Lothian & Borders RIGS Reports

LOTHIAN AND BORDERS RIGS GROUP 2005 Report for Edinburgh Geological Society AGM

This is a committee of the Edinburgh Geological Society, operating within the latter’s constitution. The main object of the Group is the identification, designation and interpretation of sites as RIGS, Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites. The Group raises awareness of local RIGS and Earth heritage through publicity such as leaflets, booklets, posters, interpretation boards and the Internet, and by developing access and educational usage of sites and trails. No new RIGS were designated during the year, though several others have been proposed, and require processing.

At its October meeting the Group Committee appointed the following Officers: Chairman: Mike Browne, Secretary: David McAdam, Treasurer: Angus Macpherson (all continuing). As well as Edinburgh Geological Society members, the Committee includes representatives from Local Government, and other government and private organisations. The Committee met four times during the year.

The Volunteer Group continued to involve a wider membership within the Edinburgh Geological Society in the many and varied aspects of the RIGS work. Informal evening meetings were held in Murchison House monthly during the Winter 2004-2005. The meetings were mainly concerned with the leaflet production and attendance at Fairs. Evening meetings are planned during Winter 2005-2006.

The Group continues with a programme of poster and leaflet publication. Grants have been obtained from Scottish Natural Heritage. Two RIGS leaflet were completed: Belhaven Bay (jointly with Girlguiding East Lothian), and Craigleith. The Craigleith leaflet was successfully launched on site on 21st September. Work is in progress for leaflets on Traprain Law, James Hutton and Stones of Scotland.. These and earlier leaflets are available to Society Members.

The Group has held displays at Fairs: National Trust for Scotland at Newhailes, Vogrie Country Park and West Lothian Environment Fair at Almondell, and had a stand at the British Geological Survey Open Day in Murchison House. The Group was involved in a fourth Geology Action day with Girlguiding East Lothian at Traprain Law with plans for a fourth leaflet.

The Group continues to manage The Petershill Reservoir Quarry RIGS and Wildlife Reserve for the Scotland Wildlife Trust. The Group has also been involved in clean-ups at Craigleith Quarry and a site visits to Traprain Law and Upper Uphall.

The Group’s entry of the Witchcraig Geological Wall was runners-up in the ENI Geological Challenge Award 2004. The Group has been collaborating with West Lothian Council on a leaflet about where to see geology in the Bathgate Hills area. The Group continues to participate in Local Biodiversity Action Plans for several local councils.

The 8th UKRIGS Annual Conference was held in the University of Derby on 16-18 September. Mike Browne and Cliff Porteous attended from the Group. Mike Browne, nominated by the Group, has been elected Chairman, UKRIGS.

David McAdam, Secretary, 27 October 2005

LOTHIAN AND BORDERS RIGS GROUP - UPDATE OCTOBER 2004

During the past year, the Group has had stalls at fairs at Newhailes, at Vogrie Country Park, and in the West Lothian Environment Fair, and a display at the BGS Open Day on 25th September. The Group has also been involved in site visits and clean-ups to Craigleith Quarry, Ravelston Woods and Petershill Quarry. Members have been involved in a third "Geology Action Day" with East Lothian Guides at Belhaven, Dunbar.

The Group has published two coloured leaflets: North Berwick and Witchcraig Wall, as well as a reprint of Corstorphine Hill; and one b&w leaflet for East Kirkton, as well as a reprint of Petershill. These and earlier leaflets are available to Society Members. A nomination for the Witchcraig Wall has been made to the ENI Geological Challenge Award 2004.

Future plans include leaflets for Craigleith and Belhaven. A start has been made on collaboration with West Lothian Council on a leaflet about where to see geology in the Bathgate Hills area.

It is hoped to arrange a programme of informal meetings of the Volunteer Group to plan future activities and publications for Wednesdays at 7.30 pm in Murchison House starting in October. The full programme will be published in the next billet.

