Working in partnership for the people of Herefordshire
River Landscape Discovery Guide
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust (EHT) works to record and protect geology and landscape and to increase public awareness working with local communities and associated community groups.Building upon the work previously undertaken with the previous LEADER+ project, which produced 5 trail guides covering small areas, the EHT created a Discovery Guide of the whole of the Frome valley, in a yearlong project. A consultant researched the Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) and a graphic design artist formatted the guide for publication.
The primary aim of this project was to give the public a better understanding of the interesting geology, beautiful landscape and effects of the ice age to be seen along the river, and to encourage them to preserve these features for the benefit of future generations.
The Discovery Guide was designed to provide jargon-free information about the whole of the valley. The Discovery Guide was produced for the general public, made available for local communities along the Frome valley and distributed to schools, libraries, museums, community centres and Tourist Information Centres. No prior knowledge of geology is necessary to use this guide. The guide also described other attractions for visitors to the area and places where visitors could stay.
Alongside the geological information, features of the guide included:
- Photographs
- Maps
- Diagrams
- Illustrated Pictures
- Other visitor attractions
- Places to stay
Talks and guided walks throughout the duration of the project, aimed at informing the making of the Discovery Guide, were widely advertised and open to all.
Aside from the health benefits that the guided walks provided during the project, further benefits included:
- Delivering information about the geology, geomorphology, landscape and glacial history of the area, which has had very little research
- Helping teachers to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum through providing sought-after information on a lesser-known topic
- Publicising new tourist / walking spots
Each of the above three areas was not being currently achieved. The Discovery Guide was a step toward informing these different aspects of Herefordshire life.
Moira Jenkins
Special Projects' Manager
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust
Geological Records' Centre
University of Worcester
Henwick Grove
Worcester
WR2 6AJ
Tel: (01905) 855184
Fax: (01905) 855132
Email: m.jenkins@worc.ac.uk
website:www.earthheritagetrust.org (Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust)
website:www.geopark.org.uk (Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark)