Letters

Impatient drivers shout abuse

My husband and I have a small dairy herd in Hazelbury Bryan and our cows are well looked after and treated as individuals – they all have a different personality.

However, soon we fear one or more of our cows will be mowed down thanks to the increasingly inconsiderate driving of a small percentage around our village.

The cows during the summer months need to cross the road which links Hazelbury Bryan with Kings Stag, known as The Causeway, for grazing during the day after morning milking, and return for afternoon milking to our farm the other side of the road.

We have noticed AT LEAST once a week the impatience of some drivers who weave between the cows when they see a gap or speed up and drive though the cows rather than wait no longer than five minutes while they cross. Drivers also shout abuse to us as we guide the cows safely across the road.

Why can’t the small percentage of drivers who think they own the road – and it’s not always the younger drivers – wait five minutes. We only have 80-plus shorthorn cows, so it doesn’t take too long for them to cross.

Not many dairy farms are left in Dorset and we are not holding the traffic up for fun. Please have some patience.

Leslie & Dawn Head Hazelbury Bryan

My husband and I have a small dairy herd in Hazelbury Bryan and our cows are well looked

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall justsocaricatures.co.uk after and treated as individuals – they all have a different personality.

However, soon we fear one or more of our cows will be mowed down thanks to the increasingly inconsiderate driving of a small percentage around our village.

The cows during the summer months need to cross the road which links Hazelbury Bryan with Kings Stag, known as The Causeway, for grazing during the day after morning milking, and return for afternoon milking to our farm the other side of the road.

We have noticed AT LEAST once a week the impatience of some drivers who weave between the cows when they see a gap or speed up and drive though the cows rather than wait no longer than five minutes while they cross. Drivers also shout abuse to us as we guide the cows safely across the road.

Why can’t the small percentage of drivers who think they own the road – and it’s not always the younger drivers – wait five minutes. We only have 80-plus shorthorn cows, so it doesn’t take too long for them to cross.

Not many dairy farms are left in Dorset and we are not holding the traffic up for fun. Please have some patience.

Leslie & Dawn Head Hazelbury Bryan

The idea of the removal of Thomas Hardy from the curriculum is complete and utter vandalism, spurred on by this insane world we live in.

Hardy and Dickens spoke the

Sorry, but I have no time for Thomas Hardy

I’ve no time for wokery, and am appalled at the removal of Wilfred Owen from the GCSE English syllabus, but our freedom of thought and speech entitles me to loathe Thomas Hardy. This poem was inspired by a bookcase bureau in the County Museum.

The Relic

With graceful lines, glass fronted shelves above And smoothly polished drawers beneath, you might Have served successive owners who could still Pay homage to your maker as they write. But no! Your former master’s works have moved Disciples to insist that you should stand Inactive, lest by chance some lesser man Defile your hallowed surface with his hand.

The craftsman thus belittled I prefer: He fashioned useful beauty from his wood. The other artist’s undisputed skills Were far from innocent, for Hardy could Vile demons conjure from the ancient stones Of mellow buildings, or the open heath Of hapless Dorset’s lovely countryside, Contriving misery past all belief.

The fictional inventions of his mind Towered as a thundercloud, with bolts of doom. Did then the just, avenging hand of Fate Infect his actual life with morbid gloom? Refuse this poisoned draught of literature! Cast out the devils! Leave the books unread! Purge clean the altar of this heathen shrine! Restore the furniture to life instead!

The silver handled knife may be a gem Of cutlery and of intrinsic price. If once it featured in some bloody crime No thinking man durst with it bread to slice. Thus both extremes agree: in reverent awe Or else abhorrence of your past we all Condemn you, working fitness unimpaired, To premature retirement in this hall.

George Darwall via email

truth and knew how to write – and their skill should be left for others to study.

The descriptive powers of Hardy are much to be admired, as his reflections on life show his character, and have so much to teach modern students about life.

Hardy was not wealthy or privileged in any way, though in later life he enjoyed a more financially secure world due to his literary success.

C E Lock Lymington

The amazing place that once was known as Abbeyfield in Shaftesbury, now known as Pepperell House, can accommodate 15 elderly residents in an assisted living environment.

Wonderful accommodation, tasty food and brilliant staff.

This week, the trustees who run the place told the residents they have three months to find somewhere else to live.

