Aged 90 Passed away peacefully at Dorset County Hospital after a very short illness surrounded by her family. Beloved wife of the late Barry. Loving mother to Melanie and Corinne, grandmother of Charlotte, Jake , Lewis & Tom , and great grandmother of Esme, Toby , Hallie and Indie.
Funeral to be held at Weymouth Crematorium on Friday 15 th August at 11.30 am. Family flowers only please, but donations in Jo’s memory may be given to Alzheimer’s society via Grassbys Funeral Directors .
Barry Cuff takes a look back at what happened on his Sturminster Newton plot last month
It was another very dry month with little rain, high temperatures and drying winds. The little rain we did have only amounted to around 0.6 of an inch. Water was in great demand across the allotment site, and we pumped from our 12 foot well most days to supply the tanks and troughs. Vegetables on our own plot were watered every day, including the maincrop potatoes. Some planting was held back until after the 0.3 inches of rain on the 20th. We have been picking tomatoes from the greenhouse most days, and we have lettuce available all through the month.
All images: Barry Cuff
3rd – The haulm (the stalks or stems) was dying back on the Jazzy, Sagitta, Maris Bard and Charlotte potatoes.
4th – Removed three more onions with white rot. Harvested courgettes, beetroot and blackcurrants (Val made a blackcurrant pavlova!). Gave four rows of Desiree potatoes 40 litres of water per row.
6th – Hand weeding.
7th – Dug Maris Bard (good) and Charlotte potatoes (very good!). Prepared the ground for leeks – it’s currently very lumpy.
8th – Dug two rows of Jazzy potatoes (excellent). Helped strengthen and put in new supports under the water-holding tank. Cut haulm off Sagitta potatoes. Harvested peas, courgettes, beetroot, blackcurrants and gooseberries. Fed the strawberry plants.
9th – First big tomato harvest: Akron, St Pierre, Rainbow Blend, Santonio, Santa Victoria and Ailsa Craig. Planted out lettuce from a plug tray.
10th – Weeds looked stressed from lack of rain.
11th – Picked the first Nairobi snap peas and Carrouby de Maussane mangetout. Harvested French beans, peas and a few onions.
12th – Picked courgettes, gooseberries and blackcurrants. A very hot day (31°C).
13th – Stored garlic: now totally dry. Dug five Harry potatoes (a new variety to us – good, but we won’t grow it again). Picked a punnet of bird-sown cultivated blackberries from the hedge.
15th – Harvested peas, snap peas, mangetout, gherkins, French beans and our first outdoor cucumber. Sowed Sweet Williams and Wallflowers in trays for 2026.
16th – Planted out Rudolph and Claret purple sprouting broccoli from plug trays.
17th – Planted out two rows of Musselburgh leeks from pots. Sowed Palla Rossa radicchio in a plug tray.
Caledonian rose pottaoes harves
18th – Hand weeding. Fed celeriac and strawberries. Harvested mangetout, snap peas, peas, gherkins, beetroot, onions and French beans. Had a big tomato and sweet pepper pick.
20th – 0.3 inches of rain! Sowed beetroot and carrot.
21st – Hand-weeded brassicas.
22nd – Planted out lettuce from a plug tray. Fed celeriac. Planted out Navona romanesco. Cut haulm on the four rows of Caledonian Rose potatoes (dying back). Harvested peas, snap peas, mangetout, gherkins, cucumber, beetroot and French beans.
23rd – Sowed Vitimo Chinese cabbage and the next batch of lettuce in plug trays.
24th – Removed cloches from the seven lines of brassicas, then hand-weeded, watered, sprayed for caterpillars and boron deficiency, and erected pigeon-proof netting. Large numbers of Large White butterflies on the wing.
26th – Harvested about 50 per cent of onions and laid them out in trays to dry. Picked cucumbers, gherkins and courgettes. Dug first good-sized carrots. Hand-weeded remaining onions.
27th – Dug two rows of Caledonian Rose potatoes – a good yield, but many were small due to drought. We now need some decent rain for the remaining crops.
During hot, dry spells, choosing drought-tolerant plants is better for bees, butterflies, your water bill and your summer display
Following on from last month, where we talked about saving water in the garden, perhaps we should consider native plant varieties and species which naturally need less water – including those with grey or silver leaves that reflect more of the sun’s radiation, such as succulents. Many species that thrive in dry conditions and yet are helpful to bees and butterflies are available. Here is a list of drought-tolerant plants that may be helpful. This list is not restrictive, there are lots of others: Agapanthus, Anchusa azure, all succulents including Cotyledon orbiculata, Geums, hardy geraniums, Bearded irises, Mexican feather grass, Nepeta, Pittosporum, Trachelospermum jasminoides, Sea hollies,, verbascums, artemisia, sedums, lavender and heuchera.
A small bird enjoying a bath in a stone birdbath, surrounded by splashing water droplets in a lush green garden setting.
Check your pots Also, do choose your pots with care, as some lose water more quickly – metal heats up fast, and unglazed terracotta is more porous than glazed, so it loses water faster. And think about where you place them – avoid the midday sun. Plants in containers may well need watering twice a day in the summer – in the early morning and evening! Hydrangeas, particularly in containers, may need to be monitored. Keep feeding all container plants with liquid fertiliser – once a week if possible.
In hot spells Thin out overgrown pond plants. A water feature that trickles water into the pond will probably help aerate the pond water. Failing that (and assuming no hosepipe ban), water from a hosepipe can be trickled into the pond to help aerate it instead. Solar pond fountains may also help. Remember to top up ponds regularly. While you’re there, ensure bird baths are full to give garden birds a place to bathe, drink and cool down. Create an amphibian refuge by placing some logs in a shady area, and stuffing the lower layer with fallen leaves and moss. This will make a cool, damp location for frogs, newts and toads. Keep deadheading flowers, particularly roses, and summer-flowering shrubs to remove the faded blooms and help continue their display. Sweet peas are at their best this month, and they really do benefit from constant picking for vases in the house. This helps prolong the flowering period.
Importing tomatoes – literally paying for water – from drought-hit Spain is absurd, says Dorset NFU’s Tim Gelfs: ‘food shortages are just beginning’
Water, water everywhere, the saying goes? Well, while writing this we actually have had some welcome rain that will hopefully motivate the green stuff to reappear. Not nearly enough, of course, but a welcome start: fingers’ crossed we will get some more (although, thinking about it, the kids have broken up for the summer holidays now, so of course it will rain!) The hysterical media coverage of ‘drought-stricken Britain’ and ‘empty reservoirs’ has meant the roses and the paddling pools are all going to suffer with hosepipe bans across the country. It reminds me of the old Morecombe and Wise piano sketch: “We’re getting all the right rain, just not in the right places and never at the right time!” I see our environment secretary has announced the cleaning up of our defunct water companies, and he did mention something about reservoirs and storage … we’ll see. I can’t believe we keep being told we are one of the richest countries in the world when our utility infrastructure is an embarrassment, with hardly any long term investment or thinking. But as with all crises, the taps will have to actually dry up before the government’s fire engine comes to the rescue – costing two or three times as much as it should, naturally.
Here in the south west, we can all see for ourselves how a drought affects us. arable crop yields are down, and livestock farmers are already eating into their winter feedstocks. It is costly and doesn’t do the balance sheet much good, but so far we can manage it. The real challenge is for farmers growing root crops, soft fruit and salads – who rely on irrigation to get the right amount of water at the right time to produce a crop worth harvesting. Yet investment in water storage, and in the networks to move water where it’s needed, has been neglected for too long by both governments and the big retailers failing to support vital industry investment. No, they had a better plan: let’s import most of it! And not from countries blessed with an abundance of water, but from Mediterranean countries such as Spain. Have you looked at a weather map recently? You think we’ve got problems with water! Just take the humble tomato: we import approximately 400,000 tons every year – well over 80 per cent of our UK market. And guess what? Around 95 per cent of it is water. You really couldn’t make it up. This has to be one of the most expensive ways of importing water into our country. And where is our illustrious climate secretary when you need him? Of course, he’s championing solar farms on all the land where we could grow our food … so we can import more water disguised as fruit or salads. Brilliant. We are just beginning to see the stresses of water shortages and weather patterns in our shops. I bet all of us in the last few months have been into a supermarket for some veg or salad and found they have been short of something? This isn’t a mistake, or a problem with the ordering, it’s just not available! Right now we are in the infancy of food shortages, but if we are not going to invest in home-grown food security and instead rely more and more on imports from drought-stricken regions around the world, we had better get used to it!
