Changing Landscapes Exhibition

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Jurassic Coast’s designation as a World Heritage Site, a milestone that the Discovery Centre is celebrating in the new Changing Landscapes exhibition.

The exhibition invites visitors to step into the story of a coastline that has been changing for millions of years. The cliffs along the Jurassic Coast were once part of a warm tropical sea, filled with extraordinary creatures whose fossils are still found here today. Ammonites and other fossils help scientists understand when these rocks formed and what life was like in the distant past.

But the Jurassic Coast is not just about the past. It is constantly changing. Waves, weather and natural erosion continue to shape the cliffs and beaches, while in recent years, climate change has begun to accelerate these processes. Rising sea levels and more extreme weather are increasing the frequency of cliff falls, making the landscape more dynamic than ever.

The exhibition brings these stories together through a series of displays, including fossils, geological evidence and modern examples from along the coast. Visitors can also watch short films exploring cliff falls at West Bay, the formation of Chesil Beach, and the rock layers that make the Jurassic Coast so unique.

With hands-on activities such as a fossil touch table and colouring sheets for children, the exhibition offers something for all ages and invites visitors to discover a coastline that is always evolving.