The Use of Town Trails in Raising Awareness of Urban Geodiversity

C Burek; M Hope

The Use of Town Trails in Raising Awareness of Urban Geodiversity

C Burek, M Hope

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Abstract

The majority of people now live and/or work in urban areas and are increasingly becoming divorced from their natural environment. One aspect of geoconservation is to raise public and student awareness of their urban geology so that they better appreciate its relation to the natural world and its resources. Several town trails have been developed by the local RIGS (Regionally Important Geological/geomorphological Sites) groups in the vicinity of University of Chester, to heighten public awareness of their own local urban geodiversity. This is looked upon favourably by the Local Authority, which is keen to increase an appreciation of local distinctiveness. This paper will look at the use of these trails (some bilingual, English and Welsh) and how they have raised awareness among both higher education students and the general public mostly in the tourist sector. NEWRIGSand Cheshire RIGS have set up a successful template for this and the use of work-based learning students in the initial research is explained. The inclusion of urban trail development within the Cheshire region (north west England) LGAP (Local Geodiversity Action Plan) is discussed. The use of the trails in the teaching of one module, The City and Nature, within the newly developed Urban Studies programme is also explored. Preliminary results show that leaflets are extremely effective in raising the profile of urban geology and its conservation within many sections of the urban community.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-7
Journal	The Geological Society of London,
Volume	15
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 26 Mar 2006

Bibliographical note

Reference text: Burek C.V. 2001. Non-geologists now dig geodiversity Earth Heritage, (16), 21
Burek C.V. 2005. Stimulating public interest in our urban environment in Wales In: Proceedings of the Welsh Stone conference,
Cardiff 2002 on Stone in Wales, Materials, heritage and conservation, CADW, 36-40,
Burek C.V. & France, D. 1997. Walking and Steaming through the past, Earth Heritage, (8), 8-9.
Burek C.V. & France, D. 1998. NEWRIGS, uses a steam train and town geological town trail to raise public awareness in
Llangollen, North Wales, Geoscientist 8, (9), 8-10
Cookson M. 2004. The effects of age on attitudes to conservation and the environment in Cheshire, Unpublished dissertation,
University of Chester, Chester
Devon RIGS group. Nd. County Geological Sites explained, leaflet, Devon County Council.
Gray M. 2004. Geodiversity: valuing and conserving abiotic nature, John Wiley
Gwynedd & Môn RIGS. 2004. Stone detectives: A geological trail for Conway Town, Gwynedd & Môn RIGS, Coleg. Llansadwrn,
Menai Bridge, Anglesey
Hallsmith, G. 2003. The Key to Sustainable Cities: Meeting Human Needs Transforming Community Systems, New Society
Publishers
Hereford & Worcester Earth Heritage Trust. 2004. Explore Worcester City Centre, Hereford & Worcester Earth Heritage Trusts,
Geological Record Centre, University College Worcester, Worcester
Hose T.A. 1999. Selling geology to the Public, Earth Heritage, (11), 10-12
Hose T. A. 2000. Rocks, Rudists & Writing: An examination of populist Geosite literature. In: Proceedings of the Third UKRIGS
Annual conference on Geoconservation in Action, 30thAugust –2nd September 2000, Newton Rigg, Penrith, Cumbria,
UKRIGS, National Stone Centre, Wirksworth, Derbyshire, UK, 39-62
Hose, T.A. 2005. Writ in Stone: A critique of geoconservation panels and publication in Wales and the Welsh borders. In:
Proceedings of the Welsh Stone conference, Cardiff 2002 on Stone in Wales, Materials, heritage and conservation, CADW,
54-60
Hough, M. 2004. Cities and Natural Process: A Basis for Sustainability, 2nd Edition, Routledge
Keene, P. 1995. Writing trails – a student guide, Thematic trails, Oxford.
Lothian & Borders RIGS Group. 2005. Craigleith Quarry, Edinburgh’s historical building stone, Lothian & Borders RIGS,
Edinburgh
Macadam, J. 1997. Geological Trail between Pendower and Carne, Changing climates – changing sea levels, Cornwall County
Council’s planning directorate, ISBN 1 898166021
NEWRIGS. 1997. Walking through the past – a geological guide for Llangollen, NEWRIGS, University of Chester, Chester
NEWRIGS. 2004. Walking through the past - a geological guide to Wrexham, NEWRIGS, University of Chester, Chester
North Wales Wildlife Trust. Nd. Rhiwledyn Nature Reserve, leaflet, Cynhyrchwyd y daflen gan Natural D.T.P
Prosser C. 2002. Terms of endearment, Earth Heritage, (17), 13
Salmon S. 2004. Latest publications, Earth Heritage, (23), 26-27
Somerville I.D. Brenchley P.J. Cullen B, Eagar R.M.C. Shanklin J.K & Thompson D.B. 1986. Geology around the university towns
Liverpool, Geologists’ Association guide No. 6. Geologists’ Association, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London
Stanley M. 2000. Geodiversity, Earth Heritage (14), 15
Tilson E. Burek C.V. Underwood J. & Legg C. 2003. Llandudno trail questionnaire and workshop, In: Proceedings of the Fifth
UKRIGS annual conference on Promoting Geodiversity, 3-5th October 2002, Llandudno, UKRIGS, National Stone Centre,
Wirksworth, Derbyshire, UK, 12-14.

