Please help me to follow my life-long passion.
Donation protected
⛏️UPDATED FOR 2025 ⛏️
Donations are a running total.
The first £500 here is from 2024 donations
Hello, my name is Tim and I’m a Gardener in Dorset, England, with a lifetime passion for History and Archaeology.
I originally launched this fundraising campaign in 2024 to call upon the generosity of others to support my journey back into Archaeological exploration, a journey which continues and becomes even more difficult to attain with rent and bills constantly on the rise.
A little background - I studied Archaeology in Wales but never pursued it as a career, mainly due to financial reasons. In 2003 the career market was incredibly competitive, with so many vying for so few jobs. I needed to concentrate on paying off my education and ended up heading into roles other than Archaeology with a higher pay grade.
Since 2011 I’ve built up a small gardening business with my husband and we love our role as Landscape Gardeners, creating and nurturing outdoor spaces.
Recently I’ve been presented with the opportunity to get back into Archaeology again, something which I really thought would never happen. I’ve joined a local charitable Archaeology group in Dorset as well as volunteering for a University project.
It’s been incredibly therapeutic for my Mental Health to get back into the field during Summer 2023, I excavated some fantastic artefacts.
I’d like to volunteer on at least one excavation this coming Summer 2025, but to do that I’d have to take time off from my Gardening work - the Archaeology is actually harder work than my “day job”!
My goal for the 2025 Excavation Season is to join a well established university project with a late Iron Age excavation.
In order to volunteer I need to make sure rent and bills are still paid while I’m in a ditch or down a storage pit.
If I can save & raise £150 per day then that should be enough to allow me to keep afloat while not earning.
If you are able to help me achieve the dream of pursuing a lifelong passion for Archaeology, then as well as my eternal thanks, I have a few things I can offer in return.
For those who donate, I extend my heartfelt appreciation, acknowledging the kindness and generosity of those individuals, and hope that the “gifts” I’m able to offer are suitably rewarding.
To stay updated on my journey and archaeological pursuits, I encourage you to follow my Instagram account:
By doing so, supporters can witness the progress made and the impact of their contributions.
In closing, I humbly request the support of those who also wish they could have followed their passion, acknowledging the importance of your philanthropic actions.
Alongside anything I’m able to put aside myself, every contribution will aid in fulfilling a lifelong passion for Archaeology.
Together, we can make a difference and uncover the rich history that lies beneath our feet.
DONATIONS
Under £50:
- Membership of my “green circle” on Instagram. For exclusive Insta stories from the excavation sites (where permitted).
£50 - £100
- Daily Archaeology Themed Vlogs (longer than stories); updates on excavation progress (where permitted).
£150 - £200
- A Special Archaeological themed gift for you to keep.
- Daily Archaeology themed Vlogs; musings on current Archaeological finds Worldwide & updates on excavation progress (where permitted).
- Instagram Live at set time from the spoil heap where you can ask questions and get answers in real time.
- A two hour Landscaping and Plant consultation in your garden BH postcode, or via Facetime if outside Dorset.
After that, I’ve run out of skills to offer, and to those who are wonderful enough to make donations any larger - I’m open to your suggestions!
Organizer
Tim Wilson
Organizer