Wint r 2002

Commo ground Overlaps between geology and archaeology

Terms of endearment ­ the language of geological conservation

• New research initiatives from English Nature • Dodgy fossils - the ethics of collecting • UK RIGS conference report Just like the stock market, geoconservation seems to have good and bad STOP PRESS: days! Although we are still undeniably a 'minority sport' amidst the big Sustainability Fund ­ UNESCO has announced that 95 miles of conservation players, our overall market share and appeal appear to be the Dorset and East Devon coast - the growing. On the 'up-side', the World Heritage designation ofthe Dorset • and East Devon 'Jurassic Coast' marks a major advance! So too does the Jurassic Coast - are to be designated a strengthening link between geoconservationists (if I can call us that - see What's In it for geology? World Heritage Site. The coast is already pages 12-13) and those concerned with the built environment. This issue of On April I 2002, the Aggregates Levy comes part of the revenue protected by a network of geological Sites Earth Heritage focuses on a number of initiatives designed to exploit the of Special Scientific Interest and the new intimate links between architecture, archaeology, geology and into being. This is in effect a tax on the raised through the tax. designation recognises the global geomorphology - with the help of English Heritage, Historic Scotland and commercial exploitation of aggregate, and significance of the area. Its exposures span the Scottish Stones Liaison Group. The Stone in Wales conference, has been set initially at £1.60 per tonne. After an initial 185 million years of time. scheduled for April in Cardiff next yew; also provides a major opportunity consultation during to share experience and promote geoconservation (see page 20). The argument for the levy is that there are 2000, a second significant environmental costs associated consultation appeared in We shall take a closer look in the mid-year On the 'down-side', perhaps akin to a short-lived dot.com trader, it is with quarrying that are not already covered England in October 200 I issue of Earth Heritage. disappointing to record the demise ofa 'geoconservation'function in the by regulation. These include noise, dust, giving detailed proposals Royal Society for Nature Conservation (RSNC). Thirty seven out of the 47 visual intrusion, loss of amenity and damage of how this fund would Wildlife Trusts own or manage geological SSSI, yet the RSNC's IO-point to biodiversity. It is intended that the levy be spent. The most Conservation Plan - Protecting wildlife for the future - sadly contains no will bring about environmental benefits by significant proposals for NTS specific aspirations for geoconservation' Accordingly, Rockwatch activities ...... o '" Ill Ill . making the price of aggregates better reflect those with an interest in : COVER PICJURE: : have returned to their parent body, the Geologists' Association, and UKRIGS has found a new home - the National Stone Centre in Derbyshire these costs, and by encouraging the use of nature conservation, These coastal exposures at Morannedd in Gwynedd provide recycled materials and certain waste centre on reducing the important information about the nature and timing of glacial events in (see page 7). Whether the good work ofearlier RSNC geoconservation products. This is one of a number of'green local effects of aggregate North Wales. Coastal erosion here maintains an excellent level of initiatives can be salvaged by the creation ofa partnership Earthtrust body exposure, and conservation therefore involves acceptance of natural remains to be seen. taxes' being considered or implemented by extraction. They include change. See Terms of Endearment, pages 12-13. the Government. It is broadly welcomed by proposals to fund work We hope you enjoy this issue. Ifyou would like to contribute to future Photo by Stewart CampbelllCountryside Council for Wales environmentalists and strongly opposed by that increases biodiversity, conserves some way, and would be administered issues, please contact your local EH editor (details below). Here's to the minerals extraction industry. geological features, conserves the historic through appropriate government agencies sustainable (geoconservation) growth and an expanding share of the environment and addresses old mineral such as the Countryside Agency, English 'conservation market'! pages 3-8 Ofparticular interest to those with a permissions and projects in the local Heritage and English Nature. Other proposals conservation standpoint is the £35 million community. These would all need to be include working to minimise the demand for Sustainability Fund being generated by using directly related to aggregate extraction in primary aggregate and researching more M J /l \.Jul.. Stewart Campbell, sustainable construction and demolition .~1e.....-I ~ M=aging Ed,la, practices.