Keywords

education & training
geology of cities
public awareness of science
urban geosciences

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Cite this

@article{d78bc2fb9e8c48bb97f28d91b7b7e981,

title = "The Use of Town Trails in Raising Awareness of Urban Geodiversity",

abstract = "The majority of people now live and/or work in urban areas and are increasingly becoming divorced from their natural environment. One aspect of geoconservation is to raise public and student awareness of their urban geology so that they better appreciate its relation to the natural world and its resources. Several town trails have been developed by the local RIGS (Regionally Important Geological/geomorphological Sites) groups in the vicinity of University of Chester, to heighten public awareness of their own local urban geodiversity. This is looked upon favourably by the Local Authority, which is keen to increase an appreciation of local distinctiveness. This paper will look at the use of these trails (some bilingual, English and Welsh) and how they have raised awareness among both higher education students and the general public mostly in the tourist sector. NEWRIGSand Cheshire RIGS have set up a successful template for this and the use of work-based learning students in the initial research is explained. The inclusion of urban trail development within the Cheshire region (north west England) LGAP (Local Geodiversity Action Plan) is discussed. The use of the trails in the teaching of one module, The City and Nature, within the newly developed Urban Studies programme is also explored. Preliminary results show that leaflets are extremely effective in raising the profile of urban geology and its conservation within many sections of the urban community.",

keywords = "education & training, geology of cities, public awareness of science, urban geosciences",

