The New Blackmore Vale - Issue 117

A LEAP OF

What’s inside this issue…

01963 400186

07714 289409

07714 289411

Plans for 78 new homes could significantly expand Dorset village

A DORSET village could significantly grow in population under new housing proposals.

Dorset-based developer AJC Group is looking to submit plans to build 78 houses on land to the north of Okeford Fitzpaine at Castle Lane.

The village had a population of less than 1,000 in the 2021 census.

Under these latest proposals, the village could grow by a further 156 people using a

conservative estimate of two people per property.

AJC Group is looking to gauge residents’ views on their plans before it is submitted to Dorset Council.

The newly proposed development would sit just north of the Comerwicke development.

The plans would include six one-bed flats, four two-bed flats, 23 two-bed houses, 39 three-bed houses, and six four-bed houses.

AJC Group says that the new homes could house people that are struggling to find accommodation in the village.

The developer said at least 40% of these would be affordable.

AJC Group previously built the houses at Comerwicke in the village, and it says these homes are a perfect example of what they are looking to deliver.

“Living in a village like Okeford Fitzpaine is a dream for many – the access to open spaces and green countryside is an opportunity that many new familes jump at,” an AJC spokesperson said.

They added: “Recently, we completed building the homes at Comerwicke which has now been occupied by 27 new families.

“The 27 new homes that we built were all affordable homes which have met the need for good housing at affordable prices here in Okeford Fitzpaine.

“This is the opportunity that so many look for, especially if they have grown up in or near the village.”

The consultation is live now and can be viewed at www.castlelane-okefordfitzpaine. co.uk

The developer wants to hear residents' views on the proposals Picture: AJC Group

Gardens spring open for charity

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

The Old Vicarage

East Orchard, Shaftesbury SP7 0BA

Hundreds of different snowdrops, crocus, daffodils, tulips and many other bulbs and winter flowering shrubs. A stream meanders down to a pond and there are lovely reflections in the swimming pond, the first to be built in Dorset. The new acre has been planted with several unusual trees. Wildlife garden, pond dipping, swing and other children’s attractions.

Open Friday, April 4, and Sunday, April 6, (2pm-5pm), £5, children free. Visits also by arrangement from January 2 to December 3.

Keybrook House

East Orchard, Shaftesbury SP7 0LG

Established over the last 10 years by the current owners, these two and a half acres boasts thousands of snowdrops and daffodils along with newly planted trees and shrubs.

The grounds surround a converted Methodist chapel, originally built in 1890. There is a large area set aside to be wildlife friendly.

Open Sunday, April 6 (2pm-5pm.) £5, children free.

Frankham Farm

Ryme Intrinseca, Sherborne DT9 6JT

This large and lovely farm garden has been created since 1960 by the late Jo Earle for year-round interest. Deep borders surround the lawns near the house, filled with a variety of roses, unusual shrubs and trees, clematis and other climbers. Spring bulbs through to autumn colour. A wonderful range of tree species, some quite rare and planted a long time ago – particularly oaks. There’s also a large, productive vegetable garden. Sorry, no dogs.

Frankham is a working farm (organic arable & livestock) which includes woodland walks underplanted with spring bulbs and camellias. It has a ground-level tea room with Frankham-grown lunches plus tea and cake.

Open Sunday, April 27 (12-5pm). £7, children free.

Edmondsham House

Edmondsham, Wimborne BH21 5RE

With six acres of mature gardens surrounding an historic house and a neighbouring 12th century church, there’s plenty to explore at Edmondsham.

This large Victorian walled garden is productive and has been managed organically since 1984, including ‘no dig’ vegetable beds.

Wide herbaceous borders are packed with autumn colour. The garden boasts mature trees, box balls and topiary cloud a traditional potting shed, cob wall, sunken greenhouse.

Open every Wednesday, April 2–30 and Monday, April 21 (2pm-5pm). £4, children £1.

The Old Rectory

Litton Cheney DT2 9AH

Steep paths lead to four acres of natural woodland with many springs, streams and two pools – one a natural swimming pool planted with native plants. Formal front garden, designed by Arne Maynard, with pleached crabtree border, topiary and soft planting including tulips, peonies, roses and verbascums. Walled garden with informal planting, kitchen garden, orchard and 350 rose bushes for a cut flower business.

Open Sunday, April 27, and Wednesday, April 30 (11am-5pm). Admission £8, children free. Visits also by arrangement April 27 to September 30.

Broomhill

Rampisham DT2 0PT

A former farmyard transformed into a delightful, tranquil garden set in two acres. Clipped box, island beds and borders packed with shrubs, roses, grasses and unusual perennials. A less formal area with large wildlife pond, meadow, shaded areas, bog garden, late summer border. Orchard and vegetable garden.

Open Sunday April 27 (2pm-5pm). Admission £5, children free.

Edmondsham House

Broomhill

The Old Rectory

Frankham Farm

The Old Vicarage

Keybrook House

He’s

behind you!

THE Stalbridge Players are performing Jack and the Beanstalk at Stalbridge Hall, Lower Road, Stalbridge on March 28 and 29, and April 4 and 5 April (all performances at 7.30pm).

Tickets are £8 adult, £5 child, available from Williams Florist, Station Road, Stalbridge (01963 362355).

Refreshments available at all performances.

Organisers promise a tremendously fun evening suitable for all the family!

Sherborne’s curious castles

SHERBORNE Historical Society’s events season ends on Thursday, March 20 at 8pm with a talk by the distinguished historian Dr John Goodall.

Architectural Editor of Country Life magazine and formerly an historian at English Heritage, Dr Goodall will be talking about Sherborne’s two castles: the great medieval castle of the Bishops of Salisbury, ruined in the Civil War, and the Elizabethan New Castle, built by Sir Walter Raleigh.

Please note that the Society's AGM precedes the talk at 7.45pm. Admission is free to members and students, £5 for visitors.

Workshop for more mature motorists

DORSET Police are holding a free road safety event for older drivers in Dorchester later this month.

The event is at the Dorford Centre, Dorchester Baptist Church, 2 Bridport Road (DT1 1RR) on Thursday, March 20, It is split into two sessions from 10am-noon and 1pm1.30pm.

The police will be joined by BCP Road Safety, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, Age UK, the Institute of Advanced Motorists and other partner agencies.

For more information, or if you would like to go along, email olderdrivers@dorset.police.uk

Women: crafting through the ages

LOCAL community groups are helping to mark Women’s History Month at Gillingham Library by contributing to the library’s Crafts by Women Through the Ages display.

The Knit and Crochet group has provided some of its postbox toppers that raised £5,000 for charity and Gillingham WI is displaying one of the hundreds of post-operative cushions members have made for patients who have undergone breast cancer surgery.

The Motcombe Stitchers have lots of crafts on show, including hats for a Christmas shoebox appeal, and Gillingham Museum has taken some hidden treasures out of storage.

Visitors are invited to see the display and, if they fancy trying their hand at crafting themselves, can speak to members of the Craft and Chat group who meet at the library every Friday morning.

Costume drama

THE pupils at St Gregory's Primary, Marnhull, displayed their creativity in their choice of costumes for World Book Day, which ranged from Harry Potter to a golden ticket!

All the children looked at the book How to be a Lion – the story of Leonard, who is not like other lions. Leonard is not fierce or scary, but he proves that you don't have to roar to be heard.

Planet Sherborne

THE members of Planet Sherborne have had a busy few months, seeing in new initiatives and improving existing ones…

Sherborne’s first Community Fridge has opened in The Pod on Cheap Street. It holds free, healthy food items including vegetables, milk produce, fruit, bread. Not only does it offer free food to those who need it, but it also, via donations, helps reduce food waste.

The Community Fridge is supported by the Co-op in the West End, Sherborne Market Store, Oxford’s Bakery and the Hub, among others. They’re donating quality food that may just have reached its ‘best by’ date, or be less than pretty, but is still good to eat.

An elite squad of volunteers (trained in food hygiene and food handling) manages the collection, packing and presentation.

Everyone is welcome to collect items from the Fridge free of charge and take their selection home in their own reusable bags.

The Community Fridge is open Fridays 10.15am–12pm and 1pm–3pm, and Saturdays 10.15am–12pm.

The town’s Climate Cafe has gone from strength to strength since it first met in 2023. It has become a regular, monthly event, meeting every second Thursday in Café D’Urberville and attracting a growing number of attendees.

A relaxed, convivial atmosphere encourages people to talk about their envinronmental concerns and about ways to bring about change, at the local level and beyond.

Actions taken so far include a campaign to reduce vehicle idling in Sherborne by raising awareness of how damaging exhaust fumes can be to health and the environment. The Cafe also sparked the launch of a Green Guide, containing advice on recycling. The group has enjoyed talks from a world expert on swifts, and an ecologist involved in the development of the Blackberry (formerly Wyke) solar farm.

The Climate Cafe meets on the second Thursday of each month, between 5.30pm and 7pm at Café D’Urberville on the Conduit.

If you’d like to get find out more please email climatecafesherborne@gmail.com

Thinking outside the box: crochet artworks up for charity auction

FOR the past two years, the post box at the top of Shaftesbury’s Gold Hill has boasted some eye-catching additions…

Local lady Elizabeth Hazelwood, who retired to Shaftesbury 28 years ago,

crocheted her first post box topper using some leftover wool, but sadly it went missing shortly after it was installed

Undeterred, Elizabeth continued to create new toppers each month, much to the delight of locals and visitors alike.

“Crocheting predominates in old age as it can be done in the super comfort of a recliner!” said Elizabeth.

Now 10 of Elizabeth’s most popular toppers will be auctioned for local charities.

The toppers include the bread delivery boy with his bike from the iconic Hovis advert and a crocheted interpretation of The Great Wave by Hokusai.

Both designs have been liked thousands of times on national post box topper pages and have been a source of wonder for locals who look forward to the latest instalment.

Local charities to benefit from the silent auction will be Friends of Westminster Hospital, Breast Cancer Awareness (known as BooBs) and The Brave and Determined Company.

The auction takes place on Saturday,

March 29, at Shaftesbury town hall. Viewing will be from 10am to 4pm and the auction will be silent. You can bid either by filling out a form at Shaftesbury town hall or by phoning a number (to be released shortly). To find out more, search Shaftesbury Toppers on Facebook.

Spring in your step: April activities

ACROSS Dorset, National Trust gardens are filling with colourful spring blooms and houses are looking tip-top after their intensive winter cleans. There’s plenty planned, from Easter adventure trails and guided walks to evening bird watching and art exhibitions.

Here is what’s happening near you this spring (please check property website for opening days and times).

Clouds Hill

Discover the rural retreat of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ with a guided tour led by one of the Trust’s expert volunteers. Tours run every day, 10am-4pm, and are free (normal admission applies).

Or explore the hillside at Clouds Hill on a brass-rubbing trail, and learn about Lawrence’s life, from his childhood to his days spent at Clouds Hill. Find the brass plaques hidden around the landscape to create your own rubbings to take home. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/ clouds-hill

Hardy’s Cottage

Discover the birthplace of Thomas Hardy, with a guided tour led by one an expert volunteers. Tours run daily, 10am-4pm, and are free (normal admissions apply).

In the cottage garden, learn about the medicinal properties of herbs and plants by following the nature’s remedies garden trail. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/ hardys-cottage

Kingston Lacy

Pop on your bunny ears and make your way to Kingston Lacy for egg-cellent activities for the whole family.

There are 10 activities to complete before claiming your chocolate egg. Be a whisk-taker and complete the rope

maze, become an eggs-pert baker in the nature kitchen and complete an eggs-treme egg and spoon race. The trail is open from April 3-21, 10am-3pm. It’s £3.50 per trail (normal admission applies).

Kingston Lacy’s seven-acre Japanese Garden turns 20 this year. A Japanese Garden was first created more than a century ago by Henrietta Bankes, but had been lost by the time the National Trust took over its care. To celebrate, between March 22 and September 28 there’ll be a variety of events, from talks to tea tastings.

Inside the house, an elegant lace teagown, bought by Henrietta Bankes for her trousseau in 1897, will be on display. The fragile gown, which was recently conserved after being stored for more than a century, was made by pioneering female fashion couturier, Jeanne Paquin. The conservation work uncovered alterations to

accommodate a changing shape, showing that Henrietta continued to wear it for a number of years.

The house is open daily from 10.30am3pm.

Looking to improve your fitness or be more active? Nordic walking (with poles) increases use of the upper body, enabling you to work harder but to feel less strain. Nordic walking sessions at Kingston Lacy take place on 1, 22 and 29 April at 10-11am. They cost £5 per person and must be booked via Dorset Council on 01425 480811.

On April 3 and 28 (10-11am) trained volunteers from Dorset Council’s health and activity team will be on hand to take you around the Kingston Lacy estate on your bike. The rides last about an hour, and you’ll go at your own pace. Sessions are free and booking is not required.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/ kingston-lacy

Max Gate

Explore the house designed and built by Dorset writer, Thomas Hardy, with a guided tour led by an expert volunteers. Tours run daily between 10.30am and 4.30pm and are free (normal admission applies).You’ll need to book via the Max Gate website.

Out in the garden, can you help Bertie the gardener find the herbs and vegetables for Hardy’s dinner before the hare eats them all? Open every day, 10.30am-4.30pm. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/ hardys-house-max-gate

Visitors enjoying a sound installation curated for the property and Festival of Blossom at Kingston Lacy

National Trust Images/ James Dobson

Cyclists exploring the new woodland trail at Kingston Lacy

National Trust Images/ James Dobson

Visitors in the garden at Max Gate

National Trust Images/ Arnhel de Serra

Wincanton school evacuated after reports of a gas leak

A WINCANTON primary school was evacuated after reports of a gas leak.

Pupils were sent home from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Primary School, on Tout Hill, South Street, at around 1.15pm on Thursday March 6, after

Pig barn on fire

A BARN housing pigs and piglets near Wincanton caught on fire on March 8.

Luckily, the animals were taken to safety before the fire spread throughout the barn.

The barn, found in the area of Shepton Montague, was well alight when fire engines from Wincanton and Castle Cary were mobilised along with a water carrier from Yeovil at around 11.49pm.

It is believed that the barn also contained three vehicles that were reported to be involved in the fire.

A Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: “The crews got to work attempting to extinguish the fire using breathing apparatus and hose reel jets.

“The fire was successfully extinguished a short while after the crews arrived using a total of four breathing apparatus wearers, two hose reel jets and drag forks.

“A thermal imaging camera was used to check for any hotspots.

“All three vehicles involved in the fire sustained serious fire damage and the roof of the barn sustained some structural damage.”

reports people could smell gas.

Firefighters were sent to the scene to find the source of the smell.

“We received a call at 1.15pm today reporting the smell of gas at a primary school on South Street in Wincanton

and that the building had been evacuated,” a Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said.

“On arrival, crews confirmed the smell of gas and isolated two gas supplies to the building to stop the leak.

“Responsibility for the scene has been handed back to the school and an engineer has been called.”

It is understood the leak has now been dealt with, and the school reopened on Monday, March 10.

Taking the plunge for hospice charity

A FUNDRAISER from Marnhull who has travelled across the world to raise money for Julia’s House children’s hospice is now taking to the skies and facing her biggest fear to celebrate her 60th birthday.

She’s walked the Great Wall of China, trekked to Macchu Picchu and scaled 24 Lake District peaks in just 24 hours – but this year, Linda Tracey says she’s hanging up her walking boots and will be taking on a charity skydive instead.

“I hate heights, and I hate edges! But I’m 60 this year, so I thought, ‘why not?’” said grandmother Linda.

“It will be the scariest thing I’ve ever done – I’m going to have to force my eyes open to take it all in!”

She added: “My son and daughter think it’s very funny, and my four-year-old grandson just said ‘wow!’ when I told him.

“I’m lucky to have the full backing of my husband, who always supports me in my mad challenges, and they all want to be there to watch me jump and support me.”

As well as enjoying the adventure, Linda does it all to raise money for the local children’s hospice charity, Julia’s House.

So far, she has raised £5,000 and she hopes her skydive from 13,500 feet in May will raise a further £1,000 for the charity.

“I pay for my trip myself, and then everything I raise goes to Julia’s House,” said Linda.

“I always organise a fundraising quiz in my village and have a bucket collection at the Woolovers shop in Shaftesbury.

“The care Julia’s House provides is so important, and every little donation helps.

“When I took on the Great Wall of China with Julia’s House in 2019, I visited the hospice, and I was surprised by how much the charity does for families and how little

Blackmore Vale

they get from the government.

“I think it’s lovely that Julia’s House looks after the whole family and not just the poorly child.

“I also didn’t realise until quite recently that the nurses carry on supporting families for up to five years after their child passes away.”

Linda added: “I’ve been so blessed with my children and grandchildren that we haven’t needed the services of Julia’s House.

“And when you speak to families whose children have needed that care, it does make you realise how lucky you are – and what we can all do to help parents who haven’t had that luck.”

Julia’s House events manager, Hannah Mountford, said: “Linda is an incredible supporter of Julia’s House and a true inspiration.

She added: “If Linda’s story has inspired you, we’d love for you to take on your own challenge –whether it’s one of our treks, a skydive or something completely unique!”

To find out more about Julia’s House, visit juliashouse.org

Ooh la la!

RESIDENTS of Fontmell Magna will be enjoying a slice of French culture with the advent of the village’s first Vide Grenier. Translating as ‘empty attic’, this blend of jumble and garage sales is big on the continent, and the village hall committee hopes it will prove equally popular on these shores!

The perfect excuse for a clear out and declutter, residents are invited to sell their pre-loved treasures and root out some amazing bargains at this classy car boot.

Book your pitch now – call Rosie-Anne Yates on on 07710 326339. Pitches are £10 for 3x3m and £5 for 2x2m. This is an outdoor event, so you’ll need to bring your own display stands and shelter. All the money you make is yours to keep, no commission will be charged.

Dive into a treasure trove of pre-loved items and enjoy hot food, drinks, and a pop-up bar courtesy of Fontmell Friends, on Saturday, April 26, from 11am to 2.30pm.

Where were you on VE Day?

FELICITY Harrison will be talking about how World War Two affected local people’s lives on Wednesday, March 19 (7.30pm) in the Bow Room, The Exchange, Sturminster Newton. Entry is £4.

Safeguard Your Hard-Earned Assets from 40% Inheritance Tax, Looming Care Fees, & Potential Family Disputes.

Inheritance Tax Planning: Are you concerned about losing 40% of your already taxed hard earned wealth to the government? Our bespoke legal strategies, meticulously crafted using trusts and wills, ensure your assets stay where they belong – in your family’s hands. Fully compliant with UK law, we shield your estate from the grasp of inheritance taxes, giving you peace of mind and financial security.

Care Fees Protection: With average care fees hitting £2,000 per week and typical stays ranging from 3 to 7 years, these expenses can quickly deplete most estates. Our custom-tailored solutions offer a lifeline. While many believe protection is impossible, we’ve developed a tailored legal strategy fully compliant with UK law to safeguard your assets, including protection against care fees.

Wills: Don’t leave your loved ones squabbling over vague wills! Oakwood Wills specializes in drafting crystal-clear documents that leave no room for ambiguity. No more family feuds. Just smooth, conflictfree asset distribution that honours your final wishes. Lasting Power Of Attorneys: Statistics don’t lie – the chances of incapacity rise with age. With our Lasting Power of Attorneys services, you can appoint trusted individuals to make financial and healthcare decisions on your behalf. No more court approvals, no more uncertainty in times of crises – just peace of mind knowing your interests are in safe hands.

For a complimentary consultation, reach out to Oakwood Wills.

Tel: 07832 331594 or Email: info@oakwoodwills.co.uk

Marnhull plan is for future generations, says the man behind the scheme

“WHAT is the right future for the village? What inspires people? We’re trying to build the right place for future generations.”

Those were the words of Paul Crocker, the man behind proposals for a total of 120 homes, a coffee shop, convenience store and business units at Tess Square, in Marnhull.

The plans have proved controversial, with a campaign launched against the development, supported by Marnhull Parish Council (MPC) and MP Simon Hoare (Conservative, North Dorset).

A planning inspector is set to consider the scheme in Dorchester from April 8.

Before the hearings Mr Crocker, whose family has lived in Marnhull for more than 100 years, spoke to your New Blackmore Vale and said he was determined to “put back in” to his community and wanted a “fair debate” over the scheme.

“If you look back through history, Marnhull consisted of

agriculture, a brewery and a lot of quarries,” he said. “Things move on.

“We have seen many changes over the years, good and bad. Marnhull has seen a real mish-mash.”

The Tess Square plans, which would include creating new parking for the church and primary school, would see around 180 homes built in total, 40% of them affordable.

“One of the biggest issues is that there isn’t enough infrastructure,” Mr Crocker went on. “What we’ve done is come up with a plan to pick up the centre of the village. The facilities the project will bring to the village can support the additional homes coming through.

“We know there will be some people who don’t want change, but I want an open debate. I believe this is right.”

A campaign organised by some residents in Marnhull has seen thousands raised to pay legal fees for the planning process.

MP Mr Hoare recently wrote to residents informing them of his letter to the planning inspector to dismiss it on the grounds it is too large and in the wrong place.

Mr Crocker said he had “tried really hard” to engage with the MP, having met three times, as well as the parish council, who he said seemed to have “closed ears” about the proposals.

However, he vowed to continue with his plans.

“If you give people the right facilities, it will create a better society, and long-term, help the future generations,” he said.

Graham Stanley, a property consultant working on behalf of

Mr Crocker, said: “This is unique because Paul is prepared to reinvest anything that comes from this in the development,” he said. “A shop, post office; he’s going to have to be supporting them financially, because it will take them a while to get established.

“Paul will not see any return on this in his lifetime.”

Mr Crocker went on: “People will be able to go, get a coffee and do a bit of shopping at affordable prices. It’s not about what I can make out of this.”

The scheme, he said, includes dedicated communal land to protect views of the church, as well as green spaces, providing a “structure that’s right for 50 years’ time”.

“I hate the word legacy,” Mr Crocker added. “But in 100 years’ time, perhaps people will say, ‘They weren’t such stupid fellas’.

“This is the biggest decision in Marnhull’s history, I agree. It’s not about money, it’s about having a fair and reasonable debate.”

A walk around… Caundle Marsh

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

START at the church, which is next to Manor Farm. Then go up to the main road, the A3030, and head east along it for about half a mile until you come to the access to Hawkins Farm on your left.

Walk north along the farm track, which is a public footpath, until you come to a large, concrete-walled manure heap. Circle it and turn right, east, and follow the path across several fields. The far hedge of the third field is the parish boundary, after which you’ll be in Bishop’s Caundle.

After the next field you’ll meet a road, Holt Lane, where you turn left and head north for about 100 yards. Look out for a magical tree on the right.

Soon you come to the entrance to a footpath on your left which takes you back into Caundle Marsh parish. Head north-west across the field, enjoying the view over the Vale.

Near the far corner of the field, the path enters the next field and turns right, north, along the boundary to a wood which you enter. After a short walk through the wood the path meets a road that continues north to Tut Hill Farm where it turns left and heads downhill to the west.

Having passed a wood, at a bend in the road join a footpath on your left that heads south across several fields back to Hawkins Farm, where the path takes you between farm buildings to rejoin the path back to the A3030.

Cross the road and join the footpath opposite which takes you south. After a couple of fields you’ll approach a line of ancient oaks that form the parish boundary with Bishop’s Caundle again. Cross it and continue across the next field to meet the road.

Turn right and head north-west passing Westhayes Farm and soon you’ll find on your right a footpath leading up through a hedge, across a small field and back to the church where you began, having walked nearly four miles.

You might be glad that you remembered to take secateurs with you as some of the stiles and gateways are a bit brambly.

Photo © Mike Searle geograph.org.uk

FIT & FURNISH, YEOVIL

STARTS FRIDAY 21ST MARCH AT 10AM

£475,000 FURNITURE & BED STOCK FOR

Cotswold Carlton, Global, Anaghmore, Vida Living, Furniture Link, Windsor, Wheatcroft, Moonraker, Sweet Dreams, Welcome, World Furniture, Limelight, Maysons, Gillerson, Phoenix Wood, Visco Therapy, Etc…

On behalf of all the staff at Fit & Furnish, past and present, it’s been a privilege to serve so many special customers and all the people of the area, since we opened 25 years ago. Now, I have taken the decision to close the Fit & Furnish store and retire from furniture retailing. We must clear the entire stock without delay and so will hold the greatest furniture sale ever seen in the area. The showrooms are briefly closed to reduce prices and prepare for the launch of our £475,000 CLOSING DOWN FOREVER SALE!

We must urgently sell off all of our furniture and accessories inc: Suites, sofas & corner groups (in fabric & leather), easy chairs, risers & recliners, dining sets, sideboards, wardrobes, chests, coffee tables, beds, mattresses, bedframes, garden seating and dining, pictures, mirrors, lamps, vases, etc… Absolutely Everything Must Be Sold Out a.s.a.p!

