The New Blackmore Vale Magazine - Issue 100

What’s inside this issue…

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

Kye Harman Sports Editor sports@blackmorevale.net 01963 400186

Debi Thorne Sales Director Debi.thorne@blackmorevale.net 07714 289409

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

From Scotland to Shaftesbury

SHAFTESBURY Fringe Festival’s furthest-flung performer is making the 750-mile trek once again this year.

Jo Philby, who moved to Orkney 21 years ago, will be making her fourth appearance at the Fringe next weekend. An accomplished singer-songwriter, Jo delights audiences with her warm and

Anne-Louise Richards. The pair met at the Fringe last year, with AnneLouise known locally for her enchanting Mermaid Nerissa. If you like your folk

Festival of fun offers fringe benefits

A CHAUCER-INSPIRED

interactive theatre production, the stand-up comedy debut of a zombie movie actress, and a world record attempt for playing and singing upside down are among the highlights at the Shaftesbury Fringe Festival, next weekend.

Now in its eighth year, the open-access arts festival will see 238 performances take place over the three days, in more than 33 venues across the town.

Inspired by Chaucer and the fate of teenage King Edward the Martyr, The Shaftesbury Tales takes a mischievous peek into life a thousand years ago.

The play’s company, Treehouse Theatre, will be walking from Corfe Castle along the pilgrimage route of St Edward’s Way in the two weeks leading up to Shaftesbury Fringe, stopping in villages to perform their hilarious, interactive family show.

The walk culminates in three performances at the Fringe, the first on Thursday, July 25, “Fringe Eve”, at Shaftesbury Abbey, where Edward the Martyr was sanctified.

Anyone with a ticket who

wants to get involved in the show is welcome to join a free workshop before each performance.

Luana Ribeira is the star of No Such Thing as Zombies on Amazon Prime and comedy sketch show It’s Luana, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

She will be celebrating her 43rd birthday at Shaftesbury Fringe with her live stand-up debut, 40 Shades of Dulux Luana, who is performing at Ye Olde Two Brewers on Friday, July 26, said: “What says midlife crisis more than the risk of being booed off stage at the Fringe?”

Mike Hatchard, an accomplished musician with a long history of performance, will be attempting to break his own world record at Shaftesbury Fringe, for singing and playing upside down, which currently stands at 17 minutes.

Find out whether he is successful at Shaftesbury Arts Centre on Sunday, July 28.

He is not the first recordbreaking performer at Shaftesbury Fringe – the late Tony Hawkins, a much-loved

Shaftesbury resident who passed away earlier this year at the age of 98, was recognised as the world’s oldest Fringe performer when he performed with his friends and family at the 2021 Shaftesbury Fringe.

A special Spirit of Fringe prize will be awarded this year in his memory.

This year’s event will have the highest number of performances in its history, largely due to more acts filling the Friday schedule than in previous years.

They cover a wide range of genres including comedy, spoken word, theatre, cabaret, poetry and live music of all types, from jazz and Latin to Americana and ska, while venues range from the conventional such as Shaftesbury Arts Centre and the Shaston Social Club, to the unusual such as the town’s lido and Myrtle & Marigold refills shop, where Mermaid Nerissa will perform sea shanties and songs inspired by the sea from a bathtub in the shop window.

The event has attracted performers from all over the country, as well as a good number from the local area.

Shaftesbury Fringe Festival honorary chair, Rob Neely, said: “Shaftesbury Fringe is going from strength to strength, and we think a lot of that is down to

the festival’s reputation as a warm, receptive place for performers to try out new work.

“We’re particularly pleased this year that there’s such a good spread of performances happening over all three days.

“Fringe-goers really will be spoilt for choice, no matter which day they visit.”

Organisers believe the event’s open-access policy is one of its greatest strengths.

“There’s no element of curation or selection whatsoever,” Rob added.

“Anybody who wants to perform here can.

“From an audience perspective, it gives the festival an element of discovery and a sense of the unexpected.

“You never quite know what you’re going to get.”

A 72-page printed programme detailing all the performances is available from the town’s tourist information hub, Shaftesbury Arts Centre and shops, pubs and cafes in and around Shaftesbury.

The Shaftesbury Fringe app, available for Apple and Android phones, is perhaps the best tool for planning a visit, however.

Shaftesbury Fringe runs from Friday to Sunday, July 26-28.

For more information, and links to download the app, visit www.shaftesburyfringe.co.uk

Treehouse Theatre, who will be walking their production of The Shaftesbury Tales from Corfe to Shaftesbury Fringe along the pilgrimage route of St Edward’s Way

Musician Mike Hatchard will attempt to break his own world record for singing and playing upside down at Shaftesbury Fringe

Sunday stroll

TAKE a Sunday morning stroll and learn more about the history and culture of Wimborne –that’s the invitation of the town council.

Hour-long monthly “mayoral walks”, led by local experts, will be at a leisurely pace and suitable for all ages.

Walks over 2024/25, starting from the Town Square at 11am, will take place on: July 21, August 18, September 22, October 20, November 24, December 8, January 26,

February 16, March 23 and April 20.

The walks are free of charge but donations to the mayor’s charities – Planet Wimborne, and Friends of Victoria Hospital – would be greatly received. Booking is not necessary – just turn up.

A spokesperson for the council said: “It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Wimborne Minster, meet new people and enjoy a relaxed morning stroll.”

Camera competition

FIVE themes, five hours, five photographs – Blandford Forum Camera Club is running a competition tomorrow (Saturday, July 20) open to photographers of all abilities, in place of its annual exhibition.

Photographers should go along to the clubhouse at the Old Water Tower in Station Court to collect the themes from 10am. They will then have five hours to capture five images embracing the themes and return them for judging to the clubhouse.

The Photo Challenge is suitable for digital camera and/or smart phone/tablet users, and entry is £5 per set of five.

Businesses in the town have provided sponsorship and prizes include trophies given by Blandford Shoe Repairs and Engraving plus vouchers for a 10inx12in canvas from Wessex Photo to each theme winner.

Other sponsors include Amfax, SK Framing, The Computer Shop, and Fotospeed.

Winners and runners-up will receive a cash prize, and certificates will be awarded for first, second and third places in each of the five theme sections.

The clubhouse will be open all day and visitors are invited to go along and meet members and see what they do.

The photo exhibition could not take place this year as the Corn Exchange is closed for refurbishment.

For more information, visit https://bfcclub.co.uk/photochallenge-2024. Email bfccphotochallenge@gmail.com

Church restoration fundraising projects

VILLAGERS in Ibberton have a summer of fundraising in store to help pay for work at their St Eustace Parish Church.

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) needs to raise about £100,000 to stabilise walls on the north aisle of the Grade II* listed structure, which is more than 600 years old.

A summer concert by the North Dorset Singers is planned for Friday, July 19, at the church at 7pm. Entry is free but there will be a donation plate.

A ceilidh with Tim Laycock and friends, and caller Angela Laycock, will be held at Ibberton Village Hall on Saturday, July 27, from 7pm.

Entry is £10 with cash barbecue and bar – tickets and bookings can be made by emailing alice.church90@ gmail.com or via Eventbrite.

Hillside Parishes Fete, Dog

and Flower Show will be held on Saturday, August 3, at the village hall, the bar and barbecue running from 1pm, and the Fete, Dog and Flower Show from 2.30pm.

A Thomas Hardy Evening and a Harvest Supper will be held in the autumn.

St Eustace Church has recently received two donations of £5,000 each from families with a strong connection to

clergy who have worked in Ibberton in the past and a tennis tournament has raised £600.

The PCC has been recently granted £11,000 by the Erskine Muton Trust Fund and has applied to four further trusts.

To find out more about the project, visit www. achurchnearyou.com/ church/9314, email steustaceibberton@gmail.com or phone 07771 561099.

All aboard!

THE Gartell Light Railway, a narrow gauge railway in the Blackmore Vale countryside at Yenston, is opening for an additional four days next month.

The railway runs for three-quarters of a mile, partly along the track of the old Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, and has four stations – Common Lane, Pinesway Junction, Park Lane and Tower View.

This year the railway is opening for extra days on Thursdays August 1, 8, 15 and 22.

The steam train runs every hour from 11am3pm. Admission is £8 adults, £4 children.

The railway is off the A357 at Common Lane, Yenston, near Templecombe BA8 0NB. For more info visit www.newglr.weebly.com or call 01963 370752.

Circus tricks

CATHERINE House care home in Frome threw a circus-themed summer fete to bring the local community and home together for a fun-filled day.

A variety of entertainment included Twinnies Petting Farm, which took along animals for some therapeutic fun.

A clown performed songs and Danny Jukebox got everyone dancing and singing with music from different decades.

There were also henna tattoos, crafts from Arty Farthy and Bella’s Jewellery, and stalls from Kim Sharp Candles and knitted goods.

A sensory stall provided engaging experiences, while Amber’s Creations showed off artistic talents.

Bath Dogs and Cats Protection highlighted the benefits of animal therapy.

Everyone loved the ice cream treats and a flame-throwing show by Jamie Landgridge, one of the home’s carers.

A spokesperson for the home said: “It was incredible to see so many from the community come in to support the event, making it an unforgettable day.”

Summer activities at the mill

Sturminster Newton Heritage Trust has organised a busy programme of events at the Mill this August.

n Cream teas, featuring cream provided by the Blackmore Vale Dairy, will be served from 2pm-4pm on Saturday, August 10.

n Sturminster Mill is offering the chance to learn how the mill

Helping the ’hogs

SHERBORNE Hedgehog Group’s cake sale raised over £700 for various hedgehog rescues in the area.

The Group would like to thank everyone who came along to support the cake sale, and all those who kindly baked cakes.

It was a very successful day, raising a grand total of £734, including some donations made in advance.

This will be split between the Dorset Mammal Group’s hedgehog hospital project and Hedgehog Rescue of Hazelbury Bryan, with the remainder to be put towards the Group’s future ventures in Sherborne.

Organisers said, “It was so encouraging to hear how many people are already doing their bit for hedgehogs, such as allowing access to their gardens and providing meaty cat or dog food and water. These small acts can make a huge difference and are vital if we are to reverse the serious decline in the hedgehog population.”

For more information and to join the group please email hedgehogs.sherborne@gmail. com

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.

n Meet a Roman soldier – on Monday, August 19, children aged eight to eleven (and their parents/carers) can learn all about the Romans.

John Smith, Roman soldier, will tell you all about his outfit, show you how to drill, and help you make a shield.

Session run from 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm and are free, but spaces are limited.

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

n Bring your teddy to the Mill on Thursday, August 2, for a picnic (from 2pm-4pm).

Activities are planned, and tea and cakes will be available.

Photo

Gorgeous gardens across the Vale open for charity this summer

PICK up inspiration from the beautiful gardens around the Vale, open as part of the National Garden Scheme.

The Old Rectory

Pulham, Dorchester DT2 7EA

Four acres of formal and informal gardens surround this 18th-century rectory, with amazing views across the valley and 10 acres of woodland walks. Mostly wheelchair accessible.

Open Sunday August 4 and Thursday August 8 (2pm-5pm); £8, children free.

Broomhill

Rampisham DT2 0PT

A former farmyard transformed into a delightful, tranquil garden set in two acres. Clipped box, island beds and borders planted with shrubs, roses, grasses, masses of unusual perennials and choice annuals. Lawns and paths lead to a less formal area with large wildlife pond, meadow, shaded areas, bog garden, late summer border. Orchard and vegetable garden. Gravel entrance, the rest is grass, some gentle slopes.

Open Thursday, August 8 (2pm-5pm).

Admission £5, children free.

Black Shed

Blackmarsh Farm, Dodds Cross DT9 4JX

Over 200 colourful and productive flower beds showcase cut flowers and foliage. The flower farm supplies florists and the public for weddings, events and occasions.

Traditional garden favourites, including delphiniums, larkspur, foxgloves, scabious and dahlias grow alongside more unusual perennials, foliage plants and grasses.

Easy access from a gravel car park and wide grass pathways make it suitable for wheelchairs.

Open Sunday August 25 (1pm-5pm).

Admission £5, children free.

Hilltop

Woodville, Stour Provost SP8 5LY

Summer at Hilltop is a gorgeous riot of colour and scent, the old, thatched cottage barely visible among the flowers. Unusual annuals and perennials grow alongside the traditional and familiar, boldly combining to make a spectacular display, which attracts an abundance of wildlife. Always something new – the unique, gothic garden loo is a great success.

Open August 11 and 18, (2pm-6pm).

Admission £4, children free.

Chantry Farm

Phillips Hill, Marnhull DT10 1NU

A series of gardens surrounding a 16th century farmhouse and barns.

Designed by Justin Spink, there are colourful long borders, walled gardens, swimming pool area, cutting and vegetable gardens.

Seating and wheelchair access.

Open August 18, (1.30pm-5.30pm).

Admission £8, children free.

Glenholme Herbs

Penmore Road, Sandford Orcas DT9 4SE

Paths meander through large, colourful beds inspired by Piet Oudolf and featuring a wide selection of herbs and salvias along with grasses, verbena and echinacea.

Planted with wildlife in mind and alive with pollinators, the garden also features a beautiful natural swimming pond.

A mixture of grass and firm gravel paths..

Open August 10 and 11, (10am-4pm).

Admission £4, children free.

Ardhurst

Nash Lane, Marnhull DT10 1JZ

A densely planted, Mediterranean-style garden, Ardhurst is full of hot plants, salvias and grasses. There are varied fruit trees, a large netted vegetable area, water harvesting, lawns, and a shaded patio.

Parking in driveway for wheelchair access.

Open August 24 and 25, (1pm-5.30pm).

Admission £7, children free.

Castle Rings

Donhead St. Mary SP7 9BZ

A long garden in two parts laid out beside an Iron Age hill fort with spectacular views. A formal area with colourful planting and pots is followed by a paved area with more pots and steps leading through informal planting. Topiary, roses and clematis on tripods.

Open August 25, (2pm-5pm). Admission £5, children free.

Broomhill

Black Shed

The Old Rectory,

Chantry Farm

Ardhurst

Glenholme Herbs

Gordon’s guests of honour help celebrate 104 years

TWO members of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) visited Gordon Grenville-Hunt when he celebrated his 104th birthday at Larks Leas rest home in Blandford.

They went along to share Gordon’s memories of his time in the REME in Egypt during the Second World War. They took along gifts including a cap, regimental tie and pin, and he enjoyed reminiscing over old photos.

Gordon started his day being entertained by Andy Hague and his accordion, and was treated to his favourite meal, fish and chips.

He also had a visit from mayor of Blandford, Nocturin Lacey-Clarke, who presented him with a card and a bouquet.

Gordon’s family also arrived bearing cards and gifts, including a newly framed 100th birthday card he had received from the queen in 2020.

He also received, at his request, a road atlas to enable him to recall all the places he had been to and worked.

Wyke wonders

YOUNGSTERS at Wyke Primary School in Gillingham raised more than £2,000 from a sponsored run.

The money will go to the school’s charity, School in a Bag.

Miss Albone, School Council Lead and Year 2 teacher said: “We are extremely proud of our Wyke community and its kind, thoughtful children for making a positive impact in the world.”

School in a Bag provides filled bags with educational resources to disadvantaged and disaster-affected children around the world.

Literary talk

THE author of a book about the murder of a British agent during “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland in 1986 will be giving a talk to Sherborne Literary Society next week.

Henry Hemming will be introducing his new book, Four Shots in the Night, which examines the murder of undercover British agent, Frank Hegarty, who infiltrated the IRA and worked closely with one of its leaders, Martin McGuinness.

It also outlines the investigation undertaken by a detective who believed that Hegarty may have been murdered by a fellow undercover British agent nicknamed “Stakeknife”, as part of the bigger plan to put an end to violence in Northern Ireland.

Tickets for the talk on Wednesday, July 24, at 7pm, at The Sherborne, are available from www.

sherborneliterarysociety.com or from Winstone’s Books in Cheap Street. They are priced £10 members and £12 nonmembers.

For more information on the talk and Sherborne Literary Society, including becoming a member, go online or call Helen Brown on 07515 554549.

Festival of flowers

THE sun shone on the annual Marnhull Flower Show and visitors enjoyed seeing fantastic exhibits and entertainment, a splendid classic car display and sampling delicious cakes and food.

The marquee and village hall held a magnificent display, even if the overall number of entries was down on last year.

The cool and wet spring affected flower and vegetable entries, but handicraft and hobbies numbers were significantly higher this year.

The cups and trophies were awarded at the end of the day to the best exhibits in each section and Hilary Smith won the RHS Banksian Medal for most points in Vegetables, Fruit and Flowers.

The charity class was in support of Weldmar Hospicecare, with entrants asked to create a flowerpot person and display them in their garden.

Julie Hampton was chosen as the winner

by public vote at the show, with her Gardener in Wellies Reclining on the Lawn entry (pictured above).

Andy Hopkins, from the Tennis Boys, won the Great Marnhull Bake Off – he was crowned Marnhull’s Best Baker for his coffee and walnut cake, despite stiff opposition.

The children’s classes saw lots of wonderful, decorated poems and artwork

depicting “My favourite toy” from the Jungle Hut pre-school, and St Gregory’s and St Mary’s schools.

Unfortunately, the pots of nasturtiums the children had grown from seed were not quite out in flower for show day.

They have been returned to the youngsters to plant outside at school, where they might self-seed for another display.

A spokesperson for the show said: “It was lovely to see so many people turning up to enjoy the day and the show will be back next year!”

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Kids in the community

PRIMARY school pupils from Shaftesbury mixed with older people when they visited three town care homes.

The 30 RotaKids from Abbey Primary School and Shaftesbury Primary School went along to the Cedars Lodge, John Shoobridge Court and St Denis Lodge homes.

The youngsters played games, danced and chatted with residents, and took artwork they had produced to be left and displayed in the homes.

The kids and residents found the visits interesting and fun.

The RotaKids programme, run by Shaftesbury Rotary Club at local primary schools, aims to support the local community.

Anyone who would like to know more, or to get involved with Rotary, should email hello@shaftesburyrotaryclub. org or visit the club’s website at www.shaftesburyrotaryclub.org

Parish to get panels

SOLAR panels – with battery back-up – are set to be installed at Puddletown Village Hall with the help of a grant of £11,500 from the National Lottery Community Fund.

The grant is in addition to Puddletown Area Parish Council’s offer of more than £5,000 to fund the batteries.

Hall treasurer, Chris Leonard, said: “We expect the system will significantly reduce our electricity costs and help us limit any future charges to hirers.

“The cost of the hall should be affordable for everyone, which we hope will encourage more community activity.”

The system is set to be installed at the end of July.

RVS library help

HOME Library Service (HLS) volunteers with the Royal Voluntary Service welcomed a VIP visitor to a coffee morning at Dorchester Library.

High Sheriff of Dorset, Anthony Woodhouse, presented Long Service awards to volunteers who had served for up to 20 years. The volunteers choose and deliver books to people unable to get to the library themselves, due to health or mobility issues.

Books are available in ordinary and large print, with audio books available for those with failing eyesight.

Anyone who would benefit from the service, or who knows anyone who would, or who would like to become a volunteer, should contact Maria Jacobson, HLS service manager, on 01305 236666 or 07786 635154, or email her at maria.jacobson@

Anger over development plans

PLANS for up to 650 homes, shops and more on a 66-hectare site in west Wincanton have been submitted – prompting anger from some residents.

The scheme, submitted by Origin3 on behalf of Hook Valley LVA LLP, also includes plans to demolish agricultural buildings on the Lawrence Hill site, with a care home, primary school/nursery and shops built alongside the homes.

Your New Blackmore Vale first reported on the potential development in September last year.

Accesses from West Hill and Lawrence Hill would also be built as part of the plans, alongside a new pedestrian and cycle route.

A plan for around 200 homes in the area, submitted to South Somerset District Council in 2019, was refused, as the site was not in the authority’s local plan, and would harm the landscape.

However, the new application said these plans were different and that “many more significant benefits” “demonstrably outweigh any adverse impacts”.

The application outlines plans for up to 650 new homes, with 35% of them counted

as ‘affordable housing’, along with a 60-bed care home, a ‘local centre’ which could include a convenience store and café, a primary school and a 60-place nursery/ pre-school.

More than half of the development site would be used for “green infrastructure”, the plans said, including public open spaces, children’s play areas and “space for teenagers” including a multi-use games area, and allotments and community orchards.

A host of objections to the plans have

been submitted, including concerns over health provision in the town and the development of green space.

Marion Tibbett, of Blackford, said: “The assumptions on which the application is based do not hold up when considered against the success (or not) of existing facilities and infrastructure (for example Health Centre, schools, roads).

“The Health Centre in particular is operating at maximum capacity with a much reduced staff from that in place in recent years, clear difficulties in recruiting.

“If the development is being considered for approval despite the overwhelming level of local objection, stringent constraints on developer supplied infrastructure must be applied.”

Tyler Dix, of Wincanton, wrote: “Poor quality, too many houses, poor planning, built for profit and to tick a box. Pure greed.

“There’s plenty of unused buildings all over Wincanton which should be developed first.”

People can comment on the application at somerset.gov.uk, reference 24/01257/ OUT.

Residents quiz developer over new homes rumours

A PACKED meeting saw residents raise concerns over potential development of a site in Motcombe.

Representatives from developer CG Fry were at the July 9 gathering of Motcombe Parish Council to address concerns over speculation a site in The Street was to be developed for housing.

David Lohfink, planning director, Mark Chevis, land director, and senior planner Paul Hofman, answered questions and listened to concerns of more than 100 villagers. They confirmed consideration was being given to develop fields to the rear of The Barn, in The Street – but said any future plans would probably be for no more than 50 homes.

Residents, who were invited to ask questions of the guests, raised concerns over the site

being a flood plai n, the safety of children getting to the nearby school, and whether the development would be allowed as the site is outside the Motcombe Neighbourhood Plan.

In response, the representatives said any scheme would include parking provision and footpaths to increase safety for children, while the neighbourhood plan was set to be reviewed later in the year.

Flooding would be addressed in any planning application, and they said the scheme could improve flood defences. However, another issue raised at the meeting was the fact Cllr Francesca Burney owns the fields earmarked for the development.

It was explained how Cllr Burney would be required to declare an interest ahead of any discussions on the matter, which

is not in breach of any rules.

Cllr Burney’s listed home address is The Barn, in The Street, but there are no other properties or land in the Motcombe Parish Council area listed on her register of interests.

