Dorchester Town Council

16/06/2026

Did you know Dorchester has saved the equivalent of 16,727 500ml single use plastic bottles by using the town centre's free refill point? 💧 (Apr 25-Mar 26)

AND... Refill points in the Wessex Water region have saved 343,060 plastic bottles from landfill over the last year!

Today, on World Refill Day, we're encouraging you to save plastic by using the refill point of South Street, outside Coffee #1. If everyone in Dorchester refilled JUST ONCE, we'd save over 20,000 single use bottles!

You can find other refill locations in town using the Refill app or by looking out for window stickers. Don't forget the Great Field also has a free refill station too!🚰

All refill points are cleaned, maintained, and monitored regularly to ensure high standards of water quality and hygiene.
To use the refill point safely it's recommended that you:
💧keep a safe distance from the person in front of you if you’re queuing
💧don’t touch the refill point’s nozzle with the top of your bottle
💧minimise contact with the refill point by only touching the refill button

15/06/2026

Starting tomorrow, 6.15pm at the Great Field: Yoga at the Park, with Mimi-movements. 🧘‍♀️🧘

The Tuesday classes are run on a pay-what-you-like basis. Message Amelia direct on 07475394260 to confirm your attendance. Meeting point is opposite the pharmacy next to the Great Field.

08/06/2026

Last Thursday in Dorchester, we held a powerful screening of the National Emergency Briefing along with Dorset CAN - Climate Action Network and Dorset Action.

The film reflected on the National Emergency Briefing on the Climate and Nature Crisis held in Westminster in November 2025. It features Chris Packham, leading scientists, a former General, celebrities, and a range of voices from across the UK talking frankly about the climate crisis.

From weather extremes to food security and the cost of living to health impacts, the film covered every area of you can think of. The message was clear - the challenges we're facing are not abstract or distant, they're happening now.

The screening was followed by a Q&A to reflect and discuss the film and local climate issues with some fantastic audience questions. A big thank you to our discussion host Mark Tattersall and panel members: Edward Morello MP, West Dorset, Cllr Nick Ireland (Leader for Dorset Council), Cllr Les Fry (Mayor of Dorchester & Dorset Councillor), Michael Dooley (Lord Lieutenant of Dorset), and Giles Watts (Dorset CAN).

If you would like to host a screening of the film (no matter how big) near you, head to https://www.nebriefing.org/host-the-film.

08/06/2026

We are using Local Council Clerk Week to recognise the service of our Clerk, Steve Newman. After 24 years at Dorchester Town Council, and over 40 years working in local government prior to that, Steve is retiring this August!

04/06/2026

DORCHESTER KITE FESTIVAL POSTPONED 🚩
A message from the Dorchester Kite Festival team:

We’re very sorry to announce that the Dorchester Kite Festival, scheduled for this Saturday (6 June), has been postponed due to forecast high winds and rain.

With sustained wind speeds expected to reach around 20mph and gusts up to 40mph, it would be unsafe to erect gazebos. This means we would be unable to host food stalls or provide the planned free kite-making activities.

While wind is essential for kite flying, very strong winds can prevent large, spectacular kites—often a highlight of the festival—from being displayed.

The safety of our visitors, traders, and volunteers must come first, and we want to ensure the event can be enjoyed in full.

We are working on confirming a new date and will share an update as soon as possible.

Thank you for your understanding, and we hope to see you soon for a fantastic day of kites, activities, and family fun.

04/06/2026

04/06/2026

Hey everyone,

I’m cancelling today’s class at 10am in Maumbury Rings as I think there is a high chance we would get wet!!

Have a great day & let’s hope for drier weather next week 🤞

Love,
Jeni 😘

01/06/2026

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Everybody is welcome in Dorchester - no matter how you identify! We're proud to support the LGBTQIA+ community and want Dorchester to be an inclusive, safe, and happy town for everyone.

Dorchester is celebrating diversity and inclusion with a programme of joyous events and exhibitions this June for Pop-Up Pride Dorchester! See the attached for a taste of the events to come and see more at www.discoverdorchester.co.uk/pop-up-pride-dorchester

The Discover Dorchester website features a page dedicated to LGBTQIA+ resources in our town. You'll find information about the Everyone is Welcome posters, LGBTQIA+ events in Dorchester as well as local and national resources. The page also features a list of unisex/gender neutral/single cubicle toilets around the town (suggestions welcome).

You can find the page here: www.discoverdorchester.co.uk/your-visit/lgbtqia-resources

Look out for the Everyone is Welcome posters around Dorchester. These have been distributed around town as a way to show support and kindness for the LGBTQIA+ in Dorchester. If you are a business/community space and would like a poster please get in touch with Connie at DTC at [email protected].

01/06/2026

Flying the flag for Dorset Day!
We're sharing a Dorset poem to celebrate. Enjoy William Barnes 'Praise O' Do'set' poem.

We Do'set, though we mid be hwomely,
Be'nt asheäm'd to own our pleäce;
An' we've zome women not uncomely;
Nor asheäm'd to show their feäce:
We've a meäd or two wo'th mowèn,
We've an ox or two we'th showèn,
In the village,
At the tillage,
Come along an' you shall vind
That Do'set men don't sheäme their kind.
Friend an' wife,
Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers,
Happy, happy, be their life!
Vor Do'set dear,
Then gi'e woone cheer;
D'ye hear? woone cheer!
If you in Do'set be a-roamèn,
An' ha' business at a farm,
Then woont ye zee your eäle a-foamèn!
Or your cider down to warm?
Woont ye have brown bread a-put ye,
An' some vinny cheese a-cut ye?
Butter?--rolls o't!
Cream?--why bowls o't!
Woont ye have, in short, your vill,
A-gi'ed wi' a right good will?
Friend an' wife,
Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers.
Happy, happy, be their life!
Vor Do'set dear,
Then gi'e woone cheer;
D'ye hear? woone cheer!
An' woont ye have vor ev'ry shillèn,
Shillèn's wo'th at any shop,
Though Do'set chaps be up to zellèn,
An' can meäke a tidy swop?
Use em well, they'll use you better;
In good turns they woont be debtor.
An' so comely,
An' so hwomely,
Be the maïdens, if your son
Took woone o'm, then you'd cry "Well done!"
Friend an' wife,
Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers,
Happy, happy, be their life!
Vor Do'set dear,
Then gi'e woone cheer;
D'ye hear? woone cheer!
If you do zee our good men travel,
Down a-voot, or on their meäres,
Along the windèn leänes o' gravel,
To the markets or the feäirs,--
Though their ho'ses cwoats be ragged,
Though the men be muddy-laggèd,
Be they roughish,
Be they gruffish,
They be sound, an' they will stand
By what is right wi' heart an' hand.
Friend an' wife,
Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers,
Happy, happy, be their life!
Vor Do'set dear,
Then gi'e woone cheer;
D'ye hear? woone cheer!