND MOTORHOMES

SUNRISE SERVICE & MOT CENTRE

Bodyshop open for all repairs and restorations, f rom small scratches to complete resprays, insurance work welcome.

MOTS – class 4,5 and 7

MOTS, SERVICING AND REPAIRS ON ALL VEHICLES UP TO 3.5 TONNES INCLUDING HORSEBOXES AND MOTORHOMES

(great for standing room) - very well invested in. Extensive service history, MOT. Call 07867 802070

MOTORHOMES

Diagnostics

Air conditioning Valets

Bodyshop also available.

Bodyshop open for all repairs and restorations, f rom small scratches to complete resprays, insurance work welcome.

MOTs – class 4, 5 and 7

MOTS – class 4,5 and 7

Courtesy Cars

Diagnostics Air Conditioning

Diagnostics

Collections within a 5 mile radius

Courtesy Cars

Air conditioning Valets

Concessions for Pensioners, Armed Forces and Emergency Services

Concessions for Armed Forces and Emergency Services

Courtesy Cars

Collections within a 5 mile radius

Concessions ed Forces a es 15B Sunrise Business Park, Higher Shaftesbury Road

15B Sunrise Business Park, Higher Shaftesbury Road Blandford DT11 8ST Tel: 01258 459798

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Email info@sunriseservicecentre.com www.sunriseserviceandmotcentre.com

Email sunriseservicecentre@hotmail.com www.sunriseserviceandmotcentre.com

2018 (18) Dacia Sandero Stepway 0.9TCe Laureate 5dr. 90bhp, petrol, 5 speed manual gearbox, sat nav, reverse camera, parking sensors, cruise control, hill start assist, only 13,500 miles……………………………..................………………£8950

2016 (66) Ford Fiesta 1.0T Titanium X 5dr. 125bhp, petrol, 5 speed manual gearbox, partial leather, heated seats, parking sensors, reverse camera, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, hill start assist, heated front screen, Free yearly road tax & up to 65mpg economy, only 34,200 miles…………………………………....……………….£8950

2010 (10) Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec Estate 5dr. 100bhp, petrol, 5 speed manual gearbox, great value load lugger, MOT Jan 25, cambelt has been replaced, private sale on behalf of a customer, 105,000 miles…………….........................................................…£2250

2008 (08) Ford S-Max 1.8TDCi Titanium 7 Seat MPV 5dr. 125bhp, diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, 7 seats, partial leather, cruise, auto lights & wipers, park sensors, flat folding rear seats, MOT May 2025, spares or repairs, starts & drives, marks around the body & it’s not perfect, cambelt has been replaced, 97,500 miles…….............….DUE IN

2018 (18) Ford Transit Custom 2.0TDCi 290 L2 H1 Limited Double Cab 6 Seat Van 5dr. 130bhp, diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, long wheel base double cab with 6 seats, large rear load area, auto light & wipe, cruise control, hill start assist, heated front seats, cambelt wetbelt kit has been replaced, 86,800 miles….............£15000 + VAT = £18000

2020 (69) Ford Tourneo Custom 2.0TDCi Titanium 320 L1 H1 Automatic 9 Seat Minibus 5dr. 130bhp, diesel, 6 speed automatic gearbox, 8 seat plus driver, 3 front seats, 6 rear seats, reversable seating for conference or forward facing, window blinds, rear heating, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, heated front seats, parking sensors, hill start assist, cambelt wetbelt kit has been replaced, 97,000 miles..........£23000 + VAT = £27600

2020 (69) Ford Transit 2.0TDCi Trend 350 MWB MR L2 H2 11 Seat Minibus 5dr. 130bhp, diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, 10 seat plus driver, 2 front seats, 9 rear seats, standing head room, roof panel, retractable side step, access handles, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, parking sensors, heated front seats, rear heating, hill start assist, lane aid, cambelt wetbelt kit has been replaced, 90,200 miles…..£22500 + VAT = £27000

2015 (15) Honda Jazz 1.4 ES Plus 5dr. 99bhp, petrol, 5 speed manual gearbox, small on the outside with a very spacious internal layout, clever rear seating system, cruise control, parking sensors, only 32,500 miles…....................................................….£7850

2018 (18) Hyundai Kona 1.0T-GDi Premium SUV 5dr. 120bhp, petrol, 6 speed manual gearbox, sat nav, parking sensors & reverse camera, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, hill start assist, 21,300 miles…………................................................…………£12250

2018 (18) Kia Optima 3, 1.7CRDi Sportswagon Estate 5dr. 139bhp, diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, spares or repairs, bad engine rattle, starts & drives, heated seats & steering wheel, sat nav, cruise, parking sensors, reverse camera, auto lights & wipers, upto 64mpg, 73,800 miles, worth £9000 when done up…......................................£2700

2005 (55) Mercedes-Benz SLK200 Kompressor 1.8 Convertible 2dr. 163bhp, petrol, 6 speed manual gearbox, electric roof, heated leather, neck heating, wind guard, cruise control, auto lights, MOT Feb 2025, exceptionally well kept vehicle, documented history, 11 stamps, bargain clearance car, only 31,500 miles………………….........……£6500

2006 (06) Peugeot 307 1.6HDi S 3dr. 110bhp, diesel, 5 speed manual gearbox, MOT August 25, not perfect, has a few marks around the body, starts & drives ok, clearance car to be sold as seen, 150,000 miles…...................................................…DUE IN £850

2012 (62) Peugeot RCZ 1.6THP GT Coupe 2dr. 156bhp, petrol, 6 speed manual gearbox, spares or repairs, has ABS warning light on & the clutch is getting a bit noisy, MOT April 2025, starts & drives, 128,100 miles….............................................…..

Vehicle thefts remain at record high, according to new ONS data

Figures show car thefts remain at an all-time high Picture: Bastion Pudill/Unsplash

THE number of vehicle thefts in the UK remains at a record high level, according to new data.

The latest year-on-year statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show there were 129,159 vehicles stolen between April 2023 and March 2024.

This is slightly lower when compared to the 130,119 vehicle thefts for same period in 2022-23, but keeps the number of vehicle thefts in the UK at a 15-year high.

Meanwhile, incidents of items being stolen from vehicles fell by 12% year-on-year.

In total, there were 193,023 crimes reported to police that involved items being taken from vehicles after they had been broken into.

For the same period the year before, 218,431 people reported that something had been taken from their vehicle.

The ONS data showed that there was a 2% rise in vehicle interference or tampering with a motor vehicle, ncluding crimes where parts from a vehicle are stolen, such as catalytic converters, number plates, and vehicle badges.

In 2022-23, there were 52,268 reported incidents, which increased to 53,369 this year.

Following the publication of the data showing that there were nearly 130,000 recorded vehicle theft crimes in the 12 months to March 2024, RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “After falling steadily during the 2010s, the last few years have seen an alarming rise in the number of recorded crimes where vehicles are stolen with an average of 356 being taken every day of the year.

“And when you consider that most car theft crimes go unsolved, it’s a pretty bleak picture. It’s a real cat-and-mouse situation between vehicle manufacturers and criminals, with carmakers ever tightening security, only for thieves to use increasingly using sophisticated tactics to find a way round their systems.

“We would like to see the new government take steps to tackle car crime by re-establishing the vehicle theft taskforce that was set up in 2019, or at least engaging heavily with police forces, manufacturers and the insurance industry to map out a way forward.”

BIRTHDAYS

Love, Becky, Vicky, Sarah and all the family xxx

MARY LINDA NICHOLLS,

Eric Stokes

Happy 95th Birthday

31st July

With love from all the family x

Diamond Wedding Anniversary

Clive and Patricia Kellaway are pleased to announce their 60 years of marriage on the 1st of August 2024. Married at St Mary and St James church Hazelbury Bryan 1st August 1964. We are very grateful and thank you for your messages and kind greetings from family and friends.

Dennis Coffin

Dennis’s family and his partner Deanna would like to thank everyone who attended Dennis’s funeral and for all of the kind messages and support.

WILLIS Roger

The family wish to thank relatives and friends for their kind cards and messages of sympathy, for their attendance at the service and for their kind donations. Please accept this as our personal message of thanks

IN MEMORIAM

Josephine Stokes

Remembering you on what would have been our 74th wedding anniversary, 29th July.With love, Eric x

Michael ‘Mick’

It’s been two years since your passing this August the 13th. Though your absence is deeply felt, your love and guidance continue to inspire us daily. Forever missed, forever loved, your spirit lives on it our hearts.

Mon and family xxxxx

passed away peacefully on July 12th 2024. Much loved sister of Laurie and Wendy. Sadly missed by friends and family. Sleep well Mary.

LANG -Diana

died aged 96 on 27th May. Beloved wife of John Lang and mother of Andrew, Jamie and Laura.

Memorial service on Thursday 3rd October at 2.30pm at the Church of St Mary, Donhead St Mary, Wiltshire SP7 9DQ followed by refreshments. Further details and to help gauge numbers email Laura lauradmdowner@gmail.com.