No home for the residents,

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall justsocaricatures. co.uk no jobs for the dedicated staff.

How can this be?

Linda Wedgewood

I have received a letter from The Bryanston Estate and the Rothermere Foundation under the heading ‘Support for Ukrainian Refugees in Blandford’, saying they ‘feel they have a moral duty’ to provide accommodation for the Ukrainian refugees in mobile homes on the Deer Park in Blandford and the cottage they abandoned eight years ago.

Lord Rothermere – third richest man in Britain and non-dom tax exile – has tried all ways to build on this land and the cynicism of this latest ploy under the cloak of philanthropy beggars’ belief.

To use people’s natural concern for the plight of Ukrainians to obtain temporary planning permission as a device to build on this land is sickening.

As for moral duty, Lord Rothermere, what about the cottage which has stood empty for years, in the middle of a housing crisis.

What about our moral duty to the Afghans, who our Army were forced to abandon, their own close colleagues, who had helped Britain and now hide in fear of their lives, to our eternal shame.

You may ask the question, why the Ukrainians and not them? You could also extend the argument to our own thousands of homeless or [those on] North Dorset’s own monumental housing list.

Well, I hope people are not fooled by the cynical use of people’s empathy for these particular refugees, for whom I also feel compassion.

Once temporary planning is obtained it is only a hop, skip and a jump to building the luxury houses no ordinary person, in this low wage area, Blandford, would ever be able to afford.

The plans are more or less in the same area as in the original planning application. They intimate they already are already liaising with the town council, Dorset Council, as well as Refugees at Home.

I cannot even see the area in question, so I assure you it is not ‘Not In My Back Yard’.

Diana Garner Blandford

It’s what a farm shop should stand for

In the last issue of the New Blackmore Vale we asked readers to tell us their favourite farm shop and why

Without doubt Kimbers Farm Shop is superb! The cafe is excellent and very good value, and the Vintage Interiors Barn is always worth a leisurely postlunch perusal. The farm shop sells excellent quality meat and an array of wonderful, truly local produce. To top off the experience, the staff throughout are cheerful and friendly!

Sophie Morris

We do visit other farm shops but Kimbers is our favourite by far and the only place we trust with our Christmas dinner!

They get our vote all day long. The Kimbers have always had a great friendly welcome and their breakfasts in the cafe legendary.

Tina Higgs

Kimbers gets my vote every time – a proper farm shop where animals graze on-site and their history is known through selective breeding programmes over several generations. They are humanely dispatched and butchered on site – very few food miles involved.

Local products include a large variety of independently sourced cheese and dairy items – not ones sent from London – and proper, locally grown fruit and vegetables when available and in season.

The business is truly family run with advice/customer service on hand and customers regularly become friends.

Coupled with the Kitchen, which provides wholesome food at competitive prices, I really feel it is a hidden gem and represents everything a true farm shop should stand for.

Kate Clarke

I would like to nominate Kimbers Farm Shop – family run, quality food in every department, locally sourced, happy cheerful service, genuine farm shop.

Add on a cafe and adjoining brocant, it’s a pleasure to visit.

A walk around…Todber

Todber is a tiny parish a few miles to the north of Sturminster Newton. The map shows very few contour lines and about a tenth of the parish is under water – which is usually flat. This walk is shorter than usual, only a couple of miles of easy going. The flat terrain gives you wide views of distant hills.

Park on the housing estate road opposite the church. Visit the church if it’s open, then walk north along the road a short distance to a junction. Cross the road and join a footpath which follows the field edge, first north-east, then north, then north-east again. On your right are some large fishing lakes but, unfortunately, they are out of sight beyond the hedge.

At a meeting of ways, turn right and head east across a large field from which, on your right, you’ll see one of the many lakes. I don’t know why there are so many lakes but assume they’re making use of old quarries of stone or clay.

At the far side of the field turn right and head south through a gate then wend your way past a very green pond and crossing a field to meet a road. Cross the road and continue slightly to the west of south until you get to a track. Cross over and enter a wooded path heading west.

After a while the path joins Church Close, a cul-de-sac road serving some barn conversions and a small industrial estate. On either side, you’ll see on the far side of the grounds the vertical stone sides showing that there has been some quarrying.

On your left you can enter and walk through the parish’s Millennium Green – provided you’re not dissuaded by the threatening notices! Chris Slade is a retired Dorset rights of way officer