“You can’t put a price on nature. You can’t quantify the uplifting effects of a walk in the Peak District or the way your soul soars at the sight of a stormy Cornish cliff. Except, it turns out you can: it’s worth almost £5 trillion a year. Economists have calculated the mental health benefits of the world’s national parks and concluded that on this measure alone they provide services amounting to a significant proportion of global GDP. And that is before you consider all the

The following summarises the case for the Dorset & East Devon National Park. “Dorset and E Devon is the outstanding candidate for National Park status” This view is widely supported and is based on: The outstanding quality of the environment and landscape which embraces the UNESCO World Heritage “Jurassic” Coast - the only World Heritage designation for the natural environment in England (that for the Lake District relates to local culture); Dorset contains much of what is le

In the 70 years since the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949, a high proportion of England’s most outstanding landscapes and important natural habitats have become “Designated Landscapes.” But more remains to be done, including securing a National Park for Dorset & East Devon. The government-appointed Glover Review, as part of its wide-ranging review of Designated Landscapes, is considering whether to recommend possible new designations. The Review Panel

This report by Cumulus Consulting outlines the benefits that National Park designation could deliver for Dorset’s economy. It assembles and summarises evidence from a range of sources to make a compelling case for a National Park that would benefit all of Dorset. It notes, for example, how a National Park would strengthen Dorset’s brand, providing major opportunities for a range of businesses, how it would strengthen efforts to attract inward investment as well as secure incr

The proposed Dorset National Park is the most significant business opportunity to present itself to Dorset in a generation. It would provide a boost for our tourism industry all year round, help spread the benefits across Dorset and help manage existing tourism pressures. THIS SHORT NOTE summarises some of the evidence. Abbotsbury Village, Dorset. #wildlife #dorset #nationalpark #economy #environment #news

In the 1930s Cyril Diver led an ecological study on Studland Heath that set new standards in the science of ecology. In 2013/15 the National Trust revisited the site and the data through its largest and most ambitious Citizen Science project to date. This is their story… Click Here to download the article #casestudy #biodiversity #purbeck #nationalpark #environment #wildlife #dorset #marine

Poole Harbour is nestled in one of the most bio-diverse corners of the UK. Read about the exciting project to encourage ospreys to breed here. Click Here to download the case study. Image of an osprey in Poole Harbour; courtesy of Peter Moore #wildlife #casestudy #biodiversity #purbeck #nationalpark #environment

The Times reported that a major study has shown that four out of the five most biodiverse areas in the country are in Dorset. A National Park would help conserve and enhance these areas and increase understanding and awareness on their very special qualities. Below is an excerpt from the article written by Jerome Starkey, The Times countryside correspondent. Isle of Purbeck revealed to be UK’s little square of loveliness Half a dozen sika deer bounded down the hill, past the