Dorset and East Devon residents will have the chance to find out more about the World Heritage Site on their doorstep at a series of roadshows between January and March.

The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Team, which is responsible for managing the site, will be visiting towns along the coast to give presentations and host family activities.  

The team will be joined by a range of organisations who also work to look after the Dorset and East Devon World Heritage Site, popularly know as the Jurassic Coast, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

The presentations will update people about what has been happening on the Site since its designation by UNESCO in 2001, plans for the future and how to get involved.

The team will be inviting local residents to share their ideas about how this special anniversary year can best be celebrated.

The dates and venues of the roadshows are as follows:

27 Jan Ocean Room, Weymouth Pavilion   4-7pm
9 Feb Council Chamber, Town Hall, Exmouth   4-7pm
16 Feb Public Hall, Budleigh Salterton   4-7pm
22 Feb Community 2000, Easton, Portland   4-7pm
2 Mar Salt House, West Bay   4-7pm
3 Mar Mariners Hall, Beer   4-7pm
16 Mar Town Hall, Seaton   4-7.30pm
23 Mar Mowlem Theatre community room, Swanage   4-7.30pm

The events will start with a presentation from 4-5pm followed by an hour of drop-in time with some family activities based around fossils. The presentation will then be repeated from 6-7pm with some time afterwards for questions. For Seaton and Swanage family activities will run from 4-6.30pm with a single presentation from 6.30-7.30pm.

Sam Rose, Jurassic Coast World Heritage Team Leader, said:

"It has been a few years since we have done a full programme of public meetings and we are really looking forward to getting out there, hearing what people have to say and helping them to get more involved with their World Heritage Site.

"It is particularly exciting to be doing this in 2011 as December will mark the 10th anniversary of UNESCO's recognition of the coast as a World Heritage Site and next year sees the Olympics coming to Dorset."

For more information call Alex Potter in the Jurassic Coast team on 01305 225515 or email a.potter@dorsetcc.gov.uk