STORY Weaver Becky Burchell is inviting women (and men!) to take part in one of a series of four Dark Skies walks on Cranborne Chase, between 25th October and 15th November.

The creative arts producer originally created Women of the Dark Skies “to invite women to walk in the footsteps of the female ancestors of this land. The sense of tribe, the beauty of the night and connection to the landscape feels ancient and powerful. Meanwhile, the story shared along the walk reveals the impact of the Roman invasion and how they brutally stole equality from the women of the Iron Age.”

Becky asks: When was the last time you walked in nature at night? How about without a torch or phone light to guide you? Would you be nervous?

The four mile night-time pilgrimages across the chase explore the history of the ancient North Dorset land through immersive storytelling. Becky, in character as the “Story Weaver”, welcomes participants at nightfall in her home village, Chettle. In darkness, she leads women (and men on some nights) on a night walk of this vast chalk landscape, transporting them back 2,000 years to late Iron Age Dorset through a tale set at a pivotal moment in British history and culture, when the tribal and land-based way of living was under invasion by the Romans and Boudicca was rallying tribes together for an uprising.

As Becky guides her group through the story and the night, she describes the surrounding landscape as it was then, showing what has changed and what has been lost. Between the storytelling, the walk takes place in silence to allow full immersion in the surroundings. In the dark of night, with no phones or lights, you can see constellations, glow worms and encounter wildlife including deer and owls. The women-only evenings conclude in a Women’s Circle around a fire with hot drinks in a woodland glade, and the invitation to speak and connect with each other, after journeying through history and wilderness together.

She is also running a men-only story and walk event, building on the experience and feedback from a trial event last year.

On Saturday 25th October and Saturday 15th November, there will be women-only walks, but there will be an all-gender walk on Friday 31st October and a men-only walk on Friday 7th November.