Arne Parish

Arne is a rural parish with about 1,370 citizens in settlements from Worgret in the west to Arne hamlet in the east and Furzebrook Road to the south, with most people in villages at Ridge & Stoborough. Apart from a small proportion of mudflat and water to the east, the 29km² of the Parish is about half used for farming with a fifth heathland and a fifth woodland. 

 

Major roads run west from Wareham towards Dorchester in the north of the parish, and south towards Swanage, with railway links also to these towns. The River Frome flows across the Parish through extensive water-meadows. The rich land-use makes Arne Parish an important part of the 10km square that has the most plant species in Britain, so nature conservation and tourism are important local interests, joining clay-mining in generating local jobs.

 

Arne Parish Survey and Plan

 

In 2010, Arne Parish Council asked all households to complete a survey for a Parish Plan which was ready in 2011. The survey showed an increasing proportion of citizens working from home. It also set a European standard for community participation in mapping wildlife and habitats. Please click on the link Parish Plan 2010 to have a look. The link will open a .pdf document. Parish Plan 2010. This evolved from an earlier Parish Plan in 2003. Please click on the link Parish Plan 2003 to have a look. The link will open a pdf document. Parish Plan 2003.

 

Neighbourhood Plan

A new Neighbourhood Plan is now underway which will give all Arne residents a chance to have their say in the development of the Parish. A steering group has just been set up and progress and requests for help and information will be posted to the adjacent tab, so please watch that space! Please click on the link Neighbourhood Plan to have a look. The link will open a PDF document. Neighbourhood Plan 

 

Local facilites and amenities

Arne Parish has many useful facilities, including Stoborough School for first tier education, the Lookout Stores and Purbeck Motors for purchases and pubs with food at the Kings Arms and Halfway Inn. There are hotels at Worgret Manor and with sports facilities at the Springfield Country Hotel. The Church at Arne, Stoborough Village Hall and Hayricks recreation area are further important civic amenities, with large nature reserves managed by Natural England, National Trust and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. 

 

A snapshot of Arne at the 2002 Jubilee

For those with an interest in finding out more about the flavour of life in this area there is an online version of the Jubilee Book made for Arne. Please click on the link Jubilee Book to have a look. This will open a PDF document. Jubilee Book - a series of pictures and commentary designed to give a snapshot of daily life in the parish on a memorable day in 2002