Jurassic Discovery in Seaton has been awarded £3,844 from the East Devon National Landscape Fund for an exciting new project that will transform its much-loved Leon Garner Fossil Room into an even more engaging and immersive learning space for visitors, families, and school groups.
The project, ‘Making Space for Enquiring Minds: Revitalising the Leon Garner Fossil Room’, has been selected as part of the fund’s 2026–27 programme, with additional match funding being provided by Seaton Tramway.
The Leon Garner Fossil Room was opened in early 2025 following the generous donation of the late Leon Garner’s extraordinary fossil collection by his family after his passing in late 2024. A passionate local fossil hunter, Leon spent decades collecting specimens from the Jurassic Coast and beyond, amassing a remarkable collection of more than 1,500 fossils.
Today, the collection is displayed largely as it would have appeared in Leon’s own home, using his original cabinets and storage, offering a view of his legacy as a collector and enthusiast.
This new funding will allow Jurassic Discovery to reimagine the space, creating a more accessible, engaging, and educational experience that better showcases the incredible collection and its wider significance in the story of the Jurassic Coast.
New interpretation and displays will help tell the story of fossil discovery, the formation of the Jurassic Coast, and the global links between prehistoric life found in East Devon and fossil discoveries across the world, including North America. The revitalised room will also create stronger links with Jurassic Discovery’s immersive animatronic exhibition, The Last Day of the Dinosaurs.
As part of the improvements, visitors will be able to get closer to individual specimens through newly designed display cases, while a new accessible microscope station will allow children and adults alike to explore some of the collection’s smallest and most intricate fossils in extraordinary detail.
A new film will also be produced for the Fossil Room, exploring the tradition of fossil hunting along the 95-mile Jurassic Coast, connections with other fossil centres along the World Heritage Site, and the broader international story of palaeontology.
The project will significantly enhance Jurassic Discovery’s educational offering, particularly for schools, families, and curious young explorers eager to learn more about Earth’s prehistoric past.
This is the second successful East Devon National Landscape Fund award for Jurassic Discovery, following support for the ‘Navigating Seaton’s Landscape and Nature’ project, which enhanced the Jurassic Discovery Garden with new interpretation, educational features, and interactive experiences linked to Seaton’s unique natural environment.
Jenny Nunn, CEO of Seaton Tramway and Jurassic Discovery, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to receive this support from the East Devon National Landscape Fund for an exciting next chapter in the Leon Garner Fossil Room’s story. Leon’s collection is a truly remarkable legacy, built through years of passion, curiosity, and dedication to discovering the prehistoric history beneath our feet.The project will help us create a far more engaging and accessible learning environment, allowing visitors to connect with these incredible specimens in new ways while strengthening our educational offer for schools and families. We’re especially excited to bring more storytelling, interpretation, and hands-on exploration into the space, helping inspire the next generation of fossil hunters and enquiring minds.”
Work on the project will begin shortly, with the revitalised Fossil Room expected to be nearing completion in time for summer.
For more information about Jurassic Discovery, visit jurassicdiscovery.co.uk.
