Treat yourself to some good news!
Pause, take a moment, make yourself a cuppa and soak up all the encouraging and positive news happening right here in Purbeck and Dorset! I am going to keep my bit short and sweet as there are so many exciting projects in Purbeck & Dorset we want to share with you. It's so energising to read about how busy everyone is making things happen!
Really looking forward to seeing all of you at the Planet Purbeck Festival!
Enjoy the rest of your Summer!
- Rob Waitt, Core Team & Events Coordinator
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The National Trust need Purbeck Nature Champions
The National Trust is looking for passionate people who will help to connect others with nature, ensuring that more people value it and want to save it in the future. You could work behind the scenes creating & planning, or by helping to deliver amazing experiences and events across Purbeck.
Contact:
- Purbeck National Trust - Purbecknaturechampion@nationaltrust.org.uk
Volunteer with Planet Purbeck - the fastest growing movement in Purbeck
Would you like to play a positive role in creating a sustainable future here in Purbeck? Join our experienced, skilled and positive 'let's do this' team! We have various roles available from looking for a Youth Group Leader to volunteers at our upcoming Festival - with flexible time commitments there's something to suit everyone!
View current volunteer roles HERE >
Volunteer as an observer for Nature Based Collaborative Solutions C.I.C & Visit Dorset
If your idea of volunteering this summer involves spending a few hours on the beach check out the volunteer roles Nature Based Solutions & Visit Dorset need to fill.
Find out more HERE >
It's all hands on deck in preparation for The Planet Purbeck Festival 20th - 26th Sept 2021
Celebrating Coast, Countryside and Community there’s going to be something for everyone, from open-air Butterfly and Bat talks, to exciting presentations from international explorers at the Film Festival!
Events from all over Purbeck will be highlighting nature and our community working together. Lots of exciting things to see and join in with, including; outdoor nature trails, films, talks, music, art and displays at our Festival hubs in Swanage, Wareham and Corfe. We have over 50 organisations signed up already. If you are looking to run an event as part of the Festival, do get in touch soon as our deadline to finalise the programme is rapidly approaching.
Contact:
- Julia Galbenu, Doug Skinner & Rob Waitt Festival Coordinators - planetpurbeckevents@gmail.com
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In late May at the Corfe Castle Annual Parish Meeting, the Environment Group gave a presentation showcasing achievements of the past two years and answered questions from parishioners on subjects, such as the environmental credentials of the materials for the new playground equipment. The National Association of Local Councils magazine published an article about our very own Josey Parish’s efforts with the Environment Group! While The Secret Field lease arrangements are being discussed, we are planning a drop-in, family discovery event there on Tuesday 13th July at 7pm with the National Trust. We also anticipate the group's activities to wind down a little over the summer, but we will be back in the autumn in time for the tree planting season!
Want to join us?
We meet monthly on the 2nd Thursday; to find out more drop us an email or follow us on Facebook >
Contact:
- Josephine Parish, Helen Sumbler & Luke M Luke - corfecastlepc@aol.com
PTAG has been in discussion with the other Dorset TAGs about the Dorset Council response to the Government’s Bus Back Better initiative. Consultation has been promised with the TAGs and other groups on the Bus Improvement Plan to be developed.
Several parish councils in Purbeck are keen to put in place 20 mph limits through their villages. Following an initial on-line meeting, including Dorset Council, a separate group has now been set up for Dorset, as part of the national ‘20s Plenty!’ campaign.
It is understood that Dorset Council intends to review the Speed Limit Policy - which is outdated - to reflect Dept for Transport guidance. PTAG is pressing Dorset Council for consultation on this review.
Contact:
- Nick Ward Chairman - nick.ward@myphone.coop and Dorset@20splentyforus.org.uk
Over the last three and a half years, a small team of Plantlife staff has been working with local Back from the Brink partners including RSPB, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, National Trust, Forestry England and the Rempstone Estate and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to reinvigorate Dorset’s heathland for a suite of rare species with special requirements.
Join a volunteer survey with Footprint Ecology as we will be helping Plantlife and Back from the Brink partners to survey some of the key areas.
Contact:
- Sophie Lake - BFTB@footprint-ecology.co.uk
St George’s Forest School meets in the community woodland trail in Langton Matravers. This half term Years 2 and 3 have enjoyed Thursday afternoons with a range of activities, exploring the woodland, listening to stories, searching for dragons, making animal models from clay and enjoying quiet reflective time. The Forest School is a joint St George’s School, St George’s Church project, supported by the Parish Council.
