Wild Witch: A Halloween Gathering in the Woods

Step into the autumn woods this Halloween for an afternoon inspired by the story and folklore of the Porthkerry Witch This Halloween, come and spend an afternoon getting a little wild in the woods… Hidden amongst the trees of Porthkerry Country Park are the ruins of an old cottage associated with Ann Jenkin, a woman remembered in local folklore as the Witch of Porthkerry. For Wild Witch, we'll journey into the woods to discover Ann's story and some of the strange tales that grew around her and her family including potions, supposed magical powers and the legend of two men who never found their way out of the woods... But this isn't a history tour. It's an afternoon to get outside, get creative, make some noise and embrace your own wild side. We'll wander through the autumn woods gathering fallen leaves, seeds, twigs and other natural treasures before creating a beautiful nature mandala together on the woodland floor. We'll gather near the ruins of Ann's cottage to hear the story of the Porthkerry Witch, separating what we know about the woman herself from the folklore that has grown around her over the centuries. We'll warm ourselves with a mysterious herbal 'potion', inspired by herbs and flavours that would have been familiar in Britain in centuries past. And then it's time to wake up the woods... 🥁 We'll gather around our mandala for a Wild Witch drum circle, beginning with simple rhythms and gradually building into something joyful, powerful and perhaps a little bit wild. No drumming experience is needed and drums are provided. You don't need to be musical, spiritual or even particularly witchy! 😂 Wild Witch is simply an invitation to experience Halloween a little differently: to spend time amongst the trees, hear an old local story, create something together, drink a potion, beat a drum and reconnect with the wilder world around us. 🍂 Local folklore 🌿 Autumn woodland gathering 🌀 Nature mandala 🫖 Warming herbal potion 🥁 Woodland drum circle Saturday 31 October | 1–4pm Porthkerry Country Park, Barry We'll finish at 4pm, so there's still plenty of time to head home, put your witch's hat on and continue your Halloween adventures... 🎃 What to bring I'd keep this practical: warm layers, waterproofs/weather-appropriate footwear, something small to sit on if they'd like one, and a reusable mug for their potion. I'd also say the event will go ahead in typical autumn weather but may need to be postponed/cancelled in unsafe conditions such as very high winds or severe weather. Fancy dress/capes encouraged! About Tara Tara is a musician, sound therapist and community music facilitator with over 20 years' experience bringing people together through music and creativity. Alongside her work with sound and music, Tara has a deep love of nature, local folklore and the ways people have gathered through rhythm, storytelling and shared experience for generations. Her sessions are relaxed, inclusive and often a little playful with no musical experience needed! Wild Witch brings together some of her favourite things: being amongst the trees, discovering the stories held by a place, creating together and, of course, making plenty of shared rhythm with drums. You can find more of Tara's work at @tarasoundandmusic 🌿🥁🍂