Caves ue Landscape How partnership working ss Wallpaper riches are ensures underground I rescued from stately treasures are monitored 32 home’s outbuilding Summer 2009 Making rocks matter to people On other pages

Outcrops – pp 3-7 Geodiversity is fundamentally important to managing nearly all aspects of the environment, so why do geoconservationists often feel that it is massively undervalued? The truth is that many people are simply unaware of what Geodiversity Cave conservation: Out of sight – is and why it is so important. Tell them that Geodiversity supports many of the basic but not out of mind – p8 functions of life and holds the clues to evolution and our place in the Universe, and interest grows. Explain how their personal history and culture are inextricably linked with the rocks and landscapes around them, and the importance and relevance of Landscapes Geodiversity start to come into sharp focus. rescued from a shed We probably have ourselves to blame for this. All too often we shroud our subject in – p10 jargon and fail to make the all-important links with lifestyle, culture and landscape. This issue of Earth Heritage shows we are, hopefully, getting wise and adopting a more holistic approach. Many of our features emphasise how our cultural development and history are inextricably linked with Geodiversity. John Gordon and Vanessa Kirkbride start a two-part series on the huge influence that the Scottish Opening new landscape and its geology have exerted on cultural and creative efforts over the doors: centuries. We also take a fly-on-the-wall look at some restored Chinese wallpapers Geodiversity which give a fascinating insight to the spectacular karst landscapes, lifestyles and and the cultures which have figured in Chinese painting for over 2,000 years. Several of the cultural exciting new Anglesey Geopark projects also include strong cultural links with landscape in Geodiversity – a new geological town trail around the historic town of Beaumaris, with its World Heritage castle, and the possibility of reconstructing some Welsh – p12 Medieval buildings to link with other geological projects in south-west Anglesey.

Enjoy your reading ! Renovation will bring new life to galleries – p15 Managing Editor

New geopark Earth Heritage is a twice-yearly magazine produced by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Natural , Scottish Natural has a full Earth Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales. programme The voluntary geoconservation sector is a major planned: Full heritage contributor. We would like to thank all those who steam ahead have assisted with the preparation of the magazine. However, the opinions expressed by the in Anglesey contributors are not necessarily those of the above organisations. – p16 Earth Heritage is printed with vegetable-based inks on Evolution satin paper, 75% recycled post- consumer waste, 25% virgin fibre, Elemental Chlorine Free. This and several recent back issues of Earth Heritage can be downloaded as pdf files on the Web Publications – p18 at: www.earthheritage.org.uk Offers of articles should go to the relevant members of the editorial board, who are: Cover photo Managing Editor STEWART CAMPBELL , Countryside Council MICK STANLEY , Geodiversity Consulting, for Wales, Maes-y-Ffynnon, Ffordd Penrhos, Park House, 8 King Street, Ripon, North Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DN. Yorkshire HG4 1PJ. Telephone 01248 387254, Telephone 01765 609481 , e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Editors CYNTHIA BUREK, UKRIGS Geoconservation Association, Centre DAVID EVANS , Natural England, for Science Communication, University of Northminster House, Peterborough PE1 1UA. Chester, Parkgate Road, Chester CH1 4BJ. Telephone 0300 060 0899, Telephone 01244 513051, e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] COLIN MACFADYEN, Scottish Natural Heritage, Silvan House, Production 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 7AT. Seabury Salmon, Monitoring geological conditions at Wapping Mine Telephone 0131 316 2616, Seabury Salmon & Associates, The Old in Matlock Bath. Most of the major caves in e-mail: [email protected] Pound, Ludford, Ludlow, SY8 1PP. England are designated as Sites of Special NEIL ELLIS, Telephone 01584 877442, Scientific Interest but condition monitoring demands skills over and above a keen eye for Joint Nature Conservation Committee, e-mail: [email protected] geological detail. Natural England has teamed up Monkstone House, City Road, Peterborough with a number of caving organisations to help the PE1 1JY. Telephone 01733 562626, Circulation is free. Contact your local work. See page 8. e-mail: [email protected] Earth Heritage Photo by Dave Webb / DCC 2 Editor to be placed on the mailing list. GCR publisher’s work recognised

The Geological Society of London has formally marked the contribution of Earth Heritage editorial board member Neil Ellis to geological conservation. Neil, the Geoconservation Adviser of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, was awarded one of two 2008 Distinguished Service Awards for his work as Public- ations Manager of the Geological Conservation Review (GCR).

The citiation described him as ‘an unsung contemporary hero of British geology’. It went on: “He has produced 31 of the 33 GCR volumes published so far of the 45-volume series that assesses and documents the Earth science Sites of Special Scientific Interest, protected by conservation law for

Neil Ellis (left) receives one of the Geological Society’s Distinguished Service representing Britain’s rich and varied geological heritage. When Awards from the President, Dr Richard Fortey. complete, this project will detail some 3,000 sites conserved for Photo by Ted Nield/Geological Society of London their geological value. No other country in the world has attempted such a review, let alone seen it to completion. With infinite care and patience, Neil has managed to cajole countless Soils management blueprint published academic authors to produce what they promised – and sometimes, even to length and on time”. The Scottish Soil Framework, developed by the Scottish Government in conjunction with advice from government agencies The GCR programme continues to add significantly to and stakeholders, has now been published. It is available on-line at geoconservation literature. The www.scotland.gov.uk/273170 . publication of the latest volume – over 700 pages on the Lewisian, Torridonian The Framework aims to promote the and Moine rocks of Scotland (volume sustainable management and protection 34) – is a valuable addition to the GCR of soils in alignment with the economic, Series, stimulating studies of a part of social and environmental needs of British geology not extensively Scotland. At the heart of the Framework researched for some time. is the establishment of a Soil Focus Group as a platform for liaison amongst JNCC is also making the GCR series key delivery partners and stakeholders. available on the web. It has recently It will advise on policy review and uploaded four new volumes to development in areas relevant for soil www.thegcr.org.uk . These add use and management. The Group will two Jurassic volumes (Middle and work to develop and build on the Lower), one on fossil reptiles and the Caves and activities set out in the Framework, including reducing greenhouse Karst title to the list of freely available texts with illustrations. gas emissions to optimum levels, and reducing soil erosion. Making such material publicly available defines the SSSI status – Patricia Bruneau, Scottish Natural Heritage of the sites, and is also a great research tool, providing an encyclopaedic coverage of British geology. Free teaching ideas website draws worldwide attention www.earthlearningidea.com , the topics. The ideas – a new one is posted envisage the scene if such an event British-based, volunteer-run portal of every month – are aimed primarily at should happen within range of their free geological teaching resources, has classrooms with few or no resources classroom. received over 15,500 hits from more and at pre-service teacher educators (to than 140 countires and has a growing reach wide audiences). Thanks to voluntary translators across number of blog participants. the world, the activities are translated Activities range from simple into Spanish, Italian, Norwegian, Interested educators from around the investigations, such as ‘Earthquake Mandarin Chinese and Portuguese. world subscribe for free and receive e- prediction – when will the earthquake mail updates when new items appear strike?’, using a pile of bricks and a – Chris King, Peter Kennett and on the website. A list of keywords piece of elastic, to ‘A landslide through Elizabeth Devon allows users to search for particular the window’, where pupils are asked to Keele University 3 Mesh mars iconic view in Scottish capital

