Rocks on Ice! The Secret Geology Powering Olympic Curling
With the Winter Olympics in full swing, there’s one sport that makes geologists lean forward in their seats — Curling! Why? Because the real MVP might just be the rock itself. What Is Curling? Curling is played by two teams of four. Players take turns sliding eight stones down an ice sheet towards a circular target called the house. Points are scored for the stones that finish closest to the centre. But here’s the twist: those stones...
CSI: Geoscience – When Rocks Solve Crimes!
What if a handful of soil could solve a crime? What if landscapes, minerals and microscopic clues could reveal hidden histories? This February, our friends at the Geological Society of London are inviting students and teachers to step into the fascinating world of forensic geoscience with their exciting “CSI: Geoscience” webinar series. Designed especially for Key Stage 3 students (ages 11–14), this programme shows how geoscience...
Live in the Stone Age with Rockwatch!
[Show slideshow] Sunday 12 April 2026 10:00am for coffee | 10:30am start | Finish approx. 1:00pm Celtic Harmony Camp, near Hertford (SG13 8NY) Minimum age: 7 Rockwatch is delighted to be teaming up with our friends at the Amateur Geological Society (AGS) – North London for a very special prehistoric experience! Join us at Celtic Harmony Camp, a reconstructed prehistoric settlement set in beautiful Hertfordshire countryside, where...
Join us for Fossil Hunting at Bracklesham Bay
[Show slideshow] If you’ve ever dreamed of finding a fossil shark’s tooth with the sea stretching out in front of you, Bracklesham Bay is the place to do it — and this May, Rockwatch is heading back. On Saturday 16th May 2026, join fossil experts David and Anne Bone for a relaxed but thrilling afternoon exploring one of southern England’s most productive fossil beaches. Bracklesham’s rocks record a time around 45 million years ago,...
Folkestone’s Footprints: Walking Where Dinosaurs Once Walked
Have you ever stood in the exact place where dinosaurs once walked? In April and June 2026, Rockwatch is offering members the chance to do just that on our Folkestone’s Footprints fieldtrips in Kent—home to some of the most important dinosaur footprint discoveries in Britain. The day begins on the rocky foreshore at Copt Point, guided by Steve Friedrich, who helped uncover many of the footprints preserved here. These tracks represent...
Join us Behind the Scenes at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History
A special half-term Rockwatch visit: Wednesday 18 February 2026, 10.30am – approx. 3.00pm. Join Rockwatch this February half term for a fascinating behind-the-scenes experience at one of the world’s most famous natural history museums. If you’ve already joined us at Lowewood Museum in the past, this is the perfect alternative trip on the same day. We’ll enjoy a guided introduction to the museum before heading into normally...
February Half Term Fossil Fun at Lowewood Museum
Wednesday 19 February 2025 | 10:30am–3:00pm Rockwatch is delighted to be returning to Lowewood Museum this February half term for a day dedicated to fossils, creativity and discovery. This free, drop-in event is perfect for children and families who are curious about the ancient past. Throughout the day, visitors can handle real fossils, take part in fossil-themed art activities, and even bring along their own finds to be identified...
Christmas Geology Fun for Young Rockwatchers!
The festive season is here, and what better way to keep young geology lovers engaged over the school holidays than with some Festive-themed geology activities? We’ve put together a special activity sheet packed with four fun and creative crafts that combine the magic of Christmas with the wonder of rocks, fossils, and dinosaurs. Our Christmas Geology Activity Sheet includes four hands-on ideas that are perfect for children of all...
Issue 101 of the Rockwatch Magazine: published December 2025
Issue 101 Contents List: published December 2025 Ammonites-go-the-distance-Arietites-bucklandi-in-fallen-Blue-Lias-Formation-boulder-on-the-beach-Lyme-Regis Image 1 of 8 Ammonites go the distance Rockwatch members receive a copy of the Rockwatch Magazine three times a year to coincide with the main school holidays – Christmas, Easter and Summer. To receive your copy of the magazine join today! Inside this issue…...
Issue 101 of the Rockwatch Magazine – Out Now!
Ammonites-go-the-distance-Arietites-bucklandi-in-fallen-Blue-Lias-Formation-boulder-on-the-beach-Lyme-Regis Image 1 of 8 Ammonites go the distance Issue 101 of the Rockwatch Magazine has landed just in time for the Christmas holidays — the perfect companion for cosy winter reading between festive fun and family time. This latest issue is packed with geological wonders, fascinating stories and inspiring people, taking readers from...
Give the Gift of Rockwatch Membership This Christmas!
Are you looking for a Christmas gift that’s exciting, educational, and packed with adventures? A Rockwatch Membership Gift is the perfect present for children who love dinosaurs, fossils, minerals, rocks, or simply exploring the outdoors! 🎄 For only £15 per family, you can give a whole year of geological fun — plus a fantastic membership pack posted straight to their door. 🎅 Order by 14th December for Christmas...
Russell Society Junior Members Magazine – Free Download for Rockwatchers!
We’re delighted to share a great new resource for our young mineral enthusiasts! The Russell Society has released the first two editions of its Junior Members Magazine, and both are now available as free PDF downloads. Rockwatch members with an interest in minerals may find these magazines especially enjoyable and inspiring. Designed to encourage the appreciation of minerals among young people, the Junior Members Magazine includes...
