Viewpoint | Feb 2026

VIEWPOINT

Dear Readers!

“Every day is a school day” is a favourite saying of one of my friends — in other words, it’s good to learn something new every single day.

Embarking on new classes and courses is the way to continuous learning — see our feature on pages 20–21 — but there are huge socialisation benefits too, with the chance to become part of new friendship groups. I joined a gym to improve my fitness, and a by-product is that I have made lots of new friends. While we are exercising, we have some very fun conversations.

4 • February 2026

The trainers encourage responses from the class, and one of them asks each of us in turn what we are planning for our meal that evening.

I am not alone in giving the answer of UFO — unidentified frozen object — as there is an array of plastic containers in my freezer. However, some people come up with some impressive dishes, which gives everyone else ideas.

Sometimes we get onto politics — dangerous ground these days — but it helps you to learn more about your fellow exercisers.

And with the plethora of viewing options on television, we get hints on what is worth watching and what to avoid.

As part of my job, I am so lucky to be invited to review amateur dramatic productions, but I have never had the talent for remembering lines. So, I joined a play-reading group in Sturminster Marshall, and I now get the pleasure of learning about the characters in a diverse range of plays, as well as discovering dramatic productions I had never before encountered. I didn’t know any of the members to begin with, but I now have new like-minded friends.

Learning something new also enhances mental wellbeing and improves brain function.

Please enjoy this month’s issue, and do enter our fantastic competition on pages 24–27 to win £500 in shopping vouchers.

Marilyn Barber

News editor

The Editor reserves the right to amend or shorten contributions in order to fit in with the editorial policy and style of the magazine

VIEWPOINT

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Flooding batters Dorset

Severe flooding caused damage and disruption throughout Dorset in late January.

Storm Chandra brought heavy rain on Tuesday 27 January. Road closures caused travel chaos as several rivers burst their banks. Meanwhile, fire crews from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service attended dozens of calls across Dorset to help people who had driven across floodwater and gotten stuck.

Here is a selection of photos by local photographers showing the extent of flooding in different parts of the region.

Don’t blame the drains, says council

During the flooding caused by Storm Chandra in January, many residents took to social media to accuse Dorset Council of failing to clear blocked drains and claimed these blockages exacerbated the floods

However, Dorset Council responded to set the record straight.

Cllr Jon Andrews, Cabinet member for Place Services, said: “We understand the frustration. When water sits outside your home or on the roads you need to travel, it’s completely natural to think the drains must be blocked. And yes, blocked drains can make local problems worse — we’re not denying that.

“But the main issue isn’t drain clearance. Highways drains are designed to deal with rainwater that falls directly onto the road. They aren’t built to cope when rivers spill over, fields release huge amounts of water, or groundwater forces its way up from below.

“Most of the recent flooding across Dorset came from those sources. When rivers and groundwater rise that quickly, the pipes beneath road drains become completely full, so even a clear drain simply has nowhere to send the water.”

Cllr Andrews added that Dorset Council crews were out day and night during the storm clearing debris. He also said that the scale of flooding was driven by swollen rivers, rising groundwater and exceptional rainfall — not a lack of drain maintenance.

“We carry out routine, proactive maintenance throughout the year. We run a planned programme of gully emptying and drain clearance as part of our regular cyclic maintenance — including emptying gullies, clearing ditches, soakaways and pipe runs.

“Some people have also claimed that new housing developments are making this worse. It’s worth noting that national planning rules

already require new homes to be safe for their lifetime and not increase flood risk for existing communities. That remains the case.

“Looking ahead, responding to the climate and nature crisis is one of our top priorities, which includes helping communities become more resilient as storms and heavy rainfall become more common.”

Rise in forest animal road deaths

Last year saw an unfortunate increase in the number of accidents involving animals in the New Forest, with a rise in deaths.

In 2025, there were 108 incidents involving ponies, cattle and donkeys, with 47 animals killed compared to 97 accidents and 37 deaths the year before.

It follows the lowest livestock deaths on record in 2024 and is the highest number of animals killed or destroyed because of a road accident since 2020. However, the overall trend since 1991 has been downwards.

While accidents at night fell in 2025 compared to 2024, it remained the time of day when most accidents occur. Alarmingly, accidents in

daylight and twilight increased.

Hit and runs also remained consistently high with 18, compared to 19 and 18 in the two years before.

It’s a legal requirement to report any road accident involving New Forest livestock to the police within 24 hours, even if it has run off. Call 999 if you witness or are involved in a collision.

Forestry England community manager, Charlotte Belcher said: “It’s so important that all of us driving through the Forest are alert for ponies and animals. They can be on or near the road at any time, day or night.”

Drivers are advised to remember that when they cross a cattle grid, they are likely to encounter livestock.

Give them space, pass slow and wide. They are unpredictable, so expect them to step out.

Call for schools to go phone-free

Dorset Council is promoting phone-free school days.

It has offered guidance — developed with school leaders, young people and the Dorset Education Board — which encourages all schools to prohibit mobile phone use during the school day as part of their behaviour policies.

It also supports smartphone-free environments in first and primary schools and has shared best practice for middle and secondary settings already restricting use for Key Stages 2 and 3.

Recognising that most phone time happens beyond the school gates, the council is encouraging families to delay smartphone ownership until at least age 14, unless there is a specific need.

For parents who want their child to be contactable on the journey to and from school, the guidance recommends basic ‘brick’ phones without internet access.

Schools are also asked to make reasonable adjustments for pupils with medical, safeguarding or caring responsibilities.

For children who already have smartphones, the council recommends using parental controls and safer SIM options. Families will be able to access further advice at a Spring Term 2026 parent event featuring Smartphone Free Childhood and local professionals.

Managers needed for food bank

Ringwood Foodbank is recruiting a volunteer distribution centre manager and deputy manager for its Fordingbridge Distribution Centre, with the aim of reopening the centre as soon as possible.

During the temporary closure, referrals will continue to be taken in the usual way and will be directed to the Ringwood and Verwood Foodbank Distribution Centres to be fulfilled.

Based in Fordingbridge, the Distribution Centre Manager will be responsible for managing and coordinating the Fordingbridge Distribution Centre of Ringwood Foodbank. The role is expected to take up to eight hours per week.

Overall responsibility is to lead a team of volunteers to ensure that all areas of the Fordingbridge Distribution Centre are run efficiently and to a high standard, in accordance with Trussell’s franchise model and statutory requirements.

Ringwood Foodbank is 100 per cent volunteer run.

For more information, and details of how to apply for these and other available roles, please email claireskelley@ringwood.foodbank.org.uk or visit ringwood.foodbank.org.uk.

Solve a murder in Fordingbridge

Fordingbridge Twinning Association is holding a Murder Mystery Evening on Saturday 28 February at 7.30pm in Avonway Community Centre.

Tickets cost £15 and include a hot meal. They are available from Caxton’s Decor and Tina at Timothy’s in Fordingbridge.

The theme will be the ‘Red Rose Murders’, set in 1950s Hollywood.

The cigar-chomping agent to the stars, Rick Toad, is found dead in suspicious circumstances, floating face-down in the swimming pool at his mansion, surrounded by 100 red roses. The film world is shocked to its core, and Rick Toad’s clients are the suspects.

For further details, contact Helen Tague at thetagues@Fordingbridge. com or call 01425 655462, or Derek Ayling on hippotrain@BTInternet.com.

Fordingbridge is twinned with the town of Vimoutiers in Normandy, France. Fordingbridge Twinning Association has several other events

planned for 2026, including an AGM on 30 April, the annual Boules evening on 11 June, and a musical evening in the autumn on 10 October. The group will also be involved with the Fordingbridge Festival in the summer. The price of membership to the association has been held at £10 per household.

Two Fordingbridge Twinning Association members prepare for the Murder Mystery Evening

800 years of history

2026 marks 800 years since Ringwood was granted its Royal Market Charter.

The original grant to hold a market on Wednesdays was made in March 1226 during the reign of Henry III. It should have been confirmed when he reached his majority, but was not until 15 May 1553, in the

reign of Edward VI.

The charter gave the town the right to hold two fairs a year: on 30 November and 29 June. With the change of the calendar in 1752, these were altered to 11 December and 10 July.

The fairs were held until just prior to WWII, and the weekly market has been held

Five facts about Ringwood

• Ringwood is recorded in a charter of 961, in which King Edgar gave 22 hides of land in Rimecuda to Abingdon Abbey.

• A watermill in Ringwood is mentioned in the Domesday Book and later there were two.

• The town was famous in the 19th century for its ‘Ringwood’ woollen gloves, and there was also a large linen collar and cuff factory here.

• Ringwood railway station opened in 1847 and closed in 1964.

• The swimming pool, sports hall and exterior scenes of the BBC television comedy series ‘The Brittas Empire’ were filmed at Ringwood Health and Leisure Centre, at the time known as Ringwood Recreation Centre.

Welcome to West Moors

There is a lot happening at West Moors Library. New BookTrust story time sessions have started and take place every Friday at 10am, when children up until the age of five and their families are invited to go along and share the joy of stories. The sessions are free and no booking is required; just drop in.

And for older readers, there is a free Home Library Service for those unable to leave their home or travel to the library. If you or someone you know is housebound, in sheltered accommodation, or in a residential or nursing home, a friendly team can deliver books, audiobooks, and DVDs every few weeks, and collect them again. Speak to staff in West Moors Library to apply. Phone 01202 873272 or email westmoorslibrary@ dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

And if you don’t know much about the history of West Moors, here are four facts:

• West Moors was known as La More in the 14th century, Mours in the 15th century, and Le Moure in the 16th century.

• The development from hamlet to village was largely due to the arrival of the railway in 1847, when a line from Southampton to Dorchester was built.

• During WWII, the fuel depot, located to the north of the village, played a crucial role for the armed forces.

