£150,000 boost for Ridgeway historians

The archaeologically-rich area includes everything from Stone, Bronze and Iron Age sites to numerous Roman remains, with history experts claiming that the area is as significant as Stonehenge or Avebury.

Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty countryside officer Tom Munro was delighted at the cash and said: "We are over the moon. It is really generous support and we are very pleased that we have got it.

"With more than 500 ancient monuments associated with the Ridgeway it is an amazing national asset.

"It's such a great part of Dorset's - and Britain's - history that we ought to be making a real fuss about it to make sure it is recognised, appreciated and conserved.

"We have an exciting programme for the next three years of research, events and work with schools."

Mr Munro added: "Volunteers will be involved doing archive research in the Dorset History Centre, Dorchester, and going through parish records to make a map of things such as old field names and other historic features.

"There is an oral history thread where volunteers will be taught the art of interviewing people who might have local tales to tell linked to the Ridgeway."

Other project initiatives include promoting access so people can take a circular Ridgeway walk to see its important sections and the collation of information to set up telephone trails, MP3 and podcast initiatives as well as information boards so people will always be close to information on what they are looking at.

Schools also feature and part of the Lottery cash will help boost teaching resources so pupils can get out and see the Ridgeway for themselves.

The three-year initiative will be launched on February 16 at Portesham Village Hall at 10.30am with talks, a demonstration of flint working by Phil Harding from Channel 4's popular archaeology programme Time Team, and a display of Ridgeway-inspired paintings by local artist John Walker.