Conservatives managed our decline for the last ten years and people were finally fed up of it, nationally and locally. People wanted change and they voted for it in 2024, relegating the source of their pain to the role of noisy and frustrated spectators. We also now face the headwinds created in the wider world by bad actors like Presidents Putin, Xi and Trump, compounding the homespun decisions and actions of the last ten years. Greatest of these homegrown headwinds is Brexit. There were many good reasons to dislike the EU and to have voted to leave but there were no excuses for leaving in the shocking way we did. With no planning and with political posturing overriding good sense, we agreed almost the very hardest Brexit deal possible. North Dorset’s current MP wrote last month about buyer’s remorse, but in the realm of Brexit there is little realistic chance of sending anything back to the shop anytime soon – and his party was the shopkeeper of our current pain. Unless something changes, our economic fortunes will continue to be held back by that deal. So, the way forward must be to negotiate, and we have started to see the very early glimmers of what cooperation can achieve. Through the very modest improvements negotiated last month, the UK and EU laid down the absolute basics of a useful deal – a micro-deal. It should help our farmers a bit, companies with European supply chains too, and it might just re-ignite the enthusiasm of small companies to start exporting again. As a bonus, perhaps there will also soon be a deal to allow young people to travel and work. Probably the most important result, though, was to establish a new willingness and practical process for future negotiations. Let’s be honest with ourselves: Brexit is not done, and it never will be. The nearest market is always the most important market, so we will always be negotiating with the EU in some way. We need to get used to the give-and-take of negotiation … which brings me to another harsh reality. While the micro-trade deal is a win for pragmatism, it stands in stark contrast to the desires of Conservative and Reform populists. Populists are less concerned by evidence, facts and stable judgement. Populists think in terms of ‘them and us’. Populists are comfortable with confrontation and uncomfortable with consensus. For populists, the micro-deal was a treacherous sell-out, but I have a question: how many populists does it take to change a lightbulb? None. They’re all too busy sitting in the dark, listening to Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage moaning about how bad it is. There will be little real world progress if the fantasists get back into power. Spoiler alert: Liberal Democrats want to go further and be bolder in our relationship with the EU. The quickest path to a stronger economy is to improve our deals with the EU. The UK has much to offer and a huge amount to gain. Our near-term recommendations include creating a bespoke customs deal with the EU that really gets the economy going. Come on Labour, what are you afraid of? Gary Jackson North Dorset Liberal Democrats
L-R: Hugh Lawes (Came Down), Gordon Mutton,Steve Walton and Ray Pugh (all Dorset G&CC), Simon Etherington (Weymouth), Phil Purvis (Broadstone), Peter Brickell (Highcliffe), Dorset Captain John Skinner with Trophy (Yeovil), Charles Foster (Came Down), Gary Edwardes (Bridport), Peter Foster (Dorset G&CC), Nigel Mobbs (Sherborne), Dorset President David Kimberley.
Dorset Golf Captains have successfully retained the Six-County Golf Captains Trophy for 2025, edging out Gloucestershire by just two Stableford points in a tightly-fought contest. The event, held on Monday 19th May at the Dorset Golf & Country Club, saw teams of six pairs from each of the six counties compete in a four-ball better ball Stableford format. The five best scores contributed to each team’s total. Final scores: Dorset 210, Gloucester 208, Wiltshire 202, Devon 190, Somerset 183, and Cornwall 173. Captained by John Skinner (Yeovil), the Dorset side included players from across the county: Gary Edwardes (Bridport), Phil Purvis (Broadstone), Charles Foster & Hugh Lawes (Came Down), Peter Foster, Gordon Mutton, Ray Pugh & Steve Walton (Dorset G&CC), Peter Brickell (Highcliffe), Nigel Mobbs (Sherborne) and Simon Etherington (Weymouth). Top pair of the day was Charles Foster and Nigel Mobbs, who posted a superb 47 points in changing conditions. Originally launched in 2013 as the West of England Championship at Saunton Golf Club, the competition was paused due to COVID. Saunton later donated the trophy to the counties to continue the event under its new name – the Six-County Captains competition – and rotating hosting duties alphabetically among the counties. Dorset won last year’s event at Stover GC. Dorset Golf Captains, who celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2021, welcome all club captains from any golf club affiliated with the Dorset County Golf Union. In addition to matches across southern and central England, the group organises several internal events and supports junior development through the Colin Chataway Trophy – an initiative that once included future British Open Champion Georgia Hall.
