10th October 2020 • 10am to 9pm • Sussex

An autumnal journey along the byways of Sussex & Kent.

In our merry group of walkers we will gently ramble down footpaths, amongst ancient oak, beech & hornbeam woodland, across rivers and through seasoned meadows. Our day-long adventure will be peppered with rests for shared stories under sweet chestnut bows, songs learned and sung at the edge of streams, foraging for wild fruits and fungi, listening quietly to the sounds of autumn and feeling into the turning season. Our time will be spent tuned deep into that timeless conversation between human beings and nature, enquiring into that colour-change and gathering-in that nature performs as she closes up shop for the year.

Stewarded by Sam and his guests, the day will be a harvest of lifelong-acquired nature and land rights tales, and reflections on the challenges we have historically endured to mark our adoration and dependancy on our natural spaces. We will be observing nature’s changes over our lifetimes, millennia past and speculating on our relationship to come in the uncertain decades ahead. What can the land teach us in our own shifting and shedding as we leave behind a year never to be forgotten? We will explore and learn about the ecology of the area and hear of the magical and medicinal properties of the plants, fungi and trees we meet on our path.

On returning to camp we will recharge around the fire, feast on delicious food and take time to share our songs, reflections and connections gathered over the day.

Our day will encompass around 5-7 miles with frequent stops for rest, recollections and sustenance. We’ll make sure to allow time to engage a little deeper into some of the ‘sweet spots’ we find and not just pass by or ignore a call from the land to pay deeper attention.

Each Nature Pilgrimage this October will be different in route, rhythm and rumination and explore the many varied understandings in our relationship to the natural world.

Bring your wide eyes, your sniffing noses, your open ears and your big questions ready to take a long drink from the land during one of nature’s most expressive moments in the year.

This journey is for competent walkers only but for singers of any ability (singing is not compulsory). Walking will mostly be on footpaths with stiles with some road walking necessary.

Further information about kit and timings will be sent to ticket holders. This event is subject to any changes in regulations to outdoor events. In the unlikely circumstance that this event is not able to go ahead, full refunds will be available.

We are running three Nature Pilgrimages in October:

• 3rd October, with Sam Lee, Jay Griffiths

• 10th October, with Sam Lee, Guy Shrubsole

• 17th October, with David Bramwell and Blythe Pepino