Summer on Our Dorset Farm & Campsite: Goslings, Stinging Nettles and a Pilgrimage

CAMPSITE

ANGIE WITH COBWEBS

As usual we had to have a spring clean ready for the April opening of the cabin. Cobwebs seem to lurk everywhere, and pop up in every corner overnight. [1]

WHITSUN

A very good long weekend, with a full campsite and lots of happy campers. [2]

PATTONS SAFARI AND FIELD GAME

The Pattons and their friends were a very enthusiastic group. I took them on a ‘cow safari’ in my top field when we drove into the middle of the herd. The cows got up close and friendly, which everyone loved especially the adults! [3] [4] Back at the campsite they enjoyed a game of Kubb [5] [which I had never heard of], and relaxed in the sun. [6]

STRAWBERRIES FOR EVER

I am always intrigued by the interior designs of some of the units which visit Bluntshay. This strawberry themed interior was beautiful, colourful and beautifully laid out. [7]

FOSSILS

Fossiling in all weathers is always a popular pastime for both children and adults who visit Charmouth and Lyme Regis whilst hoping to find another ichthyosaurus! This young enthusiast had quite a selection to show off on her return from a day at the beach. [8]

FARM AND GARDEN

ARRIVAL OF GOSLINGS

This was probably the most exciting thing that happened during this period. It has been quite some time since I collected goslings at one day old. As they are so vulnerable I felt it was best to keep them in a whelping box for a few weeks [in the garage] until they were big enough to go down in the big goose house. Here the accommodation would be totally rat proof and directly under a heat lamp. [9] The goslings were a favourite with many of the children who visited around this time. [10] After a little while they spent their days outside, in very old chicken runs, eating grass. [11]

SHEEP

Sam and Alisha seem to spend a lot of time moving sheep around West Dorset and then checking them every day. George is seen here helping to move sheep into a trailer for yet another trek through the county to fresh pastures. [12] We also had a ewe lamb very late much to everyone’s surprise. [13]

COW WITH TWIN CALVES

Having twin calves usually is a time of joy and excitement, [14] but in this case one twin became unwell and died within a week. It is inevitable that on a farm, besides having a lot of livestock, there is also the risk of deadstock.

THE CATS

The cats were getting naughtier as they grew up, and loved jumping up on my house plants in the window. Eddie was the main ring leader in all these antics. Left to her own devices Robyn is well behaved. [15]

CLEARING OUT RUBBISH

We continue to sort out areas and this time it was the old cow stall. Two pianos had to be broken up to be put into the skip. We were told later that we should have saved the ivory keys. We found enough rubbish to fill the skip but because there wasn’t much iron in it I had to pay for the hire of the skip this time. [16]

HONEY EQUIPMENT

In clearing out the cow stall we came across a lot of bee keeping equipment including all sorts of hive parts. We found a ready buyer all the way from Frome, Somerset. [17] We still have to face sorting out my late husband’s two sheds. Besides there being more bee equipment in them we also have stationery engines and a lot more material to sort through.

GARDEN

By the end of June the fruits in the garden were getting ripe. Black currants were nearly ready to pick, [18] and the loganberries were showing their colours but needed to be dark purple before they were ready to eat. Loganberries are a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry. [19] The hydrangeas made a beautiful show [but were cut down to burnt offerings in the drought later in the year]. [20] I have two lavender bushes. This one near the back door always does well and is the picture of health, but the other never had a flower. [21]

I went in search of bluebells in the Coneys Castle area [dating back to 500 BC] and found a beautiful patch on the steep hill approaching this ancient site. [22] Another local view from the same spot was Golden Cap, the highest cliff on the south coast, and Lyme Bay. [23]

EASTER SERVICE AT WHITCHURCH CANONICORUM

Spring flowers decorated the church at this very special time of the year. Great care and artistic flair were shown on the floral pew ends [24] [25] and around the rest of the church. The Easter story depicted near the Jacobean pulpit included an extra feature this year as people in the congregation added their own flowers to the scene. [26] Treasures from the vestry were also on display. [27]

Rev Ginnie Luckett dressed in a white cassock alb and decorative stole (worn especially for the celebration of Easter) is seen here with Ros Woodbridge both ready to give a moving service. [28] Chris Brewer played the organ, [29] and a visiting soprano gave us a rendering of “I know my redeemer liveth” from Handel’s Messiah. [30]

BIRD RINGING AT COPPIT HILL

Unfortunately this item was accidentally omitted from my last newsletter, so as it was such an interesting topic I am including it in this one. [31] This event started at the crack of dawn. It is usually done in winter to investigate winter migrants, and summer for summer visitors. Luke lead the morning’s proceedings. He is the RSPB approved bird ringer. [32] Luke and several of his colleagues had arrived at Coppit Hill sometime before the event, to set up the very fine net on a frame near a hedge in order to catch the birds. [33] The birds were then put into small pouches (see red and white bags hanging next to Luke) in their workshop. [34]

They had caught a variety of birds in the net. The first ones we saw were the yellow hammers, [35] followed by a goldfinch. [36] Luke showed us how the metal or plastic tags are placed individually on the bird’s leg to enable identification. This helps in keeping the movements of the bird and its life history. [37] Each bird had the size of its wing measured which would ascertain its age. [38]

The recording of the weight of the bird was also important. A tube was used for this delicate operation with the bird only being upside-down for a couple of seconds. [39] Once all the birds had been processed, we wandered back, across fields, to the main building, looking out for other birds. En route we passed a bespoke feeder which was full of wheat from last summer’s harvest. [40] Once back at the main building we had a well deserved full English breakfast.

