Coming up: Mary Anning Weekend

Fossil fish and sharks are coming to Lyme Regis Museum and the Marine Theatre over the weekend (29 and 30 September). Celebrating the significance of Lyme as the birthplace of palaeontology, the museum’s Mary Anning Weekend presents two action-packed days of fossil facts and fun.

Stefanie Klug (right) of the University of Bristol uncovers the secrets of Jurassic sharks; and Matt Friedman (below, left) of the University of Oxford tells the story of the coelacanth fish, a living fossil thought to have become extinct 65 million years ago but rediscovered in 1938 still swimming the earth’s oceans.

Lyme’s own Richard Edmonds, Earth Science Manager for the Jurassic Coast, explains why our coast is so important; Tom Sharpe of the National Museum of Wales tells the story of the Philpot sisters, who were important fossil collectors in Lyme at the time of Mary Anning; and Sir Crispin Tickell, environmentalist and expert on global climate change, tackles the subject of the human future.

Museum admission is free all weekend, where there is a rare opportunity to see an exhibition of local fossil fish including the Philpot sisters’ collection on loan from Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Especially for children there are ammonite polishing activities and the chance to join in making a giant fossil fish with artist Darrell Wakelam. The museum’s geologists Paddy Howe and Chris Andrew are conducting fossil hunting walks, historian Daphne Baker presents an insight into the life of Mary Anning, and Natalie Manifold takes groups on guided walks of the town as Mary knew it.

To book talks or walks call into Lyme Regis Museum or telephone 01297 443370 or email walks@lymeregismuseum.co.uk.

Full details and times of the weekend’s activities are:

SATURDAY – in and around Lyme Regis Museum

Get up close to rare FOSSIL FISH AND SHARKS. Meet the Philpot fish on a return visit to Lyme from Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

Drop in to the museum’s ground-floor gallery – FREE

Get hands-on with 3-D art – MAKE A GIANT FOSSIL FISH with artist Darrell Wakelam. Cutting-and-sticking fun for children of all ages.

Outside the museum – drop by from 11am to 4pm, materials provided FREE

Have a go at AMMONITE POLISHING with fossil experts Paddy, Chris and Brandon. Take home your own beautiful 190-million-year-old treasure.

Outside the museum from 10.30am to 4pm – materials at pocket-money price.

SATURDAY – on the beach and around town

10am FOSSIL HUNTING WALK – get out on the beach with geologists Paddy and Chris. Everyone should find a fossil!

Booking advised – phone, email or call in. Ticket £10 adult: £5 child/student.

12.30pm AND 2.30pm MARY ANNING WALKS. Do you want to know about Mary Anning’s life in Lyme? Then go on Natalie’s guided walk.

Booking advised – phone, email or call in. Ticket £6 adult: £3 child/student.

SATURDAY MORNING – in the Marine Theatre

10.30am to 1pm – A Morning of Discovery

10.30am – Richard Edmonds, Earth Science Manager for the Jurassic Coast explains its importance: Footsteps through Time: the Jurassic Coast in Context.

11.30am – John Cawley of University of Bristol reveals his new research: Pachycormus – Extinct Mesozoic Ray-finned Fish.

12.15pm – Dr Stefanie Klug also of University of Bristol brings to life: Sharks of the Lower Jurassic.

Booking advised – phone, email or call in. Ticket £6 adult: FREE child/student.

Combined ticket (morning and afternoon) £10 adult: FREE child/student.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON – in the Marine Theatre

2pm to 5pm – Living Fossils, Collectors and the Human Future

2pm – Tom Sharpe of the National Museum of Wales discusses: The Philpot Family and other Early Lyme Fossil Collectors.

3pm – Dr Matt Friedman of University of Oxford asks: Coelacanth: Living Fossil or Specialised Survivor?

4pm – Sir Crispin Tickell author of the influential Climate Change and World Affairs poses the question: The Human Future: Whither the Anthropocene?

Booking advised – phone, email or call in. Ticket £7 adult: FREE child/student.

Combined ticket (morning and afternoon) £10 adult: FREE child/student.

SUNDAY – in and around Lyme Regis Museum

Get up close to rare FOSSIL FISH AND SHARKS. Meet the Philpot fish on a return visit to Lyme from Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

Drop in to the museum’s ground-floor gallery – FREE

Get hands-on with 3-D art – MAKE A GIANT FOSSIL FISH with artist Darrell Wakelam. Cutting-and-sticking fun for children of all ages.

Outside the museum – drop by from 11am to 4pm, materials provided FREE

Have a go at AMMONITE POLISHING with fossil experts Paddy, Chris and Brandon. Take home your own beautiful 190-million-year-old treasure.

Outside the museum from 10.30am to 4pm – materials at pocket-money price.

3pm – Listen to Daphne Baker’s fascinating insight: MARY ANNING – FOSSIL PIONEER about the life and times of the Anning family in Lyme.

FREE – in the museum’s geology gallery (first floor)

SUNDAY – on the beach

10.45am FOSSIL HUNTING WALK – get out on the beach with geologists Paddy and Chris. Everyone should find a fossil!

Booking advised – phone, email or call in. Ticket £10 adult: £5 child/student.