PurbeckBlog is taking a short break and will return in October with more Purbeck events and news.

Dorset Food Week, the county-wide celebration of local produce, runs from 25 October to 2nd November this year.

As part of the food fest, “Flavours of Dorset” Food Fair will take place at Studland Village Hall on Friday 31 October, 10am-5pm.

With over 13 local producers and shops this is your chance to enjoy some local, seasonal, fresh and delicious delights.

Dorset Food Week: Studland Village Hall, 31 Oct, 10am-5pm, FREE

The Swanage Blues & Roots Festival takes place on 3rd to 5th October.

The festival is a celebration of the Blues in all its forms - rural, urban, electric and acoustic - with over 40 gigs in 15 venues.

There is free admission to all venues but please donate generously as it costs the organiser, Steve Darrington, a lot of money, time and effort to organise.

LINE-UP:Robin Bibi Band * The Mustangs * Keith Thompson’s Strange Brew * Ian Hunt Band * Chris Scott’s Bluesdevil * Jon Walsh Blues Band * Coalhouse Walker Blues Band * Chris Collins & Blues Etc * Motel 6 * Ernie’s Rhythm Section * Slim Lightfoot Band * Fabulous Fezheads * John Crampton * C Sharp Blues * Coast * The Jives * Pete Smith * Martin Froud & Jim Tigwell * Sonny Black * Will Killeen * Bob Long * Honey On My Grave * Andrew Bazeley * Mike Healey

Spend an evening with journalist, writer and broadcaster Will Self on Monday 29 September at Poole’s Lighthouse. 

The evening will feature readings, stories and a wealth of anecdotes drawn from his colourful career and he will also be signing copies of his latest novel.

Lighthouse: Sep 29 8pm, £13

The next beach cleans at Kimmeridge and Worbarrow Bay take place on Sunday 21 September 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.

Relive history at the English Civil War Garrison weekend at Corfe Castle on 20-21 September.

Lord Hopton’s Regiment of Foote will be demonstrating all aspects of 17th century encampment, including drills and weapon displays.

Corfe Castle: Normal admission charges apply

Step back in time at the new multi-period ‘Historic Combat Festival’ event, in the grounds of Lulworth Castle on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September.

You will be able to meet re-enactors from the Roman and Medieval periods as well as soldiers from the 17th Century and the 19th Century Zulu War. They will be bringing a colourful and action packed Historic Combat Festival to life by offering visitors the opportunity to “get stuck into history”.

Walk through time and discover life from the past. Expect living history encampments, combat displays and skill demonstrations with re-enactors in authentic costume waiting to meet and discuss the past with you.

Event included in normal admission price and includes entry to the 17th Century Castle, Animal Farm, Adventure Playground and 18th Century Chapel. Under 4‘s free, Family saver tickets available.

Lulworth Castle: Sat 13th 10.30am-6pm, Sun 14th 10.30am-4pm.

Swanage Railway’s Grand Steam Gala and Vintage Transport Rally takes place from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 September.

Passenger steam trains will be running every 40 minutes between Norden and Swanage, with a booze cruise running on Saturday night.

Bournemouth and Poole Preservation Club is holding a vintage transport rally, including a beer tent and live music at Harmans Cross on Saturday and Sunday.

Rover tickets for unlimited day and evening travel and entry to the vintage transport rally are £18.

Swanage Railway: Fri 12-Sun 14 September

Join a Ranger on a gentle stroll to discover Durlston’s wildlife, geology, history and more.

Meet at the Visitor Centre. Adults £3, Children £2

Durlston: Sun 14 September 2.30pm

Inspired by Last Choir Standing? Do you enjoy singing and wish to improve you skills? Why not come along to a one-day singing workshop?

The Weatherbury Singers are hosting a Voice Workshop on Saturday 11th October at St George’s Church Room, Fordington, Dorchester from 10.30am to 3.30pm.

The workshop is being led by Linda Brown and Fiona Clarke, who are both well known and accomplished musicians and singers.

The format will be friendly and fun and include working with the voice, focusing on common vocal problems and learning new songs as a group. The cost is £15 and all music will be provided.

Complete and return the registration form or email Margaret MacLeod for further details.

The Weatherbury Singers are a lively and enthusiastic community choir based in Puddletown, with members from many of the surrounding towns and villages. We are a four-part choir performing a mixture of music styles including pop, musicals and choral, under the direction of our Musical Director, Linda Brown.W

We currently have vacancies for altos, tenors and basses and meet on Tuesday evenings in St Mary’s Church Room, Puddletown from 7.30pm until 9.30pm.

