West Dorset

In considering the future of the countryside, the council is working with a range of partners.

West Dorset Heritage Joint Advisory Committee

Established in December 2002, this is a broad partnership of organisations from across West Dorset and Weymouth with a shared interest in promoting the conservation, enhancement and enjoyment of the natural beauty, diversity and heritage of the area. The committee co-ordinates local delivery and involvement in the preparation of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Management plan and related projects arising from West Dorset's Framework for Action in the Countryside, including the administration of the popular Countryside and Conservation Grants Scheme.

Dorset AONB Partnership

The council is represented on the Dorset AONB Partnership, established in January 2003. The partnership brings together the statutory agencies, local authorities and key stakeholders in the AONB. Its main aims are to conserve and enhance the natural beauty and heritage of the Dorset AONB, and to seek to ensure that the Dorset AONB is able to provide ongoing opportunities for people and communities.

The council supports the work of the;

Dorset Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG)
Dorset Agricultural Advisory Service (DAAS)

These organisations provide advice to farmers and land based businesses in Dorset.

Dorset Biodiversity Partnership

The council is a member of the Dorset Biodiversity Partnership, a group of organisations brought together by a common aim to reverse the decline of biodiversity in Dorset through positive, collaborative action. The partnership has prepared the Dorset Biodiversity Strategy, to provide a framework for action for biodiversity in Dorset over the next 10 years.

Dorset Environmental Records Centre

The council also works with the Dorset Environmental Records Centre, an independent organisation that collates information on all of Dorset's wildlife.

Jurassic Coast

The council is involved in the management of the Jurassic Coast– Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site through its representation on the Steering Group. This group has overall responsibility for ensuring that the management objectives of the World Heritage Site are achieved.

Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre

At a more local level, the council supports Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, a charitable trust set up in 1985 to encourage safe and sustainable collecting of Jurassic fossils from the local beaches. The centre provides a large and varied programme of events and activities throughout the year for both the public and schools, as well as undertaking a number of ongoing research projects centred on local biodiversity, geology and coastal science.

The council also supports the project work of the The Dorset Coast Forum.

Framework for Action in the Countryside 2004-2009
This document was adopted by West Dorset Heritage Joint Advisory Committee in June 2004 as a plan of action for the countryside. It updates and replaces the 2002 framework for action.
West Dorset landscape character assessment
In 2007/08 the district council, working in partnership with the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) team, carried out an extensive survey of the West Dorset countryside. This was done to provide an up-to-date landscape character assessment and planning and landscape management guidelines for the whole district.