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Frustrations grow with flawed flood plans

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George Hosford on beavers, bureaucracy … and Ronnie, the short sheep who’s now a ram with a reputation

The Stour valley flood plain working as it should, just east of Durweston, with Manor France farm left of centre, and Blandford in the distance. The leaning oak in the field bottom right was finally blown down by Storm Darragh

The Stour valley has been busy accommodating excessive rainfall this winter. We had a lovely dry period mid November – a welcome respite from the relentless downfalls of the previous two months. The drier period allowed us to return our animals to the meadows, there still being plenty of grass left to eat before winter. The 91-year-old early warning system lit up one Saturday morning, so Fred and Rosie moved the cattle up onto higher ground behind Knighton House, and Jayne and I rounded up our lambs: they had been free ranging the meadows for many weeks. We then sat and watched with Father as the water rose before our eyes. Over the next two hours the land across which we had just walked the lambs became completely submerged. A bit close for comfort – the animals can’t be trusted not to get themselves marooned on the last bit of dry land, and sheep in particular will not voluntarily put a foot in the water. Sheep floating downstream into Blandford is not a good outcome.

Beaver workmanship near Hinton St Mary

Dorset beavers
Our cluster group was treated to a ‘Beaver special’ a few weeks ago, when Neve Bray from Dorset FWAG (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group) took us through the history of beaver persecution, followed by extinction in the UK some 400 years ago, and then moved on to explain what beavers can bring to a river catchment.
Beaver fans claim they will slow down the passage of water through a catchment by creating leaky dams and wetland areas, whereas those less convinced fear they will destroy valuable trees and cause unpredictable flooding of settlements and productive land. Both are correct: the skilled bit is in deciding where their work could be beneficial, and then steering the beavers towards it, while possessing the (legal and practical) ability to prevent them doing the wrong thing in the wrong place.
The Dorset Stour enters the sea at Christchurch harbour, having meandered through many miles of built-up area. It has a huge catchment, from Stourhead and Wincanton in the north, and close to Sherborne in the west. With such a huge catchment it doesn’t need very many hours of heavy rain to build a flood risk.
On a river like the Dorset Stour, where the principal passage of the river was deepened and widened by dredging in the past, and many mills and weirs were built, the main body is so far removed from a naturally functioning river habitat that no amount of beaver work is likely to be of much use. Whereas some of the Stour’s tributaries, which still retain their naturally-formed dimensions, might be usefully modified by beaver work to slow down the movement of water during extreme rainfall events: holding it up behind their dams and only slowly releasing it into the river over a period of time, lessening the risk of flooding further downstream.
This is immediately a worry for those farmers of the land alongside these tributaries – they naturally fear their land will spend more time under water, damaging pasture or crops, or permanently reducing the productivity of the soil.
However, it should not be too difficult for government to devise a scheme that would reward land owners for allowing this – likely to be considerably cheaper than building massive flood barriers in the built-up areas.
But how do you prevent the beavers working where they are not wanted? They must be controlled if they wander off and threaten areas where they may do significant damage. Legislation that accompanied their re-introduction, surprisingly rapidly, made them a protected species, so they cannot currently be touched, and their dams cannot be removed without official approval.
What is making life complicated in some areas is where beavers are being introduced without licence, or (surprise surprise), they migrate to areas beyond their original release.
This very quickly causes conflict between the believers who enabled the release and those who see them simply as vermin. Not helpful, and very unlikely to help with flood control or wetland development (which in the right areas is good for birds and other species), it will cause conflict and prolong the pain suffered by people who endure the consequences of flooding, with little hope for improvement.

