Valley News May 2019

E E FR Issue 146

May 2019

for Whitechurch, Whatcombe, Clenston, Stickland, Houghton, Turnworth & Milton Abbas

SPRINGTIME IN CHARITY WOODS Picture by FRANCES ELLIS

Helping to inform and unite the Community

shopping, planning and cooking meals, help with domestic administration and keeping the home tidy, we also can bring creative activities such as art, craft, gardening to people at home, If you are ready for a new challenge or already run a small business and have lots of ideas about what people in your community need, Community Catalysts are the people to talk to." www.creativecompanions.org.uk This is a free service, I look forward to hearing from you with any questions you may have. Call 07407 789131 or email anita.wingad@communitycatalysts.co.uk. Alternatively complete this form http://portal.smallgoodstuff.co.uk/anita

Editorial Each March the Valley News team meeting is usually concentrated on making decisions about our Grants to the community. This year however the decision-making was straightforward as there was only one request for support! We were nonetheless pleased to make a Grant available to St Mary's Church at Stickland for £500 towards the cost of the necessary re-wiring which has an overall cost of £30,000. As a team of volunteers we are particularly pleased to be able to support the community in this way; the magazine is supported by our advertisers and readers and this is a concrete way to repay that support. Please do support our advertisers when you can - without them there would not only be no Grants, but no magazine either. We are indeed grateful to them all.

The Valley News team

Dunbury Academy News We are extremely excited to announce that our Crowdfunding campaign to raise money for much needed IT equipment for school has reached over £5600 with a further 3 weeks to go by the time you'll be reading this. So if you can spare a few pounds we'd still love to hear from you.

To make a donation go to www.crowdfunder.co.uk/enrichingourfutures We've managed to leap up to this amazing amount from the help of a generous local anonymous donation and also with the help of the Winterborne Stickland Solar Fund, who have given us an incredible £3400 towards our project. Thank you so much to all of our supporters but especially to the Solar Fund committee for pledging their support to the school in this way. Are there any other local businesses that would like to help us? We've still a long way to go to reach our ambitious target of £10,000, but whatever we raise will help and the children will love using their new equipment. Don't forget if you are unable to help financially share our project with everyone you know the more people we tell, the better our chances of succeeding. Thank you all.

Vacancy - Janitor, Whitechurch Base We are looking for a local person to do some Janitorial work for the school. This role is for 5 hours per week (£9.18 ph), and would ideally work best for the school if it was 1 hour every morning first thing (but there can be some degree of flexibility too). We need the buildings unlocked and inspected in time for the other staff and pupils to arrive.

There are elements of manual handling such as having to spread salt/grit if the conditions are icy, and on the job training will be given. The main duties include, inspections of grounds and premises, unlocking/locking the buildings, maintaining stock levels for the cleaning team, Health and Safety procedures, regular checks of; buildings, grounds, water temperatures, fire safety equipment and intruder systems (sometimes including out of hours keyholder call outs).

If you are interested please contact the school for a full job description, and if you would like to come and have a quick look round and some further information we would welcome a visit to the school.

We look forward to hearing from you. 01258 880501 or office@dunbury.dsat.org.uk

Winterborne Whitechurch Parish Council This month's meeting was held on the Wednesday 10th April in the Old School Room.

The PC is again looking for a Handy Man / local tradesmen to carry out work in the village playpark and bus shelter etc. If anyone is interested please contact the clerk on 01258 880600 The local Parish Council Elections on 2nd May will not be contested and all those who completed an application form are automatically elected but there are still vacancies for more Councillors. If anyone is interested in helping and lives in the parish or within 3 kilometres of its boundary for at least 12 months please contact the clerk for more information.

The defibrillator outside the Village Hall was installed on Tuesday 19th March and is now live. Training will be available at a special meeting to be arranged shortly. Anyone within the parish is welcome but needs to contact the clerk for further information.

Three designs of replacement monkey bars have been short listed for the village play park and now waiting on confirmation of costs to proceed further.

The Speed Indicator Device (SID) which has been on Dorchester Hill for the last month has been moved to its' second site on Blandford Hill.

From general comments made it does appear to have assisted in slowing down the traffic speeding into the village travelling from Dorchester.

The new site will be monitored to see if it does the same for traffic coming from Blandford.

No planning applications have been notified to the PC so far this year.

Our longest serving Parish Councillor Christine Flemming has decided to stand down after more than 30 years of service to the village.

A presentation was made to her at the end of the meeting with thanks from all those present. Her knowledge of a Parish Council will surely be missed.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 8th May in the Old School Room following the Annual Meeting at 7pm. All welcome.

For further info go to winterbornewhitechurchparishcouncil.org.uk or contact the clerk on 01258 880600.

Milton Abbas Surgery A reminder to register to book appointments and order your repeat medication online With the NHS moving more to online services, we would like to invite our patients who are able to access new technologies to request access to the on line system to allow you to book appointments or order repeat medication. To register please speak to reception; you will be required to bring identification before a password can be issued and you will need to collect this in person from the surgery; it only takes a moment. If you need help to log on please call the surgery on 01300 341666 or pop in and someone will be happy to help you.

The more people that routinely use on line services the better, as this allows us more time to help those who have more urgent queries.

May Bank Holiday hours The surgery will be closed on Monday 6th May & Monday 27th May. Long Term Condition recall system Our Long Term Condition recall system is now operational and if you have a condition such as diabetes, asthma, COPD, high blood pressure or heart disease you will usually be called in the month of your birthday by text, phone or letter. Regular monitoring enables us to provide the best possible care we can to you. We would strongly advise you attend even if you are currently feeling well.

Community Catalysts I am Anita Wingad leading on the Dorset Enterprise Development Programme for Community Catalysts working in partnership with Dorset Council.

Do you have an idea that could help people? (older or with health needs) or are you already helping people and would like to do more? Or maybe you know someone who does?

This programme can help you turn your ideas into reality by offering: a friendly and supportive point of contact, support to develop your idea, practical information on regulation, training, useful connections and much more!

There are many opportunities in your area, be in control of your career / home life balance and use your skills to help others have a better quality of life.

Example - " I'm really pleased to be working with Anita from Community Catalysts, she has been there as a sounding board for my ideas and when I was ready to make a start in developing my small business she was encouraging and objective.

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3

responsibility of Riparian owners to maintain the River in front of their own property the SRMG is responsible for the stretch along Water Lane from the lower ford to the Fish Farm and for the Village Green.

The Parish Council holds an exemption certificate from the Environment Agency to undertake this work and has authorised the SRMG to act on its behalf. There is a very fine balance to be achieved between the protection of wildlife and removing sufficient vegetation to maintain the flow and allowing more desirable plants to flourish. The rampant Fools Watercress is a particular problem as it can easily restrict the river flow leading to silting and to the shading of other more beneficial plants such as Ranunculus.

In recent years it has become apparent that vegetation has been removed by people who are not authorised to do this work and this has contributed to complaints to the Police and the Environment Agency about endangering wildlife by excessive weed removal at critical times of the year. There is also a danger that inappropriate action could lead to further erosion of the River bank which is very unstable. The SRMG is grateful for any help that the public can undertake but this must be under their direction as part of the River maintenance programme.

The Environment Agency and the Police have requested that they should be contacted by anyone who believes that unauthorised work is being undertaken and the contact numbers are:PC Dave Mullins of the North Dorset Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team on 101 Non Emergency number: Environment Agency incident hotline - 0800 80 70 60 On a less sombre note, and observed on the day of submitting this article, House Martins and Swallows have arrived in the valley along with a flock of about 30 other migratory birds - too distant to recognise beyond being identified as 'Little Brown Birds'. Summer is truly on its way.

Winterborne Stickland Parish Council

Milton Abbey School Two terms into my tenure as Head at Milton Abbey School, my husband, Gregory, and I are thoroughly enjoying our new life in Dorset, having been welcomed warmly both by the School and the wider community. From the wonderful Historical Association First World War Centenary exhibition to the lovely Christmas Day service at St James' Church, visits to Steve at the fantastic Steeptonbill farm shop, to say nothing of some excellent meals at the Hambro Arms, we have so enjoyed our early days in this truly beautiful part of the world.

I am thoroughly enjoying working with a really dedicated and expert staff; the groundsman who tend our pitches so expertly, the cleaners in what has seemed an endless battle with mud, to the teachers who come up with such creative ideas for bringing their subjects alive. Milton Abbey School is a transformational place in which young people build confidence. Some of our students find learning particularly challenging; others simply welcome the many benefits of a small school in which they can know everyone and be really well known. In this magazine, I probably do not need to extol the virtues of growing up in a school which is a 'village' rather than a 'city'.