In an effort to prevent rockfall and ensure the safety of rail traffic on the line between Edinburgh’s Waverley and Haymarket stations, wire mesh has been fixed to the north-west face of Castle Rock. Luckily an area of ice-moulded rock lower down the face, with glacial striae demonstrating the movement of ice around the rock was unaffected. Apparently the removal of loose rock, the grouting of joints and rock bolting does not stabilise the rock sufficiently to guarantee public safety. Ostensibly a good engineering solution, the mesh will unfortunately result in plant growth that will in time obscure much of the exposure in the affected area. Arguably the use of mesh could result in accelerated degradation of the rock face. A larger area on the south side of Castle Rock also requires stabilising. Hopefully, an engineering solution will be agreed upon that not only safeguards the public from falling rocks, but conserves the geological interest of the rock and its landscape value.

A Geodiversity Action Plan is being prepared for Edinburgh, funded by the City of Edinburgh Council. A draft will be available late in 2009. The inherent awareness-raising attributes of a GAP may help guide a more sensitive approach to stabilising this iconic landscape. – Colin MacFadyen, Scottish Natural Heritage

A gem in the Spanish capital Hidden deep inside Madrid’s Instituto The main hall space ( pictured below first has to Geologico y Minero de Espana is an left by Mick Stanley ) is spectacular as the present a passport historic gem, the Geominero Museum, built rounded rectangular gallery, 19 metres high, to the gun-carrying by Francisco Javier Luque between 1921 has three display balconies carrying ornate guards, as the museum and 1925. Within it lie displays of 10,000 iron balustrades. Each balcony is lined with shares space with the geological institute, fossils, 5,000 minerals and 100 rocks in 250 glass cases oozing fossils and rocks; the which is part of the Ministerio de specially designed cases. equally spectacular minerals are shown on Educacion y Cienca. Next is the staircase the extensive ground floor. Above is a hall in white Macael marble, from Almeria, suspended glass ceiling with stained glass and polished striped limestone columns in crests by Casa Maine-Jean of Curespo de pairs with an ornate iron and stained glass Minas (mining engineers) flanked by half-dome roof. This imposing space leads provincial crests of the 16 Spanish mining eventually by a long corridor into the authorities and a central great royal crest of spectacular main display hall. It really has the Bourbon monarch, Isabel II who created the wow factor and the collections, first the Geological and Mining Institute in formed by the Comision del Mapa 1849. Geologica de Espana the forerunner of the Institute, are equally impressive. Walking off the Calle de Rios Rosas on the 4 northern side of the city centre the visitor – Mick Stanley, Geodiversity Consulting Geoconservation and the climate UK Geodiversity Action Plan notches first outcome with conference

Representatives of the UK geoconservation community met at the University of Chester to consider how climate change might have an impact on the long-term condition and management of our geological heritage.

Delegates (including staff from government conservation agencies, the Geoconservation Commission of the Geological Society, the geological conservation voluntary sector, land managers, landowners and academics) were tasked with considering: 1) the impacts of climate change on geodiversity and its conservation; 2) the potential social and economic responses and adaptation strategies to manage and conserve geodiversity in a changing climate; 3) the evidence gaps to be filled before developing such strategies.

A range of practitioners gave thought- provoking talks. These covered the new climate change scenarios developed by UKCIP (Paul Bowyer, UKCIP); the likely social and economic consequences of future Storm swells overwhelm The Cobb at Lyme Regis, Dorset climate change (Alison Darlow, Natural – heralding the prospect of things to come? Photo by David Evans England); the impacts on biodiversity (John Hopkins, Natural England); and the geological resource itself, accounting for feasible, as much as possible should be potential impacts on physical processes the different vulnerabilities of soft and ‘rescued’ for future research. (John Gordon, Scottish Natural Heritage). hard geology as well as predicted Posters displayed more information on changes in the scale and dynamism of the A future paper will set out the findings of specific cases and ongoing work. climatic system (e.g. increased the June meeting, which agreed that UK seasonality of rainfall). geological conservationists should produce Four workshops examined different aspects G Relevant models, scenarios and modern principles and guidance on conserving of the geological heritage: geological analogues (e.g. in the Mediterranean and geodiversity in a changing climate. exposures, physical processes, integrity and tropics) should be studied to provide finite sites (e.g. caves, mine dumps, better understanding of the potential The conference was expertly organised by landforms) and soils. Participants explored impacts of future climate change and Naomi Stevenson and Eleanor Brown of G how climate change would affect the possible future site management Natural England. It was conceived by the resource; measures for the UK. GeoConservation Commission, the country G how social responses to that change G The need to plan, implement and agencies and the Joint Nature Conservation would affect the resource; communicate appropriate management Committee. G what conservation responses / adaptation strategies to stakeholders. – Barbara Silva, Natural England strategies were required; and G The need to feed integrated adaptive G evidence gaps to be filled before drawing strategies into the planning and legal Geodiversity group constituted up adaptation plans. systems, now and in the future. Scotland’s newest RIGS group has been G The need to gather baseline information formally constituted as a sub-group of the Points from the workshops included: so that subtle climate change impacts on Geological Society of Glasgow, under the G Adaptation should be considered on a geo- and bio- diversity features can be name Geodiversity: Argyll & the Islands. landscape scale, taking a whole-system, identified. More details are available from Alastair top-down approach rather than focussing G The need for a pragmatic approach – the Fleming (e-mail: fleming.a.z@ on individual sites. geodiversity community will need to be btinternet.com, or post: 23 Cullipool, Isle G The need to identify potential physical selective about what can be conserved. of Luing, Oban, Argyll PA34 4UB). impacts of climate change on the When and where conservation is not 5 Geology Trusts assess achievements

