A CONFERENCE organised by a York-based group gave unanimous support for recognising the qualities of the Yorkshire Wolds by investigating UNESCO Global Geopark accreditation.

Delegates were attending an inaugural conference in Market Weighton, East Yorkshire, titled ‘Towards UNESCO Geopark status for the Yorkshire Wolds’ which was organised by PLACE, an environmental and landscape group based at York St John University.

UNESCO Global Geoparks are a unified area where sites and landscapes of international significance use geological heritage, combined with the area’s natural and cultural heritage, to enhance awareness and understanding of key issues facing society.

The conference heard presentations from ten local speakers who outlined the Wolds’ unique qualities from their specialities, including geology and landscapes, archaeology, local history, landscape photography, natural history and economic development. Following closing remarks from Rod Mill, chairman of the Yorkshire Wolds Heritage Trust, the conference delegates voted unanimously for further moves to be made to turn the Wolds Geopark vision into a reality.

PLACE chief executive, Dr Margaret Atherden, said: “I thought the event went very well and engendered positive support for the proposal that the Yorkshire Wolds be considered for UNESCO Global Geopark status.”