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Small wins, no fads, no pressure

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Editorial team
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Small, consistent habits and a supportive community beat unrealistic resolutions for health and wellbeing every time, says expert Karen Geary

At the end of last year, I joined a challenge at my local gym. The run-up to the festive season can be stressful, as we all know, and the aim was to provide some collaborative support. ‘Buddy benefits’ or ‘buddy systems’ have been widely researched – and it has been clearly demonstrated that working with others can make a material difference to weight and fitness goals. I didn’t know these women before I started, but the inspiration, encouragement and camaraderie from the group (we used an online app) were incredible.
Halfway through, I suddenly found myself dealing with some serious family health stress and was unable to do everything I had set myself originally (more on that in a moment), but the team kept me going, with things I was able to do when I could. I soon learned how small things done consistently can make massive differences, rather than aiming for lofty goals – and failing.
Which brings us to the New Year.
The media world is once again full of the ‘new year, new you’ messages which make me instantly rebel against the very idea of it. Besides, it’s mid-winter, and the body does not wish to be put under undue pressure. This time of year is all about nourishment and self-care.

Small things add up
But there are a number of small things that, done consistently, will really have an impact on your health. Let’s start with staying hydrated.
One of the things I committed to during the challenge was taking in enough water: my rule-of-thumb calculator was 35ml per kg of body weight, and when I tracked it I was honestly shocked to find I wasn’t drinking enough. Staying hydrated was a game-changer: my skin, health, weight, energy and sleep all improved. I was also less hungry. It’s a boring tip, I know, but – are you sure you’re drinking enough?
Next – we don’t need to eat all the time! The UK has a strong snacking culture, but our bodies are not meant to snack. Unless you have a medical condition or are an athlete with very demanding goals, a steady three meals a day is more than enough for most people.
Creating consistency with three meals a day and not eating on the run is something most of us can do. I couldn’t always manage it when I was dashing back and forth to the hospital, but I stuck to it when I could, thanks to the team support.
Protein and fibre with every meal. Protein and fibre create satiety (feeling ‘full’) – if you have these covered, it’s so much easier not to snack and to stick to your plans.

Here’s a quick starter for ten to get you thinking along the right lines:

Breakfast Ideas:

  1. High-Protein Omelette
    2 eggs + 2 egg whites
    Spinach, tomatoes and a sprinkle of feta cheese
    Serve with a slice of wholegrain toast
  2. Vegan Overnight Oats:
    50g rolled oats soaked in plant milk
    1 tbsp chia seeds, 1 scoop plant-based protein powder and a handful of berries
    Topped with crushed nuts for fibre
  3. Greek Yogurt Bowl:
    200g Greek yogurt
    1 tbs flaxseeds, a handful of mixed berries or stewed apple (skin on) and 1 tsp honey (optional)
    Sprinkle with a small handful of oats, sugar-free granola or nuts
    Lunch Ideas
  4. Chicken and Bean Salad:
    Grilled chicken breast on a bed of mixed greens
    Add chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and ½ avocado
    Drizzle with olive oil and lemon
  5. Vegan Lentil and Quinoa Bowl:
    100g cooked quinoa mixed with 150g cooked lentils
    Add roasted vegetables like courgette, peppers and carrots
    Top with a tahini dressing
  6. Salmon and Broccoli Stir-Fry:
    1 salmon fillet stir-fried with broccoli, edamame and mixed peppers
    Served with brown rice
  7. Home made vegetable soup is always good
    Remember to add some protein. Try chicken, egg, prawns, tofu or beans
    Dinner Ideas
  8. Chicken/turkey and Sweet Potato Tray Bake:
    Lean chicken or turkey breast, roasted with sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts and red onion
    Season with herbs, olive oil and garlic
  9. Vegan Chickpea Curry:
    Chickpeas, tomatoes, spinach, onion, garlic and coconut milk simmered with turmeric, chilli powder and cumin
    Served with cauliflower rice
  10. Fish & Mixed Vegetable Bake:
    Baked fish fillet on a bed of asparagus, cherry tomatoes and green beans
    Drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil

Walking
I missed quite a few gym sessions, but I walked around the hospital quite a lot, got outside for some fresh air when it wasn’t raining, and always used the stairs. Walking doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves, but it’s a powerful tool for both physical and mental health.

