The Cream Awards – Dairy Industry Trade Awards – is the premier event for UK dairy farmers. Organised by British Dairying magazine the annual event showcases some of the brightest and best people, businesses and innovations the industry has to offer. It demonstrates what the UK dairy industry can and is achieving, and its winners are ambassadors for the industry, showing leadership and innovation at a time when this is most needed. The much-coveted Taste of Excellence award was sponsored by Morrisons Supermarkets, and Meggy Moo’s Dairy scooped the winner’s trophy for their Sea Salted Butter. Judges comments were: ‘Won by unanimous vote from the judging panel. ‘Brilliantly balanced butter, presented well in the packaging, with a wonderful rich flavour.’ Morrisons commented: ‘Meggy Moo’s sea salted butter is up there with some of the best butters we’ve tasted in our kitchen – well done.’ Shroton-based farmers Rachael and Alan Perrett started their farm’s direct sales business in 2016, after the birth of their first daughter, Megan, was born (Meggy Moo’s is named after her). They and their robot-milking herd featured in the January issue of the BV. ‘We are thrilled and very proud to win this prestigious award for our Sea Salted Butter’ says Rachael. ‘Every product we produce is very much a team effort, so this is credit to the hard work put in by everyone at our farm.’
It’s going to be a busy autumn – gardener Pete Harcom shares his list of clean up jobs for the winter, as well as planting tips to be ready for spring
Trillium erectum – or wakerobin – is an interesting plant to try in a corner with dappled shade
We can now look forward to the spectacular display of colours from our deciduous trees and shrubs. In general terms, autumn is the best time for planting trees and shrubs and hedges. Here are a few jobs to be getting on with this month:
Clean up the greenhouse and move any potted or planted frost-vulnerable plants (like fuchsias and pelargoniums) into the greenhouse to overwinter. If you have limited space, put the plants together in a long flower pot (window-box type). Make sure you have your sweet pea seeds ready for a winter sowing. Collect seeds from hardy perennials and sow them in a cold greenhouse now. If you have shade paint on your greenhouse glass, now is the time to remove it. While it is dry, remove the paint carefully with a dry cloth. This will let in more light and help grab as much of the sun’s heat as possible on cooler days. Clear up your borders; remove the annuals and plant up for spring with wallflowers, pansies, hellebores and perhaps Bellis perennis daisies. Be sure to plant some flowering bulbs to help the bees when they emerge from hibernation – crocus, snake’s head fritillary, winter-flowering clematis and grape hyacinths are all particularly good for bees. Bees that emerge too early from hibernation on sunny winter days are in danger of dying if they don’t find a source of food quickly, so by providing a constant source of nectar in your garden, you can really help them on their way. Cut back, divide and replant your herbaceous perennials. Protect half-hardy plants with leaf mould or compost if you are leaving them in the garden borders. Hardy fuchsias will definitely benefit from this. Hedgehogs will really benefit from extra food now, especially as they will be needing to fatten up before their winter hibernation. No need to buy expensive products – local hedgehog rescue centres feed them on dry complete kitten food. Keep rose beds and plants clear of fallen rose leaves, especially if black spot is a problem. Complete the pruning of rambling and climbing roses.
Wakerobin Here’s an interesting plant for you to try – Trillium erectum, or wakerobin. Fully hardy and perennial, these wildflowers from North America are plants of open woodland, so filtered shade is needed rather than full shade. They flower from April to May, and reach around 30cm. They need a humus-rich soil that is well-drained, but not tooled.
A trip to Italy has wine merchant Sadie Wilkins thinking about avoiding the tourist traps and searching out the genuine local offerings
Vineyards in Bardolino near Lake Garda
Last week I was staying on the beautiful Lake Garda in northern Italy, home to some incredibly popular and easy-drinking wines. The region’s cool climate produces some delicious vino – from the aromatic yet mineral delights of Alto Adige at the head of the lake to the juicy, ready-to-drink young wines of Bardolino, not forgetting the fizzy and fruity Prosecco of Veneto, and the seductive appeal of a Valpolicella Ripasso. There’s something for everyone in Italy, and the North did not disappoint. Whenever I am away, I try to support local growers by choosing their wines in restaurants, usually having asked the staff (some being sommeliers) on style and pairing etc. Why not live and breathe the terroir by drinking the local wine? Context is everything – but it is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s romantic to think we can bottle up a region and experience it anywhere in the world. But it is hard to replicate a magical holiday moment, when you don’t have the climate, the food or the lakeside view …
Typical wine In Garda, you are surrounded by amazing whites, reds and rosés from winemaking families with true heritage. For a handful of Euros, in a local supermarket, you can buy a typical wine of the region. Because the area is so popular for tourists (we can understand why, it was our second visit and won’t be our last), there are many wines available that reflect ‘the hits’ of the region. Drinking a Bardolino at a touristy lakeside restaurant is like buying a souvenir Big Ben keyring in Leicester Square – it’s symbolic of the area, but not unique or special.
