Exford Storywalk

Welcome storywalkers.

This special Exford Storywalk was created in conjunction with the Exmoor Society and Exmoor Youth Club. I have included images of the days we worked together, their drawings, notes and of course their words. It is the voice of all involved, with each chapter written by a different author.

The trail travels just out of the village, over a field and then the river, then back along a beautiful woodland trail to finish back here.

It should take you less than an hour at an amble.

Enjoy

Christopher Jelley

You stand on the green, the emerald sheet of grass. A small, but rather plump velvet rabbit appears out of the hazy dew. "I will take you on a journey" murmurs the wise rabbit, his face a blank expressionless sheet. "Through tales truths and mythical memorising myths!"

"On this flourishing open grassland, about 100 years ago. In the winter sheep grazed this meadow, however, one sheep was extremely naughty. Since her younger days as a youthful lamb, the young ewe, who was named Tabitha, jumped high!" The rabbit grinned, "she could jump even higher than hares!"

"One frosty winter day, Tabitha was turned out onto the fresh Green. However, tabitha was not satisfied. So the mischievous ewe size up the metal bar lining the Green. She took a step back, and charged swiftly. At the last moment Tabitha jumped, clearing the icy fence with inches to spare."

"Once the sheep had landed she gazed proudly around the unfamiliar space. "I fancy a pint at the Crown Hotel, and afterwards tasty munch on the Village triangle grass. Happily, Tabitha skipped to the crown and ordered a frothy pint. She grabbed the golden beer and cheerfully made for the triangle. Tabitha munched on the lush opus grass under the shining holly tree. For Tabitha, that was living!"

The rabbit smiled, showing his long shining teeth. He thumped his strong back legs and hopped up the road.

And your guide the rabbit hops on down the path, thumping and humming a tune as he goes.

Raise your paw, don't delay,
Keep out of reach of the passing spray,
Hold head high, and breath nice and deep,
And keep your eyes peeled for the mischievous Sheep!

The rabbit was making great headway, but ever twenty paces or so turns and twitches his whiskers, when he see's you have stopped to read this story he gets very agitated. Move along now, this is no place to stop, and he hops along the path ahead of you expecting you to follow, which is what you must do.

No time to dally!

The lost shallow water runs down the stream just as the secret hasn't been told for years, the emerald is still in there but then you see some thing and there in the water is an emerald. I'm about to grab it and what is that smell! " is it cheesy " said something behind me I looked and wow there stands a cheese rabbit.

So I went to him and said 'will you be my friend forever'

'yes' he said and then we played pooh sticks where we found 15 more emerald's.

'how did you find all of those?'

" Just a bit of practice' the cheese rabbit said 'I know somebody better at finding things than me too, I will tell you tomorrow in the green' he said.

The next day we ran all the way to the green but nobody came, we waited for at least an hour and half but still nobody came. We looked down a path, no cheese rabbit there we went to the stile, but no cheese rabbit was there, then we thought for a second or two and shouted with joy as the field had been searched and searched.

But there was no rabbit to be found, so at last we went to the wobbly bridge and realised he had passed away. OK!

Residents of the field
Sheep, lambs, pheasants
Hunting through the undergrowth
For some tasty peasants

You will soon get to a bridge
The site of a deadly battle
Watch your step
For the droppings of many cattle.

After the iceman asked for a goose, a man called Richard took a goose to the bridge where the Iceman was. He dropped the goose on the other side of the bridge to Jack. He then stood in the middle of the Bridge and drew his sword then he shouted "if you want this goose you have to get through me first, Mr Frost." "We meet again Richard" said Jack "and for the last time."

The condensation around him formed into a blade made of pure ice and frost. Then he pounced. Trust, slice, parry, block, the two blades crashed together and Richard's began to glow and Jack began to Steam. In one blinding flash Jack's sword melted away into mist. Jack looked thunderous "how did you beat me so easily"
" I've been practising" said Richard and stabbed him in his chest and he vaporise in a deafening wail "don't mess with Exford "said Richard finally.

Then the Rabbit turns to you and say's, have a seat on this log and I will tell you the story of how exford out witted Jack Frost himself.

You all sit and then the Rabbit begins.

It was a dark night with a blistering wind and the locals to gathered in The Crown to escape it's icy claws. Late into the evening, the door opened but a crack and in stepped a tall skinny man who brought the ice of the night right into the heart of the hall.

