The tidal foreshore at Harwich exposes the Harwich Stone Band, a hard, ash-bearing horizon formed in an early Eocene sea. Loose beach material can yield shark and fish teeth, fossil wood and seeds. The most useful patches change as waves move the shingle and sand, so careful searching matters more than covering a large area. Eocene, Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦♦
The designated fossil pit in Lesnes Abbey Woods, southeast London, is famous for its early Eocene shark teeth and shell-rich sediment. Careful sieving can also reveal fish remains and much rarer vertebrate fossils. Follow the site’s limits on digging and material removal, and arrange organised visits with the council before travelling. Eocene, Disused Pit, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦
