It’s November, and this month’s jobs are almost all about the final clear-up for winter – with a little planning ahead, says gardener Pete Harcom
It’s time to finish the winter preparations! There are still a few more jobs to get done in the garden this month – before the Christmas rush! It might be November, but we can still get some good dry days to finish up outside before the harshest of the winter weather.
Your jobs list Clear any faded and dying annual climbers such as sweet peas from their supports. When clearing up flower beds, do try to keep off the soil if it’s wet to avoid compacting it – use wooden boards to spread your weight. Clear up fallen leaves and put them in plastic bags or in a heap to rot down as leaf mould (which may take a year or so). This can then be used as a mulch. Cover and protect agapanthus plants with mulch or garden compost. Straw can also be used for protecting half-hardy plants. Alpines planted in the garden can have a gravel mulch, or, if they are in containers, they will benefit from covering with straw (or simply bring them into the cold greenhouse for the winter).
Watch the compost Keep on top of the compost heap by turning it regularly. Keep it moist and mixed well with shredded paper – if the heap gets heated well, nettles and some weeds can be composted. Do not compost any of the ‘difficult’ weeds such as bindweed, ground elder or dock.
Leave the heads It is a good idea to leave your plants with attractive seed heads – like rudbeckia, sea holly (eryngium), teasels, love-in-the-mist and any ornamental grasses – as these will provide valuable food for birds in the winter months (and can also be used for indoor flower arrangements!). Just cut down the old seed heads in spring, when the new growth appears.
Bulb it There is still time to plant your spring bulbs and bare rooted trees and shrubs before the colder weather. Don’t panic if you haven’t got round to it yet!
Autumn show-offs Japanese maples, or acers, are particularly spectacular at this time of year with their rich autumn colours. They can be planted in the ground or in pots this month and will benefit from sheltered semi-shady spots in the garden.
Sowing seeds This is a nice job to do at this time of year. Just a few of those I strongly suggest sowing this month are sweet peas, ajuga reptans (really good for ground cover), cornflowers, astrantias, corydalis solida and allium sphaerocephalon. Eryngium (sea holly) is particularly attractive and can be sown now in a cold greenhouse. The seeds can take a while to germinate, but they are worth it – and bees love them.
Lastly … After all that is done, take a break and browse through your seed and garden catalogues – you need to start making a plan for next year!
OK, they didn’t walk into a bar, but in this podcast episode, the farmer, the brewer and the coffin maker did chat to Terry and Jenny as they unearthed the intricacies of rural entrepreneurship and sustainable living. From the seasoned wisdom of a fifth-generation farmer to tales from a best-selling novelist, from artisanal craftsmanship of eco-friendly willow creations to the innovative journey of a homebrew hobbyist to a commercial success – these are the stories that weave the rich fabric of Dorset life. So pour yourself a mug of something warm, settle in, and let the authentic voices of Dorset accompany your day in this latest episode of our podcast – where every story is a thread in the tapestry of our county.
Tune into a candid conversation where soil meets soul, with fifth-generation local farmer James Cossins. Delve into the trials and triumphs of this year’s difficult harvest, and discover the world where the crunch of fresh produce and the rustle of golden fields meet business savvy and environmental stewardship. James opens up to Jenny about the delicate act of juggling profitability with passion for animal care and land conservation. It’s an enlightening insight that foodies, farmers, and eco-enthusiasts alike will not want to miss. rawstonfarmbutchery.co.uk
Brush shoulders with literary royalty as Victoria Hislop, the mind behind the international phenomenon The Island, reveals the muses and memories of her journey in literature as our Random 19 guest of the month. Jenny Devitt brings Victoria’s voice to life.
Crafting ales and reviving traditions with Eight Arches Raise a glass to the incredible story of Steve Farrell, the homebrew aficionado turned founder of the award-winning Eight Arches Brewery. From a 10-litre hobby to a 1,000-litre business, Steve tells Terry about his flavourful voyage bringing commercial brewing back to Wimborne. (featured image is Archie, the fostered cat who sleeps on the bar and is ‘even more grumpy than he looks!’) See the BV feature on Steve and Eight Arches Brewery here
Cath Abbott: Weaving Nature into Every Strand of Life Dicky Meadows is lovely to work with but Flanders Red is tricky, and the flecks in Harrisons Purple are lovely. Join Jenny as she weaves a conversation with Cath Abbott, the artisan who crafts life’s final journey with willow coffins and sails history with her viking burial ships. Listen as she shares how she grows her own willow, harvests local hazel and champions the revival of willow in everyday use through shopping baskets and trolleys at cradletogravewillowcoffins.co.uk.
Read the full October issue of the BV magazine here – jam-packed with incredible Dorset folks doing magnificent things. There’s also farming, equestrian, wildlife, food & drink… and if you like glorious photography you’ll be a fan. Did we mention it’s FREE?