• Today, West Moors has a population in excess of 7,500.

continuously since 1226. A livestock market ran as part of the Wednesday market, with the cattle market in The Furlong running until 1989.

Ringwood Town Council is asking local people how the town should celebrate the charter. There is an online survey on the town council’s website: ringwood.gov.uk/ events/800th-anniversaryof-the-market-charter.

Northern Lights appear above the South

Vivid colours appeared in the night sky on Monday 19 January.

The Northern Lights — also known as the Aurora Borealis — were visible across Dorset and Hampshire.

The phenomenon is caused by collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun (also called solar wind) and gas molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere, creating dynamic patterns of radiant light.

Here is a selection of snapshots taken by photographers across the region.

Thank you, Mr Rustic

By Louisa Hiscock, Verwood Rotary Club

Club members were delighted to host our annual ‘hand out evening’ at The Hub in Verwood in January. This was an opportunity to remember the success of the Rustic Fayre last August and celebrate the huge amount of £19,000 raised on the day.

More importantly, it was an evening to hear from some of the organisations, groups and charities who received a donation from the funds raised to support their amazing work in the wider community. Much of this is voluntary and supports a wide range of needs and age groups. Many are also reliant on fundraising to do this.

Vern Harris (Rustic Chair) and Acting President Andy Maw welcomed everyone

and thanked all those who support us in so many ways to ensure everything went well. All the hard work before and on the day of the Rustic Fayre seemed very worthwhile when we heard how much difference the donations made. They encouraged all to find out more about Rotary and volunteer to support the fayre this year.

The evening was also an opportunity to recognise the amazing contribution of Vern Harris, who is stepping back as Rustic Chair after a remarkable 32 years. Andy Maw said: “His time, energy and commitment has been instrumental in shaping the Rustic Fayre into the respected and much-loved community event it is today. His leadership and passion for the fayre has earned him

the well-deserved title of ‘Mr Rustic’ and helped preserve a valued local tradition for future generations.”

Whilst Vern would be the first to say the fayre’s success is also down to the long-standing team around him, he leaves behind a lasting legacy and is thanked for his outstanding service.

Tragic death following Verwood collision

A man who was seriously injured in a three-vehicle road traffic collision in Verwood on Tuesday 23 December very sadly died.

At around 5.40pm, a collision occurred involving a black Mini Cooper, a black Vauxhall Corsa and a BMW X3 on Ringwood Road near to the junction with St Stephens Lane.

The female driver of the Vauxhall, in her 50s, sustained minor injuries, and the driver of the BMW was uninjured.

The driver of the Mini — a local man in his 70s — was taken to hospital for treatment to serious injuries, where he died on Monday 12 January.

Police Sergeant Paul Hind, of the Roads Policing Team, said: “Our thoughts are very much with the family and loved ones of the man who sadly died following this collision.

“We owe it to them to conduct a thorough investigation to establish the full circumstances of this incident, and I would urge any witnesses, or anyone with relevant dashcam footage, who has not already spoken to police to please make contact with us.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police via the website, by email to scit@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55250 188141.

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at its website or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Charity quiz night

Teams of six are invited to join the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation’s Charity Quiz Night, on Thursday 5 March at The Barrington Centre, Ferndown.

Doors open from 6pm, with the quiz commencing at 7pm. Entry includes fish ‘n’ chips, but players are free to bring along their own nibbles.

Drinks will be available from the bar throughout the evening. All proceeds from the event will go towards supporting young people through the foundation’s scholarships and bursaries. To reserve your team’s place, please phone 0779 2121645.

Christmas tree recycling

A total of 4,951 Christmas trees were collected at New Forest District Council drop-off sites this year. They have been chipped to create mulch, which is used locally to help keep moisture around plant roots, and to prevent weeds from growing.

Christmas raffle

The Stars Appeal’s Christmas raffle raised over £20,000 to support projects helping patients, their families and staff at Salisbury Hospital. The charity aims to raise £2 million each year.

Fordingbridge developments

New Forest District Council has received an application to extend and convert an existing building to a detached house and construct two detached houses on land adjacent to Khandala, Salisbury Road, Burgate, Fordingbridge. Meanwhile, an application has been made to demolish and rebuild one dwelling on land to the rear of 12–16 High Street, Fordingbridge.

Business park expands

Growing businesses are invited to look into opportunities to move to Dorset Innovation Park at Wool as more space is being created.

Dorset Council recently set up an arm’s length company to manage and develop Dorset Innovation Park, the county’s only Enterprise Zone. The site is home to over 800 full time jobs, with the aim to create another 300 by 2030.

Dorset Innovation Park Ltd Managing Director Kevin Forshaw said he was focused on highlighting the park’s unique test and evaluation capabilities, plus delivering a range of developments to make the park more visually appealing and ready for external investment.

He said: “The measures set out in our first business plan will create the ideal location, space and infrastructure to support innovation and economic growth in defence, food and energy security.”

In support of these goals, park owner Dorset Council is buying a further 15 acres of employment land adjacent to the park.

Companies interested in the opportunities at Dorset Innovation Park can visit dorsetinnovationpark.co.uk

Campaign for children’s unit

Hospital can be a frightening experience for a child, but University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity is planning to make it a happier time.

It has launched ‘Do It for the Kids’, a campaign to raise £350,000 to support the new Children’s Health Unit opening in the BEACH Building at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital this summer.

After months of listening to the experience of patients and families, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity has been working with the Child Health team to identify what makes meaningful differences for young patients.

Every donation will go towards making the hospital less daunting for children up to the age of 18 and creating spaces for families to be together. This includes fundraising items that are beyond NHS funds,

like artwork, additional play areas, technology, sensory trolleys and much more.

Jessica Tyler, fundraising manager, said: “We’re so lucky to have the new Children’s Unit here in Bournemouth. We’re working hard to make moments in hospital brighter, creating an experience that feels supportive and comforting.”

To find out more or donate, visit uhdcharity.org.

Ferndown day centre saved

The proposed closure of Ferndown Plus will no longer take place. In fact, services in both Ferndown and Verwood are to be improved following a three-month consultation, meetings across Care Dorset’s 13-day centres, and a range of online sessions, which took place last year.

Verwood Connect will be developed into a specialist hub for adults with learning disabilities in East Dorset.

Meanwhile, Ferndown Plus on Library Road will be retained and developed, with the Care Dorset contract reviewed to allow the building to become a community asset for local people,

complementing other local services. All existing clients will continue to receive services. The day centre specialises in providing care and support to people with dementia.

Services across North Dorset, Weymouth and Portland, West Dorset and Purbeck will also be enhanced.

Cllr Steve Robinson, Cabinet Portfolio member for Adult Social Care, said the council had listened to residents’ concerns aired during the consultation, which revealed strong community attachment to existing centres, alongside openness to greater flexibility and opportunities for younger people.

Tree-mendous effort

Volunteers for a disability charity collected and recycled 2,488 Christmas trees from across Dorset and Hampshire in January, raising £35,000 in the process.

A total of 105 dedicated volunteers spent 840 hours collecting trees as part of Diverse Abilities’ annual ‘Treecycling’ scheme from 8–11 January. In return for a donation, the volunteers collected trees from the kerbside, saving residents the hassle of disposing of their tree themselves.

The funds will go directly to supporting children and adults with physical and learning disabilities. Recycling

the Christmas trees also saved around 50 tonnes of waste from going to landfill.

Diverse Abilities thanked Waste Management Facilities for its generous sponsorship of the scheme.

Francesca Potton, community fundraiser at Diverse Abilities, said: “We are overwhelmed by the support we have received this year from the volunteers and from the local community booking to have their Christmas trees collected by us.”

To find out more about the charity, and to register your interest for next year’s Treecycling, visit diverseabilities.org.uk/trees.

Air ambulance to move to new base

A life-saving air ambulance service has announced plans to move to a new operations base in Yeovil.

Demand for the services of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) continues to grow; its missions have more than tripled in the last 10 years. To meet this demand, DSAA revealed plans in January to expand its capacity and ensure long-term resilience.

The new base will be at a site in Yeovil owned by aerospace company Leonardo. DSAA and Leonardo have signed a 35-year lease, and Leonardo will not charge the charity any rent to use the site.

The new base will offer

By HOPe New Forest

purpose-built spaces for patient interaction, training, operational coordination and community engagement.

According to DSAA, Yeovil’s location provides excellent aircraft coverage across the entire Dorset and Somerset region.

Charles Hackett, CEO of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, said: “Today, DSAA is one of the most advanced air ambulance services in the UK, touching thousands of lives every year.

“We want to assure the people of Yeovil and our wider community that we are committed to working transparently and collaboratively

with all stakeholders throughout the process. To this end, DSAA will be launching a public consultation in mid-2026, giving residents and stakeholders the chance to view the emerging proposals, ask questions and share their views.

“We hope the consultation will help shape our plans and build backing for the new facility, designed to support our life-saving service for years to come.”

Until the new site is developed, DSAA will continue operating from Henstridge Airfield.

DSAA also shared an update on its second helicopter, which has undergone test

flights and will be customised for medical missions. DSAA expects the aircraft to be operational by summer 2026. DSAA’s pilots and doctors operate for 19 hours a day (7am to 2am), 365 days a year. For more information, visit dsairambulance.org.uk.

The definition of hope Addiction support available in Ferndown

Do you know the definition of ‘hope’? In the dictionary, it is described as having “a

feeling of expectation for a particular thing to happen and a feeling of trust”.

Here at Helping Older People (HOPe) New Forest, we offer both of these things. When people have no hope, it can lead to anxiety, depression and physical problems. To have hope means our older generation can feel supported by us and believe that something they need will happen.

So, whether it is to enquire about our Befriending or Support Service, volunteering opportunity, or you would like to donate, please visit our website hopenewforest. org or call 01425 629 009.

