Today: We hear about the old peat diggings and rich wildlife of the renowned Somerset Levels • A novel approach to putting on a play – Sophia Hatfield brings her 1-to-1 play “You Don’t Know Me, But…” to Dorset via the telephone! • Sir Christopher Colville gives his view of the Dorset Council Local Plan • Dr Mark Nicholls of St John’s Cambridge talks about Sir Walter Raleigh…

Peat bogs, undervalued and underappreciated, but hugely important – a professor has interesting things to say about these natural carbon storage systems • Mike Burks of the Gardens Group talks about the range of peat-free composts now available, all very good for your garden • Maggie Baker talks about the increase in dog thefts • and vet Kirk Hutton about pandemic pet concerns and care…

Today: We hear from Steve Oliver of the Dorset Wildlife Trust about the reintroduction of beavers to the county after 400 years • Good news for the Mary Anning Rocks campaign which has raised enough money to erect a statue of her • Dr Fiona Lavelle says your children should be allowed to help out and cook in the kitchen, even aged 2 !?

Dire wolves, parrot-lizards, quizzes and spooky stories in this edition of Local World • a team of palaeontologists made an interesting discovery about the dire wolf, familiar to fans of Game Of Thrones • Dr Jakob Vinther found a world first in the rear end of a dinosaur • you’re invited to light seven candles for stories of the supernatural • and Stephen Moss will be hosting an online quiz for the wildlife of neighbouring Somerset. Jenny Devitt presents…

Dorset folk duo Ninebarrow plan to reduce their carbon footprint by planting a wood to celebrate, in March, the release of their new album • Dr Aaron Hunter explains how ancient starfish developed their arms and why they’ve hardly changed shape in 500 million years • Misha Pedersen talks about geoparks in Denmark • Dr Leslie McMurtry likens Victorian penny-dreadful publications to today’s true crime podcasts…

A Cambridge professor of neuropsychology has tips for re-booting your little grey cells during lockdown that include being kind to others and learning a new skill • Dr Dan Taylor talks about E M Forster’s little known novella ‘The Machine Stops’ which predicted video conferencing and the Internet over a century ago • and hear about Captain Peirce and the Wreck of The Halsewell from writer Philip Browne…

Jenny Devitt’s weekly look at the arts, the environment and other topics of interest. Today: Gardening – start planning and cleaning those plant pots as we hear from Mike Burks of the Gardens Group • Also from the Gardens Group Steven Fry talks about hedging • Dr Fiona Lavelle has been looking into our cooking and eating habits during the pandemic • and we hear from Dr Alessandro Siani about vaccines and specifically the Covid vaccine…

Today: Are you reading more than usual in this lockdown? We all read a lot more in last year’s lockdown according to Dr Marcello Giovanelli • In this weather it’s hard to get motivated to be active, but Dr Ziggy Santini says it’s really important, especially for the over 50s • A Bulgarian cellist tells us how things are for musicians right now • And to cheer us up – a jousting tournament at Sherborne Castle from a few years ago…

Jenny Devitt’s pick of 2020 from her weekly look at the arts, the environment and other topics of interest.

Join Jenny for Local World every Friday at 6pm

Jenny Devitt’s weekly look at the arts, the environment and other topics of interest. Today: The problem of light pollution is discussed • Dr Ben Wheeler tells us just why blue/green spaces do us good • We hear how many environments and eco-systems have been altered by religious beliefs • And the admirable David Mathews is walking 6,000 miles for the Samaritans…

Today: A new way of using sourdough starter to make cakes like King Alfred without burning them! • Jay Armstrong talks about the current situation with Sherborne’s Elementum – both the journal and the gallery • Dr Jeremy Howick explains the work of the Oxford Empathy programme he directs • Dr Richard Barnett enlightens us on the early 18th century gin craze. Jenny Devitt presents…

Today: Where’s Wallaby? – we hear about a survey of wallabies roaming free in the UK • A representative from Dorset Wildlife Trust talks about the recent criminal fly-tipping at Powerstock Common Nature Reserve • We hear from a Sherborne School educated baritone about his new CD • And a wish that vitamin D is added to flour and milk to improve our health. Jenny Devitt presents…

Jenny Devitt’s weekly look at the arts, the environment and other topics of interest. Today: There’s a cheerful Irish exercise psychologist Dr Ruth Lowry who explains why we should keep exercising all winter • The Director of the Sherborne Abbey Festival has news of a specially filmed concert going online soon • We hear about the wonders of the Victorian electrophone • and Jenny talks to two super brains well know to fans of University Challenge about their ‘Monkton & Seagull Quiz Book’…

Do you love winter or hate it? Author Katherine May loves it and has written a book about winter, both literal and metaphorical • Dorchester author Gail Aldwin’s children’s book about a purple panda comes out soon • Dr Jo Birch and her team have been finding out about how young people relate to nature • Dr Giulia Carabelli has some very interesting things to say about our relationship with house plants and their importance. Jenny Devitt presents…

What’s so good about soil? Lots, says Mike Burks, the MD of the Gardens Group • Director of Music at Leweston School talks singing and how she will be conducting Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’, virtually online • Real or fake in the world of ancient coins? • And Sherborne launches its own Business Awards…