The panels feature illustrations by artist Shane Feeney and depict the landscape, flora and fauna that existed in South Gloucestershire hundreds of millions of years ago. The images show how the landscape was covered in turn, by tropical seas, mountain ranges, deserts and the Jurassic sea. Dave Villis, ecological officer with South Gloucestershire Council, said: "These information panels are wonderful and provide people with vivid, memorable images of how the landscape of South Gloucestershire has changed over almost unimaginable periods of time. "Hopefully they will encourage children and adults alike to take a closer interest in the geological heritage of the South Gloucestershire area." Four of the information panels can be found at :
- Shortwood clay pits
- Wick Golden Valley local nature reserve
- Cromhall
- Chipping Sodbury
- Another two can be found at Aust Cliff; one on the coast path and the other at the service station
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A further three information panels will then be put up in 2007 at sites in Hawkesbury Upton, Codrington and Cromhall. "The project could not have gone ahead without a great deal of assistance from other parties, including the good will and help of the landowners involved with each board, and the assistance of English Nature, who managed the funding of the project," said Dave. The total cost of the project was £78,000 and it is due to run over a two-year period until April 2007. Funding for the project has also meant that the group is able to carry out the work of surveying and recording each of South Gloucestershire's most important geological sites. This includes noting any management work that might be required to safeguard the sites' interest in the future. A booklet and website are currently being produced and the site is planned to go live in 2007. Both will both provide more specific information, on both the geology of local sites in the area and the formation of its landscape, for a range of groups, including schools. |