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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 You

“Everything feels compressed and stretched at the same time. Days last forever, but weeks vanish without a trace.”

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.

Nine Stiles and a Map Maker: The Stourton Caundle Trail

“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.

The Dorset Insider: Would You Know What to Do?

“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’

“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.

From restoring Shakespeare’s reputation to composing an anthem for a church tower, June’s podcast is all about hidden stories, unexpected legacies and quiet revolutions. It’s a thoughtful listen – and very Dorset.

Editor’s Letter: A Cat Called Bentley

Laura shares the story of Bentley, the anxious, dribbly, slightly battered cat who has joined the household – and the slow work of rebuilding trust.

“Somebody somewhere has hurt him. So we wait. We let him come to us. And that’s absolutely okay, however long it takes.”

Jenny speaks to Christine and Jonathan Haynesworth, authors of The Shakespeare Ladies Club, about the remarkable group of 18th-century aristocratic women - led by the Countess of Shaftesbury –  who saved Shakespeare from obscurity: and why it mattered.

“His plays were being turned into pantomimes. They knew that without intervention, the originals would simply vanish.”

“These women sat on the stage itself, forcing the audience to behave – and bringing Shakespeare back.”

Our anonymous parish councillor is back – this time questioning why Visit Dorset’s marketing seems to end at Dorchester, and why the north of the county is constantly overlooked.

“If people think there’s something worth stopping for, maybe they’ll actually … stop?”

Composer Richard Nye talks to Laura about Windelstán, the anthem he created for the newly restored tower in Mere – and why he included the sounds of old weather vanes, spiral staircases and bells.

“I wanted the tower to have an identity. A personality. It’s watched the town change for centuries.”

The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

From building your dream home out of straw to Dorset Council’s proposed cuts to day care centres, to a fledgling crow who briefly took the internet by storm. May's podcast is as Dorset as ever – practical, thoughtful, and full of heart.

Laura welcomes the season when the long socks are finally left in the drawer, blue glows in the woods, and offers a reminder that now is the time to begin again.

🌿 “Spring makes everything feel lighter. Conversations, to-do lists… even the news. Well, just a smidge.”

Dorset Council is consulting on plans to close five of its adult day centres. Cllr Jane Somper explains why these places matter – especially for carers – and why it appears some closures were based on incomplete information.

“The centres are a lifeline for carers – and we’re asking them to send loved ones to another town with no bus route ... and if there’s a reliance entirely on volunteers, I have real concerns. Volunteers burn out too.”

Could you live in a house made of straw? Phil Christopher thinks you absolutely should – and no, the Big Bad Wolf couldn’t blow it down.

“Straw grows every year. It’s one of the easiest ways to lock away carbon in buildings. We have everything we need in Dorset to build truly sustainable homes – timber, straw ... even the gravel.”

Phil explains the tech behind breathable, beautiful straw bale homes – and why land costs make self-building almost impossible for anyone under 60.

When Laura Beddow rescued a fledgling rook named Lazlo, she didn’t expect half a million people to fall in love with him.

“One day he was just sitting in a Portmeirion pot while I made breakfast – the next, he’d gone viral.

❤️ Though Lazlo didn’t survive long, his story raised awareness (and funds) for wild bird rescues across the UK.

This episode is based on articles from May’s BV, available to read here. News, farming, politics, nature, people – 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.

This episode will stay with you – from a century of stories told with grace by Jim Freer, to George Hosford’s blistering takedown of government farming policy. It's full of insight, history ... and a fair bit of fury.

Also: it’s the final episode with co-host Terry Bennett. You’ll be missed, Terry.

Born in 1925, Jim Freer reflects on a century of life – from engineering and war service to marriage, museum volunteering and village fetes.

From post-war production to RAF mail flights in India, Jim’s story is a calm, thoughtful tour through a remarkable life.

Dorset farmer George Hosford delivers a scathing and sharply informed assessment of DEFRA’s abrupt shutdown of SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive) payments – calling it a disaster for trust, long-term planning, and British food production.

George breaks down what sustainable and regenerative farming really mean, why government schemes mattered, and how political short-termism risks undoing decades of progress.

These interviews are based on stories from April’s BV, available online now. Dorset people, Dorset landscapes, and the big stories behind our rural headlines – all in one beautiful, free magazine.

🎧 The BV Podcast – twice a month, always worth your ears. Named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette).

