NE Yorkshire Geology Trust involved in two pioneering projects! Another good year in store for NE Yorkshire Geology Trust. Hot on the heels of a successful ‘Awards for All’ bid supporting our work in the community through our volunteer programme, our pioneering ‘Vales and Dales’ project has received the green light. NE Yorkshire Geology Trust have been awarded a grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Geology Trust designed an 18-month project in Rosedale to create opportunities for the often-isolated and overlooked communities of the area to explore and learn about their local Earth Heritage. Almost 200 million years of Earth Heritage underpins the natural landscape and biodiversity of the North York Moors. The geodiversity has been influential in shaping the environment and communities that we see today. It has been the driving force behind the development of local communities through the exploitation of natural resources, particularly iron ore during the Industrial Revolution and building materials. The pioneering aspect of this project is that the Geology Trust will be working directly with local communities, not imposing their views and ideas, together choosing the Earth Heritage sites, researching aspects of local and natural history and producing interpretative materials such as trail guides and interpretation boards for chosen sites. Fiona Spiers, Regional Manager for the Heritage Lottery Fund said “This is a fantastic project that will allow the community to get involved in and actively learn about the natural heritage of Rosedale. We’re committed to funding projects that every community can take pride in and learn about their local heritage. In this case, learning about Earth Heritage has never been so interesting!” The other major project your Geology Trust will be involved in, is sharing best practice, providing training and support to West Yorkshire Geology Trust, a geoconservation group in West Yorkshire. This project is pioneering inasmuch as it fosters a mentoring process, first of its kind in the UK. This project has been made possible by Natural England through DEFRA’s Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund. Mike Windle, Director of NE Yorkshire Geology Trust, comments: “ We are delighted to have been instrumental in securing £100,000 worth of funding in an ever challenging environment. It means a lot to the Trust and its volunteers to be recognised as the main geoconservation organisation in Yorkshire.” NE Yorkshire Geology Trust is a not-for-profit organisation involved in protecting our rich local geodiversity and sharing it with as wide an audience as possible. If you want to know more, join us, commission an event, buy our trail guides or make a generous donation, please call 01947 88 1000, email contact@neyorksgeologytrust.com All the money we raise goes to supporting the work of the Trust. |
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