Last week something very different happened on the farm....!We played host to a small part of Simex 2018; the worlds largest simulated disaster relief exercise. This huge event, featuring a total of over 3000 people, took place all across Hampshire over three days. The exercise is an annual event, running since 2012, however this year was the first time the exercise has ever come to Butser. Two simultaneous disaster scenarios were played out to test and train emergency responses; one international disaster - a tidal surge in a fictional African country - and one national disaster - a hurricane!The organising team wanted to use the Iron Age enclosure at Butser to represent an African village as part of the international disaster scenario, and we were very happy to support such an important and worthwhile project.On Wednesday afternoon a group of excited local school children, complete with fake wounds and bandages(!) arrived on site, shepherded by several organisers in high vis and shortly followed by a procession of emergency aid workers from charities such as Save the Children who had navigated their way to the farm. We even saw several search and rescue helicopters flying low overhead as part of the exercise!It was very interesting for the team to see such an unusual activity on site and get an insight into the world of disaster relief! There's never a dull day at Butser...!
Channelling the Inner Neolithic
A guest post by DD Storyteller
We have commisioned DD Storyteller to create a series of interactive stories to bring the farm to life for our younger visitors. DD will be training up our volunteers to deliver the stories and will be giving preview performances in May/June, more information...
As a Consultant Storyteller, creating interactive performance stories for children, I not only write the stories but I also create the props that bring them to life.
I love every aspect of the creative process so when I needed to create a Neolithic cave painting in the form of a map, for a specially commissioned story I have written for Butser Ancient Farm, I couldn't wait to channel my inner Neolithic.
First stop was the Llandygai House at Butser Ancient Farm at the heart of their Stone Age area. On the wall of the house is a replica of a hunting scene from Turkey, similar to that found at Chatalhuyuk. This painting is also the inspiration for my story and map. The scene shows the hunting of an Aurochs and has a multitude of warriors and hunters surrounding this huge Neolithic beast. Bows drawn, spears raised, and adorned with hunting apparel, these brave tribes people had a mighty task ahead of them.
I wanted to keep my painting as authentic as possible despite being drawn by a twenty-first century homo sapien and so I created images reminiscent of those found in the painting in the Llandygai house. I researched cave paintings and created silhouette images of the animals in the story: Lynx, Stag Beetle, Wolf, Elk, Bear, Boar and Beaver. These were all animals that were found in the Neolithic although now some are endangered or even extinct in Britain.
I then outlined the animal silhouettes on a large canvas, drawing their habitats around them, again in the Neolithic style.
After a light grey wash of paint to give the appearance of a stone wall I started to fill in the detail. I did this using similar colours to those used in the Neolithic period. During this period they may have used iron oxide to get the red colour, iron to get yellow and manganese for black. I used the modern convenience of paint blocks, specifically Derwent Inktense Ink blocks as they gave me exactly the effect I needed. You can draw with them like pastels and then use water to create an intense paint colour on the canvas.
Here's the finished map:
For the performance, clues will be attached to the map to tell the story as the audience takes a journey back in time to discover what the Aurochs is and where it lives.
You can join us in 'The Hunt For The Aurochs', at Butser this May/June, designed for 7-12 year olds. For more information on these brand new, original, interactive mini mystery stories, you can visit my events page here. I look forward to seeing you there for a neolithic adventure!
The Magic Beast
A recent sighting of a white deer on the farm prompted one of our facebook followers to share the beautiful poem below with us. Timothy had written the poem after a similar deer sighting nearby. We thought it would be lovely to share, particularly as it's World Poetry Day today.Thank you Timothy Concannon for sharing your work with us.
The magic beast
See a flash, unexpected, against the trees
A herd of deer is there, but something’s strange.
A white hart, unearthly, among the rest
A magic sight, the stuff of legend,
Here in the hangars of my home,
Not fairyland.
......
Diana's beast, the quarry of Alexander
And Caesar, Charlemagne, Rustvun-Shad.
The badge of Richard Lionheart,
Lofty Enlil’s earthly form.
