Strawberry Wood fossils and fossil collecting

Take the dual A1 and pull into Haddington at the roundabout.
From the crossroads and traffic lights in the north east of the town, take the A6093 to Pencaitland.
From the garage in the village of Pencaitland turn Left taking the B6355.
Follow this B6355 to the village of East Saltoun. Park here and walk on to the end of the village turning left along the roadside at the highest end of the wood until you reach a gate close to the south east corner of the square wood. Watch for cars and keep kids at hand. Only 200 yards to gate.

GRID REF: 55.90216°N, 2.83718°W

Molluscs, Nautiloids, Trilobites, Gastropods, Sponges, Fish, Shark, Microssils

Fossil Collecting at Strawberry Wood

This is a disused carboniferous limestone quarry within a small wood. It is very rich in fossils and studies have shown it to have important differences in paeleo-environment and with varied macrofossil assemblage from the surrounding carboniferous sediments of similar age. Due to the importance of the site, keep collecting to a minimum.

Very High

Fossils can be found frequently throughout. Much of the Limestone marl has a good cleavage, and can be opened like pages of a kids thick book. Fossils can be in many horizons.

Suitable for Children

No shops or toilets in village. Children friendly as long as they stay off the face.

Very Good

Access is easy as there is a gate and entrance leading to a path throughout the wood. Parking is easier in the village of East Saltoun. A short walk alongside a very quiet country road leads to the Gate. Although the wood can be entered from the other side of the wood, it is on a busy farmers lane with no parking, so should be avoided.

Small Disused Quarry

Fossils are found on the many small spoil heaps. The quarry face must not be touched. The piles of broken limestone heaped at the foot of the face are rich in fossil specimens.

Important Site Currently being researched

This is a wood used by the public, and limited fossil collection should not need permission.

If you collect fossils in Scotland, the advice on best practice in the collection and storage of fossil specimens, set out in the Scottish Fossil Code, applies to you. The Code may be viewed and downloaded from www.snh.org.uk/fossilcode.

This is a child friendly site, but ensure that they stay of the quarry face as well as the top of the high spoil heaps. Collecting from here wont be necessary at this rich site.

Last updated:	2011
last visited:	2011
Written by:	Anthony Rybak

Geological Tools

A small geology hammer and splitting chisel is all that is required. Mobile phones work fine here.

Other similar locations

For trilobites further locations are Strawberry Wood, Ardwell Bay and Aldons, or in Shropshire you can try Betton Dingle, Mortimer Forest, Hillend, Wenlock Quarry, Shadwell Quarry, Upper Millichope, Hope, and The Onny Trail. In South West Wales, you can also find Silurian Trilobites from Marloes Sands and Abereiddy


Including where are the best fossils found, where to look, detailing of any fossils found or what has been found in the past. Any particular zones/beds that are worth looking int Just beneath the surface of the land a few miles west of the Royal Burgh of Haddington in East Lothian, are clues to a lagoon that existed over 300 million years ago. A disused limestone quarry at East Saltoun contains an unusually rich macrofossil fauna. The fossils can be found throughout the wood amidst spoil heaps close to the quarry face. As well as the molluscs, nautiloids, trilobites, gastropods, sponges and so much more, there has been a shark fin spine, scales and two species of sharks teeth also discovered. Many fossil specimens have been as of yet identified, and the official faunal list is ever-growing. Middle Skateraw Limestone

Carboniferous, 330mya

This strata is Middle Skateraw Limestone of the Lower Limestone Formation. Visean, Dinantian, Brigantian, P2b. 310 M.Y.A. The accessible strata is approx 80 meters in length, and 5.5 meters in height. The face runs in a North-south direction and has an approximate dip of 5 degrees. Top horizon comprises of a hard grey ochre intrusion of amorphous, argillaceous limestone which has no apparent cleavage horizons. This overlies approximately one meter of hard crystalline limestone marl. Below this is 4 meters of softer limestone marl. All three rock types are found in the spoil heaps. Studies have shown that this succession is a shallow marine lagoon deposit. The theory of a lagoon protected from the elements by a crinoidal reef, enabling nursery conditions for the juveniles of many species has proven credible. This reef was breached at various intervals, leading to turbid disruption to the eco-system and then the new baron sediments gradually being recognised by juveniles of the previous residents.


As well as larger trilobites, these tiny species can also be found....[more]

Ostracods

Strawberry Wood is an excellent place to collect microfossils. A layer of clay found at this location, yields fish teeth and scales, seeds, and ostracods. Simply take back a bag of sample, then wet sieve at home using 500, 300 and 150 micron sieves. There are many other fossils to be found, that are smaller than 150 microns, but you will need specialist equipment to view these. You will also need a microscope to view the fossils.....[more]

Geology Sieves

Microscopes

Geological Hammers

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.

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.

Our online store, sells a wide range of Geological Hammers, Geological Picks and other Geology Tools. We stock both the UK Vista Hammer, and Estwing, USA.

Standard hammers are not suitable, as fragments of metal can break off, and cause injury. Instead, you will need a strong, geological hammer which is suitable for hitting rocks.

Don't forget your goggles to protect your eyes, also available from our online shop.

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