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Projects

Every year, in addition to the review of LGS sites, we (CGC) get involved in or lead other Cumbrian geology conservation  projects.

2024 - 2025

Geoweek 2024 was again celebrated in May and the group, with additional support from Westmorland Geological Society and Cumbria Wildlife, organised a Pebble Activity on Walney which attracted lots of families and interest.

One of the main tasks in 2024 was to visit LGS sites that had not been assessed for many years. This led to several sites being de-designated as the geological features of note had been lost.

The Westmorland Dales Heritage Project finshed in 2024 and the Geology project produced a lovely book "Revealing The Foundations" available to purchase from our Publications page.

The group supported other community open days and events such as Beautiful Barrow in July and the Westmorland Dales event in August. Members helped several schools and colleges with support for any geology projects.

Pebble identification
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An overgrown quarry.
Walney Pebble activity at The Hub.
Review visit to one of the LGS sites to monitor the regrowth of gorse.
Assessing the condition of an overgrown small quarry.

2023 - 2024

Geoweek 2023 is celebrated in May 27th - June 4th. Although the group did not organise any additional activities this year. The walks and geotrails that we publish are available on the National Geoweek website. 

This is the last year of the Westmorland Dales Heritage Project and more geotrails and LGS site Factsheets have been produced. CGC promoted the local geology at the Open Day in Kirkby Stephen. A survey took place of the rocks at Long Meg standing stones.

The new Geodiversity Statement and Action Plan was produced and distributed to various agencies and interested bodies. The production of the report was only possible with the income that the group received from Natural England, when we took part in SSSI condition surveys.  These funds will also be used to enhance the public information for various geological sites and hopefully to encourage interest in Cumbrian geology.

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Geological survey at Long Meg standing stones in June 2023.
Kiln Bank bridge lgs
CGC review visit to Kiln Bank near Ulpha just near the bridge. Search for Kiln Bank on the map.

2022 - 2023

GeoDiversity is an important part of Nature Recovery. CGC reviewed its GeoDiversity statement, promoted International GeoDiversity Day on 6th October with Westmorland Dales and a member wrote an article for the Friends of The Lake District Magazine "Geology and Conservation.." See Earth Heritage EH57 article by Natural England.

Geoweek 2022 May 7 - 15th:  Co-ordinated in Cumbria this year, by the geology team at Tullie House Museum Carlisle and Nationally by University Geoscience UK. Cumbria hosted a wide range of Geoweek events this year, many led and organised by Cumbria Geoconservation and other local groups.

Westmorland Dales project produced 3 new geology walks and CGC volunteers promoted the local geology at Kirkby Stephen in the summer.

Geoweek 2022
Geoweek May 2022
Kirkby Stephen 2022
Westmorland Dales: Kirkby Stephen. July 2022
LGS reviews: Wasdale 2022
LGS site reviews: Wasdale July 2022

2021 - 2022

BGS promoted GeoWeek 2021 nationally, including online events, although this year no specific Cumbrian events were organised due to the pandemic.

However the group have been busy reviewing sites that might not have been visited for some time and working with Westmorland Dales on various geotrails.


2020 - 2021

Although GeoWeek was cancelled for 2020 due to the pandemic, the draft programme had expanded and has rolled over to 2021. The group was invloved in undertaking some reviews of geological SSSIs for Natural England, and The Westmoralnd Dales Heritage Lottery geology project made signicant progress with 13 new LGS approved, many on publically accessible land. Further work involves new geotrails and web information.


2019 - 2020

GeoWeek 2019: Various events took place all over Cumbria in May 2019. Thank you to Westmorland & Cumberland Geological Societies, Arnside & Silverdale AONB; Cumbria Amenity Trust Mining History Society; Kendal Museum; Tullie House Museum Carlisle; and the many volunteer event leaders.

Radio Cumbria did a spectacular 3 hour session on geology with Geocons Chair John Lackie and Cumberland Geological Society President John Rogers.


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Geocaching for Families at Trowbarrow.

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Rocks of the Auld Grey Town (Kendal)

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Fire and Ice Borrowdale.


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Information Board Project at Brown Howe Quarry: Awarding of Certificate of Excellence by the Curry Fund Geologists Association, June 2019.

Certificate of Merit for Cumbria GeoConservation 2019

Geologists Dr Haydon Bailey and Dr Nicholas Pierpoint, President of the Geologists’ Association (GA) of London travelled north to present an Award of Excellence to Cumbria GeoConservation, for their geology project at Brown Howe quarry, Blawith, near Coniston.  An interpretation board clearly explains the geological background to the quarry which once worked a pink rock which appears to be an offshoot from the Shap granite. The board would not have been possible without a generous donation from the GA Curry Fund.  Dr Bailey, Chair of that fund, said that the Cumbria GeoConservation Brown Howe geology project was top of the list of projects that they had funded in 2018. He presented the Certificate to Dr John Lackie, Chair of Cumbria GeoConservation. The certificate will be placed at the Cumbria Wildlife Trust HQ at Plumgarths.


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Certificate. Now displayed at Cumbria Wildlife Trust headquarters at Plumgarth.


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Award presentation, Dr Haydon Bailey, right presents the certificate to  Dr John Lackie, left.


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Brown Howe information board.
Eycott Hill LGS. Explanation of the geology by John Rodgers from Cumberland Geological Society.
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CGC visited Sandside Quarry 2018
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CGC with Marshalls unveiled the information boards at Birkhams Quarry 2017
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CGC visited Storth and related LGS sites 2019

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.