Whatever you're in to, get in to Portland! The island can boast some of the best special interest activities around. Let nature be your guide and indulge your passion for all things natural!
Wildlife watching & observing - Due to its unique coastal location, the Isle of Portland has an extensive range of flora and fauna: the coastline and disused quarries are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Here are just some of the exciting special interest experiences just waiting to be enjoyed:
Bird watching - The Portland Bird Observatory sits in the old lower lighthouse and makes an ideal spot for observing the many species of birds that visit Portland. Portland Bird Observatory and Field Centre is an independent organisation and a UK registered charity. The Observatory keeps a comprehensive list of all species spotted on Portland - a total of 355 species are listed, not bad for an area less than 5 miles by 1.5 miles in size! As well as being the centre for bird watching on Portland the observatory also branches out to cover insects, plants and mammals of which Portland has many rare and some unique species. The observatory includes a comprehensive bookshop and staff are incredibly knowledgeable and always open to share their knowledge.
Wildlife watching & observing - Due to its unique coastal location, the Isle of Portland has an extensive range of flora and fauna: the coastline and disused quarries are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Here are just some of the exciting special interest experiences just waiting to be enjoyed:
Bird watching - The Portland Bird Observatory sits in the old lower lighthouse and makes an ideal spot for observing the many species of birds that visit Portland. Portland Bird Observatory and Field Centre is an independent organisation and a UK registered charity. The Observatory keeps a comprehensive list of all species spotted on Portland - a total of 355 species are listed, not bad for an area less than 5 miles by 1.5 miles in size! As well as being the centre for bird watching on Portland the observatory also branches out to cover insects, plants and mammals of which Portland has many rare and some unique species. The observatory includes a comprehensive bookshop and staff are incredibly knowledgeable and always open to share their knowledge.
Chesil Beach Watch The main source of daily photographic updates on Chesil. The pages currently have 8,000+ likes and about 150,000 reaches every week, with only a small proportion of those following being divers. Mostly are actually tourists, hikers, surfers, anglers etc. and they're getting more and more people down to this part of the country through this resource. This particular resource is a daily update on Chesil Beach to a backdrop of what's going on in & around Portland. An Underwater Explorers initiative. Feel free to Share or Like. Then check out Chesil Cove Guardians Creating a community to monitor, record, research, share & respond to environmental issues at Chesil Cove. Also an Underwater Explorers initiative.
Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre is an excellent base and with Portland Harbour, the Fleet Lagoon and Chesil Bank with all their natural assets including salt marsh, lagoon, scrub and grassland, seabirds and waders, cross channel migration makes for a wide variety of birds to spot within one easy location. Having said that,, Chesil Beach stretches along the coastline for 18 miles enclosing the Fleet Lagoon. Access to some of the reserve is restricted during certain time of the year to protect the breeding of sensitive species. Information and permits area available from the Fleet Warden who is situated at the Centre. Guided walks can be arranged.
Marine visitors to the surrounding area include dolphins, seals and basking sharks.
The comparatively warm and sunny climate allows species of plant to thrive which do not on the mainland. The limestone soil has low nutrient levels, hence smaller species of wild flowers and grasses are able to grow in the absence of larger species.
The wild flowers and plants make an excellent habitat for butterflies, over half of the British Isles 57 butterfly species can be seen on Portland, including varieties that migrate from mainland Europe. Species live on Portland that are rare in the United Kingdom, including the Silver Studded Blue.
Marine visitors to the surrounding area include dolphins, seals and basking sharks.
The comparatively warm and sunny climate allows species of plant to thrive which do not on the mainland. The limestone soil has low nutrient levels, hence smaller species of wild flowers and grasses are able to grow in the absence of larger species.
The wild flowers and plants make an excellent habitat for butterflies, over half of the British Isles 57 butterfly species can be seen on Portland, including varieties that migrate from mainland Europe. Species live on Portland that are rare in the United Kingdom, including the Silver Studded Blue.
Perryfield Butterfly Reserve - is a small limestone habitat reserved and nurtured to attract butterflies. The area is set up to include a 400 metre walk made up of 5 sections which includes some small slopes and steps. The area attracts a large variety of butterflies including the Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Small White, Small Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Wall, Marbled White, Meadow Brown and Ringlet. To find parking for the reserve, continue along Wakeham to its conclusion and opposite the museum you will find a public car park.
Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve - From the Visitor Centre follow the A354 towards Easton, take Grove Road on the left. 300 yards on the right, in front of Grove Terrace, is a road beside the recreation ground leading to the car park for the Reserve. The entrance to the Butterfly Reserve is marked by a noticeboard. A walk of approximately 1 mile will take you around the reserve but be aware there is an active quarry road through the middle of the reserve. Butterflies spotted within the reserve include the Small Skipper, Lulworth Skipper, Large Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Small Copper, Small Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Common Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Speckled Wood, Wall, Marbled White, Grayling, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small Heath and Ringlet.
Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve - From the Visitor Centre follow the A354 towards Easton, take Grove Road on the left. 300 yards on the right, in front of Grove Terrace, is a road beside the recreation ground leading to the car park for the Reserve. The entrance to the Butterfly Reserve is marked by a noticeboard. A walk of approximately 1 mile will take you around the reserve but be aware there is an active quarry road through the middle of the reserve. Butterflies spotted within the reserve include the Small Skipper, Lulworth Skipper, Large Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Small Copper, Small Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Common Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Speckled Wood, Wall, Marbled White, Grayling, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small Heath and Ringlet.
Get creative!
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Come and see the amazing Portland Mural at the Visitor Centre at the Heights Hotel Art Classes - with Podi Lawrence, learn to make quick sketches and enhance them with touches of colour. Using a technique called 'seeing/drawing' you will find that you can produce some excellent results in a very short space of time. Classes are held at the Heights Hotel, please call for more details. |
Sculpture Hut - Become an earth pilgrim for the day! This exciting new development enables us to become more fully immersed in the landscape. Using a tarp and a camping stove, we create a pop up studio on the southern coast of Portland Bill allowing possibilities of a deeper response to the landscape. This popup studio is fluid, transitory and set to travel!
Whilst no longer based from her sculpture hut at Portland Bill, Sarah is still offering the same great service from her new pop-up business. The 'Sculpture Hut' name remains. Contact her now, to find out where she'll be showcasing her work and training the sculptors of tomorrow.
You can also walk, create and photograph your own artwork within the Portland landscape - these photos are from Sarah's Forty Days Project
Stone Carving & Sculpture courses - Carving stone in its place of origin with PSQT is an inspirational experience with each course following a complete process from the selection of stone, discovering form to finishing techniques. They teach letter-cutting, relief carving, masonry, architectural detail and 3D sculpture techniques. You can bring drawings, sketches, photographs and models, or develop ideas inspired from the shapes and forms found in the freshly quarried stone itself. Courses attract beginners and people from different backgrounds with many making return visits, including artists who want to develop new directions in their work. Our tuition creates an essential balance between learning skills and the development of ideas to provide a foundation of knowledge and good practice on which to build.
Mosaic workshops - Come and discover your artistic talents with artist David Nicholls. David has decided to open the doors of his studio, set in the glorious garden surroundings of White Stones, to run a series of informal mosaic workshops. David uses an informal approach to the workshops and the emphasis is on the student exploring their own creative language, enjoying the experience of making and ending up with something that is personal to them. Students are encouraged to bring along small sentimental objects that may possibly be incorporated into the piece they are making. All other materials and tools are provided for the day.
