Partners

Our Geopark

The English Riviera Geopark relies on a network of partnerships to help manage, promote and protect our geological heritage.

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Working in
Partnership

The Geopark relies on a network of partnerships to help manage our geological heritage and all that makes the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark extraordinary.  It is this collaborative approach that brings the Geopark alive for the local community and visitors to engage with.

All Core and Associate partners, alongside the Geopark Arts Ambassadors, commit to the goals and ethos of the Geopark through signed agreements and policy documents.  

Working with the Geopark, the partners allocate their own resources (time, people and funding) to projects, events and activities embedded and aligned with the remit of a UNESCO Global Geopark, particularly in generating sustainable economic and social benefit.  

Our Core Partners

Integrating the Geopark into their daily operations and all dedicate time to the Geopark Management Group.

  • A rocky island with green vegetation surrounded by calm blue water under a partly cloudy sky.

    Torbay Council

    The area’s local authority promotes the Geopark in all areas of its work.

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  • Two hikers with walking poles and backpacks walk along a grassy hill overlooking the ocean with a rocky, moss-covered island in the water. In the background, there are rolling hills with patches of green farmland and a distant shoreline.

    English Riviera BID Company

    The region’s Business Improvement District (BID) allows local businesses to work together to improve their trading environment. The ERBID is a private sector led, not-for-profit limited company, governed by a board of levy payers (or equivalent voluntary financial contributors). Members of the BID support the marketing of the Geopark on a local, regional, national and international level.

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  • Looking up at a modern glass skyscraper through an opening between other buildings

    University of Plymouth

    With strengths in geosciences, environmental sciences and marine sciences, staff and students from the university are involved in geological research within the Geopark. They also provide geological expertise and advice on the interpretation and communication of these sciences.

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  • Four people are inside a large cave with reddish-brown walls and formations. One person is talking or giving a tour, while the other three listen attentively. The scene is illuminated with artificial lights.

    Kents Cavern

    This prehistoric cave network is one of the most important Stone Age sites in Europe. There is a record of ancient human occupation going back 500,000 years. The caves — open for guided tours all year — are a protected national monument and a site of special scientific interest.

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  • Group of people gathered outdoors in front of a building, posing for a photo.

    Torbay Communities

    Torbay Communities (originally the Torbay Community Development Trust) encourages local voices to be included in decision-making to make sure residents benefit from the area’s geological and cultural heritage.

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  • A historic stone building with a clock tower, featuring Gothic-style windows and a crenellated parapet, under a partly cloudy sky.

    Torre Abbey

    Established in 1196, Torre Abbey is a museum, art gallery and Ancient Scheduled Monument, set within 18-acres of garden and parkland. It is the English Riviera Geopark’s most important building in terms of heritage.

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  • An older man and five children observing a display case with animal bones and fossils in a classroom or museum setting.

    Torquay Museum

    The museum works with the English Riviera Geopark Organisation (ERGO), developing projects to celebrate and explore our incredible environment. There are trails, activities and displays, including rocks and fossils that chart the early history of South Devon.

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  • The brick facade of the Brixham Heritage Museum building with blue lettering sign, three small vertically aligned stone-framed windows, and banners with historic images and text

    Brixham Heritage Museum

    The museum’s collection includes more than 10,000 objects, as well as displays relating to the area’s geology and Neolithic past. There is also a library and archive open to researchers by appointment. Brixham Heritage Museum offers a variety of educational programs for children and adults, including school visits, family activities, and guided tours.

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  • A large historic stone building with multiple chimneys and a slate roof, surrounded by a manicured garden with paths, benches, and blooming flowers. In the background, there is a lush green forest under a partly cloudy sky.

    Cockington Court

    Historic Cockington Court is a creative hub, set within 450 acres of parkland. There’s a grade II listed, 16th century manor house, plus artist and maker studios and workshops, all within easy walking distance of the beautiful thatched village of Cockington.

