Fossil hunting with children

Children need a short walk, a safe beach, facilities and a decent chance of finding something within the first twenty minutes. That rules out most landslip and cut-off sites and points firmly at Charmouth, Runswick Bay, Yaverland, Bracklesham Bay and Hunstanton.

Fragments count. A broken ammonite rib or half a belemnite is a genuine find and should be treated as one. If the day is framed as a treasure hunt for a perfect specimen, it will usually disappoint.

Ninety minutes is plenty. Take a flask and something to eat, and stop while everyone is still enjoying it.

• Stay away from cliffs entirely — not near them, away from them
• Know the tide time before you arrive and set an alarm for turning back
• No hammers with children present
• Wellies and warm layers; British beaches are cold even in June

Wash and label the finds together, and take the interesting ones to a heritage centre or museum. Charmouth and Dinosaur Isle both handle a steady stream of children's finds and take them seriously, which matters more to a child than the fossil does.