April jobs in the flower garden

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5 April 2026

April brings longer days and warming soil, but patience remains vital as gardeners balance fresh sowings with the lingering threat of late frosts

April at last! Just a few jobs to do in the garden this month. Start by giving your trees and shrubs a boost by lightly forking a slow-release fertiliser into the soil surface. Roses will also benefit from a dedicated balanced rose fertiliser.
As the soil begins to warm, night frosts are still a threat – resist the urge to plant out too early! Check forecasts and protect early outdoor sowings with horticultural fleece if temperatures dip.

It’s time to plant your foxglove (Digitalis) seeds – planning ahead for next summer’s flowering

Sowing and planting
A cold greenhouse is now warm enough to start sowing annuals and biennials, including foxgloves, hollyhocks, nemesia, rudbeckia, and French marigolds. Sunflowers can also be started now, either in pots undercover or sown directly into finely raked soil. They are perfect for children to grow and excellent for pollinators and birds: while famous for their height, there are many interesting dwarf varieties now available.
Sweet peas can be sown outdoors this month at the base of their supports. To encourage a bushier plant with more flowers, pinch out the growing tips of any sweet peas you have currently in the greenhouse or cold frame. If you have dahlias started in pots, or dormant tubers, these can safely be planted out during April.

Perennials and bulbs
Place support frames or pea sticks over tall perennials now: doing this early allows the new stems to grow through the supports, hiding them from view. This is also the ideal time to plant summer-flowering bulbs such as gladioli, begonias, lilies, crocosmia and freesias. If you wish to increase your stock of primroses, lift and divide them now: they are hardy plants that split easily to fill gaps around the garden.

Rudbeckia hirta, or black-eyed Susan, make a bright splash in a summer garden – now’s the time to sow them

Lawn care and pruning
Your lawn will need regular attention from now on. Sow fresh seed on any bare patches and aerate compacted areas by spiking the turf with a garden fork or aerator.
There is still time to prune hydrangeas: cut back to a strong stem and for more plants simply push the cuttings into sheltered soil to root! Once spring-flowering shrubs like forsythia, winter jasmine, and chaenomeles fade, prune them by a third and feed. Conversely, lavender and grey-leaved shrubs prefer poor soil and don’t need feeding – but they do require a light 5cm trim to prevent them from becoming leggy.

Hanging baskets
Later in the month, start making up hanging baskets in the greenhouse. Keep them undercover for protection, only moving them to their outdoor positions once the danger of frost has passed.

On the March allotment

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Editorial team

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5 April 2026

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Barry Cuff takes a look back through his notes of what happened on his Sturminster Newton plot last month

Barry Cuff’s allotment in Sturminster Newton

allowed plenty of work to be carried out on the plots. With the blackthorn putting on an amazing show in the hedges, there was always a risk of overnight frosts (a Blackthorn Winter*), so a close eye was kept on the forecasts to determine whether there was a need to heat the greenhouses.

Plot work: As last year’s crops were cleared and old plants consigned to the compost heap, beds were manured and dug as required. A long-handled Cornish spade makes light work of it – far easier than a conventional spade or fork.

In the ground: Garlic planted in November and broad beans planted out in February are both looking strong, helped along by liquid seaweed, although the beans are showing a little weevil damage. Leeks continue to be lifted as required.

Planting and sowing: It is still too early to sow outside, but the greenhouse is busy. Second batches of lettuce and leaf salad mixes are under way, alongside agricultural peas for shoots and spring onions for either in-situ harvesting or transplanting later. Tomatoes (14 varieties, more than 100 plants) and around 45 sweet pepper plants are developing well indoors, with surplus destined for fellow plot-holders.

Potatoes:
The last of the Charlotte crop has been enjoyed (particularly good as wedges), with Desiree and Caledonian Rose still in store.
New plantings have gone in steadily as ground has become available: Orla and Charlotte, Jazzy, Sagitta, Caledonian Rose and Desiree. A greenhouse-grown Jazzy in a large pot is already fully in leaf.
Onions:
The final trays of the 2025 crop are being used up, with any early sprouters processed and frozen. This year’s crop has been sown in stages:
9th: 150 plugs of Bonus (white)
10th: 60 plugs of Red Baron (red)
17th: 150 plugs of Bonus
By 25th March, the earliest onion sowings were already showing strong emergence.

