The Dorset County Show has generously donated £10,000 to the appeal for the new Dorset County Hospital Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit.
The new department is much-needed in the county – originally built to serve an estimated 22,000 people, Dorset County Hospital now treats more than 50,000 people a year in the Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit. To meet this massive increase in demand, the hospital is currently constructing a new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit which will not only significantly increase its capacity, but is also being designed specifically to transform the experience for patients and their families.
Nicki Ralph, Chair of the Show in 2023, said, “This cause is close to my heart – and it could be close to anyone’s. Many across Dorset will be helped by this life-saving service. Though we all hope that neither we nor our loved ones will ever need the Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit, when we do, we are forever grateful.”
The funds raised by the County Show were presented to the Dorset County Hospital Charity, which has launched a £2.5m Capital Appeal to further improve facilities enhancing patient care and staff wellbeing.
Simon Pearson, Head of Charity at Dorset County Hospital, expressed, “We’d like to express our sincere thanks to James, Nicki, the rest of the Dorset County Show and everyone involved in helping to achieve such a fantastic result for the Appeal. This donation will be ringfenced to support the provision of relatives’ overnight accommodation on the Critical Care Unit and will make a huge difference to the experience of families visiting loved ones in the hospital.”
Mary-Jane Attwood, Appeal Officer, added, “We thank the Dorset County Show team and all their supporters for their generous donation to the Appeal. We know that this reflects a huge amount of hard work and commitment over the last year. We also greatly appreciate being selected as the Show’s Charity of the Year and the opportunity this gave us to raise awareness for the Appeal and to meet with so many wonderful local people and local businesses, many of whom we are continuing to work with as the Appeal progresses.”
James Cox, Show Organiser, remarked, “We are so proud to have raised such a significant amount for this vital cause. We organised numerous fundraising events in 2023, with the pinnacle being the County Show. The hospital expansion is vital to all in Dorset, we are pleased the County Show could do its part to support.”
Nadder Valley Animal Rehabilitation, based in Dinton, provides specialised treatment for pets with mobility issues. Originally known as Pet Waves, the centre was rebranded following its acquisition by Tori Edwards and Hannah Topping, both trained veterinary physiotherapists who met during their degree studies. The duo saw potential in the already successful enterprise to enhance and expand its services. Under their guidance, Nadder Valley Animal Rehabilitation has flourished, offering comprehensive rehabilitation care that includes hydrotherapy in a pool and on an underwater treadmill, therapeutic laser treatments, ultrasound and more. Their efforts have resonated within the community, leading to a nomination for an industry award less than a year after establishing the new brand, reaching the finals of the prestigious Animal Star Awards as Animal Therapist’s of the year for the southern region. The centre’s commitment to quality care and customer satisfaction has strengthened its reputation among pet owners, helping their canine companions return to active, happy lives. Looking ahead, Tori and Hannah are excited about the future, with plans to expand their service offerings and continue supporting more animals through their recovery journeys in 2024 and beyond. Their mission remains focused on providing tailor-made care that addresses the unique needs of each pet, ensuring optimal outcomes for all their patients. NadderValleyRehab.co.uk
It’s becoming an echo of the past, says wildlife writer Jane Adams – the cuckoo’s call is now a rare sound in the UK’s changing seasons
The cuckoo is a dove-sized bird with a blue-grey back, head and chest, and stripey black and white belly. Its sleek body, long tail and pointed wings give it an appearance not unlike kestrels or sparrowhawks
When did you last hear a cuckoo? There was a time when I could rely on hearing one from my garden, its two-tone call carrying on the spring breeze from nearby water meadows. But that was back in the 1980s… now, each spring I think myself lucky to hear one at all, let alone to do so from my own garden. Cuckoos are a bit like Marmite – you either love them or hate them. The fact that they lay their eggs in the nests of hosts such as reed warblers and meadow pipits and leave these much smaller birds to raise their young for them, feels somehow wrong.
