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Our talks can be given in the centre or be taken out to a venue on request. We have the equipment all we need is a large white wall or screen to project on to.

All talks booked to be given in the centre cost £1.50 per head with a minimum booking fee of £25.

If you would like us to come and give a talk at your venue there is a flat charge of £50 which includes mileage.

If you would like to book a talk please phone the warden team on 01297 560772

If you or your group is tied to a day when a full beach fossil hunt can’t be arranged, or if you would prefer to explore the beach on your own, you may want to consider our Fossil Film Show and Talk.

One of the centre’s experienced Wardens will introduce you to the rocks and fossils of this part of the Dorset Coast, and be on hand to answer any question you may have. In addition you will be shown our specially commissioned film on the Geology of the Jurassic Coast and how best to hunt for fossils.

Since the Dorset and East Devon Coast was officially made England’s first natural World Heritage Site in 2001, it has drawn visitors from all over the world. If you want to know more about the unique blend of geology, palaeontology and history that makes up the “Jurassic Coast” then why not arrange for a World Heritage Site talk?

A talk includes a presentation by one of the centre’s experienced Wardens and a chance to look at some of the real fossils and rocks that keep visitors coming to Charmouth again and again.

A light hearted look at the people drawn to our coastline over the last 200 years, and the secrets they unlocked from our rocks. Charmouth has been one of the world’s fossil hunting hubs for over two centuries, and in that time has played host to some of palaeontology’s most famous faces. These sometimes unusual characters helped to change peoples perceptions of the world, often with the use of the fossils found on our stretch of coast. Local events are set against the backdrop 19 th century scientific development, to conjure a complete view of the importance of the Dorset coast as a scientific locality.

This talk takes a more detailed look at the fossils of the Lower Jurassic around Charmouth. It introduces the marine environments of the Lower Jurassic, the palaeoecology and modes of preservation of the fossils. This talk is not reccomended for groups of young children because of the slightly higher level of information.

Lyme Bay is famous for its special and sensitive marine wildlife, but for most people this fascinating underwater world is hidden beneath the waves. Discover the variety of colourful and unusual creatures that live in our coastal waters including an overview of the coastline, the more familiar creatures of the rockpools and the inhabitants of the Lyme Bay reefs and ledges.

Discover the wonderful world of plankton, the microscopic plants and animals that are vital to the life in our seas. Plankton form the base of our marine food chains and are the largest producers of oxygen on the planet. They occur in a wide range of shapes, sizes and forms from the alien looking lobster larvae, to the beautiful sea butterflies and rainbow comb jellies that bring a riot of colour to the otherwise transparent world of the water column.