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Welcome to the Abberley and Malvern Hills European Geopark. The Geopark covers 1250 square kilometres and takes in parts of the four counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire. The Abberley and Malvern Hills is one of 30 partners in the European Geopark Network, globally there are 50 Geoparks - all endorsed by UNESCO. Like ours, they are driven by local organisations seeking to celebrate their geological heritage and achieve sustainable development through geotourism.

In the Abberley and Malvern Hills European Geopark you will find outstanding geology that spans 700 million years of our Earth's history. This, coupled with dramatic landscapes and a wealth of ecological, historical, and cultural gems, makes the Abberley and Malvern Hills a truly unique Geopark.

Our vision is for a Geopark that can be enjoyed by everyone and allows people from all walks of life the opportunity to experience geology and to appreciate the importance of their geological heritage. The Geopark exists to promote excellence in geoconservation and to make a contribution to local economies through sustainable geotourism.

So whether you are a resident or a visitor to the Geopark you will find much here of interest. Please explore the website and join our community forum, we would like to hear your views.


Explore beneath the surface...  700 million years of Earth history: one spectacular destin- ation. The rocks tell a fascinating story of continental collisions, shallow tropical seas, hot deserts, tropical swamps, coastal lagoons, ice sheets and polar deserts. These changes in ancient depositional environments have produced the diverse landscapes that can be seen in the Geopark today.

The Abberley & Malvern Hills European Geopark has an incredible legacy left by an extraordinary geological past. Our hills and valleys, our flora and fauna, our communities and industrial heritage - all owe a great deal to our underlying geology. From imposing Iron Age hill forts to the remains of 20th century coal mining... throughout the Geopark you will find evidence of how human activity has shaped our landscape.

Geology and ecology are inevitably linked. The often intimate relationship between geology and flora is an important factor in understanding the ecology of the Geopark. 
 
To enjoy this rich biodiversity, why not visit one of the many national and local nature reserves or take a peaceful walk through diverse natural landscapes?

The unique landscapes in the Geopark have inspired artists and composers of past and present. Hills and valleys provide the backdrop for past and contemporary cultural events...
 
The Geopark is a place where a range of passions from art to social history may be indulged...


Our vision is for a Geopark that can be enjoyed by all - offering locals, visitors, novices, enthusiasts, young and old, a wider appreciation of geology and its importance to the world around us in an exciting and enjoyable way.

Our Sponsors

The Geopark receives funding from the ALSF Partnership Grants Scheme through Defra’s Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund.

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Abberley & Malvern Hills
European Geopark
University of Worcester
Henwick Grove, Worcester WR2 6AJ

Dr Cheryl Jones : Director
c.jones@worc.ac.uk
T: 01905 855425

www.geopark.org.uk