Conservation of glacial deposits in Great Britain: A framework for assessment and protection of sites of special scientific interest

Abstract

Glacial deposits are a significant component of the geomorphology of the British landscape and are accorded varying degrees of protection, both explicitly and implicitly, through a range of site and landscape designations. This paper addresses the assessment and protection of a national network of sites selected for the Geological Conservation Review on scientific grounds to represent the most important elements of the landforms and sediments that make up the subglacial, supraglacial, glaciated valley and glaciomarine systems that occur in Great Britain. Site assessment objectives and procedures are outlined, and the existing statutory support for site protection is explained. Glacial landforms and deposits are subject to a range of development threats, but in some cases experience has shown that an approach involving co-operation with developers at an early stage can be highly successful in ensuring an adequate safequard of the scientific interest at the selected sitesin the long term.