Guidelines for the Identification and Selection of Local Geological Sites in West

April 2011

CONTENTS

Introduction 1 Purpose of Local Geological Site Notification 2 Background to Identification and Selection of Local Geological Sites 3 Criteria for the Selection of Local Geological Sites 4 The Local Geological Sites Panel 5 Survey Methodology 6 Management and Review of Local Geological Sites 7 Designation Process 7 Condition Monitoring 8 Glossary 11 References 12

APPENDIX 1 – Example of a LGS designation sheet 13 APPENDIX 2 – List of LGS and their condition in December 2010 15 APPENDIX 3 – Table to show stratigraphic representation of LGS 17 APPENDIX 4 – Condition Monitoring Form 19 APPENDIX 5 – WYGT Field Survey Site Assessment Form 21

INTRODUCTION This document describes the process for identifying and gaining recognition for sites of geological and geomorphological value in . The selection process described will ensure recognition of sites: they may then be afforded protection through the planning system and be targeted with grants and other resources to assist their conservation and management.

This guidance is consistent with Local Sites – Guidance on their Identification, Selection and Management (Defra, 2006) and should be read in conjunction with that publication and Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (ODPM, 2005) and Planning for Biodiversity and Geological Conservation: A Guide to Good Practice (ODPM, 2006).

1 PURPOSE OF LOCAL GEOLOGICAL SITE SELECTION The purpose of selection of Local Geological Sites (LGS) is to ensure that the geodiversity value of these sites is recognised so that informed decisions may be made on their future management.

The Defra guidance on Local Sites (Defra, 2006) describes the legislative and policy context for LGS. Reference is made to Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation; Planning Policy Guidance Note 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation , with regard to rock areas (e.g., cliffs, quarries and pits); the relationship between local Biodiversity Action Plans and Community Strategies; the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (Section 74) with regard to protected landscapes, geological and physiographical features; and the Biodiversity Strategy for .

Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological conservation (ODPM, 2005) states that ‘local development frameworks should: - indicate the location of designated sites of importance for biodiversity and geodiversity, making clear distinctions between the hierarchy of international, national, regional and locally designated sites’. It also states 'Sites of regional and local biodiversity and geological interest, which include Regionally Important Geological Sites, Local Nature Reserves and Local Sites, have a fundamental role to play in meeting overall national biodiversity targets; contributing to the quality of life and the wellbeing of the community; and in supporting research and education. Criteria-based policies should be established in local development documents against which proposals for any development on, or affecting, such sites will be judged.'

In Planning Policy Statement 12: Local Spatial Planning (ODPM, 2008) 'areas of protection, such as nationally protected landscape and internationally, nationally and locally designated areas and sites' are cited for inclusion on adopted proposals maps.

LGS notification provides landowners/managers with information on the geodiversity value of their land to assist them in making choices on management. In prioritising allocation of grants, such as payments through the Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Scheme, agencies will be able to target grants towards LGS. Other bodies will be able to channel resources to provide advice and practical assistance with management. Practical links may be made with Community Strategies, such as local group help with conservation management of appropriate sites.

The condition of LGS provides a measure of Geodiversity Action Plan achievements at local, regional and national levels. The West Yorkshire Geodiversity Action Plan (2008) identified the priorities for geodiversity conservation and enhancement within the county and suggested ways in which the sites might be used to inform the general public about the importance of geodiversity.

Local authorities are required to provide reports on local geodiversity to regional government offices through their Annual Monitoring Report, as part of the assessment of the effectiveness of their planning policies. Local Development Framework Monitoring: A Good Practice Guide (ODPM, 2005) makes specific reference to monitoring areas designated for their local significance for geodiversity.

The New Performance Framework for Local Authorities and Local Authority Partnerships: Single Set of National Indicators published in October 2007 includes NI 197: Improved Local Biodiversity – proportion of Local Sites where positive conservation management has been or is being implemented. This requires up-to-date information on the management being carried out on Local Geological Sites (see Condition monitoring form - Annex 4).

2 BACKGROUND TO SELECTION AND DESIGNATION OF GEOLOGICAL SITES Designation procedure for geological sites from 1995 to 2010 was carried out by the West Yorkshire RIGS Group, later known as the West Yorkshire Geology Trust. The group was established during the early 1990s and a group of volunteers, mostly amateur geology enthusiasts, surveyed the districts of West Yorkshire to find the most suitable sites to designate as RIGS (Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites), which are now known as Local Geological Sites.

Sites were selected on the basis of various criteria, generally related to their suitability for educational use, their accessibility and their scientific value. At that time, there were no national guidelines for designation. The surveying took place district by district during the late 1990s, finishing in 2000, with a total of 69 RIGS spread across the five districts.

The process of designation of sites during that period consisted of informing the relevant district planning authority that the site had been assessed and judged to be suitable to be designated as a RIGS. A designation sheet with a boundary map was sent to the relevant planning authority. An example of a RIGS/LGS designation sheet is shown in Appendix 1. Information was also sent to the local environmental or countryside services section of each local authority. It was hoped that this would enable the RIGS to be included in the relevant Unitary Development Plan (now Local Development Framework).

The designation sheet contained location information, including grid references, appropriate Ordnance Survey and British Geological Survey maps. A location map was drawn using a 1:10,000 map which was usually obtained from a local reference library. The information included a brief geological summary of the interest at the site, with several photos which showed the overall view and some interesting features. There were also sections on historical interest, aesthetic value, educational value and suggestions about possible management for the future. These categories are very similar to the national model for RIGS/LGS designation, which is used widely at present. The process of digitisation of the RIGS records took place in 2003/2004 and digital copies were then circulated to the local authorities.

