STUNNING scenery and a history dating back millions of years- just two of the many reasons for loving the Jurassic Coast.

This week is the first-ever Love the Jurassic Coast Week, with a host of activities planned to help residents make the most of the World Heritage Site on their doorsteps.

The week has been organised by the Jurassic Coast Trust, which is founded on the belief that everyone who lives and works close to the coast has a role to play in safeguarding it for future generations.

Love the Jurassic Coast Week sees the charity reaching out to everyone who has a relationship with the coast and inviting them to share their personal reasons for why it is so special via social media.

Vice-chairman of the Jurassic Coast Trust, Alexandra O’Dwyer, said: “In a recent survey we asked people to tell us why they loved the coast and we got back a hugely diverse list, with the top reasons coming out as the natural beauty, beaches, history, scenery and fossils.

"We all have different reasons for believing this coast should be treasured as somewhere special, and we want to really tap into that and celebrate how these wonderful rocks really do touch people’s lives.”

“Love the Jurassic Coast Week features a travelling stall, moving from Durdle Door through to Exmouth throughout this week.

In addition, there is a social media campaign to encourage people to share their feelings for the coast via Facebook or using the Twitter hashtag #lovethejurassiccoast Guy Kerr, Jurassic Coast community coordinator said: “We hear about so many different ways that people like to use the coast.

"Our survey showed that favourite activities are walking, cycling and fossil hunting but there also people who love the coast because they can pursue a whole range of individual interests here, from photography and running to snorkelling and stone-balancing.

"And the glory of our World Heritage Site being 95 miles long is that there is always somewhere new to explore.

"Again, when we asked people their favourite spots some real favourites came through like Lyme Regis, Portland, Durlston, Charmouth and Golden Cap.

"But often people have one special spot, or one particular view which they feel is “their” special place. And that is magical.”

Harnessing the power of people is critical to the Trust’s Growing the Jurassic Coast Community project, which received a Heritage Lottery Fund grant last year and which has already recruited more than 120 volunteers to help out along the coast and has provided training for 250 people from Christchurch to Exmouth.

The Trust uses its funds to support a wide range of education and conservation projects such as the Charmouth and Lyme Regis Fossil Warden who is funded to keep people safe and informed when fossil hunting.

The Trust also runs training days for local school teachers, providing resources and knowledge to help them inspire the next generation of conservationists and coastal champions.