Freda, at 16, is the oldest cow on the farm: she has borne 14 calves, and is the last of the original suckler beef herd

Look upstream
Sitting in on a meeting of the Stour Delivery Group a few weeks ago, we were given a detailed, polished presentation on the issues of flooding in the lower Stour, from Wimborne towards Christchurch. A great deal of effort has been expended by the Environment Agency in creating a detailed report on flood risk, focussing on a strategy for reducing risk of flooding to households and other property.
But frankly it’s a load of bureaucratic waffle. It fails to address the real problem.
The reason for reporting on this is to point out that nowhere in the report is serious attention given to the quantity of water entering the lower section of the river from higher up in the catchment following periods of heavy rain. When I asked “Where does most of the flooding risk come from – the excessive amount of built-up area on the floodplain, or water arriving from higher in the catchment?” the answer was clear: it was the latter. Yet the report continues to discuss at great length how to reduce flood risk with the construction of earth banks, concrete walls etc, perhaps moving some of the mobile homes. It doesn’t begin to address the issue from a ‘whole-catchment’ perspective at all.
The sense of frustration was acute, the sound of cans being kicked down the road was deafening. Some of the answers are there for the taking, but no-one seems to want to try.

Freda
Our oldest cow, Freda – also known as 2244, her tag number – is 16 years old, a fine age for a cow. She has borne us 14 calves in that time, worth many thousands in sales, and food put on the table. She is the last of the original calves bought from our cousin Will when Dougal started up the suckler beef herd. We have three of her daughters and two granddaughters in the herd today, and this year’s calf (being a heifer and a pretty colour) will also be kept for breeding, continuing her line.
A couple of weeks ago our vet came to examine our cows to see how many are in calf and to give us a rough idea in what order they will produce. Sheep are easy to scan for the presence of lambs: thanks to a handy wool-free zone just in front of the udder, an experienced vet with a hand-held scanner connected to a screen can tell you how many lambs are present within 10 to 15 seconds. Cows are an altogether different task, involving a long glove, a considerable amount of effort, a great deal of manure and a small hand-held scanner connected to a tiny screen embedded in a pair of special glasses. The approximate date of birth can be obtained by matching the size of the embryo to a scale on the screen. The sad news is that Freda is not in calf.

Diminutive new ram Ronnie, standing in front of Little Bear, is still getting the job done

Ron and his ladder
Our sheep have been grazing a newly-established herbal ley (grass and herbs) that was undersown last spring, into a crop of spring barley. The barley was cleared at harvest, and bingo, there is the ley growing among the stubble! The cows grazed it briefly back in October, and now the sheep are nibbling it down to remove the annual weeds and encourage thickening up. This should mean it will be ready for the cows earlier in the spring than if we had sown it after harvest, in August.
Observant walkers on the farm will have noticed clues pointing to fertile behaviour in the sheep field. The yellow raddle mark on the rear of the ewes was the age old method of telling us that young Ronnie, our new ram, has been at work.
Ronnie can be seen in the picture above, standing next to our rather tall wether, Little Bear.
Laughter erupted among the farm team when they first spotted Ronnie, and jokes about step ladders and telephone directories proliferated. Father was even heard to ask why one of the ewes had been left behind with its lamb in the farm paddock, when the rest had been moved to better grass.
Well, the doubters can rest assured that Ronnie, in spite of his Corbett-like stature, has performed as well as we could have hoped. All the ewes have been covered, and none have returned for a second service since the first complete 17 day cycle. With luck, lambing will begin around 1st of May.
See all George’s farm diaries on viewfromthehill.org.uk

William Fox-Pitt to Appear at Kingston Maurward for Exclusive Evening Event

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On Tuesday, 25 February, Kingston Maurward will host an evening in conversation with one of Britain’s most successful event riders, William Fox-Pitt. The renowned equestrian will reflect on his illustrious career, which has spanned over 30 years, discuss his decision to retire from 5* Eventing, announced last year, and share his plans for the future.

Fox-Pitt was the first British rider to achieve Eventing’s World No. 1 ranking and has held the title of British No. 1 an impressive eleven times. He has represented Great Britain at multiple Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, and European Championships and remains the only rider to have won five of the six 5* three-day events worldwide.

