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News from the Geopark

Students Going Underground

TORQUAY tourist attraction Kents Cavern is now on the syllabus for University of Exeter students. The visits are the result of a new collaboration between the English Riviera Global Geopark and the University of Exeter.

Third year students will now visit Kents Cavern as part of the school of geography's module on geochronological dating as a case study for climate change and dating.

The cavern's unique record of geological and ancient human heritage in the cave was instrumental in bringing UNESCO Global Geopark status to the English Riviera in 2007.

Dr Tim Barrows, who led a group of 26 students on the field trip, said: "We are using Kents Cavern as a case study because of the wide range of materials and dating techniques which can be applied here. "We are lucky enough to have a world class paleontological and archaeological site within half an hour's drive from Exeter, so it is an excellent and logical addition to our curriculum. A hands-on approach makes it much easier to teach in the field. "I can teach in two hours what it would take two weeks in the classroom." 

Tim Barrows recently moved to Exeter from Australia and is an expert on climate change.  He recently appeared in the National Geographic Channel production Death of the Megabeasts, which looked at the causes for the extinction of the Australian megafauna, a collection of giant marsupials, reptiles and birds.  A series of extinctions also occurred in the British Isles and Kents Cavern has a record of climate change that links to these events.

Nick Powe, owner of Kents Cavern, added: "The UNESCO Global Geopark designation is putting Kents Cavern and the English Riviera back on the map when it comes to attracting interest from educational and scientific institutions.

"This new collaboration with Exeter is very exciting for the Geopark.  We are beginning to see the Geopark becoming a powerful catalyst for forging new and important links with educational, cultural and heritage establishments. 

"This has to be good news for the long-term ambitions of the English Riviera, using the UNESCO designation to bring economic benefits to the resort from sectors other than traditional tourism."

A new field guide to Kents Cavern written by Prof Don McFarlane and Dr Joyce Lundberg, from North America, and published by the William Pengelly Cave Studies Trust explains how climate change is recorded in Kents Cavern.  It costs £5 from the Kents Cavern shop