Gresham's Festival of Nature Writing

Published on isbi School News dated Thursday 4th of November 2010

Gresham's School, Holt is to launch an exciting and groundbreaking new venture: The First Gresham's Festival of Nature Writing. Advertised both locally and nationally, the event aims to bring together a group of high profile writers to speak about their own writing and to stimulate debate about the place and role of nature writing in 2011. This will be a unique opportunity to listen to such a diverse range of outstanding and inspirational writers, including Richard Mabey, recently acclaimed by the Sunday Times as 'one of Britain's most respected and brilliant nature writers' and Saci Lloyd, author of 'The Carbon Diaries.'

Running alongside the Festival there will be an exhibition of nature-themed prints and paintings by local artists including Robert Gillmor, Graham High, Angie Lewin and Thomas Robinson. The Private View of this exhibition will celebrate the opening of the Festival.

The Festival is being organised the School's English Department, lead by Dr Jonathon Ward and Dr Alistair Cormack. 'There are many literature events around the country but none, to our knowledge, which focuses purely on nature writing. Norfolk boasts an amazing number of prolific and exceptional writers on this theme no doubt inspired by the beautiful landscape and wildlife, and it seemed not only an obvious theme but a sometimes overlooked literary genre,' said Dr Ward.

Gresham's pupils are already playing a large part in the Festival though creative writing and study of pastoral literature in the Sixth Form, and next term the Third Form will be focussing on nature writing. There will be a display of, and reading of, nature writing by Gresham's pupils and children from Holt Community Primary School (with whom Gresham's has a creative writing link.)

The Festival will run from Thursday 17th February to Saturday 19th February at Gresham's, Holt.