Latest news with #JurassicCoast
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
National Trust completes Purbeck coastline 'jigsaw'
A narrow strip of land has been acquired by the National Trust, completing its ownership of a stretch of the Dorset trust said the 26.3 ha (65 acres) strip was the "last piece of the jigsaw" of the land it manages between Worth Matravers and Durlston Country Park on the Isle of said it would allow nature restoration and improve access for walkers along its 5.5-mile (9km) stretch of coastline, part of the Jurassic Coast Unesco World Heritage steeply sloping ground is already designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for the importance of its wildlife-rich grassland. However three fields inland have been more intensively managed and currently have less value for trust said filling the gap would encourage wildlife to spread, including rare wildflowers like early spider orchids and butterflies like the Lulworth skipper and Adonis Brown, lead ecologist for the National Trust, said the chance to acquire the land was a "fantastic, not-to-be-missed opportunity".He said: "These fields are where we can really make a difference. The land will still be farmed, but in a more nature-friendly way. "With appropriate management – like stopping chemical inputs and introducing a conservation grazing regime – we can restore the wildlife that's missing."The trust said it also planned to improve the area for walkers, including widening the South West Coast Path to make it safer. The acquisition was funded through legacies to the trust's coastal campaign, Enterprise Neptune, over the past 60 years. The appeal began after a coastline survey in Purbeck by Reading University in has since raised £114m and led to the protection of 900 miles of coastline in England, Wales and Northern John Whittow, who led the national coastline survey, said: "It was imperative that a pilot survey should take place to acquaint my 30 students, post-grads and staff from Reading University with my newly devised methodology. "What better place than Dorset's Purbeck coast which we 'invaded' in May 1965."The trust said it planned to declare the section of the coast as inalienable, meaning it would be protected forever. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Hindu statues could be submerged on Dorset's Jurassic Coast
Twelve marble statues could be lowered onto the seabed on the Jurassic Coast as part of a Hindu Weymouth Bay has been chosen as the site for a Murti Visarjan - the ritual immersion of a deity's idol in water, signifying the cycle of creation and dissolution in Hindu statues belong to 30-year-old Hindu temple Shree Krishna Mandir in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, which is set to be of the temple Dharam Awesti said Weymouth had been chosen as another temple in the Midlands previously carried out the ritual at the same location. If approved, the event would take place in September. Mr Awesti explained the 12 statues, five of which are human size and weigh 800kg (176lb) each, would be taken by lorry from Leamington Spa to Weymouth.A crane would be used to lift the statues on to a barge which would take them out to sea for them to be submerged."Before the statues are lowered onto the seabed we will have a religious ceremony and bring our priest with us, Mr Awesti explained."Instead of dumping them anywhere, they have to be ceremoniously submerged in to the sea safely so we can feel comfortable that we have done our religious bit by following all of the scriptures." Mr Awesti continued: "Life, in Hinduism, starts with water and ends in the water, even when people are cremated we celebrate with ashes in the water."The idols, which are made of marble, would not have an impact on the ecosystem of the water or the marine life, he added."When they are in the temple they are dressed in bright colours but when they are submerged they will be in their original shape and form."A Marine Management Organisation (MMO) spokesperson: "The marine licencing application for the submersion of Hindu idols in Weymouth Bay is still ongoing. "As part of the marine licensing process, the application is subject to a public consultation which will run until 22 June. "Once this is completed, we will consider responses received from stakeholders and the public before making determination." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Telegraph
31-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
‘More natural, harmonious and effortlessly laid-back than any British country hotel I've stayed in'
Most often when I review places for this column, I'm on my own. But to test a hotel to its limits, taking along my grandchildren does the trick. Max (aged three) is my secret weapon. When I popped in to see them at home recently, Max was absent. 'I'm afraid, Gran Gran,' said his sister Olive (five, but beyond her years), 'he's in thinking time again.' Thinking time is the family euphemism for 'he's been sent to his room for biting the au pair on the leg'. Biting au pairs is to be frowned on, but frankly, I don't blame Max for his very public tantrum – more a sit-in protest I like to think – at the previous 'family friendly' hotel we went to together. Our accommodation was like a barracks: we had to pay extra to use the pool (a nasty habit creeping onto the hotel scene), with highly restricted children's swim times; and the general atmosphere was as warm as dried toast. Louma, by contrast, felt like walking through the pearly gates into hotel heaven. Where is this paradise? On Dorset's Jurassic Coast, in a rebuilt south-facing farmhouse and barns set in 100 acres of vineyards and farmland, with a mesmerising and truly sensational view across rolling fields to the sea at Charmouth. The description is accurate – a happy combination of lavish (£30 million) if unshowy spending on the project and its gentle evolution. The owners are Louis and Emma (hence Louma) Steyn – he, the son of the late South African insurance tycoon, philanthropist and friend of Nelson Mandela Douw Steyn; she from the English countryside. When Louis and Emma found this lovely fold of Marshwood Vale in 2019, they bought it for themselves and their three children. Gradually, however, and with a close-knit team, they devised a way of sharing it more widely – first as a private retreat, latterly as a hotel open to all. The result is a place that feels more natural, harmonious and effortlessly laid-back than any British country hotel I have ever stayed in. It has echoes of Soho Farmhouse and The Newt (in Somerset), but those places feel like constructs set in unreal bubbles compared with Louma, which feels part of life. They do things differently here. Rates are for two nights minimum and full board, and before your stay, someone (in our case, Laura) will contact you to arrange your bespoke itinerary. Itinerary? Is this place regimented? No; I told you, it's heaven. Our schedule included blissful bespoke massages from spa director Björn and his small team; yoga and craniosacral treatments on the upper floor of a remote, sea-facing barn; riding (the on-site stables with 20 horses are run by the delightful Sandford family); mini Land Rovers for the kids; wine tasting; and complimentary vineyard and farmyard tours. We also swam in the indoor and outdoor pools, took saunas, used the gym and playground and strolled on the enchanting, hand-built elevated wooden Woodland Walk above carpets of bluebells. Ask Olive and Max what they loved most about Louma and they would tell you it was the tadpoles in the pretty pond, temporarily forgetting about meeting all the farm animals or their first horse ride. Story and puzzle books for them to keep were set out on their bunkbeds; they could swim at any time; run down to see the lambs; drag their grandmother to the swings and slide; and play with toys and other children while the grown-ups sipped Louma sparkling rosé and Special Cuvée. They were gloriously happy – and so was I, revelling in the harmonious good looks and stretch-out comfort of the spacious public areas and bedrooms (including two charming shepherd huts); the friendliness of the local staff; and not least, the delicate and prettily presented food, classic with a twist. Menus are short, so a couple of dinners here is about right before the desire to eat elsewhere sets in. As for Max: at his cheeky, happy, imaginative best, the only hint of thinking time was when he was told he was leaving. Like me, he had fallen under the spell of this intuitive, uplifting, kind and restorative retreat. Doubles from £650, including breakfast, lunch and dinner; Champenhayes Lane, Wootton Fitzpaine, Bridport, Dorset DT6 6DF (01308 800298)
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Telegraph
The UK's best days out for dinosaur-obsessed kids
What is it about dinosaurs? In our very earliest years, we get familiar with these prehistoric reptiles and I'd be willing to wager that more UK pre-schoolers can identify a T-Rex than even a ladybird or caterpillar. Move on to primary school, and you'll find the kids confidently asserting the differences between a stegosaurus and a triceratops, and any farm park or theme park offering the chance to see these beasts in all their life-sized glory becomes a sure-fire hit. Fortunately, throughout most the UK you can barely swing a cuddly diplodocus without hitting a dinosaur-themed attraction. Here we have everything from dinoland walk-throughs, packed with animatronics and fun photo opportunities, to world-leading museums home to one-of-a-kind fossils and complete dinosaur skeletons. Not to mention the UK's fossil-hunting hotspots, located along our wiggling, crumbly coastline and offering the chance to find ammonites, shark teeth and even dino bones. So, where to start? Here's our pick of