No spring brassicas, thanks to December

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17 March 2023

A record-breaking winter freeze ruined the spring greens, says Barry Cuff – but the stores are well-stocked and new veg is growing

Normally we have a good supply of brassicas to last us through February and March. Not so this year – we are only left with Brussels sprout (Brendan), and a few purple sprouting broccoli (Cardinal).
All our spring cauliflowers (Medallion), spring savoy cabbage (Vertus) – and most of the purple sprouting broccoli – plants were lost to the severe frosts in December. In more than 30 years I do not recall this happening before. It appears there were big losses right across England, from Dorset to Lancashire. One local Dorset commercial grower even lost cabbages and cauliflowers growing in his polytunnel. I believe in our case it was because the plants were exceptionally lush and almost certainly had some Boron deficiency.
However, our Palace parsnips taste even better now thanks to those same frosts during the three winter months, and we do still have a good supply of leeks – many of these are being used in soups! We still have a good selection of vegetables in our freezers and cold store, too. It is wonderful to be able to eat our own produce through the winter months. Our potatoes, squashes and onions kept well in the frost-free shed. Only the two large butternut squashes didn’t survive, whereas Crown Prince, Sweet Dumpling and Honey Boat look as good as they did when they were harvested in early September.
With much dry weather through February, all the potato ground has been dug, incorporating the horse manure which had been spread in December.

The broad beans are being planted out. Image: Barry Cuff

A new season
We have treated ourselves to three new strawberry varieties, 12 plants of each. These have been planted into a new bed.
Our garlic put on a little growth during the month and has been fed with liquid seaweed.
The first of the new year’s vegetables were planted out from trays on the 21st, about 60 plants in total. There is a double row of broad beans, two varieties – Witkiem Manita and Masterpiece Green Longpod.
In the greenhouse, we have sown Little Gem Lettuce, Golden Acre cabbage and Red Drumhead cabbage. On our bedroom windowsill the peppers sown in January are looking well and have their first set of true leaves.
During March we shall be sowing our onions, tomatoes and a second batch of lettuce.

The out of doors section is sponsored by Thorngrove Garden Centre

Support Worker Marnhull | Team Brain Injury support – Acuity Care Group

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Editorial team

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16 March 2023

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Pay rate: £14.00

Shift Pattern: Night and days available, 12 hour shifts, 7-7
Location: Marnhull

Team Brain Injury Support is one of the very few homecare providers working across the country who specialise in supporting children and adults with a brain injury and other neurological conditions. We are proud to say that our dedicated team members support people in their own homes to live their best quality of life and assist them in better accessing their community.

We are also committed to the continuing development of all our staff, so we can empower them to lead fulfilling careers in care.

Key Responsibilities

If you are resilient, reliable, empathetic and looking for a role that truly makes a difference to someone else’s life then we want to hear from you.

Support Workers cover all manners of support for others – from companionship and days out, to personal care and housekeeping. At Team Brain Injury Support, you’ll be working with someone living with complex care needs and receive fully paid, on the job training. So, whether you’re an experienced support worker or completely new to the sector, you’ll have the opportunity to build your skills in a safe and trusted environment.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Requirements: Female only, medical care

We are looking for dedicated personable support workers who are based in the Marnhull area.

You will be supporting a teenage lad who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy resulting in profound muscle weakness, overnight ventilation and gastrostomy fed. Your role is to meet their medical needs, personal care and day to day assistance.

Full training given prior to and starting your new role.

You’ll need to be:

Caring and approachable attitude
Patient and welcoming
Helpful and reliable

Benefits

Access to Westfield Rewards – an exclusive rewards website, with access to special offers on all your favourite goods and services from over 1,000 leading online and high street retailers, restaurants , travel companies and destinations
Access to the Blue Light Card discount scheme
Opportunity to obtain NVQ’s in Health and Social Care
Fully paid on the job training, with shadowing in place
Fully paid DBS
Progression opportunities within the organisation
Pension enrolment
Access to Westfield Health Cash Plan
24/7 management support
A great Refer a Friend scheme – receive up to £500 through our Care Friends rewards scheme when you refer a friend or family member.

About Team Brain Injury

Based in Southampton, Team Brain Injury was developed from a division of our sister company, Team Medical, to become our own company in 2007.

