The Rotunda Geology Group celebrates its launch on Wednesday, 26th July, by hosting, in partnership with the Scarborough campus of the University of Hull, the first public display of the unique 70 million year old plesiosaur skeleton found near Filey, North Yorkshire.

The 4 metre long plesiosaur was originally discovered over 4 years ago and many hours of painstaking work have transformed ¾ of a tonne of clay and fossil bone into an exquisitely preserved and very important marine reptile, the first of its age and type ever found in the world.

The skeleton has been studied by experts from all over the UK and academics from around the world are expected to come to Scarborough to see this missing link in plesiosaur evolution. The Scarborough Campus of the University of Hull will act as one of the links in the worldwide study of this new find. Mark Evans, plesiosaur expert from Leicester Museums said, “It is one of the few plesiosaur skeletons from the early part of the Cretaceous period. We know about earlier plesiosaurs from the Jurassic period and ones from later on in the Cretaceous, so this new specimen fills a gap in our knowledge very nicely. Although it looks like it belongs to a group of plesiosaurs with long necks, this plesiosaur is a new one, and will need a new name all of its own”.

The skeleton will eventually be displayed in the redeveloped Rotunda Museum in Scarborough when it reopens in 2007 and will form a star exhibit in the Shell Geology Now Gallery.

The Rotunda Geology Group has been formed to support the redeveloped Rotunda Museum due to re-open towards the end of 2007. The group intends to attract members of the public who are fascinated by the geology of this coastline and want to learn more through field trips, special events and talks at the museum An exciting programme is already being planned for this Autumn including topics such as Coastal Erosion, Dinosaur Footprints and Evolution, all given by international experts in their fields.

As a taster Peter Rawson, Emeritus Professor of Geology at the University of London, will be leading a field trip to the site of the plesiosaur discovery on Saturday 29th July. People are requested to book at the exhibition at the University Campus.

Prof. Rawson said, ‘the redevelopment of the Rotunda Museum is exciting for geologists around the world as well as for the people of Scarborough. The Rotunda Geology Group will support the museum as a major geological attraction and will encourage everyone with an interest to come to our meetings. We look forward to meeting interested people at the unveiling of the Plesiosaur event and to welcome as many as possible as founder members of the Rotunda Geology Group’.

Will Watts, Geology Officer echoed these words and added, ‘It is terrific to be able to unveil this brand new species at the Scarborough Campus of the University of Hull. I see this as continuing a great relationship between the University, the Rotunda Museum and the Dinosaur Coast Project all contributing to Scarborough’s future’.

Brian Sweeney, Scarborough Centre for Coastal Studies, University of Hull Scarborough Campus, said: “We hope this exciting find will capture the imagination of young people and encourage them to take up further studies in sciences or environmental studies offered at the campus.”

"The University is excited to be involved in this important project which helps to keep the Scarborough Coastline on the international geological map. The University is an integral part of the work that is currently being undertaken by the Rotunda Group."

The unnamed specimen will be on display to the public at the University of Hull, Scarborough Campus, Filey Road, Scarborough, on Wednesday 26th July, Thursday 27th July 10am to 5pm and from 10am to 12noon on Friday 28th July. There will also be displays from local groups, the Rotunda Museum and of course the new Rotunda Geology Group. Best of all, entry to see the specimen is free!

It’s that time of year when the Dinosaur Coast Summer Events start up once more! As well as the old favourites such as fossil hunting and the famous dino-days, there are two new events planned - the Dinosaur Coast has teamed up with North Yorkshire Library and Information Centres to embark on a ‘Reading Voyage’ into the Jurassic past. This will be a mixture of craft activities and fact-finding sessions, taking place in libraries in the Scarborough area. Also, Wood End Museum is hosting a series of ‘Super Science’ workshops on a variety of themes, ranging from minibeasts to magnetism.

Peter Turton, Dinosaur Coast Events Supervisor says, “There’s something for all ages and interests, from art activities to expert field trips. Events take place all along the coast from Saltburn in the north right down to Speeton in the south and at various locations in the North York Moors National Park and also Redcar and Cleveland. We hope you’ll come and join us!”

Although there is a charge for some of these exciting events, many are free. They are all listed in the new 2005 Events Programme leaflet which can be obtained from your local library, Tourist Information Centre or by calling 01723 383636 for a copy. Alternatively, the full programme is listed here.

On Saturday 30 October, Scarborough Spa will play host to a giant Dino Day! The event, organised by the Dinosaur Coast team, will see organisations from all over the country come together to celebrate the fantastic geology and fossils of our very own 'dinosaur coast'. The event will also mark the fifth year of the Dinosaur Coast project and showcase the work done during the last three years of its Heritage Lottery Funding.

