A country park in Purbeck has held a celebration event after being awarded £900,000 to restore and enhance lost Victorian landscape.

Durlston Country Park was awarded the money from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Lottery Fund last year.

The funding has enabled the park to press ahead with its 'Durlston Pleasure Grounds' project, which is set to continue for another two years.

On Thursday (June 13) supporters, sponsors and volunteers at the country park, near Swanage, were thanked for their help.

Dorset Council environment portfolio holder Cllr Ray Bryan, officially opened the park's latest initiative – the 'Everyone needs a shed' project.

Cllr Bryan said: "Our green assets including our country parks, rights of way and nature reserves present a wonderful opportunity to improve the well-being of our communities, and the Durlston Pleasure Grounds Project is an excellent example of this."

The Shed will provide opportunities for gentle, sociable volunteering, such as gardening, green woodworking and DIY.

It will also help provide training for young people, as well as the chance for people with dementia and learning disabilities to volunteer and socialise.

Cllr Bryan said: "The shed has already provided new opportunities for people with dementia, disabilities, health conditions or who are socially isolated to volunteer and to build on the inclusive culture of volunteering."

The pleasure grounds project aims to enhance Durlston’s Grade II listed, Victorian landscape for nature, history and the local community.

A Dorset Council spokesman said: "Work will include path improvements, new viewpoints and woodland management to improve wildlife habitats and the condition of historic plantings.

"Victorian features will be restored and opportunities for ‘wild play’ created.

"The project will also provide new ways for people to get involved, including volunteering, training and play opportunities for people with disabilities, dementia or long-term health conditions."