What, Wear & Why
“And will my bum stay dry?” This is the most important thing to ask and what you are surely wondering! Getting the right outfit for SWN is super important. Woe to those who didn't read this section and thought it would be okay to turn up all casual!
“There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”
Alfred Wainwright
When we say SWN is an all-weather experience what we mean is when you come you will experience all the weathers. It will be warm in the afternoon, hot by the fire, wet on the grass and cold, cold, cold once we walk out into the dark. And no one likes to be cold. Wearing the right clothes to keep you warm and snug is the difference between this being a great but tough experience and a transcendental, mind-blowing, out-of-body one. Don't be that regretful one who thought “But it was so mild when I left London”! Think of this like going to the Arctic and the beach - put the time into getting the right outfit.
Warmth
We advise you to dress VERY warm with lots of layers, hats, gloves and scarves. No matter what the daytime weather has been it can get very cold after sundown, even if the evening seems warm. SWN always prefers wool. Lots of it and preferably knitted or woven, though sheepskins can be such a useful friend if it doesn't mind getting a few scraps of the land caught in it. Wool is the best heat keeper and thermo regulator, especially in our damp climate. Bringing woollen blankets gets a big yes from us.
Sound of our clothes
The SWN experience is one centred around deep listening and stealth-like moving and motionless listening in the woods creating as little noise and disturbance to the environment as possible. Few people have been in this sort of situation and appreciated how noisy their standard outdoor gear might actually be. The material you wear makes a HUGE difference to our impact in this place as well as upon our own collective listening experience.
Where possible, please choose wool-based / soft material for your outer garments rather than noisy synthetic fabrics (as we call them - crisp-packet jackets). Please test out your garments and ask if your outfit is a sound emitter or a sound absorber. See what you have in your wardrobe by choosing the quietest yet still appropriate items that don't swish and rustle with the smallest of movements. You don’t want to be the one in the group that breaks the silent spell every time you move. A large thick wool blanket over a gore-tex jacket will help dampen the noise if you are limited on options and concerned about staying dry but also being quiet. Imagine if while at the cinema someone next to you was wearing your outfit and moving about a lot - would it be distracting?
It is often noted that hi-tech materials, often ones at the high-end of the price range, are never designed with quiet passage through nature in mind (think of the colours that they choose). Loud presence is de rigeur and most walkers these days have scared off most legged or winged beings long before they have approached through the expressive sounds of their hi-tech gear. Be an old scout and pack your wool trousers and overcoats and leave those swishy scratchy crunchy clothes at home.
Waterproofs
All that said, if it is going to rain let’s not mess about: bring your best gear, please. Having good waterproofs is essential. Rain ponchos are a plus as they allow the legs to move quietly. Rain hats are better than jacket hoods (hoods block your ears and restrict your hearing and peripheral sight).
SHOES
Your shoes will need to be waterproof and as sturdy as you are comfortable wearing as even on dry nights the dew is heavy and we walk through wet grass. Get that dubbin out and give your walkers a good wax. Wellies are OK but not ideal, waterproof walking boots are best and allow for more dexterous foot placement and more articulation of the foot to be stable in the dark. Please, please, please avoid trainers and sandals. You will get wet and cold feet. The SWN team are big fans of the Vivo Barefoot hiking boots for lightweight, high dexterity, soft-footed, and quiet walking (use the code samvivo15 for 15% off your purchase).
OTHER KIT TO BRING AND NOT BRING
Chairs: We listened to your feedback and have lovingly created stools for the fireside (with small seat pads provided) designed to be both comfortable and also fit as many of you as close to the fire as possible. These stools do not have backs to them but are high enough for good posture and easy access. We set the circle up each night in such a way as to make sure everyone has good sightlines, warmth and acoustic reach to the music and storytelling. Please don't bring your own fold-up camping-style chair unless absolutely necessary. We will have to position you outside of the ring in the colder areas if you want to use it and they are cumbersome to carry.
We do provide some little light and portable tripod seats to take to the birds for those who prefer not to stand or can’t sit on the floor. As every night's bird location and weather conditions are different it's hard to predict what is best. Some nights we are out on open grass and sometimes we are packing tightly into a narrow footpath. So what space and substrate we are on can vary widely. Having a sturdy picnic-style blanket that is sonically quiet (not like a rustling bin bag) is great for lying down on if space allows or having a cushion that doesn't mind being on wet grass or a muddy spot for giving some support should you prefer being upright. A foldup camping style chair is generally far too cumbersome to walk with and unless necessary not very appropriate. If you want to come with your own seat our recommended style for portability, quiet assembly and lightness and are economical are these fold-up step stools.