Abstract

Dr Tim Astrop is a palaeobiologist, evolutionary biologist, general nerd and the resident palaeontologist (fossil coordinator) for the Brymbo Fossil Forest project at Stori Brymbo, an exciting new natural, industrial and social heritage attraction coming to Wrexham in 2025-26. The Brymbo Fossil Forest is a globally unique palaeontological treasure; it represents a 314 million year old in-situ fossilised forest within the grounds of the old Georgian ironworks in Brymbo, North-Wales. In 2025 the site will see the completion of a purpose-built structure erected to excavate the fossils in a protected environment while being completely publicly accessible. The working team will consist exclusively of students and volunteers making it the endeavour the first of it’s kind. In this lecture Tim will talk about the history of the Brymbo site, the discovery of the fossil forest & it’s inferred paleoecology as well as the future of the site as a scientific endeavour and visitor attraction