Prizes Available for taking part in Local Business Survey - Your thoughts please

 

Prizes include: Locally grown flowers from Common Farm Flowers in Charlton Musgrove (to the value of £55)
£50 Dining Voucher at The Ship at West Stour www.shipinn-dorset.com
Sausages and Bacon from the Ginger Piggery www.thegingerpiggery.co.uk
Selection of ales from Sixpenny Brewery www.sixpennybrewery.co.uk
Coffee & Cake at Divine Wines in Wincanton

The Heart of Wessex Local Action Group is working with local people and businesses to develop opportunities for improving the rural economy and quality of life for people living and working in the area through a targeted grants programme. The next round of funds (2015 – 2020) is focused on economic growth and jobs. 

LEADER is a community-led European funding programme that supports rural community development. The planning, decision making and implementation is done at a local level, carried out by a Local Action Group (LAG). The LAG is managed locally and made up of private, public and community sector volunteers with a wide range of experience and knowledge of local rural issues. 

We are currently engaging local communities and businesses to ascertain local issues and priorities. These will then be used to help write the bid (known as a Local Development Strategy) to Defra in September 2014 to bring investment into the local area. Grants are likely to be available from early 2015. 

We want to hear your ideas and we particularly welcome new innovations and collaborative projects. Give us a call if you have a business development or community project idea and think LEADER funding could help. We would particularly like to hear from people involved in: 

* Farming * Operating small businesses located in a rural area * Producing or selling locally produced food * Tourism attractions or providing holiday accommodation * Providing community services or facilities in a rural setting * Promoting low-carbon, energy efficiency or climate resilience * Restoring, preserving and enhancing eco systems dependent upon agriculture and forestry 

If you are a business, or are thinking of starting a business please take the time to complete this short survey, there are lots of prizes on offer.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HeartOfWessexRuralBusinessSurvey 

Community Shops demonstrate that buying local really does exist

Wren Shop East Knoyle

There were 309 community shops trading at the end of 2013 an increase of 6% over the year. Like for like sales growth was 1.9%. Most shops are in the south and southwest. 95% of shops which were open in 1992 are still in business. The majority of community shops have chosen to register as an Industrial and Provident Society (IPS) for the Benefit of the Community. Turnover ranged from £6,500 to £1,103, 653. Sales increased by 1.9% in 2013 - better than the supermarkets! 65% of shops were run both by paid staff and volunteers. 70% of shops had postal services.
The Plunkett Foundation

Cranborne Chase AONB Annual Forum - Your chance to be involved

Online Ticketing for Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Annual Forum 2014 powered by Eventbrite

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

 

It is with great pleasure that I invite you to attend the 2014 Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s Annual Forum.

 

Coffee/tea will be available from 10.00am and the day will finish promptly at 4.30pm.

 

In the morning your AONB team will give a brief report of Partnership achievements during 2013-2014 followed by a brief outline of work to be undertaken during 2014-2015, that helps achieve the aims of the new 2014–2019 Management Plan.

 

One of those aims is to achieve ‘Dark Night Sky status’ for the AONB over the next two to three years. Well-known Dorset astronomer Bob Mizon, UK Co-ordinator, British Astronomical Association Campaign for Dark Skies will be on hand to explain what this all means and how everyone within the AONB can help.

 

After lunch there will be two sessions for delegates to attend:
 

• We have the Mizar Travelling Planetarium with Bob Mizon M.B.E, F.R.A.S. who is one of the most experienced travelling planetarium operators in the UK http://www.mizar-astro.freeserve.co.uk/astro/
• There are various ongoing projects within the AONB to commemorative World War I. Discover what was involved in drawing these projects together, and see the exhibition of maps and photographs.
• http://www.wylyevalley1914.org.uk/               
• http://www.fovantbadges.com/                 
• http://www.sutton-down-badges.com/      

 

Spaces are limited so please book by Monday 23rd June or, alternatively, you can reply by email to shirleymerrick@cranbornechase.org.uk  As lunch is provided please email Shirley if you have any dietary requirements.         

