It’s a perfect half hour’s listening to start the new year – we catch up with the latest political thoughts before Roger shares the tale of the 18th century death that may not have have happened. We explore the winter woodland landscape with Dorset Wildlife Trust, and Jane Adams has some fascinating insight into our winter bees. Lastly, in yet another podcast exclusive, Terry has a chat with the always-interesting Caz from Dorset Food & Drink:
Almost 250 years after the funeral of the young Milton Abbey heir, questions remain about whose “body” was actually buried.
As winter sets in, Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Reserves Ecologist Steve Masters urges us all to go down to the woods today
Wildlife writer Jane Adams is on the lookout for a winter wild bee fix – even in December you can find them, she says
Dorset is known as a natural larder, from meat to dairy and veg to cakes. Caz Richards chats to Terry about the work of Dorset Food & Drink, how they’re supporting local producers and businesses – and shares her personal tips on some Dorset-produced highlights!
Unusually for us this one includes quite a bit of lane walking – but the roads are so quiet it was simply an enjoyable way to slowly appreciate some of the quietest hamlets. We really enjoyed exploring some unexpected corners that we whizz past in the car regularly.
To follow this route using the Outdooractive App, please find the route here.
Setting out on a wintery Dorset walk from Margaret Marsh
A few notes – the backtracking in the middle is worth it. We hadn’t plotted going that way, but the obvious alternative route down to Blackven Common would mean having to walk along the side of the B3091, a very busy narrow road.
It’s far more comfortable to explore the quiet lanes and just double back for a short stretch for a far more relaxed circuit.
The route explores throughly typical North Dorset farmland, with a view ringed by the surrounding hills and across the Blackmore Vale.
Be careful as you energe from the little copse to cross the B3091 for the first time – it’s a surprisingly fast road, and you come out on a bend so it’s very difficult to see traffic approaching. Listen carefully!
You can just see that the path exits the woods opposite, so the road bends away to your right – cross with care
Margaret Marsh is so named for a reason – even in the summer the fields can be a bit wet. I wouldn’t suggest doing this walk after a period of heavy rain without good footwear!
We were treated with ssurprise views across the Blackmore Vale without feeling like we’d done the climb
A stroll down a typical Dorset lane to Hartgrove
We’ve driven through Hartgrove for 30 years, and never knew this (frozen!) mill pond sluice existed
The Fontmell Magna village website has a fascinating and detailed history of Hartgrove and its residents at the turn of the century, with some early photographs of cottages you wil pass on this walk – it is definitely worth a read.
The view across to Duncliffe Hill
This was the only poorly-kept stile on the entire route – the bridge was sturdy, if overgrown and looking precarious, but the other side meant a careful barbed wire hop.
Parking is easy at the start at St Margarets Church (we walked the route a week before Christmas, and the organist was practicing carols – I can’t guarantee you a similarly magical start, however).
Paralympian Katrina Hart inspired pupils at St Andrew’s Primary School, Fontmell Magna when she visited. Katrina, who was born with cerebral palsy, is a multi-medal winning 100m and 200m sprinter, and has won gold, silver and bronze medals at the Olympic, world, Commonwealth and European IPC games. Katrina was at the school to promote the importance of exercise and fitness. During the afternoon all pupils in the school (and a few keen members of staff!) took part in a circuit in the hall. The children also got to hear about how Katrina’s disability affected her during childhood and how her PE teacher at school inspired her to never give up and to become a World-class athlete. Katrina says: ‘That is how I got into sport – at school. I hope that the children will be encouraged to try different sports, as one size doesn’t fit all and there are so many to choose from.’ The event raised £1,800, some of which will help support Katrina in partaking in international events but more than 50 per cent will be reinvested in the school in improving playtime facilities.
Above is a couple of pages of the first edition of the Piddle Valley CE First School newspaper. The reporter was Georgie in Year 4. Pupils from the school will be out Christmas Carolling around the village of Piddletrenthide near the school on the evening of Tuesday 6th December from 5:00pm. Headteacher Jayne Brown hopes villagers will come out and join in.
For Children in Need this year St Mary the Virgin Primary (Gillingham) followed the theme of ‘SPOTACULAR’ and came to school in something spotty: spotty jewellery, spotty clothes and even spotty faces. The children all looked fantastic and we had lots of Mini Pudsies walking around the school! A special assembly was held to teach the children why they raise money and about some of the work that Children in Need does. Each class also found out about a charity that is supported by Children in Need, producing work that is displayed in school. With everyone’s support we raised almost £200 – thank you to everyone who donated.
Charlton Horethorne Primary. The children came to school looking wonderfully SPOTacular – with some terrific homemade spotty outfits. The sun shone for a whole school welly walk and the children had fun playing in the Millenium Green. It was lovely that many parents, relatives and friends joined in to enjoy the ramble. The day ended with a Children in Need cake sale, which swiftly sold out, raising over £130. A great effort for such a little school.
On Friday 11th November we went down to the Zeal’s war memorial with our prayers and pictures, to participate in the service and to remember and respect the people who died in the war protecting our nation.
Remembrance Day by Carson Today we gather to remember the countless deaths of millions of men and women who did their job to keep us safe. We also remember the animals that charged onto the battle, the factory workers who made the ammunition, the farmers who grew the rations, the doctors and nurses who helped the wounded and the survivors who’s life changed for ever. We will remember them. Amen Carson, aged 10
With the ever-popular Great British Bake Off on our televisions the wellbeing team at Sherborne Primary School thought it would be a wonderful idea to have their very own Staff Bake Off Challenge. Participants were asked to bake a sponge cake with an autumnal theme. The cakes were baked at home and brought into school to be judged by the school council representatives, with marks being awarded for both taste and appearance. The children were amazed at the standard of the cakes and thoroughly enjoyed tasting them! Among the entries there were cakes designed to look like a lit bonfire, a hibernating hedgehog and a crackling woodland chocolate delight. The overall winner was Sue Read who baked a magnificent Cake entitled Mouse House. The cakes, along with some donations baked by members of the school council, were all sold after school and they raised a total of £119.66. A wonderful time was had by all and there’s now talk of an Easter Bake Off Challenge …
