Czech and Slovak dancers at folk festival pay respect to Swanage hero A group of dancers who performed traditional Czech, Moravian and Slovak folk dances at the Swanage Folk Festival in Dorset, were delighted to discover the story of World War Two ...
Purbeck Cider’s apple day boosted by Kingston Lacy windfall A community cider making event near Corfe Castle in Dorset brought together families, apple growers and cider enthusiasts to create a new batch of the People’s Choice cider with the ... 
Swanage street collection raises £3,000 for Nepal in just two days Prompted by the devastating scenes of destruction in Nepal after flash flooding, Rotary members organised a street collection in Swanage town centre in Dorset, and were overwhelmed by the generosity ... 
Family up sticks to open new Flipped and Found shop in Swanage A quirky new shop promising a mix of restored furniture, local art, unusual gifts and even psychic readings has opened in Swanage. 
Former Bournemouth football manager backs Swanage bid for 3G pitch A final fundraising push to bring an all weather 3G football pitch to Swanage in Dorset, has been personally endorsed by former AFC Bournemouth manager Tony Pulis. 
Purbeck businesses among Dorset Tourism Awards finalists The Dorset Tourism Awards finalists for 2026 have been announced and include some notable names working within Purbeck’s tourism and hospitality industry 
Walkers at Old Harry save jetskiers’ lives by alerting lifeboat Two people who had been knocked off their jetski by a wave and were being pulled out to sea in rough weather, were lucky to be safely rescued by the ... 
Emergency services go into Tilly Whim caves to put out camp fire Caves which have been closed since the 1970s due to the high risk of rock falls, were entered by emergency services after smoke was spotted coming from them at Durlston ... 
Lulworth Estate barn fire believed to have ‘started deliberately’ A police investigation is underway after a fire at East Lulworth in Dorset destroyed a large barn, 2,000 bales of hay, and a derelict building 
One of the busiest months on record in Dorset for fire service callouts As the drought continues, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service says it dealt with 277 grassland, woodland and crop fires during July 2026, while also assisting with wildfires in ... 
Jet skis collide near Old Harry rocks Four people had a lucky escape off Old Harry near Swanage, Dorset, when their two jet skis collided, but were safely rescued by a local watersports company and Swanage RNLI 
Bin collection day to change for most households in Purbeck Residents across Purbeck in Dorset are being given advance notice that their waste and recycling collection days are likely to change from the end of September 2026
Swanage’s Godlingston cemetery receives gold standard award In recognition of its high standards of maintenance and care, Godlingston cemetery on the edge of Swanage in Dorset has been presented with a gold standard cemetery award 
Planning applications submitted for Swanage seafront scheme Residents and the wider community can now formally comment on the plans to redevelop a subsiding section of the seafront in Swanage, Dorset, after the submission of two planning applications ... 
New plan for more homes in Swanage A blueprint for development of Swanage in Dorset has been published to guide future growth of the seaside town, rather than allow building work to happen with no strategic plan 
Developers exploit loophole to create holiday let on Malthouse site In a surprising move, Dorset Council planners have allowed developers to get round a restriction on second homes on the Malthouse development in Langton Matravers 
Lady Mayor of London pays visit to Swanage Swanage in Dorset, or ‘Little London on Sea’ as it’s sometimes nicknamed due to all its old monuments and artefacts salvaged from the capital, played host to the Lady Mayor ... 
Swanage gets cash for ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity A major £5 million investment to stabilise part of the seafront and redesign the road which runs parallel to the beach in Swanage, has been unanimously approved by Dorset Council 
Diamond Swanage couple look back on lifetime of helping others A Swanage couple has celebrated 60 years of marriage with a special riverside break at The Priory Hotel in Wareham, Dorset, and a chance to reflect on six remarkable decades ... 
Swanage lifeguard to attempt world record epic Channel swim A team of elite long distance swimmers including a Swanage lifeguard is preparing to take on a gruelling 60 mile relay swim from Alderney in the Channel Islands to Swanage ... 
Megan chops off waist-length hair at Swanage event for cancer charity A Swanage woman has raised more than £900 for charity after making the bold decision to shave off most of her long hair in support of children living with cancer 
Warm Studland welcome at end of trek to help fight Alzheimer’s A Dorset man whose family has been devastated by neurological brain conditions has completed an emotional 630 mile solo walk along the South West Coast Path, finishing on Studland Beach 
Swanage survivor of childhood TB celebrates 100th birthday A Swanage woman who survived three childhood bouts of tuberculosis and went on to play an important role in World War Two has marked her centenary with friends and family 
Teenage girl injured after assault in Wareham A 13 year old girl received an injury to her knee which required medical treatment, as well as bruises to her head, after an assault in Wareham, Dorset
Man arrested on suspicion of illegal drug offences in Swanage Purbeck police say they have arrested a man in Swanage, Dorset, who they believe possessed the Class A drug cocaine with the intent to supply it to others 
Mobile mechanic jailed after scamming people across Dorset A man who defrauded more than 20 customers by an estimated £22,000 over three years, has been imprisoned following a case brought by Dorset Council Trading Standards 
Police issue CCTV images as investigation into Lulworth rave continues Detectives have issued images of six people they would like to identify as they continue to investigate reported disorder at an illegal rave near East Lulworth in Dorset 
Woman gets police caution after dog attacks Church Knowle sheep A rare breed of Shetland sheep received serious injuries after it was attacked by a dog in Church Knowle near Corfe Castle in Dorset 
Police in riot gear shut down illegal rave in East Lulworth Dorset Police said its officers faced "a violent and hostile reception" as they moved in to close down an illegal music rave attended by more than 2,000 people in a ... 
Burglars target Wool petrol station just minutes from Dorset Police HQ Police are searching for two masked men after they stole tobacco products from a petrol station in Wool, just down the road from the new multi million Dorset Police headquarters ... 
New 30 mph speed limit for Swanage’s Washpond Lane The speed limit is to be lowered along a road close to two schools in Swanage, Dorset, after many years of campaigning 
Wildlife shuttle bus to RSPB Arne returns for summer A community shuttle bus to help people explore one of Purbeck's most important wildlife sites without using a car is back for its fifth consecutive summer season 
More enforcement officers to patrol parking on Swanage’s streets A review of parking across the Dorset Council area including Purbeck, is recommending to recruit more civil enforcement officers - the team who issue parking tickets on yellow lines - ... 
Campaigners win battle to stop expiry of Sandbanks Ferry paper tickets Blue paper tickets to travel on the chain ferry between Studland and Sandbanks in Dorset will not have an expiry date imposed, following protests on the first day of its ... 
Pay online or face £30 fine once Sandbanks ferry cameras go live Automatic number plate recognition cameras are to be installed at Shell Bay in Studland, Dorset, as payment for the Sandbanks Ferry moves completely online 
Purbeck Cider’s apple day boosted by Kingston Lacy windfall A community cider making event near Corfe Castle in Dorset brought together families, apple growers and cider enthusiasts to create a new batch of the People’s Choice cider with the ...
Bin collection day to change for most households in Purbeck Residents across Purbeck in Dorset are being given advance notice that their waste and recycling collection days are likely to change from the end of September 2026 
Dig near Corfe Castle uncovers 1,000 year old home Archaeologists investigating a mysterious wall beneath a field near the village of Corfe Castle in Dorset, believe they have uncovered the remains of a farmhouse dating back at least 1,000 ... 
Hedgehog antics in Swanage shop go viral Security camera footage of a Swanage hedgehog whose ninja acrobatics astounded staff at the town’s Curiosity gift shop in Dorset, has gone viral 
Planet Purbeck launches one big weekend A bumper weekend of events in Swanage, Dorset, has been brought together by community group Planet Purbeck, to celebrate our local community, coast, and countryside 
RSPB Arne offers free tours to put nature haven back on map Purbeck businesses are being invited to take free guided tours around the RSPB Arne reserve to help raise its profile in the local community. 
Purbeck gets first hosepipe ban in 50 years The water company Wessex Water has imposed a temporary hosepipe ban across its region including Purbeck in Dorset, due to the continued drought conditions 
Tornado to arrive in Swanage for autumn steam gala The steam locomotive Tornado, which featured in the popular family film Paddington 2, is to star in the Swanage Railway’s autumn steam gala in Dorset 
New ‘bigger and better’ location for Swanage Railway’s steam rally Due to its growing popularity, Swanage Railway’s three day Roads to Rail steam rally is moving to a larger field close to Norden station near the village of Corfe Castle ... 
