Notes of a meeting of The Jurassic Coast Communities Forum, Wareham
Town Hall October 8th 2015
Present: John Wokersien (Chair) , Ben Buxton (Wareham Museum), Rod Curtis (Wareham TC), Guy
Kerr & Caroline Pearce (Jurassic Coast Trust), Mike Lowell (Purbeck Hills), Susan Eddisford (East
Devon Museums Group), Rachel Shefford (Countryside & Tourism Officer, Purbeck DC), Chris
Everidge (Bridport Local Area Partnership & Char Valley PC), Maureen Jackson (Bridport Local Area
Partnership), Donald Campbell (Seaton), Lesley Garlick (Devon County Council), Bran Acres (Senior
Coastal Ranger, Dorset CC), Alison Greenhalgh (Exmouth TC, Tourism Champion) Fred Drane (Upton
TC), Jeff Turner (Sidmouth TC), Mike Green and Norah Jaggers (Beer Village Heritage), Anthony
Byrde (Kimmeridge Parish Meeting), Louise Haywood (Corfe Castle PC), Chris & Sandra Reay
(Weymouth Beach B&B), David Harris (Dorset TC)
Apologies : Alex O’Dwyer, Sam Rose, Sam Scriven & Sally King (Jurassic Coast Team), Simon
Pollentine (Sidmouth TC), Sue Cook (Wimborne Minster TC), John Stevenson, Richard Eley, Jim
Knight (Devon CC), Mike Ruiter (Seaton Jurassic), Bob Gillis (Bridport TC)
Introduction
Introduction to Wareham as a gateway and market town. Looking forward to receiving results of
AONB/JC survey about economic impact on the area. There was a request that minutes could be
more in full. Pleased about educational side and fundraising and would like it noted. John explained
to those who did not know about Jurassica that it is using a quarry site using the Eden project format
with outside funding. Concern that not linked sufficiently with Jurassic brand and message. Hoping
to have them come and speak at next forum.
Wareham Museum
Ben Buxton spoke about Wareham Museum which is a seasonal community museum, staffed by
volunteers with an aim to serve both locals and visitors which number 6,000-7,000 a year during the
7 months it is open. Funding from Jurassic Team for geology display; most of the collection is from
the coast including a footprint from an Iguanadon and this is very popular with young people. Dougal
Dixon, a dinosaur expert, made a model dinosaur of remains found at Kimmeridge. There are 30
volunteers, Ben writes a monthly column in a magazine which constantly requests for volunteers but
some walk in off the street. Town council provide space for museum and a small budget of £2,000
but any displays need to be funded. Lots of potential for school trips.
Updates from The Jurassic Coast Trust
There are now 33 Ambassadors and 34 Business Partners with a target of 40 of each by year end.
Hoping to engage Exeter students. Developing different streams so businesses can choose different
paths e.g. fundraising event or an ‘opt-out donation’ model for business partners where money is
collected from guests booking or a customer purchase which makes it more palatable for businesses.
In East Devon Ladram Bay is a partner and at Devon Cliffs Guy is working with the activities ranger,
Alex Maynard, who already coordinates brilliant activities. Biggest park in UK with 1,000 statics but
they are quite isolated and management are hard to access.
Action: Guy to talk to Alison Greenhalgh about new manager David Bennett.
Ambassadors workshop be on Tuesday 20th October at Highlands End Holiday Park based on how to
tell the story of their local area. World Heritage Youth Summit coming up and we have an
Ambassador, Emily, going with some young people to represent the Jurassic Coast. Keen for more
interaction with museums – training sessions at Charmouth and Chesil coming up and using winter
months to do geology field trips. Let Guy know if interested in any of these. 5 min film of Love the
Jurassic Coast week is available for free.
6 month trial phase of Go Jurassic Rangers coming to an end. 125 rangers signed up and the first
Rangers event will take place in Lyme during half term.
