Thursday 22 October 2015

WRITE IN THE FOREST, CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS IN GRIZEDALE FOREST


photo of two participants taken by Geraldine Green February 28th 2015

"Write in the Forest" Creative Writing Workshops with Cumbrian writer Geraldine Green, in The Yan Centre, Grizedale Forest, near Ulverston Cumbria - all welcome! 11am-3pm £25 incl refreshments, please bring own lunch, or use the cafe. Please wear suitable footwear and clothing.

Dates: February 28th, June 6th, September 5th and November 7th.

Next Workshop: June 6th: Myth, Map-making and Transformations

You can read another blog on the February Forest Workshop titled "The Ordination of Trees" here

A few photos I took of a wonderful day spent with a group of writers in The Yan Centre and also in the Forest:

Being shown where the replica of Grizedale Hall will be constructed, using old tree roots! Love it!
Inspired by Luke Duggleby's fine photographic exhibition of Guardians of the Forest: The Aereng Valley, Cambodia











Getting inspiration from the forest and from each other.

It'll be interesting to see the changes in the forest through the seasons, February, June, September and November.







Old tree root, an eco system, home to silver birch saplings, ash, ferns, foxgloves, insects, wild strawberries and lichens.


And back in The Yan, writing from the outdoor session, some fine work was written


It's a great venue, Scandinavian in style, large airy classroom, huge windows so you feel you're outside as well as in, and other rooms to work in, for quiet writing










all photos by Geraldine Green, with permission given by attendees

There were seven of us on the first session, with three apologies, not bad for the first workshop! I gave the group writing prompts and a variety of stimuli. But first we shared a piece of writing that meant something to us. I shared Kathleen Jamie's poem 'The Wishing Tree'. Other poems/prose were Thomas Lux 'Poem in Thanks', John Kinsella 'The Hunt', Mary Oliver 'Sleeping in the Forest' a Kipling poem, John Muir extract, Francis Symons 'God is Green' (Ian Bradley)

The Wishing Tree -- Kathleen Jamie

I stand neither in the wilderness
nor fairyland

but in the fold
of a green hill

the tilt from one parish
into another.

To look at me
through a smirr of rain

is to taste the iron
in your own blood

because I hoard
the common currency

of longing: each wish
each secret assignation.

My limbs lift, scabbed
with greenish coins

I draw into my slow wood
fleur-de-lys, the enthroned Brittania.

Behind me, the land
reaches toward the Atlantic.

And though I’m poisoned
choking on the small change

of human hope,
daily beaten into me

look: I am still alive—
in fact, in bud.


Copyright © 2007 by Kathleen Jamie. Reprinted from Waterlight: Selected Poems with the permission of Graywolf Press, Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Write in the Forest - a series of four creative writing workshops with local writer Geraldine Green. Drawing on the natural world and forests in particular, these workshops will help inspire your writing and get you back in touch with nature. Workshops will take place in the inspirational Yan Centre and also outdoors - please wear suitable footwear and clothing. £25 per workshop:

Saturdays 11am-3pm
February 28th
June 6th
September 5th
November 7th

Booking essential. Adults £25 for each of the four workshops. Refreshments available. Please bring own lunch or use cafe facilities.

Venue: The Yan, Grizedale Forest

For booking: please email: geraldinegreen[dot]poetry1[at]gmail[dot]com

With thanks to Sally, Tess, Anthony, Staff at Grizedale Forest and The Forestry Commission. Thanks also to all who came along.






Friday 16 October 2015

OCTOBER WRITERS RETREAT BRANTWOOD, CONISTON WITH GERALDINE GREEN AND PIPPA LITTLE 19th-22nd OCTOBER 2015



WRITERS' RETREAT Brantwood, Coniston, Cumbria 
with Geraldine Green and Pippa Little

Monday19th October - Thursday 22nd October 2015 (2pm – 2pm).

A chance to write, read, share poems, let the beautiful house and grounds inspire you. All very welcome. £230 p.p., please contact Rachel Litten at enquiries@brantwood.org.uk or ring 015394 41396.