The Geology Trusts’ Annual General year and supported financially by The Meeting reviewed achievements during Geology Trusts, UKRIGS, Natural 2008-9 and outlined a forward programme England and the AONB. to continue to champion geoconservation and raise public awareness and G Attended and contributed regularly to the understanding of the natural environment. Earth Science Education Forum, to help maintain the profile of geology within Among its work in 2008-09 the Trusts education. More specifically, in March G Partnered other organisations in 2009, the Trusts organised and contributing to the development of the participated in a presentation on ‘Earth new UK Geodiversity Action Plan science education within the voluntary (UKGAP), expected to be launched by sector’, along with colleagues from 2010. The UKGAP should provide a UKRIGS and Welsh RIGS. framework for action to raise awareness of the importance of geodiversity and Looking ahead, the Trusts will continue to enhance its role across the UK. provide support to their county-based membership groups through voluntary G Managed a project with English support, sharing of best practices and Heritage, whereby all Geology Trust securing funding for large-scale, often counties will compile a database of their collective projects. To this end the Trusts Above, a volunteer checks the condition of building stones, source quarries and the have strengthened their organisation by Broadway Quarry in the Cotswolds using an vernacular and/or famous buildings in appointing an Executive Director. The assessment form developed by The Geology which each stone is used. This will Trusts are also developing projects that will Trusts.

enable English Heritage to maintain the demonstrably focus on geotourism and life- Below left, volunteer staff from local buildings in its care with original long learning, making best use of the Co-operative Stores work under the materials. Illustrated guides to the geodiversity that they have spent many guidance of Oxfordshire Geology Trust to restore Rock Edge Quarry, Oxfordshire, after building stones of each county will also years assessing, describing and conserving. a condition-monitoring visit identified the be written, and may contribute to an need for work there. English Heritage publication in the The Trusts welcome the involvement of Below, assessing building stones at future. others. Readers can contact them through Chilmark Church, Wiltshire, as part of the the websites of county-based member survey commissioned by English Heritage. G Worked with Natural England to groups (Bedfordshire & Luton, Chilmark Stone is famous for its use in contribute towards a new national Local , & Salisbury Cathedral. Geological Sites database. Location , Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Photos by The Geology Trusts maps and basic attributes for 637 of The Warwickshire, Wiltshire, and West Geology Trusts’ 979 sites have been Yorkshire). They can also contact Martin supplied so far, along with 100 site Whiteley (Chairman) and Julie Harrald surveys that assess their current (Director) by e-mailing condition. The site condition monitoring [email protected] exercise used a standardised methodology that was developed last – Julie Harrald, The Geology Trusts

6 Open house at BGS Saturday 26 September 2009 is the 24 th annual Open Day when the public can visit the British Geological Survey at Murchison House, Edinburgh.

The event has always attracted large numbers of visitors and the organisers have With the aid of active glasses, visitors to the always strived to make it as family Open Day can explore the geology and orientated as possible. Throughout the five landscape of the UK in 3 dimensions, during a demonstration of the BGS 3D Visualisation floors of Murchison House are hands-on Suite. demonstrations and experiments for visitors Re-enacting Henry Cadell’s famous mountain- th of all ages. Some of the many activities reserved for school and organised groups. building experiment undertaken in the late 19 Century. include plaster-casting fossils, generating These visits are more structured than the your own earthquake, panning for ‘gold’ ‘drop-in’ event of the Saturday and with a recent years, initiatives such as the Science and re-enacting Cadell’s famous mountain- guide assigned to each group and a and Engineering Ambassadors scheme and building experiment. programme of activities, the visits are the UK School Seismology project have usually well received and very popular. raised the profile of educational outreach The Open Day also provides a platform for Groups visiting in the past have ranged activities within the organisation. invited guests. Over the years, regular from primary, secondary and special-needs contributors have included Scottish Natural schools to university students, extra-mural The BGS at Murchison House in Edinburgh Heritage, Edinburgh Geological Society, and special-interest organisations such as has long recognised the value of presenting Rockwatch, the BA, the Scottish Lapidary WEA, Probus and U3A. its work and activities to the general public Club, Natural Stone Institute, the Drystone in a more relaxed and informal way, so the Walling Association and many others. The Details of the Open Day appear on the BGS Open Day is seen as vitally important in diversity of their exhibitions and website ( www.bgs.ac.uk ) and in the bringing people, especially youngsters, into demonstrations has added greatly to the Edinburgh Doors Open Day brochure. So if contact with the work of the survey and quality of the event. you’re in the neighbourhood, please drop explaining its relevance in a rapidly in, we’ll be pleased to see you – and the changing world. As one of the last events of the September- coffee and biscuits are on us! long Festival of Scottish Geology, the Open – Ted Harris, British Geological Survey Day is often used to present awards to * Outreach activities have been part of the Ted Harris publishes with the permission of the children who have entered the festival Survey’s mission from its earliest days. In Executive Director of the British Geological Survey competitions. The Rockwatch Challenge and Young Geologist awards have also been EARTHQUAKES SET TO ROCK SCOTTISH CLASSROOMS presented on the day. Keith Brown MSP, Minister for Schools and Another popular feature is the series of Skills with pupils from informal talks held throughout the day. The Dunblane High School with the “Jelly Tower” – diversity of past topics has included ‘The one of a series of Building Stones of Edinburgh’, ‘Ocean interactive lessons Floor Coring at the North Pole’ and ‘Space developed for the Project. Weather’. All photos by As the work of the Survey progresses to Ted Harris, BGS embrace new methods and techniques, so the technology behind those sciences progresses. In the BGS 3D Visualisation The BGS School Seismology Project Tonga on the other side of the world. A Suite, active glasses enable geologists to capitalises on children’s natural comprehensive set of downloadable explore the geology of the UK in three fascination with earthquakes. Easy to resources is available from dimensions. For the Open Day, visitors can set up and use seismometers have been www.bgs.ac.uk/schoolseismology . explore landscapes and their geology in donated to geography and science The project is funded in Scotland by teachers at interested secondary BGS, The Scottish Oil Club, The fully immersive 3D and take an inter- schools around Scotland to allow school Petroleum Exploration Society of Great galactic rollercoaster ride too! pupils to make their own recordings of Britain, and Glasgow and Edinburgh earthquakes from places like China and Universities. After the Open Day, the following week is 7 Cave conservation: Out of sight – but not out of mind

