County Geology Sites
Cornwall has nearly 130 designated County Geology Sites (CGS). They illustrate a wide range of Cornish geology and geomorphology that are regionally important and worth conserving for either their scientific, educational, and/or historic value. Some have an additional high aesthetic value. CGS in Cornwall used to be called Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) and this name remains in use in some other counties in UK. CGS do not have statutory status, so they are not protected by law, unlike Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). However, they are recognised by Cornwall Council as having value and Cornwall Geoconservation Group are a consultee on planning applications that might affect any CGS.
Designation of CGS involves a formal process of a proposal being made by an individual, such as a professional or amateur geoscientist or other person. It is then considered by the Cornwall Geoconservation Group at one of their meetings. If recommended for approved, the documentation goes to a Local Sites Partnership Meeting where it is further discussed and, if approved, designation is given. The Local Stes Partnership includes representatives from Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Natural England, Cornwall Council and Cornwall Geoconservation Group. Once approved a map showing the site bounday and a summary of the designation is then provided to the Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS) for inclusion in their database and map. The site name, its location and a further site summary can be found on the map. The site boundary of all CGS is also shown as a layer on the Cornwall Council Interactive map.
Details of Cornwall's County Geology Sites, edited and updated from the information provided during the site designation process, is given in the form of an edited Excel database here. Further infomation on site designation and an explanation of the database columns is given here
CGS do not duplicate geoconservation areas in Cornwall which are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) because of their geological or geomorphological features. Geological SSSIs are of national importance and are the responsibility of the Joint Committee for Nature Conservation (JNCC) and Natural England. A few CGS are within areas of SSSIs. This is because the area of the SSSI does not cover the feature of interest that is recognised for designation as a CGS. For example, the West Lizard Cliffs are SSSIs for the national importance of their sedimentary / igneous / metamorphic rocks and their structures. They are a CGS for their varied geomorphological features.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
SSSIs are areas of land or water that best represent the UK’s natural heritage because of their flora, fauna, geology or geomorphology. They have statutory protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) as amended (see Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981). Those designated for their geology or geomorphology are known as Geological Conservation Review (GCR) Sites (see Geological Conservation | JNCC - Adviser to Government on Nature Conservation) because they were mostly selected during a comprehensive review of the UK’s geological and geomorphological heritage during the period 1977-90. In Cornwall many of them overlap with SSSI designated for their flora and fauna. SSSI are shown in Cornwall Council Interactive Map. All UK GCR Sites are listed at GCR sites | JNCC - Adviser to Government on Nature Conservation. Sites are grouped in Blocks according to geological criteria (e.g. igneous rocks, mineralogy, position in stratigraphy), not geographical. A list of all of the large number of GCR geological and geomorphological sites in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly is given here. They include large areas of coastline with cliffs and foreshore rock exposures, many inland working or former quarries, some abandoned mine dumps and some natural inland rock exposures.