"Whilst any good ironmonger can supply cold chisels and strong knives or trowels, he is very unlikely to have safe and suitable hammers in stock. The steel of ordinary domestic and many trade hammers is far too soft for use on most rocks. It will splinter and flying fragments of steel can cause nasty wounds, particularly to the eyes, not only of the hammerer but also of his companions." Fossils in Colour - 1967 - J.F. Kirkaldy, D.Sc. Formally Head of the Department of Geology, Queen Mary College London.

Walton is both good for London Clay and Red Crag Fossils, in reality all you need is a good eye and to get on your hands and knees and search the shingle, however you never know when you will need a tool, and if you are planning to search for shells, there is a range of tools that can be taken depending on which type (or both) of fossils you are visiting for.

Picks: A pick is handy at Walton, it can be used for breaking apart any nodules, for use in the clay on the foreshore, or for the Red Crag shell bells.

Knives: Ideal for the clay on the foreshore or for getting any small shells out from the shell beds. Knives can be used to pick out fossils from the clay.

Endecotts Sieves: The best fossils can be collected from either wet sieving onsite or by taking back samples for sieving at home (either dry or wet). Endecott Sieves are the best test sieves in the world and will last you years.

Knee Pads: For all locations which are mostly based on foreshore beach combing, knee pads are ideal, they will protect your knees and also prevent you from getting so wet. Sharp rocks or beach litter will always cause a risk of injury when searching for fossils on your hands and knees.

Field Lenses: Walton can yield many tiny fossils including teeth which sometimes will require a magnifying lenses. It is not always possible to tell very small objects with normal eyesight. The most common type is the 10x.

Specimen Bags: These are ideal for collecting from the London Clay, expecially for taking back samples. Sealable Clear Specimen Bags can hold your finds. These can be purchased from UKGE for low prices and can easily be re-used.

Geological Bags: Strong, Waterproof and durable geological bags that last years are ideal for any keen fossil hunter. These quality bags from Estwing are ideal for bringing back those larger finds or sample bags.

Footwear: Wellington Boots are the best type for footwear for Walton, the foreshore can be very muddy and slippery, especially during scouring tides.

Silica Gel : Absorbs moisture from the air, some fossils can become damaged or decay over time, especially London Clay Fossils when exposed the moist air. Turns Orange to Green when it needs replacing or can be regenerated by heating it back to orange. Place sachets in draws, trays, Boxes etc, or place loose Silica Gel in individual Specimen Boxes.