The Dorset Life Podcast

Dorset developers and the hanged family forger

From potholes swallowing tyres to planning promises unravelled – by way of a Cornish forger whose story refuses to stay buried – March’s podcast has a few unexpected turns along the way.
 
Potholes and the Price of Keeping Dorset Moving
After one of the wettest winters on record, Dorset’s roads are showing the strain – with pothole reports up 92% and thousands of defects logged.
“Nearly 10,000 highways inquiries were logged in three months.”
Despite increased funding and rapid repairs, the bigger question remains: is the system built to cope with a changing climate – or simply patching over the problem?
 
The Grumbler: Building Homes That Don’t Add Up
This month’s Grumbler lays bare the financial reality facing small developers – where rising costs, new regulations and stagnant house prices leave projects unviable before they’re even finished.
“We will be lucky to make any profit at all.”
From soaring build costs to punitive council tax on unsold homes, it’s a stark account of an industry under pressure – despite government promises to build more.
 
Promises Made, Promises Lost: Shaftesbury’s Blackmore Down
Chair of Shaftesbury Town Council, Virginia Edwyn-Jones, speaks candidly about a development where the promised green heart has failed to materialise – leaving residents dismayed.
“It was meant to be something really special… and people are heartbroken.”
From stripped topsoil to failed planting and unusable play areas, the conversation exposes a far greater concern than just some missing footpaths: once planning permission is granted, who ensures developers deliver what they promised?
 
The Dorset Insider: Are Local Voices Being Ignored?
As housing targets rise, this month’s column from our anonymous parish council  questions whether neighbourhood plans still carry any real weight.
“At this stage, it feels less like a consultation and more like a done deal.”
With major developments looming and local knowledge entirely overridden, it’s a pointed reflection on who really shapes Dorset’s future.
A Forger, a Hanging and a Family Secret
Writer Rachel Rowe uncovers an extraordinary story buried in her own family history – a press-ganged schoolmaster turned forger, executed in Bodmin in the early 1800s.
“It was just like touching time.”
What begins as a tale of crime becomes something more complex – a story of inequality, bad luck and a system stacked against those with the least power.
 
Coffee and Craft: Getting the Perfect Brew
And finally, Jenny joins Giles Dick-Read in his Dorset farmhouse kitchen to learn how to make a proper cup of coffee – from grind size to brew ratios.
“You can buy the best coffee in the world and still make a horrible cup of coffee from it.”
A reminder that even the simplest things – done well – are worth the effort.
 
This episode is based on stories from March’s BV, available to read online here https://bvmag.co.uk/March26 . News, people, place and perspective – all in one place. 
The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

Dorset's secret soldiers and George Hosford on the failing TB system

From secret Dorset saboteurs preparing for Nazi invasion to the 19th-century TB tests still dictating modern farming,  February’s BV podcast is a deep dive into two stories that will linger long after you’ve listened.
 
TB Testing and the Farming Treadmill
'We’re not getting anywhere – and arguably it’s getting worse again.'
Dorset farmer George Hosford is in conversation with Jenny, taking apart the current bovine TB testing regime – a system first devised in 1890 and still at the heart of national policy: 'It’s two steps forward, one step back.'
George explains how the skin test can miss up to 25% of infected animals, why movement rules undermine progress, and why newer blood tests are still entangled in red tape.
From cattle movements to vaccine development, from bulk tank milk to badgers, this is a lucid, unsparing look at a system farmers feel trapped inside.
 
The Secret Army Beneath Our Fields
'They were prepared to do something very dangerous – probably suicidal.'
Historian Dr Will Ward tells Jenny the extraordinary story of the Auxiliary Units – Dorset men recruited in 1940 to hide underground and wage guerrilla war if the Germans invaded.
Drawn from the gamekeepers, farmers and poachers who knew every hedge and hollow, these patrols trained in secret bunkers, ready to sabotage railways, airfields and supply lines behind enemy lines.
'They were told they only needed two weeks’ worth of supplies – because they weren’t expected to last longer.'
Many never spoke of it again. Some went on to join the SAS. For decades, their story remained almost entirely hidden.
 
From Dockside to Dorset: The Art of Good Coffee
'Coffee is just an ingredient, like flour. You can buy the best coffee in the world and make the worst cup from it.'
Jenny visits Giles Dick-Read at his Sherborne roastery to discover how green beans from Brazil become the perfect moka pot brew.
From metal detection and de-stoning to why your grinder matters more than your machine, Giles explains the craft behind a proper cup – and why freshness is everything.
 
This episode takes two stories from February’s BV, available to read online here, and explores them in far greater depth than a page or two can allow.
The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

The fire sale, the forgotten vale and the power of thank you

It’s the first BV Podcast of the year, and Jenny Devitt’s pulled together a trio of conversation starters from the January issue – from Dorset Council handing over public loos like they’re Christmas cast-offs, to the unexpected emotional power of a well-meant thank you.
Editor’s Letter – No pom poms this yearLaura Hitchcock skips the usual New Year rallying cry and offers something more honest instead: a nod from one tired grown-up to another.“We’re still here. Still showing up. Still muddling through. For January, that’ll do.”
Dorset Insider: Unwanted gifts and the council's 'fire sale'Ever been given a Christmas present you really didn’t want? Try a toxic dump site, derelict loos, or some rewilded verge no one asked for. This month, our anonymous parish councillor takes aim at Dorset Council’s asset disposal scheme – and what happens when 'devolution' really means 'dumping the problem on the parishes.'“The offers for my own patch include an area of land that we, the parish, already own.”
Grumbler: Is Dorset the county Visit Dorset forgot?A new glossy tourism video has racked up hundreds of thousands of views – and barely shows rural Dorset at all. This month’s anonymous Grumbler isn’t just grumbling, they’re calling out the coastal bias baked into Dorset’s glossy marketing campaigns. Roughly three quarters of the county is rural, and the quiet erasure of inland communities from the county’s public image has real consequences.“You can’t keep selling Dorset as a playground for the already well off, and then wonder why its rural economy struggles to survive.”
The Power of Thank You – John Sloper on GratitudeJohn Sloper, CEO of Dorchester charity Help and Kindness, joins Jenny to talk about the unexpected importance of saying thank you – and how gratitude can be a radical act in a world that feels increasingly disconnected.“That thank you is a kind of gateway. It builds the fabric of community.”
These stories come from January’s BV – available now at bvmag.co.uk/Jan26. News, opinion, people, places, and the best of rural Dorset – all in one free digital magazine.
The BV – named 2024’s Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

George Hosford’s had enough – and so has the Grumbler

Land, bees, housing – and a festive rant from 1874
It’s the final episode of 2025, and it’s a belter.
The Frustrated Farmer returns: George Hosford says “If you don’t care about the land, you shouldn’t own it.”
This month, George is angry – and rightly so. As public support payments disappear and corporate investors quietly sell up, a new crisis is brewing: farmland is being snapped up by those with no connection to it, and no interest in what happens next.
In another powerful interview, George makes the case for long-term stewardship over short-term gain – and explains why land ownership rules need urgent reform if we’re to protect Britain’s food, soil and future.
He says we have people buying farmland who don't want to farm, don't want to engage with local communities, and don't care what happens to the land – and why that should worry everyone.
Bees and the Big Build: A new chapter in ShillingstoneJenny speaks to Ian Condon about the new eco-friendly North Dorset Beekeepers' Centre – complete with honey warmers, public displays and a demonstration hive window for curious visitors.
💬 “We’ve built something special – a teaching centre, a community space, and a love letter to bees.”
Hope at West Farm: new beginnings for Dorset’s hidden homelessJill Cook from Salvation Army Homes explains how a new supported housing project near Bridport will offer not just shelter but space, safety and purpose to vulnerable young people.
💬 “You can’t fix homelessness with a roof alone. This is about roots, growth and confidence.”
The Grumbler Returns: Christmas, 1874-styleBoot-losing mud, weaponised wassailing, and nutcrackers no one asked for – our festive Grumbler has thoughts.
This episode is based on stories from December’s BV. Read the issue here: https://bvmag.co.uk/Dec25News, people, politics and rural Dorset life – every month, always free.
The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

Dorset’s hidden poverty, real power, and a cadet you won't forget

“It’s not always visible – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.”
This month’s podcast starts with Dorset’s hidden poverty – the kind no one likes to talk about, but far too many are living with. Help & Kindness CEO John Sloper explains why it’s everywhere and invisible – and how small, local action makes the biggest difference.
Then it’s on to the climate. Don’t switch off – this isn’t doom and gloom. Dorset COP organiser Giles Watts explains how we make climate ambition actually work in a rural county, and why language matters more than you think.
And if you’ve been wondering what “devolution” really means for Dorset’s towns and villages? The Dorset Insider has some strong views, a few sharp one-liners, and one big question: is this local empowerment, or just shifting blame?
Finally, we meet Wimborne cadet Charlotte Bedford – caver, climber, award-winner, and proud recipient of the UK’s top cadet honour. She’s brilliant. Don’t miss her.
Pop it on. It’s full of courage, climate, community and a healthy dose of quiet outrage.
 
This episode is based on stories from November’s BV. Read the issue here: https://bvmag.co.uk/Nov25News, people, politics and rural Dorset life – every month, always free.
The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

A Saxon Dig, and inside Dorset's Plan

Digs, Disputes and Dorset’s FuturePlanning battles, Saxon skeletons, public transport woes and a fox-hunting fallout – this month’s podcast covers 1,300 years of rural life, and why the next few weeks could shape the next 30.
 
Editor’s Letter: Not Quite Pumpkin SeasonLaura reflects on the sudden turn from drought to downpour, the return of green fields, and feels a quiet mourning for al fresco breakfasts and picky teas. Plus, she urges attention on the Dorset Plan:
“It’s the blueprint for how Dorset looks, lives and grows for the next couple of decades – and we’ve got just eight weeks to shape it.”
 
Sherry Jespersen: What the Dorset Local Plan Really MeansFormer chair of North Dorset’s planning committee, Cllr Sherry Jespersen, joins Laura to explain why the Dorset Local Plan is not just a boring bureaucratic document – it’s the most important planning consultation in decades.
“The government gives the numbers, but it’s not Dorset Council building the houses. There’s a mismatch between ambition and reality – and it’s residents who live with the consequences.”
Sherry breaks down how planning actually works, what people get wrong on social media, and why now is the time to speak up – whether you’re worried about infrastructure, affordability, school places or transport.
 
Dorset Insider: Roads to NowhereThis month our anonymous parish councillor takes a razor-sharp look at Dorset Council’s Local Transport Plan – a document full of admirable goals ... and almost no money:
“If you’ve ever cycled in competition with a tractor on a country lane, you’ll understand why people drive. In rural Dorset, the car is still a necessity – and public transport doesn’t cut it.”
 
6,000 Saxons and a Shallow GraveIn Iwerne Minster, archaeologists have uncovered one of Dorset’s largest Anglo-Saxon cemeteries – 6,000 burials from a period spanning 300 years.
Courtenay Hitchcock joins lead archaeologist Richard McConnell on site, where the discoveries are helping to reveal the lives (and curious deaths) of our early Christian ancestors.
“There’s one grave where a second body was squeezed in – and they had to remove the first one’s head to make space.”
 
The Grumbler: Foxhounds and False HistoryThis month’s anonymous opinion piece is from a local historian who took issue with the hound parade commentary at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show – and its one-sided sermon on fox hunting.
“The implication was that the rural economy will collapse without hunting, and that every spectator supports it. I wasn’t convinced.”
 
This episode is based on articles from September’s BV, available to read for free here . News, people, places – and beautiful Dorset photography, every single month.
The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

