Editorial Contents Dawn ofa new era I Main features I Chris Stevens, English Nature As of 1 April the Government's new The Strategy launched at Westtninster 3 Earth science conservation in Great arrangements for nature conservation Britain - a strategy, to give it its full came into effect, and statutory duties The RIGS initiative - full speed ahead title, was formally launched on 5 for England, Scotland and Wales are Mike Harley reports on the astonishing pace at which RIGS December 1990. ,The sening was the now discharged via three new national schemes are growing 5 Hoare Memorial Hall in Church agencies - English Nature, Nature RockWATCH - fossils, fun and lots more! House, Westminster - a slightly more Conservancy Council for Scotland and Wayne Talbot and Beverley Halstead ask what's in it for the kids? 10 geological setting than its name Countryside Council for Wales (for would suggest, with lots of Ancaster further details see page 9). The Geological Society and conservation and Purbeck limestone internally and Coos Wilson explains the role of the Conservation Committee 22 A future for our magazine a splendid flint-clad exterior. Ifthe 'Strategy' is new to you, you will find The new agencies have agreed to I Protecting our earth science resource I a summary of it in Earth science produce Earth science conservation as a conservation) 27 and 28. joint effort. This is encouraging news What is the earth science resource that we are so keen to protect? to all who believe that the magazine has These articles illustrate just three aspects of this rich heritage A full house! a useful role to play. Over the coming Over 200 guests attended including a Conserving Britain's river landfonns 10 year we will report on the plans and large number of site users, owners priorities of the new agencies as they Minding our mineralogical heritage 20 and managers besides representation Over 200 guests turned out for the Launch (Photo by James Chinaloy) become known. With this issue I retire from both the Lords and the Two Bridges Quarry: a classic site for understanding tors 24 A place in the university syllabus conservation community at present as editor and David Norman will take Commons, the press and NCC with the equally marked differences over as managing editor leading an Council, Country Committees and Chris Wilson, some five years ago. The importance editorial team involving the country I Romancing the stones - the search for fossils I staff. Professor of of the 'Strategy' lay in the high level agencies. NCC's Chairman, Sir William Earth Science The rock store at Writhlington of consensus that it reflected. Wilkinson, acted as Master of at the Open A thank you to our readers Ed Jarzembowski explains how Local Nature Reserve status is Regarding the future of the SSSI Ceremonies and Professor John Knill University, and Not long ago we sent you a protecting this remarkable plant and insect site 12 network, he noted that the GCR had chaired the event and delivered the Chairman of questionnaire about the magazine provided the fabric of knowledge for Tynet Burn - on the trail ofOrcadian fish closing address. Dr Eric Robinson, the the conservation of our nationally asking for your views and how you Stan Wood and David Norman on the detective work at Tynet Burn 15 Professor Coos Wilson and Chris Professor Chris Wilson, Conservation important sites - the jewels in the thought we should develop it. Your Stevens were the other speakers. , Open UniversiSl" Committee of Phosphates, fossils and fens (Photo bylames Chinaloy) crown - and that with RIGS came a response has been encouraging and the Geological David Norman and Nick Fraser with a tale of conservation and the A plea for wider thinking second crown in which the very completed forms are still arriving in. Society, described the proposal for Cambridge Greensand 30 many important but unprotected Many thanks for your help - we will In a fascinating an Open University course in earth .~ sites could be set. He touched upon report on your views in the next issue. exposition of science conservation that would tie in International news ... -, the need to apply statutory controls Subscriptions tirn,e again I I the importance with the themes of the 'Strategy'. ""t}·· with sensitivity on earth science sites of the The course would consist of a basic It's time to dig into your pockets and Popularising geology in Ireland - What's in a name? in a way that reflected their fragility historical, geology and geomorphology module pay your subscriptions for the next two - Plans for international meetings 18 or robustness: aesthetic and together with an earth science issues! For the third year running the Professor Knill appealed to social value of conservation module. The latter price remains unchanged and we hope geologists to join with the County I A DIY guide to conservation I sites, Eric would be taken largely from the that you will continue to support us in Trusts in running RIGS schemes and Robinson, of