Exploring Earth’s Atmosphere with Dr Amy Gentry and GeoBus
fog-2025-geobus-3 Image 1 of 3 Dr Amy Gentry leading the GeoBus Workshop at the Festival of Geology 2025 At this year’s Festival of Geology, young Rockwatchers got hands-on with one of the event’s most popular workshops: The Tumbling Tower of Time, led by Dr Amy Gentry, Outreach Leader for the UCL GeoBus team. Designed to test balance, logic, and geological knowledge, the activity taught children how Earth’s atmosphere has evolved...
Festival of Geology Speaker Highlights — Exclusive Q&A Series
rockwatch-room Image 1 of 7 Rockwatch Room at the Festival Fresh off the back of last Saturday’s Festival of Geology, we’re still buzzing from a day packed with discovery, fossils, hands-on fun, and brilliant people who make geology come alive! If you joined us at the Festival, you’ll know how inspiring our talks and workshops were — from fossil-hunting detectives to mammoth discoveries! And if you missed it this year, don’t worry —...
Discover the Cross-Channel Geopark Festival at Dover Castle – 8th November
On Friday 8th November, the Cross-Channel Geopark is hosting a landmark day festival at the magnificent Dover Castle! Step into a landscape shaped over 400 million years and uncover the hidden geological links between Kent and northern France. The castle itself sits on chalk cliffs of immense geological and cultural importance, forming part of the story that defines Kent’s coastline. Visitors can enjoy:🦴 Hands-on fossil...
Meet Our 2025 Rockstars!
Rockwatch Chair, Clare Byrne gives us her take on this year’s Rockstar Winners. Every year, the Rockstars Young Geologists’ Competition fills us with excitement, curiosity, and a renewed sense of wonder about the world we live in. This year’s entries were truly extraordinary — full of imagination, hard work, and genuine fascination for geology and Earth sciences. The judges admired every single project, whether it was a creative...
Celebrating the 2025 Rockstars Young Geologists’ Competition Winners!
clare-and-langan Image 1 of 3 Clare Byrne, Chair of Rockwatch with Guest Speaker Langan Turner Today, Monday 26th October, marked a thrilling moment as we celebrated the winners of the 2025 Rockstars Young Geologists’ Competition at the Prize Giving Ceremony hosted by the Anglo American Foundation in London. This annual event shines a spotlight on the imagination, curiosity, and scientific spirit of young people across the UK. From...
Join Rockwatch at the 2025 Festival of Geology
FOG-2025-1 Image 1 of 5 The 2025 Festival of Geology has talks from Dr Dean Lomax, Bob Nicholls, Saskia Elliott and Frankie Dunn. Get ready to discover and explore because Rockwatch is heading to the Festival of Geology on Saturday 1st November 2025 at The Geological Society, Burlington House, London — and we want YOU to come along! This is a FREE family-friendly day packed full of activities, talks, workshops and hands-on science...
How can we listen to the whispers of rocks?
Khatwa-Anjana-c-Rob-Coombe Image 1 of 3 Dr Anjana Khatwa, Earth Scientist and author. (c) Rob Coombe. I have a superpower that most people can’t see. Maybe you have it too? I can walk through the world and travel back in time whenever I want. I can enter worlds that no longer exist to feel an ancient wind that once moved a sand grain or gain a sense of how a river once flowed across the land. To do this I only need to do one thing –...
Fun activities to do on International Geodiversity Day!
To help you celebrate International Geodiversity Day we’ve put together some fun activities for all young rock detectives to enjoy! Every year on 6th October, people all over the world celebrate the incredible geodiversity that shapes our planet — the rocks, fossils, minerals, soils, and landscapes that tell the story of Earth’s past and present. This is important because these stories help us to understand Earth’s...
Celebrate International Geodiversity Day with Rockwatch
International Geodiversity Day is almost here, and Rockwatch is ready to celebrate in style! This global celebration takes place every year on 6 October, shining a spotlight on the many ways geodiversity – the rocks, fossils, minerals, soils, and landscapes around us – shapes our planet and our lives. This year, we’re bringing you something extra special. We’ve teamed up with award-winning Earth Scientist, author, and TV presenter Dr...
Happy International Geodiversity Day!
Every year on 6th October, people all over the world celebrate International Geodiversity Day (IGD). It’s a special day to remind us that the Earth has amazing stories to tell – and this year’s theme is: One Earth, Many Stories Rockwatch is super excited to join in with this year’s celebrations together with Dr Anjana Khatwa, an award-winning earth scientist who has just published an incredible book all about the stories hidden...
Join Rockwatch at the Festival of Geology 2025!
It’s back! Rockwatch is thrilled to be part of the Geologists’ Association Festival of Geology 2025 – a whole weekend of free fun for children, families and anyone curious about our amazing planet. 📅 When: Saturday 1st – Sunday 2nd November 2025 📍 Where: The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London On Saturday 1st November, families can explore the festival hub at Burlington House. There will be...
Rockwatch Families Enjoy a Fantastic Fossil & Minerals Day in Derbyshire
steeple-grange-light-railway-cab1 Image 1 of 9 Steeple Grange Light Railway carriage with Rockwatchers What a fabulous time we had on our Rockwatch field trip to Derbyshire! Families joined us for a full day of geological adventures at the National Stone Centre, Steeplehouse Quarry, Cromford Moor Mine site, and beyond. From exploring the Geotrail and spotting ancient fossils to riding the Steeple Grange Light Railway, discovering...