The Three Inch Fools are back! The clock is ticking as they rush to untangle one almighty mess in this farcical tale of long-lost twins, hysterical misunderstandings and endless mishaps. With musical instruments in hand, expect a joyous take on this Shakespearean rib-tickler. The Three Inch Fools are an innovative touring theatre company acclaimed for their fast-paced and musically driven approach to theatre. They have built a reputation for staging bold and vibrant productions in a fast-paced, musically-driven style which features all sorts of instruments and plenty of quick costume changes along the way! Fri 16 August, 7pm. Higher Orchard, Sandford Orcas. 01963 220208 Gates open at 6pm – licensed bar, picnics welcomed. Please note this is an outdoor performance – bring your own chair/blanket to sit on. Assistance dogs only. Tickets – artsreach.co.uk
On the 3rd of September we will be hosting the fourth Love Local Trust Local Food Awards at the Dorset County Show Members Pavilion. It makes us very happy to be celebrating and showcasing what has been grown and produced right here in Dorset. In the UK we do not celebrate our food anywhere near as much as we should! The food that is produced in our homeland is absolutely world class. Last autumn I wrote an article about American Thanksgiving celebrations, and how much I admired those traditions and the appreciation of the food on their tables. I truly believe that if we celebrated more of our own British food from our fisherman and farmers, it would bring so much more awareness of what we produce here in England. Rishi Sunak hosted a Farm to Fork Summit at Downing Street recently, and he is planning to make this an annual showpiece event (as long as he is still at No 10). This is wonderful news and incredibly welcome. But wouldn’t it be nice if we could make it a proper national celebration just like American Thanksgiving? It would definitely help people become more aware of what we British food producers and farmers do to put food on all our tables.
Making sense of it I also have to once again say congratulations to Jeremy Clarkson on his new series. I love the fact that this series has given our British food sales a real boost. It’s exactly what we need people to think about when they are buying from the supermarkets. They need to look at what is in season, buy it locally, cook it themselves and enjoy it. It’s as simple as that. We have had the wettest 18 months since 1836… yet other countries are worried that they’ve had the driest of winters and won’t have enough water to see them through this summer. The planet and climate are all over the place and nothing makes sense. In the middle of all this, please remember that our farmers are out on the front line in all this extreme weather, still trying to produce food for our country. British farming leads the world in food security and production standards. We should all be very proud. And that date for your diary is 3rd September 2024. If you would like to come and support us on this evening please contact us by e-mail [email protected] or phone 07831 184920. Barbara Cossins Founder, Love Local Trust Local
June at Rawston Farm: with crops finally growing well, James Cossins enjoys the June lull crucial meetings on crop varieties and mental health
Cereal harvesting at Rawston in the mid 1960s
The past two months have been exceptionally busy at Rawston Farm. We completed our maize sowing at the beginning of May, and saw rapid germination due to the moisture available in the soil and the lack of cold weather. The old saying for maize is ‘knee high by the beginning of July’ and we’ve certainly surpassed that – my two-and-a-half-year-old grandson Albie is dwarfed by the crop already! The next task was harvesting our first cut silage, which went well even as we dodged the predicted showers. The clamps are full, but maybe some quality was lost by being a week or two late cutting. We have just recently completed our second cut, which was made during the recent hot spell, allowing the grass to be cut and picked up straight away due to the heat. We then look to our cereal harvest, which will probably start in the middle of July. The combines have been serviced and the grain stores cleaned – they will now be fumigated to remove any lurking insects from the previous year’s crop. The crops look more promising than they did coming out of the winter, and the spring crops appear to have caught up, so let’s hope for a reasonable harvest.
