Not trying to take over the world – just make great ice cream

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13 October 2025

It started with a road trip to Middlesbrough for a second-hand machine – meet the North Dorset farming couple scooping small-batch ice cream

Kate Buckler and Ed Mogridge with some of the Buckridge Jerseys
All images: Courtenay Hitchcock

At Lushes Farm near Manston, the usual rhythm of milking, mucking out and feeding runs like clockwork. But lately, there’s something new in the mix – a walk-in freezer, the churn of machinery, and a side hustle that’s growing fast.
This year, the cows don’t just make milk. They make ice cream.
‘We wanted to do something that would keep the farm viable for the future,’ says Ed Mogridge, who farms with his partner Kate Buckler. ‘Something that used the milk, but gave us more control. A bit more return.’
That “something” is Buckridge Dairy – a handmade ice cream made with their own milk.

The addition of the Jerseys to the Holstein herd at Lushes Farm brought the milk up to quality for Barbers cheese … and great ice cream

Rooted on the farm
Lushes Farm is a 260-acre mixed holding in North Dorset, with grass, maize and arable fields for wheat, barley and beans. ‘I moved here with Mum and Dad in 1996,’ says Ed. ‘We’re just across the road from my gran’s farm, where Dad worked with his brothers. I was leaving school and wanted to farm, but there wasn’t enough work for me too – then this place came up.’
His father, Anthony Mogridge, was known for the Marnhull herd of pedigree Limousins – shown and sold all over the country. He sold them to fund the switch to dairy when Lushes Farm became available for the family.
Today, Ed and Kate run 150 milkers, with the milk used by Barbers, the longest continuously operating cheesemakers in Somerset, for their award-winning Cheddar cheese, with 100 replacements, and 40 head of beef. Most are Holsteins, but around 30% are Jerseys – Buckridge Jerseys – the cows that provide the rich, high-fat milk needed for cheese … and great ice cream.
‘Barbers want higher constituents – more fat and protein – for cheese,’ says Ed. ‘That’s why we brought Jerseys into the herd. They’re renowned for producing milk with higher butterfat and protein. You can increase those in Holsteins by feeding additives, but we don’t believe in adding stuff we don’t need. So instead of throwing bags of that in, we brought in Jerseys. Now we’re about 70% Holstein, 30% Jersey.’
They milk twice a day, 365 days a year, using a 16:16 herringbone parlour.
Kate came to farming from a different world – 20 years working in local authority. ‘I started by doing the accounts,’ she says. ‘Then I trained in food hygiene, risk management, nutrition … and now I’m in a hairnet, making ice cream every week.’
The farm is currently under TB restrictions – not uncommon, but still stressful.
‘We had the first issue in 2018,’ says Ed. ‘We lost close to 90 cattle. It’s incredibly hard. Then we were clear for a while – but we had another positive this March.’
‘It’s the unknown that’s hardest,’ says Kate. ‘You might have a perfectly healthy cow – heavily in calf, your favourite cow – and then she’s just gone. There’s aboslutely nothing you can do. You never feel like you’ve cracked it. You go clear, then it comes back. It feels never-ending.’

Kate with the cart which has had a busy summer at agricultural shows, fetes, corporate events and weddings

The turning point
The idea for diversification had been bubbling for years for Kate: ‘I’ve always wanted to do something alongside the farm. But it’s hard to find your niche.’
A chat with a Jersey Society judge who sold raw milk and ice cream on his own farm sparked the idea. ‘It just made sense – we already had the milk,’ she says.
In February, the Kate and Ed visited the Ice Cream Alliance show. ‘We were overwhelmed by all the options – the machines, the flavours, the cones,’ says Kate. ‘But the best advice we got was: “You don’t need all the fancy stuff. Keep it simple, start small.” Also, we were told not to buy new, but to look for second-hand.’
The farm’s single-phase electricity supply limited their equipment options – until two used machines popped up on Facebook Marketplace: ‘They were in Middlesbrough,’ says Ed. ‘So I said, “Fancy a road trip?”’
They picked up an ice cream cart from Rotherham – another Facebook Marketplace find. ‘The only thing Kate bought new was the blast chiller,’ says Ed. Six months after deciding to diversify, they launched Buckridge Dairy.

