The BV magazine

ANNOUNCING... The BV Reader’s Photography Charity Calendar 2025! We’re thrilled to introduce the very first BV Readers’ Photography Charity Calendar - https://lnkd.in/gj8T3TRX - celebrating Dorset’s beauty through the eyes of our talented photographer readers! After four years of receiving so many requests, we’ve finally brought together a hand-picked collection of our breathtaking cover photos. As regular readers know, The BV receives literally hundreds of submissions every month for the highly regarded (and hugely-popular) Readers’ Photography section. Less than 40 of them will make the shortlist, and most months just 12 will be featured in the magazine. One standout image becomes the next month’s front cover – and those cover images are now showcased in The BV’s 2025 Readers’ Photography Charity Calendar! We have kept things simple for our first year – you order online, and the calendar will be sent directly to you. The A4 version is £12.99, and the A3 version is £16.99. And EVERY PENNY of the profit will go straight to The Vale Pantry. CLICK HERE TO BUY - https://lnkd.in/gj8T3TRX All proceeds from the BV Readers’ Photography Charity Calendar 2025 will go directly to The Vale Pantry, a charity dedicated to providing essential food support to local people. The social supermarket was set up during the pandemic to help struggling people in North Dorset – they currently support more than 350 local families in need. Your purchase will not only fill your year with beautiful Dorset imagery from local photographers, but also help support a vital cause in our community. Order your calendar HERE today and make a difference in our community – just go to - https://lnkd.in/gj8T3TRX Features: • 12 stunning full-colour images, one for each month • Photography by local Dorset photographers from The BV’s Readers’ Photography section • Proceeds support The Vale Pantry charity • Printed on high-quality paper with a durable wire binding We must of course thank all the local photographers who have kindly allowed us to use their images – full credits below: • January – Rebecca Cooke • February – Sarah Smith • March – Paul Dyer • April – Meyrick Griffith-Jones • May – Shazz Hooper • June – Linda Martin • July – Ian Nelson • August – Colin Lennox-Gordon • September – Clive Hill • October – Kim Robinson • November – Claire Norris • December – Annette Gregory Head over to the BV shop now - https://lnkd.in/gj8T3TRX - to pick up your calendar (it’ll make the perfect Christmas gift too!) and make a real difference for local families in need this year. Dorset Chamber VALE PANTRY #bvmagazine #wallcalendar #charitycalendar #dorsetcalendar #calendar #stockingfillers #christmaspresent #thebvmagazine #dorset #photographercalendar #dorsetphotographer #2025calendar

The Chancellor’s budget is urban-centred, will hit small businesses hard, potentially threatens the future of small family farms across the region, has nothing for the south west and fails to address many long-standing concerns, says North Dorset MP Simon Hoare.  ‘Where long-term change was wanted, the Chancellor has offered ‘timidity and sticking plaster,’ he told the BV Magazine. He welcomed additional funding for local government and education, particularly for the hard-pressed SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) sector, as well as the freeze on fuel duty, and a penny off a pint. But overall he believed Wednesday’s budget would result in a delay to the hoped-for fall in interest rates and inflation. Mr Hoare accused Chancellor Rachel Reeves of making ’a malicious and reckless smash and grab raid on the small business sector and... Tom Bradshaw NFU (National Farmers' Union) Dorset Chamber Ian Girling #Budget2024 #budgetresponse #Dorset #ruralmatters #smallfarms #dorsetfarms #TenantFarmers #dorsetfarmers #thebvmagazine #bvmagazine #Dorsetbusiness #news #businessnews

Dorset Mind’s Mery Zanutto says we should treat mental health like physical health with daily self-care and asking for support What exactly is mental health? This question often elicits a range of responses, highlighting the complexities and misunderstandings surrounding the topic. People often address their physical health assertively and confidently, yet discussions about mental health are met with ambiguity and hesitation.... Dorset Mind

Unlock New Growth! The BV Magazine is inviting sponsors to partner with our popular Out of Doors section. With over 350,000 engaged readers every month and an average 31-minute readership time, The BV connects deeply with the Dorset community and beyond.   Our Out of Doors section is a trusted resource for garden enthusiasts, providing practical advice, monthly task guides, and tips from local experts like Barry Cuff and Pete Harcom. This is a valuable opportunity to place your brand in front of a dedicated audience that is passionate about gardening and outdoor living.   The BV Magazine isn’t just another local publication. We’ve been named Regional Publication of the Year at ACE’s Newspaper & Magazine Awards 2024, and Regional News Site of the Year at Press Gazette's Future of Media Awards 2024. These national recognitions underscore our commitment to quality, impact, and authentic storytelling.   As a sponsor, your brand will gain visibility alongside content that’s tailored to inspire and inform our readership. We offer precise targeting options to reach relevant demographics, ensuring your message connects with the right audience. From garden centres to machinery suppliers, if you want to speak directly to a community invested in their outdoor spaces, this partnership is the perfect fit. Let’s cultivate a partnership that brings your brand closer to Dorset’s garden lovers. Get in touch to explore the possibilities! Email courtenay@bvmagazine.co.uk Or call for an informal chat on 01258 472572

