With spring sunshine finally arriving and winter storms now (hopefully) behind us, we thought it was the perfect time to share a closer look at how those storms have shaped our coastline. The Dorset coast took a significant battering during the January storms, and we’ve pulled together a new page on the DCF website highlighting the key changes, unusual impacts, and stories from across our coast.
Thank you to our partners who have already contributed images, videos and local insights. If you have photographs of the beaches where you work or live that show recent storm impacts, we’d love to include them, please send them to us.
Please take a moment to explore the new page and share with your networks.
With spring sunshine finally arriving and winter storms now (hopefully) behind us, we thought it was the perfect time to share a closer look at how those storms have shaped our coastline. The Dorset coast took a significant battering during the January storms, and we’ve pulled together a new page on the DCF website highlighting the key changes, unusual impacts, and stories from across our coast.
Thank you to our partners who have already contributed images, videos and local insights. If you have photographs of the beaches where you work or live that show recent storm impacts, we’d love to include them, please send them to us.
Please take a moment to explore the new page and share with your networks.
Celebrating 25 years of the Jurassic CoastWorld Heritage Site
2026 is a landmark year for the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, marking 25 years since the Dorset and East Devon Coast was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. A big thank you to Molly Webb, our volunteer, who has created a brand new webpage to showcase the events taking place throughout this anniversary year delivered by different organisations along the coast.
World Heritage Day – 18 April Celebrate World Heritage Day at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery with a full day of talks, tours, hands-on activities, and family-friendly workshops. Highlights from the programme include Sam Scriven presenting The Jurassic Coast at 25, and Steve Wallis sharing insights in The Human Story of the Jurassic Coast. Find out more and book your tickets here.
Do you have any events you would like to use to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the WHS? Contact us to let us know!
Explore UNESCO South West Trails,a new campaign and digital platform developed in partnership with Great Western Railway, has officially launched. The platform offers visitors an inspiring and sustainable way to discover the rich cultural and natural heritage of South West England, with the Dorset and East Devon Jurassic Coast showcasing as a key destination.
Meanwhile, World Heritage Officer Mhairi has been exploring options for a new official website for the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. The site will introduce the new Jurassic Coast Trail and an interactive map, with direct links to the Explore UNESCO South West Trails platform. Over the coming months, Mhairi will be engaging partners and stakeholders to gather input and ideas, with the new website planned for launch by the end of the year.
Following a hugelysuccessful event at Baiter Park, Poole lastyear, local Poole and Purbeck schools are once againbeing offered the chance to join us for FREE day of STEM activities (suitable for Years 5–9).
This year we will be at Shell Bay, Studland and the day is co‑hosted by the National Trust. We are joined by 12 partner organisations including Ocean Conservation Trust, Suttle Projects, RNLI and the Dorset Heaths Partnership.
Find out more and register your school’s interest!
With spring sunshine finally arriving and winter storms now (hopefully) behind us, we thought it was the perfect time to share a closer look at how those storms have shaped our coastline.
The Dorset coast took a significant battering during the January storms, and we’ve pulled together a new page on the DCF website highlighting the key changes, unusual impacts, and stories from across our coast.
Thank you to our partners who have already contributed images, videos and local insights. If you have photographs of the beaches where you work or live that show recent storm impacts, we’d love to include them, please send them to us.
Please take a moment to explore the new page, share it with your networks.
Sharing these helps us raise wider awareness of how dynamic our coastline is.
2026 is a landmark year for the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, marking 25 years since the Dorset and East Devon Coast was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.
A big thank you to Molly Webb, our volunteer, who has created a brand new webpage to showcase the events taking place throughout this anniversary year.
If you’re planning any activities or celebrations, big or small, we’d love to hear about them. Sharing your events helps us highlight and promote the fantastic work happening across the Jurassic Coast.
Two dates in particular we are keen for events to celebrate the Jurassic Coast are;
18th April – World Heritage Day
6th October – International Geodiversity Day
Please contact us with your events to include on the new page.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the Dorset Coast Forum Annual Conference on 19th November. This year was extra special as we celebrated 30 years of Dorset Coast Forum – a fantastic milestone for our coastal community!
The event was a great success, with 100 members coming together to enjoy 12 inspiring presentations, grouped into three thought-provoking sessions:
Rising to the Challenge: Navigating Climate and Ecological Crises
The Changing Tides: Fishing and Marine Nature Recovery
Shorelines and Stories: Building Coastal Community Connections
We’re incredibly grateful to our speakers for their engaging contributions, the information stand exhibitors, our hosts at RNLI College in Poole, and our generous sponsors: Suttle Projects, who sponsored the conference and DCF’s 30-year celebration and Moffatt & Nichol who sponsored their information stand.
25th Anniversary of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site
2026 marks 25 years since the Jurassic Coast was inscribed as a World Heritage Site for its exceptional and globally valuable geology, palaeontology and coastal geomorphology.
In celebration of this milestone, many stakeholders along the World Heritage Site are running special events and exhibitions. We will be helping to promote these events and have created a 25 year logo to help mark celebrations that are associated with the anniversary. See the full eNews for events planned in your area.
