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.

Rural Family Hub

There are plans to set up a Rural Family Hub in the Village Hall. For more information, click here or on ‘Rural Family Hub’ in the menu at left.

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

NEW… The on-line version of the Lydden Vale News (September 2024) 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  ) 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/ . Opening Hours - with the summer holidays now over, we will be moving back to being closed on Mondays & Tuesdays. This is to help with our work / life balance and family time! Open from 11.30am Wednesdays and then throughout the week. 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! Pizzas! - we are hoping for a glorious September and so plan to continue to do wood-fired pizzas in the gardens on Saturday evenings. Keep an eye on our social media for latest pizza news Artisan style pizzas made from our own dough. Eat at the pub or takeaway. Typically available Saturday evenings. Booking recommended! Pub Quiz - Wednesday 18th September – our popular Gaggle pub quiz returns. Fun evening of head scratchers, cryptic clues and general knowledge. Teams of up to 6. £2 per person or free if you dine before the quiz. Booking required. Future quiz dates are 23rd October, 20th November and 18th December. Dates for your Diary - as we head towards Autumn, lots to look forward to…..key dates for your diary Gaggle Halloween – Thursday 31st October Village Bonfire Fireworks – Tuesday 5th November Christmas Craft Fayre – Saturday 30th November Tikka Curry Van generally visits Buckland Newton on alternate Wednesdays.

Ultrafast internet is coming to Buckland Newton this

summer

If you are fed up with a poor internet connection, then we’ve got some

good news for you. Wessex Internet is bringing full fibre broadband direct

to homes and businesses in Buckland Newton and surrounding areas this

summer.

Connectivity to fast, reliable broadband is being made possible due to the

government’s Gigabit Voucher scheme. This enables communities to

request government backing to bring ultrafast broadband to their area,

making it viable for internet companies to bring their networks to harder-to-

reach communities with the help of government subsidies.

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

and underserved 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.

If you haven’t heard of Wessex Internet, they are an independent Dorset-

based internet provider, who have built their own future-proofed fibre

network and who specialise in bringing ultrafast broadband to rural areas.

They have over 8,000 local customers and provide friendly, human support

from their HQ in Blandford. You may have spotted the Wessex Internet

team out and about, either working with landowners to lay long-distance

cables across fields or finishing the door-to-door build in and around the

village. The final stage is to connect customers to this ultrafast network.

This requires an initial visit - that the customer does not need to be present

for - when a team will carefully lay a cable under gardens or using existing

ducts. Then, on installation day, an engineer will talk about where the cable

should enter the property, installing and testing all the required kit. For this

appointment, the customer must be present.

We would encourage anyone who hasn’t yet registered their interest, to do

so now, so that they can be connected as quickly as possible when the

service ‘goes live’. It will take a few minutes to enter your details online or

to give Wessex Internet a call, which will allow them to talk through the

options available and to set an install date if you decide to go ahead.

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

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.

