Originally a wildflower from Asia, Europe’s love for tulips meant that some bulbs were worth more than a house during the height of the Dutch craze for the plant, as Charlotte Tombs relates.
Crating the tulips image – Melanie Ward
The tulip was a wildflower originally growing in Central Asia. It was first cultivated by the Turks as early as 1,000 AD. Mania in Turkey struck in the 16th century at the time of the Ottoman Empire when a particular Sultan demanded certain flowers for his pleasure. The name ‘tulip’ comes from the Turkish word for turban which makes a lot if sense when you consider the shape of both. Tulips remained popular in Turkey, thereafter and in the early 18th Century the tulip era really began. There were tulip festivals and it became a crime punishable by exile to buy or sell the tulips outside the capital.
Some of this year’s Dorset-grown Northcombe Flowers tulips – sold by the stem, bunch or bucket! Image – Charlotte Tombs
Constantinople to Amsterdam The flowers arrived in northern Europe in the 16th century. Their introduction was thought to be by a botanist from Vienna, Clausius, who became the director of the oldest botanical garden in Leiden. He was friendly with the ambassador of Constantinople who sent him a samples of this wonder flower. This is believed to be the start of the bulb fields in the Netherlands today. At this time the tulip was being used for medicinal purposes but by the beginning of the 17th century they were gaining popularity in gardens and the bulbs were beginning to be sold for unbelievable amounts of money. Hybridized flowers were being bred to be very decorative, and in the autumn of 1636 some bulbs were reaching larger amounts of money than a house in Amsterdam! Things came to a crash in 1637 when people came to their senses and stopped buying the bulbs for such high prices. Throughout the 17th and 18th century interest remained high in these bulbs and the Dutch became the true connoisseurs of this incredible flower. It was discovered in the 20th century that the frilly petals and flames on the flowers were actually caused by a virus – this has now been bred out of them, and the fancy tulips are now genetically stable although some are deliberately bred to retain this look.
This year Charlotte planted nearly 2,000 bulbs of 25 different varieties of tulips – she treats them as annuals, as returning flowers are always inferior (her assistant was VERY helpful).
Close planting for longer stems This year I have planted nearly 2,000 bulbs with 25 different varieties. I plant them very closely together so I can get a longer stem (they fight for light and go upwards) which is more saleable. I treat the bulb as an annual and all the spent bulbs are composted. There are some varieties that will come back year after year but the flowers are smaller and less well-defined. British grown tulips are amazing and far superior to the supermarkets ones which are generally mass-grown imports.Some tulips are even scented but this has been bred out of the imports.
by Charlotte Tombs
Charlotte offers Workshops through the year – please see northcombe.co.uk for further details.
Rising costs due to the Ukraine war combined with dry weather spell challenges for farmers, says James Cossins.
Silaging on Rawston Farm in the late 1960s
As has been well publicised April was a very dry month, with only 33mm, or one and half inches, of rain recorded in the month at Rawston Farm. The winter crops seem to be surviving well, with the oilseeds well out in their yellow flowers. The spring crops desperately need a good drink, however, or yields will be reduced considerably. We are currently sowing maize, our final crop of the spring. With the current high cost of fertiliser, we have put a cover of farmyard manure on the fields before ploughing. We hope this will give the crop a good boost to its growth without having to add extra fertiliser. The cattle grazing enjoys the dry weather whilst the grass continues to grow. There is little poaching of the fields, and they are able to utilise the grass to good effect. The milking cows have certainly benefited from going out to grass, and we have been able to save on feeding silage and reduced the amount of bought-in feed that they require in the winter. We now look forward to silage- making, aiming for good quality feed for next winter. Getting the balance between quality and quantity can be challenging, and there is a trend towards cutting more often to improve the quality. Sometimes the quantity can be sacrificed if we don’t get sufficient moisture for the following cuts.