All interested in any of these activities are welcome to attend; further information from David McAdam tel 01620 895255, e-mail mcadam.39@virgin.net. The Group has an Emailing list.

LOTHIAN AND BORDERS RIGS GROUP - UPDATE OCTOBER 2003

During the past year, the Group has presented displays at fairs at Hopetoun House and Vogrie Country Park, and in West Lothian Environment Fair, has been involved in a "Geology Action Day" with East Lothian Guides at North Berwick, and is putting up a display at the BGS Open Day on 27th September. Geological walks were run for the Edinburgh International Science Festival in April and the Scottish Geology Festival 2003 in September.

The Group has published coloured leaflets for Barns Ness, RIGS in Scotland, and Calton Hill, and b&w leaflets for Binny Craig. These have been distributed to Society Members with the September Billet. Future plans include leaflets for Craigleith, North Berwick and East Kirkton. The Group has been instrumental in preparing a Geological Wall at the Witchcraig Viewpoint in West Lothian, opened by the Chairman of SNH.

For this year, a programme of informal meetings of the Volunteer Group to plan future activities and publications has been arranged for Wednesdays at 7.30 pm in Murchison House on the following dates: 24th September, 5th November, 3rd December, 21st January, 18th February, 17th March, 23rd April and 21st May. If you are interested in promoting geology in the Lothians do come along to any of the meetings and see what you might contribute. The Group is looking for a new Treasurer, following the retirement of Cliff Porteous after four years. The work is mainly involved in obtaining grants towards publications.

The UKRIGS Annual Conference is to be held at Oatridge College, West Lothian, from 2-4 October. It is hoped this will promote RIGS in Scotland, and involve local geologists. Members of the Society are invited to participate. For further details contact David McAdam, tel 01620 895255, e-mail mcadam.39@virgin.net

Report for Edinburgh Geological Society AGM, 2001

The Lothian and Borders RIGS Group is a committee of the Edinburgh Geological Society. The main objects of the Group is the identification, designation and interpretation of sites as RIGS, Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites. The Group raises awareness of local RIGS and Earth heritage through publicity such as leaflets, booklets, posters, interpretation boards and the Internet, and by developing access and educational usage of sites and trails.

At its October meeting the Group Committee appointed of the following Officers:
Chairman: Mike Browne (continuing)
Secretary: David McAdam (continuing)
Treasurer: Cliff Porteous (continuing)

As well as Edinburgh Geological Society members, the Committee also includes representatives from Local Government, academia, and other government and private organisations. The Committee met four times during the year.

Several RIGS were looked at for possible designation and notification to local councils for listing. However no new RIGS were designated during the year. Instead, efforts have been concentrated on interpretive publications.

The Volunteer Group continued to involve a wider membership within the Edinburgh Geological Society in the many and varied aspects of the RIGS work. Nine informal evening meetings were held in Murchison House monthly during Winter 2000-2001. The meetings were mainly concerned with the Phase 1 Project. There was a lecture from Colin Macfadyen of SNH on The GCR and SSSI conservation and management.

Nine informal evening meetings are planned monthly during Winter 2001-2002, as advertised in Billet No.1.

PUBLICATIONS:

Phase 2 involves new RIGS posters for East Lothian, Almondell/Calder Wood and the Union Canal, and RIGS leaflets for Joppa shore, Roslin Glen, and Lothian & Borders RIGS Group. Part funding has been obtained from SNH.

A new leaflet for the Petershill Reservoir Quarry RIGS was published. It was produced from an earlier design by Tom Wilson of the Volunteer Group, and printed by West Lothian Council at their expense.

Copies the Corstorphine Hill and Petershill leaflets of were have been distributed widely. Copies of both leaflets have been distributed to Society members with the Billets, and also to all other 56 RIGS Groups. The Corstorphine Hill and Petershill leaflets were favourably reviewed in Down to Earth. The Corstorphine Hill leaflet was entered for The LASMO Geological Challenge Awards and received an honourable mention.

