The RSPCA is urging Dorset residents to consider adopting larger dogs this Adoptober, as the charity faces a critical shortage of space for these animals. At the RSPCA Ashley Heath Animal Centre, many dogs, particularly larger breeds. New data from the RSPCA reveals that larger dogs can take up to seven times longer to be rehomed than smaller dogs.
Kylie has been waiting for 407 days for a new home
Big Vince, a Lurcher cross, has been in RSPCA care for more than 160 days. Despite his size, he has a gentle nature and an affectionate personality (‘a heart as big as his frame’). Vince needs a strong, patient owner who can help him with lead training and offer a stable home environment. He’s happiest around people, and would thrive as the only pet in a household, with older teens. Kylie, a five-year-old crossbreed (a ‘big, clever, gentle girl who is happiest when she’s snuggled up close’), has been waiting for 407 days. She needs a quiet, adult-only home: her previous experiences, including illegal ear cropping, have made her more vulnerable to weather conditions, but she remains a calm, loving dog who enjoys human affection. She’s well-behaved on a lead and interacts well with other dogs, though she prefers not to be crowded. Kylie would be happiest as the only dog in the home and would do best in a house without cats. Dr Sam Gaines, RSPCA pet behaviour expert, says: ‘Larger dogs often struggle to find homes due to misconceptions about their temperament and needs. Many are just big softies, and with the right owner, they thrive. Our larger dogs need special homes with owners who are ready to help them overcome past challenges.’ RSPCA operations manager Glenn Mayoll added: ‘We’re seeing record numbers of dogs in our care, and large breeds are particularly hard to rehome. We urgently need adopters for these wonderful dogs.’ For more information on Big Vince, Kylie and other dogs in need of a home, visit the RSPCA Ashley Heath Findapet page
SturFit’s Community Fund has raised more than £4,000 since last autumn, thanks to events ranging from raffles and games nights to a Zumba Glow Party and gym instructor Hayley running the London Marathon. Set up to support local clubs and organisations with sport and leisure activities at the Leisure Centre, the fund is already making an impact. It helped launch the new Cheese & Pickle Pickleball Club, running two taster sessions for the sport that is taking the country by storm. The fund covered hall hire for several weeks so the organisers could put their money towards other start-up costs – the club already has more than 40 members. The Community Fund has also paid for instructor training for Age Concern North Dorset, enabling them to expand their balance classes with new chair-based sessions this September. Looking ahead, the hall will be filled with inflatables for a FREE family fun day during the October half term.
The new Cheese & Pickle pickleball club meets on a Sunday morning
Centre manager Roger Teasdale says: ‘The trust is keen to support a broad range of projects with the fund. It might be bringing in specialists for unique activities not usually available locally – like archery, Nerf wars or a mobile climbing wall – or helping a Guides or Scouts group work towards a sports badge by providing facilities or instructors.’
The Sturfit Community Fund has enabled new chair-based balance classes for Age Concern
SturFit is a not-for-profit charity, run by trustees and volunteers as a community resource – not a profit-driven leisure centre. All income goes back into maintaining and improving facilities for local people.Applications for support can be made to SturFit on [email protected]. Donations are always welcome to support the trust’s work in keeping community sport and leisure activities thriving. sturfit.org
Last week was the Liberal Democrat party conference in Bournemouth. Some of you may have seen me joining Ed Davey and opening our conference by leading a marching band through the town. I’m not sure my drumming was good enough to guarantee me a permanent place in the band, but it was great fun! It was also an appropriate way to open a conference that was very much themed around ‘positive patriotism’, offering a home to voters who feel proud to be British but do not feel comfortable with some of the more unsavoury elements and views of those on the right – people and parties who wrap themselves in the flag while peddling divisiveness, talking our country down and echoing the talking points of Trump and Putin. We want to show that being proud to be British also means loving your country and its traditions and the freedoms we hold dear. The conference wasn’t just about recapturing the flag. It was also about progressive policies for building a better Britain. In West Dorset we’ve seen the recent closure of police counters in Bridport and Sherborne, leaving residents feeling vulnerable without a walk-in desk where they can speak to an officer. At conference we announced a new policy guaranteeing a police counter in every community. I am regularly contacted by parents worried about the detrimental effect of social media on young people’s mental health. Last week on a visit to Salway Ash primary school I met The Mindful Digital Collective, who run afterschool clubs teaching digital awareness and online safety to kids. It is a great project, but it is voluntary. Far more needs to be done to protect young people in a society which is increasingly online. At the conference, we announced a new policy calling for social media apps to have cigarette-style health warnings, and for a two-hour ‘doomscrolling cap’ to limit young people’s exposure to deliberately addictive algorithms. There’s plenty more to do, and more policies to come, as we set out our vision for a better, more united kingdom. Stay tuned! Edward Morello LibDem MP for West Dorset
A ROMANTIC STORY – EXTRAORDINARY DISCLAIMER FROM COMTE DE VERE.