Among the areas of School life to which I am deeply committed is our connection with the community; our pupils can be found in many local organisations, from schools to charity projects. If you know of a project where a helping hand or two could make all the difference, please do be in touch.

On the subject of contact, please do let me know immediately if you ever have any concerns about the behaviour or impact of our pupils.

While they are on the whole fantastic ambassadors for our School, no group of more than 200 teenagers will always get it right and we would really value any feedback that will help us ensure they are their best selves! We will shortly be advertising a new post of Estates and Operations Manager which we hope will be filled by the end of term; meanwhile please contact Deputy Head, Matthew Wey, on any practical matters.

While visiting Old Boys tell me that the heart of the place remains the same, much has changed at Milton Abbey School, as we ready our pupils for the challenges of 21stCentury life. If it has been a while since you visited, contact my PA, Georgie Woolgar, on 01258 881803, and she will arrange a time for us to meet over tea and one of the kitchen's excellent cakes. I know you will enjoy seeing our fantastic young people in action and I look forward to meeting you.

Judith Fremont-Barnes

news@valley-news.co.uk The Winterborne Stickland Village Trail Some readers will know that a small group of us have been working to produce a Village Trail so that residents and visitors can discover more about the history of our lovely village. With the help of many people who have lent us books and contributed knowledge, stories and suggestions, we are now ready for it to be published. Following a successful bid application, the Solar Fund Committee have agreed to fund the printing costs for which we are very grateful. Households in Winterborne Stickland will be receiving a free copy in May/June and other copies will be available to buy.

We would like to say a big thank you to all those who have helped us as well as to the Solar Fund Committee. Watch out for more information in the June edition of the Valley News.

If you would like to get in touch with us for any further information, please email : wvg@gmail.com

The Valley Walk Please join us for the Valley Churches Walk on Saturday May 11th.

This will be the seventeenth year that we have walked from Turnworth to Milton Abbas via each of the other churches of the Benefice (Houghton, Stickland, Clenston and Whitechurch).

The walk is for fun, for fellowship and to raise money for two very worthwhile charities. Some people are able to walk the whole way and others join in for just one or two stages - all are welcome.

The charities are both homes for destitute children. DoubleJoy supports children in rural Africa and TRUSTchildren supports children in rural India. There are direct links between local residents and the Children's Homes and we know that all the money donated will reach and support these children. More info online: www.double-joy.org.uk and www.TRUSTchildren.org.uk There will be leaflets giving timings and further details of the walk in all of the churches. Please visit and collect one, or contact me.

I hope that you'll be able to join us for a walk through the valley.

Richard D'Silva, 880118 or richard@dsilva.net

Turnworth in May Our annual church fundraiser has come around again and we are looking forward to entertaining you to a day in Turnworth (please see boxed ad in VN). The plan for the day will be a chance to visit a few of Turnworth's lovely gardens - a plant sale with stalls such as books, craft, bric-a-brac, produce and tea and cakes. Last year's plant stall produced some wonderful shrubs and vegetables and we are well on the way to a similar display. The craft stall was spectacular. There will be family fun and the chance to explore the Old Rectory garden or to simply sit and relax in the beautiful surroundings listening to live music.

We very much wish to keep the Church as a focus of village life and there are some large bills coming up for re-wiring and remedial work to the stonework, so the day is important to us. If anyone would like to help us on the day in person or by doing some baking or by donation please let us know. If any gardeners have any plants/shrubs surplus to requirements we'd love to hear from you. If you can help in any way please contact Rosemary Hennicker 01258 480933, Sue Dalton-Brewer on 01258 455788, Sarah or Richard Heald on 01258 450326 or John Tory on 01258 453491 otherwise - please remember the date.

We look forward to a good day, starting at 11.00 a.m. and, most important, your presence is what we need most. Entry to all of this is free, so see you there!

Streamwatch From time to time it is important that we are reminded about the do's and don'ts surrounding our river which does have formal river status and as such governed by the Environment Agency. This month's article has been compiled by the Winterborne Stickland Parish Council in liaison with the local Environment Agency and North Dorset Rural Policing Team.

Now that Spring has officially arrived the Stickland River Management Group (SRMG) will be reviewing the condition of the River to decide on its annual maintenance programme. Whilst it is the 4

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St Mary's Winterborne Stickland

Bere Regis Floral Group

Regular visitors to St Mary's might notice some small changes to the churchyard during this year. Many visitors comment on the lovely churchyard with its little garden area, its beds of snowdrops and daffodils its ancient yew trees, its summer roses, and especially the fantastic display of primroses in spring - if you haven't seen them yet this year do try to visit before they finish flowering. Recently native violets were found growing well in one area, and some snakeshead fritillaries are growing in two places.

The next meeting of Bere Regis Floral Group will be on Tuesday 14th May at 2pm in Winterborne Kingston village hall. The demonstrator will be Julia Harrison and her title is Melange.

Visitors and new members are always welcome to come along, and your first visit is free of charge.

More about WSSCC The Stickland Cricket Club and some big sixes After giving a brief outline last month of the football teams that played for many years in Stickland we now move on to the cricket teams.

Colin Robbins, who played for many years for the football team, also played for the village cricket team on the pitch in front of the hall which had originally been the football pitch. As the footballers moved up the field to their new pitch in the early 1980's the cricketers took over the old one and with work by many players they created a cricket square.

A player named H Crispin Smith had been very involved in the team then and later when the cricket square was professionally relaid late in the eighties with the financial help of local companies. In his later years Crispin had been an umpire and Colin recalls one humorous incident when, umpiring at square leg, Crispin encountered a very fast ball being hit directly at him. He quickly 'moved' to the side and fell off the shooting stick he used. Nonplussed he smartly regained his perch ready to continue and put his watch, with its strap broken by the ball, in his pocket. It was a sad coincidence that some ten years ago Crispin died in the same season that the last cricket team played in Stickland.

In one match, on 25th July 1990, Peter Hayter and Kevin Hicks opened the batting in a friendly twenty over game against St Leonard's School from Blandford and they both batted through the innings, scoring some 247 runs. However Peter's contribution was some 35 whilst Kevin's score, incredibly, was in excess of 200! The poor tired school team capitulated in the face of such a target. Peter did tell me in his defence of his score that he was recovering after celebrating his 40th Birthday!

Kevin was undoubtedly a prolific scorer of sixes and on one occasion launched a ball into Toph Smith's garden adjoining the ground. The ball bounced on the shed roof and went straight through the open kitchen window. Most of the fielders hastily disappeared and it is not known who had to confess and recover the ball. The fact that Toph Smith was also a cricketer but played for rivals Ibberton added poignancy to the tale. Kevin also managed to hit the ball into the tennis courts at Clayesmore school which, if you know the ground, was a prodigious feat.

Most of the cricket matches were friendlies played on a Sunday afternoon but they did make a short foray into the Ranston evening league as well. The team also entered the Whitbread Trophy, a competition for village teams with the great target of a final to be played at Lords. One year they entertained Abbotsbury, a league team who came to Stickland fully expecting an easy win. However our brave lads surprised them by running down their score.

We are investigating other cricketing stories and the ongoing building of the clubhouse …. to be continued.

Many people like to enjoy a quiet rest on one of the benches, which have recently been refurbished, and some stop for a picnic lunch there.

St Mary's PCC members have decided to make a few small changes to further enhance the churchyard for everyone who visits to enjoy.

Native wild flowers such as blue cornflower, red campion, oxeye daisy or musk mallow will be encouraged to grow in some small areas - those around very old graves that are never visited by relatives. Across large areas of English countryside so many of our once common wild flowers, insects and birds have suffered drastic declines in recent decades and in response many churches are now taking part in the Living Churchyard Project. Churchyards, many of them ancient, can provide important refuges, and at the same time be places of beauty and interest for local people and visitors to enjoy.

The changes at St Mary's will not be large or drastic, and most of the churchyard will remain just as it is. Large sweeping grass pathways will always be maintained by close-cutting, to allow easy access to all of the more modern graves, (a small section at the very top of the churchyard is owned and managed by the Parish Council who arrange the grass cutting for that area separately).

The PCC believes that these small changes will enhance what we already have, and hope that more people will feel encouraged to visit and enjoy the peaceful and beautiful surroundings, and perhaps also pay a visit to the church itself, which has many interesting features spanning eight hundred years of English history.

