The aim of the Thomas Hardy Country project is to create an identity for rural Dorset and a focus for tourism in the heart of the county.

The project partners include Destination Dorset, Dorset County Council, the Dorset AONB and the National Trust. JDD's feasibility study looks at other successful culturally branded destinations and evaluates the interest and suitability of using the 'Thomas Hardy' name to raise the county's profile.

The study covers the tourist and resident markets. It considers:

• how to increase visitor numbers and raise awareness of 'hidden' sites and landscapes
• how to broaden the appeal to younger visitors and families
• how to fund the project and cover ongoing costs