Serious sheep worrying in Dorset

7 April 2024

The Easter weekend is synonymous with the return of leaves to the trees, the flowering of daffodils and the birth of new life on the farm. For Sturminster Newton farmer Stuart Ludwell, however, his Easter weekend left him devastated and enraged after a dog chased and killed one of his lambs.

Stuart keeps sheep in the fields next to Sturminster Newton Mill – a popular spot for local dog walkers with a public footpath following the river bank which skirts two sides of the field. Stuart received a phonecall from the Hinton St Mary Estate – from which he rents one of his fields – informing him of the incident. And for the farmer, enough was enough.

‘As soon as I was told that there had been a dog incident in the field I called my wife to say “make a sign”… I’d had enough. I found the lamb and took it, with the sign, to the edge of the field where the footpath is,’ Stuart told The BV.

A police investigation has begun in hopes of finding the owner of the dog that killed the two week-old lamb.

During the attack, a member of the public intervened and photographed the owner and their dog as they left the field and headed back toward Sturminster Newton Recreation Ground next to the field of sheep. The next day, Easter Sunday, the sign and the lamb created a furore on the Sturminster Newton News Facebook page. A passer-by had photographed and uploaded the warning left to dog walkers. Another day passed and the post was spreading further afield – at the time of writing it has been shared almost 1000 times, including by TV’s Gareth Wyn Jones, the Welsh farmer with more than 300,000 social media followers.

A problem all year

‘Yes, OK, I was in a fit of temper,’ says Stuart. ‘I’ve previously had sheep die from worrying in that field, as well as driven into the river and drowned. I’ve also had sheep killed at other locations.’ With the social media post beginning to spread, Stuart was ‘pleasantly surprised’ that a lot of people were supportive of his actions: ‘Going by what I saw on Facebook, I’m actually quite positive that the general public do get the message. It’s just that one or two people ruin it for everybody else. I think a lot of people are just frustrated that this happens.’

Despite having now lost six of his Lleyn cross Texel sheep to dogs, the Sturminster Newton farmer feels he has ‘been very lucky’. He says: ‘Other farmers are having much bigger problems, losing a hell of a lot more sheep than me to the exact same issue. It’s just ignorant people – and the classic “Oh, not my dog. My dog wouldn’t do that… my dog wouldn’t chase sheep”.

But they can’t possibly know?’

Dorset’s NFU chairman Wakely Cox explained to the BV that sheep worrying is not only an issue during lambing season: ‘Sheep worrying is always a problem, throughout the year. But it is worse now because the very young lambs are that bit smaller and easier to catch. The other thing, of course, is the ewe is much more protective of its lambs. So the dog goes to attack the lambs and the ewe comes to protect them, and then the dog attacks the sheep.’

The law currently states that “dogs must be under control when passing through fields with livestock”. Wakely believes that this is too ambiguous for some people: ‘For your dog to be under control, it has to be on a leash. It might respond to a whistle or something else, but a dog is not controlled if you can’t stop it when it’s racing across the field after livestock.’

No way to go

Figures released recently by NFU Mutual show that animals worth an estimated £2.4 million were severely injured or killed by dogs in 2023 – a 30 per cent increase on the previous year. The South West is the worst-hit region in the country, with casualties totalling £359,000.

‘One of the problems is that farmers don’t report the dog worrying incidents very much,’ said Wakely. ‘I think only 14 cases in Dorset were reported to the police last year – it is a tiny figure compared with the number of attacks that farmers know are actually happening. But so often you don’t see the dog. The farmer has gone and checked the sheep in the morning, at lunchtime or the evening – but the attack more than likely happens between visits, and the farmer isn’t actually there to see it going on.’

Another point of view

In spite of strong support on social media for Stuart’s actions, there were a few who strongly disagreed with leaving a dead lamb by a footpath as a warning for dog walkers.

One post said: ‘It would not have happened if the fencing was doing its job. It’s a horrible thing to do.’