Fun and games In my youth I was very involved with the Young Farmers Organisation, my local club being Blandford – in fact this is where I met my wife Barbara, who was a farmer’s daughter. I have recently been recycled into being involved again with Blandford on their advisory committee. Each year there is a County Rally where all the clubs in Dorset compete with each other in many varied events. I was asked to help with the field events, which involved tractor driving, quad bike handling, tying a load of straw bales, to name a few. A great time was had, with all competitors thoroughly enjoying themselves. The Young Farmers movement is a tremendous organisation to belong to where young people can have lots of fun, meet new friends and learn about life in the countryside. The name ‘Young Farmers’ may be a little off-putting, but anyone under the age of 26 can join in. I am sure by looking at social media or the YFC website you will be able find the details and contacts of your local club; see what goes on and maybe join in!
Shortages predicted The effect of the war in Ukraine seems to be having far-reaching consequences for our everyday lives now. With energy prices sky high it seems food prices and availability are being affected. Vegetable oil (in the form of sunflower oil) is being rationed in some shops, with home-grown oilseed being looked at as a replacement. Harvesting oilseeds in the UK will take place in July, and hopefully making up for any shortfall. Maybe in the UK we should look at the possibility of growing more sunflowers. It is also predicted that there may be a shortage of eggs in the summer, with many producers deciding that it is uneconomical at the moment to produce eggs, due to high feed costs. I think the Government needs a wake-up call on food security for this country and not rely on imports to make up for any shortfall. Finally, let’s hope for some rain for farmers and gardeners whilst we are in the growing season and not to save it up for the harvesting!
Sexey’s School students and staff have raised more than £1,000 supporting the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation’s annual ‘Big Yellow Friday’.
For the ninth consecutive year, Sexey’s School has supported this cause alongside Tilly, the eldest child of two former pupils who met in Sexey’s Sixth Form, and who had a life-saving liver transplant at 10 months old. This year students attended school wearing items of yellow ranging from scarfs and socks to jumpers, full-length coats and high-visibility jackets. Sixth Form students supported the event by selling yellow cupcakes, made by the kitchen and dining team, and raffle tickets to win some great prizes including a Nintendo Switch, F1 Merchandise and Amazon vouchers. To date the school has helped raise more than £40,000 by holding non-uniform days, coffee mornings, raffles and bake sales. Mr Hill, IT Systems Manager at Sexey’s School said “Thank you to everyone who has once again supported this important cause that has such a personal tie to the school. It’s fantastic that we have raised more than £1,000 to help fight all childhood liver diseases. We are especially grateful to all the businesses who donated prizes.”
‘Forging ahead to restore the past’ seems a good motto for Ian Ring, who owns Newton Forge, the Sturminster-based World Heritage business, whose work is in demand across the UK. Tracie Beardsley reports in A Country Living.
At the age of 11, Ian Ring was ‘mucking around with metal’. He now runs a world heritage ironwork business in Sturminster Newton image Courtenay Hitchcock
At the age of 11, Ian Ring was ‘mucking around with metal’. It was time well spent he’s now running a world heritage ironwork business in Sturminster Newton. As Managing Director of Newton Forge, Ian Ring would be the first to say he’s still happier in the workshop with hammer and anvil than in front of his computer. When we meet, his hands and sweatshirt are covered in carbon iron dust. He’s just finished helping his team constructing a stunning iron spiral staircase for a private client in London.
Shed full of ambition Newton Forge began life in a chicken shed in 1980 on Ian’s uncle’s farm near Newton Hill and now has a portfolio of clients which reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of historical buildings. They include: The Royal Courts of Justice; The Langham Hotel; Hotel Café Royal; Berkely Square; Blackfriars Bridge; Kingston Lacy and numerous other National trust properties. Ian’s about to tender for roof restoration on the Houses of Parliament and the famous glasshouse at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh. Many projects demand non- disclosure and confidentiality agreements – Ian has worked inside some incredible palaces and magnificent mansions – but he must remain tight-lipped about them.
As Managing Director of Newton Forge, Ian Ring would be the first to say he’s still happiest in the workshop with hammer and anvil. image Courtenay Hitchcock
Despite all the grandeur of these huge historical assignments in glamorous cities around the UK, his favourite project is just down the road in Sturminster Newton! The Mayor has just unveiled the restored town pump. A car ploughed into it and the pump, which dates back to 1908, was smashed. “It was a bit like putting Humpty Dumpty back together,” Ian explains. “It was very rewarding as it’s an historical landmark for the town. Being local to our offices, I see it every day.” As an apprentice blacksmith straight from school, Ian exhibited at local country shows, selling handmade fire baskets and wall lights. Six years later, the master blacksmith and his wife Karen started their own company which progressed from chicken shed to a barn in Stalbridge Lane, then to Manston and finally Butts Pond Industrial Estate where it’s been for the past three years.
