The 2024/25 Jumps season draws to a close at the end of April, and we’ll look back on it as a successful and hugely enjoyable one. With 68 winners and an 18 per cent strike rate, it marks a personal best for Joe since taking over the licence in 2022. We managed to finish the season with a bang – our last three runners, at Taunton and Warwick, all won. A notable performance among these came from an exciting four-year-old called Bob Bishop who, on only his second career start, ran out an impressive winner of the bumper at Taunton. He is a close relative of one of the yard’s old superstars, Cue Card, and is named after the late Bob Bishop, who was married to Cue Card’s owner Jean Bishop.
image Courtenay Hitchcock The BB
Champion Freddie Joe’s nephew Freddie Gingell was crowned the Champion Conditional Jockey this season: what a fantastic achievement at the age of 18. Only his boss, Paul Nicholls, has given Freddie more winners than us this season: we are proud to have played our part in his victory.
The nutrients from the spring grass play an important role in their growth and development, particularly the younger horses. image Courtenay Hitchcock The BV
Holiday horses The beginning of May is the time when the majority of our horses are turned out in the field for a well-earned summer break. A few go back to their owners, but most stay on site and they will come back in to training in the second week of July. After a long season, it’s vital for the horses to relax out in the fields – to go back to simply ‘being horses’ and part of a herd. The nutrients from the spring grass play an important role in their growth and development, particularly the younger horses. However, this does not mean that there is a shortage of human work to do around the place! There will be around ten horses staying in training for summer jump racing, and we may have the odd runner on the flat as well. On top of this we have the next batch of Colin’s homebreds to break in – this year four two-year-olds – and whatever store horses (three-year-olds) Joe buys at the sales, which we also break in at the yard. Besides the young horses, there is also the annual spring clean to be getting on with: more than 100 stables need pressure washing and painting in preparation for the horses coming back in in July. Staff also take their holiday during May and June – we operate on a skeleton staff basis for two months. It is a nice time of year without the intensity of mid-season, but busy nonetheless!
Bob Bishop, on only his second career start, ran out an impressive winner of the bumper at Taunton. He is a close relative of one of the yard’s old superstars, Cue Card, and is named after the late Bob Bishop, who was married to Cue Card’s owner Jean Bishop – image Courtenay Hitchcock The BV
image Courtenay Hitchcock The BVimage Courtenay Hitchcock The BV
Blandford Forum, Dorset – 25th April 2025 – Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School has once again proved it’s a school where children thrive, as confirmed by a glowing Ofsted inspection published this month.
Inspectors visited the school on 25th and 26th March and found that the high standards recognised in the previous inspection have not only been maintained but strengthened. The school was commended for its warm, inclusive atmosphere and its unwavering focus on what matters most: the needs and interests of its pupils.
Children at Blandford St Mary are happy, feel safe, and are proud of their school. They attend regularly and approach learning with enthusiasm – something that stood out clearly to inspectors.
Headteacher Rosaleen Beaver said: “We are delighted with the inspection outcome. It reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff, pupils, and the entire school community. Our focus on creating a nurturing and inclusive environment ensures that every child feels valued and supported.”
The report praised the school’s ambitious curriculum, which has recently been refined to better identify essential knowledge and vocabulary across all subjects. Pupils are building strong foundations, developing a broad and secure understanding as they move through the school. A particular strength remains the school’s early focus on reading, writing and maths – giving every child the core knowledge they need from day one.
Parents were equally enthusiastic. Many praised the school’s nurturing ethos, with one saying: “The school goes above and beyond in supporting and protecting our children. We couldn’t be happier with the education and care our children receive.”
Mark Lacey, CEO of the Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust (DSAT), added his praise: “Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School exemplifies the values and standards we strive for across all our schools. The dedication of the Headteacher and her team is truly commendable, and we are proud to support their ongoing efforts to provide an excellent education for all pupils.”
Inspectors also noted the school’s continued efforts to embed its newly updated curriculum across all subjects, ensuring every child benefits from a consistent and well-planned learning experience. The school’s proactive approach to personal development was another highlight – from rich classroom experiences to a wide range of extracurricular activities, children are offered plenty of opportunities to grow in confidence and character.
Blandford St Mary remains a school where ambition, care, and community come together – and the latest Ofsted report shows it’s a place where children are not only educated but truly nurtured.
