The Parks Management Board has agreed to parts of Holywells Park in Ipswich being designated a RIGS.
Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites, designated by locally developed criteria, are important places for geodiversity outside statutorily protected land such as SSSIs. Sites are selected according to their value for: Education including lifelong learning

      Intrinsic scientific interest

      Historical context

      Aesthetic value.

A variety of geodiversity features may be seen in Holywells Park. The upper part is on well-drained sand and gravel, exposed in the main path to the Nacton Road gate. Steep slopes have developed on this sandy layer. Below this area, a number of seepages and springs attest to an underlying clay layer impermeable to water. The ground water has been used in a series of descending ponds and at the lowest part of the park a canal further drains the water.

A number of other geological features have been observed over the years. The sand and gravel is in part Pleistocene glacial outwash. Beneath this, Red Crag sand has occasionally yielded fossil molluscs and phosphatic nodules. The underlying ‘London Clay’ mainly belongs to the Harwich Formation and temporary excavations in the canal area have shown green and brown silty sand (part of the ‘Reading Beds’) of the Lambeth Group.

This is a splendid locality for an introduction to contrasting sand and clay areas, to slopes and spring line features and to the use of natural water for park landscaping, with good public access adding to its educational value. The varied geology and associated ground water create an attractive landscape and also support a variety of habitats for flora and fauna in this fine park.

This brings the number of Suffolk RIGS to eight. For more information see www.geosuffolk.co.uk.