Anyone that sings a bit of country has my heart’ – Dorset Island Discs

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8 March 2023

As event organiser at the Turnpike Showground, shepherd Bonnie Cradock is facing a doubly busy spring, thanks to one over-excited fun-loving ram

Bonnie Cradock, shepherd and events organiser.
Images: Courtenay Hitchcock

Bonnie Cradock rolls her eyes as she spots a ewe lambing out of the office window. ‘Last year I had them timed perfectly, lambing began the week after the Spring Countryside Show. But a ram got into the flock and enjoyed himself – and so here I am, unintentionally lambing in February!’
The 27-year old shepherd from Ludwell near Shaftesbury has a flock of 1,200 sheep which she shares with her brother Matt. Add to that her ‘second’ job of organising two of Dorset’s major country shows, and she keeps herself busy.
Lambing is the ‘hardest part of the job, but the most rewarding,’ she says ‘My days start at 4.30am and I arm myself with a Thermos of coffee. We rent our land so our flocks are spread around – we stretch from lambs in Bere Regis to breeding ewes in Fovant, and everything in between. It can take five hours to check on them all.
‘I’ve been working for the past few years for the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show, and I now do that almost full time. I love it; as an agricultural show team everyone’s very understanding if I turn up late for work because I’ve had an unexpected ‘sheep situation!’
The Spring Countryside Show means April is a crazy month – the early lambers will be finished shortly, and then I’ll be working flat out on the show before going straight into 10-hour lambing days. And I thought a career in the army would be hard work!’
Despite growing up on a dairy farm, Bonnie was determined the Army life was for her. Having passed officer selection with flying colours, Bonnie did her A-levels at Welbeck Sixth Form Defence College. Ironically, it was her beloved sheep which caused an end to her military career: an old shoulder injury,caused by five year-old Bonnie moving sheep with Matt, didn’t appreciate her playing rugby and polo for the army, and Bonnie was discharged.
For the past four years Bonnie has been sheep farming, working with her more experienced big brother.

Bonnie loves working with her brother Matt

A life in music
And so to Bonnie’s eight music choices, in no particular order, along with how and why they have stuck in her life:

Rockin’ All Over The World
Status Quo
This reminds me of too many hours spent singing and dancing to it with my dad, while either decorating a house or doing mundane cleaning jobs.
It never fails to make the tedious tasks that much easier.

Emo Girl
Machine Gun Kelly
Don’t ask (that’s literally what we’re doing here Bonnie – Ed).
I don’t even know why I love it. But I can sing along to the whole thing and it is definitely one of my top songs (and that’s a fact – I just checked my Spotify stats!).

Air Hostess
Busted
I have too many memories of awful dancing to this with friends when I was younger! But that’s what I love about it – every time I listen to it, it’s packed with all those memories of carefree,
awful-dancing young me.

Life is a Highway
Rascal Flatts
Whenever I am feeling blue, this is the song that gets put on – and with zero apologies to anyone within earshot, it’s on repeat until I feel lifted.

Truth Hurts
Lizzo
Ooof. I’m not sure that anyone who has had to deal with a certain type of man needs this explained?! “Why men great ‘til they gotta be great?”. Yes.

Hooked on a Feeling
Blue Swede
I know it’s old, but I first heard this song while watching Guardians of the Galaxy and I couldn’t get it out of my head for weeks, it just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I haven’t told my other half this, but this is the song I’d want our first dance to be to – it’s so upbeat and it’s how he makes me feel.
Maybe don’t include that bit …
(oops – Ed)

Soul
Lee Brice
To be honest, anyone that sings a bit of country has my heart. If you haven’t heard it, give it a listen. I can’t even say how happy this song makes me. If you hear me listening to it, you know it’s been a very good day!

I Am A Cider Drinker
The Wurzels.
Would it even be a Dorset Island Discs with a young farmer if this wasn’t included?! Many, many memories of great nights (often in muddy fields) surrounded by hundreds of people all singing along to this. It’s something everyone should experience.

