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Mendip Rocks! Framework Consultation Event 25th January 2014 The purpose of this one day event was to consider ideas for improving the understanding and management of the Mendip Hills geology and the wildlife and historic landscape that it has shaped. A significant amount of research, activities and management has already been undertaken by a wide range of individuals and organisations. This one day event started to look at the following ; How can we better share this information? What further research and information is required to engage land managers, decision makers and local communities in the caring for key features and sites? What information, interpreted in interesting ways, would add to the visitor experience and encourage visitors to explore further? The event was attended by 32 people representing a range of interests: Name Organisation Andy Mallender Mendip Hills AONB Unit Sarah Jackson Mendip Hills AONB Unit Dr Gill Odolphie Somerset Earth Science Centre Ruth Worsley Somerset Earth Science Centre Robin Thornes Quarry Faces Barry Lane Wells and Mendip Museum Bob Corns Natural England Michele Bowe Somerset Wildlife Trust Alan Gray Mendip Cave Registry Lila Morris Somerset Wildlife Trust Bob Croft Somerset County Council Ed Goodall AONB Volunteer Ranger Jane Abrahall AONB Volunteer Ranger Chris Binding Robin Bradbury Coleford Parish Council Paul Bryan Mendip Hills AONB Unit Barry Clarke Doulting Parish Council Christopher Couldry Tim Corner Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre Nick Croxson English Heritage Gill Davies Charterhouse Environs Research Team (CHERT) Joan Goddard Charterhouse Environs Research Team (CHERT) Antonia Gwynne Shipham First School Francis Hayden Nunney Parish Council Peter Margerum Tony Setterington Somerset Industrial Archaeology Society Rachel Shaw Heritage Education Freelance Jane Snelling Charterhouse Environs Research Team (CHERT) Nigel Taylor Westbury Quarry Judith Tranter Mendip Society Graham Price Mendip Society and Council for Southern Caving Clubs Clem Maidment Radstock Museum Session 1 was a series of presentations on current and future activities: 1. Welcome and introduction – Sarah Jackson, Mendip Hills AONB Manager. 2. Somerset Earth Science Centre: Dr Gill Odolphie, Centre Manager. 3. Mendip Rocks Festival: Ruth Worsley, Festival Coordinator 4. Quarry Faces Project: Robin Thornes. 5. Wells Museum - Netherworld and Beyond: Barry Lane 6. Geodiversity: Bob Corns, Natural England. 7. Biodiversity and Site Management: Lila Morris, Somerset Wildlife Trust. 8. Mendip Cave Exploration and Records, Alan Gray, Mendip Cave Registry 9. Somerset Historic Environment Research, Priorities and Directions – Bob Croft, Somerset County Archaeologist. Session 2 – Workshop Discussions Participants were divided into 4 groups for the afternoon workshops covering the following topics: 1. Education and Activities 2. Interpretation 3. Site Management 4. Research Each group spent 20-30 minutes on each of the 4 discussion topics. A summary of each of the discussion groups is shown below. This is a record of points discussed on the day as written up on flip charts for the 4 topics. It is recognised that some of the points raised are already being addressed and some activities suggested are already underway. Work will be undertaken to identify what has been undertaken to date on each topic and what are potential new activities that have support for being taking forward as part of a Mendip Rocks! Framework.. To help us identify completed and current activities and identify new priorities for action as part of the Mendip Rocks! Framework please complete the attached form by 28th March 2014. Record of points made and or discussed for each of the four themes: Theme 1 - Education and Activities Essential to do an audit of existing materials, interpretation before redeveloping and creating new materials Branding – come up with brand, logo etc and ensure consistency Education – for all ages – life long learning Identify opportunities: Age groups- Primary – Set up Geology Club (national Rockwatch is junior membership of GA?) Volunteer work groups – DOE (youth – 25 age group) work with partners to establish volunteering work programmes and liaise with local secondary schools – Also John Muir Award (4 day/element ) Young Rangers Arts Award initiative could be applied to these groups Schools – ‘Handling’ loan boxes - work with Wells Museum (QF currently creating a loan box) Teaching Resources/Packs Audit of what is being done already by practitioners as well as the schools themselves and develop new teaching resources in consultation with teachers to see what activities they would like to reflect new curriculum – ks1 through to A Level and undergrad projects. (SESC have