About the event

Come along to this brilliant afternoon with Managing Director of York Creatives and Founder of Written in York, Sarah Williams, for an immersive folk poetry workshop rooted in this beautiful nature reserve in York.

This 2.5-hour session is an invitation to write with the land rather than simply about it. Drawing on the rich tradition of Yorkshire folktales, songs, and verse that have long been tied to the land, you'll be guided through a process of deep listening and creative discovery: finding inspiration all around you and the voice of the wildlife that Yorkshire Wildlife Trust helps preserve.

We'll begin with gentle writing warm-ups to settle you into the space, before diving into the folklore, poetry and songs that have shaped how people have understood and celebrated Yorkshire's wild places for centuries. From there, you'll explore your own relationship with the land through short prose and poetry pieces, working towards something that feels genuinely rooted in place.

Find out more about York Creatives

These sessions are brought to you by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. This year Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is celebrating 80 years of protecting and restoring wildlife and wild places across Yorkshire, and we are inviting you to help us mark our special anniversary with poetry. These sessions are designed with the Trust's 80th anniversary poetry competition in mind, giving you dedicated time and guidance to develop and outline your entry.

Whether you’re an experienced poet or simply someone who loves nature, we're inviting you to put pen to paper and get creative.

Find out more about the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust poetry competition

Embrace your wild side - what to expect:

Accessibility and terrain

The nature reserve is accessible for wheelchair users.

Please let us know at checkout if you have any access requirements that you would like to make us aware of and/or require any additional support to fully participate in this event. We aim to accomodate wherever possible.

What to bring/wear

This event is outdoors on a nature reserve so please bring sturdy footwear and appropriate clothing for the weather.

Please bring a notepad and pen to the session. All other materials and equipment needed to participate in this event are provided.

Toilets and catering

There are no toilets on the reserve. The nearest toilets are at Haxby Shopping Centre two miles away.

Please bring your own food and drink with you if you would like to.

Joining us on the day

Meet at the entrance gate to the reserve on Moor Lane.

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Parking

There is limited roadside parking at the reserve in the narrow layby near the entrance gate.

Public transport

There are buses that run from York to Wiggington which is around one mile from the reserve.

Join Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is the only charity entirely dedicated to conserving, protecting and enhancing Yorkshire's wildlife and wild places. Find out more about what we do on our website and discover how you can support our work.

Let us know what you think

We hope you have a fantastic time at the event! We always love to hear from our supporters - tell us about your experiences in our feedback survey .

Cancellation and refunds

In the situation that Yorkshire Wildlife Trust needs to cancel an event we will be in touch regarding your booking via email and our Supporter Services team will process the refund of your tickets as soon as possible. Please allow up to 5 working days for this to happen. If you, or members of your party, are unable to attend your booked event, you are eligible for a refund up to 7 days before the event date. For any cancellation and refund queries, please contact our Supporter Services team during office hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) on 01904 659570 or email supporter.services@ywt.org.uk.

Thank you for supporting Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

Contact us

If you're having difficulties with your booking, or you have more questions about the event, please don't hesitate to get in touch! You can email us at supporter.services@ywt.org.uk or drop us a call on 01904 659570.

About Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is the only charity entirely dedicated to conserving, protecting and enhancing Yorkshire's wildlife and wild places. Find out more about what we do on our website and discover how you can support our work.