Fieldtrip to Wearde Quay and Churchtown Farm, East Cornwall
The Royal Geological Society of Cornwall
Field visit to Churchtown Farm Nature Reserve Saltash
Sunday 31 May 11 am Meet at the Cecil Arms, Saltash PL12 4AR . From Carkeel Roundabout follow signs to town centre and then Cornwall College and on to St Stephens Church. On street Car Parking is available in the vicinity. The walk should finish 14.30 to 15.00 at the Cecil Arms where a roast lunch is served to 16.00 hrs, booking preferred but not essential, 01752 939562. The main aim of visit is to acquaint the participants with the 3 County Geology Sites at the reserve and to visit at least 2 of them. They are CN/15 Wearde Quay, CN/16 Wearde Area, and CN/14 Lowhill and Forder Quarries. The walk is about 5km with 200m of climb on paths and grassy fields, say 11.00 to 15.00. Boots are useful but not essential, maybe wellingtons if rainy. Walk will be down 1.4km, 77m through the reserve from Cecil Arms to Wearde Quay CN/15 to examine the Wearde Grit/Sandstone and look for volcanic rocks and examine an exposure described by Ussher. Then walk back up to the reserve and down to CN/16 (1.6 km 50m climb) to see typical Saltash and Torpoint Formation Exposures, a well exposed dolerite intrusion and periglacial creep features. Then back up to Cecil Arms (1.7 km, 77m). There are a couple of scrambles down and up say 10m river cliffs/muddy slopes but longer and flatter alternatives are available. It is possible to park short term at Wearde Quay and Wearde Lane to reduce walking distance
A general description of the geology at Churchtown Farm prepared for non geologists is on the community Nature Reserve website at Churchtown Farm Community Nature Reserve Saltash – Home under Documents and can be downloaded and printed. It includes geological maps and descriptions that may be useful to refer to during the field trip. A few spare copies will be brought to the walk but most probably not enough for all participants so please download and print if you think it may prove useful on site. A general Map and description of the reserve can also be downloaded as Churchtown Farm Nature Reserve Leaflet.