The long-touted Jurassica project, a multi-million pound dinosaur attraction inside a former quarry in Dorset, UK, will take its first steps as a visitor attraction after securing Heritage Lottery Funding to open part of the area as a nature trail ahead of a full launch when funding is secured.

A far cry from the £80m (US$105m, €94.2m) target, a modest sum of £37,300 (US$46,500, €43,000) has been secured to restore 60,000sq m (646,000sq ft) of land, which is a starting point for the wider attraction in the 40m (132ft) deep quarry.

Working in partnership with the Dorset Wildlife Trust, Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy (IPACA), Weymouth College and Island Community Action, the two-year project to create the wildlife corridor will be supported by a volunteer programme, which will offer more than 100 children and local people new skills training.

The subterranean geological park is the brainchild of Michael Hanlon, who died from a heart attack in February last year. Following his death, the project’s board, which has the backing of the likes of Sir Tim Smit and Sir David Attenborough, made a unanimous decision to press forward, promising to bring to life Hanlon’s “thrilling vision” for the prehistoric attraction on the Jurassic Coast.

As part of development, the 40m (132ft) deep Yeolands quarry would gain a 340ft (103.6m) glass roof designed by Renzo Piano. The attraction will also house robotic swimming plesiosaurs, fossils and interactive displays.

Engineering and design firm Arup have been linked to the project, along with business management consultancy Oliver Wyman and exhibit designers David Lazenby and Azeurus Design.