As dog adoptions rise we assume dog rescue centres are safe – but they’re unregulated, and as one Dorset family learned, the reality can be distressing
When Adele Haine adopted a Romanian street dog through a Dorset rescue centre, she expected a tough adjustment – but not attacks on her children or the heartbreak of returning the animal after 18 months. As dog ownership hits record levels in England, thousands of us are turning to rescue centres. But few realise that in the UK, these centres are completely unregulated. Since 2008, the dog population has soared from 8.5 million to 13.5 million, and nearly a third of households now have a dog. Alongside this surge, the number of abandoned and unwanted dogs has risen – some due to changes in owners’ circumstances, others simply mistreated. Increasingly, people are adopting dogs from overseas, particularly Romania. While the majority of rehoming stories end happily, others are more complex.
Stock image of a rescue dog in a kennel
Unregistered rescues Incredibly, there is no requirement in Britain to register a dog or cat rescue centre – which means that anyone can set one up. Sadly, that means the number of unregulated centres in the UK is unknown, and the lack of regulation opens the door to vulnerable animals being mistreated. MP Richard Holden, who represents Basildon and Billericay, is calling for a parliamentary debate on the licensing of these centres, which would bring higher standards and regulation into the sector. The petition, which has already attracted more than 60,000 signatures, supports the Animal Shelters (Licensing) Bill * – a cross-party initiative co-sponsored by Richard and ten other MPs: ‘I’m stepping up the campaign to get animal shelters and sanctuaries licensed. In England, breeders, kennels and pet shops are all licensed, but animal rescue centres aren’t. That loophole has left some of our most vulnerable animals without protection. ‘In one awful case in Crays Hill, Essex, 41 dogs were found dead at a so-called ‘rescue’. Because there’s no licensing scheme, the authorities had no power to step in until it was far too late.’ Here in Dorset, the picture is much the same. A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: ‘There are no officially registered dog rescue centres in Dorset, because dog rescue centres are not required to be registered or licensed – there is no legislation governing this. Dorset Council supports dog rescue centres in helping dogs find suitable new homes, regardless of where the dog comes from, including overseas. ‘The rescue centres carry out welfare and suitability checks for new homes, and we expect dogs to be microchipped, spayed/castrated, health checked, vaccinated, wormed and behaviourally assessed. We use reputable rescue centres only, and we would not work with a rescue centre unless it is a registered charity.’
Stock image of street dogs waiting in a holding kennel
Romanian dogs Romania has a very different relationship with dogs. Stray animals are widespread, and there’s no government-funded sterilisation scheme to control the population. Instead, the state pays catchers around €200 per dog, creating a profit-driven system where animals are rounded up with poles and cages and taken to public shelters. If these dogs remain unclaimed after two weeks, they are euthanised. Some are rescued by charities and transported across Europe for rehoming. After basic assessments, vaccinations and neutering, they endure a four-day van journey to reach UK centres. Once here, they’re often placed in temporary foster homes to see how they adjust before adoption. Many rescued animals do settle into loving homes – but these dogs might be deeply traumatised, and it can take a significant amount of time. Some have never lived indoors, worn a collar or interacted with humans. Settling them requires patience, understanding and often some specialist support. When it goes wrong While there are lots of stories on the internet of dogs find a loving homes, when Adele Haine fostered and adopted a dog from Stour Valley Dog Rescue** in Shillingstone she was faced with a highly traumatised animal. Adele lives near the rescue centre in Shillingstone where she adopted her dog, and describes a near-constant backdrop of barking. The organisation, based in a small residential bungalow, reportedly houses up to a dozen dogs at a time. Volunteers tell us the dogs are routinely kept separated indoors to prevent pack behaviour. Concerns have been raised privately about the suitability of keeping so many animals, particularly those with a history of trauma or reactivity, in such close quarters in a domestic setting. ‘I fostered, and then adopted, a dog that we unfortunately had to return. He came to me straight from the Happy Bus (a van used by the centre to transport dogs, in cages, from Romania to rescue centres). When a home couldn’t be found for him, we adopted him. ‘When you foster a dog you are meant to get 24 hour support and everything supplied, including veterinary appointments – but there was nothing, not even a tin of dog food. Ultimately, he was a street dog – reactive, unpredictable and increasingly aggressive. Within days, he started biting. He bit all of us, and after 18 months I asked them to take him back. I became seriously ill and I didn’t have the strength to pull him off the children when he attacked them, so he had to go back. In the end, I said that if they wouldn’t take him I would have him put to sleep. We received no refund, and were later told he had been placed with another family. ‘The main issue is the lack of support when things don’t go to plan. These dogs are not really family pets. Some of them have never been in a house or worn a collar: imagine trying to put a collar on a traumatised dog? The stress of their past – and the journey here – stays with some of them. I love dogs, but people don’t realise that Romanian rescues are street dogs and some will never settle in a house. I’ve heard of serious incidents, including fatal attacks, between dogs at the centre.’