The original Facebook group post was made by Sturminster resident Louise Murguia: ’It’s not nice for children and adults to see when they walk into the Mill field,’ she said.

Murguia told The BV that she had received considerable ‘backlash’ and ‘a lot of unpleasant comments’ from her post. She went on to add: ‘I am a proud vegan and I am anti-farmers because they exploit animals. Farmers abuse the lambs from day one. They put tight elastic bands around the boys’ scrotum and the girls’ tails. This must be pure pain for the first two weeks of their life before they drop off. So when you see lambs, just remember that they are in pain.

Why people think [that] farmers care so much is just ignorant. I just wish people weren’t so obsessed with eating meat full stop. Plant-based is so much better for the animals, for the environment and also for the ozone layer. But I feel I am in the minority and people are just blood-hungry.’

Stuart Ludwell says that other animal rights activists have commented: “you are going to kill the lamb anyway, so what’s the problem?”.

To them, he says: ‘An abattoir is a controlled environment, and it’s an instant death. That lamb would have run for its life until it gave up and the death still wouldn’t have been instant – it has just been mauled. You’ve seen the pictures, the dog’s teeth have gone through the eye, through the jaw and the top of the skull. That is just ripping that lamb up. It is not the way to go.’

Fair retribution

During the attack, a member of the public intervened and photographed the owners and their dog as they left the field and headed back to the adjoining recreation ground.

‘By sheer luck, the groundsman for Sturminster Rec has the whole incident on their CCTV footage, with the dog actually attacking the sheep, as well as the group of people leaving the field and going across the Rec.’

A police investigation has begun. Stuart hasn’t seen the footage himself but he is hopeful that the police will be able to identify the people involved. The question is, what does a farmer who has lost his sheep deem as fair retribution?

‘The knee-jerk reaction is “Yes. I want the dog destroyed”. But ultimately, I know it’s not the dog’s fault. I don’t want it dead.

‘I think there has to be some form of prosecution for these people. The member of the public who intervened received a lot of abuse from the dog owners and I think that there should be some punishment.

‘If the owners are found via the CCTV footage there should be some action against them. They displayed complete disregard for where they were walking their dog, for the animals and for everything that happened.

‘The countryside is beautiful. It’s good to walk around and enjoy it. But you have to respect it as well. It’s a place of work, and it’s people’s livelihoods. It’s not the dog’s fault – it just sees the livestock and its instinct is to chase. That chase then turns into hunting … that lamb was on the receiving end of it, like many other animals across the country.

‘Of course it’s not the dog’s fault – but the problem is now that dog has a taste for the kill.’

Allotment update: Still raining

Editorial team

6 April 2024

The Voice of the Allotment

Despite the everlasting rain, there’s still some jobs and planting to do and always fresh veg and salad to harvest, says Barry Cuff

Fresh salad is still possible in March with a tray of cut-and-come-again spicy salad leaves and some pea seedlings. Image: Barry Cuff

Normally by the end of March most groundwork has been completed – but so far it has not been a normal year. Groundwork includes manuring, digging, weeding and removal of last year’s crops as they finish producing. Continued wet weather has delayed these operations, as it is not advisable to trample wet soil.
Up and down the country, farmers are behind with the drilling of their spring crops. As I write this – 27th March – the rainfall at the allotment is well over 12 inches for the year.
And it is raining as I write …
Blackthorn started flowering around the 16th and was in full flower a week later, somewhat earlier than most years. Normally ’Blackthorn Winter’ is accompanied by winds from the north and east, bringing cold weather and little rain.

On the plot
When it was possible, grass weeds were removed. These have not stopped growing over the mild winter and because of the wet conditions have a lot of soil around the roots, which has to be shaken off before adding to the compost. Edging the beds was one job that could be carried out from the paths – nothing looks better than nice straight edges.

