Shaftesbury School were motivated to raise money for the people of the Ukraine – and decided an appropriate way to help would be via Yeovil-based School in a Bag which provides a new rucksack filled with essential stationery items – each bag costs £20 to pack and send. A Target of £1,000 was set for the school, and Mrs Burfitt shared the fundraising target to the school, raising awareness of the conflict in Ukraine.
An online fundraising page on was set up and two hours after the InTouch message was sent to parents the online total already stood at over £250. Fundraising within school commenced with Miss Frazer and Mrs Elphick setting up an activity colouring in Sunflowers, asking students to write messages of hope in exchange for a donation. In three days they raised an amazing £60. A Bake Sale raised a massive £160, and students were invited to donate to wear something in the colours of the Ukrainian flag. The generosity of students, staff, parents and carers has been simply heart-warming. School Governor and Rotary Club member, Paul Whiteman, on behalf of the Governors approached the Rotary Club and secured a donation of £500, and an interview on This is Alfred opened the online appeal up to the general public. By the end of the first week of fundraising the school had over £1000 collected in school, and £1400 online. Added to this since is the £500 from the Rotary Club, and final monies arriving means that Shaftesbury School tripled their target. A spokesperson said “We are immensely proud that Shaftesbury School can now pack and send 150 bags to the children of Ukraine. Thank you to each and every one of you who has contributed to this cause and a huge thank you to Mrs Burfitt for coordinating the campaign.”
We plotted this route on the map for one reason – we wanted to finally walk Hell Lane Dorset through to the other end which is the same path but now called Shute’s Lane (between Symondsbury and North Chideock). And what an absolutely gorgeous cracker of a route it turned out to be! The route navigates mostly via ancient green lanes and spectacular holloways in Dorset. It’s got huge variety – some stunning views, ancient mysterious pathways, away from the busier Symondsbury it was entirely unpopulated, there were sneaky peeks at the sea – and we can now agree that the experience of walking through Hell Lane and Shute’s Lane is pretty special.
We elected to walk the route in a figure of eight, which allowed a grand finale walking up the spectacular Hell Lane Dorset and Shute’s Lane – your choice of course, it’s easy to switch, and you could take the ancient quarrying holloway as an easier downhill at the start. Some of the green lanes are actual stream beds – do make sure you’re wearing good footwear if the weather has been wet. For us, though we were walking in glorious sunshine the previous week had been rainfilled. As a consequence there were some seriously splashy sections, and the bottom end of Hell Lane was actually a fast-flowing shallow stream. Another couple of paths ran through the centre of hedgerows and have clearly been re-routed into the neighbouring field to prevent the need for upkeep – we battled through for a bit, occasionally on hands and knees, until we gave in and used the field! None of the hills are too strenuous, and if you’re lucky with your weather like we were it’ll be a spectacular afternoon’s walk.
The middle section of the ancient holloway, where North Chideock’s Hell Lane Dorset morphs into Shute’s Lane at the Symondsbury end
The first section of Hell Lane was a shallow stream which required sploshing through. Once you’re past that, there’s a steady incline up to Quarry Cross through the astonishing holloway
The charms of the holloways never stop – this wall of twisted tree roots is amazing at the top of Hell Lane Dorset
Though the tracks are easy to follow, many are well-used and clearly winter streambeds, like this approach to Venn Farm. Boots definitely required!
As Hell Lane Dorset morphs into Shute’s Lane nears Symondsbury the walls get ever higher and more deeply carved
Colmers Hill is an ever-present unmistakeable landmark on this circular Dorset walk
All the Dorset Walks we feature have been created and walked recently by ourselves, so you know you can trust them – we aim for unpopulated routes with as little road and as many views as possible! You can always see the route and follow it yourself via the free Outdoor Active app – see all our routes here.
Mother’s Day was not the day of rest and relaxation Lucy Procter might have planned – but the unusual daytime foalings were special to the team.
Seebeedee’s Nathaniel filly, one of Lucy’s morning-coffee foals from 13th March.- image Courtenay Hitchcock
Foals, foals and more foals, but before we get onto the foals, we have to talk about Honeysuckle. In the middle of March the TGS-bred mare won her second Champion Hurdle at The Cheltenham Festival and by so doing, became the first mare ever to have scored twice in the championship race’s 95-year history. To give our hardworking team the opportunity to see Honeysuckle in the flesh, we sent them all to Cheltenham on the Tuesday, with the hope they would be shouting her home. With the staff having come in early and rattled through morning stables, they were off shortly after 10 o’clock, leaving the bosses at home to enjoy Honeysuckle’s triumph on the television before finishing up for the afternoon.