A book for a castaway
Anything on the Greek Gods. I am currently reading a couple of books on the history of them, and trying to follow all the story lines and keeping track of who is related to who would definitely make the time go by!

A luxury item?
A sleeping bag. I’ll be fine on the island, I could actually do with some piece and quiet. As long as I’ve got something warm to cover me I’ll be grand!

One to keep?
And if a giant wave was coming, and there was only time to snatch one record, which would Bonnie save from the water?
‘Hooked on a feeling. Obviously.’

Click here to listen to Bonnie’s list on YouTube

ILCHESTER SPORTSFIELD FUND
CHARITY BOOT SALE 2023

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Editorial team

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7 March 2023

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Open every Sunday from 2nd April
Sellers Free Prize Draw

Sellers: gates open 7.30am. Cars £5. Large vans £10.
Merchant/commercial vehicles £15. Trailers additional £5.

Buyers: no access to stalls prior to 8.30am.
Car entries £1 Pedestrians 50p.

We are Dog friendly. Access off A37/A303 roundabout

Mobile 07967 280754
Facebook at Ilchester Charity Car Boot.
@ilchestercharitycarboot
Website: www.ilchester.org.uk

So you think you know about living in a listed building …

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Editorial team

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7 March 2023

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Natalie Aldrich, senior heritage and archaeology consultant at Savills, looks at some common beliefs and misconceptions around owning a listed building

Built circa 1770 in the grounds of Grade I listed New Wardour Castle, The Hexagon is a hexagonal house with a wealth of period features, including stone mullion, leaded windows and a combination of stone and oak floors.
Currently for sale through Savills

According to Historic England, there are around 400,000 Grade I, Grade II and Grade II*-listed buildings in England. A building is listed when it is of special architectural or historic interest considered to be of national importance and therefore worth protecting. The older the building, the more likely it is to be listed. So what does this mean for those who live in one?
I can’t make any changes!
This is a common misconception. You may well be able to undertake partial demolition, add an extension, or make many other changes. However, the significance, of the building should be understood and the right permissions obtained.
In understanding which elements of the building are of most architectural, historic or archaeological interest, it is then possible to understand how any proposed development may impact this. For example, if you have a listed 18th- century cottage which includes a 20th-century extension, by illustrating that the extension adds no special heritage interest, you are more likely to obtain permission to demolish it.
Equally, it is possible to make internal alterations. Some may need Listed Building Consent (LBC), which must be sought from your local planning authority, while others may not. Upgrading kitchens and bathrooms can often be done without needing consent so long as there aren’t significant changes to the services (plumbing, for example).
In England, Historic England provides guidance on what does – and does not – need LBC, so having a good relationship with your local conservation officer can be beneficial.
Only the exterior is covered by the listing, so I can do what I want inside!
This is not true. The statutory listing of a building covers the whole building – internally and externally (unless parts are specifically excluded in the list description). The listing can also cover attached structures and fixtures, later extensions or additions, or buildings which pre-date 1948 which are located within land attached to the building which may not be explicitly described in the list entry. This is sometimes referred to as ‘curtilage listing’. Most listings provide a description of the building. Nevertheless just because an element of the building is not mentioned does not mean it is not covered.

Can I knock down walls?
Possibly. Again, understanding the history and development of the building, including how the internal layout and form may contribute to the heritage interest, is key in whether you may be allowed to alter the internal fabric/form.
If an internal partition is modern it may be possible to remove it, especially in cases where this would reveal the original proportions of the space. For example, the principal rooms of an 18th-century townhouse were at first-floor level, larger with high ceilings. Where more recent subdivision has occurred, it may be possible to reverse this and reinstate the intended floorplan.

Am I allowed double glazing?
It will depend on what is currently installed, where the heritage interest lies and what sort of windows are proposed. Traditionally, double glazing in listed buildings has not been encouraged by local planning authorities, who prefer secondary glazing which does not require changes to the fabric of the building. It is possible to install energy efficient windows which respect the appearance and style of the original and, therefore, would not affect the understanding of the building.

