The farmer who fly tipped

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22 July 2024

Andrew Livingston calls for action on the relentless litter and fly-tipping that plagues farms … except for that one case of the rubble …

Fly tipping on the Cranborne Chase. Image: Laura Hitchcock

Well done to the Labour Party (I’m writing this in the days before the General Election, but I believe the writing is on the wall!). Sir Keir, I have a message for you:
‘Now that you are our glorious leader, would you pretty, pretty please sort out the amount of fly-tipping and litter thrown from vehicles? As a farmer, I am sick and tired of my place of work being spoilt by the empty cans of Special Brew, cigarette packets and bin bags full of rubbish.’
It is relentless. Our farm in Beaminster seems to be the perfect distance from the McDonalds in Yeovil for drivers to have finished their food and launch it out the window and onto our drive entrance. I’ve got nothing against McDonald’s, I could even say I am a quiet fan of a LOT of their work. But I am bored and disheartened by the lack of respect from those who pass through our beautiful countryside.
Twice a year we go traipsing up and down the roadside picking up litter that others couldn’t be bothered to take home and bin themselves.

Can I have my rubble back?
Litter throwers are bad enough, but those who fly-tip are the lowest of the low. To drive from your own house in the middle of the night and dump bags and bags of rubbish in someone’s hedgeside or drive entrance is abhorrent.
It happens constantly to a lot of farmers, and it is the bane of our lives. We have had rubbish bags, rubble, televisions, tables and even a toilet. Just take it to the tip. Please! Not only is it is an eyesore, but why should someone else tidy up your crap?
Figures released this year by DEFRA show that fly-tipping is on the rise. Dorset Council had a total of 1,659 incidents reported between April 2022 and March 2023, compared with 1,575 in the previous year. On top of this number are the countless cases where farmers don’t bother reporting it, deciding to just get on and sort the mess out themselves.
I have to give them their due, Dorset Council is quick on the job if you ever call in a case of fly-tipping. I’m not sure if they have time or capacity for investigating to discover the culprit, but they are quick to clean up the countryside.
We had a case a couple of years ago where a local dog walker rang the council to tell them a load of rubble had been dumped outside one of our farm’s field gates. The very next day the council had sent a team and swiftly cleared the issue.
The only problem was that the rubble wasn’t actually fly-tipped … It was our rubble. We had left it by the gate to build up the boggy patch of ground through the gateway. Understandably embarrassed for wasting their time, we decided not to tell them of their mistake and thought we’d just let them keep the rubble.

The fascinating lives of oil beetles

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Editorial team

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21 July 2024

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Easy to identify and a downright astonishing lifecycle – conservation officer Mariko Whyte takes a closer look at one of our most intriguing native insects

The violet oil beetle (Meloe violaceus, shown) and the black oil beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus) are found across Dorset

Of the UK’s eight native oil beetle species, three are now extinct and three are extremely rare. All are under threat, suffering dramatic declines due to changes in how we manage the countryside, as their fate is intertwined with some of our most important native pollinators.
The most common species, the violet oil beetle (Meloe violaceus) and the black oil beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus) are found across Dorset, and are widespread throughout Britain. Up to 30mm in length, both species are black, often with a bluish metallic shine. Despite the names they are not easy to tell apart! Unusually among beetles they are flightless, having reduced wing cases, a sausage-like segmented body and long antennae.
The oil in their name refers to a noxious orange fluid exuded from their joints when they are threatened, repelling predators.
The oil beetle’s way of life is just as odd as its appearance, inextricably linked with certain species of solitary mining bees. Sharing the same flower-rich habitats as their associated bee species, black oil beetles are found mainly in grasslands while violet oil beetles are commonly found in woodland.
Adults emerge from the ground in spring and can be spotted bumbling around on sunny days between February and May, grazing on vegetation and seeking a potential mate. Males have modified segments in their antennae which they use in courtship to clasp and stroke the female’s antennae (presumably to get her in the mood).

