Winterborne Stickland, near Blandford, hopes to attract new users to its Sports and Community Club with an open day showing off the facilities.
A DORSET village is opening up its state-of-the-art sporting facilities in a bid to attract more groups to use them.
Among the thatched cottages and picturesque scenery of Winterborne Stickland, near Blandford, lies a Sports and Community Club boasting a raft of facilities.
Among them is tennis courts, a range of pitches and clubhouse features such as changing rooms and venue.

Now, the club’s managing committee is now looking to bring more of the venue back into use, with an open day set to be held on Saturday, April 15.
“In the past, each local farm had its own football team and Winterborne Stickland was able to support its own cricket team, as well as one of the oldest football teams in Dorset,” a spokesperson said.
“The Sports and Community Club has always been a valued hub of the village.
“Over the years, the club has evolved to include a high-quality tennis court and – since 2019 – has been home to the Winterborne Valley Croquet Club.”
The clubhouse has hosted village events and is regularly booked out for parties, as well as hosting a village youth club, the Winterborne Scout Group, Blandford Explorer Scouts, The Warriors fitness group and a Wednesday morning art group.
But the committee is keen to see more of the facilities in use.
“The aim is to increase the use of both the land and the pavilion so that those outside of the village community can also benefit,” they said.
Committee chair, Anna Way, added: “In Winterborne Stickland, we are so lucky to have this amazing asset on our doorstep and we are inviting groups from outside our immediate community to come and use the sports club as their base so we can combine resources to once again have football, cricket, skittles and darts teams – or even try something new.
“With the addition of the croquet club and the tennis club there are lots of activities to choose from.”
Sporting or community groups in need of a venue, or are looking for a building to host a party or training course, the open day will showcase what is on offer.
The open day starts at 10am and will finish at around 5pm. The bar will be open and refreshments will be served throughout the day, with groups hosting free activities and sports for all the family to have a go at.