River pollution and nutrient neutrality

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13 June 2023

This month, North Dorset CPRE’s Derek Gardiner looks at our rivers, which have become the latest rural planning application hurdle

Algal blooms consume oxygen from the water, undermining the river ecosystems and habitat

“Getting a complete overview of the health of our rivers and the pollution affecting them is hampered by outdated, underfunded and inadequate monitoring regimes. It is clear, however, that rivers in England are in a mess. A ‘chemical cocktail’ of sewage, agricultural waste, and plastic is polluting the waters of many of the country’s rivers”. This was the opinion of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee in its report published in January 2022.
The main sources of pollution outlined in the Committee’s report are agricultural pollution (affecting 40 per cent of water bodies), sewage and wastewater (36 per cent) and run-off from towns, cities and transport, referred to as urban diffuse pollution (18 per cent).
According to Sir James Bevan, chief executive of the Environment Agency, the quality of water in English rivers is “flat-lining”, with the farming and water treatment sectors being the main polluters. One of the major concerns is the excessive concentration of nutrients which causes algal blooms. These consume oxygen from the water, in the process undermining the ecosystems in rivers and the surrounding habitats. Nitrogen and phosphorous are naturally present in the environment – in low quantities, they are necessary nutrients. However, the high levels of nitrates found in sewage, agricultural run-off, nitrogen-based fertilisers and manure pose a problem requiring active management to resolve.
Since the UK left the EU, the Water Framework Directive (WFD), an important mechanism for assessing and managing the water environment, has been revoked. It has been replaced by similar legislation so that the UK continues to fulfil its reporting requirements under the new legislation.

Planning standstill
Following a landmark European Court ruling in 2018 (the Dutch Nitrogen Case, commonly known as Dutch-N), the government agency Natural England issued advice directing councils not to approve developments that would add to the nutrient pollution in watercourses in protected habitats, where the site in question is already judged to be in an “unfavourable condition”. In other words, the level of phosphorus and nitrogen in the watercourses should not increase (“nutrient neutrality”) as a result of such developments being built.
Figures provided by the Chief Planner, as of March 2022, showed that 74 local planning authorities have received nutrient neutrality advice from Natural England across 27 catchments, amounting to 14 per cent of England’s land area. In these areas, the granting of planning permission has been delayed until appropriate mitigation can be secured. According to the Home Builders Federation (HBF), this has led to proposals for an estimated 100,000 homes being put on hold. HBF companies have had to spend anything between £5,000 and £25,000 in order to procure works privately to mitigate potential nutrient pollution from new housing development.

The high levels of nitrates found in sewage and agricultural run-off require active management

Impact on Dorset
On 16th March 2022, Natural England notified Dorset Council of its updated advice for development proposals that have the potential to affect water quality, resulting in adverse nutrient impacts on internationally-protected habitat sites. This advice applied to the catchments of five habitat sites which together cover a large part of the Dorset Council area.
The advice was that Dorset Council should “carefully consider the nutrients impacts of any new plans and projects (including new development proposals) on habitats sites and whether those impacts may have an adverse effect on the integrity of a habitats site that requires mitigation, including through nutrient neutrality”.
The catchment areas within Dorset that this relates to are:
Poole Harbour
nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient deposition
Somerset Levels and Moors phosphorus nutrient deposition
River Avon
phosphorus nutrient deposition
Chesil and The Fleet
nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient deposition
River Axe
phosphorus nutrient deposition
The problem of nutrient pollution is particularly pronounced in Poole Harbour.
In a letter from Cllr Spencer Flower, Leader of Council Dorset Council, to The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Cllr Flower wrote “An upgrade of phosphorus removal at all wastewater treatment works over 250 population equivalent within the catchment, as originally suggested through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (LURB), would easily provide the reduction needed to achieve the target limit for phosphorus input to the harbour. This would therefore remove the need for phosphorus neutrality, enabling development to continue”.
The current draft of the LURB proposes that upgrades to wastewater treatment works serving 2,000 or more population equivalent should be the target. Cllr Flower has requested that this be reduced to 1,000 population equivalents. “This would help in both unlocking significant amounts of housing development and delivering against other environmental priorities. These significant benefits can be realised with a targeted and proportionate approach. This would aid in reducing phosphorus deposition to a level that enables favourable status to be achieved, help meet other government targets on the environment, and the delivery of new homes to restart.”

