The English Riviera Geopark – the world's first urban GeoparkSince September 2007, Torbay has received internationalrecognition for it’s rich geological and cultural heritage.It became one of just 57 areas around the world to beendorsed by UNESCO and welcomed into the networkof Global Geoparks. Geoparks aim to protect geo-diversityand to promote geological, historical and cultural heritage tothe general public, as well as to support sustainable economicdevelopment. This status pulls together all of our wonderful heritage and celebrates iton an international stage. From a cultural perspective, Torbay provides an amazingexample of how geology influences both the history and development of an area;from the Bay’s earliest residents at Kents Cavern, through to the development ofTorre Abbey and Cockington. Not forgetting of course, its use as a safe anchorage duringthe Napoleonic Wars and the construction of the forts at Berry Head to Agatha Christie,the most published author of all time.

New animated English Riviera Geopark FilmMillie is the star of a new animated film which was commissioned to helppeople understand exactly what a Geopark is and how lucky we are tohave such a unique treasure here in Torbay. It sets outto discover the amazing story of how important our rocksare and how they help tell about the history of the planet.

To view the film log into Youtube and type in ergeopark into the search box.

Torbay’s past is hidden within its beautiful landscape and coastline. The Bay’s strikinglimestone headlands were formed around 400 million years ago when the whole areawould have been under warm tropical seas where corals thrived and trilobites scuttledacross the sea floor, a time when Torbay was in fact south of the equator! Explore theend of Hopes Nose and you’ll find fossils of the corals that lived all those years ago.Over the next 100 million years these rocks were folded and fractured, under enorm--ous pressures, as they were crumpled and pushed northwards by plate tectonic process.By 280 million years ago Torbay was at approximately the same latitude as the Saharadesert today, this is when the rocks now exposed around the inner areas of the Baywere formed. Look closely at the red sandstones around Roundham head and thepatterns you see are evidence of ancient sand dunes, whilst the jumble of rocks andstones at the eastern end of Goodrington beach are evidence of flash floods thatfollowed dramatic storms in distant mountains.

Four Seasons of Paignton Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Bandstand for Young’s ParkA public consultation, carried out by Young’s Park People, gave some verypositive feed back on the suggestion of a bandstand/performance areafor Young’s Park. 94% of over 200 people questioned said that theywould like to see a Bandstand in Young’s Park.

YPP applied to the Big Lottery for a Community Spaces grant and havebeen successful through the first stage. Now they are working veryclosely, with a Lottery Facilitator, to submit the second (and final) stageof the application.

This stage is long and involved but they are hopeful that, by Christmas,they will hear whether our application for £50,000 funding has beenapproved.

bandstand similar to this

Palace Avenue water feature

Water Feature for Palace Avenue Gardens

Coming soon!

Palace Avenue Guardians have been liaising with Torbay Council,for some time now, to have a water feature erected in these gardens.

They are now in the final stages of getting quotes to install this featureand hope to have this up and running (literally!) before

the summer is over.

Tim Eley ~ Torbay in Bloom Plus Chairman

Richard Taylor andLindsay Weaver ~ Torbay Council Parks Dept.

English Riviera Geopark Website

www.torbay.gov.uk

Paignton Zoo

Google Maps

Herald Express

Thisissouthdevon.co.uk ©YPP

Acknowledgements