A PROJECT to bring to life a ‘wild and dramatic’ part of Dorset has received a funding boost worth more than £37,000.

The Heritage Lottery Fund cash will fund a two-year project to reveal the hidden heritage of Broadcroft Quarry on Portland, to be run by the people behind the Jurassica project.

In partnership with Dorset Wildlife Trust, Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy (IPACA), Weymouth College and Island Community Action the project will enable school children, local people and visitors to discover this past, access training and learn new skills through a volunteering programme.

The Story of the Landscape Heritage of Portland will restore six hectares of distinctive limestone grassland habitat to create a wildlife corridor. A team of more than 100 volunteers will be recruited to work alongside conservation experts at Dorset Wildlife Trust to carry out the two-year programme of work.  The extraordinary history of the site will be brought together by a Portland Stone sculpture trail, while a wide-ranging learning programme developed with IPACA will involve young people with the project.

Commenting on the award, Alison Smith from Jurassica, who will be the project manager, said: “Much of this will take place before the major project of Jurassica is underway. It really is fantastic news, and we’re delighted to have the support of the National Lottery. Many people stop here to take in this wild and dramatic landscape. Now we have an incredible opportunity to bring together all the stories of how this place came to be and share them with as wide an audience as possible. We plan to start recruiting volunteers this spring.”

The funding is worth £37,300.

Nerys Watts, head of HLF South West, said: “The dramatic landscape of Portland has been shaped by its industrial, geological and ecological history so we’re delighted to support this project to bring that heritage to life. As well as the restoration of important habitats, this partnership will provide valuable opportunities for volunteers and young people in particular to get involved in the past and future of their landscape.”