Dorset Chamber’s chief executive, Ian Girling, has observed a clear shift in the job market, with many jobseekers—particularly younger generations—prioritising conscientious employers over higher salaries. His comments come ahead of the Dorset Business Festival Conference on October 9, which will include a panel discussion: ‘Gen Z – Alpha and Beyond: Their Future in our Hands,’ will be focusing on how businesses can adapt to the expectations of tomorrow’s workforce.
Political strategist and policy maker Lord Matthew Elliott will be a keynote speaker
Ian’s insights are in line with recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which shows that the employment rate for those aged 16 and over fell to 4.1% between May and July. As the recruitment landscape changes, employers are increasingly finding that factors like wellbeing, environmental practices, and social responsibility are becoming more important to potential employees than pay alone. ‘Employers continue to face challenges in recruitment and retention,’ Ian said. ‘It is clear that many now choose their workplace based on whether it is a conscientious company that does the right thing. Expectations are changing, and businesses need to keep pace to meet the needs of tomorrow’s workforce.’ To find out more about these emerging trends and discussions on adapting business practices, join the Dorset Business Festival on 9th October. The day-long conference will feature inspirational panels, spotlight speakers, and opportunities for Q&As and networking. Hosted by broadcaster Declan Curry, the event includes keynote addresses from changemaker and climate change consultant Benita Matofska as well as political strategist Lord Matthew Elliott. Consumers, investors and talent are increasingly drawn to businesses that make a positive impact alongside profit. The conference explores why being a force for good is not just beneficial for society but a smart strategic business move, from attracting top talent to boosting brand loyalty and fostering innovation. For more details and tickets, see dorsetchamber.co.uk
Autumn at Thorngrove: from hanging basket workshops to Halloween crafts, it’s a season full of events, creativity and community fun
Autumn is here, and we are fully embracing all that comes with the new season. A diverse range of plants to keep things vibrant in your garden, and we’re hosting a wide range of events in the coming weeks and months – there is so much happening! Kicking off in October, our Hanging Basket Workshops are returning, and we’d love you to join us. Using a selection of plants here at Thorngrove, we will show you how to plant and arrange a beautiful Autumn basket to take home with you. No experience needed, and all materials are provided (we have a ticket option for those who wish to bring their own basket too!). Oh, and we offer discounts for large group bookings! Full details and dates on our website here.
October Half-Term and Halloween season means our Crafts for Children will be on, and the theme will be suitably seasonal. Hosted by Tracey in our glasshouse crafts room, we will have six sessions across three days at half term. Bring the children along to create mini gardens with a choice of decorations, plant some seeds and decorate Halloween jam jar lanterns. These are the perfect way for the little ones to get creative, take an interest in seed planting … and keep them occupied during the school holiday! £7.50 per child, includes soft drink and biscuits. All materials provided, and adults go free. You can also now book for our FESTIVE MENU in The Secret Garden Café! It will be available from Monday 18th November, and is perfect for group gatherings, family get togethers, or work lunches. Stop by our beautiful hidden gem of a café in Gillingham and enjoy the special menu, including roast turkey, roasted gammon or nut roast – all served, of course, with roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, a medley of vegetables and a homemade Yorkshire Pudding. Wreath Making Workshops kick off on November 26th: they’re a brilliant way to make your own wreath, or create one as gift – no experience needed, we will be your guide. Complimentary hot drink and mince pie included.
The Thorngrove Christmas Market is back for another year on Sunday 24th November. Held in our glasshouse, the market is a gather of local craftspeople and small businesses, offering seasonal gifts and treats, so stop by for a mulled wine and find something special to take home. (Christmas Trees should be ready to pick up by then too!). At the time of writing we are finalising details for Brunch With Santa, which will take place on Saturday 14th December. Tickets going live VERY SOON! That just about covers it … we hope to find ourselves in your diary this autumn and festive season. See you all soon!
Unrealistic targets double the build rate, threaten greenfields and ignore affordable homes and local infrastructure, says CPRE’s Rupert Hardy
New Houses in Poundbury Dorset
Labour swept to power this summer determined to solve Britain’s housing crisis … but is that crisis the same everywhere? We would argue that the Government is setting totally exaggerated and unrealistic housing targets for Dorset Council. The build rate in Dorset would have to more than double, as the Government seeks to shift house building from big cities, where most of the brownfield sites are, to greenfield sites in the countryside – a misguided policy. We also suggest that the proposed target won’t achieve key goals. It would neither bring down house prices nor address the shortfall of truly affordable housing and lack of social or low-rent housing. All the towns and larger villages in Dorset could be earmarked for new, large developments too, threatening the county’s exceptional environment, especially in North Dorset, which has a smaller proportion than other parts of the county within Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs, now National Landscapes) which have some degree of protection.