St Mary's PCC

Pamela Hambro Hall 100 Club April May 1st 128 Mrs Jones 1st 140 Sue Close 2nd 255 Francis Sennett 2nd 186 Mr & Mrs Godden 3rd 145 Valerie Ashford 3rd 146 Phil Harlock June 1st 142 Mrs J Brown 2nd 140 Sue Close 3rd 131 Trevor Gibson The Pamela Hambro Hall would like to thank everyone who continues to support the 100 club . This year we have a few spare tickets at £12 for the year. This enters you in to a monthly draw prizes 1st £25 2nd £15 3rd £10. Please contact me if you would like a ticket Hazel Lappin 880969 or hazelandvaughan@gmail.com Thank you

The March Valley News was read in India!

AVAILABLE I've just returned from a visit COPIES to the TRUST Children'sFROM Home in rural south India and took a copy of Valley News with me! children at Whitechurch the Home are all destitute rural boys and girls with • The Winterborne Church no parents or extended family able to support them. They are given a • East Farm Shop, Winterborne Whitechurch home, love, security, food and education so that the cycle of deprivation Milton Abbas Post Office can• be broken.

• Generous Pamela Hambro Winterborne people inHall, our valley have beenStickland offering support to them since the home wasStickland opened inChurch 2005 to care for victims of the Boxing • Winterborne Day tsunami.

• The Crown, Winterborne Stickland If you would like to see some pictures and know more, please visit • Blandford Tourist Information Centre our website www.TRUSTchildren.org.uk , Facebook page • Hall & Woodhouse Visitors Centre, Blandford www.facebook.com/TRUSTchildrenSupportGroup , pickSt upMary a leaflet in one of our churches or get in touch with me. It would be great to hear from you and to tell you more about the great work being done to support these lovely children!

Richard D'Silva 880118 or richard@dsilva.net

Winterborne Whitechurch Village Hall 100 Club March 1st 72 Mrs Karen Guest 2nd 34 Miss Megan Dodd 3rd 26 Janet Vater

April 1st 35 Tim Hutton 2nd 75 Mr Fred Joyce 3rd 22 Susan Finn 6

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The Winterborne Stickland Solar Fund Committee would like to remind residents of Winterborne Stickland that funding is available for community projects.

Applications for funding should be emailed to sticklandsolarfund@yahoo.com Decisions are made every 2 months.

The basic criteria are that ideas should have benefit to the community. A committee of volunteers select successful projects.

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Last year was a really good year for tomatoes. The flavour of a freshly picked warm tomato is amazing, with a perfect sweet acid balance and so useful for so many dishes. The heritage tomatoes in orange, yellow and almost black not only look lovely but are also delicious. Baby tomatoes grow well in pots and hanging baskets and are easy to grow and look very pretty and there are red and yellow ones which together make a very pretty display. Tomatoes need to be planted quite deeply and benefit from experiencing a breeze which forces them to put out roots to hold up and strengthen their stem which will help them carry the weight of the fruit. If you grow comfrey it makes a perfect liquid feed for tomatoes. Take a bucket of water and add comfrey, you will know when it is ready to be used as it smells of cow and will be a rich brown colour, decant the liquid and put the mash on the compost heap. The tomatoes will enjoy it and thank you.

There is still time this month to split large clumps of perennials, after a few years they get congested and don't flower as well. If it is a particularly large clump you may need to take two forks and put them back to back in the middle of the clump and pull them away from each other. This usually splits clumps quite easily. They may sulk for a bit but will soon recover and respond to your work which makes it all worthwhile. I recently split some phlox as I have a white clump and a very pretty lilac clump that had become too big. It also means you have more plants for somewhere in the garden. It is always interesting to see what self-seeds, I came across a baby tree peony which was a lovely surprise. I love peonies and tree peonies but I have to admit that I have not been tempted by the new cross peony which are eye wateringly expensive and has rather put me off.

It is important to check fruit trees for suckers growing off the root stock as these will sap the tree of energy being stronger than the grafted part. Pear trees are often grafted onto quince root stock and can easily be recognized as they can come into leaf before the grafted tree and have a different leaf and habit. Plums are also prone to suckers and need to be cut off. The birds have been very kind in my garden and given me a couple of bolus or wild plum. The fruit is smaller than the cultivated ones we are used to but they are delicious and make heavenly conserve.

It is also the month to plant out beans and peas, once the risk of frost has passed. I planted out my first lot of broad beans this month and will grow a second lot which is for the freezer. We eat a lot of beans and grow a variety of different ones apart from the classic runner beans, climbing French and haricot. Barlotti beans are worth growing but with any vegetable growing concentrate upon what you enjoy eating and what is not easy to easy to buy, I don't think there is any point in growing main crop potatoes which take up a lot of ground and are cheap to buy, whereas pink fir apple are not easy to buy and are a delicious waxy salad potato. Whatever you grow enjoy the growing and the results.

Claire Scott

Milton Abbas Local History Group At our April meeting we had an excellent presentation from Clive Barnes, one of our members, on his research of the duel between Vere, Earl Poulett, and Lord Milton over the game rights of Damer's estate of Morcombelake in west Dorset. After some arguments in Westminster, seconds were appointed, and the two lords fought with pistols in Bloomsbury on 29 January 1771. Lord Poulett had the first shot and hit Lord Milton a glancing blow in the chest which brought him to his knees.

This event was new to us, the duel not being in any of the books on the history of the area. The documents were found in the Dorset History Centre and some newspaper reports. This all goes to prove that there are still stories to tell of Milton Abbas. How different things would have turned out if Lord Milton had died in the duel! The old market town of Milton Abbas had not yet been destroyed when the duel took place, although Capability Brown had been working here since 1763, the town was still intact in 1771.

We are still receiving a great deal of useful information from people who are visiting our website. One visitor from London, Ontario, Canada, has Thomas Beach, who was born 1737 and went to school here, as an ancestor. We are looking forward to hearing more of this illustrious portrait painter. Another visitor, this time from Australia, has offered to help us with our exhibition planned for 2020.

At our next meeting on 1st May, 7 pm in the Reading Rooms we will be hearing from Chris Fookes about Milton Abbas in the 1950s.

Down the Garden Path Spring is definitely here this month, longer days and warmer air allows the garden to really burst forth and grow apace. I sometimes think the energy produced at this time of year is palpable, it also gives me more energy and as the days are lighter and warmer for longer it is so much nicer working through until the early evening. Weeding never ends and it is much easier to catch them now and stop them seeding for next year. There is also the last of the tidying up to do, cutting back to new shoots and clearing away old foliage to make room for the new.

I love penstemons and have a number of different ones in the garden. It is time to cut back the straggly old shoots from last year to make way for all the new growth from below. They are easy to propagate from cuttings which provides an exact copy of the parent and is an ideal way of getting a large number of offspring from one plant to provide a mass planting.

If you have overwintered your favorite geraniums they will have produced nice new shoots which can be taken to make new plants. I keep them going for several years but they get to a point when they are very woody and it is time to plant them in the garden and leave them, but having taken regular cuttings means that I can continue to enjoy their floriferous displays with no cost and very little effort. I have a few with perfumed leaves which are perfect to plant in pots near doors so that the essential oils perfume the air on hot days and they also have very pretty flowers.

Overwintered cannas will begin to show signs of life as May progresses. With gorgeous foliage they provide a tropical feel to any bed or pot and the flowers in bright oranges and yellows contrast beautifully with the striped foliage. They work well in borders and pots but are not frost hardy so will need winter cover. We may feel that we have not had a proper winter with very few frosts and only one serious dropping of snow but a canna is a tender plant and even our mild winters are too much for them, however they are worth the work of digging them up and protecting.

Dahlias will be ready to plant out this month, whether you prefer them in pots or in the border they will provide glorious colour for months and there is such a wide variety of shape of flower from the cactus to the pom pom, that there is a dahlia for everyone. If you do have pots adding swell gel to help retain water in the soil is a good idea. A good humous rich compost is also important to provide lots of nutrients for the plants to feed on. Regular watering and feeding during the summer season are essential to help the plants keep up their growth and flowering. It is easy to forget to feed and then wonder why the plants no longer look their best. This also applies to hanging baskets, we ask a lot of these plants through the summer and neglect shows rapidly, a little tlc will keep them looking wonderful.

What’s Cooking I was recently reading about ransoms mayonnaise; in reality it was mayonnaise made with ransoms flavored oil. I always make ransoms pesto and ransoms butter and will definitely infuse some sunflower oil with ransoms, perfect for dressings as well as mayonnaise. Flavoured oils and vinegars are very useful store cupboard supplies and easy to make as I have mentioned before, so we have a new one to try.

It is interesting that an increasing number of television chefs are making programmes about quick meals to try and tempt people to cook, the latest being Mary Berry. The airways are full of food programmes and at the same time the evidence still suggests that the majority of households do not cook from scratch stating that they don't have time.

