Editor’s Letter: Who do we trust to decide? Laura reflects on a growing unease – not just about what decisions are being made, but how, and whether the data behind them still holds up.

“Communities are increasingly angry that decisions are being made about places, rather than with them.”

Fire Stations Under Threat: What Happens When Help Is Further Away? With eight fire stations across Dorset and Wiltshire facing closure, Cranborne firefighter Gavin Fauvel questions whether the consultation is truly open – and whether the data tells the full story.

“It’s not the data that’s wrong – it’s what’s been left out.”

From response times to hidden workloads, the interview raises a simple but uncomfortable question: what are we prepared to lose – and on what evidence?

Silk, Patience and a Lifetime of Craft: Debby Kirby In contrast, silk weaver Debby Kirby offers something quieter, but no less compelling – a lifetime spent refining her craft in Dorset.

“I still get a thrill when a run of scarves comes off the loom.”

From dyeing her own silk to weaving paper and metal into her work, Debby’s story is about patience and precision. It's about the value of doing something properly, over decades.

“Build, Build, Build”: Trevor Bailey on Rural England Under Pressure Rural campaigner Trevor Bailey delivers a blunt and deeply-felt critique of government housing policy, arguing it risks hollowing out the very communities it claims to support.

“We end up with a countryside without any country families left in it at all.”

From greenfield development to vanishing local influence, it’s a forceful argument. The girvernment is focussed on housing numbers – but Trevor says this is at the expense of local identity, democracy and the future of rural life.

This episode is based on stories from April’s BV, available to read freely online. Politics, people and craftsmanship – all seen through a distinctly Dorset lens.

Potholes and the Price of Keeping Dorset Moving

After one of the wettest winters on record, Dorset’s roads are showing the strain – with pothole reports up 92% and thousands of defects logged.

“Nearly 10,000 highways inquiries were logged in three months.”

Despite increased funding and rapid repairs, the bigger question remains: is the system built to cope with a changing climate – or simply patching over the problem?

The Grumbler: Building Homes That Don’t Add Up

This month’s Grumbler lays bare the financial reality facing small developers – where rising costs, new regulations and stagnant house prices leave projects unviable before they’re even finished.

“We will be lucky to make any profit at all.”

From soaring build costs to punitive council tax on unsold homes, it’s a stark account of an industry under pressure – despite government promises to build more.

Promises Made, Promises Lost: Shaftesbury’s Blackmore Down

Chair of Shaftesbury Town Council, Virginia Edwyn-Jones, speaks candidly about a development where the promised green heart has failed to materialise – leaving residents dismayed.

“It was meant to be something really special… and people are heartbroken.”

From stripped topsoil to failed planting and unusable play areas, the conversation exposes a far greater concern than just some missing footpaths: once planning permission is granted, who ensures developers deliver what they promised?

The Dorset Insider: Are Local Voices Being Ignored?

As housing targets rise, this month’s column from our anonymous parish council  questions whether neighbourhood plans still carry any real weight.

“At this stage, it feels less like a consultation and more like a done deal.”

With major developments looming and local knowledge entirely overridden, it’s a pointed reflection on who really shapes Dorset’s future.

A Forger, a Hanging and a Family Secret

Writer Rachel Rowe uncovers an extraordinary story buried in her own family history – a press-ganged schoolmaster turned forger, executed in Bodmin in the early 1800s.

“It was just like touching time.”

What begins as a tale of crime becomes something more complex – a story of inequality, bad luck and a system stacked against those with the least power.

Coffee and Craft: Getting the Perfect Brew

And finally, Jenny joins Giles Dick-Read in his Dorset farmhouse kitchen to learn how to make a proper cup of coffee – from grind size to brew ratios.

“You can buy the best coffee in the world and still make a horrible cup of coffee from it.”

A reminder that even the simplest things – done well – are worth the effort.

This episode is based on stories from March’s BV, available to read online here https://bvmag.co.uk/March26 . News, people, place and perspective – all in one place. 

The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

TB Testing and the Farming Treadmill

'We’re not getting anywhere – and arguably it’s getting worse again.'

Dorset farmer George Hosford is in conversation with Jenny, taking apart the current bovine TB testing regime – a system first devised in 1890 and still at the heart of national policy: 'It’s two steps forward, one step back.'

George explains how the skin test can miss up to 25% of infected animals, why movement rules undermine progress, and why newer blood tests are still entangled in red tape.

From cattle movements to vaccine development, from bulk tank milk to badgers, this is a lucid, unsparing look at a system farmers feel trapped inside.

The Secret Army Beneath Our Fields

'They were prepared to do something very dangerous – probably suicidal.'

Historian Dr Will Ward tells Jenny the extraordinary story of the Auxiliary Units – Dorset men recruited in 1940 to hide underground and wage guerrilla war if the Germans invaded.

Drawn from the gamekeepers, farmers and poachers who knew every hedge and hollow, these patrols trained in secret bunkers, ready to sabotage railways, airfields and supply lines behind enemy lines.

'They were told they only needed two weeks’ worth of supplies – because they weren’t expected to last longer.'

Many never spoke of it again. Some went on to join the SAS. For decades, their story remained almost entirely hidden.

From Dockside to Dorset: The Art of Good Coffee

'Coffee is just an ingredient, like flour. You can buy the best coffee in the world and make the worst cup from it.'

Jenny visits Giles Dick-Read at his Sherborne roastery to discover how green beans from Brazil become the perfect moka pot brew.

From metal detection and de-stoning to why your grinder matters more than your machine, Giles explains the craft behind a proper cup – and why freshness is everything.

This episode takes two stories from February’s BV, available to read online here, and explores them in far greater depth than a page or two can allow.

The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

It’s the first BV Podcast of the year, and Jenny Devitt’s pulled together a trio of conversation starters from the January issue – from Dorset Council handing over public loos like they’re Christmas cast-offs, to the unexpected emotional power of a well-meant thank you.

Editor’s Letter – No pom poms this year Laura Hitchcock skips the usual New Year rallying cry and offers something more honest instead: a nod from one tired grown-up to another. “We’re still here. Still showing up. Still muddling through. For January, that’ll do.”

Dorset Insider: Unwanted gifts and the council's 'fire sale' Ever been given a Christmas present you really didn’t want? Try a toxic dump site, derelict loos, or some rewilded verge no one asked for. This month, our anonymous parish councillor takes aim at Dorset Council’s asset disposal scheme – and what happens when 'devolution' really means 'dumping the problem on the parishes.' “The offers for my own patch include an area of land that we, the parish, already own.”

Grumbler: Is Dorset the county Visit Dorset forgot? A new glossy tourism video has racked up hundreds of thousands of views – and barely shows rural Dorset at all. This month’s anonymous Grumbler isn’t just grumbling, they’re calling out the coastal bias baked into Dorset’s glossy marketing campaigns. Roughly three quarters of the county is rural, and the quiet erasure of inland communities from the county’s public image has real consequences. “You can’t keep selling Dorset as a playground for the already well off, and then wonder why its rural economy struggles to survive.”

The Power of Thank You – John Sloper on Gratitude John Sloper, CEO of Dorchester charity Help and Kindness, joins Jenny to talk about the unexpected importance of saying thank you – and how gratitude can be a radical act in a world that feels increasingly disconnected. “That thank you is a kind of gateway. It builds the fabric of community.”

These stories come from January’s BV – available now at bvmag.co.uk/Jan26. News, opinion, people, places, and the best of rural Dorset – all in one free digital magazine.

The BV – named 2024’s Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

It’s the final episode of 2025, and it’s a belter.

The Frustrated Farmer returns: George Hosford says “If you don’t care about the land, you shouldn’t own it.”

This month, George is angry – and rightly so. As public support payments disappear and corporate investors quietly sell up, a new crisis is brewing: farmland is being snapped up by those with no connection to it, and no interest in what happens next.

In another powerful interview, George makes the case for long-term stewardship over short-term gain – and explains why land ownership rules need urgent reform if we’re to protect Britain’s food, soil and future.

He says we have people buying farmland who don't want to farm, don't want to engage with local communities, and don't care what happens to the land – and why that should worry everyone.

Bees and the Big Build: A new chapter in Shillingstone Jenny speaks to Ian Condon about the new eco-friendly North Dorset Beekeepers' Centre – complete with honey warmers, public displays and a demonstration hive window for curious visitors.

💬 “We’ve built something special – a teaching centre, a community space, and a love letter to bees.”

Hope at West Farm: new beginnings for Dorset’s hidden homeless Jill Cook from Salvation Army Homes explains how a new supported housing project near Bridport will offer not just shelter but space, safety and purpose to vulnerable young people.

💬 “You can’t fix homelessness with a roof alone. This is about roots, growth and confidence.”

The Grumbler Returns: Christmas, 1874-style Boot-losing mud, weaponised wassailing, and nutcrackers no one asked for – our festive Grumbler has thoughts.

This episode is based on stories from December’s BV. Read the issue here: https://bvmag.co.uk/Dec25 News, people, politics and rural Dorset life – every month, always free.

The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

This month’s podcast starts with Dorset’s hidden poverty – the kind no one likes to talk about, but far too many are living with. Help & Kindness CEO John Sloper explains why it’s everywhere and invisible – and how small, local action makes the biggest difference.

Then it’s on to the climate. Don’t switch off – this isn’t doom and gloom. Dorset COP organiser Giles Watts explains how we make climate ambition actually work in a rural county, and why language matters more than you think.

And if you’ve been wondering what “devolution” really means for Dorset’s towns and villages? The Dorset Insider has some strong views, a few sharp one-liners, and one big question: is this local empowerment, or just shifting blame?

Finally, we meet Wimborne cadet Charlotte Bedford – caver, climber, award-winner, and proud recipient of the UK’s top cadet honour. She’s brilliant. Don’t miss her.

Pop it on. It’s full of courage, climate, community and a healthy dose of quiet outrage.

This episode is based on stories from November’s BV. Read the issue here: https://bvmag.co.uk/Nov25 News, people, politics and rural Dorset life – every month, always free.

The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

Editor’s Letter: Not Quite Pumpkin Season Laura reflects on the sudden turn from drought to downpour, the return of green fields, and feels a quiet mourning for al fresco breakfasts and picky teas. Plus, she urges attention on the Dorset Plan:

“It’s the blueprint for how Dorset looks, lives and grows for the next couple of decades – and we’ve got just eight weeks to shape it.”

Sherry Jespersen: What the Dorset Local Plan Really Means Former chair of North Dorset’s planning committee, Cllr Sherry Jespersen, joins Laura to explain why the Dorset Local Plan is not just a boring bureaucratic document – it’s the most important planning consultation in decades.

“The government gives the numbers, but it’s not Dorset Council building the houses. There’s a mismatch between ambition and reality – and it’s residents who live with the consequences.”

Sherry breaks down how planning actually works, what people get wrong on social media, and why now is the time to speak up – whether you’re worried about infrastructure, affordability, school places or transport.

Dorset Insider: Roads to Nowhere This month our anonymous parish councillor takes a razor-sharp look at Dorset Council’s Local Transport Plan – a document full of admirable goals ... and almost no money:

“If you’ve ever cycled in competition with a tractor on a country lane, you’ll understand why people drive. In rural Dorset, the car is still a necessity – and public transport doesn’t cut it.”

6,000 Saxons and a Shallow Grave In Iwerne Minster, archaeologists have uncovered one of Dorset’s largest Anglo-Saxon cemeteries – 6,000 burials from a period spanning 300 years.

Courtenay Hitchcock joins lead archaeologist Richard McConnell on site, where the discoveries are helping to reveal the lives (and curious deaths) of our early Christian ancestors.

“There’s one grave where a second body was squeezed in – and they had to remove the first one’s head to make space.”

The Grumbler: Foxhounds and False History This month’s anonymous opinion piece is from a local historian who took issue with the hound parade commentary at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show – and its one-sided sermon on fox hunting.

“The implication was that the rural economy will collapse without hunting, and that every spectator supports it. I wasn’t convinced.”

This episode is based on articles from September’s BV, available to read for free here . News, people, places – and beautiful Dorset photography, every single month.

The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

Editor’s Letter: Five Years of the BV

Laura marks the magazine’s 60th issue with a frank and grateful look back at how it all began – one idea on a hill, one pandemic, two people ... aand a now a nationally award-winning corner of rural media.

“The BV started as a wild idea on a hill. Five years later, it’s louder, braver and somehow still just as scrappy behind the scenes.”

Dog Rescues in Crisis: Josh Heath of Dogs Trust

Jenny speaks to Josh Heath, Senior Public Affairs Officer at Dogs Trust, about their urgent campaign to regulate dog rescue centres – and the serious risks of unlicensed overseas imports.

“Some of these dogs are swept up off the street, put in a van for 30 hours and then dropped off at your door. No assessments. No support. No protection for the dog or the family.”

Josh explains the health risks, behaviour problems, and biosecurity concerns linked to international rescue dogs – and why the UK needs to follow Scotland’s lead with national licensing.

The Dorset Insider: A Local Plan Built on Sand

This month’s Insider column is a scathing, insightful account of Dorset Council’s presentation to the county's parish councillors of its Local Plan – and how it’s asking rural parishes to cope with twice the housing, zero details ... all presented with a lot of “slopey shoulders”.

“Where there were plans for 25,000 houses, it’s now 50,000. And we don’t even know where the grey belt lands yet.”

From disappearing infrastructure plans to greenwashing gestures, it’s a no-nonsense call for proper answers – and better thinking.

Minette Batters: Farming Needs a Roadmap

Former NFU President Minette Batters – now Baroness Batters – talks exclusively to Laura Hitchcock about why Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show still matters, and why farmers can’t plan for the future without long-term political vision.

“We need a farming roadmap that’s bomb-proof – something that won’t flip-flop with every election cycle.”

She reflects on the morale crisis in farming, and why we need younger voices at the table if agriculture is going to thrive in a changing world.

This episode is based on stories from August’s BV, available to read here https://bvmag.co.uk/AUG25. News, people, places – and beautiful Dorset photography, every single month.

The BV – named 2024's Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

Editor’s Letter: When July Sneaks Up on You Laura reflects on the time-warp that is early summer – one minute you’re reaching for winter gloves, the next, the garden’s a jungle and the fetes have begun.

“Everything feels compressed and stretched at the same time. Days last forever, but weeks vanish without a trace.”

Trout in the Winterbornes

Once a trade secret loved by the UK’s top chefs, world-class trout from Dorset’s quiet Winterborne valley is being championed by a local farmer Justin Frampton of Houghton Springs Trout Farm.  Jenny speaks to justin about the aquifer-fed farm where decades of careful breeding produce exceptional table trout.

“Our water is as clean as you’ll ever get. It comes from 110 feet down – no nitrates, no runoff, just pure spring water.”

Justin explains how the fish are raised without antibiotics, why Dorset trout belongs on every local menu, and how floating solar panels could help make the farm greener still. houghtonspringstroutfarm.co.uk

Nine Stiles and a Map Maker: The Stourton Caundle Trail Map maker and heritage advocate Catherine Speakman shares the story behind her joyful community project: nine unique stiles surrounding the village, each one adopted, repaired or decorated by local craftspeople.

“It started with a broken stile and a pot of paint – and ended with bird boxes, engraved stone, QR codes and metal sculpture.”

The project aims to celebrate overlooked corners of Dorset, draw footfall to quiet villages, and reconnect people with the stories in their own landscape. See the trail here https://tessofthevale.com/2025/06/04/the-stourton-caundle-stile-trail/

The Dorset Insider: Would You Know What to Do? This month’s Insider offers a personal account of a rural emergency – and a call to action for better preparedness, local awareness, and more community defibrillators.

“Do you know where your local defibrillator is – and how to use it? If not, now’s the time to find out.”

From improving signage and street access to advocating for adaptable housing, it’s a powerful reflection on the small changes that could save lives.

The Vale Family Hub: Where Nobody Hears ‘No’ Dorset councillor Carol Jones talks about the extraordinary Vale Family Hub in Sturminster Newton – a place that began with food parcels and now offers everything from toddler groups and counselling to youth work and domestic abuse support.

“Our motto is: there’s no such word as no. It’s always – how can we help?”

With over 70% of its volunteers having once needed help themselves, the hub’s success is rooted in compassion, lived experience, and practical action.

This episode is based on stories from July’s BV, available to read online here https://bvmag.co.uk/Jul25. News, people, places – and beautiful Dorset photography, every single month.

The BV – named 2024's Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

Editor’s Letter: A Cat Called Bentley

Laura shares the story of Bentley, the anxious, dribbly, slightly battered cat who has joined the household – and the slow work of rebuilding trust.

“Somebody somewhere has hurt him. So we wait. We let him come to us. And that’s absolutely okay, however long it takes.”

The Shakespeare Ladies Club: Rescuing the Bard

Jenny speaks to Christine and Jonathan Haynesworth, authors of The Shakespeare Ladies Club, about the remarkable group of 18th-century aristocratic women - led by the Countess of Shaftesbury –  who saved Shakespeare from obscurity: and why it mattered.

“His plays were being turned into pantomimes. They knew that without intervention, the originals would simply vanish.”

“These women sat on the stage itself, forcing the audience to behave – and bringing Shakespeare back.”

The Dorset Insider

Our anonymous parish councillor is back – this time questioning why Visit Dorset’s marketing seems to end at Dorchester, and why the north of the county is constantly overlooked.

“If people think there’s something worth stopping for, maybe they’ll actually … stop?”

Windelstán: Music for a Tower

Composer Richard Nye talks to Laura about Windelstán, the anthem he created for the newly restored tower in Mere – and why he included the sounds of old weather vanes, spiral staircases and bells.

“I wanted the tower to have an identity. A personality. It’s watched the town change for centuries.”

This episode is based on stories from June’s BV, available to read online now here https://bvmag.co.uk/June25 . News, people, places – and beautiful Dorset photography, every single month.

The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

Laura welcomes the season when the long socks are finally left in the drawer, blue glows in the woods, and offers a reminder that now is the time to begin again.

🌿 “Spring makes everything feel lighter. Conversations, to-do lists… even the news. Well, just a smidge.”

Dorset Council is consulting on plans to close five of its adult day centres. Cllr Jane Somper explains why these places matter – especially for carers – and why it appears some closures were based on incomplete information.

“The centres are a lifeline for carers – and we’re asking them to send loved ones to another town with no bus route ... and if there’s a reliance entirely on volunteers, I have real concerns. Volunteers burn out too.”

📝 The public consultation is open until 9th June.

Could you live in a house made of straw? Phil Christopher thinks you absolutely should – and no, the Big Bad Wolf couldn’t blow it down.

“Straw grows every year. It’s one of the easiest ways to lock away carbon in buildings. We have everything we need in Dorset to build truly sustainable homes – timber, straw ... even the gravel.”

Phil explains the tech behind breathable, beautiful straw bale homes – and why land costs make self-building almost impossible for anyone under 60.

When Laura Beddow rescued a fledgling rook named Lazlo, she didn’t expect half a million people to fall in love with him.

“One day he was just sitting in a Portmeirion pot while I made breakfast – the next, he’d gone viral. "So many people messaged saying they’d donated – because one small angry bird made them realise how vulnerable wildlife really is.”

❤️ Though Lazlo didn’t survive long, his story raised awareness (and funds) for wild bird rescues across the UK.

This episode is based on articles from May’s BV, available to read here. News, farming, politics, nature, people – and beautiful Dorset photography, every single month.

🎧 The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

Also: it’s the final episode with co-host Terry Bennett. You’ll be missed, Terry.

Born in 1925, Jim Freer reflects on a century of life – from engineering and war service to marriage, museum volunteering and village fetes. 💬 “Be nice to each other. That’s good advice too.”

From post-war production to RAF mail flights in India, Jim’s story is a calm, thoughtful tour through a remarkable life.

Dorset farmer George Hosford delivers a scathing and sharply informed assessment of DEFRA’s abrupt shutdown of SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive) payments – calling it a disaster for trust, long-term planning, and British food production. 🌱 ““You're never farming for today – you're always farming for tomorrow, next year, five years down the line.” 🌾 “This isn’t just about money. It’s about trust, soil health, food supply ... the future of farming.”

💥 “I can’t process the scale of this incompetence – it takes my breath away.”

George breaks down what sustainable and regenerative farming really mean, why government schemes mattered, and how political short-termism risks undoing decades of progress.

These interviews are based on stories from April’s BV, available online now. Dorset people, Dorset landscapes, and the big stories behind our rural headlines – all in one beautiful, free magazine.

🎧 The BV Podcast – twice a month, always worth your ears. Named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette).

From grumbles and glorious letters to chocolate-making wizardry, this first episode of the month is warm, witty and quietly furious in all the right places.

Editor Laura Hitchcock reflects on The BV’s national award shortlist nod, the return of the Glanville foals, and a must-read piece by George Hosford on the collapse of the SFI scheme. “George writes with a barely contained fury that’s impossible to ignore – and entirely justified.”

This month’s postbag takes in the White Hart Link, elderly drivers, and the ever-divisive meat tax debate. ✅ Readers heap praise on the Dorset Insider ✅ Farmers ask not to be demonised for raising livestock ✅ Environmentalists say it's time to face the facts ✅ A walker wonders why Blandford and Sturminster are skipped by a local trail ✅ Margaret F from Milborne Port concurs with last month's letter writer on the risk of elderly relatives driving longer than they should – but fears there's no easy solution: “Until we fix rural transport, we’ll keep having quiet crises on country roads.”

This month's writer of our anonymous column isn’t buying the glossy headlines around Dorset Council’s new transport plan. “North Dorset gets the long-awaited return of three Saturday services. No weekday buses. No evening buses. No progress. Urban voters see improvements. Rural ones see spin.” This is rural Dorset's reality – a county divided by postcode and prioritisation.

Dan Crossman and Anna Rakasa of The Little House artisan chocolatiers in Wimborne share the realities of running a luxury business in a time of cocoa chaos. “Three years ago, we paid £70 for 10kg of chocolate. Now it’s £170.” – Dan “We matched flavours and colours to women in history – a chocolate homage.” – Anna

From flavour alchemy to corporate commissions in bespoke colours, this duo are flying the flag for creative, sustainable Dorset chocolate – one beautiful Bon Bon at a time. “We pause production in summer – our workshop isn’t air conditioned, and chocolate is fussy.” thelittlehousedorset.com

These stories are all based on pieces from April’s BV, available to read online here. News, farming, art, food, politics, wildlife, letters, horses – and photography that’ll make you pause.

The BV: Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette) 2024. Free to read, packed with Dorset, and impossible to put down.

Pop it on in the background – between the chocolate and the chaos, you might just find yourself unexpectedly inspired.

Jes Hughes of Dorset CPRE explains why Dorset’s public transport system is one of the worst in the UK – and why it’s dragging down everything from job opportunities to mental health. 🚌 “If public transport were a species, it would be classed as highly endangered.” – Jes Hughes 🌍 “Without a car, living in rural Dorset is well nigh impossible – and the system is quietly eroding community life.”

He calls for shared car schemes, stronger government investment and a joined-up council approach that takes rural needs seriously. 📉 “Public transport returns four times more value than investing in roads alone – so why aren’t we funding it?”

Cllr Carole Jones shares the inspiring story of how a modest food pantry in Sturminster Newton became the main Family Hub for North Dorset – now supporting over 360 families with affordable food, mental health help, and everything from homework corners to domestic abuse support. 💬 “If someone’s in food poverty, that’s not the problem – it’s a symptom of something else going wrong.” – Carole Jones ☕ “Come in. Have a coffee. Watch the kids play. Find a friend. We’re here for everyone.”

It’s an extraordinary achievement – 24 vital services, open six days a week, funded almost entirely by local donations and grant-writing graft.

As cocoa prices soar, local chocolatier Johnny Baxter of Dorset Chocolate reflects on why quality chocolate is under threat – and why some small makers are already disappearing. 🍫 “We’ve seen the price of cocoa quadruple – and it’s not just the weather. It’s traders, plantations, and fear.” – Johnny Baxter ⚙️ “We’re not cutting quality – we’re creating new things instead. Fudge, caramels, local cream. We’re makers. That’s what we do.”

Despite market chaos, Johnny remains determined to keep Dorset’s chocolate-making tradition alive – and maybe even reimagine it.

These interviews were based on articles from March’s BV, which you can read for free online here. People, politics, farming, food, wildlife and plenty of Dorset spirit – all packed into one beautiful magazine.

The BV: Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette) 2024. If it matters to Dorset, it’s in here.

But the heartbeat of this episode? The awe-inspiring work of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, celebrating 25 years of saving lives. If you think it’s ‘just’ a helicopter, think again.

“We’re essentially bringing hospital-level care to the roadside – and it’s made possible by ordinary people giving a fiver a month.”

🎧 Tune in while you tidy the kitchen or walk the dog – your brain (and your heart) will thank you.

Laura Hitchcock opens with reflections on the turquoise-tinted national protest against uncredited AI use – and celebrates how this month’s issue was quite literally built by human generosity and connection. 🧠 “AI is just a tool. The real debate isn't about what it can do – it’s what it should do.” – Laura Hitchcock

From the heartbreaking to the hilarious, the letters this month cover: ✅ The last bank leaving town – and the isolation it brings ✅ Elderly drivers – and how to have that conversation ✅ The real cost of ‘free’ photo contests ✅ Greenwashing land grabs ✅ Calls for more from Mike H’s musical memoir 🔥 “Taking away the keys is taking away their independence – but safety has to come first.” – Joanna Spencer

Simon Hoare MP warns of NATO instability in a new Trump era, urging the UK to hold firm against bullies. 🗣️ “To end the fighting is easy. Russia has only to withdraw her troops.” – Simon Hoare

Ken Huggins tackles the alarming Wessex Water case, where a campaigner was sued for withholding payment after repeated sewage failures. 💧 “If you pay someone to do a job and they don’t do it – should you still have to pay?” – Ken Huggins

Gary Jackson explores military readiness, Trump’s performative politics, and why Europe must ‘smell the coffee’. ⚠️ “A virtual presence is an actual absence.” – Gary Jackson

Edward Morello celebrates Dorset’s overlooked heroines – and calls for more visible tributes. 🗿 “This is not just about stone and metal. It’s about the stories we choose to tell.” – Edward Morello

Charles Hackett, CEO of the DSAA, joins Terry to reveal what it really takes to run this life-saving service. Spoiler: it’s a lot more than a helicopter. 🚁 From 0 to nearly 3,000 missions a year, the DSAA is now a flying ICU, operating 19 hours a day and funded entirely by donations. 🌟 “We’re essentially bringing hospital-level care to the roadside – and it’s made possible by ordinary people giving a fiver a month.” – Charles Hackett 🎯 “One of the biggest ways people can help save lives is learning CPR – it makes a vast difference.”

This month’s anonymous column lifts the lid on the chaos brewing in Dorset planning policy. With 54,000+ new homes on the way and pressure from Westminster, local voices are being pushed aside. 🏘️ “Parish councils are sidelined in major developments, treated with far less respect or status than they should have.” 🛠️ “Neighbourhood plans mean nothing when a big development is on the way – but we’re still told to make them.” 💬 “A field of 1,300 souls, now facing 94 more houses. The GPs and schools can’t cope, and no one asked us.”

These interviews and features were based on articles from March’s BV – available now. Read the full issue for more voices, news, arts, farming, horses, and your favourite local chaos – beautifully photographed and 100% Dorset.

Did we mention it’s free?

📰 The BV: named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette) in 2024. You’d be mad to miss it.

But hosts Terry Bennett and Jenny Devitt have done a brilliant job – it’s an admittedly eclectic mix of three wildly knowledgeable and informative guests. But just press play in the kitchen while you do the washing up, or you take the dog for a walk. Because this is such a great episode – even if it IS about the downside of too much vitamin C (ick), council-backed affordable home loans (interesting AND super-useful) and where and how we’re building in Dorset (so. much. to. say).

Nutritional therapist Karen Geary is always fascinating as she shares her expert advice. This month she's looking at how to support your immune system through what you eat. From gut health and fiber intake to the role of Vitamin C, Zinc, and Vitamin D, Karen explains how small changes can make a big difference in keeping winter colds at bay.

💡 “70% of your immune system resides in your gut—so if you're not taking care of it, you're missing a huge piece of the puzzle.” – Karen Geary

She also busts common myths about supplements, revealing why many over-the-counter vitamins don’t work as advertised – and what to look for instead.

This month’s anonymous Grumbler column takes aim at government environmental policies, calling out the contradictions between expanding Heathrow Airport while pushing carbon offset schemes that take farmland out of food production.

🔥 “We should be growing food, not exporting our emissions with bad offset schemes.” – The Grumbler

The column questions whether the government is prioritizing PR-friendly initiatives over real climate solutions and what that could mean for rural communities.

CEO Emma Lower of Lendology explains how the social enterprise lender is helping homeowners secure low-interest loans for home improvements – from solar panels and heat pumps to insulation, double glazing and roof repairs.

🏡 “Unlike traditional lenders, we offer the same interest rate to everyone – so more homeowners can afford to go green.” – Emma Lower

With local councils backing these loans, they are able to offer exceptionally rates and bespoke terms, so that more Dorset residents can access funding to make their homes warmer, more energy-efficient, and better for the environment.

In a deeply interesting interview, Imogen Davenport of the Dorset Wildlife Trust discusses how housing developments can coexist with nature – but only if environmental planning is a priority from the start.