This month’s harvest
We finally harvested the last of our parsnip, celeriac, cauliflower, savoy cabbage and Brussels sprouts. We still have leeks, carrots and purple sprouting broccoli.
Pigeons have been a major problem this year – they have perched on the net covering the brassicas and attacked them through the mesh.
The carrots are still dug as required – some are slug-damaged, but the majority are perfect.

From the store
We are now down to two varieties of potatoes: Charlotte, for salads and frying, and Picasso, a good all-rounder. Both are checked regularly and the chimps removed.
The onions are storing well (the variety is Bonus),
our last butternut was used during the month, and we now have four Crown Prince squash, a wonderful variety that stores well.
From the freezer we are now down to peas, broad beans and a last pack of runner beans!

Fresh salad
It is good to have some fresh ingredients at this time of year. We’ve now used our last Chinese Blue Moon radish, a colourful addition to the salad bowl. Chicons add a slight bitterness (we are on our third cut). For salad leaves, we have a tray of mixed spicy leaves, a cut-and-come-again vegetable, in the greenhouse. Also a tray of agricultural pea seedlings for tender sprouts – repeat sowings are made of these during the spring months.
In the greenhouse we have Red Drumhead red cabbage which will be hardened off shortly.
Our first lettuce plants are ready to be planted out in a trough in the greenhouse and a second batch sown. All our onions are now sown in plugs – a total of 400 plugs, with two seeds in each. We’ve planted two varieties, Bonus and Red Baron.
The peppers that were sown in January have been pricked out into individual pots and are in the greenhouse – but we do bring them into the kitchen overnight.
The tomatoes sown on 12th March were pricked out on the 21st and are residing in the bedroom window (about 90 plants).
The garlic planted in November looks well, as do the broad beans planted out on 7th March, after some initial slug damage.
Fingers crossed for less rain and some warm weather in April, one of the busiest months.

Fowl play or cluckonomics?

Editorial team

6 April 2024

Andrew Livingston explores the implications of proposed welfare legislation changes and the ripple effects on food supply and pricing

Once upon a time – in a world where your first weekly shop didn’t financially cripple you for the rest of the month – chicken was sold as a loss leader in supermarkets. The shops would sell chicken cheaper than they could buy it as a way to entice customers into their shops to buy other items.
This is no longer the case. The cost of purchasing the meat in supermarkets rose by 15 per cent last year, to try and cover the increasing costs that are required to grow the birds on the farm (electricity, feed, gas and bedding being the main expenditures).
Currently, UK farmers rear one billion broiler birds for consumption. I have experienced this side of the industry and it is intensive farming. It’s fast and furious – when the birds get to the age at which they are slaughtered, their houses have become overcrowded. It’s not pretty – but it’s a necessity to be able to grow enough meat to be able to feed an over-densely populated nation.

Drop the birds
UK legislation currently states that the maximum stocking density (the amount of live weight per square meter) a farm can reach is 38kg/m2. It’s possibly easier to imagine as 19 adult chickens per square metre. This may sound a worryingly high number but the UK still holds some of the highest standards of agricultural animal welfare in the world.
Despite this fact, pressure is mounting to drop the stocking density requirements.
The RSPCA has been campaigning that it should go down to
30kg/m2 (roughly 15 birds per square metre) – that’s a reduction of just over 21 per cent. This single change in legislation would mean that the one billion chickens reared in this country would straight away go down to less than 900,000,000 birds.
The simple answer would be to build 21 per cent more floor space to grow the birds on. But that has one major issue: just try getting planning approval for a new chicken site and see how quickly you get rejected.
Chicken farms are seen as the single largest issue when it comes to river pollutants. The River Wye in Herefordshire is an active case in point. Avara Foods, one of the larger poultry producers in the country, is currently being sued for alleged damage to the River Wye. In response, Avara announced in 2023 that its farms in Herefordshire and Wales were no longer allowed to sell their chicken litter to local farmers (where it is used as a fertiliser for crops) – instead it is being removed and used to create energy in anaerobic digesters.
But it’s not a solution to the pollution problem – if you remove the chicken litter from the farmers they still need to use something to fertilise their fields. And when they spread any fertiliser, in bad weather there will inevitably be run-off which will drag phosphates into the local watercourses.
There is a fine line which must be gently walked: protect the environment, have enough food for everyone to eat, and also look after the welfare of animals – all while ensuring the farmer can make a profit from his land.

