After a very thorough tendering process, the Project Team are delighted to announce the appointment of Greendale Construction, a local company, as the main building contractors for the Durlston Project. Practical work will begin on 19^th April and should be completed by summer 2011. 

Rob Hooker (Greendale’s Managing Director) told us: “This is great news for Greendale. The Durlston Project is an interesting challenge involving both traditional and modern construction processes. We look forward to working in association with Dorset County Council to deliver a world class amenity for the local community and visitors.” The total project cost is still within the original estimate of £5.5m and we are confident that all aspects of the Durlston Project can be achieved.

The tendering process for the audio visual elements of the interpretation plan has also been completed and we are working closely with the selected company, CentreScreen, on the technical element of the exhibitions. Good progress has also been made on the wide range of other displays, panels, publications and interpretative material.

After close consultation with the DCC Transport Team, community groups and potential users, we have finalised plans for this year’s shuttle bus ‘pilot’. Discover Dorset have been commissioned to operate the service, which will start on 19^th June and run until late September.

We now have two ‘Tramper’ mobility buggies for use on the Park. The brand new one has been sponsored by Friends of Durlston, Living Options and the South West Coast Path Association, and is one of twenty new Trampers being provided to improve disabled access across the south west.

Friends of Durlston, who generously donated £75k of their funding to sponsor the top storey of the Castle (the ‘Belvedere’), are continuing their tremendous fundraising efforts and the ‘Big Durlston Raffle’ raised nearly £5,000 for the Project fund.

The superb conservation work on Durlston’s famous Great Globe and associated stone inscriptions, carried out by Sue and Lawrence Kelland and dedicated volunteers, has been much appreciated. We have also been contacted by some of George Burt’s direct descendants who are delighted with the stone restoration work and the plans for the Castle.

Artist Lulu Quinn is working closely with the Ranger team on the Arts Council – funded ‘Diversity’ artwork. Over 5,000 species names will appear on this spectacular testament to Durlston’s biodiversity. Gary Breeze, who is creating the ‘Timeline’ along the new zig-zag path, has presented his plans to the Project Team. This exploration of geological time will complement George Burt’s legacy and is supported by the Fine Family Foundation and HLF.

Expert preparatory work on the on the ‘Rock’, an innovative geological display funded by BP, has been completed by Andy Cowap, assisted by a generous ‘PRISM’ grant from The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. The variety and quality of the fossils found within this one ton slab of Purbeck stone has exceeded our most optimistic expectations.

The formalities to close a small section of Coast Path for Health and Safety reasons have been completed with the closure order in place from 7^th April 2010. We have been working with our Rights of Way colleagues to ensure that any inconvenience is kept to a minimum and the path will remain open as much as possible; please follow any diversions as signposted. The Castle and its immediate surrounds will be securely fenced-off during the main building period.  However, we will be arranging occasional guided tours so that interested groups can view ‘work in progress’.

The Lookout Café closed in October but temporary catering is being provided at the Visitor Centre. We are working with Dorset Procurement to develop the best option for the future delivery of catering and other commercial operations at the Castle.

There are still numerous opportunities to get involved in the Durlston Project so if you would like to help please speak to a Ranger at the Centre, visit www.durlston.co.uk or phone 01929 424443.

The Project Team have now interviewed all the short-listed companies for the main building contract and have been encouraged by the quality of the ‘field’. The tendering process should be completed in time for work to start early in the New Year. Not surprisingly, in such a large and complex project, there have been a few minor slippages in the programme, but the project launch is still on schedule for spring 2011.

The total project cost is still in the region of £5.5m with the Heritage Lottery Fund providing £3.1m of this money. Despite the current economic climate, it is still hoped that all aspects of the Durlston Project can be achieved.

Friends of Durlston have generously donated £75k of their funding to sponsor the top storey of the Castle, formerly known as the ‘Observatory’ but now to be called the ‘Belvedere’ to prevent confusion with the recently-developed Astronomical Observatory. ‘Friends’ are also continuing their tremendous fundraising efforts; all support gratefully received – don’t forget the big Durlston raffle.