For nearly six decades, the familiar sight of Reynolds & Son stood as a steadfast presence on Shaftesbury’s bustling High Street, offering its reliable shoe repair services. The shop’s signage still sits over the entrance, and the interior continues to echo with shoe repairs expertly undertaken. However, Reynolds & Son has evolved over the past decade into 3 County Locksmiths, another cherished local family business. The craftsmanship and service remains intact as they continue to provide on-site shoe repair services. Yet, their primary focus, and the facet of their business that has seen remarkable growth, lies in the realm of locksmithing and precision key cutting. In a progressive move, 3 County Locksmiths recently made a substantial investment in more than £10,000 of state-of-the-art machinery, advanced tooling, and cutting-edge software. This significant upgrade equips them to program remote key fobs, vital with today’s keyless ignition systems. Some raise concerns about the security of these advanced capabilities. Manager Archie McCarthy is quick to assurecustomers, ‘Should someone break in and steal the machine, there’s no record of previously cut keys stored within it. So, there’s no possibility of anyone duplicating keys and helping themselves to your vehicle.’ 3 County Locksmiths offers a range of services, including engraving work, and they are well-versed in household locksmithing, including barrel, five-lever sash and dead locks. Some keys can prove challenging to replace, Archie McCarthy says: ‘There are some, particularly the very old ones. Occasionally, we encounter keys for locks that are so old that obtaining blanks is impossible. Then we have to look at lock replacement or, in certain instances, attempt to handcraft a custom key to meet the situation.’ With adaptability, craftsmanship and good old fashioned service, 3 County Locksmiths continue in the spirit of Reynolds & Sons, blending tradition with cutting edge modern solutions to be your first port of call for all your locksmithing needs.
Cllr Spencer Flower shares his journey from a Gillingham council estate to the leadership of Dorset Council as he chooses the discs he can’t live without
Spencer Flower
Born in Gillingham in his grandmother’s house to a divorced single mum, Spencer Flower was raised by his mum until he was five. ‘I have a distant memory that we lived in Yeovil for a period of time,’ he says. ‘I remember sitting watching the workmen coming out of Westlands Helicopters, waving at them as they were finishing work! Then mum remarried and we came back to Gillingham, where we lived in a council house until I was nine.’ Spencer Flower, the first leader of the new Dorset unitary council, has been shortlisted for Leader of the Year in the Cllr Awards run by the Local Government Information Unit. He says: ‘It’s an unexpected and huge honour to be shortlisted.’ When Spencer was nine, he moved from Gillingham to the coast. ‘Dad was a local postman, and he got a promotion, which meant we moved to Weymouth. They bought a three-story house which they turned into a guesthouse. Growing up I always knew what was for dinner; the menu was on a two week cycle because you couldn’t have the same meal twice during a fortnight’s holiday! ‘I completed an engineering apprenticeship, living with my parents until I was 21, when I realised I needed to leave town for better opportunities. ‘I moved to London and started as a skilled worker on the shop floor, swiftly transitioning to a junior draftsman role, despite the initial pay cut. Over the years, I progressed through various positions, ultimately becoming the contracts and commercial manager. When I expressed my desire for general management, I was encouraged to work in quality assurance, where I excelled at managing a team of 50. I then set up a new operation for the company, increasing my staff from 12 to 370 in five years. Eventually, I was headhunted and by chance the new role meant a return to Dorset. Village life led me to engaging in local politics, and I joined the parish council and then ran for district council on a last-minute decision in 1995, narrowly losing. I thought, “next time around, I’m really going to do it.” Four years later, I knocked on every door, delivered leaflets and leaflets – and ultimately won with a substantial majority. ‘I stayed as the district councillor, moving to Verwood in 2006, where I was councillor for 14 years until the district council was disbanded in 2019 to form the unitary. I was fortunate enough to win a seat on the new Dorset Council and was also leader of the Conservative group – so de facto I became the leader of the council. I’ve got local government in my blood now!
No apologist ‘The thing that motivates me is that I like to help people. I’m an outcome-driven person. Someone once told me I was a workaholic, but I’m not, I’m an achiever-holic. I like my results! My business experience has been incredibly useful – managing people, understanding balance sheets and how you can structure things – and I’ve learned from colleagues whom I respect and listen to. ‘When I became leader in May 2019, it was probably one of the shortest acceptance speeches on record – I simply said: “I’ll be an advocate for Dorset, not an apologist for government. I’ll work across this chamber, because we’re all elected to do the best we can for the people in our individual wards, and collectively as a council. That’s my ethos and I won’t budge from it.” ‘And I haven’t. I know that I’ve come in for the occasional bit of criticism, but I don’t believe in tribal politics, I don’t believe in rigidly following an ideology. I’m very much in favour of working as a team to get the best outcomes. And it works. I’ve only got a majority of four and yet our budgets were approved with a majority 49. That meant across the chamber, the vast majority supported the budget. It was a common sense budget, so why wouldn’t they?’ Spencer is known for noisily and repeatedly tackling government ministers on the issues where he feels Dorset is getting a rough deal on the national stage. ‘We do rely very heavily on our local taxpayer for more than we should. In Dorset, 84 pence in the pound of our income comes from our local taxpayers. The national average is 67p!
