Olive groves could be new crop (From Thisisdorset)
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Olive groves could be new crop
11:22am Saturday 8th March 2008 in News
OUR FUTURE: Dorset AONB team leader Sarah Bentley addresses the conference at Kingston Maurward
CLIMATE change could lead to more crops of olives and sunflowers being grown in Dorset, delegates at an environmental forum heard.
Around 60 people, including farmers, politicians and environmentalists, attended a meeting on climate and landscape change at Kingston Maurward College organised by Dorset's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) branch.
Environmental workshops followed keynote speeches by landscape and environmental planning expert, Professor Carys Swanwick of the University of Sheffield, and Helen Mann of the National Trust.
AONB team leader Sarah Bentley said: "Climate change was one of the big issues and how it might affect the growing of different crops that may become more viable in Dorset over time.
"It's possible that it would become easier to grow sunflowers or olives, as one man in Devon has already done."
She added: "The forum was an opportunity to begin thinking about the future and what it might mean for the county's AONB."
