Scotland’s First Geopark Funding on the Rocks-

Millions of Years Old and Needing help

Scotland's first geopark which features mountains, costal landscapes and rock formations is located in the far north of the Scottish Highlands. Beginning at The Summer Isles in Wester Ross, near the busy ferry and fishing town of Ullapool. These rocks which are amongst the oldest in our isles  may lose its Unesco accreditation after a funding crisis. The North West Highlands Geopark won Unesco recognition in 2004. The area takes in around 2000 sq km of mountain, peatland, beach, forest and coastline across west Sutherland and on to the north coast.

Scotland Tropical!

The rocks in the region are some 3,000 million years old, but age is no bar to dramatic change and About 430 million years ago two ancient continents collided creating the British Isles as we know it today. This clash of the giants created the Scottish mountains.  A huge blockage was created when an immoveable object met an irresistible force and the Moine Thrust was created. But not so many people have seen this immense slice of nature as this area is about the most sparsely populated corner of Europe. Since that tumultuous time the land has seen hot deserts, tropical humidity and several Ice Ages.

Joined to America

Scotland was joined to America and Greenland, separating 60 million years ago when the North Atlantic began to form. Over billions of years the rocks that now make up the North West Highlands were shaped by many climates — hot deserts, tropical humidity and several Ice Ages. But this remoteness and sparse population also make it hard to fund projects and now for a mere £70,000 the park looks like it will lose its UNESCO status. That money is to pay the minimal staff to look after the park. So now they are using the internet to crowd fund the project. In this we wish them well, being big internet fans ourselves.

Slate Your Thirst for  Our Great Products

Now if you want literally a slice of Scottish geology then you can look no further than the great people at the Just Slate company, whose wares adorn our pages. Slate as you know is a metamorphic rock, made from sedimentary rock under pressure during volcanic activity. And since the last Scottish volcano was extinct many many millions of years ago, it is old. But it is also a thing of great natural beauty. So try this lovely cheese board, it’s a cracker!

https://www.jamespirie.com/copper-slate/square-cheese-board.html