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Earth Heritage magazine is published twice a year to promote interest in geological and landscape conservation. The west coast of Jura is a classic area for raised shorelines. It is classified as a relict geomorphological site ‘IS’ - see New Earth Science Conservation Classification, page 13. The High Rock Sites Platform and its low A new backing cliff are Earth Science clearly developed in Conservation the upper part of the image, running Classification from top left to middle right. A ‘staircase’ of vegetated and unvegetated lateglacial gravel beach ridges covers Tourism the surface of this Building platform to the right a network for of the big gully. geotourists At its seaward margin, the High Rock Platform is truncated by the prominent backing cliff of the Main Tsunami! Rock Platform. The Mega-wave surface of this that hit our platform is covered doorstep by ‘staircases’ of postglacial gravel ridges. Photo © Patricia MacDonald/ Aerographica ue 24Iss Summer 2005 Outcrops Partnership working OnOn otherother pagespages The effort put into geoconservation has increased massively over the Outcrops – pages 3-7 last 15 years. In particular, the voluntary sector – RIGS groups, geology trusts and Earth heritage trusts – is shouldering significant Cairngorm Mountains: £9.7m to aggregate impacts work and responsibility. new views on an old landscape – page 8 A £9.7m grant scheme has been launched based projects, with an extra £1m in each years, the ALSF grant scheme has This was one of the visions of the Nature Conservancy Council’s Earth by the Countryside Agency and English year for marine projects. produced practical, on-the-ground, results Science Conservation Strategy back in 1990. Today, there are some even New light shines on the Oolite Nature to manage the impacts that for wildlife, geology and local communities bigger potential opportunities for geoconservation: the continued – page 10 aggregate extraction can have on the Elliot Morley, the Minister responsible for affected by aggregate extraction. The diversification in the role of the statutory agencies (including the environment and local communities. the environment at the time, said: “Closer launch of this new scheme can only formation of Natural England – see page 3) is leading to a more holistic England’s first soil trail partnership working will simplify the strengthen this work further.” approach to conserving biodiversity, geodiversity and our cultural and – page 12 The Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund application process and increase the landscape heritage. To capitalise on this situation, even wider (ALSF) Partnership Grant Scheme, funded benefits to individuals, communities, Initial applications for funding under the partnership working is needed. It opens the way for RIGS groups and New Earth Science Conservation via Defra, aims to support projects which landscapes and the environment. Extracting ALSF Partnership Grant Scheme will be the geology and Earth heritage trusts who already work extensively with Classification – page 13 benefit landscapes, heritage, biodiversity, sand, gravel and rock has had a significant made through a single contact point with statutory agencies (and each other) to forge links with organisations, geodiversity and communities in England effect on the environment. This fund aims the forms available for completion and The Ice Age in Herefordshire – page 16 individuals, and educational establishments that previously may not affected by aggregate extraction. to address this environmental cost by submission on English Nature’s website at have fully considered the merits of their geological heritage. A future for Philpots Quarry SSSI enhancing old aggregate extraction sites.” www.english-nature.org.uk. The Grants – page 17 The scheme will have around £5.7m in Management Team will help applicants This issue of Earth Heritage shows that this is how geoconservationists 2005/2006 and £4m in 2006/2007, which Dr Andy Brown, Chief Executive of through the process, and can be contacted are already working – and to great effect. But, engaging the public and Rainforests will be targeted at land- and community- English Nature, said: “Over the past three on 01476 584821. making geoconservation relevant to modern society is critical. in the rock Fostering geotourism and exploiting the socio-economic potential of – page 19 our geology and landforms are some of our biggest challenges. ALSF boost for Welsh RIGS State of Nature: Central Wales RIGS Group is currently geodiversity being reconstituted and has been awarded a substantial grant from the Aggregates Levy English Nature’s fourth State of Nature Managing Editor Mineral riches Sustainability Fund (ALSF) administered report, which looks at geodiversity, is