The Motcombe Parish Council code of conduct outlines how members are expected to declare an interest in “business or land” in cases

The code states members who “have a prejudicial interest in any business of your authority” (the council), “must withdraw from the room or chamber where considering the business is being held”. No planning application has yet been submitted for the site and residents were assured the developer would hold public meetings before detailed plans were completed.

Picture: Origin3/LVA

Villagers packed Motcombe Village Hall for the meeting

Picture: Google

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Hardy’s bench restored to glory

A GARDEN bench used by author Thomas Hardy has been restored and reinstated at his Max Gate home in Dorchester.

The 100-year-old bench was removed for conservation in 2022 and sent to the National Trust crafts team at Montacute House in Somerset.

They were helped in their work by the discovery of a photograph of Hardy and fellow writer Edmund Gosse sat on the bench.

The picture (right), discovered by the trust’s volunteer research group at the Dorset History Centre, authenticated the bench and served as a blueprint for restoration efforts.

The National Trust team at Max Gate now plan to restore another of Hardy’s outdoor chairs.

Despite its modern appearance, research has

confirmed its originality and that it is of a similar period to the bench.

Elizabeth Grant, senior collections and house officer, said: “We are committed to celebrating Thomas Hardy and preserving his heritage.

“We were delighted to be

able to bring his chair back to best for future generations to enjoy.

“We’d like to thank the National Trust skilled crafts team at Montacute House and the Max Gate research group working with the Dorset History Centre for making this happen.”

Thomas Hardy (left) and fellow author Edmund Gosse

The garden bench before and after restoration

Countdown to Summer Holiday Fun at Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show

*Advertising Feature

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

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Young athletes’ medal haul

YOUNG athletes from Wyke Primary School in Gillingham put up outstanding performances at the Area Athletics competition held at The Bill Whistlecroft Athletics Arena in Yeovil.

The youngsters, aged from seven to 11, were delighted to bring home an array of medals – bronze, silver and gold.

A spokesperson for the school said: “Although everyone at Wyke is immensely proud of these achievements and the competitive spirit the children displayed, their exemplary sportsmanship stood out and is to be celebrated.”

They added: “A special thank you must go to Gillingham School, in particular their sports leaders, whose hard work made the event such a success.”

In Matty’s memory

TWO ex Southampton FC players visited Wiltshire on Saturday (July 13) to take part in a memorial football tournament.

Midfielder David Hughes and striker James Beattie, who have a combined 300+ appearances for the Saints, came to the Recreation Ground in Mere to take part in the The Matty Hull Memorial Shield.

The annual tournament, which was well attended, saw several teams take part to mark the death of Matty Hull – one of the few UK citizens killed by friendly fire since World War II.

Lance Corporal Matty Hull was a victim of a friendly fire incident involving the United States Air Force as US fighter pilots attacked his convoy in Iraq in 2003.

Dig in!

DORSET Museum has a packed calendar of activities, tours, and talks for this year’s Festival of Archaeology (13–28 July 2024).

Co-ordinated by the Council for British Archaeology, the Festival offers hundreds of events nationwide, organised by museums, heritage organisations, national and country parks, universities, local societies, and community archaeologists.

Tour a Roman house on July 20 (starting 10am), and enjoy exclusive up-close access to stunning Roman mosaics uncovered in the 1930s. Dorchester’s Roman house is one of the best examples in England.

On July 23, immerse yourself in the historic Roman town of Durnovaria with a guided walk around Dorchester.

Your tour will begin at Dorset Museum and Art Gallery, where guides will deliver a presentation taking you on a journey into the Dorchester’s rich Roman past and archaeological history. You will then be led on a guided tour of Roman artefacts in the People’s Dorset Gallery, before embarking on a guided walk to retrace the ancient landmarks of Durnovaria.

Go behind the scenes on July 24 and explore the Museum’s store, usually out of bounds to the general public.

Visitors with autism and sensory conditions, and their siblings, parents and carers are invited to a relaxed opening on July 27 (9am-10am). The sessions are also suitable for any group or individual who would like to visit the museums and galleries at a quieter time.

Find the full programme of events, as well as more general visitor information at www.dorsetmuseum.org

Clean-up champion is volunteer of the year

WIMBORNE Town Council is promoting its Volunteer of the Year Award after this year’s prize went to Sarah Wise.

The leader of the volunteer group Wimborne War on Waste was recognised for organising community litter picks and her efforts to reduce waste in the town.

“Green” initiatives in Wimborne grew after Sarah started picking litter every morning at Redcotts Recreation Ground, which prompted others to join in and led to the creation of War on Waste.

That brought about projects like Bin the Butts – an idea originally implemented by the Chamber of Trade – and encouraged cafes to go plasticfree, use refillable coffee cups and ask businesses to let people fill their mugs with water.

These efforts eventually led to the creation of Planet Wimborne, the Repair Café and more.

The annual Volunteer of the Year awards are designed to celebrate volunteers who have made an exceptional contribution to Wimborne and its residents.

There are two categories – Outstanding

Sarah Wise receives her award from outgoing Wimborne mayor Diann March

Volunteer Contribution (no age restriction) and Outstanding Volunteer Group Contribution.

Nominations for next year’s awards must be received by March 31, 2025 – for more details visit www.wimborne.gov.uk

Sheep group rings the changes

MEMBERS of Cerne Sheep Group will be viewing cattle rather than sheep on a farm visit next month.

They will see the Hilfield Herefords at Mike and Kate Harris’s Downfield Farm, Long Bredy, on Monday, August 12, at 7pm.

This month they were planning a visit to see Charlotte Luther’s rare breed Herdwick sheep. That came after an evening visit to Manor Farm, Swyre, where they saw a well organised flock of sheep in a stunning location overlooking Chesil beach.

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PHOTO: Beatrice Dopita

Joy to the world!

HORSE lover Ann Hooper, from Templecombe, had a little extra Joy brought into her life on her 90th birthday.

Ann was delighted when Lucy Wallace, who has a stable yard at Yenston, took sevenyear-old filly Joy to her home, with young helpers Ellie Perry and Amelie Yoens.

Lucy featured in your NBVM a few years ago in a story about an “ugly” rescue mare named

Hope who had given birth to Joy.

Joy won the heart of the actor Martin Clunes when he heard about Hope’s rescue, and he sponsored and named her.

Ann’s neighbours Virginia Malcolm and Nicci Fein arranged Joy’s visit for her.

Lucy said: “It was a lovely day and great to see animals bringing happiness to old and young alike.”

Budding authors

CREATIVE children at Hanford School, near Child Okeford, have enjoyed success in a writing competition.

Five pupils in the UVIth (Year 8) won prizes and commendations in Treehouse Theatre’s creative writing competition.

Coco won the senior school category with her story The Tale of the Doctor’s Daughter, and Aline was highly commended in the same category with her story, The Witness’s Tale. Commendations were also awarded to Silvia, Clemmie and Rachel.

Carrie Lewis, head of English at Hanford, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for our pupils – to win the senior school category at such a young age is truly impressive and it is wonderful for the girls to see their stories in print.”

The winning entries may be included in Treehouse Theatre’s theatre project The Shaftesbury Tales this summer.

School’s eco efforts are rewarded

THE passion and awareness of environmental issues shown by a Sherborne school have been rewarded with a special award.

Sherborne Primary School has been presented with the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award, with distinction.

The award comes in recognition of an active Eco Committee of students, led by teacher Fran Ellis.

Over the last year they have completed an Environmental Review of the school, and worked hard to ensure that they are reducing waste, energy, and being as eco-conscious as possible as a school.

Activities this year have included writing to their MP about plastic pollution, meatfree Mondays, electricity-free days, litter picks, bulb and wildflower seed planting, collection of plastics to recycle, organising competitions to raise awareness of the plight of swifts, and to help the Sherborne recycling cafe, and eradicate of many single-use plastics in the school- to name but a few.

Eva, who is in Year 2, 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 added: “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 as a whole is becoming more and more environmentally aware, and we will continue to educate and drive these important issues.”

Committee, brilliantly led by Mrs Ellis,” she said.

Head of school, Felicity Griffiths, praised the work of the committee and Fran.

“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

“This recognition reflects our commitment to environmental sustainability and the collective effort of our entire school community.

“Congratulations to everyone involved in this outstanding accomplishment.”

Sherborne Primary School teacher, Fran Ellis, with members of the Eco Committee

Murder in mind

Picture and text: George Jeans, Mere

ON Friday, July 5, Mere Amateur Dramatic Society (MADS) put on Murder at Heathcliffe Manor

Over 50 people enjoyed the murder mystery experience at the Grove Building, which was a great evening for all –except Lord Heathcliffe, who was murdered.

The audience of amateur sleuths asked who did it, in between bites of a delicious ploughman’s supper. Turns out it was Professor Peacock .

Raffle proceeds went to Mere Brownies.

Jokes and jollity

MEMBERS of Blackmore Vale Lions Club celebrated the 45th annual Charter Day with lunch at the Green Man, King’s Stag.

The club welcomed guests from Gillingham, Mere and Shaftesbury, Dorchester, Crewkerne, Weymouth and Portland and Bridport Lions clubs, as well as past members and local supporters.

The prize for longest distance travelled went to district governor James Mathers and his wife Gail, who journeyed from St Austell in Cornwall to help celebrate.

James gave a poignant talk and told one of the funniest afterlunch jokes many had heard.

Becky Mitchell and the Stalbridge-based Songbirds Choir provided a wonderfully different choral session for entertainment. A raffle was held, with proceeds going to the Help for Heroes charity.

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Becky Mitchell leads the Songbirds

Mrs Withering and Em Fatale, with Inspector Denaux

Our loose Canon

With politics high on everyone’s agenda, we must not forget our higher standards by

Canon Eric Woods

OUR new Government is just two weeks old, and although the usual suspects are already rushing to judgement, I think it is far too soon to comment on its early performance. In fact, I have been trying to get away from political shenanigans – here and abroad –by taking myself back to the 17th century, and reflecting on the life and ministry of Thomas Ken, consecrated Bishop of Bath and Wells at the beginning of 1685.

But there is no way of escaping the “shenanigans”. Ken lived in a turbulent time, growing up during the English Civil War and then the turmoil of the Commonwealth and Protectorate. As an Anglican priest he longed to remain in pastoral and parochial ministry, but was summoned to be the Chaplain of the Princess Mary of Orange, daughter of the future King James II and wife of William of Orange. It was a wretched job: William was a narrow-minded Calvinist with no regard for the Church of England and no liking for Ken, who took him to task for neglecting his wife and having a scandalous liaison with Lady Elizabeth Villiers. Meanwhile, as a Canon of Winchester Ken made a notorious refusal to accommodate King Charles II’s mistress, Nell Gwyn, at his home whilst Charles was staying at the Deanery. Yet Charles bore him no ill-will, and so his sheer integrity

may have been the reason for the Merry Monarch’s nomination of Ken to Bath & Wells – he had conceived a liking for “the little fellow who refused poor Nelly a lodging”.

Then came Ken’s principled opposition to the Romanising policies of James II, which brought for him and six of his brother bishops imprisonment in the Tower. Yet when James fled before the invasion of William of Orange, Ken refused to disavow the Oath of Allegiance he had taken to that supremely foolish monarch. The so called ‘Glorious Revolution’ put him in an impossible position: he had opposed James’ policies at every turn, but he had taken an Oath of Allegiance to him and that was that. It mattered not that James despised the Church of England in general and its bishops in particular. An oath was an oath. And so Ken became one of the leading Non-jurors forced out of office for refusing, as a matter of principle, to take another Oath of Allegiance to an intruded King.

In exile from his diocese Ken bore himself with dignity, courtesy and tolerance. He was offered a home by Lord Weymouth at Longleat, and sometimes stayed with another member of the Thynne family at Leweston – now Leweston School, just outside Sherborne. He died in 1711.

Bishop Ken tried to steer a Christian course through all the political changes of his lifetime. His deprivation from his See was the price he paid for conscience and integrity. He remains an example of how we sometimes need to stand against the prevailing political flow, whatever it costs. Above all else, Christians are called to judge every political programme against a higher standard. We abandon that standard at our peril.

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Sunset superstars

SUPPORTERS of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) turned out in force for its 5K Twilight Shift fundraiser at Henstridge Airfield.

They ran, jogged or walked the 5km route at the airfield, home of the air ambulance team.

The participants got under way at 5.30pm, the time when the air ambulance crew begin their “twilight shift” to carry on their lifesaving work into the night.

Off-duty crew members entered alongside DSAA supporters and businesses, who took part in memory of loved ones, as a personal challenge or as a team.

Some of the more experienced 5K challengers also carried extra weight on their back, as the air ambulance team do when attending an incident.

Alana Hardy, DSAA events

officer, said: “What an amazing day we had for our third Twilight Shift!

“It’s such a special event filled with fun and laughter and there were so many wonderful stories of determination shared on the day.

“We were delighted that so many people came to support the charity and raise funds for our life-saving service.

“A huge thank you to everyone who supported the event or took part – we hope to see you all next year!

“Our next fundraising event is our fantastic ‘Race from the Base’ ultra-cycling challenge, which takes place at Henstridge Airfield on Saturday, September 7.

“The event has three distances to choose from –30km, 60km and 100km – and all routes will start and finish at the airfield.

“We’re really excited to build upon the success of last year’s challenge and will be opening online registration via our website on Monday, July 15.”

DSAA would like to thank all of those who supported the

event including Henstridge Airfield Clubhouse and Café, Albert Goodman, HK Law, 918 Coffee, Devon Freewheelers, Events Crew, Dorset Police and Life Support CPR Awareness and Training.

Duty to form effective opposition

THANK you for returning me to Parliament for the seventh time. It’s a privilege to serve and I will do so to the utmost of my ability over the next five years.

I would be wary of people who claim to actually enjoy general election campaigns. They do have their moments, it’s true, but they’re completely exhausting both emotionally and physically. This one was particularly excoriating for my party.

It’s duty is now to form an effective opposition to a government returned on just a third of the vote. But it’ll be tough.

With a massive majority, Sir Keir Starmer can pretty much do anything he wants. To be honest, I can’t see what it says it intends to do bringing much

Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire

Dr Andrew Murrison

joy to this part of the world. However, I wish it well and will be supportive of things I

Fixing the country

I MUST admit to having imagined writing this column for some months. And now we are finally here, I find it difficult to muster the words to match the occasion.

Change has finally arrived. A return to country first, over party. A return to politics of public service and the end of the era of noisy performance. Yet as our new Prime Minister said on the steps of number 10, unlike changing our politics, “changing a country is not like flicking a switch”. It will take time. The burden of national leadership is heavy, but Keir Starmer wears it well.

For Dorset and its costal conurbation, the composition of its MPs is much changed. Labour now has the most MPs with a band of red extending across the coast from Weymouth to Wick. My party colleagues will make fantastic parliamentarians and it is hoped some will go on to ministerial

feel will benefit those I represent.

Sir Keir should enjoy the moment. The huge majority and free rein that gives means the new government will have nowhere to hide in a couple of years when it will be reasonable to audit progress as we approach mid-term. The Labour slogan was “change”, but to what?

One thing will follow as night follows day. The new administration will treat us to a pantomime gasp of horror as it claims to open the books –which it’s had full access to for months, as per normal. That will be used to mitigate failures later on and be the pretext for tax and borrowing now.

It’s worth remembering though the genuinely bad state of the economy in 2010 and

Greg Williams, on behalf of Dorset Labour

positions, too.

What to say then, for the Vale of Blackmore, and the Stour and Avon Valley? We are now left with voices in parliament but

that all the indicators in 2024 are ticking up – inflation at 2% against the EU’s 2.7% and the UK top for growth in the G7.

The new Chancellor has already been talking a lot about planning. Finally, we get to know the new administration’s key to the growth it says it wants. Not tax cuts, reduced borrowing or less bureaucracy.

No, it looks like this short-term growth will mean central government being even more prescriptive on what goes where, removing what control local people have currently. So more concrete countryside.

We’re beginning to glimpse the change this new government has been planning – and it’s not pretty.

not a quick fix

not in government.

This may make some choke, but I was personally glad to see Simon Hoare returned. The Tory party contemplates a descent to the hard right which would not serve our country well in the long run. Moderates like Simon are important to resist that. However, never having known opposition, he will find it harder to get things done for his constituents without a direct line into number 10.

Chris Loader was no moderate. He was ejected along with his ideological idol Liz Truss. We won’t miss that side of him, but he was rare as an MP with a career before politics – in transport. We will miss his relentless pursuit of better service from South West Railway.

The other Chris, Mr Chope, was returned in Christchurch. Opposition suits him well, given his track record of vetoing many members’ bills.

As for the two new liberals, Vikki Slade’s reputation proceeds her as leader of BCP. When she, as she should, relinquishes that position, that struggling authority will get a much-needed chance to reset.

Edward Morello looks to be a pragmatic environmentalist who recognises we will need to remove carbon from our atmosphere, not just reduce emissions. This is a passion I personally share, and I look forward to discussing it with him.

However, while the liberals will have plenty of MPs and Short money, they will have little influence given Labour’s majority.

So how can you, reader, have a voice in this Labour government, and what it is hoped be a decade of national renewal? Go to labour.org.uk and join. And meet Labour’s new MPs at our Dorset-wide events.

Politics

Party needs to learn lessons

THE Bible’s Ecclesiastes tells us: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” And so, the season of my party being in Government has come to an end and a new chapter of our National Story Begins. Following the general election I posted: “To govern our country is an honour. To do so with pressing domestic and international issues is a challenge. I wanted a different election result, but I wish our prime minister and his incoming Government well and good luck. I want my party to renew and be a constructive opposition.” I stand by every word. When a Government succeeds we all succeed. Rest assured I will continue to make our North Dorset case to the heart of Government to secure the things that our communities need. I will be positive and

Conservative MP for North Dorset

constructive in the House of Commons. I want to say the most enormous thank you for re-electing me to serve you. This was always going to be a tricky election for my party and so it proved to be. The

electorate wanted to teach us a lesson and I pray that those lessons will be taken to heart, reflected upon and responded to positively. I never viewed my re-election as a certainty. It was for that reason that my team of supporters and I campaigned right across the constituency to take our positive message for the future anchored by my record of service and local delivery to all of our communities. I will continue to do, as I always have done – my best. That is all I can offer. I won’t get everything right, but it won’t be for want of trying.

Post the election, the Commons looks very different, but it has not changed that much. As I sat in my place for the re-election of the Speaker and waiting to take the Oath, I reflected that all of us, irrespective of which side we sit, are there to serve our

communities and to endeavour to make a positive difference for them. We wore different coloured rosettes during the campaign, but we are unified and equal as Members of Parliament. I look forward to making, as I always have done, friends and alliances across this Parliament.

If you are involved in a local organisation that would like me to give you a tour of the House of Commons, please get in touch. If you would like me to visit your organisation, business, charity etc do let me know. My constituency surgeries are resuming, so please make an appointment if I can help in any way. You can contact me at simon.hoare.mp@ parliament.uk or Simon Hoare MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.

Thank you again for the privilege to serve you.

I IMAGINE most of us are relieved that the general election is over. The circus included two elephants whose presence was surprising, disappointing and not a little alarming. Before I go into that, I offer a general observation about the national picture that emerged. And the evidence that if we are to enjoy a true democracy then we need to change the way we elect our politicians.

Yet again the first-past-thepost electoral system resulted in a government that only received a minority of the vote. This time it was Labour who benefited, its 34% vote share gaining them 63% of the seats in Parliament. The Conservatives’ 24% vote share gave them 19% of the seats, while the smaller parties’ 42% share of the vote gave them just 18% of the seats. Little wonder the Electoral Reform Society has called the result the most disproportional

Ken Huggins on behalf of the Green Party in North Dorset

on record.

Further proof of the need for electoral reform lies in the fact that only half of the adult population voted, apparently the lowest turnout since the vote was extended to all adults in 1928. The causes of so much apathy may well include the

chaos and division that has characterised recent politics. We obviously need to find a means of more proportional representation, so that we can restore faith in democracy and avoid the cynical use of tactical voting where voters support candidates they dislike the least to oppose candidates they dislike the most.

Nearly two million people voted for the Green Party’s vision of a greener and better future for our country. More would have done so were it not for widespread tactical voting. As well as winning all four of its target seats, the Greens came second in 39 other constituencies. The number of people joining the party has sharply increased, with more than 3,000 new members since the election. Growing numbers of people are attracted to the party’s positive policies for addressing the disastrous legacy

of past Conservative governments, as well as the environment and climate change.

Which leads me on to those two elephants stalking the room at the general election hustings in North Dorset. They were the environment and climate change, questions about which were virtually absent, though people did come up to me afterwards to thank me for raising the issues. For too long now some politicians and most of the media have either denied or played down the severity of the environmental threats we are facing. The unexpectedly rapid onset of the changing climate that we’re now experiencing is a massive wake-up call. We have to halt both the destruction of the natural world and global warming. Now. Time is not on our side, but the future can be bright if we work together to make it so.

Simon Hoare

Lib Dems will work for rural Britain

THANK you. I am enormously honoured to be elected to represent beautiful West Dorset for the next Parliament. I am extremely grateful to all those who voted for change, and I promise to work tirelessly for all the residents of West Dorset.

Liberal Democrats are community champions at whatever level of government we are elected. I will be a constituency MP, focused on local issues and the needs of my constituents.

There are now 72 Liberal Democrat MPs in Parliament, 22 of whom represent constituencies in the south west. Most are large rural seats which share plenty of the characteristics of West Dorset, and many of the issues. We will work together to ensure the Government understands the needs of rural Britian and campaign for a fairer deal for our residents.

There is plenty to do – we need to end the release of sewage onto our rivers and beaches, address the cost-of-

The new Parliament met for the first time last week following the general election. Of the 650 MPs elected, 335 have never been an MP before – including West Dorset’s new MP Edward Morello

living crisis, reverse the decline in NHS dentistry, improve access to care and support for carers, and get a better deal for our farmers and food producers. However, I know there are also a lot of individuals who are seeking help with their personal challenges, and as your MP I will do all I can to advocate for you. I work for you.

You will not be surprised to learn that this is a period of transition, and I would beg a moment of patience as I grow into my new role. There is an enormous amount to do – not least of which is setting up my constituency office so I can be of help to anyone who might need it. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to get in touch at edward.morello.mp@ parliament.uk

The hard work starts again now

THANK you for electing me as the inaugural Member of Parliament for Glastonbury and Somerton. I am so honoured to gain your trust and I promise to continue the fight for our corner of Somerset.

