Smallholder Janey White will have her 'hounds' full when she hosts a party as part of the Great Wessex Dinner on Saturday, 4th October. For not only will she be feeding 25 guests, she’ll be dishing out din-dins to their dogs, too.

Janey, from Holt near Wimborne, is among 200 people from Dorset and the surrounding counties hosting a dinner on the same night to raise money for children’s hospices, Julia’s House in Dorset and Naomi House and Jacksplace in Hampshire. Dinners of all shapes and sizes are being planned from grand affairs in stately homes to simple fireside suppers. A  live auction will be taking place on the night, with the event being sponsored by national estate agents Strutt & Parker. The charity event hopes to raise around £200,000 from over 3,000 participants.

Janey will be serving up one of her home-reared lambs to friends, with the ‘leftover sheep bits’ being braised in jelly with chopped up Boneo biscuits for the pets. “A sort of posh Pedigree Chum,” laughs Janey. The dogs, which include a black Labrador, a hound, a dachshund, a King Charles spaniel and an assortment of terriers, will feast on this confit of lamb along with a mackerel pate starter and a carrot cake with a bone marrow cream for pud. The pampered pooches can expect silver service and bone-shaped napkins.

“I love cooking and this is just an extra bit of fun, plus it means we won’t be wasting any food!” continues Janey. As well as enjoying entertaining, she has a more poignant reason for wanting to support her local children’s hospice. “I lost a son 14 years ago. He was born and died in October, just before his second birthday. When I saw the date of the Great Wessex Dinner it just felt like the right thing to do, in memory of him and to help other families. “I know how much children love animals, and how much they would love the idea of a dogs’ dinner.”

Other notable hosts on the night include Charlotte Townshend of Melbury House and Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, the 12th Earl of Shaftesbury. “We are inviting people to be part of an extraordinary night to help two extraordinary charities,” says Nicholas, “I for one am delighted to be part of such a special event. We hope readers will help us put the ‘Great’ into the Great Wessex Dinner!”

Everyone is welcome to host a meal in return for a donation from their guests - £50 per head is the suggested amount. To register your dinner please call Di Pestell on 01202 644220 or email diane.pestell@juliashouse.org.