At the time of writing, the prospect of Sustainability Fund money being available to Earth Heritage is a twice-yearly magazine produced for the help with the conservation, management and geological and landscape conservation community by the promotion of geological features exposed by • Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Ea h aggregate extraction is exciting. It provides ~entage English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales. very good news for Regionally Important The UKRIGS Geoconservation Association is a principal contributing partner. We would Geological/geomo;:phological Sites (RIGS) like to thank all those who have assisted with the preparation of the magazine. However, which are specifically mentioned in the the opinions expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those of the above consultation document. There is always the organisations. Key articles from this and previous issues of Earth Heritage can be found danger that other interests will use the on the Web at: www.seaburysalmon.com/earth.html consultation process to divert the geological Offers of articles should be directed to the relevant members of the funding elsewhere, but with welcoming editorial board, who are: responses from the geological community, it Managing Editor should be possible to secure this new funding STEWART CAMPBELL, Countryside MICK STANLEY, Geodiversity stream. Council for Wales, Maes-y-Ffynnon, Consulting, Park House, 8 King Ffordd Penrhos, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 Street, Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 There is still a way to go before we actually 2DN. Telephone 01248 385693, e-mail: 1PJ. Telephone 01765 609479, know if a grant scheme will exist, and how it [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] will work. However, the opportunity to use CYNTHIA BUREK, Editors these funds to develop sites and create UKRIGS Geoconservation Association, DAVID EVANS, English Nature, Environment Research Group, Chester scientific and educational resources is a real Northminster House, Peterborough PE1 College, Parkgate Road, Chester CH1 chance to raise local awareness of geology 1UA. Telephone 01733 455207, e-mail: 4BJ. Telephone 01244 375444, and the need for its conservation. [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] COLlN MACFADYEN, Scottish Natural Heritage, 2 Anderson Production In the immediate future, the priority in Place, Edinburgh EH6 5NP Seabury Salmon, Seabury Salmon & England is to respond to the consultation Telephone 0131 4474784 ext 2516, Associates, Beechwood, Poyner Road, document and to start coming up with Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 101. Telephone e-mail: [email protected] geological projects related to aggregate 01584877442. Fax 01584 875416. NEIL ELLlS, extraction sites, past and present. In Wales Joint Nature Conservation Committee, e-mail: [email protected] and Scotland, proposals for spending the Monkstone House, Circulation Sustainability Fund are not yet forthcoming. City Road, Peterborough PE1 1JY. Earth Heritage is free, Contact your Telephone 01733 562626, local Editor to be placed on the e-mail: [email protected] - Colin Prosser, mailing list. English Nature 3 Going digital The British Geological Survey is digitising all its I:50,000 and I: I0,000 scale geological maps with a view to making information available over the Intemet. The BGS believes that house buyers, solicitors and surveyors will be interested in accessing a database on possible 'geohazards' that may lurk underneath property. It identifies a variety of these hazards: unstable ground resulting from swelling and shrinking clays, landslip and subsidence caused by soft sediments or underground caverns, and radon emissions. For technical information on the geohazard services, contact lan Jackson at the BGS, tel 0115 936 3214 or e-mail: Crocodile discovery [email protected] Some 75 colleagues. students and friends Landlocked villagers of the late Professor Dennis Stephenson Fossil experts at Cambridge University's • In Alice Walker's article When the Wood gathered at Rhoscolyn Head on 17 Sedgwick Museum have excavated a Jurassic Earth moves in Earth Heritage 16, the November to dedicate a plaque to his crocodile on a site being cleared for a fish picture of an Indian house destroyed by celebrate sea view memory. It was one of the sites of farm. The crocodile, thought to be around an earthquake should have been credited 150 million years old, was discovered by Dennis's research into the ancient rocks Parishioners of Bramerton village (just to the to Andy Thompson from Arup Advanced amateur fossil hunters Serena Queeney and ofAnglesey. A native of Bangor, Dennis south of Norwich) joined representatives Technology, EEFIT, Ed Mullett on an old airfield in Mepal, near first began his work at Rhoscolyn in the from English Nature and the Norfolk Ely, Cambridgeshire. They contacted the 1950s. while a research student at Geological Society to find how their Museum, whose palaeontologist, LesJie Noe, Liverpool University under the late landlocked village had once overlooked the identified the fossil as a stenosaurus. Son of the soiI Professor Robert Shackleton. Their sea. The group was shown the SSSI's collaboration extended to many other diversity of Pleistocene sediments and a joins CCW areas, but Rhoscolyn remained Dennis range of shells confirming Bramerton's Another brick in the Wood's favourite site, and he regularly coastal heritage. knowledge wall The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) carried out teaching and fieldwork there has a new soil scientist l Dylan Llywelyn after taking up academic posts in the The occasion was the unveiling of a new Williams joined the Maritime and Earth The University of St Andrews, Fife, marks University of Leeds and the University of interpretation panel for Bramerton Pits Site Science Group as Soil ScientistlPolicy 100 years of teaching geology as a distinct Illinois, United States. of Special Scientific Interest. The sign, Advisor with responsibility for discipline next year (2003). An educational together with new fencing, was funded by geological wall has already been built in all soils-related issues. The handsome plaque, inscribed in Welsh English Nature's Face Lift programme. celebration and other projects include and English, is hewn from two types of He will help formulate and planting a Jurassic garden and producing a Welsh slate, the heather-blue Penrhyn and Bramerton Pits were originally excavated for implement CCW's soils policy book on the building stones of St Andrews. the grey-blue Ffestiniog from Cwt-y­ chalk field lime but are known by geologists and is available to give soils bugail (roughly translated, the shepherd's for a 12 metre-thick sequence of sands with The wall is mostly local sandstone, advice to CCW groups and lodge). Dennis was a world authority on silts, loams, clays and two shell beds (crag). incorporating 22 rocks representative of Fife. other relevant organisations in the scientific study of slate and \vas The site was first described in 1823 and is The rock types include sandstones showing Wales. He is also co-ordinating consulted by the slate industry worldwide. (Photos: Stewart Campbell, CCW) important in the history of geology, having structures and fossils; Devonian red a programme of soils research The plaque was generously provided by been visited by the likes of William Smith, sandstone; coal; oil shale; fossiliferous with Scottish Natural Heritage. Alfred MacAlpine's Penrhyn Quarries, original poem, Dr Stewart Campbell Huxley, Woodward and Sedgwick. A regular limestones; a glacial erratic; andesites with with whom he worked closely for many explained a range of RIGS projects in destination for local geological societies, the agates; dolerites; felsite; basalts; and By developing an inventory of soils years. Contributions were also made by which Dennis had been involved (the site \vas most recently excavated by the volcanic ash. distribution within designated sites and a local RIGS Group plans to complete the University of Wales, BangoL members Norfolk Geological Society in 1978 database of rare and unique soils in Wales, of the Gwynedd and Mon RIGS these). and the blessing was delivered by The wall is designed to increase the public's Dylan hopes to increase the understanding of (Regionally Important the Rev. Brian Jones. Afterwards. the Bramerton Pits SSSI has long been awareness of geology in everyday life, the soil requirements of different habitats, Geological/geomorphological Sites) memory of a great scientist, scholar. established as the type site for the Norwich especially its industrial and architectural and he plans to promote the educational Group which Dennis had chaired, and gentleman and friend was toasted in Crag. Forams and molluscs from this applications, and the richness of the local aspect of soils. many other organisations and individuals. champagne. sequence indicate a shallow marine geological heritage. It will also contribute to The plaque was constructed by lnigo environment about 1.6 million years old. Dylan developed an interest in soils on the An outcome of the memorial service was the growing interest in geo-tourism. Jones, the monumental masons from Together with the pollen record, the fossils family fann in Snowdonia and took his BSc the decision to hold an annual Dennis Y Groeslon, Gwynedd. and ski 11 fully demonstrate a change from a warm temperate and MSc degrees at the University of Wales Wood geological walk in one of North Power of unity erected by Roger Davis and his stafT. stage - the 'Bramertonian' (to which the site in Aberystwyth. He joins from the Natural The site was agreed thanks to the kind Wales' classic Precambrian areas. The has leant its name) - to a colder phase. The A group of geoscience and related businesses Environment Research Council (NERC), pemlission ofEdward Verney, the first walk will be at Rhoscolyn in 2002 shell beds also contain fragments of from North Wales has formed a Geoscience where he was based with the Centre for landowner, and the co-operation of HM and will be led by Dr Jack Treagus of vertebrates including several species of vole, Wales cluster in the Conwy Business Centre, Ecology and Hydrology. Coastguard, Ynys MOll County Council Manchester University. a fonner Works under Face Lift continue around the deer and otter. Llandudno Junction. With Welsh and the tenants of adjacent land. university student with Dennis. country, with a further £100,000 committed Dylan can be contacted at CCW, Plas to geological site enhancement. Development Agency support the Group will The site remains available for geological Penrhos, Ffordd Penrhos, Bangor, Gwynedd - Terry Williams, bid for large projects that member businesses Dr Margaret Wood gave the valedictory study and the Face Lift exercise has helped LL57 2LQ, tel: 01248 385487; e-mail: Gwynelld and Mon RIGS Group - Jonathan Larwood, could not have won individually. More address, Mrs Vanessa Field delivered an local people understand its significance. [email protected] English Nature information at www.geoscience-wales.co.uk 4 5 The fourth UKRIGS Conference was held at Ron Foster. Dhisional Restoration format, though fonns could be customised. Links with the Countryside Council for Stoke Rochford Hall near Peterborough only Manager. Lafarge \ggregates Lld, has had Delegates out and about The database was currently undergoing Wales had been strengthened with a hours after the terrorist attacks on America. a long career in restoring sites for agriculture (right) at King's Dyke evaluation and modification before becoming memorandum of agreement. She paid tribute and both biological and geological Quarry and (below right) freely available. to Professor Dennis Wood, Chairman of upon this Rock - JUGS and The Planning consen'ation and their use in education. He outside Peterborough Gwynedd and Mon RIGS Group, who died SI-'stem was the theme chosen in conjunction outlined the current planning