Pauline Batstone shares her monthly round up of what’s happening among the town’s collection of community enterprises and events
Well, what a quick month April was – I can’t quite believe that it’s May already! Below you can find just a little taster of some of the things happening in Stur throughout the (hopefully!) sunny month of May and into June. First up, the Car and Bike Enthusiasts are back in the Station Road Car Park on the morning of the 4th May 9am to 12 noon. Unfortunately the Recreation Ground is still far too wet for them to drive on. But to make things easier there will be free parking in both town car parks all that day, courtesy of SturAction’s donors and customers.
When you have finished admiring the cars, why not come along to 1855, where the traders will be happy to great you and offer some tasters – there are almost 100 different small artisan and craft business under one roof! On the morning of Sunday 5th May, the car park behind The Exchange will see the return of the Stur Car Boot Sale, come and have a rummage and help raise much-needed funds for charity. On Bank Holiday Monday, 6th May, the Emporium and The Boutique in town will both be open from 10am to 2pm for anyone wanting a gentle holiday browse – and perhaps a purchase or two!
Both The Exchange and the Sturminster Newton Literary Festival have their new brochures out this week, so pick up your copies from various outlets around the town. Tickets for the LitFest are available online here, and can also be purchased from 1855. The event is not to be missed, with the opportunity to listen to a collection of authors covering a wide range of styles and subjects. On Thursday 6th June, the 80th anniversary of D Day, at 7.30pm there will be a civic service followed by the lighting of the beacon in the Railway Gardens as dusk arrives. As part of this commemoration, Sturminster Newton Literary Festival is devoting the 9th of June to military history, including talks and the opening of a special D-Day testimony exhibition at The Exchange.
Part-Time Carer/Pa needed for capable woman in a wheelchair based between Shaftesbury & Salisbury.
As part of a friendly team you will be required to carry out a variety of duties. Your character rather than qualifications is far more important to us, however being a non-smoker is essential!
It’s a slice of wellness in the Dorset downs: Rachael Rowe talks to the sibling duo who have crafted a culinary haven of hearty whole foods
All images: Feed the Soul
Tucked away in the heart of the Dorset downs at Godmanstone, Feed the Soul is a place where people are passionate about whole foods. It’s a well-kept secret – those in the know have usually found it via another friend’s social media post raving about the wonderful salads. The small cafe south of Cerne Abbas on the A352 is a “chilled out haven of healthy food” run by brother and sister Alex and Nick Beer.
Alex (right) and Nick Beer
I was a trained chef, and Nick and I had both worked in hospitality for years,’ says Alex. ‘One day we just thought “we can do this ourselves!” Nick was working in a coffee shop in Dorchester at the time, learning to roast coffee beans. I’d returned from Australia, and had a cake stall at local markets. We had always shopped here at Longmeadow when they had organic fruits and vegetables, so when the cafe came up for rent, of course we were interested. ‘I was 25 at the time, and Nick was 23. It’s a fun location, and we thought: “if we don’t do it now then we never will.” So we took the plunge – that was seven years ago! We started out with a vegan approach, but we have broadened that to simple whole foods and now include eggs and cheese too. We’re both incredibly passionate about organic and whole foods in a healthy diet.
Fresh bread sourdough, using local organic flour, is baked every morning
‘In Australia, the whole food scene is really big – Bondai Beach is health food central. I totally got into it, but when I came home there’s just not that same emphasis here in Dorset.’
Building a community The eclectic team at Feed the Soul all have other jobs too, Alex says. ‘There’s seven of us altogether – the two of us plus Josh, Nick, May, Lily and Jo, and we’re all really good friends. Everyone has their own business too, and works here part time. May upcycles clothing, for example, and Lily is a market gardener working with her mother. ‘We used to grow all our own food, but as we got busier it was harder to manage everything – and I’ve recently had a baby. Motherhood keeps me very busy! So we’ve stopped growing our own, and instead use suppliers like Lily at Edible Acre and also Riverford Organics.