Fresh harvest and stores:
The final pickings of sprouts, parsnips, carrots and early purple sprouting broccoli have been gathered. Autumn salads and radishes are now finished, replaced under cover by mixed leaves, pea shoots and chicons, with the first Little Gem lettuces planted out inside.

From store and freezer: potatoes, squash and onions, alongside sweetcorn, peppers, broad beans and French beans.

Fruit: Raspberry canes are pushing new growth, while buds are breaking on pear, currants and gooseberry. Strawberries have been fed with liquid seaweed and potash.

Wildlife: Warmer days have brought out peacock, orange tip, comma and brimstone butterflies. Bees are active on red dead-nettle and dandelions, with dark-edged bee-flies and ladybirds also making an appearance.

*Blackthorn winter is an old saying, referring to a sudden cold snap, often accompanied by frost or snow, in early spring (usually April), coinciding with the blooming of the blackthorn bush

After the rain

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Editorial team

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5 April 2026

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A very long winter has suddenly been interrupted by a lovely weather interlude, allowing some much-needed work to be done on farms across the county. But the wet winter has once again been costly. For livestock farmers, the cost of bedding and keeping animals indoors has been significant, while many arable crops are still unhappy with waterlogged feet.

All of this places real pressure on farm businesses, and on the resilience and wellbeing of the farmers themselves. If you are finding things difficult, FCN is here to help – you can contact us in confidence on [email protected].
FCN hosted a Quiz Night at the Udder Farm Shop in March, with more than 130 people attending. More than £1,000 was raised for the charity.
This spring we are also holding more of our popular Walk & Talk events around the county – details in the ad. Anyone within the rural community is very welcome to attend. Come and join us for a five to seven mile walk. We always meet at a village pub or café car park, so there’s the option of a drink and a meal afterwards. To book please contact Helen Newman by text or WhatsApp on 07957158259 or [email protected]

Season Finale Thrills at Wincanton

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Editorial team

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5 April 2026

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The countdown is on to the final fixture of the 2025/26 season at Wincanton Racecourse, and it promises to end on a high.
Join us for the WinOlympics Family Raceday on Sunday 12th April: a celebration of sport, entertainment and great racing for all ages.

Bring your family, friends and even your dogs along for an action-packed afternoon!
There’s something for everyone, from crazy golf and a surf simulator to Velcro dart football, all designed to get you into the sporting spirit. Younger racegoers can enjoy soft play and a quiet arts and crafts area, perfect for those who need a more relaxed pace during the day.

On the track
Of course, the highlight remains on the track, with six thrilling races set to provide an exciting finale to a fantastic season of racing. Don’t miss your last chance to experience the atmosphere at Wincanton before the summer break. Celebrate the season in style and be part of a memorable day: gates open at 12:40pm. Visit our website for more information and to secure your place: thejockeyclub.co.uk/wincanton

Local retail roots run deep

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Editorial team

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4 April 2026

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The merger of two long-established Wimborne businesses is showing its strength on the shop floor as the team expands

From left: Andy Palmer, Ben Todd, Jakob Malodabry and Dacombes of Wimborne Managing Director Matt Renaut © BBPR

Founded more than a century ago, Dacombes recently combined with Holmans – itself established in 1948 – bringing together nearly 180 years of local trading. The result is not just a larger operation, but a depth of knowledge that few independents can match, with more than 200 years of combined experience across the team.

Andy Palmer joins from Holmans as Warehouse Manager

A key recent appointment is Ben Todd, 35, who joins as Sales Manager. His career spans the full spectrum of electrical retail, from early experience with Kirby Vacuums through to domestic appliances at Brian Dryden and Currys in Bournemouth, where he became the store’s top sales advisor. He later spent 12 years at Holmans, rising to manager.

Ben Todd joins from Holmans as Sales Manager

He says the move feels like a natural continuation rather than a change of direction. ‘It’s great to work for a business that shares the same customer ethos I’m used to – genuinely taking the time to find the right product. Unlike the multiples, we can switch appliances on and demonstrate how they work, so customers really understand what they’re buying. And you always get a real person at the end of a phone here – there’s no annoying call centres.’
Andy Palmer, 54, also joins from Holmans as Warehouse Manager, bringing more than three decades of experience. He will be overseeing thousands of items of stock and customer deliveries and sees the merger as a practical as well as cultural fit.

Jakob Malodabry is at the start of his career as a showroom assistant, while also training to become an installer.