......
I stop the car, and stare, enchanted.
How long has she been in my woods?
A living unicorn!
The clue’s in Harting, that selfsame pub.
......
The hart looks over Torberry,
Rumoured town of Rome.
Does she seek her ancient master?
Will she lure him back again,
To drown like faithful Bran?
......
She's off! I cannot follow
To find her marble halls
And dozen handmaids under the Lake
like ancient Rustvun
......
I muse, and dream of ancient times
And myth, and magic and ancient quests
I return to earth, and onward drive
But I still remember, that evening long ago
When a thing divine touched my mortal mind.
Timothy Thomas Concannon
Funding for new storytelling project
We're delighted to announce that we have received funding to support a project to creatively interpret Butser Ancient Farm through a series of specially commissioned stories.Councillor Robert Mocatta, as part of Hampshire County Council, has awarded the County Councillor Grant so that we can run training sessions for our volunteers to deliver the specially written tales.Two stories have been written by local author Dawn Nelson to enchant our younger visitors with tales of the people who may have lived in ancient homes like those at Butser; the interactive tales will transport our visitors back in time to imagine life in an ancient farm.The funding will enable Dawn to run training sessions for volunteers at Butser so more people will be able to tell the stories and help bring this special place to life.
One of the stories will focus on the hunt for the Auroch, a scene painted on the wall of our Neolithic Llandygai house whilst the other will tell the tale of a missing Manx Loaghtan Sheep.
Thank you very much to Hampshire County Council and Councillor Robert Mocatta for supporting this exciting project.
Baby Goats born at Butser
This week we were delighted to welcome some more new arrivals to the farm. Twin baby goats were born overnight between Sunday 11th and Monday 12th March – a real Mothers’ Day surprise for their mum, English goat Bella!
These were shortly followed at Lunchtime on Monday by two more twin girls born to our goat Ainee. Finally Sorrel gave birth on Thursday to a little girl bringing our Kid count up to 5!
Life as a Roman: new virtual reality app in partnership with BBC Civilisations
We're excited to announce the launch of a new app featuring our Roman Villa in partnership with the BBC. The 'BBC Taster VR' app allows anyone to explore the villa in virtual reality from anywhere in the world!'Life as a Roman' is a collaboration between Butser Ancient Farm and the BBC as part of the landmark Civilisations series which tells the story of art from the dawn of human history to the present day, for the first time on a global scale.
Butser Ancient Farm submitted the idea to use 360 video to explore the ancient Roman villa and the BBC helped us realise our idea.The Butser Roman Legion helped us populate the villa with a range of people from the villa’s master to lowly slaves. The 360 video lets you explore the villa inside and out and see how people would have lived in Roman Britain.
See how the Roman soldiers used their swords, explore the Roman latrines and furnace, and spy on the Roman dining room.The app and download are available for three months, click here to find out more
Ancient apples planted at Butser to mark a special celebration
Yesterday marked a special moment at Butser Ancient Farm as we planted five apple trees to celebrate the wedding anniversary of two wonderful members of staff. Sue and Trevor, our projects coordinators marked the occasion by planting these ancient apple varieties (aided by director Simon!)
The beautiful specimens will form the start a small orchard which will be part of our exciting Roman garden development plans. Sue and Trevor picked the apple varieties, Charles Ross and James Grieve, to be of an old variety and tolerant of chalk soils. Thanks to head forester Michael Prior at Stansted Park for the advice on the best varieties to plant here.
We hope they will thrive and that soon we will have tasty Butser apples to sample!thanks Sue and Trevor!
First lambs of 2018 born at Butser!
This morning we arrived on the farm to a flurry of excitement as the first baby lambs of 2018 made their entrance to the world at the weekend. Two more were born this morning taking our total so far to 4.
After the 'Beast from the East' brought plunging temperatures, snow and ice last week we're glad our Manx Loaghtan waited for the thaw before delivering the new arrivals. All mothers and lambs are healthy and well and after the recent cold snap we're delighted to be witnessing this real sign of Spring. 