Apart from tasting better it is very easy to create supper in half an hour and it is an enjoyable thing to do and the family can all join in rather than it being left to one person. May is also the English asparagus season, though I know of some people who began picking in mid-April as the weather had brought it on early. I personally think English asparagus has the best flavor and it is a personal choice as to whether you like thick stems or thin ones, and apart from serving them with melted butter or mayonnaise or as a side dish they are perfect in risotto, on pasta, in a quiche or in an omelette. They work well with pink fir apple potatoes in a salad with tuna or cold meats, they are versatile and a treat worth waiting for and then indulging in.

Continued on page 10 8

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Continued from page 8 An American friend of mine washes asparagus then wraps them in cling film and microwaves them for 3 minutes, what can be quicker than that.

This time of year it is tempting to get the barbecue out and think of warm days and eating outside again. Salads can be a delight or very boring, a plate of limp lettuce with some unripe tasteless tomatoes and the odd radish is not a joy to behold or eat. Radishes thinly sliced and lightly pickled are a totally different beast, and add a crisp sharp and sweet taste that gives another dimension to a salad. A very easy and delicious salad is all green. Take a selection of crisp lettuce and slice finely, add finely chopped herbs, whatever comes to hand, mint, parsley, loveage, basil, chives and thyme all work well. Toss to mix well and make a vinaigrette, each mouthful will taste different because of the herbs and is perfect with barbecued food and also cold meat. Tabbouleh is another easy and tasty salad, couscous or bulgar wheat can be used, they are cooked by pouring over boiling water which they soak up, although Rick Stein recommends tossing the bulgar wheat in finely diced tomatoes and using the juice of the tomato to soften the wheat. A lot of parsley is classically used with the wheat as well as spring onions, mint, lemon juice, and olive oil, all seasoned with salt and pepper delicious. It is so easy to make the same things all the time but it is fun to experiment and some of the classic salads are as good today as they ever were. Waldorf is one such classic, sliced celery, apple and walnuts tossed in a light mayonnaise, what's not to like. You can ring the changes by adding fruit such as cranberries or use a different nut and if walnuts are not your thing, the crisp apple acts as a good foil to the celery.

Patés are delicious and come in many guises, in most countries everything from an animal is used in some way, but we seem to have missed out and although brawn was a classic British dish with the scrapings set in jelly with herbs, which every butcher used to make, you rarely see it today. Home made paté is not difficult to make and is useful in the summer with salads and fresh crusty bread. It seems we have also forgotten how to cook offal which most of us have been served overcooked at some time, which is not good and has put a lot of people off eating it again. Liver is a main component of faggots which was a way for the butcher to use up the spare liver he had to hand, served in a good gravy with mashed potatoes and vegetables they make a delicious supper or lunch dish. Lambs kidneys cooked with mushrooms and sour cream, a take on beef stroganoff, are delicious and very quick to cook. It seems that as a nation chicken has become our fall back meat and we consume huge quantities, it is quick to cook and takes on many flavours as the birds are so young they have not had time to develop much. Overcooked breast of chicken tastes like cardboard and there is balance between undercooking and cooking until dry, it is important that your chicken is fully cooked and if you are concerned about compilabacta then buy your chicken ahead of time and freeze for at least twenty four hours. I prefer the thigh meat to breast as it is less likely to become dry and I think it has more flavour, but that is the thing about cooking, it is about personal taste and what you enjoy.

Claire Scott

her office, and to one man in particular, the IT person, Raymond, who eats with his mouth open and smokes Marlborough Reds, though he must know, thinks Eleanor, that he's flirting with an agonising death from lung cancer. The man's a wreck to look at and hasn't got a clue about healthy food. The odd thing, though, is that he keeps asking Eleanor to accompany him on his visits to the old man in the hospital.

Raymond really needs to be taken in hand, but that's hardly Eleanor's job, especially not now that she's found 'the one', a sensitive singer, who will transform her life. He's come at just the right time and all Eleanor has to do is to wait for their paths to cross - though Mummy says Eleanor's a retarded idiot, she has to take her life in hand and spirit herself into the singer's flat and make things happen.

But Mummy also says that the singer will take one look at Eleanor's scarred face and run a mile. Mummy knows best - and her daughter is a useless, ugly, loner.

Slowly we learn more, but the final unravelling of Eleanor's mystery is left to the old plot device of a series of visits to a therapist. While credible, this is a bit of a let-down in terms of the narrative drama.

Nevertheless, this unexpected and generally gripping story - winner of the 2017 Costa First Novel Award - is beautifully told and refreshingly humane.

Mark Hudson The bluebells are out in Broadley Wood Where the slim beeches fringe the road The haze of blue, the dappled shadow of the new leaves Still vivid green, the silvery trunks so straighty tall.

That annual magic still has the power to lift me back To long ago and make a child of me Before I doubted miracles.

Sheila Herington (submitted by JW) Ancient scholars argued How and When, A sword proved mightier than a pen.

Said wise Socrates, "Though a sword kills with ease.

A pen carries poison young men ".

Jackie Grearson

JUNE DEADLINES Adverts FRIDAY 10th MAY Articles WEDNESDAY 15th MAY Dorset Police Open Day On Saturday 20 July from 11am – 4pm we will be opening up Dorset Police HQ (DT2 8DZ) to the public! We’re still working on the finer details, but you can expect displays, information stands and demos from: Dog unit | Drone unit | National Police Air Service (helicopter) | Traffic unit | Safety camera team | Neighbourhood policing team | Firearms unit | Cyber crime team | Safer schools team | Forensics team | Search team | Marine section | Public order unit | Rural crime team | Recruitment and volunteering team | Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Sadly the emergency services day that has been held in Poole Park and Kings Park in recent years won’t be taking place this year due to limited resources from other emergency services. However, we know how much you enjoy learning more about our work, so we’ve decided to invite you to our HQ for a police specific open day!

It’s set to be a fantastic day and it’s free to attend – so what are you waiting for?! Get the date in the diary and let your friends and family know!

We've set up a Facebook event where you can keep up to date with all the latest info. If you're on Facebook, visit this link and click 'going' and you will be notified you with all the latest info.

You can also share this post or tag your friends on Facebook or forward this alert message to those you think might be interested in attending. We welcome visitors of all ages!

That's all the information we have for the moment, so please don't reply to this message. More details about disability access, parking, refreshments, etc will be released nearer the time.

See you there! :) Dorset Police

Book Review Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman Don't be put off by the apparent deadpan banality of the opening pages. The eponymous narrator is anything but 'normal', and, anyway, what does that mean? This deceptively simple tale slyly reveals the virtues of small kindnesses and non-judgementality - despite being told by a prejudiced narrator, who assumes that a bus passenger not wearing socks is mad, and that anyone engaging in office chit-chat is a moron.

Eleanor Oliphant, a conscientious accounts clerk, has exacting standards in every department of life - every department, that is, except those to do with emotion or human relationships. She's so closed down that she comes across as autistic, and maybe she is. Or is it something else?

The narrator's personality is wonderfully present in the first person perspective, though occasionally too much mundane detail is given. For me, Gail Honeyman's writing comes especially alive in the dialogue, which gives a vivid sense of the speakers' personalities, without directly telling us what they are thinking.

Gradually, Eleanor finds herself propelled into talking to people in 10

C.W. ABBOTT & SON

Fruit Trees: Apple, Pear, Plums etc.