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. Thursday 3rd October, 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm, Gaggle of Geese. ‘Knit & Natter’. Now that it is getting colder, perhaps you are thinking it’s time for a new project. If so, do come along and join us for an afternoon of crafting - all crafts and level of skills are welcome. There is always someone who could help you to learn to crochet or knit as well as decipher those complicated patterns. There are usually 15 or 20 of us who meet in ‘The Gaggle’ every fortnight on a Thursday afternoon, when there is cake and biscuits. If you would like to know more, get in touch with one of us. Lyn Cox 01300 345739 or Jane Willis 01300 345477. Saturday 5th October, 7.00 pm for 7.15 pm, BN Village Hall. Harvest Supper. Ticket £12.00 including 2-course supper; licensed Bar. Tickets available from Old Chapel Stores, Jon Sulkin 07971 277 584 or Diana Wells 01300 345 434 dianawells588@gmail.com Sunday 6th October. Service at Holy Rood Church. 6.00 pm Harvest Festival. Wednesday 9th October, 7.15 pm for 7.30 pm, BN Village Hall. Lydden Vale Gardening Club. Claire Hart of GrassRoots PR & Marketing has worked in the Horticultural field (no pun intended!) for decades in an advisory capacity with well-known seed companies on their PR and marketing, including Kings Seeds. It was this company, when it was celebrating 125 years of production, she helped to mark with a display at the Royal Chelsea Flower Show. Her talk ‘Chelsea or Bust!’ is all about that journey, with a fascinating look behind the scenes at what has become the UK’s most iconic Garden Show and promises to be an informative and entertaining evening! As always non-members are welcome at £3. Friday 11th October, 12.15 pm, BN Village Hall. Second Friday Lunch Club. How very lucky we were to have perfect sunny weather last month when The Lunch Club returned to the Sherborne Golf Club. We enjoyed a fabulous lunch while watching golfers tee off on an immaculate green. Our thanks to the wonderful Chef and staff. This month we are back in Buckland Newton Village Hall. We suggest members arrive about 12.15 onwards to eat at 12.45. The menu this month is as follows: • Fish and Chips (small or large portions) (bowls of chips will be on each table) • Jumbo Sausage with or without batter • Chicken Goujons in breadcrumbs • • Fruit Salad with Cream • • Tea or Coffee If you haven’t already done so, please confirm to Bridget Hodges (01300 345493). if you plan to attend. Friday 11th October, 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm, BN Village Hall Car Park. Fish ‘n’ Chip Van Visit. Saturday 12th October, 10.30 am to 1.30 pm, Pulham Village Hall. Coffee Morning. Sunday 13th October. 9.45 am Holy Communion (please note new time) Saturday 19th October, 9.30 am to 12.30 pm, BN Village Hall. Buckland Newton’s Yout Club Fundraising Car Wash. Sunday 20th October. Service at Holy Rood Church. 4.00 pm All-Age Family Service - everyone welcome. Wednesday 23rd October, 8.00 pm, Gaggle of Geese. Pub Quiz. Our popular Gaggle pub quiz returns. Fun evening of head scratchers, cryptic clues and general knowledge. Teams of up to 6. £2 per person or free if you dine before the quiz. Booking required. Future quiz dates are 20th November and 18th December. Friday 25th October, 10.30 am to 12.00 noon, Buckland Newton Village Hall. Buckland Newton Village Café. Tea/coffee and cake - as much as you like - for £1.50 - BARGAIN! Open to Everyone. Locals and Visitors. If you are new to the village - come along and join us - and meet your new neighbours. Lyn Cox 345739 Liza Hill 345230. Saturday 26th October, 3.00 pm, Gaggle of Geese. Lantern Making Workshop. Join Sarah & Noah in making some shooting star willow lanterns for the Village Bonfire parade. Be shown how to make your own lantern – just £5 per person for materials. Get in touch to book a space. Lantern kits also available to buy to make at home. 01300 345249 Sunday 27th October. 9.45 am Holy Communion (please note new time) Wednesday 30th October, 10.30 am, Buckland Newton Village Hall. Artsreach presents Scarlet Oak Theatre ‘Along Came a Magpie’. Scarlet Oak Theatre are heading to Buckland Newton this half=term with a playful and heart-warming adventure for young children and their families featuring Puppetry, plants and lots of pots! Suitable for ages 2-6 yrs - bring a cushion. Tickets: £8, £6 u18s, £24 family. www.artsreach.co.uk or tel: 01300 345431 Post-Show Family workshop: An Introduction to Puppetry After the show, families can take part in a fun puppetry workshop, exploring and combining storytelling, puppetry and vocal techniques to make and share a short Puppetry Performance! Suitable for ages 2+, places are limited. £4 per child. Children must be accompanied. Thursday 31st October, 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm, Gaggle of Geese. Bring the spooky kids for Halloween disco at the Gaggle. Free entry & free treat bag for all kids.