Be kind to yourself
When setting your New Year goals, be kind to yourself. Start with small, sustainable habits and remember that consistency is key. Best of all, try and find a ‘buddy’ so you can cheer each other on. What small change will you focus on this January? Share it with a friend or your own ‘buddy’ to make it stick!

My thanks to the ladies at Lukins Fitness and especially to Rachel Howard for creating such an incredible group.

Norman Holt

By
Editorial team
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13.07.31 – 31.12.24

Peacefully at his home on 31st December 2024, aged 93.

Beloved husband of the late Rachael, much loved Dad, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, Uncle and friend.

Sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Private cremation on 28th January. Thanksgiving service on 19th February 12:00 at St Mary the Virgin church, Marston Magna, followed by a reception at the village hall.
Family flowers only. Donations in Norman’s memory are being invited either to Asthma & Lung UK or towards a picnic table for the playground at the village hall. Can be sent to Harold F Miles, Funeral Director, Winton Cottage, South Cadbury, Yeovil BA22 7ES.

Raising a glass to 2025: the year of the new duty tax

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Editorial team
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Sadie Wilkins from Sherborne’s award-winning indie wine merchant has some things to clear up regarding the new duty taxes

As we pop the cork on 2025, we want to take a moment to thank everyone who supported us through a wonderfully merry 2024. We couldn’t have done it without you, and we wish you all a very Happy New Year!
As January rolls in, let’s chat about what this month means for us in the wine trade – and for you as consumers. (Dry) January is always a tricky time for the drinks business, but this year brings fresh challenges with the UK government’s tax on duty changes. These changes have been looming, but now they’re here, and they’re going to have an impact on what you pay at the till.
The new rules mean wine will now be taxed in different bands depending on its alcohol by volume (ABV). The higher the ABV, the higher the tax. For you, that means you’ll see prices going up on bottles with a higher ABV. It’s important to note that this extra cost isn’t going to the winemaker or to us as retailers – it’s tax. We genuinely feel for wines like ports and sherries, which naturally have higher ABVs and will be penalised.

Sweet enough for you?
As alcohol and sugar often balance each other in winemaking, we could also see a rapid trend towards sweeter wines, as producers will inevitably look to avoid those new tax hikes. This won’t help mass-produced supermarket brands like Jam Shed, though, since they’re already sweetened to the max (there’s 57g per litre residual sugar in their Shiraz…).
But here’s where we can all make a difference. We’re lucky in the South West – and particularly right here in Sherborne – as the community has always been fantastic at supporting local, independent businesses. This is more important now than ever before. Small, local wine merchants like us have full control over our wine buying, which means we can adapt, flex our range and work closely with winemakers to bring you wines of true quality at an honest price. We source every bottle with care, from grape to glass – much like your local butcher or greengrocer does. We’re all championing quality over quantity.
So, while these tax changes may seem like a challenge, with your continued support, we’ll keep bringing you the best wines in 2025 – ones that are worth every penny.

A final toast
We’re delighted to be heading into 2025 as Harper’s Wine & Spirits ‘Best Indie Wine Retailer in the Southwest’ and Number 4 nationally (out of over 1,200-ish wine retailers). We love what we do, and we care about finding great wine for all people. If you’re already a fan, thank you.
If you’ve never visited, please make 2025 the year you discover your new favourite wine merchant! We’re based in Old Yarn Mills in Sherborne, a buzzy (and boozy…) little artisan quarter of Sherborne, we always have something open to try, and we pride ourselves on quality, price and service.
vineyardsofsherborne.co.uk

December diary | The Voice of the Allotment

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Editorial team
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‘What I picked on the allotment today’ – Barry Cuff is still harvesting through the winter
All images: Barry Cuff

At the end of December, Val and I had had our allotment for 36 years. We originally took on 90 square meters back in 1989, increasing this to 270 square meters in 1990 plus a further 60 a few years later – enabling us to be more or less self-sufficient in vegetables and some fruit. In 1989, many of the plots on the site were unused and in a bad condition, with weeds, grass and brambles – and there was no water on the site.
As we enter 2025, it thankfully looks very different: there is a waiting list for plots, two sources of water, a discounted seed buying scheme, a yearly manure delivery and also an annual inspection managed by the Allotment Association.
December is a quiet month on the plot, so I thought it would be good to look back and review the whole of 2024. It was probably one of our best years for yields and crop quality – with one or two exceptions.
There were very few frosts of a damaging nature last year, and we had below average sunshine with well above average rainfall – more than 40 inches.

