Jurassic Coast of Dorset and East Devon

The Jurassic Coast of Dorset and East Devon is a 95 mile stretch of coastline that demonstrates 185 million years of geological history through its unique combination of Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks. In 2001, the Jurassic Coast was awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO – the first natural site to be designated in England. This stretch of coastline is one of the most popular locations for geography fieldwork in the country, providing a wide range of opportunities above and beyond just sand dune transects and measuring pebbles.

As they develop, these pages will provide you with a range of ideas and resources for setting up or revamping a fieldwork programme in the area.

Weymouth and Portland Harbour on the Dorset coast will host the sailing and paralympic saliing events during the 2012 Games. In preparation for these events, enhancements to existing facilities and infrastructure to the site will be undertaken in 2008, and a new commercial marina is also planned. Return to these pages soon for fieldwork ideas based on the Weymouth and Portland Olympic sites.

Relevant Links

• West Dorset District Council - Stategy Plan (further details for recent plans can be found via a Google search)

• Dr Ian West's website on the geology of the Dorset coast

• The Jurassic Coast Team at Dorset and Devon County Councils has produced a range of educational resources for Key Stages 1 to 4 for this stretch of coastline 

• In May 2008 a landslip described by police as 'the worst for 100 years' occurred on the stretch of coastline between Charmouth and Lyme Regis in Dorset. This BBC article includes a video clip showing the aftermath of the landslip and some information about its causes and effects

Jurassic Coast fieldwork resources

In October 2007, a group of 50 secondary geography teachers from schools up and down the country spent a weekend in Swanage on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, finding out about the opportunities for fieldwork that arise along this stretch of coastline.

Resources to accompany each field visit site, as well as short video clips and further information on the sites:

• Studland

• Old Harry Rocks

• Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door

• Chesil Beach

• River Wey

• Swanage - Coastal management

• Swanage - Community Action Plan

• Swanage - Flood alleviation