Secrets of the High Woods: Heritage Landscape Science: Alice Thorne (South Downs National Park)

About the Project‘Secrets of the High Woods’ is a community archaeology project focused on revealing the hidden history of the Wooded Downs.

Our Aims• Explore the cultural heritage of the wooded downs, using both

cutting edge technology and traditional techniques. Doing this will help us to better understand how human interaction with the landscape has changed over time

• Engage the public in the heritage of the area through a range of volunteering opportunities and activities such as guided walks. We will also be creating online resources including an e-book and summarising the results of the project in a travelling exhibition.

• Train volunteers and professionals in the use of lidar data to ensure an increased understanding of and respect for heritage sites. This will lead to enhanced future management and mitigation of the sites.

The project covers an area of wooded landscape in Hampshire and West Sussex located between the A3 and the River Arun.

Archaeology of and in the woodsThe historic environment is uniquely preserved in the wooded downs area, but quantifying the resource using traditional methods of archaeological survey is difficult.

Forest canopy reduces the visibility of archaeological features from aerial photographs and dense vegetation can also limit access and visibility for field survey.

In March 2014, the project captured 305km2 (30500 hectares ) of laser scanned data across the survey area at 0.25m resolution.

Shaded Relief Openness Local Relief

Specialist VisualisationsUnfortunately there is no one perfect solution for archaeological prospection…

CMS database developed to hold Lidar data and collate known archaeological sites

Collation and comparison of existing local Historic Environment Records GIS and database records

Single GIS and database system to underpin all project work

Lidar part of a package of resources for Historic landscape analysis:

• Designated Sites• Historic Environment Records• Aerial Photography• Satellite Imagery• Historic Cartography

National Mapping ProgrammeHistoric England and Cornwall County Council working jointly to transcribe all features

Transcription progress:

Volunteer Engagement: Archive Research

Volunteer Engagement: Oral History

Volunteer Engagement: Fieldwork

Public Events

Schools visits

E-book

Guided tours

Exhibition

Scouts and guides activity days

Walking leaflets

website

CGI

LegacyCounty development control:

• Unparalleled data set for mitigation • Supported by full NMP transcription

Academic research:• Will provide an important research tool for the academic/

research sector for years to come

SDNPA:• A trained and experienced volunteer body to complement

existing SNDPA ranger service, and bring heritage focus to the existing ecology narratives

Find out moreWebsite:www.southdowns.gov.uk/highwoods

Email: highwoods@southdowns.gov.uk