Europe’s largest monster truck is crushing its way into the Dorset County Show 2026, returning to Dorchester on September 5 and 6. The county show has announced its headline main arena attraction, and it is BIG. Big Pete and The Grim Reaper Monster Trucks will be jumping, car crushing and even ripping cars apart. Get […]
Residents have been warned time is running out for comments and objections to the controversial ‘Norchester’ development. The North Dorchester Consortium, a partnership between Grainger Plc and Wyatt Homes, wants to build up to 3,750 homes to create the North Dorchester Garden Community (NDGC). The planning application for the first phase – a scheme named […]
Three sold-out performances of Unearthed, Women of Dorset’s powerful new community theatre production, culminated with a lantern parade through Dorchester celebrating the county’s extraordinary women. Following the final performance at Dorchester Arts, the audience joined the cast and community in a moving, joyful procession through the town, singing songs from the play and carrying handmade […]
By Kim Berlin We did it! Some time ago I wrote about a proposal for the community to buy two acres of France Quarry, a little known but accessible area of woodland and former quarry behind the village of Easton on the Isle of Portland. Unsignposted, and hidden from view, when the proposal was first […]
The countdown is underway for the 2026 Melplash Agricultural Show, taking place on Thursday, August 27 at the West Bay Showground near Bridport. The Show has been bringing together the farming community and the wider public for generations and remains one of Dorset’s most anticipated summer events. Organised by the Melplash Agricultural Society, the annual […]
Wessex Morris Men are holding a ‘Bring-a-friend’ night in the hopes of attracting new members of all ages. The side are resuming their practice season in their new home of Charminster Village Hall, North Street, Charminster, DT2 9QS, on Monday evenings between 7.30pm and 9.30pm. Bagman Ray Dyson said: “Our first practice on September 14 […]
One of Dorset’s most iconic buildings has landed a prestigious architectural award. Sherborne House is a Grade I listed Georgian mansion that has been sensitively restored and adapted into a new cultural destination known as The Sherborne. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) named it winner of the refurbishment and revitalisation project category at […]
Bridport Vintage Market has donated £1,000 to help the community grow fresh food. Edible Bridport, a Bridport Food Matters project, works with volunteers, schools and community groups to transform neglected public green spaces into productive fruit, vegetable and herb gardens that are free for everyone to enjoy. As well as providing fresh, seasonal produce, the […]
Residents of a new housing estate on the edge of Charminster say Wyatt Homes has left the site unfinished, unsightly, and dangerous – yet they are expected to stump up £400 a year for its maintenance. The Charminster Farm development – four phases plus projected fifth and sixth phases – plus another plan by Bellway […]
We are Bird Media – two experienced journalists who have decided to break free and launch
their own news publication The West Dorset Magazine.
Editor Miranda Robertson has worked for a number of local papers, including the Dorset Echo, Salisbury Journal and The New Blackmore Vale. She lives in Maiden Newton with her husband Peter, son Robert, jug PugsieMfanwy, pug Hugo and the ginger ninja Kitten Mitten.
Karen Bate has worked for the Salisbury Journal, Wiltshire Living Magazine, Bournemouth Echo and The New Blackmore Vale. She lives with husband Stuart, daughter Florence, dogs Sir Alfred Sticks and Buddy and cat Milton. There’s also a bonkers horse called Mars in her menagerie.
