On Saturday, November 15th, join other forestry-folk throughout Atlantia on a kingdom-wide saunter!
In medieval England, forestry officials would hold a swainmote “about Martinmas” (November 11) to collect payment (“pannage”) from locals grazing their swine in the King’s woods1. Whether it’s to check the forest for your neighbors’ pigs or just to enjoy nature, consider taking a short2 walk in your garb!
There is also an option to participate in three photo contests:
- Largest sauntering group – take a group shot of your whole troupe! Photo should be taken in a natural setting on November 15th, and everyone in the picture must be in garb and must have participated in the walk. Please invite your friends without garb to come along or have a picnic with folks who don’t want to walk, but they should not be included in a photo submitted for this contest.
- Favorite forest-y photo – take a portrait-style photo on November 15th in a natural environment of an individual or small group doing forest-y things! Sauntering encouraged but not required. The winner will be determined by a vote (poll to be distributed through guild social media spaces and by email to members).
- Match the marginalia – take a photo on November 15th inspired by your favorite piece of guild-related marginalia or art! Sauntering encouraged but not required. Please cite the piece you were inspired by when submitting. Winner will be selected by the guild officers based on the accuracy of the approximation and overall composition.
In order to compete in a photo contest, send your submission to the chronicler (atlantiaforesters@gmail.com) along with the appropriate release forms from the photographer and folks in the photograph, indicating that the photo may be shared on the guild website. Photos may of course also be shared to social media, but only emailed photos will be counted as submissions.
In addition to prizes for the winners, all participants will receive a small token (by mail)3 from the guild officers. Guild membership is not a requirement for participating or competing.
Notes:
- Graham Jones, “Swanimotes, Woodmotes, and Courts of Free Miners”, 2005, Forests and Chases of England and Wales c.1500-c.1850: Towards a Survey and Analysis, p. 41-48 ↩︎
- Saunters should be kept to about 2 miles. If you’d like to go on a more extended hike in garb, please do (and tell us about it!), but do not use the word “saunter” to describe/advertise it. ↩︎
- To make getting things in the post a bit easier, if you are part of a group of saunters, consider designating one person to receive and distribute tokens. ↩︎