The fields around Ilminster in Somerset are famed for their fossils from the Upper Lias Beacon Limestone Formation (formerly, the so-called ‘Junction Bed’). In particular, ammonites are sought after and, after ploughing, can be found in some numbers at this location, on the surface of the fields. Jurassic, Fields, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦
Just west of Seatown lies the quieter collecting area of Eype, where the fossil-rich Beacon Limestone Formation (formerly known as the Dorset Junction Bed) is exposed. Fallen blocks from these beds are scattered across the foreshore and can contain a wide range of Jurassic fossils, particularly ammonites. Collecting here often requires patience and effort, as many fossils are locked within hard limestone blocks that have weathered out of the cliffs above. Although preservation can sometimes be poor, careful searching and splitting of loose rocks can reward determined collectors with well-preserved specimens, especially after storms or fresh cliff falls expose new material on the beach. Jurassic, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦♦
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