May was really jam-packed: we had our first three-day-event as well as some event preparations, building up for an exciting June. As I write this we are trucking up to Bramham (Mum’s driving, I’m passenger-princessing) with Basil, The Spice Merchant, where I will be competing for the first time in the national U25 Championship 4s. Eek! We had a fab week at Bicton at the end of May, where Max made his International three-day-event debut in the 2L. Having shown the ground jury his best dragon snorts at the first horse presentation, he kept his head down (literally …) for the duration of his dressage to sit in the middle of the field heading into cross country day. Which is easier said than done when you enjoy observing the fashion choices of all the spectators. And the neighbouring horses. And the riders. Ooh, a tent! MAX! CONCENTRATE!
image Courtenay Hitchcock
With the dressage behind us, I thought he might be surprised by Bicton’s hilly 8.5 minute cross country (most tracks are between five and six minutes long). It’s the biggest physical question we’ve asked of him yet, but he whizzed home clear inside the time – maintaining his usual cheeky grin throughout as he climbed into the top 20. Showjumping on the final day for the first time is always a bit of a question for the horse – will they tear around the showjumping as if they’re still going across country, taking poles with them as they go? Will the testing track have taken all the spring out of their stride, resulting in a slightly “flat tyre” feeling? Or will they come out with a spring in their step, a spook and a dragon snort (hmm… I wonder). Fortunately, he impressed us all with the latter, jumping a lovely clear round to finish in 13th place out of more than 60.
All images Courtenay Hitchcock
I couldn’t be more pleased with how he dug deep for me all week, proving himself as a real three-day event horse! Following Bicton, Max has been enjoying a mini-break in the field (not the Bahamas. I wish.) to allow him time to recover and soak in all he learned before we build up to our June events. Next up for him and Jimmy will be Farley Hall, before we gear up to one of our favourite local events, the BE at Kingston Maurward at the end of June.
Ippo bath day … Do I look pretty now, though?
A clever cross country We’re frequent visitors to Kingston Maurward – mum regularly teaches clinics there, and for those of you who can remember all the way back to our December article, Henry and I rode there as part of the Harry Meade demo evening (the one with the fence of doom!). Their fantastic – it was well presented, with an impressive atmosphere and excellent hospitality. Luckily, I’d finished riding before I tucked into the tremendous food spread (Ok – I seriously need to stop ranking events based on their lunch selections…) Food aside, I’m really looking forward to taking both Max and Jimmy around Kingston Maurward’s cleverly designed cross country track.
Showjumping in front of the impressive main house is great fun (and it makes the riders feel super important), but nothing beats the feel of a “proper” cross country course. Last year we ran through the valley, where they made the most of the natural undulations and asked lots of educational questions on the course. I’m eager to see how they’ve designed the Novice track this year – and I’d better be on my A-game, since Max’s owners (Peter and Suzanne Andrews of Andrews Plant Hire) are actually the title sponsors of the event. Last year they were driven around the whole course behind me and Max … no pressure! Whatever the results on the day, we are excited to participate in an event which is so welcoming for riders, sponsors, owners and spectators. Come along if you’re local (or not!) – you can watch Max and Jimmy doing their “thing” in the flesh (alongside some Olympians and 5* riders, but who gives a monkeys about them, eh?). Right – I’d better go: mum/taxi-driver/article-proof-listener is requesting snacks. Hey, wait a minut. Maybe that’s where I get it from! See you on the other side.
In her speech to the House of Commons, Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out a bold vision of “national renewal”, promising an annual 2.3% real-terms growth in departmental budgets and committing billions to healthcare, housing, defence, and infrastructure. While Dorset is set to benefit from parts of this agenda – including funding for Hospital and academy improvements – the county’s business community remains cautious, waiting to see where this support will land locally.
