dorset

Curtis LancasterSouth of EnglandPop in Place Bere RegisThe volunteers at Pop in Place in Bere Regis were among the awardeesAn inclusive football club and the team behind a community festival are among the groups to be given an award by the King.Volunteers across the South of England join 232 awardees nationwide that have been honoured with a King's Award for Voluntary Service.The highest UK accolade for local volunteer groups recognises exceptional contributions to communities.Each winner will receive a…

Stephen StaffordSouth of EnglandVikki EkemaA 12-hour dance marathon was one of the fundraising events for BBC Children in NeedFundraisers of all ages across the south of England have been going the extra mile to support BBC Children in Need.From Hampshire and Dorset to Oxfordshire, Berkshire and the Isle of Wight, people have been baking, cycling and rattling collection buckets as part of the BBC's annual charity appeal.Schools, care homes, leisure centres and community groups have embraced the challenge…

Marcus WhiteSouth of EnglandThe triptych was hidden for centuries by the almshouse brethren to save it from religious purgesA triptych painting that was kept in an almshouse chapel has been valued at up to £3.5m by auctioneers.St Johns' Almshouse, in Sherborne, Dorset, said it received the shock news after giving the altarpiece to Sotheby's auction house for safekeeping during renovation work.Experts identified it as the only surviving work of an unknown painter who was active in Brussels in…

The team behind a viral video that helped save a village pub from closure has been nominated for a TikTok award.Friends of The Elm Tree began posting on social media after The Elm Tree Inn in Langton Herring, Dorset, shut its doors in November 2023.Their Gen Z-inspired TikTok clip has reached millions worldwide, attracting support from countries including Brazil, Singapore, Australia and South Africa.The video is shortlisted for Video of the Year at the TikTok Awards UK &…

Two sets of developers are in the running to buy and transform the site of a former council building, 10 years after it was first put on the market.The former borough council's offices at North Quay in Weymouth, Dorset, were almost sold in 2016 but the deal fell through amid a planning row.Council documents show Castletech Projects and a partnership between Our Place and DJ Property have submitted fresh proposals for mixed residential and commercial schemes.Dorset Council cabinet…

Tristan PascoeDorset political reporter, BournemouthBCP CouncilHamworthy library is one of several in the BCP area chosen to trial the new technologyA council in Dorset is hoping to bring swipe-card access to some of its libraries in a bid to encourage more library use by residents.Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has applied for grant funding from The Arts Council.It wants to introduce "open access" so users can access their local libraries outside of normal opening hours.The system is…

Indy Almroth-WrightSouth of EnglandJames RobertThe fire broke out on a balcony of the Ammonite Building in DorchesterResidents who had to leave their flats after a fire in August have started moving back in.The fire on a second-floor balcony of the Ammonite building in Brewery Square, Dorchester, broke out on 29 August shortly before 18:45 BST.The fire spread up the exterior, leaving all 16 flats uninhabitable and forcing residents into temporary accommodation.Brewery Square said nine apartments were now safe…

Plans to create one of the largest renewable energy schemes on local authority land in south-west England are to be drawn up after winning support from councillors.Dorset Council says, if approved, the solar project at Higher South Buckland Farm, Chickerell, would help meet net-zero energy targets, generate investment and create jobs.A report to the council's cabinet said the poor soil quality and topography of the 60 hectare (140 acre) site made it "increasingly uneconomic for conventional farming".At a…

Three large green spaces are set to be revitalised for improved nature and community use next month.The sites totaling 59 hectares which have been earmarked for green space enhancements are Erlin Farm, Millhams Mead and Solent Meads.Under the new plans, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is hoping to improve these spaces by generating biodiversity net gain (BNG).More BNG sites would allow BCP to keep developers offset funds for other local projects.BCP says its proposals would see green…