West Dorset

What's on in and around West Dorset

June 2006

Information supplied courtesy of West Dorset District Council & West Dorset Tourist Board

EXHIBITIONS

to 18/06 Sherborne House Exhibition Sheborne House, Newland, Sherborne, Tuesday - Saturday 10.30am - 4.30pm. 'Artists and Alchemists' - work by contemporary artists and crafts practitioners who explore the material and means of producing colour, from plastics and paint to chemical transformations and fibre optics.

to 30/07 At Home With The Romans Dorchester County Museum, High West Street, Dorchester, 10am-5pm. Closed Sundays. Exhibition depicting the life and times of people living in Roman Britain.

to 31/10 A Multitude Of Pots Forde Abbey, Nr. Chard, 10.30am - 4.30pm. New ceramics by the Eeles Family Potters - Raku, Shino, Chuns & Celedons.

02/06 - 03/06 Exhibition Of Digital Photography Cheap Street Church Hall, Cheap Street, Sherborne, 10am - 5pm. An exciting and diverse exhibition of digital photography featuring the work of Nikki Morley and Amanda White. Admission free. Donations appreciated for Tenovus Breast Cancer Research.

03/06 Marquetry Exhibition Village Hall, Mosterton, 2pm - 5pm. Display of items of marquetry including a competition of six classes, including miniatures, applied and set pieces plus many items displayed for exhibition only. Plus slide show of National competitions and demonstrations of marquetry techniques.

14/06 - 09/07 Town Mill Gallery Exhibition The Town Mill, Mill Lane, Lyme Regis, 11.00am - 5.00pm Tuesday - Sunday. Song of Life - Two textile artists Rachel Jennings & Jennifer Grierson create unique pieces of art using fabric and hand made papers, inspired by folk songs, myths and legends

17/06 - 09/07 Paintings From Russell-Cotes Gallery At Beaminster Museum Beaminster Museum, 10.30am- 4.30pm.

22/06 - 25/06 Sherborne House Exhibition - Vibrant 2 Sherborne House, Newland, Sherborne, Tuesday - Saturday, 10.30am - 4.30pm. Work by pupils and students from local schools and colleges working with artists on the theme of colour and chemistry.

24/06 - 02/07 Beaminster Camera Club Photgraphic Exhibition At Beaminster Beaminster Museum, 10.30am – 4.30pm

 

TOWN WALKS

Dorchester Guided walk with Christine McGee every Monday at 11am. Meet at Dorchester TIC. Adults £3, acc.children free

Sherborne Guided walk with Rob Curtis every Friday at 11am. Meet at Sherborne TIC, Digby Road. Walk lasts approx. 1½ hours. Cost £3 per person.

FOSSIL WALKS

Lyme Regis Fossil walks with Dr Colin Dawes every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. No need to book – meet at the Old Forge Fossil Shop, Broad Street at 1pm. Lasts approx. 2.5 hours. Cost Adults £7, Children £3

Fossil walks with Paddy Howe – meet at Lyme Regis Museum. Walks last approx. 2 hours – Adults £7, Children £5, including entrance to museum. Tel. 01297 443370 to book (essential) and for further details.

Fossil walks with Brandon Lennon Daily fossil walks - details and times available from Mike’s Minerals & Fossils – tel. 01297 444405 (booking essential).

Fossil walks also organised by Dinosaurland (01297 443541) and Busters Bernard (01297 444614) – please telephone for further details.

Charmouth From the Heritage Coast Centre, Charmouth. Walks last approx. 2 hours and include a 20 minute talk on fossils. No need to book. Adults £7, Children £3. During June walks take place on Thurs 10^th at 10.30am, Sun 11^th at 11.30am, Sun 18^th at 2.30pm, Sat 24^th at 10.30am and Sun 25^th at 11.30am. Tel. (01297) 560 772 for further details of all walks.

