Is nothing sacred? The Solstice isn’t what it used to be…
If you wanted to experience something deeply ancient and magical at sunrise on the longest day why would you go to Stonehenge? This report highlights 20,000 visitors, arrests, punch-ups and rubbish. The article goes on to explain
“There was a high degree of narcotic and alcohol-induced revelry [this year],” said Philip Mould, an art expert on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow. “We saw people being hoiked away. Although overall it was a peaceful and cultural event.”
Stonehenge stands for many iconic rural tourism assets in rural England where a significant amount of investment and respect in the actual wonder of their origins needs to be deployed to enable them to be better interpreted and promoted. In this case it seems very clearly established that the actual function of Stonehenge was to celebrate the winter solstice. That doesn’t however deter those who have developed their own sense of an ertatz heritage connection with the monument coming to it on 21 June. Not that this aspect of visitor’s interest in the monument really matters per se. What gets me is the general lack of respect for something which represents incredible continuity between the landscape and it’s people which some of these contemporary vistors show.
There is a long history of the involvement of local authorities in tourism asset management, the engagement of additional players such as English Heritage and the National Trust and increasingly the private and voluntary sector. Massive claims are still made for the importance of tourism economically but I see very little which convinces me that it represents a significant solution to some of the economic and sustinability problems facing rural communities.
You will no doubt have lots of evidence to contrary you will be keen to offer to me!