Can I paint the front door?
There is no general rule to say you can’t! There are circumstances where you may need to obtain LBC – for example, if the door is original and its appearance or fabric is important in explaining its special interest. Also, if you live in a Conservation Area and wish to paint your front door a different colour, you should speak to your local planning authority to see if you need planning permission and/or listed building consent.

Can I build a new structure or building in the grounds?
Yes. You may be able to erect a new building or structure in the grounds of your listed building without needing LBC. You may, however, need to obtain planning permission. If permission is required, consideration will be given to how the proposal may impact the significance of the listed building in terms of its setting, and therefore careful thought regarding the scale, design, use of materials and location of a new structure in the design stage may be beneficial.

Can I be made to maintain my listed building?
There is no direct legal obligation or specific duty on owners to keep their buildings in a good state of repair, but local authorities have powers to take action where a listed building has deteriorated to the extent that its preservation may be at risk. The local authority can issue an Urgent Works Notice for the preservation of the building after giving notice to the owner. This only applies to an unoccupied building, or unused part of a partly occupied building, and generally only relates to works to ensure the building is weathertight, safe from collapse or to prevent vandalism or theft.
If the works are not carried out by the owner, the authority has the power to enter the property, carry out the works and seek to recover the costs from the owner. A Repairs Notice may be served where it is considered that the building is not being properly preserved. These powers are not confined to urgent works or to unoccupied buildings and can be used where it is deemed an owner is not keeping the building in reasonable repair which may put the building at risk.
If it is deemed that reasonable steps are not being taken by the owner to preserve the building, then the local authority may begin compulsory purchase proceedings. Be aware that should the local authority intervene in such cases, you may be liable for costs including the costs of works required to return it to a preserved state.

Can I get financial help to maintain my listed building?
It may be possible to apply for financial support to help maintain your building. Historic England may provide grants, however these tend to be for buildings of greatest national significance and where some degree of public access is provided. Other sources of funding may be available, but again these sources have criteria for access.

Can I appeal against the listing?
Yes, it is possible to question or challenge the designation of your listed building. This can happen both when a listing is proposed, and when a building is already listed. You can apply to Historic England to review the previous assessment, however you would need to provide evidence as to why the building does not meet the statutory criteria for inclusion, which may be based on information not considered at the time of listing. This may be because new evidence has come to light, for example regarding the architect of the building, the age or origins of internal fabric, or loss of fabric following accidental damage.

Now’s the time to consider buying a future-proof home

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Editorial team

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7 March 2023

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There’s no doubt that buying a house is one of the most expensive purchases in a lifetime. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking to make your next move, you’ll already have factored the initial deposit and monthly mortgage payments into your budget.

Cllr Pauline Batstone (front left) and Cllr Graham Carr-Jones performing the official ribbon-cutting of Abri Homes’ Violet Cross development at Hazelbury Bryan

But what about the less obvious, ‘whole of life’ running costs, such as rising energy bills and expensive upgrades?
With the average household set to spend a third of their income on energy bills alone, this is one cost that shouldn’t be overlooked. Buyers can get a good idea of how much they’ll be spending on energy by looking at a home’s EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating. Put simply, an EPC is a scale of energy efficiency, with A being the highest and G the lowest. Newer homes tend to have higher EPC ratings, meaning they’re likely to use less energy and so protect homeowners from rising energy bills. In order to achieve these ratings, they’ll often come equipped with the latest energy efficiency measures too – which are often simple to install in a new build, but costly if upgrading an older home with a lower EPC rating.
If you’re looking for a future-proof home in the Blackmore Vale area, Abri Homes’ Violet Cross development, set in the idyllic village of Hazelbury Bryan, certainly fits the bill. There’s just a few three bedroom houses remaining, all boasting an EPC B to C rating, so you can rest assured that your home is making the most of the energy it’s using. And besides their open-plan living spaces and private gardens, they also boast energy-efficient smart thermostats, LED lights, and double-glazed windows and doors.
Although the ‘whole life’ running costs are important, buyers will be pleased that the initial cost is affordable, too – not least because house prices in the area are well above the national average. By contrast, homes at Violet Cross are available to purchase through Shared Ownership, with a 35% share of a three bedroom end-terrace house available for just £101,500, instead of the full market value of £290,000.
At Abri Homes, we believe that everyone should have a warm and affordable place to live; and our Shared Ownership homes offer just that. Whilst there may have been a time where an EPC rating was little more than a letter on a piece of paper, it’s now more important than ever to consider energy-efficiency and make sure your property is ready for what the future brings.

To find out more about our wide range of homes across the south and south west of England visit
abrihomes.co.uk

Red twins, ELMS and beavers

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Editorial team

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7 March 2023

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A surprise delivery, beavers in Blandford and farmer George Hosford’s personal thoughts on the speakers and messaging at the NFU conference

Ginge, a red heifer at Traveller’s Rest Farm, has produced a lovely pair of twins

Since the beginning of February our heifers have been calving steadily. One of the bulls, Mr Red, was introduced to them several weeks ahead of the rest of the herd last May, for just two weeks. We were aiming for a 50 per cent success rate from the 24 heifers; when scanned it turned out he had successfully served 21 of them, so our sheds are currently quite crowded!
Pictured above is Ginge, the only red animal in the bunch. She has produced a lovely pair of twins – remarkable for a heifer – and she is doing them very well.
We now await the start of the main bunch, hoping there will be no more trouble of the kind experienced last week – after calving, one of the ladies popped out a prolapse.
Fortunately there are no pictures of this unfortunate event, but the skill of our vet, armed with some sugar and a shot of oxytocin, and the perseverance of Dougal and Fred late into the evening saw all put back in order. Mother and calf are now doing well.

Nick Adams, our bird watcher, found a healthy number of corn bunting where we have planted ‘corn bunting mix’ – seed-bearing crops that favour this increasingly rare bird. Nick told us that corn bunting form up into choirs that will have their own version of the corn bunting song
that involves 100 different notes. It will be slightly different from what the older ones sang last year and from any other groups around. At this time
of year when they’re in a group one or more of the older ones will be leading lots of choir practice for the young.

ELMS positivity
A trip to Birmingham in February took in the NFU national conference – a two day extravaganza. First up was Agriculture Minister Mark Spencer, who spent some time once again explaining the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS). There are many layers to this replacement for the flat rate Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) which has run since 2015, and which rewards landowners simply on the basis of how much land they occupy. Some farmers have been getting impatient to see what ELMS will mean, as the BPS has been gradually reducing and will be down to zero by 2027. DEFRA has been taking its time, (we’ve known something new would be required post-Brexit for a few years now), but there is no point in rushing schemes out before they are ready.
The history of British agricultural support is littered with the corpses of previous premature deliveries.
There is hot debate surrounding several aspects of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), one of the three strands of ELMS, especially the hedgerow and grassland standards.
On a very positive note, hidden among the arable standards are proposed payments for farmers who do not use insecticides, for the establishment of companion crops and for no-till crops. We will be very pleased to take advantage of these options, which show that at least some departments within DEFRA are keeping themselves up to date with soil health and environmental issues.
Opposition leader Keir Starmer delivered a positive, slick speech. He fielded audience questions with good humour and navigated trickier subjects reasonably successfully, insisting that no doors will be closed, and that a Labour DEFRA will follow the science on tricky subjects like bovine TB.
Hardly an assurance worth holding breath for though, when in their next breath they are talking about extending the Right to Roam – bearing in mind the Horlicks the last Labour government made of this topic. The best was kept for last.
You surely cannot have missed the story of how the Secretary of State Therese Coffey bombed.
I have never seen a conference performer behave in such a fashion – she was grumpy and rude, not very well briefed, and completely failed to engage with the room, let alone with NFU president Minette Batters, who was her interviewer.

