What’s on in Swanage

Local food for a sustainable Swanage

Where does our food come from, and how could more of it come from closer to home? An evening on how we grow, source and share food in Swanage, and how we can make our local food system stronger.

• Ian Baggs, local farmer and NFU representative
• James Warren, The Salt Pig
• Jon Sloper, CEO of Help & Kindness, on the Feeding Dorset project
• Debby Monkhouse, Food For Thought Purbeck

Plus short insights from Edible Bridport, The Community Pantry, The Welcome Table and Greengage Community Garden. Short talks, a panel with your questions, then time to chat over refreshments. In partnership with Planet Purbeck.

Dorset Greener Homes open homes

Thinking about solar panels, a battery or a heat pump, but not sure what they’re really like to live with? Local households open their doors so you can see for yourself and ask them anything. No sales pitch, just neighbours who’ve done it.

• California Meadows, Priests Way, Swanage · Sat 17 Oct · ground-mounted solar, wildlife pond
• 8 Ancaster Road, Swanage · Sun 18 Oct · solar and batteries, almost off grid
• Farndreg, Southcliffe Road, Swanage · Sat 24 Oct · heat pump, solar, battery
• Knapp, Southcliffe Road, Swanage · Sun 25 Oct · solar, battery, living roofs
• Cliff Cottage, Shore Road, Swanage · Sun 25 Oct · timber home, heat pump, solar

There are more homes in Langton Matravers, Worth Matravers, Wareham and Bere Regis. Homes open by appointment only, so please book first. Run by Dorset CAN.

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. The Repair Café is on in the village hall the same morning, with tea, coffee and cake.

Repair Café

Bring whatever has stopped working and have a coffee while a volunteer helps you mend it. It’s the same morning as the bulb planting at Herston Fields, so come and do both.

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.

Our changing natural environment

How has this year’s weather affected the land and sea around Swanage? From farmers short of hay to the changes divers are seeing in the bay, we’ll hear from people who notice it first.

Speakers will be confirmed soon. Save the date.

Repair Café

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