Southern Times and Dorset County Herald – Saturday 19 October 1901
In 1903, Channon & Sons (overhead sign on the left, with a liveried gentleman at the door) was already listed in Kelly’s Directory as ‘carriage and motor works’ – clearly an early adopter of the new motorcar, with an eye to a business opportunity.
We have received from a London address a lengthy letter signed “De Vere” explanatory of the romantic episode which occurred under the shadow of Holy Trinity Church a week or two ago, and which caused such a lively sensation in that quarter of the town. The Comte states the story is absolutely false and is devoid of a vestige of truth, and he calls for a withdrawal. He then proceeds to give the facts, and the frankness with which the story is told is so characteristically “Continental” that we give it ‘verb et lit’ expunging only portions which, while not bearing on the story, are too strongly spiced for English ears, and also excising redundant abuse of the individuals who disturbed his domestic peace: – ‘The lady you refer to as Lily is my wife – ‘morganatic’*, of course, but legally my wife. She could now produce the contracts. I need not draw comparisons between the loved, honoured though romantic wife of a foreign nobleman and the mistress of a parvenu nobleman of the present English type. The contemptible cowards who came to Dorchester were not what you describe them, and there was no solicitor there. When they arrived I was partly undressed. I was then unarmed. I shouted for someone to go for the police, but no one heard me. If it were now there would be a different tale to tell, I only wish they would return.
Dorchester’s High East Street is still easily recognisable today: Majestic Wines now inhabits the Channon & Sons building. ‘Now’ images by Courtenay Hitchcock
They broke open the flimsy door, and one person immediately rushed at me, bayonet fashion, and thrust a stick into my abdomen. He was a man of 16 or 17 stone weight. I am not ten stone I forget what happened after that. Were it now I would shoot the lot, much as I would shoot rats, and I am now, I may say, armed with one of the most beautiful, expensive, and effective weapons known, and am an expert shot – quite what is termed a “fancy shot.” The revolver I then had (a Smith & Wesson) was broken. I had no cartridges, and it was locked away. I had actually ordered a new one that day, and the catalogue arrived by post the following (Sunday) morning. I may say that the “brother” you refer to is only a half-brother, and practically (legally) no relative. The lady is of full age. There was no “elopement,” no “abduction” on my part. On Monday, September 30th, I received the lady back (under police protection). The instant she was free she wired me.
West Entrance to Dorchester, c. 1900: the women are in long coats and wide-brimmed hats, men in dark suits with bowler hats, and children in formal dresses, capturing the Edwardian fashion of the time.
Warrants had been applied for (and were granted), and had the lady not returned here on Monday the warrants would have been executed on Tuesday. I may say the police at Dorchester were hoaxed. The men who came to Dorchester told the lady that warrants were in the hands of Supt. Plummer for my arrest on a serious charge, &c. They also told the police that I had abducted the lady. On Saturday, the 21st ult., as soon as I could do so, I sent the lady all her belongings, together with £20 in money in order to enable her to get help and escape. I wrote over 20 letters; up till to-day (October 11th) she has not received either the money or letters, but I understand all have now been returned to the Postmaster General and that we shall have them all in due course. Her trunk was broken open and ransacked, and two parcels were opened and two letters extracted. I gave the lady my word of honour I would not prosecute. I have kept my word. Should my friends ever get hold of the “brother” (out of England) I, of course, do not know what they may do. I immediately circulated his full description abroad, also that of the lady. Had they left England there would have been no further trouble. I was seriously ill for several days (owing to stick thrust), and quite unfit to decide on a proper course of action. Hence the reason why the Lady was allowed to be kept in durance for ten days. I had quite an army of friends here prepared to adopt lynch law, but I restrained them. Finally, my wife was as anxious about her partner as I was (they are really more than sisters), and blamed me for not adopting drastic measures. In the end I allowed my solicitor to act for me.
