WEALDEN amber

Wealden amber, found along the Hastings coast in East Sussex, is a fossilized tree resin that takes us back to the Early Cretaceous, around 133–140 million years ago. Formed from the sticky sap of ancient coniferous trees, it became trapped in the clay and sandstone of the Ashdown Formation, part of the Wealden Group, where it hardened over millions of years. Its colors, ranging from soft yellow to rich reddish-brown, catch the eye, but its true magic lies in the tiny treasures it holds—delicate inclusions like insects, spider webs, or even microscopic plant fragments, frozen in time from a world where dinosaurs roamed. Far rarer than many other ambers, such as Baltic amber, Wealden amber is scarce, appearing in small quantities along Sussex cliffs and beaches, making each piece a precious snapshot of a warm, coastal forest from Britain’s deep past. These fragments offer scientists a window into ancient ecosystems.