Even with advances in technology, many of the earliest techniques and tools are essentially unchanged in modern blacksmithing. Blacksmithing hammers come in various shapes, weights, and head styles that perform the different techniques of manipulating metal – Image Courtenay Hitchcock
Training new ‘smiths The 22-strong team has more than 200 years’ experience between them. There’s also keen support for future generations. Students from Kingston Maurward college learn metalworking skills on day-release and some former students are now on the Forge payroll. Ian’s passion for his trade is obvious. ‘’I always knew I wanted to do traditional high-end metalwork,” he recalls. And he’s true to his word. The company’s symbol is an old blacksmith’s hammer and most of the work is done by hand, although the forge also has state-of-the-art equipment. “We do get some work engineered or laser-profiled. Sometimes we may need 3D models which is where the modern side kicks in.” Restoration is now a high proportion of the work in the forge alongside reproductions matching original historical ironwork.
“We’re about to start work on some damaged gates at Hyde Park. That’s a big job in itself, but we’ve also got to work out the logistics of getting the gates back to Dorset for repair” Image Courtenay Hitchcock
“We’re about to start work on some damaged gates at Hyde Park. That’s a big job in itself, but we’ve also got to work out the logistics of getting the gates back to Dorset for repair and work out what we can do safely on-site in London.” It’s no surprise Ian’s not a great sleeper. “I do a lot of problem solving at night,” he admits. “How to crane huge iron railings over the top of a skyscraper when you’re installing balustrades at the Royal College of Surgeons – that sort of thing keeps me awake at night. I’ll come into the office next morning, admittedly a bit sleepy, but I can tell the team – ‘this is how we’re going to do it’!”
-“When I handle ironwork that’s been created hundreds of years ago, I can’t help but think about the boy or man who held it first. Was it the apprentice in his shiny shoes and apron?” – Image Courtenay Hitchcock
Quick-fire questions with Ian:
A-list dinner party guests past or present? Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Muhammad Ali and Winston Churchill. I’d also love to talk to a blacksmith from the past. I write poetry (it’s not very good!) about the ghosts of blacksmiths. When I handle ironwork that’s been created hundreds of years ago, I can’t help but think about the boy or man who held it first, was it the apprentice in his shiny shoes and apron? I love to envisage the back story behind the historical object.
Books on your bedside? I’m an audio book fan. I struggle to get to sleep. I can tune in and may eventually doze off. It’s easier than sitting up and reading a book in bed. I get through dozens and they’re great when I’m on the road working on projects away from home.
Favourite TV show? I don’t get much time to watch TV but I do like the Repair Shop. In fact, I’d love to be on the team!
The Archbishop of Canturbury has every right to comment on political decisions – and politicians must listen, argues Simon Hoare MP.
Every day that the House of Commons sits, the day’s proceedings begin with prayers. Those prayers are led by the Speaker’s Chaplain. We pray for wise counsel, for the Queen, The Commonwealth and for the Country. We pray that we be motivated by the best of intentions and that we set aside all private interests and prejudices. This part of the Parliamentary day is never broadcast. It is intensely private. Irrespective of the Speakers’ religion, if indeed they have any, the Chaplain must be drawn from the Anglican Church. The Palace of Westminster is just that, a palace. The Chaplaincy is known as a Royal Peculiar (a somewhat peculiar title of itself) because the appointment is made with the permission and agreement of the Sovereign. The Sovereign herself is of course, Supreme Governor of the Church of England. At the other end of the building in the House of Lords, Church of England Bishops sit, by dint of office, solely because we have an Established Church, and that Church has to be represented within the Legislature: the Lords Spiritual and Temporal. The Lord Chancellor of England & Wales is involved with the recommendation of Bishops to the Sovereign. The upcoming Queen’s Speech will conclude with the time-honoured phrase: “I pray that the Blessings of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels”. The relationship between (Established) Church and State is manifest and intricately interwoven. It will remain so unless or until the Church of England is disestablished. I gleaned from Radio 4 (another National Treasure) that only the UK and Iran have clerics within their respective legislatures as a matter of right. I shall leave that particular fact there.