This exclusive event will take place in Kingston Maurward’s stunning Grade I listed Georgian house and promises to be an insightful and entertaining evening for equestrian enthusiasts. The event will run from 19:00 to 21:00.

Tickets are available for £21 online via Equo Events or by phone at 01305 215016. A limited number of tickets will also be available on the door for £25 each.

SENIOR RESIDENT MATRON | Hanford School

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CHILD OKEFORD BLANDFORD FORUM DORSET DT11 8HN
www.hanfordschool.co.uk
Come and join our staff body at our vibrant and happy prep school for girls (aged 7-13) set in the beautiful Dorset countryside:

We are seeking a caring and empathetic Senior Resident Matron with strong inter-personal skills and a can-do attitude, who will be an excellent role model for our pupils. The successful candidate will make a significant contribution to the pastoral welfare of the pupils and will have the capacity to support and understand young people in all aspects of their development, especially their emotional, academic and pastoral needs. They will expect and embody high standards of behaviour, courtesy and care.


The successful applicant will be required to work weekends and evenings as required and have significant overnight responsibility. Accommodation will be provided.
To start September 2025.

To learn more about this opportunity please call the School Office on 01258 860219 or visit our website: www.hanfordschool.co.uk

Application deadline: Thursday 6 March 2025
Note : Please apply using our own application form and send direct to head@hanfordschool.co.uk and not through third parties.
Interviews from 10 March 2025

Hanford is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment.
These posts are all subject to enhanced DBS checks.
Hanford School is part of Sherborne Schools Group. Charity Number 1081228 & Company Number 04002575

Building on a creative legacy

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A forgotten Hepworth and an important musical partnership – Bryanston approaches its centenary with an artistic flourish

Single Form, the rediscovered Barbara Hepworth sculpture which will be auctioned in April. Funds raised will support bursaries for talented young people to come to Bryanston to enjoy the wide range of creative educational facilities.
© Bryanston School

A list of old Bryanstonians has many famous names – artists, musicians, actors, designers and film-makers, including Lucian Freud, Howard Hodgkins, Sir John Eliot Gardiner and Terence Conran. It’s a legacy that goes back to the foundation of Bryanston School at Blandford nearly a century ago, and the tradition continues, recently boosted by the rediscovery of an important work by one of Britain’s greatest sculptors.
Barbara Hepworth’s Single Form (1962) has been living quietly in the study of the current head teacher, Richard Jones, enjoyed but overlooked in the way that things that are always there tend to be. It was spotted and recognised by the school’s newly-appointed archivist, Laura Sweetenham, during an update of the school’s artefact register.

Art teacher, Gary Cedeira, with Bryanston Prep pupils The Don Potter Art School has outstanding, state-of-the-art facilities, including painting, drawing, printmaking, three dimensional and sculpture. All art teachers are practising artists, and there are specialists in painting, ceramics and photography


The polished bronze sculpture came to Bryanston in 1975 as a bequest by a former governor, to inspire future generations of creative arts students. Now it is awaiting sale at Duke’s auctioneers in Dorchester on 17th April, and the proceeds will fund bursaries so that more talented youngsters can benefit from the exceptional creative provision at the school.
The exciting news about the Hepworth sculpture was followed in mid-January by the official announcement of a partnership between Bryanston’s music department and the London-based conservatoire, Trinity Laban. The collaboration will offer Bryanston’s existing and incoming Sixth Form pupils regular access to Trinity Laban’s world-class professors, and opportunities to visit the conservatoire, helping to prepare them for future pathways in professional music education.

