Reckless beach fossil-hunters tackled in Rother

'˜Irresponsible' fossil-hunters on Rother's beaches are being targeted as the council seeks to make clear its right to any valuable finds.
Any fossils found on beaches in Rother are owned by the council, including at Camber Sands. SUS-160726-124951001Any fossils found on beaches in Rother are owned by the council, including at Camber Sands. SUS-160726-124951001
Any fossils found on beaches in Rother are owned by the council, including at Camber Sands. SUS-160726-124951001

Rother District Council’s cabinet will discuss the proposed fossil hunting code of conduct at its meeting on Monday (March 8).

“The need for a code of conduct has arisen following incidents of commercial and irresponsible fossil collecting creating damage to the beach environment and constituting a loss of important heritage material,” the officer’s report says.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The code was drawn up by Bexhill Museum with help from police’s heritage protection office, university academics and other local authorities faced with similar challenges.

In the code, it states the district council has a legal title to any fossils found on its land, including the beach from Norman’s Bay to Galley Hill.

This includes beaches it leases such as Fairlight, Pett Level, Winchelsea Beach, Rye Harbour and Camber Sands.

“Rother District Council supports responsible collecting; encouraging people who wish to find and keep small numbers of fossils from the beach,” the report adds.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Rother District Council discourages irresponsible collecting, the collecting of fossils for commercial sale, systematically stripping the beach of fossil material, damaging or diminishing the natural heritage of the area.”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics: