£250,000 flagship project will deliver a new building and more
Thanks to our ambitious Grow Up! programme, work is under way on a brand new building at Butser Ancient Farm that will unlock an exciting new future for the famous attraction.
EHDC has secured more than £1.5 million of Government money to invest up and down the district in projects that cover employment, skills, mental health, education and the environment.
Our flagship project is a new building at the historic tourist attraction, in Clanfield, that will help it improve and expand the incredible experiences it offers visitors.
The Grow Up! programme aims to reconnect people to our rural history and heritage, fostering community engagement, providing work and volunteering opportunities, teaching new skills and reviving old ones.
Our partnership with Butser Ancient Farm will help us do all that and more as we deliver £250,000 to fund not only the new building but also a host of events and activities lined up across the coming months.
Cllr Robert Mocatta, EHDC Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Prosperity, said: “Grow Up! is a wide-ranging programme of projects that are all aimed at reconnecting people to their rural heritage in East Hampshire and giving people the chance to find work, volunteer or learn new skills.
“And where better to remind people of our past and give them new opportunities for the future than at Butser Ancient Farm where they specialise in reviving traditional crafts and skills?
“I am delighted we have secured £1.5 million of Government funding from the UKSPF to support prosperity in rural areas. We’re using some of that money to fund the new building which will allow them to enhance their volunteering opportunities and attractions.”
Simon Jay, Director of Butser Ancient Farm, said: “We’re delighted to have received this incredible support from East Hampshire District Council and the Grow Up! project
“This will help us create an even more immersive experience for visitors, transporting them further into the ancient past.
“As a centre for research into the ancient past, sustainable crafts, and traditional skills, this funding will help us reach new audiences and grow what we offer to the community.
“Our new building will be a hub for our amazing team and volunteers—providing essential facilities, storage and workshop spaces for exciting projects and training.
“Plus, with more space freed in our historic areas, we’ll be able to expand what we offer to visitors and dive into exciting new research and ancient reconstruction builds. We’ll also be improving accessibility with new benches across the site and working with groups from the local community to bring the past to life for new audiences.
“We can’t wait to see what’s next—thank you, EHDC, for your support!”
The new building is already under construction and will offer a spacious open-plan office and storage area on the top floor, while the lower level will feature a fully-equipped volunteer facilities room, along with several designated workshop spaces for activities such as woodworking, gardening tools, and other site-related tasks.
It will also enhance the experience for volunteers with a dedicated welfare space which will make a big difference in their comfort and impact.
Additionally, this new building will allow the centre to focus its resources more effectively, making it easier to coordinate and expand events, workshops, and research activities and it will unlock the next phase of Butser Ancient Farm’s development.