When Okeford Fitzpaine Parish Council was quoted £10,000 to clear a blocked waterway, councillors feared it would sink their budget. After several sharp intakes of breath, it was clear the councillors needed to find a Plan B – and quickly – to prevent icy roads this winter.
Mortar shell – image Colin Keyser
Councillor Sophie Harvey, a farmer’s daughter full of practical solutions, said, ‘I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty’ – and came up with an alternative option. She asked for volunteers to come and help clear the vegetation. Village resident, and retired civil engineer Roy Parsons gave expert advice on the task needed and two working sessions were organised around the August Bank Holiday weekend. Local farmer Chris Norton, loaned a trailer to dispose of the excess soil. Would anyone turn up? It was a big ask on a bank holiday weekend, but the parish council was clear that even an hour’s help was welcomed. On both days, volunteers of all ages turned up to dig and clear the muck and old vegetation from the waterway – everyone from retirees to family pitched in. Some were regular volunteers, others had recently moved in and were eager to meet new people and get involved. By the end of the first morning, significant progress had been made: some people enjoyed the experience so much they came back the following day, joined by new volunteers.
Clearing the ditch. Photo credit Sue Finklaire
Interesting debris Soon the team began to find an assortment of rubbish – Lego bricks, old T-shirts, fence posts and even a discarded jumper. But the find of the day went to local resident Colin Keyser, who managed to dig out what appeared to be a rusty old mortar shell from the Second World War. He took it home and called the police: ‘They visited my house,’ he said. ‘They inspected and measured it, declared it safe and I was given the OK to pass it on to the local history group. ‘I began cleaning it up: about 45 minutes later I was busy banging off the rust, wire brushing it and cleaning all the mud out from the inside when the phone rang. It was the police again: “Did I still have the mortar shell?”. When I said I did, they asked me to put it up the far end of the garden … they’d had second thoughts and it may still be live! ‘Two policemen turned up to sit in my garden awaiting an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team from the army. The EOD arrived and said they thought it was a training grenade launcher from the Second World War, and had no explosives in now – but they would take it away just to be on the safe side.’ And with that, two police officers, two army bomb disposal officers, and the grenade launcher headed off into the sunset. Local people are hoping that the grenade launcher can be returned at some stage as an exhibit in the village museum.
Councillor Sophie Harvey Photo credit Sue Fiklaire
Borrowed bullets The volunteers would like to find out more about the item – they are not convinced it is a grenade launcher due to its shape. There’s also the question as to how it got there in the first place. During the Second World War there were ordnance dumps in the area, and the Americans were stationed nearby, so it could have come from any of these places. There are also local stories about young boys who used to “borrow” bullets to play with, so it may have originated from a mischievous prank. As for the waterway, it has been successfully cleared to the point that minor repairs can be done, and a contractor can review the area to see what additional remedial work may be required. Councillor Sue Finklaire, who also helped on the day, said: ‘It felt deeply heartening to be surrounded by such generous support from the community, especially from those who had only recently made the village their home.’
The next Car and Bike Enthusiasts Meet will take place on Saturday 6th September on the Recreation Ground – all are welcome to come along, admire the vehicles, and enjoy a bit of nostalgic reminiscing. Last month saw an impressive 320 vehicles on show, and this time they’ll be joined by makers from the 1855 Artisan Market, who will be showcasing both their products and their craft skills. The event will also host civic leaders from across Dorset, visiting as part of the Town Mayor’s Civic Day.
Sponsor The Action Coach (left) with SturAction team Cheryl Basten, Nick Dobson, Pauline Batstone and Jackie Wragg at the North Dorset Business Awards
The following weekend brings the town’s biggest annual celebration: the Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival, held over Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September. Book in advance via the Cheese Festival website to receive a 10% discount on tickets. Many of the town’s SturAction shops will be open all weekend, along with Harts’ incredible store – so come ready to browse, taste and stock up. For the first time, Stur will be running a dedicated History Week, taking place from 20th to 28th September, in partnership with local organisations and venues. Expect a variety of events celebrating the people, places and stories that make up the town’s rich past. Looking ahead to 1st October, there’s a fun and fabulous evening planned at The Exchange, starting at 7.00pm for 7.30pm. Volunteers from all eight of the town’s charity shops, plus staff from Newstone House, are taking to the catwalk for a Pre-Loved Fashion Show and Sale – with styles for women, men and children. Tickets are just £5 and available from any of the participating charity shops. It’s all part of Sustainable Stur, and a great chance to update your wardrobe without breaking the bank.
