Have a coffee, find a friend

Buses, beans and baby groups – March’s second BV Podcast has it all This one’s a quietly powerful listen – tackling public transport failures and the remarkable transformation of a warehouse into a buzzing family hub. We have three very different conversations, all rooted in the same thing: Dorset community.

Pop it on in the background – between the chocolate and the chaos, you might just find yourself unexpectedly inspired.

 

  No Bus for 10 Years – and No Plan Yet

Jes Hughes of Dorset CPRE explains why Dorset’s public transport system is one of the worst in the UK – and why it’s dragging down everything from job opportunities to mental health. 🚌 “If public transport were a species, it would be classed as highly endangered.” – Jes Hughes 🌍 “Without a car, living in rural Dorset is well nigh impossible – and the system is quietly eroding community life.”

He calls for shared car schemes, stronger government investment and a joined-up council approach that takes rural needs seriously. 📉 “Public transport returns four times more value than investing in roads alone – so why aren’t we funding it?”

 

  The Vale Family Hub – More Than Just a Food Pantry

Cllr Carole Jones shares the inspiring story of how a modest food pantry in Sturminster Newton became the main Family Hub for North Dorset – now supporting over 360 families with affordable food, mental health help, and everything from homework corners to domestic abuse support. 💬 “If someone’s in food poverty, that’s not the problem – it’s a symptom of something else going wrong.” – Carole Jones ☕ “Come in. Have a coffee. Watch the kids play. Find a friend. We’re here for everyone.”

It’s an extraordinary achievement – 24 vital services, open six days a week, funded almost entirely by local donations and grant-writing graft.

 

  Chocolate, Climate and Cocoa Chaos

As cocoa prices soar, local chocolatier Johnny Baxter of Dorset Chocolate reflects on why quality chocolate is under threat – and why some small makers are already disappearing. 🍫 “We’ve seen the price of cocoa quadruple – and it’s not just the weather. It’s traders, plantations, and fear.” – Johnny Baxter ⚙️ “We’re not cutting quality – we’re creating new things instead. Fudge, caramels, local cream. We’re makers. That’s what we do.”

Despite market chaos, Johnny remains determined to keep Dorset’s chocolate-making tradition alive – and maybe even reimagine it.

 

 

These interviews were based on articles from March’s BV, which you can read for free online here. People, politics, farming, food, wildlife and plenty of Dorset spirit – all packed into one beautiful magazine.

The BV: Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette) 2024. If it matters to Dorset, it’s in here.