Skip the Northern Ireland Government Bar|
Skip navigation

06 November 2007 - Minister visits Dorset World Heritage Site

Environment Minister Arlene Foster has visited the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site in Dorset and East Devon.

The Jurassic Coast is England’s first ‘natural World Heritage Site’ and one of only three in the UK (the Giant’s Causeway and St Kilda are the other two). It was inscribed by UNESCO on the World Heritage list in 2001 in recognition of its importance to the study of the geological sciences – the 95 miles of coastline provide a unique insight into the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods of geological history.

The Minister met members of the World Heritage Site Steering Group and staff from the Jurassic Coast team. She said: “Although the Jurassic Coast is much more extensive than Northern Ireland’s World Heritage Site at the Giant’s Causeway, there are some similarities between the two areas. Both areas face significant challenges in terms of visitor management and I am keen to see how these are being addressed at some of the popular areas on the Jurassic Coast.”

Notes to Editors:

The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site is England’s first ‘natural’ WHS and one of only three in the UK (the Giant’s Causeway and St Kilda are the other two). It covers 95 miles of coastline in Dorset and East Devon. The Minister will visit sites at Charmouth, Dorchester, Lulworth and Lyme Regis.

For news media enquiries contact DOE Press Office tel. 028 9054 0003 or Out-of-hours call the EIS Duty Press Officer on 07699 715440.


Department of the Environment News