An unusual early morning foaling before coffee with the TGS staff
Mother’s Day gifts And so, to foals! Most mares foal during the night and the staff don’t see them until they are a few hours old after they arrive at work in the morning. Occasionally a mare will foal during the day. In last month’s column I wrote about sharing the culmination of the dream with the staff when they all came to Wincanton to watch TGS-bred Last Royal’s win. Now, during March, our staff have been able to share the beginning of the dream, with two mares having foaled in the morning before coffee break, and a third having foaled around tea-time.
Miss Moses’ Aclaim foal – image Courtenay Hitchcock
The afternoon foaler was in fact one of four mares to foal on Mother’s Day – literally no rest for new mums (or the bosses) here at TGS! The foals are happily enjoying the dry weather and sunshine. The new foals go out for an hour twice a day for the first few days, and only in the paddock right by the yard. The older ones go further up the farm for a longer period, before they’re all back in a warm, dry straw bed for the night.
Glanvilles Guest, mentioned in last month’s column heading off to be covered, had a successful 28 day heartbeat scan
Equestrian obstetrics Last month we talked about Glanvilles Guest visiting her chosen stallion with this year’s foal at foot. Two weeks after she was covered (mated), we were delighted when our vet scanned her in foal – and even happier when she scanned with a heartbeat two weeks after that. The mare will have one final scan at 45 days after covering, to check that the pregnancy is progressing normally and that will be the last check until stallion fees are due in the autumn. We scan to confirm that our mares are all still in foal on 1st October (a horse’s gestation period is 11-12 months). Three other mares have also scanned in foal this month, so the season is progressing well.
Miss Moses’ Aclaim foal – who was the first morning-coffee foal on 12th March – image Courtenay Hitchcock
A Poet-ic double win To put a cherry atop our March cake, our daughter Alice rode her first point-to-point winner at Larkhill, which then became a double, in somewhat unusual circumstances. Her horse in the first, Golden Poet, was the only declaration so they won with a ‘walkover’ (in racing, if there is only one runner in a race, that horse still has to go onto the track and cross the finish line, hence the term ‘walkover’). Golden Poet was also entered in the last race of the day, which turned out to be a ‘match’ (two runners), which Golden Poet won by 25 lengths, under an excellent ride from Alice for trainer Keiran Burke. We all hope these are the first of many.
A three day old Scalo filly out of Mollasses – another of the Mother’s Day foals – image Courtenay Hitchcock
by Lucy Procter, co-owner of The Glanvilles Stud (TGS), shares her diary of life on a Thoroughbred stud.
Far more than your local garden centre, Thorngrove offers something rich and precious for the whole community, says Kelsi-Dean Buck.
Spring has well and truly arrived and we couldn’t be happier! The sunnier days bring a Vitamin D and mood boost which has been greatly missed during those winter months. After the storms of February, we’re delighted that March brightened up, and we’re certainly finding more reason to be outside in the our gardens. After a month of beautiful snowdrops and daffodils taking centre stage, it won’t be long before more spring plants start to make themselves known. From Tulips and Lilies to name a couple – and of course, the Roses will start to bloom before we know it!
Children’s events are back At Thorngrove in March we were delighted to announce that for the first time since before the pandemic, events for children are returning to the garden centre this Easter half term! We can’t believe it’s been over two years since we last hosted some craft fun, and although it’s been difficult to wait, we feel now’s the time we can start to encourage more events, and finally show the community that we have so much to offer; that we’re not just the place to pick up your plants – we’re somewhere the family can visit for a day out (or at least a good chunk of it!). We’d love to get young people more interested in plants and gardening, and we’re making plans for more events later in the year. However, sometimes we know kids just want to have fun, so we’re happy to be hosting Easter crafts and would love to see you there!
A diverse community As we’ve mentioned in the past, keeping Thorngrove diverse in terms of the services we offer is a big priority. We’re more than just a garden centre, and as we continue to develop it’s important to us that you, our customers, see the ethos of Employ My Ability through everything we do. Yes, we’re selling plants and gardening essentials, but at the same time we’re providing opportunities for employment, for people to connect, maintain a community spirit, and we feed back into Gillingham and the surrounding areas as our students eventually move on to somewhere new. Whether it’s through events, community projects, or just giving gardening advice, we do our best for the community.
Win Ten one hour free sessions in our agility /exercise arena worth £125!
See details below –
Enter our open day Competition.
When you visit our open day; don’t just visit our arena, take a guided tour, have your free doggie nail trim and ear clean or enjoy a complimentary drink in our rest area. Put your name and address on the back of the printed invitation you will be given, hand it in and take part in our free-to-enter-competition.
One lucky winner will be offered ten one-hour sessions in our agility/exercise arena, entirely free and on days/at a time to suit them.
His own acting career may have peaked with Up Pompeii!, but as a theatrical agent Kerry Gardner went on to shape the careers of some of our best-loved British actors. Now living in Dorset, this month Kerry braved the Random 19 questions.
