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A career in the skies – life as a test pilot

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Editorial team
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Former Royal Navy officer Chris Taylor, an acclaimed civil certification test pilot, explains the unique skill set required for the job

Chris Taylor about to test fly a Ryan PT22 aeroplane

When you jet off for your holiday in the sun, how often do you think about the work that went into making your flight safe?
Chris Taylor, who lives near Salisbury, has had a successful career as a Royal Navy officer, a test pilot, helicopter pilot and finally as an internationally-acclaimed civil certification test pilot. He has flown more than 400 different types of aircraft, and is arguably one of the best qualified and widely experienced test pilots working today, anywhere in the world.
With that kind of background, it is little wonder he has written three books about his career. When he came to the recent Sturminster Newton Literary Festival, the room was packed, and there were lots of questions from the audience!
How did Chris choose the career path that led him to becoming a test pilot?
‘I always wanted to be a pilot, ever since I watched lightning jet fighters over Anglesey on family holidays! In the mid 70s, Thames TV did a documentary about the test pilot school at Boscombe Down, and that was that. I got my PPL (private pilots licence) at 17 and I did engineering at university. When I graduated I joined the Royal Navy as a navigation officer before flying Lynx helicopters. I had a 20-year career in the navy.’

A Westland Lynx AH.5 – ZD559 – and the rolling platform at Boscombe Down

The best of the best
As a test pilot, Chris has flown many different types of aircraft, from ex-military jets to home-built aeroplanes. Is there one that stands out as the best aircraft to fly?
‘There is no perfect aeroplane. It’s like cars – there’s no one perfect car. But, if I could choose one aeroplane it would be the Sea Fury. With the Fleet Air Arm, the Sea Fury was the iconic fighter aircraft of the 1950s and it was the last of the big fighters.’
And what about career highlights?
‘Being a grandfather actually! I’ve had some good experiences. The most awesome flight I did was in a Variable Stability Harrier or VAAC at Boscombe Down. It was a modified Harrier from the 1980s. It was one of the research vehicles that eventually found itself in the F35 programme*.’

A special kind of pilot
There are lots of people who simply want to fly, but what skills are needed to become a test pilot?
‘First of all, you need to be an above-average pilot. You have to be very competent with your mental agility. You need to be analytical about what is happening around you. You must also be a good verbal communicator and be able to communicate with clarity and brevity.
‘At Boscombe Down we had many tools at our disposal, and would specifically fly an aircraft to determine the specifics. It’s not casual flight – you academically test things. For example if something is meant to fly at 90 miles an hour you ask why it isn’t reaching that speed.
‘Regular pilots will take six months to learn how to fly a single aircraft. A test pilot has to fly things to test them – it’s a bit like a rental car. When you rent a car, you sit there and look for the clutch, the brake and the basics, so you know how to drive it. Then you check for the specifics, including the computer programme these days. You look for what is different.’
‘I think some test pilots struggle to dial down their ability. They have to consider an average pilot in their first plane – would they be able to manage that? I look at the work that Winkle Brown did as a test pilot. He flew lots of aircraft, but wasn’t always able to dial down. Your job as a test pilot is to think “could a less experienced colleague do that?”

Chris Taylor with a Basset – The Beagle B.206, a 1960s British seven-seat twin-piston engined liaison and communication aircraft

Testing protocol
When the news broke recently about the submersible that imploded while travelling to see the wreck of the Titanic, it was obviously horrifying. However, the initial investigation has brought the use of experimental vessels into discussion – and, of course, not listening to testing experts.
Chris says: ‘It wasn’t a wise thing to do. In aviation you have aircraft that are fully tested – that’s what we go on holiday in. They are all rigorously checked, the systems are tested and it’s safe. It’s probably more dangerous getting to the airport!
‘I get to test experimental aircraft, and I take no one with me who is not operational and on the job. Four flew with me recently and we got into some quite dangerous things. Afterwards, we reflected on whether we needed all those people on board.
It would go against my principles to take fare-paying passengers on something like that!
‘That submersible was not approved and was conducting research. Taking fare-paying passengers on board in a situation like that is disastrous. There will always be thrill-seekers out there, but I don’t do that. I like to think it’s a wake up call for people who go out doing these things.’
Chris has written three books – a trilogy of his career. ‘My third book is on the computer right now!’ he says. ‘It’s the final version from the publisher. My most recent book is about the 20 years I spent in the Royal Navy as an operational Lynx and Wessex pilot. It’s a prequel to the prequel! The first book was about me the test pilot, and the second about my time as an experimental test pilot. I’ve documented my career so my grandchildren can read about what granddad did.’