🏡 “in the old system, our local authorities argued successfully that because of the green belt around Bournemouth, Christchurch and Pool, the heathland around them, our significant areas of National Landscape, our highly protected Jurassic Coast, various other ancient hill forts and protected sites … together add up to be something that makes it significantly difficult to deliver these housing numbers. And that had been accepted, which is why our numbers were that much lower. So it’s not to say we can’t, but it’s where these houses can go without causing damage.” – Imogen Davenport

She highlights why bad planning leads to unnecessary environmental damage and how better green infrastructure, protected green spaces, and smarter site selection can create wildlife-friendly communities.

These interviews were based on articles found in February's BV, which can be read here … grab a coffee and jump in to the Dorset-ness. News, opinion, people, wildlife, art, farming, what’s on, horses … and frankly stunning photography.

Did we mention it’s FREE?

The BV is Dorset’s go-to magazine – named ‘Best Regional Publication in the UK’ (ACE Awards) and ‘Regional News Site of the Year’ (Press Gazette) in 2024. Brimming with Dorset’s people and places, it’s too good to miss!

As always in Episode 1 of the month, Dorset’s political voices take the stage:

• Simon Hoare, MP for North Dorset, tackles the loss of local bank branches, condemns night parking charges, and raises alarm over Gen Z’s shifting views on democracy.
• Ken Huggins of the Green Party criticizes the government’s stalling on the Climate and Nature Bill, urging for bolder climate action and citizen involvement.
• Gary Jackson of the Lib Dems argues that economic growth requires consistency and strategy, not political slogans.
• Edward Morello, MP for West Dorset, praises the resilience of rural high streets while highlighting the need for fairer business rates and better local support.

"Democracy is only safe if each generation understands its value. We need to protect it—before it’s too late." – Simon Hoare

Dorset farmer George Hosford returns to share his balanced perspective on the controversial reintroduction of beavers. He explores their potential to reduce flooding and filter water, but also raises concerns about the impact on productive farmland.

"If beavers are going to grow in number, we really need a way of managing them. Otherwise, we’re just creating conflict between conservationists and farmers." – George Hosford

He stresses the importance of finding a sensible middle ground, where beavers can be part of the solution without threatening farmers’ livelihoods.

This month’s Dorset Insider column tackles the ever-present problem of dog fouling. The anonymous parish councilor humorously – and candidly – explores the challenges of keeping public spaces clean, calling for: ✅ Stricter penalties and enforcement ✅ More bins and better waste management ✅ A culture change in responsible dog ownership

"If you step in it, you’re not just unlucky – you’re part of a village-wide epidemic. We need to get serious about dog fouling." 

Listeners weigh in on: ✅ Night parking charges – Seen as a threat to local hospitality and community life. ✅ The controversy over Christmas gonks – Sparked debates about inclusivity and tradition. ✅ A heartwarming memory from a retired violinist – Reflecting on the joy of music and craftsmanship.

These interviews were based on articles found in February's BV, which can be read here … grab a coffee and jump in to the Dorset-ness. News, opinion, people, wildlife, art, farming, what’s on, horses … and frankly stunning photography.

Did we mention it’s FREE?

The BV is Dorset’s go-to magazine – named ‘Best Regional Publication in the UK’ (ACE Awards) and ‘Regional News Site of the Year’ (Press Gazette) in 2024. Brimming with Dorset’s people and places, it’s too good to miss!

Terry sits down for an in-depth interview with Edward Morello, West Dorset’s first non-Conservative MP. He reflects on his journey into politics, the steep learning curve of Westminster, and his work on the Foreign Affairs and National Security Strategy Committees.

He also shares his stance on key local and national issues: ✅ Inheritance Tax for Farmers – Why he believes the recent changes are unfair and must be reworked. ✅ Planning Reform – The need to prioritize affordable homes while protecting Dorset’s landscape. ✅ Local Government & Devolution – The risks of centralizing power and how Dorset’s councils are under strain. ✅ Renewable Energy – Why the outdated electricity grid is holding back green energy projects.

"Farming isn’t just a job—it’s a way of life. If we don’t fix this tax policy, we’re jeopardizing the future of family farms." – Edward Morello

With Dorset seeing more large-scale solar farm proposals, Morello argues that poor infrastructure forces developers to build on farmland rather than utilizing better locations. He suggests investment in the UK’s energy grid would allow cleaner, more strategic renewables without sacrificing prime agricultural land.

"We need renewable energy—but farmland should be for food, not solar panels." – Edward Morello

Are churchyards becoming overgrown, or are they vital spaces for biodiversity? Rachel Rowe investigates the Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Living Churchyard Project, which helps communities balance conservation and maintenance.

Volunteer Anna Aubrey explains how simple strategies—like varied grass lengths, composting, and bird boxes—can turn graveyards into thriving wildlife corridors.

"Churchyards hold centuries of history, but they’re also a hidden haven for nature—we need to manage them with both in mind." – Anna Aubrey, Dorset Wildlife Trust

Then, as usual for Episode 1 of the month, Dorset’s political voices weigh in:

• Simon Hoare, MP for North Dorset, critiques Labour’s early missteps, discusses the potential impact of devolution on Dorset, and fiercely rebukes the Reform Party’s stance on farming.
• Ken Huggins of the Green Party champions imagination as a tool for change, urging Dorset residents to focus on solutions over anxieties.
• Gary Jackson of the Lib Dems laments the delayed social care reforms, calling for better planning and investment in Dorset’s future.

"While we may disagree on policy, we all share one essential thing—the land we live on. Let’s imagine and create the future we truly want." – Ken Huggins

The latest Dorset Insider column from our anonymous Parish Councillor explores the bureaucracy and broken systems behind local planning decisions, with concerns swiftly rising about local knowledge being overlooked.

"If Dorset’s strategic councils are formed at a regional level, will local voices still be heard? Or will decision-making become detached from those it affects most?" – The Dorset Insider

Dorset dairy farmer James Cossins shares the recent harrowing experience of TB testing when 47 seemingly healthy cows were slaughtered due to test inaccuracies. With no visible TB lesions found, James calls for urgent investment in better diagnostics and a viable vaccine.

"Sorting 47 animals onto lorries for slaughter was one of the saddest days I’ve had in my long lifetime of farming. Seeing our stock bull of eight years destroyed for nothing was gut-wrenching. The system is broken ... We’re testing and culling healthy cattle while waiting on a vaccine that’s always ‘five years away.’ It’s a waste of animals, time and taxpayer money." – James Cossins

BV readers weigh in on Dorset’s crumbling roads, the council’s neglect of Dorset's food and drink sector, and the underwhelming Christmas lights in Sturminster Newton.

Dorset’s food and drink producers should be a crown jewel, not a dusty trinket the council forgot it owns." – BM, retired farmer and cheese lover

These interviews were based on articles found in January’s BV, which can be read here … grab a coffee and jump in to the Dorset-ness. News, opinion, people, wildlife, art, farming, what’s on, horses … and frankly stunning photography.

Did we mention it’s FREE?

The BV is Dorset’s go-to magazine – named ‘Best Regional Publication in the UK’ (ACE Awards) and ‘Regional News Site of the Year’ (Press Gazette) in 2024. Brimming with Dorset’s people and places, it’s too good to miss!

Dr. Benny Tsu from Surrey University introduces a groundbreaking geothermal system to prevent potholes. By regulating road temperatures with shallow geothermal energy, Dr. Tsu explains how this eco-friendly approach could eliminate potholes caused by freeze-thaw cycles – saving millions in repairs and improving road safety.

"We’re thinking: why not regulate the pavement temperature year-round to stop cracks from forming in the first place?"

After a life-altering motorbike accident ended his army career, Paul Skivington didn’t just overcome the odds – he shattered them. Paul became the UK’s first World Para Jiu Jitsu Champion, winning double gold at the Abu Dhabi Championships in 2024. His story of resilience and determination is nothing short of inspirational.

"Jiu jitsu has literally changed my life. It’s almost 100% sparring, but without the heavy contact—it’s about skill and strategy."

Alice Fox-Pitt unveils Hinton Workspace, a state-of-the-art co-working hub in Hinton St Mary. Designed to counter the challenges of home working, this innovative space offers flexible solutions for local businesses, complete with eco-friendly facilities, breakout spaces, and even dog-walking services.

"We’re creating a ‘yes space’—somewhere people can thrive, feel productive, and enjoy their work environment."

Dr. Ian Mew discusses DocBike, a Dorset-based charity that equips medical professionals with motorcycles to provide faster roadside care for accident victims. The initiative has already reduced biker fatalities in the county by 50%.

"The last thing we want to do is dampen anyone’s spirit. By promoting safer riding, we’re helping motorcyclists enjoy their bikes while staying out of harm’s way."

"Dorset doesn’t need sprawling estates—it needs modest, affordable homes for locals who actually want to live and work here."

Fanny Charles investigates the West Wincanton Development, a proposed 650-home project that’s sparking debates about balancing housing needs, greenbelt preservation, and community infrastructure. While some see it as an opportunity for affordable homes and modern amenities, others fear the loss of farmland and the strain on local resources.

Fanny discusses the importance of brownfield development, ensuring affordable housing provisions, and holding developers accountable for promises like green spaces and biodiversity net gains. The episode highlights the need for local voices in planning decisions to prevent short-sighted urban sprawl.

"Dorset’s food and drink producers are invisible in the council’s plans—yet they’re the backbone of our local economy."

This month’s anonymous Grumbler column asks Does Dorset Council care about its thriving food and drink sector? Dorset’s producers are celebrated for their quality and innovation, yet critics argue that they’re underfunded, overlooked, and absent from local growth strategies.

With Wiltshire’s food fairs serving as an example of success, the call for better support, events, and funding for Dorset’s producers rings loud and clear. The podcast emphasizes the sector’s potential to boost economic growth and tourism, provided the council invests in the right strategies.

"People don’t realize the sheer work involved—each tree gets 10 touch points a year to create that perfect Christmas shape."

Pete Hyde reveals the magic (and hard work!) behind Dorset’s finest Christmas trees. From trimming techniques to pest management and needle retention secrets, Pete shares tips on picking and caring for the perfect tree this holiday season.

He also reminds listeners why real trees are a greener option than artificial ones—and how buying local supports Dorset’s economy while reducing environmental impact.

These interviews were based on articles found in December’s BV, which can be read here … grab a coffee and jump in to the Dorset-ness. News, opinion, people, wildlife, art, farming, what’s on, horses … and frankly stunning photography.

Did we mention it’s FREE?

The BV is Dorset’s go-to magazine – named ‘Best Regional Publication in the UK’ (ACE Awards) and ‘Regional News Site of the Year’ (Press Gazette) in 2024. Brimming with Dorset’s people and places, it’s too good to miss!

Terry sits down with Rachel Rogers from Dorset’s Citizens Advice, who provides crucial tips on avoiding some of the most common current scams. From investment scams to romance fraud and even sneaky QR code traps in parking lots, Rachel highlights how to stay vigilant in an increasingly digital world. Her advice? Always think twice, verify sources, and don’t let pressure tactics sway you!

Next, Jenny delves into the ever-ongoing debate over Dinah’s Hollow, an ancient Holloway in North Dorset. Fanny Charles updates us on the controversial plans for tree felling and slope stabilisation aimed at preventing landslips. With a hefty price tag of £8 million, the proposed project has drawn local opposition, citing its impact on biodiversity and the area’s historic character. As Fanny explains, alternative solutions, like the Red Rock proposal, could potentially address all the safety concerns with less environmental damage and lower costs.

This month also marks a major milestone as Buffy Wareham, a practice nurse at the Blandford Group of surgeries, celebrates 50 years in nursing. Buffy reflects on her journey from training in 1970s London to her current role in Dorset. Through anecdotes of resilience, adaptability, and compassion, she shares insights on how the field has evolved—and why she’s still passionate about it today. “You have to be interested in people, and you have to be kind. Good qualities like listening are so important. Sometimes, people just need to see a familiar face and know someone is there for them.”

These interviews were based on articles found in November’s BV, which can be read here … grab a coffee and jump in to the Dorset-ness. News, opinion, people, wildlife, art, farming, what’s on, horses … and frankly stunning photography. Did we mention it’s FREE?

(We’re proudly 100% digital, so the only way to read us is right here online.)

The BV is Dorset’s go-to magazine – this year named ‘Best Regional Publication in the UK’ (ACE Awards) and ‘Regional News Site of the Year’ (Press Gazette). Brimming with Dorset’s people and places, it’s too good to miss!

In this episode of the BV Podcast, hosts Terry Bennett and Jenny Devitt dive into some of the hottest topics affecting Dorset’s communities. From the housing crisis to farmers grappling with recent policy shifts, there’s plenty to unpack.

Terry and Jenny kick off the podcast with letters from readers – an eclectic mix of perspectives on everything from barn owl chicks to concerns about Dorset Council's “Litter Lotto", as well as editor Laura's letter.

As usual for the first episode of the month, the spotlight turns to Dorset’s political voices:

• Simon Hoare, MP for North Dorset, critiques Chancellor Rachel Reeves' budget and warns of its potential consequences for small businesses and rural economies.
• Ken Huggins of the Green Party tackles the global implications of Trump's presidency alongside local concerns about Labour's economic policies.
• Edward Morello, MP for West Dorset, offers a thoughtful perspective on the Assisted Dying Bill, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
• Gary Jackson of the Lib Dems advocates for stronger trust between central and local governments, calling for meaningful devolution.

The new Grumbler column shines a light on Dorset’s housing dilemma, challenging the push for new builds on greenbelt land while thousands of homes sit empty. The anonymous writer passionately argues for sustainable solutions that preserve the countryside and prioritise affordable housing in urban areas.

In an insightful interview, Jenny sits down with tenant farmer George Hosford, who unpacks the recent budget’s implications for agriculture. From inheritance tax changes to the abrupt end of farming subsidies, George offers a candid look at the challenges facing small farms. He questions whether current policies truly support food security or merely increase dependence on imported goods.

As George puts it, “We’re almost certain to reduce the amount of food being grown in this country, while making it harder for small farmers to stay in business.” His nuanced views—touching on tenant farming, environmental commitments, and the inequities of land ownership—make for essential listening.  "...that's pretty controversial, and a lot of landowners won't like to hear me say that, but that's my belief. Like it or lump it."

These interviews were based on articles found in November's BV, which can be read here ... grab a coffee and jump in to the Dorset-ness. News, opinion, people, wildlife, art, farming, what's on, horses ... and frankly stunning photography. Did we mention it's FREE?

(We’re proudly 100% digital, so the only way to read us is right here online.)

The BV is Dorset’s go-to magazine – this year named 'Best Regional Publication in the UK' (ACE Awards) and 'Regional News Site of the Year' (Press Gazette). Brimming with Dorset's people and places, it’s too good to miss!

Terry speaks with Dr. Michael Fernando, consultant paediatrician at Yeovil Hospital, about his work in Afghanistan. Michael shares how his team navigated complex cultural and logistical challenges to deliver life-saving neonatal training. He reflects on the power of collaboration and local resilience, saying, “People’s hopes for their children can overcome almost any obstacle.”

Jenny catches up with Anne Dearle, organiser of a special 30th-anniversary concert in Sherborne attended by Princess Anne. Anne looks back on decades of fundraising for Save the Children, highlighting the significance of the event and the royal visit.

