Lawrence, D.J. et al. 2007. Northumberland National Park Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan. British Geological Survey Commisioned report CR/07/037N. A PDF of the full report can be obtained from the Northumberland National Park website
Section 4 geodiversity action plan
Introduction
This Plan sets out actions for geodiversity in Northumberland National Park. It does not claim to be conclusive, but rather aims to be a stimulus for action. It is hoped that the plan will evolve as more people and organisations become involved in the process. The Action Plan is designed to be revised and updated.
The plan includes suggestions for lead partners to take forward each of the actions, but this is in no way intended to be exclusive. Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to get in touch if they would like to be involved or have ideas for actions.
The actions with the highest priority have been indicated with an asterisk.
| Objective | Action | Key organization | Date | |
| 1. Contact and organise local interest in geology | 1.1 Encourage the involvement of the Northumbria RIGS group in conserving and developing geodiversity in the district | RIGS, NWT, BGS, NNPA, interested individuals | 2007 | * |
| 1.2 Continue to identify partners, including companies and local groups who are interested in geology; keep an up-to-date database of contacts | All | 2007 onwards | * | |
| 2. Designate and maintain data on important geological sites | 2.1 Review procedures for designating geological sites and establish geodiversity steering group for NNP | NNPA, NWT, RIGS, BGS | 2007 onwards | |
| 2.2 Revise SNCI sites using agreed criteria | NWT, RIGS, BGS, | 2008 | ||
| 2.3 Identify sites as suitable RIGS sites and designate | RIGS, NWT, BGS, NNPA | 2008 onwards | * | |
| 2.4 Give information to site owners | RIGS, NNPA | Ongoing | ||
| 2.5 Manage site data, incorporate in GIS and pass to Districts, County Councils, NWT etc. | BGS, NNPA, NE | Ongoing | * | |
| 3. Monitor condition of sites | 3.1 Monitor the condition of geological SSSIs and ensure that all have a management plan or statement | NE | Ongoing | * |
| 3. 2 Monitor the condition of other important sites | RIGS, BGS, NNPA, | Ongoing | ||
| 3.3 Maintain a database of sites with condition | NE, NNPA, BGS | Ongoing | ||
| 3. 4 Work with local users and owners of sites to monitor condition, e.g. climbers | Local interest groups | Ongoing | ||
| 4. Ensure protection of sites through local and regional policies and strategies | 4. 1 Ensure that policies protecting geodiversity are included in the Local Development Framework and National Park Management Plan | NNPA | 2007 | * |
| 4.Ensure protection of sites through local and regional policies and strategies | 4. 2 Ensure that important sites are included on the LDF proposals map | NNPA | 2007 | * |
| 4. 3 Consider making the Geodiversity Audit Supplementary Planning Guidance | NNPA | 2008 | ||
| 4. 4 Lobby to ensure that other district and regional plans include policies to protect geodiversity | NNPA, BGS, NWT, RIGS | Ongoing | ||
| 4. 5 Ensure that geodiversity is used as a base for the NNPA Landscape Character Assessment | NNPA, BGS | 2007 | * | |
| 4. 6 Ensure that geodiversity is incorporated into the NNPA Landscape Strategy | NNPA | 2007 | * | |
| 4. 7 Take geodiversity into account in Development Control decisions | NNPA, DCs | 2007 onwards | * | |
| 4. 8 Ensure that geodiversity is included in the Otterburn Training Area ILMP review | NNPA, BGS, MoD | 2009 | ||
| 5.Practical conservation | 5.1 Identify and prioritise sites in need of practical management. | BGS, NE, NNPA, RIGS | 2007/08 | * |
| 5.2 Identify groups to carry out the work | NNPA, NWT, NE | Ongoing | ||
| 5.3 Ensure that protection and enhancement of important geological and geomorphological features and related historic features are included in Agri-environment schemes e.g. limekilns, quarries, tufa outcrops | NE, NNPA, Agents | 2007 onwards | ||
| 5.4 Consider deforesting crags within FC plantations during Forest Design Plan reviews | FC, NNPA | Each plan review | ||
| 6.Geodiversity of active quarries | 6.1 Encourage Quarry Operators to prepare quarry specific Geodiversity Action Plans | NNPA, BGS, Quarry Operators | 2007 onwards | |
| 6.2 Seek opportunities to report, record, conserve and enhance geodiversity in active quarries | NNPA, BGS, Quarry Operators, RIGS | 2007 onwards | ||
| 7.Local use of stone | 7.1 Establish which quarries were, and are, key to creating local character and distinctiveness. | NNPA, BGS, EH, Quarry Operators, Architects, Local history groups | 2009 | |
| 7.2 Investigate re-opening of small quarries (craft quarries) to provide locally distinctive stone for specific building projects | Quarry companies, architects, BGS, NNPA | Ongoing | ||
| 7.Local use of stone | 7.3 Ensure that local planning policies allow for this small scale quarrying | NNPA, NCC, DCs | Next review | |
| 7.4 Consider including more information in the NNPA Building Design Guide review to encourage awareness and use of local materials for repair and new-build | NNPA, BGS, EH | Next review | ||
| 8.Interpretation and public awareness | 8.1 Commission a Geodiversity Interpretive Master Plan to provide ideas and approach for communicating themes at appropriate sites using a variety of media, incorporating proposals in 8.2 to 8.10 below | NNPA,BGS | 2007/08 | * |
| 8.2 Investigate the possibility of producing a book, or map and guide, on the geology of the Cheviots. Look into funding options and links with the Cheviot Hills Project | NNPA, BGS, Borders Council | 2008 | * | |
| 8.3 Ensure that geodiversity and landscape are key elements of any further development at Once Brewed Visitor Centre | NNPA | Ongoing | * | |
| 8.4 Develop more interest in geotourism ? e.g. investigate European INTERREG project. Link to North Pennines AONB initiative and Scottish Borders. May include leaflets for self-guided walks and cycle trails | NNPA, NPAP, BGS | Ongoing | * | |
| 8.5 Encourage guided walks and events especially linking to current events such as Berwick and Haltwhistle Walking Festivals | Programme providers, NNPA, BGS, RIGS | 2007 onwards | ||
| 8.6 Investigate opportunities for promoting geodiversity within the Otterburn Training Area | NNPA, MoD, BGS | 2007 onwards | ||
| 8.7 Hold workshops in central and northern areas of the National Park highlighting importance of these areas and how people can get involved | NNPA, BGS | 2007/08 | * | |
| 8.8 Investigate setting up ?Rockwatch? or other events for younger children outside formal education | RIGS, NWT, NNPA | 2008/09 | ||
| 8.9 Approach groups with related interests e.g. local history, natural history and archaeology | NNPA, BGS | Ongoing | ||
| 8.10 Ensure that a comprehensive amount of information is available on web sites including details of sites with public access | NNPA, BGS, NWT, RIGS | 2007 onwards | * | |
| 9.Education and training | 9.1 Encourage formal education opportunities, by providing information for local schools and suggesting suitable site visits. Facilitate these visits and study where possible | NNPA, BGS, RIGS, Schools | Ongoing | |
| 9.2 Provide information for Higher Education courses (Open University and local universities). Produce a guide for courses and study indicating good sites in the district to view and study features | NNPA, BGS, OUGS | 2008 | ||
| 9.3 Provide training for builders and architects to encourage use of local stone | BGS, NNPA | 2008/09 | ||
| 9.4 Provide training for NNP staff on geodiversity in each of the NNP areas | BGS | 2007 | ||
| 9.5 Train local guides e.g. tourist providers | BGS, NNPA | 2008 | ||
| 9.6 Provide training for local groups carrying out conservation work on sites | BGS, NE, RIGS | 2008 | ||
| 10.Research | 10.1 Work with universities to identify suitable research topics within the area e.g. aspects of the Cheviot Granite and Quaternary studies | NNPA, BGS, Universities | 2008/09 | |
| 10.2 Identify all the items within the archaeological research agenda that link to geodiversity e.g. provenance of axe stones, millstones, locations of quarries | NNPA, BGS | 2007 | ||
| 10.3 Identify any research topics investigating biological and geological links e.g. whin specific lichens | NNPA, Universities, NE, BGS | 2008 | ||
| 11.Funding | 11.1 Investigate future funds for each of the actions above | All | Ongoing | * |
Abbreviations used in the key organisations column of the action plan:
BGS British Geological Survey
DCs District Councils
EH English Heritage
FC Forestry Commission
MoD Ministry of Defence, Otterburn Training Area
NCC Northumberland County Council
NE Natural England
NNPA Northumberland National Park Authority
NPAP North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership
NWT Northumberland Wildlife Trust
OUGS Open University Geological Society
RIGS Regionally Important Geomorphological and Geological Sites groups
Geodiversity sites in Northumberland National park and the surrounding area
A number of Geodiversity sites have been identified as part of this study. They have been selected as representative examples of particular geological features in the context of Northumberland National Park and surrounding area. They do not replace, but stand alongside, SNCIs, SSSIs and other designated sites.