Since 2007 we have grown to a 20 person strong team in the office, including in-house training, recruitment, nurse lead assessments and care planning, and a robust 24/7 out of hours on-call service.

With over 150 Support workers across the south of England and southern Wales, we provide support to service users with varying degrees of Acquired Brain Injury.

Providing the necessary care and support to our service users is a demanding role, this is why we focus on the ongoing training and development of our support workers, ensuring our service users receive the level of support only high calibre staff can provide.

To Apply click the link – https://bit.ly/BVsupportworkerTBI

Listen for the Dartford warbler

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Editorial team

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16 March 2023

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The Dartford warbler may be an elusive Dorset resident, but they’re not as rare as some believe, says conservation officer Hamish Murray

The Dartford warbler is a small, dark bird with a fine bill and a long tail that is often cocked (shutterstock)

One of the pleasures of a walk across the Dorset heathland is hearing the hurried chatter of a Dartford warbler, usually coming from the depths of a gorse bush. Dartfords also have a churring alarm call, which to my ears sounds rather like a soft sneeze.
Although most vocal in the spring, Dartford warblers can be heard singing sporadically throughout the year.
Most warblers are migratory birds but Dartfords are resolutely sedentary, rarely moving more than a few miles from their native heath. They generally manage to survive the British winter on a diet consisting largely of spiders and small insects. However, Dartford warblers are susceptible if there are prolonged spells of cold weather and the population can be significantly reduced by a severe winter.
Dartford warblers are more often heard than seen, but given a reasonable view they are fairly easy birds to identify. The overall impression is of a small, dark bird with a fine bill and a long tail that is often cocked. Closer views will reveal the subtle grey and vinous tones of the plumage and the red eye-ring. The males tend to be more colourful than the females and have distinctive white spots on the throat.
In Britain, Dartford warblers are more or less confined to the heaths of southern England but, in the right habitat, they are certainly not as rare as some books suggest.
Just typical!
Seeing a Dartford warbler is still largely a matter of luck, however. I remember leading a guided walk for a birdwatching group a few years ago, with the main target of seeing a Dartford warbler. We trudged round most of the best-known habitats in Purbeck, and had not a sight or sound of our elusive quarry.
Eventually I had to admit defeat – I apologised and bade farewell to the group as they all piled back onto their coach. Naturally, just as they disappeared down the road, I heard a familiar sound behind me and turned to see a wonderful view of a male Dartford warbler, singing its heart out on top of a nearby gorse bush!

Blandford’s Crown Meadows plan – an act of philanthropy or a Trojan horse?

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Laura

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16 March 2023

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PLANS to site up to 40 caravans as temporary homes for Ukrainian refugees on land known locally as Crown Meadows on the western boundaries of Blandford Forum have divided public opinion in the town and will now go to appeal, after Dorset Council planners failed to decide the application. A date for a site visit by the inspector who will decide the scheme is yet to be announced. Gay Pirrie Weir reports.

The application was submitted by the Rothermere Foundation and Bryanston (RFE) Ltd (which is not connected to Bryanston School), and refers to land reached from Deer Park Lane, owned by the Foundation and overlooked by the school grounds. It is part of the Crown Estate land bought by the Foundation in 2015.

“The Crown Estate has agreed the sale of the Bryanston Estate in Dorset to a UK company held on behalf of the Viscount Rothermere and his son the Hon Vere Harmsworth for an undisclosed sum. The purchase is consistent with the family’s long-term strategy to diversify its investment holdings. The 4,700 acre Bryanston Estate, purchased in 1950 from the Portman family, lies to the north west of Bournemouth at Blandford Forum in Dorset. The largely agricultural estate is predominantly comprised of 14 farm tenancies and around 40 residential properties.
The Crown Estate June 2015

Blandford's Crown Meadows - the planned caravan site for Ukrainian refugees — The Crown Meadows site, where planing has been applied for the siting of *up to 40 caravans, together with the formation of ancillary bases, tracks, services communal amenity/green space, play areas, landscaping and bin store*

The land was transferred from Crown ownership to the Rothermeres three years after it had been at the centre of an impassioned campaign in the town. The Crown Estate applied for permission to build up to 200 new homes on the Deer Park Farm site, in accordance with the (then) North Dorset District Council’s new core strategy, which was under discussion in early 2013. Two petitions circulated in the town and surrounding area, and were signed by more than 6,000 objectors, most citing threats to wildlife and amenities, but primarily to dangers of flooding when the Stour bursts its banks. One petition said the scheme “failed to respect Blandford’s iconic setting.”

