(Best on the foreshore!) - 2003

Erosion at Eastbourne in recent years has been so extensive that sea defences are fast changing. There are a number of groynes with steps and large blocks to protect the cliff, but this appears to be making little difference to the rate of erosion along this coastline. Between these groynes and indeed past the last groyne, you can find fossils. The best place is from the last groyne to Cow Gap.

The chalk is also highly fossiliferious and this makes it one of the best places for Chalk fossils in the UK. The best place to look is on the foreshore and at the base of the cliffs. Most of the fossils are from higher beds, so they can be found in the fallen rocks along the foreshore.

If you can see a slightly worn Ammonite, use a Rock Axe and hammer or wide chisel to hit about 1cm below where the fossil thickness ends (or more if you are unsure) and usually the Ammonites come out whole the underside remaining in perfect condition. The large Ammonite on the fossil photo page was abstracted in this manner after being cleaned, the original upper side is hardly worn at all. This Ammonite looked very poor when first discovered but is actually often as perfect as can be.