The Wildflower Way with Words
D
uring June 2021, local writer and tutor, Maureen Fenton, teamed up with Festival Bowland to encourage poets, both practised and new, to discover Lancashire’s Coronation Meadows, and to use this inspiration to pen poems on a flower-filled theme. Guided by Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust’s Meadow Makers Project Officer, Carol Edmondson, those who could join us enjoyed a lovely walk around Bell Sykes Farm in Slaidburn. Here, we experienced the sights, sounds, scents and textures of these rare and important meadows. We also chatted with farmer, Peter Blackwell, about the traditional methods he uses to manage this suite of meadows, which have been designated as SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest).
www.forestofbowland.com 42 Bell Sykes Meadow © Graham Cooper
Two online workshops followed – and here we must thank local poet, Philip Burton, who talked about the writing processes behind some of the poems in his latest collection, Gaia Warnings. Feedback from Maureen then helped people refine first drafts, before submitting some fantastic, finished poems – very creative responses to this rare and valuable habitat. To read all the poems visit:
www.forestofbowland.com/ wildflower-way-words We’re delighted to be able to share Maureen’s and Philip’s poems here.