 

If you cannot attend in person, please do consider sending a deputy. Once again, we look forward to meeting you at the New Remembrance Hall, Charlton on 1st July.

 

Yours sincerely,

Linda Nunn 

Director Cranborne Chase AONB

 

Helping others to make a positive change in their community - Resource

Big Lunch Extras is a three-year programme to help individuals across the UK create positive change within their communities. Funded through the Big Lottery it is all about bringing communities together, reducing loneliness and isolation and helping to make a difference locally which is at the heart of the Big Lottery Fund’s mission.

The Fund is therefore delighted to invest Lottery funding into Big Lunch Extras, which  builds on the success of The Big Lunch, to support individuals who want  to make a positive change in their communities. Big Lunch Extras will inspire and support people to tackle issues that are important to them. This will strengthen neighbourhood networks, create a greater sense of community cohesion improve the lives of communities across the UK.

The website is a very useful resource with lots of case studies demonstrating other projects. So if you're looking for ideas or advice on what to do next in your community, you’ll like our resources. We’ve created a growing collection, which includes:

• activities and project to try yourselves, with clear instructions
• inspirational stories from neighbourhoods around the UK
• simple guides that help you get to grips with big ideas

There is an online community forum which is also a brilliant place to start discussions and gain important insights from others who may be experiencing the same challenges.
Worth a look.  http://www.biglunchextras.com/content/join

 

Celebrate the summer with Artsreach!

Artsreach continues to bring professional performances to rural venues right across Dorset. This summer, there’s a whole variety of things on offer; everything from classical quintets to big, bouncy balls; award-winning Balkan bands to contemporary Shakespeare. There’s something for everyone in the new Artsreach summer programme:

Music

This summer Artsreach presents a range of high calibre musical performers. Belshazzar’s Feast, featuring the much-loved Paul Sartin and Paul Hutchinson are renowned on the English folk scene for their unusual mix of humour, folk, classical, jazz, pop and music hall. Celebrating their 20th anniversary, expect an unforgettable live experience when they arrive in Dorset! Red Hippo will be parading an array of instruments including sousaphone, Irish whistles, saxophones and strings, as they explore a musical world influenced by traditional English, Irish and Scandinavian folk melodies and tunes. Tim Laycock and Phil Humphries will continue ‘Rooting around the Ridgeway’ following the success of last autumns West Gallery workshops, this time exploring the folk songs collected in Dorset by the Hammond Brothers in workshops leading to a public performance. Following the release of a highly acclaimed new album, She’koyokh are back with more soulful Gypsy melodies, toe-tapping Yiddish music, exhilarating Balkan dances, Turkish ballads, and virtuosic solos. The visible energy and passion poured into their performances won them a host of new followers at The Exchange last summer, and their return is much anticipated. Each representing one of the string sections of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, five gifted musicians come together as the BSO Resonate Strings. Their engaging ‘Summer Serenade’ concert will reflect the wonderful diversity of the classical string repertoire and will feature music from across the centuries from composers such as Bach, Pachebel and Mozart to Jenkins, Joplin and Warlock.

Theatre

A whole host of Artsreach favourites will be treading the boards with new productions over the coming months. For anyone who's ever craved the last word, Theatre Alibi presents a very human comedy about arguing. From farcical fisticuffs at a wedding disco to squabbling for control of the TV remote, ‘Hammer & Tongs’ is physical, funny, absurd, musical, moving, and absolutely bloody-minded. The company brings its national tour to a close with one performance in Dorset on the Artsreach circuit. Expect the unexpected in ‘The Ballad of Martha Brown’, Angel Exit's latest original drama based on the life and times of the last woman publicly hanged in Dorset. Presented in the company's rich visual style, blending storytelling and striking physicality, this show is spliced through with wicked humour, an original score and macabre songs. The much anticipated West Country tour this year by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School sees the stars of the future taking on Georges Feydeau’s high spirited romp ‘Sauce For The Goose’. Stuffed with preening characters knitting their legs in sexual frustration, its heady mix of passions, pace and pleasure are the perfect mix for a good night out. Finally, Artsreach and Miracle Theatre invite you to take a trip into uncharted waters, and find yourself wrecked on a treacherous shore. Celebrating their 35th anniversary, they apply their offbeat and humorous style to Shakespeare’s classic ‘The Tempest’ to create a fresh and musical adaptation. This special open-air tour is the culmination of the Artsreach summer season, so wrap up warm, grab a blanket, pack a picnic and be entertained by this outstanding Cornish company.

