Latest news with #BritishGeologicalSurvey
BBC News
21 hours ago
- BBC News
Charnwood Forest: Bid to win Unesco status for historic landscape
A landscape in Leicestershire could be set for the world stage as a bid is made to secure a prestigious international application to get Unesco Global Geopark status for Charnwood Forest is being led by The National area in the north of the county is home to attractions including Bradgate Park and Beacon Hill, and is famous for its landscapes and ancient fossil behind the bid said an application would be submitted to Unesco later this year with international evaluators visiting the site in 2026. If the application is successful, the designation would be awarded in the spring of 2027. Geoparks are areas of outstanding geology that are used by local communities to promote sustainable economic development, conservation, and education, organisers are currently 229 Unesco Global Geoparks in 50 Forest Geopark has been developed over the past four years as part of a National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported scheme, hosted by the National site has a geological story that dates back nearly 600 million years, and is home to some of the oldest animal fossils ever include a 560 million-year-old fossil representing the earliest known animal predator. Since 2020, a partnership comprising several organisations including Bradgate Park Trust, Leicestershire County Council, the Environment Agency and the British Geological Survey, has been working to try to raise the profile of Charnwood Jack Matthews, a geo-heritage officer who is part of the team behind the application, said: "Since the discovery of our famous fossil Charnia by two schoolchildren in the 1950s, Charnwood Forest has been one of our planet's most important places to visit and understand how animals first evolved."The Geopark is promoting this fascinating story through new interpretation at sites across Charnwood Forest, welcoming local people and visitors to learn more about their oldest animal ancestors and support local businesses while they're here."From rocks and fossils to our unique human history, and biodiversity, Charnwood Forest has many layers of heritage, and with Unesco Global Geopark status we can share these with even more people."
The Star
18-07-2025
- The Star
Tourists told to stop shoving coins into rocks at Giant's Causeway
Rust marks left by coins placed in the cracks of the stones at the Giant's Causeway, near Bushmills in Northern Ireland. — AFP Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway draws close to one million visitors a year but their habit of wedging tiny coins in cracks between the rocks – to bring love or luck – is damaging the world-famous wonder. Now authorities are urging tourists to keep their coins in their pockets to preserve the spectacular landscape. Some 40,000 columns mark the causeway, Northern Ireland's first Unesco World Heritage Site. Geologists say the natural phenomenon was created by an outpouring of basalt lava 60 million years ago. Legend has it that the causeway was formed by Irish giant Finn McCool. In recent decades, visitors have pushed thousands of coins into fissures in the rocks. The gesture is "a token of love or luck", according to Cliff Henry, the causeway's nature engagement officer. But the coins rapidly corrode and expand, causing the basalt to flake and leaving "unsightly" rust-coloured streaks, Henry said. He pointed to streaks on a rock and gingerly prised out a US cent with a set of keys. "We get a lot of euros and dollar cents. But coins from literally all over the world – any currency you can think of, pretty much – we have had it here," he said. Giant's Causeway is Northern Ireland's first Unesco World Heritage Site. — AFP A report by the British Geological Survey in 2021 revealed that the coins were "doing some serious damage" and something had to be done about it, he noted. Signs are now in place around the site appealing to tourists to "leave no trace". "Once some visitors see other people have done it, they feel that they need to add to it," said causeway tour guide Joan Kennedy. She and her colleagues now gently but firmly tell tourists to desist. At the exit from the causeway, a US couple said they were "distressed" to hear of the damage the metal caused. "Our guide mentioned as we came up that people had been putting coins into the stones. It's really terrible to hear that," said Robert Lewis, a 75-year-old from Florida. "It's kind of like damaging any kind of nature when you are doing something like that, putting something foreign into nature. It's not good," said his wife, Geri, 70. As part of a £30,000 (170,970) conservation project, stone masons recently removed as many coins as they could – without causing further damage – from 10 test sites around the causeway. Henry said the trial was successful and is to be expanded across the causeway. National Trust's Nature Engagement Officer, Cliff Henry, looks for coins left by tourists in the cracks of the stones at the Giant's Causeway. — AFP "If we can get all those coins removed to start with that will help the situation and hopefully no more coins will be put in," he said. "If visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop the damaging practice, the problem can maybe be solved. "We know that visitors love and cherish the Giant's Causeway,and many form deep personal connections to it, so we want this natural wonder to remain special for future generations." – AFP
Kuwait Times
14-07-2025
- Kuwait Times
Tourist coins pose giant problem at North Ireland's famous causeway site
Northern Ireland's Giant Causeway draws close to one million visitors a year but their habit of wedging tiny coins in cracks between the rocks - to bring love or luck - is damaging the world-famous wonder. Now authorities are urging tourists to keep their coins in their pockets to preserve the spectacular landscape. Some 40,000 columns mark the causeway, Northern Ireland's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Geologists say the natural phenomenon was created by an outpouring of basalt lava 60 million years ago. Legend has it that the causeway was formed by Irish giant Finn McCool. In recent decades, visitors have pushed thousands of coins into fissures in the rocks. The gesture is 'a token of love or luck', according to Cliff Henry, the causeway's nature engagement officer. But the coins rapidly corrode and expand, causing the basalt to flake and leaving 'unsightly' rust-colored streaks, Henry told AFP. He pointed to streaks on a rock and gingerly prised out a US cent with a set of keys. 'We get a lot of euros and dollar cents. But coins from literally all over the world - any currency you can think of, pretty much - we have had it here,' he said. A report by the British Geological Survey in 2021 revealed that the coins were 'doing some serious damage' and something had to be done about it, he noted. Signs are now in place around the site appealing to tourists to 'leave no trace'. National Trust's Nature Engagement Officer, Cliff Henry, displays a US coin recently removed the cracks of the stones at the Giant's Causeway. Tourists are pictured at the Giant's Causeway, a Unesco World Heritage Site, near Bushmills in Northern Ireland. Tourists are pictured at the Giant's Causeway. National Trust's Nature Engagement Officer, Cliff Henry, points to rust marks left by coins placed in the cracks of the stones at the Giant's Causeway. Tourists are pictured at the Giant's Causeway. Rusting coins that are damaging the stones at the Giant's Causeway. National Trust's Nature Engagement Officer, Cliff Henry, holds coins that were left by tourists in the cracks of the stones at the Giant's Causeway. National Trust's Nature Engagement Officer, Cliff Henry, holds coins that were left by tourists in the cracks of the stones at the Giant's Causeway, a Unesco World Heritage Site, near Bushmills in Northern Ireland.--AFP 'Distressed' 'Once some visitors see other people have done it, they feel that they need to add to it,' causeway tour guide Joan Kennedy told AFP. She and her colleagues now gently but firmly tell tourists to desist. At the exit from the causeway, a US couple said they were 'distressed' to hear of the damage the metal caused. 'Our guide mentioned as we came up that people had been putting coins into the stones. It's really terrible to hear that,' said Robert Lewis, a 75-year-old from Florida. 'It's kind of like damaging any kind of nature when you are doing something like that, putting something foreign into nature. It's not good,' said his wife, Geri, 70. As part of a £30,000 ($40,000) conservation project, stone masons recently removed as many coins as they could - without causing further damage - from 10 test sites around the causeway. Henry said the trial was successful and is to be expanded across the causeway. 'If we can get all those coins removed to start with that will help the situation and hopefully no more coins will be put in,' he said. 'If visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop the damaging practice, the problem can maybe be solved. 'We know that visitors love and cherish the Giant's Causeway, and many form deep personal connections to it, so we want this natural wonder to remain special for future generations.' - AFP
eNCA
14-07-2025
- eNCA
Tourist coins pose giant problem at N. Ireland's famous causeway site
