The council has a range of open spaces across the town which are valuable in terms of recreation and nature conservation.  Many of these spaces can also be hired for events, markets and festivals.  Please contact us at enquiries@dorchester-tc.gov.uk if you'd like to find out more about hiring council land.

For information about events taking place on our Open Spaces and elsewhere in the town visit Discover Dorchester.

Here is a link to the council's policy on hiring its land for events.

Below is information about our main large open spaces.  

Salisbury Field

Salisbury Field is an attractive  informal open space with play area and seating and is included in Historic England's Register of Parks & Gardens.  Salisbury Field includes many mature trees and offers views across the town and countryside to the north.

The western side of the Field includes the buried remains of the Roman Town wall.  There are no toilets or refreshment facilities on site.

The beacon in the corner of the site is occasionally lit to celebrate important national events.

Kings Road playing field

The Kings Road playing field, on the eastern edge of the town, is an informal open space with a new area of substantial tree planting.  The site includes a large play area and multi-use games area (for basket ball and 5-a-side) and, most notably, includes a vintage steam engine which for anyone to climb on and explore.  There are no toilets on site or nearby.

Holmead Walk greenspace

Holmead Walk greenspace, also known as Centenary Green, is a large informal recreation area with views across to Maiden Castle.  The space includes a small grass football pitch, play area and youth shelter.  There are no toilets on site.

The Great Field

The Great Field in Poundbury is a very large informal, newly created open space accessible from Peverell Avenue East and the bus stops on Mansell Square.  The Great Field includes a unique play area with large structures providing interest for all ages - this is one of the largest play areas in Dorset.  The Pavilion in the centre of the Field is run by by charitable trust and offers a range of refreshments and has a toilet.

The Great Field is also used by local football teams.

Maumbury Rings

Maumbury Rings, on Weymouth Avenue near the centre of Dorchester, is a remarkable area of open space.  The large, circular earthworks (the 'rings') are the remains of a Neolithic henge monument (over 5,000 years old) which were later re-used during the Roman period as an amphitheatre.  The site is used for a range of informal recreation and hosts markets and outdoor theatre during the summer months.  

Maumbury Rings is legally protected as a site of national archaeological significance.

Fordington Green

Although small, Fordington Green is beautiful, historic open space and a focus for the local community.  Each year the Green hosts the St George's Day fair.