Restoring rivers to good Ecological status is a complex challenge requiring cross-sector collaboration. The Environment Agency says: “There are multiple influences on river water quality in England. To make significant improvements will require investment from the water and farming industries and individual behaviour changes. We must continue to tackle a legacy of Victorian drainage systems, historic lack of capital investment in agriculture, sewerage and road infrastructure, and insufficient maintenance of that infrastructure … The changing climate and growing population make targets harder to reach.”

Britain’s greatest colourist at 95

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Editorial team

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13 June 2023

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Philip Sutton RA 2023
Image: Rebekah Sutton

One of Britain’s most distinguished painters, Philip Sutton RA, celebrates his 95th birthday in October. Ahead of that milestone, Sladers Yard, the contemporary gallery at West Bay, has a major retrospective of his work, running to 8th July.
Next month, The BV will have an interview with the Dorset-based colourist, talking about his life and his joyous approach and love of the natural world.

The exhibition of more than 100 works includes never previously exhibited paintings and work released for the first time by his family. Showcasing 65 oil paintings, 25 works on paper and 21 ceramics, the collection represents one of the most comprehensive assemblages of Sutton’s art. There will be an event at Sladers Yard on Friday 9th June at 6pm when Philip Sutton will be in conversation with Maureen Murray. Numbers are limited and tickets will be essential. Tickets £6 – Please call 01308 459511.

ADMISSIONS REGISTRAR | Milton Abbey School

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13 June 2023

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Full time

Milton Abbey is seeking an organised, efficient and enthusiastic individual to support the Head of Admissions who will contribute to the day-to-day management of the admissions.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and positive person, with excellent communication skills and a high level of attention to detail and accuracy in their work and capable of dealing confidently with a range of people and situations, and able to work independently and as part of a busy team.

The successful applicant will be required to assist in ensuring that all admissions enquiries are handled professionally, courteously, efficiently, and effectively.

The department can become very busy, therefore the capacity to work effectively under pressure in a busy office is a must. You will work in a supportive team and full training will be given.

The successful applicant will ideally have previous administration experience, be a great team player and will relish the opportunities and challenges of working in a school environment.

Further details may be obtained from our website or from HR on 01258 882306 or email [email protected]. Applications must be submitted on the school’s application form. Closing date: Friday 23^rd June 2023 with interviews to follow shortly thereafter.

Milton Abbey School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The appointment will be the subject of an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service. Additionally, please be aware that Milton Abbey School will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. To avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the search and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.

Please note that our school is a no smoking site.www.miltonabbey.co.uk Registered Charity No 306318

From rain-soaked fields to foal-filled stables

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12 June 2023

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The joy was four ‘foaled’ at The Glanvilles Stud in May, and Lucy Procter explains the fascinating feet corrections (plus Honeysuckle is pregnant!)

It’s a tough life for a horse on The Glanvilles Stud
All images: Courtenay Hitchcock

The photos on my phone are revealing – muddy gateways and rain-soaked horses in early May but dry fields and sun-soaked horses by the end of the month. What a difference a few weeks make! During the first week of May we were contemplating bringing the youngstock – that had been living in a barn all winter and only turned out in mid-April – back inside as the rain was so constant and the ground so saturated.
It stopped raining eventually though, we moved all the stock onto new grazing, and we have now managed to repair most of the damage caused by numerous hooves on that un-seasonally saturated ground.
May has been a busy month at TGS, with four foals born, six mares visiting stallions in six days, three AI covers, two foals requiring foot extensions, five foal microchips, daily scanning, and an entire yard of horses that are still stabled overnight.

