Northumberland National Park Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan Location map for the district described in this book AA68 68 Duns A6105 Tweed Berwick R A6112 upon Tweed A697 Lauder A1 Northumberland Coast A698 Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Holy SCOTLAND ColdstreamColdstream Island Farne B6525 Islands A6089 Galashiels Kelso BamburghBa MelrMelroseose MillfieldMilfield Seahouses Kirk A699 B6351 Selkirk A68 YYetholmetholm B6348 A698 Wooler B6401 R Teviot JedburghJedburgh Craster A1 A68 A698 Ingram A697 R Aln A7 Hawick Northumberland NP Alnwick A6088 Alnmouth A1068 Carter Bar Alwinton t Amble ue A68 q Rothbury o C B6357 NP National R B6341 A1068 Kielder OtterburOtterburnn A1 Elsdon Kielder KielderBorder Reservoir Park ForForestWaterest Falstone Ashington Parkand FtForest Kirkwhelpington MorpethMth Park Bellingham R Wansbeck Blyth B6320 A696 Bedlington A68 A193 A1 Newcastle International Airport Ponteland A19 B6318 ChollerforChollerfordd Pennine Way A6079 B6318 NEWCASTLE Once Housesteads B6318 Gilsland Walltown BrewedBrewed Haydon A69 UPON TYNE Birdoswald NP Vindolanda Bridge A69 Wallsend Haltwhistle Corbridge Wylam Ryton yne R TTyne Brampton Hexham A695 A695 Prudhoe Gateshead A1 AA689689 A194(M) A69 A686 Washington Allendale Derwent A692 A6076 TTownown A693 A1(M) A689 ReservoirReservoir Stanley A694 Consett ChesterChester-- le-Streetle-Street Alston B6278 Lanchester Key A68 A6 Allenheads ear District boundary ■■■■■■ Course of Hadrian’s Wall and National Trail N Durham R WWear NP National Park Centre Pennine Way National Trail B6302 North Pennines Stanhope A167 A1(M) A690 National boundaryA686 Otterburn Training Area ArAreaea of 0 8 kilometres Outstanding A689 Tow Law 0 5 miles Natural Beauty Spennymoor A688 CrookCrook M6 Penrith This product includes mapping data licensed from Ordnance Survey © Crown copyright and/or database right 2007. Licence number 100022521. Reproduced from the 1946 Ordnance Survey map. 1 Northumberland National Park Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan D J D Lawrence BSc S L B Arkley BSc J D Everest MA, PhD S M Clarke BSc, MSc, PhD, FGS D Millward BSc, PhD, FGS, CGeol E K Hyslop BSc, MSc, PhD, FGS, CGeol G L Thompson BSc, MSc1 B Young BSc, FIMM, CEng 2 1 Northumberland National Park Authority 2 Formerly BGS This publication and references within it to any methodology, process, service, permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. manufacturer or company do not constitute its endorsement or recommendation Licence No: 100017897/2007. by the Department of Communities and Local Government or the Minerals Industry Research Organisation. Copyright in materials derived from the British Geological Survey’s work is owned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and/or the Lists of sites in this publication have been compiled from many sources including authority that commissioned the work. You may not copy or adapt this previous reviews of the area’s geology, published literature sources and BGS publication without first obtaining permission. Contact the BGS Intellectual archives. Sites have been selected for their representativeness and geological Property Rights Section, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, e-mail merits. The listing of sites implies no rights of access. In all instances, access [email protected]. You may quote extracts of a reasonable length without prior must be arranged in advance with the appropriate landowner. permission, provided a full acknowledgement is given of the source of the extract. Copyright information Designed by infinite… www.infinitedesign.com Maps and diagrams in this book use topography based on Ordnance Survey Printed by Potts Printers, Newcastle upon Tyne. mapping.The National Grid and other Ordnance Survey data are used with the © NERC 2007. All rights reserved Cover images clockwise from top left: ISBN: 978-0-85272-599-3 Hadrian’s Wall above cliffs of Whin Sill, looking west towards Northumberland National Park Crag Lough © Graeme Peacock www.graeme-peacock.com Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan Litho (paper back) The Drake Stone, a huge Fell Sandstone boulder near Harbottle Commissioned Report 2007. BGS © NERC CR/07/037N Cawfields Quarry in the Whin Sill, now a recreation area © Graeme Peacock www.graeme-peacock.com Looking south-west from Long Crags towards the granite hills of Hedgehope and Cheviot © Graeme Peacock www.graeme-peacock.com Northumberland National Park Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan 2 Introduction Foreword 3 Foreword The study and recommendations presented here represent the first attempt to address the varied facets of geodiversity within the Northumberland National Park and adjoining area, which for the purpose of this publication is called the district, shown on the inside front cover. Moreover, as the first