Great news to hear that Durlston’s proposed £5.5 million redevelopment of its visitor facilities has been given the go-ahead thanks to confirmation of a £3.1 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The scheme includes the restoration of Durlston Castle and a new learning centre and observatory with the aim of enhancing visitors enjoyment of the park and making it a first class gateway to the Jurassic Coast.

Durlston was recently designated a National Nature Reserve by Natural England and the Heritage Lottery Fund was able to confirm the grant now that match funding has been secured by Friends of Durlston, the Jurassic Coast Trust and the Project Team.

Work is due to start in July 2009 with completion by the end of 2010.

Wareham Carnival takes place from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th July.

This year’s event includes performances from promising young local bands, a Gugge Festival with German, Swiss and British bands and a carnival and procession day.

See full list of events below.

Wareham Carnival: 4-6 July  (more…)

The Dorset Seafood Festival takes place on Weymouth’s Waterfront from 12-13 July.

As well as a wide range of seafood to get stuck into, events include cooking demonstrations by top chefs Mark Hix, Mitch Tonks and Tom Cull; a Dorset Young Seafood Chef of the Year Competition; Fishtucker Trials; filleting demonstrations; a wine matching exhibition; a fresh fish auction and live folk music.

Soak up the festival atmosphere and enjoy some great local seafood.

Dorset Seafood Festival: 12-13 July

Mr & Mrs R C C Bloomfield open their garden at Chamberlayne’s Farm, Bere Regis to the public on Saturday 19 July.
This fascinating garden was developed over the last 9 years and has impressive water features, mill leat and pond, lakes, water meadows, woodland and rockery.

From Bere Regis take the road to Wool for half a mile. Entrance on right next to a white house.

Admission £3 to include tea.

Enjoy some great nosh whilst enjoying the stunning views at the Seasonal Seafood Buffet at Studland on 6 July.

The selection of local seafood includes scallops, mussels, prawns and crab pate all washed down with wine.

Booking Advisable on 01929 450259. Meet at Knoll Beach Cafe, Studland.

Studland: July 6 12pm

The annual Swanage Regatta and Carnival takes place from Saturday 26 July to 2 August.

There will be over 100 events throughout the week including live music, the sailing regatta, fireworks and the magnificent carnival procession.

The Red Arrows will also be flying over Swanage on Sunday 27 July at 12 noon.

Swanage Regatta & Carnival: 26 July-2 August

Miracle Theatre Company perform ‘Jason’ at Maumbury Rings in Dorchester on Saturday 12 July.

Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece contains most of the ingredients you’d expect to find in a classic story: a perilous journey, bravery, jeopardy, revenge, plenty of comedy and a dose of the supernatural.

Bring your friends and family, a picnic, and something to sit on!


Maumbury Rings: Sat 12 July, £11, £5 Child

The summer beach cleans at Kimmeridge and Worbarrow Bay take place on Sunday 6 July at 2pm.

Do your bit to help the environment and clear these stunning beaches of all the rubbish that regularly washes up on them.

All equipment will be provided.

Wessex Walking Weekend takes place on 28-29 June with a number of events in Purbeck.

Over on Brownsea Island there is the ‘Great Walking Weekend’ with walks all around the island.

The Three Quarries Walk on 28 June at 10.30am takes in some fascinating and mysterious quarries. Hear tales of hardship and danger when men and boys worked underground from dawn to dusk.  The walk is approximately 2 miles and booking is essential on 01929 480609. Meet in Car park at Acton, Langton Matravers (GR SY988787)

A Smuggler’s Tale walk at Corfe Castle promises a fascinating insight into the secret lives of smugglers. Quarrymen by day, as soon as night fell they lurked in coves and caves. Goods were loaded into waiting wagons and carried to Corfe Castle under cover of darkness.  Booking Essential on 01929 480609. Meet at Corfe Castle Ticket Office.

Take part in Garden Moths Count 2008, the nationwide survey to see what moths are in your garden, which runs from 21 June to 6 July.

Garden Moths Count is an annual event encouraging people to take an interest in the moths found in British gardens at this time of year.

It’s part of the national Moths Count project, set up after research revealed that moth numbers were down by around 50 per cent in the southern half of Britain over recent decades.  

Garden Moths Count includes a national moth hunt, with people being asked to be on the lookout for 20 different species, several of which fly in the daytime.

Garden Moths Count: 21 June-6 July

Swalland Farm in Kimmeridge is holding an open day on Sunday 13 July.

There are lots of activities for all the family including:

• Milking demonstration, Working machinery
• Cliff top trailer rides, Fossil Workshop
• Cream teas, Produce Stall, Barbecue
• Skittles Competition, Great raffle prizes       

All proceeds will go towards building the new Kimmeridge Village Hall and Fossil Collection: a registered charity. Tel. 01929 480525 for further info.

The East Street Art & Craft Xmas Fair 2008 takes place in Corfe Castle Village Hall on Sunday 16th November.

The fair offers the chance to see the very talented and creative Artists & Crafts People of The Purbecks displaying and selling their unique works under one roof.

Admission and parking is free.

East Street Art & Craft Fair: 16 November 10.30-16:00

This year’s Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival runs from the 18th to 20th July.

The free festival celebrates the memory of the Tolpuddle Martyrs and this year it also coincides with Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday.

There will be the usual heady mix of great music, comedy poetry and politics.

Entry to the festival is FREE but camping tickets are also available to purchase.

See below for full list of events (more…)

Enjoy a 2 hour evening walk on Studland Nature Reserve to hear and hopefully see one of the heathlands special summer visitors - the Nightjar.

Meet at Greenlands Farm, off Ferry Road, Studland and bring Bring a torch.

Booking Essential: Contact Angela Peters, 01929 450259, angela.peters@nationaltrust.org

Studland: June 17 8pm-10pm

Germaine Greer presents ‘Shakespeare’s Wife’ at Dorchester Arts Centre on June 20th.

Germaine combines literary-historical techniques with documentary evidence about life in Stratford in an attempt to put Shakespeare’s marriage in its social context and presents a new and more fruitful set of hypotheses about the life and career of the farmer’s daughter who married our greatest poet.

The Q&A session which follows this talk can cover the full range of issues Professor Greer is associated with.

Dorchester Arts Centre: June 20th, £15