Warwickshire Geological Conservation Group (WGCG)

Geohazards - A Recipe for Disaster (Zoom & KMC)
2022-04-20 19:30 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | Kenilworth Methodist Church, 60 Priory Rd,, Kenilworth, CV8 1LQ
Talk by Sekbal Hussain – BGS. Hybrid meeting held at KMC & via Zoom

Field Outing Dudley Archives & Wrens Nest
2022-05-07 10:00 - 16:00
Contact: julieharrald@googlemail.com

Llandrindod Wells, Builth inlier, Weekend Field Trip led by Dr Joe Botting & Dr lucy Wells
2022-05-13 08:00 - 2022-05-15 16:00
WGCG residential field trip to Llandrindod Wells led by Joe and Lucy, who are are independent researchers working on ‘Burgess-Shale-type’ discoveries in Mid-Wales.

Programme:

Friday eve. Introductory talk on the ‘Builth Inlier’ – palaeontological and geological importance

Saturday a.m. Visit to the Radnorshire Museum (in Llandrindod Wells) to see their substantial displays (much from Joe and Lucy’s own collections)

Saturday p.m. Visit to the nearby Llanfawr Quarries – a Konservat-Lagerstatte with historically important igneous intrusions [which I have heard referred to as “bun-laccoliths”]

Sunday a.m. / Geological tour around Llandrindod Wells – mineral springs, Silurian sediments,

early p.m. erratics, Ordovician volcanics and general scenery

For more information please contact warwickshiregcg@gmail.com

Field Outing: Cannock Chase - leader is Ian Stimpson - Keele University
2022-06-26 10:00 - 16:00

Field Outing to Cleeve Hill. Leader - Nick Chidlaw
2022-07-16 10:00 - 16:00

Mendips Field Trip - Weekend Field Trip
2022-07-29 08:00 - 2022-07-31 17:00
The trip will be Led by Dr Martin Whiteley. The cost will include field notes, lunch and 2 days of mini bus travel around the study area. For more details email warwickshiregcg@gmail.com

To register contact: julieharrald@googlemail.com

Warwickshire Arden Sandstone Field Trip
2022-08-07 10:00
Leader: Stuart Burley

Stuart will take participants to 3 of 4 exposures of the Arden Sandstone to look at the sedimentary depositional setting of this locally important building stone – details to be announced. (An ice cream in Henley in Arden is very probable).

Contact: julieharrald@googlemail.com

Talk: Mike Benton. :‘Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World’
2022-09-20 19:30 - 21:00 | St Francis, 110 Warwick Rd, Kenilworth CV8 1HL, 110 Warwick Road, Kenilworth, CV8 1HL, United Kingdom
Mike Benton. :‘Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World’

This lecture will be held at St Francis of Assisi in Kenilworth. We will also attempt to share this on Zoom for those unable to make it in person. We will be trying out new technology and may incur technical hitches, therefore we recommend attending in person if at all possible.

Poster

Zoom Registration

WGCG is delighted to host this evening lecture by Mike Benton, bringing some of his latest research on dinosaur appearance and evolution. Dinosaurs are not what you thought they were, or at least, they didn’t looklike you think they did. Rapid advances in technology and astounding new fossil finds have changed the way we visualise dinosaurs forever. This talk builds on Prof Benton’s latest book ‘New visions of a lost World’, which isillustrated by acclaimed palaeoartist Bob Nicholls, to display the latest and most exciting dinosaur discoveries in vibrant colour. Bob Nicolls also produced the Mid-Triassic and Jurassic reconstructions for Warwick Museum, supported by WGCG.

Mike Benton is an award-winning professor of vertebrate palaeontology in the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol. His extensive published work has concentrated on the evolution of Triassic reptiles, but hehas also worked on extinction events and faunal changes in the fossil record. Mike has written many books on dinosaurs, including some for children and a non-specialist audience. A rhynchosaur (Bentonyx) is named in his honour! He was appointed OBE in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to palaeontology and community engagement.