Coote, Michael ‘Paddy’

Passed away peacefully at home in Fonthill Gifford on 13th July aged 94 years.

Much loved dad, grandad and great grandad who will be greatly missed by all.

Paddy’s funeral will take place at 2pm on Monday 5th August at the Sacred Heart Church in Tisbury. Family flowers only but donations if desired to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Enquiries c/o Chris White Funeral Directors 01722 744691

Patrick O’Donoghue (Ben)

Passed away on the 22nd peacefully in his sleep with family around him.

Funeral is at Harbour View Crematorium, Lycheet Minster, BH16 6AN. 16th of August. 2:30pm service, family flowers only. Donations to Dementia UK would be grateful.

Doreen May Hutchings

passed away peacefully at home in Shaftesbury on 17/07/2024 aged 92.

She is sadly missed By Rosemary, Roy, Anthony, Grandchildren and family

Her funeral will be held at Bournemouth Crematorium on 05/08/2024 at 10 am

Family Flowers only. Donations invited to support her love of animals can be made at https://doreen-hutchings.muchloved.com/ or a cheque to RSPCA c/o The Co-Operative Funeralcare Green Acre House, Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, SP7 8BS 01747858968 DEATHS

Happy 60th Birthday, Dad!

DEATHS

Coduri Janet ‘Jan’

Passed away peacefully on 14th July 2024, aged 70 years. Much loved partner of Phil, loving sister of Sue and auntie of Jenny and Cheryl. She will be sadly missed. Her Funeral Service will be held in The Long Barrow Ceremony Hall at Harbour View BH16 6AN on Wednesday 7th August at 12:30pm. Flowers welcome. Donations, if desired, for the Renal Unit at the Dorset County Hospital may be made online via www.tapperfuneralservice.co.uk

FRY

WILLIAM

ANTONY STEWART of SHERBORNE known as TONY

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Tony Fry who died peacefully in Southmead Hospital on 12th July aged 91. He was an adored husband of 68 years of Shirley, father and grandfather. A wonderful man, he was very much respected by the whole community and all who knew him.

A thanksgiving service for his life will be held on 12th August, details from A J Wakely & Sons, Sherborne. Family flowers only please.

Brooks

Frances Ann

Passed away peacefully at Somerleigh Court on 14th of July 2024, aged 91 years. She will be sadly missed by all her family and friends. A private funeral service will take place at Weymouth Crematorium on Thursday 15th August followed by a memorial service at St. Georges Church, Dorchester at 2PM. Donations if you wish can be made to MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship), either at the service, online on our website, or via Woods & Tapper Funeral Service, 6, Albert Road, Dorchester DT1 1SF, www.woodsfuneralservice.co.ukTel: 01305250425

JOHN EDWARDS

Passed away peacefully on 16th July.

Husband to June for 70 years, father to Linda and Hilary, Grandpa to Noemi and Liam. He will be sadly missed by those who knew and loved him.

The funeral will take place at Stourpaine Church 1pm 15th August the afterwards 2.30 at The Saxon, Child Okeford.

John was a Rotarian for over 60 years. No flowers but donations to Blandford Rotary Club charities via Colin Close Funeral Directors, Blandford Forum.

“Bill” Bennette Eldred Trewvella

passed away suddenly on 24th June 2024, aged 78 years. Much loved brother to Patricia and Joan. He will be sadly missed by all his family and friends, and will forever be in our hearts.

A service of thanksgiving will be held at 12:noon on Friday 16th August 2024 at The Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne DT9 3AA.

Family flowers only please.

Donations in memory of Bill for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and Dementia UK can be left in the donation box at the service or sent c/o A.J Wakely & Sons 16 Newland Sherborne DT9 3JQ. Please make cheques payable to the charity.

BROWN

Anne Dora

Peacefully at home in Gillingham on 29th July 2024, aged 70 years, after a long illness bravely borne. Beloved wife of John. Much loved Mum of David and Lisa. A wonderful Nanny, Sister, Mother-In-Law and friend. She will be missed greatly, but, loved and remembered with admiration forever by those who knew and loved her dearly. Funeral service at St. Mary’s Church, Gillingham on Friday 16th August at 1.00pm, followed by interment. At Anne’s request, please wear something colourful to the service. No flowers please. Donations if desired, in memory of Anne for Stars Appeal, can be made via peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk or cheques made payable to the charity may be sent: c/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Harwood House, Gillingham, SP8 4QJ. Tel. 01747 833757

Trim

Wendy Ann

Peacefully on the 18th July, aged 81 years, of Iwerne Minster. Much loved Mum to Paula, Peter and Susan and Nan to Benjamin and Lewis. Funeral Service will take place at Bournemouth Crematorium on Tuesday 20th August at 12 noon. Family flowers only please. Donations if desired for either Ovarian Cancer Action or Down’s Syndrome Association may be made online by visiting www.close-funeral.co.uk (follow the Much Loved Link) or cheques payable to either charity c/o Colin J Close Funeral Service, Peel Close, Salisbury Road, Blandford DT11 7JU. Tel: 01258 453133

DEATHS

Peggy Joyce McComish

Peacefully on the 21st July 2024, Peggy aged 91 years of Stalbridge. Wife of the late Derrick McComish. Dearly loved Mum, Grandma, Great Grandma and Sister. Funeral service at Yeovil Crematorium on Friday, 9th August at 2pm. Please wear a splash of colour. Family flowers only, donations if desired for Julia’s House. C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Mons, High St, Henstridge, BA8 0RB. Tel: 01963 362570.

DEWEY LES

Aged 94 years of Sparkford. On 18th July 2024, peacefully at Fir Villa Residential Home, Marston Magna. A much loved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Funeral service at St Mary Magdalene Church, Sparkford on Tuesday 8th August at 2.pm followed by private cremation.

Family flowers only please, donations in memory of Les are being invited for Farming Community Network. C/O Harold F. Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone (01963) 440367

Janet Claughton (Nee Duff)

Of East Stour, Gillingham

Passed away peacefully on 20.07.2024 Aged 72 years old

A dearly missed Wife, Mum, Nanny and friend Funeral Service to be held at: Yeovil Crematorium On14.08.2024 at 3.20 pm followed by Buffet and drinks at The Crown Inn, east stour Gillingham

Family flowers only but if you wish to donate in Jan’s Memory please visit https://janclaughton.muchloved.com/ Or send cheque made payable to melodies remembered c/o or Mindful Memory Cafes c/o

Co-operative Funeralcare, Greenacre House, Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, SP7 8BS, Tel: 01747858968

JEANS ENID GLADYS

aged 87 years. Of Sherborne. On 23rd July 2024 peacefully at her home. A much loved Wife, Mum, Nan, GG, Sister, Aunt and Friend. Funeral Service at Yeovil Crematorium. On Tuesday 13th August at 2pm. Family flowers only please. Donations in memory of Enid are being invited for The Stroke Association, C/O Harold F Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Tel: 01963-440367

BRIAN JOHN TURNER

Passed away Sunday 6th August, 2023. Always remembered by your loving wife, Ellie. “Love Lives On Eternally”

FUNERAL DIRECTORS

A J Wakely& Sons

J Wakely

& Sons

A J Wakely& Sons

A J Wakely& Sons Independent

Independent Family Funeral Directors

Independent Family Funeral Directors

J Wakely& Sons Independent Family Funeral Directors

Independent Family Funeral Directors

A

A

J

Wakely&

Family Funeral Directors

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse Wakely& Sons

J Wakely& Sons Independent Family Funeral Directors

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

– 24 Hour Service –

– 24 Hour Service –

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

– 24 Hour Service –

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

available including our Land Rover Hearse

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Hour Service –

Sons Independent Family Funeral Directors

J Wakely& Sons Independent Family Funeral Directors

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310 – 24 Hour Service –

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Pre-payment plans available

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Pre-payment plans available

Tel: 01935 816817 Tel: 01963 31310

Please contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310 – 24 Hour Service –

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Please contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310 – 24 Hour Service –

Pre-payment plans available

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

Please contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Pre-payment plans available

Pre-payment plans available

Pre-payment plans available

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Pre-payment plans available

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310 – 24 Hour Service –

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Please contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310 – 24 Hour Service –

Pre-payment plans available

member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Please contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Please contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance. Pre-payment plans available

Joss rises to round the world challenge

A SAILOR from Dorchester has circumnavigated the globe in the 2023-24 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, which ended at the weekend.

Joss Creswell, 24, was first mate on board Perseverance, which came second of the 11 teams competing.

The 40,000km circumnavigation was split into 14 races between ports around the world and took place over 11 months.

The final section was 850 nautical miles from Oban in Scotland to Portsmouth, where the race began.

Joss and his skipper, Ineke van der Weijden, coached, trained and led a team of 66 non-professional sailors, seven of whom sailed all around the world.

The sailors came from a range of nations and were aged

19 to 75.

Joss, speaking before the end of the race, said: “It doesn’t seem real. The last race was wonderful, and now it’s just the time to spend with this crew, this team that we have built.

“I think it’s going to be a lot more emotional than any other race. More and more through the race the team has taken ownership of the boat, and have become a lot bigger component than Ineke and I.

