A three-day conference, called \'England\'s Heritage in Stone\' is to be held in York in March to set in motion the formation of an English Stone Forum along the lines of the Scottish Stone Liaison Group and the Welsh Stone Forum, both of which were also established after similar conferences.

The conference is aimed at a wide audience, including planners, specifiers, architects, suppliers and trainers, as well as the stone industry. It is intended to promote the use of indigenous English stone as well as lead to the development of the Forum. It will count towards CPD.

The event is supported by English Heritage, English Nature, Stone Federation Great Britain and the British Geological Survey.

It is being organised by the Geoconservation Commission of the Geological Society and will be staged 15-17 March in the Yorkshire Museum, with some field trips around York, to quarries and to Selby Abbey.

Speakers represent a wide range of interests, including the organisations supporting the event and, on the second day, Brian Marker of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Alan Thompson of Capita Symonds, who last year produced a report on the stone industry and its planning requirements (see NSS April issue).

The attendance fee for the whole conference (excluding accommodation) is £100. There is a daily rate of £40 and a conference dinner for £33 (although the number of places is restricted).

Bookings for the conference are being handled by The Geological Society, Burlington House, London W1J 0BG. Tel: 020 7434 9944. Email address below

More information and booking forms can be downloaded from the Society\'s website: below (click on events and go to March).