the community news that matters
Dorchester Kite Festival POSTPONED

Dorchester Kite Festival, set to take place this Saturday 6th June, has unfortunately been postponed due to weather forecasts. A message from the Dorchester Kite Festival team:
“We’re very sorry to announce that the Dorchester Kite Festival, scheduled for this ...
Village Fete Hosts Hairy Coo guest stars

On Saturday 6th June from 1 – 4.30 pm, you are invited to this year’s Piddletrenthide and Plush Village Fete for a celebration of all things countryside!
A fun-filled day of activities is on offer, catering to all ages – ...

Dorset Council is delighted to announce that our Adult Social Care (ASC) services have received a “Good” rating following an assessment by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
In the report published today (4 June), the CQC concluded that “evidence showed ...
Dorchester gateway site re-worked

by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
New outline plans for a gateway housing site next to Dorchester’s west rail station have met with an objection from town councillors.
The revised proposals include three parking spaces for 30 flats – with no ...

by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
Plans for the first phase of the North Dorchester Garden Community are due to be submitted shortly – marking the start of the formal planning process.
The initial plans are for up to 500 energy-efficient ...
Dorset Museum & Art Gallery Launches Volunteer Recruitment Drive

Dorset Museum & Art Gallery is launching a recruitment drive to expand its volunteer team, seeking individuals to support its permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions.
The Museum welcomes approximately 46,000 visitors annually, many of them tourists experiencing Dorset for the ...
Whole town 20mph plan for Dorchester

by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
All Dorchester roads could be covered by a blanket 20mph maximum speed limit – with one exception.
A public consultation about the proposal from the town council is expected to begin shortly with a decision ...
Delightfully Different, every time

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Is your organisation running an event which the community needs to know about? You can promote a charitable or non-profit event on our popular What’s On page, FREE OF CHARGE, to boost interest.
Below are the next 5 upcoming events. There’s much more in the Local Events Diary…
Thu 4 Jun
Evening Echoes: Bird and bat safari on Brownsea Island
7:20 pm to 10:30 pm
Location: Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, Poole, BH13 7EEA nocturnal safari looking at birds settling down for the evening there will also be bat detecting and we will be looking out for the mysterious nightjar. There will be plenty of moths on the wing too. There are 2 sailing times with the second boat leaving at 19.50 and returning at 22.50.
Contact: National Trust | 03442491895 | Email | Web | MapSat 6 Jun
Abba Arrival at The Pavilion, Weymouth
Location: Weymouth Pavilion, The Esplanade, Weymouth, DT4 8ED7:30 pm. Come and join The Oddfellows at the theatre to see ‘the best Abba show’, ‘Most authentic Abba Show’ (2024). Weymouth Pavilion, tickets from £30.00. Subsidy of £10.0 for members. Come and join us for supper in the Pavilion restaurant prior to the show.
Contact: The Loyal Hand in Hand Lodge of Oddfellows | 07788436797 | Email | MapSat 6 Jun
Charity Quiz Night in Aid of Macmillan Cancer Support
Location: St. Nicholas Church, Dorchester Road (on the corner with Mill Street), Weymouth, DT3 5DN7.30pm (Doors open at 7pm). St. Nicholas is hosting another one of its popular quiz nights & Raffle. Tickets £8 p.p. To book a place or your Team of up to 6, please contact Susana. If you can’t make a team, but would like to take part, we may be able to place you with another team of less than 6. Free teas & coffee. B.Y.O. drinks & snacks. Proceeds divided between Macmillan & St. Nicholas Church Urgent Repair Fund
Contact: St. Nicholas Church | 07944617553 | Email | MapSat 6 Jun
Car boot and Table Top Sale
9:00 am to 11:45 am
Location: Crossways Youth & Community Centre, Old Farm Way, Crossways, Dorchester, DT2 8TUCoffee morning with free car boot and table sale. please book if you require an inside table space. gates open 8.15am for sellers. buyers from 9am. Refreshments – savoury – bacon rolls and sweet – homemade cakes available in the centre cafe. Fundraising for new equipment for the centre.
Contact: Crossways Youth & Community Centre | 01305 854179 | Email | Web | MapSat 6 Jun
From Culture Wars to Conflict: Dorset in the Civil War
9:30 am to 3:15 pm
Location: Dorset History Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester, DT1 1RPA day of talks on current research into Dorset in the early to mid-seventeenth century, with a display of relevant archival documents. Featuring talks by Tim Goodwin, Tom Gayton, Eamonn Welch, Dr Trixie Gadd & Dr Kathryn Gray. Tickets are £12. Please book via Ticketsource – follow web link below.
Contact: Dorset History Centre | 01305 250550 | Email | Web | MapOn demand, at your convenience
Reporting from the Thomas Hardy Victorian Fair 2026 – audio and photos

The 31st May 2026 saw another Thomas Hardy Victorian Fair held in Dorchester. In a change from previous events the main venue for the music, events and stallholders was South Street. Our reporter Peter Foster attended the event and ...
New ‘quirky’ shop opens in Dorchester

A new shop has opened up in Dorchester’s South Street. It has the unusual name of ‘Work the Quirk’. Andy Worth was intrigued and went along to speak to one of the proprietors, Erin Holden, to find out more…
Countryside Matters 63, 25.05.26

The North Dorset Beekeepers Association has just recently opened a splendid shiny new bee centre on the edge of Shillingstone, and Ian Condon told Jenny about what the Centre is for • Bob Maurer cut the ribbon to officially ...

Another taster of David Taylor’s Saturday show on Keep 106 called DT@1 which is broadcast on Saturdays at 1:00 pm. (for the uninitiated DT1 is the post code for Dorchester….see what we did there 🤦♀️) Enjoy the show…
Reporting from the Dorchester Annual Town Meeting

On 8th May Dorchester Town Council held the Annual Town Meeting in the Corn Exchange. This was a chance for members of the public to meet local Dorchester Town Councillors and hear more about the work of the Town ...
A live session with guitarist Paul Sundt

Paul Sundt has been on Andy Senior’s list of prospective guests for quite some time. With around 25 years of experience as a professional guitarist, musician and tutor, Paul brings both talent and passion to everything he does. If ...






