‘I’m proof that family-run independent businesses can offer real career stability and progression,’ he says. Completing the trio is Jakob Malodabry, 27, who is at the start of his career as a showroom assistant, while also training to become an installer. ‘I’m loving the training – both in person and online,’ said Jakob. ‘I’m a gadget geek, so electronics is ideal for me. The support from the team is brilliant: if you don’t know something, there’s always someone who does. It’s like working alongside walking electronic encyclopaedias.’
Managing Director Matt Renaut says the transition has been smooth, with many customers already following familiar faces across to the Leigh Road showroom. ‘That continuity really matters,’ he says, ‘and it’s been encouraging to see how quickly the expanded team has come together.’

Rural fire cover under threat

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Editorial team

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4 April 2026

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Cuts will kill, warns Fire Brigade Union, as rural communities rally to fight proposed station closures and loss of engines

The thatch fire at Mosterton – 19 appliances and 60 firefighters were involved.
Image courtesy Charmouth Fire Station

The decision to close eight fire stations across Dorset and Wiltshire rests on a risk assessment that the Fire Brigades Union argues no longer reflects the reality of climate, rurality and rising demand.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) has launched a public consultation proposing the closure of eight fire stations across Dorset and Wiltshire, four in each county, Charmouth, Cranborne, Hamworthy and Maiden Newton in Dorset, and in Wiltshire, Bradford-on-Avon, Mere, Wilton and remote Ramsbury in the north of the county. While the fire service naturally has a statutory responsibility to maintain a balanced budget, and has difficult decisions to make, there are widespread concerns about the loss of services due to these closures.
Dorset and Wiltshire currently have more than 70 engines – as well as several specialist support vehicles. Eight of these will be lost through the closures. That would leave 62 engines serving a region experiencing rapid housing growth and increased climate risk.

DWFireRescue handling floods in January 2026

The data used for this decision-making by the DWFRS came from three years prior to April 2025 – despite real-time data being available. Crucially this excluded one of the busiest ever years for the fire service in Dorset. Last summer’s Holt Heath fire was declared a Major Incident, with appliances and teams supporting the county from all over England and Wales. Initially, 100 firefighters from Dorset fought the fire which burned through 72 hectares of heathland, putting homes at risk. Crews from as far away as Manchester and Lincolnshire supported Dorset’s firefighters.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) told The BV: ‘The service response is that the data set that was used was the “last full year of data available”. The FBU has specific concerns about this, as 2025-2026 was one of the busiest years for the service in recent times. We believe this would have materially affected the data provided to the public.’
With climate change causing increased summer temperatures, the risk of heathland and crop fires is rising. However, the analysis and risk assessment by the fire service focused on road traffic collisions and fires: flooding and heathland fires were not a prominent feature of the strategic risk assessment, although there are obvious signs of change with floods and climate.
Given that the fire service has access to real-time data and reports on incidents, should the analysis be reviewed again using the latest available figures?
Response times and rural risk
The faster the emergency services get to the scene of an incident, whether it is a serious road traffic collision or a house fire, the sooner lives can be saved. The fire service faces difficult choices with a limited budget, but to what extent was rurality included in the assessment of the stations earmarked for closure? Agricultural fires are as devastating as burning buildings in remote villages.
It takes an average of 50 firefighters to tackle a thatched house blaze. When a home at Mosterton caught fire recently, engines from all over Dorset attended with 19 appliances at the scene when the fire was at its height. 60 fire-fighters from Dorset and Somerset attended the blaze, including from Charmouth station which is earmarked for closure. Dorset is home to ten per cent of England’s thatched buildings – ‘The Dorset Model’ is a widely recognised fire safety standard for constructing thatched buildings.
The FBU said: ‘The risk to thatched properties has been considered and the service’s position is that all residents will be less safe, should the stations close. The arrival-at-incidents time will increase in all areas. One resident with a thatched property described how their insurance requires a fire station to be within 10 minutes of their property – with the incident at Mosterton, firefighters initially came from Bridport, Charmouth and Sherborne as well as crews from Devon & Somerset at Chard, Ilminster and Yeovil. When firefighters cannot conclude an incident safely, we ask for more fire engines and firefighters until we can. This was the case here, where further appliances were called from Beaminster, Dorchester, Lyme Regis, and more from Devon & Somerset at Colyton, Wincanton, Street and Axminster.’
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service acknowledges these are unpopular decisions: ‘We know that proposing fire station closures will not be a welcome decision for our communities or staff. However, the Fire & Rescue Authority has a statutory duty to set a balanced revenue budget.