The maize is growing so well it already dwarfs grandson Albie, the seventh generation of our family on this farm
A problem shared The month of June can mean a less intense workload, so I managed to get off the farm and attend a number of meetings. In the combinable crop world, various agricultural supply companies put on open days to show new varieties of wheat, barley and other crops to help growers decide on the best ones for their own farms. We try to chose a new wheat variety each year, and have now chosen one with good disease resistance and good yield. We have already sold some of it for next year‘s harvest – a premium price has been offered by the end user, for bread and biscuit making. At these industry events, various trials are being carried out to see how some of the traditional nitrogen fertiliser can be replaced by using bio stimulants, while maintaining the same yield. It will be interesting to see the results: most growers would like to reduce the amount of nitrogen used, thereby ensuring less is leached away into watercourses, but we need to maintain the yield from the crop. This month I also attended a mental health awareness workshop organised by Dorset NFU together with the Dorset Farm Community Network (FCN). It was a very interesting morning, hearing about and discussing mental health awareness issues with specific reference to farmers. The day to day of life working in agriculture can bring up many stresses – weather, animal disease, staffing issues, the loneliness of working, financial pressures and family issues, to name but a few. And it’s not just farming. I know many business owners suffer from similar pressures. My take-home messages were that sharing problems with family, friends or fellow farmers can relieve the daily pressure of work – especially when you realise that you are not alone… and it’s reassuring to find other farmers have the same issues. I know we farmers are not great at sharing or talking about our problems, but we must not forget that all those who work on the land have similar pressures with long hours and lone working. The FCN is a great organisation, giving space and time for issues to be shared, talked through confidentially and to provide help where necessary. The FCN farm walks are also excellent – it’s always great to look at other farms and talk to fellow farmers. Finally, let’s hope for some good weather at harvest time after last year’s dismal July and August!
Andrew Livingston calls for action on the relentless litter and fly-tipping that plagues farms … except for that one case of the rubble …
Fly tipping on the Cranborne Chase. Image: Laura Hitchcock
Well done to the Labour Party (I’m writing this in the days before the General Election, but I believe the writing is on the wall!). Sir Keir, I have a message for you: ‘Now that you are our glorious leader, would you pretty, pretty please sort out the amount of fly-tipping and litter thrown from vehicles? As a farmer, I am sick and tired of my place of work being spoilt by the empty cans of Special Brew, cigarette packets and bin bags full of rubbish.’ It is relentless. Our farm in Beaminster seems to be the perfect distance from the McDonalds in Yeovil for drivers to have finished their food and launch it out the window and onto our drive entrance. I’ve got nothing against McDonald’s, I could even say I am a quiet fan of a LOT of their work. But I am bored and disheartened by the lack of respect from those who pass through our beautiful countryside. Twice a year we go traipsing up and down the roadside picking up litter that others couldn’t be bothered to take home and bin themselves.
Can I have my rubble back? Litter throwers are bad enough, but those who fly-tip are the lowest of the low. To drive from your own house in the middle of the night and dump bags and bags of rubbish in someone’s hedgeside or drive entrance is abhorrent. It happens constantly to a lot of farmers, and it is the bane of our lives. We have had rubbish bags, rubble, televisions, tables and even a toilet. Just take it to the tip. Please! Not only is it is an eyesore, but why should someone else tidy up your crap? Figures released this year by DEFRA show that fly-tipping is on the rise. Dorset Council had a total of 1,659 incidents reported between April 2022 and March 2023, compared with 1,575 in the previous year. On top of this number are the countless cases where farmers don’t bother reporting it, deciding to just get on and sort the mess out themselves. I have to give them their due, Dorset Council is quick on the job if you ever call in a case of fly-tipping. I’m not sure if they have time or capacity for investigating to discover the culprit, but they are quick to clean up the countryside. We had a case a couple of years ago where a local dog walker rang the council to tell them a load of rubble had been dumped outside one of our farm’s field gates. The very next day the council had sent a team and swiftly cleared the issue. The only problem was that the rubble wasn’t actually fly-tipped … It was our rubble. We had left it by the gate to build up the boggy patch of ground through the gateway. Understandably embarrassed for wasting their time, we decided not to tell them of their mistake and thought we’d just let them keep the rubble.
Easy to identify and a downright astonishing lifecycle – conservation officer Mariko Whyte takes a closer look at one of our most intriguing native insects
The violet oil beetle (Meloe violaceus, shown) and the black oil beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus) are found across Dorset
Of the UK’s eight native oil beetle species, three are now extinct and three are extremely rare. All are under threat, suffering dramatic declines due to changes in how we manage the countryside, as their fate is intertwined with some of our most important native pollinators. The most common species, the violet oil beetle (Meloe violaceus) and the black oil beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus) are found across Dorset, and are widespread throughout Britain. Up to 30mm in length, both species are black, often with a bluish metallic shine. Despite the names they are not easy to tell apart! Unusually among beetles they are flightless, having reduced wing cases, a sausage-like segmented body and long antennae. The oil in their name refers to a noxious orange fluid exuded from their joints when they are threatened, repelling predators. The oil beetle’s way of life is just as odd as its appearance, inextricably linked with certain species of solitary mining bees. Sharing the same flower-rich habitats as their associated bee species, black oil beetles are found mainly in grasslands while violet oil beetles are commonly found in woodland. Adults emerge from the ground in spring and can be spotted bumbling around on sunny days between February and May, grazing on vegetation and seeking a potential mate. Males have modified segments in their antennae which they use in courtship to clasp and stroke the female’s antennae (presumably to get her in the mood).
