New Green Man Trail In Spa Gardens

On a sunny day there is nothing better to do than to spend the afternoon in one of Ripon's parks. The Spa Gardens now has a Green Man trail to go on.

Who is the Green Man you may be wondering....

He is a mythical figure in the woods and forests. He represents the force of nature and is shown as a face covered with leaves.

Whilst his origins are pagan he has become a symbol found in many Christian churches. There is a carved Green Man in Ripon Cathedral and a stone one at Fountains Abbey. Others can be found in Wells and Canterbury Cathedral.

In Spa Gardens, in the main part of the park, there have been Green Man face plaques placed in the trees. There are also some Green Woman faces. Some are large, some are small and some will be hard to find.

You can pick up a Green Man trial leaflet from the Sun Parlour cafe or the Tourist Information Office, which shows 32 Green Man plaques to find, but there may be others around that are not in the leaflet.

The Green Man trail has been supported and sponsored by local schools, businesses and community groups.