A National Park for Dorset considering the case for rural Dorset – evidence

Dorset CPRE wishes a National Park to include as much as possible of rural Dorset and, subject to assessment, to align with the Dorset Council area. To assist the government-appointed Glover Review and to facilitate further detailed assessment, we commissioned Jo Witherden, an experienced and respected Dorset planner, to review the evidence, based on the key criteria for National Park designation, for a National Park based on the Dorset Council area.

The report provides strong and wide-ranging evidence to support the designation of a NP for rural Dorset.

The author also concludes that the evidence base can be improved. For example, more attention has been given, over the years, to researching and documenting the landscape quality of the AONB areas than other parts of rural Dorset, and there are variations and weaknesses in documenting the cultural heritage and in information about biodiversity and recreational opportunity. There are also weaknesses in monitoring the ongoing condition of Dorset’s landscape, biodiversity and heritage assets.