Lastly, Terry sat down with local agri-legend Matthew Holland, who started working for C&O Tractors in Blandford as a 16-year-old in 1978. He's still at the firm, and has grown into a local institution for the Dorset agricultural community. He talks to Terry about his passion for vintage tractors, firefighting (he’s been a part-time firefighter for Blandford station for the last 39 years), and making top-quality cider with his family.

Why wouldn’t you take a look?

(We’re proudly 100% digital, so the only way to read us is right here online.)

The BV is Dorset’s go-to digital magazine – this year named 'Best Regional Publication in the UK' (ACE Awards) and 'Regional News Site of the Year' (Press Gazette). Brimming with Dorset's people and places, it’s too good to miss!

Covering the most recent political columns, they discuss the economic challenges facing local pensioners and farmers, with MP Edward Morello calling for urgent changes. Ken Huggins explores the issue of electoral reform and political donations.

We also hear from Gary Jackson, who talks about the need for more affordable housing, and Simon Hoare MP, who shares his thoughts on the role of the state and citizen responsibility.

Jenny chats with author Rachael Rowe about her new book, The Science Lover’s Guide to London. Rachel shares intriguing stories about lesser-known scientific wonders in the capital, including a revolving door shaped like DNA and that the first plastic ever made was in Hackney. As Rachael puts it, “There’s science hidden around every corner – you just have to look for it!”

Our readers also get involved in this episode, with the month's letters to the editor. We hear from a passionate farmer defending the future of Dorset’s wildlife, and a frustrated resident sharing concerns about dangerous traffic on local roads. One reader wonders if ti's time to raise the alarm over a potential threat to our sycamore trees.

Why wouldn’t you take a look?

(We’re proudly 100% digital, so the only way to read us is right here online.)

The BV is Dorset’s go-to digital magazine – this year named 'Best Regional Publication in the UK' (ACE Awards) and 'Regional News Site of the Year' (Press Gazette). Brimming with Dorset's people and places, it’s too good to miss!

• Coker Cloth and Global Exploration – Interview with Professor Terry Stevens “From these small villages with ordinary people doing remarkable things, we changed the world.”

  • Professor Terry Stevens discusses his new book, "Bucked in the Yarn," which uncovers the rich history of Coker Cloth – sailcloth made in the tiny villages of East, North and West Coker in Somerset. From Charles I's flagship, to Nelson's favourite and influencing the America's Cup, this sailcloth played a key role in maritime history. Terry shares anecdotes about his upbringing in East Coker, the process of researching the cloth's history, and the innovations that made Coker Canvas the best sail material in the world for more than 300 years.

• Mice in the Attic – Jane Adams’ Wildlife Story “It did sound like a mini herd of elephants up there... and when I got up there all I found was a few mice droppings.”

  • Jane Adams recounts her humorous experience with mice that made their way into her attic. Her humane efforts to relocate them were not altogether successful initially! She also discusses the differences between wood mice and house mice, as well as their nesting habits and unique characteristics.

• The Threat of Asian Hornets – Andrew Livingston’s Insight “Where they have established in Europe, they are predating on pollinating insects including honeybees. It’s like a supermarket for them – just a massive ready-to-eat supply.”

  • Asian hornets pose a significant threat to Britain’s pollinators, including honeybees. Andrew Livingston talks about how they got here, and highlights the growing concerns around their spread across the UK and how the public can help spot and report these hornets. The Somerset Beekeepers Association's president provides details on the hornets’ identification and emphasizes the importance of public vigilance to prevent further spread.

• The Real Cure – James and Lucy Smart’s charcuterie  business “It’s easy to make good charcuterie once… It’s much more difficult to do it week after week. Consistency is the key.”

  • James and Lucy Smart are the founders of The Real Cure, a successful North Dorset charcuterie business celebrating its 10th anniversary. They share insights into their sustainable practices and commitment to quality in producing charcuterie. The business has grown from a weekend hobby to an award-winning producer, using venison, pork, and beef from local sources. James and Lucy discuss the principles guiding their production, sustainability efforts, and their journey from farmer's markets to being stocked in outlets like Fortnum & Mason.

The BV is the rural monthly digital magazine from Dorset, this year named 'Best Regional Publication in the UK' (ACE Newspaper & Magazine Awards) and also 'Regional News Site of the Year' (Press Gazette's Future of Media Awards)

In the September BV's equestrian section, Sally Cooper interviewed Charles Church. She asks him about his journey to becoming one of the world's leading equestrian painters, from washing dishes in Newmarket to Royal commissions. Charles also takes on the Random 19 questions.

(see the interview and photographs of Charles Church in his studio on the BV website)

Interview © Gee Fox at Zizzy Studios

As Dorset Council tackles biodiversity loss, the BV has looked at its recent declaration of a Nature Emergency. Jenny sat down with Dorset Council leader Nick Ireland to understand exactly what this means, and how effective it can be. Jenny also tackles Nick on the council's continued use of glyphosate.

The BV is the rural monthly digital magazine from Dorset, this year awarded 'Best Regional Publication in the UK' (Newspaper & Magazine Awards)

Terry talks with Phil Silvester, the  chair of trustees of Riversemeet, Gillingham's not-for-profit leisure centre, about the difficulties they're facing - some of which were borne out of embracing new tech just a little too quickly. 

Lastly, Jenny chats to Stuart Twiss about the Shaftesbury Refugee Group, with a warm and insightful look at the case of one of the local refugee families, the Hammouds.

• Andrew Livingston on why Labour's silence on farm subsidy payments is a huge worry: " ... the way supermarkets currently dictate shelf price it's impossible for farmers to make enough money to keep the farm running, get the bills paid and pay their staff. Subsidies keep the farm ticking over, allowing them to plan forward. "Payments used to be done by the amount of land that you owned, but that's changed: the new scheme encourages farmers to farm in the right way, supporting nature and adding benefit to the local community. That could be maintaining footpaths or hedges, or increasing the biodiversity in and around your farm. So if you're a potato grower, you're not just growing potatoes, you're encouraging bees onto your land, and you're even encouraging people to walk onto your land – which is something that that most farmers probably don't really want to do! But it's important that farming is for everyone in the community, and not just the farmer."
• Sturminster Cheese Festival is not to be missed! Jenny talks to Helen Lacey who was involved in the very first show back in 1997, about how the event has evolved over the years. The first was over four days, Sturminster Creamery was still in business and running tours, and on the rec there were two scout tents! There was a  tea dance, cookery comp, and a fashion show on Saturday night in the scout marquee - they had to clear it for a catwalk!  Now it's possibly one of the biggest food festivals in the South West! As always, the weekend will feature a wide variety of food and drink from across the West Country, including (you guessed it) the star of the show – cheese! The festival is an amazing showcase, with 18 award-winning cheesemakers from across the South West. But it’s not all about the cheese – with almost 40 local artisan food producers to discover, from chillies to jams, doughnuts to fudge, pepper to brownies, curry sauces to local trout … and of course there’s gin, vodka, rum, liqueurs and plenty of locally brewed cider and beer too. Outside the food marquees there will be aisles of local crafts to tempt you, as well as free children’s entertainment provided by the utterly brilliant Betty Boffin and Strawberry Jam (plus there’s a traditional Punch & Judy show too). The Real Ale & Cider Tent provides plenty of refreshment and places to sit and enjoy the live bands who will be playing throughout the two days…
  • cheesefestival.co.uk
• Riversmeet is a non-profit, community owned, community-managed leisure centre in Gillingham. Run by a board of trustees who manage the centre and its team of 70+ staff for the local community. "We were early adopters of air source heat pumps in 2020 and that's another important feather in our green credentials. Unfortunately, the company that installed those went bankrupt a year or two afterwards, and we've since discovered they have some design flaws - when the weather is too cold, the air source heat pumps can't cope! Through crowdfunding we've now raised enough to purchase the gas boilers needed to provide a back up, but long term we need to replace them. We don't want any more breakdowns and loss of refrigerant gas – it's the equivalent to 40 trees each time. Engineers tell us it might happen once in 10 years: it's been happening to us once every four or five months! We have 'wasted' almost £100,000 on repairs and maintenance due to the equipment being poorly designed."
• This month's BV has a moving account of the Syrian refugees who arrived in Shaftesbury in 2017, knowing no one, not speaking the language and not knowing what their life would be. Stuart Twiss of the Shaftesbury refugee Group tells a little of their story: "they had had a small farm, and in many senses, it was an idyllic existence. But the war moved closer – the government forces took most of the men, kidnapped them, killed many, tortured others – obviously without trial – and they were held for unknown periods of time. When Amar was finally released, he and his wife samar and their two children, one a baby in arms, the other just six, walked from Malula to Lebanon, sleeping in ditches, literally walking with what they could carry. And when they finally arrived in Lebanon, they slept in a bombed-out building ..." Read the Hamoud's story in the BV here - bvmag.co.uk/SyriatoShaftesbury

The BV is the 'glossy' rural monthly digital magazine from Dorset,  this year awarded 'Best Regional Publication in the UK' (Newspaper & Magazine Awards)

After the usual Letter from the Editor, we move straight into the local politicians columns, the first since the General Election...

• Simon Hoare MP talks of feeling 'survivor's guilt'. Ken Huggins of the Green Party is excited by the Green Surge, with more than 2m votes for the Green Party nationwide. Gary Jackson of the LibDems tells of the crisis in Further Education, noting that the sector is currently both underfunded and woefully ignored. Lastly, Labour's Guy Perkins seeks to reassure non-Labour voters, explaining how experts and experience lie at the heart of the new government.
• Next, Show Organiser James Cox sits down with Terry to talk about this year's Dorset County Show. It's the county's traditional end-of-harvest celebration of the countryside. James talks about how, post-covid, the County Show was re-invented to breathe new life into the 170-year-tradition. In the 2024 show he's excited about the display of horsemanship from the Atkinson Action Horses. The Imps Motorcycle Display Team will be roaring their way around the main arena, always a crowd favourite. And there will be some brand new sections – visitors can meet 50 alpacas, and the fun dog show is sure to meet with everyone's approval. Is your dog up for best catcher, waggiest tail or prettiest rescue? And labeled as Dorset's biggest larder, this year's Food & Drink area is the biggest yet, with more than 60 stands in the food hall, while outside there's plenty more plus hot food and live music under the festival flags. dorsetcountyshow.co.uk

• Mosaic, a Dorset charity founded in 2007 to support bereaved children, has launched a major fundraising appeal to continue supporting children struggling with the death of someone close to them. Jenny talks to CEO Jo Revill about the charity's work to provide qualified counsellors for children and young people struggling with grief. mosaicfamilysupport.org

The BV is the 'glossy' rural monthly digital magazine from Dorset,  this year awarded 'Best Regional Publication in the UK' (Newspaper & Magazine Awards)

• Editor’s Letter from Laura - “…Hiding behind the idyllic facade of thatched roofs and high hedgerows lies an issue that has been overlooked, avoided and ignored by successive governments … the rural tax. Living in a rural area is significantly more challenging than urban living for those who are on a low income.”

• Wildlife Writer Jane Adams talks to Jenny, about the amazing crab spider, which you may have spotted on some of the flowers in your garden ... or maybe not... "Crab spiders are amazing – I've occcasionally wondered why a fly was upside down on a flower, thinking what on earth is that doing? And it had actually been caught by a crab spider. But even looking at it, I couldn't actually see the spider."

• Terry talks to Nutritional Therapist Karen Geary, looking at the real science behind the current trendy view that eating too much protein may cause cancer. "What I get concerned about more than anything else with people with cancer is they're actually not eating enough protein: it is crucial for maintaining muscle and overall health during treatment."

• Farming columnist Andrew Livingston is talking to Jenny about the increasing problem of fly-tipping in rural areas, its impact on the environment, and the efforts made by farmers to combat it: "At the end of the day, we just clear it up, and it goes unreported - I don't think we know the real scale of the issue." And he shares the case of the rubble's mistaken identity: "It was dumped on the Thursday and we went on the Friday to move it, spread it and roll it ... and it had disappeared!"

• Lastly, Jenny reads Andrew's interview with John Calder on the importance of hedgerow lifecycles: "if you go back a few generations they’d be laying hedges every year, but on different parts of the farm. And that means that there are hedges in different stages all over the farm. Turns out that’s what’s ideal for nature."

All from the July issue of The BV magazine  – the UK's Regional Publication of the Year.

The BV is the 'glossy' rural monthly digital magazine from Dorset.

Encountering seals on the Dorset shore is increasingly common – Dorset Wildlife Trust's seals expert Sarah Hodgson chats to Jenny about why there is technically no Dorset population, what you should do if you see one and why certain frisbees should be avoided when on the beach. See the full article in the June issue here - https://bvmag.co.uk/DorsetSeals

In spite of her terminal illness, 75-year-old Marilyn McDonald planned a daring wing walk to raise funds for Dorset charity Countrymen UK. She talks with Terry about the charity, and why she decided to try standing on top of an aeroplane instead of simply having a cake sale ('Possibly not one of my better ideas! But it's about raising awareness as much as money, and you wouldn't be interviewing me if I'd just sold some cakes!'.  See the full article with pictures of Marilyn in the June issue here – https://bvmag.co.uk/wingingit

Peter Morgan of Cranborne’s Book and Bucket Cheese Company talks to Jenny about his award-winning cheesemaking – made from very local milk which is from cow to cheese in under 24 hours. Peters talks to Jenny about setting up the business just as Covid hit, the joy of seasonal cheese, and his most recent launch of a new cheese, Stowaway – you might say it was literally launched, as the new product has been created specifically for the Queen Anne cruise ship, the latest addition to the Cunard fleet.

Yeovil’s Stroke Unit controversy – amid the public debate, Rachael Rowe looks at the pros and cons of NHS Somerset’s plans to centralise services (Terry reads)

Sarah Rampton's tenacity stood her in good stead when she was made redundant from the Alzheimer’s Society. She promptly set up her own charity, In Jolly Good Company and now supports more than 200 people (open to all, not just those with dementia) across groups in Wimborne St Giles, Wimborne, Blandford, Shaftesbury, West Moors and Kingston Lacy.  She talks to Jenny about what happens on a Jolly Day, from yoga sessions to a guided walk.  See the story here https://bvmag.co.uk/InJollyGoodCompany

William Fox-Pitt bids a quiet farewell to 5* Eventing – Jenny and Terry read Sally Cooper's interview as she talks to Dorset's own Olympian about his reasons for retiring, ('To be honest, the biggest difference in lifestyle will be accepting that perfection is no longer essential … That “pretty good” is now perfectly fine.'), his plans for training and breeding, his love for his chickens … and his thoughts on what his children may ride: 'I’m certainly not buying them in outside yaks – they can jolly well ride things that I produce at home!’

