About Us

Cumbria GeoConservation Group (CGC) is a voluntary geological conservation group working to record and look after important geological sites.

Membership comprises not only earth scientists and members of wildlife bodies, but also volunteers with other skills such as project management and data handling. New members are always welcome.

The Cumbria GeoConservation Group is an affiliated member of Geoconservation UK and seeks to:

  • identify new Local Geological Sites in Cumbria

  • monitor and review existing sites

  • promote the educational value of earth science field locations not only for essential teaching but for recreational and for research purposes

  • liaise with other county or regional Geoconservation groups in the UK

  • maintain responsible access to valued sites

Currently there are about 280 recorded sites all of which have been evaluated by our members. Site details are logged with Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre (CBDC) and are relayed to Cumbria County Council and planning authorities. CGC operates as a special interest group of Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

Examples of Local Geological Sites suitable for inclusion in the Cumbria GeoConservation system include:

  • rocks and soils exposed in quarries, cuttings, stream sections and coastal localities

  • geomorphological features in the landscape such as areas affected by past glaciation and subsequent deposition, ridges and valleys, moorland and floodplain tracts

  • anthropogenic features including former quarrying, mining, tipping and former industrial sites

The sites we have listed and that are shown on the interactive map are ones that are accessible without seeking permission, are on Open Access land or visible from public rights of way.  By their very nature some of these sites are in remote areas, open fellside or tidally-flooded shores: wear appropriate clothing and use common sense - safety is your responsibility.

Follow the Countryside Code:    Follow the Geological Society guidance

Follow the Geologists Association Code for Rock Coring  and Field Work.

Those sites which we consider are particularly interesting to the general public are  shown as red dots on the map and for some of these sites there is a choice between a non-technical ‘leaflet’ (downloadable as a pdf) with further details, a map and a photograph or a ‘site data sheet’ with more geological information for the amateur geologist.

Fossil & mineral collecting code:

Please be aware that it is illegal in the UK to take minerals or fossils from national parks, heritage sites or Local Geological Sites (LGS). You should never collect specimens from scientifically important sites, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or LGS.

Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre

The Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre at Tullie House Museum, Carlisle keeps wildlife information for the county of Cumbria. Tullie House Museum, in its role as a local natural history museum, has collected and disseminated records of wildlife in Cumbria since its inception in 1893. From the early 1990s the Museum has developed a computerised database of species and habitat records in Cumbria and has taken the central role in providing a local biodiversity data service for the county. This role was restyled as Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre (CBDC) in 2010, a not-for-profit organisation hosted by Tullie House Museum and advised by local stakeholders.
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreMonday, May 19th, 2025 at 9:30pm
Job Opportunity:
Eden Rivers Trust is recruiting for a 2-day per week Project Assistant on the Access to Eden Project. Deadline is 27th May:
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreWednesday, May 14th, 2025 at 12:58am
CBDC are involved in many recording events this summer – and we’d like YOUR help with recording. If you can come along to one (or more) event(s) and help to record the wildlife you see, please do register your interest and we’ll get in contact with details about the session. All are in interesting locations – some with very few existing records.
Link to booking:
https://www.cbdc.org.uk/get-involved/recording-days/
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreTuesday, May 13th, 2025 at 4:22am
The Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy Consultation is open: https://cumbrialnrs.org.uk/public-consultation

Have your say before 22 June to help shape a positive future for nature in Cumbria.
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreMonday, May 12th, 2025 at 1:29am
The Growing Ecoskills in Cumbria project has arranged a series of training courses at venues across Cumbria this spring/summer. See the full programme and book your ticket here:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cumbria-ecoskills

The first course is on Wednesday 21st May 2025 at Orton Market Hall looking at developing self-guided wildlife walks - places available!
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreFriday, May 9th, 2025 at 12:00am
We’re looking forward to the Wild Weekend Bioblitz at Torpenhow tomorrow. Weather forecast is good so we should gather plenty of wildlife records!
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreThursday, May 8th, 2025 at 8:15am
Interested in creating Cumbrian wildlife walks in your local area? This training session might be of interest to you! Places remaining on 21 May at Orton Market Hall.
Booking here:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cumbria-ecoskills/t-pqnkdvd

Created for Orton Wildlife and Landscape (OWLs) group, the session will be of interest to other groups in Cumbria who want to create curated walks for their communities and visitors.