You can visit the Forest School during the Planet Purbeck Festival 20th -26th September, there will be a special experience for families to enjoy and an opportunity to visit the St George's Pre-School allotment plot.
Contact
- James Mercer - jamesjmercer@mac.com
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To encourage residents and businesses to install solar the Solar Streets Swanage scheme was launched in March and now covers the whole of Purbeck. The installer, IDDEA, is able to offer discounted prices because buyers are concentrated in one area. The scheme was originally for people from Swanage and surrounding villages, but it is now open to anyone in Purbeck up to and including Wareham.
You can find out how the scheme works and get an initial quote here >
Contact:
- Lucinda Neall - lucinda@neallscott.co.uk
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Swanage Beach Buddies volunteers meet twice a week for community litter-picks. So far this year, the town beach has been much cleaner apart from cigarette butts, while North beach remains the main source of discarded bottles and abandoned beach toys and other plastic items. Regular incidents of smashed bottles remain an issue at the Pines Hotel steps.
If you wish to join this group at a beach clean and help clean up a little bit of our planet please contact us.
- Dave and Sally Pratten - swanagebeachbuddies@gmail.com or tel: 07974 399887
Community resilience has been the focus of Langton Planet over the last month. We've been working hard to get the Langton Village Hall open. There's been lots of decorating and maintenance taking place with a focus on being able to get the hall open again for bookings.
Contact:
- Collette Drayson - collettedrayson@gmail.com
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We have been working to improve biodiversity at greenspaces around the town and are really pleased to see the new trees bursting into life and the new meadow areas blooming with flowering grasses and wildflowers. These in turn are supporting insects which we are recording on our surveys.
The Peveril Downs: We had a successful butterfly survey training day and have 12 new volunteers who are learning how to survey butterflies. We monitor butterfly populations as they are a good indicator of a healthy environment. They have rapid lifecycles and, in many cases, high sensitivity to environmental conditions.
Prospect Green: We have let the meadow areas grow to see what comes up by itself before any new wildflower species might be sown and will record plants, insects and birds visiting the site. This and the ongoing swift surveys are keeping us busy!
Follow us on Facebook and Insta
Contact:
- Sarah Spurling - sarah.spurling@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
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How do we keep Dorset beautiful this summer? Summer 2020 saw a record amount of litter, fly parking, incidences of fire, and public safety concerns, amongst other impacts: all of which resulted in challenges to nature and for residents. This year, Visit-Dorset is working on a media campaign to help tourists enjoy Dorset, whilst educating about how sensitive and important our nature reserves, Jurassic Coast, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Heathlands, sand dunes and other nature areas actually are. To do this, urgent research needs to take place! Two volunteer opportunities are available for which training will be provided: NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY.
1. Observers – recording on a map and table, groups of visitors, their activities and behaviours;
2. Visitor Survey – approaching visitors to encourage their completion of an online survey.
There are 3 areas to choose from: Lulworth to Durdle Door; Old Harry Rocks; and Studland. All volunteer researchers will work in pairs. Please do get in contact asap, to help keep Dorset beautiful this summer and in the future.
Join the Facebook Group >
Contact:
- Denise Hewlett - denise.hewlett@winchester.ac.uk – or tel 07515191366
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Since its launch in April this year, Sustainable Wareham has gone from strength to strength!
Some of our activities include:
- Supporting UK Breast Cancer research and women in developing countries through setting up and donating over 100 bras at the ‘Bra Bank’ at Bare Necessities.
- Enhancing Nature plans with Hausers Field Northmoor, and the Hayricks, Stoborough under consideration for extra tree-planting and measures to benefit wildlife.
- Collaborating with the Wareham Wombles on litter picking and supporting Litter Free Dorset’s Respect, Protect Enjoy campaign
We'll be running a stall on Wareham Quay on Saturday 24 July. Come and say hi!
If you would like to support us, or have any suggestions or tips for recycling, repurposing or sustainable living
Contact:
- info@sustainablewareham.org
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We are delighted to welcome St. Mark’s C E Primary School in Swanage, to the Operation Future Hope Rewilding Schools programme. Following our site visit in early May, plans are now underway to create havens for wildlife across the entire school grounds. The children at St. Mark’s are surrounded by nature and already involved in creating habitats for wildlife within their school grounds. Our aim is to help St. Mark’s develop, enhance and expand on their good work to create a variety of different niches for different species, and bring connectivity for wildlife across the entire school grounds.
