"Whilst any good ironmonger can supply cold chisels and strong knives or trowels, he is very unlikely to have safe and suitable hammers in stock. The steel of ordinary domestic and many trade hammers is far too soft for use on most rocks. It will splinter and flying fragments of steel can cause nasty wounds, particularly to the eyes, not only of the hammerer but also of his companions." Fossils in Colour - 1967 - J.F. Kirkaldy, D.Sc. Formally Head of the Department of Geology, Queen Mary College London.

TOOLS: The material at Osmington is very hard and therefore heavy duty hammers and chisels should be taken. Ideally goggles should be worn when hitting rock and hard suitable walking shoes. CONTAINERS: Fossils are quite hard and therefore single wrapped and placement into a bag is appropriate

Crack Hammers: You will need A good quality crack hammer and Chrome chisels at Osmington Mills, Heavy 4lb or larger lump hammers are highly recommended to break apart the hard beds.

Chisel Picks: For the more 'weathered rocks' These chisel picks work well in loosing weathered layers. Geological hammers are also suitable.

Chisels: Because the rock are very hard, most normal chisels will blunt quickly. It is therefore highly recommended that Special Chrome Vanadium Steel Chisels are used. These are made from the highest quality steel and are coated for extra protection. They are also much sharper than normal chisels and will last much longer. As for the type of chisel, Wide chisels and splitting chisels are not really ideal because the lack of layers in the rocks, standard 1" or less are best, it is also ideal to take a small chisel around 1/2" for any delicate work.

Specimen Boxes: Keep your small finds safe in these clear, cost effective specimen boxes. Perfect to build your fossil collection.

Geo Field Ruler: This Geo Ruler is ideal for field use and for photographing specimens. The Rular is colour graduated in CM with 10cm Blocks, made of hard thick plastic and is waterproof.

Waterproof Notepads and Waterproof Pens: These field notepads and field pens work in the rain, they are perfect for taking notes. The pens work in any condition, including underwater! Taking notes about where fossils were found is an essential part of any collection.

Safety Wear: Goggles or Safety Glasses are absolutely essential at this location when using hammers and chisels, rock splinters can pierce the skin.

Specimen Bags: These are ideal for Osmington Mills. Sealable Clear Specimen Bags can hold your finds. These can be purchased from UKGE for low prices and can easily be re-used.

Geological Bags: Strong, Waterproof and durable geological bags that last years are ideal for any keen fossil hunter. These quality bags from Estwing are ideal for bringing back those heavy finds back home.

Footwear: Hiking Boots are recommended fine for Osmington Mills because the shore is very rocky.