During the past six weeks I have spent time in towns and villages throughout the constituency, speaking to as many people as possible, and I have heard your concerns. You have told me that you’re waiting weeks to see a GP, that you can’t find an NHS dentist, that the cost-of-living crisis has hit you hard, and that you’re disgusted by raw sewage being dumped into our precious rivers and streams. You have felt

Liberal Democrat MP for Glastonbury and Somerton Sarah Dyke

ignored by the previous Conservative government and many of you have chosen to

support me as your strong local voice in Parliament.

I would like to say thank you to everyone who supported me or lent me their votes. I will not take you for granted and I promise that I will fight to bring positive change to Somerset.

The hard work starts again now.

We must fix the problems in our NHS and ensure that people in Somerset can access the healthcare they need. We must finally hold the water companies to account for dumping sewage into our rivers under the Conservatives’ watch. We must give our farmers a fair deal and support them as they transition to environmentally

sustainable farming. And we must restore decency and trust in our politics, after the endless list of Conservative scandals.

I am tremendously proud to see so many Liberal Democrat colleagues elected in Somerset, across the West Country and around the UK. People have decided they want change, and we know we must work hard to deliver this change.

I will roll up my sleeves and will get on with the job of being your strong local champion in Parliament immediately.

As always, if you would like to reach out to me, you can do so by emailing sarah.dyke.mp@ parliament.uk

LibDem MP for West Dorset

Edward Morello

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Summer Family Fun at Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park

Parents, caregivers, and guardians, this summer, Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park invites you to experience the ultimate family adventure! Designed specifically for children aged 0-8, our park is brimming with activities that entertain your little ones and creating magical moments that last a lifetime. Rain or shine, there’s plenty to explore. Enjoy indoor and outdoor play areas including our Splash Zone (water play), Sand Play, Bouncy Castles, Pedal Tractors, and Soft Play. Our Sensory Play zone offers a calming space for all children. Take a stroll along our Woodland Walk and discover the enchanting World of Dinosaur Roar! Discovery Trail. Our daily timetable is packed with engaging animal activities like Deer Feeding, Guinea Pig holding, Tractor Trailer Rides, Hand-feeding our goats and sheep, and the ever-popular Pig Racing. This summer, we’re adding extra magic with events such as meeting Dinosaur Squeak, thrilling Wet the Western Tractor Rides, lively Foam Parties, Summer BBQs, Disney through the Decades performances, and storytelling sessions with Preacher. For those looking to extend the fun, we offer Camping and Car Boot Sales.

Our facilities are designed with your comfort in mind. Enjoy quiet spaces, baby changing amenities, picnic areas, accessible parking, and the Hen House Restaurant, which serves fresh, homemade breakfast and lunch. Don’t forget to visit our children’s gift shop for a keep sake items, kids clothes, farm toys, some of which are eco-friendly! Safety is our top priority. Our fully trained team is here to support you, ensuring a secure and enjoyable visit. With discounted online prices and afternoon tickets, a fun-filled day at Farmer Palmer’s is accessible for everyone. Visit our website for full details on event dates, times and prices. Plan your visit today and let Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park be the highlight of your family’s summer! www.farmerpalmers.co.uk | 01202 622022 | Wareham Road, Organford, Poole, Dorset, BH16 6EU

Eco exhibition set to tour Dorset

A PHOTO exhibition will tour Dorset this summer celebrating the efforts of the county tackle climate change.

The Low Carbon Dorset group has put together the display, entitled Our journey to net zero, which features a collection of images that tell the stories of county organisations who are helping reduce the county’s carbon footprint.

More than a dozen Dorsetbased organisations feature in the exhibition, each telling their own story of how they’re cutting emissions and becoming more sustainable.

Councillor Nick Ireland, Dorset Council leader and cabinet member for climate change and environment, said: “As a council, we are committed to addressing climate

change. And we recognise that we have an important role to play in driving our county towards net zero.

“Through our Low Carbon Dorset programme, we’ve now helped hundreds of organisations reduce their carbon footprints.

“This exhibition is a great way to celebrate what these organisations have achieved and inspire others to follow suit.”

The exhibition is free to visit and will be touring the county throughout the summer, visiting locatins including Sherborne Abbey, Bridport Arts Centre, Durlston Country Park, and more.

For a full list of when and where to view it, visit the Dorset Council website at dorsetcouncil,gov.uk.

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

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.

Reduced price online tickets are selling fast at www.greatdorsetchillifestival.co.uk/tickets at £8.5 per adult

Full price tickets available at the gate.(£11 per adult)

Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th August 2024 10.00am to 5.00pm

Location: the beautiful Stock Gaylard deer park at Lydlinch, near Sturminster Newton DT10 2BG

Free parking | Dogs welcome No camping | No coaches

Horse masters set for show

HORSES featured in TV shows such as Poldark, Victoria and Peaky Blinders will be gracing this year’s Dorset County Show.

The event takes place on September 7 and 8 at the county showground, in Dorchester.

And among the attractions will be internationally-renowned Atkinson Action Horses, a team of highly skilled horses and riders from Yorkshire who have been performing stunts for TV and film for more than 25 years.

Led by Ben Atkinson, the team of stunt riders promise to thrill, excite and astonish this year’s

crowd with their high energy, breath taking, death defying stunt show.

James Cox, show organiser, said “Atkinsons Action Horses are like 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 a true County Show highlight for years to come.”

For further information and to book tickets, visit www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk.

EVENTCASH

Village Fete

VILL AGE FETE

Saturday 3rd August, 12 noon

All your favourites including White Elephant ~ Children’s Attractions Barbeque & Beer Tent plus Pen Teas! Grand Draw ~ Bottle Tombola ~ Plants & Produce etc...

Proceeds to the Church and Pen Selwood Community Association

White Elephant ~ Children’s At tractions

Visitors to Pen Selwood’s 69th Traditional Fete, on Saturday 3 August opening at 12 noon will enjoy special treats for 2024, when Mr Wilkins Shilling Morris Team will demonstrate traditional clog dances. Children can test their circus skills - plus toy tombola, face painting and more. Wonderful bargains can be found at the White Elephant stalls and the Pre-Loved Clothing tent. Enjoy renown Pen Teas, Barbecue and Pub Tent and your usual fete favorites.

Sat 20th - Sun 28th July 10am - 5pm (1pm on

Be sure to visit the Flower, Produce and Craft show in the adjacent church. Limited card readers available.

Note no entry before noon opening. Parking available - what3wordsgraph, lipstick, digested Proceeds to St Michael’s Church and Pen Selwood Community Association charities. For latest details visit penselwood.ning.com

THE SHERBORNE OPEN ART

EXHIBITION *Advertising Feature

The popular Sherborne Open Art Exhibition returns from 20th to 28th July, 10am to 5pm each day (except Sunday 28th - closes at 1pm). Admission free.

The exhibition is open to all artists, professional and amateur, and showcases a very high quality of submissions. Particular effort is made to encourage new entrants. Last year about 400 works were exhibited from 250 artists and the same is expected this year.

The Open could not take place without the support of its sponsors. The main sponsor is Patson Hill Farm Sporting Club (which provides “virtual” shooting days using clays). In addition, Castle Gardens Garden Centre, Charterhouse Auctioneers, Old Barn Framing Gallery, Mogers Drewett and The Trouvaille Gallery sponsor prizes.

This is one of the area’s largest, most interesting exhibitions, featuring a wide range of original, affordable art. Don’t miss it!

CHARLTON MARSHAL FETE, Sat 20th July, 2pm. Plenty of stalls, Pimm’s and cream teas.

27.7.2024 @ 7.00 PM CEILIDH with Tim Laycock Village Hall, Ibberton DT110EJ, £10 pp, Funds for Ibberton Church, What 3 Words ///deaf. champions.thinkers

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!

BLACKMORE VALE SCRIBES are holding an exhibition of calligraphy in the ambulatory of Sherborne Abbey from 23rd July - 4th August. Free entry.

19.7.2024 @ 7.00 PM FREE SUMMER CONCERT in St Eustace Church, Ibberton DT11 0EN What 3 Words /// humans.attaching.cheaply

TEMPLECOMBE VILLAGE FETE

Saturday 3rd August 2pm. Free Entry Live Music

Pony Rides, Stalls, BBq, Hog Roast, Fair rides

THE FRIENDS OF WINCANTON COMMUNIY HOSPITAL, SUMMER FETE. FREE ENTRY.

Saturday 27th July 2-4pm Wincanton Sports GroundBA9 9RB. Wincanton Town Band, Bouncy Castle, BBQ, Raffle, Refreshments, Pony Rides, Stalls & Crafts, Tombola, Prize Skittles, And much more. All money raised will go straight to Wincanton Community Hospital

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

BURTON’S COMMUNITY ORCHARD SHILLINGSTONE

DT11 OTX Family dog show on Sunday 21st July. 11am sign in for 12 noon start. Also stalls and carboot. Jenny 01258 860019.

FIFEHEAD NEVILLE SUMMER FETE & DOG SHOW!

Sat 20 July, 2.30 - 4.30pm Woodrow House, Fifehead Neville, DT10 2AQ

LYN’S BINGO at Marnhull Royal British Legion on Monday 22nd July Eyes down 7pm

STONE CARVING COURSE 29 Jul - 11 Aug Including weekends. Min. any 5 days within that period. See www.stone-carving.co.uk

GILLINGHAM HANDMADE, HANDMADE

AT THE INN, Craft Fair, Sunday 28th July 10-3.30 at The Sparkford Inn, Sparkford, Yeovil BA22 7JH, Lots of lovely handmade crafts to browse, plus Sand Art for the children

The Society is holding an Exhibition to celebrate 25 years as a formal Archive Society on Friday 26th Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th July 2024. The title of the Exhibition is ‘Fontmell Magna Parish at Work’ which explores how the villagers worked to support their communities in Fontmell Magna, Bedchester and Hartgrove from the Stone Age to the present.

The Exhibition is at the Village Hall in Fontmell Magna from 10.am to 4.00 pm each day.

COME & SING MOZART IN TISBURY 26-27 October with Cherubim Chamber Singers & Orchestra. Requiem, Don Giovanni, Magic Flute. £70. cherubimtrust.org/tkts Steam Train Trips

Thursdays, August 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd

Youth Theatre ready to take on the Shaftesbury Fringe Festival 2024

SHAFTESBURY Arts Centre has been running three thriving youth theatre groups since 2019, spread across different age ranges from seven-20 years old, and this year they have been getting ready for their biggest Shaftesbury Fringe Festival to date.

The leaders, who are all volunteers from within the arts centre, teach the fantastic youngsters different techniques from their varied experiences in acting and stage performance, while building confidence and having fun. Last year the

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Youth Theatre took part in the Shaftesbury Fringe with Magic Fairy in a Microwave. Their performance was brilliantly received and won two awards – Best Dance, Theatre and Musicals, Variety and Cabaret Performance and Best Overall Act 2023.

This year they have been working hard on not one but two shows to delight audiences during the fringe festival while also taking part in a large musical festival in Birmingham in May. Honk!, the first of the

Youth Theatre’s fringe offerings, follows the story of the ugly duckling. A bright and colourful show filled with great songs and dance from start to finish with cast from all three of the youth theatre groups. It will be performed on Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s main stage on Saturday and Sunday, July 27 and 28 July, at 2pm. Tickets are £5 and available from www. shaftesburyartcentre.org.uk, or from the box office on 01747 854321, open from 10am- 12.30pm Monday to Saturday.

The second offering comes from a cast made up of the two older groups. Anger Management takes the audience right into a therapy session for some rather questionable characters. As they start to work on the reasons why they have been sent to therapy things start to dissolve into what can only be described as chaos. All hope hangs on the calming influence of the level-headed Dr Clarke and her assistant. How long until someone SNAPS!

Full of action and great comedy moments, this show is not to be missed. Saturday, July 27, at 7pm upstairs in Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s Rutter Room. Seating is limited and will be on a first come, first served event. Pass the hat/pay what it’s worth. Suitable for age 12-plus.

FILKINS ENSEMBLE - JAEJA - MOSCOW DRUG CLUB - ARTHUR COATES & KERRAN COTTERELL - GOOD HABITS THE TROUBLE NOTES - TASHKEZAR - MARVARA - SUTHERING - HANNAH SAUNDERS & BEN SAVAGE - AMICA

DUEA - THE GREAT MALARKEY - DANGER GOAT - TWO MAN TING - GABRIEL MORENO AND THE QUIVERING POETS

THREEPENNY BIT - AAYUSHI - 14 WOLVES - GOOD TROUBLE - QUINNS QUINNEY - ANNA RENAE- PISKEY LED DEN MILLER - ARQUEBUS TRIO - THE ASHEN KEYS - DIRTY BIG CANAL DANCE BAND - IGLOO HEARTS- LAURA LOH

DEVON YOUTH FOLK ENSEMBLE - MEGAN LINFORD - MUSTARD ALLEGRO - RACHEL HILL - PLUS LOADS MORE!

Arts & Entertainment

The wonderful world of wildlife

THE best photos from this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, on show at the Natural History Museum, are coming to Dorchester.

Nearly 50,000 photographs were entered in the competition, from photographers working in 95 countries, and the most compelling were selected for the exhibition, which is at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery this summer.

The photos – from a dramatic encounter between a lioness, her two cubs and a wildebeest, to battling Nubian Ibex in the mountains of the Negev desert – reveal

NATIONAL Theatre

Live is coming to Shaftesbury Arts Centre again this weekend with Noel Coward’s comedy Present Laughter.

The play, filmed during a sold-out run at the Old Vic in 2019, stars Andrew Scott, from BBC’s Fleabag. He plays star actor Garry Essendine, whose colourful life is in danger of spiralling out of control as he prepares to embark on an overseas tour.

The play won numerous awards, including an Olivier best actor nod for Scott, and best supporting actress award for Indira Varma.

Present Laughter will be screened at the arts centre on Sunday, July 21, at 7pm. Tickets are available from the box office on 01747 854321 or online at www. shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk.

FAMILY fare is on offer at the Shaftesbury Fringe Festival with Through the Looking Glass

rarely seen aspects of life in the natural world.

The images are complemented by a variety of soundscapes, videos and expert insights.

Dorset Museum & Art Gallery executive director, Claire Dixon, said: “We are delighted to host this fantastic exhibition.

“As the only Dorset venue to welcome this show, we can enable local audiences to enjoy world class photography up close.

“Hosting over the summer period also means that those visiting the county will be able to add this exhibition to their ‘must do’ list.

Lewis Carroll’s classic novel has been adapted by Jacob Hulland, a veteran of seven festivals as a stand-up comedian.

Audiences will join Alice as she climbs into a world of bossy chess pieces, talking flowers, a woman made of egg and a topsy-turvy world where opposite day is every day!

Jacob said: “This production combines a faithful adaptation, with colourful costumes, imaginative sets – complete with model railway – and a family of four that play 11 characters!”

Through the Looking Glass is one of only three children’s shows at the festival.

It is at the Grosvenor Arms Hotel on Friday, July 26, noon-1pm and St Peter’s Church Hall, Gold Hill, the same day from 7pm-8pm; at the Heritage Suite, Bell Street, on Saturday, July 27, 4.30pm5.30pm; and St Peter’s Church Hall, Gold Hill, on Sunday, July 28, 2.30pm-3.30pm.

Tickets are £10 adult, £6 children, and £25 family, two adults and two children or one

“We find this exhibition appeals to all of our audiences, as children and young people are wowed by the incredible imagery and our more traditional audiences are engaged by the stories behind the photographs, as photographers reveal their extreme levels of commitment to capturing the perfect moment.

adult and three children. Tickets are only available on the door, card and cash accepted.

SOMERSET

Chamber Choir is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a concert at Wells Cathedral this month.

The concert will “sparkle with resplendent jewels of the Renaissance and Baroque”.

The choir, under the direction of Andrea Brown, will be joined by period instrument ensemble Florilegium, and an array of vocal soloists.

Centrepiece of the concert is Tallis’s 40-part masterpiece Spem in Alium in an arrangement featuring cornetts and sackbuts.

The concert on Saturday, July 27, at 7pm, will also feature JS Bach’s Magnificat in D, Handel’s Eternal Source of Light Divine and Purcell’s Come Ye Sons of Art, and music by H Praetorius.

Tickets priced £10 to £30 – under-16s half price – are available from

Nearly 50,000 pictures were entered in the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition

“This exhibition also enables us to make connections with our own displays, and in particular, encourage audiences to explore the impact of the climate crisis on our local landscape and natural environment.”

The exhibition is at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery in Dorchester from July 19 to November 3.

somersetchamberchoir.org and on 0333 666 3366.

THE Past & I: 100 Years of Thomas Hardy, will be performed at St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Cattistock, on Saturday, July 27, as part of a tour of the south west.

Singer Lotte Betts-Dean, winner of the 2024 Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award, and Norway/UK guitarist James Girling will take a journey with Thomas Hardy through songs of the 20th century inspired by his words and the Dorset landscape.

The project is the idea of composer Arthur Keegan, in collaboration with the performers.

It includes new arrangements of songs by Britten and Finzi, alongside long forgotten and only recently unearthed songs composed by Imogen Holst, Ivor Gurney, Robin Milford and Muriel Herbert.

The concert also features new music by Kerry Andrew and an elegiac song cycle by Arthur Keegan.

PHOTO: Amit Eshel

Classic rom-com’s ‘wild’ makeover

LOVE Riot, a classic rom-com with a wild new heart, is coming to Dorset in three open air performances next month.

The production is a reimagining of Hannah Cowley’s classic play, The Belle’s Stratagem, with audiences invited to step into a world of etiquette, scandal and matchmaking.

Promised by her father to the dashing Doricourt from a young age, Letty has worked for years to corset up her wild heart, to ready herself for a dream marriage.

Faced with a loveless future, Letty’s heart starts beating again – can she defy convention, shape her own destiny and be free to find love her own way?

Love Riot is being staged by Miracle Theatre, from Cornwall, which is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, in association with Artsreach, Dorset’s touring arts charity. The show is in the grounds of Ibberton Village Hall on Thursday, August 1; at Kimmeridge Bay on Friday, August 2, and at Halstock Village Hall field on Saturday, August 3.

DORCHESTER

Youth Council has been celebrating Pride with free screenings of Heartstopper at Shire Hall Museum.

The screenings of the entire two seasons of the awardwinning series, for fans aged 12-18, have been running on Wednesdays throughout July, with the last two on July 24 and 31.

Heartstopper follows teens Charlie and Nick who discover their unlikely friendship might be something more as they navigate school and young love in this coming-of-age series.

The screenings are from 5pm-7.30pm – doors open 4.30pm – and booking is essential at https://forms.gle/ Gz3kvDr6ztL1AoRj7.

Organist in concert

ORGANIST Mark Shepherd will be swapping New York for Shaftesbury when he performs at St James’ Church.

Mark is recently back from the Big Apple where he gave a recital on the $11m organ at St Thomas Church on 5th Avenue.

He will be serving up a popular programme in Shaftesbury including Bach’s famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor and Widor’s thrilling Toccata

He says the organ at St James’ Church is one of the finest in Dorset, producing beautiful clear sounds.

The concert is on Sunday, July 21, at 3pm, and entry is free of charge with a retiring collection for church upkeep.

But now the much longed-for day has arrived, Doricourt sees her only as a business transaction.

Full details on gate opening times, barbecues and refreshments are available at www.artsreach.co.uk

Free snacks will be available, and it is suggested to take a cushion for a comfortable viewing experience.

Mark is a fellow of the Royal College of Organists and gives recitals regularly in cathedrals and churches in the UK and abroad.

LAUGHTER

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Church

• 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, stay for five minutes or longer if you enjoy chatting!

• Digby Memorial Church Hall: The Mothers’ Union will not be meeting in the Griffiths Room in July but the summer lunch will take place at St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Close DT9 4DU on Friday, July 26. Arrive from 11.30am for noon. Everyone welcome! The Mothers’ Union will not be 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.

• ECO Church: Both St Paul’s and Sherborne Abbey have achieved their Bronze Award.

• 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, July 21 – 9.30am Communion at St John The Baptist, Spetisbury; 9.30am Family Service at St Mary Church, Charlton Marshall; 11am Morning Worship at All Saints, Langton Long; 11am Communion at St Mary’s Church, Tarrant Rushton. Sunday, July 28 – 9.30am Communion at St Mary Church, Charlton Marshall; 9.30am Morning Worship at St John The Baptist, Spetisbury; 11am BCP Communion at St Mary’s Church, Tarrant Crawford; 11am Communion at All Saints, Langton Long. 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: Held in the village church of St James, the cafe provides tea, coffee – free refills – and great cakes for just £2. Tuesdays, July 30, 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.

• 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 to arrange flowers in the abbey about once a month, should contact Barbara Fifield on 01935 813869 or email bafifield@hotmail.com

• Sherborne Abbey: Sound of Music to be performed by local school children on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 18, 19 and 20 at 7pm. Free admission by ticket only available from the Parish Office.

• 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 Bartholomew’s Benefice: Lammas Barn Service, Sunday, July 28, 11am. Celebration of the first loaves of the harvest. Sands Farm, Sands Lane, Donhead St Andrew SP7 9LL. Refreshments offered and Lammas loaves on sale for the Mary’s Meals charity.

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

• St James Church, Foyle Hill, Shaftesbury: Patronal Festival Pilgrim Walk and Picnic to Grove Farmhouse, Dinah’s Hollow, Melbury Abbas SP7 0DE. Meet at St James Church, 11.30am Saturday, July 20. Those unable to do the walk are invited to go along to Grove Farmhouse 12.30pm-1pm to have a cup of tea or coffee.

Stout footwear required, a few stiles and not suitable for dogs. Any questions, phone Philippa on 01747 812365.

• 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. Sunday services July 21 and 28, evening worship 6pm. 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.

Save my town’s High Street

I APPRECIATE we need housing and the Labour Government will have a serious impact on housing developments in the future.

However, employment is the life blood of any town.

The proposed 650 houses at Hook Valley Farm will provide jobs for the developers who have their own workforce, and once the development has been completed the workers will disappear and the local economy will suffer.

This development is shortsighted, what Wincanton needs is investment to once again attract people with money who will spend it locally.

The old factory could be developed into luxury flats valued in excess of £1 million, with luxury facilities.

The old health centre and Cale House could be converted into flats.

The land to the rear of Cale House could be developed, together with land on Common Road.

Such residents would be within walking distance of the High Street, whereas the residents of Hook Valley will need to drive.

But why would you drive into Wincanton when it is easier to drive to Castle Cary or Sherborne, which have better facilities.

