Footprints – humanity and environment in hindhead’s past
A guided storytelling walk with Jon Mason
Thursday 29 July, 11am and 2pm, £2. Book here.
Was the land before us always like this? What impact have we left through time? Join
storyteller Jon Mason for a guided walk into the history of this stunning location, uncovering fascinating insights and folklore from ages past to the present day. This Surrey Hills Arts project explores how human activity has shaped and continues to shape the landscape.
This is a short circular walk approximately 1 mile, for a duration of 60-90 mins inclusive of the storytelling. The walk also features Walter Bailey’s Xylem.
The Footprints project – Jon Mason, professional storyteller and PhD researcher, has investigated and retold stories
in response to the Surrey landscape and will interpret and share these at three locations in
the Surrey Hills, drawing on myth & folklore and working in collaboration with a community archaeologist. The stories reflect on how human activity has shaped and continues to shape the landscape, uncovering layers of Surrey’s history from as far back as the Stone Age, and looking to the future.
‘We make sense of the experiences we have of the world around us by creating stories
about it and sharing those with other people. Stories are all around us and a vital part of
our culture. Through this placement I aim to give an insight into the relationship
between human society, landscape and climate, with the potential for making positive
changes to future behaviour.’
Please dress suitably for the weather and wear sturdy shoes.
Location
This walk starts at the viewpoint at the Devil’s Punchbowl near the National Trust cafe. Parking at London Road, Hindhead, Surrey GU26 6AB. This is a National Trust car park, charges apply for non members.
View on map
Nearest station: Haslemere (3 miles)
Festival of Archaeology
This event is part of an archaeology themed day marking the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Hindhead tunnel.
Staff and volunteers from the National Trust, Surrey Archaeological Society, Liss Archaeology, Haslemere Museum and the Portable Antiquities scheme will be on site during the day running a range of archaeological activities to help you unlock the colourful stories and events of Hindhead.
Activities will include information stands, guided walks, self-led walks, archaeological scavenger hunts, storytelling, finds handling and much much more.