Local Geological Sites
Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) for Somerset were first collated by Hugh Prudden (1929-2015) as Honorary Secretary of the Somerset Geology Group. Site details were lodged with the Somerset Environmental Records Centre (SERC), the Dorset Geologists’ Association Group (DGAG, Hugh Prudden was a founding member) and UKRIGS (now GeoConservationUK).
Many Somerset sites have also been detailed in Hugh Prudden’s publications:
- Prudden, H C (1991) Site recording in west Somerset in Geology Today 7, 201-202
- Prudden, H C and Anderson, M (1992) The survey of west Somerset’s geological sites in Nature in Somerset 26, 29
- Prudden, H C (1993) Site recording and farmers a personal view in Earth Science Conservation 33, 27-28
- Ham Hill – the rocks and quarries (1995) South Somerset District Council.
- Geology and Landscape of Taunton Deane - A geological exploration of south west Somerset (2001) Taunton Deane Borough Council.
- Somerset Geology - A Good Rock Guide (2004)
- Rocks and landscape in and around Yeovil (2005) South Somerset District Council
In 2007 Hugh Prudden was awarded the R. H. Worth Prize by the Geological Society of London, recognizing his work in bringing local geology to the notice of the public. He was also awarded the Halstead Medal by the Geologists’ Association in 1994. Hugh Prudden’s research has been archived in the Somerset Heritage Centre.
For up-to-date information about Local Geological Sites (LGS) in Somerset, please visit the Somerset Geology Group hosted by the Somerset Environmental Records Centre