author = "C Burek and M Hope",

note = "Reference text: Burek C.V. 2001. Non-geologists now dig geodiversity Earth Heritage, (16), 21 Burek C.V. 2005. Stimulating public interest in our urban environment in Wales In: Proceedings of the Welsh Stone conference, Cardiff 2002 on Stone in Wales, Materials, heritage and conservation, CADW, 36-40, Burek C.V. & France, D. 1997. Walking and Steaming through the past, Earth Heritage, (8), 8-9. Burek C.V. & France, D. 1998. NEWRIGS, uses a steam train and town geological town trail to raise public awareness in Llangollen, North Wales, Geoscientist 8, (9), 8-10 Cookson M. 2004. The effects of age on attitudes to conservation and the environment in Cheshire, Unpublished dissertation, University of Chester, Chester Devon RIGS group. Nd. County Geological Sites explained, leaflet, Devon County Council. Gray M. 2004. Geodiversity: valuing and conserving abiotic nature, John Wiley Gwynedd & M{\^o}n RIGS. 2004. Stone detectives: A geological trail for Conway Town, Gwynedd & M{\^o}n RIGS, Coleg. Llansadwrn, Menai Bridge, Anglesey Hallsmith, G. 2003. The Key to Sustainable Cities: Meeting Human Needs Transforming Community Systems, New Society Publishers Hereford & Worcester Earth Heritage Trust. 2004. Explore Worcester City Centre, Hereford & Worcester Earth Heritage Trusts, Geological Record Centre, University College Worcester, Worcester Hose T.A. 1999. Selling geology to the Public, Earth Heritage, (11), 10-12 Hose T. A. 2000. Rocks, Rudists & Writing: An examination of populist Geosite literature. In: Proceedings of the Third UKRIGS Annual conference on Geoconservation in Action, 30thAugust –2nd September 2000, Newton Rigg, Penrith, Cumbria, UKRIGS, National Stone Centre, Wirksworth, Derbyshire, UK, 39-62 Hose, T.A. 2005. Writ in Stone: A critique of geoconservation panels and publication in Wales and the Welsh borders. In: Proceedings of the Welsh Stone conference, Cardiff 2002 on Stone in Wales, Materials, heritage and conservation, CADW, 54-60 Hough, M. 2004. Cities and Natural Process: A Basis for Sustainability, 2nd Edition, Routledge Keene, P. 1995. Writing trails – a student guide, Thematic trails, Oxford. Lothian & Borders RIGS Group. 2005. Craigleith Quarry, Edinburgh{\textquoteright}s historical building stone, Lothian & Borders RIGS, Edinburgh Macadam, J. 1997. Geological Trail between Pendower and Carne, Changing climates – changing sea levels, Cornwall County Council{\textquoteright}s planning directorate, ISBN 1 898166021 NEWRIGS. 1997. Walking through the past – a geological guide for Llangollen, NEWRIGS, University of Chester, Chester NEWRIGS. 2004. Walking through the past - a geological guide to Wrexham, NEWRIGS, University of Chester, Chester North Wales Wildlife Trust. Nd. Rhiwledyn Nature Reserve, leaflet, Cynhyrchwyd y daflen gan Natural D.T.P Prosser C. 2002. Terms of endearment, Earth Heritage, (17), 13 Salmon S. 2004. Latest publications, Earth Heritage, (23), 26-27 Somerville I.D. Brenchley P.J. Cullen B, Eagar R.M.C. Shanklin J.K & Thompson D.B. 1986. Geology around the university towns Liverpool, Geologists{\textquoteright} Association guide No. 6. Geologists{\textquoteright} Association, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London Stanley M. 2000. Geodiversity, Earth Heritage (14), 15 Tilson E. Burek C.V. Underwood J. & Legg C. 2003. Llandudno trail questionnaire and workshop, In: Proceedings of the Fifth UKRIGS annual conference on Promoting Geodiversity, 3-5th October 2002, Llandudno, UKRIGS, National Stone Centre, Wirksworth, Derbyshire, UK, 12-14.",

year = "2006",

month = mar,

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language = "English",

volume = "15",

pages = "1--7",

journal = "The Geological Society of London,",

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T1 - The Use of Town Trails in Raising Awareness of Urban Geodiversity

AU - Burek, C

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N1 - Reference text: Burek C.V. 2001. Non-geologists now dig geodiversity Earth Heritage, (16), 21 Burek C.V. 2005. Stimulating public interest in our urban environment in Wales In: Proceedings of the Welsh Stone conference, Cardiff 2002 on Stone in Wales, Materials, heritage and conservation, CADW, 36-40, Burek C.V. & France, D. 1997. Walking and Steaming through the past, Earth Heritage, (8), 8-9. Burek C.V. & France, D. 1998. NEWRIGS, uses a steam train and town geological town trail to raise public awareness in Llangollen, North Wales, Geoscientist 8, (9), 8-10 Cookson M. 2004. The effects of age on attitudes to conservation and the environment in Cheshire, Unpublished dissertation, University of Chester, Chester Devon RIGS group. Nd. County Geological Sites explained, leaflet, Devon County Council. Gray M. 2004. Geodiversity: valuing and conserving abiotic nature, John Wiley Gwynedd & Môn RIGS. 2004. Stone detectives: A geological trail for Conway Town, Gwynedd & Môn RIGS, Coleg. Llansadwrn, Menai Bridge, Anglesey Hallsmith, G. 2003. The Key to Sustainable Cities: Meeting Human Needs Transforming Community Systems, New Society Publishers Hereford & Worcester Earth Heritage Trust. 2004. Explore Worcester City Centre, Hereford & Worcester Earth Heritage Trusts, Geological Record Centre, University College Worcester, Worcester Hose T.A. 1999. Selling geology to the Public, Earth Heritage, (11), 10-12 Hose T. A. 2000. Rocks, Rudists & Writing: An examination of populist Geosite literature. In: Proceedings of the Third UKRIGS Annual conference on Geoconservation in Action, 30thAugust –2nd September 2000, Newton Rigg, Penrith, Cumbria, UKRIGS, National Stone Centre, Wirksworth, Derbyshire, UK, 39-62 Hose, T.A. 2005. Writ in Stone: A critique of geoconservation panels and publication in Wales and the Welsh borders. In: Proceedings of the Welsh Stone conference, Cardiff 2002 on Stone in Wales, Materials, heritage and conservation, CADW, 54-60 Hough, M. 2004. Cities and Natural Process: A Basis for Sustainability, 2nd Edition, Routledge Keene, P. 1995. Writing trails – a student guide, Thematic trails, Oxford. Lothian & Borders RIGS Group. 2005. Craigleith Quarry, Edinburgh’s historical building stone, Lothian & Borders RIGS, Edinburgh Macadam, J. 1997. Geological Trail between Pendower and Carne, Changing climates – changing sea levels, Cornwall County Council’s planning directorate, ISBN 1 898166021 NEWRIGS. 1997. Walking through the past – a geological guide for Llangollen, NEWRIGS, University of Chester, Chester NEWRIGS. 2004. Walking through the past - a geological guide to Wrexham, NEWRIGS, University of Chester, Chester North Wales Wildlife Trust. Nd. Rhiwledyn Nature Reserve, leaflet, Cynhyrchwyd y daflen gan Natural D.T.P Prosser C. 2002. Terms of endearment, Earth Heritage, (17), 13 Salmon S. 2004. Latest publications, Earth Heritage, (23), 26-27 Somerville I.D. Brenchley P.J. Cullen B, Eagar R.M.C. Shanklin J.K & Thompson D.B. 1986. Geology around the university towns Liverpool, Geologists’ Association guide No. 6. Geologists’ Association, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London Stanley M. 2000. Geodiversity, Earth Heritage (14), 15 Tilson E. Burek C.V. Underwood J. & Legg C. 2003. Llandudno trail questionnaire and workshop, In: Proceedings of the Fifth UKRIGS annual conference on Promoting Geodiversity, 3-5th October 2002, Llandudno, UKRIGS, National Stone Centre, Wirksworth, Derbyshire, UK, 12-14.

