Crowds flock to the first Dorset Spring Show

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27 April 2024

Despite a typically 2024 grey and chilly spring morning, Dorset clearly decided today was finally a day for fun. Kingston Maurward was busy early as the crowds swiftly gathered to enjoy the county’s first rural show of the year – by lunchtime the main car parks for the very first Dorset Spring Show were full, the overflow car parks were … overflowing, and traffic was backed up on the approach roads to the show.

Heading up the team behind the county’s newest event is Dorset County Show Organiser James Cox, who was thrilled with the turnout: ‘With a brand new show there’s always an element of risk, and of course the weather has not been kind so far this year. But we were confident the show would be great – and the whole team is pleased and grateful so many members of the public agreed! It’s been a fantastic first day.’

The show was spread around the grounds of Kingston Maurward House, a combination of craft and trade tents, big ring entertainment, and have-a-go fun. James says: ‘It’s ended up being a brilliant spring get-together for the county. Whether you want to indulge in delicious Dorset foods, purchase local artisan goods, enjoy watching extreme sport, meet a lamb or watch local craftspeople, Dorset Spring Show has it!’

Maisie wasn’t the only one excited to be in the Food tent. But sadly, despite her careful observation, not one single cheese jumped off the table

Show visitors can have a go with Great Pottery Throw Down finalist (and Weymouth resident) Dan Sandham, who is joined by his fellow Throw Down contestant Ed King

With an emphasis on everything food, farming and flowers, you can watch live demonstrations of beekeeping, falconry and baking. Have a go with Great Pottery Throw Down finalist (and Weymouth resident) Dan Sandham, who is joined by his fellow Throw Down contestant Ed King. See the extreme BMX bikers, the gun dog display, and Sunday visitors get the extra treat of Titan the Robot in the main ring (11:45, 13:30 and 15:00)!

Two top tips for your visit – wear wellies, and take cash! The footing was getting mucky today, as you’d expect, and a lot of rain is expected overnight so I’d expect the mud to arrive tomorrow. And as per most rural shows, the data signal vanishes once the crowd starts to swell, so be sure you take cash with you (and don’t do what we did: patienlty navigate the 20 minute queue for a coffee only to find you can’t pay for it!)

If you missed today, you have a second chance tomorrow, Sunday 28th April, 9:30 – 17:00 – children go FREE and Adult Tickets are £15 on the gate. Tickets can be purchased on the gate, but we suggest buying online for faster entry – www.dorsetspringshow.co.uk

If you buy online, be sure to either print your ticket or screenshot the QR code on your phone before leaving home – signal onsite may not work!
FIND IT – postcode DT2 8PY and then follow the yellow direction signs when nearby.
Free Car Parking | Free Shuttle Bus from Dorchester & Poundbury

My skating habit

By

Editorial team

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27 April 2024

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Employ My Ability offers vocational training for students with learning disabilities and special educational needs and disabilities. One of their students, Maddie Walters, spent her work experience with us, and now writes a regular column – Ed

Special People On Ice, or SPICE, is an inclusive skating club for people who have additional needs from the age of seven. Since 2002, SPICE’s goal has been helping the skaters participate in ice skating, to improve their skill and to gain confidence in their ability. SPICE runs in the Slough Ice Arena every Sunday from 11am to 12pm. They cover al levels, from learn-to-skate groups to an ice hockey team and two synchronised skating teams.
In 2009, aged 12, I watched Ice Princess, a Disney movie – I promptly wanted to start ice skating, and joined SPICE.
A couple of years later, I was featured in a BBC Children in Need segment! I talked about how I joined SPICE and why I love skating. The presenters and film crew came to the ice rink to watch me skate – I even did a solo spin at the end of the segment!
I joined the SPICE synchronised skating team in 2018 and really enjoyed competing. SPICE Synchro was so popular it eventially split into two teams, SPICE Crystals and SPICE Sparkles – I am on SPICE Crystals.
We perform at competitions three times a year: Skate London, The Britannia Cup in Nottingham and the Steel City Trophy.
In March I took part in the Steel City Trophy competition in Sheffield – three days of performing and watching and cheering on the other team, it was a great experience. SPICE Crystals chose a Glee mash-up – just like SPICE, on the show they are one big family – and we did Makaton sign language at the end of the performance. We finished in second place and were awarded a silver medal. SPICE Sparkles came in first and got the gold!

