Natural England - Aston Rowant: Talking Trail

Aston Rowant: Talking Trail

The Aston Rowant NNR Talking Trail was launched in July 2012.

Survey

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Tell us what you think by completing a short surveyexternal link.

The trail

The trail was produced by Outdoor Cultureexternal link in partnership with Natural England, and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Aston Rowant Talking Trail
Experiencing the Talking Trail on Aston Rowant NNR © Alistair Will

The trail is made up of six unique sculptures with built in audio players, each with six channels to enable a new and flexible visitor experience for all ages.

The trail aims to reveal the wildlife and human history of the reserve, as well as creating new folklore and reflecting the experiences of those who took part in the project. 

A promotional videoexternal link has been made by Outdoor Culture and Turtle Canyon Media so you can get a good idea what walking the trail is like. You might also like to check out this slightly longer, independently made videoexternal link on YouTube. A second independent video called A winters trailexternal link is also available on YouTube.

You can download Outdoor Culture's Talking Trail leaflet: (1.61mb)pdf document.

The installations were all designed, recorded and built by local schools and community groups, working with artists Nick Garnettexternal link, Duncan McAfeeexternal link, Ben Willisexternal link and Pippa North.

Duncan McAfee has created a link for you to listenexternal link to some of the audio recorded for the trail.

Each audio player includes:

  • A channel entitled “This Sculpture” which tells visitors all about the story behind the piece in the words of the artists themselves

  • “My National Nature Reserve” in which local people share their experiences, and reflect on what the reserve means to them.

  • The “Song Trail” contains six verses of a beautiful new folk song created for the Talking Trail following the human connection with the woodlands through the ages.

  • The “Challenge Trail”, which tests your knowledge of some of the key species of the reserve, can you answer all the questions correctly?

  • The “Story Trail”, which contains a series of fascinating tales relating to the wildlife of the reserve, and aims to create modern folklore for all to enjoy.

  • The “Poetry Trail”, which was the result of Duncan McAfee’s talent in working with the groups involved on “cut-up poetry” and the magical poems, like the rest of the trail are read by participants of the project.

The groups and organisations who made the project happen are: Aston Rowant Primary Schoolexternal link, Lewknor Primary School, Oakridge Schoolexternal link, Watlington Primary Schoolexternal link, Sonning Common Green Gymexternal link, The Chiltern Gateway Projectexternal link, The Chiltern Societyexternal link, Ridgeway U3A, the Aston Rowant NNR Monday Volunteers, the Aston Rowant NNR Advisory Group, and The Chilterns Conservation Boardexternal link.

The trail is open all year round and, like the rest of the reserve is free of charge for all to enjoy. Parking is available in the main Aston Rowant NNR car park; follow the brown signs to the reserve from the A40 near Stokenchurch. HP14 3YL is the nearest post code.

Accessibility information relating to the NNR can be found on the How to get there page of the Aston Rowant NNR website, and the Direct Enquiriesexternal link website “Cherry Tree Walk” section describes the route for visitors.

For more information, to give feedback, or to report any problems with the trail, please contact the reserve office on 01844 351883.