Is it the right thing?
If the stocking density level is reduced to 30kg/m2 to protect the birds’ welfare, the cost of the chicken you eat will, of course, go up – and the number of birds that we import to feed the nation will also rise. The chicken breasts on sale in the supermarkets will all be from the Netherlands, Poland, Belgium and other European countries. And what, you may well ask, is the stocking density for those Europeanbirds?
It’s 42kg/m2 – 21 birds.
You have to ask yourself – are we then doing the right thing … and if not, where do we compromise?

Capturing the aurora borealis

Editorial team

6 April 2024

Rob Nolan sees the breathtaking Northern Lights in Finland as his 40th birthday surprise became an unforgettable aurora adventure

This month I had planned to showcase the Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, which I did manage to capture earlier in March – but something else really special happened this month. I turned 40, and my wonderful wife whisked me away for a surprise few days in Finland and the Arctic Circle. Along with the snowmobile rides and husky sledding, I was, of course, aurora hunting long into the nights.
It was looking as though we were going to return home without seeing this amazing phenomenon, but on the final night of the trip, we got the Aurora Alert on our phones. It was visible above our resort! That night I was able to tick off a particularly special bucket list item, witnessing the amazing Northern Lights with my own eyes. We were treated to a great show for a good few hours!
Of course, I took my new mirrorless camera with me and spent the next few hours capturing various images of the display. And I couldn’t not share this amazing experience with all of you.
So this month’s image just has to be the astounding aurora borealis, shot from the Arctic Circle near Rovaniemi in Finland.
The aurora can be seen near the poles of both the northern and southern hemisphere. In the north the display is known as the aurora borealis; in the south it is called the aurora australis. These northern and southern ‘lights’ have fascinated, frightened and inspired humans for centuries. Solar storms on our star’s surface give out huge clouds of electrically-charged particles. These particles can travel millions of miles, and some may eventually collide with the Earth. What we see in the lights are atoms and molecules in our atmosphere colliding with the particles from the Sun. The aurora’s characteristic wavy patterns and ‘curtains’ of light are caused by the lines of force in the Earth’s magnetic field. We’re currently approaching the next Solar Maximum, which happens approximately every 11 years, so the chances of huge aurora storms become more likely, and we have a good chance of seeing these as far south as Dorset! So keep your eyes peeled and maybe download the Aurora Watch UK app to your phone. That way you’ll get alerts when it may be visible in the UK!
This single image was taken with a Nikon Z8 Mirrorless camera and the Nikon Z 14-24 mm wide angle lens, at f2.8, 4 seconds and ISO 1600.

The night sky, April 2024 – Rob’s guide for your stargazing this month:

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks reaches its brightest towards the end of this month, and we also become planet-less with Jupiter bowing out of view after eight months dominating our skies. There are a few bright stars that try to make up for the lack of planets. Regulus in Leo, Spica in Virgo and bright orange Arcturus in Boötes all fill the sky for us.
Not to mention the fact that if you’re traveling to North America for 8th April, you’ll have the chance to witness a total solar eclipse!
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks passes closest to the sun on 21st April on its 71-year journey around our Solar System. Last seen in 1954, for me, it’s likely a once-in-a-lifetime event to see this particular comet, so I do hope I catch another glimpse of it this month.
On 10th April, catch a few last glimpses of Jupiter in the early evening sky – the thin crescent Moon hangs nearby for a perfect viewing.
On 12th, get those binoculars out and witness the comet Pons-Brooks pass below Jupiter, with the giant planet Uranus and the Pleiades all lined up vertically for a picture-perfect image!
On 20th, look for Jupiter and Uranus in a celestial dance. Then it’s back to the comet on 21st as it reaches its maximum predicted brightness of magnitude +4.5, which should mean its visible with the naked eye!
Finally at the end of the month, on the night of 22nd April, the Lyrid Meteor Shower is unfortunately set to be drowned out by the Full Moon. But it is always worth a quick saunter outside to see if you can see any shooting stars: they will appear to emanate from the constellation Lyra. Until next time, clear skies!

