"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.

Most of the fossils can be found in foreshore nodules or loose within the shingle, however bones can also be found in the cliff face and in large nodules. You will need to take a pick and hammer for both instances.

Picks: A pick is very handy at Kettleness, it can be used for easily removing fossils from the clays exposed on the foreshore.

Chisel Picks: Ideal for splitting rocks on the foreshore, chisel picks are more accurate than standard Geological hammers, however Standard Geological Hammers are still suitable to crack open smaller nodules where accuracy is not so important. .

Chisels: Standard cold chisels are ideal for Kettleness, It is best to take a wide splitting chisel, a standard 1" and a smaller chisel for finer work. These will be fine for splitting the rocks.

Specimen Bags: These are ideal for collecting from Kettleness. 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 larger finds or sample bags.

Knee Pads: For all locations which are mostly based on foreshore beach combing, knee pads are ideal, they will protect your knees and also prevent you from getting so wet. Sharp rocks or beach litter will always cause a risk of injury when searching for fossils on your hands and knees. Many smaller ammonites can be collected from combing the tide line.

Footwear: Hiking Boots are recommended fine for Kettleness, but wellington Boots should be worn if visiting Black Ven slippages.

Silica Gel : Absorbs moisture from the air, some fossils can become damaged or decay over time. Turns Orange to Green when it needs replacing or can be regenerated by heating it back to orange. Place sachets in draws, trays, Boxes etc, or place loose Silica Gel in individual Specimen Boxes.

Search Lights: Competition is so high that during extreme tides and scouring conditions, collecting is best done during the night, UKGE sells a range of powerful search lights which enable collecting for up to four hours with a single light. With over a million candle power, they are ideal for Beach searching.