Roots in Time Project wins twice at Archaeological Achievement Awards

Worcestershire’s County Council’s Archive and Archaeology Service’s Roots in Time project wins the Archaeology and Sustainability Award and the Outstanding Achievement Award at this year’s Archaeological Achievement Awards.

The Archaeological Achievement Awards, run by the Council for British Archaeology, are a showcase of the best archaeology across the British Isles (UK and Ireland).

The Roots in Time archaeology and art project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England, is based around a new public green space and woodland at New Farm Nature Reserve, just north of Evesham. 

Thanks to National Lottery players, £95,830 of funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and £29,760 from Arts Council England were granted to enable a community excavation of Romano-British and late prehistoric archaeology in summer 2022, followed by onsite interpretation co-created with local communities. The onsite interpretation panels, sitting place sculpture and audio-trail explore the ecology and heritage of the site, and human interaction with the landscape over millennia. They have been created by Ourside Youth Centre, Evesham and District Meeting Centre and the Freedom Day Centre, working with Spare Room Arts and writer Jean Atkin.

The project, nominated for its sustainability aspect, demonstrated the valuable role archaeology can play in shaping and enhancing sustainable schemes, as well as engaging the public with them. Worcestershire County Council aims to be carbon neutral by 2050 and is working to help halve the county's carbon emissions by 2030. Part of this strategy includes planting 150,000 trees on council holdings. New Farm Nature Reserve represents the flagship tree planting site, designed to encourage access, and promote the Council’s sustainable goals. Sustainably managed public land that supports biodiversity is at the heart of this scheme. 



Councillor Marcus Hart, Cabinet Member for Communities at Worcestershire County Council, said: "Congratulations to The Roots in Time team, the project is a shining example of how archaeology can be used to not only promote our understanding of the past but also to create a more sustainable future. By incorporating archaeology into the design of New Farm Nature Reserve, Worcestershire County Council has demonstrated its commitment to preserving both our heritage and our environment."

The site’s design incorporated a range of habitats, including wildflower meadows, wetland, and diverse native woodland, alongside preserving buried archaeological deposits. The way in which archaeology was incorporated into the scheme shows the Council’s commitment to including archaeology and heritage in our sustainable future. An initiative-taking and positive approach by Council departments to ensure the scheme incorporates and celebrates a wide range of environmental benefits, including heritage.

If you would like to know more, or visit the site, more information can be found on the Roots in Time Webpages on the Explore the Past website.