• World famous film director Guy Ritchie opened the new 3G football pitch in Shaftesbury this month – we were there (and yes we can tell you exactly what a 3G pitch is).
• Last month Andy Palmer used his column to voice a strong opinion on Thomas Hardy; it appears he struck a chord. The Letters Page (p.66) could have been filled twice over. Plus a certain bestselling author wrote back to defend her crisp opinions (yes, that’s her opinions on potato snacks, not her snappy thoughts).
• A new Dorset Crop Circle appeared last week just outside Blandford – we’ve got stunning aerial photography of it just before it was cut.
• Our Random 19 guest this month is internationally renowned sculptor Simon Gudgeon – and he’s yet another with an incorrect opinion on biscuit dunking.
• Chris Loder MP is discussing the Afghan Crisis, and locally The Vale Pantry have been examining causes of food poverty in North Dorset.
• Bere Marsh Farm have had huge success with their barn owls this year – we‘ve found out exactly what old sandwiches had to do with it.
• We’re thrilled to welcome Lucy Procter from The Glanvilles Stud Ltd. as a new equestrian columnist – she’ll be giving us an insider’s peek into a life breeding Throughbreds. Plus gratuitous shots of this year’s foals, obviously.
• We’re excited about the launch of the latest in the wonderful Deepest Books series – following on the heels of Deepest Wiltshire, Fanny Charles and Gay Pirrie-Weir have produced Deepest Somerset, sharing the fascinating secrets of the county (TOP Christmas gift suggestion!).
• Young local wildlife photographer Jasmine Shiner has her first exhibition in Blandford
• All alongside the usual 100+ pages of interesting reads; from local history to rural living, farming to health and wellbeing, plus the stunning reader’s photography and of course property and jobs.
