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 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 Earth Science Centre Ruth Worsley Somerset Earth Science Centre Robin Thornes Quarry Faces Barry Lane Wells and Mendip Museum Bob Corns Natural 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 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 – 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 – 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 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 Survey  Secondary Schools (BGS)  Interested Adults  Bristol Regional Environmental  Visitors Records Centre (BRERC)  Youth Groups  Somerset Environmental  Landowners/farmers Records Centre (SERC)  Developers  Bristol City Museum galleries  Local History Societies and Archive  Somerset heritage Centre

Theme 3 - Site Management

Need to designate a coordinator to contact local groups/ interest groups, to tell them we are interested in sites.  Need advocates e.g. Geological Society.  Get local groups and organisations (interested in heritage and nature sites)involved and ask them to let us know if a site is at risk or is being disturbed. o Link to County Geological Sites (CGSs)  “Adopt a site” scheme.  Involve local industrial and/or historical societies, walking groups, cavers, schools, trusts and charities.  Involve local people in management of Local Geological Sites (LGSs).  Contact interested landowners e.g. Environmental Stewardship Schemes.  Publicise the presence of CGSs.  Avon RIGGS group is very active.

……………………

Need to assess County Geological Sites (GSSs), designate more sites and prioritise which sites need management.  More broad ranging sites and not just popular sites.  Focus on sites which need restoring and target these.  Do we need to create more CGSs in Mendip? E.g. unknown sites.  Natural England Responsible for SSSis but no one responsible for CGSs.  Every LGS needs and assessment.  Need to involve experts in different fields: nature, archaeology, history, recreation, in making decisions on management. Prioritise management of CGSs based on interest and risk and then promote to interest groups.  Not all sites have been identified e.g. Western Mendip.  Talk to local geological societies about new sites that need Local Wildlife Site (LWS) designation.

Engaging visitors to help manage sites with a small budget for management  With sites with no budget visitors could be engaged to help look after sites – litter picking etc.  BCRA Geological/Karst walks are in print but not available to download.  Geocaching could get people involved with small sites- care about them – manage them.  Low key programme of family walks could lead to general interest as well as geological interest. Need to consider health and safety e.g. mine shafts.

 To engage public interest need to talk about geology, nature, archaeology and many areas of interest.  How can we enthuse people about small sites?

Theme 4 - Research

Research is needed to help inform Site Management  Identify key local sites  Resolve conflicts in management o Geology, biodiversity, archaeology.  Aim to find areas of agreement between conflicting interests.  Prioritise significant heritage assets.  Work at an agency level to balance Biodiversity vs. Heritage.

There is need to make Data more accessible  All data in the public domain.  Collation of datasets from interested parties. o GIS, SWT, AONB, Local Authorities.  Historic mapping of Mendip.  Develop websites, phone apps and GPS logs that contain: data, GIS info, Scheduled monuments record, fieldwalking data.

How to best target research.  How to find specialist research.  More about: history, geology, archaeology – Where and how?  Publish research on Mendip SSSIs.  Create an up to date bibliography of research giving commonality across the area.  Coordinate existing archives.  Use BRERC, SERC, Bristol Museum and Archives.  Use community research volunteers eg CHERT.

TOPICS FOR NEW RESEARCH

1. Visitor data  Visitor numbers  Where are people coming from  Types of visitor / activities  How can we spread the word balanced with increasing visitor pressure.

2. Visitor pressure  How do visitors affect important sites.  Effect of dog waste on calaminarian grassland.

3. Mining  Stories of lead (and other metals) mining  Science and origins of lead mining.  Analyse the lead in the Roman Pig.  Explore stories e.g. Mendip lead in Pompeii.

4. Establish a boundary for Mendip – is this the National Character Area?

5. Social History  What was life like in a mining community?  Historic conflicts between mining and agriculture. o Are there current conflicts  Explore Rev Skinners diaries and other contemporary notes.

6. Research into Tufa springs.

7. Social History of caving (see Chris Richards book)

8. What is underneath Priddy Circle – are there caves?

9. Hunting your Quarry – where was the quarry to supply stone to the buildings in your community?

10. Offer specialist tours of sites, consider open days at restricted sites e.g. Priddy Circles.

How will research be delivered and by whom?  How will research be funded? HLF?  Can schools and universities carry out research?  How do we agree priorities?