Born in India to British parents at the tail end of the British Raj and packed off to a miserable English boarding school at a very young age, Kerry Gardner’s years as a stage and television actor culminated in his time as Nausius in Up Pompeii! Without an agent and realising he was wasn’t good at selling himself, (“it was embarrassing, to tell the truth”), he left acting to set up an actors’ agency, Kerry Gardner Management, and helped fashion the careers of Imelda Staunton, Miranda Richardson, Pam Ferris and Bill Paterson – to name but a few world talents.
After nearly 30 exciting years of this he took on a partner, Andy Herrity, (who now runs Gardner Herrity), retired, and came to live in North Dorset.
In his recent memoirs, Not Another Waltz (I, Nausius) he has written a frank retelling of his journey from Harrogate to Hollywood (“it came out to tumultuous indifference, which is rude – I’m a bloody good read! It has 26 five star reviews on Amazon to prove it! They include: ‘Beautifully written with sharp wit but also compassion. Funny, sometimes sad, and very often wickedly mischievous’. So there!”)
Kerry Gardner with Biscuit the poodle (from Katmandoodle…)
1. What’s your relationship with the Blackmore Vale (the loose North Dorset area, not us!)?
I fell in love with Dorset when I was working (if you can call acting ‘work’ and not fun) on Bournemouth Pier and stayed through that glorious summer in a house outside the town. I’ve been living just outside Sturminster Newton for the past 25 years. It’s a magical county.
2. What was the last song you sang out loud in your car?
I have adapted Gershwin’s “Bess, you is my woman now” for my dog, Biscuit, so I sing the first verse (‘Biscuit, you’re my woman now’) to her in a gruff voice, and the second verse in her much purer soprano, addressed to me. So it goes: ‘Kerry, I’s your poodle now’. After that it’s ‘Oklahoma, sweeping down the plain’.
3. What was the last gift you gave someone?
Gift giving at my age is a problem. Because you have everything you need, and gifts are inevitably greeted with “Oh, thank you. Another one.”
So you end up going out to buy the most odd thing you can find. Which will naturally end up being greeted with either ‘THANK you, that’s terrific!” or a horrorstruck “what is it?”.
It’s a 50/50 adventure.
4. It’s Friday night – you have the house to yourself, and no work is allowed. What are you going to do?
Mind your own business.
5. What was the last movie you watched? Would you recommend it?
Simon Amstell’s Benjamin. Being a bit soppy myself the love story appealed to my treacly core. The acting is superb throughout, and it’s very funny!
6. What is your comfort meal?
*suitably thoughtful pause* “Well, I think it’s just about anything that passes in front of me…”
7. What would you like to tell 15yr old you?
Try and see the world through other people’s eyes, not just your own.
8. The best crisps flavour?
Plain, lightly sea salted. Probably Walkers. If it’s got flavours like chilli, well then I’m afraid I’m obliged to spit it out. That’s not a crisp, that’s the work of the devil.
9. And the best biscuit for dunking?
*swift and unhesitating* Dove’s Digestives.
They must be Dove’s. You’ve never tried them? Rush out now and buy them. Everyone who comes to my house adores them. I mean, I may have a gun to their head at the time of asking, but still, it’s a unanimous response.
10. What shop can you not pass without going in?
Any hardware store: they’re just an Aladdin’s cave of extraordinary, mysterious objects, the uses of which can only be guessed at. I could spend hours in one very happily.
11. What book did you read last year that stayed with you? What made you love it?
A History of Loneliness by John Boyne. It is… superb. Witty, searching, moving … honest. The book is stunningly written, it is immediate, shocking and powerful.
Kerry Gardner’s memorable read from the last year is ‘A history of loneliness‘ by John Boyne: “…stunningly written, it is immediate, shocking and powerful.”
12. Cats or dogs?
Dogs, dogs, dogs. My present one is an excuse for me to write poetry – which she usually appreciates. I’m still working on ‘There’s a little yellow poodle to the north of Katmandoodle’.
There aren’t too many rhymes for ‘poodle’, so I sense it’ll take time to complete.
Cats can be very beautiful, but I could never love a serial killer.
13. Your top three most-visited, favourite websites (excluding social media & BBC News!)?
Can I cheat with a podcast? I do love LBC with James O’Brien (who’s on live 10 am – 1 pm weekdays). There’s always a catch-up online: look for ‘james o’brien the whole show’
*a heavy pause as Kerry searches his memory for another website*
I am just not a creature of the web, I’m afraid to say. It’s so infuriating I tend to find it safer to stay off it. Why is there no common sense on the internet?
I’m going to have to say Amazon, aren’t I?
Sorry.
I’m not proud.
But it IS so convenient – I simply can’t drive across half the county trying different shops to see if they have the thing that I want (usually to be told no, but I can get it online).