Last summer’s Holt Heath fire was a Major Incident.
Image courtesy DWFireRescue
© Bliss Aviation

‘Our underlying funding position, specifically the recent finance settlement received from central Government, does not provide a sufficient level of funding for the service to continue to operate as it is. No decisions have been made yet and, before anything happens, we want to hear what you think.’
Meanwhile, the FBU’s position is clear: ‘All fire stations should remain open, as they provide an essential emergency service to otherwise isolated and predominantly rural communities. They provide resilience to DWFRS in spate conditions, but ultimately they should remain open as the Chief Fire Officer has a duty under the Fire Services Act 2004. Sections 7 and 8 require the Authority to secure sufficient personnel, services and equipment to meet all normal requirements. Reducing operational capacity while demand rises, and while mutual aid is also under pressure, leaves the Authority open to challenge on whether it can still meet reasonably foreseeable needs.’
Cuts kill, says the Fire Brigade Union.

A house fire can become lethal in less than two minutes and a residence can become engulfed in flames in five minutes. Regardless of the threat of closing fire stations, there has never been a more critical time to look at your home, get smoke detectors fitted, assess how fires can be prevented and how you would escape in an emergency.

Broken by a system in flux

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Editorial team

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4 April 2026

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As NHS restructuring ripples through Dorset, dedicated staff faced with confusion and exhaustion are choosing to walk away, writes Jon Sloper

Since the March 2025 announcement of the dissolution of NHS England and the restructuring of Integrated Care Boards – including our own NHS Dorset – many staff have been left in a painful and uncertain position about their roles and their futures. Unclear and shifting deadlines have compounded the trauma of consultation and redundancy processes. So-called “voluntary” redundancies have been offered, yet further job losses are still required.
Unknown and shifting deadlines for decisions have compounded the trauma of consultation and redundancy processes. “Voluntary” redundancies have been offered, but further losses are still required. New roles have been presented that existing staff must apply for if they wish to remain in the NHS. However, these roles do not clearly match existing ones, and the new working structures are still under development. Confusion and distress are widespread.
At the heart of it all is the sense that years of hard work and commitment can be tossed aside without any apparent consideration. Personal dedication and team commitments have no place in the plan for a – as yet unclear – new model of work. Instead there is a cliff edge as current arrangements end, and at best a poorly fitting parachute into the next phase.

Taking their knowledge
HR colleagues and senior managers are also caught in this process, trying to fix the unfixable, explain the inexplicable and implement this mandated redundancy process with as much kindness and empathy as possible – while also being insecure in their own employment.
On Radio 4’s Today programme on 25th March, Health Minister Wes Streeting described some senior leadership redundancies as ‘weeding out people who perform poorly in their jobs’. In my experience, not only is that inhuman and insulting, but it is quite the opposite of what is happening.
Dozens of dedicated people who have given years of passionate service and supported communities in countless ways are choosing to leave from a place of exhaustion and heartbreak. They are stepping away where they can – and taking their expertise, knowledge and compassion with them.Meanwhile, those who remain are expected to continue delivering a health service that meets rising demand and perpetually shifting political priorities. At times, this is simply too much. Over recent months I have listened to colleagues in tears, frustrated and overwhelmed by uncertainty and hurt by what feels like disregard for their work. Their identity, rooted in a culture of public service, is shaken. For many, redundancy comes at a time of rising living costs and growing financial pressure. The personal toll is heavy.
Help and Kindness was, in part, born out of Dorset’s local government reorganisation in 2019, when two unitary authorities replaced the county and district councils. We hoped that if change came again, we could offer support and connection – helping provide continuity as roles shift, people move on and systems are rebuilt. We work closely with hundreds of people in our public sector organisations and are doing all we can to offer our compassion and solidarity as they navigate their way through these times of unprecedented change.
We work closely with hundreds of people across our public sector organisations and are doing all we can to offer compassion and solidarity as they navigate this period of upheaval.
As these changes continue, kindness and understanding will not alter the outcomes, but they will matter deeply to those living through them. Many are facing the loss of both their jobs and their sense of identity. We send them our love, our gratitude and our kindness.
helpandkindness.co.uk

Two Dorset farmers get the Golden Buzzer

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Editorial team

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4 April 2026

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When Jeremy Clarkson’s Farmers’ Choir hit the Golden Buzzer, two Dorset voices were at the heart of a performance carrying more than harmony

