Toads, tractors, Britain's Got Talent ... and totally Dorset

Commonwealth boxing glory to Britain's rarest tree

This month's podcast is a reminder that some of the best stories are hiding in plain sight. Jenny meets a Dorset teenage boxer on the verge of representing Team GB, spends a morning with the wonderfully welcoming Men's Shed in Sturminster Newton, and discovers why one of Britain's rarest native trees could help shape Dorset's future. If you've been meaning to give the Dorset Life Podcast a try, this is another excellent place to start.   Jenny first visits Sturminster Newton Men's Shed, where the sound of saws and sanders provides the backdrop to a series of thoughtful conversations about friendship, purpose and the quiet importance of having somewhere to belong. From bird boxes and chessboards to repairing chairs for the community, it's a place where practical skills and companionship go hand in hand. "People may have family problems... but when we get together over a cup of tea and chew the cud, a lot of those things come out. An working on something lets everything else disappear for a while."   Jenny also catches up with 19-year-old boxer Ruby White, fresh from being selected for Team GB and preparing for the Commonwealth Games. From early morning runs before work to training alongside Britain's elite athletes, Ruby talks candidly about the sacrifices, determination and belief that have taken her from Sturminster Newton Boxing Club to the international stage. "It's been very difficult, and I've had to make some hard decisions. But I know now I'm on the right path. As soon as I did it, aI knew it was the right decision. And obviously, everything's going the right way now, and I'm performing. I'm so happy."   There's also a fascinating conversation with Niki Harper from Trees for Wimborne about Britain's rarest native tree, the black poplar, and why saving the UK's surviving trees – just 7,000 – could have enormous benefits for wildlife and Dorset's river landscapes. "Without conservationists intervening, Britain's rarest native tree simply wouldn't survive." (image above is of two veteran black poplars in Sturminster Newton in Dorset)   Meanwhile, the Dorset Insider (our anonymous Dorset Parish Councillor) takes aim at speeding through Dorset's villages, asking whether 20mph limits are making any real difference - and why the biggest obstacle may not be the signs themselves, but the drivers ignoring them. "It's interesting that we have a lot of complaints about speeding, but very few people volunteer to join Speedwatch and actually do something about it."   This episode is based on stories from the July 2026 issue of Dorset Life [https://dorsetlife.co.uk/dorset-life-for-july-read-it-here/] (though, as always, they're just as interesting whenever you happen to discover them), available to read freely online. Sport, wildlife, community and the people making Dorset what it is – all through a distinctly Dorset lens.

Toads, tractors, Britain's Got Talent ... and totally Dorset

Editor's Letter: The moments that remind us what really matters Laura reflects on the unexpected power of ordinary human kindness – from emotional family reunions on TikTok to the thoughtful letters arriving in the Dorset Life inbox. "The headlines tell us what divides us, but to me, most of the time, the important stuff is still there, connecting us."   The Toad Doctor of Dorset "He realised there was a gap in the market – and convinced people he could cure them by rubbing toads on them..." Would you let someone cure your illness with... a toad? Historian James Brinsford tells the extraordinary story of Dr Buckland of Pulham, Dorset's self-proclaimed Victorian "Toad Doctor", who attracted crowds convinced that toads could cure the King's Evil and other ailments. Far from simply being an odd piece of folklore, the conversation explores why desperate rural communities turned to folk medicine long after science had begun to advance.     George Hosford: What war means for British farming "We're in a dreadful fix. We need to wean ourselves off this path." As conflict in the Middle East drives up the price of diesel and fertiliser, George Hosford explains why events thousands of miles away can hit Dorset farms almost overnight. He explores the challenge of reducing reliance on fossil-fuel-based fertilisers, why regenerative farming is becoming increasingly important, and the difficult balancing act between protecting the soil and producing enough food.     The Dorset Insider: The Great Verge Debate "The parish council is always first in the firing line." Who is actually responsible for mowing Dorset's verges? This month's anonymous parish councillor untangles the bewildering patchwork of councils, housing associations, developers and management companies that leaves residents frustrated every summer. It's a thoughtful look at balancing wildlife, public expectations and the realities of shrinking local authority budgets.     The Grumbler: Taxing village pubs out of existence "If being a beautiful, well-run village pub becomes a financial liability, don't be surprised when there are fewer of them left." This month's anonymous publican asks why village pubs are being punished for doing exactly what governments have encouraged them to do. From playgrounds and gardens to quiz nights and community events, the Grumbler argues that becoming a successful community hub now seems to attract higher business rates rather than support.     Dorset Farmers Singing for a Cause Jenny speaks to Dorset farmers Ben Chick and Ellie Maguire, members of Jeremy Clarkson's Hawkstone Farmers' Choir, fresh from winning Britain's Got Talent. They describe how a beer advert unexpectedly became a national movement, shining a spotlight on farming, loneliness and mental health—and why the choir means far more than simply making music. "If we make a difference to one person, then it's worth it."     This episode is based on stories from the June 26 issue of Dorset Life [https://dorsetlife.co.uk/dorset-life-june-2026-read-it-here/] (though they're evergreen and relevant whenever you happen to discover them), available to read freely online. People, politics, place and purpose – all seen through a distinctly Dorset lens. Dorset Life – named in 2025 as Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