At the cutting edge

By
Editorial team
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0

Mick Percival went from wood-chopping hobbyist to invincible, record-breaking champion – now he gives spellbinding showground performances

Mick Percival Dorset Axmen – image Courtenay Hitchcock BV Magazine 2023

Mick Percival is surrounded by what he loves – wood.
In the aptly-named village of Broad Oak stands his wood yard, where Mick lives in a self-built, timber-clad house, surrounded by hundreds of logs of all shapes and sizes. These all look the same to me but under Mick’s expert eye I’m educated on the grain, the rings, the texture and density and above all the potential for cutting … and cutting fast?
As well as a wood yard selling timber and firewood, this is the training ground for the acclaimed Dorset Axemen. This band of axe-wielding showmen was founded by Mick in 2014 and now they compete and exhibit at rural events and showgrounds up and down the country, demonstrating wood-cutting skills that date back to the hard-working lumberjacks in America and to centuries before. Retired from competing, Mick – still a giant of a man at 67 – now comperes these crowd-pulling events where axemen split huge logs at break-neck speed using lethal axes.

Mick Percival took the title of British Log Axing Champion in 1986, 89, 93, 96, 97 and 98. In 1996, he chopped through a
16-inch diameter log in 33.35 seconds, setting a then new championship record – image Courtenay Hitchcock BV Magazine 2023

Champion in waiting
More than 40 years as a competitive axeman might have taken its toll on Mick’s back and knees, yet amazingly he has escaped any serious injuries. When you consider he has had a razor-sharp axe only a few inches from his feet, flying between his legs as he balances on a block of wood, that’s either incredible luck or brilliant skill and concentration.
Mick says: ‘Timber demonstrations like undercutting and crosscutting are big in Australia and North America. I saw an Australian tour of woodchoppers and log axemen that came to the UK when I was young and it sowed the seed. I got my chance when I picked up my first axe when I was 23 – that same year I won my first novice competition in the UK.’
His competitive spirit was unleashed and he went to North America to compete in the world championships.
At the Devon County Show in 1996 he was crowned British Log Axing Champion for the sixth time.
‘I was fanatical,’ recalls Mick. ‘I took to it like a duck to water. I’d work in the woods all day felling trees, using chainsaws, then come home and practise, practise, practise. It’s all about getting your eye in and mastering the technique.’

The axes Mick uses are made by Tuatahi in New Zealand. They have a high carbon tool steel on the cutting edge, tempered through to soft metal at the back – this absorbs the shock and gives more penetration into the wood. They cost £600-£700 each – image Courtenay Hitchcock BV Magazine 2023


Mick became invincible so the championship had to introduce a handicap system: ’The more you win, the higher your handicap. My opponent would start chopping on the count of three and I would start 33 seconds late. I still managed to win most of the time.’ Mick smiles.
His gleaming axes are shipped from New Zealand and Australia and his biggest regret is that he never went and lived down under. ‘I kick myself now. My uncle emigrated as a £10 Pom in the 1960s. I should have gone back with him when he visited.’

Mick Percival at home in his wood yard at Broad Oak. image Courtenay Hitchcock BV Magazine 2023


Mick’s first axe was bought by that very uncle – who simply popped into his local hardware shop. In Australia, among the nuts and bolts of everyday DIY, you can buy competition axes. ‘He sawed the handle off, wrapped it up and sent it over. I made my own handle, grinding it out on a sandstone wheel.’
He may regret not emigrating, but Mick doesn’t regret starting the Dorset Axemen. ‘I knew I needed to train younger men so I spent the winter of 2013 taking seven of them, all in their late twenties, through their paces. In 2014, we exhibited at a few local shows and have never looked back. We’ve been to Northern Ireland and Scotland. This year we’ve already done seven shows.’
And how does an axeman unwind? ‘The adrenalin really pumps when you’re competing. I still love that buzz at the shows. I like to relax with a cider in the wooden bar I built at the back of my house – I call it the Notty Oak!
I love to sit and watch all the wildlife. I’ve spent most of my life outdoors. I could never live in a town or city.’

Quick fire questions:

A-lister Notty Oak guests?
Jeremy Clarkson – I know he can have his moments, but can’t we all? – and the Duke of Edinburgh. I met him at The Royal Welsh Show. He seemed really interested in our display.

