A selection of websites which may be of interest
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:
and across the globe:
Take a look at maps of the European Geoparks Network and of the Global Geoparks Network.
National organisations
A selection of relevant organisations’ websites:
- British Geological Survey (BGS) – the world’s oldest national geological survey and the premier UK centre for earth science information and expertise.
- Coflein (RCAHMW)
- Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) – the Government’s statutory advisor on sustaining natural beauty, wildlife and outdoor enjoyment opportunities in Wales.
- Forestry Commission Wales – the ‘forestry department’ responsible for managing the 38% of Welsh woodlands owned by the Welsh Assembly Government.
- Geology Rocks
- National Stone Centre
- National Trust
- National Museum Wales
- Mineral Products Association
- 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
Festivals
Aside from our own Fforest Fawr Geopark Festival which in 2012 takes place between 26th May and 10th June, there are other excellent opportunities for an introduction to the landscapes and cultural heritage of the wider region such as the Crickhowell Walking Festival (25th February to 4th March), the Gower Walking Festival (9th to 24th June), the Roots and Routes Festival (throughout the year within the east of the Brecon Beacons National Park, exploring links between the Blaenavon World Heritage Site and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal), the Wales Valleys Walking Festival (September) and finally the Hay Walking Festival (October 2012).
Full list of European Geoparks
A full list of all 48 members of the EGN as at September 2011. Those within the UK and Ireland are shown in bold:
- Adamello-Brenta Geopark, Italy
- Apuan Alps, Italy NEW in 2011
- Arouca Geopark – Portugal
- Basque Coast - Pais Vasco, Spain NEW in 2011
- Geopark de Massif des Bauges, France NEW in 2011
- Beigua Geopark, Italy
- Geo-Naturpark Bergstrasse – Odenwald, Germany
- Bohemian Paradise, Czech Republic
- Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark, Republic of Ireland NEW in 2011
- Cabo de Gata-Nijar Geopark, Andalucia, Spain
- Chelmos-Vouraikos Geopark, Greece
- Parco Nazionale del Cilento e Vallo di Diano, Campania – Italy
- 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
- Katla Geopark, Iceland NEW! in 2011
- Parc Naturel Regional de Luberon, France
- Magma Geopark, Norway
- Novohrad – Nograd Geopark, Hungary / Slovakia
- Madonie Geopark, Italy
- Parque Cultural del Maestrazgo, Spain
- Marble Arch Caves Geopark, Republic of Ireland / N. Ireland, UK
- Muskau Arch, Germany / Poland - NEW in March 2011!
- 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
- Rokua Geopark – Finland
- Shetland – Scotland, UK
- Sierra Norte de Seville Natural Park, Spain NEW in 2011
- Sierras Subbeticas, Andalucia, Spain
- Sobrarbe Geopark, Aragon, Spain
- Styrian Eisenwurzen Geopark, Austria
- Swabian Alb Geopark, Germany
- Terra.Vita Geopark, Germany
- Tuscan Mining Park, Toscana – Italy
- Vikos-Aoos Geopark – Greece
- Villuercas Ibores Geopark, Spain NEW in 2011
- 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 Desert, China
- Araripe, Brazil
- Danxiashan Geopark, China
- Dong Van Karst Plateau, Vietnam
- Fangshan Geopark, China
- Funiushan Geopark, China
- Hexigten Geopark, China
- Hong Kong, China
- Huangshan Geopark, China
- Itoigawa, Japan
- Jeju Island, Republic of Korea
- Jingpohu Geopark, China
- Kanawinka, Australia
- Langkawi, Malaysia
- Leiqiong Geopark, China
- Leye-Fengshan, China
- Longhushan Geopark, China
- Mount Lushan Geopark, China
- Mount Taishan Geopark, China
- Ningde, China
- Qeshm Island, Iran
- Qinling, China
- San’in Kaigan, Japan
- Songshan Geopark, China
- Stone Forest Geopark (Shilin Geopark), China*
- Stonehammer Geopark, Canada
- Taining Geopark, China
- Tianzhushan 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 (off NW coast of Scotland)
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:
And in North Wales, the latest addition to the WHS family in the UK, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Llangollen Canal, was made in 2009. It joins the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd which was inscribed on the list in 1986
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.