The scene is more recognisable as the Top o’ Town roundabout today
When the Lady arrived in London she was in a very nervous state, and had evidently suffered much. However, it could never happen again. It is the first time in my life I was ever unarmed; it is the last. It was a dastardly outrage. No Englishmen worthy of the race would have acted as those “men” did. How I do wish they would come back now!
The New Compasses is a new build here: it was built in 1903 by Weymouth’s Devenish Brewery, around the time this image was taken. During the build, two Roman skeletons were found. They were extended inhumations on differing alignments and were accompanied by Romano-British coarseware vessels. One was a bowl of Durotrigian class two, dating to the first century AD or early second century, the other was a small jar.
As to the house (or labourer’s cottage) at “Trinity Church,” she rented it without seeing it. She thought it was a vicarage at least. As for my leaving Dorchester, I had regretted leaving before I was well out of the station. I only left in order to follow up and take action. Now I find that a wire to Scotland Yard, London, was all that was necessary. The party would then have been detained in London and sent back, and a vast amount of trouble and expense would have been saved. I am informed that it cost the “brother” over £200. Had he gone to a solicitor he could have had it all for 6s. 8d., or had he gone to Scotland Yard he could have had advice gratis.
The New Compasses is still recognisable – though is rather dwarfed on the busy junction where Lidl, car dealers and a petrol station now exist
And now, just as a finish, I may tell you, as a fact, I know beyond all doubt that the whole affair was at the instigation of a woman (of very low mental calibre). – simply a little revenge for imaginary slights &c. You see, sir, that one side of a tale holds good until the other side is heard. As to myself, my position, my family, my actions, &c., all are above reproach and beyond question. There is not a single act of my life to which I would or could object having made public. All the same, I do not court notoriety, and only wish to be left severely alone. I am just leaving England for the winter. – Yours sincerely, DE VERE.’ The Comte encloses his card. The story as it is told makes more like a page from a penny “shocker” than an incident of real life. Comte de Vere is welcome to any relief that his own candid revelation of the real facts as his Dorchester adventure can afford him. It shows at any rate that the incident as we related it was not too highly coloured. With regard to the moralities of the case perhaps the least said the better. Comte de Vere was certainly not fortunate in the selection of the place for his curious ménage, and Dorchester is well rid of him and his companions. It is an unsavoury story at the best, and the Comte would be well advised to keep himself and his Oriental household on the other side of the Channel.
A morganatic wife refers to a woman married to a man of royal or noble rank, whose children from the marriage are not entitled to his titles or privileges.
Editor’s note: Having found the fascinating rebuttal, we naturally had to track down the original … so here’s the article the Comte was responding to:
A ROMANTIC STORY – AN ELOPEMENT AND ITS SEQUEL
-A romance of real life – what the compatriots of the “Count de Vere” would call a roman vicu – has come to light in the quiet and decorous town of Dorchester. Its dénouement on Saturday afternoon caused quite a flutter in the dovecotes of propriety, and drew a large crowd of the curious to the scene of the drama, that secluded eddy of calmness off the bustle and noise of the High Street, Trinity Cottages. Here, at Number 3, to be precise, in the quiet corner house which gives a certain air of distinction from its conservatory, and faces the pleasant greensward formerly occupied by the “Cold ‘hid jackets’ of the dead,” this rosy romance has been hatching itself during the last three weeks. Three weeks ago a gentleman and two ladies took up their abode in this most modest, most quiet, and most respectable domicile. The gentleman was no ordinary specimen of humanity, no piece of common clay. Romantic blood ran in his veins, according to his own statement, French or Spanish, or, as some say, a little of both. About five feet seven in height, of pre-possessing appearance with light curly hair and well-trimmed moustache, affecting a light suit and a “Trilby” hat – such was the “Count de Vere,” as he announced his name to be. Of his lady companions one cannot speak so positively. Both were undeniably comely. His wife – we should say the Countess de Vere – was of about his own age, good-looking, and suggestive of the lsle of Erin*. The second lady was a pretty blonde. Of her relations to the “Count” it is impossible to say. Rumour spoke of an elopement, and of her making the acquaintance of the Count while she was engaged as a telegraphist in a London telegraph office. Whatever degree of truth there may have been in these rumours, certainly they received corroboration from the sensational events of Saturday. A mysterious party of five individuals made their way to the quiet little house on Saturay afternoon about half-past three.