It is recommended that this site list should form the basis for undertaking actions 2 to 6 in the preceding Northumberland National Park Geodiversity Action Plan. It is anticipated that the list will be revised during implementation of the Action Plan.
Many of these sites are also considered appropriate for interpretation and are discussed earlier in this publication (Pages 105 to 112).
Sites within Northumberland National Park
Site number: 1 Barrow Scar [NT 900 061]
Geological feature: River banks and cliffs exposing sandstone, mudstone and limestone sequence
Condition: Stable, partly overgrown
Status: SNCI, SSSI and MoD training area
Site number: 2 Blindburn [NT 830 108]
Geological feature: River bank and stream bed exposures display lava flow over irregular surface of lapilli-tuff
Condition: Stable
Status: SNCI, SSSI and MoD training area
Site number: 3 Bridge over R Coquet, NE of Makendon [NT 806 096]
Geological feature: River banks and hillside outcrops expose folded and steeply dipping shales
Condition: Stable
Status: SSSI and MoD training area
Site number: 4 Buckham’s Bridge [NT 824 107]
Geological feature: Abandoned roadside quarry displays flow-banding and flow-jointing in andesite
Condition: Stable
Status: SSSI, Access Land and MoD training area
Site number: 5 Busy Gap [NY 798 695]
Geological feature: Hillside with natural rock outcrops of Whin Sill, metamorphic rocks and geological structures
Condition: Stable
Status: SSSI and Access Land
Site number: 6 Cawfields Quarry [NY 712 666]
Geological feature: Abandoned Whin Sill quarry, also exposes sedimentary rocks and geological structures
Condition: Stable, face becoming obscured by vegetation
Status: SNCI
Site number: 7 Chirdon Burn [NY 750 818]
Geological feature: Natural exposures of sedimentary rocks in stream bank and cliffs
Condition: Unknown
Status: SNCI and Access Land
Site number: 8 Cottonshope Head Quarry [NY 750 818]
Geological feature: Abandoned roadside quarry exposes basaltic lavas and underlying/overlying sediments
Condition: Stable but degraded
Status: SSSI, SNCI and MoD training area
Site number: 9 Crag Lough [NY 767 680]
Geological feature: Lough formed by fast ice flow during glaciation
Condition: Stable
Status: SSSI
Site number: 10 Crindledykes West Quarry [NY 781 670]
Geological feature: Abandoned Great Limestone quarry and limekiln
Condition: Stable
Status: Some areas are Access Land
Site number: 11 Echo Crags [NT 742 044]
Geological feature: Natural sandstone escarpment on hillside displaying sedimentary structures with small abandoned quarry
Condition: Stable
Status: SNCI and Access Land
Site number: 12 Great Standrop [NT 943 180]
Geological feature: Tor formed of granitic rock
Condition: Stable
Status: SSSI and Access Land
Site number: 13 Harbottle Crags [NT 920 044]
Geological feature: Hillside crags of sandstone with abandoned millstone quarry
Condition: Stable
Status: NWT reserve
Site number: 14 Harden Quarry [NT 958 086]
Geological feature: Working aggregates quarry in minor intrusion associated with Cheviot granite
Condition: Active quarry faces change regularly
Status: SSSI, NWT reserve and Access Land
Site number: 15 Hareshaw Burn [NY 842 844] to [NY 842 846]
Geological feature: River banks and cliffs display sedimentary sequence, remains of ironstone workings, Hareshaw Linn waterfall
Condition: Stable, some areas overgrown
Status: Active quarry
Site number: 16 Harthope Burn [NT 927 202]
Geological feature: River banks and cliffs display contact between two different types of granitic rock
Condition: Stable
Status: SSSI
Site number: 17 Hawsen Burn [NT 940 230] to [NT 950 228]
Geological feature: River banks and cliffs display granophyric granite, dykes cutting andesite and saprolitic granite. Fault rock, quartz veins and breccia also exposed
Condition: Stable, naturally vegetated in parts, some minor landslips
Status: SSSI and Access Land
Site number: 18 Henshaw Common [NY 757 729]
Geological feature: Thick peat deposits in large elongate grooves, which potentially have a long (> 15 000 year) environmental record
Condition: Stable, but surface disturbed by forestry operations
Status: SSSI and Access Land
Site number: 19 Housey Crags [NT 957 218]
Geological feature: Tor formed of hornfels
Condition: Stable
Status: Access Land
Site number: 20 Limestone Corner [NY 876 716]
Geological feature: Whin Sill partially excavated from Vallum of Hadrian's Wall
Condition: Stable
Status: SSSI and Access Land
Site number: 21 Linbriggs [NT 891 064]
Geological feature: Roadside and river cliffs expose features associated with lava flows and flow breccias
Condition: Stable, some river cliff areas may be subject to rockfalls
Status: SAM
Site number: 22 Linhope Spout [NT 958 171]
Geological feature: Waterfall and surrounding outcrops display granitic rock (quartz-monzonite)
Condition: Stable
Status: MoD training area
Site number: 23 Lower Ramshope Burn [NT 733 045]
Geological feature: River banks reveal steeply dipping shales showing sedimentary structures and fossils
Condition: Stable
Status: SNCI and Access Land
Site number: 24 Lumsdon Law [NT 722 050]
Geological feature: Abandoned quarry in porphyritic basalt displays igneous structures and good views over the Upper Rede valley
Condition: Stable
Status: Access Land
Site number: 25 Milecastle Inn [NY 716 660]
Geological feature: Abandoned limestone quarries in Four Fathom Limestone
Condition: Stable
Status: SNCI and Access Land
Site number: 26 Queen’s Crags [NY 795 706]
Geological feature: Hillside with crags of sandstone and small abandoned (some Roman) quarries
Condition: Stable
Status: SNCI
Site number: 27 River Coquet, 3/4km WSW of Fulhope [NT 811 099]
Geological feature: Hillside outcrops showing unconformity between steeply dipping mudstones and overlying volcaniclastic breccia, at base of Cheviot Volcanics
Condition: Stable
Status: SSSI and Access Land
Site number: 28 River Coquet, SE of Kateshaw Crag [NT 879 078]
Geological feature: Riverbank exposures showing intrusive feldspar porphyry dyke, one of a radial swarm
Condition: Stable
Status: SSSI and Access Land MOD Training Area
Site number: 29 River Coquet, E of Dumbhope Law [NT 864 086]
Geological feature: River outcrops of the Acklington Dyke
Condition: Stable
Status: SSSI and Access Land MOD Training Area
Site number: 30 Sewingshields Crags [NY 810 703]
Geological feature: Hillside rock outcrops of the Whin Sill and a meltwater channel
Condition: Stable, bedrock is poorly exposed
Status: SNCI, SSSI and MoD training area
Site number: 31 Shank Burn [NT 964 145]
Geological feature: Large meltwater channel
Condition: Stable
Status: SSSI
Site number: 32 Simonside Hills and Lordenshaws [NZ 024 987]
Geological feature: Hillside sandstone outcrops with archaeological interest
Condition: Stable
Status: Access Land
Site number: 33 Tosson Quarry and Limekiln [NU 027 010]
Geological feature: Abandoned limestone quarry and limekiln, which has been restored as tourist attraction
Condition: Stable, quarry is degraded,
Status: SSSI and Access Land (Simonside Hills only)
Site number: 34 Walltown Quarry [NY 670 660]
Geological feature: Abandoned Whin Sill quarry with nature trails Sedimentary rocks above sill also exposed
Condition: Stable, saplings obscure part of face
Status: SNCI
Site number: 35 Walwick Fell [NY 877 709]
Geological feature: Limestone grassland with small abandoned limestone quarries
Condition: Unknown
Status: Private land
Site number: 36 Whitelee Bridge and Lumsdon Burn [NT 715 049]
Geological feature: Road cutting and stream bank sections formerly exposed steeply dipping shales and breccia