Key issues highlighted by North Dorset CPRE:
Unrealistic targets: We dispute the feasibility of Dorset Council’s (DC) new housing target, which, according to the Government’s formula, would require the number of new homes to increase from the current 1,310 to 3,230 annually. This target is significantly higher than the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) projected household growth of 1,212 per year, driven mainly by net in-migration of older residents. It is also much higher than the 1,793 homes annually figure proposed in the draft Local Plan, which was much criticised in the 2021 consultation. The new government formula calculates housing need only by looking at prices and incomes – a rather crude and simplistic approach compared with the standard method used by the Conservative government, which was in itself flawed. Supply chain constraints: Such high targets are far beyond the available supply of building materials and skilled labour. Demand and finance challenges: There is no evidence in Dorset that planning constraints are the main barrier to house building. There are currently 11,060 plots with permission in Dorset waiting to be built. Additionally, buyers with the necessary financial resources required are lacking. House prices: Contrary to public perception, large housebuilding targets do not lead to a decrease in house prices: indeed they may have the opposite effect if developers look to buy more land. When prices start to fall, developers slow down rather than sell cheaply. The main factors behind house prices are the availability of finance and the level of interest rates.
Aerial view of new build housing under construction in Wimborne
Risk of harmful development: Dorset allocating land for 48,450 homes, plus a potential 10,000 allowance for overspill from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, could force planners to approve unsustainable Green Belt and greenfield sites.
Environmental and climate change: Higher housing numbers may have an adverse impact on air pollution, carbon footprints, loss of natural habitats, reduction in ecological pathways and biodiversity, and, in Dorset specifically, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in Poole Harbour.
Traffic congestion, local infrastructure and public transport: Everyone in North Dorset has noticed the increase in traffic in recent years, driven mostly by new car-dependent housing. This has an adverse impact on the local economy in lost hours, exacerbated by the lack of public transport. Just imagine the gridlock we will see if the government’s housing targets are implemented. Labour has no announced plans yet to solve the critical lack of local infrastructure. Blandford and Shaftesbury only have one doctors’ surgery each.
An alternative approach: CPRE would prefer realistic, achievable housing targets, based on local data detailing household growth and current home completions as well as affordability. Affordability should be addressed directly by investment in social rent homes. The Centre for Economics and Business Research published a report in February 2024 showing the cost-benefit of building 90,000 social rent homes nationally. It calculated that the long-term benefits far outweighed the costs by more than £50bn, thanks to reduced homelessness, increased employment and savings on healthcare, among others. Subsidising new social rent homes would pay a handsome return for society and the economy.
DC deeply critical of government policy Dorset CPRE hopes to work alongside DC, which is very critical of government policy, to develop appropriate responses. A senior DC housing policy officer spoke at 10th September cabinet meeting, responding to the question: “Do you have any additional comments on the proposed method for assessing housing needs?”: ‘The figures that the method generates need to be realistic. The figure for Dorset (3,230) is nearly twice the average annual completion rate, and in our view is not a realistic target given the constrained nature of Dorset, its lack of major industry and employment, and relatively poor transport connections. ‘We consider moving completions towards the current standard method target (c.1,800 dpa) to be a realistic challenge. ‘National targets, both the previous 300,000 a year – which has only very rarely been met, and only in the days when half of the completions were council housing – and the proposed 370,000 a year, are not based on evidence of need and are not justified. Targets based on more accurate evidence of need, including population growth, net migration and evidence of “hidden households”, would provide a sounder basis for explaining to local communities why additional housing is necessary.’ The next few years are going to be difficult, and it will take time for realism to permeate government thinking, but in the meantime, talk to your local Dorset councillor and protest to your local MP. We may have an affordable housing crisis, which we addressed at our Affordable Housing Crisis conference in May, but it will not be solved by concreting over our beautiful countryside. Dorset is worth protecting!
Save the Children patron HRH The Princess Royal comes to Sherborne – Jenny Devitt speaks to organiser Anne Dearle about her 30th concert
HRH Princess Anne listens to Anne Dearle, Save the Children concert organiser
Friday 13th is not usually considered an auspicious date, but this September it turned out to be the best of days for Anne Dearle and her Save the Children volunteer colleagues. By special invitation, the Princess Royal visited – her third engagement in a busy day – to hear a concert of beautiful choral music performed by the Gentlemen of St John’s College, Cambridge in Sherborne’s Cheap Street Church. The occasion? To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the annual concert organised by Anne Dearle to raise funds for Save the Children. This year’s concert raised more than £11,000 – more than any of the previous concerts, helping Save the Children to respond within hours of emergencies, whenever and wherever disaster strikes. Dorset’s new Lord Lieutenant Michael Dooley greeted Princess Anne outside Sherborne Boys’ School and presented her to High Sheriff Anthony Woodhouse (dressed in the eye-catching traditional Court Dress worn by all High Sheriffs since the mid-1700s), then to Dorset Council’s chair, Councillor Stella Jones, Sherborne Mayor Robin Legg and his fiancée (now Mrs. Legg – they married the next day!), West Dorset MP Edward Morello and Anne Dearle. The Princess Royal then joined a packed Cheap Street Church congregation, who were treated to a concert of choral music ranging from Orlando Gibbons to traditional folk songs and barber shop melodies. Pupils from Leweston School accompanied the first piece, after an afternoon workshop with the choir of St John’s.
