BACK gardens are about to give up secrets of the past as part of a community history project.

The England’s Past for Everyone project, which has been working in Ledbury for the last two years with local volunteer researchers, is about to commence a series of excavations across the historic town centre.

This is being done in conjunction with Herefordshire Council’s archaeology service which is providing training, tools, and professional supervision.

Herefordshire Council’s conservation manager Bill Bloxsome said: “Seven back gardens with willing owners have so far been selected for small trial trenches to be excavated by volunteer excavators.

“These sites are distributed right across the historic town centre, from the Homend through High Street to the Southend.”

Mr Bloxsome said the aim is to determine from pottery and black pots discarded in the gardens how the built-up area has expanded and contracted through the centuries.

Volunteers were given training session and the digs will continue throughout October.