MARKETS

BEAMINSTER Farmers’ Market 4^th Saturday in each month – Town Hall 9am-1pm

BRIDPORT Town Centre. Every Wednesday and Saturday, Farmers’ Market 2^nd Saturday in each month – Arts Centre 9.30am-2pm, W.I. market in the WI Hall, North Street every Saturday 9am-12 noon

DORCHESTER Fairfield Car Park, Weymouth Avenue 8am – 3pm every Wednesday

Farmers’ Market 1^st Saturday in each month – Poundbury, 9am-1pm

Gustomarket, 27^th May – Pound bury, 8.30am – 1pm

LYME REGIS Gustomarket – Town Mill Yard, 20^th May, 11am – 4pm

SHERBORNE The Parade, every Thursday and Saturday; W.I. market in Church Hall, Digby Road Thursday mornings, 9.15am; Farmers’ Market 3^rd Friday in each month – Cheap Street, 9am-1pm

31/5-03 Royal Bath And West Show Bath And West Showground, Shepton Mallet. Saver tickets available from local TICs

01 Abba Dayz Marine Theatre, Church Street, Lyme Regis, Doors open 7.45pm. Abba tribute band.

01 SS Balmoral Visits West Bay West Bay. First sailing of a passenger vessel from West Bay's new harbour and probably the first since before 1939 - the Balmoral will arrive at West Bay at approx 9.30 am to sail at 10am for Weymouth, Swanage and a cruise to the Needles. Trips available - West Bay - Swanage Adult £19.95/Concessions £17.95 - back by coach West Bay - Swanage - The Needles - West Bay - Adult £24.95/Concessions £23.95 arrive back at West Bay 18.30 Children 5 - 17 half price - under 5's free Tickets available from Bridport TIC. Booking hotline - 0845 130 4647 www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk

01 - 04 Earthwise Festival 2006 Cerne Abbas. Green Festival to promote and educate people on sustainable living, to be held on a hill top in Cerne Abbas. Various bands and workshops, also cinema and internet cafe powered by renewable energy. Four day ticket with camping costs £55 for adults, £40 concessions and £20 for under 18's. Sat&Sun Tickets with camping costs £35/25/10 Entry is free for children under 5. Single-day tickets available. Contact details: 0845 330 4340 or visit www.earthwise-uk.com/2006

02 A Summer Soiree At Leweston St Antony's School, Leweston, Nr. Sherborne, 7.30pm. John Candor (clarinet), Jane Fenton (soprano) and Desney Candor (piano) entertain with a varied programme of words and music.Proceeds in aid of The Friends of West Dorset Citizens Advice Bureau (Sherborne, Dorchester, Bridport) Tickets £10 (including interval refreshment). Tickets available from 01935 816351, 220212 or 220749

02 Conservation Guided Walk On Golden Cap Estate Meet at National Trust Car Park, Stonebarrow, Charmouth, 2pm. Guided walk with the wardens looking at nature conservation and wildlife of this outstanding property.

02 UK Guns And Roses Marine Theatre, Church Street, Lyme Regis, Doors open 7.45pm. Guns and Roses tribute band.

02 - 04 Wessex Folk Festival Weymouth Pavilion And Harbour, Weymouth. A celebration of music, song and dance rooted in the traditions of the Wessex area. Concerts, dance displays, pub sessions, workshops and song writing competition.

03 Free Children's Saturday Events In Dorset County Museum Dorset County Museum, Dorchester, 10am-12pm "Casting about for Something to do". Use Plaster of Paris to make a unique wall panel to take home.

03 Local Walk and Cream Tea Escorted Walk from Bradpole Church to Mangerton and return for cream tea in Bradpole Churchm meet at 2pm Distance - about 4 miles. Cost £3 including tea. Cream Teas available from 4p.m. You are welcome to tea and not do the walk!

03 Music For Awhile St Nicholas Church, Moreton, Dorchester, 7.30pm. Violin Flute and Harpsichord.

03 Ride In A Ferrari Day Wyevale Garden Centre, Owermoigne, 10am – 4pm. Annual Event - Have fun and ride in a Farrari - in aid of The Jennifer Trust for Spinal Muscular Atrophy There will be approx. 15-20 Farraris on display.

03 - 04 The Thomas Hardy Society - Birthday Weekend Leaflet available from Dorchester Tourist Information Centre

04 Craft Fair Marine Theatre, Church Street, Lyme Regis.

04 The Great Dorset Bike Ride Starts Top O Town Car Park, Dorchester, 10am. Dorset's longest running free bike ride! A little over 47 miles thruogh Southern Dorset's fantastic countryside. Starts Top 'O town Car park in Dorchester and passes through Stinsford, Clouds HIll, Wareham, Arne, Corfe Castle, Creech, Wool, Moreton and back to Dorchester. Drinks and back-up provided. Tel. 01305 268787 for further details.

04 RSPB Radipole Wildlife Walk RSPB Radipole Reserve, Weymouth, 10am. Contact : 01305 778313.

04 Spanish Guitarist Steve Holmes With Luna Flamenco Eype Church Centre For The Arts,Bridport. 8pm. Steve Holmes, one of the country's leading Spanish guitarists will perform a short introduction to the classical instrument followed by a lively and dramatic evening of flamenco with the London based Luna Flamenca. Tickets from Bridport TIC- £8/£7

05 Watercombe Benefice Dorford Centre, Dorchester Baptist Church, Dorchester, 7.30pm. Watercombe Benefice presents Adrain and Bridget Plass: their material includes both light hearted amd serious reflections on Christian living, the church, marriage and family life. All proceeds to Dorset Farm Crisis.

06 West Dorset Ramblers Association Walk Today's walk starts from: Evershot. Tel. 01300 320346 for details.

07 Craft Fair Marine Theatre, Church St, Lyme Regis.

07 Sherborne Flicks - Memoirs Of A Geisha (12a) Church Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne, 7.30pm. Tickets £5, available from Sherborne TIC

07 Yetties Music Night West End Hall, Sherborne, 8pm. With special guest Alexander Korbakov virtuoso accordion player from St. Petersburg

08 Historical Abbotsbury & The Coastal Ridgway Walk Abbotsbury Village, 10am A walk with Dr. Karin Mew exploring the medieval village of Abbotsbury and appreciating the Jurassic landscape. Fee £20. Tel. 01300 320684.

08 The Virtuoso Violin St Michael's Church, Church Street, Lyme Regis, 7.30pm. Concert featuring Rebecca Pascoe and Helen Kruger

08 World Oceans Day Display At Chesil Beach Visitor Centre Chesil Beach Visitor Centre, Ferrybridge.

08 - 09 Ballet Central At Bridport Arts Centre Bridport Arts Centre. Tickets priced £12, £10 members, £7 concessions and under 16's. Further details from Bridport Arts Centre tel 01308 424204.

08 - 10 A Murder Is Announced - Burton Bradstock Players Burton Bradstock Village Hall,7.30pm. Agatha Christie Play performed by Burton Bradstock Players.

09 Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir St George's Church, Hinton St George, 8pm. Sacree et Profane - works by Poulenc, Ravel, Debussy and Vierne

09 Hells Bells Marine Theatre, Church St, Lyme Regis, doors open 7.45pm, on stage 8.30pm. If you love AC/DC you will love this high energy tribute band.

10 Barn Dance with Dr Stomp Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens 7:30pm to 11:30pm Tickets £6.

10 Bridport Big Band Concert St Mary's Church, Beaminster, 7.30pm. The Bridport Big Band perform in aid of the Friends of St. Mary's Church, Beaminster and a Trust in memory of former band leader Rex Trevett. The 30 instrumentalists perform classics from the Big Band era including Gershwin, Cole Porter, Glenn Miller and Duke Ellington.

10 Charminster Village Fete Charminster House, Charminster, 2pm - 5pm. Traditional village garden fete. Entertainment for children includes bouncy castle, roundabouts, Punch & Judy etc. Entertainment for adults includes beer tent, barbecue, music, ice cream, teas, stalls, plants and gardening, jams and preserves, books, jewellery and bric-a-brac.

10 Corscombe Open Gardens Start from The Fox Inn, Corscombe, 1.30pm - 5.00pm. View the beautiful gardens of Corscombe and perhaps a cream tea while you take a rest. Plants and other stalls on the garden route. In aid of Corscombe First Responders.

10 Dance - Uplyme Uplyme Village Hall, Lyme Road, Lyme Regis, 8.00pm - 11.00pm. Ballroom, Latin & some Sequence, everyone welcome. In aid of hall funds.