Condition: Stable, road section is very degraded and overgrown
Status: SNCI and NWT reserve
Site number: 37 Windyhaugh [NT 715 049]
Geological feature: River bank exposures of flow-brecciated andesite with laminated internal sediment
Condition: Stable
Status: SNCI, SSSI and MoD training area
Site number: 38 Tipalt Burn [NY 659 661] - [NY 687 683]
Geological feature: Stream section with river banks displaying sedimentary sequence including fossils
Condition: Stable
Status: SSSI and Access Land (north part)
Sites within district, but outside Northumberland National Park
Site number: 39 Akenshaw Burn [NY 609 897]
Geological feature: Stream bank section through mudstone and cementstone sequence
Condition: Stable, subject to some river erosion
Status: SNCI and Access Land
Site number: 40 Barmoor Mill Quarry [NT 998 404]
Geological feature: Old quarry face exposing the Eelwell Limestone
Condition: Stable
Status: SNCI
Site number: 41 Beltingham Shingles [NY 780 640]
Geological feature: Riverside shingle banks rich in minerals and of ecological importance
Condition: Stable
Status: SSSI and NWT reserve
Site number: 42 Black Pasture Quarry [NY 931 699]
Geological feature: Abandoned sandstone quarry, adjacent to periodically active quarry, reveals shelly horizons in the sandstone and good sedimentary structures
Condition: Stable but seriously overgrown in old quarry
Status: NWT reserve and active quarry
Site number: 43 Blakehope Nick Quarry [NY 713 983]
Geological feature: Disused sandstone/sand quarry along Kielder Forest Drive; fossil plant pieces and mineralised fractures exposed in deeply weathered sandstone
Condition: Stable
Status: SSSI and Access Land
Site number: 44 Dancing Green Hill [NU 064 334]
Geological feature: Natural sandstone escarpment on open moor displays sedimentary structures
Condition: Stable
Status: Access Land
Site number: 45 Doddington Quarry [NU 008 326]
Geological feature: Abandoned sandstone quarry, adjacent to periodically active quarry
Condition: Stable. Changing exposures in working quarry
Status: Active quarry and Access Land
Site number: 46 Earl Quarry [NT 988 269]
Geological feature: Inactive quarry exposes extrusive volcanic andesites
Condition: Stable, periodic working may occur
Status: SNCI
Site number: 47 Glanton Pike Quarry [NU 062 146]
Geological feature: Abandoned sandstone quarry, displaying sedimentary features
Condition: Stable, partly overgrown and some rubbish tipped
Status: Private Land
Site number: 48 Greenchesters Quarry [NY 875 943] and Limekiln [NY 875 943]
Geological feature: Abandoned Oxford Limestone quarry and limekiln
Condition: Stable, quarry is very degraded
Status: SNCI
Site number: 49 Greenleighton Quarry [NZ 034 917]
Geological feature: Abandoned quarry in Great Limestone
Condition: Stable
Status: SSSI
Site number: 50 Haltwhistle Burn [NY 714 659] – [NY 708 648]
Geological feature: Stream section with river cliffs displaying sedimentary sequence
Condition: Stable
Status: SNCI
Site number: 51 Ingram valley [NU 040 169]
Geological feature: Cobble gravel alluvial terraces in valley floor
Condition: Relatively stable except in flood events
Status: SNCI and SSSI
Site number: 52 Lewis Burn [NY 631 886]
Geological feature: River bank sections alongside good cycle track displaying sedimentary sequence with fossils and structures; small abandoned quarry
Condition: Stable, some areas overgrown, river too big to cross
Status: SNCI and Access Land
Site number: 53 Little Ryle Quarry [NU 024 107]
Geological feature: Abandoned sandstone quarry with views to the Cheviot Hills
Condition: Stable, partly overgrown
Status: Private Land
Site number: 54 Long Crags [NY 933 822]
Geological feature: Natural sandstone escarpment on hillside displaying sedimentary structures
Condition: Stable
Status: Access Land
