A new educational facility will be opening near Glastonbury as the half-term holiday gets underway.

Avalon Archaelolgy will open its doors at Avalon Marshes in Westhay on Monday, February 13.

It's the place to discover local heritage alongside the natural environment in a beautiful rural location. History is brought to life through archaeological reconstructions celebrating human interaction with the Somerset Levels over thousands of years.

A dedicated band of over 110 volunteers have worked one day a week since 2015 to create faithful reconstructions of buildings, including a Saxon longhall, the dining room of a Roman villa (with working hypocaust heating) and an Iron Age roundhouse (under construction).

The volunteers worked one day a week since 2015, with only a short enforced break due to Covid. It began as a small part of the (Award Winning) Heritage Lottery-funded Avalon Marshes Landscape Partnership Project, and was intended to give volunteers practical hands-on experience of traditional building techniques by building archaeological reconstructions. Over 110 volunteers have contributed their time and expertise.

Early projects included recreating prehistoric wooden trackways on nearby Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve and making replicas of Iron Age dug out canoes.

The three big building projects include a Saxon longhall, the dining-room of a Roman villa and an Iron Age roundhouse, with the latter still under construction.

These have been joined by a waterline replica of a Viking trading ship and the oldest surviving archaeological excavation hut in the UK, with its own mini cinema.

Dr Richard Brunning, an archaeologist with the South West Heritage Trust, who led the project, said: "At Avalon Archaeology history is brought to life through archaeological reconstructions that allow people to get a unique, hands-on experience of our local heritage.

"Thanks to the skill and dedication of many volunteers, we have these wonderful reconstructions. Through the generosity of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we are now able to share them with the local community and visitors to the area."

Stuart McLeod, director England-London and South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "We are delighted to have supported this project to create an archaeological hub at Avalon Marshes. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, people will be able to get involved with and learn about the exciting heritage and archaeology right on their doorstep, helping to bring history and heritage to life."

Admission is via bookable guided tours available from Monday, February 13 with two tours running on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10.30am to noon and 1 to 2.30pm.

For more information about Avalon Archaeology and to book, click here.