Thelma Mentern, from Orchard House, Church Lane, Portesham, sells plants throughout the year with all profits going to local charities. Currently she has annuals, perennials and herbs in many varieties together with a large selection of bedding plants. Organic compost, produce, preserves and all occasion cards also available.

PORTESHAM village hall promises to be very busy this summer with a number of Saturday village cafes beginning with the Women’s section RBL on Saturday, 19 May; Portesham WI on 2 June; Chesil Beavers, Cubs and Scouts on 14 June; the Diamond Club on 7 July; the Garden Club on 14 July and Portesham Village Hall Produce Market on 28 July. Come along and give them your support.

THE King’s Arms will shortly be holding their American night on Saturday, 26 May with all things USA – fancy dress, quiz, 50’s and 60’s American music, disco, hamburgers and ribs.

TICKETS go on sale today, Monday, 14 May for the choral concert by Exultate on Friday, 22 June and gardening correspondent for The Independent, Anna Pavord’s talk on bulbs on Saturday 23 June. Contact Liz Draper on 01305 871316 or see her at Tuesday village cafes on 5 and 12 June.

Tickets are £7 for each event and include wine and nibbles.

Both events are part of “All God’s Gifts”, Portesham’s 3 day flower festival and open gardens, to be held between 22 and 24 June.

In addition to the choral concert on Friday, there will be village walk led by Blue Badge guide Ann Martin, at 3 pm on Saturday, cream teas and other goodies served in the rectory garden from 10.30 am and Anna’s talk at 7.30 pm.

St Peter’s will be filled with magnificent flower arrangements and will be open for viewing all day on Saturday, and following a special 10.30 am service, from noon to 5 pm on Sunday.

Cream teas and cakes will again be served in the rectory garden from 2 to 5 pm with the grand raffle prize draw taking place at 4.30 pm.

12 varied local gardens will also be open for viewing from 2 to 5.30 pm on Sunday. Further details at www.portesham.org.uk.

I WILL shortly be moving onto pastures new (Devon, actually) and so there will be a vacancy for a Portesham correspondent for the Community News. If anyone is interested in taking on this very rewarding position please contact me on 01305 871032 or at denise.s@virgin.net where I will be happy to give you further details. Alternatively contact Nick Horton at the Dorset Echo on 01305 830963 or nick.horton@dorsetecho.co.uk.