Geopark Roundtable ConferenceHong Kong

October 2012

Nick Powe Chairman of the English Riviera GeoparkOwner of Kents Cavern Prehistoric CavesEGN Coordination Committee member

Melanie BorderEnglish Riviera Geopark Coordinator

Chair of the UK Geoparks Forum EGN Coordination Committee member

World’s first urban Geopark – Sept 2007

Brixham Paignton Torquay

• 62 km2 of land & 42 km2 of sea

• 137,000 people

• 1.5 million staying visitors and 2 million day trippers

•Devonian•Permian•Quaternary

Urban cave

Geopark benefits for Kents Cavern• Aligning a privately operated attraction

with regional cultural heritage

• Brings new audiences to visit the caves

• Working in partnership with regional and national agencies

• Commercial focus on conservation and sustainability

• Part of an international network of outstanding geological sites

• Research published in Nature

• Oldest human bone in NW Europe

41,000 year old Kents Cavern Jawbone

Reasons for creating Geopark• Common purpose to focus economic

and social regeneration strategies

• Way finding – moving people around the resort

• Creating a compelling geological and cultural experience

• Hollistic approach – for visitors and local people– for all ages and abilities – for all nationalities

Regeneration in the Geopark• 2006 - Facilities for children and

young people one of top three priorities

• 2007 - Community Plan and Mayor’s Vision

• 2008 - Play area ranked as a top 10 priority for Paignton

• 2009 - Partnership to develop Geopark themed play area

Paignton Community Partnership Geoplay Park Project Formal Consultation 2009

• Questionnaires

• Radio phone-in

• Facebook support group

• 89% for Geopark themed park

£500,000 Funding Success

• Big Lottery Fund Community Spaces - Flagship Grant

• Match funding - Torbay Council and Community Partnership

• Play facility for children aged 2 to 13

Devonian Area

Carboniferous Area

Permian Area

Quaternary Area

Paignton Geoplay Park

• New fun educational facility• New attraction• New catalyst for economic growth

Geoquest 2010 - Aims• To reach into the heart of the Geopark community

• Target hard to reach groups

• Challenge perceptions

• Inspire people to engage with their environment

• Link the tangible with the intangible heritage

• Uncover the unexpected

• Build bridges and ingrain the Geopark concept

Geoquest Workshops

Spontaneous Events and Encounters

Evening Performances

Geoquest 2011

Sharing the model - Japan 2012

Workshops Performance

Thank youNick Powe Melanie BorderERGG Chairman ERGG Coordinator

www.englishrivierageopark.org.uk