Great opportunities for promoting geology in the Pennines
West Yorkshire Geology Trust expects to be busy for the next three years as we have just had confirmation that a large project for the South Pennine area is to go ahead. The project covers the area of the high Pennines between the Yorkshire Dales and the Peak District from Rombalds Moor, near Ilkley to the Marsden Moors, near Huddersfield.
Pennine Prospects is a rural regeneration company which covers part of the Yorkshire and Lancashire Pennine area. It was delighted to announce in March that its bid for £1.8m funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund Watershed Landscape Project has been successful.
There are several themes: access to the Pennine moorlands; their geology, archaeology and mining history; the enhancement of the wildlife and habitats of the moorlands; exploring the cultural history of the Pennines. To raise awareness of the significance and value of the upland landscape, there will be a wide programme of community activities, such as guided walks, schools involvement and events, as well as training opportunities in many areas.
West Yorkshire Geology Trust is one of many organisations which are contributing to this huge project. We will be writing site management plans for six Local Geological Sites on the moors, working with owners and managers, who include three local authorities, the National Trust and Yorkshire Water. These sites include Buckstones, near Marsden, Penistone Hill above Haworth and Cludders Rocks, Widdop.
The Trust will provide geological information so that each site can be interpreted for the general public, with leaflets, interpretation boards or audio trails and podcasts, as appropriate. We will also be running training sessions on Pennine geology and the management of geological sites to maintain their scientific interest and enhance their access and interest for the general public. These will be aimed at local authority staff and countryside volunteers across the region.
So we will be busy! If you would like to help, contact us at www.wyorksgeologytrust.org.
You can read more about this exciting project in the Watershed Landscape Action Plan
at www.pennineprospects.co.uk/watershed-
Alison Tymon
West Yorkshire Geology Trust