WILDER ANCHOLME PROJECT INVITES BRIGG PEOPLE TO JOIN BIG BACKYARD DIG

Progress is being made by the Wilder Ancholme Project which drew a big attendance to its launch event held in Brigg during February 2020.
Since then we've had Coronavirus lockdown periods and restrictions, but the project has now contacted Brigg Blog with a welcome update.
It has been running events for local people to discover the wildlife and heritage "on their doorstep" - and on Saturday, October 2 it will be staging a Big Backyard Dig in which people discover what has been their gardens "throughout history." It's free to take part.
Re-discovering and Re-wilding a ‘Lost Landscape’: Lincolnshire’s Ancholme Valley is a local community project "helping you to discover what’s on your doorstep."

LATEST NEWS FROM THE PROJECT

Working with Dr Kevin Leahy, the archaeologist who prepared the first catalogue of the great Staffordshire Hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure, the Wilder Ancholme project team are hosting a Big Backyard Dig on the 2nd October 2021 in the Ancholme Valley.
Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to funds raised by National Lottery players, “Rediscovering and Rewilding a ‘lost landscape’: Lincolnshire’s Ancholme Valley” aims to help people discover the heritage of their local area; within this project, the Big Backyard Dig will look at uncovering the history hidden in people’s gardens.
Under the guidance of professional archaeologists, we will help you to dig an archaeological pit in your garden to discover its history. Flint implements show that the Ancholme valley has been occupied since at least 9,000 BC.  Worked flints are common and you might be surprised at what you find!  Our area has a deep history: Prehistoric flints, Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings settled here, all leaving behind traces, particularly pottery. Around each Medieval church were the villages in which we now live. Discover the history of your garden.
Spend an afternoon finding the history of your garden by digging a pit, 1 x 1 metre square - 30cm (12 inches) deep,  sieving the contents as you go; when you have finished, refill the hole and replace the turf and your garden is back to as it was before. Each participant will receive a personalised report, summarising their finds and what they tell us.
You may find artefacts dating back to pre-historic times which will help tell the story of your garden and help discover more about the history of the Ancholme Valley.
To join in, you need to book your place and register for the event. More information will be sent to those who book and the team will be checking in on the day to support what you are doing.
Book for this FREE event at https://bookwhen.com/sybrg/e/ev-s8yc-20211002000000
More details can be found on the booking site, but if you have any questions please feel free to contact us at: lewys@hallamec.plus.com
 
PICTURED: Dr Kevin Leahy (top left), Lewys Wheeler (Project Research and Development Officer) at the launch in Brigg's Buttercross, the size of hole people need to dig in their gardens, and the instructions.