Snack and shop with a purpose at one of these delights in the Blackmore Vale

Tucked away in Glanvilles Wootton, Round Chimneys
Farm (pictured right), boasts a newly opened café and shop.
From farm to table, the café shop offers Aberdeen Angus beef and grass-fed lamb, all reared on the farm and available to buy and enjoy, giving greater provenance for your food at home.
“We think it’s really important that people know where their food comes from,” says Alec Rich, third generation Rich family, “and who produces it.”
Also keen to support local producers, why not make this your new ‘go-to’ farm shop? Pop along for a taster, 1-9pm on 20 August, to the farm’s open day. Free to enter, with proceeds in aid of the Sherborne Food Bank charity, there’ll be local stalls, children’s activities, a dog show, BBQ, gin bar, and live music.
For more information, visit www.roundchimneysfarm.co.uk

The pop up Dorchester Repair Cafe is part of the global movement to reduce landfill by inspiring people to repair household items instead of throwing them away and replacing with new ones.
“We have volunteers who are keen repairers,” says Emma at the Repair Cafe. “We pop up at a different locations around Dorchester (usually with a café). Our next is 24 September at Shire Hall Museum. People can bring along any item, from clothing to electricals and garden items, to (hopefully) get it repaired by one of our volunteers.” Garner DIY tips and tricks while you’re there too.
There are currently eight repair cafés across Dorset, including Dorchester, Blandford, Gillingham, Sherborne and Marnhull. All are run and staffed by volunteers. The pop-ups rely entirely on donations so you’ll be asked to contribute before you leave, to help support costs such as insurance, venue hire and printing. Visit www.repaircafe.org for further details.

Chatter & Natter at the Pear Tree Café is a new innovation in Sherborne: a volunteer group set up by Sherborne Surgeries that’s part of the Chatty Café Scheme.
“Quite often when people see their GP, their underlying problem isn’t always medical,” says organiser Vicky Morland. “Maybe they’re lonely, having financial trouble or want to lose weight. As Health Champions, we’re like a cross between Citizens Advice and a social worker, and aim to be aware of what help is available.”
Currently run every fortnight, but from September every Monday, drop in or contact Vicky, Social Prescribing Link Worker, for advice or to volunteer. Email vicky.morland@dorsetgp.nhs.uk or call her on 07859 201617.