Hook Valley Farm would be ideal for an 18-hole golf course with pitch and putt, including driving ranges.

This would provide longterm employment and would also be of benefit to Holbrook Manor and The Newt Somerset.

I expect most of the 6,000 residents of Wincanton are unaware of what is at risk with such a development.

Objections to a development at Hook Valley Farm need to be registered before the end of September 2024.

Home grown food vital for country

IN the run up to the general election I went to a meeting organised by NFU Mutual Salisbury and Wareham intended for farmers to hear Dorset MPs talk about their ideas for helping the farming community.

Sadly, not enough farmers were in attendance to really have their say and get their viewpoints across.

They are so fed up with the way they are being treated.

I would like to say to all these MPs though, no matter which party they belong to, that we are living in an unstable world.

Wars, conflict, famine, environmental impact and climate change are a massive problem all over the globe.

UK farmers are very underestimated, much needed members of the food industry.

Remember that farmers were paid subsidies after the war to grow essential crops, vegetables and fruit as cheaply as possible so Britain could feed its own population.

For us to ever rely solely on cheap imported food is madness.

We have to be able to sustain our own population and be proud to do so.

Our governments over the last three decades have abandoned food education for young people.

Home economics should have been kept in the curriculum in all schools –knowing how to cook is a life skill we all need.

We have so many mental health issues in our youngsters and some of this is down to poor diet.

A concerned Wincanton resident Via email

A lack of education for parents who do not know how

to cook anymore or how to put good food on their families’ tables.

They buy everything from the supermarket, which has been ultra-processed and lacks minerals, vitamins, nutrients, fibre, proteins and more that nurture the brains and bodies of their children.

All the political parties need to stand in the same corner for British food producers and farmers and help fight the supermarkets’ dictatorship.

Give the farmers back the voice they need to have instead of being led by the big boys from the supermarket chains who have all the power and none of the goodness of real food to offer.

Barbara Cossins Creator of Love Local Trust Local; proprietor of The Langton Arms and Rawston Farm Butchery & Shop

Books delivered to your home

WHAT could be better than getting lost in a good book?

Do you, or someone you know, love reading but find it difficult to get books from the library due to health or mobility issues?

Long-term or over a shorter period, the Home Library Service is here to help: Books, ordinary or large print and audio are chosen for each person and delivered every three or four weeks from your local library by Royal Voluntary Service volunteers.

Some can even supply jigsaws on loan.

This service is free and also provides you with a regular visit by a trusted volunteer who you get to know over time.

All our volunteers are DBS checked and carry ID badges.

Please contact Royal Voluntary Service in the Dorset area by 01305 236666 or email

dorsethomelibraryservice@ royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk.

You can also contact your local library directly.

David Tozer Home Library Service

Bat rescue in volunteer appeal

WOULD you like the opportunity to help with the rescue and recovery of some of Britain’s rarest mammals?

East Dorset Bat Rescue and Rehabilitation (EDBRR) is welcoming people – aged 18-plus – to join a group of dedicated volunteers rescuing and rehabilitating sick and injured bats before they are re-leased back into the wild.

Initially you will become part of the team working on the rehabilitation of these fascinating creatures by taking them at dusk to our large, enclosed flight cage and closely monitoring their progress back to full health.

You will be partnered by experienced bat handlers and shown exactly what to do.

As you become more skilful with handling bats, you may be able to assist with care and feeding tasks at our local headquarters.

To find out more about these interesting and rewarding experiences, please visit our website at ed-brrbats.wixsite. com/website or email edbrr. bats@gmail.com.

Carol Blight

East Dorset Bat Rescue and Rehabilitation

Harley the Noctule on a volunteer’s glove at EDBRR’s flight cage. He was successfully returned to the wild after being attacked and dropped by an owl

Carol Blight/EDBRR (2021)

PHOTO:

1 Makes changes to (7)

Former Russian ruler (4)

Average (7)

Pointed, as an angle (5)

Relating to a sovereign (5) 13 Any country surrounded by water (6) 15 The countryside in general (6) 17 String-shaped piece of pasta (6) 19 Greatly (6)

20 Draws nigh (5)

23 Rule as monarch (5) 24 Designate (7) 25 Long, pointed tooth (4)

Extremely stupid (7)

Young dog (5) 3 Speeding up (12)

Cream-filled cake (6) 6 Knocked unconscious (7) 7 Tall water grass (4) 8 Gazing (7) 9 Writing tool (9,3) 14 Internet service (7) 16 Sycophants (7)

18 Ring road (6)

21 Charged atom or molecule (5) 22 Horse’s gait (4)

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 Modern communication from Spain Irishman rejected (5)

4 Come out of say army section in retreat (6)

10 Shady director is by hotel exchanging notes (9)

11 Young man in tune almost (3)

Killer Sudoku Pro

12 Fashion designer, familiarly, with a hot drink (5)

Down

2 Sound in bars? (5)

3 Keep detached one in this way with awkward tale (7)

5 Dull count falling short (5)

6 Muscovite, maybe, almost certainly recalled Welsh woman (7)

7 Source of eruptions in rocket named (4)

13 African country with rookie driver off for peninsula (6)

14 Popular command, one by civilized chap that’s clever (11)

18 Finally where worker in shoe factory might be? (2,4)

23 Port in disorder without end (3)

8 Journalist in charge beginning to transgress law (5)

9 Village site agitated regarding lawmaking? (11)

(2,4) 20 Row about South Carolina getting prestigious award (5)

15 Figure upset by sensitive area, we hear –feature of tennis (3,4)

23 Port in disorder without

20 Row about South Carolina getting prestigious award (5)

24 Commercial enterprise is something daring (9)

25 Old theologian with appeal over year, a peculiar thing (6)

26 Time in play adjusted in a suitable way (5)

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.

with appeal over year, a peculiar thing (6)

Time in play adjusted in a suitable way (5)

16 Mature queen in ceremonial dress on horseback (5-2)

17 Conservative aristocrat brought up, unpleasant person (5)

19 A US lawyer has point to modify (5)

21 Regret interrupting cold lecturer devoid pity? (5)

22 Brazil I love showing liveliness (4)

Sound in bars? (5) 3 Keep detached one in this way with awkward tale (7)

5 Dull count falling short (5)

6 Muscovite, maybe, almost certainly recalled Welsh woman (7)

7 Source of eruptions in rocket named (4)

8 Journalist in charge beginning to transgress law (5)

9 Village site agitated regarding lawmaking? (11)

15 Figure upset by sensitive area, we hear – a feature of tennis (3,4)

16 Mature queen in ceremonial dress on horseback (5-2)

17 Conservative aristocrat brought up, unpleasant person (5)

19 A US lawyer has point to modify (5)

21 Regret interrupting cold lecturer devoid of pity? (5)

22 Brazil I love showing liveliness (4)

General antiques and collectibles

ACREMAN St. Auctioneers & Valuers Sherborne will be holding its two-day auction on the last Thursday and Friday of July.

General antiques and collectors auction on Thursday July 25, 10am, to include a lifetime’s collection of Herend china figures and a collection of Royal Crown Derby animal paperweight figures and a small collection of car mascots.

We also have on offer an antique Colebrookdale cast iron stick stand in the form of a dog holding a whip in its mouth.

In the furniture section we have a beautiful Edwardian painted bedroom suite with hand-painted floral decoration and a pair of antique French painted and carved single beds.

Friday 26th July 10am Jewellery, Silver & watches, to

include and antique unmarked gold and silver snake pendant decorated with turquoise and ruby stones.

We have approximately 40 lots of jewelllery being sold on behalf of the New Yeovil Hospital Breast Cancer Unit Appeal.

We are now accepting consignments for our upcoming sales. We will be holding a Garden and Architectural Auction on Thursday, August 29, to which we are inviting further entries. We are happy to advise you an anything that you may be considering for auction, you are welcome to email photographs to us auction@ acremanstreetantiques.co.uk or alternatively bring your items in for us to take a look at. We are open Monday to Saturday 9am - 4pm.

Royal Crown Derby in Dorset

A COLLECTION of Royal Crown Derby valued at thousands of pounds is going under the Charterhouse hammer in its auction of Antiques & Interiors on Friday, August 2.

“Although the collection is made up of modern Royal Crown Derby, there is still a strong market for collectors looking to add to the collections and this is a great opportunity for them,” said Richard Bromell, from the auction house.

the honour of incorporating the crown into its backstamp. Today Royal Crown Derby is known across the world for its fine bone china.

Royal Crown Derby is one of the oldest porcelain manufacturers in this country. It started in 1750 when Andrew Planche established the first china works in Derby. In 1775 King George III granted Derby

Charterhouse is now accepting further entries for its busy programme of specialist auctions, including jewellery, silver and watches in August, followed by coins, medals, stamps, model cars, trains and other toys also in August, and for its next specialist classic car and classic motorcycle auctions.

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

Richard Bromell with a large Royal Crown Derby cake platter

Cavalry helmets could make £2,000 Turn out your auto treasures

DUKE’S has been a beacon for discerning collectors, offering items that blend history, artistry and craftsmanship, for over two centuries.

The upcoming Summer Interiors Auction on Thursday, August 1, features a curated selection of fine art, period furniture and decorative arts.

From classical paintings and miscellanea to intricate porcelain and silverware, each piece tells its unique story and adds sophistication to any space.

Helmets estimated to sell for £1,000-£2,000.

Duke’s Summer Interiors Auction is more than just a sale, it is a celebration of art, design and craftsmanship.

A highlight of the auction is a set of beautifully made 1871 Brass Dragoon Guard Cavalry

For those looking to enhance their surroundings with pieces of enduring beauty, this auction offers a chance to acquire items that will become cherished parts of their personal narratives. As the gavel falls, it marks the continuation of these items’ journeys, carrying the echoes of history and the promise of future admiration.

CLARKE’S Auctions at Semley are looking forward to welcoming their clients old and new to their new premises at the Old Glove Factory in Gillingham.

They are in the process of moving and will be fully operational by Monday, August 22, so give them a call on 01747 685592 or pop in if you have anything you’d like them to auction for you.

The first sale in their new building is being held on Friday and Saturday, August 9-10, and they are still taking entries for this sale.

Their July sale saw some surprising results with a 1940’s watercolour painting of the mother of the 14th Dali Lama painted fetching £3,100 including premium, a rare American SE Bogdan 100

INTERIORS

fishing reel and four others fetching £2,100 and an extensive French Porcelain D’Auteuil Limoges Chambord pattern dinner and tea service fetching a shade over £1,100 including premium.

They are taking entries for their Autumn Classic Vehicles and Automobilia sale so if you have any classic vehicles, motorcycles, automobilia or related items in your sheds, barns or garages please give Matthew Whitney a call to discuss entries into this sale. For consignment into any of their future sales or for Probate Valuations, house clearances or any other queries, please phone either Richard Clarke or Karen Marshall on 01747 685592 at The Old Glove Factory, Gillingham, SP8 4QF.

Auctioneers & Valuers

& Collectibles Sale Friday 9th & Saturday 10th August

A 1928 Ford Model A Phaeton. Sold for £15,000

Clarke’s Auctions o er free home visits and verbal valuations. Now accepting items for this and future sales e Old Glove Factory, Buckingham Road Gillingham, SP8 4QF 01747 685592 enquiries@clarkesauctions.co.uk

Units 1 & 2 Kingsettle Business Park, 01747 855109 enquiries@clarkesauctions.co.uk

Longcase Clocks a

Napolean’s pistols

APAIR of pistols belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte have sold at auction - for around £1.4 million.

The weapons were billed as having the possibility of having ‘changed the course of history’, as it is believed the legendary general considered using them to take his own life after a military defeat in 1814.

However, the memoirs of his close ally, Armand de Caulaincourt, revealed how he removed the powder from the guns, rendering them useless.

Made by Paris gunsmith Louis-Marin Gosset, the pistols feature a raft of intricate detail, including references to Greek gods, gold and silver, as well as an image of the general himself.

With an estimate of between £1m and £1.2m, the hammer finally came down at the Osenat auction house at £1.4m on July 7.

The items have been declared

national treasure by the French government, meaning they can only leave the country temporarily - while the government has 30 months to make an offer to buy them.

The history of the guns is centred on events leading up to and including the night of April 12, 1814, when it is believed Napoleon considered taking his own life while at Fontaineblaeau, after foreign forces had defeated his army and occupied Paris.

In Caulaincourt’s memoirs, published in 1933, he said he was summoned by the general, who told him he wanted to die.

He said: “During a calmer interlude he told me to give his beautiful necessaire to Prince Eugene as a keepsake, and to keep his finest sabre and his pistols for myself, along with his cameo portrait.”

However, unbeknown to his friend, Napoleon had ingested

poison.

He survived the initial poisoning, only to later ask for more - which he was refused.

Caulaincourt then took the decision to remove the powder, leaving them unable to fire.

“They told me Napoleon had been talking about how to kill himself for days, and had frequently examined his pistols,” he wrote.

However, Napoleon went on to flee from his exile, retake France and fight Europe once more at the Battle of Waterloo.

After the drama of April 1814, the guns have remained with the descendants of the Duke of Vicenza until they were sold at the auction on July 7, the sales firm said. sell for £1.4 million

A Day in the Life of an Auctioneer...

With Richard Kay Picture Specialist at Lawrences Auctioneers

I’d like to ask how you started in the auction world. I read History of Art at the University of St Andrews and graduated in 1986, determined that I wanted a job somewhere in the auction world. Lo and behold, the art market was booming and auction houses were recruiting keenly so, for once, my timing was perfect. I walked through snow on January 5th 1987 to begin my first job as a trainee picture specialist at Sothebys saleroom in Chester. I have never had a dull day’s work since then.

Who are Lawrences? We are Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers, based in Crewkerne in Somerset and with a team at Westbury in Wiltshire. Since last autumn, we are part of the pan-European network of salerooms run by Auctionet. In Crewkerne and in Westbury, we have specialist departments and valuers with almost 400 years of combined experience in this endlessly fascinating, fascinatingly endless business of valuing and auctioning anything from pearls to pistols. We have sold lots for over £350,000 but prices start at just £25 in our online auctions and we offer a personal, professional service across the West Country and far beyond.

What is it really like up on the podium? Auctions are our principal business and so the successful, accurate transaction of any item is our principal endeavour. The rostrum is the focal point at which most of our lots are tested for their appeal; there really is an adrenaline rush when interest in a lot gathers momentum. The excitement of testing bidders’ determination from the rostrum is a thrill that never diminishes and, of course, we are always ready for an unexpected surprise when two bidders `lock horns`. With numerous dealers and collectors in the room, on telephones and bidding live via a number of auction platforms online, we draw in buyers from all around the world. Although we still have these traditional rostrum auctions with an auctioneer, our timed online sales are entirely orientated towards the collector on the internet, but all our auctions can be viewed in person.

What is popular right now/What is a modern antique? Jewellery, especially good diamonds, and gold is very popular. Modern design – in silver, ceramic, bronze, glass or furniture – catches collectors’ eyes. 20th Century pictures and prints, rare first editions and toys in exceptional condition can command very strong prices. As a picture specialist, I foresee sustained growth for scarcer, fine quality post-War artists’ pictures and prints.

Advice for someone who never been to an Auction. Examine the item to your satisfaction before you bid (if you cannot get to the viewing itself, we can assess it for you and answer all your concerns with additional photos etc). Ask us questions so that you are better informed. Set yourself a limit and, if you can justify it, pledge not to exceed it by more than 10%. If you plan to start a collection, view a lot of auctions before you buy a single thing in order to better gauge the market and where its strengths lie. Focus upon the sort of lots that you can live with so that, should they not rise in value, you still have items that you can treasure. A profit may be a bonus but the most important thing is to enjoy buying at auction - and it can be an addictive passion once you start. Until you start browsing you will never know where your real interests may lie. I’ve even heard of a man who collects rare and unusual gas cookers.

Where I can find out what’s up for auction? See our website – www.lawrences.co.uk – for details of our past sales, our current sales and our future sales. Email or phone us if you have questions - we love to welcome new collectors of any age to Lawrences.

Linen

never been easier to get your art, antiques, jewellery and collectables valued by our experts. With almost 400 years of combined expertise, our Specialist Valuers are able to offer free valuations and home visits without

Home & Garden

Planting to put off those pesky deer

by Sally Gregson WILDLIFE

in the garden can be a mixed blessing. Birds, insects, mice and hedgehogs are universally welcomed, but other larger animals may not be quite so welcome in your flower garden.

Deer are truly beautiful creatures that would win the hearts of most, but they certainly have a predilection for roses and quite a few other favourite garden plants. Often it is very difficult, if not impossible, to put up 3m high netting to protect the garden, and so it makes sense to use those plants that deer dislike. And there are quite a few.

Even deer won’t eat thoroughly poisonous plants. Although be warned, they feast on yew hedges as if they were manna from heaven. It used to be that mixing the yew with box was enough to put them off, but now that most box is blighted by fungus and caterpillars, that line of defence can be ruled out.

However, deer will not eat hellebores, euphorbias or digitalis, for example. Their toxins are much too dangerous to ingest.

They also don’t eat Hydrangea macrophylla or H. serrata, although, be warned,

Later-flowering clematis a joy

by Sally Gregson NOW, just as the “old” roses are beginning to fade and before the full panoply of late summer and autumn takes over our gardens, is the time for the clematis that flower later in summer. These are not the blowsy, large-flowered hybrids, but the altogether prettier, dainty C. viticella hybrids and their ilk.

up the bloom of the unopened clematis petals perfectly.

they are happy munching away on H. aspera, H. paniculata and the climbing H. petiolaris Perhaps the deer know that they don’t contain as much cyanide.

Deer also steer clear of aromatic plants – lavanders, rosemary, bay-leaves – Laurus nobilis – and catmint, to name a few. And there are one or two species of rose that deer dislike, such as Rosa rugosa and its hybrids, as well as R. spinosissima, the Scotch Rose, with its pretty little white flowers and delicate foliage.

Vegetable gardens are a problem, however. But deer won’t eat your rhubarb. Perhaps they have heard about the poisonous leaves. And gooseberries are also not on most deer’s menus.

There are lots of websites and books on the subject, but a note of warning – deer don’t read books and browse websites. They don’t know if they dislike certain plants. So, they do tend to try them out. Especially your newest, most expensive plants.

So, before investing a lot of money in a new hedge or group of shrubs, try growing a small one and see if your deer will leave it alone. Or not.

Good luck!

These little gems seem not to be grown as widely as they deserve. Perhaps it’s because that when the traditional spring visit to the local garden centre occurs in May, it’s the large, dinner-plate flowers of the named hybrids that grab the attention. These are lovely, but there are so many more clematis that flower from July until the autumn, and even later.

An old 19th century favourite is C. viticella “Purpurea Plena Elegans” whose dusty rose, double flowers proliferate over its host. Try pairing it with one of the large Hydrangea aspera varieties, such as H. aspera “Villosa” with huge downy, blue-green leaves and mauvepink flowers. The colour picks

One of the best true-blueflowered varieties is C. viticella “Prince Charles” that sports clouds of flowers that can be trained through a climbing rose or a large, spring-flowering shrub, such as Ceanothus “Concha” with its leathery, evergreen leaves. Or its blue flowers would sparkle growing through the gold-leaved form of Cotinus: C. coggygria “Golden Spirit”.

These later-flowering clematis are best pruned right down to about 30cm from the ground in spring. They will not take offence if the timing is inaccurate, but they will probably flower earlier and at a greater height. If the support is a climbing rose, it will be easy to cut down the clematis at the same time as the rose is pruned in early spring. Feed both the rose and clematis with a specific rose fertiliser and they will both scramble their way upwards again, bringing flowers and colour to your garden for the entire summer.

One of the best true-blue-flowered varieties is “Prince

Deer are beautiful creatures, but they have a predilection for roses and quite a few other favourite garden plants

Charles”

Blooming together, through local businesses and education

Nestled in the heart of North Dorset in Gillingham, Thorngrove Garden Centre and the charming Secret Garden Café are doing more than providing a vibrant range of diverse plants, and breakfast or lunch options, we also function as Employ My Ability, a college where young people with special educational needs and disabilities thrive. Our unique campus serves as both a learn ing environment and a place for work experience, ensuring our students gain practical skills that will serve them throughout their

At Thorngrove, we believe in the transformative power of handson education. Our students are actively involved in every aspect of our garden centre, from watering plants, making planters, assisting the retail team in the home and lifestyle shop, and handling sales. This direct involvement not only enhances their horticultural knowledge but also boosts their confidence and social skills, preparing them for future employment opportunities beyond EMA and Thorngrove.

The café has become a beloved spot for locals to enjoy fresh, homemade meals (with the recent addition of Fish and Chips gaining a huge number of fans, and people coming from miles around for our Breakfasts). The café further enriches our students’ experiences. Here, they learn the intricacies of food preparation, customer service, and hospitality management. It’s a place where

the community comes together, fostering a spirit of inclusion and support. Make us your next stop for cream tea and see for yourself! Our college is proud to be a part of North Dorset’s rich tap estry. We utilise local suppliers where possible, and continue to build relationships with the surrounding areas in a range of community projects. We invite you to visit our garden centre and café, find that new addition for your garden space, try our menu, see our students in action, and witness first-hand the incredible potential of our young people. Together, we can cultivate a more inclusive community, where everyone has the opportunity to grow and succeed.

L.DAVIS AND SONS

FENCING, AND GARDEN DESIGN

Concrete bases, patios, gravel, garden clearance and much more. We also deliver compost, pots, bark, logs and other gardening products. 01458 241230 or 07950 261510

Treecare

Tree Specialists

TREE STUMP REMOVAL

Pruning, bracing, shaping. Preservation of mature trees.

Hedge cutting. Trees supplied & planted.

Landscaping & maintenance.

Heavy duty winch hire available. Tree Surgery BS.3998

Contractors to local authorities.

WOOD CHIPPINGS FOR SALE

Free Quotes & Advice

Tel/Fax: Shafts 853512 Mobile: 07831 262083

Established in 1976 At TreeCare we care...