Neither a cathedral nor a parish church, Westminster Abbey (or the Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster to give it its correct title) is a “Royal Peculiar” under the jurisdiction of a Dean and Chapter, subject only to the Sovereign and not to any archbishop or bishop
Free speech I raise the above to try to demonstrate why it is perfectly proper for our religious leaders to be able to speak out on issues of politics or policy. They do so from a moral/ethical starting point. Those bishops can make their points in the House of Lords and no one would bat an eyelid. But some would have you believe, make it from the pulpit, and the terrors of Hell are unleashed and the foundations of Civilisation shaken to their very core. Commentary from our religious should be challenging, thought provoking and invite soul searching. Woe betide we should have clerics along the lines of Are You Being Served’s young Mr Grace who only seemed to intone ‘you’re all doing very well’. I am a Roman Catholic and wear my faith lightly. I try not to moralise or believe I can deduce the view of The Almighty myself. I like to hear the views of leaders of all religions. However, what I do know is that Christ’s message, at the forefront of so many minds during the Easter Season, was challenging. Outcast shepherds rather than local notables at the Nativity Stable. Prostitutes, tax collectors welcomed. The innocence of children preferred over their elders. Hypocrisy, pride and hubris all shot down. The poor rewarded over the rich. If Christ himself challenged the rulers of the day, faced into the accepted wisdoms, grabbed people and shook them, why shouldn’t those who carry forward the Apostolic message today? It is indeed their duty and calling to do so. Criticism is never comfortable to hear. We are all human. We know that. But being uncomfortable and challenged is a necessary part of our daily and political discourse. We cannot shy awayfrom it. Criticism is not always right. It does not necessarily lead to a Government or public policy having to be changed or abandoned. It does not always have to be elegantly phrased or robed in some Delphic, nuanced cloak that is beyond understanding to all but the Mystics. Sometimes I will agree. Other times I won’t. However, I will champion up until the end their right to speak out. Any politician who seeks to diminish that right, belittle the speaker or mute the voice cannot lay legitimate claim to the mantle of democrat or demonstrate an understanding as to how our delicate and centuries-developed modus operandi works.
Grade 13 Points: 7-11 (£20,444- £22,199) – Subject to experience.
FAIRMEAD COMMUNITY SPECIAL SCHOOL
‘This is a Good School’ – Ofsted March 2018
Fairmead Community Special School transforms the lives of pupils aged between 4-19 years with additional learning needs (MLD and ASD). The school works in partnership with parents/carers and other stakeholders to develop our pupils in becoming positive individuals who make a valuable contribution to their community.
The post holder will work under the direction of the Headteacher/School Business Manager to provide a clean, healthy and safe environment for the benefit of the pupils and staff of the school. This is a vital role within the school being responsible for the maintenance and security of school buildings. The successful candidate will also need to demonstrate that they have good communication skills to be able to work within a Special School whilst undertaking the requirements of this post with enthusiasm and motivation. The applicant must have a full UK driving licence.
Visit the school: Prior visits can be arranged, please contact by email: [email protected]
Fairmead School is committed to safeguarding the school community. All job applications must contain the disclosure of any spent convictions and cautions. The school will carry out pre-employment vetting procedures, which include the successful outcome of an enhanced DBS.
Fairmead Community Special School, Mudford Road, Yeovil, Somerset. BA21 4NZ
Mill Street Social Club in Wincanton is looking for a friendly and enthusiastic member to join our bar team. We have between 5 and 16 hours available ranging from afternoons to evening shifts. We are offering great rates of pay. Experience is desirable, but not essential as full training will be provided.
Interested? Please contact either Karen on 07985 338834 or Jo on 07590 599983
Keeping up to date with employment law is a challenge – it can be easier to outsource than to keep up, explains Dawn Gallie, Head of the BattensHR team.
