To promote a wider interest in the science of geology through organised lectures, field excursions and social activities.
To provide a link between the amateur, the student, the teacher and the professional geologist.
To foster interest in geological sites within the area with a view to their study and wise conservation.
To establish and maintain good relations with organisations that have common interests.

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 
The Lower Lias at Lyme Regis has been done to death, but some lessons I learnt the hard way from my excursion there this May Bank Holiday might amuse you. Read on, if you think that a real fossil hunter should:-

 

  BE ABLE TO WALK ON WATER
Better believe the handbook and check the tides first - even 2 hours away from high tide I couldn't walk from Lyme Regis to the Church beds. Your best bet is to go straight to Charmouth and walk back towards Lyme Regis from there, or failing that, walk west from Lyme Regis to encounter similar beds near the beach chalets.


  DO IT WITHOUT A CHISEL
A good whack on the limestone is all it takes - to make your hammer head fly off!


  SOAK YOUR FOSSILS TO GET RID OF SALT.
Not on shales you don't - my prize ammonites had all dissolved by the next day!


  WORK UNDER UNSTABLE CLIFFS.
If the handbook says cliffs are unstable then it's your duty to warn your companions to stay away from them. Real fossil hunters know how to look after themselves. (I nearly became part of a rockfall when a few cubic metres came down beside me with no warning rumble).


  AND FINALLY, DISCOVER NEW FOSSILS.
Jurassic trilobites only occur in the soft shales if you use a serrated breadknife to separate the layers. (A remarkable resemblance!). However, it didn't dampen my enthusiasm in the least; the test of a true fossil hunter!