the best UK days out for dinosaur-obsessed kids. Fossil-hunting Jurassic Coast Dorset The rocky cliffs around the town of Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast are perhaps the most famous UK fossil-hunting hotspot. This was the stomping ground of world-renowned 19 th -century palaeontologist Mary Anning, who discovered the complete skeleton of a plesiosaurus here, and today yields relatively easy finds of Jurassic ammonites and belemnites. The best time to search is after a winter storm and the best places are the beaches of East Cliff Bay and Monmonth. To really get to grips with the landscape, book a guided fossil walk with Lyme Regis Museum, which last around three hours and include museum entry (adult £16.75, child £12.75, under 4s free, The Alexandra Hotel (01297 442010, has double rooms from £215 per night, including breakfast. Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight is one of the UK's richest fossil sites, with fossils not only from a diverse range of dinosaurs but also the likes of crocodiles, turtles and flying reptiles regularly discovered along the coastline here. The kids will be wowed by a walk along the sands at Compton Bay, spotting dinosaur footprints scattered along the coast and maybe even winkling out a fossil or two themselves. To up your chances of a find head out with Wight Coast Fossils, island-born experts who lead hour-long walks along the beach, explaining the geology and helping families find their own fossilised bones and teeth (adult £5, child £3, The Albion (01983 755755, has double rooms from £140 per night, including breakfast. Isle of Skye Scotland Skye is unrivalled in Scotland for Jurassic fossils, with the beaches of Elgol on the Strathaird peninsula and An Corran on the Trotternish peninsula particularly fruitful places for a hunt. Call in to the small family-run Staffin Dinosaur Museum near An Corran for tips on what to look for, then head out onto the sands at low tide to see dinosaur footprints on the flat rocks (adult £5, child free). On Trotternish's western coast, older kids will love scrambling over the windswept rocks of Prince Charles's Point to check out Skye's newest discovery – a series of some 130 mid-Jurassic-era footprints made by a mix of carnivorous theropods and plant-eating sauropods. The Cowshed Boutique Bunkhouse (07917 536 820, has self-catering pods sleeping four from £80 per night. What to look out for Theme Parks ROARR! Lenwade, Norfolk The UK's largest dino-focused theme park has more than 25 rides and attractions, from the Raptor Contraptor carousel, which promises to have kids soaring like a pterodactyl, to the Swing-o-Saurus swingboat ride. Fill your day here with Jurassic-themed crazy golf, digging in the sand pit for dino remains, getting soaked in the splash park and tackling the high ropes course. Much of the park is aimed at kids around 4-10 but toddlers will love the interactive walls and floor games at Dino-Ville and clambering up through pterodactyl's treehouse, plus there's a section of the soft play area just for them. Adult: £12.95 Child: £12.95 (or free under 90cm height) Contact: Wensum Valley Hotel (01603 261012, has double rooms from £85 room only per night. Gulliver's Dinosaur and Farm Park Milton Keynes Get up close to life-sized Jurassic-era favourites in the Lost World of the Living Dinosaurs at this laidback family farm park. You'll take a boat around the dino enclosure, spotting the likes of diplodocus and T-Rex and can even ride your very own triceratops at the Dinosaur Rodeo. Kids over 90cm in height can also scale the Jurassic climbing wall, while those keen on living reptiles can meet snakes and lizards at the Reptile and Bug Centre. The rest of the park features farmyard animals (ponies, llamas, goats) and classic farm park fare such as tractor rides and mini diggers. Adult: £11 Child: £11 (or free under 90cm height) Contact: Horwood House (01296 722100, has double rooms from £79 room only per night. Dinosaur World, Ralph Court Herefordshire Are your kids brave enough to come face to face with a full-size T-Rex? Deep in the gardens of Ralph Court, life-size animatronic dinos with beastly roars – including T-Rex, velociraptors and brachiosaurus – stand ready to greet families brave enough to enter through the dino's mouth gateway. During school holidays you might even encounter a 'live' dinosaur and its keeper walking the gardens, while the most enticing of the many photo ops is the new T-Rex jeep experience, where a six-metre, tooth-baring dinosaur rushes towards you as you sit in a bright red jeep. The Abbey Hotel in Great Malvern (01684 892 332, has double rooms from £129 per night, breakfast included. Fort Evergreen Warrenpoint, Co Down, Northern Ireland Small, family-run and utterly charming, Fort Evergreen offers a packed day out for young families. Head off along the Jurassic Walk first, to meet life-sized