“They’re rabid for success, they’re so competitive and they are a great team.”

Crew members faced everything nature could throw at them from storm force winds and waves the size of houses, to freezing temperatures and searing heat.

The global sailing event is the brainchild of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person

to sail solo, non-stop around the world.

It features identical 70ft racing yachts each with a fully qualified skipper and first mate to guide the crews.

Crews had to complete four levels of ocean racer training before they competed.

This year, in addition to Oban, the race visited Puerto Sherry, Punta del Este, Cape Town, Fremantle, Newcastle, Whitsundays, Ha Long Bay, Zhuhai, Qingdao, Seattle, transited the Panama Canal and Washington DC.

WINCANTON Golf Club results.

Captains Cup – June 30: Winner – Glenn Ware. 1 Glenn Ware 41 ocb, 2 Richard Czemerda 41, 3 Rick Graham 37.

Seniors Monthly Medal –July 9: 1 Kevin George nett 70 ocb, 2 Richard Strong nett 70, 3 Simon Lenton nett 71.

Jigger Anniversary – July 13: 1 Steven Ireland 36 ocb, 2 Mike Case 36, 3 Richard Czemerda 35.

Low weights on farm lake

by Graham Howard DDAS junior secretary

THE sixth round of the Dorchester & District Angling Society Juniors points championship was held at Sharnhill Lake, near Buckland Newton.

The weather forecast reported the chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms, which would have made a tough day even more difficult, and although the worst of the weather did not materialise, neither did the fish.

ANGLING

Ten juniors fished the little farm lake, which is rarely used for competitions, so the fish were not that keen to feed, keeping weights low. Three juniors failed to catch anything at all.

In changeable conditions, Harry Cryer caught two “proper” carp and a few small tench to take the win with 12lb 1oz.

Second was championship leader Austin Scott-Kennedy, extending his lead with 10lb 13oz.

Third place went to Jack Cryer with 8lb 15oz, making it a double hit for the Cryer brothers.

For more information about DDAS Juniors, go to www. ddasjuniors.co.uk or contact the junior secretary at juniors. sec@d-das.com. For venue details visit www.d-das.com

Harry Cryer with his winning catch of 12lb 1oz

GOLF

Joss Creswell, first mate on board Perseverance

Jockey jumps out of the saddle for sports club event

LOCAL racing hero and jump jockey champion Harry Cobden officially opened the Lydford Sports Club annual gala.

Harry walked around the stalls and activities, stopping and chatting to racing fans along the way, with his girlfriend Olivia agreeing to judge the competitions.

Lydford Sports Club chair, Nigel Lee, said: “Despite the grey sky we had a wonderful day, made all the better for Harry’s participation.

“For a local village club, Lydford Sports Club is immensely proud of its achievements in fielding two

senior sides and four junior sides in local cricket leagues, a senior football team in the Yeovil league and a skittles team in the Castle Cary Skittle league.

“The money raised by our annual gala goes towards the upkeep of our pavilion, buying of equipment and ground maintenance.

“We look forward to next year's gala, which will be the 55th year of this fundraising event.

“It will be held on July 12, 2025, so please keep the date free.”

THE new 2024-25 season for the Blackmore Vale Table Tennis League starts in early September.

Players who wish to play in the league can join any of the following clubs: Chalke Valley (Broad Chalke), Child Okeford, Compton Abbas,

East Stour, and Stalbridge.

For practice only: Child Okeford, Sunday mornings; Chalke Valley, Broad Chalke, Sunday evenings.

For social: Stourpaine, Monday evenings; Gillingham, Friday afternoons).

Junior coaching: Stalbridge; Chalke Valley (level two coach).

For further information,

Lydford Sports Club chair Nigel Lee and Harry Cobden at the opening of Lydford Gala. Harry was presented with a Lydford Sports Club tie and his girlfriend a bunch of flowers

Common causes of itching in dogs

by Lynn Broom Longmead Veterinary Practice

ITCHING in dogs is frustrating and irritating for both the dog and their owner. Constant slurping and nibbling can be annoying and may prevent dog and owner resting properly.

History and the area affected can help narrow down the cause. Dogs with allergies are typically itchy all over but will often lick their feet more and be prone to recurrent ear infections. Allergies typically start between the ages of one and two years and tend to recur.

A dog which is itchy around the same time each year is likely to be allergic to something currently in flower in the environment. Dogs that are itchy all year round, which can be as subtle as increased foot licking, often have house dust mite and/or storage mite allergies. Dietary allergies can occur but are much less

common. Many dogs have multiple allergies and eliminating those that you can control such as fleas, will reduce the overall itching.

Dogs which are itchy around their back end may have fleas or have full anal glands. Dogs which are allergic to fleas will nibble and scratch along their back and around their tail base even if only one or two fleas are present. Even if you treat the fleas, it may take a while to remove them from the environment and medication may be required to break the cycle of itching while you eliminate the cause.

Full anal glands typically make dogs itchy around their tail base but some will chew a back leg or foot. Others may react as if bitten or be reluctant to jump up as normal.

Sarcoptic mites cause the symptoms of mange. This typically presents as a sudden onset itching of the belly and backs of the elbows. Dogs will

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often scratch using their back leg(s) and will stop on a walk to scratch due to the severity of the irritation.

Rubbing the face could be due to an infection in the skin folds of the lips, an ear infection or pain associated with the mouth or eyes. Sudden onset itching with a localised swelling may indicate a bee or wasp sting. This will usually self-resolve within a few hours and may improve more rapidly with antihistamines – discuss appropriate treatment with your

PRETTY GINGER & WHITE KITTENS. Litter trained, wormed etc. used to dogs. £45 Tel: 01747-830484

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vet.

Sudden onset itchy feet with frantic nibbling can occur after contact with something irritant such as “baby” nettles. If the feet are red, swollen or bleeding, or the itching does not resolve within a few hours, then you should consult your vet for advice.

Your vet can help determine the underlying cause of itching and help you eliminate the cause(s) or provide treatment to control the symptoms if the cause cannot be removed.

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Dogs with allergies are typically itchy all over but will often lick their feet more

What should I do when my dog has been bad?

by Raychel Curson

I AM often asked by dog owners “what I should do to tell my dog off when they’ve been bad?”

Simply put, you don’t! Your dog doesn’t need to know what we don’t want them to do, they need to know what we want them to do. Many people like positive reinforcement training but this question is still asked. It is in our nature as humans to react to negatively to undesirable behaviour – I never use “wrong” as most behaviours are natural to the dog – but we can train ourselves to think differently. Punishment may look like shouting, threats, dragging by collar, lead jerks, bark collars, air correction sprays etc.

However, we must consider that a dog has the cognitive abilities of a two-year-old and can’t feel guilt and complex emotions such as spite. Science tells us that methods of punishment are unnecessary as dogs learn well using positive reinforcement and that punishment methods induce unnecessary stress.

Dogs simply see behaviour as rewarding versus nonrewarding and safe versus dangerous. If the behaviour is punished when you are there, such as toileting in the house, the dog understands it is dangerous to toilet when you

are around and safe when you are not there.

So how should we deal with undesirable behaviour?

Simply put, don’t allow it to happen, so prevention and training an incompatible behaviour.

After the prevention is in place, you can start on teaching a new behaviour such as capturing the behaviour you like and rewarding that. You can also use a positive interrupter to interrupt and redirect their attention to a more appropriate activity.

For example, if my dogs have stolen a sock, it’s more my fault for it being accessible to them, as for Labs and Spaniels carrying things is a natural behaviour.

Teaching is about knowing the student and presenting information in a way they can understand. If a student doesn’t get it, it is not the student’s fault – it’s the teacher’s. Chances are the teachers you liked were the ones who mostly inspired you to do more, be better, try harder and get good grades. They certainly didn’t tell you that you were wrong all the time. Be that teacher to your dog!

n Raychel Curson BSc (Hons) MA CCAB APBC-CAB FABC ABTC-CAB is owner of Pet Peeves Animal Behaviour & Teaching. Email raychel@ petpeevessomerset.co.uk.

For more details, please call our helpline 01258 858644 or visit our website: cats.org.uk/blandford (Formerly Blandford & Sturminster) Sponsored by Longmead Veterinary

MID DORSET CATS PROTECTION Cats looking for new homes

n Smudge, four years old. Grey and white big friendly boy, not lived indoors before, no other pets

n Lupin and Willow. Five-yearold sisters, looking for a home together

n Polly, 14 years old. Looking for retirement home, a few health issues which are being managed

n Nessy, 10. Sweet loving girl, has a medical issue, but does not need medication

n Cookie and Badger. Two years old, looking for a home together, delightful boys

For details, please call our helpline on 01258 858644 or visit our website, www.cats.org.uk/blandford. OUTSIDE CATS: We have a number of outside cats in different locations needing to be relocated. We are looking for people with stables, farms, smallholdings or gardens where you need a mouser to help with rodent control.

LOST CATS

If you have lost a cat contact us via our website, phone or Facebook. Please provide a contact phone number so we can get in touch with you quickly if needed.

