Win Ten one hour free sessions in our agility /exercise arena worth £125!
See details below –
Enter our open day Competition.
When you visit our open day; don’t just visit our arena, take a guided tour, have your free doggie nail trim and ear clean or enjoy a complimentary drink in our rest area. Put your name and address on the back of the printed invitation you will be given, hand it in and take part in our free-to-enter-competition.
One lucky winner will be offered ten one-hour sessions in our agility/exercise arena, entirely free and on days/at a time to suit them.
His own acting career may have peaked with Up Pompeii!, but as a theatrical agent Kerry Gardner went on to shape the careers of some of our best-loved British actors. Now living in Dorset, this month Kerry braved the Random 19 questions.
Born in India to British parents at the tail end of the British Raj and packed off to a miserable English boarding school at a very young age, Kerry Gardner’s years as a stage and television actor culminated in his time as Nausius in Up Pompeii! Without an agent and realising he was wasn’t good at selling himself, (“it was embarrassing, to tell the truth”), he left acting to set up an actors’ agency, Kerry Gardner Management, and helped fashion the careers of Imelda Staunton, Miranda Richardson, Pam Ferris and Bill Paterson – to name but a few world talents.
After nearly 30 exciting years of this he took on a partner, Andy Herrity, (who now runs Gardner Herrity), retired, and came to live in North Dorset.
In his recent memoirs, Not Another Waltz (I, Nausius) he has written a frank retelling of his journey from Harrogate to Hollywood (“it came out to tumultuous indifference, which is rude – I’m a bloody good read! It has 26 five star reviews on Amazon to prove it! They include: ‘Beautifully written with sharp wit but also compassion. Funny, sometimes sad, and very often wickedly mischievous’. So there!”)
Kerry Gardner with Biscuit the poodle (from Katmandoodle…)
1. What’s your relationship with the Blackmore Vale (the loose North Dorset area, not us!)?
I fell in love with Dorset when I was working (if you can call acting ‘work’ and not fun) on Bournemouth Pier and stayed through that glorious summer in a house outside the town. I’ve been living just outside Sturminster Newton for the past 25 years. It’s a magical county.
2. What was the last song you sang out loud in your car?
I have adapted Gershwin’s “Bess, you is my woman now” for my dog, Biscuit, so I sing the first verse (‘Biscuit, you’re my woman now’) to her in a gruff voice, and the second verse in her much purer soprano, addressed to me. So it goes: ‘Kerry, I’s your poodle now’. After that it’s ‘Oklahoma, sweeping down the plain’.
3. What was the last gift you gave someone?
Gift giving at my age is a problem. Because you have everything you need, and gifts are inevitably greeted with “Oh, thank you. Another one.”
So you end up going out to buy the most odd thing you can find. Which will naturally end up being greeted with either ‘THANK you, that’s terrific!” or a horrorstruck “what is it?”.
It’s a 50/50 adventure.
4. It’s Friday night – you have the house to yourself, and no work is allowed. What are you going to do?
Mind your own business.
5. What was the last movie you watched? Would you recommend it?
Simon Amstell’s Benjamin. Being a bit soppy myself the love story appealed to my treacly core. The acting is superb throughout, and it’s very funny!
6. What is your comfort meal?
*suitably thoughtful pause* “Well, I think it’s just about anything that passes in front of me…”
7. What would you like to tell 15yr old you?
Try and see the world through other people’s eyes, not just your own.
8. The best crisps flavour?
Plain, lightly sea salted. Probably Walkers. If it’s got flavours like chilli, well then I’m afraid I’m obliged to spit it out. That’s not a crisp, that’s the work of the devil.
9. And the best biscuit for dunking?
*swift and unhesitating* Dove’s Digestives.
They must be Dove’s. You’ve never tried them? Rush out now and buy them. Everyone who comes to my house adores them. I mean, I may have a gun to their head at the time of asking, but still, it’s a unanimous response.