Normal service will resume ‘We get a very, very small amount of revenue support if you compare us with some of the boroughs in London – they get 20 or 30 million a year with much lower council tax. ‘So I’ve been lobbying really hard. I remember early on in my tenure being told: “Nobody in Westminster really knows about Dorset” ‘And I thought, “well, I’m going to change that!” – they know about Dorset now, I can assure you! ‘And I’ve told the cabinet, there will be no service cuts. Don’t come to me until you’ve looked at every avenue to reduce our costs. I’m proud of that – cutting services is an easy route, and I don’t want an easy route, I want the long-lasting route of delivering services at an affordable cost. I recognise that we put a huge burden on the people of Dorset – I’m trying to gradually reduce that burden. ‘The issue in Dorset is that our demographics are way out of line with the rest of the country. Our number of over-65s is hitting 30 per cent of our population, and we’ve got the highest number of over-84-year-olds in the country. ‘Of course, people want to come and live in Dorset, and we welcome that. But there’s no recognition from government – the burden of the additional adult social care costs is on us, on the local taxpayers. And it’s huge. It’s £142 million out of our £348 million total budget, and we don’t get any support from government to fund that. ‘But by reducing to one unitary council, I predicted we’d save 70 million quid over the first five years – we’re actually looking as though we’re going to save about £110m, and that’s all been rolled back into service delivery, which is the key reason we haven’t had to cut services. We’ve managed to self-fund by our own efforts. ‘That’s buying time but it doesn’t stop me saying to government, “You’re not funding the shires!” It’s not just Dorset. All the shires are under-funded. ‘There’s a formula that’s used nationally for determining how the government distributes “the pot” and one thing they don’t factor in is the age of the demographic. The other one is the sheer cost of delivering services in rural areas. ‘I think there’s a growing recognition in government now – they will come up with a fairer funding formula at some point. But that doesn’t help me now! I have regular meetings with our MPs, they know that I’m on the warpath. I am always very polite. Assertive, but very polite. And I won’t take no for an answer. I don’t think it’s my job to accept second best for the people of Dorset.
A life in music And so to Spencer’s eight music choices, in no particular order, along with how and why they have stuck in his life:
Truly Lionel Richie I’m sort of cheating here, and I’m going to bundle three together; Have I told you lately that I love you? Rod Stewart and Everglow Coldplay These three songs together are for my late daughter. We lost Tracy seven years ago – she had undiagnosed stomach cancer. I lost her at the age of 48. Which is no age. I still think about her every day. It’s my way of coping with my loss. Talking about it helps me … bottling it up doesn’t. Tracy and I had a really really good dad-daughter relationship. I mean, the phone would go and I’d answer with “OK, what’s up? Do you want advice or money?” It was usually one or the other! But we always had a close relationship, all the way through. These three aren’t songs that we shared particular memories of – after she died, my wife and I looked through her music, to see what she played, what she loved. We had to pick some songs for the funeral, and we picked these three. I’ve just … I’ve just always kept those in my mind. It’s that little link to when she was alive, you know? So that’s why I picked those.
We Are The Champions Queen I’ve told my wife, I want this played at my funeral! Because it’s me. I’m a winner. I’m out to win. I’m not ruthless, but I do always try and win. I want to put effort into something and be walking away saying: “Done that. Achieved. Let’s move on to the next thing.” And We Are The Champions epitomises that mindset. I played football until I was 40, and at a company football match someone commented “I notice your tackling was an uncompromising as your management style!” I’m not quite sure that was true. But I do take the point. I don’t suffer fools, but I do it by persuasion, not by confrontation, I simply try to persuade people to see a different way of getting something done.
It’s Now or Never Elvis Presley I’m an Elvis fan – I always have been. I’m not quite sure why I picked this one particularly – probably my personality coming out here again, isn’t it? It’s now or never – me, the achiever-holic, I’m going to make this happen. So it’s sort of a bit of that, I guess, which attracted me to this particular song. I do a bit of karaoke, occasionally, and I do Elvis, as well as Sinatra and Tom Jones!
My Way Frank Sinatra You can see where I’m coming from now … My wife persuaded me that I had to put My Way in! The thing is, I’m always willing to listen to other people’s views and move position if it’s for a better outcome. I’m a great fan of ‘triangulating’ – I test ideas on two or three people, because I think you then come out with a better decision. I’ve always told my managers that we are never too big to ask the right question. If you’re not sure, there’s no disgrace in asking the question, because if you end up with a better decision, no one’s going to remember you asked the question, they’ll remember you found the solution. It’s a bit of a convoluted answer, but that’s why I chose it!
It’s Not Unusual Tom Jones It was a tough choice between Delilah and this. I just love them both – no big reason or story here. We did go and see Tom Jones last year – he’s getting a bit creaky now, but he’s still got a voice. And I do respect Tom, because he has a great voice, and a good range of songs. So I just like Tom Jones – and this one because it’s a good one!
Hotel California The Eagles We’ve seen the Eagles in concert four times. All over the country – my wife and I think they’re absolutely amazing. We saw them before Glenn Frey died, so the original line up, and then since with his son on the stage. And I think we’ve seen a couple of tribute acts too! They are a feelgood group, sort of country with a twist. The last time we saw them was at Wembley Stadium. Wow, it was packed – and my wife nabbed us (with my credit card, mind) seats that were six rows back from the stage. It was fabulous. Six rows back from the stage! Sheryl Crow was the warm up act, and then the drummer came on and said ‘Evening everybody! We’re going to play for two and a half hours. Because we can!’ And they did, too! It was absolutely brilliant. My eldest stepson says he could always tell he’s walking into our house, because you can hear the Eagles being played in the kitchen. We just say ‘Alexa, Eagles!’ So this one’s the best reason really – I picked it because it’s my favourite group!
The book – Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude by Napoleon Hill It doesn’t sound like a fun read, does it? It’s interesting – when I took on the role as a Quality Assurance Manager it was a bit of a challenge, a poisoned chalice. I didn’t really mind because it gave me a chance to show whether I could manage a crisis. One of my inspectors came in one day, put this book on my desk and said: “you might find it useful”. And I did. I read it twice (I never read a book twice). And it has had the most influence on my attitude in life that I could have ever imagined. If you’re negative, you use a lot of energy and you’ve achieved nothing. Everything I do is based on having a positive outcome. Even in a crisis, I will always look for the positives, then build on them. I just never hold my head in my hands – because that achieves nothing does it? If you spend all your time grumping, looking down a hole, talking about going to hell in a handcart then you might as well not bother. It’s having that ability to think positively about how you’re going to achieve your objectives. So that’s my book.
Luxury item – a chilled glass of dry white wine When I go on holiday in a very warm climate, it’s the only time I ever drink really cold, dry wine. So if I’m on holiday on my lovely Dorset island, I’m relaxing. It’s going to presume it’s a warm, dry, sunny stay, so a nice glass of cold dry white wine would go down nicely.
A giant wave is coming and you only have time to grab one disc – which will you save? Lionel Richie’s Truly, because it leads me to my daughter.
From city chef to Dorset farmer – meet the Instagram sensation who’s working to reconnect a modern audience with their food
Julius Roberts, at home in West Dorset
Julius Roberts is the newest farm-to-table chef on the block, having shot to social media fame as he documented a new life in the country. He studied sculpture in Brighton, and, as so many artists before him, he moved to London where he found it tough to make a living. His grandmother had inspired his early fascination for food – she kept a detailed record of recipes, garden produce, hedgerow foraging and game from the local woods and fields. Knowing his love of food, Julius’ mother encouraged him to find work at a local café, which led him to a job as a chef at the then-new Noble Rot. ‘It was the biggest leap I’d ever made in my life,’ he told Tatler in 2022. ‘With no formal training, I went from washing dishes in a basic French bistro to cheffing in a busy restaurant. But I learnt so much, more than I ever could going to a cooking school.’ Julius looks back with positivity on the experience, but openly acknowledges that he didn’t enjoy the sheer pace of the frenetic restaurant kitchen, struggling to maintain a normal life through the long, lonely exhausting weeks. He left the restaurant in 2016 ‘pale and stressed to my core’, he told the Telegraph recently. ‘As fun as that job is, it is incredibly gruelling.’
All images: Elena Heatherwick
Back to the land Even on a grim day, Julius’ tired brain couldn’t help but envy the people arriving at the kitchen door with their produce – the growers and suppliers looking healthy, relaxed and cheerful as they headed back to their outdoor life. After he left Noble Rot, a chance conversation at a family-owned restaurant in Florence about the importance of the provenance of food, of farming and of the quality and welfare in our food chain led Julius to realise his need to connect with the land. He spent a year on a tiny budget, walking with his dog, foraging and enjoying the sheer freedom of a life lived on his own terms. His first step to becoming a farmer was the spontaneous purchase of four pigs. ‘It was the middle of winter and I couldn’t grow veg,’ he says. ‘Chickens felt too easy … so I bought some pigs.’ His friends pushed him to record the London-boy-turned-man-of-the-land life on Instagram, and he swiftly began to build a following as his rare breed mangalitza piglets (Snap, Crackle, Pop and Albie) featured alongside his vegetable growing – and were soon followed by 17 goats, ‘sold to me by this wheeler-dealer farmer’, he says. ‘I had no idea what I was doing. I made a lot of mistakes. It’s like being a parent to 30 animals – it’s cold and snowing and you’re in charge of a baby that’s just been born.’ When Julius’ parents relocated from Suffolk to a Dorset farmhouse with 50 acres in 2022, he and his animals came too. He now has about 80 sheep as well as the flock of goats, a large vegetable patch – and more than half a million Instagram followers (with another 400,000 on TikTok). Last year he starred in his first TV series on Channel 5 ‘A Taste of the Country’, and his first cookbook The Farm Table has just been released by Ebury Press. His recipes are simple, hearty dishes – the type he knows are popular with his followers. ‘Ultimately I’m just a home cook,’ he says. ‘I’m sure people look at me cooking in my greenhouse on a sunny day and think I have a charmed existence. But I’m no different from any farmer – the winter is dark and gloomy, the days are long, the weather’s out of my control and it can all take its toll.’ When he’s not recording videos or midwifing goats, Julius is busy transforming his agricultural land into a biodiverse habitat. He’s re-establishing the ancient system of meadows and hedgerows he can see in satellite images taken of the land before they were all scrubbed out to create the giant fields of modern agriculture. Sometimes attacked online by those who believe he cannot love his animals if he eats them, Julius responds vigorously. ‘You have to love them more. It’s all about the way you choose to eat meat – little and rarely, for me. It’s a luxury. I don’t want a 1kg of chicken breasts for £4. I want one whole chicken which will feed my family for three days, if I use all of it properly.’
Julius with his lurcher, Loki
And so to the 19 random questions…
What’s your relationship with Dorset? I am lucky enough to call Dorset home.
The last film you watched? Living, with Bill Nighy. It’s a beautifully shot, old-school feeling film about a man coming to terms with a terminal illness, and working out how to spend his last days. It is so poignant, so moving – utterly brilliant. It brought me to tears.
What would you like to tell 15 year-old you? Just enjoy it.
Tell us about a sound or a smell that makes you happy? I love the sound of rain gently pattering against the first leaves of spring – when you’re standing in the woods, underneath the canopy, with the birds twinkling away and lambs baaing in the fields nearby.
What was the last song you sang out loud in the car? Welcome To The Machine by Pink Floyd. At FULL volume. What a tune!
What book did you read last year that stayed with you? What made you love it? The Night Always Comes by Willy Vlautin. It’s the most incredible novel, I’ve read it twice again since. Set in real time, so the pace is gripping, it’s a powerful story of a woman battling to survive a hard life. Her grit and determination are incredible. It blew me away – and I went and read four more of his novels immediately.
The best biscuit for dunking? Bahlsen’s Pick Up!s – the dark chocolate ones, in a strong coffee.
Your favourite quote? ‘Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.’ It’s a Roald Dahl quote. Mum put it in our bathroom, so it’s one I read every single day. It reminds me to stop and notice the little things, those tiny sparks in life that deserve to be treasured.
It’s Friday night – you have the house to yourself, and no work is allowed. What are you going to do? I’d run a very hot, deep bath and lie in it for hours with a podcast or audiobook on. Then I’d go and curl up by the fire with a great film, my dogs, a cold beer and something delicious.
Top three most visited websites? Rotten Tomatoes. Car and Classic (I love looking at old cars and motorbikes). And Etsy – I’m always scouring for old plates and bowls!
Chip Shop Chips or Home Baked Cake? Chip shop chips, doused in salt and vinegar with really good mayo on the beach with my fishing rod in the wind.
Cats or dogs? DOGS ALL THE WAY!
What would you most like to be remembered for? I’d love to have written an incredible song, movie or book … But in my own sphere of work, I’d love to have done something good for the planet. I’m passionate about the welfare of farm animals and if I could help their lives improve, I’d be very happy indeed. I’m a big believer that meat should be more of a luxury, and that we should be moving towards a system of quality not quantity – eat less meat and buy better quality when we do. That would improve their lives but also our own health, increase the land’s biodiversity and put more money into farmers’ pockets.
What was the last gift you either gave someone, or received? I have just turned 31 and my parents came back from cycling across Turkey – they brought me a beautiful kilim rug that I absolutely love.
Tell us about one of the best evenings you’ve had? I had a night in Moroco where we went into the central medina of Marrakech – one of the most vibrant, buzzy, chaotic and immersive cultures on the planet. The smoke of barbecues rising into the purple night sky, the smells of delicious cooking, clusters of people playing and singing together … we wandered from group to group listening to the music, drinking sweet mint tea and eating barbecued lamb at various stalls. It was so epic.
What is your comfort meal? Chicken pie! I like it with plenty of smoked bacon, tarragon, mustard and tons of flaky, buttery pastry.
What shop can you not pass by? My favourite local shops are Rise in Bridport, Felicity’s in Morcombelake and Millers Farm Shop near Axminster.
What’s your most annoying trait? I’m very messy and chaotic.
You have the power to pass one law, uncontested. What will you do with it? Nothing upsets me more than seeing a McDonalds bag or Coke bottle chucked out of someone’s car on the road. It is so disrespectful and it’s a sign of our society’s attitude towards the planet. I would pass a law that meant if you get caught doing that, the fine is so brutal no one would do it ever again. There’s a great law in fishing – if you fish illegally, all your gear gets taken away on the spot and you get landed with a massive fine. It’s such a great deterrent – and I want the same with littering.
‘Sad day for democracy’ as planners ignore neighbourhood plans and approve development on AONB, outside Blandford bypass
An artist’s impression of part of the new development
It was ‘a sad day for local democracy,’ said Pimperne Parish Council chairman Peter Slocombe, after Dorset Council’s northern area planning committee, meeting at The Exchange at Sturminster Newton, approved by seven votes to one the application by Wyatt Homes to build 490 homes on a 37-hectare/91-acre site between Blandford and Pimperne. The application was for full planning permission for 150 new homes and outline planning consent for a further 340, on land outside Blandford bypass, adjoining the A354 and A350. The decision was particularly galling for Mr Slocombe, after he and parish councillors had spent hundreds of hours with volunteers to create the village’s Neighbourhood Plan. The permission was contrary to the policies in the plan and Pimperne would receive no Section 106 benefits (planning gain). He said: ‘This decision sends a clear message to Dorset villages that it is hardly worth creating these plans, that were initiated by the government more than a decade ago.’ The development is on land that is partly within Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) or adjacent to the protected area. It is an established principle that planners should give ‘great weight’ to the site being within an AONB when considering development proposals. Richard Burden, principal landscape and planning officer for Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, said the decision was very disappointing: ‘It seems strange that the committee didn’t seem to identify any exceptional circumstances that gave them a reason to grant permission in an AONB.’
How the land outside Blandford currently looks
Training for councillors He said that the Pimperne neighbourhood plan identified the site as land to be maintained as an open gap. ‘It flies in the face of all the efforts of preparing a neighbourhood plan,’ he said. The detail of the two neighbourhood plans (Pimperne and Blandford) did not seem ‘to have been fully grasped by some members of the committee, who seemed to be swayed by the quality of the proposed development.’ After the decision, Richard offered to provide training to councillors on matters relating to AONBs. ‘There’s no point moaning if we aren’t prepared to do something,’ he said. Wyatt Homes has welcomed the planners’ decision, which had come ‘after extensive consultation and engagement with the community.’ The new homes would prioritise energy efficiency and use advanced technologies, including high levels of insulation, top-tier glazing, solar PV panels, wastewater heat recovery and heat pumps, to minimise CO2 emissions. Wyatt’s chief executive David Wyatt told the planners: ‘We are proud of the places we create and are committed to building well-designed, high-quality homes using local materials and locally-based contractors.’ The application had been strongly opposed by the AONB, North Dorset CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England), Pimperne Parish Council and local residents.
The objections were on these main grounds:
That housing needs are well provided for already in North Dorset, especially in Blandford and Pimperne.
Questionable evidence of the need for a new school, which would be paid for by Section 106 developer funding tied to this application.
Harm to the National Landscape.
Conflict with Pimperne’s Neighbourhood Plan, as 150 homes would be built within Pimperne parish.
There was little evidence of the need for a new school, with data showing there were falling rolls in existing schools, he said, adding that it would be cheaper for Dorset Council to build extra classrooms (for around £1.5 million) rather than a new school, which could cost up to £20 million.
Richard Burden pointed out that the exceptional circumstances in which planning permission might be given for a site within a National Landscape included public interest, but Dorset now has an adequate housing supply, which relieved the councillors from an obligation to give weight to housing need. ‘It doesn’t make sense to build outside the bypass,’ he said. He recognised that Wyatt Homes were aiming for zero carbon and would include landscaping and planting, but the development did not meet sustainability requirements: ‘Everybody will have to get into their cars to drive to the town centre.’
A map of the site, supplied by Wyatt Homes
Creaking infrastructure North Dorset CPRE chairman Rupert Hardy said that the news last month that there was now a more than five-year housing land supply in North Dorset, with planning decisions in line with development plans, had encouraged the campaigners to feel that they stood a good chance of stopping the developers. Rupert warned that the permission would now add to severe traffic congestion in and around Blandford and place more pressure on the town’s ‘creaking’ infrastructure. The development would also sacrifice good farmland, which currently contributes to food security and acts as a carbon sink against climate change. The planning officer’s report had acknowledged that there was a conflict with the council’s development plan, which said building in the countryside should be resisted. However, said Mr Hardy, committee members seemed determined to approve yet more housing, with little regard for the harm it would cause to local residents, the AONB and to Pimperne. ‘Admittedly, the development is well designed, but is clearly in the wrong place. One wonders about the composition of the committee with no members on it representing Blandford. ‘One can also speculate that Dorset Council was keen to avoid a costly appeal should they have refused the scheme.’ In a statement, Poole-based Wyatt Homes said the project will also provide new pedestrian and cycle connections and 30 per cent of the homes will be affordable. The house-builder also plans to plant more than 2,000 new trees throughout the site and more than 40 acres of public open space will make up nearly 50 per cent of the development.
Zero carbon plans Land would be set aside for a potential future school, allotments, a community hall, shops and play facilities. The developers will establish new cycling and pedestrian pathways and improve bus infrastructure, with upgraded stops and the possibility of extending existing routes. David Wyatt said: ‘We will do our utmost to make this an exceptional development that not only Wyatt Homes is proud of, but the local community can be proud of too.’ Tim Hoskinson, Wyatt Homes’ planning director, said: ‘We are delighted with this strong, positive endorsement by the planning committee. These plans are the largest zero carbon-ready application that has come before the planning committee. It will deliver much needed new homes including vital affordable homes in Dorset. ‘We would like to thank those who commented on the plans during the extensive public consultation over several years, as well as Dorset councillors, those on the planning committee and council officers. This is a complex application and the comprehensive level of scrutiny by officers and detailed consideration by members shows the planning system working at its best.’
I’m going to avoid the ‘state of the world’ commentary this month. I’m bored with trying to find a positive spin on a basket full of nightmares. The two alternatives I have half-drafted are rapidly getting equally shouty. And if there’s one thing literally no one needs right now is one more person shouting about Wrong Things from their corner. So instead, I’m going to talk about some Happy Things. Most people know that Courtenay is a photographer, and many assume that he takes the cover photo each month. He certainly travels the county photographing talented people creating beautiful things. But the cover shot? No. He’s not allowed – and hasn’t been since Issue 2. Because that, dear reader, is all yours. Every month we welcome submissions via our Facebook group and by email. And every month we are inundated with a pop up seasonal art gallery of astonishing photography*. It’s absolutely joyous. By deadline day (the Monday before we publish) we will, in an average month, have received more than 700 submissions. These are whittled down to a shortlist of 30 or so, which we then request as high resolution versions. And then comes my personal highlight of publication week; settling down with C and a mug of coffee to go through them all, comfortably bickering for a while over the merits of each picture as we slowly select the 12 which will make the reader’s photography section (unless we make an exception – there’s 13 this month!) – plus the coveted cover shot. The sheer talent of our local photographers never fails to astonish us. And I know they bring the same joy to every BV reader. But what’s even nicer is the support and appreciation in the group – everyone’s just there to enjoy them, and every submission is welcomed, no matter the subject, the style or the experience of the photographer. From phone shots to macro insects, astrophotography to drone stills – everything’s welcome. We’ve never set a theme, but by accident seem to have fallen into the embarrassment of riches that is Dorset wildlife and landscapes. And honestly? That’s fine by us! And if you sometimes miss out the photography section .. maybe don’t? You also might just want to flip back and take a closer look at that glorious front starry cover from William Evans, too.
