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.
There is an exciting opportunity to join the Dorset Coast Forum team as a World Heritage Officer. This new post will be contributing to the protection and promotion of one of the UK’s most iconic natural assets – the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
We are delighted to announce ‘Discovery Fest’ – as part of Dorset Coast Forum’s 30th Anniversary Celebrations, we are joining up with Planet Purbeck to present this joint vibrant, family-friendly festival by the sea.
👉 FREE family fun day
👉 Explore Dorset’s stunning coastline, wildlife, and natural landscapes
👉 Over 30 exciting activities and exhibitors
Guided Walks & Experiences
Swanage Old & New Guided Walk
🕚 11am & 2pm, 1-mile walk
Discover Swanage through the ages on a gentle, family-friendly walk led by Steve Wallis, Dorset Council’s Archaeologist. Uncover hidden historical features and stories that bring the town’s rich past to life.
Step back in time and walk where dinosaurs once roamed! Led by Sam Scriven, Principal Officer and Geologist for the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, this family-friendly outdoor adventure explores the famous Spyway Dinosaur Footprints.
Explore one of the most geologically rich and visually stunning stretches of the Jurassic Coast. Led by Sam Scriven, this tour brings Dorset’s ancient landscapes to life through expert storytelling.
We are delighted to announce ‘Discovery Fest’ – as part of Dorset Coast Forum’s 30th Anniversary Celebrations, we are joining up with Planet Purbeck to present this joint vibrant, family-friendly festival by the sea.
We invite DCF members to take part and join us with your Gazebo or Tabletop Information Stand – bring an interactive activity, walk or talk to inspire and engage visitors of all ages! This is a chance for you to showcase your project, community group or initiative, connect with the public, and celebrate our incredible Dorset coastline.
To secure your place, for more information or to chat through your activity ideas, please contactNikki and Izzy at:
Celebrating Coastal Lives – Thank You for Your Nominations!
A huge thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination for a Coastal Champion as part of our 30-year celebrations! Your incredible support is helping to bring to life the Coastal Life Stories exhibition, which will showcase the inspiring and diverse stories of people who live and work along Dorset’s beautiful coastline.
We received a fantastic response and are thrilled to announce we have 18 amazing Coastal Champions who will feature in the exhibition. Over the coming weeks, our team will be meeting with each champion to capture their stories and portraits, which will form the travelling photographic exhibition planned later this year.
Stay tuned for updates and get ready to be inspired by the lives shaped by our coast!
In May, Dorset Coast Forum facilitated a workshop for Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site stakeholders, to gather their views about the future of the Site. Over sixty people attended and work in groups to discuss six key themes – Coastal Management, Tourism, Fossil Collecting, Community Engagement, Fossil Collections Management, and Education. The atmosphere was positive and constructive, and a wealth of ideas and insights were collected by the facilitators.
A particularly positive aspect of the day was that attendees represented a true cross-section of the various interests along the World Heritage Site, from Landowners and Museums, to tourism experts, fossil collectors, academics, parish councillors and staff from the national teams of Natural England and Historic England. Dorset Council, Devon County Council and the World Heritage Site Principal Officer are in the process of compiling the notes gathered at the workshop and will be sharing their findings soon. This was just the first step in planning for a new model of management for the Jurassic Coast.
We’re excited to welcome Matthew Smith, who joined the DCF team at the end of March. With a BSc in Geography and an MSc in Glaciology, Matt brings a strong academic foundation and over 13 years of experience in the field studies sector, primarily across Dorset and the Southwest. Matt’s deep knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural environment make him a valuable addition to the team. Outside of work, he’s an avid rock climber and trail runner—pursuits that reflect his adventurous spirit and passion for the outdoors.
