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Another MA Project complete... and it's a great one! Do the Starling murmurations at Ham Wall enhance the sacredness of the Somerset Levels?Northern lights teaching shoaling fish teaching swarming flies teaching clouding ink would never learn the – Ghostly swirling surging whirling melting murmuration of starling flock. - Robert MacFarlane The aim of this study is to discuss the meaning of sacred landscape by exploring the Somerset Levels phenomenologically, and to answer these questions: is the Somerset Levels a sacred landscape? Does the presence of Starling murmurations enhance that sacredness? Is sacredness a human construct? The most spiritual encounter I have had around Glastonbury is observing the Starling murmurations, which occur on the Somerset Levels at sunrise and sunset every day between November and February. Glastonbury and the surrounding landscape have many sacred features and stories: mythological, archaeological and historical. So what is it about this phenomenon of the Starling murmurations that has drawn me in and made me feel more connected to the landscape of my chosen home?  Starlings at Ham Wall, Avalon Marshes, with a view of Glastonbury Tor.
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