FOUND CATS

If you regularly see a cat in your garden or down your street that you don’t think has an owner, please give us a call. It may be a lost cat that could be reunited with its owner.

Independent family run business offering a very personal, caring pet cremation service to bereaved pet owners. Collection Service Farewell Room Out of Hours Service provided Located in a rural countryside setting on the Somerset Dorset border

Contact us on: 07900 654 440 www.companionsatpeace.co.uk

Recruitment

OAKWOOD TAXIS REQUIRE PART-TIME DRIVERS to cover various school runs in and around Dorset. Drivers can keep the vehicle at home enabling them to work more efficiently in their area. Must be over 25. Could suit semi-retired person. No area knowledge test required. All expenses paid for. Average 4 hours per day, school time only. To arrange an interview please ring Andy on 01258 455555 or email oakwoodtaxis@aol.com

RELIABLE DRIVER REQUIRED. Full-time & Part-time. Details: 07813-209841

PART TIME - KITCHEN ASSISTANT - 2 days (Including one weekend day)

FULL TIME - CHEF - 5 days (Including weekends) A friendly, fast paced team environment, free parking, staff discount and competitive rates of pay. To apply please email c.v. to lulurichards11@gamil.com

Boarding and Day Prep and Pre-Prep School

Kitchen Assistant

Required for September Start

Term time only (33 weeks)

We are seeking a hardworking and reliable individual to join our kitchen team. Experience would be beneficial but is not essential.

7.30am - 2.00 pm

Six days per week (Sunday - Friday)

Term time only

Annual salary of £18,250

For further details, please contact: Ruper Burnell-Nugent, Sandroyd, Rushmore, Tollard Royal, Nr Salisbury, SP5 5QD bursar@sandroyd.com www.sandroyd.org

Sandroyd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This post involves contact with children. and is classed as “regulated activity” by the UK Government. As such, a number of mandated pre-employment checks (including an enhanced DBS check) will be undertaken to ensure that the successful candidate is suitable for work with children. Additionally, suitability for work with children will be assessed by taking up appropriate references and at interview. Finally, candidates should be awae that this post is exempt from the Rehabillitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

EXPERIENCED AND PREFERABLY QUALIFIED ASSISTANT GARDENER required 2 days a week near Wincanton 07779-134612

CLEANER REQUIRED. 4 hours per week. Donhead. Tel: 07709-579912

WE REQUIRE A KIND, PATIENT, PRACTICAL AND CHEERFUL PERSONAL ASSISTANT/CARER to join our small, dedicated team in Castle Cary, supporting the needs of Sally in her own home. Sally is a happy, outgoing 47 year old woman with memory loss and epilepsy who enjoys a full and active life . You would need to take her swimming.

HOURS- alternate Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m through to Monday at 10 a.m (own bedroom) Call SALLY MARSH. 07774 541 122. Or ELIZABETH CROSS 01963 350820 for an initial discussion

Mere Forest Land Charity and Mere Zeals Charity

There is a vacancy for a Secretary/Administrator for the charity. The secretary is the point of contact for all applications to the charity. It is a part-time position carried out in the Secretary/Administrator’s home. Duties include producing annual accounts for the charity, keeping in contact with the Trustees, attending and taking minutes of meetings for the Trustees. Remuneration £1500 per annum. Closing date of 30 September 2024 If you are interested in applying or have more questions, please email your details and experience to our email address: mereforest@gmail.com, or telephone 07395518079 are charites to provide financial help to people in need in the areas of Zeals or Mere

Reg. 201996 and 201995

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EVENT SUPPORT WORKER

Age Concern North Dorset would like to recruit a ‘Community Outreach and Event Support Worker’, to engage with our local community and support the promotion and development of our services by actively taking part in events, giving talks about the charity as well as promoting all our services.

This exciting role will suit someone living locally with a good understanding of the needs of older people and with experience of social media and IT. The successful candidate will have lots of initiative, enthusiasm and ability to research and organise their own work diary. They will attend a wide range of events, meet with a variety of different organisations and local providers as well as educating the local community about our services through a weekly drop-in facility.

We are looking for someone who will have the use of their own car for 6-8 hours during a week, can be flexible about days of work and is able to communicate well and build and maintain good working relationships.

Hours worked during the year may increase as more contacts are made and needs identified.

For an application form and job description please call Age Concern North Dorset on 01258 475582. No CV’s required.

MERRYMEET KENNELS, Wincanton. Full/Part-time staff required. Hours and day negotiable. Good rates of pay.

Contact: merrymeet.kennels@btinternet.com

ROOFER REQUIRED to work for a Company based in Stalbridge

Please contact Roy 01963-362325 or 07905-281456

GARDENER REQUIRED FULL TIME at Listed Country House near Milton Abbas. Must have reasonable knowledge of shrubs, pruning and vegetable gardening and be proficient with powered hedge trimmers, chain saws, motor mowers etc. Salary dependent on experience and cottage available if required. Replies and CV to justin@langhamfarm.co.uk

EXPERIENCED COOK/SOUS CHEF required to join our friendly Café team. You will be a cheerful and motivated team player with a passion for food and experience working in a commercial kitchen.

Full and part-time options considered. Working hours 8.30am – 5pm (no evening work). You must have your own transport.

Please apply to info@cranbornegardencentre.co.uk by 23rd August 2024 and attach a copy of your CV. Cranborne Garden Centre, Cranborne, Dorset BH21

SELF EMPLOYED EXPERIENCED GROUNDWORKERS/PLANT OPERATORS

We are looking for an experienced Groundworker who can also operate a 360° Excavator for local interesting contracts, working as part of a team. Applicants must be con dent in their ability to carry out all aspects of groundwork to a good standard with attention to detail. We o er a safe working environment with good rates of pay. Local work and an opportunity of long-term employment with a friendly family run business.

A TO Z CLASSIC CAR RESTORATION, is looking for a person with classic car maintenance or car bodywork/paint work interests.

Either semi retired or full time, experience is preferred welding and fabrication would be a bonus. Call Malc on 07749989624

If you are that exible, skilled groundworker who can also operate plant to a good standard please call, Martin on 01258 455219 or email admin@farwellplanthire.co.uk

Independent Boarding and Day School for Pupils aged 4 -18 GSA/CISC

Driver Required

Human Resources Advisor Full Time

PA R T T I M E ,

BlackmoreVale Magazine

N LY

We are seeking to appoint an experienced HR Advisor to join the school support staff team. This is a standalone position with responsibility for handling day to day HR tasks, all recruitment, ensuring compliance with employment law and school regulations, overseeing all employee relations matters and drafting HR policies and procedures. There is a significant administrative responsibility.

We are seeking to appoint a School Minibus Driver to start at the end of August 2018. The role entails driving the School vehicles on designated routes collecting children in the morning and dropping off in the afternoon at prearranged points. You will also assist with some basic maintenance and cleaning of the fleet The primary qualities sought are a genuine commitment to the welfare and safety of yo ung people. You must hold a valid PCV Manual, (D or D1) Licence

You will need to be well organised, have excellent attention to detail and confident dealing with the ADP HR payroll package or equivalent.

Hours: 20 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 0630 to 0830 and 1730 to 1930 Term Time only Rate of Pay: £9 69 per hour plus holiday pay

A CIPD qualification is essential.

This is an all year around position working 0830 to 1630 Monday to Friday.

Salary will be competitive depending on experience. Please indicate salary expectation on your application.

An enhanced DBS check will be undertaken by the School

For further information and to download an application form please visit our website: https://www.leweston.co.uk/explore- leweston/ our-people/work-with-us

Closing date: 15th August 2017 Independent Co-educational Boarding and Day School Nursery Prep Senior Sixth Form The Society of Heads/CISC

Please send your CV with the names of two referees to the HR Manager, Leweston School Leweston, Sherborne, DT9 6EN or email: recruitment@leweston.dorset.sch.uk www leweston co uk

Closing date: Friday 16th August 2024

Recruitment News

SITUATIONS WANTED

LIVE-IN COMPANION/CARER/COOK/DRIVER available. Full-Time. Tel: 07867-978558. Helen.

PAMPHILL DAIRY PARLOUR CAFÉ

KITCHEN ASSISTANT - PART TIME - 2 days

(Including one weekend day)

CHEF - FULL TIME - 5 days (Including weekends)

Join our friendly team in a fast paced environment, free parking, staff discount and competitive rates of pay.

To apply please email your c.v. to lulurichards11@gmail.com

Omnis Mechanical Ltd

Small friendly manufacturing company in Semley, now recruiting for the following full-time positions

Makeover plan for Almshouse

ST John’s Almshouse in Sherborne is to get a major makeover –including the creation of a new tea room alongside affordable accommodation.

Will suit someone with an interest in electrical and mechanical assembly, needs a good eye for detail. Preferably with electrical experience or knowledge/understanding.

Assembly Technician Welder Fabricator

Experienced Welder Fabricator required for MIG and TIG welding & fabrication work.

