Mark World Labyrinth Day at Dunwood Park

Saturday, May 5 will see peace activists and park lovers reflecting and walking the labyrinth in Dunwood Park in Shaw as part of an annual worldwide celebration of World Labyrinth Day.

The Labyrinth at Dunwood is mown into the circular grass area near the playpark and, while usually a popular children’s play activity, is also for use by adults for moments of personal reflection.

The event - starting at 1pm - is being organised by Carol Hughes from the Friends of Dunwood Park.

As the friends group is a signatory to the Pledge to Peace, the event is also being supported by the Oldham Pledge to Peace Forum.

This is the second time that this event has been organised.

The contemplative group walk will be conducted first into the centre of the labyrinth at a slow pace, with a pause for further internal reflection on the hope for peace, before the procession retraces its steps.

Labyrinths were traditionally constructed to aid pilgrims in prayer and contemplation, and the labyrinth in Dunwood Park was designed by Hughes to model the famous one on the floor of Chartres Cathedral, France, a labyrinth which featured in the film, The Da Vinci Code.

The Labyrinth Society is organising events all over the world on this the tenth World Labyrinth Day.

Last year, events took place in at least 20 countries and participants numbered many thousands.

Hughes said: “I am very pleased that having a local labyrinth we can now offer the opportunity to join in such a worthwhile world-wide event.

"It only takes about 20 minutes of your day once a year and walking as a group is even more powerful than individual meditation when walking the labyrinth."

Richard Outram, Secretary of the Oldham Pledge to Peace Forum, added: “As well as being fully committed to working for peace, I live right next door to the park so I will certainly be participating.

"As the Friends of Dunwood Park are a signatory to the Pledge to Peace, we are pleased to be able to offer the Friends our support as a Forum and I would urge people to come down to the park to experience the event for themselves.

"We just have to hope for lovely weather.”

For further information about this local event please contact Carol Hughes, event organiser, on 01706 849742.

For more information about the Labyrinth Society and World Labyrinth Day, log on to: https://labyrinthsociety.org/world-labyrinth-day