Palace Winter, the electro-indie, Australian/Danish duo of Carl Coleman and Caspar Hesselager, have bubbled under the radar since they released their excellent (but largely ignored) debut LP Waiting for the World to Turn almost ten years ago. But they’re still yet to break through in a scene crammed full of synth-heavy, mid-tempo guitar pop. While that is unlikely to change with the release of their fourth LP Confessions of Mr. Nowhere, there’s still plenty here to love. On first listen there is little evidence of real deviation from the band’s signature sound. The album is, like its predecessors, awash with keyboards, guitar arpeggios and lush harmonies. But on closer listening, there are signs of subtle evolution to be found. On the single Does That Include Television? the synths give way to a distorted Rhodes piano for a surprisingly groovy breakdown. Inget Val features a spoken word/rap backing vocal which, while not exactly ground-breaking, does serve as a welcome counterpoint to Coleman’s mid-range vocals.
Telepathic turns a riff which could easily have come from a 1980’s video game into an essential anchor for an otherwise-listless musing (“If you could only ease my mind, ‘cause we’re only wasting time, we can leave it all behind”) Overall, the arrangements and production feel denser, tighter and less riff-driven than on previous efforts. And while this is most evident on chugging opening track Mr. Nowhere (a bouncy, Ian-Brown-meets-late-period-Supergrass foot tapper), this album confirms that Palace Winter are consistently at their best when they slow things down. Just Slide, perfectly positioned in the middle of the tracklist (and reminiscent of two of the band’s previous high water marks, 2015’s Woke in the Night, The Phone Was Ringing and 2016’s What Happened) brings the heart which is absent elsewhere on the record (“Always running to a negative space…. If you break, you buy”). Another rock-solid effort from an under-appreciated gem of a band. 3.5/5 stars.
Matthew Ambrose presents Under The Radar on Tuesday evening at 7pm on Abbey104. Broadcasting on 104.7FM and online at abbey104.com.
In an edge-of-the-seat final that went to the wire, Blandford & Sturminster Ladies faced Southampton University Ladies 3s in the Hampshire Senior Ladies Vase.
Image courtesy of Paul Cross Blandford Hockey Club Captain
Nerves were evident on both sides, culminating in a tense, evenly-matched first half. Blandford earned four short corners, each denied by a commanding performance from Southampton’s keeper. The opposition responded with two of their own, both confidently saved by Zena Parry.
But the momentum shifted in the second half. Southampton failed to register a single shot on goal, while Blandford found their rhythm. Southampton’s growing frustration culminated in a green card for a foul on Justine Turnbull – though Justine herself, eager to maintain momentum, also received a green card shortly after.
Image courtesy of Paul Cross Blandford Hockey Club Captain
Blandford continued to press. Jenny Smith had a goal disallowed when a whistle blew for a stick tackle just milliseconds before the ball crossed the line. Soon after, Justine took a free hit from the edge of the D, drove left and passed to Susan Bovensizer, who executed the signature “Bovensizer Classic” – a sweeping reverse hit that thudded into the backboard. But again, the goal was disallowed: the umpire ruled Justine hadn’t travelled the required five metres before passing into the D – a decision hotly contested by the crowd.
In the final minutes, Blandford dominated. Shots flew at the Southampton goal – Maddie Cowley’s sweep went agonisingly wide, Laura Robinson’s effort skimmed past the post, and Jenny struck the post itself.
Full time: 0-0. Penalty shuffles loomed.
In this format – a player runs from the 22-line and must score within eight seconds – the pressure is immense. Susan Bovensizer stepped up first, but the imposing presence of the Southampton keeper forced her shot wide. Southampton converted their opening attempt. 1-0.
Image courtesy of Paul Cross Blandford Hockey Club Captain
But Jenny Smith responded with her trademark composure and a confident reverse hit to bring it level. Zena Parry then delivered a sensational save, sprawling across the goal to deny Southampton’s second. Caroline Smith followed her sister, beating the keeper for pace and slotting home. 2-1 to Blandford.
Zena was unstoppable. She forced the next Southampton player wide, holding her off just long enough – the ball went in, but outside the eight-second limit. Georgia Turnbull was next, dragging the keeper wide before rifling the ball into the goal. 3-1.
Image courtesy of Paul Cross Blandford Hockey Club Captain
Southampton had to score – and did, just clinging to hope. But Laura Robinson stepped up with the chance to seal it. The satisfying thud of the ball striking the backboard ended it all.