FREE EVENTS!Families in Dorset are in for a treat in May as ‘The Big Bounce’ arrives at Kingston Maurward. In a fun and visually stunning event, a humorous story of learning how to play is told with acrobatics, dozens of large coloured balls and one GIANT ball. This fabulously playful, free outdoor performance is suitable for children aged 5 years and under. Bring a picnic rug and come ready to play; boing boing boing!

PUBS PROJECT

This summer, Artsreach are teaming up once more with the hilarious Living Spit (‘The Six Wives of Henry V111) to bring their latest idea to the County – a show for pubs. In an effort to reach new audiences and support rural pubs, ‘One Man & His Cow’ is specifically designed to be performed in a bar, and will be free for all to enjoy. Overflowing with a multitude of catchy songs, agricultural clichés and farmyard frolics, this show is coming to a pub near you soon...

Full details including dates, venues and individual box office numbers can be found at www.artsreach.co.uk, where you can also sign up to the Artsreach mailing list. Outlets where you can pick up a copy of the programme include libraries, arts centres and tourist information centres across Dorset. You can also find Artsreach on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with the latest news and join in the rural touring conversation.

Support for Neighbourhood Planning (England)

The Department for Communities and Local Government has announced that the next funding round for the Neighbourhood Planning grants scheme will open on the 1st April 2014.

The Neighbourhood Planning scheme supports groups developing neighbourhood plans in two ways. These are direct support - advice and support, tailored to meet the needs of supported neighbourhoods; and grant payments of up to £7,000 per neighbourhood area, to contribute to costs incurred by the group preparing a neighbourhood plan or order.

Support is available to town and parish councils, neighbourhood forums and emerging neighbourhood forums preparing a Neighbourhood Development Plan. The Department is particularly keen to support groups that are under represented on the programme for example neighbourhood forums and areas that rank highly in the indicators of deprivation.

The first stage of the application process is to complete the eligibility checker to find out if your group is eligible for direct and/or grant support. Successful applicants will be invited to complete a full application form. Read more at: http://mycommunityrights.org.uk/neighbourhood-planning/

Discover Chalke Valley Business Website - Your chance to be involved

Following the success of the Sustainable Rural Tourism project for the www.discovernadder.org.uk website we have secured further funding to develop a sister site for the Chalke Valley which extends from Nunton to Berwick St John.

A new website is planned to promote the area as an outstanding destination for people to visit benefiting businesses like pubs, shops and accommodation providers, and provide ready made experiences for visitors who are interested in the outdoors and who wish to discover more about the history and wildlife of the area. Online you will find an interactive map of businesses in the area and be able to download informative walking and cycle routes for visitors to enjoy. Information packs containing all of this may also be made available.

If you run a pub, restaurant, B&B or local shop to name a few do come along to learn more about how your business can be involved so that together we can demonstrate to visitors how passionate we are about promoting this wonderful area and supporting each other in their business endeavors.  

Each business will receive a free website listing and an opportunity to network with like minded local organisations together with useful marketing tools to market your business.

To apply you are invited to apply online providing a description of your business together with a promotional image. Please forward to info@cranbornechase.org.uk 

We are also seeking volunteers to help design a number of walks and cycle routes so if this interests you do get in touch.

Put back some business bounce

An award-winning entrepreneur from our locality is offering low cost, high value advice for rural businesses.

