AN archaeology project at a National Trust property in North Herefordshire has been given a £42,000 boost thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund .

The ‘Summer of Archaeology’ project aims to explore the early history of Brockhampton estate, near Bromyard, and will study the origins of the Old Chapel and attempt to discover if there is a deserted medieval village lying under orchards to the north of the property.

Community volunteers from Herefordshire MIND and ECHO are taking the lead, working with archaeologists to carry out the investigations and site interpretation for visitors.

Young people from Media Shypp, a local organisation training young people in transferable media skills, will be filming the project.

Readers can take part in geophysical surveys of the site before the excavations begin on Saturday May 23 and Sunday May 24 between 11am and 4pm and will be able to vote where trenches should be dug next month.

There is also an opportunity even help out with the excavations in July and August and then later in the summer, people can get involved in pot washing and other post-excavation activities on site.

Visit nationaltrust.org.uk/brockhampton-estate/ for more information on the estate.