Choose a school for your child where they are known and can flourish. Every child benefits from a personalised education, with a curriculum built around them. With the ability to adapt our timetable to suit the choices of the students here, you will find that your child’s enthusiasm for school is renewed. Our subject choices range from Physics to Photography, Film and TV to French, whether your child has a flair for Art or is happier down on our Farm, they will certainly build an academic portfolio that suits their interests.
Our co-curricular activities are unparalleled and sport every day gives everyone a chance to have balance in their week – with no particular sport being compulsory. Maybe your child is a mountain biker, or perhaps they prefer sailing: we believe that children should be able to choose their sport. We have the widest range of GCSEs, A Levels and BTECs in Dorset and recommend you come and see for yourselves. We would be delighted to welcome you to Open Morning on March 1st, or give us a ring on 01258 881804 to organise your individual visit. We know that you’ll be blown away by our community and offering. Don’t take our word for it, come and visit us and hear from the people who matter – the students!
“Since joining Milton Abbey in Third Form (Year 9), I instantly knew this school was for me. Having been brought up with a strong rural background, it has meant so much to be able to come to Milton Abbey. I am able to learn surrounded by beautiful countryside, continue my passion for horses and even intertwine this passion with my education.” – Lily “There is so much I love about being at Milton Abbey School. What really stands out for me are the interesting, engaging lessons and the amazing sport choices. I have made friends for life here and I’m excited to continue the rest of my education at Milton Abbey.” – Sol
What happened on Barry Cuff’s Sturminster Newton plot in January
Barry’s main crop of paotatoes takes up around 75 per cent of the allotment, and he grows three to four varieties, along with the first and second earlies, plus salad potatoes All images: Barry Cuff
We’ve spent far less time than usual on the plot this month, due to the combination of high rainfall, cold days and overnight frosts. On good days, work included hedge trimming, emptying last year’s tomato and pepper flowerpots in the greenhouse and spreading manure on any bare ground, including that between the remaining brassicas. A first cut of the grass paths was made mid month We have continued picking leeks, cauliflower, carrots, parsnips, sprouts, winter radishes and oriental salad leaves as we wanted them. The salad leaves have survived the frosts, protected by fleece. We’ve noted more growth on the garlic than we’ve had in previous years. From store, we still had potatoes, winter squash and onions, and peas, broad beans, French beans, sweetcorn and garlic in the freezer. We made our first sowings of the year: seven varieties of sweet pepper in a heated propagator. More than 100 seeds of Masterpiece Green Longpod and Witkiem Manita broad beans in trays with a little heat. These will be transferred to the unheated greenhouse once they have emerged. We have also sown our sweet peas.
Potatoes Over the last 30 years we have grown 56 different varieties of potatoes on the plot. Each year we try a few new ones alongside our tried and tested varieties. Many we have only grown once for various reasons – yield, disease resistance and ability to cope in dry years. Those destined never to return include Apache, Casablanca, Mozart, Sentanta and Vales Sovereign.
First earlies – For many years we’ve stuck with Lady Christl and Foremost.
Salad – We have grown Charlotte for 23 years now – it’s an excellent salad spud.
Second earlies – Marfona has performed well for us over many years.
Main crop – Taking up around 75 per cent of the plot, we mostly grow three to four varieties. Sante we dropped a few years ago as it was prone to blacklegg. Picasso has been grown for 22 years – it’s a good yielder but is prone to wireworm. Rooster was another good variety which we grew every year from 2006 to 2022, but in the last two it had lower yields and smaller tubers.
Two big changes this year are Caledonian Rose – we will grow four rows of this excellent red skinned variety, a good all rounder especially for roasting – and Desiree, a variety we grew in the past. We tried a few plants last year and it did exceptionally well, so we’ve decided to use it in place of Picasso
Every year we buy our certified seed potatoes from Mill House Nurseries at Owermoigne: this year there were more than 60 varieties to choose from. You simply walk the aisles of potatoes and help yourself to the varieties you require. They hold by far the widest range, and as far as we can see are the cheapest in the area. Our choices this year are Maris Bard, Charlotte, Jazzy, Sagitta, Desiree, Caledonian Rose and five of each of Harmony, Harry and Java (all of which are new to us).
The Grumbler – the open opinion column in The BV. It’s a space for anyone to share their thoughts freely. While the editor will need to know the identity of contributors, all pieces will be published anonymously. With just a few basic guidelines to ensure legality, safety and respect, this is an open forum for honest and unfiltered views. Got something you need to get off your chest? Send it to [email protected]. The Grumbler column is here for you: go on, say it. We dare you.
As a retired farmer (if that’s not an oxymoron… do we ever retire?), I’ve seen plenty of daft ideas in my time, but the latest government plans really take the biscuit. On one hand, they’re pushing ahead with a third runway at Heathrow – spewing more emissions into the atmosphere – while on the other, they’re proposing to take ten per cent of England’s farmland out of food production to plant trees and call it ‘carbon offsetting.’ If that’s not greenwashing of the highest order, I really don’t know what is.
Sense or nonsense? Chancellor Rachel Reeves reckons we ‘badly need’ a third runway to boost investment and global trade. More flights, more business, more money in the economy – it all sounds great on paper. But what they fail to mention is that this expansion will ramp up carbon emissions, displace 700 families, and make a mockery of our so-called environmental commitments. Heathrow is already one of the busiest airports in the world. Do we really need to be increasing air traffic at a time when we’re supposed to be cutting emissions? The government insists that aviation will ‘go green’ through technological advances, but let’s be real. Sustainable aviation fuel is nowhere near mass production, and electric planes? DECADES away, if it ever happens. In the meantime, Heathrow’s expansion will pour more pollution into the skies while the government pats itself on the back for its net-zero pledges.
The great greenwashing con As if Heathrow wasn’t bad enough, the government also wants to take ten per cent of England’s farmland out of production to ‘offset’ emissions. That’s 1.2 million hectares – land that should be growing food for the British people. Instead, they want to plant trees and call it carbon neutral. It’s a ludicrous idea. We should be focusing on producing more homegrown food, not cutting back. Imports make us reliant on volatile global markets. Have we learned nothing from the food shortages of recent years? The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has already set out a plan for British agriculture to reach carbon neutrality by 2040 – without cutting food production. Yet instead of backing our farmers, the government seems determined to sacrifice our fields for an easy PR win. This isn’t about cutting emissions – it’s about shifting the problem somewhere else and pretending it’s solved. Carbon offsetting doesn’t cancel out pollution: it just moves it around. The government is gambling with our food security for the sake of meeting arbitrary net-zero targets – and it’s rural communities that will pay the price.
A smarter way forward If we’re serious about cutting emissions, let’s start with real solutions. Instead of throwing money at another Heathrow runway, invest in better rail networks to reduce short-haul flights. Instead of rewilding productive farmland, support regenerative agriculture to store carbon in soils, while still feeding the nation. Britain’s farmers know how to work with the land – better than any politician or city planner ever will. It’s time we were listened to, before more irreversible damage is done in the name of ‘progress.’
When the last bank leaves town: rural communities must adapt to the rise of online banking and the loss of local branches
Lloyds Bank in Sherborne will remain open until premises are finalised for the new Banking Hub, and it is operational
Last week I walked down a street in London and counted five banks that were open. Five. On one street. Yes, that included Coutts, but there were a further four high street banks within a three minute walk. Not something we are used to in North Dorset. When Lloyds Bank announced 136 branches were closing across the country later this year, the list included Blandford Forum and Dorchester. By the end of 2025, of the five towns in North Dorset, only one will have a Lloyds. Two of the towns have no bank at all (apart from part time “banking hubs”). What does this mean? Between 2015 and 2024, more than 6,000 bank branches have closed across the United Kingdom. Barclays led the way with 1,226 closures, while NatWest currently stands at 900 closed branches. There are no Barclays branches in North Dorset: the nearest ones are located in Dorchester and Yeovil. Shaftesbury has a NatWest, while Gillingham will be home to the only Lloyds Bank in North Dorset by the end of 2025. There’s no doubt that online banking and apps are on the rise, with more of us using them for all our banking tasks. It’s not just young people either – older people are also adapting to online banking. However, what happens to people who are unable to manage the technology, or who simply don’t want to use them but don’t have transport to get to one of the towns with a bank? Simon Hoare, MP for North Dorset said: ‘We’re at that transition stage, where banking apps are now more popular. Bank usage, and particularly the footfall – which is what banks measure to assess whether to close premises – is falling. The cost of running a bank building, with increased insurance, lighting and other overheads has also disproportionally increased. Of course, a lot of older people like to do their banking in person.’ Another reason for needing to visit a physical bank is to deal with a complex issue that is beyond the capability of an online chatbot or a telesales employee – for example, having to sign documents in person with a witness present, or dealing with a death. That’s when you need a human being with a bit of empathy instead of an automated response.