Crown Meadows has a contentious planning history in the town, and when the latest application, for temporary homes for Ukrainian refugees, was submitted, old worries quickly surfaced.

Aerial view of Blandford's Crown Meadows planned development scheme — The planned site is known locally as a water meadow, suffering from flooding whenever the Stour breaks its banks in the winter months

The current application, for “change of use of land for the stationing of up to 40 No. caravans to provide temporary accommodation for up to 5 years, together with the formation of ancillary bases, tracks, services communal amenity/green space, play areas, landscaping and bin stores. Provide low-level lighting to tracks and common areas. Convert redundant agricultural building to an amenity block and community area,” sat on planners’ desks for longer than the permitted period, and at the request of the applicants it has now been called in by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities – Michael Gove at the time of writing.

The call-in has been welcomed by North Dorset MP Simon Hoare, who opposes the scheme and accuses the Rothermere Foundation of riding in on a Trojan Horse in the guise of a philanthropic foal (read his full letter to the Inspectorate here).

Simon Hoare MP objects to the Crown Meadows planning application — In his letter of objection, North Dorset MP Simon Hoare calls the planned scheme “The creation of a linked-to-nowhere caravan ghetto” and the “planning version of Apartheid”

Mr Hoare told the BV: “The key thing is the inappropriateness of the provision at Crown Meadows. We simply do not ghetto-ise by nationality. Having 40 Ukrainians effectively plonked in a small, isolated settlement would be appalling. The lack of both integration and support are unacceptable – it’s the thin end of the terrifying wedge that is ‘certain people can live here, but not there’. As I said in my letter to the Inspectorate, it is the planning version of Apartheid.”

“I feel this is simply a chance-your-arm Trojan Horse – thinly covered by a veil of philanthropy.”

The MP continued: “In fairness, he (Lord Rothermere) is no doubt keen to help, but there are so many things he could do that would be faster and more effective. He could buy many actual homes that could house up to 40 families – a fantastic gesture, he’d retain ownership of the capital assets and it would be a swift solution.

Mr Hoare welcomed the site visit: “It’s excellent news. It’s hugely important in this case in order for the inspectorate to see and study the locality and the linkages. They can see in real time the parcel of land, and hopefully arrive at the same conclusions as my constituency – that help is great, but the site is wrong.

“The development is in the wrong place, but also sits wrongly in the broader refugee settlement policy. I do not use the words apartheid and ghetto lightly – but it is effectively ethnic grouping. We are saying ‘These people must live here, outside the community.’

Blandford's Crown Meadows Deer Park Farm plan — The outline Blandford’s Crown Meadows / Deer Park Farm plan

“As a side note, it would also be a freestanding magnet to any who oppose migrants and refugees – we have seen how this can play elsewhere in the country.”

Dorset council received a large number of letters from Blandford residents and those from surrounding areas, most of them objecting to the proposal at Crown Meadows.

The closing date for submission of letters for the appeal is 20th March, 2023.

A rare horse logger, and Lizzo to Quo via Busted with Bonnie

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Laura

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15 March 2023

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The March BV podcast begins, as always, with this month’s letter from the editor and all the latest reader’s letters. This month we move swiftly into politics, with the contributions from all four local party representatives.
Then it’s on to this month’s Dorset Island Discs – our castaway this month is local shepherd and Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show organiser Bonnie Cradock.
Lastly, Tracie Beardsley went down to the woods to meet Toby Hoad one of only 12 working horses loggers in the UK.

Never miss an episode – if you’re not already subscribed to the BV, you can sign up here and receive a notification of each new podcast (just three a month) straight to your inbox! Or you can catch up on all previous episodes right here.

