DORSET’S new High Sheriff says she is proud to be working on a fund that champions the healing power of nature during her shrieval year.

Sibyl Fine King, who took up the office in April, has already joined forces with the Dorset Community Foundation to work on The Nature Heals Fund – which offers grants to grass roots groups and charities who use the benefits of the natural world to help communities.

“I’ve known Dorset Community Foundation for a while and always wanted to work with them,” Sibyl said.

“They work with grass roots organisations and they know a lot of people so they have got the right reach and personality.”

The Pennsylvania native, who has called Dorset home since 1985, says promoting the natural world is one of her goals during her year as High Sheriff.

She added: “I believe in the healing power of nature through my own personal experience and through seeing some of the incredible projects which are happening around Dorset.

“I have good relationships with nature organisations but not so much with healing organisations so the idea was to encourage new partnerships that would be good for both.”

Visit dorsetcommunityfoundation.org for more information about the fund.