In other news we continue to invite more schools to join the Rewilding Schools Programme whilst working on a new Nature Conservation and Rewilding Apprenticeship which will be piloted in participating schools in September this year.
Contact:
- Lesley Malpas CEO and Founder - hello@operationfuturehope.org
Visit our website >
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We are waiting for the delivery of a (grant-funded) large number of bike racks and we are progressing with our solar energy plans and the footpath survey. Most of the schemes we are looking at will be actioned in the winter including a Sustainable Tourism Strategy as we are currently focused on managing the busy summer period.
Contact:
Culvin Milmer - Visitor Services Manager - c.milmer@swanage.gov.uk
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RSPB Arne in Dorset invites visitors to enjoy morning yoga sessions in their café garden. The lessons will run every Friday for nine weeks, beginning on the 9 July, 8.45am and are aimed at all abilities.
Yoga in Nature at RSPB Arne is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund through the ‘Hyde’s Heath Project at the reserve.
Event Details:
Dates: Friday 9 July-3 September
Time: 8.45am for a 9.00am start
Cost: Adult RSPB-member £4 per session, Non-member £5 per session. Parking in the RSPB car park is not included.
Booking essential >
Location: Meet at the lawn in front of the café (signed from Car Park)
Contact:
Press Office - pressoffice@rspb.org.uk
DWT is delighted to announce the acquisition of 170 hectares of land near Bere Regis. The site offers outstanding opportunities for ecological restoration, using rewilding principles, in support of our aims to tackle the climate and ecological crises. DWT aims to restore the site to a place where wildlife can flourish and people can connect with nature.
Given a chance, nature can play a key role in addressing climate change and environmental degradation. Our wildlife is also declining in both diversity and abundance and we need to make more space for nature. A huge thanks to both Julia Davies and Dorset and BCP councils for helping with the purchase.
Contact:
Rob Farrington - Project Manager - rfarrington@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
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Julia Davies, founder of We Have The POWER, shares how she helped Dorset Wildlife Trust secure 230 football pitches worth of land near Bere Regis for nature restoration. In Julia’s words “The 2019 State of Nature Report was a wake-up call for everyone with a love of nature. I became determined to do my bit and buy some land where nature could thrive. Read more about how we made this happen here >
Follow on Instagram here >
As a local wildlife enthusiast, Julia calls on those with wealth and a love of nature to help secure land for nature and people
Contact:
Rob Farrington – Project Manager - rfarrington@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
We have a new Waste Team coordinated by Amy Wolff. They have a meeting planned for Friday 27th August 1-2pm.
Contact:
- Amy Wolff - Amyjanewolff@gmail.com
Work continues apace on drafting the “Dorset 2030 - Living in a Zero Carbon County” vision and report. Seven online workshops having taken place over the past few months, looking at many of the chapters of this Zero Carbon Dorset document, due to be published in the Autumn. There’s still plenty of time to get involved as final drafting will take place throughout the summer, so if you’re enthusiastic about one of the areas covered, would like to know more or be advised of future workshops head over to our website >
Contact:
- Mark Chivers - Co-founder & Project Lead: Zero Carbon Dorset - markchivers@zcd.org.uk
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In June we’re continuing our Climate & Ecological Crisis Action Plan (CECAP) work: for net-zero by 2030/31. In June, we’ve:
- Achieved Gold Cycle Friendly Employer status
- Hosted a Sustainability Careers Day for over 35 students from local schools to introduce them to sustainability jobs and support them to take action at their own schools
- Launched our Living Labs programme where students can solve a real-world problem on campus
- Moving forward, we’re launching Carbon Literacy Training and working on a sustainable return to campus.
Follow us on social media >
Contact:
- sustainability@bournemouth.ac.uk
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British Divers Marine Life Rescue is a nationwide charity of trained volunteers who respond to over 2000 callouts to marine mammals around the country per year, and one key issue we increasingly face is how people interact with wildlife. Earlier this year a juvenile seal called ‘Freddie’ sadly died following a dog attack in London, and one can’t help but be reminded of the many issues we have had locally with ‘Sammy’ the seal as well. As a result, we have recently launched a new seal watching code of conduct to help minimise disturbance via a coalition called the Seal Alliance, endorsed by Defra, and started a petition calling for better protection for seals in law.
Please sign and share the petition here> and help us help them stay safe.
Contact:
- Rio Lightowler - Dorset coordinator - rioatreef21@gmail.com
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This summer Dorset Action are stepping up the campaign calling on Dorset Council Local Authority Pension Fund to stop putting our pension fund money into fossil fuel (coal, oil, gas) companies.
