This month Barry Cuff has chosen two holiday postcards from more than a century ago
This card was sent to Grace Bull in 1911, in Boscombe (then in Hampshire). The car outside the shop (the village shop closed in 1990) has the registration H 4912 – the H series was allocated to Middlesex, first issued in 1903 and continued to be issued through to 1912. 14 Compton Abbas, Nr Shaftesbury, Dorset – My Dear Grace. I’m having a delightful time here. this is a lovely place. I have been for some lovely walks, especially in the evenings. I hope you did not feel lonely on Sunday. Has Hugo C come back yet? Goodbye, lots of love, Dora – This is a photo of our only shop – I shall have lots to tell you when I come back. –
Taken by a photographer standing on what is now the main A357, Compton Abbas School – now the village hall – was built in 1849 and listed in 1960. Another card sent to Boscombe by a holidaymaker, this time in September 1915, it is addressed to Miss Topsy Shayze. A mysterious figure, “Shayze” seems to be part of Topsy’s nickname, as no such surname appears in any census. Denecourt is still a substantial house in Boscombe, though is now divided into five flats. My dear Topsy I thought I would just send you a PC to let you see I have not forgotten you. I hope you are quite well & having a nice time & I hope Granny is better. I am going to Shaftesbury tomorrow to see Auntie Kate. This is a photo of the school I went to when I was a little girl like you. Much love & kisses, from Emmie
The Exchange will host Dorset’s third community-led COP on Saturday 1st November, a one-day gathering organised by Sustainable Dorset that puts local voices at the heart of the climate conversation. Workshops will run throughout the day on topics including nature recovery, river pollution, food security, transport, retrofitting and renewable energy, with guest input from solar entrepreneur Howard Johns. Visitors can also meet the people behind inspiring grassroots initiatives – from repair cafés and village-led climate groups to community food projects and creative arts exploring our relationship with the land.
The Exchange will host the third Dorset COP on Saturday 1st November
‘This is a day for farmers, organisers, repairers, youth workers, growers, wildlife champions, and anyone dreaming of a fairer, more resilient Dorset,’ says Sustainable Dorset chair Jennifer Morisetti. ‘With 77 per cent of Dorset’s land farmed, and Sturminster Newton right in the heart of the Blackmore Vale’s prime dairy farmland, it’s the ideal place to focus on rural issues. Topics will include nature recovery, river pollution, food security, transport and retrofit.’ Laura Tyley of This Living Place adds: ‘There’s so much inspiring action already happening across our rural communities. What we often lack are opportunities to bring all that energy together in one room – to connect, to learn from one another and to feel part of something bigger. Dorset COP is fast becoming that space. ‘Unlike the international COPs – which are disconnected from people’s everyday lives and the real ecosystems we depend on – local COPs flip that on their head. They remind us that meaningful action starts in local contexts: in our towns, villages and shared spaces. If we’re going to build a thriving future for both people and our planet, it has to come from the bottom up.’ The COPs’ aim is not only to raise questions – how do we adapt, how do we care for each other and the land, how do we build resilience? – but to share answers and highlight practical examples already working across the county. Dorset COP 2025 aims to be open and accessible to everyone and is operating a pay-what-you-can policy this year. ‘There’s a suggested donation of £10, which helps cover the costs,’ Jennifer says. ‘But please pay what feels possible for you. No one will be turned away due to cost. What matters most is that you’re there.’
Dorset COP 2025 is at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton, Saturday 1st November, 9am to 5pm. dorsetcop.info
Bright as boiled sweets and fussy as cats, these fungi reveal Dorset’s ancient meadows – Jane Adams invites you to meet the waxcaps
Parrot waxcap – Gliophorus psittacinus
This month, if you walk through a meadow of tightly-cropped grass, you might spot colours you’re not expecting: red, yellow, pink, even purple. If you do, you have probably found waxcaps – small, glistening grassland fungi – and before long you will be spotting them all over the place. Waxcaps are different from many fungi, in that they have a fondness for old, unimproved grassland. This is grassland that feels caught in a time warp, still managed with traditional farming methods, never ploughed or treated with modern fertilisers. Finding a wax cap is usually a sign that the surrounding grass has been left untouched for decades, even centuries, because they they are so fussy about where they grow. Sadly, that also makes these little organisms not only special but increasingly rare. The intensification of farming has pushed waxcaps – and the habitats they depend on – into the conservation spotlight. In Dorset we are lucky. We still have some very special waxcap hotspots right on our doorstep. Down Farm, near Beaminster, is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) specifically for its fungi, including an amazing array of waxcaps. Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Kingcombe Meadows is another fungi-rich site, criss-crossed with public footpaths and well worth exploring. The National Trust’s Stonebarrow on the Golden Cap estate hosts an autumn walk to introduce visitors to these colourful fungi. Though there are more than 40 species of waxcap in Britain, they’re so rare you’ll be lucky to see more than a handful when you are out and about. Some have intriguing names: the Blackening waxcap starts out orange before turning sooty black; the Parrot waxcap, slimy, small and tinged green; the Meadow waxcap, plump and buff coloured and the Scarlet and Golden waxcaps, which glow once you notice them tucked into the grass. For Barbie fans, there is even a Pink waxcap, delicate and glossy, as if crafted from sugar icing. Fungi really come into their own in October, and with UK Fungus Day on Sunday 5 October, why not take a walk in a grassy meadow, keep your eyes down, and see what treasures are waiting to be discovered?