Currently, only the flavours stocked at 1855 in Sturminster Newton are in the pretty pots

‘I took a booking for the first weekend of June – and we hadn’t actually made any ice cream at that point,’ he laughs. ‘So I told Kate she’d better ring Environmental Health!’
‘Which I did – and they were great. We were approved straight away – both Trading Standards and Environmental Health have been so helpful. It was six months from the idea to our first event. But to just push through like that? It was absolutely the right thing to do.
‘We’ve had such a good summer. The equipment we’ve bought is exactly what we need. And we’re still entirely self-funded. Had we gone for brand new shiny kit, we might be saying something different!’
‘We could potentially have qualified for a grant as we’re adding value to the milk, but that scheme closed … and it doesn’t look like there’ll be any new farming grants for a while. Start-up loans tie you to repayments – and we didn’t know if it would take off.’

Ed and Kate have 150 milkers with a 16:16 herringbone parlour

From parlour to freezer
Buckridge Dairy makes small-batch gelato-style ice cream from the farm’s own milk and cream.Flavours range from White Chocolate Raspberry Ripple to Udderly Mint.
‘Honeycomb is far and away the best seller,’ says Kate. ‘Chocolate Velvet is dark chocolate, and Ferrero Rocher started as a joke, because my dad loves them. We also do dairy-free sorbets, like mango. At the moment we’re just getting our heads round everything and establishing everything – next year we’ll look at expanding flavours.
‘At the moment, it’s just me. I can’t compete with bigger brands, and to be honest I don’t want to. I think lots of people are looking to make their millions? I mean, the millions would be nice … but we’re not looking for that. I want it to be something that is local and small scale and good quality and stays like that.’
This summer, Kate and Ed have been taking their cart to fetes and events, scooping ice cream and chatting with customers.
‘That’s the bit I love,’ says Kate. ‘We milk the cows. We look after them. So when we talk to people about the ice cream, it’s real – we know exactly where it’s come from.’
The artisan store 1855 in Sturminster Newton marketplace is their firstretail stockist. They’ve also been a regular weekly presence with their cart at Railway Gardens.
But scaling up isn’t the goal.
‘Wholesale’s not for us,’ says Kate. ‘We just can’t compete on price. And to be honest, things took off so quickly we’ve had to rein it in a bit!’

‘The Ferrero Rocher flavour started out as a joke, just because my dad loves them!’

What’s next?
As the event season winds down, Kate is focusing on potting up more stock.
‘Only the 1855 flavours have the pretty pots and labels right now,’ she says. ‘But we’ll build that up – and then start selling direct from the farm.’
There’s no grand expansion plan – just an aim for steady growth.
‘We’re not trying to take over the world,’ says Kate. ‘We’ve had a great first summer. We’ve learned loads. Now it’s about doing it better next year – and not stretching ourselves too far.’

buckridgedairy.co.uk

Music and the Land: exploring the connections between culture and landscape in one of Dorset’s most beautiful locations

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Editorial team

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13 October 2025

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Springhead at Fontmell Magna, an ancient mill-house, mill-pond and gardens, is a fusion of natural beauty and human creativity. What better location for an event that celebrates and explores the connections between music, art and the land?
From 23rd to 27th October, Springhead is the setting for a symposium, Music and the Land, organised by Springhead Constellation, the new music and art organisation created by Dorset-based conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner and his partner, harpist Gwyneth Wentink.
The four-day event includes opportunities for musicians and artists to develop projects and showcase their work, ending on Sunday 27th October, with a day for the public to see some of the work and hear music, discussions and talks by some of the participants.
The symposium topics include the role of farming in cultural health, the impact of land stewardship on artistic traditions and the ways in which music and the arts inspire sustainable living.

