Before it is restored for wildlife with a mixture of reedbeds, shallow meres, seasonally flooded pastures and hay meadows, archaeological surveys need to be carried out at Willow Tree Fen nature reserve.
Marcus Craythorne, Community, Project and Education Officer at Willow Tree Fen, said “We are inviting people to the nature reserve to help with a number of exciting surveys and discover some of the past uses of the site.”
- A team from Archaeological Project Services will be doing geophysical survey, field-walking the site, augering test deposits and digging test pits, all with your help;
- In addition their ceramics specialists will be on hand to identify your finds and an illustrator will show you how to record them;
- and Andrew and Annelise Fielding will be undertaking some experimental sea salt making reflecting the use of the site in the Roman period.
Please wear stout footwear or steel toe-capped for digging, and warm clothes. Bring a packed lunch.
Places can be booked in advance with Heritage Lincolnshire on 01529 461499.
Willow Tree Fen nature reserve is between Bourne and Spalding, south of the River Glen on the Tongue End to Pode Hole road. The entrance bridge is at grid ref TF 181 213.
Willow Tree Fen is a new nature reserve, purchased by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust in 2009. It was formerly arable land growing beans and cereals with a number of low depressions that become waterlogged in wet periods, the fen will be restored over the next few years to a typical wet fenland landscape. The purchase and restoration of Willow Tree Fen has been made possible with financial support from Natural England, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership, Environment Agency and the members of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. It is part of the wider South Lincolnshire Fenlands Partnership. | 
