Have a coffee, find a friend

Buses, beans and baby groups – March’s second BV Podcast has it all
This one’s a quietly powerful listen – tackling public transport failures and the remarkable transformation of a warehouse into a buzzing family hub. We have three very different conversations, all rooted in the same thing: Dorset community.

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

 

---

 

No Bus for 10 Years – and No Plan Yet

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?”

 

---

 

The Vale Family Hub – More Than Just a Food Pantry

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.

 

---

 

Chocolate, Climate and Cocoa Chaos

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.