News / Stockwood
Ostara event will welcome Spring’s arrival in Stockwood
Stockwood will host a community celebration that marks the coming of Spring and honours the Germanic goddess Eostre.
First referenced in the 8th century writings of the historian Bede, she is associated with dawn and fertility, and believed to be the namesake of Christianity’s Easter.
Stockwood’s Ostara festival, on March 20, will welcome the warmer weather, fertility and new life of the season using imagery associated with both the goddess and with Easter including eggs, rabbits and candles.
Stockwood has an abundance of wildlife which event organiser and nature lover Samuel Malley wants his community to discover and embrace – photo: Ken Hadlow
Activities planned include burying eggs decorated with bright colours and goals for the future, planting seeds and forest bathing.
There will be free hot cross buns, a prize draw and stalls bearing information on the festival and local nature.
The event will take place in Stockwood Open Space, one of the largest green spaces in Bristol and home to ancient woodland, a community orchard, wildflower meadows and ponds as well as an abundance of flora and wildlife.
The Ostara event will welcome Spring’s warmth and vitality with egg ceremonies, candles and shared food – photo: Ken Hadlow
Samuel Malley, who founded the Friends of Stockwood Open Spaces group, has organised the event.
“Though the historical evidence for a long ancient Ostara themed practice is unclear, the celebration itself returned to prominence with the neo-pagan revival of the 20th century, in an attempt to revive practices considered pre-Christian and focused on nature based spiritual traditions,” he said.
“But the true origin doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of accuracy, for in this world of deep chaotic societal discourse, who would raise their voice against something which brings people together?”
Stockwood Open Space, in south Bristol, harbours ancient woodland, wildflowers, a community orchard and ponds – photo: Theresa Chard
Malley, who now works “as part of an amazing team” for Bristol Charities as the area’s community connector, has been instrumental in encouraging the local community to use Stockwood’s green spaces.
He began over two years ago by running guided nature walks and in the last year has held glow worm walks and meteor shower spotting events as well as night walks that “attempt to enlighten people on the benefits of walking through nature in the dark, with the soothing silence it brings”.
Others in the area have followed his lead, with another resident now hosting their own forest therapy sessions in Stockwood’s open space.
Trees & Tranquility run various forest healing and nature connection groups in the woods – photo: Trees & Tranquility
Join the Ostara event in Stockwood Open Space at 3pm on March 20. Follow facebook.com/groups/friendsofstockwoodopenspaces for updates
Main image: Ken Hadlow
Read next:
- ‘Fundamental changes in walking from 500 years ago continue to impact us today’
- More than music: Enchant ceremony will sow seeds for the future
- Arnos Vale announces a busy spring events programme
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