In this experimental encounter, we will take a 2-days field trip into the protected landscape area Křivoklátsko to walk with the local forest and its creatures. The walk is organised by the Open Forest Collective – a multi-disciplinary group of forest-curious creatures of diverse cultural, professional and biological origins – and guided by one of the Collective’s members, Chewie. We will follow Chewie to explore a patch of the local Bohemian forest and learn about its complex multi-species environment. On the way, we will exchange our experiences, observations and sensory impressions in the form of forest-stories. The walk will be performative and open-ended, centered around the elements of spontaneity, surprise, curiosity and squirrels.

The walk builds on the Collective’s previous experimental walks in other forests around the world that invite diverse forest creatures, including forest dwellers, Indigenous forest guardians, healers, scientists, data managers, artists, designers, as well as dogs and trees, to walk together and share their stories. Through these encounters, the Collective hopes to better understand how various stakeholders make sense of forest; questioning what can constitute a forest dataset, how it can be produced, and by whom. The main aim is to learn how forests and forest data can be produced, thought of and engaged with otherwise, in feral, co-creative ways that consider perspectives of diverse forest creatures and reach beyond techno-solutionist perspectives.

Participating walkers are invited to stay overnight at Chewie’s cottage, or return back to Prague on Sunday evening. Car transportation from + back to Prague will be arranged. Food will be provided collaboratively by all participants (basic cottage food is provided + BYOsnacks and drinks).