PRICES WILL BE DRASTICALLY REDUCED! THIS IS OUR BIGGEST SALE EVER! ALL SHOWROOM GOODS, PLUS WAREHOUSE STOCK - AND ALL NEW SPECIAL ORDERS - WILL BE CLEARLY MARKED & AVAILABLE TO YOU, WITH BIGGER SAVINGS, THAN EVER IN OUR HISTORY!

SPECIAL EVENT HOURS:

Friday 21st March 10 - 6 / Saturday 22nd March 10 - 5 / Sunday 23rd March 11 - 4

A stitch in time saves minds

by Debra Howard

IN mid-January, I started a sewing group. Like many people, I am busy during the day juggling the demands of life and, come the evening, had noticed myself feeling exhausted, lonely or bored with the routine – sometimes a combination of all three!

So, mid January, I reached out to see if anyone would like to meet in the evenings, and do their sewing projects together.

I set up the hall at the Shaftesbury Arts centre, and on the first evening around 20 people turned up, not knowing another person.

After just over one month, we have grown into a kind, supportive, creative community. We meet each week to progress our craft projects, as well as helping each other with tips and skills.

With the generosity of a

grant, it is now free to come along weekly on a Thursday evening, with no membership or advance booking needed.

We have a new machine for people to learn or use (also donated), plus an iron for finishing touches.

We meet in the Shaftesbury Arts Centre every Thursday from 7pm-10pm, with the exception of the third Thursday of the month being at the British Legion, where you are welcomed with tea and coffee (free), and some sweet treat or chocolate to nibble as we enjoy the evening.

There is no selling or profit, just a lovely way to enjoy the crafts of others.

You may have no sewing experience, some skills or be multi-talented; there is room for everyone. We range from our

20s to 80s, so the room is alive with energy and experience. We also welcome knitters and crocheters; we even have a lady with her wonderful spinning wheel.

People travel to meetings from Teffont, Sturminster, West Knoyle, Mere, Gillingham and

lift with someone else is possible.

This community is for everyone and everyone is warmly welcomed.

Please contact Debra Howard 0749 344 3252 if you want more information, or visit the Facebook page (South West

New Spring Arrivals

Cadet Chorale

THE churchyard at St Peter’s Church in Stourton will host some special visitors today (Friday, March 14) when The Cadet Chorale from the United States Coastguard Academy visit.

The select group of singers drawn from the corps of cadets have a repertoire of anthems, folk songs, shanties and patriotic music.

The group’s leader asked to give a short performance at the church after visiting Stourhead on a previous trip to the UK.

The Cadet Chorale perform at 11am.

A new lease of life

SHERBORNE’S repair café meets on the third Saturday of the month, between 10am and 12.15pm, in Cheap Street Church hall (DT9 3BJ). The next session is April 19. Find out more at www.facebook.com/repaircafesherborne.

The write stuff

SEA-LOVER and author Paul Weston, from Brockhill, has visited all the locations for his latest historical novel by boat.

Paul spent 11 years as a merchant seaman on tankers, offshore and on ferries, and has sailed his own boats long distances.

His travels took him to the rocky creeks and tides of Brittany, the French canals, Catalonia’s Costa Brava, the desolate beaches of southern France and the forbidding entrance to the Moroccan city of Sale, which all feature in Gulf of Lions

The book is set in 1805, the year of the Battles of Trafalgar and Austerlitz, and sees Lieutenant Snowden RN sent in HMS Oleander to the Mediterranean on a secret mission.

Gulf of Lions seeks to evoke the intrigue and dangerous operations conducted by the Royal Navy.

Paul said: “The direct inspiration for my new novel came when my boat was in Palamos in the Costa Brava area of Catalonia. Walking with my wife along the low clifftop near the town, I looked down at a steep path leading up from the rocky beach below, and thought ‘I can just picture a beweaponed Snowden climbing up there in the darkness’.”

Last year, Paul and wife, Sally, sailed from the Mediterranean, via Rabat and Lanzarote, across the Atlantic to Grenada.

Gulf of Lions, was set to be released on Sunday, March 9. His other books in the series are Weymouth Bound, Not by Sea, and Cape Corse

Specialist wing designed to cater for residents with advanced stage dementia

Garden View at Bramley House in Mere is our exclusive, intimate wing offering unparalleled, personalised care for residents with advanced-stage dementia. Garden View provides a rare opportunity for personalised, high-quality care in a serene and controlled environment. This exclusivity ensures that each resident receives the utmost attention and bespoke care, tailored to their unique needs.

Why choose Garden View

Village teas

A DORSET village is celebrating 50 years of Sunday afternoon tea.

Every Sunday since 1975, villagers have gathered at Wimborne St Giles village hall for refreshments.

Originally, the teas were run by the village hall committee. Today, a different charity each week acts as host, serving cakes, sandwiches and drinks to the locals, who are often queuing out at the door by 2.30pm!

Some of the bakers have been donating cakes since the teas began. Eileen Sturney, now 95, was one the first committee members and is still providing delicious tea loaves today.

April 27 marks the 50th anniversary of the village’s Sunday afternoon teas, and those in the know will make sure they’re there early enough to grab one of Caroline Barnes’ meringues.

Big thanks must go to Sally Shepard, whose organisation skills ensure that not a week goes by without tea and cake.

Find out more about the teas, and other events at the hall, on Facebook.

Jumping for joy!

YOUNG Lacey Churcher, from Bryanston, has been selected for the England Foundation Squad in Double Mini Trampoline – a form of gymnastics.

Lacey, nine, has been involved in gymnastics and trampolining most of her life. She began a mums and tots gym class at Blandford Forum Gymnastics Club when she was nine months old.

In her first year of competition in double mini trampoline, in the age seven to eight age group, she made it through to the south west finals of the Challenge Cup and won a silver medal.

In her second year, she competed in the south west competitions, the National Trampoline League and English Trampoline and DMT Championship.

She came fourth at the qualifiers in the latter, in the nine to 10 age group, despite

still being eight, to qualify for the finals.

She had just turned nine at the finals and pulled out a very respectable ninth place and was selected for the England Foundation Squad.

Lacey, who has had her success recognised at a ‘Proud’ assembly at Durweston Primary School, has just had her first England training camp with the next one coming up soon.

She trains four times a week, travelling around an hour each way, with the England training camps and competitions all over the country.

She receives great support from her coach, Sarah Hunt, head coach at Evolution and an England coach.

Lacey is excited about the prospect of travelling with the England squad to Portugal later this year, just two years after starting in Double Mini Trampoline.

Sanctuary volunteers are all stars

THE Reptile Academy, a centre of excellence for reptile and amphibian education and animal welfare, based in Gussage St Michael, is a finalist in two categories at this year’s Animal Star Awards:

The Academy is non-profit and led by a dedicated team of expert volunteers. One such volunteer is Lola, who’s up for the Young Animal Star of the Year award.

Lola, 17, began her journey with The Reptile Academy as a student. “She is here every week without fail, sharing her passion for reptiles and amphibians with families, SEND/SEMH learners, and other visitors, making a huge impact on their learning experiences,” said The Academy’s Founder and Director, Dr Jake Weeks.

The whole team of Reptile Academy volunteers is also up for the Volunteers(s) of the Year award.

The Reptile Academy is fully licensed

for up to 101 reptiles and amphibians, with over 80% of its residents being rescued or rehomed animals.

“From huge green iguanas and Argentine tegus to the popular leopard gecko and the rare African egg-eating snake, many of our

animals have been rehomed from other rescue centres due to their need for specialist, long-term care, which we are uniquely equipped to provide,” said Jake.

“Our volunteers also contribute to a wide range of specialist programmes, including veterinary and zoology university student placements, Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award residentials, and specialist SEND/ SEMH animal care courses.

“We are the only reptile education organisation in the UK with an animal activities license to be formally recognised for both education and animal welfare.”

Dr. Jake Weeks, Founder & Director, said:

"Being named a finalist in these awards is a testament to the professionalism, dedication, and hard work of our volunteers.”

Find out more about The Reptile Academy’s mission, and how you can visit or volunteer, at www.reptileacademy.co.uk

The early spring days that we have with the sun shining through our windows remind us that if it feels hot now behind the glass it’s going to be unbearable by the summer. With that in mind the Spring is a good time to get planning how you are going to keep your home and outdoor living areas cool over the summer.

At LPSS we have a vast range for internal and external shading. If you are looking for blinds or shutters we are experts in getting the right product installed to provide you with a cooler, shaded room or a darkened room for sleeping as the daylight hours lengthen.

Our extensive range of products for your outdoor living area include folding arm retractable Awnings, pergola Awnings, Verandas with glass or polycarbonate roofs with optional sides and sliding glass doors. External roller blinds for rooflights or windows, and premium quality louvred roof pergolas. We will listen carefully to what you want to achieve and advise you on the best option for you and guarantee our first class installation.

Tel: 0787 9992000 E: enquiries@lizziepriceshadingsolutions.co.uk

Gary, head volunteer ranger, in iguana walkthrough with the green iguanas Zilla (right) and Blue (left)

Student volunteer Lola holds Victoria, a female Sudan plated lizard

Salvador the black and white Argentine tegu

New kit sponsors for youth team

YOUNGSTERS in the new Under-7s Comets team at Pimperne Youth Football Club are all kitted out thanks to a sponsor.

BW Construction & Groundworks Ltd has stepped up to sponsor the team’s full match-day kit.

Club chair Andy Jeffery said: “The backing of local businesses like BW Construction & Groundworks is vital to the growth and success of our club.

“Their generosity ensures that young players have the opportunity to enjoy football in a supportive and well-equipped environment.

“We sincerely appreciate their commitment to grassroots football.”

Dom Way and Ian Barnett, owners of BW Construction & Landscaping, said: “It’s an honour to support Pimperne Youth Football Club.

“Local football clubs play a crucial role in fostering community spirit and developing young talent.

Assistant coach Andy Stewart, coach Damien Cheater and co-owner of BW Construction & Landscaping Dom Way

players have the resources they need to thrive on and off the pitch.”

The family-run club, based near Blandford and founded in 2023, has more than 30 children who regularly train and compete with two Under-10 teams and the Under-7s.

The club has been fundraising to refurbish the clubhouse and has been overwhelmed with support from local businesses, charities and the community.

The renovated clubhouse will serve as a hub for club activities, providing a dedicated space for team meetings, social events and community engagement.

To support the refurbishment effort, visit the

Near

miss

SHERBORNE has failed to be selected as the Town of Culture for 2026 despite being shortlisted.

Wimborne Minster was selected for the award, which will see the town put on a range of cultural and community events.

The town will receive £30,000 which will be match funded by the town council to bring a programme of events designed to improve access to culture for everyone.

Town of Culture was established by Arts Development Company, which is responsible for Dorset’s cultural strategy, to strengthen cultural activity and to deepen relationships between communities, cultural venues and organisations.

RDA celebrates milestone

THE Hanford Riding for the Disabled (RDA) group has celebrated 50 years of riding at Hanford School with pupils and the stables team.

Hanford staff made a special cake for the occasion which some of the younger pupils presented to the RDA volunteers at the end of their weekly riding session.

Sandy Millard, chief instructor with Hanford RDA, has been involved in the group for over 38 years and, with treasurer Sue Ryan, has overseen hundreds of children with special needs on their weekly rides around Hanford School and its grounds.

The Hanford RDA group brings children from Yewstock School in Sturminster Newton to ride at Hanford, most of whom are on the autistic spectrum.

Each term RDA volunteers look after a group of about 10 children, many of whom have not ridden before.

The RDA volunteers get the ponies ready, then three adults accompany each pony and child on a ride.

A spokesperson for Hanford RDA said: “It is so uplifting for the children to be on a

pony, the beams on their faces are so rewarding for us volunteers and we just love seeing the children having such a lovely time.

“The children are always in such a hurry to get up on the ponies and the only issue we have is encouraging them to get down at the end of the ride!

“They benefit enormously from their rides and learn so much from the ponies.

“Their teachers tell us that, for many of the children, it is the highlight of their week."

The RDA group has two ponies, Guy and Theo, who are stabled alongside the other Hanford ponies.

Charley Pearson, head of riding at Hanford School, said: “It is wonderful that we have been able to support this amazing charity and give so many children so much happiness over the past 50 years.

“Riding is at the heart of life at Hanford and we see daily how our pupils benefit so much from being around, and riding, the ponies – being able to share this with a wider group of children is something we really value.”

Hanford is a day and boarding prep school for girls aged seven-13 years old and all the ponies are cared for by the school’s stables team.

The ponies also get lots of attention from the Hanford pupils who ride them throughout the week.

The Hanford RDA group is always on the lookout for more volunteers.

Sandy says volunteers do not need riding experience, as long as they are relatively fit, like being outdoors, enjoy children's company and are happy to be around ponies.

Sandy can be contacted via Hanford's School Office at office@hanfordschool. co.uk or on 01258 860219.

FULL FIBRE BROADBAND HAS LANDED

Bringing faster speeds to rural villages and towns.

Upgrade to 100% full fibre broadband and video call, browse, stream and game to your hearts content.

World Book Day

YOUNGSTERS at Leweston Prep, near Sherborne, had a fun and educational World Book Day.

The children arrived at school in vocabulary-themed costumes, enjoyed wordplay activities and crafted Top Trump character cards.

To top it all off they had a magical Harry Potter-themed lunch.

Specialising in Window, Door & Conservatory installations in & around Dorset, Somerset & Wiltshire, since 1989.

• WINDOWS

• DOORS

• CONSERVATORIES

• SOLID ROOFS

• BI-FOLDS

• SEALED UNITS

• FASCIA, SOFFIT & GUTTERING

Showroom in Orchard Park Garden Centre, Gillingham SP8 5JG

Open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm

Superb kitchens designed and installed for you

Visit our showrooms to view our kitchen displays

Shaftesbury: 01747 851 476 Longmead Industrial Estate, Shaftesbury SP7 8PL

Warminster: 01985 219 200 5 George Street, Warminster BA12 8QA

Care South celebrates top care home group rating for fifth consecutive year

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Carers at residential and care at home provider, Care South, are celebrating after being rated as a top care home provider for the fifth consecutive year.

Care South, which is a registered charity, has been named as one of the Top 20 Care Home Groups in the UK at the Care Home Awards 2025 based on reviews from residents, relatives and loved ones on the industry website carehome. co.uk. This is the fifth year in a row that Care South has been presented with the accolade in recognition of the high quality of care provided to the residents.

Fern Brook Lodge in Gillingham, which is part of the Care South family, is rated as 9.8/10 on carehome.co.uk following a host of positive reviews.

These reviews include: “The staff are patient, kind, and caring and always ensure that residents’ needs are put first. We are impressed with the activities team, who keep the residents engaged with various activities. We have noticed that mum loves the attention and has lots of fun with the staff, which makes her happy. Fern Brook Lodge is a lovely care home, and we would like to thank the staff for everything that they do for the residents.”

Response to Reform UK

IN the February 14 edition of The New Blackmore Vale, we published a column submitted by the Reform UK party – and we want to apologise.

The New Blackmore Vale has always attempted to fairly represent all views, from across the political spectrum – whether we agree with them or not.

Unfortunately, in that edition, a submission from Reform UK – in our view – went beyond the voicing of an opinion we do not agree with.

It identified an unelected individual and targeted them for criticism, and this was unacceptable.

The views expressed are not ours, and we apologise profusely for the identification of an individual.

There follows a response from the Space Youth Project:

Dorset and North Poole MP.

An interesting aspect of Mr Gargrave’s original article is his use of statistics and figures to make the work of the charity seem like a financial drain on the respective Dorset and BCP Council, where context is key. It is unclear whether the gentleman is referring solely to Dorset Council, or to both Dorset and BCP Councils.

Assuming the latter, since 2018, the combined budgets of Dorset and BCP councils amount to about £4.2bn – at about £400m for Dorset and £300m for BCP yearly since 2018 – of which Space Youth Project funding accounts for barely 0.006% in a seven-year period.

As a charity helping the vulnerable youth LGBTQ+ community across Dorset since 2001, we were highly disappointed to see an opinion piece in the ‘Politics’ section of your February 14 issue by Thomas Gargrave, chair of Reform UK’s South Dorset branch.

Along similar lines, in 2022-23 there were about 137,662 children under the age of 18 in Dorset – making the 59 children referred to GIDC services just 0.004% of the youth population in Dorset.

Quite frankly, even if there was just one child referred onward during this time it would be a preferable outcome over a child suffering in silence, not knowing that there is nothing wrong with them and help is available.

This article called into question the good work of the charity and singled out the excellent outreach work done, while also casting scattershot aspersions about respected LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, the prior leadership of Dorset Council and the current Mid

For all that the previous article talks of ‘protecting’ children from ‘fringe, adult ideologies’ we would argue that a lack of knowledge and vitriol from adults aimed at children is a far more dangerous element.

Mum’s the word!

THE Maternity Team at Salisbury Hospital are celebrating after receiving a ‘Good’ rating from the Care Quality Commission.

Chief nurse, Judy Dyos, said: “We are incredibly proud of everybody in our Maternity Team.

“Following an unannounced inspection last September the CQC have graded the services we provide as ‘Good’.

“I would like to thank everyone in the maternity team for the hard work and commitment they show day in, day out.

“It is fantastic news that parents said they felt safe in our care and felt able to raise concerns with our staff.”

Director of Midwifery, Vicki Marston, said: “The team deliver over 2,000 babies a year and we want to give a big thank you to our amazing colleagues for delivering compassionate care and making a real difference to our community.”

Gillingham Showroom 01747 833 789 Unit 21, Kingsmead Business Park, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 5JG

Opening Hours Monday–Friday: 9am–5pm Saturdays by appointment only. Closed Sunday

JOINWINCANTON

Helping hand

RESIDENTIAL and care at home provider and registered charity, Care South, has donated £1,000 to Dorset County Hospital Charity.

The good cause has been chosen as the latest beneficiary of the Care South Community Fund after being nominated by Sarah Broom, Care South at home manager.

Sarah put forward the Dorchester-based hospital in response to the hospital care provided to many Care South clients.

The Care South Community Fund gives back to community groups, services and organisations which directly benefit Care South’s care home residents, care at home clients or staff.

Simon Bird, CEO of Care South, said: “We are proud to support Dorset County Hospital’s Emergency and Critical Care Appeal. Many of our Care at Home clients living in West Dorset rely on the hospital’s vital services, as do the wider community, so it’s great to be able to give back to such a worthy cause.”

Simon handed over the donation with the help of Sarah Broom and Rahul Gohulan (pictured), Care South at home operations support manager.

For more information about the care services available, go to caresouth.co.uk/care-at-home or call Care South at Home’s West Dorset office on 01305 233103.

Get Ready to Get Muddy: The Lewis-Manning

Muddy Dog Dash Returns to Upton Country Park

Excitement is building as Lewis-Manning Hospice Care proudly announces the return of the muchloved Muddy Dog Dash to Upton Country Park on Saturday, 29th March 2025.

This fun-filled, family-friendly event invites dog lovers, adventure seekers, and supporters to tackle a muddy obstacle course whilst raising funds for an incredible cause.

Now in its 3rd year, the Muddy Dog Dash offers participants the choice of two exhilarating routes: 2.5km or 5km, featuring obstacles such as muddy ditches, tunnels, wiggle poles, and the ever-popular tyre runs and ramps. This year introduces exciting new features, including a Doggy Disco and Colour Rope Jumps.

• Craft and cheer stations for younger attendees and enthusiastic supporters and the opportunity to stay dry, if needed.

Why We Dash

All funds raised will go towards supporting Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, a charity that has been providing extraordinary care for over 30 years to people across Poole, Purbeck, East Dorset and West Hampshire. From day hospices to bereavement services for patients, every step, and wagging tail, helps them to continue their mission to bring comfort, care, and compassion to people when they need it most.

The first 100 sign-ups will receive a FREE t-shirt!

• Dog & Adult: £15

• Dog & Child: £10

• Family (2 adults + 2 children): £25

• Adult Only: £10

• Child Only: £5

• Additional Dog: £5

T-shirts also available for £6

MUDDY DOG DASH

Whether you walk, jog, or skip, this event is all about having fun and creating memories—all while supporting Lewis-Manning Hospice Care’s vital work for people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Upton Country Park, Poole

Saturday 29th March 11am - 3pm

A Full Day of Fun for the Whole Family

The event village will feature plenty of entertainment for participants and spectators alike, including:

• Live music and entertainment by HOT Radio

• Delicious food and drinks from the Upton Country Park Tea Rooms & Kiosk

• Meet-and-greet Bluey the Dog mascot, (£5 per photo)

Anna Durose, Events Fundraiser at Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, said, “A heartfelt thank you to our incredible sponsors, partners and volunteers who help to make the event possible, with special mention to Barratt Homes, our headline sponsor. We are also grateful to Care South for their kind support and look forward to welcoming their residents to watch and cheer on our Muddy Dog Dashers.

“The Muddy Dog Dash is one of our most loved events, and we’re thrilled to bring it back for 2025 at Upton Country Park. Whether you’re running, walking, or cheering from the sidelines, every step makes a difference to our patients and their families that we support. We can’t wait to see everyone there!”

How to sign up

Sign up now to secure your spot at lewis-manning. org.uk/muddy-dog-dash

Participants are encouraged to raise a minimum of £50 sponsorship per dog, with all proceeds going directly to support Lewis-Manning Hospice Care’s services. You will receive a JustGiving link to create your own fundraising page upon registration.

Event Details

• Where: Upton Country Park, Poole

• When: Saturday, 29th March 2025

• Event village opens: 11:00am

• Wave 1 participants start: 12:00 noon

Parking is available at Upton Country Park with 400 spaces and easy access by car, train, bus, bike, or on foot.

For more information, please contact: Anna Durose, anna.durose@lewis-manning.org.uk

Join us on 29th March 2025 for an unforgettable day filled with mud, fun, and purpose. Together, we can make a difference!

Sign up today - lewis-manning.org.uk/muddydog-dash

Our loose Canon

Must the institutional church crumble for the faith to renew?

by Canon Eric Woods

A GOOD many years ago, I and a friend, another Anglican priest, flew from Bournemouth to Dublin for a week’s course on Celtic Spirituality. It was to be led by Father John Ó Ríordáin CSSR, a member of the Roman Catholic religious community of priests and lay brothers commonly known as “Redemptorists”.

On our way from the airport to the monastery, the taxi driver gave us some advice: “Don’t wear your dog-collars in the streets. You may get some unpleasant reactions.” The Catholic Church in Ireland at that time was embroiled in numerous scandals involving the sexual abuse of children by priests and the treatment of women and their babies in the Church’s many motherand-baby homes. It was an unexpected warning, but one confirmed by the Guestmaster at the monastery. However, we also asked him if, as Anglican priests, we would offend our Catholic brethren if we came forward to receive the Sacrament at the daily Community Mass. “To be sure”, he replied with a twinkle, “you would offend us if you didn’t.” That was reassuring!

Soon we met Fr. John and our fellow participants on the course. John turned out to be a tall streak of an Irishman with a dry sense of humour and a deep understanding of Ireland’s Christian Celtic heritage. It was a great week, which had a profound effect on me.

Scroll on about a quarter of a century, and the Church of England is caught up in many scandals of its own. The powers-that-be in the Church have adopted something of a scattergun approach to allegations of historical abuse by individual parochial clergy whilst being largely deaf to allegations of deep institutional failings –especially in the area of Safeguarding. It is, after all, easier to “pot” elderly retired individuals than to admit that it is the Bishops who have failed the faithful by becoming managers rather than shepherds, more interested in wielding power than standing before God with their people and priests on their hearts. One of the proudest titles of the Pope is “Servant of the servants of God” but I have met few bishops (despite some outstanding exceptions) who have seen their role as essentially one of humble service.

Towards the end of one of his books, Fr. John writes this: “In the long run, the over-dominant institution devours the very thing on which it depends and feeds, namely, the personal and communal faith and commitment of the people. In the final analysis, one is left with big churches, big plans, streamlined organisations, and nobody there…. We may schematise the process or cycle as follows: 1) The Good News is preached. 2) There is a faith-response from the people. 3) The institution emerges and builds on it. 4) The institution devours the popular faith. 5) The faith weakens. 6) The institution collapses. 7) The Good News is preached anew.” If the institutional church has to crumble further before the face of Christ can be seen clearly and joyously again, so be it – as long as we preach and practise the Good News anew.

Register your interest!

Photo by Elimende Inagella on Unsplash

Blandford Town Museum awarded grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to bring history to the visually impaired and disabled

Today the Blandford Town Museum is announcing the completion of a ground breaking project made possible by a £25k grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

“Reaching Out with Sound” aims to bring history to the visually impaired and disabled using Navilens codes .alongside exhibits in the museum. These codes will link to the Navilens apps on visitors’ smartphones, providing audible information to replace or supplement the written captions.

The town museum is the main repository of artefacts, ephemeral material, local accounts and oral histories relating to Blandford and the surrounding district. Its extensive collection ranges from prehistoric times through the town’s medieval development, the Georgian reconstruction of the town centre after it was destroyed by fire in 1731, to the arrival (and eventual departure) of the railway, with exhibits highlighting the evolution of education, trade and agriculture in the area.

The museum itself is housed in an 18th century coach house, and the design of the building means that the first-floor exhibition area can only be reached by a fairly narrow staircase. Much of the collection has therefore been inaccessible to visually impaired or disabled visitors, and this lack of access may also limit the contribution of those who would like to work with them and carry out research. Additionally, some potential visitors, including residents in care homes, find it difficult to come to the museum in person.

This project is designed to bring these communities to the museum, or take the museum to them. It will increase the number of visitors who will be able to access and, should they wish, contribute to

the museum and its work to preserve our local heritage. Closer collaboration with these communities will also allow them to better reflect their stories in the museum’s collection.

The Navilens codes are linked to oral descriptions, music and sound effects that describe and explain the exhibits. These will also be available through YouTube and on their website, along with associated photographs and video, for those who are unable to come into the museum.

A visitor questionnaire will evaluate specifically the audio interpretations and general visitor impressions. An outreach programme will take the facility to Dorset care homes and special schools. They aim to include all communities in what the museum has to offer!

Sylvia Hixson Andrews, Blandford Museum Director, said: “We are delighted to have received support from the National Heritage Lottery Fund for our project Reaching Out With Sound. Thanks to the National Heritage Lottery Fund Players, we are finally able to not only provide access to our exhibitions, but will be able to promote full participation in the heritage of the Blandford area to a large number of people who have previously been excluded by the traditional practices of museums. We are hugely excited by this opportunity!”

If you are interested in attending the launch of this project, or for further information, images and interviews, please contact Sylvia Hixson Andrews at Blandford Town Museum on 07701090227 or by email at sylhixsonandrews@gmail.com.

Their website can be found at blandfordtownmuseum.org.uk or by using the Navilens Go code provided below.

Events

LYN’S BINGO at Marnhull

Royal British Legion DT10 1PR on March 24th.

Eyes down 7pm.

FAMILY SPRING FAIR

SATURDAY 5th APRIL

2025

1.30PM TO 4.30PM

Marnhull Village Hall

Burton St, Marnhull, Dorset

Over 20 Craft Stalls

Face Painting

Lucky Dips

Gourmet Cakes

Afternoon Teas

STALBRIDGE PLAYERS PANTO

‘Jack & The Beanstalk’ 28 + 29 March, 4 + 5 April

7.30pm tickets Williams Florists Stalbridge

SHAFTESBURY

EMPORIUM, Friday 21st & 22nd March, 9 - 4.30pm, The Town Hall, Shaftesbury, Lots of wonderful handmade and some Preloved items for sale, Supporting Weldmar Hospice and Dorset Somerset Air Ambulance.

Free Entry

HUNGRY NOW?

Your business could be here for as little as £24 per week...

*Based on our fortnightly rate for a 5x2 advert

JUMBLE SALE Saturday 29th March 1pm-3pm Hooper Hall Lydlinch DT10 2JA. Admission 50p.

HOUSE CLEARANCE

Items Auction. Okeford Village Hall, Okeford Fitzpaine. Sunday 16th March,Viewing from 1pm Starts at 3pm.600 lots from £1.

SIXPENNY HANDLEY COMMUNITY CINEMA, Conclave, Village Hall, Common Road SP5 5NJ, Friday 21 March | 6.30 for 7.00 pm, £6 | Bar & snacks | Information: 6dhandleyhall@gmail.com

BATCOMBE CHURCH

JUMBLE SALE at Leigh Hall on Saturday 22nd March 2pm

JUMBLE SALE Saturday 29th March Durweston Hall DT11 02A 12pm.

JUMBLE SALE in aid of Stour Valley Dog Rescue at Durweston Village Hall on Saturday 29th March at 12pm

SALE 22nd MARCH

Bric a Brac Garden decor plus more. For air ambulance & cancer research.

13, SP8-4RY. (Gillingham) 10.30am - 2.30pm

BINGO!

11

40

5

Stalbridge Hall Thursday 27th March

90

64 22

Doors open 6.30pm Eyes down 7.30pm In aid of hall funds

S.S.A.P.C. SORT OUT 16th March at 8am. Windmill Farm, Montacute. TA15 6UT For info contact B.Jones, 01935-824543 or D.Fox 01935-822845

Cash for councils

HOUSEBUILDER Persimmon Homes Severn Valley has contributed towards the cost of an app that will alert villagers living alongside the River Cam when there is a risk of flooding.

It presented £1,500 to councillors from five parish councils through which the Cam flows and Somerset councillor Henry Hobhouse, who brought the project to the developer’s attention, at Queen Camel.

The parish councils represented were Queen Camel, West Camel, North Cadbury, Sparkford and Yeovilton & District (Podimore).

The app will alert villagers when water levels exceed a specified limit detected by measuring devices placed along the river.

Persimmon currently has a reserved matters planning application for 162 homes in Castle Cary.

The donation was made through Persimmon’s Community Champions scheme, which sees £700,000 donated across Britain each year to good causes and valued organisations.

Recent local recipients include Caryford Community Hall, Jessie

Your ideas needed

DORSET Council is inviting the local business community to help shape its new economic growth strategy.

Growing the economy is a key priority for the council and it wants to work with the business community to ensure the future success of the county.

The council’s emerging economic growth strategy will play a key part in driving growth and businesses are asked to have their say at five engagement events.

From 14 to 25 March, there will be events in Wool, Bridport, Wimborne, Shaftesbury and Weymouth.

Dorset Council Leader, Cllr Nick Ireland, said: “A strong economy underpins everything we want to achieve. It will increase wealth, create more opportunities for people, improve living standards, and boost funds for public services.

“These events will be used to gauge the views of businesses on the challenges they face plus the opportunities for growth.

“We want to ensure we capture the key issues in our strategy, and more importantly identify what we can do to make a step change in the county’s economic performance.”

The council recognises that a change is needed to break the cycle of slow economic growth.

Its economic growth strategy will set out how the council can support and diversify the economy through digital technology, investing in advanced manufacturing sector and focusing on Dorset’s natural advantages.

The business engagement events are being held at:

• BattleLab, Dorset Innovation Park, Wool; Friday, March 14, 8am–9.30am

• Mountfield, Bridport; Monday, March 17, 8.30am–10am

• Allendale Centre, Wimborne; Wednesday, March 19, 8am–9.30am

• Royal Chase Hotel, Shaftesbury; Friday, March 21, 8am–9.30am

• Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, Portland; Tuesday, March 25, 8am–9.30am

Businesses can book their spot by going to www. eventbrite.co.uk and searching for Dorset Council.

May Children's Hospice at Home and Frome Social Services Voluntary Fund.

Carly Spear, Persimmon Homes Severn Valley sales director, said: “The River Cam Flood Warning App is a brilliant initiative that will be extremely useful locally, so I am delighted that Persimmon was in a position to make this donation.”

Cllr Henry Hobhouse, councillor for the Castle Cary, added: “I want to thank Persimmon for their kind donation to this project that will help all those who live near the Cam prepare for any flooding issues.

“It is essential that developers who want to build in the area work in close concert with the community and it is a positive that Persimmon have lent a helping hand through this donation.”

WEDNESDAY 26th MARCH

Bach’s masterpiece at town church

SINGERS in South Somerset Choral Society will chalk up a double first when they perform JS Bach’s masterpiece, St Matthew’s Passion

They will be performing the work for the first time – and in Yeovil’s beautiful St John’s Church, in the centre of town, where they have never performed before.

The choir of about 80 local singers, which does not hold auditions, has built a fine

reputation with twice-yearly concerts in Ilminster, Chard and South Petherton, and a popular carol service each November.

It has sung most of the major oratorios and masses by Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Bach, Verdi, Brahms, Beethoven, Faure, Jenkins, Rutter, Duruflé and Vaughan Williams under former musical director, Tim Donaldson, and now with new musical director, John Jenkins.

The performance, sung in

John Jenkins, musical director of South Somerset Choral Society, with soloists and choir during the performance of Handel’s Messiah in the Minster, Ilminster, in 2023

Wedding and lottery ticket

MEMBERS of Mere Amateur Dramatic Society are donning their glad rags for a wedding reception in their spring production.

In Louise Roche’s fastmoving adult comedy drama, Lucky Balls, nine mismatched wedding guests are seated at the same table.

To ease the tension of the bad

seating plan, one of them suggests buying a lottery ticket for which they all chip in.

But this unity is short-lived when their numbers come up and the real trouble starts.

Visitors are invited to join the wedding guests at Mere Lecture Hall, enjoy the fun and the live music while the maitre d’ tries his best to keep them

informed about everything that is going on.

Performances are on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 27-29, at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

Tickets priced £10 are available from Mere Library, Sprout & Flower and the Angel Tea Rooms, Mere, or can be reserved by on 07539 329798.

English, will enjoy the excellent acoustics of St John’s and feature five outstanding soloists and a professional orchestra, along with Perrott Hill School Choirs.

St Matthew’s Passion will be performed on Saturday, March 22, at 7pm, and tickets are available online through Ticketsource or visit www. southsomersetchoralsociety.org. uk or contact a member of the choir.

ORGAN music will be on offer when Stephen Binnington presents a varied programme at St Gregory’s Church, Marnhull.

The concert, on Tuesday, March 18, from noon-12.30pm, includes Mendelssohn’s magnificent 3rd Sonata. Donations will be greatly appreciated and go to church funds.

DOG MAN (U)

Choir has new take on Rossini

DURWESTON Choral Society is set to premiere a new arrangement of Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle.

The orchestration used in this arrangement, completed by the society’s musical director, Simon Twiselton, replaces Rossini’s original scoring of two pianos and harmonium.

Simon wanted to use seven reed instruments to complement the original first piano part and

emulate the attack and range used by the second piano, as well as provide the warmth associated with the sustaining quality of a harmonium.

To bring this arrangement to life, Simon contacted his great friend, bassoonist and chair of Ensemble Cambrica, Christopher Vale – pictured – to ask if members of the orchestra would be willing to be part of this performance.

Arts & Entertainment

They were, and the society is delighted to welcome Sam Baxter (oboe/cor anglaise), Laura Potter and Laura Deignan (clarinets), Christopher Vale (bassoon/contra) and Hugh Sergeant (bassoon). Joining the ensemble will be Siobhain O’Higgins (piano).

Alongside the choir and ensemble will be four soloists – soprano Olivia Robinson (BBC Singers), alto Arabella Heaton, tenor Matthew Keighley and bass Philip Smith.

The connection between the performers does not stop with

Simon and Christopher –Siobhain is the regular accompanist of Philip Smith, and she was also a fellow student of Arabella Heaton when they were at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

These days Arabella and Simon teach singing and piano respectively at Sherborne School for Girls.

The concert is at Durweston Parish Church on Saturday, March 22, at 7.30pm – for tickets, email jgedcf@talktalk. net or phone 01963 364063.

Journey from music hall to musicals

THE Piddle Valley Players is an established group that has put on a huge variety of shows, particularly musicals, in recent years.

Among the musicals are Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, Oklahoma and, post-Covid,

Anything Goes and The Pajama Game. Last year it was Me and My Girl

This year the group is staging a ‘hybrid show’, Music Hall to Musicals – A Journey, at Buckland Newton Village Hall. The show will revisit songs

from musicals that have been performed in the Piddle Valley and a selection of songs chosen by the cast themselves.

The group is pleased to have Sam Ryall on board again as musical director and show pianist.

Tickets priced £15 are on

sale through tickets@ piddlevalleyplayers.co.uk and prices include welcome refreshments.

Music Hall to Musicals – A Journey runs from Thursday to Saturday, March 20-22, with curtain up at 7.30pm.

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. Thursdays – coffee and a chat from 10am-noon. Fridays –lunch club for 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.

• Blandford Evangelical Church: Sunday – 10am Family Service, including classes for three-18 year olds. Monday – weekly gathering for older people 2.30pm-3.30pm followed by refreshments.

Tuesday – Footprints, an activities playtime for preschool children, 10am-11.30am and 1.15pm-2.45pm. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings – small groups meet at homes at 7.30pm. The church is in Albert Street. Phone 450689 for more information.

• Castleton, Sherborne, St Mary Magdalene (DT9 3SA): First, third and fourth Sundays, Sung Mattins; second and fifth Sundays, Holy Communion. All services are BCP at 11.15am.

• Chalbury Church: Fourth Sunday of the month, 10am Holy Communion.

• Chatty Café Scheme: Pear Tree Café, Half Moon Street, Sherborne, Mondays 2pm3.45pm.

• Cheap Street Church, Sherborne: Prayer time –9.45am Thursday; Thought for the Day – 10.30am Thursday. Sunday service at 10.30am. Monday Music second Monday of the month at 6.15pm. Taizé Service second Sunday each month at 6.30pm – half an hour of prayer, meditation and music; further details from vicarlesley@outlook.com Rendezvous Community Cuppa – third Monday each month, next March 17, 10.30am12.30pm; chat, cuppa (£1) and cake (£2); support/advice from local surgery, speak to a

pharmacist, blood pressure checks and Age UK will attend; all welcome; profits to Rendezvous.

• Digby Memorial Church Hall: Sherborne Quakers – meet Sundays 10.30am in the Griffiths Room. For more information, phone Nick on 07870 192599. Children’s Choir – rehearses at the Almshouse on Mondays at 4pm. Contact charlie.gurnham@ sherborneabbey.com, assistant director of music, to join, or just turn up. Shrove lunch – Sunday, March 2, from 12.30pm. Tickets: £12.50 – children free – available from the Parish Office.

• Hinton Martell: Second Sunday of the month, 10am Holy Communion.

• Horton Church: First Sunday of the month, 10am 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.

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

• Lufton Church: BA22 8SU, just to the west of Yeovil. Prayer Book services every Sunday at 6pm. Sung Mass on the third Sunday. See www. lufton.co.uk for details.

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

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

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

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

• Sherborne Abbey: Monday to Saturday, 8.30am Morning Prayer; The Sepulchre Chapel.

Mondays, 9am CW Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Tuesday, noon CW Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Wednesday, 10.30am Holy Communion with Homily; The Lady Chapel (alternates CW and BCP). Thursday, noon BCP Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. Friday, 9am Ecumenical Holy Communion; The Lady Chapel. First Friday of the month, 9am Requiem Holy Communion; The Sepulchre Chapel. Third Friday of the month, 11am Remembering the Fallen. Saturday, 9am CW Holy Communion; The Sepulchre Chapel.

• Sherborne Abbey: Sherborne Chamber Choir Concert, Saturday, March 15, 7.30pm. Eternal Light – uplifting music for Lent, featuring Victoria’s Requiem. Tickets £7-£20 –under-18s free – from 0333 666 3366 or visit www. sherbornechamberchoir.org.uk

• Sherborne Churches Together: Dorset Youth for Christ ‘Youth Hangout’. Every second Sunday of the month, 6.30pm-7.30pm.

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

• St James Church, Longburton: Village cafe, tea, coffee – free refills – and cakes for just £2.50. Tuesday, March 18, 10.30am-noon. Lent Lunch on Tuesday, April 8, 12.30pm. Soup, bread and cheese lunch. Donations for Christian Aid.

• 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 Margaret’s, Margaret Marsh (Shaftesbury Benefice) SP7 0AZ: Alternating first Sundays Mattins and Holy Communion, 11.15am. Everyone welcome.

• 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 Mary & St Bartholomew’s Church, Cranborne: Book of Common Prayer Evensong with the Benefice Choir, first Sunday of the month at 6pm.

• 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.

• Witchampton Church: Third Sunday of the month, 10am Holy Communion.

• Two Rivers Benefice: Sunday, March 16 – 9.30am Communion at St John The Baptist Church, Spetisbury; 9.30am Family Service at St Mary’s Church, Charlton Marshall; 11am Morning Worship at All Saints Church, Langton Long; 11am Communion at St Mary’s Church, Tarrant Rushton. Sunday, March 23 – 9.30am Communion at St Mary’s Church, Charlton Marshall; 9.30am Morning Worship at St John the Baptist Church, Spetisbury; 11am Communion at All Saints Church, Langton Long; 11am BCP Communion at St Mary’s Church, Tarrant Rushton. Coffee and cake –Spetisbury 10am – 11.30am first and third Monday each month. Coffee and cake – Blandford St Mary 10am-11.30am March 20. Coffee stop – Charlton Marshall Parish Centre 10.30am-12.30pm Tuesday to Friday.

• West Camel Independent Methodists: Meeting at All Saints Church, BA22 7QB. Sundays, March 16 and 23, 4pm – afternoon services. Phone 01935 850838 or email Geoff. mead@yahoo.com

It’s not the railings, it’s the drivers

BRIAN Chant – New Blackmore Vale, February 14 – revisits concerns expressed when renovations at the bridge in Sturminster Newton were finished last year.

As we were told then, by Dorset Council, the railings are the same length they were when installed in the 1970s and I am not aware of anyone driving into the river there during the 47 years since my family moved to this side of the town.

The bank at that point is wide and does not shelve as steeply as it appears in the photo and someone, driving at a reasonable speed, would have space to regain control, I would suggest.

If they were speeding to the extent they lost control, any fencing would probably do them more harm than good.

In any case, as far as ice is concerned, this is an A-road and a priority gritted/salted route.

It’s not about railings, it’s about drivers.

Cllr Pauline Batstone Sturminster Newton

A case of blatant discrimination

I WAS shocked to read the column ‘Protect Our Children in Their Schools’ by Thomas Gargrave of Reform UK – New Blackmore Vale, February 14 – which is unashamedly blatant in its discrimination against transgender people and those with gender dysphoria and, by implication, the entire LGBT+ community.

It is right that the New Blackmore Vale should put forward a range of views, but this article is incorrect and badly written and should never have been published.

An increase from four to 59 of referrals to GIDS is not a 50-fold increase.

Moreover, although Mr Gargrave lays into the Space Youth Project and Stonewall he

provides zero actual criticism of these organisations or their so called ‘ideologies’.

Given the poor quality of this column and its unsubstantiated discriminatory views I question whether it should have been published.

Pippa Martin Retired teacher

n The New Blackmore Vale has received several complaints about Thomas Gargrave’s column. Please see the Space Youth Project response on page 16.

State of the nation and local tax hike

OUR nation has suffered a 14-year period of mismanagement to downright incompetence that saw at one point the economy go into a tailspin. Prior policies, albeit well-meaning, have left us with a debt mountain and worse, have hobbled ‘get up and go’ – even to the extent of going into the office!

The latest national budget is looking to become a disaster for many lower paid workers in the services industries, as the NI increases are translating into significant job losses. Business confidence is in near freefall. Inward investment is again drying up. We face future years of stagflation.

Family budgets are under assault from all sides – the cost of energy keeps going up with no sign of the £300 reduction. Water bills will soar and will keep going up as decades of underinvestment have now come home to roost. It is hard to think of any bill that the average family bears the burden of that is not going up. Earnings for many are flatlining in real terms. Our national debt mountain is near parity with GDP. Cost of debt is going up, eating away at opportunities to invest as we spend more and more servicing government loans.

The overall national economic situation is dire.

Locally, Shaftesbury Town Council in January voted 11 for, three against, to increase its share of the precept by just under 30%. One member of the public was present in person, a single member of the press and four individuals watched online, all with no vote. A counter motion for a more restrained 10% could not find a single councillor as seconder, so the 9,162 people of the parish will collectively need to tighten their belts even further and fund the approximate 30% rise in local tax.

The council minutes give limited insight as to what compelling rationale is in place that, I think I am correct in saying, the highest parish precept increase ever since records began is demanded by fundamental and mandated missing local council service needs, on a tax that for most comes out of already taxed income.

There has been something of a democratic deficit in our expanded group of 15 councillors getting out and about making the indisputable case for the eye-watering level of tax increase. What is observable is that council meetings often see councillors retreat to checking their phones for messages when that rare member of the public who does attend seeks to make a point in their allocated 180 seconds.

At a broader democratic level, the voter turnout ranges from 13-30% in parish elections – most residents have, frankly, disengaged.

Underlying all of this are the harsh broader economic realities that the council minutes show are unarticulated by elected representatives –family budgets are on the brink in many cases. The public are now denied the use of ballot box to provide firm and frank feedback until 2028 on a parish budget that has lost sight of the

brutal economic realities impacting the 9,142 parish residents who were not in the room when the council budget vote was taken.

Mike Madgwick Shaftesbury

Nuclear is not a ‘clean’

technology

BEFORE the Labour party rides roughshod over local opinion to build nuclear reactors, how about it dismantles the existing nuclear plants and processes the nuclear waste safely?

Once it has done that –which will take at least a century – we can discuss new reactors.

I agree that building nuclear plants will create jobs because for thousands of years someone will have to monitor the waste sites.

In the meantime, it would be wise to avoid referring to the technology as ‘clean’.

David Rose Bridport

Air crash: Thanks for response

FOLLOWING my recent letter in the New Blackmore Vale concerning an air crash close to Mapperton, I would like to thank those of you that responded with various memories.

It would appear there have been more in or around the area than previously thought.

I also thank Bapsy Gooding, but I am afraid I am not mistaken about the crash I had heard about, as my father-inlaw did not buy this property until 1975-76.

Furthermore, I have spoken to Kevin, who actually witnessed the crash, seeing the plane come over the World’s End with flames coming out from it before it hit the field.

Thanks once again.

AR Hayward

Sudoku 3D puzzle

Across

7 Wrong for all to see about inflicting pain (7)

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

9 Grey woman featured in article (5)

10 Decline in web browsers (3)

11 Varied travel is great essentially and adaptable for different uses (9)

12 Fish apparently caught by German (5)

14 Greek character keeping rule followed by another in language structure (7)

16 Lift up with effort husband over dismissal (5-2)

Down

1 A principally trusted measure of swimming full (2,6)

2 Dull medic upset graduate (4)

3 Dove in arched roadside construction with hidden (6)

4 Poster put in miraculous site for Western country (6)

5 Companion taken with pilot as company leader (8)

6 Joke about college in the past (4)

18 Festive figure in medical facility getting cheers (5)

19 A French rival’s possibly touring Spain or present everywhere? (9)

20 English novelist cited conflict (3)

Killer Sudoku Pro Place numbers 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and bold-lined 3x3 box.

21 Live in Germany in good health (5)

8 Eulogy and dirges composed without depth an outrageous way (11)

13 Here’s a prig funnily right off with no end moralizing? (8)

15 It might originate from row over aggressive driver riling another say after turning? (4,4)

22 By the sound of it, second person will have record as festive item? (4,3)

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.

17 Like two, maybe, largely disheartened in uniform way (6)

18 Fish taken by lake over year alone (6)

19 Some absurd usage in Asian language (4)

20 Woman getting on open country stretch

Politics

AS the MP for Yeovil, I am proud to represent a constituency where rural life is at the heart of our community. Farming is more than just a job – it’s a way of life, deeply rooted in our heritage and vital to our local economy. But over the past few months, I’ve heard from farmers and rural communities who are feeling increasingly let down by government decisions that threaten their livelihoods and wellbeing.

One of the biggest concerns right now is the new ‘family farm tax’, which will see 121 farms in the Yeovil constituency hit by changes to Agricultural Property Relief. This could force families to sell up, ending generations of farming history. That’s why I have stood alongside farmers at rallies in Whitehall, demanding that the

Standing up for rural communities Consumers and the business giants

IF you pay someone to do a job and they don’t complete it, should you be able to refuse to pay for what they didn’t do? If you think ‘Yes, of course!’ then you might be interested in the recent small claims court action by Wessex Water against Caroline Dennett, one of Dorset’s hardest working and most inspiring environmental campaigners.

Caroline has been refusing to pay the sewage treatment element of her water bill, arguing that Wessex Water has clearly failed to do what it was contracted to do in that respect.

Unusually for a small claims court hearing, Wessex Water employed a Barrister to present its case, panicking at the prospect of a legal precedent being established against them. The judge was complimentary about Caroline’s presentation of her defence, sympathetic to her arguments and refused to award costs

Government scrap this unfair tax. I also held a Farming Forum to bring together local farmers and rural businesses, giving them a voice in this fight. The Government must listen –family farms are the backbone of our countryside and they deserve real support, not more financial

behalf of the Green Party in North Dorset

against her but ultimately had to conclude that there was no option in law other than to uphold Wessex Water’s claim for payment of the withheld monies.

So, we consumers have no redress when a water company fails to provide the service we pay them for, and because they have a monopoly there are no alternative suppliers we can

pressure.

However, financial strain isn’t the only issue. Farmers are facing a mental health crisis. The pressures of uncertainty, economic hardship and isolation have led to rising stress and, tragically, suicides within the farming community. In Westminster Hall, I made it clear to ministers that these issues cannot be ignored. Rather than worsening the crisis, the Government should be investing in rural mental health services, working with organisations like RABI – The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution – and establishing a national working group on suicide prevention for farming and veterinary professions.