Beaver on the Stour?
Beavers have been in the news again recently. Farmers seem to be very good at getting worked up about them – worried that their land will be flooded and trees will be damaged, while finding it hard to understand the good things a beaver can bring to their environment.
It is true that if they are to be introduced – and they already have been in many areas, including several sites in Dorset – then we ought to be allowed to manage them if their dam building threatens more harm than good.
However, the government in its wisdom has made them a protected species, so their lodges, dams and the creatures themselves cannot be interfered with. There is so far no sign of a protocol by which they can be managed. Beaver damage to trees has already been seen near the Stour north of Sturminster Newton, and a beaver was filmed by a member of the public in the river in Blandford last summer.
To show beavers in action, mostly under cover of night, here is some video from Cropton Forest in north Yorkshire, where they have erected a dam 70 metres wide which is claimed to be reducing flooding risk to the town of Pickering.
However, local intelligence suggests that the erection of a bund, a reservoir that holds 120,000 cubic metres of water, and more than 100 leaky wooded debris dams may also have something to do with keeping the town flood free …

The Farming section is sponsored by Trethowans – law as it should be

The Battling Butlers are in Dorset

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Editorial team

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7 March 2023

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Packed with live music, physical comedy & circus, internationally-acclaimed Bash Street Theatre tell a story as old as time in their brand-new show ‘The Battling Butlers’. This March they head to Dorset for three performances with Artsreach, the county’s rural arts charity.
Juggling babies, toddlers on stilts and teaching young Joey to ride his first unicycle are all part of everyday life for single dad, Joe Butler, in this poignant, family love story involving the ever-changing relationship of a father-and-son double act.
Based in Penzance in Cornwall, Bash Street Theatre has built an international reputation over the last 30 years, performing silent-comedy, street theatre shows throughout the UK, Europe and beyond. Their latest show, The Battling Butlers, is a real family affair, performed by father and son, Simon Pullum and Loki Pickering, and featuring original live music from multi-instrumentalist and composer Julian Gaskell.
Artsreach Assistant Director Yvonne Gallimore said “Bash Street have been touring to Dorset for many years, and audiences fondly remember shows such as ‘The Lion Tamer’ and ‘The Strongman’. We’re excited to see Simon and Loki explore the father/son role more closely and are excited to be supporting them as the tour across the UK.’

More details and tickets on artsreach.co.uk
24th March, 7:30pm.
Yetminster Jubilee Hall.
25th March, 7:30pm.
Child Okeford Village Hall.
26th March, 7:30pm.
Portland Royal Manor Theatre

Logging on to horse power

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Editorial team

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7 March 2023

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It may be 10,000 years old, but Toby Hoad believes the ancient skill of horse logging is vital in shaping and saving our woodlands. Tracie Beardsley reports

Toby Hoad working with his Comtois mares Ettie and Celine
All images: Courtenay Hitchcock

He’s been up since 4.30am on ‘daddy duties’ for his five and seven year-olds. He’s cooked a full English, got his two horses into a truck, driven 20 miles and is now about to walk more than four miles with the horses, each of which can pull up to one and a half times their body weight.
This is the world of Toby Hoad, one of only 12 full-time horse loggers in the country.
As we sit chatting on a pile of logs, looking out on an idyllic ancient woodland with the soundtrack of horses munching hay (no full English for them!) and the tintinnabulation of harnesses, I can see why Toby gets so much job satisfaction.
‘Aside from the travelling’ – he covers Dorset and all the surrounding counties – ’there’s no negatives to what I do,’ he says. ‘It’s physically hard but that’s invigorating. My workforce are the best employees – they never want a pay rise nor demand a pension!’
He’s talking about his three sturdy Comtois – Ettie, Celine and Fleur – French mountain draft horses known for their steady and sociable natures. Their powerful bodies with short, strong legs are perfect for forestry work and, in their native land, ploughing vineyards.

