05 Aug Creative Walks this Summer
August and September are the months for creative walks – a programme of events from Waveney & Blyth Arts. I’ll be leading a couple of these, one at Mellis and one at Blythburgh.
Roger Deakin is a much loved nature writer whose three books, Waterlog, Wildwood and Notes from Walnut Tree Farm, have attracted a devoted following. I will be leading a short walk, with Brian Guthrie, to celebrate Roger’s life and work. The walk will follow Cowpasture Lane, an old green lane and probable drove road, that was saved from destruction. In 1981, Roger applied for, and secured, a Tree Preservation Order to protect 400 yards of this ancient track. Sadly the farmer began to fell the trees before the TPO was served but the Order was in time to protect the stumps from being grubbed out. Two years later Roger wrote: “the coppiced trees are six feet tall, and Cowpasture Lane is again a green delight.” The walk will focus on Roger’s environmental activism as well as featuring readings about the locality from his books.
Cowpasture Lane is once again under the spotlight as National Rail consult over proposals to close pedestrian and vehicular rail crossings, including the link between Cowpasture Lane and Mellis Green.
Please note – the walk is now fully booked.
On 16 September I will be with Suffolk poet Ivor Murrell at the other end of the county to lead a walk and writing workshop. We will be making our way along the Blyth estuary, reading extracts from poems as we go, and collecting thoughts and ideas to produce our own poems in an afternoon workshop in Blythburgh village hall. We will follow the boardwalk past marsh and woodland and will look out for autumnal birds as well as enjoying the sounds and smells of this coastline.
The full programme of events can be found on the Waveney & Blyth Arts website at waveney & blyth arts.
For more about Ivor Murrell see his website here: http://www.versifier.co.uk/
Look out for other poetry walks/workshops including on the 23rd August when Suffolk Poetry Society members will run a walk with readings and a workshop at the River Waveney Sculpture Trail at Earsham near Bungay.