Flooding has also been a major issue across South Somerset so far this year, with

homes, farms and businesses devastated by rising waters. That’s why I recently hosted a Flooding Forum, where more than 100 residents joined me to demand urgent action. I have since met the Flooding Minister, Emma Hardy MP, to push for real investment in better flood defences, proper land management strategies and support for those affected. It is clear the Government must take this crisis seriously and commit to long-term solutions, not just short-term fixes.

As we move forward, I will continue to fight for rural communities across South Somerset – for our farmers, our villages and the future of our countryside. If you have concerns, ideas or experiences to share, get in touch at adam. dance.mp@parliament.uk.

turn to. Unless and until Ofwat does its job to properly regulate the industry, the outrageous rip-off of water privatisation will continue.

In 1989 we taxpayers handed the water companies businesses that were debt-free. Those same businesses are now more than £60 billion in debt, while more than £80bn has been paid out to shareholders that include many foreign interests. And all the while sewerage has increasingly fouled our once beautiful watercourses and beaches.

If more of its customers temporarily withheld payment for the waste treatment part of their water bills, the pressure would surely encourage Wessex Water to do what we pay it to do.

We are not helpless to fight back against the businesses which are ripping us off. Our power as consumers lies in our freedom to choose how and

when we spend our hard-earned cash.

A non-political grassroots US organisation, The People’s Union, called for an ‘Economic Backout’ on February 28 for consumers to begin to flex our collective muscle and for 24 hours avoid buying anything from the big online companies like Amazon, the giant chain stores and huge fast-food outlets. Instead, the call was for necessary purchases only to made through smaller local businesses.

The plan is for the protest to be extended to week-long boycotts of targeted businesses, with Amazon targeted March 7-14, followed by Nestle brands March 21-28 and so on. Simple, but effective. If we spread it worldwide the power of this movement cannot be over-estimated. For more information, go to thepeoplesunionusa.com and join the push back.

Lib Dem MP for Yeovil

Adam Dance

Ken Huggins on

Reform is no friend of farmers

MY support for Ukraine, criticism of Trump and support for increased defence spending across NATO and Europe is well known and covered online as well as social media. Whatever I write a week before publication is likely to be out of date by the time you read it.

Recently, I have visited: the wonderful new Family Hub in Sturminster Newton driven forward by Cllr Carole Jones and her team; several local businesses; my Commons debate on the impact of bank closures went well; my PMQ on the importance of Canada to both NATO and the Commonwealth and just how offensively naff it is for Trump to drivel on about the 51st State of America was warmly received here at home and in Canada.

I have therefore decided to consider Farage’s latest egodriven bandwagon, Reform UK.

Conservative MP for North Dorset

Simon Hoare

At Westminster farmers’ rallies – which I have attended – they have been keen to tell us they are ‘the friend of UK farming’. As I challenged a former Reform Mayoral candidate on television, they are nothing of the sort – he had no answer, before you ask. Recently they have announced they would create a new TAX on farmers

using their land to provide solar power. Hardly friendly to farmers. They reiterate, as they pay homage at the Court of Trump, their determination for a quota free Free Trade deal with the US. With its lower animal welfare standards, such a deal would decimate our vital local food production sector while also endangering food security – as if farmers don’t have enough to worry about with the upcoming Labour-authored Inheritance Tax proposals. If that is Reform demonstrating a spirit of friendship, I would hate to see enmity!

On the key issue of defence and, remember that Reform have said they will form the next Government – from five to 330 MPs would be quite a leap – and that defence of the Realm is always the first duty of Government. They would have us believe they are strong on defence. Their words are

defeated by their (in)actions. When the Foreign Secretary gave an update on the situation in Ukraine, not a single Reform MP took part in the debate and most did not attend. When the PM stood to make the important statement on increasing defence spending and why it was necessary, not a single Reform MP was present. I can only conclude that: a) they have no interest in these areas of policy or b) their slavish support for Trump and self-confessed admiration for Putin, the man who sanctioned death on the streets of Salisbury and the poisoning of a North Dorset constituent doing his duty as a policeman, makes even them too embarrassed or compromised to take part in these debates. Whichever way you look at them, they are only an ego in search of a bandwagon. A serious political party they are not.

Flooding and winter fuel payments

DESPITE enjoying some glorious days over the last couple of weeks, which have finally given us a glimmer of hope that spring is on the way, this winter, like last year, has been extraordinarily wet. January and February were beset by storms and flooding for large parts of Glastonbury and Somerton, with rain falling on already saturated land. Communities are rightly worried about the ongoing impacts of extreme weather. After my team and I worked to support flood-hit residents in February, this month we’re consolidating that work by holding a flooding symposium. This event on Thursday, March 20, will bring together agencies, stakeholders and residents to discuss solutions and resources to support robust flood planning, resilience and protection. If you are a constituent and would like to join us, please get in touch.

LibDem

MP

for Glastonbury & Somerton Sarah Dyke

So, as the end of winter approaches, there are still many issues affecting residents of Somerset. This month I have again been focused on supporting pensioners experiencing fuel poverty. The Government has ploughed ahead with damaging cuts to winter fuel payments, but we Liberal Democrats have been fighting to moderate the

impact. I’ve called for the Government to exempt people in medical need from the cuts and demanded that pensioners losing the fuel allowance be protected from the upcoming energy price cap rise.

A pressing concern for Somerset is ambulance wait times, which have damaging effects on people’s lives. Wait times in the south west are among the worse in the country and 45% higher than urban areas. In fact, shockingly, the average wait time for an ambulance here is nearly three times the NHS target.

Last week I held an important debate in Parliament on this issue. Many factors impact ambulance wait times, from availability of beds and distance between hospitals –which impacts handover times – to the social care crisis and aging population in Somerset.

Unfortunately, combined with years of Conservative

underfunding and decay, these factors are bringing our NHS to its knees each winter, forcing the Government to put in place emergency spending each year to the tune of £376 million.

Liberal Democrats are calling for £1.5 billion of ring-fenced funding over the next four years to enable health services to plan properly and build resilience in hospitals, ambulance services and A&Es. Last week I urged the Government to seriously consider its approach. Unless we can tackle these issues head on, the outlook for the NHS and patient outcomes is bleak. As always, I want to hear from you. If you would like to share your views, have an issue I can help with, or wish to register your interest to attend one of my regular advice surgeries, please don’t hesitate to contact me at sarah.dyke. mp@parliament.uk

Grown-ups in the room

FOR decades the militaries of the US and her European allies have stood shoulder to shoulder in mutual respect and admiration in a defensive alliance against a common adversary. But now new management at the White House is implying that the UK is ‘some random country that hasn’t fought a war for 30 or 40 years’.

Well, the UK was first to answer America’s call after 9/11, no strings attached – the only time Article 5 of the NATO treaty has ever been invoked. I’d also gently point out that our support in Iraq and Afghanistan contrasted with the US’s disappearing act during the 1982 Falklands War.

As it happens, I served in America’s foolish Iraq War. What’s more, thousands of us stood in a silence broken only by the restrained sobs of loved ones as the flag-draped coffins of our boys passed through Royal Wootton Bassett, near here. Mr Vance has since tried to, eh, clarify what he meant by his slur, but the meaning

Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire

Dr Andrew Murrison

was clear and cannot easily be forgotten.

If we’re to take The Donald at face value, Europe can no longer rely on Uncle Sam.

President Macron and Sir Keir Starmer are making valiant efforts to be the grown-ups in the room, to forge new alliances to keep Ukraine in the fight.

However, the bitter truth is that no coalition, however willing, could safely put ‘boots on the ground’ any time soon without American support. I’m

pleased Sir Keir agreed with me on that when I put it to him on the floor of the House this week.

We and the French can take the lead in ways other than sending in the troops. Sir Keir should stick to his strategy of keeping America engaged while Europe reindustrialises and rearms, and Macron is right to begin talks about protecting the rest of the continent with France’s independent nuclear assets. That should buy us time to keep Ukraine in the fight and fortify our neighbourhood’s defences.

I say it with a heavy heart, it also buys us time to start making our defence arrangements less intertwined with the US and to wean ourselves off US kit.

Mr Trump has brought Pax Americana to a juddering halt. Like Kronos, the US is, bizarrely, devouring its children. Putin must be licking his bloodied lips as Trumpland turns its covetous eyes on Canada and Denmark. Why,

he’ll argue, should Russia not demand chunks of eastern Europe? On the other side of the world, President Xi will ask, why should China not grab Taiwan?

In Ukraine, we can only guess where all this is going. Perhaps frontlines will become frontiers like 1950s Korea – an armistice but not a treaty, followed by a tense stand-off for decades. Mr Trump’s bewildering shift towards Moscow means that’s becoming the optimistic scenario. We might see Putin’s armies advance to the Dnieper river and take Odessa, partitioning and landlocking Ukraine.

The Ukrainians would resist Russian occupation tooth and nail, and Europe could supply their guerrillas with modern equipment and funds like Britain did the Spanish against Napoleon. It would be like the Soviets’ war in Afghanistan on steroids until in God’s good time, Russia, exhausted, slinks back behind the border it should never have crossed.

Highlighting women’s achievements

MARCH 8 is International Women’s Day. While this would be a great time to win some brownie points at home by talking about my amazing and long-suffering wife, it is also a chance to celebrate some of the many amazing, and too often overlooked, women in West Dorset’s history.

Mary Anning, born in Lyme Regis in 1804, is one of the most renowned fossil hunters in history. Despite facing so many challenges, her discoveries changed the course of palaeontology forever. Today, a statue in Lyme Regis honours her achievements – a tribute made possible through the dedication of another amazing young woman, Evie Swire.

Yet despite this rich history, there has long been a glaring absence of women represented in our public spaces. Until

recently, in Dorchester there were six statues of men, one of a dog, one of a horse and one of the Queen Mother. But not a single statue of a non-Royal woman. This is not just about stone and metal, it is about the stories we choose to tell.

Thanks to the efforts of Anya Pearson and the Dorchester Sheroes campaign, this is beginning to change, with a statue of Sylvia Townsend Warner, a writer and pioneer for gay rights, set to be installed in the town centre.

Women’s contributions to West Dorset span centuries. The Dorset Button Makers, who influenced the livelihoods of hundreds of women and played a vital role in the

region’s economy; Lucy Emily Baxter, an art writer from Dorchester; Mary Mullet Moule, who worked to improve sanitation during a cholera epidemic; and Maude Steele, who was awarded the George Medal after she courageously maintained telephone services during the bombing of Sherborne in 1940, are all part of our rich history of extraordinary women.

On International Women’s Day, let us celebrate these women. Let us continue to push for progress, to support and uplift women in every walk of life, and to ensure that when we look to the past, we see the whole story, not just half of it.

Lib Dem MP for West Dorset Edward Morello

Oil painting makes £2,700

ACREMAN St Auctioneers & Valuers, Sherborne, had some very good results in its February auction with jewellery coming out on top.

A collection of Georgian jewellery made £3,150 hammer, a 9ct gold cigarette case £3,800 and a Peter Brook oil painting £2,700.

This month, with spring on the way, Acreman St Auctioneers is holding its first Garden & Architectural auction of the year with 140 lots of garden items on offer on Thursday, March 27, at 10am.

The General Antiques & Collectors Auction is also on Thursday, March 27, at noon with Jewellery, Silver & Watches on Friday, March 28.

The catalogue will be available to view one week prior to the auction on

Acreman’s two online platforms, Easyliveauction.com and Saleroom.com.

Physical viewing is on Wednesday, March 26, 10am4pm.

Acreman holds regular valuation days where prospective sellers can take in their items for its specialists to evaluate at 121 Acreman Street, Sherborne DT9 3PH.

Valuation days: 10am-3pm: Jewellery & Watches, Tuesdays and Saturdays; Silver & Obje't D'art, Tuesdays and Saturdays; Toys & Collectables, Wednesdays and Saturdays; Oriental & Asian, Thursdays and Saturdays; Coins, Stamps, Books & Ephemera, Fridays and Saturdays; Militaria, Fridays and Saturdays; Textiles & Fashion, Saturdays; Paintings & Contemporary Art, Saturdays.

ORIGINAL MOTOR RACING & MOTORING memorabilia wanted by established local dealer -Tel 07771 518629

Acreman is selling 140 garden lots

Acreman is now holding regular valuation days at its premises at 121 Acreman Street, Sherborne DT9 3PH where prospective sellers can take in items for its specialists to evaluate.

Valuation days run from 10am-3pm: Jewellery and watches, Tuesdays and Saturdays; silver and obje’t d’art, Tuesdays and Saturdays; toys and collectables, Wednesdays and Saturdays; oriental and Asian, Thursdays and Saturdays; coins, stamps, books and ephemera, Fridays and Saturdays; militaria, Fridays and Saturdays; textiles and fashion, Mondays and Saturdays; paintings and

contemporary art, Mondays and Saturdays.

Anyone unable to get along to the allocated days can phone or email to make an appointment – house visits can also be arranged if required.

Acreman is also accepting consignments for its upcoming sales and can offer advice on items being considered for auction.

Photographs can be emailed to auction@acremanstreet antiques.co.uk or visit the salerooms, open Monday to Saturday 9am-4pm.

Acreman can take in everything from single items to complete collections.

It can also offer advice and valuations to householders who are downsizing or who need to deal with a whole house and can arrange full house clearances at competitive rates.

Anyone who has anything they would like to consign should contact Gill Norman on 07908 333577 or 01935 508764 or via the email address above.

Steam and clockwork model boats collection

CLARKE’S Auctions is busy preparing an important oneowner collection of live steam and clockwork model boats for entry into its next sale.

The collection includes an impressive steam-powered Warwick Castle Ocean liner made by Bassett Lowke for Mr H M Blenkinsop in 1935, with the original receipt for the sum of £10:10 shillings.

This boat measures 5ft 4in long, is housed in its original showcase and comes with all correspondence between Bassett Lowke and Mr Blenkinsop regarding the making and collection of the boat.

The same collection also includes about 20 Bassett Lowke and vintage live steam and clockwork model boats and ships, and nautical-related objects, estimated to sell for

prices from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds.

Clarke’s is accepting further entries of classic cars, trucks, automobilia and man-cave collectibles for entry into its Classic Vehicle & Automobilia sale on Friday, April 11. Its automobilia auctioneer can have a look at any cars, motorcycles, enamel signs, automobilia, car mascots, sales brochures, artwork, posters or anything auto-related for

An RNLI presentation model, cased

anyone considering selling.

Clarke’s is also taking entries for its April Antiques & Collectibles auction.

Anyone with enquiries about consignment into either of these sales, probate or insurance valuations and full or part house clearances, can phone Richard Clarke or Karen Marshall on 01747 685592 at Clarke’s salerooms at The Old Glove Factory, Buckingham Road, Gillingham SP8 4QF.

DUKE’S first Silver, Jewellery, Watches and Currency auction of 2025 takes place on Wednesday and Thursday, March 19-20.

The sale features pieces by iconic makers such as Cartier, Breitling, Rolex, Omega, Tudor and Patek Philippe, and the full catalogue is now online.

The December sale concluded with great success. Brimming with timepieces exuding grace and

Advertiser’s announcement

craftmanship, diamonds of empyrean quality, and rare spirits and wines, once of epochal production.

The final auction of the year provided a great spectacle, demonstrating the enduring appeal of luxury goods with magnificent results.

A highlight of the upcoming 2025 collection is a magnificent sapphire and diamond cluster ring in 18ct white gold, set with an oval

A sapphire and diamond cluster ring in 18ct white gold

Treasure trove in ‘man-cave’

THE contents of a man-cave are coming up for auction in the Charterhouse auction of Automobilia, Enamel Sign and Pub Memorabilia in Sherborne on Wednesday, April 2.

other pub memorabilia and many other collectibles.

The collection is estimated to sell for £5,000-£7,000.

cut sapphire, surrounded by a cluster of round brilliant cut diamonds, estimated at £5,000-£7,000.

It is a beautiful piece, set to make its mark in the long history of Duke’s jewellery sales.

To view the entire collection and place reserve bids, visit Duke’s website, www.dukesauctions.com, or call its office on 01305 265080 to organise a confidential appointment with a specialist.

“The room was pretty full, and as my late mother would have said, would take a lot of dusting!” said Richard Bromell, from the auction house.

“Collected over many years, the owner sadly passed away and the family called us in to give them help and advice.”

The collection includes vintage enamel signs, shop advertising displays, car mascots, automobilia, Guinness,

Charterhouse is now accepting entries for its threeday April auction with this collection being sold on Wednesday, April 2; Pictures, Books & Sporting Items on Thursday, April 3; and Asian Art, Antiques & Interiors on Friday, April 4. Richard Bromell and the Charterhouse team can be contacted for valuations at The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne, on 01935 812277 or via bikes@ charterhouse-auction.com

Home & Garden

by Sally Gregson

GRAPE hyacinths or Muscari are time-honoured cottage garden favourites for early spring.

They are easy-going little bulbs, happy to grow almost anywhere in soil that is not boggy nor too dry – in full sun or summer shade. They are closely related to bluebells and hyacinths, but far easier to please. They are even happy to naturalise in areas of grass or a shaded corner of the lawn.

At this time of year nurseries and garden centres are selling tempting pots of vibrant blue flowers, but a little research will result in one or two other colours. A distinctly different variety whose flowers open white from palest green buds, is M. ‘White Magic’. It makes a

good foil to the blue varieties and is lovely associated with paler coloured crocus.

Muscari ‘Valerie Finnis’ has spikes of palest blue flowers

Blue and beyond: The many shades of grape hyacinths Shaping up: Pruning to make the most of trees

by Sally Gregson

AFTER a long cold winter staring at skeletal trees and amorphous shrubs, the eye yearns for buxom structure and large, green shapes. Although it may seem long and arduous, pruning and encouraging trees to form interesting shapes is ultimately rewarding.

There are a few notable woodland gardens where in winter the deciduous canopy is pruned and thinned to allow light through to the floor. This subtle tree pruning is effective and satisfying when it is done well. The incoming light encourages ground-covering plants to flower and set seed. It just needs a little rain. (Something we have not been short of this year).

Early light allows the gardener to select and remove

those branches that cross or are in danger of obscuring the sky. And the result is a glorious flowering woodland floor covered in spring bulbs, primroses and epimediums. Woodlands are at their best in springtime. At this time of year, the trees are full of new buds and exuberance. If the gardener can keep this enthusiasm in control now, the remainder of the year will follow suit.

For instance, pruning the long wisteria stems that should have been shortened by a half last summer – cutting them back down to a couple of buds, will result in the wisteria forming spurs during the coming season. The following year, with a bit of luck, those spurs will bear flowers.

early narcissi and snowdrops. In order to ensure the clump remains its correct colour in future years, it would be wise to cut off the flowers before they set seed. The seedlings do revert to the natural blue after a few seasons.

Grape hyacinths are good plants for the bees, too. On a warm, sunny March day, a group of Muscari will attract a squadron of bees buzzing about, visiting nectar-rich flower, after nectar-rich flower. They are essential bee plants in spring, especially if, as this year, we have all endured a long, cold winter. Our bees need as much help to survive as they can elicit.

that open from slightly green buds giving an almost turquoise appearance. And M. ‘Pink Sunrise’ is a true baby pink. These associate very well with

Muscari contribute well to spring displays in pots of other bulbs and spring plants, or in a window box. And when the flowers are over, remove the seed-heads and find a summershaded part of the border to tuck them away ready to delight again next spring.

Another ‘trick’ that the gardener can perform is to create a living pergola. This could be formed with a circle of hornbeam or acer ‘whips’. The stems, or future trunks, are cleared of side-growths up to a specific height, usually about 2.5m – just above head height – and the metalwork ‘scaffolding’ is inserted. Metal-workers or a local forge who could be asked to measure up what is needed It’s not as expensive as it sounds. The resulting living structure

A living pergola adds structure and yearround interest to the garden

becomes a focal point at the end of a path. It is a way of forming structure within a garden without using wooden posts or sheds which after a few years rot away and have to be mended or even replaced. A living pergola forms an inviting place to sit in the shade on a hot summer day, or to grow hellebores around the edge, and snowdrops in winter. It will soon become a distinctive and noteworthy garden feature.

Grape Hyacinths or Muscari growing with Libertia peregrinans

Home & Garden

07849 571742

Business based in Shaftesbury, Offering a wide range of services including foam cut to size and Re-stuffing of feather cushions. 01747-228384 Peterportupholstery@googlemail.com.

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

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

Family run business since 1946

Family run business since 1946

NOW OPEN Wed - Fri: 9.30am-4.30pm Sat 10am-4pm GARDENING

Tel: 01963 250005

Mobile: 07976 934 252

Tel: 01963 250005

Mobile: 07976 934 252

North Dorset Tree Surgeons

01963 371060 | www.plantwild.co.uk Cabbage Lane, Horsington, BA8 0DA

Landscaping,

amralphlandscaping@gmail.com www.ralphlandscaping.co.uk

DYERS METAL & MESH

Home & Garden

GREENHOUSES

Supplied/Erected

Alloy TenColours

Spares-Repairs-Glass

Chris Abrams 01258-452632

WELL ROTTED MANURE

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

Deadline to place your advert is the Friday before publication.

JOHN DEERE RIDE ON MOWER, 279 model. 48” mulching deck. £950. Hayter mower, 56 model, £220. Tel: 07879-060338

TOOLS WANTED. Cash waiting. 01747 416022

WANTEDDave buys all types of tools Call 01935 428975

FOREVER-GREEN LANDSCAPES. All aspects of garden maintenance & landscaping 01747 825134/ 07885-586716 mathughes@hotmail.co.uk

HEDGE CUTTING and Lawn mowing services, Shaftesbury-Blandford & local villages. Please call Trevor 07970-012130

WALK BEHIND BRUSHCUTTER AND OPERATOR HIRE, orchards,paddocks and neglected area clearance 07432 773151 paul25.06@outlook.com

SELF DRIVE DIGGER AND DUMPER HIRE 01258 861647

MILLERS EXTERIOR CLEANING.

Somerset & Dorset. Gutter clearing. Pressure washing. uPVC cleaning. Window cleaning. Roof cleaning. Fully insured. Call/message Nick 07870-498616

GARDEN MAINTENANCE please contact James on 07930-262639

SPRING HAS SPRUNG. For your Garden Maintenance needs. Darren 07832-828855

DO YOU NEED HELP IN YOUR GARDEN?

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

ALL TYPES OF EXTERIOR CLEANING UNDERTAKEN. Gutter cleaning, roof cleaning, patio driveways and solar panels, drains unblocked. Call Ross or Pat on 01963371123. Whatsapp images to 07393-941500. Call on mobile 07747-709002. HEDGING

FENCING ALL TYPES UNDERTAKEN, Domestic, farm, equestrian. New work or repair. Also chainsaw work, fallen or dead trees and any storm damage. 07968-049218

LOGS

SEASONED HARDWOOD

BLACKMORE VALE LOG SPLITTING AND CHIPPING - Your local mobile service07760 469411

For all your fencing and decking needs

Closeboard, panels & sheds supplied and fitted. Gates made to measure.

Sherborne Fencing Ltd

Tel: 01935 814272

Mobile: 07814246332

• Fully qualified & insured tree surgeon

• All aspects of tree surgery, hedge cutting & stump grinding

• Competitively priced

• Free no obligation quotes

ASBESTOS REMOVAL

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

LOGS FOR SALE transit tipper load £260 Half transit tipper load £160 Dumpy bag £100

TEL: 07450-435993 or 07846-345294

LOGS

£190 double load £110 half load 01258-880892 07980-036250

LOGS R US Tipper Load £200 Half Tipper Load £100 dumpy bag £90 All hardwood 07790 404593 01258 818081

GOOD QUALITY SEASONED HARDWOOD for sale

Barn-stored Any size of load If you want anymore help contact Andy 07773-254174

JACKS AFFORDABLE TREE CARE 07387-687037

LAWN MOWING SERVICES.

Tel: 01747-821726

DRYSTONE WALLING AND LANDSCAPING

www.yenstonewalling.co.uk 01963 371123 / 07751 278363

CURTAIN ALTERATIONS

Curtains made to measure Tel. Sue Marsh 01747 853680

WOODLAND CLEARING AND COPPICING, pruning, hedge cutting, Chain-sawing and general garden/estate maintenance. Call David: 07786-658708

NEIL’S QUALIFIED TREE GARDENING SERVICE. Professional, reliable and friendly service. Many years of experience, all types of landscaping. Including fencing, trimming, pruning, felling and topping. All overgrown jungle gardens cleared. Gravel and shingle. Rubbish removed. OAP discount. Emergency call-out. Fully insured and waste carrier licenced, CBDU402194. Call Neil: 07770-810559

LANGTON NURSERIES (C W Abbott & Son)

Seed Potatoes, Shallots and Onion Sets. Fruit Trees and Ornamental Trees, Perennials & Shrubs, Terracotta 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

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

Home & Garden

CLEARED • Windows, • Fascias,

Soffits, • Gutters cleaned, • Repairs, • Free Estimates 07788-376752

HUSSEY CARPET AND FLOORING,

South Street, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4AP

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

RESTORATION OF YOUR WOODEN WINDOWS, DOORS and So Much More. Embrace the old don’t buy new. Ask me first and see what I can do tel 01747 822537 / 07734-943848

WINDOWS & DOORS

Architectural Services

ARCHITECTURAL, BUILDING & ELECTRICAL

HANDYMAN, reliable and experienced Call Chris 07413 678076

G ROSE PLASTERING. For all your Plastering needs Experienced and reliable Phone 07766-243762

G.S GENERAL BUILDER. Extensions, renovations, alterations, plastering, brickwork, block-work, stonework and patios, fencing. NO VAT. Call Garry: 07933-921382

Handrails.Gates. Railings. Repairs. Restoration. 01258 880301

to place your advert is the Friday before publication.