It was decided in September 2007 to change the name of the organisation to West Yorkshire Geology Trust (WYGT), which would be more readily understood by the general public. Work has continued on the RIGS/LGS data base and the designation sheets are updated on a regular basis. A. list of the LGS in West Yorkshire is attached in Appendix 2

One of the most significant changes has been the addition of ownerships of sites. Establishing ownership had not been attempted in the early stages of surveying of RIGS, so work was done in 2009 to see if this information could be obtained. At present, ownership of 63 LGS is known, 7 are unknown and 3 sites have multiple ownerships, the details of which have not been obtained.

The Government’s publication of Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS9) Biodiversity and Geological Conservation in August 2005 introduced the term Local Site and guidance was issued the year after on how to proceed at a local level in identifying and protecting Local Sites especially through the new Local Development Frameworks that planning authorities were now required to produce. As local sites for wildlife conservation have now been called Local Wildlife Sites (LWS), the geological locations are being called Local Geological Sites (LGS).

Four more LGS were designated during 2008/2009 to bring the total in March 2010 to 73 LGS in West Yorkshire.

In May 2009, the West Yorkshire Local Sites Partnership met for the first time. It was unanimously agreed that there should be one Local Sites System for West Yorkshire, not five District systems. It

3 was also agreed that the terms to be used for the sites would be Local Wildlife Site (LWS) and Local Geological Site (LGS) and collectively they would be called Local Sites.

It was agreed that it would be the Local Sites Partnership (LSP) which ultimately takes the decision to designate local sites. It was recognised that a West Yorkshire LSP was needed to take responsibility for decision making within the system, but that the detailed actions for some areas of work would need to be undertaken at District level.

It was agreed that these ten organisations would be the full LSP members, as follows: • 5 District Councils of , , , and • West Yorkshire Ecology • Natural England • West Yorkshire Geology Trust • Yorkshire Wildlife Trust • Yorkshire Naturalists Union

In December 2009 a further meeting was held. Hannah Booth, of Natural England, agreed to chair the group for the first year. Robert Masheder, of West Yorkshire Ecology, the county Environmental Records Office, offered to help with minutes and setting agendas for future meetings.

It was agreed that it would be useful to have working groups or sub-groups split between Local Geological Sites and Local Wildlife Sites, but that the designation of sites must be undertaken by the full Local Sites Partnership. A working group, called the Local Geological Sites Panel (LGS Panel), consisting of West Yorkshire Geology Trust and two other members with geological backgrounds, was proposed.

CRITERIA FOR THE SELECTION OF LOCAL GEOLOGICAL SITES The Defra guidance on Local Sites recommends that the Local Sites Partnership should: • Be responsible for site selection; • Possess adequate technical knowledge; • Develop and document site criteria; • Select sites against criteria; • Record reasons for selection of each site; • Allow site owners an opportunity to comment; • De-select sites which no longer qualify.

The criteria are based on the Natural England criteria, stated in Local Sites – Guidance on their Identification, Selection and Management (Defra, 2006). LGSs are selected on a local basis using the four nationally agreed criteria (Defra, 2006, paragraph 52): • Value of the site for educational purposes in life-long learning • Value of the site for study by both professional and amateur Earth scientists • Historic value of a site in terms of important advances in Earth science knowledge, events or human exploitation • Aesthetic value of a site in the landscape, particularly in relation to promoting public • awareness and appreciation of Earth sciences

4 Criteria for designation of Local Geological Sites in West Yorkshire • That the site should contain geological and/or geomorphological features • That the site should have value for one or more of these reasons; scientific, historical, educational and/or aesthetic value • That the site should be regionally important for West Yorkshire

Guidelines to assist in making an objective decision about whether a site should be designated as a Local Geological Site

The site is important because: • It has rocks which are representative of their stratigraphic position in West Yorkshire • It is a good example of the rock or feature it contains • It has an interesting or unusual geological structure or feature which is not found elsewhere in the county • It is or has been important for geological research • It is particularly easy to access, especially for educational purposes • A site may not be of interest on its own, but in combination with other nearby sites, it may tell an interesting or educational story • It is being permanently preserved as a rock exposure and will be accessible in the future.

It is expected that only one or two of these statements will apply to each site.

West Yorkshire Geology Trust felt that it was important that sites were accessible to the public, if they had features of interest, so the factor of accessibility was of over-riding importance during the early surveying. Since then, it has been recognised that stratigraphic representation of rocks in the county was also important, so recent surveying has attempted to redress that factor. A table showing stratigraphic representation is shown in Appendix 3.

THE LOCAL GEOLOGICAL SITES PANEL Sound geodiversity information is needed before a site can be assessed to determine whether or not it should be selected as a LGS. Sites should be surveyed before attempting to apply LGS criteria. Site owners should, whenever possible, be contacted and asked for permission for access to survey and monitor sites. Surveys will be carried out by competent geologists who are able to record the information required to make an assessment.

The Local Geological Sites Panel will meet as necessary to examine survey reports, assess sites against the agreed selection guidelines and consider representations. The decision making process will be transparent and consistent. The Panel may seek the views of geology experts or relevant organisations.

Prior to formal endorsement, site owners/managers will be informed of the outcome of the LGS Panel assessment and will be given the opportunity to make observations on factors relating directly to the application of site selection criteria, as recommended by Defra. At this stage site owners/managers will also be sent full details of the site survey, including site description and boundary map, and information on the geodiversity interest.

As recommended by Defra, sites formally selected by the Local Sites Partnership ‘must be submitted to the local authority for inclusion within their Local Development Frameworks at the earliest opportunity’ (Defra, 2006, paragraph 24). It will be the responsibility of the local authority to ensure that site owners/managers are informed of the outcome of this process.