Find Rob on Facebook as RPN Photography here

Local dad walks 100km to raise money for his daughter’s rare condition

Editorial team

6 April 2024

A year ago, Matt Billingsley’s daughter Edith was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic condition: ‘To say that this was devastating would of course be a massive understatement,’ Matt says. ‘Her diagnosis completely changed our world. She will have a remarkably different future to the one we had anticipated.’
Babies with Retts are apparantly healthy at birth, but begin to deteriorate before their second
birthday, losing their speech, their mobility and the use of their hands. There is no cure.
Looking for ways in which they might help, Matt, a solicitor in Sturminster Newton, and his wife Louise have been raising funds for Reverse Rett UK. ‘The charity has been – and very much continues to be – an invaluable support for us during this turbulent journey. There is a lot of hope in the Rett community that a cure is on the horizon. Retts Syndrome has already been reversed in the lab, gene therapy trials are ongoing in America, and amazingly they will shortly be starting in the UK! ‘But funding is vital.
‘So with my friend Ash Lock I am embarking on a 100km walk along the spectacular Dorset coast as part of the Jurassic Ultra 2024 event, over the weekend of 18th and 19th May.
‘Being completely honest, neither of us are the most physically imposing of individuals, but we wanted to give everything we have physically and mentally to achieve this for Edith.
With only 48 hours to complete the walk, we will certainly need some motivation to get us around!
‘If any BV readers are able to help, we would love to use our efforts to raise some money for Reverse Rett – who are working tirelessly to support families just like us, and are fighting for our daughter’s future. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity.

Donate here: bvmag.co.uk/MattBillingsleyWalk

Can we trade April showers for April sunshine, please?

Editorial team

6 April 2024

There is an air of new season excitement at Thorngrove this month. You can’t keep a good gardener down, no matter how much rain comes their way

No matter what the weather reporter on the telly has been saying, spring is in fact well underway. It’s been wonderful to see more of you walking through our doors at Thorngrove as we all start to once again take notice of our gardens. Brighter evenings and warmer weather are on their way – meaning spending time in the garden without getting rained on is once again a feasible reality … for the most part! How’s your own space looking?

It can’t rain forever
It’s difficult to not let the weather get you down, but as we always say, we bring the vibrancy all year around here at the garden centre. There are many beautiful plants in flower right now, and plenty more to come as we move deeper into the season, so if you’re looking to add some instant interest, then stop by and discover something beautiful.
Our plant of the month will be Achillea, a traditional perennial perfect for borders. Don’t forget, now is really your last chance to be planting summer bulbs, so if you’re setting those garden goals and wanting to make the most of summer gatherings and BBQ plans with plants you’ve grown yourself, don’t delay!