The Lloyds Bank branch in Blandford is scheduled to close permanently on 10th November, 2025
And then it goes wrong Having online banking readily available at the touch of an app is winning due to its sheer speed and convenience for most people. Until the system fails … the recent Barclays three-day outage happened on the January payday weekend – also the deadline for self-assessment tax payments – and thousands of people were unable to access money or pay bills, leading some people even unable to buy food. The failure raised signifiant issues about the risks inherent in a cashless society and being over-reliant on electronic banking systems. Should we all have a bit of cash stashed under the mattress, just for an emergency? There are also businesses that won’t accept cards and as many that won’t accept cash. Even more no longer accept cheques, instead demanding an online transfer – which can be awkward for those reliant on a chequebook, especially once work is completed. There are other issues with bank closures, as Simon pointed out:
‘When banks close in market towns, local business is disproportionally affected. When people come into a town to bank, they often do other things such as visit a couple of shops – and that impacts wider footfall. Rural market towns are under pressure and shop businesses are increasingly fragile. Meanwhile, Dorset has a disproportionately older population. That’s not to say bank closures are limited to market towns – I can count three within minutes of the Houses of Parliament that have shut. However, the impact is felt most acutely in market towns because of their smaller size. ‘Given the strategic position of Blandford with the surrounding villages and those who depend on it, there’s a question about whether a hub would be a viable option for Blandford.’ A banking hub is a part-time facility which can be used by customers of any bank. It’s something Blandford councillors have been looking at and Simon Hoare is questioning. Hubs come to towns when the last bank standing has closed.
Sturminster Newton’s Development Society has re-purposed the town’s three empty bank buildings into not-for-profit shops to benefit the town. Banking is available at the Post Office
So, how many people could be affected by the loss of a bank in a town? In 2023, Age UK surveyed the banking needs of older people* and found that four in ten adults over 65 (equating to 4.09 million people) did not use online banking, and three-quarters of over-65s want to bank in person. Age UK also found that the groups least comfortable using online banking and who wanted physical facilities were the over-80s, people with disabilities and people on a low income … in other words, some of the most vulnerable people in our community. When facilities are removed, it also takes away the independence of these people to manage their own finances. One of the reasons people give for wanting a physical facility for banking is a fear of being scammed, which is an increasing menace. Age UK recommend that the number of banking hubs is increased, and, critically, are put in place before a bank closes down. Also that banks do more to support the vulnerable. That’s exactly what is happening in Sherborne: according to Sherborne Town Council, the planned banking hub has not opened, as premises are still being finalised. As a result, Lloyds Bank is staying open until the hub is in place. Finally, the loss of another bank is a sobering reminder to use facilities that are available to us – or lose them.
January and February really know how to drag, but I always look forward to spring: new growth, new hope and the joy of seeing the newborn lambs. January saw us host our first quiz at The Udder Farm shop, with more than 150 people booking in! Our next quiz is on Thursday 13th February at Symondsbury Barn, starting at 7pm. Tickets are £15, and include supper and the quiz: tables are for six but we can always accommodate anyone who can’t get a table together themselves. There will of course be a pay bar – please bring cash. Please book in on with me (Bec) on [email protected] If you need us for any reason, you can email either myself (email above) or you can reach Barrie on [email protected] The confidential, national helpline is open every day of the year, from 7am to 11pm. Volunteers provide free, confidential support to anyone who seeks help: call 03000 111 999
February’s the last month to really prep the winter garden for spring, says Pete Harcom, and it’s time for some tidying up and getting ready!
January is the best month for getting the cheaper bare root shrubs and trees into the ground
February can still be quiet in the garden, but it should be used to get the garden prepared for spring. Take a long look around and evaluate what plants did well last year and also decide if any need replacing or removing. February is a good time to plant shrubs, as the soil will soon be starting to warm up. That will give the plants a good start when the sap starts to rise.
Out of the rain If you have a greenhouse it is a real pleasure to be out of the wind and rain, so have a good tidy up and get ready for sowing your seeds. Organise the seeds into their sowing date, and bring bags of potting soil into the greenhouse to warm it up before its used for sowing. The greenhouse can also be used to start potted fuchsias back into growth: prune overwintered fuchsias back to one or two buds on each shoot. For the next few months, if you pinch out the lead bud on every shoot, you will have lots more flowers in the summer.