Sue and Lawrence Kelland, along with some dedicated volunteers, have done a superb job, cleaning, repairing and repainting Durlston’s famous Great Globe and associated stone inscriptions. A completely new stone panel has also been installed to replace a badly weathered section.  We have been contacted by some of George Burt’s direct descendants who are delighted with the stone restoration work and the plans for the Castle.

Gary Breeze, the artist appointed to create a ‘Timeline’ along the new zig-zag path, recently presented his detailed ideas to the Project Team. The timeline will complement George Burt’s legacy, and the work, which is supported by the Fine Family Foundation and HLF, explores geological time and change, particular in relation to the Jurassic Coast.

Expert preparatory work on the on the ‘Rock’, an innovative geological display funded by BP, has been completed by Andy Cowap, assisted by generous ‘PRISM’ grant from The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. The variety and quality of the fossils found within this one ton slab of Purbeck stone has exceeded our most optimistic expectations.

Work on the Arts Council – funded ‘Diversity’ artwork is underway, and the artist Lulu Quinn has been working closely with the Ranger team to organise the 5,000 or so species names which will appear on this spectacular testament to Durlston’s biodiversity. Good progress has also been made on a wide range of displays, panels and other interpretation material.

To improving sustainable transport links to Durlston plans for a shuttle bus are being developed in conjunction with the DCC Transport Team and private operators. Some capital funding has been secured and a pilot scheme will be running by next summer.

Unfortunately, a small section of Coast Path will have to be closed during part of the building work. We have been working with our Rights of Way colleagues to ensure that any inconvenience is kept to a minimum. For obvious reasons, the Castle and its immediate surrounds will be securely fenced off during the main building period. However, we will working closely with the building contractor to arrange occasional guided tours of ‘work in progress’ for interested parties including Friends of Durlston.

Sadly, November 1^st will be the last day of operation for the Lookout Café. Some temporary catering will be provided at the Visitor Centre until the Castle refurbishment work is complete in 2011. We are proud of what the Lookout has achieved over the past 5 years, and we will be building on this success to ensure the new catering facility in the refurbished castle is of the highest quality.

There are numerous opportunities to get involved in the Durlston Project so if you would like to help please speak to a Ranger at the Visitor Centre, visit www.durlston.co.uk or telephone 01929 424443.

Hamish Murray (Head Ranger)

Friends of Durlston and the Project Team are working closely with specialist consultants on detailed plans for the conservation of George Burt’s stone inscriptions and other artefacts. A Landscape Architect has also been commissioned to consider design and planting schemes for the area around the Castle.

Although our £2.4m ‘match – funding’ target now looks attainable, Friends of Durlston are continuing their tremendous fundraising efforts to ensure all the aspects of the Durlston Project are achieved. Several recent applications to charitable trusts have been successful including a contribution from the Ernest Cook Fund, the D’Oyly Carte Trust and the Alan Evans Memorial Trust.

The Project Team and Arts Team are progressing plans for the ‘Diversity’ artwork and the new artist-in-residence studio, both funded by a £70,000 grant from the Arts Council. An exciting, new, externally-funded arts project to create a ‘Timeline’, along the proposed ‘zig -zag path’, is also being commissioned.

The Astronomy Dome, built in partnership with the Wessex Astronomical Society, has already been well used by visitors and school parties. A comprehensive programme of astronomical events and activities for 2009 is now available.

Plans for a range of high quality catering and retail facilities are being advanced, and these will provide greater opportunities for a variety of functions, special events and temporary exhibitions. Improving access and sustainable transport links to Durlston is another major priority. All this work will help ensure that Durlston provides a truly world class facility for visitors to the Jurassic Coast and the Durlston National Nature Reserve.

There are numerous opportunities to get involved in the Durlston Project so if you would like to help please speak to a Ranger at the Visitor Centre, visit www.durlston.co.uk or telephone 01929 424443.