The Spring Countryside Show is BACK!

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21 March 2023

Get ready for an exciting and unforgettable experience – the first show of the year in Dorset’s rural events calendar is just around the corner! A line up of over 50 exhibits, demonstrations and attractions are set to deliver a weekend jam-packed with fun for the whole family.

Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd April

Book today and *save* – but HURRY, the Advanced Ticket price ends 31st March!

Adults £12, Children FREE.

Click here to get your tickets https://bit.ly/SpringCountrysideShowTickets2023

Taking place over two days, the Spring Countryside Show is the perfect way to spend a day with family and friends. With a wide range of activities and attractions on offer, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

See heavy horse logging, terrier racing, gun dog demonstrations and the spectacular horseback falconry display by Jonathan Marshall. The famous Dorset Axemen will be battling it out against the clock, and back by popular demand is the hilarious ‘Sheep Show’ – yes, sheep really do love to dance. Plus, for those who love a bit of vintage, there’s farm machinery and steam engine demonstrations.

Visitors can sample the artisan food stalls, marvel at the skill of local craftspeople, and even take part in traditional country skills. Perhaps try your hand at willow weaving, in one of the various have-a-go activities that are scheduled.

For those who love animals, there will be a variety to meet and greet – whether you’re a fan of horses, sheep, goats or pigs, you’re sure to be happy.

There will also be a range of talks and demonstrations throughout the event, providing an insight into the workings of the countryside and the people who make it so special.

And if that’s not enough to ‘bring on the spring’, there’s a fun fair with bouncy castles, and tractor and trailer rides.

So come along and join us for a day out in the beautiful Dorset countryside. With something for everyone, the Spring Countryside Show is an event not to be missed!

Good Retail Awards fall in love with Wimborne

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Editorial team

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20 March 2023

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Oscar season arrived early in Dorset! Wimborne BID (Business Improvement District), the not-for-profit, business-led initiative to invest money into the local economy has won the Retail District Award in the prestigious Good Retail Awards 2023. Wimborne BID was awarded this top prize for creating an imaginative Christmas film to market the town, engaging people to support local businesses, and encouraging visits to Wimborne.
The 90-second Christmas film was called ‘Fall in Love with Wimborne this Christmas’ (see right) and featured two people meeting and falling in love in the town. Each scene was shot in front of businesses in the town, showcasing the range and diversity on offer with around 50 businesses being shown.
The judges’ said: ‘Wimborne BID demonstrated a determination to reinvigorate their town. Their brilliant promotional campaign showcased retailers and shared their love for the town.’
Organized by Modern Retail, these awards celebrate retailers who are making a positive impact in their industry and aim to highlight the achievements of those who are embracing creativity and innovation to achieve retail success.
Wimborne BID emerged victorious over Brighton, Hammersmith, and Worcester BIDs to receive this top accolade at a ceremony held in Birmingham.
Delighted Wimborne BID Manager, Tammy Sleet, says: ‘This creative idea brought positive promotion for the town, showing off the fantastic range and quality of businesses in Wimborne. We are thrilled!’

Hipp!!Bones – the Gillingham youth club for young people with special needs

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Editorial team

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20 March 2023

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This month Maddie introduces us to the North Dorset youth club which is providing not just a social space but essential skills and qualifications too

One of Maddie’s favourite moments with Hipp!!Bones was walking in the parade for the Queens Jubilee
(Maddie is at the back waving her flag!)

Hipp!!Bones is a wonderful club in Gillingham for young people with disabilities and special needs aged 11 to 25 years old. It is a great place to socialise with friends outside school, become more independent, and develop new skills and interests.
The club runs every first and third Saturday from 10am to 12pm. On arrival, the staff members each have their own tables set up with a variety of different activities that the attendees will enjoy doing. Hipp!!Bones encourages young people to explore new activities and gain life skills through arts and crafts, cooking, and sporting pursuits. It also encourages them to join in group activities like the M&M game and parachute games. We really enjoy developing our football skills with Sherborne Town Youth Football Club, who visit regularly.
All activities are appropriately
differentiated to meet each young persons needs.

