World Heritage Site
This coast is part of the Dorset and East Devon World Heritage Site. World Heritage Sites are places of 'outstanding universal value' and are recognised as part of the heritage of all mankind.
The rocks that are exposed on the Dorset and East Devon coast date from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous time periods. There are 185 million years of the earth's history in just 95 miles of coastline!
The Lulworth Coast stretches for 5 miles between White Nothe in the west to Worbarrow Bay in the east. The five types of rock at Lulworth are between 150 million years old and 65 million years old. The geology is important as it reveals the environment and creatures living at that time. The fossils within the rock are history set in stone.
Inauguration
On Thursday 3 rd October 2002, HRH Prince Charles visited Lulworth to unveil a specially commissioned stone, to mark the inauguration of the World Heritage Site.
UNESCO
After a great deal of preparation and management work by organisations along the coast, The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation selected the Dorset and East Devon Coast to become a World Heritage Site. It is England's first natural World Heritage Site, and joins a select group of globally important natural and cultural sites, which includes the Great Barrier Reef and Grand Canyon.