Violet oil beetle larvae on a lesser celandine. Image: Mariko Whyte

Bee parasites
The female lays batches of about 1,000 eggs in shallow burrows dug in loose, warm soil – laying an astonishing 40,000 eggs in her short two-month lifespan. For black oil beetles, the eggs hatch into active earwig-like larvae within a few weeks, with thousands of 2mm orange triungulins (the baby beetles) scrabbling to reach the top of nearby flowers, scurrying with frenetic energy. Then they wait for passing insects to grasp onto.
Violet oil beetle triungulins are black and don’t emerge from the ground for a whole year after eggs are laid, so they are active earlier in the spring, overlapping with the adult generation.
The oil beetle larvae are effectively parasites of mining bees, hitching a lift from the flower to the bee’s nest. Once inside, the triungulins feed on the egg and pollen stores of their host and quickly moult to more typical grub-like larvae, eventually pupating and overwintering as adults underground before emerging as a new generation in the spring.
Visit dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk to learn more about Dorset’s beetles.

Your garden’s hidden ambush artists

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Editorial team

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20 July 2024

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The colour-changing flower crab spider hunts among the summer blooms: they fascinate ex-arachnophobe wildlife writer Jane Adams

I’m watching a spider on a flower, in the garden. The bloom of the pink allium resembles a lollipop perched precariously atop a wobbly bare stick. From the four bulbs I planted last autumn, there are now four perfect spheres, each one covered in bumblebees, honeybees and hoverflies. The spider, more precisely a flower crab spider, has set up shop on one of these blooms.
For years, flying insects have fascinated me. Their artful flight and tuneless buzzing are the essence of summer days and warm, soothing sunshine. But I am also fascinated by arachnids.
Not that long ago, I had an irrational fear of them, and would run a mile if ever I saw one. However, over time (and a lot of close-up photography), I have grown to love them.
The only complication is this particular spider also has a love of my favourite flying insects…

Some party trick
Flower crab spiders, or Misumena vatia, are common in gardens throughout the south. The Latin term ‘vatia’ means bent or curved, and as I watch this spider, she sits motionless with her powerful crab-like front legs ready to pounce: I’m mesmerised. Unlike many species of spider, the crab spider doesn’t make a web. Instead, she excels in the art of ambush. If and when she catches something, she will immobilise it by injecting digestive enzymes into its body with her fangs, before eventually sucking out its bodily fluids.
I know, I can hear you now. Ewww! How on earth can you love THAT?
Maybe love is too strong a word, but I definitely admire a transformative trick she keeps up her hairy sleeve. The female flower crab spider has the remarkable ability to perceive and see colour, and she can adapt and change the colour of her own body. This unique skill means she can blend seamlessly with the flowers that attract the highest number of prey. Admittedly, it can take her a while to change her shade – usually between ten and 25 days – but by secreting a liquid pigment into her body’s outer cell layer, she can morph from white to yellow, pale green… or even pink.
Imagine that as a party trick.

It can take her up to 25 days to change her shade, but the crab spider can morph from white to yellow, pale green, or even pink, to match her chosen flower

Flower crab spider facts:

Size: Female 5-9mm Male 3-4mm (the female will eat the male before or after mating, if he isn’t quick to escape!)

Eats: Flies, bees, butterflies, grasshoppers and moths

Find them: On garden and wild flowers from May to August (but you may need to look hard to discover them!)

First time renting tips

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Editorial team

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19 July 2024

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A local expert from Citizen’s Advice provides timely tips on consumer issues.

Q: ‘I’m moving house and will be renting somewhere on my own for the first time. Do you have any advice on what I should do when looking for a new home?’

A: Once you have decided whether you want to rent directly from a landlord or through a letting agent, you can use websites to find somewhere to rent – also check the local press, visit local estate agents and you can also ask friends and family to help.
Never pay any money before viewing the property, and if possible take someone with you. Avoid renting directly from an existing tenant (‘subletting’) as the tenant might not have the landlord’s permission to rent to you. If a tenant shows you around the property on behalf of the landlord they should give you the landlord’s contact details.

