Miscellany

Sofa so good at Poole’s Lighthouse

AFTER 20 years of providing the best seats in the house, the distinctive first floor foyer sofas and benches at Poole’s Lighthouse arts centre are being offered free to good homes, thanks to a generous donation from a wealthy patron of the arts. Thanks to what is described as “a significant personal donation” from businessman…

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Rewilding in Dorset

REWILDING is quite a buzz word these days, but what does it actually mean? And did you know there is a thriving rewinding project in Dorset? Learn more about it at a Gillingham Action for Nature meeting, on Thursday 1st May, at 7pm at Gillingham Vicarage schoolrooms. Many people will have heard of, or even…

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A new era for Windrose

WINDROSE Rural Media Trust has a new team at the helm, fir the first time in the more than 40 years since it was founded by Trevor Bailey, who has retired but will remain as a trustee. Three women have taken over the charity, which works across Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire on educational, archival and…

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Easter workshops for young people in Chippenham

A SERIES of creative workshops for young people is being run over the Easter holidays at the Neeld Community Arts Centre in Chippenham, by Rag and Bone Arts CIC and Knapsack Productions. The project is supported by funding from the National Lottery and the government’s Million Hours scheme to help young people to work with…

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Farewell to Tanya

TRIBUTES have poured in for Tanya Bruce-Lockhart, former director of Beaminster Festival and founder and director of Bridport Literary Festival, who died suddenly on Saturday 5th April at the age of 81. A familiar and much-loved figure in both Bridport and Beaminster, Tanya had been at the heart of cultural life in West Dorset since…

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A Victorian tea gown at Kingston Lacy

PICTURE the scene – Lady Bracknell and her niece, Gwendolyn, are dressed for tea, in their best gowns … elegant, beautiful, utterly impractical, but a triumph of lace, chiffon and the designer’s art. A new exhibit at the National Trust’s Kingston Lacy House near Wimborne, gives visitors a chance to see a magnificent example of…

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River Prize 2025 for National Trust’s Holnicote project

THE National Trust’s Holnicote estate on Exmoor was one of three finalists for this year’s UK River Prize awards, which are organised by the River Restoration Centre. The Trust’s pioneering project adopted an innovative American “Stage Zero” technique to restore a section of the River Aller creating new wetlands to benefit both people and wildlife….

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