To find out more information about SPICE and what we do, please visit spiceskating.org
In the video above, Maddie is on the left of the pair holding hands as they enter the ice

Heather’s Viennese biscuits

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Editorial team

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26 April 2024

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This is a truly nostalgic recipe for me – I remember when I was growing up, there are a favourite of my dad’s.. When testing the recipe this week, a number of the baked biscuits disappeared into my family’s tummies before they ended up in their sandwiched form. It’s a good job that the recipe does yield a large batch!

Ingredients
Makes about 16-20 biscuits

170g / 6oz butter
170g / 6oz caster sugar
1tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
340g / 12oz plain flour
225g / 8oz icing sugar
110 g / 4oz soft butter (spreadable butter works really well)
dark chocolate

Method

Line two baking trays and preheat the oven to 200º/180º fan/gas 6.
Mix together the butter, sugar and vanilla extract until the mixture turns pale and creamy (about five minutes with a spoon, maybe two minutes with an electric mixer).
Add the eggs and beat well, then gently stir in the flour.
Place the mixture into a piping bag with a star tip. This tip will give the ‘ridges’ to the biscuits – you can pipe the biscuits without it for a smoother bake. Pipe the biscuits onto the tray, either in lines or in swirls if you prefer a circular biscuit.
Bake in the oven for 15 minutes (or until golden), remove and allow to cool completely.
To make the buttercream icing, beat together the soft butter and icing sugar. Taste, and if not sweet enough, simply add a little milk and some more icing sugar.
For the finished biscuit – take one biscuit and spread a thick layer of buttercream over the bottom (the flat side). Then press the base of another biscuit to it to make a sandwich.
Melt the dark chocolate, dip each end of the biscuit in the chocolate and leave to set on a wire rack.

Options – if you would like chocolate biscuits, substitute 55g/2oz of flour for the same of sieved cocoa powder. You can also add some jam to one of the biscuits before sandwiching together with the buttercream.

FULL OR PART-TIME LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANTS (LSA) | Fairmead Community School

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Editorial team

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26 April 2024

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ABOUT THE SCHOOL

Fairmead Community Special School transforms the lives of pupils aged between 4-19 years with additional learning needs (MLD and ASD). The school works in partnership with parents/carers and other stakeholders to develop our pupils in becoming positive individuals who make a valuable contribution to their community.

FULL OR PART-TIME LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANTS (LSA)

Full time based on 34.50 Hours per week, Term Time only (39 weeks).

Part-time hours are negotiable, Term Time only (39 weeks)

Grade 15-14 – £18,456 – £19,078 (full time annual gross salary). Part-time salary reflective or hours worked.

Working hours Mon, Wed, Thurs, and Fri 8.30am-3.45pm and Tues 8.30pm-4.30pm – 34.50 working hours. We can also offer supply hours for those who do not want to conform to a routine working week.

We are seeking to appoint outstanding Learning Support practitioners who are compassionate, dynamic and resourceful individuals to join our dedicated and hardworking team of skilful support staff to work across the whole school. A desired element to this role would be experience of supporting young people with Autism and moderate learning needs. For more details, please refer to the application information pack.

To obtain an application pack please view http://www.fairmeadschool.com/vacancies or contact [email protected]

Prospective candidates are warmly invited to visit our school; this can be arranged by contacting [email protected]

Closing/Shortlisting Date: Thursday 16^th May Interviews: Tuesday 21^st May.

