European and Global Geopark
The North Pennines AONB is also a European and Global Geopark
Britain's First
The North Pennines AONB, became the first area in Britain to be awarded the status of European Geopark in June 2003. European and Global Geoparks are supported by UNESCO. The AONB is noted for its diversity of wildlife and for its nationally recognised scenic qualities, but it also has a world-class geological heritage. This geological interest, coupled with the efforts of the AONB Staff Unit and others for its conservation and interpretation, led to the European Geopark status being conferred on the area.
Listen to the AONB Partnership's Geodiversity Officer, Elizabeth Pickett, talking to Planet Earth online about why the North Pennines European Geopark is so special. Click here to listen.
Founding Member of the Global Network
In 2004 the North Pennines AONB & European Geopark became a founding member of the Global Geoparks Network.The North Pennines AONB now joins a group of 33 similarly outstanding areas across Europe, from Ireland to Crete and from Germany to Italy. Other areas which have secured Geopark status have seen considerable benefit from it, through increased nature tourism and funding for conservation, education and helping enjoy their area's special Earth heritage. There are now over 50 members of the Global Geoparks Network, including all the European Geoparks and new members in China, Malaysia and Brazil (the beginnings of Asian and South American Networks respectively), with other continental networks being nurtured in Africa and Australasia.
The AONB Staff Unit, supported by a Geopark Advisory Group, is responsible for how the Geopark designation is operated and applied in the area, for regulating the use of the Geopark branding and for reporting progress to the European Geoparks Network Co-ordination Committee, which oversees the designation.
More Information
Find out more about the European and Global Geopark status for the North Pennines by contacting Chris Woodley-Stewart (AONB Director) or Dr Elizabeth Pickett (Geodiversity Officer) at the AONB Partnership Staff Unit on 01388 528801 (chris@northpenninesaonb.org.uk or elizabeth@northpenninesaonb.org.uk).
