THERE was a great gathering on bank holiday Saturday night as the Upwey Society held its annual barbecue at Bayard Barn, tucked away in a hollow below the Ridgeway.

Upwey farmers, the Foot family, every year offer us the use of this idyllic place for the village end-of-summer party.

More than 200 people, all ages from a few months upwards, arrive to join in the fun, to meet up with last year’s friends, to dance to the music, eat excellent food and generally have a jolly good time.

One of the joys is the arrival, year after year, of the same families often bringing new members – they know there’s space for the children to play, for the well-behaved dogs to run, a nice prickly straw bale to sit on, a well-stocked bar to slake the thirst and a very willing band of cooks sweating over the coals.

And everyone is so conscientious about disposing of the inevitable rubbish!

Many thanks to the workers, to Ray and his super disco, to everyone who came to make such a good party and, above all, to the Foot family.

THE OLD SCHOOL village hall is always extra busy in the summer with art exhibitions showing the work of many different artists and craftspeople.

Coming up for the week beginning Sunday, September 6, find Mother Earth, an exhibition of work by local photographers, ceramists, painters and jewellers, showing their images and ideas of our land and sea.

The exhibition is open daily 10am-6pm and runs until Sunday, September 13.

Then from Saturday, September 19 until Sunday, September 20, there’s an exhibition of large sculptures, paintings and pottery by the Vyvyan-Penny family and Bill Crumbleholme.

It’s always worth finding a little extra time to relax and enjoy the visions of these talented people, perhaps spending a while in the gardens and cafe of the Wishing Well next door.

DORSET Architectural Heritage Week begins on Saturday, September 12 and runs until Sunday, September 20, when a great number of Dorset buildings will be open to visitors.

Amongst these, open every day anyway, is our ancient St Laurence Church where, during this week, there will be a guide to show you round, explaining some of the special features to be found here.

And if you arrive on the first day, you may meet some of those cyclists and walkers who are taking part in the Historic Churches cycle ride – they’ll be visiting too.

STRANGE happenings from the Old Ship Inn – a motley crowd gathered armed with grouting poles and tenders to nurdle their way up to the top of the Ridgeway.

Quite how this curious activity began no one really knows, but it’s alive and well in Upwey.

If it all seems weird beyond words, keep an eye open for TV Channel 5’s programme, to be broadcast in November or maybe January, when “Rory and Paddy’s Even Greater British Adventure” may be able to explain some of the intricacies of nurdling as told by Albert the Tall and Sergeant Fil.