Stock image of a sleeping Romanian street dog
No oversight The Dogs Trust is also calling for regulation of the animal re-homing sector. New research conducted by YouGov on behalf of Dogs Trust reveals that the vast majority of the population (79 per cent) wrongly believe that the law requires rehoming centres to be inspected and licensed. Dogs Trust warns that this regulatory gap is putting the welfare of vulnerable animals at serious risk, and that without proper rules, rogue traders, backyard breeders and well-meaning but unqualified individuals are all putting dogs at risk of neglect, illness and even death. Owen Sharp, chief executive of Dogs Trust, said: ‘There are brilliant rescue centres doing incredible work in the UK – but without licensing, there’s nothing to stop someone with no training or experience setting one up – and potentially doing real harm. ‘Good intentions aren’t enough. We need laws in place to make sure all rescue dogs are safe, cared for and treated with the respect they deserve. ‘Without proper oversight, these organisations cannot guarantee that they are operating in the best interests of the animals in their care.’ Adele was unaware that some rescue centres are unregulated: ‘I had no idea – and this is not just an issue in one Dorset village. It’s a national concern. Something needs to be done before people get hurt.’
We are writing on behalf of Stour Valley Dog Rescue regarding your recent article, “Unlicensed rescues put dogs and families at risk,” published in the August 2025 edition of Blackmore Vale.
While we understand the importance of highlighting responsible dog adoption, we were disappointed by the way our organisation was portrayed.
The article focused solely on one negative adopter experience, without acknowledging the many successful adoptions we have facilitated over the years. We have countless examples of dogs thriving in loving homes, which represent the vast majority of our rehoming outcomes.
It also stated that we “did not respond to comment,” which is inaccurate. We explained that this is an exceptionally busy time of year and that we were unable to commit to a full interview at that moment.
The piece referred to our rescue as “unlicensed,” but this is misleading. Currently, there is no licensing scheme for dog rescues in the UK. We have consistently supported the introduction of a formal licensing system and would welcome its creation to ensure high standards across the sector.
Unfortunately, a recent issue with a neighbour has led to a smear campaign intended to damage the rescue’s reputation. We are treating this with the contempt it deserves and remain focused on the welfare of the dogs in our care.
Our priority has always been the welfare of the dogs we rescue and rehome, and we remain proud of the work we do to transform the lives of dogs and their new families.
We would appreciate it if you could publish this clarification to ensure your readers receive a fair and accurate understanding of our work. – Stour Valley Dog Rescue
Farming is changing fast. Instead of checking their fields by foot, more and more farmers are turning to views from space to keep an eye on their crops. What used to be a tool for scientists and space agencies is now something growers use every day.
This matters because satellite imagery supports modern agriculture by giving farmers a way to watch their crops over large areas and spot problems early. With this information, they can use water, fertilizers, and other resources more wisely, and adjust quickly to weather or environmental shifts. Combining satellite data with what they see on the ground helps farmers make smarter choices that are better for both their yields and the environment.
When satellite data arrives, the most valuable moments begin. These high-resolution images and measurements inform decisions that directly affect yield, cost, and environmental impact. Across the farming calendar, Earth observation helps farmers respond with precision and speed.
Instead of relying on routine schedules or visual inspection, farmers today can use satellite-based insights to fine-tune how and where they irrigate. By analyzing vegetation and moisture indices like NDVI and SMI, which reveal subtle changes in crop health and soil moisture, they can pinpoint exactly which areas need attention. This smarter, data-driven approach reduces unnecessary water use and ensures plants aren’t harmed by inconsistent watering, leading to healthier crops and more sustainable farming practices.
Fertilization also benefits from this targeted approach. Satellite images of agricultural land reveal nutrient deficiencies before they become visible to the naked eye. Farmers can then apply fertilizer variably across the field, reducing waste and avoiding environmental runoff. These decisions not only lower costs but also support healthier soils over time.
Pest and disease detection has become more proactive as well. When plants are under stress from pests or pathogens, their reflectance patterns change slightly. Satellite imagery analysis can help detect these signals before any visible damage occurs. This allows farmers to take action earlier, often before outbreaks spread across an entire field.
Planning for harvest is another area where satellite data offers clear advantages. By analyzing crop development through satellite imaging in agriculture, producers can forecast maturity and estimate yield potential. With this information, they can better coordinate labor, storage, and transportation, leading to less waste and higher efficiency.
One of the proven examples of satellite imagery efficiency is the European Commission’s use of Sentinel‑1 and Sentinel‑2 data to map crop types across the entire EU. In 2022 this model produced a continental crop map at 10‑meter resolution, identifying 19 different crop types with an overall accuracy of nearly 80 percent. This work combined radar and optical imagery with ground survey data to produce actionable crop monitoring insights.
From Observation to Automation
Earth observation does more than improve human decision-making. It also feeds directly into the automation tools that are becoming increasingly common in agriculture. Tractors, drones, and sprayers equipped with GPS and geospatial data can now operate with extreme precision, often without constant manual input.
These machines rely on data such as precision agriculture satellite imagery to carry out specific tasks. For example, autonomous tractors can follow optimized paths, planting or applying chemicals based on real-time field conditions. This method reduces overlap, saves fuel, and ensures inputs are used efficiently.
Perhaps even more transformative is the shift in mindset that Earth observation enables. Farmers no longer view a field as one uniform space. Instead, they see it as a collection of microzones, each with its own needs and responses. Managing these zones individually, based on data collected from space, leads to healthier crops and better yields.
The long-term benefits are just as significant. By looking at historical satellite records, farmers can identify trends across seasons and years. They can see which parts of their land perform consistently and which areas may need different management. This deeper understanding allows for better planning, smarter crop selection, and stronger resilience to climate change.
Importantly, these technologies are becoming more accessible. Thanks to falling costs and open data policies, Earth observation is no longer limited to large farms. Smallholders in developing countries are beginning to use satellite data for agriculture to improve productivity and reduce risk. In regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, projects are helping local farmers use satellite data to make informed decisions about planting, irrigation, and harvesting.
A New Chapter for Agriculture
Farming has always required a sharp eye and careful observation. What is changing is the scale and speed at which farmers can now gather and interpret information. Earth observation extends the reach of that traditional knowledge, offering insights that were previously out of view.
In the face of global challenges such as climate volatility, food insecurity, and resource scarcity, agriculture needs every advantage it can get. Satellite technology is now one of those advantages. It provides information that helps farmers act quickly, use fewer resources, and make better choices.
This shift does not mean replacing boots on the ground. Instead, it means enhancing those efforts with a broader perspective. With each satellite pass, a more detailed picture of the land emerges. And with that, a new kind of agriculture takes shape, one that is more intelligent, more efficient, and more in tune with the planet.
Farming’s future demands clarity not chaos, says Minette Batters, as she warns of political drift, food insecurity and farmers close to walking away
Former NFU President Minette Batters is not known for pulling punches. As one of the country’s most prominent voices in agriculture – and a tireless advocate for British farmers – she has spent years pushing government after government to take the rural economy seriously. She speaks to The BV as this year’s president of the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Society, taking on the honorary role ahead of this summer’s G&S Show. But the conversation quickly turns to farming’s future – and the cost of continued political drift. ‘Uncertainty is the biggest issue right now. Farmers just don’t know what policy is going to hit them next,’ she says. ‘Morale has been knocked. There’s real worry out there.’
NFU President Minette Batters at her farm in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England on Thursday, Sept 02, 2021.