ost of the major caves Peak District Team and of England are Derbyshire Caving A fine display of gour pools and speleothem are designated as Sites of Association (DCA). to be found high in the roof of Eldon Hole near Castleton. Gours, which are stalagmite dams Special Scientific formed by calcium deposited from water slowly Interest (SSSI), either The Peak District Conservation Adviser seeping over the edge of a pool, are particularly individually or grouped together as parts gathered information from geological vulnerable, being found mainly on the floor of a cave. of larger cave systems. SSSI designation reports on the location and importance of iMncreases legal protection from damage cave features, for example exceptional Photo by Dave Webb / DCC or destruction of caves by external examples of speleothem, sediment to conservation measures such as taped threats such as quarrying, land drainage sequences, cave passage morphology and pathways, clean-ups and more thoughtful and agricultural practices. It generally mineralisation. This information, together digging procedures. Current and future does not affect the responsible use of with local knowledge from cavers, was generations of cavers would be the ultimate caves by recreational cavers. used to create a series of monitoring forms. beneficiaries of caves in good condition. The forms divided larger and more complex Regular monitoring of all SSSI is an cave systems into smaller, more The scheme as operated in Derbyshire has important part of the conservation process manageable sections (akin to the sort of been in place for nearly six years, and has and is generally carried out by Natural distance that people might reasonably cover been uniquely successful among the UK England staff. However, because few of on a day’s caving trip). For ease of use caving regions. them are experienced or qualified to take on underground, the forms also carried underground work, schemes in Derbyshire symbols identifying each type of feature Each of the seven Derbyshire SSSI areas is and Northern England have been initiated worth noting. allocated to a volunteer caver who to enable cavers to provide information on co-ordinates the scheme for that area and the condition of caves. The next step was to announce and explain returns the completed site-specific Derbyshire leads the scheme to cavers in the region. monitoring forms to Natural England via the way Members of the larger caving clubs were the DCA Conservation Officer. This enables contacted and won over, and given sample the Natural England Conservation Adviser In 2002, cavers met representatives from forms for an SSSI area in their patch. It was to assess the cave system’s condition English Nature (now Natural England), the stressed that the scheme was intended (Favourable, Unfavourable Recovering, British Caving Association (BCA) and the simply to monitor the condition of Unfavourable Declining, or Destroyed). British Cave Research Association (BCRA) important elements contained within the to discuss setting up a scheme to monitor country’s cave resource. It was hoped that The monitoring team meet with Natural cave features and record their condition. this would foster a greater overall England at six-monthly intervals to The first scheme was in Derbyshire, jointly acceptance of the need to conserve the exchange information and report on a8dministered by the Natural England (NE) fragile underground environment and lead concerns and conservation needs. As the Dave Webb, Derbyshire Caving Association Hannah Townley, Andrew Hinde & Jo Poll, Natural England

Delicate stalactites in the roof of the show cave at Stump Cross Caves SSSI, Yorkshire. Photo by Mick Murphy / Natural England

achievement in the covers all SSSI caves in Northern England, management of the so far it has concentrated on the Yorkshire monitoring scheme Dales. The scheme follows good practice and, in 2004, it was from Derbyshire, with cave monitoring awarded first prize forms created using scientific descriptions in the Wildlife and local knowledge of the cave systems. Conservation These forms are now available on the section of the monitoring scheme website Greenwatch www.northerncavemonitoring.org.uk . Awards. Although at an early stage, information has already been provided on a number of caves In addition to and it is hoped that cavers will continue to condition show their support. As part of the monitoring, the monitoring scheme, Natural England has A bank of layered sediment in Great Masson Caverns at Matlock Bath. Such sediments, deposited from glacial meltwater, can reveal evidence of Derbyshire scheme grant-aided cavers and caving clubs to help significant changes in the Earth’s magnetic polarity many thousands has raised the improve access (e.g. footpath or stile of years ago. Photo by Dave Webb / DCC profile and improvements) and stabilise cave entrances. importance of cave This type of voluntary work was initiated scheme has progressed, a website conservation. The subject of conservation by groups of concerned cavers from local (www.peakcavemonitoring.org.uk ) has can now be raised at the bar without caving clubs many years ago and has been been developed and maintained by one of everyone suddenly remembering they recognised with the introduction of a the caving volunteers. This not only should be somewhere else! Monitoring has surface works conservation grant scheme, provides the monitoring forms to a wider also caused cavers to look more closely at which is administered by the CNCC. I audience but also hosts a useful forum for their environment and has brought renewed news and comments, thus strengthening the interest in this precious underground relationship between Natural England and resource - a new generation of cave the wider caving community. Both the Derbyshire and the ‘guardians’ has emerged. Northern SSSI Cave Conservation In return for the information, Natural Northern SSSI Cave Monitoring Scheme rely heavily on England has provided grant-aid funding via the goodwill of cavers who Conservation voluntarily provide information on the DCA to enable cavers to complete SSSI cave features as part of their much-needed clean-ups and other work in Monitoring Scheme normal caving trips. Without their and around SSSI cave entrances. Work has The Northern SSSI Cave Conservation knowledge of cave systems and included removing tipped rubbish and Monitoring Scheme began in 2008 as a technical expertise to access sites, repairing or replacing collapsed entrances, joint project between the Council for Natural England would not be able stiles and retaining walls. Northern Caving Clubs (CNCC) and to fulfil its duties in terms of Natural England. Again, it aims to gather condition assessment for cave SSSI. The scheme’s success, and the cavers’ hard information about the conservation status of Thank you to all those who have work and diligent reporting, have been various features such as stalactites and supported and contributed to both widely recognised. In 2002 the DCA stalagmites, sediments, and karst features schemes so far. received an SSSI Award for outstanding within SSSI-designated caves. Although it 9 Landscapes rescu

hina has a very young landscape with a very old civilization. The immaturity of the landscape in south China is quite remarkable. The weathering of massive thicknesses of limestones and Cdolomites has produced the spectacular hills, plains and mountains that have been typical of Chinese landscape painting for over 2,000 years.

The beauty of the scenery can be seen much closer to home – at Harewood House, near Leeds, where in 1988 around 20 sheets of painstakingly hand-painted Chinese wallpaper, dating to the 1760s, were discovered rolled up in outbuildings. The finest now hang gracefully in a showpiece bedroom. The wallpaper chronicles scenes from Chinese life set in a kegel karst landscape ( see blue box, facing page ). It is likely to have been commissioned by Edwin Lascelles as part of the décor for the then- newly-built Harewood House (1759 -1771). The Lascelles family had close connections with the East India Company and would have imported many Chinese items.

