The 'Unlocking Hidden Heritage' project is part of the 'Cultural Routeways' programme within the 'Bassenthwaite Reflections' Landscape Partnership Scheme. The project will undertake a series of historic landscape surveys, with strong community involvement, on specific areas within the Bassenthwaite water catchment. The survey target areas have been chosen through a process of community consultation and through discussion between stakeholders, Grampus Heritage, the National Park Authority and the National trust.

The project will work with community groups to locate and record archaeological features in the target areas (level 1 survey). These surveys will be conducted in accordance with the National Trust's 'Archaeology and the Historic Environment, Historic Landscape Survey Guidelines'. Training, guidance and supervision will be provided to ensure that participants are able to accurately record and identify features on the ground. The training and preparation of community members and interest groups will be carried out by Grampus, with ongoing input and advice from the National Park and National Trust archaeologists.

Identified features will be located using Global Positioning System handsets and maps / tapes (where GPS is unsuitable). Record cards will be completed for identified sites and features. This information can then be entered into the National Park Historic Environment Record and, where appropriate, the National Trust Sites and Monuments Record.

In addition to the survey fieldwork, community groups and individual volunteers will be involved in a number of associated research tasks. This 'desk-based' research will provide vital information on the history of the landscape and will be used to inform interpretation of features identified on the ground.

The area identified for level 1 survey in the first year of the project focuses on the woodland areas around Derwentwater. This area was decided upon through consultation with the National Trust archaeologist for the North West. The National Trust is the main landowner of these woodlands and, although they have conducted surveys in the Borrowdale valley and the islands of Derwentwater, there has not yet been a comprehensive historic landscape survey of these woodlands. The woodlands of Derwentwater are centrally located in the catchment and will form an easily accessible survey focus for year 1 of the project. The woodlands are close to the population centre of Keswick and can easily be reached from the west coast.

Unlocking Hidden Heritage utilises non-invasisve / non-destructive archaeological survey techniques to increase understanding of archaeological sites, without causing damage to the sites being investigated. In addition to the level-1 area surveys, the project will undertake more detailed surveys utilising geophysical and topographic survey techniques on specific sites within the catchment. The first of these will be the Caermote Roman fort site in June/July 2007.

All of the surveys and research will have a large degree of public involvement. It is an underpinning principle of the project that public inclusion and participation in archaeological survey and research need not compromise results. We aim to inspire interest and enthusiasm in the community and to harness this enthusiasm for the good of the project and, ultimately, for the good of the future of the water catchment.

The graphic nature of survey results offers good possibilities for dissemination and publication of the results of the project. Articles and plots will be submitted to the Bassenthwaite Reflections press officer to ensure wide coverage and understanding of the project aims and achievements. An exhibition of the project progress and achievements will be held in the Keswick Museum in 2008 and 2009, and a web forum will be established to facilitate communication between participating groups and individuals.

The first survey area in year 1 of the project is 'Hog's Earth' woodland to the south of Derwentwater. This woodland has been chosen as the starting point of the survey as it is known to contain several site types, typical of the area, and will form a good training area for identification of historic landscape features. Once the survey of Hogs Earth has been completed, and community members are competent in the identification of landscape features, then the project will move on to survey the other identified areas. The woodlands around Derwentwater being investigated in year 1 are as follows:

Hogs Earth NY 2668 1661 127 April 07
Great Wood NY 2760 2160 96 April 07
The Ings NY 2675 2210 8 April 07
Castlehead Wood NY 2700 2270 8 May 07
Cockshot Wood NY 2654 2270 5 May 07
Isthmus Wood NY 2590 2290 8 May 07
Swinside and Silver Hill Area NY 2500 2250 176 Sept 07
Brandelhow Park NY2500 2050 47 Oct 07
Manesty Park NY 2530 1900 53 Nov 07

The timing of the level 1 survey avoids the summer months because vegetation (bracken, brambles etc) can make identification of features extremely difficult. Archival and documentary research will be ongoing throughout the year. Volunteers who are less physically able, and therefore not able to carry out survey fieldwork, can make a vital contribution the project through archival and documentary research.

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Contact: Grampus Heritage and Training Ltd, Ashgill, Threapland, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 2EL
Tel: 016973 21516 Fax: 016973 23040 e.mail: enquiries@grampusheritage.co.uk