Head of Battens Employment team, solicitor Dawn Gallie
The fast-moving world of employment law can be difficult for many employers to keep pace with. BattensHR is a bespoke service developed by Battens Solicitors to meet those challenges. The Head of its Employment team, solicitor Dawn Gallie, explains the benefits of a besopoke expert team:
1. Legal experts – HR plus law We are experts in our field, and advise on general HR matters including performance management, grievance and disciplinary processes and dismissal. We are also deal with discrimination and whistleblowing, contract changes and TUPE. We keep updated changes in complex legislation and case law and, by virtue of our qualifications and experience, we are perfectly equipped to condense this into straightforward, practical advice for our clients. As we regularly present cases at Employment Tribunals, we know what Judges consider in making decisions and how our recommended course of action could be perceived.
2. Cost effective solution BattensHR gives you unlimited day-to-day advice on HR and employment law matters, all for a fixed annual fee. You can also add insurance to cover both the cost and compensation in the event of a claim against your business. BattensHR means never having to worry about the costs of obtaining employment advice and having the advice & support on hand, allowing you to concentrate on running your business.
3. Privileged advice Whenever you receive advice from a solicitor, that advice is protected by Legal Professional Privilege. This isn’t the case when you consult an HR advisor. Likewise, any communication between you and your solicitor in preparation for anticipated or actual litigation is protected by Litigation Privilege. Correspondence between you and your HR advisor is disclosable as part of legal proceedings and all HR advice is disclosable as part of a Subject Access Request (with some exemptions) so there is a risk that your communications will end up being scrutinised by a Judge, and in the public domain.
4. Bespoke documents As part of Battens HR we provide all your documents from initial employment contracts through to disciplinary and dismissal letters. We provide tailored, accurate and carefully drafted documents which fit your business needs and comply with the latest legal requirements.
5. Continuity of advice We are a dedicated specialist team who provide continuity of service from initial contact, with day-to-day advice through to litigation, including undertaking advocacy at Employment Tribunal. We are often able to prevent issues reaching Tribunal by resolving them early on and, where appropriate, assisting you in negotiating a settlement. This continuity means we won’t need time to get up to speed on a matter and we can be confident that the correct processes have been followed.
6. Commercial approach We tailor our advice to our clients’ business, rather than having a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Part of that is building a relationship with you, knowing your business and its resources. We will advise on what settlement is reasonable and what sort of award an employee might achieve at Tribunal, so you can weigh up costs, risks and management time.
For more information about BattensHR contact Dawn Gallie email [email protected]or 01935 846272.
Like food and music, there’s something special about open air theatre – Gay Pirrie-Weir shares the wide range of this summer’s outdoor performances.
Three Inch Fools are bringing two shows to Dorset this summer: Twelfth Night and The Gunpowder Plot.
THERE are more chances than ever before to enjoy a show in the open air this summer, as familiar and new companies tour classics, fresh adaptations and new shows to gardens, village greens and interesting venues all around the area. It’s even worth planning to travel a little further from home to see some of the events on offer, packing up your folding chairs and picnics and encamping for a night of drama, comedy, colour, music and inventive fun. Several of the regular touring companies have included ‘family friendly’ shows for summer 2022, aimed specifically at younger audiences. The schedules also include performances of Shakespeare and other classics, performed in the alfresco style that makes a perfect introduction to live theatre, in a more relaxed setting. How about introducing young theatre-goers to its joys in summer at an open air show as well as in winter at the pantomime?
Something for everyone This season in our area, 13 companies are offering a total of 24 shows from May through to September. Some of the settings are so spectacular that it’s worth making a special journey. Some might be on a field in a nearby village, and some will be in walled gardens, natural amphitheatres and gardens of large houses near where you live. You can choose between a whole range of styles from broad comedy to classic storytelling, performed by small(ish) companies sometimes on bicycles, sometimes all female or all male, some with an emphasis on music, some on clowning. Or just take a chance…
Illyria illyria.co.uk The first show of the season in our area comes from Illyria, whose Peter Pan will be in the ECOS Amphitheatre at Frome on 29th May, and also at Sherborne Castle Gardens (17 June), the dramatic Corfe Castle (4 August) and Kingstone Lacy (18 August). The company has three shows on tour this summer, with A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Pirates of Penzance both at ECOS and Sherborne Castle Gardens later in the summer.
