Discover Moors Valley
With acres of open space to explore at Moors Valley, it’s sometimes difficult to know what
to do and where to start. We have some new free activities that help bring you closer to
nature and discover things that you may not have noticed before. Come and try our...
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Nature Activity Trail
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Scavenger Hunt
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Ranger Spot
Dorset Council Waste Services News
DORSET COUNCIL NEWS
Countryside Newsletter
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Dorset History Centre News
Which Way?
We have over 3000 miles of rights of way in Dorset. Please remember
to follow the coloured way-marking signs and make sure you know what
they mean.
Footpaths - for walking, running, mobility scooters or powered
wheelchairs
Bridleways - for walking, horse riding, bicycles, mobility scooters or
powered wheelchairs
Restricted byways - for any transport without a motor and mobility
scooters or powered wheelchairs
Byways open to all traffic - for any kind of transport, including cars
(but mainly used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders)
Permissive paths - paths which a landowner has granted a specific
agreement for the public to use.
Please follow the Countryside Code at all times. Practise your map
reading skills and plan your outing before you set off.
Exploring Avon Heath
Avon Heath is a great place to explore and enjoy the
outdoors. If you're looking for something extra to do, why
not try the new Planet Protector Trail (£3), free Scavenger
Hunt or Orienteering routes? There's no paperwork
involved - just bring your smart phone and take a photo of
the details when you arrive. We can email the info if you
don't have a suitable phone.
Tasty Treats at Thorncombe
The family run Under the Greenwood Tree Café at Hardy's Birthplace Visitor
Centre is back open for business! Dogs are also welcome and as a big dog lover,
Sarah is known to give out free gravy bones or biscuit treats. Tables are spaced
out inside and outside, as well as further out under the trees, and there is a one-
way system in place for ordering. The café and centre toilets are open Tues-Sun
from 10am.
Join the Woodland Clan at Durlston
Throughout the holidays, why not join a magical adventure to save Purbeck’s
countryside, with the Woodland Clan Activity Trail? Based on the new book by
Annie Herridge, the trail features sculptures, music and lots of fun activities
around Durlston’s Pleasure Grounds. Click on the link to find out more,
download the activity book, or listen to the story and music.
Marvellous Moths
Moth enthusiast Jason Falconer recently unveiled some wonderful visitors from the
previous night's moth trap - photographed here are Straw Underwing, Chevron,
White Point and Ear Moth. The free event was very popular with visitors of all ages
(socially distanced and one family at a time). Photos by Jason who can be followed
on Twitter @jasonmfalconer.
'Magnetic Fields'
Thinking of taking up metal detecting whilst enjoying some fresh air and
exercise in the countryside? Did you know that there are rules and regulations
to be followed? The Government has issued guidance on searching for
archaeological finds (with a metal detector, field walking or mud-larking) during
the COVID-19 outbreak. If you discover something in Dorset, please report
your find here.
Welcome to August's Newsletter!
Sun, sea, sand. This year’s summer holiday may look a little different to normal, but it is still the season to escape the house and
enjoy the outside before the schools go back, and the nights begin to draw in.
As a perfect accompaniment to whatever your leisurely summer read may be, in this month's newsletter we have:
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More about our re-opening
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Thoughts on the end of the Frink project
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How our Conservator saved a 17th Century account book
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Another unidentified picture we need your help with
DHC Re-opening update
Having re-opened our doors on a limited basis in early July, we are now considering how we might develop our offer in the
coming weeks and months. Of course, this isn't easy!
With social-distancing measures in place, we are limited to the number of staff we can have in the building at any given time,
which impacts upon what we are able to offer to customers. At this stage, nothing has been decided about how we might
increase the number of days we are open, which means, through the rest of August and into September, DHC will continue to be
open on Tuesdays and Thursdays only. There are two time slots in the morning and two more in the afternoon for each of these
days, which are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis! Each time slot lasts for 2.5 hours.
We are doing this to try to help people maximise their time at DHC, as well as helping as many people as possible. The library is
available for use, although all books will be quarantined for 72 hours after consultation; although we regret that we cannot
provide any access to the microform machines or computers at this stage.
If you would like to visit, or more information about our reopening please send us an email, and a member of the team will get in
touch with you.
Since last October, we have had David Johnston-Smith as a Project Archivist cataloguing the Dame Elisabeth Frink collection
held at Dorset History Centre. The latter part of this project was made more challenging by circumstances!
Earlier in August, David left DHC for pastures new, and before he finished, we asked him to give his thoughts on the project and
the collection as a whole.
If we look closely, archival documents can tell us so much more than that which is written in their pages. Even the most
unassuming volume, such as accounts of the church wardens and constables of Beeby, can tell us a great deal about how the
volume was used, some of the personality of its users, and how materials were sourced.
In a recent blog, our Conservator explained what we can learn from how a volume is assembled.
The Accounts of Beeby
Last month, we published a picture of the Nerma, moored in an unknown location. We had a variety of responses from our
readers as to the exact location, but the overall consensus is that the Nerma was mooring in West Bay, near Bridport. One
helpful comment explained that “It was unloading hemp from Riga and was in the harbour from 23 to 25 May 1908. The photo
was taken by Walter Langrish Stephens.
We have also been pointed to information about the eventual fate of the Nerma, which was torpedoed in 1917.
This month, we have another unidentified image for you to help us with! We have a feeling that this one might be a little trickier,
but we are sure some of our readers might recognise it! Do you recognise this thatched building or the river?
Do you know where this picture is?
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