Upfront: news from around the county.
Champions of wildlife
Dorchester-based professional photographer Richard Budd’s image of falconer Steve Backshall has made the centre page pull out in this month’s BBC Wildlife Magazine. Well done Richard! (richardbudd.co.uk).
Also congratulations to 21-year-old Sam Stewart, whose amazing barn owl images we featured in the magazine back in September. The wildlife cameraman and photographer from Wimborne has contributed some of his filming work to the BBC’s new wildlife television series The Great British Year which airs at 9pm on Wednesday evenings. See more of his work at samstewartphoto.org.
Sherbourne girls ride to victory
Students from Sherborne Girls finished first out of 31 schools at the 26th Stonar Inter-Schools Team one day event. Charlotte Radford, Georgie Lane, Rosanna Miller and Emily Williams competed in dressage, show jumping and cross country. “We had such a great time at Stonar,” says Georgie Lane. “I was really proud of our performances, and it was a fantastic feeling to bring the Senior Silver Plate home to Sherborne Girls.”
Dorset flourishes in Bloom Awards
Bournemouth was once again the highest scoring Dorset entry in the annual Southern Water South & South East in Bloom contest. Other Dorset winners included Ferndown, Shaftesbury, Wareham, Wimborne and Christchurch. Mrs Duddon of Bournemouth won Best Front Garden and The Pub in Bloom Award went to The Green Man in Wimborne, with Wareham’s The Quay Inn winning a highly commended award.
Dorset shepard’s huts go Down Under
Dorset-based Plankbridge is continuing the 19th-century tradition of exporting prefabricated corrugated iron buildings to Australia by shipping new-build shepherd’s huts to Brisbane. Plankbridge co-owner Richard Lee has joined forces with archaeologist and heritage expert Steve Chaddock, who lived in Henstridge and Shaftsbury before moving to Queensland in 2005. “The idea that orders for our huts in Australia are helping to employ several craftsmen in Dorset, just as it did 150 years ago, fills me with huge optimism for the future,” says Richard. Steve, and his wife Mellissa are setting up Plankbridge Australia in Queensland and can’t wait to import a little piece of Dorset history down under. “We are really looking forward to offering Plankbridge’s bespoke products to a discerning Australian public,” says Steve. (plankbridge.com)
Finalists announced for inaugural Dorset Tourism Awards
Over 30 of Dorset’s leading tourism businesses have been selected as finalists in the inaugural Dorset Tourism Awards which will be presented at a prestigious dinner at Tank Museum at Bovington the end of October. Winners will go through to the South West Tourism Excellence Awards and may well be put forward for the National Enjoy England Awards. For more details visit dorsettourismawards.org.ukBed and Breakfast of the Year
The Inn at Cranborne
Launceston Farm B&B, Blandford Forum
The White House, Charmouth
Tourism Information Service
Discover Purbeck Information Centre
Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre
Poole Welcome Centre
Holiday Park of the Year
Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport
Rockley Park, Hamworthy
South Lytchett Manor Caravan & Camping Park, Lytchett Minster
Best Tourism Activity, Sport & Experience
Furleigh Estate, Bridport
Lyme Bay RIB Charter
National Trust Brownsea Island
Tourism Event of the Year
The British Beach Polo Championships
Dorset Seafood Festival
Rallye Sunseeker
Sherborne Abbey Festival
Hotel of the Year
The Bridgehouse, Beaminster
Eastbury Hotel, Sherborne
Hotel Miramar, Bournemouth
Sustainable Tourism Award
Captains Club Hotel, Christchurch
Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport
Self-Catering Establishment of the Year
Dove House and Swallows, Dorchester
Dream Cottages, Weymouth
Greenwood Grange, Dorchester
Eating Out Award
Arbor Restaurant at The Green House Hotel, Bournemouth
Beaminster Brasserie, Beaminster
Eastbury Hotel, Sherborne
Highcliff Grill at the Marriott, Bournemouth
Visitor Attraction of the Year
Farmer Palmers, Organford
National Trust – Kingston Lacy, Wimborne Minster
Sandworld, Weymouth
The Tank Museum, Bovington
Tourism Pub of the Year
The Inn at Cranborne
Lulworth Cove Inn
The Old Granary, Wareham
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