Regular events such as this Indian Night are held at Feed the Soul throughout the year
‘Our bestsellers in the cafe are probably the avocado on toast with homemade sourdough and cashew aioli. We also make kombuchas. Another popular dish is the gluten-free kimchi pancake. We have daily fresh seasonal salad bowls. If you were visiting for the first time I’d definitely recommend a Buddha bowl, every time. Plus one of Nick’s shrubs – delicious and so refreshing.’ A shrub is a traditional sparkling cordial. The method dates back to the 17th century and involves infusing a cider vinegar syrup with fruits, sugar and sparkling water.
‘We’re hard workers,’ says Alex. ‘People have called us workaholics. But we love it. You never know how a day will be here – each one is so different. We make everything from scratch, from the peanut butter and the aioli to our own granola. And there’s a health food shop here as well as the cafe. ‘‘I think we have such amazingly loyal customers. Even through COVID we managed to stay open because of our local customer base. It’s a brilliant, friendly community and we’ve made a little haven where people feel safe and happy. ‘We’re very laid-back, but we’re always thinking about the business. I’ve been out of it for a few months because of the baby, but we’re planning for the summer to be fun! We cater for yoga retreats and I’ll be back teaching yoga soon. And we run workshops, including fermentation. ‘It is all about getting people to slow down – this place does that I think. When you are here, the sense of time just melts away.’
‘If you are visiting for the first time I’d definitely recommend a Buddha bowl’
Feed the Soul is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am to 4pm at Longmeadow in Godmanstone, DT2 7AE. feedthesoul.co.uk
This simple recipe is perfect for family get togethers, and is so forgiving, endlessly adaptable to include what you fancy or have in the cupboard. This is my personal favourite combination and I think they really complement each other, with the dried cherries balancing the sweetness with a hit of sour. I’ve also found that people love the nostalgia of adding Rolos on the top! But change it to suit: maybe you prefer raisins to cherries, you’d like to use a different biscuit, or you’d enjoy nuts instead. Just keep the ratios of ingredients the same, and substitute with your own favourites. I used to be able to buy dried sour cherries from supermarkets quite easily but they seem to be harder to find (they’ll either be in the baking or the health food section). Waitrose has been reliable so far, but any good health food shop should be able to help you too.
Ingredients Makes about 12-15 squares
500g dark chocolate
200g butter
300g golden syrup
100g dried cherries
100g mini marshmallows
1 small packet of digestive biscuits
2-3 packets of Rolos.
Method
Line a 9” x 13” (20cm x 30cm) cake pan and put to one side.
In a large saucepan, gently heat together the butter, chocolate and golden syrup until completely melted and combined.
Break the biscuits into pieces and add them to the chocolatey mixture, along with the cherries and marshmallows. If you would prefer a less biscuity mixture, just stir in slightly fewer biscuits. Stir really well to combine and make sure all pieces are completely coated in the chocolatey mixture.
Pour this mixture into the prepared cake pan and smooth out the top.
Scatter the Rolos over the top of the mixture and place the cake pan in the fridge to set (about two hours).
We are thrilled to announce that The BV has been awarded the prestigious NMA’s Regional Publication of the Year 2024! This amazing accolade is a testament to the hard work, talent and passion of our entire team.
The competition for a 2024 Newspaper and Magazine award was incredibly fierce – 27 industry judges had assessed the 18 categories, which were hotly contested by some of the biggest names in the UK’s publishing industry. The Regional Publication of the Year shortlist was like a who’s who of local media, with The BV up against distinguished publications like Brighton’s local paper, Newsquest-owned The Argus, one of Ireland’s oldest newspapers, The Impartial Reporter, and Wales’ largest newspaper, The Western Mail. Being recognised among such company makes this achievement even more meaningful for such a small, independent team.
The table plan for the 2024 NMAs
The judges commented that The BV demonstrated very clear objectives which were delivered in full, providing incredibly strong results. They noted our exceptionally high standard of social media engagement, and made particular note of the level of our achievement with such a tiny team.
The awards ceremony was held at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square in Mayfair on Wednesday, 23rd May (see all winners on the ACE website here). It was a night to remember, filled with celebration and recognition of excellence in journalism and publishing.
The London Marriott Grosvenor Square’s ballroom was filled with 300 people for the prestigious 2024 Newspaper and Magazine awards!
Most people are aware that at its heart, The BV is just a team of two – but we are supported tirelessly by a the collective effort of our talented writers every month (who were all carefully chosen initially for their excellence, but definitely kept around for their sense of humour). Each member of our team has contributed to making The BV a standout publication, and this honour belongs to every one of us.