FOR LARGE AREA HIGH/LONG GRASS, mulching. call David: 07786-658708

FOR MOWING, STRIMMING, Hedge Cutting, Chain-sawing and general garden/estate maintenance. Call David: 07786-658708

TREEWISE

of TREE SURGERY, HEDGECUTTING & STUMP REMOVAL

NPTC qualified & fully insured No job too small, Friendly, personal advice and free quotations. Make a wise choice and call David Merefield today on 01747 850906 / 07966 522361

TOOLS WANTED. Cash waiting. 01747 850474

CURTAINS AND BLINDS MADE TO MEASURE

Curtain alterations Tel. Sue Marsh 01747 853680

SELF DRIVE DIGGER AND DUMPER HIRE 01258 861647

WANTEDDave buys all types of tools Call 01935 428975

ASBESTOS REMOVAL Garages, Sheds, Lean to’s, Roofing and Cladding Collection and Dismantling BY Registered Hazardous Waste Carrier Call 07973 444620 or 01722 414478

07900 431701

HUSQVARNA R112C RIDE-ON MOWER vgood condition, regularly & recently serviced.£1200. 07541 348858

WANTED. EXPERIENCED GARDENER to help maintain half acre garden. At least 4 hours per week. Tel: 01747-811253

DO YOU NEED HELP IN YOUR GARDEN?

Lawn maintenance, seasonal clearance. Waste Removal. Fully insured. Call Jim: 07723-808766

WELL ROTTED MANURE £60.00 a transit load. Contact Roger on 07885 826396 or 01202 826502

Closeboard,

01935 324737

GUTTERS CLEARED

• Windows,

• Fascias,

• Soffits,

• Gutters cleaned,

• Repairs,

• Free Estimates 07788-376752

HASKELL FENCING

All types of fencing supplied and fitted

We also have a minidigger for hire Blandford 07751 001515

EX-DISPLAY SHEDS, Stables/field shelters, summerhouses, offices, workshops, agricultural 01935 891195

GARDENING SERVICES AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE

Lawn mowing, weeding, hedge cutting, strimming etc. Contact Billy 07849 571742

LANGTON NURSERIES (C W Abbott & Son) Hanging Baskets ready NOW, Fruit Trees, Perennials & Shrubs, Large selection of; stoneware, terracotta and glazed pots, Wild Bird food 20kg £14.50, Stockists of Kings, Franchi and Fothergill Budget Seeds, Potting Compost. Open daily 10am– 3 pm. Langton Long Blandford Forum Dorset DT11 9HR. Telephone 01258 452513

OUTDOORS

TREES R US

Get your garden ready for Summer. Trees, Hedges, Patios, Turf & Fencing call Peter 07976-667130

LOGS

BLACKMORE VALE LOG SPLITTING AND CHIPPING

- Your local mobile service07760 469411

SEASONED HARDWOOD

LOGS

£185 double load £105 half load 01258-880892 07980-036250

LOGS R US

1 ton pickup load of logs £100 double load £180 dumpy bag £80 All hardwood 07790 404593 01258 818081

Home & Garden

DEADLINES

Display ads must be booked by Wednesday the week prior to publication, with final copy submitted by the Friday.

Classified ads may be accepted after this, HOWEVER these will be subject to space.

Tree Surgery. Reductions. Felling. Hedge Trimming. Stump Grinding. Woodchip

Tree Surgery. Reductions. Felling. Hedge Trimming. Stump Grinding. Woodchip supplies.

Home & Garden

M & A J LANDSCAPING, Hard and Soft Landscaping, Natural stone walling, Concreting, Paving & Patios, Steps, Hand lay tarmac, Fencing, Tree & shrub removal, General garden clearance, 07399 521377, malcgin@hotmail.com

DRYSTONE WALLING AND LANDSCAPING

www.yenstonewalling.co.uk 01963 371123

TOOLS WANTED. Cash waiting. 01747 850474

MAN WITH MICRO-DIGGER & 1.5ton digger, stump grinder, Garden clearance, patios, fencing, decking, landscaping, driveways 30+ years’ experience

Contact Ken 07882 441873 / 01963 32034

JAMES AYRES

DORSET TREE CARE

Specialist Tree Workers

All kinds of trees expertly felled, topped and pruned.

Hedge cutting. All rubbish cleared. Licensed waster carrier. Fully insured. Tel: 01747 850129 / Mob: 07951 284639

LES BENHAM

Garden Property Maintenance

All Hedge/tree work/rubbish clearance

Gravel Driveways/Pressure Washing Patio and Fencing Work

Fully Insured/Free Quotes 01258 458849/07788 907343 lesbenham@yahoo.co.uk / check a trade

HUSSEY CARPET AND FLOORING, South Street,Gillingham,Dorset SP84AP

Domestic and Commercial Carpets,Vinyl,Luxury Vinyl Tiles, Laminate and Wood Flooring. Contact Chris Hussey 07885273470 husseyflooring@gmail.com

Home & Garden

Sweet scent in the garden...

WALKING through our garden, especially in the evening, is a great delight at the moment. The scent is just magnificent and is produced by several plants, especially a honeysuckle Lonicera Hall’s Prolific with its creamy white flowers. It is a great evergreen variety as it flowers from May through to September.

Scent in the garden is essential and is an extra dimension that designers sometimes forget. It’s even more important in gardens where visual impairment for the gardener is an issue. One of my favourite plants was introduced to me by a wonderful lady and a great gardener who had lost her sight. She was asking for Lemon Scented Verbena – Lippia citriodora – which, as the name suggests, has lemon-scented leaves – more “lemony” than lemon – and she told me that she kept it right by her back door so that she brushed past it, producing a waft of lemon.

I also love the scent of the Candy Floss tree. When I first came across this it was at Knightshayes Garden, near Tiverton. I searched and searched for the source of the extraordinary scent, which is so vividly Candyfloss, and eventually found a large shrub. The scent comes from the leaves in the autumn at leaf fall and occasionally at other times, too. It also has great autumn colours and eventually becomes a decent-sized tree. So, you will need space, but if that is possible, then the rewards are many.

During the summer, scent from the well-known Jasmine is fabulous in the garden and

can also come from the Star Jasmine, an evergreen Rhyncospermum jasminoides – also found as Trachelospermum jasminoides. This evergreen climber would prefer more acidic soil than we generally have but, as long as that is known, then by regular feeding it can be overcome. The flowers come in great numbers and the scent is terrific. It is also enjoyable in the autumn and winter when the foliage colours up in shades of deep plum.

Later in the year, two shrubs come into their own. The holly-leafed shrub Osmanthus heterophyllus in its various forms is a great year-round performer but is at its peak in the autumn when tiny white flowers open with a powerful scent. The varieties include some with purple young leaves – O. Purpureus – and variegated forms – O. variegata and also Goshiki, although the latter is a shy flowering form. They are very adaptable shrubs and will cope with quite deep shade, too.

The last scent of the calendar year in the garden comes from the Christmas Box, Sarcococca, which has tiny white flowers which pack a scented punch through the autumn and winter and always at Christmas, in my experience. The shrub isn’t a great looker but should be positioned where one walks on a regular basis in the winter to get most enjoyment.

So, follow your nose and it’s amazing what you will find!

Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group

The latest gardening news, hints and tips, with Mike Burks, MD of The Gardens Group

@jamespricelandscapes

Greenwood Landscapes

FENCING DRIVEWAYS

info@kingsmeresurfacing.co.uk www.kingsmeresurfacing.co.uk

Kingsmere

info@kingsmeresurfacing.co.uk www.kingsmeresurfacing.co.uk

info@kingsmeresurfacing.co.uk www.kingsmeresurfacing.co.uk

Kingsmere Surfacing are a specialist driveway company working within Dorset, Wiltshire & Somerset. We can transform the look of your home, by laying a new surface to your driveway, giving a beautiful, eye catching and individual look.

Kingsmere Surfacing are a specialist driveway company working within Dorset, Wiltshire & Somerset. We can transform the look of your home, by laying a new surface to your driveway, giving a beautiful, eye catching and individual look.

Kingsmere Surfacing are a specialist driveway company working within Blackmore Vale Dorset, Wiltshire & Somerset. We can transform the look of your home, by laying a new surface to your driveway, giving a beautiful, eye catching and individual look.

Kingsmere Surfacing are a specialist driveway company working within Dorset, Wiltshire & Somerset. We can transform the look of your home, by laying a new surface to your driveway, giving a beautiful, eye catching and individual look.

Kingsmere Surfacing are a specialist driveway company working within Dorset, Wiltshire & Somerset. We can transform the look of your home, by laying a new surface to your driveway, giving a beautiful, eye catching and individual look.

Kingsmere Surfacing are a specialist driveway company working within Dorset, Wiltshire & Somerset. We can transform the look of your home, by laying a new surface to your driveway, giving a beautiful, eye catching and individual look.

We offer a most attractive and versatile choice of surfaces for both classic and

We

We offer a most attractive and versatile choice of surfaces for both classic and contemporary driveways.

We offer a most attractive and versatile choice of surfaces for both classic and contemporary driveways.

We offer a most attractive and versatile choice of surfaces for both classic and contemporary driveways.

We offer a most attractive and versatile choice of surfaces for both classic and contemporary driveways.

We offer a most attractive and versatile choice of surfaces for both classic and contemporary driveways.

Services offered include:

Services offered include:

Services offered include:

Services offered include:

Services

We offer a most attractive and versatile choice of surfaces for both classic and contemporary driveways and specialise in fully SUDS permeable drainage surfaces.

Services offered include:

• Decorative Resin Bound & Bonded Aggregate

• Decorative Resin Bound & Bonded Aggregate

• Decorative Resin Bound & Bonded Aggregate

• Decorative Resin Bound & Bonded Aggregate

• Block Paving

• Decorative Resin Bound & Bonded Aggregate

• Block Paving

• Block Paving

• Block Paving

• Block Paving

• Natural Stone Patios & Paths

• Natural Stone Patios & Paths

• Natural Stone Patios & Paths

• Natural Stone Patios & Paths

• Tarmacadam

• Tarmacadam

• Tarmacadam

• Tarmacadam

• Tarmacadam

J&

Handyman Services

01963 364457 07368 516658 dorsethandyman26@gmail.com www.jchandymanservices.com

L R MASONRY GENERAL BUILDER, Stone work, Brick work 07971-982565 llewie30roberts@gmail.com

HANDYMAN, reliable and experienced Call Chris 07413 678076

GENERAL MAINTENANCE

SERVICES, Painting & Decorating, Carpentry, Interior/Exterior. For free quote call Tim 07793 837073

KBB KITCHEN FITTER, all aspects of kitchen fitting undertaken. 30 years experience, free estimates given. Tel: 01963 364550 or 0789 0841827

NEIL PIERCY PLASTERING

All types of plastering, floor screeding & rendering. Wincanton & 20 mile radius. HELPFUL ADVICE & FREE QUOTATIONS CALL NEIL: 07974 185923 or 07811 211586.

SMALL FENCING JOBS.

Renew or replair. Including painting fences. Reference if needed. NO VAT. Tel: Philip on 07716-207150

All aspects of building and plumbing catered for. Tel: 07970 437786

Extensions, Renovations, Digger & Plant Hire 07388-441638

ELECTRICIAN : Shaftesbury based. Small jobs to rewires, Testing & Certification. Fusebox upgrades etc. 30+ Years Experience. Reasonable rates. Call Alan on 07442-026385 8am to 8pm.

JAYS CARPETS

CHIMNEYS

SOLID FUEL INSTALLATIONS LTD

Accredited installers of Wood burning & Multi fuel stoves, Chimney liners, twin wall flues, fireplace conversions, replacement hearths, chimney restoration & rebuilding, dealing with water ingress, cowlings, bird guards. Fully Insured, long term established. 01749 677440 – 07921074602- solidfuel3@aol.com www.solidfuelinstallationsltd.co.uk

CLEANING SHINY STOVES OVEN CLEANING

Ovens,Ranges, Aga’s, etc.

Independent Family Run Business

Covering The Blackmore Vale Area Tel 01935 592461 Mob 07875 272401 www.shinystoves.com

EXPERIENCED CLEANER AVAILABLE.

Areas covered, Sherborne, Milborne Port, Stalbridge, Henstridge. Contact Janice: 07432-828381

COMPUTERS & TECH

DEREK ETHERINGTON BSc(Hons).

PC/Mac, Repairs, Networks, Websites, Tuition. Free local callout. 01963362403 07855287150 http://www.dcenet.co.uk

COMPUTER MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS

Purchase advice, Virus Removal, New PC Setup/ Installation, Internet Connection, Upgrades, Computer/ Software Tuition - Call Gregg on 01963 370713

Joseph Crocker Computers

Custom built gaming & office PCs

Desktop & laptop repair

Help with mobile devices

General computer and IT advice NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL 01963 23669 07484 690824

josephcrockercomputers.co.uk

Friendly, patient, and knowledgeable

• Keep in touch with family, friends and colleagues for free over the Internet

• 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.

lassified advertising place your ad today email: adverts@blackmorevale.net

& Decorator.

M & M PAINTING & DECORATING. 30years experience. Fully insured, clean & tidy. References available. FREE no obligation quote. Tel: 07534-952486 / 01305849380

GARETH TANNER G.O.T. DECORATING City and Guilds qualified Interior/exterior Decorating Free Quotes no VAT Tel 07736644452 go.tanner93@gmail.com

Total Energy Services proud to be part of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC)

What is the RECC?

The Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) helps homeowners have the confidence to choose a specialist, professional and reliable company when it comes to renewable heating systems like heat pumps.

Membership of the Code shows a company’s commitment to complying with the Code’s high standards of consumer protection.

Who are the RECC?

The RECC are approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute as part of the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme. They set out the high consumer protection standards for businesses who are selling renewable energy systems to homeowners.

Why use a RECC member for your heating requirements?

Total Energy Services have shown they not only meet the RECC’s strict standards but that they meet a specific code of conduct. This is the ultimate reassurance for homeowners as they begin to explore how to reduce their homes carbon emissions.

The RECC code

By displaying the logo RECC Members signal they have agreed to abide by the high standards set out in the Consumer Code, following the consumer journey from start to finish, and in the Bye-Laws. Both the Code and the Bye-Laws dovetail with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) installer standards. Total Energy Services are also MCS certified.

How can we help?

If you have any questions or would like to speak to a member of staff or book a free, no obligation

issues please either call 01258 472132 or email info@totalenergy.co.uk

UK Removals

All houses great and small! A

provide the

Nothing says ‘Spain’ like paella!

PAELLA shouts fiesta – fun, sun, seafood and summer holidays – and, once you’ve spiced and flavoured your rice with stock, it’s so versatile with whatever you create on top.

I’m told my take on a paella is not authentic but it’s the one chosen most by my clients, so I apologise – particularly to my Spanish family!

If I’m making a paella for up to, say, 200 guests, I’ll cook the chicken thighs off in the oven first to be sure of a thorough cook and ask Kimi – my best kept secret, we laugh a lot at work – to fork all the meat off the bones.

I do low and slow in my commercial-size oven and forget about them for an hour at 160 degrees.

To prepare, let’s work on a gathering of 10, so this is a nice round number to double up, halve and so on.

Ingredients

Paella rice – 1kg bag

Cooking chorizo on a string – 1 or 2 – sliced up

Garlic bulb whole – bash up and rough chop

Ten butcher’s chicken thighs –for ultimate juice and flavour. Cook these off in the oven

Paella spices – buy ready mixed

One red chilli

5 lemons – 10 wedges for garnish – the other lemons for juice

Bunch flat leaf parsley

Large, strong roll-on tin foil

Fishmonger – or supermarket

freezer section

250g mussels

250g clams

250g of king prawns

Fish bones – for stock – or buy

fish stock cubes

10 cooked head-on, tail-on extra large prawns for garnish

Or the seafood of your choice

150g samphire for the ultimate sea asparagus!

Prepare to layer

TO get the oil and therefore the flavour from the chorizo, I throw it first into the paella pan, then my shredded chicken thighs – or keep whole if preferred. Then toss in the garlic and quickly pour in the rice and toss it around in the oils.

Generously sprinkle over the paella spices and get the first 2 litres of stock in the pan. It’ll

Time for Afternoon Tea

Take some time for yourself with our our sensational Afternoon Tea – a selection of seasonally inspired finger sandwiches, savoury treats, and mouthwatering sweet treats.

Our Afternoon Tea includes a choice of speciality loose-leaf teas or coffee, or add on a glass of Champagne for extra sparkle!

Afternoon Tea £30pp served Saturday and Sunday from 2pm – 4pm.

What’s next?

Sign up to our newsletter for details of forthcoming events. Find details on our website.

hiss and steam but will settle quickly. Add the smaller prawns. Give it all a stir and leave it to settle and cook with a tin foil lid tightly pulled over the pan – two or three sheets may be needed to make it fit round.

A big difference between paella and risotto is that stock is added and stirred continuously with a risotto, whereas paella is more of a “cake”, and it can be left to stand soaking up the stock.

Take off the foil

Then – the fun bit – scatter over the mussels, clams and giant prawns, and the lemon wedges, into a pattern of your choice.

Put the foil back on after adding a layer of stock – this will then steam open the shells of the mussels and clams.

After a couple of minutes, reveal the paella and scatter a couple of handfuls of samphire

Paella is a versatile dish

and sliced red chilli for a dash of colour, and scatter flat leaf parsley.

Serve with dressed green salad and crusty bread.

Vegetarian

MAKE it colourful with yellow courgette, red peppers and different green beans! Use a vegetable stock, layer the flavours and textures and get a nice bit of caramelisation on the vegetables to add flavour. Garnish with parsley and lemon wedges.

n Annie des Forges, director/ chef The Table Bruton; Annie Austin, director, host and concierge Somerset Roadtrip.

WIMBORNE BID has announced details of a new food festival being held in the town on Saturday, September 14.

Organised by a group of local businesses, the festival will take place around the town between 11am and 4pm, with Willow Walk and East

Street among the locations.

At Willow Walk, a marquee will host free food demos and talks from an array of foodie specialists and local businesses.

There will also be deliciously tempting food stalls with samples to try before visitors buy.

East Street will be closed for the day to create a buzzy café culture with al fresco street dining, live music and food tastings.

A self-guided food walk route featuring many of the town’s food outlets, organised by Salamander Cookshop, will also be on offer.

Participants can eat their way around town and meet some of Wimborne’s specialist food retailers, who will be on hand to give a flavour of what they are about.

Anyone interested in taking part in the new Wimborne Food Festival, should email BID manager Tammy Sleet at office@wimborne.info. blackmorevale.net

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

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

SMART PHYSIO

Treatment in your own home!

Bad back? Stiff neck? Aching knee? Stiff Hip? Bad ankle? Shoulder pain?

Eating to balance the ups and downs

by Daisy Campbell

YOU may be bored to tears with the mention of balancing your blood sugar, but for me, after giving up sugar, gluten and dairy, this was the cherry on the cake!

When I first started to learn about blood sugar and what was going on inside me every time I had a spike or a dip, it became clear as to why it can have such an impact on mood, energy, hormones and preventing future diseases.

After being a little dismissive of it, I was encouraged to eat in this new way for six weeks, as part of my training to be a health coach, to see how I felt and to feel the effects.

the blood sugar stable. So, for example, the ideal snack would always combine some protein if possible, an apple with some nuts, or some hummus and carrots.

It’s not that we can’t enjoy lots of fruit and the odd white jacket potato, but if you combine it with some protein and reduce the amount, it will do wonders. Eventually we dip and what do we crave when we dip? Certainly not a handful of spinach! Our body is desperate for glucose to bring our blood sugar up again, so what we crave is carbohydrate and sugar. When you eat to balance the blood sugar, you will crash and dive much less, therefore avoiding the desperate Mars bar purchase.

The main changes for me, were swapping white potato and rice for sweet potato and brown rice, including protein with every meal, and cutting out all processed food. Not only did I lose some weight, but my mood was more stable and I began to sleep much better.

To simplify, the fundamental rules are:

Making Everyday Life Easier

n No processed food.

n Swapping white potato, rice, bread and pasta for brown.

n Reducing sugar intake.

Do I need a Stairlift? – If you have difficulty getting up and down stairs you are not alone. Buying a stairlift can be a liberating investment, restoring safety and freedom to people with mobility problems.

Glucose is essential, it is the main fuel source for our brain, but eating the right kind and amounts, can help us to stay fuller for longer, healthier and more level throughout the day, with not so many highs and lows.

Protein and healthy fats do not impact our blood sugar and can, when combined with, let’s say a piece of fruit, help to keep

n Eating protein with every meal.

n Eating regularly.

Initiating one or two changes can help get you into the swing of things. You will begin to feel much better, calmer – and the jeans will be a little looser!

n Daisy Campbell is a certified health coach. For guidance and help to make changes, phone 07740 864616 or email daisydundas@yahoo.com.

Why choose us? – Suttons Stairlifts offer a range of new or refurbished stairlifts for straight or curved stairs throughout Dorset, Wiltshire and South West. We aim to provide an ethical, reliable and prompt service to our customers and have worked hard to establish an affordable and dependable service to be proud of. Thanks to personal recommendations from satisfied customers referring us to their friends and relations Suttons Stairlifts is now a well-established company committed to providing expert advice with a no-pressure selling policy, guaranteed!

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

We also offer fast and efficient repairs as well as annual services to keep your stairlift running as smoothly as the day it was installed.

www.belinda-roberts.co.uk 07702 681264

What happens next? – We will visit you to survey the staircase leaving the leaflets and prices so you can make the decision in your own time.

With our inclusive and comprehensive 12 or 24 month warranty you be assured of a first-class and personal service from Suttons Stairlifts.

Health & Wellbeing

Meditations in nature: Insects of the rainforest

by Susanna Curtin

IT is a hot sultry, July day. I am lying on my lawn watching the swifts swirl high above me with their sickle-shaped wings cutting through the air at speed as they pursue the aerial plankton – the mosquitoes, flying ants, aphids and spiderlings which make up their diet. Insects are such an important part of the food chain. I am glad we pay them more attention now than we have in the past. Suddenly I am aware of my stinging feet and I look down with horror as they are alive with red ants. Shifting away from their nest, the steamy weather and the ants remind me of my travels in Sumatra and how we coped with the myriad of stinging and biting insects we encountered there. After a rummage through my office, I have found the travel log that I had kept.

It all began with an arduous and somewhat miserable car journey from Medan, the capital city of North Sumatra, to our research hut by the river Besilang at Sikundur. The scenery didn’t alter much apart from the changing shape of the mountains in the distance. Behind a ribbon of houses that lined the road, rubber, banana, but mostly palm oil plantations, ranged from small individual plots to enormous foreignowned, gated enterprises. Where once there had been rainforest, now there was only a monoculture of export crops that depressingly stretched for mile after mile. At the end of the road at Tekong, a wooden dug-out boat awaited us to take us further upriver to find our research station – literally just an old wooden hut with a veranda that was a remnant of the 1970s loggers. On this first night at the station, I am introduced to the plethora of insects that I am to share the next few weeks with –

Susie Curtin was based in a research hut by the river Besilang at Sikundur in Sumatra and remembers all sorts of wildlife

mosquitoes, leeches, colourful spiders complete with their babies, ants, praying mantis and moths. This, it seems, is an entomologist’s paradise.