Much loved by students and staff, Don Potter taught sculpture, metalwork, pottery and art at Bryanston from 1940 to 1984.
He is celebrated in the name of the art department building.
He carved the names above the main corridor assignment rooms and created a tree of life sculpture outside the Coade Hall


Through tailored mentorship, pupils will receive expert guidance on audition techniques and essential skills required to excel as musicians. This will be ‘an invaluable opportunity for our music students. It allows them to connect with professional musicians and experience real-life conservatoire settings,’ says Xavier Iles, Bryanston’s director of music. ‘The partnership marks an exciting chapter for Bryanston’s music department, blending inspiration, education and opportunity for our musicians.’
Bryanston’s creative life has also been boosted by the launch of an arts advisory board, made up of former alumni who are all prominent figures in the arts and entertainment industry. They include Mark Wigglesworth, new chief conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, actress Emilia Fox, best known for her long-running role as Dr Nikki Alexander in Silent Witness, music producer Jake Gosling, known for his work with artists including Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga, Matthew Clyde, an executive producer at RiffRaff US, Kate Rothschild, head of UK operations for Roc Nation (founded by Jay-Z), contemporary artist Nina Brooke, and writer and executive producer Francesca Gardiner, whose work includes His Dark Materials, Succession and Killing Eve and who is working on the new television adaptation of Harry Potter.

Work by Jalila BM, Year 12 pupil

Bridging a gap
The sculpture Single Form is an important work by Barbara Hepworth, acknowledged as the leading British female sculptor of the 20th century.
It was inspired by her 1937 carving of the same name, in lignum vitae. This work is part of the Hepworth Estate and is currently displayed at the Courtauld Gallery in London. The rediscovery bridges a 50-year gap in the artwork’s history. It was originally donated by Hepworth to a Save the Children charity auction in 1963, where the former Bryanston governor bid for it – and subsequently bequeathed it to the school.

Work by Alfie G, Year 12 pupil


Until recently, the Hepworth Estate had had no trace of the sculpture since the governor’s death in 1975.
Bryanston head Richard Jones says: ‘The rediscovery of this statue means we have the exciting prospect of providing opportunities for talented students who might not otherwise be able to benefit from a Bryanston education. Auctioning this historical artwork embodies our ethos and longstanding motto ‘et nova et vetera’, the new and the old, and honours the original intention behind the donation, which was to inspire young people.’

Work by Gus F, Year 12 pupil

As Bryanston approaches its centenary in 2028, Mr Jones, who has been the school’s head for three years, sees an ever-growing role for its creative contribution to the community.
The arts have always been a core part of the school’s offering, he says, always supported by previous heads. ‘The school has always had a strong arts ethos. With our new arts advisory board, we can keep this growing and developing.’

Work by Tara W, Year 12 pupil


He is well aware how lucky the school’s pupils are to have arts education provided by practising artists and musicians, with a breadth of experience and experience, and facilities including the world-class music department, the Coade Hall theatre and the state-of-the-art, purpose-built art department.
Many of these facilities are shared with the local community for events that include Dorset Opera Festival, theatre, concerts, films and talks.
There is, he says, a difference between the cultural and creative provision possible at a school like Bryanston and the “depleted creative curriculum” in many state schools. ‘We are always looking outwards as a school. We are lucky here and we want to be a creative hub for the south west. We want our offering to be as good as it can be for our own pupils, but we also want to enrich the lives of the community. What can we be doing to help the community more widely?’


This commitment is summed up on the school’s website: ‘By actively engaging with the broader community, we aim to showcase the positive impact of our approach, ethos and state-of-the-art facilities. Beyond the school, we actively collaborate with educational, cultural and social initiatives.
‘Our involvement in the Blandford Schools’ Network and close ties with local prep schools exemplify our commitment to supporting and working with neighbouring educational institutions.
‘We take great pride in actively contributing to our local community. Through resource sharing, partnerships with other schools and support for local initiatives, we strive to make a positive impact.’

Poo-dunnit?

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The Dorset Insider is a new sporadic column dedicated to shedding light on local matters with unfiltered honesty and a critical eye. The author – a local parish councillor – will remain anonymous for the sake of candid discourse, but readers can rest assured that their identity is known and trusted by the editorial team. This anonymity allows the columnist to speak openly, challenging the status quo and addressing issues that matter most to our community.

