the community news that matters
Public appeal in search for missing Weymouth woman
Officers searching for a missing Weymouth woman are appealing for information from the public to help find her.
Codie, aged 21, was reported missing having last been seen in Bournemouth town centre on the afternoon of Thursday 19 March 2026 ...
GP teams in Dorset deliver millions of appointments a year
General practice teams across Dorset delivered an impressive 5.7 million appointments in 2025, reflecting the huge level of demand. That is around 232,000 more appointments than in 2024, an increase of just over 4%.
Appointments include face-to-face visits and telephone ...
Commemorative plaque unveiling for National Service alumni
On Monday, The Royal British Legion and Dorset Council will come together to honour the people of Dorset who were conscripted to serve under National Service.
The event at County Hall, which is open to the public, will mark their contribution and time in the Armed Forces, by ...
by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
Dorset Council has declined to quantify the additional costs it expects as a result of rising fuel prices.
It has also not been able to produce figures for how much the authority, which has declared ...
The Women’s World Cup Rugby Tour arrives in Dorset this weekend.
On Friday evening, starting at 5:00pm, Sherborne Rugby Club plays host to the Women’s World Cup Winners’ Trophy and celebrates its arrival in the Dorset Town with a festival of Women’s rugby.
Sherborne RFC Chairman Mike Trew said, ...
BREAKING – Plans for a Premier Inn on the site of the former M&S store in Dorchester scrapped
Whitbread PLC have decided not to go ahead with the building of a Premier Inn on the site of the former Marks & Spencer store in Dorchester’s South Street.
A spokesperson for the company said:
“When we acquired the site, we ...
Help Protect Ground Nesting Birds
Dorset Council have sent the following news release.
Each spring, the Dorset Heathlands come alive with some of the UK’s most vulnerable and charismatic birds. Species like the nightjar, woodlark and Dartford warbler choose these open, peaceful landscapes to make ...
Recent news items
- Dorchester launches Spring 2026 Shopfront of the Season Awards
- Dorset’s Reablement rates beat all the averages
- Weymouth street “Hub” refusal proposed
- Summer three day festival planned for Dorchester Showground
- Debt advice given in the latest 2026 leaflet published by Dorchester Poverty Action
- Woman assaulted in Dorchester – witness appeal
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…
Sat 14 Mar to Wed 1 Apr
"Heartfelt" Treasured keepsakes we just can't let go of
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Location: Nothe Fort, Barrack Road, Weymouth, DT4 8UFSelected dates between 14/3/26 and 1/4/26. See website for details. Heartfelt at Nothe Fort showcases sentimental objects donated by Dorset residents, each paired with the personal story behind it, alongside artworks by Artwey members. Free with fort admission.
Contact: Artwey | Email | Web | MapTue 17 Mar to Tue 20 Oct
Historical guided walk with cream tea in Brownsea Castle
1:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, Poole, BH13 7EEEmbark on a fascinating journey through Brownsea Island’s rich history as you explore the island and the castle’s picturesque grounds. A rare opportunity to enter the castle itself, view the paintings and artefacts of past owners. Afterwards, head to the Morning Room and help yourself to a warm drink and a delicious scone with cream and jam. Two walks per month except Mar/Aug & Dec.
Contact: National Trust | 01202 707744 | Email | Web | MapSat 28 Mar to Mon 6 Apr
Here Comes the Sun
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Location: Dorchester Corn Exchange, High East Street, Dorchester, DT1 1HFAfter a long and dark winter, from 28 March to 6 April Dorchester Corn Exchange will shine with Helios, a giant Sun artwork by artist Luke Jerram, FREE to the public! Presented by Dorchester Arts and Dorchester Town Council, the event includes dance, art, scriptwriting and gala events ‘under the sun’ as well as Catch the Sun, a community exhibition by local artists, which opens 24 March.
Contact: Dorchester Arts | 01305266926 | Email | Web | MapSat 28 Mar
Wild wetland bird walk
10:00 am to 12:30 pm
Location: Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, Poole, BH13 7EEBrownsea Island is a haven for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Our guided walks, led by an expert Dorset Wildlife Trust ranger, take you through the island’s beautiful wetlands. Brownsea Lagoon is one of the best birdwatching sites in England. The lagoon’s shallow, nutrient-rich waters draw in thousands of birds annually, creating an ever-changing avian spectacle.
Contact: National Trust | 03442491895 | Email | Web | MapSat 28 Mar
Choral Evensong in Lent
4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Location: St Peter’s Church, High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1XAYou are warmly invited to our monthly, cathedral-style service of Choral Evensong in Lent on Saturday 28th March at 4.30pm in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes Lotti’s ‘Crucifixus’, the ‘Preces & Responses’ and ‘Second Service’ by William Byrd and Elgar’s ‘Light out of darkness’. Admission is free and there is a glass of wine to follow. All are very welcome. See web link below for more information.
Contact: Music at St Peter’s | 01305250719 | Email | Web | MapOn demand, at your convenience
Countryside Matters 58, 16.03.26
In this edition:
One of the hot topics these days is water pollution from sewage, both treated and untreated, and the deluges of the last few months have made this an acute problem. Matt Wheeldon of Wessex Water talks about ...
Pastor Mark Topp makes a welcome visit to the studio
Mark Topp is the Pastor at the Storehouse Church in Cambridge Road, Dorchester, which also doubles as Dorchester Community Kitchen. Mark’s work includes speaking to community groups such as school children and today he updated us on that…
see more and listen to this audio ►
‘Heartfelt’ exhibition opens at the Nothe Fort
An exhibition has opened at Weymouth’s Nothe Fort called ‘Heartfelt’ celebrating the things that we can’t let go of and the stories behind them. Also on display are original works by Artwey artists. See poster for opening dates and ...
The Great Dorset Beach Clean returns in April – a fun family activity
Emma Jackson, the Litter Free Dorset Support Officer for Dorset Council, called in to tell us about the Great Dorset Beach Clean, which returns from 1–12 April 2026. With clean-ups taking place across the Dorset coastline, this free event ...
Commonwealth Day Ceremony at County Hall, 9th March 2026
The annual Commonwealth Day Flag Raising Ceremony for Dorset was held at the Memorial area outside County Hall in Dorchester on Monday 9 March at 10:00am.
This year’s theme, ‘Unlocking opportunities together for a prosperous Commonwealth’, highlights the importance of ...
Countryside Matters 57, 02.03.26
Jeannette Hampstead and her husband Graham have been running a much-needed and excellent rescue and rehabilitation centre for one of Britain’s most loved, and sadly most endangered mammals: the hedgehog. A visit to their home and the centre in ...