Enquiries & Applications: 01747 851060

Complete care solutions

Senior Care Assistant

Rate of pay up to £15/hour

The Old Rectory in Stalbridge are looking to recruit a Senior Care Assistant to work a two week rota.

Week one

Monday, Tuesday and Friday 7.00am - 2.00pm

Wednesday and Saturday 2.00pm - 9.00pm

Week two

Monday and Wednesday 2.00pm - 9.00pm

Tuesday 7.00am - 2.00pm, Friday 7.00am - 3.00pm

You will be required to provide personal care and assistance to our residents as well as carry out administrative duties. Experience in residential care is essential for this position and ideally you will already have a minimum of one years’ experience in a similar role.

For more information visit our website or call 01963 362624 or email mandyw@bramleycare.com to request an application form.

bramleycare.co.uk 01747 855844

Bramley House, Mere | Millbrook House, Child Okeford The Old Rectory, Stalbridge Bramley Home Care, Shaftesbury and Sherborne

A joint scheme, involving the Almshouse and Sherborne Abbey, has been revealed which will see space retained for affordable accommodation, with the downstairs of the property become a tearoom.

Other rooms upstairs will also be used for a young peoples’ centre and community group meetings.

The Rector of Sherborne Abbey, Reverend Martin Lee, said: “This is such an exciting opportunity for all of us, offering both accommodation for those who need it, and support for important community projects.

“We will need help to realise our vision and will be looking to raise funds.

“The town has always been very supportive of the Almshouse in the past and we are sure that will be the case again as we move forwards together.”

In March last year, it was revealed residents at the affordable accommodation at the Sherborne Almshouse were being evicted, and 20 jobs made redundant as the facility was ‘no longer sustainable’.

At the time, the Almshouse Trustees vowed to consider all options for the future.

On July 29, a spokesperson for the Almshouse Trustees said they had “carefully considered a range of options before choosing this path, which they feel is both positive for the town and financially viable”.

Richard Hunt, chair of St Johns’ Almshouse Trustees, added: “It has been a complicated process to get here but this exciting joint new scheme has several benefits, not just in providing accommodation to people who need it, but also in offering a home for the Abbey’s community outreach work and enabling greater public access to our wonderful building.

“This is an excellent opportunity for Sherborne. The need to provide accommodation for local people in financial need remains pressing.

“This joint approach will enable us to provide new accommodation for local people of all ages to live independently in the heart of our town.”

A public meeting for Sherborne residents and all interested parties, to find out more and share their views, will take place at the Almshouse in the coming weeks.

For further details, visit www.stjohnshouse.org.

Campaigners welcome scrapping of £2 billion Stonehenge tunnel scheme

CAMPAIGNERS – including historian

Tom Holland – have welcomed news the controversial plan for a tunnel on the A303 at Stonehenge has been scrapped.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves (Lab, Leeds West & Pudsey) has announced the scheme is among many to be put on hold amid a government funding crisis.

In a statement to the House of Commons on Monday (July 29), she said the Government had agreed “not to move forward with projects the previous government refused to publicly cancel, despite knowing full well they were unaffordable”.

“That includes proposed works on the A303 and the A27,” the Chancellor added.

The decision came after transport secretary Louise Haigh carried out a review of projects planned by the previous Conservative administration.

It provoked celebration among campaigners opposed to the scheme –including John Adams, chair of the Stonehenge Alliance.

He said: “This is a vindication of all the work of so many people over so many years from supporters around the world.

“National Highways’ misguided project was called out for what it was: low value and unaffordable. It was also highly damaging.

“Now that it has been scrapped, we need to move on. As soon as the budget is there, we need to ensure, as a priority, that local traffic is better managed and rail access to the South West improved.”

Tom Holland, historian and president of the Stonehenge Alliance, added: “This is

wonderful news.

“This entire monstrous project, a proposal to drive a gash of concrete and Tarmac through our most sacred prehistoric landscape, should never have got off the drawing board.

“That cancelling it will also save £2.5bn is obviously an additional perk.”

However, the decision was not welcomed by Wiltshire Council, with leader Richard Clewer (Con, Downton & Ebble Valley) saying the authority was “extremely dismayed and disappointed” at the decision.

“These improvements are needed now to ease traffic congestion on the A303 and reduce traffic in our communities, and also ensure economic growth in Wiltshire, unlocking jobs and investment in the wider south-west region,” he added.

“It has taken many years of lobbying and working closely with partners, including National Highways, to bring this major infrastructure project to Wiltshire, and so it is a huge blow to get to the stage when construction is ready to begin, only to have this taken away from us at this late hour.

“There has already been £160m spent on this project, and cancelling it now wastes

that huge investment, including the work to run a power supply up the A360 to the tunnel site.

“There is currently no viable alternative to the tunnel on the table.

“It would return the Stonehenge landscape to something like its original setting and allow local communities greater access to the ancient stones and the surrounding World Heritage Site.”

He vowed to remain committed to the project, working to bring it back to Wiltshire to “reduce rat-running in our communities, to reduce journey times to the wider south-west, to boost economic growth in Wiltshire, and to unlock jobs and investment across the region”.

Plans for a tunnel near the Stonehenge site have been scrapped, Chancellor Rachel Reeves (inset) has announced

Historian Tom Holland has said the decision to scrap the plan is “wonderful news”

EVERYTHING EQUINE

Horse Care in hot weather

Increasing water intake: A constant supply of clean, fresh water is essential to help prevent dehydration.

A 500kg horse can drink between 20-30 litres (approximately 3-4 buckets) of water per day and this can increase to up to 50-60 litres (approximately 6-7 buckets) per day in hot weather.

Water has a key role in your horse’s digestive system, where it is continually secreted into and reabsorbed from the gut. Changes in hydration, by not having enough water, can cause disturbances to the digestive process and how food passes along the gut. This increases the risk of impaction colic which occurs when a firm ball of feed material

Shelter or shade is preferable in hot weather. If your horse is turned out, a field shelter provides the best protection from the sun. The shade provided by trees and hedges may provide a good substitute but remember that the shade will move with the sun, so there may be certain

Sourced from The British Horse Society

times of the day when it isn’t accessible to your horse. If natural shelter is used make yourself aware of poisonous trees and hedges which are unsafe for use around horses.

If you have the facilities, stabling horses through the hottest parts of the day, providing their stable remains cool, is an option to consider. However, inadequately ventilated stables can become uncomfortably hot and stuffy and your horse’s management must be changed gradually to reduce the risk of colic.

Flies: Flies are a hot weather menace! To help reduce your horse’s exposure:

• Keep your horse in during the day and out at night

• Use thin fly sheets and masks

• Apply a fly repellent spray – always follow the manufacturers’ instructions and do not use on inflamed or broken skin

• Remove droppings frequently from the paddock and stable

• Position the muck heap away from where the horse is kept where possible.

Sun protection: Sun cream isn’t just for humans! Horses with pink skin and grey or white hair are most susceptible to burning so sun protection is highly recommended, especially on pink noses.

EVERYTHING EQUINE

You may have seen these incredible horses flash across your TV screens whilst watching Poldark, Victoria or Peaky Blinders but now, for the first time ever in Dorset, you can see them in real life at this year’s County Show on the 7th and 8th of September.

The UK’s most spectacular equestrian performance team will gallop into the main ring on both days, no doubt will give memories to last a lifetime.

Sponsored at the County Show by Evans and Pearce, The internationally famous Atkinson Action Horses consists of a team of highly skilled horses and riders from Yorkshire. They have been performing stunts for TV and film for over 25 years.

Dorset County Show

Led by Ben Atkinson, his team of Stunt riders promise to thrill, excite and astonish this year’s crowd with their high energy, breath-taking, death-defying stunt show. The jaw-dropping performance promises to wow even the hardest to please. The phenomenal display of Ben Atkinsons all began with his father who diversified from Dairy Farming into Equestrian and has never looked back. Ben rode his first display when he was just 11 years old and since the age of 16 has performed internationally.

Working together in perfect harmony the horses and riders will perform an unforgettable display of horsemanship at this year’s County Show.

QUALITY HAYLAGE, HAY.

All June made. 3ft, 4ft and 6ft bales. Collect or delivered. Call Mark 07860 759996 or 01300 345293

7 & 8 SEPT 2024

James Cox, Show Organiser of The Dorset County Show said ‘Atkinsons Action Horses are unlike anything you have ever seen. When it comes to Equine, prepare to be stunned – we certainly have been! This is not just the first time Atkinsons Action Horses has displayed at the County Show but also in Dorset itself. It’s going to be a true County Show highlight for years to come’.

The Show celebrates life in Dorset and acts the end of harvest celebration on the 7th & 8th September 2024.

For further information and to book your Show Ticket, visit www. dorsetcountyshow.co.uk

Based in the Dorset Horse Country for all of your equine and other storage needs...

Field & Stream

Question of standards in the showing game

by Tria Stebbing

SHOW time is almost upon us, and for those of us in the Blackmore Vale, the Shaftesbury and Gillingham is the one for us.

