Butser Ancient Farm - Summer 2018 Newsletter

"Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair..." - Susan Polis Schutz
 

Summer seems finally to have arrived; perhaps the spectacular lighting of the 30ft Wickerman – this year a proud Roman Centurian - at our sell-out Beltain Festival last week really did encourage the sun out of hiding!

We have a wonderful selection of events and workshops to look forward to over the summer months at the farm, in the next few weeks we’ll be launching a new series of storytelling events, celebrating all things magical at our Fairy Festival on the 10^th June and then braving it with our Weapons and Warriors Father’s Day special on the 17^th June.  We’ll also be treated to a magical Midsummer Celtic Harp concert in the roundhouse on the evening of the 30^th June.

Our free evening talks also start this week and each month sees the chance to discover more about ancient life from our expert speakers; topics range from Celtic Herbs to Saxon skills and warfare!

If you want to get hands on why not book onto one of our many new workshops,from pit fired pottery to bee-keeping, flax workshops to silver working and singing, we have lots to keep you busy!

Our popular Warrior camps return over the summer offering the opportunity for kids to learn ancient survival skills. This year we’ve also added a Family Warrior Camp – a chance for the whole family to work together and face up to some ancient challenges, including staying over-night at the farm!

Finally our Summer of Science and Sorcery kicks off over the school holidays, discover how ancient people understood the wonders of the universe with fire, food, metallurgy, Norse gods, herbs, textiles, chalk carving, animals, aqueducts, woodwork and much more!
 
Meanwhile, our research and experimentation work continues… projects over the next few months include re-thatching our Little Woodbury roundhouse, building another Saxon Hall and recreating the beautiful Sparsholt mosaic in our Roman Villa!
 
The farm will also be closed between the 29^th May and the 2^nd June for a large filming project which we can’t reveal just yet! The team will be taking the opportunity whilst we are closed to also repaint much of the Roman Villa with beautiful wall paintings and a fresh new look, reflecting our current research into how the Villa rooms would have looked and been used. Come and visit to see our handiwork and projects in action!