Entries in the Day Work Book for Mick Stanley, Harewood show that Thomas Chippendale’s men were hanging Chinese papers in the Geodiversity Consulting Chintz Bedroom in December 1769. Chippendale was an interior designer wallpaper is ‘one of the finest examples of producing schemes for fashionable Chinese wallpaper anywhere in the world’. interiors, in addition to the catalogue of furniture he is best known for. The Chinese The Chinese made wallpapers for the papers were highly fashionable and would European market in the 18 th Century and have been largely used in bedrooms and they became popular, especially in Britain dressing rooms. and France, as part of the style known as ‘Chinoiserie’. This largely involved an Wallpapers were often moved from house imaginative and exoticised version of to house by a family as they were mounted Chinese style. Rooms were filled with on canvas on a wooden framework, and furniture, largely from Britain, and Chinese could be taken down and rolled for later porcelain, lacquer work, silks and ivories use. It is likely that the paper was removed from the Far East. Wallpapers were prized th from the house in the mid-19 Century as it due to their expense and rarity. did not suit late Regency or early Victorian tastes. Harewood House Trust opened the completely refurbished East Bedroom in The paper was cut from the walls and rolled March 2008 featuring the fully conserved up in linen for protection. The fact that it and re-hung 18 th Century hand-painted survived for over 150 years in an Chinese wallpaper. Each hand-painted sheet outbuilding is remarkable; the fact that it is unique and flows to make a landscape has survived in near-perfect condition is mural around the room. The wallpaper is astonishing. The paper has been made from the pulp of the bark of mulberry painstakingly conserved by Allyson and trees. The paper was most likely traded Adrian McDermott, Chinese wallpaper through the port of Canton in the middle of specialists. Allyson has said that the th I 10 the 18 Century . ued from a shed…

The forces which forged the landscape The movement of the Indian and African plates against the European and Asian plate during Alpine mountain building produced the Alps, Himalayas, and the Tibetan block. Its extensions into China have produced young mountains, many over 7,000 metres (22,000ft) in west and south China and Tibet. Their roaring rivers have cut great gorges such as the Yangtze and their erosion materials have produced flat, watery plains.

Karst is limestone weathered and dissolved by rain and groundwater, sculpting rock into fantastic shapes. In Europe these are best seen in the Burren in Ireland, in Slovenia, Croatia and the Yorkshire Dales. But the European examples are tiny compared to what’s on offer in China. Reference to the karst landscape in China is found frequently in early Chinese literature and illustrations of it are common in art. This is because over 1.2 million km 2 of China is exposed karst. This solution landscape is best developed in south China where limestones and dolomites of late Precambrian to Triassic age have thicknesses of between 3,000 and 10,000 metres. Consequently south China offers some of the most diverse karst landscapes on Earth.

The karst region extends over 500,000 km 2, lying The hand-painted Chinese landscape wallpaper now adorns the mainly in Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi provinces with East Bedroom at Harewood House. an extension into Guangdong. It represents the biggest karst region in the world; a vast and unique set of plains, hills, mountains and plateaux with spectacular systems of underground caves and grottoes, and has been the inspiration for landscape painting for 2,000 years.

Canton was the Chinese karst British name for Karst is called yanrong in Chinese and tsingy in Guangzhou, a city Malagasy, but internationally it is known as karst, the up river from the south coast where German name for Kras, a region in Slovenia partially ships from the extending into Italy where the first scientific research of British East India karst topography was made. The name has a pre-Indo- Company were allowed to dock. The European origin (from karra meaning ‘stone’) and in paper shows scenes antiquity it was called Carusardius in Latin. of industrial production in China in the 18 th Century Tower karst and its variants, cone and kegel karst, including making occur at low latitudes with a tropical or sub-tropical porcelain and silk climate. The extensive karst areas in south China and and growing rice and tea. Integral to North Vietnam differ by their morphology and the images are development from karst areas in temperate climates. illustrations of the As well as the sinkholes, solution valleys, cliffs, typical kegel karst landscape of the subterranean streams and caves known from other Canton area. karst areas, China’s kegel karst, illustrated on the wallpaper, offers hayrick-shaped, or cone-like hills, about 90 m high with sloping sides of between 40-60°. The more dramatic tower karst, standing 90 to 180 m high with steep slopes of 80-90°, occurs in North Vietnam and the Gulf of Tonkin. 11 Opening New Doors:

Geodiversity and the cultural landscape in Scotland (Part 1)

Contemporary sculpture forming part of the John Gordon and Vanessa Kirkbride interpretative experience at Knockan Crag visitor centre, in the Northwest Highlands Geopark. The aim of the sculpture is to “open Scottish Natural Heritage doors” for people to connect with geology. Photo by Lorne Gill / Scottish Natural Heritage

This is the first of a eamus Heaney (2004) wrote people in Scotland have a deep spiritual two-part feature that poets and geologists ask attachment to the landscape. James Hunter questions of the stones, wrote that “so much of what we call exploring the huge transforming geological Highland culture – poems, songs, stories, influence that the landscapes into cultural novels, visual art – consists of celebrating, Scottish landscape and landscapes. Geology, he acknowledged, by one means or another, our physical can open new doors: “the given can be surroundings”. its geology have rSe-imagined in the light of a world that is exerted on cultural and geological as well as historical”. Such links provide opportunities for creative ways to raise awareness of creative effort over the When geodiversity is explored from a Scotland’s geoheritage and engage people centuries. In particular cultural perspective, rocks and landscapes through literature, poetry and art. Applying we look at some become much more than just physical a creative influence to geodiversity allows a entities. People experience feelings and broader exploration of the deep connections diverse and subtle meanings that link them with their cultural between people and the natural world. In forms of interpretation roots and sense of place. contrast with more traditional didactic approaches, driven by what geoscientists of Scotland’s Geodiversity is inextricably entwined with want to tell others, it involves introducing geological heritage many aspects of the cultural landscape. geodiversity to people through different 12 Writers past and present have observed that cultural experiences and different ways of We do not have permission to publish the Loch Katrine painting on the web.

Please view it at Perth Museum and Art Gallery

Loch Katrine by Horatio McCulloch, oil, 1866. Reproduced by kind permission of Perth Museum and . However, as noted by the eminent Art Gallery, Perth and Kinross Council, Scotland . art critic, John Ruskin, Turner also had a keen eye for geological details and their Below: the view across Loch Scavaig on south-west Skye toward the Cuillin Hills, a source of inspiration for generations of landscape painters. realistic representation. Photo by Lorne Gill / Scottish Natural Heritage The creative influence of geodiversity is also continued in more modern landscape art, for example, in the associations of the Scottish Colourists with the landscapes of the West Coast, particularly Iona. Joan Eardley has memorably captured the Kincardineshire coast at Catterline and John Lowrie Morrison took his dramatic palette to the Hebrides.

