With the nights drawing in and the days becoming shorter, it's the time where spooky things start to happen...

The Dorset Wildlife Trust is encouraging children to get outdoors this Hallowe'en - but are they brave enough?

At the Kingcombe Centre in west Dorset on Thursday, October 26 from 6pm to 8pm, enjoy an evening of spooky stories around the log fire with professional story teller, Martin Maudsley. 

Then venture outside into the meadow looking for night time flyers such as moths and bats. 

On Tuesday, October 24 from 10.30am until 12.30pm, get set for Hallowe'en and design your very own pumpkin at the Kingcombe Centre. 

At Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre in Weymouth on Thursday, October 26 from 1.30pm until 3.30pm, children can join the DWT team for a hedgerow hunt.

Discover shiny shield bugs, wonderful webs and secret mammal paths and explore the Withy Woods.

On Friday, October 27 at Lorton, children will have a chance to learn all about the secret life of bats and other Hallowe'en creatures.

The event will run from 10.30am until 12.30pm.

For something a little more relaxing, children can head to the Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre for Wildlife Yoga and learn the different wildlife positions including the grey heron, the adder and the toad.

This will run from 2pm until 3pm on Wednesday, October 25.
At the Fine Foundation Marine Centre at Kimmeridge learn about the stories the sea has to tell and discover the stories behind some of our common and more unusual beach treasures.

This event will run on Monday, October 23 from 2.30pm until 4pm.

On Thursday, October 26 from 1pm until 3pm children can discover the creatures of the dark ocean including vampire squid, hatchet fish, dragon fish and other weird wildlife.

In east Dorset, enjoy some Forest School Fun with The Great Heath team on Tuesday, October 24 from 10am until 12pm on the Happy Bottom Nature Reserve in Corfe Mullen for fun activities, crafts and games. 

For the majority of events, booking is essential.
For more information or to book your place visit dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/events 

Dorset Echo:

A Hallowe'en charity fun day will take place at Wyke Smugglers pub from 3.30pm on Saturday, October 28.

The fun day will raise money for Gully's Place in memory of Seán Entwistle, who sadly lost his battle with cancer in April.

There will be a raffle, cake sale, games and more on offer, plus a prize for the best dressed adult's Hallowe'en costume.

There will be lots of Hallowe'en events at Portland Museum on Friday, October 27.

Visitors can make and take home their own spooky crafts, and ice and decorate a Hallowe'en biscuit.

Go on a scary hunt around the museum with prizes for those who find all the missing objects. Fancy dress welcome.
The fun takes place from 10.30am to 4pm and refreshments are available.

For more information call Portland Museum on 01305 821804 or email portlandmuseum@gmail.com

The Lyme Slime Hallowe'en Festival kicks off today (21) and promises to be 'an event like no other.'

The spooky extravaganza offers a whole week of weird and wonderful Hallowe'en activities at venues across the town.

See the full programme of events and activities taking place at the Lyme Slime Hallowe'en Festival at www.wackynation.com/lymeslime

Dorset Echo:

In support of the Costa Foundation Charity, Costa Coffee Weymouth is hosting a special Hallowe'en event on Monday, October 30 at 5:30pm.

It will be an evening of pumpkin carving, face painting, tricks and treats.

For £5 people will get a pumpkin and be supplied with all the tools they need to carve and illuminate their Jack-o'-lantern.

Then then can take their pumpkin home ready for Hallowe'en the next day.

Fancy dress fanatics are more than welcome and prizes will be awarded to the best costume and best pumpkins.

Tickets are available from Costa Coffee Weymouth.

Ghosts and ghouls will be hidden throughout Brewery Square this Hallowe'en and brave hunters who find them will be rewarded with a prize. 

The Brewery Square Hallowe’en Ghost Hunt is open to families from 10am until 3pm on Saturday October 28 and Sunday, October 29. 

This year the event will be taking donations for the development’s chosen charity, Home-Start West Dorset, which provides friendship and practical support to local families with children under the age of five.

For further details contact Charlotte Spracklen on 01305 267777.

Go batty this Hallowe'en at Sherborne Museum.
East Dorset Bat Rescue are back with their bats to help families celebrate Hallowe'en and learn more about these fascinating little creatures. 

The event will be held on Friday, October 27 from 2pm until 4pm. 

For more information call 01935 812252.

Dorset Echo:

Explore the spooky seas of the south this Hallowe'en.
Weymouth Sea Life is turning the spotlight on the frightfully fun critters of the deep this Hallowe'en, with the return of 'Spooky Seas', running from today (21) until Sunday, October 29, 11am until 5pm.

Families will have the opportunity to come face-to-face with creepy creatures including spider crabs, batfish, dead man’s fingers and scorpion fish.

As well as family-friendly frights and haunting entertainment, visitors will also learn that it is humans who are the real monsters, and educational commentary will highlight the horrors that our follies have inflicted on the marine world. 

Everyone is being encouraged to get into the spirit of Hallowe'en by wearing fang-tastic costumes.

Send pictures of your Hallowe'en costumes to newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uk