The next day we set off for the long journey upstream to find and map the last remnants of primary rainforest. We would set up camp there and survey the orangutans who desperately cling on to life in what remains of their home. The rainforest around the riverbed is, by its very nature, secondary forest –not only cleared by logging but also by virtue of the fact that it lines the ever-changing riverbed. I was perched between a sack of rice and the tents as our narrow dug-out boat continued its voyage, until, that is, the river became too shallow, and we had to walk. We spread out, lost in our own thoughts. There were blue distant mountains, dark luscious canopies, green and turquoise waters and ever-changing light.

Several varieties of kingfishers – white-throated, black-capped, collared and common – led the way, so, too, did purple herons and sprightly grey wagtails. There was an occasional crested serpent eagle perched high on the riverside watching and waiting for shoals of fish, and lone male wild elephants foraging in full view – we held our breath as we walked slowly past them, as lone male elephants can be quite dangerous. The calls of long tailed-macaques, gibbons and Thomas’ langur monkeys echoed through the trees reminding us that we were entering their territory.

Unlike in popular television programmes like “I’m in the Jungle, get me out of here”, scientists who work in the rainforest are not clad in shorts and bikini tops. Instead, we are covered from the top of our necks to our wrists with only our faces and hands on show. Even

so, that first night in my tent, my sheets become covered in my blood from the leeches that had latched on to my clothing and found their way to my flesh. I very quickly learned not to make a fuss but to let them feed until they dropped off naturally.

Despite the spiky ant-laden vegetation, the vines that grabbed you and the leeches, there was incredible beauty. The jewel in the crown for me was the abundance of butterflies. By the end of the expedition, I must have seen nearly 80 different species from the tiniest to those the size of birds.

Putting my logbook down now, I look around my garden and at the soft, gentle beauty of its flowers. I am glad that I have such great adventures, but then I am also equally content here in the tranquillity of an English summer and its busy, innocuous insects.

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

Tank hero’s possessions help tell his astonishing story

MEMENTOES from one of the most incredible heroes of World War Two who lost an entire squadron of tanks in one action have been donated to the Tank Museum.

Lt Col Jack Prichard DSO MC had an astonishing war and now some of his most personal possessions will remain at the award-winning Dorset attraction.

Prichard’s war involved fighting Germans in north Africa, capture, escape, fighting with Italian partisans, escaping to Switzerland, swerving internment, and returning to Italy to help finish off the Nazis.

Now his Popeye mascot, which was attached to the front of his tank, swagger stick, sweetheart brooch, fake identity papers along with photos and other documents have been donated by his daughter.

The Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) hero joined up in the 1930s and served in India before being sent to north Africa after war was declared.

There he fought fiercely especially at the Siege of Tobruk for which he was awarded the Military Cross.

He lost 17 tanks and the whole regiment was captured, but luckily for Jack the German officer in charge had been a drinking buddy of his in Maidenhead before the war and ensured he and the men had food and water.

Prichard was held in an Italian camp and after the Italian surrender in September 1943 he broke out with almost everyone else.

While his comrades were captured, Prichard hid and moved around Italy for months, living on sweet chestnuts that he loathed for the rest of his life.

He met with sympathetic Italians, had false documents made, travelled on trains and drank in bars.

Finally he ended up fighting with the partisans against Germans and fascist Italians.

Ultimately the Germans sent 16,000 troops to the area and Prichard escaped to Switzerland where he was due to be interned for the rest of the war.

He was put in custody but due to the connections of his father he was appointed Aide-De-Camp to Lady Mountbatten on her visit to the country.

When he saluted her off on her aeroplane she asked whether he was coming too, so he

jumped aboard and flew to Paris where he had drinks at the Ritz.

After 42 days leave he was back in Italy fighting the Germans in terrain he knew very well.

During that period he commandeered a lorry of oranges from the US with the intention of giving them to his old partisan pals.

One Italian thought he was a German spy, and he was subsequently detailed to be shot.

Fortunately Jack’s superiors sorted out the situation and that evening Prichard was drinking with the senior US officer who hours earlier had wanted him executed.

For his efforts during this period he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). He stayed in the army until retirement in 1957.

His daughter Lacy, who has found the items, said: “He was a gregarious man who got on with everyone and that was important in a tank because you were all together in a tiny space.

“When he returned home after escaping our mother Eilleen – his future wife – heard he had come back and knocked on his door.

“On hearing the knocks he leapt behind the sofa to hide – a hangover from his months on the run.

“When he went on holiday to Italy in the 1960s he stopped at a petrol station and was recognised by one of the partisans he had been fighting with.

“He would never have considered himself a hero, but just someone doing his job. And there were hundreds – if not thousands – of people with similar stories.

“He was a family man and mum was his rock. He also loved the Royal Tank Regiment and what better place is there for his things than the museum?”

James Donaldson from the museum who has further researched the man said: “This is an incredible story.

“It sounds like a plot from a film but Jack was very much a real hero, fighting in

several theatres of war.

“He lost an entire squadron during one action in the desert and was highly decorated for his fighting at the Siege of Tobruk and later fighting in Italy.

“His capture by an old German drinking friend, escape, time on the run, joining the partisans, getting to Switzerland and then travelling to Paris for drinks at the Ritz is quite the tale.

“And then he went back and fought up Italy until the end of the war in Europe.

“It is extremely generous of the family to donate these items which help tell Jack’s incredible story.

“He was a tank man through and through and with so few of his generation surviving these mementoes become even more poignant.”

Jack and Eilleen married in 1948 when he gave her the RTR sweetheart brooch, which is one of the objects donated.

They had three daughters and the couple retired to the Isle of Wight from Iver in Buckinghamshire.

Jack worked with the Royal British Legion and the Old Comrades’ Association. He died on June 12, 1993, aged 80.

Lt Col Jack Prichard DSO MC joined up in the 1930s

CLASSIFIED ADS

ENECSYS MICROINVERTERS

12 pre-used units (SMI-240-60) plus cables £150. Tel: 01935 813316

CAR BOOT MOBILITY SCOOTER, as new, £450 ono. Tel: 01935-814440

MARQUEE - LARGE, CANVAS, with coloured decorative interior in good condition. 8m x 5m. £100. 01963 33388.

LARGE DFS SOFA, Chaise Longe one end. adjustable head rest. soft white with mushroom colour trim. +foot-stool. Lovely condition. £500. Tel: 07970-568679

VANTAGE MOBILITY SCOOTER. £500. Tel: 07789-555769

ITALIAN LEATHER SOFA plus armchair. Unused. Cost £2,500. Will accept £1,000 ONO. 01963 31072.

PINE CORNER UNIT, top glass door. £80. Tel: 07790-668303

BEKO FREEZER 55cm. Frostfree, 3 Drawers. Periodically used only since 2020. £150 ono - 07833-508248

CARAVAN FOR SALE. Fleetwood. Needs a bit of attention. £500 ono. Tel: 07580-958034

FREE CLASSIFIED ADS

FREEZER - UNDER COUNTER.

500mmW. 6 month use only. £50. 07874 651394. Gillingham.

LADIES SHOES. Cushion comfort. Size 4. Black. Brand new. £12. Buyer collects. Please call 01722 335258 after 4pm.

BEDSPREAD DOUBLE AMBER STRIPES designer bernat klein £15. 07879-880-250

HOTPOINT BUILT-IN DOUBLE OVEN. Current model DD2540BL. Exc con minimal use only, replaced by range cooker. Bargain £65. 07976 937830

TWO KITCHEN BAR STOOLS. Metal legs and grey upholstery No defects £50 - 07484-697567

SOFA AND CHAIR. Two/three seater. Excellent condition. £50. 07588 053555.

COFFEE MACHINE. Tassimo by Bosch Joy Pod. Hardly used. As new £20. Tel: 01963 33160

LONG RANGE RADIO ANTENNA for FM reception. Like new £20 wth AIWA FM tuner. Tel 07963 319751

HUT/SHED. Ideal for logs/tools/bikes etc. 2mx1m, large enough for lawn mowers etc. Made from alluminim sheets. £45. 01747-840835.

LADIES RALLY ALASKA MOUNTAIN BIKE. 21 gears. £30. 07702-003739

VACCUUM CLEANER WITH TOOLS. As new. Buyer to collect. £40. 07794476967

MATCHBOX LABELS, large collection, offers. Tel: 07729-667106

G Clamps 12 INCH Heavy Duty clamps x3 by Record, England in good condition £40 ono.14 lb sledgehammer £10 Tel 07891 987809

INCUBATOR CURFEW in working order 4 shelves + 3 extra £ 35 .00 07743-731685

GARDEN HAMMOCK with metal stand. Very good condition. Ideal for lazy days in the garden. £40 07707 112910

VICTORIAN BRASS FIRE guard with accessories. £40. Tel: 07791-847767

LARGE WOODEN 2 STOREY

Rabbit Hutch. Reasonable condition as kept inside. Will dismantle. Buyer collects. £40 ono. Tel: 01747-811702

MORPHY RICHARDS Clarity Soupmaker, model 501050. Brand new. £35.00. Tel: 07851 408667

3 GOOD 14580R13 TYRES, wheels, hubs on trailer frame (rusted but towable) £50. Tel: 01258-830247

PETROL LAWNMOWER 53cm cut. Self-propelled with Briggs & Stratton engine. In good working condition. £45. Tel: 07484 898707

FOLDING LADDER/ WORK PLATFORM, aluminium good condition £30. 01963 33388

SUPERKING FOGARTY 13.5 tog duvet, polyester fill, 2 sets of superking cotton covers and pillowcases. £45 01747 229773

CHOICE OF THREE PLUM TREES. Strong pot grown, 3-4yrs, 6-8ft bush, Victoria, Czar and Margories Seedling. Certified. Discontinued project. £12.ea or £30 for 3. Tel: 01935 834270

PANASONIC TV, 43” GWO £50. Tel: 07447-903276

MOTHERCARE STAIR GATE. As new £15. Tel: 01963-250895

CHRISTOW 4 section poly growtunnel. Reinforced Zip opening cover for easy access. 260cms x 60cms x 50cms. Brand new. £25.00. Gillingham 01747 825790.

FARM TIPPER TRAILER. Good iron work. Twin wheels. Metal sides but needs a new floor. £50. 07770-778740.

A SET OF 4 HENSELITE Outdoor Lawn Bowls, size 5, in a box. £20. 07707-596857

YOUNG BORAGE PLANTS. Some already in bud. Great for attracting pollinators. Text 07974 194747

SINGER SEWING ELECTRIC MACHINE. With carrying case. Good order. £35. Tel: 01258-455700

BEIGE CORDUROY SOFA BED. £50- vgc, buyer collects 01258857787 (Spetisbury).

HOTPOINT ICED DIAMOND Fridge. Perfect condition, £35. Collect from DT10 1LR. Phone: 07720 770404.

A TRAY OF 6 OR 4 MINITURE/ SMALL HOSTA’S (£12 & £10) Also individual miniture small and medium hosta’s. £4. Tel: 01963-371315

INDESIT FREEZER, 6ft, 7 drawers. 3years old. £50. buyer collects. Sturminster Newton. Tel: 01258-471126

IKEA 6 DRAWER CHEST OF DRAWERS. Malm, light wood veneer. £25. 07770 941622 (Mere area)

LARGE SQUARE BLUE GLAZED

POT heavy 24 inch wide 18 inches tall bargain £50 call Chris 07526-341-536

TEVION DIGITAL MINI SATELLITE

System with TV . Can email pics if required. Used for caravan but can be used anywhere, £35. 01747 812569

UNDER COUNTER FRIDGE, hardly used, excellent condition, 85cm height, £50. Tel: 07739-518404

MOUNTAIN BIKE. Steel frame (medium). 21 speed Shimano gears, front/rear suspension, Good condition £40. 01747 83 88 82.

PRE OWNED IKEA DISPLAY

CABINET with stand , overall 180 cm , display 100cm w134cm. £25.00 07973-424725

BOOKCASE WOODEN, h 200cm, w 90cm, d 24cm, 6 shelves. £45. Tel 01963-362041.

PUPPY TRAINING PADS x4. 60x90cm. Reusable/washable. £25.00 - 07762 818114

TEFAL ELECTRIC FRYER. Unused, still boxed. £5. Ladies clothes size 16-18. knit-wear and tops etc. mostly still packaged. £10. Tel: 01963-23477

FOR SALE HALF GLAZED PINE CUPBOARD H. 18cm W. 84cm D.30cm £50 01963-371381

SAMSUNG FLAT SCREEN TELEVISION 38” good working order. £20 Tel. 07543679877 Blandford area

DINING TABLE AND CHAIRS good condition table always protected with cover, Tel 01963 363674/07789930553

FRIDGEMASTER, 80/20 FridgeFreezer, grey. 46”/117cm high, cost £200. used 3months only. £50. Tel: 01747-811464

BUTLER SINK 60 x 45cm, No chips/cracks, Suitable workplace/ garden, £15 07786-823393 Blandford

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

MOTS – class 4,5 and 7

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

Bodyshop

Diagnostics

Bodyshop also available.

Air conditioning Valets

MOTs – class 4, 5 and 7

MOTS – class 4,5 and 7

Courtesy Cars

Diagnostics Air Conditioning

Collections within a 5 mile radius

Courtesy Cars

Diagnostics 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 Blandford DT11 8ST Tel: 01258 459798 Email info@sunriseservicecentre.com www.sunriseserviceandmotcentre.com

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

Email sunriseservicecentre@hotmail com www.sunriseserviceandmotcentre.com

2015 (15) Citroen Berlingo 1.6HDi XTR 5 Seat MPV 5dr. 115bhp, diesel, 5 speed manual gearbox, high seating, tip tumble rear seats, big boot space, split opening tailgate, parking sensors, hill start assist, sliding side doors, seat back trays, rear window blinds, cambelt has been replaced, upto 55mpg economy, 79,900 miles ..........................................................£7850

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 & upto 65mpg economy, only 34,200 miles .................................£8950

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

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 (56) Renault Clio 1.2 Campus 3dr. 60bhp, petrol, 5 speed manual gearbox, only 71,500 miles, full history, last owner 15 years, new MOT, cambelt replaced at 55k miles, bargain clearance car, only 71,500 miles .............................................................................................£1950

2017 (17) Vauxhall Astra 1.4 SRi 5dr. 100bhp, petrol, 5 speed manual gearbox, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, parking sensors, pre-collision assist, sign recognition, 63,600 miles ............................................... £7650

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

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

Petrol station plans

THE Morrisons filling station in Wincanton could be extended –and the car wash demolished – if new plans are approved.

Planning firm Carney Sweeney, on behalf of Motor Fuel Group (MFG), has submitted plans to Somerset Council that would see the Southgate Road petrol station redeveloped.

The scheme would see a single-storey extension of the shop into space created by the demolition of the car wash.

It was part of “MFG’s proposals to upgrade facilities across their portfolio of Morrison petrol filling stations”, the application said.

The extension of the kiosk/shop would “provide an improved offer to visiting motorists”, it said.

The changes would see the internal area of the kiosk/shop extended from the current 92 sqm to 242 spm, the plans said.

For more details, and to comment on the plans, log on to somerset.gov.uk and search for application reference 24/01293/ FUL.

2006 TOYOTA COROLLA, 1.6petrol, manual, 5dr hatchback, Full Toyota service history. 91500 miles. 1 owner from new. £1,250.00. 01258-861323

LISTER STATIONERY ENGINE on iron wheels. £350 ONO. 01258-473695 6pm.

1 PAIR MG CAR SEATS, 1 pair Ford Escort car seats, 1 pair Smart car seats. ring for further details. 07508-230574

1972 LATE BAY VW CAMPERVAN, cream. Excellent condition, fully rebuilt engine, power steering, electronic ignition, dormobile style roof (great for standing room) - very well invested in. Extensive service history, MOT. Call 07867 802070

UNWANTED VEHICLES

bought for cash ●Mot failures ●Nonrunners ●Unfinished projects ●end of life scrap vehicles ●minimum of £200 paid for complete vehicles. Call Ryan on 07474 737577

CARAVAN SENITOR. Bailey. 2 berth. Ring for more details 07704-290980.

FOR SALE. VW CADDY.

09 Plate. 1.9 Diesel. 146,000 Miles. Blue. Selling due to retirement. Gillingham 07913180213

1999 PEUGEOT BOXER MOTOR HOME. 2.5diesel. Talisman, GX. MOT July ‘25. 2berth. cooker, hob, fridge, shower. All very good condition. New cam belt, brakes & tyres. 3000 miles ago. Solar Panels, AC, new wind- out awning. VGC, inside and out. Only 67k miles. £12500 ono. Tel: 07902-171422.

STORAGE FOR CARAVANS, boats and cars at Enford Farm near Blandford. 01258 450050 / 07704 813025

OLD, INTERESTING & CLASSIC CARS wanted pre 1990s Any condition including unfinished projects Cash/Transfer. Please Phone Paul 07890 096907

BIRTHDAYS

Happy 60th Birthday to our dearest friend!

Loads of love from Len, Jane, Mella & Nathan

CLASSIFIEDS

To place a local event advert call Rachelle Cooper 01963 400186

IN MEMORIAM

LANGDON VERONICA HELEN

Remembering your birthday Veronica on July the 25th. I wish that I could wish you “Many Happy Returns” in person.

Your loving husband Richard xxx

Jacqueline Harrop

July 29th will mark 10 years since my lovely wife Jackie passed away. I miss her every day. Taken far too soon. Love Ron.

PUBLIC NOTICES

Licensing Act 2003.

Notice of application for the GRANT of a PREMISES LICENCE.

Proposed licensable activities: On-line sales of alcohol delivered by courier on an overnight delivery service.

Name of applicant: The Dorset Meat Company. Address of premises: Unit 1B, Harding’s Business Centre, Henstridge BA8 0TF.

Date by which responsible Authorities and other persons may make representations: 16th August 2024

A record of the application made to the Licensing Authority will be kept on a register at the address given below and the register may be inspected during normal office hours. All representations regarding this application MUST BE IN WRITING and sent to: Somerset Council, Licensing Department, The Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil, Somerset. BA20 2HT. or email: licensing.south@somerset.gov.uk.It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application and is subject to an unlimited fine on summary conviction for the offence

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

MICHAEL AND LYN WALBRIDGEHappy 40th Wedding Anniversary

to a very much loved Mum & Dad, Granny & Grandad. 14th July 2024.

Love from all of the family xx

DEANNA WOULD LIKE TO THANK

everyone who attended Dennis’s funeral and for all of the kind messages and support. Also for the donations to St Nicholas Church Henstridge, amounting to £479.23.

DEATHS

Richard Brian Sheen

Sadly passed away on 10th July. Funeral service on 26th July at 2:30pm at St Andrews Church, Okeford Fitzpaine. Family flowers only.

JOYCE DEAVILLE

on 11th July, 2024 after a short illness aged 75 years, of Shaftesbury.

A much loved Aunt and a dear friend to many. A celebration of Joyce’s life takes place at Father’s House, Christy’s Lane, Shaftesbury on Thursday 25th July at 1.00pm. Everyone welcome.

Any enquiries to Merefield & Henstridge F/D Tel: 01747 853532.

Anthony Henry HURD

Of Marnhull. Husband of the late Joan Marilyn Ann Hurd. Passed away peacefully at home on 3rd July 2024 aged 81. Beloved Dad to Maria, Michael, Michelle, Kristian and Jonathon. Much loved Grandad, Brother, Uncle, Cousin and Father-in-law. Greatly & sadly missed by all who knew him, including friends & customers of Andrews Brothers in Marnhull & Stalbridge.

Private cremation service, family flowers only. Any donations please make in his memory to Weldmar Hospicecare Trust who helped to look after Joan.

DEATHS

MUNCKTON

Lionel Malcolm Thomas

Passed away suddenly at home in Sherborne on 21st June, aged 87 years. Much loved Dad, Grandad, Great-Grandad and Brother. Private Cremation.

(George) Colin Francis

From St James, Shaftesbury, died on Friday 12th July, peacefully in Salisbury Hospital after a very brief illness, aged 90. A much-loved cousin and friend to so many locally and around the world; his passing leaves a huge gap. A true Shastonian, who contributed much to his community, and a lover of life, who brightened the lives of those around him. Private cremation. A memorial gathering will be arranged in due course. Donations to remember Colin to St James’ Church, Shaftesbury

William Paul Chapman (Bill)

Passed away at home in Shaftesbury on 06/07/2024 aged 85 years.

A much loved husband to Rita, Father to Deborah, Jackie and his late son Paul, Daughter in Law Karen, Brother to Rosa, Grandfather, and great Grandfather. He will be missed by all his family and friends funeral will be held at St James Church Shaftesbury on 07/08/2024 at 11am Family Flowers only but donations can be made if desired. To make an online donation in memory of William please visit his Tribute site at: https://william-paul-chapman.muchloved.com/ Or send cheque made payable to Weldmar Hospice care or NARA The Breathing Charity, Co-operative Funeralcare, Greenacre house, Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury SP7 8BS Tel:01747 858968

Peter Baxandall

Beloved Husband and Father. Passed away peacefully on 24th June 2024 at Dorset County Hospital. Aged 86 years. Funeral Service has taken place. Friends of the family please make contact with Jane. Enquiries, c/o Colin J Close Funeral Service, Peel Close, Salisbury Road, Blandford DT11 7JU. Tel: 01258 453133

BETTY INGRAM

A celebration of Betty Ingram’s life will take place at The George in Mere on Friday 26th July at 2pm, sadly Betty passed away on May 18th in Cheshire. Colourful attire please

KING Pat.

Died peacefully at home on Wednesday 10th July 2024, aged 85 years. Much loved Mum, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother.

Funeral service on Monday 29th July 2024, 12 noon at St. Peter & St. Paul’s Church, Wincanton. Donations in memory of Pat for St. Peter & St. Paul’s Church, Wincanton.

All donations and enquiries to A. J. Wakely & Sons Funeral Directors, The Old Police Station, Carrington Way, Wincanton, Somerset, BA9 9JS. Tel: 01963 31310. Please make cheques payable to Wincanton P.C.C

PAMELA SEWELL

Peacefully on the 30th June 2024, aged 92 years. Beloved Wife of the late Leslie. Much loved Mum, Granny and Friend.

