Devil’s toenails and ammonites were just some of the geological treasures discovered at Hock Cliff by a group of fossil hunters at the weekend.
Over thirty people headed to the site, which lies on the shore of the River Severn in between villages Arlingham and Frampton-on-Severn, on Sunday, July 22 thanks to Stroud Valleys Project, a wildlife charity that organised the fossil hunt.
“Hock Cliff is a fantastic sight for fossils, one of the best in Gloucestershire,” explained Dr Alice Kennedy, head of geology at the Gloucestershire Geology Trust and who helped the group find fossils embedded in the mud shale.
Hock Cliff is a treasure trove for fossils dating from the Jurassic Period - some of the rocks there are 198 million years old, according to Dr Kennedy.
Unfortunately for amateur paleontologists, the one kilometre site can be difficult to navigate without a guide - aside from little signage, the high tide of the Severn can make solo outing there difficult.
But for those who missed out and would like to hunt fossils themselves, Gloucestershire Geological Trust has more expeditions planned.
Cleeve Common near Cheltenham is the next geological target for the trust, and Dr Kennedy will be leading a walk round the site on Saturday, September 1.
Visit.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/guided_walks/cleeve-common-rocks/ for more info.
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