Bid to make Swanage Railway carriages wheelchair friendly Swanage Railway in Dorset has launched a £25,000 public appeal to help fund the overhaul and conversion of two former 1950s and 1960s British Railways Mark One carriages to enable ... 
New Class 99 loco whips up excitement at Swanage Railway gala Usually showcasing the locos of yesteryear, Swanage Railway in Dorset, turned the tables by featuring the UK’s most advanced hybrid freight locomotive at its Diesel Gala and Beer Festival - ... 
Diesel and beer back on Swanage Railway timetable for gala weekend Seven heritage diesel locomotives are to travel down to Swanage Railway in Dorset, to join the home fleet for the annual Diesel Gala and Beer Festival, plus there’s a guest ... Czech and Slovak dancers at folk festival pay respect to Swanage hero A group of dancers who performed traditional Czech, Moravian and Slovak folk dances at the Swanage Folk Festival in Dorset, were delighted to discover the story of World War Two ...
Swanage Christmas Market in doubt due to lack of volunteers The increased size of the Swanage Christmas Market in Dorset means it has become too large an event for the Swanage and Purbeck Rotary team to run on its own, ... 
Purbeck Cider to turn donated apples into charity windfall Local residents are being invited to bring their surplus apples and pears from their gardens to Purbeck Cider’s farm near Corfe Castle in Dorset, so they can be transformed into ... 
Swanage Fish Festival donates record sum to local good causes Swanage Fish and Food Festival has given away almost £8,000 for eight local charities and community organisations, following the biggest and best event in its 11 year history. 
Wareham fireworks cancelled despite end of 49 day drought A firework show to celebrate a successful defence of Wareham in Dorset against pirates had to be called off because of fire concerns - ironically, on the very day that ... 
Team GB sailor wins Swanage’s Build a Boat race at 10th attempt Team GB sailor Sam Whaley struck gold during Swanage Lifeboat Week in Dorset, by winning the hotly contested Build a Boat competition - and sees it as a good omen ... 
Swanage Lifeboat Week 2026 gets under way Lots of events are taking place throughout the town and on the water for Swanage Lifeboat Week in Dorset, offering a wide range of fun activities while raising vital funds ... 
Rowan Atkinson to headline Purbeck Film Festival at Swanage theatre TV and movie legend Rowan Atkinson is to appear at The Mowlem in Swanage to help launch the Purbeck Film Festival - and prove that comedy can be a serious ... 
Swanage Museum marks 50 years since its birth in a barn From its humble beginnings in a tithe barn, Swanage Museum is now celebrating its 50th anniversary located in an historic market building on the seafront 
Pearls of Purbeck art goes on show in Swanage The summer exhibition of the Isle of Purbeck Arts Club has opened with a great display of paintings, ceramics, and poetry, all inspired by the stunning landscape, coastline, history and ... 
Gary Lineker’s secret Corfe Castle adventure gets TV launch date Corfe Castle in Dorset is to have a starring role in the TV event of autumn 2026 as Gary Lineker’s new celebrity challenge show has been given a start date. 
Swanage Punch and Judy man celebrates 10 years on the beach A special anniversary festival is to take place to mark ten years since Punch and Judy professor Joe Burns started performing on Swanage Beach in Dorset 
Focus Centre honours Swanage councillor with building dedication Part of a community wellbeing hub in Swanage, Dorset, has been dedicated to the memory of former local councillor Bill Trite, with the event providing the first opportunity to visit ...
Swanage therapists take on hilly 25km hike to fund new defib Seven friends and colleagues from Swanage Therapy Centre in Dorset, are to tackle a very hilly 25 kilometre walk to raise £2,000 for a defibrillator for their community 
Plea to help get Allsort’d cafe in Swanage all sorted! A new cafe at The Focus Centre in Swanage, Dorset, run by the youth group Allsort’d, is all set to open at the end of May 2026 but funds are ... 
