The geomorphological evolution and Quaternary history of South-West England: a rationale for the selection and conservation of sites

Abstract

The prime aim of the Geological Conservation Review (GCR) was to select sites for conservation which are of at least national, that is British, importance to the sciences of geology and geo-morphology; more than 3000 sites have been selected. The full rationale of the GCR and the detailed criteria and guidelines used in site selection are given elsewhere (Crowther and Wimbledon, 1988; Allen et al., 1989; Gordon and Campbell, 1992; Gordon and Sutherland, 1993; Gordon, 1994; Wimbledon et al., 1995; Ellis et al., 1996): this volume presents the detailed scientific justification for the selection of sites representing the Quaternary interests of South-West England. A broad categorization of geological and geomorpho-logical subject matter (e.g. the major subdivisions of the geological timescale) is a prerequisite to site selection. Of the c. 100 site selection categories used by the GCR, 24 are concerned with geomor-phology and the Quaternary, reflecting the particularly widespread nature and diversity of the evidence. This volume describes sites selected in two ‘blocks’ of the GCR — the ‘Quaternary of South-West England’ and the ‘Quaternary of Somerset’.