Record-breaking summer at Museum of East Dorset as Minecraft adventures draw the crowds

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20 August 2025

It has been a summer to remember at the Museum of East Dorset, where visitor numbers have soared by an impressive 250% following the launch of Minecraft-inspired family activities.

Since the start of the school holidays, Wimborne’s much-loved museum has welcomed wave after wave of children and parents eager to take part. The programme has combined the familiar world of Minecraft with the museum’s heritage setting, encouraging playful discovery and imagination – and all without a screen in sight.

Minecraft fans are flocking to the Museum of East Dorset this summer

From day one, the activities have struck a chord. Families have been creating their own ‘Player Skins’ at craft tables, making masks, and sculpting in clay. Others have grabbed a spade at the interactive Sandbox Mining zone to uncover hidden treasures, or followed the Mob Hunt Trail through the galleries in search of blocky intruders. The costume station, where youngsters can dress up as a Creeper, Enderdragon or another Minecraft character, has also proved a favourite.

On certain dates, the Garden Room has even been reimagined as a Mob Arena, complete with NERF Minecraft bows and crossbows for brave visitors to test their skills against mobs of the night.

Operations Manager Andy Putt said: “The Minecraft sessions have offered a fresh and engaging way for young visitors to connect with local history – learning about architecture, archaeology and community heritage in the process. There’s even been a bit of maths thrown in which the kids don’t seem to have minded!”

Arthur and Lorna Downing enjoying Minecraft fun this summer

Parents and grandparents have praised the activities for sparking creativity and making the museum a place the whole family can enjoy together.

Arthur and Lorna Downing, aged 8 and 10 from Corfe Mullen, visited with their mum and grandparents. Arthur said: “I’ve loved the Mob Arena shooting range and building at craft table.” His sister Lorna added: “Finding all the hidden figures on the museum trail was great fun.”

Museum Director Francesca Hollow said: “We’re absolutely delighted by the response. This initiative has shown how a modern trend like Minecraft can open new doors to learning and spark an interest in heritage. It’s been wonderful to see the museum buzzing with so many youngsters and full of energy and excitement. The Museum of East Dorset continues to prove that history isn’t just something to look at – it’s something to build, explore and bring to life.”

The Minecraft programme runs until Saturday 6th September, and tickets give unlimited entry to the museum for a full year. For more information and booking, visit www.museumofeastdorset.co.uk

Peter Thomas Reay

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Editorial team

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19 August 2025

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24/3/57 – 11/08/25

Died on 11th August 2025 aged 68yrs.

Much loved and sadly missed husband, father, grandfather and friend.

Funeral service to be held at Yeovil crematorium on Friday 29th August at 12noon.

Family flowers only please, but donations kindly accepted in Peters memory for Weldmar Hospice care of David Rivett funeral directors 30 Lyde Road Yeovil Somerset BA21 5AT – 01935 433737

Magic under the stars –and the clouds

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Editorial team

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19 August 2025

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Fans of Swan Lake – arguably the greatest of all classical ballets – had an unexpected treat at Covent Garden Dance Company’s 2025 Ballet under the Stars at Hatch House near Tisbury. A serious viral illness forced the withdrawal of Lauren Cuthbertson, and the change of soloist meant two changes to the programme, including a heart-stopping finale pas de deux from Swan Lake, performed by the exquisite Emma Hawes, with her dance partner Gareth Haw.
It was a great disappointment for regular audiences, who were looking forward to the return to Hatch of the famous dancer, a principal guest artist with the Royal Ballet. Everyone hoped for a speedy recovery for Lauren, but Emma Hawes, leading principal dancer with English National Ballet, was no mere stand-in. She captivated everyone with her beautiful shapes and feather-light classical perfection, in a touching pas de deux from Giselle, with Haw, who is also a leading principal dancer at ENB.
They followed this, rounding off a magical evening, with the great Swan Lake pas de deux, possibly the most famous in all classical ballet, here given a matchless beauty and poignancy by a ballerina whose return to Hatch will be eagerly awaited!

Emma Hawes and Gareth Haw, Swan Lake Act 2. Ballet Under the Stars. www.coventgardendance.com © Alice Pennefather

A joyful smoulder
The evening lived up to the name ‘ballet under the stars’ on both Friday and Saturday – Sunday’s rain did nothing to dampen the experience, and if the stars were mostly hidden in the sky, they were very much on show on stage under the marquee in the beautiful 17th century walled garden.
Courteney Celeste Fox, probably the Caribbean’s most famous dancer and now the Cultural Ambassador for the Bahamas, gave a joyfully smouldering performance of In Time, a new work which she choreographed, danced to a score composed and performed by Bahamian jazz trumpeter Giveton Gelin, who also performed two solos.
For lovers of contemporary dance, there were two astonishing pieces created by Ekleido and danced by company founders and joint artistic directors Hannah Ekholm and Faye Stoeser. Performing to a powerful and mainly electronic score, the pair – dressed in gothic-influenced glittering black – gave the world premiere of their new work, Clinquant, this year’s Dicky Buckle Fund new work.

Ekeido, Splice. Ballet Under the Stars. www.coventgardendance.com © Alice Pennefather

The fund, created in memory of the noted dance critic, is supported by Covent Garden Dance Company, and enables the creation of new works by emerging choreographers. The second piece, the mesmeric, almost robotic Splice, saw the two dancers in shiny black and white, like balletic space travellers!
Each of the dozen pieces – performed in three acts, between the three courses of dinner – showcased exceptional dancers. It was thrilling to see Joy Womack and Xander Parish in Stravinsky’s The Firebird, Zai Calliste’s seductively virile Hereafter, and Royal Ballet principals Sarah Lamb and William Bracewell in the enchanting pas de deux from Prokovief’s Cinderella.
Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of Covent Garden Dance Company, which will return with Ballet under the Stars on 24th to 26th July 2026.

Dorset Council reveals draft Local Plan – 50,000 new homes by 2040

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Laura

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18 August 2025

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Dorset Council has published its Local Plan Options Consultation 2025, setting out where thousands of new homes, employment land, traveller sites – and even areas for wind and solar power – could be located over the next two decades.

The consultation documents for housing here https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/documents/d/guest/appendix-a-opportunity-sites-for-housing include site-by-site suggestions for every town and village across the Dorset Council area. Wherever you live, this is the document that will shape your community’s future.

This is the first opportunity to see the draft proposals and to have your say before decisions are made.

Dorchester’s planned housing allocation in Dorset Council’s draft Local Plan

What is the Local Plan?

Every council must set out a long-term strategy for where housing, jobs and infrastructure should go. Dorset’s Local Plan will guide development across the county for the next 15–20 years.

Why does it matter?

The draft identifies potential sites for:

50,000 new homes by 2040
Employment land for businesses
Gypsy & Traveller sites
Renewable energy projects including wind and solar farms

Last month, our Dorset Insider column warned that housing targets have doubled under the new Labour government. Dorset must now build 3,283 homes a year – up from 1,700. That means the 25,000 homes already planned are not enough; a further 25,000 must be found.
Brownfield sites will still be prioritised, but the council has confirmed that land in a new ‘grey belt’, as well as open countryside, may also be used.

How can I respond to the Dorset Local Plan?

The consultation runs from 18th August to 13th October 2025.

You can read the full consultation documents, including the site options for each town and village, on Dorset Council’s website: Dorset Council Local Plan Options Consultation 2025.
Responses can be made online, via paper form, or at drop-in events being held across Dorset throughout September and October.

Why you should act now

The sites listed in this draft are not yet final – but once included in the adopted Local Plan, they will shape Dorset’s landscape and communities for decades to come. If you care about what gets built in your town or village, now is the time to look at the proposals and submit your views.