A binding sense of connection with nature, geology and the landscape is also central to the modern genre of land art. It often has a strong basis in locating sculpture in the looking at the landscape. This is not artists included John Knox, Horatio landscape, but it goes further in something new, and in fact people’s McCulloch, Alexander Nasmyth and the emphasising the connectedness of the responses to cultural interpretations of English painters, Edwin Landseer and installations with the landscape and wider geology and landscape have provided the J.M.W. Turner. Many of their landscapes cultural influences. This will be explored basis for tourism in Scotland since the late show wild, unspoiled scenery with bleak, further in the second of these articles, in the 18 th Century. towering mountains and native wildlife, next issue of Earth Heritage . creating a sublime vision of Scotland still Reflecting the landscape popular with visitors today. Turner’s work Words about landscape There is a strong tradition of landscape art was brought to a wider audience through Landscapes and their geological in Scotland. The radical change in his links with Sir Walter Scott. His underpinnings have also been a powerful perception of wild landscapes, from depictions of light, cloud and atmospheric source of literary inspiration in Scotland. inhospitable places to be avoided to awe- skies highlighted the natural grandeur that The novels of Sir Walter Scott, Robert inspiring places to be experienced, was other artists and poets of the time were also Louis Stevenson, Lewis Grassic Gibbon, encouraged by the romantic painters of the expressing. This is well illustrated by his continued page 14 late 18 th and early 19 th centuries. These images of Loch Coruisk, and 13 visitor attraction at Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, in one of the classic areas of Scottish geology and now within the North West Highlands Geopark. They add to the visitor experience and encourage people with little previous knowledge of geology to experience rocks and landscape in different ways. The interpretation includes rock art, sculptures, and quotations and poetry inscribed in rock along waymarked trails. Such approaches open new doors for people to connect with geology through different forms of personal experience.

Geoparks represent an important recent development in the wider appreciation of Earth heritage and provide a means to integrate geodiversity, landscape, people and culture within a framework of Glen Coe, one of the locations in Scotland that was visited by Turner at the start of the 19 th Century and which provided inspiration for his work. Both photos by Lorne Gill / Scottish Natural Heritage sustainable development. Geoparks can help revitalise the link between Scotland’s th from page 13 geotourism) in Scotland in the mid-18 geological heritage and people’s interest in Century was closely linked to the reading the landscape. They provide George Mackay Brown and Neil Gunn, and landscape, its geological features and how opportunities for local people to interpret the poetry of Norman MacCaig, Sorley these were portrayed in contemporary their landscapes and geological stories in MacLean and Hugh MacDiarmid, provide literature and art. creative ways, without always adopting the ample examples. well-trodden ‘let’s teach you something Sir Walter Scott, in particular, played a key about this place’ path. For instance, the poet Nan Shepherd role in bringing the attractions of the expresses the energies and forces that have Scottish landscape to a wider audience From a geoheritage perspective, this is a th shaped the granite massif of the Cairngorm through popular literature in the early 19 particularly positive sign that people are Mountains: Century and inspiring the idea of the interested in and care about their geological Scottish romantic tour. Scott’s volumes of landscapes and it offers a welcome “So there I lie on the complementary approach to geologists’ plateau, under me the evangelism of their subject. I central core of fire from Further reading which was thrust this G Gordon, J. E. & Kirkbride, V. (2009). Reading grumbling grinding the landscape: unveiling Scotland’s Earth stories. mass of plutonic rock, Proceedings, Vital Spark Conference, Aviemore, October, 2007. Association for Heritage over me blue air, and Interpretation and Interpret Scotland. Available at between me the fire of www.ahi.org.uk/include/pdf/TVSpapers/Gordon_J the rock and the fire of _and_Kirkbride_V.pdf G Heaney, S. (2004). Bog bank, rock face and the the sun, scree, soil and far fetch of poetry, in: M. Parkes (Ed.) Natural and water, moss, grass, Cultural Landscapes – the Geological Foundation. flower and tree, insect, (Dublin: Royal Irish Academy), pp. 11-17. G Holloway, J. & Errington, L. (1978). The bird and beast, wind, Discovery of Scotland. The Appreciation of rain and snow - the total Scottish Scenery Through Two Centuries of Using the landscape and sculpture to inspire young people. mountain”. Scottish Painting (Edinburgh: National Gallery of Scotland). G Hunter, J. (1995). On the Other Side of Sorrow. Norman MacCaig and Sorley MacLean poetry and prose were accompanied by Nature and People in the Scottish Highlands both used rocks and landscape to express engravings by J.M.W. Turner which closely (Edinburgh & London: Mainstream Publishing). reflected the mood of Scott’s writing. G Shepherd, N. (1977). The Living Mountain. A their feelings about the history of human Celebration of the Cairngorm Mountains of suffering in the Highlands and Islands and Places such as Staffa, Loch Coruisk and Scotland (Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press). as a means to reflect on the wider human Loch Katrine attracted particular interest. condition. Such literary sources reveal a For example, during Victorian times, as Part 2 of Opening New Doors: deep human affinity with the landscape. many as 300 passengers a day landed on Staffa from paddle steamers, following the Geodiversity and the cultural Geodiversity and tourism travels of Scott, Turner, Keats, the landscape in Scotland will appear in issue 33 of Earth Heritage . Two Rocks and landforms are the basis for most Wordsworths, Mendelssohn and Queen projects in south-west Scotland will of Scotland’s famous landscapes and Victoria. feature, where poetry and land art scenery and they also represent an asset for Geoheritage interpretation convey a strong sense of a variety of recreation and leisure activities. connection with nature, geology and This is not a recent phenomenon and the Some of these cultural and landscape elements were brought together in the wider cultural influences. d1evelo4 pment of tourism (effectively Renovation will bring new life to galleries