Violet oil beetle larvae on a lesser celandine. Image: Mariko Whyte
Bee parasites The female lays batches of about 1,000 eggs in shallow burrows dug in loose, warm soil – laying an astonishing 40,000 eggs in her short two-month lifespan. For black oil beetles, the eggs hatch into active earwig-like larvae within a few weeks, with thousands of 2mm orange triungulins (the baby beetles) scrabbling to reach the top of nearby flowers, scurrying with frenetic energy. Then they wait for passing insects to grasp onto. Violet oil beetle triungulins are black and don’t emerge from the ground for a whole year after eggs are laid, so they are active earlier in the spring, overlapping with the adult generation. The oil beetle larvae are effectively parasites of mining bees, hitching a lift from the flower to the bee’s nest. Once inside, the triungulins feed on the egg and pollen stores of their host and quickly moult to more typical grub-like larvae, eventually pupating and overwintering as adults underground before emerging as a new generation in the spring. Visit dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk to learn more about Dorset’s beetles.
The colour-changing flower crab spider hunts among the summer blooms: they fascinate ex-arachnophobe wildlife writer Jane Adams
I’m watching a spider on a flower, in the garden. The bloom of the pink allium resembles a lollipop perched precariously atop a wobbly bare stick. From the four bulbs I planted last autumn, there are now four perfect spheres, each one covered in bumblebees, honeybees and hoverflies. The spider, more precisely a flower crab spider, has set up shop on one of these blooms. For years, flying insects have fascinated me. Their artful flight and tuneless buzzing are the essence of summer days and warm, soothing sunshine. But I am also fascinated by arachnids. Not that long ago, I had an irrational fear of them, and would run a mile if ever I saw one. However, over time (and a lot of close-up photography), I have grown to love them. The only complication is this particular spider also has a love of my favourite flying insects…
Some party trick Flower crab spiders, or Misumena vatia, are common in gardens throughout the south. The Latin term ‘vatia’ means bent or curved, and as I watch this spider, she sits motionless with her powerful crab-like front legs ready to pounce: I’m mesmerised. Unlike many species of spider, the crab spider doesn’t make a web. Instead, she excels in the art of ambush. If and when she catches something, she will immobilise it by injecting digestive enzymes into its body with her fangs, before eventually sucking out its bodily fluids. I know, I can hear you now. Ewww! How on earth can you love THAT? Maybe love is too strong a word, but I definitely admire a transformative trick she keeps up her hairy sleeve. The female flower crab spider has the remarkable ability to perceive and see colour, and she can adapt and change the colour of her own body. This unique skill means she can blend seamlessly with the flowers that attract the highest number of prey. Admittedly, it can take her a while to change her shade – usually between ten and 25 days – but by secreting a liquid pigment into her body’s outer cell layer, she can morph from white to yellow, pale green… or even pink. Imagine that as a party trick.
It can take her up to 25 days to change her shade, but the crab spider can morph from white to yellow, pale green, or even pink, to match her chosen flower
Flower crab spider facts:
Size: Female 5-9mm Male 3-4mm (the female will eat the male before or after mating, if he isn’t quick to escape!)
Eats: Flies, bees, butterflies, grasshoppers and moths
Find them: On garden and wild flowers from May to August (but you may need to look hard to discover them!)
A local expert from Citizen’s Advice provides timely tips on consumer issues.
Q: ‘I’m moving house and will be renting somewhere on my own for the first time. Do you have any advice on what I should do when looking for a new home?’
A: Once you have decided whether you want to rent directly from a landlord or through a letting agent, you can use websites to find somewhere to rent – also check the local press, visit local estate agents and you can also ask friends and family to help. Never pay any money before viewing the property, and if possible take someone with you. Avoid renting directly from an existing tenant (‘subletting’) as the tenant might not have the landlord’s permission to rent to you. If a tenant shows you around the property on behalf of the landlord they should give you the landlord’s contact details.
Make sure the property is safe and affordable by asking some key questions. For example:
How much rent is and how it should be paid
If the rent includes any bills
How long the tenancy is
If there’s the opportunity to renew and if there’s a break clause in case you need to end the tenancy early
If you need to pay a holding deposit while the landlord carries out pre-tenancy checks
What documents you’ll need to provide, including evidence of your Right to Rent
How your tenancy deposit will be protected
If any furniture or appliances are included in the tenancy
Whether you can have pets
You should also request any obvious problems with the property are fixed before you move in.