Sir John Eliot Gardiner grew up at Springhead – his mother, Marabel Gardiner, createdthe gardens. Image © Hans van der Woerd

Regain the elemental force
Speakers include John Eliot, who grew up at Springhead and whose mother, Marabel Gardiner, was the creator of the gardens – more recently, his late sister Rosalind restored them. He will be joined by the former president of the Soil Association, sustainable food pioneer Patrick Holden to talk about the theme of music, culture and the land.
Music comes from Ensemble Echappee, who are in residence during the week, and some of the Springhead Constellation singing apprentices who had a week-long residency in the spring. Visual artists taking part include James Grossman, Tom Unwin, Amy Keller and Dorset-based Aisling Hedgecock.
Another keynote speaker will be Guy Haywood, sculptor and curator, with a particular focus on performance and interdisciplinary practices. His theme will be “The home of Songs – Place, Identity and Folk.”
John Eliot, whose musical practice ranges from the Renaissance and baroque to 20th century works, is also an organic farmer and has a life-long commitment to the environment, the land and to our need to connect with it. He says: ‘In today’s noise-polluted world, music can regain the elemental force that our ancestors once acknowledged when they celebrated its magical origins. All of us can be inspired and refreshed through direct exposure to its mysterious and life-giving beauty and joy.’
Concerts and conversations explore how music and the arts can inspire ecological renewal. Come for the music, the ideas or to soak up Springhead’s beauty.

springheadconstellation.com

Aldi plans new store for Sturminster Newton

By

Laura

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13 October 2025

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Discount supermarket chain Aldi has revealed plans for a new store in Sturminster Newton – and is inviting residents to have their say.

The proposed site is on North Dorset Business Park, just off the A357 on the outskirts of the town. If approved, the development would bring up to 40 new jobs to the town, with Aldi stating all roles will be paid at rates above the National Living Wage.

Representation of how the site on the North Dorset Busines Park may look

The £7 million investment would include free customer parking, electric vehicle charging points, and cycle parking for both customers and staff. The store would also aim to boost employment through construction and supply chain contracts.

Elliott Saunders, Aldi Real Estate Director, said: ‘We are thrilled to bring forward plans for a new Aldi store in Sturminster Newton, giving people better access to Aldi’s award-winning range of high-quality products at prices no other retailer can match. We encourage residents to participate in our virtual consultation to learn more about the scheme and share their views.’

Aldi currently has more than 1,000 stores across the UK and continues to expand its presence in rural and market towns.

Residents can view the full plans and share feedback online between 13th October and 10th November by visiting:
👉 www.aldiconsultation.co.uk/sturminsternewton

For more information or questions, email [email protected] or call 020 3398 1590.

Pass wide and slow

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Editorial team

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12 October 2025

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Near misses and road rage are on the rise – North Dorset riders saddled up to raise awareness and urge drivers to slow down before it’s too late

Sandra’s PWAS ride travelled up the B3081, crossed over the A30 to follow the back lanes towards Shaftesbury, then travelled down Foyle Hill and Coles Lane

Rug or no rug. Shoes or no shoes. Bit or bitless … The horse world rarely agrees on anything.
Except this: every rider has had at least one terrifying moment on the road. And most of us have had far more than one.
The Sass Queen really enjoys hacking, merrily mooching about the countryside (who am I kidding – she doesn’t know how to mooch. She marches). She is, thankfully, totally bomb-proof in traffic – trains, low flying helicopters, tractors, cyclists, you name it and she won’t bat an eyelid at it. Unfortunately, we’ve both been subjected to drivers putting us in dangerous situations, often due to their impatience at having to wait just a few extra seconds to carry on their journey. Incidents like this, especially on young or green horses, can result in a lifelong fear of being in the road and ultimately cause dangerous behaviour, often through no fault of their own.
Two horses killed a week
September marked Shaftesbury’s first Pass Wide and Slow (PWAS) campaign, organised by Sandra Stevens and her friends Alice Wood and Georgie Faulkner-Bryant. Pass Wide and Slow, a national campaign for horse and rider safety, was founded in 2015 by Debbie Smith, after a car frightened her horse by driving too close – a fear he never got over.The aim is to raise awareness on the safest way to pass horses on the public highway. In 2023 there were 3,383 road incidents involving horses: 66 horses died, 86 were injured and three people died.
Of these incidents, 85 per cent were caused by vehicles passing too closely or too fast. Riders are frequently subject to road rage or abuse.
Sandra’s driving force (excuse the pun…) to organise the PWAS ride was due to the massive increase in bad driving instances she’s experienced while riding her horse Flo. An experienced horsewoman, having progressed through the Pony Club to competing in endurance competitions, Sandra enjoys exploring the North Dorset countryside near her home with Flo, a tricoloured Belgium Warmblood.
‘I live on the B3091, which runs from Sturminster Newton to Shaftesbury. I have to ride along the road to get to the local bridleways which are, sadly, very few and far between in North Dorset. On average, two horses are killed a week on public highways: I don’t want my horse to become one of those statistics.’
Sandra recently went riding with her friends Alice and Georgie and mentioned she would like to organise a PWAS event – they both readily agreed to help, she says: ‘We’d all had bad experiences while riding on the road – I’ve been driven at, shouted and sworn at, had vehicles rev up and drivers blasting their horns … I wanted to educate other road users.’
Last year Sandra invested in a hatcam, and regularly reports issues to Dorset Police’s ‘Operation Snap’ website.

