Whitecroft Spoil fossils and fossil collecting

This spoil heap can be found by driving to Whitecroft in the Southern part of the Forest of Dean. From the B4234, cross over the Disused Rail track and follow the road to the west towards Bream (Whitecroft Road). Once outside Whitecroft, you should pass a large hill with trees ontop on your right.
Take the road on your right (Bowson Road) to follow around the sides of the hill, and you will find parking near some houses further up the road.
Now walk back down to the hill, where you will find an open grass area which gains access to the spoil heap.

Grid Ref: 51.75537°N, 2.56289°W

Fossil plants and seeds

The Forest of Dean is full of evidence of past coal mining. This old spoil head in Whitecroft, although overgrown, contains some excellent shale full of fossil plant remains. It is a shame the site is so overgrown as you will need to do some digging.

Medium

If you find a slab of fossiliferious shale, then providing you carefully split thinly, The problem is that this site has become so overgrown, that it can be hard to find the slabs.

Older Children

Although this site is safe, since there is some digging to be done, and fossils cannot just be picked up, we do not recommend the site for younger children.

Fair Access

Can be difficult to find if you don’t have an OS map showing the location of the spoil, but once along the correct road, the tall hill cannot be missed. There is a grass open area just before it and you can walk through to the base of the spoil. The best slabs are found right at the bottom.

Spoil Heap

This is an old spoil heap, waste material from the old quarries that have been dumped on this giant pile. Over the years, this has become overgrown and now looks like a natural hill.

Possible Restrictions

This is an old spoil heap that is easy to get to. You may need permission to visit, although the current owners of the spoil heap cannot currently be found. It is marked on OS 1:25,000 scale maps as an area of spoil.

This site is relatively safe, providing you don’t climb the hill as it can be quite steep in places. Common sense should be followed at all locations, follow our safe and sensible collecting guide.

Last updated:	2010
last visited:	2010
Written by:	Alister and Alison Cruickshanks

A pick will be very handy at this location, for pulling blocks out of the spoil and for splitting, but a spade might also be useful for digging into the soil heap and clearing the mud from the top layers.

Locations similar to Whitecroft Spoil

You can also try Little Haven, Nelton Haven in wales, Writhlington, Whitehaven in Cumbria, Offerton in Cheshire, Besom Hill in Lancashire or New Hay Quarry in Lancashire which is very similar or try Jurassic plant remains from Yorkshire, Scalby Ness, Hayburn Wyke, Filey, Cloughton Wyke and Gristhorpe Bay. In Scotland, you can also try Joppa Shore, Anstruther, East Wemyss, or Crail.


Whitecroft Spoil Heap, looks like a very tall natural hill, which is covered in trees. Actually, this is entirely man-made, being a spoil heap from the local quarries. When you arrive at the site, it doesn’t look that promising. However, you need to find the high fossiliferous shale that is packed with fossil plants. Just a single slab can yield many different species in excellent condition. The easiest way of finding them is by digging around the bottom of the spoil heap which is not so overgrown. This can be hard work. Most of the shale has turned to mud on the surface, and therefore the fossils have been destroyed. There is still plenty of slabs to be find, but a little patience is needed.

Carboniferious, 310mya

Carboniferous blocks of shale

This location is an old spoil heap, which is the waste material from the quarries that were only after the coal seams. The source of this spoil is from the Colford High Delf Coal Seam, which is the most important and productive seam in the Forest of Dean and rests below the Pennant Sandstone. Blocks of this sandstone can also be seen around the base of the spoil....[more]


There are plenty of excellent fossil plants to be found here...[more]

Microscopes

Geology Explained in the Forest of Dean

Test Sieves for Microfossils

At most locations, you can find microfossils. You only need a small sample of the sand. You then need to wash it in water and sieve using a test sieve. Once the sand is processed, you can then view the contents using a microscope.

We have a wide range of microscopes for sale, you will need a Stereomicroscope for viewing microfossils. The best one we sell is the IMXZ, but a basic microscope will be fine. Once you have found microfossils, you will need to store these microfossils.

This book explains the geology in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley including locations to visit, fossils to find and is full of excellent diagrams and drawings. William Dreghhorn was a remarkable educator, author and illustrator, but above all he will be remembered as an enthusiastic teacher of geology. This book, originally written in 1968 has been republished.
FREE UK DELIVERY - Click to buy

Test Sieves are used when searching for microfossils. Microfossils can be found in many locations, and all you need is a small amount of sample such as clays, sands and shales, or if you have acid, limestone, oolite or chalk.

Our UKGE Store sells Endecotts Test Sieves, which are the highest in accuracy and extremely durable and long lasting. These Test Sieves are fantastic for microfossils. Endecotts Test Sieves come in a variety of sizes, frame material and types, they are certificated to EU Standards.