Nature’s Calendar has recorded the biggest crop of Hawthorn berries since records began. Hedgerows and woodlands across Dorset are awash with haws, attracting a constant stream of birds who are feasting on this year’s bumper crop. Nature’s Calendar recorders have given this year’s crop a 4.2 on the fruit scale, a score deemed as ‘exceptional’ […]

Mary Kahn, the founder of Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support, has been honoured with the distinguished Points of Light Award by the Prime Minister’s Office for her exceptional dedication and outstanding contributions to the community. The award, launched by Queen Elizabeth II, is testament to Mary’s unwavering commitment to improving the lives of cancer patients […]

Five community groups and charities were presented with cheques totalling £3,000 at West Dorset Vintage Tractor & Stationary Engine Club’s (WDVTSEC) October meeting at Dorchester’s Colliton Club. The money was raised at this summer’s annual West Dorset Vintage Rally held at West Bay – a vintage vehicle buff’s chance to indulge in all sorts of […]

A Portland town councillor is ‘reluctantly’ taking Dorset Council to court after a judge ruled it was the authority’s responsibility to ensure the Bibby Stockholm barge had the correct planning permission. Island mayor Carralyn Parkes, who is bringing the action as a private citizen, tried to take the Home Office to court over its decision […]

Volunteers have stepped up to turn a rural Dorset chapel into their village’s ‘Other Public House’. Since February, Uploders Methodist Chapel has been opening once a week for Post Office staff to offer counter services to locals. But chapel volunteers and co-ordinators are now seeing the venue grow into more than just a part-time Post […]

A couple who launched their print business a month before the first covid lockdown, but battled back to win a business award have opened new premises with an expanded offering. David and Juanita Prince moved from South Africa and took over Dorchester’s main Post Office in Trinity Street in 2018. They bought Sprint Signs in […]

Weymouth pensioner Bob Roberts has swum into the record books as part of the oldest team to swim the Channel – after an attempt last year ended in a row over the rules. Bob, 75, joined a six-strong team with an average age of over 77 to clinch the record. Last year, Bob was one […]

A celebratory tractor run and raffle raised £1,172 for the Caundle Marsh community. Some 55 tractors assembled on Hiscocks’ farm off the A3030 earlier this month for the fundraising event. Organised by the Caundle Marsh Parochial Church Council and led by James and Di Hiscock, the event saw drivers and other workers lining up for […]

A legal fight to stop the Bibby Stockholm being used as migrant accommodation was being heard in London’s Royal Courts of Justice as we went to press, after a donation from Dame Vanessa Redgrave got the fund over £25,000. If the case, launched by Portland’s mayor Carralyn Parkes, is approved it goes on to judicial […]