LANDSCAPES TAMED!
by Dr Peter Crowther (Ulster Museum)

Lecture Theatre, Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast BT9 5AB

The beautiful landscapes of the north of Ireland hide an unimaginably long history. If you've ever wondered just why the mountains of Mourne, the lakelands of Fermanagh or the glens of Antrim look the way they do, Landscapes Tamed! is for you.

Experience 'hands-on' the rocks and fossils that tell our island's story. See original artwork and photos of the scenery that has inspired many generations and discover the artists and photographers responsible.

Peter's six presentations will take place weekly on consecutive Monday evenings at 7.30pm in the Lecture Theatre of the Ulster Museum. Paintings, photographs, fossils, rocks and minerals from the Museum's collections will be used to support each talk.

Admission is free but enrolment is essential because numbers may have to be limited. To enrol, telephone the Ulster Museum's Sciences Division on 028 9038 3131 (weekdays), email Marianne McKeown () or write to the Sciences Division, Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast BT9 5AB.

7.30pm Monday 18 October 2004
1. Landscapes from Fire
The Antrim plateau, the mountains of Mourne and the Ring of Gullion were all forged in the white heat of a continent splitting asunder, while the scenery of Donegal, Tyrone and the Down coast bears witness to a much older continental collision. Also featuring the watercolour artist Andrew Nicholl.

7.30pm Monday 25 October 2004
2. Landscapes from Water
Water destroys rocks, above and below ground, but water also creates by depositing the spoils of destruction to make new land. A look at the limestone country of Fermanagh, the coast of Londonderry and Antrim, and Lough Neagh. Also featuring the watercolour artist James Moore.

7.30pm Monday 1 November 2004
3. Landscapes from Ice
The drumlins of Down and Armagh, the gravel ridges of Tyrone, and the enigmatic 'erratics' that litter the landscape were all formed in geologically recent times - when most of Ireland was engulfed by ice. Also featuring the photographer Robert Welch.

7.30pm Monday 8 November 2004
4. Landscapes and Man
In just a few thousand years, the land has been settled, cleared, dug, mined, quarried and even drowned - by us. The effects on the natural landscape have inevitably been dramatic. Also featuring the British Association's geological photo collection.

7.30pm Monday 15 November 2004
5. Landscapes from the Past
For half a billion years, our small piece of the Earth's crust has experienced desert conditions, tropical forest, drowning by the sea (several times), and ice ages. These long vanished landscapes can be reconstructed from evidence in the rocks beneath our feet. Also featuring the photos of the amateur geologist Herbert Black.

7.30pm Monday 22 November 2004
6. Landscapes into the Future
Our varied landscapes reflect both their long geological history and current patterns of land use. For such rich 'geodiversity' to survive, conservation is essential. Featuring the Earth Science Conservation Review and its web-site.

The lecture series forms part of MAGNI's Habitas Programme. This year's series coincides with BBC1's major, 8-week, autumn series British Isles - A Natural History.