THE National Trust for Scotland’s Battle of Bannockburn has received £9,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to run a new project as part of the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology.
The community project – People, Plants, Medicine and Lore – explores how people’s relationship with the natural environment has changed over the past 700 years.
Work starts on March 25 and 26 with an archaeological dig in preparation for the creation of a physic garden and all budding archaeologists are welcome to the free event.
The garden will be in the grounds of the visitor centre, which is run by the charity to enable the community to learn about the importance of cultivating medicinal herbs in the past. Local school pupils will explore the use of physic gardens through storytelling, art and literacy, and creating their own traditional remedies.
They will share their knowledge with the wider community through guided tours and designing information panels.
Visitors to the Battle of Bannockburn can explore the garden through observation, smell and touch.
They will also gain an appreciation of the knowledge soldiers needed to survive in their natural environment.
Community ranger Laura Livingstone said: “This award will allow us to explore the intertwining of the natural environment and our local history in a new community project.
“Participants will have the opportunity to learn traditional skills, participate in an archaeological dig, and help create a lasting legacy to this project in the form of a physic garden.”
Lucy Casot, head of HLF in Scotland, added: “The Heritage Lottery Fund is a key partner in the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology and it is our ambition that people of all ages will have the chance to discover something new about the heritage they care about.”
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