When We Were Three
Reflections on our Third Anniversary Celebration
On Sunday, 31st May, some 50 people gathered on Bowden Pillars Land to mark the occasion of the anniversary of its purchase in 2023. It was a joyous intergenerational occasion and included one or two friendly 4-legged friends.
The people were invited guests, perhaps those who have invested in the project, or have volunteered, some were old hands at Bowden Pillars ways of doing things, others new friends, come to find out what we are all about.
I asked some of those involved in creating the event for their thoughts on the afternoon, which turned out to be warm and sunny, and perfect for walking and talking on the land.
I was moved by the care and attention that everyone put into making the anniversary an inspiring and informative celebration of the project.
‘It was so good to hear the stories from Steph, Aleksandra and the team about how Bowden Pillars Future was conceived and nurtured to this hopeful place.
I feel blessed to be part of this thing and this team!"
Laura Sky Salmon.
Laura is Bowden Pillars Future’s Nature Storyteller. She led us from the farmyard where we gathered at the beginning, on a short nature connection walk and told us the story of elder, a tree on the land which she feels connected to. It is fundamental for the project that nature is included in all that we do.
Welcome by Laura. Image: Tom Hargreaves
Laura tells the Tale of Elder. Image: Tom Hargreaves
‘I’d like you to imagine a time before time, when all people had was the moment…’
Watch Laura tell The Story of Elder
After Laura’s story we walked down to the field known as ceremony field with its sweeping views over Totnes and the Dart valley with Dartmoor in the distance. Here we sat in circle looking down over that view, surrounded by hundreds of saplings, planted by Devon Wildlife Trust, native grasses swaying in the gentle breeze, and a profusion of wild flowers. It was here that I told the tale of the folk of Bowden Pillars Future. It was important to me that the people behind this inspiring project were celebrated.
Arriving in Ceremony Field. Image: Ben Chadwick
Steph tells the Tale of Bowden Pillars Folk. Image: Tom Hargreaves
The Folk of Bowden Pillars Future. Image: Tom Hargreaves
‘Once, in a time that was, and was not, a time of great change, atop a green hill above a town that was not too big and not too small, with a river running through it and a castle, a plucky band of folk came together to cause great things to happen…’
Watch Steph tell the story of The Folk of Bowden Pillars Future
‘Steph's story moved me to tears when she was mentioning all of us who had put in so much work to make Bowden Pillars Future happen. Every time someone was mentioned we were finding each other in the circle with our eyes and a smile."
Aleksandra, Design and Planning Coordinator
Aleksandra listens to the tale. Image: Tom Hargreaves
After the story we made our way to the old farm building where it is hoped a village might one day stand. There we were met by Aleksandra, Ian, and Sally. Aleksandra takes up the story:
‘I was very surprised how many people signed up and came to celebrate with us... I was even nervous about whether we could manage parking for everyone!
I was to give a speech about the progress of the Village design process, so I arrived feeling very nervous, because I'd never spoken in front of a large group of people before. But as soon as I started chatting with those who arrived, the nervousness started to melt as I began to feel how much support, shared vision and understanding there is among project supporters.
The presentation went smoother than I could have imagined and answering the questions was such a joy!"
Aleksandra talks about the village plans. Image: Tom Hargreaves
‘Homes are beautiful, big enough, sufficient…but shared spaces are extraordinary…"
Ian answers questions. Image: Tom Hargreaves
Listening to the village talk. Image: Tom Hargreaves
‘Feeling fulfilled, relaxed and proud of myself I joined the third part of the celebrations - the ceremony."
Aleksandra"
For the final part of the celebration, Sally, a director, and member of Legal and Finance and Village Circles, asked us to walk in silence back to ceremony field. We were to find some natural items as we walked, that spoke to us in some way, and take them with us. People walked with feeling, no doubt energised by Aleksandra’s talk, and their questions having been answered by members of the team: Ian, Sally, Chloe, and our project manager Emma.
