Institutions

Under the umbrella of the English Riviera Geopark Organisation several key agencies work together to develop and implement the Geopark Management Plan. Their responsibilities and skills are co-ordinated through ERGO and are allocated as follows:

»Torbay Council
(www.torbay.gov.uk)
Torbay Council is the local government body and is responsible (amongst other things) for public education and cultural development, including schools, museums, libraries, sports
facilities, parks and beaches. Schools are encouraged to use the local area for field trips and, in conjunction with the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, many such visits are organised each year. These often include geological interpretation and study. The Council directly manages one museum, Torre Abbey, which is currently closed for a major repair programme, and grant-aids two other museums run by charitable trusts (Torquay and Brixham Museums, see below). Other
functions of the Council are also relevant, such as Highways and Public Transport.

»Torbay Development Agency
(www.torbay.gov.uk/index/council/torbay-partnerships/tda.htm)
The TDA is responsible for economic development, tourism and marine services, including Tor Bay Harbour. The TDA manages Torbay’s tourism development programme and has enthusiastically used the geological heritage of the Bay in its marketing material. This includes use of the Geopark logo and concept in its publications and on its website; and promotion of
Geopark cruises through its Tourist Information Centres.

»Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust
(www.countryside-trust.org.uk)
TCCT is an independent charity responsible for the management of the majority of Torbay’s public open space, including the main geological sites of importance. The Trust’s charitable objects are to carry out and encourage conservation, recreation and education programmes and it is heavily committed to protecting and promoting the area’s geology. This it does through direct site management; through its education programme, in partnership with local schools;
through its events programme, which includes around 150 events each year, many of these being of a geological nature; through on-site interpretation boards, exhibits and leaflets; and through its volunteer network which assists the Trust in its overall work.

»Torbay Cultural Partnership
This is a network of organisations representing all cultural sectors in Torbay. It includes under its wing the Torbay Heritage Forum, which works to protect and promote Torbay’s heritage and was the original sponsor of the Geopark for Torbay. The Forum includes representatives from all three museums, Kents Cavern, independent tour guides, the Torbay Civic Society and other local community groups, and the tourism sector. The Cultural Partnership also includes representatives of the arts, nature conservation, libraries, sport, youth, older people etc.

»Natural England
(www.naturalengland.org.uk)
The government agency with statutory duties for nature conservation and earth heritage in England, this agency has played an active role in direct geological conservation in Torbay for many years. This is partly through the exercise of its statutory role to protect designated sites, and partly through funding initiatives designed to improve the condition of or public awareness of the natural world.

»Devon Regionally Important Geological Sites Group
(www.devonrigs.org.uk)
Devon RIGS was established in 1991 and is a voluntary organisation exclusively concerned with geological conservation in Devon. Composed of qualified members the group seeks to promote geological conservation by working with local authorities, landowners and others. Devon RIGS works to protocols established through UKRIGS.

»University of Plymouth
(www.plymouth.ac.uk)
The University of Plymouth is one of the UK’s most prominent and dynamic universities with an educational history dating back to 1862. Consistently ranked as one of the top three modern universities, Plymouth has over 30,000 students in addition to almost 3,000 staff. The Faculty of Science which includes a School of Biological Sciences and a School of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Science is one of a only handful in the UK to achieve excellent ratings from the Higher Education Council for England (HEFCE) for every area of its undergraduate work.

»South Devon College
(www.southdevon.ac.uk)
In 2006 the 30-year old South Devon College moved to its new home in Paignton, a modern campus development with some of the best facilities in the South-West of England. Degrees offered include : integrated crafts, interior design, business, computing, early years care and education, outdoor education, exercise and fitness, hospitality management, tourism
management, visual studies. The College has close links with the University of Plymouth.

»Torbay Business Forum
The Forum brings together the varied business community of Torbay in order to promote cooperation and integrated activities. The Forum appoints a member to sit on ERGO and provides an essential link to the tourism sector in particular.

Other Geological Organisations

A range of other organisations work in the area to promote geological subjects and understanding. These include:

»The Ussher Society
(www.ussher.org.uk)
The Ussher Society named after William Augustus Edmond Ussher, was founded in 1962 to promote the study of Geology and Geomorphology of South-west England and related areas. On several occasions the society have held their annual conference in Torbay.

»British Geological Survey BGS
(www.bgs.ac.uk)
Founded in 1835, the British Geological Survey (BGS) is the world’s longest established national geological survey and the United Kingdom’s premier centre for earth science information and expertise.

»Geology Section of the Devonshire Association
(www.devonassoc.org.uk)
The Devonshire Association was founded in 1862. The DA covers the whole county and all areas of scholarly enquiry. The Geology section run activites, events and talks within the area.

»South West Regional Group of the Geological Society
(www.geolsoc.org.uk)
The South-West Regional Group (SWRG) is well established and active, and celebrated its 25th Anniversary in January 2000. It aims to provide a local regional focus for all Geological Society Fellows and activities. It arranges a regular programme of meetings and activities to meet the requirements of its active membership; including ProGeo - an annual one-day conference for professional geoscientists in the South West.

»South West Open University Geological Society
(www.swougs.org)
The South West Open University Geological Society (OUGS) organises field trips, as well as lectures, revision events, conservation and other activities. The society is open to Open University past and present students and non-students alike.