Credit: Lawrence Looi / NFU
A sector in survival mode ‘We’re in a drought, but we’ve just had the wettest 18 months on record – it’s been absolutely extraordinary. I’ve never known weather like it, and I’ve been farming for 26 years.’ ‘It has affected every sector: the arable sector is in huge difficulty, with half the amount of wheat being planted. Grass yields are massively down. And bovine TB just goes on and on … you can be shut down, you can lose animals, and then the mental health pressures that naturally follow…’ For many, she says, the pressure feels relentless – and national policy only adds to the stress. ‘In 2018 we were told there would be “public money for public goods” – that food didn’t count, that producing food didn’t count. ‘We’ve spent six years changing direction again and again. Just look at the Sustainable Farming Incentive: people were being paid not to farm, and then suddenly they were being paid to grow wheat again.’ ‘It’s that flip-flopping that does the damage. We’ve had enough of being told to do one thing and then, at the last minute, it all changes.’
A plan for the long term Minette is currently chairing the government’s Review into Farming Regulation and Profitability, reporting directly to DEFRA. It’s a role she takes seriously – but with realism. ‘This can’t be another short-term fix. Farming is a long-term business – you can’t chop and change every four years. ‘We need a 25-year plan. Something stable. Something that stretches beyond political cycles. Until we have that, we’re just firefighting. ‘We’re at a point now where there’s a real risk of large parts of the countryside becoming unproductive and people just walking away. That’s not being dramatic – that’s where we are. And we have to ask: “What do we want our rural economy to look like in ten years? What are we actually trying to achieve?”’
Forgotten value For years, Minette has campaigned for the public and policymakers alike to take UK food security more seriously. ‘The message still hasn’t landed. People assume there will always be food on the shelves. But look at what’s happening – more than half of all fresh vegetables are now imported. We are exposed. We are vulnerable. And when geopolitical tensions rise, it’s our food system that will suffer first. ‘Cheap food comes at a cost. And we’ve got to stop pretending that it doesn’t.’
Minette Batters
Farming’s future Despite the challenges, Minette remains hopeful – particularly about the next generation of farmers. ‘Young people have such a strong sense of purpose. I speak to them all the time. They want to do the right thing – they want to innovate, to farm sustainably, to look after the land. They’re smart, they’re motivated, and they’re less burdened by the traditional structures. ‘But we have to give them a voice. We have to bring them in. Because without them, there is no future for farming. ‘We also need to make sure there are enough support services for them. This is a lifestyle, not a job – and when everything’s going against you, it’s easy to feel isolated. That’s why the agri shows, the local connections – that community spirit – is so important. It holds people up.’
The personal cost Minette’s own farming journey began with eight rented acres and a small catering business to keep things afloat. Today, she is a tenant farmer, with a 300-acre mixed farm in Wiltshire, raising Hereford cattle and arable crops – and (until recently) dividing her time between that and relentless lobbying in Westminster. ‘You don’t do it for thanks. You do it because you care. Because it matters. I’ve had moments where I thought: what’s the point? But you carry on. You fight the next battle.’
A return to the showground She says that coming to this year’s Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show feels good, like a full-circle moment. ‘It’s where real farming happens. It’s where you see the next generation stepping into the ring. It’s a space where farmers meet each other face-to-face – no emails, no lobbying, just people, livestock and community. ‘That’s the heart of everything.’
Wessex Internet founder and rural champion James Gibson-Fleming MBE says true service is just being part of something bigger than yourself
He didn’t expect an MBE. And he’s quick to say he didn’t earn it alone. But for anyone who’s crossed paths with James Gibson-Fleming – in a hospice boardroom, a fibre field trench, or a Remembrance Day service – the award probably came as no surprise.