Brantwood, Coniston, Cumbria, home of John Ruskin is the perfect place whether you have a writing project you’re working on or just need time and space away from the busyness of life to step back and gain some inspiration and quietly reflect.  

The tranquil grounds and gardens of Brantwood, stunning views across Coniston Water to the Old Man and Dow Crag, log fires, wonderful food all provide the ideal writers retreat. There will be time for solitude and also the company and conversation of other writers.

Co-tutor Pippa Little will give a reading with Geraldine on Tuesday evening. You’re all welcome to share a poem or two, as well on Wednesday evening when the Group give a reading to the tutors.

Mentoring - The Retreat also gives you an opportunity for one-to-one mentoring with Pippa Little and Geraldine Green, plus informal discussions with Pippa and Geraldine.

Cost:
£230 per person
Includes refreshments, plus evening meals on 19th, 20th and 21st  and lunch on 20th, 21st and 22nd. Residential or non-residential options available

Residential option:
The Lodge at Brantwood has been newly refurbished to provide accommodation for those attending our courses. It sleeps up to 9 people in 2 double rooms, 2 twin rooms and a single room, located on the ground and upper floors, with a shared kitchen/diner and living room, 1 bathroom, 2 shower rooms and a separate toilet. The Lodge enjoys wonderful views across Coniston Water to the fells. A self-service breakfast is provided in the Lodge as part of the rate.

£50 per person per night, single occupancy
£35 per person per night, shared occupancy
Pre-booking is essential. Tel: 015394 41396

information on the writers can be found here:

Some sessions take place outdoors - please bring suitable footwear and clothing

AUTUMN WRITERS’ RETREAT 19TH-22ND OCTOBER 2015 BRANTWOOD CONISTON WITH GERALDINE GREEN AND PIPPA LITTLE

COURSE OUTLINE:
Monday 19th October

1pm - Gather at The Lodge for refreshments, Geraldine, Pippa and Rachel will be there to meet you and show you your rooms

1.45pm - Meet in The Schoolroom in the Main House where writing workshops will take place

2pm - Welcome and Introduction with Pippa and Geraldine

2pm - 3pm - Share anything you may have brought with you that you're currently working on, or perhaps a piece of writing, by another writer that has inspired you, that you like. Say briefly why you like it.

3pm-3.15pm - Break

3pm-4pm Free time for short wander round House, Gardens or Exhibition writing prompts given by Pippa (optional)

4pm-5pm – Free writing time

5pm-7pm - Free time, followed by evening meal in The Stables Café

Tuesday 20th October
9.30am - 11am - writing exercises in The Schoolroom with Geraldine

11am-11.15am - Break

11.15am -12.30 - writing exercises in The Schoolroom with Pippa

12.30-1.30pm – Lunch in The Stables Café

1.30-3.15pm - Outdoor Reflective Walk, writing prompts given by Geraldine (optional)

3.15pm-6.30pm - Free Time

6.30pm - Evening Meal in The Lodge followed by reading by Pippa and Geraldine

Wednesday 21st October
9.30am-11am - writing exercises with Pippa

11am-11.15am - Break

11.15am-12.30pm – writing exercises with Geraldine

12.30pm-1.30 pm - Lunch

1.30pm-6.30pm - Free Writing and Reflective time

2pm-3.30pm - One to one tutorials with Geraldine and Pippa (optional), 15 minutes slots: Geraldine 2pm-2.45pm
Pippa 2.45pm-3.30pm

6.30pm - Evening meal in The Lodge followed by Group reading (5-10 minutes each)

Thursday 22nd October
10am-11.30am - One to one tutorials with Pippa and Geraldine (optional), 15 minute slots: Pippa 10am-10.45am; Geraldine 10.45am-11.30am

11.30am-11.45am - Break

11.45am-12.30pm - Group readback and feedback and complete Feedback Forms.


12.30pm-2pm Lunch in The Stables Café and depart