The rude guest But this behaviour, known as brood parasitism, is not unusual in the animal kingdom. Chances are, you have ‘cuckoo’ bumblebees and ‘cuckoo’ wasps buzzing around your garden right now. What sets this bird apart from other species of parasite lies in its skilful art of deception. Having spent winter in Africa, cuckoos return to the UK by the end of April. They don’t spend long here, with many having flown south to Africa by the end of June. They mate, and the female will search for a suitable nest to lay an egg. She will repeat this up to 20 times, laying each egg in a different nest. These eggs – which closely resemble those of their host – will hatch, and the young cuckoo will swiftly remove any other eggs in the nest, demanding to be fed until it can fend for itself.
Many people have heard but never actually seen a cuckoo. You will find them in habitats where there are large numbers of meadow pipits or reed warblers – look out for them perched very still, on the lookout for prey (invertebrates and hairy caterpillars ) and unattended nests.
A seasonal mismatch So, why is their distinctive call so rare nowadays? There’s a myriad of probable reasons. Despite returning to the UK at a similar time as they did in the 1960s, spring now comes much earlier. This means the caterpillars they feed on might well hatch before they arrive, and the cuckoo’s native hosts may already have hatched their own eggs. Combine these out-of-sync seasonal problems with the fact that more cuckoos are dying on the return journey to Africa, and you can soon see why their numbers have declined: since the early 1980s, cuckoo numbers have dropped by 65 per cent. When my husband told me he heard a cuckoo recently, I raced outside, desperately hoping to hear it. But after an hour, I still hadn’t heard it. That evening, my mobile rang and the cuckoo ringtone I’ve recently added blared out. “Did you hear it that time?” my husband shouted from the other room. I‘m still deciding whether to tell him.
Rebecca Hill explains how the FCN blends farming expertise and professional support networks to bolster the farming community’s resilience
Rebecca Hill, the joint co-ordinator for Dorset FCN
That’s me over on the right – I’m Rebecca Hill, the joint co-ordinator for Dorset FCN (Farming Comunity Network), along with Barrie Cooper (Barrie will introduce himself next month!). I farm at Winterborne Kingston – combinable crops, some on land that we own, some that we rent and we also share farm with the Drax Estate. Alongside the farming operation we have converted a range of redundant farm buildings for commercial use, and have some lovely businesses working from the farm. My family also run Wire and Wood Ltd, selling agricultural fencing supplies. During COVID I did some volunteering with FCN – I certainly didn’t foresee that I would become the co-ordinator! But it is a role that I find incredibly rewarding. The FCN is a farmer’s charity – and as a group of volunteers we all have an understanding of agriculture. We have been busy raising the profile of what we do in Dorset, running farm walks during the summer and quizzes during the winter months. Alongside the events, we offer support on a one-to-one basis. If anyone is struggling within our farming community we will send a volunteer to visit them and help. Our job is to signpost people to make sure they get all the support they require.
The cases we see are very varied – from issues with the RPA or other government bodies to families worried about succession or dispute, or simply being overwhelmed by the work, weather and the mental health stress. Our volunteers are there to walk with you for as long as we are needed. We also work with our allied professionals – the vets, trading standards, land agents, the NFU group secretaries etc – because they are the people who, day to day, are out on farm and seeing people who may need our help. If you feel you are able to give some time and become a volunteer, or perhaps able to raise money for FCN, or if you need to talk to one of us – in complete confidence – please do get in touch with me on [email protected].
Whatever mental image the name Squat-thrust.com raises, it probably isn’t a men’s keep fit group in Sherborne. But Squat-thrust.com is celebrating its 50th birthday this year … and many of the members have been involved for almost the entire time the club has been running. The average age of the membership is 73, and they are still going (very) strong, still performing just as they did all those years ago. Admittedly there may be a measure of rose-tinted glasses there … Squat-thrust.com meet every Thursday night at the Gryphon School in Sherborne for a warm-up and stretches and an hour of circuit training, followed by an hour of volleyball as a cool down – although it can get a bit competitive. The group finishes up with an hour (or two) of ‘rehydration’ at the Digby Tap! The group was initially set up by Alan Fall, head of PE at the old St. Aldhelm’s School, and it began simply as a way for friends and colleagues to keep fit. It was then adopted by the local council as an adult education course, and taken over by the Head of PE at the Gryphon school, Allan Martin, who still runs the group’s evening sessions today. A few years ago it ceased to be a local authority course – threatened with closure, the members refused to lose their club, instead getting together and starting to run the evening classes themselves.
