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In the damp conditions the beacon is finally alight after a couple of attempts
Dorchester from The Keep
Queen Mother Square
Poundbury Fountain
Dorchester Borough Gardens
Custom House Quay, Weymouth, England
Chesil Beach from Portland
The area north of Dorchester
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Thomas Hardy statue
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The Community Radio Station covering Central-Southern Dorset, run by volunteers and not-for-profit

Dorchester’s Summer of Sunflowers is here!

Dorchester invites visitors to view the town that is now bursting with brightly coloured sunflowers all in aid of raising money for Dorset County Hospital’s Kingfisher Children’s Unit and Cherkasy Hospital in Ukraine.

Summer of Sunflowers is all about putting a smile on people’s faces and helping good causes, everyone is welcome to view the spectacular sunflower displays that are hanging across South Street. As well as explore the town to find some wonderful sunflower decorated shop windows. There are even sunflowers growing in Borough Gardens.

In August there will be a scenic walk marked out with sunflower pavement stickers leading people from the town to the amazing Sunflower Trail! Last year the trail brought thousands of visitors and raised nearly £25,000 for the Dorset County Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit. This amazing spectacle is back again at Maiden Castle Farm, which is nestled at the foot of the historic Maiden Castle, the largest prehistoric hill fort in England.

Dorchester’s Summer of Sunflowers - South Street

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The trail organiser Hazel Hoskin said: “It was a fantastic last year seeing the thousands of people who visited the farm to see the sunflowers. Judging by all the pictures we saw on social media we like to think we helped families make some special memories. I’m over the moon with the amount of money we raised last year and glad to see that sunflowers are appearing in the town centre too to extend the magic and increase the money we raise”

Dorchester Town Council has funded the town centre sunflower displays and organised the sunflower shop window decoration competition. There are over 25 beautiful window displays across both Poundbury and Dorchester. The town council hope that the sunflowers will add a welcoming vibrancy to the town this summer and put smiles on the faces of visitors. The town council are already pleased with the positive comments they have received about the displays.

Other than the symbolic importance of sunflowers to those in Ukraine, sunflowers carry many different meanings including the importance in protecting nature and wildlife. To some that see the sunflower displays they might think of the famous painting by Van Goh. No matter what you associate with the flower they are bright and inviting and will put a smile on your face.

The sunflower festivities will be up until the end of August. If you would like to donate, please use this link: https://gofund.me/eacdafbe

Discover Dorchester website: https://discoverdorchester.co.uk/

Maiden Castle Farm Website: https://www.maidencastlefarm.co.uk/sunflower-trail