Lickey Hills Geo Walk
2022-10-09 10:30 - 12:30 | Lickey Hills Visitor Centre, Warren Lane, Lickey, Worcestershire, B45 8ER
A free guided walk for all the familyThe history of the Earth is written in the rocks beneath your feet.Your guide will take you back almost 500 million years to an ancient shoreline, when Britain lay in the southern hemisphere. You will explore the evidence for the convulsions the rocks suffered as Britain collided with North America, and see pebbles washed by rivers from France and deposited in a desert only 250 million years ago.Meet at the Lickey Hills Country Park Visitor Centre in time for a 10.30 start. No booking necessary. The walk is about 1.5 miles and may be rough and muddy in places.

AGM
2022-10-17 19:30 - 20:30 | St Francis, 110 Warwick Rd, Kenilworth, CV8 1HL
WGCG AGM – Members only event. Details to follow

Talk: The NW Highlands controversy: Geology, geologists and social climbing in Victorian times. Talk by Dr Peter Gutteridge
2022-11-17 19:30 - 21:00 | St Francis, 110 Warwick Rd, Kenilworth, CV8 1HL
The NW Highlands of Scotland probably has the best scenery and geology in the world. You can find the oldest rocks in the British Isles, the first evidence of life, ancient landscapes carved out by preCambrian rivers and beautifully exposed Lower Palaeozoic clastic and carbonate sediments.

These all form part of a major fold and thrust belt on which the metamorphosed Moine schists were emplaced.

However, geologist Roderick Impy Murchison saw this as a conformable succession. It is worth asking the question, why did Victorian geologists so completely miss evidence that is so obvious to geologists today?

The answers lie in the state of geological science at the time, geopolitics and social climbing. Resolution of the Moine thrust controversy was a turning point in the history of geology gave us the foundations of the science of geology as we now know it.

View the promotional video for this talk

Biography: As a carbonate sedimentologist Dr Gutteridge has worked on carbonate systems from all parts of the geological column throughout the world. He did his first degree at Leeds, which had a strong structural emphasis at that time. This included numerous lectures and field trips to NW Scotland, particularly to the Moine thrust. Dr Gutteridge has been back there many times since and this lecture offers a new perspective on an old controversy.

The talk will be given live at St Francis of Assisi in Kenilwoth. Members and guests are encouraged to attend in person if possible. Registration is not required and there is plenty of free car parking available at the venue.

We will attempt to transmit this talk live over Zoom to those who are unable to attend the venue. Zoom participants must register in advance using the following link;

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkc-ygrTosHN1ORd5Zkt_eWbPyrTqnUoEm

WGCG Christmas Social
2022-12-08 19:00 - 21:00 | St Francis of Assisi R C Church

LLP: New fossil finds in the Middle Jurassic of the Cotswolds: Tim Ewen
2023-01-11 19:00 - 21:00
LLP Talk: the presentations will be live, in theatre at the Leicester University campus, from whence they will be broadcast on-line via Zoom. More details to follow

‘Astronomical Cycles & Climate’ by Jim Riding
2023-01-19 19:30 - 21:00 | St Francis, 110 Warwick Road, Kenilworth, CV8 1HL
This talk will be held at St Francis of Assisi church hall in Kenilworth. We will also attempt to broadcast this talk live on Zoom. To participate via Zoom copy the following path to your web browser;https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81390717688?pwd=[REDACTED]

Alternatively log into Zoom using the following ;

Meeting ID: 813 9071 7688Passcode: [REDACTED]

Summary: In this talk Jim will describe how the Serbian scientist Milutin Milanković discovered the three astronomical cycles affecting our planet, their periodicities and how they can influence the deposition of sedimentary rocks. If we can recognise Milanković cycles, we can use them to work out the durations of major sedimentary successions and thereby refine the geological timescale. Four case histories are given, one Carboniferous, two Jurassic and one Pliocene. Next, I will explain how the use of stable isotope analysis can help us interpret past palaeoclimates and Milanković cycles.

Jim Riding is a palynologist (fossilised pollen!) working at the British Geological Survey in Nottingham. He is formally retired but is still working as a ‘Honorary Research Associate’.