A chance to catch up with fellow breeders and farming friends, as well as watching with far too much interest the judging of the various classes. When we started keeping sheep, we decided that one day we might show them, but to date we haven’t done so. The rules for showing Zwartbles are numerous, with the markings having to be just right, depending, of course, on the judge on the day. One year we met a breeder who had come all the way from the Isle of Wight to show his ram, only to be told that too much white was showing on the tail. It was down to the judge to decide if indeed there was too much white, but another year the same ram could win its class,

Tria’s partner has mowed a small paddock next their field

regardless of the tail. The sheep for showing are also prepared much earlier than the timeframe we have for our sheep, with shearing taking place back in January so that the coat is a certain length. The Zwartbles are then kept inside so that the sun does not bleach the black coat.

My best boy, King, if you remember, went off to Blandford last autumn to visit some lovely ladies. I understand their young handler is taking them to a few shows this summer, and we wish them the very best of luck! Introducing

Show judges can have different opinions on what is important about an animal’s physical characteristics

young people to farming is an amazing thing, and having the confidence to stand with your animal in the show ring is the culmination of a long journey. We still have not cut the field, although at the time of writing it was looking more promising. Chris has been and mowed today a small paddock next to our field. It is looking as though the next week might be THE week, so today he has pulled out the tractor, mower, tedder and baler. Stored over winter in the barn, they need a quick tweak to ensure a smooth run when the sun finally puts in

an appearance. Bale twine is found and regular meals go out of the window. As we both work, the farming, albeit on a small scale, comes second, so this week will be a busy one. So worth it though when on a frosty day you watch the cows tucking into a bale of your own hay. We are at the mercy of the elements, we have everything crossed for a few days of warm, windy weather and hard graft. At least it looks as though we will get to the G & S to compare bad weather stories with everyone else.

Families invited to rewilding project

FAMILIES can go “on safari” in the Wildlands of Mapperton Estate in Dorset this school summer holidays and explore a rewilding project at their own pace.

Mapperton, near Beaminster, is handing more than 1,000 acres of marginal farmland and woodland back to nature and promoting regenerative agriculture across the rest of the estate.

The self-guided Wildlands Safari, offered in addition to the popular ranger-led safaris, allows visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of Mapperton Wildlands at a time and pace that suits them best.

Visitors, equipped with a Safari Trail Guide, can interpret

their natural surroundings and gain an insight into how rewilding efforts support wildlife regeneration.

A specially designed children’s trail is on offer for younger adventurers.

Proceeds from ticket sales will be dedicated to maintaining the safari trail and supporting the ongoing rewilding project at Mapperton.

The self-guided safari trail is about four miles and takes two to three hours to complete.

Rated as moderate difficulty, the trail features uneven, occasionally boggy, ground and some inclines, meaning sturdy walking boots are needed.

Luke Montagu, Viscount Hinchingbrooke, said:

“Mapperton Wildlands stands as Dorset’s premier rewilding initiative, encompassing 1,000 acres of marginal farmland and woodland returned to nature.

“This project is a cornerstone of our commitment to promoting regenerative agriculture and delivering significant benefits for biodiversity, the environment, food production and overall wellbeing through our Social Wilding & Volunteering programmes.

“We are delighted to introduce our self-guided safaris through the Wildlands, a great addition to our walks guided by experts.

“It’s a wonderful family outing, with clearly marked

Safari Spots where visitors can learn more about what they can see, including deer, ancient breeds of pigs, cattle and ponies, wonderful bird life, insects and butterflies.

“Wear some sturdy boots, dress for the weather and enjoy the magic that is Mapperton Wildlands this summer!”

For more information on guided walks, or to learn how to support the rewilding project, visit www.mappertonwildlands. com.

Self-Guided Safari tickets are £12.95 adults, £6.95 children. A family ticket for two adults and up to four children is £39.95. The trail is not suitable for buggies or wheelchairs, and dogs not allowed.

Skylarks and herons on walk by the river

by A J Selby

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks” – John Muir COUNTRY walking. Just putting one foot in front of the other in a lovely environment – simple but bringing so much pleasure. Regular readers will know that every year I spend a few days rambling – well, ambling, actually – with my old school mucker Clive, who I first met in 1972. We love our annual perambulations and as the years fly by, we are going to do more while we still can.

This year we alighted on the River Avon in Worcestershire and Warwickshire, which meanders from Evesham to Stratford-upon-Avon and beyond. There are some named walks in the area, the principle one being the Shakespeare Avon Way. The vast majority of it offers good walking, mostly hugging the river but occasionally going off it and then re-joining it again.

The river itself is lovely and this July, when we walked, it was slow moving, languid and peaceful. Wildlife was abundant as you would expect when running water, farmland, hedgerow, forest and scrub all come together. One of the highlights was following the riverbank with a meadow to our right and being distracted by two skylarks, who must have had nests in the field. They came within 30 yards of us at about head height, opening their wings and chattering to us in an aggressive manner, presumably to deter us from going into the grass where their chicks were.

There were many more in the skies above on the entire walk, and as a species in decline, it was a joy to listen to them.

Other birds charming us were reed warblers, and the noisy reed buntings who not only sang loudest but made themselves very visible along several stretches of the river. Much of the riverbank looks overgrown and unmanaged and, of course, this gives excellent nesting habitat to these birds and plenty of cover and food.

There are several weirs along the walk, and this would be a place for fish to congregate – perfect for the still and silent heron that can stand statuesque for hours at a time awaiting the ideal moment to strike. Occasionally they would take off as we came into view and with a crouch, a push off from those long legs, a spring into the air they were away – no fast and frantic wing beat with these birds but a lazy clap or two and then up and over the trees and down the river with hardly a sound.

On the water were duck, moorhen and coot, bustling through the reeds and skirting the patches of water lilies and kingcups with their bright, open yellow flowers as though an inverse of the sun above. Along a difficult stretch where 4ft high nettles had enclosed the path from both sides, we were delighted to watch the flittering of dozens and dozens of damselflies whose iridescent blue dazzled in the sunshine – it made up for my tingling legs having chosen shorts for the walk.

Having walked several of these National Trails over the years from the South West Coastal Path, the Norfolk Coastal Path, the South Downs Way and the Ridgeway, to name but four, the differences in care, upkeep and signage are quite

apparent. The Ridgeway has lots of lovely wooden posts to keep you on track and enjoy the ramble without worrying about straying onto private property or dead ends. The Avon Way, by contrast, and despite following the river, still had us reaching for our trusty Ordnance Survey Explorer map, the wonderful 1:25,000 scale – 2.5 inches to 1 mile – more than we thought we would. It does pass through several lovely villages and the trail markers would be hard to spot without a map. Once we asked a local dog walker where the trail resumed when we crossed a village road – he said he didn’t know but it was virtually opposite and through a narrow gap in a hedge.

The Ordnance Survey Explorer series is a work of art. The detail is astonishing and once one learns to read the map and identify the features on it, it’s almost impossible to get lost. Once, we came upon a farm growing salads in huge polytunnels, and without the map we may not have ventured

across the land between the tunnels and down a track through acres of lollo biondi lettuce under fleece, but the route was correct and we sallied on.

Using a map helps understand the landscape and gives us much added enjoyment in both planning the trip and seeing what a short diversion may offer us – a Roman Villa, a ruined castle, a viewpoint. Today these maps can be downloaded onto a smart-phone with a small annual subscription and they come with many other features such as digital access to all the maps in Great Britain, recommended walks, including those by the Good Pub Guide, Country Walking and others, a plot your own route feature and the ability to download your maps at home so you have them on your phone or tablet whether or not you have a signal. As a lover of all things “mappy”, this is a great app, even for browsing. It adds so much more to a walk and educates at the same time.

Wildlife was abundant on the River Avon with water, farmland, hedgerow, forest and scrub all coming together

Items for sale

CLASSIFIED ADS

OPTI TREADMILL. 12 programs. £125 ONO. 01258 861147

KAMPA RALLY 260 Caravan Porch awning £160. Isabella Cadet Porch awning £150, East Knoyle, 01747 830284 PINE TABLE, 3ft x 5ft, turned legs & 2 drawers. £100. Tel: 01963-371381

DREADNOUGHT TAKAMINE ACOUSTIC GUITAR F-360S

Serial No:- 86082219 In Excellent Condition (Never Gigged) Complete with original Hard Case. £275.00 Please call 07884-436040. Weymouth based.

