Gill Banks candle lit walk

We returned back at the starting point from the lower path at about 6.40pm after a frenetic rush to get lights out on one stretch that had none. Getting the candles lit was no easy matter!

We were gobsmacked to find the area crammed with expectant people who were waiting very politely with great anticipation for the starting gun to be fired. The area back to the entrance from The Gill was packed with waiting people. A very rough estimate put the numbers at 200 people. An amazing response.

The walk lived up to expectations and was a very satisfying culmination of the project that had started as an idea:

"Wouldn't it be great if we could light up the path with only candles in spike lights along the path leading into Gill Banks and then walk up there in near silence to experience the dark and the mysterious trees and stream."

It was such a simple idea which in a time of modern electronic gadgets, only required cheap candles, jam jars, a load of mud (clay), some heat from a kiln and loads of human energy and creativity, working together from lots of local people.

Jam jars kept arriving on the doorstep and were cadged from people stash kept back for jam making. About 15 people helped cut away the beaker shaped blanks that Geoff churned out and the target of 100 was achieved with a few to spare. And my, what creative ideas were achieved with every one different from the next.

The hundred pounds cash that was collected went a long way to covering the costs of the lights and the food and drink afterwards.

What a great overall experience.

Now one starts to think "What shall we do next year?"

Any ideas?

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Jumping now to the next day:

We were geared up to collect all the jam jars at 8 am next morning but were put off by the rain. We imagined most people would also remain holed up at home. At 1 pm the rain finally stopped and we ventured out - to find that some community spirited person/s had beaten us to it and most of the jars had been cleared up - quite a lot of work - some 140 jars - a real achievement.

Eventually it will emerge who provided this clean-up service. In the mean time may we offer a big - THANK YOU.

It would be good to get these back - we had to make do with plastic for the spike lights - so that the best designs that didn't blow out easily, could be used next year. . . . . .

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