Maddie at Hipp!!Bones
I have been at Hipp!!Bones for a few years and I became a young leader volunteer in September 2022 when I completed a young leadership course. I recently ran my first session on Mindfulness and Meditation.
Hipp!!Bones also run occasional trips – swimming at Riversmeet leisure centre, going for a picnic in the park or bowling in Yeovil. One recent trip was to Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy, for kayaking, paddleboarding and going out on a speed boat. We always go to see a pantomime during the Christmas period!
I asked Jeni Green, Youth Service Worker (YSW) in Charge about the story of Hipp!!Bones:
‘Hipp!!Bones started way back in 2006. I have been YSW In Charge since 2011. In the early days Hipp!!Bones came under the auspices of Dorset Council, but has always been independently funded.
‘We are currently entirely dependent on fundraising and grants to survive.’
She continues ‘I find working at Hipp!!Bones very rewarding. I have the pleasure of working with a skilled team of staff and volunteers who all play an important part in the running of the club.’
Hipp!!Bones is a great place to go if you want to make new friends, join in an activity and most importantly have fun.

Hipp!!Bones runs from Gillingham Youth & Community Centre, Cemetery Road, Gillingham from 10am to 12 noon on the first and third Saturday of the month

Vineyards is Independent Wine Retailer of The Year

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Editorial team

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19 March 2023

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Among the 35 awards from the local family brewery were 18 Dorset charities and community groups who will receive vital funds

(from L-R) Wine writer Jane Parkinson, Sadie Wilkins, Craig Durham (Managing Director Buckingham Schenk), Hannah Wilkins and Lucy Britner, Drinks Retailing editor

The Drinks Retailing Awards were held last month at London’s Dorchester Hotel. Vineyards fought off strong competition from fellow finalists The Good Wine Shop and Reserve Wines, but won the coveted accolade after impressing judges with their product range, customer service, and community engagement.
The rigorous judging process is known as the toughest on the awards circuit, and it included a mystery visit and an interview with head judge Nigel Huddleston. Vineyards, owned by Hannah Wilkins and her wife Sadie, offers an extensive wine portfolio and a personalised service, and they have worked hard to make their new premises a real community hub, where locals regularly enjoy tasting evenings and workshops. Hannah says: ‘It feels absolutely surreal that our little wine shop in rural Dorset has been recognised at such a level. I started Vineyards in 2005, when I was just 24. I’ve been in the trade 25 years, and I can honestly say that this is a career high. I love great wine, I want everyone to enjoy quality wine, I’m passionate about being independent – and to get this award in 2023, all these years later, with such fantastic national competitors, reassures me that we’re obviously doing something right. I’m not sure when it’s going to start to sink in!’

Scammers and garden thieves

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Editorial team

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19 March 2023

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Monthly updates from the various North Dorset police teams. This month’s news comes from Sturminster Newton Town and North Dorset Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team

There are simple things we can all do in the perennial battle against scammers and opportunistic garden thieves, says PCSO Mandy Robinson

Be aware that scams are always changing – but there are still some old ones going around, and they are all after the same thing – your money!
Please be on your guard. We have received reports recently of scam calls from the 01258 dialling code – do remember this does not necessarily mean that it is a local caller. Scammers can spoof the area code to encourage you to answer.
Our general rule of thumb is that if you don’t know who is calling then don’t pick up!
You can protect yourself and your elderly or vulnerable relatives from becoming victims of scam callers by contacting the call provider and asking about call guardian or call blocker.
You can also purchase phones with an integrated call blocker with answering service included at a reasonable cost.
Hang up on fraudsters and NEVER give out personal or bank details.

One day’s neighbourhood patrol: Stour Provost, Stour Row, Fifehead Magdalen, Marnhull, West Stour, Kington Magna, Fifehead St Quintin, Woolland, Stoke Wake, Park Gate and Hazelbury Bryan – ending with a beautiful winter sunset!

Crime prevention
Imagine going to your garden shed or outbuilding, finding it has been broken into and your garden tools and petrol mower have been stolen. There are some simple steps you can take to protect your property:
Ensure that high-value power tools and equipment are tagged with a security marker. Do also photograph them and make a note of serial numbers – a simple job with a smart phone.
Secure valuable items to a strong anchor point using security cables/chains and robust padlocks – if you have nowhere else to store valuable equipment other than your shed, consider fitting a shed alarm, reinforce the hinges as well as locks and fit metal grills over the windows.
Check your insurance cover too – does it include the contents of your shed/outbuilding?
Protect vulnerable areas of your garden by growing prickly plants, like berberis or pyracantha, close to boundary walls, fences and oil tanks.

Primary school traffic
The team has been in contact with the head of a local primary school after reports of vehicles speeding and parking in an unsocial manner during school drop-offs and pick-ups.
During school run times, traffic can be hectic around all schools. If you drive to pick up your child, please be aware of your surroundings, drive slowly and park safely, with consideration.

Remember to continue to report
any concerns online at www.dorset.police.uk/Contact-Us
Always use 999 in an emergency.