Cheers, screams and tears of joy followed as the Blandford Ladies sprinted to embrace Laura and Zena – a fitting end to a dream season. A Vase, a league title, and promotion: the ultimate treble.
Two days of epic action await visitors to the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show this summer, as the main ring welcomes two new acts blending medieval and modern horsepower. Appearing in Dorset for the first time, The Knights of Albion will bring an unforgettable live-action jousting tournament to Turnpike Showground on 13th and 14th August. Renowned as one of the UK’s top theatrical equestrian displays, the team brings amazing jousting displays, original storylines and movie-quality armour paired with vibrant costumes. Tom Armstrong-Frost who runs the spectacular in between working in TV and film as a stunt rider said, ‘Our performances feature professional stunt riders, jousters, acrobats, musicians and performers, all accompanied by our stunning trick-trained horses. ‘There’s lots of opportunities for the public to get involved, cheer on their favourite knight and even meet the heroes and villains of the plot with their trusty steeds afterwards.’
Tigers at the G&S show
Headline Tigers Sharing the main arena spotlight will be the Tigers Motorcycle Display Team – an inspiring group of young riders aged just five to sixteen. From formation riding and high-speed chicanes to fire jumps, their fearless display of balance, bravery and skill is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Show organiser Cat Harris says: ‘We’re thrilled to be bringing these two incredible acts to the main ring this year. Their energy and skill are sure to be highlights for all ages.’ The show raises funds for the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Society, supporting the local farming community. While the livestock, pristine rows of tractors and huge farm machinery signal it is very much still an agricultural show, there’s something for everyone at the G&S Show – even those who have never set a wellied foot in a farmyard. Livestock parades, agricultural exhibits, vintage cars, steam engines, equestrian events, live music, a funfair and countryside displays.
Early bird one day tickets: Adults £19 | Kids £3 | Family £43 Under 5s FREE Two-day tickets also available gillinghamandshaftesburyshow.co.uk
With rainfall low and food security a priority, Dorset farmers push back on proposals to reduce farmland in favour of trees and stewardship
Rawston Farm in the Tarrent Valley
It has been a busy couple of months at Rawston Farm with all the spring barley and beans now drilled, with only the forage maize still to be sown (this should be completed by the time you read this!). All this is very different to last year, where crops had to be sown far later due to the wet weather. In March and April this year we have had less than 2 inches (50 mm) of rainfall: last year we had received almot 8 inches (200mm) by now. Of course, if we don’t get further rainfall soon the crop yields will be reduced … Our grassland is only just keeping up with the demand from our dairy cows, who are now grazing night and day. Grass silaging is just around the corner – again, yields will be reduced for next winter without some decent rainfall soon. But there is still a long way to go!
An idealistic future I recently attended a meeting organised by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) – a group of Farmers and Landowners met to discuss the Land Use Consultation Document (LUCD) put out by the government. The aim of it, I think, was to look forward as to the possible use of land in this country. From a farmer’s perspective, I obviously firmly believe our primary aim should be to feed the nation. In a world facing increasing uncertainty, food security has never been more important.We should not be relying on imports to keep the population fed. I appreciate that we cannot produce some fruit and vegetables, but we should not be completely reliant on those. The proposal in the LUCD was that ten per cent of productive farmland should be planted with trees, and a further ten per cent converted into land managed under environmental stewardship. Our group felt this would have a considerable impact on the country’s food production, and that this conversion would make many farms unviable. There was also a suggestion in the LUCD that farmers should produce ‘more food from less inputs and become more efficient’: this is difficult for producers to take on board when we are already embracing technology, and we certainly have no influence on the weather that we receive! There was a valuable debate, followed by a draft response outlining that many of the proposals simply aren’t achievable. And all of this came before we even reached the question of how many houses Dorset should build – a county that already seems to be expanding rapidly on the edges of every town.
Rawston hedgerows We have recently been engaging the Great Big Dorset Hedge: this involves volunteers coming out to survey our hedges. Under the guidance of John Calder, the volunteers are mapping the condition of our hedges and determining what future management practices are needed. This could be filling gaps with more hedging, cutting more (or less) frequently or maybe allowing the hedge to grow by incremental trimming each year. We are awaiting the results and are ready to carry out any recommendations. Well done to John for getting this underway – though with Dorset’s famous hedges, I am not sure how long it will take to complete the county! At the time of writing we are undergoing another TB test – fingers’ crossed we can have a clear test.
