Amber - formed between 30 and 40 million years ago - is often washed up on the beaches around Southwold and each summer the town plays host to a unique Amber Hunt, providing an entertaining and educational day out for the children

One of the summer highlights for visiting and local children with an interest in natural history is the National Annual Amber Hunt on Southwold beach, which is now in its seventh year.

The competition was initiated by amber expert Robin Fournel and his wife Astrid, owners of the well-known Amber Shop & Museum in Southwold. The couple wanted to encourage children to spend more time in the fresh air away from their computer and television screens, giving them a chance to appreciate the quality of Southwold’s ‘Blue Flag’ beach and find out more about the natural world about them.

Needless to say it has proved to be a huge success, attracting many enthusiastic participants each year who scour the beach for 12 pieces of marked amber which are placed between the pier and River Blyth harbour wall.

How the competition works:
The hunt is scheduled to take place on Sunday 5th August this year from 10am until 4pm (with last registration at 3pm) and is open to children between the ages of four and 14. Competitors are requested to register at The Amber Hunt desk located adjacent to Southwold Pier; entry costs £1 with money going to The Suffolk Coasts and Heaths CONNECT Project. Once a piece of amber has been found the competitor takes it to the registration desk, where it will be recorded.

The child is then given a camera and film, their task being to go out into the countryside or coastline in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and take photographs depicting the beauty of the location, possibly a beach scene, boat on a river, fauna and flora or whatever they feel will attract the judges’ attention.

The film must be returned to the Amber Shop & Museum no later than 5pm on Friday 24th August 2007. The films will be developed and subsequently judged by Astrid and Robin and two local business people and the names of the winners who have submitted the best photographs will be announced on Friday 7th September.

Prizes:
Three vouchers to the value of £150, £100 and £50, sponsored by the Amber Shop and Museum, will be presented to the winners at a special ceremony to be held at The Swan Hotel, Southwold later in September. All of the winners are invited along with their respective families and vouchers may be redeemed at The Amber Shop & Museum, Wellsphoto or the Orwell Bookshop

As well as being an exciting and very unique annual event, the Amber Hunt provides a fun day out for the whole family. A Punch & Judy show will take place throughout the day and a wide range of refreshments are available from the pier and tea shops on the promenade.

Copies of the rules for the competition are available from The Amber Shop, Market Place, Southwold.