Strategy ,and its appendices, and he this year of major change, by Site interpretation 27 expressed the hope that future Dr Eric Robinson, the Geologists' appealed to the NCe's successor completing and returning the enclosed resourcing of earth science Geologists' Association. Association, (photo by"­ lames Chinaloy) bodies, and others, for funding to subscription form. I News items I pointed out carry the project forward. Dr Des O'Halloran that a narrow research justification 9 The new conservation agencies for sites did not alone satisfy society's Two conservation crowns Affiliation ofprincipal New leaflet for teachers: Death ofan ocean 23 expectations, and he welcomed the Professor John guests at the Launch Earth science corlServatum is the twice wider approaches to site value Knill, yearly journal of the Government adopted in the RIGS schemes. Eric Chairman of Local and national earth science conservation agencies, English Nature, emphasised how the approach in the the Natural societies (37 guests) Nature Conservancy Council for 'Strategy', particularly RIGS, fitted Environmental yield (Writhlington; Tynet Burn) Wildlife and other conservation Scotland and the Countryside Council Our cover photo, courtesy of Mr Wood's in with the Association's Research • the interweaving of geology and societies (17 guests) for Wales. We would like to thank all Fossils, shows specimens of the lobe­ conservation aims and with its Council, society through time as part of a rich \, Universities and polytechnics those who have assisted with the finned fish, Osteolepis, recovered from relationship with local geological Professor lohn Knill, expressed his historical tapestry, as shown by, for (40 guests) preparation ofthe magazine. However Tynet Burn. societies. He also pointed out how NERC. pleasure at the example, the importance of the coprolite (photo by lames Chinaloy) the opinions expressed by contributors The importance of protecting fossil RIGS could be used to protect quality of the Schools, colleges and field centres industry to the social fabric of are not necessarily those of the sites is the theme of three articles in this former SSSIs - those that had lost external contribution to the (15 guests) issue. They underline the fascination that Cambridgeshire in Victorian times. agencies. In future the magazine will be their statutory protection as a result 'Strategy' and its forward-looking l\tluseums (21 guests) fossils have upon the imagination, and These points underscore the relevance of produced by staff in England, Scotland of the reassessment of sites for the approach. He remarked that one of bring home a number of recurring truths conserving these sites, through SSSI or Industry, landowners and NCe's Geological Conservation its roles would be to provide the and Wales. For the moment all Local Nature Reserve status. Moreover it consultants (25 guests) about fossil sites; Review (GCR) - and described the cement to bind together the four correspondence should be directed [0 is not just specialist scientific interests Local authorities (13 guests) • their long-term relevance and success of the Geologists' NCC successor organisations, and Dr David Norman, English Nature, which are at stake but a wider natural, productivity (Tynet Burn) Association's Curry Fund in contrasted the high level of common Central government and direct Northminster House, Peterborough • their ability to surprise us by the social and historical heritage in which all encouraging practical conservation. purpose within the geological funded bodies (13 guests) PEl 1UA (telephone 0733 - 340345). wealth of unexpected material they can can share. 2 3 conservation, both from the NCC's participants in the 'Strategy'. international meeting in Britain. successors and other bodies, would My most important task, however, Some themes are but a gleam in the continue to grow. was to stress how the NCC, and its eye - the vision of widespread site successor agencies, were contributors information boards and the Key role for RIGS to, not owners of, the 'Strategy' - and documentation of many of our sites. Mike Harley, English Nature One of my own that in acting as a vehicle to produce Nevertheless, I am convinced that it 1990 will be remembered as the year tasks at the it, we were very deeply indebted to is all achievable, if we bring to bear when the RIGS initiative took off. launch was to the many hundreds of consultees who even part of the commitment and RIGS - Regionally Important describe the devoted so much time and effort in enthusiasm evident at the launch. It GeologicalJgeom9rphological Sites ­ themes in the putting the document together. I said is also reassuring that the Chairmen are the focus for a major 'Strategy', with "thank you" then on behalf of the of the four NCC successor agencies conservation project in which locally­ particular NCC - and it is a pleasure to repeat all supported the 'Strategy' and based voluntary groups select and emphasis on it here.