A local attraction: Water Lily Gardens

Bennetts Water Gardens is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest and holds the National Plant Collection of Water Lilies. The garden is open to the public and is set in eight acres of grounds with ponds, lakes, grass pathways and woodland walks. Attractions include a Monet style Japanese Bridge, Gazebos, Tropical House, and Heritage Museum.

The gardens were established in 1959 by the Bennett family, who acquired much of their original stock of water lilies from the same plant nursery that supplied Monet’s beautiful garden in Giverny. If you admire Monet’s work then Bennetts Water Gardens gives you the opportunity to see many of the varieties of water lily that Monet painted.

You can also purchase a wide selection of water lilies in the onsite nursery, as well as a variety of other pond and bog plants, garden and indoor plants. The gift shop sells a range of souvenirs and postcards.

Café Monet is the garden’s licensed restaurant. You can enjoy homemade cakes, cream teas and hot and cold lunches, whilst enjoying views over the water gardens.

The Water Gardens are open from April to September: 10am to 5pm daily, closed on Saturdays.

If you’re considering visiting any of our many fine local attractions, please contact us to book accommo dation in Dorset

Easter holiday activities in Dorset

Chesil Beach Lodge is an ideal location for your family holiday this Easter. We offer a choice of five delightful self-catering apartments, including one studio apartment – all with absolutely stunning sea and coastal views.

Dorset has plenty of activities and events for active children over the Easter holidays; here’s our pick of just a few…

2nd to 13th April Easter Holiday Tank Action Displays at The Tank Museum, Bovington. Exciting Tank Action Displays every weekday during the Easter Holidays, with thundering engines and life-like explosions. Children (and adults) can also go for an action-packed and thrilling ride around the arena in a tracked vehicle.

6th to 9th April The Giant Easter Egg Hunt at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens.

6th to 9th April The Great Dinosaur Egg Hunt at the The Dinosaur Museum, Dorchester. The Easter Egg Hunt with a difference. Don’t miss this Great Easter Event that takes place whatever the weather. Spot the dinosaur eggs on display and solve the Dinosaur Mystery. Everyone wins a prize whatever they score. Great fun for all the family.

6th to 9th April Swanage Railway Easter Specials – take an Easter railway journey behind a magnificent restored steam locomotive, and enjoy the early spring scenery around Corfe Castle and during the journey between Swanage and Norden.

7th to 8th April Children’s Easter Egg Hunt at Forde Abbey & Gardens. Children can also go ‘letterboxing’ in the gardens and follow the trail to find the hidden boxes and stamps to mark on the trail map.

Adventure Wonderland: a family theme park with outdoor adventure rides, an indoor play centre, Animals Cuddle Corner, the largest natural hedge maze in the South, The Mad Hatter’s Restaurant, and lots more.

Splashdown Waterpark, Poole. “There’s something for everyone – from big kids to little ones – with some of the UK’s most exciting waterflumes. For the thrill-seekers, brave the Screamer with its sheer vertical drop. Plunge into darkness on the Black Thunder. And hold on to your pants as you shoot down the Spacebowl like a human pinball. Or if that sounds a bit like hard work, just go with the flow on the Mississippi Drifter.”

As always, this is just a small selection of what’s on offer in Dorset for Easter, and there’s much more to choose from to keep adults and children of all ages active, entertained and happy over the Easter holidays.

To book your family-friendly and eco friendly Easter holiday in Dorset, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Have an eco-friendly Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day falls on Sunday the 18th March this year and if you’re looking for some inspiration for eco-friendly gift ideas, here are our suggestions to help you have a green Mother’s day. Supporting local businesses is important to us so as always we’ve included details of a few Dorset-based craftspeople and traders.

If you’re sending a bouquet for Mother’s Day, ask for Fairtrade flowers.

Buy jewellery that is made by local designers, and look for Fairtrade items and those made from recycled materials.

Buy pottery and glassware gifts made by local craftspeople.

Give a gift basket of local products such as a hamper of products from Dorset from Jaxsons delicatessen in Bridport.

Make a donation to a charity in lieu of a gift. How about a donation to or membership of Trees for Dorset? Trees for Dorset is a charity which plants and cares for trees in Dorset, and fosters an appreciation of trees and the amenity and ecological value of tree cover. If your mum has a big enough garden you could also buy and plant a small tree.

Treat your mum to a delicious breakfast in bed with organic and Fairtrade coffee, free-range eggs, locally baked bread, and organic museli. And prepare a home-cooked dinner using organic or local products from your local farmers’ markets.

Enchanted Plants in Shaftesbury has a fine range of organic handmade soaps, including these organic soap hearts made with rich Dorset honey and organic cinnamon leaf oil.

