Around the Village

There’s plenty to do around the village, from clubs and groups, regular and one-off events to Keep Fit and Pilates classes and scheduled walks. Whatever your interest, you are almost certain to find activities or groups to suit. We have a fine Village Hall, a well-stocked village shop (The Old Chapel Stores), The Gaggle of Geese pub, Primary School, Pre-school and Toddler group and an historic parish church. Use the buttons below to find out about other activities and facilities in and around the village:

General Information

Buckland Newton’s Holy Rood Church at risk?

Major problems have been identified in the structure of the church roof. Please see the item on the Holy Rood Church page.

Environment Agency Advice in case of Flooding

The Environment Agency have issued updated advice on What to do in case of flooding.

Switch off of analogue telephone lines

People may have seen a small amount of information about the intention by Openreach to change all landlines to digital by 2025. There is no national publicity about this changeover, but it will have quite a big effect for some people. Please click for more information about this changeover from Councillor Jill Haynes.

Other Local Websites and Publications

Buckland Newton Community Facebook Page

• share & promote positive news relating to our village & its

surroundings.

• support our thriving local groups, societies, committees &

businesses.

• buy, sell, swap pre-loved possessions.

• enable the village community to advertise their skills, to promote

their events, ask for trader recommendations or get advice on a local issue.

Anyone can join the community page, and once you do you can post your

event or views. A team of moderators oversees the site and makes sure

that all those posting respect the rules of the community page. At present

your moderators are Amanda McKenna, Keith Darbyshire and Simon

Colquhoun.

Buckland Newton Parish Council Website

Lydden Vale News

The local printed Newsletter, the Lydden Vale News, is delivered free to

every household in the village. Editorial: lyddenvalley@gmail.com

Advertising: lyddenvaleadverts@gmail.com

The on-line version of the Lydden Vale News (July 2025) is now in ‘Flip Book’ format, showing two pages side-by-side. To move through the on-line magazine either swipe from left to right to turn the page, or use the left and right arrow keys (  and  or Page Up/Page Down ) if you have a keyboard. The downloadable version, if you wish to print the magazine, is still available - Click Lydden Vale News (pdf file) There is also a rolling 12-month Lydden Vale News Archive, so that you can refer back to earlier issues.

Food and Drink

Old Chapel Stores

Sue, Pete and their family welcome you to their village shop. Opening

Hours: Monday to Saturday 7.00 am to 6.00 pm, Sunday 8.00 am to 12.00

noon. Meats from Butchers Roger Else (Stalbridge). Plus all sorts of

tempting bakery goodies from Evershot Bakery as well. Plus: Hardware

Department upstairs. Pop along for more information on what is available

and support your local shop.

Gaggle of Geese

Simon and Sarah at the Gaggle of Geese (Winner - Best Pub Garden 2023) welcome bookings from those looking for a venue for special occasions - such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, children’s parties, fundraisers etc. Just get in touch for a chat about how we can help you celebrate at the Gaggle. How to contact The Gaggle: Aside from popping in to the pub, you can also reach us or leave a message on 01300 345249 or e-mail on hartandhops@gmail.com Latest news and details of events can be found on our Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/gaggleofgeesepub/ - website at https://gaggleofgeese.co.uk/ . Summer Opening Hours - so you can make the most of the summer and the Gaggle gardens, we are going to be opening on Tuesday evenings in July & August. Pub open from 5pm on the Tuesdays starting from the 1st July. Kitchen open Tuesdays from the 8th July 5 to 8pm. Sunday Roasts - you may have heard that our Gaggle Sunday Roasts are very popular. Just a reminder that if you would like to eat at the Gaggle on a Sunday then always best to book in advance. You can do so in person, by calling, emailing or via social media. Don't miss out! Tikka Curry Van generally visits Buckland Newton on alternate Wednesdays.

Ultrafast Fibre Internet in Buckland Newton

Wessex Internet is bringing full fibre broadband direct to homes and

businesses in Buckland Newton and surrounding areas.

Wessex Internet has been at the forefront of bringing broadband to rural

communities in Dorset and neighbouring counties, and it has now reached

a stage where around 200 homes and businesses in the Lydden Vale will

be able to receive the service. All these properties will benefit from full

fibre connections, which is also known as Fibre to the Premise (FTTP).