PY - 2006/3/26

Y1 - 2006/3/26

N2 - The majority of people now live and/or work in urban areas and are increasingly becoming divorced from their natural environment. One aspect of geoconservation is to raise public and student awareness of their urban geology so that they better appreciate its relation to the natural world and its resources. Several town trails have been developed by the local RIGS (Regionally Important Geological/geomorphological Sites) groups in the vicinity of University of Chester, to heighten public awareness of their own local urban geodiversity. This is looked upon favourably by the Local Authority, which is keen to increase an appreciation of local distinctiveness. This paper will look at the use of these trails (some bilingual, English and Welsh) and how they have raised awareness among both higher education students and the general public mostly in the tourist sector. NEWRIGSand Cheshire RIGS have set up a successful template for this and the use of work-based learning students in the initial research is explained. The inclusion of urban trail development within the Cheshire region (north west England) LGAP (Local Geodiversity Action Plan) is discussed. The use of the trails in the teaching of one module, The City and Nature, within the newly developed Urban Studies programme is also explored. Preliminary results show that leaflets are extremely effective in raising the profile of urban geology and its conservation within many sections of the urban community.

AB - The majority of people now live and/or work in urban areas and are increasingly becoming divorced from their natural environment. One aspect of geoconservation is to raise public and student awareness of their urban geology so that they better appreciate its relation to the natural world and its resources. Several town trails have been developed by the local RIGS (Regionally Important Geological/geomorphological Sites) groups in the vicinity of University of Chester, to heighten public awareness of their own local urban geodiversity. This is looked upon favourably by the Local Authority, which is keen to increase an appreciation of local distinctiveness. This paper will look at the use of these trails (some bilingual, English and Welsh) and how they have raised awareness among both higher education students and the general public mostly in the tourist sector. NEWRIGSand Cheshire RIGS have set up a successful template for this and the use of work-based learning students in the initial research is explained. The inclusion of urban trail development within the Cheshire region (north west England) LGAP (Local Geodiversity Action Plan) is discussed. The use of the trails in the teaching of one module, The City and Nature, within the newly developed Urban Studies programme is also explored. Preliminary results show that leaflets are extremely effective in raising the profile of urban geology and its conservation within many sections of the urban community.

KW - education & training

KW - geology of cities

KW - public awareness of science

KW - urban geosciences

M3 - Article

SN - 2041-479X

VL - 15

SP - 1

EP - 7

JO - The Geological Society of London,

JF - The Geological Society of London,

ER -

The Use of Town Trails in Raising Awareness of Urban Geodiversity

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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