Jonathan G. Larwood

The Conservation of Geosites: Principles and Practice

Abstract Geosites, geological or geomorphological sites with a recognised value determined through an audit, assessment and selection process, are subject to a range of threats. Conservation of geosites for scientific, educational, geotourism and other uses is an essential part of the conservation of geoheritage. Based on clear principles for geosite conservation, a Generic Geosite Conservation Framework is described, through which conservation needs are analysed (based on geosite ‘use’, ‘character’ and ‘sensitivity to threat’) and then geosite conservation is planned for and delivered. A nationally developed geosite conservation framework from Great Britain and a regionally developed framework from Spain are described and four brief case studies illustrate how the principles of geosite conservation can be put into practice in a structured and consistent manner. The benefits of delivering geosite conservation through a structured framework and the future challenges for geosite conservation in a changing world are discussed.

Conservation at the cutting-edge: the history of geoconservation on the Wren's Nest National Nature Reserve, Dudley, England

Abstract In 1949, nature conservation legislation was passed in Great Britain which enabled areas of land to be declared as National Nature Reserves (NNRs). In 1956, the Wrens Nest, Dudley, a Silurian (Wenlock) limestone hill, internationally famous for its geology and fossil reef faunas, was declared a geological NNR. The combination of internationally important geology, abandoned, unstable and dangerous quarries and mines, and a large adjacent urban population have provided continual conservation challenges. This paper uses contemporary correspondence to describe the deliberations that led to the Wrens Nest being declared as one of the first NNRs in England. It goes on to describe the major management challenges which have arisen. These include instability and collapse of mine workings, fly-tipping, vandalism and heavy recreational use by the local community. It highlights the conservation solutions that have been developed during the 50 year history of the reserve. These have included management of unstable and dangerous ground, cutting of new geological sections, establishment of geology trails, use of volunteers and the strengthening of local community links. The Wrens Nest has also played an important role in raising awareness of the geological heritage within the local planning authority. This has led to the adoption of geoconservation policies and to the development of projects using the areas geological heritage to attract visitors. Today the Wrens Nest remains important for its geology and is also one of the most significant geological reserves in the world for demonstrating the challenges of geoconservation and how they may be overcome. This historical perspective on 50 years in the life of a reserve provides an insight into the innovative geoconservation solutions developed at the Wrens Nest that can be applied elsewhere. Although the Wrens Nest NNR is internationally known for its geology, and has a very high profile in geoconservation, this paper is the first to attempt to explore the thinking and process that led to this abandoned industrial site, in an urban setting, being declared as one of the first NNRs in the UK.

Geodiversity Action Plans – A Method to Facilitate, Structure, Inform and Record Action for Geodiversity

Abstract Geodiversity Action Plans (GAPs) are used widely within the United Kingdom to inform and record action for geodiversity and geoconservation. They encompass both site-based audit and conservation with a wider perspective on geodiversity resources available in an agreed area (such as geological sites, museum collections and building stones) with ambitions to present and communicate, influence policy and practice, and to secure resources in relation to geodiversity. GAPs are used particularly at local and company level to focus and highlight the work needed to be carried out and as a key mechanism to facilitate and support the delivery of the overarching UK GAP. Importantly, GAPs cut across interests and are multidisciplinary. Although they are mainly a UK tool for geoconservation the principles and approach are easily transferred and could be duplicated in other countries.

Geotourism: an early photographic insight through the lens of the Geologists’ Association

Abstract From its earliest days in London in 1858, the Geologists’ Association (GA) brought together people from all backgrounds – amateur and professional geologists, men, women and children – to share their enthusiasm for geology and their desire to seek out and explore the geological world around them. The travels of the Geologists’ Association, in search of geological enlightenment, are documented in the Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association. These include accounts of organized excursions, detailing the geology seen and describing the discussion had, the refreshments taken and the transport used. Bringing these accounts to life is the Geologists’ Association’s Carreck Archive, which provides a rare insight into the world of the early geotourist documenting both familiar and lost places. Much is owed to the skill of the photographers such as T. W. Reader, whose albums document the field meetings between 1907 and 1919, while the spirit of the early travelling Geologists’ Association is captured in the albums of Miss M. S. Johnston. This paper explores the early travels of the Geologists’ Association through the literal views of the Carreck Archive and accounts in its literature, and the establishment of the GA as an inadvertent geotourism agent.

A reply to ‘A meta-database of Holocene sediment cores for England: missing data’ (Tooley 2015)

We welcome the response of Tooley (2015) to our article describing a new meta-database of Holocene sediment cores for England. In our article we describe the online publication of this meta-database, arising from systematic meta-search. We define its scope and the meta-data it contains, before providing the data themselves (in the Electronic Supplementary Material online). We note that Prof. Tooley describes the idea of such a database as important and valuable, and we welcome the constructive approach he adopts throughout his article. Tooley highlights that the meta-database can be enhanced by the inclusion of a number of studies of the Coastal Lowlands, highlighting gaps in the Lancashire and Hartlepool Bay areas in particular. While it is undoubtedly true that these studies were omitted, they tend to document boreholes which have shown Holocene sediments, rather than boreholes subject to the analysis of least one palaeoecological proxy, as per our inclusion criterion. For example, based on the information M.J. Tooley provides, we estimate that 17 such analyses from Lancashire would have satisfied this criterion. It is certainly clear that these omissions are genuine, and we would agree that they add to the pool of sites already described in the meta-database. Because of the constraints of systematic search however, it could also be the case that omissions exist outside these areas, and in the original text we highlighted that: ‘‘the resulting meta-database is by no means exhaustive and we would expect further additions to be made in due course’’. We therefore welcome this addition and would similarly do so for others highlighted to the author team. We would however contest the suggestion that ‘much’ of the published data have been overlooked from improper searching. Tooley implores a greater level of focus at the county level; we would only encourage consideration of the attendant effects of his proposed strategy on search volume (the modern counties of England would generate an 84 fold increase to our list of