On the allotment in Sturminster Newton

Beetroot – Successional sowings ensured roots for six months.
Broad beans – Good yields from both Masterpiece Green Longpod and Witkiem Manita. Less blackfly than usual.
Brussels sprouts (Brendan) – we started harvesting at the end of November, and the nine plants will supply us until the end of February.
Cabbage – The last head of the Red Drumhead was cut at the end of November: it stood well, with no caterpillar damage.
The Savoy is filling out well for the spring.
Calabrese – We have had excellent yields of both Ironman and Atlantis, with good heads followed by side shoots.
Cauliflower – We had average curds of both Cheesy and White Step, and we are cutting good heads of Cendis now. Medallion and Snow March should be ready in February and March. No damage this year from Swede Midge.

How d’you like them onions?

Carrot – Once again we only grew Early Nantes and we made about ten sowings over a long period. We’re digging excellent roots now, and we have enough in the ground to last until the beginning of March.
Celeriac – This was grown next to the celery and also developed Septoria – the roots were smaller than usual.
Celery – Not a good year for our celery – leaves were attacked by Septoria leaf spot, probably helped by high rainfall.
Chicory (Witloof) – We had a good yield of roots, which were lifted in November. First chicons harvested on 20th December.
Courgette – We had good yields of both Defender and Astia
Dwarf French bean – Good yields of Safari and Nautica over a long period.
Leek – We are currently lifting as required. This year’s crop are slightly smaller than usual, but we have many left in the ground for 2025. No Leek Moth damage this year!
Lettuce – (Little Gem) We’ve had good tight heads from monthly sowings.

Barry started harvesting the Brussels sprouts at the end of November, and the plants will continue to be harvested through to the end of February

Mangetout – We had average yields from both Carouby De Massaune and Purple Magnolia.Onion – Our yields were down compared with the previous year due to White Rot. Those harvested have stored well, however, and they should keep in good condition until March.
Parsnip – These are yielding well and we have plenty left in the ground for 2025.
Pea – We had very poor establishment down to either seed weevils, mice or birds … but we have ideas for 2025!
Potatoes – Probably our best year ever for yields! We lifted before the blight set in, and they are all stored in paper sacks and keeping well.
Runner beans – Good yields of both red and white flowered over a long period.
Salad crops (autumn/winter) – All looking well on the allotment.
During January we will make our first sowing of sweet peppers, and also buy our seed potatoes.
Squash – Both Butterfly and Crown Prince gave us good yields and are still keeping well in store.
Sweetcorn – (Swift) This is a variety we have grown for many years: we grew about 70 plants this time, and they did well despite the weather.

Graveyards: an excuse for weeds or a space that nature needs?

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Editorial team
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Rachael Rowe investigates how Dorset’s living legacy of churchyards blend history, wildlife conservation and community care

Okeford Fitzpaine churchyard. Image: Rachael Rowe

There was a time when most people were buried in their local churchyard, with entire generations resting together. Today, 70 per cent of people are cremated, and with pressure on land supply, what is the future for traditional graveyards? Who maintains them and how are the currently-popular rewilding projects managed?

History in graveyards
Cemeteries are steeped in history, and many of Dorset’s churchyards provide the last resting place for notable people, containing a wealth of information for genealogists. Benjamin Jesty, the farmer associated with experiments into immunity from cowpox is buried in Worth Matravers, while the notorious smuggler Roger Ridout rests in comfortable peace in Okeford Fitzpaine.
The Blackmore Vale is also home to many meticulously maintained Commonwealth War Graves: there are 87 in Blandford Forum, including nine German graves from World War Two. Several Anzac graves in Fovant and Heytesbury are the tragic consequence of the 1918 flu pandemic, which killed troops as they waited to go back to Australia and New Zealand. Churchyards are often home to ancient trees, especially yews, like the 4,000 year old yew at St John’s Church in Tisbury.

