• Welcome
• Geopark Discovery Experiences
• Geopark In Focus
• What is a Geopark
• Other UK Geoparks
• About our Geopark
• Explore the Geopark
• Geopark Adventures
• GeoActive
• Trails
• Our amazing GeoStory
• Our GeoSites
• History and Heritage
• Biodiversity
• Care for our Geopark
• Education
• Resources for Teachers
• GGN 2016 Archive
• Geopark Management
• Geopark Partners
• Associate Partners
• How to get here
• Staying in the Geopark
• Celebrating Devon’s World-Class Heritage
• GEOPARK FESTIVAL 2025
• Geopark Vacancies

News from the Geopark

Torquay Museum unveils a 377-million year old fossilized tree found.

Scientists have unveiled a 377-million-year-old fossilized tree at the Torquay Museum, which experts believe may be the world’s oldest evidence of trees on volcanic islands. The ancient specimen, discovered at Saltern Cove within the UNESCO English Riviera Geopark in Devon, was officially displayed on September 6 after a complex excavation and preservation process that took nearly a year, according to the BBC. Dr. Kevin Page, who found the fossil during a routine inspection of protected areas for Natural England, identified it as the remains of primitive trees known as lycopsids. These early plants resembled modern palms but reached only about four meters in height and were ancestors of the giant trees that later contributed to coal formation.

The discovery has sparked international scientific interest, as it provides the first compelling evidence that vegetation could thrive on volcanic islands during the Devonian period, reports Torbay. Revolutionary Implications for Ancient Geography The fossilized fragments, consisting of preserved roots and bark, offer new insights into Torbay’s prehistoric landscape around 377 million years ago.

Previously, according to Geopark coordinator Melanie Border, Devonian rocks in the region only indicated marine environments. “Until now, our Devonian rocks only provided evidence of a marine environment, but it’s incredibly exciting to think that we now have proof of both volcanic islands and trees,” Border told reporters. The discovery suggests that the area was once an archipelago of volcanic islands supporting early forest ecosystems, significantly altering the scientific understanding of the region’s ancient geography.

Dr. Page, president of ProGEO and an honorary senior research fellow at the Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, emphasized the global significance of the find. “This could be the first record of a Devonian island with trees, which is a truly remarkable discovery,” he noted. Collaborative Efforts for Recovery Extracting the fossil required close coordination between multiple institutions after researchers determined it was at risk of erosion from winter storms. A working group brought together experts from the universities of Exeter, Plymouth, Cardiff, and Lille in France, alongside Natural England staff, to plan the careful extraction of the fossil.

As reported by the English Riviera Geopark, the delicate operation involved professional geologists using winches to retrieve the fossil from steep cliffs in a specially protected natural area recognized as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The company Hi-Line carried out the physical extraction under strict safety oversight, with all necessary permits secured due to the site’s UNESCO Global Geopark status. The fossil has now joined the permanent collection of the Torquay Museum, where it underwent academic preparation for several months before becoming accessible to the public.

Alexandra Hemming, senior manager of the Torquay Museum, described caring for the exhibit as “a true privilege,” noting that it is “the most significant item related to this period and named after Devon in our collection.” This discovery adds to growing evidence that early terrestrial plants played a critical role in shaping Earth’s climate and geography during the Devonian period, when life first extensively colonized land.