Darent Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme
By Anne Sassin
As part of the recently launched Darent Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme (DVLPS), a large-scale partnership scheme focused on conserving the valley’s uniquely rich history and natural character, a series of over 40 integrated projects which explore and celebrate the historical and cultural heritage of the scheme area, which stretches between Dartford and Westerham, are in their early stages of implementation.
In particular, the project aims to connect people to the unique Darent landscape through its historical connection with the Victorian artist Samuel Palmer, who lived in
Working with our partners Blue Sky International and the Interreg 2 Seas ICAReS project, the scheme is currently in the final stages of generating valley-wide surveys utilising laser technology and subsequent imagery provided by both LiDAR and digital photogrammetry, visual tools which allow vegetation to be stripped away and/or provide accurate 3D models of the landscape (see Fig 1). Such innovations are particularly appealing to new audiences, and a group of ‘landscape investigators’ are intended to be recruited who will go into the field and use the online portal to explore the images created and ground-truth features identified. An online interactive mapping portal, featuring the imagery, will be made available on the DVLPS website and is expected to be launched by later 2019.
Following initial geophysical survey in February and March, a community dig is planned in the pasture meadow at Lullingstone immediately north of the car park, a site which was partially excavated during the laying of sewer pipe in 1986 and revealed a series of pits and ditches of Roman date, as well as the ‘Lullingstone Man’ carved shale plaque. The dig is intended to inspire the next generation of archaeologists and provide an opportunity for local people and visitors to get involved and contribute to finding out more about one of the most important Roman villas in the country. This year will coincide with the 70th anniversary of the first excavations at the villa – and is the 75th anniversary of the Council for British Archaeology – thus will centre around the Festival of Archaeology in July (approximate dates 15th- 28th). Volunteers are needed not only for digging but for finds and environmental processing. The summer will also involve events and a temporary exhibition at the villa on the original excavations, as well as other work at Roman period sites along the valley, for which contributions will be welcome.
In the coming months these and other projects will be in further stages of development. If you would like to get involved, particularly
in either the ground-truthing or fieldwork at Lullingstone, please register your interest with the DVLPS community archaeologist, Dr Anne Sassin (anne.sassin@ kentdowns.org.uk), who will let you know when training dates and opportunities are available. See www.darent-valley.org.uk for more information or follow the project on social media (Facebook @DVLPS and Twitter @Darent_Valley).
Shoreham and called the valley his ‘earthly paradise’. Amongst the project’s broad aims is the goal for local communities, professionals and delivery partners to participate in heritage conservation activities and apply new skills and knowledge to care for the local landscape.
The Darent Valley’s Hidden Roman Legacy (2B): communicating the importance of the villas and landscape during the Roman era to a broader
Royalty and Silk – Lullingstone Castle’s Buried Secrets (2E): undertaking geophysics (magnetometry) and community excavation of features within