Natural England - Local Geodiversity Action Plans

Introduction
Who is involved?
How to produce an LGAP
Funding
LGAP progress




LGAP progress

Two recent articles from Teaching Earth Sciences summarise the development of LGAPs to date and the progress of the Cheshire region LGAP.

Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark LGAP Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust has received an English Nature Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund grant to fund a LGAP for the Teme Valley, May Hill and Bridgnorth area. This project should be completed by March 2005.

Black Country LGAP Black Country Geological Society has received money from English Nature to initiate development of a Black Country LGAP. An English Nature Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund grant has been awarded to develop the aggregate specific actions of the Black Country Geodiversity Action Plan. The plan will be launched in July 2006.

Cheshire Region LGAP Since the Cheshire LGAP was launched the LGAP partnership (with University College Chester as the lead partner) has been working towards their objectives including starting discussions with local authorities to incorporate geological conservation within local plans and policies. The partnership has organised a number of events including guided walks and activities for children. The revised second edition of the LGAP was published in August 2004. Current English Nature funding is contributing to a review of progress of the originally identified actions of the CrGAP. This is the first review of a launched LGAP and will provide an assessment of key measures to assess LGAP processes. Potter & Burek, 2006. The first Local Geodiversity Action Plan (LGAP): evaluating the Cheshire region LGAP. Teaching Earth Science v23.

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LGAP The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LGAP is funded by an English Nature Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund grant. Cornwall Wildlife Trust appointed a geologist to produce a geological audit and action plan. The geodiversity project is being run by the Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (part of Cornwall Wildlife Trust) and steered by Cornwall RIGS Group. The plan was launched in 2005.

Cotswolds AONB in Gloucestershire LGAP The Gloucestershire Geoconservation Trust obtained a grant from the Minerals Industry Research Organisation administered Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund to develop an LGAP for the Cotswolds AONB. The GAP was launched on 7th October 2005.

County Durham LGAP A Geodiversity Audit for County Durham has been published by British Geological Survey in collaboration with Durham County Council. This was funded by the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund administered by the Minerals Industry Research Organisation. A geodiversity action plan is in preparation by Durham County Council.

Derbyshire and Peak District LGAP Derbyshire RIGS and the National Stone Centre are developing the Derbyshire and Peak District LGAP which is being funded by the Minerals Industry Sustainable Technology Programme.

Devon LGAP LGAP actions are embedded in the Devon LBAP, which was produced by Devon County Council.

Dorset and the East Devon Coastal Corridor LGAP The Dorset LGAP aims to draw together existing information and ongoing projects concerned with the geology, geomorphology, soils and landscapes of Dorset and the East Devon Coastal Corridor, and to initiate further actions that will lead to: the conservation and enhancement of the geological resource; providing guidance to the planning authorities on sustainable policies in the geological context; and increasing appreciation and understanding of the geological heritage of the area. Dorset County Council is the lead partner in the LGAP, which was launched on 23rd February 2005.

Greater Manchester LGAP Greater Manchester Geological Unit, Greater Manchester RIGS Group and English Nature are producing a draft GAP which will be consulted on during 2006.

Herefordshire LGAP Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust initiated a GAP consultation process September / October 2005 with funding support from English Nature. The consultation document is now available.

Isle of Wight LGAP English Nature is funding the development of the Isle of Wight LGAP. The LGAP partnership, with Dinosaur Isle as the lead partner, has been established and the first draft has been completed and is out to consultation.

Lancashire LGAP Lancashire RIGS have produced a local geodiversity action plan for Lancashire.

Leicestershire and Rutland LGAP This project focuses on the use of geological sites for education. Phase 1 of the project has been completed with an inventory of sites, web-pages, a series of interpretation boards and booklets and viewing areas and videos of the geology at two working quarries. Further funding will be used to develop a 1:25000 map for Charnwood Forest, more videos describing the local geology and documentation for local geology collections. Both projects are lead by British Geological Survey and have obtained funding through the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund administered by Minerals Industry Research Organisation.

North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) LGAP The North Pennines AONB Partnership and British Geological Survey have published the North Pennines AONB Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan. The plan is already proving a useful tool in developing funding bids and in helping local communities understand how they can contribute to geological conservation and interpretation in the North Pennines. The action plan and audit was funded through the English Nature administered Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund. A further four years funding has been obtained for an action plan project officer.

Northeast Yorkshire LGAP Scarborough Borough Council and the North and East Yorkshire Geology Trust are the lead partners in the LGAP. Initial discussions with the LGAP partnership and consultation on the LGAP process are under way. A wide consultation will be initiated in April 2006.

Northumberland National Park LGAP Northumberland National Park, with British Geological Survey, has gained funding through the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund administered by Minerals Industry Research Organisation to complete a geology audit and action plan by March 2007.

Oxfordshire LGAP Oxfordshire Geology Trust is the lead organisation for the Oxfordshire LGAP which has been embedded in LBAP

Shropshire LGAP Work has begun on production of a Shropshire Geodiversity Action Plan (SGAP) following a successful bid by Shropshire County Council for funding assistance from English Nature. The SGAP is being prepared by a working group comprising Shropshire County Council (Planning Development and Museum Services), the Shropshire Geological Society and the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. The aim is to produce the SGAP by mid-February 2007.

Staffordshire LGAP Funding for the project, through English Nature's Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, expired in March 2004. The Partnership continues to function, with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust as the lead partner and elements of the SGAP divided between members of the Steering Group.

Suffolk LGAP GeoSuffolk (Suffolk RIGS) is the lead organisation in the Suffolk LGAP. The draft plan was produced in March 2006.

Tees Valley LGAP Tees Valley Wildlife Trust were funded by English Nature's Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund grant scheme to produce an LGAP. By December 2003: an active RIGS group in the Tees Valley has been established a draft copy of Tees Valley GAP for consultation has been produced 10 local people are regularly involved in survey of geodiversity sites all geodiversity sites in the Tees Valley have been surveyed. Tees Valley GAP document with RIGS group amendments interactive RIGS database to be attached to GAP document 34 new RIGS locations put forward for designation with local authority. The project is continuing through funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Torbay LGAP Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust have initiated a LGAP consultation in conjunction with the development of the Coral Coast Project and application for European Geopark status. The draft plan, The Nature of Torbay 2006-2012 is now available.

Warwickshire LGAP Warwickshire Museums and Warwickshire Geological Conservation Group carried out an initial scoping exercise in 2003. In 2004 a sub-action plan was developed for Permian-Triassic non-marine fossil localities. An overarching LGAP is anticipated for spring 2006.

Worcestershire LGAP Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust initiated a LGAP consultation process in September / October 2005 with funding support from English Nature. The consultation document is now available.

Yorkshire Dales LGAP North Yorkshire Geodiversity Partnership has initiated a consultation process with funding support from English Nature.

The development of Geodiversity Action Plans for aggregates companies: a pilot study Capita Symonds, together with industry partners, is currently carrying out research into GAPs for aggregate companies with funding from the Minerals Industry Research Organisation administered Mineral Industry Sustainable Technology programme. The aim of this project is to develop a suitable approach and methodology for aggregates companies to use in the production of company-wide Geodiversity Action Plans (cGAPs).