The Royal Bath & West Show returns from 29th to 31st May 2025, promising three days of countryside celebration, family fun, and live entertainment at the iconic Shepton Mallet showground. This year’s main ring entertainment features the thrilling Paul Hannam Quad Bike Stunt Show, delivering high-speed stunts and precision riding. Foodies can explore the Regional Food & Drink Pavilion, showcasing the best producers from across the South West, while live demos in The Great British Kitchen will feature guest chefs including George Egg – Snack Hacker, Big Nath’s BBQ, Andy Clarke and James Strawbridge. On Friday 30th May, Clarkson’s Farm star Kaleb Cooper will be on site, meeting visitors, joining the Somerset Young Farmers and holding a Q&A session. The Pilton Tent, sponsored by Glastonbury Festival, brings evening entertainment to the show on Thursday and Friday, with live music and local cider on tap. Elsewhere, visitors can enjoy top-level livestock and equine competitions, the British Cider Championships, floral art, bees & honey and sheep shearing contests. The much-loved Bark & West returns for dog lovers, along with growing displays in the Horticultural Village. Families will find plenty of free hands-on activities too – from wood carving to STEM fun in the Discover the Future zone, plus farming education in Lakeside Farm.
Jackie Potts on the quiet graft, deep knowledge and sheer love of horses that built one of Britain’s most respected grooming careers
Image: Courtenay Hitchcock
Not many people can say they’ve spent more than three decades at the very top of their game. Fewer still would say it wasn’t even the plan. But Jackie Potts never needed a grand ambition – just a pony, a yard and the simple joy of being around horses. ‘I was ten,’ she says. ‘A friend at school wanted to go to the local riding school, and she wanted someone to go with her. I’d never even thought about riding a pony before. Our family was not at all horsey. But I went along … She didn’t like it, and I never stopped!’ As a teenager Jackie started working three evenings a week for 50p a night: ‘Big money then! I’d work the weekend, and would run around for five hours with ponies just to get a free ride at the end of the day. ‘I just liked being with them. I did compete a bit, I rode whatever horses were going spare where I was working or riding – I could ride, and I had a nice feel. But nowadays, a lot of people think they’re going to be a rider … and they’re not good enough. They don’t have the backup, they don’t have the horses or the sponsorship. And I think the sooner you realise what your category is, where you might do better, then the happier you are in your life as well. I thought, “what an opportunity if I can just get to ride nice horses!” I used to watch showjumping lots on the television, see them coming out of the arena, and I always wanted to be the person with the horse – I love the horses, for themselves, it’s never just about riding them.’ Jackie didn’t begin full-time equine career until she was 25. Before that there was office work (‘hated it’) and studying part-time to get her BHS AI and Stable Managers certificates – driving an hour and a half each way to practice her teaching, and teaching evenings and weekends for free just to gain experience. Eventually she announced to her mother that she was done: ‘When I was 25, I came home from work one day and said to my mother, “I hate it there. I’ve got some savings, I’m leaving for the Yorkshire Riding Centre to train for my Intermediate.” ‘I said goodbye to a regular wage and all that sort of business … but it was the best thing I ever did. ‘I didn’t even take the exam in the end – I realised I didn’t know enough. Instead I spent time on all sorts of yards, picking up experience. Then I broke my leg while I was working at Di Lampard’s yard – she’s now Performance Manager for British Showjumping. It was a bad break, and I was out of action for a year. After that I went to do a BUNAC summer camp in America. They asked me to return to run the riding programme the following year, so I was just working for an agency, going to a few different yards to fill in time, and I ended up at William Fox-Pitt’s. He was 23, and he had one horse – he’d maybe won an OI, he’d been around Badminton once … ‘Now, of course, people say, “Oh, I’m going to go and work for William Fox-Pitt!” but back then it was just him. I stayed because I liked it: I was only meant to be there a week.’ That was 32 years ago.
