https://linktr.ee/seagooseberries

Beacons in Folkestone, Folkestone (2026)

22/12/2021

✨ A massive thank you to everyone who gathered with us on Sunny Sands beach to help make the magic happen. The Sea Gooseberries have been reunited at last! ✨

They have now left Folkestone, but their echoes remain, and you can relive the magic using the link in our bio.

Thank you to everyone who took part in The Quest to find the hidden song fragments, and to the 145 caretakers who looked after a Sea Gooseberry in their home and brought it to The Gathering to take part in a participatory light installation, woven with live song and a warming fire that harked back to ancient community gatherings. The magic could only happen if all the Sea Gooseberries were reunited, as they were sent back to the sea together.

100s of people joined us at The Gathering and shared the magic with us. The Gathering was the finale of The Quest, a month-long mission to find the Sea Gooseberry song fragments that were hidden around Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh. This was the moment when the ending of the story was revealed, and when the tide was at its strongest, the moon at its fullest, and on the edge of the winter solstice.

If you took part in The Quest and/or attended The Gathering, please continue to share your images with on us social media using

With special thanks to

Emily Peasgood
Arts Council England
PRS Foundation
Creative Folkestone
Folkestone Town Council
SparkedEcho

Photo credit: Igor Emmerich - https://igoremmerich.com

20/12/2021

✨Thank you to everyone who came to The Gathering last night to witness the song and fire. The Sea Gooseberries have at last been reunited.

✨A round of applause to the whole production team for putting on this spectacle of magic on the beach.

✨Keep a look out as we’ll be posting up further images from the event soon. Don’t forget to tag us into any of your own images. We’ll share as many as we can in our Stories.

19/12/2021

✨ It is time to reunite the Sea Gooseberries. ✨

The Gathering. Today. 19 December 2021. 3.30pm. Sunny Sands beach, Folkestone.

Gather with us on Sunny Sands beach, where we will reunite the Sea Gooseberries and send them back to the sea together as part of a magical participatory light installation, woven with live song and a warming fire that harks back to ancient community gatherings.

The Gathering is the finale for The Quest, a month-long mission to find the Sea Gooseberry song fragments hidden around Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh and to save the Sea Gooseberries magic. This is the moment when the ending of the story will be revealed, when the tides are strongest, the moon is fullest, and we are at the edge of the winter solstice.

If you have found a Sea Gooseberry please bring it to The Gathering! The magic can only work if all are present.

🌕 Free to attend. Family friendly. All welcome. Just turn up.

🌕 We recommend wearing suitable clothes for the outdoors.

🌕 If you have access needs and would like additional information on the location please ask us and we’ll do our best to help.

🌕 We encourage you to walk or cycle to the event if possible as car parks will be busy. The nearest bicycle rack is in Tram Road car park.

🌕 Duration: 45 minutes

🌕 In line with guidance, we’ll be adhering to social distancing to keep everyone safe.

✨ABOUT BEACONS ✨
The Gathering is part of Beacons, a community adventure and live event taking place across Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh in November to December 2021. Through storytelling, music and light, it seeks to connect us to each other, our local landscape, and our place in the wider ecosystem.

Beacons has been created by Folkestone-based theatre maker and artist Alison Neighbour, alongside sonic artist and composer Emily Peasgood, creative technologist and game designer Tarim, wearable sound system designer Alistair Harle, and a team of other local creatives. Over the past nine months, Alison has been working with Sea Gooseberry Guardians from across Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh to secure safe passage for the Sea Gooseberries

Beacons is produced by arts organisations SparkedEcho and Creative Folkestone with funding from Arts Council England, PRS Foundation, The Ashley Family Foundation and donations from individuals.

Footage by ViDi Air

17/12/2021

Everyone is invited to The Gathering!

Sunday 19th December 3.30pm
Sunny Sands, Folkestone

✨ BRING YOUR SEA GOOSEBERRY IF YOU HAVE ONE ✨

The approach of the winter solstice is a reminder of our connection to the natural world. The full moon is when the tide and the Sea Gooseberries magic are at their strongest. We will celebrate the reuniting of the Sea Gooseberries with music, light and fire.

THE MAGIC WILL ONLY WORK IF ALL THE SEA GOOSEBERRIES ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER.