'Good people of Exford I have a little proposition for you.' Everyone was quiet, listening to the stranger.

'Would you like a warm winter?'

'Yes' came the reply.

'Would you like the snow and frost to stay away?'

'Yes' they said a little louder.

'Would you like a calm and balmy winter without the need even for a hearth?'

'Yes' they all cried and raised their tankards to the rafters.

'Well then, I can give you this but I will want a little payment in return.' There was a long pause, and he then continued. 'All I ask is a single Goose to be brought up the Combe to where the beck splits in two. Leave her there on the 21st December, the winter solstice and your winter shall be stately.'

This sounded good to the villagers, but the thin man had not finished speaking.

'But if you do not leave me a single Goose, then on the 1st May I will expect six in the same manner.' And then he was gone through the crack in the door into the cold night.

Well the winter was warm all about Exford and the Combe but when the 21st December came, the good folk of Exford let it pass without payment thinking nothing of the strange man's bargain.

Then the 1st May rolled in and the villagers didn't take the six Geese up the combe but instead revelled at the mild winter they have just had and their good fortune.

Well it was a fine long summer and crops ripened perfectly by the warmth of the sun, the barns were full for tything and all was golden in Exford or so it seemed. But then one night in early autumn just before the first frosts usually come, a thin man entered the Inn once again.

As he stepped across the threshold the air became icy, even the fire dipped low.

'Good people of Exford' said the Ice Man, a half smile on his lips.

'Last year I asked for a single Goose in exchange for a warm winter, but no Goose has been forthcoming. So I ask you good people of Exford, would you care for another warm winter?'

Yes came the response but a little less energetic than the previous years.

'Well, since you were so poor at paying last year, my fee has increased, on the winter solstice, the 21st December, bring me a single Devon Ruby Red Cow. That is all I ask, but if no Cow is forthcoming on this date then I shall expect six on May Day, is that understood?'

There were nods about the room and then the Ice Man left.

Well that winter was warmer than the last and not a flake of snow fell on the combe or village but less could be said for the neighbouring villages of Winsford and Dulverton for their winters were harsh.

As the 21st December came and the good people of Exford squabbled on who was to send the cattle, no one volunteered, so the solstice came and went and payment was not made.

The villagers of Exford saw another good winter which was in stark contrast to Winsford and Dulverton's who's ice and snow was deeper than ever. For out in the night the Ice Man danced across tiles and barn thatch, across yard and quarter, with cold drills of ice shooting from his elbows into the soft earth. He danced day and night, all about but not in Exford, nor the hills about, the Ice Man was having a ball.

Then the 1st May came and six devon ruby's were requested in pay, but still the villagers were not forthcoming.

Up the combe Jack The Ice Man was furious, he had not been paid for his kindness in leaving the village warm year upon year in the winter. Now spring was to be upon them with the warm sun on the heads of those good people of Exford. So out of anger he stole the wild fire from the sun itself, and without this it would barely break through cloud all summer long.

But that was not enough for Jack the Ice Man, he wanted the wild fire to stay hidden for ever, so he chopped it up into tiny little pieces and fed it to a badger piece by piece. He laughed at his cunning, knowing no one would ever find it now, and that all the people of Somerset would have a cold summer as well as winter.

He then skinned the badger and made a stole for himself to wear as he danced ice across the moors. But this stole, even after the chopping, and skinning, burned on his neck, and sent bright hot light all about. So he locked it in an iron casket and then buried it in a badgers set up the combe, and kept the key tied to his waist at all times.

Well without the spring wild fire the sun did not bring on the summer, the crops did not grow, the fruit did not ripen, the washing could not dry. Without the spring wild fire there was no summer at all, and Jack Frost frolicked in glee.

Well that was a cold, hard and wet summer, the grain began to rot and the damp pervaded all. Everything turned brown, it was as if the the colour green had been stolen away forever.

Then Winter arrived and so Jack Frost went to the Crown Inn once more, half a smile on his dry lips, and ice dripping from his elbows. The hearth fire went out immediately, the air went cold, and Jack the Green Thief addressed the good people of Exford.

'I asked for a single Goose but none was forthcoming, then I asked for a single Devon ruby cow, but still you did not pay, and you had warm winters at my behest.' No one moved in the hall, but tankards of cider began to chill, and frost began to form on the inside of the window pains.

