© 2025 Buckland Newton Community Website Committee Last updated 8th July 2025 08:55 Website design and update by Jeremy Collins
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
• 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
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.
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
Travel & Traffic / Road Closures
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
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.
Buckland Newton Community Website
in the heart of rural Dorset