A LAUNCH event to create a geopark in Powys will be held in Llandrindod Wells at the end of the month.
The event, to be held at Llandrindod’s Metropole Hotel on Saturday, July 27, will herald the official launch of the Heart of Wales Geopark (Geoparc Calon Cymru), established to help mark the ancient geological significance of the area.
Dr Joe Botting, one of the main protagonists behind the idea of a geopark in Mid Wales, has often talked about the importance of the local area in terms of how it came into existence, in particular a stretch of land spanning Llandrindod, Builth Wells and Llandegley.
Dr Botting, who was instrumental in the discovery of a hugely significant fossil deposit in Radnorshire last year, described the Builth, Landrindod and Llandegley areas as “sacred”.
OTHER NEWS:
- A470 in Powys town to be closed in both directions for the next two nights
- Water bills set to soar - here's how it will affect Powys suppliers
- Driver arrested and drugs seized from passenger after illegal off-road reports
He said: “As a lot of you know, a bunch of us in and around Llandrindod are setting up a geopark. Not UNESCO level, at least to begin with, but nonetheless a celebration of the amazing geology of the Builth-Llandrindod Inlier and its surroundings... plus its influence on the biodiversity, history and culture of the area.
“It's taken a while to get to this stage, but we are now officially a registered charity and can start getting to work properly.
“We've fixed a launch date of July 27, at the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod, and are hoping to run a whole series of events over the summer, all around the area.
“On the launch day, we'll have some talks, hopefully a few guided walks, an identification and handling event going on next door at the museum, and hopefully some other stuff too.
“This is going to develop steadily over the coming years, so don't expect vast amounts of content from the very beginning, but we're making sure they'll be enough to keep people interested.”
The launch event will start at 10am with a fossil identification service and handling session at the Radnorshire Museum, followed by guided walks from Llandrindod Lake to Rock Park.
The official opening of the geopark will be from 2-3pm while from 3-5pm Dr Botting and colleague Lucy Muir will host a chat and interested parties can chat to local geology, heritage and biodiversity groups.
Dr Caroline Buttler, of the National Museum Wales, will also be coming up from Cardiff to speak, while organisers are trying to book a local dignitary as well.
So, what is a geopark?
A celebration of outstanding geological heritage, and how it has shaped our history, culture and biodiversity.
Why here?
The area between Builth, Llandrindod and Llandegley (known as the Builth–Llandrindod Inlier) is one of the most important areas of Ordovician geology in the world. The Heart of Wales Geopark is being created to cover the inlier and surrounding area.
What's so special? It's an ancient (450 million-year-old) volcanic island system. Even better, there are extraordinary fossils all the way through, including the astounding site known as ‘Castle Bank’.
What will we do?
Set up trails, information boards, events and a website, in order to engage the public and visitors alike, and deepen our understanding of this incredible area.
Who's doing this?
A new charity, working with local councils, communities and individuals.
It's going to start small, and gradually expand as more people (and especially landowners) become involved.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here