'So good people of Exford, I have a final proposition, I shall leave your combe clear of ice and snow once more, but my fee, due on the winter solstice, is' and he then paused to look into the eyes of all who were present before his voice shifted to a deeper tone, 'is a child from your village.'

All was deathly silent in the room, breath hung in the air as the Green Thief continued.

'And if no child is forthcoming on 21st December then I shall expect six on May Day' and with that he was gone, leaving frozen tankards and frosted beards amidst fear and despair.

And again the winter was mild, Jack Frost kept his half of the bargain but what he had not said was that he would give Winsford and Dulverton, Exford's share of the winter.

So the neighbouring villages suffered the more Jack Frost danced upon tiles and heather, on hilltop and riverbed, but not in Exford nor up the combe. The neighbouring people began to take refuge in Exford, and the good people could not turn their half starved frozen neighbours away.

Then the winter solstice passed once again without payment, for how could the village choose a child from their ranks, but Jack Frost waited eager for his six children now due on May Day.

'What if we pay?' Said one 'next year it will be double, you mark my words.'

'Did we ask for his service? yet now we are to pay with our own blood, surely there is another way.'

But there seemed no other action, and despair filled the hearts and minds of all in the village. That was until one boy, a trapper was in the combe late one night and saw strange lights where none should be.

He crouched behind a tree and saw Jack Frost pull-out the iron casket from the badgers set close to the rickety bridge which children love to bounce. Taking a key from his belt he opened it and the light spilled from the casket across the valley, and the boy could feel the good heat of the wild fire even though he was some distance away.

The Ice Man then threw the badgers stole about his neck and danced in a mad crazy manner, rubbing his hands in glee and clicking heels and elbows, shooting ice and snow all about. Jack Frost then threw the stole back into the casket, locked it sharp and tied the key abut his belt once more. Pushing the casket back into the badgers set he then danced off into the night to continue his mischief.

But the boy had seen all he needed to see and reported back to the village immediately. At last a plan was hatched and all the three villages were to play their part.

The 1st May came quick, but the villagers were prepared, for in the pre dawn morning gloom, before the sun came up, every man, woman, and child carried wood up the valley to the fork in the stream bed just here.

From this a throne was built like a birds nest, for the Ice Man to perch on when he arrived. When dawn came, so did Jack Frost swooping down on his icy coat tails marvelling at the turn out for his payment day.

'Oh, what a gift' he said and landed right on top of the throne. 'Why you shouldn't have, and look at all the work you good people have done for me.' Then his tone turned darker 'now which children are for me?'

So busy was he twitching in excitement he did not see the snares close about his legs and wrists, the wire snagging tight on the Green Thief's skin. 'What is this, jewellery?' But his tone soon changed when the snares bit tight and he could not shake them free. The smug, complacent charm slid away to reveal the wild ferocity of a cornered animal. The more he fought, the tighter the snares bit until he lay still on top of the wood stick throne.

Up stepped the trapper boy who took the key from Jack Frosts belt, whilst others pulled the iron casket from the badgers set.

The casket was opened and the valley sang in the brilliant morning light, all were bathed in the warmth and glory of the wild fire from within. The heat was so strong it drew all the villagers close, they had missed it for so long, but the stole seemed to be getting brighter, the light hotter as it mixed with the May Day dawn. Hotter and hotter, until it melted the iron casket itself, the wild fire oozing like boiling jam, searching out the dry timber of the throne itself, seeding a blaze that could not be quenched, and on top sat Jack Frost snared with wire, aghast at his coming fate.

The flames rose higher and higher, crackling and fizzing, and though shards of ice drilled from Jack Frosts frantic elbows, they were no match for the wild fire he had stolen. Up they rose, engulfing The Green Thief and then onwards, igniting the skies, leaping right into the spring sun where they belonged.

When the pyre receded later that day, all that was left of the Ice Man was dust, had he escaped or had he been destroyed, nobody one knew.

A good summer was had and the year turned its regular cycle as everything was back to normal once more. Jack Frost's mortal form did not darken the Crown Inn door again with fees for his favours, but deep in the combe they noticed a new sapling begin to grow on the spot of the Pyre. Over time it spread upward as is the norm but seemed to twist in pain away from the daylight also, unlike all the other trees in the valley. Some say this is were Jack Frost's mortal form was pinned into the earth by the wild fire, others that the ground was spoiled by the heat and ice of that morning.

What ever the truth, the tree seems to twist away from the sunshine which feeds it, and why would that be so?