A view across the Ranston Estate – all images Laura Hitchcock
The citation – “for services to rural communities in Dorset” – barely scratches the surface of a career that spans more than 35 years of voluntary work. ‘Of course it’s an honour,’ he says. ‘But it’s really a reflection of the people I’ve worked with – none of these things are done alone. ‘The thing is, my father died when I was 22, and I stepped into his shoes. The family has been here since 1781, and I rather just get dragged into stuff because people expect you to do it. But I’ve always been very happy to – I treat voluntary work and business work in the same bracket. I don’t count the cost of ‘pro bono versus paid’ or anything else. I think there is a duty, if you’re born lucky, to do what you can to help your local communities. I’ve always tried to do things where I felt I could make a difference. Not necessarily rattling a can, but more using my business acumen to make a place more effective and achieve more.’ Among his many roles, James spent 35 years on his parish council, chairing it for much of that time. At a national level he served on various country landowner committees in the 90s: ‘I think it’s important not to let any of these things get too much. I have always tried to avoid being chairman!’ For 36 years he has served as a trustee of the Talbot Village Trust, which gives away more than £1 million a year to good causes. He played a key role in establishing Cancer Care Dorset, and as chairman he oversaw its merger with Joseph Weld Hospice to form Weldmar Hospicecare Trust. ‘That was a really important moment,’ he says. ‘Two brilliant local organisations coming together to form something even better – a hospice charity with real strength and resilience.’
James Gibson-Fleming and his dog.
King’s representative He explains that the merger wasn’t just financial, but deeply strategic. ‘It allowed us to create a single, unified hospice service for Dorset, with proper clinical governance, long-term planning, and the ability to recruit and retain high-quality staff. When you’re dealing with end-of-life care, that stability and continuity matters hugely.’ He served as Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset for 14 years – first under Val Pitt-Rivers, then under Angus Campbell. ‘It’s a fascinating job,’ he says. ‘You get to represent the monarch at everything from Remembrance events to factory openings. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes support too – helping charities apply for honours, for example. You are the King’s representative in the county, so it’s your responsibility to be there when a royal visit isn’t possible. ‘And it did give me the chance to see all corners of the county. You meet incredible people doing extraordinary things, often very quietly. That’s something I’ve always admired.’
Superfast villages But arguably his biggest contribution to Dorset life has come through broadband. James founded Wessex Internet in 2010, out of a frustration that will sound familiar to many rural readers. ‘We couldn’t get internet to the farm office. So we got a couple of wifi dishes, pointed them at each other over a hill, and bounced a signal across. It worked. Then a neighbour asked if they could use it too. And another. And suddenly it wasn’t just our family and friends!’ What began as a wireless workaround quickly grew. ‘We started trenching fields, laying fibre ourselves. Because nobody else would. And we knew we didn’t want to go the usual route, following roads – that’s our advantage. We know how farmers feel about their land, and we built something based on respect for that.’
James Gibson-Fleming
Rural resilience Today, Wessex Internet employs more than 360 people and has brought fast, reliable broadband to more than 13,000 rural homes and businesses. ‘It’s not about the speed,’ James says. ‘It’s about the opportunity it brings. If you work from home, run a business, have kids doing homework … decent internet isn’t a luxury. It’s essential. Rural areas deserve the same chance as anywhere else. That’s always been the aim.’ James remains closely involved in farming too. ‘It’s my grounding,’ he says. ‘Whatever else I do, I’m a farmer. I love the land. And I think that rural resilience – that ability to find solutions, to get on and make something work – is central to everything I’ve done.’ The MBE, he says, was unexpected. ‘You get a letter saying you can’t tell anyone, and my first reaction was shock. Then you think about everyone who’s helped you get there. Because none of it happens in isolation. ‘It’s not something I ever set out to get. But I’m touched. And I hope it brings a bit of spotlight to the importance of rural communities – the need to invest, to innovate, to value what we have. ‘I’m incredibly proud of Wessex Internet – that’s what I’d like to be remembered for. It’s changed people’s lives. ‘And it’s not just what we’ve built, it’s how we did it – community first, always.’ He pauses for a moment, gazing out across the valley to Ranston, the house his family have called home since 1781. ‘But my passion is this place, you know. It’s about leaving it better than I found it – on my watch. And that changes with time. We aren’t the enemy of the countryside. I believe we’re its best guardians – its trustees. ‘If you’re lucky enough to live in a place like this, you want to give back. You have to give back. And I’ve always felt that if you’re in a position to help, you probably should. ‘That’s not service. That’s just being part of something.’
