^{D A Bone, 4 Kensington Road, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 2XR}

^{The Bracklesham Group (Lower & Middle Eocene) outcrops along 10 km of foreshore around Bracklesham Bay in West Sussex, but exposures are often short-lived and limited in extent (Bone & Tracey, 1996). Beach sand may obscure the outcrop, whilst onshore winds and a low-pressure system may prevent the tide falling sufficiently low. The best tides are spring tides, which occur every two weeks, but low tide occurs in the early morning or evening, so daylight may be limiting on some occasions. Advance reconnaissance is desirable to identify the location of exposures as travel between Bracklesham and Selsey is both inconvenient and time consuming. For these reasons, the group met at Chichester railway station where the Director explained that the only significant exposures at the time were in the Selsey Formation (units S6 to S10) around the Medmerry area (SZ 831941 to SZ 841933).}

^{The group, ultimately comprising 12 members of the Tertiary Research Group plus the Director, re-formed in the car park at West Sands Caravan Site (SZ 838937). This is a convenient place to park as (at this time of year) the adjacent site facilities comprising toilets, tea-room, pub, etc are open. The tide (a good 0.4 metre OD low at 6.35pm) was delayed falling by a strong onshore wind and short bursts of heavy rain made the waiting unpleasant.}

^{COASTAL DEFENCE}

^{The Director explained the local geology (Curry et al., 1977; King, 1996) and the problems of coastal defence along this stretch of eroding coastline (Bone, 1996). The land between Bracklesham and Selsey, comprising the Earnley marshes, farmland and caravan sites, is currently protected by a shingle bank. The Environment Agency artificially maintains this bank with imported gravel at a cost of between £100,000 and £400,000 per year. At extreme high tides and with rising sea levels it is not impossible that Selsey would become an island (as in historical times) if the defences were not maintained. The past couple of years have seen some severe storm events that have overtopped the shingle bank causing extensive flooding and massive public concern about the long-term threat to Selsey. In 1997 and 1998, the costs over one weekend alone rose to £300,000, because of the 24 hour repair works (employing 18 bulldozers) that were necessary to prevent complete destruction of the shingle bank.}

^{This stretch of coastline is included in the current Coastline Management Plan and a number of options have been considered by the consultant, Posford & Duvivier. These include a continuous concrete sea wall between Selsey and Bracklesham, rock islands and rock groynes (all favoured by the local residents) or managed retreat to a new alignment with a reinforced shingle bank up to 1 km inland from the existing. The latter option has locally received a lot of opposition, although it does appear to be favoured in some quarters. Whichever option is finally selected (the status quo is certainly not sustainable), there will be an impact on the geological exposures, but it is unlikely that fossil collectors will carry much weight in the final decision.}

^{THE EXPOSURES AND FINDS}

^{As the tide fell from about 5.00pm, extensive exposures of unit S7 (Selsey Formation) were soon visible. Although somewhat weathered nearer inshore, fresher surfaces were seen nearer low tide. Unfortunately, these had already suffered from the spring growth of brown algae that concealed much of the surface detail. Unit S7 is characterised by a scoured surface with deep runnels (small channels) that trap material eroded from the surrounding sediments. This material includes a residue of pyritised molluscs (often retaining the shell) and sharks’ teeth (for a comprehensive review of the molluscs from the Selsey Formation, see Tracey et al., 1996). The group spent most of the time sieving these residues in the pools left by the falling tide, before the rising tide and failing light at around 7.00pm stopped further work.}

^{A single pyritised specimen of an echinoid from unit S7 (believed to be unrecorded) was also found by Steve Tracey, although David Ward recalled a block containing a number of echinoids having been found some years previously, although it did not survive being collected.}

^{A small exposure of unit S6 was also seen. This outcrops at low tide opposite the Broad Rife sluices. The bivalve Lentipecten corneum is particularly abundant and makes this unit easy to recognise. The Director collected a fine turtle vertebra in-situ, whilst other members took samples home for processing.}

^{After a successful meeting with many bags of residue being hauled off the beach, the group dispersed with 5 members retiring to the Directors home for continuing discussions over a hot buffet supper. At least one request was received for a repeat trip in 2000.}

^{REFERENCES
BONE, A. E. 1996. The shaping of the Selsey coastline: a review of the geomorphology, archaeology and history. Tertiary Research, 16(1-4): 5-14.
BONE, D. A. & TRACEY, S. 1996. Aerial photography and geological mapping of Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex. Tertiary Research, 16(1-4): 25-40.
CURRY, D., KING, A. D., KING, C. & STINTON, F. C. 1977. The Bracklesham Beds (Eocene) of Bracklesham Bay and Selsey, Sussex. Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, 88 (4): 243-254.
KING, C. 1996. The stratigraphy of the Bracklesham Group of Bracklesham Bay and Selsey (West Sussex, England): an update 1977 - 1995. Tertiary Research, 16(1-4): 15-23.
TRACEY, S., TODD, J. A., LE RENARD, J., KING, C. & GOODCHILD, M. 1996. Distribution of Mollusca in units S1 to S9 of the Selsey Formation (middle Lutetian), Selsey Peninsula, West Sussex. Tertiary Research, 16(1-4): 97-139.}