fossilcodes.org
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The Fossil Code Collection
Welcome to the home of the West Dorset and Undercliffs National Nature Reserve Fossil Collecting Codes and Fossil Recording Schemes.
The coast between Burton Bradstock in Dorset and Axmouth in East Devon provides one of the finest exposures of fossil-rich Mesozoic rocks in the world. Ongoing erosion makes this a hugely productive palaeontological site, with important finds made frequently.
Fossil collectors play a vital role by rescuing fossils from inevitable destruction by the elements. The West Dorset and Undercliffs fossil codes support their efforts by setting out the requirements for responsible, safe, and sustainable collecting.
By following the collecting codes and recording important discoveries, responsible fossil collectors actively assist the management of this special coastline and enable its rich fossil heritage to benefit science and society.
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Why do we collect fossils?
Fossils provide important information about past life on Earth, helping us to understand the function of ecosystems, evolution and biodiversity through time and the dating of rocks. They also have the potential to inspire new generations to love and care for our natural environment.
The Mesozoic rocks exposed on the West Dorset and Lyme Regis coast contain abundant and extremely diverse fossils. These can be of interest to science, and so significant finds are important to record, for a wide variety of reasons.
Responsible fossil collecting and the recording of important finds is also, crucially, the basis for positive and collaborative relationships between collectors, landowners, museums, academics and conservation bodies.
Fossil Collecting and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site
The West Dorset and Lyme Regis coastline is just part of the larger Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site, protected for its unique geology, palaeontology and geomorphology. Responsible fossil collecting is embedded in the management of the Jurassic Coast and fossil collectors participate in the creation of the Site management plan. The West Dorset and Undercliffs Fossil Collecting Codes along with the Fossil Recording Schemes are key components of the ongoing sustainable management of the Jurassic Coast’s Outstanding Universal Value.