What’s on this month
The rain hasn’t been kind to many local events either, and we share the frustration shown by event organisers who had to postpone the Spring County Show due to take place this month. We’re very happy to say that our partner site in Moreton is still due to have it’s own Spring Plant Fair on Saturday 20th April, so if you’re looking for a flower-filled day out, please do pop down! Perfect for pro-gardeners, at home hobbyists, or families looking for a day of fun, our diverse site at The Walled Garden also boasts five acres of formal gardens, an on site café, play park, and animals – including pygmy goats! Early bird entry is bookable now at just £3.50 a ticket, or £5 entry on the day – and under 16s are free!
There’s also still time to join for our Easter Crafts right here in Gillingham, which take place on Mon 8th, Wed 10th, and Fri 12th April. Seasonal crafts for children, including pot decorating and flower planting, plus we have a very special BUG EXPERIENCE for one day only, also on the 10th April. Meet Exotic bugs with our Bug Expert in this exciting and educational experience.
Our loyalty scheme launched in March and is now the best way to access special offers, and earn points for returning customers across the garden centre, and café, both here at Thorngrove, and at The Walled Garden in Moreton. Full details on our website, or just speak to a member of staff.
Employ My Ability Open Days also take place this month. Visit either our Moreton or Gillingham campus to see first hand the services and facilities, meet staff, and find out about the opportunities we offer young people with SEND. Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th April. Details on our website.

For all the latest news and updates, offers and more see thorngrovegardencentre.co.uk

The barriers are gone – for £1.3m

Editorial team

6 April 2024

Dorset residents had almost forgotten what Sturminster bridge looked like – but finally the bank stabilisation work is complete. Rachael Rowe reports

The finished road is finally plastic-free – local residents have expressed pleasure at the clear view of the bridge as they approach the town. Images Courtenay Hitchcock

In August 2019 they were put up as a temporary safety measure – now, almost five years later, the plastic railings on the approach to Sturminster Newton have finally been removed and the view of the bridge looks remarkably different, with a new footpath and the striking absence of barriers and temporray traffic controls.
Work to stabilise the bank of the River Stour is complete at last – but there was much more to this complex project than most people probably realised while they were stuck in a the traffic queue.
The bank between the ancient Town Mill and the early 16th century town bridge has been shifting for many years – it’s a man-made structure which was formed when the road was relocated more than 100 years ago and was therefore never intended to support the weight of modern vehicles. Over time, vibrations, over-loading and water ingress have weakened the material and caused it to start failing, while repeated storm events and flooding removed fine material from the base of the slope, causing further movement. The footway has been repeatedly patched and repaired, but by 2019 the movement had become too great and it was decided that a more permanent solution was required to protect the highway. A temporary solution using gabions to make the footway useable had already failed: it started to move even before those initial works were completed.

The problem and the solution
The A357 runs along the south bank of the Stour. To stop any further soil movement and protect the busy road, the bank has now been strengthened by Dorset Council, in a major project costing £1.3 million – when The BV first reported on the issue in 2021, the anticipated budget for the completed project was £400,000.

Sturminster Newton’s bridge in the 1920s, with the original knee-high white post and railing. Image: The Barry Cuff collection.

Almost 500 soil nails were drilled into the embankment, with grout securing the soil nail to the stable material beneath. The erosion matting was then placed over the bank, and stainless steel mesh on top of that – the nut on each soil nail was then installed and tightened down to tension the mesh and matting, which holds the bank in place. The nail heads remain exposed so that they can be maintained periodically – ensuring the mesh remains tensioned so that it can retain the slope effectively.
The final part of the work – sowing the bank with wildflower seeds, reinstating the footway bordering the road and installing the rail fence, is now complete.
Project team manager Zoran Maric explained why the unsightly barriers were in place for so long: ‘Over the course of two years, we monitored the embankment for movement and also recorded vibrations in order to establish a baseline. The monitoring told us that we had a significant problem with slippage from the embankment. This is why we were forced to complete the project through the winter months. It could not wait until next year.
‘We had to compete with seven big storms before Christmas, which caused around ten days delay to the project timeline.
‘We had looked at the various options for completing the task. One was taking the work back to include the entire road, but that would have been a huge issue, as it would have completely closed the road. Another option was to use sheet piles, but that was also a huge engineering job. The most effective option was to use the nails and a mesh.
‘The nails will be there forever and a day. The nails themselves are 90mm in diameter and are between eight and 12 metres long, depending on how they interface with the geology. The mesh is critical – it holds everything in place and prevents loose material from falling.
The protective matting holds the wildflower seeds in place. A specific wildflower mix, that is low in maintenance, has been chosen, so that the banks don’t need to be continually trimmed. Once it starts to grow and seed, that iconic picture postcard view will be back.
‘We are continuing to monitor the work for any problems.
We monitored vibrations during the work and because we had a baseline measurement we were able to demonstrate there was no risk to property in the immediate area.
During the works we also removed the large willows that were found to be damaging the gabions at the river edge – which provide scour protection – but other trees are being planted in the area to mitigate the environmental impact.’
Dorset Council spokesperson said: ‘Our team, and our contractors Heidelberg, worked in some challenging conditions, including heavy rainfall that caused higher than normal river levels. They have done a fantastic job and have created a safer place for all.’

