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Available for over a year

For over 4,500 years, Stonehenge has been a monument, a calendar, a clock, a burial site, a place of ritual, and a magnet for speculation and excitement. And in all these guises, it has mediated our relationship with the sun - a relationship that is no less real now than it ever was. We continue to attend Stonehenge, if not to communicate directly with the solar powers, to boost our serotonin levels and punctuate our lives at this seat of significance. Thousands of people spend the night of June 20-21 together at Stonehenge, watching the sun set and rise on the Solstice. Smaller but significant numbers mark the winter solstice and the equinoxes. The gatherings are relatively unorganised, there are no headline acts, no spectators, only participants. The attendees are druids, astronomers, travellers, wiccans, digital nomads, pagans, Gore-Tex-clad families, festival-chasers, anarchists, environmentalists, and a surprising number of birthday celebrants. Bring What You Expect to Find gathers the stories of the participants, why they have come, and what it means to be there, and what they’ll take away. This is an immersive experience, so headphones are recommended. Interviewees include Rollo Moughling – Archdruid of Stonehenge and Britain King Arthur Pendragon – Senior Druid and Pagan Priest Simon Banton – archaeo-astronomer Lorna Rees – earth science artist Julian Richards – archaeologist and historian Neil Wilkin – curator, British Museum Kelly Marie, Paula, - pagans from Gloucestershrie Kevin, Keith, Sharon, Tiger, Libby, Andy, Phil, et al – assorted celebrants Ambisonic sound collection, design and composer Jon Nicholls. Producers: Jessica Dromgoole and Mary Peate A Hooley Production for ��ѿ��ý Radio 3