The West Yorkshire R.I.G.S Group has renamed itself as the West Yorkshire Geology Trust (W.Y.G.T), because of the difficulty of having to explain what R.I.G.S (Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites) are.    The organisation concentrates on geological conservation and education and so the name change reflects the county Wildlife Trusts, which have been operating for many years to protect and conserve wildlife.

W.Y.G.T is a small but active group of volunteers, largely based in the Kirklees area.     We are intent on enlarging the group so that it can promote geodiversity in the whole of West Yorkshire.     The group entered into partnership with a much more experienced group, the East Yorkshire Geology Trust (N.E.Y.G.T).     N.E.Y.G.T were able to assist us in applying for a grant from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, which is run by Natural England.     This funding would enable us to hold meetings to consult with all the interested bodies, like the planning authorities, amateur and professional geologists, tourist bodies like museums, the quarrying industry and many other groups, to find out how to promote geodiversity in West Yorkshire.

We are going to produce a Local Geodiversity Action Plan (L.G.A.P), which is a document that will set out what we hope to do after consultation.     We have until March 2008 to hold meetings, gain more members, select some geological sites which need management and write a draft plan, all with the help of N.E.Y.G.T.     We have a display that we can take to events where we can sell our booklets and talk to people who are interested in geology.     We can also start thinking about the educational work we could do with schools; if there are any teachers who would like some input on rocks and fossils to help them with their teaching.

We held a launch in Otley in August at which we gained our first ten members and were delighted to meet a lot of geological acquaintances who will help us.     A series of meetings with the local authorities in West Yorkshire is taking place, the first of which was at Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley, on 10th Sept.

Shaun Berry of Johnson Wellfield Quarries, Crosland Hill, has given us the use of an office in his building, which we will be able to use as a base for this work.     We will be able to use some of the grant for setting up the office as a resource for geological records in West Yorkshire.

Membership to the West Yorkshire Geology Trust is free.     It is really a way of finding out what people would like us to do in the future.     For more information, to let us know what you are interested in, or to offer any help, please contact Alison.

This is a joint field meeting with the Craven and Pendle Geology Society.

Meet at 10.15am in the car park at Dunsop Bridge (SD 662 502).     Bring a packed lunch, boots and waterproofs.     We will be looking at limestones and mudstone exposures in the Trough of Bowland and the Hodder Valley.     Finish approx 4.00pm.

Sunday 4th November 2007 at 7:30pm
"A crawl down the Ogre" by Doug Scott CBE.
At Yorkshire Martyrs College, Westgate Hill Street, Tong, Bradford BD4 6NR

Project In the Autumn of 1975 Doug Scott and fellow climber Dougal Haston became the first British climbers to reach the summit of Everest.     Before and since then Doug has climbed all over the world and extensively photographed his experiences.     Many of these stunning photos will used to illustrate his talk.

Proceeds from the event will support West Yorkshire Scouts Project Nepal.     In the autumn of 2008 Julie will be one of a group of Scout Leaders from West Yorkshire who will travel to Nepal to build a school building and install a fresh water supply in the remote Himalayan village of Melamchigaon.     The team are currently raising the £11,000 needed to fund the building works.     Further details are available from the project website at www.projectnepal.org.uk

Doors open at 6.45pm.     Bar and refreshments will be available.    Tickets: £10.00 (£7.50 concessions)

For tickets contact Julie on 01484 311662 or by email.