Giselle’s warmblood filly foal, 35 minutes old, trying to work out how to get her very long legs to stand.

As the weather slowly warmed up, the four mares who were all due at the end of May started to foal early. The first, a resident showjumper, producing a leggy, black colt foal in the first week. A few days later another warmblood and a visiting thoroughbred decided to foal simultaneously. It was one of those evenings when I was relieved to have three of us in the barn to help proceedings. They were swiftly followed by the last of our own mares, Molasses, who gave us a lovely tall filly overnight on 14th May. Just two more mares to foal and then we’ll be done for the season – and back to enjoying something like a more normal sleep pattern.
However, three of these four foals were born with slack hind pasterns, which results in them rocking back onto their heels with their toes pointing skywards. This type of problem is often not disastrous, though; with expert vet and farrier attention and carefully restricted turnout, the condition usually improves to the point that later in the summer we will be looking at a bunch of foals trying to remember which ones had to have early intervention.

CSH Dior, long-eared, long-legged, warmblood filly out of Giselle three weeks after her first attempt at standing

Two of the foals have been helped to strengthen and straighten with lateral extensions glued to their feet to hold the foot in the correct position as they put weight on it. I will never cease to be astonished by the immediate transformation effected by these little shoes, but they cannot be left on more than a few weeks as, just like a human child, a foal’s foot grows and changes shape very quickly. The third foal’s hoof problems were less dramatic and, after two weeks of restricted turnout, the farrier rebalanced her hoof with careful trimming and the foal is now standing with her hind feet square on the ground.

A great before and after photo showing one of the foals wearing their first corrective shoe, with the other hoof still to be done. Image: Lucy Procter

Cosmic Diamond’s Brave Mansonnien filly Cress, with Sambac following – lots of identikit bay foals this year and once they’re weaned it can be tricky to identify them without mothers unless we get to know them well. They are microchipped in their first month as a failsafe!

On the track
Recent weeks have seen some pleasing results. Having previously raced over hurdles, after some bad luck and two seconds, the 7yo TGS-bred Triple Trade rounded off his first season chasing with two wins on the bounce for trainer Joe Tizzard. His younger sibling, the 6yo, TGS-bred Nine Graces – in training in Ireland with Barry Connell – followed up her first win in February with another nice win over hurdles in April. The 4yo Tique, whom we had foaled for owner Heather Royale also made May a winning month, crossing the finishing line in first place for the first time, in a National Hunt Flat race for trainer Seamus Mullins.
Although all these horses are in the ownership of others, we follow all the graduates of The Glanvilles Stud, and we are delighted when they win.

Lady Stanhow’s strong (and curious), month old, Jack Hobbs filly.

But the month was again dominated by the recently retired and greatest of all The Glanvilles Stud graduates, Honeysuckle. Not only was Doug up at The Thoroughbred Breeders Association Awards to collect Honeysuckle’s fourth Leading Hurdler Mare trophy, but social media was alive with news of her confirmation of being in foal to the Irish stallion, Walk In The Park. Despite having optimistically booked a hotel room for us both to stay in Doncaster, I was left watching the foaling cameras overnight rather than living it up at the awards evening – and next morning it was me driving a mare to stud. Well, someone has to hold the fort back home!

PART TIME QUANITITY SURVEYOR | Onyx

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12 June 2023

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Onyx Civils Ltd require a PART TIME QUANITITY SURVEYOR

Rapidly growing civil engineering and ground works contractor require a qualified quantity surveyor to price large tenders and complete monthly valuations.

Working alongside the Directors and Contracts Manager. Based in the South West.

