Thought the fireworks were done for the summer? Think again: there's one more Poole Quay display this Thursday, making up for the show the heatwave cancelled a couple of weeks ago. It's a big week for Poole news too, with Cabinet deciding the future of Upton Park Farm on Wednesday and The Salt Pig taking over the kitchen at Lighthouse.

There's plenty on the events front as well: This Is The Kit play Lighthouse on Thursday, the Bournemouth Brick Festival brings the LEGO fans out in force on Saturday, and there's a wedding fayre, a makers market and family shows for the little ones too.

Plus the usual local history trivia question to catch you out, and a property pick that's well worth a look. Enjoy!

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If you've got views on what should happen to Poole's historic buildings, quaysides and quirky local landmarks, now's the moment to share them. BCP Council's first ever Heritage Strategy is out for consultation, and it closes this Sunday, 6 September.

For the first time, the council has pulled everything it means by heritage, historic buildings, parks, coastline, museums, and the everyday places and local stories that matter to people, into one draft strategy covering Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole together.

Poole's own heritage runs deep. The draft strategy traces the town back to Iron Age settlement and salt and oyster harvesting recorded in the Domesday Book, through centuries as a working port that an 1830s directory once called the most considerable in the country, right up to the Old Town Conservation Area established in 1974 and still lined with listed buildings along the High Street, Church Street and the Quay.

It's also honest about what's still under pressure. Poole High Street Conservation Area remains on Historic England's Heritage at Risk register, even after a four-year Heritage Action Zone project restored Scaplen's Court, repaired 16 historic shopfronts and revamped the public realm around Poole Museum. Upton House, the Grade II* listed Georgian mansion in Upton Country Park, is flagged as facing an immediate risk of further decay, and the council has been asking the public for ideas on how to bring it back into proper use.

The strategy also nods to Poole's maritime identity: Brownsea Island's red squirrels, Tall Ships visiting the harbour, and Poole Museum and the Lighthouse (the largest arts venue outside London and home to the Poole Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra) as the cultural anchors of the town centre.

Underpinning all of it are four strategic priorities the draft strategy sets out for how heritage should be treated across BCP: sustainable, accessible, valued and ethical. In plain terms, that means managing heritage without compromising it for the future, opening it up to as many people as possible, helping communities feel a sense of ownership over it, and respecting the traditions and perspectives of everyone in the area.

Here's the thought I had before filling in the survey: those four words are mostly about how people relate to heritage, rather than commitments to keeping the physical thing standing. A building can be widely valued, fully accessible and sensitively interpreted, and still eventually be lost to demolition, neglect or gradual alteration if nobody is explicitly responsible for maintaining it. Notably, words like protection, maintenance, repair and permanence don't appear among the named priorities, even though the document elsewhere flags real, physical risk at places like Upton House and Poole High Street.

It's just something I noticed when I read it, and the survey itself directly asks whether the strategy's vision, aims and priorities feel right, so it's exactly the kind of feedback the council says it's after. Worth having a read and deciding for yourself whether the balance feels right to you.

You can complete the online survey, pick up a paper copy from any BCP library, or download a copy, or read the full draft strategy here. Whichever way you go, it needs to be in before the consultation closes on Sunday 6 September.

The future of part of Upton Park Farm will be discussed by BCP Council’s Cabinet this Wednesday, 2 September, and there has already been plenty of concern locally about what could happen to the land.

The council is recommending a partial sale of the 89.7-acre former farm. The farmhouse, three cottages and surrounding land would be sold, while most of the fields and farm buildings would be retained as part of plans for the future of Upton Country Park.

The report suggests the four existing homes could potentially be replaced with new properties, but there is an important restriction. The farmhouse is within 400 metres of Upton Heath, meaning planning rules are likely to limit any redevelopment to roughly replacing the existing four homes rather than creating a much larger housing development.

The council wants to retain the main barns and much of the farmland for conservation grazing, biodiversity, public open space and potential commercial uses including camping, active play and hospitality.

There is also confusion online about land north of the Upton bypass being sold for housing. That land is not part of Wednesday’s decision. Three fields north of the A350 are mentioned in the report, but officers say these require further work and will return to Cabinet separately.

