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

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/theyan

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

Visit my website: http://geraldinegreensaltroad.blogspot.co.uk/

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

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

Monday19^th October - Thursday 22^nd 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 19^th, 20^th and 21^st  and lunch on 20^th, 21^st and 22^nd. 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

Email: enquiries@brantwood.org.uk

http://www.brantwood.org.uk

information on the writers can be found here:

Geraldine

Pippa

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

AUTUMN WRITERS’ RETREAT 19^TH-22^ND 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