If there’s one thing that every parish council gets complaints about – on a perennial basis – it’s dog fouling. Unlike most normal people, who show off pictures of kids and holidays, my Instagram is full of poo specimens, either sent to me or collected over the years. The problem appears to be even worse in the winter months, when irresponsible dog owners creep about ninja-style, allowing their pets to poo on pavements, in driveways … and anywhere else someone might step in it. Before you know it, the village has been carpet-bombed with mess.
What looks like early cherry blossom from a distance is actually a pink poo bag strung from a tree.
Sidenote: Why are dog poo bags only ever green or pink?
During the pandemic, 3.2 million households bought a dog. Suddenly, the combination of working from home and the opportunity to exercise encouraged people to get a canine companion. Following the pandemic, and unlike other European countries, the UK has continued to see increased numbers of pet owners. Dog numbers have increased by 13 per cent and cats by four per cent – and that’s despite a cost of living crisis.
However, with this new set of dog owners (and a few of the older ones) comes an expectation that everyone else will like their pet. I love dogs, by the way. It’s just some of their owners that drive me mad. I have people requesting dedicated places to exercise their dog, there are dogs perched on chairs in the village hall and the blind confidence that the “cute” mutt can go wherever it likes. We have signs banning dogs from the playground and football pitch so those playing don’t get covered in excrement (it’s also part of the PSPO, the Public Space Protection Order). Sadly, too many people think the rule doesn’t apply to them. I challenged a dog walker on the playground the other day and was promptly told what I could do with my PSPO.
Sadly, the rise in numbers of pet dogs hasn’t been matched by a rise in responsible ownership. Why are there three dogs in a local one bedroom flat? Why does one resident in particular think it’s her right to walk her dog wherever she likes (and no, of course she doesn’t pick up any poo)? Why do many dog owners think a local farmer’s field is there for dogs to exercise in – naturally it’s one with no public right of way?

Catch them if you can
Apart from providing more bins and trying to catch these people so they can be reported to the dog warden, it’s a constant challenge to improve things. There’s a fixed penalty notice, of course, but even with the increase in doorbell cams, these ninja dog owners manage to avoid being seen in the act. It’s almost as if some have a secret cloaking device, allowing them to exercise their dog and leave poop on the pavements. Children fall in it, pram wheels pick it up and roll into carpets, and old people slip on it.
I’m keeping an eye on Scotland at the moment, where there are moves to introduce a new law affecting dog owners. Under the new Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill, potential owners will have to think carefully about whether they’re ready for the responsibility of a dog before making the commitment. That means considering if they have enough space and can afford the costs of food, vet bills and care.
A proposal to introduce mandatory registration for dogs from unlicensed litters was suggested, but later dropped. While all that may go a long way towards managing the irresponsible owners, the more pressing issue of dog fouling is not going away anytime soon.
Some towns and villages around the world have been creative about tackling irresponsible dog owners. Spanish vigilantes in one town plagued by poop started casually chatting to culprit dog owners, working out theirs and the dog’s name. By checking the registration details at the town hall they were then able to package the poo and deliver it by courier through the owner’s letterbox, marked ‘Lost Property’.
In Italy, DNA tests have been launched that can trace the deposit back to the dog and its owner, who receives a fine of more than €1,000. That might just beat my ninja offenders. We need much stricter deterrents for dog fouling.
With unitary councils looking to generate income and devolve some powers to towns and parishes, it’s a good time to look at creative ways of tackling dog mess. Increasing fines would pay for more bin emptying – if you can catch people to fine them. Some locals are wary of reporting neighbours in case something nasty ends up being thrown at their windows.
Would re-introducing dog licences make a difference? They would increase revenue, but of course the register would need to be maintained. However, what’s actually needed is an entire culture change in behaviours and new ways of dealing with dogs and their canine owners –because what we currently have is not working.

Milton Abbey School offers an education with a difference.