Talking of honey, Filberts Bees is based in Dorset and produces a range of products containing Dorset beeswax. At the home apiary on the farm, the bees forage on local flowers and farm crops. Filberts Bees products are free from synthetic perfumes and mineral oils and are not tested on animals. Choose from items such as natural beeswax lip balms, moisturising massage oil, hand and foot salves, and gift tins.

Of course, the perfect way to celebrate Mother’s Day is to simply spend some lovely quality time together:

Support a local theatre group and go and see a show

Go for a cycle ride, or explore Dorset on foot

Start or develop a vegetable garden: buy some seeds and plant them together. Sea Spring Seeds in West Dorset has a wide range of vegetable seeds to inspire you. Sew Green is a Dorset-based company that that employs predominantly disadvantaged people who hand make products out of recycled or up-cycled fabrics. They have a range of gardening items, for example this gardening equipment carrier

Book a relaxing break at Chesil Beach Lodge in one of our luxurious apartments with their wonderful sea views

We hope these ideas have given you some inspiration.

At Chesil Beach Lodge we actively support sustainable tourism: we serve meals made from locally-produced and organic ingredients; and we also “reduce, recycle and reuse” wherever possible. We’re the perfect location for an eco-friendly Mother’s Day break J

To book accommodation in Dorset for Mother’s Day, please contact us as soon as possible. We very much look forward to welcoming you and your family here.

What’s on in Dorset: March

Hello again. Well, it’s March already and it won’t be long until it’s officially spring, followed by the clocks going forward giving us that extra hour of daylight in the evenings to venture out and tidy the garden, and maybe get out and about and enjoy the countryside and the beautiful weather we’ve been having. One thing’s certain, the plants aren’t waiting for the ‘official’ first day of spring – they’re popping up all over the place and giving us some really lovely splashes of early colour.

We’ll be posting some suggestions for Easter holiday activities later in the month. And don’t miss next week’s post with our top tips for having an eco-friendly Mother’s Day! Until then here’s our usual pick of what’s on in March in Dorset.

9th March Jazz in the Theatre with Philip Clouts, at Bridport Arts Centre. “A mix of jazz, funk and world music from the CD Sennen Cove written by Philip Clouts, pianist in Afrobeat band ZubopGambia. Featuring uplifting music inspired by the sights and sounds of the South West while staying true to his own musical roots.”

16th March The Amazing Mr Smith at The Electric Palace. “The Amazing Mr. Smith has been described as Monty Python's answer to John Williams, a sort of one-man Bonzo-Dog Doo-Dah Band. His combination of mad musical inventions and brilliant acoustic guitar playing make him one of the funniest and most original entertainers around.”

17th March Sherborne Chamber Choir: The Glories of Venice at Sherborne Abbey. “Be transported to the splendour of 16th century Venice for this concert of music by Monteverdi and Gabrieli. The programme contains a wide variety of textures of voices and instruments, with solo and multi-voice works for choir and instruments and instrumental music from one of the country’s top period ensembles. Tickets £5-£16, under 18s free of charge, available from Sherborne Tourist Information Centre, Digby Road, Sherborne, 01935 815341, and The Dorset Music House, 01935 816332.

March 18th - Swanage Railway Mother’s Day. A Mothering Sunday Luncheon on the Wessex Belle steam train. “Treat your mother to something very special this Mothering Sunday. Our special Wessex Belle steam service departs from Swanage station and serves a superb lunch while travelling through the splendid Purbeck countryside. Your main course will be served at your table while you pass the majestic ruins of Corfe Castle, surely one of the best views from a dining table anywhere.”

29th March - National Theatre Live: She Stoops to Conquer, at The Electric Palace. “Funny and perceptive, She Stoops to Conquer is a celebrated story of class, courtship and dysfunctional families. Charles Marlow, tongue-tied and uptight, needs a lesson in the art of love. He longs for a wife, but finds it easier to have a bit on the side. The barmaid seems fair game - but there's more to her than meets the eye.”

31st March - The Weymouth Food Festival at the Weymouth Pavilion. Doors open at 10am until 4 pm and entry is free. There will be lots of local food producers, live music, arts and crafts. A great day out for the family.

31st March - Lyme Regis Beer Festival. “Now a regular fixture in Lyme's calendar, the Beer Festival is an opportunity to sample beers and ciders from local breweries and enjoy the best in local entertainment - all at the Marine Theatre.”

Here at Chesil Beach Lodge we offer a choice of delightful and sustainable bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation in a stunning location on the Jurassic Coast, and within easy travelling distance of these, and many more, fantastic local events and attractions. Please contact us for more details, or to book accommodation.