The familiar ‘temporary’ plastic railings were installed in 2019

A succesful project
During the works, the eastbound lane of the A357 was closed with traffic signals in place to maintain traffic flow both ways. Zoran explained that an extra sensitive system called Urban 64, which has a more intelligent way of operating than the standard highways traffic lights, was used during the project: ‘The system was more effective at monitoring queue lengths and also allowed us to use a fourth arm so the residents who directly fronted the works had an opportunity to join the traffic flow.’
‘The workforce has been fantastic,’ said a Dorset Council spokesperson. ‘It really is so wonderful not to see the awful plastic railings any more. I would like to thank all of the residents for their patience. We got there!’
Zoran highlighted a lot of the unseen work of civil engineering that was invisible to most people in traffic queues, waiting to cross Sturminster bridge.
‘I am proud of this whole project. We have protected the highway, and also saved the bank from collapsing into the river. We also kept communications working – we had a lot of stakeholders to
coordinate. And of course we have helped restore the iconic entrance to Sturminster Newton.’

Letters to the Editor April 2024

Editorial team

5 April 2024

This image was taken in May 2023, when C and I attended a swish awards in Mayfair. We didn’t win, but we achieved one of only a handful of the Highly Commendeds awarded on the night.
Imagine our giddy delight this month, then, at learning we had been shortlisted again for the Newspaper & Magazine Awards 2024 as Best Regional Publication Of the Year.
The suitably swish awards do is in Mayfair in May – we’ll keep you posted!
Fair warning, the first news story contains some distressing images. But whatever your thoughts on this particular farmer’s chosen course of action, the hundreds of responses I read to the sheep worrying incident were unanimous. Dog owners must walk their animals on a lead near livestock – no matter how well trained you believe your adored pooch is. Every dog owner I know has a story to tell about their always-well-behaved pet randomly hurtling off at least once and refusing to come back.
For once, the solution to an horrific issue is actually very simple. Literally every single dog owner owns a lead. And it’s not as though we struggle for open space, footpaths or good dog walking options here in Dorset, is it?
I refuse to discuss the weather this month – I just can’t face it. But neverending biblical rainfall aside, it’s finally time to start getting out and doing fun things.
Many open gardens have been cancelled, and I know the team at the G&S Show were left deeply frustrated and upset at having to postpone their annual Spring Countryside Show until June (listen, it’s still officially spring until the 20th June), but fingers crossed they’re the only casualty of the weather gods.
From the brand new Dorset Spring Show to the Chaldicott Barns Spring Fair and the amazing Shaftesbury Feastival, it’s looking like an exciting month. It’s finally time to get outside and DOING again.
Even if we will be in our wellies…

Laura x

On The Exchange
In February’s BV a kind letter described The Exchange as a ‘brilliant community resource’, and it is. The 300-seat theatre hosts a rolling programme of shows, cinema and speakers, and also parties and dinners. With the help of staff and volunteers (sometimes working past midnight), The Exchange helped to deliver 72,000 vaccinations over the last three years.
The income from our shows helps to maintain a community centre with around 30 events each week, including an indoor market and social activities in and around our fully accessible café.
You can boost your health, wellbeing, education and culture. You can act, sing, dance and play music. You can improve the quality of your life at The Exchange.
Our finances are recovering from the shock of energy price increases, but we must rebuild our depleted reserves to keep delivering to our community and the whole of North Dorset – and that is what we are determined to do.
Please look out for and support the many fundraising events taking place this year. Look at our website, pick up a brochure, come and see us.
A ‘Friends of The Exchange’ scheme is due to launch in May – and of course donations are welcome at any time.
Robert Cowley, Sturminster Newton

