Dorset Branch AGM Chairman's Report 2025
Dorset Branch Chairman Paul Tory delivers his report ahead of the 2025 AGM.
A year has passed since I last wrote and looking back we thought we had tough tasks and challenges back then, but everything is relative and things have certainly ramped up a notch or two 12 months on.
We must keep moving forwards and look ever more deeply at what we have (in terms of land and property assets), what it can/should do and what we the owners and stewards want to do.
You might think this a rather left field mention in a report such as this but if you haven’t already, I would highly recommend reading Henry Dimbleby’s book ‘Ravenous’ in which where we are and the crossroads we currently face are laid bare for all to read.
In Dorset, we are seeing strong community interest in local food networks, rural tourism, and renewable energy. These trends signal both economic potential and cultural renewal in our countryside. Let’s keep telling our story of hard work, innovation, and custodianship so the value of rural life is better understood by the public and policymakers alike.
The pressing issue of biodiversity loss demands urgent attention. Dorset boasts extraordinary natural beauty, but this comes with a responsibility to balance conservation with productivity. We must actively implement regenerative practices, support habitat restoration, and collaborate on initiatives that enhance wildlife corridors across the county. Investing in natural capital is not just an ethical duty—it’s a savvy strategy for long-term sustainability.
As Chairman, I remain committed to ensuring your voices are heard, your efforts recognised, and your businesses supported. The CLA continues to advocate powerfully on your behalf, from taxation to tenancy reform, planning to natural capital markets.
I am very grateful to the current county committee, for helping keep Dorset’s input into what the CLA does locally, regionally and nationally both meaningful and well informed.
Anyone wanting to join the committee would be warmly welcome and we are all very grateful to South West Director Ann Maidment and her able team for all they do on our behalf.