5 SURVEY METHODOLOGY Data Recording The recommended recording procedure can be considered in three stages:

Before Visiting 1. Identify the owner(s) and anyone else involved in management of the site (hereafter referred to as ‘the owner’). 2. Contact the owner, ideally by a letter covering relevant background information. Follow up by telephone or possibly a face-to-face meeting. 3. Request permission to visit. 4. If request is refused, do not visit the site. 5. If request is accepted, agree a visit procedure with the owner. 6. Discuss any relevant management issues with the owner. 7. Record all the above details for future reference. 8. Look at available data about the site and use it as a basis for the forthcoming site visit. 9. Follow all reasonable requests of the owner, such as meeting beforehand.

On Site 10. Take to the site: field survey and condition monitoring forms, a copy of any previous boundary map and supporting text, if relevant; a copy of a base map (particularly for new sites); a copy of appropriate aerial photography (optional); appropriate safety clothing and survey equipment. 11. Assess approach to survey. Linear sites should be split into 1 km long sub-sites. Individual fields can also be sub-sites, although some may need to be further subdivided (see section 9.6). 12. In each site or sub-site, fill in one field survey form and one condition monitoring form as fully as possible. Key elements of the process are as follows:

• Give clear and detailed descriptions - The key thing to remember when undertaking a survey of any sort is to give as much description as possible. One of the major flaws encountered in recording is lack of detail. Even if you have made an incorrect interpretation in the field, providing enough supporting evidence and documentation will allow other experts to make a correct interpretation. Take as much information back with you as possible so that a fair assessment can be made.

• Do not make assumptions - Don’t assume that everyone else has the same level of expertise and knowledge that you have. If you are not sure that you have identified something in the field correctly, don’t hazard a guess on what it might be. Make a clear record of what you see, and indicate where you are unsure of a particular feature so that it can be investigated further. It is much more professional to admit where further research is needed than to make inaccurate interpretations that could affect the credibility of any LGS designation. It is essential that accurate and reliable information is recorded.

• Plans, sections and sketches - Record a geological face or feature in detail. Measurements are particularly important, especially when recording sections. It is not always practical to measure the whole site, but give accurate dimensions where possible.

• Photographs - Photographs can provide valuable information that would be difficult to record by other means. However, their value is limited unless they include a scale, are well labelled, annotated and referenced, including a compass orientation. Used in conjunction with other parts of the field survey and sketches they provide a visual record of the site and its condition at the time of the visit.

6 • Samples and specimens - Should only be taken from the site if they are required in the context of field recording of the site, i.e. for further laboratory study including identification and/or analysis. All activities on the site should conform to the Geologists’ Association Code of Conduct and the Countryside Code. Key specimens should not be removed from the site.

• Complete site assessment form

After the Survey 13. Provide West Yorkshire Geology Trust with all relevant field data and other data collected. The Trust will compile all assessments, descriptions and maps for sites for consideration by the LGS panel. 14. Ensure that every owner and occupier has the opportunity to receive copies of data concerning their land and to discuss management issues. 15. Publicly held recent data can be used for LGS assessment, even if it has been obtained for other purposes. Examples include data submitted as part of an Environmental Statement or a planning application, or data acquired by local authorities using their powers to enter land for the purpose of preparing a Local Development Framework.

MANAGEMENT AND REVIEW OF LOCAL GEOLOGICAL SITES Data relating to LGS will be held by West Yorkshire Ecology on behalf of the LSP and will be managed according to its published policies and procedures in line with National Biodiversity Network guidelines.

Defra recommends that ‘Local authorities should provide leadership in establishing and maintaining partnerships and systems to manage Local Sites.’ It also recommends that ‘locational details should be sent to relevant decision-makers with further information on the site’s features and interest as appropriate’ (Defra, 2006, paragraphs 16 and 71).

As recommended by Defra, West Yorkshire LSP will review these guidelines from time to time. A complete review will consider if: • The system is operating in the most effective way; • The sites selected represent an adequate selection of sites of geodiversity interest in West Yorkshire • There is sufficient information on the condition of LGS; and, • Measures for LGS conservation and management are effective.

DESIGNATION PROCESS Once site data is available, the details will be presented to the LGS Panel for consideration. The Panel comprises personnel with geodiversity expertise appointed by the West Yorkshire LSP. The Panel's recommendations will be based on the guidelines laid out below to ensure consistency, through impartial use of professional judgment. An invitation for a representative to attend will be sent to each local authority covering the sites under consideration at Panel meetings.

The LGS Panel will normally meet two or three times per year. Additional meetings may be convened if there are matters to discuss urgently: alternatively, information may be circulated by electronic means and votes made remotely.

A list of candidate LGS will be circulated to LGS Panel members before each meeting. This list will include the designation sheet for each site, accompanied by a boundary map and photographs.

The basis for individual site selection will be recorded, showing the features judged to be of substantive value and how they were assessed against the criteria.

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Sites that fail to satisfy at least one criterion will not necessarily be rejected. There may be insufficient information available for an assessment to be made and the Panel may request further information, for instance specialist survey data or changes in the proposed boundary. Once these requests have been satisfied, the new site details can be re-submitted to the Panel for re-consideration.

Whilst the preferred approach is to gain landowners' permission to survey sites and to survey at agreed times, all sites of substantive geological or geomorphological importance need to be selected. On occasion, this will mean assessing sites where landowners are reluctant to take part in the process.

Where other approaches have been exhausted, Local Planning Authorities should use the powers they have to enter land for the purposes of preparing a Local Development Framework in order to survey sites. This must be carried out in accordance with Sections 324 & 325 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The Panel will only recommend that a site is rejected as a LGS if it considers that adequate recent survey has taken place and other relevant factors have been considered. The rationale will be recorded.

A site may be re-assessed after selection/non-selection if its condition changes.

Information on all recommendations made by the Panel, and the reasons for those recommendations, will be clearly documented and held by West Yorkshire Ecology. The basis for site selection will be transparent to anyone who wishes to understand the rationale behind the decision.