requirements Cathedral. ,John Rcynolds. l KRI(.S and Staffs RJGS in May 2001 (see page 4). with local organisers, the Peterborough and for the extraction of aggregates relating to Group. gave the background to the District RIGS Group, headed by Hugh site restoration and management. The Photos by Cynthia Burek recording, assessment, designation al1d For Ireland. Fiona I\lulhnllalld. Cripps. The Hall is a magnificent pile. built minerals industry was keen to help out with notification sheets developed over several Environment and Ileritagl' Sl'nicc. of the local Lincolnshire oolitic limestone, biodiversity action plans and to play its part years as part of the RIGS Development 'urthl'rn Ireland, on behalf of Phil with an impressive obelisk at the top of the in geoconservation. Ron mentioned some of Strategy. Fmiher regional workshops were Doughty, Ulster Museum, reported on drive to guide any weary delegates. the problems of leaving rock exposures planned. discussions relating to the concept of around the workings when extraction ceases. landscape character areas and reviewing the Most of the 55 delegates arrived for the He then demonstrated that such problems 'lark CampbcU. Gloucestershire RJGS geositc data. Sites of Local Nature welcome by Kell Addisun. l KRIG~ were not insurmountable. Groop, explained how he had sourced Consen'ation Importance were being Chairman, who briefly mentioned the funding from the West Midlands office of the identified and selection criteria for additional decision by RSNC to withdraw from Keith Dutl English Nature. chaired the tirst Department of the Environment, Food and sites were being devcloped to include geoconservation work, including RIGS and session the following day. Sh~\~ Ha\('rs. About 40 people led by Alan Dawn of the July 2001, Rural Affairs, under an environmental action scientific importance, educational value, Rockwatch. He alluded to the possible Corn\\all (ount~ Council, urged RIGS Stamford Geological Society visited the Ketton entertaining scheme called Are you Doing your Bit:) amenity value and access. spectre of Earthtrust rising Phoenix-like from Groups to get to know how the planning RIGS alongside Ketton Quarry to look at the first over 600 Other DEFRA regions could be tapped to do the ashes! system worked as planners \\'ere the key part of the Ketton Geology Trail. The limestones visitors. So other bits. l\Iick Stanle~, lately Earth Scicnces professional advisors to the decision-making and clays of the Middle Jurassic were clearly successful was Manager. Royal Society for Nature As the keynote speaker, Colin Pros~er. Ilead elected members of local authorities. demonstrated. Alan explained site maintenance their fossil Tony Rogers, UKRIGS. chaired the reports Conservation, gave a presentation outlining and how Castle Cement had helped develop foray that the or Geolu~ical Con~l'rvation at EIl~lish Development plans had to be drawn up and session. Ken Addison. CKRIGS, gave his geodiversity and Earthtrust - promoting Jliaturc. gave a comprehensive overview of periodically revised, which is where RIGS access. We then drove to the enormous Ketton company has Chairman's report on a successful year, with unity and partnership. It was hoped to be a Quarry and were amazed at the stratigraphy of decided to set aside an area for fossil t.he driving forces for geological conservation Groups could become involved. many areas of the RIGS Development self-financing partnership of those involved the Middle Jurassic beds. Over tea provided by collection. We had no trouble in finding - past. present and future. in particular Strategy being addressed. He commented on in Earth Sciences, promoting the geodiversity Castle Cement, we had three-dimensional ammonites, gryphaea and belemnites by the highlighting links with the minerals industry. Stevc strcssed the need for up-to-date the relationship between UKRIGS and other of the British Isles. Invited partners include explanations of the stratigraphy and the faulting. dozen. Many people staggered back to the Arthur Trueman was involved in the 1947 infonnation and a robust and defensible bodies, notably RSNC, and the potential UKRIGS, the Geologists' Association, Earth coach with very full rucksacks! Geological report Conservation. of1l/atllre in England single set of agreed criteria for RIGS. development £If'Earthtrust. This had led to Science Teachers' Association and other Alan also led our Stamford town walk, with his discussion was rife, with sedimentary which included geology and Submission of all RIGS maps and closer liaison with the Geologists' bodies. A personal membership akin to the and Wales, wife preceding delegates to open some of the environments being debated and Association, the Earth Science Teachers' National Trust was also envisaged. The physiography as pali of nature conservation. documentation should include GIS and easily churches on the route. Extensive use of the eoconservation issues discussed. The unique accessed databases. He added that planners creamy-coloured Lincolnshire Limestone as a mixture of clay, carbon and carbonate content Association and others. vision statement was: 'Creating a national Colin brought us right up to date with details welcomed professional input from others. Mediaeval and modern building stone gives a make this a superb site for brick making. It was focus to champion. explain and sustain our of recent legislation and funding Finally he urged delegates to respond to warm feel to the town and leads to visual interesting to hear this called a fashion industry, The support given by the statutory agencies unique geodiversity'. opportunities for geoconservation work. He deadlines and sell geology to planners to continuity. We saw the use of exotic material, with details of how to make different-coloured had been warmly maintained and UKRIGS highlighted the changed outlook of large raise its profile in the planning the inevitable larvikite but also Charnwood bricks, which colours were in fashion and how continued to have an input into the The Special General Meeting included the mineral operators who wanted to appear system. Forest Markfieldite (diorite) as curbstones and to make bricks look 200 years old! DETRIDEFRA Local Sites Review Group main constitutional changes of increasing the more socially responsible and work towards Swithland slate in one of the local graveyards. work. Contact had been made with the size of the committee to 10 elected and two both wildlife and geological conservation. Delegates split up for three workshops. Eric Robinson explained that the Swithland slate In Peterborough, Eric Robinson led us on one of Heritage Lottery Fund team to discuss bids co-opted members, and ham10nising the Implementation of sustainable development Lesle) D:H'ie~. Buckin::hamshire Earth could be carved and was often used to show his famous walks, where anything can happen. from member Groups and UKRIGS. Ken dates for pre-AGM deadlines. within the minerals industry would generate Heritage Group, led the session on Wildlife the afterlife with cute cherubs and swirling This one will be remembered for: rounded off "iith thanks to all Conference a Sustainability Fund from the Aggregates and Geology. Many geological sites were Victorian lettering. • being locked out of the cathedral when we delegates, its organisers, and members of the At the Annual General Meeting, Ken Levy. RIGS Groups should target this for havens for wildlife and often provide wanted to enter; Executive Committee. Addison, Chairman, and Alan Cutler, funding and do as the biologists do - go for a distinctive habitats for a range of species. About 40 people took the opportunity to look at • being locked in the cathedral when we Treasurer, were elected unopposed. Ruth local Action Plan. Geologists and ecologists could share Peterborough's famous Oxford Clay. King's Dyke wanted to leave; For Scotland, J\likc Bro\\ ne, l KRIGS. Capper, Secretary, continues in post for infonnation on the key issues of nature Quarry houses the biggest brickworks in Europe • the inclusion of evensong within the trip! Lothian & Borders and Fife RIGS another year, as do Mike Brown, Cynthia and to see over seven million bricks stacked up This was certainly a first for most of the In the second scssion. chaired by Cynthia conservation when dra'A;ing up site Groups, reported that Lothian and Borders Burek and John Reynolds. Ruth Capper has was incredible. The size of the equipment and group and a most memorable event for me. Surek. UKRIGS. Graham "'·ortun. Keeper management plans. had produced four posters and several since resigned following her redundancy quarry was astonishing. The sheer vertical face Notwithstanding these periods of inactivity, the or Geolo~. Dudley Mu~eum ;lnd Art leaflets and was seeking funds for others. from RSNC. Thus there are now five of the Late Jurassic Oxford Clay waiting to be fossils present in the columns and the marbles Gallel'), gave a taste of his expertise in Hugh Cripps. Peterburough En\ ironment They were helping to look after 'Lizzie's' vacancies on the UKRfGS Executive stripped by the unique shale planar machine on the floor, the sight of Katherine of Aragon's selling geological heritage to local authority City Trust, explained how. in the site for West Lothian Council and improving Committee. started much discussion about the conservation tomb, and a memorial to Edith Cavell made the personnel. With his 'Dudley Bug' trilobite to Peterborough Geology Audit, the geological access to two of Hutton's unconformity sites. of machinery as well as sections. The London tour very special and memorable. - John Reynolds, UKRIGS help. !le slressed the nccd for the local aspects of the City and surroundings had Brick Company has a good working relationship Fife RIGS Group was bidding for funds for perspective of things geological. Concepts of been thoroughly investigated and recordcd. with the general public and held an open day in leaflets and was now regularly consulted by - Cynthia Burek, UKRIGS • Conference Proceedings should be geology and geomorphology were invariably Local authority funding had been put to good planners on mallers geological. available in early 2002, priced £1 0 (Incl vague, and were often problematical (mining use. the public perception and understanding of \"orccster RIGS Group. demonstrated the p&p) from The Secretary, UKRIGS. at the subsidence, landslips),. or too distant Earth heritage. Microsoft Access Geoconsencation database For Wales, C~ nlhia Burck. UKRIGS and organisation's new home, National Stone (earthquakes. volcanic eruptions). Graham AlaSlair F1eming, Starfordshire RIGS currentlly being developed by the Group in NEWRIGS Group. reported much activity Centre, Porter Lane, Middleton-by­ tries to get the community ilJ\!olved with Group, highlighted the need for RIGS At I Jam. delegates obscrved the three conjunction with Craig Slawson, Staffs in North Wales despite the problems of foot Wirksworth, Derbyshire, DE4 4LS, tel: displays, talks. school and leisure activities, groups to consider education in their work. minutes' silence called in memory of those Ecological Record Centre. She explained the and mouth disease. Public awareness has 01629 824833, a-mail: He even gave delegates a peep at Origins ­ Education was a major criterion for selecting who died in the attacks of September 11. workings of hierarchies and how data were been raised by Groups attending the [email protected], the Trilobite-shaped exhibition building RIGS and it was through education at all For the RIGS Recording and Assessment entered. The report-writing facility enabled Eisteddfod in Denbigh and the production of Web: www.ukrigs.org.uk suggested for Castle Hill. levels that improvements \\iould be made in workshop. Chel') I .llInes, Herefurd and information to be retrieved in a standardised several bilingual posters and trail leaflets. 6 7 What do you do when confronted Rock On by the prospect of acquiring a highly desirable fossil tainted by an uncertain rolls to background of ownership?