Last month, 320 vehicles joined in the Car & Bike Enthusiasts Meet
A big congratulations to the six businesses from Sturminster Newton and Hinton St Mary who brought home ten awards between them at the recent North Dorset Business Awards. Special mention goes to SturAction, who were named the overall Winner of Winners: “An organisation that has given their community so much by revitalising the town centre in recent years. It has had a major impact on the town, for both locals and visitors.”
Dates for your diary:
31st October – Volunteers are already hard at work planning a spectacular Halloween event in the Railway Gardens. It falls right in half term – how convenient!
1st November – Christmas officially begins in Stur with the opening of the Workhouse Chapel on Bath Road.
29th November – The Christmas tree lights will be switched on, with Father Christmas in town and a parade of tractors to mark the occasion. Keep an eye out for the Make Stur Sparkle leaflet for full festive listings.
The Dorset County Show was, frankly, brilliant today – sunshine, crowds, beautiful livestock, exciting acts, aisles of shopping … it was the perfect show day, and tomorrow promises just as much.
From scurry racing and showjumping to ATV stunts and Atkinson’s Action Horses, the main attractions had audiences cheering. Don’t skip the livestock lines – even if you’re not a farmer, it’s fascinating to pause and watch. Plenty of visitors were happily inventing their own judging systems based on the cutest faces, the best curls, or the most impressive ears. It’s all part of the fun, and a great way to see farming up close.
Around the showground, the food hall was heaving – from Dorset cheese, doughnuts and gin to South African meats and Italian cannoli – while the Horticulture Floral Pavilion was packed with more exhibits than we’ve ever seen, drawing huge crowds to admire the stunning dahlias, the giant pumpkins and probably the best tractor and trailer made from vegetables you’ll ever see. The Homecraft marquee was worth a visit too, if just for Peter Rabbit alone (you’ll understand once you’ve seen him).
Families were everywhere. Teenagers flocked to the funfair rides, kids filled the Fun, Food and Farming area to learn where their food comes from, and the poultry, rabbit and cavies marquee was full of little ones marvelling at the sheer variety of breeds. By mid-afternoon the showground was dotted with toddlers fast asleep on picnic blankets and in carriers, worn out by such a huge day.
And of course, there’s food on every corner – from Greek gyros and Thai noodles to sit-down meals, or your own picnic on the grass. Many today chose a spot near the new music stage, where live performances created a brilliant atmosphere across the showground.
Dorset County Show remains a genuine agricultural celebration at heart – but it’s also one of the best family days out of the year. One day left – don’t miss it. Gates open at 8am tomorrow.
Everything you need to know about veteran showing – as told by someone towed round the ring by a veteran with delusions of youth and grandeur
The Sass Queen (aka Stella) with Tamsin Doar, winning first at Dorset County Show
Every year, towards the end of August, you’ll find equestrians up and down the country united in denial that the nights are closing in and autumn is fast approaching. This year it’s safe to say we have most definitely had a lovely long summer, and the consequently hard ground conditions have been a universal concern. Due to this, The Sass Queen’s summer plans have been revised slightly to avoid injury from working consistently on ground that’s currently closer to concrete than turf.
Tamsin and The Sass Queen’s career highlight (so far) was competing in the Pre-Veteran class at the 2024 Royal Windsor Horse Show
One thing she has continued to enjoy, however, is showing. Or, in her eyes, ‘prancing around the ring having a right old jolly’ – with me being unceremoniously towed along behind her. Our personal career highlight (so far) was competing in the Pre-Veteran class at the Royal Windsor Horse Show last year. While we were there, The Sass Queen spotted the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery out exercising and immediately decided that she too was destined to pull a gun carriage in front of the Royal Family (little did she know she was going back to her muddy field at the end of the day). Judging by the number of social media posts asking for tips on ‘how to get into showing’, it seems the showing world still feels like a bit of a mystery to those yet to dip their toes (hooves?) into it. It is broad and diverse: the breed or type of your horse dictates which classes you can enter. The best way to get a feel for it? Head to a local show and watch the classes your horse might suit – you’ll learn far more by seeing it all unfold ringside.
