Staff and visitors at Wren’s Nest Nature Reserve have marked 60 years of the site being a geological national nature reserve.

It was the first to achieve the status in the UK back in 1956 and is an internationally important site for geology and fossils that is studied by geologists from all over the world.

A special event was held earlier this week to mark the anniversary with a talk from Professor Richard Fortey, palaeontologist and trilobite specialist at The Natural History Museum in London, as well as Rob Broadbent from The Friends of Wren’s Nest.

Professor Richard Fortey, who attended the celebrations, said:

“Wren’s Nest is a really important geological site and I would like to thank everyone who’s been involved in maintaining the nature reserve and fossil collection over many decades.”

Councillor Hilary Bills, cabinet member for environmental services, said:

“I was delighted to attend this landmark anniversary for our fantastic geological site and I would like to thank the staff, Friends group and community groups who continue to preserve its amazing history for the future generations.”

The Wren’s Nest is one of the region’s geosites and is an important part of the Black Country Geopark application for UNESCO Global Geopark status. For further information on the Black Country Global Geopark visit www.blackcountrygeopark.org.uk

Further information on the Wren’s Nest National Nature Reserve can be found at: http://www.dudley.gov.uk/resident/environment/countryside/nature-reserves/wrens-nest-nnrwrens-nest-nnr/