Four local organisations have worked together over the last 18 months to win an award of £112,800 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a project called “Birmingham’s Erratic Boulders: Heritage of the Ice Age”, it was announced today. The project will run from July 2021 to January 2023 and the award is to a partnership of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust, the Black Country Geological Society, Birmingham Open Spaces Forum and the Lapworth Museum of Geology. Thanks to National Lottery players, the project aims to restore the large boulders, which were brought from the mountains of North Wales in the Ice Age, to their rightful place as a prominent feature of Birmingham’s natural heritage and a source of local pride.
The organisations running the project are responsible for maintaining knowledge of landscape features and geology in our region and promoting the use of public open spaces. Seven walking and cycling trails covering several parts of SW Birmingham and the Bromsgrove District of Worcestershire will be publicized. There will be added value from moving some boulders short distances in Woodgate Valley Country Park so that the public can see them. The organisers are also excited about finding creative ways of engaging people with a mobility or visual impairment in the project.
At the beginning of the 20th century, hundreds of boulders moved by ice (erratics) were known in the area, mostly volcanic rocks from north Wales, but also including hard rock from Rowley Regis. Now we know of only four dozen survivors including clusters in Kings Norton, Bournville, Frankley, Romsley, Bromsgrove and Cotteridge and Selly Oak Parks, and a lone boulder in Cannon Hill Park. One of the project aims is to engage the public in finding some of the boulders that have been lost and discovering some geology in the process, for example by coming to see displays and a concluding exhibition at the Lapworth Museum of Geology at the University of Birmingham. The Lapworth will also be hosting many school groups, including those with boulders within walking distance.
The Earth Heritage Trust will coordinate the different parts of the project and will engage one or two part-time staff to lead the project as a whole and the work with volunteers. We will build on the enthusiasm of volunteers, many of whom belong to local groups affiliated to the Birmingham Open Spaces Forum. They will keep an eye on the boulders and lead groups of all ages on the new trails. Both the Earth Heritage Trust and the Black Country Geological Society will use their networks to bring geologists in contact with the public to spread the word about the heritage. They will also decide on the best sites to be protected via the local authorities in the planning process.
A special local group will be set up in Frankley to design a geological time line along the centre of the district running from 450 million years, when the volcanic rocks formed in what is now Wales, to 450 thousand years, when the ice moved them to Birmingham. Use will be made of 3-D printing and other resources from the Lapworth Museum of Geology, for example to make replicas of fossils that represent different geological time periods.
Commenting on the award, Earth Heritage Trust chair Ian Fairchild said: “100 years ago, the Birmingham public were excited to learn about these relics of the Ice Age, but the boulders have been disappearing. We’re delighted that, thanks to National Lottery players, our partnership of local organisations has received this support to bring the boulders the prominence they deserve. They are the only visible relics of what happened deep in Birmingham’s history!
About Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust
The Trust was set up 25 years ago to promote conservation of geology and landscape in the region. It has designated many Regionally Important Geological Sites (now Local Geological Sites) and is active in site conservation through working parties and site champions. In the last decade, mainly through a series of National Lottery Heritage-funded grants, sector-leading projects have been completed on site conservation strategies, building stones, of app development and integrating geology with biological conservation practice (in partnership with wildlife organisations). The Trust provides professional geological expertise and advice and has a programme of geoeducation and public engagement. www.earthheritagetrust.org
About the Black Country Geological Society
The Black Country Geological Society was formed in 1975, is based in Dudley, and has always had strong connections with neighbouring Birmingham. Members come from a wide variety of backgrounds including professional geologists, interested amateurs, teachers, and students. The Society provides a programme of talks with invited speakers, field visits to local and more distant sites, and has an active geoconservation programme to maintain local geological sites. In future much of this work will be run in liaison with the recently established Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark. www.bcgs.info
About the Birmingham Open Spaces Forum
Birmingham Open Spaces Forum CIO (BOSF) is a membership organisation set up in 2005 that brings together people in Birmingham with an interest in parks and green open spaces. We support groups who want to ensure that green spaces are accessible to people who live and work across the city. We create opportunities for groups and individuals interested in open spaces to share skills, knowledge and experience by arranging networking and knowledge exchange events. We help new groups to set up, create a community voice and produce regular updates about funding, training, events and other information of interest to our members. https://bosf.org.uk/
About the Lapworth Museum of Geology
Enabling visitors to explore life over the past 3.5 billion years, the Lapworth Museum of Geology showcases exceptional objects from one of the UK’s most outstanding geological collections. From rocks and fossils to minerals, earthquakes, and dinosaurs, the Museum captures the imagination of all ages and backgrounds with its state of the art, free-entry galleries and range of innovative and interactive exhibits. Its mission is “To preserve, develop and share collections and knowledge of Earth Sciences in order to stimulate learning, research and enjoyment for the widest possible audience.” More information about the museum including how to visit and our programme of events can be found at www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/lapworth-museum or on our social media pages @LapworthMuseum.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund
For further information please see our dedicated project website page: https://earthheritagetrust.org/birminghams-erratic-boulders-heritage-of-the-ice-age/