Fairmead School is committed to safeguarding the school community. All job applications must contain the disclosure of any spent convictions and cautions. The school will carry out pre-employment vetting procedures, which include an online search for shortlisted candidates and the successful outcome of an enhanced DBS

Christine’s Almond & Raspberry Sponge

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Editorial team

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25 April 2024

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(gluten and dairy free)

For the cake

4 large eggs (room temperature)
225g caster sugar
225g Stork margarine
225g Doves gluten free self raising flour
2 tsp baking powder

For the filling

50g Stork margarine
175g icing sugar
A few drops of almond extract
130g – 140g of raspberry jam

For the topping

50g icing sugar
1 tablespoon of boiled, warm water
A few drops of almond extract
30g – 40g of flaked almonds
Plus a few fresh raspberries

Note: Eggs can be different sizes, so I weigh my eggs (out of their shells), then use the same measurements for all the other ingredients. So, if the eggs weigh 250g, all other ingredients will be the same – except the baking powder.

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C
Lightly grease and line (with parchment paper) two round 20cm (8”) cake tins.
Put all the measured cake ingredients in a food mixer and blend together until you have a smooth, soft batter.
Divide the mixture evenly between the two tins and bake for about 25 minutes until golden and the cake springs back when pressed. Leave to cool in the tins for a few minutes, then turn out on to a cooling wire rack, remove the parchment paper and leave to cool completely.
To make the filling, beat the margarine with the almond extract until smooth and creamy, then gradually beat in the sieved icing sugar – gradually, because it will get everywhere if you don’t!
Spread the dairy free buttercream over the bottom of one of your sponges, then top with raspberry jam and sandwich the other sponge on top.
To top and finish the cake, toast the flaked almonds in a dry frying pan for a few minutes – keep an eye on them as they don’t take long.
Make the almond water icing by combining the sieved icing sugar with the warm boiled water and the almond extract.
When the cake is cold, drizzle with the almond water icing and scatter the toasted almonds. Just before serving add a few fresh raspberries.
Now sit back and enjoy with a lovely cup of tea!

NB: You can substitute the dairy free margarine with softened butter if you don‘t need it to be dairy free.

AOP’s 2024 Small Digital Publisher of the Year – WE’RE SHORTLISTED!

By

LauraHitchcock

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25 April 2024

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We were thrilled to hear this morning that we have been shortlisted for the 2024 AOP Digital Publishing Awards ‘Small Digital Publisher of the Year’. The Association of Online Publishers (AOP) is a UK industry body representing digital publishing companies. They champion newspaper and magazine publishing, TV and radio broadcasting, and pure online media.

This Small Digital Publisher of the Year category celebrates “the best of those smaller digital publishers [turnover of less than £5M] who are succeeding in building a portfolio of online brands, growing their audiences and their profitability, with smaller budgets, but with ingenuity, innovation, an unbeatable understanding of their audiences and great commercial vision.”

We’re excited just to be on the shortlist among some giants of ‘small’ publishers (you can see a list of finalists on the AOP’s website here – scroll down, ‘small publisher’ is waaay down at the bottom!), but the final round of judging commences now, and the awards night is the ‘digital publishing celebration of the year!’ in June – we’ll keep you posted!

A therapeutic partnership

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Editorial team

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24 April 2024

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An equine therapy centre in Blandford is creating transformative connections for those most in need of healing – Sally Cooper reports

Connie and Texas spending time together
All images: Sarah Vivian

It’s a return trip to Horserenity this month, to find out more about the horse connection process and mindset after my initial visit (you can read the first part here), which talks about the ‘natural herd’ of eclectic horses at Horseserenity, the equine therapy centre in Blandford. One of owner Sarah Vivian’s biggest helpers – and inspired connecters with the animal’s energy – is her daughter.
Connie is an energetic 19 year old horsewoman who freely talks about how the horses continue to help her with the management of her autism.
Poppy, the self-appointed leader of the equine therapy herd, was Connie’s first pony. All the animals look to her for guidance if something untoward occurs.
Big shy John was Connie’s first eventer and skewbald Texas is her current eventer. When he’s not in therapy sessions, he’s helping to propel her up the levels towards Novice Eventing (a level determined by the jump height – show jumping 115cm, cross country 110cm, and a highe grade Dressage test).

