Could you live in a house like this?

This wattle and daub roundhouse at the Testwood Lakes wildlife reserve near southampton is an attempt to recapture the way our ancestors might have lived 3,000 years ago.

The house, constructed by Wildlife staff and school children from the area stands in the centre of the reserve which has yielded evidence of bronze age treasures during construction of the lakes 30 years ago to form a reservoir and artificial lakes for wildlife During excavation, several artefacts identified as relics from the Bronze Age were discovered and have been preserved as part of an education centre.

Most of the timber used in the construction of the replica house came from the wildlife reserve and bigger timbers were moved from another Wildlife Trust reserve in the New Forest.

Archaelogists says that the remains of two bridges, part of a sea-going boat and a bronze rapier were unearthed during the excavation. The bridges are said to be two of the oldest ever identified in Britain.

Today, the Testwood Lakes are open to the public and are favoured for a wide range of walks, bird-watching and community and educational events centred on the three lakes. One, Little Testwood Lake is a reservoir which is able to store 270 million litres of water which is pumped from the River Test when water flows are high enough.

The centre is home to a permanent exhibition on water, wildlife and conservation and runs events for schools and community groups. The events are run by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and are linked to the National Curriculum.