Abbotsbury Food Fair 2020

SATURDAY 11TH APRIL 2020, 10AM – 4PM

Working together with Dorset Food & Drink, we are excited to be running Abbotsbury Food Fair again this year! Discover over 30 stalls showcasing distinctively Dorset produce while exploring the stunning Spring colours of the gardens. There will be cookery demonstrations and the chance to try and buy cheeses, baked goods, charcuterie, meat, coffee, cider, spirits, beer, wine and more!

ENTRY £5 PER ADULT, UNDER 16S FREE Includes entry to the Subtropical Gardens (adult normally £12.50) Entry is £5 per adult in advance, £6 on the door.

To find out more visit their website…  Click Here

Tulips at Forde Abbey 2020, it is the burst of colour after the minimalism of the Winter landscape, a flamboyant sashay during the months of April and May.

Joshua Sparkes, head gardener at Forde Abbey, will be shifting the focus from massed tulips in Spring to creating a tapestry of different flowers: ” We have to be more clever with our planting, encouraging the tulips to have more of a perennial nature.” Instead of ranks of bulbs, he is creating a more natural style of planting, with a 70/30 mix of perennials to tulip bulbs and the opportunity to edit the mix each year, creating an evolving, complex and layered landscape. He is using bulbs that will flower more than once and will top them up every three years or so.

In Spring, ribbons of tulips will provide a flowering thread of colour through a more varied offering of narcissi, muscari and chionodoxa, growing up and through emerging perennial foliage in the company of flowering biennials and annuals: hesperis, lunaria, foxgloves, ornamental kale and woad, along with the bluey silver of myosotis. Two interconnected tulip swirls will also be in bloom, a lovely way to wander in and amongst the planting and enjoy the beauty close at hand.

Tulip Tours

Join Joshua Sparkes for an inspirational wander around the Tulips at Forde Abbey 2020 followed by a cup of tea or coffee and a slice of cake.

Saturday 18th April, 10am – 12pm Saturday May 2nd, 10am – 12pm

To find out more visit…  www.fordeabbey.co.uk/event/tulips-in-spring/

Tulips at Forde Abbey 2020, it is the burst of colour after the minimalism of the Winter landscape, a flamboyant sashay during the months of April and May.

Joshua Sparkes, head gardener at Forde Abbey, will be shifting the focus from massed tulips in Spring to creating a tapestry of different flowers: ” We have to be more clever with our planting, encouraging the tulips to have more of a perennial nature.” Instead of ranks of bulbs, he is creating a more natural style of planting, with a 70/30 mix of perennials to tulip bulbs and the opportunity to edit the mix each year, creating an evolving, complex and layered landscape. He is using bulbs that will flower more than once and will top them up every three years or so.

In Spring, ribbons of tulips will provide a flowering thread of colour through a more varied offering of narcissi, muscari and chionodoxa, growing up and through emerging perennial foliage in the company of flowering biennials and annuals: hesperis, lunaria, foxgloves, ornamental kale and woad, along with the bluey silver of myosotis. Two interconnected tulip swirls will also be in bloom, a lovely way to wander in and amongst the planting and enjoy the beauty close at hand.

Tulip Tours

Join Joshua Sparkes for an inspirational wander around the Tulips at Forde Abbey 2020 followed by a cup of tea or coffee and a slice of cake.

Saturday 18th April, 10am – 12pm Saturday May 2nd, 10am – 12pm

To find out more visit…  www.fordeabbey.co.uk/event/tulips-in-spring/

Lyme Regis Jazz & Blues Weekend 2020 A great music event for jazz and blues lovers at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis, over May Bank Holiday.

For dedicated jazzers and blues hounds alike, the Lyme Regis Jazz & Blues festival aims to bring the best of live music, both new and traditional, to the Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis over the May Bank Holiday Weekend.

To buy tickets, please contact the Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre on 01297 442138.

For more info, visit their website: www.jazzjurassica.co.uk

EVERYTHING DELICIOUS IN THE BRIDGEPORT AREA

Bridport Food Festival June 2020 is run by the Bridport Local Food Group, a volunteer run ‘not for profit’ group whose overall aim it to promote and support the areas fantastic food and drink industry and to encourage everybody to eat healthily and eat locally. The Food Festival is our showcase event where we are proud to celebrate our local produce, producers, retailers and hospitality outlets.
It was originally conceived by the West Dorset Food and Land Trust, with support from the Countryside Agency, The Marshwood Vale Magazine, Denhay Farms and Bridport Town Council, and was launched with the help of Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall in 2004. Since then the Festival has blossomed into a well-loved and hugely popular event, regularly attended by over 3000 visitors. It is a much loved fixture in Bridport’s food calendar!

More information can be found at https://www.bridportfoodfestival.co.uk

Exeter Craft Festival 2020

This will be a celebration of the very best artists & makers based in the South West and will take place as usual in the historic setting of Exeter’s Cathedral Green. This very special event will take place over three days on Thursday 2nd, Friday 3rd & Saturday 4th July 2020. The Festival will be open from Thursday 10.00 – 5.30 pm, Friday. 9.30 – 5.30 pm, Sat. 9.30 – 5.00 pm The combination of art, craft and entertainment has been an annual event for over 40 years and 2020 promises to be better than ever. Over 100 stalls in a unique tented village give the visitor the opportunity to see the work of the West Country’s best artists and makers.

For more information you can visit… www.exetercraftfestival.co.uk/

Experience a true celebration of rural Mid Devon with an eclectic mix of breathtaking entertainment, food, shopping, music, horticulture and farm life. Mid Devon Show is an award winning show.

You will be spoilt for choice with eight hours of nonstop entertainment and an adventure into local history, produce and the finest offerings available right here in Mid Devon.

The best one day agricultural show in the west! The Mid Devon Show offers a fun day out for all the family.

You can find out more information by visiting… www.middevonshow.co.uk/

Beautiful Days Music Festival 2020 is the Levellers’ independent family music festival organised by DMF Music. It takes place at Escot Park in Devon. Beautiful Days has no sponsorship or branding and does not advertise.

The festival has several stages, a seated Theatre Tent, site art installations, Wild Spa, Crafts Area, a huge Children’s Area, walkabout theatre, play zone and family camping. Real ale bars from Otter Brewery, Folk Sessions, Healing Garden and a vast selection of carefully chosen food & craft stalls.

“We love this old school, non-corporate festival and can’t wait until the next one” efestivals 2019
“”Beautiful Days is without a doubt a top contender for best weekend of the year” FestivalKidz 2019

The first wave of artists for our 18th year includes Travis, Flogging Molly, Levellers, Gary Numan, New Model Army, Hawkwind, Indigo Girls, Imelda May, Skindred, Dubioza Kolektiv, Dreadzone, Show Of Hands, The Orb and Circus of Horrors plus a ‘Mad Hats’ theme for the Sunday.

For more information go to https://www.beautifuldays.org

The Great Dorset Steam Fair is the World’s largest heritage and cultural event, showcasing Great Britain’s National industrial, agricultural and rich leisure history.

2020 marks the 52nd Anniversary show starring 500 full size steam engines, a record breaking event!

If you’re looking for an excellent fun and action packed day out then you’ll love the Great Dorset Steam Fair. Traditionally this English fair is held at the village of Tarrant Hinton, near Blandford Forum in the heart of the beautiful Dorset countryside. Further directions are superfluous. Just find the village on the map, head in that direction and follow everyone else to the show.

From small beginnings this annual event has become one of the favoured places for those interested in how people lived, worked and played in bygone years and it is now widely recognised as “THE” National Heritage Show as well as being regarded as the leading show of its type in the World. The spectacle covers an enormous showground, at over 600 acres being one of Europe’s largest outdoor event locations. 2020 sees the show in its 52nd year.

You can stand amazed at the variety of exhibitions and the sheer scale of the show means that there is always something new to see. For the first time visitor seeing the Great Dorset Steam Fair can be quite an awe inspiring and impressive site, a sea of marquees and attractions that can take your breath for a moment.

The show has something for everyone, whatever your interests! Maybe you are a collector, a steam fanatic, an exhibitor, a heavy horse fan, an avid camper, a music fan or just on holiday in the South of England over the August Bank Holiday weekend and fancy an excursion to what is described as the most remarkable show on earth!

For more information, visit… www.gdsf.co.uk/

Dorset County Show 2020. For over 176 years Dorchester Agricultural Society has celebrated agriculture and rural life within the county of Dorset. The first exhibition was held in 1840 and this has now developed in to the two day Dorset County Show which takes place on the first weekend in September.

The Show encompasses competitive classes in: Cattle, Dairy Goats, Sheep, Pigs, Sheep Shearing, Horses, Show Jumping, Homecraft, Horticulture and Farm Produce

As well as these competitive classes the weekend showcases rural skills, local food and drink producers, Main Ring entertainment and a wide variety of trade stands. A good day out to be had!

You can find out more information by visiting their website at… www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk/