sara rochelle

Sara runs the

I have taught this style of pottery to children, teenagers and adults. Interpreting local archaeology in school outreach workshops meant lots of

My love of nature, world cultures and prehistory began at a very early age. A combination I suppose, of a love of the strange objects I found around me that represented wild exotic alternatives and feeling happiest spending my time playing in the woods and exploring the South Downs.

hands on reconstruction in areas such as early pottery, plants, weaving and building technologies. As a result the children could relate more to the people from distant communities and also their own. We wondered at the life expectancy of one thatched roundhouse built with children

on a tough estate in Brighton. But four years later, the sense of ownership has spread through the families and community and it is still standing. My favourite times are seeing the boys coming into sessions complaining and five minutes later they are engaged in discussion or focussed on creation.

The strength of my belief in keeping the old traditions alive means that I have also worked in environmental regeneration and heritage through working horses in sensitive woodland. I have also done much decorative paintwork for the renovation of horse drawn carriages, gypsy and showman living wagons plus sign writing and interior decoration with murals, hand painted wallpaper and painted furniture.

Older teenagers who had rejected conventional education came to discover physical work and getting dirty and realised that maths, history and science was accessible when applied in context. Adults with focus came for week-long stints of prehistoric indulgence and went away inspired, not only having gained from the course but also having provided their own input and experience for everyone to share.