all-moving, all-roaring dinosaurs including the large meat-eating spinosaurus, small but vicious-looking velociraptor and instantly-recognisable triceratops. Then get stuck into the Dino Dig, where the kids can turn palaeontologist and unearth fossils from a mighty T-Rex in the sand. There's also a vast soft play here (particularly great for under 3s) and plenty of modern-day animals such as fallow deer, donkeys and alpacas, as well as a giant wooden fort decked out with rope bridges, climbing walls, tunnels and swings. The Rostrevor Inn (028 4173 9911, has double rooms from £100 per night, breakfast included. Museums Natural History Museum London This renowned museum is home to one of the world's most important dinosaur collections and is ideal for older kids seeking to go deeper on all things dino. Here they can see part of the first T-Rex skeleton ever discovered, the first iguanodon skeleton known to science and the skull of a plant-eating triceratops, among hundreds of other incredible exhibits. With dino-obsessed children aged seven and above it's worth booking the out of hours tour, which gets you in to the gallery at 9am for an exclusive tour with a guide who can answer all their burning questions (adult £25, child £17), while the Dino Snores for Kids lets those aged 7-11 (and their families) explore the museum by torchlight and participate in interactive activities with palaeontologists before sleeping over with the dinosaurs (£85pp). Free entry Contact: The Queen's Gate Hotel (020 7584 7222, has double rooms from £170 per night, breakfast included. Dinosaur Isle Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight is fertile fossil-hunting ground, with the most complete dinosaur discovered in the UK in the last 100 years found here at Compton Bay – and now on display in this family-friendly museum set above the beach in Sandown. The collection here is vast, featuring some 40,000 specimens, all of them discovered right on the island, and includes everything from elephant tusks to alligator teeth. You'll also encounter life-sized animatronics of the island's five most famous dinos: neovenator, eotyrannus, iguanodon, hypsilophodon and polacanthus, and there's always a qualified palaeontologist on hand to answer all your questions. The Royal Hotel (01983 852186, has double rooms from £146 per night, including breakfast. Stone Science Museum Anglesey This family-owned museum is home to one of the largest fossil collections in Wales and with children encouraged to touch many of the exhibits, makes for a relaxed intro to palaeontology. It's all the private collection of owner and geologist Dave Wilson and kids can touch a dinosaur egg, teeth and even poo. There are also life-sized reconstructions of parts of dinosaurs set throughout the two floors of the museum as well as dioramas showing how the earth developed and how dinosaurs evolved to help make sense of it all. The shop is also worth a visit, for fossils, minerals and crystals you can start your own collection with. The Trearddur Bay Hotel (01407 860301, has double rooms from £85 room-only per night.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The fall of Britain's best beach: Furious locals blame 'disgusting pollution' for ruining their seaside town's reputation as it's stripped of prestigious award
In February, residents living in sunny Weymouth were riding the wave of being crowned 'best beach in the UK' for the fourth year running. But just three months later, furious locals say their reputation has been 'smeared' after the town's main beach lost its prestigious Blue Flag status. On the cusp of the busy summer season, the popular Dorset seaside town has been dealt a hammer blow after officials ruled it was no longer worthy of the prized status given to the UK's cleanest beaches. Weymouth Central beach, which stretches along the stunning Jurassic Coast, lost its internationally recognised status given to beaches, marinas and sustainable tourism boats that meet environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria. Concerns were raised that Weymouth would lose its Blue Flag after the beach's water quality was downgraded from 'excellent' to 'good' by the Environment Agency at the end of 2024. And those concerns have now become a reality, with locals up in arms over the dumping of sewage in their beloved seaside home. Dorset Council leader Nick Ireland previously said it was 'almost inevitable' the beach would lose the accolade as he blamed a 'not-fit-for-purpose sewage system. Wessex Water say there is no direct link between the overflows and the central beach. But there is anger over the 'pollution' and 'contamination' of the water in Weymouth. Earlier this week, shocking photos emerged of two swans surrounded by polluted water and litter in Weymouth Harbour. It comes after Weymouth Beach was voted the best beach in the UK for the fourth time in a row in February, while the