Dorset National Landscape is one of 46 protected landscapes in the UK. To help keep it ‘outstanding’ now and for generations to come, it is a legal requirement to produce a Management Plan to highlight what’s special about the Dorset landscape, the challenges it faces and prioritise action.
The new Draft Management Plan is all about conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the Dorset National Landscape. It sets out a vision for the area and priorities for the Working Landscape, Exploring, Understanding and Engaging and Planning.
Responding to the climate and nature crisis, the new plan places a greater emphasis on nature recovery and encourages a wider and more diverse range of people enjoying it. It is a plan for the National Landscape Partnership and team, the individual partners, farmers and landowners, communities and businesses.
Over the 6 years since the last Plan was published, more than £10million has been directly spent by the Dorset National Landscape Partnership on projects to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of Dorset, including nature, access, heritage and culture. You can find out about some of this work in the Our Mission section of the website.
The Management Plan has 8 chapters and you can access it it several ways:
We’ve had a lot of help from our partners in putting the Draft Management Plan together and are now seeking views from people who live, work and visit the Dorset National Landscape. The public consultation period runs from 14th July to 22nd September 2025.
What we want to know from local people is – have we prioritised what matters most? Is there anything that we have missed and have we addressed concerns for the future of your local landscape?”
Please let us know your views using the online survey form:
You can also pick up a paper version at libraries in the Dorset National Landscape or request one from the team by contacting Caroline Richards, Project Support Officer: caroline.richards@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk / 01305 224717
This chapter is largely focussed on land management, fishing, and the products that come from them.
This chapter sets out principles by which the National Landscape Partnership operates.