Eddy Scott is back in Dorset – and just four months after being blown up and losing two limbs in Ukraine, he’s walking, smiling… and already planning what’s next.
The new Stile Trail is a brilliant example of an entire community pitching in and getting something done – and it sets a roadmap for other villages to follow.
There’s a fascinating interview with Carole Jones about the work The Vale Hub does – and exactly who’s using it (hint: it’s not “benefit scroungers”).
Jess Rimmer’s account of competing at Bramham is a wonderful read – don’t miss the video, and if you’re not smiling by the end, you’re probably dead inside.
The Larmer Tree Project has been quietly getting on with providing astonishing days out for local schoolchildren – entirely free. Frankly, they’re doing something flippin’ brilliant.
We’ve also got a trout farm that’s a national trade secret, the Grumbler fed up over the recycling depot fiasco, Dorset blueberry season, Andrew Livingston back from honeymoon and on his soapbox, and the usual ridiculous amount of amazing readers’ photography.
Not in the newsagent. Not in landfill. Never printed. Always read. This is July issue of The BV – digital, award-winning and better written. Dive in
If you’re shipping goods internationally, whether as an importer or exporter, you already know that getting your shipment from point A to point B isn’t always straightforward. There’s more to it than just boxing up products and handing them over to a carrier. One of the most important pieces of the puzzle is making sure your paperwork is complete, accurate, and compliant. If it’s not, delays, extra fees, and missed deliveries can follow.
shutterstock
This is where customs clearance plays a critical role. Customs clearance is the process every shipment must go through when entering or leaving a country. It involves submitting documentation that identifies what you’re shipping, its value, where it’s coming from, and where it’s going. If you don’t have the right documents, or if the information is inconsistent, your shipment could get held up, returned, or even destroyed, depending on the country’s regulations.
Start with the Right Documents
To avoid that kind of disruption, the first thing you should do is build a solid checklist. Start by identifying which documents are required for the country you’re shipping to or from. At a minimum, you’ll usually need a commercial invoice, a packing list, and a bill of lading (or an airway bill for air freight). These should all match in detail. Things like product names, weights, quantities, and descriptions need to be consistent across every form.
It’s also smart to take time on your declaration. Many customs brokers or shipping companies will give you a template to fill out, but don’t just rush through it. Be specific with your product descriptions. A vague term like “parts” might seem clear to you, but to customs officials, it could raise questions, and that could mean inspections, delays, or extra duties. In some countries, even a small discrepancy can trigger a full review.
Understand the Rules in Each Country
Don’t forget that customs policies can vary a lot depending on the destination. Some countries will accept a simple pro forma invoice; others insist on original, stamped documents. If you’re not sure what’s required, check with your customs broker or freight forwarder before shipping. A five-minute call or email now can save you days of waiting and hundreds of dollars later.
Another common mistake is assuming that if your invoice includes enough detail, you don’t need a separate packing list. But those two documents serve different purposes. The invoice shows the value of the goods for duty purposes, while the packing list helps identify the physical contents of your shipment. Customs agents often use both to verify your declaration, so keeping them separate, and accurate can work in your favour.
Plan Ahead to Avoid Delays
If you’re the importer, your job starts before the shipment even leaves the origin country. Make sure the shipper gives you all the necessary paperwork and information ahead of time. Don’t wait until the cargo is already on route, by then, fixing documentation issues is much harder.
In short, customs clearance isn’t something you want to take lightly. Getting your documentation right, labelling your cargo clearly, and understanding what each country expects are all essential steps in making your shipment process smooth and predictable. A little attention to detail goes a long way, and in the world of international trade, that can mean the difference between a seamless delivery and a costly headache.
Residents at The Malthouse Care Home in Gillingham, Dorset, were treated to a heart-warming outing this week as they visited Madjeston Farm – an experience that held a particularly special meaning for one remarkable lady.
Helen and valerie fishing for guinnea pigs
Valerie, who has lived at The Malthouse since November, hadn’t set foot outside the home since moving in. Anxious about leaving the safety and comfort of her new surroundings, she had preferred to stay close to familiar faces and routines. But with gentle encouragement and the dedicated support of the care team, Valerie found the confidence to venture out for the very first time – and it turned into a day she’ll never forget.
As part of a thoughtful surprise arranged by the team, Valerie was reunited with some dear friends at the farm, including two familiar faces she hadn’t seen in quite some time and had no idea would be there waiting for her. The moment she spotted them was one of pure joy.
“Not bad for 103!” said Jo ’Toole, Activities Coordinator at The Malthouse, smiling proudly as Valerie beamed with happiness.
Valeries farm friends
The afternoon unfolded at a gentle pace, with Valerie and her friends feeding the animals before sitting down together over a cup of tea and a slice of cake – a simple pleasure made all the more special by the warmth and companionship of the day.
Returning home glowing with delight, Valerie shared her excitement. “I can’t wait to go out again,” she said. With her 104th birthday fast approaching, the care team are thrilled to see her embracing new experiences with such enthusiasm.
valerie at the farm
“This is a testament to the care, dedication and encouragement our team provides every day,” said Debra Wyke, Manager at The Malthouse. “Moving into a care home doesn’t mean giving up the things you love – it’s about finding new ways to enjoy them again, with support tailored to you. We’re here to make sure that every resident, regardless of age, continues to live a full, joyful and meaningful life.”
The Malthouse Care Home remains committed to helping residents live life to the fullest, one wonderful experience at a time.
From restoring Shakespeare’s reputation to composing an anthem for a church tower, June’s podcast is all about hidden stories, unexpected legacies and quiet revolutions. It’s a thoughtful listen – and very Dorset.
Editor’s Letter: A Cat Called Bentley
Laura shares the story of Bentley, the anxious, dribbly, slightly battered cat who has joined the household – and the slow work of rebuilding trust.
“Somebody somewhere has hurt him. So we wait. We let him come to us. And that’s absolutely okay, however long it takes.”
The Shakespeare Ladies Club: Rescuing the Bard
Jenny speaks to Christine and Jonathan Haynesworth, authors of The Shakespeare Ladies Club, about the remarkable group of 18th-century aristocratic women – led by the Countess of Shaftesbury – who saved Shakespeare from obscurity: and why it mattered.
“His plays were being turned into pantomimes. They knew that without intervention, the originals would simply vanish.”
“These women sat on the stage itself, forcing the audience to behave – and bringing Shakespeare back.”
The Dorset Insider
Our anonymous parish councillor is back – this time questioning why Visit Dorset’s marketing seems to end at Dorchester, and why the north of the county is constantly overlooked.
“If people think there’s something worth stopping for, maybe they’ll actually … stop?”
Windelstán: Music for a Tower
Composer Richard Nye talks to Laura about Windelstán, the anthem he created for the newly restored tower in Mere – and why he included the sounds of old weather vanes, spiral staircases and bells.
“I wanted the tower to have an identity. A personality. It’s watched the town change for centuries.”
This episode is based on stories from June’s BV, available to read online now here. News, people, places – and beautiful Dorset photography, every single month.
The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.
Bride Valley Vineyard in Litton Cheney has scooped a coveted Gold Medal at the 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) in London, for its sparkling Bride Valley Brut Reserve 2018. Scoring an impressive 96 points, the Dorset wine matched the winning Champagne from France’s Piper-Heidsieck, and came within one point of the competition’s top sparkling wine. Described by judges as a “gastronomic wine, opening with a plush bouquet of orchard fruits and a gentle nuttiness … vibrant citrus and green apple with brioche”. The Brut Reserve is made from 65% pinot noir and 35% chardonnay, with five years of bottle ageing. Only two per cent of wines entered receive a Gold Medal, making Bride Valley’s win all the more significant. The vineyard also earned Silver medals for its Dorset Crémant and Blanc de Blancs 2018. ‘To receive such an accolade from a very tough panel of judges … the results are proof that English Sparkling is now recognised internationally as superior quality on-par with the top Champagne houses.,’ said Nikki Gallagher, Commercial Director.
