Wildlife reward for Jurassic walkers - Jurassic Challenge completed

Jurassic walkers were rewarded with the sight of a pod of dolphins on Sunday after completing a gruelling fifty miles in fifty hours for Dorset Wildlife Trust’s 50th Anniversary. The sponsored Jurassic Challenge, one of a series of 50 for 50 fundraising events, is expected to raise over £4000 to help protect wildlife.

What happened at this event?

The walk from West Bay to Durlston Head was led in searing temperatures by Emily Newton and Nick Gray from DWT’s West Dorset Team, with walkers challenged to raise at least £50, one for every year of wildlife protection in the county. Nick said: “Watching the dolphins swim past was an emotional moment at the end of our Jurassic Coast wildlife odyssey! The walkers covered much more than half of Dorset’s coastline in just two days ­ an admirable effort in such blistering conditions ­ and everyone finished in high spirits with smiles on their faces and memories to cherish! ‘50 miles in 50 hours’ is nowhere near as easy as it sounds and we’re hugely grateful for everyone’s amazing endeavour on behalf of Dorset Wildlife Trust. 

What will the fund go towards?

The 50th Anniversary Dorset Wildlife Fund will provide emergency and long term financial support for land purchase, development of educational facilities, nature reserve management and for nature-restoration projects. Formed in 1961 as the Dorset Naturalists’ Trust, the conservation charity has saved some of the county’s most precious sites and grown to be a major voice for nature locally as well as working with a national network of 47 Wildlife Trusts.

More about 50 for 50

Fiona Sansom, Supporter Development Manager at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “At the start of our 50th year, we challenged everybody who loves Dorset to raise £50 to ensure that the work of protecting the natural environment can continue into the next 50 years. The Jurassic walkers have shown they love a challenge and done it the hard way, but people have come up with lots of different ways to raise £50. Why not come up with your own 50 for 50 challenge and help us reach our target of 500 pledges -what better way to celebrate than to secure the future for wildlife in one of the most diverse and beautiful counties in England?”

How can I get involved?

50 for 50 challenges can be anything from holding an event to selling cakes, going vegetarian, or saving your loose change. For more details, click here

-ENDS-
Notes to Editor

For more information please contact Nicky Hoar at Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01305 264620.

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About Dorset Wildlife Trust www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

Working for a secure future for Dorset’s wildlife enriching the quality of life Dorset Wildlife Trust works to champion wildlife and natural places, to engage and inspire people and to promote sustainable living. Founded in 1961, DWT is now the largest voluntary nature conservation organisation in Dorset, with over 25,000 members and over 40 nature reserves. Most are open daily and there are visitor centres providing a wealth of wildlife information at Brooklands Farm, Lorton Meadows, Kingcombe Meadows and Brownsea Island Nature Reserves, The Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve and the Urban Wildlife Centre at Upton Heath Nature Reserve. DWT plays a key role in dealing with local environmental issues and leads the way in establishing the practices of sustainable development and engaging new audiences in conservation, particularly in the urban areas.

Read our Blog "Wildlife Matters"

The Wildlife Trusts (TWT) www.wildlifetrusts.org

There are 47 individual Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK and the Isle of Man and Alderney. All are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone. We have more than 800,000 members including 150,000 members of our junior branch Wildlife Watch. Our vision is to create A Living Landscape and secure Living Seas. We manage around 2,300 nature reserves and every year we advise thousands of landowners and organisations on how to manage their land for wildlife. We also run marine conservation projects around the UK, collecting vital data on the state of our seas and celebrating our amazing marine wildlife. Every year we work with thousands of schools and our nature reserves and visitor centres receive millions of visitors. Each Wildlife Trust is working within its local communities to inspire people about the future of their area: their own Living Landscapes and Living Seas.

Emily Newton, Twiglet, Frankie McQuarrie,Trudy West, Debbie Dupont & Sally Winship finish Jurassic Challenge - Nick Hoar

Dolphins in Dorset GRAHAME KNOTT