DUBLIN - Northern Ireland's Giant Causeway draws close to one million visitors a year but their habit of wedging tiny coins in cracks between the rocks -- to bring love or luck -- is damaging the world-famous wonder. Now authorities are urging tourists to keep their coins in their pockets to preserve the spectacular landscape. Some 40,000 columns mark the causeway, Northern Ireland's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Geologists say the natural phenomenon was created by an outpouring of basalt lava 60 million years ago. Legend has it that the causeway was formed by Irish giant Finn McCool. AFP | PAUL FAITH In recent decades, visitors have pushed thousands of coins into fissures in the rocks. The gesture is "a token of love or luck", according to Cliff Henry, the causeway's nature engagement officer. But the coins rapidly corrode and expand, causing the basalt to flake and leaving "unsightly" rust-coloured streaks, Henry told AFP. He pointed to streaks on a rock and gingerly prised out a US cent with a set of keys. "We get a lot of euros and dollar cents. But coins from literally all over the world -- any currency you can think of, pretty much -- we have had it here," he said. AFP | PAUL FAITH A report by the British Geological Survey in 2021 revealed that the coins were "doing some serious damage" and something had to be done about it, he noted. Signs are now in place around the site appealing to tourists to "leave no trace". - 'Distressed' - "Once some visitors see other people have done it, they feel that they need to add to it," causeway tour guide Joan Kennedy told AFP. AFP | PAUL FAITH She and her colleagues now gently but firmly tell tourists to desist. At the exit from the causeway, a US couple said they were "distressed" to hear of the damage the metal caused. "Our guide mentioned as we came up that people had been putting coins into the stones. It's really terrible to hear that," said Robert Lewis, a 75-year-old from Florida. "It's kind of like damaging any kind of nature when you are doing something like that, putting something foreign into nature. It's not good," said his wife, Geri, 70. AFP | PAUL FAITH As part of a £30,000 ($40,000) conservation project, stone masons recently removed as many coins as they could -- without causing further damage -- from 10 test sites around the causeway. Henry said the trial was successful and is to be expanded across the causeway. "If we can get all those coins removed to start with that will help the situation and hopefully no more coins will be put in," he said. "If visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop the damaging practice, the problem can maybe be solved. "We know that visitors love and cherish the Giant's Causeway,and many form deep personal connections to it, so we want this natural wonder to remain special for future generations." by Peter Murphy
Malay Mail
13-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Tourist coins pose giant problem at N. Ireland's famous causeway site
BUSHMILLS (United Kingdom), July 14 — Northern Ireland's Giant Causeway draws close to one million visitors a year but their habit of wedging tiny coins in cracks between the rocks—to bring love or luck—is damaging the world-famous wonder. Now authorities are urging tourists to keep their coins in their pockets to preserve the spectacular landscape. Some 40,000 columns mark the causeway, Northern Ireland's first Unescp World Heritage Site. Geologists say the natural phenomenon was created by an outpouring of basalt lava 60 million years ago. Legend has it that the causeway was formed by Irish giant Finn McCool. In recent decades, visitors have pushed thousands of coins into fissures in the rocks. The gesture is 'a token of love or luck', according to Cliff Henry, the causeway's nature engagement officer. But the coins rapidly corrode and expand, causing the basalt to flake and leaving 'unsightly' rust-coloured streaks, Henry told AFP. He pointed to streaks on a rock and gingerly prised out a US cent with a set of keys. 'We get a lot of euros and dollar cents. But coins from literally all over the world—any currency you can think of, pretty much—we have had it here,' he said. A report by the British Geological Survey in 2021 revealed that the coins were 'doing some serious damage' and something had to be done about it, he noted. Signs are now in place around the site appealing to tourists to 'leave no trace'. 'Distressed' 'Once some visitors see other people have done it, they feel that they need to add to it,' causeway tour guide Joan Kennedy told AFP. She and her colleagues now gently but firmly tell tourists to desist. At the exit from the causeway, a US couple said they were 'distressed' to hear of the damage the metal caused. 'Our guide mentioned as we came up that people had been putting coins into the stones. It's really terrible to hear that,' said Robert Lewis, a 75-year-old from Florida. 'It's kind of like damaging any kind of nature when you are doing something like that, putting something foreign into nature. It's not good,' said his wife, Geri, 70. As part of a £30,000 (RM172,409) conservation project, stone masons recently removed as many coins as they could—without causing further damage—from 10 test sites around the causeway. Henry said the trial was successful and is to be expanded across the causeway. 'If we can get all those coins removed to start with that will help the situation and hopefully no more coins will be put in,' he said. 'If visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop the damaging practice, the problem can maybe be solved. 'We know that visitors love and cherish the Giant's Causeway,and many form deep personal connections to it, so we want this natural wonder to remain special for future generations.' — AFP