At a time when the much-vaunted recovery has yet to have much impact on the small businesses that typify the rural economy, really good, tailored advice can mean the difference between success and failure. Many of you receiving this email will have tenants, contacts and business partners who are trying to find a way to develop new products, gain access to new markets or reduce costs.

Selaine Saxby runs a successful business in the Wylye Valley near Warminster in Wiltshire. She is not the only business adviser out there, but she does have the experience of growing a business in a deeply rural area.

At Cranborne Chase AONB, we understand the vital role that small and micro-businesses play in the wider socio-economic context of our work. If you know of anyone who might be interested in the "Saxby Says" offer, then please forward the attached pdf or send them this link:

http://www.selainesaxby.com/saxby-says/4582802113

If you know of any other business advisers and sources of help specifically for small rural enterprises, then she would be really interested in hearing from you,

Join us for launch of Chalke Valley Business Initiative 27/02/14

Sell Tickets Online through Eventbrite

Help secure funding for rural communities

We need your help!

The recent 5 year RDPE  (Rural Development Programme for England) of which the Sowing SEEDS Local Action Group (LAG) funding was part, has now ended. A number of projects in the AONB benefited from this funding including Hindon Village Shop, Semley Shop, Chalke Valley Community Hub, Mere and Tisbury Chambers of Trade, Stourhead Kindling,  Kingston Lacey Glasshouse project  and the AONB Sustainable Tourism Project - Discover Nadder.

Every LAG in the UK is now in a period of transition (2014) where we have the opportunity to develop a bid for future funding from the next RDPE which is expected to start in January 2015. There is no guarantee of further funding! We need your help to secure funding to support new projects from 2015 to 2020.

The photo below shows when and where forthcoming meetings will be held.  We really do need to show that many, many people are involved in Local Action and most importantly that we want it to continue into the next programme period. This is your chance to say what the priorities are for your area and to put forward project suggestions.

Please forward to your friends, colleagues and contacts and encourage them to come along and support the LAG.

We very much appreciate your support in helping us to secure these vital funds and we look forward to seeing you at one of the upcoming meetings

Discover Nadder Website Launched

www.discovernadder.org.uk

Discover Nadder, a new website promoting tourism and businesses in the Nadder Valley, is now live; ideal if you are running a tourism related business across the Cranborne Chase AONB.

The website was put together by Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, working in partnership with partners and local businesses, as part of a Sustainable Rural Tourism Pilot Project to help improve the visitor economy of the area. 



We hope the site will promote the Cranborne Chase AONB as an outstanding destination for people to visit benefiting businesses like pubs, shops and accommodation providers, and provide ready made experiences for visitors who are interested in the outdoors and wish to discover more about the history and wildlife of the area.

The Nadder Valley stretches from Wilton to Shaftesbury and includes part of Wiltshire and Dorset. It is a beautiful and largely undiscovered area with over 30 picturesque villages dotted along the River Nadder. Highlights include:

• Tisbury, the largest of the Nadder Valley villages; at its heart is a friendly and thriving High Street as well as a convenient railway station for day-trippers wishing to come from Salisbury.
• Postcard pretty historic villages like East Knoyle, birthplace of architect Sir Christopher Wren whose masterpiece was St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
• The wild open expanses and tranquillity of the chalk downs.
• Great historic estates of Dinton Park, Fonthill and Wardour.
• Ancient churches, Iron Age Hill Forts and ancient burial grounds.
• Major attractions like Old Wardour Castle near Tisbury, one of the Nadder Valley’s best kept secrets.

The AONB and South West Wiltshire Area Board have recently committed funding to create a similar website for the Chalke Valley. If you would like to be involved in this process or have any comments/suggestions on ‘Discover Nadder’ then please contact Steve Harris, Community Area Manager for South West Wiltshire Area Board. There will be an evening on Thursday 27th February when you can drop in to learn more about this exciting venture at the Crown Alvesdiston from 4 - 7pm. 