In politics, The Windsor Framework isn’t just good news for businesses, says MP Simon Hoare. It shows a return to adult politics and better relationships.
Mike Chapman of the LibDems says it’s time to stop the hand wringing and resolve the energy crisis. Ken Huggins of the Greens takes a long hard look at ethical consumerism, and Pat Osborne is looking ahead to the 2024 election, comparing ‘the missions versus the pledges’ of the leading parties.
As event organiser at the Turnpike Showground, shepherd Bonnie Cradock is facing a doubly busy spring, thanks to one over-excited fun-loving ram. From Lizzo to Quo via Busted, her Dorset Island Discs are a suitably personal, eclectic mix.
It may be 10,000 years old, but Toby Hoad believes the ancient skill of horse logging is vital in shaping and saving our woodlands. One of only 12 full-time horse loggers in the country, Toby talked to Tracie Beardsley when she went to meet him and his three sturdy Comtois – Ettie, Celine and Fleur – French mountain draft horses known for their steady and sociable natures.

WAREHAM Maureen

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Editorial team

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15 March 2023

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Passed peacefully at Dorset County Hospital on 20th February 2023 aged 84.

Much loved wife to Alan, loving Mum, Nana/Grandmother and friend to many.

Funeral service taking place at Our Lady of Lourdes & St Cecilia, Blandford Forum on Friday 17th March at 9.30am.

Family flowers only. Any donations in memory of Maureen, if desired, to the Stroke Association, may be made online at www.close-funeral.co.uk or cheques payable to Stroke Association c/o Colin J Close Funeral Services, Peel Close, Blandford Forum, DT11 7JU

The bee-fly

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Editorial team

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15 March 2023

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Wildlife writer Jane Adams is looking forward to her own personal sign of spring – the Mary Quant of the insect world

The dark-edged bee-fly, with a fluffy round body, ridiculously long legs and a protruding tongue
All images Jane Adams

What marks spring’s arrival for you? For some, it’s golden daffodils swaying in the breeze or the haunting call of a cuckoo newly arrived from Africa.
For me, it’s a weird but wonderful insect: the bee-fly.
I never go looking for this little creature, it just seems to magically appear.
On a sunny March day, when
warm sunshine entices me into the garden, I’ll be kneeling, cutting back dead plant stems,
and one will suddenly just be there, buzzing frantically.
There are ten species of bee-fly in the UK, but the one you’re most likely to see in March is
the dark-edged bee-fly. With a fluffy round body, ridiculously long legs and a protruding
tongue, it’s admittedly quite weird-looking. Occasionally, one might land on a dead leaf or
patch of bare earth to sunbathe. That’s when you might spot the dark, jagged pattern on the edge of its wings that gives it its name.
And although this fly might look similar to a bumblebee, it has no sting, it’s harmless – to humans, at least.
It’s also very refined – you won’t find these dainty insects bumping into flowers, like a clumsy bumble. They’re the Chanel catwalk model of the fly world, oozing precision and poise, especially when feeding. With their long delicate tongues, bee-flies delve into the deepest spring flowers for nectar and pollen. All while still hovering. I’ve seen them feeding on primroses, green alkanet, cowslip and dandelions, but you’re likely to find them on other flowers.

The dark-edged bee-fly enjoys sunbathing

The dark side
However, this seemingly benign fly has a dark side. In common with at least 40 percent of
the world’s insect species, bee-flies are parasites. Instead of making their own nests and
laying eggs, females flick their eggs towards the entrance hole of ground-nesting solitary bees. Once hatched, these larvae trundle into the bee nest, eat the food supplies left for the
bee’s young and then consume the bee grubs. But don’t worry. It doesn’t harm bee populations
and has been happening for millions of years. It’s all part of a healthy ecosystem.

There is another species of bee-fly you might spot in your garden in late March, and that’s the dotted bee-fly (image above).
Not as common as the dark-edged Chanel-look-alike, the dotted bee-fly, with its flamboyant spotted wings, is a raving Mary Quant.

• Jane Adams has a book out this month: Nature’s Wonders: Moments that mark the seasons, published in conjunction with National Trust. You can see our review of it in Book Corner

Administrative Assistant – Referrals | Mosaic

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Editorial team

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14 March 2023

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Hours 20 hours
Salary £11,4400 – £12,480 (£21,540 – 23,400 FTE)
Base: Milborne St Andrew, Blandford, DT11

Would you like to join an enthusiastic, friendly team, working for a children’s charity in Dorset? The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting the Referral Team, dealing with schools, local authorities, parents and counsellors. Processing referrals and reports.