Mind the gap – why North Dorset needs a technical college

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Editorial team

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18 August 2025

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No skills, no STEM, no jobs: without local training, North Dorset risks becoming a housing corridor with no future for its young people

When the Government recently invited proposals for general further education colleges to become one of ten construction technical excellence colleges (CTECs), local MP Simon Hoare wasted no time in raising the profile of North Dorset in parliament. His request to the Secretary of State for Education for departmental support for a technical college was met with an opaque response from Janet Daby, parliamentary under-secretary of State for Education: ‘The area of North Dorset is well served by four neighbouring further education colleges and a range of independent training providers, who provide a broad range of technical and vocation provision.’
The response was dismissive: it may have ticked the box but it missed the point.
The real question isn’t about how North Dorset fits on a national map of provision – it’s about the future of our local economy and our young people. Why is a technical college so important for North Dorset?

The gap
North Dorset does not currently have a technical college to bring skills to the local area. Students wanting to train in science, engineering and technical skills have to leave the area to train in Bournemouth, Weymouth and Yeovil. Many do not return, finding a new life in other parts of the region.
So what difference would a technical college make to the North Dorset economy and future jobs market?
The economic resilience of a community lies in the strength of its local workforce, and while that relies on recruiting people to work, the aspect that often gets overlooked is training, which can maintain a sustainable supply of skilled workers.
Training and developing people in technology, science and engineering can be a game changer when it comes to attracting businesses to an area. The shortage of science and technology skills in Britain is estimated to cost the economy £1.5 billion a year. With local facilities available, regions can move from poverty and high unemployment to a thriving economy – technical colleges bridge the gap between the available workforce and the evolving requirements for the job market. In a rural area, a construction and technical college would open up a plethora of opportunities.
Build it here
Councillor Val Pothecary has been working to get a science technical college in Gillingham for a long time. In June she raised the further education gap at a meeting on the economy at Dorset Council (see video below): ‘We have further education colleges in the south of Dorset but we have very little in the north. We have a fantastic high school in Gillingham, which draws in kids from all over. But they have nowhere to go for further education. They can’t get to Bournemouth or Weymouth and back in a day.
‘Wages are lower in North Dorset. We need to encourage bigger and better businesses to come here. We have the land. If we could get technology businesses it would be great.
‘However, the skill shortage in the area is the reason they don’t come. If we could get really good quality further education resources here, we would get forward-thinking businesses – including those involved with STEM* and green energy. We are being told to build many more houses – but we need jobs as well.
‘Why should all the further education budget go to the south of the county? If we could have some of it here in the north, we could massively improve education and wages. It would change the landscape of North Dorset – we could have opportunities with things like robotics.
‘Not everyone wants to go away to study, and some don’t have the academic suitability. A local college would make travel more affordable to our young people. If we can come up with the right plan and get a partnership with one of the universities, we can open up so many opportunities.’

Four-hour commute
The Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership has published a report on its strategy for economic growth via skills improvement in Dorset** to meet the critical gaps in STEM subjects. Published in March 2025, the report focuses on areas surrounding higher and further education colleges: there is absolutely no mention of North Dorset in the paper. This misses the opportunity to spread skills training and make it more accessible. One glance at the ‘opportunities map’ for development shows a sharp cluster of options in the BCPO area, and a significant gap anywhere further north of Dorchester.
Cameron Shaw is 16, from Sturminster Newton, and is about to go to Yeovil College to study automotive engineering: ‘I’ll be in further education and then hopefully get an apprenticeship. It is – and isn’t – easy to get an apprenticeship at the moment: there are lots of places offering them, but the competition is very high.
‘There’s just more going on in Yeovil – more businesses, more options. Compared to somewhere like Stur … well, there’s not a lot in Stur. I have my own transport and the college provides support with fuel costs.’
While Cameron does not think a new college in North Dorset would make a difference to his own personal situation, he can see the value for those who don’t have transport, for example:
‘It could be good – people who don’t have transport have to spend four hours on a bus getting to Yeovil and back each day.’