10. What shop can you not pass without going in?
Any hardware store: they’re just an Aladdin’s cave of extraordinary, mysterious objects, the uses of which can only be guessed at. I could spend hours in one very happily.
11. What book did you read last year that stayed with you? What made you love it?
A History of Loneliness by John Boyne. It is… superb. Witty, searching, moving … honest. The book is stunningly written, it is immediate, shocking and powerful.
Kerry Gardner’s memorable read from the last year is ‘A history of loneliness‘ by John Boyne: “…stunningly written, it is immediate, shocking and powerful.”
12. Cats or dogs?
Dogs, dogs, dogs. My present one is an excuse for me to write poetry – which she usually appreciates. I’m still working on ‘There’s a little yellow poodle to the north of Katmandoodle’.
There aren’t too many rhymes for ‘poodle’, so I sense it’ll take time to complete.
Cats can be very beautiful, but I could never love a serial killer.
13. Your top three most-visited, favourite websites (excluding social media & BBC News!)?
Can I cheat with a podcast? I do love LBC with James O’Brien (who’s on live 10 am – 1 pm weekdays). There’s always a catch-up online: look for ‘james o’brien the whole show’
*a heavy pause as Kerry searches his memory for another website*
I am just not a creature of the web, I’m afraid to say. It’s so infuriating I tend to find it safer to stay off it. Why is there no common sense on the internet?
I’m going to have to say Amazon, aren’t I?
Sorry.
I’m not proud.
But it IS so convenient – I simply can’t drive across half the county trying different shops to see if they have the thing that I want (usually to be told no, but I can get it online).
You do need to be careful to check the weights though – I’ve ended up with vast sacks of dog food for my poor little poodle more than once. HUGE they were. The weevils moved in before she was halfway through!
14. What’s your most annoying trait?
A rather rude urge to throw a verbal hand-grenade into a conversation when I’m bored with it.
15. Tell us about one of the best evenings you’ve ever had?
Oscar night in Tinsel Town.
A truly bizarre day led up to the most other-worldly evening of razzmatazz and over-the-top shows of advertising I’ve ever experienced.
The clothing, the jewels, all hanging on the shapeliest bodies that exercise, the surgeon’s knife, diet and money can produce.
The bonhomie of all those fabled film stars was just jaw-dropping fun – but completely manufactured.
16. What’s your secret superpower?
A sense of the ridiculous. All my best friends have it. Without it conversations can grind on without anything being said for what seems like hours. ‘Pleasantries’ should be a dirty word.
17. Your favourite quote?
‘Try not to dominate, or be dominated’ – Ursula le Guin, American author.
Speaks for itself, really.
18. What in life is frankly a mystery to you?
Cruelty to defenceless children and animals.
19. Chip Shop Chips or Home Baked Cake?
Well. I like both. Obviously. But cake does go on rather, doesn’t it? By the time I’m halfway through I’ve had enough, it just goes on forever. So I’m going to have to choose the chips, please.
Kerry Gardner’s autobiography, Not Another Waltz, is out now – cick the image.
The benefits of a volunteering policy are far wider than simply ‘giving back’ and ESG work, says Ian Girling, CEO of Dorset Chamber
Hello and welcome to my April column. At last it feels Spring is with us, and it’s brilliant to have the lighter evenings and mornings! This month I’d like to talk about the value of volunteering; not just for individuals, but how this is a fantastic concept for both employers and employees to really embrace. Many businesses are now focusing on this as part of their ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) work, and this can really be a win-win for all involved.
Why is volunteering so important? Over the last few years, the 3rd Sector has been called upon to deliver more and more as funding for public services has been reduced. The 3rd Sector plays an incredibly important role and this has never been more evident than over the last couple of years with Covid and now the terrible situation we see in Ukraine. Many charities and voluntary groups are being stretched to their limits in terms of capacity. These organisations can hugely benefit from volunteering – and enabling volunteers to offer their expertise to help.
