Supporters
Many people and organizations have stepped in to help this project along the way. We would like to give them special thanks and describe their work and how they have helped us.
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EFDSS – English Folk Dance and Song Society
The EFDSS are the central archive for British folk traditions, with an extensive library of manuscripts and an audio library housing many of the first recordings of traditional music. Their work in championing and supporting the traditional folk arts of Britain is second to none. They are based in Cecil Sharp House, London, near Regent’s Park.
EFDSS are supporting our project by allowing us access to their knowledge of local songs, traditions and musicians as we pass through different areas of Britain. Their advice and help will give us the opportunity to explore the folk history of each area in greater detail, which we will then document and publish on this website.
We will also archive our findings in the library at Cecil Sharp House.
We encourage all of those interested in this land’s culture of song, story and dance, to visit Cecil Sharp House, both for the extensive libraries and the brilliant performances that happen there all the time.
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Fergus in a jumper made of Burdock
Fergus Drennan, Wild Food Pioneer, presenter of the BBC’s “Roadkill Chef”, is helping us with our foraging. He will be joining us at times so we can research and practice nomadic foraging, attempting to find ways to process wild foods while on the move.
Here is a message of support from Fergus:
I am delighted…to be supporting this fun, informative and creative peripatetic musical adventure; but, of course, as fantastic as that in itself would be, it is so much more than simply a wonderful exercise in music making.
As a forager, and sometime writer about all things wild food related, the act of getting up close and incredibly intimate with the wonders of our natural world is something I don’t take for granted; on the contrary, I realize how special and blessed I am in being able to do just that. Nevertheless, living in the society and culture that we do, it is very hard for a lot of people to find the time or motivation to be so engaged; hard for them to even practically realize the prerequisite slowing down that is so essential for any meaningful connection with the natural world. Not wishing to put any pressure on them to achieve anything in particular, I must still say that I really do believe that Ed, Will and Ginger’s slow walking adventure will positively inspire many people to potentially take the first steps towards, at worst, a positive reflection upon their own lives and, at best, a change of direction towards a slower and more fulfilling way of life.
A peripatetic person may, in one sense, simply be someone who walks or travels around. Nevertheless, I’m sure the ethos of ‘A Walk Around Britain’ will pertain far more to its philosophical sense. The term ‘peripatetic’ can be used, in a more specific way, to describe Aristotle’s style of teaching philosophy, characterised as it was by his walking about the Lyceum of ancient Athens. But, I expect the philosophy realized here will be an entirely practical and experiential uncovering of what is really here, not merely an intellectual exercise. By “really here”, I mean an uncovering of what is truly unique and great about Great Britain; things worth singing about.
Last night I saw a TV trailer for a new programme which claimed to expose the truth of modern Britain. Of course, its cynical focus was on drugs and violence. No, the truth about modern Britain lies in the fauna and flora of these isles, in the landscape, regional foods and traditional songs associated with the customs, struggles and celebrations of those wedded to region and season. Indeed, these are the deeply embedded roots of culture worldwide. Yet, as deeply embedded as such roots may be, without proper nourishment they wither and die. What issues forth from them thereby also wither and dies. I see Ed, Will and Ginger’s walk as one of essential and perennial renewal; a joyful pilgrimage to a place we all need to go.
From a wild food and foraging perspective this ambitious walk ties in incredibly well with my own year-long adventure. That will involve eating entirely wild and foraged food from March 2009 until the end of February 2010. I will be based in Canterbury but moving about the country from time to time when, hopefully, I will meet up with the guys. Foraging presents many challenges, and the challenges presented by foraging on the move are different from those encountered when one has a permanent base. In one sense foraging on the move is far easier. One is constantly ranging across new habitats with their corresponding wealth of wild foods. The main challenge, then, is to acquire the essential knowledge to safely make the most of the wild foods available. On the other hand, one is limited in terms of possible processing methods simply because it isn’t practical to carry around mod cons such as blenders, freezers, large bowls and other containers. Also, drying and storage become problematic. Of course, Ed, Will and Ginger will be constantly reporting back on their foraging experience and I greatly look forward to learning from their experiences whilst, at the same time, sharing with them what I know and joining them for the experimental adventures.
Best of luck guys!
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Smart Dreamers are supporting the filming of this walk. Lending us professional camera equipment, allowing us access to their film and audio resources, they are providing us with audio-visual freedom, and enhancing our understanding of the moving picture realm. For their extending of our scope of possibility, we are hugely grateful.