Book by your bedside?
None! But when I’ve been hiding in my bar and people ask where I’ve been, I say I’ve been out the back with Mr Crabtree’s Book of Fishing!

Best and worst wood to cut?
Poplar is my favourite. It’s the most even and it’s the cheapest to buy! It’s a crisp wood, which you need for a clean cut.
Elm and spruce are my least favourite – the pin knots bend axes for a pastime!

Two-man saws were known to the ancient Romans, but first became common in Europe in the mid-15th century. Known colloquially as a Misery Whip, they are up to 16 feet long and designed to cut in both directions – careful tooth design is necessary to clear the sawdust during the cut. image Courtenay Hitchcock BV Magazine 2023

dorsetaxemen.com

  • See the Dorset Axemen in action in their first ever appearance at the Dorset County Show on 2nd and 3rd September.

New houses threaten village character on narrow A357

By
Editorial team
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1

Henstridge faces 182 new homes, despite strong concerns about road safety, infrastructure and the impact on the village character

The A357 as it runs through the village of Henstridge
Image: © Googlemaps

When the Victorian and Edwardian houses lining what is now the A357 were built, people walked to work and most did not own a car. Today, a busy road winds through the village, which has expanded over the years. With further development anticipated, how much is too much for the infrastructure?

Safer roads before more houses
A development of 130 houses in Henstridge has been proposed since 2017, and was initially rejected by South Somerset District Council in 2018. However, the development has now been approved, subject to road safety improvements. The parish council is adamant that road safety is a priority that must be addressed before any development takes place. To add to villagers’ concerns, an application for a further 52 houses has been lodged, which can only lead to more traffic using the A357.
Henstridge councillor Dr Adrian Gaymer drove me around the village to demonstrate the various pressure points in the village and the sites of the proposed developments.
The road is narrow and in some places traffic is governed by priority signs. There are significant stretches of the road where there is no pavement, with houses opening directly on to the street. Where will pedestrians go when more traffic arrives from new developments? More importantly, where is there room for critical improvements in such a restricted space?
Adrian points to battle-scarred houses frequently knocked by lorries trying to pass on this narrow road.
‘This is where there’s one narrow point which will get even narrower with the suggested yellow box junction, and cars and lorries waiting to pass. One wall is constantly being bashed in and one house had its roof damaged, although we are still unsure how.
‘Lorries come off the ferry in Poole and head up to the A357 to the A303 and on to the Mendips. And of course more lorries come from the Mendips and the A30, back the other way. We’re also concerned about traffic cutting through estates where children are playing or going to school.’

Inadequate infrastructure
In Somerset, there are currently 11,136 people on the housing register, of whom 2,368 are in South Somerset, and of these 301 are in the highest category of housing need.
There is clearly a demand for social and affordable housing.
The demand for social and affordable housing is clearly there. The A357 runs through Henstridge, south to Stalbridge in Dorset, where four major housing developments have been approved and are under way. A fifth proposal, north of Station Road, is raising questions with councillors and residents over the volume of homes and the pace of development. Any development in Stalbridge adds to the pressure on the A357 through Henstridge.
Henstridge and Stalbridge residents have to go to Milborne Port or Sturminster Newton for GP surgeries and further still for NHS dentistry.
Public transport is not the answer. Although the villages are served by a service to Blandford and Yeovil, it only runs on weekdays so is unsuitable for shift workers. A spokesperson from Somerset Council says: ‘As a planning authority, we work closely with and consult Dorset Council on issues such as local service infrastructure. We would expect education, highways and the NHS to pick up on any cross-boundary capacity issues, where communities in one administrative area are serviced by infrastructure from another.’

Large lorries fill the road as it winds through the village, the A357 too narrow here to warrant a central white line

Time to draw a line
North Dorset MP Simon Hoare says: “Where you have major developments, is there enough robust cross-border working? There are two different local authorities, two different planning departments, and two highways departments. It is critical that both highways and planning are talking to each other. I think that if the scale of development actually requires large scale highways change and developments then you have to review the capacity and what there is in the entirety of a situation and what can be sustained comfortably.
‘The developments are clearly felt by local people. Especially when the character of a settlement changes. The Gladman development (in Stalbridge) very obviously starts to distort the character of the village. Stalbridge has taken its fair share of developments.
‘Now is the time to draw a line and let what has been consented to be built on, and then look at other opportunities.’
Cllr Adrian Gaymer also expressed concerned about the increase in the village population: ‘if this continues we will no longer be a small rural settlement but a rural centre like Martock, Bruton or Templecombe – and we’re not Bruton.’