Site owners/managers will be informed of the outcome of the Panel assessment and will be given the opportunity to make observations on factors relating directly to the application of site selection criteria. The West Yorkshire Local Sites Partnership Steering Group will consider the recommendations of the Panel and any other representation and be the final arbiter on LGS selection. Its decisions will be recorded and held by West Yorkshire Ecology.

CONDITION MONITORING LGS should be re-surveyed on a five year rolling cycle, and their status reviewed, as recommended by Defra. This monitoring cycle will be dependent on available resources but, if it exceeds five years, the data would not be considered sound and up-to-date. National Indicator 197 requires information on management that is not more than five years old.

Monitoring of LGS (or other sources of information) may reveal deterioration of designated sites. If this is the case, the assessment procedure will be re-applied and consideration given to the potential for restoration of the site’s features of interest. If restoration is not feasible, the LGS Panel may notify owners and other interested parties that formal de-selection will take place. The local authority should then remove reference to the site from its LDF at the earliest opportunity.

The Local Geological Sites condition monitoring form has been developed in partnership with the Malvern Hills AONB, Natural England, UKRIGS, the Geology Trusts and Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust. The condition monitoring form is the method recognised by Natural England, UKRIGS and the Geology Trusts to assess the condition of a designated Local Geological Site (and previously RIGS). An example of a condition monitoring form is shown in Appendix 4.

Local Sites Partnerships will find the process a useful standard in reporting the conservation management of Geodiversity for the Improved Local Biodiversity Indicator - NI 197.

8 This form will be used as the national standard to independently, and with minimal subjectivity, monitor and record the condition of sites, in order to achieve a common standard of monitoring and to easily compare sites across the LGS network.

Site Information This section is for entering basic information about the site and should be the same as that held for the LGS. Clearly some of the categories will not apply in West Yorkshire. Site Name – This should be the exact same name as used to identify the site as a LGS. Site Type – Each site should be assigned a site type based on the accepted Earth Science Conservation Classification, as shown below. Only the abbreviations should be used on the form.

Exposure or Extensive Sites Integrity Sites Active quarries and pits EA Static (fossil) IS geomorphological Disused quarries and pits ED Active process IA geomorphological Coastal cliffs and foreshore EC Caves IC River and stream sections EW Karst IK Inland outcrops EO Road, rail and canal cuttings ER Finite Sites Exposure underground mines and EU Finite mineral, FM tunnels fossil or other geological Extensive buried interest EB Mine dumps FD Finite underground mines or tunnels FU

Finite buried interest FB

Primary factors This section explores the factors that could have a direct affect on the geodiversity feature(s).The table is split into three feature types; • Bedrock feature (solid rock exposures, structural features etc.) • Superficial deposit feature (river terraces, mass movement deposits, peat deposits etc.) • Geomorphology feature (active geomorphological processes)

The assessor should delineate on the form which features are present at the site by completing each question for each feature type with a Yes or No answer. If a feature is not present (as listed in the Interest Features section), then “not applicable” should be entered. If any of the factors are having an adverse affect on the feature(s) of interest (this is where reference to the reason for LGS designation is critical) this should be recorded by placing a Y in the appropriate “Y/N” box. The comments box can then be filled in as the assessor sees fit.

3. Secondary factors These are factors that do not directly affect the feature(s) but may need to be managed in order for the feature(s) to maintain a desirable condition for their designation. Site Access – This deals with accessibility of a site, a factor that is not considered with regards to SSSIs, however geodiversity groups tend to consider this. Issues over site access may include safety, physical obstacles such as vegetation, landowner restrictions, or a protected species (e.g. peregrine falcon) restricting access at certain times of the year.

9 Furniture – Central to interpretation and/or safety at the site. Issues may include a damaged interpretation panel, a bund or fence being damaged leading to the site becoming unsafe. Other features – There may be other features of interest at a site that should be considered and noted e.g. a rare species of plant, or a cave of archaeological interest.

4. Site Status Primary factors - In order for monitoring to be a useful tool to focus management, the changing of, or status quo of, a LGS needs to be recorded. This section deals with the site status, in order for the geoconservation community to interpret it at different levels as they see fit. At its most basic level, an assessment is given of whether a site is in a desirable condition for use of its feature(s). A site should be given a yes when it is clear that it is in a fit state for use of its features (i.e. for educational purposes via regular school visits). A site may also be in a desirable condition if it is designated for scientific reasons only, and the feature(s) can practically be re-exposed, even though they may be in a slightly worse overall condition than a site that is used for education. There is a degree of subjectivity here, but the assessor is given freedom to determine this. Therefore, at the most basic level LGS can be given the status of being in a desirable or undesirable condition.

Next is site management. Monitoring is undertaken with a view to both assessing the state of the LGS, but also what (if any) management may be undertaken. Suggested management should be entered into the appropriate box (depending on what initial condition status was given).

Finally the level of management (being undertaken, not going to be undertaken etc) should be filled in after consultation with the geodiversity group and/or landowner. This final stage is the most critical in determining a specific site status. The condition status of each site is as follows:

Site in desirable condition? Management status Condition status Yes Minimal management GOOD (monitoring only) Yes Management required and GOOD IMPROVING is being undertaken Yes Management required and GOOD STEADY is going to be undertaken Yes Management required and GOOD DECLINING is not going to be undertaken Yes Management required but GOOD DECLINING is not possible Uncertain/No Management being POOR IMPROVING undertaken Uncertain/No Management going to be POOR STEADY undertaken Uncertain/No Management not going to POOR DECLINING be undertaken Uncertain/No Management not possible POOR DECLINING or LOST

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Secondary factors – An assessment of whether any secondary factors are in need of management can be given in the appropriate box. Photos – A key tool in comparing site condition at different moments in time are photos and photo mosaics. The first time a site is assessed, photos should be taken in a suitable place, of the features of interest and any other key factors. The exact location (8 figure grid reference), orientation and description as to where the assessor stood needs to be clearly outlined in order that for future monitoring, photos are taken from the same place to allow for comparison over time. Photographs should be resized before inserting into the form to ensure best quality and small document size. The originals should be provided separately.