“Come and hear about the Local Plan,” they said. “At last!” I thought. Now I can deal with the good, the bad and the frankly ugly news following the Government’s directive on planning and its impact on my patch in Dorset. A crowd of councillors piled into Dorchester to hear the news from the council staff. What is the collective noun for a group of parish councillors? (A wrangle? A mutter? A grievance? – Ed) We have all been waiting for information: parishes need to manage the impact of yet more houses on top of what they have already agreed. I think it’s fair to say that every single councillor in the hall was waiting to find out exactly how the plans would impact their area – parish councillors will have to manage the news. Immediately, the entire presentation felt like a ‘slopey shoulders and hands-tied-behind-backs’ job. From the start, Dorset Council said it wanted our help with the consultation. Hard when you don’t have the details. Most people are aware that the housing targets have doubled under the Labour government. Where Dorset’s obligation was to build 1,700 homes a year, that has increased to 3,283 annually. Where there were plans for 25,000 houses – which seems enormous – there’s a gap, and a further 25,000 need to be planned into the system to make 50,000 additional units in the county by 2040. Already, many of us turn a corner on a familiar road to be faced with unexpected concrete and building sites springing up in the countryside. Well, it’s about to get far worse. While brownfield sites will still be prioritised, there’s now a ‘grey belt’ in addition to green belt. A map was flashed on the screen to demonstrate.
Dorset Insider
Why are we looking at Bournemouth? As I squinted to read the small print on the map, I assumed the coastal part was Weymouth and tried to work out whether any grey belt had infiltrated my patch. But it wasn’t Weymouth. We were looking at a map of Bournemouth – which isn’t even part of Dorset Council! About as much use as a chocolate teapot to parish councillors wanting to know how the new plan will impact their small, rural villages and towns which are already creaking at the seams. Because that’s what our residents will ask: every councillor knows at least six people in every parish who will pull the plans apart and challenge every sentence. And that’s not a bad thing. We councillors need the answers for them, and we don’t have those answers right now. Frustrated, the questions came flying. Where was the infrastructure to support this? The gradient on those slopey shoulders promptly got significantly steeper. What we all want to see is an improved road structure, especially in rural areas. We want confirmation there will be adequate school places – the scale of these builds requires several additional classrooms, possibly a new school. And we want social and affordable homes to be finished on time so people on the local housing register can get somewhere to live. However, what we’re likely to get is the odd bat box, a wildflower verge and a sand pit. Infrastructure was “a grey area” – a bit like the nebulous grey belt.
What we really need The Plan includes “reducing the use of cars in Dorset”. Green policy is admirable, but we need a significant improvement to public transport, especially for rural villages, for this to happen. A bus once a week to Dorchester is inadequate for the working population who don’t drive. For those wanting to get people to cycle more, just try cycling home from work on the A3030 in the dark in winter. Then you’ll have a better idea of why people commute by car. It is clear that every town and village across the county will need to take more houses, on top of what are already planned. We asked for local builders to be prioritised – there are excellent companies in Dorset who produce quality homes. However, “there has to be a mix” (says the Government) … which means the big boys with the cardboard cut-out monstrosities will be circling. While green fields will inevitably be lost, there was noticeably little mention of food security, despite agriculture being such a massive part of the Dorset economy. The council’s declared ‘nature emergency’ appears to have conveniently disappeared as well. Many parishes already have neighbourhood plans, but these will need revising to deal with the grey belt and the new target. However … there comes a point when housing increases to such an extent that it transforms the entire character of a community. Perhaps that’s what we should focus on developing? Instead of pandering to the government’s diktat on housing tick boxes, what we need to do is demand better infrastructure and work on strengthening the wonderful communities we have already. Rural Dorset thrives on volunteers, on innovation and on having good neighbours. More than ever before, we need to work together as a strong community to retain the very best of living in Dorset.
The Dorset Local Plan will be available for public consultation from 15th August. I urge you to read it, and to add your opinions.
**The Dorset Insider is a no-holds-barred column pulling back the curtain on local affairs with sharp insight, unfiltered honesty and the occasional raised eyebrow. Written by a seasoned parish councillor who prefers to remain anonymous (for obvious reasons), it cuts through the noise to expose the frustrations of grassroots politics, and say what others won’t. Rest assured, their identity is known – and trusted – by the editorial team. Expect opinion, candour and a healthy dose of exasperation …**
