Portland quarry trust up for award (From Dorset Echo)

Portland quarry trust up for award

12:40pm Thursday 29th January 2009 in Search By Hilda Swinney

PORTLAND Sculpture and Quarry Trust (PSQT) has been shortlisted for the British Urban Regeneration Awards Scheme.

The awards give acknowledgement to community-inspired regeneration projects throughout the UK and the results will be announced next month.

It is intended that the regenerated Independent Quarry on the island will become a significant cultural resource for the people of Portland and for regional, national and international visitors.

The finished project will include a walk descending through geological time to the Jurassic period when Portland Stone was formed, an amphitheatre that can be used by the local schools, a stone maze and a sculpture all set in an area of restored, rich, limestone flora.

As part of the award scheme Michael Pyner from the Shoreditch Trust visited the PSQT and met people from the community at the Drill Hall in Easton where the project is based.

These included trust archivist Geoffery Stewkesbury, naturalist Bob Ford and Richard Phelps, plus Island Ranger Lyn Cooch, who explained how individuals and different groups are involved in PSQT’s work.

The project’s creative director Hannah Sofaer showed Mr Pyner a display of different aspects of the development of creative projects with the community at Tout Quarry and at the Drill Hall, the centre for the Quarry Park and for the future of Independent Quarry.

PSQT development director Paul Crabtree said: “Mr Pyner was most impressed by all that he saw and he described the visit as ‘a magical experience’ and the work being carried out ‘quite extraordinary’.

“He also praised the fact that the project offers people of all physical abilities access to the beauty and properties of stone.”

Portland’s Living Quarry is included as one of four gateway projects.

The World Heritage Coast Team led the bid to the Big Lottery Living Landmarks scheme, under the wider project name of Evolution. This involves three other coastal towns – Exmouth, Seaton and Lyme Regis.

Hannah Sofaer said: “This project represents Portland and everything that is rooted in its people, its landscape and its stone.

“It brings geology, ecology and culture together and shows how a community working in partnership with artists, designers, education providers and industry can jointly shape the design and sustainable after­use of the quarry landscape.”