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Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
‘A giant issue': Coins to be removed from Giant's Causeway amid call for tourists to stop wedging tokens into cracks
The National Trust has confirmed it expects to remove all coins wedged into cracks of the basalt rock of Co Antrim's famous Giant's Causeway. It follows a report by the British Geological Survey that found that coins left by visitors from across the globe were having detrimental effects on the World Heritage Site. While the coins celebrate the wide ranging from tourists that come to Northern Ireland to enjoy the natural landmark, they subsequently will rust and expand causing the rock to crumble as well as stain. The National Trust had urged people to refrain from further damaging some of the site's 40,000 columns last Wednesday. However, after completing a recent trial to remove the coins safely, the National Trust have confirmed they plan to proceed with their overall removal, which is expected to cost upwards of £30k. 'A giant issue with coins has emerged at the Giant's Causeway,' a National Trust spokesperson said. 'The causeway, said by legend to have been created by the giant Finn McCool, is one of Antrim's most loved landmarks, and attracts visitors from across the globe. 'Wedging coins into the cracks in the basalt rock columns here has become a tradition for some visitors. 'But this seemingly harmless action is causing damage to the World Heritage Site. As the coins rapidly corrode they expand, causing the rock to flake and leaves rust coloured streaks. 'We're pleased to say that a recent trial to remove the coins safely has been successful and now it is hoped the coins – from all over the world – will be removed across the causeway.' The National Trust, in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust, deployed specialists in stone conservation to 10 test locations at the site and remove coins without causing further damage. Dr Cliff Henry, National Trust nature engagement officer at the Giant's Causeway, urged visitors to preserve the natural site for future generations. 'When coins start to corrode, the steel often corrodes faster and separates from the different metal of the outer layer. This delamination causes the basalt to flake,' he said. 'The coins here also have accelerated corrosion because they are often soaked in saltwater spray and the mixture of metals means they break down faster.' Dr Henry added: 'We know that visitors really love and cherish the Giant's Causeway, and many form deep personal connections to this special landscape. 'We know some may want to leave a token of their visit, but the coins are causing damage and we are urging people to stop the practice and to leave no trace so this natural wonder remains special for future generations.' The Giant's Causeway was formed between 50 and 60 million years ago when lava erupted from cracks in the earth which cooled and broke into hexagonal columns. However, the popular tourist spot is steeped in mythology with Irish legends stating that it was formed by Irish giant Finn McCool to cross the sea battle a Scottish Giant.
Irish Independent
29-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Visitors unwittingly damaging Giant's Causeway by sticking coins between the rocks
Coins have been left wedged into the basalt rock columns at the popular spot in north Co Antrim. Reflecting the broad spectrum of visitors to the attraction, the coins range from euro to sterling to dollars and currencies from the Far East. However, with time the coins rust and expand, putting pressure on the surrounding rock, staining it and causing it to crumble. The UK's National Trust said the removal of the coins was expected to cost more than £30,000 (€36,000) and has urged visitors to stop. Dr Cliff Henry, the National Trust nature engagement officer at the Causeway, said visitors should leave no trace behind them. 'We know that visitors really love and cherish the Giant's Causeway, and many form deep personal connections to this special landscape,' he said. 'We know some may want to leave a token of their visit, but the coins are causing damage and we are urging people to stop the practice and to leave no trace so this natural wonder remains special for future generations.' He cited a report by the British Geological Survey that concludes the coins wedged into the joints and cracks in the rock are having a detrimental impact on the basalt, both aesthetically and physically. 'The report has found that fracturing and disintegration of the basalt rock adjacent to joints and cracks into which coins have been inserted is the result of the 'expansive delamination of the coins upon oxidation',' he said. 'In other words, the coins are rusting and expanding to three times their original thickness, which puts huge pressure on the surrounding rock, causing it to crumble. ADVERTISEMENT 'Unsightly streaks of copper, nickel and iron oxides are also staining the stones where the coins are corroding.' The National Trust, in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust, employed specialists in stone conservation to remove as many of the coins as they could without causing further damage on 10 test locations. They hope to go on to remove all the remaining coins, and have appealed to visitors not to leave any more. The coins have accelerated corrosion because they are often soaked in saltwater spray and the mixture of metals means they break down faster Mr Henry said: 'It is hoped that if visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop the damaging practice, the problem can be solved. 'Many coins have a centre of one metal, with a thin coating of another. When coins start to corrode, the steel often corrodes faster and separates from the different metal of the outer layer. This delamination causes the basalt to flake. 'The coins here also have accelerated corrosion because they are often soaked in saltwater spray and the mixture of metals means they break down faster. 'We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive. We are appealing to visitors to help us protect the world heritage site by stopping the practice of inserting coins into the Causeway stones.' The National Trust protects and cares for more than 40,000 columns at the Causeway, which is Northern Ireland's first Unesco world heritage site.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Foreigners told to stop jamming coins in Giant's Causeway