Ammonites (top), dinosaur eggs (centre) and fossil footprints at success the Oignes Geological Reserve, Haute Provence. France: without the adoption of good ethics, key fossil sites. whether spectacular The eruption of a huge model volcano in the dealer offers you a or not. are threatened by the trade in dodgy specimens. amphitheatre of Edinburgh's Dynamic Earth superb specimen of the Photos by 5tewart Campbel/. launched Rock On, the third Scottish bones of a Cretaceous Geology Week, as the official opener, object that was stolen, illegally excavated pterosaur, or perhaps Professor Aubrey Manning, presenter of the A or removed from a site contrary to local an exquisitely preserved 'feathered BBC Earth Story series, looked on. In law or exported from its country of origin dinosaur', He tells you the country Glasgow, a volcano-day of activities contrary to that country's national laws.' and region it comes from, hut declines exploded at the Glasgow Science Centre. Those who might question whether a to provide any detailed stratigraphical fossil is a 'cultural object' should refer to or locality data. He has no The dual launch started nine days in which the UNESCO Convention on the Means of documentation to show that it was 145 individual geological awareness and Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit legally collected and exported. But to interpretation events took place across the Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership length and breadth of Scotland. your specialist eye, the specimen of Cultural Property adopted in 1970. This appears to show hitherto undescribed international Convention, to which the UK The events were planned and run by geology characteristics. It could be of unique is about to become a signatory, includes enthusiasts - professional and amateur scientific importance. The price seems 'objects of palaeontological interest' in the geologists and countryside rangers. There reasonable and is affordable. Do you very first Article as examples of cultural were geological rambles in the Highlands buy it? property. The Convention, as its somewhat and Islands; a fossil foray at the world­ Workshop represented Rock On at its widest. prizes were awarded at the British If you are a professional curator in one cumbersome title implies, calls upon all famous Achanarras Quarry SSSI; panning for Geological Survey's open day in Edinburgh, of the UK's public museums, the answer is states to stem the flow of illicitly traded gold and silver; and rock identification In the weeks before Rock On, a 'design a which represented the 'full stop' to Rock On. an unequivocal' no'. The acquisition of material. 'surgeries' at the Hunterian and other postcard' competition attracted entries from illicit material by any public museum in schools where children had drawn or painted Mid-way through the week, Scotland got its In the UK, the Museums Association museums. A Rockwatch Discovery Weekend the UK is regarded as deeply unethical. at the National Museums in Edinburgh their favourite landscapes. The competition first 'named' building stone. Sculptress has, since 1977, published codes of ethics This ethical prohibition extends beyond attracted thousands of children and adults, was judged not only on the art work, but on Graciela Ainsworth, with the generous that support the UNESCO 1970 acquisition: UK museums are prohibited who got to grips wi!~ rock, mineral and the 20 words that youngsters were asked to support of Watson Stonecraft, engraved a Convention. In 200 I, the Association from researching, exhibiting or even fossil specimens and fossil casting. write to describe their particular landscape. Caithness Flagstone on the Royal Mile with formally adopted in a new Code of Ethics accepting on loan material which they recent Government report' stated that 'The Prizes awarded to the winners included its name, age and origin. Intended to for Museums, one major tenet of which is know to be illicit. illicit trade involves those who import, Other events projected geology in the wider actual postcards produced from their artwork. stimulate public imagination about geology the honest and responsible acquisition of So what do we mean by 'illicit'? A deal in or are in possession of any cultural sense to engage more general public The remaining cards will be sold to raise within the cityscape and to help restore the items for the collections. Museums are participation. These included building stone funds to help run future geo-artwork links between)he natural and built heritage, expected to 'Reject items where there is walks; quarry and mine visits; and industrial competitions. A word search competition was the flagstone will hopefully represent the any suspicion that they were acquired in or archaeological tours. A demonstration of the used to encourage people to look carefully first of many named stones in Scotland. It is Tristram Besterman exported from their country of origin ... in work of the Scottish Lime Centre and stone through Rock On's events guide leaflet. Both certainly a permanent reminder of the Director, The Manchester Museum, and Convener, violation of that country's laws or any carving at the Edinburgh Sculpture competitions attracted high interest. The achievements of Rock On. The Museums Association Ethics Committee 1995-2001 national or international treaties.' Museums must also 'Refuse to acquire, Co-ordinated by Scottish Natural Heritage, display or research unprovenanced items Rock On was made possible thanks to Putting geology on schools map that may have been looted, unless there is geology enthusiasts around the country and Still playing hard to get! The Geology of Scotland Map Project Is an Each school also undertook rock collecting reliable documentation to show that they the involvement of most of the organisations Issue 16 gave an update on Scottish fossils. The Museum has provided exciting new programme organised by the fieldwork in the summer and autumn terms were exported from their country of origin in Scotland involved in communicating Natural Heritage efforts at SNH with a list of Scottish fossils Geology Section of the National Museums of 2001 with the help of local countryside geology to the public. These include repatriating fossils taken from the they said they are Willing to return. before 1970.' (1970 being the date of the of Scotland to bring geology alive in rangers. Despite Foot and Mouth Dynamic Earth, the National Museums of Birk Knowes SSSI, one of Scotland's However, the list provided does not UNESCO Convention). This ethic is made primary schools - and to construct a rocky restrictions, the fieldwork was very Scotland, the Hunterian Museum, the most important and vulnerable SSSI. include the very rare and valuable binding on all UK Museums that are map of the country. successful. with boxes of rocks arriving at Geology Society of Glasgow, the Blitish The case of the Blrk Knowes fossils, 'registered' as meeting certain nationally the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh from fossils that are unique to Birk Geological Survey, the Glasgow Science agreed minimum standards. The ethical Each of the 120 schools who signed up for all over the country throughout the summer. which was first reported in issue 15 Knowes and are known to be part of Centre and the Geological Society of standard is quite unambiguous in relation the project received resource packs Now, the challenge is to construct the map. (getting to grips with asset strippers), the collection purchased by the Edinburgh.The organising partners are keen to palaeontological material: 'So far as containing the infomlation and resources When assembled (the target is by summer looks unlikely to be resolved in the museuml to run a fourth Scottish Geology Week in biological and geological material is needed to teach successfully aspects of 2002). it will be approximately 5m long, and near future. SNH is now at the stage of 2003. Details will appear on the Scottish concerned, the Museum will not acquire the curriculum for P7-S2, targeted mainly at will be shown in the Museum of Scotland Taken without permission by an enlisting the Scottish Executive to geology website (www.scottishgeology.com). by direct or indirect means any specimen P7 (or similar) groups. Four packs covered with an acknowledgement to the schools. amateur collector from Germany and help resolve the matter. that has been collected, sold or otherwise rocks, crystals, fossils and 'Plentiful Earth' sold to the Humboldt Museum in (natural resources). The packs included a - SIl~aJIIJ<' i\1IlIer - Colin MacFadyen, Berlin, the specimens represent - Colin MacFadyen, rock, mineral and fossil kit. N/ltilJlllll ,lfIlWII/ll.~ {~f Scotlulld Scottish Natural Heritage Silurian arthropod and early fish Scottish Natural Heritage 8 Sealing a GAP Going Jonathan Larwood Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) are o RD Palaeontologist, English Nature proving effective for delivering English Nature is embarking on three significant research projects that will have integrated conservation measures that important implicatIons for geological conservation, They comprise a comprehensive benefit rare and threatened biological habitats and species at both local and review of geological conservation techniques, an examination of the feasibility of national levels. No similar framework Local Geodiversity Action Plans (LGAPs) and a close examination of the links between geological Geological conservation - the yet exists for geological conservation. conservation and biodiversity, These are the details of the projects, Now, English Nature, RIGS groups benefits for biodiversity and others are investigating the potential that Local Geodiversity Action Plans English Nature is launching a project conservation techniques can be adapted to (LGAPs) may offer as a framework for to take an initial look at how geological increase biodiversity. the various efforts made for geological Earth science consen'olion in Great safeguard and management. collective experience of conservation techniques can benefit There are some typical associations: conservation. Britain - a stl'ategr and its accompanying The basic techniques will still stand, current geological biodiversity. bare ground supports a \vide variety of Statutory conservation of nationally appendices A hcmdbook ofEarth science bur we intend building in examples of conservationists. A It will consider how standard invertebrates and reptiles, rocky crags important geological sites is already consel1'otion tecJmiques have constituted best practice. gained from practical workshop in December geological management techniques, such provide important bird roosts, while managed through notification of SSSIs the fundamental guidance on experience. lo illustrate these techniques. brought together key as the maintenance of natural coastal limestone floras and metallophyte plants and further designations such as conservation techniques for geological In particular. there have been practical practitioners to discuss erosion or clearance of scrub and scree are intimately linked to geology. National Nature Reserves and Local sites since the Nature Conservancy advances in areas such as coastal the original guidance from rock faces, can benefit biodiversity. The research aims to illustrate how Nature Reserves. There is also a growing Council published it in 1990. management, fossil and mineral and suggest ways it In particular it such links can be enhanced. It will be network of local sites (such as RIGS) With 10 years' practical application of collecting. promotion of geology and could be updated. The will look at illustrated with a range of examples drawn and recognition of geology as an integral these techniques under our belts. the time geological conservation and the wider final product. which we species and from a wide cross-section of practitioners, part of the wider environment. is right for reassessment. Taking the understanding of the links between are working on this year habitats both geological and biological. The LGAP project will first handbook as a starting point English geology and wildlife and in the urban (2Q02), will be the publication of revised included in the The aim is to help both geologists and investigate a local delivery mechanism Nature is funding a review project environment. guidance on geological conservation Government's biologists more fully understand how to integrate geological conservation looking at three particular areas: The project has two phases. This techniques aimed at all involved in Biodiversity management can be mutuaUy beneficial measures and, secondly, consider what Action Plan and help them identify opportunities to • firstly. safeguarding sites against initial review phase will provide the practical geological conservation. sorts of objectives, targets and indicators damaging activities; information that will form the basis of • For more details please contact (BAP), which is improve both 'bio' and 'geo' diversity. It is LGAPs would have in a local and designed to ailso hoped .J:I-furtber dispel tlie myth that • secondly. managing sites to maintain revised guidance which will be published Colin Prosser at English Nature, national context Thirdly, it will consider conserve the the management of geological sites does and enhance geological interes~ and as part of the second phase. Through tel: 01733 455113, e-mail: what overall form an LGAP could take wealth of not bencfit biological sites. • thirdly. promoting sites lo support lheir wide consultation, it is hoped to pool the colin.prosser@:,english-nature.org.uk and who should be involved and wildlife in this Tbis initial investigation will be responsible. country. completed early next year and a report of This project is seeking views and In part the findings published by English Nature. opinions about how LGAPs could work springing from and providing i.llitial guidance to help the review of • For more details please contact establish LGAPs. A workshop is due to geological Jonathan Larwood at English Nature, transferred in contravention of any standards. Museums in Germany still There are many fossil dealers who Biology depends on geology: be held in January to discuss LGAPs and conservation tel: 01733 455115, e-mail: national or international wildlife protection actively acquire illicit material, and some work withiT\, the laW, and who are hart's-tongue fern on gather ideas and English Nature will limestone pavement at Gait techniques and [email protected] or natural history conservation law, or German-language scientific journals are generating important new discoveries. It publish a report later in the year the increasing treaty of the UK or any other country". reported to publish taxonomic papers is these dealers that scientists should be Barrows NNR, Lancashire. summarising the findings. site Below: the rare solitary cuckoo wasp, Nysson (Any UK museum that breaks these rules based on illicit fossil material. supporting, on the principle that good Photo by Peter Wakely/ • For more details please contact English Nature management trimacu!atus, is one of many solitary wasp species would lose its registered status and thereby This may be defended by some as ethics beget good science, and that good Jonathan Larwood at English Nature, experience of that need firm sand in which to burrow. The become ineligible to receive grants from scientifically expedient. It nonetheless science should demand good ethics. tel: 01733455115, e-mail: Face Lift (the English Nature programme 'cuckoo' invades the nest of just one other solitary Government, the Lottery and other Trusts.) nourishes and 'legitimises' a trade that can [email protected] of site enhancements - isslIe 14), the wasp species, Gorytes quadri fasciatus, which So, back to the dealer with the exploit, coerce, and sometimes puts at or on the Web at www.lgaps.org English Nature project will also interesting but potentially dodgy fossil. As great personal risk people living at References consider whether nests in a UK curator, you may not acquire it. As a subsistence level in third-world countries. Have your say I. Pt/Lmer, /\~ 2000. Report ~ geological dry, sandy UK university researcher, purchase would Equally, it can remove an opportunity for Minis/eriaf Adl'isOI)' Panel on micit bare soil. bring another knotty problem: how do you the scientific community in the country of Trade. DepartJllem ofCuI/lire Media publish it? To comply with international origin to study, publish and exhibit their If you want to have your and Sport, London 1-72. conventions on zoological and botanical natural patrimony. views included as part of 2. RegistraJion Scheme for nomenclature, the specimen must be It also produces bad science - anyone Museums alld Galleries /n the UK. the research into LGAPs, deposited in a recognised, public who doubts that should read Kevin Registration Guidelines. Museums log on to www.lgap.org collection, so that it is available to other Padian' on the Archaeoraptor fiasco, when clnd Galleries Commission. LOlldonl­ where you will find some scientists to verify and review. But you'll the National Geographic Magazine 23. be unable to place it in a UK museum for trumpeted the importance of a 'feathered more background to the 3. Padiall. K, 2000: Feml1ers. all the reasons discussed above, so you'll dinosaur' from Liaoning in China. It project and an on-line Fakes alld Fossil Dealers: 110ll" the not be able to publish the specimen here. turned out to be a fake. For all these 'ommercial Safe ofFo.5SIls Erodes questionnaire for you to Unfortunately, not all European reasons, caveat emptor - buyer beware - is Science and Education. Coquil1a Press fill in. countries uphold the same high ethical wise advice. I1ttp:/lpaloeo-electronic.org 1-10 10 Right: These roadside exposures near would need to try to prevent any form of we intend dropping completely the phrase Blaenau Ffestiniog show mineralised veins of natural or man-made change or site usage. 'Earth science conservation'. different ages and composition. The Having said this, conservation of a finite conservation of such sections is based on and sensitive feature such as a mineral Earth heritage maintaining physical access to the key Terms 0 vein or localised cave deposit may at times conservation features (namely the veins and their require an approach towards the relationship to the surrounding rocks) without preservation end of the conservation Our assessment of this relatively new term necessarily precluding changes to other parts spectrum' is that it describes, in the widest sense, of the sections. Photo by Stewart Campbell. endearme rocks, fossils, minerals, museum Geologicall collections and natural processes, making geomorphological clear links to wildlife conservation. It Colin Prosser conservation \vould include museum specimens, Head ofGeological Conservation, English Nature building stones, geological data, maps, and The statutory basis for the conservation we art, as well as geological (including practice in Great Britain is centred on the geomorphological) conservation as defined n the late 1980s I joined the To reflect a more holistic approach to suggesting how it might be rationalised terms 'geology and physiography'.ln above. We intend usi.ng this as a term to Nature Conservancy Council's conservation we soon found ourselves for everyone's benefit. After all, if we English Nature, for practical purposes we describe conservation of all things Earth Science Division, formerly dropping the term 'Earth science aren't clear what we mean, hmv call we have opted to use the tenll geological in the widest sense. its Geology and Physiography conservation' and substituting the term communicate effectively with decision I 'geomorphology' in our day-to-day work Section. Our job was to lead on 'Earth 'Earth heritage', even renaming the makers who have little if any geological in place of 'physiography', as Geodiversity science conservation', basically the journal Earth Science Conservation, to conservation background? 'physiography' is no longer a widely practical aspects of notifying, become Earth Heritage. Somewhere The discussion and proposed usage of understood tenll. Our core work is about Given that biodiversity is defined as safeguarding and promoting sites along the line, the term 'natural features' terms given below, reflect current the conservation of geology and 'biological diversity' or 'the variety of notified as SSSIs (Sites of Special started to appear (to include geology and thinking within English Nature. geomorphology in its natural setting, rather living things', geodiversity has to be Scientific Interest) on account of their geomorphology), and more recently the We plan to adopt this usage and hope Conservation or than about museum collections, building 'geological diversity' or the variety of 'geology and physiography' (the terms tenn 'geodiversity' has re-emerged as in it will help us be clearer in what vve preservation? stones or geological maps and art etc., rocks, fossils and minerals and natural used then, and still used today in Geodiversity Update (attempts to adopt mean. It may be that others will also wish although all these do provide context and processes. It is a powerful tenn in that it conservation legislation). this term in English Nature in the mid­ to" follow this thinking too, but we are These two terms are generally used fairly are of interest. Our core work, therefore, is sits alongside the widely used term Candidate SSSls were at this time 1990s \vere discouraged by some very aware that everyone else will also synonymously in dictionaries. However, in about geological and geomorphological biodiversity. As a concept, 'geodiversity being identified through the Geological members of our Counci I at the time on the have their ovvn equally valid thoughts, relation to the environment and nature conservation, and not a wider definition. conservation' is nothing new. All Conservation Review (GCR). Before grounds that it may confuse people!). preferences and opinions on usage. conservation, they are usually used with Consequently we have decidt;,d that our geological SSSls were selected via the long, we were promoting the idea of a Now, after discussions at the Development of consistent terminology is two significantly different meanings. site-based \~flrk will be defined as Geological Conservation Revievi, which new tier of sites, RIGS (Regionally Geoconservation Commission of the an important goal, and I would be Preservation is widely interpreted as 'geological and geomorphological was structured to identify, among other Important Geological / geomorphological Geological Society about the plethora of interested to hear from anyone with meaning 'keeping something in the same conservation'. This is often abbreviated to things, 'representative' geology and Sites) and were also interacting with ternlS we love to use, I have agreed to thoughts on this issue. state, stopping it from changing' (i.e. 'geological conservation' when a more geomorphology, which by definition will colleagues in Europe, involved in what write this short piece giving some 1can be contacted on: mothballing!). In other words, it allows no concise terminology is needed, but with 'represent' the geological diversity in they called 'geoco..?servation'. thoughts on terminology now in use, and [email protected] physical change to a particular feature. clear explanation that geomorpllOlogy is Britain. However, geodiversity is now ~ery Right: Minchin Hole Cave, Gower, is arguably a site of international importance for its fossil-bearing cave Conservation, and nature conservation in implicitly included within geology. being used in a holistic way to sediments. These have provided vital evidence for changing climatic and environmental conditions over, at least, pal1icular, is interpreted as meaning 'active emphasise the links between geology, ,-,'ildlife and people etc. We support the use the last 250.000 years. In geoconservation terms this is about as close as it comes to 'mothballing', with management of something to ensure its Geoconservation of this term to describe geology in its exploration of the cave sediments restricted to bona fide research workers and institutions - such as this 'dig' by quality is retained'. This places the widest sense, but we struggle to find a a Natural History Museum-led team in 1984. The photograph shows sedimentary evidence for two separate, emphasis on management of something to This is a term widely used overseas, and interglacial, high sea-level events separated by cold-climate deposits. Photo by Stewart Campbell. retain a particular 'quality', rather than on increasingly in Great Britain. It is used difference between the meanings of 'Earth preservation of something \vith no change synonymously with geological and heritage' and 'geodiversity', and between

