The North Pennines has world class geological heritage. The geodiversity shapes the landscape and has had a major impact on the biodiversity and human history of the area, especially as a globally important location for lead mining in the 18th and 19th centuries. In recognition of this geological heritage, and of efforts to use this heritage to support sustainable development through education and responsible tourism, the North Pennines National Landscape was, in 2003, the first place in Britain to secure European Geopark status. In 2004 it was a founder member of the Global Geoparks Network. In 2015, the UNESCO International Geoparks and Geosciences Programme was created, and the North Pennines became an official UNESCO Global Geopark, one of only four UNESCO designated places in the North East and Cumbria.
Rationale
Understanding and conserving the area’s geodiversity is essential to it being able to be used as a tool for sustainable development. There continues to be a significant body of work done to help people discover, enjoy and understand the area’s geological and mining heritage. This includes the provision of over 20 geological trails, site-based interpretation, specialist events, work with almost every school in the area and the activities at Nenthead Mines and Killhope Lead Mining Museum (when reopened in 2026). This needs to continue to expand and be complemented by revisiting the survey work of the past and taking necessary conservation action.