LLP: Dr Phil Bird (University of Leicester) The Circular Economy and Material Supply
2023-02-08 19:00 - 21:00
the presentations will be live, in theatre at the Leicester University campus, from whence they will be broadcast on-line via Zoom. Details to follow

Zoe Jackson on ‘Birmingham Erratics Project’
2023-02-16 19:30 - 21:00 | Kenilworth Senior Citizens Club, Abbey End, Kenilworth, CV8 1QJ
Zoe Jackson

Talk summary:

In this talk, Zoë will discuss the Birmingham’s Erratic Boulders Project – a NLHF funded project which aims to document, promote and preserve the predominantly Arenig glacial erratics of SW Birmingham. The geology of the boulders will be described, including the most recent work carried out: XRF analysis and cosmogenic exposure dating. The fascinating social history of some of the boulders will be discussed, along with the pivotal characters involved in their discovery in the late 19th century, and the intriguing evolution of our understanding of the role of glaciers in the transport of the erratics. Public engagement, project outputs and work to preserve the boulders in the future will also be summarised.

Biography:

Zoë is a former mine and exploration geologist who spent her early career working on gold and nickel projects in Western Australia. Since returning to the UK, Zoë has been involved in geoconservation. She particularly enjoys public engagement.

This talk will be held at Kenilworth Senior Citizens Club, Abbey End, Kenilworth CV8 1QJ. We will also attempt to broadcast this talk live on Zoom. To participate via Zoom copy the following path into your browser; https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88392257927?pwd=[REDACTED]

Alternatively, log into Zoom using the following Meeting ID: 883 9225 7927 and Passcode: [REDACTED]

The Geology of Warwickshire Workshop
2023-02-25 10:00 - 16:00 | Kenilworth Senior Citizens Club
This year, in response to requests from members, we are devoting our study day to an introduction to the geology of our county. With some of the oldest rocks in the country as well as others that were deposited just a few thousands of years ago, this will be a ‘broad-brush’ introduction. It will be especially appropriate for those who have little familiarity thus far with what lays under our feet, but, hopefully, will offer something to those who have been looking at Warwickshire’s rocks for many years.

Programme

The Precambrian and the Lower Palaeozoics – Dr Mike Howe, British Geological Survey

The Upper Palaeozoics, especially the Carboniferous – Mike Allen

The Permo-Trias – Dr Stuart Burley

The Jurassic – John Crossling

The Quaternary – Ian Fenwick

The Extractive Industries of Warwickshire – Brian Ellis

Each presentation will involve some ‘chalk and talk’, but will be accompanied by visuals and specimens. Each session will allow for examination of specimens and for discussion/questions. Numbers may have to be limited so early registration is recommended. Download registration form

There will be a nominal £10 charge to attend this event.

Peter Worsley on ‘The Voyage of the Beagle’
2023-03-16 19:30 - 21:00 | St Francis, 110 Warwick Rd, Kenilworth, CV8 1HL
In his time, Charles Darwin became one of the world’s leading geologists. The background to his geological training prior to embarkation on the Beagle will be outlined. Some of the geological highlights which occurred during the long voyage will be visited and discussed along with an assessment of his geological publications.

As an Emeritus Professor, Peter Worsley is affiliated to the School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Reading. Peter does research in Quaternary geology and the History of geology’. His specialisms are glacier and permafrost process ancient and modern. In addition he has developed an interest in the geological work of Charles Darwin. His book ‘The Darwin Farms: the Lincolnshire estates of Charles and Erasmus Darwin and their family’ was published in 2018

This talk will be held at St Francis of Assisi church hall in Kenilworth. We also plan to broadcast the talk live via Zoom. We encourage members and guests to attend the venue in person as there are some risk technical risks regarding broadcasting the talk on Zoom. This talk will not be recorded for viewing at a later date.

To Join the meeting via Zoom please copy and paste the following path to your browser.https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81727846342?pwd=[REDACTED]

Alternatively, log into Zoom using the following Meeting ID: 817 2784 6342 and Passcode: [REDACTED]

Download talk Poster

The geology of the Chilterns and the potential impact of HS2 - by Haydon Bailey
2023-04-20 19:30 - 21:00 | St Francis, 110 Warwick Road, Kenilworth, CV8 1HL
The Chiltern Hills are underlain by Chalk, predominantly what was traditionally called the Middle Chalk (now the lower part of the White Chalk Group) capped by the Top Rock – Chalk Rock complex. It is this series of chalk hardgrounds which effectively forms the spine of the Chiltern Escarpment. The Chalk dips gently into the London Basin, and the overlying basal Tertiary succession provides minor outliers around this northern rim of the basin. The other major geological event we have to recognise in this area is the re-routing of the Proto-Thames River during and following the Anglian glaciation, some 450,000 years ago. This created the landscape we currently see in much of the southern parts of the Chilterns. The route of the HS2 fast rail link passes straight across the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the geology underlying this region is being impacted during tunnelling; some concerns will be raised regarding the tunnelling under the Chilterns, the geology it will encounter and its impact on Chalk aquifer and the surrounding AONB.

Cross section of the Chilterns by Geoff Larminie

Haydon Bailey graduated in Geology a long time ago from the University of Sheffield; he has a PhD in Chalk micropalaeontology (from Plymouth), is a Chartered Geologist and has worked as a consultant stratigrapher in the oil and gas industry for over forty years. He still specialises in Upper Cretaceous Chalk stratigraphy, although his career has led to projects throughout much of the geological time scale around Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He recently retired for the position of co-Director of Network Stratigraphic Consulting Ltd., a company he co-founded some 25 years ago. He’s a past Chairman and Industrial Liaison Officer of The Micropalaeontological Society and a past President of the Geologists’ Association. He still serves on the GA Council as Chair of the Curry Fund and Chair of the Awards committee. Between 2012 and 2020 he was Honorary Lecturer on the M.Sc. in Applied & Petroleum Micropalaeontology at the University of Birmingham. He also holds the position of Geological & Environmental Adviser to the Chiltern Society (since 2008), where his initial brief was to prepare a report on the underlying geology of the Misbourne valley; subsequently this valley became the preferred route for HS2. This project still takes up too much of his time. More recently he has become increasingly involved in the preservation of Chalk Streams. He’s married to a talented musician, has two children, one a Speech and Language therapist, the other flies people on stage and film sets and he has three brilliant grandchildren.

Haydon Bailey

This talk will be held at St Francis of Assisi church hall in Kenilworth. We will also attempt to broadcast this talk live on Zoom. To Join the Zoom Meeting copy this path into your web browser.https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86471101420?pwd=[REDACTED]

Alternatively, log into Zoom using the following Meeting ID: 864 7110 1420 and Passcode: [REDACTED]

WGCG Public Engagement Stall
2023-05-27 10:00 - 16:00 | Talisman square Kenilworth, Talisman Square, Kenilworth
As part of Kenilworth Nature Week an Geo-Week activities, WGCG will have a stall in Talisman Square, Kenilworth. The aim is to engage with the general public on the importance of geology in their daily lives. We will have a selected number of specimens available to help engage with the public and lots of brochures to hand out. Come along and say hi.

Deep time travel through Kenilworth
2023-05-29 12:30 - 14:00 | The car park – Abbey Fields, Bridge Street, Kenilworth, CV8 1BN
Ray Pratt will lead participants around the urban geology trail compiled by Ian Fenwick.

Participants to meet at 12:15 at Abbey Fields car park for a 12:30 start. (Ray will be wearing a yellow fluorecent vest). This event has been organised on behalf of Kenilworth Council and their Nature Week initiative

Pre registration is requested https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deep-time-travel-through-kenilworth-tickets-627449437157

An urban geology walk around Warwick
2023-06-02 10:30 - 12:30
Jon Radley will lead a walk around Warwick starting and finishing at the entrance to the Market Hall Museum. The tour will focus on Warwick’s building stones with emphasis on the locally sourced examples and what they can tell us about ancient Warwickshire.

The length of the walk will be approximately 1-2 miles. Participants are encouraged to have a look around the museum afterwards to see examples of some of the rocks and fossils that will be discussing on the walk.

The walk will be limited to 10 participants. (Please note that this walk will be repeated Friday 13th October 2023). To register for this walk please contact Julie Harrald WGCG@JEGH.me.uk

Market Place Warwick

The walk is part of GeoWeek (27th May to 4th June) and that people can look up other activities across the UK at the GeoWeek website

Evening Excursion to Roundberry Quarry, Tamworth. Grid reference: SK 2765 0382 Post Code B79 0JW
2023-06-15 19:00 - 20:30 | B79 0JW, B79 0JW
Download Details

Risk Assessment

Weekend Field Trip: Flamborough Coast (Yorkshire), led by Paul Hildreth
2023-07-07 17:00
Selwicks Bay

This weekend Field trip will commence on Friday evening with a presentation of the geology of the area followed by dinner. Saturday and Sunday will be spent in the field, ending around 16:00 hrs Sunday 9/7/23.