10 Royal British Legion (Bridport Branch) Annual Garden Party 88 St Andrews Road, Bridport, 3pm. £2

10 RSPB Wildlife Explorer Event At Radipole Reserve Radipole RSPB Reserve, Weymouth . "Attracting wildlife to your garden" weekend - get inspired to create your own wildlife garden. Displays and advice packs, children's trails and goodie bags, plant sales and special offers on RSPB bird care range. Tel. 01305 778313 for further details and to book.

10 Sherborne Antiques & Collectors Fair Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne, 9am - 4pm.

10 Summer Soiree Performed By Lyrica Eype Church Centre For The Arts, Bridport, 7.30pm. Performance by this gifted trio will include works by Handel, Schumann, Fauré, Vaughan Williams, Britten, Dvorak, Puccini and Mozart. Tickets available from Bridport Tourist Information Centre, £8.00 (Friends £7.00)

10 - 11 West Dorset Vintage Rally West Bay Bridport. Vehicle parades and ring displays, steam engines, majorettes, market stalls, bar and refreshments. Saturday morning Bygones Auction. Dog agility training group displays Come and see Mr Showers the Clown using his unique mix of juggling, puppetry, stilt-walking, magic, games and uni-cycling Admission - Adults £5.00 OAP's £3.00 children 11 - 16 yrs £2.00

10 - 11 Flower Arranging Display Under Marquee Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens

10 - 11 Open Gardens At Plush In The Piddle Valley Plush, 2pm - 5pm. Eight village gardens, from the smallish to the largish, open for the first time for many years in the small hamlet of Plush. Plant stall, teas.

10 - 16 Annual Military And Veterans Festival Weymouth. A programme of events commemorating the tireless work of all military and civilian services who defended our land, sea and air, culminating in a Service of Remembrance and parade on Sunday 11th June. See www.weymouth.gov.uk for full programme or contact Weymouth TIC 01305 838525

11 Charminster Pre-School 35th Birthday Party Charminster Pre-School, 2-4pm. Live music, bouncy castle & cream teas.

11 Cancer Research Uk - Race For Life Kingston Maurward, Nr. Dorchester.

11 Castleton Waterwheel Open Day Off Oborne Road, Sherborne, 11am - 5pm.

11 Craft Fair The Marine Theatre, Church St, Lyme Regis.

11 Jurassic Coast Sponsored Walk Jurassic Coast Sponsored Walk, Ringstead, 9.30 am. Sponsored walks along the beautiful Jurassic Coast Option 1 - 8.5 mile circular walk from Ringstead to Durdle Door along coast path, returning via the inland bridleway. Option 2 - 4 mile circular version of the longer walk To register or for more information please telephone 01305 871050 or email bhealthy@lifeeducationdorset.org.uk

11 Netherbury Gardens Open Day Netherbury Gardens, Near Beaminster, 2-4pm. With entertainment from St Swithuns Band

11 Open Gardens - Maiden Newton Maiden Newton, 2pm - 6pm. 8th Annual Open Gardens Event in aid of church funds. Minimum of 15 gardens open. Stalls - plants, cakes, ' as new books ' and raffle plus ' fun competition ' and cream teas

11 - 15 Flower Festival Athelhampton House, Puddletown, Nr. Dorchester. Beautiful displays of flowers and foliage presented by Owermoigne Flower Club. This year's theme is 'All our Yesterdays'. Charity collection in aid of the Children's Hospice.

12 West Dorset Ramblers Association Walk Today's walk starts from: Stonebarrow Tel. 01297 443412

13 Bridport History Society Visit Playing Field opp Burton Garage, Bridport To Weymouth Road, Burton Bradstock, 2.15 for 2.30pm. Guided walk around Burton Bradstock led by Elizabeth Gale.

14 Connecting The Coastline To The Sea The Lifeboat Station, Lyme Regis, 1.30pm. Visit the Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs National Nature Reserve and find out more about this landslip coastline and the Lyme Bay Reefs with Richard Stanford [Devon Wildlife Trust], Albert Knott and Donald Campbell [English Nature]. Meet at the Lifeboat Station, contributions towards Devon Wildlife Trust

14 Craft Fair The Marine Theatre, Church St, Lyme Regis.

14 RSPB Lodmoor Wildlife Walk RSPB Lodmoor Reserve, Weymouth, 6pm to 8pm. Tel 01305 778313.

15 A Midsummer Night's Dream Marine Theatre, Church St, Lyme Regis, 7.30pm. Cygnet Theatre Company present the Shakespeare play.