Ettie and Celine wait patiently while Toby uses the forestry machinery

Toby explains: ‘Their stature allows them to work on steep slopes so they can get to where machinery can’t. Comtois are such all-rounders – hard-working as well as hardy. They don’t even need shoes as their feet are tough. Most of the time they have a lovely nature too. I’ll admit that Ettie, the lead mare, can get grumpy, but we all have bad days!’
Toby started Dorset Horse Logging 14 years ago, after exploring many other occupations: sail making, sheep shearing, dry stone walling, green woodworking, making charcoal … ‘I didn’t know what I wanted to do so I never felt pigeon-holed. I just tried lots of different things. I love learning. The only thing I was sure of was that I wanted to work outdoors.’

Toby Hoad’s connection with his horses is impossible to miss – they work as a team

Even in a thick forest, working with the horses individually Toby can move whole tree trunks

Sensitive work
Toby tried an experience day with a horse logger and that was it. ‘The moment I started working with his horse, I knew I’d found my direction.’
With a mix of modern machinery – chainsaws, a hydraulic forwarder to stack the timber, a mobile sawmill – combined with his eight legs of horsepower, Toby offers complete project management: felling trees, stacking logs, sawing them and selling them on or using them again in the woodland.
At his present job, the logs are being reincarnated into a bird hide on the estate.
The National Trust employs Toby every summer on heathland for bracken rolling. His horses pull a roller with L-shaped bars which bruise the invasive bracken. The crushed plants then must put energy into recovering rather than growing, so their spread diminishes each year.

Once the trees are felled, and the trunks trimmed, Toby and his horses can move a large number of trunks out of the forest

Without the use of any chemicals, grass will eventually take over and the Trust will be able to graze native cattle back on the heathland.

‘The beauty of using agile horses is I can work on sites of architectural interest which forbid machinery, and in sensitive areas to protect fauna and flora, as there’s less impact.’
He shows me the faint track which is the only trace that has been left by his horses.
‘With its low-impact approach, horse logging definitely has an important role to play in our natural future.’

It’s time to harness up again – he needs to be out of the woods before the nesting birds settle later this month.
His employees are getting twitchy too, though with a few voice commands Ettie and Celine are ready for work again. ‘They’re like me!’ Toby says. ‘If I don’t work for a few weeks, I get restless. I just want to get back into the woods with my horses.’
DorsetHorseLogging.co.uk
You can see Toby and his horses in action at the Turnpike Showground, Motcombe, in the
Spring Countryside Show on 22nd and 23rd April.

It’s not all horse power – Toby uses a mix of modern machinery – chainsaws, a hydraulic forwarder to stack the timber and a mobile sawmill

Quick fire questions:
A-list dinner party guests?
My Grandad, another Toby. He loved woodlands and was a carpenter before being drawn into the family shoe shop business. He’d be interested in what I do now.
Billy Connelly – how could you not have fun if he’s around?
Xavier Rudd – I love his music so he can entertain us.
And my wife, Janine. With young kids we don’t get much chance to party.

Books by your bedside?
I’ve a pile of 20 or so, on topics ranging from spoon carving and timber frame building to smallholdings… I open a page then fall asleep!

It’s a dog’s life at Branscombe

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Editorial team

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6 March 2023

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Peter Sale and his family have been running Branscombe Kennels and Cattery since 2019, and are proud of what’s hiding behind the gates

Ben begins the busy daily routine of looking after his section of the resident dogs.
All images: Courtenay Hitchcock