One point that may concern residents is that there has been no public consultation on these proposals so far. The report says groups including Friends of Upton Country Park and parkrun will be consulted later, once detailed plans are developed.

Cabinet will make the decision on Wednesday.

There's a new name behind the food and drink at Lighthouse from next week, and it's one plenty of Dorset diners will already know.

The Salt Pig is taking over the running of Lighthouse's restaurant and café, renaming it The Artful Salt Pig at Lighthouse. The new look opens on Tuesday 1 September, with the existing team staying on so it should still feel familiar to regulars.

The Salt Pig started out in Wareham 18 years ago and has since grown to sites in Swanage, Studland, Chesil Beach and Poole Museum, as well as Salt Pig The Farm at Putlake in Langton Matravers, which combines a café with an animal attraction, soft play and a seasonal campsite. Lighthouse is its biggest venue yet.

Owners James and Becky Warren said they were proud to be working with more local farmers, fishermen and producers, describing provenance as a responsibility rather than a marketing line. Executive chef Simon Lane is leading the kitchen, working with the existing restaurant and café team.

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You will love this one. Trust me. It has a spiral staircase. : 👉 View the property

If you've walked round Poole Park lake recently and you will not have failed to notice the algae. BCP Council have now started clearing the algae bloom from the lake, after the hot summer weather helped it spread across the water.

Following testing the previous week, council teams have been wading into the lake in protective clothing to remove algae by hand, with a mini excavator brought in to lift larger quantities. Safety fencing has gone up around the worksite while the collected algae drains before being taken away.

Councillor Andy Hadley, the council's portfolio holder for climate response, environment and energy, said the authority understood local concerns and described the work as targeted clearance where practical. He said further sessions are planned over the coming weeks, alongside continued flushing of the lagoon during suitable spring tides when conditions in Poole Harbour allow, with monitoring set to continue.

In the dead of night on 6th October 1747, around 30 armed members of the Hawkhurst Gang broke into the Customs House on Poole Quay, making off with two tons of tea and 39 barrels of rum. Three of the four men later convicted at The Old Bailey were then hanged!

This week’s quiz question is a literary one:

If you regularly drive the Dorset Way, it's worth planning ahead for a few weeks of roadworks starting next week.

BCP Council is carrying out essential maintenance on the A3049 Dorset Way between the Holes Bay North roundabout and the Mannings Heath roundabout from Saturday 5 to Monday 21 September. The works include surface dressing, sweeping, sealing and new road markings.

It as one of Poole's busiest routes, and the works are designed to protect the road surface, prevent potholes forming, and extend the life of the road, which should mean less disruptive repair work further down the line.

There will be some temporary disruption while the works are under way, so if this stretch is part of your regular commute, it might be worth building in a little extra time or looking at alternative routes for those two and a bit weeks.

Thought the last Poole Quay fireworks of the summer had already been and gone? There's one more to catch.

Fireworks at both Poole and Bournemouth were cancelled a couple of weeks ago due to the heatwave. As a result, BCP Council is putting on an additional display at Poole Quay on Thursday 3 September, with a large finale display at Bournemouth beach the following night, Friday 4 September.

As with the rest of the summer series, it's free to attend with no tickets required and there will be entertainment on the quay in the run up.

Light and Movement, Lighthouse Poole, opens Thursday 3 September

A new exhibition of work by local artist Mike Jeffries, exploring light and movement. Runs until Saturday 26 September.

Coasts in Mind: A Lifetime of Change, Poole Museum, 10am to 5pm

An exhibition exploring 100 years of change in Poole Harbour through the pictures, objects and stories of the people who live here.

Life in Full Colour: The Art of Jason Wilsher-Mills, Poole Museum, 10am to 5pm

A bold, playful exhibition exploring Jason Wilsher-Mills' experience of disability and his love of popular culture. Running daily.

CHAS Exhibition, Dolphin Shopping Centre, Wednesday 2 to Saturday 5 September, 10am to 3pm

An exhibition from Community Health and Adult Social Care Services (CHAS), part of a series of community information displays at the shopping centre.

Bike Nights on Poole Quay, The Quay, Poole, 5.30pm to 9pm

A weekly bike meet on Poole Quay, with food and drink from the harbourside eateries and pubs.

Lord of the Dance: 30th Anniversary, Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre, 7.45pm

Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance returns to mark 30 years of the show, with a three night run at the Pavilion Theatre until Thursday 3 September.

Craftaholics Makers Market, Dolphin Shopping Centre, 10am to 3pm

A market of local craft makers and independent stalls in the shopping centre.

Wiggles and Giggles for Under 5s, Poole Museum, 10.30am to 11.30am

A playful weekly session for under 5s and their grown ups, exploring music, movement and hands on activities. Runs every Wednesday.

The Cab Direct Championship British Pairs, Poole Speedway, Poole Stadium, 7pm to 9.30pm

Poole Speedway hosts the British Pairs Championship, with pairs of riders from clubs across the country competing for the title on home shale.

Lord of the Dance: 30th Anniversary, Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre, 7.45pm

Second night of the three night run, see Tuesday 1 September for details.

This Is The Kit, Lighthouse Poole, 7.45pm

Live gig from This Is The Kit, the project of singer songwriter Kate Stables.

Lord of the Dance: 30th Anniversary, Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre, 7.45pm

Final night of the three night run, see Tuesday 1 September for details.

Poole Quay Fireworks, Poole Quay - last chance until Bonfire Night!

An additional fireworks display on Poole Quay, events on the quay all evening with the fireworks starting at 10pm.

The Amy Winehouse Experience, O2 Academy Bournemouth, 7pm to 11pm

A tribute show celebrating the music of Amy Winehouse.

Dario D'Attis and A7A, St Peter's Church, Parkstone, 7pm to 11pm

A Bermuda Triangle Pub presents night, held at St Peter's rather than the pub itself. Tickets £15.

Groove Rush, Bermuda Triangle Pub, 9pm to 11pm

Live music performance from Groove Rush.

DJ Set: DJ Garphie, Bermuda Triangle Pub, 9pm to 1am

Electronic music in the upstairs club room.

Bournemouth Beach Fireworks Finale, Bournemouth beach

A larger than usual finale display, following on from last Friday's cancelled show and this week's additional Poole Quay display.

Bournemouth Brick Festival, Bournemouth International Centre, 10am to 4pm

A LEGO fan festival with large scale brick built models, building zones and traders. Family friendly.

Zine Cuisine 2026, Lighthouse Poole, 11am

A hands on zine making workshop and swap event.

Bournemouth Arts by the Sea: Bite Sized Festivals, Henry Brown Centre, West Howe, 11am to 5pm

A free community arts event, part of the Arts by the Sea festival's Bite Sized Festivals programme.

In the Night Garden Live!, Lighthouse Poole, 12pm and 3pm

A family show for ages 0 to 4, running 55 minutes. Tickets from £19. Two sessions today.

Daft Funk Live, O2 Academy Bournemouth, 7pm to 11pm

A tribute show to Daft Punk, performing their music live.

George Michael Tribute, Key West, Bournemouth Pier, 8.30pm to 10.30pm

A tribute performance celebrating the music of George Michael.

Back To The Future House DJ, Bermuda Triangle Pub, 9pm to 1am

A house music DJ set in the club room.

Brother Bots, Bermuda Triangle Pub, 9pm to 11pm

Live music performance from Brother Bots.

In the Night Garden Live!, Lighthouse Poole, 10am and 12pm

A family show for ages 0 to 4, running 55 minutes. Tickets from £19. Two sessions today.

Love Actually Wedding Fayre, Lighthouse Poole, 11am

A wedding fayre with local suppliers and exhibitors.

Bournemouth Arts by the Sea: Bite Sized Festivals, Bourne Community Hub, 11am to 5pm

A free community arts event, part of the Arts by the Sea festival's Bite Sized Festivals programme.

Innocent Bystander, Bermuda Triangle Pub, 2pm to 4pm

Sunday afternoon live music session.

Outlandish, The Tap and Grape, Broadstone, 6pm

Live music from Outlandish, the band.

Phantoms of the Popera, Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne, 7.30pm to 9.30pm

An operatic tribute show blending classical crossover and popular music.

Adult Social Care Services Information Session, Dolphin Shopping Centre

A drop in information session on adult social care services in the shopping centre.

Rockwater Book Club, Rockwater, 6pm to 7.30pm

This month's book club session, discussing Never by Ken Follett.

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