A NEW exhibition exploring the wonders of the Jurassic Coast is set to open at Swanage’s Durlston Castle.

This free exhibition, curated by the Jurassic Coast Team, promises to uncover many secrets of what is England’s only natural World Heritage Site.

Exhibition curator Sam Scriven said: “It has been great to be able to delve into the subject of world heritage in more detail. The Jurassic Coast is a part of a global family and hopefully people will learn from this exhibition what World Heritage Status really means.”

The exhibition is also being supported by the Jurassic Coast Trust and Dorset County Council.

Jurassic Coast Trust vice-chairman Alexandra O’Dwyer said: “So many people love the Jurassic Coast and recognise it as an exceptional place to live or visit.

“This exhibition explains why our wonderful coastline is so important, how it earned its place in a global hall of fame and why we are right to be very proud of it indeed.”

The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, displaying 185million years of the Earth’s history, includes 95 miles of coastline from East Devon to Dorset.

Dorset County Council community services cabinet member Cllr Colin Jamieson said: “If you want to know why the Dorset coast is up there with the pyramids and the Taj Mahal, or want to know more about amazing stories written in our rocks, then this is an exhibition not to be missed.

“Come and find out if you have what it takes to make it onto the World Heritage List, and even have a go at building your own Jurassic Coast.”

The exhibition runs at Durlston Castle, 10.30am-4pm, daily from January 14 until February 5.