Trees, Shrubs, Perennials, Compost Bedding and Basket Plants Available Now Franchi and Kings Seeds Multi-purpose Compost 3 giant bags £10 3-2-1 Multi-purpose Compost £12 for 4 bags JI Compost £3.50 per bag Organic Multi-purpose Compost £10 for 4 bags Tree and Shrub Compost £10 for 4 bags Horse Compost £10 for 4 bags Mushroom Compost £10 for 4 bags Ericaceous Compost £12 for 4 bags Soil improver £10 for 4 bags Potting grit £4.99 per bag Bark mulch £5 per bag • Large Growbags 4 for £6 Langton Long, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 9HR Telephone 01258 452513

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Events

Winterborne Whitechurch Village Hall

TABLE TOP/CAR BOOT SALE SATURDAY 18th MAY 11am to 4pm Sellers: from 8am Buyers: from 11am Refreshments available 12

Events Coffee Morning & Charity Shop Mondays, 10.30am-12.00, St. Mary’s Church, Stickland

LAST MONTH’S CROSSWORD ANSWERS

Whitechurch Youth Club (7-14 year olds welcome) Mondays, 6.30pm, Whitechurch Village Hall

CRYPTIC Across 1. Mascots 4. Handier 7. Tibetan 8. Sunward 10. Extremist 12. Essen 13. Osmosis 14. Georgia 16. Pochard 19. Resorts 21. Anita 23. Coffee Bar 24. Leeward 25. Braille 26. Reinter 27. Oration Down 1. Mother-of-pearl 2. Subatomic 3. Outlets 4. Hashtag 5. Non-zero 6. Imams 9. Dental surgeon 11. Ids 15. Garibaldi 17. Adamant 18. Decoder 19. RAF 20. Smetana 22. Iceni CONCISE Across 1. Cabbage 4. Pilgrim 7. Raiders 8. Program 10. Roisterer 12. Error 13. Dwindle 14. Suspect 16. Eskimos 19. Caramel 21. Ethic 23. Bratwurst 24. Tallboy 25. Booklet 26. Diocese 27. Ink pads Down 1. Cartridge Belt 2. Bailiwick 3. Averted 4. Papyrus 5. Looters 6. Rarer 9. Marital status 11. Roe 15. Esmeralda 17. Macabre 18. Subtype 19. Cha 20. Rowlock 22. Hello

Coffee Stop Tuesdays, 10.30am-12.00, St James, Milton Abbas Cup & Cake Wednesdays, 10.30-12.00, Old School Room, Whitechurch Round Robin Ramblers Sun 5th May 2pm Tolpuddle Meet outside the Martyrs' Inn (4½m) Wed 15th May 11am Abbotsbury & Ashley Chase Meet at the lay-by on the Bishop's Road (6½m) Bring a packed lunch.

Sun 2nd Jun 2pm Southover Heath, near Affpuddle Meet at parking area on Waddock Drove (4½m) Fri 10th May Skittles Evening 7.30pm, Winterborne Stickland Sports & Social Club Admission £5 inc. Light refreshments. All proceeds to RNLI (Lifeboats) Fri 10th May Milborne Movies 'Spy’ (15) 7.30pm, Milborne St Andrew Village Hall Bar open 7pm. Tickets £3.50 Sun 12th May Doggy Treasure Trail 2pm, Old School Room, Whitechurch Entry £3, Teas and Raffle, Details: Helen 880883 Wed 15th May Talk: A Plant Hunter in Australia 7.30pm, Pamela Hambro Hall, Stickland. Raffle, Refreshments. Entrance £3, VGC members Free Fri 17th May Bingo 7.30pm, Whitechurch Village Hall Raffle, Refreshments. In aid of Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Fri 17th May Wine Tasting Old School Room, Whitechurch Tickets £10 from Liz 881650 & Pam 880179

Polly 'Bs' Local lady doing: Holistic Treatments, Massage, Reflexology, Indian Head Massage and Ear Candling.

Also Beauty Treatments Facials, Waxing, Eyebrow/Lash tinting.

Manicure and Pedicure Nail cutting and Hard Skin Removal.

Appointments available during the day and evenings.

Some treatments can be done in your home.

Ring Pauline on 01258 880084 / 07760 303332 Gift Vouchers available.

Cherry’s Hairdressers Elizabeth Road, Blandford

MAY OFFER Perm with Trim & Finish £50.00 Trim & Blowdry or Set

£25.00

Please phone for an appointment

01258 456329 Closed on Tuesdays

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The Winterborne Valley & Milton Abbas Benefice Jimmy's Jottings I have been a vicar for nearly 60 years, and have noticed a lot of changes, many of them for the better.

When I started in ministry on the outskirts of Nottingham nearly everyone got married in a church of some sort. The majority of the couples had met at the Palais, did not live together, and looked forward to buying or renting their home, then they would probably have children.

Now it is all different. Most couples do not get married in a church, and there is an increase in the choice of venue. Now, in addition to the churches and the Registry Office there are hotels, country estates and pubs etc.

My record for weddings in the 1960s was 5 in one day (all in the same church - I only had to cope with one church!) and 25 weddings in a quarter all in a parish of about 8000. And of course, we were not supposed to marry divorced people in church if their former spouse was still alive. However, there was a legal loophole, which I jumped through regularly and no one in authority seemed to worry. When I came south the bishops got very upset about it, but soon discovered that there was nothing that they could legally do to prevent me.

Some time ago the Bishop of Liverpool was involved in research as to why a majority no longer wanted a church wedding. We assumed that it was because that it was because fewer people were worshippers or believers, or perhaps the church had upset them in some way.

Much to our surprise it was discovered that main reason was because many couples did not want to be hypocrites and pretend to be something they were not. A highly commendable reason I would suggest.

This happened because many people have the impression that the church works like this First you have to BEHAVE Then if you are good enough there are things you ought to BELIEVE. Only then if can tick those two boxes you are entitled to BELONG. Now that is not the way Jesus worked!

He went out of his way to welcome the most unsatisfactory people.

Zacchaeus, the swindling tax collector, the woman at the well who was now on her fifth partner, and a man called Judas Iscariot, one of the apostles, who was their treasurer, and turned out to be dishonest.

Jesus treated all people (except perhaps the over pious humbugs) as if they BELONGED. Then he encouraged them to follow him and have faith - which is not quite the same as BELIEVING all the right things.

Then they were encouraged to consider the way they lived.

BEHAVIOUR. Jesus' order, you see, is quite different from the way people think the church works. As far as Jesus is concerned people matter more than rules - even those we think are in the Bible!

Jimmy Hamilton-Brown

FROM THE REGISTERS Baptisms Clara Valentina Deeney

Clenston Houghton Milton Abbas Stickland Turnworth Whitechurch Theme Old Testament Psalm Epistle Gospel

5th May 3 of Easter White 1000 HC AR 1800 Celtic HC AR 1000 MW JHB/IB 0830 (BCP) sHC AR

Fish and forgiveness Acts 9: 1-6 Psalm 30 Revelation 5: 11-14 John 21: 1-19

on 14th April

at St Mary's, Winterborne Whitechurch

12th May 4 of Easter White 1800 Celtic EP AR/HR 0830 HC BCP AR 1000 MW JT/JHB 1000 HC AR Care and consolation Acts 9: 36-43 Psalm 23 Revelation 7: 9-17 John 10: 22-30

19th May 5 of Easter White

26th May 6 of Easter White

1800 EP SL 1000 HC TS

1000 HC AR 1000 MW SL No service 0830 (BCP) sHC AR A certain woman Acts 16: 9-15 Psalm 67 Revelation 21: 10, 22 - 22:1-5 John 14:23-29

1000 MW DA/PC Helping or hindering Acts 11: 1-18 Psalm 148 Revelation 21: 1-6 John 14: 23-29

Morning prayer will be said on Mondays at St Mary's, Winterborne Whitechurch and on Tuesdays at St Mary's, Winterborne Stickland, both at 8.35 SERVICES KEY: BCP 1662 Book of Common Prayer Traditional EP Evening Prayer HC Holy Communion (Eucharist) SHC Service without hymns or music MW Morning Worship, informal service for all, with old & new hymns & songs, without HC MP Morning Prayer Rev'd Alan Ryan - AR • 01258 880482 • winterbornevalleyandmiltonbenefice.com Rev'd Sue Litchfield SL; Rev'd Jimmy Hamilton-Brown JHB; Rev’d Tina Sterling TS; Rev'd Helier Exon HE; Debbie Albery DA; Harriet Ryan HR; Jenny Tory JT; Ian Bromilow IB; Wilma Bromilow WB; Piers Chichester PC

Valley News Information VN Team: Advertising: Distribution: Printing: Payments: Small Ads: Charity Events: Articles:

Graham Case, Valerie Ashford, Claire & John Scott, Barbara Luke, Jim Luke Anne Donnelly ads@valley-news.co.uk 01258 881261 Treasurer: Janet Snook news@valley-news.co.uk Sue Eggar and Angela D'Silva news@valley-news.co.uk Layout: Mark Steele news@valley-news.co.uk Purely Print www.purelyprint.co.uk 01258 459977 All advertising to be pre-paid. Cheques payable to ‘Valley News'. Internet Bank Transfers now accepted.

Private sellers only. Small ads will be included for a donation and confirmed for publication when the donation is received.

Events in the Valley News area will be listed free on the Events page. Normal advertising rates will apply for boxed ads.

Send by email to Mark Steele at news@valley-news.co.uk or to Valerie Ashford, 11 Fairmead, Stickland (DT11 OND) Please include name & contact number in case of any queries.

Deadlines: For Advertising : 10th of the prior month. For all other submissions (articles, pictures etc.): 15th of the prior month.

Late items may not appear until the next edition.