Also, a big thank you to our readers and supporters for believing in us and inspiring us to strive for excellence every day. We are committed to continuing our tradition of delivering high-quality journalism and engaging content to our community. Here’s to celebrating this incredible milestone and looking forward to many more successes in the future!
Connecting with nature has positive benefits for our health and wellbeing, says Dorset Local Nature Partnership manager Maria Clarke
The ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ is a set of evidence-based actions that h ave been developed by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) – it’s a list of simple ways we can all improve our own health by connecting with people, being active, learning, taking notice/being mindful and giving. If you do any of these while connecting with nature, there are added benefits. I know personally that walking, being in a natural space or simply stopping to take notice of life around me makes me feel good, and can help reduce any anxieties and stresses. At the start of the first Covid-19 lockdown, I decided to give myself a daily dose of nature and to really take notice of nature and even post a photo or video on Facebook. It gave me something to focus on and grounded me in uncertain times. I loved it so much, and felt so many benefits, that I’ve not stopped since! More than 1,300 days later I’m still posting daily pictures, constantly learning about the world around me, trying to be present.
Green prescribing There is increasing scientific evidence of nature’s value to our wellbeing. The Wildlife Trust has recently published a study that shows nature-based wellbeing activities could provide cost savings to the NHS of £635 million pounds. However, we know that there are health inequalities within Dorset, and not everyone has equal access to green spaces. Dorset Wildlife Trust and partners such as the Dorset Local Nature Partnership (Dorset LNP) are working together to have nature-based wellbeing opportunities embedded in the local health system. We are working not only to improve access to nature, but also to promote the benefits of nature in support of both physical and mental health. Health and Nature Dorset (or HAND) is a new collaboration, led by Dorset LNP, to strengthen the county’s nature-based wellbeing. HAND includes a wide range of organisations such as NHS Dorset, Public Health Dorset, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Dorset National Landscape, Active Dorset, National Trust, Dorset Council and BCP Council.
Give nature a go Last year, HAND ran a staff wellbeing programme for the Integrated Care System (those working in NHS Trusts, social care, primary care, and the unitary councils) called Give Nature a Go. Activity sessions were run by HAND members, including forest bathing, yoga, mindfulness and wellbeing walks (sessions were run at DWT’s Kingcombe Meadows, Wild Woodbury and Brownsea Island). We would like to thank our funders, including Southern Co-op, National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Lottery Community Fund and Natural England, for supporting this fantastic work. Communities can also work together to create wilder, green places on their doorsteps, helping nature to thrive. Our Nextdoor Nature programme helps to support communities leading their own events and activities to help wildlife thrive within their local area.
As always we kick off the month with the letters – editor Laura is looking at the allure of business awards, followed by all the letters to the editor.
Simon Hoare MP has been considering the problematic lack of positivity in politics: ‘People don’t want to vote against things; rather they want to vote for things.’
Ken Huggins of the Green party is loking for ‘a green shift’, and discusses the stricter regulation of the water treatment industry, ‘including 4,000 water company inspections by the Environment Agency in order to ensure that our waterways ‘remain healthy’. But our rivers can hardly ‘remain’ healthy when only 14 per cent of them currently warrant ‘Good’ ecological status.’
Seb Carr, the award-winning teenage rare breeds pig farmer
Gary Jackson of the North Dorset Liberal Democrats is hoping for a new, clearer financial system under the LibDems: ‘The current funding formula is decades old, unfair, opaque … and has reduced local councils to begging for grant funding from central government to construct half-viable budgets.’
Gerald Davies of the North Dorset Labour Party notes that there are 140,000 children in England with no home, and that: ‘The only way this crisis can be tackled is by building significant numbers of truly affordable homes for purchase and for social rent.’
When Seb Carr was eight he received four pigs for Christmas. Now 13, he has one of the largest pedigree herds of the rare British Saddleback pig in the UK, and last year he became the youngest ever recipient of the British Pig Association’s New Pedigree Breeder of the Year award (which apparently involved ‘a LOVELY dinner’ in London ‘with a big stage, lots of lights and loads of other pig people. It was brilliant!’). Terry talks to him about life as a teenage pig farmer – and yes, he has an Xbox too!
