ONE OF the highlights of Reading’s calendar last year is returning to the town this weekend, beginning the summer in earnest with 9-days of activities.
The second Reading Walks Festival is back with nearly fifty trails and interactive walks exploring the history and stories of the town and the borough, supported by Great Western Railway.
The festival sees local volunteers bring life to stories of Reading’s history, its heritage, its wildlife, and the changing landscape of Berkshire while visiting some of its most important landmarks.
It encourages not only engagement with the town’s history, but also the social and health benefits of walking.
Over the 9 days of the festival, 49 walks are set to take place, including 15 family-friendly walks suitable for children, and a selection of wheelchair-accessible offerings.
Among those taking place is A Reading Miscellany which explores the history of the town centre, its original placement, its founding, and the origins of some of the town’s most recognisable street names.
It is led by David West, who runs Walk Reading and has led tours since 2018.
The Brewing Heritage tour looks at Reading’s history as a major influence in the British brewing industry, including its role as one of the biggest sources of malt for London brewers, led by historian Evelyn Williams.
The Reading Walk visits some of the town’s best independent venues and hidden gems such as Eldon Square Gardens, Jesse Terrace, and the new canal path by Huntley Wharf.
The Home of Photography walk looks at the life of Fox Talbot, who was developing his technique in photography in the 1830s, and visits some of the sites photographed in his work–also led by David West.
Meanwhile anthropologist, artist, and yogi Dr Jen Clark leads a sensory walk which focuses on agroforestry– the farming and cultivation of trees.
It also includes forest bathing, where participants take part in Japanese-inspired sensory exercises in the gardens at the Museum of English Rural Life.
Reading at War examines the town’s role in the English Civil War (including the Siege of Reading) the Glorious Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, the Anglo-Afghan War, and both World Wars.
Alex Brannen, Festival Organiser, said: “The Reading Walks Festival aims to introduce people to our urban heritage and culture as well as showcase the diversity of the local wildlife and natural landscapes– all our walks are different.
“Some will be more talking than walking to help you learn more about a subject; some will be social occasions–just walking and chatting–and others will be more about just enjoying the walk for its own sake.”
Reading Walks Festival takes place in venues around Reading from Saturday, May 11, to Sunday, May 19.
Full details and booking are available via: whatsonreading.com/venues/reading-walks-festival or via: readingwalksfestival.org