Plans for the A357
A previous plan for traffic lights has been dismissed and there are now discussions about yellow box junctions. Somerset Council is aware of the issue, and a representative says: ’Somerset Council is working with the developer to resolve the outstanding matter(s). Outline planning and reserved matters are approved for this development and we’re confident of an agreement shortly. ‘The developer and utilities are carrying out permitted preparation works in accordance with planning regulations.’
A spokesperson for Barratt David Wilson Homes Exeter says: ‘As agreed with Somerset Council, and in accordance with our planning obligations, infrastructure upgrades are under way to improve the A357. These improvements will deliver a range of safety upgrades, including dropped kerbs and tactile paving at several junctions and enhancing road and traffic signage. The safety of the community and the wider road users remains our priority.
‘We are committed to continue engaging with the community and Henstridge Parish Council throughout the construction process. We are looking forward to commencing on site and delivering 130 much-needed and energy-efficient new homes to the area in the spring of 2024.’

Embrace the rain

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Editorial team
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0

It might be a damp squib of a summer, but Thorngrove’s Secret Garden might be just the treat you need, says Kelsi-Dean Buck

If you fell asleep in April and woke up last week, you might think not much time had passed. Summer is underway, but the showers have been plentiful and it certainly was a, shall we say, unsettled July?!
Followers of our social media will know that we keep the summer atmosphere strong though, and the courtyard here at Thorngrove continues to burst with colour (and between you and me, we don’t mind a bit of summer rain – it’s good for the plants!). Come join us on Facebook and Instagram for regular hits of summer vibrance, along with gardening tips and inspiration. Then come and visit us in person – we love chatting plants ‘n stuff!
In July we also launched our SUMMER SALE – many plants are available at a bargain price, still looking lovely, and with some TLC they’d make the perfect addition to your planters or garden space. This includes many from the hairy pot plant company, who grow a fabulous range of eco-friendly, sustainable, and ethically produced cottage garden plants and herbs grown in hairy coir pots in a peat free compost. If you’re yet to discover them, we highly recommend. Stop by Thorngrove and have a look for yourself.

Summer menu
As it’s summer, we naturally now have our summer menu in the café – and we’ve had some incredible responses to it. We believe the Secret Garden Café is offering a unique range of dishes you don’t often find in similar settings, so to encourage more of you to try us out, we’ve launched our BUY ONE LUNCH, GET ONE LUNCH FREE offer!
Available every Tuesday and Thursday in the café, come along and catch up with friends. Indoor climate-controlled dining, or outdoor patio seating – for when the sun does show itself! – Ben and his team in the café are ready to welcome you. Don’t just take our word for it, read some of our reviews on Google, and the comments on social media. Our ‘secret’ café is not so secret anymore!

Plant of the month
Our plant of the month for August are the delightful hydrangeas. They’ve been showing off for a little while now, so we thought it’s only right to give them the spotlight for the month. These beautiful and versatile flowering shrubs can add charm and colour to your garden, and also work as impressive table centrepieces.
Don’t let the rain dampen your summer spirits. All you need to do is pay us a visit and breathe in the lush seasonal plants on display … and let’s be honest, nobody wanted another drought did they? Embrace the damp – we look forward to seeing you this month!

In the studio with Rozanne Bell

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Editorial team
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Fleeing political violence, Zimbabwean Rozanne Bell turned her rebellious energy into a successful painting career

Rozanne at home with some of her art – image Courtenay Hitchcock BV Magazine August 2023

The adopted daughter of English parents who had relocated to Zimbabwe, Rozanne Bell grew up in a strict, almost Victorian but happy, environment.
But the rebellious nature that emerged during her teenage years eventually led to expulsion from school.
Recognising her daughter’s need for an outlet, Rozanne’s mother, an accomplished artist herself, encouraged her daughter to explore painting as a means of expression. It turned out to be a bit of smart parental thinking, as a natural flair swiftly emerged.
Combining talent with hard work and dedication, 16-year-old Rozanne began to forge what became a successful career as an artist, resulting in exhibitions at home in South Africa and also sales in the USA.
Under Robert Mugabe’s premiership, the political situation in Zimbabwe grew increasingly violent and eventually, in 2002, it compelled Rozanne to flee the country, leaving behind all the family’s possessions – a daunting challenge for anyone, let alone a mother with five children.