We blame the pub In addition to the central Thursday night training which helps to keep the members fit and moving, there have been various spin-off activities – a badminton group, a golfing association – and various social events such as meals, walks and curry nights all based around the Squat-thrust.com-ers membership. It was on a group walking weekend on Dartmoor that the rather unusual name for the group was chosen (a squat-thrust is one of the exercises they do, in case you were wondering). It is ruefully acknowledged that being sat in the pub at the time of the discussion may have had something to do with the choice. The evening’s physical activities are always based around what each person feels capable of doing – although Allan very much encourages maximum effort and total commitment!
Join the gang Squat-thrust.com are always happy to welcome new members – they get particularly excited if it drops their average age a bit. People in their 50s and 60s and even younger are very welcome – it is requested that they just don’t show up the older members too much. Having said that, a son of one member came to a session and was mightily impressed by the standard, especially when he realised he couldn’t keep up with some of them! The group would be thrilled if Squat-thrust.com can keep going for another 50 years – and although perhaps not all the current membership will make that, they certainly intend to still be going in the 2030s … just a little less vigorously, perhaps.
From Housework at The Sherborne to artists at the brewery, Dorset Art Weeks are packed with inspiration, exploration – and a boost to the economy
Star – Karina Gill
DORSET is not a big county, but as with its food and drink scene, it punches well above its weight in the visual arts world, with one of the country’s longest established and biggest art weeks. This year will be the first full Dorset Art Weeks (DAW) event since 2018, before the pandemic. It will run from 25th May to 9th June, and sees the return of a programme of activities including workshops, talks, demonstrations, have-a-go and other events to excite and engage audiences. There are 500 artists – painters, potters, textile artists, photographers, sculptors and other makers – exhibiting at more than 260 venues, from individual studios to grand historic buildings, creating a broad impression of the depth and wealth of talent working across Dorset. The colourful brochure has details of all venues and participants, and maps of the six areas – North West (Venues 1-31), West (32-115), South (116-169), Purbeck (170-187), East (188-217) and North East (218-266).
Housework One of the highlights of the 2024 DAW is the exhibition Housework at The Sherborne (Venue 1). The former Sherborne House is famous for the murals by Sir James Thornhill, the Dorset-born painter who was also responsible for large-scale schemes of murals, including the “Painted Hall” at the Royal Hospital, Greenwich, and paintings on the inside of the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral. The Georgian Grade I listed mansion has variously been a school, arts centre and, from 1851-60, the home of the great actor-manager William MacReady (1793-1873), arguably the greatest Shakespearean actor of the Victorian age, and one of Charles Dickens’s closest friends. Housework, an installation with photography, textiles and painting, has been curated by artist Amanda Wallwork. It weaves together elements of the previous incarnations of the 18th century house and its new life as the home to an evolving programme of cultural activities. Artists featured in Housework include the late Dame Elisabeth Frink, as well as Jenni Cadman, Karen Hitchlock, Stig Evans, Jane Burden, Tim Burrough, Kirsten Cooke and Amanda Wallwork.
A new Jane Shaw piece which she will be exhibiting during Dorset Art Weeks
Residency at The Tap Dorset Art Works’ headline sponsor is the Blandford-based family brewery Hall & Woodhouse, so it’s no surprise that the Brewery Tap (Venue 223) in the historic brewery building is housing an exciting DAW event. The brewery artists-in-residence exhibition will feature work by two artists, Charlotte Beare and Jack Dickson. The theme of their Dorset Visual Arts residency and commission is reflections on the life of the 250-year old company and its staff. Work created on site and back in the artists’ studios will be on show upstairs at the bar throughout the festival. Other special events and exhibitions include The Instinct of Hope, artists responding to the climate emergency, at the Fine Foundation Gallery at Durlston Country Park (Venue 173), and The Ground Beneath Us, at the Top Floor Studio (Venue 58), The Old Timber Yard, West Bay, with participating artists responding to the theme of Extraction – Art on the Edge of the Abyss. On Sunday 26th May, renowned furniture designer John Makepeace and his wife Jenny have an open day at Farrs, their beautiful house and garden in Beaminster. The house contains many examples of John’s work, including prototype designs, while the famous gardens include Jenny’s colourful potager and other features. On Friday 31st May, six Dorset artists join forces to support the Nepalese charity, Right4Children – the evening will offer guests an intoxicating blend of art, philanthropy and feasting. Kicking off with an exclusive drinks reception and viewing of the Dower House Studios at Winterborne Houghton (venue 230) exhibition, cocktails will be followed by a lecture from art historian Sarah Thomas. Guests will then be treated to a candle-lit dinner where they will have the opportunity to meet the founders of the charity and the Dower House Studios artists. ‘We are thrilled to host this special celebration in support of the invaluable work of Right4Children in Nepal,” says Jane Shaw, the owner of the studios, whose dynamic animal sculptures are beloved by collectors.
Star dining table and chairs – John Makepeace
Launched by a letter John Makepeace has a special place in the history of Dorset Art Weeks. It might now be one of the country’s leading open studios events, but DAW began nearly 35 years ago with a letter from John to some influential people suggesting that an event in which artists opened their studios would not only benefit the artists but attract visitors to Dorset. At the time he was running his renowned college of furniture design at Parnham House, Beaminster, where he regularly hosted leading cultural figures, including Peter Hall and Norman Foster, and recognised what a great impression Dorset made on them. There was a similar open studios event in Oxford, but the great university city was a very different proposition from rural Dorset! One of the recipients of the letter was the then county librarian and arts officer Carl Earl, who talked to the county’s new arts development officer Jo Morland. She contacted local artists who were unanimously enthusiastic – the result was the first Dorset Art Week (actually nine days) in May 1992. Since that first successful event, DAW has continued to grow, with more artists taking part every festival. John Makepeace’s guess that it would attract visitors was proved to be absolutely right – the lure of meeting artists in their own studios and workshops, often along picturesque lanes and in hidden valleys, the excitement of exploration and the pleasure of village pubs and shops have all contributed to the development of a biennial event that now brings more than £2 million to Dorset. Dorset Art Weeks now runs under the auspices of Dorset Visual Arts, a registered charity with a membership of more than 300 artists, designers and makers who live and/or practise in Dorset. DVA’s activities recognise that artists have different interests and needs in developing their careers, yet are often left to find their way in isolation, particularly in a mainly rural county. DVA currently runs three project groups focused on professional development – The Interrogating, Salon and Emerging artist projects facilitate connections between artists with different areas of critical focus. The biennial Dorset Art Weeks is the flagship event, but there are now plans for a new ‘interval year’ event from 2025, as well as other activities such as residencies, workshops, networking meetings and get togethers. dorsetartweeks.co.uk
Secretary of State calls in controversial plan for 490 homes outside Blandford – to the delight of North Dorset CPRE
Proposed map of the site, supplied by Wyatt Homes
Felicity Buchan, Minister for Housing and Homelessness, has called in an application by Wyatt Homes to build 490 homes between Blandford and Pimperne, on behalf of the Secretary of State. A planning inspector will now carry out a public inquiry into the proposal. This followed Dorset Council’s Northern Area Planning Committee’s second decision to approve the application. The second meeting was called so that changes to material planning considerations could be taken into account. Campaigners had hoped that the committee would defer the meeting until members had had training on the latest planning legislation. But the need for this was ignored by both officers and committee members. The planning officer downplayed the potential effects of the planning changes on this application. The initial plan was strongly opposed by the Cranborne Chase National Landscape (CCNL), North Dorset CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England), Pimperne Parish Council and local residents. North Dorset MP Simon Hoare also spoke on behalf of the opposition group. The approval triggered a call-in request to the Secretary of State by the campaigners on the grounds that the planning committee had failed to deal with several matters of national importance, including the failure to uphold the recently remade Pimperne Neighbourhood Plan and the support of a major development within a National Landscape, without exceptional circumstances. The call-in letter tells Dorset Council that the Secretary of State particularly wishes to be informed about: The extent to which the proposed development is consistent with Government policies for delivering a sufficient supply of homes in the NPPF (Chapter 5) The extent to which the proposed development is consistent with Government policies for conserving and enhancing the natural environment in the NPPF (Chapter 15) The extent to which the proposed development is consistent with the development plan for the area
Approved anyway The news of the call-in was greeted with relief by campaigners. Richard Burden, CCNL Principal Landscape and Planning Officer, said: ‘Building 490 dwellings and other buildings on productive farmland in one of the nation’s finest landscapes does not protect that landscape, nor conserve and enhance its natural beauty, as intended by the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949. The CCNL therefore welcomes the decision to call in the application for full and objective scrutiny.’ The news that there was now more than a five year housing land supply in North Dorset, with planning decisions supposedly then following development plans, initially made campaigners confident they stood a good chance of stopping the developers. The planning officer’s report to the October meeting acknowledged a conflict with the council’s own development plan, which said building in the countryside should be resisted.
But the committee gave the scheme the go-ahead. Campaigners agree that the development is well designed, but is clearly in the wrong place. The CPRE was disappointed that the committee did not include Blandford representatives. The approval was particularly galling for Pimperne Parish Council chairman Peter Slocombe, who, with volunteers, spent hundreds of hours creating the Neighbourhood Plan, which was disregarded here and in a recent previous application. Pimperne would receive no Section 106 (planning gain) benefits from the development.
First planning approval, October 2023 The key grounds of objection to this Blandford development were: Housing targets in the North Dorset Local Plan for Blandford Forum and Blandford St Mary, as well as in the surrounding villages, had already been exceeded thanks to a massive local building programme in recent years. The limited evidence of the need for a new school, which would allegedly be paid for by the Section 106 developer funding tied to this application. Should the currently declining school rolls reverse, expansion could be achieved more cost-effectively with a few extra classrooms The development will cause harm to the Cranborne Chase National Landscape, and its setting, on whose land some of the development would be built, with views both to and from it seriously affected There is conflict with Pimperne’s Neighbourhood Plan – and the 150 homes which would be built within that parish would threaten the important “gap” between the village and Blandford Good farmland, which contributes to food security and acts as a carbon sink against climate change, would be sacrificed
Installation of the 99 panel, 41kw system was a complex project utilising five roof elevations
Wimborne’s oldest independent home electronics store, Dacombes, is now harnessing the newest technology, with solar energy powering its extensive array of domestic appliances and home cinemas in its spacious Dorset showroom. The family-run business, which was founded in 1920, has been working with Low Carbon Dorset, the green grant initiative run by Dorset Council for local business. Matt Renaut, Dacombes’ managing director, noted the significant electricity demand of their operations, likening it to ‘three kettles on the boil all day long.’ With energy prices constantly climbing, Renaut pursued a green solution by securing a grant from Low Carbon Dorset – the process took five months from application to project completion. Steven Ford, Dorset Council’s corporate director for strategy, performance and sustainability, said: “Officers from our Low Carbon Dorset programme worked closely with the team at Dacombes to help them make significant strides in reducing their environmental impact and boosting their energy efficiency.’ A total of 99 solar panels, creating a 41kw system, were fitted by Ringwood-based Empower Energy. Mark Wingrove, business development manager for Empower Energy said: ‘This was a complex project utilising five roof elevations.” But the challenge was worth it. Matt Renaut says that even through the poor spring weather, the panels have been generating enough energy to power the store during its opening hours. Mark Wingrove said; ‘Unlike domestic users, there’s no price cap protection for businesses – managing the recent soaring costs of energy bills is a huge strain on cashflow.
Matt Renaut, Dacombes’ managing director
A greener future Dacombes is now in control of its own energy usage and costs, as well as reducing their environmental impact.’ The solar panels are simply the latest in Dacombes climate-conscious technological developments. Matt Renaut has also installed two EV chargers and a Tesla battery, the firm uses a heat pump and energy-efficient lighting and devices throughout its operations. Looking ahead, he is eyeing ‘phase two’ of their green energy initiative, which includes transitioning to electric delivery vehicles. Dacombes’ commitment to sustainability recently earned it a nomination for Best Independent Retailer Focused on Sustainability Consumer Electronics at the upcoming Innovative Electrical Retailing Awards. Locally, the store supports the annual Planet Wimborne Green Festival. ‘Our aim is total energy self-sufficiency, despite the substantial investment,’ says Matt. We’re committed to a sustainable and responsible future, prioritising environmentally-friendly practices for long-term benefits to the planet alongside the significant savings to our business model.’
