June 20th – Summer Solstice at Highdown

Whilst we were hoping to have our annual Summer Solstice family camping weekend, sadly this year it was just not meant to be. Determined to celebrate somehow, we organised a family picnic up on the hills at the back of Highdown Gardens. What better way to celebrate Summer Solstice than to be with friends in a location where you can enjoy the views of the sea, be amongst the trees, feel the sun on your face and the breeze in your hair.

As it was quite short notice, the numbers were fewer than hoped, but spirits were as high as we could have wished for. We decided not to do our Mummers Play or a ritual, but simply to take some quiet time between eating our picnic to take stock of the changing seasons and the beauty of the Summer's day.

Some of us stayed there from 10am through to gone 6pm, when the swallows and swifts were taking their evening flight as close to the land as they could get. It was a wonderful way to enjoy the end of the day, when the air was cooling and nature was coming to rest.