Vineyard tours and tastings run every Saturday until September. For details see bridevalleyvineyard.com
Based on a 30-acre care farm Annual Salary Range: £33,000-£38,000 37 hours a week Start Date: To fit with the successful candidate’s availability
Based in rural West Dorset, Future Roots is a long- and well-established provider of complimentary social care that provides a therapeutic alternative education. Working with schools and Dorset and Somerset’sChildren’s Services we use a farm environment and our animals to offer young people learning and therapeutic experiences to help them overcome trauma and challenges.
We are now looking for someone to join our team as a Manager, to manage key aspects of our Young People’s Service and to deputise for the Director. We need someone who can bring demonstrable skill and experience from a background of working with children and young people, and who has an affinity with the outdoor environment and animals.
The role will cover: Strategic Leadership in key aspects of the Service, Safeguarding, Quality Assurance, Contract Management, Compliance and Relationships with commissioners and funders as well as generating new business and income streams.
Please read the job description for the specific detail of the role.
For further information about the role contact Julie Plumley (Director Future Roots) on 01963 210703 or via email: office@futureroots.net.
Applications to be returned to office@futureroots.net by 1pm Monday 14th July
Please visit our website www.futureroots.net to see the full range of what we do.
Tincknell Fuels’ Gillingham depot has been honoured with the prestigious Depot of the Year 2025 award by the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA). This national recognition celebrates excellence in operational performance, customer service, and community engagement within the fuel distribution industry. The award is the result of the dedication and hard work of the Gillingham team, as well as the unwavering support from their loyal customer base across Dorset. The Tincknell Group is a fourth generation family run business which was established in Wells in 1925 by Robert Tincknell to meet the needs of the local farming community for general blacksmithing and ironmongery products: Robert’s grandson Philip Tincknellis current chairman, and his children Robert and Diana are directors – the firm continues to play a vital role in ensuring reliable fuel supply to homes and businesses. Being acknowledged by UKIFDA places the Gillingham depot among the top in the UK and Ireland, highlighting its commitment to industry standards and customer satisfaction. This accolade not only brings pride to the local community but also reinforces the importance of dependable fuel services in the area.
Employers report worrying gaps in core digital skills – unexpectedly, even in under 24s, nearly half are unable to complete core tasks
We recently held an event, The Dorset People Festival, aimed at bringing businesses and training organisations together to help fill the skills gap that many employers report when recruiting staff. Quite surprisingly, one of the major issues that came out was the digital skills gap that employers are reporting as a real issue within businesses. We invited an organisation along to the event called Future.now and they spoke of the research they have been doing on the size and impact of the digital skills gap. Our Local Skills Improvement Plan, reviewing the skills needs of business, has also identified this as an issue.
Essential skills There are 20 core digital skills tasks that government and industry consider essential over five different core areas: communicating, handling content and information, transacting, problem solving and being safe and legal online. The skills gaps they report are concerning and also evident across all sectors. They report that the construction industry has the lowest levels of Essential Digital Skills, with only 35% of people within construction able to do all 20 core tasks. Far more suprisingly, 20% of people working in the tech sector don’t have all 20 tasks. We might presume that this is much less of an issue for younger people that have grown up in this digital age – but almost half of them (48% of 18 to 24 year olds) are unable to do all tasks. Unsurprisingly, it is much more of an issue for the over 65s: 71% in this age bracket are unable to complete all 20 core tasks.
Not just work As technology becomes ever more embedded in our daily lives, the need to bridge the digital skills gap has never been more urgent. A growing number of organisations are stepping up to meet this challenge. Educational providers are weaving digital literacy into their core curriculum, recognising it as a fundamental life skill. Local authorities are launching targeted initiatives to support digital inclusion, helping individuals across all age groups gain the confidence and capability to navigate an increasingly online world. The economic impact of digital exclusion is substantial – but there is also the need to help people outside of the workplace improve their digital skills in order to live their daily lives. This is becoming an increasing issue that we must address.