image Courtenay Hitchcock BV Magazine August 2023
In her studio, Rozanne Bell explains her process
All images: Courtenay Hitchcock BV Magazine August 2023

Under such circumstances, a fresh start in a new country required immense strength and resilience, qualities Rozanne appears to possess in abundance. She recently described herself on social media as “storming into my studio like a supercharged Duracell battery.” – it’s an accurate depiction.
Her gregarious nature, her relentless energy and her enthusiasm for art all proved necessary when she set about forging a new reputation in the UK. The bright and quirky birds and animals she had been painting in South Africa were not well received here. She had to deveop a new style and find new sales outlets.
Each rejection just fired her up: ‘If you don’t fight, you don’t get anywhere.
‘You have to listen to what the people want. I just want to paint what people love.’
With limited resources, Rozanne sourced frames from local car boot sales. After a year in Dorset a local pub agreed to display her work.
Shortly afterward, a Bournemouth agent took her on and Rozanne began to paint the animal characters which found her an initial niche market.
She continued to work hard, reacting to customers’ wishes. ‘I had to keep pushing. I had children to feed and bills to pay.’

image Courtenay Hitchcock BV Magazine August 2023

Accessible art
Rozanne’s style and subject matter are constantly evolving. She has built a reputation, with her vivid colours and expressive brush-strokes, for her flamboyant, mixed media works. She still draws inspiration from her home country’s colours, flowers and animals, but adds her own contemporary, often humorous, touches, almost always working from her imagination but using a vast array of both fresh and silk flowers for reference.

Rozanne and the drying racks – image Courtenay Hitchcock BV magazine August 2023

Recent works reveal a love of the Dorset countryside and the coastal landscapes of Cornwall. Her trademark lush curtain of flowers is nearly always present.
Rozanne is not interested in producing limited editions or offering mass market prints, preferring established followers to own an original painting at an affordable price:
‘I dream of making happy paintings that people can afford,’ she says.
Thoughtfully, she produces some smaller, less expensive paintings for loyal followers – of which she has many, with more than 20,000 on Facebook alone.
She works on multiple paintings simultaneously, allowing her to develop complexity of layers and to incorporate a variety of media into her creations.

Rozanne incorporates her trademark lush curtain of flowers even on coastal landscapes – image Courtenay Hitchcock BV Magazine August 2023

A distinctive aspect of Rozanne’s work is her use of resin finishes. By applying resin coatings to her paintings, she adds depth and vibrancy to the final pieces. It creates a glossy and transparent layer that enhances the colours and textures, creating a gutsy visual impact. It is a messy process – she showed me the dedicated room stacked with wooden racks of paintings in the process of receiving different layers. Finishing touches might include metallic paint splashes, or highlights for a daisy petal.

Two harbour works-in-progress waiting for their resin coating – image Courtenay Hitchcock BV Maazine August 2023

A fresh perspective
Rozanne is a dedicated and compulsive painter: she is in her studio near Sturminster Newton from early morning until the evening. She’s quick to point out that essential support comes from her daughter who ‘runs my life and my brain!’
As for every artist, the lockdown period in 2020 provided a different perspective and slower sales. Rozanne is beginning to re-evaluate her work and looking at taking a different direction. She wants to spend more time with her young grandson.
The continuous evolution of an artist’s style and technique can lead to the refinement and enhancement of their unique artistic vision.
As Rozanne explores new techniques and subject matter, she brings a fresh perspective to her work while retaining the elements that make her art so recognisable and distinctive. As she says, ‘I was so lucky to have been born with an imagination.’

image Courtenay Hitchcock BV Magazine August 2023
A new work in Rozanne’s Moonlight series dries on a studio workbench – image BV Magazine August 2023

Her nearest gallery is Framemakers in Salisbury.