Please email your CV to [email protected]

Stalwarts of Sturminster Newton – reflecting on 50 years at Candy’s

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12 June 2023

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The family-run newsagents celebrates its half-century, surviving industry shifts, local changes – and personal losses

Anne and Ashley Smith in the doorway of Candy’s in Sturminster Newton (all images Courtenay Hitchcock)

‘How are all the children? They must be grown now – I remember when you had your first. Three boys and then you had a girl … are they all well?’
Anne Smith’s greeting takes me aback. My ‘first’ is 24 now, and it’s been a very long time since I took my trio of small boys on a Saturday morning trip to Candy’s newsagents in Sturminster Newton for a pick ‘n’ mix treat. I’m not sure I’ve ever taken our 16-year-old daughter.
Yet 81-year-old Anne remembers. In fact, throughout our hour-long conversation in the shop – where she still works every day – not a single customer comes in who’s not greeted by name and a short but unhurried chat.
Anne and Tony Smith began looking for a newsagent’s shop to buy in 1973.
‘We were living in Virginia Water in Surrey, and were just looking for a newsagents that was for sale. Dorset wasn’t intentional. We were looking all over. But we decided that the business and Sturminster Newton were for us, and that was it.
We spent a week in a Weymouth caravan park at the end of June, and our first day doing the papers was 1st July 1973. I said to Tony: “we need to get cracking and learn the area!”.
‘We don’t deliver nearly so many newspapers now, we used to have more than 10 rounds.
‘When we arrived, the shop was very basic. There were no news racks and magazines, no stationery. And of course it was all big jars of sweets, bought in 4oz paper bags!
‘We initially lived downstairs; the shop was just a small cross section of the front of the property. What is now the National Lottery and local books alcove used to be my kitchen, and the card department was our sitting room.
‘We managed to buy the cottage next door, which was derelict, and made its ground floor into what is now the garage and stock room. We switched to living upstairs and managed to triple the shop floor space.’

Candy’s still stocks a huge range of magazines

Train service
‘The papers were stacked on the doorstep before 5.30 back then,’ says Anne. ‘They used to come down on the train to Yeovil Junction, and the distributor used to have a whole carriage. The papers came off the train and got loaded immediately on to the vans and straight out to the shops. But then we had rail strikes, and it was decided to bring them down on lorries. It’s never been as efficient.’
Ashley, Anne and Tony’s son, was born three years after they arrived in Sturminster Newton. ‘Born here … still here!’ he says. ‘I do some of the village deliveries by car now. But there’s only so much time that you can devote to the newspapers and deliveries when you’ve got a shop to run. I’m out for about three hours every day, delivering.’

The large card range in what was once Anne Smith’s sitting room

It’s a big commitment for a small family business. Anne admits she’s had just two single weeks holiday since the 1970s. Ashley is more relaxed about taking a break, happy to get away after the Saturday morning papers are sorted … but admits he has to be back for the magazines by Wednesday lunchtime. Neither seems to mind in the least.
‘Probably the biggest change in 50 years is the swing from news deliveries to counter service,’ says Anne. ‘In the 70s and 80s most people had a paper delivered or read one most days. Now, few people want the papers. But the shop itself is busier, it balances out. I do like a newspaper myself, it’s probably an age thing, but I’m all for technology. I’ve got online banking, I’m paying bills on my iPad. It suits me, I can see every morning what’s gone through.’
‘It’s a social shift,’ adds Ashley, ‘we all consume … where one shrinks, another grows.’
The Candy’s dog has been another fixture in the town; locals fondly remember Elliott, the golden retriever who liked to lie across the pavement outside. Bentley, another golden, preferred to sit in the doorway, frequently sneaking off to rummage in takeaway’s bins.
The current resident, May, is by far the best behaved, Ashley says.