Condition monitoring of many LGS in West Yorkshire took place during 2009/2010 and information has been passed to the environment or countryside services of the relevant local authority. The list of the condition monitoring status of LGS in March 2010 is available in Appendix 5.

GLOSSARY Geodiversity The variety of rocks, minerals, fossils, soils and landscapes, together with the natural processes which form them. Geodiversity Action Plan (GAP) National, local and company-specific plans established under the UK Geodiversity Action Plan, with the intention of promoting and managing the sustainable use of geodiversity resources. Geology The scientific study of the Earth, its materials, structures, processes and history. Geomorphology The science concerned with understanding the form of the Earth's land surface and the processes by which it is shaped, both at the present day as well as in the past. for partner organisations. The Partnership is independent of any of its constituent organisations. Partners are listed on the website www.lincsbiodiversity.org.uk. Local Development Framework (LDF) Local Development Frameworks deliver the spatial planning strategy for the local planning authority's area. They are replacing statutory Local Plans. Local Geological Site (LGS) Local Geological Sites (LGSs), along with geological Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are the most important places for geodiversity and heritage in the county. They have substantive geoconservation value and their function is to protect and manage such interest and, where possible, provide educational opportunities. Local Nature Reserve (LNR) A statutory designation made by a Local Authority, in consultation with Natural England, to protect sites of special wildlife interest and enhance public enjoyment of wildlife. The Local Authority either has ownership or a legal interest in the land. Local Site (LS) Local Sites are sites of substantive nature conservation value. Local Sites encompass both biodiversity and geodiversity, with sites known as Local Wildlife Sites and Local Geological Sites respectively. Local Wildlife/Geological Sites are also possible where interests coincide. Although they do not have any statutory status, many are equal in quality to the representative sample of sites that make up statutory Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). Local Wildlife Site (LWS) Local Wildlife Sites (LWSs), along with biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), some of which are of international importance, are the most important places for wildlife in the county. They have substantive nature conservation value and their continued presence makes a significant contribution to maintenance of biodiversity. They may also have an important role in contributing to public enjoyment and understanding of nature.

11 Local Geological Sites Panel The panel set up under the auspices of the West Yorkshire Local Sites Partnership, with a membership drawn from statutory and voluntary nature conservation organisations and local authorities. Panel members are appointed by the LSP; they all have geological expertise. National Indicator 197 (NI197) A National Indicator for the performance of Local Authorities. Improved Local Biodiversity – the number of Local sites where positive conservation management has been or is being implemented. Natural England Natural England is the government’s advisor on the natural environment. Planning Policy Statement (PPS) A statement published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), replacing Planning Policy Guidance. Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) Established in 1990 by the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC), Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) are the most important non-statutory geoconservation sites. RIGS were designated based on local knowledge and so highlight local geological diversity and heritage. They are important as an educational, historical and recreational resource. West Yorkshire Geology Trust used the term until May 2009, when it was felt appropriate to change the name to Local Geological Sites. Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) An area of land which in the opinion of Natural England is of special interest at a national level due to its flora, fauna or geological or physiographical features West Yorkshire Ecology This is the West Yorkshire Environmental Records Centre responsible for collecting, collating, managing and disseminating information relating to the wildlife, sites and habitats of West Yorkshire. West Yorkshire Geodiversity Action Plan The Action Plan is a consultative document that sets out the geodiversity of the county and the LGS (RIGS) already designated. It covers the significance of geodiversity sites in planning legislation and the importance of site management for geodiversity interpretation. It was published in March 2008. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) The Yorkshire nature conservation charity, which covers the whole of the county and has many wildlife sites within West Yorkshire. Yorkshire Naturalist Union (YNU) Long-established group of amateur naturalists, covering the whole county, with expertise in identifying and recording biodiversity.

REFERENCES Defra, 2006, Local Sites – Guidance on their Identification, Selection and Management. Defra

Ellis NV (ed), Bowen DQ, Campbell S, Knill JL, McKirdy AP, Prosser CD, Vincent MA and Wilson RCL, 1996, G eological Conservation Review Series 1 . JNCC, Peterborough.

Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership 2009 Local Geological Sites –Guidelines for their Identification & Selection in the Historic County of Lincolnshire

Nature Conservancy Council, 1990, Earth Science Conservation in Great Britain – A Strategy. Peterborough.

ODPM, 2005, Local Development Framework Monitoring: A Good Practice Guide. HMSO

ODPM, 2008, Planning Policy Statement 12: Local Spatial Planning . HMSO

ODPM, 2005, Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation. HMSO

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ODPM, 2005, Government Circular: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation – Statutory Obligations and Their Impact Within the Planning System (ODPM Circular 06/2005; Defra Circular 01/2005). HMSO

ODPM, Defra, and English Nature, 2006, Planning for Biodiversity and Geological Conservation: A Guide to Good Practice . ODPM

Reynolds, J. 2001, Notes to accompany RIGS Recording, Assessment, Designation and Notification sheets.

West Yorkshire Geology Trust, 2008 West Yorkshire Geodiversity Action Plan – A Consultative Document

APPENDIX 1 EXAMPLE OF A DESIGNATION SHEET

Pule Hill Quarry, Marsden STATUS: Local Geological Site OTHER DESIGNATIONS: Site of Special Scientific Interest COUNTY: West Yorkshire DISTRICT: Kirklees OS GRID REF: SE 032 108 OS 1:50,000 Landranger 110 and OS 1:25,000 Explorer OL 21 South Pennines BGS 1:50,000 Sheet 86 Glossop FIRST DESIGNATED by West Yorkshire RIGS Group in 1996 DATE OF MOST RECENT SURVEY September 2009 by West Yorkshire Geology Trust SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION produced by Ian Chisholm DESIGNATION SHEET UPDATED August 2009

SITE DESCRIPTION: An extensive exposure of Upper Carboniferous Midgley Grit (formerly known as the Pule Hill Grit) is revealed in a 20m high quarry face extending 100m along the western slopes of Pule Hill. Plant fossils can be seen in the quarry spoil and blocks of fallen rock.

HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS: The quarry produced large quantities of building stones and flag stones. The site has industrial archaeological interest, containing the remains of a loading bay for the inclined plane used to transport quarried stone down to the road. The quarrying is referred to in the and Glossop memoir (see details below) p177. It was recorded in 1933 that the quarries (called Pule Edge Quarries) were actively producing paving stones, setts and building stone. Adjacent to the site are spoil tips containing material removed during the construction of the Standedge tunnels.

EDUCATIONAL VALUE: This is an excellent site demonstrating the quarrying of stone, with interesting structures in the quarry face. It is often used for guided geological walks which include ‘Goniatite Gully’ and the geology of Marsden. The summit of Pule Hill has good views of the local landscape and geology, especially looking east to the Rough Rock of Shooters Nab and south to the moors which are made of Kinderscout Grits. Nearby at SE 033 102 is the fossil site at ‘Goniatite Gully’. For references for this important site see below.

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AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS: There are excellent views over Marsden Moor to Buckstones.

ACCESS AND SAFETY: Good parking is available in the lay-by on the east side of the A62 (SE 028 107). A stile gives access to a track leading up the inclined plane to the quarry. Avoid steep slopes overlooking the quarry and unstable spoil heaps. Keep to flat ground in front of the quarry face. Hard hats should be worn, if approaching the quarry faces. The quarry is used for climbing.

OWNERSHIP: National Trust

PERMISSION: If ‘Goniatite Gully’ is to be visited with a party, permission should be sought from the National Trust Office at the Old Goods Yard, Marsden.

MANAGEMENT AND INTERPRETATION: The quarry is suitable for visiting groups, as part of guided geological walks starting in Marsden and taking in other local sites. A short leaflet, aimed at beginners, has been written and could be expanded and used more widely. An interpretation board informing climbers of the interest within the quarry could be sited close to the rock face.

SCIENTIFIC IMPORTANCE: The rock is a coarse grained, arkose sandstone containing angular feldspar grains. The distinct orange colour of the rock is due to the presence of iron. The lower 15m of the exposure exhibits massive bedding with very few bedding planes. Flaggy bedding develops towards the top of the quarry face. The quarry face exhibits joint sets, cross bedding and numerous curved joints within the face, likely to be related to the way the stone was exploited by quarrymen. In places, the sandstone is weathered out into circular depressions, because of the weak iron cement along some horizons. The cutting of two quarry faces at right angles reveals the apparent and true dip of the strata.

REFERENCES: For ‘Goniatite Gully’ 1km south of Pule Hill Quarry. C. E. N. Bromehead, W. Edwards, D. A. Wray and J. V. Stephens, 1933 The geology of the country around Holmfirth and Glossop Memoir of the Geological Survey Wignall, P. B., and Maynard, J. R. 1996 High-resolution sequence stratigraphy in the early Marsdenian (Namurian, Carboniferous) of the central Pennines and adjacent areas Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society, Vol. 51, Part 2 p133 and p138. Huddersfield Geology Group 1998 Rocks and Landscapes of Huddersfield

14 APPENDIX 2 LIST OF LGS AND THEIR CONDITION IN DECEMBER 2010

Bradford LGS Condition status Addingham Edge Millstone Quarry SE 074 472 GOOD Bank and Baildon Green Quarries SE 145 388 SE 152 392 GOOD Baildon Moor SE 142 401 GOOD Cow and Calf Rocks, SE 131 467 GOOD Dimples Quarry, Haworth SE 025 369 GOOD STEADY Doubler Stones, Addingham Moorside SE 073 465 GOOD Eldwick Crag and Quarry SE 124 423 GOOD Goitstock Waterfall, Cullingworth SE 077 367 GOOD Horton Bank Country Park, Bradford SE 126 308 GOOD DECLINING Lanshaw Delves, Ilkley SE 126 455 SE 132 454 GOOD Noon Nick, Shipley SE 118 360 SE 130 366 GOOD Ponden Clough, Haworth SE 987 367 SE 980 364 GOOD Royds Hall Beck, Wyke SE 143 272 GOOD Shipley Glen SE 130 391 GOOD Throstle Nest, SE 038 468 POOR DECLINING Wrose Hill, Shipley SE 156 371 GOOD DECLINING 16 16 Calderdale LGS Beacon Hill and Godley Cutting, Halifax SE 103 252 SE 103 259 GOOD Green's Clough, Cliviger SD 892 260 SD 903 266 GOOD Cludders Rocks, Widdop SD 934 326 GOOD Colden Clough, SD 983 274 SD 962 282 GOOD Derby Delph Quarry, Booth Wood Reservoir SE 017 162 GOOD DECLINING Dixon Scar, Sowerby SE 052 238 GOOD DECLINING Eaves Top Quarries, Stainland SE 080 201 GOOD Bypass road cutting (North) SE 102 215 GOOD DECLINING Foster Clough Delves, Mytholmroyd SE 022 271 GOOD Gorpley Clough, SD 914 233 GOOD Great Brides Stones, Todmorden SD 932 268 GOOD Greetland Quarry SE 095 216 GOOD DECLINING Hell Hole Quarry, Heptonstall SD 985 278 GOOD Langfield Edge and Stoodley Pike SD 960 220 SD 973 243 GOOD Lumb Falls, Hebden Bridge SD 993 314 GOOD Ogden Clough, Ogden Water SE 054 318 GOOD DECLINING Paul and Cloughs, Cliviger SD 907 272 SD 908 278 GOOD DECLINING Round Hill, Rastrick SE 137 207 GOOD Scarr Wood, Halifax SE 083 234 GOOD 15 Strangstry Wood, Elland SE 127 217 POOR STEADY SD 8825, 8925, 9025, 9125, Todmorden Moor 8924, 9024, 8824, 8923 GOOD IMPROVING Wood Head Quarries, Hipperholme SE 118 259 GOOD DECLINING 22 22 Kirklees LGS Bannister Edge, SE 087 093 NOT AVAILABLE Beaumont Park, Huddersfield SE 128 147 GOOD IMPROVING Brockholes and Round Wood, Brockholes SE 1510 GOOD Butterley Cutting, Marsden SE 048 104 SE 049 106 GOOD DECLINING Castle Hill, Huddersfield SE 152 140 GOOD Caulms Wood Quarry, SE 250 223 GOOD IMPROVING Clough Head Quarry, Slaithwaite SE 082 157 POOR DECLINING SE 113 068 SE 111 073 SE Digley Quarries, Holmbridge 108 073 GOOD STEADY Folly Dolly Falls, Meltham SE 107 113 GOOD STEADY Hartley Bank Quarry, Thunderbridge SE 189 115 GOOD DECLINING Johnson Wellfield Quarries, Crosland Hill SE 1114-1113 GOOD DECLINING Longwood Edge Quarry, Huddersfield SE 101 177 POOR DECLINING March Haigh and Buckstones SE 008 132 SE 018 136 GOOD Old Lindley Moor, Huddersfield SE 098 187 GOOD DECLINING Pule Hill Quarry, Marsden SE 032 108 GOOD Scar Hole Quarry, Jackson Bridge SE 175 074 GOOD DECLINING Upper and Lower Stone Woods, Stocksmoor SE 1810 GOOD 17 16 Leeds LGS Boston Spa Riverside Woods SE 423 465 – 430 459 GOOD IMPROVING Gledhow Valley, Leeds SE 319 363 GOOD Hetchell Crags, Scarcroft SE 377 424 GOOD Hetchell Wood Quarries, Scarcroft SE 378 423 GOOD Chevin and Caley Crags SE 1944-2244 GOOD IMPROVING Roundhay Park Gorge, Leeds SE 336 383 - 333 391 GOOD Scarcroft Hill Railway Cutting SE 375 414 GOOD Thorner Quarry SE 381 407 POOR DECLINING Walton Moraine SE 4482 4808 GOOD DECLINING Riverside Cliffs SE 406 478 - 406 477 GOOD DECLINING 10 10 Wakefield LGS Dewsbury Road Recreation Ground, Wakefield SE 314 204 GOOD DECLINING Quarry SE 288 183 GOOD DECLINING

16 Canal Sides SE 499 241 et al POOR DECLINING Mill Hill Road, SE 454 215 POOR DECLINING Upton Cutting SE 480 132 to SE 485 133 GOOD IMPROVING Upton Recreation Ground SE 475 138 GOOD Wentbridge Road Cutting SE 487 178 POOR DECLINING Woolley Edge Quarry SE 308 137 GOOD DECLINING Wrangbrook Cutting, Upton SE 495 135 to SE 497 138 POOR DECLINING 9 9

APPENDIX 3 TABLE OF STRATIGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION OF LGS

Quaternary - Escrick Moraine Member Walton Moraine Brotherton Formation Knottingley Canal Sides Edlington Formation Cadeby Formation Wentbridge Road Cutting Wrangbrook and Upton Cuttings Upton Recreation Ground Hetchell Wood Quarries, Scarcroft Wetherby Riverside Cliffs Boston Spa Riverside Woods Basal Permian/Yellow Sands Mill Hill Road, Pontefract Permo-Triassic unconformity Thorner Quarry ? Wentbridge Road Cutting Upton Cutting Badsworth Sandstone Brierley Sandstone Ackworth Rock Mexborough Rock Glass Houghton Rock Ackton Rock Oaks Rock Crigglestone Rock Newhill Coal Dewsbury Road Recreation Ground, Wakefield Woolley Edge Rock Woolley Edge Quarry Horbury Rock Horbury Quarry Haigh Moor Rock Thornhill Rock Caulms Wood Quarry, Dewsbury Emley Rock Birstall Rock Lepton Edge Rock Fallhouse Rock Clifton Rock Royds Hall Beck, Wyke Kirkburton Sandstone Thick Stone Grenoside Sandstone Horton Bank Country Park, Bradford Upper and Lower Stone Woods, Stocksmoor Greenmoor Rock Horton Bank Country Park, Bradford Castle Hill, Huddersfield Hartley Bank Quarry, Thunderbridge

17 Scar Hole Quarry, Jackson Bridge Upper and Lower Stone Woods, Stocksmoor Elland Flags Wood Head Quarries, Hipperholme Gledhow Valley, Leeds Beacon Hill and Godley Cutting, Halifax Dyneley Knoll Flags (Rochdale) Todmorden Moor Milnrow Sandstone (Rochdale) Todmorden Moor 80 Yard Rock Strangstry Wood, Elland Baildon Moor 48 Yard Rock Baildon Moor Coal Clough, Cliviger Wrose Hill, Shipley Woodhead Hill Rock (Rochdale) Todmorden Moor Green's Clough, Cliviger Stanningley Rock Soft Bed Flags Rough Rock and Rough Rock Flags Eldwick Crag and Quarry Shipley Glen Elland Bypass road cutting (North) Baildon Bank and Baildon Green Quarries Greetland Quarry Ogden Clough, Ogden Water Paul Clough, Cliviger Scarr Wood, Halifax Beaumont Park, Huddersfield Brockholes and Round Wood, Brockholes Eaves Top Quarries, Stainland Old Lindley Moor, Huddersfield Johnson Wellfield Quarries, Crosland Hill Longwood Edge Quarry, Huddersfield Roundhay Park Gorge, Leeds Thorner Quarry Todmorden Moor Haslingden Flags Huddersfield White Rock/Holcombe Brook Grit Bannister Edge, Meltham Folly Dolly Falls, Meltham Clough Head Quarry, Slaithwaite Scarcroft Hill Railway Cutting Gorpley Clough, Todmorden Todmorden Moor Grit/Beacon Hill Flags/Hazel Greave Grit Gorpley Clough, Todmorden Midgley Grit/Pule Hill Grit/Gorpley Grit Pule Hill Quarry, Marsden March Haigh and Buckstones Goitstock Waterfall, Cullingworth Gorpley Clough, Todmorden Woodhouse Flags Ponden Clough, Haworth Dimples Quarry, Haworth East Carlton Grit/Scotland Flags Hetchell Crags, Scarcroft Dixon Scar, Sowerby Foster Clough Delves, Mytholmroyd High Moor Sandstone Otley Chevin and Caley Crags Readycon Dean Flags Digley Quarries, Holmbridge

