We’d love you to join us
You can attend a range of outdoor events and activities as a member of Bedfordshire Geology Group. We offer a wide variety of events to suit everyone. We arrange field trips, often jointly with other organisations, walks, talks, quarry visits, work parties to restore rock exposures, out of county visits, rock & fossil workshops, museum visits and more.
Non-members are welcome to attend one event for free. Members receive further details about events by email. We hope to see you soon!
Non-members are welcome to attend one event for free. Members receive further details about events by email. We hope to see you soon!
Our next events
Monthly ZOOM Get Together
Join us for our monthly ZOOM session to chat about all things geology, whether that's interesting places you've been, recent events in the news or just to catch up with your fellow members over a cup of tea or coffee, pint of beer or a glass of wine.
The session will be in two parts. Part 1 will run from 7.30pm until 8pm and then a short break followed by a further half hour session for discussion.
Please join us.
NEXT GET-TOGETHER IS: 17th Mar 2021
WHEN: Every third Wednesday in the month
WHERE: BGG ZOOM Room
TIME: 7.30pm - 8.30pm
Receive the ZOOM link by booking your place using the button below or emailing the secretary at secretary@bedfordshiregoelogygroup.org.uk
Join us for our monthly ZOOM session to chat about all things geology, whether that's interesting places you've been, recent events in the news or just to catch up with your fellow members over a cup of tea or coffee, pint of beer or a glass of wine.
The session will be in two parts. Part 1 will run from 7.30pm until 8pm and then a short break followed by a further half hour session for discussion.
Please join us.
NEXT GET-TOGETHER IS: 17th Mar 2021
WHEN: Every third Wednesday in the month
WHERE: BGG ZOOM Room
TIME: 7.30pm - 8.30pm
Receive the ZOOM link by booking your place using the button below or emailing the secretary at secretary@bedfordshiregoelogygroup.org.uk
Greensand Country Festival
During the month of May is Greensand Country Festival, when we celebrate this beautiful and unique landscape.
Join us at one, or all of our events that we will be holding during the month.
Our first event for the festival will be a guided walk through the heart of Greensand Country. Find out what is Greensand and why does it make the area special? You’ll also enjoy seeing the lovely countryside around Ampthill and visit some interesting buildings. The route crosses Ampthill Park and uses public paths in town and across fields. Walking boots are advisable.
WHEN: Wednesday 5th May 2021
WHERE: Ampthill Park. Meet in Ampthill Park west Car Park off the B530,
Woburn Street, Ampthill, MK45 2HX
OS Grid Reference TL024382.
TIME: 10 am start.
Book your place by emailing the secretary at
secretary@bedfordshiregoelogygroup.org.uk
Our second event is an online lecture. If you enjoyed the walk through Ampthill, or didn't get chance to join the walk, and want to learn more then join us for this short introduction to Bedfordshire's geology. It will answer the questions of what is beneath your feet? What rocks shape the Greensand Country landscape? How old is this beautiful and unique area we live in?
Join us via Zoom to find out.
WHEN: Wednesday 19th May 2021
WHERE: BGG ZOOM Room
TIME: 7.00pm - 7.30pm
Receive the ZOOM link by booking your place using the button below or emailing the secretary at secretary@bedfordshiregoelogygroup.org.uk
During the month of May is Greensand Country Festival, when we celebrate this beautiful and unique landscape.
Join us at one, or all of our events that we will be holding during the month.
Our first event for the festival will be a guided walk through the heart of Greensand Country. Find out what is Greensand and why does it make the area special? You’ll also enjoy seeing the lovely countryside around Ampthill and visit some interesting buildings. The route crosses Ampthill Park and uses public paths in town and across fields. Walking boots are advisable.
WHEN: Wednesday 5th May 2021
WHERE: Ampthill Park. Meet in Ampthill Park west Car Park off the B530,
Woburn Street, Ampthill, MK45 2HX
OS Grid Reference TL024382.
TIME: 10 am start.
Book your place by emailing the secretary at
secretary@bedfordshiregoelogygroup.org.uk
Our second event is an online lecture. If you enjoyed the walk through Ampthill, or didn't get chance to join the walk, and want to learn more then join us for this short introduction to Bedfordshire's geology. It will answer the questions of what is beneath your feet? What rocks shape the Greensand Country landscape? How old is this beautiful and unique area we live in?
Join us via Zoom to find out.