Ben Chick behind Jeremy Clarkson at a choir rehearsal

The Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir caused a sensation on Britain’s Got Talent recently. Their singing was so good that a tearful Amanda Holden pressed the Golden Buzzer, giving them an automatic pass to the talent show semi-finals. Within the choir were two farmers from Dorset, Ben Chick and Ellie Maguire. Twenty-seven-year-old Ben farms at Sixpenny Handley and applied to get involved in the choir set up by Jeremy Clarkson.
‘There was an advert for a farming choir,’ he says. ‘When I saw it I jumped at the chance. We all had to record a video of us singing for a minute, so I went up into one of the fields with four yellow Labradors and sang. There were more than 500 applications, so I felt very privileged when they emailed me back to say I had been chosen.
‘I have always loved music. I was in the choir at Clayesmore and was head chorister, I had a Grade 8 scholarship, as I play several instruments. It’s very much in my DNA, but I hadn’t sung for several years.
‘A couple of years ago I got chronic fatigue, which is a bit like long Covid. I still have it now, but singing is really good for that because it stimulates your vagus nerve. It also stimulates your endorphins, so you get that dopamine release and it makes you feel really good, especially when you are with other people in a group.
It has been an amazing way to meet up and offload. It has been really helpful to me mentally. Because I’m musical and love harmonies, the feeling of being in a choir when it sounds amazing is just a really cool experience.’

The Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir
The Farmers’ Choir was set up by Jeremy Clarkson and includes people involved with farming from all over Britain, people who share a connection to agriculture and a love of singing.
About 40 members were chosen. It’s not just farmers, others, including an entomologist and a seed merchant, represent various aspects of the agricultural industry. They first gathered at Jeremy Clarkson’s pub, The Farmer’s Dog, to record playful promotional jingles which have since appeared on social media. Some of these jingles have become known for their rather sweary content and, as a consequence, many have been banned from mainstream broadcasting channels. Ben was among the farmers who recorded those first songs.
‘That was the first thing we did. Jeremy came up with some lyrics with someone else – they must have had a pint or two while writing them, but it was absolutely hilarious. It was totally stupid, but brilliant – and it’s very clever marketing.’

For his audition, Sixpenny Handley farmer Ben Chick ‘went up into one of the fields with four yellow Labradors and sang’

Britain’s Got Talent
The choir was selected to audition at the Birmingham Hippodrome on 3rd October last year,but it wasn’t until 21st March that thousands of viewers saw the performance on television. ‘We only had two rehearsals before the Britain’s Got Talent audition,’ Ben says. ‘Going on to the show was an amazing experience. We’re from all necks of the woods. I’m the youngest at 27 and I think the oldest is 74. This is the biggest thing we’ve ever done. It was quite a long day waiting around, and we got our slot around 4pm.
‘There was just so much energy in the room, everyone was so excited.’
For the choir members, it’s about more than just singing: it’s about representing their industry at a time when it is under the greatest pressure. ‘It means such a lot to us,’ says Ben. ‘We are not just another choir. We are representing British agriculture. I’ve lost people I know in agriculture to suicide. A lot of us in the choir have our own stories, and the choir has meant different things to everyone. When we come together and represent the industry, especially in the difficult time currently, it’s a real privilege. At the end of it, the place was electric.’
The judges on the day were Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, KSI and special guest judge Stacey Solomon. The choir sang the uplifting anthem ‘One Day Like This’ by Elbow and so impressed the judges that Amanda Holden instantly thumped the Golden Buzzer– the Farmers’ Choir had an automatic pass to the semi-finals. ‘We were all thinking we have a great story and we’re quite good … and then that happened. It was incredible. We were all hugging. I’m the one in the back jumping around like a ninja.’
Ellie Maguire, who lives near Sherborne, was also selected to sing in the choir: ‘From the minute we came together as a choir we knew it was something special,’ she wrote on social media. ‘What started out as some fun adverts is becoming something truly magic. We are all singing our hearts out so that rural communities can be heard.
‘It was unbelievable that we were there and when we got the Golden Buzzer I just lost it. I couldn’t contain the tears – it felt that we really were being seen.’

What Happens Next
Ben and the other farmers are naturally looking forward to progressing: ‘The next stage is the semi-finals, and we have some rehearsals coming up soon,’ says Ben. ‘What has been special is the whole ‘coming togetherness’ and the community feel of it all. We are genuinely one big family. The opportunity for us to do this has been magical. It has been a revelation for people to offload the daily struggles, meet like-minded people and sing together.’
The choir was created to support mental health within the farming community. ‘If we win, we’ll be donating the money to charity,’ says Ben. ‘There has never been a more perfect time to support farming. It has been really difficult and I hope this resonates with the public.’