Those suffering from addictive or compulsive behaviours can turn to a new support group meeting in Ferndown

After Reach is a confidential, non-judgemental space built on mutual support and lived experience, aiming to help people break the cycle of unhealthy patterns and addictions. Meetings are respectful and involve structured peerled group discussions. There is no pressure to speak, and no referral or diagnosis is needed to take part.

Group organiser Faye

said: “This is a lovely group where people can talk about problems they have faced and receive helpful information. This group is amazing.”

After Reach meets on Mondays at 6pm at United Church, 505 Wimborne Road East, BH22 9NF. Meetings are free to attend. You can just turn up on the night, or you can contact organisers Faye and Garry by emailing afterreach2407@gmail.com

Wimborne archaeology group wins Roman Society’s Britannia Award

Members of the East Dorset Antiquarian Society have been recognised for their work on Druce Farm Roman Villa

Volunteers from the East Dorset Antiquarian Society (EDAS) — which meets monthly at St Catherine’s Church Hall in Wimborne Minster — have been recognised by the Roman Society for their work on the Druce Farm Roman Villa excavation. The site is in the River Piddle Valley near Puddletown.

The Roman Society, the leading organisation in the United Kingdom for those interested in the study of Rome and the Roman Empire, agreed that the amateur group made “an outstanding voluntary contribution to Roman archaeology in Britain”. Between 2012 and 2018, EDAS excavations at Druce Farm discovered a Roman villa and a Neolithic site. EDAS site directors Lilian Ladle and Andrew Morgan led a core group of 20 volunteers over seven excavation seasons, working from April through to October each year. They were supported by members of other local societies, notably Wareham and District

Archaeology Society.

In total, 140 people spent 4,889 days on site, revealing the villa complex and investigating miles of Roman ditches and middens. Tasks ranged from excavating to washing finds on site, as well as recording and drawing.

EDAS actively engages with local communities, inviting them to share their passion for archaeology and history. During the excavations, more than 250 pupils visited the site, and hundreds of visitors were guided through the villa area on various open days over the years. Many professional archaeologists freely gave their time and expertise, including Professor Sir Barry Cunliffe.

The Roman Society was impressed by the incredible speed with which the work was published. After the dig, volunteers fundraised to pay for expert advice, delivered talks and presentations, created meticulous drawings

of key finds, and edited copy and digitised drawings for the final report.

In 2022, Lilian Ladle’s monograph, ‘The Rise and Decline of Druce Farm Roman Villa (60–650 CE): Excavations 2012–2018’, was published. It received several accolades from peer reviews — which are required before publication of any academic work — including “investigative and research work of the highest quality” and “an essential book for anyone studying Roman archaeology”.

Miles Russell of Bournemouth University, who supported the nomination, said: “Both the fieldwork and the final book have contributed significantly to knowledge, especially on villas and the nature of early Roman rural settlement across Dorset and the South West. The nature of the work, which was conducted to the highest of professional standards,

should be applauded, especially given the volunteer, part-time status of the excavation, post-excavation and publication team. This is investigative and research work of the highest quality.”

EDAS is a friendly amateur society committed to conserving and promoting archaeological and historical heritage through exploration, excavation and education, including the recording and conservation of archaeological monuments and antiquities. The society was founded in 1983 and currently has more than 270 members. Practical archaeology remains at the centre of its activities. EDAS is always looking for opportunities to offer its members the chance to gain field experience and acquire skills in both excavation and post-excavation work.

To learn more, visit www. dorset-archaeology.org.uk.

Ferndown school launches theatre company for boys

By Luke Graham

To combat a lack of male representation in the arts and drama, a local school has created a theatre company for boys.

Ferndown Upper School launched the Boys Theatre Company in November 2025 with a group of 10 boys from Year 9. The group has had workshops with leading professionals in the arts, gone on theatre trips to London’s West End to see ‘The Choir of Man’ and to the

Mayflower in Southampton to see ‘Dear England’, and have begun to work alongside Young Enterprise to develop the programme further. They are also due to visit the arts facilities at Bournemouth University.

Assistant Headteacher

Oliver McVeigh set up the project alongside Ferndown Upper School’s head of drama.

McVeigh said: “Ferndown Upper School is one of the leading schools in the country

to implement the Taking Boys Seriously Principles, created by the University of Ulster, which seek to change the educational landscape for boys.

“This project came about within this broader programme as an attempt to engage boys within the arts. We know that there are a lot of stereotypes about men in the arts, and this is particularly apparent in the lack of male representation within arts-based subjects.

“We set about challenging these stereotypes and created an all-boys acting company that can be used as a safe space for boys to be able to express issues relevant to them and find a common and shared interest in a nonjudgemental environment.”

The theatre company is being guided by the boys, who will get to choose what they want to demonstrate and perform.

While in London, the boys were given a backstage tour and spoke to actors, directors and theatre technicians, giving them ideas and inspiration for their own theatre projects.

McVeigh added: “The West End performance of ‘The Choir of Man’ helped the boys reflect on male representation in theatre and

also engage with the lived experiences discussed in the show. We are going to be using these ideas to develop our own performances.”

When asked what they like about being in the theatre company, one of the boys said: “I have enjoyed being able to fully be myself and not being judged, and the stuff we do is good and it makes me look forward to every meeting.”

The theatre company is part of the school’s Ferndown Takes Boys Seriously programme, established by McVeigh and Deputy Head Teacher Deneen Kenchington, which enables male pupils to learn about a range of experiences and the broader spectrum of masculinity, alongside a mentoring programme. Over the past three years, these initiatives have led to improvements in attendance, a decrease in negative behaviour counts, and better outcomes for boys.

To keep up to date with the Boys Theatre Company, follow Ferndown Upper School on social media or visit fernup.dorset.sch.uk.

Looking to learn?

There’s

an

app for that

For adults seeking to learn new things, there are hundreds of apps on your smart phone or tablet that can help. Here are some top choices:

Duolingo

If you’re looking to learn or practise a second language, Duolingo is a free app that uses games and colourful animations to make learning fun and easy.

Udemy

This free app features video courses on over 3,000 topics, from teaching professional skills like learning to code, to more personal skills like meditation or the piano.

Vocabulary AI

Learn new words every day and expand your knowledge via app notifications. There are also daily challenges and quizzes to test your language skills.

Blinkist

This paid app provides 15-minute summaries of popular non-fiction books and podcasts, letting you learn new ideas and concepts in the blink of an eye.

Learn new languages with Duolingo

Don’t delay — embark on a new activity today

By Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

If you haven’t already decided which new activity to embark upon this year, make February the month when you find something new to both interest and challenge you

We are lucky in this area, with so many organisations that you could do something different every day.

Make sure you scan the listings in our magazines, which detail a huge number of one-off events as well as club meetings. In addition, local councils and the government provide a variety of adult learning courses to help you acquire new skills. Just log onto skillsandlearningace. com/courses.

East Dorset Heritage Trust, which operates from Allendale House, offers courses such as French, Spanish, painting, pottery, art history and computing, in addition to several workshops. Visit the Trust’s website for details: edht.org.uk.

Or just pop along to your local library or community centre and make enquiries there. Many libraries offer monthly Reading Friends groups where you can discover new stories and take part in fun activities. Refreshments

are often provided.

When the weather is miserable and there are still too many hours of darkness, it is all too easy to make excuses to stay indoors, but whether you’re working or have retired, it’s good to get out and embark on a physical activity. We have some excellent gyms in the area, and if you like to get out in the fresh air, there are several ramblers groups such as the East Dorset Group, Bournemouth Happy Monday Ramblers Group and Dorset Young Walkers Group. See ramblers.org.uk.

And if you really want a challenge, which would also raise funds for a charity, log onto timeoutdoors.com/ events/challenge-walks/ dorset to find and sign up to charity walks, swims and runs.

Embarking on new activities offers a wide array of mental, emotional, social, and physical benefits, as it helps break routine, challenges your brain, and provides opportunities for personal growth.

Give your child the best start

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Based in the heart of St Leonards, The Little Learners Nursery is a nurturing environment centred on child-led learning and building children’s social and emotional wellbeing, with a curriculum focused on helping children find the confidence in their own abilities.

Featuring a secure garden and a nearby play park, the nursery is proud to have achieved a Good Provider rating from Ofsted.

It is also actively involved within the community, singing songs for older adults, litter picking, and performing Christmas plays in the village hall.

Here are some testimonies from happy parents:

“They are so kind and caring, and they do so much for the children in their care.”

“I’m so pleased with this gorgeous nursery!”

“My daughter absolutely loves going there.”

Little Learners is a term-time nursery for children aged nine months to five years old, open Monday to Friday 8am to 3.30pm. To learn more, visit thelittlelearnersnursery.co.uk.

Tips for your new hobby

If you’re keen to start a new physical activity – whether it’s a sport, dancing, martial art, outdoor skill or just going to the gym – here is some advice to help you succeed.

Start small

Begin at a level that feels easy. This will build your confidence and avoid the risk of injury, and help your body learn the correct movements before adding speed or intensity. Fundamentals are everything Learning the basics will make everything else easier. Don’t get distracted by the fancier movements that more experienced people are practising, focus on proper posture, balance, breathing and movement.

Little and often

Studies have found that people learn best from short, regular sessions of an activity compared to long, infrequent ones. Aim for 15–30 minutes of focused training, two or three times a week. Avoid overtraining – doing your new sport every day of the week could lead to injury.

Be deliberate

Choose one specific thing to improve and work on in each session to boost the quality of your training.

Watch and learn

Try to mimic the skilled performers or athletes in your chosen activity. Use Youtube to find videos of experts, and try to copy how they do the move, including the little details, not just what they do.

Taking notes during or after sessions will also help you learn and remember the details.

