Berkshire Building Stone Atlas
What is it?
Berkshire Geoconservation Group are
compiling an atlas of building stones and other materials that are used
across the county. In particular we are looking for use of local
materials, including brick, to highlight the variety that exists. Where
materials are used from elsewhere we would like to hear about that too
as it helps to build up a picture of what has been used where and why.
Open the documents below to find out more and help with this:
Building stones information sheet
Building stones recording sheet
The group have been active in a number of projects recently and a summary of these is given below. For all of these projects we would like to thank everyone who contributed as without assistance none of these would have been completed. In addition to formal projects we have run a number of walks, given talks to many groups and organised clearance sessions at Fognam Quarry. At the 'Festival of Geology' in October 2010 we had a stand to promote the 'Gravels of Berkshire'. In 2011 we also had a stand at the Royal Berkshire Show (September) and another at the Festival of Geology (November).
Local Geodiversity Action Plan (LGAP)
We have been working with organisations and individuals within
the county to produce an LGAP. The purpose of this is to provide a
framework for geodiversity and conservation within the county in the
same way that a Biodiversity Action Plan does for biodiversity. The
document will be available on line shortly for comment and review.
Paper copies are available by contacting Lesley Dunlop at BGG.
We are grateful to Natural England for funding this project and
other RIGS/Geology Trust Groups in the SE England for their
contribution.
Recent Projects
2010
Landscape and Chalk - a project to provide walk leaflets in conjuction with the North Wessex Downs AONB
We
are developing some leaflets for geological walks in West Berkshire -
the first of these will be printed in December 2010 and centres on East
Garston.
Newtown Road Cemetery
This interesting cemetery in Newbury has a range of stones used for memorials − Read the report.
Surveying Iron Rich Streams in Wokingham Borough
Thanks to assistance from Wokingham Borough council and a group
of volunteers we have been monitoring the iron content in streams and
ditches around Barkham. It is hoped to designate some of this area as an
LGS soon but the monitoring will also help in a management plan for
these very interesting streams − Read the report.
Local Geological Site (LGS) designation
Following funding from Natural England for Berkshire
Geoconservation Group to assist Hampshire and Oxfordshire with
designation of 3 new LGS in their counties we are happy to say we have
also been able to designate 3 within Berkshire – Hurley Chalk Pit (also
a Local Wildlife Site and BBOWT Reserve), Cookham Dean Chalk Pit
(managed by National Trust) and the viewpoint at Winter Hill (again
managed by National Trust).
We were able to do this because BGG already have experience in site survey and designation.
SE England Geotrails
Along with other counties in the SE England we put on a walk
linked to a National Trail in order to promote geodiversity. Our walk
was around Hurley and looked at building stones, a chalkpit and a sink
hole as well as landscape.
Lower Windrush Valley Gravels
We assisted the Lower Windrush Valley Project and Thames Valley
Environmental Records Centre in producing information for the general
public about the gravels and archaeology of the area between Witney and
Newbridge. Three walks and talks were provided. This project followed
on from the Gravels of Berkshire project and was funded by Aggregates
Levy Sustainability Fund.
2009
Gravels of Berkshire
We were fortunate to obtain funding from the Aggregates Levy
Sustainability Fund to produce leaflets and a booklet about the gravels
of Berkshire. Many people contributed to this project and we are very
grateful for all the input. There are leaflets for each of the Unitary
Authorities and a separate booklet which covers the whole county.
Copies of these can be obtained from BGG.
Soils of the North Wessex Downs AONB
Two training sessions on soil identification were offered during
early 2009 and a leaflet is in production. Thanks to North Wessex Downs
AONB for funding.
Greenham Common Trust
We received £500 from Greenham Common Trust as part of the
Greenham Gift – we used this funding to assist with preparation of some
of the walks in the area during 2009 and 2010 and also for leaflets.