Tamsin Doar and The Sass Queen, veteran
Showing 101 Showing is split into two categories for each type of class: ‘in hand’ or ‘ridden’ classes. To really strip it back to basics, in hand consists of walking and trotting your horse up for the judge so that they can assess their movement, mannerisms and conformation and judge (place) you accordingly against others in your class. Ridden shows consist of competitors walking, trotting and cantering around together before being pulled into a line up where a ridden show is performed (usually a simple trot, canter and extension on each rein) before ‘stripping’ the horses of their tack to walk and trot them up in hand. In some classes, such as hunter classes, a ride judge will also ride each competitor’s horse to assess their manners and way of going under saddle. Being a Welsh Cob, The Sass Queen started out her competitive showing career in the ‘large breed Mountain & Moorland classes’ which consists of ponies native to the British Isles (Welsh section C & D, Fells, Dales, Connemara, New Forests and Highlands). Horses should be turned out naturally, according to their type – generally hairy, but tided up to be presentable, with no plaiting involved (a big win for me: I have not been blessed with the gift of expert plaiting skills!). More recently, however, we’ve taken to entering veteran classes – not that anyone dares to tell her she is technically an OAP. We recently received feedback in a different discipline that she was “well behaved for a youngster, and once she matures and quietens down will make a lovely horse.” I didn’t have the heart to tell the judge she’s 18 and entering her ‘cantankerous old lady’ phase of life … Veteran showing is a great way to still be able to enjoy days out with your golden oldies, and most shows offer these classes. Entering local unaffiliated shows is one of the best ways to find your feet and get feedback and – most importantly – have fun. If you don’t do well, just remember that it’s only one person’s opinion! If, however, you wish to take veteran showing more seriously, there are two official organisations in the UK you can affiliate under: The Veteran Horse Society (VHS) and the Senior Showing and Dressage League (SSADL). Each offers its own championship shows which you can qualify at across the country: the nearest to Dorset being The Mid Somerset Show and the Bath & West for VHS and The Wessex Horse Show and Dorset County Show for SSADL. They each also have specific rules, such as not showing any extended canter and not wearing spurs – I highly recommend reading each rulebook before entering. SSADL also offers qualifications for the LIHS (forever known to most equestrians as Olympia) and the Royal International Horse Show. It’s amazing that these big international shows are supporting veterans, demonstrating that age really is just a number!
We discussed her over-exuberance while she ate her recovery mash. I’m not sure she was listening.
The Sass Queen and I typically stick to in hand showing: previously, she’s seen either the show jumping or the working hunter ring and, understandably unable to differentiate between coloured poles and solid jumps, instantly assumes we must be team chasing and turns utterly feral (or “a bit lively” as one judge politely commented). Both ridden and in hand classes are split according to age: 15-19, 20-24 and Over 25 (though each society has slightly different upper age brackets). The SSADL also offers a dressage league, from Prelim up to Medium levels, and the VHS organises additional dressage and performance awards. In all classes, regardless of affiliation, horses are scored according to Presentation, Manners, Way of Going, Movement, Condition, Type, Breed, Equine History, Equine Age and Suppleness. Sadly, The Sass Queen let the side down a few weeks ago for being “a bit too exuberant” which unfortunately cost us some marks for manners.
Tamsin Doar and The Sass Queen M&M class
We had a discussion about it afterwards, while she devoured her recovery mash. I’m not convinced she was listening. One of the best things about these classes is that there is the shared enjoyment of spending time showcasing your golden oldie – I love the friendliness between competitors in the line up, chatting about the history of their horses and swapping stories. Equine welfare is very much at the forefront of each society’s ethos, and they discourage competitors from travelling up and down the country in order to try and bag a qualification. As the SSADL says, it gives “equines of all breeds … the chance to compete against animals of a similar age and on a level playing field”. Similarly, the VHS was created initially to research and address age-related welfare issues. Although the showing season is coming to an end, if showing has piqued your interest and you want to find out more about it – or would enjoy watching the classes – then heading to one of your local shows is a good start. Dorset County (6th-7th September) is usually one of the last ‘big’ shows of the season and always has a large array of classes on offer to either compete in or just observe. The BV is sponsor of the Equine Ring this year, so it would basically be a bit rude not to stop by. And there’s practically guaranteed entertainment in the pre-veteran class on the Sunday, where I’ll once again be wrangling my over-exuberant, juvenile veteran and pleading with her to just tone it down a notch … Hopefully we’ll see even more of you out and about next season!