Fingerpost Champion Campaign shows the way forward

Our neighbouring Dorset AONB is running a Fingerpost Champion Campaign. There are many reasons to become a champion you could be a small community group or maybe a tradesman who can offer your workshop or services,  or maybe supply of wood as people seek to restore the fingerposts that are very much a feature of our local countryside. 

Alternatively you could simply help them survey these special fingerposts. 

Contact the Dorset AONB who will be very happy to discuss the process, and provide the information and advice that you will need.

HELP US ENSURE FUTURE FUNDING FOR AONB PROJECTS

The AONB and the Community Partnership Executive of North Dorset (CPEND) jointly prepared the ‘Sowing SEEDS’ bid to Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) in 2008. It was developed to support innovative activities and projects by rural communities, businesses (including farmers, growers and foresters) and community organisations within the area.

This funding was the first of its kind to cover the entire AONB area and offered new prospects to local communities of all ages, with innovative project ideas.

Between 2009 and 2013, the Local Action Group (LAG), made up of representatives from the local community, decided which community based initiatives or projects received funding from ‘Sowing SEEDS’. The contribution that the Sowing SEEDS LAG has made to the rural community has been significant. In total it has supported 35 initiatives and awarded grants worth over £1.28 million to grassroots focused, small-scale, innovative projects , generating an impressive range of benefits for the area.

Case Studies

A number of individual case studies which reflect the diversity and range of the projects the LAG has supported throughout this programme period will shortly be available on the Sowing SEEDS website, please visit: http://www.sowing-seeds.org.uk/projects.html

Successful Projects

The following projects received funding through Sowing SEEDS.  Those highlighted in bold are within the AONB. These come to a total of just under £500,000 but each project will have levered in significant amounts of additional match funding. Many of the other projects directly and indirectly benefit the AONB communities and environment.

Hindon Village Shop	£19,231.00
Blackmore Vale Butchery	£8,750.00
Shaftesbury Film Unit	£8,000.00
Dorset Farmers Market	£5,938.00
Blandford Allotments - Machinery Ring	£9,996.00
Feasibility Study, Training Unit	£10,000.00
CPEND Broadband	£9,500.00
Motcombe Community Shop	£29,556.00
Future Roots	£128,600.00
Food Mill Feasibility Study	£9,350.00
Kingston Lacy Growing Spaces	£30,914.00
Let's go H20	£9,200.00
Gillingham Town Design Statement	£4,800.00
Mere Chambers	£8,546.00
Wimborne BID	£10,000.00
Countryside Centre Phase 1	£6,378.50
Henry's Buttons	£10,000.00
Economic Spine	£9,950.00
Tisbury Chambers	£8,546.00
Leisure Credits	£113,525.68
Rural DORMEN	£22,500.00
Lordsmead Mill Micro Hydro	£34,347.55
Peggs Farm Micro Hydro	£21,807.00
Benjafield Farm Micro Hydro	£31,213.00
Employability Skills Base	£146,827.00
Semley Shop	£49,548.50
Driving Rural Business	£62,221.00
Sustainable Tourism	£58,285.00
Trailway Wood Fuels retort system	£11,654.40
CHAT Hub	£198,369.00
Chalke Valley Community Hub	£91,734.00
Bangers & Bacon	£10,000.00
Stourhead Kindling	£9,960.00
Blandford Car Club	£9,266.00
Kingston Lacy Glasshouses	£38,345.00

The next Rural Development Programme

The next Rural Development Programme is anticipated to start during 2015 and will run until 2020. The Sowing SEEDS Local Action Group has been awarded funding to cover the period of transition between the current and future Rural Development Programmes during 2014. The funding will allow the Sowing SEEDS programme staff to begin a thorough participatory consultation period with communities across the whole LAG area. The LAG will be seeking views from local communities and businesses to inform the content of the new strategy. Activity to gather these views will include:

• A series of public consultation meetings
• Recruitment of new LAG members and formation of a new LAG Executive Committee
• Gathering background information about the Sowing SEEDS LAG area
• Seeking views from previously funded LEADER projects

The information gathered from these meetings will inform the preparation of a new Local Development Strategy (LDS). This strategy will set development priorities for the next funding period.

