July 10, 2026
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The West Dorset Magazine Articles by: Emily Quance
Sepia portrait of William Barnes in formal dark jacket, long white beard, with a dignified, thoughtful expression.
Church

Urgent plea as church bells immortalised by William Barnes silent since 1908

Readers of The West Dorset Magazine are being invited to join a big community effort to raise the final £50,000 to restore the

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Chloe Marsh, smiling while stroking one of the black and white dairy cows that produce Dorset ice cream in a green field. She's wearing a burgundy long-sleeved top and dark farm apron, and other cattle graze behind her
News

Family farm delighted with award for Dorset ice cream vending machine

A Dorchester farm is in the running for the ‘Rural Oscars’ for its innovative vending machines selling Dorset ice cream, milkshakes and fresh

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Alt text for Bettiscombe: "Looking through twin brick gateposts with decorative stone tops, framing a wooden gate, the view opens onto the sweeping gardens of Bettiscombe Manor. Rolling green lawns stretch into the distance, lined with mature trees and flowering borders, with the Dorset countryside and Vale beyond. The early morning or late afternoon light casts long shadows across the grass, and a soft mist hangs gently over the distant landscape beneath a pale blue sky. This is the entrance to designer Jasper Conran's Bettiscombe Manor near Bridport, which opens for the National Garden Scheme on Thursday 11 June. The gardens showcase Conran's creative, constantly evolving planting with orchards, mellow brick enclosures, and broad beds flanking an unforgettable view down to the sea
News

13 stunning Dorset gardens open for National Garden Scheme in June – including Jasper Conran’s Bettiscombe Manor

Another set of glorious gardens will open for charity this month, as part of the National Garden Scheme, including the grounds of designer

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Mayor presents Weymouth volunteers at Weymouth Museum Trust with a Community Award certificate at the 2026 Mayor's Community Awards ceremony
News

Weymouth volunteers celebrated as unsung heroes at Mayor’s Awards 2026

Individuals and groups who go the extra mile for others were recognised in the 2026 Mayor’s Community Awards. Outgoing Mayor Caroline Nickinson presented

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Reverend Martin Lee (centre) with colleagues inside Sherborne Abbey, which has launched a £1m fundraising appeal for accessibility improvements
Church

Sherborne Abbey unveils £1 million appeal for new toilets and revamp

Sherborne Abbey has launched a £1m fundraising appeal to support a vital upgrade. Work on the new facilities started last month. The vestry

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Black and white photograph of a stone sculpture showing a veiled face in profile, carved religious monument detail from Jim Johnson's Dorset churches photography project"
News

Photographer reveals hidden beauty of all 438 Dorset churches

Jim Johnson is a man on a mission – to photograph the interior of every single church in Dorset. It will probably take

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Members of Bridport Gig Rowing Club row in a traditional wooden Cornish pilot gig on Lyme Bay, pulling in practiced unison with wooden oars. The rowers wear blue club shirts and life jackets, with one shirt displaying "Bridport Gig Rowing Club" and another showing championship details. A cox in a red cap sits in the centre directing the crew. The golden cliffs of West Bay rise dramatically in the background beneath a clear blue sky. The image captures the dynamic movement and teamwork of competitive gig rowing.
Sport

Bridport Gig Rowing Club: a recipe for joy and community

Six rowers are in a traditional Cornish pilot gig, pulling hard in practiced unison, and Dagger skims across Lyme Bay like she’s grown

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Two older men stand together at a Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) event in front of a blue RAFA flag displaying the RAF emblem. The man on the left wears a light grey jacket with a burgundy and navy striped tie and RAF insignia pin. The man on the right wears a dark blue blazer with RAF medals and insignia on his chest and holds a polished silver trophy with decorative handles.
News

Bridport Royal Air Force charity honoured for veteran support

A little Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) punching well above its weight was recognised for its outstanding service. The Bridport & Lyme Regis

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Jason Malone, Principal of Dorset Studio School, smiles at the camera while standing in a bright school corridor next to the school's branded signage. The blue sign features Dorset Studio School's distinctive geometric triangle logo in green, blue, yellow and orange, with "LAND & ENVIRO" visible below the school name. Jason wears a white shirt, patterned tie and a green lanyard with keys and ID badge. The modern school corridor stretches behind him with fluorescent lighting and students visible in the background.
Education

Dorset Studio School: How land-based learning transforms student confidence

By the time the school gates open each morning, Jason Malone has usually already walked the site. As Principal of Dorset Studio School,

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Liz, in a white wedding dress and long veil, holds the hand of her groom Phil in a dark suit and burgundy tie as they pose together in the manicured gardens of Springfield Country Hotel on their wedding day in 1996. Behind them stands the historic red-brick hotel building with ivy covering its walls, surrounded by flowering shrubs, ornamental plants and lush green lawns. The couple faces the camera with Phil standing behind Liz, creating a classic wedding portrait set against the hotel's elegant country backdrop.
News

1996 bride celebrates pearl anniversary at same Dorset luxury hotel where she tied the knot

Our competition for a two-night stay at the Springfield Country Hotel Leisure Club & Spa received an unprecedented response as more than 600

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