Shrinking Easter eggs, three buses and a chocolate artist in Wimborne

From grumbles and glorious letters to chocolate-making wizardry, this first episode of the month is warm, witty and quietly furious in all the right places.

Editor Laura Hitchcock reflects on The BV’s national award shortlist nod, the return of the Glanville foals, and a must-read piece by George Hosford on the collapse of the SFI scheme.

This month’s postbag takes in the White Hart Link, elderly drivers, and the ever-divisive meat tax debate.

This month's writer of our anonymous column isn’t buying the glossy headlines around Dorset Council’s new transport plan.

Dan Crossman and Anna Rakasa of The Little House artisan chocolatiers in Wimborne share the realities of running a luxury business in a time of cocoa chaos.

From flavour alchemy to corporate commissions in bespoke colours, this duo are flying the flag for creative, sustainable Dorset chocolate – one beautiful Bon Bon at a time.

The BV: Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette) 2024. Free to read, packed with Dorset, and impossible to put down.

Buses, beans and baby groups – March’s second BV Podcast has it all

Pop it on in the background – between the chocolate and the chaos, you might just find yourself unexpectedly inspired.

Jes Hughes of Dorset CPRE explains why Dorset’s public transport system is one of the worst in the UK – and why it’s dragging down everything from job opportunities to mental health.

He calls for shared car schemes, stronger government investment and a joined-up council approach that takes rural needs seriously.

Cllr Carole Jones shares the inspiring story of how a modest food pantry in Sturminster Newton became the main Family Hub for North Dorset – now supporting over 360 families with affordable food, mental health help, and everything from homework corners to domestic abuse support.

It’s an extraordinary achievement – 24 vital services, open six days a week, funded almost entirely by local donations and grant-writing graft.

As cocoa prices soar, local chocolatier Johnny Baxter of Dorset Chocolate reflects on why quality chocolate is under threat – and why some small makers are already disappearing.

Despite market chaos, Johnny remains determined to keep Dorset’s chocolate-making tradition alive – and maybe even reimagine it.

These interviews were based on articles from March’s BV, which you can read for free online here. People, politics, farming, food, wildlife and plenty of Dorset spirit – all packed into one beautiful magazine.

The BV: Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette) 2024. If it matters to Dorset, it’s in here.

There’s a lot in this one – from letters on elderly drivers and dodgy photo competition terms to powerful columns on Trump, planning law, and… beavers. (Still beavering away, apparently.)

But the heartbeat of this episode? The awe-inspiring work of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, celebrating 25 years of saving lives. If you think it’s ‘just’ a helicopter, think again.

“We’re essentially bringing hospital-level care to the roadside – and it’s made possible by ordinary people giving a fiver a month.”

🎧 Tune in while you tidy the kitchen or walk the dog – your brain (and your heart) will thank you.

Laura Hitchcock opens with reflections on the turquoise-tinted national protest against uncredited AI use – and celebrates how this month’s issue was quite literally built by human generosity and connection.

From the heartbreaking to the hilarious, the letters this month cover:

Simon Hoare MP warns of NATO instability in a new Trump era, urging the UK to hold firm against bullies.

Ken Huggins tackles the alarming Wessex Water case, where a campaigner was sued for withholding payment after repeated sewage failures.

Gary Jackson explores military readiness, Trump’s performative politics, and why Europe must ‘smell the coffee’.

Edward Morello celebrates Dorset’s overlooked heroines – and calls for more visible tributes.

Charles Hackett, CEO of the DSAA, joins Terry to reveal what it really takes to run this life-saving service. Spoiler: it’s a lot more than a helicopter.

This month’s anonymous column lifts the lid on the chaos brewing in Dorset planning policy. With 54,000+ new homes on the way and pressure from Westminster, local voices are being pushed aside.

These interviews and features were based on articles from March’s BV – available now. Read the full issue for more voices, news, arts, farming, horses, and your favourite local chaos – beautifully photographed and 100% Dorset.

Did we mention it’s free?

📰 The BV: named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette) in 2024. You’d be mad to miss it.

Do you know what’s tricky? Making three deeply interesting interviews sound like they’re worth your time, when they’re about ‘eating healthily, loans for home improvements and the old planning vs wildlife chestnut’. 

But hosts Terry Bennett and Jenny Devitt have done a brilliant job – it’s an admittedly eclectic mix of three wildly knowledgeable and informative guests. But just press play in the kitchen while you do the washing up, or you take the dog for a walk. Because this is such a great episode – even if it IS about the downside of too much vitamin C (ick), council-backed affordable home loans (interesting AND super-useful) and where and how we’re building in Dorset (so. much. to. say).