Websites: More information at sites.google.com/site/valleynewsdt11 Editions can be viewed at issuu.com/valleynewsdt11 © VALLEY NEWS 2019 CONTENT MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION OF THE CONTRIBUTOR

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Summer Show We will soon be finalising the schedule for the Summer Show which will take place on Saturday 17th August. Paper copies will be available but keep an eye on our website sites.google.com/site/vgcdorset which also includes our programme of events for 2019.

Members Discount Evening A reminder to paid-up members that on Tuesday 7th May we have our Members’ Discount Evening at a local garden centre.

The Valley Gardening Club 2019 Spring Show Yet again the talented gardeners of the valley produced another excellent display at this year’s Spring Show, held back in March.

Judging proved difficult, especially for our independent horticulture judge, due to the high standard of the exhibits.

The aromas from the flowers and from the bread in the cookery section filled the hall!

Congratulations to everyone who took part and to our trophy winners, listed below.

Section 1 - Most Points - Bob Steele Cup (Grown Daffodils) HAZEL STEELE Section 2 - Most Points - Ivor Billett Memorial Cup (Cut Daffodils) HANS HENNICKER Section 3 - Most Points - The Members Cup (General) HANS HENNICKER The Presidents Vase - Best Exhibit In Sections 1-3 HANS HENNICKER Section 4 - Most Points (Cookery) PHILIPPA SMITH Section 4 - Reg Lomax Tankard (Cookery - Men's Class) JERRY KELSEY Section 5 - Best Exhibit - The W.I. Cup (Photography) PHILIPPA SMITH Section 5 - Most Points (Photography) MARK STEELE

news@valley-news.co.uk

•

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ads@valley-news.co.uk

BRYANSTON design Chartered Architects Building design work Planning and Building Reg. Applications Listed Building works Feasibility studies

Project management

NEW WORKS, EXTENSIONS and REFURBISHMENT. Richard Disbrow RIBA Blandford 01258 454879 www.bryanstondesign.co.uk e-mail bryanstondesign@btinternet.com

Conveyancing • Wills • Probate A friendly and efficient service Contact Paul Lowe, Solicitor 01258 881142 paul@lowelegal.co.uk www.lowelegal.co.uk

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Keep dogs under effective control When you take your dog into the outdoors, always ensure it does not disturb wildlife, farm animals, horses or other people by keeping it under effective control. This means that you: • keep your dog on a lead, or • keep it in sight at all times, be aware of what it's doing and be confident it will return to you promptly on command ensure it does not stray off the path or area where you have a right of access Special dog rules may apply in particular situations, so always look out for local signs - for example: • dogs may be banned from certain areas that people use, or there may be restrictions, byelaws or control orders limiting where they can go • the access rights that normally apply to open country and registered common land (known as 'open access' land) require dogs to be kept on a short lead between 1 March and 31 July, to help protect ground nesting birds, and all year round near farm animals • at the coast, there may also be some local restrictions to require dogs to be kept on a short lead during the bird breeding season, and to prevent disturbance to flocks of resting and feeding birds during other times of year It's always good practice (and a legal requirement on 'open access' land) to keep your dog on a lead around farm animals and horses, for your own safety and for the welfare of the animals. A farmer may shoot a dog which is attacking or chasing farm animals without being liable to compensate the dog's owner.

However, if cattle or horses chase you and your dog, it is safer to let your dog off the lead - don't risk getting hurt by trying to protect it.

Your dog will be much safer if you let it run away from a farm animal in these circumstances and so will you.

Everyone knows how unpleasant dog mess is and it can cause infections, so always clean up after your dog and get rid of the mess responsibly - 'bag it and bin it'. Make sure your dog is wormed regularly to protect it, other animals and people.

Enjoy the outdoors Even when going out locally, it's best to get the latest information about where and when you can go. For example, your rights to go onto some areas of open access land and coastal land may be restricted in particular places at particular times. Find out as much as you can about where you are going, plan ahead and follow advice and local signs.

Plan ahead and be prepared You'll get more from your visit if you refer to up-to-date maps or guidebooks and websites before you go. Visit Natural England on GOV.UK or contact local information centres or libraries for a list of outdoor recreation groups offering advice on specialist activities.

You're responsible for your own safety and for others in your care - especially children - so be prepared for natural hazards, changes in weather and other events. Wild animals, farm animals and horses can behave unpredictably if you get too close, especially if they're with their young - so give them plenty of space.

Check weather forecasts before you leave. Conditions can change rapidly especially on mountains and along the coast, so don't be afraid to turn back. When visiting the coast check for tide times on EasyTide - don't risk getting cut off by rising tides and take care on slippery rocks and seaweed.

Part of the appeal of the countryside is that you can get away from it all. You may not see anyone for hours, and there are many places without clear mobile phone signals, so let someone else know where you're going and when you expect to return.

Follow advice and local signs England has about 190,000 km (118,000 miles) of public rights of way, providing many opportunities to enjoy the natural environment.

Get to know the signs and symbols used in the countryside to show paths and open countryside. See the Countryside Code leaflet for some of the symbols you may come across.

Continued on page 20

The Countryside Code Respect - Protect - Enjoy Respect other people: • consider the local community and other people enjoying the outdoors • leave gates and property as you find them and follow paths unless wider access is available Protect the natural environment: • leave no trace of your visit and take your litter home • keep dogs under effective control Enjoy the outdoors: • plan ahead and be prepared • follow advice and local signs Respect other people • Please respect the local community and other people using the outdoors. Remember your actions can affect people's lives and livelihoods.

Consider the local community and other people enjoying the outdoors Respect the needs of local people and visitors alike - for example, don't block gateways, driveways or other paths with your vehicle.

When riding a bike or driving a vehicle, slow down or stop for horses, walkers and farm animals and give them plenty of room. By law, cyclists must give way to walkers and horse- riders on bridleways.

Co-operate with people at work in the countryside. For example, keep out of the way when farm animals are being gathered or moved and follow directions from the farmer.

Busy traffic on small country roads can be unpleasant and dangerous to local people, visitors and wildlife - so slow down and where possible, leave your vehicle at home, consider sharing lifts and use alternatives such as public transport or cycling. For public transport information, phone Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or visit www.traveline.info.

Leave gates and property as you find them and follow paths unless wider access is available A farmer will normally close gates to keep farm animals in, but may sometimes leave them open so the animals can reach food and water.

Leave gates as you find them or follow instructions on signs. When in a group, make sure the last person knows how to leave the gates.

Follow paths unless wider access is available, such as on open country or registered common land (known as 'open access land').

If you think a sign is illegal or misleading such as a 'Private - No Entry' sign on a public path, contact the local authority.

Leave machinery and farm animals alone - don't interfere with animals even if you think they're in distress. Try to alert the farmer instead.

Use gates, stiles or gaps in field boundaries if you can - climbing over walls, hedges and fences can damage them and increase the risk of farm animals escaping. Our heritage matters to all of us - be careful not to disturb ruins and historic sites.

Protect the natural environment We all have a responsibility to protect the countryside now and for future generations, so make sure you don't harm animals, birds, plants or trees and try to leave no trace of your visit. When out with your dog make sure it is not a danger or nuisance to farm animals, horses, wildlife or other people.

Leave no trace of your visit and take your litter home Protecting the natural environment means taking special care not to damage, destroy or remove features such as rocks, plants and trees.

They provide homes and food for wildlife, and add to everybody's enjoyment of the countryside.

Litter and leftover food doesn't just spoil the beauty of the countryside, it can be dangerous to wildlife and farm animals - so take your litter home with you. Dropping litter and dumping rubbish are criminal offences.

Fires can be as devastating to wildlife and habitats as they are to people and property - so be careful with naked flames and cigarettes at any time of the year. Sometimes, controlled fires are used to manage vegetation, particularly on heaths and moors between 1 October and 15 April, but if a fire appears to be unattended then report it by calling 999.

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Continued from page 18 Advice for land managers Know your rights, responsibilities and liabilities People visiting the countryside provide important income for the local economy. Most like to follow a visible route, prefer using proper access points like gates, and generally want to do the right thing - but they need your help.

The Ordnance Survey's 1:25,000 maps show public rights of way and access land. These maps are not 'definitive'. If in doubt you can check the legal status of rights of way with your local authority. You can find out which areas of open access land are mapped under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 on the open access web pages.

For guidance on your rights, responsibilities and liabilities, contact your local authority or National Park authority. The Country Land and Business Association on 020 7235 0511 and the National Farmers' Union on 0870 845 8458 can also offer advice.

For specific queries about open access land, check the open access pages on GOV.UK, or contact the open access contact centre, on 0300 060 2091.

