About the Cornwall RIGS Group

The Cornwall RIGS Group is a voluntary body which aims to do three things:

• identify
• conserve
• raise awareness of Cornwall’s rich and diverse geological heritage.

Who are we?

The Group is composed of geologists from industry, education, museums, geotourism and geological societies, along with representatives from planning authorities and bodies involved in conservation such as Natural England. To cover the county effectively there is a RIGS Group 'Correspondent' for each of the old council districts. Cornwall Wildlife Trust provides the secretariat for the Group.

The Group raises awareness of geological site conservation issues through countywide links with Natural England, the National Trust and Cornwall Council. The Group is also a member of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site Partnership, a member of the Derelict Land Advisory Group and a consultee on the County Structure Plan, the Cornwall Minerals Framework, the Cornwall Waste Framework and the Local Development Frameworks.

Written in stone

The Group’s logo, the Cheesewring granite tor, symbolises the unique geology of Cornwall. It also highlights a long history of geoconservation in the county. In the 19^th century there was an outcry when the adjacent quarry threatened to engulf the Cheesewring. As a result the landowners, the Duchy of Cornwall, restricted quarrying by means of the lease for the area. The boundaries of the restricted area were marked on the ground by fleur-de-lis cut into the granite and painted white. The tor and conservation symbol remain for all to see today.