By chance, No.3 Trinity Cottages is currently up for sale: the end of terrace cottage on the right is where the drama unfolded – still with its coveted conservatory, and overlooking ‘the pleasant greensward’ Image courtesy of Symonds & Sampson
One was the lady’s brother, another the lady’s sister, a third a solicitor from London, also having a branch office in Paris, at the Rue Tronchet. The fourth was the solicitor’s clerk, and the fifth a useful, a possibly very useful, though somewhat nondescript character, whom for the sake of convenience we may describe as a “chucker-out” or handy man. “I am come for you, Lily.” the brother cried as he entered the house. The young lady beat a hasty retreat upstairs and rushed into a room and locked the door in the face of the party. Where persuasion fails force is often a useful thing; and the indignant brother quickly broke open the door, to find the “Count” in the room as well as his sister. An excited and angry scene followed. And there must by this time have been about 200 people gathered outside the house. But law and the logie of the strong arm prevailed. A ‘bus was chartered, and drove up Colliton Street from the King’s Arms Hotel. A box, presumably containing the gay young lady’s goods and chattels, was carried forth and deposited in the orthodox manner on top of the ‘bus; and then the damsel berself, looking not a little forlorn and woe-begone, was escorted out between her brother and sister, the “handy man” within prudent distance. All drove off to the South Western station in time to catch the 5:45 express for London. On Monday there was more house-shifting in connection with this drama “taken from real life.” About ten o’clock a ‘bus was loaded with boxes by Trinity church, and the remainder of the birds-of-passage left for the railway station. Thus the curtain dropped on the performance, at least as far as Dorchester is concerned.
*Trinity Cottages sits off Grey School Passage, just behind Holy Trinity Catholic Church **Ireland
As the leaves turn and the Jumps season returns, Wincanton Racecourse is thrilled to open its gates for another exciting season of racing, community spirit, and new experiences. We kick things off with our much-anticipated Horatio’s Garden Season Opener, a true family day out, packed with free children’s entertainment, charity initiatives, and thrilling racing action.
Larchmont Lass and Harry Cobden (blue and yellow) winning The Betmgm Richard Barber Memorial Mares’ Handicap Hurdle
Wincanton 9.11.24
Pic Dan Abraham-focusonracing.com
This season opener is more than just a race day. It’s a celebration of inclusion and community. We’re proud to be working in partnership with Autism in Racing, helping to create a more accessible and welcoming environment for all racegoers. One of the day’s highlights will be a charity stable staff race, which will feature the inaugural presentation of the perpetual Keagan Kirkby Trophy, a tribute to dedication and spirit within the racing industry. Exciting developments continue throughout the season. Wincanton is now a dog-friendly course, welcoming four-legged friends to join in the fun. We’re also proud to announce the launch of a brand new Ladies Day, adding even more colour and style to our racing calendar.
Al Dancer and Callum Pritchard (the grey) winning The 63rd Badger `Beer Handicap Chase
Wincanton 9.11.24
Pic Dan Abraham-focusonracing.com
And speaking of style, this year’s iconic Badger Beer Chase is set to dazzle – not just with top-class National Hunt racing, but also with the introduction of our Style Awards. Racegoers will be in with a chance to win incredible prizes in categories including Best Dressed and Best Dressed Couple. Prizes include a stunning Boodles necklace worth £3,000, luxury vouchers from Fairfax & Favor, Hobbs, and more. With thrilling racing, family fun, charitable causes, and unforgettable experiences, Wincanton invites you to be part of a season like no other. Join us. The season starts here!
Owners’ Day successfully dodged downpours, and Chris Wald shares life behind the scenes at Tizzard Racing – from flat caps to a favourite horse
The Tizzard family raised an incredible £13,500 for Breakthrough T1D UK at this year’s Open Day – a cause close to their hearts after young Tommie’s diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes last year.