The unassuming entrance to Branscombe Kennels and Cattery hide a bustling beehive of activity. Sitting in the shelter of the hill below Shaftesbury, the kennels has been under the ownership of Peter Sale and his daughter and son in law, Nadja and Steve Nunn, since 2019.
The small yard opens (through high, secure gates) to a collection of buildings. When we arrived, they were filled with dogs barking, sleeping, bouncing and sitting patiently as their bedrooms were scrubbed.
The individual pens are necessarily uniform and clinical. ‘It’s not like home here,’ says Peter. ‘We try our best to make it as homely as possible, but there are limits to what we can manage.’ Each pen has an inside sleeping area, complete with recently-upgraded new infrared heaters. ‘They’re designed to heat objects, not the ambient air. It feels cooler, but the dogs are cosy and warm, it’s a much better system, so much nicer for the dogs.’
Variously-sized kennels are matched to their occupants, from small, cosier pens for miniature dogs through to giant kennels which can comfortably house a Great Dane. The atmosphere as we walk around is one of organised bustle – the staff are busy with their morning chores, but are constantly stopping for a pat, a chat or a game with a canine resident. All the dogs are referred to by name, and the staff are clearly familiar with their charges. It’s a busy, stimulating environment in which no dog will be bored.

‘The kennels are designed in a certain way to ensure dogs are able to be sociable with other dogs and with the people coming in and out. They’re not sitting behind closed walls all day. And we place dogs where they need to be – do they require a quieter kennel away from the hustle, or do they need to be seeing people all the time? We always try and work with the dog.
‘We keep a special eye on any particularly needy dogs – the very young, the elderly, the dogs who are in kennels for the first time … it can be a stressful environment initially. We like to encourage owners to leave their pets for just a day first. Then, if there’s time, for a single overnight, before they do the proper board. Dogs need to understand that you’re coming back, and what it’s like here.’

The fully enclosed agility arena allows the dogs to run and enjoy enrichment activities

The to-do list
Peter was a deputy headteacher in Kent before he took early retirement. He bought a house overlooking the sea, spent a lot of time walking his dogs – and very quickly got bored! His daughter Nadja taught teenagers with special needs in secondary school, and she and her husband were both looking for a life change. In 2018 the three started searching for an opportunity together – and they found Branscombe.
‘It’s a lifestyle choice – you don’t run a place like this to get rich! You really can only do it if you love it – it’s seven days a week, 365 days a year, and it’s a never-ending project – you’re never done!
‘We’re always working to make it better, there’s constant upgrading and improvement. Right now we’ve got new fencing going in and we’re replacing drains (boring, but surprisingly important!). Over the past year we’ve installed new lighting as well as the infra-red heating, new windows, and we’ve upgraded the cattery block … just keeping the pens fresh with the specific paint we’re allowed to use is a perennial job in itself!’
On the opposite side of the compound is the more peaceful cattery – which had just two residents when we visited. ‘Currently the cattery residents tend to arrive with dog owners who also have a cat – but the cattery provides the same level of care.’

Steve Nunn (far left) with Tiffany the chihuahua, some of the Branscombe team, Peter Sale with his rescue lurcher General Jackson and Nadja (far right) with Oceane the dachshund

A day in the life
Branscombe is set within large grounds which open onto open farmland and the back of Duncliffe Hill. All dogs are walked at least twice a day on the lead in the exercise fields and larger dogs (and those requiring more exercise) get taken into the agility arena to work off-lead. Owners can also book their pets to enjoy daily sessions in the agility arena and during their stay.
‘The animals receive 24 hour-a-day-care – as we live on site, at least one of us (Nadja, Steve or Peter) is always here.
On a typical day, the rest of the staff arrive at 8am. First job is always a quick poo check, then it’s feeding time and the walks begin – a long process, as you can imagine, taking hours each day. Then there is a thorough clean of every pen, and checking in and out as some dogs go home and some arrive. Every kennel is deep cleaned and thoroughly disinfected between guests.
Cats enjoy the same daily routine – the only thing we don’t do with them is the walking, of course, but we substitute the walk with some time spent with their carer.
All dogs are walked in the afternoon, and then it’s feeding time again. At 5pm most of the staff leave, and we do the evening checks ourselves, including any final walks, ensuring heaters are on in colder weather, water bowls are checked, and all the dogs are put to bed.’

