The Woodland Clan Activity Trail

Google Calendar - April 2024

The Woodland Clan is a story set in the Isle of Purbeck Dorset. It is written by Annie Herridge; local playwright and theatre director who was given an Arts Council Grant to write her first children’s book and deliver a performing arts project for people in the local area. The event was meant to go ahead as a gallery exhibition and performance. However, due to the pandemic it has now become a brilliant self-led event where visitors will meet the characters, learn about the book and the woodland as part of an interactive outdoor trail, produced by artist Clare Ambridge and designer Sarah Spargo.

DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THE FREE TRAIL BOOK: Woodland Clan Activity Book.pdf

(Alternatively, you can purchase a Trail Booklet from the Castle for £1 (between 10.30 and 5pm).

The activity book starts at the Castle and follows the Woodland Trail shown on the map below. Using the booklet you can engage in activities, nature quizzes and magical spells, whilst learning the importance of listening to nature and the animals that share the world with us. You can listen to music, story clips, and experience the animal’s worlds and their place in the Woodland (see track listing below). Once you’ve completed the trail, show your completed activity book to one of the rangers at the Castle, and receive your badge to become part of the Woodland Clan.

You can complete do the trail with just the activity book, but for the full experience you can also play or download the following sound-clips, narrated by Rebecca Kellaway, with music by Chas Dickie  :

Track 1:

Track 2:

Track 3:

Track 4:

Track 5:

Track 6:

Track 7:

Track 8:

Track 9:

Chapter 1:

Chapter 2:

Chapter 3:

Chapter 4:

Chapter 5:

Chapter 6:

Chapter 7:

Chapter 8:

Chapter 9:

Chapter 10:

Chapter 11:

Chapter 12:

The Woodland Clan Book:

Written by local writer Annie Herridge and illustrated by Mark Page, the book is inspired by the beautiful coastline and landscapes of the Isle of Purbeck. It is the story of the animals, a modern day fable for today’s society. The animals’ peace and joy is ruined by the Big Foots and Small Foots (humans) who leave rubbish and glass in the Woodland that kill the new born chicks of Blackbird. Distraught with grief he cannot sing and herald the dawn of Spring and so Spring can’t be sprung. The animals plan an uprising on a Blood Moon to make the island fall into darkness. In the darkness Big Foots and Small Foots listen to the voices of beak, bone feather and song that warn and awaken them to what they are doing to the planet.

It's time to celebrate nature... the voices of the animals... so join the trail and sing along... beak, bone, feather and song.