Sandra Stevens (left) and her friends Alice Wood and Georgie Faulkner-Bryant organised North Dorset’s first Pass Wide And Slow Ride

We don’t like it either
What the general public perhaps don’t realise is that horses are ‘flight animals’ – their primary instinct in the face of a threat is to flee, to run away from danger. If they spook on the road, their natural reaction can result in them leaping sideways or bolting which, in the worst instance, could result in them ending up on the bonnet of a car. Recent research has shown that a horse shying can reach up to 54mph in a matter of seconds.
Of course, the age-old response from keyboard warriors is ‘horses shouldn’t be on the road, you don’t pay road tax…’
Rest assured, we don’t want to be here, holding you up, any more than you want us there. However we often have to ride along roads in order to access bridleways. Sadly we cannot merely roam across the countryside wherever we wish.*

The Shaftesbury ride
The aim of the PWAS ride was to promote awareness on how to safely pass horses on the public highway, and to remind drivers of the Highway Code, rule 215:
‘Be particularly careful of horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles, especially when approaching, overtaking, passing or moving away. Always pass wide and slowly. When you see a horse on a road, you should slow down to a maximum of 10 mph.
Be patient, do not sound your horn or rev your engine. When safe to do so, pass wide and slow, allowing at least two metres of space.’
As Sandra points out, this rule applies to ALL vulnerable road users – cyclists, runners, dog walkers and parents walking their children to school. We are all responsible for ensuring our roads remain safe for everyone to use.
The ride was successful – it was sponsored by Shaftesbury Rotary Club, who also purchased the banners. ‘We started from Hawkers Hill Farm by kind permission of Phil, Trish & Helen Lever,’ says Sandra. ‘Then we rode up the B3081, crossed over the A30 to follow the back lanes towards Shaftesbury, then travelled down Foyle Hill and Coles Lane. Here we met up with our lead-rein ponies, cyclists and walkers to process down Shaftesbury High Street – was quite impressive!’
Rosettes and refreshments were very much appreciated by both two and four-legged participants at the end.

At the end of the route, the riders met up with lead-rein ponies, cyclists and walkers to process down Shaftesbury High Street

It’s a rider’s job too
Sandra and the PWAS’ message to other road users is simple: ‘When passing horses, please just slow down to 10mph,’ she says. ‘And be prepared to stop: a pheasant or a plastic bag might be in the hedge that you can’t see, and horses can shy and spin on a sixpence. Please be patient, don’t rev your engine or sound your horn. Allow enough distance as you pass … and don’t suddenly accelerate once you have passed!’
Don’t forget, there are three brains at work and reacting to the situation when a driver passes a horse – the rider’s, the horse’s and the driver’s. It’s also worth noting that if you see riders two abreast, this is often because the inside one is a young or nervy horse or rider: it’s safer to keep them between the edge of the road and oncoming traffic. It’s not because we’re trying to hog the carriageway or have a chat!
As riders, it is also our responsibility to encourage good driving, and acknowledge the efforts of those who do adhere to the highway code. It’s just as important that we thank drivers for slowing and giving us space – even if you can’t take your hands off the reins, nodding your head and shouting ‘thank you’ or smiling goes a long way.
If possible to do so, trot on to a safer place for traffic to overtake, pull in when possible and don’t be afraid to use hand signals to tell traffic to slow down or wait if it’s not safe for them to overtake. We also can’t expect other road users to slow down if we can’t be seen – admittedly, being lit up like a Christmas tree is not exactly the height of fashion it can alert drivers to our presence from further away, giving them crucial extra stopping or slowing distance. That can make all the difference.
Sandra hopes to organise next year’s ride to coincide with national PWAS day – keep your eyes peeled for dates. And to all of us who drive: remember to Pass Wide and Slow!