18 Upper Kinderscout Grit Digley Quarries, Holmbridge Langfield Edge and Stoodley Pike Great Brides Stones, Todmorden Butterley Cutting, Marsden Ponden Clough, Haworth Lower Kinderscout Grit Lumb Falls, Hebden Bridge Langfield Edge and Stoodley Pike Hell Hole Quarry, Heptonstall Cludders Rocks, Widdop Derby Delph Quarry, Booth Wood Reservoir Butterley Cutting, Marsden Doubler Stones Sandstone Doubler Stones, Addingham Moorside Addingham Edge Grit Otley Chevin and Caley Crags Addingham Edge Millstone Quarry Cow and Calf Rocks, Ilkley Todmorden Grit Colden Clough, Hebden Bridge Brocka Bank Grit Middleton Grit Nesfield Sandstone Marchup Grit Throstle Nest, Silsden

APPENDIX 4 CONDITION MONITORING FORM

West Yorkshire Geology Trust Local Geological Sites [LGS] Condition Monitoring Form - for NI 197 reporting. Geological Records Office, Thewlis Lane, Crosland Hill, HUDDERSFIELD HD4 7FL

1. Site Information Site Name & LGS ID Pule Hill Quarry, Marsden

Site Type ED EO Grid Reference SE 032 108 Date of Visit September 2009 Local Authority Kirklees Council Surveyor John Wheeler Landowner National Trust 1:50,000 BGS Sheet Sheet 86 Glossop 1:25,000 OS Sheet Explorer OL 21 South no. no. Pennines LGS designation Scientific Educational Y Aesthetic Y Historical Interest Feature(s): 20m high disused quarry face of Midgley Grit with massive bedding and reddened weathering holes. Coarse sandstone, with plant fossils in quarry spoil. Remains of loading bay for inclined plane.

Previous management and dates (if any) None known

2. Primary Factors Is (are) the feature(s) If No, can it (they) practically be re-

Yes exposed? exposed? Is (are) the feature(s) being affected by the following factors? Factor Y/N Comments feature Bedrock Vegetation N Low vegetation on ledges does not detract from the geology

19 Scree/Mass Movement N Flooding N Dumping/Landfill N Quarrying/Engineering Works N Development (housing/industrial) N Others (please define) - Y Small amounts of graffiti Is (are) the feature(s) If No, can it (they) practically be re- N/A exposed? exposed? Is (are) the feature(s) being affected by the following factors? Vegetation (Trees or crop planting) Agricultural practices (deep ploughing)

feature Quarrying/Engineering Works Development (housing/industrial) Superficial deposit Others (please define) - Is (are) the geomorphological feature(s) being allowed to evolve N/A

naturally? Is (are) the feature(s) being affected by the following factors? Vegetation Sea Defences River Management Ground Stabilisation (slopes/sand

dunes) Water level change Development (housing/industrial) Geomorphology feature Others (please define) -

3. Secondary Factors Factors that do not directly affect the feature(s) but may need to be managed in order for feature(s) to maintain a desirable condition Factor Y/N Comments Are any of the following causing difficulties in accessing the site? Steep walk up inclined plane from A62, then short scramble needed to access Physical obstacles Y quarry. Landowner permissions N Protected N

Site accessSite species/habitats

Other (please define)

Are any of the following in an undesirable condition?

Interpretation Boards N/A

Benches/Fences/Gates N/A

Furniture Earthworks N/A

Other (please define)

Are there any other features of interest that should be considered? r r feat ures Othe Biodiversity Y Site of Special Scientific Interest of South Pennines Moors

20 Historic Environment Y Inclined plane nearby and evidence of quarrying techniques

Other (please define) The quarry is used for climbing.

Site Status Overall, is the site in a desirable condition for use(s) of the Yes feature(s) identified? Status: GOOD If Yes - what management is required (if any) for the feature(s) to maintain a desirable condition:

Small amount of graffiti should be removed

For the above, is the management : Not going to be undertaken If Uncertain or No - what management is required for the feature(s) to reach and maintain a desirable condition:

For the above, is the management : Being undertaken / Going to be undertaken / Not going to be undertaken / Not possible Are there any secondary factors that need further No management? Suggested management in order for the feature(s) to reach/maintain a desirable condition:

APPENDIX 5 WYGT FIELD SURVEY SITE ASSESSMENT FORM

WYGT Local Geological Sites Field Survey Assessment Form

Site name Grid reference OS and BGS map sheets Date surveyed

Surveyed by Time on site Other designations (if known) Constraints on access

Site ownership and/or tenancy details Contact details for permission to visit

Site description Brief history and present status (including SSSI, LWS, etc)

General description of geology/geomorphology ( boundary map, field sketches and photographs on separate sheets)

Likely conservation and management measures required

Literature references and other existing records

21