Our charity, based in Sturminster Newton, seeks two Trustees to support its important work. You would need IT skills, a knowledge of Board procedure and an interest in helping the elderly in the local community.
For more information:
Phone 01258 475582, or drop in for an informal chat.
Dianne Cooper. Chairman, ACND
Stour Connect, Stour View Close Sturminster Newton, Dorset DT10 1JF
The rural day out is a celebration of community, countryside and tradition – and it’s a feast for the eyes, ears, and taste buds!
As the sun bids its long goodbye to the British summer (well, technically it was summer, yes?), families are looking for that final memorable excursion before the school year takes hold.
This year, the Dorset County Show has emerged as the end-of-summer event that promises not just a day but a whole weekend of fun for the young and the young-at-heart alike. And the best part? Children up to 16 go absolutely free!
Unleashing Monster-sized Fun
In a spectacle that will have your heart pounding and your children cheering, the world’s largest Monster Trucks—Big Pete and his audacious sidekick, The Grim Reaper—will roll into the showground in all their 7.5-tonne glory. It’s more than a performance; it’s an earthquake on wheels, complete with gravity-defying stunts and the crushing of cars just to remind you of their awe-inspiring power.
A Slice of Countryside Magic
But don’t think the Dorset County Show is all about loud engines and roaring crowds. There’s an entire ecosystem of rural life to explore. For instance, the Axemen Ring showcases foresters who are artists in their own right, wielding axes with surgical precision. Chainsaw craftsmen, too, will be on hand to demonstrate their intricate work, while falconers display the graceful prowess of birds of prey.
Animal Encounters
Perhaps one of the most fascinating attractions is your chance to encounter the wide array of animals at the show. From award-winning pigs and goats to captivating cattle and elegant horses, these creatures aren’t just for show and pets – they’re competing for the important (and valuable) title of Show Champion.
Pet the alpacas, and there are even sheep that can dance – look out for Nobby the Norfolk Horn and his talented friends in The Sheep Show. It’s nothing short of woolly wonderful!
And you can witness Dorset’s finest livestock parade in the heart of the County Show. The award winners will parade in the Main Ring on both days following the competitive classes and the Champions will be presented with their awards.
Equine Extravaganza
This year, prepare yourself for equestrian excitement with the Mounted Pony Club Games – a sort of high-octane sports day where fleet-footed nimble ponies are the stars. And if that wasn’t enough, Shetland Pony Racing also makes its thrilling debut as young jockeys showcase their fearless riding skills.
The showjumping is set to be a thrilling competition – don’t miss the Six Bar (sponsored by C G Fry & Son Ltd) on Saturday or the Accumulator (sponsored by Battens Charitable Trust) on the Sunday!
Rolling Down Memory Lane
The Vintage Tractor Parade is not just a procession; it’s a living timeline that trundles through agricultural history, while the nearby Steam Engine Section fills the air with a nostalgia that even the youngest generations will find intriguing.
Food, Craft, and More!
When tummies start to rumble, a stroll around the all-new Food & Drink Area will introduce you to Dorset’s culinary treasures. With a super-sized new Food Hall and more than 100 producers, there’s bound to be something that tempts you.
And for those inclined towards the creative, Crafter’s Avenue offers a glimpse into bygone skills that have shaped Dorset’s rural history
The Carnival Awaits
As if this wasn’t enough, the fairground beckons with its dizzying helter-skelters and pulse-quickening rides!
This year’s Dorset County Show isn’t just an event; it’s a mosaic of experiences that stretches over the whole weekend – September 2nd and 3rd. So why settle for a mundane end to the summer when a world of wonder awaits? It’s a summer send-off you won’t want to miss.
This year the G&S show has taken on a new format, moving from one day to two. The ever-increasing cost associated with putting on a show of this size means it makes financial sense for the show to span over two days, in the hope that the Great British weather is on our side for at least one of them! Along with the transition to a longer show we have seen a complete change of team in the office, with Nick Hill our new secretary supported by the Show Team. A huge amount of work has been done this year to ensure the show is a success.
There are some new additions this year – the sheep shearing demonstrations have moved to incorporate a new shearing competition, which is set to be a crowd-pulling spectacle. The Heavy Horse Village is even bigger this year – more room for them, and even better for watching these gentle giants. We will also see them join the Grand Parade, sponsored by Strutt and Parker and The Environmental Farmers Group, on both days in the Main Ring, sponsored by Gritchie Brewing Company; I’m pleased to say that the parade’s re-introduction last year after a 15 year absence proved to be a huge success.
The Jamie Squibb Freestyle Extravaganza will thrill you with a stunning motorcycle display in the Main Ring, and the Reme Lightning Bolts display team will float from the skies again on Wednesday this year. A procession of new and old farm machinery is a striking physical demonstration of its changes through the years.
The agricultural trade stands go from strength to strength and we greet many first-time stands this year as well as welcoming back all the familiar ones. The new 2022 layout stays – being able to walk completely around the outside of the main ring worked perfectly – and there is a big range of food and drink, enough to cater for every taste!
The show only comes together through the hard work of more than 300 volunteers and 100 paid contractors – they put so much time and effort in throughout the year, not just during August, to bring the show to you. Without them it really would not happen and we are so grateful for their support. I hope you enjoy your day (or two days) at the show!
