JUST in time for the 2012 Olympics, the completely rebuilt Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre, half-way between Weymouth and Portland, will open its doors on July 21.

The aim of the Dorset Wildlife Trust centre is to open people’s eyes to the wonders of South Dorset’s outstanding natural heritage. The new building, faced with Portland stone, will have an education room, information centre and café. The DWT has also teamed up with Beaminster chef Mat Follas, winner of Masterchef 2009 and proprietor of The Wild Garlic restaurant, who will operate the café with a strong emphasis on sustainable and locally sourced food, including conservation grade beef from DWT’s nature reserves and seafood as approved by DWT’s Great Dorset Seafood campaign. The licensed café at the centre will cater for all tastes and budgets, with a breakfast menu, light snacks and children’s portions, as well as more substantial dishes for lunch and evening meals.

Dishes include baked bread egg Florentine muffins, soup of the day with crusty bread, substantial filled ‘po boy’ rolls and plenty of sustainable seafood dishes.

Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre will be run by Dorset Wildlife Trust on behalf of a partnership including Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, the Jurassic Coast Team, the Chesil Bank and the Fleet Nature Reserve, with the continued help of local volunteers. The car park will continue to be run by the borough council and will stay open during Olympic and Paralympic events. Organisations helping to fund the project include the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Crown Estate, the Fine Family Foundation, Dorset County Council, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Portland Gas Trust, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Chalk and Cheese and the Jurassic Coast Trust.

Dorset Wildlife Trust is part of the Natural Weymouth and Portland Partnership; connecting people with nature.