November Events on Portland
Posted November 11th, 2010 | No Comments
Though most focus mainly on the Guy Fawkes night and bringing in November with a very literal bang, there are many other events which take place throughout the month on Portland. Known as the downtime leading up to the Christmas season, mid-November is a time to pause and reflect with some quiet and peaceful functions.
On Sunday, the 14th of November, also known as Remembrance Sunday in honour of those that gave their lives in the two world wars, they will be holding a special service at the Portland Cenotaph, New Ground. The cenotaph, which literally means ‘empty tomb’ in Greek, is inscribed with the names of all those from the island that did not return from the wars.
Also on that Sunday, at the RSPB Radipole Lake Nature Reserve there will be a special ‘Heron Roost Watch’ from 15:00-17:00. Join in at the North Hide as they keep the lookout for Grey Herons, Little Egrets, and the rare and elusive Bittern. Other possible guests include the odd otter or two! There is a charge of £3 for adults and £1.50 for children; this fee includes a free binocular hire. Booking is essential, so call ahead on 01305 778313.
For those more interested in culture than nature, the Portland Museum will be having a ‘Hardy Poetry Readings’ gathering on the 20th of November. Thomas Hardy, one of the most famous English authors of all time, was known equally for his novels and his poems. He was one of the best known contributors to the naturalist movement. He was a lifelong resident of Dorset, and even used the original cottage that the museum is housed in as the home of Avice in his novel “The Wellbeloved”.
Portland Family Fun
Posted September 15th, 2010 | No Comments
Most of the people who have decided to holiday closer to home this year have done so not only because they want to see more of their homeland, but also to save money. And, nothing is more of a drain on your finances than having children! So, if you are heading to Portland for a family vacation and are looking for something that is cheap and will entertain the little ones, then check out these family friendly activities that are right on your doorstep.
Fancy’s Family Farm , located on the west side between Reap Lane and West Cliff, is definitely worth a visit! Set amid the natural limestone grasslands, this farm is home to some of the few remaining Portland sheep that can still be found on the isle. In addition to these rare animals, they also have on their farm horses, alpacas, chickens, pigs, goats and geese. This is truly a family farm, so there isn’t much else to do but see and pet the animals, but it is a great opportunity to introduce your children to the agricultural life. Plus, if you visit soon, you will be able to see twin foals born to one of their horses this summer!! This is such a rare event; it is rare to happen again in your lifetime.
If being out in a more wild natural setting is more your style, then the Radipole Lake Nature Reserve in the centre of Weymouth is a great place to visit! It features many rare bird species, pushchair accessible footpaths and beautiful views from almost every angle. They also feature a few great family oriented activities in the summer, such as bug hunts and pond dipping.
Though the first two are wonderful, nothing gets a little girl’s heart aflutter more than the chance to actually ride a horse. No matter what your skill level, Windmill Stables on Weston St can outfit your next adventure. They are a full service equestrian centre and can arrange riding excursions for a range of ages.