Jess giving Mattie a rub down after a training session
Jess Rimmer is the daughter of 5* three day eventer Jo Rimmer – they jointly run Rimmer Eventing from Fontmell Parva. She’s currently juggling running a professional yard with completing her biochemistry degree at Bristol University. Growing up as an eventer’s daughter, and being put on a horse before she could walk didn’t rub off the way her mum intended: “I didn’t even like horses growing up! It wasn’t until I was 12 or 13 when I was watching a friend (who I idolised) riding her pony that I decided “I want to be like her!” and I decided to get on.’
he number of households in temporary accommodation in England is at its highest since records began. Charities now call on the “out of touch” government to ban no-fault evictions and accelerate social housebuilding. Section 21 evictions – enabling landlords to evict renters at short notice without having to give a reason – are a leading cause of homelessness. Michael Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, has said the government would address the housing crisis by “allowing shops, takeaways and betting shops to be turned into living spaces, and changing planning laws to allow more home extensions”. These grand plans are typical of the sticking-plaster ideas of Rishi Sunak’s current government. However, instability in the private rental market, exacerbated in the short term by rising interest rates and mortgage payment increases caused by Liz Truss’s policies, has led to steep rent rises and landlords deciding to sell their properties. The number of households being issued with no-fault evictions has increased by 21% in the past year. The number of families living in hotels past the six-week legal limit has reached another all-time high, jumping from 670 to 1,840 in a year. This is not fine hotel life – families are in cramped conditions with no access to basic cooking or washing facilities. But I want to focus on market towns and rural homelessness. The CPRE has found that the highest level of rural homelessness is in the south west region, where the number of people accepted as homeless by their local council has risen by 36% in five years. These figures only capture those known to the local council and do not include the hidden homeless – in my own village I have seen people living in a minibus in one case and, in another, people living in a summer house in the garden. The only way this crisis can be tackled is by building significant numbers of truly affordable homes for purchase and for social rent. This requires a major change of emphasis by Dorset Council – but this is never going to happen under this current government. Poor housing conditions cause poor health, poor educational attainment and unemployment and can lead to an increase in crime. For too long this government has protected private landlords – why? Perhaps because so many Tory MPs are private landlords? Gerald Davies North Dorset Labour Party
Feltham’s Farm Organic Cheeses triumphed at the Artisan Cheese Awards 2024, winning Best Organic Cheese for their La Fresca Margarita and securing a Gold in the Fresh Class. The competition was intense, with over 600 cheeses from across the UK and Ireland vying for top honors.
Head Cheesemaker Michael Leech (left) & Owner and Cheesemaker Marcus Fergusson (right)
La Fresca Margarita outshone renowned hard cheeses such as Caws Teifi Heritage and Holden Cheese’s Hafod Cheddar to clinch the top spot in the Organic category. This soft cheese, an Organic Queso Fresco, is crafted from the finest single-source organic milk provided by the neighbouring Godminster Farm’s herd in Somerset.
Head Cheesemaker Michael Leech of Feltham’s Farm remarked on the award, saying, “There’s no hiding with such a simple cheese – the quality of the milk is absolutely essential… we hand ladle every pot of this beautiful mousse-like cheese.”
This victory adds to La Fresca Margarita’s impressive accolades. In 2021, it was named Supreme Champion at the Virtual Cheese Awards, surpassing 400 other cheeses. Just last week, it won Best Fresh and Best Sweet Additive Cheese (with Honeyed Fresca) at the same awards.
La Fresca Margarita
Owner and Cheesemaker Marcus Fergusson expressed his delight: “People are really coming back to these young fresh un-aged cheeses, and we are delighted that judges are also recognizing how simple cheese is often the hardest to make really well – this win is a tribute to Michael and the cheesemaking team here, as well as our single source milk partners Bruton Dairy and Godminster.”
Pete Cheek, Manager of Godminster Farm, added, “Bruton Dairy and Godminster are delighted to be working with Feltham’s Farm in producing the Best Organic Artisan Cheese in the UK and Ireland – we give our Friesian/Scandinavian/Fleckvieh cows the best Organic herbal leys that give a fresh cheese like La Fresca Margarita that summer lemony flavour…”
