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Introduction
The Isle of Sheppey is an excellent place to find fossils. The location itself is accessible to all, however some parts of the beach do become rocky and/or muddy. Visitors to the North Coast should be especially careful as some of the area is very deep mud (liquid mudslides). Such is the danger that there are reported fatalities, so some basic safety advice is included at the end of this page to help reduce the risk.
The Isle of Sheppey is located on the Thames Estuary and is within a short distance of London. The best place to explore for fossils is along the North coast, which stretches from Sheerness to Leysdown on Sea. If it's your first time visiting, you should access the beach at Warden, just West of Leysdown. Here you'll can find plenty of parking off Imperial Drive and a short walk down to the beach (see below).
Over the years erosion of the coastline has been rapid, resulting in roads and buildings simply falling into the sea. The picture below right shows two buildings which have succumb to this process... how much will home insurance cost here!
Where to look for fossils?
From the car park head along the beach towards Sheerness. Fossils are abundant at Sheppey and little experience is needed to find a wide range of fossils. The first place to direct your attention is the expanse of pyrite pebbles that occur near the foreshore. Here you'll find a range of plant and marine fossils, mainly small pieces of wood/twigs, plenty of gastropods and sharks teeth.
There's little point looking for fossils in the cliffs themselves, as the vast majority of fossils are washed out from the clay on the beach. Among the fossils Sheppey is most famous for are crabs, fish and lobster remains which are often is excellent condition when found.
No more than one in a hundred phosphatic nodules contain complete fossils, so a little patience and determination is needed. The nodules you're looking for will have clear evidence of the creature within, distinguishable by the contracting dark areas. Many of these nodules occur on the foreshore, however they're often damaged due to the affects of wave action. The best quality fossils are always found in situ on the foreshore expanses but are not frequent. For example, in the instances of complete crabs the claws are often visible on the outer edges as pictured above right (see diagram below).
You should not attempt to remove the fossils from the nodules - they will break. Instead wrap them in paper and wait until you've returned home where careful use of an abrasive tool is recommended. The best way to prepare the fossils is to scrape the matrix away with a scalpel or Stanley slim knife. If the specimen is not completely exposed then an airpen can be used to remove the rest. Some collectors of London Clay fossils only hand prepare choosing not to take the chance of damaging the fossil with the airpen. Never use acid to prep the phosphatic nodules.
For more information about the features and processes controlling coastal fossil collecting locations click here.
What fossils might you find?
More pictures from our recent club visit to Sheppey
Important safety notice
Whilst Sheppey is an excellent place for fossils, you should also pay particular attention to the risk of deep mud. There are sections of the area where the mud reaches several feet in depth especially in Spring or Autumn and poses a serious risk to personal safety if ignored. These liquid mudslides occur on the cliff slopes and can form a crust that appears solid. Children are at particular risk, so please ensure you take extra care if they accompany you. The beach itself is less likely to pose serious risk, however we do advise that visitors be vigilant and careful at all times. We recommend you always carry a mobile phone to alert others in the event of an accident.
All the fossils on this page were found within the foreshore shingle.
Thanks to Fred Clouter for his guidance and advice.
Protecting your finds
It's important to spend some time considering the best way to protect your finds onsite, in transit, on display and in storage. Prior to your visit, consider the equipment and accessories you're likely to need, as these will differ depending on the type of rock, terrain and prevailing weather conditions.
(Left) Fossil wrapped in newspaper, ready for transport. (Right) A small compartment box containing cotton wool is ideal for separating delicate specimens.
When you discover a fossil, examine the surrounding matrix (rock) and consider how best to remove the specimen without breaking it; patience and consideration are key. The aim of extraction is to remove the specimen with some of the matrix attached, as this will provide added protection during transit and future handling; sometimes breaks are unavoidable, but with care you should be able to extract most specimens intact. In the event of breakage, carefully gather all the pieces together, as in most cases repairs can be made at a later time...continued.
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