An artist’s impression of the new external look to the Royal Museum Building in Nick Fraser, Edinburgh. National Museums Scotland Images courtesy of the Trustees of National Museums Scotland

ational Museums Scotland universe. Here the visitor is currently in the middle will be able to experience of an exciting the history of the universe redevelopment of the from the ‘Big Bang’ to the Royal Museum Building in present day through an Edinburgh that will bring the immersive audio-visual presentation of the collections into the aid. The story of man’s N21 st Century. This major work includes fascination with space and the development of a new street-level how we have explored it entrance to the landmark Victorian will be told using a building, in addition to a complete variety of objects – from overhaul of the permanent exhibits. the earliest telescopes to those using the latest In the remodelled space, six new galleries technologies. The will be devoted to Natural Sciences with building blocks of the two looking at geological processes and the Earth and early life will place of the Earth in the universe. At the also be featured exhibits same time it is an inescapable fact that the in this gallery. Examples geological landscape also shapes our entire of early life forms, natural world. Consequently the life including Ediacaran and galleries will also include subject matter Burgess Shale fossils, will with direct relevance for geologists. For be on display. To help the example the cast of a Tyrannosaurus rex visitor interpret these will greet visitors as they enter into the rather obscure but very gallery examining ‘Life Works’. Another important fossils, we have life gallery focuses on evolution and commissioned a number extinction, and inevitably a variety of of life restorations of the fossils will be on display here. These once-living creatures. include some magnificent new specimens of insects in amber and, of course, a good Earth Works will feature a sprinkling of Scottish Palaeozoic fish. Our large ‘animated globe’ in A 25 million-year-old female snipe fly collections of Palaeozoic fish form one of the centre of the gallery that through trapped in Mexican amber. A magnificent the best in the world and we shall be internal projection will show the recent acquisition to be featured in the new drawing on these collections for some relationship between the core, mantle and ‘life galleries’. unique displays. Naturally, the great mass crust. It will also demonstrate how the heat extinctions of deep time are always a within the Earth drives all the major subject of intense interest and debate. The geological processes. Separate sections will ‘Mother of all Extinctions’ at the end of the deal with plate tectonics, volcanoes, Permian and the end-Cretaceous event that earthquakes, mountain building and Although actual specimens of rocks and witnessed the demise of the dinosaurs will erosion. One of the key features of this minerals will be the principal foci of the introduce another topic – the impact of man gallery will be a number of large free- galleries, there will also be a number of on the environment. standing specimens. A wonderful polished exciting interactive and audio-visual aids. slab of orbicular granite from Australia and Together they will make the galleries a ‘Earth in Space’ and ‘Earth Works’ are the the two halves of an incredible giant dynamic place for people of all ages to two principal geology galleries. The first amethyst geode displayed back-to-back are come and learn about the place we call centres on our planet’s relationship to the just two of these specimens. home – our planet Earth. I 15 New geopark has a full programme planned Full steam ahead in Anglesey GeoMôn, the Anglesey Geopark where so much stunning geology is on view, has become the 33 rd member of the European Geoparks Network (EGN). It Margaret Wood, already has an exciting range of projects in train to Director, GeoMôn encourage geotourism to the island, provide Stewart Campbell, educational opportunities and promote geoconservation. Here, we look at some of the most Countryside Council for Wales interesting and challenging possibilities.

New life for mining mountain:

Parys Mountain

Parys Mountain is one of Anglesey’s Rebuilding a buried treasure: geological ‘gems’, famous for its copper mines worked since the Bronze Age. GeoMôn is working with Amlwch Industrial Heritage Trust, the Central Wales Orefield and partners in Ireland, among others, to secure Interreg funding. This will be employed in reconstructing some of the derelict mine buildings for use as a visitor/training centre and to improve signage and interpretation of the outstanding mineralogical and industrial heritage. The training of guides who can lead geological

walks is one of GeoMôn’s key Llys Rhosyr aspirations. A flagship centre for such training is being set up with Llys Rhosyr lies just outside Newborough on western Anglesey. Excavations one of the geopark’s key partners started in 1992 have revealed the foundations of buildings believed to be the and sponsors, Talacre Caravan Sites, royal palaces of the Princes of Gwynedd before the conquest by Edward I in at Plas Goch on the shore of the 1283. These may be some of the most important secular settlements in the Menai Strait. Welsh Medieval landscape, and GeoMôn has floated the idea of reconstructing 16 one of the buildings as a tourist attraction. Geopark Week walks:

The Anglesey Walking Festival (AWF) provides a focal point for GeoMôn to showcase the geology of the island and its AONB. The annual geopark week that every EGN geopark must hold is now neatly incorporated within the well- established AWF, using sites that can be easily accessed from the 125-mile-long coastal path that almost circumscribes the island. Our geology week provided 10 geo- walks and two days of children’s and school activities. Geological highlights of this year’s programme were walks to Parys Mountain, Rhoscolyn, South Stack, Traeth Lligwy and the pillow lavas of Ynys Ynys Llanddwyn Llanddwyn. Sainted geology: Llanbadrig, near Cemaes Bay

Llanbadrig, near Cemaes Bay in northern Anglesey, is famous as the type area of Edward Greenly’s Precambrian ‘mélange’. Legend has it that St Patrick was shipwrecked here on his way to convert Ireland to Christianity, surviving in a coastal cave with a freshwater spring, and founding the church here. GeoMôn wants to promote the area for its outstanding geology and its cultural links. Combined, they have the potential to bring visitors from Ireland and much farther afield.