Anne Dearle (l) and HRH Princess Anne meet members of the Gentlemen of St John’s College choir
A final chorus This was not just the 30th Sherborne concert for Save the Children, it was also the last Anne Dearle organised. A former Hanford School teacher, Anne remembers the chance invitation to a Save the Children concert at Port Regis School that marked the beginning of her involvement. In 1994 the singers came from world-famous King’s College, Cambridge, and Anne was told by the charity’s Shaftesbury branch that the cost meant it would be a one-off. She suggested it could be held at Hanford School, and organised by the relatively new Blandford branch of Save the Children. A year later the event moved to Bryanston School and word spread about the quality of the concert and singers. It soon became an eagerly anticipated annual event at Bryanston, even after Anne retired and moved to Sherborne in 2006. “Her” singers now came not from King’s, but the equally-excellent Cambridge choir of St. John’s, which has built up an affectionate relationship with their Dorset host. As so often happens in recent years, COVID changed everything. Anne says: ‘It was obvious that a new plan was necessary. Reluctantly, we rejected the idea of commandeering a coach (to ferry Sherborne’s music lovers to Bryanston) and so we had to leave the generous hospitality of Bryanston. Instead, we decided to hold the concert at Cheap Street Church in Sherborne, where we have been since 2021, with the enthusiastic support of Leweston School. ‘I had no idea, 30 years ago, that the modest £124 we raised that first evening would be the start of three decades of successful fundraising – and of immense pleasure for appreciative audiences. ‘Miracles do happen.’ The attendance of Princess Anne, former president and now patron of Save the Children, was a fitting end for the hard-working former teacher who has organised the concerts for three decades.
Letitia (Tish) Ann Ricketts of Gutch Common, Semley passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday 2nd of October 2024 aged 73 yrs. Much loved wife, mum & nan.private cremation has already taken place.
The no-dig school of gardening isn’t just for the veg patch, says Pete Harcom: get healthier soil, fewer weeds and more insects, as nature does the work
Here’s a thought … How about considering ‘No Dig Gardening’ for your flower borders? While it is very often used in the vegetable-growing world, it can also be very beneficial to ensure a healthy soil in the flower borders. Soil is a living organism and simply not digging the border over – just mulching perhaps twice a year – can really make a difference to suppressing weed growth and ensuring healthy soil. The guru on this seems to be Somerset-based Charles Dowding – there is plenty of information on his ideas on Youtube and his website charlesdowding.co.uk.
One thing to mention though: if you have a lot of pernicious perennial weeds such as bindweed or nettles in your border, you may wish to spend some time trying to remove the weeds individually by hand. Alternatively, you can cover your border with cardboard and a thick mulch and leave it for a few months. The cardboard will smother the weeds, but then rot down and become part of the soil (no digging!). If perennial weeds are a real problem, you may have to clear the bed and leave it fallow for 12 months, continuing to remove weeds throughout that time. Not digging can really help soil fertility and also bring back many insects. Mulch/garden compost or farmyard manure needs to be at least four inches deep and I would suggest twice a year to ensure soil improvement. Worms will do the digging over of the beds for you, and will drag the mulch, manure or garden compost down into the soil too. If you are lucky enough to have a weed-free border, then after the mulch is put down you could immediately plant wallflowers, pansies and forget-me-knots ready for the spring.
Here are a few other jobs for the month: Autumn is the best time for planting new trees, shrubs and hedges. Clean out the greenhouse, and prepare it for winter sowing. If you have shade paint on your greenhouse glass, now is the time to remove it: on a dry day remove the paint carefully with a dry cloth. This will help let in more light in the shorter winter days, and help grab the sun’s heat in the cooler months. Also remember to clean and disinfect the pots, staging and the inside of the glass with a warm solution of disinfectant to reduce pests and fungal infection. Move tender plants (fuchsias, pelargoniums etc) into the greenhouse to overwinter later this month, ahead of first frosts.