Sherborne secondhand book, postcard, map & ephemera fair

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Editorial team
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Saturday, 19th August

9.30am to 4pm

FREE entry
Digby Memorial Church Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne, Dorset, D9 3NL

For more information email [email protected]
or call Ed Bailey on 07967643579

Friday Lunchtime Recitals | Sherborne School

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Editorial team
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1.45pm
Cheap Street Church (unless otherwise stated)

as listed below

FREE ADMISSION
ALL WELCOME

Vale of the Solar Panels

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Editorial team
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0

At the end of July, Dorset Council approved the development of a 190-acre solar farm in the Blackmore Vale. Rachael Rowe reports

This is a 35-acre solar farm in Wales – the one approved near Hazelbury Bryan covers 190 acres

There’s no doubt that global warming is already here. From crippling heatwaves and wildfires in Europe to the alarming disappearance of insects, the signs of a crisis are clear.
At the same time, there is no end in sight to the war in Ukraine, affecting supplies and security of both food and fuel.
Councils and other statutory organisations are compelled to think and act differently in order to meet the challenges brought by climate change.
On 26th July, Dorset Council approved the development of a 190 acre solar farm in the Blackmore Vale, close to the conservation areas of Mappowder, Pulham and Hazelbury Bryan. The panels will produce 50 megawatts of renewable energy, powering 11,725 homes annually.
With the broad views from Bulbarrow Hill and Rawlsbury Camp likely to include many fields of panels, will Thomas Hardy’s Vale of the Little Dairies be changed forever?

The projected outline of the North Dairy Solar Farm at Hazelbury Bryan

How much do we need?
A significant part of the UK’s strategy to reach net zero by 2050 is dependent on renewable energy. According to the National Grid, all electricity should come from renewable sources by 2035.
Four main sources of renewable energy are used in the UK – wind, solar, hydroelectric and bioenergy. During 2020, 43 per cent of the UK’s electricity came from renewable sources. In May 2023, the UK’s trillionth killowat hour of renewable electricity was produced. It has taken 50 years for this amount of electricity to come from renewable sources – the next trillion is expected to be produced within five years. It’s an insight into the pace of change on renewables.
Energy from the North Dairy Solar Farm (NDF) development will be used locally and also feed the National Grid. Much of the power at the Spetisbury solar farm currently powers buildings in the City of London including the Guildhall and Tower Bridge.

This 20-acre solar farm is visible from Hambledon Hill

The North Dairy solar farm
Dorset Council received more than 200 letters of objection to the development of the NDF at Hazelbury Bryan. The site lies at the confluence of the River Lyddon and Wonston Brook, an area known for its tendency to flood. Not surprisingly, the concerns are mainly about flooding.
Anthony Cake’s family has farmed in the area for three generations; the farm is 400 years old and close to the solar farm. Anthony said: ‘My wife and I support renewable energy programmes. We know that we all have to change the way we live. However, at no time has anyone from the developers contacted us. It’s as though we don’t exist. We were left off the map as well, and that wasn’t down to scaling.
‘We won’t see the solar farm. My concern is the risk of flooding. Between us, my family and I have 168 years of experience of flooding in this area. Where you have glass on clay, with time, channelling could occur, creating a rapid run-off. If British Solar Renewables (BSR) or Dorset Council could look me in the eye and assure me 100 per cent that my home and livelihood won’t flood … Perhaps they could underwrite the cost of my flooding insurance?’
Local people are all familiar with the flood risks. Crawford May, chairman of Lydlinch and Kings Stag Parish Council, told the planning meeting: ‘I have lived and worked in the Kings Stag area for 67 years. I know which places flood. I know how deep it gets, and how fast it can flow.’
The planning application does contain mitigation plans for landscaping, flood management and road access.
However there are still concerns about the impact of such a large development in rural Dorset, especially around the use of arable land.
Save Hardy’s Vale has been campaigning against the solar panel farm. Ian Bryan says: ‘It appears that the temptation of a newly re-enforced grid connection has blinded the applicants and the councillors to the very serious practical reasons why the NDF Site is so unsuitable for a solar development. Those who live downstream of the proposed development know clearly what serious flooding is like, and just how frightening – and life threatening – it can be.
‘Of course, we need to utilise solar, but as the government and Dorset Council policies say, put solar panels on brownfield sites, car parks and roofs etc. Dorset Council set out a host of good reasons in their Climate and Ecology Emergency Agenda to look after our valued, designated and food-productive landscape.’

We are where we are
When developments of this nature are proposed, significant work goes on behind the scenes to investigate the plans. North Dorset MP Simon Hoare says: ‘If we are serious about combating climate change to get to net zero, we need solar, hydro and wind. There is increasing demand for electricity and we need to get the power from somewhere. It’s a good idea – but not here.
‘My main concern is the site is too big. I have concerns the number of panels will take away soakaway land when it rains excessively. It is maximising energy security to the detriment of food security. We have seen with COVID the fragility of international supply chains.
‘However, I know the council took their time on this and have not rushed to a judgement. We are where we are and the applicants must still meet the requirements of the council report.
‘While I am disappointed, I am keen we maximise renewable energy and each one of us needs to play a part.’
Driving around the Blackmore Vale, there are a lot of new housing developments – with no solar panels in sight. Is this a missed opportunity for Dorset’s housing planners to mandate developers to use sustainable energy more effectively?
With global warming causing significant changes to the planet, the North Dairy Solar Farm is not the only challenging decision that Dorset planners will face in the near future.