Looking back to look forward
Robert Boyle, he of Boyle’s Law and one of the founding members of the Royal Society and a pioneer of modern science, spent much of his life in Stalbridge. In 2027, North Dorset will mark the 400th anniversary of his birth – a timely opportunity not just to celebrate his legacy, but to reignite the area’s scientific spirit. What better tribute than to invest in the next generation of innovators? A technical college – the Robert Boyle Institute? – in the Blackmore Vale wouldn’t just fill a skills gap – it could become a lasting legacy of scientific excellence, rooted in the very landscape that shaped one of Britain’s greatest scientific minds.

STEM subjects are science, technology, engineering and mathematics
** Click to read the full Framework for Economic Growth for the Pan Dorset Area report

Child Okeford Art Trail returns

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Editorial team

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17 August 2025

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Now in its fifth year, the Child Okeford Art Trail returns this August Bank Holiday with an inspiring line-up of 22 artists and craftspeople across the village. From Friday 22nd to Monday 25th August, 11am to 4pm daily, visitors can explore home studios, gardens and community spaces, discovering work ranging from ceramics and printmaking to jewellery, painting and sculpture.

Sue Bates’ flower watercolours are an annnual highlight of the trail

At the Old School House, Diane Ablitt will be showing her latest pieces in a newly refurbished studio set within a beautiful garden. She’ll be joined by linocut printer Kathy Clarke and Jo Burnell, whose hand-thrown earthenware pots are decorated in bold, colourful designs inspired by the Dorset countryside.
Clock Cottage has seen recent transformation too, where Rob Adams unveils a new studio space. He’ll be joined by Cath Broadway of Elm House Studio pottery and Sue Fawthrop, whose expressive paintings evoke the atmosphere of Dorset’s landscapes and coast.
Eleven artists will exhibit together in the Village Hall, where visitors can enjoy homemade cakes, light lunches and refreshments in support of Julia’s House, thanks to local charity SERO.
All proceeds from Julie Little’s paintings will also go towards the hospice.
New to the hall this year is printmaker Victoria Garland, whose intaglio etchings often feature winter trees etched into copper or steel plates. Also debuting is jeweller Rachel Raine, whose silverwork incorporates ethically sourced stones, fossils and recycled materials, with designs inspired by natural textures and forms.
Village resident Kirsty Baird joins artists at the Community Centre with her paintings reflecting a deep love of local life and countryside.
With everything from fine art to handcrafted jewellery on show, the trail offers a unique opportunity to meet the makers, explore creative spaces and discover something unexpected in every corner of the village.

A village shop in spirit – a service station in scale

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Editorial team

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16 August 2025

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North Dorset CPRE’s Rupert Hardy visits Hawtree & Sons Riverside Garage – the family business that’s busily defining rural retail

After the brief COVID-era reprieve, when shoppers turned to their local stores and village shops rediscovered their value, long-term pressures on rural retail have returned with force. Discount chains like Aldi and Lidl have fuelled an ongoing price war. The shift to online grocery shopping favours the giants. This year, steep rises in the Minimum Wage and National Insurance contributions have squeezed margins across the board. And with energy, insurance and other costs rising faster than inflation, many independent retailers face increasingly tough decisions.
So what is it that makes a rural shop thrive, rather then simply survive?
Larger stores have natural advantages. More shelf space means a broader product range. Some have diversified with cafés, attracting footfall and offering higher-margin sales. Many now prioritise local and sustainable produce – something the CPRE has long championed. Dorset has many high quality local food and drink producers. Some independently-owned village stores can also be run more professionally., which was not the case some years back when too many amateurs bought village shops to run as collectives. Other stores have joined large symbol groups like SPAR, benefiting from the greater buying power and marketing support. A few – like Hawtree & Sons Riverside Garage in West Stour – have done all of the above, and then some.

From garage to flagship
The Hawtree family has run the SPAR forecourt store and garage at West Stour since 1988. Today, the second generation – brothers Seb, Paul and Tom – run the business, with Seb leading the team at Riverside and Tom managing their second SPAR store in Marnhull. The Riverside site sits on the A30, surrounded by ten villages without a single community shop.
It was the community response during COVID that changed everything: customers rallied behind the store and the Hawtrees responded by offering free deliveries to pensioners and disabled residents. That shift – from a transient, roadside clientele to a loyal, local customer base – proved transformative.
In 2023, the family unveiled the newly-expanded Riverside site, now the largest SPAR in the South West. It’s a store that comfortably blends SPAR’s national support with local autonomy – allowing the Hawtrees to fill their shelves with lots of quality local produce such as The Real Cure charcuterie and Wilton Wholefoods.
At the same time, SPAR’s own basic range offers a price-point close to the supermarkets – essential in a cost-conscious community.
There are also plenty of reasons to linger: fresh bakery items, chiller and frozen food cabinets, a strong ‘food to go’ offer including takeaway coffee and ice cream machines, and even fresh flowers.
They don’t do online shopping – but they are active on Facebook.
And rather than rivalling the nearby Udder Farm Shop, Hawtrees complements it – the two businesses attract different shoppers.

The store extension which opened in 2023 made Hawtree the the largest SPAR in the South West

Behind the counter
Both Seb and Paul previously worked for Waitrose – a grounding that has clearly influenced their customer-first approach. They’ve introduced queue management to keep tills flowing, and Seb is adamant: ‘We treat every customer as a guest.’
That ethos carries through in the shop’s glowing online reviews, which consistently mention attentive, helpful staff. The family briefly ran a café, but now the focus is on broadening the garage offer, which includes a jet-wash, launderette, dog wash and courier lockers. EV charging and DIY car valeting are coming soon.
Notably, the petrol prices are competitive.
This approach hasn’t gone unnoticed. Hawtree Riverside has twice won the SPAR Convenience Retailer of the Year for the South West, and in 2024 was runner-up in the Countryside Alliance’s Village Shop category. This year they are a finalist at the Forecourt Trader Awards, and they are finalists for the prestigious Retail Industry Awards 2025.

Inside Hawtree Riverside – all images Rupert Hardy

Holding the line
Of course, the business faces the same headwinds as other retailers. Staff costs are rising, shoplifting is a growing concern, and they’ve had to become more creative with sourcing to keep prices under control. Solar panels are already helping offset electricity bills. And while a café may return one day, it will depend on improved consumer confidence. The Hawtrees are also exploring the potential for a small business unit on-site – and they haven’t ruled out acquiring another forecourt in the future.
It may look like a service station from the road – but inside, Hawtree Riverside is a true village shop in all but name. Rooted in its community, stocked with the best of Dorset produce, and managed with a professionalism that puts many high street names to shame, this is rural retail done right.

Hawtree & Sons Riverside Garage
Mon to Sat 6.30am to 10pm
Sunday 7.30am to 10pm
@HawtreeandSonsSpar on Facebook

In the night garden

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Editorial team

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15 August 2025

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While we sleep, another world stirs – with just a little thought, your garden can be a haven for bats, moths, owls and hedgehogs through the night

As night falls and most of us head indoors, a hidden world of nocturnal wildlife begins to stir. From the silent flight of owls to the soft rustle of hedgehogs in the undergrowth, your garden can become a haven for wildlife long after the sun sets. Nocturnal visitors come in all shapes and sizes, including aerial and terrestrial species – from moths, bats and owls, to hedgehogs, foxes and badgers. There’s lots we can all do to support wildlife at night in our gardens and outdoor spaces … even while most of us are fast asleep.

