Enclosure 16

Fforest Fawr Geopark – , UK Progress Report September 2011 – March 2012

Fforest Fawr Geopark Activities

1. Website. The Geopark website (www.fforestfawrgeopark.org.uk) has been transferred to a new content management system (WordPress). This enables easier editing and the addition of more maps and images. Significant progress has also been made in translating the website into Welsh.

2. Training for businesses. The Geopark organized and delivered a Geopark orientation day for local businesses on 21 September 2011 at the Waterfalls Centre, . The Geopark Development Officer (GDO) presented the Geopark’s geology and archaeology at training courses for local taxi-drivers on 19 October 2011 and 22 February 2012 in and respectively.

3. The National Park Ambassador Scheme. The GDO delivered a module focused on the Geopark during the course for local businesses on 21 September 2011 and to a meeting of all 86 National Park Ambassadors on 2 February 2012.

4. The Mumbles Probus Club 1 November 2011. A presentation was delivered to approximately 60 members titled: Fforest Fawr Geopark and the Geopark Concept. Probus Clubs are an almost world-wide movement which serve the interests of retired or semi-retired professional or business people.

5. John Muir Trust Southern Annual Meeting, Bristol 12 November 2011. The John Muir Trust is the UK’s leading wild land charity. Julian Atkins and the GDO were invited to address the meeting with a view to establishing a future partnership between this organization, the National Park Authority and Fforest Fawr Geopark

6. Bwa Maen Geosite Project. The design and content of the new interpretive panel for this spectacular geological site involved collaboration between the site owners Forestry Commission Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales responsible for the management of this Special Area of Conservation, the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and the Outdoor Activity Providers Group representing climbers, cavers and gorge-walkers.

7. Community Engagement. Fforest Fawr Geopark and the National Trust organized two events at Coelbren, a community on the southern fringe of the Geopark on 5 November 2011 and 4 March 2012. Both events focused on local history, particularly the Roman legacy and that of the Industrial Revolution, with two local tramroads being visited and interpreted. Seventy five members of this vibrant community attended the November meeting.

Enclosure 16

Educational activities

1. Fforest Fawr Geopark Research Seminar 12 October 2011. Supported by the British Geological Survey, Forestry Commission Wales and the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, the Seminar titled “Fforest Fawr – Developing the Geopark’s Research Potential” included nine presentations. The programme of presentations including abstracts is available on www.fforestfawrgeopark.org.uk/geopark- research-seminar-2011-abs

2. Presentation of Scientific Knowledge in Geoparks. In this project, supervised by Professor Susan Baker, School of Social Sciences, University Yukiko Shibata, an MSc student, will analyse and compare how scientific knowledge is presented, how people receive this, and how people use this in Fforest Fawr Geopark and Muroto Geopark,Japan.

3. The GDO addressed the Annual national conference of Geography Teacher Educators in Swansea on 27 January 2012 and promoted each of the UK’s Geoparks as outdoor classrooms for teaching of human and physical geography.

Partner Activities

1. Partnership Workshops. Workshops were held for members of the Geopark Management Group on the 16 November 2011 and for representatives of Geopark Businesses representatives on 25 January 2012 . The meetings were convened to initiate the development of the Geopark Action Plan for the period 2012-16.

European Geoparks Network Activities

1.EGN Committees: Tony Ramsay is a member of the EGN Advisory Committee.

2. The EGN Magazine. Tony Ramsay is a member of the EGN Editorial Board and edits articles for the EGN Magazine.

3. Tony is currently the catalyst for the Tectonic Thematic Group.

Julian Atkins: Julian.Atkins @breconbeacons.org Tony Ramsay: [email protected]