Code of Conduct

The Heart of Wales Geopark is an extremely special place, and it needs to be treated with great respect: not only the geology, but also biodiversity, the culture, and the people that live and work here. It is a working landscape, and access to sites is permitted by landowners under the conditions stated in each case. Do not take liberties with the rules, and understand that hammering outcrops is not generally permitted. Several sites have suffered badly from illegal collecting, to the extent that some are now off-limits to amateur (and even professional) geologists, which is a loss for everyone.

Visiting the geopark means that you agree to follow these basic rules:

1. Most of the area is private land. There are public rights of way and open access areas, but these are clearly defined. Anywhere else, including leaving the footpaths, you need permission to do.
2. Never collect specimens without permission from the landowner. Even if you are on a footpath or on access land, you must have landowner permission to look for fossils. No exceptions.
3. This is a farming area. Always follow all the normal rules of the countryside: be responsible, avoid causing stress to animals, leave gates open or closed as you find them, don't be noisy, and take all your litter home. If approached by a landowner, be courteous, and respect what they ask of you.
4. If you have the opportunity and permission to collect fossils, take care to follow essential health and safety measures. Make sure that you have the correct type of hammer (geological hammers are hardened steel), and that you are dressed properly, including protective eyewear. Any fieldwork you do is entirely at your own risk, and you are responsible for your health and safety (and that of those around you).
5. This is an active research area, and when collecting fossils you are collaborating with the global academic community, no matter what level of experience you have. Be a responsible scientist, and pay attention to everything. There may be obvious fossils like trilobites to spot, but often the most important ones are smaller and less obvious. Everything is precious, so take care not to destroy one fossil just to find something you're more interested in!
6. If you find something unusual, please show the staff in the Radnorshire Museum (Llandrindod), and send in a good photograph to info@heartofwalesgeopark.org.uk; that way, new discoveries can be added to our total knowledge. If you find something entirely new, please consider donating it to the Radnorshire Museum, so that it can be studied and enjoyed by everyone, and credited to you (it might even end up being named after you!).

As general guidance for collecting fossils, please also see the Scottish Fossil Code.