Make sure the property is safe and affordable by asking some key questions. For example:

How much rent is and how it should be paid
If the rent includes any bills
How long the tenancy is
If there’s the opportunity to renew and if there’s a break clause in case you need to end the tenancy early
If you need to pay a holding deposit while the landlord carries out pre-tenancy checks
What documents you’ll need to provide, including evidence of your Right to Rent
How your tenancy deposit will be protected
If any furniture or appliances are included in the tenancy
Whether you can have pets

You should also request any obvious problems with the property are fixed before you move in.

If a landlord refuses to rent to you because of who you are, this may be discrimination, as may a ‘no kids policy’ or refusing to rent to you because you get benefits. You only need to tell a landlord or letting agent you receive benefits if they ask. Some may then require a guarantor. They can still refuse to rent to you if they think you won’t be able to afford it.
Remember, if you need any other advice on renting or you run into any problems, you can contact Citizens Advice on 0800 144 8848.

A century ago in Sherborne : POSTCARDS FROM A DORSET COLLECTION

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Editorial team

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18 July 2024

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This month Barry Cuff has chosen century-old postcards of Cheap Street and what was then the Ladies College in Sherborne…

Sent to Miss L Sharp in Pokesdown (Bournemouth was still in Hampshire – it was ‘moved’ to Dorset in 1974) – note the stamp placement, which is significant. This 45º angle was the stamp code for ‘A Kiss’ from disappointed Frank:
‘Dear Lil, I am awfully disappointed you have not wrote as you promised. I quite expected to hear from you. I do not wish you to write by return but as you promised, I think your letter must have got lost. I writing this in shop, by the time I get home I quite expect to hear from you kind regards love Frank

The image is of what is now Sherborne Girl’s School, which at the turn of the last century was known as Ladies College, Sherborne. The card was sent in 1913 to Miss Hatcher, at Boxmoor in Hertfordshire, by Jimmy, who appears to be a teacher at the school – from the message he would seem to be her brother:
‘My darling Pud. This postcard shows you the school. It only shows a little bit of the white lodge, but it takes in our bedroom window, which I have marked. I expect mother has broken the news to you by this time about our returning for a 2nd term. I hope you are surviving the shock. Isn’t it gorgeous to think of 5 weeks today! We may be going to bring a Seoteh (?) girl back for one night, to break her journey! Jimmy’s hands are smelling simply disgusting of onions as he had to chop some onions in the kitchen this morning! Doubtless you would enjoy the scent! I don’t.We are keeping one of the students 21st birthday today, we are going to give her an awfully nice pair of earrings. Please write soon. Heaps of love. Jimmy

Salmon teriyaki bites

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Editorial team

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18 July 2024

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This is a simple and oh-so-tasty summer dish, combining the delicious umami flavours of
soy and miso with the decadence of honey and sesame. You can remove the chilli oil if you don’t like any heat at all, but in this recipe its designed just to be in the background. I love the cashew nuts here – they add a little bit of healthy fats into the mix, but you can leave them out if you don’t like or can’t eat nuts.

Ingredients
(feeds 4)

For the sauce:

1tbs sesame oil
2tbs oyster sauce
4tbs dark soy sauce
6tbs honey
1tsp chopped ginger
1tsp chopped garlic
1tsp fish sauce
1tbs miso
1tsp apple cider vinegar
1tsp chilli oil
Extra sesame oil for frying
Sesame seeds for finishing

Then:

100g cashew nuts
4 spring onions
Stir-fry vegetables (beansprouts, mushrooms, shredded cabbage and carrots etc). For ease you can buy a pre-prepared packet of veg to use here
Rice for four – 1/2 cup uncooked per person is a good guide
Salmon fillets – you may need more than four if they are small, just use your judgement

Method

Preheat the oven to 180º fan/gas 6. and line a baking sheet or roasting tin.
Add all the sauce ingredients into a large bowl and mix well. Remove any skin from the salmon and cut into roughly one inch pieces. Place them into the bowl with the sauce and gently mix until the salmon is well-coated. Leave for 10 to 15 minutes.
In a hot frying pan, heat the cashew nuts in a little sesame oil just until they have a little extra colour from the pan. Remove from the heat and place into a bowl until later.
Start your rice cooking – just plain boiled rice, made according to the packet instructions.
Remove the salmon pieces from the bowl and spread them out onto the baking tray. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Keep the remaining sauce!
While the salmon bakes, drizzle 1tbs of sesame oil into a large frying pan and leave to get hot. When hot, add your vegetables – use a pair of scissors to snip your spring onions into small pieces and add to the pan with the rest. Stir-fry until the vegetables are just cooked and getting a little colour, then pour in the remaining sauce. If your hob runs very hot, turn the stove down at this point and cook the sauce through with the vegetables.
To plate, add your rice, top with the stir-fry, add some of the toasted cashews, drizzle on the sauce and then finish with the salmon pieces. A sprinkle of sesame seeds adds a little razzle dazzle!

Village rallies to save historic school

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Editorial team

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18 July 2024

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In the heart of Winterborne Stickland, a village community is rallying to save a piece of their village’s history. The Stickleberries pre-school and day nursery abruptly closed its doors in August 2023, leaving many families scrambling for childcare. Stickleberries nursery had opened in the former school building in 2015. Last August, Ofsted had suspended the nursery’s registration three days before its closure because inspectors believed children “may be at risk of harm”.
The nursery resigned its registration the following day. Now, a determined group of locals has launched a GoFundMe campaign to buy the historic building and reopen it as the Winterborne Stickland Nursery School.
The site in Winterborne Stickland was gifted for use as a school to the Diocese of Salisbury in 1859 by banker Carl Joachim Hambro, then owner of Milton Abbey. It served as the village school until 2013. The nursery which succeeded it offered essential services like after-school and holiday clubs, benefitting children from the village and surrounding areas, including Blandford.
When the day nursery closed it triggered a clause which meant the whole site gets handed back to the benefactor’s family.
The building is now under threat of being sold at auction: The Diocese of Salisbury, which is currently holding the site as trustee, said: ‘The legal process to trace descendants has recently finished and there is a valid claim.’
Locals fear a sale of the site could potentially lead to its demolition. Leading the effort to save the school are locals Anna Way and Carole House, who have formed a Community Interest Company (CIC) to manage the nursery if they can secure the building. The village has shown overwhelming support, with various locals donating their professional expertise free of charge. Anna and Carole are driven not only by a passion to preserve the legacy of the school but also to meet the urgent need for a pre-school with wraparound childcare in the area. Ann says she hopes reopening the school would be the ‘catalyst for really positive change. There’s a terrible shortage of childcare in North Dorset.’

Moved Into A Fixer Upper? Here Are Some Areas To Focus On

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Editorial team

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18 July 2024

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Congratulations on your new fixer-upper! The prospect of renovating a home can be both exciting and daunting, and it’s important to approach the project with a clear plan and prioritise your efforts. We’ll cover a range of projects suitable for various budgets and skill levels, from essential structural improvements to cosmetic updates.

Start With A Thorough Inspection

You likely had a survey done before purchasing but it’s worth considering a more detailed inspection now that you have full access to the property.

You can hire a chartered surveyor through the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to conduct a thorough assessment. They’ll examine the structure, identify any hidden issues, and provide a detailed report on necessary repairs and potential improvements.

Pay particular attention to the roof, foundation, plumbing, and electrical systems. These are often the most critical (and costly) areas in a fixer-upper. Understanding their condition will help you prioritise your renovation efforts and budget accordingly.

Address Structural Issues First

Structural issues can compromise the safety and integrity of your home, and addressing them early can prevent more extensive (and expensive) damage down the line.

Common structural issues include subsidence, damp, and roof problems. Consult a structural engineer immediately if you suspect subsidence. They can assess the severity of the problem and recommend appropriate solutions, which might range from underpinning to tree removal if roots are the cause.

A damp specialist can identify the type of damp (rising damp, penetrating damp, or condensation) and suggest suitable treatments. This might involve installing a damp-proof course, improving ventilation, or addressing external factors like damaged guttering. Roof repairs or replacements can be significant undertakings, but they’re essential for protecting your home from the elements.

