We have an exciting opportunity to visit Butser Ancient Farm whilst it is closed to the general public, thanks to the kind invitation of one of our members who works there.

The visit will be on Saturday 7 March. Wives/partners are welcome. Cost £7.50 per person, or £11 depending on chosen activity (see below)

Butser Ancient Farm is near Chalton, just off the A3, accessed via Chalton Lane just beyond the end of the motorway section. For more information see https://www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/

The farm is serviced by reasonable all-weather paths of tamped stones (hoggin), and is wheelchair accessible. There is only one disabled toilet, the others are up 2 steps. All toilets are by the entrance, hence suggesting a start and finish with toilet use.

Outline timetable of visit:
9.15 Arrive and use toilets
9.30 Tour of Stone/Bronze/Iron Ages (8 houses)
10.30 Make hot drinks in main roundhouse
10.45 Fireside ancient tale, seated on chairs
11.05 Chosen Activity (see below)
11.45 Tour resumes
12.30 Use toilets, see goats and depart

Activity Choices
We have been offered a choice of activities, but the whole group will need to do the same activity. If you would like to come please indicate your preference when you reply, and we'll go with the majority.
At no additional cost:-
• Quill and Ink - cut a tip into a reed and use oak gall ink to try writing on papyrus and paper, old English words are given as inspiration, some background given.
• Roman Mosaics - place 2,000-year-old Roman tesserae cubes into sand trays to make your own patterns. Hear about historic techniques before seeing 3 full-size mosaics in-situ at the reconstructed Roman Villa in the second half of the tour.
• Chalk carving - use a piece of flint to scrape a chalk chunk flat. Colour it with leaves or berries and then scratch in your petroglyph patterns. See a couple of replica pieces.
For a further £3.50pp:
• Leather Game Pouch - cut a circle of leather (marked), ink over the lines, thread jute twine through pre-punched holes and learn to play Rota (6-glass counters included), leather gameboard then pulls into a carry pouch for the glass counters.
• Tin Casting - carve a tiny cross (approx. 3cm by 2cm) into a cuttlefish with a metal nail. Metal tin in a ladle in the fire and pour in. Safety equipment provided. Place a bent skinny copper wire in whilst molten. Once solidified, thread through a leather thong. To wear or hang up.

If you would like to go, please let Philip Coleman know directly or via the Church Office with the following information:
1. Will you be on your own or accompanied?
2. Are you able to transport yourself there or would you like to share transport from CBC, leaving no later than 8.30am?
3. Which is your preferred activity choice?
After hearing from you, he will send you a link so that you can pay online using the Farm's TicketSolve system.