Rock festival with a difference celebrates 50 years of Northumberland Wildlife Trust

A rock festival with a difference has been organised by Northumberland Wildlife Trust.
Geologist Ian Jackson.Geologist Ian Jackson.
Geologist Ian Jackson.

As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, trustee and geologist Ian Jackson will reveal the real life geological secrets of a number of well-known and some well-hidden sites around the region.

The event is being held virtually via the Northumberland Wildlife Trust website www.nwt.org.uk/rock-festival.

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Each month, there will be a downloadable walking trail so people will be able to visit places where they can see where earthquakes have bent solid rock, visit a 400 million year old volcano, walk over a bog that started when the last glacier left 15000 years ago, and even hunt the fossils of animals that lived 300 million years ago in a warm coral sea.

Sugar Sands Bay, near Longhoughton. Picture: Ian JacksonSugar Sands Bay, near Longhoughton. Picture: Ian Jackson
Sugar Sands Bay, near Longhoughton. Picture: Ian Jackson

Later in the year, there’s the possibility of activities for children.

Ian said: “This region is blessed with outstanding rocks and landscape - rocks and geology play a very special role in the landscape, wildlife and history of the region.

"Just think without the once molten rocks of our world famous Whin Sill Crags, Emperor Hadrian wouldn’t have had anywhere to build his Wall.

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“Even though it’s not as obvious anymore, we all owe a lot to our rocks. Coal and lead mining used to provide the jobs for many northeastern families.

Linhope Spout, near Ingram.Linhope Spout, near Ingram.
Linhope Spout, near Ingram.

“Most of our towns and villages would not exist without them and all our lives would be very different.

“Every one of these 50 geo-sites has a very special story to tell. From rocky connections with our landscape and wildlife, to the history and the origins of our heritage and culture.”

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