About this Event
Join Crystal Palace Park Trust and Cassius Morrison for a guided tour of the Birthplace of DinoMania to discover how dinosaurs shaped our society.
Walks will start at 11am and 2pm from Hylaeosaurus Head near Crystal Palace Park Farm.
Advance booking is essential as places are limited.
Please note: the walk will follow the paths around the lake, it does not go onto Dinosaur Island itself.
Event and Access information:
- Suitable for ages 10 plus (family friendly). Younger children who have an interest are welcomed . Anyone 16 years or younger must be accompanied by an adult.
- This walk will last up to 1.5 hours, depending on questions.
- The walk is on one level with no stairs but paths may be uneven and sloped.
- We will stick to paths where possible but there will be times when the ground is uneven, muddy or wet.
- Meeting point is at the Hylaeosaurus Head near Crystal Palace Park Farm
- Please wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for the weather - bring an umbrella, waterproof jacket, suncream and a bottle of water with you.
- Please arrive at least five minutes before the walk begins to ensure you get signed in before we set off
- Toilets are available in the park, including an accessible unit and a Changing Places facility
- Dogs on leads are welcome
- We'd be pleased to chat about access requirements or how we can best help you to take part in the walk: please email us.
About the walk:
Dinosaurs ruled the world for over 160 million years, dominating every continent and suddenly became extinct, 66 million years ago in the most dramatic mass extinction the world has ever since. Yet despite being buried under the Earth for eons beyond measure, their discovery in the 1800s have shaped our society, spearing a scientific revolution in the western world. The discovery of deep time and the existence of the Age of Reptiles mesmerised Victorian Britain, and the resulted in cultural and societal changes that we sit feel today.
This all began at Crystal Palace in the 1850s for those outside of scientific circles, the global birthplace of DinoMania. With the new renovations of the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs just completed, come and experience a guided tour with palaeontologist, Dr Cassius Morrison of the sculptures including their importance, history and how they are a living embodiment of the ever-evolving nature of Science. With the sixth mass extinction in Earth's History underway, find out how the past can be used to protect our biodiversity for the present and future generations.
About Cassius Morrison:
Cassius (Instagram) is a palaeontologist, currently based at University College London and studying the ecology of theropod dinosaurs (this is the group that includes the famous Tyrannosaurus rex and Spinosaurus) and the ecosystem structures during the Age of Dinosaurs. He has applied state of the art techniques to look at the surface of dinosaur teeth and brain shapes to see what they were eating and how they thought.
Cassius has been fortunate enough to go fossil hunting around the Globe from South Africa to Montana in the United States, the home of Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops. In 2023, he appeared in the Channel 5 documentary, "Natural History Museum: World of Wonder".
Cassius is an activist in making science more accessible to all and addressing the historical underrepresentation of minority groups in Palaeontology and the Earth Sciences.
Photography:
- This event will be photographed. We will use photographs to provide evidence to our funders and for marketing purposes, to help demonstrate our events. Please let us know if you want to opt out. We can offer you a sticker on the day so we can make sure you’re not in photos.
Getting here:
- The nearest train station is Penge West or Crystal Palace. Full details on travelling to the park can be found on the Trust's website: https://www.crystalpalaceparktrust.org/topics/getting-here
Cancellations:
Places are limited so we'd be very grateful if you could please let us know if you no longer require a place so someone else can use this free place.
This project was made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.
Photo credits: Crystal Palace Park Trust and Heritage England
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Hylaeosaurus Head, Crystal Palace Park, London, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