Thorngrove Garden Centre, having been at the heart of Gillingham for more than 50 years, has been closed to the public, though it currently continues to be used as an educational campus. Employ My Ability (EMA) purchased Thorngrove in 2017 from The Charity Scope, who were already running a day service provision at the centre, and embarked on a programme of regeneration. EMA developed the grounds and classrooms, added another glasshouse and introduced The Secret Garden Café, which soon became a popular destination not just for garden centre visitors but for dog walkers and locals enjoying a mid-week catch up or Sunday brunch. In the summer of 2021, a new barn shop was opened on the site, expanding the garden centre’s offering to their customers. The team at the garden centre has worked hard to build it into a popular community hub, with... Employ My Ability #news #dorsetbusiness #dorsetbusinessnews #dorset #buisness #theBVmagazine #BVmagazine

Unrealistic targets double the build rate, threaten greenfields and ignore affordable homes and local infrastructure, says CPRE’s Rupert Hardy Labour swept to power this summer determined to solve Britain’s housing crisis … but is that crisis the same everywhere? We would argue that the Government is setting totally exaggerated and unrealistic housing targets for Dorset Council. The build rate in Dorset would have to more than double, as the Government seeks to shift house building from big cities, where most of the brownfield sites are, to greenfield sites in the countryside – a misguided policy. We also suggest that the proposed target won’t achieve key goals... CPRE The countryside charity Dorset Council UK #planning #housing #housingtargets #greenfield #dorset #thebvmagazine #bvmagazine #affordablehomes #localinfrastructure #protectingenvironments #sustainability

From free roaming cattle to thriving wetlands – rewilding efforts at Wild Woodbury are enhancing biodiversity and water quality Three years into Dorset Wildlife Trust’s rewilding project at Bere Regis, Wild Woodbury has become a beacon of environmental restoration and community involvement. The site is thriving thanks to its pioneering initiatives, including the introduction of free-roaming livestock, transformative river restoration and inspiring community efforts, the site is thriving. One of the standout achievements has been the introduction of... Dorset Wildlife Trust *This article first featured in the October issue of The BV magazine - never printed, it's only available right here online. Subscribe (it's free!) here https://lnkd.in/e43aqNcV and receive it direct to your inbox every month* #wildwoodbury #wildlife #dorset #dorsetwildlife #rewilding #wetlands #biodiversity #thebvmagazine #bvmagazine

It's #WorldMentalHealthDay, NFU Deputy President David Exwood reminds us to look after our mind as well as our crops and to #Take5StayAlive. Find wellbeing support in your area👉https://ow.ly/5JOA50TICYX #BackBritishFarming

Could you share the magic of history? Wimborne’s Museum of East Dorset has welcomed a familiar face as its new Learning and Family Assistant. Rachel Simpson-Fernandes, with over a decade of teaching experience in primary and special education needs (SEN), has joined the community-focused museum to inspire local schoolchildren through hands-on history. Rachel, who is passionate about both teaching and history, says, ‘I couldn’t believe my luck – teaching and museums! Two of my favourite things – the perfect role for me that combines creativity and practical skills.’ Her role will involve co-ordinating school visits from across the county, offering themed workshops that cover 2,000 years of British history. The sessions give children the chance to find out about life as a Roman, for example … or as a scullery maid in the Victorian washroom. “I remember coming to the museum when I was at school,’ says rachael. ‘It’s changed so much since then: no boring questionnaires here! It’s wonderful to play a part in moving the museum forward, offering even more activities for schoolchildren.’ The museum, which has earned the Sandford Award for heritage learning seven times, also offers a Hands-On History loan programme, making its resources accessible to schools nationwide. Now, Rachel is calling on locals to get involved as learning volunteers: ‘You don’t need experience,’ she says. ‘Training and mentoring is provided, and every session has a detailed delivery plan that is easy to follow. All we need is people with a passion for history, who love the magic of museums and how they enrich children’s lives. And if you fancy dressing up as a Victorian housekeeper or Roman soldier – even better!’ If you’d like to learn more, contact Rachel on learning@museumofeastdorset.co.uk. Museum of East Dorset https://lnkd.in/ewxHr_B9 Dorset Community News in the BV is sponsored by Wessex Internet #community #communitynews #Dorset #Museum #History #TheBVmagazine #BVMagazine

Dorset Chamber Raises Concerns Over Employment Rights Bill The Employment Rights Bill, which introduces significant changes to UK labour law, has garnered both support and concern from businesses in Dorset. Key elements of the bill include a ban on exploitative zero-hours contracts and the practice of “fire and rehire.” From the first day of employment, workers will gain protection from unfair dismissal, access to statutory sick pay, and entitlements such as parental and bereavement leave. The reforms also seek to enhance flexible working, improve protections for pregnant workers, and ensure compliance with holiday pay regulations through a new Fair Work Agency. Dorset Chamber chief executive Ian Girling said: “This bill represents the biggest shake-up of employment rights in a generation. We understand the need for legislation to protect the rights of employees and ensure that they are all treated with respect and care in the workplace. However, employers in Dorset have concerns about how these measures would be implemented and the potentially damaging impact that they could have on their businesses, particularly in terms of day one rights.” He added, “The new laws must achieve a fair balance that provides the right support for employees while encouraging businesses to recruit and allowing them to grow. We have been lobbying our local MPs and working with the British Chambers of Commerce, and will continue to make Dorset’s voice heard during the consultation process and passage of the bill.” For more information, visit the Government’s Employment Rights Bill page here - https://lnkd.in/gJe9eGWf Ian Girling Dorset Chamber