The Geology Trusts is a national umbrella organisation for Geoconservation and Earth Heritage groups. Presently its members are the counties of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, and Bedfordshire. The GT was constituted under its new name and launched on 1st May 2003. It is a county-based association working in a similar way to the Wildlife Trusts.
Building on Success
The GT has an impressive record of work, achievement and development under its previous name of the Western Association. Over the past 5 years it has initiated total project funding of over £300,000 for joint projects and individually the members (with the help of the Association) have raised a massive £0.75 million. These figures are testament to the benefits of partnership working and sharing good practice.
The first collaborative project (funded by DETR and co-ordinated by Herefordshire & Worcestershire) successfully resulted in 300 RIGS being designated over the region, despite the Foot & Mouth crisis interrupting recording. Following this, a project led by Oxfordshire developed a detailed template for the writing of Geoconservation Site Management Plans. The template was then used by the counties involved to produce management plans for 20 key sites. The plans were subsequently put into action - geoconservation work was carried out and trail guides produced. This project was funded by the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund.
This success encouraged individual groups to initiate their own local projects, seeking and gaining funding and there are now 15 - 20 different projects being undertaken by GT members at any one time.
Aims and Objectives
The purpose behind the creation of this regional association has been primarily in the significant benefits of working in partnership. The immediate successes of the first projects led to many groups moving on beyond the recording and designating of sites into broader geoconservation areas such as management and conservation action plans. The GT aims to narrow the gap between the public's perception of Earth Heritage and what the members are aiming to achieve. Innovative and imaginative new projects are steering their work towards public benefit and the widespread promotion of the whole span of conservation of geology and landscape.
New Projects
The GT have major new projects in preparation that will build upon this awareness. One new project will be looking at the stone built heritage of England within the GT member areas. It will link the sources of building stone to important buildings and vernacular architecture.
The key to the success of these projects is the ability of the GT to attract funds that cover large geographic areas rather than small local ones. This gives the GT the ability to deliver work programmes over large areas. Each of the GT collaborative projects involve tens to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Another new area that the GT is promoting and developing is that of Geotourism. High quality trail guides already being produced by Herefordshire & Worcestershire and Gloucestershire are pioneering this area. Another initiative that should have enormous impact is the recent bestowal of European Geopark status for The Abberley & Malvern Hills area. Work on the Geopark is being led by Herefordshire & Worcestershire and supported by Gloucestershire and Shropshire.
Growing for the future
The GT members employ 10-15 paid staff at any one time. This enables the counties to provide a regular level of service to members of the groups, local agencies and local government authorities and, most importantly, the public. The GT are committed to working in this manner, as well as maintaining high standards of health & safety, equal opportunities and in-house training. The GT will also be forging good working relationships with the quarry/landfill/geotechnical operators in the region. There are obviously significant sponsorship and advertising opportunities with an organisation covering such a large area.
All the current GT member groups are looking to attract new members. There is always a need for experienced or enthusiastic (professional or amateur) geologists and geomorphologists to join the individual groups and indeed anyone with an interest in their local earth heritage and an hour or two to spare to assist in a variety of ways. So if you live in any of the GT counties and are interested in helping, then please contact them individually. Contact details for each of the member groups can be found here.