If a landlord refuses to rent to you because of who you are, this may be discrimination, as may a ‘no kids policy’ or refusing to rent to you because you get benefits. You only need to tell a landlord or letting agent you receive benefits if they ask. Some may then require a guarantor. They can still refuse to rent to you if they think you won’t be able to afford it. Remember, if you need any other advice on renting or you run into any problems, you can contact Citizens Advice on 0800 144 8848.
This month Barry Cuff has chosen century-old postcards of Cheap Street and what was then the Ladies College in Sherborne…
Sent to Miss L Sharp in Pokesdown (Bournemouth was still in Hampshire – it was ‘moved’ to Dorset in 1974) – note the stamp placement, which is significant. This 45º angle was the stamp code for ‘A Kiss’ from disappointed Frank: ‘Dear Lil, I am awfully disappointed you have not wrote as you promised. I quite expected to hear from you. I do not wish you to write by return but as you promised, I think your letter must have got lost. I writing this in shop, by the time I get home I quite expect to hear from you kind regards love Frank
The image is of what is now Sherborne Girl’s School, which at the turn of the last century was known as Ladies College, Sherborne. The card was sent in 1913 to Miss Hatcher, at Boxmoor in Hertfordshire, by Jimmy, who appears to be a teacher at the school – from the message he would seem to be her brother: ‘My darling Pud. This postcard shows you the school. It only shows a little bit of the white lodge, but it takes in our bedroom window, which I have marked. I expect mother has broken the news to you by this time about our returning for a 2nd term. I hope you are surviving the shock. Isn’t it gorgeous to think of 5 weeks today! We may be going to bring a Seoteh (?) girl back for one night, to break her journey! Jimmy’s hands are smelling simply disgusting of onions as he had to chop some onions in the kitchen this morning! Doubtless you would enjoy the scent! I don’t.We are keeping one of the students 21st birthday today, we are going to give her an awfully nice pair of earrings. Please write soon. Heaps of love. Jimmy
This is a simple and oh-so-tasty summer dish, combining the delicious umami flavours of soy and miso with the decadence of honey and sesame. You can remove the chilli oil if you don’t like any heat at all, but in this recipe its designed just to be in the background. I love the cashew nuts here – they add a little bit of healthy fats into the mix, but you can leave them out if you don’t like or can’t eat nuts.
Ingredients (feeds 4)
For the sauce:
1tbs sesame oil
2tbs oyster sauce
4tbs dark soy sauce
6tbs honey
1tsp chopped ginger
1tsp chopped garlic
1tsp fish sauce
1tbs miso
1tsp apple cider vinegar
1tsp chilli oil
Extra sesame oil for frying
Sesame seeds for finishing
Then:
100g cashew nuts
4 spring onions
Stir-fry vegetables (beansprouts, mushrooms, shredded cabbage and carrots etc). For ease you can buy a pre-prepared packet of veg to use here
Rice for four – 1/2 cup uncooked per person is a good guide
Salmon fillets – you may need more than four if they are small, just use your judgement
Preheat the oven to 180º fan/gas 6. and line a baking sheet or roasting tin.
Add all the sauce ingredients into a large bowl and mix well. Remove any skin from the salmon and cut into roughly one inch pieces. Place them into the bowl with the sauce and gently mix until the salmon is well-coated. Leave for 10 to 15 minutes.
In a hot frying pan, heat the cashew nuts in a little sesame oil just until they have a little extra colour from the pan. Remove from the heat and place into a bowl until later.
Start your rice cooking – just plain boiled rice, made according to the packet instructions.
Remove the salmon pieces from the bowl and spread them out onto the baking tray. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Keep the remaining sauce!
While the salmon bakes, drizzle 1tbs of sesame oil into a large frying pan and leave to get hot. When hot, add your vegetables – use a pair of scissors to snip your spring onions into small pieces and add to the pan with the rest. Stir-fry until the vegetables are just cooked and getting a little colour, then pour in the remaining sauce. If your hob runs very hot, turn the stove down at this point and cook the sauce through with the vegetables.
To plate, add your rice, top with the stir-fry, add some of the toasted cashews, drizzle on the sauce and then finish with the salmon pieces. A sprinkle of sesame seeds adds a little razzle dazzle!