Editor Laura tried the seasonal pop-up which transforms a family home into a sociable culinary destination with Alex Woodhouse at the helm
Images: Supper at Pleck
In 2021, COVID was still rife and the hospitality industry was both tough and highly risky. But Alex Woodhouse was a keen young chef with an ambition to open his own restaurant. A family brain-storming session led to the first season of Supper at Pleck. It was such an instant hit that this May, the popular pop-up restaurant comes back for a fourth year, still in Alex’s family home and ’20-year renovation project,’ Pleck Barn. With few overheads, hosting the pop-up in the family’s dining room (the double-height threshing space in the barn) was initially a relatively risk-free first foray into the business. It remains one of their selling points. Alex has created a destination restaurant with a special atmosphere, providing fine food in a uniquely fun and informal setting, where first time guests are greeted like old friends, and leave feeling as though they have become just that.
Alex Woodhouse, chef and owner of Supper at Pleck
A small menu by choice ‘We wanted to create a deeply relaxed dining experience in a beautiful setting,’ says Claire Hundley, Alex’s mother who works front of house for the Supper at Pleck evenings. ‘As the food is sourced, cooked and served within a 24 hour window, we only offer a small selection of menu choices, usually two per course plus a vegetarian option. And he asks guests to pre order – that means there is no wastage. Alex buys exactly what he needs.’ The cost is £30 per head for a three-course supper, and there are three menus a year, changing every six weeks as Alex reflects local seasonal produce in the menu choices. He specialises in good quality cuts of meat with well reduced, deeply flavoured sauces. But it’s apprently common for veggie and vegan guests to say theirs was the best they’ve ever tasted! Last autumn, the menu included a chicory and roquefort salad starter which was crisp and fresh, the Roquefort balanced by a deliciously acidic dressing with bursts of sweet grape. The cod fillet, with an olive, caper and cherry tomato sauce, was meltingly soft and meaty, beautifully cooked with a thick herb crumb, while the sauce was richly sweet and surprisingly light. The pan-fried chicken breast with a creamy tarragon, chorizo and white wine sauce was moist and buttery soft, with a light sauce full of flavour. The delicious dark chocolate and pecan tart was light and delicate, a delightful finale.
Outdoor gourmet dining with Supper at Pleck
Making new friends ‘I’m completely committed to the “bring your own drinks” idea,’ Alex says. ‘One of the pleasures of eating out is drinking good wine while being cooked for – but it has become increasingly expensive, sometimes as much as 50 per cent of the total cost of the meal. So whether you want cheap plonk or high quality claret, you can buy it at supermarket prices and pair it with your menu choices. We provide plenty of glasses of all types, as well as the ice and lemon!’
Autumn menu: cod fillet with an olive, caper and cherry tomato sauce, basil crumb and balsamic and olive oil dressing
Supper at Pleck Barn is faintly reminiscent of a big family get-together, with guests seated on mismatched furniture and garden chairs, wide barn doors opened wide to enjoy the incredible view across the valley from the garden. On warm summer evenings, the tables are outside in the garden itself – ‘We decide about 4pm whether the weather will be kind to us,’ says Alex. ‘And an informal sociable atmosphere is encouraged. We only have one sittingand guests are all requested to keep to our “7 for 7.30pm” rule, so there is time to mingle on the lawn and enjoy the garden. Coffee and tea at the end of the meal is self-service, and guests are free to mingle and chat when they have finished dining at their individual tables.
This year we will be trying a monthly Sunday lunch special, too. Each will be differently themed, and current plans include a crayfish boil, a marinated meats barbecue and a hoggett Sunday, all with canapé starters and delicious puds, served on long tables which can seat 20 to 25 people. ‘Where else can you sit with that view, with a private chef-cooked meal, and still afford to drink champagne with it if you wish?’
On cool or damp evenings supper will be in the double-height threshing barn
