YOU will need to get your skates on to take part in a wheely great day of family fun in Dorchester this weekend.

The county town’s skate park is celebrating its second birthday tomorrow afternoon and evening and everyone is invited along to see what the facility opposite Maumbury Rings has to offer.

Every day, usually whatever the weather, sees the skate park thronging with youngsters on skateboards, scooters and BMX bikes trying out tricks, leaping high in the air and having a great time with their mates.

So why not come along and have a go, join in the fun tomorrow between noon and 7pm. The open day is free to attend and events will include competitions and much more.

Family fun is also on the agenda next Saturday when the Borough Gardens in Dorchester hosts a Family Fun Day between 10am and 4pm.

Fans of the film and stage show Billy Elliot are in for a real treat on Sunday when a special Billy Youth Theatre showcase starring young performers from the area takes place at Lighthosue in Poole.

Eight groups from around the region will perform a specially adapted and shortened version of Billy Elliot the Musical at the venue to celebrate the talents of the area’s brightest young stars,.

Lighthouse is one of a handful of theatres nationwide chosen to stage the show, which is a recognition of the venue’s commitment and support of family shows and community events.

The Billy Youth Theatre showcase is at 7pm on Sunday and tickets are £14 plus concessions from the box office. Families will also love Flyaway Katie, which is being staged by Long Nose Puppets at Lighthouse tomorrow at 11am and 3pm.

Katie is all alone and feeling grey. The birds in the picture on her wall look so colourful-if only Katie could be as bright as them, who knows what might happen?

The show is bursting with colour, movement and surprises, with puppets of varying scales acting the story. The show is aimed at two to seven-year-olds and will last for half an hour with a 15-minute ‘meet the puppets’ events.

For all Lighthouse bookings and details call 0844 406 8666.

To celebrate their 60th anniversary, West Dorset Flower Club is presenting a flower arranging demonstration entitled ‘April Showers bring forth May Flowers’ by judge and demonstrator Michael Bowyer at the Electric Palace, Bridport on Monday, May 9 at 2.30pm.

Michael is a traditional and contemporary designer who is currently working on the Salisbury Cathedral Flower Festival taking place in June.

Tickets are £8, available from Mrs A Vincent on 01308 424319.

A celebration of herbs weekend is being put on by the Peasant Evolution Producers Co-operative at Fivepenny Farm, Wootton Fitzpaine on Saturday, May 14 and Sunday 15.

Herb walks will be held each morning from 11am to 1pm in the Dorset countryside looking at herbs, which can be collected for medicinal and culinary use. The cost for the whole weekend is £20 but a herb walk on Sunday is free. To book email jyoti@tlio.org.uk