Forget me not club launches in Swanage A new group has started in Swanage, Dorset, offering support for those living with dementia and their carers 
More cooking inspiration being dished up for free in Swanage The Friendly Food Club is offering more community cooking classes for adults, plus there’s a new course to support parents moving their babies from milk to meals, in Swanage, Dorset 
Purbeck’s family hubs to get funding boost Dorset is to get £2.3 million in government funding to grow and enhance its network of family hubs which provide support for children, parents and carers - and the Swanage ... 
Swanage cooking course serves up new skills and friendship A new community cooking course in Swanage in Dorset, has got off to a strong start, with a dozen residents attending the first Friendly Food Club session 
St Mary’s school celebrates 90 years of history in Swanage A Swanage primary school with generations of family connections is marking its 90th anniversary by inviting everyone back to help celebrate its remarkable history. 
Threat of closure lifted from Langton Matravers village school Following a hard fought campaign from parents, carers and the wider community, the consultation recommending the closure of the St George’s CE primary school site in Langton Matravers in Dorset, ... 
Consultation to close Langton’s school site is ‘biased’ say parents Parents of St George’s CE primary school in Langton Matravers in Dorset have appealed to Dorset Council to scrutinise a multi academy trust’s consultation into the proposed merger of their ... 
Langton Matravers rallies to stop loss of village school At a meeting of the Langton Matravers parish council in Dorset, residents expressed their devastation at the possibility of the closure of the village school site, although the school’s academy ... 
Dorset charity gives thousands of pounds to Purbeck projects Good causes in Purbeck including The Swanage School and The Mowlem, have received a boost to their funds after a Dorset grant-making charity distributed thousands of pounds aimed at strengthening ... 
Swanage street collection raises £3,000 for Nepal in just two days Prompted by the devastating scenes of destruction in Nepal after flash flooding, Rotary members organised a street collection in Swanage town centre in Dorset, and were overwhelmed by the generosity ...
Family up sticks to open new Flipped and Found shop in Swanage A quirky new shop promising a mix of restored furniture, local art, unusual gifts and even psychic readings has opened in Swanage. Purbeck businesses among Dorset Tourism Awards finalists The Dorset Tourism Awards finalists for 2026 have been announced and include some notable names working within Purbeck’s tourism and hospitality industry 
New open water swimming lake launches with view of Corfe Castle While Dorset Adventure Park in Corfe Castle is usually associated with excited youngsters, there’s now an opportunity to enjoy more peaceful early morning swims in the spring-fed lake 
Wild West shop window winner receives Swanage Carnival trophy The general store H B Hibbs in Swanage has been voted the best dressed Wild West themed shop window during Swanage Carnival week 
Countdown to Sea Rex rescue as Kimmeridge dig is set for 2027 A public appeal to fund the excavation of the most fearsome marine monster of all time from a cliff face in Kimmeridge has smashed through the half million pound barrier. 
Rotary gives away £35,000 and honours Swanage’s unsung heroes Swanage and Purbeck Rotary has celebrated another year of fundraising and community service by giving generously to good causes, recognising local unsung heroes and welcoming a new president Former Bournemouth football manager backs Swanage bid for 3G pitch A final fundraising push to bring an all weather 3G football pitch to Swanage in Dorset, has been personally endorsed by former AFC Bournemouth manager Tony Pulis. 
Swanage Sea Rowing Club launches 25th anniversary celebrations A birthday bash was held at the Swanage Sea Rowing boathouse in Dorset, to mark 25 years since the club was formed in 2001, and to celebrate becoming winners of ... Swanage lifeguard to attempt world record epic Channel swim A team of elite long distance swimmers including a Swanage lifeguard is preparing to take on a gruelling 60 mile relay swim from Alderney in the Channel Islands to Swanage ... 
Flags and football fever as Swanage backs England Swanage in Dorset is gearing up for England's World Cup quarter final match against Norway, with pubs preparing to pull in the crowds 
New gig for Swanage Sea Rowing as Old Harry is christened Swanage Sea Rowing Club celebrated a highly successful weekend of gig rowing, combining championship racing with the official blessing and christening of its newest pilot gig Most read
Swanage News – Independent local breaking news
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