The BV: from the heart of Dorset

Dealing with Beetles, green credentials, wild salad, antibiotics and the ArchBishop of Canturbury!

In Farming this month, Dorset NFU County Chair George Hosford discusses dealing with beetle, unseasonal weather and confusing, costly messages from the EA.
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
 
 
 

From Civil war in Dorset to the Napoleonic war, tits on a tightrope and Honeysuckle romps home

In May episode two:
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. 

Storm clouds in the pantry, the iron man of Stur and remembering Philip

BV May, Part 1.You asked, and we listened - this month we've broken the magazine into week-sized chunks for you so that it's not such a mammoth two hour listen.
In this first of May's episodes:
The Letter from the Editor
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
Clamping down on rural crime
Rural crimes can be violent, costly and yet are often misunderstood, requiring an entire community approach reports Andrew Livingston
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
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
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
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
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.
“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
 
 
 

Dorset to Newfoundland Swanskin mittens, the award winning oliveer and oh so many foals

April issue out now! Grab a coffee and settle in for your favourite half hour of the month... https://bit.ly/TheBV
Top stories this month:
- 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.