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Abberley & Malvern Hills Global Geopark |
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Green
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Written by Gloucesteshire Geology Trust
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Friday, 20 June 2008 10:41 |
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Did you know Ledbury is in an internationally recognised designated landscape? The Abberley and Malvern Hills Global Geopark covers 1250 square kilometres and takes in parts of the four counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire. The Abberley and Malvern Hills is one of 30 partners in the European Geopark Network, globally there are 50 Geoparks - all endorsed by UNESCO. Like ours, they are driven by local organisations seeking to celebrate their geological heritage and achieve sustainable development through geotourism.
In the Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark you will find outstanding geology that spans 700 million years of our Earth's history. This, coupled with dramatic landscapes and a wealth of ecological, historical, and cultural gems, makes the Abberley and Malvern Hills a truly unique Geopark.
Our vision is for a Geopark that can be enjoyed by everyone and allows people from all walks of life the opportunity to experience geology and to appreciate the importance of their geological heritage. The Geopark exists to promote excellence in geoconservation and to make a contribution to local economies through sustainable geotourism.
So whether you are a resident or a visitor to the Geopark you will find much here of interest.
GEOLOGY: 700 million years of Earth history - one spectacular destination. The rocks tell a fascinating story of continental collisions, shallow tropical seas, hot deserts, tropical swamps, coastal lagoons, ice sheets and polar deserts. These changes in ancient depositional environments have produced the diverse landscapes that can be seen in the Geopark today.
ARCHAEOLOGY & INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE: The Abberley & Malvern Hills European Geopark has an incredible legacy left by an extraordinary geological past. Our hills and valleys, our flora and fauna, our communities and industrial heritage - all owe a great deal to our underlying geology. From imposing Iron Age hill forts to the remains of 20th century coal mining, throughout the Geopark you will find evidence of how human activity has shaped our landscape. BIODIVERSITY & ECOLOGY:Geology and ecology are inevitably linked. The often intimate relationship between geology and flora is an important factor in understanding the ecology of the Geopark.
CULTURAL HERITAGE: The unique landscapes in the Geopark have inspired artists and composers of past and present. Hills and valleys provide the backdrop for past and contemporary cultural events, and a place where a range of passions from art to social history may be indulged.
For more information visit:
www.geopark.org.uk/
www.earthheritagetrust.org/
www.glosgeotrust.org.uk/
www.europeangeoparks.org/
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Last Updated on Friday, 04 July 2008 09:35 |
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