Four marathons, a secret world championship gold and still racing at 87 – Blandford’s Joan Royal proves running isn’t just for the young
Joan Royal is still running at 87 – image Courtenay Hitchcock The BV
‘I think I’m just going to keep on running. All you can do, isn’t it?’ Most Saturday mornings, you’ll find 87-year-old Joan Royal at the Blandford Parkrun. She’d never call herself inspirational – but ask any of the dozens of Dorset runners keeping pace with her each week, and they’ll tell you she’s a bit of a legend. Born in Colchester in 1937, Joan came to Dorset after the war. ‘My mother worked in what I think was a British Legion army café in Blandford,’ she says. ‘I stayed in Kent with my grandmother until I was nine, and then joined my mother here. I’ve been in Dorset ever since.’ Joan left school with shorthand and typing qualifications and worked locally, including at a Sturminster Newton estate agency, a solicitor’s office and at Blandford Camp. She married Alan when she was 19, and the couple had five children. Joan returned to work when their youngest was four, eventually spending many years at St Leonard’s School.
Joan competing in Brisbane in 2001
But it was running that changed her life. ‘Someone I worked with was in the Dorset Doddlers running club. She invited me to try it – she said I could ‘just do a little’. What she didn’t say was that if I didn’t know where I was, I’d have to keep up with everyone else … I didn’t know, so I ended up doing the whole run! That’s how it all started: I really enjoyed it.’ Joan was in her early 40s when she started running – and she hasn’t stopped. ‘I entered the XIII World Veterans Athletics Championships in Gateshead when I was 61, and when I did OK, my husband said we should do the next ones – which it turned out were in Australia!’ When she says “she did OK”, she means that she won gold with her team in the 8km Cross Country. Two years later she didn’t tell anyone the reason for the trip to Brisbane – not even her children. ‘We went for six weeks, because we combined it with a holiday. I wanted to do the running when I first arrived, because I wanted a holiday and not spend my time there doing proper training … Well, I don’t actually do proper training … and so we did the running first, and then we did the holiday afterwards. And I kept it a secret, the only person that knew was Alan. None of the kids knew what I was doing. They were not happy when I came back! I never told the running club, either. Alan was sworn to secrecy, in case I made a fool of myself and didn’t want anybody to know. But I ran the 8km cross-country team event and got a gold medal, and I finished fourth in the 1,500m. It was lovely.’
Joan on her weekly Parkrun
Taking on the headmaster Joan has since competed across most distances, including completing the Honolulu Marathon at the age of 70 – a double celebration for her birthday and her 50th wedding anniversary: ‘I’ve done dozens of Great South Runs, and I’ve done the Great North and the Great West Runs. Countless half marathons and 10-mile races. I’ve done the famously brutal “Beast” in Dorset and the “Grizzly” in Devon. And I’ve done four marathons. The first one was the South Coast Marathon, and then the next two were both London – the last was Honolulu in 2007.’ She now focuses on Parkrun. ‘I try and go every Saturday – I’ve had a few tumbles recently on the steep part, but last week I got my time back under 50 minutes: 47-something. I was determined to get back to under 50, but falling over knocked my confidence. I started walking down those steep parts, so I’ve been practising them.’
Some of Joan Royal’s cups and medals collection – image Courtenay Hitchcock The BV
What keeps her going? ‘I just enjoy it! It gives you a good social life because you mix with other people of similar interests. And the secret, I think, is you’re not confined to one age group, which I think can be very ageing. You know, if you belong to just old people’s clubs, for instance.’ That broad range of social life has always been part of Joan’s outlook. She was awarded for 12 years voluntary youth club work in Blandford. When her children were small she helped establish one of the town’s first crèches, and for years ran voluntary summer activity days for children at what was then Blandford Upper School.
