We’re so pleased to have Mariam & Gabriele from Totnes Community Herbal lead a Beltane herbal foraging walk around Blockhouse Park. This month at Culture Club we have been celebrating Beltane (or Beáltaine – pronounced Bee-yowl-tan-eh, if you are Irish!) – a Gaelic & Celtic May Day Festival – with a special herbal foraging walk and folk herbalism workshop.
We learned about many different species of plants that live and grown in Blockhouse Park, and their medicinal and food uses. Then we headed to Stoke Youth Community Centre to make Wild Garlic pesto and enjoy lunch together.
Rachel also shared the story of ancient May Day traditions in Ireland (which are also likely to have been followed by our Celtic ancestors here in Devon too) – focussing on the lighting of fires on hills and high points (like our own hill in Blockhouse Park), large community gatherings and celebrations of the end of the long winter months. She also showed us how to make our own Beáltaine (which translates as “bright fire”) badges from felt.
Here are some photos from the event – https://photos.app.goo.gl/hhPEi3pBQKXnCWZZA
This event was supported by the Growing The Village Hub project (in partnership with Take A Part, and co-funded using money from the National Lottery by Arts Council England, Heritage Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund).