Help the bees When choosing plants and seeds for the coming year how about focussing on our pollinators, all the moths, flies, beetles, butterflies, bumble and honey bees (among others)? These pollinators need homes – the easiest option is just to leave areas of long grass or log piles and leaf letter in unused corners of the garden. The compost heap will also shelter insects. There are a variety of ‘bee homes’ or ‘bug hotels‘ which can be purchased, but you can easily create your own using old plant pots, twigs and small bamboo sticks. Once they move in, then these new residents, plus their visiting pollinator pals, will all need nectar to survive. We have so many nectar-rich plants common to our English gardens: hellebores, snowdrops, heathers, pulmonaria, perennial wallflowers, rosemary, crocus, cowslip, crab apple … and, in summer, lavender, lemon balm, borage and salvias, to name just a few. Why not pick a few and add them to your garden this year?
The odd jobs Other jobs for February include digging out perennial weeds in your beds and borders. Dig them up, roots and all, before the weather warms up and they start spreading. Prune winter-blooming shrubs such as mahonia, winter jasmine and heathers once they’ve finished flowering. Cut back wisteria side shoots to three buds from the base, to encourage flowers this spring. Prune Buddleia Davidii (aka a butterfly bush) hard, right back to the base, to keep these vigorous shrubs to a reasonable size. Before the birds start nesting, trim back ivy and deciduous hedges, Virginia creeper and other climbers.
Pauline Batstone shares her monthly round up of what’s happening among the town’s collection of community enterprises and events
Calling all photographers – from keen amateurs to seasoned professionals! The North Dorset Photography Competition 2025 is your chance to showcase Sturminster Newton and celebrate the beauty, character and life of our town through the power of photography. We want to see Sturminster Newton through your lens – whether it’s the bustling town days, hidden corners or the community spirit that makes this town so special. A panel of judges will select the winning entries, and the winners will be displayed in a local exhibition. Entries will be judged in three categories: Under 18, Amateur and Professional. This exciting competition is part of a wider project celebrating the towns of North Dorset, promoting the area as a vibrant and picturesque destination: Blandford, Gillingham, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Sturminster Newton and Sherborne will all have individual competitions. Residents will then have the chance to vote for their favourites, with the top North Dorset images going forward to the ‘Winner of Winners’ exhibition at The Exchange. It’s an opportunity for local photographers to have their work showcased across the region and featured on the Visit Dorset website. Whether you capture a timeless view, a fleeting moment of daily life, or the energy of a local event, we want to see your vision of Sturminster Newton. Key Dates: Submissions open – 14 February 2025 Deadline for entries – 28 March 2025 Exhibition opens – 9 May 2025 For full details visit northdorsetphoto.co.uk
What’s on On Sunday 23rd February The Exchange and Artsreach are partnering with Dorset Food & Drink to host a pop-up Producers and Makers Market in The Exchange on the day of the always-popular annual Tea With William Barnes, offering the chance to try some famous local produce – or discover something brand new that has been made in Dorset. Taking place in the Atrium of The Exchange, the pop-up market is free, open to the public from 11am to 3pm: come and meet some of our county’s fantastic makers, including Black Ven Distillery, Chocolate Arthouse, Weymouth51, Farm Girl Sausages, Purbeck Ice Cream, Mrs Potter’s Brownies, Dorset Shortbread, Duck Farm Pottery, Rowan Beecham and Luna’s Locket.
And the highlight of everyone’s February … the SturBiz Pancake Races! On the Recreation Ground the first race is at 1:15pm on Shrove Tuesday, 4th March. There’ll be flipping pancake races between William Barnes Pupils, plus competitors from Yewstock School, the High School, local businesses and, of course, parents. All welcome to come and cheer on the racers. And finally … The Emporium is not just another charity shop: it has become a real destination for collectors, and we are very grateful for the advice and guidance given to SturAction by the teams at Charterhouse Auctions and Horrocks & Webb on pricing donations. When appropriate we also put goods into auctions, either with Charterhouse in Sherborne or, depending on the advice, to specialist auctions. As a consequence we get better value from our donations, and more money to give back to the community – around £1,000 on a normal year and £7,000 for one item at a recommended specialist auction a few years ago. So thank you to Charterhouse and Horrocks & Webb for your time and help.
