Step back in time with our ‘Then and Now’ feature, where vintage postcards meet modern-day reality. Explore the past and present on the same page, and see the evolution of familiar places.
Both the vintage cards were posted in September 1904. The postcard of four little girls photographed by WH Diffey, above, was sent to Llanelli in South Wales. (Facing page) The group of children in the centre of the village pre-dates the First World War and therefore the war memorial is not there. The card was sent to Stockbridge in Hampshire.
Celebrating British sustainability: from farm to plate, LLTL founder Barbara Cossins is passionate about locally-sourced food
Our British farmers and producers work continually through all four seasons to ensure that the food on our tables is truly sustainable whenever possible. Sustainability has become a buzz word – especially in the catering industry. The provenance of all we eat is important; and it needs to be locally-sourced and from a replenishable source in order to be truly sustainable. Education is key, particularly in catering and hospitality. It’s shocking how little many people understand about the food they are eating, where it comes from and how it was reared and produced before it arrived on their plates. We have to try and get everyone on the same page, across all types of business, so that as many people as possible have a good understanding of where their food has come from and what the ingredients are that they are eating.
We have it right here In my book, eating local is what’s best. If you can source and eat seasonal food from close by, then you are on to a winner. I am always sad to read about other countries’ fish and meat being bought and sold on our British menus, when we have exactly the same already here in the UK. We’re importing food that we don’t need, simply to foster reciprocal trade agreements with governments in other countries. This benefits neither the planet nor the public. We should be requesting British food in restaurants (and all catering establishments) whenever possible. It just makes sense. In Britain, we have a wonderful supply of fresh fish and we don’t eat and enjoy enough of it ourselves. Our farmers here in Britain have the most dictated and regulated agriculture system, and the best farming practices in the world. Why wouldn’t you want to eat British-farmed meat? It is guaranteed antibiotic and hormone-free – not many countries can say the same. While our standards are the best, we are at a disadvantage when competing to produce cheap food. But remember, those few pennies you might save on cheap imported food could make all the difference to our farmers if you choose to buy British.
The power of the market Britain is one of the few countries in the world where the supermarkets decide the prices paid to the farmers. It is an unfair system – enormous corporations have so much power over our food production industry. We all need to get behind our farmers, growers and producers in order to become a voice for the future – before it’s too late. Love Local Trust Local is a food label that was created by farmers in 2018, in order to educate the public on what is grown, caught, reared, brewed or crafted right here in Britain. Each Love Local Trust Local county can proudly have its own flag displayed to show where its food is grown; to explain soil types, to showcase vegetables, fruit, meats, cheese, beers and wines that have been produced in that county. What a wonderful thing to be showing off your own county to the rest of the UK and the world! There are so many things that we need to learn about food. For example, did you know that Silver Spoon sugar is produced in England from British sugar beet? It’s a great one to buy – and such a simply choice to make. Do stop to read labels in shops and on the food that you buy. Talk to your butcher, greengrocer and farm shop about the foods you choose – it can make such a big difference.
This month Barry Cuff has chosen a couple of postcards of Stalbridge – and as it was so popular last month, he’s showing us the backs again too.