Do you have any events you would like to use to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the WHS? Contact us to let us know!
Schools across Poole and Purbeck are invited to celebrate Outdoor Classroom Day on 21 May 2026 with DCF and partner organisations including South West Flood & Coastal, Andrew Simpson Centres and Litter Free Dorset. Co‑hosted this year by the National Trust, the event will take place at Shell Bay, Studland. Following a successful 2025 event engaging 7 schools and over 160 pupils, this free day of outdoor STEM activities (suitable for Years 5–9) promises even more fun and learning.
Data from the 2025 boating season shows strong positive outcomes for the SBMP Eco‑Mooring Project, which protects Dorset’s largest seagrass meadow. All 87 eco‑moorings were well used, alongside continued scientific research led by the University of Southampton. SBMP volunteers analysed over 45,900 time‑lapse images monitoring compliance with the Voluntary No Anchor Zone (VNAZ). Results show excellent behaviour by boaters:
73% used a mooring
14% anchored outside the VNAZ
Just 8% anchored within seagrass meadows — a significant reduction from previous years
Encouraging signs of seagrass recovery were recorded in former anchor scars, alongside the highest number of seahorse sightings to date during monitoring dives.
While compliance remains high, paid mooring use reached 45%, an improvement on 2024 but still below the level needed to sustain the project long‑term. Continued support is vital to ensure eco‑moorings remain available in future seasons.
DCF members are invited to the DCF Annual Conference on Wednesday 19 November at the RNLI College in Poole. We have another exciting conference planned with insightful speakers, together with our usual fantastic networking opportunities. This year we will also be marking three decades of coastal collaboration as the forum celebrates its 30-year anniversary.
Agenda Highlights include:
Rising to the Challenge: Navigating Climate and Ecological Crises
Dorset’s Clean Energy Super Cluster – Opportunities and what this means for Dorset, Matthew Piles, Strategic Director, Dorset Council
Adapting to Warming Seas in the South West: Challenges and Possibilities, Professor Rick Stafford, Bournemouth University
The Changing Tides of Fishing, and Marine Nature Recovery
Fishing Futures: Challenges, Opportunities, and Local Insight
Rob Clarke, Association of IFCA
The Poole Harbour Aquatic Management Plan .…. What’s it all about?
Luke Bennett, Project Lead
Oyster Restoration in the Solent: Lessons for Reviving Marine Habitats
Matt Uttley, Blue Marine Foundation
Shorelines and Stories: Building Coastal Community Connections
Why stories matter – World Heritage and the Jurassic Coast
Sam Scriven, World Heritage Site Principal Officer, Dorset Council
Making beaches accessible for everyone, Will Behenna, Beach Access Project
Ocean Conservation Trust and Ocean Literacy, Megan Ross, Blue Meadows Community Engagement Officer, Ocean Conservation Trust
A huge thank you to everyone who nominated a Coastal Champion as part of our 30-year celebrations! Your incredible support has helped bring the Coastal Life Stories exhibition to life.
Over the past few months, the exhibition has travelled the Dorset coast showcasing the passion, dedication, and impact of coastal champions – from conservationists and community volunteers to educators and local businesses. The free public exhibition closes in November with its final stop at Gather in the Dolphin Centre, Poole from 11-14 November. The exhibition will also be available on loan, so if you are interested in hosting the exhibition at your venue, please get in touch at dorset.coast@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Beach of Dreams comes to Dorset
The recent Beach of Dreams national arts programme of events culminated in an exciting grand parade in Weymouth with three DCF project flags selected to grace the gig boats as they entered Weymouth harbour (see main image). Designs for the flags were created during some of our summer engagement activities and as part of the celebrations, were carried along selected stretches of the coast path by the team in the run up to the finale.
Dorset Coast Forum have another exciting conference planned this year with insightful speakers, together with our usual fantastic networking opportunities. This year we will also be marking three decades of coastal collaboration as the forum celebrates its 30-year anniversary.
Agenda Highlights:
Rising to the Challenge: Navigating Climate and Ecological Crises
Explore howDorset’s Clean Energy Super Cluster could create new opportunities for clean energy projects, which have the potential to unlock investment, play a major part in the delivery of the UK’s industrial strategy, and bring wider benefits for local communities and economic growth.
The Changing Tides of Fishing, and Marine Nature Recovery
Hear how fishers’ knowledge is shaping smarter marine planning
Dive into oyster and marine life restoration in the Solent, bringing back lost reefs.
Gain an understanding of Poole’s Aquatic Management Plan, uniting partners to protect and enhance Poole Harbour for nature, recreation, and business.
Shorelines and Stories: Building Coastal Community Connections
Hear how the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, Towns of Culture, and Dorset’s Beach Access Project all spark community pride and creativity—connecting people to the coast through world-famous geology, vibrant arts, and accessible beaches that everyone can enjoy.
For bulk ticket purchase or if you need an invoice, please email us directly at dorset.coast@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to book your tickets instead of booking via the Eventbrite page and we will send you an invoice.