much-loved ribbon of sand claimed an impressive 20th place on the European list. While it is a title proudly spoken about by most, some residents blasted the award as a sham and described their seaside home as a 'scummy ghost town' blighted by tacky vape shops, anti-social behaviour and polluted waters. When MailOnline visited the beach this week, locals and tourists said it was a 'crying shame' that their beach had been allowed to decline as they raised fears it could stop families taking their children on holiday there. Sarah Riley, who has living in Weymouth for 30 years, said: 'I just think the sea and the beach is one of our greatest assets. It makes me sad to think of it losing its Blue Flag 'It's disgusting. What is it going to be like in years to come unless we make a stand and improve it and demand a certain quality of water? 'Some people will say 'We've got our grandchildren, we're not going to take them there just in case'. 'I'm disappointed because everybody knows it's such a lovely beach and it's safe. It's had the Blue Flag for a long time so I think someone somewhere is to blame. I know that lots of rivers and everything is getting polluted. 'We could have shone and said it's safe here. Even in Cornwall, where there is swimming and surfing, they are seeing raw sewage. It is absolutely beyond comprehension. If that happened on the same scale here, all the people that live here would cause a riot. 'All the kids that come here, if there was anything to catch, it would be unforgivable if they were ill a couple of nights later. 'Someone has to take a stand and take charge. It's like other parts of Weymouth that have been disintegrating.' Denise Elkes, who comes to Weymouth three times a year in her caravan, said: 'They are dumping the sewage everywhere, it's not good. It's an ideal beach because it's so nice and long and flat. You can go way out when the sea is out. 'It's very safe. I used to bring my grandchildren here when they were small and it's really safe to mess about with children. 'It's a real shame but it doesn't surprise me because it's happening to our rivers, our oceans. It's just not on. 'I can't believe in all these years they've let this keep happening. Most of these sewage companies are private but they should have been taken to ask long ago. Once it's polluted, it is too late. 'It's bad enough with all the plastic but to keep putting sewage into the sea and rivers, in this day and age it should not be happening. 'It's just awful. It's a fantastic beach, it's one of the safest beaches around.' Her friend, Ros Weir, added: 'We've been coming 20-odd years. 'It's a crying shame that it's lost its Blue Flag. It's dreadful. It's a lovely beach, it's great for kids and if you can't swim, well. 'These sewage people must be taken to task. 'They are paying the shareholders masses of money instead of putting it into new infrastructure.' Diana Thompson, who has lived in Weymouth 14 years, said the ocean and the town itself is declining. She said: 'We pay our taxes and nothing gets done. Weymouth has changed a lot, the beach is alright but the town has got too much people stealing and anti-social behaviour. 'I have to walk to the other side of the marina under the underpass to get home. I won't come out in the evening. I try to get through the underpass before 5pm because I don't trust people under there.' Speaking about the drop in water quality in Weymouth, Ms Thompson added: 'It doesn't bother me because I don't get in the water but it really is a shame. There's a cove around the other side which can smell awful because of the pollution. 'I think they have a duty - the water boards are making all these profits but are not putting anything back in. 'The beach is nice, but as for going in the water, it's contaminated. I would never go in it - I haven't been in for years. It's a shame. The council needs to pull its finger out. 'They are just jumping on the bandwagon with everyone else, putting prices up. Anything that goes on in Weymouth, the fees have gone up astronomically. It's going to keep tourists away.' Kim Harper, who was down on the beach with her grandson, said: 'I was surprised but the council does get complacent with things. They need a proverbial kick up the backside sometimes. 'It's put that smear on it. I think it might put people off, if people have come and seen what it's like before. 'To be honest, the beach is beautiful, you can't beat it. But there's so much seaweed. I picked up my grandson after nursery, his little sandcastle is full of seaweed. 'We rely on the beach far too much. In winter there is nothing to do. It's a shame for the locals, we have to go to Dorchester. It's a shame because it's a beautiful place. 