Bedfordshire

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Bedfordshire Luton Geology Group
The History of BLGG
by Bev Fowlston BSc FGS
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In the Beginning.

• Dec 2004 Bedfordshire Luton RIGS Panel
• set up by Bedfordshire Luton Biodiversity Forum
  with the aid of funding from English Nature.
• The original members included
• Richard Woolnough (Greensand Trust)
• Richard Lawrence (Ivel Ouse Countryside
  Project)
• Chris Andrew (Bedford Museum and BNHS Recorder)
• Dr Jill Eyers

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2004 - 2005
Dec 2004 Original aim was to establish a RIGS
system similar to County Wildlife Sites Jan
2005 Phase I designated 11 sites Jun
2005 Emphasis was switched to education and
awareness raising
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Bedfordshires RIGS
Regionally Important Geodiversity Sites
These are places that reveal our geological past
and are considered important enough to deserve
conservation. They include sites where rocks can
be seen (such as quarries and road cuttings) or
where the geology or geological processes can be
inferred from the shape of the landscape.
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2005 - 2006
Sep 2005 Malcolm Oliver took over as Chairman
from Richard Lawrence and the RIGS Panel
became Bedfordshire Luton Geology
Group Vision for the role of the BLGG was
outlined as To build a picture of
Bedfordshires geology and identify a variety of
sites that represent the countys geology and to
promote and conserve these sites as appropriate
and to raise public awareness of local geology.
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Mar 2006 23 paid up members Lottery Heritage
Initiative bid for 22,357 submitted Jun
2006 11,178 received from LHI Local
Geodiversity Action Plan started Leaflets and
booklet printed with funding from partners
including LHI, ALSF, Greensand Trust and WBB
Minerals Phase II designation of sites
increases to 17 40 paid up members Aug
2006 Become a member of UKRIGS
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BLGG aims to

• Protect local geological and geomorphological
  sites
• Encourage public enjoyment of rocks, fossils and
  landscape
• Encourage the use of RIGS by the public, by
  schools and local groups
• Keep a listing of RIGS in Bedfordshire
• Provide information for potential users of sites
• Encourage landowners to participate in the scheme
• Involve landowners and users of RIGS in good
  practice and management

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2006 - 2007
Sept 2006 First BLGG AGM was held Oct 2006 46
paid up members Became a member of The Geology
Trusts Jan 2007 LGAP and RIGS Audit
completed First increase in membership fees
from 5 to 7.50 per annum Jul 2007 New RIGS
Manager appointed Phase III designations sees
23 sites in total
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2007 - 2008
Sep 2007 2nd AGM held Malcolm Oliver stepped
down as Chairman no new chairman
appointed Oct 2007 Martin Sims took over
maintenance of the website with excellent
results Jan 2008 52 paid up members highest to
date
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Oct 07 Mar 08
LHI funding had to be used by Mar 08

• 7 leaflets produced
• 4 interpretation boards erected
• Educational field trips and workshops organised
  and run successfully
• 2 geoconservation projects started

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Geoconservation Projects

• The sites we worked on are
• Potton Scout Hut Quarry
• Kensworth Nature Reserve

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Where we are now

• The funding from LHI has ended only income is
  from membership
• 44 paid up members
• We still have work to do at Kensworth
• Partnership work with The Greensand Trust, The
  Wildlife Trust and Geo-East in the pipeline