Requirements:
• Minimum 1yr administration experience
• Excellent communication, telephone and networking skills
• Excellent organisational skills and time management
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Outlook)

Closing date: Friday 24th March 2023

Further details and application form available from: 01258 837071, [email protected]
www.mosaicfamilysupport.org.uk
Registered Charity: 1158138

Meet your local – Namaste Gurkha

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Editorial team

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14 March 2023

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Inside one of the oldest properties in Blandford you will discover an authentic taste of the Himalayas, Rachael Rowe reports.

Prayer flags flutter as I open the door to Namaste Gurkha on a cold wintry day. The building is one of the oldest in Blandford Forum – dating from before the Great Fire of 1731, it is one of the few houses that survived. Gurkha regimental badges and panoramic views of the Himalayan peaks decorate the historic timbers and brickwork, bringing Nepalese culture and hospitality to North Dorset.
Namaste Gurkha’s owner Bhuwan Thapa told me: ’The business has been in Blandford for 14 years, but I bought it in 2020 two weeks before the first lockdown. It was a difficult beginning as we could only do takeaways!
‘Before that I was in Tidworth, and before that I was in Newcastle working as a chef. I was actually involved with Latin American cuisine then. ‘This is my first restaurant business and I’m quite new to Blandford. Like most small business owners, I do everything – I run the business but also help in the kitchen, and today I’m doing some of the deliveries for the takeaways too.’

From the street the restaurant looks very small, but in fact has more space than first appears.
‘We have 42 covers with larger tables upstairs.’
The restaurant serves traditional Himalayan cuisine – Nepalese-style daal, traditional sukuti (spiced dried meat) and Gurkha thali (a mixed platter), momo (steamed dumplings) and grilled meat.
Nepal is famous for the Gurkhas – soldiers native to the Indian subcontinent but chiefly from the mountainous Himalayan country. For the past 200 years they have been recruited into the British Army. Gurkhas are known to be as fearless in combat as they are good natured. Bhuwan explains the connection between the restaurant and the regiments. ‘My dad is a Gurkha. And of course we have a lot of people coming from Blandford Camp, where there are Gurkhas. We’re very popular with the Camp!’
Staff member Riya was working as front of house when I visited and is also from Blandford Camp, where her father is a Gurkha. The restaurant feels like an integral part of the Blandford community.

Some of the Namaste Gurkha team: (from left) Jaidee, Bhuwan Thapa, Riya

The most popular dish?
‘The momos. Everyone loves momos!’ says Bhuwan. Momos are famous in Nepal – a traditional steamed dumpling filled with minced meat or vegetables with spices, and dipped in a hot tomato chutney. Jaidee and Riya both recommended a couple of dishes. ‘Everest Khasi is a really spicy dish and people also really like the sizzlers.’
(Purely in the interests of research, on behalf of the BV Magazine readership I tasted the momos at Namaste Gurkha and can honestly say they were delicious. The dumplings are handmade, and very filling. They instantly brought back memories of my days trekking in the Himalayas.)

The Gurkha thali is typically eaten in households all over Nepal as a hearty dinner. Served with vegetables, daal, rice, naan, pickle and a dessert of gulab jamun with yoghurt – an absolute must-try in the restaurant

Tell me about your suppliers?
‘We shop locally where possible: our meat is from Mato (the Blandford butcher), and our vegetables are fresh and locally purchased too.’ I also noticed Gurkha, Tiger and Cobra beers from Nepal and India.

Your biggest challenge?
‘Starting up in the lockdown! It was very difficult as we could only do takeaways, it’s a small kitchen and we got really busy.’

What are you most proud of?
‘The food! And also our strong connections with the Camp, we do obviously get a lot of customers from there. I also own Solti Grocery in the town.’
If you haven’t visited it before, the Solti Grocery store is on East Street, and a visit is recommended to try some of the Nepalese foods.

It’s packed with interesting produce, and the staff are very welcoming. My personal tip – the bags of spices are great value.

Sizzling meat grills fill the restaurant with their sound and smell

So what’s next?
‘We are always looking at the menu, how we might change it. There’s always something to do.’

namastegurkha.co.uk
(order online for takeaway)
11 East Street,
Blandford Forum.
Opens Tuesday to Sunday
5pm to 11pm.