Dorset Chamber chief executive Ian Girling has shared his candid response to the Spending Review: ‘Although there were measures in the Chancellor’s spending review to be welcomed, concerns from business remain strong. Dorset was once again notable by its absence in major spending announcements.
‘However, there may be opportunities once the small print is examined, in such areas as AI, innovation, research and development funding, transport infrastructure, rail, and training and upskilling young people.
‘It is particularly important that many of the world class defence firms we have in Dorset benefit from the spending uplift in this sector.
“… While she may have splashed the cash today, she must not rinse businesses for it tomorrow.’
Ian Girling
‘It was good to see the Chancellor prioritise affordable housing, as shortages of housing stock and high property prices continue to be a major barrier to economic development in Dorset. We must be able to attract people to this area to support business growth.
‘Dorset Chamber will continue to lobby for business to fight for the county’s fair share and will do all it can to support our politicians, leaders and other representatives in this endeavour too.
‘Finally, Dorset businesses have consistently demonstrated their positivity, resilience and strength over recent years – but many will be concerned about what is coming down the tracks in the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget.
‘There must be no more taxes on business faced with ever increasing costs, a difficult labour market and burdensome red tape if the Chancellor is to achieve the growth she so desperately needs.
‘While she may have splashed the cash today, she must not rinse businesses for it tomorrow.’
With new deals signed with the United States and India and the timetabled review of our Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU, trade deals have been much in the news recently. We very rarely give any thought to how we trade: we just have an expectation that what we want will somehow be available either in store or online. President Trump’s spate of tariff madness has, if nothing else, shown the importance of trade policy to all of our lives and livelihoods. The disruption to supply chains occasioned by COVID and then Houthi attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea have played their part in highlighting the fragility of our supply chains, and how dependent we have become upon them. Free trade is always to be championed, providing, as it does, open access to customers and markets – lifting people out of poverty and improving the lot of our fellow man. ‘Free trade’ does not mean ‘laissez faire trade’. Any relationship needs to be buttressed by checks and balances – whether that is quota or regulatory alignment on issues such as animal welfare or use of slave labour. Free trade is not free trade when the playing field is uneven.
Where are our housebuilders Development – and developers – have got themselves a bad name. Communities are suspicious as to motive and outcome. Many feel disenfranchised within a process that is detailed, legal and technical. The large volume housebuilders have dominated the market in recent years, and not always to the good. Design and layout of schemes lacks any local vernacular character. Too many estates look as if they could be in ‘anytown’. Providing a roof over a person’s head is of course important per se, but it can do, and should be, so much more. Developments should shape place, add amenity, create community and assist social mobility. They can and should be places of quality and beauty. I have become even more convinced about the need for the volume builders to improve as I am now dealing with three developments across North Dorset where the developer simply has not done what they said they would do, causing anxiety and irritation to those who have spent considerable sums to purchase their homes. One of the problems in delivering this has been the near absence of the small to medium sized housebuilder – the companies that delivered small schemes amounting to probably no more than 60 units a year. They employed local people. They forged a mutually beneficial relationship with councils. They understood what the local market needed. Moreover, they understood local design, history and materials. They delivered developments that often melded into the existing landscape rather than standing out like a sore thumb. They took pride in their work because they lived within the areas in which they were building. They wanted to leave a legacy. The biggest source of their demise was the great Crash of 2008, when banking nearly fell over and the appetite to lend to the small scale, often highly leveraged developer went the way of the dinosaurs. Well! Good news appears to be on the way. A recent government announcement has recognised the importance of this sector as a pivotal way of delivering new homes at pace. Because they are smaller developments, they can be fitted into infill or small sites, rather than requiring field after field, thereby making them far more agile in meeting the needs of Neighbourhood Plans. Big policy changes are proposed in order to make securing planning permission easier and more streamlined. I am confident that, if we get this initiative right, we could see a renaissance in local housebuilding across the UK. I believe that this will be welcomed in many, if not all, rural communities, where the need for organic but smaller scale development is evident. With additional competition, it may also force the volume housebuilders to sharpen their pencils when it comes to design, layout and materials etc. Is a golden age of sensitive, quality residential development within touching distance? I certainly hope so.