Britain’s Got Talent continues Saturdays at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

Council apologises for ‘premature’ notice to quit after public outcry over Wimborne’s radio station

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Editorial team

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4 April 2026

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Wimborne Minster’s volunteer-run community radio station faces an uncertain future after being told by Dorset Council that it must vacate its studio premises.
On 26th March, the not-for-profit Radio Wimborne was told by its landlord that the building was required for a youth project. While the radio station supports initiatives for young people, it is concerned that no detailed plans or confirmation of funding for the proposed use have been published.

Radio Wimborne presenter Matt Fleming with Radio Wimborne founder Malcolm Angel enjoying an outside broadcast © Wimborne BID

The initial notice gave the station just two weeks to leave. Following vocal and widespread public support on social media – and with supporters out in force to attend a Wimborne Minster Town Council meeting on 31st March – Dorset Council has granted a three-month extension. This allows the station, which broadcasts 24 hours a day, to continue broadcasting from its base at Allenview Hub until the end of June, while it searches for a new home.
Jan Britten, Dorset Council’s Executive Director for Place, publicly apologised for the short notice, describing it as ‘premature’ and stressing that the council had no intention of making the station ‘homeless’.
The council has explained that although Radio Wimborne’s licence to occupy (Tenancy at Will) does not require the council to provide notice, it has agreed a three-month extension ‘to support an orderly move to suitable alternative accommodation.’
While welcoming the extension, the station has warned that a 12-week timeframe still presents significant challenges. Its broadcasting licence depends on access to suitable studio facilities, adding further pressure to secure appropriate accommodation within a short period.

A vital ingredient
Founded in 2004 by local businessman Malcolm Angel, Radio Wimborne began as an online station before expanding to FM and later DAB, extending its reach across north Poole to the Purbeck area.
‘Only this week, the Culture Secretary announced increased support for local radio,’ said Mr Angel. ‘The council’s steps to evict Radio Wimborne seem totally at odds with government policy.’
Beyond its daily programming, Radio Wimborne plays a central role in the town’s cultural life. It provides a platform for local musicians, including live sessions showcasing emerging artists, and regularly supports community events with outside broadcasts and technical expertise.
The station also works closely with local schools, offering work experience placements, including opportunities for students with special educational needs. Charities and community groups are supported through free Community Information Messages recorded and broadcast throughout the week.
Local organisations, including Planet Wimborne, are supporting the radio station. Trustee Dr Neil Smith says: ‘We were shocked to hear Radio Wimborne might go off air. Over the past few years we have teamed up with Radio Wimborne to help us engage with local people about what we do and they have supported our annual Green Festivals. As keen supporters, we hope a successful solution can be found to keep them on air and promoting the town.’
Wimborne Drama’s chairman Gary Paine says: ‘It’s a vital ingredient in the make-up of the town. A huge hole would be left if Radio Wimborne was forced to vacate, especially with Wimborne celebrating its Town of Culture year.’
Tammy Sleet, manager of Wimborne BID, described the station as a key partner: ‘They help publicise our events, provide outside broadcasts and showcase local businesses on air. We’ve recently worked with them to give Wimborne businesses a regular on-air voice. Losing Radio Wimborne would be a huge blow to the town.’

Jan Britten, Dorset Council’s Executive Director for Place

Requests ignored?
Dorset Council has linked the eviction to plans to refurbish the building for future youth provision. Since its opening, Radio Wimborne has been run from a small building in the West Car Park, behind the Allendale Centre, both of which are owned by Dorset Council. A youth cafe was set up at the Allendale Centre in 2019, but closed after only four months due to the lack of both volunteers and funding. Dorset Council’s sell-off of youth facilities across the county included a former youth café in Church Street, Wimborne, and funding was withdrawn from QE Leisure Centre. Radio Wimborne denies claims that it was informed last year by Dorset Council that the radio station building would be required for other uses. The station’s directors say that their application to Dorset Council for a Community Asset Transfer, along with a request to establish costs to purchase the building, has been ignored.In a statement, Dorset Council said it ‘recognises the valued contribution Radio Wimborne has made to the community’ and would ‘continue to engage with the station to support a smooth transition.’ In the mean time, Radio Wimborne says it will focus on securing a suitable new base and continuing its service to the local community.