Coronavirus cancels spring! Security guards patrol Stonehenge to keep out druids and pagans hoping to celebrate equinox ritual at neolithic site
- Druids have visited the site of Stonehenge on the first day of spring since 2000
- However, they were unable to visit today as English Heritage closed the site
- Closing of all English Heritage sites is to fight against the spread of coronavirus
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Stonehenge stood empty on the first day of spring for the first time in thousands of years today after druids were banned because of the coronavirus.
Hundreds of people were expected to descend on the ancient monument near Amesbury, Wiltshire to mark the vernal equinox but they were instead forced to watch it online after English Heritage announced it was closing all its sites during the pandemic. .
Since 2000, officials have allowed groups of druids the congregate amid the stones as they have for 5,000 years.
However, the event was abandoned today to try and prevent the spread of the virus.
Security guards patrol around closed Stonehenge today after English Heritage closed the site
Visitors are seen near Stonehenge, where hundreds of druids and pagans had been accepted to flock to for the first day of spring
And security guards stood guard to keep any believers away, after a handful defied the ban and turned up at the site.
However, they stood behind the fence that blocked access to Stonehenge and didn’t try to climb it.
Senior druid King Arthur Pendragon backed the decision to axe the event at the prehistoric spot.
He usually performs the ceremony at Stonehenge, which involves other members of the religious group forming a circle and holding hands.
But he said encouraging such behaviour in the current climate would have been ‘irresponsible’.
The spring equinox is when the day and night are almost equal in length. Equinox means ‘equal night’ in Latin
Since 2000, officials have allowed groups of druids the congregate amid the stones as they have for 5,000 years
Mr Pendragon, 65, said: ‘I didn’t say to go because I agree that it should be closed; I didn’t say it because it’s dangerous to celebrate.
‘The fact they closed it doesn’t bother me – but it would have been very irresponsible of me to go against the advice.
‘There were still some people advising to turn up at dawn. That’s a very irresponsible thing to do.
‘If somebody passed on the virus, the organisers would have to live with that guilt. I put something on Facebook explaining why we shouldn’t.
‘I encouraged people to do it – but not together.’
Mr Pendragon, from nearby Salisbury, said organised events had taken place for around two decades.
But he believes groups have been trekking to the site off their own back since prehistoric times to carry out the pilgrimage.
He said: ‘People have been going to Stonehenge for thousands of years – that’s a fact. There’s evidence that people have been going there since it was built.’
Senior druid King Arthur Pendragon backed the decision to axe the event at the prehistoric spot
In a statement online, English Heritage announced it would be closing all staffed sites across the country until the beginning of May
The spring equinox is when the day and night are almost equal in length. Equinox means ‘equal night’ in Latin.
In a statement online, English Heritage announced it would be closing all staffed sites across the country until the beginning of May.
Chief executive Kate Mavor said: ‘Our first priority is the health and wellbeing of all our members, visitors, volunteers and staff.
‘As a charity, we could not survive without their support but we also have a responsibility to them – hence this decision.
‘English Heritage wishes everyone well and we look forward to welcoming you back to our sites as soon as possible.’
A spokesperson added: ‘Free-to-enter sites in our care will remain open to visitors.
‘These sites often have large open spaces in which visitors can maintain social distancing and many are located in quieter spots away from crowds.’