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Community Involvement
There have been several dimensions to community involvement in the project:
- The services of an organised and reliable voluntary daily workforce for the duration of the excavation.
- All local schools were given the opportunity to visit the excavation and to see the archaeologists at work- Campion Upper School, Weedon & Flore Junior Schools visited the site for guided tours and to participate in the excavation. The local cub & beaver packs also came to the site as part of their summer camp. Several sixth form students applying to study Archaeology at University were also allowed to attend the excavation.
- Harpole Historical Society visited the site and further lectures have been organised for Weedon, Wellingborough, Harpole and Nether Heyford. The offer of a free talk is also available for each of the other village communities involved in the F.U.N scheme.
- The Chairman/Leader of South Northants District Council visited the site and displayed interest in the development of the project.
- The 2000 open day was a great success and between 700 and 1,000 people attended. A list containing the names of over 50 local people who wish to volunteer to take part in the next year's excavation and fieldwork was collected.
- The 2001 open day was publicised on BBC Look East, the weather was glorious and over 1,500 people visited the site and enjoyed the many attractions.
- The 2002 open day was also very successful with more visitors than 2001. BBC Radio Northampton provided extensive coverage of the dig and open day, and there was a report on the dig on BBC Look East.
- Material support was also derived from local sources, which included a range of equipment and expertise and in particular the use of a microlight for aerial photography. Look here for details.
- Three people have expressed interest in undertaking research or post-graduate study on the environmental, field boundary and historical development of the landscape from the medieval to modern era.
Publicity for the Project has been widespread:
- The project received coverage in the Northampton, Daventry and Milton Keynes newspapers and was featured in Image magazine, a countrywide publication.
- Two requests for articles have been made by the Council for Independent Archaeologists and Northamptonshire Local History News.
- Radio Northampton broadcast a live afternoon show from the excavation.
- The open day was promoted as part of a national summer campaign to raise awareness of archaeology by the Council for British Archaeology.
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