UKAFH

The Wren’s Nest National Nature Reserve is an area of nature reserve to the northeast of Dudley in the West Midlands. It was designated as a National Nature Reserve in 1956 because of its exceptional geological and paleontological features of Silurian age. It is also a SSSI.

* Suitable for children 7+ (All children must be acompanied by a paying adult).
* LEADERS:  Terry Newsome, Lee-Anne Collins, Aidan Philpott

* HIGH VISIBILITY VESTS or jacket essential.

PLEASE NOTE:This site is an SSSI. TOOLS are forbidden from this event (and location), collecting will be done from designated areas of screen and spoil only. A talk on safe and sensible collecting will be given at the start of this event. 

Please download and read the PPE POLICY Document

We try to keep most events to a 11am till 4pm schedule, but final times may vary depending on tide times and working around quarries. We will always advice start time and where to meet well in advance of the event. 

Please note, many of our locations will not have toilet facilities, water, or other amenities. 

Fossil guide to this location: https://ukfossils.co.uk/2012/07/12/wrens-nest/

The Wren’s Nest National Nature Reserve is world famous for its huge variety of Silurian fossils. Indeed, the town of Dudley has adopted a trilobite as part of its coat of arms – the trilobite, Calymene blumenbachi, was so commonly found by miners in Victorian times that they gave it the nick-name “the Dudley bug”.

Over 700 different types of fossil can be found here; 186 fossil species of which were first discovered and described here and 86 are found nowhere else on earth. Wren’s Nest contains the most diverse and abundant fossil fauna found in the British Isles and the fossils are among the most perfectly preserved Silurian fossils in the world. Despite the frequency of visitors at Wren’s Nest, the constantly eroding rocks and build up of scree allows safe and productive fossil collecting. The site is ideal for children, although there are no toilet facilities within the site.

At Wren’s Nest, there are so many fossils to collect that you will easily find something to take home with you. Take your time and look at the loose material on the ground. Remember do not use hammers or other tools on the rock faces. Hammers are totally banned from this site, in any case.

Fossils to be found include trilobites (especially Calymene blumenbachii-­‐ the ‘Dudley bug’), crinoids, brachiopods (some of the easiest fossils to find on Wren’s Nest are brachiopods, such as Atrypa, Strophonella and Leptaena), corals, sponges, bryozoans, gastropods, bivalves (especially Goniophora and Pteronitella), criconarids, nautiloids  a superb example of a Silurian reef ecosystem.

FAQ 

Can my child less than 4 attend the event?

We strongly advice against taking children under 4, but if the event allows children and leaders agree, then this is possible providing they are under your responsibility and care, and do not use tools or equipment. Please contact us on 01502 725205 (Mon-Fri 8am-3pm) for more information.

Can I book over the phone?

Yes, you can, and we can take card payment, however a waiver must be signed before we can accept your booking. The waiver can be emailed or posted out, but must be returned within one week of the booking. Contact us on: 01502 725205 (Mon-Fri 8am-3pm).

Can I pay on the day?

Sorry, we do not allow anyone to pay on the day, as we cannot provide pre-preparation details on risk assessment, and due to health and safety, places are limited.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

This will greatly help us and speed things up, but leaders will have a list of those attending on the day.

Is my registration ticket transferrable?

Please contact us and we normally try to accommodate this.

I have a question not listed?

Please contact us on 01502 725205 (Mon-Fri 8am-3pm).

What happens if I can’t make it on time or get to the venue?

You need to contact us urgently. If this is within a few days of the event, call us on 01502 725205 (Mon-Fri 8am till 4pm), if it is on the day or a couple of days before, contact the leader in the final confirmation email detailing where to meet and times. We cannot guarenete we can wait for you, but where possible, we will try.

Are toilets nearby?

Most events will not have access to toilets. The best places to find fossils are mostly areas away from built up areas, and tend to be quite remote. There are a few exceptions where toilets are close by, but it is best to presume they won't be available.

Will my friend's hammer and chisels from their tool box be okay to bring?

No tools are allowed on this site due it's designation as a SSSI, and in any case, are not needed as fossils can be found loose in the scree.

What happens if the event is cancelled?

We try very hard to avoid having to cancel, but if an event needs to be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions or unforeseen circansances, we will notify you immediately, and you will be offered an alternative hunt or date or a refund.