How you can help ensure that local action continues in this area:

1.    Complete a very short on-line survey - The future success of Local Action relies entirely on the local community. Your input is needed to help shape the future of Local Action in this area, so even if you feel you have had little or nothing to do with this programme your response is very much appreciated.

All completed surveys will be anonymous and a summary of the results will be used to help prepare the final programme evaluation. Please follow the link below:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M8ZP98Y  

2. Project ideas – Although currently there isn’t any funding available for the remainder of this programme period, we would still like to hear from you if you have a project idea that you would like to discuss. We are keeping a list of prospective projects so we can contact you when we know when future funding becomes available. Please contact the Sowing SEEDS office if you would like to be added to this list and receive further news of funding opportunities.

3. Take part in one of the of Consultation Workshops - The current LAG have organised six meetings that will take place across the LAG area throughout February and March 2014. The workshops will be an opportunity to share your views, opinions and ideas about the future of LAG activity in the area. As always light refreshments will be served on arrival.

Schedule of meetings: ·         Wednesday 19th February 2014.  6pm - Sturminster Newton ·         Wednesday 26th February 2014.  6pm - Broad Chalke ·         Wednesday 5th    March 2014.     6pm - Bourton ·         Wednesday 12th March 2014.      6pm - Sixpenny Handley ·         Wednesday 19th March 2014.      6pm - Maiden Bradley ·         Wednesday 26th March 2014.      6pm – Semley

4. For up-to-date information about the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) visit: http://rdpenetwork.defra.gov.uk/

Please contact Sarah Dyke-Bracher – Programme Manager on 07826 907361 for further details

Outstanding Art in the Natural Environment AONB Workshop - new dates added

Local businesses, residents and visitors are invited to come along and share your views and thoughts about the area by taking part in series of workshops run by experienced professional artists. No art experience necessary – just your love for and interest in the area!

Outstanding Art in the Natural Environment - Workshops

Each workshop will involve an inspirational walk followed by a hands-on activity to focus on a particular theme and will include time to share ideas, thoughts and photos. Attendees will be encouraged to share their views, help devise text and collate visuals. There will be an opportunity to work with pen and paper as well as a chance to work in digital media using iPads and digital cameras.

The work generated will be used to enhance and illustrate publications produced by the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty AONB team and will form the basis of an exhibition in the summer of 2014.

Professional artists Ali and Richard have been commissioned to lead this autumn project for the Cranborne Chase AONB. They have just finished leading the Walking Wiltshire’s White Horses project http://whitehorsewalk.co.uk/ with Wiltshire Museum and Devizes Carnival.  

Attendees are welcome from art groups and individuals of all ages over 16 years.

Outline of workshops:

SATURDAY 23rd NOVEMBER: Tisbury, a day themed around the rural economy and sustainability 11.30am – 3.30pm

Local businesses with international or local markets all welcome. Meet at 11.30 in Tisbury.

Contact: Linda Nunn lindanunn@cranbornechase.org.uk or Creative Wiltshire creativewiltshire@gmail.com for more information.

SUNDAY 24th NOVEMBER: Down Farm, Sixpenny Handley a day exploring the historic landscape and related issues. 10am – 4pm

Farmer Martin Green will lead a walk over his highly famed farm where archaeological works have taken place and showcase his historic inspirational finds. Afterwards the group will retire to the classroom to work on individual ideas and artworks. Materials are provided although please bring any preferred art supplies with you.

• Please bring a packed lunch, tea and coffee will be provided.

• Don’t forget to wrap up warm, wear suitable footwear and bring your waterproofs! 

To book: outstandingart.eventbrite.co.uk

MONDAY 25 NOVEMBER: Broad Chalke, a day thinking and making art about rural communities. 

