Rocks are pretty cool. If you remember anything GCSE geography, you’ll know that they’re made up of lots of smaller natural materials and can reveal a loads of interesting things about the Earth’s past, like what kinds of creatures were roaming around millions of years ago, or how landscapes have come to look the way they do.
The Isle of Arran is sometimes referred to as ‘Scotland in miniature’ because of its diverse collection of rocks that reflect the geology of both the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands, going back as far as two billion years ago. And now, thanks to its rich rock population, Arran has officially been named a UNESCO Global Geopark.
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What exactly is a UNESCO geopark, you ask? UNESCO founded its geoparks project in 2015 and describes them as ‘single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development’.
As a geopark, the island will now focus on promoting geotourism, environmental awareness and community engagement, offering activities like guided geological tours, educational workshops and conservation initiatives. It was one of 16 places around the world to be newly awarded the geopark designation.
UNESCO wrote: ‘The new Arran UNESCO Global Geopark encompasses terrestrial and marine zones that record 600 million years of Earth’s history.
‘The island’s remarkable landscape tells a story of tectonic plate collisions, the shifting of continents from the southern hemisphere, the opening of the Atlantic Ocean and the sculpting of alpine mountains by glaciers.’
Dr Kirstin Lemon, chair of the UK Committee for UNESCO Global Geoparks, said: ‘Arran is truly special in terms of its geology, archaeology and habitats, and we are delighted that this has been recognised and that the island has been named as a UNESCO Global Geopark. Congratulations to all those involved.’
The island is the 10th geopark in the UK. In Scotland there’s the west Highlands and Shetland and elsewhere in the UK, you’ve got Black Country in the West Midlands, Fforest Fawr in south Wales and Cuilcagh Lakelands in Northern Ireland. Overall, there are now 229 geoparks worldwide.
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