From 11am to 4pm, this fun-packed day includes community displays and activities for all the family, plus a chance to pick up a signed copy of the best-selling Dinosaur Coast book. For the curious amongst you, bring along your own fossils to have them identified by the experts. If all that isn't enough, during the day there will be a number of guided walks around the South Bay area for all levels of interest. If you don't find yourself a fossil on one of the walks, back at the Spa you will have the opportunity to buy yourself one from one of the local fossil shops who are coming along with some of their amazing rocks and gems. Don't worry though, with all this going on, there'll still be plenty of opportunities to make your favourite dinosaur masks, mobiles, Jurassic scenes and much more!

Councillor David Jeffels, Cabinet Member for Tourism, Leisure and Community Services said: "This will be a fantastic day celebrating the wonderful geology of the Dinosaur Coast. There is sure to be something for everyone, and the displays of works by the community groups who have worked with the project should be especially interesting."

So why not come along and help us celebrate the last five years of the Dinosaur Coast project, and see what we have planned for the future. Best of all, it's FREE! For a full timetable of events.

Young people from the Villages Youth Project based in Hunmanby have just completed their Dinosaur Coast Project, The World of Wildlife.

The project started in May with a visit from a bat expert. This was followed in two subsequent sessions by badger-watching in Cropton Forest, and searching the rock-pools of Robin Hood's Bay.

They then worked with local artist Shirley Sheppard from blandscliff Gallery. The group spent several evenings at Hunmanby Community Centre constructing a mosaic showing their favourite memories from their visits. The completed mosaic now adorns a wall in Bayley Gardens, next to the church in Hunmanby. The mosaic certainly seems to attract the attention of passers-by and is a welcome addition to this attractive village.

Mick Woolridge, group leader at the Villages Youth Project, says: "We feel privileged to have worked with the Dinosaur Coast. I'm sorry it has come to and end, but hopefully we can keep in contact and perhaps it is the start of a big re-development of the Bayley Gardens".

On 9 August 2004 at 2pm there will be an official opening when a plague on the mosaic, showing all the names of the participants, will be revealed.

Making the Dinosaur Coast Accessible for All is a partnership between Scarborough Museums & Gallery (Scarborough Borough Council), North York Moors National Park Authority, Whitby Museum, English Nature and the Yorkshire Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. It is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. One aim of the project is to work with groups with no ready access to the area's wonderful natural heritage. They work on environmental projects to explore and discover more about the world around them and then to share and celebrate their experiences with others.

A group from Dalewood Trust in Whitby have completed their Dinosaur Coast Project, ‘Woodland Wildlife’. The project ran from March to May and involved visits to the Moors Centre, Danby and sessions exploring the forests at Guisborough and Dalby. They then worked with local artist Viv Mousdell to produce a sundial using clay and decorated with mosaics and natural materials. The sundial will take pride of place in an area of the grounds at Dalewood – a sunny area of course!

Pam Thomas, group leader at Dalewood, says, “Everybody enjoyed the project. We learnt so much from the experts. We are very grateful to the Dinosaur Coast for all their efforts in making this happen.”

Dalewood Trust, a Day Centre for adults with learning disabilities from the Whitby area, will be holding their Open Day on Friday 16July, commencing at 1.30pm. Their new sundial will be on view. Let’s hope the sun shines!

Making the Dinosaur Coast Accessible for All is a partnership between Scarborough Museums & Gallery (Scarborough Borough Council), North York Moors National Park Authority, Whitby Museum, English Nature and the Yorkshire Museum Council. It is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. One aim of the project is to work with groups with no ready access to the area’s wonderful natural heritage. They work on environmental projects to explore and discover more about the world around them and then to share and celebrate their experiences with others.

“Dinosaur Coast Community Projects are ready to go! There are several projects planned for the spring and summer and it promises to be a very exciting year”, says Peter Turton, Community Officer for the Dinosaur Coast Project.

The programme starts on 25 March when Dalewood Trust will embark on an eight-week project. Dalewood Trust, based on Cholmley Way, Whitby, is a charitable organisation running day services for adults with learning disabilities living in Whitby and the surrounding area.

A group of eight from the centre are taking ‘Woodland Wildlife’ as the theme. They will be going on visits to Dalby and Guisborough Forests and will also spend some time in Crow Wood at the Danby Moors Centre. Lesley Helliwell from the North Yorkshire Bat Group will visit the centre to provide hands-on experience with live bats.

After these visits there will be art workshops with local artist Vivienne Mousdell to create a sculpture for the grounds of Dalewood Trust, providing a lasting memory of their experiences.