‘Matthew, our grandson, on the right, came over from America with his wife and child, and everyone here is related to us: they’re all our children, grandchildren or great grandchildren’
Alan proudly chipped in with how they started: ‘Joan wanted to use the school, but the headmaster always said no. In the end, Joan wrote to the County Council, and explained why she wanted the school – she said it was government policy that schoolchildren could use school premises through the summer holidays free of charge. And they agreed. So we went back and spoke to the headmaster and said “well, we got permission from County”… what we left off was the fact that County had said he headmaster could have the final say. We just told him “County says we can use it” – which they did!’ ‘We ran it two days a week through the holidays,’ says Joan. ‘From ten til four, and it cost the children 50p. We borrowed equipment from the school to use – rounders, cricket and the like. We had the use of the swimming pool. The only thing they paid extra for was if they wanted to go horse riding. And then, when we finished, there was money in the pot, so we gave it to the school to buy new equipment.’ ‘After that, we ran a five-a-side football tournament on Saturday afternoon for 200 little kids!’ added Alan. Chatting in their living room, we are surrounded by the many photographs of their large family jostling for shelf space alongside the awards of her long running career. She and Alan have five children, 12 grandchildren and – currently – 17 great-grandchildren (‘number 18’s on the way’). ‘We have a lot of time with them all – it keeps you young,’ she says. ‘We’re never short of company, they’re always popping in. We hired Durweston hall this summer for a family get-together – there were 42 of us, from babies through to us Golden Oldies, and only four didn’t belong to us!’ Joan’s running ambitions remain simple. ‘My aim is to keep going until I’m 90. As long as I can still run, I will. The aim is to finish – preferably on my feet. If I get a good time, that’s a bonus.’
A cemetery of Saxon burials lies hidden beneath a Dorset village – and it is revealing stories reaching back more than 1,200 years
It’s not often that a modern housing development opens a window into the seventh century – but that is exactly what’s happened in Iwerne Minster, where archaeologists local company Context One Heritage and Archaeology, working ahead of a small housing project, have uncovered one of Dorset’s most significant Anglo-Saxon Christian burial grounds. ‘We expected perhaps 20 graves,’ says lead archaeologist Richard McConnell. ‘We’re now over 60 – and we’re still counting.’ The site, tucked behind the village church, was once the cemetery of a Saxon minster. The original minster church is long gone, but its memory remains written in the land – in hundreds of burials spread far beyond the current parish church.
Image by Courtenay Hitchcock The BV
A sacred centre The cemetery was probably started in the late seventh century, during a time of re-Christianisation across Wessex. While the current stone church dates from the 12th century, its Saxon predecessors may have stood just metres away – probably wooden at first, then formalised in stone. For three to four centuries, this site served not only Iwerne Minster (a Saxon charter dated 871 refers to it as Ywen, and the village’s name indicates an early church or minster), but five nearby dependent settlements whose dead were also brought here to be laid to rest. ‘Not only did they bury the dead from the village itself, but they had five dependent settlements nearby that also had to bring their dead here. So over the 300 or 400 years the minster was active, you can imagine that’s a lot of people. We think probably 6,000 people, all told, and that’s a conservative guess. ‘The Saxon period starts from when the Roman administration broke down, so in the early fifth century, and then goes right up to 1066 and the Norman Conquest. So it’s against this backdrop that the cemetery was in operation – the time of King Alfred and the Vikings and all of that. It’s an exciting period, but this appears to be a fairly sedate, lay cemetery, just for the general population. We have a mix of adults, juveniles and infants – rather too many babies. You can imagine, infant mortality was very high at the time, and we tend to see those being inserted into the foot of adult graves, both male and female.’
Image by Courtenay Hitchcock The BV
Ordinary lives ‘None of the bodies were placed in coffins but were instead wrapped in shrouds, and then probably stitched in or tied with twine or rope – as we’ve found no shroud pins, no fastenings that might have held it together. ‘So over time, of course, the body decomposes, as does the shroud. The limbs will then just find their own natural resting places.’ Though no grave goods have been found – Christian burials of this period typically contain none – the bones themselves offer clues: ‘There is nothing to suggest any trauma, other than perhaps things that have happened to people during their lives – we’ve seen badly-mended broken bones, for example. We’ve seen growths on bones which are a bit odd, and some curvatures of the spine … all the sort of things that we might suffer from even today. But nothing that would suggest a nasty end for any of them. ‘What’s striking is how robust many of them were – especially the adult males. Some were over six feet tall, and clearly well-built. We think of early medieval people as small and undernourished, but that’s obviously not always the case.’
