John Stevens / View of Blackmore Vale
Nature Connection North Dorset
Reconnecting people and nature
Dorset is rich in precious landscapes and rare wildlife. But while our coastal, chalk and heathland landscapes are widely celebrated, the wildlife of north Dorset is more isolated and harder to see – and whilst residents here value nature as much as anywhere, this region is suffering severe nature depletion. It’s time to change that, and to help local people take action for nature, before it’s too late.
It’s the huge amount of will among residents that makes a wilder, more resilient north Dorset possible. Ever more groups are forming, connecting like-minded people that want to restore nature together – we can’t wait to get alongside them and see what they achieve.Wilder Communities Manager at Dorset Wildlife Trust
Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Nature Connection North Dorset is a bold and transformative initiative. We’re placing community action at the heart, recognising that even small, on-the-ground efforts can have a big impact and everyone has a part to play in bringing nature back.
Making space for wildlife across north Dorset’s streets, schools, gardens, churchyards and more boosts biodiversity and builds climate resilience, while improving both physical and mental wellbeing. It is critical that wildlife is welcomed back into the region, to reconnect communities with their natural heritage and link up landscapes, enabling both people and nature to thrive.
If you live in north Dorset, we want YOU to get involved!
The Wildlife Trusts
Why north Dorset?
Our project area is largely lacking in the priority habitats that have classically benefitted from conservation focus and funding. It also contains very few protected areas – only 1.4% of the land is within Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), while the Dorset average is 8.2%. The area has a long history of farming, dairy farming in particular, with the history of the market towns inter-woven with this land use. The landscape includes large areas of intensive (fertilised) grassland, while wildlife features such as small woodlands, hedgerows, rivers and wildflower-rich grasslands are fragmented and isolated. The project looks to work with communities to recover and re-connect nature in and around north Dorset villages and five focal towns: Blandford, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Sherborne and Sturminster Newton.
How long will the project run?
The project is currently in the one-year development phase of what we hope will become a five-year project, running until summer 2032.
What support is available?
Community organising principles are at the heart of the project, where local people take the visionary lead and hold ownership of their initiatives in a way that is affirming and self-sustaining. Our role is first to listen, then enable and advise with hands-on support and training that plays into the strengths and ambitions of each community. We also aim to offer financial support in the next phase through targeted grants. By inspiring people to care for nature and facilitating social connections that are inclusive to everyone, we are growing a network of nature advocates across north Dorset.
Get involved!
This project is fully grounded in strong partnerships with community groups and stakeholders who want to improve the state of nature in north Dorset. If you are an individual or community group seeking to learn more or receive support with your project, please get in touch with us.
Got an idea to restore nature in north Dorset?
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK's heritage. Nature Connection North Dorset is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to support local people in taking meaningful action of nature on their doorstep.
This project will empower local communities to take a leading role in restoring and protecting their natural heritage. By putting people at the heart of nature’s recovery, it will help create healthier habitats, strengthen community connections and ensure that north Dorset’s wildlife and green spaces can be enjoyed for generations to come.Director of England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Jonny Owen / Young Conservationists learning to make screening
Katharine Davies / Children at Kingcombe
Dani Wilson
Cressida Stevens / Wild Sherborne wildlife-friendly gardening event
Ready to step up for nature?
Follow the links to find out how you can welcome wildlife back into your local patch.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.