We purchased our new home in 1996 and decided to use much of the space to further our interest in the Dark Ages and nature conservation. We dug a pond about 150 meters long and lined it with 3000 tons of clay. Several thousand indigenous trees were planted including fruit trees, such as medlars, that go back to the Roman period.
Click to see photographs of site construction.

We obtained grants that enabled us to open the site for educational access.
Click to see photographs of school visits.

Our Mercia re-enactment group trained regularly in the palasaded ring fort that was constructed from the earth excavated from the pond.
Click to see photographs of Mercia re-enactment group.

Unfortunately, due to the government changing how educational access and the Countryside Stewardship scheme was administered and the lack of interest from anyone willing to keep things going, we reluctantly decided to sell up and retire to Spain.