Get warmed up for this summer’s inaugural Camp Bestival at Lulworth Cove by catching the Bestival reunion tour as it reaches Bournemouth in March.

The Cuban Brothers will be performing live at Bournemouth’s Hush club- with other acts and DJ’s to be announced.

Monkey World has taken delivery of 88 apes that it rescued from a laboratory in Chile.

The Capuchin monkeys, who have been kept in small laboratory cages their entire lives, will be rehabilitated in specially designed houses at the rescue centre.

The apes arrived on a Hercules carrier at Bournemouth airport this morning in what is the biggest ever rescue of apes in the world.

The ‘Cart Wheels to Clay Wagons’ walk at Corfe Castle on 5 February follows the ancient route to Ower Quay which was used for the export of Purbeck Marble.

After a picnic lunch you will pass the site of Edward’s ‘New Town’ and return to Bushey along the 19th century railroad, built to export clay for the Wedgewood factories.

Bookings Essential on 01929 480609.

Corfe Castle: Tue 5 Feb 10.30-4pm 

Martin Brindle brings his unique puppet show to Bere Regis during the half-term break.

His show, Head In Your Hands, uses hand puppets and live, traditionally-inspired music to create a funny and fantastic adventure of the imagination which will appeal to children and adults alike.

ArtsReach: Thur 21 Feb, 10.30am: Drax Hall

Get the little ones trained up for a life in the circus during half-term at Lulworth Castle.

Activities for kids of all ages includes uni-cycling, Diablo, rollabolla, hoolahoop, plate spinning, juggling, fun stilts and lots more.

Fiery Jack will also be performing thrilling aerial shows in the Castle and two shows everyday in the Circus marquee. There will be tales from the Ringmaster, face painting, quizzes and Hunt the clowns red nose! For all those budding acrobats there will be a big bouncy castle to tumble around on.

Lulworth Castle: 17-22 Feb: 10.30am-4pm

As part of the Artsreach series, The Beacons play Winfrith Village Hall on Thursday 21 February.

Featuring Oli-Wilson Dickson on violin and voice and Eddy Jay on accordion, guitar and voice, The Beacons take their audiences on a wild and exciting musical journey.

Expect to hear everything from mind-bending Macedonian dances to delicate Welsh airs, from sizzling Gypsy serenades to barn-storming Bluegrass.

ArtsReach: Thur 21 Feb 7.30pm: Winfrith Village Hall 

Join in with National Nest Box Week and have fun with the family at Arne by making your own nest box for birds in your garden.

Have your questions about nesting birds and putting up nest boxes answered, and find out more about where different types of birds like to nest.

Meet at RSPB Arne nature reserve car park

Arne:  Sun 17 Feb 10.00am-3pm, £4 for each nest box

Don your walking boots and join local expert Malcom Turnbull for a walk to discover Durlston’s World Heritage qualities and it’s past environments.

Durlston: Sun 17 Feb, 2pm: Adults £3, Children £2 

If you missed it first time round there’s another chance to see Atonement at The Rex next week.

Starring Kiera Knightly and James McAvoy it tells the story of the devastating consequences of a young girl’s misguided imagination.

The Rex:  Tue 29th 6.15pm, Wed 30th 7.15pm

This weekend is the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch Weekend.

To participate you just need to spend an hour counting the birds in your garden or local park, recording the highest number of each species you see. You can then submit your results online from Saturday.

There are also events going on all around the country - including a guided walk around the RSPB Radipole Lake Reserve in Weymouth on Saturday and Sunday, 10am-12 noon.

Camp Bestival, the exciting new festival coming to Lulworth Castle on 18-20 July, launched its new website today.

It reveals more details about the festival: the Castle Stage will host the main acts of the weekend and there will be Bestival Blue Coats on hand in the main arena to look after your every need in a style akin to 1950s British Holiday Camp hosts!

Check out the website for more details of the Magic Meadow with its Bollywood Tent, a Pink Flamingo Cocktail Bar and a Knitting Tent! There’s more fun and activities planned than you could shake a stick at so if you are bringing the kids they are guaranteed a fantastic weekend.

Bands and DJ’s confirmed so far are: The Flaming Lips, Chuck Berry, Billy Bragg, Suzanne Vega, The Wurzels, King Creosote, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, The Fence Collective, Ladyhawke, Florence and the Machine, Scroobius Pip, Beardyman presents Battlejam, The Cuban Brothers, Andrew Weatherall, Idjut Boys, Kevin Rowland, Greg’s Greats, Queens of Noize, Maurice Fulton, Mungo’s Hi Fi, Greg Wilson

Enjoy a special evening of Contemporary & Improvised Music, with the world renowned guitarist G P Hall and four other stunning musicians.

Click on the video below for a preview of the evening. 

St Aldhelm’s Church, Branksome: Sun 3rd Feb: 7.45pm: £4.00

Join quarryman and historian Trev Haysom for a walk to explore Durlston’s history of quarrying.

The walk includes some more challenging sections so make sure you are wearing hardy footwear. Meet at the Visitor Centre.

Durlston: 26 Jan 2pm: £2

A dolphin that got caught in a rope off Swanage beach was rescued by a member of the local sailing club yesterday.

The common dolphin was seen struggling by members of the public who called the Coastguard.

Mike Cemm from the local sailing club then swam out to the dolphin and cut the rope, and - after a number of attempts - guided it safely back out to sea.

The RSPCA and Durlston Marine Project were also on hand to offer advice.

Purbeck Council has launched a new 3-year trial to collect and recycle paper beverage cartons.

Although they can’t be placed in your recycling bin, you can dispose of your cartons in special orange-coloured recycling collection bins (taking paper-based cartons only) in the following locations:

Swanage North Beach Car Park; The D’Urberville Hall in Wool; Bere Regis Car Park; The Upton Oil Site at Blandford Road North in Upton; and Purbeck District Council Offices in Wareham (the Wareham bank will be arriving in a few weeks).