Dorset National Landscape

Dorset National Landscape spans dramatic Jurassic-coast cliffs, rolling chalk downs, hedged farmland and woodlands, delivering one of the richest and most varied natural capital portfolios in England.

Its geology, ecosystems and cultural landscapes provide exceptional potential for ecological restoration, sustainable tourism, regenerative farming and nature investment.

Open the drop-down box for a quick overview of the assets and opportunities in Dorset: 

Welcome to Dorset National Landscape 

Covering 1,129 km², nearly 43% of the county of Dorset, the National Landscape was designated in 1959.

It includes the dramatic chalk downs of the Dorset Downs, the Isle of Purbeck and Poole Harbour, the iconic cliffs and coves of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, rolling farmland, clay vales, rivers and coastal marshes.  

Diverse habitats coexist across short distances: chalk grasslands, calcareous grasslands, chalk stream valleys, wet woodlands, coastal heath and dunes, salt-marshes, estuaries, hedged farmland, mixed woods and meadows. This habitat diversity supports a remarkable species richness, estimated to contain 83% of British mammal species, 48% of bird species and 70% of butterfly species.  

The Dorset National Landscape partnership works to conserve, restore and enhance this diversity, protecting ecosystems, promoting sustainable land-use and agriculture, managing tourism impacts, improving access and recreation, and enabling nature-recovery while safeguarding cultural heritage and local communities.  

For businesses, Dorset offers opportunities in habitat restoration (chalk grassland, wetland, heathland, woodlands), regenerative agriculture, sustainable tourism and recreation, carbon-storage schemes, biodiversity-based green investments, and cultural-heritage conservation, aligning with climate resilience, ESG and community wellbeing. 

Natural capital assets and opportunities

Here are the key landscape character features found in Dorset that can form the base of exciting business project opportunities: 

• Chalk grasslands, downland and calcareous habitats: biodiversity, pollination, carbon storage in soils, rare species, habitat connectivity. 
• Chalk streams, rivers, clay-vales, wet woodland and marshes: water regulation, flood mitigation, water quality, wetland carbon storage, aquatic biodiversity. 
• Coastal and marine zones, salt-marshes, dunes, estuaries, shoreline: marine biodiversity, coastal resilience, blue carbon, tourism, recreation, coastal protection. 
• Mixed farmland, meadows, hedgerows: sustainable agriculture, food production, soil health, pollination, rural livelihoods. 
• Cultural and geological heritage: Jurassic geology, sedimentary rock record, heritage sites, human history, tourism, education, sense of place.