Local Geology Sites

Local Geological Sites (LGS) are regionally important geological and geomorphological sites which have been identified as being of great importance locally.

Any site of national importance will be afforded protection under the SSSI system (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) which are administered by Natural England. Each County has a Geological Conservation group composed of volunteers with an interest in geology and who wish to enjoy and protect it. In Buckinghamshire, this is known as the Bucks Geology Group. This covers the whole of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

There are now more than 50 such groups across the UK with an association to the GeoConservation UK steering group.

When the Geo-Conservation group first set up in Buckinghamshire it was necessary to undertake a full survey of the County to assess what geology is present, what is visible and how much is in danger of being lost.

The Buckinghamshire already has 9 geological Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) but Local Geological Sites (LGS) are selected in a different way to these, as they are of local or regional interest.

Each Geo-Conservation group has an agreed selection criteria at a national level there is agreement on 4 criteria:

• value for educational purposes
• value for professional or amateur Geologists
• historical value
• aesthetic value of the landscape

Local Geological Sites (LGS) are sites that are considered worthy of protection for their Earth Science or landscape importance, but are not already protected as SSSIs. Sites are selected as satisfying one or more of the following criteria:

• research importance (potential for professional researchers or for Earth scientists in industry).
• educational importance: for example schools, colleges, universities, societies
• aesthetic importance (relating to raising public awareness in geology, geomorphology or conservation).
• historical importance (where an important concept or work of note was carried out or inspired)
• archaeological importance (for example industrial archaeology of geologically-related industries)
• sites selected for conservation must be fundamentally conservable and continued management feasible
• sites selected for enhancement and public or private group access must be suitable for making safe and easily accessible- a distinction between short-term access and long-term access must be considered at this point
• no privately owned site is to be considered for access without the full approval of the owner

Local Geological Sites (LGS), as their name suggests, are an equivalent to local Wildlife Sites and other non-statutory wildlife designations. Some Local Geological Sites (LGS) also coincide with local nature conservation sites.

When the group identifies and agrees on a site being designated as a LGS it is submitted to the local authority and hence can be shown on 'alert maps'. In this way, the site will be taken into consideration through the planning system and the local planning authority.

Once a site is selected, the day-to-day conservation and management of sites depends upon agreements and cooperation with local landowners.

The site information is logged with BMERC, and the site is recorded on GIS map data and recommended for inclusion on the 'alert' lists of the local planning authority.

The group continue to assess the site, managing it as appropriate, while also raising awareness of the general public to these sites and explaining why they are important. In order to do this, Bucks Geology Group provides information, education material, leaflets, books and leads field visits.

There are many opportunities to get involved with the activities of the Bucks Geology Group. Although expertise is needed in the process of selecting and interpreting sites, most of the group are members of the general public.

The group needs people with an enjoyment of their local geology, and who want to know more. Sites are more than 'just geology' we need people who have expertise in wildlife or archaeology.

If you are interested in getting involved, you can find out more on the Bucks Geology Website.