Before we could start harvesting this year, we had the small matter of owls in the combine spout to deal with. In May, a barn owl had been spotted entering and leaving the unloading tube of the combine parked up in the tractor shed. We were told it was likely to be a solitary male, and best left to find a new home. As is so often the case, things turned out rather differently. Several weeks later, as the days were getting longer and the yard was quieter at dusk, we had forgotten all about it … then some odd noises were heard coming from the combine. More advice was taken, and this time the conclusion was that perhaps there might be chicks in the auger tube. What kind of crazy bird would lay eggs down a cold metal tube filled with a twisty metal auger? It was also a bit of a problem. No one wants to disturb young chicks, but harvest was rapidly approaching, and we needed to run up the combine to check all was working. But we clearly couldn’t risk mangling up any chicks, so we eventually decided to slowly turn the auger manually, and see if we could persuade anyone in there to come out.
Sure enough, gradually coming into view were the pale brown feathers of a young barn owl, who we managed to catch and move into the owl box recently installed in the tractor shed. The number of turns on the pulley that drives the auger meant that the nest must have been at least a metre down the tube. Was there going to be another? We turned the auger a few more times, just in case, and hey presto, out came chick number two! When I say ‘chick’, I really mean beautiful, fully feathered young adult barn owls – they must have been on the cusp of fledging. Seeing as they couldn’t possibly have ever seen daylight, they coped remarkably well. How they would have found their way out of the auger tube, a metre or more from the open end, without our assistance, is a good question. And if we had not heard them, and had thrown the auger into gear a few days later, they would have been history. Fortunately, we managed to get them both into the owl box. The next morning they had managed to jump/fly out and were perching on the wall bars of the shed. After a day or two hanging around and doing some flying practice, they disappeared from the yard, but they have been seen locally on numerous occasions. We think their parents had kept them fed throughout, and will no doubt have taken them out for hunting lessons.
Tenors Unlimited, fondly known as the Rat Pack of Opera, will bring their new show, Great Songs Tour, to The Exchange in Sturminster Newton on Saturday, October 12th, at 7:30pm. The dynamic duo, Paul Martin and Jem Sharples, will be joined by local choir Gillingham Singers for an evening of musical entertainment that spans opera, musical theatre and pop. The duo redefined the modern tenor by merging opera, musical theatre and classical music. The UK’s original classical-crossover “man band” have performed alongside stars such as Sting, Lionel Richie, Katherine Jenkins, Beyoncé, Hayley Westenra, Simply Red and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to name a few, and at prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall. For 20 years, Tenors Unlimited has been entertaining audiences world-wide, bringing their own blend of wit, humour, charm and vocal arrangements to their performances. Fresh from a UK and USA tour, captivating audiences on both sides of the Atlantic, Tenors Unlimited promises an evening filled with fabulous harmonies and fun repartee. Jem says, ‘There’s something for everyone in our new show – from Puccini’s Nessun Dorma to Freddie Mercury’s Barcelona, The Pearl Fishers’ Duet and songs from The Greatest Showman. We’ve also included some of our own compositions.’ Their entertaining blend of popular classics, crooner hits and original songs makes for a unique, memorable performance. In 2019, Tenors Unlimited won the Broadway World Best Touring Show Award in the USA, and their single Who is He? topped UK charts in aid of The Salvation Army. 12th October, 7:30pm, adults £24. For tickets, see stur-exchange.co.uk
Ringwood & Fordingbridge Lions Club helping to package boxes at the NFFU warehouse in 2023
On Saturday 12th October, members of Ringwood & Fordingbridge Lions Club will be travelling to the New Forest For Ukraine (NFFU) Warehouse in Lymington to help package boxes of aid destined for war torn Ukraine. As winter fast approaches, families will be in need of warm clothing, hot water bottles, footwear, clean blankets, duvets and pillows, sleeping bags, portable gas cookers, toiletries, food, medical equipment and supplies. There is a comprehensive list that can be found on the NFFU website. If you are free on the morning of Saturday 12th October and would like to help out, or alternatively if you would like to donate items to send to Ukraine, then please contact Ringwood & Fordingbridge Lions Club via their website or by telephone on 0345 833 5819. Ringwood & Fordingbridge Lions Club President Alastair Ward says: ‘We are humbled at the amazing work of NFFU in maintaining a steady stream of humanitarian aid to those struggling in Ukraine. Our members are proud to help them prepare boxes of the much- needed aid for transit.’ NFFU accept a wide variety of donations, which will be shipped to aid centres and hospitals in Ukraine and Poland for families in need. There are collection points assembled all over the New Forest for anyone who would like to donate items needed for aid centres and hospitals in Ukraine. Anyone wishing to know more about either organisation or how they can help or volunteer can find out more at their respective websites: newforestforukraine.co.uk randflions.org.uk
