The opening event of Yorkshire Geology Month was a Geology Day at the National Coal Mining Museum at Caphouse Colliery, Wakefield, on Saturday 25 April.

This and the other 14 Yorkshire Geology Month events for the general public are being organised by Yorkshire Geological Society and associated organisations across the region until 31 May.

Yorkshire Geology Day at the colliery had a programme of events and activities of both general and more specialised interest, including displays, surface and underground guided geological walks, and talks for visitors of all ages and interests.

Jennifer Rhodes, co-author of A Building Stones Guide to Central Manchester, was at the opening event selling copies of the book that is featured in the April issue of Natural Stone Specialist magazine.

The Month's events are:

Sunday 26th April at 10.30. Chalk Lithostratigraphy and Structure in East Yorkshire organised by Huddersfield Geology Group and led by Paul Hildreth. Start at Langtoft Quarries alongside the B1249 road south of the village and afterwards transfer to the coast at Flamborough North Landing and Selwick’s Bay. Details from Bob Appleyard (rajaappleyard@hotmail.com /tel. 01484 684064) or Paul Hildreth (panda_hildreth@hotmail.com / Tel 01652 655784).

Thursday 7th May at 10.30 at Addingham Moorside. Millstone Lumps and Beyond organised by Bradford Countryside Service and led by Will Varley. Meet at the Memorial Hall, Addingham. Details: www.bradford.gov.uk/NR

Thursday 7th May at 19.30 in Quad4, Hull University (Scarborough Campus). Talks by leaders on forthcoming field trips organised by the Scarborough Rotunda Geology Group.

Saturday 9th May at 13.15 for 13.30 start. Roundhay Park Geology Trail organised by the Friends of Roundhay Park and led by Bill Fraser. Start outside the Mansion House Visitor Centre, Mansion Lane, Leeds LS82HH. Free car parking. Public transport: First Bus: routes 2, 12. Public WC in Visitor Centre. The Trail consists of 10 locations where the rocks, structures and the fossils they contain can be used to show that the Park was once a shallow sea that became infilled by an advancing delta to become a tropical rainforest. There is also evidence of powerful earth movements that affected the area since the rocks were formed. Geology Trail booklet available for purchase. The walk is approx. 3 km and takes approximately 2.5 hrs. following a mixture of rough surfaced and unmade streamside and woodland paths which can be muddy and slippery after wet weather. Walking boots / strong shoes are recommended.

Sunday 10th May at 11.00. Auk and Chalk Walk at the Bempton Cliffs Reserve on Flamborough Head organised by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and accompanied by Paul Hildreth (Yorkshire Geological Society). Guided walks for bird watchers with an added geological input. (Note: the RSPB may make a small charge.)

Monday 11th May at 19.00 at Greenhead College, Huddersfield HD1 4ES. The Dent Marble by Bill Fraser . Details: www.huddersfieldgeology.org.uk

Thursday 14th May at 19.15. “Tracking Jurassic Dinosaurs” a talk by Dr Mike Romano organised by Leeds Geological Association. Leeds University Conference Centre, Auditorium 2.
Saturday 16th May at 11.00 – 15.00. Rock and Fossil Road Show at the Treasure House, Beverley organised by Hull Geological Society. Bring along your rock, fossil and mineral finds to be identified by members of the Hull Geological Society. Learn more about what can be found locally; look at displays and talk to experts. Please note that no valuations can be given. There will be a hands-on craft activity for children of all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Admission free.

Saturday 16th May at 11.00 - “Where Elephants once Roamed” at Welton-le-Wold Quarry (Grid ref: TF 279 882 O.S. map 282 Postcode: LN11 0QT). Join the Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group and the Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service to explore the geological history of this nationally important geological Site of Special Scientific Interest. We will be looking at and interpreting the impressive quarry face, explaining the process which brought the sands and gravels and why the site is important for the Ice Age story. There will be two walks at 11am and 1.30pm focused on geology which form a part of the Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival. There will be ample on-site parking and toilet facilities. Contact: www.woldswalkingfestival.co.uk

Sunday 17th May at 14:15 for 14:30 start. A geological walk around Hetchell Wood, Scarcroft and Thorner organised by Leeds Geological Association and led by Bill Fraser. Meet at roadside parking area, Milner Lane (SE 380424) which is approx 2km north of Thorner village church. No WC facilities. The walk takes in four separate outcrops which show that between 320 - 280m.yrs ago conditions in this part of West Yorkshire changed from a tropical river delta to a hot dry desert which then became inundated by shallow seas which were constantly evaporating. Handout will be provided. Approx 3.5 km walk on largely unmade woodland paths and disused railway line and will take approx..2.5 hrs. Paths can be muddy and slippery in wet weather; one steep descent can be bypassed. Participants must keep clear of vertical cliff face at Hetchell Crag. Walking boots/strong shoes recommended.

Sunday 24th May at 11.00. Auk and Chalk Walk at the Bempton Cliffs Reserve on Flamborough Head organised by the RSPB and accompanied by Paul Hildreth (YGS) (see details above. Guided walks for bird watchers with an added geological input. RSPB may make a small charge.

Saturday 30th May at 10.30. Todmorden Moor Geology and Heritage Trail organised by the Yorkshire Geological Society in association with the Manchester Geological Association and GeoLancashire, and led by John Knight. Meet at Tower Causeway, at junction of Flower Scar Road (SD 91202502). The excursion is in two parts. The morning excursion will follow the Todmorden Moor Geology and Heritage Trail (see www.watershedlandscape.co.uk/resources/downloadable-resources/paper-trails) and will look at the geology and mining remains of the lowermost part of the Coal Measures (Langsettian). The afternoon excursion will depart at 14.00 from the large lay-by on Todmorden-Burnley road, A646 (SD 89082696) to look at outcrops of a lower sequence, part of the Millstone Grit Group, in Ratten Clough and Green’s Clough, close to the village of Portsmouth in the Cliviger Valley. We will see coal sequences, seat-earths and marine bands and major fluvial sandstones; abundant fossils, bring a hand-lens. Stout footwear and weatherproof clothing essential.

Saturday 30th May at 09.45. What can we learn from the Chalk of the Wolds? organised by the Scarborough Rotunda Geology Group and led by Derek Gobbett. Meet at Staxton Hill car park (TA 009 779). Lunch in Weaverthorpe.

Sunday 31st May at 10.15. Hull City Centre Walk focusing on the variety of interesting building stones that can be seen. Organised by Hull Geological Society and led by Mike Horne. Meet at the Tourist Information Centre, City Hall. Duration 2 hours. Bring a magnifying glass.

Contact details: Christine Jennings-Poole   Email: chrisjpoole@hotmail.co.uk