The Dorset Life Podcast

BV Laura
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Real stories from across the county The Dorset Life Podcast is the audio companion to Dorset Life, the award-winning digital magazine covering the people, places and issues that shape life across Dorset. Presented by Jenny Devitt, each monthly episode features in-depth interviews, local stories and conversations spanning farming, rural affairs, wildlife, equestrian life, business, arts and community life. Based around the latest issue of Dorset Life, the podcast brings readers closer to the voices behind the stories and the realities of modern life across the county. Dorset Life reaches more than 350,000 readers each month and has received national recognition for both editorial quality and audience growth. Read the latest issue free at: https://dorsetlife.co.uk/latestissue

  1. Walking Dorset's past, debating Dorset's future

    May 30

    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 (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.

    58 min
  2. From fire engine funding battles to a fierce defence of rural England

    Apr 24

    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, available to read freely online. Politics, people and craftsmanship – all seen through a distinctly Dorset lens.

    1h 7m
  3. Dorset developers and the hanged family forger

    Mar 28

    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 . 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.

    1h 21m
  4. Dorset's secret soldiers and George Hosford on the failing TB system

    Mar 1

    Dorset's secret soldiers and George Hosford on the failing TB system

    From secret Dorset saboteurs preparing for Nazi invasion to the 19th-century TB tests still dictating modern farming,  February’s BV podcast is a deep dive into two stories that will linger long after you’ve listened.   TB Testing and the Farming Treadmill 'We’re not getting anywhere – and arguably it’s getting worse again.' Dorset farmer George Hosford is in conversation with Jenny, taking apart the current bovine TB testing regime – a system first devised in 1890 and still at the heart of national policy: 'It’s two steps forward, one step back.' George explains how the skin test can miss up to 25% of infected animals, why movement rules undermine progress, and why newer blood tests are still entangled in red tape. From cattle movements to vaccine development, from bulk tank milk to badgers, this is a lucid, unsparing look at a system farmers feel trapped inside.   The Secret Army Beneath Our Fields 'They were prepared to do something very dangerous – probably suicidal.' Historian Dr Will Ward tells Jenny the extraordinary story of the Auxiliary Units – Dorset men recruited in 1940 to hide underground and wage guerrilla war if the Germans invaded. Drawn from the gamekeepers, farmers and poachers who knew every hedge and hollow, these patrols trained in secret bunkers, ready to sabotage railways, airfields and supply lines behind enemy lines. 'They were told they only needed two weeks’ worth of supplies – because they weren’t expected to last longer.' Many never spoke of it again. Some went on to join the SAS. For decades, their story remained almost entirely hidden.   From Dockside to Dorset: The Art of Good Coffee 'Coffee is just an ingredient, like flour. You can buy the best coffee in the world and make the worst cup from it.' Jenny visits Giles Dick-Read at his Sherborne roastery to discover how green beans from Brazil become the perfect moka pot brew. From metal detection and de-stoning to why your grinder matters more than your machine, Giles explains the craft behind a proper cup – and why freshness is everything.   This episode takes two stories from February’s BV, available to read online here, and explores them in far greater depth than a page or two can allow. The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

    1h 15m
  5. The fire sale, the forgotten vale and the power of thank you

    Feb 1

    The fire sale, the forgotten vale and the power of thank you

    It’s the first BV Podcast of the year, and Jenny Devitt’s pulled together a trio of conversation starters from the January issue – from Dorset Council handing over public loos like they’re Christmas cast-offs, to the unexpected emotional power of a well-meant thank you. Editor’s Letter – No pom poms this year Laura Hitchcock skips the usual New Year rallying cry and offers something more honest instead: a nod from one tired grown-up to another. “We’re still here. Still showing up. Still muddling through. For January, that’ll do.” Dorset Insider: Unwanted gifts and the council's 'fire sale' Ever been given a Christmas present you really didn’t want? Try a toxic dump site, derelict loos, or some rewilded verge no one asked for. This month, our anonymous parish councillor takes aim at Dorset Council’s asset disposal scheme – and what happens when 'devolution' really means 'dumping the problem on the parishes.' “The offers for my own patch include an area of land that we, the parish, already own.” Grumbler: Is Dorset the county Visit Dorset forgot? A new glossy tourism video has racked up hundreds of thousands of views – and barely shows rural Dorset at all. This month’s anonymous Grumbler isn’t just grumbling, they’re calling out the coastal bias baked into Dorset’s glossy marketing campaigns. Roughly three quarters of the county is rural, and the quiet erasure of inland communities from the county’s public image has real consequences. “You can’t keep selling Dorset as a playground for the already well off, and then wonder why its rural economy struggles to survive.” The Power of Thank You – John Sloper on Gratitude John Sloper, CEO of Dorchester charity Help and Kindness, joins Jenny to talk about the unexpected importance of saying thank you – and how gratitude can be a radical act in a world that feels increasingly disconnected. “That thank you is a kind of gateway. It builds the fabric of community.” These stories come from January’s BV – available now at bvmag.co.uk/Jan26. News, opinion, people, places, and the best of rural Dorset – all in one free digital magazine. 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.

