Re: BBC announcement

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>One of the features we'd like to do for our next run is on fossils.   
>Having said that, the feature must be based upon a new 
>discovery/revelation/exciting prospect in the world of palaeontology.   
>Also, as we're a UK programme, any story must be UK-based.  Not that 
>we're looking for the Holy Grail in fossils, just something that will 
>make our viewers sit up and take notice and, besides, it's an opportunity 
>to get average Joes interested in this fascinating subject.

Dear Jonathan

A suggestion for your programme could be some material that I have in my 
collections which is about to be published in Cretaceous Research. They are 
specimens of what is believed to be the worlds oldest (so far) flowering 
plant (ie Angiosperm). You may have seen it in the press last week eg Daily 
Mail, last Friday. Joanna Pinnock was here this week interviewing for her 
Radio 4 Natural History Programme. The only trouble is that the fossils are 
hardly spectacular, though they are associated with a lot of fossil insects 
which we have been unearthing in Sussex and Surrey for some time now - hints 
of pollination etc. A nice role for the amateurs down here too, since they 
have found a lot of them. Let me know if you want to explore the possibilities.

Best wishes
John Cooper
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John Cooper
Booth Museum of Natural History
BRIGHTON BN1 5AA UK
(01273) 552586 Fax (01273) 563455