What’s on in Swanage

Bulbs, Blooms & Better Fields

You told us Herston Fields needed more colour and nature. Now we’re starting to make it happen. Come and dig in for ten minutes, an hour or the whole session.

• Bluebells, snowdrops and summer snowflakes around the trees
• Tulips and alliums in two new beds by the entrance gates

Swanage Town Council is providing the bulbs. Bring gloves, and a trowel or dibber if you have one. Children are welcome with an adult.

Read the volunteer safety briefing (PDF)

Purbeck Natural History Forum AGM and autumn conference

The yearly get-together for local naturalists, wildlife recorders and anyone with an interest in Purbeck’s wildlife. Local experts and volunteers will give talks on monitoring and protecting the area’s plants and animals, and share news of new and developing recording projects.

It’s also a good chance to meet other volunteers and learn from one another. Bring your own lunch if you’d like to join the informal catch-up from 12.30pm. Non-members are welcome. Please register so the organisers know how many people to expect. If you’re not yet a member of the Forum, you can join on their website. There’s parking at the hall, free parking on nearby roads, and the National Trust Middle Beach car park for members.

Dorset COP 2026: a community climate conference

Dorset’s own community-led climate conference, now in its fourth year. This year’s theme is how to make an impact for climate and nature, with workshops, stories from across Dorset, and creative projects on art, nature, food and energy.

Expect conversations on community energy ownership and live maps of what local groups are doing. Run by Dorset CAN with Sustainable Dorset and Coastland College, supported by Dorset Council. The full programme will be released soon.

MPs debate the National Emergency Briefing petition

More than 130,000 people have signed the petition calling for a live emergency briefing on the climate and nature crisis, introduced by the Prime Minister and delivered by independent experts. Parliament will debate it on Monday 16 November at 4.30pm.

The Government is unlikely to agree at this stage, but strong support from MPs in the debate could change that. You can help by asking our MP, Lloyd Hatton, to attend and speak. It takes about two minutes.

2026, the year of extremes: what now? What next?

This year brought record heat, storms and floods. Here in Purbeck, we’ve seen the effects on our coast, our countryside and our farms. Come and find out what it means for the place we love, and what we can do together.

We’re delighted to welcome:

• Matt Smith, Dorset Coast Forum, on how our coastline is changing
• David Brown, National Trust, on nature recovery across Purbeck

We’ll also hear from the Environment Agency and a local farmer, plus community groups on what they are doing for local wildlife.

Everyone’s welcome, and you don’t need any expert knowledge, just curiosity.

Repair Café

Bring whatever has stopped working and have a coffee while a volunteer helps you mend it.

Environment and Green Spaces Committee

Want a say in how Swanage looks after its parks, beaches and climate? Swanage Town Council’s Environment and Green Spaces Committee meets in public, and anyone can come along.

The Council sets aside the first 15 minutes, from 2.15pm, for public participation. It’s your chance to ask a question or raise an issue before the meeting starts.

Sustainable Swanage reports to this committee on our work. The agenda and papers go on the Town Council website about a week before the meeting.