15 A Plantsman's Day with Roy Lancaster Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens 10:30am to 4pm

15 The Rude Mechanicals In 'The Gold Rush' Cove Green, West Lulworth, 7.30pm. A vibrant outdoor performance full of hilarious Vaudeville and spoof cowboy routines, but also pathos. Bring your own rugs, chairs, wine, picnics, cowboy outfits and handkerchiefs! An Artsreach event.

15 South Somerset Ramblers Walk Toller Porcorum Village Hall. A six mile walk from Toller Porcorum Village Hall starting at 10.15am. Further details from Keith tel 01300 320362.

15 West Dorset Ramblers Association Walk Today's walk starts from: Little Bredy Tel. 01305 260853

15 Carnival Week Fireworks Maumbury Rings, Dorchester, 9.30pm

16 'Tulips' A Celebrity Lecture By Anna Pavord Brownsword Hall, Poundbury, Dorchester. Best selling author & gardening correspondent for the 'Independent' Tickets £8.00 (to include wine) on the door or from The Secretary, 14 Lime Close, Dorchester DT1 2HQ All proceeds to Friends of West Dorset Citizen's Advice Bureaux

16 Classical Music Concert Led By David Juritz Burton Bradstock Village Hall, Bridport, 7.30pm. Classical Music Concert led by David Juritz, Leader of London Mozart Players, Burton Bradstock Village Hall. 01308 897935 for details, £10 on the door, and Box Office opens for 16-19 August BB Festival.

16 Rebel Dean - The Showman Marine Theatre, Church Street, Lyme Regis, 8.00pm.

16 RSPB Radipole Lake's Creatures Of The Night RSPB Radipole Lake, Weymouth, 8.30pm -10.30pm. Tel.01305 778313

16 Dorchester Carnival Week Pub Crawl Four legged pub crawl, starting at 7pm. See www.dorchestercarnival.co.uk

16 - 18 Painting Wildflowers In Summer - Workshop Kingcombe Centre, Toller Porcorum. Botanical Illustration weekend with Mary Tarraway. A workshop exploring ways of drawing and painting the wildflowers of the Kingcombe Nature reserve with illustrated talks and studio sessions. Extra help for beginners!

17 Book Market Church Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne, 9.30am - 4pm.

17 Bridport United Church Summer Fair Bridport United Church East Street. Come to the Summer Fair Garden Party - stalls and lunches - everyone welcome. Open 10am - 1pm

17 Chris Difford & Lisa Fitzgibbon Songtellers At Bridport Arts Bridport Arts Centre. Two of the UK's most renowned songwriters. Tickets priced £10 and £9. Further details from Bridport Arts Centre tel 01308 424204

17 Corscombe Village Fair And Barbeque Corscombe Court (opposite The Fox Inn), Corscombe, 12 - 4pm. Village fair and barbecue in the historic setting of Corscombe Court. Lots of stalls, swimming, raffles, teas, plants, pet corner, Classic cars, woodturning etc. In aid of Corscombe First Responders.

17 Dorchester Carnival and Procession Procession starts 6pm. Also day time street fair in South Street and Farmers’ market in South Walks 9.30am – 3pm. See www.dorchestercarnival.co.uk for further details

17 Gustomarket At Lyme Regis Town Mill Yard, Lyme Regis, 11am - 4pm. Lively, continental style market with a delicious mix of local farm produce, hand-made foods from local producers and unusual and exotic food discoveries tracked down by locally-based food-finders.

17 Midsummer Fayre At St Mary's Church House, Bridport St Mary's Church House,South St Bridport, 10am – 12pm.

In aid of the Colmers W.I. Cakes, Books, Videos, Bric a Brac, Tombola, Raffle and Refreshments. Admission free!

17 Summer Music School Of Dorset Sherborne Abbey, Sherborne, 7pm. Summer Music School of Dorset, City of London Sinfonia and The Joyful Company of Singers. Tickets available from the Dorset Music House.