Traditional scythes are used by the Living Churchyard project volunteers tomanage areas of long grass.Image: Anna Aubrey

Who is responsible?
Municipal cemeteries are the responsibility of town and city councils. Natural burial grounds are maintained by the trusts operating them. Any graveyard within church grounds comes under the jurisdiction of the local parochial church council. However, if a church closes, the responsibility for the churchyard maintenance usually reverts to a local or parish council. Today, many churchyards in Dorset today are maintained by teams of volunteers. While burials decline and opportunities to create wildlife habitats may increase, can these sacred environments be maintained without looking unkempt?

Living churchyards
The enthusiasm bubbles from Anna Aubrey as she outlines the Living Churchyard Project run by Dorset Wildlife Trust. Currently, the people responsible for 150 churchyards receive advice from Anna, the volunteer co-ordinator.
‘There is no need for churchyards to be messy,’ she says. ‘It has been tricky this year because of the weather, but there are ways of doing it. We recommend churches have three lengths of grass: always keep the front of the churchyard short, it needs cutting weekly or fortnightly. Long grass is difficult to maintain, so is best kept to a minimum and cut twice a year.
‘Churchyards are areas of unimproved grasslands. The soil has not been disturbed for centuries and we don’t have places like that any more. When they are managed properly they hold a seed bank – wildflowers grow all over the place! They are a huge asset to nature and make wonderful wildlife corridors. They are a space that nature needs.’
Anna also advises churchyard volunteers to create compost heaps and wood piles as they attract all manner of insects and reptiles such as toads and slow worms. If they are kept at the back of the church they are unlikely to look unsightly and will remain undisturbed.
Some of the cemeteries involved in the Living Churchyard project have begun attracting a proliferation of wildlife. Helen Kemm leads the team of volunteers at St Mary’s Church in Piddlehinton, who held a bat evening for the local community so they could learn about their churchyard residents.
‘I’ve been doing it for two years now,’ she says. ‘I was asked by the PCC to lead on the Living Churchyard project when I attended a clear-up event: I have a background in the environment, so it suited me. I had just moved in to the village and it was a good way to get to know people.
‘We have had lots of events. We held a maker day when we made different kinds of bird boxes and another one for swift boxes. Around 25 people turned up! We have also made a hedgehog house and bug hotel. Then we had a moth mapping event, where we spotted 70 species in our churchyard. We also listened for the dawn chorus at 6am..
‘We did have issues with long grass in the churchyard, which got a few complaints, but the PCC has a regular mowing scheme now.
‘When we asked for help to clear things, the entire village turned up! We have a regular autumn clear-up day to get rid of brambles and ivy etc. We also link up with other groups such as butterfly conservation and Dorset Bat Group. It’s too early to say whether we have made a difference, as the project has only been going for two years – and of course this year all the numbers of insects were down, but I do keep records.’

Village communities come together for annual clean-up events at their churchyards
Image: Anna Aubrey

Natural burials
Many people are now opting for natural (or green) burials where the body is literally returned to nature in a woodland or designated field. Loved ones can plant a tree above the burial plot, and plaques replace traditional headstones. These areas tend to be peaceful places where nature flourishes and there is little need for a carefully manicured churchyard, although paths and access points are maintained.

Churchyard wildflower meadow in summer
Image: Anna Aubrey

Excuse or opportunity?
In a world where the natural environment is increasingly fragile, there is an opportunity to use existing cemeteries and churchyards to support wildlife. However, volunteers are always in demand to maintain these areas, which must be accessible for the bereaved as well as attractive to the natural world.

the Living Churchyard Project, including volunteering, see the Dorset Wildlife Trust website

A whirlwind tour of all that’s coming up in Sturminster Newton this month

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Editorial team
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Pauline Batstone shares her monthly round up of what’s happening among the town’s collection of community enterprises and events

Make Stur Sparkle 2024

Thank you to all those who worked so hard to make Stur Sparkle this Christmas, despite three major storms. The two before Christmas blowing the lights off the little street trees (and blowing down some of the trees themselves), and then the storm which blighted the New Years Day Classic Car event (but still more than £2,000 was raised for the Air Ambulance).
Thank you to the Town Council grounds team for all their input, to the Fire Brigade, and to Lee, our 1855 blacksmith, who got the trees and lights back up for the second time.
A special thank you to Father Christmas for coming to meet our children and their families ahead of Christmas Eve at this busy time for him.
And none of it would have happened without the work of our events coordinator Jacqui Wragg, our shops manager Cheryl Basten, their colleagues and volunteers, and the generous support of our sponsors, businesses and SturAction customers who pay for it all.

The next event in Stur’s busy calendar is the Wedding Festival. The Wedding Fair will be held at The Exchange on Saturday 25th January.
It’s set to be the best wedding fair yet, with more than 60 exhibitors, live music and entertainment and two catwalk shows featuring 15 brides, grooms and flower girls. There’ll be lots of offers for bride and grooms, of course, and food available in the café by Black Cat Catering. And the fair wouldn’t be complete without the wonderful wedding dress display in the church – see 21 dresses from the last 100 years, displayed with the wedding pictures of them being worn and the romantic story of the couple. Don’t miss it at St. Mary’s Church on Friday 24th and 25th Jan.
The wedding fair is FREE entry and runs from 10am to 3pm. Car parking in the town will also be free.

Business Awards are open
It’s back to work for some of us and just checking the entries/nominations we’ve had so far – big thanks to everyone that’s taken the time to enter again this year.
If you haven’t yet, remember the way it works – you enter your own business (or where you work) and anyone can nominate a business they love. If you’re a local resident and there’s one you think deserves an award please do put them forward – they could be our winner!
All the details are on the website and that’s where you enter – marketingwest.co.uk/sturminster-business-awards

Lastly, we’d like to thank the teams at both Charterhouse Auctioneers and to Horrocks & Webb for all the support and advice they give to us at The Emporium, enabling us to get the best value from the collectable donations we receive.

We’d love to see your dress!

We have held an exhibition of wedding dresses at St Mary’s Church in Sturminster Newton for the past two years in conjunction with the Wedding Fair in the town, and we are now looking for wedding dresses to display in the 2025 exhibition. Would you like to share your wedding story? Whether recent or from years in the past, every wedding has a story, and we display your stories with the dresses together with any memorabilia and accessories (photos, shoes, veils) that help recreate the memory of the day. We have been able to include family wedding dresses worn across the generations, wartime and vintage dresses, new dresses and some of different colours. Each has its own unique tale to tell – details of the dress, why it was chosen, or perhaps an unexpected happening on the wedding day. There will be bridal flower arrangements and wedding hats on display in the church too, all of which create a beautiful celebratory atmosphere.
If you or your family have a cherished wedding dress, old or new, simple or elaborate, that you are happy to lend to us for the 2025 display, we would love to hear from you:
Please email rm.damerell@gmail.com
We welcome everyone to come and see the display (free admission) at St Mary’s Church on 24th and 25th January.

Dorset’s master of strings

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Editorial team
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Dorset luthier Jeremy Walsh on listening to the wood, a double bass jigsaw, holding a $15m Stradivarius and Friday night rave music

Jeremy Walsh in the door of his studio

In his self-built workshop at the end of his cottage garden, Jeremy Walsh dexterously taps his fingers over the belly of a violin he is making. ‘Audi lignum’ he tells me. ‘Listen to the wood. That’s my motto.’
It’s about a month’s work to handcraft this beautiful instrument from spruce and maple, using patterns developed by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù (1698-1744) – the famous Italian violinmaker, whom Jeremy hails as a genius.

