FOREST historian, the late Brian Johns, had a hunch there was more than meets the eye to the history of Blakeney. Having discovered many items of Roman origin, he was convinced that hidden nearby there must be the remains of a considerable settlement.

Now a tantalising glimpse of what might be beneath the surface has been revealed. Using high-tech spy-in-the-sky equipment, experts have been able to identify earthwork features hidden under the tree cover for hundreds of years.

The aerial survey, known as LIDAR, has identified a remarkable 1,700 potential archaeological features beneath the Forest floor. Now four pilot areas are to be examined, one of which, Blackpool Brook, near Blakeney, was a favourite hunting ground for Mr Johns who discovered and recorded several sites of potential interest in the area.

The other sites to be put under the microscope are Chestnut Woods (including the famed Welshbury hillfort site) near Flaxley; Birchill Inclosure near Coleford, and Great Bourts Inclosure, near Lydbrook.

Details of how the investigations will take place, as well as how to become involved, will be outlined to members of the Forest of Dean Local History Society at their first meeting of the new year to be held at the West Dean Centre, Bream, on Saturday (3pm).

‘Unearthing our Heritage’ is one of the 50 interlinked projects being undertaken by the Foresters’ Forest Heritage Lottery-funded landscape partnership. Details of the archaeological survey will be given by Justin Hughes, a community archaeologist with the Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service.

Mr Hughes will explain how volunteers are to be trained in fieldwork, enabling them to check features on the ground and survey and interpret sites. Other volunteers will be encouraged to take part in background research using maps and documentary sources.

He said: “There are outdoor and indoor roles, so if you are interested in field work or desk work there is a role for you.

“A whole range of archaeological features and historical periods are indicated by the LIDAR data and we are now working on the exciting task of working with local people to get out there and investigate these sites.”

Guests are welcome to attend Saturday’s meeting.