Look after your body

Warm up and cool down for each session to avoid injury. Rest is essential to help your body recover. Expect soreness as your muscles grow and learn to move in new ways. Mild discomfort is normal but sharp pain is not.

Track yourself

Write down your achievements after each session using a diary,

your phone, or an exercise app. Keep track of even the small wins, like how many reps you managed, what you learned, or any compliments you received. This will help you track your progress and stay motivated. Keep it fun

Use games, challenges and music to help make your new activity engaging. If you’re having fun and enjoying yourself, you’re more likely to train consistently.

Starry Skies

By Mark Hardaker FRAS

In January, we started looking south in the evening to find Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. Let’s start February by turning through 180 degrees and facing north.

If you live in or around Verwood, look up at exactly 51 degrees at any time of the night and there you will find Polaris, the Pole Star. Contrary to what many might think, Polaris isn’t a particularly bright star, being what astronomers call a second-magnitude star, but it has been supremely important to mankind over the past thousand years.

Because it is so close to the north celestial pole, it never moves in the sky, always indicating to a mariner at sea the direction of north, and by measuring its angle above the horizon, what was his latitude. Here in East Dorset, it sits 51 degrees high.

Polaris is the brightest star in the constellation of Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. His big brother the Great Bear, Ursa Major (or better known as the Plough) is off to the right-hand side of Polaris during mid-February evenings. Most of us can find this ladle-shaped group of seven stars that the Americans call the Big Dipper. The “front” two stars of the bowl of the dipper or ladle point directly to Polaris.

Continue that line through the Pole Star to find the prominent W-shape of the constellation Cassiopeia, representing the vain Queen of Aethiopia, according to legend. She circles the Pole Star once a day, sometimes appearing as a W and sometimes as an M.

A little above her, and very appropriate for Valentine’s Day on 14 February, sits the beautiful Heart Nebula, known officially as IC

1805. This cloud of ionised hydrogen, oxygen and sulphur gases lies around 7,500 light years away from Earth and shines faintly in large telescopes. It can best be seen in long-exposure photos.

If you’d like to hear more or to view the heavens with Fordingbridge Astronomers, contact us via our webpage: fordingbridgeastro.org.uk.

Mark Hardaker lives in Verwood. He is an amateur astronomer and treasurer of Fordingbridge Astronomers. The club has an observatory in the international dark sky reserve at Cranborne Chase and provides astronomy outreach events for scouts, guides, youth groups and other organisations on request.

A New Year’s resolution to frustrate the fraudsters

By David Sidwick | Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner

As we move further into the New Year, many of us will have set resolutions, whether to improve our health, manage our finances more effectively, or achieve greater balance in our working lives. I would like to ask readers to consider adding one more simple but vital resolution to their list. It will take only a few minutes of your time, yet it could save you significant stress, financial loss and distress.

That resolution is to familiarise yourself with, and regularly remind yourself of, the 10 golden rules designed to help prevent fraud and stop scammers in their tracks.

Fraud is not a victimless crime. It causes real harm to individuals, families and communities, and criminals continue to adapt their tactics to exploit trust, urgency and new technologies. By keeping these rules front of mind, you make it far harder for criminals to succeed.

The 10 golden rules are straightforward:

• Be suspicious of all ‘too good to be true’ offers and deals. There are no guaranteed get-rich-quick schemes.

• Don’t agree to offers or deals immediately. Insist on time to get independent or legal advice before making a decision.

• Don’t hand over money or sign anything until you’ve checked someone’s credentials and their company’s.

• Never send money to anyone you don’t know or trust, whether in the UK or abroad, or use methods of payment you’re not comfortable with.

• Never give banking or personal details to anyone you don’t know or trust. This information is valuable, so make sure you protect it.

• Always log on to a website directly rather than clicking on links in an email.

• Don’t just rely on glowing testimonials. Find solid, independent evidence of a company’s success.

• Always get independent or legal advice if an offer involves money, time or commitment.

• If you spot a scam or have been scammed, report it and get help.

• Don’t be embarrassed about reporting a scam. Scammers are cunning and clever, so there’s no shame in being deceived. By reporting it, you’ll make it more difficult for them to deceive others.

I am emphasising this advice because the period after Christmas can be a peak time for fraudsters. Many people shop online, respond to digital adverts, or receive unexpected messages, making it easier for criminals to exploit opportunity and urgency.

The most common fraud we see is the purchase scam, where criminals convince victims to pay for goods or services that simply do not exist. This can involve fake websites, cloned versions of wellknown retailers, fraudulent listings on online marketplaces, or adverts on social media. Victims may receive convincing invoices or receipts, but the goods never arrive, and the seller quickly disappears.

With the growing use of artificial intelligence, these scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and realistic. That is why these 10 golden rules are more important than ever.

No one should feel ashamed about being targeted or deceived. By staying alert, sharing advice, and reporting suspicious activity, we can all play a part in protecting ourselves and our communities from fraud. If you think you’ve uncovered a scam, been targeted by a scam or fallen victim to fraudsters, contact Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at reportfraud.police.uk.

Hairdresser’s passion project launches in Ferndown

Community Haircuts offers salon-quality haircuts for free to those facing financial hardship

Ferndown residents facing financial challenges can now get a free haircut, thanks to a hairdresser from Ringwood.

Georgia Chappels founded Community Haircuts in September 2025 in Ringwood to give back to the community and support those living on benefits or in financial crisis. Community Haircuts accepts referrals from the Jobcentre, Citizens Advice and local food banks and charities, but drop-in appointments are also available.

Georgia retrained as a hairdresser to support her family after she got divorced. During this time, she experienced her own financial crisis.

“We went through a really tough stage. I was lucky to have help from the community, Citizens Advice Bureau, the Jobcentre, and the food bank,” she recalled.

“When I decided to retrain, I wanted to be able to give back to those who helped me when I was in financial crisis. I became very aware that within the community, there are individuals and families living on a low income that don’t have the opportunity to have a haircut, whether it’s for a new job, or children going back to school, or a mum who hasn’t had a haircut in two years.”

In Ringwood, the free service is available every Monday and one Saturday a month from 1.30pm to 3.30pm

in the Oak Room at Carvers Clubhouse. The service is now available in Ferndown every third Monday of the month from 1.30pm to 3.30pm in the Beacon Room at St Mary’s Church on Church Road. And Georgia plans to expand the project to more locations in the future including Fordingbridge, Poole, Boscombe, Wareham, Verwood and even Christchurch.

The new service launched on Monday 19 January, and Viewpoint Magazine went along to speak to Georgia.

You can see this kind-hearted community project in action for yourself by visiting our YouTube channel: youtube. com/@dorset_view.

The launch was supported by two volunteer hairdressers, Frances and Dee, from Station Hair in West Moors. Dee said: “It’s good to give something back to the community. It makes people feel better. It’s like going to the doctors for a tablet — getting your hair done makes a difference. The first thing people look at is your hair.”

Emma King, a support worker with Bournemouth Churches Housing Association, brought two young people living in supported accommodation to Community Haircuts, and they were the first two clients of the new service.

One of the pair, MJ, asked for a mullet, while

Courtney had her hair tidied and fringe cut.

Georgia took the time to get to know the pair and gave them tips on haircare and styling.

Emma said: “Georgia was very welcoming and made them feel very comfortable. They were both really happy, and this is really important as they have been through a lot in their short lives.”

She added: “This is a great idea, as a lot of people are struggling financially and feel like this is a luxury they can’t afford.”

MJ praised her haircut, saying it was “very lush” and enjoyed the experience. She said: “It looks amazing — I feel more confident. Georgia was amazing and did a good job.”

To expand Community Haircuts, Georgia needs volunteer hairdressers. To offer your skills, visit the Community Haircuts Facebook page or call 07510 602226.

To see the Community Haircuts project in action and hear Georgia talk about what inspired the project, go to: youtube. com/watch?v=Uj9ZBYPRk3I.

Great Dorset Give Away

The Great Dorset Giveaway

Your chance to win £500 to spend in shops across Dorset and Hampshire

Once again, Viewpoint Magazine is giving readers the chance to win a huge prize to spend in shops and restaurants around the area.

One lucky winner, drawn at random, will be able to spend their shopping vouchers worth £500 at any of the advertisers on pages 24, 25, 26 and 27 in this issue in £50 lots.

The winner can spend a maximum of £250 with one company, and the rest is split into £50 vouchers to spend with any of the other businesses.

You could split your prize as: 1 x £250 voucher, and 5 x £50 vouchers OR 1 x £100 voucher and 8 x £50 vouchers OR 10 x £50 vouchers.

To enter the prize draw, you will need to solve three puzzles scattered across these pages (hint: the answers can be found on the adverts on pages 24, 25, 26 and 27).

Once you have the answers, submit them on the competitions page of our website. Details on how to enter, plus the competition’s terms and conditions, are on page 27. Good luck!

The names of four businesses advertising on this page have been scrambled to make new words.

Can you solve these anagrams and name the four local companies?

1. Caution wing doors

2. Steve card

3. Gave tan

4. Jowlers flee rum

Great Dorset Give Away

Previous Winner Puzzle 2 Questions

The last Great Dorset Giveaway in September’s issue of sister magazine Dorset View was won by Elaine Bumford of Broadstone. She chose to allocate her vouchers to six local businesses: Forum Jewellers, Woodley’s Shoes, Poole Lighting, Cliffhanger Restaurant, Salamander Cookshop, and Broadway Jewellers. In an especially heartwarming move, Elaine decided to spend her voucher with Broadway Jewellers on a necklace that she donated to Dorset Cancer Care Foundation for the charity to auction and raise funds for its vital services supporting local families affected by cancer. Pictured are the staff of Broadway Jewellers with the necklace.

Simply answer these three questions based on the adverts below.