Walking Dorset's past, debating Dorset's future

This month's podcast features two of the best conversations we've recorded in a long time – one simply delightful, the other genuinely thought-provoking. If you've never dipped into the Dorset Life Podcast before, may I boldly suggest this might be an excellent place to start? Jenny heads to Scarlet's stable to meet land agent and long-distance walker Roger Sewill. It's a wonderfully atmospheric conversation, accompanied by the sounds of horses, as Roger reflects on his 200-mile journey across Dorset with Scarlet, his Dales pack horse, visiting 30 ancient hillforts and raising money for Dorset Wildlife Trust along the way. Travelling at a horse's pace, he describes how the landscape, weather and water shaped each day, and how strangers repeatedly offered food, shelter and help. What began as a fundraising challenge became a story about kindness, connection and the enduring character of rural Dorset. 'I thought my body would start cracking up, but I just got stronger and stronger each day – and my mind has never felt happier and more with it.' Jenny also sits down with Dorset councillor James Vitali to explore the growing tension between housing targets and the protection of Dorset's countryside. In a fascinating, thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation, he argues that a planning system fixated on national housing numbers is pushing large estates onto rural greenfield sites because they are often seen as easier options than building more sensitively within existing towns and cities. He makes a powerful case for neighbourhood-led planning, where villages and small towns have a genuine say in how they grow rather than having development imposed upon them. He also links the loss of farmland to development with wider failures to support farmers and protect the county's long-term food security. 'There's a sort of knee-jerk attempt to dump houses on the sides of villages and towns in places like Dorset just to get the numbers up.' There's also a Grumbler from Dorchester questioning the council's latest housing policies, and Laura's first letter as editor of Dorset Life. This episode is based on stories from the May 26 issue of Dorset Life [https://dorsetlife.co.uk/dorset-life-is-here/] (though they're evergreen and relevant whenever you happen to discover them), available to read freely online. People, politics, place and purpose – all seen through a distinctly Dorset lens.

From fire engine funding battles to a fierce defence of rural England

From fire engine funding battles to a fierce defence of rural England (by way of a silk loom), April’s podcast is rooted in Dorset but tackling questions that go far wider.   Editor’s Letter: Who do we trust to decide? Laura reflects on a growing unease – not just about what decisions are being made, but how, and whether the data behind them still holds up. “Communities are increasingly angry that decisions are being made about places, rather than with them.” Fire Stations Under Threat: What Happens When Help Is Further Away? With eight fire stations across Dorset and Wiltshire facing closure, Cranborne firefighter Gavin Fauvel questions whether the consultation is truly open – and whether the data tells the full story. “It’s not the data that’s wrong – it’s what’s been left out.” From response times to hidden workloads, the interview raises a simple but uncomfortable question: what are we prepared to lose – and on what evidence?   Silk, Patience and a Lifetime of Craft: Debby Kirby In contrast, silk weaver Debby Kirby offers something quieter, but no less compelling – a lifetime spent refining her craft in Dorset. “I still get a thrill when a run of scarves comes off the loom.” From dyeing her own silk to weaving paper and metal into her work, Debby’s story is about patience and precision. It's about the value of doing something properly, over decades.   “Build, Build, Build”: Trevor Bailey on Rural England Under Pressure Rural campaigner Trevor Bailey delivers a blunt and deeply-felt critique of government housing policy, arguing it risks hollowing out the very communities it claims to support. “We end up with a countryside without any country families left in it at all.” From greenfield development to vanishing local influence, it’s a forceful argument. The girvernment is focussed on housing numbers – but Trevor says this is at the expense of local identity, democracy and the future of rural life.   This episode is based on stories from April’s BV, [https://www.theblackmorevale.co.uk/april-issue-of-the-bv-is-here-2/] available to read freely online. Politics, people and craftsmanship – all seen through a distinctly Dorset lens.

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 [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.