The delicate pink ballerina waxcaps, Porpolomopsis calyptriformis, open like a tutu
Spotting waxcaps October to November, especially after rain Look in short, mossy grass Take photos, not specimens!
Since The National’s blossoming in the late naughties, Brooklyn has become a hotbed of musical and creative brilliance, with countless bands based in (or relocating to) the borough finding a rich vein of form. And none have risen with what appears to be such ease and abandon as Geese. While sales of their 2021 debut LP Projector were modest, their acclaim was immediate, further cemented by the success of second album 3D Country two years later. As such, their 3rd long player Getting Killed was one of the most anticipated releases of 2025 – a level of hype which lesser bands may have crumbled underneath. Thankfully, Geese appear to remain unaffected, having turned in one of the most compelling and carefree offerings of the year.
While the knife-edge nature of their sprawling, chaotic rock and experimental touchpoints remain, Geese have tapped into something deeper to find an emotional resonance which serves as a necessary and compelling counterpoint, despite the absence of anything as unapologetically joyful as Cowboy Nudes (their most streamed song). From its first bars, opening track Trinidad finds lead singer Cameron Winter channelling Thom Yorke’s more ethereal moments, but somehow successfully layers the resulting contemplation (“I tried, I tried, I tried so hard”) with aggressive noise-rock to great effect. On the title track, a Primal Scream-style groove gives way to an introspective and self-revealing verse (“My love takes a long time, longer than a lover can survive”). But nowhere is their steady evolution into an indie tour de force more apparent than Bow Down. The swirling mash-up of 70’s soul, Tuareg blues and a wailing, keening vocal delivery reminiscent of Nick Cave’s more ebullient moments provides proof positive that Geese have mastered the art of imbibing their many influences and digesting them into something completely new and refreshingly bold. A triumph. – 4.5/5 stars
Families across Dorset are in for a frightfully fun time this October Half Term as Artsreach, Dorset’s rural arts charity, brings two fantastic spooky shows to the stage. First up is Shivers & Shadows by Squashbox Theatre, a creepy comedy adventure where Craig inherits a mansion from his great uncle. As he explores the spooky house, he encounters ghosts, ghouls, and mysterious creatures.
This show, filled with puppetry, slapstick, and live music, is perfect for ages 6+ and visits Child Okeford, Milborne St Andrew, Swanage and Buckland Newton from 26th to 29th October. After the show, children can also take part in a workshop, creating their own articulated puppets of bats, cats, ghosts and pumpkins before animating them on a shadow screen. Next, Franky by Fideri Fidera brings a new comedy adventure for all ages. Professor Frankenstein creates a monster, Franky, to win over the villagers … but Franky is nothing like expected. Expect a fun-filled story with songs, a riotous hook-a-duck game, and the chance to learn the hottest new dance craze ‘The Franky Walk!’ Suitable for ages 3+, Franky tours Sixpenny Handley, Sandford Orcas and Litton Cheney from 27th to 30th October After the show, children can join the cast and take part in a Franky drama workshop. For tickets and more details, visit artsreach.co.uk
Blood-sucking fiends … harbingers of disease … witches’ familiars … Bats have long had a branding problem and for centuries have been cast as villains – feared and misunderstood. Zoologist and conservationist Steve Masters is on a mission to shine a light on our essential nocturnal navigators. Dorset is one of the UK’s richest bat habitats, home to 16 of the 17 native breeding species – 18 if you count the greater mouse-eared bat, which overwinters in the southeast. As part of his role as Reserves Ecological Manager, Steve’s been working for the wildlife charity to conserve and study Dorset’s bat population. By day, there’s hundreds of bat boxes across DWT reserves to check. By night, in conjunction with a committed cohort of volunteers from the Dorset Bat Group, Steve camps out, running bat surveys. ‘I love being out on reserves at night,’ he says. ‘It’s a whole different world. Using a bat detector, I can hear the bats’ echo-location – it’s an incredible chatter of different calls.’