Nutritional therapist Karen Geary is always fascinating as she shares her expert advice. This month she's looking at how to support your immune system through what you eat. From gut health and fiber intake to the role of Vitamin C, Zinc, and Vitamin D, Karen explains how small changes can make a big difference in keeping winter colds at bay.

💡 “70% of your immune system resides in your gut—so if you're not taking care of it, you're missing a huge piece of the puzzle.” – Karen Geary

She also busts common myths about supplements, revealing why many over-the-counter vitamins don’t work as advertised – and what to look for instead.

This month’s anonymous Grumbler column takes aim at government environmental policies, calling out the contradictions between expanding Heathrow Airport while pushing carbon offset schemes that take farmland out of food production.

🔥 “We should be growing food, not exporting our emissions with bad offset schemes.” – The Grumbler

The column questions whether the government is prioritizing PR-friendly initiatives over real climate solutions and what that could mean for rural communities.

CEO Emma Lower of Lendology explains how the social enterprise lender is helping homeowners secure low-interest loans for home improvements – from solar panels and heat pumps to insulation, double glazing and roof repairs.

🏡 “Unlike traditional lenders, we offer the same interest rate to everyone – so more homeowners can afford to go green.” – Emma Lower

With local councils backing these loans, they are able to offer exceptionally rates and bespoke terms, so that more Dorset residents can access funding to make their homes warmer, more energy-efficient, and better for the environment.

In a deeply interesting interview, Imogen Davenport of the Dorset Wildlife Trust discusses how housing developments can coexist with nature – but only if environmental planning is a priority from the start.

🏡 “in the old system, our local authorities argued successfully that because of the green belt around Bournemouth, Christchurch and Pool, the heathland around them, our significant areas of National Landscape, our highly protected Jurassic Coast, various other ancient hill forts and protected sites … together add up to be something that makes it significantly difficult to deliver these housing numbers. And that had been accepted, which is why our numbers were that much lower. So it’s not to say we can’t, but it’s where these houses can go without causing damage.” – Imogen Davenport

She highlights why bad planning leads to unnecessary environmental damage and how better green infrastructure, protected green spaces, and smarter site selection can create wildlife-friendly communities.

These interviews were based on articles found in February's BV, which can be read here … grab a coffee and jump in to the Dorset-ness. News, opinion, people, wildlife, art, farming, what’s on, horses … and frankly stunning photography.

Did we mention it’s FREE?

The BV is Dorset’s go-to magazine – named ‘Best Regional Publication in the UK’ (ACE Awards) and ‘Regional News Site of the Year’ (Press Gazette) in 2024. Brimming with Dorset’s people and places, it’s too good to miss!

In this first BV Podcast of February 2025, hosts Terry Bennett and Jenny Devitt dive into some of the bigger issues, from February's BV – from controversial beaver reintroductions to flood management. The anonymous parish councillor known only as the Dorset Insider has a few things to say about dog fouling.

As always in Episode 1 of the month, Dorset’s political voices take the stage:

"Democracy is only safe if each generation understands its value. We need to protect it—before it’s too late." – Simon Hoare

Dorset farmer George Hosford returns to share his balanced perspective on the controversial reintroduction of beavers. He explores their potential to reduce flooding and filter water, but also raises concerns about the impact on productive farmland.

"If beavers are going to grow in number, we really need a way of managing them. Otherwise, we’re just creating conflict between conservationists and farmers." – George Hosford

He stresses the importance of finding a sensible middle ground, where beavers can be part of the solution without threatening farmers’ livelihoods.

This month’s Dorset Insider column tackles the ever-present problem of dog fouling. The anonymous parish councilor humorously – and candidly – explores the challenges of keeping public spaces clean, calling for:

"If you step in it, you’re not just unlucky – you’re part of a village-wide epidemic. We need to get serious about dog fouling." 

Listeners weigh in on:

These interviews were based on articles found in February's BV, which can be read here … grab a coffee and jump in to the Dorset-ness. News, opinion, people, wildlife, art, farming, what’s on, horses … and frankly stunning photography.

Did we mention it’s FREE?

The BV is Dorset’s go-to magazine – named ‘Best Regional Publication in the UK’ (ACE Awards) and ‘Regional News Site of the Year’ (Press Gazette) in 2024. Brimming with Dorset’s people and places, it’s too good to miss!