Christopher Jelley

Task - No please pick up a pebble no bigger than a marble and carry it with you on your journey back into the village.

I was running and I saw a cheese log and the power of it was strong, next to the log was a gold paw and I said wow and it causes trouble then he peeped out his burger head, and he said hello and I said "what was that noise" "it was me" said the chimpanzee.

As our hero the rabbit walks from the green field along the river he noticed a cave like entrance near the river bank ahead. He went closer to explore and inside the cave was a catacomb full of bones, of rabbit bones. The rabbit our narrator was filled with fear and alarm over the years many rabbits had disappeared and this could be the explanation, but what had happened?

The rabbit crept out of the cave, and as he approached the edge of the river bank he heard a strange noise, it was like a Lister-D stationary engine under heavy load. He then spotted in the rushes at the edge of the river a large foot in a jaunty yellow stocking, as he shimmied closer he became more fearful but something drew him on. The foot was attached to a leg and then the large body of a Troll, asleep and snoring loudly. The rabbit retreated quickly and quietly, returned towards the village. But unfortunately rabbit stepped on a twig and the troll awoke, the rabbit fled up the hillside chased by the Troll but as he reached the top of the hill the Troll stopped suddenly and fell back.

The rabbit saw that the Troll was chained to a large metal ring by the river, the rabbit returned to the village and told everyone what he had seen. He then made a plan to build a high path along the river, so that all rabbits could pass safely out of reach of the chained troll, which is why to this day there is a high path where you are standing.

Why is the gate called a kissing gate?

Many years ago, long before roads were built, a network of footpaths were used. The primary mode of transport was by foot, these paths were used daily by people going to work or visiting each other. Many paths passed over common land which was open for many miles and miles. Other paths crossed private land and had gates on boundaries. Gates tended to be left open thus animals moved to different fields and got mixed with other owners.

A competition was held on Exmoor to come up with a solution to replace the humble gate on footpaths to stop the livestock mixing together but also allow free access to the people using the paths. The winner of the competition was Henry Kissinger with the kissing gate, which allowed easy and free access without letting the livestock to roam free across boundaries.

It is believed that beech trees are the guardians of travellers as they provide dry shelter to so many on their journey's, protecting them as they sleep. It is also thought that some spirits give good favour to those walkers who are courteous and kind when the see the spirits true face in roots or bowl.

Over the second gate if you look closely you may see the beech tree spirits face, and tradition requests you to place two fingers on his mouth in thanks, as if he were blowing you a kiss in kindness.

But beware for those who don't may find their sleep disturbed, and in the mornings awake to find woodlice beneath their pillows, and earwigs nesting in their belly buttons.

'Jack lives here' said the rabbit 'Go on knock on the door but be careful the hinges are rusty, so don't worry if the door breaks off.'

So I went up and knocked, then Jack said

ice is good
ice is free
will you pay the icemans fee

'yes yes yes i will, what do you want?' and with a blink of an eye the door opened with a creak and a shriek.

The Rabbit crept in and saw the old man with his icey elbows and long whitebeard turning every leaf, grass and brick white as an old mans hair.
I wanted 1 goose, but no goose came, so I asked for 6 but still no goose, then 1 cow but none came, 6 cows. Then 1 child, but no child came, then 6 children, but no children, it's all I would like said the man.

I don't know where to get them please tell me where to get them but no answer was heard, he vanished and in his place was a map and a pin the man tried to look it up but he couldn't so he did.

But its in a box and kept for as long as he lived, he made a house near it and turned the ice house in to crumbs. Jack came back and told the man what have you done you idiot, he vanished again and instead of a map and a pin it was smoke and never came back since.

The Exe gains in width and strength on its way to the sea, 40 miles away the rabbit pauses to admire the trout, dozing amongst the river weeds. Almost full circle, back to the green, but first to survive the speeding cars!

I hope you still have your pebble, if not collect one now, everyone should have just one each.

Before you pass through the gate, there is a flat stone on the top of the wall, place here your stones, as a marker to everyone who has walked this trail.

Back inside the green, and all is as normal, or is it, for the rabbits are watching from the sides!

The End

The good people of The Exmoor Youth Group would like to thankyou for completing this Exford Storywalk.

It was made possible by The Exmoor Society who commissioned this unique community project, without their generosity this storywalk would not exist.

Special thanks to Laura Tasker and Cathy Nichols.

kind regards

Christopher Jelley