Meet The Forest At Night - A Park Walk with David Charles

There are two Meet The Forest walks today - this is our 6pm Night Walk. For info on our earlier 2pm walk, .

With over 3500 trees, Crystal Palace Park is more than a park – it’s a forest.

On this 90-minute night walk, led by David Charles, an experienced local guide, you will meet the trees of Crystal Palace Forest after dark.

We’ll meet trees that will heal you and trees that could K*ll you. We’ll meet some of our planet’s oldest and largest trees. We’ll meet cricket trees, kitchen trees, and one sacred to the Ancient Babylonians.

This is more than a walk too. Along the way, we’ll connect with a handful of these trees using simple, grounding exercises that help you:

• Settle your nervous system
• Reconnect with your body, breath, and senses
• Feel part of something older and steadier than the modern world

There will be periods of shared silence, moments of guided reflection, space to wander, and time to connect.

We will be guided by an almost full moon and fingers crossed for clear skies so that we can enjoy the winter constellations of Orion, Taurus and the Pleiades. We will also try to connect with the owls of the forest using an owl calling whistle. 🦉

You don’t need any prior experience. You just need warm layers, curiosity, and a willingness to walk mindfully in a supportive group at night.

· Start/Finish Location: The Vicar’s Oak Boundaries Gate entrance, opposite Westow House pub https://maps.app.goo.gl/RA8EfiueoMHFckTU6

· Meet at The Vicar’s Oak at 18:00 (sunset is at 16:03)

· Please arrive at least five minutes before the walk begins to ensure you get signed in before we set off.

· The walk ends back at the start point at 19:30

· The full route is approximately 3km. We'll be walking slowly and steadily, stopping 4 or 5 times to do 5-10 minute nature connection practices in the darkness.

· Please check the weather forecast and dress accordingly.

· This walk will go ahead in any and all weathers, except some sort of named storm.

· Please wear comfortable non-slip shoes or boots.

· We will be standing still for 10 minutes at a time. Please wrap up warm.

· If it’s cold, why not bring a flask of herbal tea - it really helps keep your insides warm.

· If it's raining, bring an umbrella.

· Bring a torch if you have one. We will try not to use them unless it's necessary. There will be spares for you to borrow if you don’t have one of your own.

· This walk will last up to 90 minutes. We will stick to paths where possible but there may be times when the ground is uneven, muddy or wet.

· If you’d like to discuss access requirements to be able to take part in the walk, please email [email protected]

“It was just such a lovely and different experience, meeting up with a group to be together in nature at night. It felt at the same time uplifting, peaceful, calming and restorative.” - Gary

“It was invigorating to see a park that is so familiar to me in a completely different light. I discovered there is light in the darkness, it's just a different sort of light, and that was really exciting. There is a real sense of adventure, even in a familiar place!” – Francesca

“I really enjoyed seeing the trees at night and taking time to appreciate some of the beauty in the park in a different way.” - Andrew

“It was lovely to really look at the natural wonders all around us, especially at night, which felt like a special and unique way to experience nature in London.” – Julie

“Just being somewhere quiet and calm. It was like a mental reset.” - Matt

Photography:

• This event will be photographed. We will use photographs to provide evidence to our funders and for marketing purposes, to help demonstrate our events. Please let us know if you want to opt out. We can offer you a sticker on the day so we can make sure you’re not in photos.

Getting here:

• The nearest train station is Crystal Palace (around 10 minutes' walk up hill).
• Crystal Palace Bus Station is closeby (around 2 minute's walk).
• Car parks will be closed
• Full details on travelling to the park can be found on the Trust's website: https://www.crystalpalaceparktrust.org/topics/getting-here

Cancellations:

Places are limited so we'd be very grateful if you could please let us know if you no longer require a place so someone else can use this free place.

This project was made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

Photo credits: Claire Stone

Event venue & nearby stays

The Vicar's Oak, Crystal Palace Parade, London, United Kingdom

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