The most accepted term used today for what is also known as geological and geomorphological conservation or Earth heritage conservation is geoconservation. It concerns the conservation of
our non-living natural environment – our geodiversity. Geodiversity takes in the natural range of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (landforms, landscape-shaping processes) and
soil features. Some people extend the definition of geodiversity
to include the built (stone) heritage and historical literature. Conservation involves the wise use and management of a resource, and is appropriate to apply to geoconservation as sites and areas
are dynamic and change as part of the landscape. The term
involves active management, implying that some developments
and collecting may be allowed at sites where natural processes
such as erosion are happening or where extraction of minerals
and rocks occurs. Geodiversity Conservation (synonymous with
Earth Heritage Conservation) is a much wider term designed to encompass the conservation of geological and geomorphological processes, i.e. rocks, fossils and minerals and landforms, but also museum specimens, building stone, buildings, archives, maps and data.

In 2011 we worked in partnership with our friends at Oxfordshire Geology Trust on two active clearance and maintenance sessions. One was at Rock Edge Quarry, Headington, Oxford and the other was at Kirtlington Quarry.

Oxford Geology Group intend to become involved in more sessions in 2012.