Happy accidents We stumbled on a wine festival organised by Visit Bardolino – a four-day event showcasing amazing Bardolino producers. We met the fantastic Fererica Zeni, who was passionate about her Bardolino but insisted we should go and see her winery and try out the other wines she produces. She is a fifth generation winemaker wanting to continue with the quality and reputation her ancestors have carved out. The point I’m making is that you need to hunt down the stuff the locals drink. Find the local producers, head off the beaten track and resist the appeal of the easy-to-grab-while-picking-up-a-packet-of-Lays-and-a-bottle-of-water wines from a supermarket.
Ask them that know Sampling Soave, Lugana, Valpolicella … Bardolino … made me really appreciate the choice we have in the UK. It also made me think about value for money. Many of the holidaymakers we talked to didn’t know that you can find these small-grower wines in the UK. Cantina del Garda Bardolino Chiarretto has in fact been one of our biggest selling rosés this summer at Vineyards and we always promote well-made wines with character. It is hard to know, when you are first getting into wine, whether you are drinking an average wine of a region or a special one. That’s why making friends with your local wine merchant is always a good idea. Speak to folk who are passionate about wine and who drink a lot of it. That’s the secret of the trade and it works at all levels. Hunt down those in the know – it’s what we do on our travels!
The Festival of the Future is now in its third year, showcasing exciting digital innovations happening across Dorset from 10th to 14th October. Futurefest22: ground-breaking digital innovation in farming, education, tourism, health, climate and more. discussions about the importance of inclusion, data, skills, and potential careers in the sector. listening to the latest thinking and sharing ideas about the possibilities of a digital future. exploring what we’ve learnt from the 5G RuralDorset project and how that could be applied to an urban setting. what a digital town might look like and how we could use technology to solve some of our local challenges, using Weymouth as a setting. Organisers say ‘We won’t necessarily deliver solutions, and some of these ideas might never take off. But we want to help residents start thinking about the opportunities for digital innovation, using expertise that already exists at the Dorset Innovation Park. This could help make Dorset an even better place to live and work.’ Experience the festival in person and meet the speakers, play with the technology, get practical help and advice and meet other like-minded people. Or if you can’t make the in-person events, choose a virtual ticket to watch the live stream . Sign up for free on dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/festival-of-the-future-2022
The Millers have farmed at Longclose for almost 80 years, but pumpkins were only introduced in 2020. Since then, the truly rural pumpkin picking experience has become an annual fixture in many local family’s October calendar. The farm’s lockdown diversification project has been such a success that this year the Millers have decided to grow even more varieties! This year the decorative displays will be bigger and better, including the ever popular ‘Munchkin Patch’ – with mini pumpkins that children love! As well as the pumpkins, other attractions include a Craft Fair (15th and 16th October only), a display of modern and vintage tractors, plus the farm animal area. ‘Dorset Lamb’ will be returning to sell hot food and drinks every day, together with a number of other refreshment vendors.
A family team Michael and Vicki Miller run the farm business alongside their sons Quenton and Justin and their daughter Georgina. The pumpkins The pumpkins have all been individually grown from seed in the farm’s greenhouse and planted in the pumpkin patch without the use of herbicides or pesticides. There is a mix of varieties this year, with different-sized orange and white pumpkins for visitors to choose from. No booking is required and there is no charge for parking or entry. Pumpkins are priced according to size. Dorset Country Pumpkins are open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th October, then every day during half term Saturday 22nd to Sunday 30th October.