Pam Thomas, group leader at Dalewood Trust, says: “The Dinosaur Coast staff have created a lot of enthusiasm for this project. We can’t wait until it gets started! The great value for us is the opportunity it provides for learning about the environment and working with experts”.

Making the Dinosaur Project Accessible for All is a partnership between Scarborough Museums & Gallery (Scarborough Borough Council), the North York Moors National Park, Whitby Museum, English Nature and the Yorkshire Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. It is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. One aim of the project is to work with groups who have no ready access to the area’s wonderful natural heritage, on environmental projects to explore and discover more about the world around them and then to share and celebrate their experiences with others.

Throughout the Summer holidays, the Dinosaur Community project will be touring the village halls of the North York Moors National Park in search of budding geologists and crafty people!

As part of a project with Whitby Interactive, children will be able to get ‘hands-on’ with fossil experts to find out more about their local geology in six-day sessions throughout the park.

There will be opportunities to get ‘crafty’ with local artists, working to create some spectacular three-dimensional Jurassic sculptures of ammonites and large marine reptiles, and helping to create large printed Jurassic backgrounds.

The large sculptures and backdrops will be brought together for a large celebration/exhibition at the Whitby Pavilion in September.

The Dinosaur Coast Project is teaming up with St Albans Leisure Centre at Ampleforth for a mini-beast extravaganza for the first week of the Summer Holidays.

Children will get the opportunity to step into the world of magical mini-beasts and get a beetle’s eye view of the world as they discover more about the millions of creatures that live under our feet.

Throughout the week children will be armed with nets and magnifying pots as they hunt for creepy crawlies around the centre and play mini-beast games. They will find out more about the creatures that have mini-beasts on their menu, with a visit from an expert from North Yorkshire bat group - an opportunity to get hands-on experience with our local bats.

The children will be giving nature a helping hand by creating a wildlife haven in the centre’s grounds, including a creating a wildflower meadow, planting trees and hedges, and making mini-beast homes and log piles.

The end of the week will see them working with a local artist to create some giant mini-beast sculptures from natural materials to stand in the wildlife garden.

North Yorkshire’s Youth Offending Team (YOT) have completed their Dinosaur Coast Project which involved a 5 week venture exploring the wildlife of Burton Riggs, the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve at Eastfield.

A team of young people from the YOT have been working with Scarborough Borough Council Parks and Countryside services at the reserve to divert a footpath that is currently flooded for 5 months of the year. This has involved them clearing vegetation, building steps and installing a footpath through a new section of the reserve.

The group spent sessions hunting for toads, newts, beetles and other underwater creatures and exploring birds and other wildlife of the reserve. Working with a local artist they used this as inspiration to design and create a large mosaic, set in local sandstone which has been installed in the new car park at Burton Riggs.

The finished mosaic is designed around a compass face, and includes scenes and creatures from around the reserve. Julie Kelly, Reparation Development Officer for the Youth Offending team says ‘This has been a brilliant project for the group to be involved in – they have learnt more about their local environment and have gained a great sense of ownership by seeing the project from the start to finish'.

Photo by Dr Phil Manning, York Museums Trust, shows (from left), Will Watts, Nigel Armstrong and Mike Marshall.

The fossilised remains of a giant reptile that lived 132 million years ago have been excavated from a site south of Filey on Yorkshire's Dinosaur Coast.

The animal, known as a Plesiosaur, is a close relative to the dinosaurs that lived at the same time, which lived in the oceans that covered the area during the Cretaceous.

Measuring over three metres long, this reptile had a long neck and a small head with razor-sharp teeth, a short barrel-like body and four diamond shaped paddles to propel it through the water. It would have looked similar to many of the popular reconstructions of the Loch Ness Monster.

This amazing fossil was first discovered by Nigel Armstrong from Doncaster. He has been fossil-hunting in the area for over 10 years but he says this is the find of his life: "I was pleased when I found one of the back bones at the bottom of the cliff, but when I traced the remains up to the main skeleton I was over the moon!"

Following the discovery of the skeleton a team, including specialists from all over the UK, was assembled to remove the bones. The group worked tirelessly in atrocious weather to remove the prized find.

Photo by Dr Phil Manning, York Museums Trust, shows (from left), Will Watts, Nigel Armstrong and Richard Forrest

With members from the Dinosaur Coast Project, York Museums Trust, Scarborough Borough Council, English Nature, Leicester City Museums, Yorkshire Coast Fossils and the National Trust combined with many volunteers and the landowners, the group brought together skills from far afield!

Will Watts, the Dinosaur Coast Project Officer who co-ordinated the dig said: "This has been a true team effort. The collector, landowners and organisations have all worked together and the results are spectacular, an animal new to science."