Funeral service at Yeovil Crematorium on Monday, 29th July at 11.20am.

Please wear something colourful to celebrate Pam’s life. If you are unable to travel to the crematorium the family invite you to join them at The Virginia Ash, Henstridge from 12.45pm No flowers please, donations if desired shared between the MS Society and Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Mons, High St, Henstridge, BA8 0RB. Tel: 01963 362570

DORETTE BARNETT

Peacefully at home on the 20th June 2024. Dorette aged 100 years of Marnhull. Widow of the late Revd Canon Norman Barnett. Much loved Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. Thanksgiving Service at St Gregory’s Church, Marnhull on Friday, 2nd August at 3pm. No flowers please, donations for The British Red Cross can be made via peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk or cheques payable to the charity may be sent to: Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Mons, High St, Henstridge, BA8 0RB. Tel: 01963 362570

Announcements

DEATHS

Davis Kenneth John

Peacefully on 10th July, aged 87 years.

A dearly loved brother, uncle and friend to many. Funeral service will take place at Yeovil Crematorium on Thursday 8th August, at 2:00pm

Richard ‘Dick’ Doherty

Passed away suddenly on 27 June, aged 86

Much loved partner of Lilian. Devoted father and grandfather.

Service will be held at St George’s Church, Langham Lane, Thursday 1 August at 12 noon

Family flowers only, but donations are welcome in Dick’s name to The Vale Pantry, a community charity in Sturminster (valepantry.co.uk)

MILES

Stephen Richard

Aged 71 years of Horsington. On 12th July 2024, suddenly but peacefully at his home. A much loved husband, father, grandfather and friend. Thanksgiving Service at St John the Baptist Church, Horsington on Tuesday 30th July at 2.p.m.

Donations in memory of Steve are being invited for The British Heart Foundation. C/O Harold F.Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone (01963) 440367

FOX Elizabeth Mary

Died peacefully on her birthday 26th June 2024 aged 77. Much loved wife of the late Nigel Fox, mother of Louisa, Tim and Victoria, Grandmother of Jonah, Eliza, Lyla and Finn, and sister of Michael, Patricia, Kathy and Sarah. A wonderfully kind lady, who will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.

Funeral service on Monday 22nd July 2024, 2.30p.m. at Mendip Crematorium.

Donations in memory of Elizabeth for Sightsavers may be sent c/o A. J. Wakely & Sons, The Old Police Station, Carrington Way, Wincanton, BA9 9JS. Tel: 01963 31310. Please make cheques payable to Sightsavers

FUNERAL

A J Wakely& Sons

J Wakely&

A J Wakely&

Sons

A J Wakely& Sons

Independent Family Funeral Directors

Independent Family Funeral Directors

J Wakely& Sons Independent Family Funeral Directors

Independent Family Funeral Directors

A

A

J Wakely

J

Independent Family Funeral Directors

&

Wakely& Sons

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse Wakely& Sons

Sons

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse A J Wakely& Sons Independent Family Funeral Directors

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

– 24 Hour Service –

– 24 Hour Service –

Sons Independent Family Funeral Directors

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

Independent Family Funeral Directors

– 24 Hour Service –

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

– 24 Hour Service –

available including our Land Rover Hearse

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Tel: 01935 816817 Tel: 01963 31310 Hour Service –

Pre-payment plans available

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Pre-payment plans available

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.

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 –

member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Pre-payment plans available

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

MODERN PENTATHLON

Jilly’s hot shot on world level

LASER-RUN ace Jilly Wallace, from Semley, has proved her class winning the World Champion Masters title at the World Championships in Zhengzhou, China.

Then in the European Championships in Madeira she won gold in three individual events and three team/relay events in the disciplines of triathle – run/swim/shoot; biathle – run/swim; and laser-run –run/shoot, all of which are part of the Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon.

Competitors sprint 600

metres, target shoot five bullseyes and swim 50 metres and repeat.

Jilly said: “It’s been a hectic season so far, but pretty much all goals reached.

“The swimming part is still quite new to me, I don’t have too much experience, but have been training early mornings at the Gillingham pool. “

“It was exciting going to new places to compete. China was really delightful and the locals were very welcoming.

“There was quite a bit of pressure in Zhengzhou

competing in a huge Olympic Stadium, but I’m sure it’s the same for all the competitors.”

Jilly’s husband, Robin, and South Brewham local Charlie Lane also competed in Madeira, taking 3rd place in the laser-run men’s team event.

They are all members of the Leweston Pentathlon Academy.

Shaftesbury Karate Club members celebrate their latest gradings

KARATE

GRADING was taken by the club’s leader John Dalton with the help of two of his black belts, Mike Taylor and his daughter Kerra. The students who were eligible to grade included Kenzy Baker and Oscar Hopkins both aged nine were grading for the first time and we’re both promoted to red belt.

Five-year-old John Chacon-Bradley was moved up to red belt plus 3 tabs as was 6-year-old Ollie Wylie and 11 year old Logan Willis.

10-year-old Toby Pritchard was moved up to green belt plus 1 tab, 11-year-old Archie Keats was moved up to green belt plus 2 tabs.

GOLF

Ladies shine at Sherborne

By Kath James

ON Saturday and Sunday, July 6 and 7, Sherborne lady golfers held their annual Club Championships. The weather was kind on Saturday, but Sunday proved difficult with thunder, lightning, rain and hail.

In spite of this the ladies battled on, and the eventual winner was Kim Kennedy.

Julie Whelan was runner up only three shots behind. Claire Woolley won the Tod Hillyer Salver, Sally Mead the Bronze Cup and Shirley Dark the Pat Swift Trophy.

Pictured are Kim Kennedy and Lady Captain Patricia Rawlins

Nine-year-old James Newman was given blue belt plus 1 tab, 14-year-old Lucy Holdcroft was given blue belt plus 2 tabs.

9-year-old Isaac Phipps was given purple belt plus 3 tabs.

22-year-old Ellie Dalton was promoted to 1st Dan black belt.

The club 27 student ranging from 5 to 52 years of age. Further information about the club can be found on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/shaftesburykarateclub.

FOOTBALL

Testing friendlies for The Rockies

By Avril Lancaster

THE Rockies were on the mark after two testing friendlies with a 3-0 win over Jewson Western League Premier Division Wellington AFC, who sportingly stepped in to fill a gap left due to Shaftesbury facing scheduled opponents Bournemouth FC in the FA Cup.

The game was an opportunity for joint managers Pat McManus and Jim Milligan and Wellington manager Richard Cherry to try out some options.

Step 5 Wellington held out well until Harry McGrath linked in Toby Bailey who’s shot deflected into the net in the 35th minute.

Bailey was felled and skipper Ash Wells converted a penalty 13 minutes from time with Danny Young wrapping it up in the 84th minute.

With Asa Phillips, Cameron Beard and Sam Davidson not playing due to next Saturdays game with new National League South side Salisbury the visitors to Cockrams Milligan and McManus will want everyone on their game against very strong opposition.

Jilly Wallace, from Semley, in action

Sarah feels the need – the need for speed!

SIDECAR racer Sarah Banister and her partner Tony Porter, from Templecombe, have their sights set on racing in the Isle of Man TT.

The pair raced for a season on an old Triumph machine but now have the use of a Formula 2 Suzuki MRE GSXR 600 sidecar.

That can travel at more than 160mph with a driver and passenger – otherwise known as a “monkey” – on board the three-wheeled machine or “outfit”.

Sarah “passengered” for her dad, Tony, for 11 years, motorsport playing a huge part in the life of her family.

She said: “For me, sidecar racing is in my blood, it’s part of who I am.

“My grandad raced grass track sidecars, my dad races a vintage sidecar and my mum, Sue, passengers at sprints and hill climbs.

“I have memories from being a young age growing up at race meetings surrounded by friends and family.

THE ‘OUTFIT’

“The moment I turned 16 years old, I applied for my passenger licence and have never looked back.

“I have raced with my dad all around the UK and parts of the world.

“We have competed in the classic pre-TT together on the Isle of Man, we have won the Belgian TT at Gedinne and have competed at hundreds of club meetings across the country.”

Partner Tony has also been a “passenger” for many years –throwing his body around the sidecar to balance it going into corners and crouching to aid air flow on the straights, all the time at high speeds, facing high G-forces.

The role has been compared to “rock climbing at 150mph”.

Racing brought Sarah and Tony together and they purchased a 1958 Triumph Thunderbird outfit and raced for a season with British Historic Racing Club (BHRC).

But the machine came with a “host of eccentricities”, Sarah said.

SIDECARS are not symmetrical, having two wheels in a line and one on the side, which makes cornering different for right hand and left hand bends.

Sidecars are powered by the single rear wheel and steered by the front wheel via small handlebars. They also have huge tyres and enormous car breaks. Formula 2 sidecars have 600cc bike engines that deliver about 130bhp and, with riders on board, weigh about 350kg.

“Completing that season came with many a challenge and a lot of late nights in the workshop between each meeting getting the outfit back in one piece and ready for the next,” she added.

“That said, we had great fun. We learned a lot about our sport and made lifelong friends.”

The pair wanted to step up a gear and were fortunate to be lent their F2 sidecar by Paul and Ange Riley, from Pilton in Somerset – Paul has been racing in the British sidecar championship for several years.

Sarah said: “We have completed five race meetings on our new machine so far and we are loving every second – it has solidified the knowledge that the TT is where we want to be, and we are going to try everything we can to make sure we get there.

“Our sport requires a lot of hard work and dedication, especially to get to the top, but there is nothing quite like riding a race machine with a mind of

its own which doesn’t like to go where you point it.

“We wouldn’t change it for the world, and we are going to work hard and race hard to achieve our dream.”

They have been travelling the country every other weekend throughout the summer months to get to race meetings and would like to thank Paul and Ange, Fine Cut Developments, Kingsbeech and GreaseApe –which is sponsoring them for their first season – and the race family for all the help they have had so far in their short race career.

To keep up with Sarah and Tony’s progress, find them on Facebook and Instagram at Sarah Banister Racing

Sherborne RFC chair on secrets of club’s successes

AFTER Northampton won the Premiership Cup Final in July, Tom James from Chetnole became the third Sherborne RFC player to win a English Cup final.

We spoke to chair Mike Trew to find out what their recipe is for producing winners. Sherborne has now produced three Premiership winners. What’s your secret?

“The club measures success by the number of people who turn out to train each

week. Every game is must enjoy. England play ‘must win’, Sherborne play ‘must enjoy’. We have a great atmosphere within the club and value every team and we have 14 teams all equally important.”

Do you have a particular ethos your youth teams follow?

“Like all community clubs we rely on volunteers to coach and manage the different teams.

“We’ve been exceptionally lucky to attract brilliant coaches who give their time for free. We had Mike Davis a former England Grand Slam Coach who helped coach every different age group and its been a strength of the club for many years.”

How full is your own trophy cabinet at the moment?

“We don’t measure success by trophies though we have a few.”

Sarah Banister at the wheel with her “passenger” partner Tony Porter (above) and (right) in the workshop

Why should I vaccinate my dog for Leptospirosis?

by Lynn Broom Longmead Veterinary Practice

LEPTOSPIROSIS is caused by a bacteria which causes multiple organ failure and is often fatal if treatment is not initiated quickly, particularly in unvaccinated dogs. It is caught from contact with infected urine.

It can be difficult to identify and treatment is often initiated if leptospirosis is suspected. Unfortunately, it can present as general lethargy, reduced appetite and vomiting, which is very non-specific and many dogs present with this due to gastroenteritis. Confirmation that infection is or was present can take weeks.

Different forms – serovars – of leptospirosis have different sources and can cause different symptoms. The liver or the kidneys are usually targeted, and symptoms relate to the affected organs.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic

infection – known as Weils

Disease in humans – and nonsymptomatic infected dogs can excrete the bacteria putting in contact humans and dogs at risk. Experimental studies showed significantly reduced shedding in vaccinated dogs –but only to the serovars they are vaccinated against.

The immunity to leptospirosis has been shown in studies to last 12 months although, in some individuals, may last up to 15 months – annual boosters are, therefore, recommended. Measuring antibodies does not predict immunity because dogs with high antibodies may have been exposed to recent infection and low levels can be present even when effective immunity exists. Most studies are based on experimental infections and may not represent immunity to naturally existing infection.

There is very little “cross immunity” between serovars. Bivalent vaccines – known as

BUSYPETZ

EVERYTHING FOR OUR FURRY FRIENDS

Dog, cat and small animal food. Grain-free, vegetarian, frozen, gluten & sugar-free chews, natural treats. Soft toys, leather toys, leads & collars, coats, cool & heat pads, veterinary bedding, shampoo, towels...even microchipping! Come and get your wild bird food for the winter.

Friday 9am to 5pm & Saturday 10am to 1pm. oad Robin, Gillingham SP8 4PJ, opposite the Onestop ailable. Email: enquiries@busypetz.co.uk .busypetz.co.uk Facebook: Busypetz

COMPULSORY MICROCHIPPING for Cats & Dogs 2024 – book yours now - call or pop in store Check-a-chip service is free Call: 01747 706152

L2 – cover two servovars – canicola and icterhaemorrhagiae. Canicola is much less common now – it is shed by dogs and vaccination has significantly lowered its incidence – but other serovars have become more prevalent and quadrivalent vaccines – known as L4 – are now available and include four of the more common serovars identified in the UK. Dogs vaccinated against L2 becoming infected with another serovar will become as unwell as an unvaccinated dog.

There are unsubstantiated concerns regarding L4 vaccines

FOR SALE BLACK LABRADOR BITCH. 7 years old. Retired working dog looking for a nice home. Microchipped and worming up to date. Friendly with children and people in general. Good with other dogs. Please call for more details 07800-755862

C.B. Brett & Son Pet & Wildlife

Dog - Wet, Dry & Frozen Food Cat - Wet & Dry Food

Bird/Hedgehog/WildlifeFood, Feeders & Accessories

Old Market Car Park, Hound St, Sherborne, DT9 3AB 01935 812107

having an increase in vaccination reactions compared to L2. Recorded reactions are two in 10,000 (0.0002%) for L2 and 7 in 10,000 (0.0007%) for L4. This is not a statistically significant difference. It is a similar risk to you developing anaphylactic shock, an astthma attack, or a bleed on the brain after taking an aspirin tablet – it can happen, but it probably won’t (Harris 2018).

Please discuss any concerns you have with your vet so that you can protect your dog in the most appropriate way for your situation.

CUDDLES FOR CATS reliable cat sitting in your home.

Jacqui 07791-198679 ADORABLE PEMBROKE CORGI PUPPIES Tricolour. Parents fully health tested and hip scored. KC registered. 07484-679645 CLASSIFIEDS

To place a local event advert

Multiple organ failure caused by leptospirosis is often fatal

Animal rescue CEO gets ‘ruff’ for appeal

THE CEO of an animal rescue charity slept ‘ruff’ in Dorset as part of a fundraising effort.

Ferne Animal Sanctuary, in Chard, Somerset, has rescued, rehabilitated, or rehomed around 40,000 animals since it first opened, in 1939.

However, it is facing a financial crisis and is raising money in a bid to remain open.

Chief Kevan Hodges said the centre had experienced “unprecedented financial pressures” in the past few years.

So, between June 19 and 25, Mr Hodges camped near seven of the charity’s shops, including Sidmouth and Honiton in Devon, and in Dorchester.

“Anybody that knows me would know this is the last thing I would do, because I like my creature comforts, so this was a big challenge for me,” he said.

“We’ve had several incidents this year with animals abandoned in taped up boxes, in the middle of nowhere, or on the side of main roads, just soaked through.

“My challenge was not meant to copy that, because I’ve got a tent and a sleeping bag. I can look after and fend for myself, these animals cannot.

“They’re unwanted, utterly helpless and at that time, friendless.”

His efforts were not in vain, raising more than £3,500 for the appeal so far.

For more details, and to donate, log on to www.justgiving.com/ page/ceochallenge-2024.

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

FAMILY HOUSE KEEPING HELP REQUIRED 3 days a week, 8 hours/day. £15/hour Bayford area. Call Alex 07710-102917

Independent Boarding and Day School for Pupils aged 4 -18 GSA/CISC

ICT Technician

Driver Required

PA R T T I M E ,

T

E R M T I M E O N LY

We are looking for a friendly and energetic ICT Technician to join our team providing a customer facing professional service to all our users. The post holder will be supported in their work programme by the IT Manager.

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 be required to learn new skills quickly with strong problem-solving skills and most importantly you will have strong people skills and be able to develop good working relationships within the school. An ability to be able to communicate effectively and explain problems to non-technical users is essential.

An understanding of the following is required:

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

• Microsoft Server and Workstation operating systems, Active Directory, User Management, and Group Policy Management.

• Microsoft 365 Administration

• IP networking infrastructures and wireless systems

• PC Hardware

• Printers, whiteboards, projectors and other peripherals

Knowledge and understanding Hyper-V would also be beneficial

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 An enhanced DBS check will be undertaken by the School Closing date: 15th August 2017

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: Friday 2nd August

Independent Boarding and Day School for Pupils aged 4 -18 GSA/CISC

Early Years Practitioners

Driver

Full Time/Part Time (Permanent & Temporary Cover)

Leweston School is seeking part-time enthusiastic and committed Early Years Practitioners (permanent & maternity cover) to join our thriving Nursery, which offers high quality childcare and education. We offer highly competitive rates of pay (£11.44 per hour for NVQ Level 2 qualified & £12.16 per hour for NVQ Level 3 qualified) and generous holiday allocations in addition to a package of benefits which includes; delicious meals for staff and use of leisure facilities.

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

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

Working within our friendly and professional team, this is an opportunity for well-qualified practitioners to help create a nurturing and stimulating environment for children aged 0 - 4 years. The ideal candidates will have a good working knowledge of the EYFS, strong communication skills and a passion to be an exceptional Early Years Educators. We are committed to the professional development of our staff and there will be opportunities for progression.

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

Applicants should be qualified to either NVQ Level 2, NVQ Level 3 or equivalent, experience of working in a similar role is desirable. The position is full-time, part-time, permanent or temporary, hours to be agreed with the Nursery Manager. Hours of work are between 7.30am and 6.15pm, Monday – Friday, in accordance with the duty shift rota.

An enhanced DBS check will be undertaken by the School Closing date: 15th August 2017 Independent Co-educational Boarding and Day School Nursery Prep Senior Sixth Form The Society of Heads/CISC

For further information and to download an application form please visit our website: https://www.leweston.co.uk/explore- leweston/our-people/

Closing date: 2nd August 2024

Recruitment

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 07749-989624

GENERAL TRADES PERSON, Kingston Lacy Estate, Wimborne. Full time, fixed term contract of 1 year. Salary £26,000pa. The National Trust is looking for a skilled trades person to work on historic properties across the estate. For further information please visit careers.nationaltrust.org.uk and search IRC154151.

Application closing date 28th July 2024

Part Time Housekeeper/Cleaner - Shaftesbury

15 hrs per week, 7am to 10am Mon-Fri, £10,209.32 pa

Ideally you will have previous housekeeping and cleaning experience in a similar environment and a passion for cleaning! You will work as part of a team carrying out a range of cleaning duties to contribute to the cleanliness in all areas of the site. This includes classrooms, bathrooms, office spaces and leisure facilities.

Our benefits include 31 days annual leave (pro rata), 10 % contributory pension, use of gym and pool (set times), Death in Service and Healthcare Plan. Call 01747 449 858 to request a full job description and application form or visit our website to apply online: https://coombehouseschool.org.uk/about/ recruitment/

Closing date for applications: Sunday 28 July 2024.

We are committed to safeguarding and expect everyone who works in our school (and visitors to our school) to share this commitment. We take all safeguarding and welfare concerns seriously and encourage our pupils to talk to us about any worries they may have. We will always act in the best interests of the child. The successfulapplicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS.

HOUSEMAN & HOUSEKEEPER NEAR BLANDFORD

FULL TIME DOMESTIC COUPLE REQUIRED (COULD SUIT TWO SINGLE INDIVIDUALS) RESPONSIBLE FOR A GRADE I LISTED PRINCIPLE DWELLING WHICH HAS BEEN FULLY REFURBISHED AND IS IN IMMACULATE ORDER. Full-time domestic couple required for an Estate near Blandford for a busy, professional family, with exacting standards. This could suit two single individuals, live in or live out.

Property maintenance duties include responsibility for the checking of all mechanical and electrical systems and audio-visual equipment, integrated technical equipment, checking and replenishing all consumables, pool maintenance, security, front of house duties, light repair work, driving and vehicle maintenance. The position will involve hosting and service of house parties, which will require for long hours on some occasions.

The essential requirements for both positions are flexibility, loyalty and discretion and the ability to work unsupervised, along with a clean full driving licence as some driving duties will be involved. A can-do attitude and a practical skill set are imperative for this hands on role. Competitive salary with live in accommodation available on the estate for the ideal candidates.

Start date as soon as possible.

Interested candidates should send a copy of their CV and a short letter explaining why they are suitable for the role to enquiries@fowlerfortescue.co.uk.

CLEANER REQUIRED. 4 hours per week. Donhead. Tel: 07709-579912

GENERAL FARM WORKER REQUIRED. Peckons Hill Farms, Ludwell (search ‘Robin Blatchford’ on YouTube). Considering full-time, part-time, employed, selfemployed. Roles include stock and general farm work. Wages dependant on experience. Email: henryblatchford2003@ gmail.com.

RELIABLE CLEANER REQUIRED. Two hours weekly. Preferably Wednesday am. Own transport. Near Sherborne. 07907-279473

HARVEST WORKER. We are looking for a FULL TIME harvest worker, July & August, Nr Coombe Bissett. Must have tractor driving experience. Immediate start. Please call; 07976-606599/ 01725-518297

Learning Support Assistant - Shaftesbury

(35 hrs per week, term time only, actual pro-rated salary range £22,169 to £24,005 per annum)

We would like to hear from you if you have a passion for supporting pupils with SEMH (social, emotional, and mental health) difficulties and those with a range of neurodiverse conditions including autism. Ideally you will have experience of working as a Teaching Assistant or Learning Support Assistant with children who have additional complex needs. We will consider Teaching Assistants from mainstream schools looking to further their career within Special Education and those with a passion for helping children and young people overcome barriers to learning.