A nation is in turmoil. Three first cousins – Richard, Aumerle and Henry – battle for the supreme position of authority. Who will succeed in saving their country from a trail of ultimate destruction? And who will survive the challenge for the throne? Tangle, in association with MAST Mayflower Studios, presents a radical and electrifying new adaptation of William Shakespeare’s ‘Richard The Second’ performed in its distinctive Southern African Township theatre style. Tangle’s unique interpretation of one of the most compelling of Shakespeare’s history plays, exploring the politics of power and family alliances, will be performed by a multi-skilled ensemble of five. With an original score of Zimbabwean music and song, this new multicultural production offers a fast, powerful and fresh take on this state of the nation play, while celebrating talented artists whose multi-national voices are at the centre of Tangle’s work. ‘Richard The Second’ continues the company’s long-term commitment to championing African Caribbean artistic excellence, presenting classic plays in new and surprising ways to audiences of all kinds. Continuing Tangle’s ambition to perform classic plays in new and surprising ways to audiences of all kinds, the play has been adapted for a multi-skilled ensemble of five actors, with three actors playing multiple characters across the show. Aumerle will be played by South African actor and director Lebogang Fisher, while Richard will be portrayed by 2021 LAMDA graduate Daniel Rock, in his professional stage debut. Sharing the roles of Henry & Scroop is Antiguan-born actor Raheim Menzies; Mowbray, York, Gardener will be played by the Eswatini/South African veteran Sibusiso Mamba; and Gaunt, Northumberland and Gardener, by Courtney Winston.
Suitable 12+ | 120mins inc. interval Wed 2 November Gillingham School Theatre, Dorset artsreach.co.uk | 01747 213 203 Lighthouse, Poole Fri 4 November lighthousepoole.co.uk | 01202 280 000
The Gurkha Welfare Trust is delighted to bring the world-renowned Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas to the City for a concert on Friday 21st October. The Gurkhas are soldiers from Nepal who are recruited into the British Army (or the Indian Army), and for the last 200 years have committed themselves to the service of the British Crown. With previous Gurkha Band concerts being described as ‘a night at the proms – Gurkha style!’, the evening looks set to be an epic one. The performance will include a lively mix of Western and Nepali music, a selection of rousing military tunes, and feature the famous Kukri Dance. Events and Community Coordinator Keta Hunt says: ’I am so excited to bring such a unique band here for what promises to be a fantastic event. What’s more, the proceeds raised will all go towards our vital work supporting veterans and their families in Nepal. Although we’re known UK-wide and have a presence of over 500 staff in Nepal itself, not many people realise that our headquarters are actually in Salisbury. It feels really special to bring the Gurkha Band to our “hometown”. We hope as many people as possible will come out to this one-night-only event.”
The concert will be at St Paul’s Church, Fisherton St on Friday 21st October and tickets start from just £15, available via the Trust’s website gwt.org.uk.
If – like many homes and businesses across Dorset – you’ve been negatively affected by energy bills rising significantly over the last few months, then keep reading as we bid to save you up to thousands of pounds on your energy bills over time. Sam Hughes, Head of Renewable Energy at The Unique Group has answered some of the most frequently asked questions that they are hearing from their customers as home and business owners look to go ‘off grid’ and switch to renewable energy sources that won’t continue to rise and aren’t harmful to the environment.
One of The Unique Group’s solar installations
Can I get renewable energy in a rural area in Dorset? Yes, absolutely you can. Rural areas are prime locations for adding renewable products within your home or business. No longer do you have to suffer with power outages and high heating costs by adding solar panels, batteries, and heat pumps. All you need to do is speak to our friendly team of experts who will conduct a survey of your property (which only takes an hour of your time). This survey allows us to collect a detailed report and we would also need a copy of your latest energy bill for accurate return of investment calculations.
How much will I save by installing solar panels? This answer is different for every customer – it depends on the size of your property and your budget. However, we can design systems that can drastically reduce your energy bills, often by over half! By also installing an air source heat pump, for example, you have the ability to reduce your heating costs by removing your oil, LPG or gas boiler and adding an energy-efficient system that is proven to reduce your heating costs too.
Sam Hughes, Head of Renewable Energy at The Unique Group
How much does the average solar panel installation cost a home/business? Installation costs really do vary depending on the size of the roof or area we can install solar panels on. But a common house installation will start between £5,000 to £7,000 with an associated battery. With the current costs of energy, there is no better time to look at installing a renewable energy system in your home or business. As well as the potential £5,000 grant provided for by the government, it has now never been cheaper to go off-grid! If you have a larger area of land, installing solar farms will give you the flexibility to host a large number of panels – but of course, they come at a greater cost. We can offer finance packages for businesses; our experienced team is on hand to give the best advice on the best route to becoming independent from the grid network as its stability hangs in the balance.
EXCLUSIVE OFFER for The BV readers, quote ‘BLACKMORE’ for a free virtual consultation with our friendly team of renewable energy experts, and see how much you can save on your energy bills while going green for good. Just call 01202 743231 or email [email protected]
