Public Engagement

Rocks, human, nature - Stone Circle Pilgrims

From the outset Public Engagement was key to the success of this project – not in the short term but as a long-term project to encourage walkers to stop and learn about the geology and history of the site as well as the biodiversity provided by the quarry landscape.

Here are some of the things that we have done:

  1. Information board, graphics, and key

An information board will be installed at the site in September that will will explain three key things:

  • Biodiversity of the site (turtle doves, planting for butterflies)
  • Geology and celestial layout of the stones used
  • History of the area and local myths

The board will provide ongoing information about the site for visitors walking along the footpaths.

  1. Add ‘Boreham Stone circle’ to Google Maps,

Total of 8,399 views on the initial 5 photos uploaded. We can’t view how many people in total have looked at the stone circle via Google Maps or visited the site but, judging from these numbers, there is a huge amount of public engagement with the site.
Since we set up the Stone Circle on Google Maps other people have started to ad their own images and reviews which is brilliant.

This has been the most effective engagement in terms of identifiable numbers

https://share.google/vIVVyXHegcilamNXe

  1. Contact schools,

We have been in contact with local schools including the local, New Hall School - the stone circle will be really useful in demonstrating aspects of geography Key Stage 2 ( the water cycle, states of matter, and the Earth's movement) and Key Stage 3 (the reality of geological time and minerals), it will also be a great site for local ‘field work’ as it is walkable from the school.

  1. Chelmsford Museum

Several meetings with the museum who have been very supportive of the project and included updates and information on the Pilgrim Walk to their mail shots (estimated circulation 2,000 recipients)

  1. Essex Rock and Minerals Society

https://erms.org

Essex Rock and Mineral Society were the first external people to visit the stone circle, actually during its construction. We had a fantastic, through very cold, day where the rain held off.

‘During our ERMS visit to Bull's Lodge, we saw the stone circle in an early stage of construction. We inspected the stones and identified the sarsens and puddingstones. The latter have the same sandy matrix as sarsens and formed at the same time, but with the addition of very rounded beach pebbles of black-coated flint. We also enjoyed seeing the USAF concrete, a legacy of the wartime bomber base here, using the natural sand and gravel resource of the area. Here we were able to compare recent concrete with nature's ancient concrete!’

  1. Pilgrimage Walk – from nearby estates – June 22nd

Despite being the hottest day of the year over 40 people joined us for the Pilgrimage Walk to the stones. On the day we met with people who had been watching the development of the circle from early January who were really excited to meet the people involved and understand the breadth of the project.