1. What is the postcode for Ebblake Autocentres in Verwood?

2. What are the last three digits of the phone number for Lewis Concrete in Wimborne?

3. Need a tree cut down or hedge trimmed? Name the arborist covering Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

Great Dorset Give Away

Puzzle 3 Wordsearch

The names of five businesses advertising on these two pages are hidden in the 16 x 16 grid of letters.

They may be hidden left to right or up to down, but not backwards. Write your answers in the space provided.

How to enter the Great Dorset Giveaway

Submit your answers online at dorsetview.co.uk. The closing date is 22 March 2026. The first correct entry drawn will be the winner. Employees of Pulford Publicity Ltd are not permitted to enter. Entrants must be aged 18+. The shopping vouchers will be valid for three months from the date they are issued. The editor’s decision is final. Personal details will be stored securely and will only be processed to determine the winner and allocate their vouchers. The winner will be announced in the magazine.

Dorset soldier remembers Britain’s ‘forgotten war’

A former Royal Marine has shared his first-hand account of the Aden Emergency in 1963–1967

A former Royal Marine officer from Dorset has shared his story of patrolling the Radfan mountains and witnessing the hurried British withdrawal from Aden in the 1960s.

Now aged 82, Captain Stephen Weall’s account is part of a new national project led by Legasee Educational Trust to preserve first-hand testimonies from the Aden Emergency before they are lost forever.

The Aden Emergency took place on the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. At the time, Britain had ruled the area (which is now part of Yemen) since 1839. In 1963, tribes from Radfan attacked British troops, and the emergency escalated until British forces left Aden in November 1967.

Stephen Weall grew up in Shaftesbury and was the son of a Royal Navy officer. In 1962, he joined the Royal Marines and was deployed to East Africa, where his unit, 45 Commando, took part in a helicopter-borne assault to end a mutiny in Dar es Salaam. From there, his unit was deployed to Aden.

At first, the British-ruled territory felt tense but relatively quiet to a young officer on his first overseas posting. That impression quickly faded as the Aden Emergency intensified.

Posted in the Radfan mountains, Weall found himself in a harsh landscape that reminded him of the sacrifices of earlier frontier campaigns he knew of from history.

He recalled: “It was a valley surrounded by high mountains, a bit like something out of Beau Geste. We lived under canvas, with sandbag positions all around. We patrolled constantly, watching the border with Yemen and trying to stop weapons being brought in.

“It felt like the same sort of soldiering our Victorian predecessors did: hardy tribesmen, ancient rifles, and us lightly equipped, with radios that barely worked.”

Daily life for his troop revolved around long patrols, maintaining defensive positions, and constant exposure to the elements.

As the emergency escalated, British forces launched major

operations into Radfan.

“We were up on the hills day and night, occupying positions and building sangers for protection. We had machine-gun sections covering the ground where other units had been hit. Life was stripped back to the essentials, and the climate and terrain never gave you a break.

“You were down to three basic concerns. Have I got water? Have I got ammunition? How am I going to shelter from the sun?”

Weall returned to Aden in 1967 as a Motor Transport Officer to help manage the British withdrawal. The departure, he says, felt less like a neat end to a mission and more like a scramble.

“One of the hardest tasks was administering the official cash payments to long-serving local and Sudanese employees as part of the withdrawal plan. The policy required wages to be issued in cash, and in the chaos of the final days, many workers were robbed as soon as they stepped outside. In hindsight, it should and could have been handled differently. It was a shameful episode.”

Weall believes the Aden Emergency has faded from public memory partly because it sits uneasily with national pride and did little to change the course of world events.

He said: “It wasn’t one of our proud moments like the Falklands. People did their jobs, they cared for each other and looked after each other in really unpleasant conditions. But in terms of history, their losses had no real influence on what happened later. They were needless sacrifices, and I think government memory prefers to play that down.”

Weall, who now lives in Cornwall, left the Corps in 1974. His time in the Marines was crucial in shaping the rest of his life.

“It was brilliant, I loved it. There were ups and downs, but it gave me time to work out what I could do, what my strengths and weaknesses were. God bless the Marines.”

If you served in Aden, or your family did, Legasee Educational Trust wants to hear from you. To take part or learn more about the project, visit legasee.org.uk or email info@legasee.org.uk.

Nature’s Footprints

Unmistakable kingfishers

Report by Janine Pulford | Photos by Danny Howe Photography

The most stunning UK bird has to be the kingfisher, with its vivid blue and orange plumage. At only 17cm long, this little bird could fit into the palm of your hand. According to the RSPB, there are between 3,800 and 6,400 breeding pairs in the UK. Kingfishers are vulnerable to hard winters and habitat degradation caused by pollution or poor management of watercourses. They favour slow-moving or still water, shallow rivers and streams, but will even take a chance with a garden pond if there are small fish present. Their diet mainly consists of minnows and sticklebacks, topped up with shrimps and tadpoles. Surprisingly, they can eat fish up to 80mm long. Astonishingly, kingfishers fish ‘blind’. From a perch above the water, they watch for prey and, once spotted, dive with an open beak and eyes closed by a third eyelid. After scooping up the fish, they return to the perch and bash it repeatedly until the fin spines relax, allowing the bird to swallow it whole, usually head-first. A kingfisher must eat its own bodyweight in fish each day, between 34 and 46 grams. Kingfishers nest in tunnels that can be

up to 90cm long. They excavate burrows into stream banks, choosing sandy, stone-free soil. At the end of the tunnel is a small depression that forms the egg chamber, where eggs are laid directly onto the sand. The birds usually raise two or three broods a year, with up to seven eggs per brood. The first brood is laid in late March or early April, with both adults sharing incubation for around three weeks.

Once hatched, life becomes frantic. Hungry chicks can consume between 12 and 18 fish each per day. They usually fledge at around 24 days old, but if food is scarce they may remain in the burrow for more than five weeks.

Parental care is brief once the chicks leave the nest. After around four days, the adults drive them away. Kingfishers are extremely territorial, as maintaining an adequate food supply is vital for survival. Territories can range from one to five kilometres, depending on fish availability.

In freezing weather, birds may be forced to leave their territories and fish further afield, sometimes moving to estuaries and coastal areas.

Sadly, kingfishers do not live very long. Many young birds survive only a

week or two, although around a quarter live long enough to breed the following year, maintaining population levels. Few survive beyond one breeding season.

River pollution is a big threat, killing the fish the kingfishers rely on. Meanwhile, disturbance by humans causes serious problems and can make the broods fail. Kingfishers are shy and won’t enter the nest burrow if humans are nearby. The chicks can weaken and stop calling for food, leading parents to believe they are well fed, so they stop feeding them with fatal results.

These little jewels along our riverbanks are a delight to watch. Their lives may be short and fragile, but when you consider the effort required to survive, it is hardly surprising. Next time you see one, treasure the moment.

A special thanks to Burley’s Home Care for sponsoring puzzle zone

Here’s how to solve Codeword. Every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number. All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number.

To start you off, we reveal the code for three letters.

To solve Sudoku, you need to fill the grid so that each row, column, and three-by-three box of cells contains the digits 1 through 9, without repetition.

Start by looking for rows, columns, or boxes that are almost complete, and fill in the missing numbers. Then use a process of elimination to look for the only possible cell within a row, column, or box where a number can fit.

Column by Fordingbridge Museum is sponsored by Adrian Dowding

Corbels, gargoyles and grotesques

By Julian Hewitt | Fordingbridge Museum

Regular readers will be familiar with my penchant for visiting churches. When I do visit, I always make a point of looking upwards to the walls of the church, both inside and outside. I will usually be rewarded by the sight of some interesting carvings such as corbels, gargoyles and grotesques.

A corbel is a projection from the wall to support the heavy load of roof timbers, stone arches, balconies or guttering. The word ‘corbel’ is thought to be from the Old French for raven, perhaps because of their beak-like appearance. Whilst some may be plain and purely functional, many are elaborately carved with human faces, animals, small scenes of everyday life or mythical creatures.

Most were carved in medieval times. Sometimes a whole row of carved corbels will be used to support guttering or to mark an extension to a wall. There is a good example of such a string course, or corbel table, at Romsey Abbey, which features animal and human heads as well as musicians. Perhaps the best example of a string course of corbels is at the Church of St Mary and St David in Kilpeck, Herefordshire. The church has an amazing 85 beautifully carved corbels made from the local red sandstone. They include a carving of a hare and hound, a ram and a lion.

Gargoyles are a feature in medieval churches but can also be found in English Gothic and Victorian period churches. They are built on the outside walls of the church to carry away rainwater from the roof of the building and direct it away from the walls. These are often elaborately carved with gurning human or mythical heads or are in the shape of dragons or other fanciful beasts. These can be beautifully carved, although they can be high

up, so that binoculars are required to see their details.

Gargoyles can be found on most churches, but the tower of St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Ringwood has some fine examples, as does Salisbury Cathedral.

Grotesques are carvings that are purely decorative, usually on the outside walls of churches. Some might portray a screaming face or demonic creature reflecting the torments of Hell, others a face that is poking its tongue out, an action that was used against heretics and traitors. Dragons (representing evil) and lions (standing for the majesty of Christ) are other common subjects.

A famous grotesque is the Lincoln Imp in Lincoln Cathedral that has been adopted as a symbol of the town. In Somerset, these sorts of carvings are quaintly called hunky punks.

One theory is that grotesques were designed to scare away evil spirits, as well as to show the fate of wrongdoers. Another is that they reflect the irreverent humour of the masons, who would sometimes carve gurning caricatures of workmates or local dignitaries.

More modern carvings can be very different. At Gloucester Cathedral, there is a depiction of a rugby player, representing the city’s rugby-playing tradition. At Chichester Cathedral, there are carvings of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on either side of the main entrance. At Christchurch Priory, there is a depiction of a nurse wearing a surgical mask to honour the work of the NHS during the pandemic.

