Portland Nature CIC

CICs are limited companies which operate to provide a benefit to the community they serve.  The purpose of a CIC is primarily one of community benefit rather than private profit. 

​

Examples of a CIC could be a direct welfare service to vulnerable people, or an activity that generates profits which are used to support a specific purpose such as a running a cafe where all profits generated are used to benefit the community.

​

A CIC operates in the same way as any other company. It has all the well understood characteristics of a limited company such as a separate legal identity; the ability to enter into contracts and own assets in its own name; and flexibility in borrowing and fund raising. The separate legal identity means that a CIC will continue to exist despite changes in ownership or management. The directors can be paid or unpaid and have the same rights and duties as any other directors.

​

CICs will become established as a brand of company that the public recognises and trusts and whose social purpose they understand.

​

Portland Nature Community Interest Company (CIC) was established in 2020 to promote the conservation of habitats and species on the Island through practical management and raising awareness. We will work with other conservation and community groups on the Island to highlight the importance of the Portland’s unique biodiversity and landscapes. Portland Nature CIC funding generally relies on Section 106 payments made by Developers to fulfil their obligations to provide Environmental Enhancement as part of a condition attached to a specific Planning Application approval.

​

Portland Nature CIC Directors volunteer their time and as such receive no renumeration.  Currently there are 4 Directors who bring a wide range of experience in wildlife land management either having worked or currently working in this field.

​

As part of our wider involvement the CIC was asked to help the Court Leet, a major land manager on Portland, with habitat management works at Culverwell (a SSSI).  We advised and drew up a specification for the work for them and arranged a Contractor to carry out the work, including drawing up a simple contract. The work was completed over the winter of 2023/24.

​

In early 2023 Portland Nature CIC signed a Licence that has given it tenure for 30 years and a Contract setting out its management responsibilities for Bumpers Lane. Funding for the work comes from money paid by the Developer under a Section 106 Agreement with Dorset Council. The Management of the site is guided by an independently prepared Management Plan drawn up as a requirement of the original Planning Application for Bumpers Lane.

​

The CIC has started engaging with the residents of the new Bumpers Lane Housing Estate many of whom are keen to get involved with the wildlife site.  This has resulted in some of them helping with the seeding work and volunteer tasks.

​

We have also commissioned this website and had an information board designed and installed explaining the importance of Bumpers Lane for wildlife.