Well, where do I start?  

A lot has been happening since we last spoke. We have been busy behind the scenes forging the next path for Dorset National Landscape to deliver well-being in nature. 

First, some big news: Steph, who many of you know, has flown the coop and joined East Devon National Landscape as a Project Officer. This is a fantastic opportunity for her to develop more projects that help people connect to our wonderful landscape across the southwest. We will miss her greatly but know she will excel in her new role. Who knows, we might even collaborate on a southwest nature well-being project in the future! 

Steph joined us in 2017 when we had just started the Stepping into Nature project and soon became a very valued member of the team and my right-hand person. Over the course of 7 years, we have worked together creating ideas and writing project plans to get us to where we are today. Her skills, talent and enthusiasm will be missed but I am sure will take her far in her new adventure as she hops over the border to take on her new role.  We are in the process of recruiting a replacement Project Coordinator for Nature Buddies who will work alongside me to deliver the project over the next 2 years.  

The other big news is that we are thrilled to announce the award of a grant totalling £248,811 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible by National Lottery players to delivery our Nature Buddies Network. Nature Buddies Network | Dorset National Landscape (dorset-nl.org.uk) We have been working on Nature Buddies for some time now and many of you have given us your time, knowledge, and experiences to help us get it to where it is now. Keep an eye out for exciting things to come as we start to deliver the aims of the Nature Buddies Network across Dorset.  

Life is about changes and it’s good to look at these as a positive experience and a way to move forward. Times are changing for Stepping into Nature as we say goodbye to Steph and branch out with Nature Buddies, but we will continue to maintain our focus on helping people connect to and experience the Dorset National Landscape and the nature around them for wellbeing. Over the course of the next year, we will be looking at even more ways we can help support people to access nature and explore what opportunities the future might bring.  

As you all know we ourselves have changed to Dorset National Landscape, we have a new name and logo, but this is still the same beautiful place it’s always been. Stepping into Nature has grown up over the years and we have created a strong network of people with a shared vision to connect people to nature however they can. Nature Buddies Network is the culmination of all our hard work and the start of a new adventure for helping to deliver the Health and Wellbeing aims of Dorset National Landscape, and we hope you will come with us on this new journey. 

Many Thanks

Jules