This is the place for all regular events and dates for your diary!
For listings of everything from fairs, lunch clubs, Artsreach performances and coffee mornings, to concerts, workshops, clubs and open days just click on the sections below.
If you have any upcoming events that you would like added please email editor@forumfocus.co.uk
Wednesday May 1:
Is It Wheely Wednesday – cycle ride for the less confident, from Shillingstone Station, details 01258 860157
Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting, Brewery Hall, Hall & Woodhouse, 7pm
Blandford Bereavement Group meets Blandford Parish Centre, 11am to 12.30pm, details 01258 453425
Thursday May 2:
Town, parish and new Dorset County Council elections, polling stations open 7am to 10pm
Square Dancing, Spetisbury village hall, 4 to 6pm (and every Thursday)
Friday May 3: Rubber Jellyfish, a documentary about aerial litter, Child Okeford village hall, see waveofchange.uk
Friday May 3 to Sunday May 5: Teddy Rocks Festival, for Teddy 20 charity, Charisworth Farm, Thornicombe, tickets and information www.teddyrocks.co.uk.
Saturday May 4:
Plant sale & coffee morning, Tarrant Monkton & Launceston village hall, 10.30am
Jumble Sale in aid of village hall funds, Okeford Fitzpaine Village Hall DT11 0RE, 2pm, bricabrac, clothes, books, refreshments and Tombola
Sunday May 5:
Dorset Wildlife Trust Dawn Chorus walk with Steve Oliver (North Dorset Warden) at Ashley Wood, near Tarrant Keyneston, 4.30am, booking essential on 07824 874273
Dorset Ramblers meet 10.15am at Win Green to walk Wessex Ridgeway to Tollard Royal. 5 miles in the morning with optional pm walk to Melbury Beacon (2 miles). Bring picnic lunch or drive to Compton Abbas Airfield (details for this and other Sunday walks in May see www.dorsetramblers.co.uk)
The Art Room -
Round Robin Ramblers meet outside the Martyrs Inn, Tolpuddle, 2pm for 4.5 mile walk around Tolpuddle, details 01258 880044
Monday May 6: Bank Holiday
Blandford Georgian Fayre, 10am to 5pm, Blandford town centre (roads closed to traffic)
Garden Open and Creative and Sustainable Living Fair, Springhead Trust, Fontmell Magna, 10am to 5pm, stalls, refreshments, admission £3.50 (Friends and under 16 yrss free)
Tuesday May 7: Valley Gardening Club meets Pamela Hambro Hall, Winterborne Stickland, 7.30pm members’ discount evening, raffle & refreshments, members entrance free, non-
Wednesday May 8:
Forum Drama AGM, Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, 7pm
Sturminster Newton Floral Group meets The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, 7.30pm for demonstration -
Thursday May 9:
Forum Cancer Support Group, Woodhouse Garden Pavilion 2 to 4pm (every 2nd Thursday of the month), details 07561 114644
Patient Participation Group Networking evening, Blandford St Mary Primary School, 6 to 8pm, details call 07980 751520 / 07766 924612 or email communications@dorsetccg.nhs.uk
Friday May 10:
(And May 24) Craft Market, The Shambles, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 9am to 1pm
Dr Bods presents The Dub Pistols, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 7.30pm
Wessex Acoustic Folk, Blandford Royal British Legion Club, Church Lane, 8pm, Mike Silver
Blandford Evening Women’s Institute meets 7pm, The Parish Centre, The Tabernacle, speaker Ben Buxton – The Faroe Islands
Saturday May 11:
Dorset Wildlife Trust Dawn Chorus walk with expert local birder, Jon Ross, in Ansty, 4.45am followed by full English breakfast, fully booked, details 01258 880 699
Cleanup Blandford litterpick from 10am: meet at the weir next to Mortain (blue) bridge on the Marsh & Ham
Blandford Snooker Club Open Day, United Reformed Church Hall, Whitecliff Mill Street,
Blandford Bowling Club Open Day, Park Road, 10am to 4pm
Blandford Horticultural Society plant sale, Blandford Constitutional Club, 10am, details 01258 452380
Modou Ndiaye and band, Portman Hall, Shillingstone, 7.30pm, details www.artsreach.co.uk
Sunday May 12:
Durweston Country Fayre and Fun Dog Show, playing fields and village hall, 12 noon to 4pm, supporting Durweston CE Primary and Playing Fields, details 07988 791260
Doggy Treasure Trail, 2.00pm, The Old School Room, Winterborne Whitechurch. Teas, Raffle. In aid of PAWS of Pelion Greek Animal Rescue. Details 01258 880883
Spetisbury & Charlton Marshall Twinning Association cheese & wine, Church Rooms, Charlton Marshall, 12 to 2pm, details 01258 857515
Monday May 13:
Swann Recruitment Fair, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 9am to 4pm
Blandford Floral Group meets United Reformed Church Hall, Whitecliff Mill Street, 2pm with Sally Taylor -
Charity Bingo in aid of Blandford Yuletide Festival, Blandford Royal British Legion, eyes down 7.30pm