Laura
(*I mean, I do tell C he’s welcome to submit like anyone else … but I also warn him it’s seriously stiff competition out there.)
Is the world uninsurable? I’m concerned about the impact of climate change on our community, especially seeing the effects of the most recent set of storms with the damaging flooding to many local properties and businesses. Insurance companies already warn that due to climate-related risks, premiums will rise. In 2022, we had £473 million in storm payouts, and high temperatures led to £219 million in subsidence claims last summer. Insured losses from extreme weather have risen by 54% in a decade. Home insurance prices are at an all-time high, making it unaffordable for some. However, the situation is even more dire for those who cannot afford or access home insurance due to past flooding or a lack of willing insurers. This leaves homeowners and businesses vulnerable to shouldering the full costs of damage – and it also affects property values in high-risk areas, as potential buyers struggle to secure mortgages on uninsured properties. As Axa Insurance CEO, Henri De Castries, aptly said, “A 2°C warmer world might be insurable, a 4°C warmer world certainly would not be.” It is crucial that we acknowledge the role of climate change in these challenges and take proactive measures to protect our homes and environment. L Simmons, Sherborne
Gribbles and Ymps (In reference to Jane Adam’s Just chuck it out the window! in The BV Oct 23.) Many moons ago I worked on a tree nursery, one of our major contracts was supplying trees to new road projects, some of which were a species of apple that originated from an apple core in South Somerset – they were planted all over the country. The origins of Slack Ma Girdle are still unconfirmed; chances are it was from Devon, but we will never know. Crab apples are direct descendants of the wild apples found in Kazakhstan. Size does not matter but mostly they’re very small, and they are all Malus sylvestris, as opposed to Malus domesticus, domesticated apples (this did make me laugh) which are the descendants of sylvestris but then grafted onto known rootstock, ranging from Dwarf to Standards. Apple trees grown from seed are Gribbles, as opposed to those grown from grafts which in olde English were known as Ymps. Every seed from an apple is genetically different from its parent tree, that is the beauty of the apple and why I have 18 new cultivars about to be grown on by Adam’s Apples. Tim Beer, via Facebook
On Bad Boy Wilf (Andrew Livingston’s brutally honest tale of dog ownership in the Oct issue of the BV) I have literally never enjoyed reading anything so much that I know to be 100% true in all my life. I laughed the whole way through! Linda O’Neill, Facebook
On the kindness of villagers I was deeply touched by the heartwarming article about Gemma Hampton and her husband Andy’s experience in Hinton St Mary (The BV, Oct 23). In times of adversity, it is often the support and kindness of a close-knit community that shine the brightest. Gemma’s account of the village’s response to her husband’s diagnosis of a brain tumour is a testament to the strength of community spirit. The villagers coming together to create a rota for the family’s help is truly heartening. It is in stories like these that we find the true essence of community – something so often declared as lost. But it is a place where people rally around one another in times of need, offering their assistance and their support. What a reminder of the goodness that does exist, right outside our doors. I wish Gemma, Andy, and their children continued strength and resilience as they navigate this challenging journey ahead. Anna Simmons, Verwood
On Steeptonbill Farm Shop I enjoyed the recent feature on Steeptonbill Farm Shop and its owner, Steve Gould. It’s great to read about another local business dedicated to fresh, sustainable produce. Steve’s commitment to supporting local growers and providing seasonal items is impressive. It’s essential to support local growers like Steve, who contribute to our community and offer authentic, quality food. It’s businesses like Steeptonbill Farm Shop that make our local community special. On a side note, I want to compliment your “Meet Your Local” column, which has introduced me to several new local businesses and also had me exploring some previously-unknown villages. Keep up the good work! F Winter, Shaftesbury
I found this amazing little gold mine of a shop in the summer and went back on Wednesday for fresh veg for a slow cooker stew – it was gorgeous! Sally Bastian, Facebook
Take a hike I just wanted to drop a quick note to say thanks for featuring the hike “In the space between Dorchester and Beaminster” in your recent issue. It was a lovely walk in an area I hadn’t explored before, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. What I appreciated most was the practicality of the article. Using a proper map, along with the option to download the route, is right up my alley. I like to have a physical map in hand while planning my walks. And even though I don’t walk with an app, having the choice to download and transcribe the route was a bonus for a map enthusiast like me. I’ve bookmarked a few more walks you’ve featured, and I’m looking forward to trying them out when the weather improves. Thanks again for making local walks accessible and enjoyable. Your magazine has become my go-to for discovering new paths in our area! Peter Brown, Blandford
What about the youth resources? I am writing to express my concern about the lack of opportunities and outlets available to young people in our rural area. Living in a rural setting undoubtedly has its charms, but it also presents challenges, especially for our younger residents. After school, there seems to be a significant void in terms of activities and places for them to gather, socialise, and engage in constructive pursuits. It’s disheartening to hear about the prevalence of drug issues in some of our towns, and it’s clear that many young people are lacking positive alternatives to keep them occupied and motivated. While uniformed groups are fantastic for those who are interested, they may not appeal to everyone. I am curious to know if there are any initiatives or plans in place to address this issue. Are there community-driven efforts to create safe and engaging spaces for young people to come together, learn, and have fun? Is there a possibility of securing funding or support from local organisations or authorities to facilitate such programmes? Heather Baines, Gillingham
Despite stormy skies, astrophotographer Darshna Ladva captures stunning Jupiter image. Rob Nolan eyes the sky at night this month
As we endure yet another storm sweeping across the UK, stargazing seems an unlikely pastime of late! The whole of October has seen maybe one or two clear skies – I’m really hoping that, as it gets colder, we’ll get some good clear skies to make up for all this bad weather! Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to process any new images this month. However, a dear friend and astrophotographer Darshna Ladva kindly gave me permission to share her amazing image of Jupiter. Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and has a radius of over 43,000 miles – it is 11 times wider than Earth. Its stripes and swirls are actually cold, windy clouds of ammonia and water, floating in an atmosphere of hydrogen and helium. Jupiter’s iconic Great Red Spot is a giant storm, bigger than the entire Earth, that has to our knowledge been raging for hundreds of years. From an average distance of 484 million miles, Jupiter is 5.2 astronomical units away from the Sun (one astronomical unit, or AU, is the distance from the Sun to the Earth) – this means it takes sunlight 43 minutes to travel from the Sun to Jupiter. In this particular image, the Great Red Spot is clearly visible along with the moon Io – just one of Jupiter’s 90 or so moons! The biggest of the moons are the four Galilean moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, discovered in 1610 by Galileo Galilei and Simon Marius.
