Please note that Fforest Fawr Geopark is not responsible for the content of external websites.

Geopark Networks

Fforest Fawr is a member of two international Geopark networks, across Europe:

• EGN (European Geoparks Network)

and across the globe, either:

• Global Network of National Geoparks or
• Global Geoparks Network

National organisations 

A selection of relevant organisations' websites:

• British Geological Survey (BGS)
• Coflein (RCAHMW)
• Countryside Council for Wales (CCW)
• Forestry Commission Wales
• Geology Rocks
• National Stone Centre
• National Trust
• National Museum Wales
• Quarry Products Association
• UKRIGS
• Welsh Stone Forum

Local and regional bodies

A selection of relevant organisations' websites from South Wales:

• Brecknock Wildlife Trust - nature reserves in Powys part of Geopark
• Brecon Beacons Park Society - walks, talks and more across the area
• Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust - within the Geopark, CPAT covers the former county of Brecknockshire
• Dyfed Archaeological Trust - covers the Carmarthenshire section of the Geopark
• Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust - covers the Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda-Cynon-Taff sections of the Geopark
• Heart of Wales Line - the railway between Shrewsbury and Swansea which runs by Llandovery, Llangadog and Llandeilo on the northwestern edge of the Geopark.
• The Sleeping Giant Foundation - upper Swansea Valley-based group
• South Wales Group of the Geologists' Association - field meets, guides and talks
• Cymdeithas Edward Llwyd - Wales-wide Welsh language natural history society
• The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales - nature reserves in Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda-Cynon-Taff part of the Geopark

Local authorities

The Geopark extends across parts of five different unitary authorities, each of which provides a variety of local services, usually including countryside management, museums and tourism.

• Carmarthenshire County Council

• Merthyr Tydfil CBC

• Neath Port Talbot CBC

• Powys County Council

• Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC

Educational sites

• Association for Science Education (ASE)
• Cardiff University (School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences)
• Earth Science Education Forum (ESEF)
• Rockwatch
• Swansea University
• Onegeology - new international project making geological map data for the Earth accessible

Full list of European Geoparks

A full list of all 37 members of the EGN as at April 2010.  Those within the UK and Ireland are shown in bold:

• Adamello-Brenta Geopark, Italy
• Arouca Geopark - Portugal
• Beigua Geopark, Italy
• Geo-Naturpark Bergstrasse - Odenwald, Germany
• Bohemian Paradise, Czech Republic
• Cabo de Gata-Nijar Geopark, Andalucia, Spain
• Chelmos-Vouraikos Geopark, Greece (no website as yet)
• Copper Coast Geopark, Republic of Ireland
• English Riviera Geopark, England, UK
• Fforest Fawr Geopark, Wales, UK
• GeoMon (Isle of Anglesey Geopark), Wales, UK
• Gea Norvegica Geopark, Norway
• Geological Mining Park of Sardinia, Italy
• Harz - Braunschweiger Land - Ostfalen Geopark, Germany
• Hateg Country Dinosaurs Geopark, Romania
• Reserve Naturelle Geologique de Haute Provence, France
• Lochaber Geopark, Scotland, UK
• Parc Naturel Regional de Luberon, France
• Magma Geopark, Norway
• Novohrad - Nogad Geopark, Hungary / Slovakia
• Madonie Geopark, Italy
• Parque Cultural del Maestrazgo, Spain
• Marble Arch Caves Geopark, Republic of Ireland / N. Ireland, UK
• Naturtejo Geopark, Portugal
• North Pennines AONB Geopark, England, UK
• North West Highlands Geopark, Scotland, UK
• Papuk Geopark, Croatia
• Petrified Forest of Lesvos, Greece
• Psiloritis Geopark, Greece
• Rocca di Cerere Geopark, Italy
• Shetland -Scotland, UK - NEW in Sept 2009!
• Sierras Subbeticas, Andalucia, Spain
• Sobrarbe Geopark, Aragon, Spain
• Styrian Eisenwurzen Geopark, Austria
• Swabian Alb Geopark, Germany
• Terra.Vita Geopark, Germany
• Vulkaneifel Geopark, Germany

 
Members of Global Geoparks Network outside Europe

List as at September 2009. Please be aware that the websites of most of the Chinese Geoparks are in Chinese script. However, those marked with an * are available in English language versions.

• Alxa, China
• Araripe, Brazil
• Danxiashan Geopark, China
• Fangshan Geopark, China
• Funiushan Geopark, China
• Hexigten Geopark, China
• Huangshan Geopark, China
• Itoigawa, Japan
• Jingpohu Geopark, China
• Kanawinka, Australia
• Langkawi, Malaysia
• Leiqiong Geopark, China
• Longhushan Geopark, China
• Mount Lushan Geopark, China
• Mount Taishan Geopark, China
• Qeshm, Iran
• Qinling, China
• Songshan Geopark, China
• Stone Forest Geopark (Shilin Geopark), China*
• Taining Geopark, China
• Toya Usu Volcano Geopark, Japan
• Unzen Volcanic Geopark, Japan
• Wangwushan-Daimeishan Geopark, China
• Wudalianchi Geopark, China
• Xingwen Geopark, China
• Yandangshan Geopark, China
• Yuntaishan Geopark , China*
• Zhangjiajie Sandstone Peak Forest Geopark, China
• Zigong Geopark, China

World Heritage Sites in UK

UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation) designates sites around the world which are deemed to make a significant contribution to mankind's global heritage.  Three have been designated for their nature and wildlife (including geology)within the UK:

• Giant's Causeway (& Causeway Coast)
• Jurassic Coast (Dorset & east Devon)
• St Kilda

In nearby Blaenavon an industrial landscape originating in man's exploitation of the geological riches of the area during the 19th century has also gained WHS status:

• Blaenavon

And in North Wales, the latest addition to the WHS family in the UK was made in 2009:

• Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Llangollen Canal

Other geological wonders of South & Mid Wales

• Aberdulais Falls are a few miles down the Vale of Neath from our own 'Waterfalls Country'
• Dolaugothi has been the scene of gold mining since Roman times.
• Geology of Abercraf area in the upper Swansea Valley

Missing link? 

To comment on this page please contact Fforest Fawr Geopark Development Officer, Alan Bowring.  Thankyou.