In this project we will create a new geocaching trail in the Staffordshire Moorlands, celebrating local LGBTQ+ stories and rooting them firmly in the geography of the Moorlands landscape.
What is geocaching?
Geocaching is like real-life treasure hunting. There is a vast network of ‘geocachers’ all over the world, who love exploring their local areas, hiding things for others to find – or trying to find ones already hidden. The thing you hide is called a ‘cache’ – some sort of container ranging anywhere from Tupperware boxes to tiny containers the size of your thumb. To find a cache, you download the geocaching app which will show you what is available near to you, give you directions to where it’s hidden, and a clue to find it. Inside the cache there is always a log book to sign to show you’ve found it, and sometimes there are little toys or trinkets to swap, or there might be a ‘trackable’ – an object designed to be taken from the cache and moved to another one.
When you create a new cache you upload its location to the app so others can find it – often people hide them in spots where there is a lovely view, or spots of historical significance, and cache owners will sometimes add some history about the area, or a story to go with the cache.
Stay tuned to see how the project develops!