John explained the Trust is working hard to develop its own vision of future and is looking for specific
skills to strengthen the Trustee board. Meeting with County Councils about the way forward without
putting burden on them for extra funds. Steering Group is an amalgamation of experts but not a
managing body. Feel Trust should be the go-to place for Jurassic Coast. The AGM was an
opportunity to share the vision for the future and the various presentations demonstrated how a
rich seam of people were being involved in bringing many different skills and different
interpretations of Jurassic Coast.
The JC Team is currently working with our partners at the Dorset Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB)
Team and Dorset County Council to find out the Economic Impact of the Jurassic Coast World
Heritage Site designation, and the wider value of the environment to Dorset/East Devon economy.
This is key information that to date they have not been able to show. Concern was expressed that
the Email sent out inviting responses to the survey has been very confusing as people aren’t sure
whether it is residents in both counties or businesses in both counties or just businesses in Dorset.
Some hadn’t seen it e.g. Bridport tourism and not all the parish councils.
Action: Lesley to check distribution with Sam and report feedback.
It is important to have a champion on each council – clerks are inundated so crucial that a champion
gets a copy of what is sent out. Business version is very long and think not many will take time to
answer. Maybe ask councils who don’t have a champion to appoint one.
World Heritage Site UK conference coming up at Saltaire – networking organisation, training and
promotion. 28 sites going. Hopefully bang the drum for the sites to Government. John representing
Steering Group and hoping to find out how other sites managed. Lesley going as a Trustee.
Team update
 Richard Edmonds has left, Sam Scriven covering some of his work and working on a fossil
book to be published next Easter. He is also looking at interpretation plan, making it simpler
to understand and more inclusive.
 Paul Mitchell, Information Officer, left to return to Australia to be replaced by Katherine
Thomson. She will finish redeveloping the website.
 Gateway Town signs being replaced. New interpretation panels in West Dorset to coordinate
panels with other partners.
 Anjana Ford working closely with primary science teachers nationally.
 Public consultation on fossil acquisition going out soon, please comment.
With regards to fossil collection, the issue of centralisation was raised by those present. Any central
fossil collection should not detract from each local centre. Local deliverers need to be consulted.
Team need to take on board needs of the local area. Interpretation Action Plan meetings have a
specific purpose to integrate comments from locals. The Jurassic Coast is meant to be a string of
pearls so every town had something to offer and working on passport ideas. The collection wouldn’t
necessarily be in one place. Mike Ruiter at Seaton has an idea about each visitor centre/museum
promoting the next centre along and really pushing that. Central collection likely to be more
academic research based, so a different function. Wealth of material in the area that is stored away
that does not see light of day and collectors want it displayed in a credible place.
Lesley mentioned X53 bus being decimated to 3 services a day to East Devon. Bus service did not
even tell us when Mini Guides printed that the service was changing. Role for Jurassic Team is
lobbying and helping liaise over link services. Hopeless for leisure trips. Misses out Beer and Seaton.
Real concern that sustainable transport lost from our grasp.
The Jurassic Coast Team and Trust were not involved in Durdle Door event which gained national
coverage and gave good profile on The One Show of Jurassic Coast.
Update from group
 Alison Greenhalgh: no visitor centre in Exmouth. Thinks kids like hands on and interacting
and feels it is a void. Group felt it should be a pearl. The outdoor interpretation was a
different way of doing it – it made sure Exmouth had something and didn’t lose funding.
Maybe opportunities within new Queen’s Drive development for promoting the World
Heritage Site and providing some interpretation.
 David Harris: Spoke of the Sean the Sheep trail painted by artists. Could we do a trail of
dinosaurs along the coast to be sold off afterwards? Also Trustee of Safewise and Streetwise
and working with Dorset Coast Forum on Coastwise.
 Norah Jaggers: Enjoyed Guy’s Ambassadors events, creative activities on beach, walks and
talks. As an Ambassador you can have fun! Highly recommends wearing a T shirt saying
‘Jurassic Coast Ambassador’ on back – great way to engage with people.