Spotlight on Spain

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Editorial team

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18 March 2023

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This month, expert Hannah Wilkins is looking straight at you Rioja-lovers – and tackling the popular misconceptions that surround the iconic wine

This year, I firmly believe, will be a big year for Spanish wine. Both reds and whites are simply going to shine. Why? The wines from Spain are so versatile and they partner beautifully with food, so they are a great choice for get-togethers, but are equally enjoyable in front of the TV with a handful of nibbles.
Most people have tried a Rioja or two, but despite the fame and quality of wines from this iconic region, there are still so many common misconceptions. The first is that it is a designated wine-producing region in Northern Spain not a grape variety. Up second in the not-true race is the idea that Riojas are only red. Sometimes a customer will look at us in a strange way when they ask for a Rioja and we clarify whether they are looking for a red or white; white Rioja exists, and it brings a lot of flavour to the white wine drinking party.
The final most popular misconception we encounter, although there are certainly more, is that all Rioja is bursting with oak ageing notes of vanilla and winter spice – true, many do, but as with any wine, the winemaking techniques applied after harvest really do vary – and therefore so does the wine!
What’s rather cool about Rioja wine ageing is that there is a specific classification system, unique to this style of wine. It ranges from no oak ageing for ‘Joven’ Riojas to Gran Reservas that require a minimum of five years (with at least two in barrels and two in a bottle). Why is this great? Because it means there’s lots to explore beyond the grape variety! But there’s so much more to Spain than this one iconic region – as delicious as it may be!

Let them drink grapes
It’s perhaps best to take the approach of trying grapes over regions. So, let’s start with whites; there are so many native and borrowed grape varieties used in Spain, but the main ones are Viura, Malvasia, Verdejo, Airen (Spain’s most widely planted grape of any colour), Albarino, Godello, Chardonnay etc., which all bring a difference to the wine. For example, Albarinos are grown mostly in the Rias Baixas region in the Northwest, close to the Atlantic, so they take on a saltier/saline character – great with fish and seafood dishes or Greek salads that need something refreshing to cut through.
When it comes to red grapes, you have your indigenous grapes like Bobal, Garnacha (you may know it as Grenache), Mazuelo, Carinena (also known as Carignan), Mencia, Monastrell (sometimes Mourvedre or Mataro), Tempranillo etc. Depending on the grape chosen, the mouthfeel and weight in the glass can vary considerably. Bobal for example gives you a fuller style with lots of jammy fruit, whereas a Monastrell gives you a hedgerow fruit character with subtle spices.
As ever, there are many factors that contribute to a wine; the climate, the terroir, the aspect; the winemaking, the ever-changing conditions and decisions made by the winery – it’s what makes it exciting.
We’ve got some cracking examples of Spanish wine at Vineyards right now – pop in and we’ll help you start exploring.
Cheers! Hannah

Local children compete in Sherborne cross-country

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Editorial team

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18 March 2023

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In February more than a hundred children from seven local schools – Thornford, St Andrew’s Yetminster, Sherborne Primary, Sherborne Abbey Primary, Buckland Newton, All Saints, and Trent Young’s – competed in the Sherborne area cross-country competition.
Hosted by The Gryphon School, high school student sport leaders supported the primary pupils and ensured the highly competitive event ran smoothly.

The results were:
Girls Team:
1st: Sherborne Abbey Primary
2nd: Joint – Thornford Primary and All Saints Primary
3rd: Buckland Newton Primary
Girls Individual:
1st: Phoebe (Sherborne Abbey)
2nd: Lydia (Trent Young’s)
3rd: Tilly (Sherborne Primary)
Boys Team:
1st: Sherborne Primary
2nd: Trent Young’s
3rd: Thornford Primary
Boys Individual:
1st: Lenny (Thornford)
2nd: Archie (Buckland Newton)
3rd: William (Sherborne Primary)
Neela Brooking, Headteacher of Thornford Primary School, who organised the event said ‘Congratulations to all the children who took part and a big thank you to The Gryphon PE department and the student helpers for supporting the event. The children are already looking forward to the next competition!’