There are two interesting local corbels well worth a visit. One is an ancient 12th-century carving of an ox head in St Mary’s Church, Fordingbridge. This can be seen tucked away behind the organ and is

thought to have come from an earlier church on the site. Another is a 12th-century carving of Moses with a plaited beard and horns near the altar in Wimborne Minster. The horns are a result of a mistranslation of the Hebrew Bible, where the word for radiant was mistakenly translated as horned. When looking round churches, it is always worth looking up to see these fascinating products of the stonemason’s skill and imagination.

Charity of the Year

Rising to the challenge

When Diana Lawrence, the sister of a child looked after by Julia’s House, asked its CEO, Martin Edwards, to undertake 20 challenges in his 20th year with the charity, little did he know that he would be ziplining at 100mph, sky-diving from 13,000ft, taking on a 37-mile ultra race in the Lake District and even getting his first tattoo!

Martin invited business leaders, local prominent people and charity patrons to join the 20/20 Challenge, setting their own individual challenge to do alongside him, with Martin completing all 20. The 20/20 Challenge helped to raise over £130,000 to preserve vital hospice care for the most seriously ill children and their families across Dorset and Wiltshire.

Several Julia’s House families took part in the challenges, including parents Lisa and Andy Hover who joined for a section of a 70-mile hospice to hospice walk with Martin accompanied by Poole businessman, Warren Munson. Parents Chris and Emma Jerram, accompanied by their 17-year-old son Noah who receives care from Julia’s House, joined the final

stage of a 2,020-mile team distance challenge tackled by Salad Creative agency.

The 20/20 Challenge, along with other fundraising events and activities, gifts in wills and the charity’s chain of shops, has helped to maintain services at Julia’s House for local families.

“With costs rising and only eight per cent of our income coming from government, the support of the local community is vital to help sustain our services,” said Martin. “I would like to thank all the challenge partners in this fantastic team effort to help the children and families in our care. It’s been exhilarating, exhausting, but extremely worthwhile.”

Tackle your own challenge

Why not take on a challenge to support Julia’s House this year? From an exhilarating sky dive to a once-in-a-lifetime trek across the Great Wall of China, you could tick an adventure off your bucket list, knowing every jump or step will help to bring care, joy and laughter to local children and families. Or take inspiration from the 20/20 Challenge and set your own individual challenge; the

Augustus John

The Bohemian artist who made Fordingbridge his home

By Sian Flynn

On the bank of the River Avon in Fordingbridge, just across the road from The George pub, stands a statue commemorating the Welsh portrait painter, Augustus John. John, who lived in Fordingbridge from 1927 until he died in 1961, was a larger-than-life artist whose unconventional lifestyle was as famous as his remarkable career.

Born in Tenby, Wales, in 1878, John’s early life was marked by tragedy when his mother died while he was six. He and his three siblings’ lives descended into gloominess, and they all eventually left Wales. This included his older sister, Gwen, who has been recognised in recent times as a highly significant artist, despite being overlooked during her lifetime, unlike her brother.

Both siblings studied at London’s prestigious Slade School of Fine Art,

Julia’s House fundraising team will support you all the way. Get in touch with us by emailing community@juliashouse.org.

Find out more about our events at juliashouse.org/events.

where Augustus was known for being reserved and thorough. A diving accident transformed him completely — he emerged as a daring, bearded bohemian who developed an exuberant artistic style that contrasted sharply with Gwen’s more introverted approach. Despite his fame, Augustus much valued his sister’s art and said: “Fifty years after my death, I shall be remembered as Gwen John’s brother.”

Before the First World War, John embraced a nomadic lifestyle, sometimes living in a caravan alongside Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller communities, painting their lives as he saw them. His great interest in these communities led him to advocate for their right to travel and settle freely in the New Forest. This lifelong passion saw him elected President of the Gypsy Lore Society from 1937 until his death.

During the war, his artistic talents

served the nation as an Official War Artist, sketching soldiers at the Somme and Vimy Ridge in France, capturing the ugly realities of conflict.

He was well known for his portraits of society figures and literary giants, including Dorset’s own Thomas Hardy and T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), who spent his later years in the county and had introduced John to Hardy.

In 1927, John moved to his lifelong home, Fryern Court, in Fordingbridge. It became a creative haven — an open house where artists gathered and inspiration freely flowed. During his later life, interest in John’s art waned, although he remained a much-talked-about figure until his death. His legacy as one of Britain’s most distinctive artists lives on. He is buried in Fordingbridge Cemetery. Sian Flynn is an independent curator. Visit her website: theexhibitionsteam.com.

BOOK COMPETITION

Last issue, we published an extract from Janine Pulford’s brand-new book.

Your chance to win a copy of ‘Paws in the Flood’ Experience unforgettable music in Salisbury Cathedral

‘Paws in the Flood’ is Janine’s seventh novel in print and follows dog detective Max Nowza as he solves a mystery. This cosy crime story is told from a dog’s point of view and aimed at age group 9–99.

To celebrate the book’s release, we are giving readers the chance to win their very own copy to treasure at home.

For your chance to win one copy of the book, simply answer the following question:

How many novels has Janine written?

How to enter

Enter online at dorsetview.

co.uk. Closing date is 31 March 2026. The first correct answer drawn will be the winner. Employees of Pulford Publicity Ltd are not permitted to enter.

There is no cash alternative. The editor’s decision is final. Personal details will be stored securely and will only be processed to determine the winner of the competition and allocate the prize. The winner will be announced in the magazine.

-Advertisement feature-

Leading regional choral ensemble Bournemouth Bach Choir is delighted to announce its next concert, to be held in Salisbury Cathedral on 14 March. Under the baton of outstanding musical director, Tim Hooper, the choir will perform Claudio Monteverdi’s ‘Vespers of 1610’ alongside soloists from world-renowned The Sixteen, period instrument ensemble QuintEssential and the Bournemouth Symphony Youth Chorus.

Monteverdi’s ‘Vespers’, published in 1610, is a towering and undisputed masterpiece of the early Baroque period — at once intimate and grand, prayerful and dramatic,

exalted and sensual. Brilliant instrumental writing paired with impressive choruses and virtuoso solos create a luxurious tribute to the Virgin Mary.

Published while Monteverdi was seeking new employment, the work, with its innovative mix of old and new styles, served as a brilliant portfolio of his diverse compositional skills, ultimately helping him secure the prestigious post of maestro (music director) at St Mark’s Basilica in Venice.

Even if you don’t think it’s your thing, why not come along and see what you think? Don’t miss the opportunity to hear this monumental work in the unforgettable and atmospheric surroundings of Salisbury Cathedral.

Tivoli set for another bumper year

By Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

Flushed with the huge success of the recent panto at the Tivoli

Theatre, Charlie North

Lewis is very confident about the year ahead

Charlie, who has been general manager of the Wimborne theatre since July 2002, is full of praise for Made to Measure Productions, who once again beat all records with ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’. He is also delighted that people have already booked tickets

for their 2026 panto ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’.

“Artists and films are booked for months to come and also into 2027,” he said.

He puts the success of the Tivoli down to several factors.

“When I was working for Blazers Cabaret Club in Windsor, I was given

the advice to ‘look after your artists’, and we have always done that.

“The variety in the programming and the huge support of the volunteers and trustees are also important factors in running a successful theatre.

“People have commented that we have too many tribute acts, but the proof of their popularity is that most sell out,” said Charlie.

Veteran entertainers such as singer Marty Wilde, who is now 87, Andy Fairweather Low, a founding member of Amen Corner, and Paul Jones are also hugely popular, as are poet Pam Ayres and rock band Wishbone Ash.

“Talon and the Counterfeit Stones come each December and always sell out.”

The high spot of Charlie’s career at the Tivoli was the performance by The Rolling Stones’ drummer, the late Charlie Watts, who visited three times.

“Status Quo main man Francis Rossi likes to start his tours at the Tivoli, because he said he is always looked after so well,” said Charlie.

He also isn’t afraid to book controversial performers, such as comedian Jim Davidson.

“Katie Hopkins (a farright political commentator) is coming in July, and it is already sold out,” said Charlie, adding that they do have security.

Amateur productions

at the Tivoli are also hugely successful, and from 19 to 21 February, Wimborne Drama is presenting ‘Von Ribbentrop’s Watch’, while Wimborne Musical Theatre are staging ‘Shrek the Musical’ in June.

The Tivoli doesn’t only attract audiences from Wimborne and the surrounding areas, many people come from the Poole and Bournemouth areas too, particularly for the panto.

“One man even travelled from Liverpool for a show,” said Charlie.

As far as films are concerned, he is always mindful that the theatre is competing against Netflix, Amazon and Sky.

“I have seen the film ‘Nuremberg’ and I would advise people to watch it on the big screen,” he said.

Something rather special is coming up on Sunday 4 October. TV channel Talking Pictures is presenting a Festival of Film and TV from 11am to 7pm. It will be the chance to watch lost and rare films and to see star guests from the world of film and television interviewed on stage.

And children aren’t forgotten, with ‘The Sooty Show’ on 7 March, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ on 7 April and ‘Nick Cope’s Family Show’ on 3 October.

Lots to look forward to at the Tivoli this year.

Events

Details were correct at the time of going to print. Send information about your events to newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk.

16 February 2.15pm

The Arts Society Wimborne and Blandford meets at the Allendale Centre for a talk on Auguste Rodin and 19th century sculpture. 16 February 7.30pm

Swing Unlimited Big Band concert at Allendale Centre, Wimborne. Free admission with tickets available only at doors, which open at 7pm. Retiring collection for Youth Music Wessex, and other Rotary-supported charities.

17 February 11am

Wimborne Minster Pancake Race, sponsored by Viewpoint Magazine. 19, 26 February 1.45pm

Dorset Cricket Society meets at Hurn Bridge Sports Club, Christchurch, BH23 6DY. Visit dorsetcricketsociety. co.uk for details.