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  • Four people in a meeting room engaged in discussion, smiling and looking at each other. One woman stands, wearing a blue sleeveless top, another woman is seated with her back to the camera, and two men are visible, one with a tablet and one with a laptop, all smiling.

    South Devon College

    A further education college which offers professional and technical vocational qualifications with a wide range of apprenticeships and bespoke training. The curriculum is designed in partnership with employers and delivered by dedicated and passionate tutors with relevant industry experience.

    Adult and community learning in Brixham, Torquay and Paignton also provide wonderful opportunities, courses and events all year round.

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Our associate partners

Help raise awareness and engagement of local people and visitors with the Geopark through their activities.

Arizan Gallery

Babbacombe Cliff Railway

Doorstep Arts

ER Walking Tours

Filament CIC

Friends of Vigilance

Groundwork

International Agatha Christie Festival

Nicola Bianca Yoga

Offshore Shellfish

Paignton Pleasure Cruises

Palace Theatre

Peoples Parkfield

Pilgrim Heritage Foundation

Play Torbay

Reach Outdoors

Rock Solid Coasteering

Sae Kayak Torbay

Shoalstone Pool

Soak Lifestyle

Sustainable Earth Institute

Taleblazers

The Cove Discovery Project

The Guardhouse Café

The Seal Project

Tonic Creatives

Torbay Cleaner Coasts Initiative

Torbay National Coastwatch

Unique Devon Tours

Arts Ambassadors

The Geopark Arts Ambassadors scheme is managed through Associate Partner Artizan Gallery. The ambassadors are a wonderful representation of Torbay’s creative community who are directly inspired by the area and who directly celebrate the environment, heritage and culture recognised by the Geopark designation.  Since the schemes initiation in 2019 a wealth of exhibitions and artist in residence opportunities have been realised.  

International Partners

All UNESCO Global Geoparks are encouraged to form international partnerships with other Geoparks. The aim is to form new working links, as well as strengthen existing relationships. This is done through exchanging scientific information, communicating best practice and collaborating in areas, such as research, education and training.

The English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark has signed agreements with three other UNESCO Global Geoparks

Scenic view of a dam with water reservoirs, surrounded by green mountains, under a clear blue sky with the sun shining.
Digital topographic map with lines and elevation contours in white against a black background, showing terrain features.
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Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, Hong Kong, China

Agreement signed in November 2009

With its urban location and stunning coastal scenery, the Hong Kong Geopark shares many similarities with our own Geopark, including amazing sea caves, wave-cut platforms, arches and sandy beaches.

The Hong Kong Geopark is home to one of the world’s largest collections of hexagonal rock columns. These igneous rocks reach up to 30 metres high and were formed through volcanic activity approximately 140 million years ago.

Traditional wooden house with curved roof, balconies, and hanging clothes surrounded by lush green trees.
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Zhangjiajie UNESCO Global Geopark, Hunan Province, China

Line drawing of a mountain range with steep cliffs and a forested hillside.

Agreement signed in September 2016

There are four scenic areas in this UNESCO Global Geopark — Zhangjiajie, Suoxiyu, Tianzishan and Yangjiajie — featuring 40 geosites of national significance and 12 of international significance. Zhangjiajie features sandstone peak forest landforms, karst caves, water bodies and other landforms. Famously, the territory was used for filming the blockbuster movie Avatar.

A shrine with a stone statue of a seated figure, possibly a Buddhist figure, inside a cave. The shrine is framed by white stone pillars with Chinese characters and decorative lanterns hanging on both sides.
A digital topographic map with contour lines in pale green on a black background, depicting elevation changes and terrain features.

Tianzhushan UNESCO Global Geopark, Anhui Province, China

Agreement signed in June 2017

This Geopark takes its name from Tianzhushan mountain, known locally as a towering pillar holding up the sky. The area has 47 peaks towering more than 1000 metres in elevation, as well as caves, waterfalls, wells and streams. The region is also known as the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and is home to the 1,500-year-old Sanzu Temple, which remains open to visitors.