Stone the Crows! It’s the solstice

The Winter Solstice was celebrated at Brockholes Nature Reserve with a traditional visit by the Stone the Crows Morris Dancing team.

The Leyland-based troupe began dancing the sun down on Tuesday, the shortest day of the 2021 – around 3.50pm - eight hours and 46 minutes after sunrise.

The Winter Solstice - or Yule – is an important year for many religions all around the world and is associated with Pagan rituals in the UK. It is also a good time to look forward to spring as days will now begin to get longer.

Visitors to Brockholes were welcomed to come and watch the event, which was run under Covid guidelines.

Photo: Winter Solstice sunset at Brockholes stone circle Photo Credit: John Lamb Lancashire Wildlife Trust Senior Reserve Officer John Lamb said: “The dance took place in the stone circle at Brockholes, which was built to celebrate the spiritual and natural world.”

The Wildlife Trusts

The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 30,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers. To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129 LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE www.lancmag.com