*See the full article with Williams answers to the Random 19 Questions, plus photographs of William in his yard here https://bvmag.co.uk/WilliamFoxPitt

This month The BV has been awarded the prestigious NMA’s Regional Publication of the Year 2024. Terry sat down with Laura and Courtenay Hitchcock to talk about award's night, and just what the award means to the pair who started the BV in 2020. *See the full article about the award win here  https://bvmag.co.uk/NMA2024 

Jenny chats to Gay Pirrie-Weir, the county's best-known, longest standing and most prolific theatre critic, who talks about this summer's open air theatre season. She shares her favourite locations, the best theatre companies to look out for, the proliferation of Shakespeare, and the peacock participation. All with the sporadic assistance of Kate the Cat! 

*See Gay's full guide to this summer's open air theatre in Dorset here - https://bvmag.co.uk/DorsetOpenAirTheatre24 

Jenny vists Alex Woodhouse to find out about the popular summer pop up restaurant at Supper at Pleck  

Terry spoke to Dick Bennet about the Sherborne Squat Thrusters, a 50-year-old circuit training group with an average member age of 73: 'the circuit has admittedly got a little more gentle as we've got older... and the rehydration in the pub afterwards is just as important!' They are always happy to welcome new members – they get particularly excited if it drops their average age a bit. People in their 50s and 60s and even younger are very welcome – it is requested that they just don’t show up the older members too much.

Wakely Cox is a fourth generation farmer just outside Dorchester – and a hugely respected  advocate for Dorset farming. He's the current chair of Dorset NFU, and one of his other roles is as chair of the Poole Harbour Agricultural Group, challenging the Environment Agency and the apportioned ‘farmer nitrate pollution’ of Poole Harbour. He talks to Jenny about how farming has changed since his grandparents time.

Simon Hoare MP has been considering the problematic lack of positivity in politics: 'People don’t want to vote against things; rather they want to vote for things.'

Ken Huggins of the Green party is loking for 'a green shift', and discusses the stricter regulation of the water treatment industry, 'including 4,000 water company inspections by the Environment Agency in order to ensure that our waterways ‘remain healthy’. But our rivers can hardly ‘remain’ healthy when only 14 per cent of them currently warrant ‘Good’ ecological status.'

Seb Carr, the award-winning teenage rare breeds pig farmer

Gary Jackson of the North Dorset Liberal Democrats is hoping for a new, clearer financial system under the LibDems: 'The current funding formula is decades old, unfair, opaque ... and has reduced local councils to begging for grant funding from central government to construct half-viable budgets.'

Gerald Davies of the North Dorset Labour Party notes that there are 140,000 children in England with no home, and that: 'The only way this crisis can be tackled is by building significant numbers of truly affordable homes for purchase and for social rent.'

When Seb Carr was eight he received four pigs for Christmas. Now 13, he has one of the largest pedigree herds of the rare British Saddleback pig in the UK, and last year he became the youngest ever recipient of the British Pig Association’s New Pedigree Breeder of the Year award (which apparently involved 'a LOVELY dinner' in London 'with a big stage, lots of lights and loads of other pig people. It was brilliant!'). Terry talks to him about life as a teenage pig farmer - and yes, he has an Xbox too!

Jess giving Mattie a rub down after a training session

Jess Rimmer is the daughter of 5* three day eventer Jo Rimmer – they jointly run Rimmer Eventing from Fontmell Parva. She's currently juggling running a professional yard with completing her biochemistry degree at Bristol University. Growing up as an eventer's daughter, and being put on a horse before she could walk didn't rub off the way her mum intended: "I didn't even like horses growing up! It wasn't until I was 12 or 13 when I was watching a friend (who I idolised) riding her pony that I decided "I want to be like her!" and I decided to get on.'

As always we kick off the month with the letters - editor Laura is looking at the allure of business awards, followed by all the letters to the editor.

Simon Hoare MP has been considering the problematic lack of positivity in politics: 'People don’t want to vote against things; rather they want to vote for things.'

Ken Huggins of the Green party is loking for 'a green shift', and discusses the stricter regulation of the water treatment industry, 'including 4,000 water company inspections by the Environment Agency in order to ensure that our waterways ‘remain healthy’. But our rivers can hardly ‘remain’ healthy when only 14 per cent of them currently warrant ‘Good’ ecological status.'

Seb Carr, the award-winning teenage rare breeds pig farmer

Gary Jackson of the North Dorset Liberal Democrats is hoping for a new, clearer financial system under the LibDems: 'The current funding formula is decades old, unfair, opaque ... and has reduced local councils to begging for grant funding from central government to construct half-viable budgets.'

Gerald Davies of the North Dorset Labour Party notes that there are 140,000 children in England with no home, and that: 'The only way this crisis can be tackled is by building significant numbers of truly affordable homes for purchase and for social rent.'

When Seb Carr was eight he received four pigs for Christmas. Now 13, he has one of the largest pedigree herds of the rare British Saddleback pig in the UK, and last year he became the youngest ever recipient of the British Pig Association’s New Pedigree Breeder of the Year award (which apparently involved 'a LOVELY dinner' in London 'with a big stage, lots of lights and loads of other pig people. It was brilliant!'). Terry talks to him about life as a teenage pig farmer - and yes, he has an Xbox too!

Jess giving Mattie a rub down after a training session

Jess Rimmer is the daughter of 5* three day eventer Jo Rimmer – they jointly run Rimmer Eventing from Fontmell Parva. She's currently juggling running a professional yard with completing her biochemistry degree at Bristol University. Growing up as an eventer's daughter, and being put on a horse before she could walk didn't rub off the way her mum intended: "I didn't even like horses growing up! It wasn't until I was 12 or 13 when I was watching a friend (who I idolised) riding her pony that I decided "I want to be like her!" and I decided to get on.'

The BV is the 'glossy' rural monthly digital magazine from Dorset, shortlisted in the 2024 Newspaper & Magazine Awards for 'Best Regional Publication in the UK'.

From neighbours to award-winning booksellers: FOLDE’s founders Amber Harrison and Karen Brazier talk to Terry about their 'pandemic-induced mid-life crisis'. FOLDE, in Shaftesbury, has won the British Book Awards Independent Bookshop of the Year competition for the South West, organised by The Bookseller magazine and judged by a prestigious panel of industry specialists, authors and journalists. It’s a remarkable achievement for a business started during the pandemic by two women who had never sold books. They're justifiably proud and deeply happy with their 'small but mighty, and slightly fighty' bookshop. 

From bingo halls to community calls – Shaftesbury’s Rotakids are a new generation of community champions, leading the charge in innovative community charity work. Peter Sale is president of Shaftesbury Rotary Club, and he chats to Jenny about the work of the group, and the benefits not just to the local community but to the kids themselves. 

The barriers are gone – for £1.3m ... Dorset residents had almost forgotten what Sturminster bridge looked like – but finally the bank stabilisation work is complete.

The BV is the 'glossy' rural monthly digital magazine from Dorset, shortlisted in the 2024 Newspaper & Magazine Awards for 'Best Regional Publication in the UK'.

In the first of the April BV podcasts, we of course start with all the letters – including editor Laura's exciting news. Then, in his monthly round up, Chris Loder MP takes a look at how rural Dorset will gain from the latest NHS dentistry reforms, and the latest record funding of £408,022 for Adult Social Care reforms in the county.

For the Green Party, Ken Huggins takes a sideways look at the blurred lines between party funding and policy making, offering an alternative to those disillusioned by their usual voting. Gary Jackson of North Dorset Labour says when you look at the water companies, it's double the sewage, and triple the stink. And Gerald Davies of the LibDems looks at how Dorset Council’s housing policies are failing local people.

In the May issue, Andrew Livingston reported on one Sturminster Newton farmer’s dramatic response to a lamb’s death by dog attack. It fuelled a viral online debate – and a call for prosecution

Lastly, Jennie chats to Jules Bradburn – circuit judge, event organiser and whose market empire expands to Dorchester this month as it becomes the latest Dorset town to benefit from a new 200-stall monthly artisan market.

The BV is the 'glossy' monthly digital magazine from Dorset, shortlisted in the 2024 Newspaper & Magazine Awards for 'Best Regional Publication in the UK'.

The March issue of the BV is out now, you can read it here: Inside this issue are good people, good dogs, good motorbikes, good books (and good booky people) ... and a foal with the zoomies (he may or may not be good, it's under review). Frankly, it's so jam-packed with Dorset goodness, it'd be rude not to. 

The BV is the 'glossy' monthly digital magazine from Dorset, shortlisted in 2024 for 'Best Regional Publication in the UK'.

In politics, Simon Hoare MP’s varied March musings include championing British farming, lambing season, community advocacy and Government collaboration. Ken Huggins writes for the Green Party, and is calling for us all to protest, protest and again protest. Gary Jackson, the North Dorset Lib Dems candidate, is calling on the government to act with prudence, and urges it to do no more harm. And in his final column for the BV, Pat Osborne of North Dorset Labour is keen to point out that the county's much-vaunted new second home tax is a pointless cash cow policy.

Lucy Nolan, Dorset’s only Accredited Pet Gundog Instructor (APGI), chats to Jenny about her work and the dogs she helps. It's not about training gundogs for work - there's a huge rise in working dogs being kept as pets, and as Lucy points out 'With working breeds you must give them a job, otherwise they go self-employed!' • Lucy runs Adhara Dog Training – https://www.adharadogtraining.co.uk/

• Editor Laura reflects on the little pieces of ourselves we unknowingly leave with other people, from helpful motivation quotes to the embarassing little stories we would actually prefer to die away!
• In politics, Simon Hoare MP unwraps the intricate issues of security. Ken Huggins of North Dorset Greens is hunting for some honesty in our politicians, and Gary Jackson of the North Dorset LibDems is calling for more help for the nation's league of 'unseen, unsung' carers.
• As one of the highest towns in England, standing at 750 feet above sea level, Shaftesbury is known as one of the coldest places in North Dorset. Join Terry as he braves the chill with Harriet Green at Shaftesbury Lido, uncovering the exhilarating world of ice miles and the invigorating spirit of open-air pools.
• Polecats have quietly been making a secretive but fragrant return – Jenny learns all about the elusive bandits from wildlife writer Jane Adams. Are the little predatory 'foulmart's dangerous? And how do we tell the difference between them and stoats?

• Editor Laura Hitchock is looking for reasons to be cheerful during the longest month of the year
• The Reader's Letters this month include some wonderful memories of Iwerne Minster, triggered by last month's vintage postcard which happened to show the very house the writer had grown up in, back when the village had a whole range of shops and enjoyed hourly double-decker buses (You can see the original postcard, from the Barry Cuff Collection, including the message on the back, on the website here).
• Simon Hoare MP is sharing a little spring optimism and his hopes for what the new year might bring
• Ken Huggins of the North Dorset Green Party shares a recent personal experience to look at the need to invest in the NHS
• Gary Jackson of the North Dorset LibDems is looking forward with optimism , and has hopes that a General Election will bring a fair change
• North Dorset Labour's Pat Osborne talks about the need for Britain to become energy-independent
• And Jenny sits down with Fanny Charles to look at the pros and cons of the new Bonham Forest plan at Stourhead, which is causing major ripples in the local community.

You can read the full January 24 issue of the BV magazine here – jam-packed with incredible Dorset folks doing magnificent things. There's also farming, wildlife, a huge Dorset food & drink section... and if you like glorious photography you'll be a fan. Did we mention it's FREE?

You can read the full December 23 issue of the BV magazine here – jam-packed with incredible Dorset folks doing magnificent things. There's also farming, equestrian, wildlife, food & drink... and if you like glorious photography you'll be a fan. Did we mention it's FREE?

In her letter this month, editor Laura is looking back to a specific shopping list she once saw on Twitter which has stayed in her head ever since. Following the letters to the editor, we move on to this episode's features:

• Hazelbury Bryan Primary School’s call to ‘make a noise’ against bullying was answered by a cathedral bellringer’s visit last month
• Jane Adams delves into the peculiar world of lichen, revealing a vibrant, year-round splash of colour in the UK’s landscapes, even on the darkest days. She and Jenny take a fascinating walk through the secret world hiding in plain sight, used for centuries for firelighting, perfumes, clothes dye … and growing on slow-moving sloths.
• She chose the harp over the recorder when she was five – and she talks about her life with her giant instrument as she chooses the discs she can’t live without. Gwyneth Wentink, internationally acclaimed harpist, selects her Dorset Island Discs

In this episode Terry gets to grips with some of the biggest issues currently pressing Chris Loder MP, Cllr Spencer Flower gives us a peak into his personal life, Penny Nagle talks to Jenny about a new producers market and Terry discovers the fascinating men behind award-winning Orris Leather in Wimborne.

• Cllr Spencer Flower shares his life's journey from a boy to a single mum on a Gillingham council estate to becoming the leader in charge of a £348m budget for Dorset Council as he chooses the music he can’t live without in Dorset Island Discs.
• In the second part of his interview, Terry talks to West Dorset MP Chris Loder about topics as diverse as the current state of government, the relentless drive to a cashless society and speed cameras on the A30.
• Penny Nagle, well known for her Feltham's Farm cheese, talks to Jenny about the new Horsington monthly market which is her brainchild, where local growers and producers are celebrating homegrown produce, promoting sustainability and fostering a real sense of community.
• Dorset craftsmen Ed Waldron and Chris Holbrook have been internationally recognised as two of the world’s best under-40 leatherworkers – but it all sorted as a bit of a hobby.

You can read the full November issue of the BV magazine here – jam-packed with incredible Dorset folks doing magnificent things. There's also farming, equestrian, wildlife, food & drink... and if you like glorious photography you'll be a fan. Did we mention it's FREE?

• Reflecting on the current seemingly intractable conflict on the Middle East, Simon Hoare MP offers his own route map to an enduring solution
• Sarah Dyke MP is advocating for fairness in the treatment of same sex couples for IVF therapy
• Ken HUggins of the Green Party bemoans the government’s can-kicking with regards to achieving Net Zero by 2050
• Labour's Pat Osborne says it's profits for banks – but suffering for ordinary people

In the first part of Terry's interview with Chris Loder, he talks in more depth around his answers to the reader's questions sent in last month. Included in his comments are subjects as diverse as access to a local NHS dentist (he’s 'not convinced the NHS is prioritising this enough') and planning ('communities need to assess if the time a Neighbourhood Plan takes to draw up is ultimately time well spent.')

And finally, Jenny chats to Karen Geary, who has some great and timely tips on how to eat healthily on a tight budget and also how what we eat can help us to stay well in the winter months through flu season.

Read the full October issue of the BV magazine here – jam-packed with incredible Dorset folks doing magnificent things. There's also farming, equestrian, wildlife, food & drink... and if you like glorious photography you'll be a fan. Did we mention it's FREE?

It's a mixed package for the first of the October podcasts. After the usual start with the letters, we delve straight into the politics columns. Then Jenny has a fascinating conversation with Dorchester Literary Festival's co-organiser Janet Gleeson, and Terry talks to Pauline Batstone who's currently in Bridport ... the one 11,000 miles away in Tasmania!

As usual we start the month with the letter from the editor, in which Laura looks for the goodness of humans - and shares an only-Laura tale of four cheese – as well as all the BV’s reader’s letters.

In politics this month, newly-elected MP for Somerton and Frome, whose consituency encompasses the western end of the Blackmroe Vale, sets out her plan of activity for the coming months. Ken Huggins from the Green party looks at Dorsets first COP - and the inspirLabour's Pat Osborne ing positivity surrounding the event.

Labour's Pat osborne is raising an eyebrow at the rising NHS waiting list - and looking at the far-reraching consequences of them. West Dorset MP Chris Loder has launched a campaign to make the stretch of A30 between Sherborne and Yeovil (a stretch he calls an 'unofficial racetrack') safer.

Jenny sat down with Dorchester LitFest owner Janet Gleeson to look at some of the highlights of this year's much-anticipated festival, with a round up of authors from Victoria Hilsop returning for a third visit to first-timer Lemn Sissay, one of Janet's personal favourite poets. Together they discuss the appeal of non-fiction authors at literary festivals, how unpredictable the success of any talk can be ... and also to hear about the nuts and bolts of running such a large, popular literary event.

Lastly, Terry chatted to Cllr Pauline Batstone who is currently 11,000 miles away - just outside Bridport, near Weymouth. I'll leave her to explain how...

• Resident wildlife columnist Jane Adams would like to see the term 'weeds' thrown out - if we use 'wildflowers' instead, perhaps we'll stop fanatically removing them from our gardens and leave some for our wildlife to enjoy. 
• Driving community connections: how Paul Futcher’s fish and chip van The Pilgrim Fryer has become a weekly staple in some North Dorset villages
• From desperation to media sensation - how one Tweet saved Dorset artist Anna Hamilton. Her quiet social media plea turned into an overnight sensation, shifting her from financial despair to overwhelming success
• The mysterious journey of Alan Turing’s documents, from Sherborne to America – and back. An astonishing tale of undercover archivists, FBI involvement and the triumphant return to Britain of the stolen Turing documents
• Swimming with blue sharks reveals their stunning beauty, Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Julie Hatcher tells Jenny – but lack of regulation makes them deeply vulnerable
• Dairy farm businesses are under threat, according to a recent NFU survey. In a fascinating interview with Alex Stevens of the NFU, Terry uncovers the reasons behind the growing uncertainty among the UK’s dairy farmers

• Letters (from and to) the editor
• In politics, Chris Loder, MP for West Dorset, discusses the fact that the declining use of cash particularly affects the elderly and rural dwellers. Ken Huggins of the Greens agrees that he, too, hates wind turbines. But that that's not the point! And Mike Chapman of the Lib Dems has been at two big rural shows recently – and despite a very different audience at each, there were some strong common themes being discussed.
• In this month's Dorset Island Discs, Jenny spent sime time chatting to composer Hellen Ottaway. From folk to installation art, you can hear Helen talking about her multi-dimensional journey in music as she chooses the discs she can’t live without as an island castaway
• We have the obituary of our writer, columnist and dear freind Roger Guttridge, who passed away this month. Most BV readers will know him well from his terrific local history columns, and possibly remmeber him as a local journalist – but did you know he was also a Team GB reporter who covered three Olympics, and was press officer for the Great Britain Swim Team?

• 'A weasel is weasily identifiable, whereas a stoat is stoatally different'. Jennie talks to widlife expert Jane Adamas about the stoat – its mesmerising effect, how to spot it and why Dorset may be a perfect home for the mysterious little creature
• Former Royal Navy officer Chris Taylor has lived a career in the skies The acclaimed civil certification test pilot explains the unique skill set required for the job
• Is farming at a crossroads? Andrew Livingston looks at the unfair struggle between agriculture and supermarkets
• After 40 years in the TV industry, Simon and Karen Priestman bought a boutique vineyard on the Dorset coast – and promptly created an award-winning wine
• Crumbs! It’s 50 years  since that Hovis ad. Exactly half a century after an iconic Hovis commercial hit our TV screens, Roger Guttridge takes a stroll through the story of Dorset’s most famous street

The red kite is a popular conservation success story, and Jenny talks to Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Adam Woolcott about his love of the birds of prey, who – despite their rising population numbers – are still at risk from poisoning.

Simon Hoare MP asks whether every town needs a town centre - he thinks it does.

MIke Chapman of the LibDems says it's time for a change – and time for the grown ups.

Labour's Pat Osborne condemns the governments recent decision to grant new oil and gas licences.  

Ken Huggins of the Greens talks about the good, the bad ... and the downright ugly.

In part two of Jenny's fascinating conversation with the Co-Director of the Bournemouth University Duropolis Dig, Paul Cheatham, you can hear about the 'monsters' found in the pits – and paul also discusses the compelte lack of human remains from the Iron Age settlements.

Rachel Rogers provides some specific advice around what to do when a package holiday goes wrong! Talking to Terry, she provides an interesting look at the work of Dorset's Citizen's Advice – no longer the CAB, the organisation does a lot more than is widely understood.

In an engrossing interview, Paul Cheatham, the geophysical survey director responsible for the archaelogical digs at Dorset's 'Duropolis', effectively gives us a personal guided tour of the site that was discovered in 2007, and what the team have found in the subsequent 12 years of digs as they explore the hillside.  He admits that everywhere the team survey they find a new settlement to explore – whether Iron Age, Bronze Age or Roman, from the Mesolithic to the late Roman era, the Dorset hillsides are covered in remnants of early communities. During the medieval period people moved into the valleys and finally left the high grounds, but  counter to perceived wisdom, Paul explains that early man did not in fact choose hilltops for defence purposes – and he also talks Jenny through Iron Age fridges.

Jenny talks to Julie Hatcher, Dorset Wildlife Trust's Marine Protection Officer, on their new campaign Save Our Wild Seas,  raising both awareness and funds for practical steps to reduce the pollution on our beaches. Julie discusses the importance of our seagrass nurseries in Dorset in particular.

Artist Philip Sutton RA is now 95 and lives – and still paints – near Bridport. Author and journalist Fanny Charles talks to Jenny about the renowned colourist who has never followed fashion, but has led a fascinating life.

The BV podcast goes beyond the pages of the magazine, providing you with exclusive insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and in-depth conversations with our guests. If you haven't seen it yet, be sure to take a look at the July issue of the BV here or visit our website to explore the articles and stories featured. 

On a visit to Oliver's Coffee Shop in Sherborne, Terry chats to owner Jane Wood in this month's Meet Your Local – discovering the century of history still visible in the cafe's decor, as well as finding out more about Jane herself as she lets us behind the counter to hear about the current challenges and what's happening in the popular coffee shop on Cheap Street.  The UK’s first post-Brexit trade deals begin amid agricultural industry concerns and severe labour shortages. Jenny talked to farming columnist Andrew Livingston about the real effect on our supermarket shelves. He suggests that it's not even so much about supporting British farmers as much as it is an issue around animal welfare. UK farmers are held to high standards, but the latest trade deals allow for a concerning flexibility in welfare of animals raised in other countries. Nutritional therapist Karen Geary is a regular BV columnist, and she spoke to Terry about how her time living in California lead her into a later-life career switch. She admits her patients are often turning to her as a last resort, when they're frustrated with the lask of solutions elsehwere, as she finds solutions to health issues. This month she's looking at snacking – and what night be a good strategy for a balanced diet and losing weight.

The BV podcast goes beyond the pages of the magazine, providing you with exclusive insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and in-depth conversations with our guests. If you haven't seen it yet, be sure to take a look at the June issue of the BV here or visit our website to explore the articles and stories featured. 

Terry visited the Old Tarn Mills in Sherborne to talk to Karyn Speed of Molecula Antiques, who appears on TV's Salvage Hunters. She invited Terry into the surprise interior of Molecula, where the old industrial factory unit is laid out with a stunning display of their modern 20th century design, Molecula's speciality and passion: "the attitude used to be that 'antiques were more than 100 years old'. And we used to go to antique fairs with 1950s, 1960s furniture – the looks we used to get from some of the dealers! They were like 'this is NOT an antique, I grew up with ths stuff!'. But we were ahead of our time, it's never been more popular!" She talks Terry through some of the items on display, and talks about her time on Salvage Hunters. See Molecula's website molecula.co.uk Jenny talks to John Farrand about the work of the Guild of Fine Food, including their Great Taste Awards – many will recognise the iconic black and gold logos. The guild also runs the world cheese awards, and works with the nations small food and drink businesses. The organisation has become a powerful voice, representing the smaller producers and retailers at government level, is present on a DEFRA steering group... though John points out they're not always listened to. He talks to Jenny specifically about the government's recent Farm to Fork summit – and the lack of representation through the fact that 'those in power only consult with those in power'. He points out that the nimbleness and sharp, innovative thinking is present within the multitude of smaller businesses across the country.  See more about the guild on their website gff.co.uk

• Letter from the Editor - Laura Hitchcock gladly welcomes June's wooing ways, and celebrates being an overweight middle-aged mum kickboxer.
• This month's readers letters include some disgruntled locals unhappy at the coun cil mowing glorious verges during No Mow May
• Local historian Roger Guttridge muses on Robert Boyle. The man who gave us Boyle’s Law was also Stalbridge’s Lord of the Manor and carried out his early experiments in North Dorset
• Craig Wharton from Sherborne Antiques Market reveals that TV expert Paul Atterbury was the first of the market's 38 dealers to sign up, and talks about how a recent episode of Antiques Road Trip featuring Catherine Southon was filmed in the Market. But on the day, Craig and his partner Philip had tickets for the opera, so they cleared the crew out by 6.30!
• Finishing up with the politics round up, we hear from West Dorset MP Chris Loder, plus the current musings from the North Dorset represnetatives of Labour, LibDems and Green party. It's worth noting that we have a strong 'no-party-bashing' rule for the politics columnists, which means they spend their time discussing pressing issues.

Chris Loder

Politics

Roger Guttridge tells the story of Dorset’s first newspaper and the ‘Sherborne Men’ who ‘rode Sherborne’ to distribute it

There’s a major new independent market in Shaftesbury – the launch event had more than 70 stalls, and was a resounding success with almost 6,000 people visiting. The monthly event will boost tourism and trade, says market director Jules Bradburn, who already runs the hugely popular independent Sherborne market which she has grown to 200 stalls. She spoke to Jenny about how it’s going, and about some of the incredible artisans, producers and traders that are finding a new audience.

Jim Bettle makes a living from an ancient craft, fuelling his passion for a more sustainable country. One of very few British charcoal producers, by the end of August he’ll produce more than 35 tonnes of sustainable British charcoal from within his North Dorset woodland 'office'.

Charlie was working at BAFTA in 2002 when he decided it was time to go back to his professional roots after long years managing band tours, and look for a theatre job. ‘I just happened to see the advert. It said: “Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne, Dorset, is looking for a general manager.” I’m sure it said something along the lines of 'knowledge of the area useful' or helpful or something. And I just thought, well, I went to school in Dorset. That’ll do ...’

This month the Tivoli's theatre manager sat down with Tracie Beardsley to choose his Dorset Island Discs – highlights are in the May issue of The BV magazine here, but in this extended edition of the BV podcast you can listen to the unedited full conversation, with all the bits we had to chop out! You can listen to all Charlie's music choices in his Dorset Island Discs playlist here (Apologies for any background sounds - Charlie and Tracie met at the Crown Hotel in Blandford!)

• Letter from Laura, the editor
• Letters to the editor
• Populism in politics always over-simplifies issues. Effective and lasting political change requires active listening across divides, says MP Simon Hoare
• Mike Chapman of North Dorset LibDems urges us and the government to do more ... 
• Pat Osborne of North Dorset Labour questions whether the coronation of a new monarch should prompt a wider deabte about our British head of state, and the implications for democracy
• Ken Huggins of the Green Party says it's time to wake up and see the flood
• The Vale Pantry in Sturminster Newton is a new breed of community service, offering food and practical help to those who are struggling. Jenny spoke to Carole Jones to hear its story.

After a lifelong career presenting music to the nation, writer and radio presenter Natalie Wheen found it a challenge choosing just eight discs. For more than 30 years, she was an ever-present voice on our radios, with weekly shows ranging from presenting classical music on BBC Radio 3, and a broad selection of Radio 4 shows from the arts review Kaleidoscope to The Food Programme. Moving from the BBC to Classic FM in 1999, she was charged with ‘spicing up the repertoire’ – which she did for four hours a week for more than ten years. Her disc choices are a fun, naughty and surprisingly moving wander through the personal stories that have filled her years with the greatest names in the world of classical music.

Lastly, in the final item from April's BV, Terry shares Rachael Rowe's investigation into why there is such an enormous lack of NHS dentists in Dorset.

The BV podcast goes beyond the pages of the magazine, providing you with exclusive insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and in-depth conversations with our guests. If you haven't seen it yet, be sure to take a look at the April issue of the BV here or visit our website to explore the articles and stories featured. 

The Countess of Carnarvon is our Random 19 guest this month – Jenny chatted to her about her latest book 'The Earl and The Pharoah' - exploring the fascinating life of the fifth Earl of Carnarvon, famous for the discovery of the tomb of the young Pharaoh, Tutankhamun.

Lastly, Terry spoke to journalist Andrew Livingston to hear more on his story about the numbers of birds of prey being posioned in Dorset, following the news that the RSPB say Dorset is one of the worst counties for raptor persecution.

The BV podcast brings you highlights from the latest issue, as well as exclusive extras you won't find in the magazine. If you haven't seen it yet, be sure to take a look at the April issue of the BV here or visit our website to explore the articles and stories featured. But don't forget, our podcast goes beyond the pages of the magazine, providing you with exclusive insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and in-depth conversations with our guests.

• The Spring Countryside Show is BACK! The first show of the year in Dorset’s rural events calendar is this weekend, and Jenny chats to Giles Simpson, the Gilingham & Shaftesbury Show Chairman, about what's in store at Turnpike Showground.
• Journalist Andrew Livingston as he discusses the current outcomes on the Poole Harbour oil spill. Although initial fears around the spill were quickly calmed, the long-lasting effects are still unknown. 
• For Lillie Smith, it all began with Cynthia. A huge Gloucester Old Spot pig, Cynthia lived on a farm where Lillie, a student at the time, had a weekend job mucking out horses. The young farmer takes a break from her farm in Shillingstone where she lives with husband Morgan, their four children ranging from two to eleven and seven of the rarest of pig breeds, Oxford Sandy and Blacks.

If you're not already signed up to the BV magazine, you can do so here https://bit.ly/SubscribetoTheBV . The BV podcast is based entirely on articles that have featured in the BV magazine – interviews are often exclusive expansions on those features, which are necessarily limited on the page. At the very least you should dip in occasionally to see the gorgeous photography that often accompanies the features!