JOIN US TO CELEBRATE!

Let us know in the comments if you have a Sea Gooseberry and if you are attending The Gathering. You do not need a Sea Gooseberry to attend, everyone is welcome!

To find out more - https://www.beaconsproject.uk

Please note, these events are Covid guideline compliant and we’ll be adhering to social distancing to keep everyone safe. 😊

With thanks to -

Emily Peasgood
Arts Council England
PRS Foundation
Creative Folkestone
Folkestone Town Council
SparkedEcho

16/12/2021

✨✨There is still time to take part in The Quest before The Gathering this Sunday, 19th December ✨✨

You are invited to collect a map, go out and about and collect the song fragments that are hidden across the district. Register any you find on the Beacons portal - www.beaconsproject.uk.

If you are lucky, a Sea Gooseberry may choose you to look after it at your home where it will glow brightly in your window for you to bring to The Gathering, on Sunday 19 December, 3.30pm at Sunny Sands beach, Folkestone. Where, if we are successful in The Quest, we will be rewarded with the ending of the story.

Free to join in. Everyone is welcome. Suitable for all ages.

The Quest is part of Beacons, a community adventure and live event taking place across Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh from the 21st November to the 19th December. Through storytelling, music and light it seeks to connect us to each other, our local landscape, and our place in the wider ecosystem.

Please note, these events are Covid guideline compliant and we’ll be adhering to social distancing to keep everyone safe. 😊

All information can be found on our website - www.beaconsproject.uk.

Good luck!!

With thanks to

Emily Peasgood
Arts Council England
PRS Foundation
Creative Folkestone
Folkestone Town Council
SparkedEcho

15/12/2021

Have you been chosen as a Caretaker of a Sea Gooseberry?

If you are one of the lucky ones, a Sea Gooseberry will get in touch to let you know it's on its way and will arrive at your home.

You do not need to be there to receive it! 😊

✨✨The Sea Gooseberry will glow brightly in your window for you to bring to The Gathering on Sunday 19th December, 3.30pm on Sunny Sands beach. Please remember, the magic can only work if all are present. ✨✨

Please note, this event is Covid guideline compliant and we’ll be adhering to social distancing to keep everyone safe. We will draw bubbles in the sand to ensure everyone is distanced and, of course, you are welcome to wear your mask. 😊

More information about, The Quest and The Gathering, can be find on our website - https://www.beaconsproject.uk

With thanks to

Emily Peasgood
Arts Council England
PRS Foundation
Creative Folkestone
Folkestone Town Council
SparkedEcho

14/12/2021

You are invited to a gathering of light, song and fire to reunite the Sea Gooseberries.

The Gathering is on Sunday 19th December, 3.30pm, when caretakers of the Sea Gooseberries and the wider public are invited to assemble on Sunny Sands beach, Folkestone, to reunite these magical creatures and reveal the ending of the story.

This is the moment when the ending of the story will be revealed, when the tides are strongest, the moon is fullest, and we are at the edge of the winter solstice.

If you are a Caretaker of a Sea Gooseberry, please bring it to The Gathering! The magic can only work if all are present.

Free to attend. Everyone is welcome. Suitable for all ages. Booking not required, just turn up. We recommend wearing suitable clothes for the elements. If you have access needs and would like additional information on the location please ask us and we’ll do our best to help.

Please note, this event is Covid guideline compliant and we’ll be adhering to social distancing to keep everyone safe. We will draw bubbles in the sand to ensure everyone is distanced and, of course, you are welcome to wear your mask. 😊

More information can be find on our website - www.beaconsproject.uk and by following on social media.

We hope you are as excited as we are! ✨✨✨

With thanks to SparkedEcho Emily Peasgood Arts Council England PRS Foundation Creative Folkestone Folkestone Town Council

Photo credit: Thomas Olney

13/12/2021

There’s still time to join The Quest! ⏱📍

Help us to find the song fragments and reunite the Sea Gooseberries. Piece together the puzzle, and reunite them once more - their magic can only work when they are together. ✨

📆Sat 20 Nov - Sun 19 Dec
🎟Free for everyone to take part

The Quest is part of Beacons, a new community adventure and live event across Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh in November and December 2021. Get a map, go out and about and collect the song fragments hidden across the district.