The National Trust has told tourists to stop jamming coins into the Giant's Causeway over damage to the columns. Visitors have long wedged coins into the cracks of the basalt rock formations at Northern Ireland's World Heritage Site in north Antrim. The coins, which range from pounds and euros to American dollars and currency from the Far East, go on to rust and expand, putting pressure on the surrounding rock, staining it and causing it to crumble. Dr Cliff Henry, National Trust nature engagement officer at the Giant's Causeway, has urged visitors to leave no trace at the site. 'We know that visitors really love and cherish the Giant's Causeway, and many form deep personal connections to this special landscape,' he said. 'We know some may want to leave a token of their visit, but the coins are causing damage and we are urging people to stop the practice and to leave no trace so this natural wonder remains special for future generations.' Dr Henry, citing a report by the British Geological Survey, said coins had been fracturing the basalt rock through 'expansive delamination of the coins upon oxidation'. 'In other words, the coins are rusting and expanding to three times their original thickness, which puts huge pressure on the surrounding rock, causing it to crumble,' he said. 'Unsightly streaks of copper, nickel and iron oxides are also staining the stones where the coins are corroding.' Dr Henry said the salt water caused the coins to corrode faster, separating the coin's steel core from its outer layer. Since 1992, UK 'copper' coins have a steel core with a thin layer of copper on the outside, while five, 10 and 20 pence pieces are nickel-plated steel. The National Trust, in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust, employed specialists in stone conservation to remove as many of the coins as they could without causing further damage on ten test locations. The organisation, which looks after more than 40,000 columns at the site, said the removal of the coins was expected to cost over £30,000. The trust hopes to remove all the remaining coins and has appealed to visitors not to leave any more. Visitors have crammed coins into the cracks over many years, likely out of superstition for health or luck, to make a wish akin to tossing a coin into a fountain, or to leave a memento similar to the sentiment of leaving a padlock on a bridge. In Paris, local authorities have outlawed attaching padlocks to the Pont des Arts bridge after part of the bridge collapsed in 2014. The National Trust said the ritual had become more common over the past decade. 'It is hoped that if visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop the damaging practice, the problem can be solved,' Mr Henry said.. 'We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive. We are appealing to visitors to help us protect the World Heritage Site by stopping the practice of inserting coins into the Causeway stones.' Although folklore suggests the Causeway was built by the Irish giant Finn McCool to cross the North Channel to Scotland, geologists believe the hexagonal columns were created by an outpouring of lava 60 million years ago while Europe was tearing away from North America. Last year, the Giant's Causeway had about 684,000 visits. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Giant's Causeway visitors causing damage by wedging coins into cracks
Visitors are damaging the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland by wedging coins into the cracks of the basalt columns, causing the rocks to stain and crumble. The coins rust and expand to three times their original thickness, corroding and fracturing the World Heritage Site, authorities said on Wednesday. They appealed to the public to end the tradition that has left coins from all over the world embedded in the County Antrim landmark. 'We are urging people to stop the practice and to leave no trace so this natural wonder remains special for future generations,' said Cliff Henry, a National Trust nature engagement officer. The causeway's 40,000 near-perfect hexagonal columns drew 648,000 visitors last year, confirming it as one of Northern Ireland's most popular attractions. Legend says the columns were built by the Irish giant Finn McCool as a crossing to confront a Scottish rival, Benandonner. But coins from the UK, Europe, the US and elsewhere that are wedged into joints and cracks as tokens of visits are harming the basalt rock aesthetically and physically, according to a British Geological Survey report. 'The coins are rusting, and expanding to three times their original thickness, which puts huge pressure on the surrounding rock causing it to crumble. Unsightly streaks of copper, nickel and iron oxides are also staining the stones where the coins are corroding,' said Henry. 'The coins here also have accelerated corrosion because they are often soaked in saltwater spray and the mixture of metals means they break down faster.' The National Trust, in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust, hired stone conservation specialists to remove coins without causing further damage at 10 test locations. The trial was successful and it is hoped all the remaining coins will be removed, costing an estimated £30,000. The Giant's Causeway formed between 50 and 60m years ago when molten basalt erupted through chalk beds and formed a lake of lava. As this cooled and contracted, cracks propagated across the plateau to form hexagonal stepping stones. Signs are to be erected urging visitors to keep coins in their pockets and not leave a legacy of additional cracks. 'We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive,' said Henry. Authorities in Paris made a similar appeal after a tradition of leaving padlocks on the Pont des Arts was blamed for a partial collapse in 2014.
