The magnificent rhododendron and azalea walks in Highwood Gardens are to open to the public on Saturday, May 8. This is your chance to see what is really behind the long wall on the A31 near Bere Regis. The gardens will be open from 2.30pm to 6pm with
TEA with a pal of Thomas Hardy helped some university students’ English studies come to life. The group of six students out-bid fellow Hardy fans to buy tea with 104-year-old Norrie Woodhall and discuss her memories of the author. They are currently
Drake and Henry are a pair of terrapins looking for a new home. They will need a suitably experienced owner who has knowledge of looking after this type of creature. Margaret Green Animal Rescue: 0844 4990426
We are Lily and Lolly. We are two cheeky cockatiels and we are looking for a new home in a suitable aviary where we will be given lots of space to fly around. Margaret Green Animal Rescue: 0844 4990426
My name is Bonnie. I’m a seven-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier. I’m good with other dogs but would prefer a home with children over eight years old. I’m very loving and very good off the lead. Stray Dogs Sanctuary: 0844 4778857
A bunch of us ex-battery hens are looking for new homes in the countryside. We have been stuck in cages for a year now and would love to enjoy the natural surroundings of Dorset. Taylors Rehoming Centre (RSPCA): 0844 4778852
My name is Ozzie. I’m eight years old and I would prefer a home without children or other animals. I’m lively and active and get quite excited on car journeys. I need an owner who is used to training. Woodlands Kennels: 0844 4778851
STUNT teams will be among the attractions when a mini-festival is held to mark Dorchester Skatepark’s first anniversary. They will roll into town for the Skatepark Jam on Saturday, April 24, from 11am to 7pm. Teams of crack skateboarders and BMX riders
My name is Shirley. I am a black and white three-year-old girl. I love people and I am very good with children so I would make an ideal family pet. I can’t wait to find a loving home. Dorset Greyhound Rescue: 0844 4990428
KEEN runner Richard Harris will be completing the London Marathon for the charity Children with Leukaemia. Mr Harris, 46, who works at Dorchester Ambulance Station in Lubbecke Way, will be taking on the 26-mile challenge on April 25 for the first time
A DAD from Portland will be running the Edinburgh Marathon in aid of his daughter’s school and a fund set up for islander Ellie Porter after her mother passed away last year. Jamie Smail, 35, of King Street, decided to split any money raised between
MUM Louisa Franzen will be running the London Marathon with a childhood friend to raise money for the charity Spinal Research. Louisa, 30, from Charminster, will be completing the 26-mile challenge on April 25 with Debbie King, 29, from Wimborne
EMERGENCY services will ‘rescue’ a cyclist and passengers involved in a mock train crash near Corfe Castle over the weekend. Swanage Railway volunteers are helping to host the exercise designed to put the police, fire and ambulance crews through their
What a sick, sad town Weymouth has become, a fine example of Broken Britain. Hardly a night goes by without a report in The Echo of some act of mindless violence against people or animals. Now drug users are disposing of used needles by depositing
A MAJOR event on Portland will be dedicated to the memory of a young father who died suddenly of a heart attack last month. Organisers of this year’s Portland Steam and Vintage Show pledged to dedicate this year’s show to committee member Ian Norris.
Get your walking shoes on this weekend and help raise money for charity. The British Heart Foundation, with support from the council and Friends Groups, is organising the third sponsored charity walk in aid of the British Heart Foundation tomorrow at
HUNDREDS of people from Dorset have had their holidays cancelled and others have been stranded abroad after the volcanic ash scare grounded planes. A Weymouth woman spoke of her frustration at being stranded in Spain after planes were grounded
FOUR young sports stars had their hopes of winning an international karate tournament dashed after their flight was grounded. The martial artists from Weymouth, Dorchester and Milborne St Andrew were due to compete in the European level competition
It’s spring again in Wyke Regis and yet again we are being plagued with bonfire smoke. For the past three days we have had beautiful spring weather, and just when we would like to leave our windows open to get some fresh evening air, that opportunity
A SUBTLE but poignant tribute was paid to the late Robyn Nixon before her school’s prom in Weymouth. All Saints student Rachel Payne arrived at the Spring Ball with a purple star-shaped balloon with a cup cake on it in silver. Above the cake were written
THE covers open at a literary festival at Eype Centre for the Arts this week. Eype Spring 2010 ‘Book ’n’ Author’ Week opens on Monday, April 19, with an introduction – by Lyme Regis resident Sir Ghillean Prance – to the journal Rain Forest, Light
IAN Hutchinson hopes to lead Weymouth back to normality after he and Andy Mason completed their return to the Wessex Stadium dugout by putting pen to paper on two-year contracts yesterday. Nearly three months to the day after being sacked by chairman
THE SISTER of a schoolgirl who tragically died in Weymouth town centre has organised a street party in her honour. Aimeé Chantelle Michél is hoping hundreds of people will attend the event on Sunday evening to celebrate the life of her younger
SIX players are nursing injuries as Bridport prepare for their biggest game of the season. Toolstation Western Lea-gue Premier Division outfit Bishop Sutton visit St Mary’s Field today (3pm) for a Les Phillips Western League Cup semi-final.
FC WINDOWMAN returned to winning ways and moved to within one point of leaders Britannia, following a comprehensive 8-1 victory over the Railway Tavern. With the Brit inactive on Wednesday night, WindowMan took full advantage in the race for the Weymouth
I MADE so many new friends when I joined the caring children who took part in a giant ring ’o roses to show their support for youngsters still suffering after the earthquake in Haiti. The Hold Hands for Haiti fundraiser in Dorchester Borough Gardens
RED tape has scuppered a Motocross club’s entire season - literally. Organisers have described a move by the council as ‘bureaucracy gone mad’ after being told they can no longer use a plot of land near Weymouth because red tape marking the