  • British Solar Renewables and Dorset Council were approached for comment and had not responded at the time of going to press.
The frequently flooded road to Hazelbury Bryan, where residents are concerned that a huge solar farm can only increase flood risk

How much energy is renewable in the UK?

Electricity generated from fossil fuels contributes to greenhouse gas emission. Energy from renewable sources generates no, or very low, carbon emissions, and moving to renewable energy is a critical component in tackling climate change.
In the UK, the largest single source of electricity entering the National Grid is natural gas. But in 2020, for the first time, the majority of the UK’s electricity came from renewable sources – 43%. Collectively that’s more than natural gas (34.5%) and far more than coal (1.8%). Nuclear power constitutes 16% of all energy sources in the UK.
Renewable energy in the
UK is generated from four main sources:
Wind power
28.6% of the UK’s electricity generation
Biomass
5.6% of the national renewables
Solar power
4.4% of the national renewables
Hydropower
Making just 1.8% of the renewables.
Just 13 years ago, zero carbon power made up less than 20% of the UK’s electricity supply.
In 2023, more than 50% of the UK’s electricity is from renewable sources.

Letters to the Editor August 2023

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Editorial team
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0
Laura editor of the BV Magazine
Laura editor of the BV Magazine

We’ll barely have time to celebrate the fact that The BV turns three this month (THREE YEARS! How is that possible?) – we have a packed few weeks ahead. As I write we’re just ten days away from the second Clayesmore Classic & Supercar Sunday, which is swiftly followed by the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show. If you’re going (and obviously you should if you can!) do come and say hello if you spot us around the showground. I promise we’re friendly and we’d love it if you did! Straight afterwards we’ll be looking ahead at the Dorset County Show, and of course rolling swiftly into our September issue before we can blink, as well as the Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival and squeezing in a trip to London for another awards ceremony … and then we just might go find somewhere quiet for a very loo-o-onng nap.
(and no we are NOT going to discuss the fact that I have seen two high street chains appear in my social media feed this week with Christmas trees up and decorations for sale in store).
However, you’ll never find us complaining about a busy month (well, not often – I admit I’m not a total ray of sunshine when running on too little sleep and too much caffeine). Though we’ve lived here for more than 30 years, the last three spent running The BV has allowed us to see like never before the rich tapestry of Dorset. We’ve had the privilege of getting to know so many of you, and every issue reveals more of the resilience and character, the strength, the goodwill, and the sheer talent that defines our local businesses and communities.
Contrary to popular perception, we locals know that Dorset is so much more than some beautiful beaches and a famous cobbled hill. It’s a beautiful hub of innovation, creativity, and determination. The awards we’ve won this year have been a welcome nod to our efforts over the last three years, of course, but the real reward lies in knowing that thousands of people appreciate what we do.
We feel we’ve grown not just as a publication but as a part of the community. We’re committed to supporting local, sharing stories that matter, and being a voice for Dorset. Thanks for sticking with us.

French housing plan
Now we seem to have got to the stage where houses can be built in a council’s area even when all the council and residents object.Perhaps we should take a lesson from some French towns. There, the council buy some appropriate land, put in the road and facilities and then grant individual permission to residents to build on the plots as and when the council see fit. Stops this wholesale development by big building firms just out to make a huge buck regardless of what the locals want.
Roger Tatler, Gillingham