The experienced team, who must be licensed to handle and trap the protected species, painstakingly rig up harp traps, so-called because they resemble the musical instrument. From a bar, strings hang down to catch the bats, which then slip down into a bag below. From here, the bats can be checked to discover their sex, age, whether they’ve bred and what species they are. ‘Most exciting is there’s still so much to be discovered,’ says Steve. ‘We still don’t really know where a lot of Pipistrelle bats overwinter, or the ecology of the rare grey long-eared bat. And new bat species are still being identified all over the world. ‘I find them fascinating – I think it’s their body structure. The fingers are integrated into the wing and attached to the elbow. Their scientific name is Chiroptera, meaning “hand wing”. It’s just amazing how they’ve evolved.’
Dorset via South America Steve has always had a passion for wildlife. Growing up on a farm in Frampton, his childhood was spent outdoors digging for worms and catching beetles. After A-levels, a stint labouring gave him enough money to travel. Exploring the wonders of South East Asia, North America and New Zealand, he fell even more in love with the natural world. ‘I knew I wanted to work in conservation, out in the field. I came home and studied for a Zoology and Conservation Degree at Bangor University.’
An ecological project in Ecuador followed, tracking the elusive Andean spectacled bears. ‘I lived in the cloud forest in Northern Ecuador for three months, triangulating the positions of these wonderful bears. I couldn’t resist the chance to visit the Galapagos too – I stuck it on a credit card and went. I was too close not to visit!’ Even with his qualifications and such global field experience, Steve had to earn his stripes in Dorset by volunteering, first at RSPB Arne and then at sites in East Dorset. He worked on the Somerset Levels Breeding Wader census and with the Dorset Bat Group. ‘That’s when I became hooked on bats,’ he says. ‘I helped with the National Bechstein’s Project* to discover more about a rare woodland bat.’ Paid science and conservation research contracts followed. Finally, in 2011, his dream job arrived with Dorset Wildlife Trust. ‘I love working for an organisation that has the same aspirations as me – tackling climate change, increasing biodiversity and wildlife across our home county. Dorset is probably one of the most biodiverse counties in the country. Though I would of course still love to travel and discover more new bat species in South America, helping to conserve the place I grew up – for my children, and for others – is truly rewarding.’
A 2007-2011 Bat Conservation Trust project to map the distribution of the rare Bechstein’s bat in England and Wales, identify its habitat and gather data to inform conservation policy.
Steve is often found up a tree checking bat boxes
Quickfire questions for Steve: A-list dinner party guests? I dislike dinner parties so it would be a barbecue. I’d invite the Dalai Lama for spiritualism, Albert Einstein for science, and for the natural world, American ecologist Edward O Wilson, author of my favourite book The Diversity of Life. Books by your bedside? It’s a bit niche: British Ecological Society magazine! Also, Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History, by Stephen J Gould, and Mississippi Solo by Eddie L. Harris
Bracketts coppice Steve Dorset Wildlife Trust
Bat-tling the myths! ‘Bats suck blood’ – only three of more than 1,400 bat species feed on blood, and none live in the UK. ‘Bats get tangled in your hair’ – bats are expert navigators using echolocation: they’re not interested in your hairstyle. ‘Bats live in dirty places’ – many roost in trees, buildings and bat boxes. They’re clean and they groom themselves regularly. ‘Blind as a bat’ – many bats have excellent eyesight and up-close, they’re surprisingly cute. Bats can consume more than 3,000 mosquitoes, beetles, moths and flies a night. With insect populations on the decline, help improve their food larder by planting flowers that attract moths, have water and a wild area in your garden, and avoid artificial lighting.
The RSPCA is urging Dorset residents to consider adopting larger dogs this Adoptober, as the charity faces a critical shortage of space for these animals. At the RSPCA Ashley Heath Animal Centre, many dogs, particularly larger breeds. New data from the RSPCA reveals that larger dogs can take up to seven times longer to be rehomed than smaller dogs.