From closed roads to poonamis, we know North Dorset’s flooding is getting worse – Rachael Rowe asks what’s causing it (apart from more rain)
The Stour out in November 2024 – the actual river banks can be seen in the bottom right of the image, with Durweston bridge crossing in the centre. Image: George Hosford
The last weekend in January was a storm to remember, as winds and torrential rain reached North Dorset. Rain described as “biblical” in nature streamed down on the Blackmore Vale, with many places rapidly flooding. For a while, roads across Somerset and Dorset were closed, with cars stranded in floodwater. North Dorset has well-known local flood spots – most people will avoid Hammoon and Caundle Marsh in very heavy rain, for example. However, what surprised many people were new areas with significant floodwater. How often does the A303 flood, for example? The A357 between Shillingstone and Sturminster Newton was closed while investigations took place into the flooding. The amount of water caught people out, stranded several cars. A Dorset Council spokesperson responded: ‘There are no specific known issues with our drainage here: it is likely to just be volume of rain falling in a short period of time that is overwhelming them. We operate a cyclical gully cleansing regime to clean the gullies all around the Dorset Council area and gullies are also checked during routine highways inspections. Unfortunately, some weather events mean that the gullies cannot handle the amount of rain that falls in such a short period.’ Blandford farmer (and BV columnist) George Hosford had some insights into the flooding. His ‘early flood warning system‘ – his 92-year-old father John – generally looks out of the window and tells him when cattle should be moved away from the Stour. George also measures rainfall on the farm and used to see an average of 1,050 ml a year: ‘The last three years we’re seeing an average rainfall of 1,400ml which is a significant increase. It’s down to climate change. Since September last year the Stour has been out five times. It used to be just twice a year. The problem is always a large amount of rain in a short space of time.’ Run-off from fields is another issue. ‘There’s a lot of maize being grown to feed cows and anaerobic digesters. While it’s good for producing carbohydrate, it has a very long growing season. As a result of using the heavy machinery, the soil can get damaged, causing an increased run off of water. With maize crops, some farmers plough up and down, whereas if they ploughed across a field it would slow down the run off. Some fields are also left with maize stubble in winter: with no other vegetation, there’s nothing to slow the run-off.’
The brown stuff One very unpleasant aspect of the storm was the sewage outfall. SewageMap.co.uk is an online mapping tool that shows, in real-time, which river sections are downstream of sewage discharges from storm overflows. After Storm Herminia, parts of the Blackmore Vale map appeared to have been hit with a giant poonami. It’s a very interesting website – just don’t browse while you are eating. It wasn’t just the fields drowning in sewage. Some unlucky residents with surprise bathroom floods – thanks to those overworked drains – discovered that their neighbours have been flushing wet wipes (seriously, please don’t do that).
SewageMap.co.uk is an online mapping tool that shows, in real-time, which river sections are downstream of sewage discharges from storm overflows.
Busy emergency services Naturally, the emergency services were busy dealing with the adverse weather. The Environment Agency had an incredibly demanding weekend, working to protect lives and properties in Somerset. The impact was also widely felt in Dorset, where the southern communities faced a heightened risk of coastal flooding. A spokesperson said: ‘We have warned nearly 17,000 people and 9,000 properties in the past three days (Sunday 27th to Wednesday 29th) and supported local authorities and fire services with evacuating people at Somerton and Ilford.’ A spokesperson from Dorset Council said: ‘We responded to 14 call-outs: 12 for flooding and two for fallen trees. ‘We made three road closures, all due to the amount of heavy rainfall in a short period. These were the A350 Beacon Hill, Wheatsheaf Hill – the county boundary between Sherborne and Corton Denham – and at Knoll Lane, Corfe Mullen. We also monitored the Portland Road beach road for two consecutive nights, in case the sea came over the beach on to the road. Spring high tides and the wind direction increased the likelihood of the waves overtopping the road, but this did not happen.’ Dorset Fire and Rescue were also busy, on shouts and advising people not to drive through floodwater. ‘Over those two days, we received 20 weather-related calls, three of which were in North Dorset. We attended four of those 20 calls, which were all to assist drivers who had tried to drive through flood water. ‘The biggest challenge we always face is getting the public to follow our advice of not trying to drive through flood water. Our advice for driving in adverse conditions can be found on our website – dwfire.org.uk.
Reducing flood risk With increased adverse weather and higher rainfall, what can be done to reduce the risk of flooding? George Hosford had a couple of suggestions: ‘There should be no building at all on flood plains … no car parks, no buildings and no roads. The Upper Stour is not a naturally flowing river any more. It has been deformed by dredging and building mills and weirs. If farmers in the upper catchment, where the tributaries flow, were given incentives to allow fields to flood for a period, less water would come downstream all the way into Christchurch.’ The Environment Agency noted that with climate change, flooding will be more frequent. It encourages people to sign up for flood warnings. However, with that increased frequency comes the need for more creative solutions to protect the North Dorset infrastructure.