19–21 February 7.30pm with Saturday matinee 2.30pm

Wimborne Drama Productions presents ‘Von Ribbentrop’s Watch’ at the Tivoli. Book tickets via the Tivoli box office on 01202 885566 or visit tivoliwimborne.co.uk.

22 February 5pm

Broadstone Music Series presents Folk Inspirations with Dogoda Wind Quintet at Broadstone Methodist Church, BH18 8DP. Tickets from broadstonemusicseries.info.

24 February 7.30pm

West Parley Gardening Club

talk by Jane Benson, founder of Wimborne Community Garden, at MS Centre, West Parley, BH22 8TS. Contact Mike on 07803276251 or Jo on 01202855232. Email powerpublications@hotmail.com.

24–28 February 7.30pm, matinee 2.15pm Saturday

Broadstone Players present ‘Deckchairs’ at Broadstone War Memorial Hall. Tickets from 01202 678449 or email honsec@ broadstoneplayers.co.uk. Also on sale at Broadstone News.

28 February 10am–1pm Manor Farm, Hampreston, Wimborne, BH21 7LX open under National Gardens Scheme.

28 February 7.30pm

Murder Mystery Evening hosted by Fordingbridge Twinning Association at Avonway Community Centre. Tickets cost £15 and include a hot meal. Buy from Caxton’s Decor or Tina at Timothy’s. For details, email Helen Tague at thetagues@ Fordingbridge.com or Derek Ayling at hippotrain@BTInternet.com.

2 March 10.30am–11.30am

Reading Friends: Reading Your Way at Ferndown Library.

2 March 7.15pm for 7.30pm Wimborne Gardening Club meets at St Catherine’s Church Hall, Rodways Corner.

4, 9 March 10.30am–11.30am

Reading Friends at Ferndown Library.

4, 11, 18 March 11am–1.30pm

Colehill Community Café at St Michael & All Angels Church Centre, Colehill. For details, visit stmichaels.lemonbooking.com.

5 March 7pm

Armonico Consort to perform with lay clerks and choristers of the Minster choir and choirs from Allenbourn Middle School and St Michael’s Middle School at Wimborne Minster. Tickets cost £10–25 from Eventbrite and on the door.

5 March 7pm

The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation’s Charity Quiz Night at The Barrington Centre, Ferndown. To reserve your team’s place, phone 0779 2121645.

7 March 2pm–4pm

Ferndown Arthritis and Friendship Club meets at Ferndown Plus Day Centre. Call 03303 112793 for details.

7 March 2.30pm and 7.30pm

Ferndown Phoenix Musical Theatre

40th anniversary concert at The Barrington Centre. Tickets from ticketsource.co.uk/phoenix.

7 March 7.30pm

Churches Together present a free screening of episode ‘Two By Two’ from ‘The Chosen’ at Fordingbridge Town Hall, 63 High Street, SP6 1AS. Refreshments available. Ages 12+. Tickets from fordingbridgechurches.eventbrite. com, The Branch, 1 High Street, or AVCM Shop, 52 High Street.

9 March 2.30pm

West Moors Horticultural Society illustrated talk on ‘Careys, the “Real” Secret Garden’ at the Memorial Hall. Contact Jo Breen on 07960650611 or email wmhorticultural. society@gmail.com.

9 March 7pm for 7.30pm

Ferndown & West Moors Philatelic and Postcard Club meets at The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, BH21 3AP. Call Paul Barry on 07932 581791 or email paulrichardbarry@hotmail. co.uk for programme details.

10 March 7.30pm

Verwood and District Horticultural Society meets at Verwood Memorial Hall. Details on verwoodhorticulturalsociety.co.uk or call Ollie on 07508 577114.

11 March 7pm for 7.30pm Canford and Merley WI meets at Merley Community Centre, Harrier Drive. For further information, contact Hazel on 07780 705702.

11 March 7.30pm

East Dorset Antiquarian Society meets at St Catherine’s Church Hall, Rodways Corner, Wimborne Minster.

18 March 7.15pm

Easter Egg Bingo in aid of Cherry Tree Nursery and Chestnut Nursery at Kinson Conservative Club in Bournemouth. Tickets from buytickets.at/plantsandminds.

Ruby anniversary for Ferndown theatre company

Ferndown Phoenix Musical Theatre is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, it is presenting an anniversary concert on 7 March at The Barrington Centre in Pennys Walk.

The programme has been carefully curated to reflect the company’s journey over the past four decades, featuring a selection of much-loved songs performed throughout its history, alongside several brand-new pieces that it is

performing for the first time.

The concert is both a celebration of where the company has come from and a look ahead to what’s next. Many of the songs will be familiar to long-standing supporters, while the newer material represents the continued growth and creativity of the company as it enters its fifth decade.

Performances are at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are available from ticketsource. co.uk/Phoenix.

PREVIEW The Rise

and Fall of Little Voice

Poole & Parkstone Productions, The Barrington Centre

Poole & Parkstone Productions are staging ‘The Rise and Fall of Little Voice’ at The Barrington Centre in Ferndown from Wednesday 25 March until Saturday 28 March.

Shy and reclusive, Little Voice spends her days locked away in her bedroom, finding solace in her father’s old records. But when she opens her mouth to sing, something extraordinary happens: the powerful voices of her father’s idols are released from her usually restrained soul.

When a sleazy talent scout

Ringwood to get the Royle treatment

TV legend Ricky Tomlinson, star of ‘The Royle Family’, is coming to Ringwood later this year.

Audiences to ‘An Evening with Ricky Tomlinson’ on Saturday 12 September at 7.30pm will get to step behind the screen and learn more about Tomlinson’s extraordinary life, as the actor reflects on the experiences, beliefs and unexpected turns that shaped

hears her gift however, she is thrust into a spotlight she never asked for, much to the annoyance of her brash and overbearing mother. As dreams clash with desperation, Little Voice must find the courage to speak — and sing — for herself.

The play was memorably brought to life in a 1998 film starring Jane Horrocks, Michael Caine and Jim Broadbent.

Performances are at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

Tickets are available from ticketsource.co.uk/PandP.

his rise to fame, including his childhood in Liverpool and working-class origins.

Also titled ‘Retirement “My Ar*e”!’, this event promises warmth, humour and honesty as Tomlinson recounts his career from a young plasterer to a passionate trade union activist, following by a leap into acting. He gained national recognition as Bobby Grant in ‘Brookside’ in the 1980s and later as Jim Royle in the classic sitcom ‘The Royle Family’.

Sam Coombes, venue manager at The Barn, said: “We are delighted that Ricky has

chosen to come and share his life story with the people of Ringwood. Being on TV screens in so many households, we cannot wait to hear more about his life both on and off screen.” Tickets are on sale now at thebarnringwood.co.uk.

REVIEW Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs: Babe in the Hood

Castle Players, Lytchett Matravers Village Hall

By Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

The clue was in the title. This was a production like no other. A mashup of several popular stories, it was a truly village panto with Lytchett references that brought knowing laughter from the audience, together with a topical Greenland one.

There was no dame, but two principal baddies and, quite simply, it was a whole lot of fun.

Written and directed by member of the company Phil McMullen, the story revolved around dodgy builders and their demolition plans.

Dominating many scenes was the Big Bad Wolf, played with a lot of pizzazz by Becki Dawson, who certainly managed to elicit lots of boos and hisses.

Her interaction with Sellit, a local tycoon played by Beverley Smith, worked well, and her sidekicks Bodgeit

(Sharon White) and Makedo (Nikki Cross) added a huge amount of humour.

The same can be said for the other comedy duo, Jim (Linsey O’Neill) and Bob (Kim Burdon-Thompson), who delivered plenty of chaos.

Making a rather good debut with the Castle Players as the Witch was Susan Boakes, who combined humour with the right level of malevolence.

Jasmine Lloyd was suitably sweet as Little Red Riding Hood, teaming well with Deborah Hornsby as Robin.

The three little pigs, Porker (Ella Burdon), Gruntling (Sarah Peacock) and Babe (Charlotte Haworth), added fun and pathos, with the latter, the youngest cast member, putting in a very skilled performance.

Val Holland’s timing was good as Grandma, while Pete Bennett

perfected the role of Smithers, the meticulous health and safety officer.

And then there was poor little Oopsie (Sophie Brackenborough), whose part required her to turn up at intervals dressed in an outfit from the wrong pantomime!

Completing the 17-strong cast were Ashley Pires as Hansel and Mollie Burden as Gretel.

It’s a personal thing, but for me, this excellent production would have been further enhanced by scenery, as there was very little.

Drunk drivers arrested

There was an increase in drink and drug driving in Dorset during the festive season.

Between Monday 1 December 2025 and Thursday 1 January 2026, during the Op Limit national campaign, Dorset Police arrested 118 people on suspicion of being over the limit for alcohol or drugs while driving.

A total of 66 arrests were made for drink driving, while 52 arrests were made for drug

driving. This is an increase from December 2024, when 107 arrests were made.

Approximately 79 per cent of those arrested throughout the month were male, and the ages of everyone arrested ranged from 17 to 69 years old. During December, the police received 316 calls reporting someone who may have been driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.

Inspector Joe Wheable,

of the Roads Policing Team, said: “While the increase in numbers is concerning, I want to make it very clear that we are relentless and taking a robust approach to anyone caught driving while under the influence. This activity is not exclusive to December and will continue all year round.”

If you suspect someone has been drinking or has taken drugs and is about to drive, please dial 999 and provide

More 20mph zones incoming

Sandy Lane and the new Victory Oak housing development in St Leonards and St Ives are among 10 Dorset towns and villages where 20 miles per hour (mph) speed limits will be introduced. This follows applications submitted to Dorset Council by the respective town

and parish councils.

20mph speed limits signs are planned for installation and the speed limits will be operational before Easter 2026. The various roads are in the following locations: Beaminster, Briantspuddle, Pymore, Bridport, Gillingham, Lyme

the make and model of the vehicle, registration number and direction of travel.

St Andrew, Ryme Intrinseca and Yetminster, Upton and Winterborne Whitechurch.

Jon Andrews, Cabinet member for Place Services, said: “These new speed limits are the result of a thorough process that begins with community interest. Each application was carefully assessed against clear criteria to ensure that a 20mph scheme will give the maximum benefit for the affected communities.”

Another 20 applications for 20mph zones have been submitted to Dorset Council, and

several other communities are currently considering schemes that will form the next phase for assessment. All requests for a new 20mph limit must be submitted by the town or parish council, or by a local ward member. For more information, visit dorsetcouncil.gov. uk/20mph-limits-and-zones.

Why 20mph matters

By Dilys Gartside from 20s Plenty for Dorset | dilysgartside@gmail.com

With new signage appearing in villages and towns across Dorset and Speed Indicator Devices now flashing 20mph, it is good to see the majority of drivers taking notice and slowing down.

The importance of compliance cannot be overemphasised. Fear of motor traffic speed is the number one reason given by people of all ages for not cycling or walking short daily journeys that previous generations undertook automatically.

Children travelling to school, parents commuting to work and many shopping trips (statistics from the National Travel Survey indicate half of all UK journeys are under two miles) could easily be made on foot or by cycle if the roads felt safe to share. And remember, there is little point in having a low-speed or exclusion zone around a school gate if the route from home to school does not feel safe.

A problem with modern cars is that their design reduces occupants’ sense of speed and vulnerability. Part of my training involves giving HGV drivers the opportunity to experience life as a twowheel user as part of their compulsory professional development training. Perhaps such training should be mandatory for all road users as a prerequisite for the right to drive a motor vehicle, whether on two wheels or four.

So, if you think — as a neighbour recently told me — that wide-area 20mph limits are an unnecessary step too far, try hanging up your car keys for the day and join me for a walk or cycle around your town or village. See life from the other side of the bonnet. Then imagine how much calmer our roads would be if more of those journeys under two miles were made by

walkers and cyclists instead of cars, with fewer vehicles and those remaining travelling that little bit slower.

Whether or not your area yet has 20mph limits, but you

would like slower traffic where you live, consider displaying wheelie bin stickers to remind us all why we love 20mph.

For more information, visit: 20splenty.org.

February gardening tips

If your garden isn’t too waterlogged after January’s stormy weather, then now is a good time to step back and reassess how your garden is looking

February is normally a quieter period for gardening, but there are still plenty of jobs you can tick off to prepare for the year ahead. Here are some top tips from Alasdair Urquhart, in-house plant expert at Haskins Garden Centres.

Prune for strong growth

According to Urquhart, February is the ideal window for pruning.

“Summer-flowering shrubs respond well to a hard cut back now, which helps keep them compact and encourages stronger flowering later in the year. If space allows, reducing plants

to around 18 inches will give them a clean, healthy restart.

“Once winter-flowering shrubs finish blooming, prune them promptly to maintain shape and stimulate fresh shoots.

“Before spring growth appears, cut back deciduous ornamental grasses and take the opportunity to bring overgrown deciduous hedges back into line while plants remain dormant. Hardy evergreen hedges can also be trimmed where needed, keeping cuts neat and controlled before spring growth picks up.

“It’s important that you prune hedges before birds start nesting, as it is against the Wildlife and Countryside Act to do so between 1 March and 31 August, due to the negative impact it can have.” Start sowing under cover Urquhart suggests sowing vegetables in February, but make sure they are protected.

“A greenhouse, cold frame, or even a bright windowsill provides enough shelter to get seeds going. Pot seedlings on as soon as they are large enough to handle, as this prevents plants from becoming weak or leggy.

“Sow sweet peas into deep narrow pots early on, as they benefit from an early start, this will help establish strong root systems before planting them out later in the season. In the greenhouse, plant new grape vines or prune established ones, and keep watering to a minimum. Only water compost when it feels dry, as excess moisture at this time of year increases the risk of disease.”

Protect fruit and flowering plants

“Stone fruit trees often begin to show signs of blossom in February, which makes them vulnerable to frost. Protect

apricots, nectarines, and peaches with horticultural fleece or bubble wrap during cold spells to help preserve flowers and improve the chances of a good crop.”

The plant expert adds that gardeners whose plots suffered from peach leaf curl last year should act now to protect their garden by applying a copperbased fungicide before buds burst, which will help prevent the disease returning. Divide, tidy, and maintain “Once snowdrops and other early bulbs finish flowering, lifting and dividing them will help strengthen

displays for future years.

“February is a sensible month to check greenhouses and garden structures for any winter damage. Secure loose panes, improve ventilation where needed, and make sure everything is safe and ready for the busy growing season ahead.”

Support garden wildlife

Urquhart added that gardeners should try to help local wildlife, as natural food sources are low by this point in winter.

“Install nesting boxes now to give birds time to settle before their breeding season starts, refreshing bird baths frequently and keeping feeders consistently topped up. Avoid feeding them whole peanuts, which can pose a choking risk to young birds, and clean bird tables and baths regularly to reduce the spread of disease.

“Plant berrying trees and shrubs to create longterm food sources, and introduce log or rock piles to provide shelter for insects and small animals.”

Water meter facts

Why a water meter could help you save money

Bournemouth Water is encouraging its customers to find out how a free water meter can help them better understand the water they use, cut unnecessary waste and save money.

The company is offering advice, free installation and billing support for those eligible, and its team can install meters inside or outside the home, depending on property type and location.

Water meters measure the

volume of water being used by a household and charge them based on this, which means customers only pay for the water they use, giving them more control over their bills.

Around 95 per cent of customers see their bills reduce after changing to a metered bill, as they become more aware of their usage and can see the benefits of applying water-saving tips to their daily routines.

Other benefits include faster

identification of leaks, access to a range of affordability tariffs and a selection of free water-saving devices.

Water meters, currently used by over 83 per cent of Bournemouth Water customers, help to identify leaks because they measure all the water flowing into a property. If the meter is monitored when the water supply is not in use, customers can quickly see if there’s a hidden leak in the system.

On the rare occasion where a customer’s bill increases after having a meter installed, the bill-payer has two years to switch back to their old unmetered charges.

Water meters aren’t just for homeowners — tenants with a contract for six months or more can also be considered.

To find out if you can have a water meter installed, visit the Bournemouth Water website or give its customer service team a call.

If customers are eligible, installation is free and typically takes place within a few

months of application.

Sometimes, because of the location or layout of the pipework at a property, a meter cannot be fitted — but in these circumstances, Bournemouth Water will offer the option to have an Assessed Charge instead, which is calculated based on the number of people in a household.

John King, customer project manager, said: “Water meters help put customers back in control of their usage and bills, which is particularly important at a time when many households are already under pressure.

“Our Lowest Bill Guarantee gives customers reassurance that their bills won’t increase when they make the switch, and we continue to work hard to make sure our customers save money on their bills where possible through our range of affordability tariffs and free water-saving devices.”

To find out more, visit bournemouthwater. co.uk/household/youraccount/water-meters.

Cohousing projects

By Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

Why a new scheme could help with housing in your local area

The provision of housing to suit the needs and budgets of all is an important part of town planning — but could a system now operating in Bridport become a benchmark for the wider area?

Last year, the Bridport Cohousing development, called Hazelmead, was shortlisted for an award by the Royal Institute of British Architects. Hazelmead offers sustainable, affordable, mixedtenure homes to people in the Bridport area of Dorset.

Hazelmead is the largest completed cohousing development in the UK. A community-led project for local people by Bridport Cohousing Community Land Trust (CLT), and supported by Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA), Dorset Council and Homes England, it comprises 53 climate-resilient homes, a common house and shared green spaces.

It also features a large community microgrid on site, with all south-facing roofs having solar panels and connected to a huge Tesla battery, which is run by Hazelmead Community Energy Company.

It was developed to address the critical shortage of affordable, sustainable and community-oriented housing in a region where average house prices are 11 to 12 times the average local income. It has taken 14 years and many thousands of hours of voluntary work by members to complete.

The development consists of 14 one-bedroom flats within two low-rise apartment blocks and 39 two-, three- and four-bedroom terraced houses. Half the homes are allocated for social rent through BCHA, and half for shared ownership. All are secured at 80 per cent of market value in perpetuity through the CLT. The project prioritises long-term housing stability, which has proven benefits for mental health and wellbeing.

A man who would like such a development in the East Dorset area is Robert Pearce, who chairs the Digby Charity, which supports activities for elderly people in the Wimborne and Colehill area.

Robert said: “Something which would add greatly to the enjoyment of life for some elderly people in the area is belonging to a community of people of differing ages and occupations.

“I feel it’s about prioritising genuinely mixed, but reasonably modest and extremely green housing projects, of which the Bridport example stands out.”

Securing suitable land is a priority, so Robert is wondering if any local landowners would like to become involved in such a groundbreaking project, and whether there is any company locally that would like to take this idea forward. He can be contacted at robertpearce422@gmail.com.

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Re: Julia’s House is Viewpoint Magazine’s Charity of the Year 2026

We’re absolutely delighted and incredibly grateful to Viewpoint Magazine for choosing Julia’s House as their Charity of the Year for 2026. As your local children’s hospice, we support families across Dorset and Wiltshire who are caring for children with life-limiting and complex conditions, and this partnership will help shine a light on their stories and the care they need.

We’re also really pleased to be sharing regular news updates in the magazine each issue and giving readers an insight into how our amazing nurses and carers bring expert clinical care, compassion, fun and respite to local families when they need it most.

We’re very much looking forward to working together throughout the year.

Martin Edwards, CEO of Julia’s House, via email