G.A. trip to Saltford, Bristol Avon Valley between Bath and Bristol
Simon Carpenter and Richard Ashley
Saturday March 21st
It boasts one of the oldest continually inhabited manor houses and has some fabulous geology. The walking distance will be between 2 to 3 miles, there will be opportunities to collect fossils. Pub lunch/or sandwiches in Saltford and the final stop will be in a private garden to view a spectacular rock face which preserves many characteristic Lower Jurassic fossils. The walk will end around 4pm.
Further details and to sign up follow this link
Bath Geological Society
Jurassic rocks of Oxfordshire
Elizabeth Devon
Kirtlington Quarry SSSI - go back in time to a Jurassic environment similar to the Florida Everglades today. These conditions attracted many animals, and the quarry is famous for its rich diversity of fossils. Evidence for the presence of nearby land is provided by the presence of fossil wood, freshwater algae and crustaceans, disarticulated dinosaur skeletons and very rare mammal fossils. It is the richest mammal-bearing locality of Middle Jurassic age known anywhere in the world.
Rock Edge Quarry - Upper Jurassic coral-rich limestone. Similar conditions to those found in the Bahama Banks today are believed to have existed at the time. Here the Coral Rag is rich in fossil remains, derived from coral reefs that formed in the ancient shelf sea.
Dry Sandford Pit, Cothill The pit exposes part of a sequence of the Corallian Beds, limestone rocks deposited during the Middle Oxfordian Stage of the Jurassic, some 140 million years ago, in shallow coastal waters close to coral reefs. The layered rock succession seen here includes parts of three main units of the Corallian.
Further details from the Field Secretary
Thursday, 26 February 2015
Tuesday, 24 February 2015
Geology-themed walks - Corsham Walking Festival
Corsham Walking Festival 12th-14th June
The Walking Festival has two specific short Geological walks, led by Elizabeth Devon, one in Corsham and one in Box, looking at how the buildings in Corsham have been shaped by the beautiful stone quarried in the area, and how Box’s landscape reveals much about the geology that has shaped it.
In addition, stone features large on the agenda for the walks; there are walks on Saturday and Sunday where an underground quarry explorer and guide, Martin Burton, will talk to the walkers about the history of the stone quarry in Box Quarry woods, home to rare bats, and its working life as a mine. Sadly it is too dangerous to take walkers down the mine to see the wonderful Cathedral there, though this can be arranged privately at any participant’s own risk.
There is also a Railway walk which will include details about how the tunnel was dug through the differing types of rock to create the famous tunnel, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. There is another walk looking at the tracks and remains of the now disused tramways used to transport stone from the Quarries along the Ridge at Neston to the nearby Railway.
In addition there are walks looking at Corsham’s heritage, walks of varying distances, to Lacock, Colerne and Castle Combe; walks for children which are free, and the organisers have even arranged a 4 mile walk for dog owners and their four legged friends.
The Festival coincides with the Pound Arts Summer Festival and also offers evening events on the Friday and Saturday.
It will be opened by David Hempleman-Adams, Box-based world explorer, who will start the first walks on the Friday.
Further details Booking starts on 1st March at The Pounds Art Centre
The Walking Festival has two specific short Geological walks, led by Elizabeth Devon, one in Corsham and one in Box, looking at how the buildings in Corsham have been shaped by the beautiful stone quarried in the area, and how Box’s landscape reveals much about the geology that has shaped it.
In addition, stone features large on the agenda for the walks; there are walks on Saturday and Sunday where an underground quarry explorer and guide, Martin Burton, will talk to the walkers about the history of the stone quarry in Box Quarry woods, home to rare bats, and its working life as a mine. Sadly it is too dangerous to take walkers down the mine to see the wonderful Cathedral there, though this can be arranged privately at any participant’s own risk.
There is also a Railway walk which will include details about how the tunnel was dug through the differing types of rock to create the famous tunnel, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. There is another walk looking at the tracks and remains of the now disused tramways used to transport stone from the Quarries along the Ridge at Neston to the nearby Railway.
In addition there are walks looking at Corsham’s heritage, walks of varying distances, to Lacock, Colerne and Castle Combe; walks for children which are free, and the organisers have even arranged a 4 mile walk for dog owners and their four legged friends.
The Festival coincides with the Pound Arts Summer Festival and also offers evening events on the Friday and Saturday.
It will be opened by David Hempleman-Adams, Box-based world explorer, who will start the first walks on the Friday.
Further details Booking starts on 1st March at The Pounds Art Centre
Saturday, 21 February 2015
Geological events in and around Bristol
New site - calendar of geological events in Bristol and surrounding areas.
25th February - Fracking
Fracking
Professor Peter Simpson, Imperial College
25th February 7.00 p.m.
St Mary Redcliffe Church, Bristol
Part of the Journey into Science series
Professor Peter Simpson, Imperial College
25th February 7.00 p.m.
St Mary Redcliffe Church, Bristol
Part of the Journey into Science series
Thursday, 19 February 2015
28th February and 1st March - Geoconservation at Brown's Folly and Leigh Delamere
Saturday 28th February - Brown's Folly
This is our annual clear-up of the Geological sites on this SSSI reserve. Come along with gardening tools or just take the opportunity to visit the sites and talk about geology.
Meet at 10.30 a.m. at Brown's Folly Car Park (G.R. ST 798663). Strong boots and waterproofs are required. Hard hats should be worn under or near exposures. Please bring one if you can; we do have some available.
Contact Bath Geological Society
Sunday 1st March - Leigh Delamere
Leigh Delamere Services occupy the site of an old quarry where an extensive rock face can still be examined by the public. The interpretation board, located in front of the rock face, explains the history of the rocks, how they formed under the sea and why they are being protected for future research and general interest.