Conventional geological conservation - the Giant's Causeway (below). at all. 1 would argue strongly that geomorphological conservation, and we 'Earth heritage conservation' and Photo by Colin Prosser/English Nature geologists and geomorphologists do believe that it can be used interchangeably 'geodiversity conservation'. Perhaps they conservation and not preservation. Our in this \vay without causing too much are the same and one term needs to be usual approach is to manage a site to retain confusion. dropped? I would favour keeping an identified interest, allowing certain geodiversity! changes in the form of development, Earth science natural processes and collecting, providing conservation Physiography that they do not damage the interest of the site. We do not as a rule practice We have taken 'Earth science' to be a This largely disused tenn is still cun'ent in preservation or 'mothballing', where we subject/activity that is about the study of British conservation legislation, and we do the Earth. Thus, conservation of the study not intend using it, other than for legal .--;~ of the Earth is a very ambiguous phrase, purposes. At all other times we will use the ""'" .... and is not a clear description of what we more widely understood 'geomorphology'. do. Consequently, although \ve can still (')~~~l" call ourselves Earth scientists if we wish, Natural features Geo-art, as demonstrated in Peterborough. This is This is a particularly ambiguous term, broad Earth heritage conservation, but not developed as a catch-all by non-geologists. \ . t~ , geologicaflgeomorphological conservation. It is a term that we do not intend to use in Photo by Colin ProsserlEnglish Nature the future.• 3 or many, the only connection While in most cases the conservation of views of geological features. For the 40,000 the Clyde. And while Brodick is built on a between The National Trust for geological features requires little, if any, annual visitors to that earliest geotourism raised beach, Culzean Castle is perched on a Scotland and geology may be the Richard Luxmoore and action. occasionally some active management site, Finga!'s Cav~ a landing stage and hand cliff of volcanic rock high above the sea. F stone used to build our castles is needed. At Burg, for example, a protective rails have been provided. A fixed ladder At many more of its properties, the Trust and large houses. The Trust, however, has Derrick Warner cemenl capping prevents trophy hunters from gives access to MacCulloch's Tree, and provides interpretative material through the largest land-holding of any of the ofthe National Trust for Scotland removlllg what little remains of tbe fossil bridges and viewing platforms improve the leaflets and visitor centre displays. conservation organisations in Scotland, tree. Elscwhere, briefings by thc Trust's appreciation of COD"ieshalloch and Dollar The display being developed at Hugh managing over 73,000 ha of some of the show how many of Scotland's most prestigious beauty spots and Ranger Service (at Dobb's Linn) or the Glen. Miller's Cottage on the Cromarty Firth­ finest parts of the country. Much of that conservation siles rest on impressive geological foundations. promulgation of a code of practice (on celebrating the work of one of our most land contains spectacular and nationally Arran) attempt to stem the damage from Biggest returns famous geologists"- is worthy of special important geological features. fossil collection and chipping. mention. Here it is hoped to link the static The Confirmation Order under which the which owe their spectacular scenery to the more cryptic SSSIs: Dobb's Linn in the While many of its properties provide Interpreting geological features to visitors display to a more wide-ranging trail, guiding Trust was established in 1935 states that its features of geology: Staffa's basalt columns Moffat Hills is the international stratotype oppol1unities for on-site study by indi,viduals yields the biggest returns, however. the visitor around the Highlands in Miller's purpose is to promote the permanent and Fingal's Cave have inspired visitors from locality for the Ordovician/Silurian boundary or gfClupS, the Trust also helps sponsor The Ranger Service gives dedicated footsteps. conservation "of places and buildings in Mendelssohn onwards; St Kilda's awesome because of its graptolite sequence; Glencoe geologIcal research. The recent submarine geological guided walks at some properties, In this way, we hope not only to Scotland of historic or national interest or cliffs have earned it the honour of being was the type locality for cauldron survey around the St Kilda Archipelago ­ including Grey Mare's Tail and Glencoe, and encourage people into Scotland's magnificent natural beauty [including] the preservation Scotland's only natural World Heritage Site; subsidence; on Unst there are particularly which revealed the full structure of the points out geological features on more countryside, but also to appreciate the forces (so far as practicable) of their natural aspect the magnificent mountains of Liathach and fine examples of ultrabasic mineralisation; Tertiary volcanic complex - is a good general walks at many others. And yes, the and materials influencing the landscape's and features and animal and plant life". The Ben Alligin gave the name to the Torridonian while Fair Isle is the source of the Devonian example. castles and houses do have a geological story development. Maybe they will even see inclusion of the phrase "natural beauty" is sandstones and conglomerates; while the plant fossil, Svalbardia. Visitor management is key to the :1USt:S to tell. The red sandstones of Brodick Castle where some of the stones that built our significant in that it implies that landscape, forbidding ridges on either side of Glencoe GeomorphoJogy is also well represented, Iwork, and that includes ImprovIng VISitors and the Tenement House are typical around castles and large houses came from.• and hence geology, is an important are much loved amongst more adventurous from the excellent periglacial features of the consideration. In fact, the Trust's first mountaineers. Caimgorms plateau at Mar Lodge to the l Geological wonders in the National Trust for Scotland's estate inctude: countryside property, Burg on the west coast massive landslips at Kintail, Glencoe and Fingal's Cave (right), which receives 40,000 visitors annually; of Mull, was acquired primarily because of Trust property Torridon, and the glacial overspill channel at MacCulloch's Tree (top teft); its geological interest - MacCulloch's St Abb's Head. the World Heritage Site of St Kilda's awesome cliffs (above); remarkable fossil tree, which is preserved in Four out of the five highest mountains in Geology also has a defining influence on and the Grey Mare's Tail, where visitors can embark on dedicated a Tertiary lava flow. Scotland - and 16 per cent of the Munros ­ the botany on Trust properties. The geological gUided walks. Burg is, of course, a Site of Special are located on TIllst property. And there are calcareous schists at Ben Lawers are home to Scientific Interest, but it is not alone among also some superlative gorges and waterfalls, the most remarkable concentration of All photos courtesy of National Trust for Scotland the Trust's properties. including Comeshalloch Gorge, the Falls of montane mosses and lichens in Europe, as Others include at least 18 SSSIs notified Glomach, Grey Mare's Tail and well as to a bewildering array of flowering for their geological interest, some 25 GCR Killiecrankie. plants. And Glencoe and Grey Mare's Tail sites and eight National Nature Reserves. More esoteric perhaps, but of significant have other calcareous high-altitude flora of Indeed, there is a long list of Trust properties interest to the serious geologist, are some of national significance. 14 From these early beginnings, stone and the origins of mineralisation. While mineral extraction grew. Although stone scheduling by English Heritage controls was not widely used for buildings until the access, it does not necessarily prevent it. If Roman period, from then on (apart from a the research is sound, the objectives gap between the Roman exit and the acceptable and the impact on the Norman Conquest) stone became the monument limited, there is no reason why material of choice for all important a Scheduled Monument Consent buildings and many lesser ones. Apart (permission to carry out the work) should from major ecclesiastical and high-status not be granted. buildings, local stone was used wherever possible and the remains of Roman and 'Natural landscape' Mediaeval quarries can be found across the country. Mineral extraction also A greater concern is the loss of increased, with the range of minerals evidence of past industries through the sought growing exponentially to the current enthusiasm to 'tidy' the landscape. present day. The remains of these activities The Welsh Development Agency is rapidly are equally widespread. removing all traces of the past industrial Mike Corfield The conservation of geological and landscape of mining pits and spoil heaps at mineral sites was partly explored by the Heads of the Valleys, restoring it to ChiefScientist, Natalie Bennett in Earth Heritage 14. what is perceived as a 'natural landscape'. English Heritage Natalie mentioned some of the difficult Current government policies for the areas where geological conservation development of brownfield sites will objectives might not match those of further reduce the evidence of past mineral heritage conservation. working; so too may the new The development of humans and the landscape have long been Inter-locked. A current concern is for old quarries Contaminated Land Regulations where which are the only source of particular hazardous materials, which may include How do we balance the priorities for conservation? in the Lake District were traded the length types of stone, such as that needed for run off from mineral dumps, put public of the country. roofing. Some of these have become health at risk. For instance, high levels of he landscape of England Agriculture too reflects soil types. The promontories; ritual centres were sited in It is not until the coming of metal use important habitats and there is a reluctance lead in the Yorkshire Dales have been reflects a long interaction of expression 'as different as chalk from places where they could be seen, on hill that we see extensive exploitation of to permit working that might reduce their identified as coming from the old lead humans with nature. There is cheese' comes from Wiltshire in an era crests, around springs or in natural minerals. The sources of Copper and value for na,]il1'e conservation~ However, mines on the Pennines. very little left that is a truly when sheep dominated chalk-downland amphitheatres like Stonehenge. Bronze Age metal ores had been such working might also reveal new The threats these issues present to T something of a mystery, with scepticism 'natural environment', but the farming, while cattle and milk production Settlements were established where they geological evidence. Earth scientists, archaeologists and those underlying geology has been relatively were prevalent on the rich pastures could make use of natural resources, or on about early mining at sites such as concerned with nature conservation can little changed. produced by heavier clay soils in the north lines of communication, either by water or Alderley Edge (Cheshire) and the Great Valuable resources only be resolved through dialogue. Today's English Heritage's Historic Landscape of the county. Understanding the character trackway. Orme's Head (Conwy). However, recent landscape is the outcome of geological Characterisation pfbgramme brings of the landscape enables better planning of The exploitation of geological and work at the latter and at Cwmystwyth There is also concern that Ehglish processes, the development of a natural together geology, soils and its use and development. mineral resources is long established. (Powys) has provided clear dating for Heritage's current Monument Protection environment and the impact of human geomorphology, natural features such as The people of Britain have used Stone tools show the sophistication of Bronze Age mining, with additional Programme, which is reviewing past activities on each of these. hedgerows, and man-made structures. geology and geomorphology since the first Britain's ancient people in identifying the evidence at Cwmystwyth for lead mining. industries and scheduling significant sites, The complex interaction of our Stone walls and buildings predominate colonisers after the last ice age found best material? for the-purpose. Flint from Similarly, it has recently been suggested might reduce opportunities to investigate respective interests must be explored where the underlying geology is hard rock; refuge in caves. Later, defensive sites were deep mines at Grimes Graves in Norfolk that there is good evidence that gold old mine heaps. These are valuable jointly to provide the best protection for hedgerows, timber framing and brick in located in strategic places such as the edge was far superior to the weathered surface mining at Dolaucothi began in the Bronze resources for Earth scientists researching the environment. chalk and clay regions. of escarpments and on coastal material. Stone tools from Langdale Pike Age.