Save the planet!
It is a phrase used everywhere we look. I am not an activist nor an eco-campaigner and I am not about to start superglueing myself to the M25 or London Waterloo express train.
I do believe that we should all try and do our bit, relative to our means and circumstance. Maybe then we can save our grandchildren and great grandchildren from the perilous fate that looms ahead.
For our ‘bit’ we have swapped our diesel cars for electric ones since 2016. We have spent the last 11 years making our home more energy efficient, as time and resources allowed.
Our house has moved from an EPC rating of D in 2012 to A in 2022 – for a 1980s built detached house, this is no mean feat!
We have insulated under the floors, added more loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, fitted A+ rated double glazing and doors. We had 4KW PV installed in 2012 and wherever possible replaced older inefficient appliances with A+++ rated new ones. For the last year we ran the whole house 24/7 from either solar power or off-peak electricity (pulled in overnight at a fifth of the price).
This year we have had an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) installed, and added a second Powerwall to further support the running of the ASHP.
We are adding to our solar system to try and reduce our pull on the grid some more.
This should mean that we were able to export a lot more green solar-generated electricity back to the grid, helping everyone else reduce their carbon footprint too. However, our energy distribution network operator SSEN have put a stop to that – we were granted permission to install the extra panels on condition that the installers block our ability to export any electricity to the grid from them!
The excess green electricity we generate from the new system will now be grounded to earth and lost, whilst somebody somewhere burns more oil, gas and coal to generate dirty electricity to keep up with demand.
It is high time that pressure from the government was put on the likes of SSEN to up their game and upgrade the energy networks urgently so they are fit for the future that is fast approaching.
Ian Tattersall, Gillingham

On Simon Hoare
We are watching wildfires ravaging parts of Europe yet again, as well as unmanageable temperatures in the USA, China and the global south. Clearly ever-accelerating indicators show that the world is now on the cusp of a number of tipping points which will make runaway climate change inevitable. Recent research suggests the gulf stream may collapse as early as 2025 with catastrophic results.
Professor Sir Robert Watson was clear on the Today Programme last week – he thinks 1.5 as a goal is becoming unreachable due to lack of political will, and states that in this country the measures to ensure we reach our commitments to the Paris agreement aren’t there in any shape or form.
Lord Deben of the UKCCC (until recently) stated our government was setting ‘the worst kind of example to the rest of the world’ compared to other countries who are really moving on green solutions rather than empty pledges while actively supporting new oil and coal initiatives.
This week, Rishi Sunak has clearly shown that, rather than creating opportunities for people across the UK to mitigate the seriousness of the situation we are facing, he prefers to fabricate an anti-green mantra to bolster an election campaign.
I therefore find Simon Hoare’s statement (The BV, Jul 23)‘Confidence in the commitment of the government to achieve progress cannot be in serious question.’ extremely surprising.
It is at complete odds with anything these eminent climate scientists are saying – and the actions of his government.
Karen Wimhurst, Shaftesbury

The solar farm
Dorset Council Strategic Planning Committee have approved plans for a 188 acre Solar development, stretching for 1 mile from north east to south west, on a site between Mappowder, Pulham, Kings Stag and Hazelbury Bryan.
Scant consideration was given to local residents’ very real concerns that existing high levels of flooding would be exacerbated by concentrated run off from panels creating runnels which would increase water levels quickly and cause flash floods. The area is already in a flood zone and the ground saturates for about six months of the year. The applicants have failed to provide adequate infiltration tests of the site or confirm the number of panels planned so it is currently impossible to calculate the risk. The Committee appeared to be more concerned with the relocation of crested newts or whether or not sheep would be grazed under the panels.
At one point debate surrounded the issue of potential fire in battery storage areas; objectors and observers were surprised that Planning and Flood Officers did not point out that there is in fact no battery storage planned in the application under consideration.
Landscape Officers’ and the AONB’s concerns that significant damage would be caused to views from the Bulbarrow ridge were brushed aside with the comment that the panels would have a non reflective coating.
Significantly neither the Landscape nor Heritage officers were present and the AONB was not represented.
Some will respond that the climate emergency means that renewable energy must trump every other consideration but is this acceptable when giant solar plants destroy cherished views, fence wildlife out of their usual habitat, take good farmland out of production at a time of food insecurity and risk lives and livelihoods due to exacerbated flooding?
National and Dorset Planning policy states clearly that environmental damage must not be disregarded during the move to low carbon energy generation but in this case, elements of policy have been ignored. My personal view is that if larger than about 60 acres, these plants should be located close to motorways or other semi industrial areas where the landscape, habitat and tranquillity is already blighted.
Subsidies should be offered to industry and agriculture to cover suitable roofs with solar panels. Taking into account their enthusiasm to cover unspoiled country with industrial panels, it is also surprising that Dorset Council do not insist on solar panels and water butts to be standard with every new dwelling and encourage farms and businesses to install panels on their buildings.
Catherine Langham, by email

The Pet of the Month Facebook post was once again a happy parade of good pets. Would you like your pet to be featured?
Share them on Facebook or send an email to [email protected].
Please be sure to include your pet’s name, age, and a couple of fun details about them.

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