This postcard was sent to Mr M Brice from Albert Road, Upper Parkstone in Aug 1909. It was published by J. Fezzard of The Ring in Stalbridge: ‘Dear M. Many thanks for your kind postcard. Longing to see you tomorrow, you had better leave Branksome at 5.52 arriving here at 7-6 then you won’t have to change. So I will meet you at 6 minutes past seven, don’t forget. Love to dear Martha & Sister. Yours Bertie – Ada is here today’
This was sent to Miss Warren at White Cross, Banwell in Somerset – which now appears to be Whitecrosss Lane. The card was posted on 25th July 1913 by the photographer, who we can apparently spot in the card! The 25th was a Friday, so this was sent just six days after the Sunday parade: ‘Dear Siss, so sorry I have not written as I promised but have had such a busy photography week, on Parade last Sunday and had a big order in whch made us a lot of work. Hope Mary & yourself are keeping well. Did I tell you Aunt & Uncle are settled down at Wuncanton, they spent last Sunday with us. You can see Aunt & me in the left-hand corner. Love from us both ’
Electrification will have a major impact on Britain’s landscape, with pylon implications for Dorset, says Rupert Hardy of North Dorset CPRE
The new T-pylons installed in Somerset for Hinkley Point are cheaper and shorter, but more visible on the landscape
Last year, residents in West Dorset celebrated the removal of 22 electricity pylons in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – which was done at huge expense. Just 12 months later, a headline in the Daily Express read: “Pylon Hell to Descend on Britain” as the media realised the physical effect of the electrification of Britain in the pursuit of Net Zero. What does this mean for Dorset? In the 1920s and ‘30s CPRE was battling to protect the countryside from unsightly pylons as the National Grid was first rolled out. Once again CPRE faces a new invasion – but on a scale not seriously envisaged before, thanks partly to the development of renewable energy. This summer Nick Winser, the UK Electricity Networks Commissioner, laid out radical de-carbonisation plans – although the government has still to accept their conclusions, which are designed to speed up the roll-out of thousands of miles of high voltage cables to connect new wind and solar farms with users of electric vehicles, EV recharging points and heat pumps. Currently it can take up to 14 years to build new power lines, so planning needs to be streamlined and the grid massively restructured to achieve his proposed seven years. It looks very ambitious. Mr Winser and the National Grid have been coy about the number of new cables and pylons needed. Unfortunately, the introduction of intermittent and remotely-located renewable energy generators such as wind farms has resulted in the need for new grid lines. Their intermittency is a key issue; while the average power generated by solar farms is only 10 per cent of their peak capacity, the grid lines obviously need to accommodate peak power. The Express quoted Sarah Williams, Director of Regulation and Asset Strategy at Wales and West Utilities, saying the need was for 90,000 pylons, compared to the 22,000 now covering 4,300 miles of the UK. A senior source who worked at the old Department of Energy guessed it might be less than 70,000 pylons – but this is still a huge expansion and it will be expensive. It is easy to be sceptical over whether any government – and certainly not this one, seeking re-election soon, with Sunak backtracking on green measures – will push ahead given the enormous local opposition already being voiced.
Dorset will be less affected East Anglia is likely to be the worst affected area in the UK, with the need to connect offshore windpower to major power users such as London. Local protesters in East Anglia are arguing for burying the cables underground or offshore, but the cost is huge. Most estimates suggest an increased cost ratio of 10:1 for onshore burial or 4:1 for offshore, when compared with overground pylons. A cash-strapped government is unlikely to bury cables unless absolutely necessary across protected land. The National Grid has been extolling the virtues of a new generation of Danish-designed pylons, called the T-pylon, which are cheaper to install. They have been used in Somerset to connect the new power station at Hinkley Point, but feedback from residents has not been positive. Because the design is not only more solid than the familiar century-old design, but also white, they stand out in the landscape far more than the old taller lattice designs, despite being only 35m high. They are also criticised for interfering more with WiFi, and for being noisier. The new 112 mile high voltage transmission line proposed for East Anglia uses the old lattice design. Local campaigners and MPs in East Anglia have been vocal in their opposition. Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin, who is not a climate sceptic, said: ‘I have never known a single issue raise so much passion in my constituency … whether it is Gainsborough country or Constable country, we’re talking about despoiling really serious parts of our national heritage.’ The government is also looking at whether local residents could be compensated if such infrastructure was built close to their homes. However CPRE does not see a way to make this fair and we would prefer community benefits instead. Dorset will be less affected than East Anglia – we have no offshore windpower, and the huge capacity of the Chickerell terminal will reduce the need for more high voltage transmission lines. However, the development of solar farms across the county will still require the roll-out of lower voltage cables, with smaller, less obtrusive, 35-40m high pylons. Dorset’s relative isolation is currently a benefit! Half the county is likely to be spared from overground cabling too, given the size of the AONBs.
Other solutions We need to focus more on nuclear power to provide the steady baseload in order to offset the intermittency of renewable power – new nuclear power stations on old sites would need little additional cabling. More rooftop solar would reduce grid issues, as the power generation and its subsequent use would be in the same building, unlike greenfield sites. More major battery storage facilities will be needed – as long as they are located away from population centres. Dorset residents will have to accept many more pylons, but less unsightly ones than those for high voltage. Yet there will be battles over which proposed sites do less harm to our beautiful countryside and are more appropriate to build on. If you are moving home in Dorset and do not like pylons, may I suggest you buy within an AONB, and if not, install rooftop solar without delay.