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Choose a school for your child where they are known and can flourish. Every child benefits from a personalised education, with a curriculum built around them. With the ability to adapt our timetable to suit the choices of the students here, you will find that your child’s enthusiasm for school is renewed.
Our subject choices range from Physics to Photography, Film and TV to French, whether your child has a flair for Art or is happier down on our Farm, they will certainly build an academic portfolio that suits their interests.


Our co-curricular activities are unparalleled and sport every day gives everyone a chance to have balance in their week – with no particular sport being
compulsory. Maybe your child is a mountain biker, or perhaps they prefer sailing: we believe that children should be able to choose their sport.
We have the widest range of GCSEs, A Levels and BTECs in Dorset and recommend you come and see for yourselves.
We would be delighted to welcome you to Open Morning on March 1st, or give us a ring on 01258 881804 to organise your individual visit.
We know that you’ll be blown away by our community and offering. Don’t take our word for it, come and visit us and hear from the people who matter – the students!


“Since joining Milton Abbey in Third Form (Year 9), I instantly knew this school was for me. Having been brought up with a strong rural background, it has meant so much to be able to come to Milton Abbey. I am able to learn surrounded by beautiful countryside, continue my passion for horses and even intertwine this passion with my education.” – Lily
“There is so much I love about being at Milton Abbey School. What really stands out for
me are the interesting, engaging lessons and the amazing sport choices. I have made friends for life here and I’m excited to continue the rest of my education at Milton Abbey.” – Sol

January diary | The Voice of the Allotment

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What happened on Barry Cuff’s Sturminster Newton plot in January

Barry’s main crop of paotatoes takes up around 75 per cent of the allotment, and he grows three to four varieties, along with the first and second earlies, plus salad potatoes
All images: Barry Cuff

We’ve spent far less time than usual on the plot this month, due to the combination of high rainfall, cold days and overnight frosts. On good days, work included hedge trimming, emptying last year’s tomato and pepper flowerpots in the greenhouse and spreading manure on any bare ground, including that between the remaining brassicas. A first cut of the grass paths was made mid month
We have continued picking leeks, cauliflower, carrots, parsnips, sprouts, winter radishes and oriental salad leaves as we wanted them. The salad leaves have survived the frosts, protected by fleece. We’ve noted more growth on the garlic than we’ve had in previous years.
From store, we still had potatoes, winter squash and onions, and peas, broad beans, French beans, sweetcorn and garlic in the freezer.
We made our first sowings of the year: seven varieties of sweet pepper in a heated propagator. More than 100 seeds of Masterpiece Green Longpod and Witkiem Manita broad beans in trays with a little heat. These will be transferred to the unheated greenhouse once they have emerged. We have also sown our sweet peas.

Potatoes
Over the last 30 years we have grown 56 different varieties of potatoes on the plot. Each year we try a few new ones alongside our tried and tested varieties. Many we have only grown once for various reasons – yield, disease resistance and ability to cope in dry years.
Those destined never to return include Apache, Casablanca, Mozart, Sentanta and Vales Sovereign.

  • First earlies – For many years we’ve stuck with Lady Christl and Foremost.
  • Salad – We have grown Charlotte for 23 years now – it’s an excellent salad spud.
  • Second earlies – Marfona has performed well for us over many years.
  • Main crop – Taking up around 75 per cent of the plot, we mostly grow three to four varieties. Sante we dropped a few years ago as it was prone to blacklegg. Picasso has been grown for 22 years – it’s a good yielder but is prone to wireworm. Rooster was another good variety which we grew every year from 2006 to 2022, but in the last two it had lower yields and smaller tubers.
  • Two big changes this year are Caledonian Rose – we will grow four rows of this excellent red skinned variety, a good all rounder especially for roasting – and Desiree, a variety we grew in the past. We tried a few plants last year and it did exceptionally well, so we’ve decided to use it in place of Picasso

Every year we buy our certified seed potatoes from Mill House Nurseries at Owermoigne: this year there were more than 60 varieties to choose from. You simply walk the aisles of potatoes and help yourself to the varieties you require. They hold by far the widest range, and as far as we can see are the cheapest in the area.
Our choices this year are Maris Bard, Charlotte, Jazzy, Sagitta, Desiree, Caledonian Rose and five of each of Harmony, Harry and Java (all of which are new to us).