Wherever you go, there are outstanding examples of how people have used the landscape and geology to advantage: ancient deep mines at Grimes Graves, Norfolk (top left); the fortifications of Old Sarum (above); more mines, this time at the Great Orme's Head, Llandudno (right); Hadrian's Wall on the Anglo-Scottish border (left); and Tynemouth Castle (far left). Photos by English Heritage and Stewart Campbell/CCW 17 Vaulting in the Elgin Cathedral Chapter House (top of facing page) shows how similar-sized (man-handleable) blocks of local stone were used for different functions to produce the complex geometry of the structure.

The flag wall (this page, far left) was built using Geolo stone from the nearby beach outcrop (left) in the Orkney Isles.

The Glasgow tenement block (below) shows glaring incongruity between the building's original ictates material, local Carboniferous sandstone, and the red bricks with which it was restored.

The ruined cottages on Rousey, Orkney (below architecture left), were roofed with several thin sheets of locally sourced Middle Devonian rock.

The corbel at Muness Castle, Unst, Shetland (foot of facing page) again shows how man-handleable stone blocks were used in quality architecture.

Ingval Maxwell All photos by Ingval Maxwell or over 5,000 years, stone has DirectOJ; Technical Conservation Research and Education, exposed foreshore whilst rock outcrops, requires two essential needs to be satisfied in a variety of fonns including triangular, been at the heart of Scotland's such as those at Elcho Castle and to achieve stability. Firstly, the stone's size round-headed, segmental and pointed. All architectural heritage. Historic Scotland Chatelherault, near Hamilton, also and strength must be sufficient to resist operate on the principle of transmitting Whether igneous, provided ready material. Ashlar from the fracturing at the fulcrum point. Secondly, loads directly to the foundations via metamorphic or sedimentary rock, the 12th - 13th centuries is characterised by there must be sufficient in-built tail weight suppol1ing walls, jambs or columns. The properties, colour, texture and readily sourced along the routes. Glasgow masonry binder is a newcomer by being 'blocky' and cube-like in to prevent rotation by the overhang over ability to cut and connect small pieces of weathering characteristics of each has and Edinburgh, for example, obtained comparison. But, closer examination appearance. 18th - 19th century work the fulcrum.;/.J:J.ese parameter5 are directly stone to form arches or vaults required a given individual distinction to every city, large quantities of stone from as far afield reveals that the underlying strength of resulted from stone obtained at a dictated by geological properties. high degree of craft skill, and a full town, village, church, farm and cottage. as the English Midlands and Caithness, traditionally built walls lies in the stone's considerable quarry depth, so its size, understanding of the material. More often The diversity is immense. and Welsh slates, used on many Border load-bearing characteristics. What humans hardness and weathering capabilities are Variety of forms than not, access to the original work area In traditional construction, material fanns, followed the Waverley line. added was the technique of 'breaking generally much greater. was tight, so stones needed to be was frequently gathered directly from the From earliest times, humans had the bond', staggering course joints as stones In creating stone architecture, the The earliest architectural form of manageable in size. Most required no immediate neighbourhood. Often this was ability to successfully place stones to were set on the underlying blocks to craftsman were guided by observing the column occurred by placing vertical more than two men to place them on top within a man-handleable distance around create structures. Due to the effort produce an even stronger build. rock's natural qualities. Sedimentary stone monolithic slabs. With development, of the temporarytimber centring during the building - a supply radius of some 400 involved, the need to build economically was laid in horizontal alignments, columns came to be constructed from the construction process. Such constraints metres' Rocks of all types were gathered, was as important then as it is now. From Inherent characteristics emulating the condition from which it was individual stone drums set on top of each readily accepted the conditions that pre­ their physical characteristics detennining pre-history, dry-stone build has a pedigree derived. Corbel projections reflected other. A careful selection of stone was also detennined stone size in the first place. how the buildings appeared and that is second to none, with dry-stone Shaped by Earth tectonics, each rock geological overhangs. required to ensure the span, size and Unfol1unately, many of the 1,200 performed. The canal and railway dykers still exercising those skills today. type has its own inherent characteristics Of all structural devices, the simple performance of masonry lintels. This quanies that supplied building stone networks of the 18th and 19th centuries Of equal lineage is the use of earth and and physical propel1ies. In turn, this corbel is the most significant. It is the demanded that the largest and best-quality during the mid-19th century are no longer greatly affected the clay. Used in conjunction with dry-stone detennines the form, shape, dimension, mechanism through which arching, quarry material be reserved for the working. Today only 20 indigenous '400-metre' rule as technology, this ancestry is only just proportion and profile of the individual buttressing and balancing occurs. This purpose. Structural arching can be found sources are available. Inevitably these imported being recognised. stone pieces. Sedimentary material cannot match the diversity of earlier materials Introduced by naturally splits so the length is much supplies, so the construction industry is were the Romans, greater than the height. The more flag- and forced into a the use of slate-like the material, the greater the condition of lime as a length to height ratio, and the more compromise horizontal its appearance will be on the when matching building. Other rock types pre-determine stone repair different proportions and appearances. work is It was the Romans who also introduced required. the technique of square-dressing stones to Increasingly produce ashlar. Dressing down any stone this situation is implies that the original source block was leading to a larger - its dimensions pre-determined by steady negation its geological parameters. Early quarries of the visual did not extend far into the living bedrock. quality of the At Arbroath Abbey, stone sourcing built heritage predominantly relied on the nearby stock.• ajor new visitor interpretation facilities at the famous geological site, Reviving the Scottis Knockan Crag, north of GC UlIapooI in Wester Ross, are now open to the public. on e do Professor Aubrey Manning of Edinburgh University and presenter of the 01r®QJLa~ BBC's acclaimc9 'Earth Story' series, nowl e unveiled a 'Wall of Ice' to mark the opening. Other launch guests included the industry two famous 19th century geologists who unravelled the mystery of the Moine Calum MacFarlane Alan McKinney Thrust at Knockan, Ben Peach and John Home, alias actors Calum Beaton and Scottish Natural Heritage ChiefExecutive Martin Campbell. The Scottish Stone Liaison Group access and enjoyment of the natural very well with many people, one of whom Important site heritage. SNH area officer and geologist, is author, freelance writer and naturalist, n Scotland today, there is no an old quarry, in the fOlmer heartland of • promoting and co-ordinating research Jan Breckenridge, explained: "Knockan Ray Collier. He set out to visit the site in a indigenous roofing slate for the the Scottish slate industry. The relevant to natural stone within the built Crag is hugely important on an mood of scepticism. However in an article Knockan Crag is one of the world's repair and maintenance of environmental aspects of this test environment; and finally international scale in tracing the formation which appeared shortly afterwards in the most important geological sites. Its story Scotland's historic buildings extraction have been addressed and the • to establish the NSI as the recognised of this landscape and the ways in which Highland News, he describes the whole set I dates back at least 480 million years, to unless it is 'robbed' from other 'less SSLG recognises that a more substantial centre in Scotland and beyond for people and wildlife have interacted with it up as 'awesome', the various models as the Caledonian mountain-building episode, significant' buildings. The Scottish Stone assessment would be required if the advice and information on all aspects of through time. It is already renowned 'superb', and the trails as 'a masterpiece in when a great mountain chain reared up, Liaison Group (SSLG) is facing up to development moved to the reintroduction natural stone. internationally among geologists, but we themselves'. Summing up he said: "I left running through what we now call this serious issue and is aiming for the of Scottish slate production. Since its launch, the SSLG, assisted by want these new facilities to engage the Knockan Crag with a variety of feelings, Norway, Scotland, Ireland and the Eastern general reawakening of the Scottish some dedicated organisations and a general public, particularly young people, including stimulation, satisfaction and USA (there was no Atlantic Ocean then). stone industry. The Natural Stone growing band of volunteers, has achieved in Knockan's fantastic story and contentment." Intensive pressure split the crust along The Group, formerly under the Institute Project Team significant progress but much of this work international significance. We want people SNH has invested over £200,000 in the gently sloping faults, forcing older rocks auspices of Historic Scotland, was has been preparatory with the 'real' tasks to really enjoy Knockan, either simply as a upwards and westwards over younger Knockan project. Over £300,000 has come launched in May 2000 by the then Launched in Stirling Castle in now coming to the fore. The SSLG beautiful place to stop and take in the from the Heritage Lottery Fund and rocks. This 'overthrust', called the Moine Minister for Culture and Sport, Rhona September 2001, this is ultimately an newsletter mailing list is now approaching spectacular ]lenery, or to learn more about £150,000 from the Highlands and Islands Thrust, runs up the west of Scotland and is Brankin MSP, with the primary aim of independent Institute that aims to become 2,000 people and organisations, and the geology of the area and how this Objective One partnership. Ross and dearly visible at Knockan. It baffled 19th seeking to ensure the availability of the point of reference for all matters underlines the growing strength of the helped form these amazing landscapes." century geologists until Peach and Home Cromarty Enterprise, and Caithness and indigenous Scottish stone for the repair related to the use of stone. organisation. The Knockan Project has gone down came up with an explanation of how it had Sutherland Enterprise are also backing the and maintenance of Scotland's built Its aims and objectives include: • If you are interested in contributing skill been created. project, and a local liaison group keeps heritage. The Group recognises that the • working with industry and academic and energy to assist the SSLG, or would The challenge of the new facilities is to people informed of progress.• conservation market alone will not sustain institutions; like to receive its newsletters, then contact make the significance of Knockan Crag Scottish stone producers and is therefore • the promotion of education and training me on tel: 0131 4480313 or more known to the wider public. State-of­ seeking to encourage the use of stone in schemes to meet the needs of designers e-mail: amckinney@suppOlt­ -the-art interpretation, including interactive new build projects across the country. and others involved in building with services.fsbusiness.co.uk. models and rnulti-lingual CD ROM, has The SSLG seeks to focus the energies stone; been installed to help tell the story of the of volunteers through three specific area's landscapes. A series of specially bodies, which are: Last call for major stone conference! built trails and numerous environmental A major conference, Stone in Wales: field excursions. The sculptures augment this. The Industry Project Team Materials, Heritage and Conservation, conference breaks into takes place at the National Museum several distinct Positive spin-off It seeks, among other things, to and Gallery, Cardiff from 3-5 April, 2002. sections - the Clockwise: Actors in the roles of the famous Victorian geologists Peach and Home, together with identify the needs of the Scottish stone Aubrey Manning at the launch of the new interpretative facilities at Knockan Crag. Sponsored by the Countryside geological resource; The Knockan interpretation will link to industry, quantify cun'ent available stone­ Council For Wales, the Geologists' properties of the several other sites around Assynt and One of many sculptures marking trails at Knockan Crag. working and stone-building skills, consider Association and the historic bUildings various stones; the Coigach, each telling its own part of the future skill needs and work to develop body CADW, the conference history of the use of stone; story. The project is expected to have A visitor to the new facilities at Knockan Crag, trying training at all levels. programme is structured to attract the planning considerations; and the future positive spin-ofts for the local economy. out one of the state-of-the-art interactive models. widest possible attendance from management of ancient stone quarries. attracting more visitors and encouraging The Indigenous Material amenity and heritage groups, local Excursions include a trip to the re­ Interpretative panels at Knockan Crag. them to spend more time in the area. It Project Team government, the stone Industry and erected buildings at the Museum of All photos by Scottish Natural Heritage academics. The aim is to explore the Welsh Life at St Fagans, to examine the will complement existing facilities in Ullapool and Lochinver, and will tie in This is assessing current Scottish stone geological links and credentials of stone used. with Edinburgh's new Dynamic Earth resources and has identified the lack of Welsh buildings, and various Welsh At £40 for three days of sessions, Centre by adding detail and bringing to Scottish slate production (last produced in bUilding styles, with the Common refreshments and excursions, the life the remarkable story of the Scottish 1955!) as the most serious challenge. Ground theme of local distinctiveness Conference appears a bargain! Book being pursued. Well over two dozen no later than 31 January by contacting landscape. Discussions have already taken place with speakers - all experts in their particular Or John H. Davies, Countryside Council Knockan Crag is owned by Scottish the Ballachulish Community Council, fields - are lined up to speak over the for Wales, Y Gelli, Stryd Fawr, Natural Heritage (SNH) and the project is Highland Council, Forest Enterprise and three days, and there is a half day of L1andysul, Ceredigion SA44 4DP. part of its commitment to promoting others to undertake a test extraction from 20 ~~~ _iCfi!i ©:3iF*s= tif~~.;-.;:..""'"-f~__ ", -" b - ~ aul Dady Palaeo Replicas