Despite threatening skies and some well-timed dashes for cover, Tizzard Racing’s annual Owners’ Day went ahead as planned – horses paraded, wine flowed and old friends caught up – between showers … ‘The forecast was awful – proper heavy rain – but we managed to get through it,’ says assistant trainer Chris Wald. ‘There were a few owners running for cover during the parade, but it wasn’t the total washout we feared. It’s such a nice way to get everyone back together again. ‘At the height of the season, you see each other all the time at races. But once it goes quiet in the spring, you tend to lose touch. Owners’ Day brings everyone back.’ As the yard shifts into winter mode, things are already picking up: ‘We’ve had our first couple of runners back now,’ Chris says. ‘Striking A Pose ran at Newton Abbot and finished a really good second, just beaten by a neck. So that’s encouraging. They’re all fairly fit, and once the rain comes and the ground’s right, we’ll be away.’ It’s been another strange season for weather – after the drought, a few weeks of rain, but then another dry spell saw the streams start to dwindle. ‘It just goes like that,’ Chris shrugs. ‘You’d think weeks of rain would last longer… but it doesn’t.’
JPR One, always a clown Image Courtenay Hitchcock
Meet Chris Wald Through the coming season, as well as yard news we’ll be introducing some of the Tizzard team. And where better place to start than with Chris Wald, who has been part of the operation for eight years:
How did you arrive here? I grew up eventing – started riding young, and worked for the event rider Austin O’Connor for a couple of years. Then I went to university at Cirencester and started riding out for Fergal O’Brien – that was my first experience of racing. After that, I spent three years as pupil assistant at David Dennis’s yard before moving down here. Pupil assistants are learning to become trainers; they oversee the smaller things like bandaging, or if a horse’s bucket is broken, or a tail needs trimming. They keep things ticking along.
What’s your role at Tizzards? I’m assistant trainer to Joe now. When I first arrived, Colin was still the trainer and I worked under both him and Kim, Joe’s sister. Since Joe took over the licence, my role’s grown – I work closely with the barn managers, plan the riding out board, assign staff, and make sure the day runs smoothly. I ride out when I can, and during the season I’m away racing quite a lot – often three or four times a week.
What do you do on a race day? I make sure the staff at the racecourse have everything they need, and I look after the owners – have a drink or lunch with them, keep them updated. I also saddle the horse, and go through the race with the jockey. Most of the time Joe will have briefed me on tactics, and I’ll pass those on. We mainly use Brendan Powell as our jockey – he knows the horses really well – but it’s important to talk through each one. Every horse is different.
Favourite horse? Oh, JPR One. He came to us as a four-year-old: he’d never raced, he’d been in training in Ireland. I’ve always ridden him a lot, and we’ve got a real connection. He’s a good racehorse too – winning the Haldon Gold Cup was definitely his career highlight so far.
Summer or winter? Winter. It’s where all the action is: the jump season, obviously, but also football, rugby … I’m not a cricket or golf fan, summer just feels slow by comparison!
Your go-to bit of kit? My flat cap. It’s essential in the winter – it keeps the drips off! I couldn’t do without it.
What do you do when you’re not at the yard? I’ve got a few youngsters at home – young horses, I mean – so they keep me busy. Plus I do have two actual kids, too, so any time I’m not working I do try and spend it with them. I’m also a big Plymouth Argyle fan – that’s probably my main passion outside racing.
September has been an extremely busy month for the party, with our annual conference in Birmingham, a number of key policy announcements, and the high-level defection from the Conservatives of Danny Kruger, MP for East Wiltshire and Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions.
