Alpacas to Action Horses ... and advocating for children

The BV: from the heart of the Blackmore Vale

Inside this issue:

After the usual Letter from the Editor, we move straight into the local politicians columns, the first since the General Election...

• Simon Hoare MP talks of feeling 'survivor's guilt'. Ken Huggins of the Green Party is excited by the Green Surge, with more than 2m votes for the Green Party nationwide. Gary Jackson of the LibDems tells of the crisis in Further Education, noting that the sector is currently both underfunded and woefully ignored. Lastly, Labour's Guy Perkins seeks to reassure non-Labour voters, explaining how experts and experience lie at the heart of the new government.
  
• Next, Show Organiser James Cox sits down with Terry to talk about this year's Dorset County Show. It's the county's traditional end-of-harvest celebration of the countryside.
  James talks about how, post-covid, the County Show was re-invented to breathe new life into the 170-year-tradition. In the 2024 show he's excited about the display of horsemanship from the Atkinson Action Horses. The Imps Motorcycle Display Team will be roaring their way around the main arena, always a crowd favourite. And there will be some brand new sections – visitors can meet 50 alpacas, and the fun dog show is sure to meet with everyone's approval. Is your dog up for best catcher, waggiest tail or prettiest rescue? And labeled as Dorset's biggest larder, this year's Food & Drink area is the biggest yet, with more than 60 stands in the food hall, while outside there's plenty more plus hot food and live music under the festival flags.
  dorsetcountyshow.co.uk
  

• Mosaic, a Dorset charity founded in 2007 to support bereaved children, has launched a major fundraising appeal to continue supporting children struggling with the death of someone close to them. Jenny talks to CEO Jo Revill about the charity's work to provide qualified counsellors for children and young people struggling with grief.
  mosaicfamilysupport.org

August's BV 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? Why *wouldn't* you want a flick through? (*don't forget, we're proud to be purely digital. The only way to read us is right here online!) Frankly, it's so jam-packed with Dorset goodness, it'd be rude not to.

The BV is the 'glossy' rural monthly digital magazine from Dorset, this year awarded 'Best Regional Publication in the UK'
(Newspaper & Magazine Awards)