Lord Chamberlain’s Men tlcm.co.uk The all-male Lord Chamberlain’s Men, whose music is always a special feature, bring As You Like It to Salisbury Cathedral Close on 10th and 11th June, the new venue Octagon in the Country Park on 29 June, Kingston Lacy near Wimborne on 28 July and Breamore House on 27 August.
The all-male Lord Chamberlain’s Men are touring with As You Like It
Chapterhouse chapterhouse.org Chapterhouse is touring Cinderella (Corfe Castle 28 July), Romeo and Juliet (Holme for Gardens Wareham 7 July) and Pride and Prejudice (Kingston Lacy 12 August, Yeovil Country Park 27 August).
Festival Players thefestivalplayers.co.uk Festival Players have chosen A Midsummer Night’s Dream, coming to Halstock on 10 June, Shaftesbury Abbey on 25 June and the beautiful Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens, 18 August.
Festival Players have chosen A Midsummer Night’s Dream for their 2022 season
Folksy Theatre folksytheatre.co.uk Folksy Theatre is touring Much Ado About Nothing (12 August) and Alice in Wonderland (6 August) to Holme for Gardens near Wareham. Alice will also be performed at the amphitheatre by the Marine in Lyme Regis on 12 August.
Handlebards handlebards.com The Handlebards, travelling from venue to venue on their bikes, perform Twelfth Night at Maumbury Rings in Dorchester (19 June).
Heartbreak Productions heartbreakproductions.co.uk Heartbreak Productions, with the longest tour of three shows, all through England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, performing Jane Eyre, Awful Auntie and Much Ado About Murder. They are at Wells Bishop’s Palace with Jane Eyre (11 August), Awful Auntie at Maumbury Rings on 13 August and Much Ado About Murder at Holme for Gardens on 9 June and Athelhampton House on 21 July.
Pantaloons thepantaloons.co.uk Pantaloons come to Montacute House with The War of the Worlds on 25 June and Much Ado About Nothing on 1 July.
Quantum Theatre quantumtheatre.co.uk Quantum Theatre is touring The Reluctant Dragon, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tale of Peter Rabbit, coming to Salisbury Cathedral Close (RD 16 August – PR 17 August), Brympton D’Evercy (MND and PR 26 June).
Rain or Shine rainorshine.co.uk The Recruiting Officer, performed dashingly by Rain or Shine, is at Salisbury on 17 June, Holme for Gardens on 23 June, and Beaminster Manor on 26 June.
Rude Mechanicals therudemechanicaltheatre.co.uk The ever-enjoyable Rude Mechanicals always tour a new show, and this year’s is God and Dogs, a comic dystopian allegory set in 2084. See it at East Farm Tarrant Monkton on 20 July, the village hall field at Stourpaine on 21 July, Mill Farm at Bradford Abbas on 22 July or Child Okeford recreation ground on 23 July.
Slapstick Picnic slapstickpicnic.com Slapstick Picnic performs The Importance of Being Earnest, with tea, at Lyme Regis Marine on 15 July.
Three Inch Fools threeinchfools.com Three Inch Fools, another company whose shows have lots of music, bring Twelfth Night to Corfe Castle on 11 August, Stourhead on 12 and 26 August and Higher Orchard at Sandford Orcas on 21 August. Their second show of 2022, The Gunpowder Plot, is at Stourhead on 13 and 27 August and Corfe Castle on 18 August.
Sisata sisata.co.uk Local company Sisata are touring Wuthering Heights this summer, with numerous dates across the county: Museum of East Dorset in Wimborne on 16 July, Sandsfoot Castle Weymouth on 22 July, Maumbury Rings Dorchester on 29 July, and then back to close their season at the Lighthouse poole on 15 & 16 September.
Dates and times can change, and new dates may be added. Always check the company or the venue websites for more details – book early and hope that the weather gods cast a kindly eye on the night you have chosen.
