Stones in his pockets

[tigermoth]

The Pokemon craze has finally died. Polished stones, fossils and interesting rocks are the next big thing for my son and his school friends.

He's very into displaying his growing collection, so I have bought him some clear plastic stacking shelves. For Easter he will get a book on the subject and a marble egg.

But I feel that I have not mined the rich seam of possibilites opened up by this new hobby. I have merely scratched the surface.

Apart from the Natural History Museum, does anyone know of any places in London, the South East, or South Devon (on hols there soon) that will fire his enthusiasm?

I'd also like to unearth more information about stone related products, so please pass on your gems of wisdom.

They have a brilliant new Dinosaur Farm attraction on the Isle of Wight (not sure where, but, hey, it's not that big an island...) and you could also take him to Lyme Regis.
For archaeology near you (not fossils as such but wonderful Roman paving) there is Lullingstone Villa.
And you could ask the Museum of London about holiday archaeology activities in the London area.
I know your son is quite a bit younger but I spent a magic summer helping out on a local dig when I was 12. The thrill of finding a Georgian button and a sixpence!
We came home from m-i-l's yesterday with a large bucket of dh's childhood collection of fossils so make sure you have bought plenty of shelves...this one could run and run.

Tigermoth - Can't think of any places to visit off hand, but I've got a good book called Let's Go With The Children 2002 (mine's heart of England, but they do have them for the SE too. Cost £3.50 from Sainsburys) got all sorts of historical sights, museums etc to visit. What about Cheddar Gorge or Wooky Hole Caves (is that the right name, it's the one that sprung into my head?) in Somerset, that's near to Devon. I visited them as a girl and seem to remember they were quite impressive (stalagmites and stalactites etc)

There's a dinosaur museum in Dorchester (not too far from s.Devon)Located at Icen Way,Dorchester Tel:01305 269880

message withdrawn

Chislehurst Caves too...spooky!
And ChanelNo5's post reminded me about the caverns in the Peak District - Treak Cliff, Speedwell, Blue John etc. I think you can go on a boat in one of them. More of a weekend away from London but there are some excellent YH's near these caves.

Chanelno5 we must be twins! I too have a 'Lets Go with the Children' book (in fact I have two, one for Sussex and one for Kent).Got mine from Sainsbury's, too. Aren't they informative? My summer weekends would be so disorganised without them.

We'll be driving near the Cheddar Gorge on our way down to Devon. Dh has always wanted to have a look, too, so perhaps we'll arrange a picnic break there.

Thanks Marina for reminding me about the Chislehurst Caves. Almost on my doorstep, as well.

All the beaches you mention sound exciting, and since I like to take the boys for Youth Hostelling weekends, we can easily combine the two.

Apart from the natural history museum and the museum of london (thanks again, Marina), are there any other indoor attractions worth hunting out in london? Or shops? I can't drag my son away from The Natural World shop in Covent Garden and Bluewater. Thinking of those grey rainy days when beaches and youth hostels are not so appealing.

what about Hornimans Museum in Forest Hill on the Sth circular? Don't they have this sort of thing in there?

tigermoth, I had a big fossil craze myself when I was about the age of your son! It was sparked by a tv program at school about Mary Anning, the Lyme Regis fossil hunter. I had a biography of her, written specially for children, and two pocket sized books with lots of colour pictures. We used to go fossil hunting in old quarries, with fossil hammers. I don't know where any of these are, my father was brilliant at knowing this kind of thing and used to take us. I looked anywhere where there was gravel, and I used to find loads of ammonites, belemnites, sea urchins etc as well as bits of unidentified fossil sea creatures.
Lyme Regis has got to be a must, also Whitby if you ever get up that way. I believe the University museum of Natural History in Oxford has a fossil collection, but better check in advance, also opening times are a bit restricted.

On a slightly different note, I also did archaeological digs, though a bit older than your son. We would go there daily, and happily spend the whole day grubbing around for bits of Roman pottery, jewelry and coins in digs run by the Oxford Archaeological Unit.

Lets Go with the Children sounds like a useful sort of book to have!

Batters, yes, I have looked at the thisislondon webisite about this.

We used a print off voucer for entry into the london dungeon, but I did not know there were so many other attractions on special offer. As you say, it should be publicised. BTW, do you find the format of the website rather confusing. It takes me ages to find comprehensive details about current child-orientated events. I guess this is because it is not primarily a child-orientated website.

Sml, thanks for the suggestions. I didn't have you down as a fossil-hunter. I can see my son's new hobby could run and run...

Sorry to sound dim but could you guide me to the vouchers bit on the thisislondon website anyone?
I'm not too hot at all this stuff... Much appreciation, tufty Mo of3 boys one of whom thinks every oval pebble/stone/ boulder is a potential dinosaur egg.. YKWIM !