A lecture at Dorset County Museum by Graham Worton, Keeper of Geology, Dudley Museum
An interesting lecture by a guy who is clearly very committed and enthused by his subject. The talk began with an overview of the geology of the Black Country, including outlining at least three "lagerstatten" localities as well as a number of SSSI's, and some other interesting facts such as the construction of an arch made from the "Dudley Thick Coal" for the visit of Queen Victoria to Wolverhampton in 1866.
Much of the information presented was in the light of a current bid for "Geopark" status, and perhaps in the future, recognition as a world heritage site (much like the Jurassic Coast). This is taken from the Dudley MBC website:
"Black Country Bid for Geo Park Status
In this area of outstanding earth heritage it is our intention to create and continuously develop through the Black Country Geodiversity Partnership and Geopark management team a geopark that befits the quality and diversity of the geological features and scientific associations that are present. We wish to see these assets sustained and developed for the inspiration and benefit of all.
This process towards realising these assets has already begun. Many significant projects are now underway to engage people and access the geodiversity. Some are of a major strategic scale including the setting up of landscape ‘beacon sites’ across the territory, long distance footpaths and large flagship projects which will facilitate the establishment of dedicated visitor centres and unparalleled applied geology/underground limestone mining experiences linked and canal networks. Other projects on more modest scale include staging events and exhibitions covering the sphere of palaeontology and geoscience, educational conferences and interpretive leaflets of many areas of the territory.
Local geology has very high value in the past, present and future of the Black Country. The establishment of the Black Country Geopark is a very important step in regenerating this declining former industrial area to face a new technological and geotourism future. Ambitions for change now are at the heart of key strategic policies and documents for the region. In particular in the delivery of the Black Country as an ‘Urban Park’ through policies and processes dedicated to environmental improvement and sustainable tourism and development of the area.
It is the ambition and intention of the Black Country Geodiversity partnership to promote awareness about the wonderful geological heritage of the urban landscape both locally, nationally and internationally and we will stimulate local pride and ownership of features at the local level. The international recognition imparted by the Geopark badge will send a strong message to our present generations about the exceptional place in which we live and work. It will also significantly help in the successful planned delivery of world class geotourism destinations of the future in an exemplar Urban Park. These things will be achieved for the inspiration and benefit of future generations of Black Country people and the global community as a whole.
We look forward to learning from the activities of the Geopark Network members and sharing our experiences as a future active and dynamic member of the European and Global Geoparks networks."
A part of the strategy is to construct a visitor centre at The Wren's Nest, re-open the Seven Sisters cavern, and to link this to the existing canal network at Castle Mill basin, miraculously, the tunnel still survives in remarkably good condition!
Finally, (info from http://www.leapsandbounds.org.uk/), "
Wrosne - An Underground Experience has focussed on young people drawn from Dudley's Wren's Nest and Priory estates, both of which face exceptional levels of economic and social deprivation. Over a period of twelve months the Leaps & Bounds team have used their unique programme of personal intervention and development, one-to-one pastoral support, and professional quality arts activity to help around 60 young people turn around their own lives and start to change their local community.
The project culminates in late July 2008 with a week of extraordinary theatrical performances deep inside the canal tunnels and mines under the two estates."
From a geological perspective, this kind of community engagement will be essential if any kind of visitor centre at Wren's Nest is to be sucessful.
Sidenote: I've just downloaded a Google Books copy of Murchison's Silurian System, and will read it when I have time!