Archaeologist Cheryl Green working on one of the congested graves – image Courtenay Hitchcock – The BV
Graves aligned to memory ‘What we have found is that there seem to be two distinct sides to this part of the cemetery: there’s a whole section which is facing a slightly different direction. ‘We’re in the time of a re-emergence of Christianity, so most burials are traditionally laid resting west-east – but we’ve got a whole set, the furthest away from the current church, which are facing south-east. These might be the earliest graves – tthey certainly all respect each other, but they follow a different alignment. ‘It’s possible that they are focused on something else, possibly an earlier church or another structure. ‘Then we have a gap, before a real congestion of burials, all aligned west-east, but all intercutting each other. It’s very crowded. Over time, once memorials or gravemarkers disappeared, the plots got dug over again and a new burial was added. So we end up with a layering of burials in a very small space – the closer we get to the church, the more congested it is – it was a common desire to be buried as close to the church (and God) as possible.’
Tara Fairclough working on illustrations of the more orderly part of the site – Image Courtenay Hitchcock – The BV
’The shallowness of the burials is visually striking as you walk the site, compared with modern graves. ‘They’re not that deep at all,’ says Richard. ‘And you can see that the present ground is probably a good 50 centimetres higher than the Anglo Saxon ground surface, so they were even shallower than they look now. And they get shallower still as we go across towards where all the burials are congested. ‘In fact, there’s one individual who was buried, and they then dug out that grave later on, probably years later – perhaps a family group – and they tried to lay another individual on top. But there wasn’t enough headroom for the soil too. So they actually removed the head of the one underneath in order to get the new one to lay flat on top, and then covered it over! ‘We’ve also got quite a lot of rodent activity on the shallower graves, which would suggest that rats came in shortly after burial and had a nibble away at some of the extremities of the person inside. I know. I know…’
Most burials are traditionally laid facing west-east – but we’ve got a whole set, the furthest away from the current church, which are facing a different angle. – Image Courtenay Hitchcock – The BV
The living above the dead As the centuries turned, the cemetery fell out of use – likely around the time of the Norman conquest. As neighbouring settlements built their own churches, they no longer needed to bury their dead at Iwerne Minster. The new parish church, built in the early 12th century, had only a small churchyard, and the old Saxon cemetery land became part of the medieval village. ‘We can see the dark lines of soil cutting through some graves – these are the boundaries of medieval burgage plots,’ explains Richard. ‘Small houses would have stood nearby, with long garden strips running through the former cemetery. They were growing vegetables here, unaware they were cutting into ancient burials.’ Pottery found on the site dates from the 10th to 12th centuries, confirming the transition from sacred ground to village plots at the point when the cemetery passed out of memory.
What next? The dig began in June 2025 and is expected to continue just a few more weeks. Everything is photographed in situ, 3D modelling of each grave is created, and then every individual is carefully lifted by element – left leg, right leg, skull – and boxed for washing and detailed osteological analysis. Radiocarbon dating will help map the different phases of burials to within around 30 years –especially needed as very few artefacts or pottery have been found to assist dating. ‘It’s the only way to pin down timelines for what we’re seeing here,’ says Richard. The remains will eventually be reburied. But before then, they will be able to tell us an awful lot about this part of Wessex and the population here … the quiet echo of thousands of lives beneath our feet.
