Walks, Talks, Signings and more...

Saturday 5th October, Waterlooville, Hampshire


Butser Ancient Farm: Viking Magic and Hidden Gold

Archaeological Treasures & the Stories they tell - storytelling in the Iron Age Roundhouse


2.30pm-4.30pm (for ages 9+) and 7.30pm-9.30pm (12+) Saturday 5th October

Butser Ancient Farm


Join me and award-winning storyteller Jason Buck in an amazing Iron Age Roundhouse at the Butser Ancient Farm for a show bringing history out from where it's been buried in the ground, back to life and into stories. We'll unearth a unique blend of archeology and storytelling, inspired by artefacts discovered across the British Isles, dating from the Iron Age to the Second World War. From weaving Viking magic, to Nazi gold, warrior's helmets & secret spells....something for everyone!


Around the fire, under the thatch, sharing tales like people have done since there ever were people on this planet. it's going to be magical.



Tickets: £15 / £6 (afternoon concessions)


Saturday 22nd June, West Sussex
Steyning Bookshop, West Sussex: Hidden Histories
A Spotter's Guide to the British Landscape talk

22nd June, 2pm, Gluck Studio, Steyning
Join me for a talk and book signing - there are things that you can look for in the landscape, that might add six thousand years' worth of history to the view. What are they? What do they tell you? From lumpy fields to ancient hedgerows, from standing stones to quirky churches...a fun and informative hour of landscape spotting for the interested amateur sleuth!
Tickets £6 including tea and cake
https://www.steyningbookshop.co.uk/event/mary-ann-ochotas-hidden-histories/
Sunday 23rd June, West Sussex
Guided History Walk: Chanctonbury Rings
A two hour walk exploring the 'lumps and bumps' of Chanctonbury hillfort

23rd June, 10.30am, meet at the Chanctonbury Ring car park

A guided circular walk through thousands of years of history. And we can put our landscape spotting skills to the test. A gentle pace, but not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. And some of the ascents are short but steep. 

Tickets £12


For more information and to secure your tickets, contact the lovely folk at Steyning bookshop.  https://www.steyningbookshop.co.uk/event/mary-ann-ochotas-hidden-histories/

Tuesday 25th June, Chalke Valley History Festival, nr Salisbury
Chalke Valley History Festival
Hidden Histories: A Spotter's Guide to the British Landscape talk

25th June, 3.30pm, Event 21, IGPL tent, Chalke Valley History Festival
I'm excited to be joining the lineup at the famous Chalke Valley History festival this year. I'll be sharing some of the clues the landscape detective ought to be looking out for - to puzzle out what a tumulus is, how old an oak tree might be, or whether you're standing on a Roman road. Get ready for a rip-roaring 60 minute journey through our historic landscape!
Sponsored by The Landmark Trust
Tickets: £10.75 -

Saturday 13th July, Salisbury Museum
Festival of Archaeology
Hidden Histories: A Spotter's Guide to the British Landscape talk

13th June, 10.30am, Salisbury Museum Festival of Archaeology

Wherever you go in Britain there’s history woven into the landscape around you – in the shape of a field, the wall of a cottage, a standing stone or churchyard, even in the grass under your feet. And there are thousands of sites are waiting to reveal their secrets.

In this talk, Mary-Ann will share some of the clues and details to look for in order to ‘read’ the land and become a landscape detective. Spot history hidden in plain sight, from chambered tombs to churches, tumuli to turnpikes, ancient yews to ridge and furrow.


Tickets: £8

Saturday 13th July & Sunday 14th July 2019, Salisbury

Salisbury Museum: Rings, Wings & Spindle Whorls

Archaeological Treasures and the Stories they Tell


All weekend, Salisbury Museum Festival of Archaeology

Join me and award-winning storyteller Jason Buck for a weekend of story sessions in the grounds of the museum! We'll be revealing the real truth (and sometimes the made-up truth) about some of the amazing artefacts in the collections, as well as a bunch of other amazing things people have discovered over the years in Britain. From the Stone Age to World War 2, from witches to mammoths, from famous archers to wayward cows.

Entry: £2 donation