Maps are available on our online portal www.beaconsproject.uk

Paper maps are available from ⬇️
Folkestone Quarterhouse, Tontine Street.
Folkestone Library, 2 Grace Hill.
Sandgate Library, James Morris Court, Sandgate High Street.
Wood Avenue Library, 17 Wood Avenue.
Cheriton Library, 64 Cheriton High Street.
Hythe Library, 1 Stade Street, Hythe.
Romney Marsh Visitor Centre, Dymchurch Rd, New Romney.

07/12/2021

Meet some of the wonderful team behind Beacons and hear what they have to say about the project.

“Beacons is about celebrating our connections to each other, as humans, plants, and animals within a diverse and interdependent global ecosystem. The shape of the project echoes the story of us all being dependent on one another - it only works if everyone plays their part. The reward of the magical light installation is only possible if everyone shows up on the beach with their Sea Gooseberries. I'm really excited to invite everyone to gather on the beach around a fire for a modern take on an ancient way of gathering.”

- Alison Neighbour - Concept, Story, Game Design & Scenography

✨✨✨

“Beacons is a unique and challenging work that enacts a call to action for people to come together as a community. It says: we are better together and can achieve great things when we work together. It has been one of the most interesting works I have created as a sonic artist and composer, involving the creation of a new language and integrating composition with choreography and technology. It's an exciting and magical work!"

- Emily Peasgood - Sonic Artist & Composer Emily Peasgood

✨✨✨

“Behind the scenes we're using some pioneering and bespoke technology to make Beacons work, both with the Sea Gooseberries and the performer costumes. We’ve consciously used sustainable materials throughout. The great thing is you can take part without a phone or wifi. It's accessible in a lo-fi way. You still get to fully experience the magic of the Sea Gooseberries as they light up in your hand.”

- Kevin Grist - Producer SparkedEcho

✨✨✨

To find out more about Beacons, and how to take part in The Quest and The Gathering, head over to our website - www.beaconsproject.uk.

With thanks to Arts Council England PRS for Music Creative Folkestone Folkestone Town Council

03/12/2021

✨It’s not too late to join The Quest! ✨ Help us to reunite the Sea Gooseberries and reveal their message.

Get a map, go out and about and collect the song fragments that are hidden across the district. Register any you find on our portal beaconsproject.uk.

If you are lucky, a Sea Gooseberry may choose you to look after it at your home where it will glow brightly in your window for you to bring to The Gathering. ✨

See our FAQs below ⬇️

02/12/2021

Why not come and check out our participatory exhibition at the Urban Room, Folkestone? Running every Wednesday-Sunday from 11am-3pm until 19th December.

📍Urban Room, Harbour Street, CT20 1TP📍

Since 2019 we've been working with people in Folkestone to uncover their stories of connection and interdependence, and their wisdoms about the local area and the natural world. We're excited to share with you some of what they shared with us in this exhibition of sculptures, zines, imagery and stories that respond to the themes of Beacons.

Beacons is about celebrating our connections to each other, as humans, plants, and animals within a diverse and interdependent global ecosystem. The shape of the project echoes the story of us all being dependent on one another - it only works if everyone plays their part.

You can be involved in Beacons too, by joining the Quest to find the sea gooseberry song fragments and wisdoms hidden around Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh between now and 19th December. On 19th December we will gather together on Sunny Sands, where everyone will bring the sea gooseberries they have found to a magical closing ceremony of light and music. www.beaconsproject.uk

Beacons was conceived by Alison Neighbour, and participation work was led by Ruby Bolton, Maike Cochrane, Charlene Jones, Kayleigh Ridgwell, Kay McLoughlin, and Hannah Prizeman. Beacons: The Quest and The Gathering are produced by SparkedEcho & Creative Folkestone. Funded by Arts Council England, Folkestone Town Council, Kent Arts Investment Fund, PRS Foundation, and the Ashley Family Foundation. Participants include members of KRAN, Harbour Youth, Students at Brockhill School & Martello School, and individuals from across our community.

Beacons in Folkestone

22/12/2021

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17/12/2021

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15/12/2021

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