Thomas Gargrave
Reform UK Dorset
Mr Kruger is widely regarded in Westminster as a considered and thoughtful MP, and a true conservative. His defection to Reform UK is significant – and I am sure will not be the last. In his defection press conference, Mr Kruger said, ‘The Conservative Party is over. Over as a national party, over as the principal opposition to the left. The best hope we have, maybe our last hope, is Nigel Farage.’ In a subsequent interview, he made a salient point that I think is worth highlighting – ‘The British public wants radical change.’ The electorate’s tolerance for failure on immigration, welfare, crime and taxation, to name a few, has completely run out. Half measures and more empty rhetoric simply will not cut it in today’s political climate. With that in mind, this month saw Reform UK announce a series of bold policies termed ‘Prioritising UK Citizens’. The two headline policies within this were the ending of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and its replacement with a five year renewable work visa, and the second is a cessation of all benefit and welfare entitlements for non-UK citizens (EEA nationals will initially be exempt under the EU withdrawal agreement, but this would be renegotiated by a Reform UK government). These measures are, in large part, borne out of an urgent fiscal need to reverse what is referred to as the Boris Wave, describing the broader immigration policy of the Conservative Party between 2020 and 24, which saw unprecedented levels of mass immigration into the UK, principally by low-skilled migrants and their dependents from non-EU countries. Reform UK estimates 800,000 of those who entered will soon be able to apply for ILR and gain access to the UK’s benefits system, creating a looming fiscal crisis. The current direct cost to the taxpayer of benefits paid to foreign nationals is already £12 billion every year. This is why it is absolutely imperative that the Boris Wave is reversed. As Nigel Farage said, ‘It is simply not fair to ask the British taxpayer to go out to work every day to pay for the benefits of foreign nationals, many of whom are not even working.’ Importantly, we are also proposing major changes to address the long-term issues around the UK’s reliance on foreign labour. A Reform UK government will introduce an Acute Skills Shortage Visa (ASSV). This will be strictly time-limited, with a finite cap at the start of each year. Any company sponsoring a worker via this route will have to pay an equivalent levy to fund the training of a British worker in that role, allowing us to build long-term capacity for British workers and end our reliance on foreign labour. For far too long, British workers have had to compete with a virtually unlimited amount of foreign labour, effectively making the minimum wage the maximum wage in many sectors. Ending our reliance on low-skilled foreign labour and unleashing the huge potential of the very large number of British people who are currently not working is a generational opportunity, one Reform UK fully intends to realise. Thomas Gargrave Reform UK Dorset
Oats have frustrated George Hosford this year … almost as much as politicians and DEFRA and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme
The view from The Knoll. All images: George Hosford
Everyone loves working on the Knoll (the field with the combine harvester above) – the view stretches out over Durweston and Stourpaine, with Hod Hill behind and Hambledon’s yews just sneaking in, top left. It’s hard to keep your eyes on the machine you’re supposed to be minding. It’s a spectacular spot, and it produced a surprisingly handsome spring oat crop this year, stretching thickly from one side to the other. The bi-crop beans sown alongside didn’t fare so well – the drought all but wiped them out, and the few survivors stayed tucked beneath the oat canopy. The frustrating thing about growing oats is that, despite the quality of the crop, they rarely command the price they deserve. Oats consistently sit below wheat and barley on the price scale, and the UK oat market is notoriously volatile – a classic feast-or-famine setup. It’s a relatively small market, easily over-supplied, and when that happens, prices crash. This year, the problem is worsened by a national carry-over of good-quality oats from last season, which continues to suppress the market.
