The first members’ evening that we have held and it was a success, so will repeat. Relaxed atmosphere, smorgasbord of topics, short, illustrated presentations and free, yes free, cheese, crisps, biscuits and a glass of wine.

First we heard from David, Ingrid and John a totally non-technical account of their recent visit to Arouca, a geopark in northern Portugal, where good contacts with the geopark team were made and some of the exceptionally well presented sites visited. Arouca with substantial European and regional Portuguese funding is developing an envied park, conserving and celebrating local geology and with it amplifying trades and crafts that would otherwise probably die out. Similar but on a larger scale to our plans for the Teme Valley. Bordering communities eye the project and make noises as to how they can join in but we understood that this is not really part of Arouca’s plan. Famous firstly for the giant trilobite fossils mentioned in Prof. Richard Fortey’s book, ‘Survivors’, of equal international status is the small area of nodular granite–known in Portuguese as the rocks that give birth (Pedras Parideiras). The process of their formation is not really understood, but basically within a matrix of granite in an area no larger than 1 square kilometre, many millions of black ellipsoid nodules are to be found. Owing, it is believed, to the differential expansion of the light coloured granite and the dark nodules, the ellipsoids gradually release from the parent rock and appear loose on the surface. One can only imagine the mystery of this in the minds of a rural and uneducated populace. The general bedrock of the Arouca Geopark is granite along with Ordovician Slates but on THIS site there is a much more detailed description. The countryside is rugged, provides excellent walking on well marked trails and abounds in drifts of colourful wild flowers.

During our stay, David had one or two personal adventures that left Ingrid and me scratching our heads. The more costly was the loss of his wallet with credit cards, driving licence and around £90. Tracing it in English by telephone to Portugal was tricky. Its ultimate fate, destruction at the hands of those who serve us–i.e. the British Consul and team, convinced us once again that the expectation of help from our overseas officers is a triumph of hope over experience. Pictures (on external site, click down arrow on right and select slideshow)

Second up were free cheeses and bikkies plus a glass or two of wine and time to look at small displays set up by Georgia with her wonderful textiles and books, Arouca with maps, books and rocks and such colourful minerals from Margaret–thanks all.

Ian (Fairchild) related the tale of fairly intrepid exploration into one of the dingles in the Teme valley at Stanford. A good friend Robin Dean (churchwarden of St Marys Stanford) owns around 20 acres of what is now VERY rough ground but was, in the old days, an orchard (it seems). Robin should really get his mower out.
The challenge in pouring rain, was to walk up the bed of Fall Dingle to one of its waterfalls, checking out rocks and plants on the way. Bits of tufa had been seen and Bishops Frome too, as well as substantial blocks of Raglan Sandstone and softer mudstone, chiselled out by the stream, innocent enough on the day but fearful in flood judging by the massive trees lodged in the bed. En-route we noticed seepages building tufa on the banks of the stream, clear indication that the limey nodules of the Bishops Frome (aka Psammosteus) limestone top member of the Silurian (Raglan) were close by but higher up the hill. A previous blog told of the lime kiln built into the limestone not far from the stream that we were exploring. Half an hour of clambering brought us to a surprising and impressive cleft with water tumbling over its lip in a double drop and a fine tufa fan encased in liverwort descending its face. So rugged the ground and obscured by trees and dense vegetation that surely few reach this spot. A much more direct route back through carpets of wild garlic, to the warmth and hospitality of Robin and Lesley’s house, rounded off a memorable morning.  Thanks to Robin and Lesley for their as always warm welcome.

Surely a highlight of the evening and a marker for years to come were the three rock sample display cabinets designed and made by member Ian Pennell (of Scar Cottage the magnificent Bromsgrove Sandstone quarry garden in the village).  Since retiring, Ian has submerged himself in a number of practical pursuits and his cabinet making talents were harnessed to produce these very fine items from Yellowwood, a hard, much sought after South African pine. A little ceremony of unveiling took place with a short speech of thanks from David and a round of applause.  Well done and thanks Ian!  A day out is set for July 11th 10am at Crown Martley–come along if you can.  The ideas is to plan a route, then go out to collect, ultimately, samples of all of the formations from the surrounding area.  Last count suggested there are over 20, so doubt the job will be done in one go.

Georgia, with her very obvious affection for the Lizard in South Western Cornwall, so fond is she that she had written a song that she performed for us accompanied on her guitar–yet another talent of this talented lady! Georgia knows the Lizard as well as anyone, particularly the exceptionally varied and in places very rare geology, a slice through a section of ocean crust, including the upper level of the mantle, thrust onto continental crust. One immediately realises that a field trip-would have to be at least for a weekend–and beckons strongly, a fascinating area with Georgia as number 1 choice for leader and guide.