The Flamborough headland coast is celebrated for its Chalk scenery, geomorphology and tectonics. There are also some superficial glacial deposits. Locations expected / likely to be included in the finalised itinerary are Selwick’s Bay, North Landing, Dane’s Dyke to Sewerby, Bempton Cliffs and Thornwick Bay.

A detailed set of field notes will be made (electronically) available well before departure. Please advise if you require a printed version to be made available (possibly at small extra cost).

Rooms have been secured for those that wish to take them at the Sefton Hotel, 26-28 Flamborough Road, Bridlington, YO15 2HX (Tel. 01262 674693). They have offered a flat rate of £45 pppn for B&B in a variety of double / twin rooms. The hotel offers private parking. The hotel prefers that rooms and any meals taken are paid for on an individual basis. No room deposit is required from participants – you simply need to state on your registration form what room you want – WGCG will allocate the room for you and inform the hotel, then you will pay the hotel directly when you arrive.

Guy's Cliffe SSSI field excursion
2023-07-20 08:30 - 21:00 | Guys Cliffe Centre, Coventry Rd, Warwick CV34 5YD, Coventry Rd, Warwick, CV34 5YD, United Kingdom
We will explore the spectacular Guy’s Cliffe exposures of the Warwick Sandstone on the banks of the river Avon, recently conserved by the Friends of Guys Cliffe volunteers. The Helsby Sandstone, (formally the Warwick, or Bromsgrove Sandstone), exhibits outstanding examples of cross-bedding giving participants the opportunity to unravel the type and size of the rivers from which these were deposited and search for rhynchosaur fossil remains previously known from here.

Pre trip registration is essential. Please contact Julie Harrald for more details julieharrald@googlemail.com

Field Trip: Hill Farm, Maxstoke & Corley Rocks
2023-08-19 14:00 - 17:00
Field Trip leader will be Mike Allen or Stuart Burley. In addition to the main sites, there is some Quaternary interest and the topographic expression of the Western Boundary Fault of the Coventry Horst is visible. More information will be posted as it becomes available. Please contact Julie Harrald to register interest julieharrald@googlemail.com

Weekend Field Trip: Suffolk Coast led by Tim Holt-Wilson
2023-09-15 17:00
Friday 15th September to Sunday 17th September.

Tertiary amd Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology:

Details to follow

Evening Lecture: Stromatolites: Making Mountains out of Microbes - Prof Ian Fairchild
2023-09-21 19:30 - 21:00 | St Francis, 110 Warwick Road, Kenilworth, CV8 1HL
For most of Earth history the only macroscopic evidence of life are the intricately layered rocks called stromatolites. Like trace fossils they record an interaction between organisms and sedimentary processes. The key players are the cyanobacteria, formerly known as blue-green algae, which played a vital role in oxygenating the Earth through their photosynthesis. Build-up of sediments and precipitates over time under the sticky surface mats created by communities of such organisms mats can make limestone and dolomite masses up to hundreds of metres thick. Stromatolites reveal many fascinating stories of past environments and examples from several continents will be discussed.

The lecture will be given at St Francis church hall and will be broadcast live via Zoom to an online audiance. We encourage those able to be present in person to join us at the church hall. To participate by Zoom click on the Zoom link above.

Field Trip: Moorwood (Nuneaton) CANCELLED
2023-09-23 00:00 - 23:59
This trip has been cancelled as geo-conservation work is required on the exposures prior to a field visit. We will rechedule this visit for 2024.

Field Trip: Cleeve Hill, Gloucestershire. Led by Dr Nick Chidlaw
2023-10-08 09:30 - 17:00
The location has the most complete stratigraphic succession of the Middle Jurassic InferiorOolite Group in the Cotswolds. A lot of sections were re-exposed by Gloucestershire GeologyTrust some years ago. Post-glacial landforms will be described.The scenery from this location is fabulous with great views over the Severn Valley to theMalverns and beyond on a clear day. Some details will be given of this view, explaining thelandforms and underlying geology. This trip will entail about 4 miles of walking.

To register contact Julie Harrald WarwickshireGCG@gmail.com