BAILEY & SUN LTD. Groundwork, man and machine hire. Footings, ditchings, driveways, new build, drainage, extensions plus lots more. Call for a quote. 07546-762236. sun@baileyandsun.co.uk.

KBB KITCHEN FITTER, all aspects of kitchen fitting undertaken. 30 years experience, free estimates given. Tel: 01963 364550 or 07890 841827

and construction. 07770 421624. Free consultation Based in Shaftesbury. Works throughout Dorset. www.asa-architect.co.uk. andystrange@btinternet.com

HARRY JACK, HOME SERVICES. Handyman, home maintenance, landscaping, roofing. Harryjackhome services@gmail.com 07855-544618

Natural Stone Walls. FootingsDrains-Drives. Tel: 07301-007855

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

Local Services

CHIMNEYS

Martin

Martin Simmonds

Martin Simmonds

Chimney Sweep Manual and Power Sweeping, Stove Servicing and Maintenance, Camera Inspections, Property Maintenance 07368 250305/01747 590799

Simmonds

Chimney Sweep Manual and Power Sweeping, Stove Servicing and Maintenance, Camera Inspections, Property Maintenance 07368 250305/01747 590799

655267

Martin Simmonds

K.SANSOM CHIMNEY SWEEP Brush & vacuum. APICS registered 01963 370038

Chimney Sweep Manual and Power Sweeping, Stove Servicing and Maintenance, Camera Inspections, Property Maintenance 07368 250305/01747 590799

Martin Simmonds

Martin Simmonds

Chimney Sweep Manual and Power Sweeping, Stove Servicing and Maintenance, Camera Inspections, Property Maintenance 07368 250305/01747 590799

Martin Simmonds

NVQ Qualified. APICS Registered Friendly, Reliable Service longthorpeindustries@gmail.com

Chimney Sweep Manual and Power Sweeping, Stove Servicing and Maintenance, Camera Inspections, Property Maintenance 07368 250305/01747 590799

NVQ Qualified. APICS Registered Friendly, Reliable Service

NVQ Qualified. APICS Registered Friendly, Reliable Service longthorpeindustries@gmail.com

longthorpeindustries@gmail.com

Chimney Sweep Manual and Power Sweeping, Stove Servicing and Maintenance, Camera Inspections, Property Maintenance 07368 250305/01747 590799

Chimney Sweep Manual and Power Sweeping, Stove Servicing and Maintenance, Camera Inspections, Property Maintenance 07368 250305/01747 590799

NVQ Qualified. APICS Registered Friendly, Reliable Service

NVQ Qualified. APICS Registered Friendly, Reliable Service

longthorpeindustries@gmail.com

longthorpeindustries@gmail.com

NVQ Qualified. APICS Registered Friendly, Reliable Service longthorpeindustries@gmail.com

NVQ Qualified. APICS Registered Friendly, Reliable Service longthorpeindustries@gmail.com

• 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.

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 TuitionCall Gregg on 01963 370713

FRIENDLY LOCAL EX

BT TELECOM & WIFI

ENGINEER. Problems solved, fully insured & DBS checked. 35 years experience. Adrian 07799 105008

COUNTRY CARPENTRY

Doors, repairs, general maintenance etc Call Nick on 07887 358570

M & M PAINTING & DECORATING. 30 years experience. Fully insured, clean & tidy. References available. FREE no obligation quote. Tel: 07534-952486 / 01305-849380

FLOORING & CARPENTRY Deadline to place your advert is the Friday before publication. PHILIP STIRK Painting, Decorating & Property Maintenance Free Quotations/No VAT Tel. 01747 825725 or mob: 07984 524446 Email: philipstirk@btinternet.com

PAUL WEST DECORATING SERVICES and wall-paper specialist. Also hand-man. 35years experience. Free quotes. 07773-459168. paul.west945@gmail.com

DECORATION, FLOORING & CARPENTRY

COLOUR CONSULTATION. Would you like to decorate but are unsure of which colour to choose? Feeling overwhelmed with looking at colour charts? I can help you discover the joy of colour! Call Kerry on: 07785-912667

Tony Walker Carpentry Refurbishment & Home Improvements

•

• Bathroom Installation

• Internal & External Doors Windows - Frames - Locks etc

•

Checkatrade registered Call Paul 07836 325640

Bespoke

experience, friendly advice offered. Please contact Jane 01747 855788 27A High Street, Shaftesbury freezeframejane@gmail.com

Health & Wellbeing

by Susanna Curtin

IT is a cloudless and remarkably warm night for this time of year. At nearly 11pm, all is quiet and still, except for the occasional rustle of vegetation as small rodents, mostly bank voles and wood mice, scamper along their grassy highways dodging the watchful eyes of the tawny owls that frequent these fields.

Above my head, Jupiter is shining bright and Orion’s large familiar pattern floats in the southern skies. These are perfect conditions to go looking for my favourite amphibians, the great crested newts, that in March return to the ponds to breed after spending six months on land. Using a red-tinted torch to lessen any disturbance, I make my way to the newt pools, where for years now, I have gone to watch their antics and to see how well they are faring.

Great crested newts are the largest of our three species and can grow up to 17cm – almost double the length of our smooth and palmate newts, and much stockier in all respects. They are dark brown or black in colour with a bright orange underside decorated with irregular black blotches that are as unique as a fingerprint is to us. In the breeding season, March to early June, the males develop a striking jagged dinosaur-like crest along their back and a white ‘flash’ along the length of their tail. Once breeding is over, their crest is reabsorbed into their bodies. Females, in comparison, are slightly less impressive than the males, but are much plumper around their bellies, especially when they are carrying eggs.

Crouched down by the largest of the ponds, I can see four of them, three males and one female. These will have returned to the place where they were born. I am so pleased that the pond is still here and is still clean enough to support them, although sadly their numbers have declined since my

Great crested newts are the largest of the UK’s three species and can grow up to 17cm

Meditations in nature: The dancing dinosaurs

fascination with them first began. Sitting patiently by the edge of the water, I watch them for a while and, to my joy, two of the males, dressed to impress with their large crests, begin a rather amusing courtship dance that involves leaning forwards on their front legs, arching their backs and flicking their tails from side to side, making the distinct line on their tail flash white in the murky water. The female then joins in the dance, excited by the pheromones the males are releasing. Only one male will hold her attention, although it is not yet clear which one will be defeated.

Once fertilisation has taken place, female newts lay about 200 eggs. Each individual egg is then meticulously wrapped like origami in a carefully chosen pond plant leaf. Two to four weeks later, the larvae will hatch and grow into newt tadpoles. They will then spend about four months in the water

before their final metamorphosis into tiny newtlets.

Making my way home in the darkness, I feel extremely privileged to have watched such an event. Although great crested newts are widely distributed throughout Britain, their distribution is extremely patchy, and their numbers have declined due to habitat loss as they favour large ponds with abundant weeds and no fish. Despite Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ famous reference to ‘getting things built and to stop worrying over the bats and the newts’, and her promise to tear up the regulations that hamper building projects in favour of nature conservation, these newts are still protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. Fortunately, it is still an offence to deliberately kill, injure, disturb or capture them, or take or destroy their eggs, or damage or destroy their breeding sites

and resting places.

While many debates are currently running regarding development versus conservation in the UK, we need to recognise that all creatures are part of a complex ecological web of life. Each individual plays a role as predator and prey and helps to sustain the natural balance of an ecosystem on which we depend. Degradation of nature, therefore, ultimately threatens our own health and prosperity. The existence of great crested newts here in the town feels to me like a miner’s canary in the cage for they are exceptional indicators of a healthy environment. As I eventually settle down for the night, I feel quite content. Nature brings beauty and hope to my life, and in this era of global unrest, I believe, more than ever, it is worth defending.

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

Improving Lung Health through Singing

Asinging group designed to support those with respiratory conditions is coming to Yeovil. Sing2Breathe, founded by Kate Lynch in November 2023, has already established successful groups in Bridgwater, Cheddar, and Wells. Now, the initiative is set to launch at Westlands Entertainment Venue in Yeovil on April 3rd led by singing leader, Nikki Hewson. This fun, supportive group will provide a welcoming space for those with respiratory conditions such as COPD and Asthma, helping them to manage their breathlessness more efficiently.

The group is not a choir – “It’s not about being a great singer, it’s about using singing to help you breathe better”, Nikki explains. With fun exercises to extend and deepen the breath, participants will also learn how singing can provide a great boost to both their physical and mental health.

Participants have commented how being part of Sing2Breathe has helped lift the despondence they felt on receiving a diagnosis of a breathing condition. “I now feel that I am more in charge of my breathing”, says Jane, “lovely songs from around the world which are fun to sing. An afternoon with a great mix of people with which to share the laughter. “

“Sing2breathe is a great way to promote better breathing in a way that is fun and interesting. Meeting people with a common goal to improve our respiratory and mental/wellbeing, which needs to be long term to achieve full potential. For me, I now feel part of something special” adds Sharon.

The project, supported by Asthma & Lung Uk will begin with a FREE taster session on Thursday, 3rd April, from 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. at Westlands Entertainment Venue

Places are limited so must be booked in advance. Please contact to book your place or find out more

Nikki Hewson: sing2breathe2@gmail.com 07812 441143

A sociable group activity where techniques for breath management and better posture are taught through singing

Health & Wellbeing

Finding new interests: A path to better mental health

by Emma Holmes

EXPLORING new interests is more than just a way to pass the time – it can significantly boost your mental wellbeing. Whether learning a new skill, taking up a creative hobby or engaging in physical activity, discovering enjoyable pastimes can reduce stress, increase happiness and provide a sense of purpose. Engaging in activities helps shift your focus away from your worries and daily pressures. Creative outlets such as painting, writing or playing an instrument can be particularly effective in promoting relaxation. When we immerse ourselves in something we enjoy, it provides a natural escape from stress and allows the mind to unwind. In turn, this can help lower anxiety levels and improve overall mood.

Finding and developing new interests can also boost selfesteem. Mastering a skill or making progress in a hobby provides a sense of achievement, reinforcing confidence and resilience. Whether it’s completing a challenging puzzle, learning to cook a new dish or improving at a sport, the feeling of accomplishment can be incredibly rewarding and uplifting.

Another benefit to trying out a new hobby is meeting new people. Social connections often grow through shared interests. Joining a book club, attending a dance class or participating in a community project can lead to meaningful friendships and a stronger support network. This sense of connection is vital for mental

wellbeing, helping to combat loneliness and providing emotional encouragement. Exploring new pastimes can also improve cognitive function. Learning stimulates the brain, enhancing memory, problemsolving skills and creativity. Activities that require concentration, such as playing a musical instrument, speaking a new language or engaging in strategic games, can keep your mind sharp and active. Having a hobby or interest gives life a greater sense of purpose. It offers a meaningful way to spend time and can be particularly helpful during difficult periods, providing a positive focus. If you’re unsure where to start, consider what has always intrigued you, think about activities you enjoyed as

a child or simply try something completely new. The key is to approach new experiences with curiosity rather than pressure to succeed. Work out what activities have brought you joy before and try a similar one, for example, maybe you enjoyed ballet when you were younger, so looking for a new dance class might help.

Trying new pastimes isn’t just about filling time—it’s an investment in mental wellbeing. Whether big or small, exploring fresh interests can bring joy, relaxation and a greater sense of balance to life. n Emma Holmes is a counsellor at Calm Seas Therapy and is based in Poole. She works online and in person –elholmes.counselling@gmail. com, phone 07442 662287. She is also co-founder of Dorset Employee Wellness Support [DEWS] which supports businesses by providing counselling and wellness services – for more information email DorsetEWS@proton.me.

Health & Wellbeing

A trip to the Caribbean and the powers of nutmeg

by Fiona Chapman

AS I write, I am lucky enough to be on holiday in the beautiful island of Grenada in the Caribbean. We have just come off a boat which we sailed from St Vincent to Grenada in extremely strong winds and have arrived with our hair on end, feeling rather exhausted and shell-shocked!

Grenada is an incredibly green and lush island, volcanic and mountainous with tropical rainforests and lots of fruit and spice trees. It is famous for its nutmeg and cinnamon. On arrival in our hotel, I saw for sale some nutmeg pain-relieving spray which intrigued me. So I thought I would do some research into nutmeg and its properties.

I have discovered that nutmeg is thought to have magical properties – much of it involves using it externally as too much of it can be toxic to the liver. (You should not take more than 10 grams per sitting, which is an awful lot).

But it is believed that

sprinkling it on your lovers’ shoes will make them more romantic towards you and keeping a nutmeg under your left armpit will encourage followers or even lovers –maybe an early deodorant – I shall have to try it as, now the wind has dropped, it is extremely hot!

It was also thought that if you carried a pouch of nutmeg around, it would prevent you from breaking any bones. It is said to enhance psychic powers, it contains myristicin, which, if taken in too large a dose can cause hallucinations. Perhaps this is also why it is said that putting nutmeg under your pillow at night will enable lucid dreaming.

Medicinally it is a powerful anti-inflammatory, which definitely helps with any pain. It is digestive, relieves diarrhoea and is believed to help cure stomach ulcers. It is good for the blood by decreasing and controlling bad LDL cholesterol, this in turn benefits the heart, brings down high blood pressure

Nutmeg is said to promote sleep, among other benefits

and improves circulation.

It is also said to promote sleep, a pinch of nutmeg in warm milk before bed can help calm the mind and body. If you sleep better, your mood improves and your body

CARE FOR OAPS INCLUDING NAIL CUTTING, shaving, massage, sleep over care. Joyce, 07591 760333

ROBERTS RCST CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY 07702 681264 www.belinda-roberts.co.uk A holistic treatment to help release deeply held patterns of trauma, tension and pain.

regenerates and heals, so it strengthens you as a whole. I have bought some of the pain-relieving spay and given it to my husband, who is complaining of a bad back. He squeaked a bit when I applied it, as it is strong stuff and makes your skin tingle. I will wait to hear if his back improves.

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

The Malthouse Care Home Bay Road, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4EW

Our friendly team truly care for your family like they would their ownproviding compassion, respect, and dignity.

With a deep commitment to meeting residents’ individual needs, whether it’s residential or respite care, The Malthouse is your perfect choice. healthcarehomes.co.uk

Cheese awards at food festival

THE best cheeses in the British Isles will be going head-to-head in the British & Irish Cheese Awards 2025 at the Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet.

The awards, being hosted for a second year by the Bath & West Food & Drink Festival, will feature nearly 600 cheeses.

Now in their 29th year, the awards include 22 new cheeses launched since last year’s event.

gold, silver and bronze award winners, before all gold winners are judged again to identify the category winners.

Following a final round of judging with the category winners, the 2025 Supreme Champion will be selected and revealed during the British & Irish Cheese Awards dinner on Friday, March 21.

They will be judged in a single day by a 52-strong judging panel, including cheesemakers, cheesemongers, cheese experts, buyers and commentators.

Entries will be judged in individual classes during round one, as the panel decides on

The awards are part of the Bath & West Food & Drink Festival, which runs on Saturday and Sunday, March 22-23.

Festival visitors will be able to view the British & Irish Cheese Awards judging hall and sample some of the trophy winners as part of new Guided Cheese Tours being held throughout the weekend.

Mothering Sunday 30th March

Our Sunday Roast menu is bursting with appetising starters and mouthwatering, slow-cooked cuts. It’s nearly as good as mum’s homecooked roast - but prepared by us with love this Mother’s Day. .

Taking bookings now for the Mother’s Day weekend.

Sundays

A superb Sunday roast is always on the menu at The Clockspire.

Music

We’ll see you for this month’s Jazz Night on Thursday 27th March.

Champagne Afternoon Tea

Dedicated to some very special ladies; treat Mum to a wonderful day with our magnificent Afternoon Tea, served with a chilled glass of Ayala Champagne. Find available dates at www.theclockspire.com/events £55.00pp

Easy Thai green monkfish, fennel and spinach curry

A TWIST on the classic chicken or vegetarian green curry.

Ingredients (Serves four)

600g monkfish, cubed

1 fennel bulb sliced – keep green tufts for garnish

3 spring onions, sliced

Handful of coriander, chopped

200g spinach

2 cans coconut milk

1 tablespoon Thai green paste

3 Kaffir lime leaves

Thai fish sauce – a few shakes for saltiness

1 fresh lime

1 red chilli slices for colour

Glug of extra virgin olive oil

Method

In a deep-sided frying pan or

similar, add a glug of olive oil, the spring onions and Thai green paste, cook off for a minute and add the tins of coconut milk. It reduces and thickens more easily if it has a wider surface area than a deep saucepan.

Add the fennel, for two minutes, then the monkish, kaffir leaves and fish sauce. Cook for a couple of minutes and add the spinach leaves.

Cook for a further three minutes or to your liking.

To finish, add fresh lime juice and chopped red chilli and fresh coriander. Top with fennel tufts and a fresh slice of lime to serve.

Serve with rice or new potatoes.

n Annie des Forges, DirectorChef The Table Bruton; Annie Austin, Director-Host & Concierge, Somerset Roadtrip.

Enford Farm Shop

Durweston DT11 0QW

Home reared and locally produced meats, game, deli, fruit, veg, free range eggs and lots more.

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

Chicken feeds etc available.

Half a lamb £90 | Half a pig approximately £160

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

Pets

How much should I exercise my puppy?

by Lynn Broom Longmead Veterinary Practice

WE all want to do the best for our puppies so that they develop into healthy, well-balanced adults which are easy to live with. Exercise is one part of this, and we follow advice to reduce the risk of future problems.

The issue is, which advice should I follow? It has been commonly believed that puppies should be exercised for five minutes per month of age per day to avoid over exercising. While this can be a useful basis to work from, it is important to recognise that each breed has different requirements, each puppy is an individual and not all exercise is equal.

Skeletal maturity occurs at different rates depending on

is much less damaging than 30 minutes of chasing a ball

adult size. Small breed dogs can reach maturity by 10 months, larger breeds by 15 months and giant breeds by 24 months. These timescales affect decisions on the type and length of exercise sessions. Certain breeds are more prone to developing long term joint issues than others. Uncontrolled or excessive exercise as a puppy can increase the likelihood of problems

developing. Exercises known to increase the risk of damage include chasing balls, running with owners on a bike, jumping from heights, running up and down stairs and playing with other dogs. Many of these exercises are fine for short periods but longer episodes put abnormal pressures on joints causing recurrent injuries. Low grade chronic pain can lead to behaviour issues. Playing is important for brain and behaviour development but should not continue for long periods of uncontrolled play.

An hour of walking on a lead is much less damaging than 30 minutes of chasing a ball, and a dog which has so much energy that they race around the house in an uncontrolled way is better off having that energy channeled into a longer lead walk. A walk provides mental

stimulation as well by smelling scents and meeting new people.

Exercise for your puppy’s brain is as important as his body and can make him as tired. Training and other brain working exercises like scent work will help your dog’s development and help them settle. Scent training and obedience training sessions can be kept short to maintain interest but can be surprisingly tiring without significant effects on growing bodies.

Smaller breeds are generally much less susceptible to joint problems, so exercise times are less important. Larger breeds are more susceptible and the type of exercise for them is much more important than the amount of time spent exercising.

There are no hard and fast rules. Being aware of exercise times and the type of exercise is often enough to allow you to make appropriate decisions for your puppy as they grow, to avoid activities that might lead to future mobility problems.

Proof that owning a dog isn’t cheap

IF you thought you couldn’t put a price on the cost of owning a dog, it turns out you can.

According to new research, Romanian mioritic shepherd dogs cost the most and Chihuahuas the least.

The research took into account the starting cost, the cost of a lifetime’s worth of food and insurance.

The Romanian mioritic shepherd dog came in at an average lifetime cost of

£8,662.53 – 93% higher than the average cost for dogs of £4,478.92.

The Estrela mountain dog was the second most expensive at £7,820.63 and Spanish mastiffs ranked third with a cost of £7,303.94.

At the other end of the scale, chihuahuas are the cheapest dog breed to own, with an average lifetime cost of £1,804.53 – 60% below average.

Next cheapest were

pomeranians at £1,863.61 and toy poodles at £1,882.33.

Tom Sadler, founder of pet accessories shop Fur King, which carried out the research, said: “The study provides valuable insight into the costs of different dog breeds, which could help inform potential owners on what the best breed for them is – and prevent them from choosing one which they can’t afford in the long run.

“Naturally, larger dog breeds are more expensive, with the

MISSING TORTOISE, HIGHER COOMBE

If walking around the Coombes, please keep an eye out for a tortoise and if found call George on 07704 515063. If your dog seems to be investigating something please check to see if it’s him. Many thanks.

Afghan hound the only medium-sized dog to feature in the top 10.

“This is because insurance is pricier for larger breeds as they are more likely to have health issues, and their food costs are higher since they need to consume more.

“The initial starting cost of larger breeds will also be more expensive since they will need more wearable toys and stronger leads than smaller dogs require.”

PUPS Ready now. Vaccinated, vet checked and microchipped. PRA clear. 07790 704653

An hour of walking on a lead

MID DORSET CATS PROTECTION

Cats looking for new homes

Mel and Sue, six years. Sweet, sensitive pair looking for a home together

Misty, 10 years. Delightful girl who is a bit of a character, never wanting to miss out on attention

LOST CATS

If your cat has gone missing, Cats Protection offers practical steps to help bring it home safely. Start by searching your local area thoroughly, checking sheds, garages and outbuildings where it might be hiding. Create posters and share them in your neighbourhood and online communities. Inform local vets and animal rescues in case someone has found your cat. Ensure your cat’s microchip details are up to date, as this can be a vital tool for identification, and update the microchip database to advise your cat is lost.

FOUND CATS

If you have found a stray cat, Cats Protection has helpful guidance to ensure the cat gets the care it needs. First, check if it is in distress or injured and contact a vet if necessary. Look for an ID tag or take the cat to a vet to check for a microchip. If the owner cannot be identified, share details about the cat locally via posters, social media and community groups. Cats Protection advises against assuming all stray cats are lost, as some may simply be exploring. For full guidance, visit the Cats Protection website or call us on 01258 858644.

n For details, please call the helpline on 01258 858644 or visit our website www.cats. org.uk/middorset

For more details, please call our helpline 01258 858644 or visit our website: cats.org.uk/blandford (Formerly Blandford & Sturminster)

Trigger stacking in dogs

by Raychel Curson TRIGGER

stacking is a common phenomenon in dogs that occurs when multiple stressors accumulate, leading to heightened reactivity or an emotional outburst. It’s an important concept to understand for any pet owner looking to better manage their dog’s behaviour and emotional wellbeing.

Each dog has a unique threshold for stress, and certain situations or stimuli, known as triggers, can increase their stress levels. These triggers may include loud noises, unfamiliar people, other animals or even subtle changes in their environment. While a single stressor might not provoke a strong reaction, the cumulative effect of several triggers — known as trigger stacking — can overwhelm the dog, causing them to lash out or shut down.

For example, imagine a dog which is slightly nervous around strangers. On a walk, it encounters a loud car horn, a barking dog behind a fence and

then a stranger who tries to pet them. Individually, these triggers might be manageable, but combined, they push the dog beyond its stress threshold, leading to behaviours like barking, lunging or hiding.

Recognising and managing trigger stacking involves understanding your dog’s stress signals. Subtle signs like yawning, lip licking or a lowered tail can indicate that your dog is feeling overwhelmed. If you notice these signals, it’s important to give your dog space and reduce exposure to further stressors.

Prevention is key.

Maintaining a predictable routine, providing mental and physical enrichment and gradually desensitising your dog to their triggers can help lower their overall stress levels. If your dog frequently experiences trigger stacking, I can help you by providing tailored strategies to improve their resilience. By understanding trigger stacking, you can create a calmer, more supportive environment for your dog, fostering a healthier, happier bond between you both. n Raychel Curson BSc (Hons) MA CCAB APBC-CAB FABC ABTC-CAB is owner of Pet Peeves Animal Behaviour & Teaching; email raychel@ petpeevessomerset.co.uk.

