Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of prehistoric animals and plants found in sedimentary rocks. A fossil could be a bone, a shell or leaf but it could also be a footprint or burrow.

The best place to look for fossils is on the beach at Charmouth. There is a great Visitor Centre there which offers guided fossil walks and shows you how to find fossils on the beach.

Be safe while you're on the beach, walking along the coast path or collecting fossils.

The Fossil Collecting and Beach Safety Guide leaflet and the full Fossil Collecting Code are also available to download.

This fossilised skull is one of the largest and best preserved examples of a Pliosaur ever found in the world.

Find out about Ammonites, Belemnites, Bivalve sea-shells and more.