By law, you must keep rights of way clear and not obstruct people's entry onto access land - it's a criminal offence to discourage rights of public access with misleading signs.

Trespassing is often unintentional - for advice on tackling trespass contact your local authority.

Make it easy for visitors to act responsibly Most people who visit the countryside are keen to act responsibly and problems are normally due to a lack of understanding. There are a number of ways you can help them to realise their responsibilities: • keeping paths clear and waymarks and signs in good order and up to date will help people stick to the right routes and access points.

Contact your local authority or National Park Authority to find out what help is available • where there is public access through a boundary feature, such as a fence or hedge, create a gap if you can - or use an accessible gate or, if absolutely necessary, a stile. When installing completely new gates and stiles, make sure you have the permission of the local authority • encourage people to respect your wishes by giving clear, polite guidance where it's needed. For example, telling visitors about your land management work helps them to avoid getting in your way.

• rubbish attracts other rubbish - by getting rid of items such as farm waste properly, you'll discourage the illegal dumping of rubbish and encourage others to get rid of their rubbish responsibly Identify possible threats to visitors' safety People come to the countryside to enjoy themselves. They have the first line of responsibility to keep themselves and their children safe while there, but you need to ensure that your activities do not knowingly put them at risk: • consider possible man-made and natural hazards on your land and draw any 'hidden' risks to the public's attention • try to avoid using electric fencing or barbed wire where people may accidentally touch it, particularly alongside narrow paths and bridleways • if electric fencing is used, ensure warning signs are visible • use and store any chemicals or poisonous substances responsibly on your land. They may kill wildlife or cause harm to people or pets. Any pest control you undertake must be planned with this risk in mind • animals likely to attack visitors should not be allowed to roam freely where the public has access - you may be liable for any resulting harm • your duty of care under the Occupiers' Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984 depends on the type of access right people have - so it's important to know what rights, if any, apply to your land. By voluntarily dedicating land for permanent public access you may be able to reduce this liability

These things help us to identify where stolen battery's come from without an identifying mark it’s hard to trace where these stolen batteries have come from if we recover them.

There is a now products available that enable you to lock away fencer units and battery inside a metal box which electrifies this box making them harder to steal!

There is also the old trick of burying them of course after you have marked them. This would also be a cost effective way to reduce the chances of them being stolen.

If you have old batteries on your land that don’t work we would advise taking them to your local scrap yard to be recycled and getting any money for them this way.

Remember crime prevention is everyone's responsibility.

If you see any suspicious people or vehicles around your land or building please let us know we want to hear from you this includes the persons looking for scrap or battery's and any business cards they may hand you we want to know.

Please contact Dorset Police by Calling 101, Visit our website at www.dorset.police.uk , Via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 If you would like any crime prevention advice for your farm, equine or rural premises, please email the team at ruralcrimeteam@dorset.pnn.police.uk Horse Watch Signs Would you like a Horse watch sign for your stables or equine premises to put on the gate?

We have just had a fresh batch of Horse watch sign delivered and we would like our Horse watch members to have them.

Signs will be sent out in the post free of charge. Signs limited to 2 signs per person. Signs will only be sent to Dorset residents only.

Recipients of signs will only be considered if they are already a member of Horse watch on our Dorset Alert system.

We can also supply stickers for the rear of your horse boxes or lorries. The stickers are bright yellow and have printed on them “ POLICE STOP ME BETWEEN 8PM – 6AM” If you would like a sign or sticker for your stables, equine premises or horsebox please send an email to ruralcrimeteam@dorset.pnn.police.uk Please put in the subject line of your email Horse Watch Signs and please include your name, address and quantity you require.

Livestock Worrying During 2018, Dorset Police had 40 reported attacks on livestock by dogs. 40 times a dog owner failed to have their dog under their close control near livestock and did not consider what their dog may do. ‘my dog has never done anything like that before' repeatedly seen on police incident logs. 11 of these cases the dog owners were identified and dealt with, including Dog Behaviour Contracts and compensation was paid to the farmer and a recent court prosecution. 3 more cases are ongoing.

Did you know that livestock worrying is a criminal offence?

If you’re out walking the dog this weekend on agricultural land and it worries livestock you are committing the offence of livestock worrying.

We’re asking dog owners to be responsible when out enjoying our countryside.

- Keep all dogs on a lead around any livestock and remember to always release the lead if chased by cattle and get yourself to safety.

- Worrying is traditionally thought of as a dog biting/attacking livestock but it also means: - Chasing livestock in such a way as may be reasonably expected to cause injury or suffering; in the case of ewes, this includes abortion or loss or reduction in the number of offspring she has.

- Not having a dog on a lead or under close control when close by, or in a field or enclosure with livestock.

- The penalty for livestock worrying can be 6 months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £1000.

If you see anything suspicious call 101 or if you see a dog worrying or attacking livestock please call Dorset Police on 999 If you wish to have a livestock worrying poster to place around your farm then please visit the Rural Crime Team website and download a copy from www.dorset.police.uk/help-advice-crime-prevention/crimeprevention-help-advice/rural-crime/rural-crime-team

Dorset Police Crime Prevention Advice Do you use batteries and fencers on your land? Do you keep Horses or livestock? We saw a rise in battery and fencer thefts in April last year.

We recommended that you mark your battery and fencer units and make them distinctive, this can be done by making them a different colour or covering them with your postcode with UV paint or pens.

20

Thank you to Sue Eggar for these amazing pictures of the Valley News in South Africa, back in January.

JUNE DEADLINES Adverts FRIDAY 10th MAY Articles WEDNESDAY 15th MAY

Thank you to Keith Neill for this view looking towards Winterborne Houghton 21

TEXT ADS

Counselling and

ACUPUNCTURE 1:1 PILATES CLASSES HOPI EAR CANDLES

Psychotherapy

Clinics at: Blandford & Charlton Marshall 07913 985 495

Robert Kelso

DEBORAH MANNION

01258 881550

BA (Hons) Lic.Ac. MBAcC Foundation Pilates

Email: robert@kelso.org.uk

Are you building a new extension?

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Do you need some free advice & a quote for drawings?

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jo d designs Posters Advertising Planning Drawings Building Regs Drawings Call me:

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Advice, Health Checks, Repairs & Upgrades, Virus & Spyware Removal Networks - Wired or Wireless, Disaster Recovery Web Site Design / Hosting Contact Mark Watson on: Tel: 01300 308653 Mobile: 07437 054185 Problems Solved Fast

CASH BUYER SEEKS LAND ROVER DEFENDERS Prompt free collection Mature polite buyer No pressure or obligation DVLA paperwork completed Feel free to call for a chat

Tory Logs Seasoned logs sourced locally from managed woodlands, delivered to you.

Call Graham 07870 829160 or Richard 07766 913943

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Logs Logs Logs Logs Logs Logs

WINTERBORNE WHITECHURCH VILLAGE HALL is available to hire

Domestic and Industrial J.I.B. Registered

Parties, wedding receptions, meetings and any function that needs a bit of space.

Kids birthday parties welcome.

Kitchen facilities, toilets and bar area.

Disabled friendly.

Booking charges are £7 per hour.

Also available to hire are marques and gazebos.

Bookings: Jim Luke 01258 881204

www.wwvh.co.uk

Robert Way Electrical Contractor Wyvern Cottage North Street Winterborne Stickland 01258 880363 07713 148896

Free Estimates 24 Hour Call out Service

J.P.L Gardens

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Home boarding & Day Care for Dogs

Professional Garden Services

We provide a caring and safe holiday home for dogs.

Lawn Mowing • Hedge Cutting Garden Maintenance • Garden Clearance Mole Catching • Landscaping and fencing Small tree work

Servicing and repairs carried out on all makes/models of Garden and Horticultural machinery, with over 27 years experience.

MUCKY BOOTS DORSET

Experienced, reliable, fully licensed and approved with Dorset Council Visit:

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Email: julie@muckybootsdorset.co.uk

Call Jerry Legg 01258 489977 • 07940 895803

Tel: 07816 031280

23 May Grove, Charlton Marshall, jplegg48@googlemail.com

Carer Available

Rob’s Clearance

Experienced, and qualified carer available, for all personal care duties, respite care, cooking, shopping, domestic cleaning, days out, up to date training, DBS checked, and insured.

HOUSE, Shed and site clearance Rubbish removed Recycling carried out Good/interesting items purchased for cash Friendly and reliable

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For more information

22

Free collection and delivery

Call 01258 880149 Mobile 07879 338334 Winterborne Whitechurch Old School Room is available to hire.