Branscombe’s exercise fields allow for plenty of space for a really good walk

Peter and Nadja’s teaching background shows in their staff training programme too: ‘All the staff are constantly training – whatever qualification they have, they’re working on the next one. Some are doing Animal Care Level 2/3 qualifications, and a couple have moved on to the City & Guilds Kennel Management course. Once you have employed the right people, the better trained they are the bigger an asset they become to the business. It just makes sense. And we have such a great team at Branscombe – we don’t have to work hard at being a caring environment. Every single one of us is animal mad.’

branscombekennels.co.uk
Branscombe has recently launched a new ‘Premier Service’ for dogs that includes a daily session in the agility arena and photos sent to the owner during their stay, an extra £10 daily.

The curious gang were keeping an eye on the visitors

Quick-fire questions:

How far ahead should I book?
As soon as you can! Really as soon as you know. Peak times book up fast – the summer holidays, Easter, Christmas and half-terms get very busy.

Will my dogs be together?
Dogs from the same home can share a pen – we never mix dogs from different homes, of course.

Can I bring my pet’s things?
We can’t accommodate everything, but do as much as we can. We prefer to supply beds and bedding because then we know they’re clean and laundered correctly etc.
But we won’t say no – many dogs are very attached to their beds, it’s like a security blanket, so it needs to come. Harnesses, coats and toys are all fine. In terms of food, we have six dry, six wet and six raw foods, including gluten free etc. But if we don’t have yours, you can supply it.

Is my difficult pet an issue?
With caveats, no. The important thing is to be honest, to call us and talk through the issues.
Lots of needs can be handled, but we’re not miracle workers, and we have to consider the safety and comfort of the staff and all the other dogs.
If we can help, we will.

Do you have a groomer?
We have a specialist groomer on site – the grooming salon is available for resident dogs and outside clients, and offers everything from a simple nail trim to a full doggie pamper!

Deepest Wiltshire books support important local charities with more than £30,000

By

Editorial team

-

6 March 2023

0

Three Wiltshire charities have received a total of £11,000 – proceeds of the sale of Deepest Wiltshire, the second in the Deepest Books series by Gay Pirrie-Weir and Fanny Charles.
Wiltshire Air Ambulance and the military charity SSAFA each received £5,000 and there was also a donation of £1,000 to the Salisbury Hospice.
The book is a portrait of the county looking at its history, how and where people work and live, the army, food and farming, the arts and Salisbury Cathedral. These donations follow the £20,000 already given to Wiltshire Community Foundation for the Covid Recovery Fund, bringing the total so far raised by the book to £31,000.

The work being funded
The donation to SSAFA has come at a critical time, says Simon McNeill-Ritchie, the charity’s regional fundraising officer, ‘as we try to fund another casework support officer for Wiltshire. Each case we help, on average, costs about £250, so your contribution will help us to help 20 veterans and their families to turn their lives around.’
It costs £4 million a year to keep Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s lifesaving service operational – that is around £11,000 per day. The charity relies on donations to continue saving lives – like all air ambulance services it receives no regular direct government funding or Lottery grants.
Wiltshire Air Ambulance operates up to 19 hours a day, every day, says Cas Loudon, the senior community engagement and volunteer officer.
On average, it is called to three incidents a day in its helicopter and two critical care cars. In 2022 it undertook 1,061 missions. The air ambulance paramedics are trained in critical care skills and, together with the specialist medical equipment they use, they are able to provide gold standard medical care to patients. The service was further improved in November 2021, when the number of pre-hospital consultant shifts was increased.

Every donation helps
Alex Oram, community fundraiser for Salisbury Hospicecare Trust, says the funds from Deepest Wiltshire will be put to excellent use in helping Salisbury Hospice to provide the specialist palliative care that means so much to so many in our community. ‘Provision of this service is only made possible by the support we receive from generous local people.
Every donation really does go a long way towards helping us plan for the future and of course to continue to support the vital work of the hospice and its community teams.’
One recent event – the collection of Christmas trees – raised more than £24,500, ‘which was fantastic and thanks to the huge support we receive from those in the community, and our wonderful team of volunteers,’ says Alex.

• Deepest Wiltshire is available to order from deepestbooks.co.uk or email [email protected]