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News and Features
Weymouth YouTubers to tackle gruelling Three Peaks challenge in just 24 hours
Weymouth YouTubers are undertaking a feat of endurance billed as Great Britain’s toughest outdoor challenge. Ashley Wild runs The Big Adventure Show with his friend Barney. Together with another mate, George, they are attempting the National Three Peaks challenge on September 5. The trio aim to climb the highest mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon – within 24 hours, covering 23 miles and 3,064 meters of ascent – not to mention hundreds of miles between each peak. Ashley says there’s only a 40% success rate for people attempting the challenge, so his partner.
- by Emily Quance
- August 31, 2026
- 0 Comments
- 7 Views
Europe’s largest monster truck joins Dorset County Show 2026
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 ready to witness the roar of these impressive monster trucks as they crush cars – they are quite the machine. Big Pete – the world’s only real monster truck – weighs a staggering 7.5 tonnes and stands at 16ft tall by 12ft wide – no.
- by Emily Quance
- August 30, 2026
- 0 Comments
- 9 Views
Deadline looms for objections to North Dorchester Garden Community plans for first 500 homes
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 Stinsford Hill Neighbourhood – shows 500 dwellings could spring up on land west of the A35 and east of Slyers Lane. Mark Damon Chutter (pictured), chair and academic director of the Thomas Hardy Society, described the proposals as ‘absolutely hideous’. Standing at Blue Bridge, which.
- by Emily Quance
- August 29, 2026
- 0 Comments
- 18 Views
Women of Dorset took centre stage in fierce new play
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 lanterns to illuminate and honour real women from Dorset’s past. The cast and community chorus of more than 40 women aged from nine to 82 used magical moments, dance and song to bring Dorset’s forgotten women vividly back to life. History was illuminated throughout performances.
- by Emily Quance
- August 24, 2026
- 0 Comments
- 11 Views
France Quarry joy as islanders raise £55,000 to save Portland’s hidden woodland
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 mooted on social media many people who had lived here for years expressed surprise as they’d never been there or heard of it. Yet take a turn off the main road into the village, Easton Street, or take a dive in through the top of.
- by Emily Quance
- August 23, 2026
- 0 Comments
- 16 Views
Countdown to Melplash Show as huge event set to dazzle with over 400 stands
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 show continues to showcase the very best of farming, food production, livestock, rural crafts and countryside traditions, attracting thousands of visitors. With agriculture firmly at its heart, the show will feature livestock and equine classes, horticulture, floral and homecraft competitions, and more than 400 trade.
- by Emily Quance
- August 22, 2026
- 0 Comments
- 13 Views
Wessex Morris Men invite new dancers to bring-a-friend night ahead of 70th anniversary
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 is a ‘Bring-a-friend’ night so perhaps you could encourage others who may have been interested (but dare not speak it) to come along with you to begin your Morris journey together. “If you can’t make this date, we do welcome new members to come along.
- by Emily Quance
- August 21, 2026
- 0 Comments
- 17 Views
Sherborne House £15m restoration wins prestigious award
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 its south west regional awards ceremony. The restoration of The Sherborne was a painstaking affair. Dorset-based SPASE design – the architects behind projects at Athelhampton House and Duntish Mill Farm – worked to create a new space in the old frame, preserving some incredible features.
- by Emily Quance
- August 20, 2026
- 0 Comments
- 16 Views
Bridport Vintage Market hands over £1,000 boost to grow community garden
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 project encourages people to grow, harvest and share food while developing practical gardening skills and strengthening community connections. A market spokesperson said: “Part of the donation will fund the creation of additional vegetable beds and the renovation of a courtyard at St Michael’s Trading Estate,.
- by Emily Quance
- August 19, 2026
- 0 Comments
- 24 Views
Welcome to The West Dorset Magazine
We are Bird Media – two experienced journalists who have decided to break free and launch
their own news publication The West Dorset Magazine.
Miranda Robertson
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
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.