Meet at 10.00am at Travelodge Garden, Leigh Delamere Services, M4 Eastbound. Access is either from the minor road through Kington St. Michael (running from the A350 just north of Chippenham) and crossing over the M4, or from the M4 motorway, taking the Moto Leigh Delamere Services exit between junctions 18 (Bath) and 17 (Chippenham) –the site is beside the Travelodge on the eastbound side of the motorway, behind the Moto restaurant and shops. There is a footbridge across from the westbound side.
It is important for everyone to bring strong gloves to help clear the vegetation and if you would like to help cut down the vegetation and you have own saws, shears or secateurs please feel free to bring them along.
Contact Wiltshire Geology Group
This is our annual clear-up of the Geological sites on this SSSI reserve. Come along with gardening tools or just take the opportunity to visit the sites and talk about geology.
Meet at 10.30 a.m. at Brown's Folly Car Park (G.R. ST 798663). Strong boots and waterproofs are required. Hard hats should be worn under or near exposures. Please bring one if you can; we do have some available.
Contact Bath Geological Society
Sunday 1st March - Leigh Delamere
Leigh Delamere Services occupy the site of an old quarry where an extensive rock face can still be examined by the public. The interpretation board, located in front of the rock face, explains the history of the rocks, how they formed under the sea and why they are being protected for future research and general interest.
Meet at 10.00am at Travelodge Garden, Leigh Delamere Services, M4 Eastbound. Access is either from the minor road through Kington St. Michael (running from the A350 just north of Chippenham) and crossing over the M4, or from the M4 motorway, taking the Moto Leigh Delamere Services exit between junctions 18 (Bath) and 17 (Chippenham) –the site is beside the Travelodge on the eastbound side of the motorway, behind the Moto restaurant and shops. There is a footbridge across from the westbound side.
It is important for everyone to bring strong gloves to help clear the vegetation and if you would like to help cut down the vegetation and you have own saws, shears or secateurs please feel free to bring them along.
Contact Wiltshire Geology Group
Thursday, 12 February 2015
Sunday, 8 February 2015
March 21st The Jurassic in Oxfordshire
Jurassic in Oxfordshire
Elizabeth Devon
Saturday 21st March
Kirtlington Quarry SSSI - go back in time to a Jurassic environment similar to the Florida Everglades today. These conditions attracted many animals, and the quarry is famous for its rich diversity of fossils. Evidence for the presence of nearby land is provided by the presence of fossil wood, freshwater algae and crustaceans, disarticulated dinosaur skeletons and very rare mammal fossils. It is the richest mammal-bearing locality of Middle Jurassic age known anywhere in the world.
Rock Edge Quarry - Upper Jurassic coral-rich limestone. Similar conditions to those found in the Bahama Banks today are believed to have existed at the time. Here the Coral Rag is rich in fossil remains, derived from coral reefs that formed in the ancient shelf sea.
Dry Sandford Pit, Cothill The pit exposes part of a sequence of the Corallian Beds, limestone rocks deposited during the Middle Oxfordian Stage of the Jurassic, some 140 million years ago, in shallow coastal waters close to coral reefs. The layered rock succession seen here includes parts of three main units of the Corallian.
Everyone welcome - Bath Geological Society, WEGA, Bristol NATS Geology, Wiltshire GG free - visitors £2
We are organising a small coach - £23 per person - departs from Keynsham Football club picking up at points via Bath, Box and Chippenham. BOOK NOW for the coach; please contact our field secretary.
Strong shoes, hard hats, food and drink essential; waterproofs a good idea.
Elizabeth Devon
Saturday 21st March
Kirtlington Quarry SSSI - go back in time to a Jurassic environment similar to the Florida Everglades today. These conditions attracted many animals, and the quarry is famous for its rich diversity of fossils. Evidence for the presence of nearby land is provided by the presence of fossil wood, freshwater algae and crustaceans, disarticulated dinosaur skeletons and very rare mammal fossils. It is the richest mammal-bearing locality of Middle Jurassic age known anywhere in the world.
Rock Edge Quarry - Upper Jurassic coral-rich limestone. Similar conditions to those found in the Bahama Banks today are believed to have existed at the time. Here the Coral Rag is rich in fossil remains, derived from coral reefs that formed in the ancient shelf sea.
Dry Sandford Pit, Cothill The pit exposes part of a sequence of the Corallian Beds, limestone rocks deposited during the Middle Oxfordian Stage of the Jurassic, some 140 million years ago, in shallow coastal waters close to coral reefs. The layered rock succession seen here includes parts of three main units of the Corallian.
Everyone welcome - Bath Geological Society, WEGA, Bristol NATS Geology, Wiltshire GG free - visitors £2
We are organising a small coach - £23 per person - departs from Keynsham Football club picking up at points via Bath, Box and Chippenham. BOOK NOW for the coach; please contact our field secretary.
Strong shoes, hard hats, food and drink essential; waterproofs a good idea.
Saturday, 7 February 2015
Jurassic Coast Art Exhibition
Jeremy Gardiner: Jurassic Coast
On display until March 1st
This exhibition features the celebrated Jurassic Coast seen through the eyes of landscape artist Jeremy Gardiner, who lives in Bath and is well known for his unique portrayal of the British coastline.
Jeremy has collaborated with the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution to display real specimens of fossils from the area - ammonites, marine reptiles, brittle stars and crinoids - all of which occur in the artwork. Also included is an accurate 3D map displaying the locations of the pictures and a film.
Victoria Art Gallery is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10.00 - 5.00 and Sundays, 1.30 - 5.00. Entrance cost is £3.50
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