The Golden Cap Association (West Dorset) is a Supporter Group of the National Trust and is comprised of NT members and accredited volunteers who support and promote the work of the National Trust in West Dorset.
Formed on 21 April 1978, the Association currently has around 400 members drawn mainly from communities across West Dorset including Bridport, Beaminster, Burton Bradstock, Morecombelake, Chideock and Charmouth. Supporter Groups are run by members, for members. They are independent of the National Trust but governed by a constitution common to all the charity’s Centres and Associations.
The object of a Supporter Group is to make NT membership more enjoyable by sharing experiences with like-minded people and finding out more about the places we care about. We offer a varied programme of social activities put together by a dedicated team of enthusiastic volunteers. This includes talks, coach outings, quizzes, walks and lunches. A regular newsletter is the principal means of communicating with members on social programmes, local news and other items of interest.
Any surpluses generated by our activities go to the National Trust locally and, since it was formed, the Golden Cap Association has donated nearly £130,000 to projects identified by our local NT team to help maintain and manage our natural heritage here in West Dorset.
Golden Cap itself is the highest cliff on the South Coast of England. It is part of the iconic Jurassic Coast – a UNESCO World Heritage Site of outstanding ecological, geological and palaeontological importance.
The Golden Cap estate extends to around 2,500 acres lying between the Devon border west of Lyme Regis and Lower Eype near Bridport and is host to an incredibly rich variety of animal and plant life. Other significant sites in the National Trust’s property portfolio in West Dorset include the magnificent hill forts at Eggardon Hill, Pilsdon Pen, Lambert’s and Coney’s Castles as well as the tranquil retreat that is Wynyard’s Gap. Coastal properties include Burton Bradstock, Cogden, and West Bexington – all part of the dramatic and world renowned Chesil Beach.
This year (2018) the Golden Cap Association (West Dorset) celebrates its 40th Anniversary and in our very first newsletter, it was noted that ‘it would be a happy omen if our first year could see the purchase of the Golden Cap as a national memorial in grateful remembrance of Lord Antrim (former NT Chairman 1965-1977), especially for his work for Enterprise Neptune.’ That ‘happy omen’ translated into fact on 19th October 1978 when 24.39 acres of land at Golden Cap was bought with money raised by an appeal in memory of the Earl of Antrim.
Contact telephone number: 01308 863577
Email address: simmons.crosslands@btinternet.com
Website: http://www.goldencapnt.org.uk