A CEREMONY to celebrate the arrival of summer was performed at the crux of two seasons at a South Lakeland stone circle.

Dozens of people joined members of the Cumbrian Druid Order at the Birkrigg Stone Circle, near Ulverston, for the May Day event.

Paul Coppinger, who has performed the ceremony for the past eight years, said: “Celebrating the point between spring and summer is all about coming together to give thanks to the Earth for what she’s given us.

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“We are of the Earth and the ceremony is our way to say thank you. It’s also about thanking gods and goddesses, ancestors, spirits and deities.”

Around May 1 each year, the druid festival of Beltane – which means ‘beginning of summer’ – celebrates the return of fertility to the land after a long winter.

The Celts celebrated Beltane with maypoles, dancing and bonfires, and cattle were traditionally driven through the smoke to bless them with health and fertility for the coming year.

At Birkrigg Stone Circle, participants gathered around the stones, with key positions oriented to the cardinal points of the compass and the sun.

After circling the stones three times, Mr Coppinger asked for permission to enter the circle, used a ceremonial sword to connect metal and earth and addressed the different powers of nature represented by compass points with prayers and blessings, and invited participants to step in.

An offering of an oatmeal biscuit and mead was given to represent the food the earth offers.

The attendees had a meal and played music inside the circle before Mr Coppinger ended the ceremony.

“It was a joy to see so many people from different walks of life come along,” he said. “There is such a feeling of life and high vibrancy within nature at this time of the year, and within the ceremony there was a strong energy of happiness and joy.”

The next ceremony to be held at Birkrigg Stone Circle will be Summer Solstice on June 21 at noon.

Everyone is welcomed to either take part or see the ceremony.