For further details please contact Margaret MacLeod on 07747 610746, margaret@macleodhanlon.co.uk, or Peter Casemore on 01305 848202.

Join the RSPB and and watch the antics of Ospreys on the edge of Poole Harbour.

Ospreys are currently migrating south and they spend some time resting in Poole Harbour before crossing the channel.

Telescopes will be available and experts will be on hand to answer your queries on these majestic birds

Meet at RSPB Arne nature reserve car park, near Wareham.

Arne: Sat 6 September, 10am-4pm 

Dorset Architectural Heritage Week 2008 runs from 13th to 21st September.

This celebration of Dorset’s rich architectural heritage is a chance to visit buildings not normally open to the public and to those who which have a special event taking place just for this week.

The events taking place in Purbeck are:

• Bere Regis Church guided tour - Tue 16th 11am, Thur 18th 3pm
• Holy Trinity Church visit, Wareham - every day 9.30am-5pm
• Wareham Town Museum, Open Day - every day 10-4pm
• Three Quarries Walk - Sun 14th 10.30am
• Corfe Castle, guided visit about the recent conservation work - Tue 16th 7pm, Thur 18th 7pm
• Corfe Castle, daubing day - Fri 19th 10.30am-12.30pm, Fri 19th 2pm-4pm

A full programme of events is available from Tourist Information Centres or check the DAH website.

Dorset Architectural Heritage Week: 13th-21st September

To celebrate the completion of the newly restored Clavell Tower at Kimmeridge Bay it will be open to the public on Sunday 31 August and Monday 1 September between 10am and 4pm.

The Landmark Trust started to dismantle the historic Grade II listed folly in September 2006 and has since rebuilt it 25 metres back from the eroding cliff edge. It will now be available as a place to stay and visit.

Peter Pearce, Director at the Landmark Trust, said, “This is an exciting day for the Landmark Trust and for Kimmeridge Bay. The tower’s future is secure and it can now resume its role as sentinel on this stretch of coastline, its familiar silhouette will continue to welcome the many thousands of people who visit and walk in Kimmeridge Bay each year. Our grateful thanks go to everyone who has supported this project - the Heritage Lottery Fund, our generous donors, the local media, the Smedmore estate and local residents, the contractors and everyone who backed the campaign the save the tower.”

The project has cost £898,000 which was raised through generous grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Country Houses Foundation and Dorset County Council as well as many private individuals and grant making trusts. (more…)

Purbeck Environment Action Team (PEAT) is holding a fun-filled day of music, theatre performance and street art at Abbots Quay, Wareham on Saturday 20 September. 

PEAT is a group of like-minded individuals working towards sustainability in Purbeck. They encourage “living lightly” and sharing the Earth’s resources fairly.

The ‘PEAT on the Street’ event aims to encourage alternatives to car use and will involve closing some of the side streets so that everyone can enjoy reclaiming the streets. In the spirit of the event you are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport to get there.

Visit the PEAT website for a full programme of events. As part of the day’s activities, The Rex cinema will also be showing Trafic (1971),  Jacques Tatis satire about people and their cars at 7.30pm.

Purbeck Environment Action Team: 20 September, 10am-4pm 

This year’s Swanage Folk Festival runs from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th September.

The festival is a great blend of superb music, street entertainment, dancing and kids activities.

Don’t miss the dance procession through Swanage on Saturday afternoon at 3.30pm as well as the following main concerts:

• Friday night:Pete Coe, Dave Pegg & PJ Wright, Dansaul, Compere; Ben Campbell
• Saturday night:Mad Agnes, Jez Lowe & the Bad Pennies, Little Johhny England   Compere: Keith Donnelly
• Sunday night: The New Scorpion Band; Compere: Bob Kirkpatrick

Concerts and events are held at a variety of venues in the town centre, including the Conservative Club, The Corner Restaurant Cellar, The Committee Room in the Mowlem Theatre, St Mary’s Parish Church, and the main marquee on Sandpit field. Saturday night is the showpiece concert at the Middle School.

The Sanpit field is also the venue for the alternative delights of the colourful craft fair and events tent featuring a range of free bands over the Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Swanage Folk Festival: Fri 5-Sun 7 September