SEWAF at Bredhurst

Two SEWAF members recently went to talk to the Bredhurst Woodland Action Group (BWAG) in Kent. The Group was formed as a response to fly tipping, vandalism and general neglect of the woods and they’ve achieved an enormous amount, including footpath restoration, coppicing, scrub clearance and fencing. They have secured a fantastic amount of funding for their cause and hold regular events.

However, they haven’t yet investigated the archaeology of their woods in any detail, although one member has been looking at historical research (and finding records of charcoal workers who lived in BredhurstVillage– very exciting!). Members of The Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne were in the audience too – they are currently excavating a medieval site on the fringe of the wood.

SEWAF showed the BWAG members what archaeological features they might find within their woods, and how they might go about finding and recording it with the help of the Toolkits on this website. Andrew Mayfield, Community Archaeologist forKent, brought along the new LiDAR survey for the Medway Gap, which, although it misses Bredhurst Woods, enthused BWAG to find out about the possibility of LiDAR survey for their area.

SEWAF promised to return to Bredhurst early in 2012, to get the group started on survey of their woods.