Parish boundary markers, which lets walkers know when they have passed from one parish to the next, can now be found on each parish boundary along the Dorset coast path from Ware, on the Dorset/Devon boundary, all the way to Abbotsbury. Local artists and craftspeople were invited to design and create parish boundary markers to be permanently sited along the West Dorset Coast Path.
Tara Hansford, Countryside Access Improvement Officer, Dorset Council explains:
“All too often today, the details that create a sense of local interest and character are lost and replaced by mass-produced monotonous infrastructure. This project reintroduces more of the ‘local’ and ‘distinctive’ interest back into our surroundings. It’s a collaboration between local landowners, local artists and craftspeople in response to the local landscape and its rich cultural history.
Each piece is unique, with an air of mystery about it – alluding to its local context – to wet the walkers appetite encouraging them to investigate more into what it might mean and unearth a bit of local history. For many people walking along the coast path the focus is often on the seascape – looking out onto that amazing mass of ocean and the beautiful narrow strip of coastal headland. This project hopes to also encourage the walker to look inland and gain a better awareness about the landscape they are walking through and curiosity to explore and learn more about the Dorset parishes along the coast path.”
This team behind this project are : –
- Local landowners – Lyme Regis Golf Course, The Loosemore family, The Cook family, The Extons of Downhouse Farm, The Yeates family, Tamarisk Farm and National Trust
- Local artists and craftspeople – Alex Brooks, Ed Brooks, Emma Molony, Greta Berlin, Isla Chaney, Delphine Jones, Brendon Murless, Alice Blogg, Sarah Hough & Andrew Whittle
- Dorset Council – Tara Hansford (Countryside Access Improvements Officer), Bran Acres (Coastal Ranger), and Cleo Evans (Arts & Environment Lead at the Arts Development Company).
This project is part of Dorset Coastal Connections, a connected portfolio of 18 projects along the Dorset coast which aims to support and boost the economies of Dorset coastal areas. It couldn’t have been achieved without the input and support of local landowners and grant funding from the Coastal Communities Fund and partner organisations, coordinated by the Dorset Coast Forum.
See Dorset Coast Have Your Say website for the full background of the project, who the artists are and photos of the artwork. For any more information please contact Tara Hansford, Countryside Access Development Officer, Dorset Council t.s.hansford@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Below is an example of a boundary marker:
Chideock to Symondsbury: From the distance the walker can see the form suggesting the shape of a barrel which when reached invites the walker to stop and consider the coasts rich smuggling history.
Artist Delphine Jones