• Roger Guttridge recalls three local legends: a minister who upset early women’s libbers, Marnhull’s bull-baiting habit and the legendary toad doctor of Pulham
• Planning permission was awarded to the Dorset-headquartered AJC Group for a collection of 13 open market homes and eight affordable dwellings (40 per cent). However, the company has an ambition to change the face of social housing, and AJC Group worked with developers Abri to provide 100 per cent affordable housing across the scheme. David Cracklen, director of AJC Group, spoke to Terry about the development.
• Wildlife writer Jane Adams is looking forward to her own personal sign of spring – what she says is her Mary Quant of the insect world, the bee-fly. Jane also has a book out this month! Nature’s Wonders: Moments That Mark The Seasons, is published in conjunction with National Trust. You can see the BV review in Book Corner on the website , and Jenny chats to Jane about the book.

If you're not already signed up to the BV magazine, you can do so here https://bit.ly/SubscribetoTheBV . The BV podcast is based entirely on articles that have featured in the BV magazine – interviews are often exclusive expansions on those features, which are necessarily limited on the page. At the very least you should dip in occasionally to see the gorgeous photography that often accompanies the features!

• In politics, The Windsor Framework isn’t just good news for businesses, says MP Simon Hoare. It shows a return to adult politics and better relationships.  Mike Chapman of the LibDems says it's time to stop the hand wringing and resolve the energy crisis. Ken Huggins of the Greens  takes a long hard look at ethical consumerism, and Pat osborne is looking ahead to the 2024 election, comparing the missions versus the pledges of the leading parties.
• As event organiser at the Turnpike Showground, shepherd Bonnie Cradock is facing a doubly busy spring, thanks to one over-excited fun-loving ram. From Lizzo to Quo via Busted, her Dorset Island Discs are a suitably personal, eclectic mix.
• It may be 10,000 years old, but Toby Hoad believes the ancient skill of horse logging is vital in shaping and saving our woodlands.

  One of only 12 full-time horse loggers in the country, Toby talked to Tracie Beardsley when she went to meet him and his three sturdy Comtois – Ettie, Celine and Fleur – French mountain draft horses known for their steady and sociable natures.

• Folk musician, singer, actor, storyteller, historian, Thomas Hardy expert ... Dorset’s Tim Laycock is a man of many talents, and Jenny has his answers to the Random 19 questions.
• Terry has been talking to Cllr Peter Wharf as he gets to grips with Dorset Council's additional council tax levy on second homes, and the pros and cons of the arguments surrounding a heated debate.

• Reggae, Strauss and Gershwin? It must be Dorset Island Discs. Pauline Batstone has spent a lifetime working with ex-offenders as a probation officer, and spends retirement working for her community

• Jenny reads this month's column by wildlife writer Jane Adams, who is missing her early morning alarm call – but feels there may be signs of hope for mavis, as Chaucer named the British song thrush.

The BV podcast is brought to you every month by the wonderful Terry Bennett and Jenny Devitt.

• Letter from the editor, Laura Hitchcock
• Reader's letters

• Following a local outcry based on inaccurate information, Jenny Devitt speaks to Luke Rake, principal of Kingston Maurward College about the rumours surrounding the cancelation of apprenticeships

• Legendary cricket commentator and broadcaster, Henry Blofeld OBE, known amongst his many fans as Blowers and famed for his plummy tones and all-round good humour, invites you to join him in a brand new show, My Dear Old Things - coming to the Exchange in Sturminster Newton in March. Terry Bennett has a chat with Henry to find out about what's in store. Click here to win tickets to one of the shows!

• Rupert Hardy, chairman of the North Dorset CPRE, takes a long look into the case for solar panels on roofs or in fields - and says 'do not be deceived by the frequently misleading data issued by solar trade associations, whose members are unsurprisingly more concerned with profit than saving the planet.'
• In this month’s Looking Back column, Roger Guttridge questions the spooky stories that have long been associated with a Dorset Manor. Mid-16th century Sandford Orcas Manor near Sherborne is among the most exquisite in the county. Google it, however, and it’s not its fine Tudor architecture that makes the headlines but its reputation as a haven for ghosts and poltergeists.
• This winter, Dorset Wildlife Trust has been deliberately installing dead trees in a valley near Ansty, says conservation officer Stephen Oliver. ‘This exciting partnership project involved two kilometres of river restoration work on Devil’s Brook, a long watercourse rising in the chalk hills near Higher Ansty and flowing south to join the River Piddle near Athelhampton.'
• Wildlife writer Jane Adams is trying hard not to be stuck in the January gloom, and instead to look for the signs of new life 'When I stumble in through the back door and my husband asks if I’ve seen anything on my walk, it’s really no surprise he gets a glare from under my sopping wet fringe.'
• Blandford farmer George Hosford abandons the stats and checks his crystal ball to see if his profit calculations will be accurate this year 'It depends on when you sell the grain and when you buy the fertiliser, and whether you have to borrow the money to do so ... A fair bit of number crunching and crystal ball gazing then needs to happen in order to decide the right approach for next season. We have already committed to buy next year’s fertiliser, at eye-watering prices. To leave it longer would have been reckless ...'
• Lastly - here’s a horrific notion to get you started for 2023 – should Dorset have a motorway? Farmer Andrew Livingston thinks the unthinkable...

• Letter from the editor, Laura Hitchcock
• Reader's letters
• Prices may be falling and mortgage lenders nervous – but house hunters are still looking to move. Local experts take a look at the Dorset housing market in 2023
• Simon Hoare MP compares our current economic climate of strife with the original winter of discontent.
• Mike Chapman of the LibDems looks back at his highs and lows of the last year
• Ken Huggins from the Green Party looks for the positives amid a pretty gloomy outlook
• Pat Osborne form North Dorset Labour discusses the ongoing strike action.

• Almost 250 years after the funeral of the young Milton Abbey heir, questions remain about whose “body” was actually buried. 

• As winter sets in, Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Reserves Ecologist Steve Masters urges us all to go down to the woods today

• Wildlife writer Jane Adams is on the lookout for a winter wild bee fix - even in December you can find them, she says

• Dorset is known as a natural larder, from meat to dairy and veg to cakes. Caz Richards chats to Terry about the work of Dorset Food & Drink, how they're supporting local producers and businesses - and shares her personal tips on some Dorset-produced highlights!

• Answering this month's random 19 questions is North Dorset resident Alice Plunkett, one of the leading horseracing presenters for ITV. A former eventer and National Hunt jockey herself, Alice has also been the Radio 5 Live equestrian correspondent and has hosted equestrian events for Eurosport, Sky Sports and Horse and Country. Alice is married to top eventer William Fox-Pitt, and they have four children.
• It’s 35 years since Mike and Louise Burks opened Sherborne's Castle Gardens – now their Christmas displays are a staple of the region’s festive calendar. Jenny Devitt spoke to Mike to find out about his choices as December's castaway on Dorset Island Discs
• In a tiny village in Dorset, talented 84-year-old Peter Thomas and 70-year-old Trevor Ball are keeping the old man well and truly out - both are supposedly retired and now work happily every day on their “addiction’’, woodturning and stick dressing. Although they never intended to set up a business, both men now have a hugely satisfying and successful second career. 
• Westminster policy has a habit of ignoring the less populated rural areas of the country, says MP Simon Hoare, and it's time to discuss Levelling Up in the south.

• In her end-of-the-year round up, Laura thanks the team - and you

• A swift look at the baking aisle in your local supermarket will tell you that the UK egg industry is in crisis. Andrew Livingston reports

• Ever been to the races? Me neither. My first visit to a racecourse – on a windblown and wet November day in Wincanton – wasn’t at all what I expected, says Laura Hitchcock

• Letters to the Editor – listen to what others think (our postbag is always open – send emails to letters@bvmagazine.co.uk )

• Hidden away in a fold of Cranborne Chase outside Shaftesbury, Guy Ritchie's Gritchie Brewery is crafting a fine reputation

• 1855 has opened in Sturminster Newton, and the eclectic new browsing bank of artisans and traders has proved an instant and massive hit in the town

• Letters to the Editor – listen to what others think (our postbag is always open – send emails to letters@bvmagazine.co.uk )
• Sonnaz Nooranvary is a British-Iranian upholsterer who lives near Wimborne, best known as the resident upholstery expert on BBC One’s The Repair Shop. This month she braved the BV's Random 19 questions.
• Filleting since he was 14 – meet John the Fish, Wimborne's fourth generation fishmonger with no better fish to fry when it comes to his life choices.
• Pies, pasties and sausages are on the menu at Yeovil-based Wild and Game as they promote the use of wild British game into our diets.
• Giles Keating, the owner of Athelhampton House, one of England’s finest Tudor manors, has overseen a major plan of maintenance on the much-loved building. He shares his story through his Dorset Island Disc choices – be ready for Dr Who, LEGO and Taylor Swift.

• In her letter from the editor, Laura (like us all) is considering the ever-more-worrying cost of living, especially its impact on local independent businesses – and what the BV, as a community resource, is trying to do to help.

• The Pocket Rocket is European Champion! Tiny teenage boxer Ruby Else-White from Stalbridge has won her first European title.

• Do you have room for some girls? Haidy Mansfield talks about the current hen rescue situation in the UK – and she has a hen rehoming day this month.

• For three consecutive years, the Supreme Champions at the Virtual Cheese Awards have come from within five miles of each other, between Templecombe and Wincanton!

• Politics is not a soap opera. A serious sense of purpose and a united, dedicated application has returned, says Simon Hoare MP, who has just one simple word for his constituents.

• It’s time to grab the opportunity and place the environmental agenda back on the top of the To Do list, says North Dorset Green Party’s Ken Huggins.

• The ringmaster has changed, but it’s the same old Tory circus with a worrying downgrade of climate policies, says Labour’s Pat Osborne.

• A general election could re-energise the tired parade of the same old faces and develop a national consensus, says North Dorset Lib Dems’ Mike Chapman.

The BV magazine is the monthly digital magazine from Dorset - you can read the entire latest issue here  and why not subscribe (it's FREE!) so that it drops into your inbox every month on publication day? Just click here! 

• Mike Howe’s ‘office’ this week is a stunning 16th century cottage in the heart of the beautiful village of Abbotsbury. Far from drawing life’s short straw, Master Thatcher Mike switched career and now teaches future generations an ancient skill
• A vintage van was the unlikely solution for cheesemonger Carolyn Hopkins – now she’s an unmissable local sight. The tiny, bright blue 1969 Citroen HY vintage truck is packed with a selection of delicious cheeses as it travels to markets around the Blackmore Vale.
• Local politics with thoughts from Simon Hoare MP for North Dorset, plus representatives of the local Labour, LibDem and green parties.
• In local history this month, Roger Guttridge looks back at an almost-unchanged Green Man pub at King's Stag.

The BV magazine is the monthly digital magazine from Dorset - you can read the entire latest issue here  and why not subscribe (it's FREE!) so that it drops into your inbox every month on publication day? Just click here! 

• In her letter from the editor, Laura is wondering where all the grown ups went (and she apologises for galloping through slightly – this was her fifth attempt at getting through the paragraph about Pog without needing to stop and gulp a little)
• NHS Dorset is investing in technology to improve care for the population – sometimes unpopular, it has become necessary in order to cope with demand. 
• If you think your traditional turkey is a dry, under-flavoured, over-rated bird, then you might want to change where you buy it. We spoke to some local turkey farmers for an inside look at the industry, and their top turkey tips.
• Letters to the Editor – listen to what others think (our postbag is always open – send emails to letters@theblackmorevale.co.uk )
• Edward Hoare is a philanthropist and environmentalist – born at Stourhead, he is a direct descendant of Sir Richard Hoare, who founded Hoare’s Bank in 1672. As a bonus for podcast listeners, you can listen to Edward’s interview and hear his answers for yourself, rather than the edited version that appears in the magazine.

The BV magazine is the monthly digital magazine from Dorset - you can read the entire latest issue here  and why not subscribe (it's FREE!) so that it drops into your inbox every month on publication day? Just click here! 

• Laura Wilson watched a therapist treat her horse – and gave up accounting to train as a McTimoney animal chiropractor

• As weaning begins for this year’s foals, the stud begins to focus on sales, says Lucy Procter of The Glanvilles Stud

• The August ground was so hard that Team Bartlett headed north in search of softer going for Equador MW and Cor y Taran, says Toots Bartlett

• Autumn is the season of abundance, even after a summer drought, says foraging expert Carl Mintern as he enjoys the literal fruits of the season

• Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Marine Awareness Officer Julie Hatcher shares the story of work to monitor the recently arrived furrowed crab.

• We’ve lost a staggering 97 per cent of our species-rich grassland since the 1930s. Growing a wildflower meadow in your back garden isn’t quite as simple as you might think – but it’s important to try, says writer Jane Adams

• Once a major business, English wool is now a wasted opportunity – the industry needs an urgent rethink, says Andrew Livingston

• Letters to the Editor - listen to what others think (our postbag is always open - send emails to letters@theblackmorevale.co.uk )

• 'The NHS has lost its way’ – Patricia Miller, CEO for Dorset’s Integrated Care Board, oversees complex health services and health improvement programmes. Her thoughts on Dorset's poverty and its inextricable link to the population's health are eye-opening as she shares her fascinating life's story through her Dorset Island Discs
• In politics this month, light-touch government is an excellent theory says North Dorset Green Party’s Ken Huggins, but in practice it just doesn’t hold water. Or sewage. Labour's Pat Osborne says the New Green Deal is already planned, and though a summer of local fairs can lift a community, there’s no hiding from the anxious mood that grips the Vale’s residents, says North Dorset Lib Dems’ Mike Chapman
• This month Roger Guttridge tells the story of an 18th cenury rector of Lydlinch who was obsessed with hunting – but his first quarry was an unfortunate old woman
• Farmer Martin Green is claimed to be the most profesisonal of amateur archaelogists. A visit to his remarkable Down Farm Museum is highly recommended, says Rupert Hardy, chair of North Dorset CPRE
• Baden Powell was the Boy Scout who never wanted to grow up. In her open-minded new biography, Dorset journalist Lorraine Gibson unearths fascinating insights into this complex character.

In the first of The BV podcast's September epsiodes, 

• Boris Johnson’s levelling-up agenda comes to rural Dorset, bringing ‘lightning fast’ broadband and other benefits. 

• Wincanton Sports Ground could close by the end of September, warn the trustees, if no one comes forward. 

• Baffled by the exam system and what those grades actually mean? Kingston Maurward’s Principal Luke Rake has an explanation for all us confused ones.

• Author Minette Walters takes on the Random 19 questions

• Charlotte Tombs’ successful flower farming business grew out of one packet of sweet pea seeds and some Instagram inspiration. 

• The latest Winterborne Kingston dig reveals the lifestyle and habits of our Dorset forebears more than 2,000 years ago, says Roger Guttridge

• When she was young, wildlife writer Jane Adams was told ‘you can’t hear bats’ –  and believed it for 30 years ... But you can.

• Trail cams have now captured sightings of the first beaver kits born in Dorset for more than 400 years says Hazel Ormrod from Dorset Wildlife Trust; for two weeks it was thought there was only one.