A local expert from Citizen’s Advice provides timely tips on consumer issues.
Q: ‘As winter is approaching I am getting more and more worried about my energy bills. What can I do to try to keep them down?’
A: Small changes can make a big difference when it comes to saving energy. Citizens Advice has teamed up with Energy Saving Trust to share advice on getting help if you are struggling with energy bills and tips on how to cut energy costs around the home – not just this winter but as permanent money savers: Washing clothes at 30°C could save around £15 per year. Reducing the number of wash cycles you do by one per week could save a further £15 off your annual bill. Reducing shower time to four minutes could save a typical household as much as £75 a year (and why not switch off the shower while you are soaping up?). Putting only the water you need in the kettle could save around £12 a year on electricity. Draught-proofing windows and doors will help your home feel warmer and could save around £50 a year on bills. Turning appliances off at the wall/plug when you’re not using them could save an average of £60 a year. Turning the thermostat down by 1°C could save around £115 a year.
Finding more help However, lifestyle changes won’t be possible for everyone – and will not be enough to cover the hole in many household budgets caused by higher prices, so do check you’re getting all the support you’re entitled to. This could include: Checking what benefits are available to you by using a calculator such as the one on entitledto.co.uk The Warm Home Discount – £150 annually off your bill if you get certain means-tested benefits Cold weather payments — you’ll receive these payments if you get certain benefits and the weather is extremely cold Grants from your energy supplier — to help you pay off debts you may owe Household Support Fund is available to households across Dorset who meet the specific criteria. If you are on a very low income you may also be eligible for charitable support. Contact your local CA office for details.
This is a fabulously versatile recipe – the same dough base can be made into either a sweet or savoury version. I’ve given both alternatives below – all you need to do is choose your filling! The recipe makes 12 rolls but it’s super easy to double up if you need to feed more people. Heather
Savoury turkey, stuffing and cranberry swirls
Dough ingredients
500g strong white flour
1tsp salt
1 x 7g packet of instant yeast
300ml milk
40g butter
1 egg (beaten)
Method
In a jug, warm the milk and butter in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds until the milk is lukewarm and the butter has just melted. Tip in the yeast and give the mixture a little whisk to combine. Leave for five to ten minutes until the mixture begins to froth.
In a big bowl, combine the flour and the salt. Once it’s bubbling, pour the warm liquid mixture into the bowl and add the beaten egg. Mix together until it forms a soft dough
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and kneed until it becomes lovely and smooth – this takes about ten minutes by hand, or five-ish minutes in a stand mixer with a dough hook.
Wipe a little oil around the mixing bowl and put the dough back in. Cover with a clean tea towel or cling film and leave in a warm place to rise for one hour.
Grease and line a 9” x 13” (23cm x 33cm) baking pan that’s about 1” (3cm) deep.
After the hour, during which time hopefully your dough has doubled in size, place the dough on a lightly floured surface, and roll into a rectangle using a rolling pin. The dough will be quite springy, so this will take some work! It needs to be about 1cm thick.
Spread your chosen filling across the dough evenly.
Roll the dough into a sausage shape, starting with the longest edge off the rectangle, rolling the filling inwards. This makes the ‘swirl’ shape.
Cut the long sausage of dough into 2” (6cm) slices and place them into the baking pan, swirl side facing up. You should get ten to 12 swirls, depending how large you cut the pieces.
Cover with a clean tea towel or cling film and leave in a warm place for another 45 minutes to rest.
Preheat the oven to 180º fan/Gas 5.
After 45 minutes, bake in the oven for 35 to 45 minutes, until the swirls are a golden brown and no longer soft in the centre.
Fillings
Cinnamon Swirls: Simply mix soft, light brown sugar and lots of ground cinnamon together and spread it over the dough; as much or as little as you like. Once baked and cooled, I drizzle over some simple water icing to finish. Christmas Swirls: Make this into a seasonal, savoury version using pre-cooked turkey. If you don’t have any leftovers, slow-cook turkey breasts in chicken or vegetable stock to keep them lovely and juicy. Add stuffing and dried cranberries, crumbled up and scattered across the dough. It’s a great way to use up Christmas leftovers! Other filling suggestions: For sweet swirls, try Nutella, jam or sultanas. For savoury, try a samosa filling or a spicy jerk chicken. Just remember to make sure any meat is pre-cooked as the baking time might not be long enough to cook the meat all the way through.