All photos courtesy of Palaeo Replicas

Making moulds to replicate fossil material IS USUally undertaken within the snug confines of a WOrkshop or laboratory, but needs must when the North Sea drives.

• I e, I

o.ssil replication is a recording be found on the coast around Scarborough, makes a real mess of a half-finished job! iguanodontid-like dinosaur moving in a A thin coat of over-accelerated silicone aspect of increasing the 'tear strength' of tool, a means by which Yorkshire. Several hundred have been Even if the curing of the mould material northerly direction across what was then a was then applied - over-accelerated to the silicone to such a degree that the informii'tion can be shared, recorded, and these have been attributed to could be accelerated to beat the elements, sandbank. compensate for the ridiculously'low mould thickness needed only be a fraction F either in a museum or in a about 20 different kinds of dinosaur. the shrinkage and distortions induced by temperature in which it was expected to of what it otherWise might have been. research or educational environment. As rich in material as the site is, it the acceleration could compromise the Method perform, and to take account of the tide. Finally, to ensure the topographical Once the right mould has been achieved presents the palaeontologist, or anyone accuracy of the mould. However. sufficient time was also needed integrity of the mould, a laminated - in microscopic detail- all the physical else who might wish to study the With M~ke's comments in mind, and to Firstly, the print was cleaned of surface to allow the silicone to search out the polyurethane cradle was constructed over characteristics of the original surfaces footprints, with a number of problems. prepare for conditions in Yorkshire, we set debris, then washed and relieved of excess detail of the specimen. and provide a the silicone and allowed to harden. Once can, in theory at least, be reproduced ad Access, whilst not impossible, is not about a series of small experiments. And, surface moisture. Key points within the texturally accurate negative. The drawback removed from the original footprint, the infillitum. The original specimen exactly easy. Leaving the site with as speed and integrity are rarely important matrix \vere identified and the distances in over-accelerating the silicone is that it silicone sheet would, when reversed, lie remains safely nestled within the greater anything more than a few small samples issues in the comfort of a workshop, the between these were recorded so that at a induces unacceptable degrees of shrinkage. within the cradle, with the original collection whilst replicas can be can be precarious, if not hazardous. The experiments were conducted in the garden, later date, the dimensional stability of the This was resolved through the introduction topography maintained. dispersed for the benefit of the greater rock, particularly in the cliff face, is during December! If a reliable process \vork could be checked from the of plastic laminates on top of each coat of Nestled again in the relative comfort of geological community. subject to constant and often rapid erosion. could be fonnulated for pretty ghastly subsequent moulds and casts. silicone. This had the further positive the workshop, a lightweight polyurethane The production of moulds is, as you In short, the specimens cannot be removed weather conditions, its application at any cast, or 'positive', was produced. The might imagine, nonnally undertaken in a and tides limit the time they are exposed other time should be relatively replica \vas painted and duly despatched to workshop or laboratory or other such for study. comfortable. its new home in the Department of suitable place. But January of this year The day of the mould production itself Environmental and Geological Sciences at saw our company - which is primarily Degrees of success (in mid-January) was preceded by a fairly the University of Sheffield. concerned with high-quality replication of sharp frost. However, with clear bright Of course Yorkshire is fine, even in fossil material - undertake a small Mike and Martin had been taking blue heavens and not a breath of wind, the January. But should anyone wish to avail commission which demanded that we moulds of footprints from the site for some weather, it has to be said, was a bit of a themselves of such a service in. say, the surrender the snug comforts and time, with varying degrees of success. disappointment. Having devised an 'all­ south of France in June. they should not familiarity of our workshop for somewhere Mike outlined some of the problems that weather system' to prove my point, I had hesitate to get in touch! else altogether. he and Martin had encountered, hoped for a small blizzard at least! Drs Mike Romano and Martin Whyte particularly with regard to the need for The specimen identified was the sixth • Further infonnation from Paul Dadyor of the University of Sheffield have for speed and uncompromised integrity in the print in the Scalby Trackway. Dated at Alethea Saville at Palaco Replicas on some 15 years pursued a particular interest production of the mould. approximately 170 mya this is one of a set 01526 353933 or in the mid-Jurassic dinosaur trackways to Mike assured me that an incoming tide of nine prints made by an ornithopod, AJetheala2aspr. freeserve.co.uk Soft stone, Holistic winners Geological Patrick Morris, Amanda Bm'rett, Andrew coral reefs and polar regions. but overall this J\I!urray and Marguerite Smits van Oyen. is an incredibly beautiful book. illustrated Wild Africa. 200 I. £2499 BBC Worldwide with superb photographs and written in a first hard truths Limited. ISBN 0-563-53790-6 style suitable for a non-technical audience. Andrew Byatt, Alastair Fothergill and Pamela and Tim Fogg. Beneath Our Feet Martha Holmes. The Blue Planet: a natural Wild Africa is divided into Coasts, for Kent - The Caves and Limestone ScenelY oftlte histmy ofthe oceans. 2001. £19.99. BBC Mountains, Lakes and Rivers, Desens, North ofIreland. 2001. £1 O. Environment Worldwide Limited. ISBN 0-563-38498-0 Jungles and Savannahs. It provides separate A long-disused quarry at Dryhill, near and Heritage Service (Dept of the sections on plate tectonics, rifting and Sevenoaks, Kent - already an SSSI (Site of Environment) Bel fast. ISBN 1084123­ These lavishly illustrated, coffee-table books mountain building, and most chapters Special Scientific Interest) for its geology ­ 3471. have been published to accompany major contain Earth Science information relevant to has been declared a Local Nature Reserve television series. At first sight, their the habitat descriptions. Hominid evolution (LNR) by Kent County Council with the help Just flicking through the book shows the connection with the Earth Sciences and Earth and climate change are also covered in a of English Nature. authors have succeeded with their declared heritage conservation might appear tenuous, brilliantly illustrated and clearly written text.

intention - 'to produce a readable, non­ but they take an unusually holistic approach. f-1I. Its declaration demonstrates the County technical book with wide appeal and to They integrate information from many fields, The holistic approach THE BLUE PLANE Council's commitment to managing the site make the subject accessible and intriguing.' including the Earth Sciences. taken by. the authors and for nature conservation, and to involving the This is a book for students, caving clubs, the BBC in both books local community in its upkeep. Local farmers, visitors/tourists - anybody! Throughout The Blue Planet's sections on is excellent. Geology -., children, residents, politicians and geological Tropical Seas, Temperate Seas, Frozen Seas, and geomorphology are 'c' groups including representatives from the Readers are guided through the science by The Open Ocean and The Deep, Earth used to underpin what ~:". -~ Geologists' Association and Kent RlGS, giving the background to karst and Science information is somewhat patchy. are essentially attended the event. The launch included a limestone scenery. Non-specialists learn However, there are good basic explanations biological subjects. guided walk led by the Counci I and English what limestone is, how and where it is of the mechanisms of plate tectonics and the Both books are written Nature, and a fossil hunt for local children formed, the chemical properties that allow formation of mid-ocean ridges, which for a general audience organised and led by the Kent RIGS Group. dissolution, deposition and the physical underpin the chapter on The Deep. The and are suitable for older children. properties that allow water to travel through processes involved in the formation of Conserving nationally important geological the rock. Handy information boxes expand hydrothermal vents ('black smokers' and Although not specifically designed to do so, features through SSSI designation is a key on particular themes and the extensive 'white smoke#.;-') are given prominence and they help to stimulate an interest in the Earth part of English Nature's work, but glossary helps explain the language of karst. are used to explain how myriad communities Sciences - an interest which is often much partnerships which move past conservation The reader is then taken around the special of animals flourish around the vents. I more difficult to achieve in specialist and site management into promoting access, landscape of limestone, explaining above­ particularly liked the section which reads: publications. This must be an important way educational use and community involvement ground features such as sinkholes, dry "As the mid-ocean ridges rise up from the that Earth Scientists can- --- -­ are needed to maxiJ]1ise the potential of any valleys, limestone pavement and turloughs, abyssal plain, everyone expected them to be broadcast their subject site. An integrated approach to nature in addition to underground features such as largely lifeless. But in 1979, when biologists (still very much a conservation often works best, and this cave passages and the wonderful cave visited the vents first discovered by minority Sp011 1) ffild disused quarry at Dryhill has developed decorations including stalactites, cave geologists two years previously, they could promote considerable wildlife interest, as well as Preparation for the launch involved clearing pearls, curtains and helictites. hardly believe their eyesl " geoconservation. being locally interesting for its history of much vegetation from rock faces, which quarrying. greatly improved access to the geology. Site The reader then learns how the special r can'l help but feel that the Blue Planet - Stewart Campbell, interpretation panels were produced by geology of the north of Ireland, created in misses a trick in not incorporating more Countryside Council A walk around the site illustrates the close English Nature as part of the ongoing tropical seas, by volcanic action and Earth Science information in the sections on for Wales links between the geological faces and geological site enhancement programme sculpted by ice, has led to the development biological colonisation which takes place in Face Lift. of the karstic landscape. Detailed disused quarries. Kent's decision to declare descriptions of the limestone scenery of tbe site an LNR will help turn it from a The quarry faces at Dryhill expose the Fermanagh, Antrim, Tyrone and Armagh Cordon, J.E. and Leys, K.F. (eds) Earth turned into practical sustainable management predominantly scientific resource into an Cretaceous Hythe Beds, here represented by carry maps, cave plans and photographs. Science and the Natural Heritage: of our natural resources. However, it has not accessible, well managed and interpreted the 'rag' and 'hassock' lithofacies, which are Interactions and Integrated Management. been communicated to decision makers and site, where anyone can learn about geology hard sandy limestones ('rag') and loosely Perhaps the most important information is 2001. £35.00. The Stationery Office, the public in terms they can understand. The and biology and enjoy a walk and picnic too. cemented sandstones ('hassock'). The kept towards the end. The limestone Edinburgh. ISBN 0-11-497283-4 priorities for action therefore centre on sequence of rocks exposed in the quarry was landscape is delicate, limited and easily improved communication. Once decision deposited in a warm shallow marine damaged. Quarrying, tourism and The proceedings of the Scottish Natural makers, policy makers and their advisors, environment and has yielded oysters and recreation, agriculture, construction and Heritage conference on Earth Science and planners, and land and water managers brachiopods. The Hythe Beds were quarried waste disposal all have an irreparable the Natural Heritage: Imeractions and understand how Earth systems work, they here for building stone and roadstone until impact. The people who have a direct Integrated Management have been can make integrated management more the early 1900s. influence are those who own and work tbe published. These recognise the outstanding effective (e.g. at a catchment level). land, the statutory organisations and the scientific and cultural value of Scotland's - Colin Prosser, English Nature cavers. The final pages rightly state that all Earth heritage, and the wider significance of Equally important is the need for new the designations in the world cannot ensure rocks, landfonTIS and soils as a core part of approaches to raise awareness of Earth Top of page: the Dryhi/l interpretation board and protection without the right management our natural heritage, landscapes and scenery. heritage in education, the voluntary rock face. Left: Kent RIGS Group helps local and commitment from all concerned. movement, ranger services and the tourist children find fossils. There is a wealth of knowledge and industry, and to promote greater public Both photos: Colin Prosser/English Nature - Raymond Roberts, understanding of Earth systems that can be involvement. 24 Countryside Council for Wales 25 Focus on build ing erials