• A favourite spring flower is a surprise forage in August, and expert Carl Mintern has the real reason for those pucker-up sour blackberries right next to the sweet ones

• Understanding biennials has led to a nostalgic flower patch full of scent and colour, says flower farmer Charlotte Tombs

• Ragwort is a menace to all animal owners, says Andrew Livingston – but he suspects his passion for picking the poisonous plant isn’t popular with conservation groups

• Dry crops aren’t always a good thing, says fifth generation farmer James Cossins, as he explains late night combine harvesting and reducing the fire risk

• Too old? Absolutely not, says expert Mel Mitchell, as she explains why you should never stop – and why it’s never to late too start

• Great skin is rarely about what you put on it, says nutritional therapist Karen Geary – instead try looking  at what you’re eating

• Laura Beddow is a Dorset councillor, a parrot rescuer, and dreams of an itinerant life playing her viola around a campfire with a cider in her hand. She shares the tracks of her years in Dorset Island Discs.

• ‘Don’t sell the sausage. Sell the sizzle.’ Sophie Baker is managing to do both –  brilliantly – with her award-winning sausage business, reports Tracie Beardsley in this month's A Country Living

• This month Rachael Rowe met Jen Daly and Ken Peet – London expats who are the proud owners of the thriving Cerne Abbas Stores – in Meet Your Local

• In the local politics round up, all four voices have something different to say. Simon Hoare MP considers the change in the way we consume our news has lead inexorably to a political fatigue. Ken Huggins of the Green Party considers the relevance of a recent Hollywood film, Mike Chapman ranges his thoughts from lurching politics to the cost of living crisis, and Labour's pat osborne considers Blandford's own drop in the ocean.

• In this month’s Then and Now, Roger Guttridge visits Halstock to share the macabre story of how a pious Dorset girl came to lose her head

In the month we saw the Lionesses lift the European trophy, Rachael Rowe has spoken to three North Dorset women who have become national champions in their traditionally-male sports. Mark Hix, chef and restaurateur, braves the random 19 questions and reveals a love of a good bargain (eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Poundland are his top shopping choices!).

In the third and final July episode we have the Equestrian, wildlife and farming sections:

• Is the Connemara simply the best pony? Local breeder Kate Walters explains their appeal and introduces a couple of Connemara superstars

• Last month one curious foal stole our hearts with her naughty leap inside a small pen after a ruptured bladder operation – Lucy from Glanvilles Stud shares her story 

• Three day eventer Toots Bartlett shares how her new boy Equador MW showed his Aston Martin tendencies but Freebie slowed to miss out on his second International win. 

• Some of Dorset’s coastal creatures play an important national role in our coastal biodiversity, explains Hazel Ormrod from Dorset Wildlife Trust

• Why did we stop eating the fat hen, wonders expert Carl Mintern, who is celebrating the season for finding the jewel in the mushroom-foraging crown

• When was the last time you saw a toad in the garden? Writer Jane Adams raises the alarm call for our endearingly ugly, slug-loving splodges

• The 1950s green ‘wonder foam’ for flower arrangers is not actually green at all, says flower farmer Charlotte Tombs

• The transition from the EU’s Basic Payment Scheme is likely to result in a big loss to the Dorset economy, says NFU county advisor Gemma Harvey

• Fifth generation farmer James Cossins says it’s time to explore new (old) ways to maintain cattle feed through the summer

• The disconnect between consumers and the food on their plates has arguably never been wider – Andrew Livingston suggests that social media can help

In this second of July's episodes:

1. Maggie Ollerenshaw, the acclaimed British actress, takes on the Random 19 questions

   Maggie Ollerenshaw, a proud Mancunian now resident in Stalbridge, is perhaps most famous for playing comedic Northerners, particularly in the sitcoms Last of the Summer Wine and Open All Hours 

2. “The best guitarist that I have ever seen live” - Dorset Island Discs with Philip Coward

   Philip Coward is chairman of Hillbrush, sits on the Royal Warrant Holders Association executive committee and has been a Mere councillor for 46 years

3. The alchemy of the glassblower

   The Venetian art of glassblowing is little changed in 800 years. Edwina Baines visited Emsie Sharp’s studio in Child Okeford to interview the Murano-trained artisan

4. Local politics round up:

   North Dorset Labour’s Pat Osborne laments the undermining of rigts to peaceful protest. North Dorset Green Party’s Ken Huggins shares his thouhts on Boris Johnson, written before the PM resigned. And North Dorset Lib Dems’ Mike Chapman refelects on recent events in Westminster, with a bleak reference to America's second Amendment.

5. Blandford Hospital and the Case of the Sozzled Servant

   Roger Guttridge finds the cottage origins still visible within Blandford’s hospital, and discovers the very first patients

6. The ‘fat old woman at the toll-bridge’ Roger Guttridge shares the second part of his dive into the Thomas Rackett Papers

In this first of July's episodes:

1. The Letter from the Editor, Laura Hitchcock

2. Second mosaic at Hinton St Mary leads to a history re-write

   Archaeologists have discovered a second mosaic at the site of Hinton St Mary’s iconic Roman mosaic pavement – almost six decades after the original discovery – and it is challenging everything we thought we knew.

3. New reserve is a tribute to Angela Hughes

   The Countryside Regeneration Trust is keeping alive the legacy of a pioneering Dorset farmer and conservationist

4. North Dorset housing estate becomes top holiday destination

   Residents on a new housing development in Okeford Fitzpaine are working together to create a welcome for their African guests

5. Letters to the Editor

   A new additon to the Podcast - but they're one of the most well-read pages in the magazine, so it feels right to include them

6. Early rise in the bread shed

   It’s a baker’s dozen of working hours for David Mirus, perfecting his sourdough before Wimborne awakes. Tracie Beardsley reports in A Country Living

In the third and final of June's episodes:

• In Farming, hares don’t seem to become an issue, reflects Dorset NFU county chairman George Hosford, but beavers (and, surprisingly, Jeremy Clarkson) pose far tougher questions – and there don’t seem to be any easy answers.

  And as the pig crisis is ignored, the poultry crisis deepens and the supermarkets refuse to budge, Andrew Livingston fears a difficult future for farming

• Wayne Winstone shares this month's choices in book corner
• In Local History, Roger Guttridge starts his look into the Rackett Papers. The Rev. Thomas Rackett is famous for his interest in science, archaeology and antiquaries but did he neglect his churchgoers? 
• And in Health, Karen Geary looks at the foods that will help if you're suffering with hayfever

In the second of June's episodes:

1. “I consider 1984 to be the greatest year of music” Luke Rake, Kingston Maurward College's Principal and CEO, also chairs the Dorset Local Nature Partnership. This month he was our castaway for Dorset Island Discs - and revealed a darker, LOUDER side. By day, he’s a mild-mannered college principal. By night, he‘s a rock-playing guitar man with torn-off sleeves ...

2. Open Q&A with Simon Hoare

   Simon Hoare MP offered to answer an open postbag – and you didn't disappoint. If you're wondering what the North Dorset MP thinks of Partygate, the availability of an NHS Dentist, the fact his party seem set against flexible working from home, second-homing in Dorset and which of the Nolan Principles he feels Boris Johnson adheres to, then we have the answers.

3. Local politics round up

   Following Simon's piece we have the thoughts of our other political commenters - from North Dorset's Labour, Liberal and Green Parties.

4. Out in the wild

   Heading up the out of doors section, expert forager Carl Mintern reminds us not to ignore the weeds when you look for the strawberries and honey Flower farmer Charlotte Tombs is marking World Bee Day withs ome astonishing facts - along with some sobering statistics Jane Adams introduces us to the frankly adorable speckled bush-cricket, and Pete Harcom has your garden jobs for the month.

In this first of June's episodes:

1. The Letter from the Editor, Laura Hitchcock

2. Walks and card games in Durweston are helping one family settle in

   Adrian and Marie Fisher in Durweston have welcomed three generations of one Ukrainian family. Adrian shares how they are settling into life in Dorset

3. North Dorset offers a welcome

   A local committee has been quietly working to help settle refugees – one family at a time – from all parts of the globe, reports Rachael Rowe

4. Local teenager’s event attracts 120 supercars worth £120,000 to £1.2m!

   A student from Clayesmore School has surprised and captivated supercar owners with his creative meet-ups. Rachael Rowe reports

5. Tom Robinson - 72, and still got it

   Tom Robinson, songwriter and broadcaster, will be at The Exchange later this month. Editor Laura Hitchcock spoke to him about his 50-year career as a musician, as a broadcaster and as an activist.

6. Internationally bestselling author Natasha Solomons takes on the Random 19 questions

   Natasha Solomons is the author of five novels, including Mr Rosenblum’s List (set in Dorset) and The Novel in the Viola, which was chosen for the Richard & Judy Book Club. Her latest book, I, Mona Lisa, is just out in paperback

7. A greener goodbye

   In a remote barn in Dorset, with pigeons and podcasts for company, Sophia Campbell is quietly revolutionising funerals with her reusable coffins and environmentally-friendly farewells, Tracie Beardsley reports

Rising costs due to the Ukraine war combined with dry weather spell challenges for farmers, says James Cossins, while Andrew Livingston discusses big businesses buying productive farmland to promote their ‘green’ credentials may impact rural communities and UK food security

In foraging, Carl Mintern discusses your current May wild salads while out foraging …and forageable flowers, buds and leaves make gorgeous tissanes, and will always perk up your spice mixes.

Great Taste is the world’s largest, most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme - and its home is right here in Gillingham. Long time judge Fanny Charles takes us behind the scenes on testing for this year’s Great Taste Awards

Rachael Rowe visited Sprout & Flower, a beautiful flowermonger/greengrocer /deli (with ‘the best coffee for miles’) in Mere, and chatted to owner Sarah Collins

After a course of antibiotics, Supplements can help - but nutritional therapist Karen Geary explains the cheapest and the best options are readily available in simple recipes

Mental Health Awareness Week is 9th – 15th of May. The theme is particularly relevant as we emerge from the pandemic - it’s loneliness, says Izzy Anwell of Dorset Mind.

Wayne Winstone has his usual recommendations of two new reads – this time with a local twist – in Book Corner

The Archbishop of Canturbury has every right to comment on political decisions – and politicians must listen, argues Simon Hoare MP

Fundamental movement is your body’s unthinking, necessary ‘work out’ as you go about your day, explains expert Mel Mitchell

• Buying two horses unseen was a risk, but the results are absolutely wonderful, and the season has started well, says Toots Bartlett, National three day event rider.
• In Tales from the Vale, Andy Palmer shares tales of rationing and his mum's war

• The fascinating history of compassion, bravery and the largest pitched battle in Dorset during the Civil War is told by Rupert Hardy, chair of North Dorset CPRE

• Pubs in previous centuries staged a wild variety of events to draw in customers – but they weren’t quite the same as today’s quiz nights and ‘open mic’ sessions, explains Roger Guttridge as he talks about Shroton's village pub

• The tale of an innocent Dorset boy who quickly became a man in the horrors of the Napoleonic war is vividly described by Roger Guttridge

• Birds living and breeding on the UK’s farmland saw numbers decline by almost a tenth in just five years, says Dorset Wildlife Trust

• Blue tits are on a surprisingly precarious tightrope each spring. Nature writer Jane Adams shares the task ahead of ‘her’ Bonnie and Clyde

• With his gardening jobs for May, Pete Harcom suggests now's the time to look for optimum siting for plants to bloom

• 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

• Life or death foals, DIY one-sided milking, windswept legs, film stardom and “Go Honeysuckle, go!” - it’s another average month at The Glanvilles Stud with Lucy Procter

• When Jemima Green was paralysed from the waist down after a car crash, she thought she’d never be able to ride again. She was wrong – she shares her story

• Events at a Dorset council meeting made national headlines, but ultimately overshadowed the importance of the vote, says Labour’s Pat Osborne

• The Government is punishing the victims of cross-channel trafficking, not the perpetrators, says north Dorset Lib Dems’ Mike Chapman. 

In this first of May's episodes:

1. The Letter from the Editor

2. How ‘A Dorset Kitchen’ is so very much more than a recipe book

   A wonderful new country life focusing on home-grown produce and beautiful food could have been shattered by the death of a son. But the family have strained every sinew to wrestle good from the tragedy, says Rachael Rowe

3. Clamping down on rural crime

   Rural crimes can be violent, costly and yet are often misunderstood, requiring an entire community approach reports Andrew Livingston

4. Storm clouds are brewing on the horizon at the Vale Pantry

   A growing number of proud pensioners are in tears when seeking help to feed themselves - the Pantry’s Carole Jones spoke to Rachael Rowe

5. Philip Hart 1958 – 2022. 'I’ll always remember his infectious laugh’

   “We are sad to say ‘farewell’ to a community-minded employer, a stalwart of local business, and simply my friend” says Jon Dart

6. Dorset Chamber auction raises over £11,000 for Ukraine DEC

   Swift donations from Dorset businesses lead to a successful auction raising £11,242 for the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Appeal

7. The Iron Man of Sturminster!

   ‘Forging ahead to restore the past’ seems a good motto for Ian Ring, who owns Newton Forge, the Sturminster-based World Heritage business, and whose work is in demand across the UK. Tracie Beardsley reports in this month's A Country Living

8. Covent Garden Dance Company Director Matt Brady takes on the Random 19

   Matt Brady, Director of The Covent Garden Dance Company, who created Ballet Under the Stars at Hatch House, is celebrating the event’s return this summer, after a three year absence. 

   On 22nd, 23rd and 24th July audiences in the beautiful 17th century walled Dutch garden venue just north of Shaftesbury can enjoy an incredible line-up of dancers - many of them Principal dancers from companies including the National Ballet of Ukraine, The Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet and Staatsballett Berlin. Xander Parish returns to the Hatch theatre this year dancing with his wife, Anastasia Demidova.

9. “James Herriott has a lot to answer for”

   David Sidwick is about to celebrate his first anniversary as Dorset’s Police Crime Commissioner. He shares his top eight music choices with us as May's Castaway on Dorset Island Discs

    

- chair of Shillingstone Parish Council, Rachel McNamara, saw the events unfolding in Ukraine and like all of us yearned to help. So she packed a bag and headed to Krakow, where she's been providing much-needed help at a refugee station. - A unique heritage project between a Dorset high school and one in Newfoundland has accidentally unearthed a 200 year old pair of mittens, made from previously-thought extinct swanskin  - Giles Henschel is this month's castaway - the award-winning ‘oliveer’, who came to his national artisan brand by way of school expulsion, the Army, being deported from Libya with his wife (twice), and Take That ... - in Equestrian, foaling season is underway (of COURSE we photographed beautiful new babies for you) at the Glanvilles Stud, and we welcome rising star in the Eventing world Toots Bartlett with her new column. - Plus Farming, Art, Health, Puzzles, Jobs, Garden ... it's your favourite half hour of the month.