Above and below
The UK is home to a fascinating range of nocturnal species. Aerial visitors include bats like the common pipistrelle – tiny and agile – which feasts on midges and mosquitos as they dart through the night air. Moths such as the elephant hawk-moth and the silver Y are attracted to night-scented plants and their visits are essential for pollination, complementing the work of bees by day. Tawny owls may be heard calling from nearby trees, their ‘twit’ and ‘twoo’ marking their presence as they hunt for voles and mice.
On the ground, you might spot hedgehogs emerging from their daytime shelters to snuffle through flowerbeds and undergrowth, foraging for worms, slugs and beetles.
Foxes often patrol gardens under cover of darkness, scavenging for food or hunting small prey. Earthworms, vital for soil health, also surface to feed on decaying plant matter at night. In warm months, bush crickets and field grasshoppers contribute a soft evening chorus. Each of these species plays its role in the nighttime ecosystem

Planting for the night garden
Helping wildlife at night could begin with creating a welcoming, undisturbed habitat and planting species that bloom or release scent at night: common plants like evening primrose, jasmine and honeysuckle all draw in the moths to your garden. White or pale flowers, such as moonflower or white campion, reflect moonlight and are more visible to insects and bats. Native hedgerow plants like hawthorn and dog rose provide berries and shelter. Herbs like thyme and lavender attract insects by day and linger into the evening. These are key to attracting moths and, in turn, bats.

Planting honeysuckle will draw in the moths to your garden
© Ken Dolbear

Wildlife-friendly gardening
Fresh water is essential for all animals. Leave shallow bowls, clean and refilled regularly, and consider installing a small wildlife pond – even a container pond can make a difference. At night, garden lighting should be subtle and entirely switched off whenever possible. Always use motion-sensitive, low-level warm lights rather than bright floodlights. Artificial light at night (ALAN) can confuse insects, disrupt feeding, and increase predation risks for small creatures.
Avoid chemical pesticides and slug pellets, which harm hedgehogs and reduce insect populations vital to bats and birds. Let areas of your garden grow wild, perhaps create log piles and leave undisturbed corners to provide shelter for amphibians, insects and small mammals.

Get closer to the action
To observe your garden’s nightlife, try setting up a wildlife trailcam – or even just use a torch with red film to avoid disturbing wildlife. Mount the camera on a tree, pole or wooden stake as close to the ground as possible to get a clear view of your nocturnal visitors. Aim at a clear area, free of wavering vegetation which might trigger it constantly. Reviewing the footage in the morning can become part of your daily ritual – revealing foxes, hedgehogs or even owls visiting while you sleep. This daily connection can foster a deeper appreciation of the natural world around you.

dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

Spring Rolls and Smiles at The Malthouse Residential Care Home

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Editorial team

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15 August 2025

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Residents at The Malthouse Residential Care Home in Gillingham Dorset enjoyed an afternoon of fun, food and laughter on Thursday 24th July, thanks to a special spring roll making session led by carers Rattiya and Pat.

Part of the home’s ongoing programme of enriching activities, the hands-on workshop brought a lively buzz to the day. Rattiya began with a demonstration of her own recipe and techniques for creating perfectly crisp, golden spring rolls. Residents watched intently before rolling up their sleeves to try it for themselves.

With ingredients ready and workstations set, the room soon filled with the sound of chatter, laughter—and a few cheeky comments. Several residents joked about ‘liking the big ones best’, sparking giggles all round. The afternoon proved that humour and companionship are timeless ingredients.

‘It was such a lovely atmosphere,’ said Rattiya. ‘Everyone really got into the spirit of it, and it was a pleasure to share something a bit different with them.’

Pat added, ‘It was so nice to see the residents not only enjoying the activity, but also taking pride in making something from scratch. And the spring rolls were genuinely delicious!’

Once cooked, the spring rolls were shared among residents and team members alike, adding to the sense of togetherness. It was a simple pleasure that left everyone smiling.

A warm thank you goes to Rattiya and Pat for taking the time to create such a joyful afternoon—proof once again that at The Malthouse, good food and good company go hand in hand.