During June we held an event outside of County Hall in Dorchester and were joined by campaigners from trade unions, Extinction Rebellion, Churches Together Ecology Group, Dorset Climate Action Network and some local Dorchester Town Councillors and the very moving Red Rebels. The event aimed to give a visual and emotional message to Dorset pension Fund. We handed out leaflets to passers-by who were receptive to the message and many were surprised to learn that the Pension fund still has fossil fuel investments.
We also held an online ‘Community Conversation’ on pension fund investments. Participants included those currently paying into the Dorset pension fund and those who are now retired and are receiving a pension from the fund.
Other local authority pension funds are now starting to pull out (divest) from fossil fuel companies. Learn more about the campaign and what you could do to help here>
Contact:
- Julie-Ann - juliebooker@btinternet.com and Caz de-net@hotmail.co.uk
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The Team will continue to work with Natural England to help the Government deliver its commitment and has accepted an invitation from Natural England to be involved in the further assessment of the Dorset
proposal which has been shortlisted for further evaluation later this year.
Follow us on Facebook >
Read our Summer 2021 Newsletter >
Contact:
- Richard Brown - Member of Dorset National Park Team - info@dorsetnationalpark.com
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Dorset Food and Drink's core vision and objectives remain almost unchanged, however, the pandemic has sharpened our focus and we are shifting towards a more sustainable, mindful approach to our work, members and consumers. We’re ensuring our events and pop-up markets are Covid compliant for our visitors and traders, Save the dates and come and see us:
Dorset Food & Arts Fair – Great Field in Poundbury - Sat 7 Aug 2021.
Abbotsbury Food Fair - Sat 18 & Sun 19 Sept 2021
Athelhampton Christmas Fair - Sat 4 & Sun 5 Dec 2021
Contact:
- Caroline Richards - Dorset AONB Food & Drink Coordinator
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Litter Free Dorset – Land, Coast and Sea is a community campaign to reduce litter in Dorset while improving and maintaining bathing water quality at source. Key projects for Summer 2021:
- #RespectProtectCollect is our summer coastal litter campaign encouraging all beach users to keep hold of their rubbish and responsibly dispose of it in a public bin.
- The ‘Choose To Remove Disposable BBQs’ campaign focuses on working with businesses to encourage them to remove disposable BBQs from retail and display BBQ safety information.
For more information head over to the Litter Free Dorset website.
Facebook: @LitterFreeDorset
Instagram: @litterfreedorset
Twitter: @LitterFreeDrst
Contact:
Email: litterfreedorset@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
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Dorset Council have worked in partnership with Litter Free Dorset this year on a #LoveYourVerge campaign to encourage the public to appreciate and love their roadside verges. The campaign aims to promote the Dorset Council verge management techniques used to encourage roadside biodiversity while reducing incidents of littering in our county. The greenspace team are embedding a ‘cut and collect’ system across Dorset to reduce cutting schedules and fertility of the soil. This in turn saves money as well as increases the number of wildflowers and pollinators in Dorset.
For more information visit the Dorset Council website >
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Friends of the Earth have been campaigning for 50 years and East Dorset FoE for about 40 years. We work mainly in the Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole conurbation under the ethos of challenging when necessary but working with decision-makers when possible. Currently, we’re working with other Groups in Dorset including Dorset CAN to ensure that the Dorset & BCP Councils follow on the pledges made in their Climate Emergency declarations and are planning a Climate Conference in November to coincide with COP26.
We welcome new members and in normal circumstances have monthly meetings but currently, these are on Zoom.
Follow us on Facebook >
Contact:
Angela Pooley - Group Co-ordinator - eastdorsetfoe@gmail.com
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Hi I'm Ellie, an Aquarist at the Oceanarium in Bournemouth and a PADI open water scuba instructor for Dorset Diving services. In this #CreatureFeature we are looking at the snakelock anemone. This species is commonly spotted around our shoreline and is very distinctive. They can have anywhere up to 200 long tentacles, often with purple tips. The purple coloured tips are from a symbiotic algae, that make the anemone their home. This means that they benefit from each other - the algae gets the protection of the anemone and the anemone gets food from the algae. Some of the snakelocks under Swanage Pier are also host to the snakelocks shrimp, which is currently the only UK location this species are found.
If you'd like to find out more about the marine life in Dorset and further afield, why not visit the Oceanarium in Bournemouth > Or, if you like to dive beneath the waves and see many species close up, you can book a diving course at Dorset diving services >
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The Planet Purbeck Team
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