The Dorset Life Podcast

It's a mixed package for the first of the October podcasts. After the usual start with the letters, we delve straight into the politics columns. Then Jenny has a fascinating conversation with Dorchester Literary Festival's co-organiser Janet Gleeson, and Terry talks to Pauline Batstone who's currently in Bridport ... the one 11,000 miles away in Tasmania!   As usual we start the month with the let...

In the second of September's podcasts – still in the new longer format which has proved popular – Jennie talks to Jane Adams about how we welcome (or don't!) bindweed, dandelion and ivy. And don't miss Terry's brilliant interview with Alex Stevens of the NFU, shedding a lot of light on the modern dairy farming business. Resident wildlife columnist Jane Adams would like to see the term 'weeds' thro...

In the first of September 23's episodes of the BV podcast:   Letters (from and to) the editor In politics, Chris Loder, MP for West Dorset, discusses the fact that the declining use of cash particularly affects the elderly and rural dwellers. Ken Huggins of the Greens agrees that he, too, hates wind turbines. But that that's not the point! And Mike Chapman of the Lib Dems has been at two big rural...

In the second of August's podcasts – still in the new longer format which has proved popular – Jennie talks to both Jane Adams and owner of Little Waddon Vineyard Simon Priestman 'A weasel is weasily identifiable, whereas a stoat is stoatally different'. Jennie talks to widlife expert Jane Adamas about the stoat – its mesmerising effect, how to spot it and why Dorset may be a perfect home for the...

As usual we start the month with the letter from the edfitor, as well as all the BV's reader's letters. The red kite is a popular conservation success story, and Jenny talks to Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Adam Woolcott about his love of the birds of prey, who – despite their rising population numbers – are still at risk from poisoning. Simon Hoare MP asks whether every town needs a town centre - he th...

Admittedly a chimpanzee-studying lady in Africa may not have been everyone's childhood hero, but for editor Laura – an animal-obsessed girl growing up in a big Essex town – the life of her dreams was being lived by Jane Goodall, the renowned ethologist and inspiring conservationist. Even at 89 Dr Jane Goodall remains a powerhouse of action, and her answers to this month's Random 19 questions are e...

You can never say the BV provides a predictable array of subjects! In the politics columns this month, Simon Hoare MP agrees that climate change is all around us – but he is confident that it is being acted on by the government. He also takes time to discuss vaping – our next public health crisis? In a mock exam for politicans, Mike Chapman of the North Dorset LibDems has a long list of questions...

Editor's Letter from Laura in which she muses on her optimism for the future, plus all the reader's letters from June Farmers can be prosecuted for damaging short stretches of river, but when will water companies be held accountable for their actions? Jenny talks to Dorset farmer and journalist Andrew Livingston. George Holtby of Holtby & Co in Sherborne previously worked as a porter at Christ...

Thanks to a nudge from a local villager, Rachael Rowe tried a trip under the new £2 bus fare cap. Terry finds out that she hasn't been on a bus since moving to Dorset, and has now discovered a new method of adventure! Environmentally and economically, opting for the bus is a great idea - and Rachael points out that there are a lot of routes included in the scheme, not just to enable a weekly shop...

Jenny's interview with Kevan Hodges of the Ferne Animal Sanctuary looks back at the last 80 years, from the shocking (to modern minds) need for a sanctuary in wartime Britain (an estimated 3/4 million pets were euthanised at the start of the war), to reflecting on the fact that Ferne has saved around 40,000 animals. They have up to 200 dogs a year surrendered to them, and the same for cats – the v...

The June BV Podcasts begin, as every month, with this month’s letter from the editor and all the latest reader’s letters. Next historian Roger Guttridge talks to Jenny about Stalbridge's most famous resident, and Terry has a chat with local antiques dealer Craig Wharton about the time TV's Antiques Road Trip came to town. Letter from the Editor - Laura Hitchcock gladly welcomes June's wooing ways,...

Wildlife writer Jane Adams grew up in the suburbs, and vividly recalls the first time she shared her morning tea with the waking birds "In the past, I didn’t understand why people got so excited about the dawn chorus. Wasn’t it just a bunch of birds singing ridiculously early in the morning?" Jane sat down with Jenny and they chatted about the early morning birds - and their unreliability when you...