When did we stop letting things be surprises? These days, it feels like every “big announcement” is ruined before it even happens – not by leaks or whistle-blowers, but by the news itself. I saw a headline the other day: “What to expect in the King’s Speech.” Well, if you’re telling me what’s in it before it’s been given, it’s hardly a surprise, is it?
The Grumbler
This isn’t just a one-off. It’s everywhere. The Budget used to be kept under wraps – now we get a full breakdown on Tuesday, days before the Chancellor opens his briefcase. Even Glastonbury can’t resist. Remember when the “surprise act” really was a surprise? Now it’s all over Twitter a fortnight early, discussed on podcasts and debated on breakfast telly. By the time they hit the stage, the only ones who didn’t know were the sheep in the next field and the bloke selling falafel who’s been off-grid since March. It’s like the news has turned into a never-ending trailer for the actual event – except we’re told everything in advance, and then still expected to act surprised when it finally happens. And it’s exhausting. I don’t know about you, but I remember when Mum and Dad would stay up for the Nine O’Clock News. One half-hour, proper grown-up news, then off to bed. Job done. Now it’s non-stop rolling updates, special editions, “breaking” stories that aren’t actually breaking. You can’t move for headlines, and most of them are just noise. It’s no wonder people are switching off. We’re so overloaded nothing sticks. It’s all just background hum. And don’t get me startedon the clickbait used by most media outlets – all those daft headlines like “You won’t believe what happened next” (I can’t be bothered to find out, but I probably would) or “What she did next left everyone shocked.” It probably didn’t, it’s usually something incredibly boring. But the barrage is constant, and it’s shaped a whole generation. Our teens, the labelled Gen Z, have grown up with this stuff. No wonder they’re so deeply cynical. They’ve been fed a diet of nonsense and overhyped fluff since they could tap a screen. But they’re not ignoring the news – far from it. In my broad experience they’re more informed and aware than previous generations were at their age. They’re just weary of being manipulated by it. It’s not just irritating – it’s a problem. If everything is treated like big news, then nothing really is. When something genuinely important does happen, half of us are too burnt out to care. So here’s a mad idea: let surprises be surprises. Give us the news when it’s actually news, not days ahead with a constant runing commentary. Maybe then we’ll start paying attention again.
The Grumbler – the open opinion column in The BV. It’s a space for anyone to share their thoughts freely. While the editor will need to know the identity of contributors, all pieces will be published anonymously. With just a few basic guidelines to ensure legality, safety and respect, this is an open forum for honest and unfiltered views. Got something you need to get off your chest? Send it to editor@bvmagazine.co.uk. The Grumbler column is here for you: go on, say it. We dare you.
From jelly babies to chestnut chaos – Tamsin Doar discovers endurance riding with The Sass Queen and Sam Mowatt of The Piddle Ride
Tamsin and The Sass Queen
With the days growing longer and the weather warming up, many of us horse fanatics are looking forward to filling our time with equestrian escapades. My fiery welsh cob, aptly nicknamed The Sass Queen, is always up for a challenge. She loves tackling everything head on – including the world, her dinner, my pleas to ‘just slow down a bit’ – so we’re always looking for something new and exciting to try. Having previously crewed for riders at The Golden Horseshoe (the UK’s oldest competitive endurance ride), we thought we might try our hand (and hoof) at endurance riding. And who better to ask for top tips than Sam Mowatt, organiser of the Piddle National Ride. Sam has been involved in endurance for more than 20 years: ‘I really love the sense of community and camaraderie. Going to events feels like coming home.’ This is something that really struck me when I crewed, too – just how friendly and welcoming everyone was, taking me under their wing whenever I looked a bit clueless. As an endurance novice I only knew I had to be at certain points around the ride to help those I was supporting (sloshing horses with water and lobbing jelly babies at riders brought me a big thumbs up).
