The East Mendip Study Centre is an educational resource funded by all the quarry companies in the Mendip Hills, under the umbrella body of MQP. It is situated near Whatley Quarry, Frome, Somerset, (photo). There are quarry tours in August and tours for school parties throughout the year. It is an excellent resource, especially for teachers, and staff at the centre will cater for your needs from earth science and geography to biology. One of the most popular activities is joining in a role play where half the group members are pro-quarrying and half against quarrying. All the various important issues are discussed. If you are interested, contact Gill or Mary on 01373 475931 or 01373 475916.
Please see what you think of the ECOS website. It has progressed a bit more now. It is crazy that these amazing monoliths do not seem to have any recognition or publicity anywhere. They are a wonderful resource especially for earth science teachers but, sadly, they badly need cleaning. Compare how they look today with the photos on the website which were taken some years ago.On Saturday
28th July, Simon Carpenter will be leading a field trip to the Clay and Chalk Pits at Westbury, Wiltshire. This field trip will provide a fascinating opportunity to visit the fossil-rich Kimmeridge Clay. Many spectacular marine reptile fossils have been found here over the last 20 years. Simon Carpenter has recently discovered the remains of a new species of marine crocodile and will be bringing a selection of fossils from his own collection along on the day. The morning will be spent in the clay pit. After lunch, we will move to Beggars Knoll Quarry which exposes Lower, Middle and Upper Chalk. Fossils are plentiful at both clay and chalk quarries, so don't forget your collecting bags and hammers.
If you are planning to stay all day, please bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink. Sturdy boots are advisable and hard hats are essential at the chalk quarry. Both quarries are sun traps, so make sure you have your sun screen with you.
Meet: 10.30am Lafarge Cement Works, Westbury, Wiltshire (ST 880527).
There is a long approach road to the Cement Works. Please look out for signs for the Visitors' Car Park.
Please contact Simon Carpenter on 01373 474086 in advance of the meeting so that he can keep a check on numbers.
The Sanctuary, West Kennett Long Barrow and the West Kennett palisade enclosures plus the stone-lined avenues, stone circles and deep ditches of Avebury are probably all interconnected by the religious beliefs of the Neolithic people. Silbury Hill does not fit the pattern; it is an enigma. Why was such a hill built at the bottom of a waterlogged hollow? Lothar Respondek, the author of this very interesting and thought-provoking book has researched the climate, the landscape and the natural environment of the Neolithic people some 4500 years ago to try to answer all the questions surrounding Silbury Hill.
