By Kim Berlin
We did it!
Some time ago I wrote about a proposal for the community to buy two acres of France Quarry, a little known but accessible area of woodland and former quarry behind the village of Easton on the Isle of Portland.
Unsignposted, and hidden from view, when the proposal was first mooted on social media many people who had lived here for years expressed surprise as they’d never been there or heard of it.
Yet take a turn off the main road into the village, Easton Street, or take a dive in through the top of New Street and in less than a minute you’ll find yourself in the cool of a mature broadleaved woodland that undulates through old quarry workings, stretching out into areas of bramble scrub at the northern end that are now being returned to the valuable calcareous grassland that they once were.
Native small trees and shrubs are retained, alien invaders removed.
Future Portland, a Community Benefit Society, was set up as a partnership between Island Community Action, a local charity, b-side arts organisation and The Portland Association, a group founded to represent the people and the general wellbeing of the island.
Together they have been able to combine their talents and knowledge to fundraise to purchase the wood and sympathetically clear away rubbish and unwanted scrub to regenerate it as the diversity rich natural habitat that it should be.
£55,000 was the target and it was announced earlier this month that this has been achieved, and the purchase is now in the hands of solicitors. Generous pledges were made and received and many donations of smaller amounts have brought us to this point.
It is joyful to be able to report back on what was a dream now turned into reality. It demonstrates the power of community engagement, action and organisation – good things will happen if we work together. People who are interested, both on and off the island can join Future Portland, and have a say in future projects and be able to get involved.
Bright future for France Quarry
France Quarry will be used as a learning and arts space for people to engage with positive activities.
Plant dyeing fabrics, printmaking, clay sculpture and drawing are already on offer.
My favourite piece so far is a stunning glass pendant, made from broken glass found in the wood, by b-side artist Liz Lake. An irregular Torus shape, it seems to symbolise the energy flow and connectedness that made this project come to fruition – a beautiful thing made from almost nothing, now a symbol of hope.
More donations will help to improve the woodland and other future projects. If you would like to help, please go to the Future Portland website or Facebook page for more details.
More from Kim Berlin
- Portland Museum invites us to uncover 2,000 years of history with archaeological treasures
