He reports: As I arrived at the school, the day was in full swing with class 3 children dressed as Romans and Celts, running excitedly around the playground.

Duncan Rust assisted by Alex Helm were showing class 2 and the reception class, the art of making butter, dough and flour.

Teacher Haley England, who coordinated the project, explained how history was being brought to life and how the children were so involved in a truly hands-on experience.

The pot had already been simmering for some while ready for the turnips, carrots, cabbage and chicken to make a stew for the feast to be eaten later. The vegetables had been selected because they were the only native ones available during roman times.

Duncan showed the children how to make butter by vigorous stirring of a bowl of cream.

The remaining butter milk could be drunk later Meanwhile, teacher Sarah Stonhill and class 3 were enjoying a game of nine men's morris in the classroom.

This was a form of solitaire and noughts and crosses rolled into one.

Puddletown First School children get a taste of Roman style food

They would later be trying their hands at dyeing birch leaves yellow and hawthorn leaves red - but not using the urine mordant to keep the colour in.

As I was leaving, class3 children were tucking into the feast: a bowl of stew, bread (very salty in true roman fashion), butter, buttermilk and coffee made from dandelion root.

In the afternoon, Duncan and Alex were to take the children through a re-enactment of a battle between the Romans and the Celts. He had brought authentic Roman and Celt costumes for the children to dress up in.

Duncan, who lives in the village, has been giving similar history activity days around the county with great success.

He also does work with The New Barn Study Centre, an iron age village at Bradford Perverall run by Matthew Dear.

The village is open to the public during August and Duncan will be there in full Roman dress on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays to give talks on this fascinating period of our history.

Bere Regis

Twelve gardens were open for visitors to enjoy, and these included three that were newly opened this year.

We had more people this year, Alison Bennett said. We had printed 300 programmes, but we had to print some more by the afternoon.

£1,370 was made from the gardens opening, and this year this will be used to replace and refurbish equipment used at the Pop in Place.

After 11 years in operation, a few new items are needed.

A bric-a-brac stall was held in memory of the late Cyril Bennett, with the profit of £293 going to the Weldmar Hospice Trust.

A big thank you to everyone who opened their gardens so generously, and to everyone who helped with refreshments, programme printing and selling, manning the car park, and everyone who came along and supported the day.

6:46pm Friday 18th July 2008

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