Edward Scott has survived a drone attack while delivering humanitarian aid in Ukraine, where he has been volunteering since October 2022.
Eddy is in an intensive care unit in Dnipro, having chosen to remain in Ukraine for his treatment. Image: Base UA
Sometimes, the war in Ukraine feels distant, despite frequent news reports and its proximity to Europe. However, the devastating news that 28-year-old Edward “Eddy” Scott from Stour Row, near Shaftesbury, had been seriously injured in a drone attack has brought the war much closer to home.
On 30 January 2025, Eddy was driving a clearly marked, armoured humanitarian vehicle as part of an evacuation mission in Pokrovsk. The vehicle, operated by Base UA, was hit by a Russian First Person View (FPV) drone carrying a cumulative charge. The drone struck the top rear left side of the vehicle while it was navigating a damaged section of the road at low speed.
The humanitarian truck which Eddy Scott was driving, after it was hit by a Russian FPV drone. It was clearly marked ‘EVACUATION’. Image: Base UA
Eddy sustained severe injuries, rendering him unable to continue driving. His team leader, Pylyp Rozdestvennkyi, acted swiftly, applying tourniquets to Eddy’s left limbs to control the bleeding. Suffering minor shrapnel wounds himself, Pylyp checked the two evacuee passengers, confirming that one was unharmed while the other had a minor shrapnel wound.
With no time to lose, Pylyp flagged down a passing military vehicle and secured urgent assistance. Pylyp carried Edward into the military vehicle, and the unharmed evacuee stayed with him. Pylyp followed the military vehicle in the damaged Fiat Ducato as they made their way toward Hryshyne, where a casualty transfer point was located.
Upon arrival, medical personnel were standing by. Despite his injuries, Eddy remained conscious – he was immediately assessed, moved to an ambulance and transported to a larger medical facility for emergency surgery.
Doctors at the hospital made every effort to preserve Edward’s limbs, but due to the severity of his injuries, he was taken into surgery for amputation. His left leg was amputated above the knee, and his left arm underwent a high amputation, preserving approximately 10 cm below the shoulder. Following surgery, he was transferred to an ICU ambulance operated by MOAS and transported to a hospital in Dnipro – Pylyp followed in a separate vehicle right behind.
Humanitarian Work in Ukraine
Eddy (back left) assisting an elderly disabled woman to evacuate her home. Image: @MadisonTuff Humanitarian Photographer
Eddy, a British sailor from Shaftesbury, attended Sherborne School. He has been actively involved in humanitarian efforts in Ukraine since October 2022. Initially considering joining the military, he was instead encouraged to work in aid relief. He first set up Dorset to Donetsk, using a truck to deliver humanitarian supplies, and later joined Base UA, a Ukrainian NGO for humanitarian aid and cultural work founded by activists and journalists. His work focused on evacuating civilians from frontline areas and rebuilding damaged homes.
Eddy holding his dog Ice, posing with civilians evacuating from frontline areas. Image: Base UA
In the three weeks leading up to the attack, Base UA had been working in coordination with Vodafone and East SOS to refuel generators powering the only two mobile network towers in Pokrovsk, ensuring residents could contact evacuation hotlines.
Increasing Drone Threats
Kamikaze drones, also known as loitering munitions, are aerial weapons equipped with warheads that crash into their targets. Russia first used drones on military targets in September 2022, but since then, they have increasingly been deployed against civilian infrastructure. The attack on Eddy and his team marks the second time in two months that Base UA vehicles have been directly targeted by Russian drones.
Drones such as FPVs are manually controlled, allowing the operator to visually confirm and select a target before initiating an attack. Targeting clearly marked civilian vehicles and humanitarian workers violates the Geneva Convention and constitutes a war crime.
Recovery and Support
Images of Eddy in hospital have gone viral, with an outpouring of support from the global community. Despite his life-altering injuries, Eddy remains in stable condition, high spirits and is determined to continue supporting Ukraine in any way possible. Base UA described Eddy as a dedicated humanitarian who has risked his life countless times to help others: ‘Eddy’s story highlights the increasing dangers faced by aid workers and civilians in Ukraine, particularly from drone attacks, as they strive to assist civilians amidst ongoing conflict as well as the often overlooked and numerous war crimes by Russian forces daily.’
Eddy has chosen to remain in Ukraine for his treatment, receiving assistance from The Weatherman Foundation. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to aid in his rehabilitation and recovery. At the time of writing, more than £104,495 has been raised to support his long-term care.
