About the Parish & Parish Council

The South Tarrant Valley Grouped Parish Council works on behalf of the four parishes of Tarrant Crawford, Tarrant Keyneston, Tarrant Rawston and Tarrant Rushton, which includes Hogstock.

A parish council is the first level of local government and the closest to the community it serves.  The South Tarrant Valley Council exists to help residents and be a point of contact for ideas and suggestions for improvements in the village.  The Parish Council’s powers and duties are laid out under local government statute and it has legal responsibilities as an employer.

There are approximately 209 dwellings in the parish with a population of approximately 520.  Local employment opportunities are largely in farming, but a significant number work from home. The parish has one North/South road, the B3082 linking Blandford (3 miles)and Wimborne (6 miles) the two main towns to which parishioners turn for services. There is also the rural valley road following the river and linking the four parishes and the North end of the Tarrant Valley. There is no public transport and so residents use their own transport to access services. A school bus takes primary school children to Spetisbury, and secondary school children to Blandford.

The True Lovers Knot pub can be found in Tarrant Keyneston, together with a busy village hall with play areas. There is a farm shop at Tarrant Rawston and the Airfield Memorial at Tarrant Rushton. There are three active churches and a private church within the parish, which is part of the Two Rivers Benefice.

In addition there are 2 small campsites within Tarrant Keyneston run by other local businesses.

There is a lively community spirit within the Parish including The Tarrant Valley Players, the Gardening Group, Short Mat Bowls, activmama Mum and Baby sessions and the Mix & Mingle Coffee Mornings.