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Observation 76: Geology and Botany of Snowdonia
These are undertaken by a great variety of serious disciplines, many of which are represented by Bangor University or establishments of similar value.  They include archaeology, geography, geology, ornithology, botany, fine art and general education.  None of these undertakings relates happily to access points as defined by public transport but are better facilitated by private vehicles furthered by additional access.  The park and ride would carelessly ask all disciplines to conform and therefore diminish the importance of real study.

The National Park is a vital outdoor laboratory for the study of plants and as such is well used by the University of Wales, Bangor and many other universities, colleges, schools and field study centres. With often limited time in the field and equipment in hand it is important to be able to access sites of interest conveniently and the creation of clearway conditions in the Park would prevent many worthwhile educational visits taking place, as well as inconveniencing the general enthusiast wishing to sample the botanical interest of the area.

Snowdonia is the location of major rock uplift in Britain nearest to the centres of population.  Snowdon itself lies near the centre of a broad synclinorium, consequently the folding area exhibits a sequence of different rock types.  A very wide range of sedimentary igneous and metamorphic rocks is present and even for Great Britain the variety in the geology is out of all proportion to the relatively small size of the area.

In addition the apparent physical nature of Snowdonia is the result of the Pleistocene glaciation now testified by abundant morains, perched blocks, roches montonnees, glacial striae, rock tarns, moraine dammed-likes, aretes, hanging cwms and extensive deposits of boulder clay.  It also necessarily discloses fossils another area of interest in itself.

The communities, historically, are here because of the ore mineral and especially the quarrying materials.  This is an integral concept of place, which further emphasises the importance of education in these geosciences.

Specialists cannot possibly undertake their research within the context of park and ride.  They are professional who have been wrongly and insultingly re-identified within a vague definition of visitor.  The park and ride would reduced Snowdonia to a leisure pursuit not a place of environmental, educational and social consequence.  Additionally, many of these people live within the area and are now penalised for doing so.


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