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Exploring Charnwoods Landscape
Posted on 14/07/2007
Loughborough Newsdesk
Have you ever wondered what sort of rocks still out at Bradgate Park or the Outwoods?
Dont know your diorites from your Ordovician rocks?
Do you know where they have found fossils of woolly rhinoceras?
Fear not, help is at hand, - a map, book and DVD entitled Exploring the landscape of Charnwood Forest and Mountsorrel was launched yesterday (Friday 13th July 2007) at the Charnwood Museum in Loughborough. The map, book and DVD have been brought out to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of Britains oldest fossil, Charnia and nearly two centuries of research on Charnwood Forest. Contained in a weatherproof wallet, this new pack holds a 1:25000 scale geological map and an accompanying booklet explaining the events that have happened in the area during the past 600 million years of Earths history. If this sounds as if it maybe beyond you dont fear, Keith Ambrose of the British Geological Survey and one of the authors, told inLoughborough.com that the publications have been aimed so that they are accessible by people of all levels. He added: "The new map and book will be of great benefit to the local population of Charnwood Forest by offering a new insight into Charnwood Forest and the reasons why it is there today. The DVD will benefit all schools teaching A level geology and they will all receive a free copy.
The publications detail eleven linked walks within easy reach of Loughborough covering parts of Charnwood Forest which has long been regarded as one of the classic areas of British geology, home to some of the oldest rocks in England. Walks take the visitor to spectacular exposures of rock formed close to ancient Precambrian volcanoes, when the landscape of Leicestershire resembled todays island of Montserrat in the Caribbean. These walks and individual locality descriptions give a glimpse of a turbulent geological past that has included volcanoes, mountains, rainforests, deserts and glaciers.
Each walk is shown on the geological map, together with photographs of the most common rock types found in the area. The book and map offer a real understanding of why Charnwood looks the way it does today. Specially designed for the walker, this pack assumes no prior knowledge of geology but presents the information clearly, with no jargon. There is something here for everyone, from the Sunday stroller to the keen walker, as well as both amateur and professional geologists. The book and map are designed to entice you into the landscape to look, learn a little and most of all - enjoy!
The launch was attended by approximately 70 people with Mike Jones, Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, Joe Tormey, Mayor of Charnwood and John Ludden, Director of the British Geological Survey present.
Mike Jones said: "The DVD should appeal to everyone, even those who know very little about geology and rocks. It contains some really interesting thoughts and facts about Charnwood Forest. The Map, the Book and the DVD together will, I am sure, encourage many local people to take a renewed interest in our wonderful geological heritage.
Joe Tormey added: "I am pleased to discover that the book does not just explain the local geology but also describes the building stones of Charnwood Forest and the history of the aggregates industry, which is very much a part of our local heritage. I hope that the various walks that are described in the book will help to bring the geology of Charnwood Forest to the attention of everyone and offer something extra to the many walkers that come to this area.
Further Information
Exploring the landscape of Charnwood and Mountsorrel is priced at £12.00. Its ISBN number is 978 085272570. The DVD is available for £8 from the British Geological Survey Sales Desk, telephone 0115 936 3241.