Hone up your circus skills during the half-term break as fiery Jack brings his circus skills workshop to Lulworth Castle.

There’s entertainment for kids of all ages including stilt walking, uni-cycling, rollabolla, plate spinning, hoolahoop and juggling.  There will also be a bouncy castle, face painting, quizzes and hunt the clown’s red nose!

Bring a picnic or enjoy the special circus menu at the Stable Cafe.

News from the BBC website that a swarm of bees grounded a plane at Bournemouth airport for 11 hours yesterday.

The plane, bound for Portugal, ran into the swarm of bees shortly after take off and had to turn back after experiencing engine problems.

This follows earlier reports that a swarm of 20,000 odd bees descended over Bournemouth pier on Tuesday afternoon. 

Under the Purbeck Aware banner, Bere Farm throws open its gates this Saturday for a day of activities and fun for all the family.

Pack your wellies and take part in farm walks, trailer rides, sheep shearing or gem up on the latest organic farming techniques (and as one of Dorset’s largest organic farms they should be able to teach you a thing or two).

Bere Farm is also the location of the new Goldy’s farm shop so you’ll be sure to leave with some lip-smacking produce.

Bere Farm:  Off Wareham Road, Lytchett Matravers

If flowers are your thing, forget Chelsea Flower Show and get yourself over to Brownsea Island this Bank Holiday weekend.

To mark its centenary as the birthplace of the Scouts, and as part of the Purbeck Aware Festival,  a spectacular flower festival is being held at St Mary’s church.

Brownsea Island:  10.30am-4pm:  Free

With only a few days to go before the start of the Dorchester Festival, get yourself into the spirit of things by tuning into the Festival radio on 87.7 FM, or online at www.myspace.com/dorchesterfestivalradio

The festival opens on Thursday night with the Prague based contemporary dance theatre group Deja Donne performing ‘Piotr and the Stars of Tut’:

“A curious story of Piotr - a producer from the non-existent land of Tut - lost in the illusionary world of the theatre reality. The choreographer’s duo conducts a truly clever journey in the area of fantasy, dramaturgy, theatrical mechanisms and everyday life.”

Dorchester Festival:  Deja Donne:  Thur May 24th 7:30pm:  Corn Exchange: Tickets £8/£6:  01305 266926

Today is the start of the month long Purbeck Aware Festival, which celebrates Purbeck’s outstanding natural heritage with a series of events including guided walks, cycle tours, boat trips and everything in-between.

To inspire you to get out and about to the countryside events, an exhibition of original watercolours depicting scenes from the Jurassic coast and other local areas of interest by the artist Leslie Gibbons A.T.D will be on display at the Owl Pottery in Swanage for the duration of the festival.

On Sunday 20th, enjoy an amble around Durlston’s spring meadows with botanical expert Ted Pratt.  Meet at Durlston Country Visitor Centre 2.30pm. £3 - contact 01929 424443.

An exhibition that explores the stories and contribution of black people in Dorset over the past 300 years runs every day during this year’s Dorchester Festival.

The exhibition includes a display of photographs, stories, writings, short film and audio recordings detailing the lives and histories of people of African, Asian and Caribbean heritage in Dorset.

Dorchester Arts Centre:   May 25-28:  11am-2pm:  Free

The actor and writer Julian Fellowes introduces The New Hardy Players, who perform extracts from ‘Under The Greenwood Tree’, ‘The Mayor of Casterbridge’ and ‘Return of the Native’ at this year’s Dorchester Festival.

Thomas Hardy’s original Hardy Players disbanded in 1928 after Hardy’s death. The New Hardy Players reformed in 2005 and they were recently in the news as one of the original Hardy Players, Norrie Woodhall, performed with them at the grand age of 101.

Dorchester Festival:  Corn Exchange:  Tickets £6/£4:  Box Office: 01305 266926

Hailing from Newcastle but with a sound that combines ‘Balkan gypsy, Middle Eastern flavours, shades of klezmer and tango, jazz and reggae, plus a touch of ska’, the Baghdaddies bring their riotous party sound to the Dorchester Festival later this month.

Guaranteed to be a floor-filler and a fine way to groove into Bank Holiday Monday.

Baghdaddies:  Big White Tent, Maumbury Rings:  Tickets £15/£13:  Box Office: 01305 266926

With over 60 artists exhibiting at over 30 venues there should be something for everyone at this year’s Purbeck Art Week.

The biannual arts fair aims to make art more accessible for everyone and gives you a chance to meet local artists.

A taster exhibition will be held at Rollington Barn near Corfe Castle where samples of all the artists can be viewed.

Keep an eye out for the yellow and blue signs indicating an open studio or visit the website for full listings.

If you’re on the Purbeck coast this weekend keep your eyes peeled for a pod of between 5-10 bottlenose dolphins that have recently been spotted in the area.

The dolphins were seen off Old Harry Rocks and between Poole Harbour and Bournemouth Pier. Now is a good time for dolphin sightings before the summer boat traffic scares them off.

The Durlston Marine Project website has a list of reported sightings and you can add your own.

As part of the Dorchester Festival,  prepare yourself for an evening of the very best in stand-up comedy as Lucy Porter  (diminutive star of the moment), Norman Lovett (Red Dwarf’s ‘Holly’ ) and Robin Ince (Mock the Week, Never Mind the Buzzcocks etc) play the Big White Tent at Maumbury Rings.

Dorchester Festival:  Box Office: 01305 266926:  Tickets £14/ £12

Extinguish your pyromaniac tendencies by attending the Fire Festival in Bournemouth on Saturday.

This festival of fire will include performances from top fire performers, a selection of fire-art as well as a broad cross-section of live music; including rock n’ roll, blues, jive, skiffle and ska. If hunger bites, the world food village will be serving up a variety of continental delicacies.

Fire Festival:  Saturday 12 May:  Meyrick Park:  Free

Enjoy a selection of over 50 real ales and ciders whilst marvelling at the passing steam and diesel locomotives at the forthcoming Swanage Railway Beer Festival.

The real ale tent will be located at Harmans Cross and you can keep also keep yourself refreshed on most of the trains.

Troop down to Lulworth Castle this Bank Holiday weekend to relive the English Civil War, as presented by Sir Thomas Tyldesley’s Regiment of Foote.

Experience the thrills of big gun firing displays and a full scale battle or indulge yourself in the crafts and music of the period. If the kids are getting out of hand show them the real meaning of discipline by enrolling them in a military drill.  

Lulworth Castle:  6-7 May:  Adult £7, Child £4