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

us on: 07900 654 440 www.companionsatpeace.co.uk

PUBLIC NOTICES

EILEEN WINIFRED WHALE Deceased

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of 9 Linden Park, Shaftesbury, SP7 8QZ, who died on 13/01/2025, must send written particulars to the address below by 15/05/2025, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to claims and interests notified

Susan Lacey c/o Farnfields Solicitors, 4 Church Lane, Shaftesbury, SP7 8JT. Ref: SL 90193-1

MR JACK BERRY, TRADING AS JB METAL & WASTE, MAMPITTS FARM,

Mampitts Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP78PG, is applying for a licence to use Mampitts Farm, Mampitts Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP78PG, as an operating centre for 1 goods vehicle, and 0 trailer Owners or occupiers of land (including buildings) near the operating centres who believe that their use or enjoyment of that land would be affected, should make written representations to the Traffic Commissioner at Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UE stating their reasons, within 21 days of this notice. Representors must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice. A Guide to Making Representations is available at: www.gov.uk/government/ publications/a-guide-tomaking-representations-objections-andcomplaints-goodsvehicle-operator-licensing

50th BIRTHDAY

as Whitey

5 to 50 Happy 50th - 13th March 2025 with love from Mum, Dad & the Whitehouse

Clan

IN MEMORIAM

TOP OF THE WORLD JUST WAITING TO FALL OFF.

A year ago on March 16th 2024, well you did. Still missing you Roy. Love G x

DEATHS

CHRISTINE PAMELA BRICE

on 19th February 2025, peacefully at home aged 91 years. Of Shaftesbury. Wife of the late Martin, loved and respected by her family and friends. Funeral service takes place at Salisbury Crematorium on Tuesday 18th March at 11.00am. No flowers please but donations for Médecins Sans Frontières may be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or sent to Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532

WALTER JOHN STAINER

“John”

on 24th February 2025, aged 87 years, peacefully in the Cedars Nursing Home. Of Enmore Green. A loving husband to Mary.

Funeral service has taken place.

Donations in memory of John for the RSPCA may be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or sent to Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532.

Angelina Rose Blake

On 3rd March 2025 peacefully in the Cedars nursing home aged 85years, of Shaftesbury.

Funeral service to take place at Salisbury crematorium on Monday 24th March at 1:00pm

MARGARET AND MICHAEL BURDEN

Congratulations on your Diamond Wedding Anniversary With lots of love from all the family.

HAPPY 54th ANNIVERSARY TO STEVE AND JENNY TUME!

Fandabadozi parents and grandparents. Love always. XXXXX

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MEETING PLACE

GENTLEMAN looking for a Devout Christian Lady who is passionate about Alternative Health and Nutrition. Prefer between 65 to 80. Tel: 01963-34432

SEMI RETIRED CHAP looking for female partner, preferably slim and over 60. Text or phone 07754-232184

Donations for Cancer Research UK can be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or sent to Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532. Please make any cheques payable to Merefield & Henstridge Ltd.

BEDDING

Peter Anthony, RAF Retired

Died peacefully at Casterbridge Manor on Thursday 6th February, 2025, aged 85 years. Beloved husband to Margaret, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. A Service of Thanksgiving will take place at St. Andrew’s Church, Yetminster on Wednesday 19th March, 2025 at 2.00pm.

Donations in memory of Peter for the charity PSPA and St. Andrew’s Church may be sent c/o A.J. Wakely & Sons, 16 Newland, Sherborne, DT9 3JQ. (Please make donations cheques payable to PSPA or Yetminster & Hillfield PCC)

DEATHS

John Loder 1945 – 2025

Fifth generation farmer from Folke, died at Dorchester Hospital on 17th February, following a stroke at the farm and leaves behind his wife Sue and two sons Chris and Simon. A Thanksgiving Service will be held in John’s memory on Thursday 3rd April at 12.30pm at Folke Church (DT9 5HP). If you would like to come, please let us know online: www.chrisloder.co.uk/dad

Susana Loli López

on 18th February 2025, peacefully in Westminster Memorial Hospital, aged 93 years. Of Shaftesbury. A loving wife to the late Elio and devoted mum to Belinda and Lilian. Her kindness, compassion and consideration for others will always be remembered. A Requiem Mass takes place at St Edwards R/C Church, Shaftesbury, on Wednesday 26th March at 11.00am. No flowers please but any donations for Friends of Westminster Memorial Hospital may be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or sent to Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532.

Melanie Ann Box

Sadly passed away at home surrounded by family on 20th February 2025. A beloved partner and a much-loved mum, nana, daughter, sister and friend. Mel’s Commemoration Ceremony will be held at Wincanton War Memorial Hall at 12.30pm on 21st March 2025. A private burial will follow. The family welcome you to wear shades of blue as a tribute to Mel’s favourite colour. Family flowers only please. Donations in memory of Mel for British Liver Trust also Kidney Research U.K. may be sent c/o A. J. Wakely & Sons, The Old Police Station, Carrington Way, Wincanton, BA9 9JS. Tel: 01963 31310.

PERKINS

John Milford

Aged 98 years, of Milborne Port. Died peacefully on 14th February 2025 in Yeovil District Hospital. Beloved Husband of the late Maureen. Much loved Father of Karen and Helen. Loving Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Brother and friend.

Service of committal at Yeovil Crematorium on Monday, 31st March at 12.00pm, followed by a Thanksgiving Service at St. John’s Church, Milborne Port at 2.00pm. Please feel free to wear a colourful item of clothing. No flowers please. Donations in memory of John are invited for either Christian Aid or Mercy Ships UK, and can be made online at peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk or cheques made payable to the charity may be sent c/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, The Old Reading Room, Shaftesbury Road, Henstridge, Somerset, BA8 0PP. Tel: 01963 362570

HAINES ALBERT WILLIAM

Aged 90 years of Sparkford. On 24th February 2025. Peacefully at Yeovil District Hospital. A much loved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Uncle and Friend. Funeral Service at Yeovil Crematorium, on Friday 21st March, at 12noon. Family flowers only please. Donations in memory of Albert are being invited for, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. C/o Harold F Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Tel: 01963-440367

ATKINS PATRICIA ANN (PAT)

Aged 84years of Bruton, on the 20th February 2025. Peacefully at Trinity Manor Care Home, Sherborne. A much loved Mum, Nanny Pat, Great Nanny, Sister, Aunt and Friend. Funeral Service at St Mary The Virgin Church Bruton, On Tuesday 18th March at 2pm. Followed by private cremation. Family Flowers only please. Donations in memory of Pat are being invited for The Alzheimer’s Society, C/O Harold F Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Tel: 01963-440367

PATRICIA SULLY née O’MAHONY

On 26th February 2025, peacefully at home in East Knoyle, in her 100th year. Beloved wife of the late Cliff and a dearly loved mother, grandmother & sister. Forever in our thoughts. Funeral service will take place at St Mary’s Church, East Knoyle on Friday 21st March at 12.00 noon followed by interment, and refreshments at the Village Hall. Donations in her memory for The Stars Appeal SDH & Shaftesbury Car Link may be made on the day, online at www.mhfd.co.uk or sent to Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532. Please make any cheques to the individual charity.

BARNES

Austen Lionel

Peacefully on 19th February 2025 in Yeovil District Hospital, aged 89 years, of Henstridge. Beloved Husband of Shirley. Much loved Brother of Marina and John. A dearly loved Uncle of Antony, Tina, Chris, Jeanette and Catherine. Funeral service at St. Nicholas Church, Henstridge on Wednesday, 26th March at 12pm, followed by interment. No flowers please. Donations if desired, for British Heart Foundation can be made online at peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk or cheques made payable to the charity may be sent: C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, The Old Reading Room, Shaftesbury Road, Henstridge, BA8 0PP. Tel: 01963 362570

Announcements

DEATHS

COLLIS JOHN

Aged 80 years of Yenston, On 25th February 2025. Peacefully at Eastbury House Nursing Home, Sherborne. A much loved character. Funeral Service at St Nicholas Church, Henstridge, on Thursday 27th March at 2pm. Family flowers only please. Donations in memory of John are being invited for St Margarets Hospice. C/o Harold F Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Tel 01963 440367

John Maskell 105

peacefully passed away on February 19th at Highfield House Care Home, Castle Cary. Much loved Father, Grandfather & Great Grandfather who will be sorely missed by us all, his funeral service will be held at St John’s Church Milborne Port on March 21st at 14:30. All Welcome. No flowers please but donations to Wincanton CAT bus or the Army Benevolent Fund. Thank you

Peacock, Denise Anne

Of Somerton, formerly of Wincanton and Kingsbury Episcopi, peacefully passed away aged 83 on 5th March after a short illness. Funeral to be held at Stoke Trister Church at 1pm on 26th March followed by tea and refreshments at Charlton Musgrove Village Hall BA9 8HF. Family flowers only. No black please Donations in memory of Denise are being invited for Toybox and Bible Society, c/o Harold Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Tel: 01963 440367.

Susan Philippa Tolfree (Mrs T)

on 5th February 2025 aged 101 years, peacefully at home in Shaftesbury. Private cremation has taken place. Enquiries regarding her Celebration Tea Party to Elinor on 07775-910703. Donations in Susan’s memory (collector for over 60 years) for Royal British Legion (Shaftesbury) or RNLI may be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or sent to Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532. Please make any cheques payable to the individual charity.

BRINE Geoffrey

Keith

(of Castle Cary)

Passed away peacefully, with his family by his side, on 20th February 2025, aged 90 years. Much loved husband to Elaine, dad, grandad, brother, uncle and father-in-law. Funeral service will take place at Yeovil Crematorium on Thursday 20th March 2025 at 11:20a.m. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, for Alzheimer’s Society may be via the A. J. Wakely & Sons’ website or sent c/o A. J. Wakely & Sons, The Old Police Station, Carrington Way, Wincanton, BA9 9JS. Tel: 01963 31310 Please make cheques payable to the charity.

Gil Fulford

Passed away peacefully in Newstone House on the 26th February aged 92 . Dear Wife of Ron and much loved Mum, Grandma and Great Grandma to a family who will sadly miss her. Funeral Service at Ham Down Burial Ground on 24th March at 12 midday.

Richard James Gilroy

Peacefully on 4th March aged 67 Years. Richard, much loved family man, friend and colleague. Celebration of life service at Fontmell Magna Village Hall on Friday 21st March at 2pm. C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Harwood House, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4QJ. Tel 01747 833757

ERIC HEWART VINING

Passed away peacefully on 2nd March at home with his family around him, aged 94. Much love husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather and friend to many. Funeral service at St Mary’s Church, Sturminster Newton on Friday 28th March 2025 at 2pm. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, for The Rotary Club may be made via Grassby & Close Funeral Service, 4 Innes Court, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1BB. www.grassbyclose-funeral.co.uk

DOUCH

Olive May

Suddenly at home in Hinton St. Mary on 18th February 2025, aged 76 years. She will be sadly missed by Fred, Chris, family and friends. Funeral service at St. Peter’s Church, Hinton St. Mary on Wednesday, 19th March at 11.30am, followed by interment. Family flowers only please. Donations if desired for Mary Freke Hinton St. Mary can be made online at peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk or cheques made payable to the charity may be sent: C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, The Old Reading Room, Shaftesbury Road, Henstridge, BA8 0PP. Tel: 01963 362570

DAVID GEORGE CRANTON

On 22nd February 2025, suddenly at home, aged 85 years. Of Iwerne Minster. Loving husband to Deb, Dad to Rachael and a loving Grandpa to Peter and David. He will be sadly missed by all his family and friends. Funeral service takes place at St Mary’s Church, Iwerne Minster on Wednesday 9th April at 1.00pm No flowers please. Donations if desired for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance can be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or sent to Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532. You may wish to wear something red to celebrate David’s love of Arsenal F.C.

DEATHS

GORDON THOMAS GRANVILLE KENT

on 5th February 2025 in Yeovil District Hospital, aged 90 years. Formerly of Gillingham. Private cremation. Any enquiries and donations for RNLI in Gordon’s memory can be made online at www.mhfd.co.uk or sent to Merefield & Henstridge F/D, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532.

Sylvia Gould

Peacefully at home in Stalbridge on 27th February 2025, aged 94 years. Devoted wife of the late Stan. Dearly loved Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and Mother In-Law. Funeral service at St. Mary’s Church, Stalbridge on Thursday, 27th March at 11am, followed by private interment. No flowers please. Donations if desired, for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Trust can be made online at peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk or cheques made payable to the charity may be sent: C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, The Old Reading Room, Shaftesbury Road, Henstridge, BA8 0PP. Tel: 01963 362570

OTTON

Karen Ann ‘Kaz’

Of Gillingham, on the 16th February 2025, suddenly but peacefully passed aged 67. A dearly loved wife of Tony, a much loved mum of David and Phillip and a loving Nanny, who will be sadly missed by many. Funeral service at Salisbury Crematorium on Tuesday, 1st April at 1pm. No flowers please. Donations if desired, for Stars Appeal can be made online at peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk or cheques made payable to the charity may be sent: C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Harwood House, Newbury, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4QJ. Tel: 01747 833757

WEEKS

Yvonne May Elizabeth

Peacefully on 3rd March 2025 in Yeovil District Hospital, aged 84 years, of Gillingham. Beloved wife of Brian. Much loved Mum of Roger and the late Karen, Ann and Alan. Loving Nanny and Great Nanny. At the time of her passing, Yvonne was The Mayor of Gillingham’s Consort, truly valued and faithful, she will be terribly missed. Funeral service at St. Mary’s Church, Gillingham on Monday, 24th March at 11.00am, followed by private cremation. Those attending, are invited to wear a splash of colour in memory of Yvonne. No flowers please. Donations if desired, in memory of Yvonne for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Trust can be made online at peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk or cheques made payable to the charity may be sent: C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Harwood House, Newbury, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4QJ. Tel: 01747 833757

• Unattended funerals starting from £995

• Tailored and unique Attended Funerals

• Tailored and unique Attended Funerals

• Prepaid funeral plans also available

• Prepaid funeral plans also available

Tel: 01935 813479 • Unattended funerals starting from £995

moreaboutourprepaidfuneralplans. Weareheretohelp24hoursaday.

TRANSIT T350, Semi high, 90,000 miles, MOT 7/3/26, no advisories, £3950. Tel: 07974-050510

FREELANDER, 2004. Auto. MOT Feb 2026. Tow bar. £1500. Tel: 07879-060338

UNWANTED VEHICLES

A J Wakely& Sons

A

Audi TT, 1.8 QUATRO, Metallic Blue, cream leather, 81k, lovely condition. New tires, brakes and battery, long MOT. Nice Reg Number. £1795 ono Tel: 07748-822255

A J Wakely& Sons

A J Wakely& Sons

A J Wakely& Sons

J Wakely& Sons Independent Family Funeral Directors

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

2014 FORD FIESTA, 1.0T, Titanium 5dr. 125hp petrol, manual gearbox, 61000 miles, ex. condition. Drives very well. New MOT and good Service History, Lovely in Metallic Blue, great 1st car. £4,450. Tel: 07960-433284

FOR SALE

Independent Family Funeral Directors

Independent Family Funeral Directors

Independent Family Funeral Directors

Independent Family Funeral Directors

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

Ford Ranger Thunder, 2007, Metallic grey, FSH, low miles, 2 owners, new MOT, private owner 7 years, excellent condition £6,495ono

Also available:

THULE WINGBAR EDGE ROOF RACK SYSTEM in black, lockable for sale. Hardly used and in mint condition. Fits most SUVs and estates with roof bars. £380 new. Selling for £175. No offers. Marnhull. 07586685490 / whitcombga@aol.com.

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

– 24 Hour Service –

– 24 Hour Service –

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310 – 24 Hour Service –

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Pre-payment plans available

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817 Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310 – 24 Hour Service –

Pre-payment plans available

IFOR Williams GX84 Plant Trailer excellent condition, hardly used £2,400

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817 Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310 – 24 Hour Service –Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817 Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310

Please contact Richard Wakely, or a 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

Pre-payment plans available

Please call John 07796 531000

VW CADDYMAX HIGHLINE TDI, 2016, White, Diesel, 67,500 miles, 1968 cc. Very good clean condition, panelled. Used privately. Lady owner. MOT July. FSH £6,500. 07818-843 440

contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

plans available Tel: 01935 816817 Tel: 01963 31310

Pre-payment plans available

Tel: 01935 816817

Tel: 01935 816817

Please contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Tel: 01963 31310

contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any

of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

STONE MASONS

or

Classic car upholstery & servicing

Lower Leigh Farm, East Knoyle, Salisbury SP3 6BZ

STORAGE FOR CARAVANS, boats and cars at Enford Farm near Blandford. 01258 450050 / 07704 813025

RENAULT TRAFIC SPORT 2008 unfinished camper project mot august 2025 157000 mls £3300 ono Tel 07767-267691 VANS,

OLD, INTERESTING & CLASSIC CARS wanted pre 1990s Any condition including unfinished projects Cash/Transfer. Please Phone Paul 07890 096907

Drivers

wearing seatbelts

SHOCKING new figures from The AA Charitable Trust show that more than one in seven drivers regularly see other road users not wearing their seatbelt on motorways.

Some 15% of respondents reported seeing another driver not wearing a seatbelt, while 14% reported observing passengers unbelted travelling on motorways, the fastest moving roads in the country.

These findings highlight the ongoing concerns from The AA Trust regarding seatbelt noncompliance, despite the welldocumented safety benefits.

Seatbelts are proven to reduce the risk of death in a crash by about 50%, making their use a critical component of road safety.

This new data comes a month

after The AA Charitable Trust launched a new campaign on seatbelt awareness which also found one third (29%) of young drivers (17-29) who die in car crashes on all roads are not belted. Of these, 95% of these are male.

Government statistics further emphasise the severity of the issue whereby around a quarter of all car occupants who were killed were not wearing seatbelts in 2023.

Furthermore, Department for Transport data shows the rate of seatbelt non-wearing fatalities on all road types for car occupants is highest for rear seat passengers (40%).

Weekends also show the highest rates of non-seatbelt wearing among car fatalities (28% Saturday; 30% Sunday).

The AA Charitable Trust is calling for stronger penalties for not wearing a seatbelt, alongside a comprehensive road safety strategy that includes increased police patrols and public education campaigns to address this issue.

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

Air conditioning Valets

Bodyshop also available.

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

15B Sunrise Business Park, Higher Shaftesbury Road

Blandford DT11 8ST Tel: 01258 459798

Email info@sunriseservicecentre.com www.sunriseserviceandmotcentre.com

Email sunriseservicecentre@hotmail.com www.sunriseserviceandmotcentre.com

2015 (65) Ford Fiesta 1.0T Titanium X 5dr. 125bhp, petrol, manual gearbox, Free road tax, park sensors, reverse camera, ½ leather, heated seats, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, new cambelt fitted, 72,800 miles .................................................£6450

2021 (21) Ford Puma 1.0T ST Line X MHEV SUV 5dr. 155bhp, petrol hybrid, manual gearbox, partial leather, sat nav, park sensors, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, collision detection, road sign assist, 47,200 miles ...........................................................£14650

2018 (68) Ford Kuga 2.0TDCi ST Line SUV 5dr. 150bhp, diesel, manual gearbox, high seating, sat nav, road sign assist, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, park sensors, auto parking system, ½ leather, 61,800 miles.......................................................... £12450

2014 (14) Ford Transit 2.2TDCi 350 Trend L2 H2 12 Seat Minibus 5dr. 125bhp, diesel, manual gearbox, 11 seats plus driver, 3 front seats, 9 rear seats, Bluetooth, electric step, 75,500 miles .....................................................£11500+VAT = £13800

2020 (69) Ford Tourneo Custom 2.0TDCi Titanium 320 L1 H1 Automatic 9 Seat Minibus 5dr. 130bhp, diesel, automatic gearbox, 8 seat plus driver, reversable seats for conference or forward facing, auto lights & wipers, cruise control, heated front seats, park sensors, cambelt replaced, 97,100 miles ..................£18000+VAT = £21600

2017 (67) Honda Jazz 1.3 EX Automatic 5dr. 102bhp, petrol, automatic gearbox, park sensors & reverse camera, auto lights & wipers, collision detection, road sign assist, cruise control, 27,600 miles ..................................................................................£12750

2015 (65) Honda Jazz 1.3 SE Automatic 5dr. 102bhp, petrol, automatic gearbox, parking sensors, cruise control, auto lights & wipers, collision detection, road sign assist, £35 road tax, 35,700 miles ...........................................................................Due in soon

2008 (58) Peugeot Expert 1.6HDi Van. 90bhp, diesel, manual gearbox, spares or repairs, MOT Nov, Cat N light cosmetic damage in 2023, tidy enough van, needs work but it can be driven, call for details, 136,500 miles ............................................................SOLD

2014 (14) Skoda Yeti 1.2T S Automatic Station Wagon 5dr. 102bhp, petrol, automatic gearbox, high seating, big boot, high ground clearance, tip & tumble rear seats, only 53,100 miles.. £8650

Items for sale

CLASSIFIED ADS

UNUSED WEBB PETROL LAWN MOWER. 46cm, cost £280. Offers. Tel: 01963-370356

YORK PACER ELECTRIC TREADMILL. Good condition, £80. Tel: 07726671135

ROMA CADIZ INVALID BUGGY, superb condition, recent service and new batteries, Bargain £490. (£2000 new) Tel: 01258860113

LOGIC FLAIL MOWER

£1,000 ono, Paddock Topper £600 ono, 2 prong Bale Spike £200 ono. Tel:01747 870247

MOBILITY SCOOTER.

2 years old , new battery, VGC, blue. £700 01935-388827

VAX RAPID CARPET CLEANER, Deluxe, NEW, £100. Kirby G4, GWO, Vacuum cleaner, lots of attachments, plus hand-held carpet cleaner, £300 ono. Tel: 01963-351931 / 07834-258355.

UNUSED WEBB PETROL LAWN mower. 46cm, cost £280. Offers. Tel: 01963-370356

50 VINYL LP RECORDS £70. and 50 singles £30. Tony, Tel: 07598-982824

DRASCOMBE CRUISER

21’ yacht, 1979 excellent condition, 6 hp Mercury Outboard new 2022, serviced trailer, new tyres, powered jockey-wheel, extras. £6,500. Weymouth 01305 833791

JOHN DEERE RIDE ON MOWER, 279 model. 48” mulching deck. £950. Hayter mower, 56 model, £220. Tel: 07879-060338

FREE CLASSIFIED ADS

2 CATS TRAVEL CAGES £15

ea/£25 for two. 01935-873441

GREEN OUTDOOR

HAWKSHEAD women’s half zip top. Large, 2 pockets, good condition. £30. 01258-860113.

2 x SINGLE BEDS .Old, but clean good condition, plus linen. £10 each. 07785 534 524.

BRASS FIRESIDE ORNAMENTS. £20. Tel: 07791-847767

LARGE AMOUNT OF collectibles free to good home. Ideal for car booters etc. Must collect. Tel: 07842 120313

GRANDPARENTS SELLING

JOIE TRAVER child car seat. 15-36Kg ISOFIX VGC £50, 01963 34299

SHIATSU ELECTRIC BACK and shoulder massager. £50. Tel: 07726-671135

KAMPA DOMETIC, 12volt electric pump for blow up awnings. rarely used. £20. Tel: 07484-777398

IN PHASE POWER

TELESCOPE Model no.DG060597. As New/Never Used £45, Tel: 07530-630663

3 CAMPING LAMPS. 2 battery charged and 1 rechargeable. £20 for the 3. Tel: 07708-657901

HANDLE GRIP TO any smooth service shower etc no fixing required, brand new x2 boxed £7 call 01963-824376

BRAND NEW FOLDING TREADMILL S1 and mat. Unwanted gift, unused. Still boxed. Buyer collects. Gillingham £50 07599-273714.

QUALCAST ELECTRIC LAWN rake and scarifier £20, Tudor seed drop spreader £5, Tel 07951-132253

FRONT DOOR RED, wood effect split frosted window, letter box, knocker etc, needs locking rail. Lovely looking door. £40. Can send photo 01747 812569

PAINTED SOLID WOOD coffee table, £25, very good condition. Mere area. 07770 941 622

GLASS TABLE 122cm diameter 74cm high. Still available in the Range for £279. Will be dismantled. 07984 008563 Sherborne.£50

TRAVEL CRATE

60cmLx46cmWx51cmH for small dog, almost new, slanted front for hatchback, £25 Call 07402 648516

INTERNAL DOOR

70cmx200cm approximately. £15. 01963 824497

HORSEWEAR MIO turnout rug. 6’6” No fill. Vgc. Clean. No patches £25 Tel. 07543-679877 Blandford area

LADIES M&S BRAND NEW CHELSEA BOOTS These boots are black leather and still with labels. Size 7. £20. 07747 840163

GENTS 42” chest, pale blue swede, from Harrods, sports coat. £20. Excellent condition. Tel: 01258-817874

PENNY LLAMA & ALPACA rescue, excess bags of Llama manure to clear (For Free) to collect bags call 01725-552061.

HEADBOARD for double bed, Laura Ashley cream metal, as new £40. Buyer collects. Tel: 01258-863718. Child Okeford.

