Fossil collecting at Charmouth Beach by richard edmonds

The beaches around Charmouth and Lyme Regis are world famous for fossils. I found my first ammonite here in 1973 and became a geologist as a result!

I have planted 10 fossils in this view but there are many more. This is just how you find them, lying on the beach! There are ammonites, belemnites, shells, trace fossils, crinoids (can anyone find the star shaped stalk?) and ichthyosaur vertebrae. There are also minerals; calcite and 'beef' calcite together with flint and chert.

The sea does all the hard work, washing away the soft clays to leave the well preserved fossils scattered across the beach for people to find.

People can take these fossils away because if they are not collected, they would simply be destroyed by the very process that uncovers them. Every year there are fossils, and more fossils! The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, Lyme Regis Museum and a number of private individuals lead guided walks and this is the best way to get a start.

Please stay away from the cliffs and landslides – rock falls can happen at any time while the landslides contain mudflows and quicksand, it is all too easy to get stuck. Rough weather is the best time to go collecting; this gigapan was taken during excellent fossil collecting weather, wind and rain! But you also need to check the tides and head out along the beach as the tide is going out.

A fossil collecting code operates in this area. Visit www.charmouth.org  for more details