Biodiversity in Purbeck

Tom Clarke, the National Trust’s community engagement officer for Purbeck, outlined the measures being undertaken by the Trust to preserve and develop biodiversity on its extensive coastal and inland estates which provide habitats for many nationally rare species, including Early Spider orchids, sand lizards and a colony of puffins.

Councillor Pete Christie presented the new Langton Matravers Parish Council environmental strategy.

Over 50 people attended the meeting and ideas were shared to promote closer collaboration between the National Trust, The Parish Council, the church and local community, beginning with a new community working party.

Councillor William Knight, Chair of the Parish Council, commented: “This has been a good evening in drawing the community together. It also places the church in the centre of the community as a place to meet and share ideas together for the common good”.

The Associate Minister, James Mercer said: “Environmental issues are high on the church’s agenda. We look forward to having a key role in working with the community to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the place in which we are so fortunate to live”.

St George’s, Langton Matravers is a parish within the St Aldhelm Benefice. One initiative that was agreed at the meeting was to seek to appoint a cross Benefice conservation officer to lead in promoting biodiversity within the churchyards of the seven parish churches.