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The big moments, and the little ones Jackie’s CV reads like a wish list for anyone in equestrian sport. Six Olympics. European and World Championships. The biggest horses, the biggest names. But the milestones that really matter to her are different. ‘It’s brilliant to go to the World Championships, and the Europeans … the Olympics never compares, it is just that bit different, it’s extra special. ‘But it’s also brilliant when … for example, Moon Man: we’d had him since he was five and I loved him. When he went to Badminton, it was like my child doing Badminton! And it’s not always the horses that win and do well, either – sometimes it’s the horses that have simply got a kind heart, and put everything into it. I’m quite a soft one for that. I’m always for the underdog.’ And then there are the golden moments, the flashes of joy that slip through an ordinary day and remind you what a life with horses can be. ‘There’s one that I always remember – William couldn’t get back in time once, and Tamarillo needed cantering. It was 6 o’clock on a Sunday evening, the sun was setting, and I was cantering along on this horse that was like driving a Porsche. I just thought – I’m getting paid to do this. This is my job. Those small moments make up as much of the highlights as anything else.’
Jackie with Tamarillo at the 2004 Athens Olympics
‘I have always tried to make sure that the horses become my friends. You will always get on better with some horses than others, but I’ve always tried to work out what makes them tick: what they like and what they don’t like. When they understand that, and they realise you’re trying to work with them, they’re so much easier to handle, it makes my life a lot easier. ‘I can walk past a box and I only have to glance. I can tell instantly if that horse is okay – if it’s happy, or if it’s not feeling quite right that day. Working with Kazu (Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto), he had a really funny horse. He was one that you just had to work around, and when you did, he would try his best for you. Yet there’d still be a day I’d say, “oh, it’s one of those days today, and we just need to be careful”. But the fact that you knew that, and he knew that you gave him that little bit of rope, then he would try his hardest not to be crazy.’ People outside the sport often see the big competitions and think it’s all glamour and high-adrenaline moments on a big yard – but what’s the reality of daily life like behind the scenes? ‘Well, hard work, really, isn’t it? I think people come into the industry thinking it could be nine to five, that somebody else will take over … they don’t. And I spent a lot of my life sitting around waiting. It’s a hard, physical job. Why am I stil here? It’s quite odd, isn’t it? Probably only because I’ve got no friends! But I really do love it. I suppose I’m a bit of a goody two shoes, I’ve always wanted to do my best. But I’ve always wanted everyone to be able to do their best and to have the knowledge too – a lot of things are missed or not done because people just don’t know nowadays. You don’t have the riding schools, and everybody’s got a horse box, so you don’t have that mixing the way you used to, which means ideas aren’t thrown around.
Jackie with Chilli Morning at the 2016 Rio Olympics
Old-school horsemanship She won’t call herself a ‘super groom’ – though many others do. But what Jackie does is far beyond brushing coats and packing kits. ‘I wish I’d charged a pound for every time somebody’s asked me what studs we’re going to use, I’d be rich by now! Over all the years, people would come to me and say, “what are you going to do about this?” Or “can you just come and feel my horses legs?” And I would always share my knowledge, because I want the horses to be looked after. And if they don’t know, I’d rather they’d come and ask. I’m always saying this to the guys on the yard, and they will message me any time of the day, whether I’m working or not. It doesn’t matter if you think it’s a silly question. You can only learn. I’ve only learned by things going wrong or by asking – you only learn when things go wrong, you don’t learn anything when everything goes right.’
Ask Jackie about horsemanship and she’ll tell you it’s not something you find in a book. ‘It’s about the eye. About using your gut. Colleges and science do a great job, but I can watch a horse walk past and say that one’s bang on and ready for an event – or equally that something’s not right. It’s like the way feeding has become so scientific now: you measure them, and you do X times by this, and poundage that, and the other … we just feed by scoop, and they get a half or a one. If they’re fat, they get a bit less. And if they’re thin, they get a bit more … ‘I think a lot of people nowadays are afraid of using their gut instinct: sometimes it isn’t what’s written in a book. It’s what you feel is right, and it takes time to get to know your horse.’ Jackie says the key is to always be consistent – same routine, same handling, same quiet presence: ‘You never move the goal posts. Don’t change the rules one day to the next, and let them push you over, or stand on your feet. Say the same thing to them all the time, because they love routine, and they love to know what you’re going to say next. Always lead them the same way, always tack them up the same way. It’s especially important with the nervy horses and the ones that are very insecure. ‘We had a horse whisperer here a few times, and Tamarillo was very quirky and very nervy. She said, “he looks on you as his security blanket”. Because I’m the one who tells him he can’t do this, that and the other – which he absolutely knows he shouldn’t be doing anyway! But if you’re consistent, a horse is reassured, he knows where he stands. ‘I mean, I’ve handled stallions. I groomed Chilli Morning, and I’m a midget! I’ve got no strength in me at all. While he was very well behaved, he was still a stallion: I’ve seen him misbehave with other people that are far bigger than me. But I had that relationship with him, we had mutual respect, and he would automatically do what I said. ‘In return, I never groomed him in his stable, because that was his territory. He was always groomed in the cross ties, while I told him how lovely he was … it was always the same. If I ever led him anywhere, he always had a head collar on and a bridle on top. I never took that chance – you can’t decide one day that you can’t be bothered.’