TOP QUALITY FARMHOUSE KITCHEN TABLE with brass handled drawer. Pine top 1.5inches deep. Painted legs. L66xW34xH30 inches. £150 ONO. Buyers collects. 01747 851394

LADIES COBRA GOLF CLUBS. Motorcaddy bag, M1 Pro, electric trolly, battery, charger. Everything £375. Tel 01747 840681

HANDMADE TRADITIONAL KITCHEN LARDER. £485 ono. 07530-859116

1 BRAND NEW, IKEA VADSO SPRUNG MATTRESS + Neiden pine bed frame bought 27.2.24 costing £160.00. £100.00 ono 01963 441031

800 BLUE BULL NOSED ENGINEERING bricks and 1500 red wire cut engineering bricks for sale. collection only. Gillingham. Offers. Tel: 07944-120190

FREE CLASSIFIED ADS

FOOD PROCESSOR, Kenwood, complete. Used once, £25. Tel: 01258-820670

FREE - LARGE WALL UNIT with glass doors and shelves cupboards underneath good condition Tel: 01963 363674/07789-930553

DOG CRATE. Large double doors with removeable internal divider and plastic floor tray. H25”xD36”xW22”. Folds flat for storage. £25. 07762 818114

VAST AMOUNT OF VINTAGE/ COLLECTABLE ITEMS. Best offer for all secures. Tel: 07842 120313

INTERNAL STANDARD DOOR. 15 panes. £35. Tel: 07791-847767

WOODBURNER, Stockton Eleven High Canopy 2 door. Some work required with spare parts. £50. 01747 871257

LADIES ‘PLANET’ WHITE JACKET size 16 exc. condition. £30 01747-590592

UNDER THE COUNTER, ZANUSSI FREEZER, White. GWO. £15, Tel. 01258 472022

ICE-CREAM / SORBET MAKER, electric, Philips Delizia HR2303, 0.8l capacity. in VGC complete with recipe book, boxed £18 Tel 07891 987809

LADIES,CLARKES black lace-up shoes.Never worn size 8.£25.00, Please phone 07710-226286

BROTHER ELECTRIC SEWING MACHINE with stand in good working condition free of charge, Milborne Port 07751-016907

BRIGGS & STRATTON MOWER 16” £40 IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION, TEL: 01747-822772

3x6ft HEAVY DUTY LAMINATED steel framed paste tables won’t collapse suit Carboot foldable £50 call 07526-341-536

WOODEN GARDEN ROCKER with cushion Good condition, stored indoors.£40 ono.01963 32508

TUMBLE DRYER, Bosch Excel 7 Condensing type, £45, free local delivery 07970 060707

BOXES - CARDBOARD. Various sizes but minimum wgt = 4kg & some up to 12kg.Thirty available. £20. Location: STREET Tel: 01458 443264

GARDEN HAMMOCK clean with very little use. Metal frame. Ideal for lazy days in the garden £40 07707-112910

NEW MARKS & SPENCER tailored wool jacket in Red. Top quality with spotted lining throughout. Small kick pleats either side of the front opening. Size 10. £25, 01935-476002

FLYMO EASI GLIDE 300 mains,as new bought in error £40 - 01935 872859

MATTRESS PROTECTOR WITH COTTON COVER, Slumberland double duck feather & down £15 Cotton bed covering, one size, light cold M&S £15 - 01258 452703

7 LIGHT OAK INTERIOR DOORS with chrome hinges & handles. 5 part glazed 2 solid. ht 199 cm width 68.6 cm. vgc £20 the lot. 01935 872217

FOLDS FOR TRANSPORTATION

18 stone/114kgs limit, Good condition £35, 01935 814746

DOG CRATE, 24”high, 22”wide, 36” depth. £20. Tel: 01258-456048

SHOLLEY. Quality shopping trolly. Folds. Safe. Red/plaid £20 ono. Sherborne. Tel: 01935-812328

2 STEP LADDERS £15 each –01747-229148

20 RIVEN GARDEN SLABS assorted sizes. Free to take away from Templecombe. Tel: 07792 521006 or 01963 202814

FREE. No longer needed, Assorted gardening tools, Electric mower, good working order. 01749-812296/07707-891859

ASSORTED PICTURE FRAMES. All in good condition, £10. Tel. 01747 830471

PORCELAIN. 18 ASSORTED WEDGEWOOD BLUE & WHITE porcelain 5 repo side plates, pretty cake stands, entrée dish, perfect car boot £12 the lot. 01935 817571

FAGOR PRESSURE COOKER, still in box. £20. Tel: 01747-822338

GLASS TABLE TOP 106 cms long, 51.5 cms wide, 0.75 cms depth excellent condition £10 Ono 01258 820869

PAIR LADIES SIZE 5 blue slippers brand new £10 Phone 01923-412892

HOMCOM ELECTRIC TREADMILL, Perfect working order, hardly used, includes user manual and rubber mat £25, Telephone:0751 797 5577

CHILDS CAR SEAT COMPLETE £25 Phone 01923-412892

TOYOTA ELECTRIC SEWING MACHINE, six years old very good condition and hardly used £30, Telephone:- 01747 826795

BABY GATE standard doorway opening. £10 VGC Wincanton area . Phone 07802-692209

RAISED 6” TOILET SEAT with lid for elderly person. Brand new, sadly not needed! £15 Wincanton area. 07809-765330

BROWN LEATHER SETTEE, L190cm H- 85cm D - 90cm, Good condition £45, 01747 828152

NEW 850mm ORCHARD EDEN

White Floor Standing Vanity Unit (slightly damaged back panel) and Ceramic Basin £40. Tel: 01747 897199

SINGER SAWING MACHINE in wooden cabinet (1940-1950) pedal type, needs a bit of tlc to cabinet. Was my relations. £50. Tel 07766-352154

3 PIECE CONSERVATORY SUITE, used. But fair condition. Buyer collects. FREE Tel: 01747-825547. Gillingham

BATHROOM METAL BATH , Square Ends, Chipped Enamel , £10 Gillingham, Tel: 01747 824240.

TWO PLASTIC COMPOST BINS, good order, free on collection. Tel: 01935 834270

DUNELM FULLY UPHOLSTERED Armchair. Grey/Cream stripped. Almost new. £50.00 (no offers) Tel 01747-855719

FISH POND LINER (deluxe) 8’ x 8’ 25 year guarantee brand new with underlay . £40. Tel 01747-822422

MOUNTAIN BIKE. Steel frame (medium). Front/rear suspension, good condition £40.00. Kington Magna 01747 838882

MATTRESS PROTECTOR WITH COTTON COVER, Slumberland double duck feather & down £15 Cotton bed covering, one size, light cold M&S £15 - 01258 452703

CARAVAN WATER AQUA ROLLS (2) £25. Caravan Aqua Roll Wate Master £25. East Knoyle 07799-676716

MAHOGANY DINING TABLE. 5ft x3ft. In two halves. £45 ONO. 07702-003739.

STONE COPPINGS FOR WALLS. 11ft x 18 inches wide. £35. (Also more stones) 01747 840835

SONY COMPACT HIFI SYSTEM. X0-D20. Records compact disk. No tape. Remote control. £50 ONO. 01935 813920. TWIST AND SHAPE EXERCISE MACHINE. Never used. £50. 07588 053555

FREE SINGLE WOODEN BED with mattress. Very good condition, hardly used. Space needed. Buyer collects. 01747 838420

LADIES SHOES. Mulberry Cushion comfort. Size 4. Brand new. £12. Buyer collects. Please call 01722 335258 after 4pm. FM RADIO TUNER AIWA XT003 with long range FM aerial £20 VGC. Tel: 07963-319751

SELECTION HARD BACK BOOKS

James Herriot, Michael Palin David Attenborough + 8 paper back James Herriot.Exc cond £15. 07767-622159

MODEL RAILWAYS WANTED. Cash paid for model railway collections. Small or large items. Anything considered. Call Dennis 01722 741031

WW1 & WW2 MILITARIA/ EPHEMERA sought by private collector. Tel: 07931-727074

Tom’s building in preparation for the big show...

THE Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show is celebrating 30 years at the Turnpike Showground in Motcombe with the construction of an ornate dry stone wall featuring stone sheep. It is being created by Dorset and Somerset dry stone wall expert Tom Trouton, renowned

for his innovative approach to the craft.

Visitors will see Tom and his team in action as they start to build the wall and will be able to try their hand at dry stone walling themselves.

Show organiser Cat Harris said: “We’re thrilled to have

such a celebrated craftsman as Tom to create this spectacular wall at the entrance to the showground to welcome visitors.

“We couldn’t resist having him include stone sheep in the design – perfect for an agricultural show.

“And it will be so great that visitors can have a go and be part of building this memorial at the Turnpike Showground.”

The walled area, which will take up to a year to complete, will be used as a quiet space for visitors to relax during their visit to the showground.

Tom’s work has recently been featured in Country Life magazine and he has been creating dry stone designs at the prestigious Newt in Somerset, an exclusive hotel and working country estate.

Tom said: “My motto on my van is ‘Crafted Today for Tomorrow’s Generation’, so it will be wonderful to share my passion with visitors who can help craft this anniversary wall for future generations.”

Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show is at the Turnpike Showground on Wednesday and Thursday, August 14-15.

Tom Trouton, dry stone wall expert

One of Tom’s innovative stone wall designs

Survey shows public support for farmers

BRITAIN’S farmers and growers have been named as one of the public’s most favoured and valued professions, second only to nurses, a new survey commissioned by the NFU can reveal.

74% of the public have a favourable view of farmers and growers, recognising how hard they work through rain and shine, to produce food for the nation.

It also shows 91% of respondents feel that farming is important to the UK economy, demonstrating the key role agriculture businesses play in kickstarting growth for Labour’s new mission-led government.

