The second Ancestor's Trail event in the Quantock Hills in Somerset is being organised. Last year's event was part of the International Year of Biodiversity project but also had strong links with the Darwin 200 celebrations and the Darwin Trust. It is based on Darwin's evolutionary tree and was originally inspired by Richard Dawkin's book 'The Ancestor's tale'. The organiser became fascinated by the prospect of establishing a physical representation of our collective 3.7 billion year journey here on earth; a scientific pilgrimage if you will.
This year our Trail takes place on the 29th May and we'd really like to include some sort of Geological perspective, hopefully including fossils. We are looking for volunteers to give some much needed geological expertise along the trail.
A little more information: Imagine the evolutionary tree of life, with each of its many branches bristling with many thousands of leaves, each representing a single life form. Manipulate this image so that the tree lies flat along the spine of some rolling hills in Somerset, UK; its branches approximately lining up with its many footpaths. Now add 'pilgrims' to many disparate locations representing particular groups of living things and, with a little pre-planned choreography, set them off on a symbolic journey to the 'dawn of life'. As they walk backwards along their branches towards its trunk, they firstly re-unite with close relatives, and then with more distant cousins, eventually coalescing into a merry throng at the origin of life. And where will this origin be? A beach called Kilve, liberally scattered with fossils. Although I have carefully designed the trail to maintain, at all times, its scientific integrity, I am also very keen to explore this huge panorama through the medium of the Arts.
The 2011 trail will therefore include musical contributions along the trail at our biological rendezvous to broaden its appeal.
Contact Bristol Naturalists if you can help.
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