PROJECTS conserving Purbeck's rich heritage for the future have received a £125,000 lottery cash injection.

Purbeck District Council's heritage committee has won stage one of a bid for Heritage Lottery funds totalling £1.45 million.

The money will be used to fund projects which spark interest in Purbeck's stone-working heritage, encourage farmer co-operation and local produce development and enhance Purbeck's rich biodiversity and distinctiveness.

Cllr Nick Cake, chairman of the Purbeck heritage committee, said: "This is excellent news and my congratulations go out to all involved in the bid, which required a great deal of work."

He also said: "It will enable an exciting range of projects to be carried out, including many which focus on Purbeck stone - for which the area is rightly world famous."

The bid for the Purbeck Landscape Partnership has been prepared under the title "Carving a foundation for the Isle of Purbeck".

The £125,000 grant will enable detailed projects to be developed towards a bid for second-stage funding - which could mean the district winning a further £1.45 mil-lion towards projects costing around £2 million.

Nerys Watts, the Heritage Lottery fund's manager for the South West, said: "The impact of this scheme will be tremendous.

"Thanks to an inclusive approach, it will bring economic, social and educational benefits to Purbeck's rich heritage and it will bring economic, social and educational benefits to local communities and visitors to this beautiful area.

"It is particularly exciting how the partnership encourages local communities to become actively involved in heritage. This will build a lasting legacy for the future."

Professor Vincent May, chairman of the heritage committee, said: "The bid represents a true partnership - with funding and expertise allocated from many organisations based in Purbeck.

"A wide range of partner agencies, businesses and community groups have all contributed.

"It will provide a focus for the work of the Purbeck Heritage committee and enable a wide variety of conservation and heritage projects to be implemented."

Paul Croft, Purbeck council's chief executive, said: "The successful bid is of considerable importance to providing a sustainable future for Purbeck's landscape and stone heritage."

First published: December 22