The survey was published at the NFU’s first parliamentary reception since the general election, in the House of Lords.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “We’re incredibly grateful to the public for their continued support of British farmers and growers.

“When we’re out in our fields, sheds and glasshouses, we never take it for granted and it spurs us on to get the food onto their plates.

“The results of the survey show it is vital the new Government recognises how much the public value our farmers and growers and the climate-friendly, nutritious food we provide.”

New MPs and Peers heard

JDG Structural Steel Ltd

that:

n 89% of the public feel it is important that Britain has a productive farming industry.

n 85% of people support increasing self-sufficiency in UK food production.

n 87% of people think it is important that trade deals ensure animal welfare standards are the same in countries we import food from as in the UK.

Mr Bradshaw added: “As outlined in the Labour manifesto, food security is national security.

“To ensure we deliver on this shared mission and that the public continues to see a safe

supply of food in the face of climate change and a volatile global outlook, confidence is key.

“But confidence of agriculture businesses is at an all-time low.

“As the industry that underpins Britain’s largest manufacturing sector – food and drink – which is worth £146 billion to the economy, it’s imperative that policies from the new Government revitalise the confidence of farm businesses.

“The number one priority to achieve this long-term confidence is for government to set a UK-wide agricultural budget of £5.6 billion.

“It is not just ‘more money for farmers’ but an investment that means farmers and growers can do more of what the public value them for – delivering more climate friendly, high welfare food, delivering for the environment, increasing clean energy production and kickstarting economic growth.”

PEDIGREE POLL DORSET

SHEEP for sale. One shearling ewe. Five ewe lambs. 07816-291103

NEW HOLLAND TRACTOR for sale, 8260. Ring for details. Tel: 01258-880892 / 07980-036250

POL HYBRID PULLETS for sale.Various egg colours available. 07545-468700

1000 CUBIC METERS OF TOPSOIL FROM DEVELOPMENT SITE on outskirts of Salisbury available. Good access for HGV’s Contact david@armishaws. com for more information

To place your classified adverts The New Blackmore Vale

CONCRETE GROOVING SERVICE.

Cowco Southern. Call Ted: 07970-965040

D CONIO COUNTRYSIDE SERVICE’S.

General farm/ Countryside maintenance. Work including Fencing/ Digger Work/ Welding and Fabricating. Call David on 07813835678

R&W FENCING.

Agricultural, paddock and stock. Tel: 01258-880892 or 07980-036250

SHIPPING CONTAINERS FOR SALE

Tel: 01258 472288 Mob: 07977 936109

New and second hand containers - blue/green - all with box locks

We provide a friendly, local service at competitive prices. Based at Redlynch near Bruton, we supply Car, Commercial, Agricultural, Plant & 4x4 tyres and offer a 24hr breakdown service. We won’t be beaten on price. Call us on 01749 813957 or 07971 012628 or find us at www.southwesttyreservices.co.uk

Mobile Service

Agricultural Specialist Over 35 year’s Experience NIGEL MARTIN 07921 929891

Hydraulic Hose Specialists and Stockists to the Agriculture, Forestry, Automotive and Transport Industry

Pneumatic fittings

Air brake fittings

Hose clamps

Hydraulic Hoses

Quick release couplings

Pressure wash hoses + lances

Up to 1 ½ “Hose stocked

Variation of oils

Mobile service available

Skips/HAIB

Tel 01258

Cote Farm Works, Kilmington, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 6RF

DORSET | DEVON | SOMERSET | HAMPSHIRE | WILTSHIRE | CORNWALL | LONDON

Hadspen, Bruton

99.46 acres

A beautifully presented small country estate in a highly desirable location. Comprising a stunning 5 bedroom barn conversion covering over 4,300 sq.ft with high spec energy efficient fittings, a detached 2 bedroom cottage, 15-box stable block, office block, workshops, pasture land and 29 acres of mature cider orchards producing a useful income. Freehold. CTB G. Andrew Tuffin, Sturminster Newton 01258 472244

ON-FARM MACHINERY AUCTIONS

Sale Reminder - Tuesday 6th August at 5.00pm Curlew Farm, Trinity Hill Road, Combpyne, Axminster EX13 8SZ

Sale of NH TS110 Tractor, Deutz 4.50 with Loader, International 684 with Loader, DAF 7.5t Horse Lorry (03), Mitsubishi L200 Pick-Up, Farm Machinery & Livestock Equipment, 225 comp: 65 Suffolk Mule x & Texel Mule x Breeding Ewes & 160 Store Lambs

On behalf of C J Burrough (Auctioneers Selling the Farm)

Saturday 10th August at 10.00am Rylands Farm, Holnest, Sherborne, DT9 5PS

Annual Charity Auction of Classic & Vintage Tractors, Farm Machinery, Livestock Equipment, Bygones, etc.

Guide: £3,200,000

Entries to date inc: John Deere 2130, Ford 6410, Ferguson T20, Ferguson TEA 20, Fordson Standard, Massey Ferguson 135, International B250, International 674, Land Rover 88 with Safari Hard Top, Nissan X-Trail Estate, 2 x Caravans, PZ Drum Mower, Haybob 360 Tedder, Class Round Baler, McHale Bale Wrapper, Massey Ferguson 80 Loader, Bale Squeeze, ATV Sprayer Tank, Titan Bale Trailer, 3T Tipping Trailer, Man Cage, Brian James 16’ Car Trailer, Wydale 110 Ltr Milk Trolley, Sheep Hurdles, Gates, Cast Iron Pig Troughs, Garden Sheds & Log Stores, Garden Furniture, Staddle Stones, Garden Mowers, Anvil, Bygones and anything you can imagine! Contact Greg Ridout: 01935 382909/07817 517467 Come and see us at Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show 14 & 15 August

DORSET | DEVON | SOMERSET | HAMPSHIRE | WILTSHIRE | CORNWALL | LONDON

Marnhull

Guide: £975,000

A detached 5 bedroom Grade II listed stone house with modern extension expertly combining old character with contemporary living giving flexible family accommodation. CTB F.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

North Cheriton

Guide: £850,000

A wonderfully positioned detached house situated on a no through lane on the outskirts of the village with outbuildings, gardens and paddock extending to 8.18 acres in total. CTB G.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Guide: £825,000

A charming Grade II listed 3 bedroom home with 2 bedroom annexe set in mature gardens within this idyllic village close to Sherborne. CTB F.

Sherborne | 01935 814488

Henley

Guide: £925,000

A large bungalow with a range of stables and pp for barn, occupying an elevated position at the top of the Piddle Valley with stunning views over its own land and the surrounding countryside. In all 8.83 acres. CTB E.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

An imposing and well presented 4 bedroom house with south facing garden and far reaching views, situated in this sought after

No onward chain. CTB G.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

A substantial 4 bedroom chalet bungalow standing in large gardens within easy reach of the town’s excellent amenities. CTB F.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Oborne

Stalbridge Weston Guide: £825,000

hamlet.

Stalbridge Guide: £500,000

UK Removals

All

Storage

24-hour

European Removals

Our

Country House Moves

Armishaws

South Barrow

£125,000 Henstridge

Thinking

of

moving in 2024?

Having enjoyed a busy start to the summer we still have many buyers registered with us wishing to purchase in the coming months within the local towns and villages. If you are considering bringing your property to the market we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please call 01963 34000 to arrange an appointment or email wincanton@hambledon.net £257,500

Plans to convert ex-biscuit factory

THE former home of Moores Biscuits could be converted into eight properties.

The site, at Bakery Lane, Morcombelake – pictured – was home to the famous bakery between 1880 and 2006, when the firm relocated.

Now, a planning application has been submitted to Dorset Council by Stags on behalf of David Winship, to redevelop it and create eight new dwellings.

The plans would see a number of buildings developed, including the roofs being replaced.

“The buildings which comprise the former biscuit factory were in use for this purpose from their establishment in 1880 until

demand meant that the business had to relocate to a more suitable site in 2006,” the application said.

“As mentioned, the site is comprised of a mass of conjoined buildings of 19th century origin with some late 20th century additions to the east.”

The site, alongside the A35, would have 10 parking spaces.

Moores is known around the world for its famous Dorset Knob biscuits and more.

Crossword

Community gathers at Gillingham care home for summer fete

The Gillingham community gathered together at Fern Brook Lodge care home for their summer fete.

Residents and the team at the care home, off Fern Brook Lane, welcomed the Mayor of Gillingham, Cllr Roger Weeks, and his consort, and star of The Great British Bake Off, Carole Edwards, to judge a baking competition in the home’s The Brook community space. The event also featured little ponies in the care home’s garden, live music, stalls and games. Two local PCSOs from North Dorset Police also turned out to show their support at the event.

Funds raised on the day went to Fern Brook Lodge’s chosen charity, Teddy20, which supports children and young people living with cancer and their families.

Fern Brook Lodge, which is part of the not-for-profit charity, Care South, provides residential, respite, and dementia care. A dedicated activities team organise a daily programme of events to bring residents together to

and