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

Other Local Websites

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

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.

Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheOldChapelStores The Gaggle of Geese - Buckland Newton’s Village Pub Simon and Sarah at the Gaggle of Geese 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.  The Gaggle is  open, subject to current Covid-19 restrictions.  See the Gaggle website for days and times.    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/ . The Fish and Chip Van visits Buckland Newton on the last Tuesday of the month at the old bus shelter opposite Buckland Newton School from 5.00 pm with last orders at 7.00 pm. 2021 Dates: No visit in June Tuesday 27th July No visit in August Tuesday 28th September Tuesday 26th October Tuesday 30th November No visit in December Tikka Curry Van generally visits Buckland Newton on alternate Wednesdays.  See Dates for your Diary below for up-to-date information. Burger Van visits Buckland Newton most Friday evenings at the old bus shelter opposite Buckland Newton School. Fresh Fish Van visits the Gaggle of Geese Car Park 3.00 pm to 3.30 pm Wednesdays.

Village Plant Sale

The total amount raised from the recent Plant Sale in aid of Weldmar Hospice was £1,671.  A very grand total indeed!  Jan said: “The lady I saw this morning at the Hospice was extremely grateful for the donation as fundraising has been seriously curtailed because of the pandemic.  She thought we must live in a lovely caring community (which is true) to have raised that much money for Weldmar from selling 'just a few home-grown plants'.  She assured me I would be receiving a letter of acknowledgement in due course.”  The article sent in to the LVN when it comes out will have the old total - now superceded of course. Is your Broadband slow? Message from Chris Loder MP:  “Two weeks ago, the Government confirmed Dorset’s inclusion in the £5 billion Project Gigabit broadband programme, which I lobbied hard for. We also have several Community Fibre Partnerships (CFPs) active in West Dorset and I have been working closely with Openreach on these. “As I continue my campaign to get good broadband connectivity across West Dorset, I need to collate the specific details of where connectivity is particularly poor. I have created a survey on my website for this purpose:  www.chrisloder.co.uk/broadbandsurvey “ If you wish to contribute to this survey, please follow the link above.  Hopefully this may result in improved broadband speeds and coverage in Broadband for rural areas.

Boosting Broadband in Rural Areas

Dorset Council is appealing to town and parish councils to help spread the

word that help is available to boost broadband in rural areas.  For more

information, please see the attached article - voucher funding may be

available for households/businesses with slow broadband.

Fibre broadband is available to most residents in Buckland Newton.  You will need to contact your broadband supplier (ISP) to change over to fibre; this is not automatic and will usually cost more than a non-fibre connection.  Houses served by Cabinet 2 (by the church) still cannot get fibre and there do not appear to be any plans to change this situation. 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 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://www.bucklandnewtonparishcouncil.org.uk/refuse_and_recycling.htm

Travel & Traffic / Road Closures

See Parish Council Travel & Traffic page

Weather Forecast

The nearest Met Office Weather Forecast location is Minterne Gardens. 

Click for a 7-day weather forecast.

Flood Warden

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.

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 

There is an online version of the newsletter; for most recent available (July 2021) issue, click on Lydden Vale News to view page-by-page or Lydden Vale News (pdf file) if you have a fast internet connection, to download the whole issue.  There is also a rolling 12-month Lydden Vale News Archive, so that you can refer back to earlier issues. The LVN now has a new Editor - Amanda McKenna, and a new Treasurer - Vinny McKenna.  E-mail contact as above.  Many thanks to Amanda and Vinny!  

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.  Following restrictions on community activities, the Lunch Club is presently suspended. 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.  £1.20 buys you cake and coffee/tea. Following restrictions on community activities, the Village Cafe is currently suspended.

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. Saturday 26th June, 7.00 pm, Gaggle of Geese.  Sadly the Jimmy Hillbillies can't play at Glastonbury this year... instead they are bringing their hoedown to us. In the garden from 7pm. Booking highly recommended! Sunday 27th June, Service at Holy Rood Church.  10.00 am Holy Communion.  In addition Cerne will hold a morning service on ZOOM at 12.30 pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83282595209?pwd=ZTNnSUtVVVlEK0pwcFFm TDhrMENIZz09 Tuesday 29th June.  No visit from the Fish & Chip Van - back in July. Wednesday 30th June, 2.00 pm, Holy Rood Church.  Group Clean, timed to ensure everything is looking its best for the Bishop of Sherborne’s visit on the 4th July, when we celebrate all the recent improvements to make our church a place of welcome for all.  Thursday 1st July, Gaggle of Geese.  Giggle @ The Gaggle - an evening of comedy at the Gaggle. Join compere Andrew White, headline act Morgan Rees and a host of other comedians for an evening of laughs in the garden. Ticketed event. £10.00 for the comedy. Optional £8.00 for wood-fired pre-show pizza. Tickets on sale now! Sunday 4th July, 4.00 pm Special Occasion at Buckland Newton Holy Rood Church: "Evensong at 4pm".  Bishop Karen of Sherborne Abbey will join us to dedicate the completion of our new WC and washroom at the church.  The organ will be played by James Crawshaw.  After the service we will "gather together" for tea, cake and scones.  Please join us.  Social distancing and masks will be used at the service. Saturday 31st July, Gaggle of Geese.  Gaggle Fest - our annual family friendly music festival returns! Live bands, kids zone, hog roast, BBQ, pizzas and more! Bands include The Leggomen, Rip It Up, Mother Ukers and Hardy & The Monuments. Tickets £6.00 adults. £2.00 for under 12s. On sale now.