Craven Herald News
Millennium Trust project celebrates Yorkshire Dales geology
1:40pm Sunday 19th February 2012
An innovative new project will celebrate the rich variety of the geology of the Yorkshire Dales.
The “Geo Dales” project – headed by the Clapham-based Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust – will create trails using rights of way around Settle, Greenhow Hill and Upper Nidderdale, focusing on geological and archaeological points of interest.
The project will also assist in the creation of a youth “Rockhound Club” based at the Greenhow Quarry, which will have a specific focus on geology, and support an exhibition to mark the 175th anniversary of the discovery of Victoria Cave at Langcliffe.
The exhibition will be staged at the Museum of North Craven Life at The Folly in Settle from July to October.
Victoria Cave was first excavated in 1837 with large-scale excavations in the 1870s, giving rise to the present entrance. The site has huge scientific and historic importance, revealing how life and climate has changed in the Dales over the past 600,000 years.
Urgent practical works and further research at Victoria Cave will also be supported by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Natural England, Winskill Farm visitor centre, caving club volunteers and universities.
In addition, local archaeologists will research ancient settlements around the Plantlife Reserve at Winskill and restore a historic limekiln.
This project is being funded through grants from a variety of sources, including Leader, the park authority’s sustainable-development fund, Lafarge Aggregates and Concrete UK through the Landfill Communities Fund, Hansons Greenhow Landscape and Biodiversity Enhancement Fund and Nidderdale AONB Sustainable Development Fund.
“We were delighted to hear that our funding applications for this exciting new geodiversity project had been successful,” said Dave Tayler, deputy director at the Millennium Trust. “Thanks to the vital support from these organisations, our shared passion for the rich geology and archaeology of the Yorkshire Dales will be brought to the forefront for everyone to enjoy.
“The project is also working on involving local school pupils who will discover more of their rich local environment.”