The Piddle Ride 2024 Image: Wessex Endurance
Endurance riding is a unique equestrian sport that tests the stamina, training, and partnership between horse and rider over long distances. Unlike traditional show disciplines, endurance riding focuses on navigating varied terrain – perhaps forest tracks, open moorland or coastal paths – within a set time frame, all while prioritising the horse’s welfare. At Graded (affiliated) rides there are pre- and post- ride vet inspections. Pre-ride, your steed gets a once-over, has their heart rate taken (it needs to be 64bpm or under), and then trots up to prove they’re moving freely. There’s also a quick hoof MOT just before you present to the vet – courtesy of the on-site farrier – checking that the feet and whatever’s on them are up to scratch for the distance ahead. Shoes, boots or bare feet – it’s all allowed, as long as the horse is comfortable and the kit’s up to the job. I can only be grateful that they don’t evaluate the runners – there’s no way I’d trot up sound! Riders then have 30 minutes to start their ride, and throughout the route there are specific points where your crew – often a helpful friend or long-suffering partner – can meet you to help keep both horse and rider hydrated and fuelled. Longer routes include another mid-way vet check. When you pass the finishing line you have 30 minutes to cool off and present for the final vetting. Grades are awarded based on speed and final heart rate: fit horses who complete at good speeds and have low heart rates at the final vetting will be rewarded with higher grades. Competitions are typically divided into three categories: Pleasure Rides (PRs): Non-competitive rides, usually up to 34km. They offer a relaxed opportunity to enjoy time with your horse and friends. When held alongside Graded or Competitive Endurance Rides, horses are trotted up before and after the ride. Horses must be at least four years old, and the completion speed should be between 8 to 12km/h. Graded Endurance Rides (GERs): These rides range from 20 to 160km and require the horse to pass a veterinary check before and after the ride. Longer distances are split into loops, with additional vet checks between loops. Horses are graded based on their speed and heart rate, with awards given accordingly. Competitive Endurance Rides (CERs): These are for advanced horse and rider combinations, covering distances of 80km or more. All competitors start together, and the first horse to cross the finish line, having passed all vet checks, is the winner. Minimum speed is 10km/h, with no maximum speed. While pure and part-bred Arabs dominate the longer distances of endurance, any fit and healthy horse can compete easily up to 65km and beyond.
The Piddle Ride 2024 Image: Wessex Endurance
Spare keys ‘There’s something for everyone in endurance,’ says Sam. ‘You can set your own personal goals at each level, and the beauty of it is there’s no rigid ladder you have to climb like in other affiliated disciplines. You can stay at whatever level suits you, for as long as you like.’ She also stresses how crucial a good crew is: ‘Without one, you’re basically riding solo. And my top tip is that most of us use big laundry detergent bottles for sloshing – they’re ideal.’ If The Sass Queen and I hope to dip our toe into the endurance waters we’re going to have to put some extra washes on: who knew it could take so long to go through one bottle?! And Sam’s final nugget of advice? ‘Always bring a spare set of car keys. It’s shockingly easy (and common) to lock yours in the car – trust me …’
And Sam’s final nugget of advice? ‘Always bring a spare set of car keys. It’s shockingly easy (and common) to lock yours in the car – trust me …’
I’ve also learnt over the years to leave whatever you require for your post-competition routine in your trailer. A friend once finished her ride, hot, tired and with the clock ticking to get her horse cooled and vetted – only to discover her crew (along with the car, and all her kit) were still down the local pub, basking in the sunshine over a well-earned pint. Glorious weather for spectators: less so when you’re trying to sponge down a steaming horse with nothing but your sleeve… The Piddle National Ride will be held this year on 28th and 29th June. ‘Like all events it can feel a monumental effort to organise,’ says Sam. ‘It just wouldn’t be possible without the kind help of volunteers, which is actually a great way to get involved with endurance even if you’re not riding. Whether it’s manning road-crossings to vet writing, it takes a small army for each ride. All volunteers are supplied with refreshments, though!’ I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m easily sold if I’m provided with food! ‘We also try to curate relationships with local landowners,’ she says. ‘And with permission, we team up with the Trail Riders Fellowship to check parts of the routes beforehand.’
