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27 November 2009
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Stonehenge
  NATIONAL TRUST: THE STONES
Sunday 8 May 2005 8.05pm-9.30pm; 12.30am-1.50am
 
 

Officially designated a World Heritage Site, each year Stonehenge attracts a 20,000 strong crowd of hippies, pagans, witches, druids and travellers for the summer solstice. But in the 1980s Stonehenge was the setting for riots and the stones were closed. Today its problems are far from over.

As celebrations for summer solstice draw ever closer, the National Trust and their partners, English Heritage, who look after the actual stones, go head to head for a bizarre round of negotiations over party plans for this year's solstice with the leading pagans and druids, including such characters as Viziondanz and King Arthur.

The final, extended episode of the series follows proceedings at an important point in the life of Stonehenge to see if the worlds of heritage and hippies can ever see eye to eye for the sake of the Stones.

Meanwhile, as Britain's most contentious planning battle concerning the site comes to a head, there is also the hope that the long-running debate about the state of the stones - hit hard by the A303 and encased in metal fencing - may be about to end. But can all parties with a vested interest in the sacred site ever be satisfied?

 
 
 Previous ep: The Lord  
 
 
DIRECTOR'S DIARY
Making the series
"We've been 12 hours without any sustenance"
  Stonehenge
PHOTO GALLERY
Stunning images from every episode in the series
Studland Bay

 DID YOU KNOW?
Ten surprising facts about the National Trust

Further links

BBC Wiltshire: Stonehenge
Excellent site with video clips, historical information and news

Stonehenge Down
Visitor information from the National Trust

English Heritage
Detailed site including a great Stonehenge photo gallery

The Stonehenge Project
Joint initiative "designed to improve the setting and interpretation" of the stones

The Summer Solstice Experiment
Links to numerous Stonehenge and solstice realted sites

Stonehenge Solstice Celebration
Website for the return of the midsummer solstice gathering

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