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A handful of lucky Druids took advantage of a rare opportunity to walk amongst Stonehenge this Saturday, 20 March in celebration of the Spring Equinox. Less than a hundred visitors, including Druids and pagan worshippers met at around 5.30am to watch the sunrise and welcome in the spring.
Despite the wet, windy weather, traditional customs such as blessings, chants and drum choruses went ahead in the middle of the ordinarily protected English Heritage site.
Explore our 360 degree tour of the stones and ceremonies
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With characters dressed in outfits of white robes, floral headdresses, witches brooms and even stag's antlers, attendees worshipped as the sun rose directly above the equator.
Despite heavy cloud cover, the gathered crowd enjoyed a brief glimpse of the sun before taking advantage of their rare chance to touch and interact with the stones.
View our gallery of Druids gathered on the morning of the Equinox
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Formal proceedings were overseen by renowned Arch Druid of Stonehenge Rollo MaughFling, leading both traditional chants and calling for more contemporary solutions, too. When talking about the upcoming General Election, the Arch Druid strayed away from a political bias and instead asked that, "Whoever is best fitted to lead us out of recession and back into prosperity be the party that wins as many people are suffering."
One fellow Druid not afraid of showing his political stance was notorious eco-campaigner, Arthur Uther Pendragon, announcing his decision to run as an independent candidate in the forthcoming election.
"I have stood three times previously," he told MSN UK, "The first time, I embarrassed the British National Party into last place, the second time, the new leader of the Monster Raving Looney Party into last place, and the third time I embarrassed myself into last place, but still polling 1% of the Vote."
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The day was also saw a posthumous appearance by Wally Hope, the founder of the Stonehenge festival. Since his death in 1975, the ashes of Wally Hope have been carried to the stones by their official keepers.
See images of Arthur Pendragon, Wally's keepers with the ashes plus other attendees
