Blue Pool owners commit huge investment for future

Matt Jones bought the Furzebrook Estate and within it the Blue Pool in 2021 with his wife Julie following the death of long-time owner Jennifer Barnard aged 91. 

Ms Barnard, whose father bought the former clay pit in 1935, had operated the Purbeck nature reserve site for more than 70 years. 

But for some years, the top attraction that welcomes more than 100,000 visitors a year has “lacked investment”, Matt said. 

Illumination display at the Blue Pool (Image: Evelyne Bibi, camera club member)

A series of new ideas have or will be implemented at the Blue Pool that is vital for its long term sustainability. 

Matt told the Echo: “The Furzebrook Estate lacked investment for around two or three decades; Jennifer Barnard, bless her, was holding the fort but it needed to move forward to remain economically viable as a business. 

“For some years, the business had been loss making, so diversification and investment was essential in order to ensure that the business remains viable and open to visitors of future generations.  

“Largely the infrastructure needs updating, this is largely the works we are planning. 

“The tea rooms needed investment, so we put in eco boilers to reduce our demands for fossil fuels, we’ve updated the seating, the fences, the gates, it’s predominantly infrastructure.” 

The Blue Pool closed in 2020 following the death of its previous owner Jennifer Barnard aged 91 and was bought by Matt and his wife in 2021, who both reopened it the same year. 

A peacock at the Blue Pool (Image: G.e.m photography, camera club member)

In addition, Matt and his team have looked at offering camping at the Blue Pool and now open the nature reserve all year round thus employing around 20 full time members of staff. 

He added: “Most people thought the Blue Pool would be lost and would be sold to a private buyer and closed forever and that would have been a tragedy. 

“My wife and I purchased the business in February 2021 and reopened. We’re not naive enough to think that we can just continue doing what the previous owner had been doing, albeit she did a sterling job. 

“It needed a breath of fresh air and energy so we had to invest and in order to do so in order to generate the income we had to diversify.” 

The late Jennifer Barnard at Blue Pool

What is the Blue Pool?

THE Blue Pool forms part of the Furzebrook Estate which traces its history back nearly 400 years.

It is a former clay-pit, dug by hand and abandoned in the early 19th Century, which subsequently filled with rainwater.

The colour phenomenon is caused by light diffracting from minuscule particles of clay suspended in the water.

It is also surrounded by 25 acres of protected heath, woodland and gorse and is also home to a cafe, gift shop and museum.

A collection of teddies, set in dioramas and known as The Wareham Bears, were relocated from The Blue Pool after its closure in 2020.

The tearooms opened its doors to the public in 1935.

In 1985, the site was declared a site of special scientific interest.

The site closed in September 2020, following the death of proprietor Jennifer Barnard, aged 91.

Ms Barnard, whose father bought the former clay pit in 1935, had operated the nature reserve site for about 70 years.

In a statement posted at the time on Facebook, Blue Pool said: "Jennifer Barnard dedicated her life to The Blue Pool and surrounding Furzebrook Estate – she had a lifelong passion for this magical place."

It reopened at the end of March 2021 under the new ownership of Matthew and Julie Jones.