teaching - Earth Science Teachers' Association

TEACHING EARTH SCIENCES ● Volume 31 ● Number 4, 2006
Figure 2
An abandoned
quarry with high
value geodiversity
in serpentinite,
Lizard, Cornwall.
The site is within a
designated ‘open
access’ area, but
has safety
problems for
visiting groups.
Geodiversity Action Plans (cGAPs) by highlighting
those quarries that make a significant contribution to
geodiversity.
Gaining access to geological sites for fieldwork
The second component of GeoValue is examining
issues of gaining legal, safe access to geological sites.
Land ownership in the UK, and who can do ‘what,
where and when’ legally on public and private land, is
complex. Basically, unless a geological site is on or visible
from a public right of way or in an area where legal
or voluntary access exists, permission from the
landowner is required if a visit is to be made without
trespassing. This would apply to most geological sites
inland in England. A geological site on ‘Open Access’
land designated by the Countryside and Rights of Way
Act (2000) can be visited without seeking further permission
if one is ‘walking freely’. There is no right to
undertake any other type of geological activity without
seeking permission from the landowner. There are further
restrictions in place within
some types of ‘Open Access’ land
and at certain times of the year.
Some abandoned quarry sites are
within areas designated as ‘Open
Access’ land. These present potential
liability issues for the landowner
if a visitor suffers injury, and leaders
of groups may need to be especially
wary (Figure 2). Whilst the
landowner has a duty of care under
the Occupiers Liability Acts (1957
and 1984) for those persons visiting
any geological site with or without
Even if a site is apparently
open, an automatic right of
access does not necessarily
exist, and there are potential
liability problems for both
the visitor and landowner
permission, especially unaccompanied children, their
responsibilities do not stretch to ensuring that there is
complete safety to every visitor in every situation. The
visitor has to be responsible largely for their own safety
and that of others.
For quarrying companies, visits by groups provide
an opportunity to develop valuable links with the local
or wider community. Access to geological features in
working quarries is wholly dependent on gaining the
permission of the operator, and adhering to their policies
and procedures. These include at least meeting
the requirements of the Quarries Regulations (1999),
the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), and the
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations
(1999). A short induction with a safety briefing
for individuals and all members of a group is usually
required as a minimum before a visit to a working
quarry takes place. Unaccompanied visits to observe
the geology without a competent person in attendance
are not permitted. Personal protective equipment has
to be worn at all times. There are increasingly severe
restrictions on pedestrians in working quarries when
mobile plant is operating and close-up access to quarry
faces usually is not permitted. These constraints affect
the ability to examine geological features at close quarters,
to make measurements or collect material,
thereby reducing the value of any visit for many individuals
and educational groups. The removal of
selected quarried material having interesting geological
features and placing it in a safe location away from
mobile plant to enable close examination would partly
mitigate any disappointment the visitor may have.
Some quarries have internal or external viewing platforms
from which the major geological features can be
seen (Figure 3).
Public bodies (e.g. government ministries) mostly
have clearly defined policies and procedures for visitors
to gain access to their land to observe the geology.
Many large charities (e.g. National Trust) owning land
operate in a similar way. There is generally a presumption
for access by these landowners to allow walking to
observe the geology, although a licence or permit is
usually required. There may be restrictions at certain
times and in some locations. The policies and procedures
by establishment bodies (e.g.
the Crown and Duchies) owning
land vary. It appears that each
request for access is assessed on its
own merits and sometimes according
to the benefit gained by the
landowner from granting the
request. Tenants (i.e. the occupier)
rather than the landowner may be
authorised or consulted before any
decision on access is made. Large
private landowners do not have
general policies or procedures for
granting access, which may be
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