CLOTHES RAIL - Hardly used - like new £5 ONO. Coral (Weymouth) 07563 105 836 £12, USEFUL BATHROOM Metal White BATH, chipped enamel, collect from Gillingham, 01747 824 240

VINTAGE 1948 DENNIS motor mower 36 inch cut with grass box £40 Blandford 07831-47300 PAIR OF CAR RAMPS and axle stands. Little used. £30. 01258-830332

BARBIE DOLLS MATTEL x 10 and 2 x cars, wardrobe, telescope, chairs, clothes, sleeping bags, accessories,etc. £25 lot 01747-835680

DRESSING TABLE with triple mirror, excellent condition £25, 07588 053555

ELECTRIC RADIATOR, portable and new. £20. Tel: 01258-452749

2X57KGS EMPTY PROPANE CYLINDERS WITH BRASS FITTINGS FREE OF CHARGE,to be collected from, oakwood drive,iwerne minster,call richard on.01747-812457

VACUUM CLEANERS, all makes considered, don’t keep hold of your spare vacuum cleaners, we recycle them. Good prices paid and we collect from you. Call Andrew 07799417711

BOOKS BOUGHT

Pre 1950s & Antique. Will call by appointment Bristow & Garland 07392-602014

MODEL RAILWAYS WANTED. Cash paid for model railway collections. Small or large items. Anything considered. Call Dennis 01722 741031.

Hornets are going for goals

FOOTBALL

WINCANTON FC’s Junior Hornets – the youth team following in the footsteps of Wincanton Ladies – held a coffee and cake sale to raise funds towards new goals needed for next season.

The young players baked cakes and served customers to raise an impressive £727.35.

The club extended huge thanks to everyone who went along and donated, and those who baked. Cafe Central kindly provided their premises free of charge.

Manager, Donna Hitchens, said: “Wincanton Town Ladies

Junior Hornets are overwhelmed, and would like to thank the people of the town for their generous donations and purchases at our coffee and cake sale.

“All proceeds will go towards a new set of goal posts as the girls progress through the

stages of youth football.

“They thoroughly enjoyed baking and providing you with some beautiful, tasty cakes.

“A massive thank you to Lizzy Moore for the use of Cafe Central and donating the use of the coffee machine and beans.”

Any girls or ladies who would like to get involved with the club should visit contact@ wtlfc.co.uk. The club is based at Wincanton Sports Ground (BA9 9RB) and the players meet as follows: Wildcats (girls, aged five-11), Saturdays 10am-11am; Adult (ladies, 16-plus), Wednesdays 7pm; Girls, Under-12s, Thursdays 6pm7pm.

McCootie sinks Rockies

by Avril Lancaster

Yate Town 3

Shaftesbury 1

FORMER Weston-super-Mare forward Nicholas McCootie bagged a hat-trick in this Rockies defeat in the Pitching In Southern League Division 1 South.

The home side extended their lead at the top to nine points in front of a large crowd of 527 at

Lodge Road, with Shaftesbury slipping two places nearer the drop zone.

Former Poole Town player Jack Hoey opened the scoring in the 15th minute for the Rockies as keeper Joe Thomas inexplicably dropped the ball. The visitors survived when King Baidoo clipped the inside of the post in the ninth minute. McCootie levelled from the

spot in the 35th minute after Cameron Beard clipped Lucas Tomlinson, and notched a second in first half injury time to put the Bluebells ahead.

McCootie hooked in a third in the 54th minute.

Rockies substitute Moss Jackson-Collis brought a great save from Thomas and Connor Cocklin received a second yellow card in injury time.

Keeper Clint saves the day

by Paul Cross

Andover Diamonds 2

Blandford Hockey 5

EHA Vase quarter final Basingstoke 6s 0

Blandford HC 0 (0-2 after penalty shuffles)

AFTER beating Andover in the league, Blandford had the opportunity to complete a magical weekend by booking their place in the Vase semifinal.

It was a lovely day, the sun was out and an incredibly friendly opposition seemed to have an adverse effect on Blandford’s usual intensity, with most of the team seemingly half awake.

While the difference in skill

HOCKEY

level was apparent, this was offset by Blandford’s lethargy and Basingstoke’s good movement, resulting in an even contest for most of the game.

With 10 minutes to go, Blandford suddenly sprung into action, peppering the Basingstoke goal relentlessly.

A combination of mis-hits, exceptional goal-keeping and desperate scrambles meant Blandford failed to make the breakthrough and the game ended 0-0.

The match then went to penalty shuffles. Five players were chosen from each side to enter the 23 and attempt to put

WINCANTON Golf Club results:

Seniors roll up back 9 stableford: Winners – Phil Francis/Chris Dibben/Steven Ireland 37 points.

Three Clubs and putter: 1 Tristan Sams 36; 2 Mike Case 34; 3 Joe Atkins 33 ocb; 4 Nigel Orr 33.

Seniors Texas Scramble: Winners – John Westaway/ Jim Stephen/Jon Reed 40 points.

Seniors 9 Hole Texas Scramble: Winners – Malcolm Faulkner/David Hallet/Keith Williams 16 points.

Seniors roll up stableford: Winners – Harry Eden/Steven Ireland/Jim Stephen 48 points.

Six clubs and putter: 1David Whitehand 37 ocb; 2 David Amann 37; 3 Steven Ireland 36.

Seniors three clubs and putter: 1 Rick Graham 35 ocb; 2 Colin Jacobs 35; 3 Chris Mieville 34 ocb; 4 Phil Francis 34.

Seniors nine hole three clubs and putter: 1 Keith Williams 16; 2 Simon Lenton 15; 3 Ray Phillips 13 ocb; 4 Harry Eden 13.

the ball past the keeper.

But there was no putting the ball past Clint Thrower – four Basingstoke attempts, four saves.

In response, Gareth Mitchinson and Matty Lewis smashed early strikes to put Blandford through to the Vase semi-final, where they will face Southampton University 5s.

To complete a fantastic weekend for the club, the Ladies team won their match 5-0, with goals from Maddie, Linda, Caroline, Susan and Jenny.

This win means that they are now officially crowned Forest 1 champions with three games to spare.

Seniors roll up back nine stableford: Winners – Richard Strong/David Hallett/Steven Ireland/Jon Reed 59 points. Monthly stableford: 1 David Amann 43; 2 Steven Ireland 36 ocb; 3 David Ivey 36.

Women’s February additional Stableford, Thursday, February 27.

GOLF

GOLF

Wincanton Junior Hornets coffee and cake sale raised £727

Recruitment

RECRUITMENT EVENT - SHAFTESBURY

SEND Teacher and Learning Support Assistant Jobs at Coombe House School

Wednesday 26th March 2025

Starting at 15.45 (arrival from 15.15)

To book your place call 01747 449858 or email HR@coombehouse.org.uk www.coombehouseschool.org.uk

Sales Person / Sales Manager

Armishaws Removals & Storage are looking for a target driven, energetic Sales Person to join our team, covering Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset. The right candidate will move into the Sales Manager role.

Sales Role

• Working with high-end clients

• Surveying house contents for removals

Experience

• Field sales experience

• Proven track record achieving targets

Package

• Basic salary (based on experience) Commission

Company vehicle

To Apply, please send your CV to kye@armishaws.com

Working with farm animals

Salary Range: £13.50-£16 an hour

37 hours a week - Full Time or

Term Time Only LEARNING MENTOR VACANCY

Start Date: May/June 2025

Closing date: 9am Monday 31st March

For further information about the role contact Julie Plumley (Director Future Roots) on 01963 210703 or via email: office@futureroots.net

Please visit our website www.futureroots.net to see the full range of what we do.

Nazareth Lodge Residential Care Home

Penny St, Sturminster Newton DT10 1DE

Rated as an “Outstanding” care home by the Care Quality Commission.

COOK VACANCY

An opportunity has arisen for a cook at our Award-winning home. The applicant will need to be highly organised, responsible and keen to make a difference to the lives of our elderly residents.

Can you cater for 24 elderly people with individual tastes and dietary needs? Do you enjoy cooking from scratch? Can you provide good, wholesome food? Do you have the high standards required for working in an “Outstanding” rated care home?

If you are interested in joining probably the nicest team of care staff in North Dorset, we will be delighted to hear from you. The position requires previous experience of cooking in a similar environment as well as relevant cooking and stock taking experience. 40 Hours a week.

Hours are 7.30 am-3.30pm,this can vary, Monday to Friday and some flexibility will be required. We offer a competitive remuneration package including an annual bonus.

Please contact us during office hours if you would like further information. Telephone: 01258 472511 or email: care@nazareth-lodge.co.uk

TRACTOR DRIVER WANTED for Drainage work at Remedy Oak Golf Club. April to September, Contact Tim 07775 812770

GARDENER WANTED ONE DAY WEEKLY 07850 883849

Blackmore Vale Ltd are looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our friendly team, selling advertising in our magazines.

As well as a competitive wage and benefits.

You must be confident, driven, organised, with a great phone manner.

Sales experience an advantage

The role can be flexible to suit the right candidate.

Transport Manager - Wincanton

Armishaws Removals require a highly motivated Transport Manager at our Wincanton head office.

You’ll be responsible for overseeing and improving our transport department, from staff and training, to record keeping and service delivery to our clients.

Role

• Fleet/transport planning

• Staff Training/management

• Transport compliance

• Vehicle maintenance

Essential Skills

• Highly organised

• Precise attention to detail

• Communicate with staff, management and clients

• Good geographical knowledge

• Fast problem solving

• Working to deadlines daily

Must have - CPC certificate, driving license, forklift experience. Removals experience would be an advantage but not essential. Monday - Friday

£30,000.00 - £40,000.00 per year (depending on experience)

To apply, please send your CV to kye@armishaws.com

IN SHERBORNE NEAR THE ABBEY, a carer for two mornings a week around 8:30am for one hour, maybe more. 01935-816822.

RELIEF MILKER-GFW required. Family farm, Mappowder, Tel: 07971-199735

FULL TIME BAR PERSON

Plumber Manor (hotel and restaurant) at Sturminster Newton is looking for a full time bar person for evenings for 5 nights a week including one night at weekends. This would also include Sunday lunches and the occasional weekday lunch. Car driver and experience essential. There is an option for the role to include night manager duties for which accommodation would be provided. Please send your CV with your application to book@plumbermanor.co.uk

HOUSEKEEPER. THE GOOD LIFE.

Couple wanted to take care of a large house in West Dorset, Beaminster. Responsibilities would include normal household duties, some cooking. A love of country life and animals essential and a genuine interest and knowledge of gardening. Private accommodation is included, plus Council Tax etc. in the package. Please call: 07837-109417 or email christinewoodibiza@gmail.com

HEAD HOUSEKEEPER REQUIRED

PLUMBER MANOR hotel at Sturminster Newton requires a Head Housekeeper for 5 mornings a week (including some weekend work). 8am-12.30pm but hours are variable depending on occupancy. Pleasant working conditions doing up to 16 bedrooms and bathrooms to a high standard. Previous experience essential and references required as you would also be in contact with our guests. Own transport necessary and ability to work on your own and as part of a team. Duties will include managing the rotas for your team, liasing with the laundry service and the office staff for supplies. Please email book@plumbermanor.co.uk with your CV. If you have any queries please ring 01258 472507.

Team Leader & Cleaners

Recruitment

WANTED EXPERIENCED GARDENER

to join our team working on a prestigious 7 acre garden near Shaftesbury. Previous experience required and references. 07792-892999.

OAKWOOD TAXIS REQUIRE PART-TIME DRIVERS to cover various school runs in and around Dorset. Drivers can keep the vehicle at home enabling them to work more efficiently in their area. Must be over 25. Could suit semi-retired person. No area knowledge test required. All expenses paid for. Average 4 hours per day, school time only. To arrange an interview please ring Andy on 01258 455555 or email oakwoodtaxis@aol.com

PART TIME SALES ASSISTANT for Plant World Ltd

Plant World, Milton-On-Stour is looking for a permanent, part time Sales Assistant for 3 - 4 days a week to include some weekends. Duties consist of all aspects of garden centre work. Clean driving licence essential as some customer deliveries will be required. For more information call Connie on 07785 373388

Wessex Vehicle Services Ltd, Compton Mills SP3 5DW Commercial Body Builders require:

Wessex Vehicle Services Ltd, Compton Mills SP3 5DW Commercial Body Builders

Full Time Auto Electrician

Duties to include:

We require Full time Semi-Skilled Commercial Vehicle Body Builders to work on large ongoing Van contract

• Vehicle Wiring

• Wiring of Internal Vehicle Body Lights

• Fitting Tail-Lifts

Knowledge of working with commercial vehicle bodies would be an advantage but not necessary as full training will be provided The ability to problem solve, work to completion deadlines and within a team, while maintaining a high standard of build quality is a key attribute within the role.

• Full UK Driving Licence required

We require Full Time semi-skilled Commercial Vehicle Body Builders to work on large ongoing Van contract

Full UK Driving licence required

Friendly working environment

Benefits:

• Good rates of pay

Knowledge of working with commercial vehicle bodies would be an advantage but not necessary as full training will be provided. The ability to problem solve, work to completion deadlines and within a team, while maintaining a high standard of build quality is a key attribute within the role.

• Company Pension Scheme

• Travel pay, starting from 5 mile radius,

Full UK Driving licence required.

• Weekly Attendance payment of £10 for 40 hours attended

Benefits:

• Good rates of pay

Schedule:

All to start after Probationary period complete

• Company pension scheme

Schedule:

• Travel pay, starting 5 mile radius

• 40 hours per week

• Monday - Friday

• Free Onsite Parking

• 40 hours per week

• Weekly attendance payment of £10 for 40 hours attended

• Monday – Friday

• 20 days Holiday (Plus Bank Holidays) increases with length of service

• Free Onsite Parking

All to start after Probationary period complete

• 20 days Holiday (Plus bank holidays) increases with Length of service

Please contact Nigel Mustill for more

Please contact Nigel Mustill for more information on 01722 714545 or send CV to amy@wessexvehicles.co.uk

on 01722 714545 or send

Recruitment

Building Surveyor / Architect

The Historic Building Advisory Service is an established niche Chartered Surveying and historic building consultancy based near Salisbury working across the UK and sometimes beyond. We provide professional surveying and heritage consultancy services tailored to meet the requirements of clients with a diverse range of historic buildings, structures and landscapes.

The role involves the delivery of professional advice and assistance on all aspects of the conservation, repair, alteration and adaptation to buildings, structures and landscapes from Roman remains, medieval barns, through Georgian houses to Art-Deco flats and Second World War pillboxes. This includes condition and other surveys, heritage impact and design statements, as well as designing, specifying and overseeing works from concept stage, through the planning and regulatory process, to completion of the project.

You will be working within a commercial office as part of a small team where you will be expected to control and manage your own work load for a wide range of clients with often eclectic projects for which there is rarely a standard response. For this you will need to be adaptive in your thinking while ensuring you meet the client’s brief, professional and conservation standards as well as within time frames and budgets.

To support you in this role we will provide on-going professional training and development.

If you have experience of working with or an enthusiasm for historic buildings and structures and are looking for a varied, professionally rewarding, sometimes demanding and challenging job, then we would like to hear from you.

The job includes, but not limited to:

• Liaison with clients to understand and develop their requirements

• Analysis and pathology of historic buildings

• Various types of building survey

• Report writing

• Design and intervention of new and repair work in an historic built environment

• Specification preparation

• Developing and handling planning and building regulation applications

• Working closely with other members of the team, clients and contractors

• Contract administration, tendering and oversight of work on site

The person should have:

• Experience as a building surveyor, architect or an architectural technician in a commercial historic building / conservation environment

• Good working knowledge of building construction – modern and historic

• An understanding of the UK planning legislation and Building Regulations

• Ability to develop a good professional working relationships with clients

• RICS, RIBA, CIOB, IHBC accredited or CIAT desirable

• Competent computer skills, Word, Excel, etc Working knowledge of CAD desirable

• Ability to self manage workload

• Good verbal communication skills

• A current full UK driving licence

Job Type: Full Time, Part Time considered

Salary: From £40,000 pa

Applications: email your CV with supporting letter to admin@historicbuilding.co.uk

Closing date: we consider applications as they are received www.historicbuilding.com

DRIVERS WANTED

Ice cream van company looking to expand our team. Weekday, weekends, full time, part time. Immediate start, days to suit. 25 years + for insurance purposes. Call Sam 07957244670

PART TIME SEASONAL WORKERS for Plant World Ltd

Plant World, Milton-On -Stour, is looking for part time, seasonal workers to work in our busy Garden Centre for 3 months over the spring season. For more information call Connie on 07785 373388

HGV Drivers - Wincanton

Armishaws Removals are looking for fit, presentable drivers at our Wincanton depot.

• Monday to Friday

• Weekly salary

• Tips

• Rewards bonus scheme

• Overtime available

• Occasional European travel

• Overnight allowance

• Heavy lifting required

You’ll be handling removals for high-end clients across the South West and further beyond.

Removals experience is preferred but not essential as full training will be given.

Competitive rates.

Port Regis is a delightful preparatory school, for day and boarding children aged 2-13, in Shaftesbury, Dorset.

We are seeking to recruit to the following roles:

LAUNDRY ASSISTANT

HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT

HOUSEKEEPER

Applications are invited from candidates who are big-hearted and model great drive and enthusiasm.

The successful candidates can expect competitive rates of pay and benefits; and to join an exceptional working environment and staff team.

For full details of the roles and application procedure, please visit our website - portregis.com/vacancies

Early applications encouraged

Port Regis (Charity No: 306218) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS and safer recruitment vetting checks.

Blue Tongue, the lovely sound of woodpeckers and ‘chats’ with the Highlands

by Tria Stebbing

WHAT an amazing difference a week of sunny days can do for the soul and the jobs that have been stacking up.

Yesterday, after some consideration, we made the decision to immunise the flock against Blue Tongue. The sheep live in an area where mosquitos are rife and cause us issues already, with Sweet Itch on their ears in the summer months. A virus spread by midges, Blue Tongue is now in the area. It affects ruminants along with wild animals and is controlled through vaccination and movement restrictions. Dorset now has those restrictions, so the threat is real – Blue Tongue could infect the flock and wipe

us out. So, the decision was made slightly easier by the speed at which the virus is travelling throughout the country.

The pregnant ewes were first, providing a good opportunity to round them up, check feet, trim the birthing area and immunise.

Three weeks away from lambing now, some of the first to be caught are already bagging up and showing signs of change. They will be moved back to the home village in the next week or so, where they have the comfort of field shelters and better grazing. The sun was warm on our backs as we worked with the sheep, so much better than doing essential work in grey, damp conditions.

The whole time we were there

Sporting Shotgun & Rifle Stock Makers

we could hear the frantic drumming of woodpeckers, which were busy communicating with each other and excavating holes for future nesting. We are surrounded by older unhealthy trees, which I am told the woodpeckers favour, and they are so vocal – the laughing sound as they fly from tree to tree so characteristic of this lovely bird.

The lighter evenings are giving us the luxury of spending more time with Highlands at the end of the day. Rather than rushing up with a hay bale and a bucket of feed, they are enjoying evening chats and therapeutic grooming. All of them thrive on time spent, combing and talking, and show their appreciation by

standing still and enjoying the moment. They have been dusty, a bit matted and with adornments of bramble, and will take a while to get back to how we like them to be, a description that could apply to us, too! Everything is crossed that this dry spell holds on for a while longer so that the grass starts to grow instead of being submerged in a never-ending deluge of mud. The animals need the grass to eat, we need the grass to cut, and we all need the grass to attract back the insects and wildlife to our paddocks.

Hazel is ‘singing’ to life in the hedgerows

Field & Stream

Hedge-laying lesson for German ‘profs’

TWO German professors visited when the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt HedgeLaying Competition 2025 was held at Church Farm, Purse Caundle, near Sherborne.

Hedge-laying died out in Germany in the 1920s and the visitors are looking to reintroduce it there.

The competition at the farm, held courtesy of Nick and Sophie Fuller, attracted 46 entries.

Numbers were down due to the Countryside Alliance Point-to Point held the same day and the high winds and heavy rain forecast for the afternoon.

Organisers shortened the lengths to be laid because of the forecast and finished at lunchtime just before the weather broke.

The hedges varied between thin field maple with hazel and dense hawthorn – much preferred in spite of the need for gloves.

Some of the ground was too wet for vehicles, so crooks had to be carried.

Organisers ran an Intermediate class for the first

time for those who did not wish to brave the Open.

Prize-giving took place in the warmth of Laycocks Cider Barn and the winners were: Open Cup, Terry Coombe; Intermediate, Oliver Hemsley and Leo Docherty; Novice, Chris Leadbetter; Best BSV Olver Hemsley.

Farming

VINTAGE & CLASSIC TRACTORS wanted for parts. 01935-873169.

D.E.D RESISTANT ELM TREES.

Ademuz. 2m Tall Bare Rooted Whips. £25 each plus VAT and delivery. Phone Peter Shallcross 07974 140848 Plant Healthy certified

SHIPPING CONTAINERS FOR SALE

Tel: 01258 472288 / Mob: 07977 936109

New and second hand containers - blue/green - all with box locks

ROUND BALE HAYLAGE AND HAY. Enford Farm near Blandford. 07704-813025 01258-450050.

ROUND BELL SIGNAGE FOR SALE. Milborne Port. 07811-594029

CONCRETE GROOVING SERVICE. Cowco Southern. Call Ted: 07970-965040

MASSEY FERGUSON 35 Industrial Original yellow Paint Runs well £2200 Contact Tim 07775 812770

GENERAL FARM WORKER wanted near Bruton. Call Andy 07890-125296

GFW REQUIRED AS PART OF TEAM on well equipped modern mixed dairy farm near Shaftesbury. Assist with relief milking and all other aspects of the farm. CV to robinblatchford@gmail.com

R&W FENCING. Agricultural paddock and stock. Also part time help required. 01258-880892 - 07980-036250

CARAVAN REMOVAL SERVICE, old, unwanted caravans, cars, trailers, vans, etc. Garden machinery, tractors, scrap metal. Yard, garden, garage removal clearances undertaken, dismantling and gas cutting service. Please call 019350873169 or 07368-380477

MOBILE CRIMPING AND ROLLING. All cereals, pulses and maize, up to 20 tonnes per hour. Call Andy 07979-758907.

EVERY WEDNESDAY WEEKLY SALES

EVERY WEDNESDAY WEEKLY SALES OF PRIME CATTLE CULL CATTLE DAIRY CATTLE & CALVES. PRIME, STORE & CULL SHEEP ********************************************************************

EVERY FRIDAY – SALE OF STORE & BREEDING CATTLE ********************************************************************

WEDNESDAY 27th NOVEMBER CHRISTMAS FATSTOCK SHOW CLASSES FOR HANDLED & UNHANDLED PRIME CATTLE. BARREN COWS. PRIME LAMBS. PRIME PIGS & CALVES FATSTOCK SHOW DINNER FRIDAY 29th NOVEMBER

WEDNESDAY 11th DECEMBER FORTNIGHTLY SALE OF PIGS

FRIDAY 21st MARCH SALE OF SHOW POTENTIAL CATTLE

MONDAY 16th DECEMBER SALE OF TB RESTRICTED CATTLE

WEDNESDAY 18th DECEMBER LAST MARKET BEFORE CHRISTMAS SALE FOR ALL SECTIONS INCLUDING REARED CALVES, PIGS & STORE CATTLE

WEDNESDAY 4th DECEMBER SALE OF REARED CALVES ********************************************************************

WEDNESDAY 11th DECEMBER FORTNIGHTLY SALE OF PIGS ********************************************************************

WEDNESDAY 26th MARCH SALE OF REARED CALVES MONDAY 14th APRIL SALE OF TB RESTRICTED CATTLE

MONDAY

MONDAY 16th DECEMBER SALE OF TB RESTRICTED CATTLE ********************************************************************

WEDNESDAY 18th DECEMBER LAST MARKET BEFORE CHRISTMAS SALE FOR ALL SECTIONS INCLUDING REARED CALVES, PIGS & STORE CATTLE ********************************************************************

07970 620859 ANDREW FRIZZLE 07977 136863

MONDAY 30th DECEMBER SALE FOR ALL SECTIONS EXCEPT PIGS ********************************************************************

FOR ADVICE ON ALL CLASSES OF STOCK PLEASE CALL BRADLEY TOWELL 07496 263916 TOM ROGERS 07384 462288 TREVOR ROWLAND 07968 480401

646031

ROSS WHITCOMBE 07815 985737 CLIVE PEACH 07970 620859

ANDREW FRIZZLE 07977 136863

The Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt Hedge-Laying Competition – above and below – took place at Church Farm, near Sherborne

Fine tuning coccidiosis control in lambs and calves

by Lucy Hepworth BVSc MRCVS

Friars Moor Livestock Health

COCCIDIOSIS is a highly infectious protozoan parasitic infection of the intestinal lining in calves and lambs. Cocci oocysts – eggs – are passed out in faeces contaminating the shed or pasture – susceptible young stock then ingest the oocysts and within one to three weeks are shedding more. Given the right conditions, such as a high stocking density with a new crop of lambs or calves, concurrent disease or mixing groups, this multiplication of oocysts can be truly explosive, spreading the disease rapidly within the group. Clinical cases are obvious with scour. Critically, the most common type of coccidiosis is the economically important subclinical form where there are no obvious clinical symptoms to see but animals have a feed conversion efficiency and growth rate.

