Geo-activities

As explained on our Home page we do not, as SGG, organize educational talks or field visits, neither do we run a calendar. However, there are events and other learning opportunities organised by other groups, museums, etc, that provide the potential to: attend talks and field meetings on geology in and adjacent to Somerset; meet others with similar interests; study geology; and/or that might inspire you to organize an activity in your part of Somerset.

Calendar –  Graeme Churchard runs an events calendar which covers Somerset at http://westcountrygeology.com/ and he can be contacted from there to submit an event, request publicity or to subscribe to his e-mailing. His blog at https://geologywestcountry.blogspot.com/ covers, for example, talks, field trips and events. Our listing below is not therefore intended to be comprehensive. 

Regular events

• Mendip Rocks Festival – is a programme of events usually held in October each year with geo walks, quarry tours and a lecture day. It is organized by Somerset Earth Science Centre (SESC) and the Mendip Hills National Landscape. See the SESC web site for a pdf with full details each year.

Three regular annual national/international events may also include activities in Somerset open to the public – or you may be interested in organizing a local activity to contribute to their programmes.  

• • GeoWeek – is a week of activities in late May co-ordinated nationally (25 May – 2 June in 2024) with information on it currently provided via University Geoscience UK’s web site.                                                                                                                                                                      
  • Earth Science Week – a week usually in October co-ordinated nationally, with information for each year currently provided by the Geological  Society.                                                                                                                                                                                                        
  • International Geodiversity Day – is a worldwide celebration held on 6 October each year, to promote the different aspects and values of geodiversity. It emerged from discussion at a Geoheritage Virtual Conference in 2020, is led by four of the conference delegates and was recognised by UNESCO in 2021. 

Groups

• U3A geology groups  – there are currently active University of the Third Age (U3A) geology groups in Taunton, Wells and Somerton in Somerset. We understand the former Minehead group is no longer active, but there is now a group in Barnstaple (in Devon, but close to Exmoor). See, for example, https://u3asites.org.uk/wells/page/73179  for the Wells group.                                                                                                            

• Open University Geological Society (OUGS) – there is no active branch in the South West at present but there are adjacent Wessex and Severn-side branches. There is no need to have studied at the OU to join the society and it welcomes new members with all levels of geological knowledge. It runs field trips throughout the UK.                                                                                                                                

• The Ussher Society – focuses on geological research in the South West, including Somerset. It holds a conference in January in most years. 

There are some other societies in Somerset that may include occasional talks on, or related to, Somerset’s geology:

• Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society (SANHS) – has a programme of talks and site visits, including events organized by its Natural History Committee and which sometimes include visits to locations/talks with aspects of geological interest.                             

• Somerset Industrial Archaeological Society (SIAS) is interested in the industrial archaeology of Somerset, with many aspects, such as lime kilns and old mining sites related to Somerset’s geology. It organizes a programme of talks, produces publications and its activities have included excavations, site surveys, ‘rescue’ operations for old machinery and the listing of significant industrial buildings. Its publications and archives are held at the Somerset Heritage Centre.

There are also geology groups in areas adjacent to Somerset that organize talks and excursions:

• The Geologists’ Association – the nearest affiliated groups are the West of England;  Dorset Geologists’ Association group, Bath Geological Society and the Geology Section of the Devonshire Association. Its national activities may well be of interest too: see its national web site for membership, publications, other resources, talks, field excursions, its annual conference and affiliated local groups and other links. 

• The Bristol Naturalist’s Society is a long-established natural history society with an area of interest extending far beyond Bristol itself, including Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The Geological Section promotes the study of rocks, fossils, minerals and landscape of the Bristol district. Outdoor activities include visits to local geological sites, many providing opportunities to collect specimens. The recent programme has been enhanced by reciprocal hospitality with other local societies. Indoor meetings are held during the winter months.

• DIGS – Part of a national network that meet at the Dorset Wildlife Trust (to which they are affiliated) every two months to discuss conservation projects, and update members on the progress of on-going conservation work at the 60 LGS sites in Dorset.

Other learning opportunities

• Ham Hill Country Park  – has a geology trail and runs a programme of activities, including on its geology.  The country park is owned by Somerset Council and has good exposures of the Lower Jurassic Ham Hill limestone: a golden-coloured limestone formed in shallow seas, unique to the Ham Hill area, and which has been quarried as a building stone for hundreds of years. The geology creates a prominent hill (hence also its archaeological interest as a hillfort) and the conditions for its flower-rich calcareous grassland. The hill top also provides excellent views, from which to consider the geology of the surrounding countryside. The Country Park is currently implementing a Lottery-funded project which includes developing a small interpretation centre and a programme of activities.   

• Somerset Earth Science Centre – is an education centre in the Mendips, with a focus on geology. It hosts schools and other groups, including arranging site visits to local quarries and other localities. It co-organizes the Mendips Rock festival each year in partnership with the Mendip Hills National Landscape (see under “Regular events” above).                                                                                                               
• Museums – see our Geo-exploring page for local museums. Several organize talks, exhibitions and other activities that may have a geological theme. 

• Schools – it is currently possible to study geology in Somerset at Wells Music School and at Richard Huish College, Taunton. These are important opportunities, as studying for O and A-level geology can be a key inspiration for young people, including providing a pathway to a range of different earth science and other careers. Several of our network members studied geology at school originally. 

• The Open University – this is another possibility. Several of our network members have studied geology as mature students through the Open University.                                                                                                                                                                                                              
• Earth Science Teachers Association – is a national association for those teaching geology.

• University Geoscience UK  – is a national organisation that represents all university earth science departments, with its web site aimed at encouraging the study of earth sciences.

• The Geological Society also has a section of its web site covering educational opportunities. 

Page last revised April 2025.