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| Dorset AONB | |
|---|---|
| Name | Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty |
| Location | Dorset, England |
| Area | 196 sq mi (approx.) |
| Designated | 1972 |
| Governing body | Dorset AONB Partnership |
Dorset AONB
The Dorset AONB occupies a large swathe of Dorset coastline and hinterland, linking features from Portland Bill to the Isle of Purbeck and encompassing sections of the Jurassic Coast UNESCO site and adjacent countryside near Dorchester and Bridport. It lies within the historic county boundaries associated with Thomas Hardy's novels and intersects transport corridors such as the A35 road and railways serving Weymouth and Wareham. Conservation frameworks involving Natural England, English Heritage, and local authorities shape policy alongside landscape charities like the National Trust and the RSPB.
The designation in 1972 paralleled other protected landscapes including Exmoor National Park and South Downs National Park and complements UNESCO recognition of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Boundaries abut Purbeck Heritage Coast and overlap with sites such as Portland Harbour and the Poole Harbour basin, while management draws on guidance from bodies including DEFRA and partnerships with organisations like the Dorset Wildlife Trust and The Wildlife Trusts. The area is traversed by long-distance routes including the South West Coast Path and links to cultural routes tied to Thomas Hardy and John Constable.
Terrain ranges from the chalk escarpments of the Dulverton-style downland and the Purbeck Hills to the clay vales near Blandford Forum and the sandy spits at Chesil Beach and Studland Bay. Principal coastal towns include West Bay, Lyme Regis, Swanage, and Charmouth, while inland market towns such as Sherborne, Beaminster, and Bridport provide historic centres. The area includes river corridors like the River Frome (Dorset), River Stour (Dorset), and River Piddle, and landscape units recognised by regional strategies include commons such as Hengistbury Head and heathlands seen at Wareham Forest.
Geology underpins features like the Charmouth Mudstone Formation, Blue Lias, and the Portland Stone that sculpt cliffs at Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, and the Stair Hole (Lulworth) complex, reflecting Mesozoic sequences comparable to strata exposed at Kimmeridge Bay and Black Ven. The shingle ridge of Chesil Beach and the raised beach deposits at West Bay illustrate coastal geomorphology influenced by post-glacial sea-level change linked to paleoclimatic studies comparable to work at Flamborough Head and Studland. Erosion and landslip episodes have been studied near Seatown and by researchers from institutions such as University of Southampton and University of Exeter.
Habitats include chalk downland supporting calcareous grassland herbs akin to populations recorded on Salisbury Plain and heathland communities comparable to New Forest sites; dune systems host specialized plants recorded by the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland and bird assemblages monitored by the RSPB and British Trust for Ornithology. Notable fauna records include seabird colonies reminiscent of surveys at Bempton Cliffs, bats studied in caves like those at Kimmeridge and Portland, and invertebrates characteristic of coastal grasslands catalogued alongside work by Natural England and the National Biodiversity Network. Marine life in adjacent waters is monitored through projects linked to MarLIN and museums such as the Bournemouth Natural Science Society.
Archaeology and cultural landscapes feature Bronze Age barrows similar to those on Winterborne Kingston downland, Iron Age hillforts like Badbury Rings, Roman villas near Winterborne Abbas and the town plan of Dorchester reflecting Roman Durnovaria. Medieval ecclesiastical sites include churches comparable to Shaftesbury Abbey and abbeys in the region, while industrial heritage includes quarrying at Portland and limekilns at Kimmeridge and transport heritage along the Swanage Railway. Literary associations with Thomas Hardy, artistic links to John Constable and J. M. W. Turner, and scientific ties to figures such as Mary Anning at Lyme Regis underscore cultural value.
Agricultural systems comprise mixed arable and livestock farms managed under agri-environment schemes administered by DEFRA and advised by conservation NGOs like Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and FWAG. Woodland management includes coppicing traditions and conifer plantations mapped by the Forestry Commission, while coastal management employs policies from Environment Agency and local councils such as Dorset Council and unitary authorities. Collaboration occurs through the Dorset AONB Partnership with stakeholders including the National Farmers' Union, the Tourism South East partnership, and heritage bodies like Historic England.
Recreational infrastructure features the South West Coast Path, the Swanage Railway, sailing from Poole Harbour, fossil-hunting at Charmouth inspired by exhibits in the Lyme Regis Museum, and festivals such as events associated with Dorset County Show and arts festivals in Dorchester. Visitor management balances access at sites like Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove with conservation measures promoted by Visit Dorset, National Trust volunteers, and volunteer groups linked to Surfers Against Sewage and local heritage trusts. Transport access includes links via A35 road, A354 road, and rail connections to Weymouth and Bournemouth.
Category:Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Dorset