Lucky imaging It takes a lot of patience and know-how to successfully photograph planets. Instead of relying on lots of static images stacked together, like a deep sky object image, the process for planetary imaging involves shooting videos – in a process aptly named ‘lucky imaging’ – using a high frame rate planetary astro camera. Between 7k and 25k frames from these videos are then stacked in specialist software to create a more stable and sharper image of the planet. Darshna images the night sky from London, and has an amazing eye for a great nightscape photo, as well as being a dab hand at planetary imaging! She uses a Skywatcher 127mm Maksutov telescope and the ZWO ASI224 MC planetary camera. To see more of Darshna’s amazing photography, please look her up on Instagram @nebuladva.
The night sky, November 2023 – Rob’s guide for your stargazing this month:
November is all about Jupiter! The gas giant of our solar system is nearest to Earth this month, so it’s a perfect time to explore it. On 1st November it is at its closest – a mere 370 million miles away! Now is also a good time to grab your binoculars – choose a clear moonless night and enjoy scanning our Milky Way, the seemingly endless ribbon of star clusters and nebulae. On 9th November, if you’re around before dawn you’ll be entertained by a dazzling duo twilight show from Venus and the crescent Moon. Another solar system sibling is at its closest to Earth this month – on 13th, Uranus will be at a distance of 1.7 billion miles (I find the distances involved just to the objects in the outer solar system absolutely mind-boggling!). To find Venus, simply look the opposite way to the Sun. If you managed to catch a glimpse of the Orionids meteor shower in October, you did well! I saw one shooting star among the patchy clouds! However, on the night of 17th-18th, we’ve got another chance – the annual Leonid meteor shower is set to be a better display than it has been in recent years, with a chance of some bright fireballs. It is caused by fragments of the comet Tempel-Turtle as Earth moves across its trail. On 20th, look to the first quarter Moon and you’ll see Saturn hanging just above it. Look to the Moon again on the 25th and the bright ‘star’ seen nearby will actually be Saturn. The following night on the 26th, the Moon will pass under the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters. In the build-up to Christmas, as I wrote last month I’m opening up the December image to you all, to put forward your ideas to me as to what celestial object you’d like to see featured in the magazine. And only if it’s something I’m capable of imaging and can see from our hemisphere, of course! So let me know what you’d like to see imaged for Christmas. Drop me a message via Facebook or Instagram! I’ve also shared a post on the BV Facebook page. Until next time, clear skies!
‘I think I have lost my business. How do you recover from this?’The Sherborne businesses devastated by flood | Page 4
From city chef to Dorset farmer – Julius Roberts is the Instagram sensation working to reconnect a modern audience with their food. He takes on the 19 Random questions | Page 20
If you took a magical mystery tour that began in Swinging Sixties London, went to the potteries in Stoke-on-Trent and to a specialist pottery shop in Stratford-upon-Avon, you wouldn’t expect to end up in Somerset’s hidden village of Shepton Beauchamp, at the home of Dennis Chinaworks and Sally Tuffin| Page 24
‘Sad day for democracy’ as planners ignore neighbourhood plans and approve development on AONB, outside Blandford bypass | Page 6
Meet Dorset craftsmen Chris and Ed – internationally recognised as two of the world’s best under-40 leatherworkers | Page 50
Q&A with West Dorset MP Chris Loder. He offered to answer an open postbag – and here he has answered all the letters that were sent| Page 18
The case of the Spanish oranges: 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 | Page 91
Cllr Spencer Flower shares his journey from Gillingham council estate to the award-winning leadership of Dorset Council in his Dorset Island Discs | Page 56
The Dorset Mounties – Riding into the fight against rural crime. Andrew Livingston spoke to one of Dorset’s new rural mounted volunteers | Page 10