Our in-calf heifers tucking into our valuable winter hay supply: two groups munched through this, while other groups survived on meagre pickings across the herbal leys, which were more tolerant of drought than the shrivelled permanent pastures
Let’s not discuss food A trip to the County Show last month was enjoyable, as always. Tom Bradshaw, NFU National President, was present, and in the NFU tent delivered a pretty sobering assessment of many issues currently facing agriculture, not least the sudden and unexpected replacement of Steve Reed as Secretary of State at DEFRA, with the rather less well-known Emma Reynolds, formerly Economic Secretary to the Treasury, another in a long line of DEFRA secretaries to be inducted into the world of landscape and agriculture. Tom Bradshaw had developed a strong working relationship with Mr Reed, which he pointed out is of huge value, even when many areas of difference exist between parties. It is to be hoped that the same can be achieved with the new incumbent. Her origins lie in the countryside, so let us be optimistic that she might at least be able to approach the new job with some feeling for the rural issues. There are, of course, some huge issues for her to get to grips with: number one being DEFRA itself. Due to the utter incompetence of the last government, coupled with the utter incompetence of the new one, DEFRA has made a complete hash of the budget controls required to get the new environmental schemes working fairly and properly. Some stories are breathtaking – farmers allegedly receiving four times as much in SFI (Sustainable Farming Initiative) payments as they did under the old BPS (Basic Payment Scheme) system. No wonder DEFRA ran out of money … They still won’t come clean on how much funding has been allocated to the various SFI iterations, to capital works projects and to landscape recovery schemes (rumoured to be very expensive). It seems that the ‘wonderful’ new payments of ‘public money for public goods’ really were too good to be true. If it isn’t sorted out PDQ, there are going to be some very unfortunate consequences. Tom told us that more than 5,000 farmers will be coming out of their five-year Countryside Stewardship schemes this autumn – and right now, there’s nothing for them to reapply for. We ourselves will be in the same boat in two years’ time. What are farmers supposed to do with the long-term options they committed to – plough them up? In our case, we have 75 hectares of flowery field margins, which, together with the hedge and a neighbouring margin, form a 15 metre-wide wildlife corridor between fields. It would be an absolute travesty to cultivate and crop this back to the hedge. There’s also an area of arable reversion, where we sowed genetically-appropriate seed stock into a small, stony field. It’s now a haven for downland flowers, insects, birds and small mammals – along with grazing animals, which don’t stay long, as it’s not particularly productive in modern agricultural terms. Without environmental payments, we simply cannot afford to farm like this – there’s always rent and a load of other bills to pay. We desperately need the next phase of SFI to be announced, and some consistency and continuity applied to agricultural policy. Did anyone even mention food …?
Will, on the John Deere combine, demonstrating its special self-levelling ability to not spill your tea
A Knoll with a view With Will at the helm, the combine below is demonstrating its self-levelling ability. This is a John Deere speciality: other manufacturers use different systems in an attempt to replicate this true levelling effect, such as by cleverly shaking the sieves so they throw the grain uphill to utilise the whole cleaning area. An essential component of the combine’s thrashing system is to be able to separate the seed from the chaff, and if you can imagine using a sieve on an angle, the grain will always fall to the lower side, which drastically reduces efficiency.. The whole body staying level allows the grain and trash to spread across the whole thrashing system: this allows even distribution of the flow of cleaning air. Not only this, but it is far more comfortable for the driver than a fixed chassis machine. It is old technology now: we bought our first self-levelling combine in 1994, and are now on our fourth, each one slightly larger than the previous. We would not be without the self-levelling. It is not available for those on tracks, because the system relies on the ability of the machine to roll on the tyres as it changes angle: flat tracks can’t do this. Their advantages of lower ground pressure and superior grip on steep land do not, in our estimation, outweigh the ability to not spill your tea.
‘Divide and distract’ are tried-and-tested means of conquering opponents. Both are being heavily employed at present by powerful individuals hell-bent on making our world one which feeds their needs, rather than being for the benefit of all.
Ken Huggins North Dorset Green Party
Let’s call it what it is – insanity, driven by greed for power and money. And it’s criminal insanity at that, because of the damage it is doing to innocent peoples’ lives, and the death and destruction it will ultimately result in unless it is checked. But that’s where we come in. We are not powerless! The present American administration has shown that total lies can be broadcast with impunity, unless they are effectively challenged. While claiming to be in the cause of ’defending free speech’, a hostile campaign is underway to actually suppress any speech that doesn’t support the official narrative – no matter how false that narrative might be. The leaders of Reform UK are copying the American far right’s playbook, with false claims about climate change and immigration for example, and stifling criticism by barring left wing journalists from party conferences. Patriotism has also been weaponised, aiming to drive a wedge between different communities and encourage us to turn on one another rather than the real perpetrators who are responsible for the crises we face. The recent so-called Unite the Kingdom rally actually aimed to further fragment us, with added violence towards the police resulting in dozens of officers being injured. We must resist attempts to get us to attack one another. Not everyone who supports Reform is a racist bigot. Many simply have justifiable concerns around issues like the broken housing market, the collapse of public services and the increasing inequality between generations. One hope with the new Green Party leader Zack Polanski is that, by more effective use of social media to counter divisive toxic populist outpourings, we will establish the common ground between all those of us who actually just want a society that is genuinely fair and free from hate. We all need to seek out the best in others, and to unite together to reclaim a positive vision for the future of our world. Ken Huggins North Dorset Green Party