Kylie has been waiting for 407 days for a new home
Big Vince, a Lurcher cross, has been in RSPCA care for more than 160 days. Despite his size, he has a gentle nature and an affectionate personality (‘a heart as big as his frame’). Vince needs a strong, patient owner who can help him with lead training and offer a stable home environment. He’s happiest around people, and would thrive as the only pet in a household, with older teens. Kylie, a five-year-old crossbreed (a ‘big, clever, gentle girl who is happiest when she’s snuggled up close’), has been waiting for 407 days. She needs a quiet, adult-only home: her previous experiences, including illegal ear cropping, have made her more vulnerable to weather conditions, but she remains a calm, loving dog who enjoys human affection. She’s well-behaved on a lead and interacts well with other dogs, though she prefers not to be crowded. Kylie would be happiest as the only dog in the home and would do best in a house without cats. Dr Sam Gaines, RSPCA pet behaviour expert, says: ‘Larger dogs often struggle to find homes due to misconceptions about their temperament and needs. Many are just big softies, and with the right owner, they thrive. Our larger dogs need special homes with owners who are ready to help them overcome past challenges.’ RSPCA operations manager Glenn Mayoll added: ‘We’re seeing record numbers of dogs in our care, and large breeds are particularly hard to rehome. We urgently need adopters for these wonderful dogs.’ For more information on Big Vince, Kylie and other dogs in need of a home, visit the RSPCA Ashley Heath Findapet page
SturFit’s Community Fund has raised more than £4,000 since last autumn, thanks to events ranging from raffles and games nights to a Zumba Glow Party and gym instructor Hayley running the London Marathon. Set up to support local clubs and organisations with sport and leisure activities at the Leisure Centre, the fund is already making an impact. It helped launch the new Cheese & Pickle Pickleball Club, running two taster sessions for the sport that is taking the country by storm. The fund covered hall hire for several weeks so the organisers could put their money towards other start-up costs – the club already has more than 40 members. The Community Fund has also paid for instructor training for Age Concern North Dorset, enabling them to expand their balance classes with new chair-based sessions this September. Looking ahead, the hall will be filled with inflatables for a FREE family fun day during the October half term.
The new Cheese & Pickle pickleball club meets on a Sunday morning
Centre manager Roger Teasdale says: ‘The trust is keen to support a broad range of projects with the fund. It might be bringing in specialists for unique activities not usually available locally – like archery, Nerf wars or a mobile climbing wall – or helping a Guides or Scouts group work towards a sports badge by providing facilities or instructors.’
The Sturfit Community Fund has enabled new chair-based balance classes for Age Concern
SturFit is a not-for-profit charity, run by trustees and volunteers as a community resource – not a profit-driven leisure centre. All income goes back into maintaining and improving facilities for local people.Applications for support can be made to SturFit on [email protected]. Donations are always welcome to support the trust’s work in keeping community sport and leisure activities thriving. sturfit.org
Last week was the Liberal Democrat party conference in Bournemouth. Some of you may have seen me joining Ed Davey and opening our conference by leading a marching band through the town. I’m not sure my drumming was good enough to guarantee me a permanent place in the band, but it was great fun! It was also an appropriate way to open a conference that was very much themed around ‘positive patriotism’, offering a home to voters who feel proud to be British but do not feel comfortable with some of the more unsavoury elements and views of those on the right – people and parties who wrap themselves in the flag while peddling divisiveness, talking our country down and echoing the talking points of Trump and Putin. We want to show that being proud to be British also means loving your country and its traditions and the freedoms we hold dear. The conference wasn’t just about recapturing the flag. It was also about progressive policies for building a better Britain. In West Dorset we’ve seen the recent closure of police counters in Bridport and Sherborne, leaving residents feeling vulnerable without a walk-in desk where they can speak to an officer. At conference we announced a new policy guaranteeing a police counter in every community. I am regularly contacted by parents worried about the detrimental effect of social media on young people’s mental health. Last week on a visit to Salway Ash primary school I met The Mindful Digital Collective, who run afterschool clubs teaching digital awareness and online safety to kids. It is a great project, but it is voluntary. Far more needs to be done to protect young people in a society which is increasingly online. At the conference, we announced a new policy calling for social media apps to have cigarette-style health warnings, and for a two-hour ‘doomscrolling cap’ to limit young people’s exposure to deliberately addictive algorithms. There’s plenty more to do, and more policies to come, as we set out our vision for a better, more united kingdom. Stay tuned! Edward Morello LibDem MP for West Dorset
