Hive Beach Café Events Manager CAROLINE RICHARDS on her role as Jurassic Coast Ambassador and making the move to Dorset. Interview: Jessica Johnson

My link with the sweeping coast of West Dorset started in the 1970s, when my grandmother moved here. So began a series of blissful childhood holidays and summer jobs on the beach, where I worked with the famous Weymouth donkeys. After living in London for 23 years, I finally made the move to the Dorset coast in 2004.

My first role was working as a volunteer for the National Trust, helping visitors to appreciate this beautiful corner of England. In 2011 I became a Jurassic Coast Ambassador, educating people about the importance of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

We are all beginning to understand that the English coastline is constantly changing – none more so than the cliffs at Burton Beach, an area rich in fossils. After recent landslips and rock falls, it is crucial to advise people (especially fossil hunters) about good practice, to ensure a happy and safe visit.

Working at the award-winning Hive Beach Café is amazing. My role as Events Manager is busy in the summer months, but serving up platters of our finest seafood to the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from customers is an experience that never wanes. 

As a passionate foodie, my greatest achievement is founding the Spring Tide Food Festival, an event I still deliver as a National Trust volunteer. It’s now in its fifth year and has become an integral part of the local food scene in Dorset, celebrating an abundance of fresh food, arts and crafts.

The Spring Tide Festival takes place on 21-22 May at Hive Beach. For details, visit spring-tide.org.uk.

  • "As a passionate foodie, my greatest achievement is founding the Spring Tide Food Festival, an event I still deliver as a National Trust volunteer. It’s now in its fifth year and has become an integral part of the local food scene in Dorset, celebrating an abundance of fresh food, arts and crafts."