Sylva, a discourse of Forest-Trees & the Witches' Tree - (14 miles)

On John Evelyn's birthday in 1620 a walk that's all about the trees, bathing in autumnal splendour 🍁🍂. And on Halloween a sprinkling of spookiness along the way 👻 Evelyn was the father of forestry, and a 17th-C conservation visionary. A founder of the Royal Society, widely travelled, campaigner for hospitals, diarist. And above all, passionate about trees. The walk heads to Wotton House, his home. Home too to the ghost of Dr Samuel Wilberforce looking through its window👻. Then we head into the North Downs woods through which Evelyn wandered, past the Witches' Tree 🎃 *Sylva* could well be written today: "*Truly, the waste and destruction of our woods has been so universal, that I conceive nothing less than a universal plantation of all the sorts of trees will supply, and well encounter the defect."* TRAVEL & WALK DETAILS Take the 9.41 train from London Victoria to DORKING. Walk starts from Dorking station at 10.40. An off peak day return ticket to DORKING is £10.50 with a Network card or Groupsave. Walk ends at WESTHUMBLE. Lunchtime pub stop. Bring a packed lunch. *How to join?* * The walk is entirely free of charge; * You only arrange for your own travel and pub expenses; * Understand our terms and conditions below (the "IMPORTANT" part); * Understand how to stay safe outdoors, as you will be responsible for yourself. See our quick safety tips: http://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/ Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section!