Our staff benefits include 10 % contributory pension, use of gym and pool (set times), Death in Service and Healthcare Plan. Call 01747 449 858 to request a full job description and application form or visit our website to apply online: https://coombehouseschool.org.uk/about/recruitment/

Closing date for applications: Sunday 28 July 2024. We may commence interviews prior to the closing date, so please don’t delay in making an application.

We are committed to safeguarding and expect everyone who works in our school (and visitors to our school) to share this commitment. We take all safeguarding and welfare concerns seriously and encourage our pupils to talk to us about any worries they may have. We will always act in the best interests of the child. The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS.

With over 30 years’ experience across the Group, Acuity Care Group has continued to grow steadily, by providing both high quality and high acuity services throughout the UK.

WITH A LARGE INVESTMENT INTO NEW MACHINERY, WE ARE LOOKING TO HIRE MULTIPLE PEOPLE TO HELP DRIVE THE BUSINESS FORWARD INTO THIS EXCITING NEW CHAPTER…

We are looking for people with skills suited to working in the following areas;

• Warehouse personnel for order picking and processing

• Steel preservation and paint line operatives

• Saw operatives

Experience in these areas is preferred but not essential as full training will be provided.

Applicants must be highly safety conscious, accurate and reliable with the ability to work as part of a team as well as under own initiative.

These roles require a proactive attitude, ideal for someone that likes to take ownership for their workload.

To be trained on all machinery including :

• Overhead cranes

• Sideloader

• Counterbalance forklift

• Steel sawing systems

• Shot blast and paint line

• HGV training can be provided for the right candidate

Benefits include

➢ Free on-site parking

➢ Uniform and PPE provided

➢ Competitive salary

➢ Overtime opportunities

Looking for a career with a progressive future?

Please apply by email

Recruitment

Now recruiting in your area for September

SCHOOL MINIBUS DRIVERS

Do you enjoy driving?

Could this be your ideal part-time job?

Dorset Community Transport is a charity providing minibus

services throughout Dorset.

Part-time, split-shift term-time

shifts available for school routes vacancies, as well as casual/relief

No previous experience required. in your area.

Comprehensive training provided.

Candidates should have D1 on licence

Make a difference to people living in your community. for more details and to apply Visit ectcharity.bamboohr.com/jobs/ (check reverse of photocard) or PSV entitlement.

For queries call 01258 287 986

Full-Time Groom required at Ferne Park, Berwick St John

• Professionally ran family yard, with excellent facilities. Hunt horses, polo ponies and international showjumpers.

• Candidate must be capable of all usual yard duties, with meticulous attention to detail and a good can-do approach to everything.

• Accommodation on the estate provided if necessary.

• Start Date: September 2024

• 5 days a week & competitive Salary!

Please get in touch with addison.road@dmgt.co.uk if you are interested!

Sales Executive

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with a demonstrated ability and genuine passion for sales to join our friendly, busy o ce team based near Wincanton. 37.5 hrs per week, Mon-Fri. DL essential. Please contact christina@superplants.co.uk with your CV or to enquire about the position further.

Field & Stream

Fingers crossed for an April calf

by Tria Stebbing CONGRATULATIONS on

issue 100! Back along somewhere after we had all been locked up for the summer with a long-gone pandemic, I was asked to write a weekly smallholders blog about the ups and downs of managing a small rural idyl. At the time our flock of Zwartbles sheep was quite large and we had just lambed to the sound of the weekly clap for the NHS, naming one of the lambs Hulabaloo after the eerie sound of the clapping while she was being born.

The general idea is to bring some farming on a very small level into the homes of the people of north Dorset, explaining the “why” and “how” we do things. In issue 2 I wrote about the Flehmen response, which this week has been very evident on the hill with the hairy cows this week.

Following her fat-shaming in the cattle crush, Belle was given a hormone injection to make her slightly more willing to form a

special friendship with Sebastian. The vet informed us that it would take a few weeks to kick in. The Flehmen response is that look that animals get when they pull their top lip up. It is a response to odour and is helping them to process the information through smell, the gland that processes the smell is in the roof of the mouth, in Sebastian’s case he is processing Belle’s pheromones. He will be able to tell to the day whether she has come into season. There has been a definite shift in the group dynamics this week with Babybel spending more time grazing on his own away from the two adults. Fingers crossed for an April calf.

Our field is currently being grown to produce hay for the sheep and cows over winter. We need those five dry days badly now, unfortunately the heat has not been in the sun for long enough yet for us to cut. There was a brief window last week, but it really was touch and go,

with something as simple as a brief shower able to spoil the cut grass and render it useless. As the cows grazed the field last autumn, we have been blessed by nature doing her thing and have an abundance of wildflowers this year, not seen before, as well as thistle and clover. The cows do not mind the thistle, but it will need to be picked out if the sheep are to eat it. The tractors are ready, the mower serviced, and the baler will probably be as temperamental as ever – we just need the sun to come out, that

and a drying wind!

The sheep are enjoying grass mowing their way around the village, being in demand for keeping small paddocks down, leaving patches of stinging nettles behind in their wake for us to tidy up after them. I really hope my next article is about baling the hay.

Once again congratulations to the New Blackmore Vale for keeping it “just the way it was,” a much-loved companion to many homes and bringing farming into the lives of so many.

Butterfly numbers soar on heaths

THE populations of two very different species of butterfly are soaring on National Trust heathland in Studland.

Numbers of the silverstudded blue were up almost 1,700% in one “transect” –narrow area of the heath – in 2023 compared to 1976 – 21 butterflies were counted in 1976 and 376 in 2023.

Meanwhile grayling numbers increased by 168% from 50 in 1976 to 134 in 2023.

Butterfly numbers fluctuate each year, but large increases were also noted in four-yearly averages from 1976-79 and 2020-23.

Nationally, silver-studded blue numbers are up a relatively modest 67% in the same period with grayling numbers down

70%.

The silver-studded blue is known for the vivid, shimmering blue colour of the males, whereas the grayling is brown and grey to blend in with bare earth, stones and dry vegetation.

Dr Martin Warren, one of the UK’s leading butterfly experts, said: “These figures really are something to celebrate, at a time when many butterflies aren’t faring well at all.

“It’s especially good to see that the graylings are increasing, when they are in serious decline elsewhere in the country.

“We are hoping the 2024 count will tell an equally positive story.”

Volunteers have monitored butterflies from April to

September at Studland annually for almost 50 years.

Once the butterflies are on the wing, between July to September, Martin and a team of volunteers monitor the same transect every week.

The monitoring sites are on heathland either side of Ferry Road in Studland, part of the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve (NNR).

David Brown, National Trust ecologist, speaking of the increase in numbers, said: “This is fantastic news, one of the many success stories for wildlife across the Purbeck Heaths NNR.

“We aren’t exactly sure why these two species are doing so well, but both need areas of bare ground where they can bask.

“That’s often provided by the hoof prints of grazing animals, or by pigs rooting out vegetation.

“At Studland, the butterflies are thriving beside a track used by walkers and cyclists – and it’s the track that provides them with the bare ground habitat.

“We are incredibly grateful to the volunteers who diligently carry out this important work across the NNR – without their consistent records, we wouldn’t have a clear picture of the state of nature in Purbeck.”

n Members of the public are invited to count butterflies as part of the Big Butterfly Count, a citizen science scheme organised by Butterfly Conservation, until Sunday, August 4.

Sebastian demonstrates the Flehmen response

The difference between ‘not seen bulling’ and ‘acyclic’ cows

by Martha Twist

Friars Moor Livestock Health

EVERY farm that breeds cows will struggle with a difficult group that do not get in calf as easily as others. These are usually termed “not seen bullers”, “oestrus not observed” or “no heat detected”. But why do these cows not express heat as well as others? What do vets

look for when scanning these animals and how to we decide on treatment and management plans?

First, we must understand the distinction between cows that are not seen bulling – in heat/ oestrus – and those that are acyclic (not cycling).

Not seen bulling

When cows are not seen bulling, it often means they are cycling, but for some reason, their oestrus signs are not observed. Several factors can contribute to this issue:

Subtle oestrus signs: Some cows exhibit very mild or short-lived signs of oestrus, making it difficult to detect. This is more common in higher yield cows.

(hopefully!) summer weather can reduce the intensity of oestrus signs. Additionally, overcrowded or slippery underfoot conditions may reduce the cows’ ability to display signs, especially more obvious ones such as mounting other cows.

bring them into oestrus in a more predictable way. Synchronisation programmes with timed AI can also be of benefit here.

Acyclic cows

Acyclic cows, on the other hand, are not experiencing oestrus cycles at all – they are anoestrus. This condition can be due to several underlying issues such as:

Nutritional deficiencies: Inadequate transition cow management and BCS loss can lead to anoestrus. Ensuring cows are receiving a diet with adequate energy, protein and minerals relevant to your farm is crucial.

Environmental factors: High temperatures and stress, especially in the upcoming

Management practices: Insufficient time spent observing cows, particularly during peak activity times – early morning and late evening – can result in missed oestrus detection. Without heat detection aids, the labour demands of observing heat are huge – at least two 30-minute blocks in 24 hours, but ideally more.

Hormonal intervention can be very useful in these cows to

Post-calving anoestrus: After calving, cows will naturally go through a period of anoestrus, this is normal and often goes unnoticed as it falls well within the voluntary waiting period. However, this period can be prolonged due to conditions such as ketosis, retained foetal membranes, metritis or whites.

Health problems: Conditions such as ovarian cysts, pyometra – uterine infection – or hormonal imbalances can disrupt the oestrous cycle.

Martha Twist of Friars Moor Livestock Health

Photo by Jenny Hill on Unsplash

STANDING TIMBER always wanted. 01258 920133

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SLEEPERS, Douglas Fir, 8x4”x8ft £29. 01258 920133

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APPROX 135 KKM CUBICLE MATS £30 each. Part time calf rearing helper required Aug-Oct. Mappowder/Buckland Newton area. 07980 293417

SEEKING WEEKEND TRACTOR WORK. Currently driving tractors and plant in construction, looking for additional work in agriculture. To assist and learn new skills. Hardworking/ reliable. 07970-960008

R&W FENCING. Agricultural, paddock and stock. Tel: 01258-880892 or 07980-036250

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Call us on 01749 813957 or 07971 012628 or find us at www.southwesttyreservices.co.uk

The New Blackmore Vale Magazine DEADLINES

Display ads must be booked by Wednesday the week prior to publication, with final copy submitted by the Friday.

Classified ads may be accepted after this, HOWEVER these will be subject to space.

CATTLE MONDAY 22 nd JULY SALE OF TB RESTRICED CATTLE WEDNESDAY 24 th JULY FORTNIGHTLY SALE OF PIGS

WEDNESDAY 31 st JULY FORTNIGHTLY SALE OF REARED CALVES 24 Pedigree Holstein Friesian In-Calf Heifers Pd+ due end of August to pedigree Angus bull, home bred, closed herd, genuine dispersal 20 Freshly Calved Friesian Holstein Heifers & Cows genuine dispersal FOR ADVICE ON ALL CLASSES OF STOCK PLEASE CALL BRADLEY TOWELL 07496 263916 TOM ROGERS 07384 462288

TREVOR ROWLAND 07968 480401 LESTER WILLIAMS 07778 646031 ROSS WHITCOMBE 07815 985737 CLIVE PEACH 07970 620859 ANDREW FRIZZLE 07977 136863

Frome Livestock Market, Standerwick, Somerset, BA11 2QB 01373 830033 info@fromelivestock com www fromelivestock com

More rain to come? We hope not!

by Ruth Kimber

OH dear, I’m writing this on July 15, St Swithin’s Day, and it has rained pretty much all day. The saying goes that if it rains on St Swithin’s Day it will rain for 40 days. Hope this old tale is proved wrong.

We have completed the second cut silage, the maize is well above another old saying, “knee high by the 4th July”! But the cold, wet weather has stopped the healthy look to many of the plants whether on the farm or in the garden. We need warmth, intermittent with soft refreshing rain.

The Christmas turkey poults are doing well after a tricky start. A group of 75 didn’t make it to a week old; the hatchery put it down to weather conditions on the journey to us – the poults were weakened by the heat and then didn’t find the water and food in time. The hatchery sent replacements. It’s like the wildlife program, Springwatch, when we see a nest full of babies, then some just don’t make it for one reason or another. We had over 1,300 delivered and always expect to lose some, but 75 was unusual and the hatchery were happy to take responsibility. But it’s not nice to see them die after you have done your best to show

them the food and water. Still, all is well now. The 75 replacements are too small to brood with the rest so they are living separately, under the watchful eye of Gilbert age 11, our grandson.

Tom has started drying off the first of the calvers. They will be put out to pasture for a rest before their calves are born in early September.

We have dug our first potatoes, gathered some purple sprouting, frozen the broad beans and are looking forward to the runners – they have started to flower, so not long now. We grow a few strawberries, but have to share them with the blackbirds.

Our wildlife areas are starting to flower on the farm, looking lovely and feeding the insects and bees. Later the seed heads will feed the birds.

We had a few days in the Lake District, we have a farmer friend who was complaining about the price of wool. He and his brothers farm many thousands of acres, most of which are on the fells. He was saying, years gone by the ‘clip’ would pay the rent, now it doesn’t even pay the shearer. Yet we are constantly told we must be more sustainable and environmentally

friendly. Few things could be more sustainable than sheep’s wool! It’s warm, insulating, fire resistant, versatile, and renewable annually.

The car boot sale held at Linley Farm next to the Kimber Farm Shop was a great success, the Mind charity benefitted by over £1,200. The plan is to hold more, as the punters were keen as was the booters! nKimbers Farm Shop, The Kitchen at Kimbers, Somerset Trading Barn, Linley Farm, Charlton Musgrove BA9 8HD; phone 01963 33177, info@kimbersfarmshop.co. uk, www.kimbersfarmshop.co.uk Opening times: Tuesday–Friday, 8.30am–5pm; Saturday 9.30am–4pm.

How Cornish Mutual Members are embracing challenges and adapting to change

Mindset can play a crucial role when overcoming challenges and adapting to change. In a recent episode of Cornish Mutual’s Farming Focus podcast, Cornish Mutual Members Graham Eggins, a farmer on the Isles of Scilly, and Chris Berry, the 2022 Devon Farmer of the Year, shared their strategies for overcoming adversity.

Graham runs a mixed farm with holiday accommodation on Bryher, but travel restrictions during the Covid pandemic meant his farm suffered a significant loss of income. Determined to find a solution, Graham experimented with several diversification options before deciding to dry and sell chillis grown on the farm.

Advertising Feature always things you can try. I always recommend getting out of your comfort zone and pushing yourself a little bit.”

As a result, the highly successful Scilly Chilli enterprise was born. Graham believes mindset played a crucial role in this: “I’ve always had an interest in business, and I find it exciting. I don’t want to be just doing normal things year after year.

“When faced with an obstacle, I try to see it as a new opportunity. Not everything will work, but there are

Chris echoed these sentiments and suggested seeking advice from others to gain perspective: “The chances are someone else has already had that problem, and so the answers are generally out there somewhere if you want to go and find them. Simply asking for help from someone is quite a powerful thing.”

Find out more about how these farmers overcome adversity in the full episode of Cornish Mutual’s Farming Focus Podcast at https://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/

We’re in it together

Hydraulic Hose Specialists and Stockists to the Agriculture, Forestry, Automotive and Transport Industry

Pneumatic fittings

Air brake fittings

Hose clamps

Hydraulic Hoses

Mob: 07966 244536 Email: hoses@ardiesels.co.uk

Quick release couplings

Pressure wash hoses + lances

Up to 1 ½ “Hose stocked

Variation of oils

Mobile service available

Want to speak to us direct? Call us on 01872

ON-FARM MACHINERY AUCTIONS

Tuesday 23rd July at 5.30pm

Umborne Farm, Shute, Axminster, EX13 7QL

Dispersal of 5 Tractors, Farm Machinery, Workshop Items & Miscellaneous

Including: Valtra 6300 HiTrol c/w Loader (03), Case International 885XL Super (89), Leyland 272 Synchro (79), Nuffield 4/25 (70), International 684 (78), McConnel PA5155 Hedge Trimmer cable controls (15), KRM 6m Grass Harrows, Foster Digger c/w 3 Buckets, Claas Disco 250 Mower Conditioner, Claas Volto 540H Tedder, PZ Haybob, KRM Bogballe Fertiliser Spinner, Twose 8ft Ballast Roller, 3t & 5t Tipping Trailers, Tanco LandMec Aerator, Man Cage, 8ft & 5ft Buckets, Cattle Crush, 10ft & 6ft Cattle Hurdles, Livestock Equipment, Bygones, etc. All items Non-VAT.

On behalf of Mr C Solway & The Execs. of the Late Mrs S Sprague (Auctioneers selling the Farm). No Online bidding available

Tuesday 6th August at 5.30pm Curlew Farm, Trinity Hill Road, Combpyne, Axminster EX13 8SZ Dispersal Sale of Tractor, L200 Pick-Up, Farm Machinery, Livestock Equipment, Workshop Items

Including: New Holland TS 110 with NH750TL Loader (99), Mitibushi L200 2.5 Diesel Pick Up (15), Lely Splendimo 280L Mower, 12ft Bateson Livestock Trailer c/w Sheep Decks, Massey Ferguson 24 Chisel Plough, Wessex Topper, Parmiter Shear Grab, Vicon Varispreader Fertiliser Spreader, Ransomes 4 Furrow Plough, Parmiter Disc Harrows, Twose 8ft Ballast Roller, 20ft & 18ft Bale Trailers, Car Trailer, PZ Haybob, Link Box, IAE Crusader Cattle Crush, 8 x Single Calf-Tel Hutches , 2 x 15ft Feed Barriers, Large quantity of Cattle & Sheep Troughs & Feeders, Sheep Hurdles, Cattle & Sheep Sundries, Bunded Diesel Tank, 41 Quadrant Bales Wheat & Barley Straw, 40 Bales 2024 Hay, Approx. 155 Square Bales 2023/24 Silage.

On behalf of C J Burrough (Auctioneers Selling the Farm) No Online bidding available

Saturday 10th August

Rylands Farm, Holnest, Sherborne Annual Collective Charity Auction of Classic & Vintage Tractors, Farm Machinery, Livestock Equipment, Building Equipment, Timber, Garden Furniture, Bygones, etc.

On behalf of Future Roots Ltd.

Contact Greg Ridout: 01935 382909/07817 517467

Dewlish

Guide: £1,150,000

A house and detached cottage situated in a serene and private setting with open views over its landscaped garden, lake, and surrounding countryside. CTB F.

Dorchester | 01305 261008

A detached and extended well presented south facing cottage with beautiful gardens, along with adjoining level field and woodland. In all 5.86 acres. CTB E.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Shaftesbury Guide £425,000

A charming 3 bedroom character cottage with separate studio situated close to the centre of the hilltop town of Shaftesbury. CTB D.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Milton on Stour Guide £675,000

DORSET | DEVON | SOMERSET | HAMPSHIRE | WILTSHIRE | CORNWALL | LONDON

Chilthorne Domer

Guide: £525,000

46.89 acres (18.98 hectares) of productive level arable land situated to the north of Yeovil. For sale by Formal Tender as a whole, closing Wednesday 31st July 2024.

Yeovil | 01935 382901

Foyle Hill, Shaftesbury

Guide: £150,000

12.37 acres (5.00 ha) of undulating pasture land boasting spectacular far reaching views over the surrounding countryside. Suitable for agriculture, equestrian and amenity uses. For sale by Informal Tender, closing Wednesday 7th August 2024.

Salisbury | 01722 334323

Nr. Sturminster Newton

Guide: From £375,000

A traditional farmyard development of just nine bespoke dwellings in a delightful rural location close to Sturminster Newton. Open Day 20th July, 11 am – 3 pm. Please call for an appointment.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Guide: £400,000

A detached 3 bedroom house with private garden on the edge of the village built in 2019, Apple Tree Cottage encapsulates old cottage charm with modern fittings. CTB E.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Bagber Common

Guide: £1,350,000

An extremely versatile detached family house with over 3300 sq ft of accommodation and a lovely west facing garden, set in a peaceful rural location with fine views over fields. CTB F.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

A 3 bedroom Grade II listed property forming part of a converted manor house, having links to Thomas Hardy, in a small hamlet on the edge of Dorchester.

Dorchester | 01305 261008

An

3/4

the

Sherborne | 01935 814488

and

Marnhull

Maperton, Wincanton

Guide: £420,000

attractive

bedroom house situated in an accessible location within

Blackmore Vale countryside,

with ample off-road parking. CTB C. Freehold.

Stinsford

Guide £450,000

Thinking of moving in 2024?

We are particularly busy at the moment, and have a number of buyers registered with us wishing to purchase in the summer 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 £300,000 Semley

Home security while you’re on summer holidays

AN Englishman’s home is his castle – but is it secure against burglars when you go away on holiday?

With the school holidays about to begin, and with many people heading away for a break, Dorset Police has issued some helpful reminders to keep your home safe.

It is important to make your property look occupied – an empty home can be an open invitation to burglars and the secret is not to draw their attention in the first place.

Burglars will be looking for tell-tale signs like post piling up, deliveries sitting by the front door and an empty drive with no

car outside.

They will also notice no lights on at night or lights that are obviously running on a timer, overgrown plants or a lawn that needs mowing, and rubbish bins that have not been emptied or returned to their normal position after some time.

To minimise the risks of a break in, give a trusted neighbour, family member or friend a spare key and ask them to pop in from time to time.

They can open and close the curtains, turn lights on and off, collect mail and manage bins –and if they can park their car in your drive too, even better.

If you want to go one step

further, you could arrange for a house sitter to stay in your home while you are away. This could be a friend or family member.

Make sure you cancel any regular deliveries, such as milk or your daily newspaper delivery – and do not order anything online that may arrive while you are away.

If no helpful neighbour is to hand, Royal Mail offers a Keepsafe service that will hold mail for up to 100 days and deliver it to you once you are home.

Before you leave your home, make sure all windows and doors are locked when you leave.

Secure any garages, sheds and outbuildings, and keep tools locked away so they cannot be used to break into your home.

If you have no option but to leave a ladder outside, ensure it is secured in a fixed location, away from any potential entry points, with a padlock and chain. Keep your valuable items, including computers and laptops, out of sight or lock them away, if possible.

It is also advised not to advertise your absence on social media.

If you mention on your Facebook or Instagram account that you are jetting off, it could give potential thieves the green light to pop round.

Leave posting photos and videos until your return.

Similarly, talking about your forthcoming holiday in a local shop or public space – where you could easily be followed home – is best avoided.

Crossword