Bedfordshire

1
Bedfordshire Luton Geology Group
(BLGG) today

• BLGG exists to encourage an understanding of the
  geodiversity of the county through site
  recording, interpretation, advising and
  educationEstablished on a firm foundation
• 45 paid-up members with a wide range of
  expertise and interest
• 21 Regionally Important Geodiversity Sites
  (RIGS) designated
• Practical geoconservation is flourishing
• Programme of lectures and field trips
• Aided by Local Heritage Initiative funding
  (c.22k)

2
An enviable start

• RIGS key (black numbers)
• Barton Hills
• Bromham Bridge
• Broom Quarry
• Cainhoe Quarry
• Chamberlain's Barn Quarry
• Churchways Quarry
• Deepdale Quarry
• Dunstable and Whipsnade Downs
• Munday's Hill Quarry
• New Trees Quarry
• Ouzel Valley
• Quest Pit
• River Ivel Walk
• Segenhoe Church
• Smithcombe, Sharpenhoe Sundon Hills
• St. Mary's Church, Clophill
• St. Nicholas' Church, Barton-le-Clay
• Stockgrove Country Park

3
An enviable start
4
BLGG in the future

• Concerns to be addressed
• Providing what our membership requires
• Volunteers to run the group
• Sufficient specialist and general manpower
• Lack of funding

5
BLGG in the future

• Providing what our membership wants
• A geology club general interest talks and
  field trips?
• A group that champions geodiversity across the
  county?

6
BLGG in the future

• Volunteers to run the group
• Chairman
• General and Membership Secretary
• Treasurer
• RIGS Manager BNHS Geology Recorder
• Fundraiser/Promotions/Lecture programme organiser
• Field events organiser
• Education officer
• Biodiversity Forum representative
• Webmaster
• Area contacts e.g. Chalk sites, access to Potton

7
BLGG in the future

• Sufficient specialists to
• Deliver lectures, training sessions and field
  trips
• Assess new RIGS and the condition of existing
  RIGS
• Co-ordinate Site Management Plans (SMPs)
• Manage a county-wide Building Stones Study
• Develop a Local Geodiversity Action Plan (LGAP)

8
BLGG in the future

• Sufficient manpower to
• Support lectures, training sessions and field
  trips
• Monitor, maintain and popularise the RIGS
  network
• Contribute to special projects (as appropriate)

9
BLGG in the future

• Lack of funding
• Membership fees alone are insufficient to
  sustain our current level of activity
• Applying for external funding is a time-consuming
  and uncertain business
• External funds, if awarded, are short term and
  therefore the cycle of application/award/spend is
  ongoing and directly affects our viability

10
BLGG in the future

• Discussion
• Understanding what our membership wants
• Volunteers expressions of commitment
• Specialist expertise scale depends on project
  funding
• Funding critical to access fresh funds