People with an interest in the past are to be given the chance to turn time detective and get digging.

An award-winning conservation group had decided to spend some of its Heritage Lottery funding on organising two-day schools about unearthing hidden secrets under the soil.

The special day-long workshops are being funded by the Friends of St Ives group which carries out conservation projects at the country park estate near Harden, Bingley.

Bradford-based archaeologist Dr Angela Redmond will be leading the sessions at the University of Bradford on Saturday, January 20, and on Saturday, February 17.

Pam Laking, chairman of Friends of St Ives, said the group wanted to organise real digs at the estate later in the year and hoped the day schools would help train some willing pairs of hands.

She said: "St Ives is riddled with history and we're desperately keen to find out more."

An archaeological survey at St Ives has already shown the area to have had a rich and colourful past.

In November archaeologists armed with high-tech gear uncovered remains from what could be a legendary English Civil War encampment.

There has also been evidence of a pre-historic boundary and signs of a medieval settlement on land there.

Now the Friends are hoping to find out more in 2007 with help from archaeological experts and budding beginners recruited from the day schools.

The cost is £5 for Friends of St Ives members and £10 for non-members, the sessions will run from 10am on both days until about 4.45pm.

The sessions will be followed up in the spring by a trip out to an as yet unnamed archaeological site in the Dales. To find out more, contact the Friends of St Ives on 07958 780391.

e-mail: kathie.griffiths@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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