Jeanne Marie Teutonico (ed.). The English Donhead Publishing, not known to me before these titles landed on my desk, Heritage DirectolY ofBuilding Limes. 1997. specialises in new and reprinted building conservation and heritage books. Their Map leaves me lost I l I £1295. ISBN 1-873394-21-7 latest listing has 42 volumes, ranging from Gauged Brickwork to Roof Slating Building Stone Resources ofthe United Surely it is high time that information on This 72-page, two-thirds A4-sized paperback and Tiling. The three here are relevant to building conservation and hence should Kingdom. 1:1,000,000 scale map. 2001. building and decorative stones of the British Isles, not just the UK, is made easily lists producers and suppliers of lime-based be of interest to Earth scientists - Mick Stanley, Geodiversity Consulting £6.25. BGS. ISBN 0751 833 J85 products including 1997 prices and product available. Edward Hull, a Geological Survey Sasha Chapman and John Fidler (eds). The John Allen Howe (ed.). The Geology of range throughout the United Kingdom and Seemingly an attractive front cover of a book officer, wrote A treatise on building and English Heritage Directory ofBuilding Building Stones. 1910. Reprinted by the Irish Republic. This is a rare beast these that belies the fact that Building Stone ornamental stones ofGreat Brirain and Sands and Aggregates. 2000. £30.00. Donhead Publishing, 2001. £35.00. days to be sure, as few, if any, country Resources ofrhe United Kingdom is a map. A foreign countries in 1872 and it is still a ISBN 1-873394-22-5 ISBN 1-873394-52-7 agencies appear to want to provide other wonderful source of data, but what a tenible classic. Together with John Watson's superb countries with details of their own way of presenting it' descriptive catalogue of British and Foreign This book and its contemporary, the British suppliers. Subtitled A source book ofaggregate types Building Stones of 1911, describing the stone and suppliers in England, this 112-page A4 and Foreign Building Stones of John Watson, I tried to look at it on a train journey, first samples in the collections of the Sedgwick published by Cambridge University Press a The foreword lays on the importance of lime paperback is used with a separate wall chart looking at the Building Stone Map card, museum in Cambridge, they remain the best year later, started my interest in building and and the generic use of the term. Lime covers of 81 mortar colours (produced from the 27 which lists the major stone sources laid out of their kind. But strangely, they are omitted decorative stones. a large range of materials which possess different aggregates listed and mixed with in geological column order with boxes for from the reference section of the map. They subtly different chemical and mineralogical three Jimes) for easy reference. As a Chalk against CI'etaceous, Portland against are now 131 and 91 years old respectively, so Alien Howe's book lacks the easy narrative constituents, and differ in methods of directory, it is easy to read and follow. Jurassic and so on. isn't it about time they were replaced with a style ofWatson's, but it does give the manufacture, preparation and application to modem bookJcatalogue listing current and historical and recent use of stone in buildings vary the quality and performance of the final The correct colour and texture of mortar is Curiously, stone roofing slates from extinct stone types with copious examples of and, for the first time, introduces information product. It can be mortar, render, grout, crucial in building conservation: 'In addition Ordovician to Cretaceous are lumped their use? on decay of stone and testing methods and plaster or limewash. The foreword also notes to creating structural and other problems of together and set against Triassic. Down the results. David Jefferson's 200 I introduction that English Heritage and The Ministry of physical and chemical incompatibility, the right hand side runs the modem history time I liked the border of the map under review as to the reprint puts Howe's work into context Public Works, before it, have always used incorrect use of mortar mixes, by contrast, line, Roman through to 20" century modem. it has 53 examples of well- and lesser-known and stresses the importance of the innovative lime in all its forms for most of this century. can be visually disturbing... Then turn over, and the geological column is buildings and their stone from all the decay and testing chapters. missing Ordovician and Silurian, as though geological perio~~. But it is not • This paperback is hot on guidance. There is The book examines the geology of rock to infer that these periods produce no stone representative bfthe UK, as there are only Twenty pages of granite, sandstone, definition, production and practice for limes recycling, grain size and shape and worthy of mention - they do. The history seven Welsh and eight Scottish examples, limestone and slate quarries serves to and related products. Readers will also find properties with an historical perspective, column, in geological tradition, starts at the and one from Ireland. underline the crucial position of stone as a an alphabetical directory of producers and selection and specification. It includes a case bottom with the Palaeolithic up to the Iron building material in 19th and early 20th suppliers, with copious notes for each. A study of the conservation of monuments. Its Age. But trying to read the I by 1.27metre With such an array of sponsors - BGS, century Britain, when architects still glossary, bibliography and standards, and bulk, though, is aggregates and suppliers by map proved impossible, unless it was folded English Heritage, Scottish Stone Liaison specified stone, often local, for significant suppliers by region conJplete the fi ve regions and aggregates by colour. The back on itself several times to become a Group, Historic Scotland, Stone Federation, and domestic buildings. Howe's book was chapters. The whole presentation is clear and glossary has colour plates of the 27 handy size. British Stone and CADW - Welsh Historic the major reference of buildings to look at easy to follow. aggregates, and a bibliography. Monuments, one would have expected a for a particular stone used in the local area. Presumably it is intended to be wall­ more accessible publication. He understood the need fQr architects and mounted, as the publication is only printed engineers to have' some geological on one side. But then there is the problem of A delightful' tour de force It is difficult to persuade architects and knowledge and it is presented it in an easy­ being unable to read the size 8 typeface, even planners to specifY local materials, and so the Hugh Prudden. Geology and landscape of the sepia photographs and tinted sketches. to-understand manner. Large typeface, many with extant quarries in bold. One must prospect of the title Building Stone Resources Taunton Deane. 2001. Taunton Deanc Chapter 11 A FieI\' ofrhe COlll7tlyside in illustrations, tables, lists and naITative are assume that the map card was produced to to help that process and steer them to an Borough Council. ISBN 0-954052-0-2 1794 extracts those geodiversity elements of designed to take the reader on a journey get over this problem. authoritative publication was pleasing. William Marshall 's journey from Tiverton to through the stone types and periods found in Hugh Prudden has written a tour de force. Somerton to allow a, feel for the people, all of the districts in which they are quarried. Why not produce it as a book at A4 rather The reality is disappointing as the data are The subtitle, A geological e.\ploration of landscape and culture; "six oxen stirring a than the odd slightly-smaller-than-A4 size it made inaccessible through the small-size southwest Somerset, does not do the fallow of strong red land. Meet a string of 'The sandstones in Devon and Somerset are is? No doubt BGS was conditioned by the typeface and the method of presentation. contents justice. The book is supported by cuim caI1s; on their way, from the Taunton only occasionally hard enough for building tourist map of rocks, minerals and fossil Excellent data, names of old quarries, 13 different organisations, aIL wanting to Navigation to the Limeworks. Lime stone a pale Keuper sandstone, in 10caJi,ties produced in 2000. but a map is not working quarries, descriptions of the main contribute to this modem-day Domesday compost, on headlands as in Devonshire". thick beds, is quarried about North Carry (sic the way to promote data which should be types of building stone, colour coded, but too survey of southwest Somerset. Curry), Sutton Hams and Knapp. The last available to architects, planners and small for old eyes. The following chapter, Taunton Rock Trail, named stone was used in the Wesleyan interested historians and Earth scientists. Some of the introductory chapters, Hugh's starts the exploration in words and pictures College, Taunton.' Topics, cover most of Somerset and the and each narrative describes the local I shall cut up the map into more manageable immediate West Country to some depth, and churches, building stones, rock types and Hugh Prudden's book gives a fuller picture chunks and use it as the basis for a book on Exploring the Taunton Area gives landscape. A general and a rock type of the use of North Curry sandstone, but building stones used in the British Isles, with geodiversity sketches of 20 villages or areas glossary. landscape sub-divisions and Howe notes its local importance. Almost 100 sections on buildings, monuments, and covering about 1.600sq kilometres of bibliography complete the appendices. The years old, Howe's book is still a sound stmctures and maps of quarries at a size 1 can countryside. The use of 19'" century line 141-page book is two-thirds A4. source of data for the Earth scientist, read. Just the thing for retirement' drawings and extracts from prose and poems architect, historian and engineer, but its from that and the last century give an - .Mick Stanley, reprinting underlines the need for a new - l"fick Stanley, authoritative yet intimate feel, enhanced by Geodiversity Consulting book on building stones. Geodiversity Consulting 26 Earth Heritage magazine is published twice a year to promote interest in geological and landscape conservation.

Alex Clark aged 10 and her father, Neil Clark, of the Hunterian Museum, practise silver panning in preparation for a trip to the Silver Glen in the Ochil Hills, one of the many events during Rock On, the third Scottish Geology Week co-ordinated by Scottish Natural Heritage. See page 8.

Photo by David Mitchell

UKRIGS SCOTTISH NATURAL JOINT~ HERITAGE NATURE~ CONSERVATION 'I~~~I GE:OCOt>lSERVATION COMMITTEE It~SSOCI~T10N