You can’t interview Charlie North-Lewis without a steady stream of name-dropping; his long and winding career is a musical tour through 40 years of popular culture. Charlie was working at BAFTA in 2002 when he decided it was time to go back to his professional roots after long years managing band tours, and look for a theatre job. ‘I just happened to see the advert. It said: “Tivoli Theatre in Wim...

The May BV Podcast begins, as it does every month, with this month’s letter from the editor and all the latest reader’s letters. Next we hear from our local political party representatives, and their timely commentary on the state of the world. Lastly we have an interview with Carole Jones, who gives us a peek behind the scenes of a social supermarket in North Dorset. Letter from Laura, the editor...

In a BV exclusive, our own Jenny Devitt sat down with Natalie Wheen, one of the nation's favourite broadcasters, for a wide-ranging conversation around Natalie's Dorset Island Disc choices. Eavesdrop on their chat as Natalie shares the remarkable stories of how and why each piece of music has stuck in her life (you can find links to the specific pieces that Natalie chooses on the website here ) Af...

In politics this month, Mike Chapman, for the North Dorset Lib Dems, is looking at the innate risks involved when one party stays in power too long. Pat Osborne, for North Dorset Labour, discusses the need for a clear roadmap for change on climate action. And Ken Huggins from the North Dorset Green Party is calling 'total greenwash tosh' on the government. The Countess of Carnarvon is our Random 1...

The April BV Podcast begins, as we do every month, with this month’s Letter from the Editor and all the latest Reader’s Letters. This month we then move on to three interviews. Jenny Devitt chats to Giles Simpson, Chairman of the G&S Show ahead of this weekend's Spring Countryside Show. Next Terry spoke to journalist Andrew Livingston as he discusses the current outcomes on the Poole Harbour o...

With a growing need for food banks, what effect does food poverty have on a family’s youngest members, asks Dorset Mind’s Marie Glen. Based on the best-selling novel by Audrey Niffenegger, the musical adaptation of The Time Traveller’s Wife is scheduled for a West End run at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue this autumn. Joanna Woodward, who grew up in Glastonbury, will play the female lead...

Three interviews for you this week - Jenny chatted local history with Roger, Terry discussed new housing developments and wildlife writer Jane Adams is back talking to Jenny! Roger Guttridge recalls three local legends: a minister who upset early women’s libbers, Marnhull’s bull-baiting habit and the legendary toad doctor of Pulham Planning permission was awarded to the Dorset-headquartered AJC Gr...

The March BV podcast begins, as always, with this month’s letter from the editor and all the latest reader’s letters. This month we move swiftly into politics, with the contributions from all four local party representatives.  Then it's on to this month's Dorset Island Discs - our castaway this month is local shepherd and Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show organiser Bonnie Cradock. Lastly, Tracie B...

In this episode: Folk musician, singer, actor, storyteller, historian, Thomas Hardy expert ... Dorset’s Tim Laycock is a man of many talents, and Jenny has his answers to the Random 19 questions. Terry has been talking to Cllr Peter Wharf as he gets to grips with Dorset Council's additional council tax levy on second homes, and the pros and cons of the arguments surrounding a heated debate. Reggae...

Terry talks to Steve Tarrant, a north Dorset man who suffered life-changing injuries at Goodwood in 2000. He has recently has been awarded the highest honour in motorsport for his courage and commitment. Previous winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award have included Stirling Moss and Sir Jackie Stewart. SUCH an interesting conversation - I suspect Terry will be back to talk more to Steve. Jenny...

The February BV podcast begins, as always, with this month's letter from the editor and all the reader's letters - moving on to two interviews; one with the principal of Kingston Maurward college, and the other with Henry 'Blowers' Blofeld. Letter from the editor, Laura Hitchcock Reader's letters Following a local outcry based on inaccurate information, Jenny Devitt speaks to Luke Rake, principal...

Another exclusive interview just for podcast listeners this week - Terry has a fascinating conversation with Rupert Hardy from the CPRE about the 'rooftop vs. field' solar panels debate. Then in Roger Guttridge's column we hear the brilliant story behind the most haunted house in England (allegedly), Sandford Orcas manor. And to finish off we have the wildife and farming sections - the ones everyb...

We start the first podcast of 2023 with all the letters before we listen to what the local experts say about the Dorset property market this year (plus some fascinatingly honest tales of houseselling generally!), and the latest thoughts from all four of our local political representatives. Letter from the editor, Laura Hitchcock Reader's letters Prices may be falling and mortgage lenders nervous –...