Site number: 55 Low Broomepark [NU 104 120]
Geological feature: Road cutting through thick sedimentary sequence with moderate dip
Condition: Stable, but now very degraded adjacent to fairly busy public road
Status: SNCI
Site number: 56 Lunga Crags [NU 104 120]
Geological feature: Natural sandstone escarpment displaying sedimentary structures
Condition: Stable
Status: Access Land
Site number: 57 Mootlaw Quarry [NZ 024 750]
Geological feature: Working aggregates quarry in Great Limestone displays good geological structures
Condition: Quarry face sections change over time
Status: Active quarry
Site number: 58 Pondicherry [NU 045 018]
Geological feature: Disused quarries with large sandstone faces
Condition: Stable
Status: Adjacent to footpath
Site number: 59 Prudhamstone Quarries [NY 885 686]
Geological feature: Abandoned sandstone and limestone quarries with high faces displaying sedimentary sequence; old millstones lying around
Condition: Stable, but becoming overgrown High faces
Status: SNCI
Site number: 60 Redesdale Ironstone Quarry [NY 887 842]
Geological feature: Abandoned ironstone quarry with fossiliferous limestone and mudstone units
Condition: Stable
Status: SNCI
Site number: 61 Roddam Dene Bedrock [NU 023 207] Landforms [NU 036 207]
Geological feature: River bank and cliff exposures of sandstone and conglomerates; access is difficult. Ice-contact deposits and landforms (kames, deltaic sediments, etc)
Condition: Bedrock stable; section in ice-contact deposits is being eroded
Status: SNCI and SSSI
Site number: 62 Rothley Crags [NZ 042 885]
Geological feature: Natural sandstone crags on hillside displaying sedimentary structures and sandstone folly
Condition: Stable
Status: Access Land
Site number: 63 Stublick Colliery [NY 833 604]
Geological feature: Former colliery buildings
Condition: Stable
Status: SAM
Site number: 64 Thorngrafton Common [NY 782 666]
Geological feature: Hillside with natural outcrops of sandstone
Condition: Stable
Status: Access Land
Site number: 65 Thrunton Quarry [NU 091 096]
Geological feature: Brick clay quarry exposes pro-glacial laminated lake clays
Condition: Stable
Status: Active quarry
Site number: 66 Wards Hill Quarry [NZ 079 966]
Geological feature: Abandoned quarry, Whin Sill intruded into Great Limestone
Condition: Stable
Status: Private Land, adjacent to road
Site number: 67 Woodbridge Quarry [NT 945 325]
Geological feature: Sand and gravel quarry exposes glacio- fluvial deltaic sediments and periglacial features
Condition: Stable
Status: Active quarry
Site number: 68 Written Crag [NY 937 687]
Geological feature: Natural crags and abandoned Roman sandstone quarries
Condition: Unknown
Status: Private Land
Sites on the Cheviot massif outside district
Site number: 69 South of Coldstream [NT 790 320]
Geological feature: Streamlined glacial deposits and bedrock, e.g. drumlins
Condition: Stable
Status: Scotland
Site number: 70 Nether Hindhope [NT 790 320]
Geological feature: Disused quarry exposing steeply dipping shales
Condition: Stable
Status: Scotland
Site number: 71 Hangingshaw Hill [NT 769 139] and Quarry [NT 765 142]
Geological feature: Hillside displays meltwater channel cutting through weathered bedrock. Disused quarry in deeply weathered andesite
Condition: Stable
Status: Scotland
Site number: 72 Kippie Knowe Quarry [NT 778 159]
Geological feature: Disused quarry exposes saprolitic deposit in pyroclastic breccia
Condition: Stable
Status: Scotland
Site number: 73 Stanshiel Hill [NT 780 133]
Geological feature: Solifluction deposits on hillside — talus, head
Condition: Stable
Status: Scotland
Site number: 74 Swanlaws Quarry [NT 771 164]
Geological feature: Inactive quarry exposing saprolitic deposits developed in flow-banded andesite
Condition: Stable, periodic working may occur
Status: Scotland