Imported dogs, rural pressure and Minette Batters' roadmap for farming

August’s BV podcast – from lockdown dog imports and unregulated rescues to a planning system stretched to its limits, and the voices still shouting for British farming.Oh – and we turned five. That too.
Editor’s Letter: Five Years of the BV
Laura marks the magazine’s 60th issue with a frank and grateful look back at how it all began – one idea on a hill, one pandemic, two people ... aand a now a nationally award-winning corner of rural media.
“The BV started as a wild idea on a hill. Five years later, it’s louder, braver and somehow still just as scrappy behind the scenes.”
Dog Rescues in Crisis: Josh Heath of Dogs Trust
Jenny speaks to Josh Heath, Senior Public Affairs Officer at Dogs Trust, about their urgent campaign to regulate dog rescue centres – and the serious risks of unlicensed overseas imports.
“Some of these dogs are swept up off the street, put in a van for 30 hours and then dropped off at your door. No assessments. No support. No protection for the dog or the family.”
Josh explains the health risks, behaviour problems, and biosecurity concerns linked to international rescue dogs – and why the UK needs to follow Scotland’s lead with national licensing.
The Dorset Insider: A Local Plan Built on Sand
This month’s Insider column is a scathing, insightful account of Dorset Council’s presentation to the county's parish councillors of its Local Plan – and how it’s asking rural parishes to cope with twice the housing, zero details ... all presented with a lot of “slopey shoulders”.
“Where there were plans for 25,000 houses, it’s now 50,000. And we don’t even know where the grey belt lands yet.”
From disappearing infrastructure plans to greenwashing gestures, it’s a no-nonsense call for proper answers – and better thinking.
Minette Batters: Farming Needs a Roadmap
Former NFU President Minette Batters – now Baroness Batters – talks exclusively to Laura Hitchcock about why Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show still matters, and why farmers can’t plan for the future without long-term political vision.
“We need a farming roadmap that’s bomb-proof – something that won’t flip-flop with every election cycle.”
She reflects on the morale crisis in farming, and why we need younger voices at the table if agriculture is going to thrive in a changing world.
This episode is based on stories from August’s BV, available to read here https://bvmag.co.uk/AUG25. News, people, places – and beautiful Dorset photography, every single month.
The BV – named 2024's Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

The trout is local, the help is real

It’s a summer feast in this month’s podcast – clear water trout, painted stiles, and the life-changing work of a small but mighty Dorset hub.
Editor’s Letter: When July Sneaks Up on YouLaura reflects on the time-warp that is early summer – one minute you’re reaching for winter gloves, the next, the garden’s a jungle and the fetes have begun.
“Everything feels compressed and stretched at the same time. Days last forever, but weeks vanish without a trace.”
Trout in the Winterbornes
Once a trade secret loved by the UK’s top chefs, world-class trout from Dorset’s quiet Winterborne valley is being championed by a local farmer Justin Frampton of Houghton Springs Trout Farm.  Jenny speaks to justin about the aquifer-fed farm where decades of careful breeding produce exceptional table trout.
“Our water is as clean as you’ll ever get. It comes from 110 feet down – no nitrates, no runoff, just pure spring water.”
Justin explains how the fish are raised without antibiotics, why Dorset trout belongs on every local menu, and how floating solar panels could help make the farm greener still.houghtonspringstroutfarm.co.uk
 
Nine Stiles and a Map Maker: The Stourton Caundle TrailMap maker and heritage advocate Catherine Speakman shares the story behind her joyful community project: nine unique stiles surrounding the village, each one adopted, repaired or decorated by local craftspeople.
“It started with a broken stile and a pot of paint – and ended with bird boxes, engraved stone, QR codes and metal sculpture.”
The project aims to celebrate overlooked corners of Dorset, draw footfall to quiet villages, and reconnect people with the stories in their own landscape.See the trail here https://tessofthevale.com/2025/06/04/the-stourton-caundle-stile-trail/
 
The Dorset Insider: Would You Know What to Do?This month’s Insider offers a personal account of a rural emergency – and a call to action for better preparedness, local awareness, and more community defibrillators.
“Do you know where your local defibrillator is – and how to use it? If not, now’s the time to find out.”
From improving signage and street access to advocating for adaptable housing, it’s a powerful reflection on the small changes that could save lives.
 
The Vale Family Hub: Where Nobody Hears ‘No’Dorset councillor Carol Jones talks about the extraordinary Vale Family Hub in Sturminster Newton – a place that began with food parcels and now offers everything from toddler groups and counselling to youth work and domestic abuse support.
“Our motto is: there’s no such word as no. It’s always – how can we help?”
With over 70% of its volunteers having once needed help themselves, the hub’s success is rooted in compassion, lived experience, and practical action.
 
 
This episode is based on stories from July’s BV, available to read online here https://bvmag.co.uk/Jul25. News, people, places – and beautiful Dorset photography, every single month.
The BV – named 2024's Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.