Planet Shaftesbury Meeting - 15th October 2026
Present: Rachel B, Diana, Jocelyn, Richard T, John, Christina, Mary Ridgewell
Apologies: Rachel T, Emma, Lucy, Robin, Karen, Ed,
Chair: Rachel B
Minutes: Christina
Action Points from Last Meeting (20th August 2026)
1 a volunteer is needed to do the next newsletter, deadline: 24/25th October 2026
2 for updating the About Us item on the website, see below
3 see below for last month’s meeting with the visit from Sophie Headdon (Dorset Wildlife Trust)
4 Ed is continuing to investigate how to set up taking donations on the website
New Agenda Items for Discussion:
1 Oceans film: Jocelyn has booked the Grosvenor for November 30th (if oversubscribed, the Town Hall) for a showing of the Oceans film together with an animation she has been overseeing the development of in her whale poo ambassador role; she has asked Vicki James from Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) to take questions; Vicki’s speciality is marine protected areas; the item will go on the website and in the newsletter along with a booking facility
2 SuSAC agenda: Richard Thomas requested items for the SuSAC agenda (next meeting 27th October) and advertised the meeting of the Swift talk (see below) at The Ship directly afterwards
3 About Us section on the Planet Shaftesbury website: Rachel reported on the progress of the revamping of the About Us section on the website: this project began following the need to get funding for PS; it was decided that we need to demonstrate the differences the network has made to the town and further afield since it began in 2019 and to illustrate how it has evolved to date. Topics include how people connect with us, how we work, and how we want to work; a number of discussion documents are currently being prepared for the website covering governance, funding, events, types of meetings and other issues all with an aim to take us forward, capitalizing on our successes and learning from the things we might improve on. People in PS are invited to view these documents on the website; they will be given a link so that they can view and comment on the information and so be able to participate in the discussions in order to shape our future.
Ed to supply the link by the end of October; Rachel B to send some information about the project to Richard Thomas for SuSAC members
4 Dorset Cop: Richard T gave a description of SuSAC’s presence at the forthcoming event and requested additional materials for a display table; several representatives from Shaftesbury groups are involved and he is leading a Question Time style event. A £10 donation is requested from attendees for this event being held at Kingston Maurward House, Kingston Maurward, Dorchester DT2 8PX.
5 North Dorset Trailway: John and Christina had attended the AGM of the North Dorset Trailway Network on 1st October in Stourpaine to learn more about the plans to extend this off-road walk and cycle way further across the north of Dorset and down eventually to the coast. This was a very well-attended gathering of people keen to support any opportunity to take congestion and carbon emitting vehicles off the road by providing the government’s Active Travel project with infrastructure plans which can attract much needed funding. Dorset Council scores very low on such provision because of this lack of infrastructure planning and therefore receives very little government support; the more successful such developments like the Trailway become, the greater the chance of getting sufficient funding to enable the Shaftesbury to Gillingham off-road walking and cycling route to be built. Watch out also for the recent Dorset’s Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) consultation results which will be published in the next couple of months.
6 The visit from Sophie Headdon from the Dorset Wildlife Trust to the September PS meeting was very well supported by a number of representatives of local groups including from Blandford and Wiltshire, so it was an opportunity to connect with people who share activities involving reviving nature projects and other concerns, and so connect and learn from one another.
7 Six Inches of Soil film: this was the second showing of the film in Shaftesbury but this time in the Peartree Room of Coombe House on 12th October. Although made in 2023 the film following three young people who had begun regenerative farming initiatives, it still has much to offer. There was a talk from staff member, Elle Lomas who runs the Coombe House farm along organic lines; also speaking at the end of the film was Neil Morisetti , Professor of Climate and Resource Security at UCL, who referred to the government’s National Preparedness Commission report which related to the importance of growing more of the food we need: 'Just in Case: 7 steps to narrow the UK civil food resilience gap" by Prof Tim Lang & others. There were questions from the audience on diverse issues like how farmers are paid but also the fragility of food security.
8 Shaftesbury Swift Meeting: 27th October at The Ship, Bleke Street, Shaftesbury at 7pm. The aim of the meeting is, with help from the Nature Connect North Dorset project, is to attract local business and tradespeople with roofing and construction skills to learn more about protecting the town’s swifts; there are opportunities for paid work to install swift boxes and bricks on their properties.
9 Power Station film: there has been no movement forward on the planned post-film follow-up
10 Apple Pressing Day: while there were no Apple Day celebrations at the Donkey field due to the drought and early ripening this year, this event on Sunday 4th October at the Lindlar Hall, in the eastern side of the town, was very well attended. The weather was good and there had been plenty of apples for pressing. There is talk of creating an orchard on the land around Ten Acres.
11 The People’s Emergency Briefing: this film continues to be shown in the north Dorset area and so at easy access locations. Another showing in Shaftesbury at the Grosvenor early in 2027 is being considered with a plan to invite a wider demographic.
12 Derek vs Derek film: Richard suggested that this would be a good film to show as it positions two farmers, one for adopting regenerative techniques along with its advantages, and the other opposed. The timing is good since the government has followed Scotland’s lead on increasing the farmland devoted to organics from 3.4% to 10% in England. Since Primrose Farm near Margaret Marsh is now developing a venue, it might be a possible place to show it there.
13 Day and time of the Next Meeting: Thursday 19th November 2026, Library Room, the Grosvenor at 6pm
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