Some bridleways are inaccessible simply due to the lack of maintenance from councils and landowners – something which Georgie has taken into her own hands by setting up the Hedge Hackers facebook group to share badly-kept bridleways and to demonstrate opening them up to keep them accessible and safe for riders to use.

Have an evening out and feel better for it

By

Editorial team

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12 October 2025

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The Exchange is offering a powerful programme of theatre this autumn, visiting ancient Greece, the centre of the Roman Empire and Nuremberg 1590.
Starting with an evening of fun, Too Many Greek Myths is a family friendly (8+) show from Living Spit. They will be lighting up the dark nights of 17th and 18th October with their familiar harebrained humour, questionable wigs and total disregard for historical accuracy. The chaos of 20 Greek myths in one evening is followed by a different and blacker sort of chaos a week later.

A short season in partnership with Artsreach starts with Tangle Theatre’s powerful production of Julius Caesar on 24th October. With original music preformed live on stage, Tangle brings African storytelling into the heart of ancient Rome. Caesar is a tyrant, Cassius sees the threat, Brutus is torn by loyalty and the murder of Caesar solves nothing. Chaos erupts and a civil war begins. Tangle have visited The Exchange before and always been enthrallingly different.
A different sort of killing becomes the subject of a dark comedy about justice, corruption and the cost of survival on 11 November. Making a Killing, presented by Ha Hum Ah Theatre, set in 1590, in a world disturbingly like our own. The ropes are ready, the crowd is waiting and the hangman has a new apprentice – duty, morality and power collide and every decision leaves a mark..
The last event for 2025 from the Artsreach partnership is the visit of 12 musicians from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra on 20 November. Musical Families is a fascinating programme exploring the sonic possibilities of string instruments which is presented by the musicians themselves.
It is a colourful show for all ages, including well known, charming and ethereal music from Karl Jenkins, Holst and Gershwin amongst others.

These shows are visiting theatres across the UK, including Theatre Royal Windsor, The Minack and the Mayflower Southampton – The Exchange is delighted to be joining this distinguished company. We believe that enjoying high quality live performance, theatre, music or dance in a shared space helps make people feel better, and that helps to build a happier community. Our exciting partnership with Artsreach makes it possible to bring more of these experiences to Sturminster Newton and the rest of North Dorset. Please support us – buy a ticket and join in.
stur-exchange.co.uk

Raise a glass for rural futures at the G&S Wine & Wessex Grazing Platter Evening

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Editorial team

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11 October 2025

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A night of generosity, community spirit and local flavour awaits at the Wine & Wessex Grazing Platter Evening and Auction of Promises on Saturday 18th October at East Stour Village Hall.
The event, organised by the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Society, aims to raise vital funds for the Student Support Fund, which helps young people pursue careers in agriculture and land-based industries.
This exciting new event offers an immersive wine-tasting experience – led by an expert from Wild about Wine – paired with a delectable grazing platter featuring locally sourced treats from across the Wessex region.
Guests can enjoy bold Barber’s cheese, award-winning From Dorset With Love chutneys, Olives Et Al nibbles, and artisan charcuterie from The Real Cure – all included in the £20 ticket price.