Inside violin maker Jeremy Walsh’s Dorset studio
All images: Courtenay Hitchcock

Specialist tiny curved planes, gouges, violinmaker scrapers and even horse tail are all used in the exquisite carving. Mares’ tail (equisetum), one of the oldest plants in existence, has been used by violin makers since before Stradivari’s time – it is a perfect finishing abrasive on the wood before it is varnished.
Once the external shape is perfected, Jeremy cuts the F holes and fixes the base bar, all the while listening and tuning the wood.
‘Every piece of wood is different, and must be treated as an individual,’ he explains. Making the scrolls (the decoratively carved beginning of the neck)is his favourite part. ‘I was taught that these are the external signature for the internal verity of your work. If you see a well carved scroll, you can be confident you’ve got a good instrument.’

‘These chaps spent all day with beautiful instruments, whittling bits of wood and listening to Radio 3. I thought that would be a perfect use for a politics degree!’


A luthier (someone who builds or repairs stringed instruments)in Dorset for more than thirty years, Jeremy relies on word of mouth for his private commissions, selling to music shops and repairing and restoring instruments for musicians across the country. ‘You can advertise all you like, but it’s what people say about you that counts – and that’s a lovely thing.’
One of his most demanding projects was piecing back together a double bass. ‘A musician had found it in an old ballroom. It was in so many pieces he delivered it to me in a tea chest. It was like a huge jigsaw and I had to make all the missing parts. I loved it!’

All images: Courtenay Hitchcock


Jeremy recalls his childhood bedroom filled with Airfix planes hanging from the ceiling. ‘I was always doing something creative – building, or taking things apart.’
It was while studying for a degree in politics in Lancaster in the 1970s that he got into playing double bass – ‘very badly!’ – in jazz bands and scratch orchestras.
‘Double basses just come apart for a hobby. The wood moves constantly in humidity, and you’re always banging them into things as they’re such cumbersome instruments.

Making the scrolls (the decoratively carved beginning of the neck) is Jeremy’s favourite part. ‘These are the external signature of your work. If you see a well carved scroll, you can be confident you’ve got a good instrument.’

Consequently, I spent a lot of time going to see repairers to get mine put back together and stop it “buzzing”. These chaps spent all day with beautiful instruments, whittling bits of wood and listening to Radio 3. I thought that would be a perfect use for a politics degree!’
Jeremy moved to Bristol and persuaded expert luthier Rod Ward to teach him the craft. ‘Rod must be in his eighties now, and he’s still making. He’s an exacting craftsman and continually finding ways to improve his instruments. He’s an inspiration and a hoot! At lunchtimes, we’d nip to live Radio 3 concerts at St Georges Church on Brandon Hill.
‘Afterwards, we’d nab the musicians and scrutinise the string quartet’s instruments.
We’d also go to Sotheby’s and Christie’s when they were auctioning Stradivarius’. It was a fantastic education. The auctioneers allowed us into their inner sanctum and let us loose on grand master instruments that ended up being played by famous soloists like Nigel Kennedy. I’ve got photos of myself holding an instrument that was offered at 15 million dollars. I could have easily dropped it … and Rod played folk tunes on it!’

All images: Courtenay Hitchcock


Jeremy’s life choice has certainly hit the right note. ‘Most people thought I was mad to take this up for a living. But I’ve never had any sort of plan or career aims. I just know I would’ve died long ago if I’d had to sit in an office every day. I just like making things, and I love that I am still learning my craft. And listening to Radio 3 … except for Friday nights, when I listen to rave music on Six Music. It’s great, a noisy accompaniment to carving!’

Jeremy can be contacted on
jeremywalsh@btinternet.com or 07929 597207

Jeremy’s quick fire questions:

Dinner party A-list?
Cooking for my wife, three kids and old friends who make me laugh. I’d love to host author Terry Castle, avant-garde artist Laurie Anderson, historian Dame Marina Warner, classicist Mary Beard and author Margaret Attwood. Eavesdropping on the conversation of these sassy, intelligent and incredible women and basking in their brilliance would be a complete hoot.

Book on your bedside table?
Nearly always travel and history books – Greece, Rome, the Middle East … ‘Geometry, Proportion, and the Art of Lutherie’ by Kevin Coates is a book that ticks all my boxes.