The cats, the rats and the greenfly

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Editorial team

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18 March 2023

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When the pests attack your cherished plants, it’s hard not to feel that it’s a personal vendetta, says flower farmer Charlotte Tombs

Pog, the menace of the garden.
Image: Laura Hitchcock

It feels as though there is always something out to get you when you enjoy growing flowers or vegetables. And I find it very hard not to take it personally.
Cats, as much as we love them, seem to be a very common culprits in so many gardens; they will insist on seeing a freshly-cleared, newly-mulched flower bed as one giant litter tray. I’ll admit it does niggle me slightly, especially as we dog owners are held accountable for what their pooches produce when out and about and we as a matter of course clear up after them.
If you do suffer from unwanted feline deposits, rose cuttings are your best secret weapon. Place them over your beds and it will hopefully help as a deterrent – holly leaves work well too.
The prickles method may also deter squirrels from digging up your bulbs in pots; if they’ve sabotaged your pots before, just put the sharp cuttings on top of the pots. It’s not a great thing of beauty but it will save your bulbs being raided, and is only temporary.

Rattus norvegicus
Recently my tulips have been under attack by rats. This is my first big crop of the year – I grow very different tulips from the ones that you can buy in the supermarkets. I choose varieties for their scent (yes, some tulips smell amazing), some for colour and some varieties can reach almost two foot tall, with heads larger than a can of coke. A vase of these is quite a statement!
Anyway, the rats have eaten at least a couple of hundred.
I asked on the Flowers From The Farm Facebook members page if other growers had experienced the same problem and how they deal with it. Apparently the answer is dried chillies. Rats hate chillies! (this did ring bells for me – I remember reading somewhere that you should put chilli flakes in with your chicken food. Chickens can’t taste them)
So, off I went to my local Asian supermarket and bought a large bag of red-hot dried chillis. I’ve sprinkled them all over my tulip beds and it does seem to have stopped the attacks for the time being. Fingers crossed. I have also read that mint tea bags make a good spray deterrent: brew a whole box, allow it to cool and put it in a spray bottle. Then just spray the area you want to protect. I haven’t tried this method yet but it’s worth a thought when I’m desperate.

Greenfly
These can be taken care of with a washing up liquid solution in a spray bottle, as the little bugs don’t like the sticky soap residue. Alternatively encourage ladybird larvae, they can eat up to 5,000 aphids in their life time!
Other well-known natural remedies include used coffee grounds, baked crushed egg shell or sharp sand placed round plants that are prone to slug attacks. Saucers of beer can help also in your plants survival, and don’t forget that once most plants are big enough, they tend to be OK.

More attackers
My plants also suffer from deer attacks – they love roses! High fencing solves this problem but can be unsightly. Rabbits are an ongoing issue; they always seem to find a way in and I’m forever trying to find how they did it. One year pigeons ate all my hesperis (sweet rocket) – it’s part of the mustard family which includes broccoli and cabbages, so I learned my lesson and now cover it until the plants are big enough.

Charlotte offers workshops throughout the year – please see northcombe.co.uk for further details.

Marching on to spring’s drum

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Editorial team

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17 March 2023

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It’s March, spring is in the air, and Caz Richards of Dorset Food & Drink is thinking about mums, chocolate … and leeks.

With a nod to the daffodil-loving William Wordsworth, the delights of a Dorset spring are on their way, with clumps of voluptuous daffodils and pretty primmies adorning the banks, gardens, and hedgerows. As the days get warmer, the scribble of winter trees take on a lush verdant hue as leaves and foliage start to pop into bud. It’s a feast for the eyes, but we’re all about making sure your taste buds are ready for a new crop of seasonal products and ingredients to enjoy!
From spring lamb and purple sprouting broccoli to leeks, beetroot, rhubarb, and tasty spring greens. Oysters, mussels, scallops, lobster and Haddock our producers, farmers, growers, and local fishing fleet won’t let you down.
Buy it fresh
If meat is up your street and you want yours produced sustainably and in harmony with nature, then the Jurassic Coast Farm Shop has some great offers and can deliver to your doorstep. Ditto The Dorset Meat Company who offer a combination of unbeatable grass-fed beef and lamb, outdoor-reared pork, and free-range chicken.
If fish or shellfish is your dish, however, buy direct from your fishmonger. They have the best knowledge and produce and will even tell you where it came from, how it was caught, and which boat landed it! If you’re worried about the preparation, you can always ask your fishmonger to do it for you.

Saints, pies, mothers and chocolate
With quite a few national days popping up in March, there are plenty of ways to use all that seasonal goodness, and with the Easter bunny fast approaching, there are even more sweet treats to look forward to.
Dorset vittles are a must at any time of the year, so if you’re planning to dine out, this little list might help you decide where.
If you celebrate St.David’s Day on the 1st of March try this vegetarian leek, pesto, and squash pie. Sticking with the pie theme, it’s British Pie Week on the 7th -13th March, and we’ve got a few tasty recipe ideas for you. And don’t forget to make Mothers’ day on the 19th of March with these Dorset gift ideas!