Welcome to the official website of the Dorset Geologists’ Association Group (DGAG).
Upcoming events of general geological interest in Dorset, and the surrounding region, are listed below.
For a more specific listing, use the search bar, below, or select one of the following categories:
Dorset Geologists’ Association Group (DGAG), Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset, Wiltshire.
Get involved! For geoconservation work parties, see the Dorset’s Important Geological Sites (DIGS) events list.
Events Search and Views Navigation
January 2020
Offshore wind farms: the importance of geology for renewable energy
Offshore wind farms: the importance of geology for renewable energy Talk by David Shiston (Atkins) Welcome to the next decade of the Anthropocene and the first DGAG lecture of the year.
Find out more »February 2020
From South Georgia to the South Downs
From South Georgia to the South Downs. Lecture by Professor Rory Mortimore (University of Brighton, retired). The geology of Chalk is likely to feature at some point!
Find out more »March 2020
The surface of Mars: ancient and modern processes on the Red Planet
The surface of Mars: ancient and modern processes on the Red Planet. Lecture by Dr Joel Davis (ExoMars, Natural History Museum)
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DGAG Events and Coronavirus (COVID-19)
As the National restrictions begin to relax, we hope to restart many of our planned events, including field trips. All events will be compliant with the relevant COVID-guidelines. Geologists' Association Coronavirus Action Plan
Find out more »April 2020
CANCELLED Portishead
DGAG Field Trip to Portishead. Leader Alan Holiday. Meet at 10.30 am at the western end of the esplanade at Portishead. Nearest postcode to rendezvous: BS20 7HU. Then walk SW along the Severn Estuary foreshore looking at Devonian Old Red Sandstone (ORS) sediments with interesting sedimentary structures before seeing a fine example of an unconformity with Triassic breccia over the ORS sediments. Later, look at the eastern end of the section (Woodhill Bay) where Lower Carboniferous sediments show…
Find out more »October 2020
Holiday Rocks! ONLINE
Instead of our usual meeting at Broadmayne Village Hall, we shall be hosting a number of virtual, online presentations: Corsica Holiday Rocks 2020 part 1 Holiday Rocks 2020 part 2 Holiday Rocks 2020 part 3 Explore the Geology and Terrain of Dorset Mining in the Newlands Valley, Cumbria
Find out more »November 2020
CANCELLED DGAG Annual Dinner 2020
Provisionally booked at the Hotel Rembrant, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 7JU. More details and booking arrangements to follow...
Find out more »February 2021
Carbonate concretions in the Jurassic Coast
Carbonate concretions in the Jurassic Coast. Lecture by Professor Jim Marshall, Liverpool University.
Find out more »April 2021
Urban Geology Walk in Weymouth
This is a 7 km walk which includes the geology of Newton Cove, Nothe Fort and Gardens, the Outer Harbour, the shops in St Mary's Street and St Thomas Street, the Rodwell Trail and Sandsfoot Castle. We will look at the different types of rocks used in the buildings and facings of shops which includes igneous and metamorphic rock types. As things stand at the moment we will do this walk in small groups of six or less. The cost…
Find out more »May 2021
Dartmoor
DGAG Field Trip. Leader Alan Holiday. Includes visits to Haytor, Two Bridges Quarry, Burrator Reservoir and Merivale Quarry. Detailed itinerary: Take A35 to Exeter then follow M5 around Exeter. Take A38 (signposted for Plymouth) at end of motorway section. Take A382 Bovey Tracey road. Then follow B3344 and look for Haytor sign. Park at third car park nearest to Haytor. There are toilets at the first car park. Locality 1: Haytor. GR SX 7587 73. Granite varieties - Tor Granite…
Find out more »June 2021
The Vale of Wardour and Pub Lunch
This field trip was originally scheduled for 2020. However, due to a combination of COVID and flooding in the area, had to be postponed. DGAG Field Trip: Steve Hannath is taking us on a 5 mile walk in the Vale of Wardour. Then lunch at the Wyndham Arms in Dinton. Unfortunately, due to safety concerns, we will no longer be able to visit the quarry at Chicksgrove. As we need to order our food before the day members should book…
Find out more »Portishead
This is a field-trip postponed from 2019. The original plan is outlined below: Meet at 10.30 am at the western end of the esplanade at Portishead (café and toilets, see map). Nearest postcode to meet location: BS20 7HU. Then walk SW along the Severn Estuary foreshore looking at Devonian Old Red Sandstone sediments with interesting sedimentary structures before seeing a fine example of an unconformity with Triassic breccia over the ORS sediments. Later, look at the eastern…
Find out more »July 2021
Goat Island and the Slabs – Undercliffs NNR
A unique chance to explore the landslip geomorphology and coastal geology of the Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs National Nature Reserve. Leader: DGAG member Geoff Rowland, who has become familiar with the Undercliffs NNR from volunteer conservation work with Natural England, EuCAN Dorset and the Axe Vale & District Conservation Society. We will walk into the western end of the Reserve, joining the South West Coast Path. We will visit Goat Island and the Chasm, the results of the Great…
Find out more »In the Footsteps of William Smith
Portrait of William Smith aged 68 (courtesy of The Geological Society) This walk has been rescheduled from an original date in October 2021. William Smith came up with many of his ideas while working as surveyor on the Somerset Coal Canal from 1793 to 99, including the idea for making the world's first geological map. We shall more or less follow the course of his old canal from Combe Hay to Monkton Combe, and visit several places…
Find out more »August 2021
Inferior Oolite Quarries near Sherborne
This field-trip is led by DGAG members Bob Chandler and John Whicher. It is to compare the Oolitic limestone beds in two quarries. Frogden Quarry which is still used by Sherborne Stone and Louse Hill Quarry which is a disused quarry on the way towards Bradford Abbas. The quarry manager for Sherborne Stone has very kindly agreed to open up the stoneworks yard at the weekend to show us how the stone is cut. The trip finishes in Bradford Abbas…
Find out more »September 2021
The Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark
DGAG Residential Weekend. We will be visiting the Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark on the weekend of the 3rd to 6th September 2021. Please note that this is a change from the original dates in 2020. It should be a fabulous trip to a fascinating area in terms of its geology. The region is the source of vast quantities of minerals that powered the industrial revolution. The oldest rock layers are limestones and shales full of shelly fossils and coral…
Find out more »October 2021
Fleet Lagoon Walk
A journey towards the core... of the Weymouth Anticline. The Fleet shore has a number of Geological Conservation Review (GCR) locations and includes Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with a geological focus. However, nearby parking is limited and there is restricted access to privately-owned parts of the shore. This walk, led by Geoff Rowland (DGAG) and Andrew Lawrence (Moonfleet Manor Hotel) provides an opportunity to park and meet at the Moonfleet Manor Hotel and visit some classic locations on…
Find out more »Holiday Rocks
Holiday Rocks: Geological talks at Broadmayne Village Hall. Tea and cake will be provided in the interval. Please let Kelvin know if you are attending as we need to plan refreshments. There will be a charge of £2 towards the costs of hall hire and refreshments. Any help with kitchen duties would also be appreciated.
Find out more »November 2021
Wimborne Minster
The Minster authorities have agreed to private supervised DGAG Field Trip access into St Cuthburga’s Church, Wimborne from 3.00pm to 5.00pm Saturday 6th November accompanied by Minster Friends. Those booking should please meet at 2.15 pm in the North Porch with a brolly, if possibly wet, and outdoor clothing to quickly circumvent the exterior in an anti-clockwise manner to appreciate the range of stones used on site from Saxon times to the present. Binoculars or opera glasses useful. The interior…
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