Always on
This project successfully funded on 31st March 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Saving FRANCE QUARRY (Portland) for our community
Portland, Dorset, United Kingdom
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Aim
Help us secure a critical, unique and much-loved, but threatened, green space for current and future generations on Portland.
HELP US SECURE A CRITICAL, MUCH-LOVED, AND THREATENED GREEN SPACE FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS ON PORTLAND.
URGENT APPEAL
We are incredibly close to securing two acres at France Quarry for Portland’s community (and those who visit the island), however, we are still short of the £5,000 estimate required to cover the upfront, non-refundable legal fees associated with the purchase.
Can you help by donating? Even a small amount will make a big difference in helping us protect this special place now and for generations to come.
DEADLINE FOR DONATIONS IS 30TH JUNE.
IN DETAIL
The original Crowdfunder campaign was set up to raise the money needed to cover the legal fees associated with the purchase. This money is separate from the actual purchase price itself. In this original campaign, we raised £1,850 (£1,950 less an approximate £100 transaction fee). This amount, combined with our Art Auction profits of £1,680, has left us £1,470 short of our £5,000 target.
Once this target is met, we can begin calling in the pledges made towards the actual purchase price and initial on-site improvements.
Got some additional questions? Please find out more about the project and process below.
INTRODUCTION
Why is France Quarry important?
France Quarry is one of Portland’s most important and cherished green spaces. Located in the heart of Easton, it was once quarried for the world-famous Portland stone, but has since been reclaimed by nature and is now home to thousands of species of plants and animals, some of which are critically endangered.
Much of the area has developed into deciduous woodland, a scarce habitat on Portland, with additional areas of rare lowland calcareous grassland. It is now designated as a Local Wildlife Site of county importance because of its biodiversity.
Part of the site has also been used as allotments for many years, providing local people with valuable opportunities to grow their own food. The rest of the site has long been accessible to the community for informal recreation and as a route to areas beyond the quarry.
At the heart of Easton, the island’s most populated settlement, the quarry offers far more than wildlife value alone. The cooling shade of its woodland canopy provides a welcome sanctuary for residents and visitors alike. Despite being surrounded by houses on three sides, it remains a surprisingly tranquil place where people can escape the pressures of everyday life. It is also one of the few places on the island where children can safely play under a woodland canopy.
Unfortunately, France Quarry has been repeatedly threatened by development. It narrowly escaped allocation for housing in the 1970s and 1980s and, as recently as October 2023, was reconsidered as a site for up to 59 houses. A vocal campaign by concerned residents successfully averted this latest threat, but it may only be a matter of time before development pressures return.
OUR VISION
What are we trying to achieve?
Future Portland has been given a rare opportunity to purchase a significant section of France Quarry, including part of the county wildlife site and the allotments. Our vision is to bring this land into community ownership to safeguard it for current and future generations, ensuring that residents and visitors of all ages can continue to enjoy this green sanctuary in peace.
What have we done already?
The site’s owners approached us and expressed a wish for the land to come into community ownership. Recognising this generous and rare opportunity, we agreed to purchase the site if we could raise enough funds within a limited timeframe.
We have invited pledges from the community and local funders, including Portland Court Leet, Portland Bird Observatory and Portland Council. The response, to date, has been phenomenal.
We have also engaged with two neighbouring landowners. With one, we have a ten-year agreement to manage their land for nature conservation. The other has indicated that a formal community-use arrangement may be possible. While these agreements do not affect our ability to buy the two acres currently on offer, our ultimate aim is to work with these landowners to secure community use across the whole site.
How you can help?
DONATE towards the legal fees associated with purchasing the land –estimated at around £5,000. You can do that via this Crowdfunder appeal.
PLEDGE towards the actual purchase costs themselves. Find out more here: https://futureportlanduk.org/france-quarry
Thank you for reading, thank you for donating, and we hope that one day you will be able to enjoy the nature and tranquillity of France Quarry, knowing that it has been safeguarded for current and future generations of our community.
A BIT MORE ABOUT US
What is the FUTURE PORTLAND Community Benefit Society Ltd?
Future Portland was formed in response to extensive public consultation, which highlighted the need for a more visionary approach to Portland’s future. It brings together the experience, skills, and talent of three well-established island-based organisations: b-side, Island Community Action, and The Portland Association.
Future Portland aims to help create a positive future for Portland’s people and places, delivering outcomes that directly benefit our community, from protecting assets of local importance to providing support and representation on issues of concern or impact.
We were formed in early 2025 as a Community Benefit Society (CBS), which is a not-for-profit organisation that delivers projects for the benefit of the community.
As a CBS, we can operate using a mix of grants, community shares, donations, loans, sponsorship, and income; however, our profits have to go back into the community.
We operate with a Board of Directors and voting members.
Other examples of CBS initiatives across Dorset that have helped achieve community ownership of key assets include The Elm Tree at Langton Herring and SturAction, with its community shop in Sturminster Newton.
Those who sign up as members of a CBS have the opportunity to vote, on a one-person, one-vote basis, on the running of the CBS and its projects. Members may also benefit from other perks, depending on the project.
If you are interested in joining us to support the aims of Future Portland, you can contact our Secretary at: [email protected] or via our website www.futureportlanduk.org.
In the meantime, please (if you can) help us acquire this amazing site for the benefit of Portland's natural environment and community. Anything you can donate would be fantastic! Thank you from us all at Future Portland.
Photo (credit Rob Crew). Image shows some of the Members of the France Quarry Project Team at Future Portland's launch event, 14th June 2025. Everyone currently involved with Future Portland is a volunteer, with none of us getting paid or claiming personal expenses. We do this because we're so passionate about our island and our purpose.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made