Events & Entertainment, Wimborne | Posted on August 10th, 2026 | return to news

Charlie Dimmock headlines Green Festival in Wimborne

The celebrity gardener will be the keynote speaker at the finale of the Planet Wimborne Green Festival on 17 October.

Celebrity gardener Charlie Dimmock, well known TV programmes Ground Force, The Joy of Gardening, Charlie’s Garden Army and Garden Rescue, will be the keynote speaker at the finale event of this year’s Planet Wimborne Green Festival.

She will present ‘Gardening for Wildlife and Wellbeing’ at Queen Elizabeth School on Saturday 17 October.

Doors open at 4.15pm, with Charlie’s talk at 5pm. There will be refreshments available, and gardening and green stalls. Tickets are available online via www.planetwimborne.org or by cash payment at Wimborne’s Fair Ground shop in the Corn Market.

With its theme of ‘Be in nature, Be creative, Be well’, the week-long Festival runs from 10–17 October and links with Wimborne’s vision as Dorset Town of Culture 2026 to encourage collaborations, connections and creative community in and around the town. The Festival features a whole host of green-themed events and activities for all ages, including craft and vocal workshops, walks and talks, and visits to local sustainable businesses. The official opening is at 10.30am on Saturday 10 October on the Minster Green.

For details of all events, see www.planetwimborne.org or Facebook page

“We have a huge responsibility to do all we can to ensure the health and vitality of these incredible national assets.”

As well as preventing vehicles from parking near the tree and causing compaction, the Queen Oak will benefit from careful pruning of neighbouring competing trees, with bracing applied to support its ancient branches – reducing future vulnerability to storm damage.

James Palmer, the NPA’s tree officer, said: “Ancient and veteran trees are a feature not only of the ancient woodlands of the open Forest, but of the villages and other settlements that have developed over time as an integral part of the Forest landscape.

“The bracing works to stabilise the branch and stem framework, in combination with stopping vehicle access to the tree’s rooting environment, will both reduce the likelihood of future structural risks while seeing a reduction in soil compaction.”

Will Jones, from The Tree Management Company, said: “Having lived in the Forest my whole life, it means so much to have had the opportunity to help protect this special tree, using our collective skills to make a positive difference for its future and supporting an important asset in our ecosystem.”

Rhys Williams, associate EIA consultant at Savills, said: “We’re pleased to have supported this collaborative project, which demonstrates how relatively simple, well-considered interventions can make a meaningful difference to the long-term survival of ancient trees.

“Protecting treasured natural assets like this relies on partnership, local commitment and shared responsibility, and we’re delighted to have helped secure the future of such an important tree.”

Jon Stokes, The Tree Council’s director of trees, science and research, said: “This sort of collective action is exactly what is needed to protect these astonishing trees.

“It needn’t be expensive or time-consuming, and sometimes very simple actions can deliver significant results.

“In 2025, in consultation with more than 50 tree sector partners, The Tree Council published a report making ten recommendations to Defra for the future protection of the UK’s most important trees – with soil compaction among the most common issues.

“A key recommendation is that financial support, from both public and private sources, should be available to the custodians of important trees. This project has put into practice exactly what The Tree Council report suggested, safeguarding the Queen Oak with volunteer goodwill, community effort and financial support from this group of partners.

“We hope this sets a model that can be replicated in future, not only with those trees still in need all over the New Forest, but also all over the country.”