Housing Crisis in Dorset
I am a palliative care nurse. I know I am good at what I do, by the many positive feedback and comments I receive from patients, their families and fellow colleagues.
While continuing to work, I been forced to register my family as becoming homeless. We have rented our current home for 12 years, and in that time, the rental market has changed significantly.
Rent has increased and the amount of rented properties available has decreased. For every one rental there’s five to 10 people applying; owners may take their pick.
Due to our current situation, we will move up the housing register ever so slightly – although our family is in need, there our others more in need then us. For each social house in Dorset, there can be over 100 people bidding on it.
If you don’t manager to secure private rent/social housing before you have to leave your current home, then you are placed in a B&B.
The housing crisis is real, and many more hardworking families will be put in this position unless the Government takes it seriously.
I have written to Simon Hoare on other matters in the past but never received a reply.
Can he honestly say he is doing a good job for his constituents? Dorset is in a housing crisis and he should be making this point over and over in Government until changes are made.
Name and address witheld

D-Day memories needed
I would like to ask your readers if they have memories of living in Shroton, Farrington, Ranston or Farrington during WW2 – any written memoirs of relatives that lived here, and are no longer with us – that they would be willing to share.
I am putting on a history display in Shroton village hall on 6 June to commemorate D Day.
Please email me [email protected] with anything you may share.
Judith Hewitt, Shroton

Not boring business
Great articles this month on the three local businesses – and I never read the business news section! Not because I have any intention of being an accountant or of selling wedding dresses, but I was astounded by how inspiring they were! Like so many of us, I have often toyed with the idea of ‘doing it for myself’ and your interviews were a fascinating insight into the brains of the people who do just that. It was striking how similar their attitudes were – and how much I have to learn before I make the leap!
Sally East, Blandford

Filthy rivers
The Environment Agency’s report on sewage overflow into the nation’s rivers is alarming. If you haven’t checked your local river yet, I urge you to see the full interactive map here We must demand immediate action and stricter regulations to protect our rivers from further pollution. Dorset’s natural heritage deserves to be preserved for future generations.
Gerry Saunders, Sherborne

April issue of The BV magazine is here :)

LauraHitchcock

5 April 2024

Inside this issue – angry farmers, happy potters, nightingales, rather a lot of equine magnificence, possibly the finest walk North Dorset has (I’m open to suggestions, but I doubt it’ll be beaten) and an 11-year-old bingo-caller. Frankly, it’s so jam-packed with Dorset goodness, it’d be rude not to.

Inside the April 24 issue of the BV magazine:

One Sturminster Newton farmer’s dramatic response to his lamb’s death by dog attack has fuelled an online debate – and a call for prosecution | Page 4
Lucy Kendall is only 19, and suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome. But she’s let neither get in the way of her art business| Page 98
Great Pottery Throw Down star Dan to be at the new Dorset Spring Show! | Page 13
North Dorset MP Simon Hoare shares his Dorset Island Discs (‘I deliberately failed my French O level out of spite’)| Page 29
The barriers are gone – and they had a £1.3m price tag. Dorset residents had almost forgotten what Sturminster bridge looked like – we find out exactly why the works were so urgent | Page 8
From neighbours to award-winning booksellers, FOLDE’s founders transform their dream into a literary haven at the top of Gold Hill | Page 10
Tracie Beardsley discovers the timeless grind of Cann Mills, where the Stoates family blends tradition and modernity in the craft of organic milling | Page 23

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