What the heck is a lek?
Males great bustards perform spectacular courtship displays, gathering at a ‘lek’ or small display ground to try to impress the females.
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Click on the top left corner of each illustrated tile on the map 
to explore folk tales from across the region. Scroll down to discover a song and a story from each area where Wessex Museums are located, covering Dorset and Wiltshire.
Listen and share the playlist on SoundCloud.
Illustrated by Bridie Cheeseman
Songs reimagined by Chlöe Herington
Tales told by Kirsty Hartsiotis, Martin Maudsley
Tales drawn from Wiltshire Folk Tales (History Press, 2011) Kirsty Hartsiotis, Dorset Folk Tales (History Press, 2012) Tim Laycock, and from Dorset National Landscape’s Myths and Legends project with Martin Maudsley.
Musical Contributors Marie Davies, Richard Death, Lynne Dominey, Katrina Ellis, Craig Fortnam, Carolynn Stammers, Doug Stammers, Jo Spratley, Brian Gulland, Christina Hayes, Alberto Callegari
Males great bustards perform spectacular courtship displays, gathering at a ‘lek’ or small display ground to try to impress the females.
The great bustard has a dignified slow walk but tends to run when disturbed, rather than fly.
The hen-bird on display at The Salisbury Museum was one of the last great bustards to be eaten in the town!