On Sunday 29th June David Green, a geologist friend of the Society from Ross on Wye, led a mixed group from the Harrow and Hillingdon Geological Society and the Mid Wales Geological Society, to Martley to visit Martley Rock and the Bromsgrove sandstone exposure at Scar Cottage Quarry. We were delighted to make contact with the visitors from Harrow and Hillingdon, who John Nicklin and I last met at the Geological Association annual meeting in London last December, where we encouraged them and lots of other societies to organise field trips to Martley. And lo it has come to pass.

Twenty four visitors picked around the sandstone at Scar Cottage, examined it with lenses, chipped bits off and dripped acid on to the calcareous veins, which duly fizzed.

One of the best things about having lots of visitors to the quarry is that each group brings one or more new ideas about the rock formation and history, which sometimes agree with the “official line” and sometimes are in opposition to it, making for a really interesting gradually evolving story.

This group had the privilege of being the first to examine the newly recognised bands of pebbles in the sandstone in the road exposure opposite Scar Cottage (the Scar which gave its name to the cottage). As far as we know, this is the only substantial exposure of pebbles and rock debris in the Nubbins outcrop, so thick at this point as to almost constitute a band of conglomerate. From the layout of the beds, David was able to hypothesise that the material may have come from the North, and may include debris from nearby coal measures. As is always the case, “further research is required”.

After leaving us, they went to the Crown for their sandwiches and drinks from the pub, thus demonstrating how the local geology and local businesses can come together for mutual benefit. This visit would not have taken place without the site development and support of TVGS given by the EU Leader fund and the Earth Heritage Trust, and is an example of the kinds of outcome we wish to develop over the next phase of the Society’s existence.