Sally introduces the final part of the afternoon. Image Tom Hargreaves
We walk in silence. Image: Tom Hargreaves
We were met by Ian, of Village and Legal and Finance, and our company secretary, and led in song. Ian reflects:
‘I often don't plan in advance which songs to bring. Stepping onto the field I was struck by the land teeming with life in the warmth of the sun. "Here I am in the splendour of this moment...with you" came straight away. "
Ian leads us in song. Image: Tom Hargreaves
We placed our offerings within a circle that had been prepared earlier by Sally with flowers marking the edges, and freshly mown grass marking out a soft canvas for our shared natural art. Laura played a bewitching tune on her tin whistle and we entered a state that felt reverential. We gathered in a circle around the centrepiece; a mandalai that carried our hopes and blessings for the land.
Laura plays on her whistle. Image: Tom Hargreaves
Sally invited us to craft a few words, or images, that summed up how we felt as we walked the land and gathered together. To Laura’s enchanting music we wrote our words and placed them around the outside of our mandala.
Writing a line of the collaborative poem. Image: Tom Hargreaves
Sally and I read the newly created collaborative poem aloud:
Frogs!
Circles of family
Connections with all beings
The local, and not so local communities
Intergenerational dancing
Peace
How can mere words even start to describe my gratefulness?
Here we are!
In the splendour of the moment.
May all creatures on this land
Live long and prosper
Seeding a new beginning
Sowing our potential
Collective humanity
Flourishing with all life
Dearest wasp
Come hover
Closer
Mmmmmmzzzzzmmmm
Yes
It’s good here with me
Tender exploration
Human kind
Tirelessness
Beauty
Playfulness
Friends
Splendour of the moment
The flow of synchronicity
Flowering
You + You & I + we are
The seeds of this time
You will be shelter
As you will also be sheltered
Oh the beloved green lives thrive
The wider view
The Vista – the Vision
Golden Light shimmers
Tree gazing, sky wide
Wandering, wondering
Wishing on a wild tree
Hope, inspiration, abundance and love
Song, music, dance
Wild, soft, home
Free
I don’t know
Togetherness in nature
Remembering
Communication
Ssssssshhhhh sussursation
Sovereignty
The lone pine cone sits on the dark earth
Waiting for the morning light
Living, feeling,
Connecting with the rhythm of the land
The seasons and the cycles
Restriction, possibility
Today already here
Rebirth
Sally reading the poem aloud. Image: Tom Hargreaves
Listening. Image: Tom Hargreaves
As the group poem emerged, I was filled with gratitude for how well-held we are by all around us, and the song "We got all the love, all that we need, to change our world" flowed through to complete the ceremony. Ian
A line of poetry. Image: Tom Hargreaves
The day ended gently, with small clumps of people lingering on the land, chatting, asking and answering questions, smiling and connecting to friends old and new, till soon there were few, then less, and then none. The gathering had dissipated back from whence we had all come and the land breathed alone once more, content that nothing had been taken but images, and accepted the gift of the natural mandala we had created, to compost when its time is done.
Sally and Chloe chat quietly by the mandala. Image: Tom Hargreaves
Jerome, a director, and also part of the legal and finance circle, village, and design and planning was one of those who stayed to the end to answer questions:
‘I thought the 3rd Birthday was really special. It is hard to pick any one part of it out, everything was so lovely: Laura’s story walk, the talk about the village and the shared poem and ceremony at the end, but really what stood out for me was Steph’s story of the project. Not only because it mapped out the journey so far in such a joyful and evocative way (and that I was a character in it!), but because it really made me feel like I belong somewhere for the first time in my life. I felt surrounded by love and companionship and a shared sense of beholding the beauty of this land for the cherished gift that it is. It was truly wonderful and carried me through a rather difficult time. It was a fuller and richer experience than any of the other birthdays, testament to how much thought and love was put into it."
The last word is from Aleksandra:
‘I’m looking forward to the 4th Anniversary, next year, when we will be waiting and sending prayers and intentions for the results of the Village planning submission.”