Special guest editorial by Tim Holt-Wilson
‘Geodiversity: Valuing and Conserving Abiotic Nature’ by Murray Gray (Wiley; 2004) – the seminal reference book.
Natural Foundations: Geodiversity for People, Places and Nature by H Stace and J Larwood (English Nature; 2006) – a useful and attractive overview of integrated thinking on geodiversity. Available as a PDF download or free from Natural England’s publications dept. (code CORP.21)
Introductory UK web pages on geodiversity, its conservation and management:
- Countryside Council for Wales: http://www.ccw.gov.uk/landscape–wildlife/geological-gems/geoconservation.aspx/.
- Natural England: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/geodiversity/default.aspx/.
- Northern Ireland Environment Agency: http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/land-home.htm/.
- Scottish Natural Heritage: http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/safeguarding-geodiversity/.
Geological conservation: a Guide to Good Practice by C Prosser, M Murphy and J Larwood (English Nature; 2006). Available from Natural England website: http://naturalengland.etraderstores.com/NaturalEnglandShop/product.aspx?ProductID=712db525-75de-4079-862e-5b654546ea56/.
Local Geodiversity Action Plans – Setting the context for geological conservation by C Burek and J Potter (Research Report 560; English Nature, 2006). Available as a PDF download: http://www.mineralsandnature.org.uk/downloads/localgeodiversity.pdf
The Earth Science Conservation Classification System – see Natural England’s pages explaining the theoretical framework for conserving the different types of geodiversity sites: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/geodiversity/protectandmanage/conservation.aspx/.
The Geological Conservation Review – an online guide to the JNCC’s review of the most important geological and geomorphological sites in England, Scotland and Wales. http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-2947/.
The Earth Science Conservation Review of geological sites in Northern Ireland – http://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/.
UK Geodiversity Action Plan (UKGAP): A Framework for Action’ – see the draft document of the national Geodiversity Action Plan (available Dec 2010): http://www.ukgap.org.uk/.
GeoConservation UK – see the home-page for the RIGS conservation scheme: http://wiki.geoconservationuk.org.uk/index.php5?title=Main_Page/.
Geoconservation in planning
Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance for Nature Conservation – Geodiversity and Development in the United Kingdom (UKRIGS Geoconservation Association; undated) – A code of practice for early consultation. Available as a PDF download:
www.ukrigs.org.uk/public/ncguidance.pdf
Local Sites. Guidance on their Identification, Selection and Management (DEFRA; 2006) – information about conserving geodiversity and biodiversity through non-statutory designated sites. Available as a PDF download:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/documents/protected/localsites.pdf.
Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (ODPM, 2005). Available as a PDF download: http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/planning/planningpolicyguidance/historicenvironment/pps9/
Planning for Biodiversity and Geological Conservation: A Guide to Good Practice (DEFRA; 2006) – the guide associated with PPS9. Available as a PDF download: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/planningbiodiversity
Please hep with a problem, the wild life and countryside act prohibits the disrtuction of birds and nests, thats good but how can a school maitain its boundry hedges when they cannot be trimmed from March to September?
It really depends upon whether there are any nesting birds in the hedge. If you are in any doubt, the best bet is to contact your local Natural England office and get their advice. In any event leavinbg it until any nests have fledged is the best policy. let us know how you get on and if we can be of more help.
Not sure why you are posting under an article on geological conservation….
My advice would be to talk to your local Wildlife Trust – see http://www.wildlifetrusts.org – who will have experience of dealing with just this sort of question.
Where I live the farmers do their hedges in winter, and that solves the problem.
I have searched in vain for details of any penalties for infringment of flora or fauna protected species or habitats schedules. Where can this be found ?