• The Leader of Dorset Council has pushed back on the Local Plan outline, and is in talks with Michael Gove in an attempt to adjust the amount of housing to be built in the county. Rachael Rowe investigates his plan for a new town in Dorset.
• Play Wordle? You’ll love Nerdle – created right here in North Dorset, the numbers version of the game is sweeping across the globe; Steve Keenan spoke to the childhood friends who developed it with the help of their teenagers.
• Singer Beverley Craven has sold over four million records in her career, best known for her 1991 UK hit single Promise Me. She’s taken on the Random 19 questions, and she may have the best dunking method I’ve ever heard
• Blandford’s own Cllr Nocturin Lacey-Clarke (‘Noc’) has shared his rough start in life, and bared his musical soul with a truly eclectic mix for his Dorset Island Discs
• World-famous artist Michael Taylor is putting on his first gallery show outside London for 30 years. The Child Okeford show is a ’must-see’ event, says Edwina Baines, who spoke to Michael about his work
• In the Local History pages, Roger Guttridge shares the story of the Dorset canal that never was, and the endurance of two of Gillinghams Pubs. Paul Birbeck looks at the history of rare marks on some of our oldest houses – do you know of one?
• Equestrian is big this month – there’s a beautiful new foal at The Glanvilles Stud; she had a tragic beginning but we think you’ll rather like her. There’s also a fascinating look at the changing face of Point to Point from Great British Racing International, and a 101 of driving with Clare Turner of Skylands in Stalbridge.
• In farming, NFU Online‘s Louise Stratton has interviewed Dorset farmer and NFU County Chair George Hosford in a fascinating look at the need for adaptability to the changing face of modern agriculture. James Cossins is talking turkey, while Andrew Livingston discusses Carbon Stewardship and the use of cover crops.
• We welcome Carl Mintern to his new column as the Dorset Forager – don’t miss the chickweed and the gorgeous velvet shanks!