You do need to be careful to check the weights though – I’ve ended up with vast sacks of dog food for my poor little poodle more than once. HUGE they were. The weevils moved in before she was halfway through!
14. What’s your most annoying trait?
A rather rude urge to throw a verbal hand-grenade into a conversation when I’m bored with it.
15. Tell us about one of the best evenings you’ve ever had?
Oscar night in Tinsel Town.
A truly bizarre day led up to the most other-worldly evening of razzmatazz and over-the-top shows of advertising I’ve ever experienced.
The clothing, the jewels, all hanging on the shapeliest bodies that exercise, the surgeon’s knife, diet and money can produce.
The bonhomie of all those fabled film stars was just jaw-dropping fun – but completely manufactured.
16. What’s your secret superpower?
A sense of the ridiculous. All my best friends have it. Without it conversations can grind on without anything being said for what seems like hours. ‘Pleasantries’ should be a dirty word.
17. Your favourite quote?
‘Try not to dominate, or be dominated’ – Ursula le Guin, American author.
Speaks for itself, really.
18. What in life is frankly a mystery to you?
Cruelty to defenceless children and animals.
19. Chip Shop Chips or Home Baked Cake?
Well. I like both. Obviously. But cake does go on rather, doesn’t it? By the time I’m halfway through I’ve had enough, it just goes on forever. So I’m going to have to choose the chips, please.
Kerry Gardner’s autobiography, Not Another Waltz, is out now – cick the image.
The benefits of a volunteering policy are far wider than simply ‘giving back’ and ESG work, says Ian Girling, CEO of Dorset Chamber
Hello and welcome to my April column. At last it feels Spring is with us, and it’s brilliant to have the lighter evenings and mornings! This month I’d like to talk about the value of volunteering; not just for individuals, but how this is a fantastic concept for both employers and employees to really embrace. Many businesses are now focusing on this as part of their ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) work, and this can really be a win-win for all involved.
Why is volunteering so important? Over the last few years, the 3rd Sector has been called upon to deliver more and more as funding for public services has been reduced. The 3rd Sector plays an incredibly important role and this has never been more evident than over the last couple of years with Covid and now the terrible situation we see in Ukraine. Many charities and voluntary groups are being stretched to their limits in terms of capacity. These organisations can hugely benefit from volunteering – and enabling volunteers to offer their expertise to help.
Build it into the business There are a huge amount of volunteering opportunities of all types available. Many employers now support a specific charity or cause each year, and will also give employees an allocated number of paid days to volunteer. This enables these employers to make a positive contribution to support the community and voluntary sector, and to support the vital work the sector delivers. Importantly, this isn’t about PR – many employers go about this very quietly. For the employer, it also results in motivated employees who are able to help make a difference.
An attractive workplace Many employers also report real recruitment challenges; it is very much an employee-driven market. Employees will now often have a very clear idea of the type of business they want to work for – businesses that are a force for good, with strong values and ethics. Businesses that embrace volunteering will be attractive to many future employees. If you are interested in volunteering, you can see a range of opportunities on the Volunteer Centre Dorset website www.volunteeringdorset.org.uk.
Chris Eldridge, Head of History at Wells Cathedral School, has been made a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (RHS) in recognition of the unique work he and his team have been doing in promoting the study of medieval history in the Sixth Form at Wells. He is thrilled to have been made a Fellow, especially as it is normally university-level academics who receive the recognition.
“When I first arrived in Wells I was captivated by our 10th century origins and the medieval heritage that we live and work within. Not studying medieval history in this context looked to me like a lost opportunity. Yet medieval history tends to get neglected in British schools. A lot of teachers think it’s either incomprehensible or irrelevant to modern students. I hope the work we do at Wells studying and promoting it dispels this myth.” The RHS is trying to increase its engagement with secondary level education, and Chris will be involved in future initiatives for this sector. He has been invited to speak at the Historical Association’s forthcoming national conference in Bristol on 13th May about ‘Making Medieval History accessible to Sixth Formers.’
All the pupils at Witchampton First School decamped to the village hall this month to mark Science Week – by spending a day building with LEGO. With the theme of ‘growth’, the youngsters designed and created their own town which included houses, vehicles, roads, trains, airports and woods. There were 20,000 pieces of LEGO available during the day, which was organised by Bob Walker of Primary Workshop.
A unique creation Headteacher Jo Hancock said: “With the theme of ‘growth’ our children were able to grow their own town out of nothing. “They all loved building with LEGO and it taught them many lessons – including the importance of communication and collaboration. “The children designed and planned their parts of the creation, and then either on their own or with others built them. It was fun to see the whole thing coming together and watching the children become totally absorbed in it.” Liz West, CEO of Wimborne Academy Trust, said: “Science is an important subject and it’s crucial to introduce the subject as early as possible. I’m sure that through the day the children learned a great deal without realising it.
