A COMMUNITY facility on the edge of Dorchester is taking root and looking forward with bright plans for the future.

Julie Plumley and Julie MacDougall from Future Roots took over the former Whitfield Rural Activity Centre last year and are well on the way to realising their dreams for the site.

The once overgrown site, which was previously run by the NHS before closing in 2013, has been restored and was officially opened in August after weeks of work to get it into shape.

Mrs Macdougall said that they had been delighted with the progress being made at Whitfield since they were first handed the keys nearly a year ago.

The country club for retired farmers is proving so popular that they are looking to run a second day and the 19 plus courses, which are funded by Synergy Housing and offer employability skills, are also proving a great success.

Now the team are looking to expand their offerings with new evening classes for adults.

There will be hand built pottery classes on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6.30pm to 9pm for up to eight people and basket making in willow for up to six people from 6.30pm to 9pm.

Also on offer will be basic woodcraft from 6.30pm to 9pm on Mondays and Wednesdays with a maximum of six people and digital photography sessions for up to eight people on Wednesdays from 7pm to 9pm.

The courses are likely to run for five or six weeks and in the future classes are also planned in ICT, practical home cookery for beginners and beehive making.

Anyone interested in any of the courses can visit craftsatwhitfield.co.uk or call 01305 251731 for more information.

Mrs MacDougall said the Whitfield site, which had been mothballed since the closure of the NHS facility and was in a state of disrepair, was now looking great thanks to the support of volunteers.

She said: "We have got paths laid by volunteers and things growing in the greenhouse.

"It's going really well but we have still got a long way to go."

As the plans move forward and the site progresses, the board of trustees for Future Roots are in discussions about officially registering the organisation as a charity.

This would enable Future Roots to raise funds locally and eventually secure ownership of the site, which is still owned by the NHS, to secure its long term future.

Mrs MacDougall said: "The NHS want to sell it and we want to buy it so it doesn't get lost for the local community."

For more information about what is on offer at Whitfield call 01305 251731.