Build it into the business There are a huge amount of volunteering opportunities of all types available. Many employers now support a specific charity or cause each year, and will also give employees an allocated number of paid days to volunteer. This enables these employers to make a positive contribution to support the community and voluntary sector, and to support the vital work the sector delivers. Importantly, this isn’t about PR – many employers go about this very quietly. For the employer, it also results in motivated employees who are able to help make a difference.
An attractive workplace Many employers also report real recruitment challenges; it is very much an employee-driven market. Employees will now often have a very clear idea of the type of business they want to work for – businesses that are a force for good, with strong values and ethics. Businesses that embrace volunteering will be attractive to many future employees. If you are interested in volunteering, you can see a range of opportunities on the Volunteer Centre Dorset website www.volunteeringdorset.org.uk.
Chris Eldridge, Head of History at Wells Cathedral School, has been made a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (RHS) in recognition of the unique work he and his team have been doing in promoting the study of medieval history in the Sixth Form at Wells. He is thrilled to have been made a Fellow, especially as it is normally university-level academics who receive the recognition.
“When I first arrived in Wells I was captivated by our 10th century origins and the medieval heritage that we live and work within. Not studying medieval history in this context looked to me like a lost opportunity. Yet medieval history tends to get neglected in British schools. A lot of teachers think it’s either incomprehensible or irrelevant to modern students. I hope the work we do at Wells studying and promoting it dispels this myth.” The RHS is trying to increase its engagement with secondary level education, and Chris will be involved in future initiatives for this sector. He has been invited to speak at the Historical Association’s forthcoming national conference in Bristol on 13th May about ‘Making Medieval History accessible to Sixth Formers.’
All the pupils at Witchampton First School decamped to the village hall this month to mark Science Week – by spending a day building with LEGO. With the theme of ‘growth’, the youngsters designed and created their own town which included houses, vehicles, roads, trains, airports and woods. There were 20,000 pieces of LEGO available during the day, which was organised by Bob Walker of Primary Workshop.
A unique creation Headteacher Jo Hancock said: “With the theme of ‘growth’ our children were able to grow their own town out of nothing. “They all loved building with LEGO and it taught them many lessons – including the importance of communication and collaboration. “The children designed and planned their parts of the creation, and then either on their own or with others built them. It was fun to see the whole thing coming together and watching the children become totally absorbed in it.” Liz West, CEO of Wimborne Academy Trust, said: “Science is an important subject and it’s crucial to introduce the subject as early as possible. I’m sure that through the day the children learned a great deal without realising it.
The Spring Countryside Show is taking place at Turnpike Showground between Gillingham and Shaftesbury on the 23rd and 24th April.
The show is organised by the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show team, and the theme for this year is ‘Bring Spring to Life’. A line up of over 50 exhibits, demonstrations and attractions are set to deliver a weekend jam-packed with fun for the whole family. James Cox, event organiser said: “We’re so excited to bring this new country show to Turnpike showground. It embraces and highlights all the wonderful rural pursuits, traditions and talented craftspeople our region has to offer. There really is something for everyone.
Rural Living Countryside pursuits and rural activities will of course be on display, including a dedicated ‘Rural’ ring sponsored by Gritchie Brewing Co. See heavy horse logging, terrier racing, gun dog demonstrations and the spectacular horseback falconry display by Jonathan Marshall. The famous Dorset Axemen will be battling it out against the clock, and there’s a dedicated Farm Yard feature sponsored by Friars Moor Livestock Vets with the hilarious ‘Sheep Show’ – yes, sheep love to dance – plus farm machinery and goat milking demonstrations. Plus the pre-requisite goat milk ice cream.ice cream. The rural skills of farrier, wood carving, blacksmith, stickmaker and coppicer will also be on show.
Green-fingered visitors will enjoy the stunning show gardens and floral displays.
Entertainment To increase the celebratory atmosphere there’s a festival area with live music, food and – of course – a bar with local ales, gin and cider. This will all be open until 10pm on the Saturday evening, so visitors can dance beneath the stars and enjoy a true festival vibe.
