Many exciting geology events will take place throughout Yorkshire this May and early June, as happened in 2006.     There will be talks and field trips all over the county and we will give detailed information when we have it.

We have been asked to give some help again this year.     Last year we took several field trips in the Huddersfield area.     Most of these events were well attended, though the weather was a significant factor.     We hope to give much the same programme this year, with the addition of a Rock and Fossil Road shows in a couple of venues, but would welcome any additions.     Would you like to take a short walk around an area that you know and explain its rocks and landscapes?     If you have any ideas on extending the programme we offer to the general public, please let Alison know.

Paul Kabrna of the Pendle and Craven Geological Society talked to us in early December about the crinoid fossils in the Clitheroe quarries.     After hearing the sad story of how his childhood collection was stolen by another fossil collector, we learned about their uses in stratigraphy and about how some of the fossils have peculiarities which give a fuller picture of life in Lower Carboniferous (which has been renamed as the Mississippian) shelf seas.     Paul is a most proficient speaker, whose powerpoints are masterpieces of information and humour.     Even his heavy cold did not dampen his enthusiasm for his subject and we are grateful for a very interesting talk, even though he should really have been at home in bed.

The R.I.G.S (Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites)group was delighted to hear, just before Christmas, that the Castle Hill leaflet had won the 2006 E.N.I Geological Challenge.     This is an award made annually to recognise the work of amateur geologists who make a major contribution to the understanding of the geology and landscape of the UK.     E.N.I is an integrated energy company, which finds, produces, transports and markets oil and gas and generously fund this award.     The judges were Chris Darmon of Geosupplies in Chapeltown, Sheffield, Gawen Jenkin of Leicester University Geology department and Steve Cooper of E.N.I.

The West Yorkshire R.I.G.S Group were presented with a large glass trophy and a cheque at the beginning of a Geologists’ Association meeting and lecture at Burlington House, London, last Friday.     Chris Darmon gave a very complimentary speech about the contribution that the amateur geology fraternity in Huddersfield have given to local people, both through the Huddersfield Geology Group booklet on Rocks and Landscapes of Huddersfield, which won the same competition in 1998 and with the Castle Hill leaflet.     The judges liked the combination of accurate geological information, with easy walking trails, and straightforward observations about the local geology and landscapes seen from the footpaths around Castle Hill.     Chris came to Castle Hill with a group from the Nationwide Geology Club to test it for interest and accuracy.

The cheque for £250 will be put towards future geoconservation in the West Yorkshire area.

The next project is to carry out some geological interpretation at Beaumont Park, Huddersfield, with the aid of the Friends of Beaumont Park.

If anyone would like to help us with these exciting developments you will be welcome.     The next meeting is on Thursday March 1st at 17.30 – 19.00 in Room F9, Greenhead College.

For more information contact Alison.
or see the West Yorkshire R.I.G.S web site www.wyrigs.org.uk

The Countryside Warden at Oakwell Hall would like us to undertake some geological interpretation of the Country Park and buildings themselves.     He wants two things from us:

• Some guidance on how to create a geological garden.     He has a spare piece of land, with seats with a nice view across the park and can apply for grants to fund the work and has lots of voluntary help, including big diggers, etc.     He wants us to talk to his educational officer so that we can work out how to plan the geological garden, so that it could be used by schools, colleges and the general public.

• He would like us to run a Rock and Fossil Road show one Saturday or Sunday in May, which can be part of Yorkshire Geology Month.     We could have the use of the big barn and they have plenty of volunteers to run suitable activities for children.     Alison has suggested that we offer some fossil and rock identification and also have a display of different rock types.     He would also like us to take 30 minute guided walks around the Oakwell Hall buildings and the immediate area to look at the landscape, as there are no exposed rocks at all.     Training would have to be given for any volunteers, who know enough about building stones and local rocks to do this!

The warden will give us a date as soon as possible – if you want to help see Alison.

This gentle walk around the centre of Huddersfield is designed to use the booklet of the Building Stones of Huddersfield (for sale at £2) to show how many superb sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks can be seen in our polished shop and bank frontages.    Because of the use of facing stone to add both status and protection from weathering to building fronts in town and city centres, many interesting rocks are imported.     The polishing process means that we can see the rock textures very well.     Bring a hand lens, if you have one.

Meet at Market Place, Huddersfield at 14.00 for a gentle stroll lasting a couple of hours.     We might find a nice place for a cup of tea, too, especially if the weather is unpleasant.

Our next major excursion is to Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire.   &nbs The meeting place is at the first lay-by west of Junction 23 of the M1, on the main road, the A512.     We meet at 10.30 and will probably finish about 16.00.

Ian Chisholm, retired from the British Geological Survey, will take us around some interesting sites in the Charnwood Forest area, which is one of the few areas in the Midlands where Precambrian rocks are exposed at the surface.     We will see the famous fossil site where the Precambrian soft-bodied fossil, Charnia masonii, was found.     This fossil sparked off searches for other remains of life in Precambrian rocks, which had previously been thought to be unfossiliferous.     We will visit a large quarry where there is a spectacular exposure of the unconformity between the red Triassic sediments and underlying Precambrian rocks and will also see examples of unusual volcanic and metamorphic rocks.

This trip is slightly more adventurous than most of our more local field trips, and requires a longer drive, but it includes stimulating rocks and structures and Ian Chisholm is very expert in this area.     Bring walking boots, although we will not be walking very large distances, and a packed lunch.

How to make sure that our best rocks and fossils are protected and understood. A talk by Alison Quarterman

Greenhead College, Room F9, 19.15 pm.