'They need to put more effort in, you have to. That's the thing with our council, they don't tend to.' Ms Harper joked she 'loves Weymouth because she was born here' but said the town itself has been 'taken over' by vape shops and London-owned shops. She said: 'We used to have great shops here. The two main roads, St Mary's and St Thomas street are now run by London owners and they are charging London prices. 'You just can't make the money here.' Hazel Purteall, 56, said: 'I've been coming here since I was a toddler and it hasn't put me off, I've been in there today. But I just can't believe they would dump it in somewhere like this. The beach is its best feature. 'It is a real shame it's lost its Blue Flag. Coming out of the sea today, all of the black on the wet sand, there never used to be any of that. 'We used to collect hermit crabs, I can't remember the last time I saw a hermit crab here, so obviously something has gone on. 'I love Weymouth and it wouldn't stop me coming, but it is a real shame. There must be grottier places!' Speaking about the impact it could have on visitor numbers, she added: 'It could stop people coming who have never been before if they are looking for decent water swimming spots. They'd probably prioritise one which has got a Blue Flag. Sam, a 25-year-old worker running a hut on the beach, said: 'It's fair, I'm not surprised. We've got a lot of the big companies dumping the waste, they're not really hiding it. Last year, there were protests about it. 'I don't know if it's the council but they know they can make enough money and tourism by doing the bare minimum. I'm a local and I can see that's what they are doing - I think that speaks quite a bit about what's going on.' Sam said he has noticed a 'decline' in Weymouth but the town remains popular in the summer. He added: 'It's just one of those towns, me and my mates say its a borderline of becoming a Brighton or a Blackpool. I can't tell if it's picking up or if they want to add anything. The SeaLife tower that's gone now, they don't know what to do with the town. 'They've just got to keep it up from what it was. 'People have the impression that Weymouth is a nice seaside place to come so I don't think that's going to go away. But when they show up and it isn't what they imagined, that might have a change.' And Glen, who has lived in Weymouth seven years, said: 'It's not good. We've had a Blue Flag for quite a while. 'I don't go swimming in the sea, but I can't say I've noticed a decline. Usually it's pretty good, it's sad that it's lost the Blue Flag. ' The 59-year-old added: 'It's basically these water companies, since they have been privatised, they are just trying to maximise profits. 'The shareholders get dividends, it's terrible. Something like water, a natural resource, which you need to live, something like that should be in the Government hands. I don't think something like water that is vital should be in private hands. It's very bad.' While Weymouth lost their prized status, Avon Beach, Branksome Chine, Canford Cliffs, Durley Chine, Fisherman's Walk, Friars Cliff, Highcliffe, Sandbanks, and Shore Road were all recognised with a Blue Flag. A Blue Flag is only awarded to beaches with water which has achieved the highest classification as set by the EU Bathing Water Directive. They must meet the 'excellent' water quality standard. Weymouth Beach was given a Seaside Award which is given to beaches that celebrate the quality and diversity of the UK's coastline. Cllr Caroline Nickinson, Mayor of Weymouth, said: 'Our teams work extremely hard to make sure the beach is a clean, safe and welcoming environment for all to enjoy, that's why we retained the Keep Britian Tidy Seaside Award for another year. 'Based on Environment Agency testing of bathing water quality between May and September last year, the rating went from excellent to good. 'And while we are disappointed, no single cause has been identified for why the water quality dipped. We continue to do all we can to ensure Weymouth Beach remains a popular spot for residents and visitors alike to enjoy.' A Wessex Water spokesperson said: 'There are no storm overflows that discharge into Weymouth Central beach. There are overflows further north at Weymouth Lodmoor, where the bathing water is rated Excellent. 'This is a clear indication that licensed overflows, which operate automatically and discharge mostly rainwater during or after extremely wet weather, have minimal impact on the area's bathing water quality. 'Despite this, we're investing £3 million every month on schemes to reduce storm overflow discharges and have plans to do much more from 2025, including at sites like Chafey's Lake in Weymouth where rainwater and groundwater enters sewers – often from private pipes. 'More widely, we believe rainwater should be better managed and returned to the environment close to where it falls rather than draining into sewers. Alongside our ongoing investment, this requires the political understanding and will to bring forward policies in government that that promote best practice in rainwater management at source.'
