'It is customary for Druids to meet from time to time, sharing their experiences and discoveries. We come together as colleagues and friends, performing ceremony, and celebrating festivals of the year together. As Wiccans have covens, Christians have congregations, Druids have Groves. The Grove is a name chosen in honour of the trees, great beings of nature, friends, teachers, and providers of life.'
Ivan Macbeth
A grove is a term which denotes not only a sacred clearing in the forest but also a group of Druids. There are over 90 seed-groups and groves of the Order around the world. Any member may start a seed-group, which in time may grow to become a grove. Two members in the Druid Grade are needed to start a grove. Full details of how to start a group are sent to members who request the booklet ‘Treasures of the Tribe’.
In the UK and Europe there are 17 groves and 28 seed-groups
In the US and Canada there are 5 groves and 31 seed-groups
In Australia and New Zealand there are 3 groves and 5 seed-groups
A grove may meet in a member’s house or garden, but more often than not they will try to meet out of doors – in a forest clearing or even a local park. In addition to celebrating the eight seasonal festivals, they may come together to perform rites of passage when a grove member wants to name their child, or when members marry or die. Some groves will also meet regularly aside from these special times – perhaps once or twice a month. And at these grove meetings there may be initiations of new members, ceremonies enacted or teachings given. More often than not the meeting will become a social gathering – with impromptu story-telling and music-making, and with everyone bringing food and drink to share.
Groves can be made up of just a few members, or may number thirty or more, and although certain members will take responsibility for organising aspects of the grove’s activities, no one person acts like a priest or High Priestess.
Workshops, Retreats, Talks and Events
Members can announce their workshops, retreats, talks, or other events in the Events section of the Order’s magazines and website.
The Order has arranged retreats on the isle of Iona, in Scotland, in Snowdonia in Wales, in Devon, and at Chalice Well in Glastonbury. A training programme is being developed for members who would like to develop their skills in giving workshops and talks, and in running retreats.
Moots, Assemblies, Camps & Conferences
Groups of members organise regular moots in local pubs, or camps, conferences or assemblies. In Britain, two assemblies are held each year around the time of the solstices. We hire Glastonbury Town Hall, hold rituals on the Tor, in Chalice Well Gardens and at Stonehenge. We have grove meetings, lectures, a buffet supper, live music and a party.
In Australia and Holland members hold annual assemblies each Spring.
Members in Scotland hold an annual open Druid conference each year. There have been events each summer in France, and German members have begun an annual camp.
There are camps in Britain four times a year, and individual groves sometimes organise retreats or camps for grove members and friends.