17 Uplyme Village Fete Uplyme Village Hall & Playing Field, Lyme Road, Lyme Regis. Annual Village Fete

17 Upstairs In The Sky The Marine Theatre, Church St, Lyme Regis, 2.30pm. For children 3-5 years old.

17 Wessex Military Band In Bucky Doo Square Bridport Bucky Doo Square, Bridport.

17 - 18 Cerne Abbas Open Gardens Cerne Abbas, Cerne Abbas, 2pm - 6pm. Approx. 25 gardens opened for charities inside and outside the village of Cerne Abbas

17 - 18 West Milton & Loscombe Open Gardens West Milton & Loscombe, 2pm – 6pm. A choice of cottage, woodland and riverside gardens in the villages of West Milton and Loscombe open to the public in aid of local village charities, refreshments available and plenty of off road parking. Price £3.00 accompanied children free

17 - 18 World Stinging Nettle Eating Championship The Bottle Inn, Marshwood. Wonderful family entertainment with a beer fest with Three Daft Monkeys. Tel 01297 678254 for further details.

18 Classics At The Castle - Classic Car Show Sherborne Castle, Sherborne, 10am. Classic car run, vintage & classic car displays, trade and craft stands, autojumble, children's entertainment

18 Day Course On Basket Making With Andy Southwell Highway Farm, West Road, Bridport, 10am - 5pm. Interesting natural baskets can be produced in a day! Cost £50 (lunch and materials included)

18 Kingston Maurward Open Day Kingston Maurward, Nr. Dorchester.

18 Optics Day At Radipole RSPB Reserve Radipole RSPB Reserve Weymouth, 10am to 4pm. Free advice on choosing the best optical equipment to watch wildlife with. Further details from 01305 778313.

18 Sea Dragons And Volcanoes Walk Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, 2.30-4.30pm. A one and a half mile walk to discover the geology and wildlife of the Black Ven landslide. Tel 01297 560772 for further details. £4 adults, £2 children.

18 West Dorset Ramblers Association Walk Today's walk starts from: Buckydoo Square, Bridport Tel. 01308 456617

21 Craft Fair The Marine Theatre, Church St, Lyme Regis.

21 Heart Of Wessex Line Guided Walk Meet Dorchester West 10.44am. Circular walk to west of Dorchester, village of Martinstown, returning via Poundbury - 10 miles. Tel. 01305 263759 for further details.

21 Merry Wives Of Windsor - Open Air Theatre Kingston Maurward, Nr. Dorchester.

21 Quiz Night - Lyme Regis Marine Theatre, Church St, Lyme Regis. Theatre friends hold a quiz night once a month to raise money for the Marine Theatre. Teams of up to six.

21 Riddles Of The Ridgeway Walk Hardy's Monument, Portesham, 2pm – 4pm. A 3-4 mile walk to explore the historic Ridgeway landscape to the east of Hardy's Monument.

21 Wine Fair Sherborne Castle, Sherborne, 6.30pm - 9.30pm. Charity Wine Fair organised by Vineyards of Sherborne. In aid of the Flying Colours Appeal.

22 No Limits Present Attic At Bridport Arts Centre Bridport Arts Centre, 8pm. Attic is beautifully crafted theatre, telling the consequences of war. Suitable for age 12+. Tickets £9 (students £5). Further details from Bridport Arts Centre tel 01308 424204.

22 Produce Market St. Martin's Comminity Hall, Broadmayne, Nr Dorchester, 2 - 3.30pm. Cakes, fair trade items, local organic bread, plants, crafts, raffle, library etc. Enjoy a cup of tea and a chat

22 West Dorset Ramblers Association Walk Today's walk starts from: Buckham Down near Beaminster.Tel. 01935 891563

22 - 25 The Rude Mechanicals In 'The Gold Rush' Performances at Shillingstone Rec on 22nd and Melbury Osmond Village Hall on 23rd, both at 7.30pm. A vibrant outdoor performance full of hilarious Vaudeville and spoof cowboy routines, but also pathos. Bring your own rugs, chairs, wine, picnics, cowboy outfits and handkerchiefs! An Artsreach event.

