Wye Valley geology and landscape walks
The Trust lead two walks around the beautiful Wye Valley as part of the Wye Valley Partnership Project supported by Defra and Natural England.
Hampton Bishop Loop Walk
Saturday 9th March.
Grid Reference SO5506 3809
The walk took us around the flat land between the River Lugg and the River Wye, around the villages of Hampton Bishop and Mordiford. We discovered how geology has shaped the landscape, the effect of the Ice Age on the area, modern day flood defences and also how the rivers are eroding the land today. We also saw the wide valley cut when the River Teme joined the Lugg before the Ice Age.
The walk is was 5 miles and will finished around 3.30pm. Lunch was at the Bunch of Carrots.
Wye Gorge Walk
Saturday 16th March 2013.
Grid Reference SO 5480 1575
The walk explored how geology has shaped the landscape of the Wye Gorge in the Biblins and King Arthur’s Cave areas. We discovered how the River Wye has cut a spectacular gorge, with cliffs of limestone formed when the area was covered by warm tropical seas, and crags of red sandstone and conglomerate formed in ancient deserts. We saw caves cut into the rock when river levels were hundreds of metres higher than present day.
About the Project
The Wye Valley Partnership has been re-invigorated from an unsuccessful Nature Improvement Area (NIA) bid, situated on the lower catchment of the River Wye in an approximate triangle between Monmouth, Hereford and Hay-on-Wye. The partnership project boundary will mirror the original NIA boundary.
The project aims to protect, maintain, enhance and restore biodiversity and geodiversity of the Wye Valley, by creating a high quality ecologically functioning landscape that will help wildlife, land managers and our communities to adapt to climate change while balancing the needs of sustainable food production with the needs of the natural and built environment.
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Bewdley’s Stone Heritage – an exhibition at Bewdley Museum
A joint venture between the Earth Heritage Trust and Bewdley Museum featured the fascinating story of the building stones of Bewdley. The exhibition ran from 30th June to 12th August.
Geology has had a significant impact on civilisation. Rock provided the caves to shelter early man, the stone for masons to build our great cathedrals and the building material for a vast range of structures.
In and around Bewdley the use of local sandstone is ubiquitous. Sometimes red, sometimes grey, brown or even green, these rocks have been quarried nearby and at places along the River Severn. The river played a pivotal role in the development of quarries and transport of stone. The sandstones have been complemented by the import of limestones and other rock types.
The Guildhall entrance, St Anne’s church, the old gaol, the river bridge, the quayside, the railway viaduct, Wribbenhall and Ribbesford churches as well as the cottages, memorials, pavements and walls of the town – all provide a wonderful outdoor museum to explore.
During the exhibition Derek Martin of DJM Stonemasonry Ltd was present at the Museum to discuss his work and gave a demonstration of his skills. Also Dr Peter Oliver conducted a two hour guided walk looking at some of the stones featured in the exhibition and John Stocks ran a photographic workshop to discuss techniques involved in photographing geological features.
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