AS February begins, enjoy the delicate beauty of snowdrops, with many opportunities to see carpets of white throughout our county at this time of year. Or if you prefer the indoors, there's a host of plays and concerts to enjoy in this area.

*CHIN chin for Dorchester Beerex, beginning today at the Corn Exchange and stretching through the weekend.

This year is the 29th of supping different ales to raise money for good causes. Over the years Beerex has raised £130,000 for good causes.

There'll be seating upstairs at all four sessions this year allowing for more ticket sales. Sessions are from 11am to 3.30pm today and tomorrow and from 6pm to 11.30pm tonight and tomorrow. The evening session tomorrow will feature live music.

Tickets cost £10 to include three half pints and are on sale from beerex.co.uk, Goldies in Dorcester and The Brace of Butchers in Poundbury.

*A TWENTY-STRONG group of men and women will be singing about the sea on Portland on Sunday from 7.30pm.

Harbour Voices will perform at Royal Manor Theatre, Fortuneswell, bringing the audience a heart-warming celebration of the sea with their performance of traditional shanties and original songs recounting tales of our Dorset coast past and present.

Join in the rousing choruses, hear stories of sailors and whalers, boat-builders and fisher-wives and glimpse moments in the lives of those who risked all to make their living from the sea.

Harbour Voices will also be performing in the Community Hall, Litton Cheney, tonight at 7.30pm and at Sturminster Marshall Village Hall tomorrow at 7.30pm. See artsreach.co.uk for tickets.

*ENJOY a pop-up exhibition on the Moods of Dorset at the Hotel Aqua in Castletown, Portland.

The exhibition, by Gerry White, begins tomorrow and runs until the end of February.

It is open at the same times as the cafe from 7.30am to 5pm.

Gerry is a Portland-based photographer whose primary interests are landscapes, nature and underwater.

*A WORLD premiere based on the experiences of the International Brigades during The Spanish Civil War comes to west Dorset tomorrow.

Dare Devil Rides to Jarama is at Burton Bradstock Village Hall tomorrow at 7.30pm.

Through stirring song, poetry and compelling movement and dance, it follows why so many ordinary people made the extraordinary choice to leave family and livelihoods and fight in a brutal war so far from home. Call 01308 897421 for tickets.

*IT'S the first Snowdrop Sunday of the year on Sunday at Mapperton House near Beaminster.

Look out for a carpet of white as the gardens will be open from 11am to 4pm. Admission is £4.50 for adults and under 16s go free.

Teas, coffees and cakes will be available in the Sawmill Cafe. Proceeds will support the National Gardens Scheme and Perennial, the gardeners' charity.

There's also a chance to catch snowdrops at Forde Abbey House and Gardens in Chard, Somerset, every day throughout February.

Weather pending, the camellias will be in full bloom on the Mount along with an abundance of hellebores and early Spring bulbs

*WRAP up warm for a guided bird walk at Durlston Country Park in Swanage on Sunday from 10am to 11.30am.

This is a good chance to see what bird life is about at this time of year. It costs £3. Meet at the castle.

*HARRY Potter fans will flock to Swanage Library this afternoon for fun, games and lots of Potter fun.

Immerse yourself in the world of the boy wizard from 3.45pm to 4.45pm.