We had a successful session at King Barrow quarry on Portland this morning. Six of us worked on the fossil forest site near the road before moving over to the section in the NE of the quarry where we continued work started in February removing privet from the rock face. We also removed brambles and some cotoneaster which is starting to creep back (unfortunately). We also improved the access path and tidied up by the King Barrow sign so it can be seen. We plan to go back on another occasion to remove the scree which covers part of the rock face in the NE section.

As part of Geo-Week the DIGS group, in combination with the SGG and other local interest groups, decided to carry out some conservation work at the De la Beche unconformity site at Vallis Vale. This followed on from work carried out previously to keep this important SSSI in good condition for geological visits and shows the importance of regular conservation.

It was also nice to see (and hear!) a group of youngsters enjoying the delights of Vallis Vale under the guidance of the Somerset Earth Science Centre.

More information on the geology of Great Elm and Vallis Vale from the BGS Foundations of the Mendips.

Another successful session at Wanderwell LNR on Friday continuing to work on the two faces where Forest Marble is exposed.

Some damage to the site was cleared up following it being used as a BMX track!

Some good fossil material can be seen with careful inspection. Here are some pictures to show it now and as it was in 2008.