What a fantastic time we all had at yesterday’s Easter Nature Trail. The rain held off, and 130 children took part, along with their parents and guardians. It was wonderful to see so many people engaging with Portland’s natural environment. It was just as phenomenal to get 100% positive feedback from everyone who participated. We’re really grateful.

Massive thanks to the Portland Youth Council, whose creativity, energy, and passion in helping to plan and deliver the event were outstanding. They did, as always, an amazing job.

Thanks also to the Island and The Island and Royal Manor of Portland Rotary Club for organising the fete, and to volunteers Steve Christmas, Paul Oakden, Vicky Hope, and Charlie Pascoe for supporting the event throughout the day, from setting up to informing participants about the creatures within France Quarry.

We’re still counting the money, so we can’t confirm the amount raised by Portland Youth Council towards Future Portland UK – Community Benefit Society‘s campaign to buy two acres of France Quarry for the community. We’ll do this asap.

Portland Youth Council is managed by Island Community Action (ICA) and supported by Portland Town Council and Dorset Council.

Supporting Future Portland’s campaign to purchase two acres of France Quarry for the community. Find out more at Future Portland.

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE.

Follow the Easter Bunny’s footprints around Easton’s hidden nature spots. Along the way, learn about local wildlife, solve the clues and challenges and grab a delicious prize.

Saturday 4th April. £5 per child – includes a large Easter egg (worth £4) + a pen and activity booklet for every paying child. £10 for a group of 3. £15 for a group of four.

This fun, family-friendly event is full of games and activities for primary-aged children (4-11yrs).

It has been created and organised with the support of the Portland Youth Council. In support of their Protecting and Respecting Local Wildlife and Public Spaces campaign, the Youth Council have decided that all monies raised via this event will go towards the purchase of two acres of France Quarry for Portland’s community.

An Easter Fete will also be running at the C2000 Hall throughout the the nature trail event. This will feature charity and craft stalls, games and refreshments. Stall space is available at a cost of £8 a table. To book a table please contact The Island and Royal Manor of Portland Rotary Club.

The event is a collaboration between Island Community Action (ICA), Portland Youth Council and Portland Rotary Club. ICA and Portland Youth Council are organising the nature trail and Portland Rotary Club the fete.

BOOK TICKETS HERE or use the QR code below.

FUNDING UPDATE: AS AT 19TH MARCH, FUTURE PORTLAND HAS RAISED £44,850 TOWARDS THE £60,000 REQUIRED TO PURCHASE 2 ACRES OF FRANCE QUARRY FOR NATURE AND PEOPLE.

Massive thanks to all those who have donated or pledged.

Find out more about the project and how you can support it here.

A wild, green haven at the heart of Portland.

Future Portland, a collaboration between three successful and experienced island-based organisations – b-side, Island Community Action (ICA) and The Portland Association (TPA), is currently working to secure two acres of France Quarry for the community (and to help protect the area from development). To date we’ve raised £41,000, but we need your help to get us to the overall target of £60,000.

You can help in three ways:

• LOVE ART? Thanks to some amazing local artists, we’re holding a France Quarry Art Auction. This is a great opportunity to buy some fantastic work and save a much-loved green oasis at the same time. Take a look at the pieces up for grabs HERE
• DONATE to our pre-purchase legal and survey costs (target £5,000). Click HERE.
• PLEDGE Towards our purchase costs (target £55,000). Just complete a simple form. No money taken at this stage – you are just pledging. Click HERE.

Every donation/pledge strengthens our case for community ownership, so we can:

• Save a cherished green space for health and wellbeing
• Protect a vital habitat for wildlife
• Keep this land in community hands for public benefit, not private sale! Let’s protect this peaceful place where people and nature thrive together.

PLEDGE FORMS AND MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN HELP IS AVAILABLE HERE.

FORMS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM ICA’S OFFICE, EASTON.

Follow the Easter Bunny’s footprints around Easton’s hidden nature spots. Along the way, learn about local wildlife, solve the clues and challenges and grab a delicious prize.

Saturday 4th April. £5 per child – includes a large Easter egg (worth £4) + a pen and activity booklet for every paying child. £15 for group of four.

This fun, family-friendly event is full of games and activities for primary-aged children (4-11yrs).

It has been created and organised with the support of the Portland Youth Council. In support of their Protecting and Respecting Local Wildlife and Public Spaces campaign, the Youth Council have decided that all monies raised via this event will go towards the purchase of two acres of France Quarry for Portland’s community.

An Easter Fete will also be running at the C2000 Hall throughout the the nature trail event. This will feature charity and craft stalls, games and refreshments. Stall space is available at a cost of £8 a table. To book a table please contact The Island and Royal Manor of Portland Rotary Club.

The event is a collaboration between Island Community Action (ICA), Portland Youth Council and Portland Rotary Club. ICA and Portland Youth Council are organising the nature trail and Portland Rotary Club the fete.

BOOK TICKETS HERE or use the QR code below.

What an incredible day we’ve had with Portland Youth Council as they visited Parliment to share their concerns and ideas with Lloyd Hatton MP for South Dorset.

The 14 young people aged 12yrs to 15yrs, did the Island, their parents and schools proud. They confidently presented their experiences and research across seven different topics, from protecting Portland’s natural spaces and local SEN provision to affordable activities and access to health care. They then listened attentively as Lloyd Hatton outlined the work that he and central Government are doing to address these challenges.

A tour of the Palace of Westminster followed, along with the opportunity to watch MPs debating the new Green Energy Bill in Parliament from the Public Gallery.

We finished the day in the London Dungeons, being scared stiff whilst learning about the darker side of London’s past.

A huge thank you to Portland Town Council’s Cllr Sue Cocking for accompanying us on the trip, and to Lloyd Hatton and his team for hosting us. Also thanks to Excelsior Coaches Ltd and Atlantic Academy Portland for their continued support of Portland Youth Council.

Portland Youth Council is gratefully part funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and Portland Town Council.

A little while ago we were able to ‘hook’ 1st Portland Beaver pack up with some talented superstars from our Hooked group. They created a soft and safe indoor campfire, complete with toasting marshmallows, for them to practice their camping skills!

Hooked is a social crochet and knitting group for under 50s that meets at Starbucks every Tuesday evening from 6.30-8 pm. All abilities welcome.

A reminder that Portland Town Council‘s consultation for the Royal Manor Field Muga closes on Sunday 11th January.

This is a great opportunity to have your say and feed into the development ideas for the site.

Please share as wide as possible.