Welcome to 'Wood Sense' - the 1500 year old game of Kings, counters and cunning, brought back to life by Green Man festival. Wood Sense (or Gwydbwyll in its native Welsh) was first mentioned in the pages of the Mabinogion, the ancient book of Welsh folk tales over 500 years ago. The game was played by Roman Emperors, Welsh Barons and even the legendary King Arthur himself. The playing pieces and boards held great magical significance and power (although a board was used rather unceremoniously in one story as a magical doorstop.) The rules are quite simple, the game is pitched somewhere between Chess and Draughts.
Pairs of Green Man tickets have been locked away in boxes, hidden in several UK cities. By playing games of Woodsense in participating record shops, bars, venues and cafes, you will gain access to a map and a riddle which will lead to a locked box and 8 Green Man that hold clues to unlock it, which are spread around the city. The Green Men are figures, large, small, elaborate and simple, but all of them green and growing. Some are willowy forms, planted proudly in the ground. Others occupy the shadows, infused with moss and grass seed and becoming more visible by the day. The beautiful and ornate boards and pieces have been distributed to record shops, cafes and venues around the country. Participants will learn to play the game and be introduced to a treasure hunt for fabulous prizes.
Lets begin!! In the beautiful capital of Wales, a locked box has been hidden. Inside the box is a Wood Sense King guarding a pair of tickets to Green Man Festival. Simply play a game of Wood Sense at any of the venues below - you will be given access to a map and instructions on how to continue.
Spillers Records - 31 Morgan Arcade, CF10 1AF
Goleulong Lightship - Britannia Park Harbour Drive, CF10 4PA
Cardiff Arts Institute - 29 Park Place, CF10 3BA
http://www.woodsense.net/
https://www.twitter.com/Wood_Sense
http://www.facebook.com/woodsensegame
If you're not in Cardiff fear not, boxes have been hidden London, Brighton, Manchester, Leeds, and Bristol - keep an eye on our website for more details. Also follow our tweets to keep up with events and the efforts and adventures of others learning the secrets of Wood Sense.
Then join us in the magical Black Mountains in August to take part in a grand Wood Sense tournament. Players who have contributed the most over the summer will be seeded into the competition, but there will be plenty of activities on site to get everyone involved.
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