TRACTOR BLESSING SERVICE AT BETTISCOMBE WITH REV FI

Tractors being at the very centre of farming these days meant that this service was especially important to the local community at Bettiscombe. It was well attended by farmers and their families. Rev Fi was new to this service and based the beginning of the service around miniature tractors that were abundant in the church. [41] She then blessed sunflower seed packets being symbolic of planting seeds at this time of year. [42] We then went outside to decorate real tractors with bunting! [43] Once this was completed Rev Fi hopped into a tractor and completed the Blessing. [44] The service was brought to a close with a prayer in the car park. [45] To keep the symbolism going there was a beautiful china vase in the shape of a tractor, [46] when we retired to Bettiscombe Village Hall for refreshments.

WORLD STINGING NETTLE COMPETITION AT MARSHWOOD IN JUNE 2026

This unusual competition has long been associated with the Bottle Inn, Marshwood, and over the years it has proved a very popular event with people attending from all over the west country, Vietnam and the USA. As is becoming more common these days no glasses were used during the competition and you had to buy a minimum of one plastic beaker and a drink for £5. [47]

There were hundreds of people at the Bottle Inn to view this spectacle. [48] At 5 pm the competition started with “pints at the ready” to make the consumption more palatable. Forty young and “middle-aged” contestants soon started chomping away at the leaves of this stinging plant, turning their tongues to a strange shade of green. There was always a steady stream of stinging nettle plants being given out, so no time was wasted waiting. [49] After an hour the munching had to stop and the stalks from each candidate were counted.

The tallest nettle was found [50] by Jamie Giles, a local man, measuring 8 ft and 8 inches. [51] The overall winner for the most eaten nettle leaves [52] was Lucy Dermody, who ate 68 stalks. (centre holding the cup) She actually won it in 2025 too, so she is obviously an expert in this field! The male winner, with a total of ten less than Lucy’s was Michael Hobbs. [53] I was quite surprised (and pleased) to find myself in this shot – taking a photo perched on a step ladder.

It was the first time I had ever attended this unusual event and it was definitely worth the effort, even though the sun was beating down on us all afternoon.

PILGRIMAGE TO ST WITE’S SHRINE

St Wite is our own local saint whose bones are buried in the shrine at St Candida and Holy Cross Church, Whitchurch Canonicorum. [54] She is the patron saint of Dorset and her special day is 1st June. There are many routes that pilgrims can take to cover this pilgrimage, but on this particular day the route chosen was from Bridport, via Symondsbury, North Chideock and Ryall.

The pilgrims started at St Mary’s church in Bridport. Rev Ginnie Luckett gave an explanation of the walk and its significance, [55] giving us all a shell, a symbolic link between St Wite and the pilgrimage that day. A group photo was taken just outside the church before the trek began. [56] They then progressed down West Street heading for the open country. [57a] and travelled up the slip road to Symondsbury, leaving the hustle and bustle of the town behind. [57b] The next stop was the Ilchester Arms, Symondsbury for some light refreshments. [58]

From here the walkers entered another area, far more mystical than ordinary country lanes. They walked in silence through the ancient holloway of Shutes Lane [59] [60] [61] reaching Hell Lane and descending into the depths of mud and puddles. After this ethereal experience the pilgrims walked onto the open hillside from north Chideock, along Butt Lane, until the hamlet of Ryall was reached. At this point I caught up with the group again, [62] having left them at the Ilchester Arms. They appeared to be just as enthusiastic in their stride when they descended down the Ryall road, past the Five Bells, through the village until they reached Whitchurch Village Hall. [63] Here we met the Bridport mayor and mayoress along with Bishop Karen, from Salisbury. [64]

The afternoon tea was rapidly eaten as there was little time left to travel to St Candida for the start of the Thanksgiving service. [65] Once there, the pilgrims were allowed to be first in the queue, [66] with the dignitaries following close behind. [67] Even more dignitaries were already in the church, being the High Sheriff of Dorset, [68] and a Lyme Regis man masquerading as Sir George Somers!

During the service Bishop Karen sprinkled holy water from St Wite’s Well throughout the congregation. [69] To end the momentous day refreshments were served to pilgrims and lay people alike, [70] with Elizabeth and Marion being perfect wine waitresses to boot! [71] There was another concert the night before, linked to the pilgrimage, where we were treated to beautiful music by a renowned pianist. [72]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Pippa Streatfeild, The Bridport News, Rev Ginnie Luckett, Chris Anderson and the Patton family.