FULL CODE

The West Dorset coast is internationally famous for rocks, fossils and landforms. The Lower Jurassic rocks around Lyme Regis and Charmouth are the richest source of reptiles, fish and insects of this age anywhere in the world. The rocks also contain a superb record of geological time through the Lower Jurassic and this is dated by the ammonite succession. Ammonites evolved rapidly through time and each layer of rock contains distinct species that can be used to identify time zones, both here and in other parts of Britain, Europe and the wider world. Erosion occasionally takes the form of spectacular landslides, including Black Ven, the largest coastal landslide in Europe.

The coast is eroding very rapidly and therefore it is essential that people are available to collect all the time, especially during periods of rough weather. Without this collecting effort, many fossils, including specimens of great scientific importance, will be damaged or destroyed by the sea.

The partners to the code recognise the essential role that dedicated collectors play in the recovery of fossils. The code seeks to balance the management needs along the site and access to the specimens for scientific study.

In it’s simplest form, the core of the code requires collectors not to dig in situ within the cliffs without permission and to record specimens of key scientific importance at the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre. If collectors abide by the code, then ownership of the fossils they find on National Trust and Charmouth Parish Council land, will be transferred to them. Should collectors wish to sell any fossils that qualify as being of ‘key scientific importance’, then they must be made available to UK registered museums in the first instance, for a period of six months. Collectors not following the code may be regarded as stealing the fossils. Ownership is transferred in recognition of the time, skill and effort made by collectors in the recovery and preparation (cleaning) of the specimens. There is an inevitable cost in the recovery of fossils from this coastline.

Is there another way? Only by employing collectors and policing the beaches through dedicated wardens. The parties to the Code believe that this approach would cost considerably more than purchasing the key scientifically important fossils, with no guarantee that important specimens would be recovered. Furthermore, such an approach would be difficult to enforce, if not impossible and would damage relations with other collectors.

The full code is accessible by following the link: LINK TO PDF OF FULL CODE DOCUMENT

The Code has been developed by:

Jurassic Coast Project, (now the World Heritage Team) Dorset County Council

English Nature

The National Trust

West Dorset Heritage Coast Project

Charmouth Parish Council

Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre

Dorset and Somerset Museum Services

Local fossil collectors