The Piddle Ride 2024 Image: Wessex Endurance
So if riding something with a penchant for polos isn’t your thing, and you prefer to stick to two wheels, there really is something for everyone! ‘It’s not just about the ride days,’ says Sam. ‘We also get stuck into path-clearing when hedgerows and foliage start taking over. It helps keep the bridleways clear – not just for us, but for the whole local equestrian community. Where we can, we really try to give something back to the area. That local connection matters. Competitors come from near and far, and that footfall genuinely supports local businesses. Thanks to our sponsors – Equine Products UK, Jackson-Stops Estate Agents and CJ Equine Services – we’re able to cover event costs and still make a donation to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. It’s a real community effort.’ Thankfully, The Sass Queen has never launched me skyward with quite enough drama to warrant an airlift. But joking aside, the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is a vital service – and let’s be honest, equestrians probably account for more than our fair share of callouts. It’s a cause close to the saddle for many of us. The Piddle Ride sounds like something that is right up our street, so if you happen to come across a chestnut blur rampaging around the countryside, refusing to yield to any of her rider’s requests, you’ll know that The Sass Queen is in full-training mode. I can only say watch this space – maybe we’ll even be able to provide a post-ride write up on our next adventure.
Details of the Piddle Ride can be found on EnduranceGB.co.uk The deadline to sign up is midnight 23rd June.
It started with an email from Dorset Council. I read the details while sipping my coffee, and I felt my spelling eye focussing on two words that had been misspelt. Irritating at the best of times, but I was saddened to see two of our North Dorset towns spelt Shaftsbury and Sherbourne. And by the council of all people – those who produce our road signs and policies. It’s not difficult! If a satnav can spell the towns in North Dorset correctly, why can’t their own council?
OPINION – THE DORSET INSIDER
Then, while perusing social media, I chanced across a post from Visit Dorset promoting ‘all the events in May’. If you weren’t already aware of what’s happening in the Blackmore Vale when you read it, you would be forgiven for thinking that North Dorset is an events desert – and incredibly boring. The only thing mentioned (deservedly so) was Sherborne Country Fair (and at least Visit Dorset got the spelling correct …) But where was the Three Okefords Rally? Where was the cheese racing in Shaftesbury and the Byzant Ceremony? It was such a missed opportunity to promote the county in an equitable manner. The towns in the north have lots of rural and independent businesses that would benefit from the kind of trade seen in coastal resorts. Sighing, I moved on … only to read about the new bus routes in Dorset. Touted as ‘connecting the local towns’ there is a massive focus on coastal areas and Dorchester. Yes, there is a bus connecting Gillingham and Sturminster Newton, but Blandford appears to be missing entirely. Why haven’t we got more ambitious plans connecting the north with the centre? Anyone looking at some of these policy decisions would think that Dorset’s most northerly point was Cerne Abbas!
Welcome to the Jurassic Coast! We are all accustomed to seeing the ‘Welcome to the Jurassic Coast’ signs as we enter the county north of Shaftesbury … and for some people that’s the only part of Dorset that matters. However, there is so much more to this county: some people need to get out more and share the love. Town councils give money to Visit Dorset each year in order to promote their areas and bring in business. But go to the ‘Visit Shaftesbury and Gillingham’ page of Visit Dorset, and find … things to do in Shaftesbury and Sturminster Newton. The only thing for visitors to do in Gillingham is a cycle ride? While none of us want to experience the likes of Canford Bottom on a weekend in July, so many of North Dorset’s rural villages would benefit from extra visitors enjoying the local walking (and subsequent food and drink stops), visiting vineyards, stocking up on goodies from farm shops and exploring niche museums. Many of our local attractions are run by volunteers and exist on a shoestring budget. A few more visitors would make a big difference to Shillingstone Station, the Blandford Fashion Museum, Gold Hill Museum, the Dark Skies of Cranborne Chase … and more. If you read Visit Dorset’s list of things to do on a bank holiday, though, everything appears focused on Durdle Door and Weymouth. What we really need is a sign off the A303 that says ‘Welcome to the Blackmore Vale’ instead of directing everyone straight through to the coast. If people think there’s something worth stopping for, maybe they’ll actually … stop?
