Category: Dorset

There has been an enthusiastic start to the free weekly cycle rides from Highcliffe Castle being organised by the Christchurch and East Dorset Partnership.
The volunteer-led adult rides set off from the castle every Monday morning at 10am.


The rides are free and last no more than an hour, using quiet lanes, roads and off road cycle lanes. Each ride is led by a different volunteer so the routes will vary but they always finish with a sociable cup of tea or coffee.


John Davis who has been responsible for the production of Wimborne Minster’s parish magazine ‘PRINT’ for the last twenty years has retired. John took over the production of PRINT with his wife Connie in December 1992. With a small publication team, they produced the monthly magazine. Connie died in October 2007, but John continued to produce the publication very…

Dr Matt Doggett took a packed room of over 100 people on an incredible underwater journey at Moors Valley Country Park on 1 February. Speaking at a special preview of the British Wildlife Photographer Awards exhibition, Matt who took the overall winning shot, showed a wide range of his work, from meerkats in South Africa to the first photograph of a snakelock anemone shrimp in Britain – discovered tucked under Swanage Pier.

Ringwood Guides ‘Big Build Fund’ and Ringwood Vineyard Church have each received a £300 boost thanks to the Ringwood Floral Decoration Society. The cheques were presented by the president of the society, Mrs Dorothy Brown at the AGM in January. The money, which was raised throughout 2012 for the two local causes, will go towards renovating the Guide’s premises and to help families in distress in the Ringwood area. Also at the AGM, Mrs Margaret Lupton was presented with a camellia plant for her 18 years service as treasurer of the club.

Staff at Care South’s Talbot View care home in Bournemouth took part in Dignity Action day (1 February). The day is an annual opportunity for health and social care workers, and members of the public to promote the need to uphold people’s rights to dignity and provide a truly memorable day for people who use care services.

Two men on a scooter rode up behind a security guard at Lloyds TSB in Ringwood at around 9am this morning. They stole a briefcase of cash before being chased up the street by residents who were unable to catch them. The black Honda SH300 scooter-style motorbike was later found abandoned at Narrow Lane in…

Mrs Oosthuizen is the new headmistress at Yarrells School, Upton in Poole.
Regarded as an inspirational headmistress who is appreciated for her warm manner with families, involvement in the community and commitment to high standards in all areas, she previously led another thriving independent school in the south-west for over 10 years.

Members of the public are being warned about handling distressed birds on the south coast, including Dorset. During the past 24 hours, a number of live birds have washed up on beaches covered in an unknown substance. Staff from the RSPB, RSPCA and Dorset Wildlife Trust have been working to take the birds into care…

Richard Nunn was elected as chairman of Wimborne in Bloom at its annual meeting on 28 January 2013.
He succeeds Anthony Oliver MBE who had been chair for 20 years and felt the time was right to take more of a back seat. Anthony stands down on a high note because last year was the first time the town won gold in the National Small Town Title of Britain in Bloom. It also received silver gilt in the regional competition. He thanked everyone for all the help and support he’d been given since Wimborne in Bloom’s inception in November 1992.

The first in a series of Christchurch primary school cookery days run by Christchurch Food Festival Education Trust and sponsored by Christchurch Rotary Club has taken place at St Joseph’s Primary School.
All seven primary schools in the borough will be visited by Food Festival president Mary Reader with a team of local chefs to show the children some healthy recipes and, in many of the schools, get them to cook for themselves.