WHEN: Wednesday 19th May 2021
WHERE: BGG ZOOM Room
TIME: 7.00pm - 7.30pm
Receive the ZOOM link by booking your place using the button below or emailing the secretary at secretary@bedfordshiregoelogygroup.org.uk
Past events
Virtual AGM via Zoom
Thank you for joining us at the AGM, we had a number of members join us but sadly, none wished to join the committee. With Covid restrictions in place we are continuing with our online program during the coming months. We discovered that there is a new project on the horizon which looks at our geological SSSIs.
IF you can spare some time to help out the committee please contact us.
WHEN: Wednesday 4th November 2020
WHERE: BGG ZOOM classroom
TIME: 7.30pm - 8.30pm
Thank you for joining us at the AGM, we had a number of members join us but sadly, none wished to join the committee. With Covid restrictions in place we are continuing with our online program during the coming months. We discovered that there is a new project on the horizon which looks at our geological SSSIs.
IF you can spare some time to help out the committee please contact us.
WHEN: Wednesday 4th November 2020
WHERE: BGG ZOOM classroom
TIME: 7.30pm - 8.30pm
ZOOM DISCUSSION: Recent earthquakes and your experiences
Join us for a short ZOOM session to discuss the recent 3.3 magnitude earthquake felt at Leighton Buzzard. Share your experiences of this earthquake, or if you have been caught in others worldwide, we'd love to hear about your experiences. The session can be in two parts. Part 1 will run from 7.30 pm until 8pm and then a short break followed by a further half hour session if you want one. We hope you can join us.
WHEN: Wednesday 16th September 2020
WHERE: BGG ZOOM 2 classroom
TIME: 7.30pm - 8.45pm
Receive the ZOOM link by booking your place using the button below.
Join us for a short ZOOM session to discuss the recent 3.3 magnitude earthquake felt at Leighton Buzzard. Share your experiences of this earthquake, or if you have been caught in others worldwide, we'd love to hear about your experiences. The session can be in two parts. Part 1 will run from 7.30 pm until 8pm and then a short break followed by a further half hour session if you want one. We hope you can join us.
WHEN: Wednesday 16th September 2020
WHERE: BGG ZOOM 2 classroom
TIME: 7.30pm - 8.45pm
Receive the ZOOM link by booking your place using the button below.
ZOOM DISCUSSION: Review of BGG visit to Broom South quarry
Join us for a short ZOOM session to discuss the recent visit to Broom South Quarry. We will have a short slideshow where you can participate in a discussion about some of the findings from the day. The session will be in two parts. Part 1 will run from 7.30 pm until 8pm and then a short break followed by a further half hour session. We hope you can join us.
WHEN: Wednesday 19th August 2020
WHERE: BGG ZOOM 2 classroom
TIME: 7.30pm - 8.45pm
Receive the ZOOM link by booking your place using the button below.
Join us for a short ZOOM session to discuss the recent visit to Broom South Quarry. We will have a short slideshow where you can participate in a discussion about some of the findings from the day. The session will be in two parts. Part 1 will run from 7.30 pm until 8pm and then a short break followed by a further half hour session. We hope you can join us.
WHEN: Wednesday 19th August 2020
WHERE: BGG ZOOM 2 classroom
TIME: 7.30pm - 8.45pm
Receive the ZOOM link by booking your place using the button below.
FIELD TRIP: BGG visit to Broom South Quarry
Tarmac have been operating this quarry for about three years now, extracting sand and gravel from the fluvioglacial deposits in the Ivel valley upstream from Biggleswade. A few members joined the Tarmac site supervisor for a guided tour of this working quarry. Although no sedimentary structures were visible, some fascinating rock and fossils were collected by members.
WHEN: Thursday 6th August 2020
WHERE: Broom Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire SG18 9JH
Tarmac have been operating this quarry for about three years now, extracting sand and gravel from the fluvioglacial deposits in the Ivel valley upstream from Biggleswade. A few members joined the Tarmac site supervisor for a guided tour of this working quarry. Although no sedimentary structures were visible, some fascinating rock and fossils were collected by members.
WHEN: Thursday 6th August 2020
WHERE: Broom Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire SG18 9JH
Examples of our usual events
A selection of past events to give you an idea of what will usually be on offer:
TALK: The geology of the Chilterns and the impact on HS2
Dr Haydon Bailey, a micropalaeontologist and chalk expert described the geological problems associated with choosing the best route for the proposed HS2 railway route. He discussed the features of chalk, its role as an aquifer, drainage and the adverse effect tunnelling in the chalk would have on the water table. This talk was held at the Husborne Crawley Reading Rooms.
