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.
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.
Geological survey at Long Meg standing stones in June 2023.
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 May 2022
Westmorland Dales: Kirkby Stephen. July 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.
Geocaching for Families at Trowbarrow.
Rocks of the Auld Grey Town (Kendal)
Fire and Ice Borrowdale.
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.
Certificate. Now displayed at Cumbria Wildlife Trust headquarters at Plumgarth.
Award presentation, Dr Haydon Bailey, right presents the certificate to Dr John Lackie, left.
Brown Howe information board.
Eycott Hill LGS. Explanation of the geology by John Rodgers from Cumberland Geological Society.
CGC visited Sandside Quarry 2018
CGC with Marshalls unveiled the information boards at Birkhams Quarry 2017
CGC visited Storth and related LGS sites 2019