Spreading the word: The World Providing information is key to the Heritage geopark’s activities and an array of Castle at resources is becoming available. Beaumaris. I At www.geomon.co.uk the website has been transformed into a user- All photos friendly first ‘port of call’ for by allcomers. To support teachers and Stewart students, GeoMôn recently published Campbell a guide to Anglesey geology by Jack Treagus ( Earth Heritage 31 ). I A geology guide suitable for the general public, written by John Conway, is on the way and will explain the geology around the 125- mile-long coastal path. I Bilingual trails for South Stack, Breakwater Park Further centre planned: (Holyhead), Ynys Llanddwyn and Cemaes Bay have been published in the island’s AONB magazine, Swn y Mor (sound of the sea). I Beaumaris is the subject of a new town trail leaflet, taking in some of the town’s most historic buildings, including the jail and the World Heritage Members of the GeoMôn team celebrate winning EGN status for the castle. See Publications , pages 18-19. Anglesey Geopark at the organisation’s headquarters, the Prichard I GeoMôn staff regularly give talks to raise Jones Institute, Newborough. Plans are afoot to develop a further the profile of the geopark’s activities and geopark centre at Holyhead’s Breakwater Country Park, next to the on TV the geopark has been featured by busy port (and importantly its huge stream of visitors) and close to ITV News and will feature on the BBC some of the Island’s most spectacular geology. Coast programme in 2010. 17 Exemplary action plans My original vision for a Geodiversity Action Plan, published by RSNC in 2000, was one that raised awareness of the fundamental importance of geodiversity in the sustainable management of the environment. To raise awareness there must be linkages with lifestyle, culture and landscape, and it is only of the two counties. Working conservation agencies, These really are Geodiversity achievable through a close with a range of bodies, the industry, local communities, Action Plans that treat the partnership between statutory, plans’ objectives include: voluntary groups and local subject holistically. Some non-statutory and private to audit and record; increase societies in conserving and Local GAPs have chosen to organisations. awareness and understanding; interpreting geodiversity. concentrate solely on ensure that geodiversity They also embed geodiversity geoconservation. Herefordshire Herefordshire and features in regional and local into future planning, & Worcestershire Earth Worcestershire Earth Heritage strategies and plans; and management and Heritage Trust’s wider vision Trust has again excelled with guide the conservation and interpretation policies, and is to be welcomed. two Geodiversity Action interpretation of geological clearly identify geodiversity Plans (GAPs) that look resources while promoting as the link between people, – Mick Stanley, holistically at the landscape geotourism. The plans engage landscape and their culture. Geodiversity Consulting Rum goings-on Comprehensive guide to exposed 109-mile geo-walk trail A Geological Excursion Guide to The Geopark Way: Rum. C.H. Emeleus and V.R. A 109 mile walking trail Troll. Edinburgh Geological through the Abberley and Society in association with the Malvern Hills Geopark. National Museums Scotland. Herefordshire and A5. £12.99. Worcestershire Earth ISBN 978 1 905267 22 4 Heritage Trust. 136 pages. A5. £9.95 (plus £2 p&p if The Isle of Rum was the site ordering direct from H&W of a major volcano that was Earth Heritage Trust). active for one or two million ISBN 955839009-7 years in the Palaeocene, about 59 million years ago. This A5, full-colour guide Almost everywhere on Rum some significant carries a detailed route feature of Palaeocene igneous activity is exposed. Largest description, dividing details of the Small Isles, Rum is a National Nature Reserve and of the 109-mile waymarked has several Sites of Special Scientific Interest trail through the Abberley encompassing geological features of international and Malvern Hills into 17 individual day walks. It includes importance. interpretations of the geology alongside the trail and the landscape along it. Tourist amenities and attractions are listed, as are places This handy, full-colour, A5 book, which is flexi-bound for to eat, drink and stay. ease of carrying and for use out of doors, gives an overview of the geological evolution of the island. In The guide is available from tourist information centres and addition it provides a comprehensive selection of bookshops along the trail (which runs through Shropshire, excursions to see Rum’s Palaeocene igneous rocks; and it Worcestershire and Gloucestershire) and by mail order from gives advice on travelling to the island, accommodation, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust, 18 weather conditions – and midges! tel: 01905 855184, e-mail: [email protected]. Rich pickings for seekers of self-guided walks British geologists have had an of-page identifier of the peaks that walkers G In the West Midlands, active few months producing can see on their western skyline (on a fine the Black Country information leaflets which day!). Geological Society and its encourage people to walk through partners have produced their surroundings. illustrated fold-out guides to the hidden landscapes of G A neat A6 leaflet which opens up to A3 Sandwell and Walsall. contains no fewer than nine circular walks Both are entitled Scorching of between 5.6 and deserts 8 km (3.5-5 miles) and icy exploring Derbyshire’s wastes mineral past. and celebrate the fact that, Exploring Stone in relative to its size, the history is published by Black Country has the the National Stone most diverse geology of Centre at Wirksworth. anywhere in the world. The walks were The leaflets offer clear devised by Geoff Selby-Sly and Jeff explanations of how the Sterland to focus on the geology and history formations were created, of local quarries and mines. G A suite of walk guides helped by simplified geological maps. They from the Herefordshire and neatly tie the rocks to the area’s mining and The Centre itself is the Worcestershire Earth social heritage. subject of a more lavish Heritage Trust and Shropshire Geological A5 leaflet, National Society carries a generic theme ‘Walk G A short stroll through Beaumaris, on Stone Centre Trails. The through the past for a healthy future. See Anglesey’s Menai Strait, reveals no fewer Centre site covers 20 ha how rocks have shaped the landscape’. than 22 points of geological interest picked (50 acres), about half of These are produced to encourage allcomers out by author John Conway in a new town which is a designated to use their legs for fitness and their eyes to walk leaflet published by GeoMôn, Site of Special Scientific soak up the geological specialities along the Anglesey Geopark. Interest for its geology. way. Each leaflet opens with a message Walking through the past Three themes of interest, geology, ecology about healthy lifestyles, and contains a clear of Beaumaris perfectly and human history, are all covered along line drawing of a route between 3.7 and illustrates how geological one trail route. More information at 4.8km (2.3 and 3 miles) in length. factors are inextricably www.nationalstonecentre.org.uk Geological features are described and entwined with the illustrated on the reverse so readers can spot development of the built G The Stirling and exactly what they’re meant to. environment. With both Clackmannan RIGS Group English and Welsh has produced a walking tour The guides cover Stourport, , versions shoehorned into of Wolf’s Hole Quarry and Ledbury and the Alveley and Severn Valley the A3 foldout leaflet, Mine Woods at Bridge of Country Park and are freely available from pictures of the sites are postage stamp size Allan. A clear map is doctors’ surgeries, health centres and tourist but nevertheless adequate to act as a guide. provided, with descriptions of information centres in and near the walk In common with some other Welsh town geological interest along the centres. More information at walks, the Beaumaris leaflet incorporates a route. A nice touch is a foot- www.earthheritagetrust.org useful geological timeline.

A new international platform for geoconservation Geoheritage is a new academic journal which and geoconservation issues in Spain, Italy and Poland. examines international issues involving conservation of sites, materials use, protection and practical Published by Springer in association with the heritage management, as well as interpretation European group ProGeo and others, it is available in through education, training and tourism. hard copy or online versions, ISSN 1867-2477 (print) 1867-2485 (online). More information at First-issue articles include a discussion of an www.springer.com/earth+sciences/geology/ integrated evaluation system for geological heritage, journal/12371 19 Earth Heritage magazine is published twice a year to promote geological and landscape conservation.

The Falls of Clyde, Lanarkshire provide the most dramatic example in Scotland of how glacial deposits blocked and diverted the course of a major river, forcing the river to cut a new bedrock channel. The Falls effectively separate the river’s upper and lower reaches.

The Falls also constitute a landmark which has inspired people through the ages. On page 12, we start a two-part feature exploring the huge influence the Scottish landscape and its geology have exerted on cultural and creative effort over the centuries.

Photo by Lorne Gill / Scottish Natural Heritage