.Dr Phil Manning from the York Museums Trust also took part in the dig and is amazed by the completeness of the specimen.

"To find such an important specimen with so many bones still in place is fantastic, this creature should go a long way to filling many of the holes in the evolution of this group."

This is a view shared by Mark Evans of Leicester City Museums; he was one of the few Plesiosaur experts who were allowed to visit the site. "We know about these creatures from 200 million years ago from places like Whitby and from 90 million years ago from the USA, but there is this 110 million year gap in their evolution. This new specimen should help to fill this gap, it is a missing link in the Plesiosaur story."

The 1.5 tonne block of clay is in Scarborough Museums & Gallery stores waiting for the bones to be removed from the clay before the specimen will go on display in Scarborough.

This painstaking work will take 9-12 months but as Councillor David Jeffels, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Leisure says: "All the work will be worth it. This creature is internationally important and I cannot wait to see it on display for everyone to admire."

This summer the Yorkshire Coast and the North York Moors National Park will host over one-hundred events organised by the Dinosaur Coast project. Building on the previous two years' successes the programme will include something for everyone, from fossil hunting to llama trekking.

Having been such a success in the past two years, the Dinosaur Coast team are keen to build on this and to provide a programme better than ever. Councillor David Jeffels, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Leisure, said: "Last year over 4,000 people took part in 90 events and activities. This year we expect to surpass last year's attendances and the Earth Alert event at the Scarborough Spa Complex on August Bank Holiday weekend should, on its own, attract close to 5,000 visitors."

Fossil hunting trips led by local experts will take place along the coast at various locations including Sandsend, Scalby and Robin Hood's Bay. For those who have already found a fossil and want it identifying, then why not try one of the fossil roadshows being staged at locations across the area. Wednesday evenings will see the return of the popular evening strolls with some old favourites alongside some new treats such as Crossgates Quarry and Forge Valley.

If you fancy a Sunday with a difference, then why not book a place on one of the expert-led trips; destinations include Roseberry Topping and Runswick Bay. These five-hour trips will explore the area with international experts and show your favourite landscape in a whole new light. A one-off llama trek to Rosedale is planned on 27 July to explore the geology, ecology and archaeology of this beautiful location - other treks are available to Robin Hood's Bay. For an unusual view of the Dinosaur Cost, why not take a boat trip from Whitby with expert guides on board.

In addition to all this, the Dinosaur Coast team will be running hands-on activities throughout the summer at many locations. Come along to make dinosaur mobiles, fossil plaster casts or a huge sand sculpture. The whole summer is building up to a three-day geological jamboree at Scarborough Spa Complex, 'Earth Alert 2002'. This event will include exhibits, guided walks, fossil roadshows, activities for all the family and public lectures on dinosaurs and the story of life.

If all this sounds like a fun way to fill the school holidays, then collect your free leaflet from your local Tourist Information Centre, check out www.dinocoast.org.uk, or telephone one of the Information Centres, Scarborough +44(0)1723 373333 or Whitby +44(0)1947 602674. Remember, many of these events are free and booking is only required for some trips.

For a summer to remember, then "come along" says Will Watts, Dinosaur Coast Project Officer, "to one (or more!) of the events and discover some of the secrets that lay hidden in the land around us!"

The hugely successful Dinosaur Coast Project has received a boost in the form of new funding and two new members of staff. The project which is run as a partnership between Scarborough Museums & Gallery, North York Moors National Park, Whitby Museum, English Nature and the Yorkshire Museums Council, was recently awarded a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to continue the previous work and develop new areas of the project, under the title 'Making the Dinosaur Coast Accessible for All'.

The two new members of staff, Will Watts and Cath Brason, have recently taken up their posts. Will replaces Alistair Bowden as the Project Officer. A geologist by training, Will was brought up in the North York Moors National Park before going to Leeds University and then to York to work at the Yorkshire Museum. Having spent many years exploring the natural heritage of the area, he is keen to help others experience the same enjoyment, "the Dinosaur Coast is an amazing area and I am looking forward to working here to improve access for everybody to the many natural heritage delights the region has".

The other post reflects a change in direction for the new project. Cath Brason as the Dinosaur Coast Community Officer is looking at ways to involve groups with no ready access to the region's natural heritage. Cath, from Brighouse, West Yorkshire, is an ecologist with over 5 years' experience of working with people in the environment. She says, "it's a brilliant opportunity for people to explore the world around them and to celebrate their discoveries". The project has funding for 32 group projects over the next 3 years.

This summer will see the return of the popular events programme at many localities along the coast and further afield.