Losing Tony
Tony died very suddenly in 1997, leaving Anne and the then-21-year-old Ashley to wonder what they should do. ‘I said to Ashley, “We’ll give it 18 months, see how we go. If we sink, we’ll just have to get out”. It was so unexpected. Such a blow,’ Anne says. ‘That was without doubt the toughest of times. But the whole town stepped up for us.’
It was standing room only at Tony’s memorial service, as Sturminster Newton turned out to support Anne and Ashley and to mark his passing.
‘It was hard,’ says Anne. ‘But we’ve also been through I don’t know how many recessions. There aren’t many shops like us left now. In essence we haven’t changed. News and magazines, confectionery and stationery. That’s us. When we came, there were two small stands of cards. We built the range and now they are one of our biggest sellers.
The biggest change has probably been in the town itself,’ says Ashley. ‘We’ve seen nearly all of the housing estates go up. And of course the town shops …’

At this point the interview descended into a delightfully meandering five-way conversation with Anne, Tony, their assistant Sue, with a random customer chipping in, about what is now the Factory Shop which was originally Norman’s Supermarket, before it changed to Buy-Lo and eventually became the first Co-op, before they moved. What is now Marsh’s used to be a florist, and before it was a florist it belonged to Peter Mount’s mum and dad, it was a Spar, and Peter was in what is now Gallery One as a greengrocer. He took on the Spar shop, then moved down to the old railway yard and opened the supermarket which eventually became Normans …

PTSD: Real experiences, powerful stories, courageous conversations

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Editorial team

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11 June 2023

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Dorset Mind is marking PTSD Awareness Day, sharing personal experiences and promoting resources for help and understanding of the disorder

*Trigger warning: This article discusses Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and symptoms of PTSD. Please seek support via the signposting at the end.

On 27th June, Dorset Mind will mark PTSD Awareness Day by helping to increase the understanding around PTSD, sharing powerful real-life experiences of those living with PTSD, and signposting help for those who need it.

What is PTSD?
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that affects any age after witnessing a singular traumatic life-threatening event or serious injury. It can also affect people who have been exposed to continuous unsafe and dangerous circumstances, which is known as Complex PTSD. According to ptsduk.org, 50 per cent of people will experience trauma at some point in their life.

Symptoms of PTSD
Symptoms of PTSD may present as flashbacks or nightmares about the incident, which may lead to avoiding certain people, places and things that remind them of the trauma.
PTSD can heighten emotions such as anger, irritability and hatred. It can present itself in many ways – these are simply the most common symptoms.

Lived experience
A former Dorset Mind participant, who wishes to remain anonymous, shares their experience:
‘I feel like my brain’s working overtime, trying to block out negative memories. I detach myself from those thoughts because I don’t recognise who I am now as the person who witnessed those events.
I’ve had therapy, which has helped, but there are certain memories locked off in my brain. I get very confused when I try to recall events, I can’t retell my story fully without feeling like I’m exaggerating or lying.
‘I feel in a safe space now, where I am a lot happier. However, when I’m exposed to certain triggers – in films, books or hearing others’ shared experiences – I can feel extremely uncomfortable and suddenly emotional, to the point I’ve found myself shaking and crying, but unable to explain why.
‘I feel like I’ve created an exaggerated lie in my head, like I’ll never truly be able to understand what happened, so I find it best to detach myself to keep going.
As an adult, I have developed a better understanding of what is right and wrong and am re-learning to trust myself.
It has affected my relationships, but I am feeling more confident in making decisions based on protecting my own wellbeing.’

Supporting someone with PTSD
It’s important for people who have experienced trauma to feel they are listened to and supported. It may take time for someone with PTSD to feel comfortable seeking help or talking about things. Simply give them time to talk at their own pace and the power to decide who to confide in.
Remember, it may not always be obvious that someone is living with these issues. They may not even be aware themselves, but may still experience some of the symptoms above.
Courageous conversations
On 16th June, Dorset Mind will shine a light on the impacts of trauma and living with PTSD in its FREE community conference at Dorchester Community Church from 11am to 2pm.
The charity invites adults aged 18 and over to join in an interactive session of education and workshops, delivered by expert trainers and carefully selected guests.
Click the link to register to attend:
https://bit.ly/DMConfPTSD

Additional support
Visit dorsetmind.uk for 1-2-1 and group mental health support
Visit ptsd.org for information about PTSD and C-PTSD
Call Anxiety UK’s national helpline on 03444 775 774 (Mon-Fri 9:30 to 5:30)
Call Samaritans for free 24/7 emotional support on 116 123
Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger.