Best violinists?
Viktoria Mullova and Jascha Heifetz

Best violin music?
Bach – his violin concertos and especially his sonatas are utter bliss.

Championing rural Britain

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Editorial team
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The BV takes a look inside the Countryside Alliance’s fight to protect rural traditions and livelihoods and to drive sustainable countryside policies

A brown working cocker spaniel standing among the pink bell heather on heathland, Surrey, England – shutterstock

Many people have heard of the Countryside Alliance, but how much do you really know about the work they do? From championing rural communities to protecting country traditions, the charity plays a key role in shaping countryside policies and debates. The BV magazine sat down with the Countryside Alliance to learn more about their work and the challenges they tackle.

What is the Countryside Alliance?
It’s a leading membership organisation which aims to promote and protect the rural way of life. Our work spans rural advocacy, wildlife conservation, field sports and supporting the rural economy. We are a voice for the countryside, ensuring that government, media and the wider general public understand the value and importance of rural life.

What type of issues does the Countryside Alliance campaign for?
Quite simply, we campaign on issues that matter to those who live and work in the countryside. We work to publicise the economic, social and environmental contribution that activities like hunting, shooting and the countryside as a whole make to the national economy and quality of life. From digital connectivity and supporting local businesses to educating on rural crime and advocating for farmers up and down the country, our campaigns are constantly evolving.

How did the Countryside Alliance influence policy, defend rural traditions, and amplify rural voices in 2024?
During the general election campaign our supporters sent more than 50,000 emails to candidates, championing the rural way of life. We launched our own manifesto for the countryside – the Rural Charter – and held events at all the major party conferences throughout the year to influence the policy of all parties.
Through a Campaign for Hunting initiative, more than 10,500 supporters lobbied Steve Reed (now Labour Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) following his pre-election announcement that Labour would ban trail hunting. Our Action for Hunting communications regularly engage with more than 17,000 people, and we held ten regional briefings on the future of hunting last summer.
Lastly, we launched the ‘Value of Shooting’ report in 2024. The Campaign for Shooting showed that shooting contributes £3.3bn to the UK economy annually, and supports the equivalent of 67,000 full-time jobs. With more than 14,000 people actively engaged with our work on shooting we have challenged the RSPB on their bird crime figures and have continued to stand up for the shooting community when it faces hostile attacks.

image courtesy of Shutterstock

And exactly how does the Countryside Alliance support the farming community?
We have been at the forefront of opposing the proposed “family farm tax”, launching the Fight the Farm Tax campaign which has mobilised farmers and the public against the tax, engaging with the media to articulate the concerns of farmers and rural communities. The Alliance has also supported local government opposition to the proposed tax changes, reflecting a growing town hall rebellion.

In what way does the Countryside Alliance support rural businesses?
Affectionately known as the Rural Oscars, the Countryside Alliance Awards provide recognition and visibility for the countryside while celebrating rural businesses and communities. More than 1,000 rural businesses are nominated each year, and over 40,000 people vote to support their favourite rural businesses.
This ensures both regional and national recognition of smaller rural businesses which might often go unnoticed. Many winners report significant boosts in recognition and revenue, with some expanding their operations after receiving the Award.

How does the Countryside Alliance protect lawful hunting activities and shooting?
Our aim is to achieve a better understanding and acceptance of lawful hunting and shooting activities, protecting them from bias, misinformation and over-regulation to ensure they have a long-term and sustainable future. Through consultations, meetings and events with politicians, policymakers and civil servants, we promote real rural issues in Westminster and across the devolved administrations to ensure that law and policy support the needs of those whose lives it directly affects.

countryside-alliance.org

Come racing at Badbury Rings!

The ever-popular Countryside Alliance point-to-point returns to Badbury Rings on Sunday 23 February, with tickets available to buy online.
Gates open at 10am, with the first race starting at 12 noon.
So that provides ample time for racegoers to arrive early, explore the shopping stalls, enjoy the entertainment …and maybe even place a bet with the bookmakers before the first race!
pointtopoint.co.uk

The value of local knowledge and intelligence

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Editorial team
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The Dorset Insider, a new sporadic column dedicated to shedding light on local matters with unfiltered honesty and a critical eye. The author – a local parish councillor – will remain anonymous for the sake of candid discourse, but readers can rest assured that their identity is known and trusted by the editorial team. This anonymity allows the columnist to speak openly, challenging the status quo and addressing issues that matter most to our community.

