Four writing days in some of Scotland's most spectacular countryside...
Poetry in the Wild is a series of four writing days taking place across Dumfries and Galloway. The format of each day is the same. The morning session explores a special natural place accompanied by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide. This experience is then used as the inspiration for an afternoon of writing. The outcome of these four writing days will be the opportunity to see your poetry in print in a special supplement to Working Words, the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association quarterly magazine.
Each day runs from 10am to 3pm. Please bring a packed lunch, warm clothing and stout footwear. There is a charge of £3.00 for each participant. Booking is through Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association
Volcanic rocks and viaducts
Saturday 26th August 2006
The Bakehouse, Gatehouse of Fleet
From our writing base of the Bakehouse, we will travel the 10 minutes out of Gatehouse of Fleet and into the wild heart of Galloway to explore the Cairnsmore of Fleet National Nature Reserve. Cairnsmore is the haunt of red deer and rare birds, volcanic rocks and viaducts. The place inspired Dorothy L Sayers, let it now inspire your writing.
Taking the water
Tuesday 19th September 2006
The Old Well Theatre
Moffat is famous for its healing mineral spas. We will explore the river and its wildlife and take the water as our main theme for the day. And there is always the possibility we will share the river banks with otters and kingfishers.
Land or sea?
Tuesday 26th September 2006
Wigtown County Building
Wigtown Bay is just a few minutes' walk from the County Buildings but it is a different world, one of wide open skies and muddy estuaries. With the help of the local ranger we will walk along the dividing line between land and sea and use the experience to influence our poetry.
Modern science and old stories
Saturday 21st October 2006
Caerlaverock Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre
Caerlaverock attracts skeins of geese and swans to spend their winter in our region. Along with their wildlife heritage they have a rich cultural heritage in the folklore that explained their arrival in autumn and their return migration in spring. We will look at the modern science and old stories associated with these birds and develop our own interpretations.