unearthed by the Welsh Assembly Government. due to be launched this Autumn. – page 20 Earth Heritage is a twice-yearly magazine produced by the The report is the latest in a series The grant is to carry out a geological audit Joint Nature Conservation Committee, English Nature, which has examined upland, lowland Scottish Natural Heritage and the Earth of the Central Wales area to provide a and maritime issues, and will highlight Countryside Council for Wales. The heritage comprehensive network of RIGS. It is the the current condition, threats to and voluntary geoconservation sector is a Discovering fossils on the web second grant of this kind to be awarded to major contributor. We would like to thank all those who have assisted with the – page 22 future challenges for England’s preparation of the magazine. However, the opinions expressed by the contributors are the Association of Welsh RIGS Groups geodiversity. not necessarily those of the above organisations. A database listing all the articles Establishing a geotourism network in (AWRG), which is already in the second carried up to issue 17 is available on CD. Contact any member of the editorial board. Scotland – page 23 year of a similar survey project in North It encompasses geology, Key articles from this and previous issues of Earth Heritage can be found on the Web at: Wales, being carried out by the Gwynedd geomorphology, soil and landscape www.seaburysalmon.com/earth.html A tale of two sites – page 24 and Môn and NEWRIGS groups. and their links to wildlife and habitat. It has been developed jointly by English Offers of articles should be directed to the relevant members of the Nature, the Countryside Agency and editorial board, who are: Tsunami on our doorstep – page 26 Professor Bill Fitches, a structural geologist the Rural Development Service in with detailed knowledge of the region, is l l advance of their integration into the e Review – page 27 b managing the Central Wales project and p new organisation Natural England. The m Managing Editor a welcomes any information on potential sites C t theme of cross-discipline and r STEWART CAMPBELL, Countryside a MICK STANLEY, Geodiversity from anyone who knows the area. w e t integrated working is emphasised and Council for Wales, Maes-y-Ffynnon, Consulting, Park House, 8 King Cover photo S sets the scene for the way in which Ffordd Penrhos, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 Street, Ripon, North Yorkshire An exposure of the Lower Silurian Aberystwyth Grits Friog Undercliff is a 2DN. Telephone 01248 385693, e-mail: HG4 1PJ. Telephone 01765 609479, If you can help, or if you are interested in Formation near Aberystwyth, showing spectacular Natural England will move forward. mineralogical GCR site [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] joining the Central Wales RIGS Group, sole structures. This is one of many sites that will be south of Barmouth CYNTHIA BUREK, please contact him by e-mail: evaluated in the Central Wales RIGS ALSF project. For further information, contact Editors consisting of coastal The site is classified as a disused quarry (ED) in the UKRIGS Geoconservation Association, jonathan.larwood@english- DAVID EVANS, English Nature, cliffs and foreshore billfitches83@ hotmail.com or Earth Science Conservation Classification (ESCC) – Environment Research Group, University nature.org.uk or tel: 01733 455115. Northminster House, Peterborough PE1 exposures (EC in the tel: 01970 880217. see page 13. College Chester, Parkgate Road, Chester 1UA. Telephone 01733 455204, e-mail: new Earth Science CH1 4BJ. Telephone 01244 375444, [email protected] Conservation e-mail: [email protected] COLIN MACFADYEN, Classification International outlook at ProGEO symposium Production Scottish Natural Heritage, 2 Anderson – page 13). These The IV International Symposium ProGEO The Symposium will comprise scientific Seabury Salmon, Seabury Salmon & Place, Edinburgh EH6 5NP. exposures display on the Conservation of the Geological sessions with invited plenary lectures, oral Peneda-Gerês National Telephone 0131 446 2055, Associates, The Old Pound, Ludford, Cambrian rocks cut by Heritage will be held at the University of presentations and posters, and post- Park, north-west e-mail: [email protected] Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 1PP. Telephone numerous quartz- Portugal NEIL ELLIS, 01584 877442. Fax 01584 875416. sulphide veins which Minho, Braga, Portugal, 13-16 September congress field trips. The organisers are Joint Nature Conservation Committee, e-mail: [email protected] exhibit a variety of 2005. Objectives include examining interested in contributions, which they want Monkstone House, Circulation deformational features critical to determining the age of the successful examples of geoconservation integrated into