ROCKWATCH - Events - Museum Exhibitions/Events

MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS/ EVENTS 2012

National History Museum, London
Durlston Castle, Dorset
Watchet Museum, Somerset
Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, Hastings
Hertford Museum, Herts
National Museum of Wales, Cardiff
Gloucester City Museum & Art Gallery
Lyme Regis Museum, Lyme
Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, Dorset
National Stone Centre, Derbyshire
Geowalks, in Scotland
Banbury Museum, Oxfordshire
Loggerheads Country Park, Denbighshire
Scottish Mining Museum
Dinosaur Isle, Sandown, Isle of Wight
Dinosaur Coast, North Yorkshire

Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD.

Scott’s Last Expedition: Explore Robert Falcon Scott’s epic Terra Nova expedition to Antarctica in a new exhibition which goes beyond the journey to the South Pole and the death of the polar party, revealing powerful tales of endurance their many scientific achievements. The Terra Nova returned from Antarctica with crates, jars and bottles containing a large number of zoological and geological specimens, contributing to what is now known about the continent.

The exhibition reunites for the first time real artefacts used by Scott and his team, together with scientific specimens collected on the 1910–1913 expedition. Visitors can also walk around a life-size representation of Scott’s base-camp hut that still survives in Antarctica.

Dates and times: Until 2 September, 2012, 10.00–17.50 (last admission 17.15).
Admission: Adult £8, child and concessions £5.00.

tel: 020 7942 5000
www.nhm.ac.uk/scott

Durlston Castle, Lighthouse Road, Swanage, Dorset BH19 2JL
Durlston Castle has been restored and enhanced to become the first major Gateway to the Jurassic Coast. This Victorian folly introduces visitors to outstanding wildlife and geology within the park. Displays include The Rock - get up close to the fossils from Durlston bay, an Audio Visual presentation, and Gary Breeze’s timeline of 4.5 billion years in a short walk! Parking fee but no entry charges. More details 01929 424443.

Watchet Museum
The Market House, Market Street, Watchet, Somerset TA23 0AN
Fossils in Watchet! Watchet is fortunate in its geology, lying on local lias rocks, set down 200-215 million years ago with a variety of fossils. The lower liassic sedimentary beds were formed in the first part of the Jurassic, merging with the end of the earlier Upper Triassic period. The Museum displays locally-found fossils: ammonites and Gryphaea, fossilised coral, fish, oysters and plants. enquiries@watchetmuseum.co.uk.

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, Johns Place, Bohemia Road, Hastings, TN34 1ET
Collection details: Dinosaurs, Archaeology, Archives, Coins and Medals, Costume and Textiles, Decorative and Applied Art, Fine Art, Maritime, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Science and Technology, Social History, Weapons and War. 01424 781155.
Open: Mon-Fri 1000-1700 Sat 1000-1300 & 1400-1700 Sun 1500-1700.

Hertford Museum, 18 Bull Plain, Hertford, Herts SG14 1DT
Hertford Museum has lots of ‘hands on’ activities for families together with displays of natural history and geology. Check their website for further details of events:

www.hertfordmuseum.org
tel: 01992 582686
email: hertfordmuseum@btconnect.com

Opening times 10am - 5pm Tuesday – Saturday.

National Museum of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff
The extensive collections provide evidence for how the Wales we know today has evolved over 700 million years. These specimens record how Wales has drifted from the southern hemisphere to its present-day setting 52° north of the equator. Free entry. www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/geology.

Gloucester City Museum & Art Gallery, Brunswick Road, Gloucester, GL1 1HP and Gloucester Folk Museum, 99 – 103 Westgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 2PG
Gloucester City Museum & Art Gallery and Gloucester Folk Museum All of the events are aimed at families and operate on a drop in stay as long or as little time as you like basis. There is no specific charge for these events but normal admission charges to the Museum apply. Charges are: £3 adults, £2 concessions (under 5s free) Open: 10am –5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays.

More information: www.gloucester.gov.uk/museums

City Museum & Art Gallery Events:
3 March 11am – 4pm: Science Saturday: National Science and Engineering Week celebrating the world in motion with lots of hands on experiments for all the family.

10 March 11am – 4pm Science Saturday Explosive family fun
Gloucester Folk Museum:
7 - 31 January, 11am – 4pm Creative Corner – Planets
14 January 11am – 4pm Creative Corner – Moon Madness
21 January 11am– 4pm Creative Corner – Stars Above.

Lyme Regis Museum, Bridge Street, Lyme Regis DT7 3QA
The Museum stands in the heart of the town and is built on the site of the home of Lyme’s renowned fossilist, Mary Anning. It is one of the architectural gems of the town and is packed with fascinating displays. Find out about Lyme’s early and maritime history, its internationally important geology, its fossils and the writers connected with the town, from Jane Austen to John Fowles.

FOSSIL HUNTING WALKS Find your own 190-million-year-old fossils.
MARY ANNING WALKS Explore the paths and streets of Old Lyme.

Fossil walks (2½ - 3 hours): adults £9.00; children/students £5.00. Mary Anning walks (1 - 1½ hours): adults £6.00; children/students £3.00
Check limited winter museum opening hours. From Easter hours are Mon - Sat 10am-5pm, Sundays & Bank Holidays 2am-5pm Adults £1.50, Discounts 75p, Children FREE. Booking advisable for walks: Contact Carole Halden at the Museum on 01297 443370/444463 email info@lymeregismuseum.co.uk

Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre
Lower Sea Lane, Charmouth, Dorset DT6 6LL
A world famous centre for fossil hunting, the Centre has displays about the coastline, a ‘Jurassic Theatre’, microscopes, fossils to touch and guided walks which include a 20 minute talk on fossils.

Price of Fossil Hunting Walks: Adult £7.00, Child £3.00, Seniors £3.00 and lasts about 2 hours. Booking advisable. Child Rockwatch members with a valid membership card can attend free of charge but adult members must pay.

21-22 January: Rocks and Fossils Weekend: Booking essential.

For more details and to book all events: www.charmouth.org, phone 01297 560772 or email enquiries@charmouth.org.uk

National Stone Centre, Porter Lane, Wirksworth, Derbyshire DE4 4LS
Crammed with ancient tropical reefs, rocks and minerals, centuries of industrial history, and full of wildlife treasures - a protected SSSI. In fifty acres, it contains six former quarries, four lime kilns and over one hundred and twenty disused lead mine shafts - Gem Panning, Discovery Centre with the 'Story of Stone', rock and mineral shop and café. Prices: Adults £1.00, Children 50p. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Open daily. 01629 824833 or www.nationalstonecentre.org.uk.

Geowalks – uncovering Scotland’s geological past
Geowalks – uncovering Scotland’s geological past
Discover the secrets of the Scottish landscape and the stories the rocks have to tell. Millions of years ago volcanoes, great rivers and deserts formed the rocks beneath our feet. Join Angus Miller for a ‘walk back in time’. Details on: www.geowalks.demon.co.uk

Banbury Museum, Spiceball Park Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 2PQ
Open: Monday to Saturday: 9.30am - 17.00pm Friday: 10.30am - 16.30pm.

For more details: Tel 01295 259855
email: dale.johnston@cherwell-dc.gov.uk www.cherwell-dc.gov.uk.

Loggerheads Country Park, Nr Mold, Denbighshire CH7 5LH
Discovery Trails and Industrial Trails around the Country Park or even join in making Valentine things on February 14th! To register & for directions 01352 810614 or, at weekends, 01352 810586 or email: loggerheads.countrypark@denbighshire.gov.uk

Scottish Mining Museum, Lady Victoria Colliery, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4QN.
Interactive displays telling the Story of Coal and its Social History.

Open daily 10.00am - 4.00 pm. Cost: £5.95 adult, £3.95 children and concessions.

Dinosaur Isle, Sandown, Isle of Wight. Culver Parade, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 8QA.
Displays of local fossils and dinosaurs including life-size reconstructions e.g. animatronic of a Neovenator with interactive displays including rubbings, sand pits and dinosaur smells. Or join a fossil trip to a local Island beach (apx. 2 hours). Venues: Yaverland, Brook or Shanklin. Open to all ages, but there are steps and soft sand on most sites. Must be pre-booked. Take collecting bags.

REDUCTIONS WITH A CURRENT ROCKWATCH MEMBERSHIP CARD.

Open daily 10.00am - 4.00pm.

tel: (09183) 404344
email: dinosaur@iow.gov.uk
www.dinosaurisle.com

Dinosaur Coast, North Yorkshire
The Yorkshire Coast and the North York Moors National Park organize fossil hunting trips led by local experts at various locations: Sandsend, Runswick Bay and Robin Hood Bay.

For details:
tel: 01723 383636/01723 232572
www.dinocoast.org.uk

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