You can join in If that’s not enough to ‘bring on the spring’, there’s a fun fair with bouncy castles, and tractor and trailer rides. Perhaps try your hand at willow weaving, in one of the various have-a-go activities scheduled.
Tickets start from £8.50 for adults and just £1 for children – but hurry as the price will increase when a quota is reached! And, if you have a country craft or tradition you can demonstrate or want to try your luck at a Show Garden or floral display – there’s still time to get involved. For tickets, more information and details on how to exhibit, visit www.springcountrysideshow.co.uk or telephone 01747 823955
Is a rural site in Dorset right for a large solar farm? Rachael Rowe revisits the proposals for an industrial-scale solar farm between Mappowder, Hazelbury Bryan and Pulham.
We’re all aware of escalating energy prices and the impact of the war in Ukraine on oil and gas supplies. More sustainable solutions need to be found quickly, but what if they are not the most appropriate ones for a rural site? If you have recently been out on a spring walk and admired the delightful scenery in the Blackmore Vale, how would you feel if you turned a corner and encountered a mile-long solar panel farm? We revisited the solar panel proposals planned for a site between Mappowder, Hazelbury Bryan and Pulham to see what progress has been made.
When does a plot become a blot? How large can a solar panel site be before it becomes a blot on the landscape? The area around the proposed site is prime farmland and lies within the setting of the most beautiful northerly part of the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The views from Woolland Car Park and the Wessex Ridgeway, in particular, would be obliterated by a mile-long solar farm. At 77 hectares, it would be one of the largest solar farms in the South West. Apart from losing good agricultural land, Ian Bryan from Save Hardy’s Vale said: “They need it to be as big as possible to be economically viable. This type of development eats up farmland for very little return.” The group supports solar panels, just not on an industrial scale in a rural area.
A handy location Solar panels have to go somewhere, but why did the developers pick this particular site? At a meeting in October last year, a representative from the proposed developer British Solar Renewables explained the reasons for creating an industrial solar power station at North Dairy Farm. It turns out there are already 132,000 Kva power lines running above the fields, making it highly attractive as a site for a solar farm. Further reasons included ‘doing it for Dorset Council’ and for local supply. However, the people of Spetisbury recently learned the electricity generated from a solar farm near them is actually supplying London, raising questions about where power from Mappowder would go.
The ‘Boywood canal’ – or the road to Hazelbury Bryan as some people call it.
Flood plain And could the developers have picked a site with a far lower risk of flooding? Remember that day of torrential rain and flooding in October last year? Mappowder was cut off by flooding for hours. Photos from the proposed solar farm site reveal a weakness: its position where the River Lydden and Wonston Brook meet, and where the high landscape points converge, mean this area is always vulnerable to flooding. It’s not somewhere you would naturally choose to place solar panels, where they would probably get submerged in heavy rain or flash flooding. There are also footpaths in the area that would be significantly affected by the development. We all need to change our habits and learn to live with alternative energy sources in the months and years to come. But how effective is solar power compared to other sustainable energy sources? Compared to hydropower or offshore wind, it lags behind and is less efficient.
From bridleway N52/5 the site can be seen – indicated in red.
A planning opportunity? As pointed out in an article in the February issue of the BV, Dorset has been slow on the uptake of solar panels on housing. Is there an opportunity for new housing developments in Dorset to be fitted with solar panels as a more sustainable solution? Rupert Hardy, chairman of the North Dorset CPRE, said: “On the solar front, we are well aware of the climate emergency and have not objected to a number of solar farms in North Dorset, except for the more inappropriate ones, which are often the larger ones, that would desecrate our countryside. We are supportive of small, <5MW, community-funded solar farms that can be well screened, and more deployment of roof- mounted Solar PV.”
What is the current position? The senior landscape architect at Dorset Council has recommended the site be opposed, due to its impact on the landscape. It is now Dorset Council’s responsibility to decide whether to support or oppose the proposal, which could see a significant effect on a beautiful part of North Dorset. There are more than 200 letters opposing the proposals on the planning portal, reflecting the strength of feeling from local people. Although we all have a responsibility to look at more sustainable ways of living, there is clearly a time and place for developments on an industrial scale.