Heather Brown is a special officer for the Guild of Food Writers, and has worked in the food industry for 20 years. She is a food writer and photographer, offering one-to-one help to local businesses for content and websites.
England Boxing has launched a new project for veterans and Shaun Weeks of Sturminster Newton Boxing Gym has landed one of just 10 coveted places in the country on the scheme. He will be providing the fully-funded 12-month journey for local veterans, providing not just boxing but also space to rekindle the bond they miss after leaving The Forces. The sport of boxing and life in the Forces share many qualities – you need courage, discipline, respect, a good work ethic and high fitness levels to do either. Shaun says veterans in the local area or beyond are welcome to attend the 46 week programme – each session will be 90 minutes long, including an hour of training followed by 30 minutes socialising over a cup of tea or coffee. The project will enable all participants to build on their health and fitness while also working on their wellbeing. There are 20 places available on the Veterans Project in Stur – its totally free of charge. If you, or someone you know may be interested in the project please do contact Shaun on 07817 243101 for more info.
Andrew Livingston considers the UK’s freedom to roam and a misadventure involving oranges and an angry farmer for which he definitely wasn’t to blame
Last week the Labour Party U-turned on its promise to create a ‘Freedom to Roam’ over the English countryside, should they be elected. Since the Land Reform Act of 2003, there has been Freedom to Roam across the Scottish countryside and Labour planned to implement the same across England. That was, they did … until various landowners’ groups kicked up a stink. As it stands, there is a right to roam on only eight per cent of English land. Labour still says that they will look to increase that percentage, but without a blanket ‘freedom’ across all of the countryside. I love walking our Dorset countryside. The sights from the top of our Iron Age forts are breathtaking. Even the view from our farm – when it’s not draped in thick fog, obviously – is incredible. Of course, I respect the countryside code. I stick to the path, close the gates, keep dogs on leads. ‘Leave only footprints and take only memories’ and all that nonsense … Last month I aired all of my dog’s dirty laundry, so it’s only fair that I be honest with you now. There was one occasion I did not follow the countryside code. I think it’s safe to say I really let myself down.
Las naranjas It was September 2005, and in my defence I was just a chubby little nine-year-old with many of life’s lessons still to learn. My transgression was not in our beautiful English countryside – it was, in fact, a Spanish error. In the 90s, my grandfather Pops retired to Spain – our visit in 2005 was for his funeral. Obviously it was an emotional time for the whole family, especially my dad and uncle (who, it seemed to me, had to partake of a lot of fine Spanish wine and food to recover from the trauma). A day or two after the funeral, the whole family travelled to Pops’ home in the Alicante countryside. It sat at the top of a hill and overlooked a stunning valley – to be fair, it was a view that would challenge anything Dorset had to offer! As my parents went through Pops’ possessions, regaling us and each other with tales of their childhood, my brother Jamie and I began to get restless. And, like all restless children, we started to prat around. Thankfully, the English owners of the house saw we were beginning to irritate our parents and turned to their daughter. ‘Why don’t you take the boys outside to play?’ She was probably around 13, a similar age to my brother (please note I was the youngest and therefore most definitely NOT the ringleader. I therefore can’t be held to blame for what was to come … can I?). It didn’t take long before the three of us grew bored with the small private courtyard – so we jumped the walls into the neighbouring fields to go and find further adventure. Being at the top of a valley, the neighbouring fields were the perfect landscape and climate for growing fruit. It’s been 18 years … and I’m still not too sure who decided to pick the first orange. Whoever started it, utter carnage ensued. Up and down the rows of trees we chased each other, snatching at the fruit on the trees as we went, viciously slinging them in hopes of maiming one of the other two in the group. It was brutal. It was vicious. But, my God it was fun! Unfortunately, where there is land, there is nearly always a landowner. Once the furiously gruff Spanish farmer in his scuffed cords and white vest had caught one of us by the ear, we knew we were done for. As fast as we’d jumped onto his land we were dragged back across it and into the house. The three of us stood in absolute silence as the farmer raged and shouted at both the owners of the house and my family. Despite the language barrier even my nine-year-old brain knew we had messed up. Big time. Our parents eventually laughed about it, but still to this day I shudder with fear as I pass through the fruit aisle in the supermarket.