    36 min
  6. George Hosford’s had enough – and so has the Grumbler

    12/21/2025

    George Hosford’s had enough – and so has the Grumbler

    Land, bees, housing – and a festive rant from 1874 It’s the final episode of 2025, and it’s a belter. The Frustrated Farmer returns: George Hosford says “If you don’t care about the land, you shouldn’t own it.” This month, George is angry – and rightly so. As public support payments disappear and corporate investors quietly sell up, a new crisis is brewing: farmland is being snapped up by those with no connection to it, and no interest in what happens next. In another powerful interview, George makes the case for long-term stewardship over short-term gain – and explains why land ownership rules need urgent reform if we’re to protect Britain’s food, soil and future. He says we have people buying farmland who don't want to farm, don't want to engage with local communities, and don't care what happens to the land – and why that should worry everyone. Bees and the Big Build: A new chapter in Shillingstone Jenny speaks to Ian Condon about the new eco-friendly North Dorset Beekeepers' Centre – complete with honey warmers, public displays and a demonstration hive window for curious visitors. 💬 “We’ve built something special – a teaching centre, a community space, and a love letter to bees.” Hope at West Farm: new beginnings for Dorset’s hidden homeless Jill Cook from Salvation Army Homes explains how a new supported housing project near Bridport will offer not just shelter but space, safety and purpose to vulnerable young people. 💬 “You can’t fix homelessness with a roof alone. This is about roots, growth and confidence.” The Grumbler Returns: Christmas, 1874-style Boot-losing mud, weaponised wassailing, and nutcrackers no one asked for – our festive Grumbler has thoughts. This episode is based on stories from December’s BV. Read the issue here: https://bvmag.co.uk/Dec25 News, people, politics and rural Dorset life – every month, always free. The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

    59 min
  7. Dorset’s hidden poverty, real power, and a cadet you won't forget

    11/30/2025

    Dorset’s hidden poverty, real power, and a cadet you won't forget

    “It’s not always visible – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.” This month’s podcast starts with Dorset’s hidden poverty – the kind no one likes to talk about, but far too many are living with. Help & Kindness CEO John Sloper explains why it’s everywhere and invisible – and how small, local action makes the biggest difference. Then it’s on to the climate. Don’t switch off – this isn’t doom and gloom. Dorset COP organiser Giles Watts explains how we make climate ambition actually work in a rural county, and why language matters more than you think. And if you’ve been wondering what “devolution” really means for Dorset’s towns and villages? The Dorset Insider has some strong views, a few sharp one-liners, and one big question: is this local empowerment, or just shifting blame? Finally, we meet Wimborne cadet Charlotte Bedford – caver, climber, award-winner, and proud recipient of the UK’s top cadet honour. She’s brilliant. Don’t miss her. Pop it on. It’s full of courage, climate, community and a healthy dose of quiet outrage.   This episode is based on stories from November’s BV. Read the issue here: https://bvmag.co.uk/Nov25 News, people, politics and rural Dorset life – every month, always free. The BV – named Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette). Always worth your ears.

    59 min
  8. A Saxon Dig, and inside Dorset's Plan

    09/28/2025

    A Saxon Dig, and inside Dorset's Plan

    Digs, Disputes and Dorset’s Future Planning battles, Saxon skeletons, public transport woes and a fox-hunting fallout – this month’s podcast covers 1,300 years of rural life, and why the next few weeks could shape the next 30.   Editor’s Letter: Not Quite Pumpkin Season Laura reflects on the sudden turn from drought to downpour, the return of green fields, and feels a quiet mourning for al fresco breakfasts and picky teas. Plus, she urges attention on the Dorset Plan: “It’s the blueprint for how Dorset looks, lives and grows for the next couple of decades – and we’ve got just eight weeks to shape it.”   Sherry Jespersen: What the Dorset Local Plan Really Means Former chair of North Dorset’s planning committee, Cllr Sherry Jespersen, joins Laura to explain why the Dorset Local Plan is not just a boring bureaucratic document – it’s the most important planning consultation in decades. “The government gives the numbers, but it’s not Dorset Council building the houses. There’s a mismatch between ambition and reality – and it’s residents who live with the consequences.” Sherry breaks down how planning actually works, what people get wrong on social media, and why now is the time to speak up – whether you’re worried about infrastructure, affordability, school places or transport.   Dorset Insider: Roads to Nowhere This month our anonymous parish councillor takes a razor-sharp look at Dorset Council’s Local Transport Plan – a document full of admirable goals ... and almost no money: “If you’ve ever cycled in competition with a tractor on a country lane, you’ll understand why people drive. In rural Dorset, the car is still a necessity – and public transport doesn’t cut it.”   6,000 Saxons and a Shallow Grave In Iwerne Minster, archaeologists have uncovered one of Dorset’s largest Anglo-Saxon cemeteries – 6,000 burials from a period spanning 300 years. Courtenay Hitchcock joins lead archaeologist Richard McConnell on site, where the discoveries are helping to reveal the lives (and curious deaths) of our early Christian ancestors. “There’s one grave where a second body was squeezed in – and they had to remove the first one’s head to make space.”   The Grumbler: Foxhounds and False History This month’s anonymous opinion piece is from a local historian who took issue with the hound parade commentary at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show – and its one-sided sermon on fox hunting. “The implication was that the rural economy will collapse without hunting, and that every spectator supports it. I wasn’t convinced.”   This episode is based on articles from September’s BV, available to read for free here . News, people, places – 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.

    1h 4m
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About

Real stories from across the county The Dorset Life Podcast is the audio companion to Dorset Life, the award-winning digital magazine covering the people, places and issues that shape life across Dorset. Presented by Jenny Devitt, each monthly episode features in-depth interviews, local stories and conversations spanning farming, rural affairs, wildlife, equestrian life, business, arts and community life. Based around the latest issue of Dorset Life, the podcast brings readers closer to the voices behind the stories and the realities of modern life across the county. Dorset Life reaches more than 350,000 readers each month and has received national recognition for both editorial quality and audience growth. Read the latest issue free at: https://dorsetlife.co.uk/latestissue

Information

  • Creator
    BV Laura
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    99
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ©Bluebean Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Dorset Life Podcast

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