Brave the biennials

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11 June 2023

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Once she was afraid of them – but now, flower farmer Charlotte Tombs couldn’t be without her Midsummer Day sowing of biennials

One of Charlotte’s biennial posies, with sweet Williams and sweet rocket.
Images: Charlotte Tombs

Biennials. I’ll admit I rather shied away from them, mostly because I didn’t really know what they were, if I’m totally honest. The definition of a biennial is ‘any herbaceous flowering plant that completes its life cycle in two growing seasons. During the first growing season, biennials produce roots, stems, and leaves. During the second growing season, they produce flowers, fruits, and seeds, and then they die’.
Once I’d actually got my head round them, I took the plunge, and now I wouldn’t be without them. Biennials are brilliant! They flower before any of the annuals, so they fill the gap of flowers once the tulips are over.
I sow the seeds on Midsummer Day – if you are kind enough to read my column regularly you will know I am weirdly attached to working around significant dates. Sweet peas are always sown on New Year’s Day and Valentine’s, for instance.
First on my list is the wallflower – please don’t overlook them, they will flower their heads off for you! A simple jam-jar bunch on the kitchen table will lighten your mood on a gloomy March day and the scent of them is amazing, too. Wallflowers have come a long way and some of the newer varieties are well worth growing. Look for the sugar rush series, fire king and also the sunset series; there are some gorgeous colours.
My second choice is honesty (Lunaria annua) –prized for its seed heads, I resist the temptation of picking to wait instead for the glorious papery silver discs that then adorn my Christmas wreaths (or yours if you come to one of my workshops).
Then there is sweet rocket (Hesperis matronalis) – these come in white and purple and will self-seed freely if you are lucky. They do well in dappled shade and smell delicious to boot!
Fourth on my must-grow biennials list are sweet Williams (Dianthus barbatus). So many to choose from, but some of my favourites are Sooty, superbus, albus, and auricula eyed mixed. Again these smell delicious.
Lastly let’s not forget the magnificent foxglove, those high-rise towers of nectar for the bees, with spots to guide the bee in like runways. Who doesn’t love a furry bumblee bottom sticking out of a gently-buzzing foxglove?

Charlotte’s sweet rocket is a favourite, smelling delicious and often self-seeding across the garden

Keep it simple
What’s so brilliant about biennials is their simplicity. Sow the seeds in the summer, pot them on, then just leave them to grow into strong plants. Plant them out in late September or early October where they can establish themselves while the soil is still warm – come the following spring you are rewarded by the most beautiful flowers. They just get on and do their own thing over the winter. Mother Nature is amazing.
I urge you to give a few biennials a try this year. As always if you have any flower questions I’m more than happy to help.
You can find me as @northcombeflowers on Instagram or facebook – and do look out for workshops that I run throughout the year.
PS – did you see that the coronation flowers were supplied by members of Flowers From the Farm? Some were grown here in Dorset, by my lovely friend Katie at Dorset Flower Co.

Get your tickets for the Cheese Festival!

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Editorial team

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11 June 2023

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Tickets for the Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival, this year on the 9th and 10th of September, are now on sale. As always, the weekend will feature a wide variety of food and drink from across the West Country, including (you guessed it) the star of the show – cheese!
There will also be the usual array of crafts to tempt you, as well as children’s entertainment, the essential Real Ale & Cider Tent and live bands will be playing throughout the two days.
New for 2023 is a weekend ticket: currently at an early bird price of £12 (only available in advance).
Early Bird prices are now on offer on all tickets prices – and don’t forget children aged 15 and under go free!
Tickets and more information at cheesefestival.co.uk