Blandford

Blandford Forum is a small historic market town on the River Stour in the North Dorset district of Dorset, England noted for its Georgian architecture. The town had a population of 8,745 at the 2001 Census. Blandford is the seat of North Dorset's district council, although it is situated in the far south-east of the district. Nearby are the small village of Blandford St Mary and Blandford Camp military base. A Georgian Fayre is held in the first week of May each year in the town centre and attracts thousands of visitors. The Fayre combines Georgian celebrations with cultural presentations, stalls, and a fun fair on the grassy meadows along the banks of the Stour. The nearby village of Tarrant Hinton is home to the Great Dorset Steam Fair which can attract 250,000 in the last week of August each year. The fair is a showcase for steam engines from across the UK and Europe. Craft stalls, camping, and a large carnival are among the attractions. An unpleasant local resident is the 'The Blandford Fly', a biting insect which has caused several fatalities. In recent years the weed beds in the river have been sprayed to stop it breeding.