Connie was a Grade A student in school, but she decided after achieving her GCSE and BTechs that formal education was not where she felt comfortable, as she frequently felt overwhelmed by a big, strictly structured environment. Since the pandemic, like so many others, Connie has felt more comfortable with life learning and a more personal timetable. It has been hard for mum Sarah, a teacher herself, to come to terms with. But, on the positive side, it has allowed Sarah to talk to other parents with children experiencing the same issues. ‘I totally empathise with you’ tend to be magic words.

Skewbald Texas is Connie’s current eventer: when he’s not in therapy sessions, he’s helping to propel her up the levels towards Novice Eventing

Connie believes that, when she is working with the horses or competing out on the circuit, she is acting as a representative for those who have hidden disabilities, which are frequently poorly considered and understood. Through social media, Connie has used her personal experiences, including serious depression, to help others, with thoughts and advice on how to cope and move on. For her, the horses and her equestrian life have been a literal life saver.

There is, of course, a juxtaposition of the determinedly relaxed style of the Horserenity world and the formal, structured world of Eventing. There are obvious issues, including the rigid structure of competing and the strict timetables … even seeing others shouting at their horses or handling them with little empathy. Instilled with high standards of care and calm horsemanship, Connie admits she occasionally has to rein in her anger at other riders’ treatment of their horses. ‘How can horses be expected to perform when they are treated in such a manner? Above all, the horse must be respected,’

horserenity.co.uk

JPL Telecom leap to lightning-fast broadband

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Editorial team

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24 April 2024

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Wessex Internet has revolutionised connectivity for JPL Telecom Ltd in Todber, near Marnhull, by providing a 100Mbps full fibre connection under Project Gigabit. This government initiative aims to extend gigabit-capable broadband to rural areas, enhancing digital access for communities previously limited by slower speeds.
JPL Telecom Ltd, specialising in telecom headsets, webcams, and video conferencing products since 2004, now enjoys improved operational efficiency and global connectivity. This upgrade is part of the £6 million Project Gigabit North Dorset contract awarded to Wessex Internet in 2022, targeting over 7,000 properties for high-speed internet access.
The enhanced connection supports JPL’s focus on innovation within the unified communications sector, allowing for uninterrupted video calls and seamless large file transfers, crucial for their business-to-business market in the UK, Europe, the USA, and beyond. Anna Dunning from JPL Telecom said, ‘We previously had many problems with only one or two people being able to be on a video call at a time. As video conferencing is what our business is about, it was embarrassing when calls would cut out. Our new connection has made a big difference; large files sent seamlessly, and video calls run simultaneously without interruption.’
Wessex Internet’s CEO, Hector Gibson Fleming, said: ‘Our primary focus is on delivering fast, reliable broadband to rural communities that may have been overlooked by other providers. As a local business embedded in the community, we take pride in contributing to the growth of fellow businesses across Dorset

Celebrating Dorset sustainability: the Love Local Trust Local Awards are open to all Dorset farmers, fishermen and food producers

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Editorial team

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23 April 2024

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The Love Local Trust Local Awards are proud to recognise and celebrate small, independent Dorset producers and businesses. Entering the Love Local Trust Local Awards is a great way to promote your produce and business to a wider audience, and to stand out from the competition. You will have an opportunity to interact with other like-minded producers and businesses and to be part of our Love Local Trust Local family.
We have just launched our new website, and entries for the 2024 awards are open until 3rd May. With 16 categories available, including new ones recognising individual and business stories, we are hoping for an exciting response to this year.
We are thrilled to be participating in the Dorset Spring Show on April 27th & 28th at Kingston Maurward College.
The highlight of our calendar falls on 3rd September: the awards evening. This year set against the backdrop of the Members Pavilion at the Dorset County Show, this event promises to truly celebrate our 2024 winners.
Looking ahead, we plan to launch a new directory for both sponsors and members, online and in print. Our goal is to facilitate connections and collaborations among individuals and businesses. We aim to host workshops, fostering support and advice among our members and sponsors.
In 2024, we’ve revamped our Sponsor and Membership packages to cater to businesses of all sizes. Detailed information is available on our website. As a self-funded organisation, we deeply appreciate everyone who currently supports us and are looking forward to welcoming new members and sponsors to the Love Local Trust Local family in 2024.

For more info, visit lovelocaltrustlocal.co.uk