The Corstorphine Hill leaflet has been produced in PDF form and put on the Edinburgh Geological Society web page. This file can be downloaded as a high-quality print. This form of publication could provide a model for the future.

FINANCE:

RIGS sent two delegates to the 4th UKRIGS Annual Conference at Peterborough: Mike Browne (Chairman) and Cliff Porteous (Treasurer). Mike Browne has been nominated by the Group to continue on the national committee.

RIGS promoted excursions for general public through the Edinburgh International Science Festival in April (about 200 participants), and Scottish Geology Week in September (c100). Plans are in hand for three excursions for the Edinburgh International Science Festival in April 2002.

New members were enrolled for the Society through RIGS activities.

RIGS maintained one section in the Society web page.

The group has fostered a new Stirling RIGS Group, which includes Society members.

The group has participated in Local Biodiversity Action Plans for several local councils.

David McAdam, Secretary, 23 October 2001

Report for Edinburgh Geological Society AGM, 2000

The Lothian and Borders RIGS Group is a committee of the Edinburgh Geological Society. It operates within the Constitution of the Edinburgh Geological Society.

The main object of the Group is the identification and designation of locations as RIGS, Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites. Additional objectives include raising awareness of RIGS and Earth heritage through publicity such as leaflets, booklets, posters, interpretation boards and the Internet, and developing access and educational usage of sites and trails.

The RIGS Group Committee consists of three Officers:Chairman: Mike Browne, Secretary: David McAdam, Treasurer: Cliff Porteous. These appointments were confirmed at its October meeting. Some ten other members are representatives of the five local authorities and of statutory and other bodies, e.g. SNH and SLF. The Committee met four times during the year.

During the year five new RIGS were designated and notified to local councils for listing, to add to the seven existing RIGS.

CITY OF EDINBURGH: Sites were designated at Hermitage of Braid (Edinburgh Council), Corstorphine Hill (Edinburgh Council) and Joppa shore (Crown Estates). Other sites are under consideration at Calton Hill and Braid Hills. There is a leaflet available in pdf format about Corstorphine Hill which you can download from here soon.

WEST LOTHIAN: No new sites were designated. Binny Craig (Oatridge College) is under negotiation. Other sites are under consideration include oil-shale bings; and interpretation for the Union Canal. Niall Evans of the RIGS Group Committee has been appointed Warden of the Petershill Quarry RIGS (Scottish Wildlife Trust).

MIDLOTHIAN: Sites were designated at Bilston Glen (Edinburgh University) and Hewan Bank. Sites at Roslin Glen and The Howe (Pentland Hills) are under negotiation.

EAST LOTHIAN: No sites yet considered. No involvement by East Lothian Council.

BORDERS: Site was designated at Hutton’s Unconformity at Jedburgh.

OTHER ACTIVITIES: The Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer attended the 3rd National RIGS Conference at Penrith in September. The UK RIGS Association held its first AGM. Mike Browne has been nominated by the Group to continue on the national committee.

The setting-up of a Scottish RIGS Association is in abeyance.

The Group Committee set up a Volunteer Group to involve a wider membership within the Edinburgh Geological Society in the many and varied aspects of the RIGS work. Four informal evening meetings were held in Murchison House in Spring 2000; more are planned monthly during Winter 2000-2001. Several site visits during the Summer included made included Petershill Quarry, Corstorphine Hill and the Union Canal.

Two publications prepared were Laminated Posters of Lothian & Borders RIGS Group and Corstorphine Hill RIGS. The Group has just been awarded a Grant of £2000 by the Royal Society for Nature Conservation and UKRIGS for the project, A welcome to Lothian RIGS sites through posters and leaflets, involving new posters for Hermitage of Braid, Joppa shore, Roslin Glen, and West Lothian and new leaflets for Corstorphine Hill.

The Group participated in the Adopt a Monument initiative by adopting Agassiz’ Rock in the Hermitage of Braid RIGS.

David McAdam, Secretary, 18 October 2000

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