A new way? With North Dorset’s villages now firmly in Dorset Council’s sights as part of its Local Plan for housing, it really would be a good opportunity for some people from the council to get out and about, familiarise themselves with the road signs, the names and spelling of the towns, and actually experience the dearth of infrastructure. In that way, not only would they view this unspoilt corner of Dorset and see what a magnificent part of the world we live in, but a drive on our country roads in winter might convince them that more infrastructure is actually needed to support all those new houses. I met a councillor from the coastal regions recently who was extremely keen to leave North Dorset in daylight – he was terrified of ending up in a pothole or (worse still) experiencing driving with the lack of street lights. I so enjoyed keeping him talking as the light faded … We also need local jobs to support all these new builds, and tourism would be a simple way of creating rural employment. North Dorset has a huge foodie scene, with an enviable focus on provenance. Dorset’s not just about upmarket Jurassic Coast restaurants. We have amazing cheese producers, fantastic pubs, and some of the best butchers and growers around. All of that needs a fairer share of focus when it comes to tourism development if North Dorset is to truly thrive – especially in the current climate. So, Dorset Council, take a detour from the Jurassic Coast and come inland. The Blackmore Vale may not have cliffs and seagulls, but it’s still part of Dorset. And unless Dorset Council starts planning for its specific rural needs, it risks leaving half of Dorset behind.
The Dorset Insider is a no-holds-barred column pulling back the curtain on local affairs with sharp insight, unfiltered honesty and the occasional raised eyebrow. Written by a seasoned parish councillor who prefers to remain anonymous (for obvious reasons), it cuts through the noise to expose the frustrations of grassroots politics, and say what others won’t. Rest assured, their identity is known – and trusted – by the editorial team. Expect opinion, candour and a healthy dose of exasperation …
There’s a buzz in town this June – and plenty of news around both Stur’s thriving independent shops and also upcoming events. Firstly, congratulations to local couple Tim and Claire Downer who have just opened Smiley Myley, the luxury dog accessories boutique in the former Agnes & Vera premises. A familiar face in 1855, they’re the first trader to ‘graduate’ from the Emporium to a bricks and mortar high street shop. Their move then creates space for new local producers to join the 1855 community – and the latest arrivals are an impressive bunch:
Spoons of Dorset Butter: Small-batch, hand-churned flavoured butter range
South Paddocks: Pork pies, scotch eggs and scratchings from their own herd just three miles away
Pressed on the Hill: Dried flowers, presses and botanical art
Shanty Spirit: Rum and vodka from Poole, infused with seaweed and botanicals
Saddle Stop: Flavoured gins
Earth-Light: Foraged botanical candles
Del’s Creative H-art: Animal-themed artwork
Hannah Shelbourne Designs: Hand-painted lampshades and cards
Mima Natural Colour: Naturally dyed textiles
Karen Bush Pottery: Handthrown ceramics from her Wimborne studio
You can meet many of them during 1855’s monthly Meet the Traders & Tastings morning – always held on the first Saturday of the month.
Events in June Sturminster Newton’s cultural calendar is also looking lively. SturLitFest (6th to 14th June) is packed with events for all ages – and believe it or not, it’s not just about books. The North Dorset Photo Exhibition (21st June to 4th July) opens at The Exchange, displaying the top-voted images from the biggest towns across the region.
As part of their Railway 200 campaign, the Blackmore Vale Line Community Rail Partnership are giving away free postcards in local shops throughout June – each one showcasing stops along the old Somerset & Dorset Railway line. Looking ahead, on the 5th to 13th July, local artists will once again be exhibiting around town for Sturminster Newton Arts Week. The Car and Bike Enthusiasts Meet returns to the Rec on the first Saturday morning of every month, 9am to 12pm, the same day as Liz’s Craft Fair in the Emporium Atrium – with free parking all day, courtesy of SturAction. And finally – a gentle plea. These fantastic community events don’t run themselves. If you would like to get involved, email Jacqui at SturBiz18@gmail.com – your skills (and friendship) will be very welcome.
