Bath rocks journey from San Francisco to Helsinki
It’s a craze that has taken Bath by storm, brightly decorated small rocks left hidden around the city for people to find, but now it’s spreading to the rest of the world. Almost a year since the first Bath rock appeared in the city, rocks have not only been found hidden across the country but also across the world in places such as Helsinki, Italy, California and Canada. One is even en-route to Australia. The phenomenon has been welcomed by parents since it took off last year because it gives them a free fun activity to do with their children. The idea of Bath Rocks is for parents and children to get creative with rocks of all different sizes, paint them, personalise them and then hide them in different places for other children to find and post on Facebook. That could be anywhere from the park to the supermarket. It could be in someone’s front garden, or at a local attraction. It could even be on a cycle track, or just on the pavement. So far Bath Rocks Facebook page has more than 2,300 members with people taking pictures and sharing the stories behind the rocks and where they have hidden them. One member has taken a rock on holiday with them to hide on the Amalfi Coast and another has given one to a family member to take home with them to Canada. Twenty-year-old airport worker, Matias Pullinen, posted on the Bath Rocks Facebook page, that he found a rock in the cargo hold on a plane flying from Gatwick to Finland. He said: “I opened the cargo hold hatch and it was just lying inside next to luggage and other things. “I noticed it had something written on it and so I took it. Later, when I had more time to look at what I had found I thought it was cool. I have no idea how it got there but I took it home and my girlfriend found the Facebook page and I posted the picture. “I still have it and I think I might re-hide it next weekend when I come to London. But I might also keep it as a nice memory.” Another rock, which was decorated by 37-year-old Sarah Jones from Southdown, found itself on the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The mother of two said: “I was really shocked when I found out the Frog Rock had been found on the Golden Gate Bridge, it’s mad to think it travelled all that way! “It was found by someone who said they would keep it for a while before taking it on their travels! “I think the Bath Rocks is a fantastic idea. Me and my two children have painted loads, it’s really addictive and we usually hide them on the school run but the frog rock was hidden near the children’s area in the toilet planter at Bath City Farm. “The farm were really pleased with the rocks and posted them on its Facebook page.” Chelsea Buchan, 24, founder of the Bath Rocks Facebook Page, started the idea after hearing her cousins had got involved in the Bristol Rock Group and had enjoyed taking part. She said: “I am so pleased Bath Rocks has taken off so well. I never thought the rocks would travel across the UK let alone the world! “When I started the group I thought it would be a fun, free event for local families to get involved in and be creative together. “Now its grown and we have almost 2,500 members from across the UK and the world.”