We have hired Tisbus for the day and can pick up 2 or 3 volunteers from each shop at the approximate times below and return them at the approximate times below.
　
Start times                         Return times
9.30am  Tisbury car park        4.45pm
10.00am Wren’s Shop East Knoyle 4.15pm
10.30am Hindon Village Stores   4.00pm
11.00am Ansty PYO and Farm Shop  3.45pm
1.00pm  Chalke Valley Stores    3.30pm
　
The bus journey is part of the process but if the times do not fit in with pick ups from school for example please feel make your own way to the afternoon session at Chalke Valley Stores, Broadchalke, High Rd, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP5 5EJ from 1pm – 3.30pm

Join the team for a working lunch at Chalke Valley Stores in the old Congregational Church.

Contact: Linda Nunn lindanunn@cranbornechase.org.uk or Creative Wiltshire creativewiltshire@gmail.com for more information.

TUESDAY 26th NOVEMBER: Win Green to Larmer Tree

Join us for a 10 mile walk looking at the working landscape and the natural environment, fields, coppicing, wildlife 9.30am – 4pm

The walk begins at Win Green, continues along the Ox Drove before dropping down to Chase Woods to hear about and look at woodland management on the historic Rushmore Estate. We hope to visit the Larmer Tree gardens (subject to confirmation) to work on individual ideas and artworks. Materials are provided although please bring any preferred art supplies with you. Those preferring a short walk can meet at Win Green and rejoin the group later.

• Please bring a packed lunch and something to drink, tea and coffee will be provided at the workshop in the afternoon

• Don’t forget to wrap up warm, wear suitable footwear and bring your waterproofs!  Note this walk can be muddy and slippery if wet. The walk difficulty is considered ‘moderate’ with one steep accent.

To book: outstandingart.eventbrite.co.uk

About the artists
Ali Pretty is a British textile artist and carnival designer, best known as the founding member and artistic director of Kinetika, an international outdoor arts company. Ali’s independent practice looks deeper, towards a more personal approach, combining creative walking with conceptual textile design and writing. www.alipretty.com

Richard White is a digital artist and producer with an extensive career in participatory arts work. He leads Creative Wiltshire for Wiltshire College and contributes to the Heritage Management degree programme at Bath Spa University. 

Tisbury named in Sunday Times "Best Places to Live" Guide

One of the AONBs picturesque villages has been named one of the best places to live in the UK to live in The Sunday Times ‘Best Places to Live’ Guide.  The guide has taken into account transport links, schools, natural beauty, low crime rate, property price, cultural life and unemployment figures.  In addition, each area has also been assessed on its own individual assets, whether it has a local festivals/events associated with it or fascinating architecture.  

Tisbury is the largest settlement in the AONB.  Steeped in history, its home to one of the largest tithe barns in the UK, still in existence.  The 12th Century parish church of St John the Baptist boasts a 4,000yr old yew tree, one of the oldest in Britain.  Most of the older houses are built from locally quarried Chilmark stone and many have thatched roofs.  With a railway station it offers easy links for those travelling to/from Salisbury, London and Exeter, and a traditional High Street of small independent shops and businesses located just a few minutes walk from the station.  It’s the perfect base to explore the area and AONB with an exciting variety of things to see/do. 

There are many local attractions like the spectacular Old Wardour Castle, a fine example of a 14th Century castle a few miles away, wide variety of excellent local places to stay and eat, walking, cycling and other outdoors pursuits.  It’s a friendly place and most people who move to the area or visit rarely want to leave so why not plan a visit soon?

Community Shops Awards

The Plunkett Foundation has embarked on a search for the best examples of community action by launching the first ever Community Shop Awards - click here to find out how to nominate one of the ever growing number of community shops in South West Wiltshire!

Funding for Shops and Pubs - Act quickly

Rural communities across the UK are set to benefit from a new injection of funding to help them revive their villages through community enterprise.

The Plunkett Foundation has been awarded over £450,000 from long-term supporters the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to create a new comprehensive support service for rural communities considering setting up or diversifying community-owned services – like shops and pubs – to help turn the tide on rural decline.

For more information go to the Plunkett Foundation website: http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/655