Happy new year, blog followers! After a week or so to recover from the advent madness, we’re up and running again and always looking for contributions – email sarah.day@geolsoc.org.uk if you’d like to pitch an idea for a blog piece.

In the meantime, we’re already thinking about this year’s Earth Science Week – more info is on its way very soon! Last year, we held a photo competition to celebrate ‘Geology on your doorstep’, and had a lovely mix of entries.

First prize went to James Codd for ‘Grit at Burbage in the Peak District.’ We loved the composition, and its story of past and present uses of millstone grit, from industry to leisure.

1st: James Codd, ‘Grit at Burbage’

Second prize went to Ian Kenyon, for ‘Chevron folding in Carboniferous rocks at Millook Haven’, for its depiction of interesting geology, and a good day’s field work (all appropriately clad in hard hats, of course)

2nd: Ian Kenyon, ‘Chevron folding in Carboniferous rocks at Millook Haven, near Bude, Cornwall’

And third prize to Punit Fatania, for the below, taken on the South Coast in Eastbourne near Beachy Head.

3rd: Punit Fatania, Beachy Head

And our runners up…

Kathering Leeming, ‘Back Lane in Newcastle’

Ian Kenyon, ‘Megiliggar Rocks’

Jonathan Foster, ‘Quarry Moor in Ripon, North Yorkshire’

And finally, a very special mention for ‘Cross Bedding’, from Jack Finch. A thing of great beauty.

‘Cross Bedding’, Jack Finch