Environmental and conservation issues
Most of the exposures of, and features associated with, these rocks are robust elements in the landscape. However, the cuesta landscape in the Hadrian’s Wall area is especially noteworthy and suitable vigilance should be exercised to ensure that no operations or activities pose threats to it.
The progressive deterioration of long-abandoned quarry faces and the risk of quarries being filled and obliterated pose some long-term threats. A number of important sections through parts of the succession, including the type localities at which geological units were first named, are still exposed in abandoned quarries and might provide opportunities for interpretation or enhancement. Although some of these are scheduled as SNCIs, most are not currently managed and the local RIGS group could consider the possibility of taking responsibility for ensuring their continuity. Appropriate sections could be made accessible to educational groups or the public.
These early mining landscapes, together with the fragments of more developed later ventures, serve to remind us of the smaller scale coal workings landscapes of the Great Northern Coalfield which have been largely destroyed through land reclamation. This rarity significantly enhances the importance of the remains within the district.
Whereas many of the former underground coal workings are almost certainly flooded, discharges of contaminated mine water are not thought to present a widespread environmental problem. Small surface discharges of iron andaluminium- rich water are present locally, for example in parts of Haltwhistle Burn and in the Crindledykes area. Although no instances of surface discharges of mine gases are known within the district, vigilance should be maintained for these close to buildings or centres of population. Few examples of ground stability problems over underground coal workings are known in the district. However, as many of these workings employed pillar and stall extraction methods, vigilance should be maintained for evidence of pillar failure and related stability problems.
