This month our Lower Sixth Geology students, accompanied by Geology Department staff, visited Folkestone on the Kent coast to learn field techniques with a view to identifying the different rock layers of the Folkestone Beds, Gault Clay and chalk and to understand their origins. This marine sequence of rocks was formed underwater around 100 million years ago.

The students also visited Folkestone Warren, a fascinating area of cliff, coast, woodland and grassland formed by a series of landslips, with a beach which is one of the best places in Britain to find fossils, particularly those of ammonites. Here they were able to investigate the extensive geological formations of chalk cliffs and rock that form the dramatic landscape of the area and to learn about the engineering geology techniques relating to slope stabilisation and the prevention of future landslides.

With our thanks to Mr Marlow and his Geology Department colleagues for arranging this fascinating and educational opportunity for our students.