Greenwashing land grabs

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The Grumbler – the open opinion column in The BV. It’s a space for anyone to share their thoughts freely. While the editor will need to know the identity of contributors, all pieces will be published anonymously. With just a few basic guidelines to ensure legality, safety and respect, this is an open forum for honest and unfiltered views. Got something you need to get off your chest? Send it to editor@bvmagazine.co.uk. The Grumbler column is here for you: go on, say it. We dare you.

As a retired farmer (if that’s not an oxymoron… do we ever retire?), I’ve seen plenty of daft ideas in my time, but the latest government plans really take the biscuit. On one hand, they’re pushing ahead with a third runway at Heathrow – spewing more emissions into the atmosphere – while on the other, they’re proposing to take ten per cent of England’s farmland out of food production to plant trees and call it ‘carbon offsetting.’
If that’s not greenwashing of the highest order, I really don’t know what is.

Sense or nonsense?
Chancellor Rachel Reeves reckons we ‘badly need’ a third runway to boost investment and global trade. More flights, more business, more money in the economy – it all sounds great on paper. But what they fail to mention is that this expansion will ramp up carbon emissions, displace 700 families, and make a mockery of our so-called environmental commitments. Heathrow is already one of the busiest airports in the world.
Do we really need to be increasing air traffic at a time when we’re supposed to be cutting emissions?
The government insists that aviation will ‘go green’ through technological advances, but let’s be real. Sustainable aviation fuel is nowhere near mass production, and electric planes? DECADES away, if it ever happens.
In the meantime, Heathrow’s expansion will pour more pollution into the skies while the government pats itself on the back for its net-zero pledges.

The great greenwashing con
As if Heathrow wasn’t bad enough, the government also wants to take ten per cent of England’s farmland out of production to ‘offset’ emissions. That’s 1.2 million hectares – land that should be growing food for the British people. Instead, they want to plant trees and call it carbon neutral.
It’s a ludicrous idea.
We should be focusing on producing more homegrown food, not cutting back. Imports make us reliant on volatile global markets. Have we learned nothing from the food shortages of recent years? The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has already set out a plan for British agriculture to reach carbon neutrality by 2040 – without cutting food production. Yet instead of backing our farmers, the government seems determined to sacrifice our fields for an easy PR win.
This isn’t about cutting emissions – it’s about shifting the problem somewhere else and pretending it’s solved. Carbon offsetting doesn’t cancel out pollution: it just moves it around. The government is gambling with our food security for the sake of meeting arbitrary net-zero targets – and it’s rural communities that will pay the price.

A smarter way forward
If we’re serious about cutting emissions, let’s start with real solutions. Instead of throwing money at another Heathrow runway, invest in better rail networks to reduce short-haul flights. Instead of rewilding productive farmland, support regenerative agriculture to store carbon in soils, while still feeding the nation.
Britain’s farmers know how to work with the land – better than any politician or city planner ever will. It’s time we were listened to, before more irreversible damage is done in the name of ‘progress.’

When the last bank leaves town

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When the last bank leaves town: rural communities must adapt to the rise of online banking and the loss of local branches

Lloyds Bank in Sherborne will remain open until premises are finalised for the new Banking Hub, and it is operational

Last week I walked down a street in London and counted five banks that were open. Five. On one street. Yes, that included Coutts, but there were a further four high street banks within a three minute walk. Not something we are used to in North Dorset.
When Lloyds Bank announced 136 branches were closing across the country later this year, the list included Blandford Forum and Dorchester. By the end of 2025, of the five towns in North Dorset, only one will have a Lloyds. Two of the towns have no bank at all (apart from part time “banking hubs”).
What does this mean?
Between 2015 and 2024, more than 6,000 bank branches have closed across the United Kingdom. Barclays led the way with 1,226 closures, while NatWest currently stands at 900 closed branches. There are no Barclays branches in North Dorset: the nearest ones are located in Dorchester and Yeovil. Shaftesbury has a NatWest, while Gillingham will be home to the only Lloyds Bank in North Dorset by the end of 2025.
There’s no doubt that online banking and apps are on the rise, with more of us using them for all our banking tasks. It’s not just young people either – older people are also adapting to online banking. However, what happens to people who are unable to manage the technology, or who simply don’t want to use them but don’t have transport to get to one of the towns with a bank? Simon Hoare, MP for North Dorset said:
‘We’re at that transition stage, where banking apps are now more popular. Bank usage, and particularly the footfall – which is what banks measure to assess whether to close premises – is falling. The cost of running a bank building, with increased insurance, lighting and other overheads has also disproportionally increased. Of course, a lot of older people like to do their banking in person.’
Another reason for needing to visit a physical bank is to deal with a complex issue that is beyond the capability of an online chatbot or a telesales employee – for example, having to sign documents in person with a witness present, or dealing with a death. That’s when you need a human being with a bit of empathy instead of an automated response.

The Lloyds Bank branch in Blandford is scheduled to close permanently
on 10th November, 2025

And then it goes wrong
Having online banking readily available at the touch of an app is winning due to its sheer speed and convenience for most people. Until the system fails … the recent Barclays three-day outage happened on the January payday weekend – also the deadline for self-assessment tax payments – and thousands of people were unable to access money or pay bills, leading some people even unable to buy food. The failure raised signifiant issues about the risks inherent in a cashless society and being over-reliant on electronic banking systems. Should we all have a bit of cash stashed under the mattress, just for an emergency?
There are also businesses that won’t accept cards and as many that won’t accept cash. Even more no longer accept cheques, instead demanding an online transfer – which can be awkward for those reliant on a chequebook, especially once work is completed.
There are other issues with bank closures, as Simon pointed out:

‘When banks close in market towns, local business is disproportionally affected. When people come into a town to bank, they often do other things such as visit a couple of shops – and that impacts wider footfall.
Rural market towns are under pressure and shop businesses are increasingly fragile. Meanwhile, Dorset has a disproportionately older population.
That’s not to say bank closures are limited to market towns – I can count three within minutes of the Houses of Parliament that have shut. However, the impact is felt most acutely in market towns because of their smaller size.
‘Given the strategic position of Blandford with the surrounding villages and those who depend on it, there’s a question about whether a hub would be a viable option for Blandford.’
A banking hub is a part-time facility which can be used by customers of any bank. It’s something Blandford councillors have been looking at and Simon Hoare is questioning. Hubs come to towns when the last bank standing has closed.

Sturminster Newton’s Development Society has re-purposed the town’s three empty bank buildings into not-for-profit shops to benefit the town. Banking is available at the Post Office


So, how many people could be affected by the loss of a bank in a town? In 2023, Age UK surveyed the banking needs of older people* and found that four in ten adults over 65 (equating to 4.09 million people) did not use online banking, and three-quarters of over-65s want to bank in person. Age UK also found that the groups least comfortable using online banking and who wanted physical facilities were the over-80s, people with disabilities and people on a low income … in other words, some of the most vulnerable people in our community. When facilities are removed, it also takes away the independence of these people to manage their own finances.
One of the reasons people give for wanting a physical facility for banking is a fear of being scammed, which is an increasing menace. Age UK recommend that the number of banking hubs is increased, and, critically, are put in place before a bank closes down. Also that banks do more to support the vulnerable. That’s exactly what is happening in Sherborne: according to Sherborne Town Council, the planned banking hub has not opened, as premises are still being finalised. As a result, Lloyds Bank is staying open until the hub is in place.
Finally, the loss of another bank is a sobering reminder to use facilities that are available to us – or lose them.

Age UK’s You Can’t Bank On It Anymore survey