Charnwood Forest Geopark has been investing in new on site interpretation in Thurcaston, celebrating the village’s rich heritage.
This summer the Geopark has installed a new interpretation panel at Sandham Bridge, on the footpath towards Cropston. The bridge is an excellent example of a packhorse bridge, and the panel reveals how the geology of the stone can tell us which parts have been repaired. The site had previously benefited from a tidy-up session by the Geopark Volunteers, who removed weeds on the bridge and constructed a new lookout point. This work has been supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, as well as the Parish Council.
Only a few minutes walk from Sandham Bridge is All Saints’ Church, Thurcaston. Within the churchyard the Geopark has installed a new wooden interpretation panel, revealing the story of a trace fossil within a gravestone. Visitors have the opportunity to learn more about life in the Cambrian period, and the evidence for ancient animals burrowing in the muddy seabed. The churchyard also now hosts a Geopark Information Hub where visitors can discover more about Charnwood Forest and what makes the region so special. The work at this site has been supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, as well as the Benefice of Anstey and Thurcaston with Cropston.
