Land Management and Conservation

The advisory role of the Archaeology Service includes providing information for those involved in all aspects of land management and development. Planning consultants and engineers need to check on the potential impact of proposals to construct new houses, roads and pipelines. Owners and estate managers require information about sites on their land, and advice on how best to protect them.

Erosion repairs to hill fort.

The Archaeology Service also provides advice for Environmental Stewardship applications. The archaeology can be considered as an asset in such an application and is eligible for grant aid from DEFRA.

Heritage and Forestry

The Service is concerned about the effect of tree-planting schemes on archaeology. Areas chosen for new plantations are often on marginal land which has not been affected by ploughing and where ancient earthworks are well-preserved. The sites will be hidden from view as the plantation matures and the tree roots cause havoc to archaeology deep beneath the surface.

Newly planted trees.

All Woodland Grant Applications are considered by the Archaeology Service staff who comment on the impact of the proposal on any archaeology in the area. The area affected is studied using the Sites and Monuments Record, aerial photographs and previous reports on archaeological work already carried out in that area.