MOBILE phones, emails, text messages: it’s hard to escape the distractions of the modern world these days, even when we get back to nature and enjoy the great outdoors.
But around 70 people managed to do just that on Saturday when they were transported to a simpler time, when a gathering meant sitting around a fire instead of a table in a coffee shop.
“It’s one of our smaller events but it’s very relaxed and easy going,” quipped Butser Ancient Farm director, Simon Jay, on the pleasures of the Imbolc Festival.
“It’s our first Celtic festival of the year and it’s to welcome the beginning of spring, when we start seeing the signs of changing seasons and lighter evenings. It’s usually nice and chilled.”
The atmosphere was certainly that as families gathered around the fire in the roundhouse for an afternoon of ancient music, poetry and storytelling by Jonathon Huet.
Visitors were also treated to a warming bowl of vegetable stew before heading back to their cars and the realities of modern world.