We hope you enjoyed the BBC's Winter Watch from RSPB Arne in Purbeck. This area has reportedly the greatest range of wildlife in southern England. It includes so many different types of environments and habitats around Poole Harbour. A 10-kilometre grid square in Purbeck has the greatest biodiversity in the UK.
The Purbeck Heaths Super National Nature Reserve was England's first, and the Dorset National and Marine Park Team are supporting the move towards the creation of a Purbeck Coast Super NNR.

Dorset is surely the outstanding candidate to be England's next National Park and the first to span land, coast and sea.
The Environment is Dorset’s Greatest Economic Asset
This is the conclusion of reports for the previous Dorset County Council as well as for the Dorset National and Marine Park Team. This conclusion should be better reflected in Dorset Council’s draft Economic Growth Strategy. See below the Team’s input to Dorset Council.
The Dorset National & Marine Park Team welcomes Dorset Council’s consultation on its draft Economic Growth Strategy and supports the council’s economic priorities and aims. But we suggest these aims be amplified to add: Sustainable Growth: There needs to be a balance between economic growth, restoring nature and respecting and safeguarding Dorset’s communities.
We suggest that DC’s strategy might place greater emphasis on growing the digital and creative economy and, as part of this, developing closer partnering with the two universities, Bournemouth University and the Arts University Bournemouth, which are strong and internationally respected in the digital and creative industries. Dorset Council might consider establishing science and enterprise parks where emerging vibrant and entrepreneurial businesses can develop, expand and benefit from a close relationship with the universities and creative businesses. The South Downs National Park evidently has a higher percentage of digital businesses and young people aged 18-25 than neighbouring areas, and this is supported by the SDNP’s policy on providing truly affordable homes.
A Dorset National & Marine Park, in close partnership with Dorset Council, communities and businesses, would help Dorset Council:
Promote and attract higher value jobs and skills and sustainable economic growth, including in the creative and digital economy, eco/heritage/cultural/dark skies tourism, and the green/blue economy.
Attract additional Government funding and resources to support the work of the Dorset Council, including in addressing the climate and nature emergencies, and in promoting regenerative farming.
Celebrate Dorset’s world-class coastal and marine environment and help achieve coastal regeneration.
Support DC’s aim to facilitate the development of more truly affordable homes for local people, helping to retain and attract young families, key workers, jobs and skills.
Promote the health and well-being and quality of life of Dorset’s communities and celebrate Dorset’s heritage and identity.
Develop with Dorset Council a shared Local Plan with a single planning document and single planning team, based on a local assessment of housing need for the whole Dorset Council area instead of inappropriate central housing targets.
A summary of the economic benefits of a Dorset National Park, including evidence from an independent report by Cumulus Consulting, is at https://www.dorsetnationalpark.com/post/thriving-economy
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