The Trust exists to identify and survey geological and geomorphological sites in the two counties and to promote the establishment and protection of Local Geological Sites (formerly known as RIGS) by creating and maintaining a database and by close liaison with the local planning authorities, wildlife trusts, natural history societies, schools and colleges, industry, landowners and those who are interested in Earth science.
The scheme for identifying and recording Local Geological Sites (LGS) for the whole of the United Kingdom was organised by the Nature Conservancy Council (now part of Natural England) in 1990. Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust began active work when the Geological Records Centre was located at University College Worcester (now the University of Worcester), in 1996.
The whole programme is of major significance in the conservation field and includes policies for the identification and protection of LGS. The selection process is based on clearly defined locally determined criteria such as the use of sites for educational fieldwork and scientific study as well as their historic and aesthetic values.
The Earth Heritage Trust for the two counties has drawn up a ten year project to identify and record some 5000 sites and to list those sites that are regionally important, making the information available to any interested party. The information is, initially, in the form of data supplied by geologists and geomorphologists. This is then processed by the Data Manager and stored on computer. All of this and subsequent work is managed by the Director.
Eventually, sites are designated and given official status by incorporation into The Structure Plan, Unitary Development Plan and Local Plans. A current list of these sites is available to all interested bodies such as District and County Councils, schools, colleges and universities and their students, wildlife trusts and professional and amateur geologists and geographers. The Trust's Geoconservation Database is a computer-based repository of LGS and other important sites.
The Trust has an expanding membership base with more than 70 members and volunteers participating in site recording, site remedial work and public awareness programmes. The Trust will continue to encourage local people to join projects by continuing to stage activities such as rock and fossil roadshows and public events. Such activities have proved successful in the past in encouraging new members.
In 1998 and 1999, We organised and ran the first and second UK RIGS Conferences at University College Worcester. These were very successful and established strong links between RIGS groups, industry and conservation agencies. The Trust was instrumental in the formation of the Western Association of UK RIGS Groups, now known as The Geology Trusts.
'Earth heritage conservation' is a broad term which refers to all aspects of the conservation, protection, management, interpretation and education relating to geological, geomorphological, landscape and soil sites. Earth science is the broad term used to identify the scientific study of geological, geomorphological, landscape and soil sites.