Dorset’s future is being drawn up now – and unless residents speak up, crucial local knowledge and concerns will be left out of the Local Plan
Aerial view of new housing being built on the outskirts of Wimborne Minister
Dorset’s draft Local Plan will shape where we all live, work and travel for the next 20 years – and residents have just a few weeks to influence its contents. Cllr Sherry Jespersen, who represents Hill Forts and Upper Tarrants ward on Dorset Council, believes it’s one of the most important consultations the county has ever run. After 13 years in local government – including chairing Dorset Council’s Northern Area Planning Committee – Sherry has become one of North Dorset’s most knowledgeable voices on planning. That’s why I sat down with her – to cut through the jargon and understand what the draft Local Plan really means for our Dorset communities. ‘Planning is the single thing Dorset Council does that has the most impact on people’s lives,’ she says. ‘I’d say around 30 per cent of the help I give residents is related to planning. So I’ve had to learn how it works.’ And how it works, she says, is often misunderstood. ‘Planning is a quasi-judicial process – it’s not intuitive, or based on whether a proposal “feels right”. You can only refuse a planning application on material planning grounds. People are often shocked that many common concerns – like loss of a view – simply aren’t valid reasons for refusal. ‘With the Local Plan consultation, I know people are going to say “our village has taken our fair share”, and we’ll have to explain that it’s not about fair shares. Some villages may have to take more than others – just because you think you’ve done your bit doesn’t mean you won’t be asked to take more. It feels instinctively unjust – take a village like Marnhull: residents may well say, “You can’t expect us to take any more”. But, alas, that’s simply not a planning consideration. It’s extremely legalistic, extremely technical – things are either a planning consideration or they’re not.’ The system, she says, can be deeply frustrating. ‘I’ve sat in planning committees and had to instruct the committee to give permission for something because there were no legal grounds to turn it down – while looking at the residents who live next door with tears in their eyes, knowing the decision would seriously impact their quality of life. That can be very hard as a councillor.’
New houses being built in Poundbury Dorset
Don’t get distracted Now, with Dorset’s draft Local Plan consultation under way, Sherry says the public has a rare and real opportunity to influence how Dorset might look over the next two decades. ‘This consultation matters to everyone – not just people whose villages might have a site proposed. It sets the framework for housing, employment, schools, transport, even gypsy and traveller sites.’ But she urges people not to be overwhelmed by the headlines. ‘Yes, there’s a huge number – more than 50,000 homes across Dorset. But we must remember, not every site in the draft will make it through. This is a genuine consultation – some sites will be rejected, and residents can have a vital role in making that case.’ The key, she says, is to focus locally. ‘Don’t get distracted fighting that big number – look at what’s proposed near you. Is it suitable? Is it supported by infrastructure? What do locals know about the ground? What could be improved? Do you want to suggest an alternative? That kind of detailed feedback is exactly what the council needs.’ And it’s not just about saying “no”, she says. ‘Local people are well aware that we need more affordable housing. ‘You may look at some of the proposed sites and think, “actually, that’s a good idea”. Towns need to grow, and some of those sites around our towns are really well thought through. ‘You can say, “I support this development – it would be helpful.” Or: “I think some housing here is fine, but 120 homes is too many – what if we only used the middle field?” It’s a genuine dialogue. ‘And it’s really important that it is not just left to the professionals – the town and parish councils, CPRE, the National Landscapes teams. They’re brilliant, but we must hear from Mr and Mrs Smith too. They have a view, and it matters.’
It’s not just houses ‘There’s a question in the consultation that asks about infrastructure – roads, bus stops, GP surgeries, schools,’ says Cllr Jespersen. ‘I’m urging everyone to focus on that section in particular. And don’t just say what you want – say what’s missing, and why that matters. ‘We’ve seen too many speculative developments, where the housing goes up but the infrastructure never follows. That’s the most damaging thing for any community. ‘Even with planned developments, the infrastructure often comes at the end. Dorset Council has no legal power to control the speed of each phase, so residents are sometimes left waiting for years. ‘Look at the north Blandford development. People were told it would ‘bring a new school’. But all that was actually approved was a plot where one could be built – eventually … ‘We need people to explain that experience in their own words – not just what’s needed, but how and why past developments have let communities down. That’s the only way to shape Dorset into something better.
