Presented by Jenny Devitt. Today’s programme is a special on the recent acquisition by the Dorset Wildlife Trust, thanks to financial input from Natural England and private donors, of the 335 hectare Lyscombe Farm, a few miles east of Piddletrenthide • The Trust intends to farm the land for the benefit of wildlife – and people – and the Natural England funding has been given under the umbrella of “nutrient mitigation” • The programme has interviews with Brian Bleese, CEO of the DWT, with Marian Spain, CEO of Natural England, with Blandford farmer and former Dorset NFU County Chair George Hosford, with the DWT’s Head of Wilder Landscapes Rob Farringdon, and finally with the DWT’s President, tv personality and well-known entomologist, Dr. George McGavin.
UPDATE: West Dorset MP Chris Loder fears ‘Norchester’, the proposed development of 3,500 houses north of Dorchester which he opposes, will now go ahead following DWT’s acquisition of Lyscombe:
MP fears Norchester “will happen” following Dorset Wildlife Trust’s purchase of Lyscombe Farm