Olivia Payne (left) presented a bouquet to Baroness Batters at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show

Alongside the tasting, attendees will have the chance to bid on a diverse array of promises donated by local businesses and artisans. Highlights include a magical steam engine experience, a week’s stay in a luxury Newquay apartment, and a private wine-tasting at home. For food and drink lovers, there’s also a VIP tour of Hall & Woodhouse Brewery on offer.
The funds raised will support the Student Support Fund, which provides financial assistance for travel, equipment and tuition fees – crucial support for young people embarking on rural careers. As one such beneficiary, 17-year-old Olivia Payne from Frome, said, ‘The grant means I can follow my dream of doing a university degree in Equine Veterinary. I’m so grateful.’
Anthony Wilkinson from the Student Support Fund says, ‘Young people wanting to go into rural careers often struggle to finance travel to college – for many it’s more than 50 miles – or to afford essential equipment. The Student Support Fund can make a huge difference to their ability to succeed.’
Tickets for the evening are £20, which includes the wine-tasting and a grazing platter. Booking is essential to ensure your place for an unforgettable evening of local food, drink and genuine community support.

Tickets are available at gillinghamandshaftesburyshow.co.uk

Is it actually climate change – or just weather with better graphics?

By

Editorial team

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10 October 2025

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Dorset NFU’s Tim Gelfs asks why questioning costs, data and green policies now risks branding you a sceptic rather than sparking discussion

So, is Mr Trump right about the hoax of climate change? Probably not … Is Project Fear alive and well? It certainly looks that way!
Call me cynical, but with so much money being made from climate change fears, it seems to be in no one’s interest to challenge the thinking or to report opposing views.
Let’s look at the polar ice caps: we’ve all seen the reports that they are shrinking and we’re all going to have to grow webbed feet. All true, and seemingly well-documented. But no one has reported in the main media that it looks as though the ice fields have grown in the last year?
Our weather forecasts, with the help of digitalisation, have changed beyond recognition – remember Michael Fish with his handful of magnets? Back then, a heatwave was depicted by a yellow sun with the number 30 on it, stuck to a map of the UK. Now, it is in glorious technicolour with every shade of red you can imagine. I’m surprised the telly doesn’t melt!
We are told that we are setting record temperatures ‘since records began’ … that’s just the last couple of hundred years. On the scale of the planet’s life, that would barely register: insufficient data from a scientific point of view.

A fool’s game
Then we have our biggest culprit of all, CO2, the evil gas that is driving up global warming. If we don’t stop producing it, we’re all doomed, Captain Mainwaring! What is not so well reported is that more than 90 per cent of its production occurs naturally. We humans are only responsible for somewhere around five per cent: but we must do our best to not only reduce its emission, but also help with carbon capture by sequestration. It sounds commendable – indeed, our illustrious fount-of-all-knowledge climate minister has chucked billions of pounds at it. But are we playing a dangerous game with not enough knowledge? CO2 is the gas of life: take too much out of the atmosphere and we have a real problem – probably a bigger problem than having too much?

‘Where are our bleak mid-winter days spent thawing out pipes and using several cans of easy-start on the scrapper tractor?’

Is it just me?
And then, around the world, we have the biggest money-spinner of all: Green Energy, the saviour of all our climate issues. But you’re not allowed to question how much carbon is produced in making the solar panels or wind farms. Nor what the cost is, at end of life, for disposal? I have asked, and no one can give me an answer. And literally no one wants to talk about the pollution of a lithium mine.
By now you’re probably thinking I am a climate sceptic – if digital ID was already in place, I’d already have a big black mark next to my name!
But I’m not, not really. What I don’t like is anything we are not allowed to challenge. If the arguments are so robust, what are they scared of?
Climate change IS happening, we can see it for ourselves. Sea temperatures around the UK are higher, you can see that just by looking at the species such as tuna appearing off our shores. We go out in the sun and it does feel more intense than it did 30 years ago (or is that just getting older?). The weather patterns seem to be changing. Where are our bleak mid-winter days spent thawing out pipes and using several cans of easy-start on the scrapper tractor? Not that I am missing the ice on the inside of the window, you understand, nor the permanently cold feet for a couple of months!
Are we responsible? Or is it just a natural cycle? It seems sensible that we’re having some effect on climate change. I don’t think the world is designed to have eight billion people living off it without some effect. If it is down to us, then one thing is for sure: it is not going to be solved in the West. Asia and South America will decide the outcome, and poverty will be the driver.
The uncomfortable truth is that if we allow the world’s biggest populations to live in poverty, survival will take priority over climate change! We’d be much better off if we spent our money on pollution and resolving waste … but that’s for next month!