23 Charterhouse Auction Long Street Sale Rooms, Sherborne, Viewing Wednesday from 10am to 4pm, and Thursday from 10am to 7pm. Sale starts on Friday at 10am, with viewing from 8.30am. Antiques, collectors' items and clocks

23 Clifford Benson -Pianist Minster Church Of St Mary The Virgin, Axminster, Lyme Regis, 7.30pm. Celebrity Concert by renowned pianist Clifford Benson.

23 International Handball Festival Weymouth Beach, Weymouth. Over 60 teams and 500 competitors from around the globe compete in this 4 day tournament.

23 - 24 The Last Laugh Marine Theatre, Church St, Lyme Regis, Friday 7.30pm. Saturday 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Performed by Lyme Youth Theatre

23 - 25 A Celebration In Flowers Our Lady Queen Of Martyrs And St Ignatiu, North Chideock, 10am - 6pm. Church and museum open. Refreshments.

23 - 25 Day Courses On Creative Writing Highway Farm, West Road, Bridport, 10am - 4pm. 'Telling your tale' - 2 day workshops led by Gary Burnett, author, lecturer and advanced skills teacher, plus Friday introductions and get together. Cost £80 (including lunch). Tel. 01308 424321 for further details and to book.

23 - 25 Milborne Port Flower Festival St. John's Church, Bathwell Lane, Milborne Port.

23 - 2/7 Beaminster Festival Various Venues In Beaminster. The 11th Festival of Music and the Visual Arts. 2006 features a concert by celebrated pianist John Lil, a children's concert of percussion instruments as well as jazz evenings, open air theatre, garden visits and open studios of local artists. Full programme of events available from local TICs or see www.beamfest.org.uk.

24 A Spell In Time Present Breathing The Dawn: Tales Of Hidden Bridport Arts Centre, 8pm. This is a tale of a legendary hero and his magical horse. With colourful costumes and evocative music. Tickets £10 and £9. Further details from Bridport Arts Centre tel 01308 424204.

24 Charity BBQ & Skittles Ship Cottage, Main Road, Bridport, 5.30pm until late. To raise funds for local charities with game of killer skittles thrown in. £3 is charged for the game of skittles and all of the food is locally grown and produced - including of course the famous Chideock cider. £50 first prize. Tel. 01297 489982 for details.

24 Church Fete - Piddletrenthide The Manor House, Piddletrenthide, 12pm - 4.30pm. Church fete in the beautiful setting of the Manor House. First class barbecue with local venison, licensed bar, cream teas and a fantastic range of stalls.

24 Dance - Uplyme Uplyme Village Hall, Lyme Roda, Lyme Regis, 8.00pm - 11.00pm. Ballroom, Latin & some Sequence, everyone welcome. Admission to include tea & biscuits, in aid of hall funds.

24 Gustomarket At Poundbury Brownsword Hall, Poundbury, 8.30am - 1pm. Lively, continental style market with a delicious mix of local farm produce, hand-made foods from local producers and unusual and exotic food discoveries tracked down by locally-based food-finders.

24 West Art Fair At St Mary's Church Hall, Bridport St Mary's Church Hall, Bridport, 9.30am – 3.30pm. Paintings, cards, crafts and photographs - and lots more besides.

24 - 25 Piddlehinton Open Gardens Piddlehinton, 11am – 5pm. Between 15 and 18 gardens open including a Manor House, Farmhouses, Cottages and Water Gardens. Coffees, lunches and teas available. Tel: 01305 848242

24 - 25 Axe Vale Festival Of Gardening & Crafts Show Ground, Axminster, 10.00am - 6.00pm. Annual gardening & craft festival, raising funds for The Flamingo Pool, Axminster and other local charities.

25 Askerswell Open Gardens Askerswell, 2pm - 4.30pm. Visit the gardens in this picturesque village. Admission gains entrance to all gardens. Teas, plants for sale.

25 Coast To Coast Motorcycle Run Sea Front, Lyme Regis, 10.00am. Annual Motorcycle Run from Lyme Regis to Weston-Super-Mare. For Motorcycles and threewheelers up to 1967 Coffee stop - Westland Leisure Centre, Yeovil 11.00am - 12.15pm Lunch - Market Place, Wells 12.45 - 2.30pm Tropicana Beach Lawns - Weston Super Mare All proceeds to Headway [ Somerset ]

25 Open Gardens Afternoon Individual private gardens open at Coburg Road, Queens Avenue and Lime Close in Dorchester. 2-5pm. Refreshnents available in Dorchester Middle School, £2 per person. All in aid of Joseph Weld & Trimar Hospice and Cancercare Dorset Trust.

25 Perseus And The Gorgon's Head Beaminster Public Hall., 3pm. Play by Adrian Mitchell presented by Puppetcraft. Tickets £5 (children under 12 £2).

25 Psychic ,Spirit And Holistic Fayre Marine Theatre, Church St, Lyme Regis, 10.30am to 5.30pm. Clairvoyance, astrology, dowsing, tarot, healing crystals, art and crafts etc.

25 RNLI Open Garden Cerne Abbey, Abbey Street, Cerne Abbas. Open garden by kind permission of Michael and Barbara Fulford-Dobson, in aid of RNLI. Cream teas, stalls, children's attractions, sourvenirs. Admission £2, Chidren 50p

27 Antiques & Collectables Fair Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis

28 Craft Fair Marine Theatre, Church St, Lyme Regis.

28 West Dorset Ramblers Association Walk Today's walk starts from: Blackdown Village Hall Tel. 01460 77135

29 An Evening Of Song Marine Theatre, Chuch St, Lyme Regis, 8pm.. Local artists perform in the first of a summer season of concerts.

29- 1/7 Cosi Fan Tutte Abbey Gardens, Abbey House Hotel, Abbotsbury, 7pm (garden opens from 5pm for picnics). Mozart's best loved opera performed outdoors in a beautiful garden, sung in English, by a professional touring opera company, fully staged and costumed. Tel. 01305 871475

30 A Midsummer's Night Dream - Chapterhouse Theatre Company Corfe Castle, Wareham, , 7.30pm. The National Trust The castle is open to the public until 6pm each day. Theatre goers can arrive anytime after 4.30pm and get in with their theatre ticket. Grounds open for picnics from 6.30pm. Please bring own rugs or low - backed seating

30 - 2/7 Lyme Regis Jazz Festival Lyme Regis, Lunchtime and Evenings sessions Friday afternoon opening ceremony Saturday morning parade through Broad street. Jazz events in various venues around the town. Street parade on Saturday morning 1st July

Don’t forget to pick up your free yellow booklet of gardens open as part of the National Gardens Scheme –Dorset Gardens 2006 – available from Dorset TICs . The following West Dorset Gardens are open during June :

The Scented Garden, Little Bredy Tuesdays 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th, 2.30pm – 8pm

Broomhill, Rampisham Sun 11th, 2pm – 6pm

Milton Mill, West Milton Sun 11th and Weds 14th, 2pm – 5.30pm

Wolverhollow, Monkton Wyld Sun 11th and Tues13th, 11am – 5pm

The Old Rectory, Litton Cheney Tues13th, 2pm – 5.30pm

12 Claremont Road, Bridport Thurs 15th and Sun 18th, 2pm – 6pm

19 Jessop Avenue, Bridport Thurs 15th and Sun 18th, 2pm – 6pm

Vine Cottage, Melcombe Bingham Thurs 15th and Sun 18th, 11am – 5pm

Frampton Farm, Leigh Sat 17th and Wed 21st, 2pm – 6pm

Grovestall Farm, Chilfrome Sat 17th, 2pm – 6pm

Holworth Farmhosue, Nr. Owermoigne Sun 18th, 2pm – 6pm and Fri 30th, 6pm-10pm (with wine & music)

Tithe Barn House, Litton Cheney Sun 18th, 2pm – 6pm

Knowle Farm, Uploders Tues 20th, 12pm – 6pm

Chideock Manor, Chideock Wed 21st and Sun 25th, 2pm – 6pm

Old Came Rectory, Came Sat 24th and Sun 25th June, 2pm – 6pm

The Old Rectory, Netherbury Sun 25th June, 2pm – 6pm

Rampisham Manor, Rampisham Sun 25th and Wed 28th, 2pm – 5.30pm

Melplash Court, Melplash Wed 28th, 2pm – 6pm

FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON EVENTS AND THE LOCAL AREA PLEASE CONTACT:

www.westdorset.com

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