The first the neighbours knew of a planning application next to their home was a notice the day before the consultation deadline. Yes – the day before.
Dorset Council has now devolved responsibility for posting planning notices to the developer, as they no longer have the capacity to place them on sites. It’s quite possible that developers, as busy people, also don’t have time to put sign up – or they simply forgot. That’s only human, we all forget things.
Or maybe it was simply that the wind blew the sign away. These neighbours did eventually find out in the nick of time. But imagine losing the ability to comment on a planning application at all.

Nimby or experience?
Just before Christmas, when people already had their minds focused on the festive season, the Government released two very important papers on devolution and planning.
Launched to a fanfare of “War on the Nimby,” politicians promised that the currently bulging planning bureaucracy would be overcome by making the process easier. Indeed, there have already been incidences where the deputy Prime Minister has waded in to long-standing disputes across the country to sort out the so-called blockages to development.
So what exactly is a Nimby? From reading the new diktat on planning, right now anyone who complains about large developments seems to acquire the title. However, the acronym for Not in My Backyard first appeared in 1979, and was used to describe people who complain about developments or unpleasant projects in their area, such as a new waste incinerator.
The concept dates back a lot earlier, of course: back in 1721 the good people of Smithfield in London objected to the stench of women being burned at the stake (note that the barbaric punishment itself wasn’t the issue) and got the execution site moved to Tyburn.

Who is heard
As a councillor, I’m approached all the time by people with concerns about the loss of good agricultural land and the threat of turning villages into featureless commuter transit centres – or, worse still, merging two villages into one as a consequence of the continual creep of new housing onto farmland. While it’s inevitable that every town and village has at least one person who believes everything should remain as it was in the 1950s, the vast majority of those raising issues have constructive feedback and significant, very reasonable concerns.
I’ve learned a great deal from people who have worked the land all their lives – those with deep, practical knowledge of drainage and ditches. What they have to say about the impact of building developments is highly relevant, especially given the rising groundwater on roads in North Dorset.Then there are the growing concerns about road safety, with larger vehicles speeding down narrow roads that lack pavements – basic, valid worries. When local families face the realities of Dorset’s ‘dental desert’ or juggle school runs to three different schools due to limited places, they are rightly questioning the strain on infrastructure. And you only need to visit an A&E department in January to see the effects of failing to expand local infrastructure alongside housing development. These are all urgent, well-founded concerns – yet time and again, they’re kicked into the long grass by successive governments. When planning decisions are made, a very defined process is followed to ensure that the applicant gets a fair hearing and the right to appeal where necessary. So when I see politicians wading into the planning process, or ‘bureaucracy’ being removed, it begs the question who exactly makes the decision on large developments, and on what criteria?
Of course, streamlining the endless red tape is badly needed. But so are the opinions and the engagement of the community around new developments. When we deny the voices of the local people, we are firstly losing out on important perspectives and knowledge, but more importantly, the right to speak freely without being labelled as a stereotype.

A mayor for Wessex?
When the new strategic councils are formed and decisions are taken at a wider regional level, I wonder how any deep understanding of local knowledge can possibly be heard and taken into account. Most of the strategic councils so far have been established in urban areas like London and Manchester. Will a city model work in a rural area? Especially where a mayor is responsible for several counties? And what happens when a difficult decision has to be made, such as one member council being unable (or unwilling) to meet its planning targets? Will the others have to absorb the shortfall?
As strategic councils begin to form, I also wonder about the impact on local council officers, most of whom do a fantastic job in challenging and underfunded circumstances. When I have a parish issue, I always find it refreshing to speak to a Dorset Council officer who knows exactly where I mean in the wilds of North Dorset. But will a super-council offer the same response, or will that local knowledge be lost in corporate detachment?
Most importantly, will we as the people of Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset get to vote on the proposed mayor, as London currently does, or will these people be appointed through a yet-to-be defined process?

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