Jon Woolcott – The Tattooed Hills – Journeys to Chalk Figures
Join us for a compelling event for readers of nature writing, lovers of landscape, and anyone fascinated by the stories written into the world around us.
In this evocative illustrated talk, writer Jon Woolcott takes us on a journey through Britain’s chalklands, uncovering the stories, symbolism and shifting meanings of the mysterious figures carved into the hills. Across southern England and beyond, the land bears the marks of centuries – white horses, giants, ancient crosses, badges and even a long lost panda – cut into the chalk and exposed to the sky. Woolcott takes us on a tour of these figures, tracing how these strange and compelling landmarks connect landscape to identity. Drawing together archaeology, history, folklore, art, literature and music, Woolcott explores what these landscapes tell us about Britain, its past, and who we are today.