Live the life you choose with empowering dementia support

By

Editorial team

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10 October 2025

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For many people, the time to seek some help comes when an individual’s dementia care needs can no longer be comfortably or safely managed at home. Whether you’re seeking support to remain independent in your own home, or considering moving into a care home which can support you to live well with dementia, the most important thing is that you receive the support you need to live the life you choose. Here are the key benefits and considerations for the three main dementia support options.

Stimulating activities to support people living with dementia
© Somerset Care Group

Dementia-friendly care homes
Care homes for dementia fall into two categories. ‘Dementia-friendly’ care homes can support those with low-level dementia care needs to live as independently as possible within a residential setting, while ‘specialist dementia care homes’ provide expert care and support for those whose dementia symptoms are more advanced, or who need additional help to stay and feel safe.
All of Somerset Care’s care homes are dementia-friendly, and able to support those with mild dementia symptoms to live the life they choose.

Specialist dementia care homes
Specialist dementia care homes will seek to support the passions and interests of residents living with dementia, as well as provide tailored care which meets their needs. This person-centred approach to dementia care enables those living with dementia to find enjoyment and expression, and continue to lead a fulfilling life.
Specialist dementia care homes, like Grovelands in Yeovil, have highly-trained, expert dementia care teams, and dedicated dementia care suites which provide safety, security, stimulation and reassurance for people living with more advanced dementia symptoms.
A specialist dementia care home is a good option for those who are worried about their dementia symptoms progressing, as their expert dementia care team will be able to adjust the amount and type of support they receive, within the same, familiar setting.

Animal therapy to provide comfort and reassurance for those living with dementia
© Somerset Care Group

Dementia support at home
If you don’t yet feel ready to make the move into a care home, it is worth considering specialist dementia support which can enable you to stay in your own home for longer. This could include home care visits from specialist carers to support you with personal care or daily household tasks, or perhaps experiencing a snapshot of life in a dementia care home through day care visits or a respite break.
Ultimately, the right dementia care is whatever meets your needs, helps you manage your dementia symptoms, and stay safe and well.

How to find advice and support to choose the right dementia care option
Whether you have a dementia care option in mind or aren’t sure where to start, our friendly, expert enquiries team can talk you through the various care solutions available, and provide the information you need to make an informed decision about dementia support which meets your needs.
somersetcare.co.uk/dementia

School Nurses and Healthcare Assistants | Milton Abbey School

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Editorial team

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10 October 2025

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**UPDATE** Closing date for these vacancies is now Monday 27th October

We have exciting opportunities available to join Milton Abbey’s Health Centre as a School Nurse or as an Experienced Healthcare Assistant providing high quality care 24/7 for our pupils. The roles are diverse and rewarding and applicants should be confident to work autonomously and be keen to support and influence the lives of the young people in their care.

Full-time, part-time and bank contracts are available covering the school’s three terms leaving over 20 weeks’ for holiday each year. Successful applicants will work on a rota basis covering nights when pupils are on site (on call cover from home) and weekends (c25 weekends fall within term time). Night cover and weekend work will be distributed equally across the team.

The school offers competitive rates of pay, meals on duty and payment of NMC membership fees

Full job description and applcation pack may be obtained from our website here Working at Milton Abbey – Milton Abbey | Independent School in Dorset or from the school’s HR department on 01258 880484 or email [email protected]. Applications must be submitted on the school’s application form. The closing date for applications is Monday 20th October 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the positions available.

Milton Abbey School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants may be subject to online and other searches and successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced disclosure check from the Disclosure and Barring Service prior to appointment. Please note that our school is a no smoking site.

www.miltonabbey.co.uk Registered Charity No 306318