Final Erratic of 2022
Hello Walkers!
In this edition of the Walkspace Newsletter we invite you to join us for our final Erratic of the year: a very urban Winter Solstice sunrise walk. We also have news of a series of weekly wellbeing walks by The Clear Space and we pay tribute to the late sculptor Nicholas Monro, creator of the famous King Kong statue.
Winter Solstice Sunrise Walk - December 21st
The Winter Solstice is the midnight of the year: the point at which the sun is furthest away and daylight hours are at their lowest. It's the shortest day, the longest night but it also marks the beginning of lighter days to come. In the cycle of the year, it's a time between death and rebirth and so is a time for rest, reflection and dreaming.
The clamour and strain of city living can make it difficult to feel connected to these cosmic cycles but fortunately Birmingham does provide some unorthodox sacred sites that suit the purpose. One of these is the council-commissioned stone circle at Kingston Hill Park in Bordesley Village, believed to date back to the 1990s.
For our final Erratic of the year we shall be visiting this Bordesley Henge to welcome the Midwinter sun. Join us on December 21st at sunrise for a silent, lantern-lit procession up the spiral footpath to the stones. Here we will create a Yule altar and watch the first of the sun's rays hit the city skyline.
From there we will make our way onto the Grand Union Canal towpath and head north through Saltley towards Gravelly Hill. We've already spoken about the significance of Spaghetti Junction as a confluence of confluences and it is here that we shall end our walk with a visit to some very different standing stones: the concrete columns of Salford Circus. If we're lucky with the weather then the sun will provide us with a natural light show across this mighty colonnade and the surrounding scenery.
Meet Andy and Charlie outside The Rainbow pub on Bordesley High Street at 7:45am, Wednesday 21st December.
The route is three miles long and will likely take upwards of two hours including the procession. The route will mostly be pavement and towpath with some steep and uneven sections. Steps will be avoided. Wear sturdy footwear and wrap up warm. You are welcome to bring a contribution for the Yule altar eg. holly, mistletoe, pinecones, candles etc. No need to book, just turn up. The walk will go ahead whatever the weather. At the end there are regular trains back from Aston Station and buses into town from Lichfield Road.
Feel free to share this link with anyone who might be interested: http://walkspace.uk/2022/11/winter-solstice-sunrise-walk/
Wellbeing Walks with The Clear Space
Walkspace member Laura Babb has started leading informal weekly wellbeing walks in South Birmingham. The walks are free and take place on Friday mornings. "You’ll be back in time to start your working day. We walk at a pace that works for everyone, and it’s a great chance to get some daylight and gentle movement at the tail end of the week." Details of upcoming walks are shared on The Clear Space Instagram account
RIP Nicholas Monro 1936-2022
We were sorry to hear of the passing of pop-artist Nicholas Monro earlier this year. The picture shows him standing with his most famous creation, the mighty King Kong statue which stood in Birmingham city centre for six months in the 1970s before going on a very strange journey.
On the blog we pay tribute with the story of the time Andy Howlett got to visit Monro after his mum discovered him living off-grid in a cottage in Dorset. It's stranger than fiction and like all the best stories it started with a walk.
Stay tuned for more West Midlands walking updates!
All the best,
Andy, Fiona and the rest of the Walkspace extended family