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 […]
A Dorset artist who survived a stroke and life-changing surgery is hoping to inspire others through a new exhibition of her artwork launching today in Poundbury. Lucy Warren, mum of two young children, was born and brought up in West Dorset and went to Thomas Hardye School and Weymouth College. “I studied art A-level at […]
By Viviane Horne Last week Portland Museum ran its annual archaeology festival, so this month we have two young volunteers’ stories. Penelope Bentham was born in Lewisham, London. Her mum was a musician and her dad is a retired GP. Her grandfather was Robert Bentham, a geologist who worked on Ellesmere Island, Canada, with Ernest […]
Little miracles are happening across West Dorset. Engineers are quietly transforming disabled people’s lives, one bespoke invention at a time. Working for free, they help children mount and ride horses by adapting wheeled ramps. They make special gloves, so a man with a brain injury can hold a golf club. Another can play guitar again, […]
Did you know Dorchester was ahead of its time in social housing? It seems unlikely, doesn’t it? Yet the largely affluent county town was one of the first places to provide almshouses for people who couldn’t afford market rents. In 1613, a great fire destroyed 75 homes in the town, which was then the richest […]
‘Norchester’ developers have shed more light on how their plans will enhance community and protect nature. 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), nicknamed ‘Norchester’ by locals. The planning application for the first phase – […]
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.