This beautiful large room, ideal for parties, meetings and family or community gathering.

Come and visit to appreciate the charm of this lovely venue.

Full kitchen and cloakroom facilities.

Disabled friendly.

Booking charges £7 per hour.

Bookings : Ellen 880226 ellenandkeith@outlook.com

Complete Pest Solutions Commercial and private sector, professional, discreet and punctual All pests dealt with including rodents, moles, rabbits, wasps, ants and flying insects etc.

Contracts undertaken Pubs, Farms etc.

07952 991966

Catering Quality home cooked food for all your requirements also Cutlery & crockery hire Tessa 07759 219190 tessa.food@outlook.com

news@valley-news.co.uk

•

ads@valley-news.co.uk

Valley Organisations & Contacts Abbey Swimming Club Milton Abbey Swimming Pool. Tue 1830-2030, Fri 1930-2030, Sat 1000-1200, Sun 8am-9am, Lynn 881443, Pat 880601, Stephen 881524, abbeyswimmingclub@gmail.com Aquacise and lane swimming for fitness Exercise in the water - safe and fun for all ages. Ladies and gentlemen welcome Fridays 6.30pm Maria 880895 secretary@masportsclub.org.uk Bere Regis Floral Group 2nd Tue each month, 2pm, Kingston Village Hall, Diane Edmunds 01929 472 331 British Horse Society (Dorset) County Bridleway Officer • 01258 880318 carolshoopman@btinternet.com Bus2Go Margo www.bus2godorset.org 01258 837749 / 07917 298321 Dunbury Church of England Academy www.dunbury.dsat.org.uk • 880501 Extend Exercise (to music for 60s+) Fri 10am-11am, PHH, Jilly Spencer 07971 755715 Golf Club Milton Abbey School, Laura Haim 881872 Jan’s Fun Art & Craft Classes 07836 639514 janodesigns@yahoo.co.uk Ladies Keep Fit Wed 7.30pm WVH. Mary Fripp 880416 Milborne St. Andrew Village Hall Events Alice Harrall 01258 837371 msavillagehall@gmail.com Milton Abbas 2001 Women’s Group Pauline Northeast 880223 Milton Abbas Art Group Mon 7pm-9pm, RRMA, Elizabeth Walker elizziewalker@yahoo.co.uk Milton Abbas Local History Group 1st Wed each month, 7pm RRMA Bryan or Pamela Phillips 880385

OSR PHH RRMA WVH

VENUE KEY Old School Room, Whitechurch Pamela Hambro Hall, Stickland Reading Rooms, Milton Abbas Whitechurch Village Hall

Milton Abbas Neighbourcar For your medical transport needs, 01258 470333 Milton Abbas Riding For The Disabled Friday 10am-12noon Term time, Luccombe Riding Centre, Sue Hodder 880229 Milton Abbas Sports Club Andy Smith 880310 The Middleton Players Mike Roberts 880976 Pamela Hambro Hall 880969 • pamelahambrohall.wix.com/home Patient Voice (the Patient Reference Group for Milton Abbas & Milborne St Andrew Surgery), Sec. Nigel Hodder 880229 Pilates 1 hr classes: Mon 10am; Tue 6.45pm; Wed 10am; Thu 12.00; PHH, Jilly Spencer 07971 755715 POPP Wayfinders for The Winterbornes Sue Inman 07920 650608 Sue.Inman@helpandcare.org.uk Richard Hewitt 07971 338129 Richard.Hewitt@helpandcare.org.uk Round Robin Ramblers Normally 1st Sun & 3rd Wed each month Ian Bromilow 880044 River Stickland Management Group Richard Marchant 881716 (Secretary) r.marchant@btinternet.com Short Mat Bowls Mon 1.00pm PHH Francis Dennett 880129 The Spanish Society Susana 01258 721261 / 07766 069836 Sticklebacks Parent & Toddler Group Tue (Term Time) 10am-12pm, PHH Cheryl 07795687151 cheryl_s84@hotmail.com

To add or update a listing on this page please email news@valley-news.co.uk 23

Swimming Lessons Juniors and adults. Beginners and improvers.

Maria 880895 or Richard 837402 Table Tennis for Adults Tue 2pm-4pm & Fri 7pm-9pm, PHH Graham Case 880740 Tennis Club Winterborne Sports Club, Stickland Jerry Kelsey 07665 777451 Valley Ringers John Close (Tower Capt, WW) 880457 Ann Fox (Tower Capt, WS) 881156 Valley Computer Club Richard D’Silva 880118 Valley Gardening Club sites.google.com/site/vgcdorset Valley Players 881415, www.valleyplayers.co.uk Whist Drive 3rd Wed of month, 7pm, RRMA. Entry £1 W. Stickland Sports & Community Club Vaughan Manners 880969 • wssc.club Whitechurch Beavers, Cubs and Scouts Tue, Beavers, Dunbury School Gym Girls & Boys 6-8 years Fri, Cubs 6.30-8.15pm, Dunbury School Gym Girls & Boys 7½-11 years Fri, Scouts, 6.30-8.30pm, WVH Girls & Boys 10½-14 years. Leader: Skip, winterbornewhitechurchscouts@gmail.com Secretary: Anna 880363 anna@annaway.plus.com Winterborne Whitechurch Village Hall See Text Ads Yoga Thu 9.30-10.30am, PHH, Louise Hull 860381 Zumba WVH, Various classes, AM & PM, Tue & Thu Tracy 07971 636437

Parish Council Websites winterbornestickland.org.uk winterbornehoughton.org.uk miltonabbaspc.org.uk. winterbornewhitechurchparishcouncil.org.uk

Compiled by Nick Donnelly.

There are two sets of clues, Cryptic and Concise, but remember, you cannot mix the clues as the cryptic answers are different to the Concise ones.

Answers will be given in the next edition.

CRYPTIC

CONCISE

Across 3. Smidgin of spirit in citizen's band (5) 7. Dance devotee, maybe desperate; turn! (8) 8. With reference to around one French character (4) 9. Fashionable omen confused fiancĂŠ with about 1 triviality (14) 10. Tailors hold first tentative flaps (5) 12. Without hesitation, my father's son makes stock (5) 13. Conjunction after noun; dative used initially (3) 16. Lowbrow episode featuring alternate instrument (4) 18. Come first before 500 smash beach equipment (9) 19. Diamond assessor's third tops cake (4) 23. Oh my giddy aunt! Return there for PE (3) 24. Slightly adjust wicket in hard wood (5) 25. Mothers working for member of society (5) 27. Riffle rifler, turn tern, ruck rook to get working dog (7,7) 28. Maybe Anthony or Adam's plot (4) 29. He keeps account of lofty male holding yankee (8) 30. Romantic versifier out of minced steak (5) Down 1. Strange mix of gems (7) 2. Weasel family members lose right to create insignia (6) 3. Cock's headdress holds castle before gaunt alien service for emotional props (7,8) 4. A French man cave invaded by feline not affected (9) 5. Close eyes rapidly, change hands on the edge (5) 6. Reason working backwards to conflagration (7) 11. Women shake off males and pick up two cardinals for surprises (4) 13. Seaman's muscle (2) 14. Hotbed of French third rankers (3) 15. Instantly university teacher in Asia loses leader in mountainous area (9) 16. Vegetable boat returns to origin (4) 17. Job in ranking ignoramuses (3) 20. Blue, 60% perfect poison (7) 21. Novel loses mother for measure (2) 22. Weasel family member, wears dishevelled lace top? (7) 25. Evergreen famous aromatic gift loses right hand to stalker, ignoring odds (6) 26. Fibre's awful to be honest (5)

Across 3. Energy (5) 7. Atmospheric gas (8) 8. US state (4) 9. Products derived from oil (14) 10. Broker (5) 12. Boredom (5) 13. Chinese revolutionary leader (3) 16. Stitched (4) 18. A sea (9) 19. Horny mouthpart (4) 23. However (3) 24. In the vicinity (5) 25. Lithe (5) 27. Made too facile (14) 28. Carbonated soft drink (4) 29. Greenhouse or conservatory for growing citrus fruit (8) 30. European river (5) Down 1. Distance travelled (7) 2. Group (6) 3. Very occasionally (4,2,1,4,4) 4. Trimmed or cut meticulously (9) 5. Pertaining to people (5) 6. A person who has been duped (4-3) 11. Kiss amorously (4) 13. Pronoun (2) 14. Single unit (3) 15. Ballet pose (9) 16. Problem (4) 17. Decline (3) 20. International police agency (7) 21. Locating position (2) 22. Branch of mathematics (7) 25. Foreigners (6) 26. Tree (5)

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