The red marks represent the housing opportunity sites in the Local Plan Consultation
Facebook doesn’t count Sherry is particularly concerned about the lack of public transport in rural Dorset – and the utterly unrealistic assumption that villages will somehow receive new services to match all the new housing they’re getting. ‘Many of our larger villages – places like Child Okeford, Marnhull and Pimperne – will take some new housing in the Local Plan. They’re designated “larger villages” because they already have a shop or a pub,’ says Sherry. ‘But let’s be honest – most of them don’t have the infrastructure necessary for sustainable growth. ‘If you build 200 new homes in a village where the only transport option is a car, then you’re not building a community – you’re building a dormitory. ‘Dorset Council is committed to Net Zero, and we’re leading the way in some areas. But we cannot reach that goal if we keep adding housing to places with no public transport. And right now, there’s no plan to introduce new rural bus services in the north of the county.’ She urges residents to engage not only with the Local Plan, but also with the council’s parallel Transport Action Plan. ‘If you care about rural bus services – and about what kind of places we’re building – please read both. It takes five minutes to say: “If you want us to take these houses, we need the buses to go with them.” The two plans must talk to each other. At the moment, they don’t.’ Importantly, she reminds residents that social media posts won’t count. ‘By all means, discuss it on Facebook – I watch those conversations myself. Some of the points people make are full of insight and on-the-ground knowledge. But unless you submit your comments to the official consultation, they won’t be considered.’ Ultimately, she says, people should see this as a chance to shape their own future. ‘It’s not about saying no to everything. It’s about helping to make sure we get the right development, in the right place, with the right infrastructure to support it.’ The consultation runs until 14th October 2025 – and whether you’re for or against what’s proposed, your voice won’t be heard unless you speak up.
A new Dorset social enterprise is giving gardens – and young people – a fresh start. GreenCare, run by Dorset Community Action in partnership with Employ My Ability, has already raised more than £10,000 to support its work restoring gardens and outdoor spaces while creating jobs for young adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
A new Dorset social enterprise is giving gardens – and young people – a fresh start
From overgrown lawns to bramble-filled corners, the GreenCare team roll up their sleeves and get stuck in, turning even the toughest plots into safe, usable spaces. Wherever possible, the team use battery-powered tools and encourage pollinator-friendly planting, making the approach as kind to wildlife as it is to people. Every job directly supports a trainee on their journey into work – a vital step, given that nationally only 5.9 per cent of people with learning disabilities are in paid employment. The service is designed to be affordable and straightforward, with clear pricing and no hidden extras. Customers range from private residents to housing associations, and every penny of profit is reinvested into training and support. Simon Chapman of Employ My Ability says: ‘The programme has enabled our students to progress into paid work in a nurturing environment that pushes them to do more and be better. Receiving a wage boosts their self-esteem and helps them realise their value to society.’
Greencare
Whether it’s regular lawn care, hedge trimming, seasonal planting or a one-off clearance, GreenCare promises reliable, community-minded service – and the knowledge that your garden is helping someone else grow too. GreenCare is also keen to build new collaborations with local organisations – whether by providing partnership funding to support staff time, offering grounds maintenance contracts that the GreenCare team could deliver, or referring young people onto the programme.
To get in touch, please speak to Lydia or Paul: Lydia Harvey, Enterprise Coordinator – talk to Lydia to arrange for a free site visit and a garden maintenance quote: 07421 994 591or [email protected] Paul Seaman, Programme Manager – talk to Paul for partnerships and referrals: 07421 994 587 or [email protected] Learn more on the website: dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk/community-employment/greencare
On Wednesday 3rd September, Status Supercar Society hosted a Charity Supercar Evening at The George Albert Hotel just outside Dorchester, bringing together more than 70 supercars and prestige vehicles in support of Dementia UK.
The RS 200 – image by Eds Car Media
The line-up was nothing short of spectacular, featuring everything from a Gintani SVJ and a genuine Ford RS200 to a one-of-one Supertrofeo-inspired Lamborghini Huracán. Guests spent an hour and a half admiring the cars, enjoying food and drink, and catching up with fellow enthusiasts.
At 7:15pm, a passing rain shower prompted a move indoors for the eagerly awaited charity raffle. Hosted by Zita, the draw featured a remarkable selection of prizes donated by local businesses and individuals—including a full-length automotive YouTube video, a luxury spa getaway, Lego bundles, and more. After 45 minutes of prizes and excitement, Jack closed the evening with a heartfelt thank-you speech.
by Eds Car Mediaby Eds Car Mediaby Eds Car Mediaby Eds Car Media
As the rain cleared, attendees took one last walk around the cars before starting engines and heading home.
Thanks to the generosity of supporters, the event didn’t just meet its £1,000 fundraising target—it surpassed it, raising an impressive £1,500 for Dementia UK.
Organisers were quick to share their appreciation: “This community never fails to amaze us—together we’ve made a real difference,” said Jack.