How exactly does spending time with a horse help when you’re struggling? Equestrian columnist and RDA coach Sara Greenwood reflects on the power of those gentle ears, and talks to April Kibby of Lofty Therapy Horses.
Simon was a little nervous at first and he was still a bit unsure when Bertie edged close to him and tried to give him a kiss. Then Bertie closed his eyes and waited for Simon to feel brave enough to come closer.
Where do you turn if you have a problem? Personally, I will have a cuddle with a horse and we put the world to rights. Thoughout my life I have done the same – I’ve been lucky enough to always have a horse there to listen. It’s not even necessarily about the riding; is it the feel or the smell of a horse that helps? Or is it just someone that doesn’t answer back?
It’s not just about the exercise Most of us suffer through short periods of physical or mental health issues. But for some these are lifelong and debilitating – and the Riding for the Disabled Assiociation (RDA) and Equine Therapy Centres are always there to help, whatever a person’s age. Horse Therapy has been effective for dementia patients as much as it is for physically impaired children and struggling teenagers. Many schools for pupils with special needs now routinely use RDA sessions. The physical activity provides a sense of independence and freedom, while developing co- ordination and muscle tone. Inevitably, however, the real benefits go far deeper than core strength. Children will increase in confidence, improve communication, gain real life experiences and even work towards being employed in the equestrian world, among other things.
Sara Greenwood says never underestimate the power of a quiet chat with a pony, especially for someone who is lonely or perhaps frightened to speak aloud.
Locally, the wonderful Milton Abbas RDA works with younger children, Bryanston RDA works with adults, and the Blackmore Vale RDA works with all ages. The Stella Hayward Meerhay Group work with teenagers from Beaminster School who are finding it difficult to see their way in life. “This year we have focused on work experience, starting with the basics of putting on a headcollar, a rug, saddlery. Tying up a horse or a hay net with the correct knot can take a lot of work on co-ordination. We have been working on the BHS Challenge Awards, as these have small bitesize chunks to work on, with certificates that show lifetime skills.” Horses often simply help people talk; someone who is lonely, or just frightened to speak aloud, can whisper quietly to a non- judgmental ear. Even walking a horse, whether being ridden or led, around the village will always cause lots of chat and brightens someone’s day. My own neighbour and her pony are going to the next village ‘Coffee, Cake and Chat’ meeting. It gives people a chance to pat, stroke and talk to a pony that they otherwise may not have.
‘A Lofty kiss for Jenny’ – Lofty Therapy Horses is a Somerset-based charitable organisation offering animal-assisted therapy open to all ages and abilities with one-to-one sessions and small groups.
Horse therapy April Kibby runs Lofty Therapy Horses. Lofty and his friends are miniature horses, pint-sized pals that travel around Yeovil and the surrounding areas, offering animal-assisted therapy. April says: “Working with, learning how to care for, and interacting with horses has a really positive effect on our mental health. It has been said that horses are ‘mood altering drugs, without the side effects’ and that is so true! Horses can read human emotions, they mirror our feelings. They are kind, forgiving, challenging … and they are incredibly good at teaching us about ourselves, our emotions and how we interact with others. “Horses provide psychological therapy – helping us to learn about ourselves through interacting and connecting with them, how to manage new challenges, and ultimately leading to new life skills and a more positive outlook on life.
Cheselbourne’s village school motto of ‘inspiring a lifetime love of learning’ had true meaning this month, when a STEM-themed week of activities created a wide range of experiences ranging from a Science Dome to a Robotics workshop, and many visits and webinars from ‘proper’ scientists.
The passion of all of the staff members and helpers was truly showcased, and the children were engaged in so many ways. These opportunities support the children not only to develop their knowledge, but also skills that will be transferred across the curriculum into many other subjects. During one task, the children had to design a contraption that could hold an egg. The contraption was dropped from over 7 feet in height and the aim was to see if the egg would stay intact … Great fun!