DATE: March 1st 2020
FULL REPORT: Spring 2020 Newsletter, page 1
FIELD TRIP: Joint field trip with Reading Geological Society
Visitors from Reading joined us to investigate the Lower Greensand geology of Potton and Sandy Lodge Nature Reserve. We visited the quarry at Potton where BGG had previously cleared a face for educational purposes, installing railings and a ramp for disabled access. Leaders discussed the greensand geology, its composition, palaeoenvironment, iron-rich nodules, the coprolite fertiliser industry and structural features.
DATE: August 17th 2019
FULL REPORT: Autumn 2019 Newsletter, page 1
WALK: The proposed GCLP (Greensand Country Landscape Partnership) Western Geotrail from Rushmere Park
This was a circular walk of around 5 miles to finalise a new geotrail on the western flank of the Greensand ridge. It followed the Greensand Ridge Walk through wooded Rushmere Park to Great Brickhill. Then across fields towards Rammamere and through Stockgrove Park. Evidence of old greensand quarry workings, dry glacial valleys and glacial deposition were seen in the parks.
DATE: February 24th 2019
FULL REPORT: Spring 2019 Newsletter, page 6
SITE CLEARANCE: Kensworth quarry face clearance
BGG maintain a quarry face at Kensworth Nature Reserve which requires clearance of vegetation to expose a fresh chalk face. From time to time we organise a team armed with brushes, trowels and hoes to clear the face and expose flint nodules, faults and solution features. This site is a registered Local Geology Site located next to Kensworth working quarry, a SSSI geological location. Although physical work was involved this was a fun day out, finding fossils and finished with a picnic!
DATE: April 8th 2017
FULL REPORT: Summer 2017 Newsletter, page 1
MUSEUM: Visit to Sedgwick museum of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge
An interesting morning was spent at this historical museum where a magnificent Iguanodon skeleton welcomed our group at the entrance. This is one of the oldest intact collections of rocks, fossils and minerals, mostly housed in original Victorian cabinets. Notable was the Darwin field notebook and one of William Smith’s original geological maps.
DATE: January 16th 2019
FULL REPORT: Spring 2019 Newsletter, page 9
All of our past newsletters are available to download from the Newsletter Archive. You can view our current Newsletter on the Publications page
TALK: The geology of the Chilterns and the impact on HS2
Dr Haydon Bailey, a micropalaeontologist and chalk expert described the geological problems associated with choosing the best route for the proposed HS2 railway route. He discussed the features of chalk, its role as an aquifer, drainage and the adverse effect tunnelling in the chalk would have on the water table. This talk was held at the Husborne Crawley Reading Rooms.
DATE: March 1st 2020
FULL REPORT: Spring 2020 Newsletter, page 1
FIELD TRIP: Joint field trip with Reading Geological Society
Visitors from Reading joined us to investigate the Lower Greensand geology of Potton and Sandy Lodge Nature Reserve. We visited the quarry at Potton where BGG had previously cleared a face for educational purposes, installing railings and a ramp for disabled access. Leaders discussed the greensand geology, its composition, palaeoenvironment, iron-rich nodules, the coprolite fertiliser industry and structural features.
DATE: August 17th 2019
FULL REPORT: Autumn 2019 Newsletter, page 1
WALK: The proposed GCLP (Greensand Country Landscape Partnership) Western Geotrail from Rushmere Park
This was a circular walk of around 5 miles to finalise a new geotrail on the western flank of the Greensand ridge. It followed the Greensand Ridge Walk through wooded Rushmere Park to Great Brickhill. Then across fields towards Rammamere and through Stockgrove Park. Evidence of old greensand quarry workings, dry glacial valleys and glacial deposition were seen in the parks.
DATE: February 24th 2019
FULL REPORT: Spring 2019 Newsletter, page 6
SITE CLEARANCE: Kensworth quarry face clearance
BGG maintain a quarry face at Kensworth Nature Reserve which requires clearance of vegetation to expose a fresh chalk face. From time to time we organise a team armed with brushes, trowels and hoes to clear the face and expose flint nodules, faults and solution features. This site is a registered Local Geology Site located next to Kensworth working quarry, a SSSI geological location. Although physical work was involved this was a fun day out, finding fossils and finished with a picnic!
DATE: April 8th 2017
FULL REPORT: Summer 2017 Newsletter, page 1
MUSEUM: Visit to Sedgwick museum of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge
An interesting morning was spent at this historical museum where a magnificent Iguanodon skeleton welcomed our group at the entrance. This is one of the oldest intact collections of rocks, fossils and minerals, mostly housed in original Victorian cabinets. Notable was the Darwin field notebook and one of William Smith’s original geological maps.
DATE: January 16th 2019
FULL REPORT: Spring 2019 Newsletter, page 9
All of our past newsletters are available to download from the Newsletter Archive. You can view our current Newsletter on the Publications page