Wednesday May 15: Valley Gardening Club meets Pamela Hambro Hall, Winterborne Stickland, 7.30pm for talk, A Plant Hunter in Australia (Barry Clarke), raffle & refreshments, details valleygardening@gmail.com
Thursday May 16:
Blandford Art Society Workshop with Judith Ryde -
Museum Archaeology Group, talk on Shaftesbury Excavation by Julian Richards, Blandford Museum, 7.30pm
Friday May 17: Trafalgar Way talk by naval historian Kate Jamieson, Corn Exchange 7.30pm
Saturday May 18:
Big Brekkie for Christian Aid, Blandford Methodist Church, 9am to 10.30am
Trafalgar Way celebration and cavalcade, town centre and Corn Exchange, Blandford, 10am to 1pm
Plants and Bring & Buy Sale, cream teas, Spetisbury Church, proceeds to church funds, 1.30 to 4pm
Prose, Prosecco and Potions, Blandford Literary Festival presentation and fundraiser, Marcia’s Market, Clapcotts Farm, 3.45pm, details 07780 952395
Cocktail Demonstrations, Canapes, Gin Bottling and music with Alex GingerViking, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 7 to 10pm,supporting the Mayor's Charities
Saturday and Sunday May 18 and 19: Three Okefords Annual Rally, East Brooke Farm, Shillingstone, Nr Blandford, Dorset DT11 0SZ, 10am til late, an action packed day out for all the family with agricultural machines and tractor pulling and much more, details 01258 861473
Sunday May 19:
Community Kitchen Big Breakfast 9.30am at the Parish Centre, Blandford
Help make ‘Bags of Difference’ for children in foster care, Tarrant Hinton village hall, from 10am,details 01258 830410 or email craftatnumber7@gmail.com
Town Centre Heritage Walk with Blandford & District Civic Society Town Guide, 11am from Marsh & Ham (Morrisons) car park, details 01258 459346
Monday May 20:
‘Sing-
Tuesday May 21: Child Okeford Flower Arranging Club, 'Tablescapes', a practical workshop, Child Okeford Village Hall, 2.15pm, details: 01258 863775
Wednesday May 22:
BINGO at Blandford Royal British Legion, doors open 7pm, eyes down 730pm, in aid of The Art Department, Blandford school
Dementia Action Week seminar, Lesley Shand’s, 28 East Street, Blandford, 6pm, talk on ‘Living with dementia’ by Dr Bernard Coope, refreshments available.
Thursday May 23:
Blandford Town Team CIC AGM, Blandford Town Council committee room, Church Lane, Blandford, 6pm
Blandford Horticultural Society meets United Reformed Church Hall, Blandford, speaker Mark Hinsley on Trees in Your Garden, 7.30pm, details 01258 452380
Possible European Elections, polling stations open 7am to 10pm
Friday to Sunday May 24 to 26: Cursus Cider & Music Festival, Canada Farm, Sixpenny Handley
Friday May 24:
Mayor Making, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 11 for 11.30am
Film Night, Child Okeford Village Hall, 7.30pm, 'Stan and Ollie' (PG), bookings 01258 860518
Saturday May 25:
Spring Fair, Silent Auction, Plant Sale and refreshments. Stourpaine House, Manor Road, Stourpaine, 10.30am to 12.30pm. Details 07795117510
Jumble Sale in Aid of The Ark, Child Okeford, 11am to 1pm in the Child Okeford Village Hall, refreshments available
Keyneston Lodge Open Gardens, supporting Young Epilepsy, 11am to 4pm, cream teas and raffle
12 Hour Poolathon for the Multiple Sclerosis Trust, Royal British Legion Club, Church Lane, Blandford 12 noon to midnight, refreshments, £5 per player, to take part text name to 075337056091 or 07792294288
Talk by wall painting conservator Anne Ballantyne at St Mary’s Church, Tarrant Crawford, 2pm, supporting the Churches Conservation Trust, tickets £5 from parker359@btinternet.com or 01258 857453
Dorset Wildlife Trust evening walk to hear nightingales in Lydlinch Common, led by Jon Ross, fully booked, details 01258 880 699
Pub Quiz, Farquharson Arms, Pimperne, 8pm in aid of Stroke Association
Saturday May 25 and 26: Blandford Camera Club Annual Exhibition, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 9.30am to 5pm Saturday and 9.30am to 4pm Sunday
Saturday to Monday May 25/27: Arch Revival 2019 Family Camping Festival, Eight-
Sunday May 26:
Spetisbury’s annual village cider festival, The Shack(Marcia’s Market), Clapcotts Farm (now open Saturday and Sunday afternoons 2 to 6pm and during Marcia’s Market opening hours
Turnworth DT11 0EE -
Shapwick Village Green country fair, Stewards Lane, Shapwick, Dorset DT11 9JZ,12 to 4pm, details 07704672240
Monday May 27: Bank Holiday
Walk the White Hart Link from Stourpaine village hall at 11am to Blandford Corn Exchange, then picnic on the Stour Meadows before walking back to Stourpaine. Details 07713 328723
Friday May 31:
Vintage Fair, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 9am to 5pm
Wessex Acoustic Folk, Blandford Royal British Legion Club, Church Lane, 8pm, Winter Wilson
Friday May 31 to Sunday June 9: Spetisbury Festival