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 – […]
Every year, ancient objects turn up in Dorset’s fields, gardens and riverbanks, brought to light by metal detectors, dog walkers and gardeners. It falls to Ciorstaidh Hayward-Trevarthen, Dorset Council’s finds liaison officer and her assistant Nancy Grace to work out what they are. They are county custodians for the Portable Antiquities Scheme, a recording project […]
Weldmar Hospicecare has launched four spectacular new fundraising challenges for 2027. Supporters can climb Mount Snowdon under the stars, hike through Cambodian villages and jungles, cycle to the iconic Mont-Saint-Michel in France, or take part in the Jurassic Coast Ultra Challenge. All sponsorship raised by participants will go directly towards providing specialist care for adults […]
With the partial solar eclipse due on Wednesday August 12, there is a last-minute scramble for safety glasses, with big customer demand to find out where to buy solar eclipse glasses in Dorset. The items are changing hands on Facebook Marketplace for prices ranging from £3 – £20. And you might also still be able […]
Get ready to stomp and explore – Dino Day is roaring back to Portland Museum on Wednesday, August 19. Little ones can get stuck into paper dino crafts, making their own prehistoric pals, or take on the Dino Eye Spy Challenge, hunting for hidden clues. There’s also the chance to paint your own fossil, get […]
For documentary photographer Carlos Guarita, photojournalism is capturing that moment which will matter. The exact split-second when visual and psychological elements align, in the moment which will shout: “I was here, this happened, look.” In 1974, Carlos was following the news on the military coup in Portugal. He left the London theatre group he was […]
A Weymouth-born man will be included in the 2027 Guinness Book of World Records – after spending the last 35 years searching for the Loch Ness Monster. Steve Feltham was 28 years old when he jacked in his job, bought a converted Dorset County Council mobile library from a bloke in Puddletown and set off […]
Dorset Council has apologised after chopping and changing the deadlines for residents to have their say on the ‘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). Consultation for the first phase – known as […]
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.