comprehensive Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan prepared specifically for any of the 14 National Parks in Great Britain, it is hoped that this publication will serve as an example of good practice for other National Parks and protected areas. The importance of the rich natural and historical heritage and the need to ensure protection of this precious resource are fundamental to the sustainable management of the Northumberland National Park. Some aspect of earth science impacts upon almost every facet of the district’s character. Policies for the better protection and understanding of wildlife, cultural and historical issues are already in place for the National Park. To these must be added policies designed to understand, protect and interpret the area’s equally rich geodiversity. The Northumberland National Park Authority published its first Biodiversity Action Plan in 2000, since when it has been working in partnership with other agencies and land managers to achieve its objectives for biodiversity including seeking a more favourable conservation status for all the Park’s habitats and species. It is anticipated that this Geodiversity Action Plan will similarly provide the impetus for increased protection and enhancement of geodiversity and encourage the involvement of the local community. Additionally, as we improve our understanding of the role that geodiversity plays within the wider environment, and its influence on our wildlife, we can help ensure a positive future for species and their habitats as they respond to a changing world. Opposite: The distinctive skyline of the Fell Sandstone ridge at Simonside viewed from Rothbury Terraces © Graeme Peacock www.graeme-peacock.com Northumberland National Park Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan Introduction Contents 4 Contents Section 1 Page Understanding geodiversity What is geodiversity? . 06 The scope of this Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan . 07 National Parks . 07 The aim of this Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan . 08 Geodiversity and the planning system . 10 Protecting geodiversity . 11 Section 2 Roots of our geological heritage Evolution of the rocks and landscape in the district . 18 The influence of geodiversity in the landscape . 24 Silurian rocks . 27 Carboniferous rocks . 29 Igneous rocks . 45 Metamorphic rocks . 54 Quaternary deposits and landforms . 56 Mineral veins and minerals . 73 Geological structures . 80 Fossils and palaeontology . 84 Mines and quarries . 87 Building stone and the built heritage . 91 Section 3 Exploring and celebrating geodiversity Education and research . 100 Archive and materials collections . 103 Interpreting the geodiversity of Northumberland National Park and the surrounding area . 104 Section 4 Geodiversity Action Plan Action plan . 114 Geodiversity sites in Northumberland National Park and the surrounding area . 118 Glossary . 123 Selected bibliography . 126 Acknowledgements . Inside back cover Opposite: Yeavering Bell hill fort built on high ground formed by rocks of the Cheviot Volcanic Formation © Graeme Peacock www.graeme-peacock.com Northumberland National Park Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan 5 Section 1 Understanding geodiversity Understanding geodiversity What is geodiversity? 6 What is geodiversity? most significant areas of heritage interest, especially in regions in areas of high landscape value, or those Geodiversity may be defined as the variety of rocks, previously or currently affected by significant mineral fossils, minerals, natural processes, landforms and soils extraction. Conservation, sustainable management, that underlie and determine the character of our educational use and interpretation of geodiversity are thus landscape and environment. It is fundamental to almost as important as those of biodiversity or archaeology, and every aspect of life. Britain’s geodiversity is the bedrock geodiversity interests need to be integrated into the of our environment, it is the source of much of our management and conservation strategies for such related wealth, an important factor in our cultural identity, and or parallel interests. Geodiversity issues may contribute will play a vital role in our future development. significantly to informing a wide range of planning and Geological resources provide the raw materials for environmental policies. civilisation, be they fuels, water supply, metal ores or bulk and industrial minerals and building materials. A clear English Nature (now incorporated in Natural England) understanding of geology is vital to the design and siting has been instrumental in advancing geodiversity and in of buildings, roads, railways and airports as well as to the encouraging strategic initiatives such as the preparation of safe disposal of waste, and the management of a wide Local Geodiversity Action