On 15 April a group of DIGS members carried out conservation work at Holt Farm , Melbury Osmond, south of Yeovil.

This site is a former quarry where Jurassic Forest Marble (shelly limestone) was exploited. It would have been used for paving and damp proof courses in buildings as the flat lying shell fragments make it impermeable.

Work was carried out to clear ground vegetation using equipment paid for by financial support received Conservation UK over the past four years (site surveys). Following on from this the group cleared moss from the rock face. Apparently the last winter, mild and wet, has been ideal for moss growth! As a result of our efforts the bioclastic Forest Marble is now better exposed for study.

A small group of DIGS members spent some time at Goat Hill SSSI to clear this somewhat neglected site. It is not a DIGS site but we obtained permission from Natural England and the farmer to carry out some conservation work.

Despite the miserable weather we made good progress in a couple of hours as can be seen in the pictures. This site exposes Fullers Earth Rock, further south there is a change in lithology to clay which is seen on the Dorset Coast, for example at Hive Beach, Burton Bradstock.

On Tuesday 1 April some members of the group carried out some conservation work at the chalk pit at Tarrant Rawston.

This is an important site as it the type section for the Tarrant Chalk, part of the Upper Chalk. A nice example of the echinoid (sea urchin) Echincorys was collected from loose scree at the base of the rock face. Some vegetation clearance took place to keep the rock face clear. Litter was also collected as unfortunately fly tipping had taken place.