The risk factors for when coccidiosis poses challenge to young stock will vary across

farms. Coccidia are species specific – for example, cattle species don’t infect sheep – but there are many strains of cocci – some cause disease, ‘pathogenic strains’, and some don’t, ‘non-pathogenic strains’. When establishing the significance of coccidiosis on a farm, it is commonly warranted to check which strains are present, as well as doing an oocyst count. Some pathogenic strains are more associated with pasture than housing. The ‘pathogenic picture’ will usually be consistent over years on a farm.

To manage coccidiosis, it is important to reduce the exposure of calves and lambs to the oocysts where possible – for

Tel: 01258 452307 Mob: 07973 642278

Anticoccidial drenches need to be given in the pre-patent period

anti-coccidial drenches available. Tolracol has a longer duration of action which means that firstly there is more flexibility for timing of treatment in the pre-patent period, and secondly that a single dose should be sufficient.

example, rotating turnout fields, appropriate disinfection in pens, hygiene of feed – as well as looking at resilience of the animals to mount an immune response – for example, concurrent nemotodirus in lambs, weaning stress in dairy calves.

Commonly, therapeutic management is incorporated into a ‘farm coccidiosis health plan’ so that the disease can be prevented and chronic gut damage is avoided. Drenches need to be given to lambs and calves in the ‘pre-patent period’. In feed medication can be effective if feed consumption is sufficient for the risk period.

Tolracol – Toltrazuril – and Vecoxan – Diclazuril – are the

Tolracol should be given to calves just before clinical signs are anticipated, whereas in lambs it can be given up to seven days ahead of clinical signs – the timing is determined by the half-life of the drug in that species. With appropriate timing, tolracol will reduce oocyst output for up to 14 days in calves and nine weeks in lambs, during which time the animal mounts its immune response to prevent reinfection. In comparison, Vecoxan –diclazuril – has no residual effect and its timing must be even more specific in the pre-patent period. Vecoxan has a shorter duration of action in both species and a second treatment should always be given three weeks later. This is reflected in the data sheet licence.

The complexity of the coccidiosis and its management lends itself to having a robust farm specific plan. Talk to one of the vet team for more advice for your farm.

We provide a friendly, local service at competitive prices.

Based at Redlynch near Bruton, we supply Car, Commercial, Agricultural, Plant &

We

Farm waking up after long winter

by Ruth Kimber

HAVING had the most horrid wet, dull weather, this weekend has been glorious. The farm has started to awaken from a long, miserable winter with record rainfall and few bright, dry, crisp, sunny days to help us through.

The wild flowers are starting to peer out from the hedge bottoms, celandines, usually the first to appear alongside snowdrops, lovely delicate pale-yellow primroses come next, then all sorts of gems are

not far behind.

The farm land has been waterlogged for months, not great for the worms and other soil-loving creatures. Old sayings like: “February field dyke, March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers”. We will see. But just a couple days of sunshine and wind has made the land ‘pitch’ or, in other words, dry up.

The slurry store is pretty full, and I hope by the time you read this, Tom will have had the contractors take some of the contents and spread it onto the fields.

Then once we can get onto our clay land, field work begins in earnest. Rolling, harrowing, reseeding, maize planting, fertiliser application and general maintenance, fencing and attending to gates and gateways. Our gateways suffer easily with heavy tractors, cattle feet, often when supplementary feeding young stock in the summer and autumn. Of course, having dairy cows in and out to milking twice a day challenges the gateways, especially if we have wet weather.

Autumn calving is all done and it went pretty well – a smattering of twins and very few cows needing assistance. Mating programmes have helped identify bulls which give difficult calvings and are withdrawn from semen sales.

JDG Structural Steel Ltd

Steel frame buildings for agricultural, industrial and equestrian enterprises

Pre-cast concrete wallings panels supplied and erected

Roller shutter doors supplied and fitted

All steel frames are designed, fabricated & erected to conform to current CE markings

Tel: 01747 811711

Mob: 07860 570258

Email: johnguttridge@aol.com

Email: Info@jdgstructuralsteel.co.uk. www.jdgstructuralsteel.co.uk

Mob: 07966 244536

Hydraulic Hose Specialists and Stockists to the Agriculture, Forestry, Automotive and Transport Industry

Pneumatic fittings

Air brake fittings

Hose clamps

Hydraulic Hoses

Quick release couplings

Pressure wash hoses + lances

Up to 1 ½ “Hose stocked

Variation of oils

Mobile service available

Email: hoses@ardiesels.co.uk

Tuesday 25 March at 11.00am Buckholt Farm, West Tytherley, Salisbury, SP5 1LS

STANDING STRAW AUCTION

STANDING STRAW AUCTION

ON-FARM AUCTION

Thursday 17th October at 11.00am

Dispersal of 2 Tractors, Sulton & Hagglund Personnel Carriers, Crawlers, Excavator, UTV’s Farm Machinery, Livestock Equipment, Workshop Items, etc.

Wednesday 28th June at 6.30pm

Silverlake Farm, Sherborne, DT9 6SN

Bindon & Pinhay

The Grain Store, Heathfield, Rousdon, Dorset 830ac of Standing Straw

Genuine Dispersal of Combine, Self Propelled Sprayer, 4 Tractors, 2 JCB Telehandlers, Forklift, Pick-Up, Arable Machinery & Livestock Equipment

4 Tractors, 2 JCB Telehandlers, Forklift, Pick-Up, Arable Machinery & Livestock Equipment

830ac of Standing Straw 461ac Wheat

• 461ac Wheat

John Deere 6155R 3,500hrs (18), Aebi T7270 Terratrac (09), Ford 4610, Daewoo Exca SL55 Excavator (02), Command Sultan Tank, Hagglund BV106 Personnel Carrier, Caterpillar D2 & D4 Crawlers, Track Marshall 90, Iveco 75E14 7.5T Lorry fitted with Cherry Picker (N/R), 3 x John Deere Gators (21, 18 & 16), Heva V-Profile 3m Press, Accord 4 Row Maize Drill, Kuhn HR304D Power Harrow, Moore DP300 3m Uni-Drill, Simba 6.1m Cultipress, Merrick Loggin 10t Dump Trailer & 22’ Drop Deck Trailer, Bale Trailers, Lagan 24’ & Ifor Williams 14’ Livestock Trailers, Ritchie Stock Cube, John Shepherd Feed Trailers, etc

• 237ac Winter Barley

• 237ac Winter Barley

2017 Claas Lexion 650 Combine with Vario 770 Header, Shelbourne Reynolds RSD20 Stripper Header, 2011 Bateman RB17 (3,708hrs) Sprayer, 2019 Massey Ferguson 7720S Dyna6 (2,320hrs) & 7718 Dyna6 (2,880hrs), 2016 New Holland

2017 Claas Lexion 650 Combine with Vario 770 Header, Shelbourne Reynolds RSD20 Stripper Header, 2011 Bateman RB17 (3,708hrs) Sprayer, 2019 Massey Ferguson 7720S Dyna6 (2,320hrs) & 7718 Dyna6 (2,880hrs), 2016 New Holland T7.210 (3,610hrs) & T7.200 (4,365hrs) Tractors, 2012 JCB 531-70 (2,145hrs) & 1997 527-58 Telehandlers, 2010 Isuzu Rodeo Pick-Up, Doosan Pro5 18 Forklift, McConnel 8.2m & 6.3m Cambridge Rollers, Twose & Watson 10’ Tandem Rollers, KRM Sola Ares 2713 Drill, Vaderstad NZ 6m Cultivator, Kuhn HR 4004 Hyd. Folding Power Harrow, KV DXA 4.7m Trailed Discs, KV LD85 5f Rev Plough, Kuhn VariMaster 153 5f Rev Plough, McConnel 3m Shakerator, Kverneland TL Geospread Fertiliser Spreader, McConnel Magnum Euro 280 Hyd Offset Topper, Bomford Hawk 6m Hedgecutter, Kuhn FC313 TG Mower Conditioner, 2 x Stewart 16-21L Grain Trailers, Marshall BC25 Bale Trailer, Cattle Hurdles, Attachments (Q-Fit), Machine Spares, Workshop Items, Weights, etc.

• 132ac Oats

• Durweston

Friday 30th June at 12 noon Durweston

Introduced: John Deere 6105MC (17), Unimog U1000, Drop Deck 20’ Low Loader, Cleanacres 18m Trailed Sprayer, Lely Splendimo 320PC Mower Conditioner, Teagle Bale Shredders, Brian James 8’ x 4’ Plant Trailer, etc

1997 527-58 Telehandlers, 2010 Isuzu Rodeo Pick-Up, Doosan Pro5 18 Forklift,

Travellers Rest Farm, Durweston, Blandford, Dorset 6,220 acres of Standing Straw

6,220 acres of Standing Straw 2,442ac Wheat

• 2,442ac Wheat

2,006ac Winter Barley

2,006ac Winter Barley

Euro

1,557ac Spring Barley 178ac Oats

37ac Oil Seed Rape

Machine Spares, Workshop Items, Weights, etc.

Friday 7th July at 12 noon

Wynford Eagle

Wynford Eagle

The Grain Store, Manor Farm, Wynford Eagle, Dorchester, Dorset 1298 acres of Standing Straw

The Grain Store, Manor Farm, Wynford Eagle, Dorchester, Dorset 1298 acres of Standing Straw

• 599ac Wheat

• 281ac Winter Barley

• 119ac Spring Barley

229ac Oats

• 229ac Oats

Thursday 3 April at 11.00am Bagber Farms, Milborne St Andrew, Blandford, DT11 0LB

• 70ac Oil Seed Rape

Dispersal Sale of 2 Combines, Tractor & Range of Arable Machinery, etc.

Full catalogues available at symondsandsampson.co.uk

Full catalogues available at symondsandsampson.co.uk

Including: John Deere 9780 CTS Combine (04), New Holland 115A Plus (06), John Deere 732 24m Trailed Sprayer, Simtech T-Sem300 Drill (17), New Holland BR7060 Round Baler (09), Twose 6.3m Ring Rollers, Quivogne APXRS 3m Discs, Lely Splendimo 280F Mower Conditioner (13), AS Marston 25’ Bale Trailer, 3 x 10T Grain Trailers, Teagle Dual 285 Topper, Spearhead XL 605 Hedgetrimmer, Charterhouse Wild Flower Seed Harverster, etc

Introduced: JCB 3CX (97), Kuhn FC 3160 TCD Mower Conditioner, 45’ & 33’ Artic Bale Trailers, 16T & 14T Grain Trailers, NC12T Dump Trailer, KV CL Exacta 1550l Fertiliser Spreader, KV Levelling Cultivator, Trimble EZ Guide 750 Guidance, etc

Further suitable entries welcome.

On behalf of Mr John Hawkins t/a Bagber Farms (Change in farming policy)

and to meet our rural and agricultural experts

Please call in to our stand for refreshments and to meet our rural and agricultural experts

Please contact Greg Ridout 07817 517467

Please contact Greg Ridout 07817 517467

RESIDENTIAL | AGRICULTURAL | COMMERCIAL

Fertiliser Spreader, McConnel Magnum

280 Hyd Offset Topper, Bomford Hawk 6m Hedgecutter, Kuhn FC313 TG Mower Conditioner, 2 x Stewart 16-21L

On behalf of Mr Michael Matthews t/a Buckholt Farm (Having sold the farm)

Hadspen, Somerset

A

A character south-facing stone house in an excellent central village location with a large oak-framed double garage, workshop and southfacing gardens. CTB E. Freehold. Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

A beautifully presented small country estate in a highly desirable location. Comprising a stunning 5-bedroom barn conversion covering

4,300 sq.ft with high spec energy efficient fittings, a detached 2-bedroom cottage, 15-box stable block, office block, workshops and pasture land, in

99.46 acres which includes 29 acres of mature cider orchards.

Sturminster | 01258 472244

Fitzpaine Sturminster | 01258 472244

33.19 acres of well established permanent pasture with an abundance of natural flora, boasting stunning views over the Blackmore Vale. Freehold.

Marnhull

Marnhull

Okeford

|

Holwell

Mappowder

Mappowder

Guide £595,000

Guide £795,000

Guide £595,000

Marnhull

Marnhull

Marnhull

A fine Grade II listed former village Post House with attractive gardens, surrounding countryside. CTB E. Freehold.

A fine Grade II listed former village Post House with attractive gardens, a substantial barn/workshop and lovely views to the village church and surrounding countryside. CTB E. Freehold.

An architecturally impressive house with stylish and practical accommodation including 3 ensuite bedrooms and established south facing gardens.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Sherborne | 01935 814488

Shroton

Shroton

Guide £450,000

Guide £435,000

Guide £435,000

A beautifully presented house in a highly regarded, established village development, overlooking its south facing garden.

This delightful 2-bedroom end-of-terrace cottage has been fully updated but retains great charm. It is situated in the heart of this most desirable village. CTB D. Freehold.

This delightful 2-bedroom end-of-terrace cottage has been fully updated village. CTB D. Freehold.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Sturminster | 01258 473766

Landlords Seminars

ADDITIONAL DATE ADDED DUE TO HIGH DEMAND

Guide £525,000

Guide £525,000

Guide £340,000

A character south-facing stone house in an excellent central village facing gardens. CTB E. Freehold.

A fine, 2 bedroom chalet style house with a good balance of reception rooms and an exceptional south facing garden within this sought after village.

A character south-facing stone house in an excellent central village location with a large oak-framed double garage, workshop and southfacing gardens. CTB E. Freehold.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Sturminster | 01258 473766

North Cheriton

Broad Oak

Guide £825,000

OIEO £400,000

OIEO £400,000

A brand-new detached bungalow with over half an acre of south facing garden and approached from a no-through lane in a lovely countryside location.

An attractive, double-fronted 3-bedroom period property tucked away on an idyllic country lane with character features throughout and views over the neighbouring countryside. CTB C. Freehold.

An attractive, double-fronted 3-bedroom period property tucked away on the neighbouring countryside. CTB C. Freehold.

Sherborne | 01935 814488

Sherborne | 01935 814488

Sturminster | 01258 473766

Are you up to date with the latest news on the Renters Rights Bill? Gain essential insights into the legislation as it progresses through Parliament. Join Rachael James, Partner and Head of Lettings with over 30 years’ of experience, for the latest updates and industry predictions.

Wednesday 30th April | 5pm - 7pm | The Crown Hotel, Blandford

Nr Sturminster Newton Guide Price £1,100,000

Nr Sturminster Newton Guide Price £1,100,000

Limited availability, book your place today: 01258 474265 | enewman@symondsandsampson.co.uk

presented 4 bedroom country home with stable yard & paddocks, in 4.11 acres. CTB E.Freehold,

Tucked away down a no through lane is this extended and very well presented 4 bedroom country home with stable yard & paddocks, in total 4.11 acres. CTB E.Freehold,

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

North Cheriton

Hazelbury Bryan

PROPERTY AUCTION THURSDAY 27 MARCH 2025 2:00PM THE DIGBY HALL, SHERBORNE AND VIA LIVESTREAM

Kingsbury Episcopi

Guide £60,000

North Perrott Guide £45,000

South Cheriton

Guide £70,000

Witchampton Guide £50,000

3.01 acres (1.22 ha) of gently sloping pasture land with direct road access. Freehold.

4.68 acres of level pasture land with an area of cider orchard and a pond providing a haven for wildlife in a peaceful location to the North of Kingsbury Episcopi.

Yeovil | 01935 423526

Yeovil | 01935 432526

Chilcompton

Guide £195,000

0.19 acres of amenity land with scope for a range of uses (STPP/consents), adjoining residential properties. Freehold.

6.78 acres of level and gently sloping pasture land with woodland belt and stream frontage, enjoying a rural yet accessible location off a quiet country lane.

Sturminster | 01258 472244

Wimborne | 01202 843190

A partially built 5 bedroom property in a generous plot of about 0.40 acres giving a buyer the opportunity to finish to their own taste, situated in convenient location, close to the A37.

Pallington Guide £350,000

38.42 acres (15.55 hectares) of fertile, workable arable land with good accessibility. Conveniently split into three workable parcels. The land has previously been used to grow salad crops and is understood to be very productive, more recently the land has been in a combinable crop rotation. This Autumn, the land has been drilled with a cover crop. Freehold.

Sturminster | 01258 473766

Dorchester | 01305 236237

Batcombe, Dorchester Guides £40,000 to £115,000

20.70 acres (12.01 ha) tucked away in a quiet rural position in 3 lots.

Lot A – 15.02 ac arable capable pasture land with a gentle south facing slope£115,000

Lot B - 3.57 ac pasture and woodland including an old brick pumphouse - £40,000

gardens and grounds.

Lot C – 11.11 ac pasture and strip of woodland with stream frontage - £90,000 Sturminster Newton | 01258 472244

PP was granted under application reference 2022/1683/FUL. Freehold.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

gardens of 0.21 acres (0.08 hectares). Freehold.

Iliminster | 01460 200790

Chard

Guide £130,000

A substantial Grade II Listed Georgian townhouse currently with

Verwood Guide £125,000 1.38 acres with a derelict barn in a residential location falling within the main urban development area on the Local Plan. Freehold.

Ilminster | 01460 200790

Wimborne | 01202 843190

Winterborne Houghton Guide £400,000 42.94 acres (17.38 ha) of productive arable land. Free draining loam soil over chalk, two road access points, a cattle handling race, outstanding views and private water supply. South east aspect suited to vines and solar. Freehold.

Sturminster Newton | 01258 472244

All Saints

Guide £300,000-£350,000

An individual 3 bedroom detached country house in need of modernisation in 0.65 acres of gardens and grounds situated in a favoured village.

Axminster | 01297 33122

Bruton

Sturminster | 01258 473766 Guide £350,000

PROPERTY AUCTION THURSDAY 10 APRIL 2025

PPROPERTY AUCTIONS FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER 2024 & FRIDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2024 AT THE DIGBY CHURCH MEMORIAL HALL, SHERBORNE AT 2:00PM AND VIA LIVESTREAM

2:00PM AT THE GUILDHALL, AXMINSTER AND VIA LIVESTREAM

Bridport

Guide

£25,000

North Perrott Guide £45,000

3.01 acres (1.22 ha) of gently sloping pasture land with direct road access. Freehold.

An attractive 0.86 acre parcel of amenity land with an old stone piggery and an area of SSSI situated within close proximity to the coast and enjoying impressive far-reaching views.

Axminster | 01297 33122

Yeovil | 01935 432526

Hawkchurch

Guide £70,000

Witchampton Guide £50,000

0.19 acres of amenity land with scope for a range of uses (STPP/consents), adjoining residential properties. Freehold.

An 6.76 acre parcel of amenity land with an abundance of wildlife, situated in a peaceful location just outside the village of Hawkchurch, within easy reach of Axminster.

Axminster | 01297 33122

Wimborne | 01202 843190

Dobwalls, Liskeard

Guide £235,000-£265,000

A single lot comprising 3 properties for refurbishment on a good-sized plot, providing an excellent redevelopment or investment opportunity.

Guide £285,000

Wool, Wareham

Guide £90,000

Verwood Guide £125,000

1.38 acres with a derelict barn in a residential location falling within the main urban development area on the Local Plan. Freehold.

A self-build garden plot with outline planning permission for a single residential dwelling situated in the popular village of Wool, close to a range of amenities.

Wimborne | 01202 843190

Wimborne | 01202 843190

Yeovil

Guide £150,000

A detached 2 bedroom bungalow requiring modernisation throughout with a generous garden and off-road parking, situated in this favoured residential area and close to local amenities.

Winfrith Newburgh Guide £170,000 20.42 acres (8.26 ha) of level, productive permanent pasture land adjacent to Tadnoll and Winfrith Heath. Freehold.

Yeovil | 01963 423526

Dorchester | 01305 236237

Guide £350,000

Piddletrenthide

Guide £350,000

An attractive 33.55 acre block of level and gently sloping pasture/arable land situated on the edge of Wilmington village in an accessible location between Honiton and Axminster.

Pallington Guide £350,000

38.42 acres (15.55 hectares) of fertile, workable arable land with good accessibility. Conveniently split into three workable parcels. The land has previously been used to grow salad crops and is understood to be very productive, more recently the land has been in a combinable crop rotation. This Autumn, the land has been drilled with a cover crop. Freehold.

Axminster | 01297 33122

Dorchester | 01305 236237

Wilmington Axminster | 01297 33122

Collective Property Auction

Batcombe, Dorchester Guides £40,000 to £115,000 20.70 acres (12.01 ha) tucked away in a quiet rural position in 3 lots.

Lot A – 15.02 ac arable capable pasture land with a gentle south facing slope£115,000

Friday 16 May | 2:00pm Merley House, Wimborne BH21 3AA

Lot B - 3.57 ac pasture and woodland including an old brick pumphouse - £40,000

Lot C – 11.11 ac pasture and strip of woodland with stream frontage - £90,000 Sturminster Newton | 01258 472244

A former doctors surgery with prior approval for change of use to a residential dwelling, enjoying grounds of about 0.58 acres and views over farmland. RV £5,100.

Sturminster | 01305 261008

Sturminster Newton | 01258 472244

Shaftesbury Guide £95,000 A charming 1 bedroom property forming part of a Grade II* Listed building, ideal as a buy to let investment or bolthole. Leasehold with 50% share of freehold.

We are the leading firm of land and property auctioneers in the southwest, selling over 90% of our lots to local, national, and international buyers.

Chilcompton Guide £195,000

A partially built 5 bedroom detached house, with double garage and gardens. PP was granted under application reference 2022/1683/FUL. Freehold.

Mark Lewis 01258 473766

Meredith Wallis 01202 843190

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Hurcott Guide £200,000 A period detached cottage in need of general improvement throughout, set in spacious gardens of 0.21 acres (0.08 hectares). Freehold.

Iliminster | 01460 200790

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

To find out more about this efficient method of sale or to arrange a free auction appraisal of your property, please contact:

Tarrant Gunville Guide £225,000-£250,000

A detached 2 bedroom cottage for complete renovation, situated in this highly sought after village within Cranborne Chase. Freehold. Blandford | 01258 452670

A charming Grade II Listed 17th Century thatched cottage with 2 bedrooms, an oak-framed barn, and a good size garden in the idyllic Piddle Valley.

Winterborne Houghton Guide £400,000 42.94 acres (17.38 ha) of productive arable land. Free draining loam soil over chalk, two road access points, a cattle handling race, outstanding views and private water supply. South east aspect suited to vines and solar. Freehold.

Dorchester | 01305 261008

Milborne Port Guide £150,000

Belchalwell Guide £250,000

Sturminster Newton | 01258 473766

Fontmell Magna

£295,000 Charlton Musgrove

£675,000 Maperton

£280,000 Bruton

Thinking of Moving in 2025?

Thinking of moving?

Now Spring has arrived we are registering many buyers looking to purchase a property in the local towns and villages. If you are considering a move in 2025 we will be delighted to offer a free valuation and marketing advice on your property.

Having enjoyed a busy summer we still have many buyers registered with us wishing to purchase 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

Please call 01963 34000 or email wincanton@hambledon.net to book an appointment.

£275,000 Evercreech

£325,000 Wincanton A detached bungalow situated in an elevated position with stunning panoramic views over Wincanton and the Blackmore

A

01747 850858

Selling an empty house?

Home Life Staging can furnish your sale property creating an inviting, homely feel to appeal to buyers. Get in touch to discuss your property’s potential on 07350877095 or at www.homelifestaging.co.uk

Home Life Staging

RHJ CONSTRUCTION LTD SPECIALISTS in listed building restorations, extensions, project management and general building. Member of The Federation of Master Builders RHJConstruction.co.uk 07747 606 605 GARAGE WANTED TO RENT Blandford area. Just for storage. 07483-304830

BLANDFORD FORUM ALMSHOUSE CHARITY ONE BEDROOMED GROUND FLOOR FLATS

available at our Barnes Homes site

Trustees are looking to appoint a single person or couple (aged 50+) who is/are of good character and have strong links with Blandford or immediate area. Applicants must be of limited income, be non-smokers and able to live independently. No pets are allowed. There is no parking on site.

Initial enquiries may be made by calling the Clerk to the Trustees on 01258 451810.

Trustees look forward to receiving your written expression of interest giving details of your current residency, personal circumstances, and reasons for applying.

By post to: - The Clerk, Blandford Forum Almshouse Charity, Barnes Homes, Salisbury Road, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7HU.

By Email to: - clerkbfc@googlemail.com

Crossword