This means a fibre optic cable goes all the way to a home or business

directly from the provider’s network, rather than stopping at a cabinet down

the road, which is known as Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC). Full fibre delivers

far superior speeds and reliability compared to copper or partial fibre

networks.

To register your interest please visit www.wessexinternet.com or call 0333

240 7997.

Outreach Post Office The outreach Post Office is open in the Village Hall on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 9.00 am to 12.00 noon.

Prescriptions

Prescriptions are delivered from Cerne Abbas Surgery to Old Chapel

Stores, usually after 3.30 pm, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Defibrillator

The village has its own defibrillator, housed in an unlocked cupboard on an

outside wall of the Village Hall by the kitchen door, under the veranda. In

an emergency, ring 999, then click here for list of runners who will bring the

defibrillator to you.

Recycling and Refuse Collection and Calendar

You can find details of your rubbish and recycling calendar at

https://mapping.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/mylocal/

Travel & Traffic / Road Closures

See Parish Council Travel & Traffic page for road closures etc.

Weather Forecast

The nearest Met Office Weather Forecast location is Minterne Gardens.

Click for a 7-day weather forecast.

Flood Warden

Some homes in Dorset are at risk of flooding. Please see the Parish

Council website for information and advice. The village Flood Warden

(01300 345707) or e-mail floodwarden@sky.com In case of flooding, the

village now has a supply of sandbags. If you are unlucky enough to require

use of these at some time in the future please contact the Flood Warden to

find out how to obtain sandbags.

More from the Village…

Bonfires - please consider your Neighbours

Please be considerate if you wish to have a garden bonfire. Smoke from

bonfires can be a real nuisance if neighbours have washing out to dry.

Particularly with coronavirus, smoke can also cause extra difficulties for

those with breathing problems, such as asthma sufferers - please think

before lighting a bonfire. For more advice from Dorset Council on bonfires

please see: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/environmental-

health/bonfires.aspx

Regular Events

Buckland Newton Pre-School. This operates 8.45 am to 3.15 pm, Monday to Friday in term time. Breakfast Club available from 8.00 am. All at Buckland Newton School during term time. It caters for children aged from 2 years, if space available. For further information, contact the school office on 01300 345393 during school hours or e-mail the School Office. Lunch Club. A 2-course meal with tea/coffee on the second Friday of each month, at Buckland Newton Village Hall or a Pub. Over 90 or 80? Maybe in your seventies? Living alone and no longer driving, except to potter around the village? You have a disability or long-term health problem, and would love to get out to meet old friends or make new ones? If so, we would be delighted to see you. Village Cafe. 10.30 am to 12.00 noon, every last Friday in the month (except August and December) in Buckland Newton Village Hall. A great opportunity to meet people in the village if you are new to the area or just meet your friends for an hour to catch up with them. £1.50 buys you cake and coffee/tea.

Gaggle Events

Axe Throwing & Archery! - Most Saturdays – we have teamed up with Dorset Medieval Archery to offer axe throwing in the Gaggle gardens 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm. Be taught the art of axe throwing and then see if you can win a prize by setting the highest score of the day! No need to book, just pop along and have a go for just £6. Bookable archery sessions in the Gaggle gardens across the week are now also available through www.dorsetmedievalarchery.co.uk Pizza Saturdays! - our popular wood-fired pizzas are back. Watch out for updates on our social media & website Other Gaggle Events under ‘Dates for you Diary’ below

