Walk This Weekend

#walkgoesviral March 2020. This event has now taken place and the completed film is here on YouTube and here is a link to the words and images.

Below are the project prompts:

A virus is a tiny particle and needs a host cell to be able to live and spread. If each of us takes a short walk this weekend; if we all listen and record the sounds around us and the feelings which go with them; within a 2 km / 1 mile radius; and if I host a platform for collating these – then we can co-create a record of our extraordinary times. For those who cannot leave the house or hospital, we will collect the sounds of the outside for them to hear indoors.

• You might take a circular walk, or a there-and-back one. On foot, in a wheelchair, or buggy 
• For children and adults, dogs and tortoises
• Aim to be silent throughout – don’t speak (although don’t be rude! If you talk, make a note of why and when) 

You have 5 tasks to complete –

You will need a basic smartphone – nothing fancy. If you don’t have a sound recorder or video option on your phone, simply listen and record on paper:

1. Make a sound recording (or video with sound) of one minute duration somewhere along the route
2. Stop at another spot and listen for 5 minutes – write down what you hear at the time (or you can record yourself speaking on your phone and write it down when you get home). You can make a list or be creative 
3. Take 1-5 photos at any stage of the route. Write down when and why you took them. (I do not recommend that you take a photo of yourself or your house, for privacy reasons) 
4. When you get home, create an account of your walk in words, sound, drawing or other art form
5. Share what you have made (see below for sharing platforms)

Please note these things when you share:

• Time: Start and end time, recorded sound at… Sat down, listened and wrote at… Took photos at… 
• Location: My route began and ended at home / where I am staying or living now (give general location). I went this way …. (list route or places or make another sort of record of it)…  

Here is an example:

I walked between 5 and 5.30pm; recorded sound at minutes 7-8; sat, listened and wrote at minutes 24-28; took photos at minute 4 (because it was pretty),14 (because she reminded me of my mum), 24 (because that’s my favourite cafe) and 28 (because I was interested in the shadows); My route began and ended where I am staying now in Yalding, Kent, England. I went across the road, through Kinton Lane, around the field, through the gate at the far side…. … And ended back where I started (or I might draw a picture of my route or use my phone technology to digitally produce my route etc. You choose) 

Note down anything else you think is interesting, eg if you take your donkey with you, please note this down as well. 

What is the point of doing this? 

• To take a walk, focus on your environment and how it makes you feel 
• To notice how the area has changed since we have been in ‘lockdown’ and again, if repeated, how these things change over time 
• To know that you will be walking with other people who are doing the same thing in different locations around the world, thereby creating a walking community at this time of separation 
• For fun / exercise / to boost your immune system / be more grounded
• To see what happens 
• To create a record of this event for posterity 
• You can probably think of more reasons – please tell each other 

Social Media

The Facebook group is called Walk This Weekend

Twitter/Instagram #walkgoesviral

I will use my twitter for sharing info @walknodonkey 

Once you have shared, I will 

• Collate the data and share in a blog
• Record how many people walked and where
• Make a film with the photos, words and sounds (help will be appreciated as I am an amateur filmmaker ) 

Privacy

I will not reveal or use any personal information or data (if you do share your email with me for the purposes of sending recordings etc, I will keep it only for that purpose and delete after. It will never be shared with anyone else) 

The future

Hopefully, we can each repeat the same walk the following week so that changes in you, in nature, and in your environment during that time can be noted. 

Link to the final video on YouTube

Please share with others you think may be interested. This is a Walking Without a Donkey event. Please feel free to comment below.