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Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre is based in the upstairs floor of a long-disused cement factory on the foreshore of Charmouth in Dorset, England.
The centre operates as an independent charitable trust within the larger framework of the UNESCO Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site, known as the "Jurassic Coast". Entry to the centre and all of its displays is free and, as such, the centre is dependent upon money generated from walks and events as well as charitable donations from the public.
The centre was set up in 1985 by local residents, in response to concerns about damage being done to the cliffs by fossil hunters. The role of the centre has always been primarily as an educator and it has undergone several phases of expansion as the demand from the public and from school groups has risen.
The most recent stage of expansion has seen the addition of a classroom, a feature which is likely to be copied, in a number of new centres being planned for the length of the Jurassic Coast.
Full time staff and an army of volunteers are on hand throughout the year to identify fossil finds from the beach.
The Centre is frequently visited by visitors to Charmouth but it is also a common destination for walkers and fossil-hunters from Lyme Regis, who walk along the beaches at low tide. The tides can be dangerous, however, so a timetable is essential if taking that walk. It is also important to keep away from the foot of the cliffs.