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

School Cleaner sought for Buckland Newton School

Buckland Newton School is looking for a new School Cleaner.  If you are interested, please follow this link:  https://www.sast.org.uk/work-for-us/current-vacancies/

Buckland Newton Parish Council: Notice of Vacancy for

a Parish Councillor

Please click on the graphic below for full information:

Parish Plan and Questionnaire

Updates on Actions on the 2013 Parish Plan have been published on the Parish Council website.  Click on “Neighbourhood/Parish Plans” at left. A Questionnaire on the Parish Plan has also been published by Buckland Newton Parish Council.  This can be downloaded for printing out and completing by clicking Parish Plan Questionnaire here.  Closing date for returns is Sunday 2nd October.

Bring a Picnic not a BBQ

Timely advice from Dorset Fire Brigade

Wessex Internet

Subject to demand, Wessex Internet are considering running fibre broadband to Buckland Newton.  If interested (no obligation) go to https://wessexinternet.com/order/interest There are good reports from current users of their wireless broadband connection (you need line-of-sight to Bulbarrow mast and an aerial for the wireless connection).  The above would be a fibre alternative.

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 

There is an online version of the newsletter; for most recent available (September 2022) 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!

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

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.  Pizzas! - most Saturdays - with the summer sun, we are making the most of the garden and are firing up our pizza oven Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Eat at the pub or takeaway.    See the Gaggle website for days and times.  Summer Hours - from the 25th July and then Mondays throughout August, we will be open for drinks on Monday evenings. Pop down for an evening drink and enjoy the sun in the gardens from 6.00 pm. 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/ . Pizzas! - Wednesdays.  If you have visited the Gaggle of Geese garden recently, you may have spotted our new shiny Airstream complete with new pizza oven!  Following our successful summer of pizzas and wood-fired menu, we are continuing to offer them on Wednesdays - eat at the pub or takeaway. Check out our Facebook page and website for latest pizza news and menus. Tikka Curry Van generally visits Buckland Newton on alternate Wednesdays (alternating with Basilico Pizza Van).  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. ‘Basilico’ Pizza Van visits alternate Wednesdays (alternating with Tikka Curry Van) 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm.  Pre-order 07403 566808 or www.basilico.uk  ‘Catch of the Day’ Fresh Fish Van visits the Gaggle of Geese Car Park 3.00 pm to 3.30 pm Wednesdays.

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, 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

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.  Also please consider extremely dry conditions

which can cause fire to spread very quickly - there are also thatched

houses in the vicinity which are especially vulnerable.  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.  £1.20 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. Monday 29th August, Gaggle of Geese.  Buckland Newton Village Fete.  Click for photos from the day. Friday 30th September, 10.30 am to 12.00 noon, Village Hall.   Village Cafe.  Homemade cakes and beverages - as much as you’d like for £1.30 or £1.50 depending on instant or ‘real’. For free will be all that chat, catching up on those holidays abroad, waiting for flights, baking on beaches until crisp, trying to ‘hydrate’ with warm water, opening and closing your curtains, opening and closing your windows, guiltily watering the pots of frazzled (or is it frizzled?) plants - what an action-packed summer it’s been. And we still have the floods to come I suppose. PLEASE contact me if you can offer your services as a host and/or cake baker at the cafe. Most people were away at the end of June and July (obviously doing all the aforementioned).  Ring me or email me with what you can offer I have spaces to fill September, October, November, January, February, March, April (not May) June and July. So, I need you…. PLEASE. Fizz Lewis: froglewis@hotmail.com or 01300 345521 Sunday 2nd October, Holy Rood Church.  Harvest Festival Service at 6.00 pm, followed by….. Sunday 2nd October, 7.15 pm for 7.30 pm, Holy Rood Church.   Harvest Supper.  All welcome, whether or not you are attending the preceding Service at 6.00 pm.  More details shortly.  Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th October.  Gaggle of Geese Kitchen closed.  We are closing the kitchen for a couple of days as we will be attending the awards ceremony for the Great British Pub Awards!  We are finalists in the Best Pub Garden and Best Pub For Families categories. Fingers crossed!! Wednesday 12th October, Village Hall.  Lydden Vale Gardening Club.  Eleanor Gallia will give a talk titled ‘Herbs and Horns’ explaining the part that Herbal Medicine and Biodynamic Gardening can play in our lives. Thursday 13th October, from 7.00 pm, Gaggle of Geese.  Wine Evening.  We are introducing our new Wine List.  Join us for an evening of tasting the new wines.  Wine & nibbles with Ian from Templar Wines.  Booking required, £8.00 per person. Wednesday 19th October, 8.00 pm start, Gaggle of Geese.  Pub Quiz.  Teams of up to six people, £2.00 per person or free if you dine with us first. Book a table for your team - 01300 345249. Friday 21st October, 1.00 pm to 5.30 pm.  Open Day at Buckland Newton Village Hall.  Come along to our Open Day to find out what Buckland Newton Village Hall can offer you! For more information click on graphic at left and contact - Ian Scott on 01300 345455 Friday 28th October, 10.30 am to 12.00 noon, Village Hall.   Village Cafe.  Homemade cakes and beverages - as much as you’d like for £1.30 or £1.50 depending on instant or ‘real’. Please contact me if you can offer your services as a host and/or cake baker at the cafe. Ring me or email me with what you can offer I have spaces to fill October, November, January, February, March, April (not May) June and July. So, I need you…. PLEASE. Fizz Lewis: froglewis@hotmail.com or 01300 345521 Saturday 29th October, Gaggle Of Geese. Halloween evening for the spooky kids. Ghostly adventures and goings-on! Saturday 5th November, Gaggle of Geese.  Village Bonfire and Fireworks.  Fireworks, bonfire, hot chocolates and hog roast!  And new for this year, a lantern procession from the Parish Field.  Lantern kits available from the pub or come along to one of the lantern-making workshops.  More details on the Gaggle website Wednesday 9th November,  Village Hall.  Lydden Vale Gardening Club.    Steve Fry of Castle Gardens will give a talk titled ‘Steve’s Weeds’, a light hearted talk on the part that weeds can play in our garden. Saturday 19th November, Village Hall.  ‘Love and Peace’ Concert.  More details in due course. Wednesday 23rd November, 8.00 pm start, Gaggle of Geese.  Pub Quiz.  Teams of up to six people, £2.00 per person or free if you dine with us first. Book a table for your team - 01300 345249. Thursday 24th November, Gaggle of Geese.  Giggle at the Gaggle!  Tickets £10.00 per person on sale at the bar or online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/gaggle Friday 25th November, 10.30 am to 12.00 noon, Village Hall.   Village Cafe.  Homemade cakes and beverages - as much as you’d like for £1.30 or £1.50 depending on instant or ‘real’. Please contact me if you can offer your services as a host and/or cake baker at the cafe. Ring me or email me with what you can offer I have spaces to fill November, January, February, March, April (not May) June and July. So, I need you…. PLEASE. Fizz Lewis: froglewis@hotmail.com or 01300 345521 Saturday 26th November, Gaggle of Geese.  Gaggle Christmas Craft Fayre.  Get in touch with Sarah (01300 345249) if you would like to book a stall. Sunday 11th December, Gaggle of Geese.  Artsreach present ‘No 9 Bus to Utopia’.  Tickets £5.00 on sale via www.ticketsource.co.uk/gaggle Wednesday 21st December, 8.00 pm start, Gaggle of Geese.  Xmas Charity Pub Quiz.   Teams of up to six people, book a table for your team - 01300 345249.