Dates for your Diary

Below is a list of events taking place over the next few weeks. You can also check the Buckland Newton Community Facebook page for last- minute news of events. If you want your local event publicised here, please e-mail Webmaster ; also please e-mail if you have to cancel your event so that the events diary can be kept up to date. Wednesday 9th July, 6.30 pm. Lydden Vale Gardening Club - Members’ Social Night - ‘Honeybuns’. In July, for members, there is our annual Summer Social evening on the 9th, and to prove we are not just Buckland based and truly the Lydden Vale Club, we are invited to Honeybuns, Holwell, by kind invitation of Emma and Matthew for a tour of the bakery and the surrounding wildlife area followed by a shared supper. More details will be sent to members. Thursday 10th July (note Thursday not Friday!), 12.15 pm, Palmers Restaurant in Yeovil. Second Friday Lunch Club. A gentle reminder to Lunch Club members who are going to Palmers Restaurant in Yeovil - instead of our usual 2nd Friday get together - for this month only our outing will be on THURSDAY 10 July. As always, if you haven't already done so and wish to join us, please contact Bridget Hodges (01300 345493). Thursday 10th July, 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm, Gaggle of Geese. ‘Knit & Natter’. All crafts and all skills levels very welcome. We all seem to have the ability to natter - and eat cake too!! One of our sessions in June was preceded by a delicious lunch - thank you to Sarah and Simon and the Gaggle Team. And the Teddies keep on arriving ……. Lyn 01300 345739 or Jane 01300 345477 Friday 11th July, 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm, BN Parish Field. Buckland Newton C of E Primary School Summer Spectacular. Come and join us for an evening of fun! The Friends of Buckland Newton School invite you to join us for our Summer Spectacular fundraiser from 5-7pm. With kind per- mission of the Parish Council, we will again be holding the event on the Parish Field in Buckland Newton. So come and enjoy a super burger supper and help raise funds for our amazing school. Do you have wares to sell? Then have a stall for the evening for £10. We would also gratefully receive any donations of prizes or bottles that could be part of our raffle or bottle tombola. For any further information, please make contact via email or message Jade Ellis, the FBNS Chair. schoolfbns@gmail.com 07824 880493 Sunday 13th July. Service at Holy Rood Church. 9.45 am Holy Communion. All welcome, refreshments will be served after the service. Sunday 13th July, 12.00 noon to 3.00 pm, starting at The Great Field, Poundbury. ‘Dorchester Streets Alive‘ Community Cycle Ride. Following on from the successful "Streets Alive" event Dorchester Transport Action Group organised in 2023, this year we are holding a fun cycle ride through the streets of Dorchester to highlight the benefits of active travel and promote the need for safe cycling and proper cycle routes. The event will start and end from the Great Field in Poundbury on Sun 13th July and is intended to be for cyclists of all ages - we would especially encourage parents with their children. It starts from 12noon and at 1pm there will be a cycle round The Great Field for the younger cyclists who are welcome to bring scooters if they prefer. There will be some prizes for the best dressed bike/scooter. At 2pm there will be a ride round and through the town for adults and older children. We will have competent cycle marshals to accompany the cyclists. After the ride we hope that participants will stay and enjoy a picnic on The Great Field. On the same day Age UK are holding their summer fair on the other side of the field, so there will be refreshment stalls and children's activities to enjoy as well. Keep 106 will be there to do some interviews. So the whole afternoon should be fun for everyone. On behalf of Dorchester Transport Action Group Sunday 20th July. Service at Holy Rood Church. 4.00 pm All-Age Family Service. All welcome, refreshments will be served after the service. Thursday 24th July, 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm, Gaggle of Geese. ‘Knit & Natter’. All crafts and all skills levels very welcome. We all seem to have the ability to natter - and eat cake too!! Lyn 01300 345739 or Jane 01300 345477 Friday 25th July, 10.30 am - 12.00 noon, BN Village Hall. Village Cafe. £1.50 for tea/coffee and Cake. Open to locals and visitors. Thank you to all Hosts and Cake Bakers who are all volunteers - without whom the Cafe would not happen. We are currently compiling the rota for September this year to July next year. If you haven’t volunteered before and would like to, please do contact Lyn to find out more. See you there. Lyn Cox 345739 Liza Hill 345230 Saturday 26th July, Gaggle of Geese. Gagglefest. Our annual family friendly music festival. Two stages, seven bands, three bars, kids’ zone, pizzas, BBQ, axe throwing craft stalls, mobile barber, ice-creams and more! Gates open from midday with the first band Royal Ts. Bands across the day also include Kitty Stewart, Longdog, Rexes Hollow, Mik & Two, Route 66 and the headliners, Untold. Tickets on sale over the bar and via www.ticketsource.co.uk/gaggle Sunday 27th July. Service at Holy Rood Church. 9.45 am Holy Communion. All welcome, refreshments will be served after the service. Tuesday 2nd August, 8.00 pm, Gaggle of Geese. Open Mic Night. Monday 25th August, 12.00 noon, Gaggle of Geese. Buckland Newton Village Fete. The annual village fete hosted in the Gaggle gardens. Stalls, cakes, games, live music, dog show and more! The fete raises money for village groups & causes. And we need your help to run stalls and help on the day. Get in touch or have a chat with Simon or Sarah about how you can get involved.