Jackie at the 2012 London Olympics with Lionheart in Greenwich Rio Olympics
Wanting it It’s clear that one of Jackie’s greatest strengths is her ability to observe, to notice the one small thing that makes all the difference – and to earn absolute trust from both horse and rider. ‘I think if you’re observant, and you see the horses and you’re noticing them, then that’s where your rider trusts you. There’s a story I often share about being at Badminton one year, when I had a girl helping me. She legged William up onto the horse, but as he came past me he asked me to check his girth. The girl said “I checked it! It was fine!” – but she wasn’t me. I’ve been there every time for William. You really do become their security blanket. You’ve set them off thousands of times, told them “watch that,” or “I’ll fix this,” and they trust you completely.’ Though she doesn’t do so much of the physical work now, Jackie’s still based at the yard, living on site, checking things after hours because ‘I want to know it’s right and it’s finished. ‘You do slightly sacrifice your friends and relationships if you’re going to groom at the highest level. You have to say, “that’s what I want.” To do it at that level, in a yard going full blast, you couldn’t do it part time. I didn’t want to.’ She might not be in the thick of it like she used to be, but she’s still doing what she loves – still plaiting, still prepping, still quietly running one of the most respected yards in the country. ‘I don’t ride now. I haven’t ridden for a while. I’ve got a bit old and creaky, and to be honest, I quite like staying on the ground. ‘People still say my plaits are perfect. To be honest, they’re not as good as they used to be! But I hear “I could never plait like that” – well no, obviously. Nor could I at first! I remember I was at Chris Hewlett’s, many years ago, and I plaited a horse that was going to the Royal International. The groom took one look and said to me “that’s great that you’ve tried to do that … but I’m really sorry, I’m going to have to redo them.” ‘I was devastated! But rather than just accept I couldn’t, I started doing two plaits every day when I finished work. I was determined to get it right. Every night – no matter how long my day had been. That’s how you get better. You’ve got to want it.’
Jackie’s always passed on her knowledge freely – on the yard, through mentoring young grooms like The BV’s Jess Rimmer, and now through her work with the British Grooms Association, the International Grooms Association and the FEI too – fighting for better support, better conditions, and a proper voice in the sport.
In Tokyo with Tachoma D’Horset ‘a lovely mare Kazuma Tomoto evented when he was based in Dorset’
‘At Badminton this year I’ll be going around the stables to encourage people to join – when they’ve got a voice, then you can be heard. We can effect real change on the ground at events. ‘I mean, you’ll always get the riders that will try and work their groom to death and not be very nice. But do you know what? Don’t work for them. There’s plenty of jobs out there – go to somebody where you are going to learn. Make it a career, recognise that it’s a good thing to do. Nowadays, there are so few people that just want to work with horses, it is actually a groom’s market.’
Top tip for horse owners?
‘Just get to know your horse. Treat them as individuals. Learn what they like and don’t like. And don’t move the goalposts. That’s how they learn to trust you.’
Tracie Beardsley meets sustainable builder Phil Christopher, championing a straw home revolution and defying the big bad wolf
Straw bale house under construction in East Coker, Somerset All images: Huff and Puff Construction Ltd
It would have been a very different ending to the classic fairy story of the three little pigs building their houses of straw, sticks and bricks if Phil Christopher had lent a hand. Phil is founder of the brilliantly named Huff and Puff Construction, specialising in sustainable straw buildings that could easily withstand the lung capacity of any big bad wolf hoping to ‘blow your house down’. Challenging common misconceptions about straw houses, Phil is proving they’re strong, well-insulated and environmentally responsible. Straw buildings last for hundreds of years, are warmer in winter, cooler in summer and more fire retardant than many modern builds. According to Phil, they’re also ‘inherently simple’ to build ‘without breaking the bank’. He manufactures the Huff Puff House, a straw bale building kit to the self-build market. ‘People can achieve their self-build dream with our eco-friendly and energy-efficient houses. We can help with design, planning, building control, training and construction if needed.’
Phil Christopher took the step from full time employment in IT at Bournemouth University to launching Huff and Puff Construction in 2013
Phil’s journey from software development to natural building is inspiring. Talking to me wearing his trademark company t-shirt – sporting those three porky pigs – he explains how he took the step from full time employment in IT project management at Bournemouth University to launching Huff and Puff Construction in 2013: ‘Construction project management isn’t actually so very different,’ he says. A keen handyman, he spent 18 months learning everything he could, from dry stone walling to electrics, hurdle making to sustainable building techniques. ‘It’s always been my ambition to do something to help the environment, not make it worse,’ he says. ’It stems from a desire to live lightly and promote materials that work with nature rather than against it. I’ve always been into natural history and as a young boy I became increasingly concerned about human impact.’ His ‘micro company’ – it’s just him and a freelance architect – operates out of his hometown of Wareham. There are no lmits on straw buildings – they are as flexible as any build: ‘you could create a straw build skyscraper if you wanted to,’ says Phil. ‘The construction’s not actually all that different from normal housebuilding: there are several ways to build with straw bales. They can be used for load bearing structures, infill for timber framed buildings, structural insulated panels (SIPs), retrofitted to existing structures, or combined with other methods.’
The rear of the completed straw bale house in East Coker,
The self-build sector is less than ten per cent of the massive house building market in the UK, and Phil’s straw bale building kit is a tiny fraction of that percentage. Yet the Huff and Puff portfolio boasts notable projects: just one year in, Phil was commissioned to build an art cabin roundhouse for Sherborne’s Youth and Community Centre. ‘At times I thought I’d bitten off more than I could chew, but I sought advice from the best in the business with incredible results,’ says Phil. ‘It was great working with young people in Sherborne to create artistic works for the building.’ Hastings Country Park Visitor Centre followed – the flagship straw-bale build was part of a European initiative ‘Up Straw’ to encourage more straw-built public buildings.
Construction of the Bale House at Hastings Country Park
Closer to home, Phil’s built an impressive barn in Motcombe, an idyllic straw house in Milton Abbas and plenty of garden rooms and cabins. All of them encompass the German Passivhaus construction approach, focusing on reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint. Self build costs for a straw bale house are broadly comparable to a similar-quality new house, but Phil points out that the payback from a Passivhaus is swift, with heating bills of perhaps £100 a year. ‘Plus, straw is accessible as a material – many self-builders save on contractor costs just by doing more themselves,’
Lime render application at East Coker
Phil is hands-on in the business, constructing buildings alongside an array of skilled tradespeople from across the country. ‘With a decade of projects from Dorset to Scotland, I’ve amassed a UK-wide little black book of construction and craftspeople.’ Phil believes personal ownership and real community engagement are the building blocks missing from modern-day. The real life big bad wolf for him is the huge building company, swooping in, building thousands of sub-standard houses with multiple snagging issues and then disappearing without facing any consequences:
Notching bales, also at The Bale House
‘It’s not just the cost to the environment: it’s the cost to the community,’ he says. ‘These big builders don’t use local tradesmen. They don’t engage existing residents. The crisis is shocking. Skilled tradespeople contracted to big building companies are forced to do sub-standard work in a bullying culture. I’ve run self-help courses – there’s a worrying rise in mental health issues in the construction industry. ‘Modern cement is an ongoing disaster. Globally, cement production accounts for five to ten per cent of manmade CO2 emissions. We use lime render for external surfaces, and internally a clay plaster – the rest is just wood and straw. In the UK, we have so much surplus straw we could build at least half a million houses annually. And, like trees, straw captures carbon as it grows. However, unlike trees, straw grows every year! Lock that straw up in a building for 200 plus years and it’s a massive contribution to carbon capture, without any complicated technology.’
Phil is very hands-on in the business
Book by Phil’s bedside? Patrick O Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin series – 21 sea novels set during the Napoleonic wars, many set locally. Great escapism.
A-list dinner party guests? Thomas Hardy – I’m fascinated with him as a human being. And poet William Barnes: he knew Hardy and I’d love to understand what they spoke about. Author Mary Shelley, the founder of science fiction of which I am a big fan. Eddie Izzard. I’m doing a masters in comedy writing so would love to pick his brains. I want to write a sitcom about Wareham in the Viking days!
