Journey for the Wild
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Eoin at Ben Nevis
The story of the Journey Sticks
'At no time in our history as a nation has scenery of the land we live in been so intelligently appreciated as it is to-day. Never were its varying aspects so familiar to so large a part of the community, which can now travel with ease into the remote nooks and corners of the country. We have only to walk through a modern picture-gallery, or to read a recent volume of poetry, or to take up the last novel, to perceive how deeply the influence of landscape has affected the imagination of our time.'
This was written in 1865 by Sir Archibald Geikie. He was a geologist who had a deep understanding of the Scottish landscape. The above quote has stuck with me since reading his 'Scenery of Scotland' more than thirty-five years ago. The care of our landscape is always an ongoing kind of thing!
The opportunity to work on a sculptural piece for the John Muir Trust is a great honour, and a great opportunity to have one's work taken on a journey - a real one, rather than a touring exhibition. This is a working piece that needs the participation of the Journey to make it work. Your Journey Stick of oak, elm, yew or beech is a sculpture of landform in itself that embraces the elements. It is meant to be handled and used. Feel the grain, the growth, the strength and the softness.
Once your journey is complete the sticks will be united with a 'compass' of other native timbers. Your journey and the carrying of this product of our landscape is the only way that this piece can be complete. They will have the marks and impressions of contact resulting from this journey... that's the story. When they all hang as one piece, it will be an embodiment of that journey.
All the elements of this piece have been sculpted from timbers I have found in our sawmill and workshop here in Scottish Borders. This is a free flowing piece that has no boundaries of direction or language. I have omitted any compass points or extra carving rather exposing the beauty and colour of our home grown wood.
I wish you all 'Safe oot, safe hame!'
'At no time in our history as a nation has scenery of the land we live in been so intelligently appreciated as it is to-day. Never were its varying aspects so familiar to so large a part of the community, which can now travel with ease into the remote nooks and corners of the country. We have only to walk through a modern picture-gallery, or to read a recent volume of poetry, or to take up the last novel, to perceive how deeply the influence of landscape has affected the imagination of our time.'
This was written in 1865 by Sir Archibald Geikie. He was a geologist who had a deep understanding of the Scottish landscape. The above quote has stuck with me since reading his 'Scenery of Scotland' more than thirty-five years ago. The care of our landscape is always an ongoing kind of thing!
The opportunity to work on a sculptural piece for the John Muir Trust is a great honour, and a great opportunity to have one's work taken on a journey - a real one, rather than a touring exhibition. This is a working piece that needs the participation of the Journey to make it work. Your Journey Stick of oak, elm, yew or beech is a sculpture of landform in itself that embraces the elements. It is meant to be handled and used. Feel the grain, the growth, the strength and the softness.
Once your journey is complete the sticks will be united with a 'compass' of other native timbers. Your journey and the carrying of this product of our landscape is the only way that this piece can be complete. They will have the marks and impressions of contact resulting from this journey... that's the story. When they all hang as one piece, it will be an embodiment of that journey.
All the elements of this piece have been sculpted from timbers I have found in our sawmill and workshop here in Scottish Borders. This is a free flowing piece that has no boundaries of direction or language. I have omitted any compass points or extra carving rather exposing the beauty and colour of our home grown wood.
I wish you all 'Safe oot, safe hame!'
What was the journey about ?
![Picture](/uploads/3/5/4/8/3548323/8764457.jpg)
Four routes, 95 legs, 2,500 miles
The 'Journey for the Wild' 2006 consisted of four routes from the furthest cardinal points of the UK, totalling about 2,500 miles. The routes met at Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, in late August, for a final journey to Edinburgh.
The aim was to pass a Journey Stick along each of the four routes, from person to person, wild place to wild place. To do this, thousands of participants from all over Britain, of all ages and abilities, took on individual legs between a day and a week long.
Travelling by non-motorised transport, participants walked, ran, cycled, paddled kayaks and canoes and sailed yachts to complete 95 legs, travelling light and with the least possible impact on the environment through some of Britain's wildest places and most spectacular scenery.
The route joined places involved with the John Muir Trust.
The 'Journey for the Wild' 2006 consisted of four routes from the furthest cardinal points of the UK, totalling about 2,500 miles. The routes met at Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, in late August, for a final journey to Edinburgh.
The aim was to pass a Journey Stick along each of the four routes, from person to person, wild place to wild place. To do this, thousands of participants from all over Britain, of all ages and abilities, took on individual legs between a day and a week long.
Travelling by non-motorised transport, participants walked, ran, cycled, paddled kayaks and canoes and sailed yachts to complete 95 legs, travelling light and with the least possible impact on the environment through some of Britain's wildest places and most spectacular scenery.
The route joined places involved with the John Muir Trust.
Journey in Numbers
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2,500 miles, 1,577 participants,1,366 supporters,16 different modes of non-motorised transport, 554 messages for the wild, 32 Own Journeys, 4 months , 5 routes, 95 legs, 14 local events, 2 main events, 88 items of press coverage, 11 politicians involved on the Journey, 6 political events including a reception at Holyrood, 44 MSPs signatory to a parliamentary motion, 145 public / private / community organisations involved, 50 John Muir Award Groups, 168 conservation work days, 7 Activities Programme Trips, 2 academic papers, 61% young people, 10% social inclusion, 2 legs by people with disabilities, £253,185 value of volunteer effort, 3284 people days (9 years!), Fully Funded by HLF & SNH, £12,985 extra funds raised, 62 members recruited, 10,000 Kg estimated carbon footprint