Update Your Plumbing And Electrics

Outdated plumbing and electrical systems can pose safety risks and may not meet current UK building regulations.

You can replace old lead or galvanised steel pipes with modern copper or plastic alternatives. This can improve water pressure and quality while reducing the risk of leaks. It’s worth upgrading to a more efficient boiler which can significantly reduce your energy bills. Look for boilers with an A rating for efficiency.

Older UK homes may have outdated wiring that doesn’t meet current safety standards. A qualified electrician registered with NICEIC or ELECSA can rewire if necessary, upgrade your fuse box to a modern consumer unit, and ensure you have enough outlets to meet your needs.

Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Enhancing your fixer-upper’s energy efficiency can lead to significant savings on utility bills and increase your home’s comfort. Start by assessing your insulation. Many older UK homes lack adequate insulation, particularly in lofts and cavity walls.

Installing loft insulation is often a straightforward and cost-effective improvement. You’ll need to hire a professional for cavity wall insulation, but the savings on your heating bills can be substantial.

Consider upgrading to double or triple-glazed windows if your home still has single-glazing. Don’t overlook draught-proofing. Simple measures like sealing gaps around windows and doors, installing chimney balloons, and adding keyhole covers can make a noticeable difference to your home’s warmth and energy efficiency.

Refresh Your Walls And Floors

One of the quickest ways to transform the look of your fixer-upper is to refresh the walls and floors. A new coat of paint can work wonders in brightening up a space and making it feel clean and fresh.

Think about the natural light in each room. Lighter colours can help small or dark rooms feel more spacious and brighter. If you’re painting yourself, invest in good quality paint and tools for the best results.

Your options for floors will depend on the existing flooring and your budget. Carpets can be a cost-effective choice for bedrooms, providing warmth and comfort underfoot. Look at more durable options for high-traffic areas like hardwood, laminate, or luxury vinyl tiles (LVT).

Don’t Forget The Doors

Starting with your front door, consider whether it’s providing adequate security and insulation. Many older UK homes have poorly insulated front doors, leading to significant heat loss. Look for doors with good thermal properties and robust locking systems. Composite doors are popular for their excellent insulation and security features.

Look at the condition and style of the interior doors. If they’re in good shape but look dated, you might be able to refresh them with a coat of paint and new hardware. Changing interior door furniture, like adding brass door handles, can make a surprising difference to the overall look of your doors. Look at Corston’s range of interior and front door handles for some inspiration.

Landscape Your Garden

Start by clearing any overgrown areas and assessing the current layout. Consider how you want to use the space – do you need a dining area, a play area for children, or a low-maintenance garden?

A garden designer or landscape architect might be an idea if you’re new to gardening. They can help you create a plan that suits your lifestyle and the local climate. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) also offers excellent resources for UK gardeners.

Think about incorporating some eco-friendly features into your garden design. Rain gardens can help manage water runoff, while compost bins can reduce your household waste. Consider planting native species, which are often easier to maintain and better for local wildlife.

BV Magazine shortlisted for another national award!

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Editorial team

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18 July 2024

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EXCITING NEWS – guess who’s been shortlisted (again) for another national award? Yep, it’s us! The BV is a finalist for Regional News Website of The Year at the prestigious Press Gazette’s Future of Media Awards!

We’re blushing a bit here – this is the third time this year we’ve been on the national stage. We might have to build a bigger trophy cabinet (just kidding, we’ve only actually won one. So far … ).

These awards celebrate excellence in digital news media – the judges were looking for technical excellence, evidence of both audience and commercial success and naturally for editorial brilliance. To be recognised among the best in the industry is always an honour. To find ourselves on a nationally-respected shortlist three times in one year is mildly bonkers.

We couldn’t have done it without the genuinely amazing BV team – and our fantastic readers.

Thank you for your support: here’s to more great stories ahead!

(and congrats to our fellow shortlistees – SoGlos and KentOnline. You can see more details of the awards here https://pressgazette.co.uk/…/future-of-media-awards…/ )