Giles Simpson, Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show Chairman
In the second of August’s podcasts – still in the new longer format which has proved popular – Jennie talks to both Jane Adams and owner of Little Waddon Vineyard Simon Priestman
In aid of the BHS Ride Pleasure Ride Out UK Fund
Sunday 10 September
9:30am – 11.30am
Magiston Farm
Sydling St Nicholas
Dorchester, DT2 9NR
Advance booking
£20 Adults – £10 U16’s/Lead Rein – £5 Walkers
On the day entries: £5 extra
Choice of routes between 4, 6 and 10 miles
Scan QR code to book!
Hatch House, situated in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside just outside Shaftesbury, will once again hold its annual Open Garden next month, by the kind permission of Sir Henry and Lady Rumbold. This wonderful event for the entire family provides a rare opportunity to explore the 17th Century walled Dutch garden, offering breathtaking views over the Vale of Wardour.
This year, the event will be on Saturday 2nd September, and the garden will open slightly earlier, from 11am until 5pm. Compton McRae will be returning with their barbecue, following last year’s great success.
Visitors can enjoy traditional cream teas, ice cream, cake stalls, second hand books, plants, shoes, bags and hats – and the star of the event is always Lady Rumbold and Mrs Vernon’s renowned clothes stall, packed with extraordinary finds, and a true magnet for bargain hunters. This year the separate tents for ladies and gentlemen returns too.
As always, proceeds from the event will go to the Salisbury Hospice Charity – last year the event raised an incredible £20,000.
Lady Rumbold has stressed the importance of community involvement, stating:
‘We badly need the support of local volunteers for Salisbury Hospice Charity, which caters for young and old alike. Younger blood is needed to continue the important work of supporting patients with terminal illnesses and their families – community service used to be part of school education!
‘The fund-raising events are enormous fun as well as charitable, and we implore the community to please assist us in recruiting dynamic folks from local schools, youth clubs, sports facilities, the churches and elsewhere to give some time helping the cause of Salisbury Hospice Care, which does crucial humanitarian work in support of the NHS.’
•Saturday 2nd September | 11am to 5pmAdults £5, Children £1 | hatch-house.co.uk
We have been bursting to share the news that we have been working closely with the County Show team to produce the first official Dorset County Show pre-show magazine! Dive in to get a sneak peek of everything that awaits you at this year’s vibrant celebration of rural life in Dorset.
Get acquainted with the county’s rich agriculture, food, and farming legacy, thanks to the unwavering efforts of James Cox and his passionate team. If you’ve not got them yet, don’t forget to book your tickets NOW: TICKET DISCOUNTS END ON FRIDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER 2023!
Get ready for an unforgettable experience at the Dorset County Show 2023. We can’t wait to see you there!
Dorset’s outdoor arts festival is back with events stretching from Wimborne to Weymouth, from woodland soundscapes to street circus
Street performers, circus acts and artists from across the region and around the world will be coming to Dorset in September for Inside Out, the biennial outdoor arts festival,
Activate Performing Arts in conjunction with the Inside Out team have created an exciting programme of performances, workshops, installations and parades in rural and urban venues including the Moors Valley woods in East Dorset and Woodbury near Bere Regis. The festival has run in alternate years since 2007; more than 28,000 people attended events in 2021.
This year’s festival, which runs from 15th to 24th September, will include two world premieres and five UK premieres.
Inside Out aims to remove the traditional barriers to the arts, while encouraging people to discover and appreciate some of the unique places across the county. Most events are free.
The Dorset-based arts organisation works with Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the National Association for AONBs, along with European partners with complementary interests in the relationship between the landscape, artists, land stewards and the climate emergency.
Music in the canopy
Events at Moors Valley Country Park will see spectacular art, music and sound installations located across the 800-acre site.
Two of the pieces have been created by the Frome-based composer and sound artist, and founder of Artmusic, Helen Ottaway. Lachrymae and Saeflod will be located in the woodland canopy, creating an immersive experience. In 2014 Helen’s Lachrymae was commissioned by Inside Out Dorset and Dorset AONB to be presented on the South Dorset Ridgeway. Such was the success of the piece, she has been asked to present it again this year. Her inspirations include landscape, water and nature, and her style is predominantly minimalist with influences from folksong, English pastoral and church music traditions.
Working Boys Club
At Poole and Wimborne, Inside Out events will include Serving Sounds from The Working Boys Club, as well as international circus acts and multi-sensory sound installations.
The Working Boys Club is identical twins Jason and Adam Dupree, who make and create work by mixing the arts with their past lives as tradesmen.
Wild Woodbury at Bere Regis will have a wide-ranging programme, including workshops, talks and local food vendors.
As well as an Iron Age hillfort, Woodbury was also a medieval religious site and the setting for the Woodbury Hill Fair. It is undergoing a process of rewilding and will provide a unique location for Inside Out Dorset to work alongside Dorset Wildlife Trust and Dorset AONB.
Giant dolls
The Inside Out finale weekend will see a spectacular parade of light and music weave through Weymouth led by Transe Express’ Poupées Géantes. Readers with long memories may recall Transe Express dazzling the crowds in Salisbury Market Square with an aerial drumming and acrobatic performance. For Inside Out, these French street performers will bring three giant dolls who will glide magically through the crowd, with the voices of three opera singers transforming the Weymouth streets into an outdoor opera house.
© Bluebean Publishing Ltd
