2006 has been a mixed year, with plenty going on but with such extreme weather it has been hard to keep up with last year's record breaking figures. We did however pass the 11,000 mark before closing at the end of October. The 2006 season saw plenty of Extra Mural classes run as well as the introduction of a Plant Dyeing workshop led by Jenny Dean which was very successful. So much so that we are putting on two in 2007 and one of our volunteers is setting up a small dye garden at the back of the cottage.

The Education officer launched an extensive new programme of education sessions designed for Key Stage 2 & 3 which concentrates on monastic life and includes sessions such as manuscript writing and making medieval tiles. These sessions have been very successful with a few schools helping to pilot the different activities that are now on offer. This means that for the first time the whole site is being utilised as a resource for learning. Looking towards 2007 we have several exciting projects on the go. The volunteers are working on re-doing the old sign that sits on the front of the black barn that has been hanging for ten years and is now in a bad state of repair. We hope to have the sign re-hung for 2007 as it is a special year for the Museum as we will be celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the Farmland Museum being open on the site of Denny. We will be celebrating this at the end of May at the Country Fair event on the 27th and 28th May.

Other projects include our new ticket office and improved gift shop. The kiosk has long been a thorn in our sides and needed a serious overall. With grant money and help from local businesses (Dickersons, Allen Newport and Ridgeons) we have finished laying the foundation base for a building which will be arriving at the beginning of February, We hope to have this up and running for the new season and will be in a more suitable location with a little bit more room! We will also be featuring a special touring exhibition at Easter on Fenland Food which will be in our Stone Barn until the end of April. We do hope you can join us during the year!

Get ready for more creative and fun children's drop-in holiday activities throughout the school holidays on selected Thursdays.