November 1st - Festival of Geology

 

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The Anthropocene?

If an alien civilisation lands, millions of years from now when humans are a distant memory, what will they find? Our cities will be long gone; our sturdiest monuments and greatest buildings will be dust. But if they bring a geologist with them, they may be able to read the story of our existence from the stones they walk on. In Berlin, recently, a group of scientists met to discuss just what that story will tell – and how important a story it is.

Humans have existed in our modern form for only about 200,000 years. In geological terms, barely the blink of an eye: geologists measure the history of the Earth in millions of years. But some think that humanity’s impact on the planet in that time – and especially in the past few hundred years – has changed the planet so much that we are now living in a new epoch: the Anthropocene. We have caused a mass extinction, and changed the composition of the atmosphere, they say. Our effect on the planet is as great as that of the end of the last ice age.
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UKs Best Geosites

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Apologies for late posting!

October 22nd - Somerset Coal Canal and William Smith

Combe Down Heritage Society 
Wednesday 22 Oct
'The Somerset Coal Canal and William Smith' 
by Adrian Tuddenham from the SCC Society 
The talk will cover the history of the canal and the role of William Smith in creating the first geological map in 1815.
Combe Down Primary School, Summer Lane, Bath.  
Refreshments 7.00 pm, talk starts at 7.30 pm.  
All welcome, non-members £3.

Geodiversity Charter launch - HELP PLEASE

Message from the Geology Trusts:-
Hopefully you are aware by now that the new Geodiversity Charter for England is going to be launched at a parliamentary briefing on Tuesday 21st October.  This is a significant national document that sets out the value of our geodiversity, the need to look after it and practical ways in which all sectors of society can help.

WE NEED YOUR HELP THIS WEEK.  Although various government ministers will be attending the launch, there has been limited uptake by MPs.  We need to spread the word as widely as possible.  Therefore, I am asking everyone to PLEASE make an appointment and talk to your MP this week - most MPs are back in their constituencies at the weekends, and usually have surgeries on Fridays or Saturdays, and are pleased to talk to their constituents.
As their constituent, please tell them why geodiversity matters (make local links if you can) and ask them to attend the Charter launch from 2 - 4 pm on Tuesday 21st October at Portcullis House, Westminster. This personal invitation from YOU could make all the difference.

Click here to download the invitation letter and the charter as PDFs for you to use. (They are huge files so may take a long time to download)  If your MP says yes, then please email Lesley Dunlop and Mick Stanley by Monday 6th October. We have to give names of those attending to parliament next week.

Thank you for your help.  We want every MP there if possible, as the profile of geodiversity needs to be raised as never before.  This one event is an extraordinary chance to educate our politicians.  Please immediately pass this email on to any other colleagues who could cover another constituency and TAKE ACTION NOW. I cannot overstate the importance of this opportunity.

October 5th - Huntley Quarry Geology Reserve

Huntley Quarry Visit: Sunday 5th October, guided by Gloucester Geology
Trust. 
Travelling on the A40 towards Ross on Wye, just after Huntley look for the turn right to the Country Garden Centre. Take the access road and park by the churchyard wall. Meet at 10am. Bring lunch as the local pub is very busy at lunchtime. The Garden Centre has a small but adequate cafe and toilets.
In the afternoon there is a short drive to Hobbs Quarry (Silurian bioherms).
Please email Judy if you intend participating as Gloucester Geology Trust wish to have an idea of numbers for handout
purposes.

Help please - Saltford railway path - 2nd, 3rd October

Excavation work on the Railway Path at Saltford starts on the 2nd & 3rd
October.  I had hoped to have a few people to assist.
The most important thing is that there are adequate helpers to work with the
public so that we avoid anyone being crushed by the digger but it will also
provide an opportunity to follow the progress of the dig.  The warm weather
looks to continue in our favour.
If you know of anyone who can help - please get them to give me a call
(01373 474086) or email
A few hours here and there will help enormously by giving others a break and
providing company.  It should be a really interesting project with the potential of uncovering some really interesting fossils/geology.