good links with several higher education) Photocopiable downloadable worksheets School visit sites Identify sites that lend themselves to educational activity ie sufficient visual evidences, safe walking routes to them, parking and ideally but not essential (as schools can do half day visits) loos and wet weather cover - this would be part of schools resources project Are there sites that lend themselves to Forest school opportunities for university groups (not currently widely engaged – as part of course they can assist with market research, contributing to content, trialling routes)? Access for All Consider and accommodate the needs of all - regardless of disability where terrain allows – aim to provide an level access for all trail (this can attract funding) involve people with disabilities in the planning(community engagement opportunity). Trails Sculpture trail (but ensuring materials are natural, locally sourced and do not look plonked in landscape – so sensitively sited and reflecting spirit of Mendips) it could a series of waymarkers, and stiles (Bristol and Bath Railway Path commissioned an artist to design sculptural stiles/kissing gates) Sculptural posts One participant said that some existing waymarkers look messy and are confusing – several liked the idea of sculpted waymark posts with images celebrating the rocks and wildlife Doulting stone a soft stone could be used and involve students in carving workshops Themes could be… lichen (good link between rock and wildlife), rocks trail – rock timeline trail I Spy – Big 5, trails to tell different stories Arts As above plus youth video projects, community dance, poetry, storytelling – One possible project collaboration between street poets, artists, with children producing posters, videos, and publicity material for events Geocaching trails Pilgrimage trails led by story teller, poet E.g. poets walk, Mendips stories, dance, Audio Trails Downloadable onto ipod or dvds made available to folk who have mobility issues (and can walk in the safety of their arm chairs) one participant suggested recording Chris Richards who has a great voice and can communicate geology in a very accessible way e.g. Black Rock, Dolebury Caving It was agreed we tend to forget about the opportunities to see geology in caves – suitable for 8yrs and up – could include caving trail in a Mendip Rocks! Festival event –Goatchurch Cavern very accessible Good paths Mendips Rocks the Villages Like parish map project – encourage villages to create in any media of their choice the geology, history and wildlife of their area – this could culminate in an exhibition Events – tie in National Farm Open Days? Also need to educate farmers about their special landscape – how do we do that ( we didn’t come up with any ideas but AWT use to run farmer days thru NFU at Folly Farm and NE on Somerset levels – FWAG? Is there a farmer’s network we can organise an event for?) Publications Interactive Map of trails and activities both on website and hard copy for interpreting Mendip rocks (geology, archaeology, history) and showing trails – develop different trails to communicate and celebrate different themes that are identified Website – online teaching materials, trails, opportunity for volunteers to upload observations QR code - APPs on publications, boards etc But apps expensive – link thru to websites for more info Postcards and Beer Mats Postcards - To promote Mendip Rocks – e.g. old quarry pictures, special landscape places, caves, aerial views of Priddy Circles Beer Mats – promote web site addresses links to trails etc Events Ideas for events (Mendip Rocks! festival) Winford Ochre Redding pits From stone to cathedral event Geoblitz Fairy Cave tour Introduction to caving, climbing tasters 150th anniversary of possibly the first mechanised quarry – Waterlip (next year) may use to mark end of QF project or next phase! Publicity Get Countryfile to cover Mendip Rocks! and continue good relationship with media developed with Mendip Rocks! Festival Funding ideas Somerset county councillors have Health and Wellbeing grants – need to approach individual Councillors – Dawn Hill suggested Theme 2 - Mendip Rocks Interpretation Methods Arts Festival Boards Web Literary Festival Maps Download Faces on the Information Walks Quarry Points Geology Oral History Outdoor Information Facebook Pursuits Link to other Music One Day One Mendip Education Rock (BRERC) Websites Resources Photography Apps Goats Geology Trails Meta data on Schools Pubs websites Museum Talks Exhibitions Guided walks Leaflets Topics Wildlife Water Food and Drink Geology Industries Cave flora and Landuse Archaeology fauna Coordination Free Advertising, radio/press of guided walk downloads. Audiences Primary Schools British Geographical
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