 Rachel Shefford: Purbeck District Council would like to talk to Katherine Thomson about
messages on website Action: Guy will put them in contact with each other
 Louise Haywood: Corfe Castle – no updates but do have dinosaur footprints in the museum
local to the area
 Chris Everidge: 3 enforcement orders on Goods Yard as regulations not met about hygiene,
health and safety. Chapel - consultation on how to best put to use. Retrospective planning
for traveller site at Morcombelake going to appeal. Amount of properties going from holiday
use to residential; concern over loss of ‘stay and spend’ income. Dog control issues so need
for education of dog owners. Marine management organisation talking to BLAP about
furthering projects. Were led to understand coastal rangers had been disbanded. Bran
explained that they still have statutory duties to maintain rights of way and costal footpath.
Currently under Jill Exton and Adam.
 Maureen Jackson: Huge problem of visitors not knowing about tides, parking, inconsiderate
dog walking, danger zones. Feel we need more rangers. Would like visitor’s centre at West
Bay, the Development Trust of Bridport would like the chapel turned into a visitor centre.
Thinks Development Trust should be talking to Team.
 Donald Campbell: after 12 years Seaton Jurassic will be opening in March. Raised £16,000 for
wildlife garden. Imaginative interpretation. Involved in undercliffs and path erosion. Natural
England have set up alternative route via Undercliffs and Devon CC negotiating with Binden
state for alternative route. One of the major landowners has established a new cliff top path
to do circular route including cliff top and flint hut which looks over Pinhay Warren and
coast. Great addition to scenery access. Had Stuart Cruise boat trip to raise money and 6
more planned.
 Anthony Byrde: Slab for remaining walls cast for Steve Etches collection, slight delay due to
weather. Anthony Gormley invited to place statue on cliff but after opposition put it on rock
and has been knocked over by stormy seas.
 Jeff Turner: Sidmouth interpretation centre is well worthwhile, some expense to council.
Folk festival went well with one of the workshops focussing on the coastline. Sidmouth
Science Festival over next 10 days - 3d flying monsters and dinosaurs, fossil Friday and walks
encompass Jurassic Coast. Now chairs town council and can report Alma Bridge propped up,
issue of falling cliffs at Pennington Point but fears it is some time before a solution and this
includes what happens to the bridge. Worry that Natural England’s opposition to
strengthening bridge is preventing access to coast.
 Mike Green: Beer Village Heritage, done lots of kids events, some in conjunction with Seaton
Jurassic. Improving activity resources, power generation and new fossil display to get even
more cretaceous ammonites on show. Beer Parish Council very involved in X53. Mike
enjoyed Jurassic Coast Trust’s cruise out of Poole and winery dinner at Furleigh Estate.
Malcolm Hart talking at Winston’s next Thursday, great speaker.
 Chris and Sandra Reay: work hard to encourage guests out walking and cycling. Chris did
some photography for a Jurassica weekend – able to engage in a lot of people. 4,000 came.
Many were there on holiday and the age range was huge even though focus was on children.
Understands tug of war between commercial interest of Jurassica and volunteer led bodies
but feels good for the area, promoting Weymouth and Portland. Jurassica also talking about
getting fossil collections out from under the beds of collectors. Concern about transport
onto Portland because of pinch points. Not heard talk of cruise ships.
 Brian Acres : the Ranger’s aims are health and well-being and economic growth. Good to
hear about overgrown routes as Rangers can’t assess routes all year round. Would be great
to have Ambassadors being eyes and ears on the ground. Chris added that Ramblers
Association have an app to document any problems with routes and also Ramblers have
volunteers who will clear paths. This would be a worthwhile role for volunteers.
 Susan Eddisford: 40,000 visitors to the Jurassic Coast local museums in East Devon.
Interactive not as strong as it used to be. No funding to replace broken computers.
Landscape linked activities hoping to take forward. Not sure how good museums are at
taking up the Jurassic Coast branding and keen to reference it on brochures and websites.
Next meeting: Dorchester Dorset County Museum 8th February 2016